The next morning Chanticleer figured it best to apologize to Alphonse. He didn't know what was going on so there wasn't a reason to snap at him the way he did. It was later in the morning so neither of the Elric brothers were in their room so it was decided to get breakfast before searching for Al. In the mess hall the Dawn ran into Ed who greeted him with a frown.

"So you gonna snap at me too if I say good morning?"

"Don't talk like that. I know I shouldn't have said that so that's why I'm looking for your brother."

"So why did you?"

"I, (deep breath) found out what Caradon's clue meant and it…bothered me. I got angry and took it out on him, if you can tell me where he is I'll tell him that myself."

All heated feelings cooled instantly. Without a second thought Ed told him where Al was and let Chanticleer to what he had to. Alphonse sat outside the gates of Central letting birds land on him, enjoying only their company and wondering what could have made Chanticleer so upset so he would speak like that. The only time he'd heard that tone before was when a boundary of the comfort zone had been crossed but no one had said anything to him to push the big red button.

It was about that time that Chanty came about and explained everything to him then all was forgiven and forgotten.

"So you figured out the clue?"

"It was a pain like Mount Rushmore."

"What?"

"It was a monumental headache."

"That was a really bad pun."

"I just work with what I'm given. But yes, I did figure it out and I really wish I was wrong."

"So what was the answer?"

"One I really hate to admit to be true but there's no way around the truth."

"So what's the truth?"

(Need I repeat it cuz you readers already know?)

In Mustang's office

"Are you sure of this?" the Flame asked Chanticleer for the third time. The Colonel spent a few minutes in deep thought before continuing.

This is the closest to capturing Caradon we've ever come to. What is the best way to sneak up on a man like that? He's most likely feeling safe because he's probably never been found with the clues he's given in the past. Which it would be safe to assume he's done this before.

"Sir? If it's any help I know where that place is and an easy way to get there."

"Is it hidden?"

"If Caradon hasn't totally destroyed the area yes."

"All right then, I want you and Fullmetal to go and see what you can do. Bringing him back dead or alive doesn't matter, that man has had death coming to him for a long time."

"I'll make sure of it sir. I'll go tell him right now."

"That's great, I want you on the next train out."

"Yes sir."

Chanticleer did have a plan to get to Rellacretac but it probably wasn't the route Mustang expected them to take. No trains had been through that place since it was destroyed so they were going to Nosretep, the town where Steve lived. Surviving residents rebuilt but as it were no one survived Rellacretac except him and his friends (that they knew of) there was no incentive to rebuild the town. But Chanticleer knew a safer way in.

In the hallway.

"So you and Al made up?" Ed asked innocently.

"No time where is he?"

"He was right behind me."

"Good."

"Why? What…HEY!"

Chanticleer grabbed the back of Ed's coat and began to drag him down the hall with him.

"What are you doing! Let go!"

"Mustang gave another save-the-day mission and you're coming to."

(Rounding the corner) "Brother, what are you yelling about…Oh hi."

"You might as well follow us for this, Al."

"What's this 'us' stuff? You're the one doing the walking now let go! My legs ain't broke."

"Well then hurry up. We've got to leave immediately."

"IMMEDIATLEY? I haven't even let my breakfast settle!

Later in Nosretep

"Um, Brother?"

"What is it Al?" Ed yawned. (fell asleep…what a surprise)

"The town we need to get to is Rellacretac right?"

"Yeah why?"

"Then I think we missed our stop. Everything here says Nosretep."

"What!" Ed jumped awake and looked out the window as the train slowed. Sure enough signs and billboards all bore the name 'Nosretep.'

"Wonderful!" Edward growled in a fury. "Now we got to wait for the next train. By then Caradon could've moved on!"

"Relax, Ed. We're exactly where we wanted to end up." The Dawn assured him.

"What are you talking about!" Ed spazezd. "We're probably miles from Rellacretac so how can you say everything's all right!"

"Do you even know where Rellacretac is?"

"Ah…no."

"We're in Nosretep because there's a safer way into Rellacretac from here."

"And how do you know that?" Al asked as they got off the train.

"My uncle, Steve Peterson lived here. There was a secret way to get back and forth from Rellacretac and Nosretep and we used it to visit him."

Rellacretac

"Are we there yet?" Ed whined.

The secret passage was behind a life size portrait of a man in what was now a museum. The trio had to wait to make sure no one was around before Chanticleer pushed the ring on the painting's left hand to release the door behind it. Behind the portrait was a tunnel that everyone squeezed through and made their merry way to their next destination. (the tunnel just to be mean went down so far in places that Ed was the only one that didn't need to duck) Unfortunately Chanticleer failed to mention the walk from point A to point B was about an hour.

"Keep yer britches on and, uh, Ed. I don't think you want to walk so fast. Ed!"

Edward stormed past the Dawn at a very fast pace up a small hill and because he didn't listen,

CLUNK!

Ran into the door above him.

The ruin before them had a haunting air about it. Al half expected a small child to peer out from behind a corner somewhere and ask why their parents were sleeping in their blood.

The friends stayed mainly to the shadows even though the town was quiet enough you could've heard someone breathing. While passing by and old rotted barn Ed got the daylights scared out of him when a mouse ran by. Al quickly told him to hush up and get moving but Chanticleer didn't follow.

"Hey what's wrong?" Al whispered.

The Dawn ignored him and walked as though hypnotized toward the barn and placed a hand…on the silo.

"Chanty?"

"We hid in here." He breathed softly. Ed saw him swallow hard as though trying to prevent getting choked up. Then like lightning Chanticleer straightened up, inhaled as though startled, whipped around and looked around frantically. Breathing deeply he looked at the quite confused brothers.

"Did you hear that!"

"Hear what?"

"How can you not have heard that scream!"

"Chanty, no one was screaming." Al said worried.

The Dawn felt his teeth chatter and legs go weak.

Make it go away! Open your eyes and make it go away! A memory is a thing of the past so why did it sound so real?

But when he opened his eyes again he saw Brody huddled next to him with hands over his ears while that shrilling scream of a woman shook the town.

"Chanticleer!" Ed nudged him in the shoulder to shake him back to reality. "You all right?"

"Um? (swallows hard again) I'll be fine. Lets get to my dads mill. I know a way to sneak in that hopefully Caradon hasn't discovered yet."

Another painful memory moment hit once the mill came in sight but with a bit of encouragement the mission continued smoothly.

"Through here." The Dawn said quietly.

He lifted a hidden door in the grass and waited for the others to go through. They were still unsure about whether or not their friend was really ok or not but went through anyway.

The passage was fairly small but opened up quickly into a room, but something wasn't right. Everyone sensed that the second they got in. sure enough and odd creaking confirmed their worries.

Me – Haha! So what's going to happen next? What's the creaking caused by and what will become of it?

Chibi me – At this moment in time I don't care. Get me ice cream.

Me – Go to the Dairy Bear and get it yourself.

Ed – (Fuming…again) Why…do you…keep…poking…fun…at…me!

Me – because it's what the readers like to hear, unless they love ya so much they feel yer pain about the short jokes and because I'm the one at the keyboard and not you.