Hey y'all. This is for a character I've never written for before, or read anything about, or really anything. It's Lyra, and was actually requested by Hellotoday. I thought it was an interesting concept, to say the least. Also, it comes right after the Dante chapter, yay. It's not my proudest work, but I hope it's not too bad, I really did try my best.

Summery: She promised to turn her into a powerful alchemist, but she never imagined it'd be like this.
Character: Lyra
Verse: Anime
Warning: Cannon character death
Word Count: 805

Perfect Vessel

Lyra slowly followed the old woman through her extravagant home. It had been a few days since the Elric brothers had left, and Lady Dante had been acting a bit strange since then. The woman had insisted it'd been nothing though, and Lyra chose to believe her. After all, she was being kind enough to teach her advanced alchemy in return for some simple housecleaning, how could she not do what she asked?

Finally, the two reached a large room in the most northern facing side of the house. Lyra had been in here a few times to clean, and there wasn't anything remarkable or telling that would immediately let her know why they were there. Lyra watched as Dante walked over to the side of the room, behind a large table.

"Now dear, could you come over here for a moment?" the old woman asked, and Lyra nodded, making her way over.

"Of course, Dante," she said, and once she reached her, she was quite surprised to find a large transmutation circle etched into the table. She'd never seen anything like it before, the intricacy reminiscent of human transmutation. "What is this for, lady Dante?" she asked, and the old woman smiled at her kindly.

"Oh well, as I'm sure you've noticed, I've been getting on in years. I'm just not sure how much longer this old body will hold out," Dante said, but Lyra smiled and shook her head.

"Nonsense. You seem as healthy as ever, and your mind is still so sharp," she reassured, but Dante shook her head as she leaned down on her side of the table, and started going through a small bag that Lyra hadn't noticed before.

"How very kind of you, but it's the truth. This body has reached it's limits, my student," she said, pulling something small out of the bag. Lyra couldn't see it at first, but soon Dante was holding it in between two of her fingers. It was a small stone shard, blood red and seemed to glow. Before the young girl was able to ask just what it was for, and what any of this had to do with the transmutation circle, she felt a large rope come from behind and tie around her, making it impossible to move.

"L-lady Dante? ! What is this!" She yelled, trying in vain to free herself from the restraints. The old woman made her way over to the girl, a very foreign smirk on her face.

"Why dear, this is something very few people get to see, you should be honored," Dante said, another alchemic transmutation causing the bonds to lift Lyra onto the table and in the circle. "This here is some of the last of my philosopher's stone," Lyra couldn't hold in her gasp at the revelation.

"Philosopher's stone? But that's-" she started, but was cut off by the calm old woman.

"A myth? Yes, that's what many believe, but it's obviously not the truth, now is it?" She said, and Lyra just stared at the tiny red shard in Dante's wrinkled hand.

"What are you going to do to me?" she asked. It was clear that Dante had some plan, and it probably wasn't going to be in her favor, not if it involved being bound and requiring the might of a philosopher's stone. Dante's grin widened, looking horribly out of place oh the kind old woman Lyra used to know.

"I suppose there's no harm in telling you. I have told those in the past, and not one has had the chance to stop me," she started, tracing her hand on the brim of the young girl's face. "I am going to take over that pretty little body of yours. I told you this one was wearing out," Dante explained, receiving a shocked and disbelieving look from Lyra.

"No, you can't. How would you-" she was once again cut off by the old woman who she used to think of as so kind and caring. A bit off, but she never imagined that would lead to something like this. She never could have dreamed it'd come to this.

"There there, no use in struggling," Dante said, her voice sounding smooth and so very out of place. It didn't stop Lyra from trying her best to move, get out of her binds, anything that would help as the circle under her started glowing a bright red.

It quickly engulfed her vision, leaving her with nothing but vague silhouettes and the crackle of energy as she was quickly and efficiently overrun by the much older and experienced alchemist. Her ironic words were the last thing she heard before complete and utter emptiness replaced everything she once knew.

"I told you I'd make you a great and powerful alchemist one day, didn't I, dear?"