Ed was the first to burst through the door.
"General...where's Bitty?" He looked up from his paperwork.
"What? Oh, she left not long ago."
"Where did she go?"
"I don't know. Why, what's happened?"
"Explain later. Where's Bitty?"
"Fullmetal?"
"Well you're no help." They ran from the room, still frantically searching. Al noticed that Hughes was digging around in his file cabinet.
"Brother! I think I know where she is." He ran into Hughes' office.
"Hughes, where's Bitty?" He pulled his nose out of his filing cabinet.
"Oh, Hiya Al! She's just in the store room. Why?" He seemed concerned.
"Meet in the general's office. We need to tell you all something."
"Alphonse..."
"Just go!" He nodded and ran. Al ran into the store room. Bitty was digging through a filing case. He grabbed her hand and dragged her back towards Mustangs office.
"Al, I haven't found the file on Tucker yet."
"Don't matter. Ed's called an emergency meeting with the General so we have to go."
"Okay..."
"You'll understand once we get there."
When Al and Bitty entered the general's office, Ed, Heather, Hughes, Hawkeye and Mustang were sitting in a semi-circular pattern in front of Roy's desk. Roy stood up, taking the initiative for once.
"Now that we're all here, Ed will finally explain to us what's going on." Ed started to explain the situation. The horror was clearly present on everyone's eyes. Hughes was sitting there hugging a picture of his daughter. He stood up.
"You don't think they'd go after my little Elicia? Do you?" No one moved. He ran from the room, most probably to call Gracia. Ed got up and went over to the window.
"We should probably go soon, if we're gonna stop them before too much else happens." All three nodded. Roy turned to Ed.
"Good luck." He held his hand out, a gesture for Ed to shake it. Ed just hit his hand away.
"Don't need it, Mustang. We always win." He laughed.
"You're still so immature."
"Al, Bitty, Ed and Heather were all escorted out by Hawkeye. She turned and smiled.
"Come back in one piece." They all nodded. They started to walk down the street. There was a faint yelling sound. Bitty turned around.
"HEY! WOULD YOU GUYS WAIT UP!" Jessie ran up behind them.
"You don't seriously think that I'm just gonna sit and wait, do ya?" Bitty chuckled.
"Guess not. Typical has-to-be-involved Jessie. You haven't changed at all." She laughed.
"Let's go save my sister!"
"Don't forget my brother!"
"Oh yeah. Sorry Heather." There were more approaching footsteps. It was Morgie. He was in a military uniform. Bitty fell to the ground laughing. He looked at her.
"What?"
"The military uniform looks like a dress on you!"
"Shut up!"
"Why should I?"
"Grrr..." Al laughed.
"Well we better get going, the train leaves in 10 minutes!" Ed turned to him.
"WHAT? THE STATION'S ON THE OTHER SIDE OF TOWN!" Bitty ran ahead.
"Then let's get going guys! We can't miss this train or we'll have to wait until tomorrow!" She grabbed Al's hand as all of them ran through Central to the station. They arrived just as the train pulled up. They jumped on and they were once again on their way.
The train ride was quiet for most of the night. Al and Bitty were snuggled up asleep. Jessie was muttering something about Russell in her sleep. Heather was lying on Ed's lap, sleeping peacefully. He was stroking her hair. He and Morgie were not very tired. Morgie looked over to Ed.
"So..." Ed looked up. Morgie was looking over at his sister. Ed laughed.
"What's up?"
"Al looks like a nice guy." Ed laughed.
"He is. Believe me. I know him better than anyone else. I don't think you need to worry about Bitty. He won't hurt her." Morgie still looked at the two of them. They looked so peaceful.
"I hope you're right Ed, I just don't want her getting hurt again. I can't imagine what the last few years have been like." He noticed a glistering on her wrist. Ed noticed him staring.
"She's been through a lot more than you know of. You should ask her about it." He was still staring at her arm.
"Is that..." Ed simply nodded. His face fell into his hands.
"How? How did it happen?"
"I think you should ask her. It's not my place to say."
"You know Ed, I'm happy they found you two. You're decent and caring guys."
"Cut the dribble." They both laughed.
"Thank you" was all he said before gazing back out the window.
The small convoy of people all exited the train at Dublith. The sun was high in the sky. It was a perfect day. Ed stretched his arms out.
"It's so good to be off that train." He started stretching his leg. Al had Bitty on his back, she didn't want to wake up. Heather was talking to Jessie about something. Morgie noticed they were slowly edging away from the group. He walked over to Ed.
"Hey Ed, has Heather mentioned anything out of the ordinary." Ed looked up.
"No, why?" Morgie pointed over to the two girls. Ed speculated for a few seconds before a glint came into his eye.
"I have an idea. Morgie, how much are you against eavesdropping?" His brow raised.
"They'd see us." Ed smirked.
"Who says they would see us? We don't even have to move." He clapped his hands and there was a flash of blue. Morgie looked over under the girls and saw a small horn-like opening. There was also an opening near them. They could hear what the girls were saying.
"...in Canama." Jessie sounded frustrated.
"We don't have time for stop-offs. I thought you were desperate to save your sister?"
"I am, but I need to see Russell!" She was clearly going on a rampage.
"No! We are going straight to wherever it is we're going!" Ed decided it was time to interject before someone hit someone else. He walked over holding a map.
"Heather! Jessie! I found something!" Both girls looked over. You could almost see the steam coming out of Jessie's ears. He flinched back.
"What do you want Edward?" She was practically growling. He handed her the map, grabbed Heather's hand and ran off. Jessie studied the map before realising that the two were gone. She ripped the map in half and stormed after them. Bitty finally woke up to the sound of Jessie screaming and chasing Heather and Ed.
"What's up with Jess?" She watched as the somewhat comedy chase continued.
"She wants to see Russell but Ed and Heather won't go off course."
"I don't blame him." Morgie wandered over, trying to stay out of Jessie's way.
"Remind me to never make her angry." They laughed. As they laughed, Al felt someone come up behind him. He slowly turned around before trying to run. He was on the ground within seconds. Bitty and Morgie looked at the strange woman with horrified expressions. The sound of Al's impact had also stopped the others from fighting. Jessie and Heather were standing there. Heather went looking for Ed's hand. When she couldn't find it, she turned and saw him running away. The woman started laughing in a demonic way. She looked evil. Al was trying to quietly crawl away, but the woman realised and stood on his back. They heard a faint scream and saw Ed being dragged back by a rather large man. The two boys lay there rolled up in balls. Jessie's anger suddenly disappeared as she began rolling on the ground laughing her head off.
"You two are scared of an old lady!" She continued to laugh. The 'old lady' did not like Jessie's referral. Jessie suddenly found herself on the ground. Ed finally spoke.
"W-what are you doing h-here Teacher?" She stared at him.
"I heard that you two were coming here. And I heard you got Al's body back. I want to know how." Al was mortified.
"Why do you want to know that?" She gave him a mournful expression.
"I need my organs back Ed. I'm dying without them. You know that." Heather, Bitty, Al, Jessie and Morgie all started to inch away to give them a moment to discuss the events of the last few years . Heather stared at the woman.
"Hey Al, who is that? And why does she say she has no organs?" Al sighed and looked down.
"That's Izumi Curtis. She's our alchemy teacher. She taught us almost everything we know."
"And the fact that she has no organs?" He looked over in Izumi's general direction.
"Years ago, teacher had a baby, but it was a still birth. The baby never took a breath. Teacher couldn't bear it, so she attempted human transmutation, just as Ed and I did. Like the gate took our limbs, it took some of her organs. The doctors said that she wouldn't live, but she's been fighting. By the looks of it, her condition has gotten worse since we last saw her..." It was clear to them all that the two brothers cared for the woman deeply. Bitty pulled Al into a comforting embrace.
"It's ok Al. I'm sure Izumi will be fine." They heard a loud coughing noise. Izumi's hand was covered in blood. Sig had his arm over her shoulder. Al ran over to her.
"Teacher!" Ed stopped him.
"She's ok Al." He struggled against his brother's hold, with no success.
"But Ed, she's coughing up blood again! We have to get her to a doctor!" Ed simply shook his head.
"Al, listen to me. She's in a bad way. Her condition has gotten worse, she can barely stand. Nothing can help her now, unless she gets her organs back. She came to say goodbye..." Ed stared blankly at the ground. Al was struggling against his grip again. He wanted nothing more than to help his mentor. Bitty and Heather were trying to come over too, but Morgie stopped them. They just stared as Al collapsed to the ground, staring at Izumi with tear-filled eyes. She looked over to him and smiled.
"It's ok Al, I'm sure we'll meet again, somewhere." The tears started piling over then. Ed held him back and looked over at Sig.
"Where are you headed now?"
"We are going to Central. There is an alchemy physician who might be able help. But he would like us to stay with him. Our train will be here soon." Ed nodded.
"So I guess this is goodbye for now." He nodded. Al escaped from Ed's grip and crawled over to Izumi. She looked at him with a caring look.
"We will see you again Teacher?" It was more of a question than a statement. She pulled him into a hug. He knew she wasn't going to answer him. They sat there for a while. The boys were fully aware that this could be the last time they see the woman who made them what they are today. She pulled back, than Sig helped her up. They waved as they walked down the road to the train station. Ed waved, but Al just stood there, staring blankly at them. Bitty walked over to him then. He fell to his knees.
"She's gone forever, isn't she?" Bitty rubbed his shoulder.
"I doubt it Al. She's a strong woman, she'll be back. Now come on, we have to go before it gets too late." She helped him up. Everyone else was waiting silently. Al tried to compose himself.
"Alright, let's go! We're gonna save these kids, for Teacher!" Ed smiled at his brother's determination. If anything could make Al want something more, it would be that someone else wanted it too. They all made their way to the other side of town. There was a small path that headed outside of town. Heather examined the scenery. All she saw was a large warehouse building.
"Where are we going? All that's there is a warehouse." Ed pointed to it.
"If he's still where he was before, then Tucker's secret lab is in that building. Right Al?" Ed turned and looked at his brother. Al was just staring at him blankly.
"I don't remember this building." Ed's expression changed.
"What do you mean?" Al examined the landscape in front of him.
"Now I think about it, I don't remember ever going into Tucker's lab." Ed turned to face his brother.
"How can you not remember? You used the philosopher's stone and I had to come and save you..." You could almost hear the click in Ed's head.
"Maybe you don't remember using the stone. That would make sense." Al shrugged. Ed sighed.
"Anyway, let's go. Everyone be prepared. If he's there, he will have several chimera's, so stay on your guard." Everyone tensed as they prepared for what could be ahead of them.