A/N: Alright! Chapter eight!

Disclaimer: If I owned Pokemon, it would have had a happy, pokeshipping ending already. Wait...

If I owned FmA, it would have had too many episodes... like Pokemon...


008. Store-lined streets

The sandy ground was so hot, Roy could feel it through his boots. This path he was walking with his lieutenant was flat and solid; beaten down by hundreds of feet every day. The vendors where lined on either side of him, displaying their goods in all sorts of ways. Bright textiles, woven baskets, light cloths, all hanging from tables and racks. People shuffled around quickly, eager to get home well before dark. He reminded himself that he and his lieutenant should also be home before the sun set. There were not any street lights in Ishval.

He froze the moment he caught the sweet smell of fresh apples ripening under the evening sun. Roy quickly backtracked, nearly colliding with Riza, earning him a sharp, "Sir!?". He held up a hand that said, 'hold on a second' and turned intently to the merchant behind the cart.

"Excuse me, but are these apples fresh?" Roy's voice was pleasant and polite, his excitement leaking into his words. The dark skinned vendor looked up, his red eyes widening slightly as he easily recognized the two military officers before him. General Roy Mustang and his bodyguard, Lieutenant Riza Hawkeye. Two of the five major figures working to restore Ishval. The merchant blinked and smiled. "Oh, yes sir! They where picked early this afternoon and arrived from Resimbool not even an hour ago!"

The general grinned widely at this. His captain only rolled her eyes at the simplicity of his happiness. "Fantastic! l would like-" Roy looked down to inspect the round and red fruit, "-these twelve." The vendor gladly gathered the apples that his excited customer had pointed out. Riza just looked at him in disbelief. 'Why the hell does he need so many?'. As the fruit was being bagged, Roy fished a small wad of money out of his pocket.

The vendor extended the bag out towards the eager general, "That will be 1700 cenz." Roy frowned a little, "That's a little expensive..." The merchant nodded in understanding. "I am sure it costs more than what you might pay in, say, Central. But remember, we have to import fruit like this from outside Ishval." Now it was Roy's turn to nod. He understood, but there was a problem. He turned to his faithful lieutenant, an almost sheepish smile on his round face

"So, Lieutenant... I only have 1280 cenz, so do you think you-" The look on Riza's face made him start to lose his confidence. That was not her happy face."-could...help me...out..?" The lieutenant stood still for a moment, contemplating the consequences. 'If I lend him the money, I doubt I will get it back. But if I don't...' Riza's frown finally relaxed. Her eyes closed for a moment and she let out a sigh of defeat. She reached for her pocket. "...Alright, sir. But just this one time. How much was it? 520 cenz?" She quickly found the appropriate amount and handed it to the general, who was thanking her and swearing to pay her back.

Soon they were continuing their brisk walk down the hot, dusty path. Roy heavy with his apples, Riza heavy with the thought that he was never going to pay her back. But it did not matter to her so much, because the way she saw it, they would hopefully be sharing the financial responsibility sometime in the near future. And knowing him, that would be the time he finally decided to pay her back. When it would be useless.


A/N: A short chapter. Just under 600 words. Okay, first person to say what episode/chapter I was referencing to gets ten points and a sticker that says: "'Muse thinks I'm a STAR!"

Reviews are welcome and greatly appreciated. (-X-)