FullMetal Alchemist 12

I sighed as we sat on some hill in the middle of the night. It was damp and windy outside. Of course this created a mood of depression, yet at the same time it was calming. and blank. With a surrounding like this, I couldn't help but to think of Natalie, but not in a depressing way. Instead this time it was a flashback.

I was only 12, ever since I was little I wanted to become a state alchemist. Don't ask me why, because im not so sure myself. My guess is that all I ever had was Natalie; she was my idol since I don't even remember my parents since I was only 3 when they disappeared. I guess you could say I wanted to be just like her. Our relationship wasn't like other sisters. Usually siblings would fight over the stupidest things, some things that didn't even matter; some wouldn't get along at all and couldn't stand each other. But we were just the opposite. It was almost as if we were best friends, no we are best friends, well at least before she died.

"Hey Natalie, get off your butt and quit doing paperwork, I don't think it's healthy to write and read 3 hours straight." I said pausing from studying an alchemic novel.

"As much as I would like to, I would, but if I don't finish it, Mustang will be on my ass all day tomorrow."

"Well we can't have that now can we?" I got up from the chair i was sitting in and made my way over to Natalie's desk.

"What's the case this time?"

"A psycho crazy in the head killing people, as usual."

"Greaaaaat...hmm" A smirk ran across my face as I quickly grabbed Natalie's pile of paperwork and ran off."

"HEY SAM GET YOUR ASS BACK HERE"

"And suffer your wrath? no way in hell" I continued running.

Not long after Natalie started to chase me around the house, cursing, screaming, and threatening me all at the same time. I flipped over the table and Natalie jumped it.

I ran through the open doorway leading to our front yard. Then that's when she started to chase me around the house in circles. Then she started to gain on me.

"Aw crap..."

I quickly climbed up the nearest tree, then hopped from the tree to out roof and sat there exhausted. The paperwork was held together by a couple of paperclips, I took a glimpse at the paperwork, but then a certain name caught my eye. My eyes widened as I quickly grabbed the papers and started skimming the sentences.

Last week, was the final trial for becoming a National State alchemist, disaster struck when one alchemist created a balloon filled with helium, and another a sharp skyscraper. The balloon popped and hit the sky scraper, thus making the skyscraper brake and start to fall on an alchemist too weak to get up. When a young alchemist rushed towards the scene and transmuted the falling building into light petals without a circle. Thus making this young alchemist, a state alchemist the youngest alchemist the state has ever had, his name is Edward Elric.

There was much more after that but I just put the paper down.

"Edward...a state alchemist...when did this happen? Ed wouldn't ever do that...especially if Izumi knew...the only other reason is...oh no...He finally did it then, he finally did transmutation. God knows how that turned out..."I sighed and jumped onto the tree then hopped down it to ground. I looked both ways before taking another step then a stern voice sounded behind me.

"Why hello there Sam, long time no see..."

I quickly spun around, "Eh heh heh heh, you don't say." I then zoomed off in the opposite direction

"OH NO YOU DONT" she yelled then tackled me to the ground.

"Ow...gah heres your paperwork now get off me!"

"Thanks..."

"Great, well now that got you off your butt."

"Heh heh, thanks Sam, I needed that, even though its very annoying, it got me off my butt." she ruffled my hair with a smile.

"Gah, you know I hate that!"

"Yeah, and you know what else ticks you off."

"Oh gee I wonder what."

"That your a short runt."

"WHY YOU I WILL RIP OFF YOUR LEGS AND STICK THEM ON YOUR HEAD" Natalie zoomed off towards the house.

"DAMN WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SHORT RUNT, I AM NOT SHORT!" I screamed running behind her.

Later

I sat on the couch, still studying, since there was nothing better to do. Natalie ate an apple and currently was sitting at her desk finishing the remaining paperwork. A very boring day it is today. I sighed and stretched, but in doing so I knocked over a cup full of writing utensils on a table behind my head next to the lamp. It hit the floor and shattered. Natalie looked up form her paperwork, hearing something break.

"Break something Sam?" She got up from her desk and walked over to me.

"Oh crap…" I clapped my hands together in frustration, and got off the couch to pick up the shattered pieces. But as soon as my hands touched the floor, there was bright blue sparks and a bright light. When the light vanished, the cup was completely restored to its original shape. My eyes widened, and I just stared at the cup blankly.

"Well…that's one way to fix a cup…"

Natalie ran over to me and grabbed me but my shoulders

"Do you have any idea on what you just did!"

"I think it was alchemy, but I didn't realize I was capable of doing alchemy without a circle!"

"Sam…you just did alchemy without a circle...oh my god….HA HA JUST LIKE YOUR BIG SIS HUH!" she yelled proudly.

I stood up, and tried to look her in the face, but Dammit she was too damn tall, so all I could do was look up.

"But…I don't know if I can do that again, I mean I didn't even mean to that time."

"Oh…well im sure if you can do it once you can do it again…"

"You're probably right…"

"Well screw paperwork, and screw Roy Mustang, we are going out to celebrate!"

"Uh heh really, you don't have to do that, its not that big of a deal…"

"….you mean to tell me doing alchemy without a circle isn't a big deal!"

"….ok you're right it is a big deal."

"Great now that that's settled, off we go!"

"…To where?"

"Where ever the hell we want!"

"Eh heh heh."

"Just remember, im proud of you Sam, on whatever you do." Of course she has to ruffle my hair again.

"Hey, didn't we make it clear that I hate that?" and I just smiled.

And that's the end of the flashback. And for once, I wasn't even sad. I was just happy that I could still keep all my memories of Natalie. All I needed to do was be patient, whether it's when I die or sooner, I would see Natalie again.

"Al, your metal armor is just like a giant ice pack."

"Heh, glad to be of some help brother."

Ed got up and stared at the moon…"Oh moon how I could only wish you were cheese, im so hungry.

I turned Ed's head to get a good look at the giant welt that the imposter gave him.

"Well he got you good, that thing swelled up fast."

"Yeah well he had something that was giving him a boost of some sort."

"I believe you."

Then I felt a presence coming up the hill, I turned around and there was that guy who had the lemons earlier. ((sorry I didn't make mention of that before, well you know the uncle with the basket if lemons that the little girls dad gets pissed at…well if you watched the series you would know, oh well moving on.))

"Uh…hi?" I asked confused.

"Hey, what are you doing here?" asked a questioning Edward.

"Well I couldn't exactly let you kids sleep outside, come on you can come to my place."

Me and Ed just looked at each other and nodded.

At the House the next day

Al got up before Ed and I did. Ed was asleep on a bed, and I was asleep in a

comfortable chair, with a blanket over me. Al walked into the kitchen, his armor clanking within his every step. The little girl from before was coughing in her sleep .

"That's one thing I have noticed, everyone in this town seems to be ill.

He nodded. "You know years ago, when she was born, she was born with the sickness and would have died. But then, a doctor seemed to be coming through town and agreed to have a look at her. There was a bright light and she was cured for the time being. "

"I see…."

"If you wouldn't mind, could you could go down to the pharmacy to get her cough medicine?"

"Not at all," Al nodded and made his way out the door.

Later

I slowly opened my eyes and stretched. Ok that was as comfy as it was gonna get if you slept in a chair. I rubbed and eyes and my vision cleared. I wanted to go back to sleep but nooooo I would probably have to get up anyway so why not now. I folded the blanket and lay it on the chair. I put on my jacket and walked towards the door. I heard Ed snoring and rolled my eyes and turned around. Ed wake up, I poked him…didn't wake up…poked him twice…didn't wake up…jabbed him in the shoulder multiple times. Still asleep…Gaaaaah oh yeah…I wonder……

I grinned slyly and took a deep breath, of course he was still snoring away. It's a miracle I even got to sleep last night. I yelled straight in his ear, "WAKE UP FULLMETAL PIPSQUEAK!"

His eyes jolted open that very second, he was very pissed because…well we all know why he is so short and small. But of course I already zoomed out the door by then.

I was drinking orange juice when Ed walked in giving me a glare of death.

"Uh…you wouldn't wake up pipsqueak?"

"Very funny…"

"Yeah it kind of is."

"Come on lets go find the impersonators, the sooner the better."

"Whatever you say," I finished the remainder of my orange juice and followed Ed out the door.

At the Pharmacy

People started to whisper and talk amongst themselves when Al entered the Pharmacy. They were saying things about how he posed as the Elric brothers, broke into their lab and so on. Al tried to ignore them but as soon as he reached the counter to get the medicine, some pissed old lady who ran the pharmacy chased him out with a broom.

"How am I supposed to get the medicine now?" Al said to himself as he sat on the curb.

Then a familiar face appeared.

"I could buy that medicine for you if you want…."

"You!" Sure enough it was the younger of the two imposter brothers, his face had regret and apology written all over it.

"Yeah, if you want I can buy that medicine for you, to help make up for me borrowing your identity?"

Al nodded.

The medicine was in a paper bag in Al's metal, armor hands. This was, of course after the younger brother bought the medicine for Al, They now both sat on a curb having a conversation.

"So, you and your brother are researching the Red Water correct?"

"It was our fathers dream, and the only way we could pass as a state alchemist is if my brother posed as the Fullmetal Alchemist so that researchers would take us seriously."

"I see, but if there is one thing I have noticed is that a lot of people in this town have been ill. Have you ever noticed that?"

This question seemed to surprise the little boy. He stammered by saying "No…I haven't really noticed that."

"We are actually a lot alike, we have older brothers that try to do their best, but sometimes the best can be the worst that's why sometimes, you need to have the courage to tell your brother how you feel about it, and point out that he is wrong. He could continue to do the wrong thing that he thinks is right. I mean some people could even get hurt sometimes, that's why you have to stop your brother and point him in the right direction."

The younger brother took this into consideration until he looked up and his older brother was glaring at him from an ally way, or a sign that basically means 'get your ass over now'. He got up to leave and started to run towards the direction of his brother.

"Wait, what's your real name!" yelled Al.

He stopped and turned around, "My name is Fletcher!" then he turned in the other direction then started running again.

"God Dammit Ed! Can't you slow down for a minute!

I yelled trying my best to keep up with him, for we have been running for the past 15 minutes and didn't yet stop to have a break.

"I know he is around here somewhere, I just know it!"

He yelled back, and continues running.

It was no use trying to stop him, no one gets away with calling him shrimp, short midget, small, tiny, little, microscopic, the list goes on.

Though I never realized it, I did somehow manage to get away with it…Oh well maybe it is just because I am shorter than him. I sighed and continued running, I peered off into the distance and saw Al standing there outside the Pharmacy. I slowed to a walk and Ed kept on running. He would have passed him if Al had not called out his brother's name.

"Ed!"

As Ed stopped he skid a bit on the dirt ground beneath him until he came to a complete stop.

"Oh, hey Al."

"What's the hurry?"

"I talked to some townspeople, so I know he is around here somewhere…"

"Unless he left and you juuuust missed him." I replied.

"Oh shut up"

"Not a chance"

He mumbled a few things then started cussing, screaming and rambling on about how he is bigger than a lima bean. Basically, throwing a tantrum. Well I successfully pissed off Ed today.

"ALRIGHT THAT'S IT, WE ARE GOING BACK THERE TONIGHT!"

"But brother, we just went there last night"

"Exactly, so they wont even expect us."

"I know this wont end well…" I replied talking to no one in particular.

Sin wondered through town, a cloak on her shoulders. She wondered through the town that was once filled with gold and riches, now poor and sickly. She was looking for any sign of where the pipsqueak and friends might be or have been. They couldn't loose them now; they were the only ones close to our goal. But to make things harder why on Earth did my so called sister have to be with him? No matter, she is after all a very skilled alchemist, if he is not capable of making our plan succeed. I am sure she can.

Ed hopped over the large wall that guards the lab with Al following behind. I just stood there wondering how I got myself into these things.

"Sam, get over here!" Ed yelled in a hoarse whisper.

I sighed and slowly climbed the wall. The guards were easy to get by, we slowly inched behind them until we reached the side of the building where we would be unseen. You would think they would have heard Al, him being a giant clanking metal of armor, but hey I guess they are just stupid like that.

"What is your brilliant plan to enter the lab this time?" I asked leaning against the wall.

"Operation Mole Hole," he clapped his hands together and pressed them to the ground, after the bright blue light from the transmutation started to fade, it revealed a giant tunnel in the ground.

"….Mole Hole?"

"Yeah. We are going to dig our way there, just a different approach."

"Greeeeat that's just dandy, but before you do anything else, let me do this real quick."

I knelt down on one knee and transmuted the tunnel to be at least a foot or two wider in width and diameter.

"What was that for?"

"….don't you think Al would get stuck, if he plugged up our way we would never get to the lab! No offense to you or anything Al."

"TT …None taken"

"Well ok now hurry up we don't really have all the time in the world here."

Ed went into the tunnel first I followed behind, and Al went in last just incase he did get stuck we wouldn't be trapped forever. I was crawling on my hands and knees, the tunnel was very damp and dark, but some how it was enough to see what was in front of you. We continued down the tunnel for about two or three minutes.

"Ed staring at your ass is most unpleasant."

"Oh shut up" He stopped right then.

"Is this where the lab is?" Al asked.

"Not sure but we have to come up somewhere."

Ed clapped his hands together and pressed them to the ceiling of the tunnel where a giant hole appeared burrowing up until it hit some type of surface. Ed climbed out of the hole first then helped Sam, and Al got out by himself.

The place we were in looked underground, there was red water flowing through the middle of it, its toxins in the air.

"Red water?" I asked questioningly.

"I guess this is what is making the town so sick, no doubt it is being used to create a cheap imitation of the Philosophers stone, yet it can still prove to be effective."

"…Guess so"

Then Ed burst into a coughing fit close to passing out, no doubt caused by the toxins in the air around us. I started to feel light headed and could barely stand on my on two feet. I tried to support him I refused to fall unconscious.

"Oh come on Ed, fight through it, and don't give out on me now." I said in a weak tone of voice. I felt weaker and weaker by the minute. My world started to sway and I felt dizzy, nothing was clear in my vision, it was all dark splotches and blurs. It was now even hard to breathe. I took my breath in short gasps, trying so hard to inhale clear air, but it didn't seem to be working.

Ed's weight seemed to get heavier and heavier by the second, now knowing I couldn't support him and pushed him over to Al, who was unphased by all this thanks to his lifeless armor. I then heard a small voice of a boy saying, "Hurry, come this way!" I could barely see the outline of a boy standing by a doorway. It was my only choice; I headed towards the doorway towards the boy.

"Come on Al."

"Uh, ok but can you make it?"

"I will make it just fine by myself!" I said sternly. I appreciated his concern but I never did like it when people always tried to help me. I always preferred doing things on my own since that is what I learned to do for the past couple years, to depend on myself and no one else.

I walked and continued walking with what little strength I had left. Al was behind me in case I did pass out. I got closer and closer until I passed the boy and entered the room wear the toxins would be no more. I walked two more feet, then a coughing fit attacked me. I fell to my knees coughing, and feeling that I had made it, I let my body fall to the floor. I finally passed out.

"