"Look there." A red stone emerged from McDougal's broken body, and as they watched, disintegrated.

"The Philosopher's Stone..."

Chapter 7-Shou Tucker

After the Isaac McDougal incident, the Elric brothers headed to Shou Tucker's house, following a tip-off from Mustang.

"Well, that was a couple days wasted!" Ed complained. "Also, I still don't understand why you're tagging along." Ed turned pointedly towards Melody, who was sitting on the other side of Al in the rather cramped car.

"I told you, Mustang said that he's leaving me in your hands! So it's not exactly my fault either, because no one would want to be stuck with a puny little alchemist like you!" Melody retorted.

"Hey, brother, don't go attacking people like that!" Al intervened, holding Ed's fists back from Melody's face. Melody sighed and looked out the window.

Ed stopped trying to hurt her, and remembered Mustang's threat. Che, he really did leave her with me! This is stupid, having to travel with her, and she doesn't even pay for her own train tickets! I'm not poor, but this is ridiculous!

"So, Melody, where do you come from?" Al asked, trying to make polite conversation.

"Originally? I don't know. When I was adopted, I was taken in by these people...to...a desert," Melody said haltingly. It's not exactly a lie, it was a desert, and who says I have to be specific?

"I don't remember where my parents lived, or anything except for the human transmutation," Melody explained. "My last name's Aubretia because it was carved on a locket I wore around my neck.

"Eh? So Melody might not be your real name?" Ed asked.

"Well, I don't know, and I personally don't care. That's another reason why I became a State Alchemist; to have access to more documents than I normally would be allowed to see."

"Why is your name Melody?" Al wondered. Melody smirked.

"My adopted parents said it was because I was singing to myself once I recovered. Wanna hear?"

Al nodded, and Ed didn't say anything, so Melody started singing an old song she remembered.

"Anata no inai, tsukue wo natete

Kage wo otosu, kyou wo mou hitori

Hoshizora miage, inori wo kakete

Anata wa onaji ima sora no shita

Namida kodayefurueru toki no

Yami ni kujikesou na toki demo

Wasurenai de

Kaeru bashou ga

Kaeru bashou ga aru kara

Matteiru hito ga

Iru kara"

watch?v=QOPs3y31u8k (I don't own this song or the anime)

"That's the only song I remember, the rest I know I learned throughout my life," Melody said. Suddenly, Al chuckled.

"Brother fell asleep!" Melody whirled around to face the Fullmetal Alchemist, who indeed was asleep.

"YOU IDIOT! DID YOU LISTEN TO ME AT ALL!?" Melody punched Ed awake, who jerked and realized he fell asleep.

"Yeah, I did listen! Only it was so soothing, so I fell asleep! There's nothing wrong with sleeping when a lullaby is being sung to you!" Ed protested. "Besides, it was good, so don't be offended or anything."

Melody smiled brightly at this, and Ed blushed and turned away. Damn you, Mustang!

. . . . .

"So this is the Sewing Life Alchemist's home, huh," Melody said as they made their way up the steps to Tucker's house. They were accompanied by two guards, who promised they would be back to pick them up at evening.

Ed knocked, and the door was opened immediately by a small brunette girl. Seconds after, a huge dog leaped through the air and squashed Ed.

"CALL HIM OFF! CALL HIM OFF!" Ed demanded. The small girl giggled.

"Alexander likes you!" A man appeared at the doorway. Melody narrowed her eyes. This man had a sunken look about him, his face gaunt and his eyes covered by glasses that reflected the light.

"Come in, alchemists. I am Shou Tucker, the Sewing Life Alchemist," he said. "Pleased to make your acquaintance."