Chapter two: Finding the truth about false gods
Rose having seen Ed's metal arm had fainted temporary on the ground. After about five minutes Rose got up in which had to a grip on what was going on in truth. At this time Father Cornello had made a gun with his stone ring which now he had a machine gun shooting at the trio down in the sand below. Ed and Al were standing looking at Father Cornello in the face as he was firing bullets and right of them. Trubinya at this time was tired of getting shot at. Trubinya had to take action not only for herself, but for Ed and Al as well. Ed looked at Trubinya as she about to transmute a weapon when a bullet came flying towards her. Ed in a rush of action pushed both Trubinya and himself out of the way dodging the bullet that nearly would have take their lives. Ed was now on top of Trubinya with nothing to say for he was not very good at talking to girls.
Trubinya still under Ed said, "Ed thanks for saving me from the bullets, but could you move please. I mean you may be short. You are not at all light."
Ed responded, "So first you called me short and now you are saying that I am fat. Look Trubinya maybe I should stay on you a little while longer."
Al looked at the both of them said, "Ah brother maybe we should try getting out of this little pickle first. After that you and Trubinya can have your little spat later."
Trubinya pushed Ed off of her to get ready for the next round of bullets that were coming their way. Ed having seen more bullets coming placed his hands on the ground after a blue flash a wall was blocking any and all bullets from hitting the trio. From Behind Al was feeling the heat as there were now some of Cornello's followers shooting at them from behind the wall. Trubinya looked at Al and Ed and decided to take action her self. Trubinya placed her hands on the ground, with a flash of light made a shield to block the bullets as the three of them were running in trying to make their escape. Ed went to a wall placed his hands together and with alchemy made a door to where there was now a way out.
Cornello was not pleased at what he had seen and done that he took action. Rose still there pondering at the events she had seen.
Rose asked, "Father please tell me the truth is what you are doing it is just alchemy. You are not the real thing at all are you."
Cornello placed his hand on Rose's shoulder said,"Rose my dear you have been one of my best followers so now you'll have your beloved brought back."
Entering the room where Rose's lover was Cornello took Rose and from a bed Rose heard a faint voice that cried "Rose". Rose thinking that Cain was brought back to life wanted to go over to the bed to find out, but Cornello grabbing her shoulder told her not to go near for Cain was ill. Rose stopping her self did as she was told.
Back in the tunnel Trubinya, Ed and Al was trying to find their out found a hidden passage that finally led them out from below ground to the streets above. Feeling a sense of relief Ed, Al and Trubinya sat down to catch their breaths except for Al who had the body of a can. Trubinya placed her hand Ed's lap trying to reassure that everything would be all right.
Trubinya said, "Listen Ed trying to make Rose to see the truth about Cornello, is like trying to like making a person pursue a religion that they don't believe in."
Ed replied, "We are the ones who know what in the hell is going on you know. It is just that I was sent here to find that damn philosopher's stone. I just want to get Al back into the flesh."
Trubinya said, "Ed don't worry I'll help you in getting Al's body back if you want. Look I'll put everything on the line for even my life. So you can count on me; just you wait we will get everything straighten out."
Ed scratching his head said, "All right If you say so."
From a large speaker Cornello had begun speaking through it "my people there are some unfaithful heathens in our town they are to be found immediately ."When Ed, Al and Trubinya heard that their time of being safe was over. People left and right were coming out of their home with lanterns, pick axes, and anything that they had on hand to hunt the trio down. Ed, Al and Trubinya just looked at one another getting ready for anything that comes their way in any case. As the people came to corner the trio were located at. Al had to stand perfectly still like a statue in order to convince them that there were only the two of them. One the people called Ed a shorty in which Ed had lost his temper. Trubinya grabbing Ed's shirt trying to pull him back as the man told him that he didn't call him shorty.
Trubinya said, "People of Loire these so-called ones who were brought it has been rumored that they all left."
Ed said,"Have any of you seen them after they brought back."
As the crowd opened up Rose made her way through the mob.
Rose said, "My boyfriend.. spoke to me. Cornello gave me his word of honor."
Trubinya looking at Rose said, "What kind of place is this. All of your people have been lied to. If you people are not careful you'll could end like Ishbal. I lost everything, my mom, my friends, and nearly my life. The path to god is not through Cornello."
One the other townspeople said, "So Cain is going to bought back that is good for you Rose."
Ed said, "How can you people be doped in this bunch of lies anyway?"
Trubinya placed her hand on Ed's shoulder said, "Edward there is use trying to warn them they have decided their fates. We should take Al and leave this place."
Before Ed, Al and Trubinya were able to leave a large trembling came from the ground as something large was headed their way. Trubinya spotted about three large statues of their sun god stomping their way getting ready to attack. The people had come to witness more alchemy thinking that is was another miracle. Ed with a scared look on his face figured that they were trouble. Trubinya looking at the statues knew that they were in some serious trouble tapped Ed shoulder wanting him to give a sign about what to do next.
While Al stood there like a statue not doing a thing before the Trio knew it Al was taking by one the statues and was thrown like a rag doll. Trubinya saw one the priest give her a disturbing looks as She and Ed were knocked unconscious. The both of them laid on the ground motionless as the people just stood there as the priest had Ed and Trubinyataken in custody.
When Trubinya and Ed woke they were not in front of Cornello as this time now having the upper hand walked over to Ed took the pocket watch that Ed was wearing and took it off his belt loop. With the pocket watch in his hand also went over to Trubinya's neck to remove the strange blue stone that she was wearing, but as Cornello tried to break it off her neck. The stone reacted by shocking his hand as he tried to touch it.
Cornello holding the watch said, "With out this Ed you can't transmute anything except your arm and you Trubinya that stone you're wearing seems to have a lot of power. Only when I tried to grab at it some force on it seems to repel anything or anyone other than you trying to use it. I may have a use for you, but as for you Edward you are going to disappear just like your brother did."
Ed said, "If you lay a hand on Trubinya. When I get a chance I'm going to make you regret it got it."
Cornello said, "Now Now Edward I'll take good care of your little girlfriend. Don't worry with her powers she will help me gain more followers."
Trubinya still being held said, "I'll never help your causes. You bastard my stone will not work for your evil intentions."
With that said Cornello had the two them locked in a cell to be dealt with later. In the cell Ed and Trubinya had a feeling that they were in some serious trouble. On one side of the cell Ed had both of his tied behind him above his head. Trubinya was bound as well trying to get out by moving around. All was still as Trubinya looked Ed silently wondering about why Ed had chosen the words he spoke earlier.
Trubinya said, "Ed why did you tell Cornello that he would regret it if he tried to hurt me."
Ed still tied up and was blushing said, "I don't know I guess I was trying act tough in the situation we were in."
Trubinya smugly said, "After all this time I would have guessed that maybe you like me or something huh Ed."
Ed blushing even more said, "Hey what in the hell are you saying now. Quit assuming that. Damn it Trubinya now is not the time for you to be thinking like that."
Trubinya blushing said, "Oh I don't know maybe this will be our last moments in this life. So I got it make it count."
With the events that were happening Trubinya moved closer to Ed making him feel even more uneasy. Ed felt the moment getting more awkward as the both of them were now face to face. Ed now red as a tomato was trying to get away. Trubinya still moving her arms finally got out of her ropes. Trubinya was loose from being tied up looked at Ed and went to work on freeing his hands. Ed felt a sense of relief from what had went on.
Early the next morning in clock tower the priest being tired of the events from the night before place his hand over his mouth to yawn. From behind Al was being the sneaky thief for he had a shiny object under his arm thus fleeing from the scene with out being seen. Unaware of Al's presence the priest went to ring the bell for the morning masses. As the priest went to pull the rope instead of hearing the sound of the bell there was silence and wondering why there was no chime the priest looked up to find that the bell had mysteriously disappeared.
Back in the cell Rose arrived at the door to bring food for Ed and Trubinya, and with a sad look on her face,sat the food down for them and left. Thus leaving them alone again to handle the problems that they had to deal with. Trubinya at this point bring freed from her ropes brought the tray to Ed so that they could both eat. Trubinya took the bread and ripped off a piece to feed to Ed as he was not able to feed himself.
Trubinya getting ready to make a move to help in getting Ed heard a faint digging sound coming from behind where Ed was chained. Trubinya looked at Ed with a sinister look was wondering what Ed had up his sleeve. Trubinya scooted closer to Ed to ask about what was going on.
Trubinya asked, "So Ed I noticed that you have acting strange please tell that you have some sort of plan of getting us the hell out this pickle we are in."
In Trubinya's ear Ed whispered, "Well as you know Al and I always have an agenda of our own right. Well here is what is going to go down okay."
Trubinya replied, "So what is this big plan minster smart ass?"
Meanwhile in master suite where Cornello was sleeping. A large snake-like creature crept over him thus giving a bad feeling that Cornello didn't like at all. Cornello had woken in a cold sweat out of his sleep. There in the corner lurking in a chair was a shadow form that looked human.
The shadow like form said, "Listen Cornello you better not let that full metal midget and his two friends get in your way got it."
Rose wanting to see her beloved stole the keys from Cornello to gain access to the room where Cain was being held. Rose in front of the room door opened to check up on him.
Rose softly said, "Cain I know that you are still trying to get better, but I hope you wouldn't mind if we talk okay."
Rose going closer to the bed heard the same response from earlier "Rose"came closer saw a shadow thinking that Cain was up. As Rose was about to get closer to see Cornello came in the room with a very disturbed look on his face.
Rose still unaware asked, "Father Cornello if you were looking for your keys. I took them in order to see Cain okay."
Cornello sadly said, "Rose you were one of my most prized followers and now you have fallen from grace. The sun god has judged you. My dear sweet girl and you must be silenced."
A heavy wind blew in the window of the room thus blowing the curtains away from Cain's bed only to reveal that it was only a large bird-like chimera instead of Cain. Rose froze in terror at the sight. Cornello walked over to Rose to explain that human alchemy was to dangerous to do.
Cornello said, "Rose my dear I was never able to bring back your lover for to try human alchemy is a taboo that I would never do, but birds are the perfect rouge to get people fooled for they copy our words."
Cornello's hands glowed red the bird seeing the light flew in the air ready to attack Rose. Cornello locked the door behind him leaving Rose and the bird alone. Feeling a sense of victory of his work Cornello went to deal with Ed and Trubinya the last two people to know his plans. Rose thinking that she was done for saw that the bird had been killed by some strange force only to be revealed that Al was not dead.
Back in Ed and Trubinya's cell Ed had revealed the plan to foil Cornello to her. Trubinya having heard the plan had to go along to where Cornello wouldn't suspect a thing. Cornello having arrived to deal with them decided to reveal his scheme to the both of them.
Cornello said, "Ed my friend it seems that you and Trubinya are a creek without a paddle huh."
Ed smiling replied, "So Cornello what's the deal you just act this so-called prophet and the people will do as they say?"
Cornello said, "Well Ed if you insist on knowing these people were just like lambs to the slaughter."
Trubinya said, "If you are a man of greed I guess I would like to also know why you use religion for this purpose."
Meanwhile Al was putting the finishing touches on the wiring of the loud speaker. With it finished Ed's voice boomed through the speaker to where all of Loire would over hear the conversation the three were having.
Ed loudly said, "So is it for money that you are doing this?
Cornello replied, "No I can get plenty of gold from all the offerings."
Trubinya asked, "Mr. Cornello if not for money then why?"
Cornello said, "People of a cult when swayed the way I see fit would throw their lives away for me just to see their love ones brought back."
Ed said, "So there is no way to bring the dead back huh. So when you kill me I have had it right."
Cornello said, "With mindless pawns to do my bidding. In about four to five years I would gathered enough saps to build an army to take this land and remake it to where I would rule. Why should a king sacrifice himself when his mindless slaves these people it for him."
Trubinya smugly said, "So these people are just mindless slaves huh."
Ed being freed from earlier said,"So I guess that is it right huh. You can't bring people back from the dead."
Cornello said, "That is correct I would never try human alchemy."
Ed with hands free took the piece of bread and ate with a smile on his face revealed that Cornello had just figured out that Ed's hands were free of the chains. For now Cornello was up a creek without a paddle. Ed still eating the bread moved away from his spot right in plain sight was a microphone that had played out the whole conversation that Ed, Trubinya and Cornello were having.
The people stood still as the loud speaker had spilled the beans about Cornello's little plot. One man was drinking coffee, another one was at the bar, while the other citizens' mouths dropped in disbelief. After that Cornello transmuted his cane into a gun and blasted the microphone and went to stage of the citadel. Ed and Trubinya had Cornello surrounded by the a large mob of people that were very pissed off and ready to attack the false prophet. Cornello still trying to play the fool of the people to lie his way out of his little pickle. Trubinya looked at the people that were wanting an answer from their prophet decided to speak.
Trubinya said, "People of Loire if you think that this man Cornello is your key to salvation. What you have seen before were not miracles of god, but from alchemy itself."
Cornello raised his hand said, "My people some unbelievers have tainted you. Now witness the true power of god."
All of the statues of the town began moving by the use of alchemy Ed getting tired of the lies and falsehoods placed his hands at the base of the large statue and with his alchemical abilities made the statue move. The large sun god statue began moving the people were amazed at the sight of this. From the top of another building Alphonse was explaining to Rose that pocket watches or stones had nothing with Ed abilities as an alchemist.
Cornello holding Ed's watch said, "Without this watch you are nothing."
Ed responded, "Look pal I don't need that damn watch to transmute."
Trubinya kicking the watch out of Cornello's hand, said, "Look you pathetic piece of crap. You might have noticed, but the arm of you god is about to lay the hammer down on you."
From above Cornello had spotted the hand of a large statue just over the top of him coming close enough to his face. Cornello at this point that Ed didn't a circle to move something that big. From the townspeople point of view it looked like that their was real. When in reality it was a stone figure the size of a building moving by alchemy. Trubinya watched the looks on their faces as they were confused at what they were seeing. The statue took it's hand and stroke the at the feet of Cornello. Trubinya looking at the fallen didn't take any pity for the fallen fool.
Trubinya said, "So Cornello do you think that you are some kind of prophet after what you have seen today."
Just as Ed and Trubinya got closer to Cornello. Cornello's hand that had the stone on began to glow. Cornello began holding his arm in pain. The stone on his hand had transmuted Cornello's arm to look like there was metal in it. Ed looked at the arm in disgust. Ed running over to help Cornello even though he was a fraud grabbed his hand with the ring to see if it was the end to his quest of finding the stone he wanted. Trubinya getting a closer look at Cornello's finger had seen the stone crumble to dust in a brief moment
Ed said, "Its a fake stone. Damn it stop jerking my chain."
After the commotion at the main chapel Ed, Al and Trubinya sat on the bridge headed to leave the city of Loire. Rose walked up to the three of them with a very mean look on her face.
Rose said, "You three shouldn't have came here, Cornello might have been a fake, but he gave a dying desert people hope and now that I know that Cain will never return I have nothing to live for.
Trubinya said, "Listen to what you're saying Rose. In the years of my life I have lost my mother, my father. You look at what you have now your friends, your neighbors and the people who greet you on the street."
Ed interrupting said, "Yeah Rose you have so many people who look up to you. Also you have some strong legs you should try and find a place in this world for yourself."
Rose having said her peace walked away from the three of the them with her head bent down in shame. Al looked at the events that had happened could understand why Rose was upset seeing that her beliefs were torn down to nothing was indeed a sad thing. Ed, Al and Trubinya with their tasks completed walked away from a very confused Rose. As she just stood there in total confusion on how a girl and two brothers leave a place with on ties to it.
Trubinya holding Ed's exposed shoulder said, "Ed we will find okay. I know that you want to Al back in his body it just means that we have to keep looking okay."
Ed responded, "Look Trubinya I know that, but it sucks."
However in Cornello's office things were getting really bad as Cornello was talking to some really shady characters with a strange tattoo on their bodies.
Cornello said, "Listen the stone was a fake. It just gave out on me and caused my body to rejected its power. However that blue stone that girl was wearing seemed to be more powerful."
Lust replied, "Look you stupid priest this whole entire place was set up as a sweet little bait to lure unexpecting alchemist to do my bidding. Anyway what was that you said about a girl wearing a strange blue stone was here. I guess he will have to know about this one."
Cornello confused said,"What in the hell are you people really?"
Gluttony drooling said, "Oh please Lust will you let me eat this one. I'm so hungry."
With that said all went dark as a large set of black tentacles came out of Gluttony's mouth and Cornello was gone in seconds thus was the end of the fake priest.
Back at the Inn Ed, Al and Trubinya were packing their things to leave the strange desert town. Trubinya went to Ed who was still in his shorts place her hands together and with alchemy transmuted Ed's clothes to where they were repaired. The people was looking high and low for Cornello the scumbag, but had no luck in finding his where abouts. From out of no where a man who looked like Cornello came and greeted the people. From the shadows Lust and Gluttony watched the man do another fake miracle to convince them. In which the people were lured back in the lies of the fake prophet.
Lust from the window said, "Well Envy you'll have to stay in that form for a while longer. I'll tell you that she was here later."
Rose looked at the crowd and the only one who knew the truth just looked how the people of her village who sucked into another lie. As the sun set on the desert city Ed, Al and Trubinya were now hands of fate as they were headed back to Cental to look for clues on the philopher's stone. Trubinya took Ed's hand in hers as they walked in the desert. With Al following along side of the them.
