For the lovely guest reviewer that was curious , EY-LN is the way to pronounce Ailne. It's a Diminutive Of Adeline And Adela which means; Sweet Or Pleasant, or Of The Nobility. It's incredibly on the nose, really. Haha.

0o0

7

0o0

Dearest,

It has been quite some time since I've written to you. It hurts to be too far away from home. These greed filled men can't possibly keep us apart any longer! I do say that their claims of coal hearts changing to gold are all lies. The cruelest of lies. Even their claims of wicked charms are just that. I weep at their pain and incompetence when it comes to the hearts of women and peoples alike.

Yours,

A wilting flower.

Roy Mustang stared at the report in his hands and wondered how such a sharp woman could be so weird. A slight smirk appeared on his face. Perhaps that was the charms in both reports he received. He let out a low chuckle and reached for his cup of coffee. It was going to be interesting, talking to those three again.

0o0

"Coal mines?" Ailne asked as she lowered her history book. "For the fuel? Or is the coal used for something else? How is it mined?"

"Right, I sometimes forget that you aren't completely used to this time," Edward stated. "How was radio easier for you to understand?"

"Oh, because our golems used to work exactly like a radio," she stated as she brought out a piece of paper. "It's simple Xerxian alchemy, with a few precious metals and a binding agent you can make a golem that acts as a communicator…I created one back when I was a child, it stayed with me until…"

She trailed off after finishing the circle for the golem transmutation. Alphonse studied the circle as Edward caught sight of her expression. It was easy to get attached to a golem if that was her reaction to realizing that the one she created as a child was gone. He didn't know how to make that expression disappear. He didn't like it.

"What kind of metal do you need?" His question was met with a tearful smile.

"Anything that can withstand heat and is strong," she answered. "I'll make three, so we should use different methods for each one so they look a little different."

She was…she was sharing it with them? Edward realized that Xerxes was different from them in that regard. Where they shared knowledge, it was kept close in Amestris. No one shared their secrets, especially alchemical ones. He looked at the transmutation circle and his expression softened. No wonder she was well liked once people saw past the uniform. He made a slight face. If only the others of Resembool would give her a chance.

"I'm sure the layover won't be too long," Alphonse stated as they got off the train. "Unless something happens, the train should get restocked on coal fairly quickly."

"I thought a place like this would be a little more lively," Edward commented looking at the people milling about.

"Everyone seems a little tired," Alphonse commented.

"I don't think they like the military," Ailne stated, looking around and noting the glares sent her way. "You two…lie. Make sure you get food and shelter for the night."

"What about you?" Alphonse asked.

"I'll figure something out," Ailne said, waving off their concern. "Besides, I can look for materials."

Edward smiled at that as she trotted off, her heels clacking against the stone paths. Alphonse couldn't help but be worried for their older sister, knowing that she was still learning about the present. He rubbed the back of his head, unable to feel the movement against his suit, and looked around at all the people in the town. Youswell was dusty, but also pleasant if he was being honest. A kid walked past them, and hit his brother in the head with a wood beam.

Ailne looked around the mining town in thought. She wanted to find some tungsten or some other strong metal to help create the golems for her and her brothers. She would show them how and then have them attempt. She looked to the side, she was going to use her Xerxian knowledge for her yearly assessment, granted she could bullshit it since she acted as a normal soldier. Grumman had informed her of that through a letter of all things. The old man made her laugh through his actions. He had let Roy have his run of Eastern City. She had been aware of it, even though stories of the Flame Alchemists laziness were legendary.

"Oh, damn it all," a man cursed.

"Are you all right?" Her gentle question was met with a deep set glare, she pulled out her silver watch and his eyes widened just the slightest. "Listen, I'm here to help the town not take it over…what happened?"

"The mine had a tunnel collapse," the man reluctantly answered. "I'm only telling you this because you're an alchemist."

"How many people?" She asked as she picked up a stone and began to assess it, limestone.

"Ten, there's a whole group that was inside," he answered and watched as she nodded before rolling the stone in her hand.

"Leave it to me," she said, smiling a little.

She put the stone down and clapped her hands together, walking up to the mine entrance. She could smell the damp earth and the odd scent of coal. She went in, deeper and deeper until she came across the collapsed tunnel. She could hear people behind the large rocks and let out a deep breath. Right, she needed to be careful so she wouldn't hurt anyone.

"I need everyone to stand back," she loudly stated and she heard shuffling on the other end.

She placed her hands on the rocks and blue sparks filled the area as she used alchemy to shift them and make a path for the people. It was temporary, they'd have to create support on their own, but it would get them to safety. She heard some relieved sounds as men realized they wouldn't leave their families without husbands or fathers. Still, it didn't stop them from going silent the second they saw her uniform. She rubbed the back of her head, it really was a trait picked up from Edward and Alphonse.

"Right, you guys will have to support it, but it should last for a while," she awkwardly explained to them.

"You're a state alchemist," a man commented and she gave a slow nod. "Why are you helping us?"

"That's what a state alchemist is supposed to do," she stated, giving him a confused look before her eyes narrowed. "Who's the one not doing their job? I think me and my brother might be able to help."

"He's a lieutenant, and he's extorting our town," a gruff man informed her, and she narrowed her eyes dangerously.

"Tell me everything you know," she stated, wanting more information to deal with the problem at hand.

The people of Youswell had been taken advantage of by an officer that wanted money. None of them liked him, and never had even when he was first stationed there. She knew that ambition showed itself in several different ways, her own commanding officer being a wonderful example of that, but she never cared much for it when it started to harm innocent people. Her past as a princess started to shine through the more the miners explained. They gave a nervous expression at the fire in her eyes.

"That rat bastard," she hissed and the gruff man let out a bark of a laugh.

"You aren't too bad for a soldier," he informed her.

"I'm a major…I outrank him," she muttered in thought. "Want to watch him be played by a woman and kid?"

Of course they did. It was an odd group of people that walked to the inn. The gruff miner gave the teenager in a red coat a raised brow and Ailne shook her head at her brother. She knelt next to him and he looked up with an exhausted expression. He brightened at the sight of her, but narrowed his eyes in suspicion at the miners.

"Want to give a weasel a run for his money?" She asked, a dangerous grin on her face.

Edwards' answering grin made the group of miners behind Ailne share a look. Well, it was very obvious they were related. They were allowed into the inn and the minders took their seats, wanting to watch the lieutenant get scared by the two. Ailne listened as the man in question walked in, seemingly ignoring her existence. How rude. She pulled her shawl up over her eyes as the man talked about lowering their wages again, hiding her angered expression. It furthered when he smacked a child that called him out on his horrible behavior. Edward and Ailne moved quickly when one of the soldiers moved to attack the child with a sword. A fist to the solar plexus downed the man and he let out a few coughs as he held his stomach. The other soldier was smart enough to recognize the superior officer and slowly turned towards the Lieutenant to try and stop him from doing anything stupid.

"Where the hell did the kid come from?!" The lieutenant's yell made Alphonse back away from his brother and sister.

"Just a kid passing through," Edward stated, grabbing a mug of coffee and sipping at it.

"Oh, I was just curious as to why you were attacking civilians, Lieutenant," Ailne was taking over this one.

Father Cornello had been her brother's bread and butter, the genius alchemist versus a third rate hack. Matters of politics were hers. She brought out her watch and the weasel of a man paled considerably. A major?! Why the hell was there a major there? He looked down at the woman's legs and slowly turned his head towards the kid. The gunmetal alchemist, known by the color of her automail legs and the full metal alchemist. They made up two parts of the Elric trio. He began to sweat, and sweat heavily.

"Oh, I'm sorry if my subordinate were impolite," the Lieutenant apologized as he slithered towards Ailne, not noticing the intense dislike in her gaze before it quickly vanished. "My name is Yoki, I'm in charge of this town."

The miners grinned to themselves, knowing the man was about to be played by the two. They had been aware of them playing parts, and could create the false outrage when they went with the man to play proper state alchemists. Ailne tuned out Yoki and only kept an ear out for keywords. She was already wondering how they would be able to send this in a report to Roy, it was going to be difficult. Edward wondered what angle that his sister was going to play. He couldn't help but be floored when he was shown.

"My, you seem to be doing well," Ailne said, her soft tone carrying a shyness he'd never heard from her before watching as she pulled her shawl away from her hair. "This small town doesn't seem to be that fortunate."

"We'll, I'm embarrassed to say that it takes us quite a while to collect taxes," Yoki blushed at the woman. "I'm surprised that those thugs left a woman like you alone."

"I hear you own this place, isn't that why the people pay you taxes?" She questioned and Edward picked at the beef in front of him as she ignored the alcohol provided. "That's quite impressive."

"You see matters quite clearly, my Lady," Yoki looked away and motioned for a refill on his glass of wine.

Edward watched as his sister changed her flirtatious expression to a death glare. She hated that title, preferring her name over anything else. He sent the weasel of a man a silent prayer. He just signed his own little death wish, and didn't realize it. He picked up his cup of tea the maid had kindly made him and sipped it. It was going to be fixed her expression quickly when Yoki turned back.

"As a state alchemist, I imagine you must have some influence with those higher up," Yoki said to Ailne and she slowly narrowed her eyes as a platter was placed beside her left arm. "Please accept a token of my gratitude."

"Oho?" Ailne's questioning sound made Edward pause as her eyes slowly closed. "This is what some people call a bribe…is it not?"

"It's gratitude," Yoki corrected her. "I don't want to spend my life in this country town. I'm sure we understand each other."

The money stayed where it was as Ailne's smile stretched a little too much as she got up. Edward followed her lead and the soldier that brought out the money backed up a bit when her eyes opened. Edward knew she had gathered her thoughts and calmed down a little. She was playing it by ear, it wasn't difficult to look up to her when she did things like this.

"A bribe isn't necessary for me to…talk to a couple higher ups," Ailne informed Yoki, and his face lit up.

0o0

"I'm going to kill him," Ailne darkly muttered as she saw the smoldering remains of the inn.

"I think you're scaring the miners," Alphonse informed her, putting a hand on her shoulder as she glared at the night sky.

"Why won't you alchemist help us?" The boy from earlier asked. "Could you possibly whip up some gold?"

"No, it'll just end up going to Yoki eventually and it won't help anything," Ailne informed the boy looking away from the sky. "I'm curious as to why you won't leave."

"The mines are our homes and our graves," the boy's father said. "I wasn't expecting you to understand."

The townspeople left and Alphonse looked towards Ailne. She was looking towards the sky in thought. She would break a taboo for these people, even if they believed she didn't understand them. Their homes and graves, huh? That was what Xerxes was supposed to be for her. She understood them, more than anyone would know.

"Hey, what's in these carts?" Ailne asked her brothers as she noted the large carts full of debris from the mines.

"It's culm, basically its waste," Edward answered. "What are you planning?"

"Well, I'm planning to do something a little illegal," she informed them. "You might want to look away before you become accomplices."

She walked up to one of the carts holding the culm and jumped up, grasping the edge. Ailne easily hoisted herself up and into the debris. She scanned it with a quick eye and blinked. There were things inside it that shouldn't be there. Things that shouldn't have been thrown away. Huh, maybe luck was looking on their side. She stooped down and picked up some of the pieces of coal that had metal in it. She put it into her skirt pocket and stood up straight.

"Aren't you supposed to be setting an example?" Edward questioned as she clapped her hands together.

"I'm the best example," she chuckled and Edward grinned.

"We better not get caught," Alphonse added, shaking his head at them.

Ailne looked at the culm turned into gold and raised her brows. This should be more than enough for that greedy bastard to sign over the entire town to her. Then she was going to give it back to the people, then punch the bastard in the face. It was the best kind of plan.

"He made you mad," Alphonse observed and she let out a low chuckle.

"I think I've passed mad if I'm being honest," her admittance to that startled him a little. "I've never really liked people who prey on others."

It was why she had hoped that when her brothers took over that the whole system would be redone. Slavery had needed to end well before she was born, and her father had refused to do so. One of the greater sins of her country, and one she was going to bring to light. History was history and for people to learn from it, it had to come to light. She put on her flirtatious smile on her face and Alphonse bristled at the sight of it. He bristled further when he noticed who it was sent towards. Edward held in his laugh at the sight of their younger brother seeing her in action.

"Oh, welcome back," Yoki greeted her, a sleazy smile on his face before he noticed the bars of gold behind her.

"I wish to buy the rights to the coal mines," She said, her smile making him sweat. "It is not enough?"

"Don't be absurd," Yoki informed her, grasping onto her hands. "With this much gold I can say goodbye to this miserable post."

"We'll make sure to put in a good word to our superiors," Edward informed him, giving a grin that was identical to Roy's.

"Thank you my dear alchemists," Yoki thanked before turning towards the gold.

"Remember, making gold is illegal," Ailne reminded Yoki. "In order not to get caught I would appreciate it if you would write up a document saying that this was free of charge?"

Edward wanted to laugh hysterically when she turned a light pink and shyly looked down. It even got the surrounding soldiers to turn red. That was a dangerous talent, and he wondered how many times she'd have to do it back when she was still royalty. She pressed a hand against her cheek and that made Yoki turn a bright red.

"Of course!" Yoki readily agreed, grabbing her hand and giving it a kiss.

"I can't believe that worked," Edward stated, laughing to himself as they left knowing they had pulled the wool over Yoki's eyes.

"Don't remind me of this," Ailne said, shuddering at the thought of Yoki's farewell gesture. "Really, don't."

"At least we know that you can get information with ease," Alphonse tried to find a bright side about it.

"I don't think I will have to do that again," Ailne dryly commented. "At least, I hope not to."

"All you have to do is show your hair," Edward snorted and she followed suit. "It's the unnatural gold color that gets most people."

"Well, Xerxian women were incredibly popular in other countries," she said. "Incredibly so in Xing."

"You could write a book after all this is over," Edward dryly commented.

"Maybe, unless you two would get upset by such topics," she countered.

The two boys shared a look and shook their heads. They weren't that upset by the idea of her writing such a book. Maybe she could start with history books of Xerxes as she excavated the city and brought everything to light. They hurried into the newest meeting spot of the miners and the men from the collapsed tunnel grinned at the female alchemist as she held up the deeds to the mines. A grin plastered on her face.

"I'll sign this over to you if you can promise me you won't take advantage of your fellow citizens," Ailne stated. "And we'll seek it for the price of four meals and a place to stay for the night."

The man who owned the inn that burned down looked at her in disbelief before letting out a laugh. He might've misjudged the woman completely, she wore the outfit of a soldier but she actually cared about people. How odd. He signed the papers and she shared a look with Edward.

"You change it back?" She asked him as they were given two of their four meals.

"Of course I did," Edward confirmed and they bumped fists.

"Oh, I found some metal we can use," she stated. "It was in the culm, it looks like tungsten, which is an incredibly rare find. I don't know how it got thrown out."

"Coal miners aren't looking for such things," Edward said as he easily downed his water before resuming eating the pancakes the keeper gave him.

"My lady! What is the meaning of this!?" Came quicker than the Elrics thought it would

"I just sold the deed to the mine to the chief here," Ailne stated, giving a pleasant smile.

"No, but that's not what I'm here for! The gold bars you gave me have all turned to rock!" Yoki informed them. "Can you please explain that?"

"What's this about gold bars?" Ailne asked in an innocent tone. "I can't recall anything like that."

"Don't you dare act dumb!" Yoki shouted at her and a couple of the miners tensed up. "We exchanged the pile of gold for the ownership documents! This is fraud!"

"But this was given to me free of charge," Ailne pointed out on the documents.

Yoki let out a scream when he realized he had been duped, by a woman of all things. Her innocent smile turned serpentine. Ailne had been able to pull a fast one on him. She was a little too proud of herself for that. The miners moved to loom over the man when he turned towards his men.

"You giving the Major issues?" They asked and she blinked in surprise. "Well, what else is there to add to the list of things you've done to our town?"

"I think the Colonel and Lieutenant General are going to get a kick out of this," Ailne commented as Yoki was pummeled. "They'll know all about his corruption and incompetence."

0o0

"All right, you took small items that will change the colors and scents of the golems, right?" Ailne asked as she got her transmutation circle ready with a piece of the tungsten in the center.

"Yeah," the two boys confirmed as they had their own metal in the circle surrounded by a few choice items to change the scents and colors.

"Right, we have everything," Ailne confirmed. "My golem is a particular blend of metals and matter that will make it so it can eat and grow, you two are following the same blend if not a bit different. Xerxian alchemy works with the earth and celestial movements so there's the exchange of energy."

Edward found her teaching style to be different from their teacher. She was focused on explaining the process in a manner they could understand, without making them feel stupid. She placed her hands onto the circle and soon the alchemical light filled their room with an oddly cheerful glow. It was different from their usual alchemy.

"See, a golem," she said, holding out a hand as the small winged creature landed on it.

It was a soft yellow color, that smelt of flowers. She had used the sunflower from Liore to customize it. It opened its large mouth and nipped at her cheek like a cat. It's long tail wrapped around her wrist and ended with a plumage of feather. Edward and Alphonse looked at it in disbelief before letting out sounds of amazement.

"All right," Edward stated, looking towards his circle and trying out the alchemy.

"You two certainly look alike," Ailne couldn't help but chuckle, the golem was the same red as his coat and even had his tiny braid and ahoge. "Did you use apples for the scent?"

"I like apples," Edward shrugged and she gave a nod of understanding.

Alphonse's golem was strange, reminding Edward of his physical body that wasn't the suit. The lavender golem had been infused with flowers as well. Edward let his golem land on his shoulder and watched as it tested out the metal perch with small stubby hands. The cat-like nature of the golems amused the two brothers to no end.

"How do they act as communicators?" Alphonse asked.

"Communication," she said, the xerxian rolling off her tongue with ease.

The golems mouth opened and the other two joined in. It landed on her shoulder and its tail landed near her mouth. Edward felt the plumes of feathers hit his cheek and it hit him. Oh, that was brilliant alchemy. Ailne was a treasure trove of old alchemy that differed from their own. Alphonse gently poked his golem and got a nuzzled finger in response.

"They remind me of cats," Alphonse stated, his voice coming through the golems.

"That's what we based their behaviors off of, but they are incredibly loyal to their alchemists," she informed them, gently closing her golems mouth to end the broadcast. "This just means you need to brush up on your Xerxian, Edward."

Edward let out a soft groan as his golem went into the hood of his coat and made a nest there. Of course he was going to have to learn how to speak it so he could have better commands of his golem. This was going to be like pulling teeth.