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 14:

Shattered Body Epidemic

'Fullmetal it's the seventh now. By the time you get to Chaono it will be the ninth. There is no Homunculus in Chaono. I just needed you out of the East for right now. Christina will meet up with you on the eleventh. While in town find an old woman by the name of Julie Thomas. She'll give you more information on Christina and the Shattered Body Epidemic.' Ed read the note once again for what seemed like the tenth time this day.

It was now the ninth and Edward found himself wandering about the streets. The town was lively just as it had been four weeks ago. But this time no celebration greeted him. Ed felt out of place, he was surrounded by people who had gone threw so much and they were all happy.

"Edward? Edward Elric?" Ed heard the elderly voice but kept walking. He was in no mood to talk or argue with anyone. He just wanted to go back. He felt a hand on his shoulder.

"Boy hold up! Making an old woman chase after you, were you taught no manners?" She turned him around and smiled. She was your normal granny, he noticed. Wire rimmed glasses and grey white hair. She wore a blue dress and held a bag in her free hand.

"Julie Thomas?" He asked, but his face looked sadden and like he didn't care about the answer she would give.

"Ed cheer up you look like Christina after the accident. Come on I've got some hot tea waiting inside." She said as she turned him around and back three houses. His face just saddened more.

'Do I deserve to know about her past?' Thought Ed as he walked slowly behind her.

"So how is she? I heard you two stopped by during the celebration. Christina does try to make it down for that. It's the one thing that keeps her connected to this town." Ed took a seat at the old oak table while Julie shuffled to the other side to sit with a tray of tea and cakes.

"She's….she could be better. We only stopped for a bit, I'm kind of sorry now that we didn't stay longer. Sorry we left so early." Said Ed as she handed him a cup from the tray she placed down. He took it and stared at the green liquid.

"Oh don't worry, in most cases Christina stays only for a short time. I hope she comes home within the week. It will be good to see her. Hopefully she's grown." Said Julie with a laugh. Ed looked up a little annoyed but then asked a low why.

"Her birthday is the eleventh, the years after Christians accident drover her away from us. It will be good to celebrate with her again. I use to watch her as a baby." Ed's face brightened a bit for finding out that her birthday was close.

"What's the Shattered Body Epidemic?" Asked Ed looking at Julie's sad expression, now he regretted asking the question.

"I'm sorry I shouldn't of asked…"

"No that's alright. You'd think someone in my old age would be over it. But it's hard when you lose everything to it. I lost my husband and two boys to the epidemic. Christina's parents tried so hard to help, but they didn't know enough to save most, they just bought us all more time to be with our loved ones." Julie paused for a bit and Ed took a sip of the tea.

"They were the only ones to try and help. The military refused to help us. So as the epidemic began to grow out of control, both of her parents stared to dabble in alchemy further. But by the time there skills were perfected, Daniel, Christina's father was drafted back into the war. Olivia, Christina's mother, was forced to take care of the children, all the while the two of them suffered in silence. They had both caught it." She stopped again to wipe away a tear.

"What about Christina and Christian? Do they have it?"

"When they were born they showed no signs. That made Olivia and Daniel very happy." Said Julia taking a sip of her own tea.

"What are the signs of it and the cause?" Asked Ed a few minutes after, trying to give her some time.

"The symptoms sometimes were hard to notice. They would come in with broken bones from work. Then like wild fire by the end of the month, all the bones near it would break." Ed listened to Julie's story and noticed a jar behind her. In it were bright blue stones and the label read "SBE."

"Julie what's that jar?" Ed asked as he pointed to the jar. She turned and spotted it and smiled. Turning back she looked happy.

"The jar holds gems from the local mine. The gems are given to us on our birthday as gifts. If someone passes from the Epidemic, we label our own jar for them. That tradition has begun to die out now a days." Said Julie as she stood up and walked to the jar. Ed's mind came up with so many ideas now on what he could do for Christina's birthday.

"But back to the symptoms and Christina. After they noticed other bones in there body breaking, they would come down with a high fever. Common signs of a normal sickness, till the bones in there chest broke. Piercing heart or lung." Julie stopped when she noticed Ed's face go grim.

"Something wrong?"

"Um….No just thinking. How were the Clark's trying to help? Did you watch over Christina and Christian after her parents died?" Ed placed a fake smile on his lips as he asked.

"We'll they helped with Alchemy. They would be able to form there into knitting backthere bones. But sometimes the bodies wouldn't take, and they would be gone to us. No I didn't watch after the two. They refused to go with anyone. Christina took over and watched over Christian by herself." Ed nodded at it all and thought back to his own life after his mother died.