Gem: This came from a conversation in the library with yoo-hoo. I need to quit helping her with proofreading if this is what my mind comes up with. Sometimes, I think that my mind takes a vacation. I don't own FMA but I do own the chibi Ed that's dancing in my head.

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This was not what he wanted to wake up to. Really, it wasn't. Just where the ducklings came from he wasn't sure but the little things kept following him. They even followed him when he went to take a shower.

"Definitely not eating in the cafeteria. I got stares just walking down to the showers."

"Thanks Al," he said when he got back to his room. At least his brother knew when he wanted to eat in the cafeteria. Little did he realize who had put the ducklings there.

Al nodded in a silent reply, feeling guilty about the deed he had done. The younger Elric knew that he couldn't say anything about the ducks but what else was he supposed to do in his spare time when everyone slept? Why get baby ducks of course. He found them by the river, motherless and alone. What else could he do? Besides, it'd be good for a few laughs and hopefully, everyone would lighten up some.

Ed knew that he needed to give a report to Mustang. The only thing stopping him last night was the hour at which he got back. It was much too late for him to talk about what else he had learned. He knew that the ducks were going to follow him down to the office. He didn't want them to but it was going to happen. They started following him the moment he stood up and placed his tray on the nightstand. Al stood up to follow Ed out of the room. He wanted to see both Mustang and Ed's reactions.

"This is going to be priceless."

"Sir?"

"Come in Fullmetal."

As soon as Ed walked in, Roy could hardly contain his laughter. There were ducklings following him! It was almost too much. Hawkeye looked up and shook her head briefly. No wonder Roy looked like a kid in a candy store. Honestly, those two acted more like two rivaling siblings than a superior and his subordinate.

"What exactly happened?"

"Yet another false lead. I was surprised that you went home early for once."

Ed smirked.

"All right. Could you explain why you have ducklings following you?"

"No idea. I want them to quit. They were on my bed earlier this morning. There's got to be a way to get them to leave me alone!"

Hawkeye could tell that now that Ed was panicking a bit. Who wouldn't? From what she understood, Ed had arrived late last night and didn't report in due to the time. Rather he spent the night in the dorms and woke up to ducks on his pillow. She was fairly sure who was doing it but she wasn't going to say anything. Shortly afterward, Ed was dismissed and left. She heard him say something about staying around for a bit and being in the library if they needed him.

"Sir?" she asked.

"Yes?"

"Were you the one who put those ducklings on Ed's pillow?"

"No. I was just as surprised as him."

Hawkeye figured that he wasn't lying since he honestly seemed to have no idea. She also knew that he was trying hard not to laugh at the picture the Elrics painted when they came in. Sure she was used to an empty suit of armor following a smaller boy. Ed truly was small for his age. But ducklings following the elder boy in addition to his younger brother? That was too much. She started shaking with her own silent laughter.

"Al, do you know who put ducklings on my pillow last night?"

"I have no idea. Brother, going to the library probably isn't the best idea."

Ed wasn't sure if he heard an underlying lie in Al's voice but he wasn't going to pressure his brother. Not at the moment anyway. There was more important work to be done.

"I'm sure that there's a room that we can hole up in for a while. I just don't want the entire military staring at me."

Al understood what his brother meant. He'd make sure that Ed ate at some point that day. Despite his size, Al wondered where his brother put it all. And Ed was always hungry. He smiled as they found a room that was normally reserved for them. Apparently word was out that the two of them were back. There was a tray of food and several books that dealt with the Philosopher's Stone.

Al wandered out a few times to put books back and grab other ones that Ed needed. From outside the door, he couldn't hear the baby ducks but even opening the door slightly let anyone know that something was wrong.

Ed was going to work all night at the pace he was going. If only he'd admit that he was tired! Al watched as Ed's head slowly slipped off his hand and thumped on the table. He shook his head slightly and picked up his brother's body. Vaguely he wondered how his brother could eat so much and still be so light. It was practically impossible. Al took his brother back to the dorms and tucked him into bed.

"He really needs to rest once in a while," Al thought as he looked at his brother's form and all the ducks gathered around him.

It was time for part two of Operation Lighten the Mood.

Gem: Please R and R. This is going to be co-written by yoo-hoo and me. More craziness next chapter with the ducks. Who will it be? Riza? Fury? Or will Roy get his just desserts and become mallard duck of the year?