Chapter 1. Day Off

"Fullmetal, I'm sorry to interrupt you on your day off but you are needed in Colonel Mustang's office. And he wants you to bring Alphonse along as well."

"Um okay, thank you Lt. Hawkeye." With a quick salute Hawkeye was out of Ed and Al's apartment room and headed back to Central HQ.

"Well Al that's the end of our day off. Stupid colonel. Doesn't he have anyone else to bother on my day off?!"

"But Brother what if he has something important to tell us about the stone?"

Edward laughed. "I doubt it."

Alphonse kept his glare on his brother. Edward continued to snort with laughter about how he thought Colonel Mustang was miserable with only paper work to do.

Alphonse sighed heavily. 'This could take a while'; Al thought. Hopefully the colonel would have patience for Ed.

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Scratch. Scratch. Scratch. Scratching of a ball point pen was the only sound that could be heard coming from the office of Colonel Roy Mustang. Not even a single breath could be heard. Roy Mustang watched his paper as he continued to make notes within the margins of the document. 'Damn brat! Where the heck is that runt? I told him to be here-'Roy glanced at the clock on his desk corner-'20 minutes ago! Grrr! '

Moments later a light soothing sound could be heard from outside Roy's window.

SHAAAAAAAAAAAA

Roy placed his pen back in its holder. He stood up and looked out the window. 'Hm. It's raining. Great.'

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"Brother hurry up! We're already 20 minutes late and it's raining! You're going to catch a cold if we don't hurry." Nagged Alphonse as Edward continued his stroll through the rain.

Edward cocked his head back to take in a deep breath of humid air. He opened his mouth wide to drink of the newly combined molecules of Hydrogen and 2 molecules of Oxygen.

Alphonse laughed "Brother if you're not careful a pigeon might give you an unsuspecting gift."

Instantly Ed shut his mouth. He gave his little brother a glare. "Me? Why me? I'm not the one that looks like a statue. Pigeons won't poop on me!" Edward busted out laughing.

"Of course they won't poop on you Brother. Since the pigeons are flying so high in the sky, they won't be able to see such a small speck."

"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"

"Oh I didn't say Anything. SHORTY!!!"

"AL!!! YOU'RE GOING TO BE A TRASHCAN BY THE TIME I GET FINISHED WITH YOU!"

"Not if you can catch me first!" Alphonse took off in a mad dash for his life. Finally! If Ed would have hurried p earlier and didn't procrastinate about getting to the Colonel's office then Al wouldn't to have to say harsh words to his brother.

Rain continued to fall like tears of sorrow, but that didn't slow Alphonse down. 'AH! We're almost there!

Come on Ed! We're almost- '

BOOM!!!

"WHA-!? What the hell was that?! Hawkeye!" Roy called out. Central shook as if a earthquake had just struck. Roy grabbed the edge of his desk to keep from falling on his butt.

"Sir! Are you OK?!" Riza slammed the wooden door open.

"Yes. I'm fine. Do you have any idea what was that?"

"No sir. But from the explosion size and the trimmers, the explosion isn't too far. We can go check it out without the assistance of a vehicle."

"Good. Lt. Do you think Fullmetal…was caught up in the explosion?"

"I don't know sir. But I hope not."

"…Yeah .I hope he's safe too."