Last time, Fletcher revealed the truth about the Red Water, it was a necessary ingredient for creating a Philosopher Stone, but it was also the reason everyone was suffering from a strange sickness. Edward decided that the best way to stop the disease was to destroy the lab that produced the Red Water, but Russel came and tried to stop him. When his attempts at stopping the Fullmetal Alchemist became feudal, Russel resorted to spraying Ed with the Red Water, which poisoned him and Sora earlier. However, Sora got in the way and took a heavy dose of poison. As Fletcher gave Sora an antidote, he told his brother that what they were doing was wrong and their father would be ashamed.

After Sora was given the medicine, the Elrics took him and escaped the mansion. Then Mugear arrived to check on the progress of Russle and Fletcher's experiments. Russel presented a fresh Red Stone to Mugear, but to his surprise, Mugear used the Red Stone as ammo for a new weapon, the Red Rain, and captured Russel and Fletcher. Mugear explained that he just found out who they really were, they were the sons of Nash Tringum, an alchemist that used to work for him.

Meanwhile, Ed, Al, and Sora returned to Belsio's house, where the lemon farmer was waiting to hear an explanation. After the boys told him about her Red Water, Belsio said that the reason the two imposters could make pure Red Water was probably because they inherited the gift from their father, Nash Tringum, an old friend of Belsio's. While Nash was working for Mugear, a strange sickness that infected many babies in Xenotime started to spread. Hope seemed out of reach, but one day, a man named Marcoh approached Elisa when she was a baby and cured her with a strange Red Light. That is the reason that Elisa was coughing to this day.

So to stop history from repeating itself, Sora and the Elric Brothers decided to investigate further...

Warning: Kingdom Hearts and Fullmetal Alchemist are both licensed by Square-Enix. The secondary licenses for both franchises are Disney (Kingdom Hearts), Aniplex, Bones Inc., and Funimation (Fullmetal Alchemist).

PS: There will be spoilers.


Fullmetal Kingdom: The Fanfic

Chapter 29: When it Rains...

That night, inside the mansion, Mugear entered a cellar, where his goons were watching over the Tringum Brothers, Russel and Fletcher. Mugear furiously slammed his fist on their cell door and said, "You're useless, both of you! If you had just agreed to move on to Phase Two with the Contingency Plan, you wouldn't have ended up here!"

Fletcher looked at his brother with curiosity and asked, "Brother, what is Phase Two?" Russel couldn't answer, so Mugear sneered, "Hmph, it's really hard to tell a lad so young, isn't it? Well, little boy, for all your hard work, I might as well tell you...You just introduce the Red Water to the drinking supply of pregnant women! And when the process is done, you extract it, then transmute the finished ingredient into a stone...(chuckles) IT LETS MOTHER NATURE DO ALL THE WORK! It's really a shame though, you've obviously inherited your father's cowardice."

Mugear turned around and started walking up the stairs back to the lab when Russel asked, "Wait Mugear! I need to know something, did my father...use that method on someone?" Mugear looked back at Russel and replied, "No, at the last minute, he had a crisis of morality and left. If only he had gone through with it, it would have saved his wretched life." Russel was shocked, "Y-you liar! You said he left here alive!" Mugear made a cruel smiled and left...

As the sun rose, Mugear, while wearing his gas mask, was inside the chamber with the Red Water Spring, meeting with Lust again. Mugear said to Lust, "I've taken care of everything, now all we have to do is convince the real Elric Brothers to put our plan into motion." Lust however looked away and said, "You make it sound so easy, but those boys are more complex than you think." Mugear then said with confidence, "I can handle a couple of children! Please, put a little trust in me, we're close to the milk and honey, I can feel it!" Lust glared at him and replied, "It's you're gamble, go ahead...one way or the other, things will work out."

It was morning, and Lust made her way to the train to Lior, while back at Belsio's house, one of Mugear's henchman came to the door. When Belsio opened the door, the henchman told him that Mugear was looking for the REAL Elric Brothers. The Elrics met with the henchman and agreed to meet with him. And as they left, Sora was ordered by Ed to stay at Belsio's house until the Antidote was finished curing him.

At the mansion, the Elrics were greeted by the land baron himself, "Hello my friends! You two must be...lets see...automail arm, check...iron body, check...diminutive size? (Ed:WHAWAZZATT?) Ah, the Elric Brothers! A pleasure to meet you, I am Charles T. Mugear, at your service!"

When the Elrics were guided to the lab, Mugear said to them, "I'm so sorry those imposters stole you're identities, I was completely fooled by them, we all were I'm ashamed to say!The last thing I want to do is ad insult to injury, I'm sure you have work to do, but since the two of you are such gifted alchemists, there's a matter I'd like you're help with..."

Ed looked at Mugear and said, "Something with Red Water by any chance?" Mugear smiled, "Oh, so you have heard about it! That's a relief, then I don't have to explain. The truth about the matter is I've done my research as well. And I happened to hear some rumors that you're very interested in the Philosopher Stone."

Mugear then pulled out a small Red Stone and shows it to Edward, "Whaddya think Edward? It's the product of crystallized Red Water, a small prototype of the prize that you're after." Ed then asked, "So what do I do with that?" Mugear replied, "First of all, to get what we need to save Xenotime, we use this and more to make the REAL stone, and then revitalize the gold mine, then this town can get back on it's feet again!"

Ed then said to Mugear, "Sounds like a good cause. So, where are the fakes?" Mugear answered, "You mean the imposters? They've been taken care of Mr. Elric, they're in the cellar." Ed then clapped his hands and used alchemy to suddenly destroy the prototype Red Stone. Mugear was startled by the action, but Ed said, "Don't worry about it. But before we talk about the unfinished product, first we execute those prisoners. We State Alchemists aren't the type to forgive liars."

Mugear then asked, "Oh, then you mean you've excepted my request for assistance?" Ed replied, "I told you, lets take care of those kids first! It's been a good while since I've killed someone, I kinda miss it...HEY, YOU WANNA WATCH?" Mugear trembled and shook his head, "(gulp) Uh, no thanks, I'll let you take care of it." Al looked at Ed and the two gave an amused look at each other...

Back at Belsio's house, inside of a small room, Sora was still in bed, resting until the sickness was gone. Sora thought to himself, It's quiet...and peaceful. I haven't had such a peaceful day in my life. It feels nice...but...I can't just sit here and wait for the Elrics to come back! The colonel gave me a job to do, if those two are exposed to Red Water like me...no, no, Ed said he and Al would handle it, and besides, they're tougher then they look. This is one job I know they can handle, besides, I have to stay here and keep an eye on Tidus until he wakes up, and Donald and Goofy, so they won't split on me.

"Hey there, you got a zit on you're forehead."

"WHA?" Sora tried to get the zit off, but to his surprise, there wasn't a zit there. "Just kidding! But seriously, you bought that? Even a 10 year old wouldn't fall for that! And you, you're like, 14? I wonder, do you get dumber when you age? I'd hate to know that the one who released me would be nothing more than a dunce."

Sora was confused, "Wait, released you? I don't even know you!" The voice then said, "Well, you would if you were about 82 or 79 years old. But I can tell you're thoughts are on something else right now...or SOMEONE else." Sora then realized the voice was talking about Edward, Sora took out his Avenger and asked, "What did you do to my friends?"

"Nothing...yet. It's complicated, but if I were you, I'd worry about the Golems and the power the Red Water can produce for them. In fact...I think there are some lurking inside that 'secret spring', waiting for some tiny fool to come near it. You wouldn't want your friends to suffer like you, right? Then you might want to get to Mugear's Mansion before it's to late."

As the voice stopped, Sora stood up and made his way to the door, he then thought to himself, My body is still recovering, but I should be able to lend the Elrics a hand! Sorry Ed, I do trust you to handle it alone, but the Golems aren't natural enemies. As Sora left the room, Crimson emerged from the wall with the most darkness and said, "Hmph...easier than I expected. Now we can begin the 'test'!"

Meanwhile, inside the cellar, the Elrics were breaking the cuffs on the Tringum Brothers wrists. When they were finished, Russel asked, "Aren't you going to chew us out for using your names?" Ed shook his head, "I've done enough of that. Besides, I want to know why the sons of Nash Tringum would want to continue making his Red Water." Fletcher and Russel were shocked that Edward now knows who they were related to.

Russel then replied, "...Because...it was his dream. As his son, it was my duty to see it through." Ed then asked, "So you honestly think this was what he wanted?" Russel couldn't answer, so Ed continued, "You do know what his research was doing to Xenotime, right? The poisonous toxin, the deaths of new born children, don't tell me you were still going to go though it!"

Ed then bent down to see Russel eye to eye, "You're father knew, that's why he abandoned the Red Water and the rest of his research, and disobeyed Mugear. And I can tell you right now, that no happiness can come from this. So stop following you're dad's old path! Make you're own path, live you're own life, and stop with the acting, and trying to be someone you're not!"

Back in the lab, Mugear smirked at the red dust that used to be the prototype in his hand, "...no matter, the stone those boys can fashion up for me will be even better-!"

"What boys? You mean us?"

Mugear then noticed Ed and Al coming out of the cellar door. Ed crossed his arms and asked, "By the way, I heard Nash Tringum worked with you on this plan as well, Is he still around?" Mugear shrugged and shook his head, "Nash? Oh, I'm sorry Ed, Nash's research wasn't making progress, so I had to let him go." Ed raised his eyebrow and said, "Really? It's funny, you don't seem to be the type of guy to let people walk away with you're secrets."

Mugear gave an annoyed look at Ed and said, "I'm afraid I missed the implication." Ed replied, "I'm SAYING that I don't answer to murderers 'Charley'!"

Mugear was finally found out, as he stared in shock at Ed, his face turned into a sour and angered face, "Really? ...IN THAT CASE YOU WON'T BE LEAVING HERE ALIVE!" He quickly reached behind him to grab his weapon, the Red Rain! Mugear then pointed it at the Elrics, "You're no loss, there are plenty of fish in the sea that I could use to make more of THESE!" Mugear then pulls out another Red Stone from his pocket.

Ed and Al staggered, "He-he has another?" Mugear smiled as he dropped the stone into the Red Rain, " It may not be as potent as that other one..." And to the Elric's surprise, the Red Rain changed into the barrel of a small cannon, "...BUT IT'LL DO!"

(BLAM!)

As the cannon-fire came at them, The Elrics jumped out of the way. Ed then gloated, "Is that all you got, 'Charley'?" But to Ed's surprise, it wasn't, as Mugear pulled more Red Stones from his pocket...a handfull! "(gulp) Dumb question!" Ed said as he watched Mugear pour the stones into the Red Rain, "Ha Ha HAAA, what's the matter, didn't think I had the stones?" And then, the cannon barrel on Mugear's machine changed into ten more barrels!

As Mugear pulled the trigger, Ed and Al ran straight for one of the pillars in the lab to hide behind! Then, as soon as the ammo was gone, Mugear brought out more stones and filled the Red Rain with more ammo, "Heh heh, can't hide forever!" As more bullets were tearing the pillar to pieces, Ed said to Al, "I'd hate to say it but he's right! We need an out, FAST!"

Mugear kept shooting at the pillar the Elrics were hiding behind, but as he kept shooting, Sora kicked the door open! "Ed, the Golems are here-GLEAGH?" Sora said as he saw Mugear point his weapon at Sora, "The bodyguard!" Mugear quickly refiled the Red Rain and shot at Sora, who started to run like crazy! Sora then thought of an idea, "For an overweight sicko, you got a good aim!"

"Ignorant brat!" Mugear said as he kept trying to shoot at Sora! Ed then noticed that Sora was drawing Mugear's fire away, so Ed looked at Al and said, "This is our chance Al, PUSH!" The Elrics then began to push the nearly destroyed pillar they were hiding behind towards Mugear. Sora then lifted his Avenger and threw it, "Hey tubby, CATCH!"

The Avenger shockingly sliced through the Red Rain, leaving Mugear unarmed! "Grrr...I'm not done yet!" Mugear then took out a knife and thrusts it at Sora, who narrowly escapes it's cut! "You won't take me alive!" Mugear said as he walked towards the exit while pointed the knife at Sora, who said in response, "And apparently, 'tuns'o fun', neither will they." Mugear looked at the direction Sora was pointing, and to his surprise, the Elrics succeeded in pushing the pillar down, apparently crushing Mugear!

Ed then looked at Sora and asked, "You're still sick from the Red Water, so what the hell are you doing here?" Sora replied, "A voice told me that the Golems are somewhere around here, they are here inside this building, or at least...inside the location where this, secret spring, is being kept." Ed asked again, "You didn't answer my question! You're sick, so why are you here?" Sora got frustrated and replied, "I CAME TO HELP! Why are you so-?" Ed interrupted, "Because that poison was supposed to kill you if you didn't allow the medicine to work. You're just wasting whatever time you have left."

Sora smiled, "Hmph, it's only a waste if I die for nothing, right?" Ed staggered, surprised that Sora could use one of his speeches against him. Sora then smiled and swung his Keyblade around before landing it on his shoulder, he shows a proud face to Ed and said, "And besides, I never needed any permission to help you. Remember what happened in Lior? You surprised me with you're plan to show the townspeople Cornello's true face. But despite my predicament, I still helped you out in fighting him. I did my part, and because we worked together freely, we were able to stop Cornello from creating an empire of suckers."

Al then noticed something and whispered to Ed, "Brother, Sora's body...the red marks on his skin are...shrinking." Ed then noticed Sora's miraculous healing, "W-was the Antidote really that effective?" Sora then continued talking, "You're hard to get along with, but I know I can trust you to watch my back. But I want to know if you could trust ME, do you?" Ed replied, "...I do trust you, but Sora, aren't you worried about what might happen to you? You have the whole assassin's code down and all, but honestly, aren't you afraid of dying?"

"I am...but if I put my worries about me first, then I don't deserve to be called you're friend. I want to help people and save them, that even goes for my friends from the orphanage, and even...her." Ed and Al were disturbed by Sora's words, Ed asked, "'Her'? Who are you talking about?" Sora replied, "A girl...Namine...she was-!"

"Brother, look!" Al pointed at the ground, as he did, Sora and Ed saw a large hole with stairs that led to a large hallway underground! Sora then said to the Elrics, "It's a secret passage! But it's strange, I don't see Mugear's body!" Ed nodded and said to Sora and Al, "Come on guys, time for a chase!"

"Wait, you can't leave without these!" Russel said as he and Fletcher brought in gas masks. Fletcher then said to Sora and the Elrics, "There's allot of poisonous mist underground, so if you're going to stop Mugear and the source of the Red Water, then you need the gas masks!"

Russel then looked at Ed and said, "By the way Ed, thank you for saving us. We aren't going to follow our father's dream anymore." Ed smiled and took a gas mask, "Well, that's good to hear. Alright guys, LET'S CHASE DOWN THAT TUBBY PSYCHOPATH!"

Meanwhile, inside the spring chamber, Mugear was bringing out a cannon to use on the pursuing children. He laughed, "Heh heh, those little delinquents won't know what's coming, I'll never let them take the spring away!" But before he could get the cannonballs, a voice was heard in the dark...

"Oh, a cannon, how thrilling! But how about we give it a little 'boost'?"

Before Mugear could ask who was talking to him, a black ooze came underneath him and started to absorb him and the cannon, "Wha-what is this? Stop it, let me go! STOP IT I'M BEGGING YOU AAAAAAAGH!"

...

...

"...heh heh...heh ha ha...ha ha ha ha ha ha ha, HA HA HA HA HA HA HAAAA!!"

End of Chapter 29


Next Chapter, Sora and the Elrics encounter Mugear's new form while trying to end the threat of the Red Water.

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