Angel of Alchemy
Chapter 25: Climax
Subtitle: Changing
Amaris didn't know how long she had been in the complete and total darkness. The only noises were the screams of the birds that had been pulled in with her, their screams stopping suddenly without warning before a sickening sound-the sound of ripping-came afterwards.
Of course, Amaris didn't know what was happening. It was much too dark to see.
She didn't dare speak, she felt as if she wasn't alone. Something was watching her…
She couldn't help but scream as something grabbed the back of her shirt, making it rip as she struggled to get away.
"Edward! Alphonse!" she screamed, holding her head and shutting her eyes tightly. She waited, but nothing happened.
"You can open your eyes now." Amaris slowly opened her eyes at the command of the voice, daring to look up in curiosity to who the voice belonged too.
Her breath caught painfully in her throat.
"Mother." She whispered, seeing her mother standing before her with a strange aura glowing around her.
"I'm sorry." Was all her mother said in reply.
It struck a bell in Amaris' memory.
I'm sorry.
I'm sorry.
I'm so sorry.
Amaris was about to speak to her mother, questions running through her head. So many things she wanted to talk about, so many things on her mind…
But those words were restrained from her as a sharp and dreadful pain seared through her back, making her bend over and start to cough up blood. As the cracks continued to echo, she knew what was happening for it had been happening too many times the past few weeks.
She didn't have to look back, she knew the bones were sticking up from her flesh in the form of wings.
"Damn it." She hissed, curling into a small ball with difficulty. Tears were already forming as the bones continued to spread on their own accord.
Then she felt something tug on them, making her scream in agony. She whipped her head around, seeing small, black bodies with giant, purple eyes attaching themselves to the bones. In their hands were red clumps of something in which the started to attach to the bones.
Amaris felt like vomiting from the disgusting sight of whatever the substance was…
And she nearly did when she saw one of the creatures come with a bird in it's hands, ripping it open and reaching into it. Only then did she realize they were using the muscle of the birds to put onto her wings.
"Get off me! Get away!" she screamed, her voice cracking. Her mother had disappeared again, leaving her alone.
She could feel pain in the wings now, the muscle ensured that as it twisted and turned along her bones to form actual wings. After they had placed that on, they started to rip the heads off the birds; blood splattering everywhere.
Amaris then realized she was screaming. She didn't know how long, but she was screaming her lungs out right now. The creatures were now moving on to placing the skin onto the bare muscle, where the skin stretched itself out.
She could hear the sickening cracks and squishing sounds of flesh, muscle and bone as her wings took form. Blood poured from her back, she was sure of it.
Then a light appeared, blinding her as it drew closer.
Edward, Alphonse and everyone else was waiting in silence, their breaths very small as if making any noise was a death wish. Dante was the only one that seemed calm, humming to herself as she walked around the circle, waiting for the gate's return.
Wrath was sobbing, although he didn't dare cry out too loudly. His crying was the only sound in the room; besides Dante's humming.
"If your lying…" Ed warned, struggling since it was hard to breath due to the previous struggle.
"I assure you that I'm not." Dante said smoothly, stopping briefly before walking again.
Alphonse sat on the ground, staring blankly at the circle. Both him and Edward were debating if they should attack or not, but neither wanted to loose the chance of Amaris' return.
"…I sure as hell am surprised that he's with you, though." Ed scoffed, looking at Pride.
"And why is that?" Dante asked, looking at Edward.
"No reason." Ed replied bluntly. Silence came once again.
"Now that your done speaking," Dante said, slicing through the silence. "I'd like to know the whereabouts of Greed."
"We don't know." Alphonse whispered.
"I see…" Dante frowned at this, suddenly stopping as the transmutation circle started to glow. Everyone held their breath, but the glowing soon stopped.
"Seems this will take longer then expected…" Dante muttered. Right then, a large, deafening explosion was heard as the doors to the room were blown open. Ed and Al's jaws dropped as people poured in, circling around them.
Guns were pointed at everyone, while others seemed ready to simply perform alchemy. Most of them had pocket watches hanging from their pockets, showing that they were state alchemists.
"What the hell is happening here." Ed nearly smiled as Roy emerged from the crowd, Armstrong and Riza following behind him. His hand was raised, ready to snap. Hughes was also there, frowning as he held his knives in his hands, although he too had a gun.
"Colonel!" Alphonse cried out in relief.
"Damn it…" Envy muttered, backing up as he got ready to fight.
"Halt." Everyone stopped, turning towards Pride. All the soldiers were shocked to see him, some going as far as lowering their guns.
"Fuhrer." Roy stated, narrowing his eyes.
"Hello Mustang." Pride greeted, smiling as he waved cheerfully towards him.
"What are you doing here?" Roy questioned, although Roy seemed to have a grasp on the situation.
"I believe you have no right to question me." Pride replied.
"I said, what the hell are you doing here?" Roy repeated, about to snap.
"I really wouldn't do that if I were you." Before Pride could continue with his explanation though, an explosion occurred. Roy had snapped his fingers.
"No! You idiot!" Ed screamed as the transmutation circle was blown into shambles.
"How do you always manage to get into trouble FullMetal, even now I have to-" Roy was cut off.
"You bastard!" Ed screamed again. "You just ruined the chance of…you just…." Ed clenched his fist. Roy was thoroughly confused, looking at Ed in question.
"You just ruined the chance that Amaris would ever return again." Ed whispered.
Roy didn't have time to comprehend this before shouts were heard. The homunculi had reformed and were attacking the soldiers, although Dante was nowhere in sight.
"You killed my sister!" Wrath shouted from somewhere, multiple shouts heard afterwards. Envy seemed to be just killing along with the others.
Ed looked over to Alphonse in all the panic, seeing him trembling and staring towards where the circle had once been.
"Alphonse! Get have to move!" Ed shouted, but Al remained on his knees in shock. "Alphonse! Get up!"
"She's gone…" was all Alphonse muttered. "She's not coming back…is she?"
Ed bit his tongue. He had admitted it when speaking to Roy, but he really didn't want to admit it twice. He didn't want to admit it at all, in reality.
It seemed like everything was silent, although guns were being fired and alchemy triggered around them.
It hit Ed hard this time.
Amaris wasn't coming back.
The light vanished from Amaris' view, nothing in sight anymore except for pitch black darkness.
"No…" she muttered, having a feeling of dread. She had felt trapped before, but not as she did now. Something inside of her simply screamed that this time, it was for real.
She didn't know why she thought the other time wasn't.
"No…no…no…no…" she repeated. "NO." she started to panic, whipping her head in all directions, clawing at the blackness. "Letmeoutletmeoutletmeout." Her words slurred together as she rapidly said the words, striking her fist only to recoil as it actually hit something.
What had she hit?
She reached out, feeling a hard, cold surface under her fists. She could feel where to surfaces met, a line that was almost not there.
She put her ear to it, hearing muffled sounds.
Her heart leaped painfully.
It was the door to the gate.
"Let me out!" she screamed, pounding on the door. Her fist was bleeding from the last punch as she tried to get free.
"Please! Someone!" she screamed again, bending her head down as her hands curled into fists again.
"Help me…" she whispered. "I don't want to die."
She felt a hand on her shoulder, too weak to scream out but found herself not needing too.
"I really am sorry…" it was her mother.
"You can't do anything, can you?" Amaris whispered. There was no reply. "You can't do anything…I'm stuck here…right?"
Her reply was unexpected, for the light returned and blinded Amaris more then the first time.
"I'm sorry for leaving you again." She whipped around, even though her wings were in the way, she could see her mother waving as the gate closed behind Amaris and hurled her back to earth.
Her feet slammed onto the ground, her mind unable to register anything except for explosions and gunfire.
Ed heard something slam shut, like a door, and looked around. Only then did he once again become aware of his surroundings, happiness swelling up in him.
But then he panicked.
"STOP FIRE!" Alphonse screamed out. "YOU'LL SHOOT HER!"
In front of the two brothers was none other then Amaris, bleeding with two, feathered wings behind her. The feathers were dyed red, however, from the blood.
"I SAID STOP!" Alphonse' scream seemed to reach a few, since Wrath turned and looked at Amaris. He was in shock, but since he had turned right before a man was about to shoot him, a bullet flew back him and straight at Amaris.
"NO." Edward and Alphonse screamed out desperately. Everyone stopped then as a piecing scream echoed around them. Envy turned, his eyes widening along with everyone else's.
Amaris could feel the wound in her new wings, the bullet having shot into one. She still couldn't register what was happening, except the fact she wasn't safe and that her mother really was gone this time.
And this caused her to enter a stage of panic.
Everyone watched as purple sparks danced around her, circling like a twister before expanding. Soldiers and Homunculi alike backed away, wondering what was happening. The lights flashed around her, the purple growing darker until no one could see Amaris at all.
"Amaris!" Ed screamed, getting to his feet. He felt as if everything was in slow motion as he darted towards the hectic alchemy surrounding Amaris, diving in without thought. Alphonse shouted for him, Roy's eyes widened, and Ed disappeared into the alchemy.
No one knew what was happening. No one knew if he was alive.
Then, slowly, the alchemy surrounding them started to fade away, everyone waiting to see what had happened.
Author's Note(s):
Long-ass author note time! I decided to put it at the end.
1: I know, this is super late. I just haven't had the urge to write much…plus I'm watching Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni…so addictive.
2: Yes, Greed wasn't in this one. I apologize. I'm trying to get him in there. There's a 50 chance he'll be in the next chapter…whenever that comes out.
3: I'm in tennis now! Random, yes. Anyway, there WILL be alternate endings, as far as I know for now. Already got'em in mind.
4: I'm surprised at how many people read this. Thank you everyone!
5: This isn't ending yet. I still have a lot to explain and more romance to throw in. –sighs- A long fanfic indeed…
7: Anyone notice I skipped 6?
8: Review Replies! Gotta long list…
Devil-Speaker/The-Living-Shadow: I hope no one's happy with Dante –sweatdrop- Unless they really hate Amaris.
DemonRaily: I know, I know…more blood….I'm having a hard time with that for some reason…but, if I make a Higurashi no Naku Koro Ni story, there will be plenty of blood XD
Luca4ever: I didn't exactly show what behind the gate…sorry… and yes, I'm keeping Alphonse in! Yay!
Pastel Cupcake: I know, I love alternate endings! That way, whoever you want the character to end up with, they end up with XD
Bar-Ohki: Sure was. –sweatdrop-
MinokaintheShadows: Ha! Now YOU'RE making excuses! Now, for my famous excuses: I have tennis everyday except weekends. Weekends I have 4-H. I have a puppy (load full of trouble XD) and…and…yeah, that's about it…. DX
Eryn Goddess of Chaos: In two days?! Dedicated…wow…you make me feel special! –hands you a cupcake- Anyway, yeah…this is going to be a long fanfic to my knowledge so I'm glad you like it long –sweatdrop-
Ayumi Elric: Yeah, I liked that chapter better too. Sorry I haven't been on MSN, by the way…my laptop was taken away by the computer guy and hasn't come back yet –sniffle- I don't have MSN…
Ichigo92: Thank you! Sorry about the long wait for this chapter…yeah…I've been slow with it lately…but I'm glad you liked reading it!
Fluffgabbi: Here's the chapter! And yay, you want to read more! I'll try to get more chapters then…if…I don't come up with excuses….
RandomToth: Thank you, I updated:D
Miorochi: Updated :3
EdwardE. Lover: I updated after I read this one…pie?! I want pie! –puppy eyes- Sorry about the weeks without update…I was…uh…busy? Yeah, busy. –sweatdrop & nervous laugh-