"Alexander, you're embarrassing me..." Dmitri said in exasperation from her spot atop Mustang's desk as her over-sized cousin blubbered like a baby beside a highly disturbed Ed and Al. After securing the area, Mustang had ordered everyone back to his main office to discuss their next step. Currently, they where discussing Ed's right arm or lack there of, which unfortunately lead to Armstrong's overly emotional state when he recalled the information that had been given to him via Mustang.

"I'M SORRY MY SWEET, INNOCENT LITTLE COUSIN! BUT IT IS JUST SO MOVING!" Armstrong said as he suddenly embraced Ed who immediately started panicking and trying to get away. "I'VE HEARD ABOUT YOU EDWARD ELRIC!" With a roll of her eyes Dmitri pried a grateful Ed from Armstrong's hold only to have him wrap her in an embrace and cry on her shoulder. Dmitri's left brow ticked in aggravation. "Your pure love that made you try and bring back your mother! And your mighty love that made you prepared to throw away your own life to transmute your little brothers soul! I AM MOVED-!" Armstrong made a move to hug Ed again only for Ed to plant his foot into Armstrong's face over Dmitri's head.

"Don't come near me." Ed said threateningly, a disturbed look on his face.

Dmitri pinched the bridge of her nose, patting Ed on the leg. "There there Ed; Alexander! Calm down would you!" Ed removed his foot and stalked over to Mustang, muttering under his breath the whole way. Dmitri turned back to Armstrong, handing him a handkerchief from inside her shirt. Armstrong took it and dabbed his eyes. "Honestly Alexander, you always get yourself so worked up; one of these day's you'll fall over dead from over excitement!" Armstrong sniffled a little, taking Dmitri's hands into his own (which where about the size of her head mind you).

"Dear sweet, innocent little cousin! Their story is truly tragic, one that gives birth to legends!" Armstrong turned then, placing one of his massive arms around Dmitri's shoulders. "And that is why, I shall take the responsibility of being your escort until we meet your prosthesis specialist, Edward Elric!" Ed, who had been in a heated discussion with Mustang looked up with a shocked face.

"WHAT?!" Dmitri sighed, seeing the refusal in Ed's face. "What the hell are you talking about! I don't need an Escort!"

Hawkeye stepped in, ever the reasonable one. "Edward, are you saying you're going to leave like you are now when you might be attacked by Scar again?" Ed pouted, grasping hold of his right shoulder uncertainly. "Doesn't it make sense to give you an escort who can stand up to him?"

Ed shrugged, pointing a thumb towards Dmitri who blinked in surprise. "What about Dmitri? Why can't she count as an escort?"

Dmitri shook her head, dashing Ed's hope of counting on her to back him up. "Sorry to disappoint, but while I do plan on coming with you and Al, I wouldn't be a match for Scar even if I wasn't still sick. Not to mention, I don't think we could carry Al..." Dmitri looked over at Al who was sitting against the wall, somehow blushing a little. "Sorry Al."

"T-that's ok! I wouldn't wan't you to try and carry me anyways; I wouldn't want to hurt you on accident..." Al said while rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. Dmitri smiled and walked over to Al, patting the top of his head.

"Well aren't you just sweet!" She said making Al (some how) blush harder.

Ed sighed in exasperation. "But isn't there anyone else we can take with us besides Major Armstrong?!" The room erupted in excuses for as to why nobody else could go with them making Ed's shoulders slump.

Armstrong placed a commanding hand on top of Ed's head making Ed fum. "It's decided!"

"DAMN IT!" Ed shouted, pushed Armstrong's hand off his head. "Al! Come one, back me up here!" Ed said, turning toward's Al who sniffled in reply.

"Brother! This is the first time I've been treated like a kid since I became a suit of armor!" Al said in excitement making Ed fall over in defeat.

Dmitri snickered, kneeling down and pinching Ed's cheek lightly. "Come on Ed, it won't be that bad."

Ed pouted. "Say's you! You're related to him, you have to like him!" Ed complained as he swatted at her hand earning a laugh from her.

"If you insist on being unreasonable," Mustang said making Ed and Dmitri look at him. Dmitri deadpanned at the evil smirk that graced his face. "How would you like it if I gave you a court-martial for violating an order?"

"THAT'S PLAYING DIRTY!" Ed growled while pointing an incriminating finger at Mustang who shrugged in response.

"Call it what you will, but this is a direct order Fullmetal. Major Armstrong is to be your's and Lead's escort until your Automail can be fixed, is that understood." Ed sighed in defeat, moving to cross his arms over his chest only to remember that he did not have his right arm at the moment. Damn it all!

"Whatever..." He said letting out a frustrated huff.

Dmitri rolled her eyes as she watched Ed put the last of his spare cloths into his suit case, a sour look on his face."Come on Ed, stop sulking!" She said as she closed her own suitcase. Her and Ed and returned to the dorms to grab their bag's for the trip to Resembool, Ed's home town and the place of residence for is Mechanic Winry Rockbell. It felt weird to her to be using a suitcase, as she normally packed light, but with the long trip ahead of them she felt the need to bring a few extra changes of cloths. Ed huffed as he flipped the lid shut, closing the clasp irritably. "It's not going to be that bad. I promise to try and keep Alexander from causing to much trouble."

"Like I care what your crazy cousin does..." Ed grumbled while flinging his suitcase over his shoulder. Dmitri rolled her eyes and picked hers up as well, double checking that they had everything before following Ed out into the hall.

"I know you're not used to having to rely on others for protection, but with Scar on the loose it only makes sense to have someone there who can give us effective back up," Dmitri said, grabbing Ed's shoulder and making him turn to face her. "Normally I would be against an escort but... You saw how easy it was for Scar to take us out Ed, even with us working together. There's no way I could ever win against Scar one on one." Ed rubbed the back of his neck, a small blush dusting his cheeks.

"Like hell I'd let him get that close again..." Ed mumbled under his breath before sighing. "I know it's the reasonable thing to do, I just don't understand why it has to be your cousin. If the name of the game is stealth, then why are we bringing along a human tank who has an affinity for stripping and making loud, dramatic speeches? He'll stick out like a sore thumb!" Dmitri laughed as the two of them started walking again. She grabbed Ed's lose sleeve, wiggling it at him teasingly.

"To be honest I don't think he likes you very much Ed," Dmitri said making Ed quirk a brow at her as he moved away from the irritating sleeve wiggling. "I mean, Alexander is only one of two family members that I don't hate with a passion, so I've always been a little dependent on him. Seeing how well you and I get along is probably making him a little leery."

Ed snorted, jerking his sleeve out of her hand. "How well we get along? Don't you mean how well I put up with your bull shit?"

Dmitri waved him off casually. "Let's not fuss of the details. Either way, I think he just want's to keep an eye on you. After all, I am his sweet, innocent little cousin," Dmitri said with a wink before planting a small kiss to Ed's cheek and running for the front door.

Ed sputtered and cursed under his breath, his cheeks turning crimson red as he took off after the laughing Dmitri. "H-hey! Who said we could start playing that stupid game again?!" All he could hear was Dmitri laughing as jogged down the front steps, the sound of it bringing a instant smile to his face. Maybe some time away from the city would be good for them.

Dmitri placed her's and Ed's luggage in the luggage rack above their seats before taking her own seat across from Armstrong and a very disgruntled Ed. Armstrong had insisted that he sit beside Ed, making Dmitri give Ed an 'I-told-you-so' look that had him blushing. They where waiting for the train to leave. Dmitri looked around, a worry line coming to her face. "Alexander, where's Al? Please tell me you remembered to put him on the train?" Before Armstrong could answer a knock was heard on their window making Dmitri jump a little in surprise. She smiled when she looked over though, seeing Lieutenant Colonel Hughes standing just outside their window. Ed opened the window, greeting the Lieutenant pleasantly.

"Yo!" Hughes said with a small smile.

"Hi Meas! Sorry I didn't greet you earlier, I was a little preoccupied." Dmitri said with a sheepish laugh as she leaned out the window and shared a hug with Hughes.

"It's no problem Lead; I know the last few day's have been rough on you," Hughes said as he pat the top of her head. He turned to Ed then who was also leaning a little out of the window, holding onto the back of Dmitri's jacket to keep her from falling out said window. "The guy's from HQ were to busy to drop by, so they sent me here instead to see you all off. And I've brought a message from Roy." Ed quirked a questioning brow. "Ahem! "Post-processing is a bit of a pain, so I will not permit you to die within my jurisdiction." That's all." Hughes said earning a grumble from Ed and a snicker from Dmitri.

"Yeah, well tell him I said "Roger that. I will not die before you do, Colonel Shit.""

Dmitri pat the top of Ed's head making him frown irritably. "Down boy!"

Hughes busted out laughing, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. "Ahahaha! Wicked brats are aplenty in the world! You and that bastard Roy ought to have long lives!" Hughes leans in to Ed's face, much to said teens discomfort, and gives the boy a suggestive wink. "Though it seem's you've one upped him on the whole obtaining a wife, huh Fullmetal?"

Ed sputtered, a light dusting of pink coming to his cheeks. "I-I-wha-?!" Dmitri hooked her arm around Ed's shoulders, pulling him into an awkward hug (seeing as she was still leaning out the window and as such was many inches taller then him by now), nuzzling the top of his head while giving Hughes a coy smile and a wink.

"Oh Meas, you tease! You should know there's nothing but good old fashioned friendship between Ed and I!"

Ed growled, grasping the arm that went around his head. "I'm going to bite you..."

Dmitri pulled back enough to put her face right into Ed's, a devilish look in her eyes. "What have I told you about teasing me?"

Ed pulled away, pushing Dmitri back through the train window. His face was beet red from embarrassment, though a small smile was evident on his face making Hughes chuckling knowingly. "Knock it off!" Ed shouted before turning to an amused Hughes with pleading eyes. "I beg of you! Don't leave me alone with these two!" Ed said while holding onto the front of Hughes uniform. Dmitri could be heard cackling like a witch from inside the train just as the whistle goes off. Ed pull's back into the train, checking the time on his pocket watch. 11am; right on time. Hughes salutes them, which they all three reciprocate (though Ed's is left handed for obvious reasons).

"Have a safe trip guys- oh! Lead, I almost forgot!" Dmitri leans out the window again as Hughes reaches into one of his pocket's and pulls out a folded up packet of papers. He hand's them to her, a soft reassuring smile pulling at his lips. "You'll want to read those over when you get the chance. I suggest doing it in private." Hughes said, whispering the last part so that only she could hear. Dmitri's brow furrowed in confusion but she gave a nod, trusting in Hughes' advice. She tucked the papers into her jacket pocket before retaking her seat, ignoring the curious look's being given to her by her cousin and partner. A moment or two later they were well on their way to Resembool.

"This will be the first time that I will meet and Automail mechanic." Armstrong said gaining Ed's attention. Dmitri nodded in agreement; she had never meet one either now that she thought about it.

Ed leaned back in his seat, propping himself up against the window."To be more accurate, she's sort of a surgeon, a prosthetic harnesser and an automail tuner."

Dmitri nodded in understanding, crossing her arm's over her chest as she too settled into her seat. "So she's the whole package in one?" Ed nodded his head. "Sounds like my kind of girl! I can't wait to meet her, Al talks about her non-stop."

"She's an old friend of ours; I know she'll do a good job and cut us deal. Automail isn't cheap and is extremely difficult to make." Ed said, frowning a little when he thought about how pissed off Winry was going to be once he got there. Maybe he could live with only one arm?

Dmitri hummed in agreement, biting her lip a little in thought. "Maybe I should sit in on Winry while she's working on your automail. I know I could never measure up to her expertise in it, but maybe it would be good to learn the basics for quick fixes until we can get to her for full repairs..." Dmitri said absentmindedly. Ed furrowed his brow in thought; Dmitri had a point. What if something happened and he wasn't able to get to Winry right away?

"What sort of place is this Resembool?" Armstrong asked breaking Ed and Dmitri from their thoughts.

Ed shrugged, glancing out the window. "It's an amazing village. Ain't nothing there." Ed said casually, propping elbow on the windowsill and resting his chin on his fist. "Because of the east area civil war, stuff didn't happen there anymore. If the army had done a better job, there might have been more development." A pause followed after Ed's words, a small bead of sweat appearing on Armstrong's forehead.

"... I don't like the sound of that."

Ed deadpanned. "Want me to go on?" Dmitri nodded, kicking Armstrong's shin and giving him a scolding look. "Well, i's a really quiet place..." Ed said, a calm smile coming to his face as he thought back to his old home town and the people that lived there. Would they even recognize him? Would any of his old neighbors still be there? "There's nothing there, but it has a lot of stuff that cities are missing."

Dmitri smiled, bouncing excitedly in her chair. "I for one and excited to go! I've only ever gone to small towns to try and gather information, and I was raised in Eastern, so big city life is really all I know."

Armstrong smiled, catching on to her excitement and making it his own. "Then this should be quite the adventure for us all!"

Ed turned and gave Armstrong an irritable look all of a sudden. "That reminds me; you did put Al on this train, didn't you." Dmitri's eyes widened; she had forgotten to ask again seeing as she was interrupted by Hughes earlier.

Armstrong chuckled, rubbing his chin and smiling triumphantly. "Indeed he is here!" He said dramatically making Dmitri deadpan. "I placed him in the livestock car! The large luggage car seemed so lonely and dark, I figured the sheep on board could keep him company!" Dmitri could practically hear the gears in Ed's head come to a screeching halt as he digested what Armstrong had said.

"Alexander..." Dmitri hissed out, her hands balling into fists.

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU THINK MY LITTLE BROTHER WAS!?" Ed exploded, appalled that his little brother was forced to ride as a piece of luggage; worse, as a piece of livestock!

Armstrong looked highly taken aback by Ed's furry. "Why are you not happy! IT'S LARGE, CHEAP AND LIVELY! DOES HE NOT HAVE EVERYTHING HE WOULD WANT?" Armstrong said dramatically.

Ed brandished a fist at him. "STOP SCREWING AROUND!" Dmitri stood up and slammed her hands down onto the table top, pinning Armstrong with a dark glare. Ed stopped mid rant, his own face paling in fear at the promise of death in her eyes. Armstrong showed little concern aside from the cold sweat that suddenly beaded his forehead.

"Alexander Louise Armstrong! Do you mean to tell me that you left a 14 year old boy alone in a box car full of sheep!?" Dmitri asked, leaning closer to her cousin, who was looking more nervous by the second.

"Y-yes...?"

Dmitri's look only darkened making Ed and Armstrong quake in their seats. "The first stop we come to, you are going to get Al and bring him to this booth... do I make myself clear?" Dmitri said in a deadly tone. Armstrong nodded once making Dmitri sigh and sit back down, crossing her arms and legs hotly. "Honestly Alexander, sometimes I wonder what goes through that head of your's..."

Ed and Armstrong glanced at each other nervously, conveying with a single glance 'never piss Dmitri off again'.

"Oh Alphonse!" Dmitri cried out when Armstrong opened the livestock box car. Al sat in a wooden crate, surrounded by sheep who all seemed interested in licking him. Dmitri jumped into the box car and hugged his head, making Al blush ten shades of red. "I'm soooooo sorry for my cousin's idiocy!" Armstrong reached into the box car and pulled both Al and Dmitri out at the same time, hoisting Al onto his shoulder. Ed twitched as Dmitri continued to wail dramatically, drawing disturbed gazes from all around them.

"Uhh, i-it's ok Demi, really!"

"AND LOOK AT THE WHEEL'S ON THIS CART!" Dmitri said making Ed, Al and Armstrong glance down at the wheel's. They looked like standard box car wheel's to them. "Such a rough ride..." Dmitri pulled Al's helmet back, checking on the crack that had been so dangerously close to Al's blood seal. It didn't look like it had gotten any closer to the seal making Dmitri let out a sigh of relief. "Every bump in the road made my heart stop! We'll be sure to bring you with us on the passenger cart when we leave again, ok?" Al merely nodded in agreement after Dmitri replaced his helmet and jumped down to the ground.

Ed rubbed the back of his neck nervously. "I didn't even think about the damage reaching his seal..." Ed said worriedly. "Sorry Al..."

"It's ok brother! I never thought about it either until Demi brought it up during our fight against Scar." Al said as Dmitri, Ed and Armstrong started walking down the station platform. They had a few hours to kill until the next train left for Resembool and had decided to stretch their legs out a little bit. "She's been keeping a close eye on it for me since I can't see it for myself..."

Dmitri chuckled and pat Ed's shoulder. "Don't worry about it Ed; you had something a little more dangerous happening at the time. Or have you forgotten the mad man who was about to blow your brain u-!" Dmitri paused as she suddenly bumped into a villager, nearly knocking the two of them over. Ed grabbed her shoulder to keep her steady, giving the other person a slightly irritated look. "AH! My bad! I wasn't watching where I was walking."

The villager, a man who looked to be pushing sixty, smiled gently and shook his head. "No, no- I'm the one who should apologize; this is what I get for reading while I wal-"

"Dr. Marcoh?!" Armstrong suddenly said, making the villager look his way for the first time. A look of confusion and then recognition filtered across his face before it took on a look of pure horror. " Are you not Dr. Marcoh!? It's me, Alex Louis Armstrong from Central!"

Dmitri and Ed glanced between Armstrong and this so called doctor, who looked terrified. "Umm... Alexander? Do you know this man-?!" The alleged doctor suddenly turned tail and ran with all his might in the direction he had been originally heading. "He's... fast for a old man..." Dmitri said with a sweat-drop. Ed nodded while Armstrong sighed.

"You know him?" Ed inquired to Armstrong who nodded in answer.

"Yes, he is a very capable alchemist from an alchemic research agency of central. He took part in research to use alchemy for medical purposes, but disappeared after the civil war..." Ed frowned a bit before huffing and turning on his heel, heading off in the same direction as Dr. Marcoh.

"Ed?" Dmitri asked him as she jogged after him leaving Armstrong to trail behind a bit. "What's up?"

"I'm going to have a word with the good Doctor of course." Ed said as they exited the platform. "If that guy was part of the research division in Central, he might know something about biological transmutation." Ed said making Dmitri frown, but nod.

"We'll have to ask around for him; he's long gone by now..." Dmitri said thoughtfully. She stopped suddenly making Armstrong nearly slam into her back. She looked over her shoulder at the train they had just exited, the hair on the back of her neck standing on end. She could feel eyes on her but... the platform was empty aside from a few strangers who where just retrieving their luggage.

"Dmitri?" Armstrong said making Ed stop and glance over his shoulder.

"Hey, what's up Dmitri?" He asked curiously making Dmitri shake her head and turn back to their small mission.

"It's nothing..." She said uncertainly. Ed quirked a brow at her, not believing her for a moment but decided to leave it alone. Ed turned and started walking again with Dmitri and Armstrong (who was still carrying Al on his shoulder) trailing a little behind him. Dmitri glanced over her shoulder again, the feeling of being watched fading away the further they got from the train station. Maybe she had imagined it... with a flick of her wrist she pulled the hood of the black jacket up, covering her head and face from all that they passed. Armstrong frowned when he saw her actions; something had shaken her up, and that didn't sit well with him.

"Let us get our search under way! We should not linger to long, or risk missing our train!" Armstrong said enthusiastically making Ed smirk. Armstrong stopped by a group of villagers, setting Al down on the ground as Ed approached them asking about Marcoh. Dmitri hung back by Al, leaning against the side of his crate, her eyes darting around edgily.

"Hey there, did you see someone that passed by earlier...erm..." Ed scratched the side of his neck, unsure of how to go about asking about the elusive doctor. Armstrong suddenly appeared at his side, holding up a sketch book with a very life like portrait of Dr. Marcoh drawn on one of it's pages. Ed stared at the image insidiously, his mouth hanging open in shock.

"Did this elderly man pass by?" Armstrong asked while showing the villagers the portrait. They all inspected it, recognition lighting up their faces with wide smiles.

"Y-you're sure good at drawing Major Armstrong..." Ed mumbles out as the villages pass the image around themselves. Armstrong held his head nobly, pride shinning across his shoulders and face.

"This is the artistry that has been passed down from generation to generation of the Armstrong family!" Armstrong turned then towards Dmitri who gave him a dead panned look. "Why, even my estranged, sweet innocent little cousin has talent; her expertise far outshines my own!"

Dmitri sighed when Ed and Al gave her shocked looks. "Alexander..." She said in exasperation.

"Oh, that's Dr. Maulo!" One the the villagers said making the others nod. Armstrong and Ed gave the villagers slightly confused looks.

"Maulo?" Armstrong questioned under his breath. The villagers wen't on to describe all the good their Dr. Maulo has done for their poor town.

"As you can see, everyone's poor in this town. We don't have money to get any doctors, but Dr. Maulo said he doesn't care about any of that." A man in his mid thirties said making the other villagers nod once again. " He's a good man! He won't abandon a patient no matter what, and even takes on patients that everyone thinks have absolutely no chance of being saved."

Another man chimed in then, slapping his right leg vigorously. "When my leg got caught up in a tractor and it looked like I was a goner, he fixed it up just like new!" He said making Ed and gang's eyes widen in shock. Accidents like that in a town like this would spell amputation, if not even death. "It was quite a spectacle; when he healed me, I thought there was this bright flash and then, poof! My leg was good as new!"

Ed glanced over his shoulder at Dmitri who shrugged her shoulders; she had never dealt with medical alchemy aside from her hip, and she wasn't really sure how her doctor had managed that. "Do you know where we can find him? You see, he's an old pal of ours; we'd like to pay him a visit before we leave on our next train." Dmitri said gaining the attention of the villagers. The middle aged man smiled and nodded.

"Sure do little lady!" Dmitri frowned; she wasn't that small... "What you wanna do..."

After following the villagers directions, the four travelers found themselves standing bellow a set of stone stairs that lead up to second floor apartment of a stone building. "This must be it..." Ed mumbled as they made their way up the stairs. "So why did he run away? And what's with this fake name?" Ed asked Armstrong who shrugged his shoulders.

"When the doctor disappeared, I head that some important classified files also disappeared. There was a rumor that the doctor stole them." Armstrong said making Dmitri nod her head.

"He must have thought that we were agents of the research agency." She said. Armstrong nodded his head in agreement as they came to the door. Ed reached out and knocked on the door, surprised when it creaked open upon touch.

"Um... hello-!?" Dmitri knocked Ed's feet out from under him and struck out, pushing the revolver, which had been aimed at Ed's head, up towards the sky just as the trigger was pulled. With quick movements Dmitri was able to take the gun away from Dr. Marcoh, pointing it at him cocked and ready. "W-what the hell!" Ed shouted, still recovering from his shock as he pushed himself up off the ground.

Dr. Marcoh held his hands up, his whole body shaking with fear as Dmitri pushed her way into the small apartment with a blank face, her eyes promising death if Marcoh should make the wrong move again. "W-WHAT DO YOU W-WANT?! What did you come here for!?" Armstrong, who was still carrying Al, raised a reassuring hand in an attempt to defuse the situation.

"Please calm down, doctor." He said making Marcoh shake even harder.

"Did you come to take me back?!" Marcoh shouted, taking a small step away from them. "I-I don't want to go back there! Please! Just let me be...!"

"That's not true. Please listen to what I have to say." Armstrong said in a slightly louder voice.

"T-THEN- DID YOU COME HERE TO SILENCE ME BY KILLING ME!?" Marcoh asked, pointing at Dmitri who was still aiming his own gun at him. "Did you bring this assassin to do me in?!" Dmitri frowned.

"You attempted to shoot my partner point blank with no warning..." she said blandly making Marcoh's breath hitch. "Maybe I should shoot you..." Armstrong sighed, his shoulder slumping.

"Lead, perhaps you should put the gun down so we can discuss this civilly-"

"I WON'T BE FOOLED! YOU'RE HERE TO KILL M-!?" Armstrong suddenly threw Al and his crate at Marcoh, knocking him to the ground. Ed watched all of this with horror on his face.

"I said to calm down!" Armstrong growled out making Ed and Al break out into a cold sweat despite the tone being aimed elsewhere. As goofy as he was, Major Armstrong was still a very intimidating man. "Lead, put the gun down."

Dmitri scoffed and opened the chamber, showing it to be empty. "Like I could do any damage anyways. He was ignorant and sought to take us all on with a single shot..." she said, tossing the gun onto the small kitchen table that sat behind Marcoh's twitching form. "And did you have to use Al as a projectile? What if his armor cracked more?!"

"Yeah, no shit!" Ed shouted as him and Dmitri dragged Al off of Marcoh before helping the doctor to his feet. "Now, Dr. Marcoh... we have a few questions to ask you..."

"I couldn't bare to do it..." Marcoh said, holding his head in his hands. They had managed to get him to sit at the kitchen table with them. Dmitri was making them all some relaxing tea in an effort to calm the good doctors nerves. "Even thoug it was an order from above, to be made to dirty my hands on it, I..." Dmitri glanced over her shoulder as she pulled a couple cups from the shelf. "And then it was used at the east area civil war as a tool for mass murder..." Dmitri places the cups on the table, pouring Dr. Marcoh a gracious amount earning a small nod of thanks from the doctor as he took a few small sips from the the steaming cup. Dmitri served Armstrong and Ed before sitting between Ed and Al.

"From what I heard through my line of work, the battles fought where truly horrendous." Dmitri said as she prepared her own tea. Marcoh nodded, folding his hands together around his steaming cup of tea.

"Indeed... there were far to many innocent bystanders who were killed..." Ed fingered the edge of his cup, a deep frown tugging at the corners of his mouth. Dmitri placed a reassuring hand on the top of Al's head as he let out a surprised gasp. "What I have done... I cannot atone for by simply taking my life. So, in an attempt to wash away my guilt I travel from town to town acting as a doctor until it is no longer safe. If I stay in one place for to long... who know what calamity I could bring down upon these poor people." Armstrong set his tea down, fixing Dr. Marcoh with an insistent stare.

"Just what did you research? The documents you took with you... what were they?" Marcoh set his head in his hands once again, a look of pure agony coming over his face.

"I... I made the philosopher's stone." Marcoh said. Everyone in the room gasped in shock. Ed's eyes grew wide as the incredibility of his words sank in. "The research files and a single stone are what I took with me."

"Y-you have a stone?!" Ed practically shouted.

Marcoh sighed and stood from the table, walking over to a cabinet and opening it's glass door. "Yes..." He reached deep into the back of the cabinet, pulling out a single vial with what looked to be a red liquid inside of it. "It's in here..." Marcoh uncapped the vial making the red liquid inside it swish around.

"A stone... but, it's liqu-" Marcoh poured the red liquid out onto the table where it seemed to solidify into a perfectly smooth stone much to Ed and other's surprise. He reached out and poked it tentatively, startling when it rippled; it was still very much a liquid.

"The philosophers stone, the celestial stone, the great elixir, the red tincture, the fifth element..." Dmitri said curiously as she too reached out and touched the stone, poking it many times to prove that it was indeed still soft. "Of course... just as the philosophers stone has many names... it only makes sense that it should have many different forms."

"Yes. However, they remained experimental creations up until the end. Imperfect objects that will eventually reach their limitations and become unusable." Marcoh said as he ushered the strange liquid back into its vial. "And yet, they were used secretly during the civil war, and their overwhelming power was demonstrated."

Ed seemed to get lost in thought for a moment before he smirked. "Even though you're saying they're an imperfect creation, making it means that with further research, we might be able to produce a perfect one..." He said with barely restrained excitement. "Mr. Marcoh, can you show me the research files you took!?"

"W-what?" Dr. Marcoh said in surprise before turning to Armstrong. "What- Major Armstrong, who are these children?"

"National Alchemist's."

Marcoh sighed, laying his head in his hands. "Does their depravity have no end? Children... to obtain enormous research funding. You were probably lured in by its privileges and obtained a license. What foolishness!" Marcoh said earning a heated glare from Dmitri. "After the civil war, how many practitioners do you think there were that couldn't bare to remain being human weapons and relinquished their licenses!? And yet, you still-"

"I know it was a stupid decision!" Ed shouted, cutting in to Marcoh's rant. "But Until I accomplish my objectives, I'm going to have to continue to sit on this bed of thorns!" Ed unconsciously held onto his right shoulder. Dmitri placed a hand on Ed's other shoulder and Al's head, her glare just as intense as Ed's as she addressed Marcoh.

"With all due respect doctor, you know nothing of why any of us chose the path's we are on. So I would appreciate it if you didn't judge us as you would your average children." Marcoh seemed a little taken aback by Dmitri's hard tone, his eyes moving between the three of them speculatively.

"... So... you ignored the ban..." he said after a moment making all three teen's tense up. "I was surprised. I didn't believe it possible to transmute the soul of a particular person... you might be able to create a perfect philosophers stone." He said solemnly.

"So, you'll show us the research?" Dmitri asked.

Marcoh stood and moved to put the vial back in it's original home. "No. I cannot show you the files."

"What?! But you just said-"

Marcoh interrupted Ed's rant with a hard, dominating stare. "This the end of the discussion. Go home. I cannot let you have the stone," Marcoh stared directly at Dmitri. "I don't know what you want with it young lady as you somehow managed to escape your own attempt to play god unscathed but as for you two boys, to use the stone for something as minor as restoring your bodies-"

Ed jumped up so fast his chair fell over behind him, his hand slamming down on the table knocking his tea cup from the table. "Minor!?"Armstrong reached out to grab Ed's shoulder, hoping to stop the boy from losing his temper and doing something irrational.

Dmitri stood along side Ed, her hands balled into fists at her side. "You really are ignorant aren't you?! I came out unscathed because I wasn't the one who performed-"

"Dmitria." Armstrong growled out making Dmitri go stock still. Ed and Al stared at her with wide eyes. Dmitri took a deep breath and a step back, trying hard to calm her nerves. A stiff silence fell over the room.

"... It is better if you didn't see it." Marcoh said after a moment, breaking the tense silence. "That's the research of the devil. Once you know about it... you'll see the very face of hell." Dmitri shuddered as a blank white face with gleaming teeth flashed across her memory. Yeah, who would have thought that the face of hell would be so empty...

"... we've already seen hell, doctor." Dmitri said in a deathly quite voice. "We all saw it a long time ago! And we are forced to see it, to relive it every single day!" Another stiff silence filled the room.

"... I can't. Please... go home." Marcoh said making Ed grind his teeth. He moved to speak again but was stopped by a soft hand pulling at his shoulder. He looked over said shoulder to see Dmitri who shook her head at him with a frown.

"... very well... let's go boys. We are cutting it close with the train." Dmitri said. Ed huffed and reluctantly complied, heading for the front door at a brisk pace. Armstrong scooped Al up off the floor and followed after Ed. Dmitri held the door open for Ed and Armstrong, pausing in the door way as she went to leave and glancing over her shoulder at Marcoh's back. "...thank you for your time doctor. We appreciate all you were able to tell us..." She said solemnly before exiting the apartment and closing the door behind her. When the latch clicked Marcoh twitched, a tight frown falling onto his mouth.

Ed, Armstrong and Dmitri all sat at the train station awaiting their next train that would take them to Resembool. Ed and Armstrong sat on a bench while Dmitri leaned against Al's crate, playing with her hair absentmindedly. She had been exaggerating a bit when she said they were running late with the train, but she knew for a fact that if they had stayed, Ed would have punched that man. And she knew that she wouldn't have stopped him.

"Is this really fine with you?" Armstrong asked drawing all three teen's attentions to him.

"Huh...?" Ed said.

"While you wouldn't have been able to see the files, you could have quickly taken the stone by force..."

"Hell yeah... I really, really, wanted it!" Ed said irritably. "But... then I remembered the people we met on the way to Dr. Marcoh's house. Even if we restored our bodies by robbing this town of its life support, it'd just leave a nasty aftertaste." Ed grimaced at the thought.

Dmitri laughed then, looping her arms around Ed's shoulders from behind the bench much to his embarrassment. "We'll just have to keep our eyes and ears open for another way then, right?" She asked him and Al. Ed sighed and nodded while Al answered with an enthusiastic 'yep'. Dmitri stood straight then, leaving her hands to rest gently on Ed's shoulders. "But are you alright with this Alexander? You didn't report on Dr. Marcoh..." Ed and Al both looked expectantly at Armstrong who simply nodded his head.

"The man I met today was only a town doctor name Maulo." Dmitri smiled a little, proud of her cousin's sense of justice. It was one of the reasons she adored him above all others in her family...

Ed smiled and let out a little chuckle. "Gonna have to start from scratch again." He said as he leaned his head back to stare up at the sky. "Man, this is a really long road." Dmitri and Al hummed in agreement, with Dmitri leaning over a little so she could look down on Ed's face, a few stray strands of her hair falling loose from her braid and tickling his forehead.

"But at least we have each other, right?"

Ed brushed the stray hairs off his forehead, a small smile pulling at his mouth. "Yeah..." Armstrong's brow ticked a little while Al giggled at the small display of affection. Armstrong opened his mouth as if to speak only to be interrupted by a shout.

"Hey!" Ed and Dmitri broke eye contact to see who had shouted only to see a winded Marcoh making his way onto the platform. Ed and Armstrong stood as Marcoh made his way over to them, handing Ed an envelope. "This... is the place where the research files are hidden. Look inside this envelope, if you won't regret knowing the truth... and if it's you, you will uncover the truth behind the truth." Ed gave him a questioning look to which Marcoh shook his head. "No. I've already said to much. And I am sorry... for being blind to your reasons." Marcoh looked directly at Dmitri when he said this making her smile and wave her hand at him.

"Thank you Dr. Marcoh; for everything." Dmitri said with a slight bow. "We should have tea again the next time we see each other."

Marcoh smiled a little and nodded. "Of course..." he turned then, waving over his shoulder. "I pray that you will restore yourselves to how you once were one day." Armstrong sniffled, tears running down his cheeks as he gave Marcoh's back a strong salute. Ed bowed in thanks, staying that way for a moment before straightening himself once more a smile stretched over his lips.

An hour or so later found Dmitri, Ed, Armstrong and Al sitting on a train headed for Resembool. They took up two whole benches in order to fit Al, but there weren't to many people present on the train. Ed was currently sleeping in the booth with his brother while Dmitri and Armstrong occupied the second booth. Dmitri stared out the window, her fingers drumming on the table top that separated herself and Armstrong... Central library, huh?... hiding a tree in a forest... Marcoh couldn't have picked a better hiding spot-

"Dmitri?" Armstrong said, suddenly breaking Dmitri from her thoughts. "About these travel arrangements..." Dmitri sighed, slumping into her seat. She knew this was coming- "You know we need to discuss this. I'm not sure how I feel about you traveling alone with these two boys. It seem's they are getting involved with some strange, and potentially dangerous things."

"Alexander, I am traveling with them under orders from Roy."

Armstrong crossed his arms over his chest. "Its just... your interactions with Fullmetal..."

Dmitri's shoulders went ridged. "Their nothing." Dmitri said in a clipped voice making Armstrong's brows raise in surprise.

"You're getting defensive, so forgive me for not believing you..." Dmitri stayed silent, her eyes fixated to the passing scenery. Armstrong let out a long sigh. "You can say that it's nothing... but I saw the look in both your eyes earlier at the station." Again Dmitri left him in silence making him frown. "Perhaps I am reading to much into things-"

"You are."

"-But you seem to be... changing because of them. You're relaxed around them; more so then you ever where with your own family."

Dmitri let out a long breath, her eyes softening as they slid from the view outside to the top of the table lazily. "...I can't explain what I- have you ever met someone, that seemed to... make everything alright?" Armstrong sighed, shaking his head with a small smile on his face. "Ed... those two boys... I can't explain what I see in them. It's... just the way they can take me to a place that no one else can. They make me feel... wanted. Needed... like it would matter to them if I disappeared one day."

Armstrong nodded his head. "I see. I am truly envious of you my sweet cousin." Armstrong stood and grabbed Dmitri up in a bone crushing hug. "TO HAVE FOUND SUCH A PURE LOVE AT YOUR AGE! YOU ARE TRULY BLESSED!"

"W-w-what?! WHO SAID ANYTHING ABOUT LOVE!?" Dmitri shouted, her face fire engine red. Ed woke up from all the commotion, glaring irritably at the two cousins.

"What are you two freaks doing?!" He yelled, gaining their attention. Big mistake on his part as Armstrong dropped Dmitri and grabbed Ed by the front of his coat, pulling him up to Armstrong's full height and staring at him with piercing blue eyes.

"Your oath, Edward Elric!" Ed sputtered in shock.

"W-what the hell!? What are you doing!?"

"Your oath! Swear on your life, or I will not allow this game to go on any longer!"

Ed broke out in a cold sweat. What was this crazy man talking about?! "Umm... what am I swearing to again...?" Armstrong set Ed down before pulling a mortified Dmitri over and shoving her into Ed.

"I wan't your oath, Edward Elric, that you will keep my sweet innocent cousin safe. That you will treat her as she treats you, and that you will never be anything but gentlemanly towards her!"

Ed scrunched up his nose in confusion. "What the hell did I miss while I was sleeping...?" Ed mumbled to Dmitri who was hiding her face behind her hands.

"You don't want to know..." She moaned out making Ed sigh.

"I will not ask you again Fullmetal; if you can not give me your oath, then I will be forced to take Dmitri back to central with out you." Ed growled, pushing Armstrong back enough to put himself between colossal man and Dmitri.

"Like hell you will!" Ed pointed a finger directing in Armstrong's face. "Listen here Major, the only person who is allowed to decide weather or not Dmitri leaves is Dmitri herself! And anybody who thinks otherwise is going to have to answer to me! It'll be a cold day in hell before I ever allow anyone to force Dmitri to do something against her will again!" Armstrong stared down at Ed with wide eyes. Dmitri allowed her hands to fall down from her face, her face pulled into an "O" face as she glanced between the two alchemists.

"Is that your oath, Fullmetal?" Armstrong asked sternly. Ed scowled.

"FINE! I swear, ok?!" Ed said while throwing his hands up in the air. "I promise; so long as Dmitri is by my side, I'll do everything within my power to protect her! Like she even needs it, she's stronger then most people could ever hope to be! But just know that that includes protecting her from you, or anyone else who thinks they rule over her, you got that!" Armstrong and Ed stared each other down for a long time, neither one willing to back down first. But then Armstrong laughed and claped Ed on his shoulder.

"Congratulations Edward Elric! Your oath has been accepted! You are now free to date my cousin!" Armstrong said before sniffling and grabbing a shocked Ed up in a hug. "MY SWEET, INNOCENT COUSIN HAS HER FIRST BOYFRIEND! I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SEE THIS DAY!"

"Alexander!" Dmitri said in mortification. Al was laughing right out at the terrified look on Ed's face.

"W-what?! WHAT THE HELL DID I JUST AGREE TO!?"