The Quest: Philosopher's Stone
Author's Notes: I'm back! Thanks for all your reviews! I know I have a few grammar errors but I'm still improving much! Chapter 16 is up! I hope everyone enjoys this and please review! No flames!
Chapter 16: The Fake Elrics Part 2
-Downstairs Library-
"It's you, you're the one who stole our names!" Ed shouted. Russell and Fletcher just looked at them. Kagome was behind them, "Ed?" she said. Ed looked at Kagome, "Whatever you do Kagome, do not give them the Shikon Jewel!" Ed demanded. Russell then approached him.
He looked at him and noticed he was short, "How can you be so great when you're so short?" Russell teased. Ed fumed up again, "I AM NOT SHORT!" Ed couldn't take it so he strikes him with a punch but then Russell dodged him and instead punched Ed straight on the face.
"EDWARD!" Kagome gasped as she ran to him. Ed was sitting on the ground with a big bruise on his cheek.
"Brother, you alright?" Al asked. Ed cupped his bruised cheek, "Yeah…" he stood up. He then tried to punch him again but he kept dodging. "I see we have the same skills…" Russell smirked he then kicked Ed to the wall.
"Stop please!" Kagome shouted as she stopped the fight. But they kept going suddenly when Russell tried to strike Ed again, the Shikon Shard started to glow. Kagome, Al, Fletcher, and Russell stared at the Shard, which started to glow.
Suddenly Ed did Alchemy for no reason, and Russell suddenly was strike to the wall. Ed stared blankly at the Shikon Shard, "How did it do that? Kagome, does the shard do that sometimes?" he asked.
Kagome shrugged and suddenly the guards came, "What happened here?" they yelled.
-Outside on the hillside-
The two were thrown out again, but then Kagome decided to come with them outside. The three were sitting down watching the full moon. The Shikon Shard still was glowing brightly in Ed's neck.
"Kagome, I didn't even know alchemy can do that… and plus how come the Shikon Shard started glowing?" he asked. Kagome looked at Ed, "I don't know… it seems that it has some connection to Alchemy. Plus you seemed to purify it with Alchemy more…"
Kagome touched the jewel shard carefully and it started to glow brightly. Ed touched it too and it glows more brightly. Suddenly they both looked at each other, "What happens if we both touch it?" Ed asked. Kagome shrugged, "Will just have to try it…" Kagome and Ed put their hands together on the Shikon shard, the shard glow brightly and suddenly it released a thousand sparkles.
"Wow… but I thought I can only purify but how come you can?" Kagome asked. "I don't know Kagome, but will have to find out later and why I have connection with the Shard…" Ed sighed as he looked up at the full moon up in the sky.
Kagome looked at Ed, she was confused…
Why can Ed purify the Jewel as powerful as me? And I thought the Jewel could only work with demons? Why him? Can Ed be… a half demon or something? A youkai?
Kagome sighed, "I am so tired…" Ed nodded; the Shikon still was glowing in Ed's neck it was making a little light for them.
"I see you three are tired…" a voice said from behind.
They turned around and saw a middle-aged man; he was holding a basket full of lemons. "Yes we are, and I have a big bruise…" Ed cupped his cheek and suddenly the bruise was gone. "What bruise? There's no bruise on your face…" the man said.
"That's odd, the bruise was there since me and Kagome touched… never mind…" Ed sighed. "What about you three stay in my house tonight? It's getting late…" the man said. Al stood up, "Brother, what do you say?" he asked.
Ed nodded and yawned, "Yeah, I'm getting really tired…" The three followed the man to his house.
"By the way call me Mr. Vercio…" The man told them.
-The Man's House-
In the guest room, Kagome was still awake thinking about the Shikon Shard and how Ed can purify it and use Alchemy with it? Is he a half-demon disguise as a human? She was a bit worried and confused. She glanced at Ed who was on another bed. He was still awake thinking.
"Edward…" Kagome whispered to him.
Ed turned to her, "Yes?"
"Do you know why you can purify the Shikon Shard?" she asked. Ed shrugged, "I don't know… I don't know why I even did alchemy at the fake Elric brother… it just happened all the sudden when the Shard started glowing… there was energy flowing in me like a strong one…" Ed explained as he looked up at the ceiling.
Kagome looked at Al who was in the corner of the room asleep. She then looked up at the ceiling.
How can Ed be able to control the shard with alchemy? I have to find out…
The two then drifted to a deep sleep…
-Next Morning-
Kagome woke up fresh in the morning, she yawned and glanced at Al then Ed. She then sensed something in Ed… something powerful. Suddenly, she knew what it was… Ed has some kind of demon power in him. The power seemed to be like… Inuyasha.
How can this be? Ed is human…
Ed yawned and opened his eyes; "Kagome, good morning… you seem hyper today…" he sat up on the bed. Kagome looked at Ed, "Yeah… I sure do!" Kagome kept the secret of him having a half-demon's power.
He is human but he has a few powers from a demon…
Al woke up, "Hey brother, hi Kagome." He said as he stood up from the corner. As the three were about to leave the guestroom they heard coughing from outside. "It sounds like Elisa, the girl we saved from yesterday." Kagome said as she went outside.
-Elisa's Room-
Mr. Vercio was taking care of his niece Elisa. Kagome, Al, and Ed came in the room. Shippo was also there, "Kagome! Ed! Al!" Shippo jumped into Kagome's arms. "Hey Shippo, I guess you followed Elisa here." Ed smiled.
"Yeah I did, then she started getting sick so we went to the nearest house which is her uncle's." Shippo explained. Shippo then spotted Ed wearing a Shikon Shard that was glowing.
"Hey Ed, the Shikon Shard on your neck is glowing!" Shippo pointed. Ed glanced at Shippo, "Yeah it is." Ed said. The gang looked at Elisa who was coughing uncontrollably. Mr. Vercio was giving her water to drink. "Here you go Elisa…"
"Do you know about the two imposters Mr. Vercio?" Al asked. Mr. Vercio became silent, then he finally answered, "The older one is Russell Tringham, the younger is Fletcher Tringham. The sons of an alchemist called Nash Tringham." He explained.
"An alchemist?" Ed's eyes widened.
"Yes, an alchemist. He disappeared a few years ago. He was a friend of mine." Mr. Vercio said. "One time, the town was like this. They can't make gold… Nash then was forced by the mayor to make gold once again in town, suddenly… the gold went out again. The mayor forced and pleaded him to make the gold again and make the Philosopher's Stone. He did it but it only gotten worse…"
"Worse?" The gang's eyes widened.
"Yes it did, the red water is the one that was causing illness over the town… and that is when he disappeared. His sons then used your name so they can make the research to achieve their father's dream. And when they heard about you Kagome and the Shikon Jewel, they wanted to go search for you but they tried and they couldn't look for you." Mr. Vercio explained.
"So they wanted to achieve their father's dream on making the Philosopher's Stone?" Kagome repeated.
Mr. Vercio nodded, "That is why everyone here is sick and weak, like Elisa over here…" Elisa kept coughing and coughing. Al then had an idea, "Why don't I buy a little cough medicine for her!"
Mr. Vercio looked Al, "Why sure Alphonse, it will only help for a bit but that's fine. Thank you."
"Why don't I come with you Al?" Shippo said as he jumped on Al's shoulder. The two left. Ed then followed them, "Ed, where are you going?" Kagome asked. Ed turned to Kagome, "I'm going to take a look at the town." Ed said. Kagome then followed him.
-The Town Pharmacy-
Al and Shippo walked in the Pharmacy to buy a cough medicine. The sick people were staring at Al and saying mean things about him since they thought he was an imposter. Then the woman of the Pharmacy yelled at them, "DON'T EVER COME HERE YOU IMPOSTER!" Then she started throwing stuff at them.
Al and Shippo just ran out.
Outside of the Pharmacy, All was so sad. They couldn't even allow him in. "Man, we can't buy a medicine!" Shippo sighed. Al turned to Shippo, "Shippo, why don't you buy it since they trust you." Shippo looked at Al, "No way! They're sick people there!" Al sighed sadly, suddenly Fletcher came up to them.
"W-why don't I buy medicine for you guys?" he asked in a shy voice. Al and Shippo exchanged looks and finally nodded.
Then later, Fletcher came with the medicine. "Here you go." He gave them the medicine. "Thank you." They both said.
-Around the Town-
Shippo, Al, and Fletcher sat on a bench and started talking. "Fletcher, how come you wanted to research about the Philosopher's Stone?" Al asked. Fletcher sighed, "Because… it was our father's dream to perfect the Philosopher's Stone so we decided to do it for him…" Shippo's eyes were widened, "Do you know what happened to your father? All I know is that he disappeared."
Fletcher shrugged, "I don't know really… right now my brother has been very serious about the Philosopher's Stone. Then when he heard about this young girl named Kagome and the Shikon Jewel, he wanted to search for her… but we gave up. Now he badly wants the Jewel when she's here…"
Al and Shippo looked at him and frowned.
Fletcher then spotted his brother nearby, "Brother?" Then Russell ran fast. "BROTHER!" Fletcher then ran with him. Al and Shippo watched him ran. Suddenly, Kagome and Ed came.
"Have you seen the fraud here Al and Shippo?" Ed asked. Al and Shippo lied, "No…" Kagome was worrying now, "Because Russell stole the jewel!" Kagome shouted. Al and Shippo looked at Kagome with shocked faces.
"Not the jewel…" Shippo whispered.
"Come on, were going there tonight." Ed said. Al then looked at Ed, "But didn't Mr. Vercio told us last night not to go to the mansion again?" Ed sweat dropped, "You have a point their Al but I have another plan…" Ed has his sly smirk again.
Al, Shippo, and Kagome sweat dropped.
-That Night: Mansion Walls-
"Ed! I can't believe that we have to sneak out like that…" Kagome sighed heavily. Shippo was to be the lookout. "Brother, are you going to did the same thing we did?" Al asked. Ed then clapped his hands and put it on the ground making a big hole.
"This time were going to be moles underground." Ed smirked as he went in. Then he helped Kagome in. Al and Shippo followed. The four were underground and Ed was digging with Alchemy. Suddenly, the Jewel Shard started glowing.
"Hey Kagome, the jewel shard is glowing. What does it mean?" Al asked. Ed looked at it, "I think I sense were under the Mansion, so let's open this up." As Ed was about to the Alchemy the jewel glow brightly and it made a hole that led up into the mansion.
Kagome gasped, "How did it… do that?"
Ed shrugged but then he went out.
-The Red Water Room-
"Brother, where are we?" Al asked. It was a room filled with red smoke and red water river flowing by. "I don't know… I think this where they put the red water…" Ed explained. "Wait, didn't Mr. Vercio said this is a poisonous for human?" Al asked. Ed noticed something. He wasn't poisoned.
How come I'm not poisoned?
Ed looked down at the Shikon Shard he was wearing. It was still glowing. He knew why he wasn't poisioned.
The shard…
Suddenly he heard Kagome and Shippo coughing. "Oh shoot, it's probably from the red smoke they're breathing!" Kagome then collapsed on the floor with Shippo in her arms. "Lady… Kagome!" Shippo coughed. Ed carried Kagome in bridal style. Al carried Shippo.
Then suddenly, a door opened and Fletcher stepped in, "Guys over here!" He said. Al and Ed ran to Fletcher while carrying Kagome and Shippo.
-In The Mansion Laboratory-
Kagome opened her eyes slowly and saw Ed's face. It was a little blurry but it became clear. "W-what happened?" she asked. She looked around and saw she was in the laboratory. "Are you okay Kagome?" Ed asked. Kagome nodded, "Wait, how come you weren't poisoned by the Red smoke?"
Ed then held the Shikon Shard. Kagome looked at it, it was still glowing brightly as ever. "The shard…"
"I see Edward, you're still back for more…" Russell said as he came in the room. "Brother…" Fletcher whispered. Russell approached Ed who was carrying Kagome. He then held out the almost perfect Shikon Jewel.
"How come the jewel is broken?" Russell asked. Ed then held out a shard from the Shikon, "Because I have the shard." Ed smirked. "Give that Shard to me now." Russell demanded. Ed turned to Kagome, "Kagome, I would like you step back…" Kagome nodded and stepped back.
Russell then noticed the Shikon Shard that Ed was wearing was glowing. He then looked at the Jewel he had in his hands wasn't. "How come the shard glowing and not the Jewel?" Russell asked.
"I don't know, but I want that Jewel back now Russell." Ed demanded. Russell smirked and put the jewel in his pocket, "Well you have to go through me first!" Russell then held a ring out which had the Philosopher's Stone embedded on it. He then touched a metal lamp and transformed it into a sword.
"Ready to fight shr…" Russell was cut off when he saw Ed a bit taller when he saw him. (A/N: I have nothing against Ed being the shrimp!) Ed was like 5 feet 7 inches. "I see. You've become tall… about 2 more inches…" Russell said. Ed looked at himself. He was a bit tall.
Kagome, Shippo, and Al were shocked.
Ed smiled, "Well I guess I am, a miracle huh?" Ed then transformed his metal arm to a sharp blade. Russell then strikes Ed first but Ed guarded it with his blade. Kagome gasped.
"You're fast…" Russell smirked as he tries to break his auto-mail. Then the shard started glowing again and then it released some kind of force making Russell shoot to the wall.
Russell then collapsed, "Ouch… how the hell did you do that?" he asked. Kagome was shocked. The shard did it again. "The shard…" she whispered. "Lady Kagome, the shard did that? But I thought demons could only do that! Ed is not a demon, he's human!" Shippo said.
Kagome turned to Shippo, "Shippo, you may not believe me… Ed has half of Inuyasha's power and Spirit." Shippo's eyes widened, "Is Ed Inuyasha's reincarnation?" he asked.
"No, but he has half of Inuyasha's power and spirit for some reason but not his entire soul. I don't know how Ed got half of Inuyasha's demon powers and spirit… he might be able to control the Tetsaiga (Sp?)." Kagome explained.
Ed then destroyed Russell's sword. Russell then stood up from the ground and ran to a metal door. He then performed alchemy and made a metal hose. Ed became confused, "What the fuck is that for?" he asked.
"It's a hose connecting to the red water plant." Russell explained and put on a sly grin. He then switched the hose open and suddenly pointing the red water at… Kagome!
"Brother!" Fletcher pleaded trying to stop his brother. Kagome's eyes widened. "Give the shard Ed or else Kagome gets the red water!" Russell demanded. Ed was dead silent and didn't answer. Russell then opened the hose and the red water came out. Kagome screamed.
Kagome closed her eyes waiting for the red water to splat her but it didn't. Kagome opened her eyes and saw Ed in front of her. The shard was glowing brightly than ever. Ed's eyes were closed and as he opened it, it became Inuyasha's eyes!
"Ed… Inuyasha?"
"Damn it bastard you!" Ed smirked revealing little fangs. Al, Shippo, and Fletcher's eyes widened. "Brother?" Al said. Shippo then saw Ed had Inuyasha's eyes,
"Inuyasha?"
The shard grows brightly and Ed was running to strike Russell. "BROTHER! SOMEONE MAKE ED STOP!" Fletcher cried. Kagome stood up.
If Ed has half of Inuyasha's powers… maybe I can…
"SIT!"
Ed then collapsed to the ground like Inuyasha when the shard glow and push him to the ground. Russell and everyone (except Kagome) sweat dropped. Ed opened his eyes again and it wasn't Inuyasha's anymore. His fangs went back to his ordinary teeth.
"What happened?" he asked as he stood up. Kagome looked at him, "You don't remember anything?" Kagome asked.
"All I remember is striking Russell to the wall with the shard then it became… well… I don't know…" Ed said. Suddenly the Magwar the Mayor and the other guards came in the ransacked room. Their eyes were widened.
"What happened here?" The mayor yelled. Everyone looked at him with sweat drops.
-Hallway in the Mansion-
Magwar wanted the four to wait outside while he talks to the imposters. Kagome was still shock about Ed's action back there.
Did Inuyasha have taken over him? I think the shard did something… that connected from Inuyasha to Ed… and also Alchemy.
Kagome stared at the shard and then Ed. Ed looked at her, "What is it Kagome?" he asked. Kagome smiled nervously, "Nothing…" She then glanced at the shard, "Ed, are you sure you didn't remember anything?" she asked.
"No, I didn't… It was all a blackout like some power or spirit had taken over me…" Ed replied and looked at the shard. Kagome was worrying about him and Inuyasha. She just sighed heavily.
Then the guards came with tied Fletcher and Russell. The gang (except Ed) saw how sad they were. Magwar, the mayor, then came with a big grin. "Now! The two REAL Elric brothers! Can you please do me a favor? Can you please research the Philosopher's Stone and the Shikon Jewel?" he begged.
Ed and Al looked at each other. Kagome glanced at the two brothers also Shippo. Suddenly, Ed put on a sly smirk. "Why sure Magwar, but first we need to punish the imposters…"
Magwar looked at him with a bit confused and scared face, "Why sure Mr. Elric…" Ed smirked and went to the jail cell followed by Kagome, Al, and Shippo.
-Jail Cell-
The two brothers were dead silent as they were both tied. They were both miserable and sad of what they have done. Then, the door opened and there stood Ed, Al, Kagome, and Shippo. "What are you all doing here?" Russell asked and groaned. Ed approached Russell and untied him. Al then untied Fletcher.
"Why did you untie us?" Fletcher asked. Ed then replied, "We want you guys to move on, out of the shadowed past…" Ed then stood up and left quietly followed by Al, Kagome, and Shippo. Before Kagome left with them, she glanced at them one more and gave them a smile. She then left.
-The Laboratory-
In the mansion, the gang came and saw Magwar waiting for them. "So, did you punish them?" he asked. "Yes… but I changed my mind." Ed sighed with boredom. Magwar's eyes widened, "What do you mean?" Ed smirked, "I decided I don't want to help you research the Philosopher's Stone… right Al?" Al nodded.
Then, Magwar grabbed a gun-like blaster. Inside the blaster was red water! Everyone's eyes widened.
"Even though I'm not an alchemist, I still have power to shoot red water at you!" Magwar laughed menacingly. Then he started shooting red water at them. Ed grabbed Kagome while Al grabbed Shippo.
"Kagome! Shippo! Go to a safe place! Now!" Ed demanded as more red water started shooting all over the place. Kagome and Shippo nodded and ran behind a pillar. Ed and Al tried to get Magwar but he was too fast.
"You can't get away from me!" Magwar shouted as he aimed the blaster at the pillar where Kagome and Shippo were. Shippo gasped and hugged Kagome tight. Luckily, the Shikon shard necklace was still on Ed's neck. It started to glow again and Ed's eyes turned into Inuyasha's.
"NO ONE FREAKIN' HURTS THEM!" Ed yelled and little fangs appeared in his teeth. He then did alchemy and the ground started to shake.
Fletcher and Russell then rushed in just in time, they saw Ed doing Alchemy and making the ground shake. Fletcher helped Kagome and Shippo out of the room.
As the ground was shaking, a pillar fell on top of Magwar but Magwar opened an underground route to escape. Ed was still making the ground shake; his eyes were bright gold and were cold.
"Make my brother stop or he'll destroy the laboratory!" Al said with a worried face. Kagome looked at Ed.
"SIT!" (A/N: Ed is not becoming Inuyasha, and he is not a half demon okay, just a little hint. The shard is making him this way for some reason… but I'll have to tell you later on why is this happening.)
The shard started to glow and pulled Ed to the ground. He wasn't typically hurt that much. Ed's eyes were back and his fangs were once again gone. The shaking had stopped.
Kagome rushed to Ed and tried to help him up. "Ed are you okay?" she asked. Ed nodded, "What happened? All I remember was something had taken over me again, it was all black."
"No time to talk Ed! Magwar's on the move!" Russell said as he went down to the underground passageway. Shippo, Al, Fletcher, Kagome, and Ed followed him down the ground.
-Underground Passageway-
Everyone was wearing masks because of the red smoke from the red water. They saw Magwar running in the distance. They all chased him until it led to a door. "What is this door doing here?" Shippo asked as he looked at the door.
"We'll have to find out!" Ed then kicked the door open. The room led to a fountain, which was producing red water. There was Magwar with a big hose that was connected to the fountain.
Russell did alchemy and destroyed the hose before Magwar shoot it at them. "Why you!" Magwar shouted. Out of the blue the cave started shaking and red water shoot out of the ground and was going to flood the place.
"I think we should run!" Fletcher yelled as he ran out of the room. The others followed him as well. Magwar was about to run out but rocks trapped the doorway and the red water flood all over making him drown…
-Outside the Mansion-
Everyone ran out of the mansion, they saw at the mountaintops… red water shot out everywhere and was about to drown the whole town even the mansion. To stop this, Ed then did alchemy and created a big barrier around the mansion so the red water wouldn't flow to the town.
"Okay, so what are we going to do with the red water?" Al asked. Fletcher then had an idea; he approached a tree and drew a transmutation circle. He clapped his hands and put it on the circle.
The trees then were absorbing the red water. Russell decided to do it as well to help his brother. All the trees became red when the red water was absorbed. Kagome, Al, Ed, and Shippo were amazed.
As the trees absorbed the red water, Fletcher and Russell decided to destroy the trees. The trees then turned into dust and were blown by the wind.
Fletcher and Russell looked at each other and smiled.
Ed then destroyed the barrier and everything was back to normal.
-At The Train station-
"Thank you guys for everything that you did for the town." Elisa thanked the gang, as they were about to leave the train. Russell and Fletcher also said their good-byes to them.
"When will I ever see you again Kagome?" Russell smiled as he held her hand and kissed it. Kagome blushed as Ed was steaming behind her. "Well I…" Ed then grabbed Kagome, "Okay that's enough! Come on Kagome get on the train!" Ed glared at Russell and went in.
"Wait!" Elisa said.
The gang looked at Elisa from the window of the train. Elisa then gave them a basket of bread and lemons and a book about the stone and the jewel. "They are gifts!" Fletcher smiled. Shippo then grabbed the basket and book, "Thank you!"
The train then started and was already on its way.
Fletcher, Russell, and Elisa waved one last time to the gang. The gang waved back happily.
-In The Train-
"Finally!" Ed yawned as he lay on Kagome's lap. "I'm tired…" he sighed. Kagome nodded with agreement as she took a look at the book. "Yeah… we all are…" Kagome glanced at Shippo who was asleep already.
Kagome was still having thoughts about Ed, The Shard, Alchemy, and Inuyasha's powers.
I still don't get it… why is the shard giving Ed some of Inuyasha's powers? The shard probably had some connection with Inuyasha, Edward, and… Alchemy. I guess I'll have to find out.
Kagome sighed and read the book that Elisa, Fletcher, and Russell gave.
Inuyasha… don't worry, I'll find the Stone soon so you will be healed…
Author's Notes: Please review! See you all soon and one more thing, Ed is not turning into Inuyasha! I wish I can tell you why this is happening but I don't want to spoil it so bye!