Two things! 1) Ohmigosh there's thirty chapters! 2)Check out this web address for my blog about Broken Flame. You can ask questions and request drawings there:D

(Age 16)

Edward held up a picture of a spiky-haired boy with a black halter top and a matching headband. "And after this guy kicked me," He said, pointing to his poorly drawn picture, "I can't remember anything else."

Elizabeth sighed sadly. As little help as her brother was, she was even less. She had passed out minutes before he had. Major Armstrong and Hughes were in the room as well, with Maria and Denny outside the doors standing guard.

Major Armstrong was deep in thought, mumbling the key points of what Edward had retold, "Soul Guardians, Sacrifices, A man named Envy, The use of stones in the East Area Civil War, A tattoo of the ouroboros, and the transmutation circle used to create the stones." He sighed thoughtfully and raised his voice, no longer speaking to himself but the group before him, "There are many mysteries concerning the process of creating the stone, let alone these other variables."

"And even if we tried to investigate this any further," Hughes replied, also brainstorming strategies to take from here, "the place is just a huge pile of rubble now." He picked up the tattoo drawing and drawled, "But, I might be able to find something if I fished in the criminal records."

Armstrong found a packet of papers regarding Dr. Marcoh and his apprentices and added, "I will investigate all of Dr. Marcoh's subordinates who could have been connected to the research and development of the stone."

The door to the room creaked ever so slightly as someone entered. Though Elizabeth hadn't been paying any attention at all, her senses awoke immediately and she lurched forward in her bed with wide eyes, hoping to see a head full of messy blonde hair walk through the door. When a man with black hair and an eye patch entered instead, she was thoroughly disappointed. By the time she realized who it was, however, she could hear the men disbelievingly say in unison, "Fuhrer King Bradly?!"

The man in question smiled slightly and raised a hand, signaling silence, "Please be quiet!" he chastised gently, walking to the two beds that stood side by side.

While Major Armstrong had simply nodded obediently and respectfully, Hughes asked, "Mr. Fuhrer, Sir, why are you in a place like this?"

He chortled silently and pulled out two small bags, "Why to drop of some get well presents!" He replied, turning to Edward and handing him a bag with a honeydew melon in it, "I hope you don't hate melons," He turned to Elizabeth and handed her a bag with a couple of red apples in it and added, "or apples."

Edward fumbled over his words, surprised at the Fuhrer's arrival and managed out, "Ah, Uh, Thank you!"

Elizabeth, on the other hand, simply replied, "Thanks." with a forced smile. Her mind was obviously elsewhere.

The Fuhrer just gave her sympathetic smile and asked, "Are you homesick?" The girl froze for a split second before sighing and shaking her head. His sympathy then turned into an amused, knowing smile as he corrected himself, "Ah, no, then you must be lovesick," She didn't reply, only winced slightly. It wasn't very visible as Elizabeth had turned to look away. The Fuhrer put his hand on her shoulder in a very fatherly manner, "Don't get so upset by some young man. He'll see what he has waiting for him eventually," He lifted his eye patch to reveal a closed eye, making look as if he had winked, "the ones worth keeping always do."

Turning away and leaving her there with a small, thoughtful smile, the Fuhrer looked to the papers in Armstrong's hands. He merely gestured at them before the big man handed them over without hesitation. "This is, uh," Armstrong began to explain, but the Fuhrer's words overrode his, coated with power and authority.

"A list of the names of all persons ever involved with research and experimentation regarding the philosopher's stone. I've investigated this list quite thoroughly my self." He paused, flipping though the pages thoughtfully. "And the whereabouts of every single person on this list are unknown since a few days before the collapse of the Fifth Laboratory." Eyes widened around the room and Elizabeth stifled a gasp. "The enemy is always a step ahead," The Fuhrer added, "And even with my intelligence network, we still don't know their objectives, size, or how far they have penetrated into our ranks."

A very somber tone had drifted into his voice, alerting everyone of the potency of this issue. "In other words," Hughes elaborated, "It would be needlessly dangerous to conduct a search, right?"

With a curt nod, the Fuhrer replied, "Yes." He then turned to the standing men and declared, "Lieutenant Colonel Hughes, Major Armstrong, The Elrics, I have decided that you soldiers are worthy of my trust and respect. Because of that, I am giving you an order for your own sake." He cleared his throat and, in a very militaristic and commanding voice, bellowed, "I will not permit you to involve any more people in this, nor will I allow you to speak of this to anyone else!" He had clearly transformed into a new person, much harsher and serious, continuing, "As we do not know who out enemies and allies are, you must not trust anyone!" His passion for this cause was making him physically shake, "Act as if you believe everyone in the military is the enemy!" He took a breath before adding sharply, "But!" His face melted into a slightly more relaxed expression as he said smugly, "When the time comes, be ready, as I will have you work for me without restraint."

Armstrong and Hughes' hands went up in a salute with lightening speed, followed closely by Edward and even later by Elizabeth's as they all chorused, "Yes sir!"

From out in the hall, desperate calls of, "Sir!" and "Where are you, Mr. Fuhrer sir?" could be heard along with the beat of footsteps running down the halls.

The Fuhrer jumped slightly and made his way to the window quickly while explaining, "It seems as though my subordinates have come looking for me. This is what happens when I sneak away, I suppose." He stepped out through the window, as gracefully as climbing out of a window can be, calling, "I will return!" Walking away, as if he hadn't just exited through the window, he called without turning back, "We shall meet again, Farewell."

The dumbstruck group barely heard the opening and closing of the wooden door as Winry entered. She had noted the rigid stance of shock that Ross and Brosh had, but ignored it. Here, she found the entire group with the same rigid posture as those guarding the door. She cleared her throat to break their trance and get their attention. She face Edward and held up an envelope, "Here's the train tickets you asked me to buy."

He brightened right up at her words and replied, "Oh, thanks!"

His short stature was towered by Armstrong in a moment, who scolded, "You're in a rush. Your wounds haven't even healed yet."

Edward brushed his comment off, saying, "I can't stay locked up in a place that reeks of antiseptics forever! We're leaving Central tomorrow!"

Armstrong raised an eyebrow with a challenge in his eye, "And your sister is healed?"

Edward opened his mouth to speak, but Elizabeth's voice beat him, "If Edward's fine, then I'm fine. His wounds were worse than mine."

A few feet away, Hughes had removed the tickets from Winry's envelope and read the name on the place, "You're going to Dublith?"

Curious, Winry snatched the tickets back and put them into their envelop, wondering aloud, "Where is Dublith?"

Ever helpful, Alphonse brought a map over to her to show her. "Here it is," He pointed below central, "Right in the middle of the South Area." Winry's eyes widened as she took in it's location.

"Oh my gosh!" She squealed, her finger landing on a dot just an inch above Dublith, "Look at this! Right before Dublith!"

"Uhm," Alphonse inquired, reading the city's name, "What's Rush Valley?"

"Rush Valley!" Winry swooned happily, "The Holy Land of automail technicians!" She gushed, fantasizing about the metal, "I've always wanted to go!" Snapping out of her dreams, her eyes landed on the one running the trip, Edward. She rushed over and latched on to his arm, her eyes big and begging, "Please take me there! Oh please Ed!"

He huffed, "Go by yourself."

Winry's lip jutted out as she pouted angrily. "Oh yeah?" She asked, remembering that she'd paid for the train tickets, "Who's paying for the trip?!" Her grip on him loosened.

He replied, "Are you trying to threaten me?" and pulled his arm away from her moodily. Elizabeth sighed silently at her brother's antics.

Alphonse turned to him an asked, "It's okay, isn't it? I mean, it's on the way." Edward sighed.

"Okay. Whatever." Winry began spinning happily at his approval, cheering to herself. Smiling, she skipped to the door to leave so she could gather her things for the trip.

Before exiting, however, she turned with a beam and added, "I had planned to go back to Resembool, but now plans are changed!" She chirped, "I need to go call Granny now!"

As the door thudded shut, Hughes placed a proud hand on Edward's shoulder and said, "She'll make a good wife for you, Edward." With a sheepish smile he added, "Not as good as mine, though."

Ed shrugged the hand off violently and refused angrily, "Don't say those kind of things to me!" He grumbled, "And I don't want to know anything about your love life, Hughes!"

When all the commotion had passed, Elizabeth had gotten dressed in her normal clothes and finally realized what, and most likely whose, shirt she was in. She found her little black backpack and decided to keep the shirt and a few other things in it. And she was packing some snacks and the shirt away, however, Winry entered her room.

"Liz?" She called, opening the door gingerly, in case Elizabeth wasn't in there.

"Yeah?" She called back, snapping the pack closed. She turned to see Winry standing at the door with a small cardboard box taped up in packing tape and labeled with a big sticky note that read: "For Elizabeth Elric's Eyes Only." She stifled a laugh at the childish handwriting, but asked anyway, "What's with the box, Win?"

Winry sighed in annoyance, "Edward was supposed to bring this to you. Bradly wanted you to have it by your birthday." She shifted the box in her hands slightly and held it out for Elizabeth to take it, "But he left it on Bradly's front porch instead, with a note that said..." She grimaced, "Never mind, the point is, he sent it with me this time."

Suspiciously, Elizabeth took the box, expecting something to pop out of it or worse. When she didn't make a move to open it, Winry groaned, "Come on! I've been dying to know what's inside of it! Bradly's been crazy about you since we were like four! And he's become a lot more like a man and less like a boy," She winked at her friend, "if you get my drift."

"Winry!" Elizabeth yelped embarrassingly, "The same boy who pulled my hair, streaked mud on my face, tripped me, and pushed me off swings? Really? Even at ten years old, right up until my mom died, he still pulled my hair like a little kid and put bugs and springs in boxed wrapped like presents!"

Frustrated, Winry huffed at Elizabeth and grabbed her shoulders. "He wanted you to notice him. You noticed him, right? Do you remember any other boy in your class?" Elizabeth remained silent, "Exactly! He had it bad for you. He has it bad for you. He hasn't had a single serious girlfriend, ever!"

Elizabeth looked away, her face flushed red. She was unable to speak, as she didn't trust her voice. Instead, she began nimbly peeling off the tape that held the box closed. She let out a shriek of surprise as a dozen compressed paper springs flew harmlessly out of the top of the box. Her face still burning, she glared at her sheepish friend, Winry.

Before she could pick up the paper, however, a second box with another note caught her eye. A box only slightly smaller had a second note attached, written in the same childish handwriting. This one read: "I bet that brings back some memories, eh Lizzy? Keep opening for some more." With an amused smile and a nearly silent chuckle of nostalgia, she peeled away the second layer of tape.

This time, nothing popped out, but it brought tears to her eyes. Filled to the brim of the box were freshly picked periwinkles, no, they only looked freshly picked. They had been dipped in a fine, hard wax to preserve their appearance. One by one she pulled them out and set them on the bed stand, until she revealed another box. She sniffled and laughed as, in the same handwriting, she read, "I know, shocking that your childhood bully remembered, right? It gets better, promise."

She pulled what she didn't know would be the final box and opened it up. Inside were several pieces of paper and a plain ring. The first piece was a poorly drawn transmutation circle, attached to another piece of paper, with a slightly better drawn one on it, by a paperclip. Another was a crumpled drawing of a boy with short, spiky hair holding the hand of a girl with pigtails in a pair of shorts. The next one was a Valentine's day card, addressed to Bradly and said, "Because I have to." Another Valentine's day card was present that was addressed to Elizabeth, with "Because I'm nice" written on it. She laughed at that one, remembering its origin. The final paper was a new piece, a letter written to Elizabeth.

Dear Elizabeth,

As you can see, my handwriting hasn't improved one bit. I've gotta admit, I never should have dropped outta school after you left for Central. I bet you're wondering why now, why this, why me. Let me explain the things you found in this box, and the others.

I'll admit, the paper snakes were for my own amusement, to imagine your cute angry face. The wax periwinkles, they were my dad's idea. I was going to put fresh ones in there, but now I'm glad I didn't. He showed me how to use the wax we have at our candle shop to coat them and preserve them. I always knew they were your favorite flower. Because of the name, right?

I still remember that one Valentine's day, when you gave me the one because the teacher made you. And how you threw away the one I made for you. I dug it out of the paper waste, as you probably have already seen. And that drawing, you might not remember, but I do. That was a project we had to do, draw someone you love. The teacher expected friends and family to be drawn, but I drew you. As soon as I realized how close you were, I crumpled it up and shoved it in my pocket, though. You were so mad that I wouldn't let you see it. And the transmutation circles. I stole that one from you, because I wanted to draw one for you. But mine ended up worse than yours, and both ended up in my drawer.

I guess that just leaves the ring. I bet you never knew I liked you, did you? On the day you came back from Central after you test, I was actually going to ask you to marry me. I'd found the ring in an old jewelry box, and decided I wanted to take care of you so you wouldn't have to go and be a soldier and get yourself killed. Or at least that was my reasoning back then. But when you never came by to say goodbye to anyone other than Winry, and my father wouldn't let me outside because of the huge fire, I didn't get to ask you. I'm kinda glad I didn't now, 'cause I'd have looked like a fool, wouldn't I?

But don't worry, I want you to keep the ring, for good luck. I want you to wear it on your left hand, like a wedding ring. Even though you may not care for me, and by the time you come back to Resembool to stay, I might not like you anymore. But it's not a wedding ring, it's a promise ring. A promise that you will come back eventually. To stay.

And then, maybe if we get together, then maybe I'll actually ask you. Maybe I'll ask you, knowing exactly what it really means to get married.

But first, it's a promise, alright Lizzy?

-Bradly Jones

Elizabeth's fingers wrapped around the little metal ring. It was made of silver, but was badly tarnished and very dull. It was also very thick and probably too small for her finger. She tried slipping it on to find that her hunch was right. Winry watched her curiously as she put down the letter and took the ring as set it on the bed side table. She snatched up the letter and read it while Elizabeth was re-sizing the ring, alchemy style.

Winry gasped about the same time Elizabeth finished, squealing to her friend, "That's so sweet!" Her face dropped, "Oh god, but what about Havoc? Oooh, there's a love triangle! Who will get the girl, the childhood tormentor turned sweet or the sexy older man?"

Flaming red once more, this time with a new shiny ring on her hand, Elizabeth snapped, "Shut up! Don't casually call him sexy! It's embarrassing!"

Winry wiggled her eyebrows, "I'm saying points for Jean Havoc, I made you jealous just by calling him sexy!"

Well then. I apologize for the lateness. I only wrote and rewrote this chapter about seven times. Yes, I know there's a save button. Yes, I know it works. Yes, I should use it. Do I remember ever to? No. So any draft is deleted when my browser decides to crash or my computer reboots for updates, or browser refreshes for internet. GAAAH I hate technology!