After getting off the train, Ed mentioned the idea of getting something to eat, which I didn't mind. We stopped at this little hut where an old man made different kinds of soups. Hungry as could be, I got the steamy homemade shrimp ramen with cold milk to drink. The garlicky shrimp was heaven on earth and the cold milk was so refreshing. But I couldn't stop hearing the guy's radio that had some religious guy spurring words about faith and Leto. To me, it's all ancient stories that our ancestors told that got skewed by the oral tradition of passing them on.
"So do you think it's here, Ed?" I asked slurping my broth.
"I have a good feeling this time. I heard the priest here can perform miracles without abiding by the Laws of Equivalent Exchange. He can only do that with one thing only,"
"A Philosopher's Stone." Al finished.
We finished our soups and I looked at Al, who couldn't eat anything. I feel bad for him, I mean having my heart gone is bad, but he doesn't have a heart or body. No wonder why Ed wants the Philosopher Stone so badly, it's mainly for Alphonse, not him.
I then noticed soup man was watching us creepily. I gave him a death stare.
"Are you guys circus freaks?" He asked eyeing us up.
Ed and I were fuming while Al remained calm as always.
"Do we look like circus freaks?" Ed glared hardly as his stare shut the guy up.
We finally got up and paid but Al's gigantic knee bumped the ledge where the radio spewing mumbo-jumbo and smashed it to the ground!
"You broke my radio!" The soup guy yelled.
"I can fix it, watch." Al said with a cheery tone.
He pulled on some chalk and drew a transmutation circle and placed the radio inside the center. Al was actually drawing a huge crowd; it's like these people never seen alchemy before. Anyways, Al placed his hands on the circle and transmuted the clock back together. Then a came a flood of 'oohs and ahhhs' from the townspeople.
"How?! How did you do that? You must be sent from the Sun God, Leto!" The soup man cried.
"It's just alchemy." Al replied nonchalantly.
The townspeople were puzzled. They still didn't understand.
"What's the Leto you're talking about?" I asked getting a hunch; Leto may be a clue to the stone.
"He's the Sun God we worship. However, he gave his power to our Father Cornello who is our leader. Our Father represents our god. He has the power of god and performs miracles and can resurrect the dead! You two can see his wonder in a couple of minutes as he does a miracle from his church." He proclaimed.
"Lies." I coldly spat as Ed, Al and me walked away knowing our next course of action.
No one can perform Human Transmutation with the performance of a deity from years of miscommunicated storytelling, however it could happen from the help of a Philosophers Stone. Even with the help of a Philosopher's Stone, I still know Human Transmutation isn't possible. As much as I wanna believe I can bring back Johann, I know I can't. It was even dumb of me to even learn how to do it to bring back my mom and dad like originally planned because they aren't even dead!
I made a fist and punched my thigh with anger.
"Hey, calm down, ok? We are going to get the stone so you can get your heart back and Al and me can our bodies back." Ed poked at me.
"That's not it. I just wish I never did this stupid transmutation so I wouldn't be looking for this dumb stone and using a heart made of automail. I just wish Johann never died from this sickness."
Al put his hand on my head and Ed stopped in his tracks on our way to the church. He looked back at me with a face of pain.
"Our mom died from the sickness too. Our dad is out there in the world too. We know what you feel. But never let the sadness take over your drive. Now come on, we have a stone to find." Ed comforted me as he rubbed my shoulder. Thank you, Ed. Thank you
After our sentimental moment, we arrived at the square in front of the church, where Father Cornello was to perform his miracle of the day according to the townspeople of Leore. Ed and I, being shorties, couldn't see at all. Ed improvised by putting his suitcase up vertically and stood on top. Al motioned for me to hop on his back so I did then climbed up and wrapped my legs around his armored hollow head like a five year old on his dad at a carnival.
The church tower rung the hour of noon and suddenly the sky started raining cherry blossom petals. It looked beautiful but this wasn't natural. I gazed as the petals danced to the ground as the townspeople chanted the priest's name. Finally, he came out of his hiding and opened his shutters.
"Hello all!" The fat bald man roared.
I looked closer to see if he could have a Philosopher's Stone on his body. I couldn't see much though because we were so far away. Anyways, after Cornello greeted Leore, he grabbed the pink and airy cherry blossom that fluttered down in his hands. He cupped the flower petal and red light came out of his palms. After that, a glass flower was above him and decorated the church wall. It was very ornate but should've not happened since the flower was organic and the glass decoration is inorganic, alchemically impossible.
"What the hell?" I yelled while I jerked my body out of anger. My balance got off then and I had to rebalance as Al went "ohh woahh" trying to help me rebalance.
"Hm, he's able to bypass the Law of Equivalent Exchange. Plus he made organic matter into inorganic material. That is impossible, unless…." Al trailed.
"He's got a Philosopher's Stone. I know he does. I have a good feeling this time." Ed finished off.
Father Cornello's charade was short and finished up in a minute later. All the people of Leore dispersed and went back to their normal lives as if nothing happened. The girls and boys went back to play while the men and women returned to their ruts. This left the three of us, where we stood in the middle of the town square. Ed plopped off his suitcase while Al gently let me down.
The breeze was picking up and the sun was slowly going to start heading down.
"So what now? We think he has this stone but how do we get it? This guy is basically their leader; we can't just waltz in there. To them, we're just common people trying to talk to a God." I explained
Ed just ignored me and started walking right into the church. He just left me and Al right there. Sometimes, Ed can be too much to himself but we have to trust the guy right now. For all I know, he could be giving me my heart back soon.
We entered the church and we entered the altar room. It was so weird. All these creepy statues of naked angels and the air were filled with dust. And I heard this girl in the front praying. I didn't understand a word. I don't understand prayers. But Ed walked right up to her.
"Prayers, huh? You should give studying alchemy a try, you might learn more." Ed said taking a seat on the grey pew.
I finally got it.
"Yeah, really. Talking to yourself isn't going to solve problems, science will." I followed up.
"What are you talking about in the house of God? You should be ashamed of yourselves!" The dark hair girl yelled.
Al yanked me to the side by my right arm.
"What are you two doing? You guys are being so rude."
I motioned for him to let go of my arm. I never saw Al this upset. He's usually calm and happy.
"Al, are you deaf? Ed said that he's going to piss a follower off then say that he needs to repent his sins and the follower will take us to Father Cornello to repent." I said matter of fact.
Al seemed a bit puzzled.
"Ellie, Ed never said that.. but look," Al pointed.
"Of course, I will take you to Father Cornello. He could cure you of your arrogant ways and lustful thoughts shared between you two!" The girl spoke while pointing at Ed and me.
Ed and I were about to charge at the girl but of course Alphonse was the voice of reason and pulled us back by our hoods. That girl is pissing me off, I know for a fact that Ed doesn't have lustful thoughts about me and I don't have any about him! Al sighed as he kept us under control as we both were fuming. I'm just happy this girl is taking us to Father Cornello.
"So, what makes you follow this Letoism crap? By the way I'm Ellie Dean, sorry for not introducing myself." I asked as Al jabbed me for that comment and Ed jabbed him for jabbing me.
"My name is Rose. I follow Leto for my fiance. When he died last year, Father Cornello said if I follow his beliefs, he could bring him back. Father Cornello promised me that." She said hopeful with a smile spread on her light face.
This Father Cornello guy definitely is out there. He should know Human Transmutation is something that can't be promised. I have a really bad feeling about this guy. And this place. The halls get dimmer and dimmer and more eerie. The only thing that lit the halls was torches. Plus there's no water here to boost my alchemy in case a fight will happen. My gut says there probably will be. I looked at Ed and I spoke with my eyes that there probably is trouble ahead. He nodded back to let me know he understands.
Weird, Ed and I have been talking to each other a lot lately, not verbally but through gestures, eyes, and minds. Maybe that's why Al seemed puzzled earlier, when Ed and I don't talk verbally, I think everyone knows what we are saying.
Anyways, Rose led us to a circular chamber. Father Cornello proudly stood tall at his balcony while the guards filled the perimeter. Father Cornello had a sinister smirk. Crap.
"Thank you for bringing The Fullmetal Alchemist to me Rose,"
The guards ran up to Edward and me and put us behind their spears. The main guard held a gun towards both Ed and I. Al was left unguarded. And another person that thinks Al is the Fullmetal Alchemist. I am seriously questioning this city's intelligence at this point.
"You guys are really pissing me off!" I yelled as I flipped the guard behind me into the guy holding the gun. Ed mirrored me. The gun swept across the floor and landed at the confused Rose's feet. Her eyes were large and filled with fear and uncertainty.
"Bastards." Ed finished off.
Father Cornello seemed truly pissed off. His anguish vanished and turned a smile, not a cheerful smile but a truly grim smile.
"So you think you brats won? Rose, dear, pick up that gun."
Rose shakingly picked up the gun. She grabbed it by two hands but her trembling hands showed that she never even held a gun once in her life. She pointed low at the ground. She looked back up at Father Cornello, her puppet master.
"Now I want you to shoot the Fullmetal Alchemist." He spoke with malice.
Rose took a gasp of air while the three of us had a vengeful brow. She is his little puppet and she's too blind to even see with this idea of God clouding her mind with false hope.
Rose began breaking down in tears and cocked the gun at Al. Oh geeze. Al then began shaking his hands in defense wildly.
"No, it's not me!" Al defended while Ed was about ready to blow a gasket.
"NOOO! I'm the Fullmetal Alchemist! Not him, me, damn it!" Ed screamed like a child while Father Cornello and Rose had a shocked look across their faces.
"Oh geeze, really Ed?" I asked sighing as Ed gave me an angry look.
Father Cornello just chuckled as Rose now pointed the gun at Ed. Ed had a cold blank stare as the gun was pointed at him. He showed no fear.
"Fine, Rose. Go ahead and shoot. But just remember even if you shoot, it won't make a difference." He scoffed.
"You lie!"
"Rose stop it! Following orders from a man like him is hopeless. He's been lying to you the whole time. He has no power to bring the dead back to life. Nobody in this world has that power. And the only way he performs these so-called miracles is through a Philosopher's Stone. And it's on your ring, you lying bastard!" I screamed finally noticing the shiny red ball on his ring.
The small red orb glistened when I called its name. Father Cornello laughed and spoke, "Little girl, I have no clue what you're talking about. Besides what reason do you need a Philosopher's Stone? It's a big boy toy, not for a fan girl of the Elrics. And Rose did you forget who was there for you when your fiancé died? Me. And this is how you repay me?"
I cringed when he called me little and a fan girl. Before I could attack the bastard, Rose went berserk with the gun and fired two shots without good aim. One hit Al's headpiece and knocked it across the floor along with his body from the impact. The final one hit me in my supposed heart. I fell backwards but the only thing that hurt was my dignity from getting shot by her. My automail couldn't be dented by a gunshot fired from a girl like her.
Al retrieved his helmet while I propped myself up. "That wasn't nice." He spoke as Rose fainted when she saw Al and me unharmed. Cornello gasped with anger and shock, mostly anger.
"You all are starting to piss me off. No matter, I will unleash my chimera!"
The gates along the side opened and hybrid of a lion, lizard and bird ran out at Ed. He tried to jump on Ed but he held out his automail leg in an attempt to kick him. The chimera dug his claws into his leg, idiot. His claws shattered and the distraught creature tried to bite Ed's head off but Ed guarded with his automail arm and the bite on that made his teeth break into pieces.
"Now stop playing around and give me the stone!" Ed screamed as he gave a lethal kick to the chimera into the ceiling.
Ed's pant leg was ripped showing his grey leg and his coat was torn off to show his automail arm and the scars around it when he had the surgery to implant it. He now had his black undershirt showing and shown his muscles off well. For a guy a little bit tinier than me, he sure had some muscle. Crap what am I thinking? Not now, I mean there's a psycho we're trying to fight!
"You really think you won? You are a novice and I won't hand the stone over to a novice like you!" Cornello screamed as he transmutated a gun. Crap.
"Let's go!" I ordered as Al picked up a now conscious Rose
Bullets were flying left and right. Al was behind Ed and me protecting us with his armor. But all we were heading for was the wall, great. However, Ed clapped his hands and transmuted an ornate gate and we ran right through it while the fat bald priest was chasing us with his large gun.
"So what do we do now? Keep running? We have to beat him." Al asked as we made a sharp left into some armed guards.
I saw a guard had a can of water on the ground and clapped my hands and transmuted the water to burst out and splash the guards with intensely hot water to escape quickly. We finally lost Father Cornello for a bit as we sat outside the square where Father Cornello originally had his performance.
"I have an idea. Al, go on top of the tower. That's where his speakers are when he broadcasts his speeches. I have an idea, just make sure you hold it up for everyone to able to hear. Ell, let's head back into his office." Ed ordered as Al went his own way with Rose and Ed and I raced back in the church.
After a couple of twists and turns, we finally found his office with a sign on it saying, "Father Cornello's Office." How secretive and menacing. Ed then began rummaging through his desk and threw pencils, bibles and papers around the room.
"Care to explain?" I asked after Ed finally found a tiny grey box attached to a mic that was labeled on and off with a rusty red switch on it.
"Father Cornello is only powerful through his loyal subjects but if he accidentally and unknowingly tells Leore that he isn't a powerful subject of God and uses a Philosopher's Stone, they'll turn on him and make it easier for us to grab the stone." Ed said propping his body on the wooden desk.
I walked over to the window and looked down at all the villagers going about their daily lives. I saw little girls in their sundresses gamboling down the paths while a little boy was playing with his mother. Soon, everything they know and trust will be taken away. I want the stone but I feel bad sacrificing other lives for it.
"Soon, I'll get you your heart back and you go back to your old life." Ed promised giving me a thumbs up.
I looked down for a second at my feet. "Ed, I have no where to go once I get it back. I have no one. No family or friends. To be honest, I'm scared of the life I will live once I get my heart." I said somberly as I cupped my hands over left breast where my heart lays.
"Then I guess you're just gonna be stuck with Al and me." He said happily.
I was taken back by this and gasped at the shock of the offer, "Wait really Ed? I-" I tried to start but was interrupted by the slamming of the door opening. And of course it was no other than the fat priest himself.
Out of my peripheral vision I saw Ed flip the ON-switch of the broadcasting system. We both looked at each other, non-verbally saying, "Make him talk."
"Listen Father Cornello, just fess it up that you have a Philosopher's Stone and hand it over. It's blatantly obvious but why are using it making only little petty miracles in a small village?" I asked teasing him.
"I don't have to answer to a little girl like you!" He slammed his fists.
Ed propped off the desk and spoke, "You're right, you don't. But I have the same question and you wouldn't want me to get the military involved would you? I could get Fuhrer King Bradley right now to give me an army." What a great liar.
Taken back by Ed's threat, Father Cornello sighed with defeat but still somehow had the power to smirk.
"If you must know, I want to take over Amestris. But to do that I needed my Philosopher's Stone to be more powerful. Then one day, I came upon this little town and tricked into thinking I was some figure of God. Now I have faithful followers, faithful followers who would lay down their lives for me! I can sacrifice their lives to make the stone more powerful and leave me in charge of this country. Who knows, if you guys help me maybe I can carve out a piece for you two. Haaa!" Father Cornello started to manically laugh then Ed joined in. Oh brother.
I shook my head while placing my right hand on my forehead sighing at his stupidity and how easy he was to trick. Father Cornello was confused and angry that Ed was laughing. Cornello was about to have a fit.
"And you call me a novice. Ha! I think you just lost all your followers." Ed laughed while showing him the beaten up old grey box that was ON. I then pointed outside to a disrupted town with anger. We took Cornello's followers away, one of his vital power sources.
"Why you brats! And to think I was going to give you a piece. Now feel the wrath of the Stone!" Father Cornello then transmuted the gun onto him but it rebounded and it became attached to him and he grew five times his size.
Crap. We have to finish him off now but we can't do it here.
"Can't catch me!" I teased while running down the hallway dragging Ed by his pant's loop.
"Be careful there!" Ed whined while being dragged.
A quick turn and we were in the alter room. Not so soon, Father Cornello was there and fuming. I clapped my hands and had a ball of energy surging at my grasp. I jumped up and blasted the force at his forehead. He fell back a couple feet but he swatted me in midair like I was a fly.
I fell down to the ground and saw Ed do the same thing but only at his abdominal region. But Ed fell down right next to me too because just like me, he was swatted down. Ed then transmuted his automail arm into a blade and Father Cornello's hand was coming down full force. Ed blocked the attack with his blade but Cornello and Ed were at a standstill fighting each other's strength.
"Water!" I screamed when I saw a pool of water in a fountain next to the alter.
I clapped my hands and made the water boil at great intensity and moved it into his eyes; each second I made it hotter and hotter. Father Cornello was screaming with pain and couldn't see two feet in front of him.
"How does it feel to be beaten by the fist of God?!" Ed yelled as he clapped his hands and made the hand of the stone statue of Leto grow in size and punch Father Cornello down into the ground so hard, it made him revert back to his original form.
Ed then ran up to him and grabbed Father Cornello by the head and beat his head with his own and screamed, "Just give me the Philosopher's Stone!"
"Ed!" I screamed as I pulled him off the already beaten down priest.
The stone in his golden ring, went to a black soot color and released itself from its holder. It fell on the ground and I let go of Ed to grabbed the Stone. But when I grabbed it, it turned to dust and blew away with the draft. What? How can this be?
"Are you kidding me…" I asked raising my tone.
"All of this for a damn fake." Ed said angrily.
We then walked away from Father Cornello's half conscious body but before we left the room I spoke, "I think you just got beat by a little fangirl."
We left the room and Ed pulled me away by wrapping his arm around my shoulder and also to help keep himself up after pounding his head into the priest's.
"You really just had to beat your head on him? How does your head feel now?" I asked sarcastically.
"Ah, shut it." He spat back rubbing his frontal region.
We finally reached the outside of Leore and Al was at the square waiting for us. He looked down at us waiting for us to give him the Philosopher's Stone.
"It was a fake." Ed said sounding defeated.
"So we came all this way, for nothing…" Al asked heartbroken.
I clenched my fists with anger. We ruined a whole village for nothing. We took away what they believed in but it shouldn't matter since what they believed in were lies and we brought them to the light of Leto; he doesn't exist.
"Guys, I know you're gonna get your bodies back." I smiled.
"And you'll get your heart back, right brother?" Al asked.
"Of course, we all three will get it back at the same time, no one will be left behind." Ed smiled at me. When he smiled at me though, I felt my face get hotter. Almost like I was blushing, but I never blush.
I wasn't paying attention and when Ed put his hand out in front of me, I almost fell over. I was about to say something but I saw why Ed stopped me. Rose was in front of us. She still had the gun and pointed it at us while tears were flooding down her face.
"Give me the Philosopher's Stone!" She cried.
I shook my head and spoke, "Rose, it was a fake."
Her hands trembled more and her tears were pouring down harder. She couldn't take the truth.
"You lie! You are keeping it to yourself to revive your dead mother and your dead brother. I want my fiance back!" She screamed.
She did not just cross that line. I don't care if Al told her about why I wanted the stone but don't ever talk about Johann like that. He was my older brother, not something to talk about in trivial conversation.
"YOU, shut your mouth! People don't come back from the dead Rose, not ever." Ed said on the verge of tears.
"But faith is all I had left, what do I believe in now?!" She whined and fell to her knees on the sandy dirt ground.
"That's for you to find out." Al finished as we walked past her to go back to the train station.
When I passed the distraught girl, I heard her mutter something about the man with wax wings which melted and she looked at Ed when she whispered that. I feel bad for her, years of mind control are gone and she has no clue how to be herself. She has no clue on how to be Rose. I'm glad no one can take away how to be Ellie from me. But now my main concern is not just being me; it's getting all of me back.