Bast: "Guess I should help," he murmured to himself.

He, too, cleared the steps and started running after Lieutenant Colonel Maes Hughes down the busy, bustling street.

Maylan: Hughes continued his mad chase through the city after Aubrian, doing the best he could to keep the nimble girl in sight. Aubrian simultaneously leaped fences and cut through alleyways, using all the tricks she had in her arsenal. Hughes, as fast as he was, found himself being caught up by Marth, and he took the time to grin cheerfully at him.

"Hello, Marth! I have a favor to ask of you. Would you mind using some alchemy to help catch her? It's pretty difficult otherwise."

He quickly turned a corner and spotted the young alchemist making her way into a large throng of people in front of the train station.

Zephyr: Draoi stepped off her train into the large crowd of people. She absentmindedly hummed to herself as she looked around.

Bast: Marth turned into the train station. Gasping for air, he scanned the crowd for the girl.

'I really don't want to do this. I might hurt her feelings,' he thought.

He looked at his onyx leather gloves. On each glove was "half" of a transmutation circle. They were etched into the gloves with white paint.

A huge fountain was nearby. Its water was perpetually flowing.

"Good," Marth said to himself.

Marth clapped his hands together and sparks flared from his gloves.

The water from the fountain "flowed" its way through the air and formed a water orb in front of Marth. The fountain was sucked dry.

He began scanning the crowd for the girl. A mother and child walked by an officer, an old woman, and a teenager. In the corner of the crowd, he spotted her.

He moved his right hand. The orb levitated to his open palm. He sent the orb toward Aubrian. It narrowly missed a pedestrian.

The orb surrounded Aubrian. It levitated in the air and made its way through the crowd towards Marth. Marth clapped his hands once more and the water froze into thick ice. It looked as if it was a crystal ball.

Maylan: Aubrian remained frozen for a period of three seconds. Then, her right hand glowed brightly through the ice, and the orb began cracking. The next instant, the whole sphere broke into pieces, and Aubrian continued through the crowds.

"Clever, isn't she?" Hughes said, appearing at Marth's side.

Bast: "Well, I have another trick up my sleeve," he said as he clapped his hands again.

Aubrian was still in his view. She was still running. All of a sudden, she stopped. She started to walk backwards very slowly. Marth was controlling the water in her body. This was a complicated task for him.

"What do you want with her? I don't like doing this to her," he asked Hughes," She is part of the military."

Maylan: With obvious struggle, Aubrian turned her head to face them, anger evident in her dark red eyes.

Hughes merely smiled cheerfully. "Colonel Mustang just wants to see her." He chuckled. "I'm afraid Miss Iale doesn't like her very much."

Slowly, difficultly, Aubrian raised her arm out to the fullest and pointed a finger in their direction, gun fashion.

"Uh oh." Hughes gazed over at Marth with mild concern. "Better let her go before she blows up the whole station!"

Bast: 'Finally,' Marth thought.

He let go of the persistent alchemist. Marth wiped some sweat droplets from his forehead with the back of his glove.

"Our powers must be equal," Marth concluded,"No one was ever able to break my possession."

Zephyr: "Heeeey Hughes!" a voice called from the crowd. Draoi made her way towards the group, having witnessed the whole struggle. She twirled her silver pocket watch around on its chain.

"Why didn't you invite me to the party?" Draoi asked, pouting and pretending to be upset. She looked over at Marth and Aubrian. A smile lit up her face as she said, "Who are they, Hughesy, huh?"

Maylan: "Draoi!" Hughes greeted jubilantly with a wave. "Back from your greenhouse, I see! These are follow alchemists! Marth Agua and Aubrian Iale."

"I don't have time for this, Hughes!" Aubrian stated impatiently. She was still poised to shoot. The transmutation circle on the back of her hand shined brightly in the sun, a permanent scar burned into her skin.

"Now, now, Aubrian," the Lieutenant Colonel said, raising his hands in defense, "let's not get violent here. I'm only following orders."

"Well whatever the Colonel has to say had better be worth my time," the young girl stated, lowering her hand.

"I have an idea!" Hughes said brightly. "Why don't all of you come with me? The Colonel said there were a few State Alchemists he needed to see. Aubrian was one, and you two might be part of the others!"

Zephyr: Sounds good to me, Hughesy!" Draoi said, catching her pocket watch in her hand and stuffing it into her pocket. "Let's go!"

Bast: Marth rolled his eyes.

"Fine."

Close-Up Info

(in alphabetical order according to last name)

Marth Agua--

: Age 15 : Male : Specializes in Water Alchemy : Marth supposedly became a State Alchemist to get revenge for the death of his parents :

Aubrian Iale--

: Age 15 : Female : Specializes in long-range attacks and Fire+Wind Alchemy : Aubrian is cold, stern, impatient, and hotheaded, but extremely poweful and intelligent for her age: Aubrian's reasons for becoming a State Alchemist are kept to herself and Colonel Roy Mustang :

Draoi Turbis--

: Age 19 : Female : Specializes in Plant and Earth Alchemy : Draoi is upbeat, cheerful, outgoing, and sometimes hyper-active. She is very energetic and always goes with the flow : Draoi's reasons for becoming a State Alchemist are currently unknown :