Konoko: Yo I'm happy everyone is enjoying what they're getting. I've been really happy about the reviews too. Now everything is completely made up so let me know if you find a plot hole. I have a tendency to have those when I make these kinds of stories. Well, that's it. Welcome to chapter four people.

Disclaimer: You're kidding right?

Cruel Angel

Chapter Four: Mother of Liore.

Alphonse woke in the early morning holding his neck painfully. He panted as the pain receded and he looked toward the window.

"Niisan…"

It had only been a week and he was already feeling he shouldn't have stayed. Living on a promise from the colonel was okay. But living on the promise of the general who was also a vampire was worrying his nerves. This recent dream he had wasn't helping him at all. Ed cornered and frightened pinned against a wall with a predator's teeth in his neck. He was far away and he couldn't help him. He sighed and rubbed away the sleep from his eyes and reached back out of habit to rub the nape of his neck where the serpent cross lay beneath his growing dirty blonde hair.

"Al! Get up! Breakfast is ready," Winry shouted from downstairs.

He smiled and rolled out of bed, getting dressed. His eyes fell on the red trench coat his brother entrusted him with. Winry had repaired and washed it so that it looked new again; of course he could've done it with alchemy but she had insisted. He smiled at it feeling the fabric as it felt the first day he was able to feel again.

"AL!"

He jumped slightly and hurried downstairs. Winry glared at him.

"Geez, fifteen hours of sleep out of the day is more than enough for anybody, Al. You sleep too much as it is. Now go eat before I hit you with my wrench again."

Al laughed rubbing the back of his head with embarrassment. It was true that he had been sleeping a lot but that was because he was still getting use to his body and that required him to rest a lot. But at least it wasn't as bad as Winry claimed. He only slept ten hours for her information. He sighed giving up and sitting down to eat. He still hadn't gotten over his fascination with taste and he doubted he would. Everything seemed to be heightened since he had been brought back. It was fun to taste, touch, and smell again; to feel period was a blessing. The thought of feeling made him miss his brother even more, though. When they were little they did everything together. They slept together with their legs intertwined playfully for warmth during winter. Al had always curled up under his brother during the thunderstorms. It had always been that way but when they went off to learn alchemy after their mother died, they got closer still. At just age nine, Al was beginning to feel things he knew nothing about when he looked at his brother. When they huddle together under the makeshift tents Al always leaned into Ed taking in his scent. He'd always made a point to be able to touch his brother's skin as they slept and rest his head on Ed's chest. All those years in the armor made him miss those times very much and as soon as he could see straight in his new body he had kissed Ed and Ed had allowed it. The best part about everything they had been through from Al's perspective was that they had never rejected one another in anything. They truly were all they had when it came to love. Al wouldn't trade that for anything. But now…now they were separated again although it was less painful considering they weren't right next to each other and separated by a hunk of metal.

"Al?"

Al shook his head and looked at Winry. She smiled sadly. "You were thinking about him again, weren't you?"

Al turned his eyes to the table and nodded. Winry couldn't understand them completely but she knew them enough to know what each was troubled by. "You're getting more and more distant by the day, Al. Maybe you should take a trip, too."

"By myself!" Al exclaimed with a mouth full of eggs.

Winry nodded. "We can't do anything for you as far as experiences go. I think it would be healthy if you traveled alone for a while. You know, find your footing. And when you're ready you can come back to us. But you have to write to us so that we know you're okay. Don't do like last time, Al. Don't let the distance and traveling make you forget we're still here. Let us know how you're doing, okay?"

Al swallowed and considered this. "I never really thought about traveling on my own. I'm use to Niisan being right there with me."

Pinako came into the kitchen. "That's the thing. You boys are growing up. You need to learn about being separated normally for a while. Then you'll have something to talk about when you meet again."

Al nodded. He had to admit they were right even though he never liked being alone. Maybe traveling would take his mind off of missing Ed for a little while. Plus, he was curious to see how everyone else was doing. Still he had promised to stay with Winry. But, when was the last time he'd heard from Russell and Fletcher or even seen Rose, Clara or anybody they knew? Heck, when had he even seen Sensei? Okay maybe that wasn't a good place to visit now that he could bruise.

"Alright then, I'll go. But I gotta let brother know. I don't want go anywhere without letting him know. He'll just worry about me."

Pinako pointed the phone. Al moved to get up but stopped to look back at Winry who had gone quiet. "Are you…okay with this, Winry? I won't leave you if you aren't, you know."

Winry looked up with surprise. "Of course I'm okay with it. It was my idea, you big dummy. I want you to go out and have fun. This town's too small for someone who needs a little adventure in his life. After all, you've been in armor for so long that you need to live a little. Go ahead and go. Grandma and I'll be going off to Rush Valley for a while too. So don't worry, we won't get bored either."

Al smiled and nodded. "Okay."

Ed jumped awake at the sound of a phone ringing next to him. Without thinking he picked it up and tried to say hello immediately slapping himself in the head for forgetting.

Hawkeye's voice came through the receiver. "Edward, your brother called us. He said he was going to Liore for a while. Something about getting an okay from Miss Rockbell."

Ed tapped the phone letting her know he understood though somehow he knew she was reading his mind through the damn thing.

"Another thing, Edward. If the Major General is still at home, wake him and let him know he's late."

Ed shrugged to himself and tapped the phone. She hung up giving a formal goodbye and Ed tossed the thing back on the cradle. He crawled out of Mustang's bed not exactly remembering how he had gotten there. He remembered being in the shower and hearing the general come in. Why did everything go blank after that? Plus, his neck was a bit sore. Maybe he was just tired. He went down stairs to find the general asleep on the couch. He went to him and noticed that he smelt blood all over Mustang. Brushing it off with the obvious fact the general was a vampire, Ed ignored it and shoved the couch over and quickly went to the door to get the paper before Roy hit the floor. The raven-haired man twitched and glared at Ed who was distractedly reading the paper and snickering at the same time. Roy swore he could hang that little blond bastard. Getting up he fixed the couch back and was about to yell at the teen but he couldn't, finding it better just to look at Ed and admire how beautiful his hair looked in the coming sunrise. However, Ed had frozen while looking at the paper and began to scribble on the front. Ed held it up to his face in a horrified and questioning gaze.

"What is this?" he had written.

Roy looked over the paper and realized the front page showed five young boys murdered and drained of their blood just last night. That's when the night before came flooding back to him. His instincts would not let him rest after taking the drug that was Edward's blood. They had driven him out of the house and into the streets and all he could remember was the screams and the taste of each his victims. It had taken so much to satisfy him this time that it frightened him. His eye widened and he looked at Ed who gave him an expression that for once he couldn't read. There was no accusation, no pity what so ever and not even a hint of disgust. Did Ed know it was him? Did he even remember last night? Roy approached him…one step…two…Ed took a step back on the third. Not too close yet not far away, simple body language that said I'm not accusing but I'm wary. Roy sighed and cast his eyes to the floor. Ed picked the paper slowly from the general's hands and began to write with the pen.

"I'm not blaming you."

Roy looked up at Ed in surprise only to catch the boy's back as he disappeared into the kitchen. He couldn't understand how Ed could be unforgiving when a criminal used alchemy as a means of obtaining their goal but when it came to natural wrongs without science he had the mercy of a saint no matter how subtly the mercy was given. He questioned whether Ed had noticed that all five had been young beautiful blonde boys. Ed sat at the table watching the sunrise above the horizon and wondering why the fact that Roy had killed those innocent people didn't bother him as much as he thought it would. He needed it to survive. The fact that it was need and not a want and the thought that Roy really had not wanted to kill anymore in his life time made it easy to forgive him because in the end Roy had to carry the weight on his own. He wondered if the general realized that.

"I'm late, Ed," Roy mentioned softly. "I have to get going. The orders from yesterday still stand. Don't…don't pick up any strangers."

Ed nodded absentmindedly rubbing his neck where he had unbeknownst him been bitten by Mustang. Roy flinched when he saw the boy do this and turned away to retreat upstairs. He didn't know how Ed would be able to stay in the same house with him after what happened last night. Ed eyed the doorway strangely when Roy had left so abruptly. He shrugged. Honestly, he didn't have time to worry about it. He had a book to go over with his new Ishbalan friend.

--------------------------

"Alphonse! Is that really you? I thought you were your brother for a minute!"

Rose hugged a blushing Al happy to see him the flesh again. "I can't believe you both made it through! I prayed every night for you both."

Al smiled warmly at her. "Well I made it but my brother refused to get his arm and leg back. He said that his leg was punishment and that his arm was what he gave in exchange for me. There was no point in a refund when he had got what he wanted from it."

"That definitely sounds like Edward. What are you doing all the way in Liore?"

"Well, I'm passing through. The people I was staying with thought it would be best to travel and gain experience on my own since Ed went back to the military."

"Why did he go back?"

"Well, it's just something he had to do," Al said with faint smile.

He had arrived in Liore around sunset and was able to catch up to Rose before nightfall. She mistook him for Edward because he wore the old red trench that his brother had entrusted him with. They sat across from each other speaking about the long ride in the taxi and having run into a few old friends on the way. Al figured it was not a bad start for his first lone trip. Rose explained that she had become a leading official in the town's faith and people had begun to call her the "Mother of Liore." She said the title was weighty but she was honored that everyone put so much hope in her. Al assured her that he trusted she was doing a wonderful job though he and his brother still were atheists. They knew a higher power existed but believing and knowing are two completely different things. Al had never once asked for forgiveness and he honestly didn't intend to no matter how much Rose hinted at it.

"So, Al, have you heard the rumors lately around Liore since you've been here?"

"About the shadow that had attacked Clara in Aquaroya?" he asked grimly. "Yeah, they say they're worried that this shadow might come for you since they figure he might be after those who bring hope."

"I honestly don't think he will come after me because there is a major difference between me and Miss Clara. She's an alchemist and I am not. I'm not worried because I know that God will protect me from evil. But I am worried about you traveling alone. I mean who's to say he isn't just after alchemists whether it is state or not. I want you to stay here for tonight."

Al nodded. "Don't worry, I don't plan on going anywhere yet. I'm just going to take it slow and try to enjoy myself. After all, I'm just as capable as my brother."

Rose smiled. "I like being able to see the confidence as well as hear it. I believe God has forgiven you and has finally allowed you be able to live a happy life now. Don't you?"

Al looked at his hands and smiled a little. "Yes, I think he has."

A sudden black out made both of them gasp. They heard yelling outside and Al quickly made for the window. He looked out into the darkness of the city finding a few people sprawled out on the ground. A fog of black crept along the street toward the temple causing people to collapse when it touched them. Rose covered her mouth with her hand in horror. Al shut the window and used an alchemic charge to melt it shut. He sat Rose down at the table.

"Wait here, I'll be back."

"Al wait!"

"Just stay Rose, I'll be fine."

With that he left the room and locked the door with a clap. He had only just made it down stairs when the black mist had entered the main hall and was collapsing the guards before they could react. In front of the alter, it swirled and formed the silhouette of what appeared to be a woman. The mist fell away revealing a cloaked female whose head was bowed and hooded. Al could see dark plum colored bangs hand low from beneath the cloth of the trench and the metal chains that hung from the wrists beneath the sleeves. She lifted her head and looked straight at the blond though Al could not see her face.

"Who are you!" Al demanded.

He could almost hear the cruel smile in the voice of this threat. "I am Shauda. I have come for the Mother."

"If you've come for Rose you'll have to go through me!"

A pause of surprise? That was a bit strange to Al.

"It is not your time, Asterious. You will be given the chance to fight but I will not go against my kin. Stand aside child."

"What are you talking about? What do you mean by kin?"

"I do not have time for this, if you are wise you will stand aside and wait for your destined time to fight. Your stone is not yet complete. You have not fulfilled your purpose," she said walking toward him threateningly. "I will not risk damage to you. Stand aside."

Al clapped and slapped his hands on the ground letting the alchemic lightening wrap around his forearms creating metal gauntlets much like the ones of his armor save for their strength. Shauda sighed and shook her head. To Al's surprise a large array he had never seen appeared before Shauda and the woman pressed her hand to it. She slowly drew it back with a handle of something following. She fisted it and pulled out a black bladed katana in which a dark mist swirled around the blade. Al backed away.

"Impossible…" Al's eyes widened in realization. "Mental Alchemy!"

Shauda laughed. "Those sired are not limited by the laws of simple earthen alchemy. We are the users of Omni Alchemy the very essence of omnipotence. We are gods of the art of true alchemy. I shall ask once more, stand aside child."

Al growled stubbornly. God or no, he would not let this woman hurt the innocent. Al reared his fist back and punched only to be blocked by the blade of the katana, which to his surprise, did not break under the pressure of the metal gauntlets. She swung the katana with a frightening grace making an eerie song echo from the blade. Al dodged and flipped out of the away before it could be brought down on him again. He clapped his hands making the gauntlets turned into two swords and fended off the black blade. He found an opening in her side and thrust the blade into it. Unfortunately for him, she was quicker and smarter. She blocked the blade and slide her sword forward cutting deep into his side. Al stumbled backwards dropping one of his swords to grip his injured side. He winced as Shauda took advantage and shoved her black blade into his shoulder lifting him from the ground and causing a large amount of blood to fall from the wound. Al screamed in pain and was thrown to the side. She sheathed the sword in another array and approached him placing a hand on his cheek. The caress was strange to Al yet so familiar; it was loving and so cruelly guilty like the way his brother touched him. Her hand felt the way Ed's felt.

"You will heal?"

Al's eyes gave a completely confused look at the woman. Shauda leaned close to his face and he was able to only see a pair of beautiful amber eyes that seemed to be a cross of the color of his and his brother's eyes. Her mouth pressed against his softly and as he began to loose consciousness from the blood lost, he swore to god that he saw his brother closed eyed in front of him. Shauda let him slide to the floor in his own blood and watched with hood-shadowed eyes as he breathed deeply. She had time before the homunculus in him took over.

"I was made from you both but I cannot adhere to you. Not yet, loves."

"ALPHONSE!"

Shauda turned to see Rose staring terror struck at the fallen alchemist. The woman turned and walked slowly towards Rose who was frozen with fear. She held out her hand.

"The Great Nurturer…the mother of the world in which beings are given the purist remedy and nourishment…"

Rose gasped as her chest tightened and her heart began to pound. "Oh, god."

"Its greatness would carry on as a mother of light in which thou would be bathed in as a child of faith so that it would become the elemental power of life…"

Rose fell to her knees holding her hands over her heart and crying in pain. "Please…stop."

"It shall crystallize in thee who wished nothing more than to have hope and trust in thy faith and lead others to the light…"

Golden light glowed from Rose's chest and it burned like fire. She sobbed in agony and begged. "Some one help!"

"Let the elemental stone Solaris cast aside thy protector and be brought forth into a world of need to create the Angel of all Cruelty!"

"NO! STOP!" Rose threw her head back and screamed loud. A beautiful amber colored stone broke though her chest and Shauda pulled it slowly leaving the now black-eyed girl lying sprawled out on the floor panting. She smirked at the beautiful stone that held such radiant light.

"And thou shall behold the stone of light and kneel to the power of the faith in those thou hath sired so that they may inherit the world…"

Al awoke to the sound of frantic muttering and dizzily sat up. As he expected all his wounds were closed and nothing more than healthy flesh lay beneath the torn clothing but he still found dull aches in random places. He looked over at Rose who sat with her knees drawn up and head bowed rocking back and forth. Al approached her finally hearing what she was saying.

"And thou shall behold the stone of light and kneel to the power of the faith in those thou hath sired so that they may inherit the world…"

She repeated that over and over again in a dead voice that sent chills up his spine. He slowly touched her shoulder and he felt a sinking feeling his stomach as he shook slightly.

"Rose…?"

Rose stopped rocking and remained very still. Al shook her once again and called her name trying to get a response. Her head snapped up to stare wide eye at him her eyes filled to the brim with black nothingness. Al gave a terrified look as images of the night they created sloth entered his mind. He fainted unable to take the fright.

"Edward, are you alright!" Justice asked holding Ed by his shoulders.

Edward was doubled over on the diner floor making faces of agony. He held his shoulder and side with tears on the brims of eyes. Justice helped him up and out of the diner into the fresh air. Ed took in deep breaths and calmed down as the pain began to reside. He knew what the pain was and it caused a wave of panic to wash over him. He looked up at Justice and his mouth moved frantically before bolting off with the Ishabalan behind him.

"I've got to find my brother!"

A/N: This chapter wasn't as long but I couldn't fit anymore considering I'm a bit behind and that school has started for me. It's wearing me out because I had three essays to do before I was even able to touch my fic. Anyway tell me if sucks or if it was interesting enough to keep reading.