AN: The characters and concepts of FullMetal Alchemist belong to Hiromu Arakawa. This story revolves around the first anime of FullMetal Alchemist, not the manga. Do not flame because of that small difference, I've read the manga and seen the real anime that follows it, but the first anime is what captured my heart about FMA, so this story is tribute. Enjoy the story. The lyrics below are from the song "Read All About It Part III" by Emeli Sande, I do not own the lyrics to the song. - Carrie.

You've got the words to change a nation,
But you're biting your tongue.
You've spent a lifetime stuck in silence,
Afraid you'll say something wrong.
If no one ever hears it how we gonna learn your song?
You've got a heart as loud as lions,
So why let your voice be tamed?
Maybe we're a little different,
There's no need to be ashamed.
You've got the light to fight the shadows,
So stop hiding it away.

-Past-

The girl cries out as her face presses against the floor. She rolls her eyes upward, only able to see the foot pressing down on her cheek. "Can I eat her," a high pitched voice trills from nearby. Her heart beats faster, echoing in her ears. "No, Gluttony, you've eaten enough today," a woman's voice chastises. The girl's gaze stares forward, an older man's torso visible in the moonlight. The pressure on her head releases and she sits up, tears streaming down her face. "Are we supposed to do anything with her, Envy," the woman questions. She has a bright red tattoo in the center of her chest. The dress she wears hugs her curvaceous figure, long black gloves cover her arms and hands. The figure she called Envy shrugs. It sweeps some of the long green hair away from its face. While the body shape is masculine, the way the body moves and the voice sound feminine. "Leave her, she isn't worth it," Envy smirks.

Hot breath bounces off the back of her neck. "Just a taste," the voice from before echoes in her ear. The girl elbows the person in the stomach, twisting away toward the center of the ballroom. "That hurt," the large figure whines, sticking a round finger in his mouth. "Gluttony, leave her alone," Lust rolls her eyes and beckons for the big one. He nods his head and waddles toward her. They begin to leave the open ballroom. Carlina picks up a rock near her foot, throwing it at the figure with the green hair. The rock bounces off the back of its head. Envy turns around, glaring as the girl picks up another rock. "Why, why would you do this," the girl stands up straighter, her legs trembling. "We were looking for your special guest, but he wasn't here. The rest were casualties of war. If you want to be mad at anyone, be mad at him. If he was here, your family might have lived," Envy laughs and shakes his head, "Kidding. Even if he was here, they would have died anyway. If I find you blabbing about this to anyone, you won't be so lucky the next time we see you."

The three turn and leave the ballroom. Dropping the rock that was in her hand, the girl turns to observe the massacre. Her extended family members' bodies lay across the floor in various positions. She sees her older brother's body impaled on one of the front window panes. Her older sisters lie closer to the large double doors. Stepping with care through the carnage, she makes her way to the center of the ballroom. Her parents lay with her mother on top of her father. From what she can see through the blood on her father's chest, long gauges extend from his waist to his neck. A large bite mark shows on her mother's body, missing part of her stomach and leg. Her bright green eyes stare into her mother's dull blue ones, and she falls to her knees.

Sobbing, she pulls her mother's body close to her chest. Blood leaks on to her gold ball gown, soaking in to the fabric. "Carlina," a voice calls her name. She drops her mother's body, scanning the room. Ten feet away lies her younger cousin, the girl missing the bottom half of her legs. The same bite marks are visible that were visible on her mother. "I don't want to die," the younger girl cries. Her white hair and porcelain skin show bright flecks of blood. The blue dress she was wearing has similar blood splatter patterns. Her red eyes droop as Carlina scoops the girl up in her arms. "You aren't going to die, you hear me? Hold on," she runs out of the ballroom with her younger cousin.

Her chest tightens as she sits on the doctor's couch. "I'm sorry, we did what we could," the older man comes out of one of the back rooms. He takes his gloves off, polishing his glasses before looking at the girl. "You're one of the Joihanson children, right? What happened," he kneels before the girl. Carlina stares at the floorboards, clenching the fabric of her dress in her hands. "Why did she die," she refuses to look at the doctor. "Blood loss, it seems. If she came sooner there may have been something we could have done. There isn't anything wrong with how you reacted, it wasn't quick enough for her," the man shakes his head. "So, it's my fault," Carlina turns her wide eyes toward the doctor. "I never said that young lady- wait, stop! I need to call the authorities," the man stands as the girl runs out of his house.

-Present-

Jolting awake, the girl presses a hand against her cheek. She feels the dry tear streaks on her skin, proving she was remembering the whole ordeal. Taking a few moments to gain her bearings, she swings her legs over the side of the bed. Her head throbs in protest to her movements. The room spins and blurs around her as she gets to her feet. Feeling sick in the pit of her stomach, she tries to remember the previous night. The events of the Elric brothers come flooding back to her. Looking out her bedroom window, she sees it is sometime in the late afternoon. "Did I speak," she experiments out loud. Although her throat feels the strain, her voice is less raspy and shaky than it was the night before. She touches her fingers to her lips, smiling.

Her smile grows as she walks over to her wardrobe, rifling through for clothes. She pulls on a black tank top and yellow cargo pants. She takes a long yellow duster out from back of the closet. Her fingers run over the black insignia embroidered on the back. Realizing their guests already saw her automail, she folds the jacket back in the closet. Stretching out her sore limbs, she catches a glimpse of herself in the mirror. Her fingers run through the light pink tangles in her hair. Brushing out the knots, she twirls her hair into a large bun. She tucks the few loose strands behind her ears before leaving her room. On the balls of her feet, she climbs down the stairs, trying to be as quiet as she can.

Reaching the doorway of the living room, she pokes her head around the door frame. Winry sleeps on the couch, her feet lying on Ed's lap. Edward's head bobs as he begins to doze off. The girl's stomach churns, realizing how hungry she is. She turns to grab food in the kitchen, freezing as she hears armor moving in the next room. Al rises from the floor, taking a step toward her. The girl puts a finger to her lips, shaking her head at him. "Brother, Winry, she's awake," Al turns back toward the two on the couch. Carlina presses herself against the wall in the hallway. She hears the other occupants stir within the living room. "Al, what are you talking about," Winry's sleep-laden voice drifts from the couch. "She disappeared, but she was standing there a second ago," the younger Elric points toward the door. Carlina stiffens in place as footsteps approach the doorway. Ed's face pops around the side of the door, causing her to shout in alarm. Their faces remain close together, both teens flushing scarlet.

"Uh, can I, get you anything," she stammers, backing away from Ed. He opens his mouth to answer but cuts off as Winry bounces around the corner. She tackles the other girl to the floor, sobbing. Winry buries her face in Carlina's chest. The smaller girl wraps her arms around her friend, rubbing her back. "Hey Winry. Oh, please don't cry, you're making me feel bad. Hey, please stop," she whispers to the other girl, frowning. The blond begins crying harder. Carlina stares up at the brothers in bewilderment. "I'm sure she's happy that you're speaking again," Ed speaks. He shifts, uncomfortable at the sight of Winry crying. Carlina nods, propping herself up on her elbows. Brushing the hair out of her friend's face, she chuckles. "Come on, please stop crying. The longer you do it, the worse I'm going to feel. Plus, you're crushing me," she cracks a playful smile.

Winry cheers up a little, wiping her eyes before hugging her friend around the waist. Carlina ruffles her hair again, pulling the other girl off the floor with her. "Well, I'm starving and I'm going to make her some tea. You guys should come. I'll make something for you as well," she smiles at the brothers as she steers Winry toward the kitchen. The teenagers enter the kitchen to find Pinako sitting at the table with a mug of coffee in her hands. Pinako smiles, taking a sip from her mug while gazing at Carlina. "When Winry told me you were speaking again, I couldn't believe it. Hearing your voice again is wonderful. It almost feels like nothing has changed since you were playing with Winry in the garden," she puts her mug down. Carlina smiles from ear to ear, turning around to begin fixing tea.

"You know Granny, something Winry said yesterday set off sparks for me. It was already building before the Elrics arrived. I guess you could say their arrival helped push things," the girl speaks while boiling water for the tea. The Elrics sit across the table from Winry, Pinako sitting at the head of the table. Carlina sets the mugs with leaves on the table. Al pushes his mug away, "I'm sorry, I'm not thirsty." "Oh, sorry, it's my fault for assuming," the pinkette takes the spare mug away. "So, what were you thinking," Pinako raises an eyebrow as Carlina smiles down at the floorboards. "Well, she was teasing me about my hair again. The dye, the expense of upkeep, how often I have to redye it. She was telling me I should pick up some spare work around town," she carries the kettle to the table. Filling the mugs, she brings a small milk bottle and the sugar bowl to the table. She sits at the other end, across from Pinako.

The woman gestures for the girl to continue speaking. Pouring milk and sugar into her tea, Carlina stirs while thinking. "If I woke up mute again today, I wouldn't have a lot of options. Although some of these people would give me work, not speaking would give me limits. Even if they hired me, I would have difficulties. Today I have my voice again. Now I can actually get a job, and there are a lot of things I know how to do since I've been living here," she takes a small sip. Silence hangs in the room. Pinako rubs her face, "I imagine there must be a catch, since you won't say anything outright." More silence settles as the girl bites her lip. She opens her mouth to speak, but takes a sip of her tea instead.

Setting her mug on the table again, she stares into the liquid. "There isn't a catch, so to say. It's a tough decision to make. I know a lot about sales, repairs, money, and business that I could help run the shop. I thought about it, but I know I lack the experience and drive to craft good automail. Since I have automail of my own, that gives me limitations for actually working on automail on my own," she sighs. Laying her automail arm on the table, she flexes the fingers, "I could work for someone else in the area. Depending on what kind of business it is, it wouldn't be betrayal. If I worked to support anyone else's livelihood, I would still feel bad for not supporting the household."

She looks up as she feels a hand rest on top of her forearm. Winry smiles at her, squeezing her automail with her hand. "I know I wouldn't think of it like that, and I'm sure Granny wouldn't either," she smiles. Carlina nods, tucking loose hairs behind her ear with her automail hand. She cups her hands around her mug, staring back at the contents. "Thinking about it, it hit me. It was so vivid, like an epiphany. I don't know how I can describe how perfect it is. It struck something deep in my soul, I felt like crying because it felt right. I know how to make myself money, to not be a burden, to carry myself," her face breaks into a smile again. Taken aback by the passion in her friend's voice, Winry shifts in her chair. "So then, what was so perfect it made you feel that way," she takes a sip of her tea while waiting for a response. "I'm going to become a State Alchemist," Carlina looks up in excitement. Winry covers her mouth as she spits some of her tea out. Ed and Al jump to their feet in alarm. Pinako looks up at Carlina, stoic.

AN: Two Chapters in 24 hours! Is it a miracle! No, it's me making up for lost time. -Carrie