Disclaimer: No, I don't own FMA. There, I said it, happy?

AN: Thanks to all those who reviewed. Be warned…I AM THE GREAT CLIFFHANGER GODDESS! So you can expect a few more in this story.


Woods of Song

Chapter 3 – The Air Sister

If Al had a mouth, it would have dropped. There stood the air sister, hands on hips and grinning maniacally at them. She had sky blue eyes that sparkled even in the dim lights of the tavern. Her blonde shoulder length hair sparkled, and it took a minute for Al to realize that the sister had braided glass into her hair. Her bangs were unusually long and went to the level of her heart, but were tucked behind her ears. They still reached her collarbones though. She wore a tunic and loose pants, all which seemed to be made from ashen gray cotton. Also, she wore ash grey gloves. She wore ash grey sandals with a slight platform to them, although she didn't need any since she seemed to be rather tall, definitely taller than Ed by at least a head or two, or ten. Surprisingly, she didn't look older than 15 at the most.

She moved to behind the counter and tucked back a bang that had fallen loose.

"Aren't you a bit young to be working in a bar?" Ed asked, smirking remarkably like Mustang.

"Aren't you a bit young to be in a bar at all?" The sister retorted, smiling gently. "It's not like I actually drink or anything. Just helps get some money for food."

Ed didn't look convinced, but let the topic go anyways. "So, how long have you been here, sister?" Ed asked.

"Since I can remember." The sister replied matter of factly.

"Yup. Some of my friends and I found her out in the woods when she was just a babe. I raised her myself. That's the only reason she turned out as good as she did!" the bartender said, beaming with fatherly pride.

"What about the other sisters?" Ed said, grinning into his water glass.

"Oh, they went into my care as well, but this one here's my fave." The bartender said, expertly ruffling the air sister's hair in a manner as not to get his hand cut up from the glass.

"Oh stop it!" the sister said playfully, ducking out from under her guardian's hand.

"Anyways, I'm looking for a place to stay, but everywhere seems full." Ed said, taking out his pocket watch and flipping it open, making sure that she saw the cover.

The air sister stopped for a minute, debating with herself over some issue or another, and then looked at Ed and smiled. "Why don't you come to my place for the night or two?"

The bartender looked at her aghast, asked to speak with her a moment, and pulled her out of Ed's range of hearing, and right into Al's.

"Just what do you think you're doing?"

"Trying to make a good impression."

"He's a military officer; do you want to get carted off?"

"NO! Of course not, but if I play the nice hostess I can probably convince him."

"It won't work."

"It definitely won't work if I don't try…" the sister said, staring into her step-father's eyes.

He sighed and nodded consent. The sister smiled and walked back over to Ed. "Then it's settled, you'll stay a couple of nights until your business here is done?"

"Yeah. I've also got my little brother with me…"

"Oh, he's welcome as well." The sister replied.

"Okay, lead the way. Come on Al." Ed said, getting up from his seat as Al did the same. The sister frowned a bit as she saw who the brother was, but she shook it off. Any idiot who walked around in a 7 foot suit of armor was hopefully not too bright. Saying goodbye to the bartender, the sister hurried out the door and towards the woods, the Elric brothers in tow. By the time that they reached the edge of the woods, the sun had set and the woods looked dark and foreboding.

"We're going in there?" Al asked shakily.

"Yes, don't worry, the paths are wide, but be sure to stay close." The sister said and strode into the woods, Ed and Al close behind. They came to a fork in the path and the sister took a confident right turn.

"How do we get out, just in case we need to?" Ed asked.

"To get to the glade, take three rights, two lefts, and one right, but only at the forks." The sister replied, striding right past an intersection.

About five minutes later, the trio came to a glade and a cozy looking cottage. Both Al and Ed were genuinely surprised that the sister lived alone in the woods. A faint light shone from one of the windows. The brothers jumped as the sister called them over, already at the wooden door. They hurridly made their way down a gentle slope and stepped inside the house.


AN: There we are. Sorry it took so long. Stupid school….Grrrrrrrrrrrrr. Anyways, keep and eye out for Woods of Song: Chapter 4 – The Woods