This chapter goes to the Gloomy One, for being the third reviewer of the last chapter. Gloomy One, you rock! I was thinking of redoing the whole entire story- because it sucked way bad- but since you liked it so much, I'll continue it. Cookies for you! (Throws cookies at the Gloomy One.)

Disclaimers: ED'S TALL! Wait, he isn't? Then I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.

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Back to the Elrics.

Helen's house was a strangely built building. The front side was made of the usual sturdy wood boards, with two small curtained windows to the sides of an oak wood door. The wood was painted the standard color of white, while a grey tiled roof sloped gently above. But where the front entrance ended was where the normalcy ended.

Helen's house was a cave.

"I hope my house isn't too strange," said Helen. "I know that most people don't like living in a cave."

"Why here?" asked Ed, curious. "I'm sure the villagers could've built a house for you." (Al already told Ed how Helen ordered the villagers to dig him up.)

Helen blinked. "They wouldn't do that."

"Wouldn't they? They seem to like you very much," said Al.

"Heh." Helen smiled, shaking her head. "I may be liked, but the villagers have it hard already. Besides, I like my home. It's cozy." She pushed through the front door, revealing to the brothers how right she was.

The room was brightly lit, with lamps shining merrily above. A wood table with a flower centerpiece stood quietly at one side. Two bookcases crammed with worn volumes stood at one side, while a comfortable couch dominated the middle room. To the side were two other doors.

"You're welcome to stay in the extra room," said Helen. "Please make yourself comfortable." She opened the next door, revealing a small tidy room with one bed. Al turned to Helen.

"Thank you," he said, bowing. "This is very kind of you."

"Don't mention it," said Helen, waving her hand around distressingly. "I'll enjoy the company. Now, good night."

The two brothers retired to their room, Helen smiling at their backs. The door closed, leaving the strange girl alone in the brightly lit room.

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"I don't know. She seems fishy to me."

"How could you say that, brother? She took us in!"

"But you got to admit, it's strange for a girl living all by herself in the middle of nowhere."

"She's got her reasons, I'm sure of it!"

Ed gave an exasperated sigh. "Fine!" he cried. "But I'm keeping my eye on her." He turned over in his bed and closed his eyes. Moments later his breathing slowed, and he fell asleep. Al stared at his brother's sleeping face, and quietly stood up. Without a creak or sound, the armor exited the room, and closed the door behind him.

It should be pointed out that this was a habit of his. Whenever Ed and Al were staying at a house or hotel, Al would often get bored waiting all night for morning to come. So when the boredom became too unbearable, he would sneak out and find the nearest library. In this case, Al wanted to read Helen's books.

Al lighted a candle and turned to the shelves. The top shelf contained How To books, i.e. How to Farm, How to Teach, How to Live in the Wilderness, How to Fly (Al was puzzled by this one), How to Do Magic, How to Fight. They didn't interest Al much. The next few shelves contained fictional books. Al looked over them disinterested, then stooped to the bottom shelf, which held only three books. One was Helen's journal. The other was a nameless blue volume. The last….

"The Renkinjutsu World?" Al drew the book out of the shelf and thumbed through it. It held a detail map of Amestris, facts on majoring cities, the currency, and many other aspects a tourist would find in a pamphlet on Amestris. But why did this book call Amestris, "The Renkinjutsu World", and why would Helen have it? thought Al. Could Helen not be from here? The question only brought up more questions, making Al all the more confused. He sighed, letting his tumbling thoughts calm in his mind. Like he said, she has her reasons for being here.

A brief gust of wind blew into the room, blowing out Al's candle and leaving the poor boy in the dark. Drat, thought Al. He couldn't see a thing.

The door creaked open. Al could hear footsteps padding softly across the room, leaving the house. He paused. It wasn't his brother's footsteps, for sure- there was no alternating clank of automail. That would mean it was Helen. But why would Helen leave her house in the middle of the night?

Al followed her.

Clouds floated over the moon, bathing the world in dim darkness. A light wind rustled the trees, hiding Al's footsteps from prying ears (a.k.a. Helen). The Elric boy didn't know why he stayed hidden. Maybe he didn't want to break Helen's trust, or maybe he truly was suspicious. In the end, Al stayed out of sight and followed Helen to the forest.

They were well in the forest by the time Helen stopped in a clearing. The clouds that screened the moon before floated away, letting the moon bathe the clearing in eerie moonlight. Helen's figure stood waiting in the middle of the clearing. Al watched behind a screen of trees.

Helen moved. In her hand was her staff, hidden from attention until now. She raised it in the air, reflecting the moonlight on its now-glimmering surface, and muttered a few words. Then, with an air of determined concentration, the girl lowered the staff and started drawing a diagram in the dirt. Slowly, as line after line connected, the diagram formed….

Al heard rustling behind him. "What's that girl doing here drawing a transmutation circle?" Ed's head popped up next to Al.

"Brother!" cried Al, surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Ed snorted. "I should be saying the same thing," he replied. "I always thought you were up to something at night." He glanced at the spectacle. "So this is what she's hiding. I said she was fishy."

"Should we do something, brother?"

"Don't know. Could be a harmless transmutation. Then again…"

The brothers watched as Helen drew each line with painstaking slowness. Slowly, as the lines connected and the ruins were writ, the familiarization dawned on the two brothers.

She was drawing a human transmutation circle.

Helen, finished with her work, sighed, and kneeled down to touch the ruins.

"Hold it right there!" cried Ed. "Helen, stop!" shouted Al. They ran out to the clearing, attempting to stop the girl before she began.

But it was too late. The circle burst into light, illuminating the clearing as energy crackled through the air. A faint humming buzzed, filling the air. Helen looked with eyes wide as Ed, Al, and herself were drowned in a flash of golden light.

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Oh man, oh man oh man oh man. That had to be the WORST chapter I've ever written. Sure, it helped move the story along, but it still SUCKED. Don't deny it, it was humorless, dull, and utterly a pain to read (much less write). Hopefully a few of my readers won't think so, but if you have any complaints, don't bother to flame me: I already know.

-fishy