Author's Note

I don't own Sailor Moon or Fullmetal Alchemist.

Sorry everything is running so late today! I fell behind and I'm still trying to catch up. Enjoy the chapter!

Playing Pretend

Chapter 7: The Visit

Ed was never angrier with himself. He almost wished to die on the spot, but a strange breeze comforted him. Was it Al's soul agreeing? He wasn't sure. All he knew was that this book, too, confirmed his darkest fears about the forbidden alchemy, and Mr. Artemis Chesire was probably going to tell Serena about this first chance he could.

"It's true, isn't it?" Artemis demanded of him. Ed read over the chapter again. That was what he did. Yes, it was true, but that last sentence—he really didn't want to face Serena when she found out.

"Why should I deny what's written in black in white?" Ed replied. "But clearly you can see that there are no fairies following in my wake."

"It's because you aren't a real mage. You were an alchemist first," Artemis scowled at him. The two were in a stare down.

"What are you going to do? Forbid me from ever seeing Serena again because of a stupid book?"

"Actually, I was going to kill you, but that sounds far more entertaining," Artemis replied.

"What?" Ed shouted. "Are you stupid or something?"

"Brother, what does this make me? I'm not evil!" Al cried.

"It's a loosely used term Al. But if this is the case, then the homunculi we create should theoretically follow in our wake."

"This is true. How do I know you don't have one following you now?"

"You really are an idiot, aren't you?" Ed said. "Why would I even bother to rescue Serena?"

"False sense of security."

"False sense of security my—"

"Brother!" Al shouted. This was too much all at once. Poor Al was ready to leave, but the two were still glaring like two tomcats at one another.

"Okay, fine. You take this news back to Serena, I'll be banned from ever seeing her again, and life will go on. Will that make you happy?" Ed shouted at him. Artemis grinned at this.

"Glad you saw this my way."

"Stupid cat," Ed muttered, as Artemis changed into a cat once more, and the trio walked out of the archives. As the group passed by the guard, he gave a curt nod to Al, and a sharp glare to Ed. Ed sighed and the three managed to walk away somewhat unscathed for thirty seconds.

"Wait! I want you to show me inside that armor!" the guard called. Al and Ed sighed, as they walked back, praying that Artemis Chesire stayed low until after they were done. The guard barked and raved, checking Al's midsection and feet until he was certain there was no book within. That was when he turned to Ed.

"Strip."

"What the hell?" Ed demanded.

"You heard me. There's no way you memorized whatever it was you were looking for. I want to make sure you have nothing on hand."

Ed shrugged, as he then took off his red coat. Metal glimmered in the evening light, as he then took off the black shirt, exposing his chest and arms.

"Kinky," came a muttered voice.

"What was that?" Ed demanded.

"What about the pants?" the guard boomed.

"How the hell would I fit a BOOK in my pants?" Ed roared. He made a mental note that this was the most embarrassing moment of his life.

"Strip."

Okay, second most embarrassing moment. Ed swore a storm in his mind as he took off the black pants, revealing his automail leg. All that was left in the evening light was a bare Ed with white boxers, blushing as this guard walked around him.

"Okay, there's no books here," said the guard. "You may leave."

Without another word Ed placed his clothes back on, and the three proceeded to walk away, Ed fuming.

"Why did you take that? Why not hex him to hell?" Artemis asked as he became human once more.

"You don't get it, do you? I am the lowest of the low here. Scum on a rock. If I don't take that crap I can get into way more trouble at school in the morning. You know what Al? We should just keep it. As long as that guy is on duty, I don't want to ever go back there," Ed said, aggravated.

"You got a book out of there? How?" Artemis demanded.

"Our secret," Ed replied simply.

…

"What's taking them so long?" Serena demanded, as Luna sighed. The Yamir Mage was certainly impatient. Serena had a slew of thoughts though. Were they all right? Did they get there? Had they been captured? What did Artemis need from the archives?

"Relax. They'll be back soon enough," Luna replied, as a knock came to the door. Serena instinctively bolted, and opened the door.

"Ed!" she cried, only to find herself facing two full grown men in uniform. "Oh. Sorry. Can I help you?"

"Serena Tsukino, the Cleric Mage?" the burly guard on the left demanded. The smaller, more limber one perked up, standing at attention.

"Yes?" Serena asked.

"We have received an official request from the prince for you to attend the next Royal Ball as the guest of honor. Tomorrow. He requests you wear your best attire," the more limber of the two squeaked. Serena's mind went numb. The prince was asking HER to come to a ROYAL BALL? After all that happened, and he wanted to party? No thanks. Although, staring her down was a less than promising guard if she said no. This was never a request.

"Thank you. I will attend," Serena replied, curtsying slightly. The two guards nodded, and briskly left. Serena shut the door, and walked away, as it suddenly pounded again, beckoning her presence. She ran in a mad dash. "Ed!"

At the door stood an alchemist. A very distraught, angry alchemist.

"Is Fullmetal here?" he demanded. He black hair was well groomed, and he looked around Serena's home tentatively. "He was last seen here."

"No, I'm sorry. Fullmetal isn't here," Serena said, a part of her mind slapping herself. This was fraying her nerves. Suddenly, she felt it. It was a warm fuzzy feeling. She remembered the spell. She looked at the now departing alchemist. "Now he asks for Mimi? Right now? Well, at least I said the same night and not the next… talk about being in two places at once."

"What are you talking about?" Luna asked Serena, who giggled as she swung the door shut.

"It's nothing too bad Luna. I have to just make a visit to a friend tonight is all."

"Remember, you're still not used to running this house, so minimize your use of magic," the black Chesire minded. Serena nodded. The door knocked again. Serena slowly opened it this time.

"Ed?" she asked tentatively. Ed, Al, and Artemis stood there, each of them looking grim. Al and Ed sighed in defeat.

"Meatball Head, there's something else I need to tell you."

"What is it?" Serena asked softly. Ed and Al grinned.

"We totally got in and out undetected!" Ed cheered. Serena grabbed the nearest object (a nice lead pipe) and swung at the two.

"Don't scare me like that!" she roared at them. "I've been worried that you guys were going to get caught and be killed or something and you dare try to kid with me! Ed! You're so cruel! AND STOP CALLING ME MEATBALL HEAD!"

"Sorry," Ed said softly. "Listen, we need to get back. There is some reading me and Al have to do, so sorry we can't stay for tea."

"It's okay," Serena replied. "We'll have tea tomorrow?"

"It's a promise," Ed said, smiling. She smiled in return, as she watched the two leave. Artemis looked frazzled, as he looked at Ed.

"I don't think you should see him anymore," Artemis said.

"Then you owe me some answers," Serena replied sharply. She turned to walk back inside. "Unfortunately, I have to be somewhere tonight, so you will have to explain tomorrow. Bastian!"

"Yes milady?"

"I will be coming in later this night. I will be leaving Luna and Artemis here. Make sure they are fed for me please," Serena ordered.

"Of course, milady. Would you like some food ready for your return?" Bastian asked.

"Yes, a small dinner please."

"Thank you milady. Journey safely."

Serena made sure she had her broach, Luna's bell, and the Lunar Disguise Pen safely tucked in her bag, as she stepped out the door.

…

Ed looked down as he walked along. How could they explain this to Serena?

"Are we skipping tomorrow for tea?" Al asked Ed, who nodded numbly. "I could go so that you could talk to Serena."

"No, she wants to see you too," Ed replied simply. "She apparently missed us. By the way Al, I'm going out tonight. I'll be in late, so don't stay up on my account."

"I don't sleep anymore, remember?" Al asked. Ed cringed. He wanted to slap himself. Al wasn't human anymore. He was a soul fused to a suit of armor. And one day, he'd be human again. No matter what it took. They reached the shack they had called home for the last year. Their old one had too many memories, and the one before that—well, that was an interesting story in itself. After stepping through the front door, Ed went straight back to the last room at the end of the hall—his room. He passed by their library, the kitchen, and Al's room on the way, the library talking up the whole left side of the house. Entering his ragtag bedroom, he picked up a small black sack, and turned for the door.

"Al, stay here. I'll be back. Don't forget to put that book away," Ed said, stepping out the door. As soon as he was out of the door, he looked back at the shack. "Someday, I'll have the answer, and then we can go back to the old house."

Ed walked a little ways, and then started to put the outfit he had worn to the Royal Ball back on. Shortly, he was Prince Reginald again, as he suddenly realized his dilemma.

"We didn't decide where we would meet!" Ed exclaimed. He looked at the handkerchief he had brought with him. A plain red one. It was from one of his older jackets that he managed to grow out of. How could they meet again if they didn't know where to meet? The stars twinkled silently above.

…

Serena was Princess Mimi again. She looked around hesitantly, as she took a seat at the fountain. Focusing, she prepared the spell.

"Oh Heavenly Moonlight, please guide him to me."

…

Ed suddenly saw it. A path of glimmering moonlight. Maybe she was leading her to him after all. Serena must have thought the same thing after all. He walked down the path, as it faded behind him. If the wind weren't so reassuring, Ed was positive he'd be freaking out. Travelling faster down the path, he found it. A giant fountain, and a quiet violet-haired princess sitting nervously on the concrete edge. The area itself was misty, but Mimi didn't seem to mind. In fact, she was still fidgeting even as Ed approached her.

"My fair Princess Mimi, we meet again."

"So we do, Prince Reginald. To think I thought our paths were forbidden to cross," Mimi replied, giggling nervously. Ed took a seat beside her.

"Alchemy and Magic have been forbidden to mix for centuries," Ed said. "It's not wrong to think that, but it's not right to keep living on those ancient traditions."

"I guess so," Mimi replied, looking down now. "Did you bring a handkerchief with you?"

"Actually, yes," Ed replied with the warmest smile he could muster. He produced the red fabric, and stood, bowing as he handed it to her. "Please take this as a sign of our relationship."

Mimi actually laughed as she curtsied and took the handkerchief from him.

"It seems that we are still stuck on those traditions even now," Mimi explained, as Ed smiled. She was right.

"Why red?" Mimi asked. Ed wondered himself.

"It's my favorite color," Ed replied. "As goofy as that sounds."

"It's not goofy!" Mimi responded. "You can have a favorite color, you know!"

Too much about him. Ed wondered if he could pull it off.

"Then what's your favorite color princess?"

She blushed some, looked around, and sighed.

"It's blue, but please don't tell anyone! I'm trying to keep it a secret," Mimi whispered.

"I would have pegged you as a pink and white person," Ed noted thoughtfully.

"I just say that to everyone else," Mimi replied with a giggle. Ed wasn't sure whether she was lying or not. But it didn't matter. If she said it was blue, then her favorite color is blue. Why did he always get like this around her? He wasn't so sure anymore.

…

Serena watched Reginald sit beside her again, as she began to whisper the chant. The cloth glowed, and Reginald gave a look of confusion.

"What's this strange feeling I'm having right now?"

"It's warm and soft, like the fabric. It's to let you know when I wish to see you again," Serena explained, smiling some. "There are many ways of wishing to this cloth."

"Really?" Reginald asked, surprised.

"There are verbal wishes, the physical wishes, and the silent wishes. Each one can cause the same reaction," Serena replied, blushing some as she said "physical wishes."

"You really are a splendid mage if you can remember all of that," Reginald said, as Serena shook her head.

"I'm not that great," she said. She really wasn't. She still had a lot to learn about being the Yamir Mage. "Oh, Reginald, all this time we have seen my magic at work, and you have yet to demonstrate your knowledge of alchemy," Serena exclaimed. She looked expectantly at Reginald, who now jumped with surprise at the request.

…

Ed wasn't expecting that. She wanted to see some alchemy. Well, what could he make for he—suddenly the though popped into his head, as he stood, and then knelt by the ground, and began to draw a circle. The mist cleared slightly. Ed thanked the winds for moving it out of his way so that he could work. Mimi watched with awe as the circle came to be on the ground. Ed turned back to her.

"This is a basic transmutation circle. I'm going to change a few things, but this is the basis of alchemy," Ed explained, as he finished the circle, and then clapped his hands and struck the ground. He watched Mimi's eyes light up as the circle glowed and faded all at once. In its place was a single red rose. He picked it up, and handed it to her. "This rose isn't a real one, but a replica. You can leave it anywhere and it will always shine like you do."

Mimi blushed. Where did that come from? Ed cursed himself silently, but went with the next part of the plan.

"Th-thank you," Mimi whispered, as he held out his hand.

"Would you care to dance before we part?"

…

Serena giggled as she returned to the house. Again, it was a bunch of fun, as she thought it would be. And now she had a cloth of his—it looked like it was handmade, from one of his old trenchcoats. The fabric was soft and worn, but it still reminded her entirely of Ed. She would have replaced the stiff blue cloth that she had given Reg—Ed, but there was no reason to. It wasn't like she wanted him to think of her every second of the day—or did she?

She crept into the house, and headed right, for the kitchen, as she eyed the plate waiting for her. Some things just never change.

…

Al was waiting. Ed thought he'd ask, but Al said nothing. Ed motioned for him to follow, as they stepped into the library.

"I have a theory about the Chesire," Ed said, as Al nodded. "I think that they are magical creatures, and not mages, like I originally thought they were."

"Is it because of the cat thing?" Al asked.

"Two mages suddenly appear and are her guardians? Yeah, it's the cat thing."

"Brother, does this mean that Serena really is more than a Cleric Mage, like you thought?"

"No Al, it just means we have to reread our books a little better," Ed said. "Normally the winds help me more when I'm with her. They want me to protect her."

"Brother."

"Serena is important to us, but apparently, to the magical world she's important too. Chimeras don't show up unless we're around. I somehow manage to be there whenever she needs me. Someone out there is trying to keep her safe. Although, I'm not so worried about the big picture as I am worried about the Chesire. Do they know anything about the Philosopher's Stone, or why we're hunting for it?" Ed wondered. "Too many variables and no solutions."

"Brother, what if they really are mages, and they disguised themselves as cats so that they wouldn't get caught?"

"I don't think they would have needed to be that indirect. Do you think Serena has explained us to them?"

"No," Al said simply, looking at the solitary window with the dimly light moonlight. "Serena's not like that. She doesn't like to pry, and even then, that Luna woman was there before, so they know already. Brother, you act like you and Serena were the only ones present when that Chimera appeared. What's wrong with you?"

"I don't know Al," Ed replied. He looked out the window, and then felt the cloth in his pocket. He felt the urge to laugh, but he repressed it. "Who would have guessed it was blue?"

"What is blue Brother?" Al asked, looking for any signs of blue at the window.

"This late at night, the moonlight is blue," Ed replied simply.

"Brother, you should go get some sleep."

Ed sighed in agreement, as the two retreated from the moonlit library.

Next time…

It seems more responsibility is coming for Ed—and Serena.

Chapter 8: The Dark Mage