Chapter 1

A/N:I do not own FMA, or the characters within. Any original characters, portrayed, I do own. Though I do wish I owned some of the characters…I know that Toys don't count….sniff

Now 22 years old, she had been drawing transmutation circles since the age of three. Since she was three…had it really been that long…? Of course it had. Everyone she knew was scattered to the four winds now, The Furher, of course, kept in touch with her and her mother, but none of them liked what a visit entailed. Memories…. that's all they had tying each other together. After that, there was nothing. But for her, she had her alchemy. Which is the point at hand. She looked down at her notes, frowning. Her test was coming up. Her mother didn't like the fact of her studying it and becoming what her father affectionately referred to as a weirdo. After all, alchemy was the root of his death was it not? Killed by a homunculus, which was after the philosopher's stone, and also after Edward Elric to make it.

She pushed her glasses up on her nose as she studied. Her "Big Brother Ed" was gone, but she had become close friends with his brother Alphonse. They kept in touch through letters. Him and the Furher were both behind her in her endeavors. She glanced to a photo of her and Alphonse at her last birthday party, then to a few letters leaning against it. One was from Al, the other Furher Mustang. The picture was recent, a few weeks past. And she remembered how somber it was, how somber all of them were since her third. Between the death of her father, and the disappearance of Ed….

She closed her eyes, unable to study for the time being. Opening them back up she looked at the phone thinking. Biting her lip, she picked up the phone, dialing one of the numbers stored in her memory, and waited for that familiar voice to answer. She waited for about four rings for it.

"Mustang."

Grinning she made who she was known in her usual sarcastic, yet playful manner. "Took you long enough old man."

She heard the faint sound of a humph on the other end. "Elicia, what do I owe the honor…?"

"Oh well…I dunno. I was just feeling…. down. Trying to study but can't." She glanced at the texts in front of her and heaved another sigh. "And I still have a lot of studying to do."

"I see. You were thinking about Maes and Edward again, weren't you?" She heard him sigh and a rustling as he shifted the phone to the other ear. "You shouldn't dwell on the past so much Elicia. It only comes to trouble. Ask Al…if he remembers that is."

She rolled her eyes as she listened. Every time she mentioned feeling slightly depressed he went into this speech. She knew he meant well, but it didn't help after the ninetieth time. "Yes, yes, I know Uncle Roy, but…I can't help it. Everyone else seems to dwell on it. And I mean, everyone loved Daddy. Just being in Central, I hear stories about him wherever I go. And I hear how he was a father figure to Ed and Al…. everything. So, how can I not think about it?" She heard the sound of rustling on the other side again. He was getting impatient. He was defiantly not one to stay and chat on the phone.

"You know Elicia, I love you dearly, but you have a penchant for keeping me on the phone that you must have inherited from your father." And then a chuckle, a fondness she could feel, even without seeing him.

"Of course. I understand you're a very busy man. I'm sorry to have kept you." Biting her lip, she waited for him to simply hang up as he usually did.

"Not at all Elicia." This surprised her, but what came next, was a real shocker for her. " Your exam isn't for a while. Why don't you take a few days off? Al is coming to visit. You two can go do something…maybe it'll boost both of your spirits." And then he hung up. Elicia just stared at the phone for a moment, before hanging her end up. Al was coming for a visit? She felt her cheeks warm. She had always blushed at the mention of Al's name since she could remember. She had even gone as far as trying almost anything to get him to notice her. But he was single minded. What she didn't know is that this single mindedness is what worried Roy Mustang most of all, not her bouts of depression, or Al's somber outlook on everything. What she didn't know and Mustang hoped to get her to help stop was that Al was acting just like Ed had before he disappeared.

A/N revised: Ok. Like it? Love it? Hate it? Let me know! I strive for praise! And also, it keeps me writing! So, want more? Tell me! Love all!