this chapter was ready yesterday, but there was a problem in this page and I couldn't upload it; but it's ready now. Please enjoy it.
(Somewhere in the outskirts of Central City in Amestris)
- Well, do you finally know where those alchemists are? – The thin homunculus known as Famine said to one of his sisters-
- Yes, we know that Indeed – the alluded replied, reviewing an old book she had on her hands – and they're not very good news for us?
- Er…what do you mean?
- We have discovered the last places they were seen and even their "tombs" are there, the problem is that everyone was at a different country. So it will take a lot of time to visit them.
- but what if we divide and go each one to meet one of them in order to gain time? – Famine suggested.
- You can't underestimate them, Famine – Death replied – they are one of the originals and direct apprentices of the great master, they will finish with us easily if we go alone.
- you don't know if they're really hostile to us - the biggest one, called Wrath, said - and you know that we have those things that the masters have taught about them, so, we don't have to fear anything.
- Maybe you're right. By the way famine, what is that creature the you have brought here?
- it? Is something I've found at the depths of the centrals HQ undergrounds, we were seeking for some creatures for using them in our distraction of the Central Forces, and we found a human based chimera that was feeding the other normal chimeras. When he saw us, he ran away desperately to protect this creature; what a pitiful way of act, and I can't stand that so, I give him a very beautiful end…He was eaten by his most beloved creation.
- Famine, Famine, when you will change….wait…there is something very interesting with this creature; it's resonating with our stones…could this be…
- Yes…maybe he has used that to create it but…where did he founded such a precious element.
- I don't know, but it's imperative that we bring this creature to the masters.
- Wait! We have another mission to do right now!
- And didn't we decide that we will divide the task to save time? Well we then have a lot of time then. This is what we will do. Famine, you will go to Areugo to find the one who controls the metals; Pest, first I need you to verify if the rumours that the one who controlled the Fire, who lived here in Amestris, is really death; then go to Xing and search for the one that controls the Water; War, go to the Drachma Empire and search for the one that controls the Earth; Finally, I will first bring this creature to the masters, and then I will go to Creta to find the one that controls the Thunder, Is everything clear?
- Yeah, yeah, I only hope you don't take the credit of finding that creature.
- Don't worry about that Famine, we are brother and we are linked through our souls, we can't lie to each other. Well, take this part of the book that talks about the ones you have to search, we will be meeting here again in 4 months, are agree
- Agreed – the other three said at the same time, and then they left the place through different directions.
Chapter 11: The Ironfist Alchemist.
As the Soul Alchemist, I had the knowledge to understand the souls of other people, but Aurora Mendier's soul was just not understandable. The reason, his experience with alchemy I guessed.
The first time I saw her I was completely stunned by her presence. I thought she would be quite an old person; but instead of that, I saw a person that could be considered to be even younger than 20, if we don't consider her eyes; her eyes were the ones of a person that has seen more than one life, it reflected wisdom, knowledge and joy but also lots of suffering, uncountable amounts of suffering, lived by the pass of time.
Another thing that her eyes reflected was that she was incredibly wise and calculator. I have to admit that with even the power of my soul, I felt sometimes uncomfortable with her measuring sight; however, "niisan" didn't show any kind of exaltation.
Ton was also with us, but I didn't notice his state…at that moment.
- I am so glad of having such famous Amestrian alchemists in front of me. Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, the one responsible of the fell of the last authoritarian government and the brought of Democracy to your country, and in fact, the one responsible of bringing peace at last between our countries. And Alphonse Elric, the always faithful brother, who had become a state Alchemist without any problems and who has been given a very elusive code name.
- We have heard many things about you Mrs. Mendier – Ed interrupted – you are considered one of the greatest 10 alchemists of our time and an expert of using alchemy to enhance the possibilities of the Automail. (So he really has read the book)
- Yeah, yeah, but you can learn about me reading any modern book about alchemy, I want to know about you; so famous but so youth to be in a book to study you. You, Edward Elric, such a legend due to have passed the state exam with only 12 years old; But this is not what makes you that remarkable; all your achievements make you a mighty legend even outside the borders of your country, being the first one that put the normal people first rather than the affairs with your country. But that's not what I want to ask you.
She acquired a more comfortable position and she started to study Ed with her calculating eyes; however, as I said before, Ed didn't even blink.
- I wonder why two boys decided to lose their youth to comply such a difficult destiny, to leave all other possibilities to sunken themselves in something that had to be the most similar to hell…
"I have seen hell before" I remembered "niisan's" words then.
- …What could have been so important to leave everything you had to start that difficult path?
Ed didn't respond, I knew that he boiled to say "we didn't have anything, so we didn't lose anything.", but he preferred to remain silent.
- But…of course, you didn't leave anything – she continued. – I know some other things about your, Elric brothers; your last name work against you. And it's that you are the son of one of the ten. Hohenheim of Light is your father, and although he is one of the greatest alchemists that exist in our times, you never asked for his help.
- He was lost doing his own research and abandoned us; we never knew where he was so it was impossible to ask for his help.
- Well, that was for sure what he had done as we never knew where he was and we don't know where he is now. By the way do you know it?
- I'm afraid we don't know where he is – I answered this time, by some reason, Ed shivered for the first and only time in the meeting.
- Ok, ok, but that's not really the most Interesting thing about you; dear guests.
The steward brought a tray with some cups and a teapot full with tea and other stuff for having tea. She clapped her hands and the tea came out from the teapot and the sugar automatically started melting in the cups filled with the brown liquid. "Alchemy without circles" I thought, and all of us let to escape an exclamation of surprise.
- As you see, I know that this form of making alchemy doesn't come with only study and research. The payment is very big; following the rules of the Equivalent Exchange; so I know you have done…that; the question is, what were your reasons?
Some minutes of big tension followed that question; Ed didn't show any exaltation though. What would he decide? Was he going to deny the question, or was he going to tell the truth. I would have denied it; In fact, why did that strange woman have to know about our past? But after those minutes and with a small smile drew on his face, Ed answered.
- Well, it seems that we can't hide anything to you so…
Ed made a fast resume about our lives, changing a lot of things of course, but in a whole, those things we have lived.
- Very interesting, very interesting, you really are sons of Hohenheim; there is no doubt about it.
For the first time, Ed didn't react with that asseveration. I was quite surprised.
- But now that you know the reasons of our sin, could you please tell us what were your reasons?
- Well…a boyfriend or a girlfriend makes us to have too difficult times when they die, aren't they?
We kept silent for some seconds, until she broke it again.
- Another thing; you Alphonse Elric have received a very elusive name as a State Alchemist, and the news about your incredible exam has reached here. Do you really have the abilities to manipulate the souls through the use of alchemy?
- I wouldn't call it "manipulate" but in fact, yes I can. - I replied.
- Interesting…very, very interesting.
Finally she noticed Ton. He was looking at her but in there was something very strange in the way he was looking her. His face didn't show any emotion, but his eyes were cold and showed a large amount of hatred against the Alchemist. Does he know her before? And if not then… what's the reason of that glare?
- I haven't heard about this boy, who is he?
- He is our brother, Anthony Elric.
- But I thought that the Elric brothers were only two, how this boy appeared…
- Well, it's a large story – Ed interrupted, taking the lead of the conversation – I'm sorry to interrupt this wonderful conversation but we came from far away to help on some problem your country is having. Have you, as the greatest alchemist of Areugo, made any discovering about the anomalies?
- Oh! ... The anomalies, I almost forgot that. Well, I haven't seen them personally, but according to the things the townsfolk have reported, they seem to be some type of vortex that produces lightings around them. I think they are just climatological phenomena; some kind of tornado because they are very usual here, but the meteorologist haven't said anything about them. The problem turns difficult when some people appear and swears that they have seen the anomalies changing of colour and that after some seconds it is possible to see another place through them; but for me they are only ways to call the attention of the press…
- Suddenly, the steward returned and said something to the woman's ear. Her semblance showed exaltation and angst for some seconds, at least that's what I thought; but she returned to normal before we could really be sure of that.
- I'm sorry gentlemen, but there are some affairs I have to take care now. It was a pleasure to meet you and I will call you again tomorrow to talk about the anomalies' problem in depth. Good morning.
- Well…that was really a lot of gossip and nothing about our mission- I said after leaving the place - don't you think "niisan"?... "Niisan"?
- Oh! ... Uhm… sorry I was just thinking about our meeting today.
- Well, I have to admit that was strange…well, what shall we do now, to interview the town folks?
- Please take care of that Al, ask Winry and Ton for her help; I need to think for a while, I have a bad feeling about this.
- You mean Mendier's nature? Yeah, that puzzled me too? What do you think about her?
- Well, she is very clever and a lot of other things, but she seems to me…much older than she seems.
- Yeah… you're right…I wonder why she looks so young if she really is very old.
- Probably…she made the same thing as Dante.
- You mean body shifting? No, I don't think so… we know that Dante's body was getting rotten due to the age of her own soul and the incompatibility with the taken body; but not anyone can learn how to hide what her soul express without a lot of learning and training; and it's simply impossible if there is that incompatibility that I was talking about.
- Are you sure Al?
- Yeah, I'm sure…that's her original body…I have no doubts.
Ed stayed in one of the sofas of our room, and we and Ton waited to the arrival of Winry. At that moment I decided to ask Ton about the incident in the meeting with Mendier's
- Ton… you were quite tense in the meeting with the Lady alchemist. Did you know her from before?
- Er…was I tense…I didn't notice it, and no… this is the first time I saw her – he answered smiling.
- Er…are you sure Ton?
- Of course I am! I never lie to you, why I will do it now?
Of course he didn't and there was sincerity in his eyes. But then …what was the reason of that exaltation? Could it be something unconscious, and if that's true, what has caused that?
Then I remembered that he thought that a group of alchemists were responsible of the fall of his academy, maybe that's why he unconsciously hate them, but we were alchemists too and it was for sure that he didn't hate us.
This entire problem was turning more complicated as time passed…
The room was dark and silent. Aurora Mendier was looking through the big window to the beautiful Miran's forest. She was waiting for someone… and that someone had just arrived.
- Greetings….Ironfist Alchemist.
- Famine…. It has been a while…
- According to the power that the Dark society gives to me and your responsibilities with her I demand you that…
Suddenly, the Alchemist clapped her hands and the Homunculus was trapped around a metal coffin, letting only his face visible.
- Hey! What's the meaning of this! And being so difficult to me being that formal!
- YOU DON'T HAVE ANY RIGHT TO DEMAND ME ANYTHING HOMUNCULUS! – Mendier's shouted.
- Ok, ok! Maybe I used the wrong words but the message is the same; I am here to retrieve your tribute to the Dark alchemist's society.
- Ok, ok, here take – she gave him a small bloody red stone to the homunculus, liberating him from his prison – Two generations and only one use, very difficult to make. I only expect that he comply what he had promised.
- I'm sorry to say this but the master has said that the tax will be doubled since now.
- WHAT! HOW THAT CRAZY BASTARD THAT I WILL MAKE TWO SOUL STONES IN SUCH A FEW TIME! WHAT DOES HE WANT, TO ME TO START A CIVIL WAR? THAT WILL BE TOO RISKY!
- You know that your methods are of your own choice, according to the rules of the society; you only have to give them in the time, and that time had reached its end.
- No! It's impossible, it's just impossible to make another Soul Stone in such a few time, I just can't give it!
- You know what will happen if you don't give them. So it's you choice to give them… or to suffer the consequences.
She turned to the window again, after some seconds, she asked.
- Does the great master know about the new methods that Dyral is using?
- You know that that information is forbidden for me to know, but I am sure the great master knows about them.
She kept quiet again, thinking. After one or two minutes, she spoke again.
- Maybe I can give another thing different than a Soul Stone this time as a Tax.
- What do you mean?
- I have just met three alchemists that have advanced knowledge in alchemy. First, there is a very young boy, the youngest brother; he seems to know just normal alchemy but there is something very strange about him, maybe they will want to research about him.
Then there is the Older of the three, who have seen the gate and have advanced knowledge about Inorganic Alchemy, but I think he also have knowledge in Organic Alchemy, but just basic ones.
And finally, there is the medium brother, the most intriguing of the three, he also have knowledge in inorganic and elemental alchemy, but his most interesting ability is his knowledge about Soul Alchemy, and we know that there haven't been users of it in centuries. In fact, they are they would be a great acquisition for the society.
- Everything is very interesting, but that alchemists really exist?
- Of course they are! Come tomorrow afternoon, they will be ready by then.
- Ok, until tomorrow then.
- But listen to me Famine! If I know that this order didn't come from the great master, I will rip you and your master until all your lives remain in history.
- Beware of what you say Ironfist, that words could be considered betray to the society, take care of your words – and then he disappeared.
She stayed seeing through the window, lost in her thoughts.
"This could be difficult, but I can't leave that bastard to do that, this will be only for the goodness of those kids."
A/N: From this point, the story will become darker for some chapters; probably this is one of the shortest chapters I have made but I wanted to begin the next chapter since this point.
Next Chapter: One of the Five Originals