Chapter 29

"No! No! No!" Envy cried out. "I will not be cheated!"

Edward's hand strangled him and with Alphonse busy there was absolutely no one to help him. Edward had no hands to prevent it or fight back. His mechanical hand squeezed until his face started to turn blue.

Envy had reprogrammed it to attack Edward, to home in on the Automail of Edward's arm. Now he had second thoughts. It was a cheap death, and one not befitting the son of Hohenheim!

"I want to be the one who strangles the life out of you!"

Envy leapt high and across a lengthy distance to land next to Edward avoiding the massive stone monster Edward had created. Then he took hold of the mechanical hand and pulled. But it had an iron clad grip and he only seemed to make the servos tighten their hold.

Unsuccessful, he used Alchemy in an attempt to brake its hold. Using Noah's abilities should have had some effect on it, he thought. Unfortunately, he didn't have the skill the Elric brothers did to instantly transmute an object by simply clapping their hands -- no transmutation circle needed. Instead, he carved a circle into the top of the hand with a nail and thought about what he wanted to do.

Suddenly the hand transmutated into its basic components and fell apart.

Edward gasped for breath and coughed. Then he looked wide-eyed at his savior and panicked.

Envy grabbed Edward's neck and started to squeeze. "Your death will me mine and mine alone, Edward Elric!"

Without warning, something grabbed Envy around the waist and hauled him into the air, forcing him to release his hold. The massive stone monster Edward had created then threw him across the crater and into a dirt wall. Envy slammed into the wall and for a moment remained stuck inside the impact hole he made. He wiggled out and dropped to the ground, then growled angry.

He looked over at Edward Elric and watched him roll over onto his stomach as he restored his strength.

Kaoru's plight caught his eyes, and he watched him leap into the air and attack the great stone beast. Kaoru's sword made impact with the creature's right arm as it went to block, but only managed to nick it. A small piece of stone fell from the monster's arm. So, it wasn't infallible after all, Envy thought.

But Kaoru must have figured this out too and attacked the same spot. This time he struck harder and sliced straight through its arm, cutting it clean off. As it dropped to the ground, Envy saw Kaoru turn to him and grin innately with pride. He then looked at Edward. Edward looked aghast. "Your creature isn't so impregnable, Edward. Watch me with my next strike take it down!"

And he did exactly what he proclaimed. Kaoru leapt onto the creature's back and climbed to its head. Then cleanly, he sliced it off. After that, it was only a matter of strategic strikes which destroyed the creature's dexterity and caused it to fall into a pile of rubble.

Disbelief catered Edward's eyes when he saw his creation reduced to chucks of weighted stone. His power over it was now concluded. He never thought Kaoru would beat it.

Unknown to both villains, Den had remained in the background and positioned himself to help if needed. Now was the time, and with Alphonse's guidance, attacked Envy and ramroded him in the back, knocking him over. Then he ran circles around Kaoru. Kaoru swing at him with the sword, but missed every time. Despite Den's age, he was very quick.

"Damn you, mutt! I'll kill you yet!" said Kaoru.

"That's it, Den," said Alphonse, "a little longer."

But bad luck ensued and Den tripped over a stone and rolled across the ground.

Edward's voice hollered panicked over the distance. "Den!"

With his left arm broken and his other hand in pieces, he couldn't call upon Alchemy to help him. But then he remembered what he did back at Winry's place, and removed his boots. Who says Alchemy can only be performed by using your hands, he thought. Then he clapped them together, touched each to the ground and reconstituted his creature.

The creature came together in a magical display of power, and Kaoru couldn't help but stare as it rebuilt itself. Distracted, Den returned to his feet and barreled into Kaoru's stomach. The impact forced Kaoru to release the sword and it went flying through the air straight at Envy.

Surprise and fear struck Envy and he dropped quickly to avoid being hit. And the sword flew passed him and embedded itself into the stone wall behind him.

Den backed off and Kaoru grabbed his stomach and growled angrily, he then looked back at the sword. Without it, he was little match for the new creature Edward had rebuilt. The creature reached down and picked him up with one hand and gripped him tight, lifting him into the air. Unable to move, he shouted, "Envy, help me!"

Each move the creature made shook the earth and the vibrations came to release the sword from the stone. It then fell to the ground and came to rest near Envy.

Seeing it, Envy went for it. But Den was quicker and snatched it in his mouth just before Envy could. Then Den ran to a safe distance. "Blasted dog!" Envy cursed.

But the sword held no true power for him. He had more power using Alchemy in Noah's body than he would wielding the sword. And now that Kaoru was captured, he had the advantage. He folded his arms across his chest and chuckled as he saw Kaoru in the creature's hand. "And why should I? With you dead, I'll have everything."

"You idiot! Without me, neither us can survive!"

"What do you mean?"

"I'm the catalyst that holds us together. You were created by Hohenheim of Light and my desire for revenge. We're one mind and body."

"You're lying!"

Kaoru gritted his teeth but withheld a cry as the creature squeezed tighter.

Envy thought about Kaoru's words. His form was only temporary unless he was able to permanently transmute his essence into Noah's body. Once that happened, he would be human. But until that time, he was still vulnerable. "Okay, so we need each other. . .but things are going to change. For now on, I call the shots!"

Using Noah's blasters, he fired off a large blast of energy at the monster's wrist, and its hand dropped to the ground with Kaoru still held inside. Then he destroyed the creature completely and turned anything recognizable into dust.

Kaoru was unhurt. Suddenly, the hand blasted apart when confronted with an alchemic reaction. He turned the stone into an explosive material, while summarily protecting himself from the blast by engulfing himself within an energy field.

That was new, Envy thought. He had never seen an Alchemist generate a field force around him. But Kaoru must have used wind sheers to make it appear so. By swirling the air around him, he could create an invisible barrier, and by mastering these sheers, force debris away.

However, he didn't come out completely unscathed. Unbeknownst, a piece of debris got through his barrier and his shirt was ripped open in front exposing a blood trail across his chest.

"You're bleeding!" said Envy.

Kaoru looked down and saw the wound. He ripped opened his shirt further and exposed it to the air. Then he touched it and rubbed its crimson through his fingers. It was slippery and soft - he smirked. Trapped in the sword for hundreds of years, he had forgot what it meant to be human. The wound stung, but he controlled the pain.

Envy aimed the blasters at Kaoru, and Kaoru saw his attempt at boldness. "You wouldn't dare."

"You tempt me," Envy said. But then lowered the blasters. "Like you said, we need each other."

"I'm more powerful than you despite what you may think. Even though you can use Alchemy and have those blasters, you're still no match for the power I wield."

"We'll see. Now, where's that miserable dog?"

Envy aimed the blasters at Den, but Kaoru said, "No, don't kill him. We need him."

"We need that dog? Why?"

Kaoru turned to Den, who continued to back away with the sword in his mouth. "Alphonse, did you really think I wouldn't notice you gone?"

"What? You mean that dog is. . ."

"Inside that dog is the indomitable spirit of Alphonse Elric," Kaoru confirmed. "I knew the moment you escaped the mind trap I had placed you in, Al. You have a strong will. But mine is stronger."

"Al! Get away from him!" Edward shouted.

Kaoru clapped his hands and touched the ground. By this, he was able to create a type of dirt tidal wave that scooped Den off his feet and brought him to Kaoru. But Den still kept his mouth clamped down on the sword.

All appeared hopeless, Al thought. If Kaoru got his hands on the sword again, he would be unstoppable. And with Edward near defenseless - there was only so much he could do by performing Alchemy with his feet - he needed a plan.

Then he had an idea. Why didn't I think of this before? According to his father, the sword granted the deepest desire of the person who held it using Alchemy, and by using the power of the all the souls trapped inside, he could get back what he lost.

Deja-Vu. This is just like getting my body back by using the Philosopher Stone. No, that wasn't my fault. Scar killed all those people and trapped them in the stone, then turned me into the stone. I didn't have a choice. I don't have a choice here either. I can't live the rest of my life sharing Den's body. I can't do that to Den. Besides, Dad trapped all those people for a reason - they're evil. Now, it was time for them to give their lives for a better purpose.

After a little reasoning with Den, he asked the dog to release the sword. Den did, and it dropped to the ground. Then Den put a paw on the blade - and the scar on Kaoru's chest began to glow.

Kaoru felt his chest and it began to sear with a hot white intensity. Then something started to emerge using it as a gateway to exit from his body - an arm, then a head, and eventually an entire body. But it had no form, it was pure energy at first. When its conception was complete, it began to transmute and its true identity was revealed.

An energy pulse pushed Kaoru back and threw him to the ground. He looked back and saw Alphonse Elric standing before him. Al looked at his body, though naked, he cared less about modesty at the moment than about getting his body back. Odd, however, Kaoru still kept his.

"Al!"

Alphonse looked back at Edward, and smiled. "I'll explain later." He then turned back to Kaoru.

Kaoru touched his chest and looked at Al in awe. The burning was still there, but the pain started to subside. "This is impossible! How can you have your own body while I -"

"Because I wished it so," said Alphonse. "Our father never told you the true power within the sword. It can grant the one who holds it one wish. And I wished to restore my body, while still keeping yours."

"That would mean -"

"That you're alive again. And human." Alphonse punched a fist inside his other hand. "And it's time for a little payback."

Kaoru put a hand up. "Wait, State Alchemist's don't kill!"

"Family ties are thicker than blood, and throughout all this, all the suffering I watched you cause, I thought about it - but I'm not going to kill you. That's not my way. But that doesn't mean I can't hurt you." Kaoru suddenly chuckled. "What's so funny?"

"Me!" And Envy quickly wrapped an arm around Alphonse's neck and began to chock him. "I'm not a State Alchemist, but I do have your power. Pity that now you have your body back, you're going to die!"

"Al!" Edward shouted.

Al staggered back and struggled against Envy's grip. "Envy, stop this," Al said.

"And why should I? I want you dead too! And once you're gone, I'll go after Edward. Then you can join that bastard you call a father in Hell!"

Despite no arms, Edward rushed Envy and head butted him in the back, forcing him to release Al. The jerk threw Al to the ground. But Envy recovered quickly.

But so did Al, and turned the tables, and jumped Envy. He pinned him to the ground and started punching him in the face. "Careful, Al. That's really Noah inside."

Al suddenly stopped. He had forgotten.

Envy kneed Al in the stomach when he was distracted and kicked him off him. Landing near the sword, Al grabbed it and got to his feet.

"I see a lot of you in me when I was alive," Kaoru said. Al looked at him. "And what you just did to restore your body was a technique from the Alchemic Dark Arts, something Hohenheim banished me in the sword for. You transmuted all those souls in the sword in exchange to get it back without use of the Gate. But that still wouldn't be enough. You must still have the Philosopher Stone inside you, thus by-passed the principal of equivilant exchange."

"So what if I do. You'll never get it!"

Envy backed away and went to stand next to Kaoru.

"I don't need it anymore, you've already given me my wish. I'm human again."

"But what about me?" Envy said.

"Why bother? You have more power inhabiting that body than you ever would in another body. You're a Homunculi possessing a human who can use Alchemy. You're more powerful than you can ever imagine. Now that my body is restored, I'll return and finish what I started: destroy the Great Academy in Central and kill all alchemists. I'll destroy your way of life, Alphonse, until Alchemy is but a distant memory!"

"I won't let you do that!"

"Who's going to stop me? You? Your brother? We're more than a match for you and your crippled brother."

"Appearances can be deceiving, Kaoru," Edward said, as he came to stand next to Alphonse - his Automail hand restored and back attached to his arm.

Al looked at it surprised. "But how?"

"The new trick I learned. I used my feet to perform Alchemy and reconstituted the components in my hand. Unfortunately, it can't detach and crawl around anymore."

"That's a shame, I thought that was funny."

Kaoru crossed his arms across his chest. "How touching the union between brothers. Let's play a game. A life that will determine the fate of the world."

Alphonse jerked his attention back. "I thought we were playing that game already?"

"That was just the warm up. Call it survival of the fittest. All that you went through to get to this point was nothing compared to what is to come."

"I like games, but not for your stakes." Al turned his sword upside down and then stabbed the ground. The ground quaked and a giant fissure opened up between them. Al and Ed was on one side and Kaoru and Envy on the other.

But Kaoru did not look impressed. He went to the fissure's edge and looked down. It looked bottomless. "Nice hole, but it'll do you no good." Clapping his hands, he erected a stone bridge to the other side. "What you can do, I can counteract."

"What's the deal? You no longer need the sword and you're done with Alphonse Elric, can't we kill them now?" said Envy.

"You're right, Envy, why wait any longer? Kill them at your leisure."

Envy grinned balefully. "Finally!"

Using the blasters, he sent a powerful Alchemic blast towards the Elric brothers.

Edward pulled Alphonse out of the way as the blast just narrowly missed him.

"I think it's time we retreat, Alphonse."

"I agree. Besides, it's getting a little cold out here. But I'll do one better." Alphonse clapped his hands and erected a giant stone wall in front of them. It temporarily provided shelter from Envy's energy blasts.

Edward attempted to take off his shirt, but Al had to help him because of his broken arm. "Here, reconstitute the fibers into a pair of shorts. You wouldn't want Winry to see you like that."

"Believe me, you have no idea."

"What do you mean by that?"

"Winry's already seen me. I was changing after taking a bath. I thought I was alone. I was totally naked. She saw me from head to toe. Nothing came of it. All totally innocent. Honest!"

Edward smiled. "You're grown now, Alphonse. How you live your life is none of my concern. You're a State Alchemist. I'm proud of you, I just wanted to tell you that."

"Thanks brother," Alphonse said, smiled, and then transmuted Edward's shirt into a pair of shorts. He slipped them on. "I still feel underdressed for battle."

"It'll have to do."

Suddenly, an energy blast came crashing through the wall and zipped over their heads.

Edward looked back at the debris left over from his stone giant and said, "I have an idea. We need help."

"And where do get this help? We're alone out here."

Al looked where Edward was looking and had the same thought and grinned. "Gotcha, brother."

"Come out, come out, where ever you are!" Envy taunted, and shot another blast at the stone wall. After a few more, he brought it down completely and it crumbled. But the Elric brothers were not there. But there was another wall just behind it - a bigger and lengthier one.

Edward and Al stepped out from behind it. "There you are," Envy said, and sent several more blasts towards them.

The brothers ran out of the path of the blasts as they slammed against the wall. The blasts destroyed it and it came crumbling to the ground.

Envy gasped at what stood behind it. "Oh no," he muttered.

And Kaoru's mouth went agape as he saw it too.

One hundred faceless stone warriors stood ready for battle with swords. Half looked like Al and other Ed. Dimutive in stature than the giant monster earlier, but greater in number.

Al smirked smartly. "You want a fight, Kaoru. You got it!"

To be continued...