This is the best I could come up with for this chapter. Freddy has an interesting time getting to know Envy... Muahahaha!

I noticed I haven't disclaimed anything in a while... Freddy's mine, Ed's not. Hey Hiromu Arakawa, wanna trade?


My Misadventures in Alchemy

Chapter 8: Sacrifice and a Stone

I was napping, warm and comfortable, safe from anything that may have happened after my episode. I opened my eyes, the residue of whatever had knocked me out no longer there, and upon the soft light that hit my eyes, I looked around.

Where had that man taken me? The one with the dark spiked hair and the tattoo, where was he? What did he want with me? My eyes wide, I glanced around where ever I was. As it turns out, I was back in the dorm room in Central's military base, lying propped up against something on the sofa, wrapped up in something soft. Looking down at myself, I saw it was Ed's trademark red coat with the symbol for alchemy on the back. I drew it closer to myself and at the sound of a chuckle, I looked up.

Said boy was looking down at me and in my post slumber state I realized I was laying across his lap, my head resting on the left side of his chest. He gave me a small grin and I gasped, heart racing as I remembered how that man with the tattoo had pretended to be Edward to lure me in. I made to jump out of his lap when he wrapped his arms around me, drawing me close and stilling my movements. He smiled, brushing his automail fingers across my cheek and I stopped. I don't know why it did, but the feeling of cold steel against my skin comforted me, and I rested my head back against his chest, sighing.

Perhaps this was the real Ed. Maybe Ed and Al found me, and they had rescued me. Maybe I was safe after all!

That theory fell through pretty quick. I looked up to Ed to see him staring straight ahead, eyes sparking dangerously and he grinned that sadistic grin. I gasped and opened my mouth to scream. I didn't have time. The automail hand that had been stroking my cheek slipped down to my neck, pressing my throat closed and I struggled to get air into my lungs. His grin drew wider and his brow knitted. I was suffocating, dying, tricked once again by sparking gold eyes and steel limbs…

I jerked awake from my nightmare, giving a cry as I opened my eyes. It was hard to see through the darkness and when my eyes finally adjusted, I realized I wasn't in the dorm in Ed's arms at all. A good dream gone bad. Wasn't that what I had hoped this whole adventure was in the first place?

I examined my surroundings, finding that I was on the floor of what looked like an abandoned building, the dust and cobwebs assuring me of that. I was lying rather uncomfortably on my side, facing towards a wall. I could hear crickets outside and knew that it had to be at least twilight, the low light reassuring me. I sat up, gasping when I realized that my hands were bound, ropes digging into my flesh. I raised my wrists in from of my eyes, squinting in the dim light to see what knots bound me. There was no way I was getting out of these things without something sharp.

"Well, the brat is finally awake!"

I wheeled around, gazing over my shoulder to see the man with the tattoo walk towards me, a triumphant look in his eyes. The odd thought that his spiky hair gave him the look of a palm tree in a skort set crossed my mind. He sneered and I growled as he stopped in front of me, grabbing my bindings and turning me so I could face him. He laughed and took my chin in his startlingly cold hand, turning my face up to his.

"You don't look like anything special."

I snarled at him and pulled my chin from his grasp, glaring at him as he put his hands on his hips, giving me that grin. I maneuvered myself onto my knees, my bound hands in front of me to hold my balance as I moved. I kneeled, glaring into the Mystery Man's eyes.

"Who are you? What do you want?"

He just glared down at me. Yeesh, this guy was creepy!

"Envy. Long time hater of Fullmetal Pipsqueak!"

Edward. He wanted to get to Edward. Was that why he kidnapped me? He thought I was Ed's girl and that taking me would enrage Ed enough for him to come for me? It seemed plausible, the men in the dorm rooms thought I was Ed's girl, Mustang had thought so at first too. This 'Envy' guy could have gotten the wrong impression as well. A cowardly trick and I couldn't see any other possible reason for this stranger to take me. I growled and screamed at him, rage bubbling through me.

"Why not just let me go? You think he'll come to get me like the good knight in shining armor does for the girl, blindly lured into a trap? He's not that stupid, just forget it!"

Envy laughed a cruel laugh and I quirked an eyebrow, biting back on another comment. When he calmed, he smiled, eyes flashing in delight.

"Oh please, we know you're not the Pipsqueak's girl toy, but that won't stop him from looking for you! Fullmetal Pipsqueak coming to get you is just the icing on the cake! The added bonus!"

The added bonus? I was just a plain girl in a sticky situation, what could this guy possibly want with me? I was about to ask when I heard s disgusting chomping sound, like a starved dog chewing on a strip of meat. Out of the shadows, a rather large, round figure stooped, arms hanging in an almost gorilla like fashion. When it stepped into what little light there was, I saw it was a man, with a round, bald head atop a huge body that donned a black tank top and pants. He had beady eyes and a huge mouth from which hung some piece of his meal. When he stepped closer, I realized he was chewing on an arm.

My stomach did a back flip and I clasped my bound hands over my mouth to keep from throwing up. My eyes were wide as I watched this monster walk towards us, still chewing, grinning as though he were munching on a carrot stick. At the sight of me, he removed the arm from his mouth and grinned, turning to Envy.

"Hey Envy, she looks tasty! Can I eat her, can I?"

I crawled backwards against the wall, my eyes wide and my heart racing as I watch this monster leer at me, a huge grin across his face. His pudgy hands extended in front of him, his face inches from mine, drool slipping from his mouth. I raised my bound hands against my chest, horrified at the prospect of being eaten alive. Suddenly, out of no where, Envy's fist collided with the monster's jaw, send him flying sideways.

"Gluttony, you idiot! How many times do I have to explain? She's an important sacrifice, you can't eat her! We need her for the stone!"

Sacrifice? I didn't like the sound of that. I had no special talents, no real extensive knowledge except those which didn't apply to this world, like history and language. I wasn't very good at alchemy, I could barely perform a simple transmutation! I didn't understand how I could possibly make a worthy sacrifice for anything! And then the word 'stone' hit me. I had heard Envy mention a stone before. I suddenly remembered what he had said before the drugs set in.

'Like killing two birds with one Philosopher's Stone!'

Philosopher's Stone.

The words seemed really important to me, but for some reason the only place I could remember them from was that stupid Harry Potter book. A stone from which anything can be created or restored, including life to the dead. I had the feeling that was the condensed version. I knew that even if it were somehow bringing back the dead were possible, it wasn't a wise idea. The deceased would come back as something dark and unnatural. I didn't need a child's novel or an alchemy book to tell me that! But then I realized where I had heard the words 'Philosopher's Stone' before.

'We'll get the Philosopher's Stone, Al! We'll finish what we started!'

In the library, while I was walking through the shelves. I had heard a voice say those two words. I had heard Edward say those words, and while I trusted he and Al with my life, I knew that if Envy was concerned about the stone I was in trouble. A chilling feeling swept over my body and I knew I had to somehow get out of here. While keeping an eye on Envy, who was currently ranting to a cowering Gluttony, I glanced around the room. There! About five feet away, shards from a busted in window that was letting in very minimal light. I scooted over, slowly, trying not to attract attention. Just another foot and I could reach a shard!

"Nice try, brat!"

I felt a tight grip on my hair and I was dragged up onto my feet, standing on tip toe as Envy caught me. He leaned down, his eyes catching mine as he sneered, effectively creeping me out.

"Don't you wanna stick around, Freddy? Stay and see if Fullmetal Pipsqueak shows up?"

I don't know why I said this, but then again, my mouth tends to shoot off before I have time to think.

"Bite me, palm tree!"

Apparently this was the wrong thing to say to him. I didn't have time to brace myself before he backhanded me so hard I flew out of his grasp. The concrete floor broke my fall rather roughly and the wind was knocked out of me. I could feel the sting in my cheek from the strike and the metallic taste of blood filled my mouth. My lip was cut. I raised myself onto my hands, looking over at Envy with a glare. He raised his hand, fisting it and ready to strike.

"Envy!"

That voice! I knew that voice! Envy knew it too, because before he turned in its direction, he grinned, letting his hand fall back to his sighed. He straightened and I followed his gaze into the darkness from which Gluttony had entered before. Shadows and the swish of a red coat. A figure in a black shirt and leather pants. The sound of heavy boots echoing on the walls, one step slightly heavier due to a steel limb. Blond hair tucked into a braid and golden eyes flashing dangerously. Edward Elric stepped out of the shadows, his voice dangerous as he spoke.

"Let Winnifred go."


Yeah, so interesting dream at the beginning of the chapter... Freddy wakes up in Ed's arms, he smiles and gives her reassurance... Just thought I'd throw that in there. I don't know whether I'm going to act further on that or not. Anywho, Freddy is starting to piece together the puzzle, bit by bit. And Edward is very angry with Envy. He used Freddy's angry name. (Using someone's full first name when you are angry, though not necessarily with them.) Nobody takes his new friend and smacks her around!