We were sitting down on the steps by a clock, I had my head down as I thought about Nina, I couldn't believe what happened to her… why would someone do that to their own daughter? The weather was gloomy and rainy again as we sat together.

Edward groaned and put his hands on his head as I lifted myself up from the ground,
"Big brother…?" Alphonse spoke and looked at Ed,
"Huh? Oh… my head is so full that I don't know what to think right now. Since last night I've been wondering what this alchemy that we trust in really is…" Edward explained,
"Alchemy is the reconstruction of matter in new forms based on the knowledge of natural laws." Alphonse explained, I just listened, I didn't understand much about the complex world of alchemy, but the basics were there,
"This world flows by obeying these laws. Death, too, is a part of that flow. Accept the flow of the world.' Our teacher really beat that into us. And that's why I'm wondering what I can do about something that nobody can fix. I thought I knew what she meant. But I didn't that's why mom… I'm a fool. I haven't grown up at all since then. I thought that the rain would wash away all my doubt… but all I know is that the rain on my face is starting to bug me…" Edward spoke, he lifted his head to look at the sky as I looked away,
"I don't even have a body that can feel this rain. It's lonely inside here… it's hard. I want to get my old body back… I want to go back to being human. Even if that means doing the impossible and going against the flow of the world." Alphonse spoke.

I sighed, these boys had been through a lot, it was hard enough having to deal with Nina now and then this reminding them of losing their mother. I needed to try and cheer them up at least, I smacked my hands on my knees and then smiled,
"Well then…" I stood up and moved in front of them both, "let's not be gloomy… lets stand up… and keep moving until we achieve our goal," I smiled, Edward and Alphonse looked up at me both surprised by my sudden positive attitude, "The thing is… we need to progress so we can protect children like Nina and stop bad things from happening to them, and in order to do that we need to be strong and think positive so we know what we need to do." I explained and looked between the brothers, Edward had a small smile appear on his face as I grinned, "now then, lets walk on," I smiled and put both of my hands out to get them to stand.
"Thanks, Rea," Edward smirked on his face, I continued to grin as I put one foot behind me,
"Edward Elric… Alphonse Elric… let's walk onwards to our goal," I smiled, and went to take their hands.

"Edward Elric?" a man's voice questioned, I frowned in confusion as I turned to look back at him, he was wearing black trousers, a yellow jacket and I could see a scar on his forehead,
"Yea?" Edward replied, I looked over the man with a scar on his forehead, he pushed me down to the ground harshly as I slid on the floor, he then went to attack Edward, and Alphonse grabbed Edward in time.
"Rea, move!" Alphonse called, I lifted myself from the ground the brothers ran together down the stairs, the man was only after them though.

The stairs going down were destroyed and as I ran to the edge of the wall, I smacked the stone wall in frustration.
"I have to find another way down…" I muttered, I looked at the trees and smirked, "I've always wanted to climb trees," I joked.

I moved over the edge of the stone wall and jumped down into the branches of the tree, it stopped my fall as I was able to move down and onto the ground… it wasn't a quick choice though. I landed on the ground and wobbled as I regained my balance, running into the town I couldn't see the boys anywhere.
"Where did you go?" I muttered as I looked down a couple of streets, I heard Edward yell out in surprise moments later as I saw some alchemical lighting a street away.

I bolted in that direction and as I appeared I saw Edward and Alphonse,
"AL!" he cried, I ran and saw Al half blown up on the floor and Edward taken his red jacket off in anger as he threw it to the side,
"Automail… It's no wonder my body disrupting attack had any effect. And him… I was planning to strip him of his armour before I destroyed him, but there's nothing inside. You're a strange pair… this has taken longer than I thought." The scarred man spoke, I moved forward and stopped besides Edward as I glared,
"Don't forget a third," I spoke,
"What are you doing?" Edward snapped,
"When I found out what happened to you and Al, I decided then and there I would never leave you, nor would I run from any danger we faced, and I'd help you to the end." I explained, Edward was shocked at first but then clapped his hand and created a blade on his automail.

"I need to end this quickly." The scarred man muttered,
"Don't think I'm going to follow your schedule!" Edward snapped and ran forward, I moved behind Edward as he took the lead,
"No, Edward! You must run with Reaka…" Alphonse called,
"Don't be stupid! I'm not leaving without you!" Edward yelled,
"Hm… you create a transmutation circle by putting your hands together… and then use the power that flows between them… well then…" the scarred man and Edward ran at each other, but the scarred man grabbed Edwards arm. I tried to get to Edward quickly as I jumped onto the wall,
"I'll start with your arm. Allow me to destroy it." The scarred man spoke then Edwards arm exploded into a thousand pieces, "EDWARD!" Alphonse called, as Edward fell backwards, I jumped off the wall and tried to kick the man back as he jumped, I landed on the floor and threw my fist in his direction.

"Rea! You need to run!" Alphonse yelled,
"Screw that!" I yelled in anger and slid my leg under the man's as he tripped backwards and rolled to crouch as I tried to kick him again, the man grabbed my leg with his hand, and I froze. It was the hand he used to blow up Edward's arm. "Try it… I dare you." I glared at him; the man's face was unreadable with his glasses, but I took the moment of hesitation as a chance to pull my leg back quickly as he missed his opportunity to blast my leg off. I jumped back as he tried to grab me again and he blew up the floor and I fell into a ditch he created, "no!" I called as I tried to jump out.

I could hear the man walking around as he went by the hole and I kicked a rock down so I could use it as a lift to grab onto the edge, pulling myself up I balanced on the edge and then jumped, grabbing onto the ledge I tried to pull myself up,
"I'll give you a moment to pray," the scarred man said, I moved my arm over the edge and saw the man standing in front of Edward,
"Sorry to disappoint you… but there's no God that I feel like praying to. Am I the only one you're after? My younger brother Al, and Reaka, are you going to kill them too?" Edward replied,
"If anyone gets in my way, I will eliminate them… but right now I only have business with you, the Full Metal Alchemist." The scarred man explained,
"All right then, promise me. Promise you won't touch my brother or Reaka!" Edward spoke,
"Edward…" I muttered, I slipped slightly as I tried to grab onto another rock to pull myself out, my feet were slipping on the wet stone as I was trying to pull myself up,
"What do you mean! Edward, what are you doing!? Run! Get up! Run out of there! No! Please don't do it!" Alphonse yelled.

"Ed!" I screamed.

I lifted myself with all my strength out of the ditch and clambered forward as quickly as possible, I grabbed onto the man's arm and put it above my head as I stood in front of Edward,
"I won't let you kill him! I won't allow you to kill him!" I glared up at the man, "Kill him and you'll be killed by me, hurt him and I'll hurt you, got that," I glared, I heard Edward moving behind me as I just stayed still,
"I guess I will have to kill you then, Reaka." the man spoke,
"Good luck with that." I frowned, as I gripped his wrist and held my other hand ready to grab his free one.

I froze as a gun was shot, the man thrown me off him and I landed on Edward who instinctively grabbed me and wrapped his arm around me securely,
"That's enough!" Roy called, his voice was a blessing to hear, "That was pretty close, Full Metal," Roy added,
"Colonel! He's-" Edward called, his arm holding me tightly, as I moved to lean against him, my back against his chest,
"That man is suspected in the serial killings of State Alchemists, and judging from what I'm seeing, that suspicion just became fact." Roy explained, "The murder at the Tucker estate… let me guess that was you too?" Roy asked the scarred man.

I glared up at the scarred man,
"This world was made perfect by God, and alchemists change the natural into the unnatural twist things out of their true form… They sin by defacing God's creations. I am an instrument of Divine Judgment!" the man explained, I frowned, and I rested my hand gently on Edward's hand, it was around my waist,
"Makes sense. But then why… do you only go after state alchemists when there are so many other alchemists you could kill?" Roy asked, it was a valid question, this man obviously had an agenda to go after state alchemists.

"If you insist on stopping me, I'll just eliminate you too," the scarred man spoke,
"Oh, you will, eh?" Roy smirked and thrown his gun back, I shifted in Edward's grip who pulled me in closer as I felt my cheeks flush,
"Don't do anything stupid…" Edward whispered as I looked back at him, our faces were close as I huffed and looked away, I could feel myself getting embarrassed,
"Colonel Mustang!" Riza called, I looked back at Roy as he stepped forward and Riza looked worried,
"Stay out of this." Roy snapped,
"Mustang… The state alchemist?" the scarred man questioned,
"The one and only! I'm the 'Flame Alchemist,' Roy Mustang!" Roy explained proudly,
"I never thought I'd see this… you turn from the path of God, then come to meet judgment of your own free will… What a glorious day this is!" the man explained and ran at Roy,
"You know that I'm the flame alchemist, but you still want to fight me? You're a fool!" Roy yelled and got ready to use his alchemy, but Riza kicked him under his feet, and he fell back on himself and shot at the man. The scarred man almost got him as his arm had gone over Roy's head as he fell on the floor.

"What was that for?!" Roy yelled,
"You're useless on rainy days. Please stand back, Colonel." Riza explained,
"Oh yeah…! He can't make a spark in this moisture!" Havoc spoke.

I looked back at Edward and saw his head bowed down as I sighed gently, I raised my hand up and placed it on the other side of his head. I didn't know what was running through his head, but he obviously just needed a little comforting right now. I leaned my head against Edward's, and I felt him stiffen for a moment. I looked at Alphonse who wasn't too far away and he slowly nodded at me, I looked at the damage on his body, who was this man?

"Lucky for me… you came to fight me, but you can't make flames. State Alchemists, sympathizers and everyone who tries to stop me! I will destroy everyone here!" the scarred man yelled,
"Go head and try!" Another state alchemist appeared and went to punch the scarred man who dodged in time, I recognised the voice and physic straight away, "Mmhmm… you dodged that… not half bad… You brazen insurrectionary! I've had enough of you. You want to destroy everyone here? Don't make me laugh! Why don't you try to beat me first?! I'm the 'Strong Arm Alchemist'… Alex Louis Armstrong!" Armstrong yelled,
"So many of you today… one after the other… But it saves me the trouble of having to search you out. This must be a gift from God!" the scarred man spoke.

I moved my body to turn towards Edward as I wrapped my arms around him, he rested his head on my shoulder as I put my left hand behind his head and leaned on him gently.

Alex Louis Armstrong destroyed half the street as he fought against the scarred man, during the fight we learnt that he was an Ishvallan who also preformed alchemy but stopped at stage two - the stage that broke down the matter. Unfortunately, the fight finished as the scarred man escaped into the sewers due to the destruction on the street.

"Th-that maniac went into the sewers!" Havoc yelled, I was trying to listen to them talk from a distance as I wanted to know what was going on,
"Don't go after him Havoc," Roy spoke,
"You think I'm chasing him down there?!" Havoc thought the idea was stupid,
"I'm sorry, you gave us enough time to surround him and-" Roy started,
"No, no, no. It was all I could do to keep from being killed, much less give you more time…" Armstrong interrupted Roy.

"Hey, is it over?" Hughes poked his head around the car, I smiled seeing the happy soldier as he walked over to his team,
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes… where have you been all this time?" Armstrong asked,
"Hiding! If things went bad, someone had to live to tell the tale," Hughes put his thumb up,
"You know, next time, could you consider possibly helping us?" Roy growled,
"Forget it! Don't try to drag normal humans like me under the big top with the rest of you freaks!" Hughes explained,
"Freaks…" Roy twitched,
"Hey! Fights over, we've got work to do! Distribute an identification sketch of the assailant! On the double!" Hughes ordered his group.

I felt Edward's grip on me loosen as I pulled back slowly, but Edward lifted his head quickly and suddenly ran over to Alphonse as I was pushed on my back suddenly. I gasped as I lay on the floor and then looked at Edward as he reached Alphonse.

"Alphonse! Al, are you alright?! Hey?" Edward looked at Alphonse, I smiled at them both, I could sense the love from Edward to Alphonse amazingly.
"Edward… YOU IDIOT!"

Then the moment faded…

"Why didn't you run when I told you!" Alphonse yelled, he could barely move in his current state,
"Because I didn't want to leave you here…" Edward explained,
"That's what I mean by stupid!" Alphonse punched Edward again.
"Why? If I ran away, you might have been killed!" Edward yelled.
"I might NOT have been killed too! When there's a way to survive and then you choose death, that's what idiots do!" Alphonse explained.
"D-Don't talk that way to your older brother!" Edward snapped. I sat up on the floor and sat on my legs as the brothers continued to talk, I sighed as Alphonse carried on.
"I'll talk to you however I want! You have to live… and keep living… so you can do more research! You have to find a way to get our old bodies back… and maybe even save poor girls like Nina! And we could help and protect Rea! I won't let you throw that chance away! If you did, I'd never forgive you!" Alphonse yelled, then his arm broke off on the floor, "Oh no, my right arm came off too…! It's your fault, Edward! You idiot!" Alphonse complained, Edward laughed a little,
"We're a real mess, aren't we? How uncool." Edward bowed his head down as I lifted myself from the ground, I saw an officer coming to me with a cloak and I took a few as I walked to the brothers,
"But we're alive," Alphonse said,
"Yeah. We're alive." Edward smiled, I got a cloak from one of the officers and put it on Edward, he looked back at me and smiled as I knelt behind him and hugged him,
"I don't need protecting you guys, so don't worry about me, just worry about yourselves, ok," I smiled, Edward leaned his head into me for a moment as his hand reached up and held onto my forearm. It was nice to have that moment as I looked at Alphonse with a smile.

We all got back to East headquarters, but I went to get something to eat and drink as the others talked about what they were going to do. I guessed that Edward would have to be stuck with a bodyguard until he had his arm fixed. I collected a few bits from Roy's place as well, some different clothes and my guitar. I hadn't carried it around in a while and my guitar case was made from sturdy material.

I sat in my hotel room as I packed my clothes, there was a soldier outside waiting to take my other clothes back to Roy's as he'd very kindly get someone to clean them for me. I then thought about Edward's auto mail and how he may have come by it… I frowned and remembered an old friend of mine was nifty in the workshop, she probably passed the knowledge onto her granddaughter… The image of a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes appeared in my mind,

"Hmm, Winry Rockbell, guess you're following Pina's footsteps," I smirked and moved to go to bed, I was sure Edward and Alphonse would come grab me when we were leaving.