Chapter 5
"Ed drink your milk!!"
"I said no!"
"Drink it or you'll be a midget forever!!!"
"Who are you calling midget!?" Clara slowly came awake. Her head was spinning and her entire body hurt. A sharp pain erupted from her stomach. She groaned in pain and curled in a ball.
"Huh? She's awake Winry!" Winry looked towards Clara. She was holding Edward's collar in her hand and was holding a bottle of milk in the other.
"Look what you did Ed!! You woke her up!" She smack him hard.
"Ow!! I'm not the one who woke her up! You did!" Alphonse leaned over her.
"Hello! Are you feeling better?"
"Ah!" Clara gasped in shock and frantically pushed herself away from Al. She fell off of the bed.
"Ow..." She rubbed her back and looked up. Ed was leaning over her.
"Yeah, you're on a small elevated surface. Don't fall." Clara blinked and lightly grasped his ponytail.
"Hey! What're ya doin?!"
"Don't yell!" Winry snapped. Clara rubbed his hair between his fingers.
"Ohh... gold... hair?" She whispered.
"Yeah. I'm blond. Big deal. Here... straighten up." Ed pulled her back onto the bed. Winry fixed the sheets for her.
"So, what's you name?" Winry said kindly. Clara blinked and made a confused look. Her gaze drifted to Al. She stared at him.
"Uh... I'm... I'm Alphonse Elric. You can call me Al for short!" He said cheerfully. Clara looked at Ed and Winry.
"I'm Edward Elric. Aka- the Fullmetal Alchemist." He winked.
"I'm Winry Rockbell. It's nice to meet you!" She said, smiling. Clara nodded.
"Al... Edward... Winry... I'm... I'm Clara."
"Clara? That it? Not going to tell us your last name?" Ed asked.
"Um..." She drifted off and stared at Al again. She leaned forward and tapped his armor.
"Hollow? Ahh!! Ghost!" She hid her head under the sheets.
"Uh, no! I'm not a ghost! Believe me I'm not!"
"Clara! Calm down! Al's not a ghost. Believe me, if he was, he'd be pinned to the ground by me." Ed pulled the sheets off of Clara's head. She blinked and looked at the three again.
"So Clara... what were you doing with Scar? You know he's a dangerous guy. He's killed State alchemists."
"Scar..." She whispered. Clara's eyes looked sad.
"Do you know where he is? He went somewhere. I don't know where." Al and Ed looked at each other.
"We're not too sure... All we know is that he was here. Look, we're going somewhere that's no where near Scar. It's called Lior. Maybe you could come with us. It's a peaceful town; from what I've heard. How about it?" Clara shook her head.
"I have to find Scar first..."
"Man, Clara! Why do you care about Scar? He's a murderer and heartless!" Clara stared at her sheets, her expression gloomy.
"But he's saved me... a lot..." She whispered.
"Well... Scar brings around a lot of trouble. The entire military is after him. You don't want to get caught up in it, do you?" Al suggested.
"Al, what are you doing?" Ed whispered.
"She seems really attached to Scar because he saved her. I'm just telling her how dangerous it is to just travel with him, that's all."
"Oh... I got it..." Clara got out of the bed.
"Um... I really don't want to go anywhere... I mean... what if he comes back here?"
"He probably won't... the military is on its way here. This town will be packed in a few hours." Clara looked blue.
"But I have no where to go without him..." Winry snapped her fingers.
"You can come to Risembool with me!" Clara took a moment to think.
"Where's that?"
"It's our hometown. It's a really peaceful place. Believe me. Man... Winry's old lady can really cook a good dinner!" Ed gave Clara a large grin.
"Ok... I guess I could..."
"It's in the countryside and the military doesn't interfere with that place much. Really nice wide open hills, plains... and a really peaceful river!" Al said. Clara smiled slightly and nodded.
"Winry... will take me there? I'll be safe?" She asked. They all nodded. There was a knock at the door. Ed got up to answer it.
"Huh... who could that be- YOU!!!!" He jumped back and pointed at Roy Mustang who was standing at the door.
"Yes Edward, it's me. Now show some respect or I'm going to send you idiots to a desert in the middle of nowhere."
"No way in Hell I'm doing that!!" Al waved his hands around.
"No! Brother! He doesn't mean that, Colenel sir!" He quickly said.
"Heh... I know... now move it short stuff-"
"HEY!!"
"I'm just checking on you guys. Your train will be leaving soon. Same with the one leaving for Resimbool. You guys had better move. Huh? Who's that little lady?" He smiled.
"Oh... this is Clara. We picked her up from the little commotion from last night."
"So she's the citizen caught up in all this mess?"
"Kind of. We've arranged it so Winry will take her back to Resimbool. You know, for safe keeping. We don't know why Scar was with her at all." Mustang nodded, then took Ed to the side.
"You sure of this, Edward?"
"What are you talking about? Of course I am!"
"If she was involved with Scar... the other military officers will want to contain her and question her. I understand and I'll let it slide. But there are others higher than me who might want her. You know that, right?" Ed glanced over his shoulder at Clara, she was staring out the window, perfectly calm.
"Yeah... that's why weren't going to tell anyone about this at all-"
"Hello everyone!" Hughes walked into the room, happy. He had his usual cheerful look on his face. He saluted the colnel casually and jumped over to Winry's side.
"Oh! I have the greatest story about Elisia today!! She was so cute! We got her a brand new baby blue dress!"
"Oh! That's so cute!" Winry cooed along with Hughes.
"I know! She just loves it! She did this little happy dance and just hugged everyone around her!"
"Ahh! Kawai!!!" Winry cried. Clara stared at Hughes. He noticed her and bent down to her eye level.
"Hello! I'm Hughes! I didn't see you sitting on this bed by yourself! What's your name?" He grinned. Clara stared at him, a blank look in her eyes.
"Uh... um... Clara..." Hughes made a smaller smile.
"That's such a cute name! It reminds me of my little girl!" He stood up and started crying over his daughter.
"She has the cutest little cheeks and sweetest little eyes! Her hands are so soft and so cute!!" Mustang's eyebrow twitched.
"Hughes... I don't think they want to hear about your daughter... as you can see we have a slightly traumitized citizen who somehow got involved with Scar's actions last night." Ed noticed that Clara was giggling. Al approached Hughes.
"Excuse me... do you think you could provide maybe a personal escort for Clara and Winry to the train station? Brother and I have to get going to Lior and... well we can't see them off." Hughes nodded.
"Sure thing! No problem! Oh, Mustang! I have something private to talk to you about..." He waved him out to the hallway. Mustang followed him.
"Oh, and make sure you guys don't fall behind on your orders!" He said just before he closed the door. Ed glanced at Clara; she was staring out the window again.
"So... looks like we got you an escort with a very trustworthy guy, Clara."
"I never thought blue coats were so funny..." She whispered. Ed made a confused look.
"Blue... coats...?"
"Oh! She just means the military, Ed!" Winry piped in.
~~~~__~~~~
Clara gazed out at the beautiful scenery of Resimbool. She had never seen anything like it. The green fields, lush trees and the bluest sky she had ever seen. It was like a fantesy to her. Winry took her arm and lead her out of the train station.
"We have a bit of a walk ahead of us. We'd better get started if we're going to make it to my house by supper!" She smiled. Clara nodded. They began the long walk. Clara was silent the entire time. Winry went rambling on about her grandmother and what she did. She talked about rivers, the sunsets and the wildlife. Clara merely stared onward, admiring the alien scenes. Her mind was in a mist. Scar was taking over her thoughts. But the looming comments from the homonculs fought against it.
You'll need them for when you die...
You little twerp! You figured out how to use it didn't you!?
It... what is... it? I don't understand anthing. What is it? I don't understand... Scar... he could do the same things I could. Is he like me? That evil man didn't yell at him like he did me. He taunted him. Envy... Scar said his name was Envy... Lust... Gluttony... they are the three people who somehow want me dead. But why? What could I had possibly done to them? What is this thing? Am I a mutant or something? That boy... Ed... ward... he could do what I did. Scar, Edward and me. We share something. What could we have done? I know what must cause the reactions from Scar... it is those tattoos. It has to be. Every time he does something, they glow. I don't know what Edward does... Scar called those reactions 'alchemy'. I've heard of it... but... are those actions really alchemy? I guess no normal person can do it... then I have to stop doing it. But... I don't want to be defenseless. I don't want to get hurt... I have to fight somehow... physically? No... I couldn't even think of fighting... I don't want to...
Clara looked down at her hands.
How could I possibly fight? To hurt someone else... and... what if I... have to kill... again? Her heart pulsed harder. She held her hands up to eye level.
How... could I kill?
Something flashed in front of her eyes. Her hands were covered with blood. Clara stopped and stared. Her eyes wide, her heart beating fast. She heard screams and cries for help.
"Clara? Is something wrong?" She lowered her hands and stared at Winry. The sun was setting. There was a house on the top of a hill just in front of them. She shook her head.
"Ok. We're almost there! That's my house. Looks like we'll be there just in time to wash up a bit before dinner!" Winry smiled. Clara nodded.
"Winry..."
"Hm?"
"Does... does Edward... know something called Alchemy?"
"Oh yeah. It's his signature. I hate it though! It destroys his automail everytime he uses it!" Winry made an angry face and bit her lip, holding up a fist.
"But... I have to forgive him everytime... I mean if he didn't use it, he would be killed. It's one of the ways he defends himself. If he didn't do that... he'd be killed..." Winry had a sad expression on her face.
"One of the ways?"
"Yeah. Him and Al are originally trained with martial arts. If they can't use alchemy, they just fight. I've seen them spar with each other. They're quite good! Their teacher taught them all the fighting skills they know. She's pretty strict. But she's also very kind! Here we are!" Winry opened the door.
"Grandma! I brought along a visitor!"
"Oh my... a girl? I thought it would be Edward and Alphonse."
"Her name is Clara. She's staying with us for a while until I get word to send her somewhere safe from Ed."
"Oh that's nice. It's a pleasure to meet you, Clara. I'm Winry's grandmother. You can call me Pinako if you want."
"Uh... yes... thank you for taking me in..."
They fight to defend themselves. So... if I don't use alchemy, then I have to fight physically. If I don't... I'm defenseless... and useless... But I don't want to hurt anyone... what can I do? If I hide... I may worry Scar and Edward. They seem so nice... I don't want to hurt anybody. Especially anybody who has been kind to me. But... those people... Those homonculs! They hurt everyone around them! Everytime I see them... I just... I go insane! I can barely remember anything that happens! I just feel a tingling sensation, a burning hatred... and then I black out. How could I remember anything? I need to be useful... and I need to defend myself. But I don't want to fight! I don't want to use this... alchemy... But if I don't, I have to fight with martial arts. I guess I have no choice... I have to learn to fight... but I just... don't want to!
"The bedrooms are upstairs. Come on! I'll show you to your room!" Winry lead Clara upstairs and gently pushed her into an empty room.
"This is your room now! Right next to mine! Any troubles, just give me a call! I be in here in a jiffy! With a wrench, and a hardhat! Nothing can stop this mechanic! Ha ha!" Winry yelled. Clara giggled a little.
"Thank you..."
"The bath is down the hall. Just fill the tub up with water and turn the nob to heat up the water. Not too hot, you'll burn yourself. And just so you don't feel useless, I've already got chores you can help me with!" Winry grinned.
"Relax! Some old clothes are in the drawers. I hope they fit you." She left. Clara gazed at the opened door.
Chores... bath? Is it... like then? That horrible time... No... it couldn't be like that. Hopefully things like this will be... enjoyable. And nice. Maybe I'll... find this place like... my old home... Clara felt something on her shoulder. She glanced behind her. A deformed face glared at her.
"Edward..."
"AH!!!!!" Clara screamed at the top of her lungs and ran out of the room. Winry raced to her side.
"Clara! What's wrong?!" Winry looked in her room.
"Clara? Clara!" Pinako watched her run out the door.
"Grandma, something's wrong! I just heard her scream and-"
"I know. Something scared her. Maybe she was dreaming or imagined something. Don't worry about her. I'm sure she'll be back."
"But... Clara doesn't know the dark countryside. She'll get lost!"
"We're the only home for a mile. She won't get lost."
~~~~__~~~~
Clara ran down the hill and straight into a field. Another hill burned down her energy. She panted for air and collpased at the top of the hill. Bare soil dirtied her knees and hands. She looked at the ground and gently grabbed a small handful of the soil.
"Ash?" She looked ahead of her. Rubble of a burnt down house sat in front of her. She stood up and brushed off her knees. Clara wandered closer to the rubble. She suddenly sensed something. A few voices crept into her mind.
Mom! Look what we made for you!
Oh Edward, that's beautiful! Alphonse I never thought you could make something so nice!
We made it with Alchemy. From Dad's books!
You got in his books again? Oh you are your father's children!
Clara bent down and picked up a burnt up book. There was a strand of hair across the cover. She plucked it from the book and looked at it. Something else crept into her mind.
Oh no... it wasn't supposed to be like this!! AL!! AL!! ALPHONSE! NO! Brother!! No...! Huh? M... Mother? Mother! No... that's... what is that?! That's not mother! No!! Noo! It's gone! NO!! At least give him back!! Ugh! Give me back my brother!! He's all I have! Give him back to me!! Edward's younger voice rang through her head. She couldn't understand why he was screaming. Somehow, she knew that Al was gone. Their mother had died. She closed her eyes.
What is that... in the smoke? What...? She figured it out. The faint images fluttered past her eyes.
"Their mother... they tried to... bring back their mother...?"
"How did you figure that much out from just sitting here?" Winry's grandmother suddenly said. Clara jumped up and looked at her.
"Oh... um... I... uh..."
"No matter... do you know what you mean by 'bring back their mother'?" Clara didn't say anything.
"I'm... not sure... but... it hurt them..."
"They broke taboo. In alchemy, it is said to be taboo to attempt a human transmutation. It requires a heavy price. Alphonse and Edward paid that and learned it the hard way. Don't try to comfort them about it. Their quest is to try and fix that mistake. They somehow want to restore their bodies. I think it's stupid... but those boys are geniuses... they could do it if they try... They know what hell is..." Clara blinked.
Hell? But... they didn't go through what I did... and yet... that thing... was that their mother? Maybe... it was a different version for them...
"Now you'd better come with me. Supper is ready. Winry is worried. Come on." Clara followed her back to the house.
"Why... is the house burned down?" Clara asked. Pinako sighed.
"They said... they didn't want to look back. It's like a symbol to never look back, to them." Clara understood.
Never... look back...