The Golden Alchemist (An FMA Fanfic)

Chapter 8

I wake up to the sun shining through the window. For a second I forget that I'm at the Rockbell's. I look through my bag and pull out an alchemy book that I had packed. So I take it and start to go downstairs. I hear the sounds of  tools working; probably Winry and Pinako working on my leg. I walk all the way down the steps and go to sit on the couch. Walking down steps can surprisingly wear you out quickly.

I set my crutches aside and start to read the book. I thought over it and decided, if I'm going to find this Endil guy, then I could become a state alchemist and find him. But, I would have to study a lot. I have studied it before with my mom when she was alive, but I haven't done that in five years, so it's going to be difficult.

When I read, I usually block out all of my surroundings. I didn't notice that Ed and Al were standing in front of me until I had closed the book. I looked at them and asked, "How long have you two been standing there?" Ed shrugs. "I was asking you questions for like five minutes, but you didn't answer, so I waited for you to finish the page," Ed says simply.

"Okay, what do you want to know?" I responded. He gave me a weird look, "Why'd you come all the way from Central just to get a leg? And how did you loose it?" I sigh, "Well, I'm not going to lay around all day, helpless just because I don't have a leg. Plus, I heard that people got really good auto mail here, and I need auto mail that I can rely on. How I lost my leg... I told you that I would tell you after you had told me." It's not just that I don't want to tell them that I had performed Human Transformation, I didn't want to talk about Ara dying. Ed looks to Al and shrugs. He walks away, and Al apologizes and follows him.

It didn't really bother me that he wanted answers. I actually want to know how he lost his leg and arm, and why Al is in armor. He sounds like he is my age, but he's in very large armor. I shake the thought from my head and continue reading.

Winry walks into the room and gives me a huge smile, "We're almost done with your leg!" I close my book. "Really?" I ask excitedly. She nods. Awesome! I can have a leg again! I don't even have to force a smile this time. "That's great!" I say. If she was right earlier, I would have my leg up on tomorrow. Winry smiles again and says, "Well, better get back to work!" I nod and as soon as she walks into a different room, tools start going off again. I decide to read more of my book.

I start to open my book when I hear Ed scream, "Alright! I can't take it any more!" He runs into the room that I'm in and asks again, "How did you loose your leg?!" It sounds as if it's driving him crazy or something. I sigh. "My sister was murdered and I was hurt in the process. Happy now?" I slam my book closed. Saying that Aralyn was murdered, just makes it harder. It reminds me that she really is dead.

Ed studies me. "What?" I ask. He gives me a hard look and says flatly, "Did you try to bring her back?" Inside I start to panic, but I avoid the question, "How'd you loose your arm and leg? And why is Al in armor?" I gave home the same look that he gave me. "Sorry about your sister," Ed says and walks away from me and to Al.

I lay down and try not to think of Ara. But the image of her kept popping into my head, and I felt tears stream down my face. Soon enough, I fall asleep.

♪☆･♪☆:.｡..｡.:♪☆･♪☆:.｡.･♪☆

I wake up to Winry shaking my shoulder. She gives me a sympathetic look. "What?" I ask, clueless as ever. "You were crying. Was it a nightmare?" she asks. I was thinking of Ara when I fell asleep, so I guess I had a dream-no it was a memory. "Sort of," I say sitting up. "What was it about?" she asks. "My sister," I answer.

"You have a sister?" she asks excitedly. "Had," I correct. "I had a sister." She's quiet for a little bit but asks, "What happened?" I look her straight in the eyes and I know that she won't leave without an answer. I sigh, "She was shot and died. Two days ago... Her name was Aralyn," I smile at her name and clutch her necklace that I took from her room. "How old?" Winry asks softly. "Five," I answer.

"Oh. Sorry about what happened," she says softly. "Will you do me a favor?" I ask her. She nods, "Sure. What is it?" I smile a little, "Can you get my bag from upstairs? I want to show you a picture that I have in there." She smiles and gets my bag from my room.

She comes back down and hands me the bag. I open it and take out the picture of Aralyn, my mom and me. I show I to her and point to each if us, "That was my mom and that was sister. And of course, that's me." Ara was just a baby. Not even a month old.

I take another picture out-one of Ara and me. "That's Ara," I smile a bit. "She was such a great sister." I mumble the last part to myself. I stare at the picture and Winry keeps giving me a sympathetic look. I change the subject, "Is my leg almost done?" Winry has a sort of sparkle in her eyes as soon as I say that.

"Almost! We'll attach it tomorrow," she says. "That's great!" I smile so wide my cheeks hurt. But I don't care. I get my auto mail tomorrow, and I get to study a lot more... I'm going to find Endil no matter what happens. I need to find out who ordered him to kill a five year old-and why.