Chapter 7- Transmutation
"Are you sure you want to do this, any of this, Irma?" I sighed, "For the 713th time, yes. I'm sure I want to perform the transmutation, yes I want to do it before we head to Central, and yes I'm going to take the State Alchemist exam when we get there. And Ed, don't give me crap about doing what you did at fourteen." Ed huffed and Al giggled. By now we were in an empty clearing miles into the forest and well away from civilians, the perfect place to do a human transmutation.
About an hour later the circle was drawn and the materials for a human transmutation were laid out. "Step back boys, I'm going to start." The brothers hurriedly took several steps back, watching their sister closely as she began.
The transmutation was simple, which, considering what it does, is kind of scary. I simply closed my eyes and placed my hands on the circle. When I looked up I was in a blank white room with a large door, gate, on one end. I walked towards it, reaching out to touch it almost as if I was in a trance. "I wouldn't do that if I were you, Girly," and echoing voice commented. I tilted my head, looking at the figure that had appeared out of the corner of my eye. "So," I stated softly, "you are Truth. Do you know why I've come?" The creature's maniac grin only widened. "I wish to exchange the Stone in my body for my brother's alchemy gate. It seems fair to me, but by being here I have entered the domain of God. You may take anything of your own choosing for that offence." I stopped speaking to take a breath, "Well Truth, do we have a deal?" The grin only widened more, if that was even possible (as the psycho grin had already been stretching from ear to ear), and it finally replied, "Oh yes, little homunculus, we have a deal." With his words as the key, the gate opened. Black hands reached out and pulled me inside. I didn't fight it, just let my eyes fall to half-mast and absorbed the knowledge around me the best I could. Nothing could have prepared me for the pain.
"-ma. Irma. Irma. Come on, Irma, wake up." I groaned, striking out at the annoying voice that woke me from the dark abyss of sleep. "Owch! Irma, was that really necessary?" Ed whined. "Yes, live with it Shorty," I muttered, nearly back to sleep already. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING A FLEA SIZED MIDGET THAT YOU CAN STOMP OUT OF EXISTENCE!" Ed roared. A rock that had been near my hand smacked him in the head at the same time as one of Winry wrenches. Now mostly awake, due to Ed's insistent screaming, I processed what he'd said and quickly formed a response, "I didn't say anything, but I'm left wondering just how your mind works, to be able to insult yourself so easily." There was a split second of silence before my words to effect. Alphonce was the first to crack, snorting into his hands to muffle or disguise the sound. Then Winry, who started giggling uncontrollably. And finally Ed, who let out a rather embarrassing, for him, squeal of "Whaaaa-" before screaming at me. Not sure what he said, I was too busy watching his face turn different colors.
"Okay people, let's get a grip," I eventually gasped out, having fallen into my own bout of laughter when Edward's face had turned and interesting shade of prune. Ed grumbled but didn't respond. Al nodded, turning away for a second before lowering his hand and Winry took a moment to catch her breath. "So, did it work?" Alphonce asked. "No idea, Ed's going to have to try and transmute to find out. But more importantly, when exactly Winry show up?" Winry snorted, "About the time that the idiots started to freak out and scream because you started having a seizure." I nodded, "So about fifteen minutes in." "Yeah, how'd you know?" "Because I that's when I felt the most pain. I was awake for maybe a second and got a pretty good look at the sun's position." I replied. Al got us back on track, "Ed, can you transmute?" With a gulp and a reluctantly hopeful look in his eyes, Ed clapped his hands and placed them on the ground.
"What-" I coughed, "exactly were you trying to make?" In front of me was a large, misshapen blob of something. It looked like what a small child might have made out of clay, then throw down in a fit of somesort. In other words; weird and awkward. Ed rubbed the back of his neck sheepishly, "I'm not really sure, I didn't think it would actually work." I sighed, then reached out and smacked him. "You, Edward Elric, are a complete and utter idiot."
Okay, I have two more chapters planned, then it's the sequel. Next up, I'm making Irma into and alchemist. Yay! I'm also reinstating Ed as Fullmetal, and maybe putting Al in the exam too. He does have a body now...
