Aquroya's Famous Thief
"Discarding two."
Ed laid down two of his cards before picking two more up from a different pile, Raven and Al watching him.
"Geez, more junk." thought Ed as he looked down at his hand of mismatched cards.
He looked up at Al who was staring at his cards, trying to decide what to do. Raven on the other hand laid down two as well, her poker face hiding what she drew.
"Hmmm…" said Al as Ed got impatient.
"Just discard already!" shouted Ed and Al jumped in his seat.
"Sorry, I'll take two as well." said Al as he also discarded and drew two, his eyes suddenly widening. "Holy… hey, you guys want to double the bet."
"Why not?" asked Raven before looking at Ed. "You dropping out or what?"
"Suit yourself." said Ed as he looked at Al.
"Sorry, I've got a full house." said Al excitedly as he laid out his hand.
"Hey Ed, doesn't four of a kind beat a full house?" asked Raven as she turned her cards around to reveal four sixes.
"I'm sorry too." said Ed as he closed his eyes and laid his hand out on the table. "Royal flush."
"No way! I thought for sure I'd win for once." said Al as he began to gather the cards. "Okay, this time I'm gonna-"
"Wait Al." said Raven as she grabbed Al's arm. "What's this?"
She held up one of Al's queens and the queen from Ed's hand to reveal that they were both the same suit.
"A deck with one extra card in it." said Ed as he leaned back and closed his eyes. "Anyways, I quit. I'm bored."
"Bored!? Bored of what!? Winning!? You haven't lost yet! Why don't you lose on purpose for a while!?" asked Al as he looked disbelievingly at Ed.
"It's not about the cards, Al. It's who we gotta see." said Ed as he grabbed the topmost card off the pile and flipped it over to reveal the joker. "Mustang. Argh."
"You don't want to meet with him?" asked Al and Ed got angry.
"Of course I don't Al! Out best lead on the stone turned out to be fake! All this searching and we've nothing to show for it!" shouted Ed angrily.
"But we've done lots of good…" started Al.
"Good!? Good goes on a military report in a side bar for collateral damage. I can see his face. His sarcastic little quips. Just thinking about it-" started Ed as he put food into his mouth. "-makes me completely nauseous."
"If you're completely nauseous, then how come you're still eating?" asked Raven as she started to build a house out of cards when a jolt in the tracks destroyed it.
"Shut up."
Not much later they disembarked, Al watching the train nervously as it left. Raven watched as Ed started eating more food before Al spoke up.
"You sure it's okay to stop? We're supposed to go straight to East City." said Al nervously as he turned to look at Ed and Raven.
"It's right on the way. Maybe we'll find something about the Philosopher's Stone and avoid a lecture. Besides, Aquroya's a tourist hotspot. I've always wanted to check it out." said Ed as he looked up at the many colorful signs posted around the exit.
"Why? To stare at girls in their bathing suits?" asked Raven as she looked closely at one of the brochures and Ed glared at her as he shoved more food into his mouth.
"For your information-" started Ed when he was interrupted by Al.
"Feels kinda like we're playing hooky, don't ya think?" asked Al and Ed turned around annoyed.
"Stop being so-" started Ed again when a large set of cards dropped out of his sleeve.
"What do we have here? An oddly good hand of cards." said Al as he crouched down and started to pick them up.
"You little bastard!" shouted Raven as Ed bolted for the door.
"Ed! You cheater, come back!" shouted Al as he dropped the cards and grabbed the briefcase before joining Raven in chasing after Ed. "We want everything you won from us! And I thought I was just unlucky!"
"Edward!" shouted Raven as she caught up with him and tackled him. "Give me back my money!"
"Fine, just get off me!" shouted Ed, sounding a little squished. "Get off!"
Raven sat back as Al caught up to them and Ed pulled out his wallet.
"Here." said Ed grumpily as he handed back all his winnings. "Happy?"
"Yes." said Raven as she snatched her money and put it back in her wallet.
"I can't believe you cheated brother!" shouted Al indignantly as Ed put away his wallet. "You stole from your own brother!"
"And I don't count?" asked Raven with a raised eyebrow.
"Yes you do." said Al very quickly and apologetically before continuing on with his lecture. "Anyways… it is a beautiful city isn't it?"
Raven rolled her eyes as she and Ed got back on their feet. She dusted herself off as Ed recovered his food and they started off down the street.
"I'll say. Aquroya, the city of water and perennial tourist magnet. It sure beats the heck out of that East City dust bowl and having to see the Colonel's know-it-all grin, don't ya think?" asked Ed as he ate the last piece.
A cart suddenly zoomed out of nowhere, splashing Ed with mud.
"What the hell's your problem pal!?" shouted Ed as he yelled at the cart man, the mud dripping off of him.
"Well it is the city of water." snickered Raven as she and Al laughed at him.
Ed sighed before transmuting the dirt out of his clothes, people stopping to stare at him. Then out of nowhere a handcuff snapped itself around Ed's wrist, the other end being held by a detective.
"Hmm…" said Ed as he looked up at the detective puzzled. "Hey, shouldn't we talk first?"
"Dude, what's your problem?" asked Raven as she went to tap the detective on the shoulder but had a handcuff snapped around her wrist.
"You're comin' to the station." said the detective as he jerked the handcuffs. "I've got some questions for you alchemists."
Ed and Raven looked at each other as Al shook nervously in the background.
Al, Raven, and Ed were sitting in a half-lit room with the detective who was staring at them with his face halfway in the shadows. Raven leaned back in her chair as Ed continued to shove food into his mouth without stopping.
"So… you're telling me you're with the State. And that you're the famous Fullmetal and Crimson Blade. Heroes of the People." said the detective slowly, as if in thought.
"How many times do we have to say it chief? Those watches should be proof enough." said Ed through his eating.
"Sure, if they're real, but I have my doubts. I say you're too short for a hero and you're just a girl."
Ed and Raven stood up angry, Al looking afraid.
"Who are you calling so small you wanna crunch like an ant!?"
"Who are you calling just a girl you little stuck up, mother f-"
'Raven, tone it down just a teensy bit…" said Al as he held up his fingers to show a little bit and Raven glared at him. "Please?"
"Shut up. Shut up now." said Raven and Al scurried away.
"Yes ma'am." whimpered Al as he cowered behind his chair. "Brother, please! He didn't say anything like that!"
Ed stopped and everybody sat back down, Al edging away from Raven.
"Sorry for the third-degree. I had to test you. We've got a thief on our backs named Psiren and we're all a little on edge." said the detective.
"Psiren?" asked Al.
"Yeah, real name's unknown. Only lead we got is she's using alchemy." said the detective as Ed looked around before snatching Raven's bowl and shoveling it into his mouth. "So I thought you'd just might be connected. Hmm. But you say you're with the State, and the Fullmetal and Crimson Blade Alchemists no less…"
Much later in the day the three walked out of the police station, Ed in a bad mood.
"Damn that guy! He kept saying the same things for three hours straight! He probably wears that hat to hide the hole in his brain." said Ed before he suddenly looked sick and fell back.
Al and Raven kept walking as Al said, "Still, doesn't it concern you? A criminal using alchemy to steal."
"Yeah, a little." said Raven as she looked thoughtful.
"Oh, crud." groaned Ed, causing Raven and Al to stop and turn around.
"Brother you don't look so good." said Al as Ed doubled over.
"My stomach feels-" said Ed when his stomach made a strange noise and he stopped.
"We'd better get you to the hospital. Come on." said Raven as she grabbed Ed under one arm and Al grabbed the other.
"Oh god!" shouted Ed as he started to struggle, his face turning green. "Let me go!"
"Let him go!" shouted Al and Ed ran over to the nearest garbage can before vomiting into it.
"This is going to take a while." said Raven as she sat on a nearby bench.
"How do you know?" asked Al as he stared at Ed.
"Have you not been taking notice how much food he's consumed today?" asked Raven and Al sat down.
"Yeah, I guess you're right."
Raven and Al stood behind Ed who was seated on a patient's bed in the hospital. The doctor turned around in his chair holding a clipboard and smiled.
"Well, it looks like a little bit of food poisoning, that's all." said the doctor.
"It's not from eating too much?" asked Raven and Al at the same time, earning them a glare from Ed.
"Oh shut up."
"We'll need to give you an injection. Clara?" called the doctor and everyone looked at him in surprise.
"An injection?" said all three at once.
"Yeah, just a poke."
Immediately Ed jumped to his feet and tried to run but Al and Raven grabbed him before he got away.
"No! Get away from me! I don't need it!" shouted Ed.
"It's just a little needle. You'll be fine!" shouted Al as they dragged Ed back into the room.
"Yeah, after they mop up all the blood and-" started Raven but Ed's shriek of terror drowned out the rest of her words.
"I feel better! I'm cured!" shouted Ed.
"Don't be a baby! Take off your coat!" shouted Al.
"Knock it off!" shouted Raven and there was a large crash. "See what you did!?"
"I hate you Al! Why do you want to sell out your own brother!? You're evil!" shouted Ed and Raven scoffed.
"And what about me!?"
"I already hate you. Why should I have to scream it in my few moments before death?" asked Ed extremely calm before he started back up again.
"You don't mean that!" shouted Al, sounding hurt.
"I'll turn you all into fish!" shouted Ed as they forced him back onto the bed.
The nurse called Clara smiled as she leaned towards Ed and touched his nose for a second before saying, "There, you're all done Ed. That didn't hurt at all did it?"
She stepped back with a needle in her hand, everyone looking stunned.
"Fast work." said Raven.
"Yeah, you didn't even notice." said Al as he looked at Ed.
"And after all that fuss." said Clara as she set down the needle.
"Yeah, so what's your point?" asked Ed, looking extremely annoyed.
"We all have to grow up sometime right?" laughed Clara.
"So, is the rude commentary included in the bill?" asked Ed as Clara started to clean up, Al not able to take his eyes off Clara.
The trio sat under a large tree in the hospital's yard, Al staring up into the sky.
"She was so good at her job. Smart, and gorgeous too. I can't stop thinking about her." said Al, almost dreamily.
"You've got the weirdest taste in women Al. She was a bad gift in pretty wrapping." said before they glanced over at Clara who was attending an elderly woman in a wheelchair.
"That won't do Mrs. Crabnick. You can't get better on an empty stomach."
"I'm sorry. I just can't get it down." said Mrs. Crabnick who had a food tray on her lap. "It hurts my teeth."
"Well that bread's too tough isn't it?" asked Clara as she reached into her cart and pulled out an apple and a knife. "We'll have to make you something tastier."
"Huh?" said Al as he suddenly remembered his mother.
"You all right with that Ed?" asked Trisha Elric from her bed as Ed attempted to peel an apple.
"That looks dangerous. Let me do it brother. You'll hurt yourself." said Al and Ed pushed him away with his elbow.
"I'm fine! Back off!" shouted Ed angrily before his mother grabbed the apple and started to peel it.
"There you go." said their mother as she held a plate out to them with apple slices on it. "Why don't you boys eat it?"
"You still with us Al?" asked Ed and Al snapped out of it.
"Yeah. Sorry, I was just thinking. That nurse, Clara… there's something really giving, calming about her. She kind of reminds me of mom." said Al and Ed got angry.
"Don't be ridiculous! That woman's nothing like her!" shouted Ed angrily.
Suddenly they heard something drop the ground and Mrs. Crabnick said, "I've gotten so clumsy."
"Don't worry about it." said Clara as she went to pick up the pieces of fruit. "It's just a piece of fruit."
Al grabbed the pieces away from her and placed them on the ground before drawing a transmutation circle around it. He activated it and Clara gasped as Al put the apple back together again.
"Good as new." said Al as he held the apple up to her.
"You're alchemists." said Clara as she looked at him with distrust. "I didn't realize that."
"Mr. Elric! Ms. Dain!" shouted the detective as he came running up and Clara looks surprised.
Ed looked at the detective annoyed before saying, "Let's make a tape saying we're innocent. You can play it back all you want."
"I know you are, I know." said the detective as he stopped panting and looked up. "And this time I'm asking you for a favor."
"A favor?" asked Raven disbelievingly.
"Yes, a favor." said the detective. "If you'll just come back to the station with me we can discuss it."
Raven and Al watched as about twenty policemen filed into a room and stood around a large table covered with food. Ed on the other hand was eating again, shoveling the food into his mouth like there was no tomorrow.
"Officers! Presenting State Alchemists masters Edward Elric and Raven Dain! Salute!" shouted the detective and all the men saluted.
"Geez." said Al as he looked around, Ed still shoveling food into his mouth.
"So, what do you want?" asked Ed without stopping, Al and Raven looking at the detective.
"First I want to apologize for earlier, all those questions." said the detective nervously as he folded his hands. "I did what you said and got in touch with Colonel Mustang at the Eastern Command Center. I paid long distance and everything. He sounded nice, angry but nice. He said you guys really are State Alchemists. I sure pegged you wrong."
"Like I said." said Ed after the detective gave a weak laugh.
"Yes, indeed sir. In light of this new information I wanted to ask you-" started the detective but he stopped when he saw Ed.
"I'll need more." said Ed as he held out his empty bowl.
"As much as you like." said the detective as he gestured to the table.
"So what did you want us for?" asked Raven as Ed started eating again.
"Well, like before I said we have a thief on our backs and her name's Psiren. She's been going around town and stealing a bunch of antique artifacts from right under our noses. We need your help to catch her." said the detective as Ed finished with his second bowl and moved onto a third.
"And you call yourself a detective?" asked Raven and the detective gave another weak laugh.
"It won't take much of your time." said the detective and Raven sighed.
"Whatever." said Raven and the detective almost hung off her arm he was so happy.
"Thank you so much!" sobbed the detective and Raven shook him off.
"Just don't touch me again."
"This is it, Psiren's next mark. With you on our side that thief's hold on this city will finally unravel." said the detective as they looked at the piece they were to protect.
"Yeah, we'll do whatever we can tonight." said Ed before looking out the window at the large group of people that had gathered outside the mansion. "But that's a lot of people, a lot of ways for things to go wrong."
"That's Psiren's M.O., most thieves don't announce their heists before they happen. Psiren tells every paper in the country. Journalists, thrill-seekers, even Psiren groupies flock to see. It's become a spectator sport." said the detective.
"It is quite a following." said Al.
"Well the stardom ends tonight. It's amazing how quick your popularity fades when you're wearing stripes. I'm gonna check the security station." said the detective as he walked away, Al watching Ed.
"I'm kinda surprised you took this job." said Al. "I mean Raven said she would…"
"I guess I'm just curious." said Ed as he opened his eyes. "Yet another way to use alchemy to do wrong."
The trio leaned back against the wall, not noticing the drop of water that had suddenly appeared on the ceiling above the case. It dripped down and exploded into a cloud of smoke, sending everyone into a panic.
"Clever move." said Raven as she saw Psiren standing by the case, a deck of cards in hand.
She and Ed ran at Psiren, Ed saying, "Come on Al!"
Suddenly several things flew past the two and when they turned they saw about half a deck of cards stuck in the wall around Al.
"Ah!" shouted Al as he cowered in place.
"Grrr…" growled Ed as they turned back around to see that Psiren had removed the piece from its case. "Hey, hold it!"
They chased Psiren down the hallway to find that she had disappeared through a window.
"Damn it!" shouted Raven as she transmuted the wall into a slide. "Come on!"
She jumped down the slide, Ed going down after her. When they reached the bottom they saw Psiren turning a corner and disappearing into the city.
"You go right, I'll go left." said Raven as they split up.
Ed went in his direction to find Psiren slowly jogging down the street. He sped up and jumped down so that he was right in front of her.
"Alchemy's the greatest thing we human's have going for us, and yet here you are stealing with it and making things even worse! Not to mention I put up with a very mind-numbing interrogation because of you! I say you owe me a major apology." said Ed as Psiren pulled out a deck of cards.
She held them up and blew them off before they suddenly turned into a sword. Then without warning she jumped and attacked Ed, but he managed to block the blow with his automail. In a counterattack he punched the sword with his fist before tackling Psiren, making her lose her grip on her cards. The cards fell apart onto the street below as Ed held Psiren down.
"You've just been pinned Psiren." said Ed when he realized where his right hand was.
He jumped to his feet and blushed as he backed off, embarrassed he had been groping her.
"I didn't mean that!" shouted Ed as Psiren laughed and got to her feet.
"You've never fought with a woman before, have you?" asked Psiren as she started to unzip her shirt to reveal a transmutation circle tattoo on her chest. "Makes for a whole new style of action."
The transmutation circle glowed and Ed found himself thrown backwards and pinned to the ground by several of Psiren's cards.
"Hey! That was a dirty trick!" shouted Ed angrily as he tried to free himself.
"It's a shame I can't show you my face. It's a real treat" said Psiren as she finished zipping her shirt back up and blew Ed a kiss. "Sleep tight pip squeak!"
"Who're you calling a pip squeak!? I'd be tall to in heels!" shouted Ed as Psiren started running off.
"No you don't!" shouted Raven as she jumped in front of Psiren, sword in hand.
"And who are you?" asked Psiren sweetly. "Isn't it past your bedtime?"
"Raven, kick her ass!" shouted Ed as he struggled against the cards.
"Ed, you got knocked down again?" asked Raven disbelievingly as she looked at Ed. "Tell me, can you actually fight or can you only throw temper tantrums?"
"I'll kick both your asses when I get out of here!" shouted Ed as he thrashed like a snake, but it didn't work.
"Anyways, where were we?" asked Raven as she held up Psiren's cards.
"My cards!" shouted Psiren in surprise. "You're pretty good."
Psiren unzipped her shirt again and the cards jumped out of Raven's hand before attacking her. In defense, Raven transmuted a wall of stone before jumping over it to find Psiren gone.
"Where'd she go!?" asked Raven angrily as she yanked a card out of the transmuted wall. "Damn it."
The next day they were back at the hospital, Ed and Raven searching the halls for Al.
"Al! Al? You'd think we'd be able to keep track of a seven foot suit of armor." said Raven as they walked up to an open door.
Inside they saw Clara standing beside a flower unbuttoning her shirt to reveal the exact same transmutation circle tattoo that Psiren had. Then it glowed as it turned the flower on the table into a small white pill. Raven pushed the door open and stomped her foot against the floor to get Clara's attention as they walked in.
"You!" shouted Clara.
"What a surprise, the kind nurse is really Psiren. Or do all women here have tattoos on their chests?" asked Ed and Clara looked away.
"I… I don't know what you mean. But I can't talk. I just came to get some medicine." said Clara, not bothering to do her shirt back up again.
"Right, and medicine you manufacture using alchemy." said Raven as she gestured to the pill.
"Now drop the act you lying fraud." said Ed angrily.
"Come on little man, now who's telling lies?" asked Clara as she took of her hat and smiled. "I did say that I was beautiful under the mask."
"That's hardly the point!" shouted Ed as he ran up to Clara.
"Brother? Raven? Brother, bad news…" said Al as he ran into the room. "Is something wrong?"
"What do you think Al?" asked Ed angrily as he slammed his fist onto the table. "Look at her! That nurse you thought was so great, she's Psiren! The transmutation circle's proof enough!"
Ed pointed at Clara and she looked down before saying, "The world isn't black and white like you think. You kids are too young to understand. A lot can happen in a lifetime."
"Please!" said Ed as he scoffed.
"I understand." said Al quietly and everyone looked at him. "I just found out. This hospital's scheduled to be demolished. Clara, you became a thief out of necessity and compassion. You're trying to save this place aren't you?"
Clara looked up in surprise before looking away again, sad. Raven watched unconvinced as Clara started again.
"Yeah, that's right. You think I like this? Flinching at every passing patrol. But this hospital needs money for all its patients. I needed to-" said Clara and a tear ran down her face, Ed looking surprised.
"See Ed, I told you she had a heart like mom." said Al and Ed looks sad.
"Ed…" said Raven when the detective suddenly came running in.
"Mr. Elric! Ms. Dain! A new notice from Psiren!" shouted the detective as he stopped. "Am I interrupting something? Mr. Elric? Ms. Dain?"
Raven looked up at Clara before turning and walking out of the room.
"Come on." said Raven as she grabbed the detective by the back of the coat and dragged him out of the room. "Where is the next piece?"
The trio sat outside an oriental-looking mansion in the bushes with the detective.
"Looks like you've got less security this time." said Raven.
"Yeah, Psiren's made mules of my men too many times. I'm trying something different. We've got a little trap rigged up inside that mansion right next to her target." said the detective.
"A trap?" asked Ed as he looked at the detective.
"Don't worry, you'll see it soon enough. No one will call our force incompetent anymore! I'll hang her little suit over my desk." said the detective as he stood up and started to walk away in a weird half-crouch. "But stick around. We'll need you if anything goes wrong."
As the detective walked off Raven shook her head and said, "That man deserves to be shot."
"What are you going to do?" asked Al from his position farther back in the bushes.
Ed and Raven looked at Al before at each other and back at the mansion. Meanwhile inside the mansion a large blob of water slipped underneath the door that lead into the room that held the antique. It seemed to look around before reaching up and undoing the lock and disappeared again. Psiren walked up to the piece and picked it up, triggering the trap. A large cage slammed down around her and Psiren began looking around for a way out.
"Great, now what?" asked Psiren when blue light appeared on the floor.
The floor lifted up and broke apart the cage, allowing Psiren a way out. She laughed as she slipped out of the cage and made her way out of the room.
Psiren made her way down the street when she saw Ed and Raven waiting for her.
"Thanks kids. It was a good break. Why'd ya help?" asked Psiren and Ed turned his back to her.
"It's nothing personal. We weren't helping you. We know a little about bending the rules sometimes to do what's right. It was for the hospital." said Ed and Psiren laughed, causing him to turn around angrily. "What's so funny?"
"Nothing, you just sounded so grown up." said Psiren as she faced him.
"I am grown up okay!" said Ed as he blushed.
"Is that so? Well as a grown up woman I always repay my favors." said Psiren as she walked up to him and bent down so they were eye to eye. "Is there something you'd like for me to do for you mister all-grown-up man?"
Ed looked over to Raven who nodded and he looked at the ground.
"Actually there is one thing. You're a savvy alchemist, you must have heard of the Philosopher's Stone." said Ed and Psiren's eyes widened. "I want you to tell me anything you know about it. We have to get it, no matter what or how long it takes!"
Psiren looked over at Raven who was looking away with a sad look on her face. Then she closed her eyes and looked down before saying, "Sorry Edward. I can't help you with that."
Ed looked disappointed but Psiren continued.
"But, how 'bout this? If you ever do figure out where a stone is tell me and I'll be happy to steal it for you." said Psiren before turning and walking away for a few steps.
"Hey." said Ed looking embarrassed. "I'm happy that you can do this for the hospital."
Psiren turned and smiled before saying, "Yeah, thanks to you guys."
The next morning the trio returned to the hospital to find it had been knocked down and fenced off.
"What's goin' on here? Don't tell me that flake tricked us!" shouted Ed.
"That couldn't be! Clara's the last person who would do something like that." said Al as he turned to Ed and Raven. "This has to be a mistake!"
"The only mistake here is inside that metal skull of yours Al! She's robbed you off your senses and played you like a freakin' harp!" shouted Ed angrily as Raven rubbed her temples.
"Don't say that brother! You know what'll happen!" shouted Al, now angry.
"Both of you knock it off! You're giving me a headache!" shouted Raven as she ran her fingers through her hair. "I told you this would happen!"
"Siblings shouldn't argue. It's sinful." said a voice behind them and the trio turned to see Clara in a nun's uniform.
"Am I imagining this?" asked Al looking doubtful.
"I wish you were." said Ed.
"What's with the penguin outfit?" asked Raven and Clara started to walk away.
"Come with me and I shall tell you." said Clara as she walked away at a measured pace.
Clara led them to a small church where she told them the whole story.
"It's terrible about the hospital. I tried to save it but I couldn't get the money in time. I was devastated, the guilt was too much, I didn't know how to go on." said Clara, her eyes watering as she looked back at the trio. "So I became a nun!"
Al stared up at Clara as if she was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen. Raven and Ed on the other hand were skeptical and Raven went to leave.
"Poor Clara!" said Al and Raven stopped before staring at Al.
"Yeah, I bet." said Ed.
"It's the truth Ed." said Clara as she closed her eyes. "But those who do believe will be saved. The great Lord has told me there are other places that need me."
Clara turned around and stood in the sunlight for a dramatic effect as she said, "Like this convent we're standing in! It's scheduled to be demolished too! I only pray I can help!"
She started crying into her hands and Al walked forward to comfort her.
"You'll do it Clara! You just need to try harder this time." said Al and Ed closed his eyes, Raven shaking her head. "We'll help however we can."
"I can't sleep." said Raven when Al suddenly barged into the room.
They had gotten a hotel room for the night and Al had gone out to hear the results of Psiren's work. Ed and Raven had been lying down, trying to get to sleep, as shouting could be heard from the street.
"Brother! More news!" said Al as Ed and Raven looked up at him.
"Yeah, what is it?" asked Ed.
"They're saying Psiren struck again!" said Al sounding extremely excited. "The whole city's in an uproar! She did it! The convent is going to be saved!"
Raven couldn't look at Al as she rolled over and closed her eyes.
The next morning the trio went back to the church to find it demolished, a large cross lying in the rubble.
"It has to be a mistake!" shouted Al as he looked at Ed and Raven, the former extremely angry. "Maybe she couldn't find someone to sell what she…"
"Have your brains turned to mush!?" shouted Ed as he turned to Al. "She's a con-artist, Al! She's been snowing us for a good laugh! The only saving she's doing is in her bank account!"
"Don't start that again! That's not how she is!" shouted Al in reply.
"SHUT UP!" screamed Raven loudly. "SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!"
"Do I need to put you kids in a corner?" asked a familiar voice and the three turned around to see Clara dressed as a school teacher, surrounded by children.
"Great. And which dress-up doll outfit are you wearing today Clara!?" asked Ed.
"I know! You're a school teacher right?" asked Al and Clara looked up. "You're working for a school that's about to be shut down and this time you won't be too late!"
Al stepped forward, looking hopeful as he continued, "Isn't that right Clara? Isn't it?"
Clara's eyes had a sad look in them as she smiled. Raven determinedly looked away as the fake school teacher said, "You guessed it. But maybe we shouldn't talk about it with the K-I-Ds.
"Like you care." said Ed as he looked at the ground, Clara looking at him. "Stop jerking us around. What are you really? Nothing but a thief after all. A common criminal who uses alchemy for her own selfish gains!"
Ed looked up at Clara angrily, but she only seemed disappointed. She closed her eyes before speaking again.
"That's a very good question Ed. But as I tell my children students-" said Clara as she opened her eyes. "-the best answers we find on our own."
"It's good you've seem to have found yours." said Raven before stalking off, leaving a confused Ed and Al.
"Are you all right Raven?" asked Al as they walked down a busy street.
"Yeah." said Raven as she shook her head. "It's nothing."
Her head jerked up when she heard a paperboy and saw a large group of people gathered around him.
"Extra! Extra! Phantom Thief Psiren announces her next big-time mark!" shouted the paperboy as the trio walked up to a man reading one of the papers.
"Why do you people buy into that junk?" asked Ed and the man looked up. "She's nothing but a thief feeding off the attention."
"What are you talking about? We owe Psiren for saving this place. Attention's the least we can give." said the man, the trio looking extremely surprised. "She's Aquroya's star of hope."
"You're going to have to explain that one to me." said Raven skeptically as she crossed her arms.
"We're the city of water and we're sinking, by several feet a year. Come see us in five year's time and the whole place will be at the bottom of the lake. News like that isn't exactly good for the economy. When it went public everyone who could left. The rest of us, well, we got lonely… and sad. That's when she appeared, Psiren. Like a lit match on a fuse the city burst into life. Reporters came from all over. Tourists flocked here again for a chance to see her. Thanks to Psiren we're having one last bloom before we drown." said the man and Raven gritted her teeth.
"Thanks." said Raven before walking off.
Ed and Al managed to catch up with Raven, who was sitting on a ledge by the water. They both sat down next to her and she sighed before scratching her head.
"Sorry." said Raven and the two brothers looked at her in surprise.
"Why?" asked Ed.
"I should have told you things would have turned out like this." said Raven and Ed nearly jumped to his feet.
"You knew!? Why didn't you tell us!?" asked Ed and Raven looked at him, her eyes sad.
"Because… you never would have believed me, and because the lesson always sinks in better when something bad happens." said Raven as she gave a weak smile.
"What do you guys think?" asked Al, Ed and Raven looking at him. "I mean it kind of makes sense. Maybe Clara really did become a thief to save the city in a different way than we thought."
"Maybe. I guess the only thing I can say for sure is this: She tricked me." said Ed as he looked up at the sky. "The Fullmetal Alchemist, and she's at least going to pay for that."
Psiren rode along the river slowly in a small boat, pushing herself along with a long pole. She looked up and stopped when she saw Ed waiting for her in a similar boat.
"I thought you'd show up. It's phenomenal, isn't it? A date here, on the water, in the moonlight. Just the two of us."
"Shut up thief!" snapped Ed and Psiren smiled.
"Oh dear, romance me with small talk. Yes, a thief. Someone obsessed with objects that don't belong to them." said Psiren as she took off her mask and ran her fingers through her hair. "Like the Philosopher's Stone?"
"Maybe so… it's funny…" said Ed as he held his automail arm. "Every crook I meet wants to tell me how much I'm just like them. But there's a big difference between us, and the burdens we bear."
"Yes, bare… love to." said Clara as she closed her eyes and quickly unzipped her shirt, the transmutation circle tattoo glowing.
Suddenly several pillars of water reared out of the water and smashed into Ed's boat, splinters flying everywhere.
"Ahhh!" shouted Ed as he sinks into the water.
"See ya kid." said Psiren as she looked into the water.
She gasped as she saw a giant hand appearing under the water and watched, dumbstruck, as it lifted her out of the water. Her eyes were wide in shock but then she closed them as the hand closed around her, keeping her inside. Meanwhile, underwater, Ed laughed before realizing he was low on air and started to struggle to the surface.
"Can't breathe!" cried Ed as water filled his mouth. "Mmph! Mmph!"
On the surface as the detective put Psiren in handcuffs, Raven watched the water. Her eyes widened when she saw Ed struggling and she ripped off her jacket and sword before kicking off her boots.
"What's up?" asked Al as Raven took off her watch.
"Ed's drowning. He can't swim with that arm and leg." said Raven before diving into the water, barely making the water ripple.
She swam down to Ed who grabbed her and pointed up rapidly. He weighed her down as she slowly made her way up, but she managed to bring them both to the surface.
"That was close." said Raven, panting, as she helped Ed to shore.
Ed collapsed on the street, coughing up water, before standing up and moving over to where Al was standing. Psiren stood there next to the detective, the wagon she would be riding in to jail waiting next to her.
"That was pretty sharp kid. I'm sure you're gonna be a fine grown-up. When you are, let's do this deal again. It's always more fun when it's a woman and a man." said Clara smiling as Ed continued to pant.
"Clara…" said Al, sounding sad.
"But let me offer you one last little kernel before they haul me off." said Clara as she bent down to Ed. "'Bout a certain funny stone."
Ed looked up at her as water dripped out of his hair, Raven wringing water out of her pants.
"Go to the city of Xenotime and take a good look. I've heard there's someone there who's researching the components behind it. Maybe he could help you out." said Clara.
"Xenotime…" repeated Ed. "Cool, we'll check it out."
"Well, it's been fun." said Raven as she wringed out her hair and walked over to the group.
"Raven, where did you get that tattoo?" asked Al as he looked at Raven's back.
"What tattoo? I don't have any tattoos." said Raven as she dropped her hair.
"Yes you do, right there in the middle of your back." said Al as Raven tried to look over her back. "It's halfway hidden by your shirt and it's red."
"I don't see anything." said Raven as she was bent into a weird position, trying to look at her back.
"Right there." said Al as he touched it with his finger. "See it brother."
"Who cares if Raven has a tattoo? Let's get going before we miss the next train out of here." said Ed as the detective began loading Psiren into the wagon.
"Oh, now I see it." said Raven as she touched it. "That thing? It's a birthmark. I've had it forever."
"Bye!" shouted Psiren as the wagon door was closed, leaving the trio alone on the street.
Later on, when they were on a train to Xenotime, Al stared out the window as Ed and Raven avoided eye contact.
"Come on Al. Are you still holding a grudge on us? We had no choice, you know? We were the officers and she was the crook. We just played our parts." said Ed, not eating the food he was holding.
"That's not true." said Al, Raven and Ed looking at him. "She's not a crook. You've told me plenty of times that you can't always go by the rules or follow the norms when you're doing what's right."
He looked away from the window before continuing.
"Clara… she's kind, and giving, and heroic. You guys think the same thing! I'm sure you do!"
Ed looked away before saying, "I don't know Al… when it comes to her I guess I never will."
Meanwhile back in Aquroya as the wagon rolled down the street, Psiren looked at the detective.
"Hey, it's an oven in here." said Psiren as she smiled innocently. "I don't guess you'd mind… unzipping me a little?"
Suddenly screams could be heard throughout Aquroya as Psiren blew up the wagon, escaping in style. She ran down the street, her mask back in place as she laughed before jumping into the moonlight and disappearing.