Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal alchemist. English isn't my first language, and it's my first fanfiction ever. I'll appreciate constructive flames.

Envy sighed before changing his appearance into Flame Alchemist's one. He didn't like this look. If it was for his own decision, he would probably never look like this. And now he will probably have to be stuck in that form for hours or so, according to the plan. He took a look in two metres high mirror.

"I'm ten times sexier than that Flame bastard" he said.

For the moment he cheered up, because he found calling Roy bastard using colonel's own voice quite amusing. He checked if he was looking EXACTLY like colonel. Hair, face, face expressions, everything was identical and uniform fitted him well. Obviously, his tranformation was perfect as always. His abilities in this area were unlimited. From now on, he was Roy, there was no doubts about it. To be honest, it wasn't his look what annoyed him most. He wouldn't mind it so much if it was his original idea. From as long as he remembered, he had changed into everybody HE decided, he needed to achieve his goals. Or his Father's goals, because it was understandable and necessary that he should- and had to - be obedient to him.

Envy couldn't really say that the plan was stupid or impossible – but it wasn't his plan. Neither Father's nor even Lust's (of course, since she got killed). The one who came up with brilliant concept accepted (and praised) by Father with no objections was the allmigthy, all-knowing Fuhrer, Wrath - that brat who was only 60 years old, much younger than him. And his only advantage was perfect sight, while Envy could be anyone in the world which was more useful in his opinion. Even though he had to do what Wrath, who was in charge of Flame, ordered him to, because Fuhrer's plan of using colonel, was so amazing. He cursed Wrath, Father, Mustang and Hawkeye, deep in his mind regretting that it wasn't his own idea.

He remembered the shock he felt when his 60-year-old brother let Mustang and that other guy get out alive with no consequences- at least for Flame, to be detailed - after intruding into their lair and burning Lust. He even called an ambulance for them!

"WHY!"- Envy shouted, pissed off. He wasn't aware why Wrath wanted Flame alive. Despite Mustang's being Human Sacrifice Candidate, he knew too much about Homunculi and other things now in his opinion.

"Why did you let them go back alive! Those asses got close to here and furthermore they killed Lust!"

Wrath didn't respond anything. And it was the best way to make Envy even more mad at him, if it was possible.

"Your duty is to deal with intruders, right!" Someone should tell Wrath off for neglecting his duties and being so careless. And he was the only one to do it since all that stupid Gluttony was crying over Lust's loss. If Lust was motherly type, one could have thought of Gluttony as her annoying little always hungry baby, so there was no doubt Gluttony got depressed. Well, maybe word "depression" doesn't suit someone who has no brain, or at least doesn't use it.

Instantly, brilliant idea came to Envy's mind. Maybe that case didn't have to end like that. And he'll show who is the only quickwitted Homunculus here.

"That's right! Those asses are hospitallised now, right! We can kill them and cover it up as a medical accident." In his imagination he already killed colonel Mustang after telling him – with all nice details – how he got rid of his buddy, Brigadier General Hughes.

"It's still not to late now! If they can make fun of us to this extend, what is the point of our existence!" Envy screamed, ignoring Gluttony's sobs.

By the way, Gluttony is so pathetic that he didn't manage to kill Scar several days ago. That troublesome guy escaped again. It proved that Gluttony couldn't do anything properly on his own. Wrath ought to get rid of Scar, Envy was sure about it, but from what Envy knew, Wrath was wasting his time fighting with those irritating foreigners who managed to flee albeit girl was wounded. Envy was content in some sort way because now Fuhrer didn't have rights to call him bad fighter anymore in his opinion.

And then, all of sudden, the Father joined conversation. "Wrath"- he asked- "Why did you let the Flame Alchemist escape?"

And that was his aswer: "He can still be of some use, that is why I let him go back alive"

And Envy was so astonished upon hearing it that he remained silent. Father stood up.

"He can be used?" he wanted to know.

Envy doubted it but he didn't say anything.

"Roy Mustang is exccedingly kind... While it can be considered his strength, it's also his weakness. Shall I make him try to get the gate open?"

Father smiled. "I leave this to you"

"Yes" Fuhrer bowed.

"The Flame Alchemist shall be entrusted to Wrath" Father announced.

And no matter how Envy opposed, it wasn't going to be changed. But maybe it wasn't that bad. The plan was invented by Wrath, but Envy was the one to execute this task. So if he does it properly, it will be his own success. He will be the one to get all glory. He smirked. And than he noticed lack of transmatation circle on his white clean gloves.

"Damn - he moaned - I'm careless again. (The first time was when he forgot about a Ross's birthmake, but fortunately it was something no one alive knew.) I would make fool of myself and furthermore Fuhrer would laugh at me!" After a moment, proper fire transmutation circle appeared on Roy's gloves. Now he was ready to go to the Fuhrer and he could bet Fuhrer won't critizize his look.

At the moment, Winry should be in Rush Valley learning how to make better automails. She was already packed and ready. But she wasn't there because some bastard let his arm be busted in the battle. He never told her anything about his battles as if she was some stranger or somebody who doesn't understand him. As always, Winry got angry and beated Ed up with her wrench for destroying such brilliant masterpiece.

Even though she ended spending all night repairing his automail arm, like she always did. It was everything she could do for him, the only way of helping him to make his dreams come true. He and Al, they were her friends and she really wanted them to be happy and finally come home. It wasn't just pity for having such difficult life what she felt towards them. She also feared they might be caught in something too dangerous for them. And probably, they were already doing such things and risking they lifes. She tried to erase that thought as soon as it popped up. Winry knew what Edward felt when he left Resembool after burning his house. However, he didn't tell her it himself. She had to find out these words in his watch altough Edward didn't want her to do it. That feeling of guilt and sadness expressed in words Don't forget 3 Oct. 11. It really was unforgettable date.

"There is no turning back" . Ed's voice was calm and he masked all his sadness, but her Winry could feel it nonetheless. She was crying and Edward noticed it. It seemed he was surprised by her reaction. For the moment she thouht he might feel offended that she's crying when he's holding his tears deep inside his soul. But it wasn't that. He probably just didn't understand that there's somebody who wants to share his emotions.

"Why are you crying?"

"But.." She wanted to say: I'll miss that time we three spend together in that house. "But..." She would say: "I'm so sorry you lost your home, your past."

But she didn't say it.

He smiled. "You're helpless. Your crying hasn't changed at all, Winry."

It wasn't just pity for him what she felt. It was something more... she wondered what he thinks of her. Does he even remember about her birhday which will be next week?

When she had talked with her first time, miss Hawkeye confessed "There is someone I need to protect." Now Winry decided to tell her about what was happening in her soul. There was someone she needed to repair no matter how many times he broke his marvellous automail. She also wondered if miss Riza ever cried for her special someone. But she wasn't able to imagine always calm first lieutenant crying.

At the moment, idiot was sparring with Alphonse outside of hotel to try out his new arm. But wasn't he trying too hard? She groaned, looked through the opened window and screamed to him: "Ed! If you're gonna damage your arm after I worked so hard, I'll kill you!"

Ed looked at her, smiled and shuddered. "I'm already used to it, Winry! Sometimes I see you in my nightmares, you automail monster!"

She bursted out laughing when she imagined herself as a homicidal demon with the wrech as her ultimate weapon.

"Mr. President! Colonel Mustang wants to see you, sir!" "Let him in and don't go near here"- Fuhrer ordered immedietaly. "Colonel" came in glad there aren't going to be any more annoying formalities or long waiting. "Sir, I'm repoting for duty..."

"You don't have to, Envy, we're alone" Wrath interrupted him. "Not so bad, but change yours eyes or else she'll know you're somebody else when she looks closely enough, she's Hawkeye afterall." Wrath laughed. Envy never liked his sense of humour and what's worse now he was accusing him of mistake in transformation!

"There's nothing wrong with my eyes, Wrath!" he yelled. "Is that so?" asked Fuhrer. "I always considered you more talented than that. It seems I was mistaken. What a shame."

"Hey, Fuhrer! Do you want to make me mad!"

Fuhrer took his sword and pointed it at Envy. "Shall I show you the meaning of this word, colonel, like I showed it Greed?"

Envy shivered and changed his eyes without thinking. Then he heard loud laugh while Wrath was hiding his sword. "Allright, I was just kidding. You don't have to be so defensive."

"Where is he? Are you sure I won't meet him in headquarters?" Roy asked to change the topic. "I sent Flame alchemist to possible Scar's location." President responded.

"But we want don't know where..."

"Scar obvieusly isn't in that place. But it will take a while until Flame Alchemist is back in headquoters. Did you forget that you must have some time to meet your First Lieutenant?"

Even though colonel Mustang was send to find Scar, first lieutenant Riza Hawkeye couldn't go with him no matter how she desired. Instead of that she was forced to make higher amount of pointless and useless paperwork that she had ever seen. It was not only her normal work, several guys responsible for it were on vacations.

To be honest she was really pissed off because of that as well as she was worried about Roy Mustang. "Probably I'm pathetic to worry about man who managed to save me and kill Homunculus despite being wounded"-she realized. She smiled, thinking she really must had been stupid believing some stupid bitch was capable of killing somebody with such great alchemy talents.

"Don't tell me... you're not saying that..."

And that bitch smiled cruelly. Riza hadn't felt such hate and despair. So Roy, whom she promised to protect always, was murdered... Roy, the person who she was living for... How come he was dead and she didn't know anything about it , didn't feel anything...

In spite of shooting all her bullets at that homunculus bitch she was still alive. Riza broke into tears. Now that she knew she won't meet Roy again, life was meaningless to her. She despised Alphonse for trying to protect her, because if Roy wasn't in this world anymore, there was no reason for her to live. She felt as if she lost soul. "Alphonse, leave me and run away"

He refused to. "Run away!" she insisted "but only you alone"

He refused again, saying he don't want people to die in front on his eyes again.

"Well said, Alphonse Elric" she heard the voice she knew well and thought she will never hear again.

Her soul was still in the right place.

"Are you allright, First Lieutenant?" asked sergeant. Cain Fuery walking ito her office. "Yes, Fuery, I'm only busy. I have a feeling I will be doing it all day and night" she sighed. "Would you mind feeding Black Hayate for me?" she asked. "Not at all. It's no problem for me" he agreeded.

The door opened and colonel Mustang came quickly into office confusing both of them, put some paper in Fuery's hands and gave Hawkeye sign to go with him. She followed outside the headquaters. "What happened, colonel?" she really was curious to know it. "Have you found Scar?" "No, it was only a gossip about Scar being there, first lieutenant." he responded. "But I achieved something as important..." He lowered his voice to whisper, his eyes were showing emcitement and determination. "I think I know of location of doctor Marcoh. We will go and try to release him. There are Homunculi in that place... whe're going to avoid fight with them because we must escape with doctor Marcoh, but we have to be ready for everything, so I must ask you if you're ready for possible fight with them."

"Yes, colonel. I will go to take more guns and bullets for us" she responded. She saw by his face that he was so nervous that he might had forget about such things. She was glad that there was a chance for Havoc whose spinal cord had been cut by that homunculus bitch, Lust.

After Hawkeye returned with more weapons they headed to the car. Fuhrer's car. When Roy opened it she wondered how come he had keys. She looked at him amazed. "Colonel, did Fuhrer allow it?" "Yes" responded Mustang with that expression in his face which she knew well and was calling "everything is as plannde but I'll tell details later due to important reasons"

When he didn't want to say something, nobody would force him to, so she trusted he will tell her when he can. "Colonel, what did you give Fuery?" Riza was curious. "A plan. A way to that location, sergeant Fuery is supposed to call reinforcements if we aren't back for too long." Roy explained.

They had been driving for more than one hour already when Riza decided to ask "We've lend Fuhrer's car. Does it mean we consider him our ally?". "That's still not confirmed" told Roy "but, you know, sometimes we must risk something."

She understood it well. She would risk everything for him. "Besides, I'm responsible for my subordinates" he added.

And she knew he blamed himself for Havoc's actual state. Roy was such sort of person that he would blame himself for whatever happened to people close to him even though it wasn't his fault.

"I discovered something" Roy whispered "regarding Hughes murder case." Riza automatically looked into his eyes and noticed the same painful and determinate expression he always had when he was thinking about it. When she saw how he cried after funeral, she knew that wound won't heal easily.

"Spaceshifter, the most powerful of Homunculi, was involved in that case." said colonel.

"If that's how it is, could it be that he turned into Maria Ross and that's why she was seen there by witnesses event though we know she's innocent?" she realized. Roy gasped and his eyes widened in sudden astonishment and he stopped the car but she didn't have time to wonder why was he surprised because he coughed and touched his throat as if it hurted. "What's wrong, colonel?" she asked, concerned about his health. "It's minor thing, first lieutenant, so don't worry" he ordered. "Do you have sore throat, colonel?" she asked. He nodded. "I can see a chemist's nearby, I'll buy you a medicine, sir" she stated. "But..." he wanted to oppose. "I'll be back soon, colonel" she promised as she was getting out of the car.

Envy was really disappointed and really angry at Flame, because until that moment he thought Flame was stupid enough to be fooled by him and burn second lieutenant Ross for killing brigadier general Maes Hughes to get revenge. Roy took a deep breath.

"That dirty horrid liar fooled us! That ass!" he cursed when Hawkeye was too far to hear him. He would kill first lieutenant Hawkeye immedietaly but he was supposed to kill her in front of Flame Alchemist to cause more emotional impact on him. Envy wondered if colonel and his first lieutenant really are so much in love that he will try human transmutation for her. Saying "Do you love me, baby?" or "Will you marry me?" would be inappreciate and suspicious because as far as Homunculus knew, colonel didn't like to talk about his feelings. He noticed she left her guns in car. How nice! He took all the bullets out of them and threw these bullets away to the nearest dustbin.

Riza returned with medicine and bottle of water. When he swallowed medicine he grimaced as if he'd never eaten any medicine before. After he drinked water, Roy took her hand and... kissed it gently. "Thank you" he whispered softly. She looked at him in amazement. It took her a while to notice she's blushing. She quickly turned her head, embarassed.

"We're almost there" told Roy "so we shall go on foot from now on." Riza nodded, still too excited to say anything.

Some time later, disappointed and irritated colonel Roy Mustang returned to Central Headquarters after not finding Scar and catching some minor bandits instead of it. He came into his office and was surprised to see only sergeant Cain Fuery there.

"Sir, you're back. Why isn't First Lieutenant Hawkeye with you?" asked Cain. "And why should she?" Roy didn't understand. "Well, you two were together, right?" Fuery was a little confused. "Ah, and I'm supposed to give it to you when you're back" he remembered and gave him a sheet of paper. "A plan to some location?" colonel was curious what was that supposed to be. "Sir, you went there together with miss Hawkeye, right?" Fuery seemed even more confused now, but Roy didn't care for it. If Fuery said he left headquaters with Riza and he hadn't done it that meant... that Riza was now... with spaceshifter! With Homunculus! ALONE! And what if... Roy sweatdropped and went pale. For a moment he thought he would have a heart attack. "How long... when had I and Hawkeye left?" he managed to ask.

"1 hour 39 minutes, sir." sergeant responded. "Sir, can I go and feed Black Hayate now?"

"You can even eat him for all I care" said Roy before leaving office and running to his car so quickly that he didn't see Fuery's shocked face expression.

Colonel launched his car and increased its speed to highest as soon as possible. Riza was with Homunculus for such long time, alone... what if he's already late, like back than? No matter how hard he tried he couldn't erase that thought.

He was told he had a phone call from Maes Hughes so he knew what to expect when he answered it. "It's me" he said "I won't listen if you're going to be bragging about your daughter again." But Hughes didn't respond anything. It was very strange. Did he feel offended or something? No, it's impossible...

"Hughes?" But there was only something. Roy was getting anxious.

"Hughes..." Dammit, was he joking like that to irritate him? "Hughes!" Or did something really happen to him?

Roy stopped shouting and hold his breath. There was still only silence. He still hoped he would hear something, that Maes will say that he was only joking or the he had fallen asleep for a minute. That he will say anything... And Roy would tell him off for scaring him like that. If Roy believed in any religion, he would pray for hearing Maes' voice immedietaly. He still didn't believe that something actually happened to Maes, but he was really worried. He didn't know what to do so he only waited when the silence will end.

Roy was still holding his breath when Hawkeye came in. "Sir, there are documents you must sign before.." .she paused when she saw his face. "Colonel Mustang, what happened?"she asked nervously.

He took a deep breath. "Hawkeye, something happened to Maes! We must go to help him now!

"Go? But where?"

"I don't know!" he screamed while putting his gloves on. "But I must go to him!" His hand shakened as he put the phone down. "We should call to his office to learn where he may be" Riza adviced.

When he found Hughes' body in that phone booth, it had already been cold. For a moment, Roy wished he's just dreaming and that someone will wake him up from. But he quickly realized he would never be able to have such cruel nightmares. He kneeled becauese his legs refused to stand. The only reason Mustang didn't cry there was because he was to shocked to cry.

And then he saw it. The photo of Maes and his family. He'd seen it before. For somebody else, it would be just a painful memory. But Roy felt it as a silent question "Why can't I be with them?". And the only answer Roy could tell at the moment was because he was too late to save him.

Roy cursed because he could see from that map that the building where he was heading to was quite far away. He wondered if he alone will manage to help Hawkeye. He had no plan or anything. He thought he would give his soul to devil if that would help him to save Riza. He hoped that she's intelligent enough to notice differences and kill that homunculi spaceshifter, who was called Envy or something like that, but he understood there wasn't high possibibility for it to happen.

Normal girl would fancy receiving flowers, because it was so romantic. But Edward Elric knew Winry was anything but romantic. That's why he wasn't standing in flowers' now. He was thinking if he should choose a wrench or screwdriver but he chose wrench (also for his selfish reasons – that wrench was lighter than hers). He left shop and when he was crossing the street he heard loud scream: 'FULLMETAL, WATHCH OUT!"

He only had enough time to jump on colonel's car and while he was doing it, his state alchemist's watch fell out of his pocket and crushed under wheels. Now Ed was really shocked and pissed off. That bastard colonel didn't even stop his car! Ed made a hole in sliding roof and jumped into the car. "You almost killed me, you colonel shit! And I'm still not very used to my new arm! Don't say I'm so small that you haven't seen me until very last moment!" Ed shouted.

"You sound very alive to me, Fullmetal" Roy responded. "And... since you're here... I need your help."he added.

"You destroyed my watch, you insane driver!" Ed outcried.

"I'll give you ten new ones." Roy promised. "That's beside the point! Were you trying to kill me or what! Stop your car at least!" Ed madness was still increasing.

"Fullmetal... I beg of your help." Roy whispered, making Ed wonder what did he drink today.

End of chapter one

Author's note:

I must end this chapter now cause Roy wants to fry me through internet cable. ;)

shivers

I'll write more in the weekend and I'm gonna publish it if somebody wants me to.