Help Me
Chapter Four
Ed felt the pulling need to scream; as he watched his enemy's skin almost burn away, dripping off his body in a horrifying manner. Like some sickening monster in a horror flick. Al was already backing against the wall. Surely he would have nightmares if he were ever able to sleep again. Even Izumi wore the look as if her stomach were turning inside out.
Envy attempted to make it to his feet, but his writhing body gave out and fell back against the cold stony floor. His body was unidentifiable, with mass amounts of red liquid pooled around him, assumed to be a mixture of blood and red water. His skin was blistering and peeling away to reveal another darker shade. As if the one before were simple a wax coating, covering up another appearance.
The twisting urge to interfere and try to stop it was overwhelming Ed. This was his enemy no doubt. But no one, not even a killer, deserved that pain. Envy's shrieking was a clear indicator he could feel what was happening to him. Another sickening thought that made the alchemist's stomach contents twist and threaten to come up.
No one moved, they were afraid to. Terror had concreted them to their spots. Havoc and Riza were kneeling on the floor next to Roy, unable to stand anymore as one could see both shaking. Winry, who'd been at the end of the hall, was looking ready to faint at any moment.
"N-ni-niisan, what's going on..?" Al echoic voice sounded broken and fearful.
"T-the stone...Al...It's.."
The symbols running along the sin's back faded, and his head band split down the front and fell into the receding red puddle. The water/blood mixture began to shift, like a current as it began to form into lines, circling about the shape shifter. The liquid almost seemed to sink into the tiled floor darkening and staining it with a dark red formation.
"It's a transmutation circle!" Izumi found her voice, as she realized what it was.
The brackish color of Envy's hair bled out into a golden color, much like Edward's. The composition of the shape shifter's body began to change as his form changed. He struggled to his feet, barely standing.
Ed felt something inside him turn as he saw the half melted face, the half that had yet to drip off and reveal the true face underneath it.
A weak and shaky hand lifted up and pulled away the rest of the melting flesh. Many sickened groans were heard. Many had seen things that they thought would be the worst sight they'd ever see...But this...made them change their mind.
Only the Fullmetal alchemist did not look away. His eyes were fixed on the cryptic face. The one he could only assume to be the sin's true face. He was hit with a wave of familiarity. Golden hair, shorter now, almost shoulder length. The masculine, yet graceful face structure. The crisp golden eyes that the violet ones had faded to...The broader body, taller, and less girlish...
His knees nearly gave out as he realized where he'd seen that face...That image. Suddenly, he understood...
The last bits of deteriorating flesh pooled on the floor melting and crystallizing into the circular mass surrounded by the alchemic lines.
Ed and Envy were the only ones to remain on their feet, standing face to face, Ed being just out side the alchemic array. Before him a being which held the similar face to his father's, dressed in the fine clothes like the older English style, much like his own father had adorned himself in, when he was around.
"Y-you..." Ed could not finish his sentence...The words were there, waiting, but he couldn't seem to find his voice.
'He left you too...' A deeper voice spoke... 'But I could not bring my self to hate you less. He left me, like this, a storage compartment for the remaining pieces of that damn stone, that ended up kill me...'
"W-What?"
'Mercury poisoning. The gas vapors of that element are deadly to living creatures, specifically humans in this case. You as an alchemist would know that. Hoenhiem's first attempt to create the philosopher's stone blew up in his face or more specifically his workroom, releasing the vapor.' The familiar face, that could no longer hold the name Envy, twisted into a slight ironic grin. 'Don't you know those who seek the stone only find grief?'
"I-I knew, I thought I-"
'Could change that? Who said you could play god!" The harsh explosion of anger startled Ed.
"I'm not trying to play god!" Ed yelled a reply.
'Then what were you doing when you tried to bring back your mother? Alchemists are despicable beings who think they can figure out the universe! I once thought that. Then I passed through the gate. Now I realize just how stupid humans are."
"We're not stupid! We just make mistakes!"
'No, you commit sins. Then you have the audacity to label the product of your sins after the most deadly ones. I hate this face because of what it represents...This face is HIS sin! Then people like YOU,' He turned to cast a glance at Izumi who was kneeling on the floor, "Do the worst thing possible and try give it BACK!" His glance fell back on Edward.
Ed wanted to shrink back; he knew the figure before him was right. He knew how stupid he was. If he'd left the higher powers to the higher beings he would not have been where he was...He would not have to feel guilty about losing his brother's body. But he also would not have gained what he did...The friendship of so many people. A higher understanding of the world around him...Roy.
Tears brimmed the blonde's eyes as he spoke looking down at the floor. "We don't try to make these mistakes. We don't set out to destroy what we have. Our desperation does this. We simply want what we can't have. And maybe that is a sin, but that makes us human."
'Finish what you started!' The harsh yell pulled Ed's gaze up at the golden face. The form inside the circle pointed to the array.
The alchemist looked the array. What would happen if he created a reaction? If he transmuted the contents of the circle. Part of him knew that's what he had to do though. He subconsciously stepped closer.
"Niisan!" Al shrieked. Knowing that something bad could happen.
"Edward! What are you doing?" Izumi's shout didn't seem to read him as he clapped both hands together. The sound reverberated through the room as all eyes watched Ed kneel before the blood red lines of the circle.
He stopped only for a moment. As if to question why he was doing it. But he quickly passed over it and placed both hands on the edge of the array.
Everything filled with white. Ed slammed his eyelids closed as he was overwhelmed with the sudden light.
He opened his eyes, and saw seven figures before him, in front of an enormous gate. Seven. All figures he was familiar with. Yet they all seemed different.
Lust. Wrath. Gluttony. Pride. Sloth. Greed. Envy.
All of them, yet something deemed different about them all. Lust's black hair was a lighter brown and her pale complexion was darker. Wrath held no hateful look in his eyes, and stood against Sloth missing an arm and a leg. Gluttony, stood beside sloth, something other than hunger seemed to be present in his beady eyes. Pride, stood younger than he was, with out an eye missing, hand over his chest like a proud young soldier. Sloth...Holding the face of their mother...Her smile true unlike the falsified Sloth's. Greed was leaned against what was Envy, with an arm leaned on the other's shoulder, sporting the same type of outfit Envy's true form did, with his normally spiky hair, falling around his eyes.
They seemed...Human for a moment in time. And one thing they all had in common: the absence of the homunculus symbol.
'You can fix your mistake. By sending us back to the other side of the gate. Equivalent trade, though it's said to be the rule of the world, is a pointless myth, but with the philosopher's stone...' The golden eyed son of Hoenhiem spoke softly.
'If you can send us to the other side, you can make us human again.' The Ishbalian woman, that Lust originally was, said hopefully.
"But wouldn't that be like sending a homunculus back to the gate! Wouldn't you be stuck there!"
'No. You're using the power of the philosopher's stone. Once you leave here, the stone will be gone. Destroy anything connected to it.'
"H-how do I send you back?"
'All you have to do it open the gate, Edward.'
"Mother..." Ed's eyes fell on the face of his mother.
'You can live in peace now. One day you may see all of us again on the other side.'
Ed bit his tongue and held back his tears. He walked passed them and stood before the gate. He removed the glove from his fleshy hand. Pressing his index finger against his sharp canine he winced as he drew blood. He pressed the bleeding finger against the door of the enormous gate and drew the pattern for an eight sided transmutation circle, half of which was drawn on one door the other half on the other, in the center of the door's opening point.
"If this will fix it..." Ed leaned his head against the gate. He pressed his hands against the door, and stood back. The last thing he saw was the brilliant light that overwhelmed him the first time.
"ed." He heard a quiet whisper.
"Ed."
"ED."
"ED!"
His eyes shot open. He moved an arm to wipe away the tears flowing down his cheeks. He took immediate notice that his mechanical arm was now soft and fleshy. He sat up and turned to face the golden brown eyes of his younger brother.
"A-Al?" He choked.
"I'm normal again Niisan!" Al cried.
"That's great Al!" Ed wiped away more tears.
"That's not all!"
"What do you-?" Ed turned his head to come face to face with a familiar person.
"HUGHES!"
xxx
Leo: I hope that didn't suck o.o; This chapter was a little shorter for a reason XP and like I said, it was a small plot twist, the whole purpose for the philosopher's stone was to bring Hughes back... for those who don't know, the image of Envy I described is actually what his true form looks like. He is actually Ed's half brother XP This is not how they find out in the series so this is definitely AU. The other homunculus are also correct, except Pride, Gluttony and Greed who I kinda guess on.
FireanIce: Yeah I put Roy through I lot. He goes through at Bit more next chapter. Which will be more centeredo n him. I did this chapter so I could bring Hughes back XD
envylover1414: Well I most likely confused a few people...But I hope you liked this chapter, in all its weirdness o.o;
Lone Metal Alchemist: For some reason evertime I type your name I type LoneMetal Wolf o.o; I don't know why...Sankyew sankyew! Glad you liked!
lind405: I updated sooner this time if that makes you happy !
Krimson Soul: eeps...I didn't mean to make you cry! o.o;! I'm a wuss too...I still cry watching bambi...
koolmint26: Bakura's name in japanese...is Bakura XD lol...I'm glad you like my work, makes me feel special.
Bakuras-hell: Glad you like!
RejectedAndLoved: Don't worry you don't need to know about anything after ep. 27 because I explained it.
CheeseFairyXXL: lol I'm a spaz too. Glad you like my stories I feel spekial. XD
Shingo-sama: sankyew! And I tried updating as soon as possible.
shadowoftheredmoon: Yays! You liked!I feel all happeh now:3
Hiei098: Sankyew sankyew
Sakurasango: lol, I wrote this all today! So i hope you liked it!
Marii: Squees! I luffs you! ..:climbs into jacket pocket:.. Me luffs yew muchly!
RienClara: wow, I'm glad you like. I'm happy that this story is liked! ..:dances:..
Leo: Well until next time!
Roy and Ed: ...:huggles readers:...