I checked out this really kewl book from the library called Arthur Spiderwick's Field Guide to the Fantastical World Around You and because of this book I was able ta pick out some extra nasty critters. This chapter I'm shootin' for humor and the rise of the antagonist of the story. I know, I know, why is the antagonist popping up so late in the story? Simple really…cause I finally came up with one…and…cause I can (insert evil laughter). Ok real reason, cause I had this awesome brain storm thingy…yeah…

Amandana: Mmmm…sweet chaos…yes well, seeing everyones' reaction to her I figured I'd switch her around a wittle bit…which means…(evil laugh) can we hear an antagonist a comin'? Don't want to give away too much…but all I will say is…she's not who you think she is.

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Chapter Thirteen: I Have To What!

Edward was sitting on the bank of the black lake gazing tiredly over the water, he was vaguely thinking about what Hermione said about being an animagus. How the only two ways a person could be one is if they were born with the ability or they've spent most of their life training to become one. Since he'd never spent a second of his life training to become an animagus let alone even know what one was, he highly doubted it was because of that. Then there was the aspect of being born one, which started forming questions that didn't make much since in the first place.

"Damn…I be it's because of HIM…" Ed grumbled under his breath, he was referring to his father Hoenheim, of course. The, now moderately fuming teen, was just about to doze off into a, metaphorically speaking, catnap when Professor McGonagall came trudging through the grass.

"Aw there you are Mr. Elric, your brother told me you would be here."

"The traitor…"

"Now, as a participant in the present tournament you are required to have an escort to…"

"An escort? For what?" Ed interrupted; he'd jumped to his feet and looked as if someone had just sentenced him to live out the rest of his life on a dairy farm. The Professor was not please for being interrupted so she replied tartly,

"IF you'll allow me to finish Mr. Elric, you are required to have an escort to the formal this coming weekend."

"Formal? Y…you're not talking about a…ball are you? Or dance, or party, or whatever it is you call it here."

"Of course I am, now, you and the other tournament participants are going to open the formal with the first dance. I should hope you found someone to accompany you." the Professor stated. Now Edward had an unreadable expression on his face,

"Did…Al know about this?"

"Yes…he told me he's already found somebody to…" Once again she found herself being interrupted by the now uncontrollably angry teen.

"ALPHONSE!"

--

Al's sitting in the Gryffindor commons room watching Harry and Ron play wizards' chess when he looks up and around, then he asked,

"Did you hear something?"

"Nope." Both young wizards answered in an unnaturally uninterested tone, so the younger Elric shrugged and went back to watching the game.

--

"Oh, he's going to pay…" Edward fumed, Professor McGonagall huffed and continued,

"You are a representative for your school, you need to be ready. Also, the Headmaster thought it would be fitting that a few of your own professors be invited to partake in spectating this event."

"You…you're joking…right?" Ed stammered, he was now wondering whether or not the world was ending right before his eyes.

"I assure you I am not."

Edward gaped then started walking back towards the castle, the look on his face would have been priceless had in tot been for the fact that he hadn't transformed into a dog right that moment.

'Damnit!' he mentally shouted he thought he had control over it, but apparently it still needed to be refined. The infuriated alchemist stalked back to the Gryffindor commons room, getting odd looks along the way, when he arrived he had to bark and owl several times before somebody let him in.

"Hello brother," Al chimed as Ed walked over to the fireplace, "Are you all right?"

'Woof!'

"Brother?"

'Bark!'

"Come on brother, you have to turn back so I can understand you."

'Grrrrrrr.' Edward growled and looked away. Al tilted his head questioningly.

"Brother?"

Edward managed to transform back, he was still sitting on the floor like a dog, but he had a very disgruntled look on his face.

"Al, you didn't tell me about the formal."

"Oh…heh…yeah." Al scratched the back of his helmet.

"So, who are you going with?" Ed muttered.

"Oh yeah! I'd sent a letter to Winry and she said she'd go, the Headmaster said it was all right." Al nodded. Ed stood up; he gave Al a look, one that was unreadable, and said,

"Did you know that some of our friends from the military will be joining us?"

"What? Really?"

"What, you didn't know?" Edward sounded irked; "I'm going for a walk."

"But you just got back."

"Yeah well, I've got a lot to prepare for don't I?" Ed got up and started walking towards the door. Al quickly followed him and stepped in front of him blocking his way,

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you, I was going to tell you but I didn't get the chance."

"Al, I have to prepare for this weekend, I haven't got much time to prepare." Ed walked past Al and left. Alphonse sighed and turned, Harry and Ron where looking at him, their game momentarily forgotten.

"Um…Al…you ok?" Harry asked.

"Oh yes, brother's just needs some time alone." Al answered with a nod.

"You sure mate?" Ron added.

"Yeah, don't worry, he's just blowing off steam."

--

Edward had made his way back outside and was wondering around the school grounds, he walked all the way over to the Quidditch field and back then made his way over to Hagrids hut. It was there that he noticed something, he could hear something coming from the forest, it sounded like music. Finding it kind of odd that there would be music coming form a supposedly forbidden place, Eds' curiosity got the better of him, and not being one to follow rules he took a step into the forest.

He'd been walking for at least ten minutes before he stopped and crossed his arms, he could still hear the music but he couldn't find out where it was coming from, it was almost as if it was coming from nowhere in particular. Heaving a large sigh, he turned around to head back only to find himself face to face with a very strange looking figure. They stood a good a few feet away and seemed to be dancing around in circles; Ed took a small step back and, inconveniently, stepped on a twig. When it snapped, the figure turned and looked at him, turned out it was a girl. She had shoulder length red hair and was dressed in a sort of woodsy colored dress…in fact, her dress looked as if it was made of leaves and other plant life.

"Who are you?" She asked.

"Edward Elric." He answered, Ed was getting a funny sort of vibe from her, why was she here if this place was off limits to people? Something else caught his attention, she had pointed ears. That must be it, she wasn't human…was she?

"Hello Edward Elric, my name is Shi."

"Uh…hi."

"What are you doing in the forest Edward Elric?" she then asked.

"I heard…music, but it's stopped now." Ed answered. She just laughed and took him by the hand saying,

"Don't be silly, I didn't hear anything."

"Y…you didn't?"

"No," she started leading him deeper into the forest, "Come with me, you must be tired and hungry."

"Actually no, but I really should be getting back now." Ed tried to go the other direction.

"You mean you came from the castle?" she asked.

"Yeah…kinda."

"Ok then, that's closer lets go there!" she turned and started heading in the same direction Ed was going in. She'd led him all the way back to the edge of the forest in less time then it took him to get lost in it, but in that short five minutes Ed had a 'ah-what-the-hell' look on his face.

"Um…I know you're not…human but…"

"Sure."

"What?"

"I could hear you talking with one of the other people from the castle, something about a party. I like parties, with dancing and singing. Besides, you're not really human either right?"

"Of course I'm human!"

"But…you turned into a dog, I saw you," she walked up to him and patted him on the head, "Such a cute doggy."

"Ah! Stop that!" Ed ducked and brushed her hand away.

"Ok then, I guess I'll see you then." Shi walked back into the woods and vanished leaving Ed questioning whether or not he just hallucinated that or he actually asked some random, not even human, girl to the formal thing. Yes, he did, which left him in a very funky mood as he walked back to the castle, he was hoping he could just go straight to bed and sleep all night and most of the next morning without incident.

When he walked through the portrait he found himself greeted by not just Alphonse but Harry, Ron, and Hermione as well. They all seemed a little TOO cheery and it made Ed suspicious.

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Oh nothing, so are you feeling better?" Al asked.

"Kinda," Ed muttered, "I'm going to bed." He started walking towards the boys' dorms when Harry asked.

"So did you find someone to go to the formal with you?"

"Yes actually." Ed said pausing.

"Really! Who?" All three asked.

"Nobody you know."

"Come on brother who?"

"Just someone I met while walking."

"Tell us."

"Listen, I'm tired and I want to go to bed, why are you all pestering me now?" Ed hissed.

"Well…" they all looked at each other.

"Out with it."

"Oy…Ed, did you forget about me already?"

Edward looked up, he knew that voice and it made him reel, turning around he met the all to familiar gaze that irritated him so.

"Oh…hello Artimus," He said with a grimace, "I half thought you ran away."

"Awh, still a sweetie aren't we." She retorted, "Naw, my job was to get you here safe and sound wasn't it, well and stay here and help ya out as best I could."

"Phft…"

"I'll ignore that," she glared, "But I do have other business to attend to, like say, giving the grand tour to some of our old buddies from back home."

"What? They're here already!"

"Well yeah…Mustang and Hawkeye and Hughes and…" she paused to think a moment then nodded when she remembered, "And Armstrong."

Edward was already halfway up the stares, he was muttering something about if anyone so much as thinks or conceives the very idea of waking him up or bothering him he'd personally see to it that they paid for it dearly.

"Yeah nice ta see you too!" Artimus shouted up the stares laughing.

"Shut up!"

-To Be Continued-

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OK! The next chapter will be the formal! Keh, bet you're wonderin' who Shi is right? Am I right? Huh, huh? Well you'll have to find out in the next chapter (ducks as people chuck things at me) Hey! (Pwned by some random object) X.x

Well anyway…man now that FMA is done with (well anime wise…still got some more of the manga to go)…I'm gonna need a new series to obsess over and I've chosen one I think best suites my interests and such. That series is…SAIYUKI! I've already got a character I'm gonna lobve to death just like Ed n.n and that lucky character IS! Genjyo Sanzo! Yey!

Sanzo: Keep away from me (points gun at me)

Me: Awh, he just needs ta be shown the ropes (takes out ropes and has evil grin on face)

Sanzo: O.O Makai Tenjou!

Me: (Pwned by Maten Scriptures)