Disclaimer - I am on the run. They hunt me. They never stop. I do not own Fulmetal Alchemist.

'Private Blackhammer,' I called through to the store cupboard, 'how are you coming along with the Sergeants coat?'

'Em, not well.' Blackhammer admitted. He held up the coat. The holes in it were theoretically gone, but stitching upon coat was ragged, with strands of thread coming out in stretched marks.

'Blackhammer, that is a disgrace!' I shouted. I have been attempting to pass on my knowledge and skills to Private Blackhammer, who I have taken as an apprentice. But the attempt has been wrought with failure.

'Sorry sir. It's just I haven't ever really done this before. You see, it was a big family, so my job was always to clean the dishes-'

'Blackhammer, are you going sit around reminiscing about your past like a fool, or are you going to get some work done?' I replied.

'No sir! It's just, it would help if you showed me how to do it first.'

'Show you how to do it?' I gasped. 'Stitching isn't something you can learn by watching and listening, Blackhammer! It's from deep within you! You must stitch in same way you walk or breath, a part of who you are! You do not stitch with your hands, but with your heart!'

'Sir, I'm not sure that any sense.'

'In any case,' I said, ignoring Blackhammer's idiocy, 'you seem to have run out of thread.' It was true – the role of thread was almost at an end. 'We'll need to get some more.'

Blackhammer saluted. 'Yes sir. I'll go get some right away.'

'Oh no, private!' I said. 'You will not leave till you have finished this to my standards!' Blackhammer's face fell. Fell with joy, I'm sure! 'I'll go out and get some.'

'Em, sir,' Blackhammer said, ' remember what happened last time you went out to get some more stuff for the supply closet? Didn't you end up fighting a crazy suit of armour?'

'That was simply me putting the world to rights, Private!' I informed him. 'This is simply me running out of my own private supplies. As such, it will be put a quick trip to the shops.' I opened the door. 'Now, stay here and try and correct the failure you have produced!'

The day started pleasantly, with only the slightest hint of cloud in the sky. The streets were crowded with people around the station as usual, as people headed into the see the sites of the great city, However, I could not join them for the job of my choice is a little of the beaten path. It is run by my friend Sophie Cartwright, who I have known for many years. And after performing a minor favour a while ago, she sometimes gives me a discount. The favour involved her son, an artillery piece and a plate of bees. But that is a tale for another time.

Actually, I've changed my mind – I'll tell it now. Sophie's son, at the time Private Cartwright, had eaten a plate of bees and had an allergic reaction. I helped him get to hospital, borrowing an artillery piece to drive him there in time. It's not as interesting as it first seems, I must admit. Though I never worked out why he was eating bees.

In any case, I soon was off the main roads as I walked west towards Sophie's shop. The most direct route passed through a rather run down area. The kind of area that good folk are too afraid to walk. But I am not afraid! Not to say I am not a good folk. Well, I suppose I am not, as folk is plural. But never the less, I was walking down a street!

I was thinking at the time of what to do with Blackhammer ( I was thinking asking General Armstrong to take him for a stint), so I did not notice the fellow walking up behind me till he spoke. 'Are you the Cloth Alchemist?'

'Why yes I am, sir!' I turned around, only to see the man was coming at me, hands out stretched! I leaped back away from him, a throwing out a whip towards him, preparing to transmute it. However, the man simply grabbed it and, with a flash of light, the whip shattered into pieces. I looked at it, stunned.

'How dare you!' I cried. 'It took me ages to make that!'

'That was a thing made by alchemy, an abomination unto god.' The man said. He wore dark sunglasses, and had a scar upon his forehead.

'Ha! I'll have you know the only abominations around here is Blackhammer's stitching.'

The stranger didn't react to that. 'I advise you pray to God, for soon you will be with him!' He charged forward, strange tattooed palm open towards me.

I could not let this man stop me on my mission! As he came forward, I leapt into the air, sending out a second whip (always keep spares of everything. EVERYTHING) towards a lamp hanging from the building next to me. A transmutation latter I was flying up away from my assailant. I landed on the roof of the building. 'No matter what you do, you will not stop me teaching Blackhammer how to sow!'

The assailant paused for a second, apparently not knowing how to react. He must have realised how my genius tactics had defeated him! But then stretched his hands forward, and there was a flash of light, and the wall of the building began to crumble around me. Damn, this would be a useful for removing tough stains! Though I suppose it could cause problems to the fabric.

I was falling, but I transmuted my cloak, flapping it up and pushing myself away from the scarred man. I occurred to me that if I continue to fight this man, then I might not reach Sophie's shop before Blackhammer runs out of thread! And that would be terrible!

I started to run out towards the Sophie's shop, with my attacker in hot pursuit. I ran as fast as I cold, leaping and gliding my way, as the attacker shattered the ground beneath me. It was all I could to not get caught by him. But I had to, or he'd ruin my uniform!

In the distance, hope was approaching – Sophie's shop! But I couldn't endanger her – I had to lose this individual for a small amount of time. I turned around to face my chaser. 'Alright, let's fight shall we?' I asked, my fists raised. The man said nothing, but paused, preparing to fight. I readied myself in response, waiting for him to attack.

Quick as a flash he dodged forward. I ducked his attack, bringing my fist forward, trying to grab at his clothes. He seemed to see it coming however, jumping out the way as he did so. He was fast, this one! But he couldn't dodge me forever! I chucked my cloak off and over my head, sending it out towards my attacker. He tried to leap back, but my cloak is quite a big one. Small cloaks are very uncouth.

The cloak caught him, and I had the opportunity to get him. I transmuted my cloak, tying it around his own clothes, even into his fibres. He cried out 'Mill mem muo!' How rude! I think.

As he tried to get out of his clothes, I ran into Sophie's shop. She was reading a paper. 'Sophie, could I borrow some things? There's a minor problem going on.'

'Sure, I'll add it to the tab.' She said, not looking up from the paper. I can't blame her – there was a good crossword in that one.

'Why, thanks.' I grabbed a collection of cloth and needles, and as I kicked open the door again, I transmuted them together.

As the scarred man prepared to destroy the door, I burst out, with my work rolling out before me. The river of wool, linen and cotton slammed forwards, an entire shop's worth. With it, a volley of high speed needles and buttons hit towards the assailant. He attempted to destroy the river, but it was the attempt of a man trying to stop a flood. He was washed away, down away from the shop.

I went back inside, and I wrote down a number on a check. I handed it to Sophie. 'Sorry about that. This is my research funds for the next few months. That should cover the cost of what I did.'

She looked at it. 'Yep. Looks good.'

'Thank you. I'll sort out the mess in the morning.' I replied. 'Oh, and I need some thread. Blackhammer ran out.'

I arrived back to find out Blackhammer had managed to finish Sergeant Spearheart's coat. 'Excellent work, Private.' I said.

'Thank you, sir.' He saluted. 'Anything happen when you got the thread?'

'No, not really.' I replied. 'Oh, I need you to go clear up a street tomorrow. Don't worry, I can't imagine it'll take long.' I was later reminded that he is not an alchemist, and that a building had partially collapsed.

So ends another adventure successfully – I bought more thread, and Private Blackhammer learnt how to stitch without any input from me. But we must be always vigilant! So soon will it will necessary for me, Egbart Longwood, the Cloth Alchemist, to do his duty again!

Wow, that's a lot of reviews in a short time. Feel free to continue doing it though. Thanks for reading.

Also, I realise I never actual named Scar as Scar. So it was Scar. Scar is the one in this chapter. Just be clear, it was Scar.