Hi! Thanks like always to all the review I received! I went back a bit to the previous chapter to get rid of the mistakes I could see since I was told there were a bit of them. Sorry about this!
This chapter is a bit of a mammoth! And it nearly was even longer! 1914 doesn't want to end!
Hope you'll like it.
XII: 1914
Ariana's eyes glided on the familiar scenery without really seeing it, mind focused on the man she was going to meet.
"Why are we going to Rosembool?" Ana had asked, worried by the visible restlessness of her sister "Is granny Pinako ill?"
Ari had to force herself to calm down and smile as she answered the little girl "No, granny is alright, don't worry."
"Granny called because someone important to your family came back," Winry explained, making Ari sent her a grateful smile "so now we're going to meet him."
"Who?"
"Our father." Ari finally made herself admit "Von Hohenheim."
As if calling his name was all that was needed, something familiar yet alien started to manifest itself to her senses – souls, of course, the man was after all a living Philosopher Stone.
Except that it was different.
It hadn't been as evident to her when she was young – but now that she could hear the cries of the multitude of souls under their feet everywhere in Amestris, the feeling of her father's souls was much less uncomfortable.
The soul within him were suffering, but they weren't rebelling against him...
Her eyes widened as she understood what it meant.
And already, the train was slowing down, wheels screeching against the rails and they were getting of their wagon.
"I told you not to be gone for too long."
The simple remark was supposed to be much more biting and accusing – but somehow, it only came out as weary.
The tall man eye's softened at that, hesitantly reaching toward her – would she come to him when he had abandoned them for so long? Her, the child who already avoided his touch when she was just a baby?
For a moment, he thought that she wouldn't – but with a small, tired sigh, she eventually nested herself in his arms, making him frown when he realized how tiny she truly was, her old eyes and mature countenance nearly having made him forget how young she really was.
"Ten years is way too long." she asserted again
"I know." he nodded " I'm sorry."
The rest of the traveling group, that had waited a few meters behind in order to give them a bit of privacy, was were torn between smiling and frowning – just like Von Hohenheim, seeing the girl so small in her father's arms made them remember that while he had had a good reason to leave, he did abandon three young children.
And not knowing about his wife's death wasn't an acceptable excuse – it only made the situation worse.
Ana, for now in Winry's arms, tilted her head, smelling something only she could "Is father a bad guy?" she asked Winry
"No," sighed Winry "he isn't. Just a bit misguided."
"Oh. Then why is sister crying?"
"Because she didn't see him in a long time." Winry answered, hiding her shock at the affirmation – Ari rarely cried, having spent most of her tears when they survived the resurrection attempt of their mother
The excuse, simple but heartfelt, had been all that was needed to break the dam – and indeed Ari was crying, quietly, torn between wanting to berate him for his much too long absence, and comfort the anguish she could feel in his soul.
Von Hohenheim had really loved Trisha Elric, and learning that the woman he loved had gone ahead and died, while he was still stuck in this never-aging, immortal body, was tearing him apart, only his resolution to put an end to the original homunculus keeping him together.
Finally, she opted to putting her hand on the place where his heart should be "They are quieter." she stated "And less numerous."
"We all agreed to work together." he answered in lieu of explanation, confirming her thoughts "Padfoot grew." he added lightly
Ari nodded.
Padfoot level was tied to her own – and his own growth was tied to his level.
As such, he'd had a growing spur when she reached level 25 and 50, going from looking like a two months pup to a four months one and finally a sixth months one. As such, he now had the slightly disproportionate body of growing dogs, having nearly reached his adult height, towering at her waist, yet not nearly as bulky as he would be as an adult Grimm.
"The house was empty." he continued
"What did granny tell you?"
"That... Trisha died." the raw hurt that was visible as he said his wife's name couldn't be missed "That the boys didn't accept it." the golden eyes darkened "That all of you are State Alchemist."
Much was held in the last affirmation – a question, of course, for Von Hohenheim knew well that he had warned his daughter about the man working behind the scene of their nation; but knowledge also. After all, orphaned geniuses children delving into alchemy – the logical conclusion wasn't hard to come to...
¤.¤.¤
They had started to walk to the Rockbell's house – and Von Hohenheim did note how telling it was, that his daughter didn't even think to go to her own house – the rest of the group trailing behind still.
"I tried to stop them." Ari whispered, voice haunted by her failure "But Ed..."
"Ed always was stubborn. And quick to anger." Von Hohenheim easily understood "So much like me when I was young..." more understanding dawned in his tone "So you helped them when you couldn't stop them."
"I thought that if we were more the price would be less heavy." she said, absentmindedly rubbing the automail hidden under her coat
"What was the price?" he asked, worry creeping in his tone "Pinako said you were well, but..."
"But there is no seeing the gate and getting out intact." Ari nodded "And the initial price Truth tried to take was heavy." she shrugged "So we bargained."
Padfoot whined at the simple affirmation. As if bargaining could cover the terrifying eternity stuck beyond the Gate, fearing for her family's life.
They paused at the door for granny Pinako to open – and the old woman snorted derisively "Bargained. Right." she commented "If you can call sacrificing most of your own lifespan to make up for you brothers idiocy that."
The tone was harsh – but Pinako knew that someone didn't say it, the girl would try to gloss it over, it was the way she was.
Hohenheim let out a nearly silent gasp at the affirmation, and Ariana flinched – even if Roy and her were in the process of crafting an array that should extend her lifespan, she hadn't said anything about it for now, not wanting to give false hope to her friends and family.
Ignoring both her father and Pinako, she turned toward the three Xingese "You don't have to stay when we talk about this." she said softly
Ling and his two bodyguard knew the girl enough by now to hear what wasn't said – the discussion was heading toward dangerous information, information that could put them into harm's way just for knowing about it. Information they really didn't need to know now that the girl was well on her way of fulfilling her word and giving them something that would help the prince become emperor.
Except of course, now that they knew her and her friends, they already felt far too involved in the situation to just let it go.
Xing and its emperor would wait a bit more – right now they had a debt toward the Elric siblings and they would repay it by helping them, whether they wanted their help or not.
Reading their determination in their eyes, she snorted bemusedly "So be it then."
With that, they entered, assembling like always around the kitchen table, Ari negligently throwing her coat on the back of her chair, the glinting metal revealed. Von Hohenheim immediately noticed, his eyes going to Padfoot's own automail.
"All of us lost an arm." she said, seeing the question in his eyes "Even Padfoot, Tempesta and Paws..." she confirmed "They are Ed's fox and Al's cat." she added as an after-thought "And Ed also lost a leg."
"And your life?" he asked
She winced, not really liking to talk about it, but truly its not like there was any point in hiding it "At first Truth was going to take Al." she said, voice empty as she remembered "So I made him change his mind."
Von Hohenheim raised an eyebrow at that – the being that was behind the Gate wasn't one you could just bargain with.
She smiled lightly "You already knew I wasn't born normal, dad. Is it really so surprising?"
"How long?"
"Left? Maybe ten years, probably less..." she answered, smile growing weaker, before continuing "Anyway, we were found by a state alchemist."
Von Hohenheim was torn between worry and relief – being found performing an illegal alchemical act by a military man wasn't good, but being found at all was probably how the hadn't bled out and died.
"The colonel had come to recruit them." Pinako took over "He thought they were three adults men." she laughed, remembering the fact that the good-looking officer had spent so long believing Ari to be a boy "lieutenant Hawkeye and him brought them over."
"And even thought they were hurt he still tried to recruit them!" Winry hmphed indignantly "That man has no shame!"
"When he talked about the resources that State Alchemists had available to them, Ed started to think that he could use them to research the Philosopher Stone." Ariana continued "That's when I told them your story."
Von Hohenheim looked around him, surprised.
"Everyone here, bar Ling and his bodyguards knows." his daughter confirmed "I had to stop Ed from going on this path."
"Yet you still enrolled."
"What better way to stop an enemy than from within?" the girl commented lightly
"This is not your fight!" her father protested hotly
"This is everyone's fight, dad, don't mistake it! And you won't win against Father alone!" Ari answered just as hotly
"Father?"
"This is how he calls himself." Izumi answered "A father to seven deadly children."
Von Hohenheim didn't answer immediately, surprised that they had managed to learn anything about the non-human that had managed to remain hidden for four centuries.
"Father created homunculus from himself, imbuing each with one deadly sin. Greed escaped his grasp and was freed from him. He is now on our side, and just as mortal as any human. Lust I killed with Ed and Al in Central, Envy managing to escape. Sloth, they are tracking to dispose of right now. The identity of two others is confirmed: Selim Bradley, and his father, King Bradley himself. Which sin they incarnate is unclear for now."
"All the higher officer working in Central are working with Father." Izumi continued "All for the sake of immortality."
"He really is trying to repeat the past." the immortal in their midst bitterly whispered, more for himself than them, yet still heard by everyone
"That he is." Ari nodded somberly "And those fools reward will be the same as in Xerxes."
¤.¤.¤
"Ah!" the loud exclamation surprised everyone, and Ling, that was the one that had shouted, pointed an accusing finger at Ari "You! You and your brothers! You're the one that destroyed all of the ruins in Xerxes!"
She raised an eyebrow at the sudden realization, and the prince went on "I remember this symbol!"
Ariana smiled when she realized he was pointing at her necklace.
"Indeed, it was us. Precisely to avoid people like you, searching the ancient ruins in hope of finding the Red Stone without realizing that it had destroyed our people."
His next comment died on his lips at the affirmation, and his eyes went back to the man she had said was her father – a man which didn't feel quite human to his dragon pulse...
"You. You are immortal and from the old kingdom..." he understood, still having trouble believing it "And however you gained immortality, it destroyed your country, and its going to happen again, but in Amestris..." he bowed toward Ariana "I thank you for warning me off the Philosopher Stone," he affirmed, distaste glinting in his eyes for a moment as he went on "A king has no need for a cure that would destroy its people."
"If only more leaders were as intelligent as you..." Von Hohenheim sighed
"Then Xerxes would still be standing." Ari completed "But humans tends to like to try and trespass in god's domain."
"You would know, wouldn't you?" Izumi commented merrily, only understood by her husband and Winry, who both smiled at the comment
Before the goddess in training could answer, a childish voice was heard, and a drawing shoved under her nose "I've finished, big sister! Is it correct?"
Ariana took the little on her knees with the practiced ease of someone that did it everyday, and focused her eyes on the paper.
Al had helped her setting tasks everyday for the little girl to improve little by little – and by now, Ana had the basis of calculus, science and history of a child twice her age, was starting to read Xingese on top of Amestrian and was progressing in the basis of all four element alchemy, her Von Hohenheim Inheritance, unlocked when blood adopted by the siblings, helping her progress as fast as they had at her age.
"Its good." she nodded finally, the four drawings, each of a basic elemental circle much more steady than they had been months before "But you should practice using Xingese rather than Amestrian in the water circle if you want to learn alkahestry."
Ana frowned "I know but its more complicated." she pouted, before her eyes lighted up "But my fire circle is really good, right?"
"Like always, little pyro." Ari confirmed with a loving smile "We'll do the practical this afternoon, in the meanwhile you can go and play."
"Will I have fighting training today?" she begged
Ariana thought about it a moment – the day would probably be busy with catching up with Von Hohenheim, so a normal training session was out, but...
"You can either do a level 5 Challenge or go against one level 5 Boss." she finally offered
It wasn't the first time the little girl was offered the option, but like always, she pouted "But I'm already level 12! I'm sure I could do a level 10 Challenge or Boss!"
"Its either that or nothing Anastasia." the elder sister warned
"Alright then," the girl sighed "I'll take the Mountain Challenge." her eyes brightened again "I'm sure I can last longer than last time!"
"If you last one hour, I'll bake you chocolate cookies." Ariana promised
"Yes!"
And with that, the little girl was rushing into the siblings' room, from where she would connect herself to the Challenge.
Challenge weren't deadly, like they could be in Ari's previous life, and were far more restricted in that they couldn't sent the players at the other side of the world, or even in another world, to be completed.
Instead, they took the form of different survival scenarios that could be enacted in the Arena – where weather, field, and time of the day could be adapted, and the enemies changed according to the level. At level 5, Ana would mainly be against medium sized wild life, with on larger creature appearing every half hour...
"So..." finally asked Von Hohenheim, as the little blond tornado was gone "Who is this? I'm pretty sure Trisha wasn't pregnant when I left."
"Ana was blood adopted, she is effectively your daughter."
Filling the 'blood adoption' comment for later, her father asked "What happened to her parents?"
All those that knew the little girl story darkened.
"Her father was a mad-man that used his wife to create a talking chimera. Then tried to do the same with her." Ari shuddered at her memories "The result wasn't human, nor viable. Thankfully, Al was working on alkahestry precisely to help human chimera..."
"There are others?"
In lieu of answer, Izumi dropped her illusion "There are." she nodded "I chose to become one to survive, and the array could work only thanks to Ari, but the others weren't given a choice."
"Father main goal main be to create another Stone, but he isn't above experiment on humans." took over Ari "I managed to put Ana back in a more viable body, and she's hiding her features right now..."
"But at least she's alive, and happy." Von Hohenheim concluded for himself, now curious to get to know his unplanned second daughter
"We wouldn't have been able to keep her without our silver watch," Ari noted, happy to feel the easy acceptance her father had of the little girl "but yes, I think she's happy with us."
¤.¤.¤
Ed and Al shared a glance as they slipped out of the still asleep fortress, both clad in dark clothes that only stood out in the snow a moment, and animal masks hiding their features.
They had an homunculus to track.
The night had been short, and barely restful, and as such, after a few hours spent tossing and turning, they finally decided they would be better off doing something useful. They debated giving the slip to Riza, but knew she would skin them alive if they did so, and as such woke her up – and now she was by their side, face hidden behind the Queen's mask.
Havoc had been given the task to run interference in order for their disappearance not to be noticed by Kimblee should the other state alchemist decide to take a sudden interest in them. Tempesta and Paws, despite their protests, had been left behind, both much to recognizable to be taken along, and now they were trailing in the snow – the plan was to catch up with Sloth from overground, then alchemize their way into the tunnel, and take out the homunculus; Riza would provide long-range attacks, Ed close ranged one, and Al would have the dangerous task of closing in to the sin's Red Stone and steal it, effectively killing it.
"This monster really is quite fast for someone supposed to represent Sloth." Ed groaned as they finally caught up with said homunculus
Al and Riza didn't answer, but mentally agreed – they had trailed in the snow for five hours, and were by now really thankful to have Havoc to cover up their absence back at Fort Briggs.
"Well," the eldest Elric sighed, crouching in the snow "let's get to it."
With a clap, a large area was cleaned from snow, and a hole was beckoning them into its darkness.
The three of them activated the voice chat, and let themselves drop into the tunnel that could doom their country.
Ed an Al immediately transmuted a couple of mirror to capture the outside light, while Riza, who had unlocked the night vision mutation, took out the sniper she had stored already assembled in her Inventory earlier and immediately found a spot to ready herself for the attack.
While the noises of their arrival had gone unnoticed by the homunculus, the sudden flow of light was noticed, and Sloth slowly turned toward them, the tall non-human grumbling in a by now familiar way about "Troublesome intruders..."
Then, with a velocity surprising for the heavy frame, he hurled the handful of dirt he still had in hands toward them and attacked.
"Intruders must be eliminated, Pride said." he sighed loudly "I'm so tired, I'd rather not! But well, Pride gave out orders, and not obeying Pride is troublesome..."
As the arrays on his throwing knives had been particularly effective, Ed had reproduced them on his dao during the days that went by between Sloth's freezing and thawing, as such, when he jumped toward the homunculus, he was satisfied to see his blade bite the thought skin – as for Sloth, he was stunned, and loudly wailed at the wound, before throwing himself out of the weapon's way.
Right into Riza's bullet.
And if the snipers back at Fort Briggs hadn't scratched the hide of the homunculus, the Hawkeye's bullets were different – they were the work of Leon's strange body, and could blast through the heavier defenses like they weren't there.
"This fight is tiring!" Sloth complained "I don't want to think!"
But think he would, as was clearly made apparent as the lazy being's whole behavior changed – and the spark of intelligence that had been up until now lacking in his eyes was now a dangerous glint. Sloth wasn't stupid, they realized with apprehension, he was just too lazy to think when he didn't have to.
And by landing two successive blows on him, they had forced him to acknowledged that he needed to think to win this fight.
Al gulped, and activated the array on the claws he had made like the one Ari had used to wrench out Lust' Stone, but far more resistant, as he had had time to craft them contrary to the one-use one his sister had made do with at the time.
And right now, he was very thankful that he had had time to engrave the strange weapon with a few arrays – the left one with Ari's Crimson Edge, the right one with his own texture-changing array, that could use the carbon in the metal to be either razor-sharp or diamond-hard.
Focusing himself on the ongoing battle, he jumped into the fight, knowing that the now intelligent eyes would suspect something if he didn't take part in the assault and merely waited for an overture from the side-line.
The right-hand claws were glinting as he set them in their diamond form – attacking in priority with that hand, and purposely missing his left-handed assault, he lured the homunculus into thinking he was heavily-right handed, and that his claws, while solid, wouldn't hurt him...
Time distorted in the unique way it could during the fight, as all three partners fought in the seamless way that only people used to fight side by side could achieve – those arena sessions against different Bosses were proving their usefulness right now.
While they hadn't managed to dodge all of the humunculus' attacks, each had managed to cover sufficiently the other so that none of the wounds inflicted were too worrying.
With a clap, Ed made the ground disappear under Sloth's feet – they couldn't afford not to use their alchemy in this fight, as risky for their identity as that could be should the homunculus escape.
Taking advantage of the stumbling that followed, Riza quickly shot several rounds, finally taking an arm with them. An arm that may have been regenerating right under their eyes but still wasn't there for yet a few more seconds.
Ed pushed the advantage, dao cutting and slowing the regrowth, while Al was keeping the other arm away, then Riza told him to duck on the voice chat – and the next moment another bullet broke the still functioning arm.
Al jumped, right claw going from diamond to carbon edge, and left claw cutting a bloody path toward the stone in-bedded in his right eye. The peaceful boy had to refrain a shudder as his fingers closed around the warm, pulsing surface of the Red Stone, the souls within it grating against his refined dragon pulse.
¤.¤.¤
And with a last heaving, it finally came free, covered in blood, and Sloth's large frame stopped struggling, a blissful smile spreading on his face "Ah... Yes... Even living was far too troublesome..."
The homunculus turned into dust, as if swept out by an invisible gust of wind.
[Hidden goal complete! Rest, at last...
Free Sloth from the eternal torment of his life
Reward:+750XP, Homunculus Sloth added to Boss List]
The three fighters shared a look.
None of them had sustained heavy wounds, which was a blessing, but the nearly two hour long altercation had still tired them out, and right now they wanted nothing more than crawl back into their beds – several hours away from here.
"Lets get out of here." suggested Riza
The two brothers nodded their agreement, and Ed alchemized a ladder while Al put the Philosopher Stone still in his hands into his Inventory. As Ed was halfway to the top, Ed suddenly felt his hair stand up on his arms and his neck tingle.
"There's something else coming," he urgently announced to the other two that were already out "be ready to close this hole!"
With that he hurried up, not knowing what he was feeling but having a good idea – the memory of the three survivors of the exploring unit still fresh in his mind.
He jumped out of the hole, and Al closed it immediately. But all three of them had seen the eyes in the darkness, and the shadows trying to grasp the eldest Elric before violently shrinking back at the edge of the hole, as if wary of venturing outside the tunnel – the three of them filed the information away, as Al closed the hole away.
With a clap, Ed quickly covered the bare ground with a layer of snow, and they started to go back toward Fort Briggs, hiding their tracks as they went.
Havoc felt a weight off his shoulder as his three companions discreetly slipped into their room. The three of them looked tired, but none seemed to badly injured.
"Anything happened while we weren't there?" asked Riza while tiredly discarding the black clothing
Havoc turned his back to her to give her a bit of privacy more by politeness than real need – working in the military meant that what was considered normal to civilian was sometime nothing more than luxuries for them – and went on answering "Major Miles should be dropping by in a couple of hour to check if you're back. Kimblee tried to see Ed and Al, I said they weren't feeling well and that you were taking care of it. An upset stomach."
The blond woman nodded – an upset stomach was good, it put people down but didn't last that long, Kimblee wouldn't even think to question it when he saw them up and about on the next day.
She twitched as Ed managed to slip into the bathroom as Al left it, depriving her from showering for a few more minutes, making both Havoc and Al laugh.
The boy settled on his bunk, checking the notifications he had dismissed while they were tracking and fighting Sloth.
Reading the short mail received hours later, his eyes widened and strayed toward the bathroom door – as if on cue, loud cussing echoed from the other side of the door, Ed having the strange habit of checking his mail and notifications in the shower.
Seeing Riza and Havoc's inquisitive looks, he sighed.
Ah well, Havoc may not know about Chaos' Game, he knew just as well as the rest of the colonel's team how strange the siblings were...
"We received a mail from Ari when we were out, and I just checked it. Ed too, clearly..."
Not even bothering asking about the how, Havoc patiently waited for the boy to go on.
"Dad's back." Al announced
"I can't believe this shitty father dared to just show up on the front door like that after ten fucking years!" Ed loudly complained at the same time, freeing the bathroom and still drying his hair "The nerve of that man!"
"Ari took the express train early this morning," Al went on, expertly ignoring his brother's ranting "she should have arrived in Rosembool within the last hour."
Ed settled himself on his brother's bed absently moving Paws over – and ignoring the protesting hiss he gained for it "We should tell her we took care of Sloth, she deserve a good news if she has to put up with that idiot."
"Brother..." Al sighed
Ed frowned at the disproving look his brother had in his eyes and huffed indignantly "Al! He abandoned us! He may have had a good reason it doesn't change the truth of it!"
"You know he wouldn't have left if he didn't felt it was his duty."
"Yes, yes, alright, I get it, I won't beat him up. Much."
Knowing he wouldn't get anything more from him, Al nodded and started writing a response mail to their sister, Ed reading above his shoulder.
"Send the stone over to her," the elder eventually said "the sooner she gets rid of it, the better. And tell her about the strange behavior of this shadowy thingy..."
Al nodded, and Havoc rolled his eyes as dark red, glinting gem appeared seemingly out of nowhere – and disappeared just as strangely.
"You know, you used to be more a lot more careful over the strange things you could do when you were younger." he commented, amused
"Ah but back then we didn't trust any of you as much as we do now." Al smiled "Working together to save the country has a way of bringing people together."
"That it has." Havoc agreed, lazily stretching
He didn't really care about the exact nature of the siblings strange gifts – he worked behind a desk most of the time nowadays, and that didn't require any strange powers, only a good brain and a pen – but it was still heartwarming to see how much more the now four Elric siblings trusted them than when they first enrolled.
At that time, they had been young, much too young to be enrolled, yet already brilliantly intelligent – but most of all, behind the far too mature eyes, they had been broken children still working on putting themselves back together.
But they had managed to surpass the event that had nearly broken them and grow so much stronger that now, he would trust his life in their hands without a doubt.
¤.¤.¤
"So you're the famous Elric siblings? Aren't you supposed to be more?"
"Our sisters aren't there right now." Ed answered curtly
Without surprise, Kimblee had asked to see them as soon as he heard they were feeling better.
And even talking to the man made their skin crawl.
"I see, too bad really, I would've loved to meet the set. Anyway! I'm enrolling your in my team."
"We're here on an investigation under order from the colonel Mustang." Al pointed out calmly
"It doesn't really matter," the other alchemist easily dismissed "I've got the Fuhrer's personal authorization to pull in any resources to stop Scar."he waved in the general direction of Riza and Havoc "Beside I'm sure those two are more than enough to track one low-life."
Ed and Al traded a look – the news, while not welcomed, wasn't really a surprise and working with the man would help them keep an eye on him.
But it also meant that the situation could grow dangerous for them very fast – after all if he had a philosopher stone available to use, it meant that he probably was in on the conspiracy.
Soon, several team were organized and heading out – Kimblee needed the northern fort's men, but clearly didn't trust them, having brought his own muscle men with him.
Men that outwardly seemed normal enough – except that having lived with Ana for months, and knowing Shan Feng's men, it was impossible not to notice the slightly different aura of the two soldiers from Central.
Chimera.
Apparently, the scientists working for Father had progressed, seeing as no animal feature were visible at a first glance...
"This place looks like a ghost town." Ed commented, looking around dubiously
They were in what used to be a prosperous mining town and complex, that, between the frequents frontier skirmishes and the coal veins thinning out, had died a slow death. Now, only empty buildings, sagging under the snows' weight and derelict machines prematurely aged by the weather were left.
"How are we supposed to find him in this labyrinth?" Al wondered "He could hide anywhere!"
"I'll stay at the main base," the Crimson Alchemist was explaining "and you'll spread out into searching team." team numbers and sectors to search were quickly drawn on a military map and radio handed out, everyone promptly tuning in on the usual channel for searching parties "Contact me immediately if you find Scar."
Ed sighed as the designed teams scattered around.
As luck would have it, the two of them and Miles had been teamed up with Kimblee's two goons, and as such weren't able to talk freely.
[We need to get rid of those two.] Ed mentally dismissed the small notification, agreeing with Al
[Well it's like you said, it is a labyrinth...] he answered in kind, really thankful for Chaos' Game messaging system
Al suppressed a smile at the line of text, just about hearing the amusement in his brother's words.
Sneaking a look at the abandoned building around him, a crude plan was soon thought up, and a few written exchange latter, he sped up a bit "Did you hear that?" Ed asked excitedly, speeding up as well
"Hear what?" a dubious chimera asked, not having heard anything unusual
Discretely, Al's hand joined together, the snow hiding the flash of alchemy – and the environment around them growing ever more blurred, as if the fog was rising.
Which it was – artificially.
Changing the temperature of the ground around him wasn't easy, but at least it was discreet – and the difference of temperature between the ground and the air, that already was laden in water thanks to the snow, soon created the fog that was now hampering the two chimera's vision.
Miles had been surprised too, not having the advantage of being in on the plan, but Ed had grasped him as soon as visibility was low enough. Another alchemical reaction and they were slipping into one of the empty building, closing the hole behind them just fast enough in order not to be seen.
A few seconds later, loud shouts were echoing around, the two man they had just evaded calling for them.
"Do they want Scar to know we're here?" Ed grumbled at the unprofessional behavior
"They sure seem very worried about loosing us." Al, before going still "We're not alone." ha finally announced
The other two immediately looked around – and sure enough, the sound of someone walking on crushed ice echoed, followed by a small gasp.
"Wait don't go! We're not here to hurt you!" Al called as the little dark-haired girl wearing Xingese clothes went run away
"You're after mister Scar!" she protested, stopping despite herself
"Well, he tried to kill us first!" Ed protested "He's a dangerous man!"
"No he's not! He helps me!"
"With what?" Al asked in a more gentle tone
¤.¤.¤
The girl hesitated a bit, as if wary of answering that question, and looked ready to bolt again when some noise echoed in the building, and two men appeared "Ah there you are May, I found... the notes..." the first one trailed down, surprised at seeing the two blond teenagers and the military man, a heavy handwritten diary in hands
"Eh! Doctor Marcoh!" Al realized, recognizing the man from the picture in his file "What are you doing here!"
At the same time, the second man had recognized the brothers "Ah! FullMetal and EarthBreaker!" he looked around, cautiously "Where are the other two?"
Ed and Al shared a glance, before finally remembering "First lieutenant Yoki! That's right, that's why we were sent here at first!" Ed commented
"Our sisters aren't here," Al added, before turning toward the other man "But more importantly, what are you doing here, and worse, working with Scar? Weren't you supposed to go into hiding?"
"I was hiding!" he answered back "But when I happened upon May looking for the Philosopher Stone, I couldn't let her continue such a dangerous endeavor..."
The brothers shared a look – another Xingese looking for the stone? Did it mean...
"You're another child of the emperor then?" Ed bluntly asked
The little girl did a double-take, then nodded, surprised "I'm May Chang, seventeenth royal princess of Xing." she introduced herself
"We'll tell you what we told your sibling: don't look for that stone."
"I know now." she nodded seriously "I saw things under your Central City." her gaze was strong and unwavering, uncannily like their sister's "The knowledge about this thing... it isn't something I can trust the emperor with, even if it may doom my clan."
"Good." Ed nodded just as seriously, respect for the little girl rising at her principles
"We were nearly captured by those monsters under the city." Marcoh explained "But then Scar saved us."
Even Miles was surprised at this affirmation, one light eyebrow raising "And that ties to you working together in the north... how?"
"Mister Scar had hidden notes here." May explained seriously "Notes that could help against those monsters."
"Why are you even trying to help?" Ed couldn't help but wonder "This isn't your country."
"It doesn't really matter, does it?" she asked rhetorically "Once I knew about those monsters, I became involved. It's not like I could just leave, when I know I could have helped, and live with myself after."
"That's very brave of you." Al smiled, not noticing the girl blushing in answer
"And very stupid." Ed added, even though he agreed with his sibling
"Brother!" Al protested, groaning at the older boy's callous attitude
At the affirmation, the small panda, that had until now been patiently sitting on the little Xingese girl's head jumped toward Ed, intent on making him pay the insult toward his master.
Only to be lazily stopped by an elegant black and red paw.
"Good going Tempesta!"
The fox answered back by a wave of her tale and a smug yip.
"What do you mean you're the only one allowed to bite me?" Ed protested, making Al groan
"Brother," the younger blond teenager sighed "this is not the time."
Deciding that Al and Miles seemed to be the reasonable ones in the group, Marcoh turned toward them "You must let us go." he pleaded "This maybe the only chance to avoid those monsters' plan!"
"We can work together." the major Miles suggested "After all we are already trying to stop these plans."
"You are?" a surprised Marcoh parroted
They didn't have a chance to answer, as with a loud crash, Scar barged in the room, fighting two inhuman looking creatures.
[Looks like Kimblee's goons showed their true form.] Al commented over the written chat [What do we do?]
Ed hesitated a moment before answering – on one hand, Scar was a dangerous maniac that had tried to killed them, and he still really wanted to pay him back; on the other hand if the man was now working against Father he could be a valuable ally, as much as he didn't want to admit it.
"We'll need your assistance capturing Scar!" affirmed the chimera looking like some sort of boar
"You're late." the other, toad-like, chimera added
"Ah!" Ed dramatically protested, feet hitting the closest chimera square into the stomach "What are these strange beasts? Is it another prototype from Drachma?"
"It must be." Al nodded, suppressing an amused smile at his brother's antics while pushing the other chimera
"They are not from Fort Briggs." Miles calmly stated – he may be not used to the Elric's antics, he still knew how to think on his feet "And I didn't see anything like that among the Central forces."
"An enemy it is then." the two brothers nodded as one
Scar seemed a bit nonplussed at the unexpected assistance – and the two chimera, more trying to explain themselves than fight, were soon subdued, and knocked out.
"Well," Ed commented, turning toward Scar "All that left is you..." a frown "Is what I'd like to say, except it seems like we may have a common objective."
"I don't need any help from military dogs."
"These military dogs have already gotten rid of three of the monsters you're hunting." the eldest Elric retorted coldly
That made the Ishvalian pause.
¤.¤.¤
"Talk."
"You do realize we don't have a lot of time?" Al pointed out "Those two probably already have alerted Kimblee."
"And we really can't take you in with this man around." Ed groaned "Because he's working for the enemy."
Major Miles didn't even protest – which, given his pride in working for Fort Briggs was telling.
Any ally against Father was good to take, and taking Scar in meant giving him up to the Crimson Alchemist.
Not a good idea.
"We know that a centuries old homunculus is trying to make Amestris into a Philosopher Stone, and that this is why the Ishavalian War happened." Al resumed succinctly "We know he has seven weaker homunculus working for him, all of the higher ranking officer in Central, and chimeras like those two. And we've already killed two homunculus and destroyed a third's stone."
"As for you visibly you've got notes that could help against that bastard, who knows how..."
"My brother guessed something strange was happening during the war." Scar answered after a small hesitation "But I'm no alchemist, I couldn't read his notes."
"So I'll try." May affirmed, the little girl looking resolute "I'm an alkahestrist."
"We can say you escaped toward Drachma." Ed said "And you can go to our sister in Rosembool."
Of course, Scar had no wish to work with alchemists – but he still remembered the monster that had been sent after him months earlier, that didn't seemed phase by any death blow, only regenerating itself and continuing its relentless attack.
He'd barely escaped with his life.
And these kids had managed to kill not one but two of those things?
"Still, how can we make them escape?" Al wondered "There are search teams everywhere and most are probably coming toward here thanks to those two from Central..."
"Why don't we just use the tunnels?"
Everyone turned toward the small man, surprised.
"This is a mining town right?" Yoki went on "Then there's got to be an underground network to work with, I'd know, I used to own a mining town after all!"
"So you get out of here by the tunnels and head East, while we point Central toward Drachma?" Mile recapitulated "It should work." a glance toward the two chimera that had woken up somewhere during their talk "Now to take care of those two."
Stopping to pretend that they were still knocked out, the two non-humans shared a resigned look "I guess this is it then."
Al frowned at their lack of resistance, and Ed, seeing his reaction, let out a sigh.
"Why aren't you protesting?" he asked in a harsh voice "Don't you have anyone to go back to?"
"We died to the rest of the world the day we were made into these monsters!" the one looking like a boar hotly responded, Ed's particular talent of infuriating people working its magic as usual
"So why did you still work with Kimblee?"
"We'd have died faster." the second chimera shrugged
"Still, don't you want to live?"
"Of course we want to live you shithead!" the boar growled "But its not like we are going to!"
"What if you could?" Al ask
"Even then, did you see how we look? We're not human anymore!"
"That's not really a reason to stop living, is it?" Al wondered "After all, there are others like you."
"What do you mean?"
"You aren't the first human chimera we've met." Al said "There were other before you, who escaped the government laboratories. Chimera that couldn't even hide their look."
The two men's eyes widened at that.
"Why are you telling this to us?" the toad chimera asked defiantly
"I don't want to kill you." Al stated, sending an apologizing look at both Miles and his brother "I understand that sometimes its the best solution but that doesn't mean I like it. And in the end, you're not really the enemy, just another couple of victim from those from Central that would destroy our country..."
Despite his put upon expression, Ed couldn't help the proud glint in his eyes as Al spoke – because he was the most gentle of the siblings, Al often had had difficulties expressing himself compared to his more boisterous elder brother and poised sister. But he had grown up, and more and more often, was proving that being kind didn't mean he was anyone's doormat!
"Why don't you escape with Scar and the others?" Al asked "Ari could tell you where the other chimera live if you want, or you could just leave the country."
"Those other chimera... Don't they want to be human again?"
"Why would they?" Ed asked nonplussed "They may not be humans anymore they are still beings with a soul and feelings. They like looking human to blend in but they accept their existence as chimera."
Wonder could be read in the two's eyes.
"We'd... we'd like to meet them." the boar finally admitted "If they learned to live as they are even without the luxury of getting back to their human form..."
"Then we can learn too..." the second nodded
Al smiled.
Miles shook his head "You are too kind, EarthBreaker." he affirmed "But I guess we can do things your way as long as they don't turn out against us." which even he doubted – angry people were honest, which made Ed's little interrogation earlier pretty trustworthy
"And if they were to try anything against Ari..." Al said easily "She'd kick their ass."
Ed nodded sagely at that – making the part-Ishvalian wonder at the third State Alchemist sibling.
"And if worst came to worst," Ed added reluctantly "we inherited our intelligence from our shitty father, and he's with her."
From their frightened look, the two chimera had clearly understood the threats aimed at them.
When the reinforcement barged in a few minutes latter, the two brothers and Miles looked ragged, as if they had faced a worthy opponent in a fight, and explained that the two from Central had given chase to Scar while they were getting themselves out of the ruins of the building they had been in when it had collapsed thanks to Scar's deconstruction.
Last they had seen them, they had been headed further north.
Toward Drachma.
¤.¤.¤
After the chat about Ana died down, the heteroclyte group assembled around the Rockbell's kitchen table soon went back to other, just as serious topics.
Ari went over how the boys and her had realized what lay under their feet, Ling – who until now had only suspected it – looking ill at the revelation. Then she went over her realization about the Fuhrer, their first encounter with Greed, and the colonel's master plan.
"At first we thought we could keep it small," she explained, bitterly laughing at their naivete "get rid of Father and his Sins before Promised Day and ta-dah, country saved."
She threaded her fingers through her hair "Of course, we soon realized how stupid it was. Each time we managed to calm the situation somewhere, Central City retaliated by sending troupes to keep the zone pacified after we left, and the blood shed were soon back, and worse."
"He has been preparing this for too long to let himself be stopped." Von Hohenheim nodded
"So we shifted our aim on hampering him as much as we could and find you because..." a sigh "I suppose it won't come as a surprised to you, but..." a disgusted wince was visible for a second, as she looked at the ground below
"His presence extends throughout the country." the blond man completed gravely "To truly kill Father you would need to face him with his Philosopher Stone whole, or it would only weaken him."
Ari nodded.
And what a nasty shock it had been, to realize all the consequences entailed by those suffering souls lying beneath them.
"I've come to the same conclusion during my travels," her father agreed "and it means that whatever we do can only happen at one time."
"Promised Day." a sigh "This is madness!" she couldn't help but protest "To stop that madman from destroying our country we must wait until the last second, until the precise moment he drawn on all his forces, to attack!"
"It will be dangerous." Von Hohenheim admitted "But I have a fail-safe in place should he manage to get a hold on Amestris' souls."
Ari was ready to ask more about it when an incoming message from Al distracted her. Glancing about, and finally deciding to trust those that didn't know about her abilities yet she opened the mail, answering Teacher's silent interrogation "News from the boys."
After a few moments, she sighed and eyed warily the blood red stone now innocently waiting in her Inventory.
"Sloth is no more." she said "Fox, Cat and Queen took it out in the underground tunnel. And apparently they had an encounter with another Sin. Some kind of dark shadows with eyes within that didn't seem to be able to step outside of the tunnel."
"That tunnel must be some kind of out-boundary to him, just like the bottle was to the Homunculus back then." Von Hohenheim mused "I've met this Sin too." he admitted
At his daughter surprised look he continued, a bit embarrassed "I may have stated my intent to come at him at the Homunculus." he said "So I found an entrance to the circle once I understood it was underground and I called out to him. Instead, his Pride found me..." his voice took on a thoughtful quality come to think of it, I wonder if the girl that showed me the way knew you..."
"Ah?"
"She seemed surprised when she saw me, and talked about three State Alchemist that made her change her view on life... She really was a kind girl that Rose..."
"Good to think we didn't flaunt our own mistakes for nothing." Ari grumbled, the softening of her eyes belying her annoyed tone
Before their chat could go back to more serious ground, Pinako firmly stated that if they wanted to eat, there was food to be cooked, and kicked them all out of the kitchen, bar Ari.
"Are you sure you don't want any help?" Von Hohenheim asked, letting himself be hearded out of the room halfheartedly
"Quite sure! The last time I let you inside my kitchen was a disaster! You're exactly like your boys on that point!" a chuckle interrupted the small woman rant, and she glared at her grand-daughter "And don't you dare laugh, child! You're no better! Useless as soon as you're out of the workshop!"
"I've learned how to cook since I went to Rush City I'll have you know!" Winry protested, red on her cheek
"Alright alright, but don't destroy my kitchen!"
¤.¤.¤
Ling didn't need to have it said twice and was already sneaking out, followed by his two bodyguard. Now that he had a far better idea about the situation Amestris found itself in, a walk would help him put his thoughts in order...
"We should head back."
It was rare for Lang Fan to state her thoughts as boldly – the beautiful girl had been raised very traditionally by her grand-father, his other bodyguard and martial art teacher, and as such she rarely spoke out of turn to her charge.
But the girl also had a lot of consideration for him – the prince wasn't sure if it was only her sense of duty and honor, or if she really liked him, but whatever it was, the girl cared about him.
And right now, staying would be dangerous.
He knew it.
Yet...
"What kind of prince would I be if I just left after learning something like that?" he protested lightly
"They are not your people!" she answered hotly, before blushing as she realized what she had just said "I didn't mean..."
"I know. You just want me to be safe for our clan. But I just can't ignore something like that. Even if it puts our clan at risk..." a smile "And in a way, helping her would be protecting the clan."
"Because there's no telling what this Father would do once he'd destroyed Amestris." Fu finally intervened
Ling nodded, reassured at the fact that the old warrior had come to the same conclusion as him. The mad being had already destroyed one country, and was actively trying to do in a second one, who was to say he wouldn't want to continue his streak after Amestris should he be successful?
"Should Ariana manage to create the array for the Emperor, you are to take it to him on my behalf." he said "Otherwise you're to be out of this country before Spring."
"With all due respect, your highness..." Fu stated "You are our charge. We won't leave you behind, whatever order you give to us."
Lan Fan nodded her assent.
Ling repressed a frown – he'd given them a way out but of course these two stubborn shadows wouldn't obey. What was the use of being a prince if he couldn't even force his friends to save themselves?
Yet he couldn't help but feel some measure of happiness – family didn't mean a lot when you were royalty, and lots of the attempts on his life while growing up had came from siblings – but Lan Fan and Fu never had betrayed him.
That was worth far more than blood to him.
Hiding his embarrassment behind a large smile, he headed back toward the Rockbell's house "Let's see if the granny has manage to cook something good! I'm starving!"
¤.¤.¤
Walking toward the cemetery, lost in his thoughts, it took several minutes for Von Hohenheim to take notice of the two people walking with him.
"You know," the woman admitted casually as he finally noticed her "once I learned you were alive, I promised myself I'd give you a good beating once you reappeared."
"It would be deserved." he admitted
"And this is exactly why I can't!" she loudly protested "You know you were wrong in abandoning you children! You already feel guilty about it! It would be like beating up on a sick child! It's infuriating!"
He smiled – behind her anger, or perhaps thanks to this anger, it was quite clear she cared for the siblings.
"Thanks." he finally said
She frowned.
"You shouldn't thank me."
"You care for them. You took care of them."
"I taught them alchemy." she pointed out
"You're more than just a teacher, that's clear." he rebutted
"Yes." Izumi admitted, her eyes strangely darkening at that – she knew that they were more, and she loved that, but she still had one regret "Yet I still taught them, even thought I knew what they were going to do."
The blond man was clearly surprised at that affirmation, but surprisingly didn't seem to judge her "Why?"
"Because I knew I couldn't stop them." a sigh "And they had Ari to protect them."
She hated admitting it – even more since she had learned the price the girl had paid to protect her brothers.
"Because forbidding them from a mistake I had committed before them would have been hypocritical..." she added with sadness echoing in her eyes for a moment
Von Hohenheim eyes widened at the affirmation, but once again there was no judgement in his eyes.
"I'm still thanking you." he finally said as they arrived in front of a tombstone with a familiar name on it "Because you are still taking care of them. Even to this day. When neither I nor Trisha could..."
His voice hitched a bit as he said the name of his wife.
Pretending not to see the tears in the man's eyes, Izumi felt the last of her anger leaving her – and as he tried to get his feeling under control in front of Elric Trisha's grave, she started talking about the three brats she had met on a rainy day, about the idiotic and stubborn elder, the much too gentle second, the wiser than her years youngest, their time on Jake Island and the months spent living with the Curtis.
By the time Von Hohenheim had dried his tears and they had walked back toward the Rockbell's, the man was smiling as Izumi was retelling her times with the siblings.
As they neared the courtyard, Von Hohenheim couldn't help but stop as he spotted his daughter and – well his other daughter – sitting in the grass, the little frowning as she seemed to focus.
Then with a clap and the familiar flash of alchemy, the little girl pressed her hands to the ground, a small clay dog figurine appearing between her small hands.
Picking up the figurine and inspecting it, Ariana nodded and smile "Much better!" she praised "This time you didn't forget to take in consideration the heat needed for the clay to harden and the figurine isn't stuck to the ground!"
"Yay!" Ana celebrated, dancing around her sister "I did it!" noticing the three adults that were stopped at the courtyard entrance, she ran toward them, showing the small figuring under their faces "See! See! I did it Teacher! I made Padfoot!"
Said dog reacted to his name with a happy bark, happily playing with the little girl that was already running toward the house, probably to show off her work to granny Pinako and Winry.
"Ana!" called back an amused Ariana "You still haven't done your water circle!"
The little girl stilled, looking torn between running back to her sister and showing off in the kitchen.
"Go show Padfoot to granny but come back after!"
"Can I do Tempesta and Paws too? I could sent them to big brother Ed and big brother Al!"
"Once you've finished the rest of today's homework."
Ana smiled at the authorization and turned back toward the kitchen.
As for Von Hohenheim, he let out a small forlorn sigh.
On one hand, seeing the little girl with Ari made him realize he had missed all these small moment with his children.
On the other hand, he had just seen the scarily skilled little girl perform a circle-less transmutation – and while Ariana had talked a bit about the child's background earlier, he hadn't taken it to mean that she had seen Truth at such a young age...
¤.¤.¤
"You know granny, when I first explained to you about my special abilities, you didn't want any part in it, saying you were too old too learn about strange otherworldly powers..." Ari said as she cut the vegetables
"You want to invite me in this game again?" easily guessed the old woman "Why the change of heart? Is it because of your father?"
"Von Hohenheim being a part of Chaos Game would be easier for all of us." nodded Ari, Winry nodded along her from the other side of the kitchen "But even if he is our father, you took care of us for all these years. I don't want to invite him before you." she blushed "I know it sound stupid but..."
"Alright, alright, I'll play along girl." granny Pinako gruffly agreed "At least I won't have to pay to have news from this ungrateful brat that forget to call home nearly every two weeks!"
"Hey!" Winry protested "I just have a lot of work!"
"Too much work to remember your old granny ?"
Ariana smiled as she sent the familiar invite out, then took in charge the rest of the cooking as Winry patiently explained the basis of Chaos' Game to the old mechanic.
Just as most of the lunch's was ready, Ana finally got out of her challenge – the little girl had last nearly two hour, an impressive feet coming from her, and despite seeming tired she was insistent about starting her afternoon work. Seeing as they had to wait for everyone to come back to dig in, Ari gave in and they headed out.
Feeling her father approach thanks to her Soul Sense, she finally turned toward him as Ana reached the kitchen to show off her latest work, righteously proud of her progress.
Seeing the expressive golden eyes, she didn't even need her Soul Sense to guess at his feelings.
Dusting herself, she got up and walked toward the awkward man, amused – one would have thought that being four centuries old would mean he'd managed to gain some people skill, yet it clearly wasn't the case.
With a smile, Izumi intercepted Ana as she rushed out of the kitchen and checked the rest of her homework, as father and daughter observed them.
"You are afraid of meeting her." commented Ari after a moment
"I'm..."
"Still not a monster." Ari contradicted automatically, reading his feelings easily
"You sound so much like your mother..." Von Hohenheim smiled biter-sweetly
"Because she was right." the blond girl affirmed "Still its funny that you told me what you are, yet never asked me what I was, when we are the most similar and opposed existence on this planet..." she mused
Von Hohenheim looked surprised at the affirmation – but he wasn't given the time to ask as granny Pinako stuck her head out of the kitchen "Time to eat!"
Lunch had been lighthearted, Ana talking animatedly about her studies to an amused and impressed Von Hohenheim, while Teacher and granny were both commiserating about troublesome children making them worry. Lan Fan's attention was hogged by Winry, the Xingese girl fascinated by Amestrian automail, a technology that didn't exist in Xing, and couldn't because of the heat – somewhere among their talk, Ari's blood alchemy and its ability to be activated by non alchemist was brought up and seconds later Winry was deciding that Ari had to make some of this to work with her temperature-regulation array and the poor girl was dragged toward the workshop, where she spent most of the afternoon...
¤.¤.¤
"Will you tell me if I ask?"
Ari wasn't surprised by the question, knowing her father he had been wanting to ask for the whole day
"I will."
They were heading toward a familiar old tree, the light of the moon brightening their path as they approached the old swing, unused for years and damaged by time and weather. With a light touch, the old wood changed, the swing looking much newer.
Von Hohenheim noted the action.
He should have been surprised, really, because none other than him or Father should be able to do something like this – because having enough knowledge about alchemy to do something like this, a step beyond the two-handed alchemy of her brothers was something that took decades and centuries of knowledge.
"Souls are ever growing. Even if they forget everything from one life to another, they are changed by each and every experience." said Ariana, leisurely giving momentum to the swing she was on "When you say of someone wise beyond his years that he has an old soul, more often than not, its right."
And right at that moment, the girl's eyes flashed, the molten gold replaced by a preternatural emerald green.
"And comes a time when a soul is too large for a human body. Fortunately this world is far from being the only one, and the humans far from being the only living being with souls."
She jumps lightly and take his hand, doing something she never had before as she shared her senses with her golden eyed father; who looked around him both in wonder and sorrow.
This was something she could never do with her siblings, because their mortal body and soul wouldn't be able to take it.
But this immortal father, for all that his soul had been born human – he could take it.
And so he looked around, enraptured, at the large glowing aura of the old tree they were sitting under, at the feeling, a few hundreds of meters away, of the people sleeping in the Rockbell's house, of the small town even further away – then he felt the cries under their feet that she could feel every minute of everyday, the calmer feeling of the hundreds of thousand of souls within him, and finally he turned toward her, making her wonder – its not like she could see her own soul after all...
"No wonder you couldn't stand being near me." he finally managed to say as she let her powers recess within her
"Because your human soul was trapped within an immortal body, it has grown a lot more than it should have." Ariana said "In your next life you'll be something a lot more long-lived than a human. Except this time, it will be natural."
"And Trisha?" he couldn't help but ask
"Mother was an old soul." she remembered "But not old enough. She'll be human a few more time." a smile "But that doesn't mean you'll never find each other again."
"Yet your soul is even larger than mine."
"And forcing it back into a mortal body is a pain I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy each time." she admitted
Of course, he picked up on the word, only rising an eyebrow in interrogation.
"I told you didn't I?" a smile "You are a mortal soul trapped within an immortal body against your will." an amused smile "I'm an immortal soul forced within a mortal body by my own volition."
They hadn't said a lot more that night, reconnecting in silence, Von Hohenheim watching as Ari eventually took out the stone that had been waiting in her Inventory the whole day.
"This was Sloth's." she said in lieu of explanation, the tall blond nodding easily "Do you want to come along?"
Intrigued, he accepted the invitation, stretching his fingers to lightly touch the pulsing stone.
Once more, the familiar whiteness of the Gate met Ariana.
"Back, little Shadow? And with more of the lost souls at that!" Truth grin turned predatory as he aimed toward Von Hohenheim "Are you giving him to me too?"
"I'm not." Ari denied "The souls, you'll get back after Promised Day."
"So you still show a bit of mortal selfishness." he commented, amused "That's reassuring."
"I thought that you liked my acceptance of my immortal duties."
"I do, but a child shouldn't grow up too fast! Not even a century and already more mature than my siblings were at a millennia!"
"What happened with your siblings?"
"That would be telling!"
"Well I did give you back souls after all..."
"And you'd rather hear a boring story than gain another power?" he asked dubiously
Her smile was answer enough, and Von Hohenheim was surprised to see the eternal entity that guarded the Gate looking – unsure – for a moment.
Then with an even more out of character sigh, he said "Alright then..."
[Hidden Quest Complete! The Truth of the Matter!
Goal: learn about Truth's problem with his siblings
Reward:+500XP per goal, Truth's Gate perk unlocked upon completion]
[Goal complete! +500XP
Goal update: heal Truth]
[Level up! You are now level 59!
+1SP]
Ariana closed the notifications tiredly – the entity's revelations had come as both a surprise and an explanation to the source of all their current troubles.
Von Hohenheim had been just as surprised as herself at the story, and as they left, had promised the one stuck beyond the Gate that he would do all in his power to put things right.
Truth's surprise at seeing a mortal soul promising to help him had been amusing, Ari had to admit, but easily understandable now that they knew the being's story.
After that, both father and daughter had walked back to the Rockbell's house, worn out by the encounter - and most of all, determined to vanquish Father and reclaim the stolen bit of soul that had been used to create him, all because of Truth's siblings...
No being, human or god, deserved to have its soul torn against his will, condemning it to eternal suffering.