"I hate deserts..."

Edward Elric slumped down onto the hot sand. His weary eyes fell upon the ocean of sand that lay before him .Wherever he looked, the sight was the same. Golden sand as far as the eye could see. He reached into his pocket and pulled out his watch, letting it dangle from its chain.

"Sometimes I'm glad you don't work. I'm not sure I want to know how long we've been wandering in this place. Al, we any closer?"

He picked up his canteen, opened it and upended it over his expectant mouth. A single drop of water fell out and landed on his tongue. Ed cursed and threw it onto the sand. "Damn it! There isn't even any water in this air!" He paused for a second as he recalled the strange noise the canteen made as it hit the ground. Last time he checked, metal on sand didn't "clang".

Ed smirked and lay down on his back "You sunk again?"

The mound of sand in front of him rose, as the tall metal figure of his brother came into view, shielding Ed from the midday sun. Ed spat as sand fell in his mouth.

"Remind me to widen your shoes when we get near some iron." Ed chuckled. "I haven't mastered glass-to-metal attachment yet!"

"Brother, please tell us we're almost there, I can't bear another night out here, keeping the vultures off is the only thing keeping me occupied at night." said Al, as he emptied the sand from his arms

"What do you mean Al, you've got the map, I gave it to you when we left."

"No you didn't, you said I'd probably drop it!"

"OH PERFECT!"

Ed punched his open palm with his right hand, then immediately withdrew his arm "Yeeeow that's hot!! It's playing havoc with my shoulder!" He punched the sand repeatedly "We'll never make it to Diaz now!"

"Calm down, brother"

"No I won't calm down! We're stuck in this goddamn desert, and I happen to know that there's not a lot I can make with sand!"

"No, brother, I think I can hear something!"

Alphonse was right. In the distance, they could barely make out the sound of cheering. The brothers looked in the general direction of the sound, and could see a small black line on the horizon. It was getting bigger, and as it got closer, Ed began to see people on horses.

"We're saved!" Ed yelled, jumping up and down like a child on christmas "Anything that gets us out of this desert is perfect! HEY!! OVER HERE!!"

Al began to wave as well "I hope they can see us..."

Ed twitched and slowly turned his head to fce his brother "Hmmmm? What're you trying to say, Al?"

"N-nothing brother! Honest! Wait, I think they've spotted us!"

Ed looked back at the travellers. They were certainly moving, really fast. They'd be with them in a matter of seconds. Ed saw something flash among them, followed by dozens of other flashes. He looked closer, and gasped. They were bandits. Dozens of them, armed with cutlasses.

"Al, get ready. I don't think these guys have any intention of helping us..."