"Ishvalens were a race of people in the East area who worshiped their absolute one God of Creation, Ishvara. Thirteen years ago, when an officer shot an Ishvalen child by accident. An enormous civil war erupted, but due to differences in religious values, there were frequent conflicts repeated between the two countries. Riot brought about riot, and before anyone knew, the flames of the rebellion spread throughout all of the East Area. An operation was ordered by the military brass after seven years of offensive and defensive warfare… to deploy the State Alchemists as well in the Ishval annihilation campaign, the intent was probably to test out their practical usage on the battlefield. Many practitioners were dispatched as human weapons, I was one of the practitioners." Serah leaned back in her chair; Ed kept glancing at her. He is worried about her; she hadn't said much since last night. She, Ed, and Al returned to Colonel's office, as the first thing in the morning, they were asked to come to the office before they were allowed to leave last night. The Ishvalen noticed that it was only Armstrong, Hughes, and Mustang's unit in the office. Hughes was leaning against the edge of a desk with crossed arms while looking at his daughter with a concern expression, Ed sneered as he glanced at Serah from the corner of his eye for a moment before closing his eyes, he turned to Mustang.
"That's bullshit, there's no such thing as justice and crap in getting vengeance on innocent people. He's only wrapping his craving for vengeance by acting as a 'messenger of God' and being all high and mighty about it." Serah sighed as she leaned forward and rested her elbows on her knees while closing her eyes.
"And yet can we blame him, I understand where he is coming from. Scar lost his home and his family on the actions of the Amestrian Military and the State Alchemists; but yet he is a hypocrite when using Alchemy and stating that he hates those who does. The Ishvalen people did lose a lot during the Civil War, but it does not give us the right to act judge, jury, and executioner because of it." Hughes moved over to his foster daughter and the blond Alchemist and took a seat on the bench opposite of the pair, mirroring Serah as he rested his elbows on his knees.
"I agree with you, Serah. As she said, someone who despises Alchemy is using that same Alchemy to get revenge, the sort of people who don't care how things get done are the most dangerous… and the scariest ones." Mustang placed his chin in his palm and closed his eyes, Serah pushed herself back up and leaned against the back of the bench. Ed's fingers twitched almost like he wanted to take Serah's hand to give her comfort, but he didn't; he instead let out a sigh while leaning back in his chair.
"We also cannot worry about how things get done; we cannot die yet. The next time we meet, there will be no talk. We'll take him out." Hawkeye, Armstrong, Hughes, Havoc, Fuery, Falman, and Breda each glanced at the Colonel, Serah turned to the Flame Alchemist with a neutral expression. She understands that Scar needs to be brought in for trial but… she has questions that she wants answered. Questions, Scar could have the answers to. Ed felt the heavy sigh, she let out as she dropped her head into her hands, all of this confuses her and frights her more than anything. Almost losing Ed, losing Nina to her bastard of a father. Serah thought about what it would mean if the war never happened and if she never met Ed, Al, or the rest of the people in the office. She would have an entirely different life, she would grow up in the desert with her parents and brothers, she would throw herself into the training of becoming a priestess of Ishvara, the God of her people. And… she would never have gotten the experiences from this life, she wouldn't have gotten close to Ed and Al, they would probably never have met. She can't imagine her life without Ed and Al or even without the others in the room, someone sent her on this path, and she fully intends to walk along the long road… to the end.
"Anyhow! Here ends this boring topic, what are you Elrics and Serah going to do now?" Hughes stood up and turned to the brothers and his foster daughter, the older Elric glanced up at the lieutenant colonel with surprise. The young Ishvalen nudged him with her shoulder with a slight smile, he stole a glance at her from the corner of his eye.
"Yeah… I want to fix Al's armor, but I can't use that technique with this arm..."
"Shall I fix you?" Armstrong asked, again shirtless, and tightened his muscles on his torso.
"I'll pass." Serah glanced at the younger Elric as he spoke in an emotionless voice.
"I'm the only one who knows how Al's soul is bound to the armor… so first I have to fix my arm."
"That's right… since Edward can't use alchemy…"
"Just another kid with a rotten tongue."
"A bratty little midget."
"Worthless, worthless!" Hawkeye stood in the back and was agreeing with Hughes, Havoc, and the Colonel.
"That's bullying!" Ed shouted at them; a scowl appeared on his face as he sat back down next to Serah. The Ishvalen leaned up against him, giving him a glance.
"I guess I have no choice, I'll have to go to my mechanic." Serah gave a small smile at the thought of meeting Winry and Pinako Rockbell finally, the Ishvalen have heard about the Mechanics from both brothers or more from Al than Ed. And she would like to see where they lived before turning to traveling and staying in hotels and motels, she never had been to the countryside before.
Hughes, Mustang, Hawkeye, and the rest of the Colonel's unit flat out told the trio that they couldn't go with them for different reasons. Hughes gestured for Serah to follow him out of the room, the Ishvalen pulled out her shades and pushed them high on her nose, hiding her eyes behind the colored glass. Ed's glance followed her as she closed the door behind her with a clutch in hand, Havoc grinned at the sight of the older Elric as the soldier crossed his arms over his chest.
"Someone got a girlfriend~" Havoc sang with a large grin, Ed sputtered while blushing madly, it caused the others to laugh.
"No! I don't!" He protested, Al, nudged his brother with a laugh. Outside the office, Serah glanced back at the door with a small smile.
"Serah." The seriousness in her foster father's voice caused her to turn to look at him, her eyes narrowed, seeing the hard look in Hughes' expression. The Ishvalen shifted her weight as she tightened her hold on the clutch handle, she sensed the importance and fear from the air around her foster father.
"I want you to stay safe… safer than usual." He knew that she isn't safe being an Ishvalen, there are still many disagreements between Amestris and Ishval. There aren't many Ishvalens that are willing to join the Military of Amestris, those who joined before the Civil war, all those who were a part of the Amestrian army were killed. Serah's eyes softened behind the shades as she stared at Hughes, he glanced around them, seeing no one in the hallway. He stepped closer and slowly took her free hand in his own, Hughes squeezed her hand before letting go and stepped back.
"I will try, Hughes."
"That's all I can ask of you."
"So, is there something between you and Ed?" Serah turned away from her father, she did not answer which were enough for Hughes, the Lieutenant Colonel sighed while scratching his head.
"There is not nothing going on between Ed and I, Hughes." The expression she wore, made the Lieutenant Colonel realize that she does want something with the older Elric but there is something that is stopping her from doing something about it.
"Serah…." The Ishvalen shook her head and gestured for him to follow her, she glanced at the door to the Colonel's office for a long moment before limping slightly with her foster father at her side, they walked towards the front doors of the building.
The next morning, Serah was sitting on one of the benches in a train car. Ed and Major Armstrong had taken a seat across from her, Ed being almost crushed by the large form of Armstrong. He had a scowl on his face as he glared to the side, Serah sweat-dropped at the sight. The Major had decided to be their escort until they arrive in Resembool, with Serah injured and Ed missing an arm. They are at a disadvantage if they got into a fight, and Al also won't much help so it is helpful that Armstrong had wanted to travel with them for this trip if Scar goes after Ed again. Serah isn't foolish enough to even think she can match up with Scar in a fight, so she is grateful for the major being with them. Serah felt the aura that belonged to Hughes before he came in view and knocked on the window, Ed turned to the Lieutenant Colonel and pulled the window down. The Ishvalen leaned forward, staring at her foster father with a slightly confused look in her eyes.
"Lieutenant Colonel Hughes!"
"Hey! The guys from HQ were too busy to drop by, so they sent me here instead. And I brought a message from Roy."
"From the Colonel?" Ed asked confused, glancing at Serah from the corner of his eye. She shrugged her shoulders with closed eyes, she leaned back against the bench.
"'Post-processing is a bit of a pain, so I will not permit you to die within my jurisdiction.' That's all."
"Tell him I said, 'roger that, I will not die before you do, Colonel Shit.'" Serah sighed as she rubbed her forehead, again with the insults. They never stop coming, do they?
"Understood, Hughes."
"Ahahahahaha! Wicked brats are aplenty in the world! You and that bastard Roy ought to have long lives!" Hughes grinned largely at the young blond Alchemist, before turning to his foster daughter.
"Serah, remember what I told you yesterday." she nodded with a tired look and a slightly forced smile, as she rested her hands in her lap. Ed stared at her, worried and confused. The train started, about to roll out of the station, Hughes lifted his right hand in a salute.
"Well then, be careful on your journey!"
Armstrong, Ed, and Serah saluted the Lieutenant Colonel back, though Ed had to do it with his left hand.
"If you pop by central, give a holler."
"Do not worry, I am planning on it." The Ishvalen looked at the Lieutenant Colonel, who smiled back at her.
"Sorry, have to use my left hand." Hughes waved the apology off with a swat of his hand.
A short while, later. Serah had pulled out her traveling journey and was writing something down in it, Armstrong glanced at the unknown language written on the pages. Ed was looking out the window with his chin in his palm, every few minutes, he stole a glance of Serah.
"What kind of language is that." The shade-wearing Ishvalen blinked as she shifted the journey in her hand, before deciding to close the book while turning her glance to the Major.
"The language of my people." Armstrong nodded in understanding, before changing the topic.
"This will be the first time that I will meet an automail mechanic."
"To be more accurate, she's sort of a surgeon, a prosthetic harasser, and an automail tuner. She's an old friend, so she'll make it cheap and do a good job."
"What sort of place is this Resembool?"
"It's an amazing village, aren't nothing there. Because of the east area civil war, stuff just didn't happen there anymore. If the army had done a better job, there might have been more stuff going on down there."
"I don't like the sound of that."
"Want me to go on."
"Be nice, Ed," Serah spoke as she turned the pages in her journey, keeping her eyes on the pages.
"… It's a really quiet place, there's nothing there, but it has a lot of stuff that cities are missing. That's our hometown, Resembool." Serah glanced at Ed from under her lases, lifting her head seeing the small smile on his lips.
"That reminds me, you did put Al on this train, didn't you." Ed glanced at Armstrong, wondering where his brother is.
"Hohoho, indeed he is here. He is in the livestock car, I thought it would be lonely to be by himself."
"What the hell did you think my little brother is?!"
"Why are you not happy! It's large, cheap, and lively. Does he not have everything he would want?"
"Stop screwing around!" Ed stood up and tried to glare at the Major, Serah sighed as she reached and took his hand before giving a hard tug. It caused him to fall on the bench on his rear with a grunt, next to the Ishvalen. She blinked as a new and unfamiliar feeling swept over her as she let go of his hand, it felt like countless voices full of agony, fear, and anger but it was faint. It was like that the voices were muffled by something, and it also gave her a sense of something foul or vile.
An hour or so later, they arrived at a train station, Ed had pulled the window down. The Major glazed around before turning to the window and noticed someone walking outside on the path of the station, Armstrong pushed himself up and leaned closer to the window.
"Whoa!?" An older man passed the train car, as Armstrong leaned out the window. He turned his head towards the man, Serah was frowning slightly at the Major as Ed was pushed up against the side of the train.
"Dr. Marcoh! are you not Dr. Marcoh!? It is me, Alex Louis Armstrong from Central!" As Armstrong continued speaking, the man got more and more distressed and upset. Before he took off, running with Armstrong staring after him.
"Ah…"
"Someone, you know, Major?"
"Yes… he is a very capable alchemist from an Alchemic research agency of central. He took part in research to use alchemy for medical purposes but disappeared after the civil war." He laid his gaze on the young Ishvalen, who stared back at the Major. Ed had lightened up, lifting his head after hearing that. Serah sighed and with a push to the back of the bench, she stood up while grabbing her traveling bag and clutch.
"Let's get off!"
"Oh? Were we not to get off at Resembool?" Ed moved in front of Serah as they passed other passengers, he had taken her hand in his left hand.
"If that guy researched what you said he did, he might know something about biological transmutation!"
"We need to get Al off the livestock car and the luggage!"
"Hurry! Sorry, we're getting off!" They had gotten Al of with the help of Armstrong, Serah leaned on her clutch as she pulled her bag on her shoulder and Ed grabbed his suitcase. Together they went through the town, asking some of the people if they have seen Dr. Marcoh. They found out that Marcoh goes by Maulo around the town, and that he takes care of the injured and sick. Not only that… he even helps those even have no chance of being saved, but Serah narrowed her eyes as she listened to the town folks. Something aren't right at all, they spoke of accounts of when helped by Marcoh, red energy filled the room.
"Flash…"
"Most likely Alchemy."
"So, he took a fake name and hid in this village. But why did he run away?"
"When Dr. Marcoh disappeared, I heard that some important classified files had also disappeared, there was a rumor that the doctor stole them…" They walked through the town, to the direction they were given by some of the town folks. Serah walked close by Ed's side; their arms brushed each other every few seconds while Armstrong was in front of the pair with Al on his shoulder.
"He might have thought that we were agents of his agency."
"Even though, there is something wrong here…." Armstrong glanced down at the shade-wearing Ishvalen as Ed left his luggage beside her feet, the blond Alchemist went to the door. The air shifted behind the door, causing Serah to drop the clutch and reach for Ed. She managed to take a handful of the fabric of his coat and pulled him to the side, right as the door opened with Marcoh pointing a gun at the small group. Serah groaned in pain as she loosened her hold on Ed before pressing her back against the wall of the small house, Ed immediately went to her side and looked at her with worry in his eyes. He could see the pain and frustration clearly from the expression she wore as the Ishvalen gritted her teeth, keeping a foul insult in. Marcoh fired a shot into the air, the bullet disappeared. Serah scowled, while Armstrong held up a hand as he tried to get the doctor to calm down.
"What did you come here for!?"
"Please calm down, doctor."
"Did you come here to take me back!?" Marcoh wasn't listening to the Major, Serah groaned as a sense of guilt, overwhelming, sorrow leaked of the doctor while Armstrong gave off a large sense of annoyance and frustration.
"I don't want to go back there! Please! Just let me be….!"
"That's not true, please listen to what I have to say."
"Then did you come here to silence me by killing me!?"
"First, put down that gun-…." Armstrong couldn't get a word in as the doctor kept interrupting the Major, Serah let out a deep sigh, passing the clutch to Ed before stepping closer to the doctor. She glanced at the Major who nodded at the Ishvalen, she reached for the gun and gave a kick to Marcoh's stomach. She pulled the gun from his grip as the kick forced him back into the living room, Ed immediately reached her side and passed the clutch back to her while Serah held the gun out towards the Major who placed it into his pocket. Serah stepped into the house and glanced down at the doctor from behind her shades.
"I couldn't bear to do it…. Even though it was an order from above, to be made to dirty my hands on it, I… and then it was used at the east area civil war as a tool for mass murder…" Serah gritted her teeth, Ed glanced at her from the corner of his eye before deciding to take a chance and moved his hand and rested it on her knee for a moment. Serah didn't react to the acting openly but Ed noticed the slight change in her posture, it softened.
"It was a truly horrible battle…. Too many innocent bystanders died… what I have done are things that cannot be atoned for by just taking my life. Even so, I am acting as a doctor here for as long as I can."
"Just what did you research and what did you escape with?" Marcoh hid his face behind his hand for a moment before looking back up, Serah glanced around the room. She sensed the same thing here as on the train, souls screaming. She stood up and went slowly over to a cabin, Ed's eyes stayed on her.
"I made the philosopher's stones." Serah stood in front of the cabin with her eyes locked on the small glass bottle with a deep red liquid inside, she tilted her head a bit to the side. Screams ringed in her ears, she closed her eyes in despair and sorrow as her eyes watered. Ed pushed his chair back and went over to her, taking her hand and held tightly. Marcoh looked confused and worried over to the pair,
"The research files and a stone are what I bought with me."
"You have a stone?"
"Why don't you, young lady, bring the stone over here." Serah glanced at the doctor from the corner of her eye for a short moment before turning to the bottle, taking a deep breath she reached for it. The moment, her fingers glazed the side of the bottle. Images flashed in her mind, swallowing a scream in her throat as she almost fell on her ass if Ed hasn't put his arm around her back. Her eyes were wide in shock, horror, and slight confusion. Armstrong nearly stood up from his seat, Ed shook his head, silently telling the Major that he got her. Marcoh stared at the Ishvalen, scared, and confused for the young girl as he didn't understand what happened. Ed gently pulled Serah along him before he allowed her to take a seat, he stood behind her and placed his hand on the back of the wooden chair. Marcoh stood up and went over to the same cabin, grabbing the bottle with the philosopher's stone. The doctor turned back to them, holding the bottle high as he stepped closer to the table.
"It's in here." Marcoh kneed beside the Ishvalen, glancing down at her with the bottle in hand.
"You're hurt, right?" Serah nodded, turning in her chair before letting the Doctor see the bandage wrapped around her thigh.
"Would you allow me to show you how the stone works?" Serah furrowed her brow, almost like she heard something that the others couldn't before she nodded once. Marcoh held the bottle next to her thigh, red energy started to move around Serah's injury, healing it. Seconds later, the Doctor pulled the bottle back and stood up. Serah looked down at her thigh, she couldn't feel the aching any longer.
"A 'stone'…. Isn't this liqu-…" Marcoh pulled the crock out and tilted the bottle, Ed gaped at the sight.
"Huuh!?" The red liquid turned to a round form on the table, Ed, Armstrong, and Al stared at the weird liquid with shock and awe in their expression. Ed reached over Serah and poked the red liquid, a few times before resting his hand on her shoulder. Serah held a neutral expression as she stared at it, Ed tightened his hold on her shoulder for a moment.
"The philosopher's stone, the celestial stone, the great elixir, the red tincture, and the firth element. Just as the philosopher's stones have several names, their shapes are not limited to that of stones. However, they reminded experimental creations up until the end. Imperfect objects that will eventually reach their limitations and become unusable and yet, they were used secretly during the civil war, and their overwhelming power was demonstrated." The Doctor's words reminded the traveling trio of the fraud from Reole, Serah's eyes widened as the words sank in, as she realized that the stone were used to kill countless of her people. The Stones were used by the Amestris military in the Ishval Civil war, Ed managed to step back as she stood from the chair, causing it to fall to the ground. She reached over and gripped her traveling bag, casting a cold and hard look at the doctor as she nearly ripped her shades off. Marcoh grasped as her scarlet red eyes filled with hatred and hurt, Ed, reached for her hand before noticing the tremble in her shoulders. He let his hand fall to his side, knowing that nothing would be of comfort to her.
"I lost anything during that war and you were a part of it."
"There is nothing I can say or do to make it right."
"That is the only thing I can agree with you." Serah pushed the glasses back on her nose, before quietly walking over to the door and slammed it shut behind her.
"Even though you're saying they're an imperfect creation, making it means that with further research, we might be able to produce a perfect one."
"Dr. Marcoh, can you show me these research files you took?" Ed asked, not as excited as he was before Serah walked out the door. The Doctor gaped at the young Alchemist before turning to the Major with a confused expression.
"Major Armstrong, who is this boy?"
"A State Alchemist."
"To obtain enormous research funding, you were probably lured in by its privileges and obtained a license, what foolishness! And now even children, after the civil war, how many practitioners do you think there were that couldn't bear to remain to be human weapons and relinquished their licenses!? and yet, you still."
"I know it was a stupid decision! But! Until I accomplish my objectives, I'm going to have to continue to sit on this bed of thorns!" Marcoh listened as Ed explained everything about how he and Al tried to bring their mother, Trisha back to life and everything that happened after, the Doctor leaned back in his chair and stared at the Alchemist for a long while in silence. The room was heavy and tense, Ed held a neutral expression while looking at Marcoh.
"So, you ignored the ban I was surprised, I didn't believe it possible to successfully transmute the soul of a living person; you might be able to create a perfect Philosopher's stone!"
"Then!" Ed leaned forward, excited.
"I cannot show you the files!" Marcoh refused quickly with a remorseful and numb expression. Ed protested loudly and with a hint of anger, as he pushed his chair back as he stood up.
"No Way!"
"This is the end of this discussion. Go home. I cannot let you have the stone for something as minor as restoring your bodies."
"Minor!" Ed shouted in anger and hurt, not understanding the Doctor. They lost everything when their mother died, they did what they thought was right. All they wanted, was to get their mother back.
"Doctor, that isn't fair!" Marcoh stood up and turned his back on the Major, Ed, and Al, taking the bottle and the philosopher's stone with him.
"It's better if you didn't see it, that's the research of the devil. Once you know about it, you'll see the very face of hell."
"I have already been through hell!" Ed sneered at the Doctor who turned to look at the young Alchemist over his shoulder, he saw the fire in Ed's eyes. The doctor turned back around, god that kid is determined to restore his and his brother's bodies maybe if he,- no,- he can't let others get a hand on the research of the Philosopher's stone but,- still,- he remembered the cold and hard expression the young Ishvalen gave him. Even though he has done his best to get the blood off his hands from what he did during the war, he can't ever get it off.
"I can't let you." Ed hanged his head in defeat, Serah was just outside the house. She leaned against the wall, she didn't want to go further away from Ed and Al. She felt as the emotions from inside the house changed fast, they were just a huge mass of different emotions. The Ishvalen sighed as she crossed her arms under her chest while closing her eyes. Inside the small house, Marcoh placed the Philosopher's stone back into the cabinet, with tense shoulders.
"Please go home." Ed stomped out of the house, leaving his suitcase behind, Serah immediately followed after the young Alchemist.
"See you at the Station, Major, and please take the suitcase and traveling bag with you." Serah managed to call out to Armstrong before she disappeared with Ed. They came halfway through the town before Ed turned into an alleyway, Serah stayed at the entrance of the alley as Ed kicked a wooden box. Frustration and anger reeked of him; he hunched over as he kneeled down. Serah sighed as she walked over to him, staying behind the older Elric, he leaned against her legs, clearly seeking the comfort that she can provide him.
"This is not a dead end, Ed. We will figure something out, there are still hope for you and Al to get your bodies back."
"Serah, don't promise something that you don't know if you will be able to keep." The older Elric sighed, the Ishvalen huffed lightly under her breath, a bit annoyed that he was doubting her after these years they have known each other.
"When have I ever broken a promise that I have made to you or your brother?" Ed stayed silent for a long moment before answering her.
"Never."
"You know that I would never make a promise that I was not certain of that I would be able to keep." Serah went to stand in front of the older Elric, holding out a hand towards the Alchemist.
"I know, thank you Serah." Ed took her hand and let her pull him up from the ground, the Ishvalen gave half a smile to the Alchemist.
"Anytime, now come on, let us return to Al and Armstrong. They are waiting for us at the train station." Ed nodded, together they walked towards the train station. Serah had let go of the older Elric's hand; his hand felt cold without Serah's hand. She walked in front of him, Ed glanced down at the Ishvalen's hand; he reached out to take her hand but froze before letting his hand fall to his side. It feels like she is pulling away from him and his brother, and it worries him more then he is willing to admit even to himself.
At the train station, Ed was sitting on a bench with Serah behind him. Al was on the ground and Armstrong was sitting on the other end of the bench with crossed arms.
"Is this fine with you?"
"Huh?"
"While you wouldn't have been able to see the flies, you could have quickly taken the stone by force."
"Hell yeah… I really, really wanted it! but then I remembered the people we met on the way to Dr. Marcoh's house, even if we restored our bodies by robbing this town of its life support, it'd just leave a nasty aftertaste. We'll look for a different way, right?"
"Yep." Al agreed with his older brother.
"Hey Major, are you certain about not making a report to Central about finding Marcoh."
"The man I met today was only a town doctor named Maulo." Ed, and Al grinned.
"Gonna have to start from scratch again. Man, this is a really long road."
Truth sighed heavily as they stretched the side of their head, before rolling their head back. They were sitting on the ground with a knee up and an arm resting on top, their other arm held them up.
"Those two… when can they pulled themselves together. I can't keep waiting for it to happen forever." Truth pushed themselves up from the ground and turned to the two portals with their hands on their hips and a large beaming grin.
"The Ishvalen are getting closer to the truth, after all. She will soon understand the truth behind the Philosopher's stone, and then the Ishvalen come to the knowledge of the War of Ishval and why it happened. Man, I can't wait for it to unravel. It will be amazing to finally see what she is capable of."
"Hey!" The traveling trio and Armstrong turned to Marcoh who looked like he had run towards the station.
"Dr. Marcoh…" He handled Ed a piece of paper, Serah glanced at the paper in the Alchemist's hand.
"This is the place where the research files are hidden, look at this if you won't regret knowing the truth. And if it's you, you will uncover the truth in with the truth. No, I've said too much. And young lady, I hope that one day, you will find it in you to forgive me for what I have done." Serah blinked as Marcoh turned to her before he turned around and started to walk away from them.
"I pray that you will restore your bodies one day."
"The State Central library 1st branch, Tim Marcoh."
"So, he 'hid a tree in a forest'… the amount within that library's stock of books is staggering."
"There's a clue about the stone there…!"
"Brother, this road isn't a dead-end!" Al spoke as his older brother grinned; Ed grabbed Serah's hand after she took the note from him.
"Yeah!"
"Well, we better get going to Resembool then." Ed nodded in agreement; Serah nodded in agreement. The train arrived a short while later, The trio and Armstrong got on the train and took a seat after the Major placed Al in the livestock car again. Ed and Serah shared a bench this time, the Ishvalen leaned on her palm that raised on her chin while she glanced out the window as the scenery passed by.
A/N.
So sorry that we didn't get to the part where they would arrive in Resembool but I promise the next chapter will be an extra-long one with some different changes, And who knows, Al and Winry might get to have a conversation about Ed and Serah's relationship as Winry is worried about the brothers and the relationship that they have with the Ishvalen. It might turn out to be difficult for Winry to accept the relationship between the brothers and Serah as she doesn't know the Ishvalen.
So, Truth appeared for the first time in this story, and as in 'It's the little moments' Truth will make some appearances throughout the series.