Disclaimer: See previous disclaimers…it hasn't changed.
Author's Note: Hey guys, since my big lapse between chapter 12 and 13 and the sucky content of chapter 13, I'm posting chapter 14 today. Please don't hate me too much for all the changes this story has had, I'm working my hardest to make this story the best I can.
Lessons in Alchemy
Chapter 14: Feuding Hearts
"What?" asked Ash, staring at the blonde girl in front of her. Al and Ed also looked at Winry through giant eyes.
She sighed, "I'm sorry guys, but it's my time to go back home…Grandma will need my help at our shop and I've been away long enough. I'm sad to leave, but I'll see you again."
Everyone nodded and promised to see Winry to the train station. The trip there was short and Ash for once, didn't want Winry to leave. "We just started understanding each other…now she's leaving."
When they got to the train station, they decided to wait with Winry until her train came. "Ash, make sure Ed doesn't do anything to reckless to his auto mail."
Ash nodded and Ed sighed and shook his head. "If only you'd worry about my human parts too."
"That's Ash's job now," she said, winking at Ash. Both Ash and Ed blushed and Al and Winry laughed.
Her train came only a few minutes later, and they all bid farewell to their auto mail loving friend.
X
They all arrived back at the hotel only half an hour later. "I miss her already," Ash confessed.
"She has a way of growing on people," Ed replied, and Ash wanted to glare at him. He saw the look in her eyes and put his hands up in defense. "Not like that! I mean that she's a good friend."
It really surprised Ed how they hadn't had a mission in forever, and when he confronted Al about it, Al replied:
"Mustang said that our mission right now is to help Ash with her sister and the voices and stuff. He's reassigned all our missions to other military personnel."
Ash walked over to the two guys on Ed's bed. "Am I keeping you from anything? Because now that I've found out about my father and stuff, you guys can go back to being in the military and looking for the stone-" she cut herself off.
She sat down on the couch and put her head in her hands. "No you can't…you never can get the stone now."
Al looked up at Ash with a confused look. "What do you mean Ash? No one ever got around to telling me the story."
"I'm the reason you won't be able to get your body back Al…you see…my father created the Philosopher's Stone when I was very, very little. He used it because I was dieing of heart problems and it became my new heart. Do you get it? The Philosopher's Stone is my heart. I'd have to die so that you guys could use it…"
Al gasped and looked to Ed, who looked at his feet. "I'm going for a walk," Ash said suddenly, getting up and walking out the hotel room door before anyone could say a word. Arkilus scampered after her.
"Should we go after her brother?" Al asked, but Ed shook his head. "Let her think about things by herself. If she's not back pretty soon then we'll go look for her."
X
Ash wandered down the streets, Arkilus right behind her. It was almost ten o'clock at night now, and it was getting pretty dark. Most people were inside for the night, but Ash walked anyway, just walking straight, no destination in mind.
"What should I do? It's obvious…I should let Ed have the Philosopher's Stone so he and Al can have normal lives again. I don't deserve it anyway…"
"But you love him," mimicked the little voice in her head. She shook it away. "So?"
"So, you're really okay with him stealing your heart. You know if you give it to him, you'll never be able to see him again."
Ash shook the thoughts away again, before arguing with herself again, "People that love someone, always put the person they love in front of themselves."
She sat down on a bench in the park and watched the stars come out. She sighed to herself and let it float away in the breeze. "I love him…what should I do?" she asked herself rhetorically.
Then she noticed the time and decided to start heading back to the boys. "Whatever happens, I'll make sure it's best for Ed."
X
Al stared at his brother. "This is a joke right? Tell me it is brother…"
Ed shook his head. "I'm sorry Al," he let his voice drown out.
"Well, then we can't get our bodies back brother. I won't let Ash give up her heart for us," Al retorted, looking at his reflection in the mirror. It'd been four years-four years they had been looking for that blasted stone. Well, the search was over now, and they would never get their bodies back…
Ed looked to the floor. "Brother?" Al asked, Ed looked up at him. "Do you love her?"
Ed stared at his brother for a second then looked away. "Yes Al…I do. I'm worried about what is going to happen. If Mustang discovers this all out, he might reassign us and we'll have to leave her."
Al thought for a moment, and then replied, "Well, now that we found out about the Philosopher's Stone, what's keeping you from quitting the military?"
"Because Al. Although I hate the military and being a dog of them, they give us food and places to stay for our missions. How can we make a living without them?"
X
Colt sat in the Homunculi's house, waiting for Envy to get back. When he came back she smiled at him. "What did you find out?"
"Turns out that Full Metal really does love your little sister…and Al and Winry are jealous…and Ash is thinking about giving her heart to the Elric brothers so they can get their bodies back," replied the Homunculi.
"Oh, is that so?" she asked herself rhetorically. "Well, that just means we'll have to get it back before she can give it away."
Lust walked into the room with the others and handed the readouts from the lab to Colt. "Here's all the information on that mutt Ash carries around."
"A little late now, isn't it. Since they got it back… You guys stay here and keep working. I'm going to pay my sister a final visit…"
X
Ash walked back into the hotel room and lied down on the couch. She didn't say a word to either of her friends, but instead let her eyes flicker closed. She wasn't going to sleep, but at least if she acted like it, no one would question her.
But then her head started to hurt and she gripped it.
"I can't believe you, my daughter. You really aren't going to let yourself get killed just for those boys are you? Not after all the work I did to keep you alive…"
The voice faded and pictures of Ed flickered through her mind. She shook her head and they disappeared, and her head stopped hurting. "That's true. Father did do all that work to keep me alive. If I would've died when I was a baby and Father never created the Philosopher's Stone, he'd still be alive, and Mother too," she thought.
She looked up and saw Ed looking down at her. "Are you okay Ash? Did you hear voices again?" he asked, his eyes full of concern.
"Yes, but I'm fine. Thanks Ed." She replied, looking away from the boy. His golden orbs re-attracted her attention though.
Ed sat down next to her, Al was already asleep. "I wanted to ask you if you are okay." He said, and Ash nodded. "I'm fine, just deep in thought…"
"Can I ask about what?" replied the boy, and she looked at her feet.
"My heart," she replied, then continued before he could add anything in. "I already gave it to you…in expression, when I said I loved you. And I want you and Al to be happy…"
Ed put a finger to her lips, "I'm happy with you."
But someone busted through the door and both of the teenagers' attention turned to the girl. It was Colt!
"Well, well, well, sorry to break up a little love moment, but my sister has something that I need!"
Ed jumped up and Ash got up behind him. "Back off Colton!" she yelled.
"Not until you give me the Philosopher's Stone, my dear imoutou. Only then will I leave Ed and Al alone. I never thought you, of all people, would give your heart so foolishly."
Ash snickered. "You never think at all!"
"You'll pay for that one little sis!" She said, then teleported so she was behind Ash and knocked her to the floor, holding a bloody dagger to her throat…
X
What is Ash going to do? Will Colt get the stone or does Ed have other plans? How will Ed and Al get their bodies back without the stone?
REVIEW! Cuz if you're here, you've obviously read.
Fox Kitsune