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

{Opening song}

Period/Chemistry

-Revving at Full Throttle-

~Liore~

"It's been a long time, huh Al?" Van spoke with a smile as Al said, "Yeah..." "So um...I saw Pinako recently. She told me aboutyour body." Silence filled the area until the townspeople broke it. "Hey there he is!" the woman spoke. "Mr. Ho, you think youcould give us a hand for a bit?" the man asked. "Yeah sure." Van spoke then turned to Al saying, "Let's catch up later." "Oh,okay." Van removed his bandanna and walked off with the others, Al watching closely.

"You did a hell of a job fixing this radio. It works better than it used to!" the owner smiled, pointing to the radio on his roof. "Itdoesn't even pick up static!" Al glanced to the radio, then the man saying, "I'm really sorry...all this bad stuff happenedbecause we stuck our noses in." "Don't worry about that, you've got to look at all the good stuff it's brought. You guys exposeda corrupt fraud...people reacted badly a first but look now..."

Al looked around to find the townspeople working hard as theowner said, "Sounds good, right? The whole town is rebuilding what we lost...and you guys are the ones who brought ustogether." Al clenched his fist as he said, "...I'm going to help build! Rose, can you take care of Winry?" Before she couldanswer, he ran off. "Well, we might as well help to." Jerso spoke, headed off in the direction Al left, Zampano following. "Youheard him Yoki." Yoki turned with fork and knife in hand saying, "Huh? I'm eating..." he was then pulled by the hood with theothers. "The food'll taste better wants you've worked up an appetite." "Quit struggling." "I'm hungry!"

~*3*~

"Really? You mean that was your son back there?" "I'm sorry if we interrupted...it's been a while, right? Maybe you shouldhead back and talk?" Hohenheim stood as he gave a smile saying, "I don't know...I left when he was just a boy and haven'tseen him since...I doubt he thinks of me his Father much less trusts me. I'm not too sure on what to say to him..." "Hey Dad!"Hohenheim turned, shocked as he found Al standing there. "I'd um...I'd like to work to!" Hohenheim was speechless. "Here, letme carry those!" Al ran to the two people and picked up the wood they were carrying and brought it for them. "Here you go!"At the sight, Hohenheim gave a smile

~*3*~

Winry released a relieved sigh as she stretched in the tub. "Are you okay in there?" Rose asked. "How does the water feel?""Amazing~ if feels like an eternity since I've had a bath!" "I'll leave some fresh clothes for you here." "Thank you so much Rose!"Winry stated before covering half her face into the water. 'She's so nice to do all this for me~' Winry thought, still in bliss. "I'mreally impressed with you Winry...working as an auto-mail engineer, you're so independent for your age. So, designed Aaliyah andEd's auto-mail?" "That's right! It was back when we were little kids, really..." "That's amazing! You're the one who helped themback on their feet, so indirectly, you helped me get back on my feet as well. I owe you just as much as I do Ed, Ally and Al."Winry looked to the curtain, speechless.

3*~

"I was desperate enough to believe Father Cornello...he claimed he could bring my boyfriend to life and I began to blindlyfollow him. But lucky for me, that's when Ed, Ally and Al showed up and exposed him. Everything I believed in suddenlydisappeared...I lost all hope." Rose took a sip of her tea as Winry watched her, wanting to hear more. "But then, Ed got furiouswith me and told me to stand on my own two feet." "He said that? he can be a handful sometimes..." Winry muttered. "Ed and her alike..." "They helped open our eyes...we're leaning to stand on our own and we don't need a miracle to do it. It's allthanks to Ed, Ally and Al..."

~Central/Underground~

"Maybe it wasn't such a good idea to follow those guys..." Bido muttered as he walked though a secret passage. "I have noidea where the hell I am...Where are you Mr. Greed?" He jumped down from where he was, continuing forward as he pushedhis way through the pipes. He sat up, only to find himself between two pale bodies hanging upside down with only a mouth fora face. "AH!" he fell forward, looking back at the millions of bodies hanging. He covered his mouth as he began to shake onlyto hear a door open. He quickly hid as he heard voices. "The state has no interest in ethics...they're too much to use as avariable for a guideline. The third tenant it to keep someone from creating their own army, General."

Olivier tapped one of the bodies heads as she asked, "But these...they aren't human, are they?" "Correct, they're likehumanoid reciprocals or powerful dummies we bond souls to. Not only are they immortal, they're mindlessly obedient. They arethe world's most perfect soldier." "Mind if I ask you a question, sir?" Oliver asked. "Go right ahead..." "You mentioned that soulswould be bonded to them...where do you plan on acquiring these souls?" "From rival lands of course. Citizens we ravished overthe course of war. For one reason, the battlefield serves as a hunting ground for the collection of souls...""Ah! This place is evil! Pure evil! Why'd I come here?! Mr. Greed would never be in an awful place like this!" Bido shouted as heran, trying to find an exit. He suddenly stopped running as he saw the silhouette of someone standing before him with a grin.

~Liore~

"An underground tunnel?" Van asked. "Yeah...and I've got a hunch it runs under Liore. If it does-""Hold on...let's findsomewhere more private." Van spoke cutting Al off."So it's a country wide transmutation circle and you plan on destroying it..." "Yeah...so I was kind of shocked to find you here,Dad." Al stated. "I must have some good luck after all...we encountered a man that's identical to you in Central...I don't knowhow you're connected to him but I'm guessing you must know who he is at least, right?" Van turned his glance away as heasked, "Are you sure you want to know, Al? Did it ever cross your mind I may be on their side?" Al gasped. "You've given awayyour entire plan...aren't you the lease worried I'll leak it to them?" Al and Van looked to each other in silence until Van broke itknocking against Al's armor saying, "I'm glad to know you still trust me...thanks Alphonse." "Uh, sure!" Al nodded, still a littleshocked. 'Even though I left them, this boy still sees me as his Father and trusts me. Now then...I suppose I owe them the sametrust they've given me. "This won't be easy to explain...it'd be best for Edward and Aaliyah to hear as well." "Actually...I hate tosay it but they've gone missing."

~Somewhere in the North~

"Next in line, please..." a dark skinned woman spoke. Two State watches and two envelopes were placed in front of her,causing her to glance up at the tall man. "I'd like to make a withdrawal from the accounts of State alchemist Edward Elric andAaliyah Martin's research account." "Are you one of the account holders?" the woman asked. "I'm their representatives...but Ihave brought a letter of attorney for each." After reading each letter, she handed him the money. He placed it into his coat asshe said, "Thank you for your business sir." As he disappeared the woman looked back to the man, who was already on thephone with someone. "This is the bank of Amestris, northern branch...we've just had two large withdrawal's from Statealchemist Edward Elric and Aaliyah Martin's research account...no he claimed to be their representative...Well, he was very talland brawny."

3*~

"Here, that should cover your medical bill," the tall man stated, placing the money onto the table. The doctor picked it up,counting it as he said, "Well, I could charge more but this'll do." "It better! You're already ripping us off, doc." "How can yousay that? It's reasonable once you consider the risks involved..." the old lady spoke as she poured tea into two cups. "Sure andif you guarantee to keep your mouths shut, I'm not complaining." "Darius!" the blonde, older man called from the window.The two men looked out the window as they watched the soldiers talk and look towards their building. "I guess they found us..."

~*3*~

"Yes? Hello?" the male doctor asked as he opened the door. "Oh you're soldiers...do you need a physical?" "We're looking forsomeone." The man stated, pushing his way through the door. "Is this man your only patient?" he asked, watching the womanunbandage a man's hand. "There is one more resting..." the man continued forwards towards the back room, as he found aman in bed. "Are you the only patient back here?" "Yeah...why are you asking? What's wrong?" Darius spoke. "Were you atthe bank this afternoon?" Darius's brows knitted as the soldier pulled out a gun saying, "Don't move!"A boy with a white coat walked up towards the door as the soldier stopped him saying, "Hold it, do you work at this doctor'soffice?"

"Slowly raise your hands above your head!""Have you seen anyone unusual around this clinic recently? One's described as...""Right now! Show me your hands!" the soldier shouted as Darius slowly began to slide the gun from under the blanket."...a red coat, blonde hair worn in a braid and short." The boy's stick that was set between his teeth suddenly snapped. The sound of someone being hit was heard as the two soldiers turned. "Check it out!" the other soldier started to walk off only tocry out in pain. "Hey! What's going on out there?! Answer me-"Suddenly a metal arm shot through the wall and grasped theguy around the neck. Darius stared in shock as the man struggled until he passed out.

The man was released as Darius got outthe bed saying, "Damn, you just had to take him out on your own, right?" A girl with long red hair appeared in the door frameas right behind the girl, a boy with long blonde hair walkedup behind her as Darius continued, "Your wounds haven't even fully recovered yet." "Don't treat us like we're weak...besides..." Ed and Ally smirked to each other saying, "We're revving at full throttle."

~*3*~

Heinkel and Darius thanked the couple as Ed checked on the Aaliyah. "Are you going to be okay?" Ed asked as Ally said, "Ofcourse I will! Are you trying to say I weak to?" "Of course not! I just know it's not fully healed yet...that and what the lady said..."

"Your back is looking good but your leg will take longer to heal. Don't put too much of a strain or it could give out."

"At least I'm able to walk now...but thanks for worrying about me." The four started to walk off as Ed picked up the small pieceof paper that man had and looked over it. 'That's all they're looking for? Someone with a red coat and a braid? Guess I'll haveto make do with this look for a while...' he then turned the page as his eyes twitched in anger. "Who the hell gave themdescriptions?! I'LL KILL THEM!" "What's got you so worked up?" Ally stated as Ed said, "What do you mean?! They've got peopleall over apparently looking at your chest! Why wouldn't I be mad?!" Aaliyah snatched the paper and read it over only to sigh. 'Ablue coat, Red hair in ponytail and a ...huge chest.' Ally self-consciously covered her chest as she said, "They make me feellike I'm some kind of freak..."

"Freeze! Drop your weapons!" two soldiers shouted from the other end of the hall. Ed quickly munched on the rest of his bread,still angry as Heinkel said, "We took too long..." "Get your hands in the air! Do it now!" "Move it kids! Those guys are dangerous!"Darius and Heinkel nodded to each other and each grabbed either Ed or Ally in their grasp. Darius held a gun to Ed's head asHeinkel had an imaginary one pointed to Ally. "Stay back or their dead!" "Don't force us to blow their brains out!" the twosoldiers gasped as Darius and Heinkel ran off with the two still in their arms. 'This is so embarrassing...' Ally thought as the twobusted through the front doors.A group of soldiers looked their way, only to have Heinkel shoot a pile of snow down onto their heads. "I'll hot wire some wheelsfor us!" Darius spoke.

Ed quickly placed his hair into a ponytail as he looked back saying, "Hey gorilla! Step on it!" "Don't call me that." "Then drivefaster!" Ally shouted. "These guys are from Northern Command! We'll never ditch them!" A car suddenly pulled out in front ofDarius as he panicked and quickly turned out of the way while in the backseat, Ally and Ed would take turns falling into eachother. "You're enjoying this aren't you?" Ally asked Ed. "Maybe if we weren't in this situation..." "That was a little too close..."Heinkel muttered as Darius asked, "How's it look behind us?" "Not good! They're right on us!" Ed stated. "Damnit!" Ed and Ally suddenly thought of something and quickly said, "Turn that corner!" "What?"

"Just shut up and turn!" the two exclaimed."Make sure to park as soon as we turn." Ed stated as he clapped his hands. "They turned!" the soldiers quickly turned only to find the car gone. "What? Where'd they go?" "They must have turned on thatstreet over there! Move it!"Ed clapped his hand and Ally sighed as Ed said, "And you doubted me..." "Yeah, well can you change it back into a normal car now?" Heinkelasked. "And why's that?" Ed asked. "I think this car looks cool as hell!" "Just change it back. Please, we're begging you." Dariusstated as Ed said, "You guys have a problem with my sense of style?!" "You don't have any!" Darius and Heinkel exclaimed asEd pouted in the back. Ally sighed and rubbed Ed's head like a dog saying, "It's okay...

~*3*~

Darius went to take a leak as Heinkel said, "So I guess this means we're drifters, huh?" "Yep..." Darius stated from his tree as Ally sat down and sighed, "I'm the only girl surrounded with these men...help me..." 'I never should have dropped my guardaround Kimblee...talk about a setback...' Ed looked down to Aaliyah, to find her looking at the ground. Aaliyah felt the car shift down and a hand placed onto her leg. She looked up to find Ed giving her a gentle smile. She placed herhead to his shoulder, placing her hand in his as Ed rested his hand against hers. "If you two are done..." Heinkel started as Edand Kari glanced to the two standing nearby. "So what's our next plan of action?" Darius asked. "Well, the first thing we needto do is find Al...he should be with Dr. Marcoh by now." Ed stated. "Well, where are they?" Darius asked. "You do know whereto find them, right?" Heinkel asked. 'If I were Al, where would I go...?' Ally and Ed each thought.

~Liore~

"Still awake?" Hohenheim asked once he finished his story. Al jumped, shocked as he said, "Y-Yeah! Sorry...it's just a lot...youwere a slave and now a Philosopher's stone..." Van nodded, "Yeah, right." There was silence for a moment for Van sighedsaying, "...I can't say I'd blame you if you don't believe me...I doubt I would...I know how farfetched it sounds. You'd have tobe crazy to believe it." "Well..." Al started, "...I guess I'm crazy then because I believe you." Do you really? That was fast..." Vanmuttered, shocked that Al would believe him. "To be honest, it kind of scares me. Besides, my situation is farfetched as well..."Van gave a smile as Al asked, "So, what's it like not being able to die?" "Well...it's...I'm not going to say it doesn't come inhandy. But it's not worth watching everyone I love die before me." "...like Mom..." Al muttered.

It got silent again until Al suddenly thought of something. "Wait...if you're a Philosopher's stone that means you don't have anormal human body so does that mean Ed and I..." "Aren't exactly normal humans either...?" Van finished. "Yeah..." Al statedlooking down. Van gave him a smile as he said, "You don't have to worry Al. It's true I have a Philosopher's stone fused to mysoul but not even that can change the fact that I am human. Although...unlike me, the man under Central is like a leatherbag." "A leather bag?" Al asked confused. "More or less; if we can destroy that leather bag, then we can defeat what'sinside." "That makes sense...oh! I almost forgot!" Al pulled out a folded piece of paper and handed it to Van as he said, "Lookat this...they're going to do the same thing to Amestris like they did Xerxes, right? We've got to hurry and stop them! It's almostcomplete." Van looked over the papers as he said, "Oh, I'm impressed...you've really done your homework. This is a reverse transmutationcircle, huh?"

Al stood up saying, "Destroying the tunnels seems to be the best way to thwart them. Also, since it runs underLiore-""That's not a good idea." Van stated as Al gasped. "They have a powerful Homunculus watching over the tunnelsnamed Pride." "But still, we have to try before it's too late." Al stated, not giving up. "For all we know, they could have alreadycompleted the circle by now." "Then why are you so relaxed?!" Al exclaimed. Van stood as he said, "Because...it's not yettime." "Huh? How do you know?" "Look up son; you're too busy looking down when you should be looking up." Van pointed upas Al followed his with his gaze. "If you want answers, that's where you'll find them." "Up? The sky? You mean the Sun GodLeto?" "The man in Central...is waiting...for the day of reckoning.

~Somewhere in Central~

Bido ran as much as his legs could take him. He had blood falling from his wound located on his left shoulder. "Why is he doingthis to me?!" The man from before jumped down, bringing his stone-like covered hand down. Luckily Bido wasn't hit but theforce did send him to the ground. "Ha, ha! Well, this is fun~ Most people tend to curl up and cry...it's about time someone fightsback. I do appreciate the chance to kill my boredom." The man's hand now looked claw-like as he chuckled once more. "Theultimate shield?! And your voice sounds like...what the hell?! You...how dare you imitate Mr. Greed?!" Bido shouted, tearsforming in his eyes.The so called imposter walked forward, grin still on his face as he said, "Excuse me, I'm no imitation. My name is Greed." "...theavaricious...?" "You got it...I want everything you could possibly think of: money, power, woman, sex, status, glory-"

"You wantthe finer things in life!" Bido finished as Greed stared in shock. "You can't...how could you be...?" "Alright, who are you?"Greed asked as a wave of pain hit his head. Bido stood as he said, "He has to be! You are Mr. Greed! But how can you look likesomeone else..." "I asked who you are so tell me." Greed asked, getting irritated by the minute. Bido pointed to himself as hesaid, "It's me! I'm your friend, Bido! You haven't been away from Dublith that long to forget!" Greed had a dumbfounded lookon his face as he said, "Oh! You're from Dublith! Oh! Now it makes sense..." Bido smiled as he said, "You remember me?!"Suddenly a hand was stabbed through him as Greed said, "Afraid not. You must've been buddies with the previous Greed.""But...I thought..." "Sorry, but you and I have never even met."

"But...Mr. Greed..." Bido muttered as he slowly drifted todarkness, sliding off of Greed's hand and to the floor. "Sorry, it's nothing personal. I'm just doing my job. I am sorry, honestly."Suddenly, Greed's hands began to shake as he said, "What the hell?" Then that same wave of pain hit again, only harder. Animage of a blonde woman, short black haired man and a huge white haired man appeared. Greed fell to his hands and kneesas he began gasping for air.

"What have you done, Greed? Are you determined to prove you're a monster? What kind of sick creature...would kill his ownbest friend?!" Ling stated.

"He...wasn't my friend!" Greed struggled to say as more images filled his head. Greed held his head as Ling continued.

"Then why do you remember him? Are you just going to tell me Bido was making it all up?!"'Those are the last Greed's memories! They're not mine!' "Then why are you in so much pain?!""Pull yourself together Greed...I'm warning you. I'll take my body back if you drop your guard!"

"They aren't mine! Father purged the old Greed's memories! Those memories aren't a part of me anymore!"

"NO YOU'RE WRONG GREED! IT'S NOT THAT EASY! THEY'LL ALWAYS BE APART OF YOU! You can't just erase them from your soul!They were the only part of you that you chose! Look at them! Can you not hear their souls crying out?! You abandoned them!Your real family! You threw them away like trash! Fool...you turned your back on something you wanted...you don't deserve tocall yourself Greed!"

"AH!!" Greed screamed in pain and agony as he held onto Bido.

{Ending song}

Sentimental Moment (Shunkan Sentimental)/SCANDAL