Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.

A/N: I'm sorry this took so long, but I've been busy. Also, my updates might start taking longer like this one. These last few weeks have been busy. But now my updates might take longer because I got a summer job.

Fullmetal Alchemist: Conspiracy

Fullmetal Alchemist quote:

"This is our home and our coffin."- Boss

"Talking"

Thoughts

Chapter 12: Youswell Coalmines

Al looked at his brother nervously when he came to visit him later that day. He twiddled his fingers and avoided eye contact with his brother. He sat in a chair near the bed.

The state alchemist ate the food that Al brought him anxiously. The way his brother was acting was making him nervous to. After about ten minutes of it, Edward had enough. "Okay Al, what is wrong?"

"Brother, have you been crying?" Al asked, avoiding his brother's question.

Edward looked away from his brother. "Sort of. Not really crying, just being stupid."

"Were you crying about what you and the Colonel were talking about?" Al asked.

Ed's head whipped around to look at his brother. "What do you know?" He growled in a low, dangerous voice.

Al flinched back from his brother's voice. "I was outside the door with Maria and Brosh when you were telling him. I heard everything. I was eavesdropping. Maria and Brosh stood away from the door. They didn't think it was right to listen in."

All the nervousness in the room disappeared to be replaced by tension. Al was looking at his brother scared and worriedly, while Ed had fear and anger on his face. "A-al, I never wanted you to know." Edward swallowed a lump in his throat.

"Brother, I had a right to know. You're my brother. Nothing is going to change that." Al started, jumping to his feet. His worry changed to anger. "We're brothers! I can't believe you would hide something like this. We tell each other everything. You're all I have left and you're keeping secrets."

Edward looked at his brother with sad eyes. "Al…I didn't tell you because I was afraid. I thought if you found out you would be scared of me and would hate me."

Al sighed at his brother and forgot his anger. He collapsed back in his chair. "Ed, we're brothers. Maybe I might have been scared then, but we're brothers. I could never hate you. You're all I've got left. I trust you with my life. I'll do whatever it takes to help you. No matter what happens in our lives I will never abandon you. Remember when you did human transmutation? That's illegal and yet I'm still here with you. It's cause we're brothers. Nothing is going to separate us."

"I know. I just couldn't push the fear away." Edward replied. He stared at his blankets. "Why didn't you come in after Mustang left?"

"I left after hearing the story. I needed time to myself. It felt like a betrayal because you didn't tell me on your own. I had to learn by eavesdropping." Al explained.

"I'm sorry, Al. Forgive me?"

Al stood up and hugged his brother. "It's alright, brother. So when are you getting out of here? It's lonely at the hotel by myself."

Edward laughed. "I think I should be good to go in a couple of days. Then we are leaving Central for a while."

The younger brother blinked confused. "Where are we going?"

"I'm going to be getting my first mission soon." Edward answered.

"Ah yes. The first mission that is taking forever for you to get and all because you had to annoy the Colonel and be late to your meeting. If you were on time then you wouldn't be stuck here now." Al said with a big smile on his face.

Edward grinned at his brother. "Yes, that mission."

*B*R*E*A*K*

The leader nodded his head. "He's in the hospital because of Isaac?"

The man nodded his head. "Isaac must have miscalculated and missed his heart."

"That would explain why he hasn't come back since he brought those prisoners here to join us." The leader growled. "When I ordered you all to stay away from the kid, I meant it. I want to watch him and see what he does. I don't want him dead."

The group in the room nodded their heads.

"Do you think he meant to kill him and missed by accident?" The leader snarled.

"Yes. His goal was to kill him. I don't know why he betrayed us. I never imagined that Isaac would go against one of your orders." The man answered calmly.

The leader slammed his fist on the arm rest and clenched his teeth. "Find Isaac and silence him. I don't want any information about us leaked out."

*B*R*E*A*K*

Edward stretched his arms above his head and smiled. "Finally out of that hellhole!"

"Edward, the car is this way." Hawkeye said as she led the young boy to a car.

The young alchemist frowned and lowered his arms. "Do I have to have an escort back to Central Command?"

"Yes. Do you really want to have another bad run-in with someone and have to come back here?" Havoc asked. He chewed on his cigarette and leaned back in his seat in the car. At Ed's silence, Havoc continued. "Then get in the car."

Sighing, Edward complied and got in the backseat. Hawkeye climbed into the passenger seat and nodded towards Havoc as she put her seatbelt on. Havoc started the engine and pulled out of the hospital parking lot.

"Major Elric, Colonel Mustang has informed me that I will start your lessons on how to use a gun when you return from your mission. The mission can't be put off anymore." Hawkeye replied. "After your mission you will stay here in Central for a few days to get your gun and…"

The second lieutenant slammed on his brakes in the middle of the street and turned to look at Hawkeye. His grip on the steering wheel tightened.

"What's wrong, Lieutenant?" Hawkeye asked, turning to face him. "You're holding up traffic."

"A gun?" Havoc growled through clenched teeth, as he started driving again. Out of the corner of his eye, he was watching Hawkeye. His knuckles were gripping the steering wheel so tight that they were turning white. "He is twelve years old. He shouldn't be getting a gun. What is the Colonel thinking?"

Hawkeye sighed. "He wants him to have a gun for extra protection in case he can't do alchemy for whatever reason. We don't have a choice in the matter. It was an order." She turned in her seat to look at Ed, whose eyes lost all the life in them. His hands were gripping the fabric of his pants. "Sir, the Colonel informed me of what happened a few years ago."

Edward nodded his head. "Yes, he said he was going to tell you."

"What happened a few years ago?" Havoc asked, looking at Ed in the rearview mirror.

Hawkeye closed her eyes and shook her head. "Not now, Havoc." The first lieutenant opened her eyes and looked at her superior. "It will be okay, Major. You will only ever have to use the gun in situations where you can't use alchemy. I'll help you to have perfect aim so you'll be able to hit the target somewhere where it won't kill the target."

The young major nodded his head and closed his eyes.

When Edward next opened his eyes, it was to a hand on his shoulder shaking him. "You fell asleep there, Major." Havoc said, smiling. "Come on. We're at Central Command."

Edward nodded his head and climbed out of the car. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes as he followed his comrades to Mustang's office.

"Good to see you out of the hospital, Fullmetal." Mustang greeted when Edward walked into his office.

Edward grunted in reply and sat on the couch. "Hawkeye told me you're going to send me on my mission first before she teaches me how to use a gun."

Mustang grabbed a file off his desk and tossed it to Edward. "Since it's your first mission, I'm giving you something easy. Though I'm sure you can find a way to mess it up."

The young alchemist glared at Mustang over the file. "Checking the coal mines? Is this really a mission for a state alchemist?"

"A state alchemist is sent on this kind of mission because they are suppose to have knowledge of minerals. You do have that knowledge, right?" Mustang asked. Edward nodded his head agitated. "Then you are dismissed. Your train leaves in an hour."

Growling in annoyance, Ed stomped out of the office and down the halls. He ignored all the confused looks he got. He didn't even care that they were there. When he got outside, he took a deep, calming breath and straightened his jacket that became askew with all his stomping around.

"AL!" Ed yelled when he entered his hotel room.

Al jumped in surprise and looked up from his book. "Brother?"

"Pack up, we're leaving." Ed replied as he headed to his room.

When he was done packing all his stuff, checked out of the hotel, and the two boys were leaving the hotel, Al turned to look at his brother. "Where are we going?"

"Youswell, I'm to inspect the coalmines." Ed flipped through the file and found two tickets to Youswell. "It's nice that they pay for the tickets."

Al smiled. "It's great that we get to travel and see the world. This will be fun."

Ed smiled at his brother's enthusiasm.

"Brother, you never did tell me what the philosopher stone is." Al said suddenly when they were on the train.

Ed blinked and looked away from the moving scenery. "Oh, well with everything that happened, I forgot."

"So?" Al prompted.

"The Philosopher stone is a legend that goes by many names, the Great Elixir, the Celestial Stone, the Fifth Element. It amplifies alchemical transmutations. It is said that the Philosopher stone breaks the Law of Equivalent Exchange. It is a perfect material." Ed explained, staring out the window again.

"Do you think it could be real?" Al asked after a few minutes of silence.

Ed blinked himself out of his stupor and turned away from the window to look at his little brother. "What? The Philosopher stone?"

Al nodded his head.

"I don't know. Some people think it could be." Ed leaned back and stretched his arms above his head. He rolled his shoulders, then laid down on the hard seat and closed his eyes. "Why do you ask?"

The younger boy looked away from his brother to the scenery speeding by outside. He twisted his hands around each other. "Well, if it was real…..t-then…..I…."

Sighing, Ed sat up and looked at his brother. "Al, you have to get over this shyness. Now, why do you want the stone?"

"I want to get your limbs back." Al blurted out, looking down with a blush.

Ed blinked, then again, then again, then again, before smiling. "Don't worry about me, Al. These metal limbs are my price for my sin. You don't have to worry about me."

"But they hurt you. I know they do." Al protested. "Winry told me that they will be sore and hurt when it rains. In the heat, they were burn you. In the extreme cold, you'll get frostbite, your ports will bleed, jolts of pain will shoot through your body, and your automail will eventually stop working."

Ed clapped his brother's shoulder. "Al, don't worry. I'll get used to all of this. We don't need to get my limbs back."

"But…."

"Nope. Don't need them." Ed replied. He laid back down on the wooden seat and closed his eyes. "Wake me when we get there."

Al sighed and looked around the train. It was completely empty except for him and his brother. Was the town they were heading to that boring?

"Brother." Al poked Ed in his ticklish spot. "Brother, we're here."

Ed laughed and pushed Al away. "Don't poke me there."

"We're here though." Al said.

Sighing, Ed stood up and rubbed his sore back. "Why do these seats have to be so hard?"

"Come on, brother." Al said as he grabbed his suitcase.

The brothers jumped off the train and looked at the almost completely deserted town. Only a few people were walking around.

"This looks like a poor town." Al commented.

"Doesn't look like we'll have much to do here." Ed scratched the back of his head. He looked at the kids who were working nearby and sighed. "Kids shouldn't have to work."

Al nodded his head in agreement. His eyes traveled to his brother. It wasn't fair that his brother had to work, and to make it worse it was for the military. "We should find somewhere to stay tonight."

"Are you tourists?" A boy nearby asked them.

"Yeah, I guess you could say that." Ed replied. A tourist? A tourist wouldn't come here.

"DAD!" The boy yelled. "TOURISTS!"

A man walked over to the three. He tipped his helmet at the Elric brothers. "We don't get many tourists in this part. You can stay at our inn. The finest inn in town."

"Not to mention, the only inn in town." The little boy said with a grin.

Ed rolled his eyes, but followed the two with his brother to a small, but cozy looking inn. Inside the place was filled with miners drinking alcohol. At the front desk was a kind looking woman.

"Customers, Ma." The little boy said.

"Sorry it's a little dusty. The salary for coal miners is low, so I'm working at this inn at the same time." The man said nonchalantly, but Ed and Al could see the anger in his eyes.

"What you're saying, boss?" One of the miners called, raising his beer glass. "You're the one taking cash away from guys with money problems."

Ed could tell by the man's mocking tone that the two were friends so there wouldn't be a problem.

"The wife would cry." Another miner said.

"Shut up." 'Boss' said. "If you got any complaints, pay your beer tab!"

"One night and two meals for two, right?" The 'boss's' wife asked.

Ed and Al looked away from the miners with a blanked shock expression. "How much?"

The 'boss' smirked. "It'll be expensive."

Ed grinned. "Don't worry. We may not look it, but we've got plenty of money."

The man held up two fingers. "200,000."

Ed and Al fell over in shock at the amount. When they straightened themselves out, Ed scowled at him. "That's ridiculous."

"That's why I said it's ridiculous. We have to get cash from the rare tourist." 'Boss' said.

"What now, brother?" Al whispered in Ed's ear. "We left most of the money dad left us in the bank."

Ed pulled out his wallet and started counting the money he has. "100…..125….130….150…..175…185,000. It's not enough." He ran a frustrated hand over his face. He turned to the lady behind the desk. "How much for one night and one meal?"

"That would be….." The lady thought for a moment. "150,000."

Ed groaned and whacked his head on the desk. These people were evil, trying to rip two kids off!

"Brother!"

Sighing, Ed looked at his brother with a grin. "It's not a problem, AL." He handed over 150,000 to the woman. "One night of not eating isn't going to kill me."

Al shook his head. "It's your money. You should be the one to eat."

"Al, I'm your older brother. It's my job to take care of you." Ed replied. He took the bronze key from the woman with a scowl. "It will be fine. I can eat on the train out of here tomorrow."

After much arguing, Ed and Al split the food so they could both eat.

"So, who is in charge here?" Ed asked. It was time to find out what was going on in this town.

"Lieutenant Yoki." 'Boss' snarled.

"I sense some anger at the Lieutenant. Why?" Ed asked.

"He's greedy and brought his current rank. He sends bribes to the people in Central to get what he wants." One of the miners said. "They gave him this land so it is his private property."

"He takes advantage of his rights and lowers our salary down to crumbs." Another miner growled. "Anyone who complains about him gets smacked up."

Ed and Al shared angry looks.

"Brother," Al said the next morning with a pillow over his face.

"Yeah, Al?" Ed mumbled through his own pillow.

"I think the people here are going to start a riot soon by the noise going on downstairs." Al replied. He pulled his blanket over the pillow that was covering his face. Why did people make so much noise in the morning?

Stifling a groan, Ed sat up and threw his pillow to the side. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and looked at the bed next to his. "I should probably go see what is going on."

"It is your job, Major." Al replied, stressing the last word. His brother was the military dog, not him so why should he get out of his warm, cozy bed?

Mumbling every swear word he knows and cursing the military, Ed swung his legs over the edge of the bed and stood up. He stretched his arms high above his head, releasing the cracks and aches out of his arm and back. He threw on his black outfit and red coat. "Get up, Al, and meet me downstairs."

"But brother…" Al stopped when he heard the bedroom door slam shut. Grumbling, Al got out of bed. Obviously neither Elric brother was a morning person.

"I apologize I can't do anything about our taxes being low." 'Boss' said.

"Hmph, and yet, there is more than enough to just enjoy alcohol." Lieutenant Yoki said. He covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief as if trying to keep some horrible smell that didn't exist out. It was probably his well of insinuating something insulting about the miners. "Which means, it would be acceptable if I lowered your income a little."

His statement caused an uproar.

"Why you….

"What?"

"Don't push us around." The little boy, who Ed learned was Kayal, yelled.

Splat.

Ed reached the bottom of the stairs in time to see Kayal throw a dirty rag at Lieutenant Yoki's face. The Lieutenant wiped his face with the handkerchief he was covering his face with.

"First Lieutenant! You little runt!" A lower rank officer growled.

Lieutenant Yoki backhanded Kayal.

"Kayal!" 'Boss' yelled.

The lower rank officer pulled his sword out.

"Don't give him any mercy because he's a child." Lieutenant Yoki said. "This is a warning."

The young state alchemist jumped in front of Kayal just as the officer was bringing his sword down. He raised his right arm, blocking the sword, which broke in half when it came into contact with his steel arm.

Everyone stared at Ed in surprise.

"Who the hell are you?" Lieutenant Yoki yelled in surprise.

"Incompetence, bribery, abuse of power, attacking a superior. Am I forgetting anything, Al? I don't want to leave anything out of my report." Ed looked over at his little brother, who was now at the bottom of the stairs.

"I don't think so, brother. I think you named everything." Al replied.

"This has nothing to do with you. So stay out of it." Yoki growled.

Ed smirked and pulled out his silver pocket watch, showing it to Yoki.

"The President's crest!" Yoki said shocked.

"First Lieutenant, who is that kid?" The lower rank officer asked.

"You idiot." Yoki growled. "Haven't you heard of the State Alchemists? The agency that's under the direct control of the president?"

"You mean that pipsqueak is a state alchemist?" The lower rank officer said shocked.

Ed's brow twitched at the word pipsqueak.

"This is my chance to make some connections in Central." Yoki said, most likely forgetting what Ed said about all his crimes.

"What cunning, First Lieutenant!" The lower rank officer said.

Ed's eyes narrowed in slight annoyance.

Al snorted next to his brother. "This will be entertaining."

"I apologize for my subordinate." Yoki said. "I am Yoki, the governor of this town."

Ed's eye twitched.

"It must be some sort of fate that we met like this." Yoki continued, ignorant to the fact that he was making Ed mad.

Al chuckled and took a few steps away from his brother.

The miners glared at Yoki and Ed, especially 'boss'. How could he let a state alchemist stay in his inn?

"Yoki…." Ed growled.

"Yes sir?" Yoki asked, eager to please the major.

Edward closed his eyes and took a calming breath. Before he could take the Lieutenant down, he needed to be sure the town wouldn't get another corrupt officer to run it. "I'm here to inspect the coal mines. If you could show me to them, then leave me be so I could work, it would be much appreciated."

Al looked at his brother confused. He knew Ed wouldn't leave the town the way it is, but what was he doing?

"Of course, sir."

"Stay here, Al." Ed replied.

"Okay brother."

Yoki led Ed to the mine. "It's embarrassing to talk about, but I am having trouble collecting taxes. In addition, there are many ruffians like the ones earlier…." Yoki cleared his throat. "Yes, it is really embarrassing."

"So they insist they have rights, while not paying their taxes." Ed summarized.

"That is correct, sir Edward. You're rather smart." Yoki said.

Ed smirked. "All logic in the world can be represented by the basis of alchemy, 'exact trade.' Privilege comes with duty right."

Yoki nodded his head. "I see, I see. Yes, wonderful. I wonder if you will accept this as 'logic?'"

The lower rank officer handed Ed a small drawstring bag.

"Sir Edward, because you are a state alchemist, it is thought that you would have influence with the Higher-ups. This is merely what I feel, but…." Yoki trailed off.

Ed waved the drawstring bag. "This is the so-called 'bribe,' huh?"

"What I feel." Yoki smirked. "I do not want to end my life as a petty officer of a hick town like this. You do understand?"

Ed didn't reply as he entered the coalmine.

"First Lieutenant, this concerns Hulling's store. It seems that every night, disturbing elements gather there and complain about their treatment." The low rank officer said.

"Hmph, they were being somewhat defiant earlier. How annoying." Yoki said. "Burn it."

Ed glanced back when he heard them talking. He narrowed his eyes.

"Your brother is a state alchemist?" The 'boss's' wife said angrily at Al. All the miners and Kayal left to go to the mine a few minutes after Ed left.

Al shrugged. "Not by choice." He looked out the window of the inn, frowning when he saw Yoki's men around. What were they…..

Al stood up abruptly, his chair falling to the ground. "We need to get out of here."

"What? Why?" The 'boss's' wife asked surprised.

"They're going to burn the inn down." Al said urgently. He grabbed the woman's hand and pulled her outside as the officers set the inn on fire.

When Ed was finished with inspecting the coalmine, he left the mine and headed back to the inn to get his brother. He stopped outside the inn and stared at it with narrowed eyes. He looked at the miners who returned when they saw the fire.

"This is horrible." One of the miners said.

"Damn it. They really pulled something dirty." Boss growled, hugging his wife.

"Hey Ed, you have enough power to transmute gold, don't you?" Kayal asked. "Transmute some for us and save…Dad…..and the town."

"No." Ed said coldly.

"No way!" Kayal cried. "Isn't it okay? You won't lose anything either."

"The Alchemical standard is 'exact trade.' I don't have any obligation or responsibility to make money for you." Ed replied coldly.

"Why you…." Kayal grabbed the front of Ed's coat. "And you're supposed to be an Alchemist? Alchemist be thou for the people! Isn't that your motto?"

"Alchemist live for the sake of the people, eh?" Ed scoffed. They make it sound like alchemists only live for the people and don't have any life of their own. He ripped his jacket free. "In any case, even if I give you money, it'll be taken away as taxes and then it'll be over with. I won't get anything either if I do anything for your little problems. If you have that many problems, get out of this town and look for a different job."

"Kid, you don't get it." 'Boss' said.

Ed looked at him out of the corner of his eye to see the miners leaving.

"This is our home and our coffin." 'Boss' said.

Ed shoved his hands in his pocket and looked at the sky. He began walking away with Al chasing after him.

"Brother, what are you doing? How are you going to save them?" Al asked.

"What makes you think I'll save them? They have to do things on their own. As I said before, I have no obligation to help them." Ed stopped in front of a cart of sludge. "Al, how much do you think this sludge weighs?"

"Around one or two tons." Al replied confused.

Ed climbed into the cart. "I'll break the law a little so pretend you aren't looking."

"Huh? What?" Al asked even more confused. What was his brother up to? He just said he didn't' have any obligation to help these people and now he was doing something illegal? Why was he stuck with a brother like this? "So, are you telling me to be an accomplice?"

"Don't want to, but that is one way to look at it." Ed replied as he clapped his hands and slammed them on the sludge.

Al sighed and shoved his hands in his pocket. "If I said no, you would still do it, right?"

"What? If no one finds out, it's okay. If nobody finds out." Ed replied cheerfully.

Al whacked his forehead. "Oh, well. I have to put up with such a bad brother."

All the sludge turned into blocks of gold.

"What are we doing with this?" Al asked.

"We have to get it up to Yoki's mansion." Ed said.

"How?" Al cried, looking shocked at all the blocks of gold.

Ed motioned to the cart. "We got a cart and alchemy."

"Excuse me!" Yoki said shocked.

"I want to buy the Youswell coal mines." Ed repeated.

"But it's not for sale." Yoki replied.

Ed frowned. "Too bad. I guess we hauled all this gold up here for no reason." He pushed the doors open to reveal a big pile of blocks of gold while his brother groaned at the thought of the pain it was to haul that gold up here.

Yoki gaped at the gold.

"Wow. They're real." The lower rank officers checked the gold out.

"They're real."

Ed rested a hand on his chin. "Not enough?"

"D-d-d-don't be absurd." Yoki stuttered.

"With just this, I can say goodbye to this town….And send bribes to the higher ranks and then and then….and then…" Yoki trailed off and looked at Ed.

Ed grinned. "Yes, I'll be sure to inform my friends among the higher-ups about the First Lieutenant in Youswell."

"Sir Alchemist!" Yoki said happily.

"But gold transmutation is illegal, so I would appreciate it if you would write a memorandum stating, "this deed was transferred free of charge amicably," so nobody will find out." Ed explained.

"Of course, I don't mind. Very well, let's skip to the legal process." Yoki said.

Ed grinned as he walked down the road with Al laughing at his side. "Yoki is in for a big surprise, right, big brother?" Al asked.

Ed laughed. "Yep."

"Where do you think the 'boss' is?" Al asked.

Ed shrugged.

"What, Dad? Why stop?" Kayal's voice drifted to them.

"Found them." Ed said, but didn't go to them. He turned to the burned down inn.

"Because, I won't let you attack them." 'Boss's' voice said.

Ed clapped his hands and placed them on the inn.

"Even if the 'boss' doesn't, I will."

Flashes of blue light flooded around Al and Ed as the inn rebuilt itself.

"Yeah, I've had enough."

"Even if we all die, I'm going to shoot off that Yoki's head with one shot."

"No! I won't let all of you become criminals." 'Boss' growled.

"But…." Kayal started.

Ed smirked and slammed the door to the shed-like building open. "Hiiii everybody!" He yelled cheerfully with Al laughing next to him. "All people who owe money, line up, and be very happy."

Everyone in the shed-like building looked at Al and Ed with distaste.

"Why did you come here?" Kayal demanded.

"Hey, hey, you wouldn't say those kinds of things and drive off the owner of this place, would you?" Ed asked slyly with a mischievous grin and eyes.

"What the hell are you…." One of the miners started, but stopped when Ed flashed the deed in his face.

"This….is…."

"Mining, management, sales, etc…the deed for all business." Ed explained.

"Why are you holding this?" The miner demanded. "AHHH! The signature is Edward Elric!"

"WHAT?" 'Boss' and Kayal yelled, faces full of shock.

"Right! In short, presently….." Ed raised his arms dramatically. "The coalmine is mine!"

"NO WAY!" The miners shouted.

"….Is what I said. We're the wandering sort that goes from journey to journey." Ed said, sighing in fake annoyance.

"Something like this would just be a nuisance to us." Al sighed.

'Boss' frowned. "Are you saying you're going to sell it to us? How much?"

"It's expensive!" Ed smirked. "If you want to get something, you got to pay a price. This is vellum embossed in gold. And its storage box has a wonderful design, finely carved in jade. Yeees, the work of a craftsman. Oh, and the key is silver. Well, to the untrained eye, all of this lumped together equals the price of one night and two meals for two at the 'boss's' place. Is this reasonable?"

'Boss' laughed. "Yes, that's expensive!"

Ed slammed the deed on the barrel in front of 'boss.' "I stay another night."

"But the inn was burned….."

"What?" Al feigned confusion. He pushed the shed-like building door opened and pointed at the inn. "Then what is that?"

'Boss' laughed. "All right, brought!" 'Boss' said cheerfully.

"Sold!"

"But brother, weren't we supposed to report back to the colonel tomorrow?" Al asked confused.

"Al," Ed placed a patronizing hand on Al's shoulder. "What's wrong with breaking rules a little? It is now my life mission to piss off the Colonel. Besides I have to write that report still."

Al narrowed his eyes with a smirk. "It's your job on the line, not mine."

"That's the spirit!" Ed howled with laughter.

"Sir Alchemist, what is the meaning of this?" Yoki demanded as he pushed his way into the building.

Ed grinned at him and pointed at 'boss.' "Well, if it isn't the First Lieutenant. I just sold the deed to this man."

"What did you say?" Yoki screeched. He frowned with a twitching eye. "No, more importantly! The gold bricks you gave me all turned into coal. Why did this happen? Please explain."

"Gold bricks?" Al asked innocently. "What are you talking about, Mister? My brother and I don't have any gold bricks to give you."

"Don't play innocent with me, you little brats. Didn't I trade the certificate for that mountain of gold? This is fraud!" Yoki yelled.

"Insulting a superior officer. I'll be sure to put that in my report to." Ed said, making a mental note. "As for the certificate, I received it free of charge. There's even a memorandum."

"The transaction is invalid!" Yoki turned to his officers. "Take back the dee…"

Yoki stopped when the coalminers cracked their knuckles.

Ed looked up at the ceiling. "You also tried to bribe me. Bribing a superior officer and me none the less. I have to definitely put that in the report to."

"Uh…..brother?" Al asked uneasily as the coalminers started to beat up the officers while Ed was talking.

"What, Al?" Ed asked.

"Well, shouldn't you stop that?" Al motioned to the coalminers.

"Naw, let them have their fun." Ed replied, waving his hand in impatiently.

"IT'S TIME FOR A CELEBRATION!" 'Boss' shouted.

The coalminers cheered.

"Dad," Kayal said with a smile as he watched Ed party with the coalminers with his brother. "Ed didn't go as far as to sell his soul to the military."

"Come on, have a drink!" One of the coalminers said, dumping a glass over Ed.

"Don't make a minor drink!" Ed shouted, wiping the beer off his head.

"What? I did when I was your age." Another coalminer said.

"You can't get any bigger if you don't drink." Another said.

"ARE YOU CALLING ME SMALL?" Ed screamed, trying to launch at the man, but Al held him back.

"Yeah, you're right." 'Boss' said. "There is a hero for the people in the military."

A/N: Please Review!