Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters. I only am responsible for the (albeit poorly written and devised) plot.

Hey guys! Not sure if you read my AN in the last chapter, but if you haven't go do it now. I've been thinking of writing a sequel, and need to know if any of you actually would want to read that.

Just to clarify, Riza can do the snap-thing that Roy does without the gloves, because she's already got the whole flame-array tattooed on her back. The tattoo amplifies the power, and the only friction needed is her snapping. She's like Roy, only a lot more useful on rainy days.

Her own flames don't burn her. (She's not invincible, just a reminder if some of you are starting to think that. She was stabbed earlier in the series.)

This chapter sucks, just to let you know. Seriously, this chapter is pretty much my transition chapter.

And, because it is tradition, thank you to all those who favorited/followed/reviewed (especially if you reviewed):

Iryann

purpleswans

WhispersOfWings (Thank you SO much for all your awesome reviews!)

Please remember to tell me what you think: the opinions are welcomed (whether they're good or bad)

It was almost comical, the way the little vein in Roy's forehead was bulging.

Almost.

Roy's fingers were twitching, aching for revenge. Oh, how much pain and misery he'd cause this 'Peter' if he only had his gloves.

Havoc didn't have quite as funny a reaction.

"You... you what?" He asked, sinking to his knees. "Riza... Our friend... Is she..." Peter smirked, not even needing Havoc to finish the question.

"Oh, she's fine. Lacey, my baby sister, patched her right up."

Havoc spoke through gritted teeth. "And you and your sister," he said the word with obvious distaste. "Why would you do that? Why go through all the trouble of," he gulped. "stabbing her and then stitch her back together?"

"We only needed to injure her enough to make her defenseless. Couldn't have her dying on us, she'd be of no use to us then."

Roy stepped forward, and Maes made no move to stop him this time. He was only a few feet from the barrel of Peter's gun.

"And what exactly do you need Riza for? Why her?"

He glowered at Peter, loathing rising up in his throat at the smug expression he wore proudly.

"We need her skin."

Riza confidently strode down the hallways. Her chains rattled, and she practiced the motion as she walked the stone floors.

SNAP

A stream of fire shot from her fingertips. The dark walkway was illuminated by the fire's lift, only for a second. She giggled.

Actually giggled.

She'd never had the time to experiment with this power. She was cautious about this ability, even feared this part of herself. She hand't even realized what gift she'a been given until after Ishval.

By then, she had realized that fire was a danger in the hands of those who didn't know how to use it. She considered telling Roy... for a moment.

She already thought she was a monster. Riza didn't need his hatred and disgust on top of that.

The giggling ceased for a moment, and all that could be heard was the dragging noises her chains made, and the padding of her bare feet on the rough floor.

I have alchemy. She thought in awe. Fire, just like Roy. The reality of the situation crashed upon her in that moment. She hand't used this gift, not on purpose, in over half a decade!

And the last time I used it, it was to light a cooking fire! I ended up setting the whole kitchen on fire!

Then it dawned on her, for the first time in her military career.

Am I strong enough to do this?

Riza had never felt this way before. Not when it came to battle.

She'd always been sure of her abilities, but this was new territory now.

This wasn't about guns. It was about fire.

Her senses were on fire, she could feel the adrenaline pumping in her veins.

No time for that now. Riza made a half-hearted attempt at pushing her feelings aside. Peter first, worry later.

But, I don't think Lacey knew about the fire. She seemed... surprised. And if she didn't know, Peter might not either. She perked up at this thought.

And seemingly out of nowhere, she heard:

"We need her skin."

The voice was gruff, and most definitely male.

The next sound practically startled her out of the shackles she wore.

It was Maes.

"What on earth could you possibly want with her skin?!" His usually humor-filled voice was tainted with disgust.

That's a good question. What do they want from me, if not the fire?

"I want my mom." Riza blinked, inching closer to the doorway. Her back was pressed to the wall, pulling awkwardly at her shirt.

"What do mean, 'you want your mom?'" Riza's mouth dropped. Havoc.

"Yeah, that's a good question," the rest of the team chimed in.

Maria, Breda, Fuery? What are they doing here?

But the next voice broke her heart.

"It doesn't matter! Just leave her the hell alone!"

Roy.

Tears trickeld down her cheeks. It had only been a few days, not even a week, and she had missed him so much. Even through the anger, his voice was still as charming as usual.

"Simmer down, lover boy. "

Now Riza's heart was really broken.

Lover... Boy?

Sinking down to the floor, she buried her face in her knees.

So, I guess he found a queen.

"You're just an over-gorified Prince Charming who can't save his princess. A pathetic so-called 'hero' who's useless when it comes down to it," Peter sneered. Roy fell silent. So Peter had found a weakness. Egging on the Colonel usually had disastrous results.

"And then there's Riza. A stupid little girl who can't do anything, not without her guns. Totally helpless without her precious 'Colonel' to come and rescue her."

Great. Now even I think I sound pathetic.

Peter took a few steps, his heavy footsteps clunking as he moved farther away. Riza decided on taking a risk. She peeked over the side of the door, just for a moment, and whipped her head back.

Listening for a moment, she sighed in relief. No one had seen her.

Everyone seemed to be a good fifteen feet from the door, all circled around Peter. He held a gun, and it was somewhat aimed at Fuery.

Peter had stepped in close to Roy. He had a sinister expression, almost excited for what would come next.

He spoke to the Colonel, just loud enough for her to hear. "A pretty girl like that... I'll make sure to... enjoy her company next time I get to see her."

SMACK

SMACK

Roy's hand whipped out, striking the man's face.

"Don't," he snarled "Even think about touching her."

Peter smiled in response, and Maes yanked him back roughly.

"Roy, I hate it as much as you do, but-

BANG

"AHH!"

Roy visibly paled, and turned just enough to see Maria, who had stepped in front of Fuery to take the impending bullet, hiss in pain.

She hadn't been wearing her coat, and her upper arm was bleeding.

Peter lowered the gun, though it was obvious by his stance that he'd use it in a heartbeat. Roy rushed over, followed closely by Maes.

"Maria? Maria I'm sorry, I didn't- I mean, I thought-"

She winced, cradling her arm to her torso.

"It only grazed me. I'm fine," she assured him, smiling.

"But that asshole won't be soon," she added under her breath.

He bared his teeth, once again reminded of why they were here in the first place.

"Oh, and this is for earlier."

Roy didn't even turn before he was punched in the head. Maria gasped, and Maes pulled her into him, shielding her eyes

He kicked the Colonel in the stomach, his mouth twisting into a sinister grin. Roy made a small choking sound as another blow was delivered to his back.

"Touch him again, and you're gonna get burned," came a cool voice from behind them. Peter smirked.

Glancing over his shoulder, Peter smiled. Roy tensed up, knowing very well who it was without even looking up.

"Well hello there, Riza. Seems like you've come to join the party. "

His cocky expression faltered when he realized she was standing alone.

"Where's Lacey?" he stepped away from the Colonel, all focus was now on Riza. Each person seemed to be frozen in their spot, taking in her haggard appearance.

Roy sat up, coughing and wheezing. Snapping out of his stupor, Maes helped him up, patting his back as he struggled to take in oxygen.

When the room stopped spinning and he could breathe again, he looked up.

The air was knocked right out of his lungs.

Riza looked like... hell. She had two long cuts on either side of her face, each half healed over. She was dragging chains behind her, which were hanging from her wrists. She was standing at an odd angled, favoring her left side.

The clothes she wore were threadbare, a black t-shirt (much like the one she wore under her jacket) and dark cargo shorts.

But the most frightening part was the look on her face.

She was furious. Furious, scared and determined. Who knew one look could hold so much?

Wait.

Scared?

"I killed her," she deadpanned. He leapt forward, and his hands shook as he aimed the gun at her.

"No... NO! You're LYING TO ME!" He screamed. "YOU CAN'T HAVE KILLED HER! IT'S NOT POSSIBLE!"

She continued, as her eyes flickered to meet Maria's. And then looked at Roy.

"You shall burn for what you have inflicted upon my friends."

"YOU KILLED HER! MY BABY SISTER!"

"And you killed my friends." The others looked at each other in confusion. "The women you murdered. You tracked them down, looking for me. And you slaughtered them. Innocent girls. My friends." A singled tear fell from the corner of her eye.

"And I won't let you hurt any more people I care about."

"So you shall burn in hell."

He cackled, his grip on sanity clearly slipping. Waving the gun, he gestured to the corner, where their weapons had been kicked.

And atop the pile sat a pair of crumpled white gloves.

"Your Colonel can't save you if he can't burn me." Riza's eyes flickered to Roy's face. She winked, and he just kinda looked at her, uncomprehendingly.

She sighed, and nodded at Maria.

Maria crept toward the corner, as Peter began to maniacally laugh in Riza's face.

"I WILL GET HER BACK!" he rambled. He leaned in close, whispering in her ear. "With you, I shall rule the world."

Riza watched out of the corner of her eye as Maria triumphantly held up her prize, and soundlessly tossed it to Havoc. She couldn't aim with her wounded arm.

Peter turned around, hearing the cocking of a gun.

"What happened to being burned alive?" He questioned. Peter's hand discreetly moved behind his back, aiming at Maes.

"Still part of the plan," she assured him.

One second of silence.

"Maneuver 4!" she shouted, and the team sprung into action. Peter, confused and startled, fired shots off in every which direction.

Roy scurried over to Maria, and grabbed his gloves.

Meanwhile, Havoc and Maes had dove behind empty crates to avoid getting shot.

Then Peter was engulfed in flames. Bursts of fire were hitting him squarely in the chest, causing him to cry out in agony.

The fire was steadily growing. Engulfing his torso, his legs.

Maes laughed in relief. He stayed low, avoiding the sparks flying in the air.

"Hey Roy, nice shot!"He shouted over the cries of the burning man. Turning to Havoc, he clapped his shoulder, attempting to spread joy from the new turn of events.

Havoc was wide-eyed and slack-jawed. Maes shook him.

"Havoc? Jean? Hello? What's wrong?" Wordlessly, Havoc leaned back, showing the person crouched behind the crates next to him.

It was Roy.

Roy had a strange look on his face, almost like he'd been hit in the head with a frying pan. He held up his right hand, which held the gloves he had yet to put on.

"That wasn't me."

Riza was dancing. Sliding seamlessly from foot to foot, thrusting out her fist and a ball of fire with it.

She was radiant.

Her fingertips twisted the fire around her, and she let it flicker in her hands.

She extinguished the flames, only to raise them higher a moment later. She was toying with him. Making him sweat.

She would make him pay.

Riza wasn't typically this ruthless, but killing her playmates and dragging her friends into this mess, that was crossing the line.

And somehow Roy had ended up tangled up in all this.

She snapped again, sending a stream of fire, torching Peter's clothes.

Oh, yeah. This is payback.

Roy stood, not caring about the immense heat radiating off Peter.

"What the hell is going on?" Havoc grunted as he lifted himself to his feet.

All he could feel was the heat on his skin, and all he could see was the fire as it consumed Peter.

The flames died down, and he collapsed. He was breathing heavily, and his skin was badly burned.

And blazing behind him, in all her glory, stood Riza.

Blazing meaning she was on fire. Her amber eyes seemed to be glowing, and her golden hair settled just under her shoulders.

Fire was being expelled from every one of her limbs, and the orange made her skin glow.

She snapped, and to their utter surprise, her bare hands did the very same thing as Roy's gloves.

They created a burning whip, and it lashed out and struck Peter's back.

Roy's eyes almost popped out of her head.

Peter was on his knees, laughing crazily.

"You know what the best part is?" he giggled, hiccuping as he did. "I enjoyed every minute of it. Those women screamed, you know. Begged and pleaded. They were so helpless, unable to-"

BANG

Peter's mouth formed an 'o' as he fell to the floor, unmoving.

Riza's eyes widened in surprise, as she turned to see Fuery lowering a gun.

Shock was written all over her face, just before the flames died and she crumpled to the floor.

"RIZA!"

Hey... Hope you guys liked this, I had a pretty hard time writing it. (That's why it totally sucked, by the way.)

Hope you liked this chapter, and I promise to update soon!

Please Review and tell me what you think of my idea,

-Pyro