Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Aaliyah.

~Briggs~

Explosions could be heard in the distance as Drachma and Briggs went to war. Actually, the Drachma soldiers never reachedthe Fort...they were all defeated in the spot they stood. The leader of Drachma stood, a look of anger on his face as heshouted, "Kimblee! Kimblee, where are you?!" the man looked around, finding bodies along with the blood-stained snow as hesaid, "...this shouldn't be happening...you said the victory was ensured. What happened to those men of yours who would turnfrom the inside?!" the man heard a noise and glanced up, only to go wide-eyed as he was hit."Cease fire, men!" The Briggs's men ceased as Miles looked through the binoculars. "That was too easy..." Buccaneercommented. "Yeah..." Miles agreed, taking a few steps forward, "...but why?"Kimblee stepped onto the leader's fallen hat as a grin spread across his face. "The crest is carved..."

{Opening song}

Period/Chemistry

"You aren't listening! I told you Alchehistory is all about reading the dragon's pulse!" May shouted as Al fought back, "I told youI have no idea what that even means!" "Clearly your mind and think with your sense, like this..." she placed her two indexfingers to her forehead and finished, "...see? It's easy!" "YOU'RE JUST POINTING!" Al shouted as May defended, "No I'm not! Iwas focusing!" "Can't you put if scientifically?!"

"There rambunctious, huh?" an Ishvalan man asked Scar as they stood outside of the small house Al and May were currentlyshouting in. "Yeah...no kidding. Sorry to impose on you." "You're not imposing...you're actually helping us out." The man smiled,glancing over to Winry who was hanging clothes on the line. "NO!" Yoki shouted as alittle boy jumped on top of him, pulling his hair. "Ow! Stop pulling my hair you brats!" the kids ignored him and continued totorture him. "If anything, you're a distraction for our kids." The little boy pulled some of Yoki hair from his head as he cried out.

"We're going to head out to find some firewood." Jerso spoke as Marcoh and he walked up to the two. "Would you mindletting Zampano know for me?" Scar nodded as Yoki screamed again, "Damnit!" he was finally able to break free, so he stoodup quickly and said, "Evil little children! Where the hell is Zampano?! Why does he get to wander off while I get tortured?!"

~*3*~

A good distance from the town Zampano ran till he reached his destination. "Hey!" he waved as he ran up to the personwrapped with a hood covering his face. "There close by...follow me." The person removed their hood to reveal an Ishvalanboy. "You lead the way...Zampano..." the boy grinned, voice similar to Envy.

-Bite of the Ant-

~Central City~

"So I hear you've discovered Selim's true identity..." Bradley spoke as Riza froze, teapot in hand. "Yes sir." "And you're alsoaware of who I am..." "Yes..." she started to pour the tea as Bradley continued, "Lt...I'm interested in hearing your opinion as aloyal citizen of this country. How do you feel about your leader being a Homunculus?" She furrowed her brows a bit beforegaining a calm demeanor and spoke, "I think it's sad the family I answer to isn't real...that you don't even have that much."

Bradley kept his same expression as she continued, "...You're just putting on an act...pretending to be the humans you sodespise." Bradley stood as he walked over to the window saying, "It is true that Selim was appointed to be my son by mysuperior...everything from my power to my rank was appointed to me. Most of my life is just an act..." Riza's eyes began to glossover as Bradley continued, "...but my wife at least was of my own choosing. Riza turned to look at Bradley, a little shock writtenon her features. Bradley turned to face Riza asked he asked, "Are you finished with the tea?" "Huh...Oh! Yes sir!" she quicklygrabbed the cup and brought it over to him. He took a sip as he said, "Delicious, thank you."

~Briggs Mountains~

"Are you serious, doctor? You were one of the 'big' scientist as the fifth laboratory?" Jerso asked as he tied a few branchestogether. "I wasn't that important..." Marcoh stood, "...I just had a few men working for me. It's been ages since I've spoken toany of them..." "Hey!" Zampano shouted as he headed towards Marcoh and Jerso. "Who is this man with you?" Marcohquickly asked. "He's just a nice drifter I met. He was hoping you could-""You can stop pretending Zampano. No one is falling foryour bad acting..." the boy smirked. Red sparks appeared as the boy's appearance changed to Envy. "It's good to see youdoctor...it's been too long. I like what you've done with your face." Envy began walking towards Marcoh as he said, "Who doyou think you are? Did you honestly think you could pull one over me-"

Envy took as ice spikes shot through his foot. "What isthis?!" the others ran a few feet back. "Zampano!" "Ha! What were you saying about my acting? It's bad?" Zampano spoke asMarcoh said, "Thank you Envy...you couldn't have made our plans to bring you here any easily. You did just as expected...youtake such delight in your cruelty that I knew you'd come to capture me on your own." "Well you're right about that onedoctor..." Envy pulled his foot from the shard, "...now that you got me here, you asked for it-"As he took another step, a bluelight shined, causing an ice fist to punch Envy into the air.

"What do you think, Envy? There like land mines filled with alchemy."Marcoh spoke as Envy lifted his face from the snow. "That kind of alchemy doesn't exist-"he punched the ground causing moreblue to erupt and ice to encase him. He cut right through it as he shouted, "Damnit! You say there landmines so all I have to dois follow your footsteps and avoid them-"he took a step only to be punched with an ice fist again, this one pointing. "Ah! Whatthe hell?!" Envy exclaimed as he was airborne. "They are set to ignite only to Homunculi! This whole area is covered with thembeneath the snow. Well Envy, who does it feel to have the tables turned? Not as much fun on that side, is it!" Marcoh stated.

~Not Too Far Away~

May chuckled as Al and she watched the show. "It's working perfectly..." she kept her hand placed onto her circle as shecontinued, "He doesn't even now it's from Alchehistory."~Back to the others~"That's enough!" Envy growled as red sparks appeared. "You should have just done as you were told!" He began to transforminto his 'uglier' half, letting out a roar. Envy slapped his tail down, trying to hit Marcoh but missed as Jerso had turned chimera and carried him off. "That was a close one..." Jerso stated as Marcoh muttered, "Thank you..." "You're a fast one-"Envy wascut off as he got shot in the eye by needles. He glanced to find Zampano in full chimera.

"You shouldn't underestimate us!""Damnit!" Envy took a step as May activated the circle, sending shards of ice upward. He swung his tail, breaking each one ashe shouted, "If you think you're going to win this, your fools!" "Is that so?" a voice asked, as the said person landed atop ofEnvy. Envy turned as Scar said, "Now then...what do you think of this?!" Scar slammed his hand down, blue enveloping thearea as Envy screamed out. Scar jumped off just as Envy fell to the ground.

"Is he dead?" Marcoh asked. Before they could react, Envy's tongue shot out and grabbed Marcoh hostage. "Ha! I gotcha.""Doctor!" "Well...stay put unless you want him dead." Envy then glanced to Marcoh, who was struggling for air as he said,"How should I punish you? What do you think, doctor? How about I wipe out a village of innocent people?" "I'm not...gonnalet...you do...that..." Marcoh struggled as Envy flicked him with his huge hand. "Quit trying to resist Marcoh...you look stupid."

Envy then glanced over as he noticed Asbec nearby. "That town should do good..." Scar furrowed his brows as Marcoh said,"Don't do it!" "It'd be a waste to kill them...I could always take them back to Central instead...we are low on ingredients." "Monster! You're still using souls to make Philosopher's stones?! I won't let you! Let me research team go, damnit!" "Oh it's a bitlate for that...now that they are Philosopher's stones..."

Envy grinned as Marcoh's eyes widened. "You sacrificed...my men?""What? I forgot to tell you? "Oh well doctor, there's no point now crying over spilled milk. It's not right for you to get upset afterhow many you've made." Marcoh's eyes widened once more. "...and all the lives you've put into them." Everyone angrilyglanced to Gluttony as Marcoh began to speak.

"You may be right...I've sacrificed many lives to make your damn Philosopher's Stones! I know better than anyone how muchpain goes into making them..." Marcoh removed his glove from his right hand as he continued, "...and not only do I know howto create them..." Envy's eyes widened as Marcoh shouted, "...I know how to destroy them as well!" his hand lit blue as heoutstretched it towards Envy. "AH!" Envy cried out in agony.

~Asbec~

"What is that?" "That's where the doctor and the others were headed!" Winry's eyes widened as she began to get worried.

~Back to the others~

Marcoh's body dropped to the ground as Envy began to break down. "It hurts...so much! No! This can't happen!" Envy was athis end as he said, "How this could happen... can't be...I can never be defeated by pathetic creatures like you!" He stretchedhis arm out as he continued, "...and you chimeras...no quit looking at me!" His body began to disintegrate as he continued, "...How dare you look at me?! Don't look down on me you worms!" he shouted as a green, small creature popped from his head."Don't look down...on me..." Scar picked the creature, now Envy, up as he said, "How pathetic...this is the thing that caused somuch damage?" Scar looked over to Marcoh, who was breathing heavily as he said, "...we did it Marcoh...we won.

~Asbec~

"Hey look! Here they come!" Yoki shouted as everyone glanced forward from the entrance. "Dr. Marcoh, are you okay? Whathappened?!" Winry asked, worried as she saw Jerso carrying him. Yoki looked down to find a small green creature as he asked,"What's that?"

~*3*~

"I can't believe you guys would keep me in the dark about this..." Yoki stated as he began to flick Envy. "That's what you getfor messing with us humans you grotesque tadpole! "Look at you...why would you do something so dangerous?" Winry asked sadly. "Because I had to...I've always done what Iwas told to do...I had to take a risk and think for myself this time...and put my fear aside to do what was right. I wanted to belike your parents." He looked to Winry as she looked shocked. She soon gave a small smile as she said, "...you were but...try notto be so reckless." "Sure..." Marcoh smiled as a cry of pain was heard.

"Ah!" Yoki fell to the ground with Envy attached to his finger. "Mr. Yoki?" May asked. Envy soon reached his neck where heattacked himself. "Help...get it off me..." Yoki pleaded. "Ha! I've hijacked this idiot's body!" Envy began to make Yoki do weirdthings as Yoki just shouted. "Now if you want him to live, do as I tell you." "Nah...he's all yours, do what you want." Jerso statedas Zampano said, "It's not like he's our friend or anything..." "What?!" Yoki exclaimed as May and Al asked like they werewiping a tear away. "Poor Mr. Yoki...sorry we didn't get to know you better..." May stated as Al said, "We'll remember yoursacrifice..." "Ah!" Yoki quickly ran to Scar asking, "You won't let this thing kill me, right Mr. Scar?" Scar glanced to him for amoment before turning around.

"HOW COULD YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME?!" "What is this? Doesn't anyone care about hisguy?" Envy asked as Marcoh said, "You're wasting your time Envy...we've accepted the measures it'll take to defeat you. We'lldestroy both you and this man if that's what it takes." "...damnit!" Envy let go as Al picked him up. "Got him!" "I'm free?" Yokistated as Jerso said, "Nice acting doctor." Yoki quickly ran off as Marcoh stumbled a bit. "I'm afraid I'm not used to bluffing likethat..." "Damn all of you! None of you guys are my friends! How could you?! You're dead to me!" Yoki anime cried.

~*3*~

"This sucks..." Envy muttered as he was now trapped in a jar. "Well, this seems like a good enough time to interrogate." Jersostated as Envy turned away saying, "I'm not talking!" Zampano growled as he grabbed the jar and begun to shake it saying,"Spit it out!" "That's it! Let him have it Zampano!" Jerso cheered as Yoki continued to pout in the corner. Zampano slammed thejar back onto its spot as Envy said, "Even if I do talk, you'll still kill me. What's the point?" "What?" Zampano stated as Envylooked to Al and said, "So what's the deal? Why isn't the Fullmetal and Blue Flame pipsqueaks with you?" "Brother and Ally? I'mpretty sure they're at Briggs right now." Al stated looking away from the papers he was studying. "Oh...last I heard, they weremissing." "What?!" Al exclaimed, running over to the jar, Winry right behind. "What'd you say? They're missing?!" "Theydisappeared after a mine shaft in Baschool collapsed. I wonder if their still alive..." "He's lying...he has to be..." Winry muttered.

~*3*~

Everyone stayed quiet that is until Jerso broke it saying, "So, what now? Should we head back to Baschool to check?" "No...that's not what they would want. They'd trust that the rumor wasn't right and trust me so we'll do the same." Marcoh noddedas Al looked down to the map. "We can't give up hope yet..." "I'll go my separate way for now." Scar suddenly spoke.Everyone gasped and turned to face him. "I've realized something about my actions...I don't simply intend to punish thiscountry for what it did to Ishval...I want to change." Scar then glanced to Marcoh, "I'll need your help. The two of us need toset things right." Marcoh stood as he said, "Alright then, we'll travel together."

"In order to change this country..." May muttered as Al said, "Actually, I've got some place I've been meaning to check out."The others nodded. "Where's that?" Jerso asked. "It's a town called Liore. I'm not sure but...I have a feeling the tunnel runsunder it."May looked up only to see Envy's jar in front of her. She looked to see who it was, only to find Scar himself. "Here May, take thisthing and return to your country." "Hold on!" Yoki stated, coming from his corner as Scar said, "It's the remnants of a seeminglyindestructible creature. It might appease your emperor enough to save your clan." "I can't! Who's going to teach you aboutAlkahestry if I leave-""You need to think about your own country?!"

Everyone stopped talking and turned to face Scar andMay. "Isn't that why you came here in the first place? Your clan could lose its power struggle and what explanation would youhave when you returned home? Would you apologize and say you were too busy helping another country?!" Scar placed thejar in her hands as he said, "Now go home. Forget this place and leave its problems to its people." May looked to everyone,seeing a smile on their faces. When she reached Al, he gave her a nod. Her eyes began to gloss over as she stood a top of thecrate and bowed saying, "Thank you! For everything."

~*3*~

"You take care May...once I learn the basics of Alchehistory, I'll be sure to find you to learn more." "Oh Alphonse..." she beganto cry and hug Al. "I'll miss you!""Good luck! I'll never forget any of you!" May waved as they all went their separate ways.

~Central/Night Time~

Bido walked the alleys of Central as he had a sadden look on his face. "Poor Mr. Greed..." he wiped his eyes as he walked andsuddenly backed up. "No luck...it's seems Ms. Izumi and her husband are on vacation and didn't say when they werereturning." "Hm... is that so? We should report back to Fuhrer Bradley." The two soldiers began to leave as Bido angrily thought,'Bradley?!'"Now you stay put...I'll be right back." 'I might find Mr. Greed if I follow them...but...'The car started and headed off for Central with Bido holding on tight from under it.

~Central~

Olivier tapped the hilt of her sword as Alex looked to her with a surprised look. "Um sis? Would you be kind as to move your foot,please?" Olivier did the opposite and pushed down harder saying, "You are to address me as General." "Yes...General!" hestated through the pain. She sighed and removed her foot as she said, "You're just as gutless as I remember..." "So, I heard yourmen completely annihilated the Drachma forces." "Of course they did!" "But won't that hasten the enemy's transmutationcircle?" Alex whispered. "I don't give a damn. It was their duty to defend the border...and that's what they did. And Drachmawon't think twice about attacking again! Now they know our country is not one to be meddled with!" "Oh my...you've onlygrown more ferocious...how will you ever find a husband if you continue to-uh um...Ow!" Olivier kicked him in the leg. "That'senough of your sniveling you pansy!" she then turned and walked off as she said, "I need to get away from you before I catchyour cowardice."

"Ah, I've been looking for you General? Is this man your brother?" Alex saluted as Olivier said, "I don't consider him my brother.Not after he deserted his country in Ishval." "Hm...follow me please. There's something I'd like for you to see." Olivier followedthe man.

~*3*~

"Are you familiar with the three state tenants of alchemy?" "Of course: obey the military, do not create gold, do not createpeople and that's it." "You know them well...obeying the military should go without saying...the restriction of gold is for financialdisorder. So then, what about creating people? Why do you think the state would enforce this regulation?" "That's simplyunethical sir. It's even taboo amongst alchemist. From what I've heard it a forbidden sacroiliac against God." "That's not why."The man stated, turning a key and raising a door. "The state has no interest in ethics...they're too much to use as a variable fora guideline." Olivier's eyes widened at what she saw. "The true reason is far less abstract. The third tenant it to keep someonefrom creating their own army, General." The man stated, standing in the middle of millions of pale, skinny beings with no facesbut a mouth.

{Ending song}

Sentimental Moment (Shunkan Sentimental)/SCANDAL