"People cannot gain anything without sacrificing something. You must present something of equal value to gain something. That is the principle of equivalent trade in alchemy. We believed that was the truth of the world when we were young." -Alphonse Elric

Alchemy: the science of transmuting matter from one form to another. Edward and Alphonse Elric thought they'd learned enough to bring their mother back from death, but the laws of nature demand a heavy price. Edward, with an arm and a leg of metal, and his little brother Alphonse, whose soul is now encased in a living suit of armor, begin a journey to restore their bodies by finding the legendary Philosopher's Stone, which holds unlimited power. But they're not alone.

Intro: That was more than six years ago that one night when Ed and Al tried to bring back their mother. Now in search of the coveted Philosopher's Stone, Ed(15) and Al(14) have to pass many problems that stand in the way of them finding the stone. Along their journey, the two young brothers come across Serena, an injured girl that they help. Now traveling along with them, the three uncover secrets that may have been best left unknown, and Ed and Serena develop a relationship that may tests Ed's ability to love, forgive and forget, and come to cope with the un-fairity of this world.

In This Chapter: Well the title says it all obviously. Ed gets a new assignment. And we learn something interesting about the "girl" Ed had encountered. O.K. for people who have read my Inuyasha fan fiction some of you must be saying, hey isn't that chick Serenity…(shifts awkwardly) erm… well, ok She is similar to this character in this story. I just have this one character in my head created that I always end up placing in my stories… but this girl is different. You'll see. She's not as…emotionally hurt?i cant really describe her. Just keep reading and you'll see.

Military interest: A new assignment from Colonel Roy Mustang

"The nerve of that girl!" Ed huffed as they walked to the town's local Alchemist building.

"Brother, I don't know why you pursued her."

"Because Al, she didn't even have the common courtesy to write a thank you note!"

"I think you liked her!" Al giggled and pointed at his older brother. "Ed has a crush! Ed has a crush!"

"Al I swear if you don't shut up Al, I'm gonna…" Ed stopped walking.

"Ed what's the matter?"

"I can't believe I didn't even ask for her name!"

Al sighed. "You're hopeless." He muttered.

"…your new assignment!"

"NEW ASSIGNMENT?" Ed yelled into the phone at Colonel Mustang. "What do you mean new assignment! We just finished the last one!"

"Ah, brother…" Al tried shushing his brother as they stood by the payphone in the Alchemist building. "You're causing a scene!"

"You can't be telling me out of all the alchemists registered in the state, YOU don't have ANYONE else to take the job?"

Roy Mustang sighed from the other end. "Fullmetal, it's not just me who picks people for the jobs. This time I didn't pick. You're lucky. I would have given you a much crappier job. Talk to the secretary at the main desk and show her your watch. She'll give you a package. There will be an envelope with instructions inside."

Ed was about to hang up the phone out of frustration.

"ED, DON'T YOU HANG UP THAT PHONE!" Ed looked around nervously. "One more thing Elric. The State has required anyone with information on a girl by the name of Serena Kagin to be reported to officers like myself. She was last seen being brought into a hospital in your area. You haven't seen her have you?"

"Do you know how many girls are walking around here? How the hell am I supposed to know who this chick is?"

"Well, she isn't exactly normal…"

"Meaning…?"

"Meaning…she has…oh, I'm not supposed to say this…she has wings."

Ed dropped the receiver and it swung back and forth, nearly touching the ground.

"What! What!" Al stared at his brother and shook him.

Ed picked the phone up and put it to his ear. "Anything else?"

"Elric! Have you or have you not seen this girl?'

"I think I would have remembered if I had!"

"Fullmetal I swear if I find out that you're lying…" Click.

"ED! YOU CAN'T JUST HANG UP THE PHONE ON HIM!"

"Yeah, well….I just did."

After picking up the information at the main desk, Ed and Al walked the city's streets looking for the nearest inn. Ed filled Al in about what Colonel Mustang had said.

"You mean to tell me that that girl that we saved…she's wanted by the state?"

"Yeah, but I can't figure out why."

Al stopped walking. "AHH! Ed! You withheld information from the State! They could have your license for that can't they?"

"Yeah, but why would they Al? What could be so important about this girl?" Ed pondered this.

Finally the brothers came upon a place that had the Alchemist insignia on it's sign. That meant that if an Alchemist was on a job, they could stay there without charge, as long as they had their Id's. The state would pay for the rooms later.

Later that night in their rooms, Al rested soundly in the bed opposite Ed's. Ed laid in bed staring at the ceiling. Though as comfortable the bed was, he couldn't sleep. The girl's face kept going through his mind. She was beautiful, Ed would admit to that. But her face seemed to have this lasting sad look on it. She just left such an impression in Ed's mind. His head raced for reasons on why SHE of ALL people would grab the State's interests. O.K. there was the minor fact that she had wings. Could she have gotten that in a screwed up experiment with Alchemy? Ed couldn't take it. He scribbled a note to his brother, and left it on his pillow. He grabbed his red coat, slipped into his shoes and went out the door.

Walking city streets after midnight wasn't exactly a common thing for Ed. He found himself on the same street he had been with Serena earlier that day- and found her in that same alleyway.

A/N: Thanks for the reviews guys! Keep on RR.