Yes, this chapter is inspired by Britt Nicole's song " Glow " off of her 2nd album " The Lost Get Found "

Glow, Walk On The Water, Safe are all songs co-written by and featured on Britt Nicole's 2nd album "The Lost Get Found." All rights reserved to the respected parties involved. Artist/Songs/Album/Label (Sparrow)

Alchemist Chronicles

Chapter 26 - Glow

Imperial City, Xing: Imperial Palace

A few days later and the day before Ed and Winry's honeymoon is over, they agreed to meet in their room to exchange their gifts to each other.

Ed - "As a gentleman always says, Ladies first." He respectfully bows his head to Winry. She giggles, blushing in return.

Win bows her head in return, thanking him as well. She then jogs over to the closet and pulls out his wrapped present.

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Central, Amestris

The morning of the Military's Ball, Roy sits down with Al in his office. "So have you asked her yet?" Al looks away nervously. "I'll take that as a no. (Roy sighs) 'What am I gonna do with him?' Look, if you want I can ask her for you and let you know what she says." Al nods his head. "Thanks." He says. "You're welcome." Roy replies.

An hour before the afternoon, as Al is walking down the hall. He runs into Ross and the two chat briefly. AJ, who just finished delivering her fifth run to drop off documents to the Internal Affairs and Weaponry Development Archives. Stops in her tracks when she sees them.

Maria - "Oh hey Rambo. Thanks for running that paperwork down for me and Denny. " "Sure thing. (She nervously looks away briefly, blushing) Um... Al do you ...uh can I have a moment of your time?" Al closes his eyes and smiles. "Sure." Maria excuses herself.

Walking a bit further down the hall in HQ, she stops and turns to him. She locks her fingers together, nervously asking him. "So um... there's a uh... a-an event that's tonight. (She takes a deep breath to try to calm her nerves) I was um... wondering... if you wou-" Rubbing the back of his neck, he asks. "That lady from the other day said something about a Ball that was coming up soon. I think her name was Right ...or Ryht ...or was it Whyt?" AJ starts giggling causing Al to blush. Clearing her throat afterwards, she tells him. "Her name is Wright, Al. You're so funny!" She starts laughing, causing Al's blush to darken.

Chuckling a bit himself, Al then asks her. "Well, I was wondering if you know- you would want to go together. I mean. If I'm allowed to that is. I uh probably should of asked the Fuhrer, first." Smiling and blushing, she replies. "Sure. I'd like that. Thank you for asking, Alphonse." He blushes as he turns his head away slightly. She kisses him on the cheek quickly before running back to the Fuhrer's office. Al stands there holding the cheek she just kissed, grinning from ear to ear.

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Imperial City, Xing: Imperial Palace

Ed - "Thanks babe." Ed kisses her on the lips. She laughs lightly as she asks him. "So where's my present?" Tapping her waist lightly, he says. "Wait right here." He heads over to his luggage and opens it.

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Central, Amestris

Walking back to Roy's office, almost making it to the door. It flies open with Havoc, Breda, Fuery and Falman rushing out of it and running down the hall. Roy and Riza immediately step out as well. Roy spots Al. "Care to join us, Elric?" He smirks. "Do you really need to ask?" Al replies, smiling.

Running laps at the training field. Hawkeye stands in the middle, timing everyone. Hawkeye shouts to them. "Alright, boys. When I fire, you start." Roy, Al, Fuery, Havoc, Breda, and Falman who are lined up, side by side each other at the starting points. Riza aims her guns at the sky and fires.

The boys take off running. Once daybreak hits, the men are either laying or sitting down, catching their breaths. Panting, Roy asks Al. "Crap. I forgot to ask Janine for you, Al. I'm sorry." "It's fine. She said yes when I asked." "When?" "Earlier in the hallway before I came to see you." "Well good for you, Al." Roy pats him on the back. The others including Hawkeye stare with concern at Roy.

Walking into the Fuhrer's office, Roy and Al take a seat. Grumman jumps right on topic. "I hear that you have a date for tonight? Do you have a tuxedo to wear to the Ball?" Al nods his head. "No." He replies. "Well then let's get you ready then, shall we?" The Fuhrer tells him. Al looks down nervously.

As Roy is fixing Al's tie, Al nervously asks while his arms and legs start trembling lightly. "So uh um... are any of Janine's family members gonna be there. I-I haven't met any of her relatives or yet alone even her adopted mother. I-I mean what it they hate me or think that I'm not good enough to dance with or be her date for the evening. Or even worse-"

Roy places his hands on Al's shoulders. "Relax and take a deep breath, Alphonse." Al takes a deep breath and lets it out. "Don't worry, Al. I'm certain that they like you regardless. You're a good kid, remember that."

Making it to the Military's Annual Ball, Roy walks Alphonse over to the steps. "Alright Al, this is where she will be walking down the steps. I'm gonna leave you here, so don't worry. Everything will be fine." Roy pats him on the back and then walks away. Al sighs heavily. 'This is gonna be disastrous, I just know it' Putting his head down, sadly.

A few minutes later, while his back is turned, Janine comes walking down the steps. She taps him on his shoulders, causing a minor jump scare reaction from Al. "Damn it General, don't-" He freezes when he turns around and sees her. "Uhhh..." She is wearing a black dress with heels, her hair is in a side braid with a blue hairband keeping it in place. Her earrings match the color of her sliver bracelet. Al notices that she's wearing make-up as well. 'Wow she looks really pretty right now'

AJ then raises an eyebrow at him. AJ asks him. "Confusing me someone else, Elric?" "Yes. I mean no. I mean-" "It's alright. It's alright." She tells him, waving her hand, giggling afterwards.

After the formal dance and articulations, Al and AJ head outside where Jean flags them down in Roy's car. Driving them over to Madam's bar, they enter soon afterward.

Chris - "Good. I was hoping that I could have a chat with the both you before either of you called it a night."

AJ - "Sure." Al asks her. "Are we in trouble, Ma'am?" Chris nods her head (no). "Marisol, If you are intending on becoming a potential love interest for Alphonse, it's for the best that we tell him now before someone else tells him later on. Alright, little one."

Al - "Tell me what? Janine, what is she talking about?" AJ turns to face Al in her seat. Chris then places her hand top of Ari's hand on the table. "Alphonse." Al looks at Chris. "My real name is Chris Mustang. I'm Marisol's adopted mother." Al sits still for a few minutes, contemplating what Chris just told. Al stands up quickly and shouts. "YOU'RE HER WHAT!"

Chris - "Sit Down! (He quickly sits back down on the stool) There's no need to yell so loudly. Now that that's out of the way, my nephew should be-" The front door to the bar opens up. Roy walks in and takes a seat next to AJ.

"Did I miss anything?" Roy asks. Chris looks back at Al. "Alphonse. This my nephew, Roy. Roy Mustang. I'm sure you've of him before today, right?" She says sarcastically. Al, who's still taking everything in. Shaking his head to clear his mind. "Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. Wait. So let me get this right. You (pointing to Chris) are his aunt (pointing to Roy) who is her uncle." (And lastly points to AJ) All three of them nod their head in unison.

Roy, who nudges AJ in the shoulder. "You minus well show him the last thing and tell him about it too." AJ sighs standing up, then asks Al. "Al, remember other day when you asks me about that Oritronic thing, right?" "Yeah? (Al's eyes light up) Did the Fuhrer find anything? Did someone else spot the Armor as well?"

Waving her hands. "No. No, no, nothing like that. But what if I told that The Oritronic is an incomplete version of something else?" Al looks at her confused. She pulls out The Metatronic Stone from underneath her shirt. "Ever heard of The Metatronic Stone, Alphonse?" When she moves her hands away from underneath it, it still continues to float. "Pretty cool, huh Al." AJ says, smirking. The stone starts to glow and Al notices AJ's eyes are now the same blue as the stone's color. Al starts to feel dizzy. 'Why am I feeling so light-hea-' He doesn't get to finish that sentence when he faints. They start shouting his name when they see him lose conciousness

When he wakes up shortly there after, on the floor, his head is laying on Chris's lap and she tells AJ to grab a rag from the closet and damp it some. She thens tells Roy to get Al some water. Al sits up slowly with the help from Chris. "Take it easy." Chris says.

"What Happened?" Al asks as he rubs head. "You passed out when my daughter showed you her spirit stone." "Her spirit stone?" Roy comes out from the back by himself. "Where is she?" Chris asks. "Jacqueline's taking her home. She's seemed pretty upset so I figured why not let her rest up for the night and we'll figure it out to tomorrow. In the meantime, can you sit back on the stool, Al? Me and Chris still want to talk to you." Al nods his head and sits.

The next day at the headquarters, as AJ is walking down the hall, she spots Al and stops still. He sees her as well and stands still as well. "H-hey Janine. How's it going?" Al asks her. She tries to excuse herself but Al puts his hand in front of her. "Stop. Don't run away. (He sighs) Listen." He then whispers something in her ear.

After lunch, Al walks with AJ into an unused office to talk to her. "I get it now. Even more so. Why you were hidden away for all of those years." Not looking at him but looking to the side. "You must think I'm pathetic. Like I'm a freak. A complete weirdo." "No. Especially since I've been called that when I was in the armor."

Staring at Al with sad eyes. "I-I'm sorry Al! I didn't mean it like that." He walks towards her and wraps his arms around her, pulling her into a hug. "Don't say sorry. I won't accept it, Ari." She smiles as she wraps her arms around his waist. "Thank you, Al. I get it. You're definitely a safe haven." Al smiles, hugging her back.

Al then asks her. "So can I see it again? That stone. Your mom called it your spirit stone. What does-" "The stone chose me as it's carrier, it means that the stone has linked itself directly to my soul." Flabbergastic, Al aks. "So... " "It means that whenever I use a high amount of the stone's power, its takes away some of my own life force. It all depends on how much of the stone's power I choose to use. Although..." She sighs. "Sometimes I don't always have control over it."

Al - "Well it's definitely not a Philosopher's Stone, that's for sure." "I've already been told that the more lives that are put into a Philosopher's Stone, the more powerful it gets. The Metatronic Stone on the other hand only takes one soul, in other words, my own." "The carrier's." AJ nods her head.

AJ then takes the stone out from underneath her shirt and a few sliver coins out of her pocket. Placing the coins on the table, she then tells Al. "This stone allows me to manipulate all metal by either increasing or decreasing any properties of said metal. That includes changing its shape, size, and structures regardless of what any kind of metal it may be."

She then places one of her hands over the coins, waving wrist around lightly, changing them from their small shape to a small thin blade. "You're using Alchemy, I can tell." Al says. She nods her head. "I can also heal wounds as well." "How?" "Roy brought Alkahastry to my attention, so he thinks its that kind of Alchemy." Al picks up the blade. "Wow. Impressive. You only change the appearance but-"

A knock on the door breaks their attention. The door opens up as AJ has her back turned to it, shoving the stone back underneath her shirt. "Oh." Riza says as she then turns to look behind her. AJ turns back around facing the door, making a sigh of relief. "They're in here, General." Riza says, as she moves to the side to let him pass her. Roy tells them. "Ed and everyone else are on their way to Xerxes right now, Al. Are the both of you ready so we can pick them up?"

Sitting on the train, Al and AJ sit to the other side of the group, across from them to the right. Both of them are whispering to each other. Giggles and laughter are exchanged between the two children. Roy and the others talk amongst themselves while occasionally glancing in the kid's direction. Al turns to face AJ and whispers something to her. She then grabs his hands and entwines her fingers with his.

Leaving the edge of Liore, Roy, AJ, Al, Riza, Havoc and Alex head over to Xerxes, making it there before mid-afternoon. Roy and Riza look behind them and see Al and AJ holding hands. They make it to the water fountain. "So where are they?" Roy asks Al. From a distance, Al spots something on the roof of one of the buildings. Leaning to AJ's level, he asks her since she's looking in the same direction. "You see that two, right?" He asks her. "It's definitely an extension." "An extension, you say." Al claps his hands placing them on the ground, aiming his Alchemy towards the building.

Creating a slanted bridge that extends to the roof of the building. Using the wall that Ed was hiding behind, he starts to fall backward, sliding down the slant. AJ then uses the stone to melt the nearby pole into liquid metal moving it to the end and turning it into a thin metal sheet at the bottom. Ed slides directly onto the sheet.

Al - "That was way cooler than the sword that I made." He says, smiling at AJ who blushes and giggles. Ed, who stands up quickly and looks down at the sheet. "How in the hell did This Get Here!" Ed yells. Al, AJ and the others start laughing. "Ed. Ed! Where are you?" Winry shouts. "Over Here!" He yells back.

Heinkel (in his lion form) jumps down from another building while holding Winry in his arms. Jerso, Zampano, and Darius who are also there and in their forms as well, following Heinkel's lead. Darius tells Ed that when he heard a transmutation going on, they immediately took Winry to a save zone and changed their forms to ready themselves for anything. Afterwards, they decided to look for Ed once each one of them felt it was safe.

Ed thanks them after Heinkel gently places Winry on the ground, she runs over and hugs him. Turning his attention back to Al, he asks. "So what did Armstrong need your help with?" Al sighs. "Later brother. There's uh... something else I need to talk you about." He looks at Darius. "Where's that save zone at?"

Riza, Jean, Alex and the four chimeras are all standing guard outside. Either on the roof or standing out in front of the building that the Elrics and Mustangs are in.

Making it there, Al begins to tell Ed the news. "So... " Al starts. Ed looks at Mustang, who nods his head in Al's direction. Ed then looks back at his brother. "What's the matter, Al?" Ed asks. Rubbing the back of his head. 'How should I tell him this' Al puts up three fingers. "Three things you wanna share," Ed says. Al nods his head.

Al - "Do you remember when the guys talked to me about dating?" "Well yeah cuz it was on my wedding day, so what about it?" Ed replies. Winry asks. "Al, are you dating someone?" Blushing, Al nods his head. "C'mon spill, who is it?" "Wait, brother. (Al takes a quick breath) Do you remember that nice woman from the bar, Madam Chrismas?" "Yeah. Of course, I do."

Ed makes a disgusted face when a picture pops into his head. "That's Not It, Brother!" Al yells to him. Roy tells Ed. "Madam Christmas's real name is Chris Mustang. She is my biological aunt, Edward." Ed's and Winry's eyes widen and their jaws drop.

Al takes an exhasberated deep breath. "I've met Janine's adopted mother, by the way." "Is she nice, Alphonse?" Al nods and smiles at Winry. "Ari likes to call her her Goddess. Around strangers, she calls her Ms. Beautiful." AJ smiles at Al's words.

Roy smirks and tells Ed. "Chris Mustang is Janine's adopted mother." Ed puts his hands up and tries to relax. It doesn't work. "YOU'RE DATING A MUSTANG, ALPHONSE!" Edward yells. Winry starts laughing. "AH Hahahahaha!" She falls to her knees, clutching her stomach, erupting with laughter. Ed (Who is pissed beyond measure) turns to his wife. Grinding his teeth, he asks her. "Winry. Just what. The Fuck. Is so. FUNNY!"

Calming herself down, she sits up and says. "It's Karma." "Come again, dear?" Ed asks. Winry stands up, dusting herself off. "I said it's karma. As in all of those times, you butted heads with, made fun of and disrespected Mustang." She giggles some more. Everyone else, who are either on the roof or standing outside in front of the building, are trying their best to cover up their own laughter.

Walking back to Liore, Ed grumbles. "My Traitorous little brother. I swear when I-" Al stops and turns around quickly. Everyone stops as well. "Get over yourself, Ed! You don't even work for him anymore and plus you've said it yourself how much you respect the guy for everything he has done for the both of us!" "Well Excuuuse me Al for having a bit of incredulity after just finding out about Janine!"

Ed then realizes something. Making a 'duh, well now it makes sense' expression. Ed turns and looks at Roy. "I get it now. Your behavior. Why your hand was shaking. Why you had that nervous attitude when we first her. Why you've even kept her away from us, hell practically everyone else for that matter for all of those years. The way the both of you look of care at each other, should have been an obvious sign." "Brother," Al says. Ed looks at him.

Click!

Everyone looks to either Jean, Riza or AJ who have their guns pointed in the direction to Liore. "Company, Sir!" Riza tells him. Roy tries to look in the distance, then notices a figure walking towards them.

AJ - "Damn it." Once she realizes who it is. The Armor, who is approaching the gang.

Al - "The Oritronic." He says. "Al, ya mind telling me what the hell is going on since apparently you know?" Ed asks.

Roy turns around, facing both Havoc and Armstrong. "Captain Jean Havoc and Colonel Alex Louis Armstrong. You are both ordered to escort Edward and Winry safety through Liore to their desired destination. Stay with them until further notice." They salute. "Yes, Sir!"

Ed looks at his brother once more before he sighs, following his wife, Jean and Alex. Walking to the side while looking at the Armor as it's looking straight forward at AJ. 'Why is it only looking at her?' Ed asks himself. The Armor stops and looks at Edward as well. Just a few feet away from AJ and the gang.

AJ walks forward a bit and uses some of the stone's power to melt a few objects that are near the edge of Liore and creates a few long thin metal sheets, lining them up, side by side, moving them directly in between Ed and the Armor. Alex grabs Ed putting underneath his arm as Jean grabs Winry by the hand and they start running towards Liore. The metal sheets fall down, flat onto the sand once they make it into the city afterward.

The Armor then looks back at AJ. Without saying anything, the Armor's hand starts to glow as it lifts it up and a few metal spikes start flying past it, aimed at the group. AJ uses her stone, transforming the metal sheets into a pillar, attracting the spikes to it. Her idea works.

The Armor then laughs. "So... you are that other glow. Although I can already tell how basic you are with your powers, certainly meaning that you cannot walk on the water just yet."

Roy - "Identify yourself!" He commands. Armor looks at Roy. "I don't have to listen to the likes of you, murderer of Ishbal." Roy glares at the Armor. Al asks. "What do you mean when you said she's basic with her powers?"

The Armor shrugs its shoulders. "It not that hard to figure out that she's not using it to its full potential like she's supposed to."

Al - "What do mean like she's supposed to?"

Riza - "Explain."

Armor - "Jeez. I mean do I really have to? Do you still hide behind people after all this time? I mean come on! It's not you were the one killed by a murderer?"

Ari's hands start to tremble 'No. It can't be... It can't be.' She looks to the ground briefly. 'But his voice sounds so much like...'

Roy - "Is that how you ended up in that body?"

Armor - "Don't act like you care now. I mean it's not like the both of you (pointing to Riza and Roy) rushed over to me like you did her (pointing to Janine)." Al notices Roy's and Riza's faces become pale as snow. "Isn't that right... Ari? Or I say, Marisol!" The Armor yells, pointing at Ari.

AJ looks at him with a stunned/ petrified face. "Jake!" She whispers back.

End of Chapter 26

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Surprised right! Boy o' boy, things are about to go down! Teeheehee. I hope you guys liked it!