It was a perfect sunny day. So why were the ever so famous Elric Brothers in the office of Mustang? Well let's find out.
"Brother, what do you think he wants us here for?" asked Alphonse, the younger, but taller brother. Ed sat in one of the chairs in front of the desk. "Who knows, Al" he simply replied. They heard the door open and close. "Oh, hello boys. How are you today?" said a tall man with jet black hair. Ed only grunted. Mustang smiled a little and sat down at his desk. "I bet you two are wondering why you're in here today." He started. "Yeah, yeah, get on with it, pops." Ed interrupted. Mustang nodded. "This mission is the most important yet. I want you two to teach alchemy." "Please sir, if I may interrupt. But we're not teachers." Said Al. "Now you are. I want you two to teach my daughter. I will give you a place. A nice cabin by a lake to teacher her everything she needs to know. This will go on for the summer." He continued. "Great and I thought one was enough." Ed thought. "We're not babysitters." Ed said. Mustang was getting a little impatient. "She knows how to use alchemy, but she's just needs more help. And who better than to help her than the Full Metal Alchemist." Mustang finished.
There was a knock on the door. "Enter" Mustang said. The door opened. Ed and Al turned to see who it was. It was a young girl with jet black hair and red bangs. Her hair was in a neat bun and she wore a military uniform. She saluted. Mustang nodded his head and she placed her arms at her side. "Edward, Alphonse, I would like you to meet Ashton, my daughter. One day she will be a state alchemist, right?" The girl only looked at the ground. Ed studied her face. She looked ignorant, yet so young, maybe around 15. She was maybe one inch taller than he was, but he wasn't going to say that aloud. "Ashton, this is the Elric Brothers. Alphonse and Edward, the Full Metal Alchemist. You can learn a lot from these two. Ed, Al, you will meet her a week at the cabin in a week from today. Teach her well. But now if you excuse me I have to be some where." Mustang said as he stood up and headed towards the door. "But Dad..." the girl started. Her father looked at her. "I I mean sir…" she corrected herself. "I can't talk right now. Maybe later." He said as he slipped through the door. Ashton looked around the room, trying to ignore Ed and Al. There were pictures around the office. They were pictures of her as a little girl. "So… are these pictures of you?" Al asked, trying to break the silence. "Yes, well I'll see you at the cabin. Goodbye" she said and ran out of the door.
Al and Ed sat in the room for awhile. "What do you think is wrong with her brother?" Al asked. "I don't know, Al. How would you feel of your father had finally put pictures of you around his office and you couldn't even call him "Dad"?" Ed answered. Al said nothing. Ed got up and left the office, Al followed.
The train roared into the station of a small village. Ed and Al got off and started to walk down the path that lead them to a small lake. "What do you think it's going to be like teaching, brother?" Al asked. Ed only shrugged. He was tired of playing Mustang's games. Always traveling to other places for "missions". But he did get to find information about the Philosopher's Stone.
Soon an empty cabin came into view. As the brothers neared it, they noticed that it was dark inside. Al looked at Ed in question. They started to run. Ed opened to the door and looked around. Everything seemed to be okay. Al went to the table and picked up a piece of paper. "Hey Ed, look." He said. Ed took the paper and read it. It said.
"Dear Elrics, or what ever you want me to call you. I went into the village for groceries. I should be back soon.
Ashton"
"Well I see you two are here." Said a voice in the door way. Ed turned to see his pupil. Her hair was down and she wore a strapped black shirt and low baggy green pants and she had what seemed like black and red shoes. She carried the groceries to the counter and started to take them out. "Feel free to take a look around if you want. I'll get dinner started." She said.
Al looked at Ed and Ed looked at Ashton. "Well, first thing is first. We're gonna be together for the summer so let's get to know each other." He said. Ashton paused and then continued unloading the groceries. "Edward Elric, aka Full Metal Alchemist, became a state alchemist at the age of 12. Alphonse Elric, Brother of Full Metal, walking suit of armor… well other stuff that I don't want to mention." Ed stood there, eyes wide. Ashton turned to face him. "What? I read some of my dad's files." She simply said. "Well what about you?" Al asked. Ashton's eyes went dull. "Daughter of Colonel Mustang. What else is there to be known?" she said. "So do you really want to become a state alchemist?" Ed asked as he sat on a chair. "I want to become a better alchemist." She answered. Ed decided to leave that subject alone for a little while. Ashton placed a pan on the stove, added water, and put it to boil.
Ed waited for the steam to show. "So, uh, Ashton, what's on the menu?" he asked. Ashton smiled. "Call me Ash. And we're having Salmon, salad, crescents, and dessert. That's going to be a surprise." She winked as she finished her sentence. Ed's mouth watered as he replayed the menu in his head. Al looked at Ashton. "You like to cook, don't you?" he asked her. Ashton's smile grew wider. "Well, yeah, it's fun." She said. Ed sat there, wondering why Ashton seemed so against her father's wishes. "Call me when dinner's ready." He said as he walked out of the cabin.
Ed walked around. "How is this going to get us closer to the Philosopher's Stone?" Ed asked himself. Ed took a deep breathe. "Hey! Ed!" Ashton called. He turned around to see her smiling and waving. Then he heard his stomach growl. "Heh, just in time." He said. He returned to the cabin. Ed looked at the table. It was full of food. He sat down. "Well, what are you waiting for? Dig in!" Ashton said. Ed's eyes glowed as he started eating. He grabbed what ever he could reach. Ashton sat there surprised how a little guy could eat so much. "Brother" Al said. Ed stopped and looked at Al. "Have you forgotten your manners?" he asked. Ed turned to Ashton. A few seconds went by before she started laughing. "No, it's alright. At least I know someone likes my cooking." She said.
A knock was heard on the door. Ashton got up and answered it. There was a lady with two children, a boy and a girl. "Oh, hello." Ashton said. The woman answered. "Oh, excuse me, are you the new neighbors?" Ashton nodded. "For the time being." She said. The woman smiled and showed Ashton a jar. Ashton looked at it and took it. "It's syrup, for whenever you have a sweet tooth or mix in with your tea when ever you have a cold." She said. Ashton thanked her. She smiled at the children. "You'll come play with us, right?" the little girl asked. The woman looked at the girl. "Now, Wendy…" she started to say. "Wendy… That's your name?" Ashton asked. The girl nodded. "And that's Neo." She said, pointing to her brother. "Well, Wendy, Neo, I'm going to be busy, but I'll try to come when ever I can." Ashton said. The children giggled. They left and Ashton returned to the kitchen.
"She's nice. Maybe it won't be so bad teaching her." Ed thought. Ashton sat down and continued to eat quietly. "Who was that Ash?" Al asked. Ashton put down her fork as she finished. "It was a family next door greeting us. She brought us a jar of syrup." She said. As Ed and Ash finished eating, Ash cleared the table and washed the dishes. "So, Ash, did your dad teach you alchemy?" Al asked, trying to start a conversation. Ashton's expression changed. Ed decided to answer for her. "How can she learn from someone who is never around?" "I'm going to bed, good night." Ashton said and left.