Chapter 8 is here! I had it done yesterday, but for some reason, the document wouldn't upload... Oh, well. The first sniglet is from Ed's P.O.V, the second part is Noelani's P.O.V. Sorry I didn't mention the P.O.V.'s in the last couple of chapters, but I hope it was easy enough to figure out.

Ed, Al, and Noelani walked down the street, with no particular destination in mind.

"What are you going to do?" Ed asked, staring at the ground and walking slowly.

"I have to do this."

"You don't have to."

"What about you?" she turned on him and the party stopped, "You don't 'have' to find the Philosopher's Stone and get your bodies back to normal!"

Ed looked down in shame. It was true. Edward often said that he and Alphonse "had" to find the Philosopher's Stone as if they were being forced to, but Edward could not let himself ignore that awful mistake.

"I'm sorry," Noelani said after a long pause.

"It's fine," Ed replied in the same tone.

"You're right though," Al chimed in, "and we'll help you."

And thus, their silent pact was made.

Over the course of the following days, the three studied. To Ed's surprise, she knew all the basics. She just needed a few extra tune-ups to get through the written exam. That was quickly taken care of. When Noelani said she was the best alchemist in her age group, she wasn't kidding. On the 28th of December, they were given the bittersweet news that Noelani could indeed take the exam. On the 29th of December, Edward deemed her ready for the Alchemy Exams.

On New Year's Eve, Noelani was relieved to not have to study anymore. She decided to go to the park after stopping by Riza's house to take a shower. It was cold outside, but the sun was shining. She got to the park and took the same path as on the day she went to the Rockbell's. When she got to the clearing, Arabia wasn't there, but Aurora was. The reindeer quietly grazed, then looked up to Noelani. Aurora simply took a step and started grazing again. Noelani sat down, knowing Arabia would sniff out Noelani eventually. After a few seconds of staring, Aurora lifted her head suddenly. Her muscles tensed, and she had her ears forward. Without warning, she spread her wings, ran, and took off. Noelani stood up, ready for who knows what. She walked silently to the area where Aurora was staring. She looked, but saw nothing.

Just when she was about to relax, a voice from above her said, "Hello, there."

Noelani looked up to see a boy of around eighteen in the same black clothing as the girl from the other day. He also had black hair, although a bit messy. He was sitting on a limb and leaned against the trunk. Noelani could see the same tattoo that was on the girl on his left hip, halfway covered by his black pants.

Suddenly, he jumped down, and Noelani took a step back. He laughed and said, "I'm not here to be rude, like Indi was. I have something to give you."

Noelani said nothing as he pulled a red stone from his pocket. Noelani instantly saw that it was a Philosopher's Stone.

"I'm sorry if it's just a cheap copy. Those idiots still haven't perfected it, but it should get you through the practicals."

"You want me to cheat?" she finally asked.

"What? Is you hijura not worth it?"

Noelani narrowed her eyes, took the stone, and said, "How do you know?"

He simply smiled and ran off into the woods. When Noelani thought he was gone, she heard him call, "I'm Theft, by the way."

Noelani turned around, staring at the Stone.

"I should take this to Edward."

She walked back through the woods, wondering, "How did he know me? Who is he?" Her thinking made the trip back to HQ much faster. When she arrived in Mustang's office, she asked, "Where's Edward?"

"I don't know," Mustang replied, "Why do you need to know?"

Noelani sighed, "Well," she took out the stone, "This."

"Where did you get this?" he asked harshly as he took the Stone.

"I don't know, really. Some guy with black hair and black clothes gave it to me. He knows! He wants me to cheat on the practical exam!"

Roy looked up to Noelani and asked anxiously, "What did he call himself?"

"Theft. He also mentioned an 'Indi'."

Roy narrowed his eyes, "Strange…"

Riza, next to him as always, asked, "Do you think…?"

"I'm not sure," he replied, "but we can't risk it," he turned back to Noelani, "If you see him again, or anyone like him, avoid them at all costs. I'll keep the Stone. These are unstable."

Something was happening, but Noelani didn't ask what, "Yes, sir."

He looked surprised, "You're not in the military."

"Yet." She finished.

That night, Noelani spent New Year's with Hawkeye and the rest. It was similar to Christmas, but Noelani was totally out of it. Her exam would be in several hours! When the clock tolled midnight, a pit in her stomach formed. Would it all be over if she didn't make it? Or would she try to take it again next year? Noelani didn't know if whatever was happening could wait that long.

So, she left without much of a good-bye, but the others didn't worry about it too much. They learned from experience that she likes her space and will ask for help if she really needs it. Besides, she didn't think they'd understand. She went to the park and found Arabia. They found a secluded spot and settled down there. Noelani, used to sleeping outside all her life, simply took out a sheet from her bags and used Arabia's side as a pillow. She hadn't told anyone where she slept because she worried that they might try to make her stay inside or something.

Shrugging off these thoughts, she closed her eyes and went to sleep. Whatever would happen would happen. Even with this philosophy in mind, she still went to sleep knowing her life was about to change.

End of chapter 8

Wow, this is a really short chapter. Then again, I think the next one will be pretty long, so yeah.