This chapter is inspired by Linkin Park's song called "Heavy" ft Kiiara off of their 7th (and probably their last since Chester's unfortunate passing) studio album called "One More Light."

This chapter also inspired by Against The Current's song called "Voices." off of their 2nd studio album called "Past Lives."

Alchemist Chronicles

Chapter 49 - Heavy Voices

Winry wipes her hands with a tablecloth as she's facing the kitchen sink and turns around once she's finished, startled to see AJ sitting at the table, already.

Holding her chest briefly, Winry tells her. "Jeez, you scared me, Janine." "Sorry, Winry. But I need to talk to you about something important. Can you sit down for a moment, please?" Winry nods her head as she takes a seat.

Taking a quick deep breath and crossing her arms over the table, AJ starts. "I'm gonna take a quick guess here and assume that you already know about The Promised Day's events and whatnot?" "Yes I do but where is this going?" Winry asks. Ed and Al are hiding behind the wall, listening in on the girl's conversation, looking in from around the corner.

AJ - "So you know about The Philosopher's Stone as well then, huh?" "Janine, why are you asking me these questions?" Winry asks with a raised eyebrow.

Leaning forward a bit, resting her arms on the table as she's looking at Winry, she tells her. "What if there's another stone out there that's similar to The Philosopher's Stone, but not quite it?" AJ quickly responds with.

Winry looks at her flabbergasted, then stands up and points at her, shouting. "You will not involve my little brother or my husband in with your shenanigans! That's enough of that!"

Ed then rushes out from behind the wall and calmly tells her. "Winry. You need to hear her out. Please, sit back down." Winry looks at Ed in shock. "She's not finished yet, Winry," Al says as Winry turns to look at him just as he walks around the wall as well.

Sitting back down, Winry then looks back at Janine. AJ sighs lightly before she continues. "I know that believing and seeing what you are about to see may be quite weird and unsettling but I trust you, Winry. I know that you will keep my secret and not tell a soul unless If otherwise." AJ tells her as Winry looks back at her.

Janine then brings her hands together (Closing her eyes at the same time) as they start to radiate. The glimmering stone then slowly rises and moves from out from underneath her shirt, removing itself from around her neck and places itself on the table, facing Winry, who is leaning back slightly and staring back it with fear in her eyes.

Grabbing onto the bottom of Ed's shirt quickly and pulling him closer to her, Winry tries to hide behind him as best as she can while she's still sitting in the chair, staring immensely at the stone and AJ. Ed looks down at her, telling her. "It's ok, Winry. Ask away." She looks up at him confused.

'

Blue Cloud - "Unlike The Philosopher's Stone, The Metatronic Stone only contains my soul, Winry." Startled again, she jolts up out of her seat, making a surprised squeak sound and stares at AJ with fear as her brown eyes are changing into baby blue colored eyes in front of her. Ed gently rubs her back. "Don't be scared, Winry. Trust me." She then locks his hand with hers, nervously.

Blue Cloud continues. "My name is Blue Cloud. I am a direct descendant of Empyrea. The Great Spirit of my people, the Indigenous Natives. My soul is sealed directly to the stone across from you. The Metatronic Stone is what it is called. Marisol is my linked essence carrier." Winry then looks at the stone again as it floats up, stancing at her. It then places itself back on the table, still facing her.

Blue Cloud also tells Winry. "I can use Alchemy just like Alphonse. And with it, I only have the ability to manipulate any and all types of metal. As well as light." Winry eyes widen with curiosity.

Ed then smirks as he let's go of her hand and walks away from Winry, grabbing some rusted old metal tools off of a table in another room.

Walking back into the room, he places the tools in front of Blue Cloud. With a wave of her lightly glowing hands in a styled motion above the metal. The metal glows and melts as she forms it into a small steel building structure. "This is a building that I saw in Marisol's memories of her recent trip to her hometown in Creta. Independence Hall is its name."

Winry stares with amazement at the sculpture. As well as Ed and Al. "It is yours, Winry. After all, it was made with some of your sparred metal. I can change it back to the tools if you want me too." Blue Cloud tells her, smiling. Winry then nervously looks at Blue Cloud, asking. "So... Are you like Greed? The way Ling and he were?"

Blue Cloud - "Sort of. Although Marisol wasn't pressured but did chose to accept me as I chose her as my physical vessel. The final decision was ultimately up to her... However, we are also connected to another spirit.

Winry raises an eyebrow. "So there's another one?" "Indeed. He too is also linked to the stone as well. Would you like to meet him? Although In advance, excuse his brashness. He is one who prefers his prevalent habitat. It's apart of his nature." Winry raises an eyebrow.

Ed asks. "So have the both of you worked things out yet or not?" Blue Cloud tells him. "She's still a bit indignant at the moment towards me but medium in range." Ed and Al chuckle. Winry looks at all three of them confused. Blue Cloud then sadly looks away.

Ed - 'I have a feeling that she probably didn't tell her about her father yet.' Al then tells Winry. "He is also the friend that we told you about that helped us find you when you were kidnapped, Winry."

Winry stands up as Blue Cloud turns back to look at her. "I want to meet him. (Winry then raises her eyebrow, asking.) Who is he anyway?" Blue Cloud smiles boldly, replying. "He's not your typical male, Winry. My other correlation ...is well quite exceptional and extraordinary." Winry stares back at her with wide, surprised eyes.

AJ's eyes turn back to normal and she sighs. Turning her head to look at Al, she tells him. "Blue can be so annoying in my head sometimes." Al smiles at her. "Can you transmute anything else besides the two?" Winry asks.

Blue - "No, unfortunately not."

Winry - "Bummer."

Blue - "Although but of course. Lightweight metal is always fun to fiddle with." She giggles with excitement as Winry smiles back and AJ sighs exhaustedly afterward. Looking back at Al, she tells him, playfully rolling her eyes. "See what I mean Al, so annoying." Al laughs as the others chuckle.

Ed - "Let's not forget that using Alchemy does require an equivalency."

Blue nods to Ed before she turns back to Winry. "There is also a recoil, in relation to the stone." Winry lowers her eyebrows. "If a high percentage of the stone's power is used regardless of ways, It will drain directly from Marisol's lifeforce, Winry."

Winry stares in shock and wide-eyed at Blue Cloud. "At the request of some her loved ones and friends, she has chosen not to use the stone, expedently. Only if necessary. Even as the bestowed spirit within the stone, the power is sometimes ...uncontrollable." Blue adds, sighing afterwards.

Winry stares sadly at Blue and AJ. "That's why he didn't want to practice with me this year like last," AJ tells Al, adding and rolling her eyes in annoyance. "But of course Olivier just couldn't leave well enough alone."

Winry - "So... (Blue looks back at Winry.) You said light as well. (Blue nods her head.) Then that was a shield then during the match." "Yes, it was." Blue replies.

Winry questions continue Blue Cloud well into the night.

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A few days later when Winry comes downstairs, she notices only Ed downstairs in the house. "Where is everybody?" She asks.

Ed - "Granny went into town with Den to visit a patient. Al and AJ are meeting up with her friend from the north, who's coming down through the riverine."

Win - "Why there?" "Cuz it's the easiest way for him to make it down here from the north without imminent danger from unfamiliar soldiers," Ed replies. "So he lives up north?" She asks. "Yup. Himself and his pack." Winry looks at Ed confused. Ed then notices Al outside playing with someone. Winry quickly follows him as he hurries out the back door.

Luna is playfully pouncing on Al and playfully rubbing her head against his back. Giggling, Al pulls her into a hug as she starts licking the side of his face.

Winry hides behind Ed, making a surprised squeak sound once she spots the wolf. "Ed. T-that's not a dog." "I know. It's a wolf. A white wolf at that." Winry gasps as the wolf looks at her and Ed. Slowly, Luna starts walking towards them.

Ed - "Al? Who's that?" "Her name is Luna, brother. She's apart of the pack and the friendliest one too."

Just as Luna is just a few feet away from both of them, she stops and turns her head towards the riverine and sits, facing the direction.

AJ then comes walking down from the passageway of the riverine. "He's on his way now with the others. (Making it near Luna and bending down to her level, AJ extends her hand out to Luna, who immediately runs over to her. As AJ is petting her, she tells the wolf.) You know he gets annoyed when you leave before the rest of them and him." Luna quietly growls and stomps away from her, annoyed. AJ chuckles a bit.

Luna then walks back to Ed and Winry. Winry grabs the back of Ed's jacket tightly, nervously, still hiding behind him. Luna then stops. With her ears down and tail between her legs, she then puts her head down sadly and walks back behind AJ, who is still on her knees.

Facing them, AJ explains. "She understands that she's made Winry uncomfortable and decided that she wants Winry to approach her instead whenever she herself ready." After a couple of minutes, Ed walks forward and introduces himself.

Sniffing his hand first, Ed sits down and starts petting Luna as she rubs her head against the side of his cheek. "She recognizes Greywolf's scent on you," Blue tells Ed.

Winry - "Is it required to have his scent on you before you meet the others?" "No, but it'll help them understand that you are not a potential threat. As far as your case, Winry. The pack themselves are familiar with your scent already since they were asked to. Immediately Greywolf knew Ed's feelings towards you during your disappearance. As Luna is his mate, he understood that Ed's partner is you." Blue tells her. Winry then takes a deep breath and walks forward behind Ed, slowly.

Luna sits and only stares Winry, waiting for her. Ed looks back at Winry, watching her as she walks slowly to Luna. Mimicking AJ's poster, she stops and sits down on her knees with a hand out towards Luna.

Luna then walks slowly forward, ears still pushed back as she nervously approaches Winry. Luna then gently sniffs Winry's hand as Winry smiles and places her other hand on her head slowly, gently petting her.

Ed and the others smile at the scene as Luna happily whimpers and kneads her head against Winry's back as she walks around and then embraces Winry.

AJ then turns head as well as Luna, who stops and stares in the direction of the riverine. Before anyone could ask her, Greywolf walks down the path by himself and Luna moves away from Winry and immediately runs over to him.

Brushing their heads against each other and greeting one another, Greywolf then rushes over to AJ. Al then turns his head and sees the other wolves either sitting or laying down, spread out near several trees in the distance.

Winry looks around as well. "Wow. There are so many of them." "Yeah, and you see them in battle. They're incredible. They helped me and Janine fight a bunch of chimeras in Heissagart. Of course, Fletcher was there as well." Al beams then sighs sadly, thinking about his friend.

Ed - "That morning before we found the both of you?" "The night before, brother." Al says as he looks away sadly.

Greywolf then starts walking over to Al (Who then sits on his knees as well) as he stares at the wolf. Greywolf then sniffs Al's face briefly and rubs his head underneath Al's chin and whimpers lightly.

Al slowly pets Greywolf's head as the wolf lays his head on Al's shoulder. "It's trust." Al stops and looks over at Blue. "He's showing you trust. Showing his pack that he trusts you besides her and myself."

Ed - "And what about us?" "That's something you'll just have to wait until he's ready to show you. He knows what Al has done for his pack and for that he's grateful. So he's also showing Al thanks." AJ replies.

Al then looks back at Greywolf, who sniff his face again and neck. "You're welcome," Al says as Greywolf smiles and then walks back to his pack and all of them head off into the nearby woods.

AJ - "They're off to hunt for wildlife. Only will go after livestock if there aren't any wild prey out there. But don't expect him or them to attack humans. it's just not his thing."

Ed asks. "Do you know if any of them ever had a taste of human blood?" "Yeah. My own. Only Greywolf." Ed, Al and Winry gasp at her. She uneasily tells them. "It's because I got in his way when I was making my way back from Womiob after a delivery run when I was spotted by a rebel from one of those cult organizations, who then alerted his fellow postmen. Greywolf jumped in to help but I panicked and freaked him out. He's still on edge in battle with me."

Al - "When?"

AJ - "Almost two years ago." She then looks at the faded bite scar on her wrist. Sighing, she then stands and walks over to the front of the woods.

She then notices and catches Aru by the side of his back as he tries to run out of the forest quickly. Slowly him down into a complete stop, she kneels in front of him, petting him in comfort. Aru sits and stares at her. "He's the youngest in this pack and isn't exactly one for hunting. But he's a great protector and defender."

Winry - "So how many do you know of? How many are there in all?"

AJ - "Twenty three in total. Only these six have ever had any kind of bond and relationship with humans. The others prefer otherwise so I respect their wishes. But all are acquaintances with the Natives in a way."

Ed - "And how exactly does he gain more if others perish? Wolves don't exactly live for very long from what I've read about."

AJ - "Kill the king or queen, you claim the pack. It's all about leadership. That's all it takes. And even if the second or third in command tries to take over. In most cases, age catches up to the wolf before stamina."

She continues. "And not to mention the group's survival comes first before anyone else. Regardless of old or youth enemies. That's one main Greywolf's rules."

Al - "Jeez."

AJ - "Not exactly a high rise life, but at least it can be fulfilling to an extent." Aru howls lightly as he puts his head underneath her neck. AJ then wraps her arms around him, gently rubbing his back as she calms him. "A lot of stuff on your mind there, eh Aru?" She asks as the wolf leans against her more.

Artemis then comes out of the forest as well and paces quickly over to Aru and AJ. Looking over at his mother, he then whines as he leans back against AJ. "It's alright, buddy. Everything will be ok." Artemis then sits and stares at her son with worry.

Al - "What's wrong with the both of them." Artemis then lays down and then looks at the three, only to look back at AJ. AJ sighs. "It's better to just let 'em be rested then rebirthed, Al." Al looks at her confused as Aru and Artemis only stare at her.

Winry asks. "So how long have known all of them?" "For about six, almost seven years. Greywolf was the first one I met." She tells her about how both he linked with Blue and herself. Winry looks at her surprised and intrigued as she listens.

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Later on, that night when Pinako and Den make it back to the house, She hears AJ talking, asking Ed from around the backyard. "So how about you Ed? Have you ever felt trapped by the despondency of those inner demons, at least once?"

Den slows down in front of her and starts growling lightly. The wolves without Greywolf, move back, spreading out into the forest as Greywolf lays down and stares at the side in which Pinako and Den are about to walk around from.

AJ turns her head and notices. Greywolf then moves over next to her, still staring in the direction.

Pinako walks around the corner first with Den right behind her, seeing Ed first before she spots AJ. She then pauses once she sees the wolf next to her. "Well, that's certainly not common around here," Pinako says as she stops and looks at him.

Ed looks at Greywolf, noticing he that his ears are down, his tail is between his legs and his hair is puffed as little. "Granny-" Ed starts to say as he looks back at her.

AJ interrupts him. "My apologies for not telling you about him sooner, Ms. Pinako. He will not harm you or anyone else here. Winry has already met him."

Pinako then starts to walk over but Den blocks her, staring at her with concerned eyes. Greywolf then stands and runs into the woods, back to his pack. AJ then sighs as she looks back at Den.

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With Pinako and Den back in the house, Ed and AJ are sitting outside, side by side, leaning against separate trees that are next to each other.

Ed - "I do know what that feels like, Janine." AJ stares at Ed, as he continues to look at the ground in front of him. "To still feel like it's my fault for what happened with my little brother. I still carry that weight after all these years. I've even had to hold myself back from alot of things especially during those years because I felt like it wasn't right for me to have those emotions that I had at that time."

Ed continues as his voice starts to break. "With Al trapped like that because of me and my dumbass idea. Because I was the one who talked him into it. What gave me the right to express myself like that ...to her?" He then covers his eyes with one of his hands as he brings a knee up, leaning an elbow against it. "I will never forget everything that I saw that day."

Remembering what Truth told him.

{Truth - "I can only show you this much for toll you've paid."}

AJ tries to say something but stops herself as he continues as he puts that same hand underneath his chin. "I've fought with myself so many times, over and over again, confused and aggravated at the same time for many years. And even after everything that has happened and the only thing left of it is just the past. It still continues to haunt me to this day."

AJ pulls her knees up against her chest as she tells him. "And if feels like the only way to make it stop is to let it win but that will only make things worse for myself and for the people around me. Fighting it back, as it constantly drains your energy every day as struggles to wrests itself to stay attached. Especially to my own soul. (She sighs) You can't win either way it seems."

"It's that dark, huh?" Ed replies. AJ looks at him confused. "How deep in your own thoughts have you held back everything? How much darkness are you holding onto? I've just told you mine."

AJ - "There are things that I've told Al that I haven't even yet told Ma or Roy about." "Alright so spill." Making an annoyed groan, she then pouts at him. "Don't give me that! Just tell me already." "It's complicated and not that easy to discuss Edward." She sighs. "Most of these shadows are from Adam and from when I was in the foster system in my younger years."

Remembering what Adam told her.

{Adam - "If the only thing you're holding onto is hope, then I've already won, Carrier. It'll take more than a cross or an angelic psyche to block me from your intellect."}

AJ shakes her head and continues. "Then there's the recent trip I took back to the old city. Can't even call it home anymore. It just doesn't feel like one. Yet those voiced descriptions about the both of them are still replaying in my head."

"So do you believe them?" Ed asks her, in regards to what she heard about her father while in Schuylkill Falls. AJ sighs as she looks away briefly.

Looking back at him, she tells him. "I can't say that it doesn't bother me cuz it does. But... if it's true, then... (Raising her left eyebrow a little) So what now? What am I gonna say to him if and only if I'll ever see him again? I just don't know." She rests her elbows on her knees and places her hands over her face.

Ed gently places a hand on her shoulder. "Then do what feels right." AJ then looks back at him. "But what if what feels right is actually wrong." She replies.

Ed sighs sadly as he tells her. "Jeez. You've got me cornered there, Janine."

AJ starts to get teary-eyed as she puts her head down again. "I can't help but feel like the world is out to get me. Not just because of this stone, but just in general. Like the voices inside just don't stop, surrounding me in unbreakable chains. It's suffocating me, ya know. I can't take it sometimes."

Ed, who is still looking at her, says. "You make it look so easy to conceal it. Just like what Al used to do back in the armor years so I understand and I get it."

AJ - "Al said the same thing."

Ed finches with worry before he shakes his head and looks away, sighing sadly as he leans back against the tree, staring up at the sky.

End of Chapter 49

Notes:

I know that this chapter took awhile to be posted and for that I'm sorry. I know some of you have sent me messages asking questions in regards to the story and I have replied back to all of them since the last chapter was posted back in October. I want to thank each and every one of you for your feedback of the story so far. Again as I posted about it before, this story, unfortunately, will not be updated on the regular, however, I definitely do want to continue and finish the story and it's parts for all of you!

This chapter I originally had planned to post before Christmas but two Fridays before the holiday, I found out that one of my older sisters had passed away and my family and I had her funeral service held the following Friday before Christmas. So I needed some private time to cope with the sudden loss in my family. Thank you again to all of kind condolences and prayers that some you have sent me in messages and comments.