3 days went by fast. Ed got his automail fixed, fixed up Al, and we were off to Central.
When we got there, I can't say that I was exactly keen on not killing him.
"All of Marco's research! It's gone!" Apparently, the library that held research on the Philosopher's Stone . . . burned down.
"Edward, I'm going to tell you this because I love you . . . if you don't find another alternative, I will paralyze you until you grow 10 inches with every one of my Blood Blades." I knew he was scared 'cause I said everything in the calmest form.
"Sergeant Armstrong!" I turned to see two Sergeants.
"Sergeant Ross, and Brosh."
"You are to report to Central Command. We will take over from here," said Ross.
"Jeez, just when I think I'm home free, I'm consumed with more bodyguards?!"
We arrived to a small apartment, but when we opened the door it was covered in books. How the hell could someone live in this condition? "Um . . . are sure this person is alive?"
"One way to find out." As we're walking through the book-cluttered room, my necklace begins to act up. The light leads me to a pile of books . . . with a pleading hand sticking out of it! Uh . . . guys . . . there's someone in there!" Everyone rushed to the pile, throwing books off of the crushed victim.
"Thank You! I'm so sorry I got myself stuck under a whole mountain of books! I thought I was going to suffocate under there!"
"So, are you Sheska?" Ed asked, taking a book off of his head.
"Yes."
"And you worked at the library?"
"Oh, the library! The word itself is so beautiful! I've loved books my whole entire life, ever since I learned to read as a little girl! That job was heaven! But I forgot that I was supposed to be working, but all I ever did was read. So they fired me. If I don't find another job, I'll never be able to move my poor elderly mother into a better hospital. But I'm hopeless! The only good thing I can do is read. I'll never find a job as long as I live!"
"Excuse me. There was one thing we wanted to ask you."
"Yes?"
"Do you remember seeing any research written by someone named Tim Marco?"
"Let's see, Tim Marco? Where do I know that name? I remember now! There were some notes stuffed into a book where they didn't belong. Did you want to read them? Is that why you're asking?"
"Yeah, but it's too late, now. There nothing, but ashes."
"I remember everything that was in them. Will that help at all?"
"Wait a minute?" I began, "You remembered . . . everything?"
"It's just how I am. I can memorize all the content in the things I read." I can write them out for you."
"Thank you, Book Worm!"
"Your . . . welcome?"
5 days later, we returned. I can't believe that she wrote out all of the notes . . . in 5 days.
I picked one up and began to read it . . . but they were all cook books. "Are you sure this is Tim Marco's . . . research?"
"Yes. 1000 recipes."
"So we came all this way for a cookbook?" asked Ross, picking up a book, as well.
"Wait a minute," I began skimming through the book I held. "This is in code."
"Come again?"
"The notes are hidden inside the content. You just need to decipher it."
"Oh, yeah," Cut Alex. "I remember doing that in Magician Training. You see, some people have certain content that need to be hidden, so they write documents with their important content hidden inside."
"Well, then, thank you very much Sheska," said Ed, picking up a pile of books. "Let's get these back to Central." Walking out the door, Ed stopped and took out a small book from his Trench Coat's inside pocket. He ripped out a written page and gave it to Sergeant Ross. "Here's the amount and my Pocket Watch for I.D. Make sure she get's this right away."
"Yes, sir."
Back at Central, Ed and Al wanted to start deciphering tight away. "You sure you don't want any help?"
"Nope. We can take it from here."
"Well, okay. I'll come back to check up on you later on. Holler if you need me."
EDWARD P.O.V
"Why is this so damn hard to decipher?"
"Should we ask Doctor Marco for help?"
"No! That would admit to defeat!"
"So, this is a contest now?" I hear the door open, and Sheska walks in.
"Because of the money you gave me, I was able to put my mother into a better hospital. I wanted to thank you."
"It was no big deal."
"Have you had any luck on deciphering the notes, lately?"
" . . . Have you found a job, yet?"
" . . . Anyway, I'm glad I was able to help. It's not often that people ask for help from a freak like me."
"You're not a freak," Al cut in. "You are a talented girl. You should have more faith in yourself."
"Thank you, Al."
XENA P.O.V
"I don't understand. I don't need to learn magic. Besides, can't we do this outside?"
"You wanted to guard the library." In our spare time, Alex wanted to teach me what she was being taught. I have no idea why.
"Now, let's begin with something easy . . . and basic . . . and something that won't kill me: ice."
For 10 days, I've been in magic training. For 10 days, Ed and Al have been deciphering those books. I decided to check up on them after Alex's fire lesson (I suffered 3rd degree burns on my arms, so I tried to keep my jacket on). Before I could open the door, I heard Ed exclaim, "To hell with it!" I swung the doors open, with Brosh and Ross behind me, and saw Ed, fire in his eyes, books thrown to the floor.
"What happened?"
"We decrypted the notes," said Al.
"Isn't that a good thing?" asked Brosh.
"There's nothing good about it, damn it! This is the Devil's Research. It should've been destroyed."
"What's so evil about?" Guilt began to become noticeable on my face. I should've told Ed to save him the trouble, but I didn't want him to get like this.
"The main ingredient for a Philosopher's Stone . . . is Human Life." Everyone gasped, except for me. "Did you know, Xena?"
"Excuse me?"
"Don't mess with me!" He stood up . . . with one of my Blood Blades in his hands. If he used that on me, my whole body will be paralyzed until the user releases the victim.
He pinned me to the back wall. "You knew, didn't you?" I looked at his eyes, and guilt washed over my face. Instead of being crisp gold, his eyes were a piercing yellow.
"Edward . . . I . . ." He stabbed through my left shoulder with the Blood Blade until it stuck the wall. No one dares to go near Edward in this state, and I would encourage that.
"I'm tired of these secrets! If you have something to say, then say it!"
"I didn't tell you to protect you! I knew you would get this way if I did tell you! I'm only trying to protect you like I promised. I don't want to see you, or your brother, hurt." His eyes began changing back to their original state. "I made a promise, and I plan to keep it."
His head lowered. He pulled out the blade as I saw a single tear fall from his eyes. "I'm sorry . . ." He repeated this 2 times. I embraced him, holding him in his arms, his hand on the exit wound on the back of my shoulder.
"Me too. For now on, no more secrets. If want to know something, I'll tell you." As I still held Ed, I heard Alex whisper to Alphonse.
"You know, I think she may be the motherly type, after all."