This chapter is inspired by Sabrina Carpenter's song called "Thumbs" off of her 2nd studio album called "Evolution."

Kaimana - Is Hawaiian for several meanings. "Ocean, Sea, (Mana - Power) and Diamond."

Alchemist Chronicles

Chapter 35 - Thumbs

Xizang, Xing

With many battles still insinuating between Xing, Ikemba, and Farhan, tensions are still as high as ever.

Ordered and sent out by the Emperor himself to see how well the both of them co-operate as a team on the field. Mao and May, who are also with other warriors, are sent out to fight against the border enemies.

Mao - "May! We are supposed to be working as a team! This isn't a solo of one!"

May - "Then stop stalling and attack! We have to protect our people!"

Mao - "I know that!" "Then shut up and-" She dodges an Ikembian's spear. "Damn it! These jerks just aren't letting up!" "May! Let's focus on the main problem!" "Yeah, like that jerk with that Philosopher's Stone. How in the hell did he get one? I've only seen them in Amestris."

Mao - "I wouldn't be surprised if Drachma has a few stones as well. It was a hotspot for one of the blood crests to activate that circle, right?"

May - "Yeah. At the border where Briggs stands." "Then precisely why we should handle this situation with equal standards." He tells her. She nods her head. They rush in for the attack.

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Central, Amestris

In the morning the Fuhrer sends out a message to Mustang to bring Ed back to his office. Once they make it there, The Fuhrer tells Ed. "Well, you certainly are quite the famous one, Fullmetal."

Ed scoffs. "Yeah, I doubt it. I haven't done anything in two years. And it's not like my wedding was the center of the papers, nonetheless."

Grumman - "As true as that may be, you are still admired by the people you helped save or saved yourself. They look up to as their hero, even if that isn't something you see in yourself."

Ed sighs. "Guess I took alot of things for granted in those days." "As a soldier of mine recently said to me. "You can't move forward if you've haven't accepted the past yet."

Ed sighs and looks away. "With all that said and done, it is not why I called you here, Edward." Ed looks back at him. "I wanted to thank you for your help in the capture of those three fugitives," Grumman tells him.

Ed - "I didn't really do anything but yell at them." "Which is I'm sure was not your original intention." Grumman replies and chuckles.

Grumman then looks at the Lieutenant General. "It probably brings back some fond memories of young Elric, eh Mustang?"

Roy smirks. "As entertaining as they were, it was even more enjoyable to watch when his plans imploded back in his face." Roy and Grumman erupt into laughter at Ed's annoyed expression.

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Xizang and The Imperial Palace, Xing

Walking over to May, he helps her up and the both of them watch as both the Ikembians and Farhians retreat back to their countries. "Well, it's over," Mao says.

May snorks. "For now. Although I am glad that the stone was a fake, it's still dangerous." Mao sighs and says. "We should report back to the Emperor at once." May nods her head and they turn to leave.

Arriving at the palace and walking into the Hall of Moulding Temperament to update the Emperor. "So this fake Philosopher's Stone, what is the difference than the one Ling Yao brought to me?"

May responds. "There aren't any human souls in it. That's what makes it incomplete. A fake in other words. The real stone can be made up of a substantial amount of souls. The limit is endless. More souls mean a more powerful stone."

Emperor thanks and dismisses them. Walking out of the Hall of Moulding Temperament, Mao grabs May's hand and spins her around. He then grabs her cheeks and kisses her tenderly.

Parting, Mao asks her. "Why aren't you kissing me back, dear?" Before May could reply, he kisses her again, only this time she eventually does kiss him back.

Separating again, he tells her. "I really want this to work out for the both of us. I'm falling for you, May. The way you carry yourself in practice and in battle. That adorable smirk you make after you defeat your opponent. It's also cute when you scrunch your nose when you're pissed." He smirks and chuckles when she makes the face and storms off, away from him.

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Central, Amestris

Back at Janine's place, both her and Al go over the last few sheets of the Ibis notebook.

Grabbing the last paper, Al says. "And this is the last paper. This book was pretty much all about The Promised Day."

AJ has a thought that comes to mind. "Hey uh, Al?" He looks at her. "Yeah?" "This is gonna sound really weird - well strange." Al nods for her to continue.

AJ - "You said your dad lived for many years because of his stone that was created by the dwarf in the flask and that he was also known as the philosopher of the west, right?" Al nods his head.

AJ - "Well I'm not saying that this was him but down in Aerugo, Saverne to be exact. There is a flare of a rumor that speaks about a 'sconosciuto'."

Al looks at her confused. "Sconosciuto means unknown in Aerugian. It is believed in the city that many years ago, someone appeared one day and disappeared the next, leaving behind a new wealth of knowledge. I don't have nor know alot about that particular topic but I do have a book that talks about the city's history. Would you like to see it, Al?" "Sure," Al replies. She stands up and walks off to grab the book.

Bringing it back and showing him. "I'll translate for you so you can understand it." "Thank you." She smiles. "Your welcome."

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The Imperial Palace, Xing

May (with Shao May) and Mao leave the Hall of Moulding Temperament and start to head over to the west for their trip to Amestris.

Mao - "Are you all set and ready to go, May dear?" She nods her head. "Yeah." She says smiling at the sunrise.

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Central, Amestris

Grumman informs Ed and Roy about the guests visiting from Xing and are asked to rendezvous with them in Liore.

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They agree and make it to Liore by the afternoon. After meeting up with May, Shao May, Ling, Lan Fan and Mao, all of them head back to Central Headquarters. Grumman greets them upon entering the building. Once inside of the Presidential Room at HQ, each and every one of them takes their seat.

Grumman - "Good Evening, Ladies and Gentlemen. Who would like to go first?"

Ling starts and explains the situation between the three countries. "I see," Grumman says.

Mao adds in his and May's recent experience with them as well. "This is troublesome indeed. So has your Emperor requested any meetings with myself to discuss any peace treaties with Amestris since he is asking for a request from me to send some of my countrymen to help out with the problem at hand?"

The four of them look at each other. Lan Fan turns back to Grumman. "To be honest, we didn't ask nor were told of any agreement between the countries. Is it a mandatory requirement, sir?"

Grumman sighs. "As you all are aware of The Promised Day events, alot of my soldiers are still on edge with any warzone related events."

Ling - "To add to that particular matter. I know the Emperor also wants to make a partnership with Ishval. During the last annual meeting with our Emperor, other countries came up as well such as Aerugo, Creta as well as that other country to the west that is next to the both of them."

Grumman - "Hm. You are probably referring to Kaimana. Interesting to know since I've myself have tried several attempts to get in contact with them to no avail. I've even sent out a fellow ally of a Native subordinate of mine but that didn't work out as well as I hoped so too."

They all look at him with amazement. Mao stands up and asks. "Wait! You know a Native? As in, an Indigenous Native?"

Grumman nods his head. "Yes. Indeed. Would all of you like to meet her? Although I am sure all of you have met her before, am I right?" Looking at him slightly confused about his comment, The Fuhrer waves his hand to a guard at one of the doors, who salutes and leaves.

Grumman - "She will be here shortly. In any case, I would be happy to help out Xing in anyway I can but first I would like for both countries to come to a mutual agreement in regards to any forth-coming battles that may occur. Regardless if I am sending them to the battlefield in their home country or another country that they've never been to before. I will have to face their families if they do not come back alive, henceforth apologizing to them on their graves." They all stare nervously at him.

Grumman then breaks out into laughter confusing all of them. Calming himself down, he tells them. "But let's not think about those what-if's or could be's, eh? Instead-" A knock at the door breaks his conversation. "Come in dear, our guests are waiting."

Janine opens the door and lets herself in. "Good Evening, Fuhrer Grumman." "To you as well, Sargent Rambo. Come on in and have a seat."

May - "Seriously?" Ling, Mao, and Lan-Fan all glare at her. She rolls her eyes.

AJ sits, directly facing them. "So? Are there any questions any of you would like to ask me? And before you ask, I am of Native Blood. 1/4 to be exact."

Mao looks at her surprised. "Well, that's incredible. I've never met an actual Native before. Are you accustomed to your culture and lineage?"

AJ - "Yup."

Mao looks at her with amazement. Before he could ask her anything else, May asks with a tone. "So why weren't you with us during The Promised Day?"

AJ shrugs her shoulders. "I guess I could ask you on why you decided to come back after every single one of them told you to go home but I guess (She leans back in the chair) we're both have our reasons for the choices that we've made, right May?" May glares at her.

Ling - "So spill, you have another chi about you. Are you in possession a Philosopher's Stone?"

Grumman interrupts Janine before she could reply. "No soldier of mine is allowed to carry any of those abominations, Mr. Yao." Ling grins. "Good to know."

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Walking into her apartment, sighing. Janine sits on her sofa, exhaustedly. She recalls what was asked of her earlier by the Fuhrer.

"They are in need of help, Sargent. I am planning a few teams to send out there and I would like for you to be apart of one of them." Grumman tells her. She asks. "How long before the send out?" "You can rest on it tonight, but I will need an answer first thing tomorrow morning." She stands up and salutes. "Yes, Sir!"

Coming back to the present, she lays down and relaxes, eventually drifting to sleep.

Waking up in the middle of the night, she finds herself in her own bed and with an arm wrapped around her. Looking up, she sees Al peacefully sleeping next to her. Smiling, she falls back asleep after she cuddles more closely towards him.

In the morning, Al walks her to the Fuhrer's office. Walking in, Grumman asks Alphonse to stay as well. "So do you have an answer to my question, Rambo?" She stands and salutes, accepting the job. Grumman smiles. "Good."

Signaling Al to sit down as well. "Now. You will not be heading over to Xing as I'm sure you believed you were." Janine looks at him with confusion. "I understand why you are confused. Hear me out."

She crosses her legs and leans forward a bit. "According to Mr. Yao. The Emperor of Xing wants to start making agreements with other countries than Amestris. Aerugo is one of them."

AJ - "And that's were I come into the picture." "Precisely, dear. Even though there isn't a concrete deal between Amestris and Aerugo, you and I both know the mutual ground that the two of us have agreed upon in the past year."

"Do you think that any favors that one side does for the other will benefit all three parties involved?" AJ asks.

Grumman - "Twiddle the thumbs, clap your boots three times and hope for the best. Am I right, Sargent?" AJ chuckles lightly.

Al - "So why exactly am I here?"

Grumman tells him. "Would you like to join Miss Rambo on her trip to Aerugo ... as her bodyguard?"

Al and AJ stare at each other with surprised expressions. Looking back at the Fuhrer, who adds. "The both of you will have to pack up and leave for the trip today the moment you leave this office." Janine sighs and explains her promise to the Elrics to the Fuhrer.

Grumman - "I'm afraid I can't allow Edward or his wife to join you." They both sigh. "But If I happen to run into your older brother Alphonse, I'll explain my decision to him."

Janine then takes deep breath and stands, saluting the Fuhrer. "I'm ready, sir." Al stands as well, nodding in agreement with her.

Grumman smiles. "Then both of you are dismissed." They immediately rush out of the room and make it to their scheduled train on time.

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Once they settle on the train as it starts moving, she notices how quiet he is.

AJ - "Are you nervous about your first trip to Aerugo?" She asks him while sitting next to him on the train.

Al - "Yeah." He sighs. "I don't speak the language. That's why I'm so nervous." "Do you want me to teach you it?" Al smiles happily. "You mean it!" "Of course!" Al grins and pulls her into a hug.

Al whispers to her, blushing. "Thank you." She blushes as well and replies. "You're welcome."

End of Chapter 35