The sun beat down over the desert, causing heat waves to shimmer over the endless array of sand. Two lone figures made their way across the desert, both stumbling as they sunk into the many patches of soft sand. One carried a briefcase while the other had a sword strapped to her back. Edward Elric and Raven Dain continued to stumble through the desert without speaking until Ed stopped and hunched over.
"I hate deserts. It's nothing but sand." said Ed before falling face first into the sand, his briefcase lying next to him. "If there was some grass I could turn it into bread."
"Quit your whining or we'll never reach Lior." said Raven as she pushed her bangs out of her eyes and looked up at the sand. "It looks to be about midday."
Ed groaned and got to his knees before looking around.
"Hey, Al, where'd ya go? Al! Uh? Hey!" shouted Ed as he continued to look around.
"Down here." said a voice as a hand reached out of the ground and grabbed Ed's leg, causing him to jump. "I sunk again."
"Grrr… Make that number two I hate the desert." growled Ed as he glared at Al's hand.
"Come on, let's get him out." said Raven as she walked over and grabbed Al's hand. "A little help would be nice."
With their combined effort, they managed to pull Al out of the sand, little granules falling out between the plates of his armor. After they got him out, Raven and Ed sat down, sweat pouring down their faces.
"I don't understand why you keep falling in!" shouted Ed in frustration.
"I get full." said Al.
"Full of what?" shouted Ed as he got to his feet and kicked Al's chest plate.
With a whoosh Al's chest plate fell off and the sand still stuck inside Al buried Ed. Raven and Al began to snicker and Al edged away before Ed stood up, sending sand everywhere.
"Argh! Get back here!" shouted Ed as he started to chase Al around in a circle.
"What're you going to do?" asked Al, Ed close behind him.
"Nothing!"
"Then why are you chasing me?"
"Stop and you'll find out!"
"I promise! I won't get buried again!"
"Not unless by me!"
"Ed!"
"Argh!"
Ed tripped over Raven's outstretched foot and landed face first. Al stopped and turned around as Ed pulled his head out of the pile of sand. He glared at Raven who was wiping off Al's chest plate with her coat as sand fell out of his hair.
"Get up." said Raven as she checked her reflection in the piece of armor before handing it back to Al. "I don't care how tired you are."
"Shut up." moaned Ed as he dropped his head back into the sand.
Several hours later they entered Lior, Ed shuffling in the rear. He looked extremely grumpy and Al turned to look at him.
"You okay, brother?"
"It's your fault for not stopping when I said." said Ed.
"You wouldn't stop either if someone were chasing you. Besides, Raven was the one who tripped you." said Al.
"Shut up. I'm too tired to fight." said Ed.
"For a desert town, these people seem pretty well off." said Raven as she looked around.
Suddenly Ed got a weird look on his face and he ran forward a few steps.
"Water, I can almost hear it. Hmm? Wait a second, I can hear it! Al! Raven! Look!" shouted Ed as he spotted the big fountain in the middle of the town square.
Suddenly he dropped his briefcase and threw his arms in the air before running towards the fountain, laughing.
"Ed, wait." said Al as Raven picked up the briefcase and handed it to him.
"Come on." said Raven as she calmly walked after the water-hungry Ed.
"Water, water, water, water, water, water, water! Ahh!" suddenly Ed stopped and looked down at the wine-filled pool. "Guess this explains the nasty stench in the air."
He had a disappointed look on his face as Al and Raven caught up with him.
"What's wrong? Hmm?" asked Al as Ed unhooked a cup from the side of the fountain and scooped some of the wine into it. "Is it blood?"
"Nope. More like blood-red wine." said Ed with an annoyed look on his face as Raven scooped some into her own cup.
"Ever seen a fountain stocked with free wine before?" asked Raven as she swirled it around in her cup.
"Hey! Get away from there!" shouted a man wearing an apron as he grabbed Ed by the back of his jacket and lifted him off the ground. "You know that's off limits to kids!"
"Hands off!" shouted Ed as he tried to free himself from the man.
Raven dumped her wine back into the fountain before walking up to the man holding Ed. He promptly dropped Ed, who landed on his butt, the wine spilling over the ground.
"No wine for you kids." said the man as Ed jumped to his feet and turned around.
"Excuse me, but you wouldn't happen to know where we can find some water?" asked Raven as she grabbed Ed before he could attack the man.
"Over at my shop of course. You guys don't look familiar. Are you from out of town?" asked the man.
"Actually, we are." said Al.
Raven dragged Ed over to the man's shop and dumped him into a chair as the man poured them drinks, laughing. She sat in the chair to Ed's left while Al sat on his right.
"You're out-of-towners, that explains it!" laughed the shopkeeper as he wiped down a clean glass. "You'll have to forgive me. I thought you were trying to sneak a little nip."
Raven and Ed sipped their drinks through straws as Al sat and watched. Ed was hunched low over the bar while Raven had picked hers up and drank it while watching the square.
"Fountains stocked with free wine? That's pretty ritzy. This town must be loaded." said Ed, taking a break from his drink.
"Yeah, we do all right here. Oh, I almost forgot. Time for a little soul food." said the shopkeeper as he switched on a radio.
The soft music played over the square as every folded their hands and began to play. Ed and Al turned to face the square to find that it was now deserted. After about a minute of music a voice came over the radio.
"Children of god who live upon this land, pray in faith that ye may be saved." said the voice on the radio as Ed and Raven looked at each other. "As the sun lights the day, so does the sun god Leto illuminate thy path, and drown out thy suffering."
The radio continued to play in the background as Ed said, "Well that's freakish."
Raven nodded as the shopkeeper gave them both a look of annoyance.
"Some kind of religious broadcast." said Al.
"One of your buddies' in a suit of armor, the other has a huge sword strapped to her back and you're wearing gloves in the desert and you call us freaks?" asked the shopkeeper as he put his hands on his hips, but Ed merely continued to sip his drink. "What's your deal anyway? You street performers?"
Ed and Raven spit their drinks back out and Ed looked up at the shopkeeper, a vein in his temple twitching.
"I don't think so, pops! Do I look like a clown to you?" asked Ed as the vein continued to twitch.
"Well you must have some reason to journey out this far." said the shopkeeper and Raven looked at Ed who was now oddly relaxed.
"We're just trying to track something down, that's all. Now who is this guy on your airwaves?" asked Ed as he looked around the square again.
"Why that's Sir Cornello." said the shopkeeper.
"Hmm… doesn't ring a bell." said Ed.
"You're kidding me! You've never heard of the great prophet Cornello?" asked the shopkeeper in disbelief.
"What's great about him?" asked Raven and several men gathered carrying glasses of beer.
"He can perform miracles for one thing. I've never seen anything like it." said a man as he leaned close to the bar.
"This town was a god-forsaken dust bowl before Cornello got here and transformed it into a desert paradise." said a second man.
"Cornello can even forgive sins." said a third.
"Yeah, we're on the sun god's good side thanks to him. He gives us blessings." said a fourth.
"Ugh!" said Raven as the men started crowding her in their attempt to tell her Cornello's greatness. "I just remembered we have to be somewhere. You guys ready to split?"
"Yeah, okay." said Al as he nodded and went to stand up, but hit his head on the ceiling, knocking over the radio.
It fell to the ground with a crash, Cornello's readings silenced. Al froze before looking at the shopkeeper, Raven and Ed looking at the broken radio.
"Oops." said Al.
"Now you've done it buddy! What'd you expect wearing a stupid tin suit?" asked the shopkeeper, mourning over his broken radio.
"Don't bust a lung grandpa, we can fix it." said Ed as he held his hand up.
"It's in a thousand pieces!" shouted the shopkeeper.
"I'm sorry." said Al as he bowed and turned around. "Let me try."
"Sure." said Raven and Al pulled out a piece of chalk.
As Al drew a transmutation circle around the radio, the shopkeeper turned to a smiling Ed.
"What's the drawing for?" asked the shopkeeper.
"You'll see in a second." said Ed as Al stood up. "It's called a transmutation circle."
Al put the chalk away before walking back to examine his work.
"Okay, here goes." said Al as he put his hand over the transmutation circle.
In a flash of blue light a cloud of dust appeared, causing the crowd to go, "Whoa!"
As the dust began to clear the radio could be heard, continuing its sermon.
"If you are lost, follow me and you will be found." said the radio as the crowd cheered. "If you are scared take refuge in me…"
"It's really a land of prophets." said the shopkeeper as he leaned over the bar. "You buddy can work miracles like Cornello."
"It's nothing like that." said Raven as Al picked up the radio.
"It's science. We're alchemists." said Al as he placed the radio on the counter.
"We're the Elric brothers. Not to brag or anything, but we're pretty well known." said Ed as he smirked. "And she's just a tag along."
Raven snarled as Ed jerked his thumb in her direction.
"I'll remember that the next time you need saving oh popular one." said Raven as she crossed her arms.
"Elrics… not familiar." said one of the men from before.
"We don't know any alchemists around these parts." said another.
"I fix things for a living, though. Let me know if you need a job." said a third as he put his hands behind his head.
Suddenly, a woman with black hair and striking good features spoke up from her secluded corner of the bar. She appeared to be wearing black underneath her plain brown traveling cloak.
"He doesn't need any work. That's Edward Elric the Fullmetal Alchemist. He's been a celebrity around East City. They say he's a real child prodigy." said the woman as she looked at Ed with interested eyes and Ed laughed. "And she's Raven Dain, the Crimson Blade Alchemist, who is rumored to be another child prodigy."
Suddenly everyone gathered around Al and Raven, trying to get a better look at them.
"Wow, real live famous people." said a man who was gathered around Al.
"I get why you got the name Fullmetal. It's cause you wear that suit of armor." said another as he waved his hand in front of Al. "And you got it because of that huge sword strapped on your back."
"Hey, would you guys come to my daughter's birthday party?" asked a third.
Al finally was able to speak over the crowd and put up his hands.
"I'm not the Fullmetal Alchemist. He is." said Al as he pointed at Ed.
Suddenly the crowd turned to Ed who was sitting there looking annoyed.
"You mean that little shorty there?" asked a man as he pointed at Ed.
Ed immediately flared and grabbed that man and another man by their shirts and began whirling them around.
"Shorty? Can a shorty do this? What else you wanna call me? A half-pint bean sprout midget? I'm still growing you back-water desert idiots!" shouted Ed without stopping.
The shopkeeper watched with a smile on his face when someone else came along.
"I see there's plenty of excitement here today." said a pretty girl in a simple white dress who was carrying a bag.
Her hair style was somewhat like Raven's, the base color being black and the bangs being a pinkish color. She smiled sweetly and watched with amusement.
"Ah, Rose." said the shopkeeper."
Rose giggled and Ed stopped, Al trying to convince him to stop.
"Don't mind me. "It'd hate to spoil all the fun." said Rose.
"That's okay. My name is Alphonse Elric. Nice to meet you." said Al as he straightened and bowed.
"I'm Edward, Al's older brother." said Ed as he dropped the men and jerked his thumb at himself. "Also known as the Fullmetal Alchemist."
"And I'm Raven Dain, the Crimson Blade Alchemist." said Raven as she put her hands in her pockets.
"Older brother? But shouldn't it be the other way around?" asked Rose and the villagers laughed at Ed who looked like he'd very much like to explode on Rose, but didn't dare.
"Easy Edward…" said Al as he tried to calm Ed down.
"Hey Rose, have you finished your shopping for today's offering?" asked the shopkeeper after he finished laughing at Ed.
"Yeah." said Rose.
"Well then, maybe you could take them to the temple with ya. They say they're lookin' for somethin'. I bet Father Cornello could help out. You know, have them ask for god's grace." said the shopkeeper.
"Uh, that's okay. We don't really…" said Al as he waved his hands but Rose cut him off.
"It's alright if you don't have an offering today. And besides, he has rooms for travelers. You could stay there tonight." said Rose.
"Thanks, but, uh…" said Al, but this time Ed cut him off.
"As a matter of fact we'd love to take you up on that. Wouldn't we Al? Raven?" asked Ed as he looked at Al and Raven, a smile on his face.
"We would. You mean you want to?" asked Al as he looked at Ed surprised.
"It's okay with me." said Raven.
"Uh-huh." said Ed and Rose smiled even bigger.
They started to walk away and the crowd continued to watch them.
"It sure is nice to see a smile on Rose's face." said one of the men.
"Yeah, she's beginning to act like her old self again. Her heart must be healing at last." said the shopkeeper.
The mysterious woman stood up, gathering her cloak around her, and walked off without a word.
Rose led the way to the church as Al, Raven, and Ed hung back. Ed leaned towards Al before whispering, "Hey Al, remember that woman at the shop? She knew me, have we met before?"
"No, I don't think so." said Al.
"You shouldn't worry." said Rose as she looked over her shoulder to see them.
Ed looked up at her in surprise.
"I'm sure Cornello will help you find what you're looking for. And besides, if you show him you're faithful I bet he could make you taller!" said Rose before laughing and running off.
"What's wrong with you people?" shouted Ed as he gave chase, waving his arm. "I'm not short! You come from a desert tribe of giants or something?"
"Edward please!" shouted Al.
"You want some too?" asked Ed.
Inside a well lit room an aging man sat behind a desk reading out of what appeared to be a prayer book.
"Serve in true faith that all thy prayers may be answered. As a man opens blinds to let the light flood in, so open thy heart that the sun god may shine on you." said the man before flicking a switch on his desk and several men walked forward bearing glasses of water and such.
"Choice words as always, your holiness." said the dark haired priest who was holding the glass of water.
"Yes, Father. We'd be lost without you." said the second priest as the man behind the desk closed the prayer book.
There was a knock on the door and it opened to reveal Rose.
"Father Cornello?"
"Ah! Rose" said the man behind the desk and Rose walked up to the desk.
"Pardon me, Cray." said Rose to the dark haired priest as Cornello stood up. "May I put some travelers in the Pilgrim's Quarters?"
Cornello gave a pleasant laugh before saying, "You really delight in helping others solve their troubles, don't you?"
"Well, that's what you teach us Father Cornello, so that's what I do." said Rose before looking down. "Or try to…"
Cornello walked over to Rose and put his hands on her shoulders.
"And god sees those good deeds and writes them all down in stone. But you must be patient Rose. We need a little more time to grant the miracle you seek." said Cornello as he smiled down at her.
Rose looked down disappointed before saying, "Yes."
From their viewpoint in their room, Ed and Raven watched as Rose stood in front of a grave.
"I spoke to Rose." said Al as he walked into the room. "That grave belongs to her boyfriend. He was all she had."
Ed and Raven looked at Al who sounded sad.
"Her parents died when she was a little girl. She's convinced that Cornello can bring him back to life." said Al.
"And he's leading her on, letting her believe he can do it." said Ed as he looked back outside.
"Well, maybe he can." said Al and Ed whipped his head around in surprise. "What if Cornello really is a holy man? Those scriptures… maybe there's something else out there. Something we can't explain."
Ed looked back outside angrily, Raven watching him with sad eyes.
"Don't count on it."
Cornello and Cray had joined Rose, who had not moved from her spot.
The crowd cheered as Cornello raised a glass of water into the air and in a flash of red light from the stone in the ring he was wearing, turned it into wine. Then he had a large log brought on stage and with another flash from the stone on his left hand, turned it into a statue. He raised the hand with the ring on it to the crowd who cheered even louder. Towards the back of the crowd Ed, Raven, and Al watched the proceedings with interest.
"What do ya think?" asked Ed.
"Well, it's pretty obvious. He's using alchemy." said Al.
"Yeah, but still, something's wrong. It's not equal…" said Ed as Rose walked up.
"Hey guys! How are you liking your first miracle gathering? He's amazing, isn't he?" asked Rose as looked at Cornello.
Ed rested his chin in his hand before crossing his arms in front of his chest.
"He's an amazing actor, I'll give him that. But those aren't miracles. He's swindling you." said Ed.
Rose turned around angrily as Al turned to Ed.
"But Ed, we don't know that. We just know he's using alchemy and he's ignoring the laws." said Al, trying to be fair.
"What laws?" asked Rose.
Raven jumped off the step and walked a little past Rose.
"This isn't witchcraft, it's a science and you don't make things out of thin air. In chemistry a reaction has to be balanced. So does alchemy." said Raven as she turned around.
"It's an equation, Rose." said Al as Rose sighed. "You output has to be of equal mass to the materials you started with. The base elements have to be similar, too. Like the radio I fixed, I couldn't make it bigger or a tree or something."
"It's our founding principle." said Ed as he went to stand over by Raven. "To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. But that holy bastard is totally disregarding the law."
"Because he's working miracles!" shouted Rose angrily.
In front of the crowd, a little girl holds a dead bird out to Cornello. He puts his hands over it and the stone glows again before he removes them. The bird's eyes snap open and it flies out of the girl's hands before circling over Cornello's head. Meanwhile, Ed smiles as he watches this, as though it confirms something.
"What do you say now, Ed? I'll bet you can't do that with alchemy." said Rose before looking down with a doubtful look on her face. "It's a true miracle. It has to be.
"Edward Elric and Raven Dain?" asked Cray as both men conversed in Cornello's office.
"Yes, Cray. Word has it that Edward Elric was certified as a State Alchemist when he was only twelve years old. Raven Dain was certified a year after at the age of thirteen. They are known as the Fullmetal and Crimson Blade Alchemists." said Cornello from his position from behind his desk.
"You're sure it's them, Father?" asked Cray, sounding hesitant.
"I'm afraid so. The military they represent must have witnessed our paradise and wish to intervene. They are greedy, evil souls. We must save my children from them, understand?" asked Cornello as he looked up at Cray.
"I will carry out the will of god." said Cray as he bowed his head.
"Your heavenly reward will be great my dear Cray." said Cornello and Cray left.
As soon as Cray left, a woman spoke up from out of the shadows. It was the same woman from the bar, but she had discarded her traveling cloak. On her chest there was a red tattoo of a snake eating its own tail and a transmutation circle.
"The boy's presence troubles me, and the girl's even more. I don't like it." said the woman impatiently.
Cornello stood up and faced her before saying, "Don't you worry. Even if Cray should fail, there is one other way."
Rose silently wiped down the altar at the head of the church, a large statue looking down at her. Ed and Raven watched from their position in the front row.
"So, if you pray and polish the enough times, someone who's dead will be brought back to life?" asked Ed.
Rose straightened and smiled before turning around, saying, "Something like that."
Ed closed his eyes and sighed before pulling a battered looking book out of his jacket, many colored tabs sticking out of it. Raven didn't say a word as Ed flipped it open to a certain page and started to read.
"Water: 35 liters, carbon: 20 kilograms, ammonia: 4 liters, lime: 1.5 kilograms, phosphorus: 800 grams, salt: 250 grams, saltpeter: 100 grams, sulfur: 80 grams, fluorine: 7.5 grams, iron: 5, silicone: 3 grams, and trace amounts of fifteen other elements." said Ed as Raven closed her eyes and crossed her arms.
"What's that?" asked Rose.
Ed looked down from the book before saying, "It's all the ingredients of the average adult human body, down to the last specks of protein in your eyelashes."
He closed the book with a snap and put it back into his jacket before continuing.
"And even though science has given us the entire physical breakdown, there's never been a successful attempt in bringing a human to life." said Ed as he leaned forward, Raven still remaining silent. "There's still something missing, something scientists haven't been able to find is centuries of research."
"Ed." hissed Raven, but Ed didn't seem to hear her as he looked up at Rose.
"So what makes you think that hack-job priest with his parlor tricks is going to be able to?" asked Ed and Rose started to appear angry. "And in case you're wondering, all those ingredients can be bought on a child's allowance. Humans can be built on the cheap, there's no magic to it."
Rose now looked really angry as she shouted, "Well if there's no magic to it, then you bring someone back to life!"
"Just a matter of time Rose. Science will find a way. Science is the answer to everything." said Ed as he stood up and started to walk towards Rose. "If I were you I'd drop the scriptures and pick up an alchemy book. We're the closest things to gods there are."
Ed looked up at the large statue as Rose calmly said, "You're not a god. You're nothing close to it."
"And neither is the sun. It's just a mass of hydrogen. Get close to it like Cornello claims and all you'll do is burn up." said Ed and Rose looked at the ground, shaken.
Meanwhile, Al was watching the entire thing through a side door.
"Great Ed, push your total cynicism on someone else." said Al and a gun cocked behind his head.
"Don't worry Elric, your brother will join you soon." said Cray as he pointed the gun at Al, who was standing up.
Cray fired, causing Ed and Rose to gasp and Raven to jump to her feet, hand on her sword. Al's helmet went flying into the wall and bounced onto the floor with a clang. The rest of his body fell through the door as Cray walked out, gun still in hand.
Rose gasped again before folding her hands and asking, "Cray, what are you doing?"
"These three are enemies of god!" said Cray as he walked forward and pointed his gun at Ed, Rose backing away. "This is his will Rose, not mine!"
Ed and Raven remained motionless, a bit of a smile playing on Ed's face. Suddenly, Al spoke.
"I don't think so mister." said Al and Cray turned around looking scared.
Cray pointed the gun at the headless Al as Ed grabbed Al's helmet and threw it at Cray, knocking him unconscious. Raven ran up to the altar and stood behind Ed, her eyes narrowed at the fallen Cray.
"I got it! I got it!" shouted Al as he caught his helmet, Cray slumping to the ground.
"Strike!" shouted Ed, looking proud of himself.
Rose screamed and put her hands over her mouth before saying, "He doesn't have a head!"
"Yeah, that's Al." said Raven as Al turned to Rose and bent forward, to show her he was empty.
"Please don't be scared Rose. This is how I am." said Al.
"But you're not there." said Rose as Al put his helmet on.
"It's true I don't have a body, but I'm here." said Al as he straightened his helmet. "This is my punishment for setting foot on holy ground, where mortals are forbidden."
Ed looked sad as Al continued, Raven looking at Rose.
"We made a mistake Rose, and we're paying for it."
Rose started to back away and screamed before turning and running off.
"Rose, wait!" shouted Ed, but Rose ignored him.
"Cray was right! They are evil! What have I done? They made me doubt you, Cornello. Forgive me, please!" thought Rose as she ran down a large set of stairs, fear written all over her face.
Ed, Raven, and Al followed her down to the basement level, where they found a deserted room.
"I can't see a church social down here, can you?" asked Ed and suddenly a set of lights came on to reveal Rose standing on a raised platform on the other side of the room.
"There she is." said Raven.
Cornello slowly walked over to Rose, the green bird still perched on his shoulder.
"You wrestled with the darkness and prevailed, Rose. Thank you for bringing them here." said Cornello as he stopped beside Rose and turned to face the others. "State Alchemists, brutal enforcers. I had a feeling one of you would turn up one day."
"Let's not chop that up into pious premonitions, okay? You knew we'd come for the stone!" shouted Ed.
"Ah, you mean this young man?" asked Cornello as he raised his left hand, showing the ring and the stone set into it.
"I knew it." said Raven, a grin on her face. "Alchemy without a transmutation circle, completely ignoring the Principle of Equivalent Exchange. It could only mean one thing."
"Yes, the mythical gem, the legendary amplifier, the Philosopher's Stone!" shouted Cornello.
Ed started to grin as well, an evil look spreading over his face.
"That's it, it's ours." said Ed before holding out his hand and gesturing for the stone. "Cough it up Cornello. That stone belongs to us now. And if you hand it over peacefully I won't tell the people here what you've been doing."
"What's that? Restoring their town to peace and prosperity? Do you know what would happen if my miraculous wonders suddenly stopped? Nobody wants that." said Cornello and Ed stopped smiling. "Do they Rose?"
"Don't listen to him Rose! He's just a conman!" shouted Ed as Rose continued to look down at the floor.
"Nonsense! Would a conman restore life to a dying town? When I arrived this town was full of strife and I brought peace. They came to me with parched throats and I created water. I build buildings for them and even gave them money. They had believed that heaven had forsaken them, but I gave them hope and became their prophet! Why does the military want to destroy all this?" asked Cornello, his sickly smile still plastered on his face.
"We don't care what the military wants! We're here for us!" shouted Raven, wiping the smile off Cornello's face.
"What?"
"I need that stone! We need that stone and they need it to set something right again!" shouted Raven angrily.
"So that's it!" shouted Rose angrily as she leaned over the balcony. "This is all about you and what you want! What about us? You don't care!"
"Rose, we're only trying to-" started Al, but Ed cut him off by throwing his arm in front of him.
"It's no use!" said Ed and Rose started to cry.
"Enough! There is no point in arguing." said Cornello as he raised his left hand. "If you want the Philosopher's Stone you'll have to come and take it from me!"
The stone began to glow red and the ground beneath Al and Ed's feet became a huge mound of sand. Ed managed to jump aside, but Al was washed away.
"Al!" shouted Ed as Al began to disappear beneath the sand.
"Ed!" shouted Al just as he disappeared.
"Hold on!" shouted Raven who was buried up to her ankles in the fine sand and Cornello laughed.
"Armor is at a disadvantage is soft sand. You can't draw transmutation circles in it either." said Cornello as Ed and Raven growled at him.
Cornello reached behind his back and pressed a hidden panel, causing two doors to open somewhere.
"Let me introduce you to two of my creations. You two off all people will appreciate this. Chimeras." said Cornello as two chimeras walked out of their cages.
The one closest to Ed had the head and front body of a lion, but the back and tail of a lizard. Raven freed herself as a snake chimera approached, eagle wings sprouting out of its back and what appeared to be the bird's talons.
"You combined animals, the most depraved kind of alchemy there is." said Ed as he looked at the lion chimera.
"Maybe so, but most effective!" shouted Cornello as the chimeras roared and charged.
Ed smiled and looked away from his chimera as the lion chimera continued to run at him.
"All right big fella. You wanna play? Let's go for it!" shouted Ed as he clapped his hands together, and in a flash of blue light, transmuted a spear out of the ground.
Meanwhile Raven had drawn her sword and was busy fending off the fangs of the snake. It beat its wings, sending clouds of sand at her, trying to cloud her vision and lashed out with fangs and tail. In a flash, Raven darted forward and managed to slice off one of its wings. Edward on the other hand had different problems.
"How… how did you do that without a transmutation circle?" asked Cornello as Ed watched the chimera approach.
He lifted his spear and caught the lion chimera in the chest, sending it flying. It landed with a thump in front of Cornello who now looked extremely pissed.
"Argh! Bring me back his head my pet!" shouted Cornello as he grabbed the little bird off his shoulder and threw it at Ed.
Almost immediately it began to grow until it was roughly the size of Al. Ed managed to fend off the bird's first attack, but it grabbed the spear in its talons and snapped it like a twig. He tried to get out of the way, but the bird was to fast for him and grabbed his left leg below the knee.
"Ed!" shouted Raven as she cut the head off the snake chimera and Rose screamed.
"Now snap it!" shouted Cornello, looking excited as Ed cried out in pain.
Ed smiled at the bird before saying, "Wrong leg pal!"
He pulled his leg out of the bird's grip before winding back.
"And here's the right arm!" shouted Ed as he punched the bird, sending it flying.
Raven quickly dispatched the bird as Ed looked back up at Cornello. Suddenly, the lion chimera roared and pounced on Ed, grabbing his right arm in its teeth. Rose gasped as Raven stopped, waiting for Ed's reaction.
"What's the matter you poor bastard, can't get a good taste?" asked Ed as the chimera continued to gnaw on his arm.
With a grunt he lifted it off the ground and kicked it away with his left foot. Above them, the mysterious lady watched the proceedings, but now she was accompanied by a large and fat man.
"Mouthwatering, eh Gluttony?" asked the woman and the man called Gluttony laughed.
"That's impossible… those claws on your leg, those teeth on your arm!" shouted Cornello in disbelief as Ed glared up at him, the right sleeve of his jacket in tatters. "No one could survive that… unless, your limbs! They're fake!"
"Brilliant deduction." said Ed before he grabbed a hold of his ruined sleeve and began to rip it off.
"Oh god!" said Rose as she covered her mouth with her hands.
"Don't look away, Rose. You need to see what happens when you try to bring a human to life. When you cross into god's territory or whatever the hell it is! Is this what you want?" shouted Ed as he ripped off his entire jacket, revealing his automail arm. "Look!"
"His arm… his leg, they're machines." said Rose.
"I see, now I understand you Elric. You crossed the line! You did what is strictly forbidden! You tried to create human life and your bodies were taken to the other side!" said Cornello with a little bit of a laugh as Ed and Raven glared up at him.
"Told you Rose. Get to close to the sun and you burn." said Ed and Rose gasped.
"Apparently so, but you were crazy enough to find out for yourself! You are the Fullmetal. The Fullmetal Alchemist!" shouted Cornello.
Cornello looked at her with disbelief before turning back to Ed and Al, who had just managed to unbury himself.
"Well that does answer a riddle. Why the military would give a pup like you such a stern name, Fullmetal, but it's literal. See Rose, alchemists forbid their own from transmuting lead into gold. But there is one practice more taboo, forbidden by man and nature itself. Alchemy, on human souls." said Cornello, Ed and Al looking at the ground. "You miserable little boys… dabbling in human alchemy without knowing its penalty. You stepped on the toes of god!"
"You don't know the story!" said Al as he looked up.
"Al!" shouted Ed in warning.
"But, we just wanted… we just wanted to see mom's face again. To see her smile." said Al as he looked back at the ground.
"But you failed didn't you?" asked Cornello scornfully, causing Ed and Al to flinch.
"Yeah, I'd label that a failure all right. Al lost his whole body and I lost an arm and a leg. I ignored every signpost because I was reckless and wanted it bad enough. Rose." said Ed as he held up his right arm. "This is what happens when you try to bring back what's dead."
Rose gasped and Ed clenched his fist.
"You really want to go through with that?" asked Ed and Cornello put his hand on Rose's shoulder.
"Don't let them worry you Rose. You forget that the great sun god Leto has blessed me with the Philosopher's Stone." said Cornello as he showed her his ring. "Besides, I have far more experience than these heretic children did."
Ed took a step forward in anger before shouting, "Don't be stupid! No matter what kind of powers you have, some things can't be done!"
"Oh, then why are you so anxious to get this stone? You want to beat the Law of Equivalence just as I do and bring your mommy back!" said Cornello as he held his ring up.
"Wrong holy man!" shouted Ed and Cornello looked taken aback. "All we want to do is to get our bodies normal again. See, we don't buy about what's possible. We didn't start a cult."
Ed smirked as he grabbed his automail arm and Cornello began to growl in anger.
"And what of you, Crimson Blade Alchemist Raven Dain, why do you want this stone?" asked Cornello as he turned his attention to Raven.
"To get my memories back." said Raven as she looked down at her sword. "I have no knowledge how I came to be this way or even what my real name is. My only clue is this sword and not even that has been much help to me over the years."
"We will ask one more time. Please give us the stone." said Al patiently as he held out his hand.
"You are damned State Alchemists." laughed Cornello as he straightened. "May the wrath of god fall upon your head."
"Stop hiding behind that crap! Get down here and I'll show you some wrath!" shouted Ed as he slashed at the air with his arm.
Rose's attention suddenly flew to Cornello's left hand, which was slowly coming closer to his walking stick. With a flash of red light, Cornello transmuted his walking stick into a very large machine gun. With a gasp Rose backed away, catching Raven's attention.
"Sinners!" shouted Cornello as he hefted the machine gun onto his shoulder.
A second later he began to fire straight at Ed and Al before sweeping over to where Raven was standing. When the dust cleared a large wall had been transmuted in front of Ed and Al. Behind it Raven's hands were still against the ground, sweat on her forehead.
"Close call." said Ed with a scared look on his face.
"Close call my ass." said Raven as she got up and straightened her jacket.
Rose smiled when she heard their voices as Cornello looked on in disbelief. Suddenly, footsteps could be heard on the stairs and a large group of men came running in.
"Father Cornello!" shouted Cray as he walked in. "You!"
He spotted Al and immediately began to shoot him with his handgun.
"Al!" shouted Raven as she and Ed started running towards the wall. "This way!"
"Idiots, you're running into a dead end!" laughed Cornello.
"Like I always say, if you can't find a door-" said Ed as he clapped his hands together and skidded to a stop. "make your own!"
With a flash of light a large door appeared, Raven and Ed pushing the door open as Al ran to catch up with them. Cornello watched with surprised as the trio sped away through the new corridor, Cray and his men giving chase.
"After them! Now!" shouted Cray as he and his men raced after the fleeing alchemists.
"Father?" asked Rose and Cornello turned to Rose startled. "Is it true what they said? That ring you're wearing, are you're miracles just alchemy?"
Cornello put on his fatherly smile before saying, "Just because you can explain a thing doesn't mean it's not the will of god, Rose. What matters is that I have been given the power to do things no one else can. Let me show you."
Rose looked disbelieving as Cornello continued to smile.
Cornello led Rose to a dark room that had a curtained area in it. Behind it something began to move.
"Rose?" asked a man as though he were in pain.
Rose gasped and her eyes began to fill with tears as she said, "Cain!"
"Rose?" asked the man as the thing behind the curtain moved again.
Hesitantly Rose moved to see it when Cornello put a restraining hand on her shoulder. She turned around startled, but Cornello continued to smile.
"The sun god has rewarded you for your faith, Rose. Your true love's soul has been resurrected. But the work is not done yet, his body needs a few more days." said Cornello and a smile began to form on Rose's face.
"I always believed it, this has to be the work of god." said Rose as she looked away from Cornello. "If Ed knew…"
Suddenly Rose noticed the pile of bird feathers lying next to the curtain and a look of fear crossed her face.
Raven and Ed were sitting at the base of a Leto statue as Al stood off to the side. Ed was sulking with his chin resting in his hand.
"Why do they treat us like we're evil? If we really wanted the stone at all costs we would have taken it by now." said Al and Raven looked up at him.
"Because Cornello has these people eating out of the palm of his hand, so they'll believe anything he says." said Raven as she started to draw stuff in the sand.
They all looked up in surprise as the radio turned on and the voice of Cray played over the speaker.
"People of Lior, this evening a trio of unbelievers tried to take the life of the great prophet Cornello. One short and blonde, one tall with wielding a large sword, and the other wearing a suit of armor." said Cray as they all looked at each other and Ed and Raven stood up. "Father Cornello asks you all to stay in your homes. He's worried for the safety of his folds. Please, take all necessary precautions."
"We need a plan and fast." said Ed as he looked around.
"Come here, this is what we need to do." said Raven as all three huddled together.
Ed and Raven watched as the villagers began to crowd around them in an angry mob while Al just kind of stood there.
"No question guys, they're the ones. The short newcomer, red eyes, and their tin man." said a man as he brandished his weapon.
Ed flared and ran up to the man, livid at being called short. Raven watched in anticipation as the people seemed to be getting angrier and angrier.
"Who are you calling a mousy little pipsqueak?" asked Ed angrily right in the man's face.
"Nobody said that so back off!" shouted the man and Ed backed off. "We got more important business to settle."
Ed scratched his head as Raven stood there motionless, an annoyed look on her face. She started to look at her nails before another man spoke up.
"What kind of depraved souls are you? How could you go after the prophet?" asked a man.
"We welcomed you here. You made us believe you were good." said a woman who was carrying a ladle and a frying pan.
Raven looked up at this before saying, "Look lady, we never made you believe anything. That's your priest, he's just a phony. He's using alchemy!"
"Liar!" shouted Rose's voice and the crowd parted to reveal Rose. "Just now my boyfriend spoke to me. Cornello's bringing him back."
The crowd gasped and Rose looked at Ed and Raven looking extremely angry.
"You mean old Cain we lost in the accident? He was a good kid! Good for you Rose!" said the first man and Rose looked a little happier.
"There, you see. He's not the first either. There have been many others who've come back!" shouted the woman.
"She's right!" shouted someone in the crowd.
"Yeah, if that's not a miracle then tell me what is!" shouted another man from the crowd.
"Has anyone actually seen these people up close?" asked Ed angrily as he looked around. "Cause I heard they all left town as soon as they were brought back!"
"Look!" shouted someone, and the reason was soon apparent.
Several statues of Leto came walking down the street, causing several people to gasp and look on in wonder.
"Another miracle!"
"The sun god statues!"
Ed and Raven watched in surprise as the statues continued to approach them, the people clearing a path.
"You want to call him a phony now?" asked the woman.
The statues surrounded the trio, Cray visible behind them. Suddenly one of the statues lashed out with its spear and gored Al through the stomach. It lifted him up in the air before slamming him back down with a large clash.
"Al!" shouted Ed and Raven, not bothering to watch out for the other statues.
Ed's eyes suddenly widened as a statue punched him in the back of the head, sending him to the ground. Raven turned and clenched her teeth as the statue turned to her and punched her right in the face. She went down without a sound as Ed's eyes slowly closed, watching as the statues continued their attack against Al.
Ed's eyes opened to find himself back at the church, supported by two men. Raven was in the same predicament, Cornello standing before them with a smile on his face. He laughed before walking forward and grabbing Ed's pocket watch, breaking the chain with a quick jerk.
"Give that back!" shouted Ed as he struggled against his guards.
Cornello walked over to Raven and preformed the same procedure before. He held them up to the light as if to see them better.
"So, this is the official pocket watch of the State Alchemist. Never seen one close… it's the reason you can do alchemy without a transmutation circle isn't it? It amplifies all your work. I think you'll both be quite harmless without them." gloated Cornello before laughing.
Ed and Raven snarled before looking down, beaten looks on their faces. Raven shot Ed a quick look, a smile on her face.
The bell ringer slowly made his way to the bell tower, yawning and wiping the sleep from his eyes.
"How could I sleep after last night?" asked the man as he grabbed the bell rope and pulled.
When no bell sounded the man looked up with a surprised look on his face.
"Where's the bell?" asked the man, and Al peeked out from behind a pillar before tip-toeing off with the bell over his back.
Ed and Raven had their hands tied above their heads, and were stationed across the room from each other. They looked up as the door creaked open to reveal Rose carrying two trays of food, looking extremely distrustful. She walked over to Raven first and dropped off one tray before walking over to Ed and setting his down as well.
"Great, you came to feed me, and I thought you were mad." said Ed as he smiled and opened his mouth.
Rose stood up and turned before hurrying away.
"I hope he's real Rose."
Startled, Rose stopped and turned to look at Raven who was in turn looking at her.
"I just don't want you to get disappointed." said Raven and Rose hurried out of the room, closing the door with a bang.
Ed started to pull his tray towards him with his foot when scratching sounds could be heard behind him. Both he and Raven looked at the spot where the sounds were originating from and smiled.
Cornello slept in his room, looking as though he was having a nightmare. Suddenly a red sign appeared on the floor identical to the tattoo on the mysterious woman's chest before a snake rose up out of it. It arched over Cornello before baring its fangs with a loud hiss. Cornello awoke with a start to find the snake wasn't there, just a figment of his imagination. He looked over into a shadowed corner to find the mysterious woman sitting there in a chair.
"The real secret behind that Philosopher's Stone stays between us, right love?" asked the woman, her chin resting in her hand.
Cornello looked extremely frightened as the woman continued to smile up at him.
Rose silently entered the room where Cornello had shone her Cain. She quietly shut the door behind her before turning to face the curtain and folding her hands in front of her.
"Sorry Cain, I know you're healing, but I needed to talk." said Rose as she looked away. "So much has happened and I'm confused."
Something appeared behind the curtain as Rose looked back at it and said, "Rose?"
A smile lit Rose's face as she went to walk up to the curtain, but the door opened to reveal Cornello. She turned to face him with a frightened look, but he continued to smile.
"I'm sorry Father. I shouldn't have taken the key without asking. I just needed to see." said Rose and a sudden wind picked up.
Rose turned to see the curtain blown aside and her eyes widened in fear to see a dead bird sitting where Cain should have been. Dead birds were littered all over, explaining the feathers she had seen earlier.
"What's wrong Rose? You got your wish. I'm afraid that even with the stone I couldn't forge a human soul. I had to use the souls of these birds. You know they can be quite adept at mimicking the human voice." said Cornello as he held up his ring, the dead bird now looking at Rose. "You shouldn't have acted against me Rose. You've fallen out of the sun god's favor."
Suddenly the stone glowed red and the bird fell forward off the podium, its size greatly increased. Cornello started to close the door but paused to say, "Give the real Cain my best."
Cornello closed the door and locked it, leaving Rose trapped inside the room with the monstrous bird.
"Rose… Rose…" said the dead bird as it tried to get up.
Rose backed away before putting her head in her hands and screamed. Meanwhile Cornello walked down the hallway, smiling at the bird's noise.
"There's only one soul left who knows the secret of the stone, but not for long."
Back inside the room Rose opened her eyes and looked up to find the bird knocked to the ground, Al standing beside it.
"I guess I don't need to tell you it's dangerous here." said Al as he held out his hand to Rose, who backed away. "Come on."
She glanced down at the bird to see it move, and hesitantly moved towards Al.
"This little charade of yours will be found out soon enough." said Raven, Cornello standing between her and Ed.
"The faithful are not likely to distinguish between alchemy and the works of god. Really, as long as I'm bringing them happiness what do they care where it comes from?" asked Cornello as Ed glared at him.
Suddenly Ed's expression changed and asked, "So, what's in it for you, besides all the cow-towing?"
Cornello laughed at this and Raven shot Ed a look.
"It's alchemy's basic principle." said Al as he wrapped wires together. "To obtain you have to give up something of equal value. People say Ed and Raven are prodigies, but that's because they paid with enough effort."
He hooked something up as Rose stood back watching. With a flash and a cloud of dust he attached a switch to the wire.
"But how did you survive those statues?" asked Rose as Al began to look his work over.
"Easy really. Raven handled it."
"The two of you really have paid a hefty price, haven't you? An arm and a leg… a body, and yet here you are now trying to get it all back." said Rose and Al went still. "What about your mom? What happened to her?"
"I should get started." said Al suddenly as he stood up. "It's about time."
Al picked up one of the switches and flicked it to the on position. Rose covered her ears as a loud ringing came out of the bell before Ed's voice was heard.
"What? Is it the money you're after?" asked Ed and Rose looked surprised.
"Edward?" asked Rose as she uncovered her ears.
"Oh I can get all the money I want from the offerings." said Cornello over the loudspeaker.
Meanwhile, back at Ed and Raven's cell, Cornello continued to go on.
"But you think too small. I'm making believers who would gladly through away their very lives in my name." said Cornello, making Ed and Raven angry. "And why not? They believe I can resurrect them. They're not afraid to die. There is no greater army than those with a holy call!"
Cornello turned away and continued his speech, saying, "Mark my words, in a few years I'll have a following large enough to tear this country apart and rebuild it in my name!"
He clenched his fist and Raven looked annoyed at Ed who looked bored. Ed freed his hands before saying, "Makes no difference to me."
Cornello turned around, no longer laughing.
"What?"
"After all there's no real way to bring people back to life, right? Once you cut us down we're gone for good." said Raven and Cornello smiled.
"I'm afraid that's right. Even with the Philosopher's Stone I wouldn't dare try human alchemy. I'd end up like you. And why would a king risk his life for the sake of his mindless pawns?" asked Cornello as Ed picked up a bread of loaf and started to eat it, the smile disappearing once again from Cornello's face. "Wait a second…"
Ed and Raven laughed as Ed moved aside to reveal a large hole in the wall housing a microphone. He pointed at it as Raven freed her hands and got to her feet. Outside, Al and Rose watched the people's reaction to Cornello's words.
"What? How long as that thing been on?" shouted Cornello.
"Long enough for the mindless pawns tearing this country apart comment, I think." said Ed.
"How did you get my broadcasting equipment?" shouted Cornello.
"Al rigged it up. I know you smashed his into little pieces, but that was just some metal we whipped up to look like him. Pretty clever, huh?" asked Raven, almost laughing.
"No my children! They lie! Don't believe them!" shouted Cornello who was followed by the sound of a machine gun.
Back in the cell, Cornello panted as he stopped shooting. Suddenly Ed charged and slashed at Cornello, slicing his machine gun in half. He backed off as Raven laughed and put her hands in her pockets.
"Oh, and we don't get our skills from pocket watches." said Ed as his handblade glinted in the light.
Cornello dropped what remained of his transmuted walking stick before turning and running out of the room. When he reached outside, however, he found a huge riot going on barely being contained by the priests. Cray was standing behind the barricade and turned to Cornello looking confused.
"Father that broadcast. I don't understand. Tell us what's going on." said Cray as Cornello snarled.
He suddenly stopped and laughed before throwing out his arms and smiling.
"My children, the nonbelievers have used their science to impersonate me! It is a conspiracy of the devil! But witness as the great Leto redeems me with his vengeful light! Behold god's power!" shouted Cornello as he raised his hand and the stone flashed.
Red energy flared through each of the statues, causing them to come alive. They stepped down from their raised platforms and started to make their way to the church.
"That has to be a miracle! What else could it be?"
Cornello laughed before gasping and turning around to find Ed and Raven standing there.
"I'm warning you, give it up!" shouted Ed and Cornello turned around with a smile on his face.
"You didn't fool me with that little display down there." said Cornello as he held up the two pocket watches. "Without this, the only alchemy you two can perform is on yourselves."
"You know what? You're not the only one who can't stand doubters preach." said Raven as she and Ed clapped their hands together and slammed them into the ground.
Raven lifted her hand as a sword began to form out of the ground, but Ed remained motionless.
"Here's the real hammer of god!" shouted Ed and the ground began to shake.
With a loud crash, the large statue of Leto located inside the church burst through the ceiling and broke down the entryway.
"I don't believe it. Not even the Philosopher's Stone could move something as big as that!" shouted Cornello as the statue continued to move forward even as Ed stood up.
"Rings and watches have nothing to do with it. My brother's the Fullmetal Alchemist and Raven is the Crimson Blade Alchemist." said Al who was standing with Rose in the crowd who was "oohing" and "ahhing".
Cornello screamed as the statue punched the ground right in front of him. He looked up and fell over in amazement as Ed and Raven walked over. With a snarl he grabbed his left arm and moved to run away.
"No! I won't let you have it! You can't take the stone!" shouted Cornello, but suddenly fell to his knees as the stone began to shine with an extremely bright light.
Cornello clutched his left arm to his chest before lifting it up in the air to show it mutating, metal gears and hoses sticking out of it. Ed and Raven watched in disbelief as Cornello continued to scream.
"What the? It's recoiling." said Ed in disbelief before he and Raven ran over to Cornello.
Raven grabbed Cornello's left arm by the wrist and held it still as Ed examined the stone. The stone suddenly stopped glowing and cracked before exploding into nothingness.
"An imitation?" asked Raven as she closed her eyes and started to laugh weakly. "You son of a bitch, after al this… after all you put us through, even the stone is fake?"
She slowly got to her feet and screamed at the sky, "Stop jerking us around!"
Ed, Al, and Raven sat alone on bridge, not talking. Raven was looking at herself in her sword while Ed held his pocket watch out in front of him.
"Just another wild goose chase, and here I thought we could finally put you back in the flesh again." said Ed as he looked over at Al.
"No brother. You'll be the first we fix. That automail's so tough on you." said Al.
Ed pocketed his watch before standing up and saying, "There's nothing left to do but start the search again."
Raven and Al started to stand up, Raven starting to sheath her sword when Rose came walking up.
"You should never have come here!" shouted Rose and the trio looked at her. "Father Cornell gave us hope. What right did you have to take that away?"
She looked extremely angry, but looked away after she said this.
"With him we believed we could do anything, even bring back the dead. We're a desert village! We had nothing before that!"
"You're saying we should have let everything go on as it was?" asked Ed extremely calm.
"Well, why not? What do I have to live for now that I know Cain won't come back?" asked Rose as she closed her eyes before looking at Ed. "You tell me that, Ed!"
Ed closed his eyes and looked away before saying, "You'll have to decide for yourself. Walk on your own. Move forward. You've got a good strong pair of legs, Rose. You should get up and use 'em."
Rose gasped and a look of surprise crossed her face as Ed walked away. She fell to her knees and looked defeated as Al and Raven walked over to her.
"Brother was trying to help you. He just doesn't always handle things well." said Al as he kneeled down next to Rose and she looked away angrily.
"Just go away would you?"
"You can still believe and hope, Rose. We still do." said Raven and Rose looked sad.
Cornello stood up in his room, still clutching his mutated arm and complaining to the mysterious woman.
"What's going on here?" asked Cornello angrily and the woman smiled. "That damn girl was right! That ring you gave me wasn't the real Philosopher's Stone!"
"Of course not. This village is nothing but a juicy bait." said the woman as she looked up and at Cornello. "As rumor spreads, real alchemists who've searched for the stone all their lives will come to me. And then…"
Cornello backed away before saying, "Cursed souls. Who are you really? What are you after?"
"Come on Lust. Isn't it time you let me eat the old preacher?" asked Gluttony with his finger in his mouth.
Gluttony advanced on Cornello who looked extremely scared, and then blood exploded everywhere as Gluttony attacked the fake prophet.
The townspeople mumbled amongst themselves as they picked through the rubble for Cornello.
"Where'd that miserable preach run off to? For rotten sake I can't believe we were duped." said a man.
Another man jumped as he came across the dead birds Cornello had killed to try and impersonate Cain and called out to the others.
"What do you think did that?"
"I don't know, but something messed up's been going on here." said another man as he joined him.
"Father Cornello?"
The two men jumped to see Cornello standing next to them, dressed in traveling clothing. He picked up one of the dead birds and lifted it over his head before it flew up out of his hand along with all the other dead birds, the crowd gasping.
"A miracle."
"How do you know that's not another trick?" asked a man as he turned to the man who had just said it was a miracle.
"You don't trick things to life." said the first man.
"It seems the devil has worked his wickedness while I was gone away. But I'm glad you're all safe." said Cornello.
"I knew it Cornello." said a woman as she stepped forward out of the crowd. "I knew someone who gave us so many joys couldn't be bad."
The crowd began to cheer wildly, not noticing that the birds Cornello had just brought back to life just burst like balloons as they flew away. Lust watched him through a window and said, "Good Envy. I'm sorry but we'll have to ask you to keep that form for a little while."
Then the crowd began to chant "Long live Cornello" over and over again as Cornello turned and smiled up to the window where Lust was watching. Rose also watched from a distance, Al's words running through her head.
"Before we go Rose, listen to me. My brother, Raven, and I have seen all sorts of things over our years of searching and I need to tell you about them so you don't repeat our mistakes."
She looked down at the ground sad before turning and running away.
"We were born and raised in a small village east of Central called Resembool. That's where it all began. Humankind cannot gain anything without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equal value must be lost. That is alchemy's first Law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days we really believed that to be the world's one and only truth."