Amaya: Alright... *sniffles* this is the last chapter we have written for this story. And I'm not too sure if we'll ever try to finish it... :( But for right now, I'll just say it's going to be put on a hiatus. You may not see this story have chapters written for it in the future, but we will write more! I promise! :D Be on the lookout! But, for now, enjoy Hazuki's last chapter of the story. :)

Disclaimer: We do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chapter Thirteen: Carter and a Bitter Warped Memory

I never realized how much of my strength and energy I had wasted until Princess took over walking for me. My head would drop, then I'd have to look up at the sky to shock my face with cold water, trying to wake myself up. Ed would occasionally glance back at me, whether it was to make sure I was okay or still alive, I didn't know. To tell you the truth, Princess was steering herself, following the four people in front of us.

"Okay, we're here," Carter announced.

I looked up, not even knowing where the quartet was taking me until I saw it. A cozy little cabin was in front of me, nestled in between some trees and other random vegetation. Though it appeared to be empty, Carter went to the front door and unlocked it, motioning for all of us to come inside. Princess found a halfway dry place under a thick canopy and waited there, neighing before we entered the house.

Carter lit a fire in the hearth, instantly brightening the room and slowly warming it. I removed my shoes by the door while pulling Ed's jacket further over my arms. My clothes were completely drenched; I began to feel bad about having to sit on Carter's furniture wet. Katherine was already in the chair closest to the fire, her back to it. The other spot would be absolutely heavenly for a soaked teenage girl: the end seat on the couch that was right next to the fireplace. I hurried over and took the opportunity, stealing the perfect seat before anyone else could.

Heat. My new best friend. I aimed my palms towards the scarlet flames, focusing on every single crackle and pop. I sighed, in a temporary state of comfort.

"So, did I tell you that Katherine and I are engaged?" Carter began.

"WHAT?" both Katherine and Al shouted, though Al's voice wasn't quite as angry and loud as Katherine's.

I giggled lightly. "Tell me, when is the wedding?"

"DON'T ENCOURAGE HIM!" Katherine barked. "CARTER, I'M NOT MARRYING YOU, I'M NOT IN LOVE WITH YOU, SO SHUT IT."

Al seemed to regain his composure after hearing this bit of reassurance, leaning back slightly in his chair.

I slid Ed's jacket away from my body and draped it across the arm of the couch, hoping that the heat would quickly dry it. My hair was also pulled over to the left side of my neck, my hopes to rid myself of being damp very evident.

"So, how did a couple of State Alchemists end up with our favorite dramatic diva?" Carter asked.

No one really spoke, but Katherine was muttering under her breath. "I needed to find her," I finally answered.

"What for? A pretty jewel catch your eye?"

"No. I'm a State Alchemist. That should be an explanation in and of itself." I ran my fingers through my darker locks, mixing the dried hair with the wet.

"How much does one have to steal before you go after them?" Carter questioned.

"A decent amount," I replied.

"Good, so I'm not on your radar then!" he happily said, winking at me.

I blinked a few times at the gesture. With a sigh, I shook my head. Was he always this cheerful? I was very surprised that Katherine hadn't shot him yet. Surely someone of her…more morose standing couldn't get along with someone like Carter…could she?

"Let me get something straight," Carter began. He tapped his finger against his chin. "You're Dahlia's sister, right?"

"…yes," I answered quietly.

"Wait a second! You were about to kill each other," Carter whispered. "Good thing we stepped in…"

"I wanted to finish what I started, not be interrupted. I was doing just fine on my own."

Carter turned to Katherine. "Is she always this proud?"

"I'm afraid so," she said.

"Hey!" I could almost see my own eyebrow twitching in annoyance. "Look, kid, what I do with my own sister is between me and her."

"Kid? KID?" Carter gave me a wide eyed look. "I'll have you know that I'm the oldest person in here!"

"Not by much," I mumbled.

"What was that?"

"Nothing."

"So, since I am the oldest, it gives me the privilege to attack any one of you at any random moment," he declared.

I rolled my eyes, the need for sleep finally setting in. My energy was being replenished, and keeping my eyes open only used more of it. I pulled my knees onto the couch and rested my head on Ed's shoulder. I could've sworn that Carter was snickering at my movement, but I couldn't tell through my closed eyes.

Two sweet, carefree amber eyes watched me. "C'mon, Alexa! You promised!"

"Alright, alright!" I said. "Goodness, child!"

"Come on! I wanna play!"

"Okay, give me a minute," I replied, grabbing a basket to pick the fruit that grew in the wild. "Don't forget that we have to get the blackberries for Mother."

"I won't!" she cheered, spinning in circles as she waited for me to come. When I finally closed the back door behind me, she rolled her eyes with a smile. "Man, Alexa, you take too long."

"Oh, really?" I held the basket tightly as I began to chase after her in our backyard. We giggled as I finally caught her, dropping the basket to scoop her up and twirl her around. When I put her down, we fell back on the grass, admiring the beautiful blue sky.

"Hey, Alexa?"

"Hmm?"

"What would you do if I told you that you're the best sister in the whole wide world?"

I leaned on my elbow, looking over at her. "I'd say that you're the best little sister ever, Dana!"

"Yay!" she happily chirped.

We relaxed in the sunlight for about an hour, working on the tan that we didn't have. Finally, I stood and stretched. "Come on, Dana, we have to get back on track."

"But I don't wanna."

My shadow covered her body as I stood in front of her, blocking out the sunlight. "Dana, we have to get going, honey. Mother is expecting us home soon."

Dana pushed off of the ground to throw a sort of tantrum. "Alexa, I'm not finished playing."

"Honey, we still have to get the blackberries for Mother."

"I don't wanna!" Dana shouted, a white light surrounding her body. The glow disappeared, and I saw my sister change. Her once long, flowing hair was cut, seeming to restrain her kindness. The locks fell to the ground, shattering into a million white pieces. She grew in height, still about two inches shorter than me. Her body matured, too, and her face hardened. The thing that had changed the most were her beautifully jovial eyes. They were full of things I had never seen her exhibit: rage, hate, fury. Things that Dana Halligan should never have needed. "I'm not going anywhere, Alexa," her bitter voice stated.

My body froze. "D-Dana?"

"Die, Alexandra." She quickly jabbed me in the stomach, somehow placing a golf ball sized hole in my skin. "And to think, I actually looked up to you. I wanted to live life like you did. But no more. Now and forever, I will no longer happily call you my sister." Dana created a sword out of earth, the tip of it somehow glittering in the overcast. She drew her arm back, then the sword came at me.

My own fear woke me up, forcing me completely upright. I was breathing heavy, eyes wide open, unsure of where I was.

"Alex?"

I looked over to my right, finding Ed's confused and concerned face watching me.

"Are you alright?"

I nodded, resting my hand against my head, driving my fingers into my hair. "Just a dream," I whispered.

"You don't look so hot," Carter said.

"You're saying I'm not as adorable as I was ten minutes ago?" I questioned, raising my eyebrows.

"Man, don't back me into a corner!"

I giggled. "Oh, I'm just teasing. Besides, a dream is a dream, nothing more." Except when they're manipulated by memories. I yawned obnoxiously. "So, what've I missed?"

"Rain, rain, sleet, and more rain," Carter cheerily mused.

"Oh, goody. Is there more rain in the forecast?" Katherine asked.

"How the heck should I know? I'm just the guy that sets traps, not the weatherman!"

Katherine sneezed and sniffled, rubbing her nose with her shirt sleeve. "I. Hate. Rain."

Carter poked Katherine's arm. "Aw, is little Kay getting a little cold?"

"No," Katherine said with a slightly congested voice.

"I think you are," Carter disregarded her answer.

"I'll be fine," Katherine growled flatly.

"Hey, Katherine," I said.

"What?"

"You know something about Lana that we don't."

"Lana?" she asked.

"That homunculus from earlier," I corrected.

"Oh, her…"

"How dangerous is she?"

"A very good question. And if you were the person I felt like talking to, I'd tell you," she snapped, more cranky than she usually was. Of course, when most people are sick, they do tend to be crabby.

"Okay, okay. If you don't want to answer, then fine. But what were you guys doing there, anyways? I had everything under control."

"You said 'I'," Katherine mentioned. "No one was helping you. At least, not at the time. But, we were…tracking you guys."

A lie. She had the nerve to look me in the eyes and lie. I let it go…for now. When we were actually able to speak with some form of privacy, I'd address her about it then. But, for now, I had to hold my tongue. I'd had enough blowups and enough of losing my cool for one year.

"So, Katherine, how's life been for the past six weeks? We haven't heard a thing from you since you left," I reminded her.

She sighed. "It's been tedious. What about you guys?"

"We haven't done a thing. Nothing but search, search, and —what else? — search."

"Look, I don't need a lecture," she stated.

"That's not what I had planned on delivering, especially not after taking a nap. Maybe when I've regained more of my energy and have the power to back me up." I shrugged. "Maybe. But, until then, I was just asking about life."

Katherine huffed, whether it was in annoyance or satisfaction with not getting a lecture, I didn't know. "I've been busy."

"Oh, yeah, me too," I agreed.

"Don't start on me, State Alchemist," she growled.

"Look, I've had a really long day, and it's hardly past lunch. So the more you don't get on my nerves, the better. And besides, I wasn't talking about searching for you, though that did fill a good portion of my day."

"Whatever," Katherine ended our conversation for me, turning her head in the opposite direction that I was in. She seemed to be angry at something, and if it wasn't me, then she needed to see someone about her anger issues. I rolled my eyes and looked back at the warm, welcoming fire. I stared at the dancing flames, seeing a symbol of heat and light. Fire was helpful, it didn't burn things on purpose. But, as I gaped even more at it, the more I saw the destruction that someone like Roy could muster and control, the more I could see forests burning as the fires spread on the once lush canopies, the more I saw my mother's sweet and innocent flower shop burning because of my sister, my newest, and worst, enemy.

Amaya: Sorry for leaving you guys in such a terrible spot... :(

MitsuGirls: Until we see you again, fellow fanfiction readers, we wish you well!

*Amaya* ~Hazuki~