I AM SO SORRY! I promised you guys an update on the 27th (AKA My birthday) and I COMPLETELY FORGOT! I feel so bad! :(
Please forgive me! To make up for this, I spent the last few days combining two chapter into one (Since this was a two-part episode) So I hope you enjoy and please don't hurt me!
Chapter 5: Set in Stone
"Wow! Look at those mountains!" Elina awed as the trio walked up to the quiet town of Xenotime. The sunset revealed a beautiful orange color over the mountain and the large building on said mountain.
"It is pretty, but are you sure we might find a Philosopher's stone in a run-down town like this?" Alphonse asked. "Looking around, it's hard to believe they produce much gold at all"
"Which is all the more likely they'll be producing a Philosopher's stone" Ed reasoned.
"I see, it's a chain reaction." Elina smirked "With no gold, the town will get more and more desperate to make something to help with the economy, which means they'll be searching for a special stone"
"Is money all that grown-ups think about?" Al complained.
"You're telling me" Elina sighed.
"Elisa!" The trio heard someone shout.
Elina ran as fast as she could to the mine with the boys not far behind. When she got there, Elina saw a crying little girl with brown pigtails stuck under a coal cart that was only inches away from crushing her. Men were crowded all around the coal cart trying to lift it off of the girl without injuring her.
"Edward, we've got a problem!" Elina shouted as the boys were starting to catch up to her.
"What's wrong?" Ed shouted. The man closest to the girl got up.
"My daughter, she's trapped!" The man shouted. Ed looked at the space between the girl and the cart before standing up.
"I need you to hold still for a minute" Edward said before looking over at Elina. "Be ready to get her out of there, alright?"
"Got it!" Elina nodded as she kneeled down right next to the girl. Ed clapped his hands and just as the cart was beginning to morph, Elina pulled the girl out from under the cart and got knocked backwards.
The girl kept crying as Ed kept morphing the cart, but Elina smiled.
"It's alright, kid. You're safe now" Elina grinned as the girl stopped crying and opened her eyes. When Ed finished, the cart turned into a solid block. Everyone awed at Ed's creation as Elina helped the girl up and smiled once more.
"I can't thank you enough" The Elisa's father bowed. The trio were currently at an inn surrounded by food provided by the townspeople, who were also crowding the table.
"And don't forget about their metal father!" (A/N: This is actually really funny since Ed's original partner was supposed to be his father. This was changed later, but I thought it was funny!) Elisa smiled as Alphonse turned white and the two off to the side began giggling.
"No, you got it all wrong! Al isn't my father, he's actually my younger brother!" Ed explained.
"Younger brother? But he's so much bigger than you are" Elisa observed. Edward began growling as Elina and Alphonse started chuckling. "What about your sister?"
Elina smiled. "I'm actually not related to them, but I do consider them family after everything we've been through. Not like I have anyone else besides them"
Both boys looked as Elina before Alphonse decided to change the topic.
"Anyway, we're glad that you're okay, Elisa" Alphonse mentioned. Suddenly, a man with black wavy hair over one eye came into the room holding a basket.
"Elisa!" The man called. "Elisa, are you alright?"
"Uncle Belsio!" Elisa smiled as she tried to run over only to have her father grab her hand. "Daddy…?"
"Get out!" Elisa's father snapped. "You've got some nerve to show your face in my house now, after almost getting my poor daughter killed!" Everyone looked at Belsio. "Listen to me, Elisa. No matter what he says, you are never to help him with his work ever again!"
"No daddy!" Elisa refused. "Not of that was Uncle Belsio's idea, I begged him to let me help out…!" Elisa began coughing, which revealed concern on her father's expression.
"I'm sorry, sweetie. Here, drink this" Her father said as he handed her a glass of water. Edward looked at the girl as if she was an important clue to something.
Belsio set the basket down on a table. "I am sorry" Belsio said as he left the room, closing the door on his way out.
The basket, which had lemons in it, sat on the table as Elisa looked at them with sadness. "Uncle Belsio told me your lemon pies were always the best, daddy, and it was a shame all the lemon farms were shut down. I thought that maybe if I helped him, I could taste your pie…"
"Don't worry!" One of the miners shouted happily. "Once the Philosopher's stone is finished, we'll all be rich and then we'll be able to buy all the fruit we want from some other town!"
The trio jumped at the man's words. "The Philosopher's stone?!" Ed awed.
"Yes! That's it, the three of you must have come to Xenotime to assist Mr. Mugear with his research, and finish the Philosopher's stone!" Elisa's father smiled. Everyone began crowding the trio.
"Please, do everything in your power, make it as fast as you can!"
"We want Xenotime to once again be the town of gold"
"We must reclaim what's rightfully ours!"
"That's right! We're counting on you alchemists!"
"The children must not suffer any longer"
"We'll do our best, but please don't put more pressure on us!" Elina smiled nervously as sweat went down her forehead.
"I guess we'll have to visit Mugear and see what we can do!" Ed smirked.
"Before you go, could you tell us the names of our savior's?" Elisa's father asked.
"Certainly!" Ed boasted as Alphonse blushed. "I'm Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist!"
"I'm his brother Alphonse Elric and this is our friend-"
"Elina Fosther, at your service!" Elina smiled. Everyone looked at the trio with confused looks.
"The Elric brothers? The state alchemist, hero-of-the-people, Elric?" A miner asked.
"Yup!" Ed smirked. Suddenly, the boys were seized and kicked out of the house. Elina cowered in a corner.
"What was that all about?!" Edward yelled.
"SHUT UP! THE REAL ELRIC BROTHERS ARE ALREADY WORKING TO SAVE OUR TOWN WITH MUGEAR! COME BACK WHEN YOU'RE READY TO TELL US WHO YOU REALLY ARE!" Elisa's father yelled as he shut the door. Everyone turned to Elina as she put her hands up.
"I-I swear we didn't do anything!" Elina suddenly panicked. "Unless you count Liore, Youswell, Aquroya…"
"It's alright, you were probably bribed to go along with their scheme." Elisa's father smiled. "We'll take you to Mugear in the morning"
Thank god… Elina silently prayed as the group welcomed her with open arms.
"So this is Mugear's mansion?" Elina asked as she looked at the giant house in front of her. Elina had snuck out with the brothers, who were currently sneaking around and trying to find a way in. Elina sighed as she looked at the gun-holding guards at the front of the house. "Doesn't look suspicious at all"
"Brother, are you really gonna sneak in there?" Alphonse asked nervously.
"Of course we are!" Ed boasted. "To confront these imposters! And to get them to tell us all they know about the Philosopher's stone!"
"Is it that big a deal, Edward? Can't you just let it go?" Elina sighed.
"Of course not!" Ed snapped. "Impersonating a state alchemist is a serious offense!"
"Since when have you cared about the law?" Elina asked.
I knew we should've left her behind Ed thought as a vein popped onto his forehead. Climbing over the wall, the trio ran out of the guard's vision and to the side of the mansion. Ed clapped his hands and set them onto the house, causing a blue glow to light up that side of the house. When Ed removed his hands, a little door was in its place. The trio climbed in and looked around. Inside the door was a little, dark library with dusty books on their shelves.
"What a gloomy place" Elina pointed out. Pulling a random book off a shelf, she realized it was about the Philosopher's stone. "The Philosopher's stone can take many forms, hence its many names. It can range from a coal-like rock or a gel-like liquid, but retains the same crimson color, although it has never been confirmed…"
Closing the book and placing it in her bag, Elina grabbed another book only to find it was on the same subject.
"Look at this, all of these books are on the philosopher's stone" Ed pointed out.
"This must be where they're making it, right?" Alphonse asked.
"By 'it' you must mean that cheap, no-good imitation. These books aren't as good as we thought either. They all say 'it has never been confirmed'" Elina sighed as she stuffed another book in her bag.
"If they're no good, then why are you stuffing those books in your bag?" Edward asked with a smug look. Elina froze as she looked at the books in her bag.
"Research purposes!" Elina said with a big, innocent grin. Both boys sighed. Suddenly, the sound of a door opening waved across the room, causing Elina to seal her bag and run to the boy's side.
"In case the guards weren't a clue, this place is off limits" A sharp voice said. Looking at the door, Elina saw two boys, one taller and a shorter one hiding behind him, with neon blond hair and periwinkle blue eyes. The older boy was wearing a white shirt with brown overalls and the younger one, from what Elina could see, was wearing high green overalls and a hat with flaps to match. Alphonse broke the silence.
"By any chance, are you guys the ones-"
"Stealing our names?" Edward finished.
"I take it that means you're the real Ed, in the suit" The taller boy stated.
"Me?" Al questioned. Elina started chuckling and Ed glared at her.
"NO YOU DOLT! I'M ED! I'M HIM! WHY DOES EVERYBODY ALWAYS THINK THAT?!" Edward yelling, jumping in front of Al and waving his arms.
"Wait, so you're the older brother?" the younger boy asked from behind his brother.
"DAMN RIGHT!" Ed snapped, causing the boy to cower.
"Edward! Don't scare the poor kid." Elina lectured.
"And who are you, exactly?" The older boy asked, causing Elina to perk up.
"Just the Elric's traveling partner." Elina smiled.
"We didn't know you had a girl traveling with you" The older boy admitted.
"Well this has been the case for three years-"
"Enough with the chit chat!" Ed interrupted with his usual yelling. The boy behind the older brother flinched.
"Try to tone it down a notch, you don't want the gunmen to realize you're here" The older boy smirked. Ed stepped back. "How bizarre". The older boy said as he began walking towards the trio. "The real younger brother wears a suit of armor to protect himself. It's hard to believe you're only fourteen"
"How do you know so much about us?" Al asked.
"He stole your identity, Alphonse. I'm pretty sure he's done his research" Elina said, innocently. The older boy stopped in front of Edward, looking down at him.
"You wanna start something with me?" Ed threatened.
"No, I don't want to fight with you, Ed. So why don't you turn around and go home and leave us to take care of things around here?" The older brother suggested.
"That's not the way you beg someone to do something!" Ed snapped as he began pointing to the ground. "On your knees!" Nothing happened.
"Edward!" Elina snapped.
"Not now, Elina!" Edward snapped as he kept pointing at the ground. "I said get down on the ground!"
"What? So we can see eye to eye?" The older boy shrugged. "Surely you must be used to people looking down on you"
Ed's face turned red with rage. Ed threw a punch at the older boy's head, but the boy dodged it with a simple lean. Ed tried again on his right side, but the boy just tilted and avoided the punch with ease. Edward kept trying to hit the boy, but to no avail. Finally, the boy caught Ed's fist.
"An automail arm, huh?" The boy observed. "I guess the real Ed's seen some action too"
"And I'm glad to see that you have some skills. I'd hate for you to be damaging my name!" Ed yelled as he kicked towards the boy with his left leg, only to have it miss it's mark. Ed charged towards the boy. Elina looked at Alphonse, who shook his head.
Right, this is Edward's fight. I can't intervene Elina thought as she gritted her teeth. The older boy landed a hit right on Ed's cheek and sent him back into a bookshelf. Elina felt instinct take over as she charged towards the boy.
"You know, I've always wanted to find out what a bonafide state alchemist is capable of-" The boy was interrupted by Elina swinging a kick at him, but for Elina, the boy could only block her kick with his arms. The boy threw a punch, only to have Elina dodge with her arms and swing another kick at the boy.
"Elina!" Ed yelled as he clapped his hands and set them on the ground. Spikes rose out of the ground and struck where the boy had stood. The boy ran on the other side of a bookshelf as Elina dodged the spikes. "Your friend's not a bad fighter and you can transmute with no circle… Two can play that game!" The boy yelled. Running to the end of the shelf, the boy set his hand on the ground, red sparks coming from the transmutation.
"He doesn't need a circle either!" Al warned. Ed pushed Al out of the way as Elina jumped in front of the boys and pulled on her transmutation gloves.
"How did you-?!" Ed gasped as the boy stepped closer. "You have a philosopher's stone?!"
"That just makes our situation worst, Edward!" Elina snapped as she clapped her hands and set them on the wooden shelves. Wooden spikes began springing out of the shelves, some of the book falling. Every spike missed it's mark as the boy dodged them all.
"What was all that commotion?"
"It came from in here"
Elina grabbed the boys as the sound of the guard's voice rang in her ears. Running out the enterance Ed had made, Elina clapped her hands and created stone spikes to prevent the fake brothers from following the trio.
"But wait! I wasn't finished yet!" Ed complained as the trio kept running out of the mansion.
"You can finish later, but you can't do anything if you're in prison!" Elina reminded.
The trio sat on a hill as Elina was looking at Ed's cheek, which had swollen up to the size of a grapefruit.
"It'll heal faster if you quit messing with it!" Ed whined as Elina rubbed some cream onto a bandage and stuck it onto Ed's face. Ed pulled it off with disgust. "What is this?"
"It's bruise cream, stupid." Elina snapped as she put the square bandage back on Ed's cheek. "I used to train in the military everyday so I couldn't allow bruises to be an issue"
"It feels weird!" Ed complained.
"Just put up with it, alright?" Elina sighed as she repeated the process with her right wrist, which had been bruised when she had gotten punched. An idea came to Elina as she grabbed Al's cold metal arm and placed on Ed's cheek. Ed smiled as he laid his swollen cheek against the armor. "Metal chills really well, so this should stop the swelling faster."
"Your cold metal feels just like an ice pack!" Ed sighed.
"Glad I could be of some comfort to you, brother… Even in this armor" Al looked at Elina, who was dozing off. "Are you alright?" Al asked. Elina looked at him with saddened eyes.
"I'm alright… Just…" Elina struggled to find the words.
"What is it?" Ed asked with his slightly muffled voice.
"It's nothing. The whole 'state alchemist' issue is just causing some things to resurface" Elina sighed as she pulled her knees up to her chest.
"Oh ya, your mom was a state alchemist" Ed saw Elina tense up as the words left his mouth. "Why does it bother you so much?"
"because my mother wasn't a regular state alchemist… " Elina muttered. "She was a monster"
Both boys looked at their partner with concern. "What do you-"
The sound of footsteps interrupted the trio as they turned around and saw the man, Belsio, from earlier.
"Hey, you were the guy with the lemons before, right?" Ed asked.
"If you need a place to board up, you can come with me" Belsio offered.
"Thank you so much for taking us in" Alphonse thanked as Belsio placed a metal bowl of water with a rag on the table the trio was sitting at.
"Couldn't very well let you kids sleep outside, could I?" Belsio answered. Elina stood up and placed herself in front of the boys.
"You're not going to ask who these boys are?" Elina questioned as Belsio continued working at the sink.
"They're the Elric brothers and you're their partner, right? That's what you say." Belsio answered. Elina relaxed herself as she returned to her seat.
"Then you believe us?" Al said as he rose from his chair.
"Honestly, not in the least, but you kids must have your own reasons for saying that you are" Belsio shrugged. "Makes no difference to me… To each their own."
"So you're not into the philosopher's stone like your neighbors are" Ed observed.
"Everyone else is unable or unwilling to forget the wealth the gold once brought them." Belsio explained. "So Mugear has got them wrapped around his finger"
Everyone was quiet until Elina rose from her chair, breaking the tension.
"Well, I don't know about you, but I'm going to bed" Elina smiled as she turned to Ed. "Maybe I'll answer your question tomorrow, Edward. Goodnight"
Elina walked towards one of the rooms and closed the door behind her.
"Your friend seems worn-out" Belsio mentioned.
"Who, Elina?" Ed chuckled. "She's anything but worn-out! Most hyper person I ever met was Elina"
"I don't know, brother" Al argued. "Doesn't it seem like she's tired?"
"No, not really-"
"Maybe that was her goal" Belsio suggested. Both boys looked at Belsio. "She seems very protective of you boys, so could it be she's hiding her exhaustion from you?"
Both boys remained silent as they allowed the thought to sink in. "Perhaps we should tell her" Alphonse suggested as Ed shook his head.
"No, Elina isn't like that. She'll just work harder to protect us if we tell her that." Ed sighed. "She doesn't give up that easily. We'll just have to make sure doesn't overwork herself"
"You're right about that" Belsio agreed. "Your friend wasn't kicked out onto the streets like you two, but she went with you anyways. She's loyal, I'll give her that"
"Edward! Alphonse!" Elina called out. The only thing she could see around her was water and rays of darkness. From far away, Elina could see the boys walking away. She smiled. "Hey! Over here, guys!"
The boys turned around and waved to their friend with big grins on their faces. Suddenly, a woman with a military uniform walked in front of the boys. Elina froze as she noticed the sandy blond hair the woman possessed. Fear washed over Elina.
"No! Get away-!" Before Elina could run towards the boys, she felt herself being gagged and her arms pulled behind her. Looking up, Elina saw her brother's face with a dark smirk plastered on his expression. Tears flowed down Elina's face as green sparks surround her mother and the boys. In a flash, Edward was impaled by a jade spike and Alphonse was crushed by a stone pillar.
"NO!"
Elina felt herself fall off the bed and hit the ground with a fairly loud thump. She could already feel a headache from where her head hit the ground.
I have a strong feeling that's gonna bruise Elina growled. She picked herself up began dressing herself with her usual clothing and bandages. Walking out, Elina saw Elisa sitting at Belsio's table.
"Hey Elisa" Elina smiled.
"Hi fake brothers' sister!" Elisa smiled.
"It's Elina" Elina smiled nervously. Belsio looked at Elina with concern.
"Are you alright? You've hit your head." Belsio pointed out. Elina's hand went to the red spot on her forehead and winced.
"I'm fine. Just fell out of bed." Elina assured. "Where are the boys?"
"They're alright" Belsio informed. "They went into town"
"Oh, okay" Elina smiled as she shifted her feet a bit. "Just tell me where they went and I can catch up"
"You'll run yourself ragged chasing those boys" Belsio warned. Elina bit her lip. "The armor went to the pharmacy. I don't know where the other one went"
"Thank you" Elina said as she rushed out the door.
Running into town, Elina saw Al near the pharmacy. "Hey, Alphonse!" Al turned around to reveal the little blond boy from Mugear's mansion. Elina ran over and the boy looked at Elina with fear.
"Alphonse, isn't this-" Elina nudged her head, waiting for Al to answer.
"Oh, it's okay. He's a friend" Al assured. Elina turned to the boy.
"Well, if Al says you're good, then I trust him" Elina shrugged, trying not to relive the Clara-Psiren incident. "My name is Elina Fosther. Nice to properly meet you this time"
"Nice to meet you too" The boy smiled. "Excuse me for asking, but are you hurt?"
Elina froze as Al quickly looked at Elina's forehead, where her bump had turned into a bruise. Elina covered it with her hand and winced.
"Elina! What happened?" Al interrogated.
"I'm fine, Alphonse. It's nothing. Just some time to heal and I'll be alright" Elina smiled.
"I can get you an ice pack" The boy offered. Elina chuckled at the boy's offer.
"That's sweet of you, but there's no use wasting something like that on me when I'm not even hurt" Elina explained. "Where's Edward?"
"I don't know, maybe we should look for him" Al suggested. The trio walked deeper into town, passing many people who had hacking coughs.
"Why does everyone seem so sick?" Elina asked. "Is there an epidemic going around?"
"Uh no, not really" The blond boy shrugged. Elina saw him twiddle his thumbs nervously.
"Isn't this stuff cough medicine?" Al asked as he held up a bag.
"Actually-" The boy stopped talking when he saw his older brother in front of the trio. "Brother!"
The boy's older brother started walking away, which made the younger boy follow. "Sorry, I have to go now"
"Wait!" Al called. "Tell us your real name"
The boy stopped and smiled. "It's Fletcher!" The boy said before running off.
"Cute kid. Hard to believe he's working for Mugear" Elina grinned. The sound of running caused the pair to spin around, only to see Ed racing down the street.
"Brother?" "Edward?"
Ed stopped and looked at the pair. "Why are you running?" Al asked.
"That imposter is around here somewhere!" Ed growled with his swollen cheek. "Have you seen him?"
Elina and Alphonse gave each other a questioning look.
"No, not today" Elina fibbed.
"That unethical jerk!" Ed complained. "Did you know he's been fixing people's tools and transmuting wheels all over town?"
"It's better than him using your name to do bad stuff" Al pointed out.
"That's not the point, it's the way he works!" Ed snapped. "He's got no regard for the law of 'Equivalent Exchange'!"
"Neither did Cornelio." Elina sighed. "Does that mean we have to bring them in?"
"Of course it does!" Ed shouted. "And tonight's our chance! We're gonna sneak into the mansion ,again ,tonight!"
"What? Just one day later?" Al questioned.
"That's right! They won't expect us!" Ed smirked.
As Belsio slept, the trio tiptoed to Mugear's mansion under the moonlight. The trio repeated climbing over the large stone wall and sneaking to the side of the mansion. All that was left now was to find a way in.
"Tonight we're trying 'Operation Mole Hole'!" Ed declared once the guards were out of view.
"Mole Hole?" Elina and Alphonse questioned. Insteading of explaining, Edward clapped his hands and set them on the ground, creating a large tunnel in the ground.
"Oh! I get it!" Elina chuckled as the trio climbed in. Navigating through the tunnel was difficult. The more the trio digged, the more Elina could feel her patience running out. "Are we almost out?" Elina whimpered.
"Almost. According to my calculations, we should be right under the center of the mansion." Ed explained.
"Are you sure?" Al asked.
"No, but we gotta come out somewhere" Ed stated as he clapped his hands and placed them on the dirt above his head. Looking up, a smirk appeared on Ed's face. "We're in!"
Elina clapped her hands and used the dirt below Ed to created an elevator to help the boys out of the tunnel.
"Woah! Thanks Elina!" Ed called from above.
"You're welcome!" Elina repeated this with Alphonse and herself. As she climbed out of the tunnel, Elina got a good look at her surroundings. Beside her was a river with red water flowing quickly and fog was rising from the water. It left a metallic taste in Elina's mouth.
"What is this?" Al asked. Elina looked at the water in disgust.
"So that's their plan" Ed muttered. "I think this is the chemical used to produce the red stone"
"Now that you mention it, this matches the color of the stone, only it's less concentrated" Elina observed.
"I remember reading something about it in the library at Central. It's a theoretical solid pumped full of alchemic catalysts" Edward explained. "You put this refined red water under a few megatons of pressure until it turns to stone"
"So kind of like making a diamond" Elina compared. "Just not as valuable"
"Exactly"
"So it's not a Philosopher's stone?" Al asked.
"It's not. Some stones can be imitated perfectly, like Rose Quartz, but some stones you easily tell the difference, like Diamonds." Elina explained. "While the appearance and alchemic reaction look similar, the underlying ingredients are what makes the difference"
"Wasn't it an alchemist named Nash or something that came up with the process?" Ed asked.
"That's right, but his idea never-" Elina was interrupted as a series of coughs came from her lungs. Edward began coughing violently as well.
"Elina! Ed!" Al panicked.
"It feels like there's a weight on my chest" Elina coughed out.
"I'm having some trouble breathing, too" Ed struggled to say. Elina felt her world growing dark as she fell to the ground. Ed followed soon after.
"Brother! Elina!" Al cried. "Wake up!"
"This way!" A familiar voice said as a door at the end of the hall opened up.
"Who's there?" Al asked.
"It's me!" Fletcher responded. "Come on! Hurry!"Al picked up Ed and Elina, running towards the door.
Elina slowly opened her eyes, noticing that the crushing weight on her chest had disappeared.
"Miss, are you alright?"
Elina looked over to see Fletcher and Al with relieved expressions. "What's going on?" Elina asked as she shook her head, relieving herself of her grogginess.
"It's okay, you're away from the redwater" Fletcher smiled. Elina sighed as she looked around the room. Her eyes stopped when she saw Ed on Al's lap unconscious. Elina rushed over to Al with a worried expression plastered on her face.
"Is he…" Elina panicked.
"No, no! He's fine now, we just have to wait until he wakes up" Al explained.
"Thank goodness" Elina relaxed. Alphonse looked at his friend with concern. Her exhaustion was more noticeable by the bag under her eyes.
"Hey Elina…" Alphonse said getting his friend's attention.
"What is it?" Elina asked.
"Why are you so protective of me and brother?"
The room went silent with Al's question. Elina sighed.
"Let me tell you, Al" Elina started. "I've been through too much too fast. I've lost too many people that were close to me and those I trusted stabbed me in the back. It made me grow up in a short time, but then the thievery began. A long time ago I would've said I was a lost cause, but then you and Edward came. It was like a tunnel of light in the darkness… You were one of the few people I could trust again, not the first, but one of the few… And you didn't betray me"
"Who was the first?" Al asked. Elina's eyes shined.
"My father. I owe you two so much… You're like the family I never had." Elina smiled. "I'm not losing that again, Alphonse"
"Elina…" Alphonse stopped when he saw Ed's eyes opening. "Brother!"
Ed's eyes opened as he sat up. "Where am I?" Ed asked as he looked at Fletcher. "And what the hell is he doing here?!"
"Edward! It's not his fault!" Elina lectured.
"No he's right" Fletcher spoke up. "I-I'm sorry…"
"What are you sorry for? What did you do?" Ed asked.
"No, Fletcher. It's what you didn't do, isn't it?" Al confronted. Fletcher looked down at his lap as tears began falling from his eyes. "If you know something, tell us. I get the feeling you don't like what's going on here"
"That red water you saw, it's a toxic substance that's been polluting the whole town" Fletcher confessed. "But it's… It's the vital ingredient for creating a red stone"
"Is that why the people in Xenotime have been coughing so badly?" Al asked.
"Alphonse!" Elina snapped. Fletcher was in tears. Elina put a hand on the boy's head, coddling him as he cried.
"I'm… S-so sorry!" Fletcher apologized.
"It's alright. It's not your fault" Elina comforted the sobbing boy.
"Okay this is ridiculous" Ed snapped, standing up. "First things first, we need to demolish this lab!"
"I can't let you do that" A new voice spoke. The trio turned around to see Fletcher's older brother. "After all the work we've put into it, we've finally created a red stone. My father gave everything he had in pursuit of this breakthrough, Mr. Elric. If you think I'm going to give up now, you're quite mistaken."
"So you care that much over a piece of lame costume jewelry?" Ed smirked. The older boy growled and grabbed onto a nearby lamp. Red sparks flew from the boy's hand as the lamp turned into a sword. "Yeah! A fake sword from a fake stone, huh? I think I can top that!" Ed shouted as he clapped his hands and placed them on his automail, making a blade out of the top arm piece. Ed charged at the boy as Elina held Al and Fletcher back.
As the two boys' weapons met, the two were at a standstill. The taller boy's sword began to crack under Ed's steel blade.
"Mine's the genuine article!" Ed smirked. The taller boy kneed Edward in the stomach, sending him back with a flip. The taller boy's hand waved over a metal door behind him as red sparks appeared. Grabbing something, the taller boy made a hose-like object from the metal door, smirking. "What the-?!"
"Red water, straight from the tap! If you're doused with it, you're a goner. You'll lose a lot more than your conscientiousness!" The taller boy threatened with a dark smirk.
"Fine, let it rain!" Ed shouted as he turned his blade into a metal umbrella. Elina felt herself being held back by a large metal hand. The taller boy opened the hose and red water launched towards Ed, who covered it with his umbrella.
"Ed, this is crazy!" Al shouted.
"Your brother's right! Just go and you can live!" The taller boy shouted.
"Never! I ain't giving up to some naive kid who's desperate to be… Just like daddy!" Ed snapped. The taller boy strengthened the flow of the red water and Ed began to lose his balance. Elina yanked herself out of Al's grip just as Fletcher began running.
He's going to get himself killed! Elina thought as rushed to Fletcher. Just as Fletcher shoved Ed out of the area with red water, Elina grabbed him and took the fall with her back. Feeling the burn of the red water, Elina winced, trying not to show that she was in pain. Fletcher looked up at Elina, unharmed.
"Miss, are you-"
"What were you thinking?!" Elina snapped. "If you died, who would be there to show your brother the right path?! Dying isn't heroic if you didn't make a difference Fletcher! You're too young to just put yourself in danger!"
"I-I'm sorry, miss. I just don't want anyone else to get hurt… It doesn't matter who gets the credit anymore… This isn't what dad wanted!" Fletcher began crying and Elina softened her expression.
"I'm sorry I yelled, but giving up your life shouldn't be an option, Fletcher. Live for your brother's sake… Live for your father" Elina smiled as she rose to her feet, careful to keep Fletcher away from the puddle of red water. Suddenly, whistles were heard from the room.
"Mr. Elric! Is everything alright in there?!" An officer called.
"Yeah! I'm fine!" The taller boy shouted back. "I told them not to bother me…"
"Maybe they don't really trust you" Ed snapped. "Though I can't see why except, ya know, lying about who you really are!"
"Fletcher, can you block the door?" Elina asked.
"Sure" Fletcher nodded as he ran over to the door and drew a transmutation circle.
"What the- Fletcher!" The taller boy scolded. Fletcher ignored him as he placed his hands on the circle, making it glow green as a tree began forming in the door's way.
"Edward, Alphonse get out of here!" Elina ordered. The boys looked at her as if she was crazy.
"Elina, what are you-" Edward was interrupting by banging at the door.
"Get out of here! We'll meet up later!" Elina assured. The banging at the door got even louder. "There's no time to argue! Move it!"
Edward and Alphonse jumped out of the window as Elina clapped her hands and hid herself inside a section of the wall. Elina could feel her skin aching from the red water as she held herself in her hiding space. She froze as the sound of running grew closer.
"My lab… What have they done to my lab?" Mugear whined as he walked into the room only to see the remains.
"Mr. Mugear" Russell said, getting Mugear's attention.
"Oh, I'm glad to see you're alright." Mugear assured. "The stone, has it been damaged?"
"No need to worry" Russell assured. "It's intact"
Mugear grabbed the stone and examined it. "It's a decent size, I commend you for getting this far. But I'm afraid that our time table's been pushed up. I need you to move directly into our contingency plan"
"But sir, we've made real progress. We don't need to resort to that!" Russell argued.
"Are you questioning the only person who's given you a chance?" Mugear challenged.
"No, no" Russell backed off.
"There was once another alchemist who couldn't do what I asked him" Mugear informed. "He left here with his tail between his legs and he was never heard from again"
Mugear dropped the red stone in a fishbowl-like object and it began to glow.
"What is that?" Russell asked.
"Even a non-alchemist such as myself has options" Mugear explained as he pointed his device towards the ground. The room began to glow red as strips of strong material wrapped themselves around Russell and Fletcher. Elina held her breath as she squeezed herself.
"Why are you doing this?!" Russell growled.
"Because I can!" Mugear growled. "You honestly think I'm a fool, don't you? That I don't realize the true Edward Elric has an automail arm and that you're the sons of Nash Tringham!"
Crap! He knows they're not the real Elrics, what am I going to-
"You know, I smell a rat" Mugear sneered as he dropped another stone in his device. Elina's hiding place began to glow red as wooden arms crashed into the wall and seized Elina. Elina whimpered as the wooden arm held her tight.
"Don't hurt her!" Fletcher cried.
"Looks like we have our first test subject" Mugear said giving a dark smile.
"Let us out of here, you coward!" Elina shouted.
"I'm the coward? Oh please! All these boys had to do was move into the contingency phase" Mugear snarled.
"Brother, what is phase 2?" Fletcher asked.
"Simple really!' Mugear boasted. "You introduce the red water into the drinking supply of pregnant women. It permeates their placenta, a factory of biological condensing!"
"No!" Fletcher cried.
"You sick-" Elina bit her tongue.
"You shut up!" Russell snapped.
"When the process is done, you extract it and transmute it into a stone." Mugear chuckled. "It's foolproof! Lets mother nature do the work!" Russell bit down in anger. "It's a shame. You've obviously inherited your father's cowardice."
"Wait!" Russell called. "Just tell me one thing Mugear; Did my father… Ever use that method on someone"
"No. At the last minute he had a crisis of morality and backed out. If only he had gone through with it, he would've saved his wretched life"
"You liar! You said he left here alive" Russell began shaking with frustration. Mugear just walked away. "Wait, Mugear… Get back here!"
"Um, miss? Are you okay?" Fletcher asked. Russell turned his head to find Elina's face was turning a deep red. He couldn't tell whether it was from anger or embarrassment.
"Just splendid, Fletcher" Elina responded through gritted teeth as the words test subject kept repeating in her head. "Those idiots better come and get me soon"
"How can you have so much trust in those two?" Russell questioned.
"Because they're the only family I've got" Elina smiled. "We may not be related by blood, but I know they'll come"
"You must think I'm stupid for helping Mugear." Russell sighed.
"Actually no. I understand why you wanted to continue your father's work" Elina shook her head. "I wanted to impress my father when I was young, but in the end he was proud no matter what. He was just that kind of person. I may not know what your father was like, but I bet he would be proud that you refused to hurt anyone else."
"What about the people we did hurt?" Fletcher whimpered.
"Show them you're sorry. You want to help this town, right?" Elina asked. "Show them that you're committed to fixing your mistake. There's things you can do without some stupid stone"
"Do you really think they'll forgive us? After everything we've done?" Russell snapped.
"I don't know" Elina shrugged. "You'll have to gain back their trust, it will be difficult, but possible. Trust is earned, not given"
"How can you be so sure?!" Russell yelled. Elina turned to him with a smile.
"Because the boys had to gain MY trust, the one person who refused to say anything to anyone for more than a year." Elina leaned against a wall as her mind went back to the first year she traveled with the Elrics. "If they could get my trust, then you can the same for the townspeople."
Russell was left speechless.
"Anything can be fixed with enough effort… Except death" Elina sighed. "You and Fletcher have a purpose. It isn't helping Mugear, it's helping this town."
The room went quiet as the trio remained silent. Soon, footsteps approached the door, causing Elina to tense up. When the door opened, Ed was standing there with Al in the background.
"Hi!" Al waved.
"I knew I could count on you guys!" Elina smirked.
"I know who you guys are now and I know your father was Nash Tringham" Ed stated.
Both boys gasped.
"But I don't know is why you so foolishly continued his work" Ed snapped.
Russell gritted his teeth as his eyes trailed to the ground. "Because… It was his dream… and as his son it was my duty to see it through."
"So you honestly think that this is what he wanted?" Ed asked. "You do realize the suffering that toxic water has brought the town, don't you? When your father realized it, that's why he chose to abandon his research and I can tell you right now, you're not going to find happiness chasing your father's failed dream"
Edward walked forward as he clapped his hands and set them on the shackles around Fletcher and Russell's wrists. He did the same thing to Elina, turning the shackles into wooden blocks.
"Thanks Edward" Elina smiled as she rose to her feet.
"Don't mention it" Ed turned back to the boys. "Live your own life and stop with all the acting! Trying to be someone you're clearly not!" Ed turned to Elina. "Find somewhere to hide, Mugear's not going down without a fight. Come on, Al!" Ed finished as he ran back where he came from.
Just as Elina was about to follow the boys, someone grabbed her hand; Russell.
"What do you expect us to do? Our father's research was all we had. What do we do now?" Russell muttered.
"That's pretty easy; move on. Don't let this hold you back. Keep walking forward, that's what legs are for." Elina said as she pulled her hand back and raced towards Mugear's lab.
Finding the lab, Elina could hear voices as she leaned against the door. As she listened, she took one of the wooden blocks from her shackles and pressed the corner against her left palm.
"...His research wasn't making any progress, so I had to let him go" Mugear explained.
Let who go? Does he mean Nash Tringham? Elina wondered as she continued carving into her hand, fighting the urge to whimper.
"Huh. You don't strike me as the type of guy who let's someone, who knows all of his secrets, to just walk away clean" Ed inferred.
"I'm afraid I miss the implication" Mugear replied.
"I'm saying I don't answer to murderers, Mugear." Ed snapped. "You got that?"
"Really… In that case, you're not getting out of here alive!" Mugear threatened. "There are plenty other alchemists I can use!"
Calm yourself, Elina. I can't jump in yet Elina reasoned. I'll just become an easy target for his stupid weapon.
"Another stone?!" Al gasped.
"Looks like he's got more than one!" Ed observed. "Elina, now would be a good time to jump in"
"It may not be as potent as the other one, but it'll do!" Mugear yelled as the wall shook when his weapon fired.
Not yet… Just hold on… Elina bit her tongue.
"Is that all you got?!" Ed shouted. Mugear began chuckling.
"Didn't think I had the stones?"
"Now would be a great time for some help!" Ed shouted. Where is she?
Almost…
"Lina!" Ed shouted. Elina ran into the room as set her left hand on the ground and created a wall in front of the boys, shielding them. When she lifted her hand, the blood from her carved transmutation circle stained the wooden floor.
"I told you not to call me that!" Elina snapped, ignoring the pain in her hand.
"You again?!" Mugear yelled as he began firing at the wooden wall Elina created.
"That wall isn't going to hold up! Keep moving!" Elina shouted as she ran behind a concrete pillar with the boys.
"Can't hide for long!" Mugear laughed.
"I need my gloves!" Elina snapped. Leaning over, she saw her gloves in Mugear pocket. "Dammit!"
"We don't have time for that! We need a way out!" Ed snapped. The pillar was slowly wearing down from Mugear's weapon.
"Not… Done yet" Mugear said as he struggled to get more stones from his pocket. Suddenly, vines grabbed Mugear's arms and restrained him. At the door was Fletcher and Russell with their hands on a glowing plant.
"This is our chance!" Ed shouted as he turned around and began pushing the pillar. Elina and Alphonse joined in until the pillar tipped over, right onto Mugear with a crash.
"Well, Ed. I do hate to interrupt, but it looked like you needed the help." Russell grinned.
"Nah!" Ed denied.
"We're not going to be chasing our dad's dream anymore" Russell stated. "You're right. It's time we live our own lives."
"Russell!" Fletcher smiled. Elina ran over to the fallen pillar and saw her gloves. Picking them up, Elina felt something was very wrong as she examined the pillar. Rolling over the pillar, Elina began to see a stairway leading below the mansion
"Uh… Guys? We have a problem" Elina informed. Ed ran over and saw the passage, anger growing on his face.
"Aw crap!" Ed yelled. "A secret passage?! Alright guys, time for a chase!"
"Wait!" Fletcher shouted as he ran to the back of the room. He came back holding four masks. "We're going to need these"
The group ran through the underground tunnels as fast as they could, all of them were wearing masking, except for Alphonse (Who didn't need to breath in the first place).
"How much further?" Ed asked in between breaths.
"The spring where the red water comes out is up ahead, we're almost there" Russell answered. Everyone stopped when a wall blocked the path.
"Mugear blocked our path"
"Good thing we're alchemists" Elina smirked. Ed clapped his hands and set them on the wall, causing it to open from the center.. Once the wall was halfway open, leaving a large hole in the center, Mugear fired his red stone ammo through. Everyone jumped behind what little wall was left, dodging the bullet.
"I'll never surrender the spring!" Mugear declared. "As long as I have the red water, nothing can stop me! Least of all, a diminutive state alchemist and his copy cat friends!"
Ed stood in the center of Mugear's target range, gaining attention from his comrades.
"Brother!" Al warned.
"Ed!" Russell snapped.
"Don't do anything stupid" Elina warned.
"Diminutive state alchemist, huh?" Ed smirked as he clapped his hands. "Points for the big word, but you're still going down!"
"Oh yeah?!" Mugear growled as he fired his cannon. Ed closed the wall back up as the bullet (?) hit the wall, causing the wall to collapse and Mugear to fall back. Ed walked up to Mugear and put his foot in front of Mugear's face.
"You see, now?" Ed gloated. "Even with your stones, I'm on a whole 'nother level"
Suddenly, the room began to rumble.
"What's going on?" Mugear croaked.
"Edward! It's time to go!" Elina yelled. The spring began getting toppled by rocks and overflowing. "Mugear, get out of here!"
"I'll never the spring!" Mugear yelled. Mugear looked above him as a huge boulder fell from the ceiling and crushed him.
"You tried, Elina! Let's get out of here!" Russell shouted as the group began running out of the tunnels. The group stopped when Russell looked back in the tunnel. "Rushing water… The red water's overflowing"
Ed clapped his hands and formed a wall. "That should hold it for now." Ed explained.
"Won't it just come out somewhere else?" Al pointed out.
"Aw crap! The town!" Elina shouted. "What's gonna happen to the town?"
"We don't have time for that! That shock probably weakened the support beams. We have to go now!"
The trio ran outside as fast as they could only to see red water flowing from the mountain. Ed clapped his hands, setting them on the ground, and formed a bowl around the mansion. The red water poured out of the mountain and filled the bowl to it's brim.
"So now we're the ones trapped." Elina observed. " Not to mention the wall won't last forever. If only we had some kind of drain…"
Fletcher ran to one of the many trees around the mountain and used chalk to draw a transmutation circle on it. He put his forehead to the tree and it began glowing a neon green. The glow spread to the other trees as the red water was slowly absorbed. As more water was absorbed, the trees began to gain the same shade of red the water possessed. Elina and the boys stared in awe.
"The trees… They're absorbing all the red water" Ed explained.
"I remember seeing something like this in the lab" Al mentioned
"That's right! They were detoxifying the red water using plants" Ed agreed.
"Then that means Xenotime is safe?" Elina asked. Ed nodded as Elina let a smile grow on her face.
Russell put his hand on Fletcher as the younger boy smiled. "See? It works" Fletcher slightly bragged. Russell nodded as the two of them used both of their alchemical abilities to speed up the drainage of the red water. In a few short minutes, every plant, even the grass, had absorbed more than it's fair share of red water, turning all the plants the same crimson shade.
"They did it!" Elina cheered. "Xenotime, meet your heros!"
"At least they pulled. through." Ed sighed "Well done"
The boys looked at each other as Fletcher whispered to the tree in front of him. "Thank you trees. Sorry for this."
The trees began to glow, blue this time, once more as they soon shattered like glass into the air. Ed's alchemic wall slowly lowered as the blue dust left from the trees swept away with the wind.
"Elina! Hurry up!" Edward yelled as Elina ran onto the train, struggling to tie her bandages.
"I'm foing, I'm foing!" Elina muffled as she tied her left bandage with the help of her teeth. One of the bandages covered the transmutation circle she had carved into her hand. She sat onto the train booth next to Edward as she finished her left bandage. "Alphonse, can you tie this?" Elina asked holding out her right wrist with it's loose bandage.
"Sure" Al accepted as he began tying the bandage off.
"Take these!" Elisia's voice said as a basket of lemons was lifted up to the train window. "They're from my uncle!"
Ed lifted the basket into the cart as the trio thanked her. Standing behind Elisia was the Tringham brothers, sending the trio off as well.
"Stay out of trouble, you guys!" Elisia smiled.
"Yeah! And come back to see us!" Fletcher mentioned.
"Of course! You think we'd leave you and never come back?" Elina teased. "We'll visit, no matter how long it takes!"
"Next time you come, the town will be in much better shape!" Fletcher assured.
"I bet!" Elina smiled. "I hope you two make a name for yourself"
"I can tell you how to crystallize a red stone" Russell said, loudly. Everyone stopped chatting and listened in.
"Why?" Ed asked.
"It's not for atonement, more because you deserve to know" Russell stated. Ed shook his head.
"Thanks, Russell, but no thanks. We'll find the real article on our own. You can count on that" Ed gloated.
"You'll see, Ed! The next time you come to visit, this town'll be even better!" Fletcher assured.
"That's right! And by that time, I'll probably be taller than you!" Elisia smiled. Ed jumped out of his seat.
"Come on! Show a little respect for elders!" Ed smirked. The two younger kids began to laugh. "I'm serious! Why's that funny?"
"We'll just have to come back soon so that doesn't happen" Elina chuckled. The train began moving and the trio started waving.
"See you guys!"
"Goodbye!
"Don't grow any taller!"
As the sunset on the town of Xenotime, the trio was sitting in the train going to Eastern command. Elina's eyes were focused on a book as he grabbed something from the basket Elisia had given them.
"Hey, a letter" Ed said as Elina looked up to see.
"Is it for us?" Al asked.
"Yeah, let me read it" Ed said opening the paper.
"I bet it's from Russell" Elina sighed. "You two and your pride"
"WHAT?!" Ed jumped as Elina and Alphonse looked confused.
"What does it say?" Elina and Alphonse asked. Ed clutched the letter behind him.
"Drop it!" Ed snapped. "It's nothing, okay?"
"Oh come on, Ed! It's for all of us!" Elina complained. "Let us read it!"
Alphonse began chasing Ed yelling "LET ME SEE! LET ME SEE!"
This continued until Elina plucked the letter from Ed as his hand went over her head. "Elina! Give it back!"
Reading the contents, Elina began to chuckle. "This is the best letter yet! He's younger than you!"
"Cut it out!" Ed snapped. "How can he be younger than me yet taller? Life is so unfair"
"You think those two are gonna be alright?" Alphonse asked.
"Yeah, they'll be fine." Ed assured.
"I have a theory on how you might grow taller" Elina chuckled. "Maybe if you got rid of your-"
"Don't say it!"
"Small fuse?"
"ELINA!"
Ed
Thank you for all the words of wisdom you gave us. I'm sorry I was such a smartass to you at first, but I'm trying to be a better older brother to Fletcher. I'll try hard to follow your example Ed. I guess you being a year older than me makes a big difference. You may know how to be a better brother, but Elina knows how to be loyal. If it weren't for her, Fletcher would've been hurt, almost killed. I hope those books she took are a start to the big debt I owe her. Well have a good trip.
Russell
Thank you for reading this chapter! I don't have much to say except congrats for waiting this long. Oh well! See you all later!
Jackie C.A.