Disclaimer: I don't own FMA
I was currently sprinting through Central, a paper in my hand I had received from Sergeant Brosh moments ago. Thoughts ran rapidly through my head as I dashed around the scarce people on the street, maneuvering through the city while glancing at my map once in a while.
I burst into Ed and Al's apartment complex, running to the front desk, startling the man at the front desk.
"Which room number are the Elric brothers staying in?" I asked. Even though I had been there a bit earlier, that still didn't erase the fact I had a horrible memory.
"Number 28, second floor on the left." The man said, and I zoomed past the desk, disappearing up the stairs and going lightning speed through the halls until I skidded to a halt at the Elric's door. I paused and put my ear to the door to listen in on the voices I heard behind the door.
"It's the last thing I want to do, but we have to confront Scar." I heard Ed's muffled voice say. A grin burst across my face as I threw the door open.
"I'm in!" I said enthusiastically, closing the door behind me as I approached Ed and Al, who stared at me, dumbfounded.
"Were you listening in?" Ed asked suspiciously. I shrugged.
"I was about to bust down your door when I heard you mention confronting Scar. And so, I'm coming with you. I've been a bit bored lately, and I need a good fight." I said, standing by Ed. "So why are you going to confront Scar? About the Winry thing?" I asked, sobering a bit as I mentioned Winry's name.
"Well, that's one reason." Ed said, turning to look at Al, "But there is another."
"We're going to lure out the hummonculi." At those words, I paled. Oh, crap, they're gonna kill me. I thought, gulping. Al gasped slightly at Ed.
"They need us alive for their sacrifice, don't they?" Ed pointed out, looking at me, "So I doubt they'll be willing to just stand by while Scar kills us."
"You think so?" Al asked, "Sounds like a pretty big gamble to me."
"I was never good at gambling…" I muttered under my breath, soft enough so neither brother could hear. I was feeling more and more uncomfortable with this. But I needed to do this. I remembered this part really well. I needed to confront both Scar and about the supposed 'soul-jumper' that I thought had been the one to transfer me here. I had so much research to do!
"Well it's much better than doing nothing." Ed countered, and Al turned to his brother really fast, making me jump slightly.
"Oh really?" Al retorted to both of us, "Because Scar literally almost tore us apart the last time." Ed sweat nervously, and I was just standing there calculating the odds of the battle.
"Well…. We've…. gotten stronger…. In these past few months….." Ed said unconvincingly. Al looked at his brother, a scary aura surrounding him.
"What happens if the hummonculi do show up?" Al said, "How are you going to catch one? They're super strong and they pretty much can't die!"
"Can't die? Was that hyperbole?"
"Or are they actually immortal?" Ed, Al and I paused, looking at the window where Ling sat and Lan Fan peeked in. There was a slight awkward silence before Al broke it.
"Why don't we lock the windows?"
"Count us in! We'd love to help you guys!" Ling said.
"And why's that?" Ed questioned suspiciously.
"I can't say I care about the military stuff, but it sounds like these hummonculi are just what we have been looking for." Ling said. Ed narrowed his eyes at Ling. "What's wrong? You look kinda skeptical." Ling said, and Ed leaned forward from where he was on the couch.
Al, Ed and I were sitting on one couch, with Ed on my right and Al on my left. In front of us, Ling and Lan Fan sat next to each other, facing us. I, at the moment, felt like I was surrounded by a freakshow.
"Don't get me wrong," Ed said, "I am grateful for the help you've already given, but this," He was interrupted by Ling.
"You have better odds with more help. I'm serious about this." Ling's expression convinced me he was absolutely serious, "This could be the thing to save my clan." Ed stared at Ling, and Ling stared back, and it was almost like there was a small invisible battle going on between them. Ed grinned slightly.
"Okay then. Just remember, we're in this together." Ed said. Ling leaned back in the chair.
"I promise not to sneak off with them." He said, more at ease, "I owe you that much."
"What for?" Ed asked. Ling smiled as he pulled out a long piece of paper, letting it unroll and showing it to Ed. Ed grabbed it and looked at it.
"This…. This for room service…." Ed said, looking at the paper in a big mixture of black distress, anger, surprise, and irritation. Ling just laughed slightly.
"YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT YOU OWE ME!" Ed yelled loudly, kicking Ling and Lan Fan out the window. I sweat dropped. That's what defenestration looks like… HAHAHA!
"WILL YOU GUYS SHUT UP!" Winry yelled at us, slamming the door wide open, revealing herself in pink pjs and holding a fluffy pillow, "DO YOU KNOW HOW EARLY I HAVE TO WAKE UP TOMORROW?" Ed turned to look at Winry, half-glad her shouting was over and half-surprised to see her there.
"Oh, right, I forgot," Ed said, "You're catching an early train to Rush Vall-" Ed paused, suddenly paling and gulping. I knew he had just remembered the Scar issue.
"You know what," Ed said, "You should cancel that. Why don't you stick around and relax?"
"Huh?" She said, dumbfounded.
"I mean…. It's just that…. You know, well… There's…. Always a chance my arm could get broken…. Or even….. Destroyed." Ed said, his voice fading as he continued with the sentence. That last remark earned him a bloody smack in the head with her wrench.
"ARE YOU PLANNING ON DESTROYING IT?" Winry shouted at them, shaking in anger and frustration. Al frantically tried to help Ed, wiping some blood off his brothers' face.
"I can't believe you…." She grumbled under her breath, before continuing in a calmer, louder voice, "Just promise you won't do anything too dangerous." It's too late for that, I thought, amused but a sprinkle of jealousy over her worry for the boys. It took me a moment to recognize the jealousy, but once I did, I automatically thought back to what Hawkeye told me in the hospital. I hid my blush as I went to pick up my jacket, which I had discarded to lay on the couch. I pulled it on my arms, veiling my cherry face as I walked to the door, avoiding Winry.
No, no, I'm not in love with him, I scolded myself. Just shut up. You know you are, the voice in my head answered. I'm starting to doubt my own sanity. I thought as the blush faded and I turned to look at Ed, Al and Winry.
"I'll be back tomorrow morning." I said, "So goodnight, Al, Ed, Winry." I nodded to each person as I said their names.
"Bye!"
"Goodnight."
"Make sure to get some sleep." Those were the replies as I exited the room, walking down the hallway, thinking deeply. I sighed. With all the work I still needed to do, I wasn't going to get any sleep at all.
"Hello." I said, walking calmly up to the librarian's desk where she sat. The librarian looked up at me. I was currently in the second branch of the Central library, on a mission.
"Hello," She said, "Can I help you?"
"Yes. Do you know where I can find personal files of a state alchemist that disappeared during the war in Ishval?" I asked. The librarian looked at me sharply before I took my state pocket watch out and showed her.
"Cold Blood Alchemist, Lynette La'va." I introduced. The librarian all of a sudden had a new respect for me.
"All the military personal files were stored in the first branch before it burned down. There is a girl in the investigation unit in Central command who is helping the military recover personal files, though." The librarian said. I nodded and thanked the woman before rushing out of the library branch and dashing over to Central Command.
It didn't take me long to get to the investigations unit. Liz told me Sheska was in, just my luck. So, I was currently speed-walking through the halls.
I skidded to a halt when I found the room number she was supposed to be in. I knocked on the door, and it was opened to reveal a man I had definitely seen before.
"Major La'va." Captain Focker saluted. I nodded and passed by him, slightly smug about the fact he had to salute to me, since I was a higher rank than him.
"Captain Focker, I am looking for Sheska. Is she here?" I asked.
"Someone's looking for me?" I heard Sheska say behind me. I turned and smiled at her and stuck out a hand.
"My name is Lynette La'va, State alchemist." I said, shaking her hand. Sheska looked at me sheepishly.
"I guess you know mine." She said. I nodded.
"I was told about you a few times by a close friend that worked in this branch. I'm sorry I haven't got a chance to meet you earlier." I said politely. Damn, I'm not me when I'm polite. My voice honeys over and I don't talk trash.
"That's fine." Sheska said.
"Well, I was looking for something, but the librarian told me it was stored in the first branch of the library, so it was burned with the rest. Have you restored all the militairy personal files?" I asked.
"Most of them. I'm still finishing up. What are you looking for?" She asked.
"I would like to read the files on a previous state alchemist named Colette Shiran." I said, taking out my military watch and showing it to her. She nodded, and went in a room packed with books, looking through them. I peeked my head in after her, watching her fumble with books and folders until she pulled out a reasonably thick red folder. She came back over and handed it to me, and I grinned widely at her.
"Thank you so much!" I said, taking he folder. After a little bit more of casual chatter, I made my way out.
I came back to the Hughes house and found Gracia cleaning in the kitchen. I knew it definitely her this time.
"Hey." I said to Gracia, who turned around to face me.
"Where have you been? It's already so late. You shouldn't be walking around by yourself even if you are strong." Gracia said, concerned. I smiled at her.
"No, I'm fine. I got my map, and for the few months I've been here, I'm starting to get to know some places really well. Oh, and Gracia." I said, "I'm going to be out pretty much all night, and I just wanted to stop by and tell you."
"What are you going to be doing?" Gracia asked, "Especially what is going to take you all night?"
"I'm going to be looking for information on a specific person. I need a lot of it, and all the places I can find it will be all over Central." I said. Gracia looked at me, very worried, but I brushed it off.
"I'll be fine, don't worry. I'm going to be around people." I said, "And not bad people." That was somewhat a lie. I was going to be around a few very dangerous people. Well, whatever. We talked a bit more before I really needed to go.
"... Just be extremely careful, alright?" Gracia said nervously. I nodded hard. I could see she was remembering Maes, and didn't want to loose me either. I knew her concern and reassured her a bunch before going into my room and setting the file folder down on my desk.
"Envy, are you in here?" I asked. There was red lightning and suddenly he came into view, sitting on my bed with his legs crossed.
"Yeah?" He asked boredly. I sighed.
"You have Dr. Marcoh in your little underground lair, don't you?"
"Yes... How did you know?" Envy asked suspiciously. I shrugged.
"It made sense you would kidnap him too." I said plainly. Envy let me off.
"So? What?"
"I need to talk to him, tonight, as soon as possible." I said. Envy got off the bed, looking at me.
"Well? Lets go." He said. He tapped his foot impatiently as I stole a sealed inkwell, a few feather pens, and a notepad from my small desk in the corner and stuffed them in a small black leather purse, slipping the handle over my head and across my chest. I was at Envy's side in a blink of an eye.
"I'm ready!" I said. Envy sighed and rolled his eyes at me.
"I'll meet you outside." He said, approaching a window. I nodded and sped out the door with a rushed goodbye to Gracia, out of the building in a few seconds.
"We're here." Envy said. He was in his dog form, which looked a little like my old dog I had in my old world that died when I was five.
"About time," I muttered, holding my nose, "the sewer stench is about to make my nose fall off."
"Shut your trap." Envy said, changing to his green-haired form with sparks of red, walking over to a grated area in the floor and lifting the grate. I looked down it, to find it was only about six or seven feet. Not that bad.
I wiggled down through the hole, holding onto the edge with my fingers before letting me drop a few feet. I luckily landed on my feet, the impact making my feet soar for a moment before stabilizing. I looked behind me to see Dr. Marcoh sitting on a white bed, with a table a food or two away that held plates of food. The room itself was a darker gray cement color, matching the sewer floor.
Dr. Marcoh seemed startled at my presence.
"You have a visitor." Envy said, hopping down the hole and landing heavily. I mean, he IS really a gigantic lizard-dog-human-monster thing. He's gotta weigh something if he is really about a fifty feet tall in monster form.
"You must be Dr. Marcoh." I said, approaching him slowly. He looked at me, somewhat frightened. I sighed.
"Don't worry, I'm human. I'm not going to hurt you, I just want to ask a few questions." I said, approaching him even slower. He narrowed his eyes at me.
"What do you want?" He asked, an edge to his voice. Envy got pissed off, but, with him behind me, I slightly moved my foot back to kick him before getting closer to .
"Do you perhaps know who the alchemist Colette Shiran is?" I asked. Dr. Marcoh paled, and I snatched my writing instruments from my bag, taking off the cork that sealed the inkwell.
"Please tell me everything you know about her." I said pleadingly. He gulped.
"How would you know that monster?" He said. I laughed bitterly.
"That monster is the reason all this is happening to me." I said vaguely. I knew if I let slip to Envy that I was looking up how to go home, they'd lock me up for sure to make sure it'd never happen.
"Colette Shiran," he started, and I scribbled his words down, "Was one of the state alchemists working with the researchers in the area of making philosopher stones during the Civil war in Ishval. She was a very strange woman, always wearing this unusual suit of armor that looked like it was made out of diamond. She was actually very cruel and cold-blooded, and would often take the task of using Ishvalan war prisoners to make philosopher stones. Sometimes she would even go out to catch more war prisoners and destroy more Ishvalan territory. At the end of the war, she disappeared, along with the biggest philosopher stone the scientists had produced, which contained thousands more people than the others." It took me a while to write this down, but when I did, I looked up at Marcoh eagerly, and, with a little more digging, I had all the information on Colette Shiran, along with a small sketch of what she supposedly looked like.
"Thank you very much." I said, sitting next to Marcoh. I patted Marcoh on the shoulder, and, with Envy unaware, I slipped a small piece of paper in Marcoh's shirt. He looked at me, surprised, but I just winked at him.
"Okay, all set to leave." I said, getting up and standing under the hole we had come through. Envy got out of a chair he was sitting on and came over to me, wrapping an arm around my waist with a grin. I raised an eyebrow at him before waving to Marcoh.
"Thank you and see you later!" I said as Envy crouched and easily jumped through the hole, both of us landing nicely. I pushed his arm away and Envy went to replace the grate over the hole, standing up and brushing off his hands.
"You seem very interested in this "Colette" woman. Why is that?" Envy observed. I narrowed my eyes at him, before "tch"ing and looking away as I walked down the narrow sewer walkway, holding my nose.
And, with Envy's help, I soon escaped from the sewers, being let out into the empty street.
"Envy, you can go back now. I have a few errands to do for Gracia, so I'll be back." I said truthfully. Envy looked at my innocent could-care-less face suspiciously. i held out a paper with Gracia's handwriting on it, and he nodded and escaped into the shadows, disappearing back in the direction of the Hughes home. I sighed and walked the opposite way, rubbing the back of my head. Geez, I have more mothers in this world than the other. But this was useful. Pretending to be on everybody's side, I get to extract useful information from both sides. That really came in handy, but the task for information I was up to was going to be very, very difficult, and I had to be able to achieve it before the mission tomorrow.
I was going to find Scar.
Hey guys! OH! My favorite part is starting. It's gonna be fuuuun! Anyway, how goes the story? ACTION IN THE NEXT CHAPTER I PROMISE! Alright, Lynette is gathering information before it becomes increasingly difficult to get to see everyone.
My lovely readers, please review~
Thanks!