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 7:

Meet the Automailest's

"Come on Christina, momma's going to teach us some more!" Christina crunched her body into a ball at the sound of the young voice.

"Christina take care." A smooth woman's voice joined the boy's laughing. She curled tighter and tighter into the ball.

"This is the best thing so far Christina!" Now it was a male's voice, all three voices's mixed and Christina whimpered. A blast sounded off and it shook her.

With the two hours up and another three spent on a train, Christina and the boys found themselves at ten o'clock at night in Resembool. All three made their way off the train and stood under the train station lights. None talked, Edward and Alphonse had to wake Christina and that didn't turn out to well.

"Do you think Winry will be awake?" Asked Alphonse as they finally decided to leave the station. Christina stayed quiet and a little behind the two. Looking around there wasn't much; it was just quiet country side.

"Your home is so peaceful." Christina stopped a bit at the sight of a head stone.

"But it's also very tragic." She picked up again when the boys just kept walking.

The boys walked with similar atmospheres around them. In the distance a cloud lit up and the sound of booms echoed along with the flashes.

"Let's hope Winry's awake, or we're sleeping in the rain." Alphonse didn't sound too happy about what he said. The Rockbell house came into view and most of the lights in the house were off.

"Someone's awake." Christina said as she pointed to the light on in the second floor window. As they came closer all three noticed a stout woman standing on the porch smoking a pipe.

"So you boys made it, good, oh and you brought a friend." Ed and Al made a clear path so the woman could see Christina.

"Hello my name is Christina Clark I'm looking to hire an automailest."

"Oh no need to be formal now, all of you sleep for the night, business in the morning." Pinako's eyes focused through her classes on Christina and just smiled at she walked up the steps behind the boys.

"Who did you say was a super-ultra short kid?! You're about half my owww! Hey you could kill me with that!"

"No nerve at all Edward. You let a total stranger mess with my automail!"

Ed's voice shot back a reply that Christina couldn't catch. Slowly she stretched and sat up looking for some kind of light. Slowly she stood up and opened the window curtains it was still grey outside.

"You've done a bad thing, messing with his automail." Christina turned around at the voice and came face to face with Pinako. She dressed quickly and followed the old woman out.

"If I knew how bad the reaction would be. I never would have done the transmutation. He needed to dabble in two Taboos before we can truly go on. I won't let anyone near Christian without at least two Taboos." Christina's voice came first then she came into view; Ed and Winry were locked in a glare. Christina eyed Winry and came to sit at the table.

"I'm looking for an automailest that can copy my current automail. It you can't I'll find another." Pinako took out her pipe and glanced at Christina. With a slight smile she placed the pipe back.

"I'll take this job, just show me the design and we'll get started."

"Grandma what are…?" Winry whined but stopped when Pinako raised her hand.

"How the hell can you do a job like this?" Yelled Ed as he dodged Winry's wrench.

"Edward go train with Alphonse. I need to see her automail and she's a client. You're not at the moment." Ed's mouth dropped open and he was about to protest when he remembered the night she got hurt. His face reddened at the memory and he turned and left.

"That boy sometimes……., well that can be discussed later. Where do you come from Christina?" Pinako took a seat while Christina got up. Once she heard the door click closed she began to remove her shirt.

"Chaono," Replied Christina as she kneeled down in front of Pinako. Winry came up behind her and watched as Christina began to remove the bandages around her body.

"Clark, you should, I guess kind of know. If Trisha and Hohenhime lived then, we knew them… we knew the Elrics long ago." Christina got half of the bandages off revealing the Gem and the beast's heads. Winry gasped and Pinako just stared.

"This just got better. Christina stop, I'll create the automail design specs. Join the boys outside for now."