A/N: No, I have not died. I was on vacation, and then evil teachers decided to dump a load of homework on us just in time for rehearsals to start going full-time and end-of-the-semester tests... *sigh* my life is major-ly stressful right now. In fact, my life sucks right now, quite frankly. I am technically doing private school admission essays right now, right mom? SO sorry about the lack of updates, but the good news is I have 5 or 6 other oneshots and another 4 whole FPM chappies *gasp* written up, just need time to type after life stops being a b**ch to me...
Disclaimer: No own. Will not own. Will never own. Nothing more needs to be said.
Reviewer Notes:
~J-chan (AKA UrawakaiPisces): thankies for the compliments! But if you like the relationship just finish the effin' manga already!!
annoyed by you: thank you! I'm going to type up all my oneshots soon.
~Orange Singer: Thanks! Here's the next chapter! And yes, Roy has seen the tattoo. That's how he learned flame alchemy after her father was dead. I'm 88.72% sure Hawkeye-sensei discovered it...
~Sweetdeath04: This fic is going to go on for a while, and I haven't gotten the action, or drama, or angst really started yet. *wicked smile* So if you stick with it it'll get even better. (I hope...)
~Vampirelover2009: Glad I amused someone!! (*glares at J-chan*)
~Vi-Violence: I'm reading the manga/ watching the anime in all my free time when I'm not writing or reading/watching something else... Ed was slightly spazzy, but then he was locked in a train car with a Roy who was withholding new alchemy information...
~Wolf.82: Pretty sure the spazzy Ed parts are done for now, everyone.
~Sheepisasin: Thankies! But Ed is done with being annoying for now.
~Riniel-chan (AKA EowynsPen): Keep reading!! Or else I will come for you with Roy's snappy gloves. Remember, I know where you live. (*Looks in pockets* I have the address here somewhere...)
~CW: Glad you like the PoV switching. I was worried it might get confusing... It's not on purpose though- it just seems to work out that way...
Phew, all done. Now for the hard(er) part...
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Roy's PoV:
"Well? Can you show me? Why not?" Edward insisted, glaring daggers at Roy.
"Uh-uh...Uh?" Roy spluttered, at a complete loss for words. Which is, as we all know, not something that happens very often.
Come on. Think of something. Snap out a quick, coherent answer.
"Brother..." Al put a calming hand on his shorter brother's shoulder. "Maybe Lieutenant Hawkeye has a good reason she can't show us. When will you ever learn to think, Brother?" the suit of armour sighed.
Yes. A very, very good reason. There's no way I'm letting that shrimp see her back... After all, this is one reason Hughes would approve of- after all, he was always telling me to get a wife...
"For you information, Al, I can think just fine." Ed growled as-
BANG!!! Winry's wrench had found target number 5628: Ed's head. A solid thunk echoed through the train car as Ed's head was whacked into the window. "Stop being so rude Ed! I'm very sorry Lieu- uh, Miss Riza." Winry glared at Ed, turning to Hawkeye with a smile and changing the subject. "I was wondering- do you know a good place to stay in town? Inexpensive and maybe a little inconspicuous?"
"Hmm. The only inn is Mickey Dalonney's place (A/N: I know someone named this with a one-letter difference, so...). But I don't even know if it still exists. But he's very kind, keeps clean rooms, and everyone in the whole town ends up there at least once a day. If you want your information, just ask around there." Riza suggested with a shrug.
"But don't expect it to be inconspicuous at all." Roy jumped in with a grin. "You ask one person about the philosopher's stone- or even about Daria- and the whole town'll know by noon next day. Small towns are so annoying."
Ed objected, "We're not going to be obvious about it. We've had a lot of practice, not that you'd know anything."
Roy shrugged. "Suit yourself, Fullmetal. But any travellers will be the subject of half a billion rumours, especially since you're not the most normal tourists. And you're connected to us, and you're another famous state alchemist, his brother, and is- ah- childhood friend to boot. No, Fullmetal, you are probably the most conspicuous person I have ever met, excepting myself, of course."
Ed glared at the smirking Mustang. "So, Colonel Bastard, what do you suggest we do?"
Winry looked up from where she and Hawkeye had been quietly conferring in the corner. "Miss Riza suggested earlier- well, first things first. Ed, you act as another state alchemist in Mustang's escort, Al and I your alchemist brother and mechanic, as usual. So then-"
"Yeah?" Ed said suspiciously.
"So then you'll be a lot less conspicuous."
"Yeah. What was the other thing?"
"Well, we'd have to stay with them. Like... like we said earlier?"
"Okay."
Winry breathed a sigh of relief. "So you're okay with that? It's all good? Oh, phew. or a moment there I was worried you'd be upset."
"Why would I be upset? As long as the hotel you guys are staying at is decent." Ed shrugged noncommittally.
Winry and Riza exchanged looks. Roy looked up with a start. Huh? Wait a second... No-one said a word as Roy sat up, petrified for a moment, and started frantically waving his hands in the air. "Wa-wait a minute. Lieu-uh-Miss-uh- Riza! You can't just invite them to stay with us like that!!" No. NO way am I staying in Hawkeye-sensei's old house with him for a month! Gah! That creepy old house is bad enough on its own, but with Fullmetal too!
"Well, you didn't say anything five minutes ago." Hawkeye remarked dryly.
Yeah, I wasn't exactly paying attention! Other things had my attention...
"Well," Riza continued, "It is my house, therefore I get to decide who to invite."
"WAIT!! A- a HOUSE?!?!?!? I- I have to share a fuckin' HOUSE with HIM?!?!" Ed flailed around, not liking the new turn of events. "NO! No way am I ever, ever going to do that! Not in a million years! Never, ever-"
Winry winced. "It's her old family estate-"
Ed flailed some more. "NO!!!"
Roy glared at him. "Not even if it leads you to the philosopher's stone?" Ed drooped, the fight going out of him. "Look Edward, I don't exactly relish the thought of living in the same house as you either. But if it'll further your cause-" Roy shrugged. "I never withheld information from you unless it was for your own good, Fullmetal. I am trying to help you, you know."
Everyone looked at Roy, who shrugged and said, "But then, it's not like he'll take up much room anyway, he's so short," to cover up his unusual show of affection.
Ed exploded. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE COULD BE BEST FRIENDS WITH A MINI MARSHMALLOW?!"
~And it all kind of went downhill from there...~
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Winry's PoV:
At long last, Winry could see the station in the distance- she was going crazy. But then, three hours of taunts, short rants, and general insults back and forth between Ed and Roy would drive anyone crazy. At least everyone will- hopefully- be out and about all day, so I'll only have to deal with this in the evenings, Winry thought gratefully. A glance at Riza showed she was having similar thoughts.
"Wishing Springs Station, everyone. Hope you had a good trip. Please disembark if this is your final destination, if not please stay in your compartment. Thank you, and all of us from the Central-Amestrian Railroad line hope you had a good trip." The crackly announcer's voice echoed throughout the train as it pulled into the platform. The station, and the town behind it, didn't appear particularly large or elegant. A simple station- covered tacks and wood platform, benches, and a ticket booth. The town past it was a few blocks of modest wood-and-brick building, including an inn, a pharmacy, grocery store, a few shops, a hardware store -Wonder how fast I can get there- and a dozen or so medium-sized houses. A few roads led out of town, houses spread out along them -Wonder which house is Riza's- , and she could see a lake and beach in the distance.
The train ground to a halt and everyone stood up and stretched. "Finally. We're here!! We're free! I can ESCAAAAAPE!!!!!" Ed shouted, grabbing his suitcase, sprinting off the train in a cloud of dust, only to come to a stop and gaze around wondering where the heck he was.
"BROTHER! Come back!" Al raced after Ed.
As the rest of the group disembarked in a more timely fashion, Riza glanced out the window and smiled- a smile that quickly turned into a grimace. "Oh, no." she muttered.
"What is it, Miss Riza?" Winry asked sweetly.
"See that blonde woman out there?" Riza pointed out the window as Winry gazed at another spot. "No, not the one with the kids. The one standing with the other two women."
"Yeah?" Havoc asked, picking up someone's suitcase.
"The blonde woman is my aunt, Daria Lanston. Winry, stay away from her if you can. The rest of you have no choice but to meet her." Riza's announcement was greeted with curious stares and a few confused expressions.
"Oh, you'll see why," Roy said softly.
Riza continued, "The brunette is my friend Becka Medane. The redhead is Trivva Kenskey, another friend. Do NOT listen to anything Colonel Mustang-" Roy glared at her "-I mean Roy- says about her. He simply holds a grudge because she once devised a plan to dump a bucket of soapy ice water on his head." With those parting words, Riza picked up her suitcase and walked away with dignity.
"This Trivva dumped a bucket of ice water on your head?" Feury asked wonderingly.
"No," Mustang said, disgruntled. "Lieutenant Hawkeye did." He stalked out the door onto the platform just in time for-
"EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!!" A screaming blur mobbed Lieutenant Hawkeye almost as soon as she stepped off the train. "OH MY GOD!!!! Rizzy!!! It's really you!" The blur solidified into two screaming young women. One of the women- Winry couldn't even tell which- shrieked "Rizzy! We have so much to tell you! EEEEEE!!" After a moment the redhead -Trivva- stepped back, a silly grin on her face as she bounced uncontrollably as the brunette -Becka- hugged Riza.
"Who are they?! Who are they?! Ooooh, it's HIM!" Trivva repeated at high spee, eyes scanning the rest of the group and resting on Mustang.
"Meep!" the lion-hearted colonel squeaked, moving behind Havoc. The other's mouths hung open, as they stood frozen, unable to do anything but stare.
"It's good to be back, guys. Thanks. But DON'T call me Rizzy!" Hawkeye half-laughed, half-scolded, half-cried.
"Fine. Riza- what did you do to your hair?!" Becka exclaimed. Hawkeye had re-clipped her hair as soon as she boarded the train, so the length was not immediately noticeable.
"It grew, Becka. What did you think?"
"Well, unclip it then." Trivva demanded sternly. Riza dutifully removed the hairclip and shook out the golden strands.
"Ooh, that's pretty Rizzy. But look at this! I've been waiting and waiting to tell you!" Trivva jumped excitedly from one subject to the next as she proudly displayed a shiny diamond engagement ring.
Riza's eyes widened. "Jon," she said with a smile
"Yes and he's soooooooo sweet and sooooooooo perfect and-"
Becka slapped Trivva's arm lightly to stop the redhead's gushing. "Don't get her started. She's almost as bad as you talking about-" Riza's icy glare stopped her mid-sentence. "Hehee... Just kidding. You never talk about him anyway, I mean. It's kinda annoying... So, who are they?" she asked conversationally, waving an arm at the rest of the group.
"Oh, I'm sorry." Hawkeye straightened, military demeanor suddenly returning. "Everyone, this is Trivvasha -Trivva- Kenskey and Becka Modane. Trivva, Becka, this is Master Sergeant Kain Feury-"
"Hello, Miss Kenskey. Miss Modane."
"Warrant Officer Vato Falman-"
"Hello. Pleasure to meet you."
"??? Heymans Breda-" (A/N: I have been looking this up for the last 1/2 hour and cannot find his rank... anyone care to tell me?)
"Hello."
"Second Lieutenant Jean Havoc-"
"Hey."
"You know the colonel-"
"What? I don't get an introduction?"
"Major Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist-"
"Hello! Happy to meet you!" Ed smiled and waved.
Roy grumbled, "Yeah, sure, give the pipsqueak an intro-"
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT HE MUST BE AN ANT CHIMERA, YOU JERK!?!"
"Oh, I don't know, Fullmetal, are your ears as small as the rest of you?!"
"At least I can..."
The rest of the group quietly edged away from the bickering alchemists to continue their introductions. "Edward's brother, Alphonse, who can't take off the armour for special reasons-"
"Hello, ma'am. I apologize for my brother's behaviour, he's a little sensitive about his height."
"And Edward's mechanic, Winry Rockbell."
"Hello!" Another smile and wave.
"Mechanic?" Becka looked curiously at Riza.
"Ed's right arm is automail, and so is left leg, knee down." Winry answered quietly.
"Winry's the best automail mechanic in the whole world- even Brother admits it." Al stated proudly.
"I better go get them. C'mon, Al." Winry dragged Ed away from his spat with Roy just as-
"Uh-oh, here she comes." Mustang whimpered, ducking behind Havoc as Daria Lanston made her (slow) way towards them from the fruit stand.
"Elizabeth, dearie!" came the trilling call.
Hawkeye's small, genuine smile of a moment before vanished as she briefly closed her eyes. "Hello, Ms. Lanston," she said through a pasted-on smile.
"Oh, my dear! What have you done to your hair? Oh, don't worry, it looks nice. Now, now, what's this Ms. Lanston business? It's Auntie Daria, just as it's always been." The overenthusiastic blonde enveloped Riza in a gigantic hug, the gushing never stopping.
The rest of the group backed away as the sniper said, "We're here professionally, Aunt. Not on personal business." Riza gently extricated herself from the embrace. She's my family, my only family. I love her, even if she can... annoy me, sometimes. Daria had shown Riza that she genuinely cared- never the opposite. The older woman just didn't know how how to show affection any other way.
"Oh, but I'm sure your- uh- boss, commander? Oh, yes, commanding officer- will let you have some time off. Who's in charge of this?" Daria turned to the group. Roy hastily grabbed someone's suitcase and started walking away as Ed pointed to Mustang with a wicked smile. "He is, ma'am." The blonde shrimp said politely.
"Oh, thank you young man. And who might you be?"
"Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist, ma'am."
"Oh, how nice. They sent a state alchemist! And such a renowned one, too."
"Thank you." Ed continued playing the courteous gentleman.
Daria turned the direction Ed had pointed. "Is that young Roy Mustang? Oh, everyone will be so happy! Both Elizabeth and mister Roy home for a while!"
Geez, they weren't kidding about growing up here. But Daria seems too... aunt-ish... to be a murderer. Or a criminal. After all, she is the only family Lt. Hawkeye has. I don't know how this town'll take it if we start openly investigating her. Or arrest her. We really don't know anything yet, Ed thought soberly.
This is a tangled mess of coincidences that aren't, Winry mused, inspecting the group of people in front of her. There are more secrets here than we can find out- everyone needs to share their secrets to make this work. We need to start trusting each other.
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End of Chapter
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Ending notes: sorry about any OoCness. There was a ton, I'm sure. Other notes:
~I guarantee the next chapter will have a lot more pairings, more angst and drama, and more in-character characters.
~This chapter was mainly a tool chapter for setting and introducing my main OCs.
~The OCs are not essential to the story, don't worry, just there to give some search-for-philosopher's-stone elements and to help the Royai and EdWin along.
~Next chapter begins the REAL story. This chappie is the last of the 'exposition'.
I love reviews, especially when they point out typos. :)
Thankies for reading,
~Rina, aka AnimeFallingStar