AN: I don't own FMA, the copyright belongs to Viz and the Hiromu Arakawa.

Past to Present: A Greed Story

Chapter 1: Memories

My Parents died when I was eighteen. My mother first then a year later my father. They were buried on the same land that the Kenncolt family had been buried in for generations. Trust me they were good people they forced all their love and affection, which parents always give their children, on to me…which, to my disgust, came about in the form of piano lesions. Of course, I was not an only child, surprise. Anyway by the time my dad died my sister was only ten and I was her guardian.

Lilly…that little sister of mine could charm anyone with a smile. That's the main thing I remember about her. At the time of my father's death we had a good sum of money, but it wouldn't last forever and it was around that time I began writing for the local news paper.

Now, I can plainly remember what I enjoyed and what was precious to me. Lilly was the main thing that I wanted to protect, so she was precious to me, I enjoyed writing and alchemy. I knew some alchemy, not enough to make a living out of it, but enough to fix objects in and around the house.

What shocked me the most about Lilly was after my father's funeral; she ran into my room and shook me awake. I naturally assumed, that she was going to cry, and at the time she was small…small kids usually cry after someone they loved died. I sat up and looked at her.

"What's the matter kiddo?" I stared at her for a good ten seconds before she actually spoke.

"I've made up my mind."

Made up her what! I thought. Her eyes shown sheer determination. Still staring I shook my head.

"Okay," I said "what did you make up your mind about that's so important that you ran over here to my room at three in the morning."

She took a deep breath and spoke.

"I want to become a State Alchemist. You know alchemy, so you can teach me."

I can what? I rubbed the back of my hand against my head.

"Lill," I said as simply as I could, "I'm not a State Alchemist. I only know a little bit. I can only teach you so much. Plus, you need to be pretty much an expert at it and you'll need to take a test in order to even become one." I was prepared for anything like 'I wana be a doctor, a scientist, a dancer'…even 'I want to be a hooker', but a State Alchemist that was way over my head.

"Oh," she said, and her head sunk, as she gave me that dreaded look.

Crap, Not the wounded puppy look. No I can't give in. I tried, believe me…I tried, but I succumb to the look long before she even started to give it…I cracked. Cracked like a nut in a nut cracker.

"Hold on," I said. Her head slightly rose.

"If that's what you really want to be I can teach you some then I can find you a teacher." She had this big grin on her face and glomped me.

"Thank you brother," she said with joy.

As more time passed I could see that that was what she wanted, to be wasn't like a spure of the moment thing. I did find a teacher, an ex-State Alchemist by the name of Gildas Conway. He was a decent guy, but after he finished teaching her one day he grabbed my ass. That lead me to kick the crap out of him, after that I gave him a little threat.

"Try that again, and I'll make it so you can only eat with a straw." He ran away fast yelling

"Yes sir, it will never happen again!" This all happened with out Lilly's knowledge or she would make it so he could only eat with a straw. So mum was the word.

Her alchemy training ended with him when she was fourteen, 'cause he did it again. Trust me, that was the first time I ever felt happy that I had three broken ribs, a sprain, and several cuts to my arms legs and head concussion…plus a sore ass now that I remember, Lilly was the one who saw to that. That brat had quite the kick. Reason being was that she started two years ago learning how to do martial arts…lucky me.

"You idiot!" She yelled throwing the washcloth at my face. I was sitting on my bed; the doctor had left only minutes before. She glared at me.

"You should have told me he was doing that," she said. And then added "Plus you should had fired him the first time, not beat the hell out of him."

"Hey," I said calmly like nothing had happened, "watch your language missy."

"Don't change the subject Eddy," she said looking like she wanted to take a good couple cracks at me. Moi! Change the subject. Never. She stormed out of the room to cool off; I knew I heard something breaking followed buy a damn it from Lilly.

"Lill, like I said before watch your language," and added "what happened?" Then silence followed by the sound of chalk against wood and then the sound of alchemic sparks; I knew it, what ever she broke she had just fixed it.

Her alchemy had really improved, but I had two pressing matters. One, was I had to turn in my latest column by tomorrow for the paper. Two, was finding Lilly a new teacher.

Crap what a mess I'm in.

I sighed and said,

"Lill, I need my notebook, a pen, and something hard to write on…and no suit cases this time." Her foot steps became loud as she went past my door and then died away into the distance. About two minutes latter she came back into my room with what I asked for. She handed them to me.

"Eddy…" her voice full of remorse. "Look, Eddy, I'm sorry I got angry. Do you forgive me?" The kid meant it to. She never once in her life meant to cause me harm in any way, shape, or form. I sighed and beckend her to come closer, she did, and then I patted her head. My body would be in even more pain then it was in if I hugged her.

"Kiddo," I said smiling at her. "Look. I know , you realize anger comes and goes, and you know every body gets angry…like I did with Conway today…Just don't go giving people a bloody nose and a cracked jaw when your angry." She laughed and kissed me on the cheek.

As she left the room she turned around and said to me, "Get better, okay." I spoke to her before she left.

"Lill, when I'm done give my column to Mr. Leminston. Okay."

She smiled, and said, as she closed the door, "okay."