Negima Remix!
Chapter 10: The Fake Brothers Crevantes; Red Water Syndrome pt.1
On the Train Headed for Xenotime
Seiji was in his State Alchemist uniform sitting down and reading a small book he carried with him. Laz was in his usual battle/casual attire sitting opposite from his brother, just looking out the window, watching the world go by. And surprisingly, Reina was with them as she was now sporting on her State Alchemist uniform.
She wore a skin tight black turtleneck sleeveless shirt, but wore a green hooded jacket with puffy shoulders; the left sleeve was skin tight and colored black with a gold overlarge bracelet on her wrist with a fingerless green glove. On the right sleeve, it was a sleeve to that of a kimono's, with a gold trim on the end, and she also wore a black glove with the fingers on it. She wore a black belt that held the jacket around her waist and another one that dangled on her hip with a pouch on it, containing her State Alchemist pocket watch. She also wore a black skirt with gold trim that split two ways to let her legs move freely in combat. She also wore dark stockings that reached all the way up her legs, and had on green bottom bell boots with a golden strap around the ankle.
Reina was on the edge of her seat as she couldn't hold still, even for a second. Seiji peeked over his book to watch her and thought, 'She and Makie must be twins. She's almost like her with her hair down.' She smiled as she stated, "I can't believe this is my first State Alchemist mission." She then looked at Seiji and Laz and smiled, "I'm really glad that my first mission is among friends." Laz chuckled in embarrassment, while Seiji just smirked. From what the report that Mustang had given them, it contained details about a mysterious illness that started around eight years ago and somehow declined some time. But rumors spread that it was starting again in the Town of Gold, Xenotime. A town, like Yuesdale, that knew the existence of Sorcery and Alchemy.
In another car, Negi now dressed in a black shirt with a wing logo on it, blue jeans and a blue jean T-shirt jacket with a hood on it, and his brown sneakers. And sitting right next to him, was Asuna, dressed in a white and green sleeved T-shirt with a yellow mini-skirt and shoes. She was a little grumpy at the time, due to the fact that Konoka was spending the first summer vacation in Kyoto. She then turned to Negi and gave him a questionable glare, "so why are we headed for Xenotime, again?"
Negi got out of his daydreaming and looked back at Asuna. From the look he was getting, he had better answer correctly, "Well, I remembered something about a wizard with my description in the area once, and I'd thought I should check it out." He then smiled broadly as he looked out the window, "It just might be a lead to where my father's been all this time." After seeing Negi like this, Asuna just couldn't help herself but smile at him, 'He's a real pain at times, but I guess that's to be expected about him.'
Xenotime
The train arrived at the old mining town, Xenotime, famous for being known as the Town of Gold, due to its once prosperous gold mines. But the mines became barren and the town declined in the not best of ways and sunk into depression. It was something out of an old Western movie due to the fact it was near the forest area and near the mountains, making it quite an attractive tourist stop.
But rumors spread for the past eight years of a mysterious plague that started, causing unusual sickness in the town of Xenotime. Seiji, Laz, and Reina were now walking down the rural area of the town, looking for any sign of life. Laz stated, "This town's pretty much a ghost town, don't you think?" Seiji nodded, "Pretty much, but…"
Just then, they heard a small scream, "AAAAAHHHHH!" And then after that, more voices followed in, "Elisa! Don't worry, we'll get you out!" "Hurry, the mine's gonna collapse!" The three looked at each other and with no hesitation; they dropped their bags and ran towards the shouting. As they did, they were unaware of the two figures that had gotten off the train and hadn't noticed them as they got off.
Near a nearly dried mine shaft, a young girl around the ages of six and eight, with sandy blonde hair tied in pigtails, wearing a pink summer dress, was trapped between a rock and a mine cart. A man, in his thirties with black hair, who was the girls father, was trying to help his daughter get loose from this before the soon collapsing mine nearly caved in and would spell doom for not only the girl, but the town's only hope for gold.
"Hey!", shouted Seiji as he, Laz, and Reina came running in their direction. The girl's father as well as the workers with him, all looked at the strangers coming towards them to help. When Seiji got there, he knelt down near the girl to take a look to see if it was possible to pull her out. No such luck at that as he also noticed an instability near the mine's mountainous entrance. It was gonna cave in on them unless he acted fast.
He looked at the girl and spoke in a voice with calm, "What's your name?" The girl sniffed as she cried in fear of this turn of events, "E...Elisa." "Okay, Elisa…Hold still for just a minute." He then got up and looked at the cart, then clapped his hands together and placed them on the cart. The transmutation began as the Alchemic energies shocked and bolted, changing the cart into something else. Elisa closed her eyes, fearing for the worst, until the light stopped as she opened her eyes in amazement, as did her father and the miners. The cart had become a huge solid rectangle pillar of bronze.
However, the moment of rejoice wasn't up yet, as everyone heard a huge rumble coming from the top of the mine. They all looked and saw an avalanche of boulders heading right for them. They were all about to panic but the three Alchemists worked fast as Seiji looked to Reina, "Okay, Emerald! You're up!" She nodded, "Got it!" And then cart wheeled over to where the miners were and got in front of them. She looked up at the boulders and clapped her hands together. And with a sort of water like movement, she spun struck her hands forward as the boulders almost bridged the distance. Then all of a sudden, a barrage of large jade colored crystal pillars shot up out of the ground and shishkabobbed the rocks.
The miners were completely awe struck at this display of Alchemic power. But all of a sudden, a huge boulder came rushing at them, and neither Seiji nor Reina were ready for this, but Laz was on it as he ran up. But before he could do anything, an all too familiar voice spoke up, "MAGIC ARCHER! CONSECUTIVE BURSTS! ELEVEN ARROWS OF LIGHT!" And just like the voice stated, eleven arrows of light and wind shot up at the massive boulder, pulverizing it into pebbles.
Before anyone could ask what that was, there was a slight bonking sound and a little whelp. But Seiji and Laz remembered one voice, "You idiot! What if someone saw you?" Seiji and Laz, and also Reina who regrouped with the brothers, turned back to where they ran from and saw none other than Negi holding his staff and rubbing his head with a large bump on it, and a miffed off Asuna with her arms crossed, glaring at Negi.
Xenotime Pub
The five teenagers were taken to the town's local restaurant and pub and given a small but filling dinner in honor of their bravery. The five teens were sitting at a table with the food in front of them; Negi, Asuna, Laz, and Reina just looking at it, but Seiji was already digging in due to the fact he skipped lunch. One of the townsfolk cheerfully stated, "I mean it! We sure were lucky to have three real Alchemists and a bonafide Wizard like you guys show up when you did."
The father of Elisa bowed to them in gratitude, "I can't begin to thank you enough." Then Elisa pointed out with a smile, "And don't forget the father wearing the metal armor underneath his clothes." Laz nearly face vaulted as he turned completely white with his eyes bulging out. Negi, Asuna, and Reina had to clear their throats from their laughter, while Seiji had swallowed his food and chuckled, "No, you've got it all wrong. Laz isn't my father, he's my younger brother." The townspeople looked confused at this as Elisa pointed out, "Younger brother? But he's so much bigger than you." This time, it was Laz doing the chuckling while Seiji turned white and sobbed a little with his bulging eyes, "He's only seven feet tall; I'm only 5'5. That's a normal height for teenagers."
Negi, Asuna, and Reina couldn't stop laughing at this, but the tables turned when a miner stated, "Don't forget; we've also got another Alchemist to thank for. Especially the Wizard and his girlfriend with the bells on her head." Asuna went white at this with her jaw down on the table. Negi chuckled at this and pointed out, "You're mistaken there, sir. Asuna's not my girlfriend; she's my friend and student." Then the miner looked puzzled as he asked, "Student? But aren't you a little young to be a teacher?" This time, Negi paled and had his jaw drop, with Asuna and company laughing at his reaction. Reina just shook it off and stated to Elisa, "Anyway, we're all glad that you and everyone else are okay, Elisa."
Just then the doors busted open as everyone turned their attention towards it and the man standing in it. it was a man around thirty or so, dressed like a farmer, with slightly tanned skin like Negi, and had dark hair that covered his right eye. He was holding a basket of lemons but he didn't care about that as a concerned look was on his face, "Elisa! Are you alright?" Elisa jumped up and smiled at the man, "Uncle Belsio!" She got up and was about to run up to her uncle, when her father stopped her, "Daddy?"
Her father had on a scold look on his face as he looked at Belsio, "Get out!" The five teens were a little stunned by this but listened on to Elisa's father, "You've got some nerve showing up here now. After almost getting my only daughter killed." The townspeople glared at Belsio, almost cursing his presence in the Pub. Then Elisa's father told Elisa to not help him with his farming work, and to stay away from him, no matter what he said. Belsio lowered his head in shame, but from a little shout from Elisa, he was surprised from what he heard, "No, Daddy! None of that was Uncle Belsio's idea. I was the one who begged him to let me help…"
She stopped for a moment as she coughed out, causing her to fall on her knees in an uncontrollable cough. Her father then looked worried at this, as did Belsio, but Negi saw this and went over to the little girl. He knelt down and stated, "Hold on, I can fix that cough." He then took his right hand and it glowed green as he spoke out an incantation. Then placed his hand on Elisa's throat and in no time at all, her cough died out. As soon as she had stopped, Negi stated, "That should help your throat some much, but you'll still cough a little."
It was then during her healing, that Seiji raised a suspicious eyebrow at this scene, 'Could this be a part of the plague in the report?' It was then that Belsio was leaving, but not before he dropped off the lemons he was carrying, "I'm truly sorry about what happened." And with that, he left, leaving Elisa's father to look a little guilty of what he had done. It was then that Elisa explained her reasons for helping her uncle; he had told her that her father's lemon pies were the best in Xenotime. It was a shame that no one ever had the chance to have any considering the crops and plantations were dying up.
Seiji, Laz, and Reina were starting to see the extent of this plague had affected Xenotime. Now they knew how serious this was becoming, but their thoughts were disturbed once a miner spoke up, "Not to worry, as soon as Mugear's done completing the Philosopher Stone we'll all be able to buy fruit from some other town." It was then that the Brothers' interests were peeked as Seiji asked, "The Philosopher Stone?" Asuna and Reina were both a little surprised by Seiji's reaction to that, but were even more surprised when everyone ganged up all around the five.
One miner stated with a smile, "That's it! That must be the reason why you Alchemists and Wizards came here; to assist Mr. Mugear." Another miner pleaded with them, "Please do everything in your power to complete it!" Another hounded, "Please save our children from this misery by completing the Philosopher Stone." The people had crowded around the teenagers so closely the teens thought they were gonna get crushed. Negi, being pretty nervous about this, simply replied, "T-That sure is a lot of pressure. Well I suppose we could go to Mugear now and ask if we can help." The three teen Alchemists looked at each other; realizing things might get a little difficult for them.
But before the teens could get up and get out of there, a woman asked them, "Before you all go…could you tell us the names of our saviors." The kids looked pretty shy about it but Negi replied, "M-My name's Negi Springfield, mam." Asuna waved, "I'm Asuna Kagurazaka; just your average teenage girl." Reina bowed her head in politeness, "I'm Reina Makati, the Emerald Alchemist." It was then Seiji's turn for introduction as he thumb-pointed to himself, "And I'm pretty sure you've heard of me. I'm Seiji Crevantes, the Full-Metal Alchemist." Then Laz sheepishly pointed to himself as he made his introduction, "And…And I'm Laz; Lazarus Crevantes. The younger brother."
After the introductions were made, the people looked at them with quite confused expressions on their faces. Then someone spoke up, "Uh, Crevantes and Springfield. As in Springfield, son of the Thousand Master? And Crevantes, the State Alchemist? The Hero of the People, Full-Metal?" The two boys nodded and replied in unison, "Yeah, that's right."
Then in a split second, the five teenagers were tossed out, flat on their faces with their luggage with them. Asuna then shot up as everyone was slowly getting up, and shouted at the people, "What the hell was that for?" Elisa's father shouted, "Shut up! The name Springfield's not welcomed in this town! And as for those two imposters, the real Crevantes Brothers are up in Mugear's mansion helping him out! So get lost!" And with that, he slammed the door on them.
After a while of walking, Asuna huffed, "Stupid town and their…" she just huffed at this, feeling a little miffed they were tossed out like that, and the fact that they were dissing Negi. Negi, who was with her, was in deep thought as to why the name Springfield wasn't welcome, 'Could my father have done something to have a whole town hate him?' He shook his head and came to the conclusion that it must have been someone other than Springfield using his name to do something horrible.
Asuna huffed out, "Seiji! Laz! Reina! So what are you guys doing here anyway?" There was a moment of silence, and after she didn't get an answer, she and Negi turned around and saw them gone. "I guess they must have flown the coop a while ago.", Negi concluded. Asuna was getting fed up with this as she grabbed Negi by the collar, in an attempt to make sure he didn't leaver her alone like the trio did. And the two of them began to find somewhere in town they could spend the night.
Mugear's Mansion
The mansion to the supposed man, Mugear, was located on a mountain top not too far from the town. It lay high from the town of Xenotime near the forest region as it looked down on Xenotime. The mansion was four stories high and eleven windows long, almost resembling a huge duplex. Outside the mansion, guards with automatic rifles were stationed at every entrance, which was what the three teen Alchemists avoided as they snuck on the grounds and made their way to an unguarded area of the mansion.
Seiji looked up at one of the windows on the third floor and noticed the lights were on. 'That must be the lab', he then growled, 'Where the fake me and Laz are.' His thoughts were interrupted by Laz as he asked, "Brother, are you sure you should sneak in there?" Reina second that motion, "I agree with Laz, Seiji. I mean I know you're mad that someone's using your name, but…." But before she could finish, Seiji turned around and stated, "It's not about them taking me and Laz's names, but we need to ask them something about the plague and about this supposed Philosopher Stone."
The two sighed in defeat, knowing full well that Seiji wasn't about to back down. He looked around to see if anyone was looking. Then he faced the wall in front of them, and clapped his hands together, to prepare for a Transmutation.
Inside
The window that Seiji looked up to led to a lab within the third floor of the mansion. In it was a lab full of beakers and tubes, and a quite impressive collection of plants and vines. The only two people that were in there were two young men. One was at Negi and Seiji's height frame and build, with blonde hair and a band that covered his right eye. He had light tanned skin and had silver eyes. He was dressed in a white dress shirt with black pants and suspenders holding them up, and black dress shoes.
The other was a young boy around the age of nine and ten, with shaggy spiky blonde hair, light tanned skin, and silver eyes. He was dressed in a white T-shirt with green overalls that were held up by one strap over the right shoulder, brown sneakers, and a green ear warming cap on his head. The two of them were researching on a red liquid substance at the moment, when all of a sudden, they heard a slight energized sound from outside.
The younger brother looked up to his older sibling and asked, "Brother, was that…?" The older brother looked out the window and confirmed it with a not too happy look on his face, "A Transmutation."
In the first floor of the mansion, a door was transmuted from the wall that Seiji and his friends had used to get in. What they found was a room filled with bookshelves with books on them…all the titles included the Philosopher Stone. After looking at them, Seiji concluded, "Yep, they're on to something here, Laz." Laz looked down to his older brother and asked, "So does that mean…?" Seiji nodded, confirming that these people were making the Stone for real.
Reina looked at the boys in a confused way, trying to figure out why they were so interested in this. But before she could ask, she heard a door opening and poked Laz's shoulder, whispering, "Laz, I think we have company." But before Laz could tell his brother, someone spoke up, "in case the guards want a clue, this place is off limits." The trio turned around and spotted in a lit doorway, the two boys from upstairs. The older figure was standing confidently with his hands in his pockets, while the younger one was standing behind him, shyly looking over.
Laz was the first to ask, "By any chance are you two…", Seiji interrupted as he shouted with an angry look on his face, "Stealing our identities?" The older brother snickered as he looked to Laz, "I take it your Seiji, the one with the red spiky hair, blue eyes, and body armor under your clothes, right?" Laz pointed to himself in confusion and asked, "Me?" Seiji now losing it, jumped in front of Laz and waved his arms around comically and shouted, "NO, YOU DOLT! I'M SEIJI! WHY DOES EVERYONE THINK THAT?"
Then the young imposter looked at Seiji slightly confused and asked out loud, "Then you're the older brother?" Seiji, a little ticked off, shouted, "DAMN RIGHT!" The young boy cowered behind his older brother as Reina calmly stated, "Seiji, calm down. The guards might hear us." Seiji paled at that and closed his mouth. It was at that time his imposter was striding forward to them, smirking, "How bizarre, the real younger brother wears skin tight body armor to protect himself. It's hard to believe, due to his physical structure and height, he's only fourteen." It was then that Reina asked, "How is it you know so much about my friends?" The imposter shrugged, "Well, I had to find out as much as I could in order for me and my younger brother to play the parts. And stories spread like wildfire, so it wasn't hard finding things out."
Seiji glared at his fake counterpart and growled as he and his imposter looked at each other, eye to eye as he stopped in front of him, both at the same height level, "You wanna start something with me?" The imposter crossed his arms and nodded, with a smug look on his face, "No, I don't want to fight you, Seiji. So why don't you turn around and go home? And leave us to take care of things around here."
Already this guy was pissing him off, so Seiji just huffed as he stepped back a little and stated, "That's not the way you beg someone to do something." He then sharply pointed to the ground, "On your knees!" A slight moment of silence for the moment, but the imposter did not respond. So Seiji growled as he pointed to the ground furiously, "I said get down on the ground!" The imposter just shrugged with his smirk, "What? So you can look down on me?" Seiji was slightly confused at that question, but the imposter went on, "Surely you must be used to people making fun of you by looking down on you."
Now Seiji was miffed as his whole face went red, his teeth sharpened, and a vein popping on his head. He had had it with this guy, and went with a right punch to the face. Unfortunately the fake Seiji dodged it easily, and then he tried again with his left. Not such luck, and decided to keep punching at him until his tried to get him with a left back punch. However, the imposter caught his left fist and held it to hold Seiji in place. He smirked as he stated out loud, "An Automail hand, eh? I guess the real Seiji's seen some action."
Seiji smirked at this situation, "And I'm glad to see that you've got some moves of your own." He then slid back his right foot as he stated, "I'd hate it if you damaged my name!" And then brought the right foot up to a right round house kick to the imposter's face, causing him to skid back. Seiji then charged forward and was about to clock the imposter one, but saw that the imposter was about to punch him. Unfortunately for Seiji, he was too fast in front and didn't have enough time to dodge it as the punch connected to this right cheek.
Seiji was sent flying back until he stopped himself in a crouching position. The two of them stared each other down until the imposter spoke up, "You know, I've always wanted to find out what a bonafide State Alchemist is capable of." Seiji smirked as he clapped his hands, "I think you'll be sorry that you'll find out." He placed his hands on the ground and his Alchemic energy was at work as five snake spikes shot out of the floor and charged at Seiji's imposter. The imposter dodged them pretty good as he ran for cover behind the bookcases as the spikes lanced into the ground.
The imposter shouted, "Not bad! You don't even need to use a Circle! That's a rare technique!" Then suddenly around the corner, the imposter placed his left hand and with a brilliant light of red energy, he performed the same Alchemic attack that Seiji performed. Reina and Laz dodged seeing it was directed at them and Laz shouted in disbelief, "The fake you doesn't need a circle either!"
The three regrouped, about to try and perform a triple attack on the imposter Seiji. When all of a sudden, they heard running footsteps heading towards where they were.
An Hour Later
Outside
The three State Alchemists were sitting on a sandy hill overlooking the night sky. Laz and Reina were sitting side by side Seiji, having him between the two as he rubbed his sore cheek. He grumbled, "I'm sore all over; I guess that's what I get for losing it back there." Reina shook her head, "I'd be upset too if the same thing happened to me, Seiji." He smiled at her words, happy to know that at least in times like this that he had friends.
Then Laz stated out loud, "I've got to admit, the fake Seiji was pretty powerful." Seiji shook his head, seeing he had his doubts, "I'm not sure about that; from that energy I saw something was giving him a boost." The two looked at him confused but Laz asked, "Do you think they've completed their Philosopher Stone?" Reina then asked, "If they have, do you think they might restore the mines and cure the town of the plague?"
Seiji lowered his head in thought, "I'm not really sure on that." He then looked up at the cool night sky and at the full moon, "But if they misuse the Stone's power for their own selfish needs instead of using to help others, then I'm gonna make them pay." The two looked at Seiji and just left it at that, and were quiet for the moment. Then after a little pause, Laz then asked out loud, "You know, I wonder what those brothers' real names are. Or if they even are real brothers at all." There was another pause of silence as the three just sat there quiet, thinking on what to do next.
That is until Reina blurted out, "I also wonder if that fake Seiji's as powerful as you are, or maybe even more powerful…" suddenly a huge clang sound was heard as Seiji's left fist connected to Laz, who was down on the ground on the left, with Reina scooting away from Seiji as he growled, "Power doesn't matter!"
Back at the Mansion
The two boys pretending to be the Crevantes brothers were at their work. The older one sitting at the desk, carefully jotting down notes, while the younger brother was overlooking a plant that absorbed a strange liquid substance. Both of them wore a respirator mouth mask in order not to breathe in any fumes form the chemicals while they worked. It wasn't long until the younger brother asked out to break the silence, "Brother, don't you think we've played this ruse long enough?" The older brother stopped for a moment to look behind him at his brother with a raised eyebrow, "I mean what if the real Crevantes Brothers turn us in?"
The big brother then got back to work as he stated, "Don't worry, no one in this town will believe them. As soon as we're done with the stone, we'll hightail it out of here." The younger brother looked at the plant in worry, silently hoping, "I hope so." Then the older brother stated, "Well I'm not about to let Mugear take all the credit for the research Dad devoted his entire life to."
He turned around and noticed his brother's troubled look, and gave him a reassurance, "Don't worry, if anything goes wrong I'll make sure you get away safely." He then returned to is work while the younger brother went back to work. Although the younger one clenched his fists together in worry as he sorrowfully looked down on the plants, 'You don't get it, brother….I'm not worried about myself. There's a lot more going around.'
Down in the catacombs of the mansion, a cavern mine was deep beneath the building. Within the first level, just mine shafts, but as it went deeper, machinery was hooked into the walls. And as it got farther, a factory with open vats were spinning a strange pink red water that glowed brightly within them. On a railing high up the vats, a man in his fifties, corpulent, dressed in a lab coat and gas mask, and had gray hair and a mustache to boot was looking down on the vats. His staring was interrupted by a young female's voice, "Should you really be that close to them."
Startled, he turned around to see a few feet away from him, a young drop dead gorgeous woman around eighteen, with pale white skin, raven black hair that reached her back, and dark purple eyes that had a hint of malice. She was dressed in a black dress that showed off her cleavage, black high heel boots, and black gloves that reached her shoulders and exposed the palm of her hands. Her companion looked to be a boy around fifteen, wearing a black leather and armored tight jumpsuit with his shoulders exposed, a hood on the back, a sash around his waist ending at his knees, black combat boots, and a samurai sword strapped to his back. He was pale but had short but shaggy silver blonde hair on his head and had the scariest ice blue eyes ever, along with an emotionless face.
The old man then was a little surprised to see these two here, "I didn't expect to see you both so soon." The girl merely smirked as she brushed her hair back, "Well, we didn't expect you to let those kids in so easily." The old man cringed from that as he learned his associates knew of the intruders. But he confidently stated, "Not to worry, my guards scared off the State Alchemists. We shouldn't be hearing from them anymore." The girl nodded her head in disagreement with him, "Don't bet on it. The brothers with the girl are quite resourceful and stubborn to the core." She then purred the next part as she turned her head to look down at the vats, "An attractive and admirable quality, I have to admit."
She then turned around, as did her companion, and was about to walk off, but not before saying, "I guess it was only a matter of time before the Military took interest in the Stone." The old man paled at this with wide eyes at the realization at this as she continued, "You had your shot, but now I think it's time to call it quits….Mugear." The two began to walk out, but not before Mugear ran up to them, begging, "A little more time. That's all I'm asking please; I promise I'll complete the Philosopher Stone."
When he got close to the silver haired boy, he grabbed his arm to stop him. That only gave him a cold glare as the boy turned his head to give him that look, and kicked him to the railing. The boy then sped up to him at blinding speed, and grabbed him by the throat. He then lifted him up in the air, and leaned him forward over the vat of Red Water. Mugear's eyes went wide with fear, as he turned back to the boy, who then spoke up in a British accent, "Make it fast! You know how our master hates to wait…much less being dissatisfied."
Later On
Outside
"Looks like it's starting to swell up pretty good.", Laz observed as Seiji was rubbing his cheek on Laz's left forearm. They were still on the hill, sitting down trying to think of where to stay for the night. At the time, Laz suggested that Seiji use his metal body to try and compress the bruise on his cheek. It was working pretty good as Seiji sighed in relief and smugged happily, "Ahhhh, your Automail body feels like an ice pack."
Laz chuckled at that and said, "Heh, I'm glad I could be of some comfort to you, Brother. Even if I'm not human." Reina just smiled at them, knowing full well of Laz's situation. Seiji had told her all about what Laz truly was, and why even though he was not born of flesh and blood, his soul was born of Seiji's. That alone, which makes him not only Seiji's brother, but human as well.
It was then suddenly, they heard footsteps in the sandy hill coming up at them, and they all turned around to see who it was. They were a little surprised to see that it was the man with the lemons from when they were in the pub. Seiji pointed out, "Hey, you're that guy with the lemons. Belsio, right?" The man didn't even make an attempt to confirm Seiji's question, but simply said to them, "If you all need a place to stay, you can bunk in my place." The three looked at each other, silently asking each other if they should take the offer. It was after they decided to go and follow him, Belsio stated, "Besides, your friends are already bunked there as well."
Belsio's Farm
Belsio's place was a quaint little place, but had enough room to bunk the teens in. It also appeared to be a vegetable and plant farm from the look of the lemon trees and crops. An unlikely reunion between Negi's group and Seiji's team was ruined a little as when Asuna spotted Seiji, she drop kicked him. Seiji rubbed his head muttering, "Great, now I'm really sore all over." Asuna shouted out to Laz and Reina, "Just where the hell have you guys been?" The two cringed back in fear at her reaction, but Negi noticed Seiji's swollen cheek as he commented, "That must have hurt." Seiji nodded, "You don't know the half of it."
Asuna noticed it too, and dropped her anger and asked with concern for a friend, "What happened?" After settling down, Seiji told his friends where he and his team went off to, and to what they found out. Asuna was a little confused about this Philosopher Stone business, until Belsio popped up with a tray of cocoa for them. It was then that Reina pointed out, "I know you already know about Negi being the Son of the Legendary Thousand Master.", even she was amazed at her friend and somewhat role model was friends with the son of the most powerful mage ever, "But aren't you going to ask who my friends are?"
Belsio was currently washing a bowl of lemons, so he had his back turned to them. But he replied without turning around, "They're the Crevantes Brothers, right?" Negi smiled at this as he asked, "So you believe them?" He shook his head, "To be honest…not in the least, but you boys must have your reasons for saying that you are." The two just hung their heads in defeat, but not for long as Seiji got back up and asked, "So I take it you're not as obsessed with the Stone as everyone else."
Belsio stopped for a moment as he just looked down at the lemons, seeing his reflection. Then he finally answered, "Everyone is too desperate, or unwilling to forget the wealth the gold once brought us." The teens then took in an understanding as to why the people of Xenotime looked so desperate for them to help complete the Philosopher Stone. Then Belsio hissed, "And Mugear's got them all wrapped around his fingers."
Next Day
Morning
The gang had slept in two separate rooms, the boys slept in one room with Laz in the middle of the bed while Seiji and Negi slept on opposite sides, each trying to tug a little of the blanket they had. The girls slept together in the same bed with a pillow separating down the middle. It was then that a door was heard opening that woke up seiji as he heard a familiar voice, "Good morning, Uncle Belsio." It was the girl that they had saved from the mine shaft, Elisa.
She was standing in the kitchen watching her uncle clean a new batch of lemons. He still had his back turned to her when he stated, "If your father finds you here, he wont be too happy." Elisa just smiled at this as she told him that her father was too busy talking about the gold mines, that he would never notice her gone. It was then that she noticed on the left of her, the two brothers and three others that were with them. She smiled, "Oh, it's you; the boy named Springfield and the make believe Crevantes Brothers."
Seiji just groaned with annoyance in his voice as he calmly stated, "I'm telling you, Kid, we're the real Crevantes Brothers." It was then that Elisa noticed the bruise on Seiji's face as she looked concerned and asked, "Hey, that must hurt.", Seiji immediately covered his bruise with his right hand in order to hide it, "did somebody hit you because you were telling lies again?" Reina shook her head and explained, "Actually, he got that from the real fake." Elisa looked alarmed and asked, "You mean you're the ones who snuck into Mugear's mansion last night?"
It was then that Seiji couldn't hold it in for very long and vented out his frustration by shouting out, "Of course we did; we cant just sit back and let them use our identities like this! Besides Transmuting gold is a serious offense! Those guys are going down!" it was then that Laz placed a hand on his brother's shoulder, stopping him from going on. As he calmed down a bit, he saw the look on Elisa's face…a look of fallen hope for the town. Seiji then huffed as he began to walk out, "I'm gonna go into town and see what I can find out." It was then that he was pulled back on the hood of his jacket by Asuna who scowled, "Not without a chaperone! I'm not waiting around to find Negi's best friend down on the ground with a broken limb." Sighing in defeat, Seiji agreed and the two left for town.
Negi, Laz, and Reina just sighed at this scene, but it was interrupted by Belsio, "Hey, you three." Negi turned to him and asked, "Yessir?" "How'd you kids like to go down to the pharmacy for me?" Laz asked, "What do you need, sir?" "Elisa needs her medication….", he then smirked as he added, "…and your brother…well, he could use a cold compress."
Downtown
Pharmacy
It was a quaint building as the three entered and proceeded to get the medication for Elisa. However, they were unaware of a certain boy who looked into the window watching them. As they were inside, Negi could hear everyone talking behind their backs, saying they were a bunch of charlatans who had the gall to show their faces. However, some of the people were giving Negi suspicious death glares, telling him to get out. Reina looked around and saw some people coughing just like Elisa did when they first got there. Some were also blind and others were confined in wheelchairs.
'There aren't any signs of trauma on them or even a hint of illness.' Reina thought as she looked at them, 'What kind of illness could do this?' "Hey, you!" The three were caught their attention by the pharmacy's doctor, who was a little on the short side as she ran up to the three teens with a broom in her hands. Negi held his hands up defensively and stated, "I'm sorry if we're not welcomed here, but we just came in for some medicine." The doc just scowled as she whacked Negi on the head, "Well we've not nothing here for traitors or to stop people from telling lies!"
She whacked the air in front of them, shooing the three out. The door slammed shut on them as the trio was left in the cold, and Laz muttered under his breath, "Great. Now how are we supposed to get Elisa's medicine?" "Um, excuse me." The three turned to the left, and to Reina's and Laz's surprise, it was the younger brother to the fake Seiji. He shyfully spoke up to them, "I can get that medicine for you, if you let me." Laz raised an eyebrow as he asked, "But why would you want to do that?" The boy looked up to them and smiled, "To make up for….for me borrowing your identity."
A little later, the three were seated near an abandoned construction site. The boy then handed Laz the medicine and gave his thanks. For a moment, the four were in an awkward silence as they sat there, until Laz spoke up, "I guess we both have older brothers whose tempers get the better of them, eh?" The young boy then asked, "Aren't you mad at us?" Laz looked at the boy and scratched his head, "Well, I guess you have your reasons for it." The boy sighed as he explained to them that it was the only way to work with Mugear. His older brother needed to have some credibility, and the only way to do it was to pass as the only male teenager State Alchemist, the Full-Metal Alchemist.
Negi then asked, "You really want a Philosopher Stone that badly?" The boy nodded as he explained, "My father…he devoted his entire life on the research to create a Philosopher Stone." Reina realized that this boy and his brother must have grown up without their father due to the sad tone in his voice. Then she asked as she leaned in next to the boy, "So your father was an Alchemist too?" The boy nodded and explained that one day he just disappeared from their lives. And his older brother figured that out of love for their father, his brother insisted on completing the research.
The boy was on the verge of crying at this point, but Negi replied, "Sounds almost like me." The boy looked up to Negi confused as he continued to tell him about his dream of becoming a Magister Magi in order to one day find his father. In more ways then one, Negi claimed that in doing this, he was somehow becoming closer to him, even though he wasn't there. Reina nearly beamed with joy at Negi's story, but Laz stated, "That's kind of the opposite to my brother." Reina and the boy looked at Laz confused, while Negi had a look of understanding, seeing that he knew the truth.
Laz told them both that before Seiji was born, his father was an Alchemist too. But then on the day he was born, his father just disappeared and it was just him and his birth mother. For four years he heard the stories that his mother had told him, but in some way, he hated to hear about him. He said just hearing the stories reminded him that his father abandoned them. He then told him that on their growth and training to become Alchemists, Seiji and he had heard and seen people who suffered because of Alchemy going the wrong way.
Reina could relate to that as she subconsciously grasped her right arm. Laz then looked at the young boy and stated, "Listen, if your brother's doing something you know is wrong…please, just be brave and stop him." The boy looked uncertain, but Negi pointed out, "I know it's tough, but if someone else has to intervene, then it'll only make things worse."
The boy looked down and nodded at that as he smiled, "I'll try." Unknown to them, Seiji and Asuna were behind one of the construction material, and overheard the whole thing. Asuna couldn't help but smile at this, as did Seiji at his friend and his younger brother's advice.
Later on, they had walked down a fork in the streets and stopped. Laz then asked trying to make conversation, "Hey, did you know there are an awful lot of people who're not only crippled, but been coughing a lot too." The younger brother flinched at that knowing the truth, but nervously replied, "Um, no?" But Reina then asked pointing to the bag Laz was holding, "But isn't this stuff cough medicine?" Before the young boy, could answer that, he never had the chance to as he and the others saw the boy's older brother appeared at the end of a street they were down on.
The younger brother could tell by the look on his face, he was sorely disappointed at what his younger sibling was doing. With that he walked off, and the younger brother followed suit, leaving the trio behind. But Laz shouted out, "Wait! At least tell us your real name." The young boy stopped and turned to give Laz a smile, "It's Fletcher." And took off, leaving them behind. "Fletcher, eh? That's a good name." The three turned around to see Seiji and Asuna there. "Brother!", Laz stated a little surprised to see them there.
Seiji had told them there was no information passing by, but he did tell them a plan that he and Asuna thought up at the last minute. "You want to go back there? One day later?", Negi asked in complete confusion, as Asuna smirked with her trademark trouble smile, "Yep, they wont expect us that way, or the fact there'll be five of us."
That Night
The five had snuck on to the premises without detecting the guards or anyone else. They snuck back into the same spot as before, and Seiji turned to face everyone there and said in a whisper, "Tonight we're going to go with Operation: Mole-Hole." The four looked a little confused at this as Laz asked, "Mole-Hole?" He nodded and clapped his hands together, then placed them the ground in front of them, transmuting a hole big enough for everyone to walk or crawl in.
A few minutes and a lot more transmutations later, they had reached far enough under the complex. Laz asked, "Are we there yet?" Seiji looked forward and answered, "Not sure, but we've got to come up someplace." Asuna growled, "You'd better hope so, because if we don't get out of here, I'm gonna bury you here." Ignoring her, Seiji made one final transmutation and had made an opening that led up.
After they had gotten out of the hole they saw that they had ended up in a hallway. But what caught their attention was a gutter, filled with a fuming and glowing red liquid like substance. Negi was the first to ask out, "What is that?" Reina was the one who answered them all, "I think this might be the Red Water." Asuna asked, "Red Water? What's that?" She explained to them that it was a theoretical catalyst pumped full of Alchemic chemicals. When refined, it was pumped in for purification, and then placed under a megaton of pressure, until it crystallized into a Red Stone.
Laz asked, "A Philosopher Stone?" She shook her head as she looked at the water closely, "No, not really. It's a pale imitation. It's unstable, but still pretty powerful if made the right size." It was Seiji's turn to point something out, "Yeah, I seem to remember something like this back in Mahora Library. An Alchemic theorist named Nash something came up with the idea, but for some reason it never panned out." Before anyone said anything else, Negi was coughing suddenly and collapsed on the ground.
Asuna ran over to him to help him up, "Negi! Come on, snap out of it." Then suddenly Seiji began a coughing fit as well as he nearly collapsed if not for Laz catching him. He weakly stated, "I…I'm having…s-some trouble…breathing…" Laz, in fear of his friend and brother, cried out, "Negi! Brother!" Reina used her Alchemy and transmuted a crystal mouth mask, and ran over to Asuna to make her one as well. However, they didn't know how to help their friends, until a door opened. "This way, come on.", they looked to see who it was and saw that it was none other than the young boy, Fletcher.
Later
Seiji slowly opened his eyes, at first all he could see was shapes and shadows, but then everything became clear as he saw he was laying on Reina's lap. He slowly got up, seeing everyone as well, he also caught a glimpse at Negi laying on Asuna's lap, but the two quickly broke it up. He then saw Laz and the boy named Fletcher looking at him. He looked around and saw that they were in the lab, but then his attention was turned to Fletcher as he was nearly crying, saying, "I…I'm sorry." Seiji raised an eyebrow, "Why? What did you do?" Laz shook his head, "No, Fletcher, it's what you didn't do, isn't it?" He was quiet until Negi groggily replied, "Fletcher, if you know something, tell us. Because I, as well as Laz, have a feeling that you don't like what's going on here."
Fletcher lowered his head in shame as he explained, "That Red Water you saw…it's actually a toxic substance that's been leaking out of the treatment center from down below the mansion. And that it's been polluting the whole town." Asuna gasped as she asked, "Then why the hell do you still have it?" Fletcher flinched at that but answered her question, "But, it's the vital ingredient to create the Red Stone." Seiji and Negi looked serious at this piece of information as Reina asked, "Is that why the people of Xenotime have been coughing, or have exhibited physical disabilities? It's all because of the Red Water?"
Fletcher couldn't handle the guilt of this any longer as he brought his hands up to his face and cried, "I'm…so sorry." Asuna wasn't fond of whinny kids at all, but when she saw Fletcher like this, she just couldn't help but feel sorry for him. Seiji had gotten up, feeling a little better now that the fumes wore off, and stated, "Alright then, we now know the source of the plague." He looked to Laz and Reina and stated, "We've got to destroy the lab and all of the notes depicting about the Red Water." Negi got up as well and stated, "I agree; this can't continue anymore."
"I'm afraid I can't let you do that. Either of you."
Everyone turned around to see at the door toe the Red Water gutter hall, was Seiji's imposter. Fletcher was the first to call him out, but by his real name, "Russell." "After all the hard work we went through, we've finally created a Red Stone." , Russell pulled something out of his pocket; it was a ruby red stone around the size of a film capsule, and held it up to show everyone, "My father put everything he had into making this, Springfield and Crevantes." He then sneer-smirked at the group, "If you think I'm going to let you destroy that, you're quite mistaken."
Seiji was getting fed up by this and growled, "So you care more about a lame piece of costume jewelry?" Russell growled and frowned at that remark and stored the stone in his pocket. Next to him was a desk lamp as he grabbed it, and with the Red Stone's power, he was able to Transmutate it into a thin broad sword. Seiji, getting a little fed up with this, frowned, "A fake sword from a fake stone.", he then clapped his hands together to being his Alchemic powers, "I think I can top that off." He then placed his right hand on his left arm, and transmuted his trusty arm mounted sword.
Asuna caught a glimpse at his hand, which was now exposed and thought as she saw to what appeared to be a mechanical hand, 'He's got a metal glove underneath? That's weird.' Seiji charged forward, with Russell taking the defensive. As Seiji was close enough, the two older brothers were duking it out with one another. However, both were clearly good at handling a sword as neither one of them were able to nick one another. They finally locked blades, trying to push one another apart; but then as Seiji pushed forward, Russell saw his sword cracking. Seiji saw this and quirked, "I guess that's the difference between you and me, Russell: mine's the genuine article."
Russell growled and was able to knee Seiji in the stomach, causing him to skid back from him. However, Russell then noticed Negi charging up for something, "ELEVEN WIND SPIRITS! BECOME A CHAIN THAT BINDS AND CAPTURES MY ENEMY." Then all of a sudden, eleven arrows of wind magic appeared and shot straight at him, "MAGIC ARCHER, WIND ARROWS OF WARNING!" However, at the last second before they reached the target, Russell transmuted the floor straight up to form a wall that took the blow of the attack.
Russell knew he couldn't win this by the Red Stone alone, so he had to push it farther. He placed his right hand on the steel door that led to the gutter, and with the Transmutation, pulled out a fire hose that was connected to the door. Asuna shouted, "What the hell?" Pointing the hose at the two boys, Russell devilishly smirked, "Red Water, straight from the tap! You've already seen the effects the fumes had on you; if you're doused with it, you're a goner. You'll lose a lot more than your consciousness."
The two looked at each other as both Negi and Seiji nodded in unison at a silent agreement. Seiji got in front of Negi and shouted to his imposter, "Fine! Let it rain!" And then transmuted his arm sword, into a steel umbrella. He gave them his warning and they didn't take it, so he turned on the hose and shot right at them. Luckily with the umbrella, Seiji was able to act as a shield for both his friend and himself. However, the others knew how pointless this was as Asuna shouted, "Guys, knock it off!" Laz agreed, "She's right; Seiji, Negi, this is crazy!"
Russell, trying to reason with them, shouted, "Your brother and girlfriend are right! Just go and you can live!" Asuna shouted, "I'm not his girlfriend!" But that went unrequited as Negi shouted, "Never! I can't let you continue to hurt people with your father's research!" Seiji nodded at that, "Me neither!", Russell was a little surprised by that, but Seiji had more to say, "Besides, I'm not giving up to some naïve kid…who's desperate to be just like a father who…abandoned his own kids!" That's what broke the camel's back as Russell increased the water pressure to full force, causing Seiji to get pushed back. However, he and Negi suddenly slipped on a pool of the Red Water that formed from the attack. The two began to fall as both Asuna and Laz shouted for them both, until they were somehow pushed out of the way.
Everyone was in shock as they saw who had taken the dousing for the two. It was Fletcher as he was on the ground, doused in Red Water and shaking from the effects. Laz ran to him and cradled the boy in his arms, "Hang in there, Fletcher." Reina ran up to the boys, while Russell stared in disbelief at what he had done. Reina looked at Fletcher and said, "he'll be alright if I work fast enough." She clapped her hands together to form the transmutation and placed her hands on him. Then as she lifted her hands up, the Red Water suddenly snaked off Fletcher and into Reina's hands. Then in a split second, she clasped them together, then hands now glowing bright. As soon as the glowing stopped, she opened her hands to reveal a Red Stone the shape and size of a tennis ball.
She then threw the stone away from them and looked at Fletcher, "Fletcher, are you okay?" The young boy stirred up as he regained consciousness and was held up by Laz. He then looked at his brother and realized he had to stop him as he stated, "Russell, the reason Dad wanted to create the Red Stone was to make people happy. But what we've been doing has just done the opposite. Don't you realize the cost at forging the stone is causing everyone in Xenotime to suffer?" At hearing this, Russell lowered his head in shame, even when Fletcher continued as everyone listened on, "It doesn't matter who gets the credit." He then started to sob at what he had to say next, "Because it isn't….because Dad would be ashamed if he saw us now!"
Russell then looked at this and realized this, as he lowered his head in shame. Just then, someone was knocking on the door, and both Russell and everyone else knew it was the guards. "Mr. Crevantes, are you alright in there? We heard something." Russell shouted, "Yeah, I'm fine!" He growled, "I told them not to bug me." Asuna got up and scowled at him, "Maybe they don't fully trust you. Though I can't see why, if you cross out the fact you lied about who you are."
But before anything else, they had to think of something, seeing that the guards were trying to open the door. Just then, Laz saw that Fletcher wasn't in his arms anymore and tried to find him. He saw him near the main door drawing a Transmutation Circle with what appeared to be a plant symbol on it. Russell saw this and questioned, "Fletcher, what are you doing?" Fletcher then placed his hands on the circle, activating his Alchemic power that glowed green, and caused a massive tree to block the doorway.
He then turned to Negi, Seiji and their friends and said, "Run for it!" Slightly confused they stood there waiting for an answer, but heard the door being rammed open. Fletcher then pleaded, "If they catch you here, we'll all be in trouble. I promise we'll explain everything, so just go!" Laz turned to his brother and they both nodded, "Let's go." With that, Laz ran for the nearest window and smashed through it, with everyone following behind.
Russell ran to the window and saw the five retreating forms disappear into the forest. He then turned to his brother, who hung his head as he merely said in a sad tone, "You can blame me…Brother." Russell just looked at him, not in an angered look like he gave him when he saw him talking to the real Seiji's brother and friends. No, this was a look of understanding of his brother's actions; a look saying that he could never blame his brother at all.
Next Chapter: The Fake Brothers Crevantes; Red Water Syndrome pt.2