Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Bloodlines or Fullmetal Alchemist
My time within the actual Gate was brief the second time around. I had already seen what I needed to see before, and I was not allowed to linger at this moment. The fear was still a constant as I journeyed through this strange place, eventually finding myself where I had stood before. A massive gate stood behind a white figure, whose only feature was the grin on his face.
"I see you've returned. Looking for your memories already? What have to come to offer in return for them?" Truth asked, seeming pleased with my return. Part of me was tempted to use this as a chance to get them back, to demand that he hand them over, but I knew I couldn't. If I did that, the toll paid with Nathan's life would be for nothing but my own gain. It was meant to save Ed and his family, not myself, therefore I would have to accept that this was not the time to bargain for my memories.
Staring at the figure, I began to shake my head. He tilted his head to his side, though I couldn't quite tell if he was intrigued, confused, or simply thoughtful by my reply. "Interesting, most people return with the intent to retrieve what they have lost. So, if that is not the reason you are here, why did you give me that man's life earlier?" Truth asked. His very presence made me uncomfortable, and I wished he would just send me back. However, I knew that this worked a bit differently than that, that he had to be satisfied before I was allowed to leave.
"To reverse the toll being paid by the Elrics." I told him, watching as the white figure actually began to laugh at my words. For some reason, it amused him to no end that I was doing this for them.
When he calmed down, Truth grinned over at me once more. "Those boys learned their lesson before, I'm rather surprised they let someone else pay the price for their return. After all, they were the only ones to beat me at my own game. I have to say, I am still rather fond of them, such a shame that they never come around here anymore," he commented, sounding lonely for a moment before laughing and making the image vanish in a moment.
"Well, regardless, the toll has been paid and I do hope you are satisfied with our business. If it wasn't for my fondness of the Elrics, your price would have been much steeper. Next time you visit, I expect you to bring something far more worth my time than a half-dead moroi." Truth told me, a warning as the black hands reached out for me once more.
I saw them and my body panicked, reacting on instinct to try and resist. I needed to know more about what happened between the Elrics and Truth, to hear why this crazy creature seemed to actually like those boys. He did not seem friendly with anyone, and while it was probably a big stretch to view the Elrics as this thing's friend, they were probably the closest thing Truth had to one.
When I returned, I was expecting to come back into the middle of a fight. Robert and Adrian had been clashing before I left, so it made sense that the battle would have continued on after I was gone. However, that was not the sight that greeted me when I came back. Robert was clutching his head on the ground, his entire body shaking as he cried silently off in a corner, mumbling to himself and breathing heavily. Adrian didn't look too much better off, on his knees directly in front of the circle I had used, looking lost and empty as he gazed into the center of it.
By his side, trying to get Adrian's attention, were three people I had never seen before, though I knew exactly who they had to be. The girl, with blond hair pulled up into a pony tail and blue eyes, had to be Winry. Based on his anger from before, the shorter of the boys had to be Ed, the one with blond hair tied up in a braid. Adding to that confirmation was the glint of metal I saw peeking out from underneath his pant leg, a sign of his automail leg. The last boy had to be Al, who was looking lost on what to do to comfort Adrian.
"Come on, snap out of it already! I told you, your girlfriend is fine, so stop your crying!" Ed was yelling, while Winry smacked his head and looked annoyed with him.
"You idiot, can't you at least show a little sympathy for the guy? There are better ways to try and cheer someone up, Ed." she told him, while Ed grumbled and turned away from her, blushing slightly in embarrassment. Adrian didn't even seem to hear them, his gaze distant and glazed over. His mind was elsewhere right now, and I desperately needed to find a way to pull him back.
"How long was I gone?" I asked quietly, watching Ed, Al, and Winry turn towards me with surprise on their faces for a moment. That was quickly replaced by looks of joy, as they rushed forward and surprised me by tackling me to the ground as they all tried to hug me at once. The end result was the four of us sprawled out in a pile on the floor, and a soar back for me since I didn't have anyone present to cushion my fall.
"Sydney, you're okay! How did you figure it out?" Al asked, looking curious and happy to see me.
Ed studied me closely, getting up and frowning as he watched me. "Didn't you have to…I mean, the toll…" he was saying, trying to at least be somewhat gentle as his gaze flickered to Winry, clearly remembering her advice.
I shook my head, feeling a heavy weight on my shoulders at that thought. "No, he said that the price I had offered was sufficient, considering you were old acquaintances of his," I told them, watching Ed seem to get upset with this comment.
"No way! If you think I'm friendly with a bastard like that, try again! I hate that guy, and his stupid Gate." Ed insisted, pouting slightly as I shrugged, my eyes focused on Adrian.
"He's been like this since you vanished. The other guy seemed to lose his grip on his sanity after you vanished, but Adrian…he just shut down." Winry stated, looking desperate to help him.
I moved closer to Adrian, untangling myself from the others who decided it was just fine to stay seated on the floor. "Adrian?" I said hesitantly, watching as he closed his eyes, taking in a deep breath.
"No…not her too. First Aunt and now…" he mumbled, putting a hand against his head as he seemed to struggle slightly.
"Well, that's a start I guess. We couldn't get him to talk before." Al stated, but I didn't quite agree. He was talking, but he wasn't seeing reality right now. I wondered if this was related to spirit, since he had used so much just now. It was supposed to take a heavy toll on the mind, and this could be that toll that I was witnessing.
"It's okay, we'll get through this, Adrian." I told him, reaching out to touch his arm when he flinched away from my voice, surprising me.
"Shut up! I know you're not real, so just go away!" Adrian yelled, sounding desperate and broken. My eyes were wide at his outburst, finally realizing what he was talking about. He thought he was hearing voices, that he had gone insane enough to imagine me speaking to him. His comment about his aunt….maybe he did actually hear them at times. It would make sense, considering the toll spirit took on him. It was one that he could keep well hidden, if he wished to.
I stepped closer to him, noticing that he had moved slightly closer to the circle when he flinched away from me. His eyes were still closed, and now, I could see tears falling down his face. Slowly, I sat down next to him, wrapping my arms around his waist as I pressed my hand into his stomach. He needed to know I was here, to feel that this was not just some illusion created by his own mind out of grief and spirit darkness. His body stiffened almost immediately, his head jerking up and turning around. I stared into his deep green eyes, watching as they stared back in disbelief.
Slowly, that disbelief began to transform into hope, and finally relief. "Sage, you're really…I thought that you had…" he said, a bit brokenly as he turned around, pulling me into his chest. I felt him bury his head into my hair, inhaling deeply as he kept me pressed closely to him.
"I'm so sorry, Adrian. I…there wasn't a way to save him and I just…I didn't want…" I began, trying to find a way to explain why I had done what I did. It wasn't right to sacrifice anyone for transmutation like this, but there had been no hope for Nathan Ivashkov.
He simply hugged me tighter, not seeming worried about that just yet. "I know, it isn't your fault, Sage. I'm just glad you're alive," he told me, still breathing heavily. He was recovering, slowly, but still getting there. I knew he wasn't quite ready for me to leave his side yet, and to be honest, I didn't want to. I had gone back into that hell again, the place of nightmares, and yet I was still alive. After realizing how easy it would be for me to die, how much risk there was in my life, I knew that I had to enjoy what I could now, before it was gone. I was not going to push Adrian away, not again. He needed me right now, and at the moment, I needed him as well.
"You need to know, Adrian, that he really did care for you. I know he didn't show it much, but in the end, all he wanted was what was best for you. He thought that success was what you needed, but he realized in the end, that all he wanted was for you to be happy." I told him, wanting to at least give Adrian some kind of closure for what had happened with his father.
"He berated me my entire life, and he always insisted I would never accomplish anything. There were times when I truly thought he hated me, and I hated him in return. God, Sage, I didn't think I would be this upset when my old man went down," he stated, sounding a bit upset still, but calmer and more grounded again.
"Oi, lovebirds, I get that you guys are having a happy reunion and all, but can we start making plans to get out of here? I really don't want to stick around for what'll happen when that guy figures out that you're still alive, blondie." Ed stated, sounding irritated. Adrian glanced up at Ed, noticing them here for the first time it seemed. His eyes were wide, and he stared down at me in amazement.
"You actually did it, Sage. You brought them back. I guess art really can pay off in the end. Everyone said it was a waste of time, but take a look at what it can accomplish." Adrian commented, smirking down at me. He was trying to go for his usual light-hearted jokes, but I could tell it was a bit forced at the moment.
I couldn't bring myself to tell him I saw through his act, though, not when he was trying so hard to move forward. "Yeah, just a few more years of that and add in some chemistry and physics, then you'll be good to join me in my amazing artistic abilities," I told him in response, watching him actually laugh in reply. It was good to hear, a sign that even when he was brought down to his lowest point, Adrian could still rebound fairly quickly.
"So, what do we do now? For the last few centuries, our goal has been to return to our bodies." Al asked, turning towards his brother for help. Ed seemed to frown, glancing over at me before looking determined.
"We're bringing back Alchemy, that's what, and we're going to start with them. I think it's time those lily-cheeked idiots learned where they came from." Ed said confidently, making me a bit nervous as Al nodded in agreement.
"Of course, you have your body back for just five minutes and you're already looking for a fight. Why am I not surprised?" Winry asked, while Ed shrugged, looking unconcerned with the matter.
"I'll be careful, I know how picky you are about taking care of my leg." he stated, while Winry glared at him.
"Of course I am! It's a brilliant work of art, manufactured and perfected by me alone. I put hours of sweat and hard work into it, I am not going to let you destroy it just so you can satisfy your ego!" she insisted, glaring at him as she punched Ed. He grimaced, grabbing his arm that had been hit as he glared at her in annoyance.
"Are those two really married?" Adrian asked after a few moments, not quite seeing it. I couldn't either, with how they were fighting.
Al shrugged, smiling at them as if he were amused. "Yeah, they are. They act like this all the time, because in many ways, I think they are still embarrassed by their feelings. It's kind of cute, watching them together." he commented, smiling at them. In a way, I could see it. Their teasing of each other had a soft note to it, as if it was not meant to harm, but to show that they cared in some way.
"Ed, are you really taking on the Alchemists?" I asked, catching his attention and interrupting their argument. He looked over at me, frowning slightly as he seemed to think about it.
"I guess, I don't exactly have anything better to do. Besides, we've got to make this right somehow. Moroi may be paying a price for their magic and health, but they're still people, and they're still alive. Just because they are different, it doesn't mean the Alchemists have the right to judge them like they do." Ed argued, sounding rather passionate about that.
Adrian smirked, as always finding a way to make a joke out of a serious moment. "Seems like you wouldn't exactly be all that fond of us, considering your growth issues," he stated, and I watched as Ed's calm mood transformed completely. Winry rushed over, grabbing Ed as he struggled to break free and tackle Adrian in anger.
"Who are you calling short, you overgrown bloodsucker?" Ed demanded, while Adrian actually laughed at his reaction.
"Seems like you have issues with height comments regardless of what form you're in. Gotta say, bloodsucker wasn't all that original for your insult though, try thinking outside the box next time," Adrian told Ed, watching the blond frown, calming down enough for Winry to released him with a sigh.
"Brother never drank his milk growing up. We always warned him what would happen if he did so," Al commented, watching as Ed shook a fist at his brother as well.
"Watch it, Al. I'm plenty tall, you just don't see things the way I do," Ed argued, though I knew for a fact that wasn't the case. Still, I wasn't going to argue with him and make him upset once more.
There was another comment bothering me more, though. "Milk has nothing to do with the body's ability to grow. It may contain calcium and other nutrients that help strengthen bones, but growth is actually controlled by the pituitary—" I began but Adrian was cutting me off already, while Ed and Al were just staring at me with frowns on their faces.
"Sage, I get that you've got all this knowledge in your head, but I doubt they care about what the heck causes people to grow." Adrian insisted, while I nodded. From what I had learned at school, that was the case there as well. Social did not always mean showing your knowledge to others. It meant voicing opinions and ignoring facts when doing so, rather strange in my mind.
Still, I was beginning to see Ed's point of view with the Alchemists. They were confused, and their deep hatred for vampires was wrong. Someone needed to show them a better path, and I wanted to help, but it just seemed like an impossible feat at the moment. My own sister was one of them for starters, and there was also—Zoe! I had completely forgotten about it, I was talking with her before all of this started.
"Please tell me she didn't do anything rash." I muttered, walking away from Adrian for a moment who frowned slightly at me. I knew he probably didn't want me away from him yet, but I was worried that Zoe would call the Alchemists, or even worse, come here herself. I had no explanation for the disaster that was visible in here, nor could I explain the three people that were standing around, discussing vampires casually amongst themselves.
"Is something wrong? You seem worried." Winry asked, noticing my actions. I wasn't sure yet, so I shrugged, but my frown stayed on my face as I retrieved my phone and returned to Adrian's side. He seemed pleased with that, as he wrapped an arm around my waist again and pulled me to his side.
I smiled slightly, enjoying being so close to him before I began calling Zoe back, eager to hear how she had reacted to my sudden end to our phone call. "Sydney, thank god! I thought something horrible had happened, please tell me you are okay. I didn't know what to do, I was about to call the Alchemists and tell them that something had happened." she said immediately, not even greeting me when she picked up the phone.
I felt a wave of relief wash through me, glad that I wouldn't have to deal with them quite yet. "Sorry, we had a bit of a dilemma with the spirit user we found. It seems he held a grudge against me for….something." I commented, glancing at Adrian who shrugged as well.
"Not a clue, Sage. From what I understood, he blames you for Victor Dashkov's death, but that just doesn't make any sense. Rose was the one that beat him to death when she grew unstable from taking away Lisa's darkness," he explained, making me nod. I didn't quite know who those two were, but I understood fairly quickly that they were bonded like he and Jill were. I knew that anyone shadow-kissed suffered from side-effects themselves, a small price in my mind to have another chance at life, but I never imagined it making someone go that far into anger and rage.
"Darkness? What's that supposed to mean?" Ed asked, sitting down in front of us. I was still on the phone with Zoe, so I couldn't really focus on their conversation at this point. I let them continue discussing spirit and the nuances of what it meant to be shadow-kissed while I returned to my conversation with my sister.
"You were attacked by a vampire? I knew they couldn't be trusted, you have to get back before Adrian turns on you as well." Zoe insisted, making me rub my forehead. This was going to be problematic, if she insisted on acting like this all the time.
"I'm fine, Adrian isn't doing anything to me, and he isn't our problem." I told her, still trying to think of a reason to bring Ed, Al, and Winry back with me. I got an idea, glancing over at Robert who was still massively unstable at the moment, talking to himself with a distant look in his eyes. "The spirit user, he had grown far too unstable to be of use to us, but he had…companions with him." I stated, watching Ed glare over at me.
"I'm not friends with that lunatic, don't you dare pair me with him!" he complained, overhearing what I was doing. I sighed, shaking my head and knowing that Ed had been loud enough for Zoe to here.
"What was that about?" she asked, sounding confused.
"They had a bit of a….falling out. Ed has a thing about valuing life and Robert….well, he just tried to kill me." I explained, watching as Ed still glared at me, simmering in anger over my excuse. "Regardless, that wasn't the issue with them. Robert's delusions got to the point where these three know the truth about him…and they are all human," I told Zoe, hearing her intake of breath on the other end of the line.
"Wait, can't you just convince them that it wasn't real or something? I thought that was our job, helping to keep vampires hidden and convincing others that they hadn't seen what they actually saw," she stated, sounding worried.
"Well, these ones are rather stubborn," I replied, watching as Ed grumbled about my comments. "I'm planning on bringing them back with me, I thought our superiors would at least want us to keep an eye on them," I told Zoe, watching Ed's eyes widen with realization.
"Oh, that's why you're making this crap up about me. Guess it makes sense, I do need a reason for randomly showing up with you," he commented, rubbing his head with his hand.
Al nodded in agreement, smiling over at me. "I think she's doing rather brilliantly at selling our story, Brother. After all, we don't even have to act like we ever were friends with Robert at this rate," he stated, making me happy that at least one of them didn't have an issue with their cover story.
"Sydney, we don't have anywhere to bring them! It's not like we can enroll them at Amberwood, and there is no room in Adrian's apartment for them." Zoe argued, while I glanced over at them. Zoe had a fair point. I really didn't know what to do about finding them a place to stay. I hadn't thought that far ahead yet, worried more so about making sure no one questioned why they were in the area, or where they had come from.
"Sage, you might as well put her on speaker. Those guys aren't going to stop trying to butt in otherwise," Adrian told me, something I had realized when they kept commenting on my explanations. With a sigh, I agreed to Adrian's request, letting the others hear her.
"Zoe, I put you on speaker. Ed, Al, Winry, and Adrian, this is Zoe, apparently my sister and fairly new to the ranks of the Alchemists." I stated, watching Adrian glance at me in surprise.
"You never said it was your sister, Sage, you just said another Alchemist was in the area," Adrian told me, but he didn't seem all that upset.
"Zoe is trying to help figure out your….living arrangements when we arrive in Palm Springs," I told Ed and his family. They nodded, though Ed didn't look too interested. His arms were crossed over his chest, and he was looking rather stubborn at the moment.
"We'll figure it out, it's not like we haven't had to sleep outside before," he told me, making me glance at him for a few moments. "I don't need help from you two, and I definitely don't want any help from the Alchemists. Those guys are idiots," he continued, making me give him a glare. He was already trying to attack them? This guy was insane, and it would have little effect considering how low in the ranks Zoe was at the moment.
"Excuse me? My sister and I are not idiots. We know quite a bit about the world around us, probably even more than you," Zoe insisted, while Ed snorted in reply. Al touched his brother's arm, shaking his head slightly as Ed went to come back with another biting remark.
That stopped him, making him sigh and stare back at the phone. "Yeah, well, intelligence does not mean blindly following the orders of your superiors. Trust me, I know what it's like to be forced to follow others, and I've seen people willing to lay down their lives for a cause that wasn't even theirs to begin with," Ed stated, his eyes growing dark. It didn't take me long to figure out that he was talking about the military, and his time as a State Alchemist. They were worked hard, forced to fight in wars simply due to their strength. People had been forced to become murderers, all because a superior wanted them to fight and they were too weak and obedient to resist their commands.
"The Alchemists help people, by protecting them from the temptation of damaging their soul! Do you have any idea how many people would be tempted by the concept of immortality, regardless of the cost?" Zoe asked, though I knew it was only fueling Ed's argument. Using the rhetoric taught by the Alchemists would not help her this time, even if there was a shred of truth to her words.
Ed was still on a roll, taking control of the conversation now. "Of course people want that, they are idiots too. However, wanting it does not mean they will achieve that goal, so are you truly protecting them at all, or are you just lying to them for no reason?" he countered, this time managing to stun even his friends.
"Brother, you're taking this too far," Al warned, while Winry seemed to nod in agreement. Ed ignored them, still intent on convincing Zoe at the moment.
"I…well, I'm not just protecting them from strigoi. There are other vampires out there, just as dangerous and unnatural as them," Zoe tried, while Ed snorted, shaking his head.
"Sydney, your sister is a brainwashed idiot. Tell me, have you ever even seen a vampire?" Ed asked, a question which I already knew the answer to. Zoe was far too afraid of them to actively seek any of their kind out. She had never even seen one, let alone spoken to a moroi.
"I don't have to, I am aware of what they do. They drink blood, how on earth is that natural? Don't even get me started on…magic," she added, sounding a bit afraid of that last part.
"Everything comes with a price, kid. For immortality, you pay with your soul, but for magic, you pay with your diet it seems," Ed commented, making Adrian laugh in response.
"I rather like that viewpoint, dwarf," Adrian commented, making me groan. Why did he think it was funny to antagonize Ed? This was not the time for it, and Ed's reaction was still not lessened by the fact that he was on the phone.
"You wanna call me that again, you pale-faced parasite?" he yelled, punching Adrian this time because no one was close enough to restrain him. I had moved away just in time to avoid being hit myself, but Adrian didn't even try dodging. He grimaced slightly, rubbing his chest that had been hit.
"For someone so small, I never expected you to pack such a punch. Luckily for you, my hands don't sully themselves with fighting," he insisted, earning himself a small snicker from Winry and Al. I smiled at his comment too, but I had grown used to his commentary.
His words were a call to battle for Ed though, who charged towards Adrian again. The moroi took the tackle without any arguments, not even bothering to try and fend off the angry man who seemed intent on getting Adrian to apologize and take his words back. "Uh….Sydney? What is going on?" Zoe asked after a few moments, catching Ed's attention once more and finally causing an end to the one-sided fight on the floor.
"Tell your stupid vampire friend that I am not short!" he insisted, though I wondered how it would have any validity, considering that Zoe had never seen Ed.
"Sorry, I don't like helping people who insult me. Sydney, please tell me you aren't bringing him back now." Zoe complained, realizing now what that would mean.
"Hell yes, I'm going with her, and I am going to get that shit out of your head when I arrive. This isn't what Mustang wanted when he started all of this, and I am going to put an end to it." Ed insisted, his expression dark and determined. Winry rested her hand on his shoulder, trying to sooth his anger. It seemed to work slightly, and he took a deep breath, covering her hand with his own.
"Mustang? Is that someone else that's coming along?" Zoe asked, sounding worried over the size of the group coming to Palm Springs.
"Nah, that guy is long gone. I'm gonna miss the bastard. Wish he was here to see us now," Ed stated, sounding bitter as he glared at the wall. Al looked mournful as well, apparently close friends with this man who had founded the Alchemists. I understood the basics, that they had worked under Colonel Mustang in the military, but I never realized how hard this must be for them. They had been trapped as a stone for centuries, and now that they were free, everyone they once knew and loved was gone.
This time, Winry didn't just settle for a small touch to comfort him. She wrapped her arms around his neck, coming from behind him and burying her head into his back. Ed stood still, closing his eyes with her by his side. The two of them might not act like friends, but now I was beginning to see just how much they relied on each other. Even with their petty arguments, deep down, they knew that there was no one else they could trust more than each other.
"You don't actually believe him…do you Sydney?" Zoe asked after a few moments, clearly still thinking about Ed's words. I didn't know how to reply, considering Zoe could report my response back to the Alchemists. I wasn't planning on getting in trouble with them, not if I could avoid it.
I stared at Ed and Winry for just a few more moments before replying. "I don't know. In many ways, I understand his point. My knowledge of the Alchemists is like the knowledge of an outsider right now, knowing the basics of what they do and how they live. I don't feel like I'm one of them again, not quite yet. I've seen how uniformly they act, back during my trip to Virginia. They dress the same, talk the same, and even spout out the same ideals and beliefs to everyone they meet. Honestly, it sounds a lot like a cult to me, though some of their ideas make sense in a way." I began, choosing at least a small amount of honesty over lying outright to my sister. It wasn't the entire truth, but it was close enough that I didn't feel bad about saying it to her.
"Sydney…we're not like that. I have my own thoughts and opinions, I'm not just part of a machine." Zoe argued, sounding sad and worried. I knew she didn't want me to view her that way, and in some ways, I could see that she wasn't completely taken in by their ideals yet. Her drive was to impress her father, not to become like the rest of them. It made her just a bit more individualistic than the others, though it was only a slight difference that I knew would fade away if she stayed with the Alchemists.
"That is exactly why Ed's upset, you know. He has some…military experience that wasn't all that pleasant for him. The Alchemists remind him of how controlling they were, and he wants to find a way to change how the organization is run." I told Zoe, though I let myself smile slightly. "Honestly, the only reason I'm willing to take him with me is because I know how impossible that will be. One person cannot make that much of a difference, not in an organization that has been corrupt for centuries." I stated, though I wasn't quite sure of those words. They were meant to reassure Zoe, and that was exactly what they did.
"Yeah, you're right. I guess I wasn't too nice to him, considering I haven't even met the guy yet." Zoe replied, sounding guilty over her words.
"Well, don't worry about it. Ed's quick to forgive from what I've seen, so you won't be in any trouble with him. We'll see you soon, okay?" I told her, listening to her tell me goodbye and hang up. Things were going to be interesting from here on out. It would be a question of who would win at this point, the Alchemists who ruled over my past, or the alchemists that had now become my friends. This battle would be interesting to see, and in the end, I wasn't sure who would even win this battle, or which side I would take. Would I support my sister and the life I led before my mistake, or would I support my newfound friends, and the life I was only just beginning to enjoy? I still didn't know, and this question kept me quiet and thoughtful for the entire ride back to Palm Springs.
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