A/N: This is a far more light-hearted chapter. You won't see any violence or much unfolding of Adelle's character, but I liked writing it as it was, for lack of a better word, sweet.

Nightmare, welcome to the site and my story. It's great my story has made such an impression on you. I'd just like to know-is this also the first story you're reading on here?

Pi-or-Pie, if it was a type-o, I'm sorry, but if you're talking about the boy she saw run away, that was the boy that she was quite ready to beat up before, and so she acts kindly toward May because of the guilt she feels for treating the boy so badly.

I'm glad most you are glad to see May in here. Hopefully I don't screw up her character, but like I've said (or think I've said) Fan Fiction is always more difficult because you have to characterize the people as they have already been. You have to get their manner of speech and the way they act how you've seen them already.

Also, I'm loving your reviews on Adelle. IceFire said she was "surprising," Dory-Tox said she had "depth" and was "human," and DramaQueen said she "loves" her and that she's "complex". If you guys keep writing reviews like that, I'm afraid my ego will grow too big for my own short stature. But thank you all VERY much!

The girl with the clinging cat was very needy, but she was far from ungrateful. For every item Adelle bought, May's eyes would light up and look up thankfully at her. It made her feel stupid. Why was she feeding this child? She seemed more than well taken care of. The girl was probably cheating her anyway. She was acting like her brother, gladly wasting money on others.

But this girl reminded her of what her sister had once been. It reminded her of those days when Wendy had been sheltered by everything. The thought of it made her blood boil, her heart ache, and smile all at the same time. It was only an illusion, though. The girl was not at all like her little sister.

"So, where are you from?" Adelle asked. They were both sitting on a bench with a sandwich in hand. There were three bags full of food and ingredients on either side of them.

May swallowed and looked over to Adelle. "I'm from Xing. I came here to look for immortality."

Adelle swallowed hard. She couldn't decide whether to take her seriously or just laugh. She was a child, she thought. She probably crossed the desert with that master of hers, but how could a child be so interested in immortality? Wasn't that a dream for the old? "How did you cross the desert," she asked. She ignored the immortality part, thinking it was only a child's fib.

"Well, with Xiao-Mei it was easy, but it was still a lot of trouble," she said.

"How about your master?"

"Oh, I didn't meet him until after I arrived here."

"You mean to say you crossed the desert on your own?" Adelle just couldn't take her seriously. She stared down the little girl but she only kept looking up with those eyes of hers and nodded. "I'm sorry, but I can't believe you."

"But it's true! I came here to find the philosopher's stone and it's secret of immortality so I can become empress of Xing and help my clan!"

Now she's a princess, she thought. She shrugged. Well, she was a child, after all. "You know, this really isn't a place for a little girl like you. Are you staying in some place safe?" What a stupid question. Was there any safe place in this infernal city?

She nodded, "We're fine. It's not a very comfortable place, but it's safe."

"Hey, what's that thing around your neck?"

"It's a state alchemist pocket watch. Want to see it?" She pulled it from over her head and handed it to her. She awed at it. "I just got it a couple of weeks ago. It's pretty cool, huh?"

"State alchemist? That's what the man was saying before. Wait—you mean like Edward Elric, the Fullmetal alchemist? You're almost as young as him," she said.

Adelle smiled with a bit of pride. "I am younger than him. Granted, he got it when he was younger, but I'm still the better alchemist."

She shook her head. "No, the Fullmetal alchemist is a gentleman and a fighter for the people's ideals!"

Her ego shrunk instantly. She stood up and bent down toward May. "Who's been feeding you those lies? That little runt is just a no-good, meddling kid with no manners whatsoever."

She stared up at her in awe. "You mean you know the Fullmetal alchemist?"

"Know him? I have to work with him and he—a"

"Please, please, please; I have to meet him! Won't you please let me meet him?"

"No!"

"But why?"

"Because you've wasted my day and I'm going back now," she said, turning around and leaving. May followed, struggling with her bags. She had stuffed the sandwich in her mouth so as to free her hands. "Stop following me!"

"No," she said with a full mouth. Adelle sped up and May followed suit.

"Go home, little girl," Adelle yelled at her, her pace now at a jog. She was slowly increasing speed, but May was a strong and resilient girl, and soon enough she was running as fast as she could. She took as many turns as possible in order to lose her, but the girl kept close behind, her little pet holding on to her for dear life.

"Just… just leave," Adelle said, panting. She spread her weight, leaning on a wall with one arm and the other on her lap. May was also panting, but she just stayed there, staring, her chest heaving. "What are you," Adelle asked as she straightened up and glared at May.

Maybe she'll just leave, she thought. She had led her to the inn where she was staying, but there was no way of her knowing that. If Adelle could only bore her into leaving, then she won't have to deal with this child any longer. Why the hell did she have to meet this girl?

"Hey, Adelle," she heard that echoing, childish voice. Alphonse, she thought with a shutter. Edward was standing next to him, eating something from a bowl, and still wearing his red coat. He didn't even look up at her. "Who is this?"

"Well, May, looks like you got your wish. The tin can is Alphonse, and the pipsqueak is Edward—the Fullmetal alchemist." Edward's hands stopped and held tightly onto the bowl, his eyes peering just above it to glare at Adelle. Alphonse could only repeat 'tin can' as if he were about to cry. "You happy now?"

"That's not Edward Elric," she said stubbornly. "He wouldn't be so short, I don't think someone as great as the Fullmetal alchemist would eat like him," she said.

Adelle started to crack up. "You're calling me short, you little ant?" Edward yelled, dropping his bowl and stomping to May, trying to tower as much as possible over her. "I'll have you know I am the Fullmetal alchemist!" he pulled out his pocket watch and just let it swing in front of her face. Adelle could almost see May's heart shatter.

"Brother, please," Al said, trying to hold Ed back. "You have to forgive my brother; he can be a little insensitive at times," he said with a nervous laugh. "What's your name?"

The girl actually blushed! She recovered quickly enough from her disillusion with Edward, that was for sure. "May—May Chang, and this is Xiao-Mei."

It was getting dark now. People began to light their houses and the streets. It became much more silent, and those still roaming the streets were either drunk or on their way home.

"Are you going to be okay walking home by yourself?" Al asked.

"Al, don't waste your time—"

"Yes, I'll be okay," she said. Her eyes seemed so big looking up at Al, and her ears didn't seem to listen to anyone else's but Al's. Adelle never believed in love at first sight, but this was just ridiculous. She turned and went inside, but someone grabbed her hand. She turned to see May again. "Thank you very much," she said.

Adelle smiled down at her. "I wish I could say 'no problem', but I did have fun," she said.

"Well, goodbye, maybe I'll see you all again," she bowed to Alphonse, her eyes lingering on him a while longer, and left, completely ignoring Edward.

"Stupid kid," he said when they were upstairs.

Adelle's smile hadn't faded. "No, I think she's sweet."