A/N: I don't own any Fullmetal Alchemist characters. Or the concept of parallel worlds and "just alchemy in general". Now, to the story and beyond!

The single electric bulb lighting their shabby cell went out. It was a good thing River could hear very well. She activated the transmutation circle she'd carved on her hand using a sharp edge in her cage. A dull red light lit up the room as River sliced her cage's lock in half using a jet of pressurized water. She pushed open the door. It creaked. She paused, then slid between the narrow opening. She padded across the floor to Dormouse Havilland's cage. A few jets of water later, everyone was free.

-o-0-o-

Everyone looked down at the two people- no, children- on the table.

"Aw, this was supposed to be the day before we left!" Ed exclaimed, looking up at the scorch marks that the circle had left. "And-"

"Who are they, brother?" Al cut off his brother's whining.

Colonel Hawkeye frowned. Something wasn't right. She glanced at Brigadier General Mustang, whose frown mirrored her thoughts. Mustang opened his mouth to speak but Winry Rockbell beat him to it.

"What happened?" She questioned.

-o-0-o-

This shouldn't be this easy, River thought as they tiptoed down a dark, deserted hallway. She turned left and went up a flight of stairs, following the faint draft of fresh air. She stopped the group as faint footsteps could be heard coming their way. A night watchman. They held their breath and waited. Night Watchman passed them. River and the others tiptoed on. Finally, a door. She pushed it open. Freedom!

-o-0-o-

Milana Messerschmitt looked up through her golden bangs. People were staring at her and Amanda. Amanda! Cold fear ran through Milana's veins as she took Amanda's pulse. There was no pulse. Tears streamed down her face.

"Amanda!" she shouted, but in vain. "Amanda! Amanda, can you hear me? Wake up!" Suddenly, her face turned to an impassive mask as she remembered something Amanda had said after they'd been picked up by the Alexandrian Army. If I die, I don't want you to cry over me. I want you to be happy. You just have to trust me on that one. Milana wiped away her tears. She knew it was her younger sister's greatest wish. Milana gulped.

"What happened?" a blue-eyed girl with long hair asked. Milana stared blankly at the people.

"Where did you come from?" A black-haired person added.

Milana knew that face. The shape of the eyes, the way those bangs hung casually no matter how hard she tried.

"Sgt. Maury?" Milana hiccupped.

-o-0-o-

Freedom! The others filed past her as they all gulped down the cool night air. The lights of a city twinkled below them as a breeze played with River's hair.

"We're in Mochi Pidan, the southern capital of Ingta. We're at the top of Mount Pidan, at an elevation of 2,430 meters above sea level." Dormouse Havilland informed them.

"There's a path I can see, and there are no guards" Robert Hawker observed. She pointed. "There, behind the big boulder, there's an abandoned farmhouse we can hide in."

"Wh-" Leona Martin started to ask but was cut short by a bright beam of light, startling her.

"Halt! Put your hands up!" the harsh voice of the Night Watchman cut through the silence. They were caught.