Chapter 4: Onward to London and Reward!!!

(Boom! boom! boom!) - Inside joke. So's the title.

-------------------------

Al looked silently out the window. Rush Valley was shrinking in the distance, Winry had joined them, and they were now on their way back up to Briggs. He hazily wondered if anyone there would recognize Izumi after her training up there.

Ed sat across from him. Instead of admiring the view, he was surveying the people near him. Al, who he only ever spent a week at most away from; Winry, who he realized he loved; and his sensei who had always been a source of both terror and inspiration to him.

Ed had realized moments before that he wouldn't be seeing these people for half a year. Their only communication would be through mail or phone.

Al was his constant best friend/brother/companion his whole life. They had grown up together, trained together, survived together, traveled together, and resolved to get their bodies back together. Now they would be separated for half a year. Ed knew this was the fastest way towards getting their original bodies back, but was it worth it?

Maybe I should just stay here and learn Rentanjutsu, Ed thought sadly. His thoughts were showing plainly on his face, so Winry grabbed his hand.

"It'll be okay Ed. We'll keep in touch often enough. It'll be like old times." For me at least, anyways. I'm used to only talking to you every few months. For Al…It's something completely different…thought Winry sadly.

However, Ed squeezed her hand and smiled before letting go, letting her know that she had made him feel better.

-----------------------------------------------

Upon arriving at the station to Briggs, Izumi put her hood over her head, muttering, "It's cold dammit…" halfheartedly. In truth, the sight had brought back bad memories, bad enough to make even her wary. Miles was waiting for them at the fort entrance.

"Good to see you again Elrics. And you Miss Rockbell,"

"Nice to see you too Major Miles. Any sign of Buccaneer yet?"

Miles shook his head sadly. "Not yet. Those bastards knew what they were doing that's for certain. We haven't found any sign of a body, and that's better news than we normally get." After a moment of quiet, Miles raised his head and asked, "But who is this?"

Izumi raised her head and said, "I am their teacher, Izumi Curtis. Nice to meet you."

A flash of brief recognition passed over Miles' face, but he said nothing, as the look in her eyes was the same as General Armstrong's when she has said "If you have any doubts or anger, fight me now." It was just as scary, so he put his thoughts aside.

"I am Major Miles of Briggs. I heard the four of you need passage to a station in Drachma."

"Yes, we do. Edward received a strange invitation from a place called London. We are going to follow the senders up on their offer" Replied Izumi, being vague for a reason.

"Well, we know we can trust you, so as long as you don't say anything about our fort, or any other statements that could compromise us, then we shall grant you passage through."

Ed nodded. The phrase: "we know we can trust you" had hit him, hard and he realized that he could trust anyone at Briggs. "We understand. When can we leave? Our train from Drachma leaves on the 19th, and it's the 17th now."

Miles waved over another soldier. Ed repeated his question.

"Well, if you stay the night here, we can get the job done better, but if you really need to leave today then-"

"Tomorrow is fine sir." Alphonse cut in. "We need rest anyways, so we might as well spend the night here."

The soldier nodded and hurried back to the fort. By time the four had gotten all pleasantries and hellos over with, they had two rooms emptied of junk, so they collapsed. The day was uneventful. After much talk with Miles about what they would do the following day, Izumi announced that they needed to sleep. Ed stayed up with Al and talked with him for a long time before Winry came in and reminded him, that since he was sleeping for both his own body and Al's, he should get some rest.

--

--

--

--

The return of the evil short chapters!!! Yeah, I kinda drew a blank right here, sorry. Next chapter there will be some actual canon HP characters (at the end). And probably more inside jokes…