A/N: Meh. Sorry, guys. This is mostly a filler chapter. :P But it needs to be here, y'know? Hopefully, we'll be able to finish the next chapter fast.

Mati: Hopefully.

Piper: When pigs fly.

Mati: Porco Rosso?

Piper: That's a cursed man, not a real pig!

Angie: Details. Anyways. On with la story!


Chapter Twenty-Five

As you know, Armstrong decided to escort us back to Resembool. The Elrics (Ed in particular) weren't too ecstatic about it, but the decision was final. I was currently sitting next to Armstrong near the aisle while Ed slept in his spot on Armstrong's other side. Armstrong himself was reading a book, which looked tiny in his enormous hands. Nina was sleeping at my feet, making small snuffling noises.

I absentmindedly fingered my MP3 player as I stared into space, deep in thought. It had been years since it had died, but I refused to go to Winry to see if it could be fixed. In order for that to happen, she'd have to dismantle it, and if she couldn't reassemble it...I'd be losing my only link to my home world.

My musing was interrupted when Armstrong jerked in his seat and leaned out of the train window, ignoring Ed's choked yells of pain as he was crushed. "Dr. Marcoh!"

The man in question turned to the train, his eyes widening as he saw the speaker. So that's Marcoh. Thought he'd look older.

"Aren't you Dr. Marcoh? It's Alex Louis Armstrong from Central!"

Dr. Marcoh turned and bolted.

"Someone you know?" Ed asked.

"Yes...He's a skilled alchemist who was involved in the alchemy research department at Central. He was studying the use of alchemy for medical purposes, but he vanished during the Civil War."

Ed's eyes widened and he stood up, trying to push around Armstrong and head to the exit. He nearly stepped on Nina, who woke up and gave a small whine of indignation. "Let's get off!"

Armstrong moved aside. "Hmh? Don't we get off at Resembool?"

"If he used to do that kind of research, then he might know something about biological transmutation, too!"

I groaned. "Y'know, I think I'm just going to head out without you guys. You can handle it by yourself." I gave a lazy wave. "Watch out for his gun, kay?"

Ed gave me an odd look, but refrained from speaking, opting to get Al out of the livestock compartment instead.

As Armstrong and the Elrics got off the train and the train began moving again, I lay down and closed my eyes. The sound of people talking and the train's rocking eventually lulled me to sleep.


I woke up to a rough tongue on my hand. "Big...Sister?"

I gave a small groan, sitting up and rubbing my eyes. "Hm?"

"Resembool." Was Nina's only reply. I shook my head to clear away the cobwebs and gave her a small smile, thanking her. We got off and started heading up the hill to where the Rockbell's house (and shop) was.

The place was exactly as I remembered it. Since I had gone off with the Elrics, I had only come here for automail maintenance. To be honest, I kind of missed being around Winry.

Den ran up to me to greet me, only to stop short at seeing Nina, who hid behind me. There was a tense second before Den slowly went up to Nina and sniffed her. Apparently, she passed the test, as Den gave a goofy dog smile and barked, showing that she approved of the newcomer.

"Hey," I spoke to Nina softly, smiling and trying to ignore the ache in my chest. "Den's a sweety. Nothing to fear. It's all right."

I was interrupted by a wrench to the head. It hit me with enough force to knock me off my feet and onto the ground.

"Fricking-" I cursed, rubbing my head. Nina whimpered and sniffed my head wound. "Dammit, Winry! What the hell was that for?!"

"I told you to call before you come in for maintenance!" Winry leaned over the railing, clearly annoyed. I glared up at the balcony.

"I don't need freaking maintenance! Jesus!"

She cocked her head, clearly confused. "Then why are you here?"

"What? I can't just pop in on a friend?"

Her answer was blunt. "No. Not when it's you."

"Ouch. I'm hurt." She was right, though. Ed, Al and I were not exactly the people who came to visit their friends regularly. That is, not without a reason. "Oh, fine. I'm good, but Ed busted his automail. He'll be here in a few hours or so. Got sidetracked."

I heard her huff. "Of course he busted it." She began to go back inside. "Well, you might as well come in. Granny Pinako's working on a customer." She turned around and gave me a bright smile. "Welcome home."

I returned it. "Glad to be back."