Edward's P.O.V.

"AH! It's good to be back in the city!" I looked to my left to see Scarlett yawning as she stretched long and slowly as we exited the train and onto the platform. I smiled at her; because I feel that we're me step closer as friends.

"Don't get comfortable. We need to go to the first branch of the library and find those notes." I reminded my brother and Scarlett with a smile. I turned to leave; with my red coat flapping behind me. We were about to leave the station and head out into the streets, but two soldiers in uniform stop us.

"Oh god not them." I hear Scarlett moan in frustration as they approach us. Suddenly, she and Al went off. DON'T LEAVE MEEEEE.....The man with blonde hair was the first to salute.

"Denny Broch!"

Next to him was a girl; short military-cut brown hair.

"Maria Ross!"

They looked so tense; like they were expecting me to be, like, mean. I smiled, and told them, "at ease," they physically relaxed.

"Hey, I'm Edward. That's my brother, Alphonse." I pointed him out. He was with Scarlett talking to a little girl handing out Amestrian painted roses. I smiled at the two as Al bought one for her, and put it in the little girl's hair. That's Al for anyone.

"Wait- YOU'RE the Fullmetal Alchemist?!?"

OKAY THATS IT.

Scarlett's P.O.V.

"OF COURSE IM THE FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST!!!" I turned my head to Ed to see him chewing out Denny and Maria. Gosh, it was so good to see everyone. Hey! Maybe those Tringham boys are around too! I'll have to look into that later..

"Hello! I'm General Reems." I have a two finger salute. They tense and went to salute again, but I reached up and pulled their hands down. "No need for formalities!" I laughed.

"Sorry, but you're the talk of Central! Standing up to Issac the Freezer and Scar," Maria laughed nervously. "We don't mean to look down on you, but we were sent to accompany you three until Scar is caught." I shrugged. As they say, when in Ishbal, do as the Ishbalans do.

"I'm down with it." Now, I don't know what was so weird about my opinion, but Edward turned on his heels with mouth dropped.

"WHAT?!? I've already got one bodyguard, I don't need two others!! I can handle myself. My eyebrows raised in humor as no one spoke for a minute.

"Wow, he didn't say anything about the, 'we don't mean to look down on you' comment. He just indirectly admitted he was short." I snorted in laughter as he came charging at me only to be stopped by Alphonse. "Thanks!" I winked and the armored man nodded.

"Brother, remember, we're here to go to the library! Who cares if they tag along."

"I DO." Ed blew up his cheeks in anger; which only made him look like a chipmunk. I chuckled a bit more before grabbing him by his red coat and dragging him out of the train station. But not without a few strange looks.

"I ship them." I swear I heard Denny admit to Maria, and she nodded.

Alphonse's P.O.V.

We walked along the sidewalk; about a block from the library. Maria chatted pleasantly with Scarlett, while brother walked along side me. Yet anyone could tell his attention was elsewhere.

"Finally; we'll get somewhere with finding the stone." Edward cracked a smile as he broke the silence between us. "Al, we're that much closer to getting your body back."

That's great, but why wasn't I jumping for joy? I don't know, I was more occupied with everyone's safety. I know Ed and I get into a lot of trouble, what if Scarlett dies because of us? I don't want that to happen to her again!

"Yeah." I replied absentmindedly, and the only thing pulling out of the thoughts, was Scarlett's cry. Soon followed with brother's.

"NOOOOOO WHAT?!? IT BURNED DOWN!?!?" What?! I raced next to them and took a good look myself. Nothing was left of the library except burnt rubble to mark where it once stood. I gasped in shock before breaking down next to my brother in depression.

"Who the hell burns down a library!?!" She gestured to the burnt pieces of paper floating around. She then stopped for a minute, then smacked her head. "Wait; only two. Goddamnit." Guess that means she knew two people who'd do this. But back to the main question: what are we gonna do now? Doctor Marcoh's notes where in there. 🤖😓

"Hold on! I got an idea!" Ed gathered as many pieces of torched paper as he could. Is he trying to transmute the book..?

"Ed, there's a win-" Scarlett tried to warn my brother before a strong wind came to our right as the papers flew to our left and continued off into the distance. Okay, we're doomed. Brother looked beaten; a look I didn't see often.
I collapsed to my knees next to him, because I was beat too.

"Oi. Assholes. Get up. We're going to see Sheska." Who's Sheska? Apparently this has happened before- did this happen in the other world too? It seems like Scarlett left out so many details; especially about her death. I'm sure it was so much more emotional than how she put it.

"I was stabbed by the enemy, and I died in Ed's arms."

As I thought, I didn't realize she had begun to drag us through the city. Denny and Maria not far behind, but marveling at her strength. I was impressed myself! I was thrown over her shoulder while Ed was squirming under her other arm.

"Let go of me damnit!" He twisted a weird way, and she instantly dropped us both and clutched her right arm.

"OW. What the hell!?! I decided to carry your fat asses because you both were in a funk!" She yelled angrily back at brother, and I noticed that all he looked at was her right arm.

He shuffled closer to her and I watched as brother put his hand gently on her forearm. "..sorry." Wait.

DID I HEAR THAT RIGHT?!? AM I FINALLY LOSING MYSELF??!

"Lead the way to this person already bitch!" Ed proclaimed. Oh good; the universe is back in balance. I let out a sound that was a sigh of relief. I heard Scarlett snort before passing us both and continuing down the sidewalk. She's something else.

"..brother? I think I know why we let her travel with us. Or, them I the other dimension." I stated, watching as she stopped and gave us a playful glare. I felt something spark inside me.

"Shut up! I am thinking this through!" Ed had snapped at me, but this one was different. We were in a small town, and Scarlett stood in between us like she was stopping a fight. Well that's nothing new.

"How could you, brother?!" I heard myself scream back in shock at the fact he had attacked me! I dogged another alchemy shot, but before we could even begin our brotherly fight, a dark aura covered the both of us and we hugged each other for comfort and safety. I didn't know she could be so threatening!

"God dammit. We don't have time to piss and moan about this kinda shit." Scarlett stated darkly, slapping Ed in the face and transmuting an alchemical cobblestone hand into my face. Guess that's my punishment!

"I SLAP YOU TWO AS EQUALS!!!" She declared, and soon we were being dragged down the street much like a few moments ago in Central. I felt a tug of familiarity at the gesture, and I looked up into the blue sky dotted by white cotton clouds. None of us spoke for a long time it seemed, but subconcisely, I knew all three of us would stay loyal to each other's sides.

Even to the end it seems.

"Al, we'll be left behind." Ed pulled me along and I snapped out of my daze before jogging to catch up to Scarlett. What was that about?

~

"Hello?" Scarlett knocked on a door.

"Maybe she isn't home." I offered, but before anyone else said anything, there was the faint cry from inside.

"..um, help!"

"That's Sheska!" Scarlett knocked the door open with one swoop kick, and then Denny was the first to enter with his gun drawn. And the books that were in there!

Stacked up to the ceiling with different and unique bindings and covers. Scarlett hopped over small stacks nimbly before digging through one pile. OH MY GOSH THERE'S A HAND IN THERE!!!

Soon we all were scrambling to free the human underneath. Scarlett laughed beside me as she placed yet another book atop a different pile. She seems very happy being with us! Ever since she came with us a month or two ago, it seems we're in a better mood.

"Thank you..." The girl sighed with relief. She pulled a hand through her short brown hair. "Now, what can I do for you?"

"You were at the first branch of library." Edward pointed out, and she nodded.
"Did you come across Marcoh's notes? It would've been a thick, hand written book."

She paused, as if trying to remember, "oh! I remember now! Yeah, it was pretty thick and leather-bound,"

Oh.

So it was in the fire.

Great.

....

"Did you wanna read it?"

Kinda.