The WhiteShadows Alchemist -An FMA:Brotherhood Fic-

Flashback: Christmas Ball, Age 15

"Hey, you okay?" He asked.

I nodded, dashing the tears away from my face.

"Hey shortie!" Havoc said as he walked over.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING-"

"Ed, he was calling me that. Jean, you know he's sensitive about his height. If you would only drink milk, Ed, then you would be taller, idiot." I punched his arm, which felt like Automail.

He looked at me with a sigh.

"It's a shame you lost your arm to that fire three years ago. You would've looked even more beautiful tonight." Havoc commented.

Ed nodded solemly when I saw the Furher King Bradley along with his wife walk over. I bowed to him out of respect and the others saluted.

"Furher, Mrs. Bradley." I said clearly.

Bradley chuckled, "I could see why all the young men are lining up to dance. They want a dance with this young lady right here, Helen."

His wife smiled and held out a hand for me to shake, "Helen Bradley, nice to meet you. I see that you already have a beau."

I turned pink while shaking her hand, "Um, I'm Daniella Howard. Ed and I, we aren't dating. We just knew each other way back when and we lost contact."

Ed looked like a tomato. Red and squishy.

"Um, I need to find Alphonse..."

"Can I go with you? I wanna give Al a great big hug! I missed you guys." I whined and grabbed his arm.

He sighed while dragging me along and we weaved through the crowd. I kept a tight grip on his arm while we moved and finally we stopped in front of a seven foot tall suit of armor.

"Whoa! This is amazing!" I exclaimed.

He turned and gave me a pained smile. That's when I realised he had an Automail arm. What happened?

"Ed... What did you do?" I asked with wide eyes.

The suit of armor turned and gasped.

"Dani! What are you doing here?!" Al exclaimed hollowly.

I backed away, "Ed, what the hell did you do?"

He looked down and then at me, "We can't tell you."

I shook my head, tears brimming my eyes, "Fine. I'm leaving."

I turned then took off running into the cold night air.

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I shivered as I held my arms tight against my body to provide warmth, but my Automail wasn't helping.

I turned a corner while shivering and bumped into someone. I looked up and found Alphonse.

"Dani, why-Are you alright?! You must be freezing! Brother! She's over here!" He called while keeping a grip on my Automail wrist.

Ed came around the corner and rushed over to me.

"You're freezing, Dani! Ugh, take this." He grumbled and pulled his red jacket off.

He wrapped it around my shoulders tightly while rubbing my shoulders. He was begining to slow when a trash can tipped over, exposing a man in old military garb drawing a transmutation circle.

"Seriously? On Christmas Eve?" I sighed.

Ed forced me back and into Al while taking off in combat with the man.

"No transmustation circle... You've seen the truth..." I murmured wide eyed.

He had the man caged when I pressed my hands to the ground, forcing the man to be held against the wall.

Ed's jacket came off my cold shoulders when he turned to look at me and stared.

"Dani, what did you do this time?" He asked as Al put his jacket back over my shoulders.

I shook my head, "You commited the taboo. I can tell. Ed, Izumi was the first one there when I woke up from the fire. You know why? Because my mother was on a trip. Hughes took me in as his daughter. My dad died in that fire."

"You... When?" He knew my dad from a young age.

He helped Ed when he broke his arm once.

"Two years ago. Christmas Eve. Two years exactly." I began crying again.

Al put a hand on my shoulders as soon as I started, I fell to my knees on the ground. I covered my face and sobbed to my heart's content. I sat there for minutes on end before Ed sat next to me, hugging me.

"I know how you feel. I lost my mom when I was eleven. We tried to bring her back and the consequences were terrible. Al lost his body and me, my leg. I sacrificed my arm to attach his soul to the armor." He confessed.

I sniffled, "The thing is, I tried bringing my dad back right after he died. I lost this arm because of my idiotcy. I would've lost it anyways since a beam was where my arm had been."

Ed looked at me and touched my Automail lightly. I just shook my head and looked down at my lap.

"No matter what, Ed and I are getting our bodies back. We could get you your arm too!" Al grinned.

I looked up, "I've learned to live with it. I'm pretty comfortable with this. You shouldn't do that for me."

Ed touched my face with his right hand, "You should get it back. You'll feel-"

"No, Ed. It's a symbol of my mistake. I won't." I said stubbornly and shifting away.

I moved away from him and got up. I was about to take his jacket off when Hughes came running in.

"Dani! Your train is leaving in twenty minutes!" He exclaimed.

"Shit! Ed, take your-"

Ed shook his head, "Keep it. You need it more than I do. I guess we'll see you around?"

"Um," I turned pink, "yeah. See you, Ed, Al."

I slipped my arms through the sleeves and ran after Hughes. He made me get in the passenger side and sped towards the train station.

"You and Ed, huh?" He was grinning.

Turning really red, "N-no way, Hughes! I just h-haven't seen him in a long time."

He raised an eye brow, "You two looked like it was ment to be. You and Ed, it seems true."

"H-Hughes!" I sputtered, "We knew each other when we were eleven! Seriously!"

I was bright red as soon as we made it to the station and got out immediately. I rushed into the station to my train and got a seat where Hughes was waiting outside the window. I leaned out and hugged him.

"Merry Christmas, Dad." I sniffled.

He patted my back, "Tell Molly I'm sending presents soon. Love you Dan."

I let go and nodded. The whistle blew and I looked out into the crowd. Ed and Al came running up as the train began moving.

"Hey! Dani, keep in touch with Winry! We'll stop by sometime!" Al yelled.

Ed came and grabbed my hand, "Stay safe, Dani."

I smiled, "Come by some time, both of you! I'm still in Dublith!"

He let go with a grin and the train turned the corner. That was the last time he saw me without my hood.