Aleyshiea was pushing open the door when she stopped. "Oh, hello, General Armstrong." She blinked and noticed another girl in the Fuhrer's office. She blinked again and looked at the desk. "Sir, should I come back later?"

He smiled. "No, no, come right on in."

She nodded and pushed the door open a bit wider. She came to stand before the leader, setting down a small, hand-bound book. She smiled warmly at him. "I have these documents they wanted you to sign over for the book's re-shelving. Also, there's a few more meetings you have later this evening, sir."

He nodded. "Oh, meet your new comrade from the Briggs Fortress." He gestured to the other girl. "This is Major Lucy Drake. Major Drake was just coming in to let me know how the Briggs soldiers are holding up." The Fuhrer gave Aley a knowing smile.

Aley turned and her eyes widened.

A black streak pierced the blond hair. Pale skin was shocked to life by intense purple eyes. The black uniform of Briggs made the color on her pale features strike up a new sense of contrast. She had a strap across her chest that held up a staff on her back. It was made of metal and had a nice design all over it's surface. She raised her hand and saluted Aley, who quickly saluted back.

Lucy looked emotionless, but there was a sparkle in her eye that showed how she felt.

Aley gave Lucy another big smile. "I'm sure you're really a good person, but, sir," she whispered, turning back to him, "is it safe to be ignoring your duties for this?"

Bradley just smiled and waved his hand. "I'm sure it's fine. Nobody's dead. Nobody's complaining. I'm sure it's fine."

Aley sighed and was about to leave when she noticed the unfinished tea that was getting cold. "Sir..."

Bradley suddenly laughed. "I'll drink it."

She gave him a piercing stare. "I expect it gone, then, sir. You can't survive without fluids." She saluted and slammed the door.

Lucy sighed and shook her head. "That girl. Is she from Xing?"

"Why yes."

Lucy made a snort. "She's worthless, then. Nobody can survive too long in our military from across the borders."

Bradley laughed. "That's so true! Now, tell me about the Briggs, Major Drake."

Aley pushed off the door and started walking. The sun was setting, it was time to visit Maes at his lonely grave.

She stopped to change and buy some flowers. Maes loved white flowers. He said they were the pure things in life. He missed smelling and feeling them.

Aley took the path to Maes' grave. She sat, cross-legged in front of the grave and started dusting off the leaves and wiping the rain of a few nights off. She smiled and set the flowers down. "You're quite the popular one, aren't you?"

Maes rose to his feet from behind the grave. His white suite and blue tie were a good outfit for him to present himself in. "They come to visit me every other day. Alicia's getting big and Gracia's coping. Roy doesn't seem to be able to move on. Winry just stands there and cries." He smiled sadly. "Lucy came to visit me with Cisily."

Aley shook her head. "Do you miss her?"

Maes didn't answer, but looked around. "Why did he pick me?"

Aley looked down at the flowers as another funeral took place in the distance. She unwrapped the flowers and started to weave a crown. "Kindness chose you for that last decision you made. The one that cost you everything. Kindness saw what it was that you have. He saw your kind heart." She smiled up at Maes. "Out of your death, Kindness saw your life that you used to touch others and how you never gave up on people, no matter how hard it got on you." She looked down again. "I'm Patient and she gave me the strength to stand again."

Maes pulled a face. "You make it sound so easy to die." He pulled his right hand out of his pocket and scratched the back of his head. "I wonder if Roy will be happy."

A ray of sunset pierced Maes through the lower torso. Aley stood up and placed the crown on Maes' tombstone. "I've got everything set. The stones move and you'll see the sun in a whole new light tomorrow." She smiled. "Truth wants to see Lies brought down. He's willing to give us second chances to do this right."

Maes just laughed. "He'll give me a chance to say goodbye and you the chance to finally hear Ling call your name, eh, Xing-La?"

She smiled and patted his tombstone. "I'll be back. Just sleep until then, Maes."

-Greed-

He pounded his fist against the wall again.

And again.

"What the hell, Ling?" he yelled at his open hands. "What was that? Was she something important?"

'I recognized her eyes. I've seen them before. But where...?'

Greed made a fist when he noticed movement outside the window. Two people were rushing to the graveyard. He poked his head out the door and recognized the scent coming off of one of them.

"She's back." He ran after her.

-Charity-

"We're being followed, Patience."

Patience's black eyes shot to the side. "Charity, keep going." She peeled off and vanished into the darkness.

Charity clutched the strap of the bag as she ran. If she was being forced to do this alone, then Humility and Patience wouldn't be back for a long while. Still, she had to do this for Truth and to give the Alchemists a fighting chance against Father.

She jumped the fence and ran to Maes' grave.

She came to a halt and smiled. "Humility."

There was a huge plume of dust and Patience landed beside the two. "Quickly." She stood up. "I only held him down. He'll be back."

The clouds parted and light hit Maes and his gold eyes grew wide.

Humility turned and his gold eyes locked with Maes' before his gold hair settled. Charity stood up, her auburn brown hair settling on her shoulders and her soft brown eyes portrayed her smile.

"You're Von Hoenheim and Trisha Elric!"

Patience waved her arms. "SHH! We need to do this before the other souls wake for the night!" She started tracing a circle in the grass with her foot. She jumped in the middle and Humility drew his circle. When he was inside Patience smiled. "C'mon, hurry up, Charity. We need to hurry."

Humility and Patience stood on invisible Alchemy circles, until Charity stepped onto her own.

Three circles lit up the air.

But three other circles appeared behind Maes.

A circle formed under him and he felt the breeze. The smell of grass filled his nose. The bite of shocking electricity lit up his skin. The light of the moon pierced his eyes and he looked away.

He realized he could feel...

And then it all went dark.

Charity watched him pitch forward. She dashed forward and captured Maes in her arms. "Mr. Hughs?"

A voice very similar to his whispered.

Charity smiled and let Maes' body rest against the stone. "Kindness?"

"He... I feel his essence." Kindness raised a hand to his face. As he drew it back, the gold eyes were overturned to black eyes. "I see." Kindness smiled. He looked up.

Humility just smirked. "Oh. I have to go now." He activated the unique power within him and he vanished in a shock of lighting that raced across the sky.

Charity nodded. "Patience and I will take care of you."

He nodded. "Who are...?"

Charity shook her head. "Another time. Come. Let's get you into something warm."

-Lucy-

"Well?"

Lucy shook her head. "General, if you keep pushing, they're bound to push back."

"Silence!"

Lucy didn't laugh, but her eyes shone with a smile. "Then shall I try again?"

Olivier held out the receiver. "Fine. Just let them know I'm paying attention."

Lucy gave Olivier a little bow before taking the receiver. "Are you going to help? Or hinder them here?"

Olivier smirked. "Until I find out who did such minimal damage to Alex and still took him down with such ease."