Alchemic Dragon-3


"So Athena, what did Fuhrer Bradly want to talk to you about in his office?" Edward asked as he was sitting at a small eatery in Liore with Athena and Al.

"It wasn't anything important, just wanted to see how I was doing. He would have come to the hospital room if he hadn't been so busy." Athena exclaimed.

"I'd say that's pretty important. He's taken a liking to you since the exams where you nicked him in a fight." Ed exclaimed taking a drink of his juice.

"So what are you guys, like street performers or something?" The eatery owner asked, causing Ed to spit take into his cup.

"Not a very nice thing to insinuate about your customers pops." Athena sighed, finishing her drink, and pulling her mask back up to cover her face. "We're Alchemists. We're here following a lead on something we think might help with a personal project of ours."

"Sorry, sorry. I didn't mean anything by it." The eatery owner said. "As an apology the drinks are on the house."

"That's very kind of you sir." Athena said putting money on the counter for the food she and Ed ordered. When they got up to leave, Alphonse bumped into the ledge above him, knocking the radio down, only for Athena to catch it. "Careful Al, you could have broken it."

"I'm sorry." Al said.

"It's fine, just be more aware of your surroundings." Athena said, putting the radio back up on the ledge. "So what's with this guy on the radio?"

"That's our leader Father Cornello." The eatery owner said.

"We were lost until he came to town, and began teaching us all the ways of Sun God Leto."

"He grants eternal life to the souls of the faithful. He can even resurrect the dead. His miracles are proof that what he says is true."

"So this guy's claiming he can bring the dead back to life? Now that's something I gotta see." Ed exclaimed.

Later, the trio found themselves in a gathering of the town around the church for worshiping the Sun God Leto, and to their surprise, they saw Cornello, turn a small pink flower that fit in the palm of his hand, into a large crystal sculpture taller than him.

"So that's it huh? What do you think?" Ed asked.

"There's nothing to think. It's alchemy, unless you sensed something Athena?" Al questioned.

"No, I didn't sense any magic coming from him. But when he used the alchemy, I caught the same stench of death I smelt from McDougal, coming from Cornello." Athena said.

"Odd, but do you think that could have something to do with the Philosopher's Stone?" Ed asked. "It would explain how he's ignoring the law of equivalent exchange. He should have only been able to transmute that flower into an object of equal mass."

"Plus, he's changing organic matter into inorganic matter, he shouldn't be able to do that." Al said.

"Maybe, we don't really know how the stone is made, so there's a possibility it requires something similar to a sacrifice, like an animal sacrifice." Athena said, clapping her hands together, and changing the color of her limbs to look like steel Automail.

"What are you doing Athena?" Ed asked.

"I'm gonna try something. I need for my limbs to be like this in order for it to work. You go on ahead without me, I'm gonna have a word with good old Father Cornello." Athena said walking through the crowd, to the front.

"Well, let's go Al. She should have this under control." Ed exclaimed, as they left.

Up at the front, Athena reached up her hand for Father Cornello to see, and upon seeing her, he saw her limbs, and smiled, before grabbing her hand and pulling her up, and began using her as a demonstration to the public.

"My people, rejoice, for another lost lamb, has come to join our flock." Father Cornello said. "Behold, this poor child's limbs are not her own, but replacements for the ones she lost. Witness, as I restore her."

With that, Cornello took both Athena's hands and a bright red flash of light that blinded the crowd, Athena's eyes widened in shock, upon seeing the results.


~Inside the Leto Church~

All was quiet within the church of Leto as a young woman was kneeling down, and praying to the Sun God.

"Oh merciful God, please hear me, hear my prayer I beg of you. Please bring him back." The woman said.

"So this is the all mighty Leto."

The woman turned around and saw Ed and Al standing behind her, Ed with an amused smile on his face.

"Welcome, are you interested in Letoism?" The woman asked.

"Nope, can't say that I am, not really the religious type." Ed exclaimed.

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that." The woman exclaimed with a sad smile. "To know God, is to know Hope. If we believe in divine grace, then through him, all things are possible. If you believed, I'm sure Leto would bless you and make you grow taller."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ed questioned with Al holding him back.

"Easy brother, she's just trying to help." Al exclaimed.

"What about bringing the dead back to life?" Ed questioned sitting on the bench. "Do you think that's possible to?"

"It is."

Ed and Al turned to see Athena, standing behind them, her hands on her hips, and a bandage on her right hand.

"But, not through alchemy or any miracles. Magic is how the dead are brought back, specifically, through healing magic." Athena said.

"Athena, you're back. How'd your experiment go?" Al questioned.

"See for yourself." Athena smiled under her mask holding up her hand, and removing the bandage, showing the cut on her palm. "Cornello is using alchemy to perform his so called miracles, and he's using a Philosopher's Stone to do it, the gem on his ring. That's how he's able to change organic matter into inorganic matter, and vice versa."

"Vice versa, you mean the experiment you had to conduct involved going up to Cornello and asking him to return your limbs to flesh and blood?" Ed asked.

"I didn't even have to ask. I just raised my hand high enough for him to see, and he took me up onto the stage." Athena said. "I have a feeling he's planning something, and it involves the towns people."

"Stop these lies and accusations at once." The woman said. "Father Cornello is capable of bringing the dead back to life, he uses miracles, not alchemy."

Ed sighed and reached into his pocket, pulling out a research journal of his.

"Water, 35 Liters. Carbon 20 Kilograms. Ammonia 4 Liters. Lime 1.5 Kilograms. Phosphorus 800 Grams. Salt 250 Grams. Saltpeter 100 Grams, and various other trace elements." Ed read off.

"Huh?" The woman questioned.

"Great going Ed, you've confused the poor girl." Athena sighed.

"That list represents the complete chemical make up for the human body for the average dult. It's been calculated to the last Microgram, but still there's never been a case of successfully creating a human life through human transmutation." Ed exclaimed. "An' you're telling me, something modern science can't do, you can do with prayer?"

"Lift thy voice to God, and the prayers of the faithful shall be answered." The woman said.

"Did I mention all those ingredients I read off? Down at the market, a kid could buy every one of them for the spare change in his pocket. As it turns out, humans are pretty cheap." Ed exclaimed.

"No that's blasphemy." The woman said.

"Atheism actually." Athena said. "Ed and Al are both Atheists, while I follow a different religion."

"You have to understand, Alchemists are Scientists, we don't believe in unprovable concepts like creators or Gods, unless shown physical proof of their existence." Ed exclaimed. "We observe the physical laws that govern this world, to try and learn the truth. It's ironic really, that through the application of science, we have in many ways been given the power to play gods ourselves."

"So you're putting yourself on the same level as God? That's just, sheer arrogance." The woman exclaimed.

"You know there's an old myth, about a hero who flew on wings made of wax." Ed began. "He thought he could touch the sun, but when he got too close, his wings melted and he came crashing back down to earth. Right Al?"

"Brother."

"I'm sorry Miss, this is difficult for me to ask, but do you think that your Father Cornello could even save an arrogant Scientist like me?" Ed asked.

"Laying it on a bit thick there, aren't pal?" Athena questioned.

"Of course that's wonderful. If anyone can lead you to the creator's light, he can." She said.


~Cornello's Office~

"Father Cornello, there are visitors here who wish to see you. A child and a man wearing a suit of armor, they would only give their names as the Elric Brothers, and they're accompanied by the young woman who joined our ranks this morning." One of Cornello's priests said.

"I can't be bothered now, just send them away." Cornello said. "Wait, the Elric's you're sure that's what they said, you're positive?"

"Yes Father, that's what they call themselves no mistake." The Priest said.

"Damn, then this is a problem, he's the Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric, and that woman I performed a miracle for earlier, must have been the Gemstone Alchemist, Athena Xiao Long." Cornello said. "I fell for her trap. They've both come to call on us."

"That's him, the man in the armor?" The Priest questioned.

"Hmm, dressing the part it would seem." Cornello said.

"But why would State Alchemists be here in Liore?" The Priest inquired. "Surely they couldn't have found out about our plans."

"It's possible this dog's nose is too sharp for his own good." Cornello said.


~1 Hour Later~

"This way please, Father Cornello is a very busy man, as you can imagine. But you're in luck, he's decided to spare a moment for you." The Priest said, leading Edward, Alphonse, Athena, and the church girl Rose, into the dark and dimly lit room.

"Yeah thanks, we understand, we won't take too much of his time." Ed exclaimed.

"Good then it's agreed we'll make this quick." The Priest said, before the doors closed behind them, and he turned around pointing a gun at Al and Athena, with Ed being held back by two spear wielder.

"Brother Cray what is this, what do you think you're doing?" Rose questioned.

"Rose, these heathens have come to ensnare and discredit the Father. They're evil, this is Gods will." Cray said.

"Brother Cray." Rose said.

"Well like you said, let's make this quick." Ed said, kicking the asses of the two who were holding him at spear point.

"I don't much appreciate having a gun pointed at me." Athena said, punching Cray in the gun, causing him to bend over, before she jumped and flipped over his shoulders and pulled him back and down, causing him to bend over her knee as she landed on the ground and his spine cracked, before Athena pulled him back and threw him into the wall, resulting in the gun sliding to Rose's feet.

One of the guys who was holding Ed back with a spear tried running off, but was stopped as Ed threw the spear, causing the man to trip up as it tangled with his feet, and he fell to the ground, before it hit him in the head.

"Oh yeah, strike." Ed smirked.

"What's this commotion?" Father Cornello questioned, coming out to meet with them. "Ah, the Fullmetal and Gemstone Alchemists. Welcome to the home of our sacred order."

"Father Cornello." Rose smiled, thinking he'd straighten things out.

"I must apologize for my disciple's behavior. It would seem they were misguided." Cornello said.

"Okay let's say I believe you weren't the one guiding them. What next?" Ed questioned.

"Have you come to learn the ways of Leto?" Cornello questioned.

"Well there are a couple things I'm curious about, like how you've been using second rate alchemy to deceive your followers." Ed exclaimed.

"My dear boy I don't know what you mean." Cornello said. "What your doubting eyes see as alchemy, are the miracles of the Sun God Leto." He exclaimed, raising his clasped hands, as a red light began emitting from them, and he produced a small statue of Leto in his hands. "Look again, could mere Alchemy create something from nothing in this way, or change inorganic matter into flesh and blood like I did with your friend there?"

"Yeah, that's what I didn't get at first. How can you perform transmutations that ignore the law of equivalent exchange?" Ed thought rubbing his head in ponder.

"As I said, because it isn't alchemy." Cornello said.

"But then I started thinking about it, and Athena confirmed it with her little experiment of playing you like a fiddle. If you'd somehow managed to acquire a certain object to amplify your alchemy, one that's said to make the impossible possible, that would explain everything." Ed stated.

"What?"

"He's talking about the Philosopher's Stone on your ring." Athena said. "I needed to see firsthand what was really going on and how you were performing your miracles, so I played the part of a young woman who had Automail limbs, and was seeking a miracle from you to get my arms and legs back, and it didn't matter that you didn't know my limbs were made from gemstone or steel, because you still managed to change them into flesh and blood like it didn't matter."

"I've been looking for that."

"The ring is just a ring. I am Gods humble servant, it is from he alone that I derive my power." Cornello said.

"Still trying to sell that line huh? If that's the way you wanna play it, I guess I'm gonna have to come up there and beat some truth out of ya." Ed exclaimed.

"My you really are quite the incorrigible heathen aren't you?" Cornello said. "Rose Dear."

"Yes Father?" Rose asked, her faith obviously shaken.

"That gun there beside you, pick it up." Cornello said.

"Uh, okay." Rose said hesitantly before she picked up the firearm.

"Not good." Athena said.

"Now child I want you to shoot the Fullmetal and Gemstone Alchemists." Cornello said.

"No I… Father I can't do that." Rose said.

"I am the Sun God's chosen Emissary. My word is the word of Leto himself." Cornello said, opening his left eye. "Shoot them Rose, it's God's will."

"You bastard." Athena growled, the energy around her changing, as her hair went completely black, with Rose raising the gun, scared of what she was being told to do.

"Why hesitate, when you lost your fiancé to that tragic accident last year. Who was it that saved you from the very depths of despair? Have you forgotten?" Cornello questioned.

"It was you father." Rose said shaking.

"That's right, it was I who took your hand, and lead you into Gods light." Cornello said. "An' you recall it was that I promised you then?"

"You said that if I had faith, you'd bring him back to life." Rose said, before she reached out her arms with the gun, and aimed it at Al.

"No wait, it's not me, honest." Al said.

Rose looked at Al in shock before turning to look at Ed.

"Damn it I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist, it's not him it's me." Ed declared.

"It's the short one?" Cornello questioned. "You're kidding."

Rose instantly aimed the gun from Al to Ed, a look of despair and guilt on her face.

"I'm sorry, but I, I have to do this." Rose said. "I don't have any choice."

"He's been lying to you Rose." Ed exclaimed.

"You're wrong I've seen his miracles. Father Cornello will bring him back to life, I have Faith." Rose said.

"Fine then shoot." Ed exclaimed.

Rose's body began to shake, before a loud roar echoed around the room, and she pulled the trigger of the gun, the bullet hitting Al in the head, his helmet flying off.

"Al." Ed cried as the armor fell to the ground, with Athena catching the helmet in one of her hands.

In horror Rose dropped the gun and fell to her knees, and cried out in horror at what she'd done.

"Good, God Leto is pleased, you've done well my child. Now pick up the gun and shoot the other two as well." Cornello said.

"Haven't you made her do enough already?" Al questioned, sitting up.

"But your head I thought you were…"

"Don't worry about it he's pretty solid." Ed exclaimed rasping his knuckles against the armor body.

"Yeah, see? No harm done." Al said, lowering himself to show the inside of the armor was empty, causing Rose to gasp before Athena put his head back on for him.

"An empty suit of armor that walks and speaks? Do you still doubt it Rose?" Cornello questioned going to the back wall behind him, where there was a lever. "This unholy thing is an abomination. Evil of this kind must be purged." He declared, pulling the lever, one of the walls opened up, and out came a Chimera with the front half of its body being a lion, with the back half being three different species of lizards. "An' I believe my Chimera should be up to the task."

"So this is the king of thing you do with the Philosopher's Stone. That's just twisted." Ed exclaimed.

Athena glared at Cornello, before turning her gaze to the Chimera, just as it came running up to attack her. Letting out a wave of energy as she glared at the beast, the Chimera slid to a halt, and cowered under her glare, backing off a bit, before crouching in submission.

"What? Impossible. This cannot be. How were you able to tame my Chimera with just a glare?" Cornello questioned.

"Simple." Athena said, lowering her mask, and removing her bandana, revealing her cat ears and scales, and her completely black hair, with the bone mask covering her right eye. "Because I myself am a Chimera, an apex predator." She exclaimed, putting a hand on the Chimera's head, showing she wasn't gonna hurt it, as the Chimera rose to her touch, and accepted her as his new master. Looking back at the Chimera, Athena's eyes lit up with black flames, and the Chimera began to change, before it turned into a Creature of Grimm with white and purple bone armor.

"You shall not leave here with your lives." Cornello said, turning his cane into a turret gun and began shooting at them. "I'll send you to meet God personally."

As the dust built up, Cornello's vision was blocked, but when it settled, he saw that Edward and Athena had used Alchemy to build walls to defend themselves.

"Nah, me and God don't get along too well. Even if I did meet him, he'd probably just send me right back." Ed exclaimed.

Al grabbed Rose and as the Chimera Grimm came to them hopped on its back like it was a steed running for the wall, as Athena went running at it as well.

"SMASH." She cried out, slamming a hole through it with her strength.

With their path cleared, they made a run for it, with Al and Ed on the Chimera's back, while Cornello's followers blocked their path.

"That's far enough, just come with us quietly and…"

"SMASH." Athena cried out, hitting each of them with a punch or a kick that knocked them out.


~Later Church Belfry~

"What do you think of Cornello now Rose?" Al questioned, putting the bell down on the platform they were on. "He just opened fire, he didn't care that you were in the way."

"But, that's because…" Rose couldn't come up with a reason to justify Cornello's actions, but decided to ask a different question. "Your body, what happened to it?"

Al was silent for a moment before he answered her.

"We're not evil, all we wanted was to see our mom smile again. But our transmutation failed, what we made, wasn't even human." Al said. "We learned our mistake the hard way. People don't come back from the dead, not ever."

"That's not true. I mean…"

"Alchemy is based on the law of equivalent exchange. The price of even a failed human transmutation is enormous. It cost my brother his left leg, and it cost me, my whole body." Al said, removing his head, showing her the blood seal inside. "Do you see it? My brother drew that with his own blood. His leg had been taken, he was bleeding. I can't imagine the pain he was in. But through all that, he still gave up his right arm to transmute my soul, and bonded me to this suit of armor. Now, I just want to help him get his body back to the way it was. He wants to find a way, to get me back to normal to. It won't be easy, we might even get killed along the way, but that's the path we chose. All we can do is keep moving."

"But, Father Cornello said… He said he could do it, he promised me. Just because you and your brother failed, it doesn't mean, it doesn't mean he will." Rose said.


~Cornello's Office~

"There you are, you infernal brats." Cornello said, spotting Edward and Athena in his office, with Edward sitting on his desk, and Athena sitting on the Chimera's back as it was lying on the ground.

"Look, can we just cut the crap and talk here?" Ed questioned.

"All we want are some straight answers about the stone. Tell us what we need to know, and we'll be on our way." Athena said. "Or we could get the military involved."

Cornello growled before he looked down the hall, both ways, and stepped into his office, closing the door behind him.

"Ask your questions." Cornello said.

"You could do anything with the Philosopher's Stone right? So why waste all that power performing phony miracles?" Edward questioned.

"Because with each miracle I can attract new believers to the order. Believers who would lay down their lives for my sake." Cornello said. "I'm slowly building an army, a legion of holy warriors, unafraid to die. In a few more years, I'll be ready to unleash this mindless horde upon the world, and I'll use the Philosopher's stone to tear this country apart. Who knows I might even carve out a slice for the two of you." Cornello stated, before he began to laugh, then Ed and Athena joined in. "Eh, wait what are you two laughing about?"

"I knew it, you really are a novice aren't you?" Ed questioned as Athena held up the power switch to his radio equipment, and it was turned on.

Cornello looked down at his feet, seeing the microphone laying there, before he looked up at them in horror, revealing he had just revealed his plans to the world, while also confirming that what he was doing weren't miracles, but simple acts of alchemy with a Philosopher's Stone.


~Church Belfry~

"You don't mean that…" Cornello's voice echoed from the speaker Al had made from the bell he was holding on his shoulder for everyone to hear the broadcast.

"There were never any miracles Rose." Al exclaimed. "He lied to you, he lied to everyone."

"Why you…"


~Cornello's Office~

"How long… how long has that been on?" Cornello questioned.

"From the start." Ed exclaimed.

"Your believers heard every word." Athena smiled, her hair returning to normal, and the bone mask retracting into her skin.

"How could you? You little brats." Cornello said turning his cane into a cannon. "You'll pay dearly for this."

"Sorry, not today." Ed declared, turning the top plate of his right arm into a blade, and cutting the barrel of the cannon in two.

"Just face it old man. You're outclassed here." Athena exclaimed, getting up as the Chimera got to its feet.

"I am without rival." Cornello said using the stone on the broken cannon, trying to create a blast of energy that would kill them. Unfortunately the Stone on his ring had reached its limit and an alchemic rebound occurred, merging the parts from the cannon with Cornello's arm.

"It's a rebound." Ed exclaimed.

"No, I won't be disgraced like this." Cornello said, as he used the stone on his own boy, to make him grow monstrously large. "Now children, behold. The chosen Emissary of the Sun God Leto."

Cornello threw a punch at them, slamming his fist into the ground, bringing them through the floor of the building to the main chapel.

"Not good." Athena said. "I don't think my fifteen percent limit will be enough to take this guy on."

"I've got an idea, but you need to keep him distracted just for a bit." Ed exclaimed, before running off around Cornello, as Athena and her Grimm companion, decided to keep him occupied.

"Hey Cornello." Athena called to him. "I think it's about time you fed the Chimera."

With that the Chimera Grimm went charging at Cornello, biting down onto the right arm that suffered from the Alchemic Rebound and bit down hard.

"You stupid beast." Cornello cried out, slamming his arm into the ground, the Grimm roaring out in pain before it dissipated to dust. "Well would you look at that, fragile thing wasn't he?"

"I'll show you fragile." Athena declared. "One-for-All, 20%. SMASH." Athena cried out, bouncing around the room with the strength she got from Saffron, before slamming her fist into Cornello's face, knocking him back before he slammed Athena down into the ground with his hand, while she kept pushing up against it, with her arms and legs.

"My word, is the divine word of God himself, my fist is the fist of judgement." Cornello exclaimed, keeping Athena pinned.

"You want God's fist so bad? Then fine. NOW ED." Athena shouted.

Cornello turned around and saw Ed at the statue of Leto. Using Alchemy on the statue, Ed created a giant stone fist that slammed into Cornello, getting him off Athena, and causing him to let go of the power for the stone he had coursing through him, reducing him back to his original size as he was slammed into the ground, before Ed grabbed him by the head, and heat butted Cornello, breaking his nose.

"Now shut up. Just give me the Philosopher's stone." Ed shouted as Cornello grabbed his face. The stone on his ring dimmed until it was dark, and fell to the ground from the ring, before turning into dust, like the Chimera had. "What the hell? The stone. It's supposed to be perfect material. How did it just break like that?"

"I don't know. I don't know anything about it. Spare me, please." Cornello pleaded. "I was wrong. Spare me, please I beg you."

"It's a damned fake." Athena sighed as Ed got to his feet.

"Please don't, I'm helpless without the stone, spare me please." Cornello said.

"You meant we went through all this, risked our lives for this one possible chance, and it's a fake?" Ed looked as though his soul had left his body.

"So uh… what about me?" Cornello asked.

"You are under arrest for the attempted murder of two state alchemists, threats and acts of terrorism, and committing crimes with alchemy." Athena said glaring at him.

"You can't do this to me." Cornello said.

"Oh I think I can. I'm ranked Major General in the military, so I can arrest you if I see fit." Athena stated. "I've already contacted Eastern Command and they're sending troops here to clean up your little cult as we speak."

"Wait I thought you were ranked Brigadier?" Ed asked.

"I'll explain later." Athena said. "So now… huh?" Athena had turned her back to Cornello for only a second to respond to Ed, but when she turned back, Cornello was gone. "Damn it. Oh well, he won't be getting far, not with his injuries."


~Later at Sunset~

"What about the stone?" Al questioned.

"It was a fake. Just like Cornello." Athena sighed, putting her mask and bandana back on. "At least now we can say, that the scent of death came from the stone, and it's safe to assume it only comes from fakes. Which means that we shouldn't expect the actual stones to smell like death."

"Not that we'd be able to smell it. You're the only one of us with the nose that can." Ed exclaimed, before turning to his brother. "I'm sorry Al, for a while there, I thought we really found a way to get your body back."

"Give me the Philosopher's Stone." The trio turned to see Rose, pointing a gun at them, a saddened and desperate look on her face.

"Rose."

"Like I was just sayin' Rose. It was a fake. It was destroyed when Cornello was beaten." Athena said.

"Liar. You wanna keep it for yourselves, don't you?" Rose questioned. "So you can use it on your bodies, and so you can bring back your mother." She said this, turning to Ed and Al.

"You shut up." Ed shouted. "People don't come back from the dead Rose. Not now, or ever. Even with what Athena said, about healing magic it can't be done, not ever. Not ever."

"But he promised me." Rose said, falling to her knees. "He said if I prayed it would happen. A miracle. That was all I had left, what am I supposed to believe in now? Tell me what to do. Please."

"Rose." The woman looked up to see Athena standing in front of her, before she knelt down and pulled her in for a hug. "I can't tell you that. What comes next is something you have to figure out for yourself. Stand up and walk, keep moving forward, even if it's difficult. You've got two good legs, so use them, and be strong, stronger than your pain. You're strong enough to make your own path, so do it already."

With that, Athena let go of the hug, and got up, following Ed and Al down the steps, and to the train station, but not before leaving something in Rose's hand, a note wrapped around an item.

"So you wanna tell us what this whole Major General thing is about?" Ed asked.

"Major General?"

"I got moved up a rank for my work with the McDougal case, it's no big deal." Athena said. "C'mon, I think it's best we get out of here, before we're run out of town like a pack of wild animals."