And weeeeeeee are back! With Chapter 3!

SHOUTOUT to Kurissyma San Tybalt (again, I really am hopeless) Thanks for reviewing every chapter! It helps loads because now I know that I will have 56 reviews if I write 56 chapters! YAY! ((drools at the number 56. It's so big!))

Oh. And the AlSar thing was random. I was going to add a girl in, with great importance later on to the plot ((shoot! Why'd you reveal that?!)) and I figured Al needed a girl for once :P Everyone else was taken, so I decided on this. What do you think of Sarah? I really like her as a character, as you'll see later on.

And I had Lust attack Sarah and Winry so I wouldn't have to write up some sort of meeting. Y'know, huggy-huggy. I suck at that

Every review is very important to me, so please review if you feel like it.

ACTIOOOOOOOOON!!

------------------------------------------------------

Chapter 3:

It was a very dark night. A full moon was glittering red in the skies, beaming down on the quaint forest that surrounded a large mansion, out in the middle of no where.

"Lust..." It was the man that commited the Ultimate Sin seven times at once, the creator. "You have failed... You have exposed yourself. Our advantage has been lost, Lust."

"I am sorry, master. It was mere -"

"Silence." The creator commanded. "I do not listen to pitiful excuses."

Lust was silent. She looked like she wanted to say something more, but couldn't.

"You failed to retrieve the girl? A mere girl, with no extroardinary powers?" The Creator scoffed. "Pitiful. I will punish you later, after you have completed my task."

"Yes, master." Lust choked out.

"Leave the girl alone for now, the time to strike will come. Inform Sloth, I have to talk to her about her source..."

"Yes, Master."

-----------------------------------

A dirty road stretched out before the wet girl. It was muddy and slippery from the steady rain.

"Mommy... Daddy..."

The sky was dark and bleak. The girl felt silent tears welling in her eyes.

"Mommy! Daddy...!"

A loud honk, a shout... Screeching Tires.

A flash of light.

Mommy? Daddy?

Blood. A car. Her leg wouldn't move... Many people, crouching around her...

And behind them, Mommy and Daddy.

The girl reached out. "Mommy! Daddy! Help me..."

They looked at her like she was some monster and turned away, walking away, and disappeared into the fog...

"No... Don't leave me..."

The scene changed. It was the same road, and it was still raining... But there were children at the side of the road, the dead bodies of children piled up on each other... Their blood was slowly soaking into the sewers.

'No... No... I don't want them to die... Is this my fault, again? Have they been thrown away like that, because of me?'

Three years ago...

I don't want any more children to die.

----------------------------------

"No... Don't...leave..."

Sarah opened her eyes. At first, her vision was foggy and unclear, but slowly her eyes adjusted to the light. Where was she? What was she doing in this unnaturally clean room? Her eyelids were still heavy and she felt someone holding her hand...

She was glad he was there for her when she woke up, but she wasn't thinking clearly and forgot to blush.

"Al...?" She murmured sleepily. Al looked alarmed and quickly dropped her hand.

"I... I... I -" Al stuttered, trying to find something as an excuse. "I-I was on duty, and - "

"...Thanks for holding my hand..." Sarah muttered softly, "...it really...helped..." She was still sleepy, and her legs felt like lead.

"Y-yeah." Al said, looking the other way so she wouldn't see him blush. She was like his sister to him, so why was he blushing? Al was completely unprepared for this. The doctor had said that she probably wouldn't wake up for another week or two because her pulse had been so low. "I-it's good that you've woken up! The doctors weren't so sure you'd come to, you're pulse was so weak! T-this is great, I'll go get the - "

"No... It's ok, Al. But first..." Sarah suddenly felt better and more awake. "...who was that... woman, and how did I... end up here?"

"Well...I'm really sorry you had to run into such trouble on the first day you came here..." Al said quietly, afraid that Sarah might want to go back.

Sarah shook her head. "It's ok. Your world is still fascinating, Al. I feel like I've lived here forever." She said, smiling.

"A-and, the woman - she was a Homunculis."

-------------------------------------

"Ah, Fullmetal, you really are so troublesome..."

"WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY T-"

Winry glared at him and whacked him hard on the head with her wrench for the umpteenth time that day. "Be quiet, Ed, it's a hospital." She whacked him again, then used the same wrench to continue with the maintenance on Ed's leg.

"WHAT WAS...! ...Funny, the same wrench that Winry uses to murder me everyday actually saves someone's life..." Ed said jokingly.

"Yes." Winry was suddenly serious. "What would have happened if I didn't take it out in time...?"

"It woulda been fine, Winry. That would be one more person for me to save." (WAIT! You didn't do anything!) Ed joked. His face suddenly darkened seriously."I don't know. What would the Homunculis have done to her...?"

"Homunculi, Edward." Riza said softly. "The way that Homunculis acted... she seemed to have a purpose. That suggests there were more of them."

"The more the better," Ed said, (fake)grinning confidently, "I didn't get enough of them last time. I'll destroy every. last. one. of them. And this time, I'll make sure they're gone for good..."

"Ed... don't fake it, we all know -"

"We all know you're too small for that, bean."

"OI! WHO ARE YOU CALLING A MICRO-SIZE BEAN? HUH?"

"That's the problem, Edward." Riza said, ignoring this last retort. "The person that made this Homunculis... If he made more than two, he did it on purpose - for the homunculi itself - and what purpose would they have for Homunculi?"

"True... And something else happened too." Ed had suddenly remembered how peculiarly the gate had acted. "The gate let us through without payment. Since when was it so generous...? Maybe the person that controls the homunculi this time wanted us -"

"Right, FullMetal." Roy said seriously. "And then the question is... Who could be behind it this time? Dante's dead, isn't she?"

"Yes." Ed said firmly. "I haven't got a clue. And this new person - what is their purpose? Why did they hunt down Winry and Sarah?"

"I think the answer is written on your cheek, Ed." Winry suggested quietly.

----------------------------------

Later that day:

Ed and Winry were alone, sitting in the waiting room. Winry was extremely nervous. The very thought of being alone in a closed-space room with Ed made her stomach jolt uncomfortably. Little did she know, Ed felt the same way as she did. They were thinking the same thing, over and over again:

What does he/she think of me...?

Winry had begun wondering what she could possibly say to start a conversation since an uncomfortable silence had settled between them.

"Er... Ed?" Winry said randomly, wondering what she could possibly say.

Ed grunted in acknowledgement, afraid to open his mouth.

"Where's Al?" Winry realized at once this was the wrong thing to say. 'What if he thinks that I love his brother - but not him...?'

"Oh. He' s up in the hospital room with Sarah." Ed replied nonchalantly. He turned his head to face Winry, wondering what her reaction would be.

Winry sighed. "He's so oblivious and obvious at the same time with Sarah. I doubt he knows that he loves her as a person yet." She muttered, trying her best to smile at Ed. 'Why can't you be obvious too, Ed. It would be so much easier...'

"Y-yeah." Ed agreed. 'Why aren't you obvious too, Winry. I don't know what to do anymore...'

"I'm sure Sarah loves him back." Winry said loudly, trying to break the tension. 'Al wouldn't know what to do if she didn't...'

"A-ah... But it's so hard to tell. I feel like she's like that with everyone else, too." Ed said uncertainly. 'As are you...'

"Oh!" Winry said suddenly, not really listening to Ed. "What did that evil woman write on your cheek?" No, she was not trying to change the subject - that thought had just randomly popped into her head, and she was curious to know the answer.

Ed looked slightly discomforted, but pulled the bandage off his cheek with a grimace. Ed leaned closer to her (and they both blushed, but neither of them noticed that) so she could get a better look.

Winry gasped. "No way! They really want..."

"...Revenge."

--------------------------------

"So... Brother, where do we go now?"

"I don't know, Al." Ed replied, trying to get his thoughts in order. "But I'd like to visit Teacher's grave in Dublith. It's been so long..." Ed trailed off. He had been a dimension away when his teacher had died, and he wanted to at least visit her grave.

"Brother," Al fretted, "What if teacher comes back to life or something and starts throwing headstones at us?"

"Yeah, well you should worry more." Ed replied, grinning. "Teacher'll beat you up first for imagining something so ridiculous."

"I know." Al said, smiling in a still-it-hurts way, "But it's so hard to believe that she really is dead, Brother."

"Yeah! and I want to go back to Resembool. I've got to make you a new arm and leg, Ed, and I need to get some tools. And..." Winry said, trying to change the subject. She faked a laugh. "It'll be like when we were kids again. We can stop there for a few days, away from the trouble..."

"Yeah." Ed agreed whistfully, "That would be nice. Dublith is along the way, so we can leave tomorrow. Al, what do..." Ed looked around, bewildered. "Al, where'd you run off to?! I swear he was right behind us..." Cold dread tickled his heart.

"What?" Winry said.

"The Homunculi. AL! AL! ANSWER ME!"

There was utter silence. Had the Homunculi really taken Al?

"Ed, STOP BEING DRAMATIC!" Winry snapped, reaching for her wrench. Luckily for Ed, she had forgotten where she put it. She really had been worried for a moment. "Al's right there."

Ed whirled around and saw Al kneeling down a few meters away from him, facing the other way. Ed was so mad that the veins on his head pulsed. Deep down, he was relieved. This wouldn't have been the first time Al was kidnapped...

"AL! IF IT'S ANOTHER CAT, I'M GONNA...!" Ed tramped over to where Al was kneeling down. His voice softened. "Al, what is it..."

"Oh! Brother! I-it's nothing!" Al stuttered nervously.

"Al," Ed looked suspicious. "What are you holding...?"

Meow.

There were blue lines on Al's face now, and Ed was practically steaming with fury.

"AL! YOU SCARED THE HELL OUT OF ME AND YOU'RE PLAY-"

"Shut up, Ed." Winry said menacingly, brandishing her wrench. She turned towards Al, who was looking innocently nervous.

"I-I'm sorry! Winry! It was... The cat... It was abandoned... a-and..."

"Aw, it's so cute!" Winry said kindly, stroking the white kitten with her finger. "Y'know what? We should change the rules. You can bring the kitten with us, Al." She turned towards Ed, her expression suddenly evil. "Right, Ed?"

Ed looked mutinous but finally gave up. "Yeah, whatever." He muttered, looking the other way. "You can keep it, but just this one."

"And... What about Sarah? Is she coming with us?" Al asked hopefully, still stroking the kitten.

"No. She can't come with us. If the Homunculis want revenge, they'd go after Sarah too." Ed said firmly. "She's staying with Mustang."

"WHAT?" Al exclaimed, jumping up. The kitten mewled in protest, but Al ignored it. (We all know how Mustang is such a womanizer!)

"I SAID SHE'S STAYING WITH MUSTANG!"

----------------------------------------------

"But why! Winry get's to go, so...!"

"Please, Sarah, FullMetal told me to keep you here, or else he'd have my head - "

Sarah scoffed, unsure of whether to believe him or not. Suddenly, she remembered something Al had told her:

It was a beautiful, sunny day and a gentle wind rippled the many blades of tender green grass on the field. Al and Sarah were sitting together there, enjoying the ripe breeze. Ed had gone off to do some research at the library.

"And Mustang never takes an order from my brother. Or at least, never willingly. They fight every time they meet!" Al had recounted energetically, following a butterfly with his eyes.

"And since when have you taken orders from Ed, Mustang?" Sarah challenged.

Mustang looked thoughtful and stared at his papers. Sarah could tell he wasn't really reading them at all.

Sarah smiled. "Ah, so you took me in just to avoid doing your paperwork..."

"You can't threaten me, Sarah." Mustang said, obviously flustered. He was running a hand through his hair, staring down at the huge pile of papers left on his desk.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

"Fuhrer, sir, may I come in?"

"I'll get it." Sarah said readily. A plan was already forming in her mind. Sarah didn't care that she was new to this world. After all, what could possibly happen? She had already nicked a map, so she would be fine. Sarah had remembered something else Al had told her: "Mustang and Riza love each other. I don't get why they aren't together yet."

Sarah opened the double doors a little wider than necessary. Riza stared at her for a moment, then nodded. She walked over to Mustang's desk with an air of authority and set a huge pile of papers on his desk. She took out her gun and clicked the safety off.

Mustang flinched and immediately began scanning his papers intently, trying to work while Riza was holding a gun at his head. Sarah grinned. It was hard to tell who was the Fuhrer - Mustang or Riza.

It was perfect. Mustang's eyes were fixed on his papers and Riza's eyes were fixed on Mustang. No one noticed Sarah when she quietly slipped out the door. Looks like she wasn't going to need her plan, after all.

-------------------------------------------------

The train had started moving. Al sighed sadly. Since they had made last-minute reservations for the train to Dublith, they couldn't find seats that were all together. The best they could do was two seats together and one seat in another compartment.

Winry had gone to sit with Ed since she needed to finish the maintenence on his leg that she had started earlier that day. Al had to admit, he felt rather lonely, but he had to content himself by playing with the kitten.

'Well, on the bright side, I've got two seats for myself.'

Still, it was too quiet for his liking. He stared at the passing scenery, wondering why it felt like yesterday he had traveled with his brother in a Suite of armor. 'It feels really good to be back home...'

" 'Scuse me, can I sit here? It's full everywhere - "

Al had turned to face the girl.

"Oh." Her face fell. "Hi, Al."

"Sarah?!"

------------------------------------------

Winry had finished maintenance on Ed's leg and was snoring gently as she slept on Ed's shoulder. (Ed had suggested it in his I-don't-care way) Ed was blushing (wow, he really seems to blush a lot!) but didn't shake her off in case he woke her.

Ed couldn't fall asleep since he was so fidgety. He kept shooting glances at Winry, who was fast asleep. 'Wow, she really is pretty...' It was the only thing he could think about. Ed had never thought this way before about anyone and it was alarming him.

I guess I can't help it that I love her so much...

Ed stared blankly at the sunset.

Winry, will you ever love me back?

-------------------------------------------

"Wow!" Sarah exclaimed. "So this is Dublith!"

Ed had finally gotten over the fact that Sarah had snuck on the train with them. At first, he was absolutely furious at Mustang for being a stupid fuhrer. (yes, he just wants a reason to hate him) Afterwards, he was absolutely furious with Al for not telling him immediately. Then, he was absolutely furious with Sarah for trying to tag along. But he had to admit, they had no other choice but to take her with them now.

"And this is Teacher's house!" Al exclaimed happily. He hesitated for a split-second before knocking on the door.

"Who is it!" Someone called out. The door was flung open and a large, burly man stepped out.

"Oh! Hi, Mason!"

Mason could only stare in shock. "A-alphonse? This isn't a j-joke, right?" He poked Ed, just to make sure. (Wait, why did he poke Ed?) Suddenly his face broke into a wide grin. He looked as if he didn't know what to make of this. "Ah, Ed, you're as short as ever, aren't you!"

Ed turned his death glare onto Mason. "I. AM. NOT."

Mason sighed and shook his head. "As stubborn as ever! But, man, I missed you guys! I can't believe you're back, I thought you'd be gone for good! First it was Ed, then Izumi..." His face fell and darkened. "W-well, we were just getting ready to go up to her grave, y'know, so..."

"Great!" Sarah exclaimed, trying to lighten the mood. Mason eyed her curiously.

"Oh. This is Sarah, and I'm Winry."

"Nice to meet you, Winry, Sarah."

----

They had reached the top of the hill. Al's Teacher was buried there. Sarah had to appreciate that there would probably be no better place for a grave. The scenery was absolutely beautiful.

"Wow..." Sarah said, mesmerized. She patted Al on the back, who had bowed his head and was quite depressed. "I'm sure your Teacher would be really happy, Al. The view is amazing here, and she's got such devoted students."

Al shook his head sadly. "It's so hard to believe she's dead, though. She was always such a tough woman. And... we weren't as devoted you think we are, Sarah. We did the one thing that she had told us never, ever do..."

"YOU!"

Al and Sarah both turned to look at the person Ed was pointing at angrily.

It was a child with long, messy black hair... He turned around, and stared at Ed with his violet eyes. Suddenly his eyes grew wide with horror. Not hatred or obsession, but horror.

"WRATH...?!" Al exclaimed, clearly surprised.

------------------------------------------------

A/N: Everything that the characters have said is simple speculation. They have no clue what really happened, how many homunculi there are, what happened at the Gate and what the Creator's real objective is. Don't go telling me that I suck and that my plot is so unoriginal yet, because you have no idea what ebil plans are up my sleeve. ((Turns recorder on and plays evil laughter))

Review if you have time! Every review is very important to me! Even something like, "This suckz. U shd just give up" Will help!

Oh, and in case anyone is wondering, there is a very good reason that Al likes Sarah. Or so I think, and being the eccentric author that I am ((Aw, stop trying to flatter yourself)) I think everything is a good reason ;;-;;

Thank you! And until next time, Adieu! - Sasharu