FullMetal Alchemist belongs to Hiromu Arakawa.
The Elrics walked through the dim lit corridor before standing in front of a beautiful carved oak door.
"So this is the Father's room that Rose told us about," Alphonse thought out loud.
As if by noticing their presence, the doors cracked opened, showing a barely lit room, and as they entered the door closed behind them with a click.
"Welcome to our holy church," said a solemn voice belonging to a man standing on a platform with two sets of stairs on either side.
"Have you come to experience our teachings?"
"We have a lot of things we would like to learn," Ed answered, "for example, like tricking your believers with cheap alchemy!"
"Hm... I wonder what you're speaking of. Putting my miracles on the same level as alchemy poses a bit of a problem. Maybe a demonstration-"
"I've already seen them! What I don't get at all is how your able to transmute something while ignoring the laws."
"That is why it is not alchemy."
"You have it, don't you!" Anne shouted, "The legendary amplifier that allows an alchemist to perform transmutations without Equivalent Exchange!"
"Using what?"
The fake tone of innocence in the man's voice was really getting on Anne's nerves. He felt so calm and relaxed as if he had no idea what they were talking about. It just pissed her off even more.
"The Philosopher's Stone!" she nearly growled out. This man was testing her patience. "It's on you isn't it?!" She could see it even though she couldn't see anything else. It glowed a bright, brilliant red as if enticing her with its' allure.
The a small moment of silence before a dark chuckle filled the empty room, echoing off the walls.
"I'd expect nothing more from two gifted state alchemists," Cornello finally said, "You're both correct. This is indeed the legendary Philosopher's Stone."
"That's good," Ed said, a grin on his face, "we've been looking for that.
"What do you want it for? Fame? Money?"
"Correction," Anne cut in quickly, "why do YOU want it? You used it to make a fake religion. If you want money you can just use the stone to make your own."
"I do want money, but I get enough of that from the donations of my followers. I need obedient people willing to give up their lives in my name! The greatest army in the world! One who doesn't fear death! In a few years this country will be mine!" Father Cornello yelled whole-heartedly, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
The blonde girl sighed, " I don't care."
The man stopped and stared incredulously at the blind girl with huge eyes, "What?"
"Don't brush off my plans with such a dismissive manner!" Cornello shouted, "Aren't you a member of the military that protects this country?"
"Yes, but we don't care about your plans," Ed replied, waving his hand dismissively, "they don't make any sense and will never work, so let's get to the point. Hand over the stone and I won't have to reveal your fraudness to the residents of this town."
"HA! You're trying to bargain with me...? My believers won't believe a word from the likes of you!" He said.
"I am loved by them! They are my faithful servants! No matter how many times you yell, they won't listen! That's right!" He screamed, "These stupid believers have been fooled by me!"
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
"Well I didn't expect any less of the Father! Thank you for such a splendid speech," Ed said sarcastically.
"Yeah, maybe the believers won't listen to anything we'd say,"Anne said with a small smirk, "BUT!"
Al gently took off his large breastplate, revealing a scared Rose, in a rather cramped position.
Ed pointed at her with his free hand, "How about the stuff she'd say?"
A look of shock crossed the priest's face, "Rose!? What is the-"
Rose jumped out of Al's armor, yelling as she came out.
"Father! Is what you said true?! Have you tricked us?!" She screamed as Cornello's face paled more and more, "The power of miracles, God's power... You weren't trying to grant my wish!? You weren't going to bring my love back!?"
Her eyes flooded with tears as she looked at the man who had promised her so much. All that work, all that dedication and her love would never come back! She felt so betrayed.
Cornello cringed before he finally gave an answer to the young woman.
"Hm...perhaps being a messenger of God was a lie... But with this stone, as well as the transmutations of living organisms that countless alchemists have failed at... There is a the possibility that your lover can be resurrected!"
Rose's eyes widened at the possibility of the offer. She could have him back. She could see him again. She wouldn't be broken and lonely anymore.
"Rose don't listen!" Alphonse said to the woman.
"Be a good child and come here," Cornello said holding out his hand.
"If you go you won't be able to come back!" Edward cried.
"What's wrong you're one of us," Cornello stated.
"Rosé, don't!" Anne called. She let go of her brother's hand and blindly grabbed her shoulder.
Rose trembled violently in her hold, her arms drawn to her chest.
After a few more minutes, Rose shrugged off Anne's hand and walked slowly to Cornello, her arms at her sides and her head bowed.
The three siblings said nothing, a sad look in Anne's face.
"I am sorry you three," Rose said sadly, now standing next to the platform Cornello stood on.
"Good girl, Rose," Cornello said, "Now, I will purge these heretics that threaten the future of my religion with haste."
He reached behind him and pulled a lever, which then caused a gate near the Elrics to raise open. Out from the shadows, steeped a creature with glowing red eyes. It had the front half of a lion, the back of a some bird and the tail of a reptile.
"This Philosopher's Stone is a really impressive thing. It can make things like this. Is this the first time you've seen a chimera? Hm?" Cornello asked the siblings.
Anne stiffened in Edward's hold. Ed tightened his grip, reassuring his sister.
The chimera prowled in a circle, its eyes firmly fixed upon the three Elrics. Rose backed away a good distance.
The red-coat wearing (Ed) alchemist sighed, " It's a little hard to fight unarmed, so..."
He let go off Anne's hand, Al's quickly replacing his, and clapped his hands together and slammed them on the floor. From where his hands touched the floor, bright electric-blue lightning admitted and a small wind circled the area. From that area, a large metal spear, one almost as he was tall, rose from the ground and he grasped it tightly. "Alphonse, you stay back and protect Anne. I'll take care of this."
"Ok Brother," Alphonse replied, albeit a bit nervously. He tightened his grip, a bit gently, on Anne's hand.
"Why you! You transmute a weapon from the pavement without a transmutation circle?" The Father cried, startled, "I see that 'State Alchemist' isn't just a fancy name. But that won't be enough!" He turned to the chimera, "Get him!"
Edward tried to use the spear to fend off the chimera, but much to his surprise, it clawed right through the metal as it were butter and slashed his left leg, ripping the trouser fabric.
"Ugh...," he gasped, stumbling.
"Edward!" Rose screamed.
"Brother!" Anne yelled while trashing in Al's hold.
"Sister calm down," Alphonse whispered in her ear, stopping her wild struggling,"it scratched his left leg."
Anne immediately calmed down, knowing full well that meant Edward was okay.
"Hahaha! How is that!? How do claws that can cut through iron feel?!" Cornello taunted sarcastically, thinking he had laid a fatal wound on the boy alchemist.
"... What was that!?" Edward told the priest, a crazy grin spreading across his face.
Cornello was surprised again as the chimera's claws shattered and fell to the floor.
"Sorry, this leg is a bit special!" Edward cried, kicked the once attacking chimera in the stomach with the same leg it tried to gouge.
"What happened?!" Cornello said, "Your claws don't work!? You want to play it like that? Fine! Attack the girl!"
The creature charged again but this time at Anne. It jumped out of the way of Al's karate chop and latched itself down on her arm using its teeth and bit sharply.
"Anne!" Edward cried, eyes wide with fear.
Rose looked away as the chimera's started to chew. She expected to hear the alchemist girl scream in pain- but she heard no sound apart from the chimera's gnawing on Anne's arm.
Rose looked back around to see the chimera hanging off of Anne's arm, biting and chomping furiously, but there appeared to be no damage.
"What kind of sick bastard are you?" Anne asked, her head bowed and shadows covering her eyes, "Attacking a blind 'defenseless' girl, HUH!?" she hissed, then threw the beast of her and punched it with the same arm as hard as she to the floor, cracking its skull, killing it.
"What?!" gasped Cornello, "How can this be possible? Neither of you were damaged by its teeth or claws?"
Anne ignored him and spoke to the woman, since she couldn't see her and face her. "Rose watch closely. Edward."
Edward nodded. They simultaneously ripped off the identical cherry red coats as he ripped his black jacket and she ripped the sleeve of her shirt and upper jacket. "This is human transmutation... The bodies of sinners that have breached god's domain! Is this what you want?!"
They threw the coats and bits of material to one side, revealing two identical metal limbs (though Anne's was slimmer due to her gender) that had ports going over both of their shoulders, in place of their right arm. Rose also noticed the bit of metal trough the torn fabric of Edward's left trouser. Her eyes widened in shock and she clamped her hands over her mouth.
"I see...," said Cornello, in a knowing tone, "Artificial limbs of steel known as automail. A little sister who has be guided wherever she goes do to her lack of sight and a little brother who is but a soul in an empty shell..."
Realization hit him.
"So that's why you are called the 'Fullmetal Alchemist'! Because of your metal limbs! And your little sister! The 'Blind Miracle Alchemist'! Because of her lack of sight but is said to still be able to see!"
"Come and get some you third-rate!" Edward challenged, brandishing the mechanical hand in a fist, "I'll show you what's the difference between the two of us!"
"Rose, these people, they have done something that is forbidden to alchemists: they have performed human transmutation... They've committed the greatest crime and failed!"
"Yes we did fail. It was our mother we tried to bring back. I lost my left leg," Edward said gently, looking away.
"I lost my right arm," Anne said, gently touching her automail.
"And I lost my entire body. Then Brother traded his right arm and Sister gave up her eyesight for my soul, and fixed it to this armor," Alphonse finished.
Rose remembered Edward's earlier story in the church:
"There was once a hero who made wings from bird feathers and wax. However he flew too close to the sun, causing the wax to melt and destroy his wings. Thus, he plummeted to his death."
Wow this took long.
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Equivalent Exchange!
Simple, ne?
~Sumi
P.S.- Have you guys heard of that new anime 'Attack on Titan?' It's great! So cool! If you haven't go watch it.