Yay! An update! Aaand.. IT'S SUMMER, which equals hopefully more writing. I am so incredibly sad that the FMA manga has ended (sob. TT~TT) so I was planning to write a oneshot to commemorate its end as well as a belated Royai day oneshot. (yeah right, you'll forget about it an-SMACK- SHUT UP I CAN DO IT! don't mind me just arguing with that practical little voice in my head..) well anyway, enjoy this chapter! Its a bit more angsty than usual, though.

Song: God Help the Outcasts from the Hunchback of Notre Dame

Requested by: BandGeek99 (if you don't mind, since you requested a bunch, i'm going to alternate your requests with other peoples, so everyone gets a chance sooner. It's nothing personal I assure you, but I hope you understand ^ ^ same goes for you, Akari's Hikari.)

God Help These Desert Peoples

Things have not been going well since Edward Elric had left the small town of Lior. Though the citizens were grateful that he had exposed the fraud, it had led to an occupation by the military. Riots were only increased due to the uneasiness of the soldiers' presence, and soon there was no building that was not in disarray, no wall that had cracked or crumbled, and nobody who felt secure. In the midst of all the violence, Rose couldn't resist, out of old habit, going to pray at the ruins of the Church of Leto. With gunshots, moans, and cries as her choir and the battle-scarred statue as her priest, she prayed.

In the poor slums of Ishbalan refugees, Scar was guided around the small community by the little boy who had found him. The Ishbalans got along as best they could, living in tents, scrounging necessities such as food, water, and clothing. Although their faces never showed a hint of regret, nor their eyes a thirst for revenge, he knew that everybody there had seen some horrible things in their lifetime, and remembered a happier memory of when they lived at peace in Ishbal. Disgrace, he thought to himself bitterly. My people.. my brother.. and all other forms of life.. are we not all children of god, of Ishbala? He turned his head toward the traitorous blue sky smiling down on this unfortunate pocket of civilization.

(Scar)
I don't know if You can hear me
Or if You're even there

(Rose)
I don't know if You would listen
To a gypsy's prayer

(Both)
Yes, I know I'm just an outcast
I shouldn't speak to you
Still I see Your face and wonder...
Were You once an outcast too?

(Rose)
God help the outcasts
Hungry from birth
Show them the mercy
They don't find on earth

(Scar)
God help my people
We look to You still
God help the outcasts
Or nobody will

(Yoki)
I ask for wealth

(Soldier)
I ask for fame

(Other Soldier)
I ask for glory to shine on my name

(Lonely Old General)
I ask for love I can possess

(All soldiers & Yoki)
I ask for God and His angels to bless me

(Scar)
I ask for nothing
I can get by

(Rose)
But I know so many
Less lucky than I

(Both)
Please help my people
The poor and downtrod
I thought we all were
The children of God
God help the outcasts
Children of God

END :'(

Hhm... this is unsettling. I'm not much one for angst fics, but I guess I can do okay at them. Weird. Anyways, sorry to any of you Rose-haters, but I felt that the song fit both of them so this is it. Also sorry for the lack of Hughes-ness and the shor-er, BRIEF-ness of this chapter. The next song will be "Part of Your World", with animeLust. Thanks for reading!

Reviews, please! Or Hughes won't show up for the rest of this fic! Nah, he's too awesome and he's a big part of this fic ^ ^ but review anyway, or he'll whip out more pictures of his daughter!

Ed: We've seen those a hundred times!

Hughes: AND YOU'RE GONNA SEE 'EM A HUNDRED MORE!

anyone who knows the reference gets to have their review featured in a little omake before the next chapter!