(A/N: Well, I know I've started a thing for the Shadow Alchemist before, but it died and I never tried to resurrect it. So, here's a new one with a new beginning and a new plot. I hope this one goes further. Who knows, maybe I'll get past 2 or 3 chapters. Please RnR. I know I've said this before, but the more I get the more encouraged I am to keep on going with it. Enjoy!)
Jessie opened her eyes slowly and took in her surroundings. She was on an old fashioned train. Each car was separated into small private rooms. She was in a cheap sleeping car, and apparently she had fallen asleep. Next she saw the markings on her hands and arms and her heart skipped a beat. Tattoos; she had tattoos spiraling up her arms all the way to her elbows. On the backs of her hands were circles with symbols on them. Alchemy circles. She knew what they were before she could comprehend her knowledge. She shouldn't have alchemy circles, she shouldn't know what they were or what they meant, and, above all else, she shouldn't know how to use them.
She then noticed a note was lying on the seat across from her. She opened it and read the familiar, yet foreign scrawl:
Jess, (the nickname struck a chord)
I congratulate you on becoming a State Alchemist. Take train 103 to Central Station. Two others will be on the train, too. They will be traveling together. One, a Sate Alchemist, just accepted like you, the other a new member of the State Military. They seem inseparable from what I've heard. Go ahead and say hi to them, you'll probably end up working with them. But behave yourself; we don't need another goof off in the military. You and the two others will serve under Lieutenant Colonel Edward Elric, the FullMetal Alchemist. He doesn't take much seriously, but he's a prodigy and gets a lot done when he wants to. He's been in the military about fifteen years; eighteen if you count before he quit.
Another thing, be sure to keep your tattoos hidden. I don't want to have to explain why you have them. It was hard enough to convince them to accept you once they found out you were my daughter. Some people seem unhappy about the fact that my whole living family's in the military. Your mother can't wait to see you. She will be with me, and FullMetal might be coming, too.
We expect great things from you. The only other child accepted into the Military so young was FullMetal. Thirteen, I can't believe it. You've been away four years, and grown so much. Your title will be the Shadow Alchemist. Congratulations again and good luck in the Military.
Fuhrer Roy Mustang
Jessie leaned her head against the wall and let out a sigh. Sheknew all this already, but it wasn't right. She wasn't supposed to be here. Something different was supposed to be.
She shut her eyes and racked her brain; then she remembered. Jessie and her two friends, Yuki Silver and Isabel Thomspon, were walking from school. They did this every day and nothing was out of the ordinary. But suddenly the air seemed to shift and everything changed. Her two friends were still beside her, both schocked. She looked ahead of her and Jessie's heart jumped into her throat when she saw the horrific scene displayed before her.
A giant gate with an eye inscribed in it stood feet taller than her. The gate opened inward, slowly and eerily. Inside, hundres of eyes upened in unison and looked town at the trio. Chills flew through Jessie's body as the eyes seemed to pierce through her. Black fingered strands burst from the gate and wrapped around Jessie, Isabel, and Silver. Jessie let out a cry of terror, but it sank into the darkness and died before anybody could hear it. She was sure her friends were calling too, but could neither hear or shift to see them.
Everything seemed to fade together. Specific memories were gone and all she could remember was pain. Horrible pain that surged through her. She remembered screaming for help, but not being able to hear her own shouts. The pain lasted for a long time, until Jessie blacked out. Then, she woke up on the train.
When Jessie came back to the present, she realized she was shaking. She jumped when somebody knocked on the door. "Yes?" She called through the door. An old woman opened the door and peeked in at Jessie, who had hidden her arms hastily under a coat that lay beside her.
"Do you need anything, miss?" The woman asked.
Jessie forced herself to be calm and act like she actually knew what was going on and why she was here. "Yes, how long until we reach Central?"
"Don't worry, miss, I told you I would get you a few minutes before, so you can prepare. Central's a way off, still."
"Thank you," Jessie said, suddenly remembering what Roy had said in the letter she added, "Also, where are the other two Military members heading to central?"
"They're in the next car over, room five,miss."
"Tell them I'm coming?" Jessie requested.
"Yes, ma'am." The woman said with a small bow.
"Thank you." Jessie said, dismissing the woman. She closed the door, leaving Jessie alone again.
She found a purple colored wrap that was the same shade as her top and shorts, that were also made of a type of wrapping cloth. Jessie slowly and carefully used the thin strip of cloth to cover her whole hand, even her ingers, and wrapped it up to her elbows, where the tattoo ended. She did the same with her other hand and arm then deemed herself safe to go and see the two soldiers. She found black fingerless gloves and hsoes on the floor beside them. She realized that she wore the same cloth wrap around her feet to about her knees. She slid on the shoes and gloves and put the coat on, which didn't have sleeves and fell down to her ankles.
Jessie left her small room and went into the next car. Every car seemed to be identrical: a long hallway, windows to show scenery on the right, and doors to the private rooms on the left. At the end of each car sat somebody like the old woman Jessie had talked to. Their job was to take care of the passengers. Jessie went down to the door that had a five printed on it and knocked.