Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. This is Alchemy's first law of equivalent exchange. In those days, we really believed that to be the world's one, and only, truth.

For the Love of Alchemy

Chapter 10:

Two Elrics, Two Tringhams, and a Clark

"But why? He never elaborated," Alphonse asked as he carried a large brick and was following Christina. Christina was jacketless, exposing her Alchemy circles. Around her neck was a choker bearing a medal with the Alchemist symbol on it.

It was the next night after the Elrics met the Tringhams and in Christina's opinion it could have gone worse. Russell and Fletcher explained the problem with the Red Water and quickly they put a plan into play. All the Red Water was hurting people for miles; they needed to cut off the supply. Even if it was a key to a Philosopher's Stone, which Ed tried to elaborate more on but had no chance.

"I'm sorry he didn't, hopefully they won't kill each other while we're here. This Red Water they're researching is a tricky substance." Stopping as she came to the back wall of the house, she had Alphonse drop the brick and backed up. Pulling out a piece of chalk, she drew a basic circle on it and waited. A voice was coming towards them.

"Christina stop them…." Fletcher came running towards her and Alphonse whimpered. Looking around, Christina waited for Edward and Russell to come through the brush, but nothing.

"Fletcher, change in plans, you're with me, and Alphonse use that armor of yours and stop them. Got it?" Christina said as she pushed the brick towards the brush and placed her hand on the circle. A bright light began to shine and the brick melted down and the ground rumbled. Turning to give the thumbs up, she noticed Alphonse was already gone.

Both boys stood on either side of the brick wall. Ed's arm was transmuted and Russell held a metal pole. Their eyes were still in a glare but read the writing on the wall.

'Get along or I'll make you get along!' Ed and Russell now lowered their weapons and went very pale. Ed went to Russell's side of the wall and they just stared at each other.

"Brother! Russell!" Both turned at the sound of the voice to see the large metal suit coming up to them.

"We've got to hurry, Christina's gone in ahead!" Both looked at each other. Alphonse finally came to a halt.

"Knowing her…." Russell whispered under his breath and glared at Ed, he then sprinted away.

"Bastard!" Yelled Ed as it clicked that Russell had run to find Christina.

"Brother why were you two fighting?" An explosion underground shook the whole place and Ed was thrown off balance. An alarm went off and soldiers could be heard giving orders.

"Luck's just never on your side Christina," Said the shadow as it stood over her. She was on her back and looking up, for some reason she couldn't move. The shadow held her own sword to her face and its gray eyes just stared down at her.

"You're that black cat that constantly crosses my path. Can't help that now, can I?" She jerked her ankles hoping to get free but nothing. Turning her head to her left she saw Fletcher beside her on his side, back to her, he was out cold.

"So this is the Cutting Alchemist?" A woman's voice entered and Christina snapped her head up and saw a woman all dressed in black. Her hair was long and her eyes glared at Christina.

"Ohhhh can I eat him….?" A male voice now came from the left and Christina snapped her head to Fletcher. He was a big bold guy, who happened to also be wearing black.

"Get away from him! Touch him and I'll kill you!" Christina lifted her body up but was thrown back down. Her wrists and ankles throbbed and she just glared.

"Burn the place down, the Red Water is contaminated. Take them all down." The lady stepped closer to Christina and glanced at her right arm.

"Gluttony come, disable the Cutter's arm" The fat man, Gluttony, did as he was told and stepped closer to Christina. He whimpered a bit as he got farther from Fletcher.

"See you some other time, miss Alchemist." The shadow said as he threw her sword and walked away with the woman.

Gluttony stood next to her right arm and glanced down, his eyes were dilated and he lifted his arms into the air. His tongue snaked out and licked his lips; he then took a leap, landing with a crunch and an anguishing scream from Christina. He walked off and the smell of smoke entered her nose.

"Fletcher!" Russell jumped down as Edward and Alphonse stepped away to take care of the soldiers. Russell spotted his brother and ran to him.

"Fletcher! Come on! Get up!" Shouted Russell as he lifted his brother and shook him trying to get now lower to the ground to get away from the smoke.

"Fletcher, come on, wake up!" Russell shook his brother again and waited a few seconds before shaking him once more.

"Damn! Chris!!" Russell waved his hand trying to get the smoke out of his face.

"Hey fake, what's taking so long? Things are all clear up here!" Ed's voice came the roof and Russell looked up, slowly he shifted his body and began to lift his brother up and out.

"Take him so I can find Cristina!" Alphonse bent into the whole as Russell handed his brother over. Once his brother was out of his hands he crouched down and tried to focus his eyes. Step by step he pushed through the smoke till he felt something.

"Christina!"