This is the first real chapter of five that I'm posting all at once - I wanted to put a little more out there than just a prologue to get people interested, especially since these first few chapters are so painfully short! I followed the natural breaks but fair warning, some later chapters will be at least 2x this length!

I also realized it's important to note: this is a sort of mash-up of Brotherhood, the original anime, and the manga. Ultimately it links up with Brotherhood in Liore and continues along that pathway, but it's important to note that now in case anyone hasn't gone through all three mediums. I've done my best to write everything so it'll be accessible to everyone, even if they haven't gotten to every bit of it, but please let me know if anything is unclear!

Anyway, enjoy!


One Year Later

Lissa sat up from the stretches she'd been doing and checked her calendar for the millionth time that morning. According to Mustang, Edward and Alphonse Elric were arriving in Central that day—and she intended to be there, no matter what he said. Because apparently he didn't want her there, for some stupid reason, no doubt.

In the year since meeting the Elrics, Lissa had thrown herself into her studies. She'd heard Edward and Alphonse intended to take their exams and become state alchemists—and if they passed, they'd be the youngest ever. It was enough to encourage her to work that much harder, to prove herself, because she was about to reach a point where she could ask to be assigned permanently as a state alchemist's trainee. Since that night in Resembool, Mustang had been gunning to take her on as his apprentice, but Lissa was not going to let that happen. She would rather go with almost anyone other than him, especially with the image of him shaking fragile, injured Edward by the collar of his shirt burned into her mind. No. No way was she going to be assigned to Roy Mustang.

That was why she had a plan, after all.

Her bunkmate, fifteen-year-old Annie DeMarco, peered down at her over the edge of her top bunk. "Why are you up so early, Caito? It's not even roll call for another hour."

"I'm not going to roll call," Lissa told her bluntly.

DeMarco raised an eyebrow. "You're skipping? Damn. I didn't know you had the stones for it. Fletcher is going to kill you. You realize that, right? He'll kill you, and then turn your body over for Mustang to burn."

Lissa rolled her eyes as she pushed to her feet, jamming her hands on her hips and scowling at the other young alchemist girl. "I'm not afraid of Roy Mustang. Or Vincent Fletcher, for that matter."

"Your funeral."

Ignoring the comment, Lissa bent and began rifling through their shared dresser, looking for the handful of civilian clothes she'd stashed at the bottom of her sock and underwear drawer—the best hiding place she could think of. It wasn't much, just a pair of dark trousers and a big, loose sweater to wear overtop as a shirt, but it would be enough to get her into the train station unnoticed. There was nothing she could do about her military-issued combat boots, but she stuffed a pageboy's cap over her brown curls and hoped that would be enough.

"Well?" she asked, turning to DeMarco and swinging her arms wide. "How do I look?"

DeMarco squinted at her. "Depends. What are you going for?"

"Inconspicuous civilian. At least, inconspicuous enough to get into the train station without some MP noticing me."

"You'll be fine."

Lissa turned back to their small contraband mirror and checked her hair, winding a couple curls around her finger to bring them to order as much as she could. "If Fletcher asks, I was gone before you woke up. Hopefully that'll be enough to put him off my scent, though I bet Mustang will know where I'm going if he hears."

The redheaded alchemist smirked. "So don't get caught. Good luck, Caito. You're gonna need it."

Yeah. More than you know.

Lissa headed out as quietly as she could, sneaking down the hall past Fletcher's office and out the front door, where she knew the cameras were busted. They had been for three years now—it was just for show. It would at least buy her enough time to get away before anybody noticed she was gone, and by then it'd be too late to stop her.

She emerged into a clear, bright morning, and paused at the corner of the street to let the sun warm her face. Lissa didn't like Central that much—she had actually preferred Resembool, even though her memories of that place were tainted. The city felt too crowded, too smoggy, the air heavy and acrid with a tinge of iron she knew now to be blood. Though why she sensed blood here, she had no idea. She'd only realized what it was when she'd returned to Central after visiting Resembool, and had recognized the feeling from the Elrics' house.

It was only a short trolley ride to the train station, but Lissa knew better than to take it. She'd get caught in a heartbeat, some state alchemist would see her and ruin the whole thing. So instead she looped out and around, keeping off the main streets, ducking through alleyways and side streets, more than doubling the time it'd take to reach the station. But she had time. She'd left so early, a couple hours before the train was supposed to arrive, hoping they wouldn't figure out her plan until later.

Until she was already there and it would cause too much of a scene to drag her out. Lissa could scream and scream and make Mustang look like an asshole alchemist trying to kidnap a twelve-year-old girl. She grinned to herself at the thought.

Lissa hurried into the train station just before their train was supposed to arrive, pleased to see nobody was even looking at her twice. So she looked enough like a civilian to pass, at least, which meant her disguise was working. Not that it was much of a disguise, but at least she wasn't wearing the damn military's symbol. That would give her away in seconds.

She paused at the schedule board long enough to find out what platform the train would arrive on, and then headed off into the crowds, for once glad to be shorter than average, just because she was so low down that nobody actually would see her if they looked across the crowd.

Finally, Lissa emerged onto the platform, a bit late—and ducked behind a pillar immediately.

Mustang was there, standing with a handful of other soldiers on a cordoned-off end of the platform where it looked like a few criminals had been apprehended. And there, standing with visible fury on his face, was Edward Elric. She noted he seemed to have all his arms and legs, which meant he'd probably gotten automail. Good. She liked him being back on his feet. Behind him stood Alphonse, uncertain even without an expressive face, while his brother yelled at Mustang, voice carrying even all the way over to Lissa's hiding spot. She couldn't catch everything he said, but she understood the gist of it—Mustang had lied, a year ago, when he told them Edward could take the exam when he wanted. He'd orchestrated an attack on the train just to hold up his offer.

Lissa clenched her teeth as she stepped out from behind the pillar. That was just like him, to offer something he couldn't guarantee and still warp it around in his favor… This was exactly why she wasn't going to be his trainee.

She ducked under the little plastic barrier roping off the area, skirted a couple MPs, and then stepped up beside where Mustang and Hawkeye stood, out of their sight but totally visible to Edward and Alphonse. Then she just waited, hoping desperately they'd recognize her though she'd only met them once, and that had been a whole year ago, during the worst time of their lives…

Alphonse jolted when he saw her. "Lissa?"

"Huh?" Edward looked around in confusion. She knew the moment he'd seen her—because his eyebrows turned down and he began to scowl at her. But why? She'd wondered if he would recognize her or not, but she'd never thought he might…be angry with her.

His brother didn't seem to feel the same way, though. Alphonse jogged over, each step clanking on the tiled floor, and caught Lissa in an enormous metal hug. "It's so good to see you!" he told her cheerily, as he set her down and knelt to her level. His glowing red eyes seemed brighter, happier than before, though nothing visibly had changed.

"Don't talk to her," Edward told him sharply.

Lissa turned to stare at him, stunned. Why was he acting like this? What had she done? She still had an image of him in her head, broken and sad, missing two limbs, looking up at her with those golden eyes…

Alphonse looked around too. "I—but why? What's going on?"

"Don't you get it?" he snapped. "She knew, Al. She knew we wouldn't be allowed to take the exam!"

"What?!" Lissa reared back, angry and shocked all at once. "I didn't! I didn't know anything!"

Edward rolled his eyes. "Yeah, right. You're one of them, aren't you? And you didn't tell us a damn thing. Just—just leave us alone!" He lunged, grabbed Alphonse's arm, and simply dragged him away without another look at her.

Lissa could only stare, stunned, tears brimming in her eyes. He…hadn't even given her a chance.

"I don't believe that's what you expected, coming here. Is it?" Mustang asked quietly, stepping up and resting a hand on her shoulder. "If you had waited like I asked, I could've told you how angry Edward Elric has been since that night. I only told you to wait so you could reintroduce yourself at a better time. Now, though…" He eyed her, looking exasperated. "What exactly did you want from them, Lissandra?"

She bowed her head and wrapped her arms around her own body. "I just…wanted to see them again, that's all."

"And no doubt convince them to take on your assignment once they pass their exams. Is that right?" he asked dryly. "I'm no fool, you know. I'm well aware it's time for you to have a permanent assignment. You were hoping to be assigned to one of the Elric brothers, weren't you?"

Lissa bristled, flinging her hands down at her sides and glaring up at him, suddenly furious. "So what if I was?! It's none of your business! I don't wanna be assigned to you!"

He lifted an eyebrow. "I never said that." Sighing, Mustang tugged on her shoulder and led her away, off the platform and under the police tape. "I'm feeling…generous today, so I'll make you a deal. If you can get back into the Elrics' good graces, then I'll allow you to choose your own assignment after they take their exams, whether they pass or fail. I will put together a selection of appropriate candidates, and you can choose whoever you'd like. But if you fail… If you can't even win those two boys over… Then I'll choose your assignment."

"What about if I do get them to like me again?" Lissa pressed, suddenly seeing an opening she knew he hadn't noticed.

Mustang regarded her curiously. "What do you mean?"

"I mean…" She swallowed hard, tried not to sound so…eager. He would never say yes if she got too excited. "Could I…help them? I've been studying for the exam for five years now, I bet I could really help them, especially since they've only got a few months. I'd do it for a friend, and if they're my friends, then… Plus, don't people say that teaching helps you learn?"

He chuckled at her babbling, so Lissa closed her mouth tightly, embarrassed. But Mustang didn't seem upset by the idea, at least. "People do say that, yes. I suppose it wouldn't hurt for you to assist them—and their training has been quite different from yours. You might learn a thing or two on the way." He nodded and paused, just at the entrance to the station, before kneeling and resting both hands on her shoulders. "Fine, Lissandra. It's Friday now, so you have the weekend off. If you can befriend the Elrics before your classes resume on Monday morning, I'll have you excused from your regular class schedule until they sit for their exams."

Some part of her knew it was too good to be true—but Lissa was too excited about the prospect of being finished with traditional school and alchemy training that she didn't bother thinking it through too hard. "Okay! It's a deal," she agreed, crossing her arms. "Where are they staying?"

"I believe they're being put up at the estate of the Sewing-Life Alchemist, Shou Tucker. Give it a few hours before you drop by, they'll need time to get settled in." Mustang rose and turned to go, leaving her there at the top of the steps—but then he paused and turned back, looking up at her with a strange look on his face. "Good luck, Lissandra. You'll need it."

Why do people keep saying that to me? I'm an alchemist, I can create my own luck.

That evening, just before dinnertime, Lissa stepped through the front gates of the Tucker Estate, a huge, sprawling building with gardens all around, practically shaking in her boots. She only had a few things with her—a backpack with her school uniform and practice clothes, plus all the notes she could find from her years of instruction. That, and the box of pastries she'd picked up on her way, spending most of the money she'd hidden away over time. She just hoped it would help.

Lissa walked up the long front path to the door, and stood there almost shaking in her combat boots, terrified. Her whole future hinged on making friends with the Elrics. Not that she knew why she had to do it again, after what had happened in Resembool… Alphonse had seemed fine with her, it was just Edward who turned his nose up.

Edward… He was so different now from that hurt little boy in the chair. Though, Lissa supposed she was pretty different too.

She steeled herself and knocked hard on the door with her free hand. There was no sense waiting around, after all—standing out here in the dark wouldn't get her answers any faster, and it wouldn't do anything to make Edward Elric like her again.

The door swung open, revealing a middle-aged man with glasses, who smiled down at her like she was a pixie scout. "Well, hello there, young lady. Can I help you?"

Lissa bobbed her head. "Hello. Are you Mr. Shou Tucker?" She waited for his nod before she continued. "My name's Lissa Caito, I'm—a friend of Edward and Alphonse's. I stopped by to see them, I…needed to talk to them about something." She fumbled with her pale pink box of pastries before holding it up helpfully, grinning at him. "I brought some sweets for them, too."

Though… Alphonse can't have any. I'll make it up to him later.

"Oh! The boys are staying here, yes. They've holed up in the library studying—they're quite dedicated young men, aren't they?" Mr. Tucker stepped aside and held his arm out for her. "Come in, Miss Caito. I'll show you to the library."

The inside of the house was dark, much darker than she'd expected. Lissa noticed plenty of darkened rooms as Mr. Tucker led her through the house, as though he were conserving electricity. But why? Wouldn't a prominent alchemist have plenty of money? Mustang always seemed to… And she'd always heard that state alchemists were paid really well for their time and research, with huge military budgets underneath them. Something didn't add up, but she was too focused on her goal to worry about it in the moment.

"Here," he announced warmly. "This is the door to the library. The boys can show you around, if you need anything. Feel free to stay as long as you'd like, Miss Caito." With a wave, Mr. Tucker headed back off into the dark house, leaving Lissa alone outside the library door.

"Okay," she breathed to herself, shifting her backpack strap higher on her shoulder. "You can do this, Lissa. You have to."

With her face contorted in a sort of terrified grimace, Lissa reached out and grasped the doorknob. She turned it all at once, like ripping off a plaster, shoved it open, and stepped inside all in one motion. It was brighter inside, a mixture of lightbulbs and candlelight, and at the center of the decently-sized library sat Edward and Alphonse, both at a table scattered in books, heads bent as they read intensely.

"Um, hi," she greeted softly. When Edward's head shot up and his eyes narrowed, Lissa lifted her box of pastries like it was a shield.

"What do you want?" he demanded.

Alphonse glanced at him. "Brother…don't…"

Lissa peered around the box, biting the inside of her lip to keep from pouting. She was twelve, she didn't pout anymore. "I just…wanted to talk, that's all. I brought sweets too, if—if you want any. They're all for you."

"We don't wanna hear anything you have to say," Edward snapped, and slammed his book shut angrily.

She gritted her teeth. Not again. I'm not going to stand here like an idiot this time. "No, Edward Elric! You're going to listen to me!" Lissa told him harshly. She stalked over and set the pastry box down on their table, for safekeeping—then she crossed to him and pointed her finger right in his face, like she'd seen really big adults do to intimidate each other. "Why would you think I knew anything about what that—that jerk was planning? I was nice to you, I skipped class and risked getting my ass kicked to come see you guys today and you yelled at me! Why—why do you hate me, Edward? What did I do to make you hate me?"

Edward stared up at her with his mouth open, blinking slowly. "W-wait… I don't… You didn't know? But I thought… I mean, you were working with him and…"

Lissa wrinkled her nose. "I do not work with him. Lieutenant Colonel Mustang just likes to drag me around on missions. He didn't even want me at the station today, he specifically told me not to go but I went anyway. Because I…" She swallowed hard and let her arm drop, feeling all the hurt from earlier crash down on her. "I wanted to see you again. Both of you."

"You came out just to see us?" Alphonse asked her softly. "But…you hardly know us."

She shrugged faintly. "So? I can still like you, can't I?"

"But I thought you had to know," Edward pressed her, looking so confused. "You were there when Mustang offered us the chance to take the exam, and you're supposed to take it too, right? How…how did you not know?"

"Because he told me you had a job offer. On the ride to your house from the station in Resembool, he told me that I was there to make being a state alchemist seem less…scary." She twisted her fingers into the sleeve of her sweater and added, "He doesn't tell anybody anything. Especially not me."

Edward's cheeks burned red, his expression shameful. "So you…didn't know? You really came to the station today just to see us?"

"Of course I did, dummy," Lissa muttered, scowling at her feet. "Why else would I go?"

He shifted in his seat and stared down at his lap, his whole face turning bright red. "I dunno… I just thought you were there with Mustang and I thought…you were in on it." He tugged at his braid uncertainly. "I guess it sounds pretty stupid now. Especially after…"

Edward's eyes flicked up at the same time as Lissa's, and as they stared at each other, she knew they were remembering the same moment—a year ago, when she'd gone running into the Rockbells' kitchen to defend him, a boy she'd never even met or seen before, determined to look after him when she didn't know him at all. She still wondered about that, about what exactly had caused her to stand up to Mustang then. It wasn't like she hadn't seen him bully people before. Herself included. And while she stood up for herself, even at the cost of being punished, she'd always hesitated to do it for anyone else before. Why should she when they wouldn't do the same for her?

But seeing Edward like that… Seeing a little boy her own age so sad and hurt and broken from the inside out get hauled up by his collar that way… Lissa had never known rage like that before.

"Resembool," she confirmed softly. "Yeah, after that."

Edward fisted his hands atop the table. "I'm sorry, Lissa. I didn't mean to be an ass today. It's just… This is the only way me and Al can get our bodies back, our real ones. If we don't become state alchemists, then… I don't know what we'll do."

She tapped his shoulder, getting him to look up at her. "Well, you're in luck, then. Mustang did one good thing today—he told me if I could make friends with you two again by Monday, then he'd excuse me from all my classes until you take your exams. So you can call me your new instructor, I guess!"

Alphonse perked right up at that. "You mean you'll help us prepare for the exam?"

"Sure will." Lissa grinned and heaved her backpack onto the table, and began to rummage through it for the notebooks she'd brought.

Edward gave her a skeptical look, though. "You're only twelve, just like me. How can you teach us?"

"Because, dummy, I've been studying for the state alchemy exam for five years, here in Central," Lissa told him, rolling her eyes. "It's the only thing I do. When my parents were killed, the state took me in and offered to teach me in exchange for me becoming a state alchemist and serving as soon as I turn sixteen. I got shipped up here to Central City and put into this sort of academy, it's a facility in the military barracks here. The only thing we do is work on alchemy and study for that exam." She smirked and tossed her notebooks down on the table in front of the boys, watching Edward's eyes widen in shock. "I've got five years of notes for you to look at."

"Woah, this is amazing!" Alphonse breathed, grabbing up her fifth year notebook and flipping through it quickly. "Your notes are so detailed, Lissa. You've got everything in here!"

She sat down beside Edward and crossed her legs under the table, feeling pleased with herself. Mustang didn't know what he was dealing with. She'd already gotten back on good terms with the boys and it was just Friday night. Take that! Now she'd have a few months working with the Elrics—and then she'd get to be placed with a state alchemist and leave Roy Mustang behind for good.

"I also have a specialty," she confided in them, dropping her voice low. Not many people knew she already had a specialty—they took a long time to develop and hone, but she'd been learning since she was four. Eight years of training had given her a big advantage.

Edward grinned proudly. "Me too. Mine's combat metals. What's yours?"

Can I really tell him? I guess I don't have a choice now… And I really think I can trust them. "It's intangible elements."

"Really? Intangibles?" Edward beamed at her across the table. "That's really rare, isn't it?"

She nodded, feeling a bit shy suddenly. Most of the state alchemists knew it from her file—she wasn't actually used to telling anyone on her own. Somehow it was embarrassing this way. "From what I heard, yeah."

He smirked then, his eyes narrowing as he took on a more mischievous expression. "So… Do you think your tutoring involves any sparring, Lissa?"

"Sparring?" She looked at him in surprise. "You wanna spar with me? Nobody ever wants to practice with me, not after they find out what I can do." Lissa glanced around, making sure Mr. Tucker wasn't lurking nearby, and then lowered her voice to add, "I like to draw a transmutation circle on myself before I spar with anyone, too. It means I can do alchemy without needing to make one every time."

"Where'd you get that idea?" Alphonse asked curiously.

Lissa twisted her face up unhappily. "Mustang. He's got these special gloves with transmutation circles on them, it's how he does his flame alchemy without drawing a new circle every time. He's a jerk, but he's got some good ideas, I guess. Not that he knows I got the idea from him."

"That's pretty cool," Edward admitted, his eyes bright. "Maybe I'll do it too, make it even when we spar."

When. He said when. "You really wanna do that, Edward? Even though you know I'm better with intangible elements?"

He grinned with all his teeth. "Sure I do. It'll be fun."

Lissa had to smile back, her heart feeling like it might burst in her chest. Having friends was new and wonderful. "Okay. But later, right now you two should start studying. We've got a lot of work to do before you take the exam."

"Ugh. You're gonna be a freaking hardass, aren't you?" Edward muttered, pressing his hands to his face.

Alphonse patted his shoulder. "Cheer up, brother. At least we've got help."

"The best help there is! Come on, it'll be fun. Way more fun than alchemy school, I promise. Besides," she added, pushing the box of pastries over and flipping the lid up, watching as Edward's eyes went huge, "alchemy school doesn't give you free sweets."

Edward pulled out a cinnamon roll and peeled the outer layer off, then crammed it into his mouth all in one bite. "I think I could get used to this."

Lissa smirked. "When we start sparring, loser has to buy food."

He grinned and shook her hand. "You're on!"