Hello, everyone! I didn't think I'd be able to get this written fast enough to update today, but whaddaya know? I did, and here's the latest chapter! :D

Chapter 7: Plan

A couple weeks later, Cynthia woke up to warm, soft fluff tickling her nose. She moved the main culprit, Helios's tail, from her face with a hand.

"Helios," she muttered, "what have I said about sleeping on the bed?"

Her question was answered with a long, drawn-out, overdramatic sigh.

"Helios, get off."

The fox growled and shifted to make himself more comfortable, tail now covering Cynthia's nose and mouth. She sputtered, trying not to swallow any hairs.

"That's it, Helios, you're getting off."

She opened her eyes, scooping the fox up in both arms, about to gently set him on the floor. Helios yipped in protest before going limp and trembling. His sparkling, amethyst eyes widened, staring-no, pleading.

Cynthia hesitated.

Helios mewed pathetically.

You know who won the argument.

And thus, Helios not only got to keep his place on the bed, he even gained a pleasant massage between the shoulders from his own gullible human.

-*FMA*-

Cynthia yawned as she forced her breakfast down, not feeling that hungry. Helios perked his head as a loud clank, followed by a muffled curse, came from the second floor above them. Cynthia reached over and sleepily scratched his chin.

"Mom pulled an all-nighter last night to get a large automail order done on time. She probably dropped something is all."

Helios briefly nuzzled her hand before staring as hard as he could at the rest of Cynthia's toast.

She rolled her eyes and set the plate next to the chair on the floor where Helios could reach it.

"Helios, I swear you are so spoiled."

His tail gave a little wag in acknowledgement as he greedily tore into the bread.

A minute later, Winry walked down the steps. Her eyes had bags under them from lack of sleep.

"Thia," she muttered drowsily, "I need you to run to the store as soon as you can. I accidentally broke a 4B screw, and I need a replacement."

Cynthia shrugged. "Sure, Mom. Anything else I need to get?"

The mechanic nodded, somewhat more awake now, but still rubbing her eyes. "Yeah, hold on, and I'll make a list."

-*FMA*-

Cynthia strolled along the dirt path, worn with use by both pedestrians and horses and carts alike, while Helios padded alongside. He still wobbled when he walked, but it was obvious that he was getting much stronger. You could still see traces of his bones sticking out, yet not as sharply. Since this was one of the few times Helios had been outside since he had been taken in, Cynthia kept a close, worried watch over the fox, praying that his tender paw pads wouldn't get cut. Eventually they reached the small, quiet town, where they quickly made for the store.

As the shop's door opened, a little dingly-bell jingled cheerily.

The storekeeper looked up from his place behind the counter, looking pleasantly surprised. "Good morning, Thia! What brings you today?"

Cynthia smiled. "Hi, Mr. Shein. I need a 4B screw, polishing grease, and a dent-removal hammer."

"Sure thing."

Not too much later, Mr. Shein was handing her the bag full of supplies in exchange for 500 cenz. He raised his eyebrow at the sight of the fox patiently sitting next to Cynthia, but didn't say a word.

"Thank you, sir!" Cynthia waved, held the door open for Helios, and set out for the next store.

-*FMA*-

Once her arms were full and she had gotten everything on the list, Cynthia made ready to head back home. Something caught her eye, and her ear, however.

"Yeah, anyone know where I can find the Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric? I heard rumors that he lives around here!"

Cynthia marched over to where the voice was coming from. Sitting on a bench and chattering excitedly there was a younger man-someone Cynthia didn't know, so he must be a traveler- with scruffy, sandy-colored hair and the trademark Amestrian blue eyes.

"He's a real hero, but I hear that nobody's seen him in about fourteen years!"

She sat down on the bench next to the man, looking at him with interest.

"Excuse me, sir. What were you saying about the Fullmetal Alchemist?"

He quickly turned his head, eager to share with a new person. "He's a hero! Saved Amestris, and quite possibly the whole world!"

Cynthia's eyes widened a little, and Helios's head cocked. Cynthia's dad, Ed? He had saved the world?

"And how," Cynthia questioned, studying the man carefully, "How did he do that?"

"Well, with alchemy, of course! He was the youngest State Alchemist on record to date… joined when he was twelve, or so they say."

Cynthia thought about this for a moment. "What did he save the world from, exactly?"

"I hear that it was a deranged immortal who tried to steal the souls of everyone in Amestris. He used alchemy to do the impossible and defeated the monster. It sounds crazy, but everyone I know swears that it's true."

"And… I heard a rumor that the Fullmetal Alchemist won't or can't use alchemy anymore. Do you know how that could have happened?"

"Well…" the man hesitated. Cynthia leaned closer.

"Yes?"

"I heard that rumor, too, but nobody knows why. Sorry, I don't know."

Cynthia was quiet for a moment, deep in thought. She quickly looked up, a hasty smile on her face.

"Well, thank you anyways. I have to get going." She abruptly stood up and started walking home, Helios rushing to catch up. She eventually slowed her pace so they could easily walk side by side, an apologetic look on her face.

"Sorry, Helios. It's just that no one can ever tell me why Dad won't do alchemy anymore, and he never says anything when I ask him."

"It's fine." He thought. "But did your dad really save
the world?"

She said nothing, and Helios cursed his lack of speech for the hundredth time.

"I don't really know too much about what Dad did before. I just know that he was the youngest person to become a State Alchemist, his title was the Fullmetal Alchemist, and he somehow saved the country with alchemy. I'm not even sure he can do alchemy anymore… but I don't know for sure. I've just never seen him do it, ever. Not only that, but he refuses to teach it to me, or even let me look at his old alchemy books."

"I wonder why?"

Cynthia didn't even bother to glance up as she stepped up to the door, opened it, held it for Helios with her foot, and went inside after him. She carefully set the bags on the table, scooped Helios up because he couldn't go up and down the stairs by himself yet, and ran up to her room.

"Mom, I got the stuff you needed," she shouted, closing the door.

A muffled "thanks" came from her mother's workshop.

"Helios," Cynthia murmured, "I've been thinking really hard about something, for a while now."

"Hm?"

"I really want to learn alchemy, so… I was going to take a book from Dad's study. It would just be a beginner's book, something he wouldn't miss…" She faltered and trailed off.

"Your decision, not mine. But I guess if you really want to, maybe."

She seemed to understand his knowing stare. "Okay, Helios. I'm…" she swallowed. "I'll do it tonight, unless Dad's in there all night, like he does sometimes... Yeah. I'm gonna do it!" Her face hardened in resolve, fists clenching.

"It might not be the best idea, or it could turn out well. I don't know, but I'll stick with you." He gave her a quick lick to show that he would back her up.

Cynthia smiled, running a hand through Helios's fur, marveling at the luster it had regained.

"Thanks, buddy. You don't know how much this means to me. So… tonight, hopefully, I'll be able to learn alchemy for the first time."

Helios blinked. He might not exactly understand alchemy, but it must be good if it made Cynthia happy.

"I can't wait for tonight."

So how was it? Don't be afraid to say if it was dumb! And this chapter (along with the next couple, likely) was pretty slow, but it'll pick up eventually! :)

Guest: Dang, did I just come up with something funny? ISSA MIRACLEZ! XD

Kittenizzy Loves Edward Elric: Well, happy Wednesday! And thanks!

RedLicoriceMoustache: Hehe... no hints! Sorry! It would ruin the epic ending I have planned! ;)

lotrprincess: ...It's raining... *sniffle* Thank you :) I'm trying to focus on both making their bond develop and keep this story interesting at the same time, so yeah...

I'm graduating from the eighth grade this Friday! WOOHOO, summer break! So when I update on Wednesday, I won't have school, so I can update earlier than 9:30 at night! See ya then, guys! :D

-Dfire