Author's Notes

I don't own FMA or SM… it's really depressing…sigh

I hope you all forgive me, since this chapter is really dark, and the fic really is meant to be humorous… I just can't write humorously about the situation, since that would be very, very wrong. Okay, enjoy!

Chapter 3: The Tragedy

A dance wasn't so bad. He only hoped she would say yes. Wait, where did that come from?

"Okay," the girl replied timidly. "Although, I'm not a very good dancer."

"Nonsense!" Ed replied. "Just trust me and you'll do fine."

"I'm Princess Mimi of Westbury."

Ed froze, as she curtsied in introduction. Would she recognize him as fake once he announced himself? She was of the neighboring country after all. She could get him in serious trouble, but he didn't want to run off and make her even more distraught. Maybe he'd get lucky and one of the princes would be named Reginald.

"I'm Prince Reginald of Eastbury," he replied, with a sweeping bow and a smile. The princess giggled.

"We're neighbors, and yet I've never met you before!" Princess Mimi explained.

"It's strange for me as well," Ed replied with a soft smile. She had a soft, velvet laughter that seemed to remind him of someone.

…

She was scared. Why would a prince of Eastbury be here, of all things? He was similar to Ed, she noted. He, like Ed, seemed to be in tune with alchemy and with magic. It was strange. Yet, unlike Ed, he had been the world's greatest gentleman to her from the start! He didn't seem to care about who she was, or if she was a fake. That seemed to be their only real differences, besides their appearances, which was fairly obvious. This man was taller than Ed, for sure. As they pulled close to begin their dance, Serena felt it. That same chilling feeling in the right arm. It trickled down her spine, as she took another look at the prince in front of her. His eyes and face, they were unchanged. It was those same eyes that she had nearly forgotten.

"Ed?" Serena thought. The alarms shrilled in her mind. "How?"

Had he used alchemy? Or magic? Or both? The swirl from the start of the waltz shocked her. She quickly found herself moving easily in step with him, following the three-beats of the age-old dance. After a minute of continual success, she felt as if she were rising to the clouds. As if his identity no longer mattered. Her subsiding fears were replaced with a curiosity of the boy. Why had he been so polite? It was genuine, she could sense as much. Had he always been this way? She couldn't remember.

…

He'd never felt calmer. Even though the princess hadn't recognized him, he was curious about her. What was her life like? Did she have any similar interests? Did she know alchemy? Was she single?

Whoa! Wait! He couldn't fall for the princess! He couldn't! He shook the thoughts as best he could without revealing the slight distress to the violet-haired Princess Mimi.

…

What was Ed doing here? Why was he—his dare!

"Those fairies," Serena thought, giggling.

"Are you all right?" "Prince Reginald" asked. Serena put on her best smile.

"I can't believe I'm dancing!"

…

He knew it. He knew her. It was—but he couldn't believe it. Serena. She had said the same thing at elementary school, when one of the local boys had taught her how to waltz. Had she always been so refined, so sincere? He couldn't remember. Did she recognize him? Why was she here? Wait! Those emotions! Had he really fallen for the Meatball Head? Or was it because she was acting like Princess Mimi?

As they finally drew to a close, Ed noted that Princess Sakura was heading his way again. He offered his left hand.

"Let's go get some fresh air," he said softly. After a moment of thought, the two walked away, as he sighed. He had dodged that zany princess and her friends. She was stuck in the crowd, a new dance starting, and the two of them were off to the balcony, to be alone. He hadn't realized what he'd done until they were there. He was stuck. Trapped like a rat with Serena until after she decided to make a graceful exit. He crossed his arms, his elbows hitting the concrete balcony edge.

"These are beautiful flowers. I wonder what they are called," "Princess Mimi" whispered.

"Roses," he answered. "The prince is rather fond of them it seems."

"I wonder why," "Princess Mimi" said, smiling softly at them. "To think, that the Prince is interested in such a feminine affair as flowers. What do you study in Eastbury Prince Reginald?"

He wanted to curse. She had him cornered. He sighed. When in doubt, tell the truth.

"I study alchemy," he replied. Ed reprimanded himself. Why had he brought her to the balcony? Why?

"Really? I study magic. They say I'm a Cleric Mage, although not a very good one."

Ed had never heard that. As a child, she performed feats that he had been sure most mages could never do. Her ability to even disguise her height now to a shorter one, it was awe-inspiring.

"I highly doubt that," Ed said with a chuckle.

…

Serena crept in the early hours. It was dark, and yet, Serena was sure her house would be the one on the end, lit up like stars. She chuckled inwardly. Spending the whole Royal Ball talking with Ed? That had been the most fun she'd had in ages, even if she was just pretending to be a princess. After awhile, she started using her life as a basis.

"Mina never was the thorough type," she chuckled as she thought of the Love Fairy laughing at her. In fact, they'd all laugh at her for her inability to complete the dare. The first time she'd ever failed. Then she grimaced. "I wonder how mad Mom is going to be—I was out much later than I thought."

She looked back to the castle. It was still as large as ever, a grey mountain against the cerulean night sky. With a hopeful heart, she moved closer to the end of the street. She still had a ways to go.

…

"Why?" Ed wondered. It was late; Al was probably flipping his helmet at this point. He sat silently outside Winry's shop, the halfway between the castle and home. Why had they spent the whole evening on that balcony talking? "Why did she give me this? It's clearly not hers."

The navy blue handkerchief had a rigid, plain design. Ed wasn't too sure he wanted to know where she had gotten it. Although, there was a slight problem. What he had started as their good-bye—curse his stupidity.

"Thank you for this wonderful evening Reginald. I could never repay you for the time we've shared."

As she started to leave, Ed jumped.

"Is there any chance I'll ever see you again Mimi?"

Why had that come out? He knew he'd see her tomorrow, and she'd be as bubbly, and annoying, as ever.

"I'm sure there is."

"Mimi, I'd love to get another chance to see you. Maybe we could meet outside the castle walls sometime."

She returned to him, and presented the handkerchief. As he went to take it, she began to glow.

"I bless this cloth with the moonlight."

The glow transferred to the cloth. "Mimi" breathed in a little deeply now, as she smiled warmly to him.

"Whenever you would like to meet me again, pray to the cloth, and I will come that night. When next we meet, we can make one from one of your handkerchiefs Reginald."

"Thank you," Ed replied.

Stupid! Now if he didn't make another meeting, he might as well have blown his cover! Or lose the girl—wait! He cleansed the thought from his mind. He WAS NOT falling in love with Mi—with SERENA!

…

She was surprised to see that nothing was lit; no one seemed awake. She had left a note, saying she might spend all day at a friend's, but there was not even a hint of a candle coming from the home. Her mother had always been awake before… why not now? Carefully, she tiptoed to the door. She heard a moan come from inside. Why hadn't the fairies come to the door? They normally helped her sneak in. She felt her heart racing as her hand moved towards the doorknob. Then she smelt it. Her body froze. It was a scent that had haunted her only once before. She wanted to open the door, but couldn't. Her mind didn't want to register this as true. The moan came again. Her mind finally clicked into high gear; she threw open the door. The sight she beheld made her faint.

…

Ed lived a little outside of town. He knew that he best let her get home first. Al would understand. He had returned his hair to normal, and had even gotten his clothes out of an alleyway he had hid them in earlier. He removed the skins provided by Winry, threw it all in a bag, and was on his way. Passing by each home, he wondered how they could have slept this night. It seemed restless, uneasy. Ever since—well, ever since, he'd become in tune to the wind and recognized when bad things would happen. The day Serena had come down with the flu; the air around her home had been shivering violently. He would have chuckled if Serena hadn't been sick that day. Now the entire kingdom seemed restless, and he knew that something bad was happening that would affect the whole kingdom. He'd probably find out in the—he saw her.

"Serena!" he cried. Her body was laying on her doorstep, a dark figure looming over it. "GET AWAY FROM HER!"

He wondered why no one had yelled yet. The dark figure turned his way. It was a woman. She had black hair, and a dress that made her look eye-catching. Her curves were perfectly formed, and her black hair was in simple waves as they fell to just beyond her shoulders. What threw Ed off were her nails. She had long, sharp nails that seemed to be drenched in a dripping red—oh dear God. With a clap of his hands, he held a blade, his metallic automail arm transforming as he charged her. She jumped away, a grin on her face.

"So we leave this one alive then after all? You must be Fullmetal."

"Serena!" Ed shouted, kneeling next to her to see that she was only unconscious. He faced his opponent, the woman with bloody nails.

"We were warned that one would be saved, no matter how much we tried to finish the job. Well, I guess I let that little one go. Although, a little weakling like that can't do much harm. I hope to see you again Fullmetal."

And with that, she vanished into a cloud of smoke.

"Ed?"

Her soft-spoken, curious tone made him freeze. He felt his muscles tense. Did she see his arm? Oh God, he had been trying to hide it. How could he tell her what he had done?

…

Frozen. She felt cold and numb. She tried not to think of what she had just seen. When she looked away from the door, she saw him.

"Ed?" she whispered. He didn't move. His right arm was a metallic blade. Automail. He had automail. She wondered. She had always wondered why.

Five years ago…

"Ed!" Serena shouted playfully. Her golden curls bounced in the summer sun as she tagged the young boy. "You're it!"

Two years later…

"Ed!" Serena exclaimed, seeing him reading books. She tapped him on his shoulder, as he looked up. "You're it!"

One year later…

"Ed!" Serena called in the empty playground. He was nowhere to be found, but a book of alchemy lay forgotten there. She smiled hopelessly, and tapped it. "You're it."

Hotaru had been sad too, when they hadn't seen Ed or Al. The two of them had vanished from the mages' lives. Sure, they would play with Winry, but knowing that two of your friends went into seclusion and didn't bother to tell you why, it was depressing. Hotaru and she had spoken about it the night before she had been attacked. Hotaru had been acting strange. She kept mentioning a prophecy that Trista had told her. Serena didn't care. She saw Ed now, and knew what had happened.

"Did the evil alchemy do this to you?" Serena asked, moving carefully to her feet.

"No, I did this to me!" Ed replied, sounding spiteful. "Me and my stupid ego!"

"Ed," Serena whispered, Ed still facing away from her. Tears crested in her eyes. Lights refused to come on in the surrounding homes. Her mind finally registered what had happened. "Ed, everyone is dead."

…

He spun on a dime. He wished he hadn't. His eyes came upon the most depressed, grief-stricken face he had ever seen. Tears fell in ample streams, but she never tried to stop them. This face was his weakness.

"They're dead. I don't sense the magic anymore. I know you can too. Don't you feel it? They're all gone! The fairies and the mages; they're all dead!" Serena whispered. Ed noted the restless air. It had been trying to tell him of the death. "Why hadn't I noticed sooner? Why didn't I?"

"Serena," Ed whispered. Using his real arm, he pulled her into himself, as she began to cry. Looking back to the house, he realized why he had found her unconscious. Blood glistened in the moonlight, and several bodies lay scattered. It was the fairies. They were all lying there, motionless. Then there was the larger form. She alone made Ed shudder. She was a diced mess, her head right by the doorway. He pulled Serena in closer, and said a silent prayer. "Let's get you to Winry's, okay?"

Serena still wept, as Ed sighed. He'd ask her when she calmed down. He looked up to the sky, the moon hanging dangerously over the kingdom.

…

"What a night for a Royal Ball," a voice said, as Ed looked around. Who was it? "So is this the little one Lust said that got away? Nope, she can't be the one. She's too—weak."

"Oh, but Jadeite," another voice said. "This one is special. The stars even said so."

"Who are you?" Ed scowled. Serena had stopped crying, her face switching to one of fear. Their presence was unmistakable. Dark fairies. They only traveled with Dark Mages, which meant that one was nearby. Serena shivered. The last one she had met had nearly given the kingdom pig snouts and tails just for the sport of it!

"Oh ho, where are my manners?" the first voice laughed. "I am Jadeite. I serve under Beryl, the soon to be ruler of this kingdom. With all of the magicians gone, the king will have no choice but to agree to the ancient traditions."

"No," Serena whispered. They couldn't do it. They hadn't.

"What are you talking about? No one with magic or alchemy in their veins can rule here! It's law!"

"When all of the magic is lost, only one of royal descent can bring it back," the second voice said wistfully. "In other words, only the royal family can revive what was lost."

"You had something to do with all of this, didn't you?" Ed asked, angry. A redheaded woman emerged from the shadows. Serena saw her out of the corner of her teary eye.

"You should be asking me," she cackled. "It's too bad that you must die—you're kind of adorable with that little arm of yours."

Serena grabbed hold of Ed now around his waist, whispering into his ear. No more death! No one else!

"Trust me."

With that she began to glow. She would protect him. She would get help. She would not let another soul suffer the fate of Hotaru!

"A little Cleric Mage trying to protect against the Dark magic I hold? Pathetic. You'll die, regardless of prophecy."

"Oh heavenly moonlight, defend thy follower from the shadows of the night. Protect thy follower from the wretches of evil. Spare thy follower from the current hands of death," Serena chanted. The air began to sparkle around them. The dark fairies came into her line of sight, over to behind the woman, Beryl. One had short blond hair and sky blue eyes, whereas the other had long, wavy brown hair and darker blue eyes.

"The moon?" the woman whispered spitefully, looking up into the night sky. "You can't!"

Serena held Ed tightly now. No more! No more!

"Oh heavenly moonlight, shine brightly for all the stars to see," Serena continued. A beam of light rose from where they stood; Serena still holding onto Ed, as she started over again.

"Oh heavenly moonlight, defend thy follower from the shadows of the night. Protect thy follower from the wretches of evil. Spare thy follower from the current hands of death."

"Beryl, we can't fight this," Jadeite, the blond fairy, exclaimed. "We should leave before we are found!"

…

Ed watched them retreat, and listened to Serena softly chanting now.

"A Dark Mage?" Ed whispered, as Serena finally stopped chanting, her arms loosening around his waist. He caught on, and kept his hold on her. Boy, she was light for someone her size.

"Sorry Ed, the spell zapped my strength," she whispered. "You better put that blade away before they think of you as the murderer."

He knelt down, laying her head on his shoulder.

"Don't worry about that Serena. Are you all right?" he whispered. He heard the footsteps. The wind was rustling with excitement now as people awoke from their slumber. It didn't matter. Serena was alone. He knew it. He could see it. All of the magic from the kingdom—it was gone—except for the fair-haired mage in his arms. His friend that he had ignored.

"Fullmetal, stay away from fairies and the ones who use them! Haven't you learned enough about magic to know that it's dangerous?"

"I'm okay. Magic like that is just a little endearing," Serena replied.

"Wow Meatball Head, you used a word that's wider than your attention span," Ed said jokingly. He couldn't tell her. Lust. That name—that thing he fought—no, it couldn't be. He'd have to go to the library tomorrow, if that ever came.

"Shut up."

…

She chuckled. Ed was so kind. Trying to cheer her up, trying to hide his mistakes. He truly was a kind person. Why had she never seen it before? Even in the face of danger, he had stood up for her, like a friend, like he had before.

She tried not to think of before. Of what she saw. It had been similar to Hotaru.

Two months ago…

She was going to visit Ed with Hotaru. She didn't want to go alone. Ever since Trisha Elric had died, the home seemed bleak, empty. Ed and Al had begun to move to another house owned by their father. They hadn't quite moved out yet, but it was enough to send chills down her spine. Homes of the dead were never the easiest places to visit. They always had memories, a presence from someone who was no longer there. So Serena wanted to go with Hotaru, since she wasn't afraid. In fact, she never seemed to be afraid of anything. Serena fit the names the fairies gave her—she jumped at just about everything.

When she arrived at the house, the first thing she noticed was the red stain on the doorstep. Then came the scent. A putrid scent that burned her lungs and made her feel even worse than when she had the flu. She moved for the door, and what she opened it to shocked her. Hotaru's body lay before her, a solitary wound coming from her chest, and creating a pool that leaked through the front door. The most haunting feature of her corpse was not the wound, but her face. On it was a calm, fearless expression. It was common of Hotaru, but at that moment, it was the scariest thing she'd ever seen.

"Bunny?" a voice had asked. Serena had fallen to her knees apparently, as she heard a gasp. "Grim!"

That was their name for her. They called her Grim. Michelle and Amara flew past, as strands of her hair flew up with their passing. Trista merely flew next to Serena, sighing.

"It has begun."

In fact, it made her shiver as she thought of how she would explain everything to Hotaru, whenever she came back. The one time she had given up a dare, the fairies had died. It was ironic. She spent the whole night enjoying herself—no, she wouldn't think of that. Not right now. However, it was weird to imagine being alone, the only magic user left in the kingdom. Even her mom, Selene, was dead, her head staring chillingly out from the doorway with a permanent, pained look.

Next time…

A way to save the fairies is born from the new familiars haunting Serena's halls.

Chapter 4: The Chesire