Dimensions
By: Kurama-Sweethart (Moe)
Warning(s): Spoiler for the SERIES AND MANGA. It isn't really based on either one alone, per say- but my own crazy rendition of the two. For example, the timeline is manga formatted- Cornello happened before Nina, and Ed is 15. However, the events that take place are in the anime format, when it comes to dialogue and happenings. Also, Mustang is Colonel as opposed to Major, as shown in the series. Obviously, in the beginning it is set before the death of Maes Hughes. Blah blah, I'm sure you get the idea.
Pairing(s): Meh. There are a lot of pairings that might show up sometime in the future, depending on my laziness. If I'm feeling really ambitious there could be a little side plot involving a little bit of Yuri. At any rate, Roy x Ed later, as well as Russell x Ed, and one-sided Envy x Ed. Because Ed's just a pimp like that. Implied Hughes x Roy. Mild Lust x Sloth. You get the idea, I'm sure.

The air was dark and musty, the fresh smell of bourbon and sex lingering over the room and the low hum of conversations spoke in a hushed roar. The occasional brawl broke out, normally over a lost poker game or the occasional wandering hand groping things that were normally unseen outside the bedroom. Yet, despite the vermin occupying the pub that night, two tired looking military men hunched over the bar, grasping mugs of alcohol as if it were the elixir of life.

"I can't believe no one noticed it before." One said in a low voice, taking another swig from his glass.

The second one didn't raise his gaze. "I'm sure she made sure it went undiscovered."

"What if there are more than just Douglas? There could be several soldiers in the military that were in on it." The first spoke again, glancing over to his subordinate and long-time friend.

Hughes downed the rest of his bourbon and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I'll check all the records of anyone who's taken a leave since yesterday." The Lieutenant's eyes shone darkly with betrayal, the irises a curious shade of golden green. "Obviously, if Douglas left, everyone involved must have, too. They're not looking for confrontation, that's for sure."

Mustang hummed in response, taking another swig of his alcohol, eyes already dark with fatigue as all hopes of staying sober dwindled away in the bottom of his glass, which he could see vaguely through the murky yellow whisky.

"Eh," Hughes continued, standing from the stool. "I'd better get going, I promised Elysia I'd be home in time to tuck her into bed." His face took on an unearthly glow when he mentioned his daughter, resonating with fatherly pride.

The Colonel stood, as well, still a bit intoxicated but not so much so that he'd stumble or sway in his movements. The only evidence, in fact, that he'd been drinking at all was the almost undetectable tint of pink blushing his normally fair skin. He nodded, following Hughes out into the fresh night air.

Mustang allowed himself to become absorbed in his thoughts, and in the small moment that it took to leave the pub and get into the middle of the street he was so distracted with his reverie that he didn't notice the worried looks shot at him bluntly from his friend.

"Roy? You feeling okay?" Hughes finally asked, turning slightly. "Do you want me to walk you home? You look a little flushed." He chuckled at the last statement, marveling how just a few glasses of bourbon could make his friend so dead to the world. It was obviously his smaller frame- not as much alcohol needed to control his system. Personally, it took Hughes a good dozen flasks before he even felt lightheaded.

"Naw." Roy responded, shaking his head. "I think I'll call for one of the driver's from Headquarters to come pick me up." Surprisingly, there was no evidence of a slur in his speech.

Hughes laughed, his hands buried deep in the pockets of his overcoat. The night was a bit chilly, leaving him breathless, yet another sign that autumn was fast upon them. "No need." He began to make his way the other direction, towards the small home in which Mustang lived. If he remembered correctly, it was a smaller house, much like his own, in which the military had provided. "It's not that far if I remember right."

Too lazy to argue, Mustang nodded and followed the Lieutenant to his own home, wincing against the wind and tucking himself deeper into his military jacket.

"Maes." He called after a long moment, an indescribable tone in his voice.

The other man tossed a glance over his shoulder at the alchemist, face drawn lazily in a look of mild curiosity. "Huh?"

"What happened with… us?" he asked quietly, peering over at him with dark eyes.

Hughes sighed, fully understanding what he was referring to. "We were… merely victim to circumstance." There wasn't a sign of embarrassment in his voice, the awkwardness of the situation having dwindled away almost a decade before. "With the war… we turned to whatever comfort we could find."

Roy nodded in agreement. "Do you regret it?" He asked suddenly, the corners of his mouth pulled into a lazy smile.

"No." The Lieutenant replied bluntly. Then, smirking, added: "Do you?"

The Colonel shook his head. "Not a chance."

"Wow! Lookit that one!" Al urged, pointing with a gloved hand at the night sky. "That one was the biggest yet."

Fletcher grinned widely, allowing a giggle. "MmmHmm." He responded, peering up at the heavens, dusted thickly with stars. "Oh!" He exclaimed as another comet quickly streaked across the sky.

The two boys lay on their backs atop the hill, nestled comfortably in the lush grass, pointing and shouting as each meteor came into their line of vision. Al looked a little out-of-place, a large suit of armor plopped lazily on the lawn, but luckily they were out of sight from the city of Xenotime below. It's not like Fletcher minded at all, because he kept giggling and asking questions and reciting stories to even realize that to an uninformed eye the two looked a very peculiar pair.

"Al's having the time of his life here." Ed said softly, pulling away from the window and letting the curtains fall back into place.

"Fletcher, too. It's nice to see him get out and having fun." Russell agreed from where he was sitting at the table.

Ed nodded his head in acknowledgement, slumping down into his own chair adjacent Russell's. "Do you have the array?" He asked suddenly, glancing up at the other with serious eyes. He was eager and anxious to get started.

The younger hummed in the affirmative, pulling the rolled up parchment from his pocket. "Where should we do this, then?"

Ed thought for a moment, eyes fixed on the paper. "The basement. I'll run up and grab those plants from the sunroom. " His commands were swift, so like him, blunt and to the point with no questions left to be asked. As he made his way to the staircase, Russell went around to the cellar steps, listening to the metallic ring of his boots against the copper.

A few minutes later the Fullmetal followed, potted pants clutched in his hands. Russell had just finished spreading out the paper on the hard floor, now crouching around the side of the circle, watching intently as Ed strategically placed the plants in the corresponding positions on the transmutation circle.

"Okay. I think we're ready." Ed breathed, wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his flesh hand, fingering stray strands of blonde hair behind his ears. "These should be enough, right?" He motioned in the direction of the plants.

"Hopefully not." Russell replied bitterly, leaning over their array. "And you have the Red Water?"

Ed smirked, pulling the vile of crimson liquid from the pocket of his pants. "Did you seriously think I'd forget?" He challenged.

"I can never be too sure." The younger teased. "Anyway, pour all of it into the center."

The Fullmetal did as he was told, emptying the glass into the center of their array, spreading it evenly throughout the small center circle with his finger.

"Now I'm going to need you to focus," Russell repeated, looking across the matrix at Ed. "I want you to concentrate as hard as you can, like we practiced."

The Fullmetal nodded. "I know, lets just get on with it already."

Russell laughed, stealing one last glance at Ed before closing his eyes to buff up the array. He swirled into his meditation quickly, already feeling his energy seeping from his body and into the circle, which he could already feel beginning to shift with life of it's own.

"If I die," Ed mumbled from across the room, just loud enough for Russell to hear over the buzz in his ears, "I'm going to kick your ass."

The younger alchemist didn't dare open his eyes to look at the brilliant light that he knew would be erupting from the circle now. The energy from the plants would be green at first, and then it would fade to a deep purple as the power was suctioned by their array.

He couldn't help a grunt as he lost energy, desperately clinging to consciousness. He could count on one finger how many times he had done this before, and he hated to admit, that while being the best and only authority on Dimensional Alchemy, he was also painfully inexperienced. Russell gasped as he felt the energy around him strengthen, caressing him with cool, slender fingers. The vortex was opening.

He wrenched himself away from the circle, flinging his body across the room and landing awkwardly against the wall. Ed did the same, breaking the connection in his energy and crawling across the cement floor, panting. After all chains of energy began to die down, the light dimmed, dwindling to a mere glow before stopping completely.

"Ed?" Russell called into the pressing darkness of the basement. "Edward?"

He heard the older alchemist cough, and then the whisper of movement. "Russell, it worked." He replied lightly, a twinge of relief lacing his voice. "We did it."

Lust watched half-interested, glancing across the room at her lover. Sloth was out of her dreadful secretary attire and into the traditional clothing of the Homunculi- the black material of her dress clinging to her figure.

"It wasn't your fault that repulsive man figured out our plan." She said, her voice lowered. "They would have, eventually, anyway."

The woman across the room tossed her head lazily, gazing at her with murky, violet eyes. "Still," She answered slowly. "I should have finished him when I had the chance. Now he's got more men involved."

"It doesn't matter." Lust interrupted, waving her head to illustrate the invalidity of it. "Envy says that only the Flame Colonel and his little sidekick know about you. After we take care of those Tringham boys, we can get rid of them, no problem."

Sloth thought for a moment, gazing out the open window at the night sky. "Why do we have to sacrifice those boys?"

"Because," She answered, voice hollow. "They'll just get in the way. Only the Fullmetal can create the vortex- he is the Elite, after all."

She made a low noise in the back of her throat. "So that talk of chimera-"

"-Is ridiculous. That Sewing Life Alchemist had everything all wrong- and he wondered why he couldn't open the continuum." Lust answered truthfully, resting her chin in her hand.

"How amusing." Sloth muttered, closing her eyes. "Well, I do hope Envy gets back soon. You've gotten me interested now, Lust."

Wheeee! Finally, I got some action. Albeit it was very crappy, boring action, but it was something all the same. It took me forever to get the plot going, oh my god. Hopefully this chapter delivered, it took me a while to get done.

To be continued – General end-of-chapter ramble: You review, I update, kapeeeeesh? Thanks so much for reading:D