36. Enlightenment.

T: A little more of that wondrous exposition this chapter, again please forgive me for this fact but it has to be done at some point! For those wondering how much longer this madness will continue, it seems likely that it'll reach around the 45 chapter mark which is quite something considering I'd never gotten beyond 15 before this fic! Warnings and disclaimers remain the same.

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They end out in a working laboratory filled with half sketched transmutation circles and a vat full of children akin to the one in Tucker's arms.

"I can use the power within you to join these bodies together in order to create a true replica of my daughter's body." Tucker remarks as he places the girl with her kindred.

"You knew that I held the stone?"

"Correct. I have heard many stories centred about the occurrence within Liore and it seemed more than coincidence to me that you became wanted men after that incident. The Fuhrer wishes only to obtain the stone and it would make sense of him to send his men after those who have attained it."

"You know what he truly is, don't you?"

"Of course, he visited the 5th laboratory often while I was there, the other homunculus and their leader always at his side."

"Who is their leader?"

"We can discuss that later, for now I'd like to take a look at the completed stone." The moment that Tucker's fingers connect with the armour he can feel his true body. The link is not as strong or as certain as that which had been established when Ed had touched him; something that he understands is due to the differing levels of their alchemic skill.

Stepping from the other's grasp he says,

"I am afraid that my body is the stone."

"So this is why Edward has 'given up' on the matter."

"He is afraid of what might happen to my soul if we use the stone and he has decided to face the homunculus before dealing with that issue. I understand why he has made such a choice, understand why he wished me to stay away from this matter and yet it is clear to me that we shall not learn to use the stone from reference books."

"I shall teach you to use the stone, Alphonse, but in return I would ask that you allow me to use a portion of it for my own purposes."

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"It seems there is nothing here that can be of use to you." Izumi remarks as she begins placing books back onto Dante's shelves.

"What sort of a woman was Dante?"

"She was a highly gifted alchemist who inherited that symbol," she gestures towards the Sigel hung over Dante's desk and then says, "Or at least that is what I believed for the longest of whiles. Now I not help but wonder why she hid her knowledge away."

"State alchemists do the same thing."

"Because they are selfish, because they wish to keep their knowledge to themselves. Dante wished to use her knowledge to help this world and yet, despite this want, she often told me that she believed it too much of a risk to share all of alchemy's secrets." She pauses in her task and, opening out a draw, she enquires, "You are Hoenheim's son, are you not?"

"So even you know of tousan."

"His name has spread far, Edward, something you shouldn't be surprised by and, even if I had not, I would still know of him. Dante talked often of him, you see, yet if ever I tried to mention his name she would change the subject or become harsh." Pulling a slip of paper from the desk she says, "Even so it seems she could not quite bring herself to throw this away."

He knows his father's hand the moment he sees it and reads only the first few paragraphs before handing it back and saying,

"This is a love letter."

"From your father to Dante."

"I saw Dante, she was clearly 20 years my father's senior and it seems unlikely that he'd have dated her."

"That is not the issue here. The date written on that letter us from the Christian calendar."

"The Christian calendar?"

"It was based on an old religion that is no longer practiced. According to the date on this letter it was written over 400 years ago."

He feels the world spin and, placing a hand out to steady himself he enquires,

"What does that mean?"

"Perhaps nothing, the names could simply be a coincidence and yet it is possible..."

"It is possible that my father is the one controlling the homunculus."

"It's better not to jump to conclusions, Edward, yet if this proves to be the case do you think that you will be able to cope with it?"

He can not give her a response to this enquiry and they fall into a tension filled silence.

As he is leaving the house he catches Izumi's eye and, bowing low, he says,

"I am sorry."

"Don't be foolish, Edward, you are simply doing what has to be done."

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T: Expect another chapter tomorrow. Review.