'I can't believe after all these years... I finally...
Finally get the answers I've been looking for...
Thank you... Doctor...
And good bye...'
Chapter 19 ~ The Devil's Research
-Me-
"Now remember Cat, you need to come back whenever your in Central to get your daily shots. We don't want anything bad to happen to you everytime you're on the field," my doctor reminds me as he pulls out the needle out of my arm. I brush it off, "Yeah yeah I know! You don't have to remind me! I just don't get how come I need these shots in the first place." I look at my doctor with a stern look. I can definitely call him my doctor, after my first check up with the man he's constantly the one who does my check ups and give me those weird shots every damn time, hopefully I won't need another one and leave out the blood drawing again like today.
Description: (Too... freakin... lazy!)
Hair: Blonde
Eyes: Hidden behind his glasses to its hard to see
Face: Face mask
(A/N: I want to find a perfect picture of the man and post it up on my photobucket account, but of course since I can't draw and there aren't many picture out there on the internet that has the image you have in mind I have to make you guess here. I am so sorry for this! :( )
He flashes a small smile at me. Well I think it's a smile, its sorta hard to tell when the guy hides his face almost exactly like Kakashi Hatake from Naruto does and only has one eye showing, as for this guy he has glasses that always reflects from any light source and all I see it white. "Just do it for their sake," he lightly sighs, "they came here a few minutes ago to check how you were doing. That boy was really worried after what happened." I silently gaze down at my bandaged arm, no red blood marks appearing which is a good sign that I won't be losing more blood anytime soon and I think I'd like to keep it that way during the entire trip. Either that or it's that thing happening to me again... I felt a pat on my shoulder. "As long as those boys are with you," I look up at the man, "then you'll be fine. I can see that they have complete trust in you." I didn't want to be, but I was kind of happy to hear this from the doctor, my efforts of staying away from them are long gone and I know that, all that bothers me is that they now trust me.
It felt so nice and yet at the same time it felt so wrong, the more that I think about it it's like I'm merely playing with their feelings in a way. I know it does sound kinda cruel in a way to think things like that, if you think about how things have been going on I can't help but responsible for so many things that I know I didn't cause.
"I know you're trying not to burden them anymore... but I think it's time to let someone help carry that burden for you."
-Normal-
"Ugh…. Why is it that every time I enter a hospital that I have to get these stupid injections…?" Cat groans as the trio walk out of the hospital together to make their way to HQ together. She rubs her right arm in pain where the needle went in. "Doctor's orders Cat, he said you have to come in at least every month for your daily injections," Al reminds the girl as he is pushed by a cart by Ed which Cat was gracious enough to make. Now that both boys are too damaged to use alchemy, Cat took it upon herself to transmute something so they would spare anyone from carrying a torn up talking suit of armor and make someone get a heart attack. Being the only one to use alchemy in the same manner as Van Hohenheim had become something Cat felt proud of, no clapping motion and transmutation made her feel more superior compared to Ed. She just sometimes forget that she doesn't have to clap in some situations, force of habit.
She lets out another groans and puts her hands behind her head, "Now that I'm no longer in the military I shouldn't be coming with you guys to meet with Mustang. That bastard doesn't have to call me anymore!" Both boys caught sight of the bandage on her left shoulder area, the place where Tucker had recklessly stabbed Cat with a needle of his own by force and caused her skin to bleed. It was a shock to both of them how she could bleed even though it was only a needle when it was not even a lethal weapon. She looks at them both curiously, "What's wrong guys? You've barely said a word to me after you talked to my doctor." The two found out a terrible truth that even Cat doesn't know, not only that they also learned things about the girl that horrified them beyond belief.
::Memory::
The new doctor who had went into the room to check what's happening comes back out unscathed, a little cold but still fine. "How is she?" Al asks worriedly as he glances to the room Cat was in. "She's fine," the doctor smiles at the young boy, "she'll need some time to recover again after getting the injection she need. And as a bonus we wrapped up her wound." "She was still bleeding!?" exclaims the brothers in shock. They remembered her bleeding on her neck/shoulder area but what shocked them that it was serious enough to get bandaged up by a doctor. "Everything she does from now on is very crucial if she wants to continue living," and that sent shivers down their spines the moment the doctor said that. Noticing their confusion, the doctor explains to them, "Miss Cairo has been giving the hospital a lot of problems since her first time she was admitted after a mission in distant towns. And every single time she gets her wounds checked they immediately heal in a matter of hours, but there seems to be something inside her eating her away bit by bit."
"Eating her... away?"
"Yes, cuts would appear not long after and would start bleeding an abnormal amount of blood that usually causes the average human to die from lose of blood, but it's actually saving her life at the same time. The blood that comes out... is pitch black."
"Black!?"
"When I drew out her blood to figure out what's going on, all the blood cells seem perfectly compared to the samples of that black blood I was able to scavenge from her bandages. To me she's just a medical mystery that can't be solved."
"So... does that mean that-" Ed was interrupted by the doctor when a flash of worry crossed his face, "She'll be fine as long as she get's her daily shots." He sighs and gazes at the Cat's door, "Brigadier General Raven was very strict with her, she first gets serious injuries and then gets forced into coming back to Central bleeding to death. Sometimes I wonder how much she could take after all that blood shed she had to go through, I even had to become her psychiatrist whenever Miss Cairo goes back into a psychotic state at the sight of her own blood on the ground." Both brothers were soon starting to get more and more shocked at every single thing the doctor was telling them, things like this never seemed to come into their minds by the way Cat acts around them, and yet, they didn't even notice a thing the moment the trio were reunited. The one thing that changed about Cat was that she seemed much more serious compared to when they first met. "Tell me," Ed grabs onto the arm of the doctor, "how long has this been going on?" All the boy had gotten was a blank stare from the older man. Finally, after a few minutes of silence, he gave in and told them both, "It's been like this ever since she transferred under Brigadier General Raven's order."
Al counts the number of years of separation with his only arm and exclaims afterwards, "3 years!?" He nods, "Her missions would cause any soldiers to go through the state she's in. The last one nearly sent her over the edge before you two came back into the picture, well from what she's told me." "What was... her last mission?" Ed asks nervously, too scared to figure out what's to come out next from the doctor. "I can't tell you that... Cat has to be the one to do it if she wants to go on living without the guilt pushing her down." Of course it had to be the hardest part the two had to go through, Cat had been nice enough not to push on about their past but what she's been keeping to herself builds up more and more by what they were hearing. "So what are the shots for?" Al asks, realizing there was no information given about the needed injections. "It's a secret. Only I'm the one to make the medicine for her. The medication is only temporary but its what keeps Catherine on her feet to continue her duties as a state alchemist," was the last thing he said before leaving the two and walks down the hall to continue to his other patients.
::End of Memory::
"Let's just get this over with and see what Mustang wants. I can tell this is gonna be really bad," and in the back of Cat's head she was screaming, 'Bad enough for it to be Armstrong and his stupid giant muscles!' I know I act like nothings going on but there's been something bothering me since I got into the hospital after I was admitted, stuff that I shouldn't know suddenly popped up into my head and I know what' going to happen next. And I'm not talking about comparing this to the 2003 series. I would've just ignored it if it wasn't for that weird necklace the nurse found when I asked her to find my necklace for me, the one Alice gave me before she died, it wasn't the rosary but a small tiny bottle with a small parchment inside it. (A/N: Okay here's an explanation, Cat doesn't like hospitals so she tends to forget a whole lot of things that happens around her until a needle is shoved in her face. XD I forgot to mention it before in the previous chapter but there's a limit on how much time I had on it.)
||At HQ||
Ok I expected to see everyone we know worried about us after the Scar incident, but- "You'll need your watch back if you're going to continue working for me," Mustang holds up my pocket watch in the air, "we wouldn't want any complaints coming from these two for allowing a poor defenseless girl to walk around unpretected by the military." Oh how much I want punch that stupid smirk off his face! The moment he tosses the watch at me, I knew there is no way in hell will I be able to have that chance ever again so I kept my cool and tried to successfully catch my watch. Instead, it bounces off my head, then Ed's, and is caught by Al, who sweat drops when he see's us both clutching our heads in pain as a large bump swells up. Breda jaw drops at this, "Wow... Remind me never to play catch with this kid...!" "Shut it! I only have one arm here!" Ed and I yell simultaneously. Laughter erupts in the room. "Ah young love! Let my muscles show you how dazzled I am at how pleased to see such a lovely couple before me!" And there goes Armstrong's shirt... "Put your shirt on!" Ed screams. I cover my eyes screaming as well, "For the last time we're not a couple!"
Jeal: And there does mister sparkle abs! X_X
Me: Sparkle abs...? O-o
Jeal: What? *¬_¬ Got a better name?
Me: N-No! Of course not Jealousy! ^^; (How did I not notice that she wasn't Cat?)
After that mayhem, Havoc pops up the question, "So- What are you going to do now?" Ed smirks, "We're going to visit out mechanic!" Breda comments, "I don't know if one of you is well enough to go travelling just yet." "Don't worry," I roll my left sleeve up, "I only got a few scratches is all. I can live with this until we get to Resembol."
++Later on++
We all sat together on the train, excluding Al, waiting for departure. "Wait a sec! Why am I stuck with Armstrong!?" I screech as I scoot away from the large man sitting beside me. "What's the matter Cat? Does it not please you to have a strong body guard next to you?" Ed teases with a Cheshire like smile forming on his lips, enjoying the current situation I was put into. "NO!" This was not right, earlier we were acting as if nothing happened at all and the next thing I knew I had Captain muscles sitting beside me with his little pink sparkle buddies floating around him. "Catherine Cairo! You mustn't go back on your word as an alchemist! Even I, Alex Louis Armstrong, keep my promises no matter how sinister they are!" I sweat drop while thinking, 'Isn't it you should be insulted by this?' A knock came from the window beside the mean. We turned to see Lt. Colonel Hughes to greet us with a simple 'Yo'. Ed sticks his head out and I followed along with him, but I had to force myself from turning pink again when I saw how close we were to each other. "Lt. Colonel? What are you doing here?"
"Just came to see you off since everyone else were busy," he tells us in a as-a-matter-of-fact manner. "Great... But would you mind telling me why the Major is here?" Ed asks with an annoyed look, glancing at the man beside me who sat in place with a proud demeanor and sparkles floating all around him like usual, causing everyone to sweat drop. "For protection... What would happen if Scar came after you? You're in no shape for a fight," Hughes reminds us, glancing down at us with worry written on his face. I caught sight of Ed gripping onto the sleeve due to the absence of his right arm. I placed a hand on his shoulder and reassured him, "It's okay Ed. Be happy that at least it's someone we know to escort us back to Resembol." Hughes nods in agreement, "She's right Ed. The major is here to help. Just grin and bear it." "Children can be so stubborn" Armstrong mutters. Ed and I quickly looked up at the same time and said, "Shut up! I'm not a child!" I sigh in annoyance and questioned out loud to get things over with, "By the way? Where's Al?" Finally noticing that his own brother was missing, Ed turns his attention to Armstrong who finally stopped flexing his arm muscles at me and asks, "Are you sure Al made it on board?"
Armstrong replies in a proud response, "I thought he might get lonely without a little company." An image of Al being surrounded by sheep suddenly appeared in my head like a bubble and pops at the same moment Ed and I came to realize- "He's not some kind of farm animal!" The trains' whistle blew, signaling of it's departure to everyone in and out of the train. Hughes backs away from the train and salutes, "Alright you guys have a safe trip and next time you're in Central, come and see me." As the train started to move a little faster an old memory from a different time appeared at the back of my mind. I thought it was from the scene of Hughes' last appearance in the 2003 version but it felt like I was right there, sitting next to Ed with Al sitting across from us, except this time Winry was with us now.
::Memory::
"Ed give me my slice of pie! It's no fair that you guys are the only ones who get to try a slice of Mrs. Hughes' pie!" I cried out as I tried to get my piece back from the boy. He smirks at me asking, "Are you sure you want it Kitty? You seem to have gotten chubbier these past few weeks!" I wanted to punch his lights out on the spot, but sadly, Winry beat me to it with her hidden wrench and gives me the slice as she flashes Ed an annoyed look. "You're one to talk Ed! I think the only part that's growing on the short body of yours is your weight!" I laugh a long with Al but them stop when I caught sight of something standing out on a platform as the train passes by the station, for a second I almost thought I saw- "Hey Cat, you okay?" I snap out of it and saw that all eyes were on me. "I'm fine guys!" I reassure them with a weak smile as I thought at the back of my mind, 'Was that the Lieutenant Colonel? Maybe it was just my imagination...'
::End of Memory::
I stuck half of my body out of the window before Ed could have the chance to close it, I heard Ed call me an idiot like always but I'll just ignore him for now and say my farewells. In a flash I pulled Hughes into my arms and gave him a short quick hug. "Be careful Hughes... there are some people who aren't who they say they are..." I whisper in his ear a fair warning before pulling back and pretend nothing happened. "See ya Hughes! Tell Gracia and Elicia I said bye!" I cup my hands together and called out to the man. He calls back after recovering from what just happened, "Make sure that by the time you get back you have a boyfriend to introduce us!" B-Boyfriend!? The very thought of having a boyfriend now is too much to think about, look don't get me wrong here I wouldn't mind having a boy- know what? Screw it! "Hughes for the last time! I already have an idiot to take care of! I don't need a boyfriend in my life!" I scream out with a huge blush on my face. By the time I pulled myself back in I froze at the strange looks I was getting from the two."Wh-What are you guys looking at!?" I ask them with a blush slowly creeping up my face again. I swear it's like my face is a chameleon now!
"Miss Catherine, when you said that you already have an idiot to take care of... were you implying Edward here?" Armstrong asks me curiously, a weird gleam flashes in his eyes when he see's me flinch in fear. "Ahahaha! What are you talking about Major!? I was referring to... oh well look at the time! I think I should go and visit Al!" I quickly excuse myself and dashed off to visit Al. You think I would actually lie about visiting Al? He's stuck in the back of the train filled with nothing but that sheep to keep him company, and I think he deserved a little actual company instead of trying to learn sheep language just to communicate with something.
-Armstrong-
I pat the boy's shoulder in a proud manner, praising him, "You've found a fine woman Edward." He blushes and starts blabbering out things I could not understand, "She'sjustapartnernothingelseandsheclearlyhasthingsonhermindthanhavingmeasaboyfriend!"
Cat: O_O Wow...
Ed: Shut up! /
Me: Dang Ed... :3
Cat: Huh? I didn't even understand what he said!
Ed: I think it's better that way... *sighs in relief*
Me: Cat Cat Cat... You need to listen to that again later on when Ed's gone.
Ed: DON'T!
'Hm... I thought the rumors were true...' I felt a little disappointed that what Roy Mustang had told me earlier about these two's relationship were false, but I can see that there might be a chance for them in the near future.
-Hughes-
"Be careful Hughes... there are some people who aren't who they say they are..."
I still couldn't stop thinking about what Cat said. After they left I went straight to back to HQ and I wasn't going there just to continue my duties, but to find some answers. 'I shouldn't be doing this... I have my full trust in Cat... So why,' I found myself in front of the archive room, 'am I acting like this!?' "Lieutenant Colonel? What are you doing here?" a soldier asks me as he walks out of the very room I was going to go in. "I'm looking for files about an recorded train accidents that happened 3 years ago," I inform him. "Hm... Funny, a girl not long ago came in asking the same thing... I'll see what I can find sir," he tell me before opening the door wide open. As he switches the lights on I ask the soldier, "Can you tell me what girl this was?" "The General of the Army, I think her name was... Juliet Douglas I think? I keep forgetting what her name is sorry sir. Every time a soldier walks up to her and asks for her name she keeps telling them random names," he tells me as he starts looking for the files I requested. (A/N: I forgot what her fake name is. XP So I decided to make Jealousy make up random names since she too forgot her fake name! Best cover up ever!)
"Juliet Douglas!?" I then remembered her on the day the three were attacked by Scar, she lied to every soldier that it was a drill and Cat saw this and tried to force everyone to help. I didn't have a clear view on what was happening between the two, but I did get to see where Cat threw away her title right at the General's face and I could tell she did not expect for the alchemist to do that especially in front of almost the entire military and also her own men. Only one thing that caught my attention about that new General of the Army, she looks almost exactly like Cat. "Here you are sir!" I watch in horror as the soldier slams down a huge stack of files on top of the table next to me. "Th-Thanks soldier! Carry on!" Now we were getting somewhere. "Now," I grabbed a chair and took the first folder I could get my hands on from the stack, "let's see who you really are Catherine Cairo..."
-Me-
"Al? Are you in here? Did you suddenly become one with the sheep?" I called out as I took a few steps inside the cart, but what blew me off was the stench. "Gah! Ok, which one of you sheep's decided it was a good idea to use the bathroom?" I ask sarcastically with my nose plugged to get the stench out of my nostrils. In all honesty I am so glad that Al is stuck in a suit of armor, if he had his body back then he'd go through the same thing that's happening to me I can definitely bet he won't take this smell so lightly. During my entire search all I heard as replies to my calls were BAAAAAA! and if ever an inhuman cry that comes out every now and then, probably a goat got in here by accident. "Al c'mon this isn't funny! It's like finding a needle in a haystack... Except I'm looking for a giant metal boy in a car filled with sheep!" I yell in annoyance, pushing aside every damn sheep that got in my way and wouldn't move when I tried to shoo them away nicely. "Al! For the love of god say something already! I got wool all over me now!" This was really getting annoying, I should be with the boy by now trying to keep him company and let the time pass while riding on the train before Ed and Armstrong decide to meet with Marcoh. I finally heard his voice, "I'm over here!" I felt something nudge my leg and to my horror I spot Al's head attached to the body of a sheep. "Al...phonse...?" I ask nervously with a poker face.
"Cat!" it replied. 3...2...1... I blacked out.
++Later On++
I slam the head back on Al's body real hard to make his body shake all over. "Ah! Cat not so hard!" he screeches as he tries to keep his body together. I cross my arms and immediately sat on the ground Indian style, a pout formed on my face as I lean my back against the box. "It's your fault Al! How did you even lose your head to a sheep?" I ask, looking up at him with a huge scowl in my eyes. "Well..." he trails. I sweat drop at this and brush it off, "never mind! Geez...! Besides I bet it's a very stupid reason for losing you're head!" Seeing how Al suddenly turned mute on me I guess I hit the jackpot, I'm pretty sure he doesn't want to say anything or he might end up giving me a clue by accident how he lost he helmet head. He seemed to catch one little detail on my sudden visit, "Did something happen between you and brother?" Now I was the quiet one this time. Al sighs this time, making me slightly blush in embarrassment after getting caught red-handed by the boy. "Why did you try and sacrifice yourself? How come you said those things" he asks me out of nowhere, referring to that time when I have almost died right before their eyes in an attempt to save them from Scar.
I hug my legs close to my chest saying, "If I hadn't them you would've lost Ed forever. You only live once Al. Both of you only have each other left in this world... Me? I'm all alone in this foreign world..." "That's not true Cat," my head perks up at this, "you have me, Ed, Miss Camilla and so many others in both the military and the lives you've saved in your missions. We've heard so many stories of the good you've done for others and they really thank you for saving their lives." "Geez you make me sound like as if I'm a great person," I smiled cheekily as I scratch the back of my head.
"You are! Your the strongest person I've ever met! Besides my mentor of course..."
"Alphonse..."
"When Ed and I lost our bodies we didn't know what to do... We've lost so much since then. Ed sacrificed his arm just to save me and I have no way to repay him for that except try and restore his body back to normal. Our past still drags us down till this day. You never seem to look back on it.
"We all have our share of scars... Some tend to stay as a reminder of the things that were done in the past."
"Where did you hear that?"
"I don't know... it's one of the precious things I could remember besides my name... I don't look back on my past not because I don't want to, I move on cause I know that my past just makes me into the person I am or will become in the future."
"Don't you ever wonder who your parent are?"
"I do sometimes, but I don't really care anymore who they are. All I know is thanks to them I wouldn't have been born and meet you two."
"That's what makes you a strong person," Al compliments. All I could do is blush and sink my face in to my knees, it's kind of embarrassing to get these kinds of compliments when I myself know that they aren't true to the kind of person I really am, I'm entirely opposite to the kind of things Al thinks I am. "Oh yeah I almost forgot! Cat, can you reach into my body?" was the weirdest request I've ever heard in my life but I have to remember that this is Al we're talking about. I did as I was told and cautiously took his helmet off them search for anything inside his body, hopefully it's not a kitty or Ed would kill Al later for saving another feline from the streets. When I touched a box attached to the metal walls he starts to explain, "I didn't want to lost it so I had to tape it there for a while. Brother will give his later I think." I took it out and saw that it was a small blue present with my name signed on it much to my confusion. I unwrap the box and open it exactly at the moment all greets, "Happy Birthday Cat!" It was a silver cross, similar to the style of my previous one before I lost it to god knows who. "I noticed that your not wearing your cross anymore and I thought you lost it during the fight with Scar, so I thought of getting you a new one," he tells me in a bashful tone.
I stop after taking a closer look inside Al's body. The cat was fast asleep inside his armor and she seemed to have a large swollen stomach, either this feline is just plain fat or it's pregnant which I'm pretty sure it's the second reason since Al is too nice for stray cat's. I pick up the cat cautiously in my arms with a small sigh escaping my lips, "Al you really shouldn't have brought this cat... She's pregnant! And I don't think travelling is the safest this for a mother who's about to give birth any day now." "I know but..." Al trails in his sentence knowing I was right about this. After a few moments of thinking I gave in. "Alright you can keep the cat," his head perks up in excitement, "but only until we get to the next stop. We can give her to a nice person who can take care of the cat and her future litter."
As I place her back inside carefully, Al asks me in confusion, "But won't we be heading straight to Resembol?" After putting his head back on I smirk saying, "Trust me. You'll see what I mean tomorrow morning."
++Late at Night++
I mess with the little trinket with a small smile on my face, it felt nice to get a present for once even though it is kinda late to give me a give since it's been days since my b-day, not that I'm complaining about it. "Hm... I wonder if Ed will give me a present too," I ponder a little on the idea. "Nah! Even if Ed did he'd probably get me something that's more of his tastes." When I found the two, Armstrong was sitting in place reading a book while Ed was passed out in his seat, snoring really loudly for everyone to hear much to my embarrassment. I sat beside him sighing, "It's like looking after a 5 year old... Guess it can't be helped then." I did the stupidest move that I should never have done out in public, I moved Ed's head and made him lean against my shoulder. A blush quickly rose through my cheeks, "Y-You better thank be tomorrow! I'm doing you a favor here! And also... to pay back for saving me when we first met!" Not matter what I did, I couldn't stop blushing now that Ed is so close to me but I had to remember this one fact that will keep me in control of my emotions, this was my choice on letting Ed rest on my shoulder. 'No matter how hard I try to think that... My heart won't stop racing!'
The train enters through a tunnel and, by fate, hits a large bump in the way out, causing Ed to shift from my shoulder to my lap much to my embarrassment. I gaze down at him with wide eyes and quickly looked up at Armstrong only to find that he had disappeared out of thin air. 'WHERE DID HE GO!?' my thoughts scream.
-Normal-
At the far back corner out of Cat's sight, Armstrong hid himself carefully with sparkles in his eyes as he watches the two from afar. "Good luck Catherine Cairo...!" he says in support towards the flustered blonde girl.
-Me-
Seeing that Armstrong was no where in sight I had no choice but to let Ed sleep on my lap, I didn't want to wake him up or else he'll get the wrong idea and make things awkward between the two of us. 'Calm down Cat! Dante taught you to always stay calm in any situation!' I thought to myself. When I felt Ed shift and bring himself closer to me my thoughts went ballistic, 'Red alert! Red alert! Famous state alchemist sleeping in the worst place possible!' I snap out of it when I hear Ed mutter something incoherently. "Cat..." I brought myself closer to listen to what he has to say. "Your alchemy is still sloppy..." I dug my fist onto the seat on my side trying my best to stay calm and not punch the side on the boy's head. "Your clothes are strange..." Ok! Now I'm gonna punch him! "Your eyes... are really pretty..." I blush after Ed finally goes back to snoring. I scratch the back of my head, "You really are an idiot...! Don't say things when you don't mean it...!" I look around again just in case anyone was awake or if Armstrong was nearby to see the next stupidest thing I'll ever do in my life. I bow my head down close to Ed's face, our faces inches apart to the point where it would look like I'm kissing him if anyone were to see what I was doing.
"You really shouldn't be trusting me Ed... I'm not the kind of person you think you I am... I know everything about you and yet... you know nothing about me... I don't want you to trust me cause I don't want to hurt you or Al if you guys ever find out who I really am... So please... don't tell me your past..."
++Next Day++
Thankfully I was able to wake up in time before Ed had to chance to see he's been sleeping on my lap the entire night, now that Armstrong is finally here I can now tell why the hell he left and I sure as hell didn't like the strange looks he was giving us. I asked Armstrong to sit beside Ed in order to secretly plan out my revenge for him being all cozy on my. I barely slept the entire night! I gaze out the window as Ed finally wakes up from his slumber, and much to my relief I saw Marcoh walking in the far distance. 'In 3...2...' Armstrong immediately catches sight of the elderly man walking past the train and rushes towards the window, crushing Ed in the process. I tried my best to hold back my snickers when I saw Ed's face slam against the window at full force. "Doctor Marcoh! Doctor Marcoh! That's you isn't it!? It's me! Alex Louis Armstrong!" Armstrong calls out. Slowly, Marcoh's face goes from confusion to fear as he recognizes who was calling him, after hearing the Strong Arm alchemists' name Marcoh bolts off in fear. "Friend of yours? Ed asked as he watches the old man run off. Armstrong moves to allow the boy to breathe and explains, "He's from Central, a talented state alchemist who was researching applications for medical alchemy... but after the Ishvalen War, he disappeared.
"It's not unusual for a man like that to run off," I butt in, catching both of their attentions as I spoke out, "he was a man who wanted to save lives not end them. A lot state alchemists left for that very reason and I can understand why so many would leave." My words seemed to be sinking in so I asked them this, "He's a talented alchemist, correct? Do you think the military would simply let him go just like that?" Ed looked out the window for a minute then stood up saying, "Let's go Major, Cat. A guy like that may know something about bio alchemy." I definitely don't want to do this, going to Marcoh's would leave to the same conclusion and I didn't want to take his happiness away from him. "How bout we just leave him alone guys?" I suggested. "And let this opportunity slip by? Cat, you know as well as I do he might have the answers we've been looking for to get our bodies back!" Ed once again had to point out that reason to us. Then it dawned on me, 'He made the philosopher's stone countless of times... maybe he might know how to revert the process of it! I could bring everyone back to normal!' I didn't want to show them that I really wanted to meet the doctor now, I pretended to reluctantly agree into going after the doctor. "Fine but don't forget that this is an old man we're talking about. We need to be cautious," I told them as a silent warning.
Ed brushes this off asking me, "C'mon Kitty, what's there to worry about?" I sweat drop thinking, 'Don't blame me if you get shot at...' I then realized what he called me. "Don't call me Kitty!"
||In Town||
Armstrong brings out a perfectly drawn portrait if Marcoh as he asks a nearby citizen, "Do you know this person by any chance?" Ed and I give him weird looks as the boy beside me states, "You sure know how to draw..." "Of course! The art of drawing has been passed down the Armstrong family for generations," he telks us proudly with more pink sparkles floating around. Every person we've encountered mentions the same thing. I checked every now and then if anyone was following us from behind our backs, the homunculi like to follow Ed and Al around since they're important to their plans. I can't remember what exactly that is at the moment but I need to keep an eye out till then. I already knew what the stranger was going to say so I just secretly left the two as the man tells them the name Maroh and explain a piece of information if his accomplishments in the town. I got my water bottle, poured the contents onto my glove hand and transmutes the water to a miniature ice sculpture of Marcoh. (A/N: Remember Cat doesn't clap anymore like she used to. She's not a mary-sue okay! I got someone messaging about that so stop and wait for the chap where it explains why!)
I walk up to an elderly lady and ask her nicely, "Excuse me miss, do you happen to know where Doctor Maroh is?" "Do you need to seem him for an appointment?" she questions me as she gazes at the sculpture.
"No I only need to talk to him. Me and my companions think he might give us the information we need. So can you kindly give me the directions to his house?"
"Well since you me so nicely..."
She draws out the map to the best of her ability for me, I thanked her and went after the two who were still trying to get the name Marcoh our of them. Then I remembered something, "Do you like cat's ma'am? My friend found a cat on the streets the other day, but we can't afford to keep her since we travel a lot." She seemed happy at the thought of having a pet, "My yes~! I've been rather lonesome with no one to visit me." It broke my heart to here that, reminds me so much of home when adults just leave their elderly parent by themselves either at a hospital or a retirement home. "Then I guess you won't mind having more company at home! She actually happens to be pregnant!" I tell her the good news. She smiles even more as I told every single detail about the mother cat. I practically ran to Armstrong and force him to put Al down while his older brother wasn't looking and practically pulled the cat out in excitement, but she's pregnant so caution is needed. "I found an owner Al! Isn't that great!?" I was too excited to even realize Al's disappointment though I did make sure to reassure him, "she'll be fine Al! The cat will have a nice new home and the owner will be glad to have some company around.
Besides you don't want your brother to stress out again, right?" "I guess so... I wish I had more time with her," he reaches out to the feline and pet's it one last time. "Guys what are you doing!? We have to find this doctor asap!" Ed calls out a fair distance away from where we were. I yell back at him angrily as I hand Armstrong the cat and march up to where Ed is, "Oh shut up! I alreay got the directions before you guys did! You keep on asking around for Doctor Marcoh when you should be calling him Maroh! These people clearly know him by a different name you idiot!" "Who are you calling an idiot!? All you did was just stand around and did nothing!" he yells back. I can tell this argument will last all the way until we get to Marcoh's place, I'm just pissed he thought that I've been doing nothing at all the entire search. This boy is seriously getting on my nerves! The walk wasn't actually as far as I expected it to be, but on the other hand this argument is going on way too long. "Let's just call it a draw antenna boy and get on with it!" I say one last time and march up the steps. "Antenna boy!? Who are you calling antenna boy!?" Ed yells, pissed off at the latest insult I've come up with just for him.
We 're here, but now I'm scared what's going to happen after we knock on his door. 'If this time paradox thing start now and one of us gets shot instead of being missed... What's gonna happen then!?' screaming in my thoughts and trying to keep it together I realized it was too late to stop Ed. "Um... Hello-" I pull Ed away in time as a gun shot was fired. Good thing too! His face was literally inches away from death if I hadn't payed attention to what he was doing! "Ah!" Ed shouts. "Tell me what you three are doing here! Are you here to take me back!? a scared look plastered on the man's face as he hold the gun up at us. "Please doctor... calm down," Armstrong tries to reassure him as he raises his hand up. "No! I don't ever want to go back to that place! Anything but that!" he yells hysterically, his hands shaking as he gripped onto the gun tighter. "Calm down sir all we wan't is-" Marcoh interrupts me and point the gun at me, "To silence me then!? Is that what this is about!?"
Armstrong tries one last time to stop Marcoh, "Nothing like that..." "I won't be tricked by you!" Fed up with the situation, Armstrong throws Al at the man as he orders, "That's enough!" "Alphonse!" Ed and I cried out.
++Later On++
"I think I'll just set this one outsi-!" I felt myself being pulled down right before I could make my escape out the door. "Oh no you don't! You're staying here even if I have to bind you to the chair!" the way Ed said that part was weird, but I can't do anything now or else this guy WILL bind me to my seat. I mean he's done it once before, and it nearly cost me my life, so who knows if he'll ever do that again. Hopefully not now. "So you change your name and decided to live out in the country side. If the rumors I heard are true, then you disappeared and took secret government materials with you," Armstrong states as we all sat on the table. I wanted to shrink and crawl into the nearest mouse hole in the house I could find, anywhere away from what I am about to listen to in person. I should be used to this by now after being stuck here for almost 3 years, and yet, things like this never felt comfortable to listen to no matter how much I've always wanted to be here. There are so many things I can't prevent. Being here is a good example of that. I know for a fact that the reason Marcoh was caught by the homonculi.
I know I shouldn't blame Armstrong and Ed for wanting to look for Marcoh or else the brothers wouldn't have been able to get the information they need, but our presence here may have been the reason why the doctor was caught. "I couldn't take it anymore... order of no order, to have my hands dirtied with researching that thing was too much." Ok, here comes the thunder. "And that thing is what?" Ed pries in on the topic after taking note of that part. "It took so many lives during the civil war... so many innocent people died because of it... I could spend my whole life trying and never atone for the things I did, but I had to do something. So I came here to become a doctor, to save lives not take them," he explains his reasons to us. I finally said something, "It's not something to be ashamed of Doctor. What you're doing is a good thing and these people appreciate what you've done." Marcoh looks up after hearing my words, but when he does he seemed shocked for some reason after looking at me right in the eyes.
"Doctor, what is it you were ordered to research? What thing...?" Armstrong asks snapping Marcoh out of his weird trance. I look away as Marcoh immediately replies, "The Philosopher's Stone..." Yep, finally after 3 years I get the chance to see this moment. I sunk in my seat as morememories about the lives lost to the stone continue to flood my mind as a constant reminder of the truth behind its existance. I sunk down lower in my seat as he continued, "The top secret materials I took were my research documents... and the stone itself..." I should be happy for them and myself, they found the answers they were looking for and I get the chance to question the doctor about the stone, but I found myself depressed as he continues on with the topic. "Y-You mean you still have it!? It's here!?" Ed asked Marcoh hurriedly, not believing his ears. Marcoh reaches into his jacket and pulls out a red substance contained in a small vial. Confused were earned in response to what was presented to them. "How can that be the stone? It's a liquid..." Ed says as we all watch Marcoh open the vial and pour it onto the table. They all looked at him in shock, I was unable to react to a single thing that was happening.
Even if I forced myself to it might end up entirely differently compared to how they were reacting to the stones appearance, no one would be able to take this in well at all if the truth of the stones creation was known and I can only remember bits of how it was first forged now. Something about Xerxes... "The Sage's stone, the grand elixir, the celestial stone.. just as the Philosoper's stone is called by many names, it also has many forms," informs the doctor to relieve them of their curiousity of how come it's not actually a stone. Ed pokes it a little making me slap his hand away. "What?" he snaps at me. I wanted to say 'Don't poke it they're people in there' but I held myself back and said, "Don't poke the thing. It's not like it's alive or anything." I wanted to slap myself for saying that. It's literally alive in a way if you think of the thousands of souls trapped inside the thing, even the doc cringes at the way I said it. 'Great...! Now I feel like an idiot all over again!' my thoughts scream while I give Ed an annoyed stare as he continues to poke it.
"It's not necessarily a stone... this is an incomplete product. There's no way to know when it'll reach its limit," Al concludes at the sight of it from where he sat. Ed nods in agreement, "Finished or not, it demonstrated a lot of power during the civil war, right?" 'Please something save me from this nightmare...!' I scream in my head, terrified at knowing what's to come next.
-Normal-
"Its just like the stone that the fake prophet in Liore had, incomplete but stull amplified his power greatly," Ed smirks the more he compiled the information together. "If an imitation stone could be produced, then who is to say a complete one can't be done?" "But we don't know if we have the skills to make such a ampliflier. The reason Doctor Marcoh was able to produce the stone is because he's had time and experience in making it," Cat intervenes in hopes to changes the boys mind on persuing for the information. She knew she couldn't stop him, but she wanted to spare him the truth a little bit longer before things go on like how they're suppose to go. "We have to try! Please doctor Marcoh, we need access to your research materials!" Ed begs desperately as he slams his hands on the table. Shocked, Marcoh asks the strong arm alchemist, "Major, who exactly are these kids!?" "These two kids are state alchemists,"Armstrong replies.
"What!? But they are only children! After the war, there were so many state alchemists who turned in their certifications because they refued to serve as human weapons any longer... and now children?"
Cat sits in place in shock as she remember her previous 3 years again with Raven as Ed yells while gripping onto his (remaining parts of his) automail arm, "You don't think we know what we signed up for!? We know exactly what we're doing and we don't have any choice. This is a mistake we have to make either way." Finally gaing the nerve to say something again and feeling the pain in her chest, Cat spoke up as she too holds her automail, "The years weren't easy... but we continued on serving the military in hopes of restoring what was ours. I have my regrets though I still continue my services to the people either way." "I see. So you've commited the taboo,"Marcoh concludes as he got up and examines Al. "Amazing...! The ability to transmute a specific person's soul like this... anyone as talented as you three could be able to produce a complete Philospher's stone." Ed and Cat smile as he asked, "So...?" "But I can't show you my research,"help from their face, mostly Ed who was expecting a positive anwer from the man. Cat knew she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up just yet. "Why not!?" he asks, standing.
"You must not seek after the stone," was Marcoh's advice. "Not even to get our bodies back?"Al asks, also not taking this in so well. "Never... This is the devil's research. If you chase the stone, you will go through hell!" Ed quickly replies, "We've already been through hell!" Marcoh couldn't take it anymore and advised them to leave.
-Back to Me-
I look at Ed first to see his grief strucken face and then at Al who tilts his head down. I couldn't help myself from saying something, "Listen here doc! These two have already gone through so much just to look for this thing! You can't outright say no after seeing what they've done to themselves! I'm also looking for the stone, but they need it more that I do!" I was about to reach out and grab the stone until I felt a small, yet powerful, static shock pierce my finger before it was inches away from contact. I yelp in pain and hold my hand, confused at what had happened. "Cat! Are you alright?" Ed asks worriedly as he takes my hand in his. I blush a little as I replied, "I-It's nothing..." At the back of my mind I was wondering, 'What the hell just happened? How did I even feel that!? I'm still wearing my gloves!' It was odd though, my body felt so rejuvenated before compared to last time. Marcoh must've seen this cause the moment I was about to take my gloves off and check what happened until Marcoh runs up to my side and stops me from taking my gloves off.
"All of you get out! I need to speak to this one alone," taking note that this was even more serious Ed glances at me for a second and leaves along with Armstrong and Al. After the trio had left just like what Marcoh requested, he takes out a book from his bookshelf and reads it a few pages before walking back up to me and hands it over. "This is?" I took it and stared at the old worn out cover curiously, it read 'Parallel Worlds' on the cover with the initial N.F. on the corner of the book. I raise an eye brow at the title, "A book about Parallel Worlds? Thanks but... what does this have to do with anything?" He caught sight of something and walks past me then holds up an old photo in his hands, causing curiosity to flood over and make me look over at what the photo was the head of the stranger beside Macroh was torn off. It seemed to have been taken a while back, makes me wonder what the old man did before joining the military and research the stone with the help of the homulculi.
"Years ago before the Ishvalan war, a young man came up to me asking if I was researching the philosopher's stone and if he could assist me in my research. At first I was going to turn him until he asks me, 'Would you like to make something that can amplify the stone's power to a higher level?' I was curious at what he meant and out of pure impulse I accepted and allowed him to work with me secretly so I could find out what he had meant. As we both know the stone is said to increase the levels of ones alchemy to a higher level, breaking the laws and bypassing them. We hid some of this research from the military incase they wanted to use it as a weapon. After successfully completing his research he disappeared at the exact day the military recruited me for the war. 3 years ago he came back. He gave me that book and said this, 'A stranger will come by in weird garments and look for the philosopher's stone. The moment stone reacts strangely give this book to that person."
"Weird clothes huh...?" I gaze down at my clothes, grimacing at the familiar term again. 'I know wearing an outfit that almost looks like a pirate is weird... but this is the only this that came into my head so I could blend in...' Marcoh peers closely into my face, causing ball of sweat to roll down my cheek as I ask the doctor as politely as I could, "What are you doing...?" He smiles and mutters, "So that's why..." I watch as he stands up straight and smiles down at me, almost like as if...a sense of nostalgia swept over him. I tilt my head in confusion, "Huh? What do you mean? Do I have something on my face?" He laughs at my reaction. Are my reactions really that weird? Honestly this is the nth time someone has laughed at me when I clearly didn't do anything weird, I'm starting to feel like something's wrong with these people. "The other side is really as remarkabke as it seems," I jolt when Marcoh suddenly blurts that out into the open. "How did you know!?" I exclaim. He chuckles, "I've seen my share of strange people abd judging by how you've been acting I can clearly guess that you're not from this world." Wild things kept running around in my head, like 'was it something I said earlier?' or 'is he going to tell anyone about this?', it was crazy that someone for the first time had finally noticed how I'm not from Amestris. "Are you-" Marcoh interrupts me knowing what I was going to ask, "I won't tell anyone your secret. I made a promise to a dear old friend that I won't."
I want to say I'm glad to get some information for once, but to get this now after years of searching every town I could go to during missions it comes up out of no where in one of the obvious places I never once wanted to go to. Marcoh's place! It kinda pisses me off. "So say I do find the answers... What then? Will it help me and everyone finally go home?" I ask him nervously as I gaze down at my feet. Honestly, I'm unsure what will happen after this. I felt a hand on my shoulder, "That's for you to decide. Until then protect that book with your life. I tried to decipher it myself in the past but everything that came up was too advanced for me to understand, only someone foreign to this land can understand these writings and I think you are the person to do so. If you want to find the answers you're desperately searching for I advice you to look for it in that book." I thank the doctor, not to mention warn him a little, and made my way to leave until I remembered somethng.
"I may have found the answers I'm looking for, but he needs to know. Please reconsider about Ed's request. They've been so much already! He may know now that the stone can be indeed forged, but he needs to know the truth... behind the truth."
-Marcoh-
'Please reconsider about Ed's request. They've been through so much already! He may know now that the stone can indeed be forged, but he needs to know the truth... behind the truth.'
"She's become a fine young woman my friend," I said out loud as I picked up the old photo and restoring his facw with alchemy, "that child reminds me so much of you. Though her attitude mostly comes from her mother as I can see, but the look in her eyes is exactly like your's."
::Memory::
I run out of the door after the man after receiving the book he instructed me to give. "Wait!" He was only a few feet away from the by the time I got out. He looks over his shoulders and smiles under his hat, "I think my daughter is starting to hate me now! She keeps complaining how I always leave and make Priscilla cry! My wife tells me the opposite though! Ahahaha!" I was at a loss of words, I knew he had a lover in the past but I never expected for him to suddenly have a child after years without contact. "I trust that you'll take car of that! It's full of things that person will need in the future in order to continue the things I won't be able to finish," he turns his back and takes his hat off, waving off as a sign of farewell. I snap out if it and called out, "I'll be sure to keep my promise!" I watch as he disappears into the distance bit by bit until he stops in place, turning around to gaze back at me with excitement and hope filled in his golden eyes. "I finally get to act like a dad for once!"
::End of Memory::
-Me-
"You had your chance Ed, why didn't you take it while you had the chance?" I ask obviously know what his answer was. "Yeah... I wanted it so bad I could taste it... But still, we wouldn't want it so badly to deprive this town of its only doctor to get it," he answers as he looks on ahead leaning against the bench. "Besides," Al speaks up, "I think we've gained a lot by learing it can be made." "What about you major? How do you feel about going back to central and revealing Marcoh's location?" Ed asks the man sitting beside me. He simply replies, "I met a simple town doctor today. I don't see any reason to report that." I smile at the trio at first until a yawn escapes my lips. Weird, earlier my body was filled with so much energy after touching the stone now I feel completely drained compared to before. Ed notices this. Blushing, he turns away and offers, "You can sleep on my shoulder if you like." I blush as well at this. "No thanks... I can wait till the train gets here..." I still couldn't help but continue to blush even though I did turn him down.
I would've taken his offer in a heartbeat if I was still my old self, but now I've become a shy blushing fool. "Wait!" We all turned to see Marcoh, hunched over trying to catch his breathe. Talk about perfect timing. The next thing I knew Marcoh was handing Ed the parchment that had the location of where his research was, I was happy that part didn't change either and now we both have the information we were searching for, but it's just the first part of our answers. "This is where the materials are. If you are certain and won't regret knowing the truth... start looking there," he instructs the boy. "Look closely, maybe you'll find the truth hidden within the truth- I've said too much already." He walks away and waved saying, "I hope the day will come when you are able to restore your bodies." As we all sat in the train and Al asks what was in the paper Marcoh gave Ed, I sat the farthest away from them so I could look over the book I was given a while back. "There are two doors parallel to each other... and when opened in the opposite direction... a different timeline is presented..." I read out loud. I flip back to the cover and went over the hard brown old cover, "N.F., the author of this book has to be someone off screen or someone I know... The only person I know with these initials is a famous french alchemst... but he only exists in my world... Nicholas Flamel... What the hell was he doing over here?"
I know he disappeared centuries ago with his wife, Priscilla, and made the philosopher's stone, but none of that could be true. For all I know he seemed like a crazy old fart making up stuff just so he could go down in history. "What's this guy... doing here on this side?" I wonder out loud as I trace my fingers over the cover.
-Normal-
In the ancient ruins of Xerxes, a man with a long brown cloak walks up the ancient steps and makes his way around as if he knew by heart where he was going. Soon he found an entryway, the wooden door that's blocking the man's path on the brink of collapsing from old age. He pulls his hood off and takes his goggles off, allowing his golden hair and eyes to light up as the sun rays shine down on him. The man looked strickingly similar to the one in Marcoh's old photo. "Finally... after all these years it can begin..."
To Be Continued
And that's a wrap! Sorry I've been gone for awhile. Another problem came up and it wasn't because of school, two weeks ago I found out my childhood site Quizilla was closing down and I had to say my farewells to a few friends cause they'll be trying to get as much stuff from their accounts as they can and hopefully transfer to a site that I know. It's sad that it wont be there anymore when I look it up. I was unable to get back my original work of Mercury alchemist, but I was able to get the story that insipred me in making my OC. Sadly she's nowhere to be found anymore so I didn't know whether or not it was okay if I would publish in honor for her work. I mean it's really good even though it's been forever since her last update. I think that was back in 2007... Haven't heard a word from her since.
Cat: SO you've been wasting your time doing nothing...
Me: ACTUALLY I happen to have the original you here with me.
Cat: What? Impossible! There can't be two-
OriginalCat: Me's...
BothCat's: *stares*
Cat: Please tell me that's not Jealousy...
OriCat: Please tell me that's a mirror.
Me: Cat, meet Cat!
Cat: You know how confusing this is!
Me: The difference is we get along better than you. Right Cat? *High fives*
OriCat: Yep! *high fives back* And also I'm much more taller than you in comparison. *smirks*
Me: Uh oh...
Cat: Tell me that again bitch! You're only taller cause you-
OriCat: I was made first before you? Yeah we all know that. *smirks*
Me: (I forgot this Cat was really obnoxious before and really sarcastic... ^^||| I hope they won't start having an alchemy war)
Cat: Shut up! *transmutes a tsunami*
OriCat: *Freezes tsunami* Weak!
Me: Gaaah! I do not own FMA! All rights belong to Hiromu Arakawa! *ducks* Please let me finish here guys! Don't freeze the studio!