A/N: This chapter starts getting into the plot.

Disclaimer: I own none of this series, and add to it no OCs.

Edit: Fixed several errors, going to proofread more closely next time.

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"The military is in disarray," Hakuro struck his fist on his desk. "Armstrong left the military, Mustang refuses to use alchemy. Not to mention all that crap Archer and Bradley caused shortly before their mutual demises. The candidates for State Alchemist have also degraded. Last year we didn't even select one."

He let out a sigh and placed his hands on his forehead. He was among the highest ranking military officials, and it was a military that had been virtually destroyed.

"There is some good news, sir," his Lieutenant tried to smile. He handed a report to Hakuro.

Briefly surveying it, Hakuro allowed a slight smirk.

"Fullmetal..."

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"Thank you for your hospitality," Ed showed a faint smile at Pinako. He sipped from his cup.

"It's not every day a family friend comes back from the dead," Pinako grinned.

"I, I did not die," he frowned. "I was pulled through the Gate."

"How'd you get back?"

"I am unsure," he sighed. "I woke, and I was back. I don't even know how long ago it was. A few days ago, I remembered that I used to live here, and it all flooded back."

Pinako nodded. Al and Winry smiled.

"Still, I barely recognized you at all," Pinako said.

"Why is that?" he tilted his head.

"You're soft-spoken, polite, and most of all," Pinako paused for dramatic effect. "You used to be a lot shorter."

Ed's eye twitched. Calmly setting his glass down and rising to his feet, he took a breath.

"Who you calling so short that an ant could squash him?" He fumed, eyes widened with rage.

Pinako, Winry, and Al started laughing.

"At least we know it's you," Winry chuckled.

----

"I don't get that blond freak," Greed sighed. "What's he after? He just up and decides not to fight with us?"

"Maybe it's enough to see your beautiful face."

"Less talking, more foot-massaging, pervert," she gritted her teeth. "And stop moaning. Old man, any progress?"

"Not as much as we'd hoped, no, not at all," he sighed. "We'll need more. Far far more than the meager samples I've been receiving."

"Maybe we could use Pride," Greed grinned.

The "old man" scratched the back of his neck. "I'm afraid that would be ill-advised."

"Why's that?" Greed glared.

"It appears, as we no longer have the entire body, he has obtained Lust's weakness, and may indeed have yours as well," he rasped. "It seems unlikely we could defeat him."

"My weakness?" Greed wore a look of disgust. "How could he possibly get that?"

"It's only a precaution, Greed," he held his hands to protect himself. "There's no way of knowing what happened to your remains, all things considered. He is vain, but he is not foolish."

"Sloth?" she sighed. They'd only just finished this Homunculus, so she didn't have a derogatory name for it yet. She'd think of one, though.

"Mm?"

"What's Edward up to?"

"Is odd," it sighed. "He's there, but he's nah tellin' anyone abou' us. Jus' stayin' there."

"Perhaps he doesn't want them involved," the old man sighed. "At least, not yet."

----

Edward glanced at his watch. It was getting late.

"I think Al and I should head off soon," he spoke slowly.

"Really? But it's only eight o'clock," Winry looked saddened. She looked over his shoulder. She frowned.

Ed bit his tongue. "We'll have to get some rest tonight. We have to leave for Central so we can study for the State Alchemist exam."

"A-already?" Winry bit her lip. "You just got back. Maybe your automail can use a tune-up."

Edward drew up his sleeve slightly, allowing his fully-flesh arm to be visible.

"Since we've both gotten our bodies back, and since Al doesn't remember the first adventure," Ed almost started to grin. He started to sound excited. "We could have another one."

Al gaped. It sounded pre-planned. "That sounds great."

Winry appeared devastated, but said nothing.

Al and Ed departed. Fortunately, Al had rebuilt their house with alchemy several months earlier. With Ed's return, he felt slightly worried they'd burn it down again.

"Ed?"

"Yeah, Al?"

"You're sure I'll be able to pass the State Alchemy exam?"

"It's half a year away. You passed last time with roughly that long to study," Ed showed a friendly grin.

"Yeah..."

----

"Major General Hakuro," the Lieutenant stood to attention.

"Yes, Lieutenant?" Hakuro sounded annoyed. Despite Fullmetal being spotted, they were having undeniable difficulty in locating him. He sighed.

"A young lady wishes to speak to you. She has an appointment."

"Ah, this Greed girl. Show her in," Hakuro smiled slightly. He'd heard she was quite attractive, although that certainly didn't affect his decision to see her... At least not to any degree he would freely admit.

The Lieutenant quickly dismissed himself as a 100 cm girl stepped into the room.

Hakuro tilted his head. "You're Greed?"

"Yep, ear piece," she grinned, helping herself to a chair.

"Ear piece?" Hakuro started regretting allowing her to enter.

"Since you got a part of your ear blown off," she continued to grin. She made a firing gun gesture with her hand. "Bang."

"I didn't agree to the appointment just to allow a little girl to insult me," Hakuro glared. He pressed the intercom button.

"I wouldn't do that if I were you," Greed sounded playful.

"And why is that?" Major General Hakuro was getting sick of this.

Hakuro found himself pinned to his desk, as the first blew on her fingers. He hadn't seen anyone else...

"There are two of you?" he glared.

"More, actually," the first started filing her nails, wiping them on her shirt. She stood to her feet and approached him. She placed her hands on his cheeks and forced him to make eye contact.

"What do you want, you little witch?"

"This friend," she smiled playfully. "He's pretty high ranking, in fact. I want him reinstated."

"And if I disagree? You two aren't much a threat to an entire building of trained military," he smiled arrogantly.

"Don't have to be," she chuckled. "Change your mind?"

"Is that it?" he scoffed. "Just some idle threat?"

"Hardly," Greed smiled. She knew he wasn't taking her seriously, otherwise he would have yelled for help. "Maybe if you knew who my friend was. You'll find him rather persuasive."

The man leaned over as he released his grip. He wore a full military uniform, complete with a Brigadier General shoulder piece. He saluted Hakuro.

"I-impossible..."

Lust grinned, and took off his standard issue military gloves.

----

Edward lied in bed. He felt ill. He couldn't seem to fall asleep. He got to his feet, and looked over at Al.

Al was fast asleep. Having just returned from Izumi's, Ed had a pretty good idea why Al would be tired. He got a glass of water to settle his stomach when the phone rang.

"Hello?" Ed cautiously answered it.

"Fullmetal," an older male voice answered.

"Do I know you?" Ed tilted his head.

"Yes, you saved my life once," he chuckled.

"Could you be more specific?" Ed responded.

"Ah, yes. I'm Major General Hakuro. I recommended you for the Alchemy exam."

"Oh yeah, 'ear piece'. How's it been?"

Ed heard a girl laugh through the phone.

"'E-ear piece, you're a clever one," Hakuro sounded annoyed. "I didn't call for idle chatter. It's come to our attention that you haven't had your annual report in. I don't know where you've been, but you're going to have to retake the exam."

"What?" Ed bit his lip. "No way!"

"You should do fine, Fullmetal."

Ed hung up the phone, agitated, and stabbed a piece of metal through the wall.

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A/N: Points to whoever can figure out the Homunculus powers used in this chapter.