Huh?" A young Myra looked into the pantry to find that they were running low on potatoes. She was going to need more than they had to prepare tonight's dinner.
"Ed? Al?" Myra spoke, peeking her head into their father's study where the two young boys seemed to spend most of their time nowadays.
"I'm going out to get more potatoes to make dinner."
"Hmm?" Ed hummed, not really paying attention with his head buried in a thick book.
"Ok," Al said, his eyes also glued to a mass text in front of him.
Myra giggled. She walked over to each of them and kissed them on their heads, causing them both to drag their eyes away from their work and look up at their sister.
She gave them both a side hug before saying, "I'll be back soon."
"Bye!" They said in unison.
Myra had a bag in hand as she walked back home. The sky was painted in an array of yellows and oranges to make a sunset. An evening breeze lightly ruffled the leaves in the nearby trees.
'That took me longer than expected. I hope Ed and Al aren't worried. But then again, they probably haven't even left dad's study.' Myra mused.
"Do you happen to be Myra Elric?" A voice suddenly said from behind her. "The young alchemist that we've heard so much about?" The voice seemed smooth, but at the same time, taunting.
It was enough to make Myra halt in her tracks, but she kept calm as she asked, "Who are you and how do you know who I am?"
Myra turned her head to come face to face with a woman with long black, wavy hair. She was wearing a strapless black dress with long black gloves and black high heeled boots. She also had a symbol on her chest that Myra didn't recognize.
"Well you did become kind of popular back in Dublith when you rescued innocent people after a construction accident. As for my name... call me Lust." She said, extending her fingernails into long claws and launching them at Myra without a moment's hesitation.
"Lust?" Myra repeated as she quickly dodged the attack. "What do you want from me?!"
"Sorry, sweetheart, but you have to come with me. You'll find out eventually." She said as her arm extended, claws aimed at Myra.
Myra dropped the bag, spilling its contents. She jumped up to dodge again, but Lust's arm followed her. It curved and Myra brought her leg down on it when landing.
She didn't have time to think before Lust's other claws tried to grab her, forcing Myra to jump back.
Myra swiftly drew a transmutation circle on the ground before clapping her hands and placing them on the ground. A giant cloud of dust appeared around the two, making it quite difficult to see.
"Where did you go?" Lust whispered to herself in the thick dust cloud when her claws struck nothing but air.
A clapping was heard before several pillars came from the ground at Lust.
The dust cloud disappeared and Myra's eyes widened at Lust.
Lust's left shoulder had a gaping hole in it, but it was... regenerating?
"W-What—?"
"Don't bother," Lust interrupted. "Your questions will be answered soon enough. I have to admit, I did underestimate you, but that ends now." She pulled out her claws again.
Myra put her shock aside as she got into a fighting position.
Lust made the first move, throwing her arm out as Myra ran towards her, moving at the right times to avoid her arm and claws. She did the same thing when Lust launched her other arm at her.
Myra moved under her arms and swiftly behind Lust to deliver a kick to her back from her blind spot. Then, Myra quickly ran in front of Lust and punched her in the stomach.
Myra tried to punch her again, but this time Lust caught her fist. Myra didn't let this faze her as she moved to sweep Lust's feet from under her, but was forced to jump instead to avoid her claws once again.
Myra tried to get out of Lust's grip, but the more she struggled, the tighter Lust held on.
"I... won't... let you... take me." Myra said between her struggles. Her golden eyes filled with determination as she thought of Ed, Al, Winry and Granny Pinako.
She decided to take a different approach by twisting her wrist and pulling it away from Lust, jumping back to create some distance between them.
"Unfortunately, you don't have a choice," Lust narrowed her eyes. Her long claws advancing towards Myra once again. But instead of attempting to strike her, she swiped at the ground harshly by Myra's feet.
Myra didn't react fast enough and some dust got in her eyes. It stung too much to open them so she was forced to keep them closed.
Not being able to rely on her sight anymore, Myra relied on her ears to listen for Lust.
She stood there in a battle position, listening attentively to her surroundings. When she heard a faint noise coming from her left side, Myra jumped up to dodge Lust's claws and used the angle of Lust's arm to lead her to her.
Myra slid across the dirt as she blocked Lust's next attack and tried to move behind her.
Myra stopped in her tracks when she couldn't hear anything anymore.
Knowing Lust was up to something, she waited and listened for any kind of sound or movement. Myra slowly and quietly began drawing a transmutation circle in the dirt with her shoe.
When she finally heard something on her right side, Myra's hands clapped and hit the transmutation circle at her feet as she launched an attack at Lust.
Myra followed behind her transmutation to land another blow, but stopped midway when she felt a sharp pain in her stomach. It felt like something had just pierced her from behind.
"Sorry, but I wasn't where you thought I was." A sinister voice said from behind.
Myra coughed as she felt a warm liquid slide down the side of her mouth. Blood.
Myra bit back a gagged scream when she felt Lust remove her claw.
She fell onto her hands and knees, trying to ignore the pain she felt in order to stand up. But alas, to no avail.
Myra tried to force her eyes open, but they still stung. Even so, she was still able to open them slightly as her body collapsed to the ground.
'N-No... Ed... Al... Please stay safe.' Was the last thing she thought before her eyes fluttered shut.
Myra's eyes shot open and she quickly sat up. She took a moment to take in her surroundings and relaxed when she realized that she was still in their cell in Briggs.
"Sister, are you ok?" Al asked, concern in his voice. "You seemed like you were having a bad dream."
"I'm ok, I just... dreamt about the time Lust kidnapped me from Resembool." Myra said quietly so only Al could hear as two of Kimblee's men stood guarding the two just outside their cell. "Where's Ed?" She asked, changing the subject.
"Winry has to change his automail. They'll be back soon... Are you sure your gonna be ok?"
"Don't worry, I'm fine." Myra flashed her signature smile to comfort him.
She looked at Al then back at Kimblee's men. She knew Al wanted to question her more, but not here, not where Kimblee's men could so easily overhear. So instead she brought up something else to lighten the mood a little.
"So, what's going on between Ed and Winry?" Myra asked.
Myra could've sworn a sly smile was growing on Al's face as he said, "I think Brother and Winry need lessons in flirting."
Myra couldn't hold back a laugh as she recalled their bickering earlier. "Yeah I think you're right!"
It didn't take long after that for Winry to join them by their cell. "Hey, Winry." Myra greeted. "That took longer than expected."
"Sorry but they let me check out some Northern automail!" she said excitedly, reminiscing in the memories from moments ago.
While Ed had yet to return, Winry entered the cell and stood firmly in front of Myra with her hands on her hips. "So, are you going to give me a proper explanation anytime soon?" she asked with a warning tone in her voice.
Myra leaned in to whisper so only Winry and Al could hear her, "Not right now," she gestured to the two guards. "I'll explain later."
Winry was hesitant at first, but soon sighed in defeat. "You've always been so much like your brothers; always getting into trouble. I mean, being thrown into jail with them and just when you started traveling with them?! Unbelievable!" she fumed.
"But I'm glad you're back," Winry's eyes turned glassy as she gazed at Myra, hugging her.
Myra's face softened, realizing that Winry was just worried about her and nodded, trying her best to hug back. "There's nothing to worry about Winry, I'm ok now." Myra forced a smile on her face to reassure the blonde in front of her.
The three soon heard footsteps and it wasn't long before Ed soon entered their cell, a smile completely nonexistent from his features.
Myra could easily guess why as she noticed Kimblee standing off to the side, listening to every word he had to say.
"Winry, you were only brought to Briggs as a hostage." Al, Myra and Winry each looked taken aback. Neither Al nor Myra were expecting him to admit it to her.
"What? What does he mean?" Winry looked to Al and Myra who thought it best if Ed continued.
"Listen, I've been ordered by the Fuhrer to fulfill my duties as a human weapon. In other words, they're ordering me to help them commit mass murder."
Winry gasped and stood up, "Why don't you just refuse?!" Ed averted his gaze.
Realization suddenly struck her, "Oh, I see." she said holding back tears. "They're using me to hold you down... I won't cry. I'm just upset with myself for being so naïve. I'm sorry. All you were trying to do was get your original bodies back."
"About that, they actually offered me a Philosopher's Stone as payment."
Al seemed taken aback, "A Stone? But—"
"That's right, Kimblee has one."
'Dammit! That explains Ishval and his name, the Crimson Alchemist.' Myra thought to herself.
"We can't Brother! The ingredients for a Philosopher's Stone are—"
"I know, Al!"
Silence befell them before Al spoke, "Go ahead and do what you want." he said coldly.
"I will." Ed shot back before turning around.
"Myra, say something!" Winry prompted the girl to stop her brother, but Myra knew it was best not to say anything.
Ed exited the cell, leaving with Kimblee, their conversation being heard as they left.
"I'm in, alright? But finding Scar is the first thing I wanna do."
"Oh yeah? And why is that?"
"Scar is the one who murdered Winry's parents. They deserve vengeance."
"I see. Fine with me."
Winry stared at their backs worriedly as she also exited the cell.
"Also, I'll need Al and Myra with me. Al doesn't have a body so he's immune to Scar's bodily destruction. Myra's speed will also speed up the process and make things go a lot smoother."
"Well, I guess that would be helpful." was the last thing they heard Kimblee say before he, Ed and his two men left the room.
"Are you two really okay with this?" Winry asked once they were gone.
"The Philosopher's Stone, it can only be made by sacrificing human lives." Al explained to her.
Winry was shocked, her eyes wavered before her head quickly shot up in the direction Ed and Kimblee just left.
"Don't worry. Ed would never actually use one." Myra assured.
"And we don't need it." Al added. "We think we might be able to use Eastern alchemy as a way to help get our bodies back. There's a girl travelling with Scar. We think she can teach it to us."
"So then, is he going after Scar to find this girl?"
"Yeah," Myra nodded. "We think so."
"I see." Winry smiled softly before a look of determination set in her eyes. "Then I guess I better come up with a believable excuse."