Midas Touch
By Jodi Marie Johnston
Disclaimer: Full Metal Alchemist is a copyright program and all characters belong to the companies. However all other characters are my own creative works and creations. Note: This story goes off from the main story line.
Chapter One: ArrivalThe Elric brothers Edward and Alphonse were heading back to their hometown, Liesenburgh. Ed was lost in his thoughts while Al tried to ignore the fearful stares from the people they past. People tended to think he was some sort of monster from the look the metal armor his spirit possessed. Ed had to admit it but he had broken his arm again. Winry was going to kill him.
"Brother do you think this is a good idea?" Al asked.
The last time they had come by for a check up Ed had not only brought the fight to the towns doorstep but he had Al had managed to take out several buildings in the process before they had taken out the rogue alchemist.
"We have orders to check in with the town, besides we have friends there."
"Still…"
"Al you worry to much. Besides a little break from all the past excitement might be good for us."
"If you say so brother."
A girl lay on the stone floor of a fortress. She had been torn from her world and brought to this one. There were two men in the room staring at her. The first man had black hair and wore a blue coat; the other had darker skin and worn light brown clothing and was far older than the first.
"She is a fine prize. You have done well," the brown man said.
"Yes," replied the blue coat.
"Now to finish the job."
The younger man came towards the girl and took her arm. She looked up at him with wide eyes. He drew a line around her arm at the shoulder joint and a red light welled up. The girl flew back but her arm remained him the man's hand.
"Bring her in now!" the blue coat barked.
The door opened and another man came in wheeling something in front of him. The man in the blue suit picked up what was in the chair and laid it in a red circle of sorts. Through her pain the girl watched as the other man brought her to the thing in the circle. There was a bright red light. On the floor bleeding the girl recoiled in pain. In the other circle the mass began to move. The girl saw her arm rise up and the willowed husk filled out and took the shape of another girl who looked similar to the man in brown.
"My God! It worked!" the brown man said. He rushed forward and took the girl in his arms. "Emerald my darling daughter."
"Father?" Emerald whispered.
"It is a miracle."
"Indeed. Now it that concludes our business, I will take my prize and go."
"Wait a moment. If this is what you can do for my daughter, think about the possibilities. We could be rich."
"I don't want your money."
"But you do want my connections."
"I have all I want of you. I am leaving with that."
"I don't think so."
The brown man grabbed the blue coat they began to fight. Emerald shied away and for the first time noticed the other girl who was bleeding across the room. Emerald whispered one word.
"Run."
The girl looked up at them from the floor as an overwhelming desire to run flooded her system. Both men spoke in words she did not understand but the pain she understood. Even the word that Emerald had said meant nothing to the girl yet she understood. Touching her left shoulder where her arm had been, she focused and stopped her body from bleeding to death. She needed to seal the wound. In a second it was done and she dove down the closest open corridor. She had to escape but there was nowhere left to run. The corridor turned twice and came to a dead end. Carefully she prayed. Then she dipped her fingers in her own blood and cast a teleportation spell praying that she would not transport herself into solid rock. Without another thought she dove into the rock just as the two men rounded the corner after her.
An explosion not to far off alerted Al and Ed. One look and they both started running towards the site of the explosion. Coming over the hill what they saw stopped them dead in their tracks. Burnt into the ground was one of the most elaborate alchemist designs they had ever seen and in the center lay the pale white form of a person. Al burst down followed by Ed.
"Brother is she…?" Al asked.
"No she's alive."
"Brother her arm."
Ed swore. He took off his red coat and wrapped it around the girl. Ed could not help but notice the two burn marks etched into her shoulder blades as well. Whatever had happened to her, this girl had been through hell.
"Hello?" Ed asked. "Come on wake up."
The girl groaned and slowly opened her pale purple eyes. She stared up into Ed's golden eyes in awe.
"Um…hi?" Ed said.
"Doe?" the girl said.
"What happened to you?" Al asked.
The girl turned and looked at the talking suit of armor. Her eyes went wide but she didn't scream. Still she could not tear her eyes off Al as she attempted to make sense of the two images she beheld. She could see the face of a young boy shining out from the armor and she was not afraid. Then pain flooded her again as she was reminded about her arm. Opening her mouth. Music filled the air as she spoke asking for help but neither of the two boys seemed to be able to understand her.
"Sorry. I don't understand," Ed said.
"Brother what language is she singing?"
"No idea Al."
The girl understood their frustration. Their words were like the ones she had heard spoken by the men who had captured her. Since they could not understand her language she pointed to where her arm had been.
"Yes we see your hurt. Who did this to you?" Ed asked.
She looked up at him pain in her eyes. He knew what it was like to have his arm and leg torn from his body. Her eyes fluttered once and she passed out.
"Hey hold on you can't pass out on us!" Ed shouted. He shook her once and she opened her eyes again. Ed bound her shoulder.
"Fa?" the girl said.
"Look we need to get you to a doctor. What's your name?" Ed asked.
"Aura" the girl asked.
"Is that your name?" Al asked.
"Maybe," Ed said.
"Al," Al said pointing at his.
"Al," the girl said.
"That's right Aura
and I'm Ed," Ed said pointing to his chest. "Ed."
"Al,
Ed, Aura," Aura repeated pointing to each of them in unison.
"Right!" Al said.
"Ed?" Aura asked.
"Yes?"
Aura looked up at the sky and took a deep breath and began to sing. Al and Ed listened as she sang of her freedom and even though they could not understand her words they understood her song. Chi's song ended and returned to the boys. She smiled and passed out.
"Aura!" Al shouted.
"It's ok Al, she's just exhausted," Ed said.
"I'll carry her brother. We have to hurry."
"Right."