The group finally exit the train station and find themselves on the outskirts of Lior, Ed was complaining that he was hungry to which Ava mentioned a food joint nearby.
"So? What are you guys like street performers?" Ava nearly spat out her freshly made squash trying not to laugh as the owner spoke to Ed and Al.
"Seriously, do we look like street performers to you?" Ava again had to refrain from hitting her head off the counter.
Yes Ed you do. Your brother is in full armour and you continue to walk around in that coat. people will question you both.
Ava tuned out the pair determined to finish her food, just because Ed could eat a whole horse didn't mean everyone could.
It wasn't till Al performed alchemy that she started to take notice of the conversation happening around her, taking a pen and her notepad out to write some quick notes while everyone was distracted by Ed and Al:
Touched by sun god Leto
'Father' Cornello
Eternal life to the souls of the 'Faithful'
Can even resurrect the Dead.
Ava's eyes had darted to Als writing the last line, they knew all too well that it was impossible so what had this man done to get his followers to think so?
"So this guy's claiming he can bring the dead back? Now, this I gotta see." Ed nodded towards Ava that they were moving on.
The group watched as people gathered outside the church. Ava laughed as Ed had to stand on their suitcase to see Father Cornello, Ed mumbling some lame comeback Ava took no care to notice. It wasn't long before the man himself stepped out, The group watched suspicious of his every move. He caught one of the floating flowers in his hands before performing alchemy to turn it into a glistening crystal that had multiplied its organic matter.
"So that's it huh? What do you think Al? Ava?" Ed asked the pair Ava waited to hear what Al thought first.
"There's nothing to think that's alchemy, no doubt about it." Al said
"But somehow he's bypassing the law of equivalent exchange? couple that with creating more mass than what was originally there?" Ava added on earning agreed nods from the pair
"He's also changing organic matter into inorganic matter." Al concluded,
"Yeah, there's just one way someone could do that." Ed said before the group headed off to book themselves in a nearby inn.
Ava took a bit of time sorting herself out as well as asking the receptionist to use a phone, calling Roy's office.
"You have reached Colonel Mustang's office, this is Lt Hawkeye may I take a message." Ava held back laughing; it had been a while since she heard Rizas official voice.
"Hey Ri, where is the old soot ball at this hour? He's normally in the office." she asks a slight giggle on her lips.
"Ah, I wondered when you'd call to 'update' us." Ava rolled her eyes at the formality of it all, the phone made a clunking racket before a familiar voice entered her ears.
"Good evening Life and death Alchemist, what's the current status of your research?"
"Ah ever pleasant is your voice this evening Roy." His name rolled off her tongue like sweet honey, she could have sworn his breath hitched.
"The research is going as planned, there seems to be confusion among the people about their leader Father Cornello, he seems to have gained a mass following by telling people he has been touched by the sun god Leto. His apparent miracles seem to be the work of alchemy but his ability to produce more mass than what was originally there concerns me. He appears to be bypassing the law of equivalent exchange." She tells him as she places herself on top of the counter.
"Will you be okay?" he asked, Ava could hear the concern that laced his voice.
"Yes. Me and the Elrics will be fine, we're due to meet with Father Cornello and question his methods and if proven to be uncooperative, then I may need to call back and request that he be asked about his methods from Fuhrer Bradley. Due to the level of power, his alchemy seems to hold. It poses a threat to not only alchemy but all of Amestris." Her voice was calm and stern she didn't need Roy thinking she needed protecting already
"Okay, I can tell when you're annoyed, and I don't want to deal with childish behaviour," he spoke clearly knowing that calling Ava childish would provoke some form of reaction.
"At least I'm not a stuck-up tight arse. Who becomes useless once he's wet." she deadpanned not wanting to give him a reaction. "We're staying at an inn called The Setting Sun, the Elrics are sharing a room tonight. I will report back if anything further develops." Her voice sounded as official as it would get. She was sure if she was watching he would have doubled back at her change in tone.
"Okay, Is there anything else to report?" Roy questioned.
She felt a devilish smirk appear on her lips as a thought passed through her head, "Well since you asked there are always extra things to do in my office Roy." Her voice stayed neutral, till his name rolled from the speaker to his ears. She heard his chair creak slightly as if in slow motion, she bit her lip in anticipation
"Damm-" Ava hung up the phone quickly, a sly smirk gracing her lips.
Oh, I'm so dead when I get back. Ava thought to herself trying to contain how giddy she was.
"Oi, you coming V?" Ed shouted from the door.
Upon entering the chapel, Ava was in shock over the grandeur of the place, the high ceilings, causing the echoes of their footsteps to rise. In front of them was a girl, clearly praying she noticed the group, and asked if they were interested in Letoism.
"Nope can't say I am, Not really the religious type." Ed said, looking bored with the conversation already. Ava had perched on one of the benches praying that Ed wouldn't make a fool of himself but she knew that was foolish.
The girl proceeded to insult Ed by saying that if he prayed he might be gifted by Leto to grow taller. Ava almost laughed but managed a slight chuckle at the poor girl's insult.
Al finally managed to calm him as he sat down next to Ava, Arms spread lazily over the back of the bench.
"What about bringing the dead back to life?" Ed asked, "Do you believe that to be true?" He continued his face showing no signs of the anger he was trying to simmer.
"Yes." The girl looked hopeful with her answer as if believing what she said with every fibre of her being.
She's got someone she wants to bring back. Only love can make you not see the reality in front of us. Human transmutation is forbidden. So there wouldn't be any luck of that here. From what I've researched once the soul leaves the body there isn't a way to bring it back.
Ava was lost in thought as Ed rattled off the chemical makeup of the human body.
Though Ed managed to bring back Al's soul, she wondered if when they gave up their bodies to the truth the soul was still stuck to the world because they hadn't actually died.
Ava clicked back into the conversation when Ed started to lose his temper
"- And you're telling me something modern science can't do. You can do with prayer?"
She had to hand it to Ed. He was being very smart to keep a lid on his anger.
"Lift thy voice to God. And the prayers of the faithful will be answered." Her voice was determined as if she had to get us to believe
"Did I mention that list of ingredients I read off? Down at the market a kid could buy every one of them for the spare change in his pocket." Ed said calmly, a small smile gracing the corner of his lips as he looked up to the ceiling."As it turns out humans are pretty cheap."
Ava looked at the floor. Yeah, and I watched as you bought them not realising what you were planning. She thought she felt her eyes begin to water, willing the tears away.
"No! That's blasphemy! People are… We are." The girl's voice was wavering as she spoke. "all children of God, created in his image."
Ed chuckled at her words "You have to understand Alchemists are scientists, we don't believe in unprovable concepts like creators or Gods, We observe the physical laws that govern this world, to try and learn the truth." Ed's voice was unusually calm, as he looked at the statue of the sun god."That through the application of science, we have in many ways been given the power to play God ourselves."
Ava shook her head, he was right ever since alchemy had been taught there had been a power struggle for who was the strongest, it wasn't till the last few hundred years did they decide to stop fighting amongst themselves.
"You're putting yourselves on the same level as God? That's just sheer arrogance." The girl had her fists balled at her sides, Ava watched one eyebrow raised at the scene in front of her.
"You know there's an old myth. About a hero who flew on wings made of wax. He thought he could touch the sun but when he got too close his wings melted and he came crashing down to earth. Right Guys." Ava smiled at Ed as he spoke, she had told the boys the same story when they were younger. Now finding it had a double meaning to the boy's lives.
"Brother." Al said as Ed hopped off the bench
"I'm sorry Miss, this is difficult for me to ask. But do you think your Father Cornello could even save an arrogant scientist like me?" Ed asked
"Of course that's wonderful," The girl clasped her hand together. "If anyone can lead you to the creator's light, he can." She asked them to wait there before hurrying off through double doors.
Ava gave Ed a look out the corner of her eyes, he just shrugged at her
"What? We gotta speak to him somehow."
The trio were led by the woman and a few guards through some impressive double doors before ending up in what she could only describe as a basement room, she heard the faint click of the door being locked behind her, choosing to keep her guard up.
"Father Cornello is a busy man, but you're in luck he's decided to spare a moment for you." Brother Cray said, "We'll make this quick."
In a split second one of the guards had pinned Ed and Cray had a gun pointed at Al. Ava stood in front of the woman, she could already sense that even her being in the room she would be killed once it was over.
"Brother Cray, what are you doing?" The woman asked
"Rose these heathens, have come to discredit the father. They are evil. This is God's will." Cray said, keeping his gun pointed at Al. Ava glanced at Ed who nodded in understanding.
"Well, like you said, let's make this quick."Ed said as he managed to tackle his two guards and in Cray's disbelief Al punched him in the face, the gun skidding to Rose's feet.
"What's this commotion?" A gruff voice entered the room as Father Cornello appeared from the shadows above the area they stood "Ah the Fullmetal alchemist. Welcome to the home of our sacred order."
Ava chuckled, "So is this how you treat every guest? take them to the basement, lock the doors and shoot them?"
"I'm sorry you weren't introduced to me, what's your name?" Father Cornello asked.
"Ava, a researcher travelling with the Elric brothers. I would say it's a pleasure but it's not." Ava walked between the boys towards Father Cornello, "The fact is that you could have seen us, answered some questions and we'd have left none the wiser, but now you've tried to attack me and my friends. I have no choice but to dig deeper and find the truth."
"I must apologise for my disciples' behaviour; it seems they have been misguided." He said, trying to defuse the situation.
Ed Laughed "Ha, Say I believe you weren't the one guiding them, What next?"
"Have you come to learn the ways of Leto?" Cornello responded
"Well, there's a few things I'm curious about, like how you've been using second-rate alchemy to deceive your followers?" Ed asked
"My dear body I don't know what you mean. What you're doubting is alchemy are the miracles of the sun God Leto. look again." Conello asked as he pressed his hands together forming a statue from nothing. "Could mere alchemy create something from nothing in this way?"
"Yeah, that's what we did not get at first. How can you perform transmutations that ignore the law of equivalent exchange?" Ava asked as she smirked at Ed knowing this would get Cornello to get suspicious of them and react irrationally.
"As I said it isn't Alchemy!" he shouted at them
"But then I started thinking about it, if you had managed to acquire a certain object to amplify your alchemy. One that's said to make the impossible, possible. That. Would explain everything." Ed said in a tone of determination as if challenging Cornello to call him a liar.
"What?" Cornello asked stunned that they had figured it out.
"We're talking about the philosopher's stone. Your ring. That's it isn't it?" Ava said, her eyes settling on the plain gold band on his finger with a small red stone embedded into the band.
There was a stunned silence in the room after Ava spoke, the trio knew they were right
"A ring is just a ring, I am just a humble servant, it is he alone that I derive my power." Conello said raising his voice at them as Ed began to walk forward
"Still trying to sell that line. huh?" Ava asked, smirking
This father really is an idiot. She thought
"If that's the way you wanna play, guess I'll just have to come up there and beat it out of you myself." Ed threatened
"My, you really are a heathen aren't you?" Cornello said Looking towards Rose, "Rose dear?"
"Yes, father?" She replied
"That gun there beside you pick it up." He said to Rose as she bent down to pick it up."Now child I want you to shoot the Fullmetal Alchemist." Commanding Rose
Rose and the boys let out a gasp while Ava stood there one eyebrow raised amused as it came out that father had tricked Rose by telling her that he could bring back her dead fiance, Rose pointed the gun at Al who shook his hand explaining that he wasn't the Alchemist.
"It's the short one?" Father Cornello said shocked
"I'm sorry I have to do this." Rose pleaded as she pointed the gun at Ed
"He's been lying to you, Rose. I'm sorry for your loss but he's lying" Ava explained.
"You're wrong, I've seen his miracles! Father Cornello will bring him back to life. I have faith." Rose shouted, her hands trembling while holding the gun.
"Rose explain something to me, you believe in his deluded faith right?" Ava started as the three looked at her. Rose nodded, listening, "Tell me has he ever brought someone back to life? In front of you or anyone in the town for that matter." Rose's hands began to shake as she shook her head. "I thought not, even as alchemists were ever learning and evolving, most people would do anything to get their loved ones back." Ava said carefully, her eyes darting to the boys "You're telling us that, to your God, the soul of a loved one is worth more than a living soul?" Rose's hands shook more Ava's words sinking in like quicksand.
"Shoot me then, if that's what you believe," Ed said, Rose gripped the gun with fear and fired a shot but it rebounded off Al's armour, Rose screamed at what she had done.
"Good, God Leto is pleased, you have done well my child. Now pick up the gun and shoot the others."
"Haven't you made her do enough already?" Al's voice rose from the armour. Rose stated in shock as the armour began to move. Ava came up to her in case she passed out, she'd seen enough people faint finding out Al's secret
"But, I shot you?" Rose exclaimed terrified as Al stood up
"An empty suit of armour that walks and speaks. Do you still doubt me Rose? This unholy thing is an abomination. Evil of this kind must be purged," Conrello shouted to them as he pulled a lever the hairs on Ava's back began to stand as a doorway opened "And I believe my chimaera should be up to the task."
"So this is what you do with the philosopher's stone? That's just twisted." Ed said as he clapped his hands and touched the floor his chosen weapon, a spear transmuting above ground.
"No transmutation circle?" Cornello exclaimed terrified "The state alchemist title isn't just for show you truly are gifted. However!" The chimaera attacked Ed, breaking his spear and scratching his leg. "Your little spear is no match for chimaera claws that cut through iron!"
Ava smirked Wrong leg arsehole. Ed bought up his leg kicking the chimaera back
"I guess those claws don't do so well against steel." Ed said his cocky smirk plastered on his face. The chimaera quickly turned round going for Ed who put his arm between him and the sharp teeth of the chimaera. before Ed gave it another swift kick knocking it out.
Cornello gasped, "Your arm! A brother trapped in armour. I see it's all becoming clear now. You did it, didn't you? The one thing even the most novice alchemists know is strictly forbidden."
"Why don't you come down here and try me? I'll show you real quick who the novice is!" Ed shouted frustrated
"Rose. This is the price of their sin. These fools attempted human transmutation, the greatest taboo for any alchemist. In their arrogance, they tried to bring someone dead back to life." Cornello said as Rose stood there with a look like everything had snapped into place in her head but she didn't want to believe it.
"This is what happens when you can't give an equivalent exchange Rose. This is why I asked you whether your fiance's soul was worth someone else's, because this." Ava gestured to the boys. "This is the reality, you have to give up something to get something back. but nothing" Ava falters, tears gracing the corners of her eyes "Nothing in this world is worth a human soul."
"So this is the great Fullmetal alchemist, Edward Elric, not even half a man, hell not even half a boy!" Cornello shouted, Ava was getting tired of this turning to face Cornello.
"What's that make you? You're just a phoney that can't do anything without the philosopher's stone." Ed shouted
"Fools, if your really that eager to play God, maybe I should just send you to meet him instead." Cornello exclaimed, transmuting his staff to a machine gun raining fire on the group Ed managed to transmute a door in the wall while Al scooped up Rose. The Trio just barely managed to get out
Once out they devised a plan. Ed and Ava left Al to transmute the bell to a microphone, all they needed to do was lure Cornello to his office to broadcast it.
Ed and Ava entered the office and waited for Cornello to pass by and notice them.
"How's the automail?" Ava asked looking out to the town below at all the people he had managed to convince
"Didn't think you cared, V?" He said chuckling
"I don't short stack, but Winry will be pissed if you damage your auto again." She said watching Ed hop onto Cornello's desk rolling her eyes at the annoying blonde.
"So, Why were you so flushed when you arrived at the train station? And how come you phoned the Colonel at the Inn?" He asked
Ava's heart skipped a beat; there was no way he'd have worked it out yet.
"I told you me being flushed has nothing to do with you. I'm a grown woman and I can do what I want." She said, crossing her arms in frustration. did everyone think she was fragile or something like she couldn't protect herself? "As for the Colonel, he asked me to ring after we arrived, to discuss our findings. He is our keeper after all." She said, turning her back to Ed.
"Sure, sure, tell that to the judge." He said Ava didn't want to turn around knowing he'd be wearing his trademark cocky smirk which if they weren't deep into a mission she would've slapped off him, but she had a light bulb moment.
"I will, when you tell the judge about your obvious attraction to a certain blonde back home." Ava finally turned looking towards the door. Ed pouted in protest and she knew for now she had won, but she'd need to be careful in future. The pair ceased their hearty conversation as Cornello burst into the room.
"There you are, you infernal Brats!" Conrello said finding them
"Look, can we just cut the crap and talk here?" Ed said clearly enough for him to understand "All we want are straight answers about the stone. Tell us what we need to know and we can be on our way. Or Ava here can ring the military." Ed threatened
Conrello let out a frustrated sigh before checking the corridor and walking in. "Ask your questions."
Idiot, She thought He fell for it.
"You could do anything with a philosopher's stone right, so why waste all that power performing phoney miracles."
"Because with each miracle, I can attract new believers to the orders, believers who would lay down their lives for my sake. I'm slowly building an army, a legion of holy warriors, unafraid to die. In a few more years, I'll unleash this army on the world. and I'll use the philosopher's stone to tear this country apart. Who knows, I might even carve out a slice for you two." Conello finished laughing.
Ed and Ava looked at each other before joining in laughing at the idiocy of this man. Cornello looked confused at the pair before showing the Microphone switch in her hand smirking. Cornello began shouting and cursing the pair all while the microphone was still on.
"You'll pay dearly for this!" Cornello shouted before beginning to transmute his staff
Ed was quicker sprinting across the room transmuting his automail into his favourite steel blade cutting through the gun Cornello transmitted.
"I am without Rival!" Cornello roared as he began transmutting what was left of the gun Ed sprang back out of imminent reach, but the transmutation rebounded causing Cornello's hand to become a jumbled mess of metal and skin.
"Ed, Get back, that's a rebound, something is not right." Ava shouted.
"Wha- I will not be disgraced like this. Now, behold the chosen emissary of the sun God Leto." Cornello's ring began to glow as Red alchemical energy surrounded him. He began to grow taking on the form of a giant. Ed stood frozen for a second before Ava shoved him out the doors back to the main chapel.
The pair fought hard against the transmuted man; it looked like he was set to beat them when Ava pulled her ace. He hadn't realised she could do alchemy so had left her for last. Placing both hands on the statue of Leto she transmuted a giant fist to attack Cornello pummelling him into the dirt, she kept pressing till sparks appeared once more and Cornello was transmitted back to a man.
Ed Ran up to Cornello "Shut Up, Just Give Me The Philosopher's Stone!" He shouted as Cornello looked at him in fear, his hand covering his face as the stone fell from the ring onto the floor turning to dust.
"The stone. It's supposed to be perfect material. How does it just break like that?" Ava asked defeated
"I don't know anything about it, just please spare me." Cornello rushed out pleading for his life
Ed got up slowly "It's a damn fake." he said looking down at Cornello "you mean we went through all this, risked our lives for this one possibility and it's a fake." He sighed, a mix of emotions flowing from him.
"What do I do? I'm helpless without it." Cornello asked pleadingly
Ava's head snapped to the man in a beat, one looked at her and Cornello scurried it.
"I'm sorry Ed, I thought it would be here too." Ava said, placing an arm on his shoulder before walking out of the chapel, Ed following.
They explained to Al what had happened once they had all met up outside.
"So what about the stone?" Al asked, sounding hopeful. Ed looked away in shame.
"A phoney, just like him." Ava said pulling both the boys into a quick hug "We'll get there maybe not today or next week but we will find a way."
"For a while, I really thought we'd found a way to get our bodies back." Ed sighed.
The familiar sound of a gun being drawn graced Ava's ears as she turned to look at Rose.
"Give me the philosopher's stone!" She shouted pointing the gun at the group.
Ava looked at her through defeated eyes shaking her head. "It was a fake Rose it shattered on the floor."
"Liar, you want to keep it for yourselves so you can get their bodies back. And bring back their mother!" Rose shouted at her.
For a split second Ava was tempted to stab her heart out for calling her a liar, and still holding onto the idea people could come back but decided to tell her what she needed to hear, something she felt Rose hadn't been told in a long time.
"Rose, if I had the stone, I'd have already used it to bring the boys' bodies back and chances are I wouldn't be here. So don't call me a liar or insinuate that they'd attempt that again. You didn't see it." Ava's eyes stung from the tears welling up to break free. " People don't come back from the dead. Not boys went through hell just to see their mother and it still wasn't enough. I'd give up everything if it meant they could be themselves again. But that's just the unfortunate reality of this world. All we can do is keep moving." Ava looked towards the boys and she could have sworn Ed had a tear in his eye at what she had said.
That's right, short stack, I'd give up my being if it meant I could get you both back. She smiled through her tears at the boys before looking at Rose who had fallen to her knees at the reality of it all.
"That hope was all I had left, what am I supposed to believe in now? Tell me. Please!" Rose pleaded, her voice breaking as the group walked past her, Ava looked at Ed as he spoke, not looking at Rose.
"We can't tell you that, you have to figure it out." Ed said as they walked off "Stand up and walk, keep moving forward, you've got two good legs, so, use them. You're strong enough to make your own path." Ava smiled at Ed remembering these words from when Roy had met them the first time. The group continued walking, not bothering to stop at the Inn and jumped on the first train back to Central. They watched as an angry mob descended onto the chapel not looking back.