The Philosopher's Secret

by Yellow Mask

NOW COMPLETE! RATING CHANGED. A whisper of another way to create the Philosopher’s Stone, a document titled 'The Philosopher’s Secret'. But the homunculi are after the stone as well, and there is very little they will not do to obtain it. Edwin, Royai

1. Prologue

The Philosopher's Secret

By Yellow Mask

Spoilers: General Philosopher's Stone spoilers, also for Dante and the homunculi.

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA.

AN: This is anime-based, and probably set sometime after the Lab Five incident. But there are several factors in this story that came into play later in the series, so this is essentially an imaginary universe of my own making. Assume that it takes place after Lab Five, but there may be entire-series spoilers present.

Prologue

"So, this is the document Sheska thought might help us out?" Ed asked, glancing at the yellowed pages in Al's hand.

Apparently, Sheska had rented a book on Latin philosophy from the library that she had then forgotten to return. But that meant that when the library burned down, the book was one of the few that remained entirely intact. And shoved between two pages, Sheska had found a sheaf of notes, written in Latin. Her understanding of Latin was limited, but enough to understand that it talked of the Philosopher's Stone.

So naturally, she handed it to Ed and Al.

"Do you know Latin, brother?" Al asked.

"Some."

Several of Tucker's books had been written in Latin, so Ed had learnt some of the basics of the language to pass the alchemy exam.

He took the notes, feeling the crumbly texture of the paper. They were old. Very old. There was no author mentioned, only a title scrawled at the very top of the first page, as though it were only added as an afterthought. Ed's brow furrowed as he read it.

'Philosophi Specialis'

'The Philosopher's Secret'