A/N: Takes place after the end of Episode 5. That was fast huh? :3 I hope you enjoy! And please leave a Review telling me what you think? I know the prologue was a little vague but they are supposed to be that way :P Things will start unraveling soon. I promise!
Disclaimer: Don't own anything except my OC.
"Its been a long time. We need to pay a visit to our mechanic." It was decided. There wasn't any discussion needed since Alphonse couldn't move at all and Edward's arm was completely destroyed. They needed to get back to Resembol. Despite the excitement he felt about going home, Ed couldn't help but felt a shiver of dread run down his spine. Winry was going to murder him for destroying her precious automail completely.
"It sure will be nice to see Winry and Granny again, huh Brother?" Al chimed from beside him. Ed nodded. Despite his fear of Winry's wrench he couldn't wait to see his old home again.
"Yeah!" The young alchemist gave an excited grin. "I can't wait to have that apple pie again!" He could just taste the sweetness of the pastry, if he closed his eyes and concentrated hard enough. Alphonse chuckled, shaking his head at his older brother, the metal squeaking as it moved.
Lieutenant Hawkeye glanced at her Commanding Officer out of the corner of her eye. He was staring ahead. To someone else it would look like he was simply looking at the two brothers, but the Sharp Shooter knew better.
Their eyes met briefly and the woman nodded, despite the painful clench of her heart, knowing what her confirmation would mean. The man nodded back before he stood, every eye in the room turning towards him.
"Fullmetal. Before you leave, I think there is someone else you should meet concerning getting back your bodies." He said, walking towards the door, the Lieutenant a pace or two behind him. The older Elric brother blinked in confusion.
"Huh? Really who?" He asked, wandering just who the Colonel would want him and Al to meet in their current state. Every occupant of the room watched as the Lieutenant stepped out of the room, leaving the door slightly ajar. Mustang stopped right at the side of the door, hands behind his back.
"This person knows more about Bioalchemy then someone their age should an-" The man began to spoke. Edward however flinched at the mention of Bioalchemy and scowled darkly.
"No! I think Al and I are both done with Bioalchemy." The boy declared. If he had his automail arm he would have crossed both arms over his chest. But for now, the hand of his real arm was clenched in a tight fist. Alphonse turned his gaze to the ground. Despite not having a heart, somehow the tragic loss of Nina and her pet still hurt.
"We don't want any other episode like that one that happened with Shou Tucker." Alphonse agreed, his voice small and low, making the adults in the room to look at him with sympathetic eyes.
"Don't let one single event concerning a branch of alchemy taint your view on how you see it Edward." During their exchange the Lieutenant had managed to walk back into the room quietly. Though it wasn't her appearance that made everyone cringe but her tone and expression. There was a stern look in her eyes, much sterner than usual, and her voice had been commanding. Something she barely ever used when it came to the Elric Brothers.
Colonel Mustang sighed, not really in the mood to deal with a pissed sharp shooter. "Lieutenant." He called out, his tone telling her to stand down. The woman glanced at him before pursing her lips and looking away.
"Sorry Sir." Her Commanding Officer simply brushed away her apology before turning back to his audience.
"As I was saying, she can help you. I don't know how much but she will help." Maes frowned at his friend. Roy sounded uncertain yet sure at the same time. A suspicion began to form in his mind as he looked at the man. He wandered if he and Riza were the only ones who had picked on that little slip up. Ed meanwhile was focused on only one thing, yet it was Alphonse who spoke.
"She?"
Mustang nodded, and Riza turned, pulling the door open slightly, with Roy glancing through the gap and calling out. "You can come in now Willow."
"Willow?!" Maes asked in disbelief, standing up, just as Lieutenant opened the door.
Every eye turned to the young girl who stepped in, coming to stand beside Riza and closing the door behind her. Edward narrowed his eyes as he observed the newcomer. She seemed rather young, younger then him. Maybe by two years? Or more. He couldn't really tell. Her build was thin under the grey button down and black jacket that she was wearing. The pants she wore were a little baggy but somehow they fit her. Her shoes were strange given they were combat boots, and something normal girls didn't really wear. The scarf around her neck was a dark blue, but it was too thin to provide any sort of warmth so maybe she had just thrown it on to complete the look.
Alphonse was more focused on her hands. She wore fingerless gloves with a Transmutation Circle sewn into the back of each of them, just like the Colonel's. Though her gloves were black and the thread used for the circles was a dark green. The bandages wrapped around her fingers seemed strange, yet the young Elric made no move to ask about them.
Light brown eyes flickered from one occupant of the room to the other, resting on Alphonse for more than a few extra seconds then it did on anyone else before she stopped at Colonel Mustang.
"Mustang." The girl said, as a way of greeting. Her hair was brown. Like hazelnut.
"Hawkeye."
The reaction was instantaneous.
"Hawkeye!" The brothers shrieked. All eyes turned to the Lieutenant, who stood just as she had always done. At attention and fully alert.
"Boys, meet Willow." The Colonel said, placing his hand on the girl's shoulder.
"My younger sister." This time it was the Lieutenant who spoke. The Elric brothers nearly fell face-planted on the floor with surprise.
"Sister!" Alphonse was quick to recover from the fall, the surprise evident in his voice, as well as his eyes, seeing as the red dots had widened. The newcomer shrugged.
"Technically I'm her cousin, but I was adopted into the family after my parents died so its much easier to just say I'm her sister." The girl explained, glancing up at the blonde haired woman, smiling slightly. Riza glanced down, smiling back at the girl. The softness she only ever reserved for the people she cared about coming into her eyes as she brushed her hand affectionately through the young girl's hair.
"How old are you?" Edward asked, more like demanded, his eyes never leaving the girl.
"She is thirteen years old and is the best I have ever seen when it comes to Plant Alchemy." It was Major Armstrong who spoke. The man stepped forward, a smile evident behind his mustache.
"And it has been quite a few days since I last saw her." At that the girl smiled apologetically.
"Sorry Major. I got caught up with a new book I started." She confessed, walking towards the big man. She held up her arms and with a loud chuckle the man had picked up the girl, setting her down on his right shoulder as delicately as if he were setting down a vase made from delicate glass, keeping his arm wrapped behind her for support. Willow for her part gripped the back of his military jacket, not tightly, just for balance. She knew the man would never drop her.
"Remind me again why we are letting a little girl travel with us Colonel." Edward spoke through gritted teeth, glaring at the man. He simply smirked back in response.
"Lets just say, I believe she can keep the two of you in line." Second Lieutenant Havoc let out a snort of laughter at the comment.
"The Colonel asking for a little girl to help him. Oh how far the mighty have fallen." It was only light teasing on his part, but it seemed to annoy Mustang, judging from the twitch of his eyebrow.
"At least I don't have to ask a thirteen year old to help get out of a date." Lieutenant Hawkeye commented, pulling out her gun and casually flicking the mag out of the weapon to make sure the bullets were in place. Jean paled and Willow laughed from her perch, prompting the rest of Mustang's team to glance at one another and smirk. The Flame Alchemist chuckled before his expression turned serious once more.
"I know you two boys would rather not have anyone with you, seeing as you're always getting into some kind of trouble-"
"That's an understatement." Alphonse quipped sarcastically, his brother making a small sound of agreement.
"-but you two are the only ones I can trust. I know you will keep her safe." Edward's eyes widened in disbelief, while Al stared at the Colonel. The man stared back his expression completely serious. There was a beat of silence before the Lieutenant stepped forward.
"I know it's asking you for a lot." She spoke, her voice soft. "But Willow is searching for something just like the two of you." Every eye turned to the girl, who had lowered her head to try and avoid meeting anyone's gaze. "And I believe she has her best shot if she is with you two."
"Look if its protection you're worried about you don't have to!" The girl spoke from Armstrong's shoulder. The man placed her gently onto the ground. Patting his large hand as thank you, the girl turned to the two brothers, holding up her hands to show the transmutation circles at the back and the front.
"I know Plant Alchemy. I can take care of myself. And I know all there is to know about medicinal herbs. If Edward ever gets hurt then I can use my knowledge as an herbalist to help him." It was clear that she was laying down all she could offer so they would take her with them.
"What are you looking for?" Edward finally spoke. Willow tensed, pursing her lips, hand dropping to her sides.
"I-I'm looking for a cure." She finally replied. "For an illness."
Alphonse look up in surprise at how lost and sad the girl sounded. The emotion seemed to have gotten to Edward as well, because he flinched. He glanced at his brother and Al met his gaze. They seemed to be having some sort of silent conversation before Al finally nodded. Edward let out a sigh.
"Fine. You can come with us." He grumbled.
"Really?!" Light brown eyes, wide with disbelief yet shining with happiness turned towards him. Ed nodded, grumbling under his breath, a light blush on his cheeks. His younger brother laughed softly at his obvious embarrassment. Edward just didn't want to look like soft in front of all the officers.
"You're such a little softie Ed!"
"WHO YOU CALLIN' LITTLE!?"
The moment was broken with Ed nearly jumping on Maes, the man only laughing at the fit the alchemist was throwing. Alphonse turned his attention to try and calm his brother down. Willow stared at the scene in bewilderment, prompting Riza to laugh softly, walking to stand next to the young girl.
"You were right. He doesn't like being called little." The thirteen year old whispered to her sister, as Armstrong, having had enough of Edward's immature behavior strode over to deal with him.
When did he have the time to remove his shirt?!
Riza smiled as she crouched down in front of the girl, holding both her hands within her own. Willow smiled back, albeit a little nervously.
"Thank you Riza." The girl whispered amidst the laughter and shouts coming from the people in the room. Without a word Riza had Willow in her arms, embracing her tightly.
"Just come back to me safe my little flower." The woman whispered, her soft voice breaking slightly as she allowed herself to feel the sorrow and pain of letting her baby sister go. Willow hugged the woman back as best as she could, burying her face in the crook of her neck.
"I promise." She said with a nod. With a sigh, Riza pulled back, smiling at the girl one last time before her features schooled to the ones she wore as Lieutenant Hawkeye. Willow stepped away from the woman, turning her gaze to Roy who was watching the proceedings between his Maes and Edward, with a smile of amusement on his face. As the girl approached him, he turned his body so he was facing her, arms crossed in front of his chest.
She stared up at him, while he stared down at her, both wearing identical expressions of impassiveness.
"I know she's supposed to protect you, but if I find a single scratch on her when I get back, I will hang you by your toes from a tree."
Roy smirked at the threat. "Sounds rather dull." He quipped back, catching the twitch at the corner of her lips where the beginnings of a smile had begun to form.
"I'll probably think of something more creative during my travels." The man huffed in amusement.
"I'll try my best." He said, giving her a mock salute. Willow quickly reached out to grab the hand that hung at his side, glad that he wasn't wearing his gloves. Her own hand was so small compared to his, but the squeeze she gave him was strong and firm. Her eyes flickered to Riza who was now standing behind her Commanding Officer.
"Take care of one another." The girl pleaded, her brown eyes, which were identical to Riza's, imploring.
The two adults nodded at her in response.
"Hey Willow!" The girl turned her attention to Edward who had called out to her. The boy grinned at her.
"We're going back to the hotel. You go get your things and meet us tomorrow at the train station around eight alright?" Behind him Alphonse gave her a thumbs up with his only remaining arm.
The sorrow disappeared from her eyes completely as she nodded, to be replaced with happiness and excitement.
"Right!"
A/N: And there it is! Willow's formal introduction. The next chapter is going to be fun, I promise! Willow will meet Winry and Granny, get into a verbal spar with Edward, and the disease she is trying to cure will come out as well. Or will it...Please leave a review to tell me what you think!
Till next time! - Hestia28