A/N: Okay so, seriously you guys can all thank the review from inuyashamunkey for this chapter. It's summer now, and I'll be gone for most of July, but hopefully I can finally update my fics and/or get out some of the new ideas I have!

Anyway, thank you to everyone who has followed, favourited, and reviewed since my last update – and I hope you enjoy this chapter! (I've actually had this planned out for a while)

Disclaimer: I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chapter 4: In Another Life (we would have met)

Previously…

The brothers found themselves confronted by their teacher, Izumi Curtis, and in the same go also gained their own much needed forgiveness for what they did.

Izumi leaned back in her chair to stare at both of them.

"So," She said with her arms crossed, "Why don't the two of you explain exactly what it is you've been doing, and why I've been hearing about you two travelling all over the country?"

The brothers exchanged a glance, both silently agreeing to tell their teacher everything they could. After all, maybe their teacher would be able to tell them something they hadn't found yet.

Ed launched into an explanation of how he'd found the book in Hohenheim's study that talked about the Philosopher's Stone, and how they'd been following rumors and library leads to get any information on it they could. And well, with the stories of how they'd become known as 'Alchemists for the People'… it's not like they couldn't help anyone along the way, right?

Izumi kept quiet for the most part, only occasionally asking a question or two for clarification. Mainly though, she kept quiet to enjoy the sight before her, nursing the warm feeling of pride inside her chest at her two student following her teachings and growing stronger while at it.

"And we were going to find you in Dublith eventually, I swear we weren't avoiding you, Teacher." Ed said vehemently, Alphonse nodding so quickly beside him she was surprised the helmet didn't fly off.

"Damn straight you were," Izumi agreed, "If I didn't run into you here, I would've hunted you down anyway, in fact I was even thinking of that recently."

Ed eyed their teacher nervously, that really didn't sound too good for them.

The bad feeling just grew worse as Izumi stood up to call for the bill for their table.

"So now that we've cleared the air, time to see how you've improved since I saw you two last."

Both brothers visibly paled, and looked at each other again.

'Shit.'

That thought was definitely unanimous.

4 years since setting out, 1 year since encountering Izumi (Ed: 15 / Al: 14)

The scenery outside flew by as the train rumbled on the tracks towards East City.

For once, things were actually going somewhat peacefully for the brothers – Edward taking a nap on the train seat regardless of the uncomfortable wood, and Alphonse taking the chance to read some books on Xingan culture that he'd picked up in the last city.

Of course things would find somewhere to go wrong.

The doors to the train cabin were kicked in, startling most of the passengers with a loud banging noise.

"Everyone keep quiet and don't make any moves!"

Three armed men rushed in through the doors, ready to fire at a moment's notice.

One man stepped in front of the others.

"If anyone tries anything, we will shoot." He started, "So it'd be in your best interests to just obey our demands."

Silence was his response.

At this point the other gunmen began to walk through the seats of the car. One of them was unfortunate enough to notice the boot sticking over the edge of the seat.

"Hey you!" The gunman stalked forward, ready to threaten whoever it was that wasn't taking them seriously. "Get up! Do you think we're kidding around?"

He reached the seat, only to come upon one of the weirdest sights he'd ever seen before. A suit of armor sitting next to a kid who couldn't have been more than 12, who was sleeping in the middle of a terrorist boarding.

"Tch." He said, readying his gun, "Like I care if you're a kid, you better take us seriously…!"

Just as the man began to point his gun at the blond child, a surprisingly high voice came from the suit of armour.

"Brother, he called you short."

A momentary pause filled the cabin at the unexpected comment.

Then.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A SHORTY WHO'S SO SMALL THAT HE'S BARELY VISIBLE!?"

A boot-covered foot shot up in the air, hitting the gunman in the chin and knocking him backwards into the other side of the train.

Golden eyes blazed angrily as the other two gunmen began to attack. The first one was dealt with a swift clapcrackle as the muzzle of the gun turned into a trumpet end, followed by a harsh punch to the face.

The remaining man aimed at Ed with a shout, raising the gun up.

"Stupid brat!"

But before he could even begin to do anything he crumpled to the ground, eyes rolling back from the sharp hit to the head Al had delivered from behind him.

"Don't hurt Brother." Burning soul-red eyes glared downwards at the unconscious man.

Ed trotted forward to talk to the other teen, "Hey Al, I'm gonna head up and see how the other carriages are doing."

Alphonse nodded at his brother, understanding the unspoken request.

"Okay, and I'll go from below."

A feral grin.

"We'll make 'em regret ever attacking."

Ed made his way forward carefully, mindful of the harsh with from the moving train. He was almost at the front of the train, then he would go back inside.

At the third car there was a hatch – he'd have to be extra quiet and careful not to alert anyone – and just as Ed reached it, a pair of voices from inside rose loudly enough to be heard from outside.

"Hey! Go check the roof. I'm gonna go check the other cars to make sure everything's okay. The idiots in the back still haven't checked in yet."

"Got it boss!"

Ed stopped.

It…would be just his luck if that exchange meant what he thought it meant.

The hatch in front of him opened. Brown met gold as wide eyes stared at each other, the shock putting everything on pause for a moment.

'Shi-!'

Before Ed could let himself think anything else, the other man's mouth began to drop open to shout an alert – and his left (automail) leg flew forward, kicking the man's face, knocking him out and straight back down into the carriage below.

Well there went his plan to go unnoticed.

Seeing no other choice as the body would likely be found by some other gunman if left alone – alerting them to his presence anyway – Ed jumped through the hatch and into the train after the falling body.

"This way! Make sure we take it out now! Don't let it reach the front of the train!"

Footsteps thudded on the other side of the door as the terrorists ran past.

Quietly sliding the door open the slightest bit, Maes let out a sigh.

'I wonder what's happening back there. But still – I'd better take this chance!'

Maes stood up, ready to run to the next carriage, before another sound interrupted him.

clank.

clank.

clank.

That had come from above. As in. From the roof of the moving train that was currently being raided by armed terrorists. This just really wasn't his day was it.

'Damnit,' he thought, 'Still, it's better to be safe than sorry. I just hope it's not more terrorists.'

Moving from his position inside the room in the carriage, Maes quickly ran to the ladder at the crossover between carriages.

Maes readied one of his throwing knives in one hand, before slowly scaling the side of the train with the other. Thankfully it wasn't too hard with the ladder to keep hold of, but with the wind buffeting him, he had to make sure to hold on.

Preparing to throw, Maes reached the roof of the train.

... Only to see nothing but the top of a blond-haired head jumping into the train maybe three cars ahead of where he was now.

Well this turned out to be a waste of effort – although it was impressive that whoever it was managed to make it such a distance in such a short time.

Maes blinked. Wait…there was something he was forgetting wasn't there.

"Shit. The general's in one of the front cars with his family isn't he."

It wasn't even a question.

"I should probably check on him."

That said, Maes quickly slipped back inside.

After making sure the hall was clear, Maes hurriedly made his way to the next carriage. He had to clear it before the terrorists saw, and if he was fast enough he might even be able to catch up to the blond unknown from the roof.

Unfortunately, luck was not on his side. Maes felt his body jerk forward as a bullet ripped through his shoulder.

'Goddamnit!' Feeling his teeth grinding against each other at the pain. He couldn't exactly afford to stop running without getting injured even more so Maes kept running to the next carriage. Thankfully it was one with private rooms, so he ducked into one and out of view.

His back hit the wall as he slid down against it, clutching at his shoulder. He poked at it gently, cringing as he felt blood spill out from the hole. The bullet had gone through and through, meaning at least he wouldn't have to dig into his shoulder to get the bullet out.

His dominant arm was shot – no pun intended – and he was definitely outnumbered. Maes wouldn't be able to fight against the terrorists again soon. He let out a breath and leaned back.

'Well,' He thought somewhat ruefully, finding some morbid humour in the situation, 'At least I won't be doing paperwork anytime soon.'

Sparks flew as metal clashed against metal.

"Automail against automail, eh? Go figure."

Ed felt the grin spread across his face as he pushed forward.

The blade he'd transmuted from his arm pushed against the terrorist's own weaponized automail.

The other – Bald – snarled as he pushed back.

"Who the hell're you supposed to be? One of Mustang's secret agents?"

Ed jumped back as Bald threw his body weight even more into his attack. Fighter he may be, he was still definitely lighter than a full grown adult.

"Interfere and I'll kill all the hostages one by one!"

Ed had no clue what Bald was talking about. And proceeded to say exactly that.

"Who the hell is Mustang?"

Duck. Roll under the lunge. Come up and high kick.

"And like hell I'd let you kill anyone!"

Block with the right. Land and low sweep.

"Tch. Like it matters who you are anyway. I can't lose with this upgraded arm of mine!"

Bullet spray. Dodge.

"I bet you can understand. The want for power… You've got the same arm after all!"

Punch. Grab.

Pause.

"Don't you dare…."

Gold eyes glared as the sound of crumpling metal filled the train carriage.

Bald could do nothing but stare in shock as his 'prized' automail arm was crushed to pieces in the teenager's own automail grip.

"Don't you dare lump in my reasons for this arm with yours!"

And one final blow was dealt as Ed punched his opponent in the face with enough force to send him into the wall, the impact knocking him out if the punch wasn't enough.

"Tch. Bastard."

Civilians murmured as they watched the soldiers march into the station plaza.

"Spread out! Arms at the ready but don't fire immediately! Prepare for possible resistance!"

"Yes sir!"

Roy tugged on his gloves as the train finished pulling in to the station.

"Lieutenant Hawkeye, if you please."

"Here you go, sir."

Roy brought the megaphone in front of his face.

"Ahem. ATTENTION. BALD. YOU AND YOUR MEN ARE SURROUNDED. SURRENDER QUIETLY OR WE WILL USE FORCE."

It was as if the whole station was holding their breath, waiting for a response.

A door slid open.

Guns began to lift.

An arm stuck out and began to wave.

"I come in peace!"

Sigh. Roy's palm met his face as he shook his face. "That idiot…"

Major Maes Hughes stuck his head out from behind the door of the train to wave at his friend and fellow military forces.

"Stand down!" Roy commanded, beginning to walk toward his stupid best friend, "He's one of us."

Clicks and sounds of other movements could be heard as the soldier's complied.

"Heya Roy," Hughes said cheerfully, as if he hadn't almost just set off an entire plaza of soldiers armed to the teeth. "Nice to see you again!"

Roy opened his mouth to say something, only to be interrupted by a frigid voice from behind him.

"And just what are you doing Major Hughes?"

Hughes froze. "Ahaha...ha…. Hello to you too Lieutenant Hawkeye…"

"Explain. Now if you please."

'Just who is the superior officer here?' He thought, before explaining exactly what happened on the train.

"Both General Hakuro and his family are okay, and none of the passengers have been seriously injured," He started. Although there were a few people who had gotten grazed from overeager gunmen, no one was too badly hurt. However, there was still the matter of the unknown fighters on the train.

"I wasn't the only person resisting the terrorists," Hughes continued, "At one point I heard footsteps on top f the train, so I went to check it out. I didn't get a good look at the person, but there was definitely someone ahead of me. Not only that, but they probably weren't alone either. I heard multiple terrorists running to the back of the train as well, but I didn't get a chance to investigate before I was injured."

It was at this point Roy and the Lieutenant noticed the band of cloth tied around Hughes' upper arm.

Before they could say anything though, Hughes wrapped up his informal report.

"After everything seemed to die down, I ran to the front cabin to check on the General. Which is where I found this."

And then he reached behind him into the train and pulled out a knocked out and tied up Bald.

"That wasn't all though. After finding him, I checked on the passenger carriages too."

At this point Roy couldn't stay quiet anymore.

"Let me guess," He started, "You found the other terrorists tied up the same way as Bald."

Hughes nodded. "Exactly."

"And no one had any clue as to who did it?"

Hughes shook his head.

"I'm not sure." Leaning against the doorway, Hughes crossed his arms, "I asked, but they all said they didn't see anything. Although I'm not sure if that's exactly the truth."

"In any case, I leave the rest to you Lieutenant Colonel sir!" Snapping a half-joking two fingered salute, Hughes stepped off the train and walked away.

Roy watched as his friend left the station, before turning around.

"Lieutenant."

"Yes sir?"

"Get the soldiers to check with the passengers to confirm their stories with Hughes'"

"Yes, sir."

"I'd like you to help with that too. Let me know if you think any of them are suspicious."

"Of course sir."

"I'll take care of Bald and the other terrorists."

"Yes, sir."

"Thompson, Rogers, Kelly! Over here! Make sure to lock these terrorists down. Don't give them any openings to escape."

The sound of footsteps followed that last order. "Yes, sir!"

A ripping sound tore through the air behind Roy.

"Mustaaaaaaang!"

snap.

woosh.

Bald didn't even get the chance before being lit up in flames.

Dispassionate dark eyes stared at the charred body laying on the stone covered ground.

"Remember the pain. Maybe next time you'll stay down instead of trying to fight someone so far out of your league."

In the commotion that followed, nobody noticed the two figures sneaking out along the tracks of the train.

A/N 2: A little bit over one year since my last update... I'm really sorry. I'll try my best to update sooner. Please leave a review with your thoughts!