02/06/2009 21:08:00

Authors Blog: OK I know this chapter is short, but I wanted to post SOMETHING!!!!....

I am making a WIX account so I will have art for you guys soon.

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Chapter 6

Roy Mustang would have been more worried if he didn't know Ana so well. It was a very hard decision to pair her with the Fullmetal Alchemist. Pairing them with their stories being so intertwined would normally have been a very poor decision on his part. It would not take long for the male blonde alchemist to figure it out with all his intelligence of alchemy.

Ana wouldn't talk to the fhurer anymore. She merely hinted at the idea as a suggestion to think about. When Mustang had agreed immediately, it made her even question her own sanity. To be so close to another individual who had performed human transmutation would not end well, no matter how well she hid herself from Edward. But he needed her, and both knew it. The battle with the homunculi almost at an end, the two needed to fight together. Only together could they bring down the homunculi.

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"Ranamade, huh?" Edward sighed while stretching. "Interesting city, its mostly trees."

"From this distance maybe. Once we reach the edge of the station, that won't be the case. It's completely different terrain there." Ana stretched while pulling on her gloves.

"A forest is a forest. " Edward shook his head, watching her put on her gloves. "What, does it has different trees?" He and Al laughed walking besides Ana.

Ana chuckled before they reached the end pillars and Edward's jaw dropped. Al nearly stumbled.

"Wow…the city is on a giant cliff!" Al pointed towards the horizon where it was completely desert.

"Did I not tell you we were at the edge of the mountain. Ranamade is a city carved into the edge of a cliff. That's why if you are to go traveling to Desemar you have to walk, or take the caravan, but it only runs in the summer and fall, not early spring." She shook her hair and took off her purple coat. Ana was out of her uniform and back into her purple skirt and black tank top.

They stepped onto the cliff edge and Edward took off his coat too. "Wow it's hot for spring." Edward wiped his brow.

"Yes, this city is one of the hottest in Western State. As soon as you leave the forest, on comes the heat. It truly is amazing, but heat rises so it is to be expected." She placed her coat in her suitcase, waiting for the blonde alchemist to do the same, before continuing on.

They took the long zigzag road down the edge of the mountain, before stopping in the middle at a large circle with benches, torches, and a huge fountain in the middle. Ana took a seat. The city was bustling with people. No cars, no busses, no form of travel except for the many people on foot gracing the roads. The city contained small buildings on the edge of the curvy road and little booths here and there as well.

"Why are you sitting? You can't be tired already?" Edward chuckled.

"No, but I thought I might sit while you decide if you want to wait till tomorrow morning to cross the desert, and cross in one day, or take a tent and camp fire equipment and avoid the heat?" She wiped her cheek and looked around. "The city is surprising busy for this time of day. Buying supplies might be difficult."

"Campfire still sounds better brother. You don't do well in heat."

"Your right Al. Let's continue now then." Ed said starting down the road again.

They went to different stores picked up some supplies and started down the rest of the road toward the carpet of sand.

Just before the end of the cliff where a gate blocked the highway, a guard walked over to them. "No one can travel this road right now. There has been some trouble, and kids like should not get involved."

"Officer, I need to get to my office tomorrow. This is the only road." She nodded toward the vast desert.

"I'm sorry I cannot let civilians pass even if they need to go to work. There is no entry permitted to anyone along this road." He stood tall with his shoulders back. Ed raised his eyebrows and smirked at his brother.

Ana sighed glanced in Edward's direction and together they showed him their pocket watches.

"We're State Alchemist's Lieutenant, and how did you reach this post without my authorization. Anyone who works in the West has to have my signature on their permit. My laws as Colonel." She smiled sweetly flashing her hidden badge out of her pocket.

"Colonel Richards…" he saluted stiffly, and she saluted back boredly. "I'm so sorry. I didn't recognize you, I'm still fairly new." He was sweating and shaking slightly.

"Who posted you here Lieutenant?" Ed watched her straighten her shoulders.

"First Lieutenant Lieu, Ma'am."

"First Lieutenant Lieu…" she sighed. "I should have known…"

"Lieutenant you will continue to man this post, but I do need to pass. That's an order." The man looked shocked but stepped to the side and opened the gate to the highway through the desert.

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Pride was on her own. It was one of the only times she was left to herself. The other homunculi joked about how she might have been better suited as wrath with her ever growing anger. Her master had promised her that it would get better. That she was still getting used to this body, and eventually it would pass, she would just have to wait it out.

She was getting tired of waiting for her sister. Master had promised her that she would come eventually back to Central. Envy was to bring them back. She trusted Envy, as much as she hated to. The man was horrid. She clung to him, but no matter how much she batted her lashes, he refused her. She knew she was good enough. She had everything he could ever want, besides her soul…any soul. Infact she would give almost anything for her sister's soul. A single touch her master forbid her from giving could bring her back to life. If her sister's soul was as weak and detached as Envy described, she would merely need to put a hand to Ana's chest and the soul would transfer to her own body: something so simple, forbidden for her.

Master had other plans. She would just need to wait…patiently. She would get a soul, even if it wasn't the one she deserved. Her sisters soul.

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The Oasis was more then Edward could ask for. It was the middle of the night, and the group had found a small little pond and a few trees to set up camp around. Dinner was short, with the small portions Ana had bought, but it was rather pleasant. After, they had set up some sleeping bags and started a small campfire. Sitting in a sleeping bag, trying to keep warm, was not something Ed though he would be doing in a desert.

"Something bothering you brother?" Al questioned from his spot farther away from the flames. "We have to wake up early tomorrow, you should sleep."

"It's cold…" Ed shivered.

Ana sat up hugging the sleeping bag to her. "You're lucky that you have me as a travel guide. Usually travellers would…" She paused…

"What?" Ed asked sitting up straight.

"Shhh…" She reached into her bag next to her. Staring just to the left of Al. The bush rattled and Al shrieked and ran over to the other side of the fire. A dark blur shot out of the bush and a few loud bangs rung into the night.

Ed and Al stared at Ana. She held a gun resting it on her other arm to stable it. The dark blur lay on the ground.

"W…what was it…" Al whimpered. Ana took out a flashlight from her bag and slowly squirmed out of her sleeping bag.

"Out of your bag Ed, come help me…" She whispered at him. He protested, but reluctantly walked behind her toward the figure with Al close behind.

"A…snake…" Al whimpered.

"Why is there an alchemy circle on it's head?" Ed walked closer to examine it.

"Careful Ed, it's only knocked out. We need to pack up continue. It's a Blue Diamond-Back, they hunt alone, but travel in packs. More will be here shortly, and my circle only lasts for a short while." She turned around and started back for the camp.

"Your circle?"

"My gun, it shoots alchemy. I would never have a gun that shoots bullets, you never know what your shooting…" She trailed off... before rolling up her sleeping bag.

Ed glanced at his brother before going and packing up his things as well. "Can we sleep somewhere else then?" He moaned "I'm exhausted."

"No. We will have to continue until we reach the city. If there are Diamond-Back's out here, then there might be more that will be tracking us. We must continue…Maybe your brother will offer to carry you?"

"I can walk…" Ed grumbled. They finished packing their things, put out the fire, and continued on into the night nervously.