Allison's View

My eyes fluttered open. I could hear people talking quietly from beside me. There was a man with black hair and dark onyx eyes and he was wearing a military uniform. There was another military person, but it was a girl unlike the usual military man. She had blonde hair like mine but hers was really short. She also had the same eye color that looked like a brownish yellow. She was very pretty.

"You're awake..." The man pointed out rather bluntly.

"I see that.. Where am I, sir...?" I asked.

His gaze didn't waver, "From what I know we're in the Rockbell's household. We came here with an offer we'd like for you to take in mind." He said.

Al brought me here if I'm correct, but why are there military soldiers here? Did they figure out we did the taboo...?

"Oh, and what is that offer... Sir?" I asked with a small glare.

He sighed, "My names Roy Mustang, just call me Roy. The blonde next to me is Riza Hawkeye." I nodded. "We wanted to offer you a chance to join the military and become a state alchemist."

He wanted me to join the military so I could be one of their dogs? I narrowed my eyes at him. What's the big idea here?

Riza saw my look and decided to explain everything to me. "Roy's just surprised that someone your age can even try human transmutation, or even bind a soul to a suit of armor. Your skills show that you will become a great alchemist at a young age. If you do accept the offer, you'll have the privilege to access books only state alchemist would be able to get their hands on. And that just might help you get your body back to normal if you're thinking about it. Do you accept?"

My lips were parted as if I was going to speak but they kept closing and opening like a fish. I didn't know how to react; what to say. This was so sudden. After losing nearly all my body I get an offer to become a state alchemist,  an offer in which can be very helpful with all the books they are allowed to have. If I say no, I'll lose this chance or find a way to get my body back. Overall it's a very tempting deal.

"By your silence, should I take that as a no?" Riza asked. "If so, we will be leaving now."

Roy stood up and looked down at me, "Will you sit here and mourn like your friend in the other room? Mourning because of an incident you caused? Or will you take the chance to become a state alchemist and make use of those privileges you earn by becoming, do you really want to be stuck with no limbs?" Roy said firmly, and walked to the door.

Friend? Is he talking about big brother Ed, is he mourning a lot? All because of the human transmutation failure, Ed is depressed...  Then I've decided, I can't just sit here and mourn for the rest of my life! I'm going to take this chance while I have it, and help big brother. I'll get his and Al's body back so they can be happy again.

I grabbed his sleeve with my only limb, "Stop..." I muttered out softly. He looked over at me, "I accept your offer."

He smirked, "Good choice, kid. But you're not going to get anywhere with those missing limbs of yours." Roy pointed out.

I looked down, my legs were gone, same with my right arm. What use am I if I don't even have any limbs. There's always that one option though... It's an option I wouldn't have thought I would need to go to during my life.

"I can get automail!" I shouted, "Granny knows how. She could give me automail parts!"

That's what I will do. I'll ask granny to make me some auto mail for my arm and legs! Then i'll be able to become a state alchemist and have all the research materials I need to find a way to get our bodies back!

"Good call, have your automail on by tomorrow. We'll be outside exactly at 8:00 AM. Don't forget." Roy stated.

Roy started to walk once more, but then I remembered something.

"Oh, wait!" I blurted out, "I just wanted to tell you my name since you both greeted yourselves. I'm Allison. It was nice meeting you two." I said with a smile.

Roy smirked, "It was a pleasure meeting you as well, Allison." With that he walked through the door, leaving Riza with me.

Riza came up to me, "Hey, I just wanted to let you now that being in the military isn't so easy. You'll see hell from now on, now that you're joining the forces." Riza mused.

My thoughts immediately wandered elsewhere. Mom, Al, Ed... Truth. 

"Also, I am...you." 

"It's the law of equivalent exchange. Right, young girl?"

I hung my head and growled, "I've already seen hell myself...I think I'll be fine." I snarled out at the thought and image of Truth's devilish grin.

"I see. Well as Roy said, don't forget. I'll see you tomorrow, Allison. Farewell." Riza said and left.

"Goodbye..." I whispered, watching the door flutter shut.

__________________

"What do you mean you accepted their offer?! Why would you do such a thing!" Granny yelled.

"It was my only chance to accept that offer! How else would I get access to books like those if I'm not a state alchemist!" I yelled back.

"You can always find another way! Don't be like your father and leave your family behind!" Granny retorted.

"Don't compare me to that useless man who calls himself my father! A real father would've been here for his wife; his kids! But he wasn't, was he? He left us behind and look what happened! Mom died, Al lost his body, Ed lost an arm and leg, and I lost almost all my body!" I screamed out in pure rage, "There is no other way! I am going to take this chance one way or another! You can't stop me, I'll do what I can to get our bodies back... We've suffered enough! You don't understand... You just don't. I lost Mom, I almost lost big brother. I lost my limbs just like Ed... I've seen hell and I'm not staying in it any longer!"

Granny's eyes were wide in shock. She didn't utter a single word. Ed, Al, and Winry happened to enter the room during my last sentence. Winry looked angry, Ed and Al on the other hand knew how I felt, we've been through hell together and there was really no way for us to get out.

Ed wheeled his way to me, "Sis, its okay... Don't worry so much, everything will be fine. Your big brother is here..." Ed soothed, using his one arm pulling me to his chest.

I burst into tears and threw myself on Ed, "Big brother! Big brother! I-I'm sorry... I really am!" I sobbed into his chest as all my bottled up feelings of the past days poured out of me.

Ed rubbed my back and mumbled soothing words to me. He was doing his best to try and comfort me, but it seemed like no matter what he tried it just didn't work.

"Ali, you don't have to push yourself so much. You don't need to do this for us, you don't. As your big brothers we're supposed to help you." Al whispered.

"B-But I want to do this, I do! For the three of us! I already made up my mind. I'm becoming a state alchemist." I said, my sobbing calming to a low sniffling.

Ed frowned, "Alright, I guess we can't stop you. Just to let you know, if I do join later on. Let's spar." Ed said with a small smile coating his lips.

I grinned at this, "Okay, I don't plan on losing!"

____________________

"Okay, I'm going to connect the nerves to the automail." Winry said, taking a deep breath and gazing at my arm intensely. "One, two...three!"

I screamed as she connected the nerves. It was the most painful part of the process. It felt like I was getting stabbed thousands of times! Putting on the auto mail was not as bad as this.

"Okay, good. Now all that's left are your legs. Do you want me to connect the nerve at the same time?" Granny asked. I bit my lip and nodded. "Alrighty then, Winry take the left leg, I got the right." Winry went to my left as granny went to my right. They looked at me, asking if they could start.

"Do it." I said then screamed twice as loud as they connected the automail to my nerves. "God! That hurts so much!"

"It is your nerves after all." Granny stated as if it were obvious. She then sighed, "We're done here." She clamped the automail onto my limbs. It hurt a little but not so much as connecting the nerves.

"Wait! How long is it going to take to get used to the automail?" I asked curiously.

"Four to five years with your case." Granny replied bluntly.

"Four to five years!? I need to be able to walk at least by tomorrow morning!" I shouted in panic.

This wasn't going to work with me. Roy and Riza would most likely leave me behind if I'm not able to walk before they arrive. I needed to find a way to fix this...and quickly!

"There's nothing you can do." She stated, glaring at me. She cleaned her hands with a rag and tossed it to the side. "In all honesty, if you work hard and try your best to get out of that automail you'll be walking in two or three years the least. 

"Well, I'll be training non-stop till tomorrow then. I should start now." I said and jumped out the bed.

I fell straight to the ground due to my body not being used to the automail.

"Hey, what's the big deal? Granny just said it will take five years! You can't just rush it, you'll kill yourself!" Winry shouted, clearly scolding me for almost breaking her precious auto mail.

I ignored her. I can't give up no matter what they tell me... I need to do this for Ed and Al; for mother. I stood up shakily. My legs wobbled at first, but then I managed to keep my balance and stand up perfectly.

"What was it that you were saying?" I smiled innocently.

Winry and Granny Pinako were dumbfounded. They circled me while poking my body. I shifted uncomfortably at their touch. I couldn't help but question their sanity.

"Um, what are you two doing?" I asked, staring up at Winry in confusion.

"Oh my... It looks like you may have the body to exit rehab must quicker." Granny stated, releasing smoke from her mouth. "If you really think you can manage to get used to your automail somewhat in a day, I will come to accept your choice of joining the military."

My mouth fell open at her words, "Really? Then I might as well start now!" I exclaimed and ran out the door with no pain reaching me at all. The adrenaline took over.

Bursting outside, I had no idea what to do. All I knew was that I needed to work on my legs. I should practice moving with my legs for five hours then I'll switch to my arms. Sounds good to me.

For my legs I ran twenty laps around the town to make my automail legs accustomed to moving quickly. I only ended up doing six laps. My small and frail body couldn't go any further than that, but that doesn't mean I won't try to do more. 

Four hours left for my legs.

After running, I did squats for an hour and kicked the air for the same amount of time. Al even came out to help me, his excuse was that he thought I could use a sparring partner. We fought till I was bruised and beaten,but big brother didn't want to hurt me. I could tell by how he was holding back on me. However, I already puked up a good amount of blood. Our sparring went on for four hours, much longer than I thought it would be. Big brother stayed and watched me train my arms. All I did was handstands, flexing, and other acrobatic things.

Fifteen hours passed. It was four in the morning and big brother Al was still watching. It didn't bother me, I actually like that he was watching and acknowledging me. Before he would always pay attention to Ed since he was older, now the tables had turned. It felt good.

"Ali, I think you should rest now. Aren't you supposed to leave at 8:00 AM?" Brother asked.

I was doing a handstand when he spoke to me. I glanced over at brother, large beads of sweat dripping down the side of my face. "I know, but I need to practice more or else I won't be a state alchemist!" I said.

I heard brother sigh loudly. He walked over and lifted me up like nothing.

"Hey! What are you doing, I need to practice more-!" I said before coughing up a big portion of blood, more than last time.

"See? You're coughing up blood and a lot of it. That isn't good, you can't push yourself too much. You'll only hurt your body and end up making your training even longer than you want it." Al scolded me, his brotherly side coming out. "You're done. You need rest and healing."

"But-!"

"No buts, its final. You're going to listen to me, you're big brother." Al said, using the fact he was older by a mere few minutes to his advantage. "Now, let's get you bandaged up."

I pouted and glared slightly at him. Once inside, Al placed me on my bed. Granny had a room for each of us since we would always come over. My room was dark purple tinted with a light purple. It was my favorite color. As for furniture it was nothing too special, just plain furniture.

"Ali, give me your arm." I shook my head, clearing my thoughts. I gave him my hand. "This might burn a little, sorry." Al muttered.

"It's fine, just do it quickly." I said.

"All right," Al said as he disinfected my cuts and scrapes all over my arm. He did the same to my thighs and face. I cringed and winced at the pain.

"Ow, big brother that hurt!" I whined, yawning in the middle of my sentence.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you." Al apologized, as he wrapped bandages around my body. "I'm done. You should go to sleep, you're going to get bags under your eyes."

I yawned as my eyes slowly closed, "Goodnight, Ali."

I grabbed Al's armor hand and he turned to me. "Big brother, please stay with me...I have nightmares... I don't want to be alone, please stay with me." I whispered.

"O-Oh, alright.." Brother said, sitting on the edge of the bed. "If you don't mind...can you tell me what your nightmares are about?"

He wants to know... I guess I'll tell him.

"It's about Mom's death...I keep seeing that monster that was in Moms body. It's scary and I just miss her a lot..." I said, staring at the wall. "I want her back..."

"Oh..sorry, I shouldn't have asked. But just know that we all want her back, but you saw what happened when we tried to you know...." Al said, hinting at what we did to try and bring her back from the dead.

Tears picked the corner of my eyes, "I know... Goodnight brother."

"Goodnight, Ali. Sweet dreams."

____________________

Roy's View

"Colonel, should we head to the Rockbell's household?" Riza asked, looking at the clock to check the time.

I sighed, "We might as well go now. We wouldn't want to be late." I said as I walked out the door and to the car.

"Yes, sir." Riza said, "I'll drive."

I nodded and entered the car's passenger seat. Allison, a child at such a young she capable of bonding a soul to armor and strong enough to even try human transmutation. The taboo. Even though those three children committed the taboo, they learned from their horrible experience. If we could get the boy, Edward Elric to join the military as well. We will have to great new additions, who have already seen hell.

"Colonel, do you really believe that child, Edward Elric, will join the military?" Riza asked, glanced back at me.

"As I said yesterday, I saw fire in his eyes. That boy is mourning right now but I see him breaking out of that shell and moving on." I stated.

Riza chuckled lightly, "I'm surprised you have faith in them colonel, are you getting soft now?" Riza joked.

My cheeks grew warm, I scoffed. "As if, I'm simply giving them a chance to fix their life."

"Alright, colonel." Riza chuckled, "We're here, sir."

Already, that was quick. Riza turned the car off and exited, I followed her lead. I knocked on the wooden door, the door swung open. The young blond girl stood there with her arms crossed defiantly.

"What do you guys want? Are you going to take someone away?" The girl snarled.

I opened my mouth to speak.

"Actually, we are Winry. We're here for Allison." Riza cut me off.

I threw a small glare at her, causing her to roll her eyes.

"Oh, right. Well come in then, she should be in her room." Winry muttered, ushering us inside.

Winry led us to Allison's room, pushing the door open revealed the small girl in bed. Holding on tightly to Alphonse despite his armor.

"This brat... I thought I told her to be outside and ready by 8:00 AM. No later." I sighed.

"You did, but as you see getting used to automail takes time; years at most. And seeing that you wanted her automail on and ready by today made it even more difficult than usual. She shouldn't be able to walk or move properly, but she disobeyed me and went outside to train all night. I'd say for about fifteen hours at most." The old woman from yesterday explained, appearing out of nowhere.

My eyes widened, as did Riza's. "You're telling me this child trained for fifteen hours?" I asked, dumbfounded.

"Yes, she did it with Alphonse watching her, even aiding her during her training." The old woman said.

"I now see what caught your eye in her, colonel." Riza said, examine Allison's small form. "But now is not the time for idle conversations, we need to leave and head to central command."

Alphonse who was listening to our discussion silently, walked over to me with Allison in his arms.

"Here." He said, handing me Allison.

I gave him a questioning look.

"She won't be wake up for another hours. She trained a lot yesterday, she's pretty much exhausted. You're going to have to carry her." Alphonse explained, placing her in my arms bridal style. "You better take care of her, if you don't you'll regret it."

Why is Alphonse so protective over this girl? Do they have a relationship with each other?

"I assure you she will be safe in our care, Alphonse. I understand the concern you carry, but as you know I must be going now." I said firmly.

"I know, still she's important to me, to us." Alphonse said quietly, "Here's her stuff. She doesn't have much...only some clothes and pictures."

He gave Riza a luggage. Riza took it and nodded at me. I nodded back.

"Well, it was nice to see you all one last time. I must be going now, goodbye." I said and walked out the door.

"Oh and Alphonse, tell your brother the offer is still standing." I shouted over my shoulder, then entered the car.

"I will!"

"Let's get going lieutenant." I said.

"Yes, sir." Riza said as she reined the engine of the car on, and sped off.

I looked down at Allison who was in my arms, with bandages wrapped all over her. They weren't lying, she did train all night. Why else would these bruises and cuts under her bandages be needed for. I hope you know, your life is going to be a living hell from here on, maybe even worse than what you've seen. You're not going to like it at all, but this is for your bodies, for you.

"Colonel."

"Yes, lieutenant?"

"Have you even thought about where she would be staying."

"O-Of course!"

"You don't need to lie, sir. I can tell. I'll find somewhere she can stay in the meantime."

"Thank you."

"No problem. Next time, think this through and live up to your expectations colonel."

"Fine, will do."