Hey all! Its been a while! I've been working on this charpter on and off for weeks. I just can't seem to pound the pages out like I did for the first few chapters. Mostly that's because there's alot of action going on now and I'm trying to fit everything in without the piece becoming choppy and short or long and drawn out. I saw the BEST movie yesterday. Howl's Moving Castle by Miyazaki. Its perhaps the best movie I've ever seen in my LIFE! Go see it if its in your city! Ok, enough chit chat from me. Here's the story.

Trial By Fire

Pascolo was a pretty peaceful place, a tranquil trading town surrounded by local farming operations. To Sage's eyes, the terrain resembled that of southern France, very different from the desert like conditions seen from the train as it passed through north Southern on route to Dublith. It truly was beautiful, gentle rolling hills of soft coastal grass and fields of flowers stretching as far as the eye could see. The canvas of color was breathtaking. ( a/n: Think Grasse, France if you want to know how I imagined rural Pascolo. Grasse's main crop is flowers for perfumes. Its a gardener's paradise.) The ocean was less then half a day's walk away and there was even a small tourist town on the coast, though business was bad due to the skirmishes with Areugo. To the north lay the majority of the town's land with a river running through the city center to the south. The river walk was Pascolo at its best, the social and cultural focal point of the area. One could often find both civilians and military personnel hanging their feet off the stone embankment, splashing in the water and enjoying the view. The river also had a second purpose, acting as a natural barrier separating Amestris's most southern town from the Areugo's northernmost which also bore the name Pascolo. The two were so close it was as if they were one town, or used to be. Attractive as the town was, the veil of tranquility and beauty was just a farce, a distraction from the desperation of its peoples.

The closing of the trade routes had run the town into a state of economic disparity. Shops once brimming with expensive goods were now bankrupt, restaurants once full to capacity were empty save for visiting military personnel, and unemployment was rampant as businesses of all kinds crumbled in the wake of the depression. The people were wary even fearful of her though she had not the slightest clue why. There was a foul haze of anger and bitterness saturating the earth and air, seeping and spreading like an infectious disease. The military was supposed to be trying to resolve the conflict but since coming to Pascolo the reports of violence had steadily increased. Nothing was being done to try to solve the crisis and Sage was frustrated beyond description at the lack of action being taken to help the citizens. On top of that, the behavior of the military was downright deplorable. Be thou for the people indeed. Had they forgotten their oath? The whole thing was awfully suspicious and reeked of corruption and foul play.

Things just were not the same without Sage. At the very least it was safe to say that everyone missed her cooking and her coffee, even the Colonel. Riza was sad to loose one of her only friends, certainly her only female friend. The military lifestyle left little room for a social life and being a model soldier for so many years had begun to wear her down and make her stiff. Sage was a good influence on her, someone with whom she could relax and just be a woman for a change. Havoc cried the first morning Sage did not show up with her usual sampling of home made edibles, gormé coffees, and his daily refill of cigarettes. He soon resorted to open fits of depression, reminiscing dramatically while extolling every virtue of his youthful lady friend. Frankly, his outbursts were becoming obnoxious. Feury on the other hand was subdued and reserved, being even more quiet then usual. It was obvious to her that he had a huge crush on the young Corporal but he did a good job keeping his feelings to himself unlike some people. Occasionally Hawkeye would catch him daydreaming over letters Sage had sent him but instead of threatening him with her pistol for slacking off, she would grin over her shoulder and pretend she had not seen. He was always such a diligent and hard worker so she figured it would not hurt to give him a little slack for once. Men were so cute and innocent when they were love. That and a little on the helpless side too.

No one else noticed but Riza could tell Mustang missed Sage terribly. He sulked around the office in a bitter foul mood, snapping more frequently at people and abandoning his sense of humor altogether. For once he was short of words, silently diving into his work with a seriousness and appetite that was out of his character. Even if he didn't realize it himself, she could tell he had grown attached to the girl in the time they worked closely together. Riza had to admit, they just looked so... natural together. It was like there was some deeper, subconscious connection between the two of them. Not that they realized it of course. They were too busy verbally sparring with each other.

Although Colonel Mustang would never admit it, the cocky young corporal had begun to grow on him. She had that vexing ability to brighten his day no matter how much work he had or how foul of a mood he was in. There was a relaxing, liberating quality to her but no matter how hard he tried to ignore her, she always managed to get under his skin. They constantly fought and bickered about everything under the sun. He swore, that woman was as stubborn as... well him and he had the strangest suspicion that she had spit in his coffee on at least one occasion. Her passion for the scholarly arts was unlike anything Roy had ever seen before and her voracious craving for alchemic knowledge in particular rivaled that of even the FullMetal Alchemist. At every free moment, her nose was planted firmly in a book. It was funny, kind of... cute. Well, it was until he found out she had been forging his signature authorizing her to check books out of the Eastern branch of the national library and top of that, a considerable amount of money had been withdrawn from his military account. When she gets back I'm going to kill her! Over the course of five weeks, she had checked out no less then one hundred books. Jeez, does this kid ever sleep? Out of curiosity, he looked at the long list of literature she had been reading. Let's see... Organic Alchemy, Principles of Biological Transmutation... As he read down the list he was a little shocked and disturbed by the apparent subject matter of her research. Human transmutation?

The Brigadier General paced up and down the line of new recruits, inspecting them critically like pieces of decomposing meat. Pathetic currs. Southern regional headquarters had promised him a capable force and he had expected nothing short of the best. Instead they gave him a fractured assembly fresh from recruitment, a bunch of rank youths culled from the far corners of Amestris. Even the uniforms looked as if they were being worn for the first time. Needless to say, Brigadier General Marx Lyon was not pleased with what Southern had given him to work with. They all stood rigid and straight backed with squared shoulders under his critical eye, the tremble of their hands betraying the false confidence of their slightly puffed chests. All except for one.

From the moment she stepped off the train, the young woman stood out amongst the rest. She had a strange presence about her that he did not know quite how to describe. You could find her instantly amongst a crowd of people but at the same time, she could be standing right in front of you and not be seen. Every fiber of her being radiated power, confidence, dignity and grace. He hated those piercing eyes of hers. They burned with defiant fire, mocking his superiority. The hatred was mutual as Sage disliked the man instantly. With the personality of a dictator and the disposition of a crated lion, he certainly lived up to his namesake. He was a distinguished looking man with snow white hair and an aged, chiseled face but the cruel shine to his steely brown eyes and his harsh tone of voice took away from his genteel features.

"So you're famous the 'ward of the state' that I've heard so much about." He mused, bitterness tainting every abrasively sarcastic word that rolled off his arrogant tongue.

"I was not aware that I had a reputation sir." Sage was amused by the number of eyes that had turned her way. She could hear whispers amongst her peers.

"Corporal Morrison." He leered, pacing circles around her. "That's a big jump in the food chain for someone in... yourpredicament."

"My predicament?"

"The Flame Colonel spoke very highly of you Corporal." He said absentmindedly. She didn't like the hungry look in his eyes. He was fishing for something. "Yes... he seemed very fond of you." She knew what he was implying. It was not exactly a secret that Mustang was a flirtatious womanizer, or at least he seemed that way on the outside. Sage was infuriated but she contained her rage. Lyon laughed softly, a rich and deep sound that was repulsive to her ears. She stiffened slightly, her hands clenched tightly by her side. "I seem to have struck a nerve."

"Your out of line sir." She hissed. Smack!

"I don't like your tone soldier." Sage was firm and unmoving in her militaristic stance, not so much as flinching under the sting of his fist. Her defiant, rage filled eyes remained fixated on the Brigadier General. Everyone stared at her. How had she managed to keep her balance and remain standing without taking a step backwards or moving with the force of the blow? The truth was, she had actually leaned into his fist at the last moment. The blood was already rising to the surface and within an hour she would have the beginning of a black eye.

"How genteel of you to strike an unarmed woman." Sage spat with a smirk. He suddenly grabbed her by the neck and held her up in the air. She struggled to find solid ground, the toe of her boot barely scrapping the dirt. Gasping for air, she grabbed his arm in an attempt to pull her weight up but the flesh noose around her neck would not loosen.

"I know all about you Morrison." He hissed, clearly enjoying her distress. "Thought you could gain your freedom by pledging your loyalty to the state, that your problems would just disappear if you joined the military. Did you really think you, a foreigner a worthless criminal would be welcomed with open arms?"

"I've committed no crime and my pledge was sincere." She managed to force out painfully and with much difficulty.

"Your far from Eastern Corporal and Colonel Mustang does not make the rules here. One false move and I won't hesitate to send you back to prison where you belong." He dropped the slack girl in a heap like some filthy creature and dismissed his troops.

Several black uniformed privates rushed to her side and others crowded around to see if she was ok or perhaps trying to catch a glimpse of the "ward of the state". Though she couldn't talk, she smirked and nodded painfully in silent gesture. Most of the twenty or so men and women in her unit she had met on the train at one point or another. As the only officer amongst them, they looked up to her and subconsciously viewed her as their unofficial leader. Private Mathew Douglas gingerly picked her up and escorted her back to the barracks. Hopping on the train just one stop after Eastern, they had gotten to know each other very well over a four day long tournament of cards with several others joining in as they boarded further down the line. Douglas was a wiry, scruffy looking young man of 18; medium length hair sun bleached from light brown to a dirty blond, long bangs that always hung haphazardly over his mud brown eyes, and the unshaven beginnings of a beard (a/n: kinda like Hughes). Sage could tell instantly that he was a farmer's son by his leathery skin and and rough calloused hands but despite his weathered features he still had a warm boyish face.

Word spread quickly between the units and it was not long before everyone knew that the 'ward of the state' was stationed in Pascolo. Sage saw the suspicious, questioning looks people gave her as she walked by and she was aware that many of the privates were talking about her behind her back. She knew her capability as an officer and a soldier was being challenged. Still, the majority of her unit remained more loyal then ever, saluting her proudly every time she passed by even when they were off duty. Instead of pulling her collar up and wearing makeup, she boldly displayed her bruises to show that she would not be intimidated and that she was not ashamed of the consequences of standing up for her honor. Any doubts as to her worthiness and skill were laid to rest after a weekend of war games in which her outfit became the deciding force in battle. After one of her superiors was 'killed', she stepped up in his place and took control of all his units and assets. Under her leadership, her troops secured a quick and decisive victory with out a single casualty and Sage had even managed to rescue POW's from the opposing team.

"Your kidding me, not a single casualty? That's unbelievable! I got to tell Roy about this..."

"Stop it Maes, your making me blush!" Sage teased over the phone. "Speaking of Roy, how's he doing? Hawkeye keeping him in line and out of trouble?"

"Yeah, he's his usual self." Sage laughed at his tone, knowing full well what usual meant.

"How's Elysia?"

"I thought you'd never ask!" In actuality, she was interested in knowing how her little pal was doing but there were more important matters to deal with.

"Lt. Colonel, can I ask you a favor... off the record?" Hughes paused at her pressing tone of voice.

"It must be serious if your addressing me by rank. What do you need?"

"I need a copy of all treaties, pacts, or international laws and regulations that deal specifically with Areugo. Something's not right with this whole border conflict."

"You know, Roy asked for the same thing not five minutes before you called. I swear, its freaky how you guys always seem to be on the same page." Hughes and Sage both laughed.

"I'm sure its just a coincidence. If its possible, could I also have a copy of all incidence reports since the military buildup started and the file on Brigadier General Lyon? And I kinda need it ASAP. By morning if possible."

"Sage you know you don't have access to that information and I'm not authorized to give it to you. And you want them by morning? Pascolo is almost a week away by train. How on earth am I supposed to get all this to you?"

"Pull up the files for me any ways and lay them in one stack on your desk. Just trust me and call back when you find everything." An hour later, the phone in her room rang.

"Alright, I got everything. Just what exactly are you up to?" Sage was busy drawing a deosil spiral pattern on the surface of her desk.

"I want you to draw a spiral on the top center of the first page curling windershins er... counterclockwise." She corrected herself as she put the finishing touches on her desk carving. "At the exact moment I count to three I want you to hit and charge it like its a transmutation circle. Don't worry about not knowing alchemy. All I need you to do is activate it, nothing more." Hughes was confused and skeptical but curiosity persuaded him to go along with the plan. "One... two... three!" Sage and the Lt. Colonel both slammed their palms down at the same time. There was a brilliant flash of white light as the symbols activated and an ambient glow as the stack of papers materialized in front of her, right over the seal she had engraved in the desk. Yes! It actually worked! Sage laughed at her friend's stunned exclamations.

"Wha... what just happened?"

"Relax Maes. I have everything right her in my hand. I'll return it in a few days."

"How did you do that?" Sage chuckled.

"A magician never reveals her secrets."

"Ow!" Mathew Douglas rubbed the sharp pain to his head. A group of children were pelting him and Corporal Morrison with rocks and clumps of dirt. His superior always managed to passively dodge each projectile with little effort or extra movement but lacking her grace, he had taken several nicks to the head. Morrison gently grabbed his arm and held him back.

"Stand down private, their just children." She laughed softly as a clump of dirt exploded against the side of his head. He spit the dust from his mouth and sighed in defeat, trotting back behind his superior after adjusting the rifle slung over his shoulder. Angry farmers in the fields shook their tools as they walked by, shouting their curses of discontent. The Corporal continued forward straight backed and calm, appearing to be listening intently to their words.

"They have every right to be angry private." She replied as if sensing his annoyance, her voice somber and contemplative. Mathew sped up shoulder to shoulder with her and was mesmerized by her reserved expression; so compassionate, understanding, reassuring, and even... sad. How could something so plain and simple convey so much? She radiated empathetic wisdom and the tension ebbed in response to her calming presence. Surely this woman had to be a spirit as there was no way she was human. Most days he felt honored just to be in her shadow and would gladly give his life in service to her leadership.

"Go away you dog!" A little girl no older then ten sprung from the bushes and threw sand in her eyes.

"Sir!" He snapped out of his daze and rushed to steady his blinded superior. Meanwhile the child's horrified mother had snatched her little girl into her arms, fearfully trying to apologize.

"Forgive us! Please, don't hurt her. I swear she won't..."

"No harm done. Children will be children." Morrison chuckled warmly. "Nice aim kid. That's a smart move, blinding your opponent. Gives you the advantage." The mother smiled snakily while the girl puffed her chest proudly, her fears quelled the moment the blue uniformed woman spoke.

"Its not much, but its all we have." The woman known as Sara said as she placed a cup of tea in front of her honored guest. She lived in a small cottage and although it was in bad need of some basic maintenance, it still possessed a unique charm reminiscent of a French country home. The inside was simple and barren, the emptiness of the rooms reflecting the hard financial times.

"No, this is wonderful. Tea is so hard to come by these days. I'm quite flattered really." Sara beamed as she sat down. Her daughter Tristen swung her feet happily opposite of Douglas who was not sure how to handle the giggling child. Sage saw the sad look in Sara's eyes as she watched her daughter flirt with the young private.

"Times have been hard. I don't know how long this city can last with the closed borders. The blockade meant to catch smugglers has only made things worse. Now we can't even get supplies in from further north." She sighed "We're pretty fortunate though. There are people starving in town. Its been a real problem for us out here trying to keep the trespassers out. They raid and damage our fields but I just don't have the heart to shoot them."

Sage felt she could do more for the people of Pascolo. On her way out the door, she showed Sara the shoulder patch she had fashioned for her unit. It was an orange-red colored shield bearing three black bars and the brilliant white silhouette of a rearing heraldic horse.

"Look for this symbol if you or anyone else ever gets into trouble. My guys will take care of you."

"Mail call!" Douglas sang happily as he waltzed into the barracks, arms laden with envelopes and packages. Those that were not gathered in the center of the space quickly jumped from their bunks and joined the circle. Sage was interrupted from her studies when her second in command poked his head through the entrance to her private room. "Read, read, read. That's all you ever do. What could possibly be more interesting then mail day?"

"Sorry Mathew, I just lost track of time." He smirked and rolled his eyes in a friendly way.

"Well hurry up. No one wants to start without you."

There was a ruckus of noise as she entered the room; hoots, claps, cheers, and other forms of greeting. She had managed to scrape up some beers for her guys, a gesture that was greeted with much enthusiasm. Such social gatherings had become common amongst her company as theirs was a tight nit group, kinda like one big family. With their leader present and Private Douglas as the master of ceremonies, everyone proceeded to enjoy their evening.

"This one's for Sage... ooo, look what we have here!" Mathew grinned deviously. " 'From the office of Colonel Mustang, Eastern City'."

"Ooo!" Everyone heckled playfully. They all roared in laughter as she made a mockery of the Colonel's angry letter, inserting her own ad-libs to the fray. Apparently he had found out that she forged his signature and borrowed money from him amung other things. Oops. Jezz, it's not like I stole it! I paid back every scent of his damn money.

"Wait, there's a few more in here for you Sage." Mathew dug through his pile and selected a package and three more letters. "You sure are popular tonight. Lets see... how about the package first?" Who on earth would be sending me a present? She tore through it like a kid in a candy shop.

"Oh Riza I love you!" She giggled in childish delight as she hugged the bottle of fine wine her friend had sent her. She'd have to save this for a very special occasion. Next was another letter from Hughes, updating her on all the latest happenings in Central and containing more photos to decorate her office with. A good number of them were of Elysia but she did not mind. Letter number two was from Kain.

"Sergeant Major Kain Feury" Mathew teased. Sage quickly snatched it from his hands before he could read it out loud.

"That one's private." The guys gave their fiercely blushing leader quite a bit of grief. Last but not least... Sage frowned. "It's from the higher ups..." Everyone was oddly silent, reading their leader's distressed expression, knowing something was very wrong.

Her superiors were disappointed with her unit's lack of arrests and what they considered 'progress', completely ignoring the fact that they had peacefully quelled more fights and riots then all other companies stationed in Pascolo put together. Aggravated by her continued lack of aggressiveness, her superiors were now ordering her to use deadly force, to open fire on what they deemed 'unruly' persons. Not only that but they were strengthening the blockade, completely isolating Pascolo from the larger mainland of Amestris. Their baiting the people into rebellion. Its a setup for war. Sage was furious. She crumpled her notice up and jumped angrily to her feet. "Whatever anyone else says or does, you are not... I repeat not under any circumstances to raise your weapon to a civilian! Do I make myself clear!" They all shrank back slightly in the face of her pure, untainted rage.

"But sir... we would never..."

"No matter what, you are only to return fire. If anyone orders you to do otherwise, you tell them to take it up with me." She snapped, suddenly becoming quiet and ushering everyone to be silent.

"Do you here that?" She seemed to be listening to something that no one else could hear, head cocked slightly like an animal investigating an out of place noise.

"Sage, is something wrong?" Mathew asked hesitantly but like a phantom she had already disappeared, a slight breeze and the sound of the swinging door the only evidence that she had not vanished into thin air before their eyes.

Angry shouts of protest echoed outward from the lit town square just off the river front where people of all ages were gathered. The sound of soldier's footsteps rang through the air like a chorus of raindrops on hard dirt and with a horrifying pop, the voices of discontent turned to screams of terror and fear. The acrid sent of gunpowder wafted from hot rifle tips, defiling the clean midsummer air. People scrambled in fear only to find the exits blocked by more soldiers lying in wait for some poor soul to challenge them by wandering into range. Leaders signaled their men in a ceremonious fashion with wide graceful gestures and loud booming voices as if going through a drill or a demonstration. There was a hissing, clicking noise like a rattlesnake poising itself threateningly before the final strike; the sound of rifles being cocked and loaded as solders dropped on one knee.

"Don't you just love a little bloodshed?" A smooth, sensual voice mused form her vantage point atop a building, breathing in the faint aroma of carnage as if she were sampling the scent of a rose.

"Hmmm. Makes me hungry!" a harsh, high pitched voice laughed excitedly.

"Calm yourself Gluttony, you'll have your fill of flesh soon enough."

"Freeze!" Lust pierced the man through the heart without so much as a second glance. The soldier flashed a pain free, aloof smirk.

"Your getting sloppy Lust." The woman sighed as the unfazed solder transformed leisurely from foot to head.

"We don't have the time for your games Envy. Did you accomplish your mission?" Envy stretched calmly with a bemused half grin.

"Yeah but these people are no fun. They all scatter like a bunch of rats. There's no fight to them." he pouted, swinging his feet over the edge to watch the carnage and enjoy his handiwork. "Explain again why we're here in the middle of nowhere? This place is of no use to us."

"No use to us but it is very useful to the Chimera Alchemist and his research is of great value to our cause." Envy was no longer listening to his companion's explanations. He was busy following a green blur running through the catacomb of stone passageways and dark alleys.

Everyone was so caught up in doing their 'duty', obeying their superior officers, that they were blind to the fact they were being used. Did no one stop to question the validity of their orders, the motivation behind the actions they were being called to commit? This dangerous level of ignorance coupled with the corruption in the chain of leadership created a perilous and volatile situation when paired with the anger and desperation of the people of Pascolo. The tensions had finally reached breaking point.

It was no longer about trade rounds and economic disputes, the original purpose of the conflict lost amongst the chaos. This was not a matter of simply helping the people of Pascolo any more, it was a matter of saving them. Sage had to do something, she had to stop this before it turned into a massacre.

Consumed by the rush of urgency and the fire of an unsupressable rage, she felt her self awareness slipping. Her mind slowly shifted into an alternate state that was similar yet very different from the meditative awareness she achieved when she was focused and centered. Her body moved on its own accord, moving and reacting on instinct and intuition alone. She moved through the streets with a speed that was inhuman, feet making no sound even as her boots trampled the stone road.

The captains raised their arms to signal the next volley but never got the chance. Soldiers jumped and some fell back as a brilliant white streak shot by with it a tremendous gust. A hooded figure stood at the end of the line holding a striking position with a blade of light in hand. The silent pause was broken by the clank of metal hitting the stone pavement. Men yelped as the ruined remains of their weapons burned their hands; the smoking edges melted through like soder under an iron, the smoldering wooden parts cut clean through like scissors to paper.

A lieutenent standing twenty feet away whipped out his pistol and found himself stareing into the eyes of a demon. Bang! His arm was wrenched up painfully, blood splattering everywhere and a strange weapon pressed to his throat. Though it did not touch his skin, he could feel the heat radiating off it. The smell of burning air was overwhelming and the high pitched ringing like that of a hot iron was deafening to his ears.

The creature pressed the blade of pure energy closer. The flesh on his neck began to cook and burn and peel away. The lieutenent winced in pain and shook with terror, to petrified to even beg for his own life. He jerked when cold steel pressed against his neck. Opening his eyes, he saw a normal sword in hand. There was an alchemic flash as his gun shattered into a thousand useless pieces, the creature's eyes glowing underneath its hood as coils of energy ran up and down the its limbs like electricity coursing over a fuse. In that brief instant he caught a glimpse of the strained face of a young woman.

More soldier's arrived and forced the woman to flee to the center of the square. With a flick of the wrist, the sword vanished with a flash. Pale red light flashed threateningly beneath her feet as soldiers moved in, a transmutation activated on its own accord. She briefly tensed in pain but refused to faulter as tremendous amounts of alchemic energy corsed through her, causing her eyes to glow red-orange and turning her green cloak the color of rust. Walls of fire fenced the soldiers in as explosions rang through the night, exits blocked by fallen stone and brick. There was a long pause as the dust cleared, red lightening still occasionally sparking off the woman's limbs. Two streamers of flaming orange energy silently snaked forth into the air like whisps of smoke rising from a stick of incense, coiling beautifully around its maker. She smirked as she dropped into a fighting stance, twin ribbons of fire moving and flowing with her motions.

Envy watched the commotion with much interest as the single figure took out four units of soldiers. The speed was unreal, unhuman as she moved effortlessly through the field of gunfire, occassionally fading in and out of sight like a phantom. How the hell is she doing that? The efficiency, the beauty, the grace in which she went about her slaughter was like poetry in motion. It would appear to human eyes that she was using alchemy, but he was not human and what she was doing was not alchemy. Alchemic in nature yes, but still... this was something different, something new.Whatever it was, it was mesmerizing.

For one she did not hold her weapons. They moved on their own accord, the streams of flame acting as an extension of their creator, a part of her; flowing, bending, moving with her, complementing her every motion. Sometimes the strikes were controlled by hand motions a kin to if they were true whips while other times they stuck without direction or vaguely followed the movements of a martial style that was very foreign to him. With everyone dispatched, the figure repaired the buildings and made her way back down the alleys.

"Finally, someone worth fighting!" Envy jumped down from his perch landing deftly like a cat in front of his prey after transforming mid air into a soldier again. He rushed the woman with his inhuman speed but was held at bay. What followed was a blinding display of quick movements. He laughed off several hard blows as he popped his broken neck back into place.

"Very good, very good! Your fun, not like those people I slaughtered earlier." He chuckled as she resumed the attack with renewed vigor. "Ooh! Did I strike a nerve?" He grabbed her arm as she made for another strike but recieved a painful and dibilitating alchemic shock. Sharp blades shot over his head as he hit the ground, knocking the woman back and nailing her to the brick wall.

"Enough with your games Envy, we're done here." Lust sighed in exasperation but no sooner had she withdrawn her blades, her prey rushed her with continued ferver. There appeared to be no holes in the woman's cloak from her piercings as Lust blocked the oncoming blows. "That's quite a trick." She grinned sensuously, impressed by this young woman's creative tenacity and amused by her determination. Or perhaps its stupidity. Envy managed to knock the woman's hood back as she finally broke free and bolted down the alley away from town.

"Isn't she that Morrison person, the one that's been interfereing?" With the woman long gone, Envy transformed back into his normal form looking thoroughly bored and dissappointed without his little mouse to bat around. He pouted like a child whose favorite toy was snatched away.

"Yes. She really has been quite a thorn in our sides." Though Morrison avoided the killing blow her blood still dripped from Lust's fingers.

"hmmm! She smells delicious." Gluttony sniffed the thin trail of blood that betrayed the unseen injuries, sampling the delicate droplets. "Mmm. Her blood is so spicy. Ooo and hot! Its like eating fire..." Lust sighed and rolled her eyes as she flicked the sanguine liquid from her hands, Gluttony greedily devouring the droplets that splashed across his face and rushing to lick the smears from the walls.

Looks like something's not right with Sage. And now she's hurt! What mess has she gotten herself into now? What are the homunculi doing in Pascolo? Why are they helping Chimera? What use is Pascolo to him? How will she stop Areugo and Amestris from duking it out? Who's behind the abuse of the citizens? Will I ever get around to working Ed back into the story?

Stay tuned for the next chapter: High Treason and the Phantom Sage Alchemist