The Reality of Alchemy

Chapter Seven: Regroup

It took two weeks before the hospital agreed to release me. I was surprised that there had been no problems with Envy. I figured it would have been the perfect time to kill me. I was weak. I still was when released, but there was nothing I couldn't do on my own when it came to nursing my injuries. It was up to my body to cure itself of the stab wound. It helped that I seemed to heal at a very fast pace. But even if Envy or anything tried anything during my stay, they would have had a fight. Al never left my side and Winry seemed to be with Ed every time I saw her. He had been released a few days before me, the staff happy to oblige him release after an episode involving milk…

Al ended up being my escort back to the Rockbell's home. Pinako, Winry, and Ed waited at home, Winry adamant on making me a welcome home dinner. Well, a welcome home and an "I know you'll save your brother, just believe in yourself" dinner. I sighed as we approached the door, taking careful steps up the porch. As we came up to the front door, we noticed a note pinned to it. Al grabbed it first, reading it over first before reading aloud to me.

"Al and Elli,

I stepped out to stock up on automail supplies. There's a rush of customers coming and I want to be prepared. Pipsqueak and Winry are preparing dinner.

-Granny

Oh, and welcome home Elli."

I smiled at the last part and my sweet Elric pushed the door open for me. We entered, expecting to smell Winry's amazing cooking, but the kitchen was null of any such activity of food preparation. In fact, the whole downstairs was quiet. Al furrowed his brows and gave a small "hmph!" I wondered where the two lovebirds could be when suddenly I developed a hunch…

My face flushed and a sweat drop rolled down the side of my face. It would make sense. It was the best given opportunity for Ed and Winry to…better acquaint. Ok, sex Elli. They were adults as were I and Al. It was normal. Totally natural…and could be happening right above our heads. Al looked at me. "Where's my brother and Winry?" I bit my lip and looked at the ceiling where Ed's room would be.

"I think I may know." Al caught on and he gave a sly grin. I looked at him in horror. "Oh no you're not…" His grin turned to mischief as he moved up the stairs like a ninja; no sounds to be heard. I just gaped at him…and then followed. I couldn't let him do that!

He bolted to their door and clamped a hand over his mouth, trying not to giggle like a girl as he reached for the door handle. Before I could stop him, he turned around and looked at me, winking. I just glared at him as he held his hand up for me to keep quiet and he pushed me into my room and sat me on the bed as he shut the door. "Did you really think I would do that to my brother?" He asked me with a humorous smile on his face. I sighed, crossing my arms and looking away.

"He would to you. But if you did I would have bonked you on the head with my automail." He chuckled, sitting down next to me. We both fell silent and suddenly Al's arms were around my waist and he pulled me closer to him. I looked at him, my face red and he rubbed his nose against mine. "You're very easy to make blush, you know." I stuck my lip out in a pout.

"So…"

"I don't mind." He whispered, brushing his lips against mine. I returned the gesture, capturing his mouth. We opened for each other and deepened the kiss, our tongues exploring each other as if it was the first time. His arms began to roam my body and found the end of my shirt. I tensed, hesitating to go on. Al noticed and his hands froze. "I'm sorry, Elli…" He tried to look away, but I caught his face in my hand and kept his eyes staring into me.

"It's ok." I kissed him again and we continued where we left off. Al leaned me back onto the bed and lifted my shirt above my head. I undid his pants and felt my hands exploring past his belt line. He moaned, his hands finding my breasts and fondling them. Before I realized it, my pants were off and the covers were over our heads. My world began to spin as Al introduced to me my first experience of lovemaking. He was gentle, careful not to stress my body, but I managed to wrap my legs around him as he thrust into me. The moment became more intense as the rhythm increased. We were glistening in each other's sweat and our bodies moved in sync. I brought him down fully against me and we kissed as he reached his climax. We reached it together and he fell on top of me, looking as tired as I felt.

He slid out of me and cupped my face in his hands, kissing me sweetly. I smiled, feeling sweat roll down the side of my face. I was incredibly sore, but I was happy. Everything seemed perfect. He let me forget the world for a wondrous moment and I was glad it was him I did it with. I curled up on his chest and we laid there, enjoying the feel of each other and drifting off to sleep…until we heard the front door slam closed. Our eyes opened at the same time and we looked at each other.

"Granny!"

"Boys! Elli, Winry? Why isn't dinner started yet? What are you up to?" The old woman called. Al and I scrambled around the room, throwing our clothes back on and washing up as fast as we could. Al grabbed me and put my hair in a ponytail for me. I didn't fight him; instead, I straightened his shirt and hair and threaded his belt back into his pants. In the hallway, we could hear Ed throwing the door open to his bedroom and run to the banister.

"Grams! We're up here! Elli was getting her automail fixed and we were catching up." I sighed in relief. There had been nothing wrong with my metal arm, but Pinako didn't need to know that. Al opened the door and let me out first as Winry came out of Ed's room. We exchanged glances and she mouthed "did you guys?" and my face betrayed me, but I grinned. She smiled, too, motioning to Ed and shrugging. I stifled a giggle. Al joined his brother on the banister as me and Winry walked down the stairs. I smiled brightly at Pinako and gave her a hug. She hugged me back.

"Glad to see you survived. That hospital can get stuffy, but they're good with patients."

"Not as good as you, grams." I told her. She raised her brows and headed to her workroom to drop off her supplies. Winry went to the kitchen and began making dinner and Ed and Al went in after her. I helped Pinako put her things away. My first time might not have gone as well as I hoped, but I didn't mind. Everything was good for the night. I was going to enjoy it as long as I could.

. . .

After helping peel potatoes and shuck some corn, I had been kicked out of the kitchen. Winry wanted my dinner to be a surprise and she didn't think it would be fair if I were to help make it. I sat in the living room and began reading through an advanced alchemy book. I wanted to master the art, but I hoped it could also help me find a way to save Ronin. I was scared for him, wishing I knew where he was or what was happening to him. After about an hour, Ed had joined me, sitting next to me on the couch. He peeked at the page I was on and gave a small "hmm." He looked at me. "Do you understand it?"

"Mm-hmm." I replied. He leaned back on the couch, putting his hands behind his head. I glanced at him, no longer to hold back my most feared question. "Do you think my brother can be saved?" He frowned, sighing as he looked away from me.

"Honestly, I'm not sure. We have to find him first and catch him. I'm gonna call HQ for military assistance and hopefully, with some form of alchemy, we can extract Envy from Ronin's body…and kill the homunculus."

"You've dealt with the homunculi many times, haven't you?" I put my book down and sighed as he nodded his head.

"Elli, I can't tell you how many times Al and I have died because of those inhuman bastards. And through the better part of ten years, we've managed to destroy four of the seven."

"Seven?"

"Envy, Gluttony, Wrath, Lust, Sloth, Pride, and Greed."

"Seven deadly sins…ironic." I responded. "But how are they created?"

"They're named after sins for a reason. After alchemy's greatest taboo." I felt my eyes widen.

"Human Transmutation…"

"Sloth was the result of what Al and I had done. She had the face of my mother when I ended her." He lowered his voice, which was suddenly haggard and gruff. "A homunculus' true form is of whom we try to bring back from the dead. They can have memories of their lives which can considerably affect their judgement."

I thought about Envy, wondering who he was created after, but I didn't ask. The longer I knew Ed, the more I realized his life was full of more hurt than happy memories. I faced him, grabbing his metal hand with mine, making him look at me. "How do we kill them?"

"There's a certain transmutation circle that you trap them in. It weakens their life force and they become immobile. Once weakened, you can kill them using their remains. It's no easy task." He admitted. I leaned back on the couch.

"I figured as much." He poked me in the nose and I looked at him to see him wink at me.

"We'll find a way…little sis."

"Dinner's done!" Winry called from the kitchen. Ed jumped up and smelled the air while rubbing his stomach.

"Finally!" He practically ran to the food and I blushed at the fact he called me 'little sis'. I got up from the couch and headed towards the kitchen too, where my family awaited.

. . .

"Ronin?" I called out to him, watching his still form as he stood in the field, facing away from me. We were outside under a clear night sky and the stars twinkled happily. But what was going on was far from happy. My mind was a whirl with confusion as he just stood like a statue. My legs felt heavy as I tried running to him, my steps in slow motion. Suddenly, he turned around and I saw Envy staring at me with a twisted smile on his face.

"Your brother is gone, and now you will be too!" He lunged for me and grabbed me before I could transmute a weapon. He held me by my throat and hoisted me up against the contradicting sky. He looked into my eyes and spoke loudly over my choked cries. "You will never save him, Elli. He's all mine. And I will do with him what I want." He laughed a sickening sound that hurt my ears. He threw me down and wrapped his claws around me once more, his nails cutting into my skin. Blood soaked into the grass as he squeezed his hand as tight as his strength allowed. I tried to pry him off me, but I was too weak. Instead, I lay there, dying from lack of air and my world left my vision, leaving me alone in the dark.

I burst up from the bed and onto the floor, looking frantically around me. Al bolted upright in the bed, looking for me. I ran to the bathroom, flinging the door shut and turning the light on. As Al pounded on the door and asked me if I was ok, I stared horrified at my reflection. My neck was bruised and bleeding, the shape of hands clasping around it. I stumbled back against the wall and slid down to the floor, feeling all hope leave me once more. I began to cry.

. . .

A theory on how to save Ronin

Locating Envy

Military interference

An unknown journal of a past Elric…

All to come next! Please review!