Disclaimers in Chapter 3, hope you enjoy this chapter!
They all ate breakfast (except for Al of course) then decided to enjoy the festival. Trista seemed to be enjoying herself greatly, despite the fact that Brian was there.
"You sure are happy today, Trissy." Brian stated as they stopped to have lunch.
"Well it's my first time going to a festival. I'm not going to let you spoil this for me, Bree." She gave a sly smile.
"Bree? What's with the annoying nickname?"
"You annoy me I annoy you. It's called equivalent exchange." Ed and Al just laughed, while Brian looked confused. Then his face took on a smug look.
"You mean this world's absurd theory that everything has to be paid for with something of equal value."
"It's not absurd. It's the foundation of alchemy, which is the answer to our problems." Ed was mad. He lived for alchemy; it was the only thing he knew to always be true. He didn't like the fact that this man would insult something so important.
"Well for you I guess it wouldn't be. But you have seen other things Trissy; you should be able to agree."
Trista looked at the ground. "I agree with Edward. With that theory, I could find what I'm looking for. Besides, agreeing with a villain would make me no better than you."
"Ouch, that hurt." Brian returned to his playful attitude, "I'm not so bad a man. Just have a bad job."
"You switch attitudes fast." Al chimed in.
"Yeah, he's a very moody guy." Trista teased.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
The two of them went on like that for a while. Al used this opportunity to talk to Ed. "Nii-san, something Trista and Brian keep saying is bothering me."
"What is it Al?"
"They both keep saying 'this world'. Why is that?"
"I don't know. But I'll find out." They suddenly became aware of a small crowd that had gathered. The crowd was chanting "Fight! Fight! Fight!" over and over.
"Their cheering for a fight Trissy, shall we oblige them?"
"Trust me; I would love to get you out of my hair. FOR GOOD!" she clapped, and Ed and Al got worried.
"Then let's get into an arena, so everyone can watch."
"As long I get to pound you." The crowd led them to an arena like the one Ed and Roy fought in. It's mainly used for dance performances and such.
"Ready?"
"Ready!"
A man held a microphone and said into it, so everyone could hear, "Ready, Set-
"Hold it!" Everyone looked at the man now standing in the arena.
"What the hell are you doing here!" Ed yells, for the man is Roy.
"Good to see you too Ed. This battle is against regulations, you can't fight here."
"Why not!" Trista was practically burning with rage. She wanted to beat the crap out of Brian.
"Trissy, we should do what authority says."
"You stay the hell out of this. If I wanna fight you, I'll fight ya!"
"No you won't." Roy said.
"What are you gonna do about it, fight me?"
"Not a bad idea. I think I will." He takes Brian's place as Brian goes over to stand by Ed & Al. Trista relaxes, preparing for a battle.
"I'll warn you now; I won't go easy on you."
"I wouldn't have it any other way. Make your best shot." Roy snapped and sent Trista up in flames. Ed and Al gasped while Brian just smiled and thought, 'They're in for a big surprise if they think that was enough to even hurt her.' Sure enough, as the smoke clears you see Triss, holding a huge ball of fire in one hand that was level with her shoulder. Her other hand is resting on her hip, as she supports her weight on one leg.
"That it?"
"No. I'm the Flame Alchemist. I have much more, but I must admit your skills are good."
"The Flame Alchemist, huh? Bet you think that you can control the flames. I'll show you otherwise." She threw the flame ball at Roy. As he met it with a bigger explosion. Trista yelled, "Power of the Flames combine!" and they did. They became one huge fireball and exploded on Roy.
"What kind of Alchemy is that?" Roy said after he took a few min. to recuperate.
"Sorry to disappoint, but I still don't understand anything about this alchemy."
"I can't lose to someone who doesn't understand what she's using!" Roy sent a super explosion her way. Triss clapped, and the held her arms strait out in front of her, palms out.
"Backfire, full power!" she yelled. Instantly the flames went backwards and hit Roy, scorching him and burning away his gloves. Roy sat there, amazed.
"Well that was fun! Let's do it again sometime." She got out of the arena and grabbed Ed and Al by the hand. "Come on, let's eat! I'm hungry!" she pulled them away while drowning out all but Ed's words of praise.
At the inn after dinner, she let down her guard. 'That was bad. V almost came out. I'll have to keep a tighter guard on her while fighting, especially when I fight Brian. If Ed sees her come out, and she murders someone, Ed will hate me! So that's why Brian's being so annoying. He wants me to slip and release her. But I won't! Not ever! Especially if Ed's around.' She thought to herself. She crawled into bed, not even bothering to change into night clothes.
Ed entered the room after no one answered the knock. He was relived to find his friend sleeping. He had been afraid that she would bail after Brian had put that notion into his head. He walked over to the bed, and kissed the sleeping girl on the forehead. "Goodnight, Trista." He said, and then left. Quietly shutting the door behind him.
Trista smiled. She had only been half asleep. She felt very happy, for that was the first time in five years that someone had kissed her forehead and said goodnight to her. Even then, it was only her sensei (teacher) who had ever done that. She found herself longing, not for the first time either, for her father to say goodnight to her like that. 'Father, Mother, where are you? Why did you leave me? Am I that horrible? If I could have one answer, only one from you. Who, or what, am I?' She fell asleep, thinking about how worthless she must be, for her questions were never answered even in her dreams.
Note- there! 6th chapter finally done! Whoo! I stayed up (almost) all night writing this one! Hope you enjoy!