Disclaimer: I (unfortunately) do NOT own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of the characters. I only am responsible for the (albeit poorly written and devised) plot.

Hey Guys! Thanks for reading.

And a special thanks to those who read/reviewed/followed/favorited my story since I posted the last chapter:

WhispersOfWings (Thank you SO much for reviewing!)

A Furry Cat

DarkShadyDays

DarkWinxGirl (You too! Your comment was AMAZING!)

I honestly don't know yet, whether or not if this will be the chapter where I start wrap this up. But I promise after I do finish this; I'll post an epilogue. So if you like this story, be sure to hang around until then.

Remember: Like fire benders on Avatar: Last Airbender (which I also do not own), Riza's clothes don't burn when she's on fire. And unlike fire benders, Riza's skin doesn't burn. She can also do the snap-and-then-fire-comes-rushing-out thing that Roy does. Only, she doesn't need the gloves. (Y'know, there isn't much friction needed 'cause of the eye-thing.)

Oh! Almost forgot. I was thinking of writing a sequel to this, with a new plot line and all that. In the epilogue, I've got an idea to lead into another story. After finishing that- or you could speak up now- leave a review about what you think of that. (Or just leave a review just because I will seriously love you forever if you do.)

Riza was sweating, the heat from her flames had heated up the whole room. She struggled out of the clothes, only leaving on the shorts and thin shirt. She was sweating through her bandages, and after a contemplating for a moment, she decided to keep on them on.

Better safe than sorry, right?

She took a a little longer than she would've liked taking off the layers, but in the stupid chains were getting all tangled up.

After a few more moments of struggling, she was ready to go. But, first things first. Walking cautiously over to Lacey's crumpled, unrecognizable form, Riza bent down to examine the body.

There was nothing left of her that was remotely human-looking. There was nothing salvageable from her body. Nothing useful. All there was left was burnt skin. That is, until Riza took a closer look.

Lacey had been wearing several pieces of jewelry, having been the epitome of femininity. But that wasn't the part of the whole scene that drew her attention.

It was the key that dangled from her neck.

It was a small thing, made of some kind of stone, that had somehow survived the intense heat of the fire. The string had burned away, and showed to have been some sort of cloth material wrapped around a metal wire. Riza wasn't quite sure why, but it seemed like it'd be... important somehow.

Riza, using the knife Lacey had stupidly taunted her with, cut the small trinket from her neck. She tied it around her ankle, securing it in a way that would prevent it from moving about when she walked.

Satisfied, she stood, inwardly sneering at the idiot who thought she could get away with endangering the life of the man who had obsidian eyes and a fiery disposition for rain.

She started to sink deeper into her thoughts as she crept through the halls.

She wanted to stand behind him always. Watch his back, protect him.

Even if it meant watching the back of his queen too.

She swore that no matter how much she hated whoever he chose, she'd give her life to save his queen too.

She stopped at another open doorway, (and 'open doorway' is just another term for a doorway the size meant for a double door, without an actual door.)

The cement wall here had been cleaned and fixed a few times. That much was obvious. Someone had even taken the time to redo the floors. She stepped inside, taking in the endless tally marks that decorated the walls.

Thousands of chalk lines scratched on the walls. And on the opposite side, there was a strange circle.

And alchemy circle, unlike anything she'd ever seen before.

Riza tried to sear the image into her brain, knowing it could be important.

A vanity table was pushed into the farthest corner. The white paint was scratched off in places, and peeling in others.

Turning to the vanity, Riza examined her reflection.

Her eyes were wide and alert. They flashed dangerously, the circles visible for just barely a second. Dried blood trailed down the side of her face, and two half-healed cuts were a startling contrast agains her pale skin.

Taped to the table, and the wooden border surrounding the mirror, were pictures. Maybe more than a hundred.

The first picture to catch her eye was of little blonde girl, and a small boy who could only be her brother. They sat next to a pretty woman. Most likely their mother, judging by the similar hair and the bright green eyes.

That little girl... Can that be... Lacey?

It was. Lacey and her mother, and her younger brother.

The next photo was of a funeral.

Lacey and her brother again, only her mother was missing from the scene.

They must've lost their mother. Riza could relate to their predicament. Losing your mother. Though, the murdering of people soon drowned out all feelings of pity.

Clearing off the rest of the desk, Riza shoved the clutter over the edge.

The photos that had been covered up were newer, by the look of it.

The more recent photos weren't starring the motherless siblings though. They were all of-

Shit.

Riza's own face was smiling back up at her.

Dozens of Riza's were overlapping each other. Some were clearly over ten years old.

One was even of her and Roy as teenagers.

God, she had even been awkward as a kid when it came to him. Her face was fire engine red, probably because Roy's arm was casually draped over her shoulder. He had a breathtaking smile, no less dazzling than ever.

It was only when water started dripping onto the photo in her hands she realized she was crying.

Roy... god, I miss him so much.

Every time I see him... He's just so perfect it hurts.

She chuckled to herself and wiped at a tear with her delicate finger.

Even when it rains, he's so cute! Almost helpless.

In a moment she was serious again, contemplating what this might mean.

Lacey was officially stalking her. Or, at least she had been.

And yet again, Roy was getting dragged into her mess. She shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. Her emotions getting tangled into this mess was not going to help make things better.

She turned back to the collage of her life.

If that other image wasn't alarming, then the next picture definitely was.

It was Riza as a little girl. Maybe four or five, sitting on one of her father's legs.

Where did she even get these? How long has this been going on? I don't even have a copy of this picture!

Riza took the photo of her and Roy and slipped it under the waistband of her pants.

Now... if I'm gonna track down this 'Peter' guy... might as well prepare for battle. She smirked as she snatched a shirt off the floor. It smelled relatively clean, so she pulled it over her head. The more layers, the better protected she'd be.

Not like I'll need it.

She shoved her arms into the form fitting t-shirt. The black garment was soft and well worn. The entire back was covered, and for that, Riza was grateful. She didn't need to go around parading the fact that she was dangerous.

Riza hesitated before leaving the room. Wondering whether or not to try and find a better weapon.

No, she was ready.

Armed with a small knife. The chains that adorned her wrists gave the whole getup menacing, almost dangerous. Her hands ready to copy the very snap she'd seen performed countless times. They would bring waves of fire, which would carry out her every command.

Oh, and eyes that could pretty much incinerate people at will.

Roy had his fingers poised to snap.

The others had their guns pointed at the man's face. His blonde hair was streaked with blood, and Breda had a feeling that it wasn't his. He sneered.

"If you don't drop your weapons and slide 'em over, this pretty head will be full of holes before you can blink." Maria was trying to keep her calm, and failing miserably. It was clear by the panic in her eyes that she was more than scared.

She was terrified.

Reluctantly, Havoc lowered his gun. As it clattered to the floor, the others began to follow his example. They'd already lost one of the team, they couldn't lose another.

"Colonel Mustang, that means you too," the man added as the weapons were kicked over. "Pass the gloves. Both of them."

Roy stared down at his hands. He removed them slowly, first the left hand, then the right. Gulping, he swallowed his pride and tossed them over.

The man relaxed his arm, ad shoved Maria forward. She landed on her knees, right in front of Roy.

"Good," the man said, grinning, causing the Colonel's temper to flare. "Wouldn't want a lovely little thing like her getting broken." Havoc lost his temper, as he leapt out to tackle the man. Fuery and Falman held him back by his arms, though it was clear that they wanted to do the same thing.

"Broken toys are quite useless, aren't they? Just like that poor girl. What was her name again? Rita... No, maybe... Risha?"

Roy lost it.

Lunging forward, he was about a foot in the air, fist ready to sink it into this bastard's face.

His other hand, however, was yanked back abruptly, pulling him back down to earth. He collided with the ground, rather painfully. He could practically feel a bruise forming on his left shoulder.

Rubbing the spot on his arm where he had painfully crashed and sitting up, Roy looked up to scowl at Hughes.

"What the hell?! You're just gonna let this asshole get away with this? You're just gonna stand there and do nothing?! Don't you even care?" Maes roughly shoved him back to the ground.

"I care," he hissed, an intense glare momentarily silencing Roy. "But I'm also remembering the fact that he has a gun! One that he will not hesitate to shoot you with!"

Roy winced. He hadn't though of that. Maybe his desperation to find Riza was making him more... careless than usual.

"Roy, I know you want to see her as soon. I get it. But Roy, getting blasted in the head isn't going to help us. And it certainly isn't going to be easy to explain to Riza why we let you get your sorry-ass shot. I owe it to Riza. She is my friend, and it is a personal duty of mine to keep you from dying, and save her the heartbreak."

He added after a moment of Roy expectantly looking at him, "Oh, and you're my best friend. That too."

"Heartbreak? What the hell are you going on about? Concerned, sure but..."

Fuery buried his face in his hands all the way across the room. Falman looked beyond the point of exasperation. Hughes removed his glasses, and rubbed his eyes with the other hand.

"You fucking idiot."

Falman's voice echoes through the room. "Holy crap, what the hell is wrong with y-"

BANG BANG BANG

Three shots fired into the air left the whole room at a standstill.

The man held the gun aimed at the high ceiling.

"Sorry to interrupt," he said, his words dripping with sarcasm.

"Those were warning shots. Your only warnings. Next one will be a hit. And my first target will be..."

He spun around, as a child did when they couldn't make up their mind.

And he came to a stop on Fuery.

"The little nerdy guy with the funny glasses."

Fuery's mouth opened in protest.

"Hey! I am not nerdy or little!" Fuery protested. Breda coughed.

"Well..."

"Hey! Don't you even start! If anyone here is a 'nerd' it's you!" He pointed to Falman. Pause. "And what's wrong with my glasses?!"

As the two began to bicker, the gun-wielding male rolled his eyes.

"HEY!" He shouted, drawing all their attention back to him. He cleared his throat, gun still aimed at Fuery.

"I must apologize. We never had a proper introduction." He waved with his free hand, a slightly-maniacal smile stretched across his otherwise-handsome face.

"My name is Peter. I stabbed your friend. Nice to meet you."

Hey guys! if you didn't read my AN in the beginning, go do it now. (Please?)

I seriously would love to hear from all of you. PLEASE R&R (or pm me) because I need to know what you guys think.

Love you all,

-Pyro