This chapter is inspired by Emily Osment's song "Marisol." off of her second album "Fight of Flight" Schuylkill Falls and Cornwall Ridge are both representing Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Alchemist Chronicles

Chapter 2: Marisol

Schuylkill Falls, Creta

Schuylkill Falls, a city that is east of Cornwall Ridge. Both are in the east within Creta. Even though Schuylkill Falls is closer to Table City than Cornwall Ridge, it is still several miles, walking or by car, either way. The cities themselves really aren't known for anything special, other than the events that take place in the middle throughout the years on many holidays, the middle is known as Market Square to the local community.

1909, Schuylkill Falls and Table City, Creta

The light of dusk shines in the distance as the school bell rings signaling another end of a school day. Kids are rushing to get out the door as soon as it flew open. Two girls, Roxy, a 10-year-old girl who had dirty blonde hair, gray eyes and ivory colored skin and Tiana, 8 yrs old, the other young lady who had jet-black hair, eyes, and caramel colored skin, waited patiently for their friend to exit out of the school as well.

Ti - "Jeez, what's taking her so LONG!"

Roxy - "She probably fell down down the steps again, rememba last time?"

They look at each other before bursting out laughing, clutching their stomachs.

Both - "AH HAHAHAHahaha!"

Roxy - "Rememba her face when she looked up and seen us!"

Tiana - "I know! It was hilarious!" Both laughing at the memory of their friend's embarrassing moment until they heard footsteps. Calming themselves down to see their friend stepping out of the doorway.

Roxy - "Hey Marisol! Over here!"

Marisol, 9 yrs old, brown-chestnut colored hair with dark brown eyes and light-tan colored skin, looks over and sees her two friends. She squeals happily as she runs toward them.

The Next Morning

The three of them agreed to meet at the edge of town near the embankment that leads to the three separate bridges that will eventually take them into Table City.

Ti - "So why are we here again?"

Roxy - "I told you already. My father lives there. And I wanna see him before he permanently moves to Amestris." (sighing) " I need him to answer my questions ya know." Ari and Ti nod their head understandingly.

Ari - "Lets get moving then."

Following Roxy's lead, while she's holding a map, they make it to the city by late afternoon. Staying in the alleyways or just casually walking next to people, trying to blend in, nighttime comes when they find an abandoned store with the back door unlocked, they enter inside.

Changing into some clothes that they found in there, spending the rest of the night there and deciding to wait until the afternoon since at dawn they noticed several soldiers walking by and putting down what appeared to be marks or bookings on the ground outside, to hear seconds later explosions and gunfire go off.

Turns out, not only were they in middle of a fight zone between Creta and Amestris over Milos, but they were also on the brink of where some Amestrian soldiers took control over some of the buildings, including the one that they were in now. Footsteps, that sound like they are directly outside, just waiting to kick down the door at any moment.

Ari - "Roxy, I'm scared." she says as tears began falling down her eyes.

Ti - "Roxy, we need to go. I'm scared too Ari." Holding onto her friend who's shaking uncontrollably out of fear.

Roxy - "Damn it. It's not fair! I need-no- I want to see him!" she yells.

A bang on the door scares them as they run around the room, trying to look for places to hide. Roxy hides in a box in the closet, and Tiana hides under the bed, that's in the corner of the room. Ari on the other hand, stands still shaking, holding onto herself..

Roxy - "Damn it, Marisol! Hide!"

Ari - "I c-can't move! I'm too scared Roxy!"

'Click' Just then the door opens up. A woman in military uniform enters and spots Marisol standing in middle of the room. Pacing herself, she slowly walks towards her.

Soldier - "Hey there little one, what are you doing in here? Where is your mommy or daddy?"

Ari, who is still sniffling and rubbing her eyes. "They're both gone." Her lips start to curl up again.

Soldier - Taking a deep breath, she says "Don't cry. Are you hungry?" Marisol nods her head. "There's a shelter over near the train station that is right across the street from a clinic. I can walk you over to there if you'll let me. Are you injured? Are you hurt anywhere?"

Ari looks down and points to her chest "My heart." (both Roxy and Tiana bite their lip.) The female soldier gasps, surprised by the little girl's answer. Quickly collecting herself, the soldier introduces herself.

Soldier - "I'm sorry, I haven't even introduced myself, I'm Rosalita Hidalgo, but I'll let you call me Rosa, ok?" She says winking at Marisol, causing the little girl to smile and giggle a little. "You have a beautiful smile. You should show it more often." Marisol blushes a little. "What's your name?"

Ari - "It's Marisol."

Rosa - "That's a beautiful name, for a pretty little girl." Marisol giggles again. Rosa smiles then says. "Come on why don't I take you to get something to eat." She says as she lays out her hand for Marisol to grab, she does and the two began walking out until Marisol lets go. Rosa turns around, looking confused. "What's wrong?"

Marisol - "Well you see-its just-I mean..." As she looks at the closet and then looks at the bed.

The door then flies open. "2nd Lieutenant Hidalgo! Are you in here! We need y-lose the kid, we have trouble!"

Rosa - "ARE YOU KIDDING ME, Private Simmons! I can't just leave this little girl here alone. Is there still space at the shelter or the clinic?" (no) He nods his head. "DAMMIT! Alright Plan C then." "Wh-what!" "Come on! Move it!" As she pulls Marisol out of the door with her, with Private Simmons following her.

Walking out of the front door, Marisol notices several of soldiers lined up and standing straight with one of their arms shaped like a boomerang with their hands together like they are about to chop something, she stares confusingly them. Rosa notices Marisol's facial expressions and smiles.

They make it to the train station and Private Simmons notices his little brother, Jake is there. Rosa nods to him to go on ahead. He catches up to his brother. "What are you doing here, Jake?" "Jason! Hey, Bro!" "Don't hey bro me! I don't want you here! It's dangerous!"

Then he gets an idea. "Hey, Boss!" As he turns around and she's talking to a train attendant while holding two train tickets. He walks up to her. She doesn't say anything at first but instead hands him the tickets.

Rosa - "Here. Take these. Both Jake and Marisol are getting on the train to Central together, whether they want to or not." She bends down. "Listen Marisol. I want you to go with Jake over there. You and him are gonna get on that train, ok. Don't worry he will protect you... Private Simmons!" She stands and nods in his direction again. "Yes, sir." He walks back to Jake, while one of his hands is holding Marisol. Ari stops to look back at Rosa.

Ari - "Thank you beautiful!" She says as she waves goodbye to Rosa. 2nd Lieutenant Rosalita Hidalgo couldn't hold back the smile that spread across her lips at that moment even if she wanted to.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After waiting a few moments, Roxy and Tiana both crawl out their hiding spaces. Tiana stands up, stomping over to Roxy as she herself steps out of the closet.

Ti - "CAN YOU BELIEVE HER! She just left us here!"

Roxy - "You didn't see her face when she was trying to tell that lady that we were here with her!"

Ti - "HOW CAN YOU DEFEND HER! Are you serious!"

Roxy - "Tiana. It's Marisol we're talking about. Do you seriously think that she will leave us behind?' Ti bites her bottom lip.

Ti - "I hope your right, Roxy." As the both of them look at the door, waiting and hoping that she will come back at any minute.

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Central, Amestris: Several hours later

When Jake and Marisol arrive at Central's Train Station, he grabs her hand. "Come on, my brother's apartment is just a few blocks away. I heard your tummy growling before we got off the train so I know for sure that you're hungry." He looks behind him at her and sees her looking 'bummed' about something. He stops walking and turns around to face her. "Hey Ari, what's the matter?"

Ari - "My friends. They were in that place with me but they were hiding when Rosa showed up. I was trying to tell her but. Iwasshejustandthenwhenthedooropened...I just." He interrupts. "Wow, you talk fast for a girl." She glares at him. He smirks. Then her stomach growls again, his soon follows afterward, causing the both of them to laugh. Relaxing, he says. "Come on, let's get us something to eat." She nods and they resume walking.

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{Flashback begins}

Bradley - "Adam Wilson. Responsible for what is believed to be about 14-17 deaths of children in the past 7 years. Victims not only from Central itself but from the east and west as well. He is not an Alchemist, but do not underestimate him. He only targets children believed to be at 5-13 years of age. My son Selim falls within the age group. There were reported and confirmed sightings of him in Central as of yesterday. Do Not Fail. That is all. The two of you are dismissed."

Dismissing both Hakuro and Mustang. "Yes, Sir!" They respectfully salute, then turn to leave.

{Flashback ends}

Just several blocks away, A hooded man is running down a street until a group of soldiers blocks the end. He turns around hoping for another exit, only to see Colonel Hakuro and his team standing there.

Hakuro - "Adam! We have you surrounded! Surrender Now!" yells, as his squadron gathers around, in a distinct formation, surrounding the area.

Adam - "Well Hakuro, it's so nice of you to bring me an audience. I always love creating a show for the viewers."

Hakuro - "Just what in the hell are you going on about Adam."

Adam, who starts laughing. "Hahaha. Oh, tonight is just the perfect time for me to seek out a new prey, eh Hakuro." Turning his head to the side, he makes out an alleyway close by. Turning his head back facing Hakuro, he continues. "Such a shame that you won't be able to see it when it starts." With that, he throws a smoke grenade on the cement in front of himself.

Hakuro - "FIRE!" He yells. The soldiers begin shooting at their target. Moments go by. "Stop shooting!" They stop, lowering their weapons. When the smoke clears, Adam is gone. "DAMMIT!" he yells.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Jake stops. Ari asks. "Are you ok?" Letting go of her hand, he starts trembling. "Why is it so cold all of a sudden?" A shadow looms from overhead. They look up.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After just spotting their target. They follow him. "Sir!" "I know! I know!" ... BANG! The sound of a gunshot is heard close by. They run down the street, turn the corner and see the suspect holding a gun and holding Marisol by the back of her jacket. She has blood splattered on her clothing and right next to them, lying on the ground dead, ...Jake.

"Adam Wilson! Let the kid go!" With guns pointed directly at the suspect.

Adam - "Why hello there, Flame Alchemist. It's very nice of you to stop by for a hello."

Lieutenant Colonel Roy Mustang - "Cut the crap, Adam. Let the little girl go. I don't like repeating myself!"

Adam - "And here I thought that you like talking out of your ass Mustang." Roy scowls at Adam. "Hahaha!" He starts laughing. When he stops, he bends down. Still holding onto Ari, he whispers in her ear causing her to start shaking and trembling uncontrollably and she closes her eyes. He then licks the side of her face from her cheek to the top of her forehead.

Ari whispers. "Ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew ew." She starts whimpering, tears falling from her eyes as its happening. Still keeping her eyes closes even when he stops and stands back up.

Roy and his comrades are all making disgusted faces. "WHAT THE FUCK ADAM!" He yells. Riza and a few others shake their heads to erase the image from their minds.

Adam - "Don't get too jealous of her Mustang."

Roy - "I'm not." 'Why is it always the freaks I have to chase and deal with' He says to himself.

Adam smirks directly at Roy as he puts his arm underneath her neck, pressing her closer against him. She slowly opens her eyes, looking directly right at Hawkeye. She starts bawling and crying hysterically. Adam tightens his grip on her neck with arm trying to silence her. "SHUT UP YOU LITTLE BRAT!" She stops, flinching at the volume of his voice.

BANG. BANG. BANG. Bullets fly past Roy, flying right at Adam, as he ducks down pulling Marisol with him.

Hakuro - "Quit stalling Mustang!" He shouts as he and his soldiers catch up to Mustang.

Roy - "Don't shoot or you'll hit the girl! Damn it Hakuro! WHAT THE HELL!" He yells.

Hakuro - "We were ordered to get Adam, not waste our time saving civilians!"

Adam stands back up during the two colonel's spat, still holding onto Marisol. "Well then Hakuro, I'll be happy to take your young child away from you since the kid is wasting your time."

Hakuro - "STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM MY CHILD!"

While Adam and Hakuro are arguing with each other, Marisol is still looking at Hawkeye, waiting for some sort of direction from her. Hawkeye mouths the words "stay strong." Roy catches Riza's dialogue with the young girl. Ari gently nods her head to Hawkeye. Then Adam's grip on her tightens, startling her since she wasn't expecting it.

Ari looks down at the ground. 'She's right. Stay strong Marisol, you will survive. You got this' She tells herself. She takes a deep breath. She pulls her hands up, grabbing onto his arm.

Adam, who begins to feel the little girl's sudden movement against him. 'It's time get the hell out of here' he tells himself "So let me guess Hakuro and Mustang. Bradley sent you two here. Is he really that scared of me that he couldn't come after me himself?"

Hakuro - "I highly doubt that's the case, Adam."

Adam - "Well then, it was fun talking to you two, but I have other plans to attend t-AAAARRRGGHHH!" He screams as Marisol bites him on his arm. "THAT'S IT YOU BITCH!" He yells as he drops his gun and grabs her with both of his hands by the throat and throws her against the wall, head first, knocking her out cold. Then grabbing a flash grenade out of a pocket in his jacket, tossing it on the ground, setting it off, jumping over the wall that was behind him as everyone tries to cover their eyes from the blinding light.

Once the flash dies off, Adam is nowhere in sight and Marisol is on the ground, not moving. Hawkeye puts her gun away, instinctively running to the girl on the ground. Rolling her over and checking her pulse, it's faint but it's there. She also notices the head wound. Roy yells for one of his soldiers to grab a car to take her to the hospital.

Hakuro - "Well Lieutenant Colonel Mustang, I hope you're happy. He got away. Any more blood from any victims that he will kill, falls on your hands." And with that, he walks away.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Waking up in the hospital, the first thing that Marisol sees is a nurse at the corner the room. The nurse looks up. "Oh, your finally awake, little one." "Where am I?" She asks.

"You're in Central Hospital." The nurse says as she walks over to Ari. Helping her sit up. "My name is Joanne, just call me Jojo, I'll be your nurse for your time in the hospital. Just ask me for anything you may need, ok?"

Ari nods her head. "What's your name little one?" Jojo asks. "Its Marisol, but my friends call me Ari." She says as she puts her head down sadly. 'I'm probably never gonna see any of them ever again' She sighs. Then she looks out the window, letting the tears run down her face.

End of Chapter 2