We finally reached the train station. Al was carrying the sphere containing the crazy doctor. He tried breaking the awkward silence but none the less, it failed. Ed was leading the group the whole time, not saying a word to me. I guess he has to be the big man to the Fuhrer and get all the credit because he isn't a big man. I am just here for the ride and a way out of Neckar.

The conductor put the sphere in the caboose and all us of got in the 4th car. Al took a whole seat to himself since he was such a big guy, forcing me to sit next to Ed as he hogged the window seat. The train whistle steamed and I was out of Neckar, forever. No turning back.

"I have a question for you both." I said finally breaking the twenty minutes of silence.

Ed poked his head up and as did Al.

"You two performed alchemy without a transmutation circle. Correct? I want to know how you two know. I'm the only one in the world that knows how to! You can't know that without committing the biggest sin in alchemy." I grated through my teeth suspecting State Alchemists found a way to do this method without human transmutation.

Ed scowled hard. His hand went into a ball and he punched his leg. Al put his head down. He then released his scowl and actually had a frown…

"Heh, Neckar isn't the only place in the world you know," Ed spoke as he took off his white glove and revealed an automail arm!

"We performed Human Transmutation. We both just wanted to see my mom smile again. So Al and I studied how to do it and we learned the truth. Because of what we did I lost my left leg but Al lost his body so to get Al's soul back I binded him to this armor. The cost of binding him to the armor cost me an arm… I'm assuming you did human transmutation too?" Ed asked sincerely.

I bit my lip. Finally someone who understands my pain, the painful after effects of doing human transmutation.

"You're absolutely right, Ed. My mother and father fought in the Ishvalan Civil War. Fuhrer King Bradley came to my house with two flags and said that they died in the line of duty. It was only my brother, Johann, and me left. We were homeless until our neighbor Dr. Arnold Scott took us in. He fed us and cared for us and even taught us both alchemy and combat. He was a former State Alchemist and was studying Automail Organs. Eventually we used our knowledge of alchemy in a bad way. We were studying how to do Human Transmutation to bring mother and father back. However that year when we figured it out, Johann got the sickness that came to Amestris and passed away. He was only 13. So I performed the human transmutation but not for my mom and dad, for Johann. However something went wrong and I went through this gate. There was a white figure who called himself the Truth saying there was a price for going through the gate. He was slowly crippling my heart and I went back through the gate. So much knowledge…." I muffled as a tear of anger went down my face.

"I woke up to Dr. Scott in a hospital bed. I was hooked up with wires galore. He said he found me half dead and the medical doctors said my heart was slowly crippling and they never seen anything like it. So Dr. Scott did the surgery where he planted an automail heart where my real one went. Days later Dr. Scott got the sickness and passed away too. After he passed, no one stood up for me. The elders called me a charm of death. People die when I'm around. I wasn't allowed to hang out with anyone except my best friend Toshi who was orphaned. The thing is I learned a lot in that gate. For example to master water alchemy and be good at alchemy in general. But I also learned that King Bradley lied. I heard my parent's voices feintly, they're alive…" I couldn't talk anymore, I couldn't keep up the tough girl facade, I broke down in tears.

Hot tears poured down my face. I placed my hand where my heart is supposed to be because I don't have a heart. I have metal.

"Ellie.. don't cry. Ed and I trying to find our original bodies too. If we find a Philosopher's Stone, we can get our bodies back and so can you. If you want, you can follow our journey for one and get your heart back, right big brother?" Al said as he put his hand on my lap.

Ed smirked and nodded his head, "Of course, as much as I don't want to have another person on board, we both have the same mission; to get our bodies back. No one should live without their bodies. Besides if you need to prove the elders wrong, you are not a death charm."

Ed put his hand on my shoulder and gave me a smile of hope. Maybe being an ass isn't really who he is.

*after arriving in Central*

After our train came to a stop, soldiers picked up Dr. Willow and transported him to Central Prison. The soldiers said he would taken in with cuffs that made alchemy impossible to perform. He couldn't hurt anyone anymore. I took a deep breath of relief.

Ed and Al motioned me to follow them to headquarters. I followed. I tried looking at the landscape of Central but the walk was only a minute

"I wonder what the colonel is gonna say. Probably 'Congrats Elric Brothers for having a girl help! Your reward is to capture this guy now. But don't forget to look for your stone!'" Ed mimicked angrily

I just laughed at Ed, for a State Alchemist, he sure does complain. Al tried calming him down but Ed is too stubborn.

"Elric brothers!" I heard a man yell.

We saw a man in a State Alchemist blue jacket. At least I think it was blue. Hard to tell at night. It was late and I'm getting tired. The guy then finally approached us. His eyes were dark and a scowl seemed natural for him. His hair was well kempt and seemed to be serious about everything.

"Elric brothers, did you forget your assignment when you got back from Neckar to detain Dr. Willow?! And oh, who is this?" The man said very upset at first but quickly dispersed that when he saw me by Ed's side.

I lifted my hand to greet the man, "I'm Ellie Dean, I'm accompanying Edward and Alphonse."

He gasped a breath of air and then smirked slightly, "I'm Colonel Roy Mustang, the Elric's superior. And I presume, Ms. Eleanor Margaret Dean, daughter of Johann the First and Piper Dean. I both fought along side them and were great people."

I attempted a half smile because he said WERE. I know they are still alive, out there, somewhere. But before that thought could go on anymore, we all heard and saw a water explosion coming from the other side of Central.

"Crap, we need to get that guy!" Ed yelled freaking out as Al followed and then I followed. It's like a big scene chase of Scooby Doo.

We ran through the labyrinth of the streets and finally saw the guy causing it. Quickly, Ed went on a street to be in front of him while Al stayed behind him. I quietly climbed a ladder of a building to be on top.

The man was big and burly and had black long hair styled upwards. He had the same coat as Mustang but he ripped off his sleeves. I could sense evil on him. You didn't need to be smart though to figure he was evil, he had two dead bodies next to him.

"Great, more practice" The guy croaked as he saw Ed and Al but not me… yet.

"Not so fast, you're gonna pay for taking those people's lives, bastard." Ed said trying to act all tough.

However, he did act a bit tough now. He clapped his hands and drew a lance from the ground! He then pointed it at the guy. He charged at the guy while Al jumped in. The brawl threw Al backwards and the guy attempted to use his transmutation circle but nothing happened.

"What the hell? The water in your arm should've boiled!"

Crap, he's a water alchemist too. Ed then took off his red coat and showed off his black tank and revealed his automail arm. The guy was astonished at this guy like Ed having an automail arm.

"Wait you're the Fullmetal Alchemist then! But how are you so little…." He said getting Ed fired up.

"I'M NOT LITTLE!" He said as he charged at the guy.

Too bad for him. I jumped down on the guy while transmuting the ground he was on upward. So I smashed his head with my foot and he fell off a couple feet off the platform I made. He passed out like a baby. Win!

"What the hell, he was mine!" Ed said still fired up about being called little.

"Brother, just stop." Al chimed in.

Klop! That's all I heard as my face hit the cold hard ground. My head ricocheted a bit and my nose bled open. The guy was only faking and punched me back in the head as he fled by creating an ice path over the city and skating across. Damn, my head hurts. I want to catch that water alchemist to prove I'm better than him.

"Next time, don't mess with Isaac McDougal!" He roared over the city.

I slowly got up still holding my nose as the blood came slowly out. I kept scowling, wanting to take him down.

"Ellie! Are you ok?" Al asked.

I shook my head yes as the bleeding stopped even though I could tell I probably had a bruise on my cheek.

"Come on, let's get going back to Central Command." I said still holding my face.

We walked back there and went in the Colonel's Office. I didn't pay attnetion because the State Alchemy business isn't my thing. All I really paid attention to is that the guy is a deserter named Isaac McDougal, the Freezing Alchemist. Then this guy Maes Hughes walks in and goes crazy for meeting the "Fullmetal Alchemist" and invites us over to his house… Wait what?!

"Oh my! You have some nasty cuts on you! My wife Gracias and daughter Elicia can make you feel better!" Maes squeaked.

"Uhm…" I said taken back by his kindness.

"Don't worry about it all!" He said as he dragged us all.

We showed up at their doorstep. They were all so very nice. Elicia kept calling me her big sister. It was a wonderful feeling. I miss this feeling of family. I miss my brother Johann. I miss my mom and my dad. I miss Dr. Scott. I miss Toshi. I miss Lilac. But hopefully this legendary philosopher's stone can fix everything. It can give me my real heart and I can return to Lilac and resurrect Johann and maybe even Dr. Scott. Then I can come home to Lilac.

"Ell," Ed said in his bed that Gracia gave him.

"Yeah,"

"When we find the philosopher's stone, what are you gonna do?"

I grinned.

"Fix my heart." I said keeping it short.

"I mean after that. Are you just gonna leave Al and I and go back to Neckar?"

"I don't know yet. The only thing I'd miss from there is Lilac but I hate Neckar."

Al and Ed were both quiet as I was in one bed, Ed was in another and Al was just sitting on floor since he can't sleep or eat. Ed quickly fell asleep after that… Idiot. I then felt a cold evil sensation go up my back. I yelped and woke Ed up.

"If you're gonna act scared and wake me just come in my bed so you won't act scared then wake me up. Just don't steal my covers!" Ed roared as he motioned me.

I stuck my tongue out as I crept in his bed. It felt nice and warm. But I was still sharing with Ed though. But why was I feeling happy? Why was I suddenly dreaming about maybe drawing myself closer to him? But it was a long day and I crashed into a deep sleep for the night.

The next morning I woke up to loud booms and explosions. I quickly spat up and ran the to the window to see a block of ice. Nothing but pure white. I turned back and saw Ed and Al weren't in the room. Damn it, those idiots are probably making a mess out there fighting Isaac. I might as well help bring down the bastard.

Well I can't go out in my pj's so I quickly changed into my black leggings and black combat boots, not the kind that girly girls wear, actually combat boots that go up to my knee. Finally I put on my white and navy blue zip hoodie before putting my blonde hair into a messy ponytail.

"Sometime I wonder if getting my heart back is worth traveling with these guys." I joked as I clapped and touched the ice outside my window, melting it.

I jumped down and landed on my feet. I saw the whole town was dark and gloomy. The streets were illuminating a red aura, an evil aura at that. Just being near it made me want to cry with sadness but I had to find the guys and get Isaac.

"You guys committed the ultimate taboo! You did Human Transmutation!" I heard the husky voice croak from a block away.

There's Ed and Al then! I ran to the voice and with angry force, to shut the bastard up. It didn't even take a second to find them. They were all on top of a huge glacier and I could see Isaac.

"Hey Isaac, you aren't the only water alchemist here you know. And you really should watch your mouth!" I screamed as I clapped my hands and made the area of ice Isaac was standing on point upwards, in an attempt to stab him.

I knicked his thighs and he bled open it a bit. Great.

"And you two! Why didn't you wake me up!" I hissed at them.

Before they could reply, Isaac charged at me with his fist at all full force. I had no time to counterattack so all I could do was narely and swiftly dodge his fists.

"Seems like I can't use water because you know all the things to counter with heh," He croaked.

"You seem a little too su-" I was cut off by him punching me in the gut and I rolled over on the ground winded.

I tried to quickly to get up but before I had to catch my breath. I saw Ed in front of me, using his alchemy to ward back Isaac. I didn't even have to look to see he had a cold blank stare at Isaac.

"Don't you touch her." He coldly whispered as Isaac, who was hurt from Ed's alchemic blast, ran away afraid.

I slowly got up on my feet to help chase him down to bring him into custody. Al was ahead but he suddenly stopped in the alley way. I peered in front of him to see a dead Isaac and a King Bradley. It was horrible. Isaac's limbs were cut off and I know Bradley is an expert swordsman.

"Fuhrer King Bradley, when did you show up…" Al asked amazed.

He gave a warm smile, "Just trying to help. And oh my, hello again Ms. Eleanor. What a pleasant surprise to find you with the Elrics."

I kind of gave an uneasy smile and wave. "Yeah, I'm traveling with them now. I'm learning how to be a better alchemist with them." I lied through my teeth trying to not mention the Philosopher's Stone so he wouldn't know why I needed it.

He gave another smile and walked away like nothing happened at all. Really weird here but then again, in Neckar nothing exciting happens and this was a journey. Weird stuff happens on journeys.

"We should get going to the train station to Leore. I heard there may be a Philosopher's Stone there." Ed said walking away.

I ran up to him and gave a whack on the head.

"Why didn't you wake me up! I could've helped!"

"Because you threatened to boil my blood if we didn't let you sleep in!" He screamed back.

We gave each other death glares while Al just sighed. Ed does have a point though, nothing gets in the way of my sleep. Apparently not even the fate of Central. Oh well, next stop Leore with Al and Bonehead.