" Edward, this night has been fantastic," Winry said in awe.

" Just like me, right?" Edward flashed a grin as Winry laughed and pushed him playfully. The streets of Central were filled with people, enjoying the warm summer evening. Vendors stood at street corners selling candy and treats to passing families. Windows on the nearby building stood open to let in the breeze, curtains fluttering.

Rounding the corner, Edward ran into somebody, falling hard on his butt.

" Hey, watch it you…" Edward paused as he beheld the suit of armor before him, panting heavily.

" Brother! Come quick, Mustang's in trouble!" Alphonse began dragging Edward back down the street, Winry running to catch up. The world flashed by, worry consuming Edward's mind like a hungry animal. What was going on? Mustang, needing my help? Edward would have laughed had it not been for Al's urgency.

Soon the sound of battle reached Edward's ears and, as he turned onto a narrow, abandoned street, he had to cover his eyes against the sudden burst of fire.

The fire, brilliant yellow and orange, disappeared as soon as it had come. The bodies of several men, black as shadows, lined all the way down to the intersection. Mustang stood in the middle of it all, panting from exhaustion. His uniform was covered with a random pattern of blood, his mixing with his enemies. The fire of battle gleamed in his eyes.

" Showed up a little late didn't you, Fullmetal?"

" I don't think you needed it," Edward said curtly. " What happened?"

" Nothing. I was just walking down the street when these men came out of nowhere and attacked me. The one who appeared to be their leader ran away, like a coward. He looked a lot like…

A strange whistling noise and a brief flash of air went be Edward's face and struck Mustang in the chest with enough force to knock him to the ground. Blood began flowing from the hole in his chest, racing down to the concrete like a mountain stream.

" S-sniper." Mustang gritted his teeth from the pain. " Get down! Now!"

Immediately Edward became one with the ground as a bullet his not two inches from his head. Backing away quickly, he was stopped by Winry, who lay shaking on the ground, covered with blood and grime. Sensing more bullets coming, he quickly clapped his hands together and created a wall, stopping the advance.

" Hold." The firing suddenly stopped, the silence buzzing in his ears. Al lay nearby; helmet off, a gun pointed at his blood seal. The man holding the gun was…

" Envy," Edward growled, anger flowing through his body. " How? You should be dead, you coward!" Envy gave a smirk.

" Great acting, wasn't it? I enjoyed watching your reactions. I won't tell you how I did it of course. A magician never reveals his secrets, as they say." He glanced at something behind Edward. " Ah, just the person I needed! Care to give me a hand, Wrath?"

Before Edward could react Wrath's strong arms had him in a headlock, constricting his air. Edward clawed at his arms, but to no avail. Slowly, enjoying Edward's pain, Wrath pulled out a knife and dragged it across Edward's left arm. Edward grunted as blood began to fall like rain. Still holding Edward, Wrath dragged him to Envy and threw him onto the bloody ground.

Envy stood up, putting the gun into his pocket to replace it with a strange sparkling blue stone, similar in shape to a philosopher's stone.

" They call it the Moonstone," Envy said, gazing into its depths. " They believe it lets them talk to their ancestors. Pathetic little fools."

" Who?" Edward asked but Envy ignored him. With more speed than Edward knew he possessed, Envy grabbed his arm and rubbed the blue stone against the cut in his arm.

It burned like a fire had started in his arm, crawling toward his heart. His head began to spin like a top, the world turning black at the edges. " Enjoy your new home, Edward." Envy flashed an evil grin and the world fell away.