Hey Everyone! As some of you may have noticed, back in the middle of May marked my being here one whole year. I've been busy with school and home life since then or this would've been done sooner. For celebration of my one year anniversary, I updated every single one of my stories. Thank you everyone for making my time here worth it. Feel free to read any stories you haven't already read and as always, ENJOY!

We spent the next year doing research at the Central Library. Thanks to our State Alchemist status we were able to look at the many texts they had but they were still all vague on one thing. How to actually obtain the Philosopher's stone, the one thing we believed to be able to bring our bodies back. It could ignore the laws of exchange and enhance alchemical reaction.

Our first, real, assignment didn't come in until the end of that year. Both Ed and I were called to Mustang's office where him and Hawkeye were waiting. Ed immediately sat on the couch, having long decided he hated the colonel, while I stood leaning back against a wall. "You rang?" I asked.

"I have an assignment for you. I want you to go to a small village in the country and look into the murders going on there. There have been many counts of young women and girls being found dead."

"Murders, huh?" Ed asked.

Mustang nodded his affirmation. "There's an alchemist reported to live there by the name of Majahal who may be of help."

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ed's eyes widen in recognition of the alchemist's name. I made a mental note to ask him about it later.

We finished our briefing and then left the building to go back to our hotel. Al was sitting impatiently in the Elric's room. Ed quickly caught him up on the details and then just before I made to leave I heard Al say, "Majahal, huh?"

I turned back to face the boys. "Do you guys know him?"

"Not exactly." Ed replied, rubbing the back of his head, "When we were going through our dad's notes and letters the name Majahal kept coming up. We don't even know if it's the same guy."

Al nodded. "But I guess we'll find out soon enough."

We boarded the train early the next morning. As usual Ed was complaining about the time. All he does is eat, sleep, and whine, and I told him so. "It's not my fault."

"Of course it is, short stuff."

"WHO YOU CALLING AN AMEBA?!"

"Calm yourself." I said casually with my arms crossed, "People are staring."

It was early evening when we arrived at our destination. Ed and I stretched our backs which were stiff thanks to the long ride. "So where to now?" I asked just as we heard shouts. Looking down the station we saw a man with a stolen purse being pursued by an officer, and he was headed right for us. "Let me handle it." Al said.

I gave him a thumbs up. "Go for it!"

With practiced speed, he drew a transmutation circle on the cement ground and then just before the man crashed into Ed, who was standing purposely in his way, Al pressed his hands down. Familiar blue light crackled around and a cage formed around the thief. He dropped the purse and held the bars in utter shock. The policeman caught up to us, took one look at the man, and then said, "That was really something. You guys wouldn't happen to be alchemists, would you?"

"You got it!" Ed replied all the while grinning.

I nodded in agreement and then said, "We're on our way to the nearby village. What's the best way to get there?"

The officer scratched his head. "We'll there's a carriage across the road that may take you," his face turned solemn, "But you guys don't want to go there."

"Why not?" Ed asked.

"There's been reports of people turning up dead while the dead are rising from their graves."

The walking dead? "That's scientifically impossible." I stated, "Besides, we're here to investigate these deaths."

The man stared at us for a moment before deciding to just go ahead and take care of the thief.

Soon we were in the carriage, on our way to the village. After about an hour of casual chatting, I turned to the brothers. "So what do you think of the whole walking dead business."

Once again Ed was lounging back with his arms behind his head. "Personally I think that it's all bull. Nothing more than superstitions of village people."

"You're probably right but what if they're somehow connected with the murders?"

"Well we won't know until we get there, I suppose."

"Brother's right." Al agreed, "And anyway, I have a feeling this is going to be a good trip."

That made Ed sit up. "What's wrong? You seem almost happy."

I raised an eyebrow. "Being happy means something's wrong nowadays?"

Al chuckled. "We'll we did snag that purse snatcher and then everyone was so grateful to us. I guess I'm just starting to see how alchemy has the power to make everyone's lives just a little bit better."

I nodded. "Of course. After all, it's not the alchemy itself but how the alchemist uses it."

"That's right." Ed agreed.

That's when the carriage stopped. "This is where I drop you off." the driver said, "I don't dare go any farther."

He said it was only a short walk so we complied without too much protest. However, that still meant Ed was full complaints.

As we walked, Ed was slouched over with his eyes half close. Al watched him with concern. "Are you alright, brother?"

Ed groaned. "Yeah, I'm just peachy. I love turbulent carriage rides and seats as soft as granite." he replied sarcastically before turning to Al, "It didn't bother you, at all?"

"Mmhmm."

Then Ed turned to me. "What about you?"

"I've had worse so its nothing I can't handle."

Ed put his head back down and groaned once again. That's when the village came into sight. It sat downhill from us and looked like a normal village with small houses. The only thing that seemed out of place was the fact that there was torches and tables set up in the square with some decorations here and there. "Will you look at that," Ed said, suddenly looking a lot better, "with torches and everything, but they forgot to invite us."

Just then a large firework went off behind us. My heart nearly leapt out of my chest and my body went rigid from surprise. Never have I heard a bang that loud. The sound of running feet nearing could be heard before a girl's voice spoke. "That one got a little too close to the village." It became completely silent for a moment before the girl spoke again, obviously to us. "You aren't supposed to be here. This place is off limits. You can get yourself killed!"

As one, the three of us slowly turned around. While Al could show no expression Ed was sweating from our little scare. In front of us, was what seemed to just be a group of boys younger than us by a year or so. However, one of these "boys" was actually the girl speaking to us. "We're in the middle of testing fireworks for the..."

"Yeah, we noticed that." Ed interrupted but she continued anyway.

"They're for the festival. I'm in charge."

"A terrific idea." I muttered sarcastically.

Then it seemed like she barely noticed really noticed us. "Hey you guys aren't from around here are you?"

"You barely figured that out, genius?" Obviously I'm not too fond of people who give me heart attacks.

"Uhh...?" I turned to see Al being poked by a boy with a stick.

"What is this ugly thing?" he asked, "Some sort of giant robot from the future?"

I was about to intervene when Ed broke the stick in half and sternly said for him to quit it. Out of the corner of my eye I saw the girl smirk. "Let's show them how we welcome strangers."

On cue, her little gang charged.

Sorry that the beginning was pretty much the same but I didn't like the way the chapter turned out.