I Thought Church was on Sunday

Full Metal Alchemist

The vortex surrounded the girls, swirling around them in deep violet spirals. It engulfed them, swallowing the two whole while the images of their previous endeavors were still fresh in their minds. It focused around the feet, opening as it rose into the sky and took them in.

This time it was different. A barrier stood before them, blocking their path. An enormous gate rose from the ground, with an eye in the center, and the intricate carvings surrounding the outer edges of the door. It was both horrible and beautiful, encased with golden light. Slowly, it opened and the dark, ominous eyes peered into the girls' emerald. The creatures inside reached for them, their shadowed hands grabbing at the flesh of Amber Collins and Synthia Baker, and the delicate fabric of their robes, yet, as the alienated bodies approached the human children, the hands stopped, and hesitated, lingering above the pair as if an unseen force prevented the creatures from harming them.

The sisters appeared to be asleep while standing, just barely aware of the surroundings. They were in a trance, seeing everything that was happening but not able to do anything about it. Again, the shadowed arms approached, but not as menacingly, this time they gingerly wrapped around the teenagers and pulled them through the door.

A light began to emanate from the human figures, protecting them in glittering stardust. Their bodies were safe beyond the barrier, but it wasn't enough to keep all the dangers at bay. Though, at this time, they did not become aware of everything that could and would happen to them. A beam flashed through the darkness. Amber gasped and Sindey cringed as a sharp, intense pain pierced their chests. It was brief and instantaneous. The images around them accelerated as they passed by. They flashed in blurred pictures but entered their brains in vivid photos. Then, there was the end and they felt themselves slip through to the other side.

Shortly after, they were waking up in a warm bed, no, not a bed, for when Amber had grasped at it, the dust fell through her fingers. "Sand," She thought as the pure energy from the golden sun beat down on them with its intense rays. They were no longer in Hogwarts. This time, they were in a far off desert, secluded from humanity and the much desired food and water that the two would need for survival. But, as to where they were, no name came to mind.

The oldest stood, wiping the sweat off of her brow and turning to wake her friend by shaking her gently.

"Amber," Sindey muttered while she stirred. She sat up in the loose earth, "where are we?"

"I-" The blonde stopped and hesitated, using her pale hand to shield her green, blue eyes from the harsh light, "don't know, do you remember any deserts?"

Sindey looked around bewildered and confused, examining the endless horizon of red sand and aqua sky.

"Ugh, no, I don't know,"

"Come on, we should keep moving," Amber forced the command out as she hoisted Synthia onto her feet. The younger one groaned, resisting the order, but was silenced by the other, "do you wanna die?"

"No, I feel dizzy,"

Collins took pity on her friend. Sindey looked as if she would vomit, her eyes seemed dull and lost in the hot sunshine, and sweat glistened as it ran down her face.

"Yeah, I know, but we have to keep moving." Amber dug into her school robes, pulling out her wand and then reached into the bag beside her- which kept all of the treasures she collected on their journey- and produced empty water bottle, "Aguamente," She frowned when nothing happened. Annoyed, she scrunched her now and furrowed her brow as she looked at the container and repeated the order a second time, "Aguamente!" Her voice was more commanding, but no water flowed from the wand, "AAAGUAAAMENTEEE!" Amber turned worried and confused when only bright white sparks flew from the tip, but nothing to drink, "Ah Sindey."

"I thought agua was Spanish," The older blonde raised her eyebrows in disbelief. It was basic magic. But, Sindey never liked studying, so it did make sense that she didn't recall the word from her lessons.

"Yeah, but it's also a spell." Amber corrected as she stuffed the items back into her bag.

"Oh, guess I should have paid attention," Sindey looked embarrassed. She giggled nervously but shrugged it off as she reached into her own back pack and pulled out a small compass. "Well, I suppose I only need practical spells now,"

"Hey, if you had paid attention, you may have actually beaten me."

Sindey ignored Collins as she examined the object that lay flat in her hand.

"Which way do we go now?"

"Towards a town," Amber responded sarcastically. Baker glared at her friend's response, not appreciating the snide remark. But, Collins didn't care. She probably should have but the heat had already started to influence the way she felt.

"Oh, that's clever, and where might that be smarty pants?" Synthia snapped.

Amber sighed. She should have known. Her sister was stressed, which meant that she would be more bitter and short. Between the heat and the length of their journey it was favorable that one of them would be dead before they reached civilization. They looked each other in the eye and the colors of viridian and forest met as she spoke.

"Can you sense any energies?"

"Hmmm," Sindey moved her head from side to side and examined her surroundings, "well, without trying, all I can find is lizards, snakes, oh and angry birds, very, very far from here." She turned back to her friend. "Other than that I'm going to have to re-center, it's different here, more balanced."

"I could try to listen for thought patterns," the girl immediately looked discouraged as she made the offer. Amber knew her limitations, whether it was easier in some of the other worlds or not, she still had them and knew what they were, "but I've never been able to sense more than a couple feet away from me."

Sindey sighed. She was exhausted from their journey and not being able to go home. Their adventure no longer held the wonder and excitement it once did, as if it was a new toy that had broken. The only thing that had become beneficial to them was the development of their natural abilities, such as learning how to fight, and becoming more familiar with their powers, powers that they barely knew existed before they came to rely on them. Sure, in their own world, Amber would have a few visions and Sindey would see the energy that flowed from every living thing. But, until they left, they had no idea that those specific talents could grow, develop, and be manipulated.

"I suppose we should try to head towards the birds then, there seems to be a lot of them. Let's see how far we get, you work on your thing." Synthia said as she took the initiative to lead.

Amber followed, and, together, they walked on in the endless sea of sand. Their dark robes fluttered around their ankles but it didn't help that the material seemed to be sewn from the night's sky, attracting the sun's intense rays that baked the girls from the inside out. The cold salt water trickled down each of their necks.

Amber swallowed, hoping to bring the needed moisture into her mouth. It failed. How long had they been walking, seconds, minutes, hours? Time blended together and stood still as the heat burned their delicate skin. The older looked at her closest friend and forced her to shed the outer robe that draped over them like a house coat. After, she removed her own and loosened the emerald tie around her throat. They allowed the cloth to hang over them, providing shade in the barren land.

Amber lifted her head, listening. She could hear them, the faint whispers in the distance that entered directly into her mind, "Hey, I can sense people!"

"They're not individual; they seem kind of blended, like a mass," Sindey stated hesitantly.

The older girl's breathing quickened as she disregarded the other's comment. Thought patterns didn't interest her. She was already joyously relieved; they weren't going to die out in the desert. Collins turned to her sister, the thrill sparkling in those blue green eyes that captured the shade of a gulf.

"Yeah, but hey, a town means water, so come on." Amber declared.

Her pace quickened as she moved toward the direction of the voices, which grew stronger the closer they got. It wasn't long before they could see the town. And, soon after that, the people that lived within it, and, finally, they were both inside its boarder, with tall white walls stretching into the vibrant sky. Amber's gaze darted from one side of the road to the other. She could hear the music, sense their prayers. It reminded her of the Sunday mornings spent with her mother.

"Strange place, I feel like I'm in church," Collins mumbled as she continued to explore her surroundings.

"Why, what are they saying?"

Amber closed her eyes, concentrating and listening to their thoughts and feelings; it was surprising how much her telepathy had grown during their journey. If someone informed her of it before they were taken she doubted that she would have believed them. Collins listened. There were many thoughts but she was able to understand the basic concept of what was rushing through their minds.

"Something about a prophet and salvation. They're very happy about it,"

"Hmm, so that's why."

The older looked at her questionably. Synthia, seeing Amber's baffled expression, explained.

"It's why they're all the same, I mean the energies vary from person to person but it's so little it's hard to notice."

"Oh, I see." Collins nodded as the words left her mouth.

She understood the basic concept, but it was difficult to know the full extent when she couldn't experience it herself. A few moments later, Amber stopped and looked around. When Synthia noticed that her sister was no longer walking directly behind her, she followed the older blonde's example.

And there it was. A strong scent that was both sweet and putrid drifted through the city and hung in the air. It was as if an invisible fog had settled over them. When they inhaled it filled their nostrils and entered their lungs. Amber could practically taste it on the tip of her tongue.

"What's that smell?" Collins asked.

But, she wasn't paying attention to the words that subconsciously fell from her mouth. The stench that had caught her attention no longer held it. Her ears had now become focused on a sound that was carried through the town, and her eyes followed the direction of where it had come from.

"Hey is that-?" Amber stopped midsentence as she rushed to it. She felt the pale stone of the fountain. It was smooth and perfectly sculpted. The liquid burst from the top of the pearl colored spout and fell into the basin while causing rings of the dark liquid to expand to opposite sides. She took a cup and filled it from the pool of red before her. "That's odd."

"Well, what is it?" Sindey asked

Amber inhaled the fragrance. It was definitely the aroma from earlier. She stood there for a little bit while debating her next action. Then, without saying anything, she closed her eyes and took a sip from the bitter and nectarous drink. Immediately, she opened them in shocked surprise. It was fermented and the taste of alcohol was easy to recognize. "It's wine."

"Hey!" Somebody shouted in the near distance. The blonde squealed as she dropped the glass, crimson liquid stained the ground, "you know that's not for kids."

"Sorry," Sindey apologized as they turned to face him.

His skin was tan and looked as if it had been bathed in the sun's golden rays. He stared at them. Well, maybe not them per say, but at least at their peculiar clothing.

"We're travelers," Amber mentioned while trying to elaborate her actions as well as their choices in style.

"We were passing through," Sindey began the story. But, the man who had spoke with them did not seem convinced as he crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow.

"When our car broke down," The older hoped it would be enough, but he was still listening intently. They continued the story, Sindey developing it as they proceeded into more detail and Amber filling in the gaps that her friend left out.

"Very far from here, off in the middle of the desert, on our way to-"

"Central?"

"To meet some relatives of ours," Synthia finished, proud of their accomplishment.

But, he continued to stare while looking from one girl to the other, examining them as his eyes went from the top of their heads, to the bottom of their toes. After, those same brown eyes slowly traveled back up to meet the girls' faces.

"And the robes?"

"We live farther north," Sindey lied with the ease of a knife cutting through butter. Her voice was effortless as the words drifted from her mouth. Amber smiled; Synthia should have been in Slytherin. Her ability to create a cover story within that short amount of time was uncanny.

"Oh, so you've been traveling for a pretty long time then."

"Longer than you think," The older blonde scoffed. Her friend looked between them and the man as she compared their attire to those of the town.

"Do you know where we might find some more suitable clothing?"

"Hmm," He rubbed his chin, thinking about Sindey's question. "Hey, maybe Rose can help you."

"That would be wonderful, thank you."

Amber looked up; her gaze bore into the man's. It felt as if a guitar string had been plucked in a silent room, a chord being played in the emptiness. A foreign memory was being awakened, but she couldn't remember the origins.

"Rose?" She turned, whispering to her friend, "Rose?"

"I know, it sounds familiar." Synthia whispered back.

Amber nodded, but now that she thought about it. The name wasn't the only thing that had triggered her mind's thought patterns, it was the entire city. And the current inside her head was faster now. She could feel it was it began to string the pieces together on its own accord. They were becoming recognizable, but she couldn't be sure until everything had been confirmed. The blonde approached the bartender, choosing her words carefully, "Sir, what town are we in?"

"You are in the great town of Liore, saved by Father Cornello."

"Uh-huh," and the last bit of the puzzle clicked into place. The connection had been made visible and was now complete.

"Father Cornello, whose he?" Sindey looked lost. The memories hadn't surface as vividly in her mind.

"You've never heard of Father Cornello?" He was shocked, but his responses had further confirmed what Amber had been thinking. She looked at him, testing the answers.

"He's some type of prophet, isn't he?"

"Yes, exactly," he stated proudly.

Sindey's mouth dropped, unsure of how Amber could have possibly known that. Her sister saw the expression but Collins put it out of her mind as she continued her discussion with the man.

"We've heard of him."

It was all she needed. Amber knew exactly where they were. It was surprising how quickly the memories disappeared after the series stopped airing two years ago. She grinned while remembering the many days that were spent chatting enthusiastically about episodes that aired the previous night as well as the late evenings they had spent watching the show.

"We have?" Synthia asked confused.

"Well, yeah, remember," Amber pressed as she beckoned her companion to recall the dormant memories.

"hmm," Sindey considered her friends statement before turning to the bartender, "tell me more." He honored the request, pointing behind the girls.

"See that fountain right there, that's some of Father Cornello's work."

"I've also heard that he can bring people back from the dead, is that true?" Collins inquired while folding her hands behind her back. He beamed, and she could see that the man was pleased. Her sister may not have known who their prophet was, but she certainly did.

"Yep, sure is—oh, hey there Rose."

He looked over their heads. The girl smiled when she noticed the new arrivals in the town. The blondes returned the gesture as they took in her features. Her skin matched the typical shade of everyone else within the town and her hair was only a little bit darker, except for the bangs which were a delicate coral.

"Do you think you can do me a favor?" The bartender continued as he put his hands on Sindey and Amber's shoulders.

"I don't see why not." She responded sweetly.

"We've got a couple of travelers here; do you think you can help them out?"

"I'd love to."

Rose's enthusiasm made honey appear acrid. She directed them to follow as she began walking away. They obeyed and remained close behind. Collins assumed that they were going to the temple, which meant they would meet the priest- or Envy- depending where they were in the show. Either way, they were fucked if they didn't get on a train soon.

"I don't think I caught your names earlier."

Rose's observation pulled Amber from her thoughts. They hadn't given her their names. She straightened her posture and gestured to herself and Synthia.

"Oh, right, well I'm Amber and this is my sister Sindey."

The blonde cursed herself under her breath. She really had to get out of that habit; all it did was confuse people when they discovered that they were not actually related. Then again, with the amount of time Sindey spent at her house, the girls might as well have been.

"How do you do," Her friend replied, grinning.

"Well, it's very nice to meet you."

"Likewise, Rose." Synthia responded. That was the extent of the conversation. The group continued in silence for a brief amount of time before the brunette spoke again and broke the tension.

"Father Cornello is a very generous man, you know."

Amber snorted, luckily for her, only Sindey heard. Baker gave a critical look while warning the older to keep that big mouth of hers shut. She obeyed and allowed Synthia to control the flow of the conversation.

"Yeah? He wouldn't happen to have a tailor handy, would he?"

"No, but a man named Bradley has his shop just off of the village square. He doesn't cost much."

"That's good, what about a place to find work while we're here?" Amber asked. She already knew that necessities would require currency, currency from this world, which neither of the girls possessed. Someone had to play the responsible one and address that issue. If it wasn't her sister, it had to be her.

"I'm sure Father Cornello would be more than happy to help you out if money is what you need."

"Thank you."

The rest of the day was spent with Rose, who showed them the entire temple and places where the girls were and were not allowed to go. They met the father who had given them blessings from the sun god Leto himself. His enthusiasm disgusted Amber. He couldn't even keep his Greek mythology straight. Leto was female, not male. And then, there was his overzealous behavior with Sindey's bag, thinking that the charm on it was to worship the sun, not that it wasn't a beautiful pendent.

But, they acted intrigued with the religion and she was thankful when they left and were shown to their room. The girls were then left alone, Sindey with her legs crossed on the bed, Amber looking out the window. Collins was the first to address the question both had kept locked in the back of their heads since the discovery of where they were.

"So, do you think he's been here yet or not?"

"Hmm, I don't know yet, I haven't had enough time with Rose." The younger responded while concentrating and thinking about the timeline of the story. Amber bit her lip, worried.

"How do we know what we're supposed to fix, I mean Hughes, this town, all the people that scar killed," She stopped. The name caught in her throat. Her voice cracked as she forced it out. "Ed." He had been murdered by Envy in the last episode she saw. Part of her had always wondered if there had been more to the story, but the series had been taken off the air. Even if there was, she wouldn't have known about it.

"We can't save everyone."

"Why not? I thought that was what we were supposed to do!" Amber screamed in her frustration. It was difficult, letting go and giving up before they even tried. Yes, she wanted desperately to go home, but something compelled her to keep fighting. Besides Collins was the one that got them stuck in this mess, she had to be the one to fix it, no matter what.

"Like it or not Amber, we're still human; we can only do so much. And, if I remember right, didn't Ed figure that out the hard way?"

"I wouldn't try anything stupid like that!" Of course she wouldn't, another homunculus was that last thing they needed. Sindey sighed.

"You're missing the point; we're humans, tiny insignificant humans."

Amber leaned against the wall and pounded the back of her fists against it. Synthia's quote had managed to get under her skin and annoy her. It didn't even belong to her sister. It was from episode seven, no that was when Ed passed the exam and Nina died. Which meant it was probably the eighth.

"Wow, having the episodes memorized after all this time, kinda pathetic."

Maybe Sindey was right. She was obsessed when the series came out. Then again, Amber wasn't one to forget anything so, for her, this may have been normal. She concentrated and forced her mind to stay where it was needed.

"I know, but what's the point if we know what's going to happen, and we can't change it?" In that instance, Collins's voice never sounded so defeated.

"The cause doesn't become pointless. It just means that we have to be there to change the things that really count."

Amber grimaced at Synthia's reasoning. How could they know this much and still be so helpless?

"I hate this," Her voice was soft. The world had taken its toll on her. She was ready to give up, but she was too stubborn, besides her sister needed her strength, too.

"Well, hating it won't make it go away," their eyes met as Sindey continued," Don't worry, we're gonna get through this."