Author Note: Just so you know in future chapters I am going to have Sam addressed as a guy, like he thought or he did this or that, unless Sam is alone then it is Sarah. I'm doing this because no one else knows that Sam is actually a girl. Okay.
Disclaimer: FMA and its characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa except Sam and Sarah which are proudly mine.
Chapter 9: The Trip
"Edward Elric! How dare you leave the hotel when I specifically told you not to?" Major Armstrong said angrily looming over Edward who had been caught trying to sneak back into the hotel room.
"I had to see someone before we left and I didn't want you tagging along." Edward said trying to seem as if he wasn't intimidated by Armstrong's stature. Armstrong just loomed over him further making Edward feel smaller. "It's time to go anyway so let's just go." Edward said quickly grabbing his suitcase. He headed to the door waiting long enough for Armstrong to grab his own suitcase and Alphonse before leaving the room. At the train station Edward tried to look around for Sarah without being too obvious. He saw her and she waved at him. Edward could feel the major glaring at his back as he approached her.
"I see you made it." He said to her trying to ignore the feel of the major's glare intensifying.
"Edward Elric what is the meaning of this?" The major asked as he placed down Alphonse who had been placed inside a crate. Edward looked sheepishly at the major unsure how to explain.
"I had always wanted to see Resembool and Edward was kind enough to let me travel with him." Sarah said seeing Edward struggle.
"Yeah... Major this is Sarah, Sarah this is-"
"Major Armstrong." Sarah said surprising the three.
"How-" Edward went to ask.
"I remember him from Ishval." Sarah said. Armstrong tensed at the mention of Ishval no doubt remembering the war and his part in it. "Clearly you don't remember me but that's okay." An image of a dirty, blood soaked girl with dead haunted eyes popped into the major's head. He compared it to the girl in front of him. The physical characteristics were the same but what he saw in her eyes was completely different; Her eyes that were once dead were now full of life.
"I do remember you…. you were the only civilian there that wasn't an Ishvalan." The major said. Sarah smiled.
"Yeah…you saved me and I never thanked you properly…so thank you." Sarah said with a grateful smile holding her hand out to him. The major shook her hand glad that she was doing well. Edward watched the exchange wondering exactly what had happened between the two in the past. Sarah released the major's hand and looked down at the crate by his feet. She gasped when she saw Alphonse's armor. "What happened to Alphonse's armor?" She cried out as she kneeled in front of the crate.
"Well you see…" Armstrong started but was unsure how to explain what happened without mentioning that Alphonse was just a soul.
"It's okay Major…" Edward said drawing his attention. "She knows."
"She knows!" Alphonse and the major said in unison finding it hard to believe that Edward told her about that. What kind of relationship do they have? The two wondered.
"Let me guess…" Sarah said drawing their attention back to her. "The man who destroyed your arm also did this to Al too?" Sarah asked looking at Ed who nodded. "Geez… this guy's pretty dangerous."
"All aboard!" The conductor suddenly yelled cutting the conversation short. They got on the train with Edward, Sarah and the major in the passenger car and with poor Alphonse in the cargo hold. The major decided that was best because it would cost less. Edward and Sarah shared a seat while the major sat in the one across from them. The ride was very pleasant. The three talked and ate some of the snacks that Sarah brought with her.
It was when the train stopped at a station not far from Resembool that their journey took an unexpected turn. Armstrong suddenly put his head out the window calling to a man that had just got of the train. The man heard him and turned. Once he saw whom it was he ran away in fear. Edward asked Armstrong who the man was. The major told him that was Tim Marcoh, the Crystal Alchemist. Marcoh was one of the state alchemists sent to Ishval. He was researching biological alchemy there when he fled, taking his research with him. Edward's face became serious and contemplative as he mulled over what the major just told him.
"Let's get off! He might know something that can help Al and me." Ed turned to apologize to Sarah about the sudden detour but saw that she was already making her way to the exit.
"Well come on! What are you waiting for?" She called over her shoulder. Ed stared after her in surprise a moment then smiled fondly. Him and the major quickly followed. They got Alphonse and entered the town hoping to find Marcoh. They found out by asking the townspeople that Marcoh had been living here under the name Mauro. He was the town's doctor and he healed them with the use of alchemy. They found the building that Marcoh was staying in. They stood outside the door waiting as Edward knocked on the door. When no answer came he went to reach for the doorknob but Sarah beat him to it. She opened the door and was met with the barrel of a gun in her face. Edward pulled her away into his chest just as the trigger was pulled. Marcoh kept his gun aimed at the group even as Armstrong tried to calm him down. Edward just stood to the side holding Sarah to his chest too consumed by fear to even think of letting go. That one-second in which her life had been in danger Edward's blood had run cold and his heart had stopped. He was glad that his reflexes were fast enough to pull her away in time. If she had been shot…he would have…honestly he wasn't sure what he'd do. None of them noticed that Sarah didn't even flinch when the gun was pointed at her. She sensed that Marcoh was waiting on the other side of the door and that he was armed and ready.
The major eventually calmed Marcoh down by throwing Alphonse down on top him. They were now sitting at a table in Marcoh's apartment, well everyone except Alphonse who had no choice but to be on the floor and Sarah who leaned against the wall near the door, close enough to hear but far away enough to seem as if she had nothing to do with what was being discussed. Marcoh revealed that he left Ishval because he couldn't stand seeing his research being used to kill so many people. Ed asked him what he was researching. After a moment Marcoh reluctantly told him.
"The creation of a Philosopher's stone." Armstrong looked shocked while Edward looked eager to hear more. "I took the stone and my research so that they couldn't create anymore nor use the one we made."
"Wait you have the stone?" Edward yelled jumping from his seat. Marcoh reached into his coat and pulled out a vial filled with red liquid. Edward, Alphonse, and the major stared at it confused. None of them saw Sarah move farther from the table. Marcoh opened the vial and poured its contents onto the table. Alphonse, Edward and the major stared in amazement as the liquid came together to form a roundish stone. Marcoh explained that the stone didn't necessarily have to be a stone; it could also be a liquid and that this stone was incomplete but still very powerful. Edward prodded the stone. It jiggled at the touch. The four men stared in amazement as the stone suddenly started to throb and pulsate like a heart. Sarah used her hands to conceal the glow that was visible through her shirt, which her amulet was emitting in response to the stone. None of them were paying attention to her but she did it just to be safe. The glow and throbbing died down just as quickly as it started. The men continued to watch the stone to see if it would start again when it didn't they leaned back into their seats.
"Strange. It's never done that before." Marcoh said still watching the stone.
"The fact that you made this means that it's possible to create a complete one." Edward said staring heatedly at the stone. "Doctor Marcoh!" Edward said as he stood up gaining the man's attention once more. "You've got to let me see your research!" Marcoh stared at him uncertain and confused wondering who this boy was and why he wanted to see his research.
"Major this boy…" Marcoh asked the major somewhat dreading the answer.
"He's a state alchemist." The major said frowning.
"This boy!" Marcoh said staring at Edward in disbelief. Marcoh then rubbed his hand against his face. "A boy his age…a human weapon." He said looking quite distressed.
"I know it was foolish but I won't quit now…I will achieve my goal even if it means being a dog of the military." Edward said determination shining in his eyes. Sarah smiled at his words. Marcoh regarded him then asked him what he needed to achieve. Edward told him about his attempt at human transmutation and its consequences. Marcoh was amazed at the boy's alchemic ability.
"Amazing…the ability to transmute a specific person's soul like this…Maybe one as talented as you would be able to produce a complete Philosopher's stone." Marcoh said observing Alphonse's armor.
"So…" Edward said eagerly.
"But I can't show you my research."
"Why not?" Edward asked frustrated and disappointed.
"You must not seek after the stone!" Marcoh said.
"Not even if it's to get our bodies back?"
"Never! This is the devil's research! If you chase the stone, you will go through hell!" Marcoh said thinking of the horror he experienced researching the stone.
"I've already been through hell!" Edward yelled thinking about what he saw on the day he transmuted his mother. Marcoh stared at Edward surprised by his outburst. He looked into the boy's eyes and saw determination and pain that was beyond his years. Still, he refused.
"Please leave." Marcoh said looking down at the table. Edward left the table and stormed out of the apartment upset and disappointed. The others followed him. At the train station Armstrong asked Edward why he didn't just take the incomplete stone that the doctor had.
"I wanted to take it so bad that I could taste it but Marcoh uses the stone to heal all these people. I'm sure taking it would have left a bitter taste in my mouth. Right Al?" Edward said looking at Alphonse who nodded.
"Yeah, we'll just have to find another way." Alphonse said feeling proud of his brother. Sarah smiled again glad that Edward wasn't so selfish as to take the stone away from those who needed it.
"By the way Major…don't you have to report Marcoh to the military?" Edward asked the large man sitting beside him.
"There is nothing to report. The man I met was just a small town doctor by the name of Mauro." The major said. Edward laughed and Sarah smiled again at the kindheartedness of these people. Another train pulled into the station and the group got ready to get on. However, before they got on…
"Wait!" They turned and saw Doctor Marcoh running towards them. He stopped and hunched over trying to catch his breath then stood back up. He handed a folded up scrap of paper to Edward. "Here… This is where I hid my research. I believe that you can handle the horrible truth and be able to see the truth hidden within the truth." Edward looked at him confused. "Never mind...I've said enough already." Marcoh turned to leave. "Good luck on getting your bodies back." He said as a farewell then left. Edward opened the note once they were on the train. The note said 'National Central Library, First Branch'. Edward was eager to get back to Central. They finally had a lead.
At one point during the train ride Sarah fell asleep with her head on Edward's shoulder. Edward was flustered at first then relaxed. The major smiled at how sweet the two were together. Edward finally saw his chance to ask the major what he had been wondering since the start of the trip.
"Major…" Edward started gaining the man's attention. "What exactly did Sarah mean when she said you saved her in Ishval?" Edward asked carefully knowing it was a tender subject for the man. The man seemed unsure how to start.
"Well… It was near the end of the war that I found her…" The major's eyes glazed over a bit as he recalled the memories. "I was looking around the remains of Ishval hoping to find at least on person alive. I was against the order so I hoped that I could save someone. I saw something move and pushed aside a collapsed wall. I found Sarah lying underneath another wall slowly being crushed underneath its weight. She was covered in blood, none of which was her own." Edward cringed at that thinking that that must have been the blood of Mia and her family. "She was alive and not an Ishvalan so I brought her to the camp as she needed medical attention. She was nonresponsive most of the time but she would sometimes snap at the soldiers that got close to her. Clearly she was angry with the soldiers for what happened, not that I blame her. It was decided that we would take her with us back to headquarters to guarantee that she got back safely then she could go her own way. However, the next morning she was gone. She had left on her own. Since then I wondered every now and then whether she was alive or not." The major looked over at Sarah then smiled. "But now I know that she is alive and well." Edward looked down at the girl then slowly brought her closer trying not to wake her. Neither men knew that she was awake and had been the whole time.
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