YAY! Our school just released us from our prison, and now we're on SUMMER BREAK! (crowd cheers) That means I have to work six days a week now…but even though I have to actually move around, my pain turns into work, which turns into money! YAY!

Anyway, so how ya'll doing? Thanks a whole bunch for all of the reviews! I love you guys! Your support inspires me to write! That and the threats from Fuhrer Allie every time I see her…but anyway, on to the next chapter! I'll ramble on about random stuff at the end. Also, my storyis based off the manga, so there are character spoilers for those of you who refuse to read.

Oh, and on another note, this chapter is dedicated to Fuhrer Allie, my editor and friend, because her favorite character makes a star appearance. It's not too hard to guess who it is. Her name is based after him.

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA. I never will, so you don't have to sue me.

Chapter 4: Things Set in Motion

The Alchemist Games

Lust sat with her eyes closed, deep in thought inside the Central military conference room. She drummed her fingers on the table slowly, waiting. The room was dark, with nothing but beams of moonlight shinning through the windows to enhance the room. No one could know that her companions were meeting her there tonight.

A few minutes later, Envy, Gluttony, and Wrath (also known as Fuhrer King Bradley) slowly strode into the room casually. The meeting of Homunculi had now commenced.

"So Lust, how goes the plans for the Alchemist Games?" asked Envy, pulling out a chair and sitting down. Gluttony went over to the corner and sat on the floor. He began to listen quietly.

Lust smirked and raised her hand to eye level to look at her fingernails. "Fantastic. Our rebellion boys are doing everything I ask without any flaws. They're eager to get revenge on the military, so they're determined to make sure our plans stay right on schedule."

"Has everyone responded?" asked Wrath as he walked over to the window. He turned his back to the other homunculi and stared at the moon.

"No," Lust answered, "but our cover-ups are taking care of that tonight."

"What are they doing to get the resistant alchemists to come?" asked Envy.

"I left the decision to them. I guess they've decided to take hostages- "

Envy interrupted. "Really? Hehehe, not a bad plan."

Wrath spoke up and added to the conversation. "I concur. Love is the greatest human weakness."

Lust laughed quietly. When she was done, she swiveled her chair around and looked at Wrath.

"Wrath, out of the participants who didn't respond, two are in your district in Central."

"Let me guess…Edward Elric and Roy Mustang."

"Yes. After the two receive word that their friends were taken, can you make sure they're more than willing to come? I'm not worried about the Fullmetal Brat; I know that he'll come as soon as he finds out that the Rockbell girl was taken."

Envy looked up. "How do you know that the rebels will decide to kidnap her?"

Lust flipped her hair casually. "It's not too hard to figure out. She's a good choice because they've been friends since childhood. Anyway, like I said, I'm not worried about Fullmetal, but I am worried that Mustang might not buy into it."

Wrath continued to sit and calmly said, "Who is going to be Mustang's hostage?"

"I'm pretty sure that they're going to take his First Lt., Riza Hawkeye." Lust paused and looked at the Fuhrer. "Why, do you think that he won't come?"

Wrath grinned evilly under his moustache. "No, he'll come alright."

Lust looked at him with a slightly puzzled look on her face.

"Because Mustang is a character of interest, I've been watching him and his pack for a while now. They're very close- close enough to break military regulations. He'll come for sure. And if the need arise, I'll offer some words of encouragement."

> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > >

Driving his car, Roy was not in a very good mood. He had one hand on the wheel, and with the other, he shielded his eyes from the rising sun as he turned the corner. It was early—much too early—in Roy's opinion. He wasn't used to interrupting his sleep patterns, especially for work.

The source of Roy's irritation this morning came from his best friend, Lt. Colonel Maes Hughes, from the Investigation Department. Hughes called Roy at four in the morning with an urgent message that he needed to get downtown right away. Maes refused to tell Roy what was wrong over the phone, but he did say that there was an emergency and that he should rush over quickly. Something had happened overnight. Roy figured that whatever had happened was really bad. In fact, whatever had happened was bad enough to freak Hughes out, because, for once, he wasn't happy-go-lucky, and when he spoke over the phone, his voice quivered with urgency…and a bit of fear. This worried Roy.

In the car, Roy continued to drive while reading directions given to him by Hughes over the phone. He started to think about what was going on downtown.

'I wonder what happened… Maybe Scar found another alchemist or something…' Roy yawned. He was really tired. 'I'll just find and ask Riza when I get there.' he thought. 'She'll have all the facts.'

The thought of Riza lightened Roy's mood.

He turned down the street after reading the directions he scribbled on a piece of spare paper.

Roy didn't quite know where he was going, but with each passing turn he made, the area became increasingly familiar, and the pit already in his stomach began to sink lower and lower with dread.

Pressing the gas pedal down to the floor, beads of sweat had begun to form on his forehead. He frantically scanned the area, and looked back down at the directions, hoping that there would be one more turn to whisk him away from where he was sure he was heading. He could feel it in his bones.

"No…Please don't be where I think I'm heading…It can't be Riza, it just can't be. Please don't let it be her." Roy muttered frantically.

Swerving his car to avoid hitting the crowd and hitting the brakes at the same point in time, Roy had finally arrived at the scene. Panicking and dreading the worst, Roy literally jumped out of his car. He knew exactly where he was now. This was where he had dropped Riza off last night. This crowd had gathered in front of Riza's house.

Pushing through the crowd, Roy dodged police cars, reporters and civilians until he broke free of the mob and stood in front of her door, which hung off it's hinges at an awkward angle.

"No, Riza! Please don't be dead, please don't be dead…I don't think I could live without you…"

Hughes, who was standing nearby, giving orders to some investigators, spotted Roy racing to the front door. He quickly excused himself and ran to intercept him.

Hughes jumped in front of Roy just before he reached the door. He knew his best friend was really worried when he could hear muttering under his breath.

"Roy, stop!" Hughes said, putting his hands out to block the entrance.

Roy didn't even look up. His eyes only remained on the front door.

"Listen Roy, it's really bad in there, and we really don't know what happened-"

"Is she…dead?" Roy interrupted in almost a whisper. His heart was racing with fear, and he was panting.

Hughes took a step back, sighed, and put one hand on the back of his head.

"Actually, no. We don't think she's dead."

"What do you mean 'don't think' she's dead!" Roy outburst.

"Well, you see, there's a lot of blood in there…but no body. We've also gotten word from the other half of our Investigation Department that across town, Winry Rockbell has also gone missing."

"What! Maes, let me through!" Roy ordered angrily, taking a step forward.

Hughes stepped aside. He knew Roy was really upset, and didn't want to risk getting third degree burns.

Roy jumped up the steps and walked into the living room, abruptly stopping. His eyes darted rapidly around the room, taking in every detail. There was blood everywhere.

Hughes followed after Roy and stopped a bit behind him to give Roy his space.

Roy focused on the carpet, his chin almost touching his chest in concentration.

"Where is she? Is this her blood?" he said quietly as everyone else in the room continued to gather evidence and take pictures.

Hughes felt a surge of pain for Roy and his face softened. He knew Roy and Riza had always been close. In fact, the two were so close that he had seriously asked Roy if he would ever consider taking their relationship further than in the office. He had asked Roy this question a long time ago, and of course, Roy had said 'no'. But recently, based on information that Hughes had squeezed out of Havoc, he thought that Roy had suddenly had a change of heart.

"Roy, listen," he said, putting a hand on Roy's shoulder. "I'm sorry. We don't know if this is Riza's blood, or even where she is. All that we know is that she's gone, and whoever did this had planned it. We found Hayate earlier with a tranquilizer dart in his butt." Hughes said.

Roy continued to stare at the blood. 'Riza can't be dead. No… not after the last few weeks we've spent together. Damn it! I finally find true love, and then it just gets snatched away from me! Why would someone take her anyway? Who would do this?' Roy screamed in his head. He thought for a moment, and then realized the answer to his last question. 'They took her to get at me. There's no other reason to harm her. They did this to-'

Hughes interrupted the silence and Roy's thoughts. "Roy, are you and Riza…um…how should I ask this without getting burned…?"

Roy knew what Hughes was asking without him ever asking the question. "Yes," he said turning to look at Hughes.

"Do you love her?"

Roy sadly smiled. "More than anything or anyone I've ever known before. I was a fool not to have noticed it sooner. I've had feelings for Riza for a long time now, and all I've done is denied it."

Hughes smiled softly at Roy while thinking, 'I knew it! I always knew they would get together! I'll finally get to be the best man! Now we just have to get Riza back to have the wedding…'

"Don't worry Roy. We'll do everything we can to figure out what happened to Riza. After all, she's my friend too." Hughes opened his mouth to say more, but another military officer came over and interrupted their conversation with a question for their Lt. Colonel.

Roy turned back to the blood, his arms dangling limply at his sides. He felt terrible and heartbroken, as if his very soul had been ripped out and torn in two. Without Riza, he now felt incomplete.

Absorbed in his thoughts, the movement of a figure suddenly caught the corner of his eye.

Fuhrer King Bradley, leader of the military and president/dictator of Amestris, walked over to Roy from the other room.

"Hello Mustang. I'm sorry to hear that this had happened. I know you and your First Lt. were close companions. I also know that there's probably little that I can say to make you feel better, but I just wanted you to know that I'm sending everyone I can spare to investigate her disappearance."

Roy turned and half-heartily saluted. "Thank you Sir," he said solemnly.

The Fuhrer stood silent next to Roy for a few minutes before turning and walking towards the table in the middle of the room. He stopped, and picked up a photograph. The glass that protected it was shattered and chipped from being knocked over. He looked at it, and then took a piece of crumpled paper out of his pocket and placed it on top of the picture. Walking back over, the Fuhrer handed both objects to Roy.

Looking at Roy, he said, "You know, it's the people we see everyday that give our lives meaning and purpose. We must remember that, and hold onto each one with the little time that we have. Mustang, I know she means a lot to you."

Roy, realizing that the Fuhrer was hinting that he knew about his and Riza's relationship, started protest and deny the Fuhrer's previous statement. However, before Roy could ever say anything, Bradley raised his hand to silence him.

"It's okay Colonel. I know about you two because my secretary, whose name I cannot remember, saw you two having dinner about three weeks ago. There's no need to deny anything, as long as it doesn't affect your work," he said, smiling.

"Thank you Sir. I'm sorry." Roy replied, lowering his gaze to the ground, embarrassed. He was quite surprised. The Fuhrer knew about his secret, and didn't care at all.

"Now's not the time for apologies. Listen up Mustang. Riza isn't dead."

Roy's head snapped up. "What!"

"She isn't dead. And because she means a lot to you, I've decided not to stop you if you want to take matters into your own hands. The paper I gave you may help you get her back. I found it earlier in the kitchen under the table. I didn't show the Investigation Department what it says because I figured that you might want to do this on your own. The next move is yours, Mustang. Bring Hawkeye home. Besides, it would cost too much to find and train a new sniper as good as her," he said, chuckling.

Roy suddenly had a new hope in his eyes. Saluting to Bradley, he then ran over to him and violently shook his hand. "Thank you very, very much Sir! I'm going to bring her back. You won't regret doing this! Thanks again Sir!"

The Fuhrer laughed once more and then left Roy to read the crumpled clue.

Moving to a secluded corner of the room, Roy unfurled the parchment and read it. In scratchy handwriting, it simply said;

Participate in the Alchemist Games if you wish to see your girlfriend ever again.

Meet us at the train station tomorrow morning at one A.M.

Come alone or she dies.

After reading the note, Roy crushed the paper in his hand. How dare they use his Riza to blackmail him! His earlier suspicions were right; whoever was doing this was using Riza to get to him. In his mind, he was angrier then he had ever been before in his entire life. The people who planned this would pay...That he was sure of. Roy didn't care about the true purpose of the Alchemist Games. Whoever did this wanted Roy to participate for some reason, but he didn't care. Roy only wanted to rescue Riza.

After a moment, Roy realized that he was clenching his fists. The hand that held the broken photograph was now bleeding from one of the shards of glass. He had completely forgotten about it. Wiping his hand on his jacket, Roy brought it up and looked at it. Tears of rage flooded his eyes. It was a picture of Riza and Roy at their last military picnic. They were both leaning against a tree, petting Hayate together. Roy remembered when that picture was taken.

He had to get Riza back.

Pocketing the picture, Roy stormed outside. "Like hell I'm going to let them do this to her," he muttered to no one in particular.

Hughes, seeing Roy running out the door, rushed to follow him. "Roy, Where are you going!"

Without looking back, Roy simply threw the piece of paper over his shoulder.

"That's where!" he yelled angrily. "That's where I'll be. I'm going away for a few days, and I'm bringing her back. See you soon Hughes."

'Yes, that's where I'm going. I'm going to participate in those damn Alchemist Games, or whatever the hell they're called, and I'm going to save Riza. I'm bringing her back no matter what.'

WOOT! Another chapter down! What'd you think?

Hehehe, Fuhrer Allie and I were laughing about the part in this chapter where Bradley was explaining to Roy how he knew how Roy felt about Riza. I just couldn't remember what his secretary's name was (because Juliet Douglas doesn't exist in the manga) and just decided to fill the blank with, "whose name I cannot remember." I know it totally killed the serious moment, but it's all good. Besides, according to chapter "whose number I cannot remember", his secretary-thing is a guy…

Sorry for the randomness about my job at the beginning…but I thought that you all should be enlightened with my logic, which is this:

(also, because fanfic doesn't allow you to put symbols in your story, just pretend that the dashes are equal signs...)

Job - pain

Pain - work

Work - money

Money - happiness

Happiness - FMA manga and DVDs, oh, and gas for my car too

So yeah! Send your comments, reviews, questions, ideas, or whatever! But sorry to everyone, I think I'll wait to update my story until I have at least 40 reviews…

Thanks again to the new (and old) readers who read and reviewed my story! You should each get a cookie!

-Fullmetalfan