Well, guess what?

I am leaving for Indianapolis on Wednesday to perform at Bands of America Grand National Championships for the first time in my and my band's life. I'll be back Sunday morning (about four days). No, I don't think we will do well. Not only are we pretty below average this year, but we only have forty-odd members. Sadly, that is quite a large number of people for a school as poor as ours. I would start ranting now about the unfairness of school funding based on test scores here and how the school tried to pass a levy three times and failed three times, but mer. Who knows, maybe the school will close before I graduate. –slaps self- gah the angst is taking over tha woooooorld oo mwah I luv angsty fics. –twitchtwitch-

Anywayz, so yah. I'm writing this author's note before I begin the story, but of course once you see it, it'll be finished. I'm assuming it will be a short chappie so I can put it up tonight and get the news out.

If for some weird reason or another you end up at the band competition, I'll be in the Federal Hocking High School Marching Band, although we do have middle school members too, 7th and 8th graders. (our high school begins at 9th grade and our middle and high schools are connected.) No, I don't believe it will be on T.V., you have to buy a DVD for $30 I think. That way our crappiness can be remembered forever. . I really wanna go back two years to the Bill Chase show. It was awesome and our band actually made state for the first time in over ten years. Oh, and if you wanna know which one I am, I play trumpet and I'm pretty short and more that a little fat. At the beginning of the show the trumpet section is sitting at checker tables in front of the front sideline. I'll be the only girl with a lacquered (brass colored) trumpet. If you can't tell if I'm a girl, of the three people with lacquered trumpets I'm the fattest, the other two are skinny. Okay, I just explained all that but it's about .0000000001 chance that any of you will actually be there. Oo A girl has a right to make up stuff, right?

You may have noticed, I end up skipping a lot of words and repeating words in the same sentence, among other mistakes. That is due to the un-beta'edness. Sorry. TTTT

I lazily and fattilly disclaim.

p.s. I think it was near nighttime in the story. x.x

Chapter 8: The Chapter Of Shortness That IsLike Shorter Than The A/N And Shall Most Likely Be Combined With Chapter Nine Later When I Am Alive Again

They were all assembled in the lobby, which looked more like a grim meeting room now. Havoc had called Fury and explained to him, and he was now sitting in one of the chairs, gazing shamefaced at his feet. There was still no word from the doctors concerning Farman and Breda, other than they were still alive. It was dark out now, and the windows would look to be painted black if not for the lamp posts and late fireflies.

Roy deftly bit the inside of his lip. He finally had a chance to sit down and ponder this strange chain of events. The letter from his sister, having a momentary lapse of insanity (he gingerly prodded at the bandages still encasing his head), discovering Karen was still alive and under his sister's name as the head of investigations, the attack in the hall, and finally Havoc's confession. Add that all to what had happened already now long ago with Hughes' resurrection... Maybe now he could get this all cleared up.

"Okay. We all have a lot of explaining to do... and secrets to share. I would start by finishing my conversation with Karen before the attack, but seeing as she chose not to be here, that will have to wait. After that was the brawl outside my office."

He glanced at Havoc, who gave a slight night and carefully pulled himself up straight.

"As I was beginning to say before, I happened to come across Roy one day as he was rummaging through one of his cabinets, the one he always keeps locked. I saw the red stone quite clearly."

When he didn't add anything else about the contents of the drawer, Roy cast him a grateful glance, which he returned with a faint nod and a slight smirk,

"After a short time planning, Fury, Envy, and I came up with the simple plan of disguising Envy as Fury and quickly getting in and out. Disguising Envy was a simple matter, of course."

"We thought you were at home, but the receptionist told us you were in a meeting. That didn't make any difference really, so we went on with our plan. It was simple. Get into your office, pick the lock and take the stone, then be on our merry way. It would have worked, only Breda and Farman happened to pass by on some business or another and noticed the open door. Then... Envy freaked. Afterwards he had expended to much energy and collapsed."

Envy was seated at the farthest end, closest to the windows. He looked vaguely sullen as he sat with his feet pulled up onto his seat. He was tinkering with a yo-yo. He looked as if he didn't care a whit for what any of them were saying, although if you looked close enough you could tell his concentration was not entirely focused on the string toy.

"I think it was some sort of instinct that caused him to do it. Of course, that wasn't the only reason. But other than us being a couple-" Roy twitched, the idea of Havoc and a homunculus together still gave him a weird feeling. "-he's also been a bit... scared."

"Scared? And what does he have to be scared of?"

Ed's voice was spiteful. He would not forgive and forget easily. That would be against the principles he had built his life upon.

"Imagine you were immortal for hundreds of years, never having to worry about anything you do putting you in danger of death, and suddenly had all but the smallest bit of life stripped from you. You would have to turn every corner and walk every step in constant fear that the smallest misstep could cost you your life."

Ed bit his lip and looked down. Envy had put the yo-yo on the table and was hugging his knees, possibly asleep. Roy cleared his throat.

"Alright, we can talk more about these things later, but for now I just want some explanations. I'm afraid I may not need to ask this question."

He turned to Havoc, his faced grim and somewhat pained.

"How did Envy escape the Gate?"

SHORTY SHORTY SHORTNESSSS –cough-

Yes its short,just barely edited to a readable state,im tired, and I wanna get this posted now so people will know where I am. Reviews, and then it's sleepy time for me. I wrote this chappie in about thirty minutes. x.x please excuse grammatical errors.

NubianQueen413: XD Sorry, I sorta strayed from Roy and Hughes for a while to get the rest of the story moving. No worries, though. I'm not sure how soon, but soon I shall fluff up a RoyHughes centered chappie for yah.

O.o I sure hope those bunnies from planet geranium weren't plot bunnies, because that could give you some pretty freakish plots that will haunt you til your grave if you don't use them o.o

Reni BlueStar CC: You're not an idiot, I was actually in a very good mood when I read your review, and it made me even happier! My brain is slushy now of course from lack of sleep –ggraskslfhlfb-

Yup, you do ramble a lot. Just like me! Fufufu –cough- You're funny. I think I am going to poke you now. –pokeh- See? I know, I'm awesome. (not)

You know, I was reading your review, and it reminded me quite a bit of myself. XD Maybe we should chat sometime. –givescookie-

Thanks to me reviewahs. COOKIE TIME –cookies for the world-