Ch.1 Dark Shadows, Brought to the Light
"I must have gone through all of these files twice! It's so boring around here. What's the point of being a State Alchemist if you can't even go outside its walls?" Alice said as she lay on her bed when her eyes suddenly widen as she gets to thinking Wait! What's holding me in here anyway? Normal walls? Alice began to smirk I think I've earned a little outdoor time. Time for the Dark Ghost Alchemist to use her skills. Alice thought as she stood and walked through her bedroom wall.
"Time to see what these State Alchemist wannabes have got," One of the State Alchemists remarks.
"Do you think the Dark Ghost Alchemist will come to see that Elric kid?" another one asked to the first. The first one looked at him and shrugged.
"Who knows with him" the first answered off handedly.
"Him who?" Alice asked from behind them.
"The Dark Ghost Alchemist, who else?" the first alchemist snapped"Oh, I see. Well just so you know, the Dark Ghost Alchemist is already here." Alice smirks to herself as she walked away from them before they can respond idiotic amateurs.
Alice showed up just in time to see an alchemist create a brick tower though she quickly noticed how exhausted the transmutation made him and she muttered to herself "Weakling."
Next, another guy created a giant air balloon and Alice immediately thought and was smirking to herself Nice skill, terrible place for it. This just spells disaster. And no sooner than after Alice thought this, the balloon popped and crashed into the first guy's tower. She saw the tower start to fall and she was about to intervene, but a short boy with a red coat and blonde hair in a braided ponytail jumped in before her. She saw him change the tower into flowers without the use of a transmutation circle! Interesting, haven't seen skills like that in quite some time Alice thought to herself.
"So, did you enjoy the show?" someone asked Alice from behind.
"A little. And you must be the Flame Alchemist Roy Mustang. So who's the kid?" Alice asked looking at Mustang out of the corner of her eye.
"Edward Elric, though you're going to be in quite a lot of trouble when the Iron Blood Alchemist finds out." Mustang remarked.
"Oh I'm so afraid I can hardly speak," Alice said sarcastically "Please."
Alice walked up to Ed and called to him "Hey kid!"
Ed turned toward her as she reached out to shake his hand and said to him "Congratulations, your skills have proved you've got the right stuff. You're now an official lap dog of the military."
As Ed shook her hand, Alice noticed how happy he seemed to what she had just said. Alice wondered why that was, but she thought it better not to ask as she was about to leave when Mustang and the Brigadier General came up to them.
"Not bad Ed, you took the record of youngest State Alchemist away from her." Mustang said in his normal, smug way.
"Indeed, now I do believe Miss Angel Rosewater has other important matters to attend to." Brigadier General hinted. Alice took the hint and left muttering about how stupid the whole situation was.
It's been a few hours since the demonstration and Alice knew it meant a talk with the Brigadier General was to be expected. The Brigadier General called things like that a 'juvenile prank by who should act like a respectable adult', there was none she hated more than the Brigadier General. The B. General soon walked and shut the door and said to Alice exactly what she expected. "You shouldn't have been there, u shouldn't have even been off the grounds for that matter. A non-certified alchemist could have found you out."
"Not likely Iron Blood, no one non-certified around here even knows I'm a girl," Alice retorted "besides, I was only there a few minutes. What's the harm in that?"
"The harm is Alice that I have a very important task for you." The general smirked to himself knowing it would get her attention. Alice almost looked shocked at what he said. Him using my real name is enough to get my attention, but when he says "task". Is he talking about a mission, as in I'm actually given permission to leave this room!
"Okay Iron Blood you have my attention, what's this 'task' you're talking about?" asked Alice with a fairly interested tone.
"Well there's always the usual task of yours of course." Alice knew what he was referring to was choosing a name for the new State Alchemist(s). Alice sighed and plopped down on her bed letting out an irritated groan.
"You certainly know how to bring a person down Iron Blood." Alice said in a now very depressed tone.
"That and another task, but if you think picking the name is enough. Then I'll just have someone else do it." The Brigadier General was just about to leave when Alice stopped him.
"Hold on! What exactly did you have in mind? When you say the term 'another task'?" Alice asked very curiously as to what the other task was.
"What I mean is that want you to keep a very strict record of this particular State Alchemist. I want to know every little thing this alchemist does, where he goes and when he goes there. You must be prepared for a report on his whereabouts at any given time. Have I made myself perfectly clear Miss Rosewater?" the Brigadier General stated.
"One question sir, does this mean I get to go outside of the grounds?" Alice acted sounding very intrigued about the task given to her.
"Not all Miss Rosewater, but it does mean however that u will be getting out of your room more often. You will regularly report to Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang and his, assistant Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye and Colonel Hughes every now and then. Now have I made myself clear Miss Rosewater?" the Brigadier General asked after giving his instructions.
"Yes sir, perfectly clear as crystal sir. Just give me the alchemists name and I'm on it." Alice stated almost mockingly.
"Glad to hear it Angel. As a matter of fact you are to keep an eye on that young alchemist whom you met earlier today. Elric wasn't it?" he asked her.
"Yes sir. Edward Elric I believe to be precise Iron Blood. And I know just what his alias should be." Alice smirked cleverly knowing full well that when she shook Ed's hand it was an automail arm, which explained why he could do alchemy without a transmutation circle.
"And what exactly would that alias be Miss Rosewater?" he inquired.
"Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist." Alice stated very clearly.
"Fullmetal, eh and why would that be?" the Brigadier General asked sounding fairly puzzled.
"I have my reasons Iron Blood, just like you have yours for not talking about your family." Alice pointed out which she knew struck a nerve in him.
"Very well. From here on out he's yours and Mustang's problem, is that understood Miss Angel?" he asked just before he was about to leave.
"Yes sir, I understand sir." Alice said stoically. The Brigadier General nodded and left without another word. Alice stood there silently letting what just happened fully sink in. In doing so she realized that what she had said to strike a nerve in the Brigadier General also struck a nerve in her.
Flashback
Alice is outside in a field picking flowers as the sun starts to set.
"Alice, come inside! It's going to get dark soon!" Alice heard her older brother Jake and stated to rush home. When she got there the sun was gone and the stars were starting to come out as she stepped inside closing the door.
"You were out in the field again weren't you Alice." Jen said knowingly and Alice nodded in response. Alice looked down and started fidgeting with her hands like something was bothering her. Jake and Jen saw her doing this and almost instantly knew why.
"Dad will be okay Alice. Make no mistake about that, dad doesn't give up easily." Jake said trying to cheer up Alice.
"Jake's right Alice. Because no matter what happens, we'll get through it together because we're family, okay?" Jen said to Alice, who was now smiling brightly.
"Yeah, we're family." Alice repeated.
End Flashback
"A lot of help that is now. All of you are gone, but I can't let that stop me now" Alice said lowering her voice to a whisper. "I've got my eye on you…..Fullmetal Alchemist."
End of Chapter