Disclaimer: Don't own. Wish I did.

"Go have fun. Explore the town. Learn a little about physics or sheep. Don't get into any trouble. Perenelle and I have business to attend to, so we might be gone for a few days. Food and lodging have been prepaid for. Just don't blow up the town."

"Don't blow up the town. For a guy centuries old, he sure has a sick sense of humor. It's not like we try to destroy every place we go. That's Dee's job." Josh huffed out. Sophie shrugged, then punched her brother's shoulder.

"Not true. You're pretty destructive too. After all, it was you who crashed the Hummer in the park." She didn't mention that he had done it to save them from the walking dead.

"Pff," dismissed Josh, waving his hand languidly.

They had spent the next few days just casually walking around, attempting to talk to the locals. Attempting, because no one in town the village of them spoke a word of English, and the twins didn't know any German. Nicholas and Perenelle had done all the talking when they had first arrived, but neither of them were here at the moment. The only people who spoke English was Hallin, who was busy, and that mysterious man Josh had encountered the first night there. Speaking of the strange man…. Just who was he? Josh had never seen again after that incident, and he had been all around the village already (not that that was hard to do.) He even had thought about asking Hallin, but decided against it. He had told Sophie about him, but she had merely brushed him off as a friendly local. But Josh had a nagging feeling that he wasn't just that, that he was more. But maybe he was just being paranoid. He really wished that he was allowed to use his powers (not that he would, mind you. He just wanted the option), but the scent could be traced and tracked, and that would ruin the whole point of coming to Germany. He just wanted something to protect himself, and everyone else, with. At times like this, he really regretted leaving Clarent behind, but he acknowledged getting away and surviving had been more important. Shame though… he missed having the stone sword, swinging it, the weight comfortable in his hands. But it was worth it, just to make sure Sophie was safe. Even though she was older (by only a little), he had always felt like she was his little sister. Lately though, it seems like a gap had appeared, that was constantly growing. Soon, this chasm wouldn't be crossable. Josh sighed. He felt like blaming Flamel. All the trouble had started with them- the bookstore, Sophie Awakening, the Witch pouring all her memories into his baby sister... It just seemed like the whole world was against them at times like these. And this place was boring. He had expected Risemburg to be dull, but not this dull. There was literally nothing to do.

"Hey, Josh?" Sophie's voice broke through Josh's reverie. She had walked up behind him without him noticing. He looked up.

"Hmm? Oh, it's you, Soph. What's up? Find anything to do in this boring place?" She laughed a little at his facial expression.

"Well, it has been kinda boring. Um... well, you remember how Nicholas said that we were supposed to be their assistants, and they were two traveling, researching scientists, right?" Josh nodded. "Well, Nicholas was kinda explaining physics to me, and it did sound a little interesting. It's just a thought... but maybe we could do some more research and learn a little more? Together? It seems like we never do anything together anymore."

Josh felt his heart lift. So she had noticed too. Maybe this chasm, this gap, wasn't completely uncrossable after all. He felt his throat well up with emotion, and his voice came out a little croaky. "Sure, Soph."

She looked at him, then playfully asked, "Hey, you okay? Cause if you're coming down with something, I could go by myself..."

"No, no, I'm fine. So, what do you plan to do? It's not like they have a public library here."

"We-ell... maybe we could ask Hallin if he knows where we can get some information, since he lives here and is the only guy who can understand us."

"Don't forget the blond guy."

Sophie frowned. "Josh, I think you're obsessing over him a little too much. Besides, maybe you were hallucinating, and he wa just a figment of your crazy imagination. I didn't see him."

"Yeah, but you were talking to Flamel the whole time. If you don't believe me, just ask Halli..." Josh's voice trailed off. Of course. Why hadn't he thought of it sooner? Instead of fruitlessly searching the village, he could of asked Hallin about the man. They had known each other, from the look of things. He turned back to his twin. "Yeah, let's go find Hallin."

The two siblings walked back through town to the local inn. They past the blond boy washing the windows (his name... the man had called him kyle, right?) and walked inside in search of the innkeeper. They eventually found him in the kitchen, stirring a big pot of what looked like stew. He looked up as they approached.

"Gut afternoon, kids. Do you want some stew?" The two shook their heads. They had come for information, not food. Hallin continued stirring the pot.

"Actually, we had a few questions, if you don't mind."

"Go on."

"Well, Josh was wondering about a blond man who helped him bring in a suitcase the first night we were here, and I wanted to know if you know where I could find some information on physics." At this Hallin stopped stirring his soup. He walked over to a cabinet and removed one of those container-thingies your mom always has in the kitchen. After he found it, he brought it over and started ladling the stew into it. Josh and Sophie didn't know whether he had heard them or not. Josh decided to repeat the questions.

"Um, we were wondering if-"

"Edward."

"Huh?" Hallin looked at them, still ladling soup.

"I said, Edward. Edward Elric. He's the answer to both your questions. Ed was the one who helped Herr Josh, and he's the only one here who knows physics. He lives right out of town. Just follow the dirt road to the forest. He likes his isolation, but comes into town once and a while. Actually, he once helped save the inn, and my family, when these two hooligans tried burning us down. He single-handedly got Kyle out, then managed to somehow douse the flames. If you're going to visit him now, you might as well bring this stew to him. It's one of the only ways we can get him to consume dairy, since he despises milk." Josh took the container gingerly. It was warm, bordering on hot. While holding it, Hallin gave Sophie the rough directions to where this Edward lived. Sophie smiled.

"Thanks, Hallin." He waved a hand.

"Nein, frauline, the pleasure was mine. Give Ed my best regards."

"We will." As they turned around to leave, they looked back, just in time to see Hallin's stew bubble over, and hit the stove. A column of flame leapt up, searing Hallin's eyebrows.

"SHIT!"

Author's note: Oh dear, oh dear... I tried, but couldn't, write a German accent. If anyone wants to give me tips, feel free to do so. Seriously. What else... oh yes, please review!