Chapter 8. Separations

For a moment the three teens went into panic. After Al had accidentally touched Helen there had been a red flash of light the moment the Stone inside him reacted, he flew backwards and ended up in the river.

"Ed." Winry said fearfully. "Hadn't you said Al couldn't get into the water?"

"Al!" Ed called, fearing the worse.

But right then, and to everyone's surprise Al emerged from the water, he was perfectly well, and seemed very happy at discovering he could float.

Eventually Itziar got into the water and helped him back out, seeing as how she was the only one of the group who could touch him without provoking a reaction like the one that had taken place just a moment before.

"I thought the blood-seal would destroy if you got wet…" Roy commented thoughtfully.

"Yeah…" Ed wasn't sure of anything anymore.

"It seems I won't have to worry about that any longer." Al said happily.

"Es porque él es ahora la Piedra (It's because he's now the Stone)." Itziar spoke in Spanish to prevent the other militaries from understanding what she was saying. "La energía de la Piedra lo protege de cosas que podrían dañarlo, lo mismo pasa conmigo (The energy of the Stone protects him of things that may hurt him, as it does with me)."

"Ya veo (I see)." Ed nodded thoughtfully.

"Debemos tener cuidado (We must be careful)." Helen joined the conversation, while still keeping an eye fixed on the militaries. "Aún y con lo que nos han dicho lo más recomendable sería que no se llegaran a enterar que Al e Itziar tienen la piedra, por seguridad (Even with what they've told us it would be best if they didn't find out Al and Itziar have the Stone, for safety)."

"Estoy de acuerdo (I agree)." Itziar agreed.

The boys just nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile Roy and his team had no idea what the teens were saying. Apparently it had been a good idea for the boys to have learnt another language, that way the teens were able to keep their conversations a secret, even when being right in front of the militaries.

.---.

Soon they all discovered that the surprises weren't over for the day. When they finally made it to the Rockbell house there seemed to be someone waiting for them, or at least for the Elric brothers. It was Hohenheim Elric, their father.

It was plain obvious just how ecstatic Al was to see his father again after so long, opposite to Ed who just plain ignored him.

Pinako convinced them all to stay for dinner, and for a moment Helen felt as if they had gone back to the old days. When she, Winry and Pinako would go into the kitchen together to make something for the boys; and she would have continued with that idea hadn't her eyes fallen upon her automail-hands right then.

Dinner passed with simple conversations that eventually changed into each of the people in the room narrating what they had lived the last months. Though a moment came when Hohenheim and Roy left that conversation and began talking on the porch, both seriously discussing about what they believed should be done.

That conversation however was interrupted when Al emerged from the house to talk with his father. Ed tried to get him back inside, but Al held onto his decision of staying with his father.

Ed was at the same time surprised and slightly hurt by his brother's words and actions as he saw him leaving behind their father.

"I can't believe it…" Ed murmured as he sat on the porch-steps.

"You can't blame Al for wanting to know him, Ed." Helen said softly, sitting next to him.

"What is there to know about him?" Ed asked bitterly. "He abandoned us less than two years after Al was born. He never got to see him talk, walk, learn alchemy. He was never really a father to him, nor to me. Yet it seems that the moment he arrives Al accepts him with open arms, it feels almost as if…"

"Mr. Hohenheim will never take your place in Al's heart, Ed." Helen seemed to be able to guess his thoughts, as always. "You'll always be Al's big brother, just as Mr. Hohenheim will always be his…your father."

"It seems you always know the right thing to say Helen." Ed smiled softly at her.

"I just say what I believe. In fact there's not much I can say about this situation, as I had never before met your father, but I don't think he's a bad person, maybe you should give him one more chance, even if just for Al's sake."

"Ok…I think I can do that."

Helen smiled at him.

And it was then that, unexpectedly, he hugged her, slightly laying his head on her shoulder.

Helen stiffened almost immediately, not because she didn't like it, but because she had never expected something like that from Ed.

"Don't move, at least not yet…" Ed whispered to her softly. "Let us stay like this, even if just for a moment…"

His voice was so soft, caring, almost pleading, there was no way Helen would have been able of telling him no.

.---.

Dawn was breaking, Hohenheim was taking the chance after seeing his son leave to get him some food and he was about to leave the place.

"You will leave again without even saying goodbye?" A female voice asked behind him.

Hohenheim turned around abruptly and almost as a reflex sent a wave of crystal spears against whoever had just spoken.

The person ended up being Itziar, yet she had no difficulty to use a bit of her telekinesis to deflect all the spears.

"What do you think you were doing sneaking on me like that girl?" Hohenheim asked in a frustrated tone. "I could have killed you!"

"Unlikely…" Itziar replied casually. "As you must have noticed already I'm not defenseless, mister. I can take care of myself."

"That I see." Hohenheim agreed. "And even if I can't see, I can feel there's something in you; something that makes you different from common human."

"I'm not a homunculus, if that's what you're implying." Itziar informed him. "But you're right in saying I'm different from a common human. Though I've already repeated the reasons for that too many times for my liking so lets just say that whatever I may be I will always work for the better good."

"Such a young girl, speaking such words… Yet I don't doubt them, I see you're mature and wise beyond your years, just like my sons and that friend of theirs…Miss Calher."

"Helen has been through a lot, many of those things she went through them along with your sons, which is why they're so good friends. My name, in case you're wondering, is Itziar, and even if I haven't known Helen and your sons for as long as they've known each other, I still have known them long enough, and believe me, I have been through enough as well to know what I'm talking about."

"I have no doubt of your words young miss. Yet I certainly doubt you came all the way here to say only that."

"Right you are; though I didn't come to say that much either. I really was only wondering if you were planning on leaving Rizenbul again without even a goodbye note to Ed and Al."

"It matters not. In the end it'll mean the same to them."

"That's were you're wrong Mr. Elric. Ed doesn't hate you as much as he wants everyone to believe, as it seems he's managed to make you think. He's just afraid to love you; 'cause only when we love someone we get the fear of losing them. He fears if he lets himself love you and you leave him again, then it'll hurt him even more than the first time." She sighed. "Helen, Ed. Al and I, we may all talk and act like adults, but deep down we're still children; no matter how much we might have changed on the outside throughout the years, we're still the same."

Hohenheim remained in silence for some long minutes, as if analyzing Itziar's words, until he finally made a decision.

.---.

Sciezka stepped into the dinning room to pass on the message that dinner was ready, but got momentarily sidetracked by the sight that greeted her: Helen was sitting on top of the table, Ed on an armrest of the sofa, Al stood against a nearby wall, while Itziar remained in the middle of the room; they seemed to be discussing something important.

"You've got to give him a chance Edward." Itziar said right then.

"A chance, how can I give him a chance when he's not even here for more than 24 hrs?" Ed asked sarcastically.

"Ed, maybe you should listen to Itziar before you jump to conclusions." Helen suggested.

"Now you're getting on his side too." Ed complained.

"This isn't about taking sides." Helen replied tiredly. "And in case you're wondering, I'm not in his side…and I'm not in yours either. I just think you should get all the facts before you can decide whether you want to give your father a chance or just hate him forever."

"Please brother…" Al murmured pleadingly.

"Fine." Ed finally complied. "What is it you wanted to tell us?"

"I believe he would have written it, but he believed there was no time, and trusted me enough to tell everything to you." Itziar explained. "It's true Mr. Elric left early this morning without even saying goodbye, this is because he's the kind of person that doesn't like farewells, he's the kind of person that doesn't like being overly sentimental. Yet you must never doubt he loves you, both of you, Edward, Alphonse. He believes he may have an idea on who the responsible for all the chaos we're living is…"

"Then why didn't he tell us?!" Ed demanded to know.

"Because he doesn't want you to risk your lives!" Itziar replied. "He didn't get to tell me who this person is, or even if he's a man or a woman; but I believe it is a very powerful alchemist. He doesn't want his sons to try and defeat him and end up hurt, or even dead. A father never wants his children to be in danger, so I think in that point I understand him. I think it's likely he'll try to defeat this alchemist himself, he'll try to ensure your safety."

"But if he does that…" Al said doubtfully. "Doesn't that mean he might be…killed?"

Even Ed reacted at those words, wanting to know the answer.

"I don't know Al, I just don't know." Itziar admitted.

Silence reigned for some seconds.

"But we can't just stay here and do nothing…" Helen murmured.

"And we won't." Ed assured confidently. "Even if it weren't because one of those homunculi is our responsibility, they know Al is now the Philosopher's Stone; I'm not sure if they know about Itziar too. We must defeat them to be sure we'll all be safe again."

"Then that decides it." Helen said satisfied. "Vamos a patear traseros!"

They all laughed at her expression.

Sciezka said nothing to them at all, just seeing the way they talked and acted had been too much of a shock to her.

.---.

They still had to stay in Rizenbul for about a week before they could put their plan into action. After some more discussing they had decided Itziar would remain there, it would be just too dangerous if they were to be attacked for both she and Al to be caught together. Besides, that way she would get a chance to improve her shooting skills, which she had been taught by Riza in those days, though Itziar used small daggers instead of guns; they all believed it would be good for her to have a secondary way to fight. Besides, as no one from the militia except Roy and his team knew who Itziar was, there was no danger for her, at least not yet.

So Edward, Helen and Al got on a train to Dublith, all three under disguise: Al inside a bronze statue, Ed with his hair dyed a dark green and a cark coat, Helen with her hair dyed in a lighter tone of green and wearing a blue dress; they were both using platform shoes, and in Helen's case high-heels too to look considerably taller.

The plan seemed to be working just fine until, right as they arrived to their destination, a group of soldiers got on the train to check everyone. Helen and Ed passed unnoticed thanks to their radical change, but the bronze statue didn't.

When noticing their cover was about to be blown up Helen and Ed took some very drastic measures: they used alchemy to get Al back out and then, taking off their shoes they began running to get away as fast as possible.

But even then, they weren't fast enough, and the soldiers were just too many.

To the brothers' surprise Helen abruptly stopped running and turned to face their pursuers.

"Helen!" Ed called in despair, he didn't want to accept it but he knew exactly what she was planning on doing.

"¡Corran (Run)!" Helen yelled at them in Spanish. "Yo estaré bien, los entretendré para que ustedes puedan escapar (I'll be fine, I'll entertain them so you can escape). ¡Corran y no miren atrás (Run and don't look behind)!"

"Helen!" Ed cried out again, not wanting to leave her behind.

"Come on Ed." Al told his brother. "You know how powerful Helen is. She'll be alright. We have to run now."

Finally Ed began running once more, behind Al; taking just one last look as the first soldier got to Helen and tried to submit her.

Helen used her alchemy, mixing threads, throwing needles, and her usual 'nails' to keep the soldiers at bay and busy, never letting them go after the brothers. She knew that she would eventually run out of energy, and then the soldiers would capture her.

'But as long as those two are safe, it'll be worth it.' She thought to herself.

.---.

Colonel Roy Mustang almost couldn't hide his surprise when he saw some soldiers escort a handcuffed Helen into the room were a military-council was taking place. However, even though her situation wasn't the best, she seemed pretty calm.

"So, this is Miss Helen Calher?" The Fuhrer inquired, though he already knew the answer. "The Weaver Alchemist…Welcome back. I'm glad to see you."

"To bad I can't say the same…sir." Helen purposefully talked that way.

"How rude…" One of the men commented.

"You will respect the Great General!" A man yelled backhanding her.

The blow was so heard it sent Helen straight to the ground, and left her with a bruised cheek. Yet she didn't retort, she just got back on her feet silently.

"You seem pretty calm despite the tight spot you've gotten yourself into miss." The Fuhrer commented. "May I remind you that your life is in our hands right now?"

"You may kill me in this very moment, but there's no way you'll keep the whole world from finding out the truth sooner or later, General." Helen stated confidently.

"Of what truth are you talking about?" Another of the men asked her.

"That everything that has happened from the Ishbalan War up to the rebellion in Lior has been caused by the militia itself, so they would have an excuse to keep the power they've grown so accustomed to." Helen hissed.

Those words earned her another hard slap and also once again she said nothing at it, she just straightened up once more, as if silently telling everyone she wouldn't be intimidated by them or their antics.

"What do you know about these accusations, Colonel Mustang?" The Fuhrer asked.

Now, that was something Helen hadn't been expecting; she certainly hadn't wanted to get her superior in trouble.

"I believe, sir." Roy chose his words carefully. "Our interventions in certain…situations might have been disproportionate; making the people turn against us."

"So that's what you think Colonel?" The Fuhrer's question was obviously a rhetorical one.

"Yes sir." Roy nodded. "I have reason to believe that your secretary, Miss Douglas, has been involved in some of these 'situations'. There are some 'unusual' things in her file I think must be revised, for our and the whole country's safety."

"Sure, sure." The Fuhrer nodded dismissively.

.---.

After some more minutes and hypocrite words the meeting was adjourned. Roy was told he and Mayor Armstrong would be put in charge of a team to search for the Elric brothers in the north, while he would see personally about his secretary. Both Roy and Helen knew that was a lie but said nothing about it.

Roy was told to get Helen to some soldiers that were waiting at the gates, they would take the Weaver Alchemist to a place where she would be put under confinement and questioned about the Elric's whereabouts.

"Don't worry about me, Colonel." Helen told Roy as he guided her to the gate. "You've got enough problems on your own. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself just fine."

"You better." Roy replied in a low tone. "Ed and Al will need your help before the end. Just let them know I'll handle the situation here, the rest will be up to you."

Helen understood what he was implying: he would take care of the Fuhrer himself. That was risky, but Helen wasn't about to oppose him.

"Alright Colonel." Helen nodded as they got to the gate. "Good luck."

.---.

Some hours later the soldiers handed Helen to the Fuhrer's secretary, which Helen soon knew was something bad in itself as she couldn't use alchemy to defend herself while having both of her hands bound. However the girl wasn't expecting what she found after being lead down at least a hundred of stairs and into what looked like a very old-fashioned dance room.

On the sides of the room remained kneeling four certain beings she could easily identify as Lust, Gluttony, Wrath and Envy. And in the middle of them stood who she could deduce must be their controller…

"It can't be…" Helen gasped in deep shock. "Lyla!"


And another cliffhanger! (How I like doing those...) I know you people may hate me for doing this. But this chapter had to end somewhere. And I thought this was as good place as any. Hope you won't be too mad and decide to leave reviews (remember, that helps me update faster). Having said that. See ya!