Wow, I'm good. Three chapters written this weekend. Woot!

I was reading through other FMA fanfictions, and I realized something- Is Truth&Fiction the only story where the main character OC doesn't get into arguments with Ed? Where Ed doesn't swear like a sailor every five minutes? Am I even getting these characters right? Is my interpretation of them okay? I've written thirty-five chapters and I'm still second-guessing myself!

Please, let me know what you think!

I was thinking of not updating this one right away, as I only had four reviews on the last chapter, but then I thought, 'Hey, I'm not doing this for reviews. I'm doing this because I love writing the story and I want to make people happy, including myself. People who only update for reviews are greedy and selfish.' (sorry if I offended anyone there) So, I'm updating.

Anyways, let's get on with this chapter, shall we?

-o-O-o-

30 January, 1917

Karmyn took a deep breath as she finished her story. Not wanting to meet Al's eyes at that moment, she looked down at the journal on her lap, filled with the letter to her mother. The tale had taken a good hour to tell, and her voice was quite exhausted.

"So that's the gist of it," she said quietly. "When we get back to Central, I'm planning on visiting him again. He's really the only family I have left."

Al nodded. "That's perfectly fine. I think we'll be in Central for a few days, anyways. You should have more than enough time to spend with your dad."

"Thank you," Karmyn said. She looked up, meeting his eyes squarely. "Now then. What else do we want to talk about?"

Their conversations ranged from many topics. They talked about Amestris, they talked about America. They talked about his past, they talked about her past. They had a heated discussion about alchemy and chemistry. They even talked about the difference in technologies between the two realms. Some topics that others would consider duly boring, they found the most fascinating.

Eventually, the topic came around to cartridge pens, and Karmyn was reminded that she had yet to finish her report for Mustang. Pulling that out of her bag, their booth fell silent. For the next two hours, she was absorbed in relaying all of her theories and discoveries that had been made on the other side of the Gate. She remembered fondly that day where she had demanded that the Elrics meet her at the lab, the day that she had proved herself worthy with her theories about the Gate. The day that she had apprehended a criminal using her own smarts.

Those two weeks that she had known the Elrics back home had been some of the happiest days of her life.

With a final scratch of her pen, her report was done. Opening up her travel case, she packed it away neatly, making sure not to crumple it.

"Finally finished it?" Al asked her. She nodded.

"Yep. I hope Mustang appreciates it. I know not to get my hopes up, though. He probably won't even read it, knowing him."

"Who knows? He might, considering the subject that it covers. I don't think that he can afford not to read it."

"True," Karmyn said, stretching. "Ah, well. I did my best anyways. Once an honors student, always an honors student."

It hit her then that she had, for all intents and purposes, dropped out of school. Ed and Al had dropped out around the third or fourth grade, she knew that, but . . . it just felt weird. She had planned to become valedictorian of her graduating class in senior year, but that hadn't happened, and never would.

No more school, she though pensively. There are some kids- were some kids in my grade who would kill for that opportunity. I never even thought about it, and look where I am now!

She shook off the strange feeling. There was nothing to be done about it now. She and Al returned to their conversations, whiling away another hour or two.

-o-O-o-

Cadun-cadunk. Cadun-cadunk. Cadun-cadunk.

Vhweeeeeeeeetwheoot.

Phsssssssssssssssshhhhhhhht.

-o-O-o-

"We've stopped?" Karmyn asked, surprised. "Are we there already?"

"I don't think so," Al told her, "It hasn't even been eight hours yet. Excuse me," he called to one of the train workers, "Where are we?"

"There is an issue with the engine of the train, and we will be unable to make it to Central until it is fixed. For the time being, we have stopped at the nearest station. You may get off here and wait for another train, if you so wish, or you may stay until the engine is fixed." The worker spoke in a clipped tone of voice, and quickly spun his heel as soon as he was done.

"Well that was rude," Karmyn commented. "So- what are we going to do?"

"Whatever the problem is, it will take a while to fix. I think our best bet would be to wait for the next train. Besides- we're touring around Amestris, right? Why not stop here?"

Karmyn smiled. "You're on," she said, standing and picking up her case. "Let's do this thing."

Al quickly followed suit, and the two of them stepped off the train onto the platform of the unknown town. The air was still chilly, and Karmyn pulled her coat closer around her while Al did the same. "We should probably find a sign or something," Karmyn said, "So that we know what town we're in. In England, each station had a sign out on the platform. I'm not quite sure how it is here, but-"

"We're just going to have to ask someone somewhere along the way," Al said. "Come on, we'll probably need to find an inn or a hotel to stay at for tonight. It's getting kind of late, so I don't think there'll be anymore trains this evening."

"Alright," Karmyn said nodding. "You know better than I do, so I'll just follow you."

The two of them left the station and began walking down one of the main roads. The town was actually quite small, but at the same time it gave off a warm feeling. After ten minutes of walking, they came across two young teens, a boy and a girl, who were sitting on the railing of one of the fences alongside the road. Karmyn saw that they didn't look to be more than fourteen years old. She nudged Al in the side and gestured toward them. He nodded in agreement.

Smiling, Karmyn waved and caught their attention before walking over to them. "Excuse me," she said politely, "Could you please tell us the name of this town?"

The girl smiled back at her. "New here?" Karmyn nodded. "Well, you've found your way to Ceredigion. I don't know if I should congratulate you or feel sorry for you."

Karmyn was confused at her words, but didn't let it show. "Thank you," she said, "You wouldn't happen to know a place where we could stay, would you?"

This time, it was the boy who spoke up. "My uncle owns an inn near here," he told them. "Just keep walking straight until you reach the fork in the road, and then take the left. You can't miss it."

"Ah. Alright, thanks!" Karmyn replied as she turned to walk back to Alphonse. She was stopped when the girl spoke up.

"What are your names?"

"Oh, I'm Karmyn Dallas, and this is- Al." She knew that it wouldn't be a good idea to give Al's identity away at that moment. It could lead to more trouble than it was worth.

"See you around, Karmyn and Al!" The girl exclaimed.

Once they were walking on the road again, they started noticing odd things about the town. The townspeople cast them wary looks, and often herded their children away from them. Nobody would meet either of the travellers' eyes.

"What do you think is going on?" Karmyn asked Al. "It's like we're unwelcome here."

"It's not like we're unwelcome- we are unwelcome. I just hope we'll be able to get a spot at the inn the boy was telling us about."

"I wonder why they don't like us. We've never even been here before!" She hissed to Al under her breath.

"I'm sure there's a reason," he said, albeit somewhat uncertainly.

"Those two kids didn't seem to mind us."

"I don't know. I just don't know," Al admitted. "Come on- the inn is right there."

-o-O-o-

"Sorry, no vacancy," the innkeeper told them coldly. Karmyn immediately got pissed.

"No vacancy? Who has your rooms, then? Ghosts? 'Cause they're the only ones I can think of that can get into their rooms without their room keys," she snapped, pointing to the rack of keys that was located behind the counter. A little more than half the rack was still occupied.

"There is no vacancy for the likes of you," he clarified, none too clearly.

"For the likes of us? I already have enough to deal with in this bat-crazy town! Listen, mister. We're only here because our train broke down and we have to wait for the next one."

"Karmyn-" Al said cautiously. It wasn't often that she got going like this, and he didn't quite understand what had set her off.

"If you have a personal issue with us, then that's all well and good. But you shouldn't let that get in the way of business. Now please. If you could just give us a room under the names Karmyn Dallas and Alphonse Elric-"

"Elric?"

Oh, crud. She had been too caught up in her little rant that she had given Al's name away. She sighed. There was nothing she could do about it now.

"Yes, Elric."

The innkeeper grew silent. He surveyed them for a few minutes before finally speaking again. "On one condition."

Conditions? Is this guy insane? We just need a room for the night and he gives us conditions? She sighed irritably. "What's the condition?"

"That you help us with a little problem this town has been having recently."

Karmyn turned away from the man at the counter and looked toward Al. "Are you willing to help?" she asked in English. For some reason she didn't want the man to understand their conversation.

"We need a room," he consented. "I don't have any problems with helping these people. We'd need to know what the problem is, though."

"Alright. Let's do it, then." Karmyn turned back to the innkeeper. "Fine, we'll help. What's the issue?" she asked, switching back to Amestrian.

The innkeeper smiled broadly. "Thank you. It's like this . . ."

-o-O-o-

Another short chapter, and I do believe it is quite cruddy by my standards. I don't think I did very well on it. Oh, well. It tells the story. The next chapter will be longer, and it will be better, trust me!

It's amazing how many sound effects there are for trains. I don't remember them all, but I found a lot of them!

See you laters, alligators!

Sayonara!