So this is the longest chapter, coming in at 3 pages! Yeah...the other ones were 1 1/4 pages...^^; Is this a sign? Yup, it means I had more to say.

Oh yeah, Roy doesn't like it when you believe in something he doesn't. He ends up getting headaches and a terrible attitude. DON'T DISAGREE WITH ROY...his life depends on it. XD

Don't own 'em, just use 'em.

Chapter 4 – Daytime

The next morning the two brothers sat looking at the magician's match, wondering what secrets could be unlocked. They had both decided that the first thing to look for was a transmutation circle, for if it wasn't on the match, it'd be on the magician himself. The only problem they could find was the fact that the match was really too small to have a perfect circle on it.

"Brother, I've looked over this a thousand times...it looks like regular match to me..." Al handed the match over to his brother, so he could look once again.

"Riza thought it'd help us figure out his secrets...she's been helpful to us before..."

"We keep seeing faces...I don't know how you managed when you were alone..."

"I managed by thinking of home. And it turns out that the people here make good friends just like they did back home."

"I can't wait til we get back. We'll see Granny...and Win-"

"I'VE FOUND IT!" Ed yelled, startling his brother. He rushed over and shoved the match in Al's face. "It's on the head of the match! Not many people would be able to see it, especially at night! That sneaky, good for nothing-"

"Now we have to find him to ask about the transmutation circle." Al sighed. "I don't think he'd like to see us again. He seemed annoyed..."

"Who cares? We'll find him and get our answers, no matter what!"

During the day, New Orleans was just as active as it was during the night, if not more so. Today was a day for rain, so the citizens walked around with umbrellas or raincoats. The rain didn't bother the citizens, for it was the norm. It did, however, bother the two brothers.

It was hard enough to find someone in New Orleans, but with the added rain, most people looked the same from behind. It was hard for them to even catch a glimpse of someone's face. The rain gave them a challenge, but the brothers pressed on in their search. The magician would turn up somewhere.

Both kept an open eye and ear, for they were sure they would be able to spot his voice out in a crowd of many. A few times they thought they heard the all to familiar criticism that was present in Roy's voice, but each time they followed the voice, it was a dead end. Was their minds playing tricks on them? It wasn't until noontime that the brothers first got their real lead to Roy.

Ed and Al, hungry and tired after walking around all morning, started to head back to their apartment when they spotted Teresa, coming out of a local shop. If she really knew Roy like they thought, she would be able to take them to him!

"Miss Teresa!" Al called out, running toward her.

"Oh, you're the boys from last night! What can I help you with?"

"We were wondering if you knew where Le Roy was during the day..." Ed tried to sound casual, but he couldn't keep the excitement from his voice. They had found a transmutation circle in this world. There was a possibility that this Roy could take them back home.

"I guess you two figured out something with that match." Teresa smiled as the brother nodded. "Alright, I'll take you to him. But I must ask, who are you two?"

"I'm Edward Elric and this is my little brother, Alphonse." Ed pointed to Al. "We came over from Germany."

"Well Elric brothers, I must commend you on your English, I would've never guessed you came over from Germany. I must also stress that you should introduce yourselves to Le Roy. Alphonse is a French name, so he might be more willing to talk with you today. He has a strange obsession with anything and everything French...going so far as to use it broken up in English..."

"I thought that was because he was still learning English...he is the French Magician...right?" Al asked Teresa, as they started walking down the street.

Teresa shook her head. "He was born and raised in New Orleans. Though, I won't doubt that he's a first generation American in his family, his father normally spoke in French. No, he uses French in his act to emphasize his French heritage. That, or to prove that he really deserves the title 'French Magician'."

"Why are you telling us this?" Ed asked, eying Teresa suspiciously. "I mean, why are you telling us he's a fraud?"

"Because Edward," Teresa stopped to look at him, "you're looking for something and you seem to need his help. I want you to realize that he has no qualms of lying. He might not know anything about what you're looking for, but that won't stop him from pretending like he does. He likes to play tricks on people; to get them worked up. Even if you use force on him, he'll just laugh, because he likes to get a reaction out of people."

"You guys wouldn't be talking about Blaise, would you?"

Ed, Al, and Teresa look around to find Jean Havoc standing right next to them. Dressed in a white shirt, brown jacket, and blue jeans, his appearance matched that of the Havoc from Amestris.

"Actually, we were." Teresa turned to face him, "Is he working today, John?"

"He is, surprisingly. Normally when he has his...escapades...he's too tired to come in." He leaned closer toward Teresa. "Did someone go and see him last night?"

"I don't see what that would have to do with his sleep schedule."

"Then I take it you didn't stay for an after show?"

"John!"

He started laughing. "Kidding, kidding. Jeez, it's a wonder you two are together. You're so uptight. Why do you want to know anyway? Couldn't you just see him whenever?"

"These brothers wanted to talk with him. I was just making sure he was in the shopping district."

"Well, good luck you two. He's a bit overwhelming when you first meet him. You come to love him, though. Oh, and Teresa..." John turned in her direction solely. "Make sure you guys don't anger him. He's working there alone right now because I have to pick up a new shipment. I don't want to come back and find my store in ruins."

"I'll make sure he stays calm, don't worry."

"Thanks. See ya later!"

John walked off and left Teresa to guide the brothers to the place of employment of Blaise Le Roy. The brothers were surprised to find that both he and John McFarland, this world's Jean Havoc, worked at Havoc General Store. Although it's appearance fit more in with New Orleans and the time period, it still had it's old Amestrian charm.

They walked in and found Blaise behind the counter. Teresa motioned them to stay behind her, so he would see her first.

"Morning, Blaise." Teresa casually walked up to him.

"Afternoon, Resa." Blaise pointed toward the clock. "It's twelve-thirty. So, to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you this early?"

"You remember those boys last night..." Teresa stepped out of the way to revel the Elrics. Blaise stiffened.

"Do you two want to ruin me?"

"You said you made a living off of being a magician. Then what's this?" Ed asked.

"Part-time." He sighed, "What on earth do you want? You've seemed to have dragged Resa in with your scheme. Did she put you up to this?"

"Our business is our business, just like that of Teresa's. Maybe they overlap, but I can assure you we're doing this for ourselves."

"Good answer. I guess I'm feeling helpful at the moment. What can I help you with?"

"Do you know what a transmutation circle is?"

"A circle you transmute with?"

"Well...yes..." Ed glared at Blaise, realizing this is what Teresa meant when she said he liked to play tricks on people. "It's an alchemists tool for preforming alchemy."

"Right... alchemy that can turn lead into gold with hardly any cost to the alchemist. I'm guessing you guys probably found a philosopher's stone, no?"

"Okay, look. I can't believe you're really dissing alchemy. YOU are the one who does magic tricks at night!"

"Because alchemy is a real thing! The alchemy you're talking about is the stuff of legends! The philosopher's stone, the elixir of life, they never existed! They were just stories to promote alchemy. What you're talking about, THAT'S magic tricks."

Teresa put her hand on Blaise's shoulder. "Calm down, please? Just listen to them. Continue, Edward."

"Right...well, we found a transmutation circle on one of your matches, and it's a pretty specific transmutation circle, our friend is the only alchemist that we know uses it, it's the Flame Transmutation Circle."

"What now?"

"See here?" Ed motioned for Al to pull out the match, "On the head, there's a circle with two hourglass shapes, a salamander, and a flame...that's the flame transmutation circle."

"I don't feel like messing around today." Blaise said bluntly and he reached into his pocket to pull out his match box. He held it in front of the brother's faces to show the logo of the match company.

"What you saw on the head of the match, that's the company's logo. We sell them right here in the store. Aisle 2, if you're wondering." He placed the match box back into his pocket. "You've started annoying me, Edward Elric. And I think it's your position on alchemy that's doing it. I normally don't like to end such a feverish discussion like this."

Ed started to open his mouth, but Al stopped him. "Thank you for your time, Mr. Le Roy. We'll be going now."

Al dragged Edward out of the general store and into the open street, where the rain had let up.

"What was that about, Al?" Ed demanded. "We still had more questions!"

"Brother, if we agitate him even more, he won't want to help us. Let's just say he's using a transmutation circle without realizing it. Maybe he's using alchemy without realizing it too! So far he's the only person using magic with a transmutation circle. He's a true alchemist in this weird world!"

"Which is strange...but I guess not altogether impossible... it does kinda make sense..."

"So what are we going to do?" Al asked, looking at Ed.

"We're going to let 'Blaise' sizzle down before we start back with our attacks."

"Brother, I don't think we should mention alchemy around him anymore."

"You're probably right...we'll have to do it more subtly. Man, who would've guessed that alchemy was just as sensitive as religion here!"

Ed and Al went back to their apartment, happy with the headway they've made into going back home. Now all they had to figure out was how to get Blaise Le Roy to help them in their endeavor.

A few things must be said about this. FIRST OFF, Havoc General Store is in New Orleans because it was built there when New Orleans was just starting out. It hasn't been destroyed yet because people still depend on it. That, and I just wanted to add Havoc. ANOTHER thing is that I gave the name Blaise to Roy...why? Isn't it obvious? It's french and sounds like blaze...how does that NOT fit?( Though it does mean limping...does he have a bad leg?)

And here's something that I forgot to mention in the other chapter, Roy/Blaise calls Riza/Teresa "Resa"...that's spelled correctly...just in case anyone thought it was wrong.

Oh, and you might not like Blaise in this chapter, but I can assure you, once he's done with his headache (possible taken some ibuprofin), him and the Elrics will be getting along a little better next chapter.