AN: Thank you for reading this. It would mean a lot to me if you would review. This story might be crap and I wouldn't know it, but that's why I'm requesting reviews. So that I can keep improving my writing and making better fics for y'all. This was originally meant to be a one-shot, but I couldn't fit it all in one single shot, so here's my first multi-chapter fic (or any fic for that matter).

Disclaimer: Don't own FMA or FMA:B. Much sad.

Edit: Sorry-not an update, just fixing some typos.

Chapter 1:

The Smoke Alchemist laughed. "Oh? Is that what you think? I'm helpless? Without backup?" A fresh peal of laughter ensued. Ed maintained his relaxed demeanor, frowning internally. The criminal's words had made him uneasy. Perhaps he did have backup. Or a secret weapon of sorts. Ed quickly scanned the warehouse for possible exits. There was none, but the one Mustang was standing in front of. The criminal either had to be bluffing or this was a trap. Ed's eyes widened. They had to get out now.

"Colonel!" Ed shouted, just as the criminals revealed themselves. A ring of large, brawny, armed criminals.

"Who's helpless now?" laughed the Alchemist. Mustang just smirked and snapped his fingers. A ring of raging flames surrounded them, cooking the criminals alive. Unholy screams emanated from inside the heat of the fire. Deciding that the criminals were taken care of, turned back to face the Alchemist, only to find that he had disappeared. As the flames vanished, Ed's apprehension grew. He surveyed the warehouse for movement, only to find the door swinging on its hinge.

"Goddammit. Colonel! The door—he's escaped," Ed warned. Mustang nodded in confirmation. The duo walked out the door.

"He couldn't have gone far," Mustang noted, "He has to be in the village." Ed made a noise of agreement. "Let's split up. We can cover more ground that way." Ed frowned.

"I don't think so, Colonel," Ed gestured towards the dark clouds in the sky. "You're sticking with me. Hawkeye will kill me if I let you die. It's about to rain. You'll be useless."

"USELESS? WHO ARE YOU CALLING USELESS, YOU SHRIMP?" Mustang exploded.

"YOU, COLONEL BASTARD! AND WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT HE'LL DROWN IN A DROP OF RAINWATER?" Ed screamed. A beat. "Anyways Colonel Bastard, you're sticking with me and that's final. Plus, he probably wants us to split up." Mustang sighed, then nodded, looking as if it pained him to do so.

They crept through the town, scrutinizing buildings and alleyways for signs of movement. It started to lightly drizzle. "Told you it was going to rain," Ed smirked. Mustang glared. Just as he was about to say something about Ed being short, Ed cut him off. "There's someone over there!" Mustang whirled around. There was the Smoke Alchemist, standing in the alley, grinning wildly.

"Hands up," Mustang declared. Smoke's grin widened further. He made a small motion with his hands, and a veil of smoke surrounded the two state alchemists. Their vision was clouded. Mustang coughed as he inhaled the thick smoke. He staggered around, trying to find his way out of the smoke.

"Colonel! Where are you?" Ed screamed.

"Over here!" Mustang coughed out. He felt a large arm cover his face.

"Not so fast, Flame." Mustang felt his lungs starting to burn as the smoke alchemist cut off his air supply. He struggled weakly in the chokehold, as he felt his life force slowly drip away. Darkness colored the edges of his vision, although that might have just been the smoke. Just as his head started to droop, he heard a loud clang and felt himself being dropped onto the ground.

"Colonel! Colonel, ANSWER ME!" Ed yelled as he dropped to a knee by the colonel. All he got in response was a weak cough. Ed sighed in relief. The colonel was alive, for now. His relief was short lived however, as he heard the smoke alchemist start to get up. He couldn't just stay down, could he?

Putting his hands together, he quickly transmuted spikes that raced towards the criminal alchemist. The alchemist dodged and pulled out a gun. Ed's eyes widened. I didn't know he was armed. He heard a shot, and tried to dodge, feeling it strike just below his knee. Clenching his teeth in agony, he became distantly aware of the colonel getting up. Ed looked up to see the colonel standing in front of him, fingers poised to snap.

The smoke alchemist laughed, "It's raining, Flame. You can't do any-" He was cut off by four tall walls being transmuted around him.

"Gotcha." Ed smirked. Smoke was too cocky, sure of his win. That was his mistake. The colonel stepped forward, swaying ever so slightly.

"Smoke alchemist, you are under arrest." Mustang declared, then promptly collapsed. Ed's eyes widened. He and the colonel were obviously in no state to be arresting Smoke. Contrary to what others thought of him, he knew when to cut his losses. He quickly transmuted a fifth wall on top of the confinement Smoke was in, then tried to bandage his leg with his cloak. After the fifth attempt, he finally had a semi-decent bandaged leg. Transmuting a sort of crutch out of the building next to him, he hobbled over to the colonel.

The colonel's eyes were closed, his cheeks slightly flushed. Ed knelt next to him, checking vital signs. The colonel was alive, no doubt, but he was burning up. Ed sighed. Of course, the bastard colonel would come on a mission even when he was ill. Deciding that Smoke could chill in his earth prison for a little while longer, Ed scanned the area for a shelter. He needed to properly bandage his leg and wait for the colonel to wake up. Deciding to just go to the building next door, he grabbed the colonel and attempted to lift him. To his surprise, the colonel was quite light and easy to drag.

Once they were out of the rain, Ed focused his attention onto the current situation. He had no way of contacting anybody at the moment, so that was out of the question. He had no food, or water. He did have some medical supplies. The next city was an hour long train ride away, so he would have to make do with what he had until they could move.

AN: Arigato for reading. If you don't want to review, you don't have to, but I would definitely appreciate it! Plus, if you review, my writing itself will improve, so you do get something for your efforts.