I thought I had put this chapter up already, but looks like I was wrong. Oops. Hope you like it, anyway...

"They left already?!" I screeched incredulously.

"Yep," Izumi replied. "You were asleep, and they headed for the train station about ten minutes ago."

"No way!" I grabbed the small bag of my belongings and bolted for the door, stopping for an instant to give the cat a farewell stroke. "Bye-bye, kitty."

"Selena?!" Izumi grabbed my arm. "Where are you going? And when did you get that bag?"

"Last night, I paid a visit to Ishmael's house," I explained quickly. "Mrs. Izumi, I think I know what I need to do next."

"Then you're leaving already?"

I nodded. She pursed her lips.

"Selena, where are you going to go? Isn't it a little soon to be leaving?"

"Well, I figured that Greed most likely isn't dead, and if anyone's alive, they'd have been taken away by the military, so the best place to search would be Central. And I've finally got my priorities straight. I want to go look for Greed. So I've got to go with Ed and Al."

She studied my face carefully, and then a tender smile spread across her features.

"You're just like those two. You've made up your mind, haven't you?"

I nodded resolutely.

"Well then, good luck, Selena. They're probably still at the station. Hurry and you can probably catch them."

"Thank you, Ms. Izumi." I hugged her. "I'll come back and see you again soon! Take care of the cat!"

She held me close for a moment, and I felt her slide something into my bag.

"Bye, Selena. Take care."

"Hey! Al, shorty!"

The two of them turned around to peer across the crowded platform, and surprise crossed their faces when they spotted me.

"Selena?"

I skidded to a halt in front of them, panting.

"You guys are too fast… Geez, would it kill you to wait up?"

"What are you talking abou—?" Ed started, and I held up a piece of paper in front of his face. He blinked at it.

"What's this?"

"A ticket."

"I can see that, but why do you have it?"

"Because I'm going to Rush Valley."

Pause.

"You're kidding, right?"

"Dead serious."

"What do you want there?"

"Nothing. I'm just following you guys, since you're going to Central City next."

"What?!" they both shouted. "Why do you want to go to Central?! Isn't teacher taking care of you?"

"That was before I could figure something else out."

"So what gives?"

"I figured something else out," I deadpanned. A train whistle blew. "Oh, hurry up. The train's going to leave without you."

"Wait a sec—!"

"Selena! Hold on!"

After a great mass of confusion, we seated ourselves and I delivered my explanation.

"So you're saying you think Greed's alive and in Central?" Al summed it up for me. I nodded.

"Yup. And now I'm tagging along with you guys 'cause you seem to attract trouble to no end."

"And mooching off of us," Ed added flatly. "You and Winry are going to get along great."

"Winry? She's your automail engineer, right?"

"Uh-huh."

I formed a diagram in my head.

Automail engineer=Metal and wires=Sharp tools.

I grinned.

"I don't like that look…"

"Oh, relax, shorty."

"Quit calling me shorty, little girl!"

"Quit calling me little girl, shorty!"

"Here we go," Al sighed, leaning against the window.

"Come to think of it," I remarked several swear words and irritated passengers later, "Mrs. Izumi put something in my bag before I left."

"Really?" Al leaned forward to see as I rummaged through the bag.

Inside I found something made out of black velvet with a little bow on one side.

"What is it?" Ed asked. I straightened it out and held it up.

"It's…"

"A hat!" Al finished for me. I stared at it for a few seconds and noticed that a slip of paper tucked into the hemming. Pulling it out, I unfolded and read the note.

Selena,

I've had this hat for a few years, but I've never used it. I thought you should have it, since it could be useful to hide your ears. I hope you like it.

-Izumi

I smiled and put on the hat. It fit snugly about my head and hid my ears like she said; the velvet was comfortable, and the color contrasted nicely with my hair, the ends of the satin bow made from a red ribbon hanging just slightly off the edge.

"I like it," I grinned. "How does it look?"

"It suits you," Al told me.

"Not bad. Now you don't need to wear the hood, right?"

"I guess not. That's going to take some getting used to."

I fell asleep during the train ride and woke up to the conductor's voice informing us that we'd arrived at our destination. Stretching, I followed the Elrics off the train, suitcase in hand. The station looked the same as the one in Dublith, but I noted a faint scent of oil on the breeze.

The smell was explained when we left the station and got out into the open city, where automail users filled the streets right and left. I gawked at the busy place for a while, taking in all the sights and sounds, childish excitement rising in my chest.

"This place is amazing!!!" I finally burst out, skipping a few steps ahead of Ed and Al. "It's so busy and crowded and huge!!!"

"Yeah… Great…"

Turning lightly on my heel, I noticed a heavy, reluctant atmosphere hanging over the older brother.

"What's with you?"

He let out a heavy sigh.

"Oh, man…I hope she's in a good mood today…"

I cocked my head to the side.

"Who?"

"Winry."

"Why?" At that question, he lifted his gaze from the ground to my face with an irritated expression.

"Because she's going to freaking kill me!" he snapped, waving his bedraggled arm at me. "She's a demon when I mess up my automail! And it's all Greed's fault!"

"Then you should've made the deal."

"And give him the satisfaction of beating me? I don't think so!"

"He beat the crap out of you anyway. If you could withstand a fight with him, why are you so freaked out about visiting your girlfriend?"

"She's not my girlfriend!" he roared, a little too quickly. "Besides, you don't know her…especially when she's mad…"

Ed shuddered, and Al suggested, "Maybe if we act like nothing's wrong and then show her, she won't be so angry."

"Hey, that's a good idea!" Ed responded hopefully. "Break it to her lightly, and she won't hit me! I knew I could count on you, Al!" Amused, I started to go after them as they took off at a faster pace, but with so many attractions I'd never seen before, who could blame me when I wandered off?

In the next chapter, Selena's adventures in wonderland! Stay tuned--*bricked*

Selena: False advertising is evil and depraved! Try it again and I'll shoot you!
Me: . Owie. Aren't you evil and depraved yourself?
Selena: No. I'm a smartass. You wrote the story, don't you know this?
Me: Stop pestering meeee.... *pouts*
Selena: *throws cat* Get back to work!
Me: AAH! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!! DX