FMA Fanfic: The Lost Heaven (Chap 12/Final)
Disclaimer: I do not own any character in FMA or Alphonse Elric would turn into uke for every other character in FMA. So, please don't sue me!
Characters involved: Al, Ed, 'Father', 'Truth', Roy, Riza, Winry, Chang Mei, Ran Fan, Greed!Yao Ling, Pride!Xing Emperor, Envy, Wrath, Izumi
Chapter 12/Final: Rebirth
Ed, Roy, Riza who was carrying Chang Mei and Xiao Mei on her back, Ran Fan and Winry reached the main gate of the palace. By then, Chang Mei had regained her conscious and was asking for whereabouts of Alphonse which Winry told her in short sentences. Chang Mei was horror-struck. Being living in the palace since birth, Chang Mei and Ran Fan were able to lead the rest to an unguarded area where they could sneak in.
"Colonel, you have been giving me enough help, I can save Al by myself." Ed said gruffly.
"What are you talking about, Fullmetal? We were in this together and we can t leave you kids to get into dangers!" Roy exclaimed in low voice as he shifted through the dark tunnel that led into the subway of the building: "Besides, I still owe Alphonse some favors."
Riza smiled: "Your brother will be safe."
"Winry..." Ed started.
"Don't talk me out of this, I don t want to wait for you guys anymore. " Winry cut across before he could complete his words.
"But I might not be able to protect you along the way.."
"Shhh, someone might hear us." Ran Fan hushed.
"I don't understand, wouldn't you be going against the Yao Clan's will?" Chang Mei asked suspiciously.
"I just want to save Young Master's soul and that's matter." Ran Fan said: "Enough words, we're going to reach the ground level soon." Silently, they walked through the underground subway and climbed through a ladder that led to the corridor of Xing palace.
Along the way, the soldiers and generals were no match for Ed, Roy and Chang Mei s alchemy. With support from Riza's shooting skill and Ran Fan's martial arts skill, they processed quickly through the palace.
Until they were confronted by Envy and an unfamiliar man in royal attire who was followed by several Xingness generals.
"That is outrageous, Ran Fan." The noble looking man said: "Do you know the punishment of assisting foreign intruders into our palace?"
"That is the current Pride or the former Xing emperor." Chang Mei whispered under her breath.
_
Light intruded into his eyes as Al fluttered his eyes opened. High ceiling with Xingness arts engraved on it came into his sight. Al shifted his limbs uneasily and found his fractured arm and leg mended as good as new.
"How's your rest, Alphonse?" asked Father s voice. Al quickly jerked up and found himself lying on the ground of a large hall in the center of a transmutation circle. The only fortunate thing was, Al was not tied up. Father was standing, looking at the large window openings overseeing the entire nation of Xing. Al noticed there was a staircase leading out of the hall at a corner.
"You may decide whether you wish to run after I show you something, Alphonse." Father turned to face Al and smiled benignly. His hand motioned Al to walk over to his side. Al glared at him and with his eyes at the man; he walked carefully to the window openings.
Al's jaws fell. Below the tower, the entire country was enveloped within a giant transmutation circle just like the time when Scar did the same to the city of Lior years ago.
"I'm sure you know what it means." Father said. It was not a demand, but a threat. Al stared back at him, his eyes widened with disbelief.
"You can't do this. You are eliminating this entire country!" Al yelled.
"Well?" Father glanced back at him calmly and waited for Al s answer.
"You have no Philosopher's stone right now, so there's nothing I can do." Al muttered, hoping to find a loophole to get out of the trouble.
"I have the stone Archer had extracted from Sloth hours ago from the burning site." Father said, holding out the stone to Al: "I do not wish to wait any longer."
Al looked back at the transmutation circle and then at the stone.
Think about your elder brother and your friends who are within this country. They are still alive when I took you here.
Al looked up at the man who resembled so much of his own father with lost expression. Who would think that this man would think up of something so malicious? The man smiled gently.
_
The main hall was in utter ruins as Pride and Envy fought against Ed, Roy, Riza, Chang Mei and Ran Fan.
"You people go first, we ll deal with them!" Roy yelled to Chang Mei, Ran Fan and Ed.
"That's not possible," Envy grinned: "You see, there'll be only one alchemist and one Lt ranked soldier here." Behind them, merged countless chimeras alongside with Pride and Envy.
"They have us!" A feminine voice called as the ground rose to slap Envy onto the ground. The dust subsided to show Armstrong, Cony, Izumi and Wrath. Izumi smiled at Ed: "We came here once Armony told us what happened back there. Hope we're not too late."
"Sorry, we re leaving our posts, Colonel." Armstrong told Roy.
"Are we too late?" asked Cony, looking at the opponents around them: "We saw chaos and ruins everywhere the moment we stepped foot into this country."
"Is Al still alive?" Wrath asked, looking around the hall anxiously for the other boy. He had grown rather close to Al ever since Ed first went over to the other side of the Gate of Transmutation.
"Al is in the hands of someone very difficult, but I'm going to save him now. Arigato, Sensei, we'll make our move first!" Ed called and ran off with Winry, Ran Fan and Chang Mei.
"Stay safe!" Izumi and Riza yelled to them as they assisted Armstrong, Cony, Roy and Wrath fighting Envy and Pride.
"That man probably has Alphonse up in the main tower of the palace." Ran Fan said thoughtfully as they ran. She looked at the Philosopher's Stone in her hand: "But without this stone, he ll not be able to do a thing ."
"Is that so, Ran Fan?" A cold familiar voice of Greed!Yao Ling said from the top of a staircase to the tower.
"Ling!" called Ed.
"That's Greed to you." Greed!Yao Ling said looking at Ran Fan: "To think that the person whom I entrust most have actually betrayed me."
"I've no time to waste on you, I m going to get Young Master back RIGHT NOW!" yelled Ran Fan angrily. Digging into her pocket, she extracted the stone and tossed it to Ed.
"What?" Ed glared not understanding.
"I trust you." Ran Fan said: "You'll help me get the man to bring Young Master back, won't you?" She looked at Greed!Yao Ling: "In the meantime, I ll have to take him down and tie him up until Young Master gains his body back."
"Errr, let's have this idea." Ed said, tossing the stone back to Ran Fan: "You ll hold onto the stone and I'll bring Ling, I mean Greed down."
"I'll go and get Alphonse-sama out of there!" Chang Mei exclaimed and attempted to get past Greed!Yao Ling.
There was a yelp as the man moved swiftly and cut Chang Mei through her chest. Chang Mei gave an expression of disbelief as she fell through the staircase into the eternal darkness below. Winry shrieked and tried to hold onto her hand by the side of the staircase, but they missed by mere inches. Xiao Mei grasped and jumped after her mistress.
"I can't let you commit anymore sins, Young Master!" Ran Fan screamed and attacked Greed!Yao Ling with her sword.
Without any hesitation, Greed!Yao Ling stabbed her through her chest. Ran Fan still held the shock expression as she collapsed on the floor step in a pool of blood. The person whom she had wanted to protect She could feel her life dripping away ..
"RAN FAN!" Ed and Winry screamed as they attempted to stop him.
"Help me... To get Young Master back ., won't you?" Ran Fan stammered before she drifted into her eternal sleep.
"YOU BASTARD!" Ed roared as he pounced at the man. Winry pulled him back. Greed!Yao Ling was struggling with himself, holding onto his head.
"You . Killed her yyou beast .. Unforgiveable .!" Yao Ling growled and suddenly stabbed himself to pull out his own Philosopher's stone and let it drop into the darkness below him: "What's the use of this stone if the one I treasure most is dead?"
"That's my body now, Prince of Xing, or have you forgotten the first time when we first communicate in this body?" sniggered Greed within him.
"I'll not let you take over me this time, I'll rather perish with you!" bellowed Yao Ling.
"LING!" Ed cried out, but Yao Ling gave him last friendly grin. Holding Ran Fan in his arms, he let himself fall through the hollows in the middle of the spiral staircase. From above, Ed could hear Yao Ling's last lingering words in the air...
Goodbye, my Amestris friend ...
Tears streamed down Ed's eyes as he and Winry made their way into the great tower.
_
Al was in daze when he took the Philosopher's Stone from 'Father' and stepped into the transmutation circle. Under the watchful eyes of 'Father', he clapped his hands and hit the ground. The transmutation circle glowed.
Afar, Al thought he could hear Ed calling his name.
Nii-san..., are you coming for me?
Ed and Winry reached the top of the tower just in time to see Al enveloped within the light of transmutation circle. Transmutation circles appeared around Al as he transmuted himself with the Philosopher s Stone.
Flashes of memories appeared before Ed eyes.
Al was a few months old and he was learning how to walk ..
Winry, Ed and Al were laughing when they were playing games outside their house .
Al's tears as he glanced at their mother s grave
Al's screams when he was dragged into the Gate of Transmutation during their attempt to revive their mother ..
Every bit of Al s joy and sorrow throughout their journey in search of the Philosopher s Stone and their life in the other side of the Gate, whether as a suit of armor or as a human being .
"ALLLLL!" Ed screamed. He tried to touch the light, to reach his brother's body . He saw Al gasped and lifted his arm slightly as if considering grabbing his elder brother s hand, but thought better of it. He looked sadly at him and his lips seemed to mouth: "Arigato and gomene sai, nii-san.."
"No, I WILL NOT LEAVE YOU AGAIN! I'VE SAID I'LL PROTECT YOU!" bellowed Ed hoarsely. With unthinkable surge of strength, he leaped and his hands went through the beam of light as the form of Al began to vanish. To his astonishment, Ed found his fingers vanishing. As Ed yelled in shock, the effect spread to the rest of his body.
"ED!" He heard Winry screamed fearfully behind him as she tried desperately to reach for him. Before she could touch his fingers, Ed disappeared before her very eyes.
As the last of the outside hall as well as Ed and Winry vanished from his sight, Al felt floor began to fall away under his feet, hurling him into blinding brightness. He could feel Father stepping into the circle with him and abruptly, the man vanished from his side as brightness blinded his vision.
Gate of Transmutation, return us to where we belong. Al whispered almost to himself. Bright light radiated through his skin like a halo and it enveloped him.
Bright vertical beam shot from the transmutation circle into the sky, broke into the overcastting clouds and spread outwards.
Izumi and Wrath felt themselves vanishing as the light flooded them. Izumi smiled and held Wrath s hand as they disappeared together. Envy was about to deliver his blow on Armstrong before he disappeared into thin air. Roy was surprised to see that the sword of Pride failed to fall onto him and saw the man vanishing before his eyes.
Chimeras and attacking Xingness soldiers, like the vanishing soldiers were disappearing the moment the light swept into them. Wherever the light touched, people vanished randomly. Cony . Camellia . Leonardo Triffany . Godoa Corpses of Scar, Lust and Archer . Like illusions, the buildings of Xing swayed and vanished.
From the headquarter of Amestris, Hughes looked up into the sky: Look like you ve made it. Goodbye, Roy, my old friend. Like ice, his body dissolved within the flooding light. Armony was looking at the photos of the Elric brothers before she turned into nothing upon the touch of the light . Out in the city of Amestris, buildings reverted back to normal and Drachma recovered from its supposed destruction.
Roy looked up into the clearing sky as many people around him fell back and vanished into dust. Out in the disappearing street, Dante attempted to reach the man in front of her.
"Why, Hohenheim , why did you forsake me for someone else? Doesn t my young appearance please you?"
"Dante, you still don t understand. I love Trisha not for her beauty, but for her heart. I'll never love you again, Dante, because you have lost what human beings initially have that is love for mankind..." Dante heard the man whispered before she felt herself vanished into thin air. Hohenheim gave his last sigh of relief as he felt himself floating out of Lt Havoc s body.
Lt Havoc cleared his vision to find himself standing in a deserted land and made his way to find Roy and Riza standing in daze at the abrupt change. Winry walked towards them, feeling lost and confused.
Ed and Al are gone . Tears streamed down from her eyes.
In a dimension, amidst the setting sun, Sophie looked up from the train platform to see the track where she last saw Ed, Armor!Al and Winry left on a departing train. She had a long strange dream a moment ago just after the train departed. It was a bittersweet dream.
"Will I be able to see them again?" thought Sophie gloomily. She touched her cheek and was surprised to see her fingers streaked with warm tears.
In the other dimension, Camellia was making her way from the city where she had her last battle against the Elric brothers for what she had done to Armony. She looked back at the snowy mountain, not understanding some strange memories that flashed through her mind, shrugged and continued her way again.
Across the other dimension, Cony was thrilled to start her job as Alchemist of Tuning with encouragement from Ed and Armor!Al as well as help from Major Armstrong after her search for her elder brother ended. She looked up into the clear blue skies, wondering what caused her to have strange memories of certain events crossing her mind in a moment of time.
It was Year 2008. Germany, Berlin.
The street was bustling with activities as a black hair lady-Izumi was taking her little boy-Wrath out to the market place buying daily groceries. At the other end of the road, a man with tanned skin-Scar was looking bored with his black hair girlfriend-Lust as officer Hughes boosted about his cute daughter for the 30th times outside the police station. Outside a shop, officer Archer was being reprimanded by his superior for trying to intimidate a shopkeeper s daughter-Armony into giving him protection money.
In a hospital ward, 1-year-old Ed was called to his parents-Trisha and Hohenheim's side to see his newborn younger brother-Al. The baby had been crying ever since he was extracted from his mother s womb. Ed moved closer to the baby and placed his little finger to the baby s tiny hand. Baby Al grasped it tightly and broke into his first smile.
"I think Al likes you, Ed." Trisha smiled: "He s your younger brother, you ll protect him, won't you?" Little Ed smiled and nodded, returning his gaze to his younger brother.
In the gate, 'Truth' looked back at the repaired Gate of Transmutation and sighed in disappointment.
"That's too much, it's barely a month when that little boy returned to his own world and now everything is back to normal again. He is not following my advice at all! Looks like my boring time is back again."
He recalled 'Father's question about his real identity ..
"It's you again, old boy, what do you want to know?" Truth had asked when Father appeared before him.
"Who am I?" Father asked: "Why am I so different from normal people?"
"Oh, if you say so." Truth said and with a wave of his hand, floods of memories and past zigzagged through Father s mind. He saw himself as the original frame of the Gate of Transmutation. With other identical piece of similar frame, they descended into the human world in the form of men.
Father's face relaxed into realisation, but his expression staggered as Truth added: "However, in my effort not to disrupt my fun, you ll forget whatever I ve said the moment you leave this place."
"But wait!" Father yelled anxiously: "Why did you abandon me, why do you not want me? WHY?" Father screamed, as he was hurled into other dimension through the gate.
Because, I need you to create more stories and funs in the human world." Grinned Truth as the final trace of Father vanished from his sight.
Out in other dimension, Father was sitting on his throne-like chair within the dark subway tunnel, with a hand tapping on an arm of his throne, trying to recall his earlier dream of meeting Truth. Remembering none, he sighed with a frown and called Envy to him.
"I want you to monitor the suitable candidates for my blood sacrifice ritual." Father said.
"Sure, no problem, Father!" grinned the shorter man.
_
The End _
AU: Chapter 10 - 12 of this fanfic were actually done 5 years ago when the anime hasn't been remake based on manga completed plot.. I've completedly forgotten to post them onto ff net account due to the little reviews during that time. By now, my interest in FMA has already cooled and I'm more onto Naruto. But during that time, I did quite a number of FMA fanfic, but not as much as Inuyasha's...