'She's lived in this fairy tale long enough...

I can't wait for the day... when they find

out what she truly is...!'

Chapter 21 ~ Truth behind the Truth

-Alice-

As everyone in the slept silently in the train cart, I watch happily as Cat sleeps soundly with her head resting on Ed's shoulder as his head tilts to the side and rest on Cat's. "You've noticed it too?" I nearly jump in surprise at the sudden sound of Al's voice. I calmed myself down and nod, "It doesn't take a genius to notice after seeing how they haven't stopped staring at one another. I've known Cat way too long not to notice. Though this is kind of the first in a long since she's ever acted this strongly towards a boy she likes ever since her first crush."

"She liked someone before!?" Al covers his mouth as we both stared at the two nervously. Surprisingly, neither of them wok. Instead the noise only caused them to snuggle up closer to one another. We both sigh in relief. "Don't scream like hat Al... you almost got us in trouble..."

'If only I had a camera with me...! This would be the best moment to remember!'

++Morning++

While we all sat patiently as we waited to arrive in Central, something dawns on me the moment I spot Ed's arm. I panic and tap Cat's shoulder to get her attention. "What is it?" she asks me. I bit my fingers and point at Ed, which she too realizes what I meant. "I don't know if Winry actually checked Ed's arm... I told her last night but I didn't check," I whisper in her ear. Cat scowls at me when she hears me say that, "You're not suppose to change anything...! We have to keep things in line if we don't want something horrible to happen in the future...!" "You could have at least tried to save Nina..." I think I said something wrong, cause the moment I decided to look back at her her face suddenly darkens for some odd reason.

I saw her lift her hand up. I shut my eyes expecting her to hit me, but instead she just pats my head and goes back staring out the window. 'I wonder what happened while I was gone... I hope I didn't say something wrong again...'

-Me-

We looked through what was left of the library, trying to find something that had at least survived the burn out. Ed picks up a book only for it to crumble into ashes. "There's nothing left here but ashes... everything's gone..." Ed mutters in despair. I walk up to Ed and place a hand on his shoulder, reassuring him, "Well not everything couldn't been burnt down Ed... maybe there's some that were salvaged from the fire!" "Cat!" Alice calls me over, waving a hand as she stood a few feet away from where we were. I ran up to where she was after I excused myself from the trio, who were trying to figure out what to do next. "What? Did you find something?" I ask after I finally caught up to her.

Alice crouches down to the ground and picks something up. "I saw this before... when I was still trapped in the stone with all the others. I don't know how, but sometimes I was able to see things through her eyes and this is one of them," Alice tells me as she hands the object to me. It was a necklace, a silver locket that was completely sealed up tight by alchemy, there's no way I can transmute this open and we can't ask Ed or Al to open it for us. I'd love to if only I didn't suck and shaping matter without deforming it or destroying it into pieces. I only got the destruction part done with alchemy, but reconstructing solid matter is a no go, and that's why I stuck with water alchemy all the way through.

I flip it over and saw two initials on both sides. "E.E & C.C... N.F & P.C... I wonder who they are?" Alice wonders out loud after reading the initials. I shrug and put it in my pocket, "Or who they were Alice. If this belongs to Jealousy, that means she killed people like the cold blooded monster she is. If we could open it we might find some answers."

"Can't you just use alchemy on it?" "I'm a water alchemist. I suck at things that are solid... ask Dante, even she couldn't help me."

"Dante!? The one from-" I slam my hand over her mouth before she could finish. I grit my teeth as I whispered, "Listen... Let's save it for later... I'll explain everything once we're in a quiet place away from those two..." "Major Armstrong!" we all turned to see two familiar faces, well for me and Alice at least, both standing beside one another and salute. "Well, Second Lt. Ross and Sergeant Brosh, to what do we owe this pleasure?" Armstrong asks in delight to see the duo. "You have been ordered to report back to command sir!" Ross informs the man, still keeping her position. Brosh finishes, "We will be taking over the supervision of Catherine Cairo and the Elric brothers immediately!"

Armstrong complies at the orders he was told with the usual sparkles floating around his head, "Hmph... very well then, they're yours." The sparkles reflect in Alice's eyes as I face palm at her reaction. "What is this!? Just when we think we're home free, they saddle us with more body guard... this is getting old!" Ed complains. "Don't mind them Ed they're just doing as their told. We need to focus at hand on what we're going to do now that the library is gone," I remind the boy to ease him from the idea of having new people watching over us.

||In the Car||
(Me: Too lazy! Sorry! Actually I watched the episode and well... they just magically ended up in the car. O_O)

"All might not be lost," Ross spoke up, "there was a woman who was well acquainted with the materials in the First branch. Unfortunately... she wasn't working there anymore." "You mean Sheska-!?" I slap my hand over Alice's mouth, this time even harder than last time since this was something she should not be saying out in the open. "Um... yes... Excuse me if you don't mind me asking Ms. Cairo, but who is this?" sweat starts to run down our bodies as we froze in place nervously. "She's my uh... companion! Yeah! She decided to come along since she's never been out of the country! Right? Alice?" I ask her with my mouth twitching nervously in my false smile. She nods and answers just as nervous as I am, "M-My name is Al-Alice! I-I'm he-her mecha-mechanic!"

We both laugh like nervous wrecks in front of the group. And to our relief, they seem to buy it, or most of them at least. Al catches Brosh staring at him, "Something wrong?" "Oh it's nothing...! Although if you don't mind me asking as well, why're you wearing a suit of armor?" Brosh asks with a raised eye brow. Now it was Ed and Al's turn to start panicing. "It's a hobby!" both boys blurt out. I face palm again as Alice giggles at their reaction. "

-Jealousy- ++Last Night++

"Damn it! It's not here!" I threw the books on the ground in anger, scattering all the documents I could get my hands on all over the floor. "I need to find it... before that stupid Lust get's impatient and burns the house down... He hid them here... I just know it!" I threw every single book or document I could get my hands on every where when I saw it wasn't what I was looking for, and I was running out of time the longer I search what I'm looking for. I spot something and pull it out. "Yes! This is- Gah!" I scream in pain as I felt a pain stab from behind my back. I look down to see a large black spike sticking out of my body, sparks flashing every now and then trying to do it's work on healing my body.

"You know how father feels about you wondering off on your own Jealousy..." it was Pride, and by the sounds of it he was pissed as hell. Blood soon starts to drip down my lips. I smirk spatting at the tone of his voice, "And let you guys have all the fun on freely roaming around the country? You guys know you can't stop me... I was never like you to begin with. So why even bother trying to stop me when you can't?" I almost scream in pain when Pride decided to lift me off the ground and force me to face him as he stood in the shadows, partially stepping out into the moonlight with his eyes glowing bright red. His shadow moves around as multiple eyes and mouths open up. A shadow blade shoots up and stops midways from piercing my throat.

I didn't know what he would do next at this point on. It was either kill me or drag me bad to that hell hole again where I'll be kept as a prisoner, again. He glares at me one last time before drawing both of his blades back and drops me onto the ground. "Your luck will run out soon..." and then he disappears back into the darkness, just like the shadow he was created/born to be. I got up and spit out the remaining blood in my mouth after all my body fully regenerates, and as I stood there I glare at the place Pride once stood in with glowing dark blue eyes. "I'll get you soon," I turn my glare down at my blood that I spewed on the carpet floor, "Catherine Cairo." The blood was black. This proof enough that I was not like them.

Soon enough the room slowly started to lit up, Lust had finally gotten impatient and had already started to burn down the entire library, without knowing that I was inside with her.

++Present++

-Back to Me-

"It's weird," I look at Alice in confusion, "how come they haven't said anything about me yet?" I follow her gaze to the brother as we made our way towards Sheska's place by foot after parking the car. I think she was referring to how Ed and Al hadn't rejected the idea of Alice coming along and just simply let her come on a whim, not only that they haven't Ed himself hasn't said a word about it. He's usually the one complaining when someone tags along with them. He even complained about being partners with me when we both started out as military soldiers! I shrugged then said bluntly, "Maybe it's because Al has a crush on you." Alice immediately turns pink much to my amusement. I smirk and she pouts at me when Alice realizes that it was a joke.

Alice yells as she starts to lightly hits my automail arm and transforms into her chibi form, "Not funny Cat! I'm trying to be serious here!" "Hai hai! I understand taichou!" I say, placing a hand on her forced and forcefully push her away and keep her in place as she flails her arms around in fury. "Don't treat me like a kid!" I sweat drop when she once again turns chibi.

-Ed-

I wanted to yell at them to stop what they're doing and focus, but seeing how well those two were getting along I couldn't help but stare at them as they continued to fight with one another. "Should we stop them?" Al asks as he watches with me. "Nah... I think-" I stop when I hear Alice scream out, "I'll tell Ed about your super secret crush on him!" Cat frantically tries to shut the girl up while I just look away with a huge blush on my face as our two bodyguards and Al give me with looks behind my head. I can't see them since I'm too embarrassed to see what exactly their reaction is, but ever since this whole 'I'm dating the mercury alchemist' thing started I always get these weird looks when I'm around Cat.

-Back to me-

We had finally reached the woman's place, knocking on the door a few times and opening it when no one answered it only to find mountains and mountains of books on the other side. "There's got to be a hundred in here!" Ed says in amazement as they stuck their heads inside. Brosh asks in shock, "Is there really someone living in this place?" "Ms. Sheska, are you here?" Ross calls out. I decided to keep out of this, not only to save myself from further embarrassment thanks to Alice's outburst, but to prepare myself when we have to- "Is...someone...there...?" we all hear a weak voice coming from below the large pile of books. I sigh and watch from the doorway as everyone bolts to where the girl is when Alice and Al spot her hand sticking out from the pile, trying to dig up the buried book worm from underneath her collection of books.

I didn't know whether I should help them or not, either way they will find the girl with without my help. I lean against the door way watching in amusement at how frantic they all were just to find one girl to help the brothers solve their problems. Suddenly, out of no where, I felt a shiver run down my spine and I automatically turned away with my sword drawn out. I don't know why but it felt like there was someone watching me, there's only one person I know out there who could be any moment now except this is the first for this to happen. Now either I'm going crazy, or there's someone else out who's watching me. Soon enough I saw a cloaked figure standing in the distance, staring at me from under his/her hood while I froze in place unable to move a muscle.

"Ah!" I hear a loud screech behind my back. I look over my shoulder to see Alice buried underneath an avalanche of books, her legs sticking up and twitching in the air. Remembering the figure, I quickly turn back to see that the stranger was no longer there anymore much to my surprise. I take a step forward and look around to check of any signs where the stranger might have disappeared to, sadly there was only a few bystanders and the usual shops and homes of Central. "Who was that...?" I mutter under my breathe and I sheathed my sword back into its scabbard.

-Jealousy-

I went over the usual boring paper work in my office until on of my soldiers barges into the room crying out, "General! We have a problem!" Good, now I can finally get out of this crummy office and do my duties as the GA. "What is it?" I ask, clearly tired from all the work I've been doing. Furher Bradley (a.k.a Wrath) decided that the only way to shorten my leash is by assigning me paper work to do while I bark out orders to my soldiers to do some tasks I would've personally done myself. "Your cousin is out of control again. The other soldiers are starting to get suspicious now! Richard and the others are out of ideas what to do now," Beatrix informs my in a panicked tone. Being the only female of my troupe, the men always send her out to inform me of any important matter that they're unable to handle, and also she's the only one whose not afraid of me.

I sigh placing the folders neatly back on my table, "Show me what's going one." Soon I found myself marching down the hall with Beatrice by my side. The closer we got to the room the louder I could hear the cries of my wimpy soldiers and also the guest we were holding inside. I swung the door open, slightly tilting my head to dodge the ice spike that was thrown at my head. "I told you to sit still if you want to live longer... Isaac," I said darkly as the man is pinned down to the ground by my alchemy when I lightly stomped my foot to the ground. "You can't keep my in here forever! My daughters will find me! And when they do... I'll be sure to personally send you back to the depths of hell!" my nose scrunches at his words.

Angrily, I walk past the bodies of my injured men who all writhed around in pain after the small brawl they had with the alchemist. I grab his face and forced him to look at me straight in the eye, "Don't test me Freezer...! I've kept you alive this long so you can be an asset in my plans... if you ever want to see your family again alive then you better do as I say...! You wouldn't want to meet your only remaining family in a coffin now would you. That was the only thing that made him finally shut up. I stood up straight and barked out my orders to the remaining soldiers who weren't that badly injured from the fight, "Bring him to another room! This time make sure it has no access to any water substance at all!"

"But what if he has to use the bathroom ma'am?" Scrawny, my nickname for the skinny soldiers, questions as he and a few others try to pry out the man from his binds. "Attach a pipe to the wall for him to piss in! And if he has to take a shit... I don't actually give a shit! Not water for him at all to use or drink with!" They all salute in fear as I walk out of the room. Before Beatrice shuts the door close, Isaac asks me, "Why did you let me live? Why not let my die by Bradley's hands!?" I stood in place. I only said this, "I told you before... I need you for my plans..." As the door shuts close the memory of that day resurfaces.

::Memory::

Isaac backs away in fear as I took a few steps forward. Much to his surprise, I use my blade to slice my own skin instead of his, causing a large pool of blood to spill on the cold concrete floor. I slam my hands on the pool and in a flash the blood slowly rises up to a blob like state before forming into the figure of a man, exactly to about his height. Placing my hand on the back of the blob, another flash emits from my hand and next thing that happened it forms exactly to the shape of an average adult male then skin forms around it. "Strip now!" I order. Confused at first, Isaac does as he was told and shamefully takes most of his clothing off. I toss him some rags before making a hold into the alley wall beside us and shoving him inside. At the sound of running foot steps behind my back, I immediately threw all the clothes on him and tried my best to manipulate the blood doll.

Then I played everything out from the time I made 'Isaac' encounter Bradley to the point he was officially labelled as a dead man to the eyes of the military soldiers, especially to that girl.

::End of Memory::

As we both continue towards my office, I chanced upon Lieutenant Colonel Hughes walking down the same halls as we were in the opposite direction. Time seemed to slow around us as his pupils went wide and followed my figure as I slightly look in his direction with an emotionless gaze. Hughes stopped in place and stares at my back in shock while I moved on like nothing happened between our encounter. I wanted to cringed at the cursed name that escaped his lips, "Catherine...?"

-Back to Me-

Somehow I ended up being dragged into digging not only Alice out of the pile, but also Sheska! I pant as I collapsed onto the ground beside Ed. Each one of us took a seat on the ground as Sheska bows down and apologizes, "I'm so sorry! I got myself trapped under a whole mountain of books!" Alice holds her head with anime tears coming out of her eyes, Al by her side as comfort, and the first to accept the apology, "It's fine... Now I know how my grandpa feels..." I sweat drop and point out, "Don't compare to what happened to you to your dead relative..." "I thought I was going to suffocate under there! Thank you so much!" "It's fine," Alice told her with a small smile. Ed removes a books from his head and asks, "So... are you Sheska?"

She was surprised we knew who she was but still answers, "Yes.." "And you worked at the library?" Sheska hugs herself, sparkles appearing in her eyes saying, "It was beautiful! I've loved books my hole life, ever since I first learned to read as a little girl. It was heaven!" "I can tell... you sure have a crud load of books here..." I comment, looking around the home in amazement. I know she's a book worm and has a lot of books stacked all over her entire home, but to see this much in person is seriously crazy, especially for someone here who's also a bookworm. 'That's me...' I thought as an arrow struck the side of my head from my own self insult.

"I would always read when I was supposed to be working... so they fired me! If I don't find another job, I'll never be able to move my poor elderly mother into a better hospital... but I'm useless!" looking down at the ground, Sheska told her story with all the happiness she had in her voice earlier disappeared. Alice whispers into my ear, "I still think she just made that up for sympathy..." That earn Alice an elbow to the side which I immediately regret after getting a nice reminder her body isn't real. I could hear that old annoying voice at the back of my head saying sarcastically, 'Nice one Cat.' "No you're not useless; no one should think like that," Al said looking down at the girl in sympathy. I eyed Alice which she stares down at her hands in shame after what she commented earlier.

-Normal-

"There was actually one thing we wanted to ask you," Ed interrupts. Sheska sniffles and wipes her eyes, "Yes?"

"Do you remember the name Tim Marcoh?"
"Let's see... Tim Marcoh... where do I know that name... oh yes, of course! Now I remember!"
"Really!?"
"Oh yes, I'm absolutely positive! There were some handwritten notes stuffed into a bookcase that didn't belong."

"The notes were there after all!" Ed exclaims happily. Then reality struck everyone in the room "...Which means they were burned down with everything else in the library..." Al mutters (me: Was it him?) as both boys became depressed. "Can't things ever go smoothly...?" Alice asks just as depressed as the others. Cat on the other hand didn't say a word at all, she stood in place with her arms crossed and her eyebrows furrowed in an intense gaze. "Did you want to read them? Is that why you're asking?" Sheska questions after noticing their dilemma. "Yeah but it's too late now... It's nothing but ashes..." Ed said then stood up from place. Al slightly bows down, "Sorry to bother you." They began to make their way out of the rooms until Cat suddenly spoke up, "Maybe you should listen what else she has to say first before leaving."

"I remember everything that was in them if that would help," both brothers ran up to her with wide eyes as she continued, "it's just the was I am, I'm able to remember the contents of any book I've read. It'll take a while but I can get it for you." Al started dancing as Alice hugs the book worm and shook her hands like mad. "Thank you bookworm!" Ed shouted, earning a gigantic fist full in the face by Cat. "That's not a way to thank someone!" she yells at the boy. She turns around and corrects, "Ahem! What he meant to say Sheska is thank you for the help. Sorry about him, he's been dropped multiple times as a baby." "Um... you're welcome?" she replies in confusion when Cat and Ed suddenly have an argument infront of her. Sheska asks Alice quietly, "Are they dating...?"

Alice whispers back, "No... but sometimes I know both of them want to be... they're just too stubborn to say anything..."

++Days Later++
||Sheska's Place||

-Alice-

We gap in shock at the entire stacks of papers Sheska had lay out for us. "Here you are! Complete copies of Tim Marcoh's notes!" she announces and places the last of the packets down on the table. "Sorry... I know five days was a long time to wait but it was quite a lot to write down," Sheska states as Ed and Al pick one up. "Wow... This is even more than our old report back in elementary..." I gasp in amazement as I slowly pick up one packet. It felt so amazing to actually hold a copy of THEE time Marcoh's notes in person rather than seeing it on screen, especially when all you can see in one page and that's it. "These are his notes?" Ed asked as he looked through them. "They sure are! Come and take a look at them. Written by Tim Marcoh, 1000 easy recipes!" Al, Ross, ad Brosh stare at Sheska with wide eyes.

They too started reading through them and realized that Sheska was right, they were only normal recipes for cooking. I tried to read them but- "Wah...! My head is spinning~!" I fall backwards with swirls in my eyes as Al catches me when he notices me backing up. "Alice!? What's wrong!?" he asks me worriedly. Cat pats his shoulder saying, "It's normal for Alice. Once she reads something as long as a recipe from a cook book she easily gets dizzy from all the calculations going around in her head." "The numbers are spinning..." I mutter. "What part of this made you think it was an important document?" Brosh asked as he read through some, clearly ignoring what's happening to me.

Alice: Hidoi! I hate you Brosh! TT^TT
Me: You did just start appearing so... ^^;
Alice: ;_; Author-san... you're evil...

"Is it not what you wanted?" Sheska asks in confusion. I snap out of it the moment I see Cat pick one up and looks through it for herself, her eyes slowly turning dull at every page she laid eyes on and I don't blame her, it was the recipe on how to make the philosopher's stone. I get out of Al's arms once I got most of my senses back. "Thank you Alphonse," I thanked the boy. He scratches the back of his metal head bashfully, "It's no problem Alice."

-Back to Me-

I secretly smile at the two and went back to looking at the papers in my hands. 'This research... Marcoh...' I grip onto them tightly before placing them back down with a sad distant stare. A memory suddenly surfaced in my mind the longer I stared down at the table and continued to ignore what was happening around me, I got used to it after so many strange memories that I'm sure aren't mine. Or at least... I think they are.

::Memory::

I stood in front of their door nervously as I held a tray of food in my hands. "What should I do...? At this rate Ed will lose faith in himself again... Just like before..." a small tear escaped my eye as a sudden image of that day appeared in my mind- the day Ed lost his mom. I brought a hand up, though nervous at first, then knocked on the wooden door. The door "Ed? Al? It's me... Can you open up?" There was no answer. I sigh at their stubbornness, "Guys you can't stay in there forever...! You can't stay in there forever! C'mon everyone's worried about! ...I'm worried about you!" "They still haven't come out yet?" a voice asks from behind my back.

I shook my head and placed the tray in front of the door, "I ordered Ross and Brosh to wait down stairs in case the Major decides to pay them us a visit. Until them we need to do whatever we can to get them back to their usual selves." "Captain sparkles is coming here!?" I turn around to see her hiding in behind a tall flower pot, both twin tails sticking out from side to side of the plant. "Of course he is! You know how he likes to check up on those boys! Be luck it's not Colonel Mustang," I tell the girl.

"But he keeps showing off what has been passed down in his family for generations! Is there something that wasn't passed down in that gigantic body of his!?"
"Well it's the majors family so who knows? Besides shouldn't you be helping me get your boyfriend out of the room?"

She immediately turns pink in a small puff of smoke the moment she heard the word 'boyfriend' come out into light, that's the only thing I can use against her to snap her out of her paranoia and Al is the perfect tool to use. Sticking her head out, she pouts, "You don't have to use THAT against me..." Those two have been dating for a while now but they just can't seem to stop getting flustered when one tries to say those three simple words to one another, it can't be that hard since we used to say the same thing to our parents. I smiled affectionately to her and said, "C''mon your boyfriend need you A-"

The memory starts to freeze and turn all static right before I clearly see the face of the girl I was smiling at. I was pushed out of the body I was in, just like that time again when I had a memory of my childhood and that person. Everything starts to become covered by a black-like shadow that began to spread all around me until the entire hallways disappeared into nothing but darkness. I look around as I ask out loud, "What's going on..!?" "Get out..." a voice rang from all around me. "Get out...!" the voice repeats itself except in a more serious tone. I drew out my gun knowing that using either my sword or alchemy would be useless in a dark area like right now.

"Get out of my head!"

::End of Memory::

All of the papers I was holding suddenly slips out of my hands when I felt a huge burst of throbbing pain in my head, causing everyone in the room to stop what they were doing. "Cat? Are you okay?" Alice asks me with a hint of concern in her voice. I shake my head and place a hand on my forehead, saying, "I'm fine... Just felt a little light headed there for a second," I lied and bent down to pick up the papers back up from the ground. The pain worsened even more by the minute, making it harder and harder to keep a straight face. "Cat," I felt a hand force me to turn around, "you're not fine! You need to set this one out for now until we get back to HQ." I smile at Ed and place a hand over his reassuringly, "I'm fine Ed don't worry about me! Just focus on the stone right now. It's more important than me!"

"... me" Ed whispers silently, but I was barely able to make out what he just said. "Huh? Did you say something?" I ask him. He suddenly turns pink and immediately pulls away from me. I didn't really say anything else about the situation, I was more concerned about what I had just seen earlier. 'Those memories... are getting even worse every time I see one... I'm sure they aren't mine. Whose are they..?' I wondered to myself before another wave of pain came over me.

-Jealousy-

I felt the pain increase ten times further than the previous one. "Shit..." I covered my face with my free hand as tapped my pen continuously on top of the paper. "Ms. Katelyn? Ma'am?" my head shot up the moment I felt a hand on my shoulder, almost causing me to use my alchemy on instinct if I hadn't realized it was just one of my subordinates.

Me: I remembered her name! XD Hahahaha!
Jeal: -_-
Me: Wh-what is it? O_O||
Jeal: Take back that stupid name Juliet Douglas! Don't rename me after that water woman!
Me: I just said fixed it right now!

"What is it? Don't you see I'm busy right now?" I demand clearly not wanting to converse with anyone at the moment. "The files you've requested have arrived ma'am," the soldier informs me. This wasn't really the best time for me to read or do anything now that I have this blasted headache, but I needed those files asap. "Did anyone else take notice?" the longer I talked the more I could feel the pain slowly growing by the minute. I needed to know now so I that I can deal with who or whatever got in the way of me retrieving the information I needed. "No ma'am...! But a soldier did ask for the same files a while back," and everything in my began to shatter all at once.

-Normal-

"Thank you very much; you're incredible!" Ed told her as he and Al started to pick up some packets. "Alright! Let's get these back to the library!" "Don't forget to pay her!" Cat reminds the excited boy as she struggles to walk out of the house with the papers in hand. "Oh I almost forgot," he pulled out a paper and wrote something on it. Alice so this and hugs the boy out of no where crying out, "Oh Ed you're so generous!" Ed blushes at this sudden action, "Yeah, yeah..." He couldn't help but shiver at the sudden cold stares he was getting behind his back, which happened to be a very pissed off Cat and a very jealous Alphonse who both weren't happy what they were seeing.

Me: You like them~ :3
Al: Cat-san... =/=
Cat: Sh-Shut up! /*

"Brother... why are you blushing?" Al asks darkly, unable to hide his anger towards his brother. "You Ed... Why?" Cat eggs in on the topic but unlike Al, her voice was dripping with venom in it. "I-I am not! Let's just go!" Ed denies it as he hurriedly hands over the paper and his pocket watch to Ross. Alice finally let's go when she too see's the dark aura's surrounding the two, allowing Ed to instruct Ross, "Here you go Lt. This is my registration number and the pocket watch for I.D. Withdraw the amount from my annual research grants and make sure Sheska gets it. "Right, I'll make sure she gets it right away," she gladly obliges to the orders of her superior although she is yet to see how much is given later on.

The four of the exit the room as Alice shouted, "Thanks Sheska!" "I assume I could take this note straight down to the state alchemist office!?" Ross calls out. "Yep! That should do it!" Ed shouts. "You're a life saver... thanks Sheska!" With that said, Ed shuts the door behind his back and hurriedly runs after the trio, though he was confused as to why two of them were acting a little cold towards him. From behind they could he loud shouts. Cat looks at Ed who looks back at her and both smile at one another, knowing full well why they were screaming.

||Central HQ||

-Ed-

"I don't understand... these are just books," Brosh said Cat and I look through some of the papers. Al was near a book case with Alice by his side, grabbing a few books. "What could they possibly have to do with alchemy?" Brosh continued. "Alchemy is a powerful art, it can be incredibily dangerous if misused. In order to prevent that," I lift up page of the notes to Brosh, "alchemic research is always encrypted." "They were designed to look like ordinary recipes but are actually powerful alchemiec notes. Only the alchemist who wrote them can understand," Cat explains further and shuts her book closed, the book that Marcoh gave her not long ago.

"If they're so heavily encrypted, then how will you decipher them?"

"It won't be easy, we'll have to used all of our alchemic knowledge for it," Ed states. "Wow sir... that sounds really complicated..." Brosh says in amazement. "Hey look! There's a section in here about a green tea," Alice points out after placing some books next to me. "Green tea? Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Al asks me. I nod with a smirk forming on my lips saying, "Yeah, it could be a reference to the green lion." While the three of us were going even deeper in the notes, I noticed that Cat wasn't doing anything at all except looking out of the window with that book in her hand.

"Alice and I will be researching in the other room for now," Cat blurts out of nowhere and starts to carry some books with her. "What are you talking about? We're both looking for the stone so I think the best way to get the information we need quicker if we work together," Ed tells her. Cat puts a hand on her hips, "You boys can handle it just fine without my help! Besides Alice and I are looking for different answers about the stone." Alice sits in a corner depressed. She mutters out loud depressingly, "I could help too..." "You're more of a builder than a scientist," Cat states as all of us sweat drop at the brunette's actions.

"Cat wait-!" she interrupts me, "Think of this as a race! Whoever finds the information first gets first dibs on the stone!" Shivers went down my spine when I saw that blank look in her eyes. I couldn't help but have the familiar old suspicion on the girls' actions as Cat drags Alice out the room. I know it's wrong to feel this way again after so long, but I noticed one thing that has always made me suspicious of her from the start- that blank look she always has on her face many times during some mission and the one she had a few days ago counts. "Wait a second Cat! I want to stay with them!" we hear a cry outside the room.

After a few moments of silence Ross spoke up, "Would you like me to go after them sir? I could try to convince her on doing the task together with you two." I ponder on this for a second then decided to reject her offer, "No I think it's best to let her do what she wants. Cat usually does this, and she only does things alone for a reason." Al agrees with me, "This isn't the first time she's done this to us many times. Brother and her haven't fought yet so it has to be something really serious for her to keep from us." I cringed a little at that last part.

'Cat always keeps things to herself... Even if she trusts us she does it to protect us... but protect us from what?' I thought worriedly as I gaze back at the shut wooden door Cat and Alice went out of.

I did finally notice one thing- "Hey what are you blaming me for!? I haven't done anything yet!"

-Back to Me-

I quickly shut the doors behind my back and look them immediately, then I poured out my canister of water on the door and used my alchemy to freeze the door, preventing anyone from getting in as well as hearing anything that we'll be discussing soon. "Cat what's going on? Shouldn't we be helping Ed and Al?" Alice asks me as she watches me run up to one of the tables and look for the book. I lift it up in the air and explained, "This book was given to me by Doctor Tim Marcoh himself right before we left for central. He told me that all of the answers we're looking for are in this book, and until decrypt this book we can't let anyone in or see what we're doing."

"You think it can... help everyone get back to normal?" unsure of what she was hearing, Alice hugs herself and stares directly at the book in my hands. "I don't know... but I trust Doctor Marcoh! He wouldn't have kept this book for so long if it wasn't nothing important! I can't really explain it, but I have a feeling that the answers are in this very book!" I held it close to my chest protectively. Whether or not Alice will believe me or not, I need to know what is in this book and who this person was to Marcoh.

It shocked me when Alice suddenly grabs a gigantic book from one of the bookshelves behind her back and slams it on the table. She smiles at me brightly, "Then let's go at it then!"

++Few Hours Later++

While the boys were doing their research in a separate room, Alice and I locked ourselves up in our own room and kept ourselves shut off from the world. I gave up on the 'freezing the door' idea after I tried climbing out the window and going to the cafeteria. I only leave when I have to use the bathroom or get some food or something while Alice keeps the door closed until I come back since she's the only one who doesn't need any of that.

"Argh! I've had it! This book makes no sense at all! None of these stupid riddles makes sense! Whoever this alchemist was is really good at concealing his research! I bet Ed and Al are doing better than we are," I place on of the books I was using for a reference on my face as I lean back in my chair in defeat. Alice slides down until her head was on top of the table. "My brain hurts so much... are you sure Doctor Marcoh said this book can help us return everyone back to normal once we get the stone back?" Alice asks me, defeat written all over her face.

I groan and threw the book off my face but continued to look up at the ceiling, replying, "I don't know... he just told me all the answers I need are in this book... Remember he wasn't the one that made this book it was someone else. What I'm more concerned is how come this guy had to conceal his research so well." Alice lifts her head up and says, "Maybe this guy has a dark secret to hide. You told me he worked with the doctor so it has to be something dangerous." "I really hope it's not Alice... We already have two things to worry! First is Jealousy and then how to get the stone back from her!" I exclaim and toss one of the books at the door.

We both jump up in the air when there was a sudden knock at the door. "Cat! Are you in there? It's me Camilla!" we hear from the other side of the door. I didn't waste a second on running to the door and opening it for her. "Miss Camilla! What are you doing here?" I ask her as she steps inside the room. Camilla just smiles and looks down at her side making me follow her gaze curiously. My eyes went wide when I see Alice shyly peeking out from behind Camilla's back. 'Wait a second... Both Alice's in one place... what am I going to do!?' my thoughts scream in terror.

Out of all the things I forgot to mention to Alice (from my world) that there's a little girl in this world that has the same name and looks as her. What an ironic way for them to meet. Not! "Cat?" I silently screamed at the reminder of who's behind my back. "Who's ther-" Alice freezes in place while the other Alice gaps in shock at the doppelganger standing before her. I nervously introduce her to the two, "Alice, meet Miss Camilla and... Alice..."

||Camilla's Apartment||

For some odd reason the two of us ended up visiting Camilla's place, and at the moment... it was the worst idea EVER. Amestrian Alice (my label for her now) and Alice Chronos (A/N: Still thinking of changing that damn last name... :/) stare at one another in amazement. "You're friend is a very odd one," Camilla comments. I sweat drop thinking at the back of my head, 'One of the many things I wish she would fix...' Soon they started to mimic one another, mirroring each others moments and facial expressions in the most weirdest way possible.

Me: I'll let your imaginations run there on what they did... :3
Cat: Can't write it out? XD
Me: You expect me to without laughing my ass off? XD

I guess being here is a nice change of scenery for once as a way of taking a small break, though I'm surprised that up until now Alice is still staying with Camilla after all this time. "Alice is still living with you?" I ask after taking a small sip of the tea she offered me. She nods, "Her godparents back in Heissgart are still trying to work some things out on who will take Alice in. Honestly, if I were them I would just take the child and raise her as my own! Who cares about financial issues?" I simply laugh at how serious Camilla was taking this, "Well you're doing a good job so far! First time I saw the kid she was a mess! You're like a mother to her now Miss Camilla."

I watch the two continue their shenanigans. Camilla, however, watched me with a distant look in her eyes. I spot a small picture frame sitting on a nearby shelf when two nearly bumped into it by at least a few inches. Curious, I walk up to it and picked the frame up in my hands. It was a head shot of a man, with golden hair and... golden eyes!? 'Is he a... Xerxian!? If my memory is correct... Hoheinhem is the only living Xerxian left after they entire population was transmuted into the philosopher's son!' I thought as I felt me hand (can't feel the other remember?) tremble in fear.

"I see you found the picture of my late husband." I nearly jumped ten feet off the ground in surprise at Camilla's sudden appearance by my side. "Ah sorry! I say that this was about to fall off and-" I stop when I saw that Camilla was at the brink of tears at the sight of the photo. Camilla wipes her tears away and apologizes, "Sorry... it's been so long since I look at that picture. I had nearly forgotten it was there when the Hughes family and Alice came into my life." "What happened to him?" I push on the topic and continued to stare down at the photo.

"I actually don't know... It's been ten years since I last saw him, and there hasn't been a moment that's gone by where I don't miss him. Sometimes I feel like he's still with me, watching over me from a distance. I know it's silly to say such things... I lost both him and my daughter a long time ago, I have not seen them nor have heard of them once."

"You had a daughter...?" I ask her. "She was 5 years old when I last when I last saw her," Camilla takes out a necklace from her pocket, "all I have left is this... She made this for me the day she learned alchemy from her father." I couldn't stop staring at his photo, he was a handsome fellow indeed (hotter than Ed I think XD), but it felt like I've seen him before. A small fuzzy image appears my head.

'I'm glad I got to see my daughter on her birthday.'

I shook my head thinking, 'No way! It can't be that guy! There's no way in hell that person can be my father... Not after all those years of being alone!' "Miss Camilla... can I ask you something?" I ask, my bangs covering my eyes. "Yes, what is it?" I was hesitant at first, I mean who would be able to ask for the name of the man who might potentially be my long lost father? Don't forget that Camilla would also be my long lost mom. 'That can't happen! It just can't!' my thought scream at the back of my mind.

"His name was Ni-" our conversation was interrupted when the sound of breaking glass echoes inside the bedroom, Camilla's bedroom. All of us, excluding younger Alice who was instructed to stay in the living room, hurriedly rush to the room. I immediately draw my gun and swung the door open, but strangely there was no one in the room except shattered pieces of glass from the window lying on the ground. As Alice and Camilla check around the room, I looked out the window to check for any signs of anyone who might've escaped through the window, but there was nothing except the lit up lamp post.

Withdrawing my gun, I asked, "Was anything stolen?" "Nope! Whoever this person was really wasn't here to rob anything," Alice concludes after she finished checking her side of the room. Camilla agrees but was still worried, "I hope they weren't planning to do anything bad. If they weren't planning to rob my home... what else is there to do?" "Hm... Well what ever they were planning to do I think it's best not to think about it for now. As long as nothing was stolen we can't assume anything unless something actually happened," I turn to Camilla, "but we'll report this to the police don't worry. Alice and I have to go anyway."

Alice cheers while the other Alice sticks her tongue at the other (Me: You take you're pick cause I am already getting myself confused at this point XD). "C'mon Alice let's got," I ordered. Little Alice whines, "Don't leave...! You barely come to Central..." I look at Alice who just smiles and nods, clearly understanding what I was about to do. I bent down to her level, put a hand on her hand and explained to her, "My job isn't that easy... What I do is really dangerous. When you grow up you'll understand." Alice and I watch in amusement at the little girl's reaction to the term 'when you grow up' but nods and complies to my words.

||Back at HQ||

"You know... after you died that girl," I started referring to the other Alice, "was sort of the reason why I kept going on. She reminded me so much of you that it hurt... constantly reminding me how I wasn't able to save you, and yet she saved me in a way. That's why I couldn't believe you were actually alive when I saw you in Resembol." Alice sat there sinking everything in. "Why was I brought back to life...? How...?" I didn't know what to say to Alice, even I don't understand why she came back. Of course I'm happy she's alive! But it doesn't make any sense at all how it happened.

"Catherine? Are you in there?" it was Hughes. "Hold on I'll get it," as I walked up to the door I couldn't help but feel nervous for some reason. 'What are you nervous about!? It's just Hughes!' I unlock the door and swung it open. I smile up at the man once my eyes fell upon him. "Hughes! What a surprise! Come in! Alice and I were just finishing up here-" I wanted to slap myself for saying that. 'I haven't told Hughes about Alice yet!' "Ali-" his eyes went wide when he see's the girl fixing the books then she looks up at us in confusion. Next thing I knew, I was shoved back inside the room, Hughes locks the door behind his back and looks at the both of us seriously.

"Just tell me one thing... truthfully the both of you... are you really Amestris? Better yet, from this world at all?"

Thank you so much guys for all your support! TT^TT I can't believe I have this much reviews! It's helped and inspire me so much on continuing this series. I love FMA so much, and to see that there's so many people out there who also still show their love for the anime/manga even though it's long done with makes me so happy. My eyes are like literally bulging out with how many views I'm getting every time I check how many are ACTUALLY reading this.

Cat: Aren't you going to introduce your partner to everyone? You did mention him in the last chapter.
Me: You do it! I'm still pissed at him!
Cat: It's your fault for not realizing it after 2 years of working with him! Haru: I'm right here you know! -_-*
Me: For those that didn't see the update of the last chapter, this is my co-writer Haru Kaze. *whispers* he's the one that wants me to call him 'co-writer'... He hates the terms partner...
Haru: Ahem! Geez you ladies act like I'm not here!
Cat: Well this IS your first time talking to everyone after deciding to hide for so long. I'm surprise Avery was even allowed to say something about you.
Me: Actually I decided to explain to everyone after I tried to fix chapter 20... at 1 in the morning!
Haru: Okay okay! I'll introduce myself! I'm-
Cat: AveryScarlet does not own FMA!
Haru: Hey wai-
Me: All rights belong to Hiromu Arakawa-san!
Cat: Avery only own me (sadly), Alice, Camilla, and many other OC's to come in the near future!
Haru: See this is why I didn't want to show myself to the world! You always did this to me back in quizilla! *leaves the studio*
Me: You think we went too far this time?
Cat: Hm... let me see... Meh!