pssst! ...hey you...We survived the "End of the World"...rejoice! :D
Chapter 31: Ode to Serenity (part 1)
I'm scared. My body hurts. I'm scared. Where the heck am I?
SERENITY!" I heard someone scream my name out, they sound like they're in so much pain. I recognize that voice, it's Alphonse. Alphonse, is he hurtt?
Weakly opening my eyes, I slowly looked over to where the scream came from, towards Alphonse, that boy…the one that I love the most. The one I would sacrifice anything for, even if it meant that I could never touch him, even if it meant he could never touch me.
"…Serenity…oh my god," I heard Edward whimper out. Why are they talking like this? What's wrong? Did I hurt them? Why are they saying my name like that?
My chest then started hurting tenfold, even more than when it was being ripped open by the gate. I tried tensing my body to pin-point where the pain was coming from, but the more I tried to move, the more the pain increased, like a fire engulfing me entirely. Like my whole body was being torn to pieces. So I couldn't help to let out an ear-splitting scream.
"No Ree…" Alphonse said, his voice sounding the closest to a person in tears, "Please don't move."
Then that's when I noticed my predicament. We were in the underground lair, it was the promised day, and things were going horribly wrong. And that's when I remembered. He used me. The one key, the closest thing to him achieving Godly-hood: the only path to the gate, the only path to the truth.
Eyes widened in horror, I felt like puking. My very core, my torso, pierced. My body elevated a many inches into the air. What that was holding me airborne was a pointing pillar of highly concentrated philosopher stones forged together, ripping me from my middle. I couldn't feel my legs. I knew that my liver and stomach was badly torn apart, I could basically see my innards hanging out. It was disgusting, and my blood was spilling out like a steady stream, down to the floor onto a widely drawn transmutation circle, down to where Alphonse, Edward, Hohenheim, Mustang and Mrs. Curtis could see. See me in such a pitiful and disgusting state.
I let out another scream, I began to panic. For the first time I was afraid. I was afraid of death, I was terrified of dying. I didn't want it to go this way. I never wanted to die this way. Not this painfully. I could feel my own weak stone try over and over again to heal my body, but the stone couldn't keep up. Not with an injury like this. I tried pulling myself up but I couldn't. It just hurt more, I just tore more. I knew that this would happen, but it's more shocking when it happens. There are the sacrifices, the pawns to the equation and then there is the catalyst. Me. The one spark to the reaction. The only thing that could knock on Truth's door. The hidden piece to the chess game, and I saw it all coming.
That was when I couldn't fight anymore. My body giving way, I looked over to Alphonse. He looked panicked. Although he doesn't have the luxury of expressions on him, I could just tell. He was panicked, angry, he wanted to hurt them, destroy them, and I was happy.
"Please…." I muttered, staring at Alphonse, then at Edward. The two boys that grew so much within the blink of my eyes "Please…stop them….please put an end….put an end to all this pain."
My last moment as a Philosopher's Stone. As a Human and my last moment spent as Serenity Olympia Xerxes. I knew. I learned that I did my best, but this wasn't my battle anymore. It never was. It wasn't my story to end. It's in their hands now. The new generation.
"See you soon Al," I smiled, stretching my arm out, a small tear falling from my eye, "See you soon."
A Day Before.
"Ms. Serenity!" called out a group of children that ran over to Serenity. They were in a different small local like town, just on the outskirts of Central. Hohenheim had wondered off somewhere into the town, while Serenity stayed nearer to the forest that bordered the town and Central, writing under a large tree.
"Ms. Serenity!" the children said again, finally reaching her and pulling at her white laced sleeve that accompanied her white thick fabric dress, "Hurry, Mr. Hohenheim is in trouble!"
"Trouble?" Serenity said, a brow arched as she brushed aside her now 18 inched long golden hair away from her face. She, looking well matured, no longer carried the features of a young teenage girl, but of a young woman well on her way to adulthood. Slipping on her flats, her hair blowing restlessly in the wind, she followed the children to wherever the trouble was taking place.
Finally getting to where the ruckus was coming from, Serenity nearly fell over laughing. Hohenheim was indeed in trouble, Edward and Hohenheim were "reunited" once again after several months, and the last reunion wasn't one that was quite pleasant for the either. Here was Edward crouching over Hohenheim, who he had just punched well in the face.
"Ah, that felt good," Edward huffed, twisting his automail wrist just after punching his father.
"Why did you have to hit me with your right?" Hohenheim complained, rubbing his sore cheek.
Feeling small relief of seeing Edward behave his usual self, she noticed that he had definitely grown much taller to her amazement, as well as growing into his manly features, the irony had set into Serenity that she couldn't help let out a loud laugh, crouching over her knees and eyes tearing up from the laughter. She wasn't the only one that did some growing. And it was no surprise that when she started to laugh, Edward turned to look at her shocked, until he recognized who it was, then he frowned.
"Ree?!" Edward said, squinting at her as she rose up, quieting her laughter, as she decided to just settle for chuckling, "Is that you?"
"In the flesh," Serenity grinned, approaching Edward, "It's been a while, were you able to meet up with Alphonse?"
"Yeah…" Edward said awkwardly, looking away from Serenity and to his shoes, hands hidden in his pockets, "…It has. I heard from Winry you guys were able to meet up for a while. Thanks for looking out for them."
"It wasn't an issue. It's the least I can do," Serenity smiled, placing her hands at her hips, "I'm guessing you've heard about my predicament from Winry."
"Winry said she didn't really get the gist of it," Edward chuckled, "but she just said that I had to save Amestris and you no matter what."
"Well Hohenheim can explain everything that's going on to you," Serenity sighed, scratching her head, "It's really a lot to take in though. Are you ready?"
"What about you?" Edward asked,
Chuckling a little, Serenity placed her hand on Edward's right shoulder, shaking it a bit to get his attention and look up to her.
"Listen Edward," Serenity said her eyes stern, "I don't need any saving, I'm a big girl, and I can take care of myself. I'm older than you think."
"Right about that," Edward scrunched his nose at Serenity, "Have you gotten taller again, I thought for sure I'd catch up to you now."
"Nice try Edward," Serenity swatted his shoulder, making his jump from the hit, "You're a hundred years too early to catch up to me."
Turning around to face Edward's company she glanced over at the Homunculus Greed that harbored Ling's body, sneering at him. Then she looked over at Edward, but shrugged his shoulders as an indication that he was safe.
Sighing Serenity turned away from the group waving at them with the back of her hand, "You guys look like you're about to discuss some serious business, so I'll just leave you boys to that."
Staring after Serenity's leaving figure, Edward smiled. It finally felt that things had a chance of turning out fine after this whole "Promised Day" issue that everyone was now back together and everyone was going to come through this together.
Later that night, under the starry sky huddled around a camp fire, Edward and his company listened to Hohenheim and Serenity explain all that was happening within Amestris, and also their true identities, their past and importance they are to the Father Homunculus. The shock and disbelief was as plain as to see as the moon that dark night and Serenity sighed after the whole explanation. It was really beginning to get old having to explain things to others for her.
"…wait, what?" Edward said in disbelief, his fingers rubbing at his temple as he slouched in his sit.
"Serenity and I are the Philosopher's Stones you've sought out for all these years," Hohenheim said sternly pointing at himself, the faltering his glare, "Wanna use me?"
"Are You Insane?!" both Serenity and Edward yelled at Hohenheim perfectly in sync.
"Those are the lives of innocent people," Edward scowled, flustered by the question, "It's our fault we ended up like this-we could never use them."
"I'm glad to hear you say that, son," Hohenheim smiled softly at his son, Serenity noticed this and smiled too, patting Hohenheim's back to offer comfort, "But will you help me stop his ambitions?"
"Help you?" Edward said irritated, like the thought of doing anything with his father was lower than anything, "Let's get things straight. I'm going to stop him with or without you. But right now, we stand a better chance with you on our side. That's the only reason why I came here!"
"Well, regardless of your motives, for now we fight together," Hohenheim said humbly, standing up from his seat, Serenity doing the same, "That's enough talk for one night. Let's get some food and rest."
"Huh? Sure," Edward got up from his seat with the rest, then turning again to face his father as he just remembered something "Oh yeah, I just remembered Granny Pinako told me to tell you Mom's last words."
Staying still Hohenheim stared at his son stiffly as he relayed the message, "She said "I'm sorry, I can't keep my promise. I have to leave first."
Just as the words were said to him, Hohenheim began to shed tears like he were a child again from hearing the last words of his beloved. A simple promise that He and his wife had made was tragically broken by unforeseen events. Hohenheim finally was able to mourn even if it were sudden to others. Those words were all he needed to hear.
"Y-Y-You're a grown man! Don't cry!" Edward stuttered, looking back and forth trying to justify what he just said to his father, "It's just…weird!"
"You're right," Hohenheim sniffed, taking off his glasses and rubbing at his eyes, "I'm sorry."
"Okay! I told you the message! Okay?" Edward said flustered, now running away from the scene, "I'm going to go get dinner! Bye!"
Sitting once again, Serenity stared awkwardly at Hohenheim, there've only been a few times she's seen the man cry, and she never knew how to deal with him each time.
"Serenity, will you give me some time to gather myself, you could go get dinner with Edward," Hohenheim said to Serenity, his voice hoarse.
"DaijobudesukaHohenheim?" Serenity asked Hohenheim in their native tongue, leaning over him and cupping his face, like a mother would to her crying child, as small tears still fell from his eyes, her eyes searching his as if she could attempt to ease his pain.
"Ah, Daijobu," Hohenheim chuckled, holding onto the hands that were gently cupped around his cheeks, "Go to Edward. I'm sure he has a lot of things he would like to clear up with you."
"Now where could have Edward gone," Serenity sighed, her hands clasped behind her back as she searched through the small market place for Edward, "He couldn't have strayed so far."
Stopping in front of a vendor somewhere in the busy market, a blouse caught Serenity's attention. A white blouse that had a low dip in the front and stopped just above the navel, showing off the stomach, with a few ruffles at the back, a sad fact had crossed her mind.
"I'll need a blouse like this one for tomorrow," Serenity sighed to herself, ignoring the weird look the female vendor owner gave her, "I can't just be wearing my button up shirts and having it tear willy-nilly when the gate it opens within me."
"Can I help you?" said the owner of the stall, eyeing Serenity and making a quick look at the blouse before she smiled, "Oh, thinking of surprising your boyfriend with that?"
"Excuse me," Serenity said, giving the woman a confused look.
"That blouse," the woman winked at her, "It's quite the scandalous, especially with a body like yours."
Blushing beet red, Serenity darted her eyes away from the woman and back at the blouse. It did look a bit skimpy. But it wasn't like she was trying to impress anybody. Or at least that's what she thought.
"I wonder what reaction Alphonse would have to me wearing this," Serenity thought, a small smile gracing her lips, "It's okay to indulge yourself every now and then."
"U-Um, I'll buy this one," Serenity said timidly pointing at the blouse, "Could I get in a paper bag please?"
"Of course," the woman grinned grabbing the blouse from its hanger, "That'll be 8000cenz, and I ain't bargaining."
"Sheesh," Serenity sweat dropped, opening up her little purse to pull out a few 1000cenz notes, "I wasn't thinking of it. I'm guessing its had a lot of suitors, this blouse."
"You're just lucky hun," the woman sighed, exchanging the blouse for the money with Serenity, "After tonight I was planning to keep this thing for myself if I couldn't get someone to agree with the price."
"I see," Serenity laughed, her face gleaming a little from the laughter, "Then I must be lucky, thank you and good night."
"You too miss," the woman waved after Serenity as she left the vendor and into the little, market, the brown paper back to her chest, "Wow, that's the freshest smile I've seen on a gal like that."
Stepping out into the outskirts of the small village, a sudden chill went up Serenity's back, and a not too distant sound of clashing coming from towards the woods. This presence was eerily familiar to her, and with a dropping feeling in her gut, Serenity hoped with all her might that it wasn't who she thought it was, just as all lights in the village were put off. The only light left was the small gleam of the starry night sky.
"Pride," Serenity growled out that name, her eyes becoming feral, as if she were being reverted to a caged animal, as she walked towards the woods.
"I can't see a thing," Edward thought to himself, crouched in the complete darkness of the woods. He, along with Greed, and the two Chimera bodyguards were currently stuck in a situation between then, Pride the Homunculus and Alphonse. Pride had somehow seized control of Alphonse's body and was using it like a puppet, and the strings were Pride's shadows that were adorned with eyes similar to the gate's. The only way to put themselves out of the danger of Pride's shadows was to cut out any source of light in the area, which involved the Edward cutting out the electricity with alchemy.
"But at least those eyes are gone," Edward muttered quietly to himself, trying to see through the darkness.
"Is it gone?" Heinkel, one of the chimera bodyguards asked, as the group just stared at the still figure of Alphonse's body.
"No, he's just waiting," Greed answered, "The moment that a shadow is cast somewhere, he'll be back."
"What'll we do?!" said the other Chimera, the one that resembled a Gorilla.
"Were you watching his feet," Greed motioned towards Alphonse's armored body's feet.
"Yeah…those shadowy tentacle things came out from there," Heinkel said.
"Not that," Greed corrected, "He was just right behind a giant shadow, somewhere in the shadows of these trees is Pride's main body."
"Main? …you mean as in not the armor?"
"Exactly, his container is somewhere else."
"Describe it," Heinkel requested turning to Greed, ambition and a sense of instinctual duty shun in him.
Meanwhile in the darkness, stood the container of Pride, the small body of the Fuhrer's son, Selim Bradley, as he began to assess his situation. An emotionless face accompanied him as not even an ounce of panic took him, like all was just efforts in vain to subdue him.
"Pride," hearing his title, Selim/Pride sighed at the voice not feeling the need to turn towards the person.
"Lie," Pride sighed, putting his hands in his pockets, slowly turning to face Serenity, "What brings you all the way out here? Not going to hide?"
"My name is Serenity," she growled, "I am of royal blood from Xerxes, not some monstrosity you claim to call Lie."
"How did you find me," Pride rolled his eyes at Serenity, "I'm quite impressed that you could navigate yourself through this darkness."
"Please," Serenity spat at Pride, "I spent over a month in those underground tunnels your creator had over a month in those underground tunnels your creator had sloth dig, without your own detection. Navigating my way through here is mere child's play."
"What on earth were you doing down there?" Pride said, his eyes slightly widened, "Lately I can't get a clue of what's been going on in your head, what're you up to Serenity?"
"You'll find out tomorrow," Serenity sneered, getting into a fighting stance, staring into the darkness, "Now answer my question, what are you doing here?"
"Just taking out the trash," Selim sighed, "I'm here to get rid of Greed, he's sort of putting our plans in a loop."
"Last minute errands?" Serenity scoffed, "Same for me too, 'cause you're the trash I should have taken out for a long time."
"You could never kill me," Selim smiled, "You don't have the heart to harm your dear Big Brother."
"He's not here anymore," Serenity growled, her eyes beginning to turn red, a small swell emerging on her sternum, showing as a small bump against the front of her dress, "And neither will you."
"But you know my physical container is made up of his genetic makeup, which would mean his soul is part of me as well." Selim sneered back at Serenity, "You always irritated me with how much you put such a small insignificant human on such a high pedestal."
"Well you won't have to feel irritated anymore," Serenity said, the telltale sound of her chest slowly ripping open, torso of white dress tearing with it, as a gigantic eye peeked out. "It's time you return to where you came from."
"So you're opening up to Lie now," Selim expression turning stone faced, noticing Serenity's seriousness now, "Just like how you used to be, the real you."
Just as suddenly as the spark between the two monsters ignited, out from the bushes came what seemed to be a lion chimera. Heinkel, who suddenly pounced at Selim, clawing at Pride's small back, making him retreat into the bushes, with the Heinkel following behind.
"What the fuck just happened?" Serenity stood, staring after her prey that just escaped from her, her irises turning from the red blood lust caused by the gate back to golden. Suddenly feeling dizzy, Serenity fell down on her behind, hand clutching her forehead to steady herself, waiting for the nauseous feeling to pass.
"Time is really moving a bit too quickly for me," Serenity gasped, sucking in as much air into her now wheezing chest, "Please hold on until tomorrow."
Getting up, Serenity picked up the brown paper bag she had originally brought with her, tearing off the shredded part of the dress and taking off the torn bra, Serenity put on the white blouse, she had just bought. Going to the ends of dress, which was now turned into a long skirt, Serenity ripped the sides of the skirt, all the way up to just below her panty line. Staring into the darkness once more, she took a deep breath and slowly exhaled, opening her eyes cautiously as once again her golden eyes turned blood red.
"Please."
Time's running out.
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OH MY LANTA! I AM SO SORRY FOR THE WAIT! (I even doubt y'all were waiting anyway) dang I almost completely forgot about this story, that's college life for ya. But I really want to complete this and post my dang sequel! Gah! I have a DBZ fanfiction that I completed like two-three months ago. It was sorta short but its actually the prequel to my main story. So please go check it out. It's called Coward's Virtue. Mirai Trunks Timeline. (I swear to Buddha its not the usual lets make a female OC and make her fall in love with Trunks off the bat and have them make cute Kawaii desu babies! There's more to that...I hope) So go check out Coward's Virtue y'all!
Now about this chapter
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Well time is officially running out on Serenity. The beginning of the chapter was like an insight of what's to come for her on the Promised Day and what her role is. Serenity isn't a sacrifice (I hope that was shown well.) she's more like the catalyst to the whole mess (Yay! Chemistry talk! .-. College sux) Serenity is basically the Earthly form of the gate...Truth, hence why she is called Lie (Yay! It FINALLY makes sense!), the one path/dorrway to Truth, and Father/Homo Father?/Dwarf in the Flask sorta needs Serenity to open up the gate to seize Truth's power to obtain Godlihood (SPOILER...ah stfu its been 2 years since Brotherhood was finished, don't complain.) And since Serenity has so little power from the Philosopher's stone to substain her, next time she opens the gate and uses Lie is very close to being her last moment. Which Father is going to try to obtain. I mean it sorta makes sense as to why she's scared right? Cuz everyone else lives after being used as a sacrifice, but she doesn't. geddit?
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WOOOOOw...I wonder what Ree's reaction will be like when she sees the state Alphonse is in when she finds him. I'm telling you she might go Banshee on Selim/Pride. It's gonna put her in a tight spot cuz she loves Alphonse, but has a small (albeit twisted sense of affection) for Pride/Selim.
So please Read and Review! Reviews make me happy, Reviews make me want to update, especially since it's the Christmas Holidays. I need to feel important! LOL holidays depression .-. just kidding...BUT PLEASE REVIEW!
Thanks for reading Eternally Yours! Love ya! You bring purpose to my Microsoft word document!
See ya in the next chapter!
