I didnt think this would take so long and that it was this long. lol.

Chapter 2

Rebecca sat across from Ed and Al, reading from an alchemy book she found at the last town.

"Brother?" she heard Al ask.

"Hmm?"

"The stories about this priest in Lior, do you think they're true?"

"The one's about his miracles? They say he can transmute a flower out of thin air, right? Could be slight of hand, some cheap trick like that?"

"But...what if they're not?"

"Right...it it's not then I suppose all that leave is the real thing, huh?"

After a few minutes of silence. Ed spoke up. "Al?"

"Yeah?"

"I think I have a good feeling about this one."

"Hmm...me too."

"You're really going to do everything you can to get this Stone?" Rebecca asked, not looking up from her book.

"What, you don't want to do everything to get your arm back?"

She slammed the book shut before looking at them. "I've already came to terms for what I did. I could care less if I got my arm back now or not."

"How can you say that?" Al asked.

"Rebecca looked at them before turning to looking out the window at the passing land, ignoring them.

Sometime later Rebecca was woken from her day dream. She looked up from Ed calling her name. "Hmm?"

"We're here." Ed said, before walking off.

Rebecca stood up and followed them off the train. "Are you alright Rebecca?" Al asked.

"I'm fine. Just remember something," she said, placing a hand on her arm.

"Oh..." Al said before continue on.

"God's children who live upon this land. Pray and faith and thee shall be saved. Those who have lost thy way the Sun God Leto shall shine..." they could hear on a radio above their heads.

"So what are you guys? Like street performers or something?" the shop keeper asked.

Ed started coughing because he had just taking a drink from his glass. "Seriously, do we look like street performers to you."

"Oh yeah. So why I asked."

Ed was getting more irritated. "Let's go Al, Rebecca."

But as Al was getting up, his head hit the ceiling, knocking off the radio.

"Hey! Easy! I didn't mean anything by it," the shop keeper yelled.

"Sorry, accident. We'll fix it" Ed said, scratching the back of his head.

"How's that? It's smashed to hell!"

"Watch and learn gramps."

Al drew a simple alchemic circle around the radio. "We should hurry," Rebecca said as Al fixed the radio. "We'll get there," Ed answered her before she signed.

"There, see? How's that?"

"Amazing! It's a miracle! You've been touched by the Sun God! Just like Father Cornello!"

"Touched by who?" Rebecca and Ed asked, confused.

"It's not a miracle. It's alchemy." Al answered.

"Oh, so you three are alchemist. Right, I've heard of them," said one of the many citizens that had gathered around.

"Then maybe you hear of us! We're the Elric Brothers!" Ed said. The citizens looked at Ed and Al before turning to Rebecca. She waved her hands in front of herself. "Oh, I'm no one important. It's all them," she said with a small laugh.

"Wait... I do know that name."

"The Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric is that right?" "Wow...so you're the young prodigy he tells stories about?" The citizens say as they crowd around Alphonse. Ed didn't notice since his eyes were closed.

"No, um...It's not me!" Al said.

"What?" they turn to Ed. "You mean it's the little guy?"

'Great, here it comes.' Rebecca thought.

"Who's little?! Come up here and say it to my face, I dare you!" Ed exploded.

After everyone calmed down, Ed turned to the shop keeper. "So, what's with this guy on the radio?"

"Th...that's our leader, Father Cornello."

"We were lost, until he came to town and began teaching us all the ways of the Sun God Leto." "He grants eternal life to the souls of the faithful." "He can even resurrect the dead! His miracles are proof that what he says is true!"

"So this guy's claiming he can bring the dead back to life? Now that's something I got to see..."

They later made their way over to the church where people seem to be gathering to see Father Cornello.

They watch as Cornello transmutes a flower into a statue.

"So that's it, huh?" What do you think?"

"There's nothing to think, that's alchemy alright. No doubt about it."

"But he's ignoring "the Law of Equivalent Exchange." He should've only been able to transmute that flower into an object of equal mass," Rebecca said, crossing her arms.

"And he's changing organic matter into inorganic matter. He shouldn't be able to do that...unless."

Rebecca see's a flash of red. "Ed, his ring."

"Bingo."

"Hah...so this is the almighty Leto," Ed says as they approach a young women kneeling at the altar.

She turns to them with a smile. "Welcome, are you interesting in Letoism?"

"Nope, can't say I am. Not really the religious type."

"Well, I'm sorry to hear that...to know God is to know hope...If we believe in divine grace, and through him all things are possible...if you believe, I'm sure Leto would bless you and make you grow taller!" she said very sincerely.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ed said with irritation.

"Easy brother! She's just trying to help!" Al said.

"Yeah Ed. You don't have to flip out every time someone mentions your height."

Ed sighs then as he sits down in the front pew. "What about bringing the dead back to life? Do you believe that's possible?"

"Yes..."

Ed then pulled out a little black book and started naming off all the elements of a human body making the women look confused.

"That list represents the complete chemical makeup of a human body for the average adult. It's been calculated to the last microgram," Rebecca said with close eyes.

"But still there has never been one reported case of successfully creating a human life." Ed continued before leaning forward. "And you're telling me something modern science can't do. You can do with pray?"

"Lift thy voice to God! And the prayer of the faithful shall be answered," she defended.

"Did i mention all those ingredients I read off?" Ed said with a smirk as he leaned back. "Down at the market, a kid could buy everyone of them for the spare change in his pockets. Turns out humans are really cheap."

"No, that's blasphemy! People are...we're all children of God...created in his image!"

"Alchemist are scientist's. We don't believe in gods... We observe the physical laws that govern this world to try to learn the truth." He said.

"It's ironic, really. That through application of science, we have in many ways been given the power to play gods ourselves." Rebecca finished.

"So you're putting yourselves on the same level of god?! That's just sheer arrogance!" She argued, glaring at them.

Ed stood up. "I'm sorry miss...this is difficult for me to ask... But do you think your Father Cornello could save a couple arrogant scientists like us?"

"Of course, that's wonderful! If anyone can lead you to the creator's light he can."

As they entered the new room as they followed the man who was taking them to Father Cornello, he told them that he was a very busy man.

"We understand! We won't take too much of his time!"

"Good... And it's agreed. We'll make this quick," the guy said as he pointed the gun at Al, as the guards blocked Ed and Rebecca.

Brother Crey... What is this? What do you think you're doing?"

"Rose, these heathens have come to ensnare and discredit the Father. They're evil! This is God's will!" Crey said.

"Brother Crey..."

"Well, like you said... Let's make this quick!" Ed elbowed the guard on his left and threw the other over his shoulder. Rebecca followed his example by knocking out the two near her. Al then punched Crey, making him drop the gun he was holding.

One tried to run away, but Rebecca used alchemy to make the ground freeze under his feet, making him slip as Ed threw one of the spears that hit his head, knocking him out, "Strike." Ed exclaimed.

"What's this commotion?" They hear a deep voice asked. They turn in the direction of the voice to see Father Cornello step out of the shadows, "Ah, the Fullmetal Alchemist, and the new Snow Alchemist. Welcome to our home of sacred order."

"I must apologize for my disciple's behavior. It would see they've been misguided."

"Okay, let's say I believe you were the one who guided them. What next?" Ed asked.

"Have you come to learn the way of Leto?"

"Well, there are a few things we're curious about. Like how you've been using second rate alchemy to deceive your followers." Ed asked again.

"My dear boy, I don't know what you mean. What you're doubting I see as alchemy are the miracles of the Sun God Leto," he said as he transmuted a statue in his hands. "Could mere alchemy create something out of nothing in this way?"

"Yeah... That's what I didn't get at first," Ed said, rubbing his head.

"How can you perform transmutations that ignore "the Law of Equivalent Exchange?"?" Rebecca started.

"As I said, because it isn't alchemy!" Cornello corrected, clearly annoyed now.

"Then, I started thinking about it. If you'd somehow managed to acquire a certain object to amplify you're alchemy. One that said to make the impossible possible."

"That explains everything." Rebecca finished.

"What?"

"We're talking about the Philosopher's Stone."

"You're ring."

"That's it isn't it!? I've been looking for that!" Ed started.

"The ring is just a ring. I am God's humble servant it is from him alone that I derive my powers!"

"Still trying to sell that lie?" Ed said, as he walked forward. "If that's the way you wanna play then I guess I have to come up and beat some truth out of yeah."

"My you really are quite the incorrigible heathen aren't you? Rose dear..."

"Yes Father?" She asked timidly.

"That gun there beside you? Pick it up."

"O...Okay."

Rose picked it up before Cornello continued. "Now, child. I want you to shoot the Fullmetal Alchemist."

Rebecca's eyes widen. "He wouldn't?"

"No...I...Father I can't do that?!"

"I am the Sun God Leto chosen emissary. My word is the word of Leto himself. Shoot him Rode. It's God's will." Rose brought the gun up. "Why hesitate? When you lost your fiancée, due to that tragic accident last year, who was it that saved you from the very depth of despair? Have you forgotten?"

The poor women was shaking so much, Rebecca was surprised she could still hold the gun.

"What did I promise you then when I took you're hand and led you into God's light!"

"You said if I pray, you'll bring him back to life, "she yelled, pointing the gun at Al.

"No, wait! It's not me! I'm his..."

Before he could finish, Edward had another one of his moments. "DAMMIT. I'M THE FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST. IT'S NOT HIM. IT'S ME!" Ed screamed, jumping around.

Rebecca sighed, 'Again, what did I get myself into?'

"What?! The short one?! You're kidding!"

Rose then pointed the gun as Ed, "I'm sorry, I have to do this. I don't have any choice."

"But he's been lying to you." Ed shouted.

"And you always have a choice!" Rebecca said, trying to help.

"You're wrong! I've seen his miracles! Father Cornello will bring him back to life. I have faith!"

"Fine, then shoot!" Ed said in defeat.

They all hear a growl which seems to scare Rose who shoots. But she misses and hit Alphonse head instead. She drops the gun, screaming.

"Good. God Leto is pleased. You have done well my child. Now pick up the gun and shoot the other as well."

"Haven't you made her do enough already," Al said, sitting up. Ed was picking up his head.

"You...have...I thought you were."

"Don't worry about it. He is pretty solid," Edward said as he knocked on Al's chest.

"You see?" Al said, showing his insides, "No harm done." Before placing his head back on.

Rose backed up more from them at the site of Al.

"An empty suit of armor, that walks and speaks!? You still doubt it Rose? This unholy thing is an abomination! Evil of this kind must be purged!" Cornello moved back to the wall and pulled something. A door opened and two lion chimera's walked out. "And I believe my chimera's should be opted for this task."

"So this is the sort of thing you do with the Philosopher's Stone?" That's just twisted...anyway...looks like I need a weapon." Ed said. "Rebecca?"

"Already on it Ed," she said as she pulled two curved daggers out from behind her back. As the transmutation circles activated on the hilts, the blades turned blue being covered in ice.

"Whoa!" Edward said.

"I'll show them to you later Ed. We must focus."

"Right."

Rebecca brought up her arms as the chimera heading towards her opened its maw, clamping down on her auto-mail arm. She was lucky it was that arm, or that it wasn't any higher or it would have done some damage.

"Huh! You shredded my pants," She heard Ed said.

"And my jacket is ruined. Do you know how hard it is to get one like this?"

"I guess those claws don't do so well against steel!" Ed kicked his away as Rebecca stabbed hers in the shoulder, making it release her arm.

Ed chimera then bit his arm as well. "You like that kitty? Go on...get a good taste." Ed said kicking the chimera in the chin, knocking it down.

Ed arm could be seen now. "You're arms. A brother trapped in armor! I see now. It's all becoming clear now. You did it, didn't you? The one thing even the most novice alchemist knows is strictly forbidden."

Ed ripped off his jacket of with a flourish, while Rebecca just shrugged hers off, and ripping what was left of her shirts sleeve off.

"Why don't you come down here and try us! I'll show you real quick who the novice is."

"Rose...this is the price of their sins... These fools attempted human transmutation... The greatest taboo for any alchemist! In their arrogance, they tried to bring someone dead back to life!"

"This is what happened when you try to play god, or whatever you want to call it... Take a good look."

"Is this what you want Rose?" Rebecca said.

"So this is the great Fullmetal Alchemist... Not even half a man...! Hell, not even half a boy."

"Father, we just want you to hand over the stone before you get hurt." Al tried to reason.

"Don't be absurd! Why so you can use it for yourselves!? Please... If you fools are really so eager to play god," He turned his staff into a machine gun, "Then perhaps I should send you to him instead!"

Rebecca moved quickly closer to Ed as Cornello fired at them. Ed had transmuted a wall in front of them. He look at her as she placed a hand on her right arm. "I'm fine, just a graze."

Ed nodded and turned back to his conversation with Cornello. "Nah, me and God, we don't get along to well. Even if I went... He'd probably just send be back here."

Rebecca noticed Al carrying Rose away, but so did Cornello, causing him to start shooting at them.

"This way!" Ed yelled as he ran to part of the wall to make a door. As he slammed them opened, he stunned the guards that where waiting out in the hallway before they started running down the hallway.

Rebecca had gone with Al and Rose after they got away. "What do you think of Cornello now Rose! He just opened fire. He didn't care if you're in the way."

"But...that's because... What he said back there was true isn't it?"

"We are not evil. All we wanted was to see our mom's smile again. But our transmutation failed." Al explained. Rebecca looked out over the city as he continued. "What we made...wasn't even human." Rose gasped.

"We've learned our mistake the hard way. People don't come back from the dead. Not ever."

"That's not true! I mean..."

"Alchemy is based on "Law of Equivalent Exchange". The price of even a failed human transmutation was enormous... It cost my brother his left leg... and it cost me my whole body... and part of Rebecca's left arm when she tried to bring back her brother. Do you see it? By brother drew that with his own blood," Al asked as he took off his head.

Rebecca moved closer to take a look.

"His leg had been taken. He was bleeding. I can't imagine the pain he was in... But through all that, he still gave up his right are to transmute my soul, and bonded it to the suit of armor. Now, I just want to help him get his body back to the way it was. He wants to find a way to get me back to normal too. It won't be easy. We might even get killed along the way... But that's the path we chose... All we can do is move on." Al finished as he made a transmutation circle around the bell.

"But, Father Cornello said... he said he could do and he promised me... just because you two and your brother failed, but that doesn't mean... it doesn't mean he will!" Rose said.

"You still believe that?" Rebecca said, glaring at the women. "It can't be done!"

Al finished transmuting the bell then looked up at her. "Rebecca you're hurt."

She looked down to see blood running down her arm. "It's alright, just a graze," she said as she transmuted some ice around the opening, clotting the blood.

"Is that safe?" Al asked.

"Its fine Al. Trust me. I understand how ice works on a human body."

They then hear Ed talking to Father Cornello. And all was revealed to the city.

"There were never any miracles Rose. He lied to you. And he lied to everyone."

That evening

"What about the stone?"

"Phony, just like him." Ed said.

"Oh."

"I'm sorry Al. For a while there I thought we really found a way to bring you're body back."

"You two never seem to catch a break huh?"

"Give me the Philosopher's Stone!"

The three turn to see Rose pointing a gun at them again.

"Rose." Rebecca said.

"Like i was just saying, it's a fake. It wasn't real. Besides, it's shattered now." Ed said.

"Liar! You kept it for yourself, didn't you!? So you can use it on your bodies... That's right! And so you can try to bring back your mother back again!"

"You shut up!" Ed screamed. "People don't come back from the dead Rose. Not ever. Not ever." Ed said mournful.

"And you, what about you?" Rose asked Rebecca.

"I already atoned for my sins. I just want to help Ed and Al."

"But he promised me...he said if I prayed it would happen...a miracle." Rose fell to her knees, dropping the gun. The three started past her. "That hope was all i had left! What am I supposed to believe in now?! Tell me what to do...please...?"

Rebecca and Al kept walking as Ed stopped. "I can't tell you that... You have to figure it out. Stand up and walk. Keep moving forward. You've got two good legs. So get up and use them. You're strong enough to make your own path."

On the train

They sat down, getting ready to head back to East City.

Ed turned to Rebecca. "Can we treat the injury properly now?" He asked.

"Huh? Oh sure."

Ed took a piece of his torn pants and transmuted it into a long strip. "There!" Ed then started to wrap it around her arm. Rebecca could feel her cheeks redden a little.

'Why do I get that reaction around Ed so much?' She thought.

"There you go. You were right, it was just a graze."

"Thank you," she said before yawning, "Oh god, what a long day it was."

"It's a long ride, so get some sleep. I think we all need it after today."

Rebecca turned sideways on the seat facing Ed so her head could rest on the back. Before she knew it, she was asleep.

Ed's P.O.V

Ed closed his eyes for a little while, thinking over what had happened that day, before being woken up by his brother.

"Ed! She's about to fall over."

Sure enough, mostly likely because of the movement of the train, she had started learning more towards Ed. He was able to catch her arms to stop her, but her head landed on his shoulders, still asleep.

Ed could feel a blush form on his cheeks as he looked down at her, and from hearing Al laugh lightly.

"She's a really pretty girl right brother?" Al asked.

"Yeah." Ed admitted softly, as he moved a little to let her sleep more comfortably.