FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST, GOLDEN EYES

By Born of Starlight

Alrighty, folks. There some questions that need answering. Delightfully Wicked noticed a mistake -- I was hoping someone would! Korin's eyesight: Yes, technically, that was human transmutation. I have an excuse -- EXPLANATION. I meant explanation. I should probably explain that when I came up with this plot...I had only seen one episode. Yeah... This story was started ages ago, and my knowledge of Alchemy ("real-life" and FMA) has grown in leaps and bounds. God... Can you get more pathetic? One episode, and already a plot comes to mind... Stupid overactive muses...! Seriously! I went upstairs to my room after watching my first episode, and I had whole scenes floating around in my head, practically pre-written! Only thing I had to do was put them in a logical order. It took me maybe a week of constant daydreaming to finish playing the story all out in my head, then I started writing it, shortly after my second ever episode. Gah. I never liked Scar's speeches. Like Scar, not his speeches. Speeches are overrated...

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist. I'm am merely what you'd call obsessive. And I love it to death. Also, I intend to keep on loving it until I die. Yes…I'm definitely obsessive… Oh! But I do own Korin. Well, her soul anyway... evil laughter fills the room Where's that annoying giggling coming from...? who ever's laughing is indignant. "Giggling," indeed!

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Chapter 3

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Once more, screams echoed down the halls. But it was not panic that shook the door frames, but pain. Edward was not there to hear her; Korin would have been very grateful for that, if she had known…as it was though, her thoughts were somewhat preoccupied.

"Make it stop, PLEASE! I'm sorry, OKAY! I KNOW IT WAS STUPID, BUT I JUST HAD TO! IT WAS IMPORTANT!"

"Korin, I know it hurts, I'm sorry!" Pinako tried to calm the girl, but pain was wrapping her away from the rest of the world, making her oblivious to the people around her.

"Winry, we need more help to hold her down!"

The blonde mechanic left at a run to find somebody to help. When she got back minutes later with Mustang Hughes and Armstrong in tow, it was to find Pinako trying to keep the flailing Korin under control. The tiny lady was no match for Korin. The pain was giving her near in-human strength.

"Stand back," said the Strong Arm Alchemist. "I shall handle this!" He moved to restrain Korin, but got knocked upside the head.

"YOU TOUCH ME AND I'LL RIP THAT STUPID MUSTACHE RIGHT OFF YOUR FACE! JUST HURRY UP AND GET THIS OVER WITH, PINAKO! I don't know how much longer I can stay conscious…!"

"You sure you even want to…? Hughes' quiet comment carried clearly.

Korin turned pain filled eyes toward the men. "I'm positive. I deserve this one hundred percent.

Her back arched as pain swept over her. "Oh, God, I take it back! I don't wanna stay conscious!"

Pinako hurriedly tightened the last bolt in Korin's left leg, then moved on to her right. And then there would still be her arm to connect…!

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Scar had his fingers wrapped around Ed's throat. Ed choked, his eyes watering.

"You -- bastard…!" he managed to gasp out.

Scar smirked. "Maybe, Edward Elric, but not at least I'm not about to be dead." With his free hand he removed his sunglasses. His ruby eyes met Ed's amber ones unflinchingly. "Aren't you afraid of me, Fullmetal?"

"Not on your life!" Ouch. Another opening…

"No, Edward, but it may be on yours."

"We're not on a first name basis, you asshole!"

The Ishbalan didn't respond; he just tightened his grip. A slow smile started to spread across his face --

-- But suddenly it turned to a look of disbelief as he was thrown across the room. He picked himself up and looked at the young alchemist standing before him.

Scar looked down at his hand when he felt something warm and wet trickling between his fingers. Blood. The shattered remains of his sunglasses were piercing into his flesh. "I'm impressed, Edward. I didn't even see you move."

"That's because he didn't."

Scar looked past Ed in surprise.

Standing near an open window at the back of the abandoned warehouse was --

"Nice to see you on your feet." said Edward, his voice dry.

Korin flashed him a small grin, but her eyes remained cold and unfeeling. Light was shining through the window behind her, causing her copper hair to glow like it was on fire. Or else it looked like blood streaming into her face…

Korin stepped away from the light. Shadows engulfed her form.

Ed heard the telltale clink of mechanics as she walked. It was a sound he knew all too well. Scar though, was not familiar with the sound and didn't pay any attention to it.

"Do you know who I am, little girl?"

"You're known as Scar. You're Ishbalan. That's actually your brother's arm, the one with the tattoos, and you've killed countless State Alchemists. Do you want me to continue?" Korin emerged from the shadows, still watching Scar.

Scar narrowed his eyes. "So…you too are a State Alchemist."

Korin's cheery voice echoed around the building. "Wrong! I've already passed the written exam, but I wanted to duel for my physical exam, and Edward was missing. It'd be incredibly boring to fight anyone else."

As she passed him, Ed felt something small and hard pressed into his left hand. He found himself holding a clear stone. Colors shimmered under its surface. "What--?"

"Your quest is ended, Fullmetal. Be grateful. I gave up more than you realize to get that to you." Her voice came out in a hiss.

Korin walked towards Scar, picking her pace up as she drew closer. Soon she was running flat out, the distance between them closing rapidly!

Her fist did not connect.

He dodged her punch and grabbed her right wrist. She was wearing black gloves, so the auto-mail was hidden.

"You know, I don't believe I like this hand…" Scar twisted hard.

The girl sneered up at him. "You're a moronic, idiotic, religious Looney!"

Scar swung her around so that the sun was in her eyes. She couldn't see him anymore, but she could feel him recoil.

"What fiendish creature of hell are you…?" The man's scarred face was twisted in disgust and fear.

Korin honestly didn't understand his reaction. She didn't realize that the alchemic runes on her irises were glowing golden. What she did realize, was that the light from the sund was bothering her less and less, and that Scar's face was coming clear.

And she also saw Ed sneaking towards them, his left hand clenched around some small object.

The murderer picked Korin up my the front of her black jacket. She aimed a kick at his groin. He foot connected with a dull thud, and Scar winced.

Suddenly a thin blade was pressed up against his jugular.

"Put her down." The voice of the Fullmetal Alchemist was filled with hatred.

So Scar sent Korin flying across the room to hit the wall. In the same movement, he ducked away from Ed's blade and turned to face the blonde teenager. "Still too slow, Edward…" he whispered.

An almost cruel smile spread across Ed's face. "Your mistake," he said, his voice equally quiet.

Ed lunged in towards Scar. The man just barely managed to dodge the blow!

Scar dashed over to where Korin lay, stunned from her impact into the wall. She was starting to get her bearings back, but froze as Scar placed his hand on the back of her neck.

Ed stopped. He slowly lowered his arm, and Scar saw something in his eyes that made him hesitate with what he'd been about to do.

Korin used that hesitation.

Her right leg swung out ant hooked behind Scar's ankles. His feet were swept out from under him and he came crashing down. His hand -- charged already with destruction --landed on Korin's leg, which cracked instantly as his alchemy hit it.

"Hey! I just got that leg!" Korin pulled away from him. "Do you have any idea how painful it is?"

She swung her right fist towards his face. His large hand blocked it. The gleam of metal was showing between her sleeve and glove.

Scar's eyes narrowed. He shattered her arm.

Scar left her lying there unable to move from the pain.

"Wise, not to come closer, Edward. I'd have killed her."

Ed stood there helplessly, his head hung low. "I know…" His head snapped up. "You're such a bastard…!" Fierce eyes were flashing as if with lightning. "You know what you do? You prey on people's weaknesses. It may be what the smart predator does in the wild, but we're human beings! It's wrong."

"You're wrong, Edward. I only seek revenge. Revenge for the attempted genocide of my people."

Ed couldn't argue, really. "What the military did to your people was wrong, yeah, but that was years and years ago--"

"Shut up!" Scar's voice came out in a hiss. "You're nothing but a child, what do you know?"

"When it comes to pain and suffering I'm as much an expert as you." Ed's voice echoed strangely around the old building…it had a cold, slightly desperate tone to it.

"Then I should put you out of your misery, don't you agree…?"

Ed's thoughts were entirely betrayed by his face.

"You hate me, Edward. I know. Well, let me tell you, the feeling's mutual. I despise State Alchemists, so I despise you. But you won't be here much longer to feel my revulsion. Your brains will shortly be decorating that wall." Scar smirked. "'Shortly.' No pun intended, I assure you." Scar walked towards Ed as if he had all the time in the world. The young alchemist appeared frozen.

It was quick and painless, and Ed hit his knees hard. Slowly, ever so slowly, he fell forward onto his face, golden hair trailing on the blood-soaked floor…

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Oh, yes. I'm evil. Did I mention that this story doesn't...exactly revolve around Edward...? No? My bad...

Yay! I love reviewers! hugs all her reviewers (of which she has 7?) You all deserve cookies! gives cookies Heh. Only, now my muses are going to want some... (Whenever they help me finish a story, they get cookies. If they continue to work at their present pace, they'll get chubby!)

Delightfully Wicked: I'm still in high school, but I've been writing since I was eleven. You? No, Korin wasn't blind before. I...kinda excuse my slip up with "Really, it was only temporary, anyway..." I guess I figured the light from the transmutation...blinded her for a while...? shifty eyed I have researched alchemy extensively, and I've barely made a scratch into the subject so far! My favorite alchemist...? Besides Ed and Al? Well, I have the most in common with Ed (Height-wise, I'm under just 5'1". Very depressing, as I'm not likely to grow anymore.). My element (horoscope-wise -- I'm an Aries) is fire like Roy, but my fave...? Probably Kimbly, as well. He's so much fun! In the fifth lab episodes where his hair is loose, he looks almost exactly how I pictured Sirius Black. Then they went and cast Gary Oldman...! Those baka. Who's your favorite homunculous? Greed, Greed, Greed! I love Greed! sheepish grin

QueenRini: I'm really glad you're enjoying it! I figure, so long as I have access to my computer, I should be able to get a chapter up at least every other day or so. This story is already finished (93 notebook pages, and I have small handwriting), so it's simply a matter of getting it typed up. Oh, and breaking it into chapters. Originally, it's chapterless, with just scene-breaks. I don't have the patience and motivation to just sit here typing all day to get the whole thing typed in. I would loose interest! pets kitty who's currently sitting on her lap (Miss Annoying...trying to mess up my typing...!) So -- back on topic -- I decided bit-by-bit would be better. Then the reviews would keep me wanting to post the story. So far, it's worked like a charm!

Um... Did I forget anything? If anyone has any questions, or something isn't clear to you, all you have to do is ask. I've got hundreds of explanations for everything. Korin... Maybe I should go into detail about her. Explain something about her... Uh, yeah. Maybe not. Her profile is currently at nine pages long and growing.