(Author's Note: Thanks, everyone, for your reviews so far. It's your support that keeps this fanfic going, and I'd like to just say that I love you all for taking the time to review. Yet again, I don't own anyone you recognize from the FMA canon. I promise, still, to return them to the story in the same state I found them in.

Keep the feedback coming, it's the only way I'll know if Lana's becoming an ungodly Mary Sue.)

Glitch

Chapter 5: Central

We sat on the hard seat of the train, and I stared out the rain-lashed window as we made our way north.

"What's Central like?" I asked Winry as we sped through the Amestrian countryside.

"It's really big," Winry told me, "And there's a ton of tall buildings. And Command is right in the center of the city. A lot of people there are Military."

I nodded. "It sounds really different," I said.

"They have cars there," Winry told me. "I've only seen a car a few times."

"Seriously?" I asked, incredulous. "Everyone has a car, in my world. Some people even have two or three."

"Wow!" Winry exclaimed. "What are they like inside?" she asked. "If I had a car, I could take it apart to see how it worked!"

I laughed. "My truck is twelve years old. If you ever showed up in my world, I'd totally let you play with it."

She smiled. "That'd be nice."

I woke up from a light nap three hours later. I suspected we were well on our way to Central by that point, but when another passenger wandered down the car, I roused myself enough to ask.

"We're about four hours out of Central, miss," the blond boy told me.

"Thank you," I said, eyeing him. He looked familiar, but I couldn't quite place him.

"Brother?" a younger boy said, walking toward the one who had answered me.

"What is it, Fletcher?" the older one said, turning to him.
That's who it was—Russell and Fletcher Tringham, who had pretended twice to be Ed and Al (although both times they had gotten into more trouble for it).

The little one, who looked maybe fourteen, stared up at him. "When're we gonna get there?" He asked, concern weighing down his voice.

"I'd say about four hours," Russell told him. "We're three hours out of Risembool, and it takes about seven hours on a rainy day."

"Do you travel by train often?" I asked him, trying to get a better feel for the country's travel habits.

"All the time," Russel told me. "It's the only way to travel." He shot me a friendly smile. "By the way, I'm Russell—And this is my little brother, Fletcher." He extended his hand to shake mine.

I smiled, taking his hand. "I'm Lana, it's nice to meet you."

He nodded. "And you. What brings you to Central?"

I paused. "I'm looking for… information," I said.

He glanced out the window at the rain-soaked countryside. "So are we, in a sense."

I nodded.

"Have you been to Central before?" Fletcher asked me.

"No," I said, with a smile. "I've heard so much about it, but I've never been there."

Russell sat down in the seat next to me. "Where are you from?" he asked.

"Oh…" I said, "We're from Risembool." Well kind of— Maybe.

"We saw a little of Risembool on our way through," Russell said thoughtfully, "But we didn't explore the town."

"It's nice there," I told him. "Quiet. But it's pretty."

He turned away, gazing out the window and across the train.

"It sounds nice," Fletcher said, sitting down in the aisle. "I'd like to visit there someday."

Winry stirred, waking up. "Whozit?" she mumbled.

"This is Russell and Fletcher," I told her. "Russell, Fletcher, this is Winry."

"Nice to meetcha," Fletcher said from his spot on the floor.

Winry yawned, and pulled herself into a sitting position. "And you," she said, rubbing her eyes.

The car seemed to get a little brighter, and I looked out the window. "Hey, look," I said, "The rain's letting up."

Russell nodded. "The clouds are breaking up on the other side. Sun's coming out over there."

Fletcher stood, and darted to the window.

"What is it?" I asked him.

"I'm looking for a rainbow!" he said.

I leaned over next to him. "Is that one, over there?" I asked him, pointing to what looked like a wash of color in the western sky.

"Hey! You're right! Look, brother, a rainbow!" Fletcher said, nodding excitedly.

We fell into easy conversation for the rest of the journey, never feeling the time go by. We pulled into Central Station, and Russell quickly left, Fletcher following closely behind him.

We got off the train and left the station, suitcases in hand. "Where to?" I asked Winry.

"Let's try to find Gracia. I haven't seen her in forever," Winry told me.

I agreed, looking around. "Let's go."

Central City was astounding. It was obvious that the city had been damaged six months previously, but the rebuilding effort was obviously being done wholeheartedly. Citizens were busily working at getting the last buildings back into full working order—I could tell that most of the homes and major locations had been repaired first, and that it was the warehouses and more common buildings that had waited with tarps and wood for keeping out the rain. We made our way through the more touristy streets near the train station, and into the residential district. Winry led me along a network of streets until we came upon a pretty townhouse with a white façade and pillars on the front porch. She stepped up onto the porch, and knocked, as I stepped up behind her.

The door was opened by a little girl who looked no more than six years old.

"Elysia!" Winry said, as the little girl pushed the door open further.

"WINRY!" the little girl cried. "MAMA! WINRY'S HERE!"

A tired-looking woman stepped into the foyer, and her eyes widened in surprise.

"Winry!" she said, rushing over to give the teenager a hug. "It's been so long. How have you been?"

"I've been fine, Mrs. Hughes," Winry said, stepping into the foyer. "How are you? Are you and Elysia doing okay?"

"The military has been kind to us," Gracia said. "Who's your friend?"

"Oh, this is Lana," Winry said, stepping aside. "She's visiting Central, so I came with her."

"Come in, dear," Gracia said, "I apologize. The house is a little messy right now, I've been busy working with the recovery groups."

I followed them into a small parlor where a fire burned cheerfully. I noticed what looked like a dozen photos on the mantel, of what looked like a man and a woman, and in a few, a small child.

"Lana, this is Mrs. Hughes," Winry said, introducing her.

"It's nice to meet you," I said, as Winry and I sat on the couch.

"Can I get you anything?" Gracia asked us. "I have tea, and Elysia and I made cookies yesterday."

"Mama's cookies are the best!" Elysia said, climbing onto Winry's lap. She giggled as Winry tickled her.

"That would be wonderful," I said, smiling.

She came back with a tray laden with tea and cookies within minutes. "So what brings you to Central?" she asked.

I glanced at Winry. "I'm planning on becoming a State Alchemist," I told her, "And I need to find training before I take the exam."

"Why do you want to do that?" Gracia asked me, a look of concern flitting across her face. "It's dangerous work."

"I know," I said with a nod, "But there are better resources through the military than there are for civilian Alchemists."

"What are you researching?" she asked me. "What's your field?"
I sighed. "I… don't know if I can tell you that," I said. "It's too hard to explain."

She nodded, not pressing the issue. "Where are you staying?" she asked us.

Winry squirmed where she sat on the couch. "We… don't have anywhere, yet."

Gracia laughed. "Well, if you'd like, you may spend the night here."

We made small talk for a little while after that, until the tea had been finished off, and the cookies nearly so.

Winry was the first to stand, after Elysia had climbed off of her lap. "Thank you very

much, Gracia," she said, "But I need to see if Scieszka has a certain book that I think Lana would find useful."

I stood, and we left for Scieszka's home.