We Go Together

The Fullmetal Alchemist

"We could really use Alchemical Powers like yours," the man of the military before me says with a slight smirk on his face.

"You know, when you say use," I say with my voice filled with sarcasm, "you really make it sound bad."

"True," he replies. "But still, I know you're smart enough to realize exactly what I mean."

"Of course I am," I reply.

Then, there's the silence.

This man from the military came to me out of nowhere asking me to become a State Alchemist. For my entire life, I was just independent. Never answering to anybody at all. I never really needed to, anyway. I've been on my own ever since I was really small. I was abandoned at an orphanage where a lot of the kids had similar cases, but I didn't bother to play with them or anything.

I started to get into Alchemy when I had nothing fun to do. I went from learning the basics of Alchemy to learning attacks specialized in fire. More than a couple of times, I caused a lot of trouble in the orphanage, and the people there forced me to live on my own shortly after I turned twelve years old.

And since then, I've been in the streets, helping out at a humble restaurant since an old man convinced me to work for him. So far, I've been living just fine and I don't feel that my grudge against people in general is that strong anymore.

I've learned to trust people.

But of course, my trust isn't easy to gain at all.

So anyway, this guy wants me to become a State Alchemist because he knows about my fire alchemy. But I wonder who could have possibly noticed a nobody performing fire tricks to cook faster (which by the way amazed the old man at the restaurant).

"What do you say?" he asks me.

"Let me think..." I place my hand on my chin and pretend I'm thinking deeply. "I don't know. I mean, going off to the military with a guy whose name I don't even know..."

"You can call me Mustang, if that'll make you feel better," he says.

"Hm," I say. "Well it does, but I don't know. What's in it for me?"

"Think of it this way," he says. "You'll be able to use your power almost at will."

"I already have that," I say.

"But this time it will actually have a good purpose," Mustang replies, "not just entertainment. You know, when Bradley requested to recruit you, or in fact, when he wants to recruit anyone in particular, he normally has something really important for them."

"Is that so?" I ask. "And what is that really important something? Do you happen to know?"

"I just know he wants to put you with the Fullmetal Alchemist," Mustang says. "That good enough for you?"

When I hear that nickname, my attention is drawn in fully. The Fullmetal Alchemist is of high recognition, not to mention, he has a lot of power. To work with him...

"Alright, fine," I say. "When do we leave?"

"As soon as you can," he replies. "By the way, I'd like to know your full name."

"Why, that's nice," is all I say.

He looks at me with a fully blank expression, even though he knows that I'm just toying around with him.

I chuckle. "Alice Blackburn."

"Alright, Miss Blackburn," he says. "Let's go then."

****