"Hey mom! Look what I made!" Edward presented to her the metal horse, he turned his head expecting to see Al but he was nowhere to be seen.

"That's great Edward, But if you could do that... then why couldn't you bring me back Ed!" Edward tried to run away but someone grabbed him, it was Tucker.

"Still trying to deny we're alike Edward? He laughed.

"Why did you leave brother, Ed!" The Chimera tilted its head to the side.

"It wasn't my fault, I didn't plan any of this! It's all an accident!" Edward Yelled.

"Look at me brother! I'm just a soul in armor, I can't feel cold or warm, or the rain on my body. Are you going to say that was an accident too?" Edward trembled at the angry tone of Alphonse and went silent.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry! For everything! Please!" Edward shrieked and his eyes shot open.

"Edward?" Alphonse Asked, hovering above him. "Are you okay?"

"Sorry, I just had a crazy dream." Edward explained.

"You care to tell me about it?" Al asked.

"I'm not in the mood." Edward grumbled. Silence filled the room, Alphonse sighed softly.

"You know I'm not just gonna ignore it." Edward sighed, still refusing to answer.

"I'm going to get our bodies back if it's the last thing I do okay!" Edward Smiled. "It's just, this makes me think about how even though we came this far. I haven't learned anything. Mom proves that!" Edward sighed.

"That's not true, we've achieved a lot after that, don't be so hard on yourself." Al smiled.

"Oh yeah? Well then why is it that whenever I say the same thing to you, you ignore it?" There was a silence between them. They both glared mischievously at each other.

"Okay okay, I get your point. But that was a different context." Al replied.

"Sure whatever you say!" Ed smirked. It had been a while since he did that since Nina. It almost felt forced. Like he could never do it like before again.

"You know Al, I've been thinking."

"What is it?" Al asked.

"Maybe I was wrong, maybe alchemy isn't the only answer, Alchemy is just a tool that can be used for good or evil, it doesn't really matter which, if I became extreme in alchemy like Shou Tucker, then I might have done what he did, if I let myself sway toward alchemy without values, then I'd be just like him. A mad scientist who was so ambitious that he'd sacrifice others to obtain his goal." Edward sighed looking down at his feet.

"That may be true, but you're not him. We'll get out of this, we'll get our bodies back, without harming others. And everything will be fine, we'll just find the Philosopher's Stone and go from there." Alphonse smiled.

"You're right brother."

"Anyways, We should probably call Winry, we do need to get our minds off of this." Alphonse Replied.

"I don't want her to get involved." Edward Replied.

"Are you going to protect her from the sun because you're afraid she might get a possible sunburn?" Alphonse

"Yeah, I guess you have a point, at least I don't have anything wrong with my automail, cuz if I did, she'd be pissed!" Edward Chuckled.

"Yeah, you're right about that." Al laughed. They soon got ready and headed to central. Edward headed to the nearest phone booth and dialed the number.

"Hey uh. Winry, could you um, come to Central." Edward Asked through the phone.

"Why Ed, did you break your automail again?" She was seething in anger.

"No no, nothing like that..." Edward chuckled nervously.

"Why then, you never call me for a normal visit? What's the Catch?" Winry Asked.

"There's no Catch, we just need company." Edward sighed.

"Fine, But this must not become a monthly thing. You know how much a train ride costs?" Winry Yelled.

"Yes I know, this won't become repetitive I promise." There was sudden silence. "She just hung up on me!" Edward said, dumbfoundedly.

"Oh, talking to your girlfriend?" Maes Hughes was behind him, Edward turned around.

"No no, it's not What you think. We're just childhood friends, is all." Edward Yelled.

"Well if that's true why did you get all defensive over it?" Hughes laughed. "I'm just kidding, anyway Shou Tucker was proven dead, someone had executed him for what he'd done, someone with a tattooed arm. He'd been killing a lot of state Alchemists lately."

"What's his name?" Edward Asked.

"We don't know, but we do know that he has an x-shaped scar on his forehead. Many have started calling him scar. But his real name hasn't been identified. Another thing though, Barry has been on the loose again, and killed two blonde girls."

"I'll be sure to investigate that, thanks Hughes." Edward Smiled.

"Of course, anytime. Here's a pin of Gracia, I've been handing these out! Just stick it on your suit!" Hughes laughed.

"But I already know what she looks like." Edward sighed.

"I know, it's more for me, so I can see her everywhere I go!"

"Alright, a little weird, but uh. Can't you just carry around a photo or something?" Edward walked down the steps of the military base and there was the man who Hughes had just described. He could see his white scar easily.

With one glance at Edward the man who he suspected was Scar was gone.

"Hey brother, come quick! I see something outside the base." Alphonse Replied. "I think it was Winry out here!" Alphonse Replied.

"Well then where is she! I don't see her anywhere."

"Wait, there was a truck outside. It's gone now. She was kidnapped!" Alphonse realized.

"Scout out the perimeter, she can't have gone far!" Said Lieutenant Ross. After trying to find Winry with a search party, they still couldn't find her.

"Hey lady. Do you know where Winry is? She's a tall, blonde girl with a ponytail, and blue eyes." Edward asked. The woman looked up at him with a sinister grin.

"Why yes I have, you must be the one I'm looking for!" she sneered.

"What the hell are you talking about?" but before Edward could do anything, he was knocked out by the strange woman, a while later he woke up to find himself in a dark room. His body was in a strange position. He tried to move his arms but he was tied up with rope. His head felt like it had been wacked like a soccer ball.

"So, the boys finally awake! Good, I was wondering when you'd wake up!''said a shrill voice filled with malice.

"Who... Why are you... What do you want!" Edwards' eyes widened when he saw the figure come closer towards him. He was tied up to this chair, he had no way of escaping.

"What do I want? To make you smile! You and your girlfriend haven't been doing anything but frowning, and I hate it when people don't smile!" He Yelled.

"I don't have a girlfriend." Edward Yelled.

"Doesn't seem like that's what the blonde thinks." He laughed, Edward looked at him confused. When suddenly he grabbed Winry by the back of the neck, she was tied up to the ceiling with ropes. She struggled and kicked.

"What've you done to her! You let her go right now!" Edward Yelled.

"Not until I've played my little game!" Winry's eyes widened.

"Who are you!" Edward Yelled.

"I am Barry the Chopper! Expert serial killer, and I shall chop you to pieces!" His axe was raised up high into the air. Edward's eyes widened in fear, he tried to struggle free. Writhing his fingers trying to untie the knots. When sharp pain shook him. He felt wet blood dripping from his hands. He braced himself for impact when Barry lunged and cut the top half of his good arm. He had never felt such intense pain in his life. "Why so serious!" The mad man giggled. "Smile!" He kicked the chair over and took his axe back. Winry cried out in fear, but she was muffled by the muzzle-like mask. I may be overpowered by him right now, but I still have alchemy! Edward thought. He slowly clapped his hands together and grew his metal sword out from his auto-mail arm. And cut himself free. My blood is 18% Carbon, I can use the air to solidify it. Edward thought, I gotta think fast! He's gonna Attack me! He stood up and used his blood and turned it into a metal.

"How the hell did you escape!" Barry Yelled. "It's no matter, I'll get you back!" They ran around in circles when he found Edward in the corner. Barry stepped on him and chopped off his automail. "Now you can't do alchemy!" He laughed. "Don't try to run away! We were just having fun!" Edward ran further in the other direction. His wounds were healing incredibly slowly. And he couldn't do anything without his automail arm. He ran towards Winry, trying to untie her. He ungagged her and took her mask off. Which she breathily thanked him for.

"What is going on!" Winry Asked. "Where is he!"

"I don't know yet, but he's coming. damn it, it's so hard to untie this without another arm." He hurriedly untied the Knots and she jumped free. "We've gotta get outta here!" Edward continued.

"But what about your arm! I made that for you, remember!" She yelled.

"We need to go now!" He took her hand and ran to the light. Barry was slowly catching up to them, he was now getting closer, then suddenly they were outside, Edward heard a sizzle and turned to see an explosive lighter. "It's gonna blow!" He ran with her for their lives, when it exploded. They fell on the grass and turned to watch the building go down.

"He's gone!" Winry gasped.

"Yeah, he can't harm anyone anymore!" Edward held her protectively. As the last of the debris collapsed. A pile of smoke swished across their faces.

"What the hell is going on here!" Roy got out of his car. Alphonse, Hughes and Riza joined.

"The serial killer Barry the Chopper kidnapped her, I had to protect her somehow." Edward gasped for breath.

"Brother, where's your arm?" Alphonse Asked.

"He cut it off Al. But Winry will get it back." Edward sighed. There was a moment of silence when Winry turned to him.

"Why did you call me!" She Asked. "There had to be another reason other than me getting kidnapped."

"Winry, no. Not right now." Alphonse Replied. Winry looked at Al then to Ed.

"Okay." she decided to agree with Al, he did need his space after all.

"You three should come to my house and stay for a while, my wife loves company." Hughes laughed.

"Thank you Hughes, we appreciate it!" Edward Replied, this was new to Winry, Edward never thanked anyone for anything, so to her this was the most shocking thing ever. But she decided not to think about it. Maybe he was humbled a little from the shock.

"Hughes?" Roy Asked,

"Yeah?"

"Protect them, they need it!" He smiled warmly. This was the first time he saw Roy like this in a long time. Maybe this had softened him a bit.

"Of course I will, I always protect people with my life, remember!" Roy remembered back to the Ishvalan war when he defended a soldier against the enemy. He smiled at the thought.

"Yes, you were always an honorable soldier. I just worry about them." Roy said the last part quietly, Hughes Chuckled.

"Does Stoic Roy have emotions?" Hughes laughed. Roy lost all of his soft demeanor and went back to calm and cold.

"Don't say a word about this to ANYONE, you hear!" Roy Replied loudly.

"Sure, you know I will!" Hughes laughed. "Anyway, I'd better get going, I need to get my daughter to school."

"Yes SIR!" Roy saluted.

"SIR!" Hughes saluted back.

I know this was from the 2003 series and not the manga but it was still something I felt drawn to writing. I got so much inspiration to write this. It's better than Canon Barry in my opinion, I'm not going to be writing about the Canon Barry because Al can have an identity crisis from himself. Anyway bye!