Isabella's Voice Actor: Brina Palencia
Elizabeth's Voice Actor: Cherami Leigh
Elizabeth broke out into comical tears, while Edward screamed in horror. Isabella frowned and muttered to her self about a waste of a library, while Elizabeth whimpered.
"All those poor books...they were just waiting to be read and now..." More tears streamed down her face.
"Dr. Marcoh's research! It's all gone!" Edward took a few disbelieving steps forward and knelt down, lifting up what appeared to be a book that had just barely survived, but ended up turning to ashes the second it was removed from the ground. "There's nothing left here but ashes; everything's gone." He clenched his fist and let what little remains fall to the ground.
Isabella crossed her arms and sighed, shaking her head. Elizabeth was still moping, sniffling.
"Those poor books...gone. Just like that..." Isabella looked at her before slapping Elizabeth upside the head, causing the younger-presumably younger-girl to cry out and stop crying, her hands flying up to gingerly rub the bump that was forming on her head. "Ow! What was that for!?" She demanded, sending Isabella a glare-but the pout on her face ruined it.
"You were complaining. It was getting quite annoying."
"Shut up! N-No one asked you!" Elizabeth yelled, turning her head and crossing her arms childishly as she huffed. She blinked and turned around in surprise when a voice suddenly exclaimed,
"Major Armstrong!" Everyone else followed suit. There standing at the entrance of the library's ruins were a pair of Officers in Blue Uniforms. One was a male with dirty blonde hair in a similar fashion to Edward's, only without the braid. Next to him was a woman with black boy-cut hair and dark eyes, a mole underneath her left eye. Armstrong looked surprised.
"Oh, Second Lieutenant Ross and Sergeant Brosh. To what do we owe this pleasure?"
Ross stood up straight, shoulders back, her arms pressed against her sides as she spoke, "You have been ordered to report back to the Command Center, sir."
Brosh stood in a similar fashion, "We shall be taking over supervision of the Elric brothers and Isabella Hughes, effective immediately." Elizabeth blinked and raised a hand, confused.
"Wait, what about me?" Nobody answered, leaving Isabella to pat her awkwardly on the back while she looked the other way.
Armstrong gained a little sparkle as he nodded, "Very well, they're yours."
Edward placed his hands against his head in irritation, "What is this!? Just when I think I'm home free, they saddle me with more bodyguards!?" He complained loudly, "This is getting old!" Isabella laughed at his misery, causing Edward to glare at her.
And the glaring only intensified when the two were forced to sit next to each other in the car in the middle, with Alphonse next to Edward on his right and Elizabeth on Isabella's left, the four of them squashed together while Alphonse tried to keep himself from impaling his brother.
Elizabeth sweatdropped, eyeing the electricity that crackled in the air nervously. "Um..." She didn't quite know what else to say.
Ross spoke, "All might not be lost," She told the four teens, "There was a woman who was well-acquainted with the materials in the first branch." Edward's eyes widened and Isabella blinked.
Elizabeth tensed, a bad feeling forming in her gut at knowing what the secret ingredient was.
"But unfortunately, she wasn't working there anymore."
The girl didn't want them to find out, but she knew she had no choice. It was one of those things she had no choice but let stay, unable to change.
Edward huffed and crossed his arms, turning his head towards his brother as he scoffed, "That sounds incredibly helpful."
Isabella rolled her eyes and said sarcastically, glaring at Edward, "Well, it's more than what YOU can offer, blondie."
"What was that, pea-brain?" He demanded, sending her a dark look. She raised her fist up, their foreheads touching as they glared, the blue lightning crackling between them again.
Elizabeth swore there was fire in the background and she decided it was time to break it up. "Guys, cut it out!" She tensed as their glares focused on her, but she quickly pushed the fear of being beaten to a pulp at the back of her mind. "They're trying to help and you all are just being all-all... I don't even know, but quit it!"
"She-She's right, you guys. Please be nice to each other for just five minutes." Alphonse pleaded, causing the two to look at him for a moment before sighing in unison. They glanced at each out of the corner of their eyes before huffing and crossing their arms, turning their heads in opposite directions.
"Fine, but only for FIVE minutes."
Brosh and Ross looked at each other in exasperation. Brosh then looked at Alphonse, staring at him as sweat beaded down his face. Alphonse noticed and tilted his head, asking curiously.
"Something wrong?"
"Oh, no, it's nothing...Although, if you don't mind me asking...why are you wearing a suit of armor?" The four teens tensed, and they all blurted out nervously,
"It's a hobby!"
Elizabeth looked outside and cried out, sweat beading down her face nervously, "Oh, my, what a lovely view! I wonder how the weather is going to be tomorrow!?"
"Y-Yeah!" Edward agreed awkwardly, leaning over his brother to stare out the window.
Ross and Brosh immediately turned away from the kids and whispered to each other loudly.
"Just what kind of freaky hobby is that, Lieutenant!?"
"Who are these children, anyway!?"
"What do you say, Al?" Edward asked his brother, going along with Elizabeth's idea. "It's a lovely view, like she said, isn't it?"
"Oh, yeah, yeah! Gorgeous!"
Isabella spoke calmly, despite the look of nervousness she had on her face, "Check out that house. I want one when I get older, too."
Everyone couldn't help but to sweatdrop at that.
...
Isabella blinked at the array of bookshelves that lines the apartment. "What...the hell...?" This is a house, right? Not a library?
"Oh, wow!" Edward gasped, "There's gotta be a million of 'em!"
They quickly set to work on trying to find Sheska.
Brosh complained as he slid between two shelves, "Ugh...Is there really someone living in this place?"
Elizabeth spoke with a grin, "Get me a mattress and a mini-fridge and I think I would." Brosh sent her a weird look, but didn't comment. Ross called out loudly.
"Miss Sheska, are you here!? Miss Sheska!"
A muffled voice called out, causing everyone to look around in surprise, "Is someone there!? Please, help me!"
Alphonse paused in his walking, looking through a row of shelves in confusion as he caught sight of a pile of books, a single hand sticking out at the top. "Um, brother...?" Edward looked at Alphonse in curiosity, seeing him point at the mountain of books. "There's somebody under there!" Every caught sight of the hand sticking out and screamed, panicking as they rushed to get the books off the poor woman.
"START DIGGING! WE'RE COMING!" Edward screamed, throwing a book and causing it to smack Isabella in the face. She flinched and growled in irritation, but she resisted the urge to give him a concussion as she threw a few more books behind her.
"STAY AWAY FROM THE LIGHT!" Elizabeth screamed. Isabella called out,
"Don't start making death references now, idiot!"
"Keep digging!" Alphonse screeched, his voice echoing.
After a while, they finally managed to uncover Sheska. She was a woman with a round face and light freckles. She had short and choppy light brown hair and dark blue eyes that were covered by glasses.
Edward panted heavily as he sat there with a book on his head, shoulders slumped. Elizabeth was collapsed on her stomach, chin resting on the ground with Isabella laying on top of her, eyes closed in exhaustion as she breathed.
"Thank you! I'm so sorry!" Sheska apologized frantically, bowing repeatedly. "I got myself trapped over a whole mountain of books!" She finally stopped bowing at sat up on her knees, quickly cleaning her glasses and placing them back on her face. She looked completely serious as she said, "I though I was going to suffocate under there!"
Elizabeth gasped, having trouble breathing due to Isabella's weight, and supplied, "We-We wouldn't have...let that happen..."
Isabella let out a grunt as she rolled off the short haired brunette, yawning loudly. "I want to sleep..." Sheska looked at them, a grateful look on her face, and bowed again to everyone.
"Thank you so much..." Edward was silent for a moment as he pulled the book off of his head and closed it.
"So, uh," He began. "Are you Sheska?" She looked up curiously.
"Yes."
"And you worked at the library?" Edward wanted some confirmation. Everyone flinched in surprise when Sheska suddenly shivered and hugged herself, gasping.
Isabella and Elizabeth quickly raised their hands to cover their eyes when a bright light appeared and bright yellow sparkles started to shine around Sheska, stars in the woman's eyes.
"Oh, the library! The word itself is so beautiful! I've loved books my whole entire life! Ever since I learned to read as a little girl! That job...was Heaven!" She exclaimed, fangirling loudly as she ranted.
The Elric brothers and the Jones sisters blinked.
The room turned dark and a spotlight shined on Sheska as she fell to her knees in depression. "But I forgot that I was supposed to be working and all I ever did was read...So they fired me. If I don't find another job, I'll never be able to move my poor, elderly mother into a better hospital!" The brunette fell to the ground, "But I'm hopeless! The only thing I can do well is read! I'll never find another job as long as I live!" The light flashed back on and Sheska dragged her hands down her face, crying, "I'll never find another job for as long as I live! I'm useless! Good-for-nothing! More pathetic than pond scum!"
Edward raised a hand slowly, uncomfortable, "Um, excuse me...there was one thing I wanted to ask you..."
Sheska stopped crying immediately, looking at Edward curiously with red tear-stained face, "Yes?" Her voice shook a little.
"Do you remember seeing any research belonging to anyone named Tim Marcoh?"
Isabella piped in, "He's an old guy? Did work in Ishval?" Sheska pressed a finger to her chin as she looked up in thought.
"Let's see...Tim Marcoh." She frowned, "Where do I know that name?" She smiled suddenly, the realization hitting her. "Oh! Yes, of course!" She clapped her hands together, "I remember now!"
Edward and Alphonse looked excited. Edward exclaimed, "Really!?" She nodded.
"Oh, yes! I'm absolutely positive! There were some handwritten notes stuffed in a bookcase where they didn't belong."
Alphonse let out a sound of relief, while a wide smile spread across Edward's face.
"That means the notes were really there after all!" Isabella ruined the moment an irritated deadpan.
"Which means that they were toasted and turned to ash with the rest of the books." Edward and Alphonse were sent into depression.
Edward moaned, "They were burned up with everything else in the library..." He sounded as though he was going to cry.
"Did you want to read them?" Sheska questioned, "Is that why you're asking?" Edward forced himself up, slouching as he stuffed his hands into his pockets as he walked away.
"Yeah...But it's too late now. They're nothing but ashes." Alphonse stood to follow his brother, but not before casting one last glance towards Sheska and apologized.
"Sorry to bother you." Isabella waved at the woman,
"Thanks for the help." Not that it was much help to begin with... She huffed. Isabella felt like punching something.
Sheska spoke, a finger to her chin, "I remember everything that was in them. Would that help at all?"
There was a silence in which the trio stopped walking-only to be disrupted by their loud shouts of shock as they shoved their heads in Sheska's face disbelievingly.
Elizabeth started to laugh from her spot in the background.
Sheska grew nervous, "Uh, it's just how I am! I'm able to remember the content of any book I've ever read!"
Edward and Alphonse screamed in shock, while Isabella's jaw dropped dramatically.
Elizabeth's laughter increased.
"It'll take a while," Sheska continued, smiling, "but I could write them out for you."
Isabella was still standing there in shock when Edward ran over and grasped Sheska's hands, shaking them repeatedly while Alphonse waved some fans around.
"Thank you bookworm! You're my hero!"
"Your...welcome?"
Isabella suddenly ran up to the woman, seeing her in a new light, and pushed Edward out of the way while she grabbed the woman by the shoulders. The brunette teen had serious look on her face as she asked, "You seriously have Eidetic Memory?"
Sheska nodded slowly, unsure of how to respond.
A huge smile broke out on Isabella's face, "That's so cool! I always wanted to meet someone with a photographic memory!"
Brosh and Ross looked down worriedly at Elizabeth, who was laughing so hard that she was crying as she layed there on the floor, slamming and kicking her feet and fists against the floor.
They left and came back five days later, only to be greeted with the sight of multiple stacks of paper on the table. Sheska was smiling at them, gesturing to the paper stacks.
"Here you are! Complete copies of all of Tim Marcoh's notes!" Everyone was gaping in shock, surprised that the woman had actually managed to do it, "I'm sorry, I know five days is a long time to wait, but there was quite a lot to write down."
"Unbelievable!" Alphonse exclaimed. "There are some amazing people in this world!" He said as Edward lifted up a packet and flipped through it.
He sounded confused, "These are really Dr. Marcoh's research notes?"
"They sure are!" She replied cheerfully as she lifted up a few packets, "Come and take a look at them! "Written by Tim Marcoh: One Thousand Easy Recipes".
It was as though someone had dropped a hammer on all of them.
"Huuuuh?"Everybody was confused.
Ross started to read from a packet, "Six cups of rice, one carrot, two packs of salt... Oh, great. Does this mean we came all this way for a cook book?"
"Miss," Brosh began curiously as he looked at Sheska, "What part of this made you think it was an important document?"
Sheska pressed a hand against her chest worriedly, "Is it not what you're looking for?" She sounded like she was going to cry, "All I did was copy down what I remembered..."
Isabella flipped through a packet, and made a face at a recipe that looked extremely complicated. "Uh...Is any of this in English?"
Sheska looked confused, "English?"
Were we not speaking English? Isabella thought, uncertain. She then realized, Oh, right, we're speaking German. Or...I don't know, my brain is going to turn to mush if I try to figure it out. She decided to stop thinking.
Brosh placed a hand against his head, ignoring a deflated Sheska, "Wonderful-so this was just a wild goose-chase?"
"Sheska..." Edward began, "Are you sure this is an absolutely flawless reproduction of the notes?"
For some reason, Elizabeth sang, "Absolutely Flawless!" Isabella looked at her strangely, causing Elizabeth to sweatdrop.
Sheska nodded, clasping her hands together, "Oh, yes! I'm absolutely certain!" He turned to smirk at her.
"Then thank you very much! You're incredible!" He lifted up a stack, "Alright, let's get these back to the library." He dropped them in a surprised Isabella's arms, causing the girl to grunt as she struggled not to drop them. He grinned at her, "Consider this part of your training. Build up some arm strength."
She sent him a dark look, and would've kicked him in the leg if she wasn't worried about dropping the stack of papers and crushing her flesh toe. Edward then grabbed a stack himself and tucked it against his side, causing Isabella's glare to intensify at how easily he was able to lift them, and walked away.
Alphonse handed a stack to Brosh, saying, "They should have related materials at the library. Let's go back there." Edward nodded in agreement and Elizabeth let out a shout when she nearly dropped the stack Al handed her. "Careful now."
"I-I'm trying!" She cried out, stumbling as she walked. Edward stopped walking, his eyes widening in surprise.
"Oh, I almost forgot Sheska's fee." He pulled out his wallet and wrote down a check with his pen, before handing the check and his watch to Ross. "Lieutenant...here. This is my registration number and my pocket watch for ID. Withdraw that amount from my annual research grants and make sure Sheska gets it, okay?"
He was the only one left in the room with Ross and Sheska.
Ross nodded, surprised, "Right, I'll get right on that, sir. I suppose I can just take this down to the State Alchemist's Office?"
"That should work!
Edward walked out of the room, and was greeted by Elizabeth who look up at him curiously. "Just how much money did you give them?" He looked surprised for a moment.
"You don't know?" He figured she would, since he and Al were just a "Story" from her gate. She shook her head and he smirked, walking away.
"H-Hey! What is it, Ed!? Tell me!" She demanded, running awkwardly after him as she tried to stop the notes from falling.
Ross and Sheska's screams echoed in the apartment.
"DID HE MISS A DECIMAL POINT SOMEWHERE!?"
"HOW DOES A BOY LIKE THAT HAVE THIS KIND OF MONEY TO THROW AROUND!?"
Isabella eyed Edward suspiciously and questioned, "Just what did you do?"
"Nothing important."
...Back at the library...
Brosh was ultimately confused, "I-I don't understand. These are cookbooks-what could they possibly do with Alchemy?"
Edward responded as he flipped a page, "Alchemy's a powerful art. It can be incredibly dangerous if misused."
"Isn't that a lovely thought?" Isabella cut in as she boredly flipped a page, not understanding what she was supposed to be looking for. She read some books on Alchemy in his, Tucker's, library and that was it. Edward ignored her as he continued.
"In order to prevent that," He showed Brosh the paper and placed his hand against it, "Alchemic research is always encrypted. These are designed to look like recipes to the average person, but they're actually advanced chemical notes. Only the alchemists who originally wrote them can understand."
Brosh was even more confused, "If they're so heavily encrypted, then how are you going to be able to decipher them?"
Edward turned the paper back to him, "It's not going to be easy; we're going to have to use all of our alchemical knowledge."
"Which isn't a lot," Isabella cut in again, yawning. Edward sent her a glare.
"If you're not going to be helpful, go to the corner and nap!" The girl stood up, her chair scooting out from behind her, and stated with a lazy grin.
"My pleasure, blondie." Isabella was a bit of a pessimist, Brosh noted.
"I'm going to have to agree with Isabella on this, that sounds really complicated." Edward's eyes widened in surprise.
"Al, there's a section in here on Green Tea!" Elizabeth frowned in confusion as she sat next to Isabella at another table.
"Green Tea?" Alphonse questioned as he turned around, a stack of books in his arms, to stare at his brother. "Are you thinking what I am?"
"Uh-Huh. It might be a reference to the Green Lion of metallurgic alchemy. Do we have copies available of Flamel's Codex or Lambspring's concerning the Philosopher's Stone?"
Elizabeth had stress lines forming on her face, "Hah?" She made a funny face.
Isabella merely yawned and leaned her head back, out like a light as she snored silently. Elizabeth sweatdropped as she stared at the girl who was supposedly her older twin sister.
What am I supposed to do with you? Elizabeth wondered sometimes.
A week had passed and the teens still had no luck.
"Why does this encryption have to be so damn hard to figure out...?" Edward whined, exhausted as he layed his head down on the desk. Alphonse had face-planted into the desk, his helmet spike penetrating one of the papers and wood of the desk itself.
"I don't even speak gibberish!" Isabella complained, laying on the floor as one of her legs were in the air, the other resting on the chair she had fallen out of with her arms above her head.
Elizabeth was leaning against a bookshelf, books and papers surrounding her, stress lines forming on her face. "I know enough about alchemy to understand it, but this isn't making any sense!"
"Brother...maybe we should ask Dr. Marcoh about this directly?" Alphonse suggested, just as defeated.
"No way!" Edward sat up, clenching the paper and his pen tightly, "That'd be admitting defeat!"
"Admitting defeat or not...Can't we just get this over with?" Isabella demanded. She was irritated, she was tired, she hungry-she'd rather be at home with Gracia and Elicia and listening to Hughes rant about work.
"So this is a contest now!?" Alphonse was alarmed. Elizabeth had to agree with Edward-they couldn't just give up here!
"He's right, we have to keep going!" The tan girl grabbed a packet and flipped it open, reading through it for a few seconds before giving up defeat again, "I give up...I can't do it."
Isabella blinked at her, the girl's view upside-down from her current position.
A timid, familiar voice cut in, "Excuse me?" They looked up in surprise to see Sheska standing at the door.
"Sheska?" Edward asked in confusion. She walked in and stopped at the desk, bowing, and stood up straight with her hands clasped together in front of her.
"Thanks to the money you gave me, Edward, I was able to move my mother into a better hospital. I really appreciate it." She bowed again.
"Nah, it was no big deal, really." He waved his hand a few times, trying to get his point across.
She stood up and smiled at them, "Have you had any luck deciphering it so far?"
All four of them were sent into depression. Sheska looked at them nervously.
Alphonse decided to change the subject, "Have you found another job?"
Sheska was sent into depression. She quickly snapped out of it and sent them all another smile, "Anyway, you four made me feel better. It was nice to know that a pathetic mess like me could help out sometimes. So thanks for that as well."
"You're not a pathetic mess." Alphonse and Isabella appeared to have spoken at the same time, Isabella looking bitter as she said. Everyone looked at the two in surprise and Isabella quickly turned her head, allowing Alphonse to speak.
Despite how surprised he was, he continued, "I think that kind of dedication you show to reading is a talent all on its own. And besides that, your memory is incredible! You should have more faith in yourself!"
Sheska smiled at him after a few moments, "Thank you, Al."
I never should have said anything, Isabella thought bitterly, looking at wall from her spot on the floor, He already had it covered. Nobody was ever a pathetic mess. Not even her mother. Everyone has something they're good at, and that talent is what makes them who they are. It helps to define them. If anybody ever tries to say otherwise, they can just go screw themselves.
...and now I want a hug. Where's... She wanted to say it. She wanted to call him it. She was just too afraid. Isabella was afraid that once she truly called Hughes her father, she-Elizabeth wouldn't be able to save him.
They had a plan. Elizabeth came up with it and Elizabeth wanted to be the one to carry it out, as she wanted Isabella to meet the stupid Prince. Elizabeth was going to stay behind and either fight with Envy and get Hughes to escape, or barter with Envy to keep Hughes alive. It was both stupid and risky, but Elizabeth refused to let her have a word. However, the girl did have one strong point, and that was improvisation. She should be able to keep herself alive...
Should being the keyword.
Maybe I should stay behind with her after all... However that would be even more stupid. Isabella didn't know how to fight, she didn't know how to use alchemy, she could barely even lift a single stack of papers!
She was weak, she was a coward, and she could only wish she had the strength to defend herself and protect her loves ones.
But wishing does nothing, does it?
"Yo!" Isabella jolted at the familiar voice, screeching loudly as the chair her leg was on fell and landed roughly on top of her, "Whoa, Liz, you okay!?" Isabella grunted as she pushed the chair off of her.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes!" Edward exclaimed.
"I'm fine." Isabella cut in, forcing herself onto her feet and brushing her clothes off-flinching when her hand brushed against the spot where the chair had hit.
Hughes started to walk forwards, a hand in the air, "Major Armstrong told me you all were here!" He slammed his hands on the desk Edward was sitting at, "What gives Ed!? I thought I told you to give me a shout next time you made it to Central!?"
"Oh, well...Something came up. It was urgent, sorry..."
"It's just as well. I've been busy, too. And YOU-" He whirled around and pointed at Isabella, serious as he raised his voice. Isabella jolted and tensed, looking at him in alarm. "Just where have you been!? Not a single letter since you arrived in Central, not even a visit to tell us you were here!? You are in big trouble missy, do you know how much I've MISSED YOOOOOU!" He suddenly ran over and enveloped the girl in a hug, causing her to scream in protest and try to push Hughes off, despite how much she may have wanted one of his hugs.
"O-Off! Get off of me!"
He rubbed his face against hers, showing just how much he loved his adopted daughter. "I'm not letting you go!"
"S-Someone! Help me!" She cried out, placing a hand against Hughes' face as she tried to push him away. Edward smirked.
"Nah, this is actually kinda entertaining."
"Brother! Be nice!"
"What?"
Elizabeth didn't know what to do. Should I be worried...?
After a few minutes, Hughes finally released Isabella and grew serious. "We had a lot of cases to deal with, lately. And we're still working on getting the Tucker Chimera situation settled." He gasped as the room became silent, realizing his mistake. He looked at the teens nervously, "Ah, sorry... I guess that brings up some unpleasant memories, huh?" He was silent for a moment before pulling out the extra chair that sat at the desk and sat down, resting a cheek on his palm. "Anyway, as if that weren't bad enough for us already, the first branch had to burn down in the middle of all this."
Isabella pushed herself to her feet and asked curiously, "Something you needed?"
"That's been a problem, huh?" Edward questioned. Hughes nodded with a deep frown.
"A big one. All of our case records were stored in the stacks at that location." Hughes explained, talking with his hands. "Tryin' to work without them hasn't been a picnic, let me tell ya."
All the teens paused, a look of blatant realization forming on their faces.
Someone who needed a job and who read and memorized the books and notes is the First Branch...
"Uh, what?" Hughes didn't understand why they were looking at him like that. The four turned to look at Sheska, her face popping up in their minds. Hughes followed their gaze and Sheska blinked a few times before turning and looking at them surprised. She pointed at herself as she gasped.
Edward grinned, "Hey, Lt. Colonel! I think we've got the exact person you guys are looking for!"
Sheska held a finger to her chin as she commented thoughtfully, "Well, I have read the Military Case Records, and I do remember them all..."
Elizabeth grinned, "She's broke and happens to be looking for a job?"
Hughes smiled widely, showing off his pearly white teeth. "That's all I needed to hear! Lady, you're hired! My Office pays well, so don't worry!"
"Oh, I-!" Sheska was alarmed, she could barely form a proper sentence. "You're saying I-that you want me-Oh," She glanced back at the brothers and sisters worriedly, unsure of what to do. After a few seconds where she was able to wrap her brain around what just happened, she smiled at them gratefully, "Oh, thank you so much! I'll have faith, just like you told me too! Thank you! Thank you!"
Hughes quickly grabbed Sheska by her sweater collar and gave his adopted daughter a one-sided hug, before he started to drag Sheska out of the Library.
"Come on, now, right to work!" Hughes declared with a wide smile. He started to laugh, ecstatic.
Edward had to comment with a small grin, sending an awkward wave, "What is he, a kidnapper? That geezer...She might not be thanking us for long."
Isabella spoke with a sweat drop, stress lines forming on her face, "I'm not too sure if I should be worried..."
Elizabeth told her with a smile, "Ah, relax! He's only going to be working her to the bone!" She yelped when a fist connected with her head.
"That doesn't help, stupid."
"I'm sorry!"
Alphonse chuckled at the sight and watched as his brother rested his head on the desk. Edward had his pen dangling out of his mouth as he thought quietly for a few moments. Edward sighed.
"How did you put it again, Al? "I think dedication is a talent all on its own"?" He questioned, letting out a small yawn. He blinked, "Very smooth, little brother, very smooth."
If Alphonse had a body, he'd probably be smirking. Instead, he rested his helmet-chin on the palm of his glove, saying, "Well, it's something I always think whenever I see a certain someone I know."
Edward flicked his pen in the air and caught it, grinning. "In that case, a certain someone should hurry up and get back to work, or else you're gonna have to come up with a new motivational phrase!"
Isabella reached over and picked up a book from next to Elizabeth, who had sat back down on the floor. She opened it and flipped through a few pages, dryly commenting, "I can tell this is going to be easy." Her face had taken that of boredom, making it look like she was about to fall asleep.
Elizabeth burst out laughing, while Edward merely smirked. He said, "Well, it wouldn't be any fun if it was boring, would it? Now sit down and watch the master!"
"Sure, mind telling me where he is?" A weight fell and dropped on top of Ed's head, causing his to cry out in protest at the fact that he may have been forced down a foot in height. "Oh, right, it was Alphonse, wasn't it?"
He gave her a dark look and ordered, pointing at a stack of papers, "SHUT UP AND GET TO WORK ALREADY!"
She raised her hands in mock surrender, "Aye-Aye, your Majesty." Isabella faked a bow and whirled around, careful to not make a bad step and trip.
Three days.
It had taken them three more days to figure it out.
Isabella felt like she was going to throw up, while Elizabeth just looked sad.
"It's even worse reading it from the pages..." She commented quietly, dropping the packet. Edward, in a fit of rage, threw a few books and the packet that contained the answer across the room, causing a loud THUMP! to resonate.
"TO HELL WITH IT!"
Brosh and Ross opened the doors in alarm, only to find them all sitting on the floor surrounded by books and notes and papers. The room was a mess.
"What did you guys do to this place!?" Brosh demanded, shocked.
Ross began, "Don't get angry just because you can't crack it-" Isabella cut her off, glaring at her darkly.
"Don't you dare finish that sentence. Don't. You. Dare." If she didn't know any better, Ross would've thought that was a twinge of fear she felt just then.
Alphonse spoke, "We did crack it..." His voice was quiet, "We cracked the code and encrypted the notes."
"Really, you did? But, that's a good thing, isn't it!?" Brosh was both excited and confused. They both jumped when Edward slammed his fist onto the ground, cursing loudly.
"There's nothing good about this, damn it! This is the Devil's Research; it should've been destroyed." Edward placed a hand against his face, "Doctor Marcoh was right...it's evil."
Brosh inquired, "What's so evil about it?"
"The main ingredient for a Philosopher Stone..." Edward began, sick to the stomach just thinking about it.
Elizabeth, who had known from the very beginning of what the main ingredient was, spoke for him. She looked at them with such a serious face, they knew she was not joking.
"-is Human life."
Edward continued, a hand over his mouth, "In order to manufacture even a single stone...it would require multiple Human sacrifices.
"How could the Military authorize research into something so horrible!?" Brosh demanded, alarmed and disgusted.
"I can't believe it...How awful." Ross said, horrified.
Edward sat up a little straighter, his bangs covering what it could of his eyes. "Do us a favor...Don't speak to anyone about this."
Brosh knelt down next to him and protested, "But, sir-!"
"Please. Just...pretend you never heard any of it."
"I brought you some steak...Gracia made a little too much food last night and suggested I bring some over." Isabella spoke, eyeing the brothers with a bored look.
"Thanks, but I'm not hungry..." Edward didn't even looked at her as he spoke, nor when she entered the room. "You can set it on the table over there."
Alphonse spoke, agreeing with the brunette, "Brother, you should eat breakfast. You have a living body that needs nutrition..."
"No thanks, I'm not hungry." Isabella felt her fingers twitch at Edward's words, the urge to hit him growing stronger by the second. She took a few steps into the room and set it on the coffee table next to the couch Edward was laying on and commented,
"You're an idiot."
He seemed to tense and turned his head to look at her. He had a deep frown on his face and he narrowed his eyes, demanding, "Who are you calling an idiot, idiot?"
"You." She replied bluntly, standing up as she crossed her arms. They were glaring down at each other again, and Alphonse could do nothing but watch and see where it would head.
"And how exactly am I an "idiot"?"
"By not taking care of yourself. If you aren't going to eat willingly, I will shove it down your throat myself." Edward looked a little surprised at that, only to harden his features as he sat up a little more.
"You wouldn't."
Her eyes narrowed darkly. "Don't make me come over there."
Alphonse tried to intervene, turning his head and lifting a hand up, "Guys, please don't fight-"
"As if you would!" Edward scoffed, accidentally cutting his brother off.
Okay...That's it. "I'm getting sick of your attitude, really quickly."
"What are you gonna do about it?" Edward challenged, propping himself up with his elbows. He raised an eyebrow, waiting to see what the girl would do. "Stand there and complain?"
She lunged at him so fast he almost didn't see her until he registered her left hand wrapped around his throat, the other on his jaw and forcing his mouth open. She was sitting on top of him. "Say, "ah", and I might let you feed yourself!" She released his neck and reached towards the coffee table, aiming for the fork to grab the stake to shove it down his throat, only to gasp when she was suddenly knocked off of him onto the floor, him on top of her with his hands pinning her wrists down.
"You call that an attack? Pathetic." She ground her teeth together and glared, before raising her right leg up and kneeing him in the stomach, flipping him over her and onto his back. She flinched and grunted when his head hit hers, and she quickly maneuvered on top of him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"I'm not calling it an attack, stupid, it's called "putting-you-out-of-your-misery"!"
Alphonse was about to intervene, as he had started to call out to them, but paused and pulled his hand back at the realization that Isabella might be trying to cheer them up in her own strange, odd, and violent little way.
"Putting me out of my misery!?" Edward laughed, only to cough as her grip around his neck tightened a little. It wasn't enough to choke him, but enough to hurt a bit. He quickly grabbed one of her wrist and her other shoulder, before flipping her so it was in reverse again. He grinned at her, triumphant, "You couldn't hurt a fly! You have no muscle!"
He pinned her by her wrists again. He was about to say something, but paused, realizing what Isabella had been trying to do. She remained glaring though, and Edward pulled himself off of her, speaking softly, "You know...We try so hard to grasp the truth, but it always slips away..." Her eyes widened in surprise. Edward layed down on his back and raised his automail hand to the ceiling, stretching out his fingers before clenching his fist and opening it, observing it. "And now that we have finally now caught it, it turns out the truth is too dangerous to hold."
She slowly stood and stuck her hands in her jacket pocket, taking a few steps back to the door.
"You know, I'm beginning to think this is God's special way of torturing people of have committed taboos." Edward covered his face with his hand, "I wonder...if it'll be like this all our lives?"
Isabella opened the door and closed it, leaving the room quietly. Nobody noticed her absence.
"You know, Al...There's been something I've been wanting to tell you for a while, but I guess I've just been too afraid to say it." Alphonse lifted his head and stared at his brother in confusion.
"What?"
"I-" He was interupted by the door slamming open and closed, Elizabeth running in with Isabella's hand clasped tightly in hers. Elizabeth was screaming as she released Isabella to lock the door and ran to hide behind the couch with Al,
"Help! Armstrong's sparklies of doom are out to get me!"
The brothers look confused and turned to Isabella for help, who had shrugged with a pale face and went to hide next to Alphonse as well.
They received their answer at the loud and obnoxious pounding on the door, and equally obnoxious voice answering, "Elric Brothers, I know you're in there! Open up! This is the Major!"
"What do we do!?" Alphonse asked his brother worriedly. Elizabeth screeched in a whisper,
"Don't answer it!"
Ed stood up and spoke, "We ignore him, that's what. The door's locked, so he can't get in-"
He was cut off by the door breaking down with the remnants of the door handle in Armstrong's hand.
"I know what it said, Edward Elric!" He spoke, his loud voice reverberating all across the room. He had tears streaming down his faces as sparkles surrounded him.
Edward, Alphonse, Elizabeth, and even Isabella screamed.
"HOW TRAGiC! To think that the legend of the Philosopher's Stone could be build on such a terrible secret!"
Isabella looked alarmed at the fact that his mouth was actually moving rather than being hidden by his mustache.
Edward moved over to Ross and Brosh, giving them a peeved look.
"We're really sorry!"
"It's hard to stay quiet when someone like him asks you!"
Elizabeth screamed at them, voice going incredibly, "That doesn't mean answer him!"
Brosh cried out, "I'm sorry but it was difficult!"
Armstrong placed a hand to his chin, still sparkling, "Imagine the Military being behind something like that! Often the truth is more cruel than we bargained for!"
"Hehe...Answers, answers, yet still so many questions..." Isabella froze at the familiar voice and looked around, only to see Elizabeth muttering to herself about "Truth" and "Riddles".
Was Truth speaking to her as well?
Edward's eyes widened. "The truth!" He gasped.
Alphonse was confused, "What is it, brother?"
"Do you remember what Dr. Marcoh said at the station? I didn't have a clue on what he was talking about then, but now..." Edward placed a hand to his chin, smirking. "It's the same as with alchemical notes...What you can see on the surface is only a portion of the truth. There's still more to find here. There has to be."
...
"Currently, there are four operational laboratories in Central that have connections to the government," Armstrong explained after laying a map of the city on the coffee table.
Isabella muttered thoughtfully, her arms crossed as she leaned back in a chair that she pulled from the kitchen, "It's always the government...isn't it?"
Armstrong continued, ignoring the girl's remark, "We can narrow it down even further. Marcoh worked in the third laboratory. We should start with that one, it's the most suspect." He leaned over and placed his finger on it, indicating its location on the map.
Edward frowned, thinking deeply with a hand to his chin, "Hm...Al and I have been to all the laboratories in the city. None were doing any remarkable research."
Elizabeth piped up, attempting to give a hint, "Only the working ones, right?" Edward cast her a confused glance before returning his gaze to the map, observing it intently before having his eyes widened.
He quickly placed an index finger on a closed down building, "Here. What's this building used for?" He questioned, looking up at Ross who was standing close to him.
"It was designed for the fifth laboratory," She explained. "but it isn't currently in use. The building isn't structurally sound, so it's been classified off-limits."
Isabella grinned, "Bingo~!" She said in a high sing-song voice. Edward nodded in agreement, to focused with his thoughts to realized who he agreed with.
"It's there," He told them, certain. Brosh looked over Ed's shoulder from behind the couch confused.
"Huh...? How can you be so sure that's it?" Edward pointed at the building next to the closed-off laboratory and explained simply,
"There's a prison right next door."
Isabella felt sick again, "And just what do you need for a stone?"
Brosh stood up and raised a hand to his mouth in thought, "You said it needed live humans..." He trailed off, the horrible realization hitting him. He looked slightly ill. Edward nodded and inhaled deeply.
He continued, "There'd be plenty of condemned criminals in the prison. Officially, they'd be recorded as executed."
Ross had covered her mouth with her hand, her face a little blue. "They're using the prisoners to make the stone?" She sounded like she was about to hurl.
Everyone looked at Edward and he raised his hands up in his defense, "Don't look at me like that! I don't like talking about this anymore than you."
Alphonse finally spoke from his spot next to Brosh, "Prisons from other jurisdictions could be used, too...I wonder if the government is involved?"
Isabella stated bluntly, "The government is always involved. Haven't you ever heard the song Superhero?" Everyone looked at her in confusion and Edward asked with a sweatdrop.
"Was there a point to that?"
Isabella made to continue, but Elizabeth beat her to it excitedly. She had clapped her hands together and looked like she was about to jump up-and-down, "I know that song! It was done by Vocaloid and the basis of it is; A boy tried to become a superhero, because he envied them so much, and wanted to bring good to the world, so he started helping out people in the neighborhood with their trash, and getting their cats out of the trees...stuff like that. Anyway, he started to stop robbers and stuff, too, and eventually, he learned that the real evil wasn't in the civilians, it was in the government! So he was all, "so what if a few lives are lost in the process" and started to kill the people who worked for the government in hopes that the world could become a better place-well, eventually people started to call him a murderer and stuff and he was sent to jail, and he remarked that he never saw a hero have an ending like that, and well, goes to prove how evil the government is and stuff...I guess..."
Elizabeth had started to grow awkward as everyone continued to stare at her, so she started to trail off.
Edward commented, "I guess I can see where you're getting at...Though what's "Vocaloid"?"
Isabella cut in, sitting up straight and saying loudly, "Ooookay! Can we get back to the topic, please? Wondering if the government is involved!?"
Ross spoke, a disgusted look on her features, "Why am I getting the feeling that we're getting involved in something really dangerous here?" She had stress lines forming on her face.
Alphonse exclaimed, raising his fists up as he ranted at them, "That's why we told you to act like you never heard anything!"
Isabella face-palmed and groaned, slouching back in her seat, "Can this day just be over with...?"
Armstrong was standing at the doorway now, the map rolled up and in his hands. He looked over his shoulder and said, "This has the potential of becoming a political nightmare before long. I'll look into what we talked about tonight. In the meantime, officers..." He turned around completely to address Ross and Brosh, "Speak of this to no one."
They saluted, "Sir!"
He looked at Edward, Alphonse, Isabella, and Elizabeth, and said, "And you four...behave yourselves!" They all jumped up, alarmed as they stared at Armstrong.
Elizabeth quickly took to hiding behind the couch. Anger marks formed on Armstrong's face as he glared at them, red lights forming in his eyes as he looked down at them.
"I know you children! You were thinking about sneaking into this building and looking around, weren't you!? ADMIT IT!"
They all stood up and raised their hands, shaking their heads in completely unison as they cried out,
"We weren't, we weren't, we promise!"
...
"Yeah, sure we weren't." Edward scoffed as he and his brother, along with Isabella, were running towards the fifth laboratory.
It was probably a good idea that Elizabeth decided to stay behind...After all, we DO need someone to cover for us. She thought, frowning. They stopped at a nearby wall and peered over to look at the entrance gate, where a sign that read "KEEP OUT" in big bold letters was hanging. In front of the gate was a MP, which stand for Military Police.
Edward commented quietly, "Hmm...A guard posted at an unused building. Interesting." They watched as the guard yawned and stretched, seemingly tired.
Al agreed with his brother, "That is suspicious."
"Nope, just a little crazy." Isabella told them, frowning. Edward sent her a look but said nothing, merely moving away and letting the two follow him.
"How do we get in?" Alphonse questioned curiously. Edward said thoughtfully,
"We could make our own entrance." Isabella snorted and Edward sent her a glare, on she sent right back.
Al pointed out, "They'd notice the light from the transmutic reaction." Isabella made a face.
Great. More things she didn't know how to do. Alchemy. You think she would due to the fact that she's seen the truth, but then again she never did try Alchemy herself. She doesn't even know how to fight properly.
And here she was getting herself into even more trouble, despite what had happened with Scar.
Edward looked up at the huge wall, that had barbed wire at the top, and said "Well, in that case..." Alphonse crouched down and had Edward stand on his hands, before exclaiming quietly,
"And...up!" And throwing Edward into the air. Isabella was surprised that he didn't hit the wall. She then made a face as she realized that she was actually glad that the blonde bimbo didn't get hurt. It's not like he's my friend...Why should I care? However, she remembered what she called them in her mind when they had faced off against Scar, how she wondered if she had the courage to face death countless number of times as she goes and travels with them, and to try and protect herself and the brothers, the people who she had called friends.
She'll deny it if outright asked, and maybe even deny it herself sometimes, but the Elric brothers-even that stupid blonde bimbo- were her friends.
Isabella stuck her hands in her hoodie pockets, only to blink in surprise at the feel of a hair-tie. Pulling it out, she stared at it for a few moments before deciding to put her hair up in a high-pony, figuring that if there was fight, she'd need to be able to see. She looked up in time to see a rope of barbed wire trail down the wall, and the girl became really glad that she was wearing her fingerless gloves again. Alphonse let her climb first, him following shortly behind, and she pushed herself up onto the rock wall.
"Grab on," Alphonse told her once Edward jumped off and landed on all fours. She looked down at the ground horrified, seeing how high they were, and let him carry her without protest. He quickly jumped off and landed with a loud THUD! his armor shaking a little before he composed himself and set Isabella on her feet, who had let out a sigh of relief.
"I hate heights..." She muttered softly, shaking her head. She looked up at Al and nodded, symbolizing her thanks, and chased after him as he followed his brother. They arrived to an entrance that was not only boarded shut, but had metal bars in front of it for back-up. "Someone's not taking any chances."
Edward nodded in agreement again. "No kidding." He then placed a hand to his chin again, looking around for an opening.
Isabella pointed upwards at hole that appeared to be a ventilation shaft that had the casing removed, leaving the opening wide open for critters and all sorts of things to crawl in, "Look up."
"Huh?" He did so, before grinning. He quickly had Al hoist him and Isabella up. He looked down at his brother, "Al, you need to wait here."
"You sure you two are going to be fine on your own?" He asked worriedly. Isabella bit back a grin. She quickly crawled in with Edward right behind her.
"Whether we're fine on our own or not isn't the issue," Edward told his younger brother. "You're too big to get through here."
As they crawled, Isabella could here a faint, "It's not like I asked to get this big" in a highly dejected voice. Speaking, she raised her voice, "You know, you could've been a bit nicer."
Edward made a face as they crawled, "Yeah, yeah, I wasn't being mean or anything. I was stating a fact. Now keep crawling..." After a few more minutes of crawling, he said, "Damn...It's even tighter in here than I thought." Isabella had to agree. It was getting even harder to move in the vent and-Please, tell me that wasn't a spider web...Calm down, calm down... She inhaled deeply and decided to listen to Edward talk, "I couldn't get through this far if I was regular-sized."
Same here...Hold on...No. NO! I AM NOT! I REFUSE!
"Luck I've got a small body..." There was a brief silence before Edward screamed, "OH NOOO! I JUST CALLED MYSELF A TINY LITTLE PIPSQUUEEEEEK!" In his anger, he kicked open a vent hatch and jumped down. Isabella scooted backwards, looking utterly horrified as a spider crawled beside her face on the vent wall, and quickly pushed whatever hesitation she had about jumping and lunged down onto the ground, crying out as she landed awkwardly and fell on her knees.
"What the hell was that?" Edward demanded, surprised. "You alright?" She huffed and pushed herself onto her feet, wincing a little as her knees now stung, and brushed her clothes off and rubbed her arms in paranoia of bugs.
"Yeah, yeah, fine..." She then snapped, "Unlike you, I don't jump from buildings twenty-four seven!" His worried look formed into that of annoyance.
"I don't jump from buildings twenty-four seven! What kind of person do you think I am?"
"I don't know; a blonde?" He sent Isabella a glare, who merely stared at him apathetically. He snapped,
"What's wrong with being a blonde!?"
Nothing. Unless you're Edward Elric. Deciding to mess with him a little bit more, Isabella replied, "Everything."
He growled at her angrily, before huffing and turning his back to her, observing the hallway. It was dark and cold, and even a little bit damp. Spiderwebs were everywhere, obviously from having not been taken care of as it was "shut-down". The only thing that allowed them to see was that face that, "There are lights on." He stated in surprise. He then stated in amusement, "Not currently in use". Just who are they trying to fool?"
"You?"
"Shut up!"
SO SORRY! LATE UPDATE, I KNOW, BUT I'VE BEEN SICK AND I GET EVEN MORE LAZIER THAN USUAL AND EVEN A LITTLE APATHETIC, SO I STOPPED CARING ABOUT MOST THINGS FOR A BIT AND ENDED UP PROCRASTINATING EVEN MORE THAN USUAL! Oh, question, what do you think of Isabella's relationship with Edward and Alphonse? And what about Elizabeth? I'm really wondering about her, because she needs to be in here for the sequel which will just basically be HER story rather than Isabella's.
READ AND REVIEW, please.
needless stuff that doesn't need to be read...
Just finished Blood of Olympus...I am officially a shipper of Solangelo now... :) THEY ARE JUST SO CUTE!
I can't wait until I get to the part with Ling in this story...Then it BEGINS. And, in case some of you are wondering, no this is not an EdxOC story of even an AlphosnexOC. This is an OCxLing story and a ONE-SIDED OCxEd. Ed has no feelings for anyone except Winry, who he WILL still end up with. That isn't changing. I just need a little heartbreak in here.