The Lovely Daaaarlings!

Vampire Note: To the first comment, it did? ... (Sorry, I have a bad memory!) To the second, yeah, I had forgotten to put that in. A reader brought it to my attention, and so I put it in the Author's Note above the next chapter.

The Elemental Alchemist Reyna: Ah, laziness. I understand completely. XD Haha, thanks! And I'll be sure to try my hardest not to stop(I have tendencies to quit half-way through, and this is the farthest I've gotten on an FMA story, so I'm happy.) LAWLZ! I'm glad you liked the joke! I wondered what people's reaction would be(and who was reading the Author's Notes, haha.) While I haven't seen or read Twilight, I have no desire to do so. So that'll never happen.

Kaijukote: Haha! I figured Twilight is everywhere else, why not make a joke of it?
Yesh. Very biblical sounding. Mwahaha.
Huzzah to frenemies! Seeing as Winry isn't in the story for about another few chapters, it'll be a while until their respectful hatred develops more, but I'm definitely planning it out.
Thanks! I'm glad you think so. I agree, she is cute. X3

Emalee Roze: Thanks, I'm glad you like it! Yeah, I think those characters are awesome too.

Mira Hinder: Thanks! Haha, I'm sure she has thousands more she plans on using. (Insert Evil Planning Here.)

Want to be a Lovely Daaaarling? Review! Bwahaha!

Now, I don't know if Halloween's celebrated during this time, so I'm compromising. It's something Central has decided to have every year, a month before Christmas. The story may not have as much original content as other chapters. Apparently it was a bad day to write. Oh, and I do know that his name is Denny Brosh, just to make this clear before you start reading.

Teh Almighty Riley Mauler is Mine! You Hear Me?!
Teh Too-Short-To-Be-AlmostNot-Funny Edward is NOT Mine! You Hear Me?!

In Memory of Mr. Guy...
I still have the barbie doll you gave me when I was ten.
Rest In Peace

The Sulfur Alchemist
Chapter Seventeen:
Riley's Halloween Present

I let out a giggle as we sat on the train. The others blinked, and looked over at me. "I know you want a new camera, Riley, but-"

I interrupted Hannah with, "It's not the camera I'm giggling about! I thought you of all people knew that!"

Hannah blinked a few times as she looked at the table Ed and Al had their cards. Finally, realization struck her. She sighed, "You're right. I should've known.."

"What is it?" Armstrong asked, sitting at the booth next to ours.

"Halloween..," Hannah commented with another sigh.

Ed blinked. "Wha? That thing Central celebrates?" He asked, causing me to nod furiously.

"Yes! It's an event Central celebrates every year! It's right before Christmas too! And to make it even better, it's in just a few days," I explained excitedly.

They watched me curiously. "I've never seen her so giddy before..," Al mumbled.

I glared at him, "I heard that! And I can't help it. Just thinking of Halloween gets me excited."

Shortly after that conversation, the train had stopped. I was still excited about Halloween. It was a fun time for me. It was the main reason I liked Central so much. Candy, Scaring Little Kids, Stories, Scaring Little Kids... It practically fit me!

We stepped out of the train, and Ed giggled, which sort of scared me. He isn't the giggle type. But I shrugged it off and looked back around. "CENTRAL!" He shouted, causing me to jump, letting out a small scream as I did.

I panted as I glared at him. "What the hell was that for?!" I shouted.

"Ah, don't be a wuss Riley," He said, causing me to fume, as he began to walk off. "What are we standing around for? Let's go get that camera so we can get to the library!" He exclaimed, walking off.

I stopped and watched him. Did he seem.. Happy? I looked to Hannah and Al. "What did you give him?" I asked Al, who only sighed in return.

"What's the rush? The library won't run off," Armstrong said, which lead me to assume it actually could go somewhere in the first place.

Ed smiled wide, "After all this searching, we've finally found a lead! We can't just sit on our butts now."

I shrugged, "Whatever gets me my camera sooner, I'm fine!"

We all stopped walking when we saw two officers standing there, saluting us. One was a woman, with short dark hair and a long black trench coat over her uniform. The other, a man, was taller and had the same hairstyle as Ed, minus the braid. The woman smiled, "Major Armstrong sir! We've been sent to meet you here, as requested."

Ed and I glanced at each other, then to Armstrong, who saluted her back. "Well done, troops," He looked to us and said, "I have to go back to Headquarters for my other duties. These two will be guarding you." He looked to them, "Introduce yourselves!"

The woman continued to salute, but at Al. Ed went to a corner of the station, as a sudden blue air hung over him. It sort of scared me. He seemed to be doing that a lot today... "Lieutenant Maria Ross, sir!"

The man saluted, "And I'm Sargeant Denny Brosh, sir!"

They both eased, and said in unison, "It's an honor to serve you, FullMetal Alchemist Sir!"

Block laughed a bit, "Wow! You certainly live up to your name, Sir! When they say FullMetal, they really aren't kidding!"

I sighed, and patted Ed's back sympathetically. "It's alright Ed... Anyone who really pays attention would notice you're the FullMetal Alchemist..!" He glared at me, and my brow twitched, "..Sorry..."

The two officers turned to Hannah and I, so I perked up, completely forgetting Ed. "And you two are?" Block asked us.

I smiled, hands on my hips. "Riley Mauler, the HQ News Journalist! This is my trusty sidekick, Hannah!"

Hannah glared at me as the two officers blinked. "Oh? I read your articles all the time, they're very interesting!" Block exclaimed.

I grinned madly and threw an arm around him. "I like him, Ed!"

Block rubbed the back of his neck and looked to Al, "Not to be offensive, Sir, but the Edward doesn't suit you, it's surprising!"

"You're talking to the wrong guy..," Al said awkwardly.

"I'm used to it by now," He whispers gravely.

"R-Really?" Block asked, "This little guy?" I sighed, shaking my head as Ed turned his head toward Block, his eyes inhumanly wide. "Eh, S-Sorry Sir! It's just – I thought you'd be - ...F-fuller, and more.. More metal!"

Ed groaned and stood quickly, "Shut up! Come on Major, we don't babysitters anymore, we've been fully repaired!"

Armstrong spoke. "Sorry Edward, I'd stop it if I could."

"We've informed the Major that Scar has been spotted around Central again," Maria Ross started. My eyes widened. Firstly, he was here?! Secondly, again?! What the hell was going on around Central? The continued talking as I thought to my last encounter with him.

Now that Scar knew who I was, would he spare me because of my parents? Or would he disregard that because I was a state? Either way, I had to make sure Hannah wasn't around when he popped up. If he popped up. Not only for her safety, but mine and the brothers' as well.

"Wait! We have a car waiting for you!" I heard Block shout. I looked up to see him running after Ed.

"Sorry about my brother," Al started, causing me to be confused, "He's like that with everyone, don't take it personally."

Blinking, I looked between them, and then to Hannah. "What did I miss?" She shook her head at me and followed Al, who had walked off.

. . .

We were inside a shop now, one that had several cameras around. I was, to say the least, ecstatic. Smiling as I looked over every inch of the store, I didn't care if Ed, or Block was watching. This was paradise.(Hannah, Al, and Maria Ross had went to the bakery across the road. Ed wanted to go, but I wouldn't allow it.)

Blinking, I looked over at Ed. "Are you sure I can get the one I want?" I asked, eyes narrowed.

Ed sighed and nodded, "Yes, Riley, you can get the one you want. As long as it-"

I interrupted with, "Then I can't get the one I want."

His brow twitched as he glared at me. "Just pick a camera," He growled. I sighed and nodded.

Looking to the door, I glanced to the man at the register. He seemed to be very pleased with the fact that I wanted everything in the store. Walking to him, I smiled, "Can I see the back?"

He smirked, and nodded, "Sure!" With that, he lead me into the back room, which had boxes upon boxes of cameras, stands, film, lenses, and everything else I could use for a camera. I was wrong earlier – This was paradise.

I bit my lip. I could have gotten a camera here, man did I want a camera here, but before we had left Resembool, I had retrieved my camera remains from the trash. I just couldn't part with it. I walked over to a table in the room, and dumped the remains of my camera down on the table. Digging into my pocket for the piece I had stolen from the camera a few chapters back, my eye twitched when I didn't find it. "No," I mumbled, looking around in my pockets. It wasn't there. Dammit!

The man went wide-eyed. "Whoa, what'd you do to that thing?!" He exclaimed.

My brow twitched and I said simply as I put the pieces in a pile, "A serial killer smashed it to bits with his magic splody arm..."

He looked at me as if I was crazy, but I ignored it as I smiled at him, "Think you could fix it?"

He stared wide-eyed. "No way! I can't even tell it's a camera!"

I glared and 'hmph'ed before looking around at the cameras. Finding the exact same brand I had before, I grabbed the box and handed it to him. "I want this one then," I said simply.

The man nodded and headed to the front room while he said, "Don't want a different one, I see.."

I nodded as I followed and said to Ed, "I want that one!"

Ed blinked a few times, and looked the camera over. The man rose his brows, until Ed asked how much it was. He smiled, "Nine-hundred, easy."

"N-Nine hundred?!" Ed and Block exclaimed.

I sighed, "Come on Ed! That's a steal for that camera! If it helps, I'll pay half!"

Ed sighed and shook his head, "Don't worry about it..." As he handed the man the money, he said, "I owed you a camera, so I'm getting you one."

Smiling, I nodded at him. "Thanks, Ed..." He nodded at me and we left the shop. Hannah, Al, and Ross were waiting in the car. I quickly hopped in next to Ed, as the two officers sat in front.

"I can't believe it took two hours just to get here, find a camera, and leave...," Hannah said, shaking her head. I nodded in agreement. The car drove off, and within minutes, we had reached the library.

Only one problem.

There wasn't a library anymore.

Well, obviously there were still libraries, but you know.. There wasn't one where we were. It was in rubble. Charred rubble. Charred, bookless rubble. Charred bookless rubble that used to be a library. So it was like.. Library-less... Rubble.

Oh shit.

"What the...?!" Block exclaimed as we pulled up.

"You've got to be kidding...!" Ed mumbled, staring at the charred bookless library-less rubble with wide eyes.

An officer standing by walked up toward us and saluted, "Lieutenant Maria Ross and Sergeant Denny Brosh, right?"

They saluted in returned and Block nodded. "What happened here?" Maria Ross asked.

The officer sighed, "Major Armstrong asked me to stick around to tell you.. There was a fire, burning down the entire library. According to witnesses, it was Scar. The receptionist at the time didn't even see them. She managed to get out just in time though."

"S-Scar?" I asked him. "..Wh-When'd it happen?" I asked.

The officer looked at me and said, "About an hour ago."

I nodded and looked to the rubble. Ed was standing next to it now, and picked up a book, which crumbled to ash in his hands. "Our clue burned away," He growled. "Dammit," He growled, kicked a stair, which turned to ash when he did. He twitched and went back to the car, slamming the door. Hannah and Al sighed and followed him.

Maria Ross got into the car, but I didn't bother moving. I continued staring at the rubble. "There has to be a way..," I mumbled, thinking. Alchemy wouldn't work, I doubted. It's been an hour, wind has most likely blown some ash away. And without the perfect amount, it'd be useless.

Block placed his hand on my shoulder, staring at the rubble with wide eyes. "This stinks... Man, if only we had gotten here before it happened..," He said.

My eyes widened in realization. He was right. Sighing as I faced the ground, I glared at Block, I muttered, "That doesn't help me, Block."

His eye twitched, "..It's Brosh, ma'am."

"I don't care..," I muttered before walking back to the car. Block sighed and got in the car as well. Block was dead right. It was my fault that we didn't get our clue. Because of me and my stupid camera, they were once again at a dead-end.

Hannah seemed to know what I was thinking, as she patted my shoulder.

. . .

"These are the only books we've been able to find," A man said as he handed a small crate to us. Inside were books, about half of each of them burnt.

"They're in horrible condition!" Block exclaimed, causing me to send him a glare. He shivered and stepped to the other side of Maria Ross(For some reason, I felt weird just calling her Maria, or Ross. So I settled for Maria Ross.)

Ed began to pick books up, looking at them and through them when a woman walked into the room, looking at a folder. "We found no books written by Tim Marcoh in the main library," She explained, rubbing her temples. Looking up to Ed, she said, "If it was moved from a branch, it should be in the records.

I let out another sigh, a bit hopeful. Maybe it wasn't even in the library to begin with! That's what I hoped... "Wait a second," Ed started with a new hope, "Isn't it possible it could be checked out right now?"

Great going Edo! I thought before looking to the woman, expecting and hoping she'd say yes. "I suppose.. But the circulation records were destroyed in the fire," She replied.

I looked to the books and mumbled, "And what are the chances someone would be polite enough to return it now? Not only that, but would they know where?"

Maria Ross sighed, and nodded in agreement. "She's right. Most people would keep the books they've checked out after something like this has happened, out of either greed or confusion," She explained.

"I guess we'll never find it now," Al said sadly.

I bit my lip in guilt; Was it possible to feel any more guilty? I trailed off in thought as they continued. When I came back to reality, Ed was looking up from the ground. "Last time I was there, I remembered a mousy girl with glasses on?" Ed said, looking at her expectedly.

She nodded, shutting the folder. "Oh, I know! You're talking about Sheska. But you must not have been there lately, because she was let go."

"She was an odd duck," The man said, speaking up. We turned to him as he continued, "She never really fit in."

Even if I had just heard of her, I liked her. "She always had her nose in a book," The woman added.

"Could she possibly remember?" I asked them.

"Possibly, but I doubt it," The woman said, giving us Sheska's address.

As we walked down the hall, I sighed and slowed down so I walked behind everyone. Ed noticed, and slowed down as well. "What's wrong?" He asked.

I paused, and glanced at him, "I'm sorry, Ed... About wasting time looking at cameras." He blinked in surprise, and I continued, "If we had just went straight to the library, we would have gotten Marcoh's book."

"It wasn't your fault. I shouldn't have crushed the camera," He said.

Shaking my head, I said, "It is too! You're probably ending up at a dead end because of me!" He glared at me, and suddenly hit me. Which, of course surprised me. Not only did I not expect a punch, but it was surprising he could reach! The others, upon hearing fist-face contact, turned around as I fell to the ground. "What the hell?!" I shouted, holding my cheek as I glared up at him.

"It's not your fault, idiot! If we had gone straight to the library, we could've ran into Scar, ever think about that?!" He shouted down at me.

Blinking a bit, I looked to the ground. "Well, no... But what if we had grabbed the book and left?!" I shouted, jumped up to punch him. He fell back as I hit his face, and he fell to the ground. I leaned back against the wall on the other side as he glared at me.

"It doesn't matter! Scar most likely would've seen us! Why else would he have been in there if he wasn't looking for something?! For all we know, he could have been there for two hours! And by the time we would've gotten there, he'd most definitely be there, so shut up. Your camera may have saved our lives..," He said.

I sighed, rubbing my cheek. "I guess so..," I mumbled before glaring at him again, "But you still didn't have to punch me!"

"Well you punched me, so we're even," He grumbled, returning my glare.

"Uh, guys?" Hannah asked. Ed and I snapped our head over to them, seeming to have forgotten that they were there. Hannah sighed, "Weren't we going somewhere?"

"Right..," Ed said, standing to leave. I followed, grumbling about my sore cheek as he did the same.

. . .

Block knocked on the door as we stood around him. "The lights are on inside..," Ed mumbled, trailing off. I groaned, knowing what he was going to do. "I'm going in," Ed said firmly.

"You can't do that!" Maria Ross exclaimed, but Ed ignored her as he opened the door, peering in.

Ed gasped, "It's like a library in here!" I rose a brow, and then he opened the door for us. My eyes widened – He was right. Hundreds of books were piled in hundreds of columns all throughout the room. This was close to paradise. It was... It was...

"Gnarly," I muttered under my breath.

"I can't believe somebody actually lives in that," Block exclaimed.

Ed ignored us both as he shouted, "Are you here, Miss Sheska?" When no one replied, he repeated, "Sheska?!" We were about to leave, when I saw a pile of books. It was odd. All the other books were in columns, neat and stacked. Why were these, the ones in the middle, scattered about then? Some were even open. All the others were closed. Shrugging, I turned to follow them.

"Help me! Please!" Someone faintly shouted out. Ed and I stopped and turned around.

Everyone let out a yell of surprise, and we rushed to the pile(the same one I was curious about, mind you.) We began to throw books off the pile, and a few minutes later, we were done. We then made some tea and sat down, Hannah, Ed, the officers and I panting. "Thank you all, really. They always said I had my head in a book, but I never thought they meant literally..," Sheska said.

I snorted, mumbling, "Stupid people.. Jinxed you, I bet!"

Sheska's eyes widened as she looked at me, "You think so?!"

Ed sighed and spoke up. "Sheska.. You used to work the library's first branch, right?"

"That's right!" Sheska sighed and continued, "Unfortunately, they fired me for what they call lackluster performance. I was reading instead of working. I really needed that job too. My mom's sick and I've got to pay her bills! But being surrounded by all those books-"

I interrupted her dully, "It was like sticking a wild coyote in a room full of chickens already cooked?"

The girl blinked, and looked over at me. Sighing, she nodded, "Yeah... I couldn't control myself.."

"Sorry to hear that... Let me just cut to the chase," Ed started, "Do you remember ever seeing a book written by Tim Marcoh while you were working there? It's really important."

"By a Tim Marcoh..?" Sheska asked.

Ed nodded, "Yeah. It probably would have been a thick research journal."

Sheska then began mumbling to herself, finger by her chin in thought. Finally, she pointed and exclaimed, "Oh yeah! I remember now! It was a leather bound volume with plenty of detail!"

We all gasped slightly and Ed asked, "Are you sure?"

"Yeah, I remember all the books. Especially the ones in the back," She explained, nodded. I blinked in surprise. All the books? Not only that, but..

"Damn..," I muttered, "Well then that book is definitely a goner. There's no use even looking for it..."

Ed nodded in agreement, "We'll never get to read it..."

Sheska sniffed slightly, "I know how you guys feel... It's so tragic never finding a book!" She began to cry, and Ed twitched.

"Don't be like that, Sheska.. At least now we know the book existed.. And now I have an idea!" Ed said, smiling.

Not only did the sudden mood change scare me, but so did the "I have an idea" part...

. . .

We stood in front of the charred, library-less, bookless rubble again. "I'm going to transmute these ashes to their original form!" Ed stated, staring hard at the rubble.

I rose a brow and banged on Al's arm for a drum roll. Al smiled nervously at me as Ed shook his head. "Incredible! You can really do something like that?!" Block exclaimed, completely flabbergasted. Hehe.. Funny word. Ed clapped, ignoring him.

I shrugged at Block, "Only if all the pieces are there. Which I doubt because of the..." Everyone's eyes widened as a wind blew, blowing away much of the rubble. "Well, there's your example," I muttered dully.

"..Is that what I was supposed to be watching for?" Block asked, to which I shook my head.

Sighing, I said, "I'd retort to that but the mood isn't right..."

All of us moped a bit, glaring at the ground, when suddenly... "W-Wait a minute, don't give up just yet!" Hannah exclaimed. We all looked over at her, me partly surprised that she was there. She's too forgettable.., I thought begrudgingly as she looked to Sheska, "You said you remembered all the books, right? That's impossible unless you have pho-"

"Photographic memory!" I shouted, raising my hand high into the air.

Hannah's brow twitched as she glared at me, "Yes, Riley... Photographic memory..."

I smiled brightly and looked to Sheska, "Right?"

She blinked and nodded, "Well, yes. I do..." She gasped and smiled, "I see! Yes! I could most definitely reproduce the book for you!"

"Why didn't you say so?" Ed asked, exasperated.

"I was always made fun of for it..," Sheska started, "But if I can be of help..!"

. . .

I let out a yawn as we sat in a hotel room. I would've gotten a military room, but with Hannah being here, I told Ed and the others we'd meet up with them later. Brosh and Maria Ross didn't like the idea, but Hannah interjected that I had alchemy, and she had a gun(which Block gladly loaned to her for the night) if anything happened to us. But I could tell she was a little nervous, especially after hearing of my last encounter with Scar.

Drying my hair with a fluffy towel(which I settled with naming Mr. Fluff), I glanced to Hannah. She was reading. Or, well, trying to at least. "What's wrong Hanners?" I asked casually as I put on jeans.

She sighed, "Just thinking. What if we come across that Scar guy while we're here? Look at what he did to Ed and Al.. And to your camera. You're lucky it wasn't you, you know!"

I nodded. "I know, I know.. He's dangerous and we should be careful. But if he wants to find us, trust me, he definitely will find a way to. We just have to be prepared for it."

Hannah bit her lip and looked at the drawer the gun was in. "I guess you're right..," She said, before heading into the bathroom for her shower. I threw my hair towel down and sighed again. I hoped Scar wouldn't find us. If he did, my Military status most likely would be found out by Hannah.

As I placed the hair towel in a hamper the hotel provided, and went to grab a shirt, I heard Hannah scream. My stomach felt like it fell about five feet as I rushed into the bathroom. She stood beside me, against the wall. A towel around her, she pointed to the window. "N-Nails...," She whispered with wide eyes.

Nails?

I shook my head and ran to the window, sticking my head out of it. Despite wondering why the window faced an alley of all things, I looked right and left, just in time to see a figure running around the corner. "HEY!" I shouted, jumping out the window and darting after her.

As I turned the corner, I gasped and jumped backwards as I saw something shooting toward me. I fell to the ground as I saw a... Thing.. extended in the air in front of me. I looked closer and upon inspection, I saw a nail. A nail... What the hell?!

Staring at it with wide eyes, I came to a stand and saw the nail disappear. I reacted quickly and ran around the corner to follow it. "Get back here!" I shouted as I ran after the figure. She ran down another alley, and I growled, speeding up.

Turning at the alley, I skidded to a stop when I saw a dead end. The figure not in sight. Damn. "What was that about..?" I came to wonder as I walked back to the hotel, ignoring the curious stares. I didn't blame them. My torso was in a friggin towel.

. . .

"It's all here! As you can see, it's a pretty big book, so it took me three days to get it all down," Sheska exclaimed happily, pointing to the huge pile of notebooks.

My jaw was dropped as I stared. "All this is Marcoh's research? You sure?" He asked, surprised.

She laughed, "Yep! Detailed instructions for everything from appetizing appetizers to delectable desserts! Tim Marcoh's one thousand recipes for making magic in the kitchen!"

There was a slight pause in the room. Followed by gasps.

Food? Food?! My teacher and godfather sent us on a food hunt?! My brow twitched after the second passed. I knew there was most likely a coded message, but still, food?!

Maria Ross grabbed one of the notebooks and began reading off the recipe. It was simple, and nothing really special. She 'heh'ed, and said, "Nothing magical about this recipe..."

I saw Block lean toward Sheska and ask, "Think you got the wrong author?"

She shook her head, "Not a chance! I reproduced what he wrote in those journals word for word!"

Hannah nodded, "I doubt someone with photographic memory would get it wrong..."

"It was for nothing then..," Maria Ross said, "Sorry FullMetal.."

"Maybe not..," Ed said before looking at me, "You know Marcoh more than anyone. Don't you think he intended for us to get these?"

I nodded at his question as I grabbed a notebook. "It wasn't for nothing. Whatever he wanted us to find out is in here somewhere. We just have to think like him."

Ed smiled as he looked through the one in his hands, before looking to Sheska, "You really are an amazing talent.. Lieutenant," He started, looking to Maria Ross, "Make sure she's properly compensated!" He handed her a paper and began giving instructions and opening the door. "Al, Riley, come on!" He said before running off.

"Right!" Al said as he, Hannah, and I grabbed as many books we could before following. By the time Hannah and I managed to balance our books, Maria Ross and Ed were talking.

"The ability to do your job is your problem, Lieutenant Ross. Getting the Philosopher's Stone is mine," Ed explained. He walked around her and I sighed, following him.

. . .

"So this is Marcoh's research..." Ed said as we stood at a table, looking at the notebooks.

Ed had taken off his trench coat now, and I had untied my jacket from my waist. Both of them were laying in a pile in the corner of the square room. Hannah's purse was beside the pile. "You really think the secret to the stone is in here?" Al asked.

We both nodded. "Well he was bound to write it in a secret code, so not just any citizen could read it. Sure, it's an Alchemist's library, but obviously others could break in, example being a few days ago... And what other code but cooking? Alchemy was born in the kitchen, right? Knowing Marcoh, this was actually probably the easiest code he could've used."

And with that, we began to search. Ed and Al went to look at other books, but I got out an empty notebook and began reading. I already had a few theories in mind, so I didn't bother with other books. Marcoh himself had taught me about five different decoding skills, so those would be the first I'd try. After a while, I noticed Hannah was even more confused then when she grabbed the first notebook. Sighing, I looked up at her and smiled, "Say, why don't you go look for a Halloween costume?"

She smiled a bit, "Trick-Or-Treating while you guys are working?"

I nodded, "You could use it. I'd go with you to help you from looking too old for it, but they need me more."

She nodded as she grabbed her purse, "Don't worry, Riley.. And thanks.. I just don't understand this stuff." I watched as she left, and got back to work. I heard Block offer to follow her, and then two sets of footsteps walk off.

. . .

It was nighttime now, and we were all tired. My first five tries didn't work(well my first possibly could have, but it was taking too much time and all the different ingredients would have lead up to a butt load of money needed.)

"Wakey Wakey!" I heard a familiar voice shout.

We looked up and I smiled, "Hey Maes!"

He smiled as Ed and Al perked up. "What's with not coming by earlier? Been too busy?" Ed asked, smirking.

"It's these damn Scar spottings lately. It's got us chasing our own tail!" Maes exclaims. He looked to Al and said, "I see you got the full body repair you needed!"

Al nodded and then Maria Ross came inside. "Lieutenant Colonel Hughes," She states, causing us all to turn to her. She salutes and says, "If there were an attack here, there would be no way to assure their safety as we've been ordered. They should return to the command center, now."

I sighed as Ed replied to that, "I told you Ross, don't get in my way!"

She ignored him and continued, "Lieutenant Colonel, as long as Scar is at large, our State Alchemists are our top priority."

Maes sighed and crossed his arms, "Sorry Ed, but I'm afraid Lieutenant Ross does have a point."

"Don't say that!" Ed groaned out.

"But, then again, this really isn't my jurisdiction. Why don't you take it up with Major Armstrong?" Maes asked.

Quickly, Ed and I both jumped up, "No!" Maria Ross interjected as well and the three of us began to protest. Maria Ross cleared her throat, regaining her posture after a moment, and Ed looked to Maes. "Lieutenant Colonel.. We're close to it now, I can feel it," He explained, before whispering, "I'm begging..!"

"What I'd like to do," Maes started, "Is give you extra protection. But between finding Scar and scrambling to replace the case files that were destroyed in the fire... My men are completely tied up right now..."

Ed's eyes widened, "All your case files? They were stored in the First Branch too?"

"Yeah... All of it," Maes answered, running fingers through his hair.

Ed smirked, "Really?... You're in luck!"

Maes rose a brow, "What do you mean?"

"Come with me," Ed said as he began to leave. Al and Maes followed, but I held my book up and began going through it. "Riley?"

I looked up and shrugged at Ed, "I think I'll stay here to keep looking. Just get back soon, when I figure this out, there better be someone here for me to rub it in to." Ed smirked and nodded, as they all left.

Sighing, I plopped down on a couch and began to read. And read. And read.

Normally this would be fun for me, see, but here's the thing.

I was pretty much reading cook books.

I hate cooking.

Put two and two together, and you have sleep.

Just before I fell asleep, though, I figured out what Marcoh had been trying to say.

And I didn't like it.

. . .

"DAMMIT!"

I jerked awake, falling off the chair in the process. Looking wildly around me, I relaxed when I saw Ed with his fists on the table, glaring at the floor. I sighed. He knew. "I get it now... Why they call this quest the Devil's errand... Why they quit their research or were driven insane...," Ed growled.

I began to stand and walk to him, throwing off the coat that was placed over me. "The secret ingredient... Is live human beings," He spat.

Hannah and Al had gasped. I only tried peering at his face through his bangs. "Ed..?" I mumbled.

"Just when I thought... Just when I thought it was in our grasp..."

Happy Mother's Day to Every Mother Out There.
(And R.I.P. To Mr. Guy [Saturday, May 9th, 2009].)

Be Responsible. Don't Flame and Drive! Rawr.