Author's Note: Guess what! I got to compete last weekend. It was sooo much fun, I got third and seventh. I skated two clean programs though and I was proud of that.

My lousy excuses: Anyone else's school districts never have snow days? Well we had one. I was lying in bed when my dad played the message from our school. I GOT UP AT 6:30 FOR NOTHING THEN COULDN'T GET BACK TO SLEEP!

I also got sick and my parents wouldn't let me be on the computer. I also got a bit obsessed with D. Gray Man.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or Harry Potter. My life would be better if I did though…

Chapter 8

Normal POV

"Did you find anything?" Dumbledore had his best aurors to like for Ed but the trail ended in a strange circle.

"Sorry, but all the tracking spells ended at the circle." Tonks reported. Dumbledore nodded. He didn't want to give up hope. "Thank you anyway. I believed this to be the case but I had to sure. I will inform Professors Mustang and Hohenheim."

Tonks nodded and left.

'So the homunculi want Ed to make their father a god? That's strange, how would he manage that? With alchemy? It seems impossible. And he wants to make Amestris into a Philosophers' stone. What a curious world they live in. Have they really figured out a way to do that? How much more can you do with alchemy that they haven't already done? Flamel and I barely touched the surface of what it could do and we had to use magic with it.' This had been bothering Dumbledore since the day he found out about the homunculi.

He got up from his chair and went to see Roy. He needed to figure out their next move.

Roy POV

Where the hell have the homunculi taken Ed? How could he have left himself open to their attack like that? I really need to kick his ass in gear. What would his teacher say? First she'd kill me, then him. Or was it the other way around? Either way. I'd rather meet Hawkeye then Izumi any day.

Someone knocked on my door. "What?" I growled.

"May I come in?" That was Dumbledore's voice.

"Sure." His eyes were not sparkling as usual. "Do you have anything?" I knew he wouldn't. The bastards probably took him back to Amestris and we couldn't get back there unless someone summoned us.

He shook his head. "I think that he's back in your world."

"You confirmed what I already knew."

"I shall leave you to your thoughts." With that he left.

Ed POV

Stupid homunculi, stupid father, stupid TRUTH! How the hell was that equivalent? I was shoved back here when I was finally getting some damn information.

"Pst, kid," it was Greed in his new body.

"Who you callen' a-"

"Pipsqueak? You, now shut up and listen carefully. I happen to hate the guy who captured you too, so here's what I'm gonna do. I'm going to loosen your bonds and give you your limbs back. You are going to sneak out of here and head out of town. I'll catch up."

"How can I trust you?" I hissed. "You brought me here in the first place."

"It's that or become a human sacrifice."

He had a point. "All right but I'm free afterwards, right?"

"We'll see," with that he shoved my limbs into place. He surprisingly did it right the first time which saved me the pain of doing it again. He untied the rope enough so I could escape but it still looked believable.

"If you hear yelling, it's me. If you hear screaming, it's one of us dying. That's you cue."

Screams of pain, wonderful cue. But I listened, waited, and eventually I heard Greed's yells. Then (Lust's?) screams of pain. I made a hole in the ceiling.

It was dirt! I continued my way up until I saw light. It was a streetlamp. I came up on an alleyway. I saw a suit of armor with a skull mask creeping behind some boxes. A lady with groceries and a dog was walking straight to him. The man jumped out.

"I am the infamous serial killer, Barry the Chopper!"

The lady dropped the leash and pulled out a gun. She shot a round. Is that Black Hayate? So that means that's Hawkeye!

"Maybe that didn't scare you but this will have you cowering in fear!" He pulled off his helmet. There wasn't anyone inside. Her eyebrows rose and she fired again.

"What! You should be cowering in fear." He sounded defeated.

"I actually knew someone like you." Her voice was soft.

"Let me guess Alphonse? I heard about him. He was that Fullmetal kid's brother right?"

"How did you know that?"

"Serial killers get around, but let me tell you. You are one strong woman!" She fired again.

"Hey kid." The voice was right behind me. "Close the hole and let's get out of here." I knew it was Greed. I didn't really want to leave but decided I had too. I softly clapped my hands. My blue light flashed but we were running long before that.

We ducked down alleys and dimly lit streets until we reached the outskirts of Central.

"Why did you help me?" I asked. Seriously, you're a homunculus. You spit on humans and think you're superior. Why would you help one?

"Ling told me to-" he groaned. "Damn it-"

"I'm Ling Yao. He took this body, that's the only reason Greed's here, although I was searching for immortality. So maybe this is meant to be."

"Uh huh," was all I could manage. "So you're…"

"I'm a prince. The prince of the Yao clan in Xing." I burst out laughing. That was the stupidest thing I've ever heard.

"It's true, I-" he paused. "Come on Greed this is my body, let me stay in control."

"Not on your life kid, anyway I rescued you because father needs you. You are important so I stole you. I'm Greed. I want anything you can imagine. I want it all. If father thinks he can become a god, well, I want it too."

"So you stole me for the same purpose as the person's who you stole from? You could have just waited until he had all of us you know."

"I didn't think this through." Greed declared.

"No shit. You know I could just escape, right?"

Normal POV

"Greed has betrayed us." Father declared. "He is now the enemy so I want you to find him and bring him back here, Envy, Lust and Gluttony."

"We will follow your commands father, but what happens if that kid left for the other world?" Lust asked.

"No mistakes! If that happens I will send Pride so we can get this done correctly. Oh, and Wrath?"

"Yes?"

"If you get the chance you may kill him too."

"Of course."

Greed POV

"Come on kid, we don't have time for this. Ugg." This kid is so annoying.

Maybe you should tell him that's not what you're after and gain his trust. He would be a helpful ally.

You know kid, every once in a while you have good ideas.

"All right, Edward? Right? Anyway, I'm sorry; I didn't mean it when I said I wanted you to be my human sacrifice. Okay?"

Ed rolled his eyes. "You're lying through your teeth."

Damn this kid's good.

Tell him I changed your mind.

"Ling changed my mind."

He seemed to think about that one, "I don't trust you. How can you prove it? Will you let me get Al back? Would you let me get to the other side?"

Is it worth it or should I tie him down?

It might be a good idea. He gets his brother back, and then we would have two!

And if we got Mustang he would be the candidate for the third.

He could lead us straight to Izumi.

And if we crossed over too we could find Hohenheim.

"Sure kid, if you want too, we'll let you." I grinned. His face brightened a bit.

"So what are we going to do first?" he asked.

"We need a few allies. That way we can have a guard and you can work without getting disturbed."

"Sounds all right. Where do we get these allies?"

"The Underground of course."

Normal POV

"How do you propose going about this Mustang? How would we get to your world?" Snape was intrigued.

"Well I guess I could try to undo Ed's alchemy, but it would be challenging considering I've never done anything like that before." Roy was shuffling through his notes. "Maybe Ed's notes would help." He walked over to his desk. He shifted through a huge pile of notes. "Great, there're all in code. Nobody cracks Ed's code. Not even his brother."

Snape sighed; they had hit a dead end. Dumbledore had insisted that he go and help, his subject being the most like alchemy, but this was way over his head. He knew about basic alchemy, nothing about this other world or Gate thing. "Perhaps, I could be of assistance?" he asked.

Roy sighed and handed him the notes. Snape started to look them over and became more and more confused as he read. "This looks like a recipe. For stew. How does this translate into alchemy?"

"They say alchemy was born in the kitchen."

"I don't think I will be much help." Roy smirked, "I didn't think you would be."

Snape handed him back the notes and left with a sneer.

Roy POV

I really hope these kids studied. I walked into Ed's class. They were all staring at me. Wonderful, they going to bombard me with questions. "What are your questions? I'm not starting this class for half an hour, in which time you will ask me questions. I will answer to the best of my ability. You may ask about anything. Begin."

All the hands went up. Roy rubbed his temples.

"We'll go down the rows." He nodded to the only Slytherin that figured out one is all and all is one.

"What happened to Sensei?" she asked quietly. All nose vanished, you could hear a pin drop.

"Ed disappeared; we don't know where he is or how to find him. I'm sure he'll come back." I was trying to convince myself as much as the kids. "He's strong and will probably be back within the month." I tried to sound confident. Those stupid kids see right through me.

"Next?" I sat down in my chair.

"I was wondering if we ever get to use alchemy again." It was a Ravenclaw girl.

"If we get through the questions then we get to use it."

"Where did you grow up?"

"Amestris."

"What did you do before you taught?"

"I was a colonel in the military." The questions rolled by, but I wasn't really listening. I went with my automatic response. That just so happened to be the truth.

"Did you kill people?"

"Yes." I thought about what she'd just said and how my response was insensitive.

"Sometimes you do things you don't want to do. Sometimes we are ordered to kill and we don't even know the reason for it. I didn't know why we did it then but now I do." I amended.

"Why did you kill?" It was Hermione's voice. I could hear me in the words.

"Simple. I didn't want to die, the answers are simple." I said slowly. The words came the same way Hughes had said before me. Was that why I fought? Or was I- no. I didn't want to die.

"Did you fight in a war?" It was an excited Gryffindor.

"Yes."

"What was it?"

"The Ishbalan rebellion." Why do these questions have to be so personal? I said I would answer.

"I've never heard of it, as a matter of fact I've never heard of a place called Amestris either."

"You wouldn't have," I muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing. We are going to start class now," I shuffled to grab some dirt.

"All right everyone draw your transmutation circles.

"Now come here and get your dirt."

Normal POV

"So we're going to use chimeras as our allies?" Ed was disgusted. "Hey, they work for free." He turned to them. "So what's your name and what you're mixed with?"

"I'm Martel and I'm part snake."

"I'm Birdo and I'm part lizard."

"I'm Dolcetto and I'm part dog."

"I'm Roa and I'm part cow."

"See? These guys will be great!" Greed cooed.

"Whatever. By the way, where are we?"

"Dublith."

"Wha- no we can't be in Du- Dublith." He stuttered. "Well we are and I think we should stay a while. I kinda like it here."

Ed started backing away, "But it's only a matter of time."

"Before what?"

"Until she finds me."

"Who exactly?"

"Teacher." He whispered.

"Uh huh, well we'll be on the lookout for her. In the mean time you will start your research on how to get back there."

"Fine, but I'm not-"

"Freeze, we have the building surrounded. We have orders to shoot everyone." they slowly turned around.

"Hughes?" Ed breathed.

"I found him," he called. "Do not shoot, hold your fire. Ed come here." Ed ran over to the daughter complexed officer.

"All right, open fire," Hughes called once Ed was behind him.

Ed POV

I can't believe they found me. I thought I was going to become a sacrifice for sure. I knew they were using me to get to my friends and family and that's the only reason they were helping me. Why should I care what happens to them?

I watched as the officers open fire on the chimeras and the homunculus. They scattered. "Everyone move out." Hughes called. Then he turned to me. "Ed are you all right? Did they hurt you?" I shook my head. Should I tell him? It might be the only chance I have to have help in getting Al back.

"Is Roy with you?" I shook my head.

"Is he dead?"

"No, he's in a different world."

I could have sworn he muttered, "Head trauma."

"All right, let's get you back to headquarters." I didn't protest. As we were walking out I kept my eyes glued to the floor. But Hughes stopped and I didn't see it so I bumped into him. "What the heck-"

I looked up. He was saluting; I followed his gaze. It was King Bradley. I instantly straightened up and saluted as well. I hadn't forgotten proper manners while I was gone.

"At ease, oh, Fullmetal. I'm so glad you're okay." He smiled. "I'll talk to you later, all right?"

"Yes sir."

He continued walking and pulled out a sword. Hughes pulled me into a car.

"Ed, it's so good to see you, we thought you were dead. So now that that's settled," he dug into his pocket. "Look how big Elysia's gotten. She's so cute."

"You're still the same major, nice and insane." I laughed.

"Lieutenant colonel." He corrected.

"Nice job with the promotion, congratulations."

"Yep, got me in charge of court marshal investigations."

"Sounds fun filled beyond relief." I said sarcastically.

"We should get you checked by a doctor."

"I'm fine, but I'm not going anywhere near a doctor."

"You and I both know that isn't true."

"But it is," it actually was. I wasn't hurt or bleeding anywhere I could remember.

"All right, fine." Hughes sighed. I obviously was telling the truth. "So where have you been for the past year. We haven't been able to find you. Elsya has been worried about you and so has my wife."

"I told you I was in a different world." (At that point I proceeded to explain the past year at the order and the school.)

"Well then you need to go back." He smiled. "Roy would kill you if you left him there."

"Well I'll need a place to work and a few days. But wait- What will I tell the Fhuer?" I was worried. What if he doesn't let me go back? What if I get into trouble for being found with the chimera and the homunculus? I might not be able to get back and Al would stay gone! I can't let that happen.

"Don't worry I'll take care of it." Hughes smiled.

"Thanks." How? How could he make something up that's good enough to fool the Fhuer? Is that even possible?

Author's note:

I know it's shorter despite how long it took, but along with my multitude of excuses, my parents think I should be more focused on school. School, I ask you. Anyway I apologize and will try to write again a lot sooner that this time.

Reviews are greatly appreciated.

Anyone got a really good anime that they've been watching? Someone tell me a good one, please:) Or books, I'll take those ideas too!