Author's note:

(Disclaimer: I do not own any version of Fullmetal Alchemist or the concept of the series)

I think I have finally got the hang on downloading documents and publishing stories :D

I know this is drastically shorter than chapter two, but there wasn't much that needed to be said. The storyline may seem a bit droll right now but I promise it will liven up in the near future. Thank you for reading :)

Love,

AL

"Now what shall we do with you?"

Roy Mustang was idly sipping a cup of coffee while sitting at the dining table. The early morning sunshine filtered in through the windows, illuminating the entire house.

"We could always send her off to be trained so that she can apply to be a state alchemist," Winry muttered. Her long blonde hair was pulled back into a ponytail as she sat at her work station, screwing a bolt into a long sheet of metal.

"Hm, now that doesn't sound too bad…"

"It was a joke!" she exclaimed, sounding slightly annoyed that he'd even consider taking her statement seriously. "Relax," Mustang dismissed it with a wave of his hand, "I wouldn't be that rash about it but we don't know whether or not the gate will re-open, it's not something that will happen with the snap of your fingers."

Winry huffed and turned back around in her chair to focus her attention on the auto-mail she was preparing. I had learned that four days had passed since I first arrived in Resembool and I was a bit startled by how quickly I felt at home. The tenderness of my muscles was beginning to die down and it was easier to move around without having to tolerate so much pain.

I poured myself a cup and watched the steam steadily rise into the air, "What's a state alchemist?"

It was barely seven and we were the only three awake in the house, save the little black puppy who was curled up at Winry's feet with its amber eyes focused directly on me.

Mustang sighed, "I forgot I have to explain everything to you…a state alchemist is an alchemist who is a part of the military. In order to become a state alchemist you must pass both a written and physical exam, then you receive an official alchemist name and a silver pocket watch,"

He rummaged through his pant pockets before pulling something out. The light reflected off of the silver, making it shine. At the end of a long, thin chain was a circular, wonderfully engraved pocket watch.

"You're an alchemist?"

Winry smiled at my question, and Mustang stared on with annoyance in his dark eyes.

"Yes."

"How does it feel meeting someone that doesn't know of your reputation, huh Roy?"

Mustang narrowed his eyes, "I'm the one and only Flame Alchemist."

Mustang then proceeded to rant about his success in the Eastern rebellion and his lifelong story of climbing the ranks of the military hierarchy. "Dad found out she doesn't know of his reputation, huh?" Rolland asked sleepily while walking into the kitchen.

"Mmm hmm," Winry nodded while intertwining two wires together. I stood there awkwardly as Mustang continued on, the sound of the toaster clicking to my left.

"But then my son came around and I should've tried for Fürer then, maybe my little boy would have actually been proud of his father!"

"I am proud of you Dad," Rolland stared boredly at the toaster, as if that would make the heating process go by faster or something.

"Then why do you constantly disobey my commands?" Roy Mustang sat up straighter and set his coffee mug down on the table.

"Don't even start Roy," I turned my head to see Riza Hawkeye standing in the doorway, although she was up and dressed a hint of sleep still lingered in the air around her.

"Good morning," Winry and I said in unison as Riza made her way over to the table to sit beside her husband. "Morning girls," she said quietly, trying to hide her yawn.

"Are you okay Riza? You seem tired," Winry asked distractedly, although it sounded more like she was thinking out loud. A smug smirk grew on Mustang's face and he opened his mouth to speak, but Rolland cut in, shaking his head, "Whatever it is just don't say it. God, isn't this part of the parental rule book or something? No sexual innuendos in front of your own son!" he grumbled, annoyed.

"That's going to burn," I warned him, peering at the slice of bread that was being heated. He shrugged it off, "It will be fine, I'm the toast-making master."

I turned away from him, still skeptical.

"You should be happy to hear your parents are still in love!" Mustang exclaimed cheerily, holding Riza's hand, his eyes practically twinkling.

"Keep it together Roy," she laughed, "You're starting to sound like…"

As she trailed off, his face fell, like he already knew how that sentence was going to end. An uncomfortable silence leaked across the room. It felt like everyone had understood the seriousness of her mistake, yet I couldn't think of how such a simple sentence could be so bad to finish.

The toaster dinged and a piece of flaking, blackened toast popped up, thrusting the faint smell of smoke into the air. "Damnit," Rolland muttered, picking up his piece of steaming toast.

Riza cleared her throat, "so what was this I heard about state alchemists? You three were being so loud we could hear the conversation from upstairs."

"I told you!" I whispered and he rolled his eyes, holding the unrecognizable square with two fingers.

"It was just a joke," Mustang clarified, all of the light silliness had been sucked out of him and he was back to his same serious tone. "So we haven't thought of anything to do about this?"

He shook his head. "Oh! We can-" I felt bad about interrupting Winry, but I couldn't tolerate constantly being spoken of as if I were some lost puppy they had found out in the rain, "Can't I just decide for myself what I want to do?"

The three of them turned to me, with doubtful looks on their faces. "After all this is my life no matter where I am. Shouldn't I be able to decide where I want to go or what I want to become?"

"The path to becoming a state alchemist is incredibly difficult...training alone would take years and who knows if you would pass the exam. Joining the military as a soldier is out of the question-I'm not going to let a young girl, let alone the daughter of a close friend, be turned into a dog of the military." I could see that no one was sugar-coating it anymore, we were getting straight to the point.

"What good am I going to be if I can't do something? I could try training to be an alchemist," I suggested, still unaware of what I would be getting myself into.

"Training could take up to three y-"

"One year, couldn't I do it in one and apply to be a state alchemist next fall?"

Winry looked up from the arm that she was constructing, "Ed did it in one, not to mention he was only twelve when he got his license."

Mustang frowned, "Fine, do as you please."

"Come one Pops, take it easy. After all, the greatest failure is not trying," blackened crumbs fell to the floor as Rolland took a bite of his burnt toast.

Mustang let out a deep sigh, "We'll have to find you a teacher, and get you some …"

I nodded and smiled as he went down the list. His words, although no one else was aware of it, were filled with hope and promise. A promise of the future, of moving forward, because at the end of one year, I would be going home.