Friendship is...Alchemy?

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

Chapter 1

She tore down the dirt trail, kicking up all she could. Unfortunately, she wasn't built for running; rather, flying was her first language, but it seemed she'd have to go with the latter for now. Her wing had been bent by that manticore's harsh attack, leaving her hooves to be her only hope. Her friends were right by her, wondering what in Equestria was going on.

They take their first steps into this new, awe-inspiring world of buildings and odd machines, and the next moment they end up being struck down by some lion-lizard hybrid. They assumed it to be like on of the creatures of the Everfree forest, but this beast was far more aggresive, far more powerful than they had assumed. "Hurry it up, girls!" Twilight egged them on, namely to Rarity trailing in the back, Fluttershy second. Pinkie, Dash, and AJ were up in the lead, being the fastest there. However, for Dash and AJ, this was no race like the Leaf Running contest; it was one for survival.

Suddenly, their attacker ceased its pursuit, but not out of will. One of the bipedaled creatures, this one dressed in uniform, held a shaky, metallic, black...something. They had no clue what it could be, but it had stopped the manticore-type monster. The ponies collectively sighed, taking a moment to catch their breath.

"Thank you, sir," Twilight stepped over to the being, which jumped at her approach. "Wh-What the...? S-Stay back! I'm warning y-you!" He pointed the weapon at the purple pony, who took a step back. "Whoa, easy there...We don't mean any harm..."

Another of the officers, this one grinning, interrupted. "Hey, you got it! Great!" He placed an arm around around his comrade's shoulder. "And on your first day, too! What luck!" He seemed to finally notice the six others close by, namely the one standing nearest. "Hmm? There's more? Well, even better! Whaddya say? Ya wana take 'em back? I bet it'll be a bonus~!"

Dash jumped into the conversation, a bit less friendlier than Twilight. "Now wait, I think we need some answers here! Who--and what--are you guys, anyways? Where are we?" The two males gave her a blank look, to which she stomped her hoof. "Well? Tell us," she snorted, "Or else!"

A pause passed betweent them all, then the cheerier officer clapped. "This is AMAZING! Talking chimeras! Man, wait'll the colonel sees you all."

"Wait, wha-" Dash was cut off by a zap to her hind leg. She craned her neck around to see a small dart there, then back to her assailant. The man did the same her friends, who could only do so much to fight back. AJ's bucking managed to keep one at bay, but another quickly roped her and stuck one of the missed darts into her, Rarity was easily overpowered by the males, and Fluttershy could only run so far until surrounded and subdued. Twilight deflected most with her magic, but one lucky shot and her horn lost its glow. Pinkie bounced around all of them; however, her spastic jerks ended in her accidently sticking herself with one.

The blurry frames of the figures were the last that Rainbow saw as she slipped into a dark world.

~///~

"Colonel! Hey, Colonel!" Hughes burst into the office, more delighted than usual. "You'll never guess~!" He grinned and strode over to the man in question. "Look, I know your daughter's birthday was a few days ago," the raven-haired higher-up replied, "But could you please stop prancing around like that? It's not a big deal."

Hughes nearly fainted as some invisible dramatic light fell over him. "N-Not important?! My little girl is the most important thing in the world!" He quickly recovered and got back to the matter at hand. "But that's not it at all. It's about what I and one of my new recruits found today~!"

Sighing, Mustang decided to humor him with a semi-sarcastic "whatever could it be?" look. Hughes paused for an inaudible drumroll, then announced, "We caught six talking chimeras!" Mustang showed a genuine expression of surprise, eyebrow raised in query. "Talking chimeras?" He grinned. "Show me."

~///~

Dash bumped her head on the bars of a cage as she stood, her multi-colored mane getting caught for a moment before she tugged it free. She glanced over at the others, who seemed to be waking up as well. "Ahh, mah back..." AJ groaned, stretching as best she could, "Now Ah know how Granny Smith felt after fallin' asleep in that cider barrel..."

"Oh, no...o-oh my..."Fluttershy's frantic voice startled everypony. "W-we're...i-in c-c-cages..." She started hyperventalating. "D-Do you know what they do with a-animals in c-cages like this?! They take them to th-the pound, o-o-or some t-testing lab...o-o-o-or worse..." She nearly fainted.

Pinkie started to panick as well, bouncing her cage up and down. "What if we never get out?! I mean, I have a lot of stuff to do today! I think..." Her trailing off was picked up by Rarity. "Nevermind that! Oh, my mane is even worse than earlier!"

"Is everypony alright?" Twilght asked, ignoring their comments and getting shaken affirmitives from all. "Yeah, my wing's still broken, and we're all stuck in cages, " Dash added wryly, "But other than that, we're just peachy!" Rarity piped up, "Yes, do you think you could help us out there, Twilight? You are the magic expert here, so I'm sure this is nothing...right?"

The violet unicorn concentrated on unlocking the cages, bending the bars, making them vanish, anything to get them fre...but her magic had been drained by the sedative. "No use...sorry, girls." She sighed, sitting down, then pricked an ear up at the approach of their captors. She glanced over at Rainbow. "Don't get any ideas, hotshot. Let's just ask them nicely about what's going on." Dash rolled her eyes but complied to Twilight's plan.

The doors to the room opened up, revealing the gleeful officer before, along with a new one. "See? What'd I tell ya, colonel!" The male known as "colonel" kneeled down to their level, head cocked and resting on his arm. "You said they talk, didn't you?"

"Ugh, why is everypony so surprised that we talk," RD groaned, "Of course we talk! Now, can somepony please tell us what the buck is going on here?!"

The higher-up raised an eyebrow, then smiled. Without bothering to look back at his colleague, he instructed, "You can go now, Hughes. I'll deal with the rest." Mr. Hughes seemed to hesitate, but wasn't about to disobey an order. "Alright, Colonel. They're all yours~!" He left carefree, talking to himself about getting more time with his sweet little girl now and leaving the six ponies to their fate with Mustang.

~///~

"Excuse me, sir, but you wouldn't mind telling us where we are, would you?" The purple pony attempted once more at conversation. "Yeah, nopony seems t' wanna do anythin' with us," the pale orange one chimed in, "Well, nothin' 'cept fer prod us and corral us like cattle."

The man took a moment to respond, ignoring them and instead asking, "Do you have names?" He waited for his answer first, getting none. "Alright...look, if you don't want to talk to me, then that's fine." He stood, shrugging. "After all, I only have so much authority here, so if I can't get any info outta you, then, well..."

He saw they were getting worried, and went on. "I'll have to hand you over to the experts. I'm sure they'll be able to make use of you. Y'know, it's pretty convenient that you come in pairs..." He paced in front of them now, using his intimidation skills. "That means I'l keep you, you, aaand you..." He randomly pointed to the purple unicorn, the more rustic earth pony, and the rainbow pegasus. "And I'll send you, you, and...YOU..." He picked out the white one, the pink pony, and the cowering winged mare, "Get to go to the labs."

The last one of the group caught a dizzy spell at his threats, to which the first of them decided enough was enough. "My name is Twilight Sparkle." Mustang accepted her answer with a nod. "Good. It's a pleasure to meet you, miss."

Following up was the hyper one of the group, her mane pink and fluffy. "Hi, I'm Pinkie Pie! Say, are you an alien? Oh, oh, or maybe you're like some kinda monkey! I mean, I've seen monkeys before, but not ones that walk on just their back legs, so maybe you're some kinda mutant monkey, like outta the Everfree forest!" She gasped, but, before she could continue, the one in a cowboy hat put a hoof in her mouth.

"Sorry 'bout that. Ah'm Applejack. Nice t' meetcha." She tipped her hat, letting the next pony go. Another unicorn, this one pearly white with a curled mane of violets, spoke up. "I am Rarity. Delighted." She extended a hoof through the bars, which Mustang took cautiously and shook. "U-Umm..." a quiet, hushed tone went next, "I-I'm..."

The second pegasus, pale yellow with a creamy pink mane, took a shaky step out of the far corner of her cage. "I mean...My name is...F-f-fluttershy..." Mustang offered her a calming grin, but it must've come off as scary because the timid pony backed up with a squeak.

"Ain't y'all gonna introduce yerself?" Applejack turned to the sky blue pony, who huffed in return. "Rainbow Dash," she muttered, "Now answer our questions, Mr. Colonel."

The man chuckled at the mare's rebellious response, then situated himself more comfortably. "My name is Roy Mustang," he informed, "And I am a State Alchemist."

~///~

Twilight had read of alchemy before, but it was more of a myth, definitely not factual science like magic was. "I'm sorry," she corrected, "But there's no such thing as alchemy." She saw the look of confusion on the creature's face and brushed it off with a nervous chuckle. "I mean, maybe you just have it confused with magic. You don't have a horn, but your kind must use it a different way than us, since you're clearly not ponies."

Now it was Mr. Mustang's turn to laugh at her logic. "Well, if by 'my kind', you means humans, then no, we don't have horns or magic. That's all fiction and fairy tales. Alchemy is our science." He demonstrated by snapping his fingers, instantly creating a flame that entranced them all. "I'm known as the Flame Alchemist here, and you can see why. Of course, I'm beginning to think that you're not from here, anyways. You all could be chimeras, but no chimera would be able to do what you did to some of my men with that 'magic' horn of yours."

Twilight decided to get on the same page with him, opting to go along with the whole "alchemy is real" bit. "Okay, let's go with that; we're not chimeras--whatever those are---and we're absolutely not from here, since we have no clue what 'humans' are...Yes...yes!" She lit up like a light bulb as her mind kicked into overdrive.

"This is incredible! I had been reading about the possibility of other dimensions and times, alternate worlds, different planes of existance ful of unknown creatures and wonders beyond all of comrehension!" She took a big gasp to catch her breath, continuing, "So maybe we somehow got teleported here! But who would bring us here....?" She stopped, going through a mental list of enemies, which Dash voiced. "Let's see....Nightmare Moon, Trixie, Discord, the Changelings, and, oh, just about every other foe we've faced, plus anything else in the Everfree forest--no, in Equestria--that wants to bring Disharmony to us and everypony in the world!"

"Sounds like you all have had quite an adventurous life." Roy commented, then got an idea. "How about we exchange some intel about our...eh, worlds...And about how you got here, too." Twilight nodded in agreement, "Good call. But, well, we're not too sure how we got here...we woke up in a cell...but none of us remember what happened before..."

Dash jumped in with her part of the story, too. "Yeah, except that horrible, shocking feeling we all had. Remember that?" Mustang perked up at that. "Shocking? Like, electrical, maybe some kind of limb-from-limb ripping sensation?" With an eager nod from the rainbow mare, the man pressed further. "Tell me everything." And so, Rainbow recalled their tale...

~///~

The jolts of electricity shooting through her were of indescribable pain. She hadn't felt this much strain on her since that time Derpy had accidently shocked her with a nimbostratus cloud, or when Pinkie decided to test her new Super-MEGA-spledifer-whatever joy buzzer. This felt like every shred of fur, flesh, and fiber was being stripped off at once. It was unbearable, but she only had to put up with it for a few seconds before she lost all consciousness.

"Rainbowdaaaash! Hey!! Wake up, silly-filly!" A squeaky voice belonging to only one pink prankster brought Dash back to her senses. The silhouettes of her other friends were fuzzy, but she recognized them all there.

Pinkie, despite the circumstances, was bouncing around and examining anything. Rarity was, of course, tending to her slightly frazzled mane. Over in the corner, Fluttershy was curled up in hiding from some invisible force of terror. Trying to kick the walls of their cell down was AJ, muttering and wondering where the buck they were. Twilight appeared to have the same question as she paced, then she turned to see Rainbow was awake.

She helped the cyan pegasus to her hooves. "Oh, good. So, we're all up, then?" She glanced around to address her friends, who were now looking eagerly to the smarter of the six for an answer. "Any idea what's goin' on here, Twi?" Applejack trotted up, followed by the others.

"I'm not too sure...but...well, does anypony remember what happened before we got here?" Twilight looked arond, waiting for an answer. Dash spoke up first, "I remeber there was this shocking feeling...and...Idunno...next thing I woke up to was Pinkie." She gestured to the pony trying to scale the brick wall.

Hearing her name, the party pony jumped in. "Oh, oh, oh! I remember something like that, too! It was all like buzzzzy, but not in the joy buzzy kinda way or a sugar rush, more like the ouchy kind! And I was all, 'aaaahhh!' "She flailed around randomly to emphasize her painful experience. "Then I leapt up, but I hit my head on the ceiling, and thought, 'why is there a ceiling? I was just outside!' Although, now that I think about it, I don't know where I was exactly, so maybe I was inside and--" Her eyes went wide. "I'm dreaming!!! That explains it all!"

Twilight caught the hyperactive mare by her tail, stopping her from trying to wake herself up by slamming into the wall. "Whoa, whoa...alright, so is this...'buzzy' sensation true for everypony?" They all nodded, to which Twiilight smiled. "Great! So we know that there's a connection here. Maybe we can ask somepony if-" She was cut off by the sound of somepony approching them.

"Yes, they're right down here. They really, talk, too! Oh, man, these new ones are a huge breakthrough, I promise!" An enthusiastic male voice piped up, added on by a companion with a gruffer tone. "Well, we'll see about that. If you're right, though, this could be what we've been looking for all these years...this could be the coupe de grace of all our transmutations..."

The ponies reached the cell doors, only they were definitely not ponies. They were much taller, probably about the height of the princesses, but they probably only looked that way because they stood on their hind legs. The first one leaned down to the cell door, keys in...well, not hooves, more like some odd appendages, the likes nopony had ever seen.

"And they're not, uh..dangerous, are they?" The heftier male asked as the assistant opened the door. "Don't worry, they should still be sedated. Why, when I was talking to them earlier, it seemed they had no clue what was even going on. So it's fine; come on in."

The man stepped in warily into the cell, looking at the fillies. "Hmm...well, a couple of these look...normal." He pointed to the two earth ponies. The assistant corrected him, "Although they seem to have no obviously abnormal traits or mutations, they are still capable of speech." The man waved his colleague off, changing his direction to the rainbow-maned pegasus.

He bent down so he was eye-level with the mare. "Lovely, isn't she?" He reached his hand around to one of the wings. "Oh, so perfect! So, do these wings really fl-" The moment his finger touched the feathers, he got a front hoof to the face. He backed up, scolding his subordinate. "You said they weren't dangerous! That one just hit me!"

Rainbowdash smirked, then gave a glance at the others. "I know you had another plan in mind, Twilight, but I think just rushin' outta here works better!" She galloped forward, unfurling her wings and zipping out into a hallway. "Wait, Dash," Twilight hollered, "Maybe we can just ask them to-"

"Lookie here, sugarcube, ah want answers as much as the next pony," AJ interjected, getting ready to charge, "But ah'm with RD on this 'un. Let's skedaddle!" She darted out, pushing past the two creatures and causing them to fall. Following up, Pinkie bounced past, hopping on the two on her way out. Rarity gracefully leapt over as well, then Fluttershy, who apologized for all the trouble.

Twilight sighed, using her magic to levitate the half-conscious beings into the cell and shut the door. "So much for just asking somepony..."

She caught up woth her friends, who were facing a large, center room with some odd symbol on the ground. They scanned for an exit, but the language was unrecognizable, far from their standard Equestrian. Pinkie began twitching, then shouted, "Oh, ooooh, run! Quick, everypony! Another one of those..thingies, they're coming! Run! Uh, th-that way!" She pointed a shaky hoof in the leftmost door. They all followed, not about to doubt the Pinkie Sense, and busted through the double doors.

~///~

"Then, after we broke out, we came face-to-face with one of those freaky-deaky manticore-looking thingies! Uh, I think you called 'em...chimeras...?" Mustang nodded, sastified with the story. "I wonder...I wonder if that lab..." He dragged his sentence into his thoughts, saving it for later. "Well, in any case, I don't hink I can keep you here in Central HQ. I'll have to make arrangements to keep you with someone else...someone..."

Dash huffed, "Will you quit going off and ending your sentences all...weird and stuff...?" She mocked his speech, then Twilght added on, more gently, "Ah, yes, where are going with this?Do you know somepony--I mean, eh--someone who we can stay with?"

"Yes. Ladies," Mustang stood, addressing them with a thoughtful grin, "It looks like it's time for you to meet a friend of mine...The Fullmetal Alchemist."

Chapter 2

Al's armored form clunked behind his older brother, heading back to their temporary home in Central. Mustang had only briefed them, explaining that they needed to stay a few extra days for some special mission, and so had gotten them a suite at one of the hotels commonly used for such special guests or military. "Whaddya think the colonel wants this time, Ed?" Yawning, the state alchemist merely shrugged in response. "Yeah, it's a mystery with him...Anyways, I found this new recipe that I wanted to try making for you, so I can serve our guests that, too!"

"Good thinking, Al," his brother praised, "After all, Mustang made these guys sound pretty important, so we'll hafta make sure everything goes well. No problemo!" He grinned as they stepped through the double doors, taking the stairway up to their room. "I wonder who they could be..."

~///~

"Alright, into positions!" The mare in charge gathered her team, extra-triple checking that every last detail was in order. Nopony knew where'd she'd gotten all the stuff to do this--probably the same other-worldly vortex she produced party canons from and popped out of apple baskets with--but they had to hand it to the girl. "Now, we wait..." she grinned super wide, not unlike a Tasmanian devil on the hunt, and whispered, "...Lights out...."

~///~

Edward reached into his pocket, digging around for the keys. Al chuckled behind him and opened up his armor, handing them to the frustrated boy. "I-I knew you had 'em...heh..." He smiled sheepishly, then placed them in the lock, turning the tumblers within that granted them access. "He--" Before he could even get a word out, he was up in Al's metal arms, jaw dropped and a high squeak emitting from him.

"Surprise!!!" A bouncing pink mini-horse leapt up right in front of him, causing said girlish shriek and flail back to overcome him. "Wh-whahzaa....f-f-f-f...izzahh....p-p-poneh?!" He sputtered incomprehensively, still clinging to his younger brother, who also had a look of shock on his helmet.

Al regained his cool first, rephasing the question his sibling had failed to word. "U-um, I'm sorry, but...what are you?"

"We're throwing a party! Duh!" The cheery mare replied, bouncing around more. "We've got party hats, and party punch, party pastries! Oh, my! Not to mention all the balloons! I always carry balloons for these kinda emergencies. There's red, blue, green, purple, yellow, yellow-green with a bit more of a greenish-yellow tint for shading, sky blue with forest green to make a sea-colored forest color, dark red with a hint of rose pink and a bit of Tickle Me Magenta--which really should be called something else, but that'd be copyright--and..." She paused to take a breath, giving another earthly pony a chance to put a hoof in her mouth.

A lavender coated one, this with a horn adorning her head, stepped forward next. "I'm sorry about that, but she can kinda go off sometimes when she gets caught up in the fun. Allow me to make introductions first." She named off each pony, pointing to them respectively and ending with herself. "Oh, by the way, the colonel wanted me to give you this." She levitated over a letter, which Ed cautiously removed from the ominous purle aura around it that enveloped her hron as well. "He said it'd explain everything."

Ed opened it up, reading aloud so Al could get the intel as well. "Fullmetal, I have entrusted the care of these six to you for the time being. I'm sure you can handle something as small as this..." Ed winced at what he was sure was a pick at his height, but moved on. "I don't believe them to be chimeras; rather, they are from another world of sorts. Do me this little favor," Ed once again controlled his temper at the word, "And I'll be sure to make it up to you. Besides, their tale of arriving here may be of some interest to you. Sincerely, Colonel Roy Mustang."

His eyes fell down a post-script at the bottom. "P.S I have also prepared a folder with all they have told me about their world." As he read, Twilight handed the aforementioned papers. "I would like you to inform them about some of ours as well, going into more detail than I briefed them on. Good luck, Shortstack." Ed growled at the final straw of insults, crumpling up the paper and tossing it across the room.

"Stupid colonel...when he said it was a special mission, I wasnt expecting THIS. What is he even thinking?! Can't he do this all himself?! He's the colonel, dammit, not me!" Al tried to keep his brother from saying something he'd regret, but the boy's anger was rising now, from both the sudden turn of events and all the short jokes sprinkled on top. "I swear I'll get him for all this...He knows we have a bunch of stuff to get done. We were plannin' on heading out to Dublith!(And Winry was so looking forward to checking out Rush Valley). GAHH! I mean, he just up and saddled me with a bunch of talking ponies!" He gestured to the six, all of whom now gave him an apologetic look. Ed immediatly took it back. "Sorry...I just..."

"Lookie, sugar," the cowgirl pony stepped up, "Ah know this is sudden for ya, but we'll be sure t' help ya out in return. Give a li'l, get a li'l, right?"

The blue pegasus jumped in as well, adding, "Yeah! Like that thing the colonel said...Equivalent exchange? Yeah, like that! We can pull our share of the weight."

Sighing, the fullmetal simply agreed. "Equivalent exchange...Perfect." He turned to his brother, switching right over to his next favorite subject. "So, Al, you said you had a new recipe to try out?" The younger nodded, then seemed to blush. "What's wrong?"

"W-well...I don't really think that they'd like it." Ed gave him ablank look, as did the others. He rubbed the back of his helmet, mentally sweat-dropping at his brother's ignorance. "I mean...ponies are herbivores, right? So, they don't eat...u-um..."

Pinkie hopped in, trying to encourage him. "I'm sure that wahtever it is, it'll be super-delecti-deliciously amazing! We can eat the cake I made afterwords, too!" She ran her tongue over her face, drooling like dog. "C'mon! Let's get cookin'!" Al shied down even more, not sure how to phrase it.

The first to catch on was Fluttershy, voicing his fears rather softly yet truly. "I get it. I have to take care of lots of animals, and some of them have to eat meat, too. Like the majestic hawks, and the wriggly little snakes, and the fluffy-wuffy kitties-"

"Yeah, yeah, cute, carnivorous animals. I knew that, too." Dash interrupted, waving a hoof around to dismiss the quieter one's comments. "I mean, Gilda had to eat meat too, being a griffin and all, so I know how it goes."

Al wiped off an invisible bead of sweat. "Alright. Well, I can make something else, then. That okay with you, brother?" Ed nodded. "Great! Let's see...I could make a stew. Do you all like stew?" They cheered, much more energetic than most people he knew, and headed triumphantly for the kitchen.

"You all go ahead, then," Ed made instead for his bedroom, folder full of facts about Equestria in hand. "I've gotta get to studying this. Call me in when it's ready, 'kay?" He got a confirmation from his brother, then went in to soak up all he could about the strange, mystical, magical, and overly-optimistic creatures he'd been given responsibility over.

~///~

"EEDD!!" the voice finally reached the blonde about half an hour later. He peeled his eyes from the documents, feeling as though he'd just sat through one of Hughes' mushy stories about his 'wittle girl's' tea parties. It was full of some action, like lion-ish creatures, draconic beasts, and other oddities, but it seemed that these ponies had it far easier. If Ed could cleanse souls corrupted by some nightmareish force or turn a draconequus to stone or defeat a colony of love-eating shapeshifters using only friendship, then he'd have gotten his limbs and Al's body back a while ago. He wasn't sure how he was going to do it, but he'd now have to tell those six the horrors of his own world, despite their lack of wars and bloodshed in Equestria.

He entered the kitchen, seeing it sparkling clean, with a few bowls at the dining table, some more in the living room on the coffee table instead. "So," Twilight stepped up, "Did you finish the files?" Ed nodded, to which she continued, "Great! So, how about you go over some more about Amestris over dinner?" He hesitated, then sighed, "Yeah, I guess you're gonna find out sooner or later, anyways..." The purple unicorn tilted her ehad at the ominous statement, but decided she'd just let him explain.

"Here, Ed!" Al handed his brother a bowl, awaiting the boy's comment on how well he did. "They helped me out a lot, too. Pinkie's great at cooking, and Fluttershy's not so bad, either. And Rarity and Twilight really cleaned up the place, huh? Not to mention Dash and AJ's help with the rest."

Ed took a spoonful, prompting the other ponies to start on their meals as well. "It's great, huh?" Dash said rather proudly,"I helped with all the spices!" Al nodded, although he had opted to leave out the pegasus' suggestions of Tabasco sauce and crushed peppers that were meant to be for an extra 'buck' as AJ put it. "Hey, Al, why don't ya take off that suit and try some yourself?"

The two brothers shared a look, letting a silence pass. "Like I said, they'd find out sooner or later." He set his bowl down and took a chair in front of them. "I think it's time you knew a bit more about Amestris...alchemy...and us..."

~///~

By the end of the tale, Al had taken his head off, Ed had showed his automail as proof, and the six ponies were in tears. Ed had tried to sugarcoat the story, but ended up revealing all in the most gruesome detail. Fluttershy had gone under the couch, shaking. Twilight was drying her tears with magic, looking away. AJ had her sorrow hidden under hat. Rarity was letting out dramatic gasps at each part, now sprawled over the couch in a faint. Pinkie's hair had lost bounce, and she was letting her tears go out in anime style, waterfalling and soaking the carpet around her.

Sitting by the window, expression hidden by her mane, Dash was even letting out a few tears, despite her macho shell. "Is this...what this place is like?" Ed nodded. "You said this world had wars, too. But I'm guessing it's not like a battle for keeping harmony, huh?" The achemist confirmed again. "Y'know, Ed...I've seen some pretty scary stuff in my life...but nothing like that. I don't think anypony has. I...I just wanna..." She sniffled back, refusing to let the emotion overwhelm her. "I mean...we gotta get back to Ponyville. We can't stay here. It's not right."

"I agree." Ed stood, getting the ponies to squelch some of their tears and look at him. "And I'll do what I can to help you. Mustang is too, I'm sure of it." He took a peek out the window, seeing the moon almost at its peak. "I think it's time for bed, every, eh, pony. C'mon, we've got an extra room, if you don't mind sharing the bed. It's kinda big, anyways." The room had been for Al, but the armor was incapable of sleep, so he didn't mind donating it to their guests. Ed opted to leave the white drama unicorn on the couch, and, unable to get Fluttershy out, decided she could come out and take the reclining chair when she was ready.

Dash stayed at the window, staring out at the empty streets, watching the moon go up on its own rather than by some alicorn's power. "I'll be right there," she whispered when Ed confroted her. The boy didn't bother changing her mind, instead heading to his room. Al followed so he could go over the folder as well, leaving the cyan pegasus alone to her thoughts.

"I have to get us back..." she muttered to herself, "I have to."

~///~

"AAAAHHHH!!!" The same 'surprise' from earler came jumping frantically on top of Ed, her hooves proving to be very effective weapons on his chest. "Wake up NOW! Wake up, up ,up, up, UP!" She bgan crowing like a rooster, ceasing when Ed finally found the strength to shove her off.

Clutching where shed left hoofprints on him, he groaned. "What...do you want...now?" Pinkie leapt up, for once without a word, and zipped into the living room. He followed her groggily, seeing the assembled ponies. "Well? What is it?"

Twilight was about to answer, but paused. "Um...I know ponies don't typically wear clothing due to out fur coats...but humans do, right?"

"What?" Ed suddenly felt a draft from the window, then looked down to find he was in just his boxers. "Gah?! Uh, g-gimme a moment..." He zipped in an out in a minute, pulling a shirt over to go with his usual black pants. "Ah, you were saying?"

"DASHIE'S GONE!!!" Pinkie exclaimed. Ed certainly see the pegasus present.

His head turned to where they were specifically gathered. The window was wide open, a breeze flowing right through. "No..." he gritted his teeth, realizing there was now a flying, talking pony on the loose, clenching his fists, "...Dammit!"

Chapter 3

Clouds whizzed past her as she searched for any signs, clues, anything. She was getting worried, as they'd been gone for a solid two days now. Nopony knew where they could be. They were lost, most definitely, and everypony in Equestria was worried sick, especially her...

"We are sorry sister," Luna appeared next to her, stopping her midflight, "We have searched high and low, but there is still no sight of Twilight Sparkle or her friends."

Celestia sighed, wondering where her faithful student could have disappeared to. "I know you're trying your best. It's just...I haven't been able to get any contact with them at all. They're far from my gaze, out there somewhere." She scanned her land, her little ponies whom she was meant to watch over and protect, no matter what. She'd lost them. She'd failed them. "I believe they must be in the everfree forest, for that is one domain I do not reign over. I..." She set her gaze on the mysterious land, determination coursing through her, "I'm going to search there."

The younger of the two alicorns stood in her path, concern clearly covering her crystal blue eyes. "Sister, you mustn't! We know of the terrors that dwell within that place. Who knows what is there, what creatures even you do not control? We strongly advise against this!"

"That's why I have to go, Luna." The sun princess smiled, assuaging all her sister's fears. "Besides, I am Celestia, Ruler of Equestria, all-powerful controller of the sun. Surely I can handle rescuing my little ones, right?" She patted her sibling on the head, then set off towards the Everfree Forest.

~///~

"Whaddya mean they 'got away', huh?" He stood over the scared-stiff scientist, hands on his hips. The employee could only stutter, rubbing the back of his head where a hoofprint was. Growling in frustration, the homunculus raised a hand to strike the worthless human.

The voice of his comrade stopped his assault, flowing with a smooth yet sinister tone. "Now, Envy, no need to get so upset. Perhaps the good doctor here could make us a few more?" She smiled at the man, who was eagerly nodding her way. "Perfect. Then get to it."

The alchemist's glee faded as he felt more beads of sweat roll down his forehead. "Ah, w-well, Miss Lust, it's not as simple as earlier...that was a mere accident. In order to find out how we got those chimeras, we'd need to know where the originated from." Lust looked unamused at the negtive results coming from this man's theory. "S-So we'd need to de-construct and send back something by tracking them...It involves using a bit of their DNA, as well as getting a 'raw material' to link to."

Looking at the cell where the equine chimeras had once been, Lust spotted a tuft of multi-colored fur. Turning to her partner, she asked much like a magician picking a volunteer. "Would you like to go, Envy?" The long-haired homunculus smirked delightedly, "You read my mind."

Lust tossed the scrap of mane to the scientist. "Come on then. I have a very thin patience, you know." Fumbling around, the alchemist cleared a large spot and sketched out a transmutation circle. "Good work." Lust praised wryly, then motioned for Envy to step in the center. The scientist then placed the fur at the top point. Clapping his hands together, he transmuted the homunuclus. "Now," Lust smiled, "Transmute another one of those chimeras."

~///~

Dash banked over a cirrus, trying to find her way back to the lab they had first come from. "It couldn't be that far...Horseapples! Where is it?!" She swooped through another grouping of clouds, instinctivly clearing them on her way. She stopped, trying to get her bearings. She didn't recognize a single thing, and the sun was already overhead. "Great, I have no idea how to get back..." she sighed, "I bet they're all worried sick about me, too."

Landing on a near roof, she folded her wings in tight, remembering what she had gotten her friends into. "This is my fault...I didn't mean to..." She wiped away a tear that was out of line in her mind, stomping it off her hoof frustratedly. "I need t--"

She heard a high voice below, followed by a luagh similar to a filly playing hide-and-seek. "It went this way, Daddy! I saw it! I pwomise!" Another set of hooffalls--or rather, footfalls, by these creatures' standards--came running after. Dash peeked over the edge to see an alley with a young girl, pointing right up at her.

"Well, what do you know? It's you again." Dash's heart skipped a beat at the familiar man's face, his glasses hiding his eyes. "I thought Mustang had ya locked up? Did you escape?" The girl tugged at his pant leg, demanding for him to acknowledge that she was right. He picked her up and petted her soft hair.

Dash leapt down to the man, knowing she could just fly away and that he couldn't hurt her without one of those weapons. "I didn't escape...well, okya I did, but not from that Mustang guy. I just flew out for a bit, stretching my wings, y'know?"

"If you're not with Roy, then..." he adjusted his glasses, "Where have you been?"

"Actually..." the pony scratched the back of her head with a hoof, a feat that the lieutenant couldn't fathom, "Me and my friends have been staying with this other guy..."

~///~

"EDWARD'S BEEN KEEPING COLORFUL MAGIC PONIES IN HIS ROOM AND HE DIDN'T TELL ME?!" The blonde girl's outburst sent the pegasus literally flying out of her seat in surprise. "The nerve of that shrimp...I'm charging him double next time he needs his automail fixed!" She sighed, putting the pieces together. "So this is why he had to delay the depature to Rush Valley...well, I guess the famed haven of mechanics isn't going anywhere..."

Once Hughes had heard that the chimeras were staying with Fullmetal, he immediately invited the pegasus to come to his house to rest. She had been flying all night and was grateful for the hospitlity, but she immediately was ready to take off after seeing the reaction she got from telling Ed's friend her situation.

"Daddy, can we keep the pony?" The little one from before was stroking Dash's mane, admiring its vibrant colors. She ran her fingers through the feathers of the wings, eyes sparkling. "Pweeeease, Daddy?" The man melted at her daughter's request, giving in. "Of course you can~! Anything for you, my little angel!"

Dash chuckled, hoping it was a joke, then settled back into the chair to address the mechanic. "So, Winry, you and Ed are close, I take it?" She nodded. "Well, I guess it's lucky I ran into you, because...I kinda need to find my way back to him."

"What were you doing out there, anyways?" Hughes interrupted, to which the pony lowered her head in embarassment. "I was...trying to find that place we came from. But I don't really remember where it was...this place is much bigger than Ponyville, though, so I...I got lost."

"Don't worry!" Winry smiled assuringly at her, "I know where they're staying!I'll take you there. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they're out looking for you right now."

~///~

The ponies rushed for the door, ready to set out in immediate search for their friend. "Whoa, whoa! Hold up." Ed blocked the exit, arms crossed. "You can't go out like that! People will know you're not...well, normal." They gave him an odd look, then Twilight's horn lit up like a light bulb as an idea struck her.

"Lemme guess," Applejack was the first to see it, "Y'all got some spell just fer this sit-chee-ashun?" Twilight asnwered by increasing her magic's output. Soon, the earth pony was enveloped in the orchid aura. A blinding light went off, similar to alchemy from Edward's point of view, and she was trasnformed into something nopony would've ever thought to have seen.

She looked much like herself color-wise, but was taller now, standing on her hind legs. Her mane wasn't in pigtails, but was still a very creamy blonde, topped with her cowboy hat. "What the hay did ya do t' me, Twilight?!"

"Relax, Applejack. I just made you look more like the dominant species of this world. Now you'll fit in!" Twilight beamed, clearly happy with her work, but AJ simply snorted in protest. "So, who's next? I figure I can send out just one more while the rest hang back." The rest of them started babbling excuses, to which she sighed. "Fine, I'll go myself, then."

With another flash bang, the unicorn appeared with a shape similar to AJ. All her clothes matched her own color scheme, with her mane of hair highlited as usual. "Great! My spell was flawless." She scanned over her new body, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm...this'll take some getting used to. Hey, Ed?"

The alchemist, who was still slack-jawed at the amazing sight that could never be done by any transmutations, snapped out of his stupor and mumbled some acknowledgement. "Do all humans have these, or is it just the females of your species?" She pointed to the top of her new body, namely a portion that had Ed's blood rushing to cheeks. Seeing it, she also blushed. "Sorry for asking, but I'm just not familiar with the anatomy of your kind."

"I-It's fine," Al stuttered as well, a sweatdrop trickling down his helmet despite being a suit of armor. "Uhmm...y-yeah, it's just the girls..." He answered for his brother, who was now ready to go out the door. Twilight gestured for AJ to follow, completely forgetting the awkward moment she'd made. The others thought best to put it aside as well, setting out in search of Rainbow Dash.

~///~

"Shit...the hell am I?" Envy stood, brushing off dirt and debris. He looked around, seeing a dark expanse of trees that blocked out any light, the cries of animals echoing throught as a breeze swept by. "Ah, well. Doesn't seem so bad. Peaceful, actually. Now, to find one of those chimeras." He strode off in a random direction, going by instinct.

A stark white horse, full-sized, landed before him.Envy silently thanked whatever invisible force had intervened for making this easy. "Who are you?" She spoke with the radiance of the sun itself, folding her wings in as she examined the new being. "What are you...eh, doing in the Everfree Forest, I mean? It's quite dangerous out--"

Her omen was answered by the roar of a manticore, leaping out from the foilage. "Stand back! I sahll deal with monster." She placed herself betweent the two, ready to fight the beast. Instead of lettting her handle it, however, Envy simply walked right up to it with not a hint of hesitation.

"You mean this little thing?" He pointed a thumb at it. The creature opened its maw, ready to chomp the guy's hand off. Envy let out a gutteral growl, clenching his hand to a fist. The monster whimpered and shrunk down, much to the amazement of the alicorn. "Stupid chimeras. So anyways...I'm Envy. You?"

Recovering at the sight of something that could terrify a manticore, the princess answered, "I am Celestia, princess of Equestria." She wasn't sure how somepony couldn't know who she was, but then again this was a creature even she did not know of. "It is a, eh, pleasure to meet you...Envy..." She found the name sinister, but she was not one to judge, despite growing suspicions. "I ask again, what business do you have here?"

The being called Envy smirked, causing Celestia to put her guard back up. "What am I doing here? Well," he surveyed the chimera, deciding he scored the jackpot with this one, "I'm here to take you back to my place, honey." She admitte the line fit Lust more, but nonetheless was sastified with the fighting look the alicorn gave her. "This is perfect! I didn't get to out my anger on that scientist earlier, so it looks like I get to here instead. Although I can't damage ya too bad, otherwise Lust'll get onto me."

Ignoring all the names she'd never heard and the reasoning behind this intruder's aggression, the princess focused on the coming battle and lit up her horn, encasing herself in a veil of light. The enemy rushed at her with incredible speed, going straight for her source of power, her horn.

A similar chimera, dark as the night sky, came barrelling down on him. They tumbled through the grass until she pinned him, hooves holding his shoulders. "We shall not let ye harm our sister, cretin! Prepare to face the wrath of thy ruler of the moon, Luna!" Her horn alighted as well, a dark shadow enveloping the invader.

"Get yer hooves offa me, you damn horse!" Envy tried to shove the alicorn off, but was levitated up by some mysterious force. "Hey! Whaddya think you're doing?! I'll kill you!" He shouted, trying to wiggle out of the miasmic restraints. "You bitch horse! Put me--"

He was immediately shoved against the ground, getting a mouthful of dirt. "That is enough out of you, beast!" Luna's voiced boomed, "Explain thyself, lest the punishment shall be doubled!"

Celestia trotted over, taking the prisoner out of her sister's magical grip. "Thank you, Luna. I'll deal with him, now." She pulled the creature up to let him talk. "What did you mean by taking me back?"

An electrical blue zapped around the white aura, pushing it back. "Heh. Looks like it's time to go." The sparks broke through the magical bindings, letting Envy drop to the ground as more of transmutation spread across his body. He reached out a hand, aiming some of the alchemy to take the sun princess back.

~///~

Winry led the pegasus through the alleys, careful not to be seen. She wouldn't know how to explain a talking pegasus to the average citizen, thus choosing to avoid that. "Okay, it shouldn't be too far..." She peeked around the corner, getting a questioning look from a few people, but was luckily left alone by them. "C'mon, quick! We gotta get to that next corner."

The pony was over there before she was, a smug look on her muzzle. "Ha! 'Quick' is my middle name...well, it's not, but 'Dash' is my last!" Winry chuckled and lead her to the inn's back gate. "Alright, so you wana just fly on up to the window...Oh, and tell Ed I said 'hi', too!" She waved the pony goodbye and watched her soar up.

~///~

Ed scoured the streets, his two new companions looking with awe at the city. "This place is as big as Canterlot! I wonder where she could've gone?" Twilight pondereed as her eyes swept over the people walking along the streets, the shops full of energy, the clamor of the crowds.

Applejack, who was just as excited, asked, "Ya reckon she headed back already?" Twilight thought it over. "Maybe...But I think we should keep looking. Besides, I think I'm getting an idea about where she went."

"Really? Where?" Ed replied, eager to stop the sightseeing and get to searching. "Probably the lab," Twilight answered, "The one where we first woke up in. I haven't the foggiest where it is, though, and I'm sure Rainbow doesn't, either."

Thinking it over, Ed first considered asking the colonel. After all, he was the one who found them and dropped them off at his place. The thought of Mustang just placing all the problems on him had his temper rising, but he decided they should go ask, nonetheless.

"Let's check with Colonel again, then," he voiced his solution, "He may know where it is. Although...it might..." He mulled it over, then dismissed it as impossoble. "Nah, that lab collapsed in a pile of rubble...Anyways, let's get over to HQ."

~///~

"No!" A flash of purple darted between them, blocking the connection. "You can't take the princess like you did the others!"

Both alicorns gasped at the amethyst dragon between them. "Spike? What in Equestria are you doing here?"

"I was out looking for anything to help me figure out where Twilight went. I figured the Everfree Forest would be the best place to check, and Zecora said she saw Rainbow Dash go in before they all disappeared, so I thought I'd go search. I didn't expect this, though." Both of them admired how brave he could be in certain situations, raised so well by both Twilight and his own dragon instincts. "So, who's this guy?"

The guy answered for himself, already starting to deconstruct. "I'm Envy, alright?! Now get outta the way! They need one of those chimeras, not you!" He kicked Spike to the side, then facing his prime target once more. "C'mon, Celestia, time's a-wasting."

Luna once more grasped Envy with her magic, her darker powers grappling with the transmutation. "We cannot hold it off for long, sister!" She warned Celestia, who got the plan and flew up, wings expanding with a pure light. She would out a stop to this evil before it started, using the same technique she had on Discord. Despite that she did not weild the elemtes, she still had all the powers of the sun to aid her.

"It's too late for you to play your hand princess," Envy boasted, the lightning of alchemy shooting off. Luna strained to keep it from escaping, pushing with all her power. Spike stood behind her, hoping they would be able to pull it off.

A sudden emmission of an insidious aubergine replaced the transmutation sparks. "N-No..." Envy got a look of terror and anger, screaming, "No! S-Stop!" He could feel the heat of the deconstruction taking its toll. "Gah! Not this! Not a rebound! Lust! Help me, dammit! Stop the transmutation! STOP IT!!"

Luna used what she could to contain, but it pulsed through her blood, tearing into her stream of magic. She was tossed back, landing on top of Spike. Celestia's spell went off, shooting towards Envy in a blink. The last he saw was that light, then nothing but empty darkness.

~///~

"My my, Envy..." Lust stood with a shocked look at the figure before her, far from what she expected to get back. "Looks like you're in trouble."

Gluttony waddled up beside her, tilting his head at the strange figure. "Can I eat it?" His usal request was denied, making him sink in disappointment.

Lust turned to the alchemist, a look of disapproval on her face. "Seems you messed up here, doctor." The man's eyes looked they were about ready to pop out of his skull. He pleade he just didn't know what wrong, but the homunculus ignored him. "Gluttony," she turned to her chubby companion, "You cannot eat them, but him, however..." She smirked at the fear on his face. "Him you can devour thoroughly."

His grin spreading almost cartoon-like, Gluttony snatched the man before he could flee. Running a large tongue that his ouroborus tattoo was on, he opened his jaw wide.

"Wh-what...?" One of the creatures looked on in horror as the scientist was ripped by the homonculus' boulder-like teeth. Blood spattered the floor in front of it, causing it to pass out.

Lust chuckled as her fellow gulped down another limb, delighted anyways by the results. "Hmm... y'know, doctor..." she spoke to the corpse, already half-gone, "Perhaps this will do after all. Good work."

Chapter 4

Roy sat at his desk, flipping through file after file on what he could gather about any nearby secret labs. Apparently the run-down Fifth Labratory had collapsed not too long ago, leaving the colonel suspicious as to the timing. As he scanned over what seemed like hundreth page, there was a knock at the door. "Sir," came a suspiciously low voice, one of his subordinates most likely, "It seems that the very badass and totally normal-sized(if not, impressively tall) Edward Elric is here to see you." There was another sound like metal hitting flesh, followed by an add-on. "Ow. Oh, uh, a-and his younger brother Alphonse, too."

Chuckling, Mustang called back, "Come on in, Fullmetal." The door opened to the two brothers, along with a couple of new, yet familiar, faces. "How're the guests doing?" He eyed the young alchemist's company, "And who are they?"

Ed answered both questions in one reply, gesturing to his two companions. "Why don't you ask them yourself, colonel?" The girls waved happily, a bit nervous at seeing the frightnening flame alchemist once more.

"Well, seems that unicorn magic of yours is quite a feat, Miss Twilight." Roy stood to shake hands with the humanized pony. "And this other one is...Applejack, right?" The cowgirl nodded, tipping her hat. "Where are the others? Decided to stay back at the inn?"

"Yeah," Ed replied, rubbing the back of his neck, "Well, excpet for Dash...she kinda...flew off..." He awaited the lecturing, or maybe some sarcastic aid. Instead the colonel ignited a fire with a snap, a smirk playing dangerously at his lips. "You lost one, Fullmetal?" Ed gulped, holding up his hands defensively. "Well, I'd say you better find her before I barbecue you, shrimp." The blonde's fuse was lit once more, ready to blow at being mocked in person, his har antenna twitching.

"That's what we came to you about, actually." Twilight got in between them, using her hands as barriers. She still wasn't used having them instead of hooves, but found them to be effective in this situation. The two cooled down, letting the girl speak. "Mr. Colonel, we were wondering if you knew where the lab that we escaped from was. I think Rainbow Dash might've flown back there to search for clues. She seemed pretty upset about it last night."

Mustang went over to his paperwork, pulling out the stakck he'd found most useful. "I've actually been looking into that, as has Hughes," he said, handing the files and a map to Ed, "I believe there are a few places where it could've been, based on these few facts. Y'know, you got good timing. I can't go out there due to my responsibilities here(plus a date tonight), so you can go check it out for me." Edward looked ready to refuse, but the colonel gave him a withering glare. "That's an order, Elric."

Mock saluting his superior, Ed turned with his group to exit. Mustang grabbed the boy by his prosthetic arm, whispering to im. "You haven't thought about asking them, have you?" The blonde knew exactly where the colonel was going. "I have, but...I don't know if they can. I mean, it might work with my arm and leg, but Al..." he glanced at the suit of armor containing his brother's very soul. "I don't know if they could restore Al. I don't wanna do it without him." Mustang smiled, letting him go. "Understood, Fullmetal."

~///~

Pinkie rushed up to embrace Rainbow Dash in an ursa minor hug, babbling about how worried they all were. "Gack! A-Alright, Pinkie..." she slipped free of the party pony's grasp, gasping, "I get it! I won't run off again. Sorry, everypony." She glanced around the room, seeing the forgiving look on Rarity's face and Fluttershy's caring smile, but the others weren't there. "Wait, where is everypony?"

"Why, they're out scouring the city for you, of course! They even to the trouble of disguising themselves then left with our hosts." Rarity replied.

"Well, I guess we better go find 'em before--" Before Dash could finish the sentence, Rarity held up a hoof to stop her. "No, no! Absolutely not! We're not running off. Otherwise we'd end up in some crazy cycle and we'll never find them. It'd be far too much trouble."

Pinkie randomly jumped in with her own point. "But if we didn't do that, then there'd be no plot! I mean there wouldn't even be a point to this scene! C'mon something's gotta happen here!" As usual, everypony else simply summed up her rambling to Pinkie just being Pinkie. Rarity ahemed and went on. "Where did you think you were going in the first place, dear? And what were you going to do without us?"

Sighing, Dash once again explained she was going back to the lab. "I wasn't sure where it was, but I thought I could spot it from the skies. I got lost, but luckily I ran into a friend of Ed's and that guy who caught us earlier--Hughes, I think--and they showed me the way back. Again, I'm super sorry for making you all worried...I just had to find us a way to get back to Equestria....We really, really can't stay here."

"I know it's not out home, Dashie, but at least we have somewhere to stay! And honestly, what makes you the one who has to get us back? We'll all help, you know. You don't have to blame yourself for this." Dash looked down at her hooves, shuffling them nervously. "What is it, Rainbow?"

"It is my fault. I-I'm so sorry...I'm sorry..." Her voice cracked, and she gritted her teeth to keep herself from saying more. The secret was out though. She looked up to see the concerned eyes staring back at her. Pnkie was getting a bit excited, muttering that this was 'it'. "I just..." Dash sighed, facing the facts.

"I didn't mean to, I swear. But there was this...this light...It was coming from a ways off, over by these clouds. We weren't scheduled to have any rain, so I thought I'd go and fix them. But there was one that was glowing, farther away, a bit low over the trees. I got kinda curious and followed it...It went into the Everfree Forest. I knew I wasn't supposed to go, and pegasi don't control the weather there anyways, but I thought maybe I could get it. I don't know what happened but...There was this...thing...And I--" She saw how intently they were looking at her now, waiting for more. "Anyways, it's my fault, and I have to get us back. I have to fix this."

~///~

There was a blur in the center of his vision, like a sunspot, fuzzy and making his head spin. He tried to get to his feet, but wobbled and fell back onto his hands. He thought he could here a woman's voice. "L-Lust? Damn...what 'appened?" He called out, but his voice sounded much stranger. "What happened to us? Ugh...We can't see..." He caught himself, realizing he speaking oddly. "Er, I can't see..." He fixed himself, wondering what could havemade him want to speak like that.

Blots of red and green slowly came into focus, blending with the white and making the scene look like a snowy holiday eve. The bloth of light slowly started to look like a figure. "The Truth? Is this...the gate, then?" He looked around, everything seeming to go in slow otion by his vision.

"Eeeenvyyyy..." The voice came from the creature, sounding like multiple echoes. "Eeenvyyy...?" It sounded somewhat concerned, slowly coming back into focus. He tried to mumble something, swearing when he couldn't find the words. "Eenvyy!" It sounded angered now, and a brighter glow pulsed from atop its head. He started to think that maybe the Truth would try to take a toll from him for taking him back home.

"Shaddup!" He shouted back, only to be lifted off the ground. He shut hs eyes at the harsh light, opening them only at a final shout of his name.

Celestia stood before him, a burning mix of anger, fear, and worry tearing up in her eyes. "Envy! What did you do?! What happened?! Answer me!" She shook him around, making him nearly hurl. "Gah...S-Stop it..." he mumbled, to which she set him down to let him explain. "Ah...we don't know...a rebound..." He lifed a rather stiff hand to his head, brushing his hair back. "Are we...at the lab? L-Lust?" He opened his eys once more, a chill going over his spine. "Where...wait, are we still in the forest?!"

Sure enough, the alicorn and he were still sitting on the grassy soil. "Dammit! What the hell happened?!" He shouted to the sky, stomping his hoof on the ground.

He looked down, realizing there was something wrong with that. He screamed in surprise at the sight of a black hoof with holes in it like Swiss cheese. As he stood, he found a rather odd looking tail hanging off his rear, flicking irritably. The rest of his coat was just as dark, with insect-like wings on his back and a horn protruding from his head. Whirling on the princess, he exclaimed, "What the fuck did you do to us?!" He shook his head, unable to stop speaking so formally. "I mean, me! Gah!" He paced in frustration.

The princess stopped him mid-step, turning him to face her. "Listen, Envy. I'm not too sure what happened, but Luna and Spike are gone, and you are a Changeling. I believe it was a result of the 'rebound' you spoke of, Luna's power trying to hold you back, and the spell I used on you." Envy let this soak in, chalking it up to the same answer she had come to. "So that means..." he laughed, "Your two pals got transmuted back to Amestris. We wonder if Lust will find a way to get me back, though." He turned back to the alicorn, who was much taller than him now, at least by a couple feet. "So, what's a changeling? And how come we--ah, I--keep talking like that?"

"Changelings are very dangerous creatures," Celestia explained, feeling uneasy at the smile spreading on Envy's fanged mouth, "They have the ability to shape-shift and feed on the love of others. They and their queen, Chrysalis, were recently defeated by the Elements of Harmony. They also used the royal 'we' when addressing themselves, much like my sister Luna does, although they refer to themselves as a hive." She watched the slight interest on Envy, then asked a question of her own. "Where did you come from? And who is Lust?" She leaned in more seriously, "And, most importantly, where are my little ponies?"

Looking around, Envy figured he could probably just fly off, but wth a glare from the sun pincess, he changed his mind, knowing he couldn't escape. "Well, it's kind of a different world. We don't know all the specifics though, 'cause the kind of alchemy we've been using recently is new. Lust is kinda like our partner. She's been overlooking things mostly, and needs chimeras like you for some...certain plans. As for your buddies, well, they're in her hands now." He scanned over his new body, particularly glad about the shape-shifting part. It was a skill he could do before, and knowing he still could reassured him.

"Now, if you dont mind we'd rather look like ourself, not some dumb whatever-we-are now. And we'd rather stop talking so weird, too." He concentrated, drawing on his inner homunculus powers. He must've still had the Philosopher's stone in him, otherwise he wouldn't be alive. "Just give us a minute..." He poured all his force in, sensing a hot sensation here his horn was. It was glowing, as he noted, red much like the stone.

A breeze blew by as the silent attempt to change dragged out. Finally, he let out a breath, exhaustd. "We don't get it! How come we can't change back into a human?" Celestia stared at him oddly, then came to a conclusion. "There aren't any humans in this world. And I believe changelings can only change into things of this world." Envy stomped a hoof, the feeling of doing so still strange. "I'll take you back to the castle--which you'll need to shift into a pony to blend in-- and perhaps you can sort things out there, but until then..." she shot him a look, her horn tinged with magic, "You are not to cause any disturbances. Understood?"

Envy's horn alighted once more with its scarlet aura. His body morphed into a similar form, but with no holey limbs, frayed tail, fangs, or wings, opting to keep just the horn. His ouroborus tattoo was moved to a mark his flank, which every pony here seemed to have. He nodded, then trotted after her to the castle.

~///~

Ed crossed off another site on the map, folding it back up, shoving it in his pocket, and tossing the marker behind him in defeat. "We'll never find this place!" He clawed at his hair, mumbling something unintelligible. "Besides, it's getting late...we should head back. Dash's probably already there, anyway."

Twilight took the map from him, flipping through the files once more. She wasn't able to read it, which had her feeling down, but she asked what she thought was important to be deciphered by Al. "What's this one?" She held up a small stapled stack with a transmutation circle drawn on it, along with a circular symbol of a dragon.

"Oh, that one's about..." Al skimmed it over, eyes somehow widening, "Umm..." He took it from her slowly, tapping his brother on the shoulder. "Hey, Ed, check this out. Isn't this that lab?" Curious, Ed took the page and flipped over it, a grimace forming on his features.

He scoffed and handed the papers back. "Yeah, it is. I think that's from the stack Hughes had contributed, too. He seemed like he was on to something when we last saw him." Al nodded his agreement. "You think we should...go back and see?" Twilight and Applejack both responded encourangingly, anything to help them get back and possibly find Dash. "Alright." He retrieved the map, unfurling it and searching for the location where the lab once stood. "Here it is. The Fifth Laboratory." He pointed to a spot one the map that looked like it had been circled, then erased.

Turning on his heels, Ed headed his own way. "Uh, brother?" Al's voice reached him, and the young alchemist turned with an embarrased look. "It's the other way, isn't it?" Al nodded, to which the blonde followed his brother, going the right way, to the Fifth Laboratory.

~///~

Blood was all over his clawed feet, spattered about the floor in front of his. "Good work," a voice said, followed by the sound of something being crunched in half. He opened hi eyes wider, djusting them to the dimly lit corridor. He attempted to stand but there was something on top of half of him. He looked over to see Princess Luna's unconscious form covering his left side. The munching sound repeated, catching his attention.

He screamed. That was all he could do. Some large beast was ripping another of its kind apart, devoring the bones and muscle in one bite. It struggled trying to pull off an arm, finally popping it free and tearing apart the ligaments. Its meal was already dead, headless, in fact. It was the most gruesome thing he'd ever seen in all of his life.

"Calm down, now," the same creamy sound came to him, the words flowing over him. He felt like he was talking to Rarity, nodding as he turned. The image of his love was replaced by another one of the beings. "Well, you're not Envy, but you are a little chimera. I suppose I can use you." The so-called chimera raised an eyebrow, correcting her, "A...what? N-no, I'm a dragon. My name's Spike."

She strode over to him, towering over him, actually. "Spike, hmm? A bit bold for such a little thing." She bent down, moving Luna off him and stroking his back, making him arch like a cat. "Why don't you come with me? Maybe you can clear some things up for me, dear." Spike hesitated and took a glance back, averting his eyes from the bloody mess and focusing on the princess. "Don't worry," the woman turned his gaze back to her, "Just come with me."

With no choice, lest she decide to feed him to that monster, Spike tentively followed her. "Say, you got any gems? Like, rubies, sapphires, emeralds, maybe crystals?" She chuckled, replying, "Gems? Actually, I think I have a few lying around."

~///~

The quartet reached the pile of rubble that was the lab. Nothing stood there, no trace that it had ever been the birthplace of many-a philosopher's stone. The larget transmutation circle was gone, as well, lost under the fallen concrete. Sighing, Ed rang his mechanical fingers through his hair. "See? I knew it was nothing. This place has been down ever since we, eh, interfered." He and Al shared a look, one of a sad and yet mischevious remembrance.

"So, there's nothin' here, then?" Applejack spoke up, kicking a rock to the side. "Well, shoot. Whaddya s'pose we do now? Head back?" She glanced at the sky, starts already twinkling into view under the indigo sky. "After all, it's already night. I bet everypony back at the inn is wonderin' where we've been." Ed sighed and went with her, stepping back onto the street.

A guard came running towards them, gun raised. Before anyone could react, he shot Al's head clean off. "S-Stop right there!" He shouted, rushing at them. Ed turned, clapping his hands and putting his palms on the ground. The earth shifted, a piece of street jutting up to slam into the man's face. Ed picked up his brothers helmet, tossing it to him as he strode over to the man.

"Well, well, lookie here," Ed picked the guard up by his shirt collar, "Mind tellin' us why you're guarding a dump? Or is it more than that?" The man growled, not spilling anything. "Suit yourself. Al?" His brother appeared behind him, clenching an armored fist. A shriek from behind drew away their attention.

Twilight had been subdued by a second one, with Applejack kicking wildly at another. Ed dropped what he was doing and ran to their rescue, only be stung in the back of his neck. He noticed AJ had a similar reaction, dropping to her knees and being roped from behind. Ed's vision blurred, his brother calling his name from somewhere far off, or so it seemed. With a muttered reply, he slipped to the ground.

Chapter 5

Investigation had led him right to the enemy, right to where it had all started. He'd heard some about the fifth laboratory, more than he needed to know, as well as gathered intel on something that could lead to a whole new conspiracy about the Ishvalan war. However, his main concern right now was to infiltrate.

Fullmetal as well as his companions had been captured moments ago, and he was the only witness. Adjusting his glasses, he stalked the guards over to the rubble. They went around the rocks to a small crevice, only big enough for a cat or small dog. He waited for them to do something, perhaps open up some secret entrance. He grinned as the rocks parted with an alchemic light, letting them through.

Quickly, he crept up, ducking behind a piece of concrete at the sound of one of the guards. "Hey, be sure to seal that up," he called to his partner, the one carrying Ed, "We wouldn't wanna let any dogs that might be sniffing around find their way in." The lieutenant colenel chuckled, sneaking off with a plan already in mind. First, he'd need to get Mustang.

~///~

Al had put up quite a struggle, but it had been pointless. They'd been outnumbered by guards that seemed to appear out of nowhere and multiply. They'd disconnected his head and limbs from his seal, making him a useless torso. Ed and the human-ponies had been hit with electricity amped up by alchemy, KO'ing them cold.

They were brought throgh part of the ruins that had concealed a secret entrance, taking them beneath the lab. Now going through the tunnel lit only by torches, Al dreaded what was to come next.

"Miss Lust?" One of the men called to a wall, knocking on it. "We've captured some intruders. One of them is the Fullmetal Alchemist, I think." The door was transmuted open by another man, this one dressed in a white coat with glasses. "Ah, right this way," spoke the scientist, "Miss Lust is busy with a...eh, guest, at the moment. You can put them in a cell for now. Down the hall and to your left, okay?"

Thus began their two minute walk down a large corridor. Al noticed a few cracks in the walls with trancmutaion symbols above them, indicating other doors. The new lab was more elaborate, and definitely came with better security. Finally they neared a cell, a voice shouting out at their approach.

"Who durst to come forth? Come at us, bretheren! Ye shall face the fury of the moon!" There was much stomping and the rattle of chains, followed by some more cursing. The guard opened the door to a barred cell just a couple down from the voice, tossing the prisoners in. "In the name of our celestial embodiment, we shall destroy you for your oppression!"

The guards sniggered, chaining up the alchemist, but not bothering with the girls. The armor was left in pieces, as well. "Yeah, yeah, Miss Lunatic." They laughed, to which the being pounded against the walls of its confines, shackles ringing almost as loud as its threats. "Say, think she just might be a bit peckish?" One of the men joked, strolling over to her cage.

The mighty chimera thrashed about, but was unable to get close enough to harm its captor. "Here ya go, then," he tossed in an apple, but it was swiftly taken by a rat. "Oh, well. Maybe you can eat the rodents, instead." He and his comrade began laughing, walking back down the hallway.

"Filth! Scum! How dare thou speak to us in such a disgraceful manner?!" The chimera went on, shouting at them. "Show all the cowardice you like by fleeing, then! We shall escape soon." A sigh of slight despair could be heard next followed by a few mutters. "Hopefully..." The voice trailed off.

Al wondered what could be over there. He figured a chimera, but then he thought more reasonably: a pony. "Hey, umm...are you okay over there?" He called out, still capable of speach despite he was in about six pieces. "My name's Al. Who are you? Are you...from Equestria?"

~///~

Spike observed the feast layed out before him, drooling. "A-All these...f-for me?" He looked up at the woman, who nodded. "Wow...Twilight'd be so mad if she caught me eating all this. " He chuckled some, then picked up a fire opal. "Oh, man...and if Rarity could see these...she'd...oooh..." His heart fluttered as his fantasies soared to them falling in love, and then something with moustaches and rubber ducks.

"Just remember our little agreement." Lust smiled as the dragon munched away on some amethyst apatite gems with an appetite that could rival Gluttony's. The little one nodded and quickly devoured a bowl of turquoise jewels. "That's good. After all, this little gem is quite special and rare. I won't give it to just anyone."

Biting off a piece of crystal, the chimera nodded once more. "No problem! I mean, if I get all these to eat for eating a rare gem, then it's win-win no matter what!" Chuckling, the homonculus admired his enthusiasm to be a specimen for their latest project. "Oh, hey, I forgot to ask earlier...but...do you know wher my friends are? One of 'em is a unicorn, kinda nerdy, but she's pretty nice. Then there's another unicorn, but she's sooo cute and awesome and...wow...oh, uh, and then there's Pinkie...she's, eh, kinda nuts and--"

Lust stopped him right there, not wanting her newest pet to go off after the others; that was alredy being taken care of, or hopefully already was done and locked in a cell. "Now, now, Spike, they're fine. Right now, let's focus on just you and your needs." She could tell the dragon was going to ask again, but luckily one of the scientists entered.

"Miss Lust? We've gotten the intruders," he reported. Lust glanced at her pet, glad to find he hadn't heard that. "Also, we've gotten...IT done now. All ready for testing." He smiled nervously, only hoping to survive another minute in the homunculus' prescence. Lucky for him, she simply told him "good job" and asked to be taken to it.

Gesturing to her subject, she called, "Spike, come now. It's time for you to fulfill that little request I asked." He stuffed a couple more quartz in his mouth and followed after.

~///~

For a moment, the alicorn remained silent, wondering whether to answer this stranger's query about her. "...We...eh, I...am from Equestria, yes. You may call me Princess Luna." Some clinking echoed as the equine shifted to peer through the bars. "Al...do you know any others from my land?"

The torso would've jumped with joy at the horse's name. It was the moon princess he'd read about from the report, an alicorn with celestial powers of the night. "P-Princess Luna? You're the princess! You can get out of here, right?" He disregarded her latter question, focused now on having her bust them out omnipotent alicorn style.

"No, I cannot..." she hung her head, shifting her hooves in their cuffs. "When I was transported here, some alchemy from that other human seems to have meddled with my magic. I can do nothing now. I...I have failed." Al nearly cried, despite his lack of tear ducts and current decapitated state. "I...ask once more..." Luna called, a bit louder, "Do you know any other ponies?"

A groan came from beside Al, then some rustling as the two girls stirred awake. "Al...?" Twilight looked over, seeing the armor spread across the floor like Humpty Dumpty. "Al! Are you alright?" She quickly grabbed his helmet and placed it on his body, trying to fit the arms and legs on as well. When she and AJ finally got him back together, she heard a familiar voice.

"Twilight Sparkle, is that you?" Luna called to Celestia's star pupil. The girl replied positively, to which the princess celebrated. "Oh, praise the stars! You are safe! I cannot currently use my own magic, so it is up to you to get us out." Twilight laughed nervously, "Yeah, about that..."

~///~

"Oh, don't you worry, Dashie!" Rarity said, trying to cheer up the pegasus who looked more blue than normal, "We don't blame you! You shouldn't carry the burden alone here; it's nopony's fault but those scientists that brought us here in the first place."

Bouncing up net to her, Pinkie offered one of her trademark super-smiles. "Yeah, Dash. Like I always say, 'Blame the freaky alchemy scientists and their weird razzly-dazzly electric transmutations, not yourself~!' " Dash decided not to metnion that Pinkie hadn't once used that phrase, at least not that she'd known of. Instead, she accepted the support of her friends.

"Hey! Open up! It's me, Winry. I need to talk to you guys!" The banging and yelling killed th emood for a moment, but Dash knew this had to be urgent. After all, it ws already nightfall, and the others werent't back. The sudden tone of emergency meant something wrong. She answered the door, dooing a quick intro when Pinkie asked who the girl was.

Winry knelt down in front of them with a serious look. "I-It's...Ed...a-and Al, and the others...They're in trouble!" Everypony gasped, with Pinkie and Rarity doing their usual overly dramatic version of gasping.

Dash knew something was wrong, but this was terrible. They'd been captured or injured or worse while out looking for her. Whatever her friends might believe, this mess was all because of her. "How do you know they were captured? Did you see it? Where?!"

"I didnt actually see it, but Hughes did," Winry explained, "He rushed home to grab some files, then went to see the colonel. I asked what was wrong, and he just said they were going to need help. I knew they were in trouble(I mean, Ed's always getting into trouble, anyways) so I came to you all for some back-up."

Dash already had her wings out, ready to fly off. "Let's go, then. Where's the lab?" Winry raised an eyebrow, then sighed, "No clue...but the colonel must know, so we should go ask him!" They all agreed, rushing out.

"Wait..." Fluttershy spoke up, "What if we're seen? We'll be caught again...o-or worse..." She flinched at ehr own thoughts, looking to Winry for an answer. The mechanic thought, then a light went off in ehr ehad. "Well, you and Dash are pegasi, so you can just follow above. Rarity and Pinkie, on the other hand--er, hoof--will have to get there in cognito...hmm..."

~///~

After hearing the explanation about how Twilight made hersel and Applejack human, along with their past couple days in Amestris, the princess could hardly wait to get out of the country and back home. "So, since I don't have my magic...well, we're pretty much stuck here." Twilight summed the ending up, hearing some mumbling coming from Luna's cell. "Princess? Are you alright? I know it's a lot to take in, but it's true. So, we just need to focus on getting out."

"Ugh..n-no..mmm...ilk...A-Al..." A moan came from the corner of the cell, easy to identify. "Gah...wh-wha...da..." There was a rattling similar to Luna's chains, followed by some mild language and a demand for answers, shouted at no one in particular. "Dammit! Did we get into trouble again?!"

Al calmed his brother down, who was trying to get out of his shackles. "It's fine, Ed. We'll find a way out." He tried as well to free his brother of the chains that kept the alchemist's hands apart to prevent him from transmuting. "If there's one thing we always do, it's find a way."

"Yeah, that's heartwarmin' an' all," AJ cut through, "But why don'tcha move aside and lemme have a go at it?" Ed muttered something about a girl not being able to do it, but with one glare that was as hard as Winry's wrench, he let her. "Alright everypony, stand clear. I got this'un."

Twilight was about to agree with Ed, seeing as the cowgirl no longer had her strong earth pony legs. She was proven wrong, however, when AJ bucked the chain loose, knocking off some of the wall in the process. "Hang on..." She roundhoused the cuff once more, breaking it off, then got the other. "There, easy as Zapapple pie."

"Whoo! Thanks, AJ," Ed stood, smirking, "Now, time to bust outta here, MY way..." He clapped his hands together, pressing them against the bars. With a flash, the metal was transformed into a sculpture of a pony with automail. Al muttered something about Ed's taste in art, but the young alchemist ignored it.

The other prisoner called over to them, her chains jangling. "Will you please get us out as well, skilled one?" Ed got a smug look and strode over, transmuting her chains and shackles into a little metal Luna. "Oh, you have saved our life! We are eternally grateful!" Luna reunited with the two other Equestrians, thanking them as well.

Ed started down the hall, confident as ever. "Now, let's show those damned homunculi what they're dealin' with!"

~///~

Roy was, as always, flipping through paperwork, working later because he didnt have a dat that night and, therfore, no excuse not to work. He was expectng Fullmetal to stop by and let him know how the search for the pegasus was going. Seeing how late it was, he was considering how hot he'd need bake the little shrimp for not reporting in. Of course, Fullmetal not reporting meant one thing: he was in deep, yet again.

A knock at his door brought him out of his thoughts. "Who is it?" He sighed, shuffling around some papers. "Hughes," answered the visitor, entering, "And you probably already guessed why I'm here. Elric's gone and gotten himself captured, along with a few others. I know where they are though. They're--"

A streak of color ran through the open window, skidding to a halt between Hughes and Mustang. Following was another, although in a bit calmer entrance, and finally a knock at the door once more. "Colonel, it's Winry Rockbell. I need to speak with you; it's an emergency."

Mustang let her in, surprised to see what she had with her. The other unicorn and the party pony from before poked their heads out from under the cart of vegetables. He was about to question it, but the mechanic stopped him. "No time to explain the disguise, Colonel. We need to knwo what happened to-" She stopped, realizing Hughes was there, as well.

"Hmm..." Mustang mused, "Looks like we're all going in, then. Of course, this isn't like before; they've got an entire underground operations, from I've deduced."

"Wait," Hughes stopped him, "You figured that out? But you didn't even see it..."

"You think I sit here all day randomly shuffling papers?" Mustang half-joked, raising an eyebrow. "I do my research, Hughes. It's gotta be underground; that part's obvious. The part we need to worry aout is getting in. And I think you know how."

The lieutenant colonel smirked at his superior, adjusting his glasses. "Yeah, I know a way in. So, are we all going?" Mustang stood, pacing to the center. "Yes, we are..." he paused, hearing yet another knock, "And we're going in with somebackup."

~///~

"Here it is..." Lust held the scarlet stone up to the torchlit ceiling, beaming with victory. "This is that rare beauty I was telling you about, Spike." The very description of the gem had the dragon thinking of Rarity, wishing she was here with him. The ebble-sized jewel shone with a power that captivated him, something that he wanted--no, needed--to have, more than anything.

He took it between his claws, awestruck. "So...I just have to eat this?" He looked up to the woman who nodded, adding, "Yes, but...Don't try biting it. It could break your teeth." Heeding the warning, Spike held the gem above his mouth, already imagining the flaovr it would contain.

"NO!" Another one of the creatures--humans, as Lust had told him--skidded to a halt in the large main room. "Don't eat that! That's a Philosopher's Stone!" He ran towards Spike, shouting at him to not eat it, to hand it over.

Lust quickly knocked him back, tossing him into an armored one. "Don't listen to that one, Spike. He's one of our enemies." He voice lulled him, much like the pony of his dreams. "Take the stone. It's yours, Spike...It's all yours..." The blonde one protested, but Spike ignored them. This gem called to him. It wanted him to eat it, and Spike couldn't resist. He took it all in one bite, swallowing it whole. "NO!! WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING, YOU STUPID CHIMERA?!" Spike could barely hear the insult; he felt a fire stirring in his chest, in his while body.

"Spike! Spike, it's me, Twilight!" With a gasp, the dragon turned to face the one who raised him, the one who cared for him. She looked different, like one of those humans. "Twilight...Is that...you?" He got the words out jsut before he fell to the floor.

Twilight called out, trying to reach him. "Wh-what happened, Ed?" She asked frantically. The state alchemist gritted his teeth, swearing. "Dammit...Damn it all! He..." He glared at the dragon, then at the woman standing over him. "You...you're...that homunculus...What have you done?!"

Chapter 6

Flight was one thing the young dragon had never been capable of, and right now he was falling into a black abyss, envying every pegaus in the world. He felt cold and empty, wondering when he would hit the bottom. He did at last, hard.

"State your name, little...hmmm..." A deep bass echoed around him, and he could barely make out what it was saying. "...Alright, state your name, and what the hell you are."

Without knowing what else to do, lest he be subject to punishment worse than book-stacking, the reptile replied, "Spike, Spike the dragon." He stood up, now wondering why he hadn't ended up a stain on the dark, surreal floor after a fall like that. "Umm...where am I? Am I alive?"

The voice chuckled, "Oh, you're about to me more alive than ever...Spike. Heh, never gotten a chimera's form before, not to mention a dragon one. It doesn't matter though; I want everything in the world, and that includes you, Spike..."

~///~

"Spike!" Twilight shouted, shaking her assistant, the one who'd been her friend for longer than she could remember--well, she could remember, being a genius and all, but that wasn't the point. "SPIKE!" She started sobbing, the tears coming just the same even in a human's form. She hugged him, whispering his name over and over in the hopes he'd answer with some remark or joke like he always did.

Lust chuckled in front of her, "He's perfectly fine; in fact, he'll be even better when he wakes up. You should be glad I gave him such a unique gift." Twilight glared through tear-streaked eyes at the woman, ready to throw every insult in the books, and she'd read a lot of them.

Before she got the chance, the oddest thing happened; a mountain of a man, bald and shirtless, sparkling brighter than her cutie mark, burst through the far right wall. Following were the rest of her friends, the colonel, and a couple other human in military garb. Dash had also chosen to put on a pony-sized uniform, which she couldn't fathom why or how she'd gotten one, but nonetheless ran over with Spike to greet them.

"Twi! What the hay's going on here?! And what's wrong with Spike? Are we too late? And..." the blue pegasus now saw the alicorn standing by Ed, eyes going wide at the sight, "Princess Luna?! Okay, what in the Wonderbolts did I miss?"

While Twilight summed up the situation for the newcomers, Ed confronted the homunculus, arms in position to transmute. "Alright, missy, game's up. You're outnumbered, so just surrender nice and easy."

"Outnumbered? Hardly." With a snap, she summoned guards and chimeras alike, itching for a battle. "Looks like we're even. Oh wait, no we're not. You're outmatched." She grinned like a snake before a rat as she said those last words, then stepped back to let her pawns fight while she tended to other matters.

Al and Luna stood beside him, looking around in hopes of some way to just run out. "Fullmetal," a familiar voice said from behind, "Looks like you'll be needing some backup." Roy smirked, and Ed was never happier to his comrades in fighting stance before him. "Major! Lieutenant Hawkeye! Hughes! You're all here!" He stared in disbelief, but the colonel blocked his view. "Yeah, we're here to save you, but only for now," he snapped, summoning a small fire in his fingers, "Because I need to grill you later."

Ed sweatdropped, smiling nervously, "Y-yeah...heh heh..." He was about to make sure the fire-fueled colonel was joking, but the growling of the enemies got them all back into position, battle-ready. The first chimera, a muscular mix between a fox and some kind of bird, threateningly approached with extended talons. Mustang whacked it away with a whip of fire, the attacks signaling the other mutants to charge in.

"Armstrong and Al! 2:00, behind!" The colonel warned, to which the two beat down a pair of guards as one. "Hawkeye! Ledge to your left! See if you can take a couple out long-range!" The lieutenant obeyed, getting a high point for some gunshots below. "Rarity! Levitate those two small ones into range for AJ!" The unicorn did so, magically tossing a couple of scaly parakeets right into the girl's foot. Mustang continued to act as leader, barking orders and shooting flames, slowly overtaking their opponents.

Twilight kept Spike out of harm's way, placing him in a box and fighting nearby with a sword Ed had transmuted for her. The blonde was off in the middle fo the room, dueling with a 6-foot panda lion. She looked back at Spike's hiding place, hoping he was faring better than they were.

~///~

His body convulsed as the feelings overpowered him. He knew this sensation, had felt it before when he'd lost control of himself and nearly destroyed his friends and ponyville, and knew its name all too well: Greed.

It was pushing into his body and will, the energy far more than he'd felt the last time. His struggles weren't even worht it at this point. "So true, so, why not just succumb to your desires, hmm? With me in charge, everything will be in possesion. You'll have everthing you ever wanted: money, fame, chicks...whatever you love most." Spike listened to the voice, an image of Rarity drifting in his mind. "Yes, her too. You'll have her all to yourself..."

Spike mulled it over...he'd have Rarity...all to himself..."Rarity," he whispered, "Rarity...you are going to LOVE me!" He shouted, louder than Fluttershy at the Gala, and let the urges envelop him. "You'll be mine...It'll all be mine...hahahaha....AHAHAHA!"

~///~

Dash fought off as hard as she could, zipping from enemy to enemy, while barreling over any foe she could pass. Her trademark rainbow trailed behind her, creating a colorful diversion, even if for the few seconds it took to buck down any chimeras or guards she came across. She'd chosen to put on the military uniform, to show she was there to fight back, to prove she waas going to fix what went wrong at all violent costs. This was her battle.

Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed the homun-whatever from before, just casually strolling over to Twilight. "Not if I can help it..." she muttered, careening over to the woman. She stopped right in her path, snorting furiously. "You did all this, didn't you? Well, you're gonna pay, you bit-" She was knocked aside by her fingers, which seemed to have magically grown to just right length. She felt a cut on her leg, but ignored it and got back up.

Lust approached the box, Twilight too busy with another one of the griffin-like ones to notice. "Ah, there you are, little one..." she peered into the box, seeing a very shaky Spike, most likely almost overcome by the stone by now. She reached down to pick him up.

With the force of a Sonic Rainboom, Dash went hoof-first into her head, knocking her to the ground. "Hah! Who's laughin' now?" The pegasus gloated, preparing to finish the fight. The homunculus stood up, the part where she'd been wounded healing over already.

She extended out an arm, stretching it and the fingers unnaturally long to pin down the pesky pegasus. Dash was forced into the wall behind her, trapped like one of her tacked-up photos of Spitfire. "You don't even stand a chance against us, little chimera," she cooed, "You think you'll be the hero? Well, I've got a piece for you: You're nothing. You can be as loyal to your friends as you like, but you'll never be able to save them while you're dead." She raised her other hand, running the sharp index finger under Dash's chin. A trickle of blood started to run down, darker than the red on her mane.

The box beside them started to quiver, taking the homunculus' atenntion off her prey, for now. "Oh? Finally awake, are you? Tell me, how do you feel?" She walked over to the crate, still keeping the pegasus stuck to the wall. There was a groan from the box, and Lust asked once more, "I said, 'how do you feel?' Answer a little more clearly." Dash stried to wriggle out, but the claws contracted, ensuring she wouldn't get away. She watched as the little dragon slowly stood up in the box, getting bigger by the moment. Things were getting worse.

~///~

Twilight finally managed to get a god smack on the chimera with the blade, sending it scampering away with a wounded wing and bloodied back paw. She turned back round to check on Spike.

Whatever was emerging from the box was definitely not Spike, at least not the one she knew. It looked like a more humanoid teenage version, grinning and chuckling with extra-sharp teeth. The wooden cell that had been holding him splitered and broke as he grew to about a foot taller than her 5' 5" stature, taller than Lust, even. "Ah," he stretched out, facing the homunculus, "I feel...greedy as ever."

She could guess what was going on; whatever that stone was, it had brought out his draconic urges and forced him to change, just like the event back in Equestria, only his voice sounded different...deeper...more evil.

"Perfect. Looks like my mission is accomplished then." Lust released the pegasus, her arm retracting like measuring tape as she joined the lizard's side. "Good to see you again," she smiled, "Greed."

Twilight looked from Dash to the woman to Spike, a confused look of panic on her face. "What's going on? Spike...?" The dragon raised an eebrow, as if he didn't even recognize her. Lust answered the grl's question with much pleasure. "Spike's gone now, dear. This is Greed, another homunculus. And you know," she turend back to the dragon, "I think I like you better than before, Greed. Both your personality and form are much improved."

The unicorn's face turned to one of horrow as she looked at the baby dragon that been her assistant, her friend, practically her brother, for her entire life. He was gone. It seemed so impossible. She looked away, hoping she might wake up in her bed to find it all a dream, or maybe even be back at Ed's place before this all happened. She spared a glance at the dragon, a tear going down her cheek as she saw he was still there, still Greed.

Dash couldn't stand to see Twi so upset. He surveyed the area, seeing the others were in just as much trouble. Her fellow ponies were slowly being outnumbered by the dozens of chimeras swarming in. Even Luna was breaking a sweat, seeing as she currently couldn't use magic. Ed and Al were back to back, trying to keep the monsters at bay. The other soldiers kept at it, but even they couldn't hold off for forever. She had to do something. With a flash, she darted for the way they'd came in, going for the secret entrance.

~///~

She made her wa through the dim tunnel, galloping as quick as she could, as it was too narrow to fly, lest she damge her wing again like she had when they'd first arrived in Amestris. As she neared the front, she spotted the small crack of light, big enough for a cat or small dog...or, in this case, a little pony.

She squeezed through as soared up as high as she could go, building up speed. There was one way to break through and get them all at once. She'd use her best element, an arial attack. She came to a mid-stop at the peak of the coulds, looking down at the rubble. Then, letting gravity and speed pull her odwn, she dropped. Her wings went at full force, helping het to go at the speed of light itself.

The wind buffered against her face, making tears stream past. She pressed on, about to do her signature move, performed only by the best. Only she wouldn't pull up this time; she'd go head-on.

She felt the light bending around her, glistening different hues and tranluscently growing into a multi-colored streak. This was it, her time to shine and save them all, to right what she'd done wrong for them all, to stay loyal to them all.

~///~

Lust strolled through the battle, her foes staring dumbfounded at her new ally. The fight ceased for a moment, but it wasn't going to end, not on a certain 5' 4" blonde's alchemist's watch. Ed skidded to a halt in front of the homunculus and comapny, gritting his teeth. "Come on, lady! It's you and me right here, right now!" They stood in the center of the room, calculating each other's moves. Ed transuted his right arm into a blade, waiting to strike.

"Look, Fullmetal," she bent down to his height like a teacher speaking to a student, "You're all no match for us. And, as much as I'd loved to kill you, I already have stated--I believe it was in this similar spot, too--that I can't kill a candidate like you. So let us pass, and I might spare the tohers and your new equine pets."

Clenching his fist, Ed didn't back down. Lust stood back up, motioning for the dragon to take her place. "Greed, care to deal with him? I've really gotta get back to Father right now." Greed nodded, to which she waved goodbye to them. Ed started to run after her, but the dragon grabbed his coat and yanked him back. "Where d'ya think you're going? You're mine."

The battle continued at that command, Ed slicing the dragnon's arm and getting free fro a moment. While the others went back to warring with the monsters, he faced down the chimera homunculus.

He went at the beast, swinging with his bladed arm. The reptile moved and grabbed his arm, bending it. His bones would've snapped if that arm hadn't been automail. Twisitng around, Ed used the position to spin off the ground, twisting the socket and kicking the beast in the face. Greed shrugged the hit off and slammed a fist right into the alchemist's face, sending him a good five feet.

Ed stood, wiping a bit of blood from his busted lip. As he watched the blood hit the floor, he realized just exactly where he was. The fifth laboratory had had a large transmutation circle in it, and it had obviously been redrawn sice being destroyed. He was now positioned at the edge of it, with Greed standing dead center.

"Hey, everyone--and everypony--get to the sides!" He warned, shouting to all his comrades. "I'm gonna need a little room for this fight." They did so, backing out of the circle and letting themselves fight with their backs to the wall. Whether their chimera opponents heeded the warning or not didn't matter; them getting in the crossfire was just a bonus.

Greed huffed, clenching his fists and letting out a puff of green fire. He was waiting for the little blonde to make his move. Ed smirked, clapped his hands, and pressed them to the concrete.

~///~

The rainboom was coming a tad late, proppelling her skull through and crashing through the layers of soil, but not with enough force than she'd wanted. At this rate, she'd hit the room and the rainboom would go off then, possibly harming her friends with the aftershock, and her. Unfortunately, she was going too fast to stop.

She breached the final layer of earth, seeing a glowing light under her. Something had happened while she was gone. In a quick glimpse, she noticed her friends and allies were against the wall; hopefully that would keep them safe. However, Ed was still too close to the center, and it looked like he had lighting pulsing out of his hands, towards Greed.

He was transmuting something, that much she could decipher in the few seconds before she impacted on Greed. A flash of electricity and rainboom brightened the underground. It was beautiful, and terrifying, as she felt, for the second time on a span of only a few days, her molecules and fibers being ripped apart.

Chapter 7

Indescribable pain shook her skull around as she tried to get to her hooves. There was a terrible ringing echoing through her ears, pulsing through her whole body, and her vision was scrambled into blots of light and dark. Fearing she may have gone deaf and colorblind, her heart rate accelarted more than it was before, pounding in her ears and making her nearly pass out again.

"Nng...o..." she mumbled incomprehensively, "Gah...t...E-eh...heh?" She knew she was obviously in some hazy fantasy world now. It looked like Equestria, but she could've sworn she saw a changeling fly by. Blinking in surpirse, she saw another, then three more, then ten more.

Now she knew it couldn't be real; they were talking to her. "Rainbow Dash...wake up...get up..." She tried to shake the voices, but that just resuslted in more head throbbery. "...d-d-d-d-Dashie," said another, turning echoed and distorted to loud and clear, "...d-d-d-D-DASHIE...! ...g-g-G-GET YOUR COLORFUL HINEY UP THIS MICRONANOSECOND!"

In a rush, her senses shifted into high gear, tuning into the buzzing of insect wings and the familiar scenery. They were at the edge of Everfree and Ponyville, and above them was a swarm of changelings.

Pinkie jumped in fornt of her, a half-worried, half-impatient look on her muzzle. "Dashie, we gotta get outta here!" She turned her head to the side, calling to their friend, "Hey Twi, Rainbow's up! Let's go!" The unicorn, still in human form, limped over and instructed that they were heading out now.

Before Dash could ask, once more, what was happening, they galloped off along with the other elements. She followed at a hover, catching up to Twilight. "Hey, where's Ed and the others? Are they...uh...I mean, are they not here?"
Twilight huffed, "They're here somewhere. Al went to go look for Ed, and the colonel's up ahead with the rest trying to clear a path for us. Oh, and it looks like Hughes got a pretty bad wound. AJ's got him in a cart. I tried to patch him up with my magic, but...I'm just too out of energy."

Worried, Dash looked back to see the country pony kicking it into overdrive. Her cargo was limply bobbing along in the wooden wheel-barrel, one arm hanging out of the side with a bit of blood dripping off the tips. Although the face was hidden, the pegasus could tell who it was. Turning away, she focused on getting out of there. They passed several manticores--or maybe chimeras; she wasn't sure which now--mostly with singed pelts or other damage that stopped them from chasing the ponies.

After a few more minutes of charging through, they came to Ponville. The place was in shambles, to say the least. Everything from parasprites to cockatrices to dragons to who-knows-else was romping through the streets. Mustang was currently locked in a literal firefight with a medium-sized dragon, trying to get them a way through the alleys. Rarity, in lue of Twilight, used what magic she could to get the beast away, managing to fling one of its own gems at it. Pausing for a moment in confusion, the beast allowed the colonel to get a blast of fire in its slack-jawed mouth.

"Everypony," he shouted to the elements, "Through here. Luna's gonna take it from there. She knows where Celestia is, and where you all can find someplace safe to hide." Grateful, the ponies darted past, except fro Dash. "Go on," the colonel reassured, "I've gotta catch up with Al and find Fullmetal." Relunctantly, the pegasus went ahead to her friends and the moon princess.

Luna adressed them in the royal voice, not because of habit, but because it was the only way to hear over the beastly roars and destruction. "YOUR PRINCESS REQUESTS THAT YOU KEEP ALL APPENDAGES WITHIN THE CHARIOT," she announced, having Twilight hook up the harness to her. They stepped in, AJ managing to get a semi-conscious Hughes in next to her. "Rainbow Dash," the princess added, "We would have you fly instead, please?"

Dash nodded, stepping back from the chariot so there was room for the others. Fluttershy started to step back, as well, but the cyan pegasus stopped her. "Do you think you can keep up?" She asked, hoping her friend would decide not to fly with her, and perhaps compromise her plans. The yellow pony tucked her wings in tight, hopping back into the seat. Dash sighed, preparing to take off.

With everyone packed in, Luna spread her dark feathered wings and pushed up, soaring high at an incredibly fast pace. Not wanting to get left too far behing, Dash took off after her, trailing behind the chariot.

~///~

A vast light lay before his eyes, and he knew precisely what it was: the gate of Truth. Slowly, he moved towards it, trying to reach out. He called forth, but his words were garbled and bounced around the empty space. With a few more tentative steps, he saw a mishapen figure, looking more like a chimera than the Truth.

The blurred creature pounced on him, sinking elongated fangs into his automail. Starlted, the alchemist transmuted a blade from his arm, slicing the beast's jaw and tongue. It reared back, then dove forward with blade-like claws. He fought it off until they were both covered with scars and the latter retreated. Victorious, Ed collapsed to his knees and got a better look at his surroundings.

The previous blank scenery was gone, now just a hazy grey of trees gradually coming into focus as his eyes adjusted. "Hello?" He called out to the forest. "Is anyone there?" He cast his glances around frantically. He looked up at the sky, confirming his suspicions. "The constellations," he said to himself, "The stars...they're not the same as Amestris. Then this is..."

As the realization dawned, he called out again, "HELLOOO! Is anyPONY there?" As he tried to stand, he found he'd taken a good hit to his right leg from that chimera's raked claws. "Gah..dammit..."

"My dear, lost one, that language is foul," spoke a voice, "But I shall help you anyhow." Ed turned to the voice, spotting a striped pony wearing odd jewelry around its hooves and neck. "I am known as Zecora, here in Everfree," she continued, helping him up, "Now, pray tell...who and what may you be?"

~///~

Feet clanking against the pavement, Al made his way through Ponyville. Whatever creatures tried to get a bite of him were thrown off with aching teeth, and any dragon's fire proved ineffective as well. As he kept up his pace to find Ed, he heard the colonel running after him. "Any idea where the shrimp is?"

Al slowed down to reply, "No...Maybe...I'm not sure..." He stopped, letting Mustang catch up. "I asked the others if they had any ideas...and Pinkie suggested Everfree, for some reason." Roy was about to give the 'you-took-the-advice-of-a-crazy-pink-pony?' look, but Al added, "Twilight backed it up, though, so it's valid."

Roy nodded and started toward the forest. "Well, then we better get looking." He gazed a the forest, passing by a cottage. "After all, I can't let Fullmetal die on my watch."

~///~
Nightfall descended over Equestria as the moon rose. Since Luna had been incapable of using magic, Celestia had taken temporarily to her nightly duties. With the sky dark, it was getting hard to see, especially as the grey clouds began to clot the atmosphere. Fluttershy looked back to see if Rainbow was still behind them.

There was no sign of the pegasus. She glanced around at her friends, worried. They were all asleep, save for the princess pulling the chariot. She turned her head back, calling softly, "Rainbow Dash...? Are--" Pinkie let out a mumble about sheds, then repositioned herself. Not wanting to wake them, she silently hopped out of the chariot, spreading her sunflower wings and gliding off to find her friend.

~///~

"Gh...ah..." the boy huffed, trying to ignore the pain. He'd endured having his limbs ripped off and replaced with metal prosthetics; this was nothing to him. "I...c-can't..." he backed up from the zebra with a grimace. "I just can't..."
"You must! This is the only way to heal you," she insisted, "If you don't do this, that leg is through." Ed shakily sat back down, exhaling. "Alright..." he complied, "Give me all ya got, doc."

Taking the glass, he swallowed the contents in one gulp, then slammed the empty cup on the table. "There, now was that so bad? In a few minutes, you'll be glad." A shiver ran down Ed's spine at the thought of what he had just drank: milk. The potion had contained fifty percent milk.

He looked down at the wound on his leg, sensing it go numb as the bloodflow slowed. "So...this'll just heal on its own? How does that work?" The zebra chuckled, grabbing a couple of herbs and mashing them with a mortar and pestel. "It is a simple way to relax the muscles in there, then it uses other magical poultices for repair. I mix them with other chemicals, you see. Some call it medicine, witchcraft, magic...even alchemy." She winked, as if knowing already his reaction.

"Well," the boy started up as he stood to test his leg, "It certainly is a science. Alchemy is the basic understanding of elements and chemicals, then breaking them down and reconstructing them into something else. At least, that's the definition in my world." He waited fro questions about where he had come from, but she just nodded in understanding.
"I see you are very knowledgeable, Ed," she ventured, "You know of both worlds, as do I, as I said. But perhaps you can recount what brought you to Equestria? And, in return, I can take you to Princess Celestia. I'm sure she has someplace safe for you to stay, and your friends may already be on their way."

A feeling that his brother was most likely looking fro him crossed his mind, but the others had probably gone to find the sun princess. Hopefully Al would know the boy was alright.

~///~

Roy kept moving forward, the armored Elric following behind. "So, more specifically that 'in Everfree forest'...do you know where he might head?" He asked, stopping to get his bearings. They were heading northeast, if the moon's position was the same as it was in Amestris. The stars certainly weren't, and he figured Edward had already noticed that much, at least.

He turned around to see what could only be described as a look of pure concentration on the helmet's features. "What...are you doing?" He said, to which Al let out an unnecessary breath. "Well, I was trying to talk to Ed with our brotherly telpathy. It works sometimes..." He hung his head, wondering where his sibling could be. "I'm not sure where he is...but...I think he's close...and safe. He's safe."

Accepting that answe for now, he started back up on their search. "Oh, Rainbow Da-ash...?" A voice sounded from the trees, sounding worried and frantic, "D-Dash...? Is that...you? OH, please don't be lost...o-or...ah...EEEEE-"

Mustang and Al ran over to the scream, hoping whoever it was was unharmed. A yellow blur darted past them, followed by an ox-monkey. Roy let loose a cannon of flames, hitting the mark on the third round. Al followed up with a solid hook to its pierced nose. With the chimera down, Fluttershy came down from her hiding spot in an oak. "Oh, thank you, Al and colonel, sirs. Umm...you haven't possibly, maybe, perhaps seen Rainbow around...have you? I-If not, then that's fine; I can find him. I'd like some help, too...b-b-but if you'd rather not, then whatever you wanna do is fine with me."

Al bent down to calm down the pegasus, petting her mane. "No, we haven't seen her...or Ed. But hey, we can look for them together! After all, they can't be too far, right?" Fluttershy smiled and went with them to find their friends.

~///~

Zecora led the boy out of her home, wishing him good luck. "Are you certain you do not wish me to be your guide?" She asked once more, to which he declined. "Alright, but just be careful, and don't injure your hide." The boy nodded and thanked her, going back on his way.

"LOOK OUT!!!" A dash of rainbow slammed into him, knocking them both to the ground. "Hey, watch it," Ed groaned, pushing the pony off his recently healed leg. "Sorry," Dash apologized, getting to her hooves, "I didn't have time to slow down. Although I'm glad I found you. Now c'mon, they're probably over halfway to the castle by now. We've gotta catch up!"
Eager to get out of the forest, Ed followed. "So, which way?" He waited for an answer, seeing the pegasus glance around for a few moments. "You...do know the way back, right?" He started to get nervous, but the pony quickly calmed him down with a wave of a hoof.

"Yeah, of course I do. Weather ponies have to have excellent senses of direction. It's..." she closed her eyes and focused, the pointed to what she believed to be the path home. "That way! Hurry up!" She darted off, a not-as-fast Ed trailing behind. "W-Wait! I can't fly, remember?!" The pegasus ignored him and pressed on. "Ugh," he sighed, "This is gonna be a long trip, isn't it?"

~///~

The chariot took its place outside the outskirts. The shield was up, although some more powerful creatures had managed their way in. "Come, everypony, the secret hideout is this way. Our sister, along with Winry and Hawkeye, are waiting. Follow us." Luna instructed, leading the ponies in the blind darkness with ease.

They trotted for what seemed like hours through the backstreets of downtown Canterlot until they came to a patch of garden. Luna struggled to make a spark of magic with her horn, failing dejectedly. "Looks like we are just knocking, then..." After tapping her hoof against a statue for a few moments, it twisted on its pedastal and lifted up just large enough for them.

Luna ducked under and went down some winding stairs, the others not too far behind. After Armstrong entered, holding Hughes, it clamped shut and winded back into place. After going under about ten feet, a walkway took them to the main room, an underground cave full of crystals. "This is..." Twilight gazed aroud, getting familiar chills, "This is the catacombs where I was put with Cadence when Chrysalis tried to take over with her Changeling army."

"Right as always, my faithful student," the sun princess strode forward, her usually shining pelt marred with a few scars, "And speaking of the Changelings...it seems thay've acquired a new leader. It's a monstrous beast...I've never seen any creature with such raw power in it. And the form it took when I so foolishly trusted it and brought it to the castle..." She lowered her head, her usual smile gone and her ever-flowing mane seeming to droop.

Twilight had never seen her princess so defeated. Terrified that something could do this to the omnipotent Celestia, she approached her mentor. "Princess...please...wh-what happened...?" Before she knew it, a few tears escaped her.

The alicorn managed a reassuring grin to cheer her pupil up, but it was soon lost as she recounted the day's events. "It was a homunculus named Envy...Luna and I tried to fight it off in the forest, and Spike even heled out. I coudln't do anything, though, and...I'd thought I'd lost my sister...and you all, my little six ponies." She gazed at them, chuckling some. "Well, almost. I see you've cast a very well-done transfiguration spell on yourself and Applejack. I'm sure its hard to change back without your horn now, isn't it?"

With an embarrased nod, Twilight requested than Celestia change them back now. "Of course," the princess did as was asked, getting them back to their equine selves in a flash of light. She tended to Hughes as well, sealing up the wound as best she could. Her younger sister trotted over, greeting her sheepishly.

"I am sorry, Celestia...whilst in that...other place...our magic was lost, and we have not been able to use it. Is there anything you may do?" The sun princess tried her stuff on it, but every time her white light met with Luna's dark horn, their was a spark that shocked them both. "I...I can't...After my battle with Envy, I...I'm not sure what happened to me...I've never felt so..." Celestia got that down look on her face once more, but with a worried gaze from Twilight, she went back to the matter at hoof.

"Well, anyways, now that you're all here, we should..." Her voice trailed, taking a head count. "Wait...where are Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy?"

Looking around, the other four realized the two pegasi missing from their group. They hadn't noticed in the dark of the night, but in the crystal-lit caverns, they could plainly see the elements were gone. "No..." Twilight sighed, "Dash...not again...and Fluttershy...where are they?"

~///~

"I can't believe it...we've been searching for forever..." Al groaned, wondering how his older brother could get so lost. Fluttershy was thinking the same about her fellow pegasus. "Well, I'm sure we'll find them soon..." she said optimistically. As they trekked, they found it becoming colder and the land growing steeper. "Although, speaking of lost..." Mustang stopped, doing a quick survey of the changing terrain, "I think we may have ventured too far."

"That you have, colonel," spoke a sinister being, "And now it looks like you're mine now." The trio turned to see a humanoid dragon, a toothy grin on his face. Roy narrowed his eyes and got into a fighting stance, Al following his motions. "Greed...I had a feeling you'd gotten transmuted here with us." The dragon paced closer, leaning against a decaying tree. "That I have...and I've yet to meet with Envy...but that's only because I wanted to toy with you for a bit first."

Meanwhile, the timid animal-loving pegasus couldn't stand to see the little baby dragon looking so horrific. "Spike..." she squeaked, stepping closer, "Spike...please...I-It's me, Fluttershy. I know you're in there, so please...don't fight..."

Greed looked down, not feeling a shred of empathy towards the pony. "Heh...your pathetic little wuss of a reptile ain't here. Just me. Now fuck off before I kill you, too." He flipped her off and kicked a pile of leaves and dirt at her, getting the debris on her pelt. Too stunned to reply, she backed up behing Mustang and wimpered, trying not to cry. "Heh heh...stupid little chimera...Your friend's long gone now. He's mine. And you will be too...heh heh heh..."

~///~

"Are you sure you know where you're going? I mean, from what I remeber, Canterlot is on the polar opposite of Everfree." He was exaggerating, but he did know this wasn't the right way. "Relax," Dash said, "I got this. It isn't too far, trust me. After all, I'm the element of Loyalty. If there's anypony you can trust, it's..." Her voice descended as they came to clearing full of fog and oily, multicolored puddles, some rain dripping around it. "Oh no...n-no..."

"What is it? I mean, I know it isn't Canterlot," Ed joked, "But we can just turn back, right?" Dash's face was twisted into a mixture of hurt and anger. "No...we can't..." she gritted her teeth, voice cracking, "Not until I found out who did this..."

Once more, all the boy saw was some smoke and puddles with food coloring in them. "Did what? Dash...?" The pegasus snorted, a deathly look in her eyes. "This...is Cloudsdale..." she nearly choked on her emotions, furious at what had become of her birthplace, her home, her very life. "Or at least it used to be...until...whoever came along...and..." she sobbed in between words, shouting the last phrase, "And...And I'll make them pay!"