Chapter 3: Lead Astray

ZUKO'S P.O.V.

"God's children who live upon this land. Pray and faith and thee shall be saved. Those who have lost thy way the Sun God Leto shall shine…"

The strange box which Ed called a Radio, continued to speak of this Leto...

The shop keeper looked at us and said, "So what are you guys? Like street performers or something?"

Ed then growls out, "Seriously, Do we look like street performers to you!?"

The shop keeper nodded and said, "Yeah all those weird colors and clothes..."

Ed groaned and said, "Let's go."

Sokka sighed and said, "But my food!"

Ed glared at him and said, "I'll take you out later! Let's just go!"

Al stood up and accidentally knocked over the radio on to the ground.

"Hey! Easy, eh!? Do you got enough to buy me a new one?!"

I looked up and said, "Sorry, accident. We'll fix it."

The keep looked at us and asked, "How's that? It's broken to hell!"

Ed smirked and said, "Watch and learn."

Al pulled out a piece of chalk and began drawing out the transmutation circle.

Over the few days I've known my half brothers I've learned quite a bit about alchemy and how it works.

In order to use alchemy you need to know what your doing, have a complete matrix, and understand the concept of Equivalent Exchange.

Al crossed his arms and said, "Okay. Here it goes!"

The circle lit up in sparks and the radio reformed like it was brand new.

Aang smirked and said,"There, see? How was that?"

The shop keep and his patrons stared at us in amazement.

Then the keep said, "Amazing! It's a miracle! You've been touched by the Sun God! Just like Father Cornello!"

Ed raised an eyebrow and said, "Touched by who now?"

Toph replied, "It's not a miracle, it's Alchemy."

One of the man looked at us and said, "Oh, so you guys are alchemists. Right, I've heard of them."

Sokka replied, "Actually Ed and Al are the only alchemist here."

Ed nodded and said, "Then maybe you've heard of us! We're the Elric Brothers!"

The shop keeper rubbed his chin and said, "The Elric Brothers, you say..."

The man from before said, "Wait…I do know that name. The Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric is that right?"

The citizens began gathering around Al and saying, "Wow…So you're the young prodigy they tells the stories about?"

Al waved his hands in protest and said, "No, um... It's not me!"

They all turn to Ed who look furious.

The guy then said, "What? You mean it's the little guy?"

Oh no... He said the 'L' word...

Ed screamed at the top of his lungs, "WHO'S LITTLE?! COME UP HERE AND SAY IT TO MY FACE, I DARE YOU!"

Everyone backed way and Ed looked at the bar keep, "So, what's with this guy on the radio?"

He replied, "Th…That's our leader, Father Cornello... We were lost, until he came to town and began teaching us all the ways of the Sun God Leto. He grants eternal life to the souls of the faithful. He can even resurrect the dead! His miracles are proof that what he says is true!"

I heard Ed's teeth grind at the mention of bringing back the dead.

Ed looked toward the church and said, "So this guy's claiming he can bring the dead back to life? Now that's something I got to see..."

We all began walking into the church only to see a young woman praying, "Oh merciful God, please hear me, hear my prayer, I beg of you. Please bring him back."

Ed then step forward and said, "Heh…So this is the almighty Leto…?"

The woman smiled and said, "Welcome my name is Rose, are you all interested in Letoism?"

Aang replied, "Sorry, previously obligated to another religion."

Ed replied, "Nope, can't say I am. Not really the religious type."

Rose gave a soft smile and said, "Well, I'm sorry to hear that… To know God is to know hope…If we believe in divine grace, and through him all things are possible…If you believe, I'm sure Leto would bless you and make you grow taller!"

Ed growled out, "WHAT'S THAT SUPPOSED TO MEAN?"

I smirked and said, "Easy Ed! She's just trying to help!"

He looked at me and said, "You are enjoying this too much, aren't you Zuko?"

I smirked and said, "What your big brother can give you a little bit of hassle?"

He yelled, "WHO YOU CALLING' LITTLE?!"

I laughed and said, "I'm only kidding Ed..."

Ed sat down and looked at Rose. "What about bringing the dead back to life? Do you believe that's possible too?"

She gave a quiet nod and Ed pulled out a journal.

He opened it up and closed it saying from memory, "Water thirty five Liters, carbon twenty kilograms, ammonia four Liters, lime one point five kilograms, phosphorus eight hundred grams, salt two hundred and fifty grams, saltpeter one hundred grams, and various other trace elements..."

All of us except Al said, "Huh!?"

Ed calmly said, "That list represents the complete chemical makeup of a human body for the average adult. It's been calculated to the last micro gram, but still there has never been one reported case of successfully creating a human life. And you're telling me something modern science can't do, you can do with prayer?"

Katara looked at him and said, "Ed I think she just hopeful maybe..."

Rose yelled, "Lift thy voice to God! And the prayers of the faithful shall be answered!"

Ed looked at her and said, "Did I mention all those ingredients I read off? Down at the market, a kid could buy every one of them for the spare change in his pocket. As it turns out, humans are pretty cheap."

Sokka said, "Ed...I think you need to rethink..."

Rose once again yelled, "No, that's blasphemy! People are…we're all children of God...created in his image!"

Ed smirked and said, "Heh. You have to understand, alchemists are scientists. We don't believe in unprovable concepts like creators or gods... We observe the physical laws that govern this world to try to learn the truth. It's ironic, really. That through the application of science, we have in many ways been given the power to play gods ourselves."

She then said, "So you're putting yourself on the same level as God? That's just...sheer arrogance!"

Ed glared at her and said, "You know there's an old myth…about a hero who flew on wings made of wax... He thought he could touch the sun, but when he got too close, his wings melted, and he came crashing back down to earth... Right, Al?"

Al shook his head and said, "Brother..."

Ed sighed and said, "Listen, I'm sorry, Miss…this is difficult for me to ask…But do you think your Father Cornello could even save an arrogant scientist like me?"

Rose smiled and said, "Of course, that's wonderful! If anyone can lead you to the creator, he can."

We began to walk away with Rose.

Al looked at me and said, "Nii-san, are you alright?"

I nodded and said, "Yeah, it's just... I never seen Ed act like that..."

Al nodded and said, "It comes with the territory I suppose... He doesn't mean anything by it Nii-san... He just doesn't want to offer a false hope... He rather say a horrible truth, then tell a hopeful lie."

A man stepped in front of us and said, "Hello, I am Brother Cray. This way please. The Father Cornell is a busy man as you can imagine. But you're in luck. He decided to spare moment to you."

He lead us in the room and Sokka said, "Yeah, thanks! And we understand! We won't take too much of his time!"

Cray smirked and said, "Good…And it's agreed. We'll make this quick."

He pulled out a strange looking device and pointed at us.

I looked at Ed and Rose who was absolutely terrified by the mechanism.

What the heck is it?

"Brother Cray…What is this!? What do you think you're doing!?" Rose screamed out.

Cray pointed the object at Al and said, "Rose, these heathens have come to ensnare and discredit the Father. They're evil! This is God's will!"

She whispered with tears rolling down her eyes, "Brother Cray…"

Ed respond, "Well, like you said…Let's make this quick!"

Ed knocks the device out of Cray's hands causing it to go off and sent something flying through my arm.

I yelled in agony as I gripped my arm and fell to the floor.

The warm blood began to trickled down my arm and through my fingers.

Al yelled, "Nii-san's been shot!"

Ed knocked out Cray and looked at me.

I asked, "What was that thing?!"

Ed said, "That is a gun, it sent a small piece of metal into your arm."

"What's this commotion? Ah, the Fullmeatal Alchemist. Welcome to our home of sacred order."

Rose smiled and said, "Father Cornello!"

A bald man in ornate robes walked in and said, "I must apologize for my disciple's behavior. It would seem, they've misguided."

Ed looked at Katara and Toph and said, "Get the bullet out and seal off the wound I'll distract him."

Ed looked up as Cornello as Toph quickly got the bullet out (Which was extremely painful...) and Ed said, "Okay, let's say I believe you weren't the one who guiding them. What next?"

He smiled and said, "Have you come to learn the ways of Leto?"

Ed replied, "Well, there's few things I'm curious about. Like how you've been using second rate Alchemy to deceive your followers."

Cornello laughed and said, "My dear boy, I don't know what you mean. What you're doubting I see as Alchemy are the miracles of Sun God Leto."

He held up his hand and a statue appeared and he said, "Look again. Could mere Alchemy create something out of nothing in this way?"

Ed smirked and said, "Yeah…That's what's I didn't get it first. How can you perform transmutations that ignore "the Law of Equivalent Exchange"?"

Cornello laughed and said, "As I said! Because it isn't Alchemy!"

Ed continued while Katara pulled out her water and began closing my wound, "Then, I started thinking about it. If you'd somehow manage to acquire certain object to amplify your Alchemy. One that said to make impossible possible. That would've explain everything!"

Cornello responded, "What?"

Ed yelled, "I'm talking about the Philosopher's stone. Your ring! That's it isn't it!? I've been looking for that!"

Cornello showed the ring and the bright red stone on it and said, "The ring is just a ring. I am God's humble servant and from him alone that have my power!"

Ed laughed and said, "Still try to sell that line, huh? If that's the way you wanna play, then I guess I have to come up and beat some true out of you!"

He grabbed his fist ready to fight.

Cornello replied, "My…you really are quite incorrigible heathen aren't you? Rose dear…"

She replied, "Yes, Father…?"

He smirked and said, "See that gun beside you…pick it up."

She obey the man orders to a tee.

Then he said the thing that made me snap.

"Now, child I want you to shoot Fullmetal Alchemist."

She gasped and said, "No, I…Father I can't do that!"

I stood up and yelled at Cornello while still gripping my numb arm, "You leave them alone Cornello! You hear me! Leave my brothers out of this!"

He glared at me and said, "Well aren't you quite the hot head..."

Cornello looked at Rose and said, "I am the Sun God chosen emissary. My word is the word of Leto himself. Shoot him Rose. It's God's will. Why hesitate? When you lost your fiancé, due that tragic accident last year, who was it that save you from the very depth of despair? Have you forgotten?"

She cried out, "It was you…Father…"

He smiled and said, "That's right! It was I who took your hand and let you into God's light! And you recall what it was I would have promised you then?"

She yelled with tears streaming down her face, "You said it if I pray, you'll bring him back to life!"

She pointed the gun at Al with shaky hands. Al yelled, "No, wait! It's not me! I'm his…"

Ed yelled, "LISTEN! I'M THE FULLMETAL ALCHEMIST! YOU GET THAT!?"

Cornello sat back surprised and said, "Him!?"

Ed yelled in pure fury, "IT'S ME YOU IDIOTS!"

Cornello sat back and said, "It's the short one!? You're kidding!"

She pointed the gun at Ed and said, "I'm sorry…but I…I have to do this. I don't have any choice…"

Ed said calmly, "He been lying to you Rose."

Aang nodded and said, "Rose, taking someone's life is not the answer here."

She cried out, "You're wrong! I've seen his miracles! Father Cornello will bring him back to life! I have faith!"

Ed then said, "Fine, then shoot."

Then I hear a loud bang and Al falls over backwards.

Ed and I both yell, "Al!"

Rose screamed in terror of what she just did.

Cornello smiled and said, "Good. God Leto is pleased. You have done well my child. Now pick up the gun and shoot the others as well."

Al sat up with out his helmet and said, "Haven't you made her do enough already?"

Cornello stepped back in surprise and said, "What?!"

Rose looked at Al with tears grazing her eyes and said, "Your…head…I thought you were…"

I replied, "Don't worry about it. He is pretty solid."

Al picked up his helmet and said, "Yeah. See? No harmed at all."

Cornello yelled out, "An empty suit of armor that walks and speaks!? You still doubt it Rose? This unholy thing is an abomination! Evil of this kind must be purged!"

He pulled a lever and a horrible creature with the body of a cat and the features of a wolf came walking out.

Cornello smiled and said, "And I believe my Chimera should be up for to the task!"

Ed scoffed him and said, "So this is the sort of thing you do with the Philosopher's stone? That's just twisted…Anyway…looks like I need a weapon."

Ed clapped his hands and formed a long spear with bat wings on it and held it up.

Cornello gasped and said, "No transmutation circles!? So the State Alchemist highly isn't just for show. You truly are gifted! However…"

The chimera came running up and sliced through his spear and ran it along his left leg.

"Your little spear is no much for Chimera's claws and tears through skin!"

The creatures claws came falling off.

Ed smirked and said, "Huh! You've shredded my pants! I guess those claws don't do so good against steel!"

He showed off his automail leg.

Cornello yelled to his creature, "Bite him! You stupid beast!"

The chimera bites down on to Ed's arm and Ed laughs out, "You like that kitty? Go on…get the good taste!"

Ed pulls his automail arm out of the beast's mouth and knocks it out.

His automail limbs were now in complete view and Cornello was staring in complete shock.

"Your arm and leg are both automail. A brother trapped in armor! I see. It's all becoming clear now. You did it, didn't you? The one thing even the most novice alchemist knows is strictly forbidden!"

Ed tore off his jacket showing his full extent of his automail.

He yelled, "Why don't you come down here and try me! I'll show you real quick who the novice is!"

Cornello yelled to Rose, "Rose...this is the price of their sin...These fools attempted human transmutation…the greatest taboo for any alchemist! In their arrogance, they tried to bring someone dead back to life!"

Her eyes widen and she cried out, "Oh no..."

Ed looks at her and said, "This is what happens when you try to play God, or whatever you want to call it... Take a good look, Rose. Is this what you want?"

Cornello laughed and said, "So this is the great Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric…Not even half a man...! Hell, not even half a boy!"

Ed yelled right back, "And what're you!? You're just a phony that can't do anything without a Philosopher's stone!"

Al looked at him and said, "Father. We just want you to hand over the Stone before you get hurt."

Cornello laughed and said, "Don't be absurd! Why, so you can use it for yourself!? Please…If you fools are really so eager to play God, then perhaps I should send you to meet him instead!"

Cornello turned his cane into some sort of weapon.

Ed smirked and said, "Nah. Me and god, we don't get along too well. Even if I went... he'd probably just send me right back here."

Ed quickly raised a wall and more of those bullet things came flying at us.

Ed looked at me and said, "Dammit Zuko, why aren't you letting Katara heal you?!"

I yelled, "You had that... thing pointed at you and Al, do you really think I'm going to sit idly by while my little brothers are in danger!"

My head began spinning and Ed said, "No, but your losing too much blood... Come on Zuko, stay awake..."

But it was too late for that... I fell backwards and fell into darkness.

KATARA'S P.O.V.

"Alright I'm almost finished," Al said as he drew out a circle.

All of us were sitting on the bell tower while Ed distracted Cornello.

I was busy healing Zuko's arm, trying to seal the clean hole in his arm.

I've never dealt with a wound this advanced. There was a small piece of metal lodged into his arm earlier, it must have been traveling at lighting speed to make this bad of an injury.

I pulled my water back in and said, "I've stopped the bleeding but I've never dealt with a wound like this."

Al looked at me and said, "That's because you never seen guns before... Nii-san... is looking better but we'll take him to the hospital after this."

Toph asked, "What do you think of Cornello now, Rose? He just open fire. He didn't care if you're in the way."

She sobbed and said, "But…that's because…What he said back there was true isn't it?"

Al stopped drawing and looked at Rose. "We are not evil. All we wanted is to see our mom's smile again. But our transmutation failed. What we made…wasn't even human. We've learned our mistake the hard way. People don't come back from the dead. Not ever."

She cried, "That's not true! I mean…"

Al said calmly, "Alchemy is based on "the Law of Equivalent Exchange"...The price of even a failed human transmutation was enormous...It cost my brother his left leg...and it cost me my whole body..."

Al lifted off his helmet and said, "Do you see it...? My brother drew that with his own blood. His leg had been taken. He was bleeding. I can't imagine the pain he was in...But through all that, he still gave up his right arm to transmute my soul, and bonded me to this suit of armor. Now, I just want to help him get his body back to the way it was. He wants to find a way to get me back to normal, too. It won't be easy. We might even get killed along the way... But that's the path we chose... All we can do is keep moving."

She sobbed out, "But, father Cornello said…he said he could do and he promised me…Just because you and your brother failed but that doesn't mean…it doesn't mean he will!"

Al placed his hands on the circle and the bell turned into a speaker.

Then I heard Cornello's voice. "There you are, you infernal brat!"

Ed replied, "Look, can we just cut the crap and talk here...? All I want are some straight answers about the stone. Tell me what I need to know and I'll be on my way... or we could get the military involved."

Cornello gasped and said, "Agh!...Ask your questions."

Ed asked, "You could do anything with the Philosopher's stone, right...? So why waste all of that power performing phony "miracles"?"

Cornello laughed and said, "Because with each miracle, I can attract new believers to the order. Believers who would lay down their lives for my sake. I'm slowly building an army! A legion of holy warriors, unafraid to die! In a few more years, I'll be ready to unleash this mindless horde upon the world! And I'll use the Philosopher's stone to tear this country apart. Who knows? I might even carve you out a slice for you!"

Then Edward started to laughing out loud.

Cornello asked, "Wait, what are you laughing about?"

Ed snickered and said, "I knew it…you really are a novice, aren't you?"

Aang looked at her and said, "They were never any miracles Rose. He lied to you. And he lied to everyone."

"Shut up! Just give me the Philosopher's stone!" Ed yelled as we entered the room.

Cornello was trapped under a fist and his arm was fused with what ever his cane turned into.

The gem on Cornello's ring rolls off and turns to dust.

Ed stared in shock and said, " What the hell...? The stone... It's supposed to be a perfect material; how did it just break like that?!"

Cornello shook his head and said, "I-I don't know! I don't know anything about it! S-Spare me! Please! I– I was wrong! Please! I beg you!"

Ed whispered, "It's a damn fake..."

Cornello begged, "Please don't! I am helpless without the Stone! Spare me, please!"

Ed looked up and said, "You mean, we went through all this... risked our lives just for this one possible chance... and it's a fake?!"

Cornello looked up at Edward and asked, "So, uh... Haha, what about me?"

Ed yelled, "I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU DO! JUST GET OUTTA HERE!"

Cornello screeched and said, "Right!"

He ran away from the church.

Al walked up to him with Zuko cradled in his arms and said, "Brother... Nii-san needs a doctor."

Ed nodded and said, "Then let go find one."

We stared out of the church when I heard the click of the weapon Ed called a gun.

I turned around to see Rose pointing it at Ed.

She cried out, "Give me the Philosopher's Stone!"

I whispered, "Rose..."

Ed looked at her and said, "Look, I was just saying, it was a fake. It wasn't real. Besides, it's shattered now."

She yelled, "Liar! You kept it for yourself, didn't you!? So you can use it on your bodies...That's right! And so you can try to bring your mother back again!"

Ed yelled, "You shut up! People don't come back from the dead, Rose. Not ever. Not ever!"

Rose fell to the ground crying out, "But he promised me...he said if I prayed, it would happen...A miracle...That hope was all I had left! What am I supposed to believe in now?! Tell me what to do... please..."

Ed replied, "I can't tell you that...You have to figure it out. Stand up and walk. Keep moving forward. You've got two good legs. So get up and use them. You're strong enough to make your own path."

I looked at Ed and said, "Ed..."

He looked at Zuko and said, "Come on, we need to get him there fast, it looks like he's getting worse."

We all began a mad dash for the hospital.

EDWARD'S P.O.V.

"Uhh... Where am I?" Zuko asked as he looked around the room with a painful look on his face.

He had an I.V. in his left arm while his right arm sat in a sling covered in a mountain of gauze.

His eyes gently shifted to me and he said in a hoarse voice, "Ed?"

I smiled and said, "Hey Big Bro... It good to see you awake. You're in the East City Hospital, which we got you transferred from the one in Liore for better care and you been out for almost two weeks straight... You nearly bleed out on us back in Liore... You scared the living shit out of everyone, you idiot..."

Zuko smiled and said, "Hey, don't say you wouldn't do the same thing if me or Al had been on the line. You're just as reckless as me when it comes to the ones we love."

I gave a small laugh and said, "Yeah I guess I would... but that makes us both idiots..."

He gave a small laugh and started cringing up in pain.

I asked, "How bad does your arm hurt?"

He replied, "Everywhere else is sore as hell... but my arm... it's numb... Like I can't feel it very well..."

He wiggled his fingers a bit and cringed in more pain.

"Okay...don't do that again..." He said as he looked at his hand.

I nodded and said, "Figures... The bullet landed in your nerve endings in the middle of your arm, almost severed them... It will take some time to heal properly, and you'll have to take it real easy with that arm until you're out of remission. Even after remission is out, you'll have to be careful about fighting with that arm."

He tilted his head and asked, "What would happen if I didn't?"

I replied, "Your arm goes completely dead from your shoulder down, and becomes completely useless, unless you want automail... but that would mean cutting off your arm."

He cringed at the mentioned of severing his arm.

"I'll go easy then..."

I nodded and said, "Good, because I don't want you going through automail surgery... Hurt's like hell..."

He asked, "Hey Ed? Have you been shot?"

I looked at him and asked, "Where and how bad?"

He gawked at me and said, "You been shot at?!"

I nodded and said, "One in my shoulder... one in my leg... and one in my rib cage... It comes with the job..."

He looked at me and said, "So you felt that pain three times?"

I nodded and said, "Yeah, but that doesn't compare to the mark on your chest."

He sighed and said, "You know how I told you I had to duel my sister and I won..."

I nodded and he said, "Well before I did... She tried to kill Katara with lighting... I jumped in front of it and well..."

I looked at him and said, "You survived being struck by lighting?! That's unbelievable..."

I smiled and said, "You know we really are idiots... we almost get killed and then we jump right back into trouble..."

The door opened and Al and the others came walking in.

Al walked up to Zuko and said, "Nii-san! Are you okay?"

He nodded and said, "I've just got to take it easy for a while... torn nerve endings... Is that right Ed?"

I nodded and said, "Doctor say he's extremely lucky that someone was able to stop the bleeding or he wouldn't be here right now."

Katara blushed and said, "I just did my job..."

Zuko smiled and said, "And if you didn't, I'd be dead so thanks Katara..."

Toph walked over to Zuko's good arm, punched him, and said, "Don't ever do that again Zuko..."

He nodded and said, "Alright! Just no more hits... my body is sore enough."

I looked at Al and said, "Well while we're here we have research opportunity... Anyone up for a bit of reading?"

Aang and Sokka both raised their hands and I said, "Alright, you two can come."

Zuko smiled and said, "Stay out of trouble."

I nodded and said, "It's just books. We'll be back in the evening. Oh and the doctors said once you wake up you would be able to leave at the end of the week."

He nodded and said, "Good luck guys!"

Al waved and said, "Bye Nii-san! Bye Katara and Toph! We'll see you later!"

The four of us walked out of the door and down the hallway.

Aang looked at me and asked, "So Ed, where are we going to get books?"

I looked up and said, "We're going to visit the Sewing Life Alchemist, Shou Tucker at his home... He may just posses the way to get Al's body back... with or with out the Philosopher's Stone."

Sokka looked at me and asked, "Why is he call Sewing Life?"

I replied, "He made a chimera that could talk. Only said one thing though..."

Aang asked, "What did it say?"

I replied, "It said, 'I want to die...' Wouldn't eat until it got it's wish."