Hi guys! Thank you so much for waiting! I finally finished my project and my new dog arrived two days ago and is settling in nicely. Once again, my editor was busy so I edited this (I'm Sorry!) so you guys could have your chapter quickly. According to Netflix, this is the start of Season 2 in FMA: Brotherhood, so yay for season 2! Anyways,

DISCLAIMER, MY DOG DOESN'T OWN FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. WAIT, WHAT?

Chapter 14: Regrets & Returning Thoughts

"Something doesn't smell right to me" Dolcetto claimed as he dragged Iris by her chains.

"You know what it smells like? Old times" Roa said as gun shots were heard from the way they came. Roa then set Alphonse down. "Sounds like Greed needs some help" Dolcetto nodded in agreement.

"Hey, you run away, and your friend is a goner, got it?" Dolcetto warned as he removed Iris' chains. Iris nodded, fearing for her friend's safety.

"It's not like I can refuse orders" Iris said sarcastically. The group had been walking in the sewers for a while until Dolcetto and Roa left Iris, Alphonse, and the woman inside of the armored boy alone to wait for the pair. The sewers were damp and humid with a thick stench in the air as the trio waited.

"Hey, Iris?" Alphonse said, getting her attention.

"Yeah?"

"You never answered my question. Why did you say 'it's all my fault' back there?" Alphonse asked.

"I don't feel obligated to answer that" Iris said, confused at her own words.

"What are you hiding?" The woman in Alphonse asked.

"None of your damn business- uh…"

"Martel"

"Well, Martel, you get the point." Iris snapped. "I don't have to answer to you"

"What about answering to me?" Alphonse asked. Iris froze as she lowered her head before perking up and turning her back.

"I have the choice to keep my lips sealed, Alphonse" Iris said with a smart attitude.

"You're hiding something, aren't you?" Martel said with a smirk on her face. Iris began sweating nervously as she shot a glare at Alphonse, meaning to shoot a glare to Martel.

"Shut up, Martel!" Iris snapped.

"Iris, are you hiding something from brother and me?" Alphonse asked.

"Well-"

Suddenly, more gunshots were heard and Alphonse began to worry.

"Brother!" Alphonse said. He began running only to have Martel take control again. Iris, with orders not to run away, stood there watching the awkward scene as Martel and Alphonse struggled between who would control the armor, causing them to crawl.

"Will you stay put?!" Martel demanded. "Quit struggling you-!"

"I… Don't… Wanna…" Alphonse struggled as Iris just walked beside them as they moved. Footsteps were heard as Martel opened Al's head and Iris stood there in shock.

"Greed!" Martel cheered.

"Ah, Martel. I'm glad to see that you're safe" Greed said, approaching her.

"What's going on up there? No one else has made back yet"

"Yeah, things have gotten a little out of hand so we need to figure a way out of here"

Iris stood there, not sure what to do. Greed turned towards her, realizing that she was free.

"Looks like we'll have to take you with us" Greed said as he walked closer to her.

"I can't let you do that" A new voice spoke. Martel crawled back into Alphonse as Iris looked forward in shock. Führer Bradley was standing right there, swords drawn.

"Just what do you want old man?" Greed said.

"Führer King Bradley?!" Iris said in shock.

"Why is he here?" Alphonse asked, just as surprised.

"King Bradley?" Martel asked.

"What's the most powerful man in the land doing down here?" Greed asked.

"Not that you'd know, but growing old isn't easy" Bradley said.

"Huh?"

"This year marks my 60th birthday" Bradley stated with annoyance. "It's frustrating how your body stops moving the way you want it to. So I'd like to finish this job as quickly as possible and return home."

"I've got an idea" Greed smirked as his shield crawled up his wrist. "Retire!"

In a flash, the Führer's sword cut of his arm up to his elbow. Blood splattered as Greed looked at in arm in surprise.

"Well look at this, the old man's got some moves!" Greed yelled as he began dodging Bradley's sword attacks one after the other. Bradley's sword began landing hit after hit on his chest and face as Greed's face distorted from the pain. Bradley flung Greed into the wall as he collided with the concrete causing a crash.

"Greed!" Martel yelled as Al shushed her.

What the hell is he? Iris thought as she saw the fight in horror. She had never seen the Führer fight before, but his speed and technique seemed alien to her own eyes. It's completely one sided

Greed's flesh healed as threw a punch, only removing Bradley's eye patch. Iris froze as she looked in the water and saw no pupil in the Führer's eye.

"Hey Myles" Iris said holding her history book in her hand. "How did the Führer lose one of his eyes?"

"He lost it in an accident when he was our age"

Iris stepped back as she leaned against the wall, trying to stand. That was the official story, not the truth

Bradley distanced himself from the water and stabbed Greed in the neck with both of his swords.

"I understand how you think you have an advantage over a man like me" Bradley said as he grew quiet and no one except Greed could hear his words. Greed tumbled to the ground, blood staining the wall.

"Run" Iris muttered.

"What?" Alphonse and Martel asked as they saw the terrified look in Iris' eyes.

"Just go!" Iris yelled as the trio ran down the subway. The trio stopped when the path grew too dark to spot any lights ahead. Iris sat beside Alphonse as fatigue called her name. She felt stupid as her stomach growled.

That's right. I was up all night thinking and I was lost in my thoughts so much that I didn't eat anything all day Iris sighed. I'm an idiot

"Where the hell is Greed?" Martel asked, worried.

"I don't know it's too dark to see anything" Alphonse turned towards Iris and realized how pale his friend had become. "Iris! Are you alright? You're-"

"As white as a ghost? I know." Iris smiled, bags visible under her eyes. "I didn't sleep much last night, just a little tired"

What's happening to her? Alphonse thought as footsteps came closer to the trio, causing Iris to jump up. Greed, with half his right arm gone, but healing, came walking over. As he got closer, he fell forward only to have a sword stabbed through his throat.

"No! Greed!" Martel yelled as she began climbing out of Alphonse, only to be shoved by in by the armored boy.

"No! Quiet!" Alphonse ordered as the two began arguing.

"He… Really killed Greed, but he'll finish the job" Iris said as she felt her eyes closing. No! Damn it! Don't fall asleep yet! I can't leave Alphonse on his own! Edward would kill me!

"Aw crap" A voice said as she turned around to find Roa and Dolcetto covered in blood. "I kind of wished we died back there" Dolcetto stated.

"There's still plenty of time to tuck your tail and run away" Roa joked, despite the bleeding gash on his shoulder.

"Trust me I'd love to. But I've got this obnoxious canine sense of loyalty" Dolcetto sliced the chains off of Alphonse's wrists and turned towards Iris. "Looks like you followed orders. Your next order, get Martel out of here"

"Protect her" Roa smiled.

"Yes sir, I'll try" Iris said as she swayed a little before regaining her composure.

"Roa! Dolcetto!" Martel cried from inside the armor. Both boys charged Bradley as Iris helped Alphonse to his feet, with a struggling Martel inside of him. "Quit trying to stop me! Let me out!"

Iris' ears became numb as she could only hear silence when Dolcetto and Roa attacked. Dolcetto was cut into two, his top half lying in the sewer water. Roa charged only to be sliced in an "X" sword slice as he too fell into the water. Greed arose and approached Bradley as Iris' hearing came back to her and her focus returned to getting Martel out of there.

"Martel, don't let their sacrifice be in vain" Iris said as she yanked Alphonse forward. "Let's go!"

Iris yanked them forward until her legs gave out and she fell on the ground, leaving a scrap on her knees.

"Iris!" Alphonse yelled, kneeling beside her as she held her head.

Not now, dammit! Iris thought as she forced her shaking legs up, only to see Bradley as she turned around.

"Alphonse-" Iris said in horror as Bradley approached them.

"Not so fast. Aren't you the younger brother of Edward Elric? Don't think I forgot you, Silver" Bradley said as he grew closer with every step. "They didn't hurt either of you, did they? Can I help you at all?"

"No, sir. We're just fine" Iris said as she stepped forward. "Right Alphonse?"

"Right, Thanks, but I'm alright" Alphonse said as Martel took control, Pushing Iris out of the way as she heard her shoulder pop and she fell to her knees. Martel grabbed Bradley's throat as Alphonse protested. Iris stood up, clutching her injured shoulder, and attempted to rip the hand away, with her available arm, from Bradley's throat with no success.

"Martel, don't do this!" Alphonse yelled.

"We have to get out you out of here!" Iris cried.

"Stop this, please!" Alphonse struggled to regain control.

"Die Bradley!" Martel cried as Bradley slipped his sword inside the armor, killing Martel as blood sprayed from his armor. Alphonse froze as he became limp against the wall.

"Alphonse!" Iris screamed as she kneeled down, shaking him and becoming covered in blood in the process. He wouldn't move. Iris heard footsteps running towards her as she saw Edward running. The lights in the sewers came on as Iris continued shaking the armor, with worry in her eyes.

"Iris! What's going on? What happened to Greed?" Edward froze when he saw Alphonse.

"Martel, she died inside of Alphonse. He went limp after that, I don't know what to do!" Iris said, shaking.

"Damn it!" Edward said punching the wall.

"First things first, let's remove her before waking him up" Major Armstrong stated. Iris stood off to the side, covering her eyes the whole time they removed Martel.

"Iris" Edward said as someone draped a sheet over Martel. "I'm going to try to wake Al up. Okay?"

"I'm coming" Iris said as she forced her tired legs to cooperate.

"Al, Wake up! Alphonse! Al, say something! Al!" Edward yelled until Al's head moved.

"Brother?" Alphonse said.

"Thank god" Iris muttered.

"You okay?" Ed asked.

"Are you okay? You and Iris are covered in blood!" Alphonse cried.

"It's not ours" Iris said, lowering her head as Al looked at his bloody armor in horror. "The Major said we should remove Martel before waking you up."

"I couldn't save her!" Alphonse grieved as he put his head in his head.

"It's not your fault Al" Iris told him.

"Come on, let's go home, okay?" Edward told him with a weak smile.

"Hold it you three" Bradley's voice spoke as he stepped forward. "There are a few questions I need to ask all of you before you can leave. Have any of you had any previous dealings with the man who referred to himself as Greed?"

"No sir" Iris said as she clutched the blanket draped on her shoulders.

"Did you happen to trade any manner of information with him?"

"None at all. And the military wasn't even mentioned, not once."

"That isn't my concern. Let me be more specific: If you arranged a deal to share any knowledge with him, then I'll execute all three of you right now. I'll ask again, did you share any knowledge that might affect the military?"

"No information what so ever sir" Iris answered.

"Can we go now?" Ed asked.

"I am curious about your steel arm and leg and your brother's armored body. I'm especially curious about Silver's scar and her sister's handicap. Is there any connection between either of them?"

The trio froze. The Führer smiled.

"You all really are a group of honest kids" The Führer began walking away, leaving the trio in shock. "Alright men, pull out!"

Iris felt her eyes close and her legs give out once more as she blacked out before hitting the ground.

"Do you think she'll wake up today?"

"I don't know, Al. She doesn't look too good. Did you say anything?"

"I did, but she just said she didn't sleep too well"

"I'd say this is more than not sleeping."

"Brother! She waking up!"

Iris felt a piercing headache as she sat up and blinked, clearing the cloudiness in her vision.

"Edward? Alphonse?" Iris spoke, her voice raspy as she cleared her throat.

"You gave us quite the scare" Edward smiled as he handed her a glass of water. "You were unconscious the rest of today and most of today"

"Really?" Iris said as she downed the glass of water.

"You have some explaining to do. Teacher told me that you haven't been eating and Grace told us you haven't been sleeping either" Edward said as Iris choked on her water for a moment.

"Damn tattle tales" Iris muttered as she set the empty glass down. "Look, you don't have to worry about me! I was just lost in thoughts, it happens!"

"That's not an excuse for not eating or sleeping" Alphonse lectured. "Are you hiding something from brother and me?" Iris sighed before answering.

"Yes"

"You don't have to hide anything from us" Edward lectured

"I hide things, what else is new? You're short? He's a suit of armor?" Iris snapped.

"HEY!" Edward yelled.

"What's new is that you don't tell us anything, Iris. You didn't even tell us what happened with your sister, she had to tell us!" Alphonse took over. "You keep everything bottled up inside and you don't realize what could happen! This is one of those results!"

"So I get lost in thought, it's a bad habit, I realize that. I don't need to tell you guys if I don't need to" Iris yelled.

"The problem is that you do need to tell us or we can't help you!" Edward said.

"Edward, I'm almost 15, the same age as you, so the least you can do is not hound me like I'm a child! I may be a girl, but I have the same strength as you, if not more!" Iris yelled as she got up from the bed. "I don't need your help!" Iris finished as she walked into the bathroom and slammed the door, leaving the confused brothers alone.

Iris looked at herself and the new clothes she was wearing. Her purple cardigan had been trashed along white dress and white leggings. Her new outfit consisted of a short white dress with dark blue pants and her regular brown flats. She added a dark blue jacket to top it off as she walked out of the bathroom to find Edward asleep on a chair. Next to him was a plate a steak and vegetables with a note: "Teacher said you have eat sooner or later, so we brought this".

Iris threw the note in the trash and headed out the door just as she saw Alphonse, sweeping the street once more, but this time with Grace beside him.

"Iris! Did you eat something?" Alphonse asked.

What is he? My mother? Iris thought but smiled. "Yep! I have to thank Izumi later! Anyways, I'm heading off!" Iris smiled as she walked away. Iris was heading towards the only person she could talk too.

"Hi, big sister!" Rolo smiled as he opened the door.

"Hello, Rolo! Is Myles here? I need to talk to him" Iris told the little boy.

"I'm here" Myles said as he stepped outside. "What do you need?"

"Advice"

"What's wrong with Edward and Alphonse? They bugging you too much?"

"It's not that. I've been hiding something from them and they want to know. How do you tell someone that their mother couldn't be saved by your sister?"

Myles looked up confused.

"Teresa. I remembered a few days ago that Teresa couldn't save their mother and it's been eating me up" Iris sighed.

"Why don't you just tell it to them softly?" Myles suggested. Iris gave Myles a quick look before he sighed. "Okay, so that won't work. Has it been that bad to you?"

"Do you remember when I kept a secret from Teresa when I was 8?"

"That bad?"

"Worse"

"You should probably see a doctor about that" Myles said as he patted her head. "Look, can't you just tell them to wait until you're ready to tell them?"

"They came into my room and demanded I tell them"

"Are you sure you're not considering therapy?"

"You are my therapy" Iris smiled. "Even Grace is siding with them"

"Telling your partners that you did something isn't siding with them"

"I beg to differ" Iris pouted.

"I say they need to know eventually and if it's that bad, you need to get it off your chest" Myles suggested. A smile came onto Iris' face as she ruffled her little brother's hair.

"That's why you're my therapy"

As Iris walked into the house, she heard someone clear their throat and saw a very angry Edward and Alphonse standing there.

"Very smooth, Iris. Very smooth" Edward said.

Not this crap again Iris thought as she began walking towards her sister's room only to get blocked by Alphonse.

"Iris, you can't starve yourself forever. You have to tell me and brother what's going on" Alphonse demanded.

"Like you tell Winry?!" Iris yelled.

"Iris, that's not the point. You're doing some real damage to yourself. This can't go on forever" Edward lectured.

"Oh shut up! You're not one to talk, Ed!" Iris shot back and covered her mouth. That was crossing the line

"Brother-"

"No Alphonse. She's right, I shouldn't be lecturing her." Edward looked at Iris with pure anger in his eyes.

"I shouldn't have said that. It's my fault that you committed the taboo in the first place" Iris admitted.

"What are you talking about?" Edward asked confused.

"Remember how I told you my sister died from a disease she couldn't cure?" Iris said as she took a deep breath. "That patient she couldn't save was a mother with two sons and her name was Trisha"

Both boys froze as they remembered.

"You were-"Edward said as he remembered a little girl with brown hair and her sister with blond hair.

"You were right Ed. My best wasn't good enough"

"So you were-?" Alphonse attempted to ask.

"If you were there, then what disease took our mother?" Edward asked, anger clear in his voice.

"Enteric Fever" Iris said with tears in her eyes. "I'm sorry. I couldn't save her… I couldn't keep you from committing the taboo"

"Back then, as you left, you didn't cry. Why not?" Edward asked.

"I-I felt like I didn't deserve to cry. You had just lost your mother, you could cry. I felt like I couldn't" Iris admitted.

"Do you still think that now?" Alphonse asked. When Iris nodded, Ed's fist collided with her skull.

"Ow! What the hell was that for?!"

"For being an idiot!" Edward yelled as he softened his expression. "You remember what teacher said? It's okay to hurt"

Iris felt tears flowing down her face. "I'm so sorry… I'm so sorry… I couldn't save her… I'm sorry"

The Next Day

"You're leaving?" Myles asked as Rolo ran up to her.

"Yeah, Ed got his automail jacked up so we need to head towards Rush Valley." Iris explained.

"Don't go big sister!" Rolo cried.

"I'll be back soon, okay? And don't forget my letters" Iris said hugging the small child.

"I'll see you soon, Myles" Iris said as she ran to the train station.

"You ready?" Edward asked as Iris shook her head and began boarding the train, holding a small package covered in blue wrapping paper.

"Iris, your ribbon's gone!" Alphonse shouted. Iris lifted her hair to reveal that the ribbon was indeed missing.

"No, it's not completely gone. Grace helped me make it into a bracelet before I went to say goodbye to Myles earlier" Iris lifted her wrist to reveal her purple ribbon around her wrist, held by a clasp that would be on a necklace. "Grace said 'If you completed your last goal, then I'll help you make a new one'"

"What's your new goal?" Ed asked.

"To help you guys get your bodies back"

Next Chapter: Friends From The Desert

Thanks, once again, for reading my fanfiction. If you guys have any suggestions, PM or leave a review. I check often so no ideas are missed. On a completely random note, I got a Playstation 2 (Old, i know) just so I could play the Fullmetal Alchemist game! Next time I post a chapter, i will probably be playing :) Until next time!

Jackie C.A.