Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. This is Alchemy's first law of equivalent exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.
For the Love of Alchemy
Chapter 2:
The Cutting Alchemist
"Mustang, the boys are here." Hawkeye led in a short blond boy, and a giant suit of armor. The boy wore a long red coat and black clothes underneath. His hands were in his pockets as he walked in. His head was down showing his golden hair more along with the small braid that was attached. As the boy came close to the seats in the room his head looked up and you could tell in his golden eyes that he was tired.
"Good where's Clark?" He moved to sit behind his desk. He linked his hands so he could rest his chin on them. Hawkeye moved to stand next to the pyro.
"Sir you made her mad this morning remember?" Mustang sank behind his hands and looked at Ed, who had decided to sit and watch the scene before him.
"Yes, I remember now. So Edward how's the "big" world treating you?" Alphonse scooted away a bit at this comment and waited nervously for his brother's explosion.
"Mustang why are we here? I'm hungry and tired and I want to get to the library before it closes, so could you make this quick?" Edward leaned back and looked up at the roof.
"Well I told you I found you a partner. I know you protested but she's going to help you find a certain little stone." Ed's arm gripped the cushion of the chair he sat in and then exploded.
"WHAT!? PARTNER!? How can she lead me to the stone!? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Al cowered away some more and Roy just smiled.
"If you recall the phone call, I did tell you about the partner issue. The reason I'm partnering you up with her is because…" A knock came at the Colonel's door and he motioned for Ed to calm down.
"Hawkeye the door," She glanced at all the people in the office first before proceeding to open the door.
"Colonel, Major Christina Clark, Cutting Alchemist awaiting orders," Christina saluted Roy as soon as she reached his desk. She wore a jean jacket with a grey undershirt. The shirt contained an alchemy circle that not even Edward remembered coming across in his studies. Her hair hung low around, cut to her shoulders now. She wore a pair of black jeans and high healed boots. Her backpack lay at her feet while she waited for Roy's salute.
"At ease for now Clark," She snapped her arm down and turned so she could walk to the seat across from the brothers. Roy stood and joined them.
"Full Metal, meet the Cutting Alchemist. Also, you two will learn to like your situation, got it?" Christina looked the pair up and down and then focused on taking off her gloves. Ed had been watching her the whole time since she walked in.
"Christina do we have the ok?" Edward snapped out with Roy's words and watched as Christina's hands came into view. They both held scars left and right all the way to hide behind the sleeves of her jacket.
"Christina think about him; you need Edward's expertise to fix Christian's mix up." Christina's hands clinched and she closed her honey red eyes.
"Mustang if you weren't my superior, I'd kick your ass for bringing him up, the more I sit here the more he's farther out of my reach." Roy leaned back in his chair and waited patiently for her to finish.
"Just because you found two doesn't mean you deserve your promotions. Don't toy with people Roy. Either they'll hurt you or freeze you with your pants down. Things in this world don't get done by partnerships, Got it?" Christina could feel her anger rise. She knew if she lost it she'd lose her lead. She needed to leave and she needed to leave now. Christina stood up and saluted a small salute to Roy and walked right out.
"Never one to hold her tongue…tsk tsk tsk, at least your still here." Roy looked at Ed who was looking at the closing door. Edward's mind was running wild trying to find out where the marking on her back had come from. It was an image of a dragon bird and a dragon wrapped around a sword blade. Where their heads met there was a large red stone. The stone was bleeding onto the blade and both animals had their heads right under that red stone.
"She's pretty huh?" No vocal response came, but he nodded for his response.
"Alright, Full Metal clear your head and pay attention."