A/N- Okay, one thing I forgot to mention that I'm REALLY sorry I forgot to mention is that this story may have spoilers, depending on how many episodes of Fullmetal Alchemist you've actually seen. Now don't get me wrong, I've only seen the first season, but I've read about everything else. If something's off I'm REALLY sorry. This chapter's shorter than the last one, but I promise THERE IS A METHOD TO THIS MADNESS! Oh God there are two Ed's in this chapter, and if you don't understand where I'm going with it either A)You haven't seen the entire first season, B)I'm bad at writing, or C)You just made a little mistake and forgot something. I forgive you.

Disclaimer- I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of its characters.

Chapter 6- The Missing

With both Edward and Alphonse missing, things weren't going so well at the military headquarters located in Central that day. Izumi had been transfered to a hospitol, and once she'd had the pencil removed, she'd absolutely refused to stay for any longer than she had to. Therefore, she was out of there after about two hours. The Fuhrer had sent a search team out, but neither of the Elric's had been found yet.

"Somehow I should've known this would happen," Izumi said to herself, sighing in defeat. "I can't believe this..."

"Don't blame yourself. You had no idea how to control this to begin with, and it's not going to do you any good to punish yourself over it." Izumi had to admit, Winry had a point as she sat there next to her, probably just as worried about the Elric brothers as she was, if not more. "Roy, was it?" Roy nodded at the young blonde sitting in front of him. "Shouldn't we maybe go out there and look for ourselves if no one finds them? I can't just sit here and wait like this. For all we know, Al could be..." She couldn't finish her sentence, so it was a good thing Roy understood exactly what she was talking about.

"I suppose we could." He turned to Havoc. "Lutenite Havoc, if you could please drive."

"Yes sir," Havoc replied.

---

"Where... Am... I...?" 'Ed' had come to stop on top of a building a few streets west of the Military Headquarters. Where was he, indeed. Where were the people he remembered seeing so very long ago, or at least what felt like so very long ago? The blonde girl he'd thought was pretty could probably have been of some help by now... Or had he killed her? He couldn't remember.

Either way, he could hear gun shots richocheting off the wall behind him, so, being the sin he was turning into, he jumped off the roof, and landed gracefully on his feet when he reached the ground. Throwing his red trench onto a trashcan lid, he took off, looking for where the bullets were coming from.

He came to a corner, and took it sharply. When he stopped, he was eye to eye with a somewhat familiar person, not holding a gun, but dangerous none the less. "Finally... Chasing after you is just as hard as it used to be." 'Ed' looked upwards at the taller figure, and finally recognized him. His brother. "Honestly, I know I never told you to come to Central, but you showing up here is... Just a bit less than a miracle."

"I apologize," 'Ed' replied timidly, looking at his superior. "What must I do?"

"Well..." The figure jumped on top of a box, making himself look even more intimidating than he already was to the shorter figure standing below him. "I figured we could follow some basic instincts. You take care of the Fuhrer, I've got to do some work of my own. You're not to show up unless it's absolutely nessecary, otherwise I don't want you at the building until eight tonight. Capiche?" 'Ed' nodded, and the elder green haired sin gave a smirk. "Go to work."

---

Al wandered the streets. He'd been doing this for a while now, and things weren't getting any easier. He hadn't run into any search partys yet, but he was pretty sure he would soon, and he didn't want that to happen. Then again, where was he supposed to go? This was a nowhere city, where he had no connections to anyone. His only choice would be to go back to the Military Headquarters, but what good would that do? He didn't want to see his brother...

No, Ed wasn't his brother. Yes he was, but at the same time... It made Al's head hurt. He didn't know what to think anymore, not after what he'd seen his brother do, twice now, actually.

He walked along the alleyways, stopping to cough a little now and then, and thinking of what to do. Everything was okay until he thought he heard a voice from behind him, which he did. "Mr. Elric, sir?" Al turned. The lutenite he'd come to know as Denny Bloch was standing behind him, as were some soldiers that were probably sent out to find him. "Please sir, you need to come back to the headquarters with us." Al ran. "Mr. Elric!"

And he ran... And ran... And ran until he stopped abrubtly. Standing in the middle of the alleyway where he needed to go through was... His brother? "Edward?" He asked, a little frightened. What if Ed tried to kill him too? Would Ed really do that? No... He wouldn't. At least Al hoped not.

"I've been looking for you everywhere!" Ed replied, sounding in a much better mood than he had been all day. Al smiled. Maybe his brother was back to normal. "Come on. We've got to get away from the Military freaks and go find Winry and Izumi." Something about this sentence didn't sound right to the younger Elric. Weren't they supposed to be going back to the Military Headquarters? Wasn't that where Winry and Izumi were waiting for them?

"Shouldn't we go back to the Headquarters?"

"No. Winry and Izumi sent me here to look for you. We're meeting somewhere near the outside of the city for a little while." Now this really didn't sound right, but if this was Ed, Al decided he should trust him.

---

Ed was having a hell of a time finding his way around Central. "This place fucking sucks..." He said, monotonously. "Where the hell is this place?" Finally he thought he saw it. A large building, probably about as large as the hospitol if not bigger, had the military flag draped over it. This was exactly where he was supposed to be. "Wonderful. Now to find that damn Fuhrer..."

He wandered up at the front desk, probably going to look to see what room the Fuhrer was in. This shouldn't have been so easy, but then again... There was no one at the front desk. A map was placed on the wall, and everyone's offices and rooms were labled. "What idiots."

The window that was still broken in Roy's office served a good purpose for the soon-to-be sin. He broke a few more of the jagged edges off before slipping inside, and taking a look around. The Fuhrer wasn't there. In fact, it seemed like no one was there. "Damnit Envy, I'm gonna kick your ass when I get back. What nerve, sending me here when he probably knew this would happen! They're probably out there chasing after me. Heh."

Ed jumped back out the window, landing nicely on the ground. He stretched, and as he did so, a bullet hit the wall and fell to the ground next to him. Looking up, he saw a brunette, with a bunch of backup soldiers behind her.

Lutenite Maria Ross didn't recognize the Elder Elric. After all, his hair had come out of its usual braid a while ago, his eyes weren't focusing clearly, his leather pants has rips in them left and right, and his red trench coat was missing. Great. This person obviously didn't know what she was dealing with... No, these people didn't know who they were dealing with.

Walking up to the Lutenite, Ed kicked a rock out of the way, trying to emphasize the point that he was in a shitty mood. When he got close, it seemed she finally realized who this was. "Mr... Elric?" Still, being in his current situation, Edward shook his head at her. Why did everyone call him that!

"I'm afraid you've mistaken me for someone else," Ed snarled at her, very angry indeed. She backed away, wondering how this could be. She'd been told to look for a figure that looked exactly like Edward Elric, only without automail, and she'd found him. Ed reached his hand out over the ground, which turned red and black, emitting some weird lights as he dragged a sythe out. Very long and pointy. "My name is Pride." He pointed the sharp end of the scythe at her. "And I would appreciate it if you told me where the Fuhrer was."

"Edward, stop this!" Maria shouted. This wasn't the Edward Elric she'd known so many years ago. This person wasn't even sane! Ed didn't stop. He kept coming closer, and closer, until finally Lutenite Ross decided this wasn't safe. They'd have to shoot him in the leg at least. She pointed her gun, aimed, and fired. It hit dead on.

Ed fell to the ground, dropping his scythe and holding his left leg, which was gushing blood. "Fuck!" He cursed to himself, squeezing the wound to get the bullet to slide out. It did so easily, and he stood up, making a run for his life.

"After him!" And off they went.

---

"Winry, I'm just fine..." Izumi said to the blonde sitting next to her. Winry was obviously worried about the Elrics right now, but then again, who wasn't? With Havoc driving, Riza sitting in the passanger seat, and Roy, Izumi, and Winry in the back, it was a very quiet atmosphere.

"I can't wait for this day to be over," Havoc said from the front seat, completely disregaurding the Fuhrer sitting in the back. Roy ignored him. He knew why Havoc wanted to get back earlier than usual. He'd finally gotten himself a girlfriend, something he usually wasn't very able to do.

"Settle down, Havoc." Riza didn't take her eyes off the side of the streets while she said this. It was a good thing she didn't. "Sir..."

"What is it Luten..." Roy didn't even finish his word. All five of the people who inhabited the car were staring out the window, as Denny Bloch led quite a few soldiers after Edward and Alphonse Elric. Ed was practically dragging his younger brother along, and Al felt like his lungs were going to explode. "Stop the car." Havoc did as he was told, as all of the passangers got out. "EDWARD!" Roy yelled.

Envy turned, looking at just who had yelled the Fullmetal Alchemist's name. Damnit Pride! Why wasn't this guy dead yet! And furthermore, where the hell was Pride! This question was answered when Pride came running down the street, holding his leg while blood dropped to the ground. He ran straight into Envy.

Everything stopped. Everyone else was speechless as the two almost identicle looking Ed's, who would have been identicle had the real Ed not gotten shot in the leg, stared at each other, angrily. Envy signed. "I guess they realize what we're pulling now, don't they?" And he transformed back into himself, with the green hair and purple eyes, waiting for the Fuhrer to say something. Al backed away, frightened.

"You're... Not... Ed!" He didn't get a whole lot more out before he started coughing. This time, blood came out. It was getting worse. A lot worse. Envy yanked him up while he was still coughing, and made sure he was looking straight into his eyes, cowering in fear before he spoke.

"That's right. Your brother is gone. He doesn't exist."

It took a few moments for the words to sink in, for everyone who'd heard this sentence. Al especially. Envy was laughing until he felt a heavy punch hit him in the back of the head. He fell to the ground, as did Al. "What the..."

Standing above him was Ed, eyes returned to normal. "Leave him alone!"

"Damnit Pride..." Envy retorted, pulling a red stone out of his pocket. Edward gasped when he saw what this was. Yes, a real Philosopher's stone. Not an incomplete one, but the real thing. This was bad.

"How did you get one of those!" Envy shook his head, sighed, and shrugged at the elder Elric. He took the stone and held it in front of Edward. It began to glow a brilliant crimson color, meaning it was reacting to something. And all at once, Ed was no longer himself, but back to being the almost sin he was before.

"God only knows how long that'll last for... Maybe one, two hours at most," Envy said, placing it back in his pocket. "Onto bussiness." He grabbed Al by the neck, and took off running with him.

"Well don't just let him get away!" Roy yelled. This should've been obvious. Soldiers went after Envy, but a large wall of rock was soon transmuted in front of them. It had come from Pride. "Edward, what the hell are you doing! He took your brother!"

"Who is Edward?" Pride asked, staring around at everyone. "I suppose I'll be seeing you all later." He practically dissapeared into the ground.

Al was gone.

A/N- Okay maybe it wasn't shorter. Not sure. Too lazy to check. Anyways, please review!