Disclaimer: I don't own FMA, but i do own Andre, and the two towns mentioned in this chapter.

Okay people, upon reviewing this after i submitted this, i discovered i made some mistakes when posting it. So, now that i've corrected him, heres the new, re-posted version of the chapter. Gomen to all you people that read the other one! I'll try to make sure i won't happen again!

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

They had been walking for... well he didn't know how long it had been, following the train tracks west. All he knew, and could think about, was that his legs hurt from treading on hard, rocky ground for so long and that he was hot. It had to be at the bare minimum of 5,000 degrees outside at that moment, by his estimations at least.

The scenery itself was... sparse. Very very sparse. Almost no type of vegetation grew, and the only thing that was prominent in the flat landscape where the snow-capped mountains that were east of them, off in the distance. The ground beneath their feet was hard packed and dry, making it a not to comfortable walking surface. In short, the scenery was nothing to look at.

" Hey, Al, do you know what time it is?" he asked his younger brother, his voice dragged down by exhaustion.

The boy in the large suite of armor shrugged as he walked beside him, the sound of his metal shifting filled the air around him as he walked. The tassel attached to his helmet swung as he went, his strides huge with his 6'8 height. His red and white eyes that glowed from the eyes of the suite looked down at his brother, way down, to look at his tired and heat exhausted ( though he was pretty sure his brother was exaggerating just a little) form.

" I'm not sure Nii-san, but it has to be past noon." Alphonse said, looking up at the sun as he used it as a make shift clock.

The younger boy sighed heavily at this news. It was past noon already, and he had wanted to get to the next town by at least 2, which was an impossibility now it seemed. By his estimation they had over 20 miles of walking left. The heat around him was of course increased by his metal limbs as they sucked up the heat of the sun that beat down on them, super heating them, and in turn, him. His discomfort was worsened by the heavy suitcase he held in his right hand, his arm hurting slightly from its weight pulling down on his limb.

" Well looks like we won't be getting to the station to Arioan any time soon." Ed said, sighing, referring to the town they were heading to.

From what the rumors had said Arioan was a fairly small but prosperous town, with a population of just over 100. But, before they could get there, they needed to pass through another town and take its train there, since it was over 100 miles away, a distance that Edward, even on his best day, was not about to venture.The boys had heared rumors of the Philosopher's Stone being there, but from many past experiences they were careful not to get their hopes up since, most of the time, these rumors ended up as just that, rumors, and the brothers came up empty handed. But, unfortunately, they had to check out ever lead they got wind of, it was all they could do.

" You think the rumors are true this time Nii-san?" Alphonse asked after a moment or silence, save for the sounds of their shuffling feet.

" Well, who knows. But you know what they say ' Leave no stone un turned'." replied Ed, repeating the phrase he'd heard many times from various people, as he ran a white gloved hand through his thick blonde bangs.

" I know Nii-san, but couldn't we be more choosy?" Alphonse suggested, hopeful for a 'Yes' answer from the small form of his brother.

" I know Al, I know its tiring, but we have to do it if we're going to find the Stone, right?" Ed asked, looking up at Al, smiling reassuringly at the armor trapped boy, who nodded but sighed.

Both boys were eager to get their bodies back, that was clear, but Alphonse just wished they didn't have to go on so many wild goose chases and come up empty handed. It was a routine that was getting old, fast.

" Right." Al replied and was about to say something else when Ed stopped suddenly and looked back. Alphonse, noticing the absence of the sound of his brothers shuffeilingsteps, turned and said" What's wrong Nii-san?"

His brother didn't reply, or make any move to, and just kept staring, so Alphonse went back and gently shook his brothers shoulder, to snap him out of his sudden trance like state.

" Huh? Oh, its nothing Al. Guess I just spaced out for a second." Edward said when he finally did respond after a few moments to his brothers shakes.

' That was weird...' Edward thought as the two continued in their previous direction ' It felt like... someone was calling to me, but who was it?'

" Finally, salvation at last!" Edward cried jubilantly as the town they had been heading for, Zenon it was named as he recalled, came into his view.It was there pit stop town of sorts on the way to theirfinal destination.However, it was 5 o'clock, and the boys had missed their train that had been scheduled to leave an hour and a half before the boys arrived.

" I guess we'll have to stay in a hotel or something for the night?" Alphonse guessed, since the sun was now setting and the sky darkening above them.

" Yeah, and it'll have to be a cheap one, were almost out of cash." Edward said, taking out his change purse and opening it, roughly estimating the amount inside. " Well, no problem, we'll just stay at the local inn and grab a meal there. It'll save us some money."

The boy put the change purse back into the pocket of his red jacket, picked up his suitcase and started towards the town.

Edward opened the door to the tavern and was met with the usual sight. The tavern was packed with locals, and some out-of-towners, by the looks of them compared to the rest, all sitting either at the bar or around one of the 8 small, round tables stationed in various spots around the room. Music played from the old radio set on a shelf behind the bar, seated in between bottles of whiskey and beer, though that sound was nearly drowned out by the roaring conversations and laughter of the men.

" How much is a room here?" Edward asked the barkeep, a tall man with brown hair that was swept into a small pony tail at the back of his head, whom was currently cleaning out the inside of a beer mug with a dirty white rag, which he slung over his shoulder when Edward approached.

" $300 a night for one room, though most have more then one bed, and that includes meals." he answered, glancing at Alphonse, who stood behind his younger brother, seeming nervous at all the looks he was getting.

" Cheap. Alright, gimme a room." Ed commented.

" Yeah, but it gets us by well enough. You're rooms upstairs, third to your left, number 9. Heres the key. Oh and by the way, the names Andre." he said, handing Edward a small, gold key with the number ' 9' ingraved on it.

" And I'm Edward, and this is my younger brother, Alphonse" Ed said, poiniting a thumb twoards the said suite of armor.

" Nice to meet you sir." Alphonse said politly.

" Younger brother? But you're so much smaller then him, shouldn't it be reversed?" Andre noticed, which every other person on this earth seemed to noticed about the two traveling comparnions when they stood side by side.

As always, Edward has his usual reaction, kicking and yelling and all. And, also as always, Alphonse managed to hold him back, for fear that he would hurt someone, or himself, in his rage.

" Woah! Sorry, I didn't mean it in an insulting way!" Andre said, holding his hands up in a ' please calm down' gesture.

" Yeah, whatever." Edward muttered, straightening his red jacket when his brother finally put him down, obviously annoyed with the insident.

" Thank you sir," Alphonse said, taking the key from Andre " We'll be heading up to our room now."

" Yeah, you two feel free to come down and get somthing later" he said, going back to his glass cleaning dutys.

" We will!" the brothers said in unision, heading up the small flight of wooden stairs that headed twoards the inn part of the establishment.

Once there, Edward promptly stuck the key into the lock and turned, a click answering the key and the door opening.

The room was relativly small, with two beds, one's right side touching the right wall of the room and the others left touching the left. Beside each sat a small night tabel/ cubort with a lamp on the top. On the back wall of the room there was a dresser with a mirror above it. A fan, swirling slowly round and round, toped the room off.

" Nice." Edward muttered as he plopped his suitecase down on the left side bed and began unpacking.

" Yeah, and for a good price too. We were really fortunate." Alphonse said, sitting down on the other bed.

" Mmm-hmm." Edward said, nodding, but not turning to his younger brother as he continued unpacking his suitecase.

' But what was that voice? And, did I even feel anything in the first place, or did I just imagin it?' Edward asked himself, his thoughts wandering back to earlyer that day, resolving to find out the answer to his questions.

And we all know that when Edward Elric, the FullMetal Alchemist, sets his mind to somthing, he always finds his answer, no matter what.