Knowing More Than Recommended

Note: Thanks for the feedback everybody! I love you guys.

I've been busy with school and collaborating on other works with Swan's Catastrophe, but it's all good in the hood. I'll keep going till this thing is done.

Reviews give me incentive!

The chapter features: Episode 36 "The Sinner Within." Ed and Al learn about a Philosopher's Stone rumor from the Ishballans on a relocation train. They are pointed in the direction of an exiled Ishballan, who tells them about Scar and the Grand Arcanum. Meanwhile, Winry learns that Roy Mustang was the man who executed her parents during the war. After being told by Ed and Al she can't travel with anymore, she returns to Central and finally learns about Hughes' death.

Episode 38 "With the River's Flow." Ed and Al continue their journey to Ishbal, but a fight about Ed's impulsive nature and whether or not they should stop Scar from making the Philo Stone causes a delay. Winry and Sheska are almost caught wiretapping the Fuhrer's secretary's phone. They are saved but not before Winry recognizes Trisha's face on the watery mass that attacks them. Marta meets up with Al and gives the Elrics a ride further out into the desert.

-/-/-

Within the busy schedule of teaching Wrath how to control his alchemy, keeping on the move with Greed's entourage and then doing her share of finding food and shelter, Amy lost track of the days.

Upon asking Dorochet, he mentioned they'd only been out in the wilderness for a week. Coming from a previously city-raised girl like Amy, seven days traveling on foot and camping in the great outdoors was enough of hell for her. Her clothes were dirty, her hair was tangled and greasy, and her skin felt like all the sweat had dried onto it several times over- oh wait, it had. On top of this, the group headed closer to the desert in the east, where tree shade and shelter would be even more scarce than in this mangy grassland between the lush forest and heated wasteland.

The brunette wandered away from the group to find one of the last creeks in the area to bathe.

Even if she could barely remember the world she came from, she knew it was a heck lot more luxurious than this one. She felt cheated, knowing that in her old world, she could find all the food she wanted at a supermarket for a decent price, but here, you were lucky to find a vendor in the passing towns and villages that sold exactly what you were craving.

There was nothing else to do but suck it up, but the young woman couldn't help but be a little snippy sometimes. Amy now found herself knee-deep in the only some-what-secluded creek on the plain. Completely naked, because how else would one bathe properly? The tiny bit of soap leftover after being used by most of the group lathered in her hands. She cringed at the thought of germs and microscopic bacteria, but eventually got over it after feeling refreshed by the bath. She would never taken a shower for granted again after this over-extended camping trip. Once Greed found a decent place to lie-low in, she could relax until he gathered his team together for a joint attack against Dante and Pride, aka the Fuhrer.

At least, that was the big plan.

So much could go wrong. People could die. She could die. Amy thought about her friends and felt longing in her heart. How long before she would see them again? The breeze caught her wet body and sent a shiver up her spine. She heard a twig snap behind her, then she ducked into the water.

When she jerked around, she saw Marta walk out into the open. "Just came to check on you."

"O'course. Thanks." With that, Amy exited the shallow water and started squeezing out her hair. Marta sort of froze, watching Amy move around completely naked without feeling embarrassed or self-conscience of herself.

After a moment, the chimera averted her eyes, just to save herself from the awkwardness. "This is new."

"What is?" Amy questioned indifferently. She used the extra shirt she brought along to dry herself before dressing. Another simple pleasure she missed: clean clothing.

"Really? You used to make me turn around whenever you were changing in the same room back at the Devil's Nest. Now you're just walking around in the open like it's normal."

Amy gave her a funny look. "What? We're both females. Or so I hope," the woman teased. Amy felt no shame with being naked in front of another woman... but a man? She guessed she'd feel a little awkward. The woman tried to think of a reason she would feel awkward- it was as if the cause for shame wasn't in her anymore.

The chimera glared. "Whatever. You're more fun when you're loosened up, just watch who you're loose around."

Amy watched Marta skulk back to the group. She had a vague impression she'd just been insulted, but maybe she was over-analyzing. Amy shrugged, and then followed Marta.

According to Dorochet, the group was a couple days away from the Ishbal ruins, which was in the desert where baths would be impossible. The entourage planned to camp and regroup outside the old Ishbal before finding a more desirable hiding place, probably somewhere on the very easternmost border on the other side of the desert.

Amy convinced herself that she would never see a certain stupid, sexy bomber again, even if they headed his direction.

-/-/-

Kelsey, the red-headed optimist traveling with the Elric's and their mechanic, flopped happily on the double bed at the inn the brothers rented for the night. "A real bed! I'm never going to underestimate how comfy a pillow is..." She rolled her face into said pillow and the rest of her excitement became muffled. Edward, who leaned against the door frame, actually smiled at her peculiar behavior.

"By your and Win's good moods, I take it you guy aren't used to sleeping outside all the time."

"Mope," Kelsey's smothered reply came. She giggled now, for no particular reason. Ed walked over because he was curious to what she found funny.

Right as Ed leaned over her, Kelsey tossed the pillow up and hit him in the face.

Needless to say, the alchemist found what was funny. He grabbed the pillow and hit her back- Kelsey armed herself with the remaining ammo and the two shorties jumped all over the room as they engaged in their pillow fight. Edward was surprised at how much fun these could be! He dared admit he had forgotten from his boyhood.

"That was a cheap shot!" the alchemist complained with a grin after she whacked him good. Kelsey tried to go for another, but her footing on the edge of the bed slipped and she fell forward toward Ed, who was on floor-level to catch her. "Woah, watch it! Maybe there's a reason I haven't had a pillow fight since I was seven," the blonde teased. The alchemist caught her easily in his arms, but after he stood her upright, she winced and took hold of her arm.

"Ouch, I think your automail may have sprained my wrist," Kelsey told him. She noticed that Edward froze as she said this. "What?"

"Nothing, it's just..."

He wouldn't finish and the red-head thought about what could be wrong. "It was just an accident! And it's nothing, see?" The girl waved her wrist around to prove it was okay- which was a mistake. She couldn't hold back a cringe. "Er..."

The alchemist took a step back, separating himself from her again, like he always did. Kelsey felt like the boy didn't want to get personal, but he did that with everyone 'cept his brother. That was Edward for you.

"Just, uh... you've told us, Al and I, about everything, right? We agreed, no more secrets." Now the blonde met her eyes.

Kelsey was frozen for a moment, milking Edward's golden eyes with her green for every rare second she could get. "Yep," she lied. There was just one, maybe two more things, but Kelsey knew now was not the time to share, and Edward was not the brother to tell it to. The alchemist broke his eyes from hers when he heard footsteps outside the door.

Right on cue, Al and Winry walked into the room, carrying a bag of food and supplies needed for tomorrow after they officially entered the eastern desert. "Let's eat!" Winry announced happily.

-/-/-

After every ate (who could), Kelsey waited for an opportunity to get Al alone, so she could bring up that one thing to the brothers. After that, she would owe nothing to either brother, except friendship. There would be no collateral for Ed to always demand she tell him what she knew, and use that as an excuse to be rude to her.

The chance came when Winry needed to do some automail tune-ups on Ed's arm, and they went into a different room to do that. Al and Kelsey hung out quietly, but the silence wasn't awkward.

"So, Al..." Kelsey started sheepishly.

"Yes, Kelsey?"

The red-head hesitated. She knew this subject was reserved for Al and his brother alone, possibly Winry. But she agreed, no more secrets. "I wanted to talk to you and your brother about something, but it's not really my place. Although, I think you'll handle the topic much better than Ed."

"Probably," the younger brother agreed cheerily. The boy was so open and friendly, so Kelsey felt confident as settled herself next to Al on the bed's edge.

"Okay, I want to say that I know you and Ed tried to bring back your mom... And a homunculus is created from a failed human transmutation. So, naturally..." The red-head's words were slow and sticky. She knew the sudden stillness in Al was not because he was made of armor.

"The Fuhrer's secretary," the boy replied after a few frozen seconds. "I know that brother has seen her. She looks just like our mom. Whenever I bring it up, he shuts down and changes the topic." Kelsey respected how sincere the brother could be with her. The girl set her hand on Al's cold, metal leg- even if he couldn't feel it, the thought counted.

"I'm sure he's just waiting for the right moment."

"We'll have to face her, sooner or later. Which reminds me, before we get to Ishbal, is there anywhere you or Winry want to visit?" Al had quickly deviated from the subject; Kelsey tilted her head. She definitely did not know the geography of Amestris, so she wouldn't know where to go.

"Not really, no."

Al shifted as Winry walked into the room, and he asked her the same question. After that, the conversation could not shift back to Sloth, aka Elric-mom-look-alike.

The girl wondered why Al would ask her and Winry that out of the blue. Hm...

-/-/-

"Stay together! It's easy to get lost in the big city."

Brandon felt like a babysitter more than a peer. The brothers Russel and Fletcher were too busy marveling at the size of Central to heed his warning. The boys, who couldn't believe the number and variety of stores on the main strip, rushed off before Brandon could put a leash on them.

At least the train ride was productive. The three of them discussed what they'd be doing once they found the old Central, which was hidden away underground according to the journal entry.

Brandon felt psyched when putting the hamster wheel to work in his head... Explosives, traps, ambushes... If he was going to rig up the final battle ground, he was going all out! The guy sorta wished Amy had taught him more of that bombing alchemy she learned from Kimblee. It was only basics, but better than the knowledge he had... which was only what he could manage from Izumi's books. At least he had two other alchemists to help him out with ideas, even if the Tringham brothers were more botanists than anything else.

Speaking of the Tringham brothers... they were currently missing.

Brandon looked around and couldn't spot the two blondes. You think it'd be easy to spot Russel, with all his height! Brandon jogged down the main street, searching.

The sooner they could start rigging up old Central, the sooner Brandon could have a chance at going to the east to find his friends, or help the cause. He just wanted purpose, after all.

-/-/-

The Elric entourage began to settle into their warm beds for the evening after the sun went down. Those beds would be the last few they'd have after they entered the desert tomorrow. In the girl's room, Winry stretched soundlessly before falling straight into sleep, which was the opposite for Kelsey. With so much on her mind recently, the red-head had been having a hard time sleeping at night. Kelsey tossed around in her covers, uncomfortable and restless. Instead of laying awake for hours like she normally did, the girl threw herself out of the tangling covers and decided to go for a quick walk around the inn.

She met Al right outside the room, who had the same idea. It wasn't possible for him to sleep, after all, so it was common for Alphonse to take nighttime strolls instead of lay in the eerie silence.

The girl exchanged a friendly greeting with Al and they continued on their opposite paths, until she got the impulsive, and not-so-brilliant idea to knock on Ed's door. He opened it quickly, and judging by the frown forming from a fallen smile, he had expected his brother, not the curious red-headed girl.

"I couldn't sleep. May I come in?" Kelsey asked lamely.

Edward merely stepped aside, not denying or accepting her request. She crossed into the room and sat on the edge of Al's bed, with her palms flat on the comforter. After Ed closed the door, the realization that coming in here had been a terrible idea hit her, and Kelsey wanted to leave before the thick air got any thicker.

But that would be rude.

The male was only half-dressed when he opened the door, Kelsey noticed and was still noticing, so the alchemist quickly dug out a shirt to throw on. The stuffy air didn't get any easier to breath, and the girl had a feeling that it wasn't because of the humidity outside.

"Kelsey?"

The girl was shocked to hear Edward's tone. It was sad and tender, so different from his usual way of speaking to her. She knew she wouldn't be able to lie to him if he asked... "Yes, Edward?"

"I've been thinking a lot about what's comin'. You already know what Al and I are heading east for." He loved to sarcastically humor her knowledge for his world and it's future. Too bad she was the worst one for this because she hadn't seen an episode passed 27.

Kelsey thought for a moment. Did Brandon or Amy ever mention it? "Because you're looking for another clue about the stone, right?"

"Yeah. Everything so far points to using live people. I'm going to find a way without having to kill anybody. Like you said, the remains of Ishbal may tell me a thing or two." His voice hinted that he wanted Kelsey to finish his sentence or something. Maybe he thought she could enlighten him on a method. The red-head bit her lip; Amy and Brandon warned her she wasn't supposed to tell Ed about Scar making the stone in Liore by using the military's soldiers. If she did, there was a chance he would stop it from happening.

"Let's say, hypothetically, someone were to make the stone using the method you already know. If they use live people, and they did it for selfish reasons, would you take the stone from this person?" Kelsey asked.

The alchemist automatically put his flesh hand on his metal arm as he thought. "Hypothetically, if this person could live with themselves after taking people's lives, I probably would take it from them. I would do it for Al."

"And if they made the stone for noble reasons, would you take it then?"

"Depends on the scenario, I guess. Murder is murder." Edward crossed his arms and leaned his back against the wall. He was having to think too hard and too seriously too late at night. The air was still uncomfortable.

"You guess?"

"Are you trying to get at something or am I just wasting my time?" Kelsey winced as his usual tone with her came back. The demanding and accusing one.

"I just..." want you to trust me without me telling you every pain-staking detail. "If you knew this person was going to make the stone, and after they made it, he was going to give it to you... Would you stop him from using people, even though the blood won't be on your hands?"

Edward's golden eyes darted straight into her green. He searched desperately for the truth in those eyes! "A-are you telling me...?"

"I can't." Kelsey turned away and buried her hands in her lap, as if that action was going to bury her confession. "I'm not supposed to tell you. You might stop it from happening, and I can't let you do that!"

Edward seemed insulted. "Why would I try and stop myself from getting the Philosopher's Stone?" As soon as he asked this, he realized what she mentioned: whoever was going to make the stone was going to use live humans. And the only way Edward knew to make the stone was with masses of people. An entire city wiped off the map in a single night for Al's body?

But like she said, the blood wouldn't be on his hands...

Except now he knew what was going to come. And because Kelsey was currently trembling slightly, trying to hold her tongue, he deduced there was a fair chance he could stop it from happening.

Did he really want to make this decision alone? He should consult Al. Wait, he was the older brother and should know what's best. No no, his ego sometimes got the better of him... As Edward had a mental debate with himself, Kelsey slipped off of the bed and tried to sneak passed Edward to get out the door. "Wait," he half-begged, and set his automail hand on her shoulder.

She stopped and turned, her emerald eyes were wide.

"Tell me who's going to do it, and where!" Edward demanded simply. He had a determined look on his face and fire in his eyes that made her want to say everything.

"I-I don't kno-"

"That's bull!" He called her bluff perfectly. Edward didn't play when it came to getting Al's body back.

"Okay! I'll tell you, but only if you take me with you. Don't send me away like you and Al want to do with Winry and I." That's why Al asked that weird question earlier. And if they did send her away, it may be the last time she ever saw Ed, according to what the episode guides told her. Her adventure would end.

Ed was somewhat shocked. "We only want you guys to go back to Resembol or Central or something so you aren't in danger."

Kelsey sealed her lips tight, until they turned white. She wouldn't tell unless he agreed.

Apparently he wanted to know bad enough that he didn't think about it. "Fine, you can come with us. But I reserve the right to make you stay somewhere safe if things get choppy!" The warm, playful Ed finally emerged as he reverted back to his arm-crossing. "Al and I always manage to find some trouble."

Kelsey giggled. " 'Al and you,' or just you and your short temper?"

The girl turned and ran down the hallway before Edward's rage could be unleashed at the mention of 'short.'

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A BEAN-SIZED MIDGET WHEN YOU CAN BARELY REACH MY NOSE?"

Al poked his head out around the corner of the hall. "She didn't say that, Ed."