I have returned with…wait for it…yet another chapter! I honestly can't thank you all enough for your response to this fic! It means the world to me. I've had so much fun writing it so far, and it's so encouraging to know you all have been enjoying it! Anyway, let's continue with this (not so) little tale!
I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist.
Maes dropped his suitcase and plopped down on the bed the second he and Hohenheim entered their room. The man had been right. The two reached a small town just as the sun started setting. He couldn't help but be amused when the innkeeper was surprised to see he had two guests.
"It's been a while since we've had any visitors to our humble town! What brings you two by?"
Maes wasn't even aware towns this small even existed. The inn—if this could even be classified as such—only had a couple of rooms, the only other occupied room belonging to the innkeeper himself.
He sighed and let his eyes droop shut, his limbs weighed down from the exhaustion of the day's travels. He heard the other bed in the room creak. Only a moment passed before his eyes shot back open and he bolted upright, ignoring his sore body's protests.
"So where do we start?" he asked.
Much to his surprise, Hohenheim chuckled. The man hadn't said much aside from their conversation earlier that morning. He certainly didn't expect to elicit a laugh out of him. Hohenheim set down his suitcase and began rummaging through its contents.
"If you want to get some rest first, we could start—"
"No."
Hohenheim turned to look at the former military officer with eyebrows raised; however, he didn't dare question his new companion.
"All right," he said, pulling out a notebook.
He handed it to Maes, who instantly flipped open the cover. His eyebrows shot up when he saw the contents inside. He thumbed through the pages of the notebook only to find similar entries. He turned back to the first page.
Wood: 50% carbon, 42% oxygen, 6% hydrogen, 1% nitrogen, 1% other elements
Wrought Iron: 99.53% iron, 0.07% carbon, 0.04% sulfur, 0.14% silicon, 0.08% phosphorous, 0.14% manganese
"You said your friend was an alchemist, so I'm assuming you've at least heard the concept of equivalent exchange?" Maes nodded. "Are you familiar with the two laws this concept must follow?"
"The Law of Conservation of Mass," the former Lieutenant Colonel began, "says that energy and mass can neither be created nor destroyed. Deconstructing an object will result in parts that still equal the mass of the original object. The Law of Natural Providence says that an object can only be transmuted into another object with the same basic makeup and properties."
Maes' eyes widened.
How the hell did I know that?
He thought back to banging on Roy's door during their academy days, refusing to leave until he at least seen his friend. He thought back to all the times he and Roy sat in the same room, him trying to study for their exams while Roy was buried in his alchemy books. He grinned when he remembered Roy trying to teach him whatever he'd learned those days.
Maybe I picked up on more than I thought I did.
Hohenheim sat down on the bed opposite of him, leaning forward to rest his elbows on his legs. His shoulders sagged and his face softened a bit.
He's probably relieved he doesn't have to start at square one. I can't say I blame him.
"You're right. To perform a successful transmutation, you have to understand the components of what you're transmuting, and I can't stress that enough. Attempting to reconstruct an object with elements that aren't originally present bypasses the concept of equivalent exchange and will result in a rebound."
"That doesn't just apply to human transmutation?" Maes blurted out.
He nearly covered his mouth, but it was too late and wouldn't have done him any good.
He just found out his sons committed the taboo a few days ago. He hasn't even seen the consequences of their actions. I shouldn't have said anything.
Hohenheim tensed, but answered him after taking a deep breath.
"A rebound can occur after any transmutation, albeit the consequences aren't usually as permanent as they are for human transmutation. When you try to create more out of what you're given, you unbalance the alchemical forces and can no longer control them." He nodded toward the notebook in Maes' hands. "I've compiled a list of common materials and their compositions. I'm not going to show you how to even draw a circle until you've studied that list."
Maes tightened his grip around the notebook. It seemed so mundane, but he understood Hohenheim's concerns. He nodded and positioned himself against the headboard, drawing his knees up toward his chest and resting the notebook on his legs. He opened the book back to the first page.
Wood: 50% carbon, 42% oxygen, 6% hydrogen, 1% nitrogen, 1% other elements
Wrought Iron: 99.53% iron, 0.07% carbon, 0.04% sulfur, 0.14% silicon, 0.08% phosphorous, 0.14% manganese
Low Carbon Steel: 99.55% iron, 0.05% carbon, 0.4% manganese
*the next morning*
"Maes, you need to get up."
The former Lieutenant Colonel instantly opened his eyes only to have his sight blocked by the notebook resting on his face. He blinked before removing it and sitting up. He took his glasses off and rubbed his eyes, trying to remember when he'd fallen asleep. Looking out the window, he could see the first rays of the sunrise shining cutting through the dark sky.
It's still so early. Hohenheim certainly doesn't waste any time.
"You have time to shower if you want," the man said, bringing Maes out of his thoughts. "There's an extra towel in the bathroom. I'd make it quick, though. We have another long day ahead of us."
Maes looked at his companion, noticing the man had already dressed in a different set of clothes than the previous day and his long hair was down and dripping wet. Not knowing when the two would have another chance to stay at an inn, he grabbed a new shirt and pair of pants and made his way to the bathroom.
Much to his surprise, the water wasn't ice cold when he turned on the shower. It didn't warm up near like it did in his family's apartment back in Central, but it was still warm enough that he sighed in relief as the water cascaded over his aching muscles. He would have stayed there all day if he had the time, but he and Hohenheim didn't have that luxury. He quickly cleaned up and got dressed for the day.
Exiting the bathroom, he saw Hohenheim throw on his long coat before tying his hair back. He silently made his way back to his bed. He grabbed the notebook and turned to give it back to its original owner when he caught a glimpse of the contents scattered across the man's bed.
Hohenheim paid him no mind as he folded his clothing and packed it back in the suitcase, only to be crumpled by the surplus of books and notebooks he then stacked on top of them. His brow furrowed when he saw the condition of the notebooks as his companion packed them away. The covers were worn and even cracked in some cases. A couple even had a portion of the cover torn off, revealing the stained pages within.
Maes looked down at the notebook in his own hands. The cover wasn't worn or cracked. Flipping through the notebook again, he saw none of the pages were stained or torn. The notebook he had looked brand new by comparison.
"You can keep that with you, for now," Hohenheim said, causing Maes to look up at his companion.
"Thank you," he mumbled, putting it in his own suitcase before clasping it shut.
The two dropped the key to their room off with the innkeeper who gave them a jolly farewell before they left the inn. Despite being so early in the day, the small town was already buzzing with life. Maes watched as a few men headed out to the massive field on the outskirts of the town.
"I bet you can't catch me!"
He had to step to the side before being bowled over by a young boy running at him with another right on his heels. Much like Resembool, they were greeted with a smile and wave by everyone they came across. A part of him wished they could stay for little longer.
But we don't have that kind of time.
"Excuse me?"
The two travelers stopped and turned around. A girl that couldn't have been older than seven-years-old with short black hair stood behind them. She held a small basket in her arms filled to the brim with apples.
"Would either of you like to buy an apple? They're only ten cenz!"
Out of the corner of his eye, Maes could see Hohenheim's lips quirked upward, and he was certain his own mirrored his companion's. He dug around his pocket for a couple of coins and knelt down.
"I'll take a couple," he said as he extended the coins out to the young girl.
A radiant smile flashed across her face and she handed Maes two apples.
"Thank you so much, sir!"
Before he could say anything, she ran off. He straightened back up and held out one of the apples to Hohenheim. The man looked hesitant to take it, but his stomach growled and he took it.
"Did she look like your daughter?" the man asked before taking a bite of the apple.
Maes' heart dropped, but he forced the grin to remain on his face and shook his head.
"My daughter just turned three a few weeks ago. She's got light brown hair, just like her mom." He rubbed the back of his neck. "I've just always had a soft spot for kids, I guess."
I will see Elicia again. I can't forget that.
The two left the small town and continued south. They'd hardly even begun their day's journey and Maes' earlier observation wouldn't stop nagging at him.
Hohenheim's been practicing alchemy for several years. The notebook he gave me couldn't be more than a few years old. That aside, I've never seen Edward or Alphonse with something like that. I assumed after studying alchemy for a while, understanding materials and their compositions would be second nature.
"What made you start the notebook you gave me last night?"
The words were out of his mouth before he could even attempt to stop himself, his curiosity getting the better of him. He could see Hohenheim's body tense, but his face maintained its usual impassiveness.
"Edward and Alphonse."
Maes stopped in his tracks. Hohenheim kept going and didn't even bother looking back. He shook his head and had to jog to catch back up. He opened his mouth, but honestly didn't even know where to begin.
"Last I saw Ed, he was only five-years-old," Hohenheim started, causing the younger man to clamp his mouth shut. "Even then, I knew he was a smart kid. I'd already caught him sneaking into my library and looking at my books when he thought I wasn't around to notice. I knew Al would probably follow suit when he was able. I had a feeling the two would be interested in alchemy, so I created the notebook for them to reference while they first started." He bowed his head slightly and his shoulders sagged, but he kept going. "Those two might not have needed it, but that doesn't mean it was a waste of my time. I suppose anyone else that's new to alchemy could find a use for it."
There was a brief moment of silence.
"I see," Maes muttered.
He intended to help Ed and Al learn alchemy. He truly intended to come back. How the hell did he not realize he'd been gone for ten years?
"I'm afraid there's not another town before our destination. If we keep up our current pace, we should be there by tomorrow afternoon, even if we stop for the night."
Obviously no longer wanting to discuss his sons, Maes didn't pester him anymore on the subject.
"Would you mind telling me what we're doing when we get there?"
Hohenheim glanced over his shoulder. The former military officer automatically followed his gaze. The small town was no longer in sight. He completely turned around, not realizing how far they had already gone.
There was nothing.
His heart pounded in his chest. There were no trees. There weren't even any hills, at least as far as he could see. There was no place to hide.
We're just sitting ducks out in the open….
…and yet nothing happened.
The two may have been out in the open, but it seemed as though they were truly alone.
Hohenheim reached into his pocket and took out a folded piece of paper. Wordlessly, he handed it to Maes who opened it up instantly. His eyes widened as he took in the contents of the paper.
He was staring at a map of Amestris. Similar to the map he drew on that fateful night only a week previously, there was a transmutation circle. He'd seen them before; however, despite his best friend being an alchemist, he'd never seen a circle with such an intricate design. What really caught his eye was a smaller circle drawn on the southern border of Amestris, exactly where they were heading.
"The man behind the nation-wide transmutation circle calls himself 'Father.'" Maes looked up at his companion. Much like he'd seen in Ed, fire raged in the man's golden eyes. "His only goal is to evolve into—what he considers to be—the 'perfect being.' He's willing to sacrifice the entire country to achieve his goal. With Fuhrer Bradley in charge of the Amestrian military, nothing can stop Father from completing the circle. In an ideal situation, he won't be able to activate it, but we can't depend on that and have to move forward under the assumption that he will."
Maes blinked and turned back to the map in his hands.
"So…all of those people…."
Gracia…Elicia…Roy…Edward…Alphonse….
They're all going to be sacrificed?
"Initially, yes. Father will absorb every soul in Amestris, but this circle will counter that. Every single soul will be expelled and returned to its original body in the event Father can't be stopped."
Maes handed the map back to Hohenheim before taking off his glasses and rubbing his eyes. He heard an amused huff coming from his companion.
"I understand this has to be a lot to take in."
"It is," Maes responded with a grim smile, "but I don't exactly have time to question it, do I?"
Hohenheim chuckled at that, carefully folding the map back up and tucking it into his coat pocket. The two continued walking, neither showing any sign of slowing down anytime soon.
*break*
"How do you know Father?"
Hohenheim choked on his water at the sudden question. Maes had been silent since they stopped to rest for the night, instantly grabbing the notebook from his suitcase to use what little sunlight they had left to study. Now, the younger man sprawled out on the ground with his hands folded behind his head.
"You know his ultimate goals and plans, so how do you knowhim?"
Hohenheim followed Maes' lead and laid down on the ground. He couldn't get himself to look anywhere but the sky and he took a deep breath.
"He's the one who first taught me alchemy."
He could feel his companion's eyes on him, but he remained silent. He couldn't help but be grateful that Maes knew when he didn't want to answer more questions. The two would be spending a lot of time together over the next few months, and Maes understood that.
He knew he'd probably be answering all of his questions at one point or another.
*break*
"What's the composition of cotton?"
Maes smirked.
"Fifty percent oxygen, forty-four percent carbon, and six percent hydrogen."
He'd actually woken up before Hohenheim that morning. The second it was light enough, he took out the notebook and continued studying. Nothing could stop the pride welling in his chest when he noticed the man's pleased expression. It was the fourth question he'd answered correctly, after all.
"You're picking up fast. I might be teaching you how to draw a circle when we get back to the inn tomorrow night."
Maes' smirk turned into a grin at the comment. The two continued walking up the only hills they'd seen since they left the inn. The grass was slowly fading into mere patches as they climbed further to the top. It had been a welcome sight compared to the flat land that surrounded them for the last twenty-four hours, but nothing could have prepared Maes for the moment they reached the top.
His jaw dropped when he stared at the vast desert before his eyes. There was nothing but sand as far as he could see. It was so empty, yet so beautiful. Ishval was the closest he'd ever come to seeing the desert along the eastern border of the country, and he didn't exactly have time to appreciate the view when he was fighting a war.
Our own military orchestrated the Eastern Rebellion…all of those lives lost just to create a transmutation circle….
He winced at the thought, but then shook his head. He couldn't think about that when the entire country's population was at stake. He looked to Hohenheim. His brow furrowed when the man set his suitcase down and he started unbuttoning his shirt.
"Anna was a teacher," Hohenheim said, as if that explained everything. "As a young girl, she taught her younger sisters how to read and write, even though her own mother didn't approve. She loved to learn and wanted to teach everything she learned to those around her. Micah was an artist. His nightmares would haunt him even into the day unless he unleashed them onto his canvases. In some strange way, he believed painting helped him keep them away."
Has Hohenheim lost his mind? Who is he talking about?
"Daniel was considered a thief by his father, but he was proud of it. His father was wealthy and always had more than he needed. Daniel would steal extra food and clothing his family didn't need and give it to those who did. He didn't stop even when his father discovered what he was doing and beat him for it."
Maes' eyes widened when Hohenheim dug his fingers into his chest until he drew blood. Massive droplets splattered across the ground.
"Thank you for your sacrifice," Hohenheim sighed.
Maes stared at his companion, completely dumbfounded.
"Why would you do—"
He was cut off by a red flash on Hohenheim's chest. The flesh around the gaping wounds morphed together and the wounds closed instantly.
The man healed my gunshot wound. He just healed his own chest. There was only that red flash. No circle. No signs of a transmutation.
"Who the hell are you?"
Hohenheim couldn't help but smirk.
"I'm a philosopher stone."
Well, there's chapter seven! I do sincerely apologize for the delay on this update. I'm currently working on the next chapter and will update as soon as I can! Until then!
