Chapter One- Elf

Roy Mustang slowly began to push his body up but so many hammers were hitting his head, he fell back down defeated. Something powerful was entering him and he didn't know what it was or how to deal with it. It was a massive force so strong he wanted to set himself on fire to make it stop. He hoped that something, someone would make this pain end. He heard light footsteps behind him and a voice spoke. The voice rang sweetly like little bells in Roy's ears and dulled the hammers in his head as the being said, "Poika tuulo' 'kshapsae" and suddenly, the hammers stopped. Roy was able to force his eyes open and his doubled vision saw a woman with a slender face, long white hair, and pointed ears before he passed out.

Roy looked around the white space he was in. He felt like he was in an asylum with no where to go. He found himself wearing white pants and a white button down shirt that was open, exposing his somewhat tanned chest. Distraught, he began to walk when he heard a voice call out to him. "Hawkeye? Where are you?" he called to the voice.

The voice continued to call to him as he kept walking and the more he called with out an answer, he became increasingly paranoid. He finally stopped and called out, "Hawkeye! Riza! Where are you?" A sudden bright flash of light blinded him and in his mind he saw his Lieutenant lying on the ground with two men, one in red and the other in blue, and a woman in pink standing over her. Right before the picture in his mind became fully clear, his eyes snapped open.

He didn't feel any pain as he sat up and he realized that he felt numb all over and rather fat. He looked down at himself to make sure and he breathed a sigh of relief. He looked around him and saw that he was in a seemingly large room. The walls were white with multicolored embellishments traveling up and down the walls and, to Roy's surprise, were glowing. He looked at the bed he was in and couldn't believe how large it was. The low canapy bed he was in was a baby blue and the translucent fabric that hung from the bedposts flew in the breeze coming in from the open terrace.

"Lle tyava quel?"

Roy turned from looking at the terrace and saw the same woman, or at least he thought it was her, who he had seen before he passed out. She repeated her question to him and his insides churned. He felt his mind slowly pull and tug away at the question until it was deciphered.

"Do you feel well?"

"No." Roy responded shocked. How could he understand this odd language but not reply in the same manner? The woman pushed locks of her long white hair behind her ear and Roy immediately noticed that it was long and pointy. He quickly deducted that she wasn't human.

"What are you?" He asked, afraid. He yearned for his gloves and the familiar watchful presence of his First Lieutenant.

"Lle rangwa amin?" The woman asked as she gently pushed Roy back down and his mind was finally able to full analyze her. She had a slender pale face with lavender eyes. Beside her eyes was a gold crescent moon on one side and a gold star by the other eye. Her hands were soft and on her ring finger was a gold ring with a beautiful black stone that Roy didn't recognize. Her dress was a strapless white gown and on her upper arms were gold armlets. Around her neck hung a gold heart necklace and her ears were pierced with two large silver hoops.

Roy felt his insides churn again as they deciphered the odd language. Do you understand me? Ahh, that's what she said. Roy nodded his head yes, hoping she would understand the gesture. She smiled and Roy was relieved she had understood him. She left his side and Roy craned his neck to see where she went. He, however, wasn't able to see her and so he put his head back on the pillow. He heard her hands hit the surface of water and then come back up with a towel that she rung.

She came back over to him and asked "Lle quena i'lambe tel' Eldalie?" Roy felt the churn again but this time it was fast and less resistant than the processing had been before. Do you speak Elvish? Elvish? What was Elvish? Roy shook his head no as she placed the towel on his forehead.

"Amin elea." She got up once again and Roy's insides quickly deciphered the sentence. I see. So amin could possibly mean I and elea could mean see, conjugated of course Roy deducted. The woman returned with a small vial and uncorked it. Roy shook his head vigorously. He did not want any unknown substance entering his body, especially since he had no idea where he was or the woman who was taking care of him.

She nodded yes and said, "Uuma dela." Don't worry, Roy heard in his head. He looked at her face and he thought of what Riza would do in this situation. Trust my gut, that's what she would think. Roy inhaled and exhaled deeply, and then sat up holding his hand out for the vial. The woman gave it to him and in one swig, he drank it. She gently pushed him back down as the warm and soothing liquid traveled down his esophagus. The warmth spread to the rest of his body and he felt relaxed and calmer than he had ever been in his entire life.

"Lle quena i'lambe tel' Eldalie sii'?" Do you speak Elvish now? The woman looked at him hopefully.

"No." Roy responded. He put his hand to his forehead confused. He just spoke in Elvish with out knowing how! He looked at the woman confused.

"Don't worry, the potion I gave you enables you to speak our language. The reason you are able to understand me but not speak to me is because of the magic inside of you. You have come from another world, traveled from your dimension to this one. When people travel dimensions, they sometimes see themselves. They share the same soul but grew up under different circumstances but there is no 'other you' here. However, if you were to live here in Hidus, you would have been an elf which is what you are now. When I first found you all the magic that you should have as an adult elf was entering your body all at once. The magic is still entering your body but I put a numbing spell on you so you wouldn't feel the pain. Now what are your questions?

Roy was astonished. He was translating her words faster and he couldn't believe that not only could he understand and speak in Elvish but that he was one. His thoughts traveled to when she talked about magic and he wondered if his alchemy gloves still worked. His thoughts became jumbled with thoughts about what magic he could do and so he clamed down and decided to ask her one thing at a time.

"May I see a mirror?" He listened to the words form the new language and he was amazed at the way the letters rolled off his tongue. The woman smiled and got up and quickly returned with a simple large round mirror. Roy took it gingerly and nearly dropped it out of shock.

His face was generally the same, even though he could have sworn his face was a bit pointier, and his ears were long and pointy. He looked up at the woman and said "I'm really not human anymore am I?"

The woman's smile disappeared and she took the mirror from him. "You are now an elf and you belong to the elfin race. Your senses have enhanced and you now have a long lifespan. Being called human though, is in the eye of the beholder. What does being human mean to you? Does it necessarily mean you have a short lifespan, no magical powers, and a small heart that beats? Or is being human being kind and courteous to others and helping where help is needed? Do not think that just because your body has changed, your heart has changed as well."

Roy looked at her and he could see that these words came from experience. "I'm sorry Miss, I didn't catch you name. My name is Colonel Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist of Amestris."

"My name is Lady Alvyna, Queen of Hidus. Forgive my rude manners but I thought you would rather have your questions answered than knowing my name. Do you have any other questions?"

"My Lady, when I first came here, gosh I don't even remember how I got here, I was in this white place and I saw someone that I know. I think she came with me to this world but…" Roy let his thought trail as he silently worried about his Lieutenant.

"A woman with blonde hair and sharp reddish brown eyes, correct? Do not fear, she has found traveling companions and they are their way here, to Hidus. When the magic was entering your body, it was ungaurded so I was able to see how you uknowingly sought her with your new magic. I know that you are eager to be reunited with her but I cannot allow you to leave. It is too dangerous for you to travel with untrained magic inside of you. I will teach you how to use your magic when you are well again."

Roy scratched his head and suddenly thought of the Elric brothers for some odd reason. "What about the Elric brothers?" he asked even though he was positive she didn't know who they were.

"The Elric brothers are safe as well. If all goes according to my plan, you should all meet up in the same place. Do not worry about what my plan is, I will tell you when the time comes. For now though," she began as she pushed him back down onto his pillow, "You need more rest. Once the magi settles in, the numbness will be gone. It most likely take the rest of the week for you to fully recover. I will bring you food and other things to occupy yourself with during the day. Please do not attempt to get out of bed. Your body is very weak from the physical and mental strain forced upon it."

"But I don't wanna…go….. t..o…" Roy's protests slowly faded as sleep welcomed him once again.

Roy's eyes fluttered open as the warm sunlight danced its way across his face. He thought about sitting up but decided he was too lazy to get up. His eyes found that a small table had been moved next to him with a plate of fresh fruit, two small pitchers and goblets, three large books, a smaller book which looked more like a journal, some quills, ink, and to Roy's amazement a ballpoint pen. He decided that this was worth getting up for and he heaved his body up and then gently leaned his back on the pillow he had somehow managed to sit up. He took a reddish yellow apple from the plate, rubbed it on his chest and took a bite into it.

He was shocked that while it tasted like an apple, there was a certain unusual sweetness about it. Not only that but he felt happy. Roy licked the side of his mouth with his tongue to get the little piece of juice that missed his mouth. He then looked at the apple curiously, wondering if the apple was bewitched.

"Good morning Sleeping Beauty! I see you've helped your self to the apples from the Great Tree. They have healing properties so if you're feeling happy, then it's working properly." Alvyna walked into the room this time wearing a forest green dress and pulled out a chair that Roy didn't see form the other side of the table.

"Thank you your Highness. If it isn't impolite to ask, what are these books?" Roy asked curiously looking at the stack.

"Do you want wine or water? That's what's in the pitchers. I had the servants send you both in case you wanted both." She asked him, gesturing to the pitchers and ignoring his question.

"Water please but what-"

"Patience is a virtue. You must have patience in all things whether waiting for something you want, learning something new, or in making a proper decision. Always have the patience to think things through before acting upon them." She told him while pouring his water and then pouring wine for herself. She then gestured to the books. "Now, the first will teach you about our language both writing and reading. The second is a book of fairytales that we will use to help you learn. The third is a beginner magic book with simple spells that you can to from your bed. This will help alleviate the stress that your body has from storing all the magic inside of you and you'll have the basics down by the time you are able to walk again. I am confident that you will be able to understand the Elfin language enough to understand the magic book within a day or two. It isn't difficult to understand."

"What's the small book for?" Roy asked pointing to the smaller book.

"A journal for you to keep records of the new things and people you meet here in Hidus and in the rest of Subject. No one from your world has crossed into ours and I thought you might like to document your journey. I brought you quills with black ink and a ballpoint pen because I wasn't sure which one you are more accustomed too. I also brought you another blank book to practice writing the language and take notes. You should also write your journal in Elvish so that it is coded once you get back home and of course, for practice." She took a sip from her goblet and Roy saw the black stone glitter in the sunlight. He found it off that she would display a dark color considereing that it didn't match with anything else.

"My ring? A friend crafted it for me." She said noticing the inquiring look Roy was giving the black stone.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to stare." Roy apologized hurriedly.

"It's alright. Perhaps you'll see him during you time here in Hidus. He's coming to visit me in about three weeks so you'll probably run into each other at some point. So shall we begin?"

Roy looked at her puzzled. "Begin what?"

"Your Elf lessons of course. What else?"

Roy was reminded of his alchemic teacher as Alvyna began to tutor him in the Elfin language. She told him that Subject was a world made up of the continents Math, Science, Arts, Literature, and Social Studies. Hidus was already established when the other continents became civilized. While Roy found it odd that there was a world named after school subjects, he also found it interesting and wanted to go out and see it for himself. Alvyna however made sure he stayed in bed. She taught him rigorously and he was quickly learning. His mind had not had something so interesting and intricate to learn since he stopped studying under Riza's father. The weeks passed quickly as Roy began to learn more of the language and a few magic spells. Like Alvyna said, his body felt relived after he performed a spell even though he was still almost completely numb.

After about two weeks, Alvyna let him out of bed and when he wasn't studying, he took the journal the elf queen had given him and wandered around the palace writing everything insight down. He had never been more excited to learn and he was able to go into town and visit with the natives. They were very kind to him and taught him elfin customs and culture. They always held a bright image on their faces and made Roy feel like he was really one of them. The boys his age in the village taught him how to shoot an arrow and how to use a sword. Another thing Roy liked was the women of the town. Everywhere he turned, save the married women, was a gorgeous woman who would bat her eyelashes or give him a haughty look daring him to come over and talk. Alvyna had unfortunately made it very clear that Elfin women did not date casually although they flirted in that manner. Male elves were expected to court only if they were serious about marriage.

Roy most certainly wasn't ready for marriage but as his lessons with Alvyna continued, he found himself trying to impress her through his lessons and thoughts of the Elric brothers and Hawkeye became fleeting. He had heard that she was already being courted but he had yet to see him. He assumed it was her odd visitor that he never got to see but why would he only stay for a week or two and then leave if he was serious about her? The thought of it made him angry so he tried harder and harder for Alvyna's affections.

One night while he was sleeping, he was shaken roughly awake. His eyes fluttered open as he groaned "What?"

"Come quickly before we loose the moonlight! It is imperative that we do this now! Don't bother putting fresh clothes on. Hurry up!" The elf Queen dragged him out of bed and his heart raced with hope. Was she taking him somewhere secret so they could be alone? Had she finally noticed his hints and intentions? When they stopped in the courtyard, the center was covered in moonlight. His breath escaped him as he absorbed her image in the moonlight. She was wearing a one-sleeved white dress that cascaded to the floor. Her white hair was put up in bun with ringlets held together by golden sticks with stars on the ends. On her bare arm was a sun armlet and she wore gold moon earrings and a matching necklace. In the moonlight the gold was sparkling giving off a goddess like appearance.

"Alvyna," He said softly his heart beating rapidly. "I lo-"

"Shh. We are not here to waste time. A great magic must be performed tonight." She said sharply cutting him off.

"But-" he protested again but she waved him off gracefully.

"Save it for after. Now, you know of my tiger, Shasha yes? She is my magic keeper and protecter. Very powerful elves have animal guardians that they create themselves. The main magical element they posses is up to the owner and the animal is a reflection of their soul." Alvyna explained.

"I don't think you are like a tiger. You are too kind." He said boldly.

She frowned at his words and he slapped himelsef mentally. "You are young and foolish. Do not speak as if you know me fully. A tiger is magestic and beautiful. It can be peaceful or deadly. There are many sides to a tiger as there are for me." She snapped and Roy's face burned in shame.

"Now, clear your mind. You must put all other thoughts aside. When your mind is clear, think deeply inside yourself as who you are, the people that influence you the most, who mean the most to you."

Roy closed his eyes and struggled to clear his mind of the emotions inside of him and did as she asked. For a minute, he saw nothing but then Breda, then Falman, and Furey and Havoc flashed through his head. Then the Elric brothers and his mother and father, followed by the rest of his realtives. He saw Elysia, Gracia and Hughes and then Black Hayate and the image of Riza's father came to mind. He held a small rare smile on his face and the image was replaced by an image of Riza. She was younger and looked about twelve, the age when Roy first came to study alchemy under he father. She was wearing a white summer dress that was dirtied by the mud stains that also decorated her knees, socks, and her face. But the look that her visage held wasn't of shame after her fathers scolding but instead was proud and seemed ready for anything. Like a slide show, his life with her progressed. As she grew older, the cocky adventurous look slowly dissapreared but the spirit was still there. Then, the horrified look on her face as she saw Roy holding her dying father, the saddened and scarred face at the Ishbal Massacre, the confident and determined look after she swore her loyalty to him.

He would never forget that face. That night, her eyes had been brought back to life, she now had a purpose. With a start, he realized that in his time in Hidus, he had forgotten about Elric brothers and more importantly, her. then, before his thoughts could expand, he felt as though a great force was pulling him to the ground.

"YALA ONNA!"

Roy's eyes snapped open and discovered that he really had fallen and he was on his hands and knees. The looked up at Alvyna but at that moment there was a great beam of light that shot up from the middle of the courtyard and was soon engulfed from the bottom up with a striking red fire. Then, as soon as it appeared, the pillar of fire disappeared for the bottom up. Roy stood up and he was shocked at the sight of Alvyna. She didn't look fresh goddess like as she did before. She look worn and beat and seemed as though she was about to collapse. His thoughts were justified when the Queen began to fall foreward but just as Roy began to move towards her he saw a blur and then, a small boy had caught her and picked her up, her head against his chest.

The boy then stared at Roy, his red eyes in a stony visage boring into Roy's black ones making Roy nervous. Roy quickly concluded that the boy was really a man. He was wearing a black cloak and boots and around his forehead was a white bandana. His hair had a white starburst shape and the rest of his spikey hair was black with hints of blue. Roy realized that this must be Alvyna's odd visitor and the man that was courting her. The man looked down suddenly and Roy was relived to not have the red eyes staring at him anymore.

He saw the man nod and he said in rough elvish. "The egg."

"Pardon?" Roy asked, not sure of what he was talking about. The man's voice had startled him. He hadn't expected such a deep and menacing sounding voice to come from him. What did Alvyna see in him? The vibe Roy got from the short man wasn't the same vibe he got form other elves. Roy wondered if he was form a different race but the vibe felt like warning to him. Should he try and take Alvyna from him? What if she was in danger? He then saw Alvyna's hand gently touch his face and direct it to look at hers. Roy saw the same stony look on his face but his eyes became tender. Maybe he wasn't bad.

"The egg. It's yours. Take care of it." The man roughly stated and he disappeared with the elfin Queen. Roy looked to the center of the courtyard and like the man said, there was an egg. Roy cautiously approached it and squatted down in front of it. He inspected the egg and decided it was safe to touch. He picked it up gently and was startled that it was larger than a normal sized egg. What was also odd was the coloring. It was a bright orange at the bottom and the orange grew lighter and turned into yellow and then at the tip of the egg, into blue just like a flame on a candle. He cradled the egg against his chest and went back to his room. He saw that the servants had put a cushion big enough for the egg to rest saftley by his bed and he figured Alvyna had told them to do so.

He set the egg gently on the cushion and climbed back into bed and tried to sort out what had happened that night. He was a few words away form confessing love to the Queen but she had stopped him. Then when he was seeing the people that mattered to him, Riza came to mind the most. Why was that? He only thought of her as a sister, right? But then when the man had held Alvyna, Roy didn't feel any sort of jealousy. He contributed that to the shock of seeing her worn and beat but why had Riza come to mind so prominently? He tossed and turned fighting over the possibilities until sleep finally overcame him.