I do not own FMA. Enjoy!
To Roy Mustang,
That is who is reading this, right? It was just today that father told me your name (after refusing to for about a month and only saying as much as 'he's an apprentice coming in the spring'), so I might be remembering wrong- although I'd like to think I'd remember a name as unique as your's. If I am, however, sorry in advance. However, if the person reading this is not Roy Mustang, then please, set the letter down. Really, you shouldn't be reading other people's mail- it's pretty rude. If you are Roy (is it OK if I call you that? I'm sure father will have us using formalities when you come here, so I'd like to try and be as casual as possible before then), then hello. I'm Riza Hawkeye, your teacher's daughter and only child. I'm only twelve (father tells me you're older by almost two years - an age gap small enough to be friendly but wide enough to be just the slightest bit intimidating to me) and am probably not the kind of friend you had in mind you make while you're staying here but here I am.
Anyway, I guess I should get down to the business of what this letter is actually about. Now, I know my father better than anyone (but that should go without saying), so I know just what he expects from you. I was going to write you a list of said expectations, a mix of things to do and things not to do with some rules here and there, until I realized two things: One, it would be extremely time consuming and two, most of the things on this list are things you would easily pick up on by your first few weeks of living here, so I quickly nixed that idea. No, what I'm going to do is tell you what my father expects most from you, what tip or rule that is most crucial to your success as his student.
Whatever you do, don't show your flaws. Not around father, anyway.
I know it sounds weird but trust me - showing my father that you're not the perfect student he wants you to be won't bode well for you. My father...he's not exactly like a regular person, at least not when it comes to his alchemy. He expects perfection on every level when it comes to that, even when it comes to his notes. I think he's worried about his reputation (as broken as it is among the people in town), that whoever becomes the Flame Alchemist isn't going to live up to his abilities and be this huge disappointment- a disappointment he helped mold. I know that, when my father dies, he doesn't want to be remembered as "Berthold Hawkeye, the recluse who tried and failed to create a powerful alchemist"- he wants to be known as "Berthold Hawkeye, the man who created one of the world's most powerful alchemists". So, as you can imagine, it's a lot of pressure on the person who is going to become said alchemist - or, in other words, you, at least for the moment.
Despite everything I just wrote, I'm not asking you to be perfect, since I know that that would be like telling you to catch lightening in a bottle or touch a cloud. I guess what I'm asking is to appear perfect, at least for my father's sake. Drum up some false bravado, appear to have all the answers when, on the inside, you're just as confused as everyone else- do anything you need to fill this request...that is, if you want. While my request may come off as bossy and a little demanding, I am in no way forcing you to do this. After all, it must be pretty jarring for someone younger than you to be ordering you around like this, so please feel free to disregard this whole letter if you want. I suppose it's just some advice, something you can take or leave. It's your choice.
I probably should have ended this a while ago, so I guess I'll just do that now. I hope you and I can become friends during your stay here. Despite how bossy I can come off as, I'm really not that bad, and from the way father talks about you, I can tell that you're probably not that bad, either.
Guess we're a couple of not bad people, huh?
Sincerely,
Riza Hawkeye.
AN: I think I might have made Riza a little precocious in this one...I tried to write it like someone her age at the time would, but awgh, it got away from me! What do you guys think? Also, happy double anniversary to me - one year anniversary of "68 Intricacies" and my two year Royai anniversary! I appreciate all the reviews and views this story has had in the past year, and I hope more are to come! Thank you and have a good day!