When my eyes opened for the first time I saw my Mom smiling down on me and admiring me for no reason. That went on for a very long time, but things changed soon. It all started when my Dad was fired from his State Alchemist job when I was five years of age and my brother was seven. We moved to a tiny house in the woods where my mom taught us weaponry and auto-mail. While my dad taught me alchemy.

"When I was a State Alchemist I was called The Heavy Wind Alchemist. Promise me if you become a dog of the military you'll show them your better than your old man." Dad ordered with a firm look. His eyes were ice blue like mine and had the same silver hair I have.

I looked up to him with a smile. "Will they turn me into a doggie? WOOF!" I chirped loudly.

He chuckled and lifted me too where my legs wrapped around his waist. "Athena." His tone went serious and hard. "Don't trust the person who loves you... They... They change my dear. They always do."

I tilted my head curiously. "What do you mean Daddy?"

He looked up and pressed his lips into a thin straight line. "Nothing, nothing my dear. Come on my little angel, lets practice more Alchemy. You've become a pro, so we're gonna try Alchemy without a transmution circle." He stated setting me down. "Now you must turn that pile of dirt into a pile of snow. Give it a shot."

"But... But Daddy... That's rare for an Alchemist at my valor to use alchemy without a transmution circle. I won't be able to use alchemy without a circle." I trembled in fear and desperation.

"Just try it. Just once, for me." He begged. "For your ol' man."

I gulped clapping my hands together and setting them in the dirt. I shut my eyes and surged my energy to my fingertips. My hands dug into the ground shaking furiously Fist fulls of dirt and roots crowded my skin and went into my finger nails.

"Come on Athena! Do it!" My dad screamed annoyed.

"I'm trying Daddy! I really am!" I complained. "But it's hard!"

He lifted me up by my wrist and stared at me coldly. "Try harder then!"

"I can't!" I sobbed.

Then he raised his hand and slammed it against my cheek throwing my head back. I looked back to him with a look of disappointment on his face. He was glaring at me with shame in his eyes.

"Then you don't deserve alchemy." He hissed lowly.

Tears went down my cheeks and I stormed into the house screaming Mom's name. She came out of the kitchen with a stunned look. I ran into her giving her a hug and sobbing loudly. "Athena... What's wrong?" Mom asked.

I sniffled looking up to her. "Daddy..."

"What about Daddy, dear?" Mom asked timidly.

"He hit me..." I whimpered sadly.

Then the arguments started. Kaley, Smith, and I were forced to choose sides. Smith and Kaley followed my mom, while I stayed in between. I refused to choose between the two. They always bribed me but I rejected them. Instead I kept myself in the study reading and practicing alchemy with Kaley. But then the day came...

Smith- 7

Kaley- 5

Athena- 5

Smith, Kaley, and I raced to the house from school like normal. Smith was ahead throwing his backpack behind him. Kaley caught the bag making extra weight throw her off. I made a transmutation circle in the ground and made ice come from under Smith. He slipped and fell making Kaley soon slip and fall. "No fair! You cheated!" Kaley exclaimed.

"You guys never said that I couldn't use alchemy!" I countered sprinting to the house and storming through the door. "YES! I win! Finally!" I screamed. I looked around and saw my parents no where in sight. "Mommy? Daddy?" I asked questioningly My head whipped all over the room until I saw a puddle of blood. My eyes widen when I saw my mom laying dead on the ground with stab wounds all over.

I stood frozen with my feet glued to the ground staring at the scene before me. I trembled and shook before collapsing on the ground crying. I heard footsteps near me from ahead. I looked up and saw my Dad staring at me in shock with blood on his hands. "Athena... Your home." He shuddered stunned.

"Daddy..." I whispered sadly scared. He then ran away from me. I stood up and chased him around the house screaming his name.

When I found him in the bedroom he was sitting out the window staring at me with regret. Then I noticed he had a rope around his neck and the other side was tied to the bed frame. "I'm sorry baby girl." He whispered sadly.

As he jumped out the window I quickly untied the rope from the frame sending the rope crawling out the window. In the distance Dad was sprinting away with the rope following him not far behind. "Daddy! Wait!" I screamed leaning out the window. "Where you going? Daddy!" I screamed. "Daddy!"

He abandoned us after our Mom's death. I didn't know if she killed herself or if Daddy killed her, but I was scared to find out. Smith, Kaley, and I all lived in the same roof. Kaley left her own home to stay with me. Smith started to make weapons and hunted in the forest at age eight and became very strong and good at his work. Kaley was in charge of a garden and cooking. I was in charge of getting money for clothes and ect. But if you think it couldn't have gotten worse then you were wrong. In fact this was the cream of the crop...

Smith- 10

Kaley- 8

Athena- 8

I awoke and saw white puffs flying outside the window. I gasped and ran to the window leaning my head against the window. It was snowing with about 4 inches of snow. Kaley was staring at her garden in disappointment and sadness. I then put on my jacket and walked outside. "Kaley? What's wrong?" I asked stuffing my hands in my jacket.

"My garden Athena, it's ruined. Stupid snow!" She screamed kicking the snow under her feet.

I looked up with a smile. I had an idea. "Kaley get a seed and some dirt." I ordered as I knelled and started making a trasmution circle.

"What are you doing? Are you using Alchemy?" She asked throwing the stuff on the ground.

"Yeah. I wanted to help you with alchemy. Just watch, this is an example." I started as I clapped my hands together. Then I set them on the ground making light appear in front of me in a perfect circle.

After a split second a carrot was left in the circle on the snow. "And that is how you make a carrot!" I exclaimed bowing theatrically.

Kaley grabbed it with a smile. "Don't you need to make a delivery to Aunt Clara?" I heard Smith ask sternly.

I gasped and turned to the direction of the sound. It was my big brother Smith with a look my dad used to give me when he said he was proud. Even when it did look like he was going to unleash hell on me. "Oh yeah. I forgot. Just hand me the old paper work and I'll be on my way." I chirped happily.

He smirked and pulled out the papers. "Okay, Athena. The train leaves in 30 minutes. If you hurry then you can get there in 10 minutes." He stated walking to me and handing the papers to me.

I smiled. "Fair enough."

Then he pulled me into a hug. The first time he hugged me in a year. "Be careful. She'll meet you in Resembool. I'll see you in a week."

I sat stunned before hugging him back. "Okay Smith."

'Only 4 more miles to Resembool!' I raised my head from the book to look around the cart but shook my head and went back to the book. The book was Old myths and Legends.

"Huh... The Philosopher's stone. I might save this page." I replied folding a corner of the page. I closed the book and stared out the window. The trees were going by faster and faster by every second. I groaned and looked down to my bag. It was full of paper and books. Before I could manage to get my next book the door busted next to me. I shot my head to the noise and saw a man with a black hood on.

"Everybody stay where you are! This is an ambush!" The man screamed. I shook and clenched the arm rests holding my breath. "This train will crash! Whoever survives this ambush will be assassinated " He screamed making everyone shriek. I gulped looked down. Then I felt eyes on me. "Even the young ones." Then there was a rumble. This made my head shoot up before there was a sharp turn sending my head against the glass.

When I awoke I felt a sharp pain on my right arm. I looked at it and saw it was stuck in a wheel of the train, turned ash black, bones sticking out, glass, blood, everything. I grabbed my shoulder and started to slowly pull my arm out making a scream of agony come out my throat. I held my arm crying in pain. "Did you hear that?" I heard some one nearby ask. I gasped and started to sprint in the direction of Resembool. I forgot about the assassins completely. "There's a survivor!

Get her!" A man screamed shooting at me furiously. As I ran I felt a bullet dig into my bad arm and grazed the side of my head at the same time. That one made me scream louder and run faster.

I groaned tiredly wanting to stop this but knowing I can't. I maybe I should let them get me. If I don't then they'll kill me later, and possibly someone who doesn't deserve it. Why did I even survive? Why? Why!? I grabbed a sharp rusted piece of metal and flung it at a man chasing after me. It spined in the air before cutting clean through his leg. The man screamed and cried in pain as the other men stopped and helped him up. "This isn't over!" One of the men screamed as I continued to sprint and without looking back.

I then stopped after a while breathing and heaving with breath. I was hunched over gasping for air non stop. I looked up and saw a woman with chocolate brown hair and ice blue eyes staring in the distance with a impatient look on her face. I then remembered it was Aunt Clara.

I gasped. "Aunt Clara!" The voice came out torn and in a whisper. I looked down and cleared my throat quietly. "Aunt Clara!" I screamed louder then I've ever screamed. I looked behind me still seeing the smoke flying in the sky. I turned back and saw Aunt Clara in utter shock.

"Athena!" She shrieked running to me. "What happened?" Her tone was abnormal than usual. Normally it's calm and rough, but now it's full of fear and adrenaline.

I cringed and grabbed my crusted skin hearing a loud crunch. If I tell Aunt Clara the truth she'll get put into this too. She could be killed as well. I can't really tell her. "Some kids were playing on the train tracks and the conductor tried to stop." I lied. "I got your delivery Aunt Clara." I handed her the bag with shaking hands.

She stared at me in shock, horror and utter confusion. Dropping the bag ignoring the contents of it and putting her hand on my shoulder. "Athena, your lucky I'm a doctor and the doctor says your arm needs to be..." She trailed off swallowing loudly. "amputated. And quickly." She muttered looking down in tears. I tilted my head to the side like a puppy with confusion. She sighed sadly knowing how to define it already. "Amputation means to have a limb... Removed. In your case, your arm."

I gasped and tore away from her calm grasp with fear. "You can't just get rid of my arm! I need it for alchemy!" I exclaimed in terror. I can't just use alchemy with one arm, it won't work!

Clara looked up crossing her arms over her chest biting her bottom lip nervously. "Damn, you really are Marcus's daughter." She gritted agitated. "What to do... What to do..." She looked down thinking carefully. I dropped on my knees clenching my arm tightly feeling very light headed. "Okay Athena, I have a crazy idea." Clara replied lifting me up and running in town. "Your not gonna die on me, not tonight!" She started to sprint furiously huffing for breath stopping to adjust her grip on me.

She stopped running, and dropped on her knees. "We're... We're here." She breathed out.

I looked up to her feeling tears and sweat drop from her chin. "Where are we?" I asked quietly almost like a tiny whisper.

"An auto-mail store... A friend of my mom's can help and get you a metal arm." Clara answered brushing my silver hair out of my face. "So you can still perform alchemy, but it'll take getting used to." She stood up starting to climb up the hill and on a porch. Clara bit her lip nervously before kicking the door softly. Her hands shook and her teeth clattered fearfully. A bright light came into my vision partially blinding me. Clara was now sobbing an full of tears. "Please... Please help her... I'll pay you anything just please..." She begged with tears weighing her voice.

I felt four pairs of eyes on me staring at me in horror and shock. "Come on in." A elderly voice spoke firmly.

Clara nodded and walked in. "Thank you so much." She whispered. "There was a train accident and as far as she knows she's the only one that survived. I'm Clara Black, and this is my niece Athena."

"I'm Pinako." The elderly woman answered. "This is my grand daughter Winry. These two are Edward and Alphonse."

Clara looked around with a confused look. "Is there an extra room I can use for her?"

"Yes. Put her in there."

Kaley's POV

"Dinner was good Kaley. Thank you." Smith replied patting his belly happily. He then opened a

brown leather book and searched through the contents. He chuckled with a snicker.

I grabbed the book and search the page quickly. "Your reading Athena's diary!" I exclaimed.

"It's the best book I've ever read! Even if I don't get half of the words!" He defended grabbing the book out of my hand. "Must be alchemy."

"Must be considering I understood all of those words." I mused crossing my arms over my chest. I looked down shaking my head. "It's scary how much I'm like your mom."

"Yeah..." Smith trailed off. "I guess that's what I really like about you. Usually boys my age say that girls are the scariest thing we can encounter but I really don't believe that one."

I smiled shooting my chin up and cocking my head to get the hair out of my face. "Thanks Smith, but I'm to young for you. Get a girl your age man!" I exclaimed stomping my feet. Before I could say anymore the phone rang. I groaned walking to the ringing monster. "I'll get it." I grabbed the phone and pressed it tight on my ear. "Hello?"

"Kaley?" I heard a familiar female voice ask. She sounded as if she was crying.

"Miss Black? Are you okay, what's wrong?" I asked carefully. I crossed my arm over my chest. "Did Athena ditch you for a library again?"

"Again!? When she gets home I'll-" Smith hissed clenching his fists.

"No, she didn't. There was a train accident and-" Clara sobbed but I stopped her right there.

"Accident? What do you mean train accident and how do you know about it?" I asked sternly.

"WHAT DID YOU SAY!?" Smith screamed standing up.

"Athena was the only survivor as far as she knows. She ran the rest of the way to Resembool with a busted arm." She explained with tears.

I started to cry as well tightly digging my nails in the table and phone. "What are you going to do?"

Clara toke a deep breath. "It's really bad... And... It needs be removed, tonight."

"What!?" I screamed.

"So you and Smith need to come to Resembool whenever you can so Smith can help make the Auto-mail." Clara ordered.

"Okay..."

"Hey Kaley... Athena is in good hands... I promise. Now I'll see you tomorrow evening." Clara firmly stated.

"Bye Miss Black..." I whispered setting the phone back on it's stand. I bowed my head sobbing. I met Athena thanks to Smith and she is the first girl who was really my friend. I respect her as my alchemy teacher and as my best friend. Now she's having a fight with death and it's her first fight.

"There was a train accident and Athena's arm needs to be cut off. We have to go!" I sobbed. "This can kill her!"

Athena's POV

I screamed in pain balling my fists in the bed sheet as Clara sawed into my shoulder. "I know Athena, I know. This hurts I know but please bear with me here." Clara cooed covering my mouth with her blood covered hands. "I promise Kaley and Smith will be here by supper tomorrow Okay?" I wiped away tears from my cheeks nodding. "Ready to continue?"

My jaw tightened with eyes dancing with fearful tears. "Yes Aunt Clara."

She nodded and tightly grasped the handles of the saw. While holding her breath she continued to saw through the shoulder. I screamed loudly hearing the blade cutting through my flesh like butter. "Okay Athena, I'm at the tip of the clavicle. It's going to hurt really bad but we're almost done."

Then she rocked the saw back and forth making me scream as the bone started to crack. After what felt like an hour the bone broke. Then she sawed through my arm completely. "Ohh..." She gagged disgusted. "I hate blood, why did I become a doctor?" She grabbed a rag and pressed it on the eternal wound. "There all done. Now if we're careful this won't happen again. Okay?" She asked.

I nodded. "Now, I bet your starving. I'm going to get you something to eat. But if I leave you, you could bleed out. Hmmm..." She trailed off looking up. She gasped and snapped her fingers. "Excuse me, boys! Could you watch over my niece while I go off and get her food and other medical supplies?" She asked kindly.

"Yes ma'am." A voice answered. I turned my head and saw two boys walking in. One had brown eyes and blond hair. The other had gold eyes and blond hair.

"Now, one of you fine young boys has to put this rag and put it on her stump as hard as you can.

The other... Well I don't care what you do as long as my niece comes out alive." Clara replied tiredly. She looked at me and sighed. "I'll be back Athena." Then leaned she down kissing my forehead softly making me cringe at first. Then she stood up and walked past the two boys.

Great I'm stuck with two boys I barely know. I can't even talk to the boys I go to school with and that's just sad! The only guy I can talk to is my brother but he doesn't even count! I'm in the dog house alright. "Hi... I'm Athena..." I whispered quietly.

"I'm Edward and this is my younger brother Alphonse." The golden eyed one replied with a smirk.

I rose an eyebrow. "How? He's so much bigger than you..." Edward scowled. My eyes went wide. "But that might be due to the blood loss! It makes you see stuff you know." I ranted. "Hehe..."

See? Can't talk to guys to save my life. Alphonse grabbed the wet rag and pressed it on my stump with pressure. I winced tangling my hand in the sheet. "Hey Ed. There's a thick book on alchemy in my bag, can you get it for me?" I asked timidly.

"Alchemy?" Ed asked stunned.

'Great here it comes. Call me a dork and I'll jump out of this bed and simply kick your butt for an hour.' I hissed in my head looking down and glaring at the ground. I looked back up and saw Edward reading the book instead. I stared at the wall with a scowl. 'Great... Now he's reading it instead... But doesn't that mean he knows about Alchemy?' "Edward? Alphonse? Do you two know about alchemy?" I asked timidly.

"Yeah. We have for a while." Alphonse answered.

"Oh... Well that book has everything you need to know about Alchemy. From the most simple to the most forbidden use of alchemy." I acknowledged. But Edward still had his nose in the book. I smiled and looked down. 'Great, there's a new me. Once you get your hands on an alchemy book there's no way out.'

The next day

When I opened my eyes I saw the ceiling staring down on me. The birds outside chirped taunting me. My stump was wrapped in bandages that started to change into a dark red. I turned to the corner closest to me and saw Edward reading the book there. Literally half way through the book. I kicked the covers off me and started to climb out of the bed. I'm hungry, tired, I want fresh air, and I really want to kill those birds for laughing at me.

I set my feet on the freezing cold ground making me shiver silently. "Easy Athena." Edward started. I heard him stand up.

I turned to him. "I'll be fine. Unless you want to help." He stared at me stunned and totally confused. I sighed. "It's a girl's way of asking you for help... I guess..."

He walked to me and grabbed my wrist. I shivered as his cool yet warm grasp. "Okay, you ready?"

I toke in a breath and nodded. "Yeah I guess..." I whispered. We then stood up making me stumble for a second. "So... You from here?" 'I'm not very good at this.'

"Yeah. My brother and I have lived here for our whole lives. Where are you from?" Edward asked leading me to the door.

"I'm not sure. I live in a cabin my Dad made a long time ago. He left my brother and I after our mom died. He tried to kill himself but when I saved him he ran away... And never saw him again." I spoke with grim. Then I toke a mis-step making me fall to the side bringing weight down on top of me. I opened my eyes and saw Edward just as stunned as me.

"Hey Athena! Your big brother is here to see-" I heard Smith boom then stop frozen at the sight of Edward on top of his younger sister, AKA me. Smith went pale while Edward and I quickly got far away from each other blushing beat red. We then started to rant about what happened while Smith stood pale and jaw dropped on the ground.

Later

"So you were just helping her walk and she just fell?" Smith asked raising an eyebrow.

"We've both explained it a thousand times. I thought that our sides of the story was proof enough." Edward grumbled crossing his arms over his chest in that corner still blushing beat red.

"Okay... I'm just making sure... Well I came here to see how my sister was doing and to help make the auto-mail I've studied it myself thanks to my mom for making me take interest in this activity." Smith stated standing up dusting himself. "Well gotta get to work! See ya!" Smith chirped running out.

Edward and I sat in awkward silence not even glancing at each other. We turned to each other then quickly turned away blushing madly. "Okay..." I broke the ice. "I guess I'm not ready to walk yet... Not until I get my new arm." I muttered playing with my hair. "When I am... I won't fall and bring you down with me..."

"It's fine Athena. Just give it time..." Edward replied.

I turned to him and smiled. "Thank you, Ed."

And that was to be honest the best few days of my life. Winry, Smith, and I became good friends due to our wide knowledge of auto-mail Well mostly Winry and Smith. Alphonse and Kaley just instantly clicked and became best pals with too many similarity's. Edward and I became really good friends which was rare for me to have. I don't break out of my shell to easily how did he manage to get through? Of course Smith had his concerns even if we're eight years old. What a dork. When I finally got my auto-mail I had to know the feeling of farewells. I had to say goodbye to Winry, Edward, and Alphonse. I had to leave and I hate it.

I stared at my metal arm feeling it's cold surface. "Here." I heard a voice reply.

I looked up and saw Edward extending the book too me. I smiled knowing I was going to regret this. "No, you can keep it." Ed gave me a confused look. "Consider it as a thank you gift. For a few things. One helping me out, two for being my friend, and three for calling my brother a dork and living to tell the tale." I listed with a smile and a chuckle. "Ed, I'm thinking about becoming a State Alchemist."

Ed pulled the book between his arm and side and sighed. "Athena, if you can perform alchemy as well as you showed me and taught Kaley then you can get in. Is this about your promise to your dad?"

I looked down. "I don't know... Might be... If I get in then I might understand. He left me, why should I continue keeping his promises even when he left me behind?" I asked feeling eyes well up in my eyes. "I don't even know how my mom died. I came home and she was dead. I'm not sure if he killed her or she did it herself!" I muttered pulling over my knees over my chest.

"I see now... You push people away because your scared that you'll lose them when you get close." Edward summarized.

"Yeah... It's like the sun... If you get close enough you'll just burn up. Always remember that. It's just like Alchemy. You try to do something risky and you could pay for it yourself instead of getting what you want." I mused putting my head on my knees. Then the mattress under me sunk making me now know Ed was next to me. Then he brought me into a hug making me stunned. I stood frozen feeling my cheeks burn up like fire. Then I wrapped my arms around him like he did with me. "Thank you Ed."

And that was the last conversation Edward and I really had. But at least he helped me make up my mind. Clara, Smith, Kaley, and I all sat in the same booth never being torn away even after the accident. "Kaley? When do you plan on going to Central?" I asked in a whisper.

She rose her head. "In about four years, why?" She asked.

Smith and Clara went tense and settled their intense stare on us. "I want to go with you... I want to be a State Alchemist."

Clara and Smith gasped. "WHAT!?"

I'm looking down now that it's over

Reflecting on all of my mistakes

I thought I found the road to somewhere

Somewhere in His grace

I cried out heaven save me

But I'm down to one last breath

And with it let me say

Let me say

Hold me now

I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking

maybe six feet

Ain't so far down

Hold me now

I'm six feet from the edge and I'm thinking

maybe six feet

Ain't so far down

'Creed

One Last Breath'

To watch the Opening go on The Frosted Fire Alchemist on Wattpad by FantasyNinja26!

I worked really hard on this so please review. Thank you!