'Humans can't gain anything with just a
simple sacrifice... they have to learn from
it in order to have a better understanding...
That's the truth of life...'
Chapter 38 ~ The Curse of the Undying
-Alice-
Ling's arrival was expected, but what's scaring me is what I'm going to do now. All of my thoughts purely focused on Cat and what she would do. 'She always was a step ahead of everything... No.' I shake my head at the thought and glared at the ground. 'No matter the situation, Cat has always been able to keep a cool head and think things through. I have to as well.' "Alice!" I jolt at Al's sudden presence. "Y-Yeah?" I stammer, a little surprised and confused. "I'm going to go out for a while. You stay here with the others till I get back," he tells me. 'Going? That means he's-' Before he turns, I quickly grab his hand. "Wait! I'm coming too!" There's no way I'm going to sit this one out again! This time I will do my best to keep him safe.
Having a gun is fine and dandy, but I'll never be able to get rid of my fears of hurting someone with it if I don't get used to aiming it at someone. Al protests as he roughly pulls out of my grasp, "No you can't! You'll be safer here than with me!" "Safer...? Al, are you talking about the time in Dublith?" I ask him, earning only a sad look in his eyes. That wasn't his fault. If ever, it was mine for ever thinking I could take on someone like King Bradley himself in a fight. Although what happened didn't hurt me physically, I was slightly hurt mentally, reminding me the night of how I first died back in Hiessgart. It became a good wake up call for me too. "Alphonse Elric," I said in a tone similar to Cat's. He was surprised to hear me say his full name out loud.
"You don't have to worry about protecting me. Like I said, it's my job to protect you. Not because it's for the sake of the future, but because I want to as a friend. I won't become stronger if I let you and others hold me back. I won't be able to learn how to hold my ground against something that's not human at the rate I'm going."
Al seemed to want to say something to me but was interrupted by Lucas, who seemed to be getting a little impatient with Al's hesitation. "She has a point tin man," Lucas said as he takes a few steps in front of me. "Alice has never been one to fight, but neither was Cat before she became a dog of the military." He lightly punches Al's chest plate. "If you think of her like that then you don't know her as well as you said you did." I didn't understand what Lucas meant by that, but it seemed Al did. Al looks at me then at Lucas with a nod. Pleased at Al's understanding, he pulls his fist back and lightly pulls me towards the armor boy. He turns with his hand up, saying, "Don't make me regret putting her in your hands."
"Right! Let's go Alice," Al gestures takes my hand back and gestures me to follow, which I was happy to accept. Though I still couldn't understand their exchange earlier.
-Lucas-
"Hey wait for me!" china boy cries as he runs after the two. "What was that about?" Winry questions with a raised brow. I just smile and playfully ruffle her hair. "Nothing~ Just sit there and look pretty for me while I get that automail you were working on finished." She slaps my hand away and pouts, earning a sly grin from me before I go to work on the automail for her. She's been working herself too much since she became Garfiel's apprentice. Sure the old man works me to death when given the chance, but I'm more used to this work style compared to her. Cat filled me in on how Resembool's like so it was a bit surprising to see how well she did her first week in Rush Valley. I heard the wooden seat beside me move, making me smile even know since I knew exactly who it was.
"You don't have to work on it for me... I can handle it myself," Winry states while still keeping her pout on. Honestly, this girl is worse than Alice was! I mess with my hair out of frustration then go back to working. "Geez! Don't make that kind of face! You know how much I hate it when you do that!" I had to hold back the part of me being unable to control myself or else it would make it seem like I'm... you know what I mean! Thankfully, she changes the subject, "You really know Cat and Alice well, huh?"
"'Course I do. Though I mostly grew up with Alice since our families were... friends. Cat was just a package deal."
"You seem to be alright with her now."
"Hah! She still gets on my nerves... At first, the only reason we even had a peace treaty was so that we wouldn't upset Alice. Thankfully she was too dense to even notice the animosity between the two of us before we even made the truce."
I may be talking about Alice too much, but as much as it embarrasses for me to admit it, my world basically revolved around her. Even though I knew she only saw me as a friend, I stupidly thought that as long as she only relied on me she'd start to see me on a different light so I did whatever I could to be her 'closest' friend. And that ended up with Alice being alone. Until Cat. The girl that had surprisingly made me a somewhat better person. Sure I finally pissed her off when I first experience puberty, but Cat got me to reluctantly agree to just watch Alice from afar until she find happiness. If it was with me then she'd leave me be - however, if it wasn't them I have to let go. She has Al and - surprisingly - Cat has Ed. Where does that leave me?
I'd be happy to say that I am starting to move on and fall for Winry, but after much talking with the girls I knew I had to let go again once Cat finds a way to get all of us back home. Then again that isn't entirely true as one has to stay to keep the gate open for us to go back to the other side. Only Cat has the proper training with alchemy so far and I don't like the idea of her sacrificing herself like that. From what Winry has heard from the brothers over the phone, those two have been putting their lives on the line more than they should just so that others would live. And it's frustrating to know just how useless I am. "Luke," Winry places her hand over mine to stop me from working, "I know you're worried about them but I'm sure they'll be just fine."
"I know..." I said, slightly frustrated at myself for stupidly letting my dark thoughts get to me. "I just wish I wasn't just their mechanic. Sitting back and doing nothing while they're off fighting is aggravating to the nerves. Yeah I get to help by fixing Cat's automail, but she barely has any problems maintaining her arm! What else am I?" Winry doesn't respond. Instead, she grabs my tools and abruptly starts taking over. "Hey!" I shout, surprised. I tried to take them back but she reflexively hits my hands with MY wrench in response. All I could do is pull back and watch so I won't get up breaking any of my fingers if I made more attempts to get my stuff back. She finally spoke up, "I know how it feels to feel useless. I used to wonder every day how those two are doing and I get extremely worried when they come back all battered up."
She stops to look at me straight in the eye. "But then the other two came along. Seeing that there was someone that could keep up with them made me feel relieved - now they have someone who can help them both physically and mentally. Cat and Alice can always be there for those two since I can't." When Winry goes back to working, I couldn't help but notice her trembling hands - a thing she always does whenever she gets upset over something. Unsure at first, I cautiously reached over and gently pat the top of her head. "You've done enough just waiting for them at home. Unlike Cat and Alice, those brothers have a nice welcoming party for them at home. We.." I paused for a moment, mentally preparing myself before I continued, "don't have that privilege. Our families aren't here. Cat has none on either sides."
Now I'm the one being sentimental. "Say... why don't we do something? To cheer us both up," Winry suggests after twisting the final bolt in the gears of the automail.
-Alice-
All I could think the moment I arrived was how terrified I am. There's no way I can stay calm at this point - I'm going to say 'hi' to the first known female homunculas and I have no idea what I'll do once I see her. Cat absolutely despises her. I, on the other hand, actually like her even after seeing her in the first anime. Though now I'm not so sure on my feelings towards the homunculus. "Alice c'mon!" Al calls over, half of his body already inside the car. "Coming!" I cry out. We were somehow able to find the Colonel and the others to take us with him to find Hughes' killer, which I almost blurted out who it was until I remembered Cat's warning of revealing the future to others. Once Al was fully inside, I stood right next to the car as all three flash me a surprised looks from all of them.
Roy moves in his chair to look at me then at Al. "You sure you want to bring her? I know Mercury will understand, but are you sure you're willing to bring her into harms way?" "Colonel, sir," I spoke up, addressing him as formal as possible. "Cat told me when she first arrived in the East, you willingly allowed her to join the military after showing her skills for all to see. She wasn't that good at the time but you still allowed a rookie to join. She somehow proved herself worthy to take your immediate interest. If I want the same amount of respect she gets from all of you, then I want to try and prove myself too." This time I will fight. I won't hesitate once this time. Impressed to hear this, Roy gestures me to get in then gets ready to drive.
When I forced my way into the back, I could hear Havoc throwing too many curse words to count from being squished by Al's body. "Sorry!" I quickly apologize. "N-No prob! Just make sure I don't break my spine!" I wince at his words and immediately looked away. There was so much I want to say to Jean and Roy about what will happen if we follow after Barry's body to the lab. But if I did say something, what then? Certain things would never occur, like Roy would have ordered Jean to stay back and that would have caused him to be easily killed by Lust without the use of Jean's lighter. I whisper over to Al, "Just don't do anything reckless once we're there..." He doesn't say anything. He just nods before shifting his focus back to the front of the car.
This is my chance. This is my chance to do better.
||Apartment Complex||
-Jealousy-
Finding the apartment was harder than I thought it would be. After having my men search for anyone that fits the description, they narrowed down to two specific locations; one that I recall was her apartment and the other of an unknown address. "Standby the entrance in case anything happens." I order, earning a salute from Joseph and an eye roll from Damien, which earned him a punch to the head by the older man. I've been meaning to talk to him about his behavior but I knew Joseph is there to keep him in line for me, just until I keep my end of the bargain. Turning my back on the two, I proceed to go up the stairwell and make my way to the 5th floor. Hopefully, my theory is wrong that whoever lives there isn't who I think it is, that I'm the only person who crossed over from that side.
I'm already suspicious with Damien enough as it is. Once I arrived, I hesitated, unsure of what my next move should be. If I am right, then Fate is more than just an entity that loves to toy with human lives. If I'm wrong, then I can at least feel at peace knowing I'll be the only one to suffer. With a knock on the door, I froze when it immediately opens, revealing a girl - a girl who should be around her if she ever retained what she lost. "Yes?" she asks me, shyly hiding behind the door. Her voice, her attitude towards strangers, her appearance - there's no denying it. Biting my lip, I blink the tears away as I go down one knee to level myself with her height.
"Hello, my name is Katelyn Juliet Dougles. Is your guardian around?"
"Grandma? Oh, she went out to buy groceries an hour ago. She should be back soon."
"I see. May I know your name?"
She steps out and gives me the biggest grin she could pull off. "My name's Alice Leihburg!" I force a smile as I comment, "Alice, huh? That's a... beautiful name." She tilts her head and leans forward, peering at my face. "You don't look like a Katelyn type of person," she points out with a pout. "You don't say? Then what name do you think suits me?" I question, having trouble holding back my emotions as I wait for the expected answer. "Cat!"
||Laboratory||
-Alice-
We're just a step away from the grounds of the third laboratory, filled with not only scientists but also soldiers on guard duty. Everyone peers around the corner of the wall we were hiding behind while I was standing a foot away from them, trying to mentally prepare myself for what's to come. 'This is where Lust will meet them in person for the first time and for Jean to learn he's been dating a homunculus... Oh god what am I going to do? A gun won't help at all!' Now I immediately regret for not asking Cat to give me some self defense lessons. I pull out my gun from underneath my skirt and stare down at the weapon. 'I've used this so little times. I'm still trying to remember dad's lessons on how to use a simple handgun.' "GET BACK HERE!" I jolt a bit and turn to see Jean yelling at someone, most likely Barry judging from the absence of the second armor.
'This is it! Now's the time to test myself out! But-' I look at my hands and gasp to see them shaking. 'Why isn't this body responding? Why do I feel more scared than usual?' It felt like as if there was someone else inside of me that was stopping me from going inside.
||Apartment||
-Alice-(Ametris)
I've been feeling weird ever since I talked to that Kaitlyn person. One moment I'd be doing something like fixing the house or doing the laundry, the next I'm standing and staring out of the window at my own reflection until granny calls for me. Sometimes when I'm asleep, I feel like I'm somewhere else. I would either be around Cat or that boy wearing that ginormous armor. "Alice, your spacing out again~" Grandma hums when she takes something from my hand. "I-I'm sorry! I'll finish right away!" I try to take the plate back but Grandma was surprisingly faster than I. She shushes me, "Nonsense! I've clearly tired you out for doing most of the chores the entire day! Let me do this for you." "But grandma!" I whine. Grandma pauses only to give me a quick flick to my forehead. "Now you go rest," she said, turning back to the sink. "I don't want anything to happen to you. Remember, you're irreplaceable."
Ever since mommy and daddy died, I've met so many new yet familiar faces. First was Cat, then the brothers, and then Miss Camilla. Cat and Camilla were the most familiar I've met so farm, and I always wish to see them whenever I hear they're in the area. As happy as I am to hear Grandma say that, why do I feel like this will be my last time to show her how much I appreciate her for taking care of me for this long?
||Third Lab||
-Alice-
Barry continued to rampage through the halls in search of his body, thankfully knocking people out of his way instead of cutting them away. I follow after Roy and the others as they march on after the man. "Out of the way! I don't want any of your boring old skin and bones! I got a special reunion to get to" I hear Barry shout from the other end of the hallway. I felt really uncomfortable listening to Barry's word but I ignored them and continued following behind Roy. All of the scientists were speechless when they saw us - excluding Al - with weapons in our hands. "All personal must evacuate immediately!" he orders. While a random soldier walks up to Roy with a salute, Al looks at me then at the gun in my hands. "Are you sure you're okay to use that again?" asks Al as he stares at my shaking hands.
"I'm fine Al! You've got your fists and alchemy to defend yourself right?" I raise my gun and force a smile. "Well I only have this if I don't want anything to tear my metal plate off! I don't want to blow the place up by using my alchemy." We soon come to a set of stair leading to the darker and lower level of the laboratory. After Roy orders the soldier to evacuate the personnel, I knew this is where we make our descent. 'This is it! I have to make a choice if I should stay with Al or follow Roy and Jean!' If only it was that easy. With each step down, it almost felt like I could feel my heart beating in my ears. Which is saying something since I absolutely feel no sensation in this body whatsoever. "How the hell are we supposed to find him?" I gasp when I realize we had reached the bottom of the stairs. "We're going to have to split up," Roy said, which everyone agreed to except for me.
"I-I'll go with you!" I blurt out much to their surprise. I thought for a second he could agree as he knows Al and Riza are capable on their own together. "No," Roy orders. "You are to stay with Alphonse and Hawkeye." "But-!" "That's an order!" I shut up and back away at the dark look in Roy's eyes. 'You have to do something!' a strange, yet familiar voice screams at the back of my mind. Roy and Jean turn their backs to leave in the opposite direction. For the first time, I put my foot down and spoke louder than I usually would. "No! I'm not one of your soldiers Colonel! You can't just order me around like some dog." He pauses for a moment, his frown deepening the longer he looks at me. Roy lets out a long sigh, "I'm not treating you like a soldier if that's what you're thinking. I'm telling this as a 'friend' as Mercury puts it, if you want to prove yourself then getting yourself killed won't do you any good."
"I may not have known you long but I know all too well what it's like to prove yourself worthy of a cause."
I gaze down at my feet in shame as they both walk away. "Catherine told me something interesting two days ago," he tells me as he stops in his tracks. "That I'll make them pay for his death. I'm sure that everything that will happen tonight will be fine." As they leave, Al takes my hand so I'd follow him and Riza to the other direction. I glance over my shoulder to stare at Jean one last time as a walking soldier. "For you yes... but not for others..."
+Later+
We eventually found Barry and his nearly dead body at a large white room and a giant door before us. Every second that went by, I knew at some point both men had already encountered and fought Lust, who would eventually leave Roy and Jean to bleed to death and search for us. "Look at this mess... my body has nearly decayed. I guess a body can't survive with someone else's soul inside of it..." I look at Al to see him frozen in place, piecing everything together the longer he stares at Barry and his bloodied body. "You will get your body back Al," I said, catching him off guard. "We're in the same shoes, you and I. But I know for sure that when you get your body back, I'll be back in mine." "What a touching scene," a feminine voice spoke. I tense, refusing to turn as I already know who it was that's behind us.
"Hehe. I was wondering when you were gonna show up, Lusty," Barry mused, not even trying to hide his enthusiasm in his voice. "Number 66... care to explain why you're helping the Colonel?" Lust demands, her cold gaze wondering around the room then straight at me. "The walking Doll... I was wondering when we'd finally meet. Jealousy has told me so much about you and that wonderful friend of yours that's been causing so much problems. You two have very precious information, don't you?" Al immediately steps in front of me in response. "You're such a handful Number 66 and I'm sad to see not only the girl but also Armor boy. You just had to tag along... talk about a setback. It's bad enough to lose one but now you're forcing me to kill two more candidates!"
"Candidate?" Al repeats. "Two more...?" That part confused me. As far as I know, only Al was the second candidate in this building that Lust thought she would have to kill. 'Does that mean Cat and I-' I was interrupted from my thoughts when Barry charges straight at Lust. "That's enough of the casual chit-chat Lust! All I want to hear from you is screaming!" "Barry no!" It was too late to stop him. By the time he even reached a foot of her, Barry gets torn to pieces by her long spear-like nails. "I do hate over-confident men..." Lust lets out an annoyed sigh then turns to face us. "Now then, where were we?" Riza and I simultaneously point our guns at her. "I think I was going to send the Lt. to see her superior. As she was approaching us, I could see from the corner of my eye that Riza was now realizing what Lust had meant earlier of getting rid of one candidate.
"Ms. Hawkeye... you need to stay calm," I told as I switched off the safety from my gun. "Wait a minute... so where you said you already had to kill someone..." Her hands continued to shake as the truth hit her hard like a train. "It can't be, you didn't!" Lust's smirk only confirmed Riza's suspicions and set something off inside of her, her eyes filled with pure rage. "YOU BITCH!" She was the first to start firing, continually shooting at various parts of Lust's body, not even caring for which part her bullet hits. All that mattered to her was that she was hitting her. Aiming didn't matter to her at all. "Riza wait! You have to stop now!" I cry out then start to fire once I see she ran out of bullets. I aims right for her tattoo, hoping that somehow if I hit the most vital part in her body then she'd die quicker. This gave Riza enough time to switch guns and unload until she ran out again.
Al was just utterly speechless as she continues to press the trigger in vain. "Are you done?" Lust asks after I stop and shift my focus to the woman. Riza began to cry, falling to her knees. I reload and start to carefully fire at Lust. "I'm not! Take another step, I dare you!" She seemed amused at my act of bravery, but she and I knew whatever I do is useless. "Such a boring candidate." Aiming her finger at me, I yelp when her finger pierces my gun and nearly reaches my neck. I was forced to let go and take a few steps back. Lust shifts her gaze back to Riza now that I was unarmed, saying, "Such a sad and weak creature, another typical human." I rush to Riza and dropped to my knees, hugging her as I glared at the homunculus. 'What should I do!? Alchemy is definitely out of the question and she knows I have no idea how to control it!'
Just then, Al steps in front of us. "Stand up you two," he told us. "You both need to get out of here." This was all too familiar to me, except this time I'm physically present for it. "Do you want me to kill you first?" Lust muses as she watches Al clap his hands. Her eyes widen when he transmutes a lance into his hands and held it at her. "Oh my... it appears you've opened the portal." It didn't take much effort for her to destroy his lance and stabbed a finger through his head then the other two through his shoulder. "AL!" I cried out. "Such a same... you are a much perfect candidate compared to that one behind you." I watch around Al as Lust's fingers sharpen in her free hand. When they come straight at us, I shift myself to shield Riza from Lust's attack, but Al beat me to it. "Al stop! If you keep this up your body will be destroyed!" I yell once I see them pierce through his arm.
"I don't care! No matter what it takes, I will protect you both!" An annoyed look flashes in Lust's eyes as she watches us. "Alphonse... Alice... Listen, leave me and save yourself," Riza mutters, the will to fight back slowly leaving her eyes.
"No!"
"Run!"
"I won't!
"Go!
"I won't leave you! I'm sick of watching people die! I can't take it anymore! I won't let anyone else get killed, not when I can protect them!"
I kept looking back at the entrance, hoping and waiting for Roy to show up like he should. "If you're waiting for the flame alchemist then it's useless," Lust spoke, mainly to me when she catches my stare. "Jealousy filled me in on certain details and I made sure to hit the most vital parts in his body to keep himself from moving." 'What?' I silently scream as I watch her fingers slice their way out of Al's body and pierce other parts of him. "No..." I mutter when I see them appear on the other side. "Stop..." She draws them back again and sadistically stabs more holes into his body. Out of nowhere, another voice pierces through my mind as it and I scream out simultaneously, "STOP IT!"
-Normal-
++Earlier++
||Apartment||
There was a few knocks from the doorbell as Alice and her grandmother were done setting up the table. "Oh that must be Camilla!" She runs straight for the door. After the old woman leaves to answer the door, Alice's heart starts to painfully throb against her chest. She couldn't breathe, everything was starting to darken around her. Alice drops everything she was holding and collapses to the ground, causing her grandmother and Camilla to rush back in to the dining room when they heard a loud thud. She was motionless. She could still see the two as they started yelling and talking to her, but she couldn't hear what they were saying. Instead, all she heard were gunshots and screams. Her vision soon shifts to her staring at a crying woman then finds herself looking up at the back of an armored person and finds long black spikes coming out of him.
"Al!" a familiar voice cries out. 'Al...' her thoughts repeat the name. As she continues to watch the scene, it all shifts into something else, a sight that she never thought she would see again. Their roles were switch this time.
-Alice (Amestris)-
::Memory::
"Alice!" a boy's voice calls out to her in fear. It came from a suit of armor that was chained and was on top of a very large transmutation circle. It began to glow and he starting screaming in pain - a red glow appearing through the cracks of his armor. I tried to reach out, but another spike appears and pierces my arm. I was being held up in the air from the spikes which were transmuted by Dante from the dance floor below me. I try to say his name but no sound was coming out. All I could do is mouth Al's name as Dante comes into view and a familiar alchemic spark appear from underneath her. One last strike pierced the back of my neck this time. My vision was fading. And all I could see was Al's struggling form and Cat as she blankly stares back at me. I know it's not her fault for everything that's happened.
'I'm sorry Cat... I wish I could take back everything that I said earlier... I hope you're not watching this. None of this is your fault-'
::End of Memory::
"Al...phonse..." was the last thing I said before left my body.
||Third Lab Basement||
++Present++
-Alice-
It felt like something was taking over me. It was me but at the same time it wasn't. Out of nowhere, I found my hands on the ground and found myself making my very first successful transmutation. I had fixed my gun. And I did it without a transmutation circle!
'Do you want him to live?'
'Who are you?'
'I only have little time in this body so you have to choose. Do you want to save him?'
I don't know if I should trust - whatever it is that's inside me. With the way I am now, I have no other choice. Finally, I answer through my thoughts again, 'Yes.' There was something that made me take action. I stood and ran, picking up the gun as I do so. "Alice wait!" I ignore Al and slid to a stop, firing four bullets, two each going straight into Lust's eyes. She was unable to protect them in time and starts screaming in pain. Next was her legs. I counted the seconds to see how fast her healing went and realized they were delayed compared to the single bullets that went through the other parts of her body. 'Wait, how do I know this?' My hands automatically aim for her legs. I fire as much as necessary so that she would be forced to go down. Once I see that she's on her knee's, I dash straight to her and surprised everyone -even myself - when I did a roundhouse kick to her head.
"You homunculus always like to look down on us humans. Now it's time for you to experience how it feels." That wasn't me, I swear to god I have no idea what that came from. Honest! "W-Who are you?" she breathes before multiple bullets go through her neck. "Alice stop! This isn't like you!" I hear Al. To surprise me even more of my strange actions, I actually snapped at him. "How would you know? You don't know anything about me at all! If you really did know me then you'd know that Chronos isn't my real last name!" I fire even more until I myself ran out of bullets. But I kept pulling. I knew that the longer I stand there, Lust will regenerate and kill me where I stand. But it hurts so much... Suddenly, a hand was placed over my shoulder. "That's enough Alice..." I look over my shoulder to see Jealousy- No, Cat? I'm not sure.
If it was Jealousy then her black eyes would be empty like they always were. There was a color that was similar Cat's, except they were a bit darker in shade compared to hers. I could here the voice from earlier say in a much happier tone, 'I got to meet you again... Thank god you're okay.'
-Jealousy-
I catch Alice right before she was about to collapse. I mutter to her as I held her up, "Good job Alice. Let me take it from here." I carry her to Al and Hawkeye, both who were quick to take her from me once she was within arms reach. "You have to keep an eye on her until she wakes up... It's dangerous for someone like you and Alice to leave your fake bodies to leave even if it's just for a quick moment," I told them, my eyes focusing on the sleeping girl. As I straighten up, I glare at a visibly shocked Lust and aim my blade at where her philosopher's stone is located. Her now healed eyes showed a mixture of rage and fear. "Jealousy? What is the meaning of this?" she demands as she regrows her long black fingers. "You were created to aid us in his plan's, not to side with those weak humans." I refuse to answer her. My sword will be the one to do the talking.
I run straight at her and sliced across her torso before she could react, then flip my blade around in my hands and stab her back without looking. "You forget that I was once human to," I said to her in a cold tone. "I was hoping things wouldn't turn out this way as you remind me of someone I once knew, but that disgusting personality of yours is a good reason why I shouldn't compare you to such a compassionate person." "You little brat!" I pull out and move out of the way in time as Lust pierces her own torso so that her fingers could reach me from behind her, but I was faster than that. I cut away at her fingers then proceed to slice her arm clean off. "I knew there was something off about you the moment you first spoke... You knew who we were the moment you opened that damn mouth of yours!" I knew what she was talking about. When I first woke up, I mistook them for the ones I knew from my side and thought they had been resurrected.
That is until I saw a certain little brat lurking in the shadows. I was just about to say one more thing to this Lust until I spot a figure stepping out from the darkness. I smirk down at the homunculus and draw back my blade, "Looks like this is your lucky day, Lust. Seems like death will be delivered not by me, but by the flames of hell." "What are you-" I create a deep hole that should go straight to the sewers and jump down the moment the sound of snapping fingers reaches out ears. Even as I reached the sewage water, I could still hear the screams all the way down here. "Heh... What an ironic way to die at the hands of a man." When I turn to leave, I couldn't help but smile at the familiar snapping sounds. "Good luck Colonel Mustang. You'll definitely become Furher."
::Flashback::
I arrived seconds after Lust leaves to find the bodies of Mustang and Jean on the ground, blood pooling out of them. I immediately spot where the blood was coming from with Jean. Going on one knee, I cut myself and place my hand over the wound. My stone won't do much in terms of fulling healing Jean, but it should be enough to stop the bleeding. "COUGH! COUGH!" I jump at the violent coughing behind my back to see Mustang struggling to breath and had one eye open to look at me. "Just wait a moment Colonel, I'm going to heal Havoc as best as I can then I'll get to you. Judging from the amount of blood, he's the one whose bled out the most." He remains silent and watches as I start healing Havoc, or to a certain extent stop the bleeding at least.
I'm not too familiar with medicinal alchemist and I don't want to use my stone again, not after using it so much earlier. "Who... are you?" I could barely hear Mustang's voice, though it was still loud enough for me to hear. Without looking at him, I only said this before keeping my focus on Havoc, "Let's just say someone that's been asleep for a while... that wants to make up for missing out on so much."
::End of Flashback::
-Camilla-
||Hospital||
"Why is this happening... She was just smiling like always... why?!" I held Alice's grandma as she cries against my chest. After Alice suddenly collapsed and stopped breathing, we brought her straight to the hospital and have been waiting for any news from the doctor ever since. 'It looks like it's time...' I thought sadly as I gaze at the room to her door. I've known for a while about Alice ever since I saw the one with Cat not too long ago. I was hoping I wasn't right, but he did say this would be expected if Cat were to ever reappear on this side, more would come with her from that side now that the gates have been partially opened. Hopefully, he's putting everything into making sure that child doesn't suffer any more than she has from wherever she's from.
He and I know it's impossible to save a mortal person when the Gate wants to maintain the balance between both sides.
-Normal-
Doctors had no idea what's wrong. According to Alice's grandmother, she has been doing fine for a while now and her previous medical records confirms this. There was nothing wrong with her body. She just stopped breathing. They were able to revive her but there were clear signs she was slipping. The doctor who was treating her was the same one who had seeing Cat whenever she needed to come in for her regular check-up and shots. Just one look and he knew that there wasn't much he could do. "Nurse... come with me," he orders as he removed his stethoscope. The nurse on duty was the first to step out of the room, preparing to deliver the bad news to Camilla and Alice's grandmother. The doctor was just about to step out until he felt a breeze on the back of his neck. With a knowing smile concealed underneath his face mask, he locks the door before he steps out and closes it.
On the bed with the IV stopped running, Alice suddenly regains her ability to breath and finds herself staring up at an all too familiar hospital wall. "Hey there Alice," a familiar voice greets her. Alice turns her head and stares up at the blonde person, her eyes still adjusting to the light until a bit of her face becomes un-blurred. She smiles happily at the unexpected visitor. "It's about time you get here! I was starting to think I was the only one here!" Kneeling at her bedside was Jealousy, whose eyes were now a brilliant aquamarine color. The girl chuckles and brushes the child's hair away from her face."Hehe. Sorry but I go by another name now. Two actually. Anyway, I didn't see you sooner because I wanted to make sure I was more in control of my 'self' so nothing would happen when I see you again." "How long have you been here?" Alice asks.
"About a couple hundred years give or take." That answer made Alice's eyes widen before tears start to form upon realizing the truth.
"I'm sorry... I wish I remembered sooner."
"No. I never thought we'd even still get the second chance to live again. Even if we there was a small chance for that to happen, I expected there was a catch in order for the Gate to allow this so I wasn't surprised when you didn't recognize me this morning."
"But how? Why are we here?"
"It's... Fate."
"Fate?"
"Yeah... Fate."
Alice didn't entirely understand but she decided to keep it to herself, wanting to enjoy her time with her long lost friend. "So how is it like having your body again?" the girl asks the child, trying to lighten up the mood. Alice laughs before letting out a dry cough, "It's been fun. I never thought I would miss sleep that much." "Tell me about it... you barely slept when we were little!" Both snicker at the memory while trying to keep their voices down to avoid any outsiders wanting to come inside. Their happy reunion was soon to be cut short. Unwilling to tell her, Jealousy holds onto Alice's hand and gives it a nervous squeeze. "Alice... I need to tell you something about your body," she said, her eyes slowly becoming vacant. The girl looks up at her with curious but knowing eyes and nods, waiting for what Jealousy has to say. With a deep breath, Jealousy forces herself to look back at the little girl.
"According to the Flamel of this world, two similar beings can't exist in the same world. If we were both of mortal flesh, the gate would have to decide who can stay and who must return within the gate. Because I'm no longer human and Catherine is still someone of a mortal being, we experience only certain side effects. The Catherine of this world and I have been switching bodies whenever we're in the same area. Our memories are shared every now and then, and I sometimes take control of her body without her knowledge, but the switching is the most common occurrence between us. Apparently, you and the other Alice are experiencing it to, but in your case it's much more fatal."
Alice remains eerily quiet, making it even harder for Jealousy with what she's about to say.
"The stone somehow keeps me tied to this body and far from the Gate's reach, so that when the switch occurs I can safely return when I regain take it back within me."
Jealousy pauses for a moment, trying her best to force her tears back while Alice continues to watch her carefully with sleepy eyes. "You're still mortal Alice... when you entered the other Alice's body, the Gate sensed you and right now... it's-" She couldn't bring herself to finish. The truth hurt so much each time Jealousy had to repeat it in her own mind. Alice didn't need her to finish. She reaches up and touches the homunculus' cheek, smiling like she always does whenever her friend cries. "I know... I heard it before I woke up. I just want you to know something, something that I wanted to apologize for before and after our last fight after Lucas died." Jealousy could see the life slowly fading from Alice's eyes, her face becoming paler by the second.
Wanting to keep her alive a little bit longer, Jealousy uses her stone to prolong her life as much as possible to allow Alice to finish. "Now of what happened was your fault," she said, struggling to control her breathing. "None of us expected for that train accident to happen. None of us thought we'd be forced into performing human transmutation. Things happen for a reason because of the choices that were made for things to end up that way. Lucas sacrificed himself twice so we could go on living. We didn't exactly live all the way like he wanted but... we're still here." Jealousy wanted to tell Alice he might have ended up dragged to this side with them, but she couldn't bring herself to. Instead, she continues listening.
"I'm sorry for blaming your for everything. I'm sorry for blaming you for the reason why Lucas had to give himself up to the military that night... I was just scared. I wanted things to be the same as they were back then. I-" Alice stops, feeling her consciousness slowly slipping. "Can I ask you something, one last time?" She knew, she could feel that the gate was trying even harder to take her back. Jealousy starts to cry and Alice starts to as well, both knowing their times was coming to an end. She wipes her tears and bitterly smiles down at her friend. "Sure. Anything." "Can I call you by your real name this time?" Both girls were crying together at this point. "Sure Ali... whatever you want." With the last of her strength, Alice mutters the name which Jealousy hasn't heard in a long time.
"Goodbye for now, Catherine Cairo." Alice lets out one final breath, but not before one last tear falls out of the corner of her eye. Jealousy stares down at the now lifeless body. She lets out a bitter chuckle as she stands up, "Look at you, looking all peaceful. And you always wondered why Lucas and Al fought over you so much." By the time the supposed family of Alice entered the room, Jealousy was already outside and watching from a distance as the grandmother rushes to the bed and cries while others look on with similar grief stricken eyes. Camilla looks out the window but fails to see the homunculus in time before she disappears into the night.
-Lucas-
||Outside the Hotel||
Due to Winry's persistence is staying up just to wait for their arrival, I was the one to suggest that we should wait outside, but not too long or either one of us will get sick. I keep hearing her tell herself 'They're alright... they're alright...' numerous times. I try to get her to stop, but then gave up when I realize I was just as worried as her. Suddenly there were footsteps approaching us from the right. Our heads shot up to see a severely damaged Al with Alice being carried with his only arm. "I-I'm sorry... I tried to stop her-" My blood runs cold and I immediately grab Alice, ignoring the fact that my sudden action cause Al's arm to fall off. "Alice! How snap out out of it!" I said while fruitlessly slapping my hand across her wooden face. It hurt like hell each time I did, but I ignore the pain and just kept going at it.
"Stop!" Al grabs my hand from behind. "Jealousy told me she would wake up anytime soon. We just need to keep an eye on her till then."
-Al-
||Hotel Room||
It took me a while to get Lucas to listen and for Winry to get him to retreat to her room so I could keep an eye on Alice. I reach over and held her hand, "Just rest now Alice. You fought really hard today." I wish I could say I that was Alice who fought Lust earlier, but the way she fought was so brutal. I didn't even think Alice was capable of doing such acts of violence without hesitating. "How would you know? You don't know anything about me at all! If you really did know me then you'd know that Chronos isn't my real last name!" That moment flashes in my mind again, the harshness of her voice continues to echo as I continue to think back on it. She's never been one to snap like that, even to Cat. 'It's like what happened to Cat...' I thought to myself, thinking back to the time we first met Scar in person. Cat was prepared to kill Scar without hesitation.
Those two events were too similar to ignore. 'I need to talk about this with brother... I'm sure he'd like to hear about this once he and Cat get back. If my theory is right about this then there's more to it than just three people that came from the other side of the gate.' I continue to watch Alice, patiently waiting for her to wake up. Hopefully she will wake up. "I'm sorry I don't know much about Alice," I said to her despite knowing she can't hear me. "It felt like I did, but I guess there's more to it. Lucas was right in a way... I don't really know much about you, but it's weird that you know more about me than I do."
-Ed-
||Resembool||
++Morning++
"Are you sure you don't want any help, chief?" Breda asks one last time before Armstrong head for the train station. I look down at Cat and adjusted my hold on her. I grin at the two, saying, "Yeah, I can manage on my own." I stared down at her face a bit longer. "I have to make up to Cat for nearly getting us both killed. I should be mad at her for going in my place and endaring her life by using her stone to save me, but then again, I was the one stupid enough to believe Jealousy there's a way to save Cat." She hit all the right buttons that night. I remembered a few details from Cat's book about the Philosopher's Catalyst, most specifically about how the catalyst - once embedded into a living being - can only live up to 18 years. Meaning Cat only has about three or less years to live.
"Edward," Armstrong firmly places his hand over my shoulder. "She will always do anything to protect you just like you've been trying to do for her. That sort of urge of protection can only be felt by two people who share mutual feelings for one another." Breda adds, "If you ask me, I think she didn't even think twice in saving you. I'm sure she'll be happy to see you once she wakes up." As much as I want to believe them, something tells that won't be the only thing she'll be feeling once she does. "Ah young love~" My face turn red at Armstrong's sudden words, even Breda wasn't even expecting it from how far he side stepped from the Major. I didn't say anything except turn my head away. 'We used to deny it so much...' I take a quick glace at Cat's face again. 'SO many kept asking me if we were a couple that it became a habit to say no. I wonder what changed...'
Before learning that Cat and the girl I met were the same person, I despised her so much and she didn't even try to hide that she felt the same way. We bickered over the smallest of things, too often to the point that Al almost gave up and left us alone whenever one of us annoys the other. We barely knew each other and yet the moment we ran into each other a second time, something about her bugged me too much that I wanted her to stay as far from us as possible. And that was by annoying the crap out of her. Which worked the moment I called her the 'reckless girl'. Though instead of driving her away, it back fired and she insulted me a lot harsher than I was with her.
::Flash Back::
"Trying to make enemies before the examination huh...? Well you've got one!" she explode with her eyes filling up with rage. For a second there, I almost thought she was as intimidating as Teacher, if it wasn't for the fact that she was practically the same height as me so she wasn't that intimidating like she thinks she is. We glare at one another and inch a bit closer, both of us ready to go at each other's throats at any given time. Al looks at Cairo then me before he lets out a sigh, mumbling, "So much for that..." I ignore him and continue to stare angrily at her. She was the first to pull back and place me an annoying cocky smile. "Ok Elric here's the deal! If I pass then you have to take back what you said!" she exclaims and points a finger at my face, much to my annoyance. "Deal!" I blindly agree.
We glare at each other for one more moment before I watch her stomp away from me. "Let's go Al!" I ordered after scoffing at her sudden declaration. 'No way I'm going to let someone like her beat me!'
::Present::
Out of nowhere, Armstrong suddenly leans over to whisper something for only me to hear, "Why don't you ask Catherine who her first kiss is when she wakes up...? I'm sure you'll pleased to hear what her answer it..." If I hadn't remembered who I was carrying, I would have dropped Cat from shock. After processing the Major's suggestion, I silently tighten my hold on Cat just glare at him as Armstrong continues laugh and he leaves with a confused Breda running after him. "Sheesh... what was that about?" I mumble as I turn around to head for the Rockbell's. It's been a while since we last called Granny so this is a good time to check up on her, plus I need a proper place to set Cat down. Bring Cat closer to me, I noticed something surprising about her now that I get the chance to hold her like this.
'She's lighter than I expected...' my thoughts realized as my eyes wonder back to her peaceful face. 'She's been asleep for a while now...' My grip on her slightly tightens at the thought. 'Too long actually. She better be fine or else I'll go hunt down Jealousy and make her pay.' Ever since that night, Cat has been sound asleep the entire trip from Xerxes back to Resembol, most likely drained after she saved me from death for the third time in a row. On the bright side, she's actually looking better now compared to how she looked that night. 'Cat has done so much for me while all I ever did was yell at her.' "I'm sick and tired of this bullshit! Every time you find something out before I get the chance to tell you before hand, this happens! This is why I never tell you things until I feel like it's time because I know how badly you always react!" her voice echoes in my head from our time in Dublith.
I know that she didn't want to talk to me about telling to Teacher about her book, but I was so upset that she still kept something from me that I didn't want to hear it. As much as I hate to admit it, she's right. Anything related to her or us always sets me off. 'Us...?' I pause at the thought. 'There's no way that would ever happen. Cat will have to go back home to restore things back to the way they were on her side. I made a promise I'd do whatever it takes to help her get home.' I stop to stare at her face a little longer. "I promise I'll keep you safe. Just... Damn it Cat wake up already..."
-Me-
Warmth. That's the only thing I've felt ever since I passed out. It feels so comfortable that I never want to wake up, and whenever that warmth disappears I feel the urge to reach out to keep it from leaving, but I can't. My body just feels completely drains, even my eyelids felt too heavy to open. However, I know sooner or later I have to regain consciousness - the problem is when exactly will I be able to. "Damn it Cat wake up already..."a voice mutters. 'That voice... I recognize it from somewhere,' I thought, trying to figure out where it belongs to. Another voice spoke to me through my thoughts not long after, 'It's time to wake up now. Ed's been carrying you the whole time since you nearly died trying to bring him back, so the least you could do is wake up to keep him from worrying so much.'
As if something allowed me to regain control of myself, I found myself slowly opening my now lighter eyelids, slightly being blinded by the sudden light of the sun until my vision finally starts to adjust. The voice was muffled at first, it was a bit difficult to figure out who it was thanks to my temporary lack of hearing and sight. I could finally see who it was when the person shifts so that his head was blocking the sun. "Cat..?" It was Ed, looking down at me with a look of disbelief. "Ed...? ED!" Happiness fills up my chest when I see him and I wrap my arms around his neck without thinking, causing Ed to lose balance and make us both fall to the ground. He groans a bit as I lift myself up and sat on him. "Ow... what the he-" I didn't let him finish and slap his cheek, catching him off guard.
"You stupid fucking shrimp! What were you thinking!?" was the first thing that can out of my mouth. My voice was a bit raspy since I obviously hadn't drank anything in a while, but I had to let this off my chest. What happened was- was- "In what way did you think it would be a good idea to follow a homunculus in an unfamiliar, remote area like that? If I hadn't been awake to overhear your conversation, you would have been dead!" "Wha- You were awake!?" Ed yells back after hearing this. "Of course I was awake Ed," I retort, crossing my arms. "I'm not that stupid to sleep while worrying of the chance Jealousy shows up. And she did so you're welcome."
"'Welcome'? Cat, you almost died again! Why should I be grateful for that!?"
"It's because you would have died if I hadn't gone in your place!"
"The same goes for you too!"
"I've fought with her more times than you! If ever, I have more experience and knowledge of the homunculi than you since you guys only faced Greed!"
"That doesn't give you the excuse to go face her by herself and give up your life like that! Yeah you have so much information in that thick head of yours, but you focus too much on that to give a damn about how others would feel! I'm doing what any other person would do despite not knowing what's ahead, and that's protecting you!"
I grit my teeth and bow my head so that my bags would overshadow my eyes. "I thought you got it by now..." I buried my face against his chest and start repeatedly hit him as I cried out, "You could have died! If I didn't have the catalyst inside of my and Jealousy offering me her stone, then you wouldn't be here anymore! Think about Al!" My vision starts to blur from the tears I was trying so hard to hold back. "Winry! Pinako!" I slam my fist one last time but with much more force. "And me!" For that nightmare to suddenly become reality in front of my eyes almost destroyed me. 'You're too important to me to lose...' I didn't even realize I was already crying until I completely laid myself on top after losing the strength to keep myself up and felt my face press against his now damp shirt. Ed doesn't say anything.
I continued, "I don't want to be the reason for your death! You have so much to do not just for our friends but for the whole world! I'm just an outsider who could potentially change everything to the worst possible outcome, and one of them is you dying! Tonight just proved how dangerous I am to be around you!" It was getting harder for me to talk through my tears. "I don't deserve to be protected..." I thought he was going to yell at me when, out of nowhere, I felt him gently petting the back of my head. More tears came and I buried my face closer to him. "Cat." I furiously shake my head, refusing to hear what he has to say. His arms shift so that he was hugging me. "You know nothing can kill me," he lightheartedly jokes. "But I almost did," I contradict him.
"I was scared Ed... I've had that dream so many times of me killing you and to see it actually happen by my own hands... I didn't think I could live with myself, knowing that instead of protecting you from outside forces, I should be protecting you from myself. Your heart was barely beating... you were bleeding so much! I almost had no idea what to do... All I could think was that if you weren't around me none of this would have happened..." When it first came to me in the form of a nightmare, I didn't really think much on it at the time and continued on with my life. But then those two hallucinations occurred. They felt so real that it scared me. 'I can't stay beside him or-' I was interrupted from my thoughts when Ed suddenly bring an arm around my waist and keeps his hand over my head so I wouldn't move.
"I should be saying the same thing to you," he said, his voice slightly shaking. "After seeing you willingly offer yourself to Scar, I realized that you being around me might endanger your life. You can't believe how many times I almost wanted to ask Mustang to end our partnership because of that. But then I figured you're more than capable taking of yourself so I never said anything." Ed suddenly pushes me up so that we were directly looking at one another. This was the first I've ever seen such pain in his eyes in a long time. "You may have been lucky the other times, but there will be a day where your luck will run out. You scared me just as much when I thought you used your stone to bring me back. I actually thought you'd never wake up after pulling a stupid stunt like that." I was at a loss of words.
While I was still trying to figure out what to say, Ed brings his hand up and wipes the remaining tears from my cheeks. "Sheesh... why is it whenever you cry, I'm always the one to witness it?" All I could do is laugh at his random question and get off, helping him out afterwards once I brush the dirt off my pants. I was about to let go, but Ed's gripped only tightens. "Ed?" I raise a brow at his odd behavior. He doesn't say anything. Instead he picks walks past me then proceeds to drag me behind. "Wha- Ed! C'mon quit it! I can walk by myself!" His lack of response just made the fact he's still holding my hand even more embarrassing. I let out a frustrated sigh and matched my pace to his so that we were walking side by side. Usually Ed would be embarrassed to do such things, so why is it only now?
Slightly nervous on how he'd react, I rest my head against his shoulder. I felt him tense a bit then relax.
"Glad to have you're okay, idiot..."
"Same goes for you shorty..."
I knew that not too far away we'd soon pass the graveyard and encounter Hohenheim, but I want to forget everything that will happen in the future and focus on the present. I want to enjoy this fleeting moment of happiness with one another.
To Be Continued
Man it's been ages! Now there's something that I really want you guys to do for me because in the next chapter I'll be responding to whoever reviewed in the next chapter! I was told that I have to respond more often to others to boost the reviews than I have in the past so you guys know I am paying attention to what you say. The problem is... I don't have a chance to read them often thanks to school. XD So! What I'm asking for is for you guys... to tell me who's your favorite OC and what is your one frustration you have with them. I already know what they are but I feel like it's best to ask you guys, you know to see what I can do to improve. Now to the grammar Nazi's out there do not worry! I am trying to find someone I can trust to edit my previous chapter and tell me if I'm missing parts coz I know, there are times when I think the chapter saved properly when I didn't. I feel so ashamed for not reviewing it first before posting! I blame you sleep deprived brain... so R&R as always! And I'll hopefully - just hopefully, see you soon in the next chapter. Oh and happy new year!