A/N: Action alert! Also remembered to put a disclaimer in! Yay!

DISCLAIMER- I do not own FullMetal Alchemist, neither do I get any money out of this.

Chapter 4

Edward was currently sitting on the edge of his bed, pulling on his boots. He had already performed an automail maintenance check, so he was pretty sure nothing would go wrong in this fight. Ed had changed clothes so he was wearing something similar to his usual attire but not anything too recognisable as the Fullmetal Alchemist. Edward smiled to himself. He had found a stone! He could finally start to get Al's body back. However there was always that voice at the back of his head, making him doubt the authenticity of the stone, or even making him believe he was going to lose the fight. Ed did his best to ignore this voice, but it was hard to, as it was always there, niggling its way into his mind and unearthing his deepest fears.

Ed stood up suddenly, not wanting to waste anymore time sitting around doing nothing, just needing to go and get the stone. He walked over to the door and opened it abruptly, shutting it behind him with equal ferocity. Stomping down the stairs in his black boots, he was wondering about the advantages and disadvantages he had. For one the man obviously had the Philosophers Stone, meaning he could use it in a fight to a great degree, but Ed had little doubt that he was the best hand to hand fighter between them.

Edward reached the main floor and swung the front door open. He was greeted by a big gust of wind that had brought along some rain with it. Great. He hadn't even noticed that it was raining. That would be yet another disadvantage against him. Still, it didn't put him off, as he stepped outside, putting his hood up and huddling into his coat's meagre warmth and protection from the rain. Ed made his way down the street heading in the direction of the park. He passed the church again, and all the shops before coming to a stop before the dark green grass, marking the start of the park. Ed stealthily passed around the grass making for the woods, treading silently. When he reached them, Ed wrapped his cloak tighter around himself and transmuted his automail into his signature knife. He then continued forward, making his way towards the small caravan/house at the back of the raised platform. Ed was about 5 metres away from it, when the door swung open and the man stomped out. Ed froze for a second , his muscles tensing. The man's eyes widened and stepped back quickly about to run back into the caravan. Before that could happen though, Ed sprung forward blocking his path. He shook his head and grinned.

"Nuh uh! You ain't going anywhere!"

And with that he leapt forward. A bright red light flashed, and from the corner of his eyes he noticed wooden spikes emerging from the walls of the caravan. He dodged them, leaping from side to side, his breathing accelerated. He ended up crouching on the ground staring at the man as he grinned instead.

"Where was I going again? Oh yes. Away from you!"

He turned and ran, with Edward following right behind him. They ran back through the park, while Ed tried to stop the man running by springing up traps and walls in front of him. None of them worked though, so they continued to run down the streets. It was quite late at night so no one had noticed them yet. Ed's breathing was laboured, his stumps aching, and he knew he had to end this soon. Meanwhile the man was actually making a deliberate path towards the centre of town. Ed noticed this and wondered why in the world the man was heading towards the most populated area, as then there would be more spectators.

They continued their chase through town, and Ed wirely thought of Mustang slagging him off about taking so long. His right leg was starting to ache, but he pushed himself to an even greater speed. The man was taking a left and Ed realised where he was going. The church.

Feet slamming into the ground, the man swung open the heavy oak door and shut it with a bang behind him, clicking the lock into place. Ed skidded to a halt in front of the door but not for long. He clapped his hands and placed them on the doors. They burst open, and he set off running again, weaving through the pews. Behind the pulpit,with the golden eagle spreading its wings in flight, up the winding staircase, through a small trapdoor and up on to the church roof. Why was the man coming up here? It wasn't like there was an escape route or something.

The man was right on the edge and for a moment Ed was afraid he was going to jump. But then he turned around, spreading his palms open, revealing a bright red stone.

"If you take one step closer I will blow up the ground around your feet. So don't come any closer, you hear me?" He said, with a slightly hysterical tone.

Ed paused. He couldn't risk getting any closer, or he would be blown skyhigh. On the other hand though, he couldn't just wait here and do nothing. Best thing to do, he decided, would be to stall the man until he was distracted. Then Ed would make his move.

"Right. Of course you will. Who would have the guts to that?" Ed allowed a sarcastic tone to enter his voice, goading the man.

"I would! The Strong Will Alchemist, Alec Cartwright!"

Well, Ed hadn't expected him to do that. Wait...

"You're a State Alchemist?" Ed raised his eyebrows. Another rogue State Alchemist. They always gave the military trouble. No doubt this Cartwright guy was now trying to make his living doing those 'magic' tricks. The man did look slightly familiar though.

"Of course I was! Now will you still continue aggravate me?" Cartwright said in a superior voice, believing the child would back down as soon as he mentioned anything official.

"Huh. Course I will. After all you have to pick on someone your own size don't you?" Ed dipped his hand into his pocket and pulled his pocket watch out, the silver catching the light.

"No way! The military doesn't recruit children!" He spat out the last word, as if it was blasphemous.

"Really." Ed grinned, revelling in the other mans disbelief, even overlooking the fact that he had called him a child. "The name Edward Elric, Fullmetal Alchemist ring any bells?"

"What? You're the Fullmetal Alchemist? But why did you get such a name?" The man managed to splutter that much out.

"Yep! And by how I got the name... well you'll soon find out." Ed glared at the man, and with a clap of his hands transmuted his automail, all at once revealing it, and getting ready for a fight. "So how are you going to manage to blow up the ground again?"

Cartwright raised his eyebrows at the automail. "Well, well, well some of us have been keeping a few secrets. Oh and you probably shouldn't attack me, considering the giant transmutation circle between us. Whoever steps on it, if they have ever used alchemy, will activate it." He smiled sarcastically.

Ed chuckled and stepped back a few paces. "Good thing I can do this then!" Ed ran quickly forward and at the last moment, sprung up into the air leaping over the transmutation circle. Alec's eyes grew wide at the astonishing leap. He then snarled animalistically and sent a spinning kick Ed's way. Edward dodged it gracefully, and crouched onto the ground, regaining his breath, before sprinting forward to punch him in the face.

Cartwright leant backwards dodging the blow, bringing his hand up to catch the automail fist. His hand clenched around it, and he pulled sharply on the piece of metal. With an ear wrenching groan, the automail arm was ripped from his port and flung off the building. Ed struggled to breathe, trying to comprehend the pain he was in. His eyes rolled back up into their sockets, and he lurched, trying to find his balance. Cartwright started to laugh, his whole body shaking from hysterics.

"Useless now aren't you! Cripple!" The man laughed again, before grabbing hold of Ed's braid and pulling him over to the edge of the church roof, until most of Eds body was leaning over the side. "See that view, Fullmetal? See it? Thats the last thing your going to see before you die!"

Ed's legs trembled, and he breathed in deeply, unable to look away from the street below, which was now meant to be his resting place. He could almost imagine a squished Edward lying down there. How had the fight gone so wrong? How on earth was he going to explain this to Mustang? That was a pointless thought. It wasn't like he was going to be seeing Mustang or anybody else any time soon.

Cartwright lowered his head until his mouth was right next to Ed's ear.

"Remember my face Edward. Remember that I killed you. Don't ever forget."

And with that he let go. Ed toppled off the side and all he could think of was how ironic it was that he was finally meeting his end, and it was going to be on a fucking church.

A/N- Woooo! Longest chapter yet! Gives myself a present of internet cookies. Thanks for reading and please reveiw!

Fullmetalsoul0062