A/N Sorry it's taken me so long to post, I've been super busy with school work! Anyway, here is the next chapter! Please enjoy! Sorry, no royai... :(


"And everyone lived happily ever after!" Envy said, arms spread wide. "So in the end, Mr. Mustang avenged his friend's death! And, you over estimated him, Pride! He took the bait just as I predicted he would."

"So it would seem," The small homunculus said thoughtfully.

"You're taking this far too lightly," Lust said to Envy, annoyed. "Not only did the woman escape, but our target finished her off himself! That wasn't the plan."

"I actually enjoy the irony of the dog eating the bait," Envy stated, shrugging.

"Yes, it is ironic," Pride muttered, still thinking. "But something doesn't add up."

"What?" Envy asked. "You think he faked his lieutenant's death? The doctor confirmed that it was her body."

"Really?" Lust asked, raising an eyebrow. "I thought it was burned beyond recognition."

"Oh it was. The Flame Colonel really out did himself. They confirmed her identity with dental records."

"I guess I did misjudge him. No matter. It's of little consequence; he's no threat to our plans." Pride said.

"Someone's losing their touch, Pride! My original plan would have worked just as well as yours, and would've been a whole lot easier to pull off!" Envy laughed.

Suddenly, one of Pride's shadow appendages shot up and stabbed Envy through the chest.

"Hey!" Envy yelled in surprise, a little blood dripping out of the corners of his mouth.

Pride smiled and withdrew it.

"Temper, temper!" Envy said in a mocking, chastising voice, as a flashing light sparkled up the gash, healing it. He wiped the blood falling from his mouth off his face with the back of his hand. "We'll have to start calling you Wrath if you're not careful."

"Do not insult me."

"Boys, boys," Lust interjected, pouting. "You know Father doesn't like it when we bicker."

The two homunculi glared at each other for a second, but listened to Lust.

"Oh, there's one more thing," Envy said.

"What?" Lust asked.

"Our little trap attracted an unexpected guest," Envy said, handing her a folded piece of paper. "Guess who's behind the attack on the penitentiary?" he asked as Lust unfolded the paper.

"Oh, my. Looks like out old friends number 66 is back," she said for Pride's benefit, after seeing the drawing sketched on the sheet of paper. "I thought he died when laboratory number five collapsed."

"Do you think he's in contact with the good colonel?" Envy asked.

"Well, it would explain why he was researching executed criminals yesterday," Lust replied.

"Are you sure he was the one behind the escape?" Pride asked, grabbing the sketch.

"Yep, it was him."

"Then, there's a good chance that Colonel Mustang orchestrated the whole escape. But why?"

"Well it's understandable that he would want to finish her off himself. After all, he thought she murdered his best friend." Envy suggested.

"No, that's not enough. Mustang may be arrogant and sure of himself, but he's not a fool. He wouldn't his risk his career on something as trivial as revenge," Pride countered.

Envy waved his hand. "You're over estimating him again! He may be a powerful alchemist, but he's just a puny human. You have to think like one of them. Revenge could easily drive him to such extremes!"

"Maybe you're right. What do you think, Lust?" Pride asked.

Lust was leaning against Gluttony's back, examining her nails. She seemed to be ignoring their conversation, but she answered Pride quickly enough. "We're not even sure that the colonel is in contact with Barry. Let's not get ahead of ourselves by assigning him motives."

Pride tutted. "Now Lust, that's how we lose the upper hand. We have to keep one step ahead of this colonel. He's smart."

"Then I agree with Envy. Revenge is a strong motive, especially in the minds of humans."

Pride nodded. "I'm still surprised that he fell for it. Oh well. We have more important matters to attend to."

"Like the Barry the chopper," Envy said.

"Do you know where he fled to?" Lust asked Envy.

"Not really. He's really quick and good at hiding just like when he was still alive."

"In other words you don't have a clue. You're useless." Lust said, walking across the room.

"Shut up, you old maid!" Envy said, annoyed.

"Lust, I trust you have something in mind to remedy the situation?" Pride asked, turning to his 'sister.'

"Yes. I believe we have an old friend of Barry's who's just dying to see him again!" With that, she threw open the large metal doors at the end of the room revealing the cage that held Barry's stinking, rotting body.

Envy smiled. "That'll do the trick."

Pride looked at the two of them. "We should wait to clear up the Barry the Chopper incident. If he is indeed in league with Mustang, there's no telling what could happen."

Lust pouted. "We still don't have any hard evidence that they've even in contact."

"And we can't just let Barry run freely through the streets. If he's in contact with Mustang, all the more reason to get rid of him. Number 66 would spill our plans in a second!"

Pride considered this. "True, but maybe we should try a more subtle plan. It would be a shame to kill such a prime candidate for human sacrifice."

Envy shrugged. "They're always more candidates."

"Not with the way Scar's been killing them off," Pride pointed out.

"We still have the Fullmetal pipsqueak," Envy said. "And his teacher… Izumi Curtiss."

"And Hohenheim, of course. All of them have already opened the portal, so we know for sure that they can be used as sacrifices." Pride continued.

"There's that Armor boy. He's a candidate." Lust said.

"Yes, and Mustang. That's it for now. Almost all the other alchemists who were skilled enough to open the portal have been murdered by Scar."

"What about Kimblee?" Envy asked.

"He's a possibility, but I think his talents would be put to better use elsewhere." Pride stated. "Besides, I don't we could get him to open a portal."

"You could force him," Envy pointed out.

"I'd rather not."

"What about that muscleman, Armstrong?" Lust asked.

"I have my doubts that he would return alive; he may have strong body, but on the inside he's weak. Look at what happened in Ishval."

"So, we shouldn't kill Mustang," Lust summed up.

"If he gets too close, we may have to." Pride said. "But, yes for now, try to avoid it."

"Then what about Barry the chopper?" Envy asked.

"We'll have to consider it. If he is in contact with Mustang a few more days couldn't make matters any worse."

Envy and Lust grudgingly agreed.

"I have to return to the mansion or Mrs. Bradley will become suspicious," Pride said.

"Running home to your mommy," Envy muttered.

Pride turned angrily, but didn't say anything. Truthfully, he was fairly fond of the woman. She was one of the more tolerable humans he had ever encountered. Contrary to most of the other homunculi's beliefs, he rather enjoyed pretending to be Selim Bradley. Not that he would ever tell them that. "Don't do anything without consulting me or Wrath." With that, he stalked out of the room.


Pride navigated the winding halls of the Bradley Estate, not really paying attention to where he was heading. There was still something bothering him about this affair with the Flame Colonel. There was something he was missing, if he could just grasp it…

Riza Hawkeye… there was something about her. The missing piece was so clearly in that name, that it was almost tangible. That name… it was familiar. Where had he- suddenly, Pride's face went white as the last piece fell into place. How could they have missed that? How could he have missed that? He needed her file to confirm it. Where was Wrath? No time.

Taking a deep breath, Pride turned and ran back the way he had come. His tiny arms pushed open the elaborate doors that led to the foyer. Once he was inside the vast room, he went straight up to one of the guards stationed by the grand staircase. "Excuse me," he said, tugging on the soldier's sleeve. When the man looked down, Pride put on what he thought of as his 'Selim face.' "My daddy asked me to tell you that he needs a file from Central Command," he said, smiling. "He said it was Riza… Riza…"

"Hawkeye?" the guard asked. Of course he had heard of her. After her daring escape, Pride would be surprised if there was a single soldier in all of Central who didn't know her name.

"Yeah her! He needs her file! He said it was important and he needs it immediately." Pride said, smiling brightly. Now, he just had to hope that Wrath was somewhere in the mansion and not still at the office. Fortunately, luck seemed to be on his side.

"Yes, right away!" The man said, hurrying out of the house.

Pride smiled now he just had to wait.


Barely half an hour later, the man returned, clutching a thick file to his chest. He seemed surprised to see Pride still standing there. "I got the folder…" he started, letting the sentence trail off.

Pride grinned up at the man. "Can I take it to him?"

The guard looked down at him, and small smile found its way to his lips, just as Pride predicted. To this guard, Pride was just a young boy who wanted to help his father with his work. "Of course. Just be careful, those are official documents."

Pride nodded and took the folder from the man. Then he positively skipped up the stairs. As soon as he was out of sight, he snorted; he may not mind it from Mrs. Bradley, but when other humans talked to him like a child, he was always tempted to run them through with a shadow arm. Well despite that ignorant ape, he had the information he needed. Flipping the folder open, he quickly scanned the first few lines. He saw that he had been right.

Name: Riza Hawkeye

Rank: First Lieutenant

Status: Deceased

Family:

mother: Elizabeth Hawkeye, deceased.

father: Berthold Hawkeye, deceased.

Berthold Hawkeye. That was a name Pride knew. Despite the fact that he wasn't a state alchemist, Berthold Hawkeye had been on the homunculi's radar as a powerful alchemist. He was known for his research into flame alchemy. Unfortunately he'd died, but not before passing his research on to his apprentice, Roy Mustang.

There was the missing link. If this information was true, it would mean that Lieutenant Hawkeye had all but grown up with Colonel Mustang. She had been his ally much longer than they'd previously believed. Pride was sure now. The colonel had not killed his lieutenant.


A/N So the plot thickens! Tune it next time to see what will happen to our favorite Colonel and his trusty lieutenant!

Oh, by the way, thanks to all the reviewers, and please please please keep them coming! (They power my fingers!