Chapter 3: A way to return home
We finally managed to arrive to our flat more or less at eleven o'clock. Fearing what would the owner would say if she saw us with a little boy at those ours, we decided to make him enter through the window, being very careful not to do so much noise. When we three were in the room, we started examining the little boy
I won't be lying if I say it was one of the most beautiful boys I've seen in all my life
Al: Ouch! and why you hit me now, I haven't written anything about your height
UF: he he … a jealous brother
I guessed he must have been between 10 and 13 years old. He was as tall as Ed, middle tanned skin and unlike anything I'd seen before, he had shining dark blue hair and deep light purple eyes. His eyes were the most remarkable thing, although I'm used to rare coloured eyes (where else have you seen gold, and dark emerald eyes?) They showed innocence corrupted by images of death and suffering, like "niisan" after we failed reviving Mom. He really seemed not to be form this (or the other) world.He also seemed to have received some type of training because his muscular tone and his strength were not usual in a boy in his ages. He was wearing white shirt and brown shorts as boys from that country used to wear.
- First, we can unaccountably made alchemy, then we found a lot of chimeras that tried to dinner us, and finally we found this boy who can alchemize without a TC just like me – he said when he finally entered into the room, after helping the boy to enter through the window – what do you think about this boy Al?
- I really don't know what to say- I replied – he hasn't said anything yet.
- Well, let's interrogate him. Hey you! What's your name?
The boy didn't answered, he looked as if he was lost on another dimension
- Hey, I'm talking to you
- don't be so hard with him, "niisan", he have suffered a lot
- But we need answers, hey! What's your name?
- A…Anthony – he finally answered without looking us.
- Well… Anthony, have you ever performed human transmutation?
- Transmutation? What is transmutation? - he asked with curious eyes.
- Transmutation, you know, the most important thing in alchemy
- Alchemy? What is alchemy?
That was getting weird, we saw him doing a transmutation without a TC and he didn't know what alchemy is.
- You must be kidding – Ed impatiently grunted – and how do you destroy that chimera by only clapping!
- Oh that! – He understood – I saw you doing that and I though that was easy.
That petrified Ed, he felt useless when seemed that the knowledge that cost him one of his legs was easily copied by a child. But he found a escape exit.
- Hey Al! I think there is something strange with this kid. He surely is a homunculus
- A HOMUNCULUS!
- Yes, you know; someone like wrath.
- Bah! "Niisan" do you really think a boy like him would be a homunculus. Just look at him, his skin is too dark to be a homunculus and he didn't have any of those disgusting marks on his skin
- There is no other possibility. It's impossible to know how to use "clapping alchemy" without seeing the truth knowledge
- Well, you should see the possibility of and outstanding genius who can copy a technique with just seeing it.
- Grrr!
- Ok Ok… Well, if he's a homunculus he would have an Uroboros tattoo somewhere
- Well, let's seek it
So we started searching for the uroboros. We even completely undressed him, but we didn't found any uroboros on his skin
- I'm so embarrassed, two nearly adult guys undressing a little boy just for a simple thought
- Well, we must be sure he's not dangerous.
When the boy finished dressing up, I realized on a necklace he had. It was a very simple rope necklace which seemed to be made with only one purpose: to carry a small elliptic bloody red stone. Suddenly, I remembered what I saw in the forest.
- "Niisan", I've just remembered that when I found him at the forest and when he did the clapping transmutation, something red was shining like crazy on his chest; I think it's that stone
He checked out it and then his face changed as if he had remembered something unpleasant
- I wonder if…. – then he clapped and grabbed a small piece of paper that was on the floor, then he approached the stone; and when he started changing its form, small lightings became out of the stone hurting him and making him to throw the piece of paper, which completely disintegrated when it touched the ground.
- I don't have any doubts now – re claimed – Al, I don't know if you remember it but this is a "Philosopher's stone".
"A Philosopher's stone, the mighty ancestral catalyst, so it was its form" I thought. Although I didn't remember to have seen one in my life; it's been explained large in the other story; so I won't say anything more.
- That's horrible, and to think we were searching it for more than three years – I said, somewhat horrified. Anthony was scared to death.
- Now tell me, Anthony. How did you obtain that stone!
- I don't know, I was crying Seith's death when I suddenly appeared in that forest with this on my neck.
- Don't lie! It's just too difficult that that a kid would be granted by something that valuable and dangerous. Now split up!
- I'm telling the truth! I swear! – He said looking at Ed, begging for credibility.
"Niisan" stayed frozen for a while; it was the first time he saw Anthony's eyes; that eyes filled with innocence corrupted by pain and suffering, something Ed knew better than anyone.
- I'm sorry, I believe you. Don't worry- he said with a soften voice he had only used with me before. Then he approached and hugged him – please forgive all the rudeness of before.
- You smell… like him. And then he started to cry again – "niisan" kept hugging him until he calmed down and fell asleep. Then he put him into one of our beds and turned off the light.
- You can be very kind when you want it "niisan" – I said him, pretty happy
- Oh Al! - He said as if he's just realized I was there.
- What a change of heart. You started shouting at him and then you hugged as if he was your…
- … little brother?
- Yeah! as if he was your little brother. - I said, smiling even more
- You must be jealous.
- I'm not a jealousy person – I replied – I even like this spontaneous kind moments you rarely have. They remind me that so good person I love as my brother
He smiled sincerely
- did he remind you someone
- Yes, to myself.
- ?
- That day, after we failed transmuting Mom I found myself in the darkest and deepest hole that ever existed. Feelings of death and suffering invaded my mind, and my soul. That boy was transmitting with his eyes that same feeling of indescribable suffering; but there was a difference. I had a hope. The hope I could maintain you alive even by offering my own life as an exchange. But that boy had already lost any hope he maintained and his living desire is pending of a thread; just because he didn't know how to do it. So I think that if I were in his position, I'd have lost my living desire long time ago and even tried to take my own life.
- Please don't say that "niisan" – I replied protesting – your life is one the reasons I live
And then I hugged him. After a while we decided to go to bed. We would have to sleep on a single bed, which was no problem because we where thin. I was resting in fetal position while he was hugging me. Before we fell asleep he told me
- Do you have any idea how those chimeras appeared there? - I asked.
- I've some idea. Something that I'm almost sure is that this boy is from the other world; from our world. Something indescribable had happened to this kid and I think that, somehow, maybe with the power of that stone, he was able to cross the gate to save his life and for the crossing trauma he'd lost part of his memory. Maybe those chimeras followed him from the other side.
"As, clever as always" I though. I've been always quite envious about the easiness he had to make convincing theories with only knowing little about the case. But then I used to thing "well, he is the clever, you are the kind" to relief my self and transforming that envy into Pride.
After a few seconds of silence he finally said
- It would be difficult to protect that boy in this place. He has a philosopher's stone and we didn't know what is feeling it now. Those chimeras were dragged there by the influence of that stone and we don't know if the one whose stone was stolen would try to recover it. After all, alchemy is too weird in this place; so, we must go to somewhere it's seen as a normal thing.
- You're meaning – I replied, without believing what I was hearing.
- Yes, mi dear brother; it is time to go and see our friends again.
Returning! At last! That words sound me like heaven. I was just tired of that world, its dirtiness, the way people felt like they never had what they want; the political Unrest and the fear of an upcoming war. I just wanted to run away and return home, my real home; and we finally could do that.
And as for the sacrifice to open the gates, I though he would use the stone (yeah! he is more intelligent than me but I'm not stupid) and I was sure that Anthony would lend it only if we asked it.
The next day we got up early. First, we help Anthony to go out through the window and we hid him behind a pile oh goods carts that were near there; then we make our bags. We told the owner that we had to make and emergency travel so we were leaving the room that day. Ed paid what he debt and I left a book I had finished writing two nights ago. It was a transcription my boss, Dr. Rushbell asked me to do. I told her to apologize me when he came to carry it. My only regret was that I hadn't had time to said farewell to him. And about Ed's work, he didn't mind
When we finally were outside we decided to go to the forest again; to the same distant place where we fought last day, so nobody would see us while we were trying to open the gates.
- Now, if I recall… - he said when we arrived the place, trying to remember something. Then he searched in his pocket until he found his usual annotations notebook and after this he started drawing a big TC on the ground. I and Anthony were glancing at his work. When he finished, he said.
- Well, by using that I'm sure I'll be able to control the gate like Dante did – then he approached Anthony – I need you to lend me this – he said grabbing the bloody stone.
- You want this, take it I don't mind – he replied giving it to him.
After a while he spoke again
- Mister
- Eh…, are you talking to me. Oh! I'm sorry we haven't said our names my name is Edward but you can call me Ed – he said, grinning
- And my name is Alphonse but you can call me Al – I said, smiling
- Oh well- he said, quite relieved - Ed, are we going to some place?
- Oh yes! ... You will know it soon.
Then he put in position
- Ok, get ready. When I say it, you'll enter into the circle, now stay away!
I can swear I heard "niisan" mumbling this: "I'm not sure if this would work, but there is nothing more I can do. I hope the power of this stone is enough exchange to open the gates or something bad will happen to me. Whatever happens, it will not hurt Al or the kid".
I was ready to protest when he spoke again
- Oh, before I forget it, don't drop my hand until we get to the other site; and, over all, DON'T LOOK AT THE EYE!
We assented with our heads, surprised by that change of mood.
Then, a clap sounded in the forest and the very familiar signs of transmutation started to appear. Then the wind started to go faster and a power beyond any description filled the air around us.
- Now jump! – He cried; and when we were in the circle, he grabbed our hands, mine with his left hand, and Anthony's with his automail hand.
The power of the transmutation started to surround us and then the landscape suddenly changed. We were in another place now, a completely empty but creepy place.
Still grabbing our hands Ed ordered - Now both of you start running!
We didn't run much time when saw a big gate on the other side "The Gate" I thought and my head started to hurt me.
- Don't doubt at this time Al, keep your pace – he said, enough strength to forget my headache.
We were almost in front of the door when he ordered – Now! Close your eyes – I firmly closed them and continued running. I could hear the gates opening and something starting to lurk outside. Then my heart suddenly filled with fear.
I remember to have suddenly frozen up, I was shaking from feet to head. I opened my eyes and saw it, the most horrible creature I've seen in my entire life, complete darkness with a single gigantic eye in the middle and a lot of small and big arms surrounding it
I heard my brother's voice "AAAAAL! DON'T LOOK AT IT! … AAAAL! CLOSE YOUR EYES!", but then I heard the most horrible sort of a lot of voices someone could imagine "WEEEEE MEEEEEET AGGGAAAAAIIIN ALLLLPHONSE ELLLLRICCCC…. HAAAVE YOUUU COOOOME TOOOO PLAAAAAY!" My fear and desperation reached unimaginable levels.
After that I don't remember if I fell down or if I remained like stone there. I don't remember if I screamed or if I kept deadly quiet. I only remember my head burning like hell, and a lot of information just appearing in it. I was remembering everything, all the four years I travelled with my brother and lots of information about almost everything; as "niisan" had usually called it: the truth.
The last thing I remember was my brother's voice shouting desperately "AAAAL! PLEASE WAKE UP! … AAAAL! SAY SOMETHING TO ME, PLEASE! AAAAAL!" almost crying. Then,after a lot of nightmares;I woke up in a very familiar room.
I don't know much about the things that happened between those. I think I'll ask "niisan" for writing some lines about them.
A/N: The next one hasa lot of Ed's angst, but he is relieved at the finish. I hope you enyojed it, please review.