Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters except for Isabella.
Isabella's POV
The rain continued to fall as Ed claps his hand and placed them on the blood-spattered wall out of sadness, but nothing happened. Al had his head down.
No POV
The clapping sound continued when the military came by. "It's so cruel. If the devil really does interfere in this world, we've seen his work tonight." Hawkeye said to Mustang. "The devil's work, huh? We State Alchemists are human artillery they roll out if nothing else works. And when the military calls, it's our duty to respond regardless of how grotesque the scenario is. To serve, we have to distance ourselves from emotional attachments. In that way, we don't even come close to Tucker." Roy said to her. "With respect, that's thereasoning of an adult. But, those children are still just..." Hawkeye said to him while looking out the window.
Isabella's POV
While I was shocked and then the Lieutenant Colonel came making me and Al look at. I walked up to Ed and placed a hand on his shoulder. "Edward? Edward, the Lieutenant Colonel..." I called as Ed turns to see Mustang there. "There's no use, kid." Roy said to him as Ed faces him with a look of anger. "You can't go around trying to bring every living creature that dies on your back, Edward. It'snot possible, and it's not healthy." Roy said to him as Ed growled.
"Anyway, who'd you be helping by bringing back a malformed Chimera?" Roy asked him as Ed looks on. "It's an ugly world out there. And from here on out, it's only gonna get uglier on the path you've chosen. Just be thankful it wasn't you and get on with your life." Roy said to him. "Get on with my life?!" Ed asked out of anger as Roy grabbed his wrist. "There's a reason you and Isabella became State Alchemists, right Ed? Can you really afford to get distracted by every little lost cause?" Roy asked him. But then Hughes came out of the car.
"Great. Well so much for making it home in time to kiss my little girl goodnight." Hughes said to himself. "Crime scene's over here." One soldier said to the others. "It's up to the Investigations Department now. Step aside." Roy said to him. "Right, we will." I said to him as Ed runs off passed Hughes. I followed him while Al catch up. "We got some kinda mess here. This the work of that serial killer we've been tracking, Mustang?" Hughes asked Mustang.
"No, that guy only goes for women. Besides, this thing wasn't carved up..." Roy said to him. "Right. I'd say it's almost as if, that poor pathetic creature were blown from the inside." Hughes said to him. Ed was in anger and in sadness of what happened tonight, I was acting like nothing happened here tonight.
"Humankind cannot gain anything, without first giving something in return. To obtain, something of equalvalue must be lost. That is alchemy's first law of Equivalent Exchange. In those days, we really believed that tobe the world's one, and only truth."
*The Philosopher's Stone*
Isabella's POV
The three of us are at the estate the next morning, Ed was opening and closing his watch while I just sat there, then we hear Havoc coming. The three of us followed Havoc inside the estate. "Why so glum, you two?" Havoc asked us. "This job's a little more real, than Ed and I bargained on. I think we just need something to take ourminds off this whole mess." I said to him. "So, um... What's this assignment you've got for us?" I asked him. He then took us to Tucker's studies.
"Here 'ya go." Havoc said to us as the Chimeras are roaring inside the room. "Your orders are to go through and organize all of his stuff. You should familiarize yourself with all the results of Tucker's experiments." Havoc said to us. "So you want me and Isabella to take over that maniac's research?!" Ed asked him.
"True, he might have gone about it the wrong way, but some of his findings could be of great use to the military." Havoc said to him. "Why don't you let that whack-job help you himself?!" I asked him. "He can't." Havoc said to me. "What?" I asked him as the flashback of Tucker's execution began. "He's dead. His guilt was so obvious that the higher-ups decided to forego the embarrassment of trial and skipped straight to the execution." Havoc said to me as the flashback ends.
"So they covered it up! How could they?!" I asked him out of anger. "We don't question the wisdom of the military. See that's the first law of State Alchemy, Isabella." Havoc said to me while handing a book to me and leaves the three of us alone.
*FF*
I was helping Al organize some book and found out something. "Interesting. It looks like Mr. Tucker was doing a lot of research on the Philosopher's Stone." I said to Ed. "Well whoop-dee-flippin' doo." Ed said while feeding one of the Chimeras. "How long are you planning to sulk like this, Edward? Do you have any idea the power of the Philosopher's Stone holds for alchemists? We could bypass all the laws of alchemy,including Equivalent Exchange! We could do the things we weren't able to do before, we could-" I was cut off when Ed threw the bag at me out of anger.
"We can't do anything, because it doesn't exist! It's just a bedtime story!" Ed said to me out of anger as I brushed the grub off my coat, and my skirt. "But if a bona fide State Alchemist like Mr. Tucker was doing research on it, it must-" I was cut off again by Ed. "Who gives a damn about his research?! The man was alunatic, or have you, Al forgotten about Nina?" Ed asked me as my eyes widen at his words. He then ran out and I stood up.
"Edward!" I called out as he ran out making me look down. Then I turn to face Al. "I'm sorry about that, Al." I said to them. "You don't have to apologize, Isabella. My brother always gets like this." Al said to me. "Really?" I asked him. "Yeah. But believe in brother, he will find a way to fix things." Al said to me as I look towards the floor again. 'I have to believe in him, and help him get your bodies back.' I thought as I walk out of the room.
*FF*
Ed and I are in Mustang's office at HQ. "It's a no-go, kids." Roy said to us. "But why not? What if that serialkiller you guys have been chasing after really did kill Nina? What if it was me are next on that killers list? Ed and I could help you find him!" I said to him. "And the job you two were ordered to do? Have the twoof you finished analyzing Tucker's research?" Roy asked us. "We couldn't do that. In that case, Isabella and I will investigate on our own!" Ed said to him. "Right. Investigate on your own, and leave those here." Roy said to us about our watches. "Yeah, we intended to." Ed said as he and I placed our watches on Roy's desk and leave.
*FF*
Al was waiting outside for us and we walk out. "Brother? Isabella?" Al said to us as the four of us walk out. "Hold on, guys. You two are not the only ones who are upset. We couldn't doanything to help Nina. But we're alchemists, not police. We can't catch a killer! What we can do is put ourtalents to better use doing research, so that if another girl like Nina ever comes along, we'll know how to save..." Al couldn't finish when Ed and I ran off "...her." Al said after we left.
*FF*
Ed and walked down the street and then we bumped into that dark-skinned man and we face each other. "It's you two." That man said to us. "You were outside the library." I said to him as a flashback of what happened began and then end. "Tell me, if you two have got access to the library in Central, then that must make you two State Alchemists." That man said to us. "Well we were, yeah. But that's all behind us now." Ed said to him."Really? You're better off." That man said as he walks off. "Because if you two were still State Alchemists, this arm would destroy you two." That man said to himself revealing his own arm.
Winry's POV
I stepped out of the train and I arrived at Central with a smile on my face. "I can't wait to see Ed, Isabella, Al's faces! They'd never expect me to travel all the way here just to congratulate them." I said to myself. "Surprise." I said as I leave the train.
Alphonse's POV
Al was with Hawkeye talking about the Philosopher's Stone. "Have you ever seen it? What can you tell us about it?" I asked her. "Not too much. I'm afraid I've never heard anything substantial about the Philosopher's Stone. Well, about it actually existing, anyway. As far as I know, it's just a legend." Hawkeye said to me.
"I see." I said to her. "But I can say, if you two know what's best for you, you'll find another hobby to pursue. It's been said that bad things have a way of happening to those who seek the Philosopher's Stone." Hawkeye said to us. "Did someone say something about the Stone?" We hear a voice said and Al moves aside to seethe Fuhrer there and Hawkeye salute him. "Who is this guy?" Al asked her.
"Are you two kidding?! This "guy" is..." Hawkeye couldn't finish when the Fuhrer silenced her. "So you twowould like to get your hands on the Philosopher's Stone, is that right, son?" The Fuhrer asked him. "Yes, sir." I said to him. "And why do you ant it?" The Fuhrer asked him. "For human tra... I mean, I need to recover something important that my brother lost." I said to him.
"And my friend Isabella and I are going to help him do that." I said to him. "Is that so? This brother and friend of yours must be very special to the both of you." The Fuhrer said to the two of us. "It's some undertaking. The crusade you're embarking on is as old as alchemy itself. Personally, I try to stay above it, but from time to time, you'll hear about some alchemist who's succeeded in forging a Stone. Such rumors naturally have a wayof congregating around with military personnel. So there should be plenty of records on the subject down at the National Library." The Fuhrer said to us.
"Is that true?" I asked him. "Most assuredly. Of course, only State Alchemists have access to them." The Fuhrer said to me. "So, what you're saying is, any State Alchemist could find more about this thing? Uh, excuse us." Isaid as I walked off. "With all due respect, sir, why would you encourage them to chase a futile pursuitlike that?" Hawkeye asked the Fuhrer. "I think it's a good thing for youngsters to have dreams to follow. Don't you agree with me, Second Lieutenant?" The Fuhrer asked her. "Yes, sir." Hawkeye said to him.
Isabella's POV
Ed and I are in the mess hall getting our foods and placed them in the table. "You see, I'm right! You think she's just too cute, don't you?" Hughes asked a man at another table about his daughter. "Uh, yeah, that's it. You got me." One man said to him as Ed takes out a book and begins to read it about that killer. But then Hughes came by to show us a picture of himself, his wife and his daughter.
"What do you two think? I know, you're thinking she takes after me, right? Well, the apple doesn't fall far fromthe tree!" Hughes said as Ed and I got mad at this and tried to take it from him, but he moves it up. "We've seen that same picture a dozen times!" Ed said to him as he puts it away. "Now, there's no need for that attitude is there? Not when I've shared classified files on the serial killer with you two." Hughes said to us.
"Yeah, and you owe me and Ed for the train and me delivering your baby. So what else you got?" I asked him. "Touche, touche. We've got no clue and no witnesses to go on. The bodies are all sliced and diced, but none of us can figure out how he does it in such a short time." Hughes said to me. "Maybe he killed them somewhere else and moved the bodies later? How long between the time of death and when they were found?" I asked as Hughes take a piece of bread from Ed's tray, but he moved it to him.
"We've come a long way, but even with modern science we can't figure that. But between us and the police we must have checked the trunks of every single..." Hughes trailed off while breaking the bread in half, and Ed takes it and placed it back on his tray and Hughes ate the half. "...Car entering and exiting the city." Hughes said to me. "There must be some sort of blind spot you're missing here. A car that can hide bodies or a..." Ed trailed off.
"Or maybe it's all been the work of an alchemist." Hughes said as Ed and I gasped and face him. "Alchemists are not cold-blooded murderers!" Ed and I said to him out of anger as Hughes shrug his shoulders and chuckled, which I thought was a joke. Ed and I cooled down when a soldier came by. "Excuse me, sir and ma'am. Are you Edward Elric and Isabella Rockbell?" The soldier asked us. "Who's asking?" Ed asked him."There's a visitor here to see you. Waiting out front." The soldier said to us. "A visitor?" I questioned as Ed and I faced Hughes.
No POV
The strange 'woman' came in while two men are working. "Hey. The 'woman' said to the men. "If it isn't ourprettiest delivery girl." One man said in surprise. "Behave yourself. So, they held the Certification Exams recently, right?" The 'woman' asked one of them. "Yes ma'am. And did you hear it? This time, two twelve year old alchemists actually made the cut if you can believe it. All they have to do is this. And just like that, they can transmute." The other man said to 'her'.
"Very impressive, indeed." The 'woman' said to him. "Right there. They're the short ones with the two redcoats. Look at the, they're just little kids. By the way, I want you to be extra careful out there with that freak onthe loose. They say he goes for the young pretty ones like you." One man said to 'her'. "How sweet. It's nice tohear you think I'm pretty." The 'woman' said to him. "Well, yeah." One man said to 'her'. "I sure hope they catch this creep soon." The 'woman' said to him. "You and me both." One man said to 'her'. "So, working around here, you must get all the inside scoop on this case, right?" The 'woman' asked him.
Winry's POV
I was waiting out front for Ed and Sis to come while I look at the screw in my fingers. I sighed at this. "Isn't just like Ed and Sis to keep me waiting forever." I said to myself. But then I noticed something and got to see what it was and it was a refrigerated truck. "That's one of those new refrigerated trucks! I've read all about these, but I've never seen one up close before. So cool! I'd sure love to take it apart!" I said out of happiness.
"I'm afraid that'd make it a bit hard to drive." I hear a voice said and turned to see a 'woman' in front of me."Oh, I'm sorry. Is this your truck?" I asked 'her' as 'she' opens the door. "Sure is. I use it to make deliveries."The 'woman' said to me while tossing the bag inside. I looked on in awe and faced 'her'. "It really is amazing." I said to 'her'. "Would you like to take a look inside?" The 'woman' asked me. "Really?! Can I?! Thank you so much!" I said to 'her' as I went inside.
Isabella's POV
Ed and I are with the soldier out front, but we didn't see a visitor here. "That's odd. I told her to wait right here. Wonder where she could've wandered off to?" The soldier said as Ed and I stepped down. "What's up,Mr. Elric and Ms. Rockbell?" The soldier asked us as he came down. Then we see footprints there and Ed sees ascrew on the ground and picks it up. "Is this..." Ed trailed off as he notices and removes his glove to see that it was a screw for his auto-mail.
"Winry?" Ed questioned himself as the soldier noticed this and moves aside to reveal a footprint. "Was there a car stopped here when you left her?" I asked him. "Well yeah. There's always refrigerated trucks parked herewhen they drop off food for the mess hall." The soldier said to me as Ed and I gasped. "Refrigerated trucks... Acar that can hide bodies... Oh no!" Ed said as he runs off. "Where are you going, Mr. Elric?" The soldier called while I run off as well. "Where are you going, Ms. Isabella?" The soldier called as I run down the streets to talk to anyone about my sister's kidnapping.
No POV
Ed arrived at the spot where the refrigerated truck parked and he pants and went inside the building. He looks around to see someone there, but then sees a 'woman' sitting there shivering and he runs over to 'her'. "Hey, Miss, are you all right? Have you seen others like you in here?" Ed asked 'her' as 'she' nods 'her' head. "Overthere. The young girl." The 'woman' said to him as he stood up. "Okay. I'll just go grab her and we can get thehell outta this place. Don't worry ma'am you're in safe hands now-" Ed was cut off when that 'woman' hit him in the head knocking him out.
Isabella's POV
My eyes widen when Ed got knocked out and ran out to the streets to go to Hq. I made it to HQ and bumped into Hughes. "What's up, Isabella?" Hughes said to me.
"Listen to me, Hughes. I needs help, Ed and Winry are in trouble." I said to him as his eyes widen and runs off to tell the military that. But then Al came behind me and I turn to face him."What's wrong, Isabella? You look like you're a mess." Al asked me. "Because I need help, Ed and Winry are in trouble." I said to him as his eyes widen and runs off. "Now I have to help them as well." I said to myself as I run off.
No POV
Ed regains consciousness when he realized that he was tied up to a chair while that person finishessharpening. "My hero awakes." The 'woman' said. "Why you!" Ed said while trying to move, but realizes that his arm is missing. "Word on the playground is you and your girlfriend can transmute without a circle, just using your hands." That person said revealing Ed's arm to him. "So to be safe..." That person said while putting it down leaving Ed confused by this.
The person chuckled and removes the wig to reveal himself as a man named Barry. "Please let me introduce myself. My name is Barry and this here is my butcher shop." Barry said as Ed's eyes widen. "You're a man!" Ed said out of shock. "Guilty as charged. And to reward you for making it this far, we have a special guest." Barry said as he moves the meat side to reveal Winry gagged and tied up and he grabs her shoulder making Ed gasp at this.
"Let her go." Ed said to him. "Since she enjoys taking things apart, I thought I'd do the same to her. If you watch us carefully, you just might get to see what makes her tick." Barry said to him. "You sick...why are you doing this?!" Ed asked him. "Why? Huh... What a strange little question that is." Barry said as Winry tries to get out of her restraints, but her eyes widen in fear when Barry faces her.
"I suppose it's because I enjoy it. The first person I killed was my wife. She was nagging me about something and then, without meaning to, I chopped her to pieces. But when I saw how finely I could slice her, I wanted more. More people to cut to reduce to their most basic building blocks. And I wanted everyone to see." Barrysaid to him.
"How could a person murder someone for such a ridiculous reason?!" Ed asked him as Barry faces him with an insane look on his face. "Because they can!" Barry said to Ed as he walks up to him. "Given the slightest provocation, anybody can do it." Barry said to him. "Stay back!" Ed said to him. "Men have morals, but send them to war and they have no problem slaying each other on the most brutal fashions. Why do you think thatis?" Barry asked him.
"I have no idea." Ed said to him as he cuts his shoulder open slightly making Winry look away at this and with Ed cringing in pain. "'Cause, deep down inside we all want to kill. Most just need the go-ahead from their society, like the State Alchemists I saw in a village, slaughtering helpless people. Splat, big fountains of blood." Barry said to him.
"It's not true." Ed said while flashbacks of his mother's death, the time when he and his brother transmuted their mother, and when Nina dies began and ends with him tearing up. "No!" Ed shouted as he created a circle on the chain via the screw he dug up from his pocket, and breaking him free, and making Barry move back and the chain turned into a rod.
"You little!" Barry shouted while Ed screams and get out of the way making Barry hit the chair instead of manages to get the rod he transmuted and see Barry coming and he stops his axe with his foot and he gets away, and Winry looks on helplessly as Ed was getting away and Barry slices the meat and Ed trips and hemoves back and uses the rod to move him back, but cuts open his hand instead. He then runs away and makes it to Winry and tries to break her free. "Damn it!" Ed cursed while trying to free her.
Barry stares at his bloody hand with an insane look on his face and gets ready to get Ed again. "Come on..." Ed said while trying to free Winry. But then Barry came and stopped him from freeing her and his arm fall of the table, and Ed grabbed it and runs off thinking that he's going to die and then trips over some meat and fell tothe floor.
But then the MPs arrived along with Al and Isabella, and they run in the shop.
Ed then gets up and puts his arm back into place making him cry out and Winry lowering her head. He was cringing in pain when Barry showed up licking his lips and getting ready to kill him. Ed clapped his hands and used alchemy to turn his arm into a blade and Barry charges at him and Ed ducks.
Winry was standing on a stool trying to free herself but falls off and her back hits the meat. Ed was using his arm to shield himself from Barry's slices, but the meat hit Barry and the two fell to the floor. But Barry got ready to kill him, but Ed tossed Barry's axe and he got ready to kill him out of fear, but then a hand was placed on his shoulder stopping him.
"Don't!" A voice said as Ed turn to slice but it didn't work and realizes that Al was there along with Isabella. He rubbed his chest plait. "It'll take more than that to kill me, brother." Al said to him as Ed looks on .Then the MPs came in. "Hey! 's right, they're all in here!" The MP said to the others while he points his guns at Barry and he chuckles. "Don't move!" The MP said to him.
Isabella then moves in front to face Ed and kneels down to his level and he looks at her with tears streaming down his face. "Isabella... I..." Ed said to her. "Edward, are you hurt?" Isabella asked him as he clutched his fist with a tear coming down. "I thought he was gonna kill me... I honestly thought I was gonna die... I was so scared... So scared..." Ed said to her as she hugs him after the MPs freed Winry, and she looks on. "It's okay ,Ed... It's okay..." Isabella cooed as she stroked his hair gently.
Isabella's POV
Sunset came and the MPs, the military and Hughes are taking Barry away.
"Major Hughes was the one who realized that truck from this particular shop had bypassed numerous inspection points. Thanks to him, we managed to get there in time. Afterwards, the case of Barry the Chopper became infamous, and it would be spoken of as Ed's first distinguished achievement. But he would remember it differently."
I was sitting with Ed and Al. "Edward, it turns out the Philosopher's Stone may verywell be real. But all the clues we need to find it are off-limits to everyone except State Alchemists." Al said to him. "That's right, Ed. You and me are the ones who can find the clues." I said to him as Al rubs his chest plait.
"Since I no longer have a mortal shell, I can't feel the terror you felt, thinking you were going to die. I'm sure itmust have been painful, and lonely. I want my body back, brother. I want to be able to feel what you felt. To feel human again. If we find the Philosopher's Stone, I can have that. And we can repair what we've broken." Al said to him.
"When I was certain that he was gonna kill me, my mind went blank, and I didn't have any hope anymore. The only thing I could do was scream my lungs out." Ed said while looking at his hands. "I felt so helpless. I couldn't even bring myself to believe someone might save me. Then you and Isabella showed up, Al. And I realized that if we don't take care of each other, no one else will. So I'll do anything in my power to get our bodies back, even if it means being the military's lapdog. And we'll just have to hope our powers are goodenough to help us rise above our own limits." Ed said as he buries his face in his hands and cries into them. "'Cause we're not gods. We're humans. Tiny, insignificant humans...who couldn't even save a little girl." Ed said while crying and Winry began tearing up at Ed's words.
*The next day*
Ed and I are in Roy's office the next day. "On one condition you say?" Roy questioned us. "We'll obey yourorders, sir. But as long as Ed and I serve, we'd like to receive all information about the Philosopher's Stone. And whenever we've finished all our duties, you have to permit us to search for it." I said to him. "People will question your motives. You realize what'll happen if the state learns about your human transmutation, Al will be hauled off to some lab as precious samples. Well, I can keep that in my back pocket to make sure you two behave." Roy said to me as we look on at him.
"Fine. But you'll report to me everything you uncover about the Philosopher's Stone." Roy said to us. "Yes sir, we will." I said to him as he looks into his drawer. "Oh, and I almost forgot. You two have been issued you official state titles by the King. It's quite ironic actually, he's got a good sense of humor." Roy said to us whilegiving us two envelopes and we took them and opened them to reveal some things about our so-called codenames.
"We give the name 'Fullmetal' to thee Edward Elric." Ed reads through. "We give the name 'Flower' to thee Isabella Rockbell." I read through as well as both of our voices and the Fuhrer's came up. "In the name of Fuhrer King Bradley." Ed and I read with the Fuhrer's voice in our heads and we faced Mustang. "Fullmetal?" Ed questioned him. "Flower?" I questioned him as well.
"Along with the pocket watch, everyone of us is assigned a symbolic second name, depending on your talents." Roy said to us as he stood up. "And yours is Fullmetal, and Isabella's is Flower. The Fullmetal Alchemist, and the Flower Alchemist." Roy said to us as we look on.
"Sounds heavy. Tell 'em we like the feel of it. We won't let it weigh us down." I said to him. "But that's not all that's different about your names." Roy said to us. "And why's that?" Ed asked him. "You and Isabella will be partners from now on, and you'll work together side by side with her." Roy said to him as Ed and I face each other.
"Well Ed, looks like we're partners from now on." I said to him as he nodded his head. "Yeah, I guess it doeslook like we're partners." Ed said to me as I extend my hand out to him. "Let's shake on it as a sign of us being partners, okay, partner?" I asked him as he took my hand and we shook on it. "Yeah, I intended to, partner." Edsaid to me as he and I let go of each other's hands.
*FF*
The three of us are with Winry on the streets of Central. "To celebrate, you're going to buy me all kinds of neat things I can't get back home." Winry said to us. "I think you've got that backwards there." I said to her. "I forget. Who fixed up Ed's arm?" Winry asked me. "You did, and you're the greatest person I've ever known in my life." I said to her.
"Really? That's so cool." Winry said out of happiness at what I said.
"I heard that serial killer had nothing to do with Nina's death. Is that true, brother?" Al asked his brother. "Yeah, it didn't fit his pattern, and he had an alibi that night." Ed said to him. "So if he didn't kill Nina, who did?" I asked him. Unaware that the strange dark-skinned man was in the alley and notices the watches Ed and I had and he leaves the scene.
{Ending song}