Disclaimer: FMA is not mine. You know what else isn't mine? Every fandom on this site.

Beta: meowcubed3

I sat on the train and looked out the window. It would take a while to get to Stonewell. The train first has to stop at a small town. The first town we are stopping at is a small river town known most for fishing. Fishing reminds me of the fishing trips Paul and I would take with our Dad. I never caught anything, so I grew bored quickly, but Dad told us stories of growing up on his parents' farm. The memory made me feel sad, but I shook the feeling off. The train pulled into the station, and I got off.

"Hello! Welcome to the fishing town of Portsmith! Are you traveling with your parents little lady?" The hotel owner seemed friendly enough

"No, I am traveling to Central."

He looked confused. "How old are you? You can't be older than 10. A little girl like you wouldn't be safe in Central all alone. What reason do you have for going to Central first?" All his questions took me by surprise. The comment about my age made me pretty pissed.

"First of all, I AM 12! And I need to go to Central so I can take the State Alchemist test, so I can get my certification." He looked at me for a moment, and then burst out laughing. I waited for him to regain his composure.

Seeing my serious face he said, "Wait, you weren't kidding? Little girl, I hate to break it to you, but you won't last a minute in those tests. There are no female state alchemists. Why don't you try your hand at being a nurse or something. Kid? Are you okay?"

My mind ran rampant with the thought of failing. I had to take the test! For my brother's sake! He gave up everything. "I don't care! I am going to anyway."

The man looked kind of sad. "Why don't you stay the night, free of charge. Your ambition reminds me of my daughter. She went and joined the military too. Just remember to be careful." Shocked by his words, I thanked him and went into my room.

Later that evening I tried to think of a plan. Judging by the way the manager reacted, my teacher might send me home because I am a girl! I can't turn back now! "It's no use! Maybe something in Paul's notes will give me an idea. I opened my bag and spotted my brother's clothes. I forgot I brought them. A plan started to formulate in my mind.

The next day, I woke up and thanked the man for his kindness. "I insist that I repay you somehow." I looked around the lobby. The porch railing was broken, and the steps were very worn. Thinking of a simple equation, I drew an array and placed my hands on it. A flash of light, and then appeared the steps and rail in new condition. The man's mouth opened as he looked at me with shock. I gave him a smile and a wave as I skipped to the train. She is that good at alchemy?

~o~

Once on the train, I put my plan into action. The train was practically empty because it was so early. "Since I can't enter as a girl, how about I enter as a boy." I took out my brother's clothes and took off my dress. Changing into his clothes seemed like a good idea, but it may be a little harder than expected. I slipped on the white shirt and gray vest. Even though I was 12, I was still... small enough to pass as a boy with help from the vest. For once, size was in my favor. I checked my reflection in the mirror and smiled. I really did look like a boy! I slipped on black work boots to complete the look. Perfect, I thought to my self about what my new name should be.

"Edward, you do realize the State Alchemist Exam is coming up soon." Ed looked at Roy. "What of it?"

"Fullmetal, I think it would be beneficial to have another person travel with you to help with your quest. There are much younger people taking the exam this year." Edward looked with shock at the Colonel.

"What the hell gave you that idea?!"

"I'm just thinking someone who is good at alchemy and close to your age may be able to help in covert situations. You are only 12 and Al is 11. I think you should have at least one other person traveling with you. They won't stand out as much. You and Al are too well known."

"NO WAY IN-"

"He's got a point brother." Ed stopped mid rant and stared at Alphonse

"But-"

Al cut him off."Colonel Mustang, I agree and Ed and I will both be there looking for the right candidate." Ed glared at his younger brother. "Ed, you're being selfish. I want someone else to go with us! They can help us with our research and help in other ways! Please..."

Ed heard the sadness in his brother's voice. "Fine! If after 3 years we don't have any success, I will choose another person! Now give me my next mission!"

"Alright," Mustang said, smirking. This is the perfect revenge! That'll teach him to break my door every week! "Hawkeye, start looking for an annoying brat to be Fullmetal's new teammate! He will be miserable!"

"Sir, I highly doubt a new state alchemist is just going to appear."

I walked down the streets of Stonewell. After a day of searching, I still haven't found anyone to be my teacher. The last guy I talked to told me about a woman who has some combat experience. It's better than nothing, I suppose. I check the address the man gave me.

"This looks like the place." I knock on the door and a young woman answers.

"What can I help you with young man?" I am startled by her appearance and it takes me a minute to answer her question.

"Oh! My name is James Simmons. I am looking for someone skilled in combat and knows about alchemy." She opened the door and led me inside.

"I knew I shouldn't have helped John with those thugs," she muttered. "So, what do you need?"

"Please teach me!"

"Hell no! I am not some babysitter! You want to get beat up, go find some thugs on the street!" She spun around with a powerful roundhouse kick, catching me in the stomach. I staggered, but only a moment later a fist made contact with my face. She knocked my legs out from under me, and I collapsed onto the floor. "You're weak!" She yanked me up and sat me in a chair.

"Please," I wheezed, "I'll take any training you give me."

"Anything?" she asks with a glint in her eye. I immediately regret the offer. "You will have one month in the forest by the town to survive. I will come after you and fight. If you manage by some oversight of fate to not die, I will train you for real. Your training will be complete once you manage to hit me. " Her entire personality seemed to change.

"Who are you?" I asked nervously.

"I am a nurse! My acquaintance Izumi is the teacher, but she has only had two boys as her students. I expect you to surpass them both." She turns to the sky and shakes her fist. "Then we'll see who the alpha female is, Izumi! You'll regret saying that I can't teach!" I was really scared now. What have I gotten myself into?

It has now been 26 days. I tried my best, but fighting for my life every day and having to somehow find food is taking its toll. I thought I was dead for sure when I ate that one plant. All I know is the indigestion made me want to die. The only thing I can do for now is try to hide and-

"Where is my victim, I mean student, hiding today?"

Damn it.

"It has been 30 days, and you are actually still alive. I expected you to collapse from exhaustion or hunger by day 2. I'm surprised you didn't run away."

I glare at her. "I tried to, but you dragged me back into the forest and beat me until I couldn't run away."

She smiled. "Oh yeah! I forgot about that! That was fun."

She looked at me with a gleam in her eyes. "From now on, you will address me as 'Master' or 'Supreme Overlord.'"

"You don't have many friends, do you?"

"Shut up. Tomorrow, we start your actual training." A grin slowly spread across her face. "You passed. Barely, but nothing you can't improve upon with training. Come, let us go and eat. You are going to need food to keep yourself nourished. I won't have you collapsing on me, boy. Then what will I do for fun?"

"This is why you aren't married!" I retort. She punched me in the gut, leaving me curled up on the floor. That was the first trial of my training.

One month later, I lay by the river wheezing. 'Master Supreme Overlord' wasn't kidding about being serious this time. I have a feeling the real reason she keeps me around is for a punching bag.

I sighed, gazing up at the birds flying above me. Oh you think you are so great just because you have wings and can fly. They mock me with their cute little birdsongs. If I could fly, then we'd see who's laughing!

Wait... I sit up, remembering something from years ago.

-Flashback-

"Nia, your old man may not be an alchemist, but I have something better than they could hope to have! I have THIS!"

My father gestures wildly to a strange contraption behind him.

"What is that supposed to be?" I ask, scrunching my face up in confusion.

"This," he replies, "is the FUTURE!" He stands there, waiting for my response.

"The future of what? It looks like a hunk of junk."

He swats the back of my head. "Can't you see? With this, we can join the birds in the sky!"

I couldn't believe it! My dad had finally gone mental! He grabbed my shoulders before I could escape and led me to his workshop.

"These notes illustrate how the air currents can be used as lift for these wings! Similar to a bird gliding!"

I examine the notes, and start to see his logic. "Dad! That's amazing!"

"I know, baby girl. With this, humans will no longer be stuck on the ground!

-End Flashback-

If I attack from the sky, she will never see it coming! No one expects an arial ambush!

The next day, I wait in a tree, stalking my prey. My teacher approaches the forest for my daily beat-down, but today will be different!

I leap from the tree, dropping down on her.

"Who's laughing now?" I shout. She swats me away like an annoying fly.

"Me!" she replies. "You're still to inexperienced to catch me off guard!"

I groan, dragging myself off the ground. "Damn it! I thought I had you!"

She cackled at my misery. "It was a good attempt, but just that: an attempt. However, you have given me a new tactic for battle."

I cringed at her evil grin. Great, now my only advantage will be used against me.

"Though as a reward for being clever, I will help you develop your arial combat."

"Really?" I ask, eyes filled with hope. The sky seemed to open up, sunshine breaking through the clouds as the heavens sing.

"Of course! You are my guinea pig, after all. Testing experiments is your job as a student."

My hope shatters, as the sun fades and thunder rumbles in the distance. So begins my new combat training.

A/N: Chapter 2 is SO MUCH BETTER now! The rest of the story is completely changed as well! Be prepared!

manga-neko signing out! :3