A/N: Hey! This story is entering its climax, so be prepared ^.^ Anyway here is chapter 11

Chapter 11

Preparation and Pinpoints

Edward's flesh leg and arm were slightly red. It was most likely a first degree burn. He tried to pull himself up but his limbs were tingly and numb. "Shit," He cursed as he laid crumpled on the ground. He felt useless. Watching Nam fly away and hearing Maka's wail had been too much for him.

"Edward!" From his position, he saw blond locks flying toward him.

"Winry?!" Ed exclaimed. Winry hugged him and soon enough she noticed his wounds.

"Oh my God, Ed you're hurt! We need to get you back to the house!"

"What about Maka? Is she ok?" Ed needed to know she was alright first. Winry's eyes filled with tears and she shook her head. Scenarios played out in Ed's mind. Maka had gotten severely injured, she succumbed to the madness, or worse….

Winry helped Ed to his feet. As fast they could walk, they made their way to the area where they previously had battle. Maka was sobbing over Al's defeated form. Ed tore away from Winry's support and checked on the wailing Scythe Meister and his little brother.

"Maka?" Ed shook her shoulder, "Maka, what happened?"

She sniffled, "A-Al won't w-wake up, Eddy!" She took a few shaky breaths. "I think his blood seal was hit."

"Did you check?"

Oh. Maka blushed from embarrassment and shook her head. "N-No. I just assumed."

Ed smiled, "Lets check then." He looked inside and saw that a symbol of a horse engulfed in flames was almost a inch below Al's blood seal. The symbol had several spots on it whenever Kid hit the symbol with his Twin Demon Guns. Ed looked up at Kid, "Thank you for saving my brother from Nam."

"Yes, thank you Kid. And thanks for saving me also." Winry gave Kid a brief hug. Even though he'd been hugged by Liz and Patty out of playfulness for years now, but he never felt so warm and kind of happy from getting a hug before.

Soul picked Maka up bridal style. "Let's all get to the house. We need to rest up and decide what's going to happen in three days."

"What about Al? He'll wake up right?!" Maka asked frantically.

Ed nodded, "Yeah, this has happened before. He'll come back to us soon, I'm sure of it."

*( Rockbell House)*

Ed, Kid, and Shiro, who surprisingly helped, had moved Al's body to the house. Winry had tended to Ed's wounds, Liz and Patty treated Maka and Soul then they interrogated Shiro.

"Where is the battleground where we are to meet Nam?" She asked as her green eyes seemed to pierce right through him. Shiro smiled, "Dear Maka, have you not brushed up on your history?"

"Don't be a smartass." Soul growled, "Nam wants us there in three days and you know where the battle grounds are."

"He wants Ed, Maka, and I to be there. Not you, scythe boy." Shiro countered.

"That reminds me," Soul fixed his gaze on Maka. "Mind telling me what the hell you're hiding from me?"

Not really….

"I said I will tell you another time, Soul." Maka reminded him.

"Well, it's time to tell the truth! What's going on?! We're partners, Maka! You know you can tell me anything…" Maka saw the hurt evident in Soul's eyes. She had been a horrible partner these past two days. But her and Ed promised...

She was scared they would get in trouble. Tears pricked the corners of Maka's eyes. She didn't know why she was felt like she was about to cry. Maka felt like a little girl. Several years ago, she would've been begging for the town's forgiveness for what she and Ed did.

"It's ok. You can tell now." Edward came up and put a firm hand on her left shoulder. Maka felt a bit reassured now. She had Edward with her. When they made that faithful promise, neither of them knew what mess they were getting into. Now they plan to get out of it.

Together.

"Ed and I...we-" Maka broke off, unsure how to get the words out.

Ed, noticing her discomfort, took over for her. "We released Nam. Well, I did actually. Maka was there with me." Ed recounted the tale about how he touched the transmutation circle and ignoring Maka's plea. He told how it felt like a demonic presence came from the cave so they ran away and promised not to tell anyone.

"All our lives we've heard about the demon horse, Nam and we just got scared. So, we promised not to tell anyone. That's why Nam is so hell bent on killing us. He feels that if we are strong enough to destroy the seal then he wants to fight us. Maybe fight someone as strong as the alchemist that sealed him away."

Winry scowled, "I can't believe you dragged Maka into this!"

Edward rolled his eyes and said to Maka, "I had a feeling she would say that."

Maka smiled, but then she remembered the situation at hand, "It doesn't matter now. We need to find out where the battle grounds are located. In the legends, I heard it was very far away and that the alchemist that sealed Nam had to drag him to the cave in Resembool." She narrowed her eyes at Shiro. "I know you know where the battle grounds are. You were sealed away too, right?"

Shiro nodded, "I was sealed away much further...I think."

"So," Liz said, "You just need to research the legends and pinpoint exactly where the battleground will be, right?"

Ed sighed, "That means we have about three days to research all the legends we can. I'm sure there are a few story books we can find that has the legend of Nam."

"Winry, did anyone move into mama and our's old house?" Maka asked.

"No, I think it stayed empty. You did leave a lot of books back at your old house."

"Ok, Ed and Maka can research the legend again. I'll call Black Star and Tsubaki and see if they can pick up a book in the Central Library." Soul said.

With that said, they all began to research. Al woke up and he helped Ed look up different areas on maps. Maka, Soul, and Patty went to Maka's old house and grabbed about four books with different legends and stories about animals. Kid, Liz, and Patty went back to Central so they could aid Tsubaki, Black Star, and Roy Mustang. Shiro stayed in the guest bedroom and refused to come out.

By noon on the second day, they met in the living room to discuss their results. "From reading the different legends and studying a bit of history, I've concluded that Nam is in a area far away from Resembool. It's east of here and it's very close to the border of Aerugo. The alchemist, whose name is unknown but he did live here in Resembool for a while, had to drag Nam for almost a entire day back to Resembool. That's when he sealed Nam. So, Nam must have been close to death when he was sealed." Maka explained.

"The area near the border of Aerugo was known for raising live stock, particulary horses."

"Yep, she's right." Al said. "I talked to Roy and Tsubaki and they said that the battle was recorded near the Eastern border."

"Ok, we pinpointed the location of the battle now the matter is if we are going to let Maka and Ed go alone..." Winry's blue eyes saw how annoyed and prideful Ed and Maka looked. Now she knew why they were best friends.

Maka looked down at her arms. "I have the ability for blades to shoot out from my arms and legs, but I still feel like I can't control well enough..."

"In the legend, Nam told the alchemist to come alone or there will be cosenquences for Resembool. It would be better if it was just Maka and I."

"I'm not leaving Maka alone. I'm her partner so I have to be with her." Soul was fed up at this point. He didn't want someone else protecting Maka because it was his job too. Not Edward Elric's.

"She'll be fine. You know Maka can take care of herself. I wouldn't drag her into a senseless battle if I knew she was weak and couldn't protect herself." Ed countered.

"Um, hello? I'm still in the room!" Maka exclaimed, " I don't need anyone to protect me." Maka put her hand on top of Soul's hand, "Please, Soul, just this once trust me. Ed and I need to correct our mistake. You've seen how much the people in Resembool have suffered. So, please..."

Soul knew Maka was capable of fighting on her own. He's seen it himself and yet he didn't want to let her go. However, seeing the way her mind was set and the determination in her green eyes made Soul believe she had the power after all.

"Ok, you and Ed can go. I trust you."

Maka smiled and squeezed Soul's hand, "Thank you Soul. I promise to come back to you."

"Ed, Maka, shouldn't you guys begin to train? I mean you will be fighting together after all." Al suggested.

Day Five

Maka still couldn't believe this mission was taking five days. After spending all day yesterday training with Ed, which went better than she expected, and purchasing the first train ticket to the town nearest to the Eastern border, Maka and Ed bid farewell to their friends in the early morning hours. Winry and Al were upset to see their childhood friends and brother leave, but they had to stop Nam. Shiro had finally came out of the guest room where he told them Nam was waiting.

"Be careful, Maka. Please." Soul had given her one final hug before she boarded the train with Edward. During the train ride, her and Ed didn't say much to each other. Maka was much to nervous, but Ed had reassured her that they would win and fix their mistake.

After travelling for almost the whole day, by three o' clock they had made it to Farmington. Shrio walked ahead of them and said he would meet them there. Ed found this the perfect oppurtunity to tell Maka what's been on his mind. "Maka, there's something else I need to tell you. I didn't say this before because I was kind of skeptical but-"

Maka leaned forward and kissed Edward on the lips. Ed's lips softned as he returned her display of affection. His hand caressed her cheek as their kiss grew deeper. Dizzy from the lack of air, Maka relunctanly pulled away and smiled triumphantly. "Is that what you wanted to tell me?"

Ed's face turned red. "Not exactly. It was a quick plan I came up with to seal Nam."

"Oh." Maka blushed. "I'm sorry. That was my mistake and-" Ed pecked her on the lips and she was speechless. "Uh-"

"Come on, I'll tell you on the way there." Ed took Maka's hand in his and they walked through the small town to where their final battle with Nam would take place.

A/N: Aww I loved the kiss scene! I think I did a good job on it for going in detail for the first time like that... Anyway, maybe 2-3 chapters will wrap this story up nicely! I'm going to try and finish this up before Christmas. Thanks for reading! ^.^

Updated: 11/5/12