Smoke rose over the town of Lior. The streets were in turmoil, with the people fighting fiercely amongst themselves.

"You're just a mindless fool!"

"Down with the heathens!"

The followers of Leto clashed with their unbelieving neighbors, the two sides no longer able to resolve the dispute peacefully. The military was trying to get things under control, but without much success.

Towards the edge of town, a series of apartments had been converted into a makeshift hospital, and was for the moment safe from the riots.

Inside, Rose tended to several of those injured in the fighting, including many children.

A little boy looked up at Rose. "Shouldn't we be out there helping?"

Rose shook her head. "What for? It's best if we just stay here for now."

Rose patted the child's hand softly, then walked back toward the front of the room.

She smiled slightly at a couple of the soldiers there. "Thank you for protecting us. If you hadn't used your alchemy to seal off the back exit…"

The State alchemist shook his head. "It's nothing. I mean, technically we should be out there, but I think it's best if we just protect the civilians who have taken refuge here. Our comrades are trying to get the riots under control, but it looks like there's not much we can do except wait it out."

Rose nodded grimly. She looked out the window, staring sadly at the view of the turmoiled Lior.

It's like the Eastern Rebellion all over again. Except somehow worse.

At the temple of Leto, Lust looked over the ensuing chaos from one of the balconies.

She smiled grimly. "Human foolishness never ceases to amaze me. Wouldn't you agree, Gluttony?"

Gluttony nodded. "Foolish, foolish!"

"Fools indeed. Sad, but true."

Lust and Gluttony turned around to see Cornello emerging from the stairway.

"Well well, if it isn't the father." Lust remarked. "Sorry to have to put you through all of this trouble."

Cornello shrugged. "As soon as we have everything handled here, I have my own responsibilities I need to get back to."

Lust looked back over the riots. "The Fullmetal boy's interference was irritating, but at least we were able to make it work in our favor. Looks like we'll finish up ahead of schedule."

Cornello grinned evilly. "Manipulate a little information, spout some empty rhetoric to the believers, and that's all it took to get this. Humans are such simple creatures."

Lust looked over the city with a grim expression. "Bloodshed gives way to more bloodshed, hatred breeds more hatred, until all of the violence soaks into the land, carving rivers of blood. And no matter how many times it happens, they never learn. The human race is made up of violent, miserable fools."

Cornello chuckled. "Who seem more than willing to play into our hands."

Lust smiled softly. "By the way Envy, could you lose the old man costume? It's rather unattractive."

"Come on, I was just staying in character. But if you insist."

Red alchemic light coursed through Cornello's body, and the old preacher melted away to reveal a younger, androgynous form.

Lust raised an eyebrow. "That form again? You sure do like to make yourself look young."

Envy shrugged. "Might as well, seeing as how I don't remember what I originally looked like. And my real form isn't exactly practical or attractive."

"A...a monster!"

Lust, Gluttony, and Envy turned around to see one of Cornello's subordinates staring at them with a look of horror.

"What's going on here?! What have you done? What have you done with the real Father Cornello?!"

Envy grinned. "Why don't we just tell him the truth, that the real Father Cornello's been gone for a while now."

Gluttony nodded. "Uh huh, I ate him up. Can I eat him too?"

Envy shrugged. "Sure, go ahead."

Gluttony pounced, and tore into his meal.

Envy turned back to Lust. "Oh, did you hear the news? Apparently the killer who's been targeting State Alchemists is in East City."

Lust frowned. "Yes, whoever they are, they're proving to be quite a nuisance. If they aren't caught soon, we may have to deal with them ourselves."

She tilted her head. "East City, isn't that where the Flame Colonel is currently stationed?"

Envy nodded. "Yeah, and I guess the Fullmetal pipsqueak and his brother are there as well."

"Is that so? As furious as I am that he interfered with our work here, we can't very well let him die. Both he and his brother are important sacrifices."

Envy nodded. "We're up to four sacrifices, I believe. The two Elric brothers, who the military is keeping an eye on. Then there's Izumi Curtis, who's still in Dublith according to our latest intel."

His expression darkened. "And of course there's Hohenheim. Have we received any more information about his whereabouts?"

Lust shook her head. "No, I'm afraid he's remained quite elusive. But Father is certain he'll show himself eventually."

Envy barred his teeth. "I look forward to that day. I've got a score to settle with that bastard."

Envy and Lust fell into silence as they stared over the chaos in Lior, while Gluttony licked his hands clean.

Ed and Al stood outside of Hawkeye's office.

Ed reached up to knock on the door, but before he could it opened.

Hawkeye looked at the two brothers in surprise.

"What's the matter, you two? You're up awfully early."

Ed looked down. "We need to know...what's going to happen to Tucker and Nina?

Hawkeye's eyes widened briefly, and her expression became grim. "Mr. Tucker was scheduled to be stripped of his certification and stand trial for what he did to Nina. But...they're both dead."

Ed and Al stared at her in shock.

"Dead?" Al repeated.

Hawkeye nodded, and began walking down the hall. "You'll find out anyways, so I might as well tell you. They've been murdered."

Ed began jogging after her. "They...how? By who?"

"We don't know." Hawkeye replied. "I was just heading over to the scene right now."

"We're coming with you." Alphonse stated.

"No." She said firmly.

"Why not?!" Ed demanded.

She stared seriously at the two brothers. "You don't need to see this."

She walked away, leaving the brothers feeling even more miserable.

A short while later she arrived at the scene, with Mustang arriving at around the same time.

Mustang walked toward the scene. He noticed Havoc and several other officers kneeling next to a body covered by a sheet.

He stood next to Havoc. "What's the situation?"

Havoc looked grimly up at his boss. "It's definitely the same killer as before. It appears he used his alchemy to break into the house, and then proceeded to kill Tucker and the chimera. The guards tried to stop him on his way out, but he killed all of the ones who got in his way."

Mustang grimaced. "Did any of them manage to get away?"

"Yes, one of them did. All he could tell us was that the man had a large scar on his forehead."

"Is that so." Mustang pondered. "We've heard similar reports from other witnesses. I suppose we might as well call him Scar until we can find out his real identity."

Mustang gestured toward the body. "Is this one of the guards?"

Havoc sighed. "It's Basque Grand."

Mustang gasped. "The Brigadier General? But he was a master at weapons transmutation!"

"Which means that whoever this person is, they're extremely dangerous."

Mustang and Havoc turned toward Hawkeye.

Hawkeye looked seriously at Mustang. "You should increase your escort and lay low for a while, just as a precaution."

Havoc nodded. "She's right. Besides, you're the only State Alchemist of note in this area, right?"

Mustang's eyes widened, and Hawkeye gasped. Havoc groaned, realizing his mistake.

Mustang turned sharply toward Hawkeye. "Do you know where the Elric brothers are?"

Hawkeye shook her head. "They were at the command center when I left, but they're probably already gone."

Mustang looked anxious. "Damn it. We need to find them before they run into the killer."

The two Elric brothers were sitting in front of a memorial near the edge of the city. The rain was coming down steadily, but the boys had a melancholy air about them and didn't seem to notice.

Ed looked at the ground. "I've been thinking about this for a long time. We put all our trust in alchemy, but in the end, what is it?"

He closed his eyes. "Alchemy is the science of understanding the flow of matter and its laws. The process of comprehension, deconstruction, and reconstruction. The world flows too. It must also follow laws. Everything circulates, even death is a part of that circulation. You must accept that flow."

He smiled grimly. "Teacher sure drummed that into our heads, didn't she? I thought I understood it, but I didn't understand anything. Mom proves that."

He looked up at the cloudy sky. "Now here I am again, trying desperately to figure out a way to do the impossible. I'm such a hopeless idiot. All this time, and I haven't grown up one bit. I thought maybe the rain would wash away some of this gloom that's following me. But right now, every drop that hits my face is even more depressing."

Al looked up at the sky as well. "I don't even get that much. Without a body, I can't feel the rain hitting my face. That's something I miss all the time. I want to get my body back soon, brother. I just want to be human again. Even if it means going against the flow of the world and trying to do the impossible."

Ed and Al looked back down to earth, and were surprised to see a man standing in front of them.

The man began walking toward them. "You, boy, you're the Fullmetal Alchemist Edward Elric, correct?"

Ed nodded absently. "Yeah, that's me. Why do you ask?"

The man raised his hand up. "Prepare to receive judgment."

Al stood up. "Brother!"

Realizing the man's murderous intent, Ed snapped out of his gloom and dodged to the side.

The man's hand hit the memorial instead, and the memorial shattered.

Ed looked at the man in alarm. "What the hell is going on here?!"

The man turned back toward the two brothers.

Ed turned away. "Let's go Al! Run for it!"

The two brothers took off into the streets, but the man remained in hot pursuit.

Ed looked over his shoulder in alarm.

Damn it, what the hell is this guy's problem? When have I ever done anything to make any enemies? Okay, stupid question, but there's no reason someone should be trying to kill me!

The brothers rounded into an alley, hoping to shake their pursuer, but the man touched the side of the building, causing a large amount of rubble to collapse and block their path.

Ed and Al turned around warily at the man.

"Who are you?" Ed demanded. "Why are you after us?"

The man looked grimly back at him. "As long as there are 'creators' like you in this world, there must also be destroyers."

Ed clapped his hands together. "Then it looks like we're going to have to fight."

Ed transformed a nearby pipe into a dagger, while Al got into a fighting stance.

The man smiled slightly. "Gutsy one, aren't you?"

Ed and Al rushed toward him.

"But…"

He dodge their attacks, and touched Al's side, destroying a large portion of the armor.

"Too slow."

"Al!" Ed screamed.

The man's eyes widened.

There's nothing inside! So when he said he wanted to be human again...

Ed ran at the man. "You bastard!"

The man quickly reacted, and grabbed Ed's right arm.

Ed was sent flying back, his sleeve torn, revealing the automail.

"Ah! Damn it!"

The man looked at Ed curiously. "An automail arm. That explains why my attack didn't do the damage I expected."

Ed clapped his hands together and changed his arm into a blade.

"Brother, don't!" Al cried. "Just run away!"

"You idiot! I'm not going to leave you behind, Al!"

The man looked carefully at the blade. "You press your hands together to make a ring, and then you perform a transmutation. Now I see."

Ed ran at the man again, determined to protect his brother, but the man easily evaded his attack and grabbed Ed's right arm.

"I will have to start by destroying this abhorrent right arm of yours."

The arm shattered, and Ed stumbled back, now defenseless.

"Brother!" Al screamed.

The man stood grimly over Ed. "Now you will not be able to use your heretic's alchemy."

Ed tried to stand up, but the lack of an arm threw him off balance, and he collapsed to the ground.

The man walked toward Ed. "I will give you a moment to pray to God."

"Brother!" Al called frantically. "Run away! Brother!"

Ed crouched on the ground. "Unfortunately, there isn't any god I'd like to pray to."

He looked up at the man. "Tell me, am I the only one you're trying to kill today? Or are you going after my brother Al, too?"

The man glanced back at Al. "If he interferes, I will eliminate him. But, Fullmetal Alchemist, you are the only one who's receiving judgement today."

Ed's expression became resigned. "Okay. In that case, I want your word. Promise me you won't hurt my brother!"

Al's head jerked in shock. "Brother...!"

The man nodded. "I will keep that promise."

He reached forward, while Ed remained still.

Al began to panic. "No, brother, what are you trying to do? What are you thinking? Run! Get up and run! Stop! Don't touch him! No! No, you can't! Stop it!"

But just before the man touched Ed's face, a gunshot ripped through the air.

"That's enough!"

Ed, Al, and the man turned to the side to see Mustang, Hawkeye, and Havoc standing a few yards away. Hawkeye was holding her gun in the air, apparently having fired a warning shot into the sky.

Mustang looked seriously at the man. "You won't be killing anyone else today, Scar. I'm taking you into custody, where you will answer for the murders of at least ten state alchemists."

Scar stood up and stepped away from Ed. "Alchemists alter things from their natural form, perverting them into something else, something grotesque. They profane God, the true creator of all things. As an agent of God, I am here to hand down his judgement. If you interfere, I will eliminate you as well."

Mustang raised an eyebrow. "Oh, is that right?"

He stepped forward, brandishing one of his gloves. Hawkeye grabbed his shoulder before he got too far.

"Colonel Mustang, sir!"

Scar narrowed his eyes. "Colonel Mustang...so this is the Flame Alchemist."

Mustang looked sharply at his subordinate. "What is it, lieutenant?"

She looked at him sternly. "You know as well as I do you're useless on rainy days."

She pointed her gun at Scar. "Please stay back."

"Oh yeah, I forgot." Havoc said. "It's kind of hard to get a spark going when it's raining, huh?"

Mustang bowed his head dejectedly.

Scar smiled. "It is fortunate that you can't create your blasphemous flames, State Alchemist."

He brandished his hand. "For I will destroy all who interfere with my mission, right here and now!"

"I'd like to see you try it!"

Scar turned around, and hastily jumped out of the way as a large fist crushed the ground where he had just been standing.

The newcomer looked at Scar with an impressed look. "You have to be quick to avoid my fist. Not bad, not bad at all. You said you were going to destroy us all.

He raised his arms. "In that case, why don't you start by defeating me? We'll see how you fare against the Strong Arm Alchemist, Alex Louis Armstrong!"

Scar flexed his fingers. "Yet another State Alchemist. God is putting them in my path for me."

As Scar and Armstrong began to fight, Havoc went to Ed to make sure he was all right.

Ed looked at Scar carefully. "Lieutenant, who is he?"

Havoc looked toward Scar with a dark expression. "That's the same man who murdered Mr. Tucker and his daughter."

Ed turned sharply toward Havoc. "It's him?"

He looked at Scar with disgust. "What did he use to kill them?"

"Some kind of destructive alchemy." Havoc replied. "Which seems odd, considering how opposed to alchemy he seems."

Ed thought for a moment, before his eyes widened. "That's it! The stages of the transmutation process are comprehension, deconstruction, and reconstruction. This guy must just stop at the deconstruction phase."

Havoc tilted his head, while still keeping an eye on Scar and Armstrong. "But if Scar is an alchemist, doesn't that mean he's strayed from whatever his 'ways of god' are too?"

Ed shook his head. "He said something about needing to have destroyers wherever there are creators. Since he stops at the deconstruction phase, he technically isn't performing alchemy, while still using it as a weapon to carry out 'God's justice' or whatever. Saved by a loophole."

Mustang looked carefully at the fight, clearly annoyed that he couldn't help. "That could be correct, but what would be his reasons for only targeting alchemists with state certification?"

Seeing Armstrong beginning to lose the edge against Scar, Hawkeye took an opening and opened fire on Scar. She was too slow, however, and the bullet merely grazed his face, knocking off his glasses.

Upon seeing his red eyes, everyone else froze in shock.

"Red eyes, and brown skin…" Armstrong said.

Mustang gasped. "Of course! He's an Ishvalan!"

Scar surveyed the street, noticing more officers arriving. "Perhaps there are too many…"

Mustang stepped forward. "You might as well give up, Scar. You're not getting away."

Scar pressed his hand into the ground, and a cloud of dust erupted. When it cleared, they could see a large hole in the street, and Scar was nowhere to be seen.

Havoc looked into the hole grimly. "Bastard is in the sewers."

"Stay put." Mustang said.

Havoc shrugged. "Sure, you don't have to tell me twice."

Mustang turned toward Armstrong. "Sorry Armstrong, but thank you for buying us enough time to surround him."

Armstrong shook his head. "I was hardly buying time. It was all I could do to keep myself from being killed."

Hughes popped up. "Oh! Is it over now?"

Armstrong glared at Hughes. "Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, where have you been this whole time?"

"I thought it best to lay low." He replied.

Mustang looked annoyed. "You didn't think about maybe backing us up?!"

"Of course not! A person like me shouldn't get dragged into a freak show with you pack of pseudo-humans! It's bad for my health!"

He turned toward his subordinates. "Don't just stand there! We've got things to do! Deploy troops! Circulate his description!"

With the fight over, Ed came back to his senses. "Oh no. Alphonse!"

He ran over to where Al was lying in pieces. "Alphonse! Al! Talk to me! Are you all right?"

Armstrong looked curiously at the two brothers. "That suit of armor is Elric's younger brother, is it?"

Havoc shook his head. "There's got to be a really long story behind this one."

"Come on, Al!" Ed said frantically. "Al, do you hear me?"

Al abruptly punched his brother, who cried out more in surprise than in pain.

"Why didn't you run away when I told you to?!" Al yelled. "What kind of idiot are you?!"

"No way!" Ed retorted. "I'm not just going to run away and leave you behind!"

Al punched him again. "Which is exactly why you're an idiot!"

Ed rubbed his face. "Why do you keep punching me like that for? If I'd run away, you could've been killed, you know that?!"

"And maybe I wouldn't have been! Making the decision to die is something only an idiot does!"

"Hey, easy on the idiot stuff! I'm still your older brother, got it?!"

"I'll say it all I want to!"

Ed looked at his brother in surprise.

"Survival is the only way, Ed. Live on, learn more about alchemy. You could find a way to get our bodies back, and help people like Nina. You can't do that by dying! I won't allow you to abandon the possibility of hope and choose a meaningless death!"

Al's right arm fell to the ground with a loud clunk. "Oh, great! And now my arm's come off because my brother's a big, fat idiot!"

Ed chuckled, looking at his stump. "We're really falling apart, aren't we, brother? We look like we belong in a junkyard."

"But we're still alive." Al said earnestly.

Ed nodded, a small smile on his face.

Author's Note: It may seem like I ended this chapter abruptly, but I have my reasons, which will hopefully become clear next week.

This particular chapter is very similar to Brotherhood, the only differences being a few tweaks here and there, and a fair amount of abbreviating. I did this partly because I don't want to drag on for too long with stuff people already know about from the show (though I still probably am doing that a bit), but mainly because action scenes just aren't as interesting in written form as they are in a visual medium like anime.