SCA: And we're-

Ed: Don't you dare

SCA: Wha? Why not?

Ed: Its annoying, hearing that everytime. Think of something else.

SCA: B-but, I can't! -cries-

Ed: Gah! Hey, stop crying!

Emily: ohmigosh

Al: -sighs- The sugar-crazed alchemist doesn't own FMA or iPods.

Let the chapter begin!

*EDITED: JANUARY 8-13, 2011*

Chapter 4: I'll take the horse please

"Allie! Allie! Come back!"

"What?" Alice looked around, confused. She wasn't quite sure where she was, but it looked a lot like the locker rooms of her school's gym. The voice...that was familiar as well. But just who was it?

"Who's there?"

"Me of course!" the voice called, coming closer. "Who else would I be?"

"That doesn't tell me anything!" Alice cried, standing up. She had been sitting on one of the benches without realizing it.

"Oh fine. Gee, Allie. You take the fun out of everything! It's me, the lovely -!"

Alice waited, staring at the locker in front of her. When it was clear the person wasn't going to repeat what they had said, she spoke up.

"I'm sorry, I didn't quite catch that..."

"See? That's what you get for listening to loud music all the time. I said, it's me, -." the voice replied, coming from the other side of the block of lockers Alice was in.

She tilted her head a bit, narrowing her eyes. Was the person really not saying their name? Or could she just not hear it? Why couldn't she hear it? Alice strode around the lockers, opening her mouth to tell the person to stop messing around. The words died in her throat as she arrived at her destination. There was a girl sitting on the bench, right in front of Alice's locker actually. She had long blonde hair, pulled back in a ponytail. The girl turned as Alice walked closer.

"Geez Allie, took you long enough. What were you doing over there anyway?" Alice almost screamed. The girl had no face. She was speaking, she even sounded like she was smiling, and she had no face. Alice wasn't sure if this was real or if she was seeing things, so she voiced her observation.

"Of course I have a face silly." the girl replied, standing up. "How could I not have a face? Now hurry up and get dressed. - is waiting for us."

Again with the missing names. Something told her that she knew this girl, that she was important, close to her. That she should have a face and a name. And yet she had neither. Alice couldn't figure out why the girl seemed so familiar. Wringing her hands, Alice stepped back a bit.

"Do I know you?" she asked. The girl in front of her froze, turning to stare at her. Or at least, she assumed the blonde was staring. It was hard to tell when there was no face.

"What kind of question is that Alice? Of course you know me. We're practically sisters."

"I-I don't know...I can't seem...to reme-" Alice was cut off by a rude shaking. But the girl was no where near her. So who was doing the shaking? Another voice drifted into the locker room, commanding her to 'wake up now or die.' But how was she supposed to wake herself up? It didn't work like that. But then the lockers, and the girl, melted away, shifting to darkness. Understanding that she was now awake and just hadn't opened her eyes yet, she did so, looking around.

Edward was sitting beside her, his hand on her shoulder, his eyes glinting with anger.

"Can I help you?" Alice muttered groggily, rubbing her eyes.

"Yes. Since Armstrong is gone for the moment, why don't you try and give me proof that you're not lying?" he replied, his eye's narrowing.

"Proof?"

"Yes, proof. Proof that you're not connected to Scar. Give me a reason to trust you. And don't waste my time either. You should consider yourself lucky I'm giving you this chance."

Alice glared at him sitting up. "Lucky? Why on Earth should I consider myself lucky that you're giving me a chance? If you have such a problem with me, then take care of it. I don't need you to survive."

"Don't be so sure about that. You don't know where anything is, right Miss 'I've-never-been-to-Amestris-before'?" Ed countered, smirking at her. Alice twitched in anger, her hands shaking with the urge to slap the cocky blonde. To think she had considered him a bishie!

"Alright" she growled, pulling a dollar bill out of her wallet, "You want proof? I'll give you proof. This will be exhibit A. The American dollar bill."

"That could easily be forged." Edward scoffed, pushing it away.

"Fine, then here's exhibit B. The iPod," she stated, holding it up for Ed to see. "This is a purple, 8 GB, 4th generation iPod nano. It's an electronic device made specifically for music listening but can also be used for T.V watching, App using, timing, and gaming. I received it from my grandparents about two years ago." she looked up at Ed, glaring at him through her lashes. "I'll tell you right now, I am not smart enough to make something like this. It's way too complicated. Go ahead and look at it. Isn't this at least a bit of proof?"

Edward took it, turning it over and over in his hands, studying it. When it looked like he was going to take it apart, Alice snatched it back, stuffing it in her pocket.

"Well?"

Ed stared at her, his eye's narrowed a bit. After what seemed like an eternity, he turned away.

"Well, I'll admit that that...iPod thing is extremely strange. Something that we definitely don't have here. Because of that, I'll believe your story about being from this..."America" place. For now. But." he held up a finger, turning to look at her. "That doesn't mean you have my complete trust. You only have a small fraction of it. Remember that."

"Fine. It's not like I was asking for it anyway." Alice replied, turning to look out the window with a frown.

"Good, you're both awake. We'll be arriving in Resembool in a few minutes."

Alice and Edward both glanced up to find Armstong hovering over them, a newspaper held in his hand. The muscular man seemingly oblivious to the tension between the two teens as he reached for his bag.

~X~

Ten minutes later found the three walking down a dirt road, Alphonse hitching a ride on the Major's shoulder.

"God," Alice muttered softly. "And I thought riding a horse was bad.(2) I didn't think my butt could hurt so much!"

"Oh shut up," Ed growled, just as softly. "It was just a train."

"Yeah, but the trains back home are all soft and fluffy compared to that thing."

"I thought you had never ridden a train before?"

"I haven't, but I know people who have."

"Oh. Hey, Armstrong, that's the house up there." he said, somehow pointing to the yellow house without dropping his suitcase. Alice didn't understand how he could do such a thing.

"Hey Winry! Our regulars are here!" Alice looked up to see a little old woman standing in front of the yellow house, a dog sitting beside her. Ed came to a stop ahead of her.

"Granny Pinako! I'm gonna need your help again!" Pinako just smiled as the group walked up to the house. Armstrong set Al down and Ed began the introductions.

"Granny, this is Major Armstrong."

"Nice to meet you," She said, shaking Armstrongs hand. "I'm Pinako Rockbell. And who's this?" She asked, turning to Alice.

"This is Alice Smith." Alice shook her hand, trying to ignore the fact that Ed's voice held thinly veiled anger as he said her name.

"So," said Pinako, "This your girlfriend?" Or maybe that was just her who could hear the anger. Alice and Ed both turned beet red before they started shouting denials. They were interrupted by a flying, silver object which crashed into Ed's head. Alice stared in shock, her irritation momentarily forgotten.

"How many times do I have to tell you to call before you come in for maintenance!"

Alice looked up to find a blonde haired girl, who she assumed was Winry Rockbell, standing on the upstairs porch.

"Winry you jerk!" Ed yelled, suddenly jumping up, "You coulda killed me!"

Winry just laughed. "Welcome back!"

A few minutes later, they were all sitting(or standing) in the house. Winry turned to Alice while Ed and Pinako yelled at each other about heights.

"So, whats your name?"

"I'm Alice Smith." Alice held out her hand. Winry took it, smiling.

"I'm Winry Rockbell. You know, you look a lot like the girl that's staying with us."

"I do?" asked Alice, surprised,"What's her name?"

"Her name's Emily Hill."

"What?" Alice cried, sitting up. She froze, realizing that everyone was staring at her(or glaring in Edward's case). She mumbled a quick apologize before she turned back to blonde seated beside her. "Where is she at?"

"Well, she's still asleep at the moment."

"I don't care. What room?"

"Upstairs, last room on the left."

Alice could feel everyone watching her as she ran up the stairs, but she ignored them. She was good at that. She sped down the hall, throwing her arms out to stop herself when she came to the aforementioned door. She threw it open, spotting the lump on the bed right away. She strode over to it, violently throwing the blanket back.

"Ugh...five more minutes..." the girl mumbled, rolling over.

"Emily Grace Hill!" Alice hissed. "I am not your mother. Now get up!." The girl gave a grunt but made no move to get up. Alice sighed, leaning forward and jabbing her fingers into Emily's sides. Emily's eyes shot open and she sat up with a yelp.

"God Allie! Don't poke me! How many times do I have...wait...Allie?"

"Yep."

"Seriously? Alice?" Alice nodded," Wait, I need proof."

"Huh? Proof? Wh- EKK!" Alice fell back, holding her side, "How dare you poke me!"

Emily started laughing before she climbed out of the bed and hugged her friend.

"Uh, Emily?" said Alice, raising an eyebrow. "Are you feeling ok? I mean, usually you're not huggy like this."

"I know. I'm just glad your here."

"Well, I'm glad I'm so loved." she replied, hugging her back with a smile. For now, Ed's pissy attitude didn't matter. Neither did Armstrong's creepyness or Al's lost of metal limbs or how insane this place seemed to be. None of it mattered, because she wasn't alone anymore.

*EDITED: JANUARY 8- 13, 2011*

(2): If you have ever riden a trotting or running horse, you'll know what I mean.

SCA:Done! Yay!

Ed: Finally

SCA: Shut up Ed. You should be lucky I didn't make this a yoai.

Ed: Ugh...thank goodness -eye twitch-

Alice: Please review!

Al: What are we giving them?

Emily: Um...what about Roy plushies?

Ed: Who'd want those?

Alice: You'd be surprised

Al: We'll give you Roy plushies!