Some notes for this chapter: sorry it took so long I got distracted but its BACK! WAHAHA. Actually I highly doubt anyone understands what I'm writing about but oh well xD Anyway, I don't really know what Edwards reaction would be to a world of magic, in the movie he seemed to think magic was ridiculous, that the Thule Society was stupid for even believing such things, so I kinda played off that a little bit. I figure in Howls world Alchemy will work a little like magic, because anything is possible. So yeah, that's my rant for now.

Calcifer's New Spark

CHAPTER FOUR-ALCHEMY

"Howl!" A woman's voice called from the door. Sophie's head emerged from the stairwell, followed by Markyl and the former Witch of the Waste. "Are you here?"

"Yes I'm just getting our guests settled in," Howl replied happily.

"More like tormenting them," Calcifer piped up from the fireplace, to which he just received a peaceable nod from the dark haired wizard.

Markyl dropped his heavy basket at Howl's feet. "Who is that?" he asked, pointing at Ed who sat with his head between his knees.

"This is my brother Edward," Al said. "But I don't think he's feeling too well right now."

"Oh the poor dear…" Sophie set her basket of fruit down immediately and bent down next to Ed. "He's in shock."

"I only told him the truth," said Howl.

"You all have bad ideas about who to let in here!" Calcifer declared from the hearth. Morgan giggled and clapped. "From now on, the following people are NOT allowed to be let in: Crazy old ladies, weird pets, and kids who wanna pass out because they are magically disabled!"

"Does it include loud and obnoxious fires?" the witch of the waste settled herself in an armchair.

"Only if they're from the Wastes," Calcifer retorted and scowled from behind his last sizzling log.

"Alphonse," Sophie interrupted them, "help me get your brother upstairs will you?"

"Yes ma'am!" Al helped her lift a now passed out Ed off the chair by his arms.

"He's got an odd weight on this arm," Sophie said to Ed's right."

"Edward has automai---I mean… a metal arm on that side."

"How come no one ever treats me gently when I'm having a mental breakdown?!" Howl whined like a child and stared with his mouth agape at Edward and Sophie.

"They aren't breakdowns, they're temper tantrums," Sophie said with a smile. "Put the food away. I'll be down soon."

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Ed woke up in a strange room, surrounded by glittering objects and tapestries. For a moment he forgot where he was, and he concentrated on floating pieces about the room: purple and green gems that connected to a large silver mirror waving in a slight breeze, a dial with a searching eye, old papers tacked to the walls with pearl studded pins, red and yellow curtains hiding stacks of chests and books in one corner and a bright green and blue mechanical bird on an end table dipping its golden beak into a crystal glass of water with a small "cheep" noise. For a brief moment he was spirited away by the clutter until he felt a shift on his feet.

Heen the dog looked up at him through his mop head fur and squeaked. His whiskers tickled the nose of Al, who was snoozing with his head at his brother's feet. Heen squeaked again and flicked his tail in Al's face. Al's eyes fluttered open and settled on Ed, who looked disheveled and slightly confused. "How are you feeling Nii-san?"

"Who knows," Ed looked up at the ceiling to see more clutter.

"Don't worry. Howl says he's a wizard. He'll find a way to get us back."

"Sure he will," Ed's face contorted into an irritated frown. "He's such a great magician that he forgot how to make a door."

Al rolled his eyes and shook his head. "Howl does seem to be a little 'out there' doesn't he?" Al looked up to see Ed staring at him as if he'd said the dumbest thing in history. "What?"

"Nothing." Ed dove under the covers. "Come wake me up in a week when Howl sacrifices a virgin and fixes the stupid door."

"Nii-san!" Al pulled the covers off of his brother. "You can't stay in bed! Get up!"

"Al!"

Al jumped up and down on the bed. Heen flapped his droopy ears as he was bounced high into the air. Ed made a grab for his brother but Al jumped off just in time and bounded out the door with Ed's pants.

"Al! Come back here! I'll kill him." Ed jumped off the bed and chased after his little brother. Heen flapped after him.

"If you want them you have to come and get them!" Al jumped the last step of the staircase and stuck his tongue out. Ed tried to jump the last few stairs, got his foot caught on Heen and landed face first at the bottom with a scream.

Sophie nearly dropped her bowl of potatoes in surprise as Ed smashed into the floor.

"Sorry Ed," Al laughed and continued to taunt his older brother.

Ed jumped to his feet, growling. He glared darkly at Al, who yelped and took off running. "Give them back!" he chased Al around the table and into the veranda where he jumped on his younger brother and swiped out the pants from under him. Everyone dove out of the way as Ed stormed back through and up the stairs again, embarrassed beyond belief.

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"The reason I brought you here is because I need your help," Howl said and stuffed his mouth full of meat and potatoes. Sophie looked disapprovingly at him from the other side of the table.

"You have a funny way of asking for help," Ed said skeptically. "If you needed it so bad why did you chase us away?"

"Well I chased you away at first, yes, and I thought at first you were two snooping kids but Alphonse here fell in and told me about the two of you. You see I knew you were coming to Verona, Edward and when I found Alphonse and found out you were the two I was looking for, I decided to chase you in."

"Then what was all that stuff with the ground sinking in and trying to roll me up??"

"To test you," Howl said with a shrug.

"Then I bet you trapped us here on purpose, didn't you?"

"No…well…yes…"

Ed dropped his fork.

"Well I had only planned on saying I lost the door my accident but as it turned out I really did lose it."

"Just what kind of wizard are you anyway?!" Ed banged his fists on the table. Everyone's plates went flying.

"I thought you didn't believe in magic?" Howl taunted him, totally calm.

"I don't! Magic is fake, stupid, useless rubbish! Besides Al and I can't help you. We can't do alchemy anymore."

Ed sat down hard and Al looked off a little sad and disappointed.

"Well I suppose you have a point," Howl twirled his fork in the air. "You are a little small for the big job I had prepared for you. Maybe I should find someone taller?"

"What'd you say??" Ed snapped. "Who are you calling a pathetic little worm whose stature resembles that of a bean??" Out of instinct and anger he slapped his hands together and threw them down onto the table. A wave of spikes jutted out from the top. Everyone except for Howl fell over, plates and food clattered to the floor and when it was over Ed stood there panting, veins practically popping out of his forehead. Morgan remained on one end of the table giggling and clapping while Heen squeaked and ran about the table. Al stared with his mouth open.

"Nii-san! You transmuted the table!!!!"

Howl smiled. "You were saying, Edward?"