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Chapter 7

Sophie

I was a little surprised to find that the Colonel Mustang had in fact followed my instructions…commands…whatever. He and Lieutenant Hawkeye were dressed as civilians. Mustang actually looked a bit hot in his slacks and plaid jacket.

Did I just say that? Forget I did, please.

Anyway, they were all ready. Edward and Alphonse Elric, Winry Rockbell, Riza Hawkeye and Roy Mustang. Really, what am I thinking? Oh well… Time won't wait for anyone so I decided to tell them where we were headed.

"What?" Edward exclaimed, "That's in the middle of no where!"

"But of course." I said, "Did you think that we would hide ourselves right in the middle of one of your cities? YOU think it's in the middle of no where but its actually just 500 leagues from the first ward that protects the Old World."

"This better not be a wild goose chase, Silvertongue." Mustang said.

"You've already said that." I said wearily, "And again, my answer is: Don't worry. It's not."

He's so annoying! Hmmm…let's do something to annoy him then… I stared at him, slowly letting my gaze slide from his face down to his feet then up again. I smiled.

"My, don't we look handsome, Mr. Mustang." I said.

I am so evil! Hehehe. But then again he deserved the discomfort.

"Excuse me miss," Hawkeye interrupted, "You are supposed to call him Colonel."

"I'd love to, Ms Hawkeye but you see, you're going as civilians so you better forget how to say that."

"She's right, Riza." Mustang said, grudgingly.

"Very well." Hawkeye agreed.

"Now then, we better get going." I told them, "We've a train to catch."

So we all went to the train station. I wanted to just walk but Mustang insisted on using his car. I don't see why when he makes Hawkeye do all the driving. Honestly, sometimes I think he's just some pampered little boy. Wait. Forget I just said that. He is strong and willing to do anything to get what he wants. Maybe I shouldn't annoy him so much…NOT!

Anyway...I really have to stop drifting off like this! Winry is talking to me! Honestly, you shouldn't let me get carried away.

"Where are your bags, Sophie-san?" she was asking.

"I'm carrying it." I said, indicating the bag I had slung over one shoulder.

"Just that?"

"It has enough space for an extra set of clothes, my money and sometimes food." I told her.

"How can you travel with so little?" she asked curiously.

"I don't normally use this form of transportation. The way I travel doesn't call for all that much." I explained patiently, "But it will be kind of conspicuous during the day and besides, you'll have a hard time keeping up."

"Oh..."

I watched Winry's forehead furrow as she tried to think of a transportation that wouldn't require too much luggage and would be conspicuous during the day. I smiled to myself. She never would guess. After all how was she to know that I preferred traveling in the shape of a silver gray owl? Surprised? Get used to it. I'm a sorceress remember?

"ALL ABOARD!" the train master shouted.

"Come on, Ms. Rockbell." I said, pulling Winry along, "We don't want to be left behind."

So we all rode the train. There were two rows of benches with an aisle in between. On each row, two benches would face each other. Edward and Alphonse sat beside each other facing Winry and I. The colonel and the lieutenant sat across from us on the other row. Edward and Alphonse and Winry kept their noses practically glued to the window, pointing out the different things they saw. The colonel and the lieutenant just sat, silent, facing-each other, not saying a word...honestly, they looked scary. Or at least Mustang did.

An hour later, Edward was nodding off and Winry was sleeping, her head resting against the window. Alphonse was getting restless. Mustang and Hawkeye hadn't moved...I swear, not even an inch! Me? Well, I was just sitting there, planning our journey. I mean, we had to cross that huge piece of grassland then enter the Nadrak colony that stayed outside the barriers of the Old World. Then we needed to go over the first natural barrier. Then we needed to go through the second barrier, which was not exactly natural. Then I still needed to get them from the Gate to the capital. Jeez...maybe I shouldn't have offered to bring them.

Alphonse fidgeted, bringing my attention to him. He pulled at his brother's sleeve.

"Nii-san, are we there yet?"

"No Al." Edward said, half-asleep.

This is going to be interesting...

Two hours later...

"Nii-san, are we there yet?"

"No Al."

Three hours later...

"Nii-san, are we there yet?"

"AL! How many times must you ask me that? We. Are. Not. Yet. THERE!" Edward exploded.

Jeez...Edward blew his top already? I thought he would last longer than this. Oh well, might as well help before Alphonse drives Edward mad or Edward discombobulates Alphonse...which ever comes first.

"Calm down Edward." I said, handing him a curiously carved wooden stick, "Here, let him play with this."

That stick which I gave him was actually an elaborate puzzle. I had played with it when I was younger…much, much younger. It actually only had one end. It took me a whole year to figure that out.

"What is it?" Alphonse asked, staring at the twists and turns of the wood.

"It's a puzzle." I told them, "You have to figure out the way its twisted…from one end to the other."

Hehehe.

"Why in the world do you carry it around?" Edward asked me.

I shrugged. Of course I didn't carry it around with me. It was in my study at my house in the capital of the Old World. I translocated it. But then, they didn't need to know that.

Edward, Alphonse and Winry were busily examining the puzzle I gave them. I saw out of the corner of my eye that Mustang was looking at me from where he and Hawkeye sat.

With a small sigh, I stood and crossed the aisle to them. I stood in the aisle, my arms crossed, my face expressionless.

"You wanted something?"

Mustang motioned for me to sit.

I sat.

"You didn't pull that toy out of your bag." It was almost accusatory.

"So?" I said, "I translocated it. You have a problem with that?"

"You didn't transmute it?" Mustang asked quietly.

"No I didn't." I said coldly, "I'm not one of you. I'm not an alchemist. I don't transmute things the way you do. I transfigure things. Transfiguration. I can change anything into something else as long as I have a bit of the element I want transfigured."

I glanced at them. Their eyes told me that they didn't get anything I said. Why am I even bothering to explain this to them?

"Look it's like transmutation but not. When you transmute things you take an element, break it down then rearrange the components to make something new right?"

Mustang nodded.

"What I do is to take a base, the base is the material I need to change, and a model, the model is like a sliver or piece of what I want the base to change into. With me so far?"

Mustang nodded.

"So now that I have my base and model, I Will the base to take the form of the model. Do you understand, or have I completely lost you?"

"I think I understand." Mustang said, "So you don't deal with the molecular structure to change things?" he asked.

"Well, there's a really, really, really long scientific explanation on how we do it but you'll just get more confused. Even I got confused when I read it." I said.

I frowned as I searched for a way to explain.

"Transfiguration is the sorcerers version of transmutation or alchemy. But it's not the only thing we can do." I finally said.

"So what else can you do?"

I smiled, "You're not getting all my secrets out of me all at once my dear Colonel. It's not going to be that easy."

Mustang looked a trifle put out.

"LAST STOP, ESTHERVILLE!!!"

I bounced up, smiling brightly.

"Come on. There's still a long way to go."

Okay I know its a little boring but I kinda needed it for the overall plot. So now you know a little bit more about what Sophie does.

Please review!

Desperate for reviews,

Sparkalie