The Letter
Elysia felt her father’s fingers jabbing her small form in a playful manner, and she let out a squeal of laughter that sounded like music to her mother’s ears. Indeed, Gracia was sitting on the couch, watching Maes and her daughter with a broad smile on her lips. She had every reason to be happy, after all. All this time, she had believed that Maes was dead, only to have him back as if by some sort of miracle. It was almost too good to be true, and some part of her still feared that she was merely living a wishful dream from which she didn’t want to wake. That is, until Maes would regard her with the same loving manner that she thought she’d never see again, reassuring her n this way that the worlds was really set right once more.
A brief knock on the door cut into the woman’s musings, and she exchanged glances with Maes. Knowing what to do, Maes swiftly picked up Elysia in his arms, still acting as if this was all part of the game, and he went upstairs to hide. Only then did Gracia go to answer the door.
But, thankfully, there was no need for an alarm. It was just Sarah standing on the threshold, her green eyes alert for anything out of the ordinary.
“Am I intruding?” she asked.
“No, please, come in,” Gracia replied with a smile, and she beckoned Sarah inside. “I didn’t expect to see you today,” she added, closing the door behind her.
“I wasn’t planning on coming, truth be told. However, I’ve just received news from Colonel Mustang,” Sarah said. “Can I speak with Maes?”
“Of course,” Gracia said, motioning her hand in the direction of the couch. “Make yourself at home, I’ll tell him to come down.”
Sarah nodded her understanding and she sat down, while Gracia went upstairs to fetch Maes. Intrigued, the bespectacled man handed Gracia their daughter and then followed her downstairs, wishing to see what was that all about.
Sarah clearly saw through Maes’ questioning look, for she opened her purse and dug out from it a small piece of paper.
“I got this telegram earlier today,” she said. “Colonel Mustang wanted you to know that he’s recovered Ed and Al, and he’s with them at Resembool.”
That certainly caught Maes’ attention. “What about Hakuro’s men?”
“They’ve returned empty handed. Roy convinced them that he would return the boys to Central personally, if only to make up for the uh… what was it now?” She paused, acting as though she thought about it for a moment, and then made a face of feigned realisation. “…Faith he had placed on a soldier who put the military into shame.”
“Roy still has a way with words, I see,” Maes answered with a grin. “When are they to return?”
“He didn’t say,” Sarah replied. “He only said that we should be prepared, whatever that means.”
Gracia couldn’t help it. She held her daughter closer to her, all kinds of thoughts crossing her mind. Maes, however, still remained calm and collected as he nodded his understanding; then faced both her and Elysia, clasping a hand over hers.
“Gracia… I think Elysia should have her bath now.”
Gracia knew what Maes really meant by that; she knew her husband only too well. Still, deciding to have faith in his judgement, she nodded and exited the room so that Maes and Sarah would talk alone. She was sure they had a lot to talk about.
Maes watched Gracia walk out of the room, eyes locked on her form and his daughter’s, and he couldn’t help but let out a small sigh. He straightened his glasses momentarily, lost in thought, but he quickly remembered himself and faced Sarah. The woman was still sitting on the couch, keeping her legs crossed and her hands on her lap. Though Maes saw the forced smile on her lips, he could also detect her melancholic expression. Maes tilted his head, unsure what to make of things.
“It’s nothing,” she replied to his look in a dismissive tone. “My mind drifted elsewhere.”
She didn’t have to say anything else. Maes understood about whom she was thinking about.
“You’ll see him again,” he said reassuringly.
“Not before we can have a small measure of peace first,” Sarah answered. “There’s still the matter of Bradley to be taken care of.”
“Yeah…” Maes straightened his glasses once more, and finally took a place next to Sarah. “That might be sooner than we think if Roy’s words are any indication.”
“You think the colonel will make his move then?”
Maes nodded. “It’s the perfect timing. That war in Liore was no victory, and the media are already talking about the massacre there. People will start doubting Bradley’s way of running things, and this will work to our advantage. There are plenty of officers who will want to step forward and assume command as Führer.”
“The Brass won’t know whom to trust,” Sarah said, seeing through Maes’s train of thought.
“Exactly. And so we can go through with the coup d’ etat while they’re distracted.”
Sarah frowned slightly. “It’s a risky stunt. They won’t let us get away with this… or anyone who’s connected to us for that matter.”
“You’re worried about your daughter.” It wasn’t a question; both he and Sarah knew that.
“Aren’t you?”
Maes heaved a sigh. Sarah was right, there was no question about it. He had simply hoped that it wouldn’t have to come to the point that he would have to separate himself from Gracia yet again. But, if it meant protecting her, it was certainly worth it.
When Izumi said that she and Ed needed to talk, it didn’t take a great mind to guess that she meant in private. So, since it was to everyone’s best interests not to go against her wish, they allowed both the woman and her former student to converse in the comfort of the living room. Ed sat on a chair, looking as if ready to feel the wrath of Izumi on his head, while Izumi stood by a window with her arms crossed.
“You know why I’m here,” she said.
Ed nodded. “I take it you’ve found something back in Dante’s house.”
“Yes… although it wasn’t what I had expected,” Izumi answered, and she cast her eyes momentarily on the boy’s red coat; the insignia wove on it was still visible. “A winged snake on a cross… It’s intriguing how she twisted that symbol of good and turned it into evil.”
“You didn’t know what was in her mind, Teacher,” Ed said.
“But the signs were there for me to see,” Izumi said. “The way she belittled humans, regarding them as inferiors to her and unworthy of her assistance. It was against everything an alchemist stands for, yet natural for a god-to-be.”
Ed blinked. “Because of her search for the philosopher’s stone?”
“No.” She dug out of her pocket several yellowish envelopes, and she handed them to the teen alchemist. “I found these in the mansion. They’re letters that your father had sent to Dante, while they were still in contact.”
“Well, there’s something that she didn’t lie about,” Ed muttered darkly, and he opened the first envelope to read the letter inside. However, he barely read the first few lines when his eyes widened, and his jaw felt like it would drop on the floor a second time that day.
“These are love letters!” he exclaimed.
Izumi said nothing, nor did she have to. Rage igniting in his heart, Ed crumbled the letter in his hands in disgust.
“How could he?” he said, barely able to control his voice. “Mom gave him everything, and the bastard had an affair with that… that…”
“In his defence, the affair had ended long before your father met Trisha,” Izumi replied.
“How do you know?” Ed asked in a restrained growl.
“Look at the date.”
Ed did.
May 13th… 1538.
Ed gasped, his anger dissolving into thin air. “What the hell?!”
“Exactly,” Izumi said. “It took me a lot of time to read all those letters in the appropriate order so that I could finally understand, but the gist is this: Your father and Dante had managed to create a philosopher’s stone, and they used it so that they could attach their souls to other, younger bodies whenever old age caught up with them. It was their way of gaining immortality.”
“So… my father is actually more than four hundred years old?” Ed asked, aghast.
“His spirit is,” Izumi answered.
Ed didn’t know whether he should be amazed or sick. “So why did he leave Dante? They seemed to have a lot to… share.”
“None of the letters explain,” Izumi said. “In his last correspondence, he merely claimed that he had to leave for both their sakes and that she shouldn’t expect him to come back.”
“Joy. Abandoning his wives is a habit of his, apparently,” the teen alchemist muttered under his breath. “Do any of the letters say how did they make the philosopher’s stone?”
“All that I know is that they used a city,” Izumi said.
“Right.” Making up his mind, Ed got on his feet and headed to the exit.
“Where are you going?” Izumi asked.
“I’m going to have a talk with the old man,” Ed replied, opening the door. Not surprisingly, Beregond and Al were waiting outside in the hallway, and they were now regarding the teen alchemist in a perplexed manner.
“What’s wrong, Brother?” Al asked.
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong; our father is a damn liar!” Ed said. “He had a philosopher’s stone and he kept it for himself! He could have saved Mom, and he decided to go sightseeing instead!”
“Actually, he no longer had a philosopher’s stone, and he went away to find a cure for himself,” Beregond said then, looking quite serious. “He couldn’t bear the thought that he would outlive the most precious things to him.”
“So he says! If I get my hands on him, I’ll--” Ed froze, for it was then that Beregond’s words truly registered. “Wait a minute… You knew?”
“Not since yesterday,” Beregond answered, and he dug out of his pocket a small journal. “Hohenheim gave me this before leaving, saying that everything that we wanted to know is here. Yes, Ed,” the Gondorian added, seeing through Ed’s surprised look, “He’s left again.”
“Where to?” Ed asked, frowning.
“To find Dante,” Beregond replied. “I don’t think he liked the idea of someone using his own sons as puppets to create a philosopher’s stone.”
“Well, his timing stinks!” Ed exclaimed with a huff.
“Why? What did you want to know, Brother?” Al asked, red eyes locking on Ed.
“He and Dante had used a city in order to create a philosopher’s stone,” Ed said. “If we could find the ruins of that city, we would probably be able to find some clue concerning her; maybe even what’s her next step now that we’re onto her.”
Beregond pursed his lips momentarily. “You know what they say. Ask and ye shall receive.”
“What do you mean?” Ed asked, staring at the Gondorian.
“According to this journal, the unknown city is directly under Central; sunk after the creation of the philosopher’s stone,” Beregond said. “Moreover, Hohenheim has folded inside the journal a map which shows the way to that city via a secret passage. All we have to do is enter Central from the East and find a small abandoned church.”
“You realise that you’ll all be going straight into the wolf’s jaws,” Izumi pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” Ed admitted. “But we can’t keep hiding forever.”
The woman smiled at those words, and she looked at Ed fondly. “You really have grown.”
Ed shifted on his legs, feeling a small blush creeping up his features. However, he got back on focus, and he rubbed his chin in thought.
“Well, if we’re to go to Central, we need to find a way to get there as fast as possible,” he said. “I’m not sure how we’ll be able to do that.”
“You’re still supposed to be the Colonel’s captives,” Beregond said. “We could go by train under the pretext you’re on your way to face a court-martial.”
“True… but the Colonel can’t just let you go, or he’ll be facing problems of his own,” Izumi added. “Unless, of course, someone helps you escape.”
“Who?” Ed asked, blinking.
“Um… Ed?” Al said. “I think you’re looking at her.”
Ed’s eyes widened, and he stared at Izumi in disbelief, but her nod only verified matters. Wincing, Ed realised that history had a way of repeating itself indeed.
“Just don’t hit us too hard this time,” he said in resignation.
Gracia closed the last one of her bags slowly, a sigh escaping her lips. The night was fast approaching and the room was in semi-darkness already, yet she didn’t turn on the light. And though she could feel Maes’ gaze locked on her as he stood at the threshold of their bedroom, she didn’t want to look at him either. She kept directing her gaze elsewhere, under the pretext that she was making sure she wasn’t forgetting anything.
Maes, however, knew her only too well.
“You don’t want to leave.”
Gracia froze momentarily, not sure what to answer. In the end, she decided it was only proper to reply truthfully.
“No, I don’t,” she said in a soft tone. Her fingers traced the leather surface of the bag. “We can still stay here.”
“Things are going to become really ugly from now on,” Maes replied. “I don’t want you or Elysia caught in this. You know that.”
“What about you?” Gracia asked, looking back at her husband. “I thought I lost you once; I don’t want to go through that again.”
“That’s why you have to go,” Maes replied, stepping closer. “I need to know you’re safe, so that I can help Roy without any setbacks.”
“But--”
“Please, Gracia.” He stretched his hand to caress her cheek soothingly, but she pulled back.
“No, Maes. Why must I always wait?” Gracia said, trying to control her voice and yet failing miserably. “Why do I have to leave, trembling at the thought that you’ll probably get killed this time? I almost died the first time. If anything happens to you now…”
Maes immediately embraced her, shushed her in a soothing tone. She tried to fight him back at first, but the fists she landed on his chest were only half-hearted ones and Maes remained where he was. He sensed her anger and frustration, and he was willing to ease it in any way he could. His fingers started running through Gracia’s hair, caressing it in the same loving manner that he always had ever since they got together.
“If I know you’re waiting for me, I can return to you,” he said, his gentle voice reverberating through his body.
That was all Gracia could take. Feeling tears welling up her eyes, she also wrapped her arms around her husband’s form and didn’t let go for a long time.
“Be careful,” she whispered finally.
“I will,” Maes answered, sealing his promise with a tender kiss.
That was all the reassurance she needed. Feeling her heart fluttering with hope once more, she picked up her bags and walked out, already calling Elysia at her side.
The first thing that Ed and Al did as soon as they agreed to Izumi’s plan (albeit uncertainly), was to talk to Colonel Mustang and inform him about what they were thinking of doing. The Colonel nodded his understanding, and he promised that he wouldn’t put up too much of a fight; just enough to keep the Brass off his back till he made his own move. Though neither of the boys understood what the Colonel meant by that, they decided not to pry any further. Something in the way the superior officer’s voice warned Ed and Al that they didn’t want to know.
By the time they had made these sort of plans, the sun had already set, and the boys realised that Beregond hadn’t been with them at all after their talk with their teacher. Not sure what to make of that strange disappearance, Ed and Al decided to locate the Gondorian in order to make sure that nothing was wrong.
It didn’t take them long to find the man. He was sitting on the porch, resting his back against the chair and looking ahead at the fields as they were covered by the dark veil of night. He turned around upon the sound of the familiar footsteps, and a smile tugged on his lips when he saw Ed and Al approaching.
“You’ve been here all day?” Ed asked, frowning.
Beregond shrugged. “I felt I should let you boys do your own thing,” he answered.
Ed and Al exchanged a glance in slight concern. Beregond sounded tired, almost listless. Something was wrong. And yet the man was still smiling as he pointed towards Faenel; the mare was resting several feet away, at the centre of the field.
“I’ll have to leave her here,” he said. “Central City is no place for a horse, even one as loyal as her.”
The boys looked at the horse, then at the Gondorian. Al stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Aunt Pinako and Winry will look after her,” he said in a gentle tone.
“I know they will,” Beregond said.
Ed felt like revolting. Beregond was acting as if there was nothing left for him anymore.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, keeping his tone in check. “We’re finally reaching the end; you should be happy!”
Beregond looked at the young alchemist. “I am happy. Happy for both of you,” he said.
“Then why do you look so sad?” Al asked, red eyes locking on Beregond’s own.
Beregond, however, just patted the man on the helm. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking, that’s all.”
“Really?” Ed said, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
Beregond nodded.
That, Ed suppose, should suffice as answer enough. He sighed, accepting Beregond’s secrecy for now, and then sat down on a chair close by.
“You know… Al and I have been thinking too,” he said.
That certainly caught Beregond’s attention. “Oh? What about?”
“Well…” Ed answered. “What we’re going to do after we deal with Dante and the Homunculi.”
The Gondorian’s eyes reflected a knowing smile. “I think I can guess.”
Al hummed his affirmation. “Wrath has Brother’s body, while my body is still at the Gate. There has to be a way to get them back.”
“Without the philosopher’s stone?” Beregond asked.
“Yeah,” Ed answered. “I’ve asked Scieszka to hand me a copy of an old alchemical book that we found in Major Armstrong’s mansion. It’s pretty hard to decipher, but I think we might find something useful there.”
“And if you do?” Beregond asked, facing Ed once more.
“I’ll fix my and Al’s body,” Ed said. “And then I won’t have to be Roy’s errand boy anymore.”
“You’ll quit?”
“It’s time we came back here,” Ed said.
“Oh, and we’ll have to rebuild our house, Brother. Don’t forget that,” Al said.
“That too,” Ed agreed. “And I bet you’ll ask Winry out.”
Al got positively mortified. “You… know about that?”
“Let’s just say I got my confirmation now,” Ed said in a tease. Indeed, he had suspected that something was going on between him and Winry, but it was Al’s reaction that gave it all away.
Al’s eyes grew large in realisation. The suit of armour started wringing his hands nervously. “You... aren’t mad then?”
Ed tilted his head, amused. “What for, Al? If you love her, you should go for it,” he said. “I doubt she’ll reject you twice.”
Al remained frozen for a while, then his eyes shone brilliantly, reflecting the smile he couldn’t show. “Thanks, Brother.”
Ed grinned, glad to see his brother so happy. He caught sight of Beregond from the corner of his eye, and he could see that the man was smiling too.
“See?” he declared to Al, pointing at the Gondorian with his thumb. “Even Beregond agrees with me.”
Beregond blinked, surprised at that. Ed, however, was far from finished.
“And trust me, we’ll be in need of his opinion for a long time.”
“Really, Ed? You mean it?” Al asked.
Beregond stared at the young alchemist, the same question in his eyes. Ed hummed his affirmation, and stretched his hand forward.
Getting the message, both Al and Beregond placed their hands over Ed’s sealing their agreement once more. Yet neither of the boys noticed the piece of paper that Beregond hid meticulously in his pocket with his other hand.
TBC…
A brief knock on the door cut into the woman’s musings, and she exchanged glances with Maes. Knowing what to do, Maes swiftly picked up Elysia in his arms, still acting as if this was all part of the game, and he went upstairs to hide. Only then did Gracia go to answer the door.
But, thankfully, there was no need for an alarm. It was just Sarah standing on the threshold, her green eyes alert for anything out of the ordinary.
“Am I intruding?” she asked.
“No, please, come in,” Gracia replied with a smile, and she beckoned Sarah inside. “I didn’t expect to see you today,” she added, closing the door behind her.
“I wasn’t planning on coming, truth be told. However, I’ve just received news from Colonel Mustang,” Sarah said. “Can I speak with Maes?”
“Of course,” Gracia said, motioning her hand in the direction of the couch. “Make yourself at home, I’ll tell him to come down.”
Sarah nodded her understanding and she sat down, while Gracia went upstairs to fetch Maes. Intrigued, the bespectacled man handed Gracia their daughter and then followed her downstairs, wishing to see what was that all about.
Sarah clearly saw through Maes’ questioning look, for she opened her purse and dug out from it a small piece of paper.
“I got this telegram earlier today,” she said. “Colonel Mustang wanted you to know that he’s recovered Ed and Al, and he’s with them at Resembool.”
That certainly caught Maes’ attention. “What about Hakuro’s men?”
“They’ve returned empty handed. Roy convinced them that he would return the boys to Central personally, if only to make up for the uh… what was it now?” She paused, acting as though she thought about it for a moment, and then made a face of feigned realisation. “…Faith he had placed on a soldier who put the military into shame.”
“Roy still has a way with words, I see,” Maes answered with a grin. “When are they to return?”
“He didn’t say,” Sarah replied. “He only said that we should be prepared, whatever that means.”
Gracia couldn’t help it. She held her daughter closer to her, all kinds of thoughts crossing her mind. Maes, however, still remained calm and collected as he nodded his understanding; then faced both her and Elysia, clasping a hand over hers.
“Gracia… I think Elysia should have her bath now.”
Gracia knew what Maes really meant by that; she knew her husband only too well. Still, deciding to have faith in his judgement, she nodded and exited the room so that Maes and Sarah would talk alone. She was sure they had a lot to talk about.
Maes watched Gracia walk out of the room, eyes locked on her form and his daughter’s, and he couldn’t help but let out a small sigh. He straightened his glasses momentarily, lost in thought, but he quickly remembered himself and faced Sarah. The woman was still sitting on the couch, keeping her legs crossed and her hands on her lap. Though Maes saw the forced smile on her lips, he could also detect her melancholic expression. Maes tilted his head, unsure what to make of things.
“It’s nothing,” she replied to his look in a dismissive tone. “My mind drifted elsewhere.”
She didn’t have to say anything else. Maes understood about whom she was thinking about.
“You’ll see him again,” he said reassuringly.
“Not before we can have a small measure of peace first,” Sarah answered. “There’s still the matter of Bradley to be taken care of.”
“Yeah…” Maes straightened his glasses once more, and finally took a place next to Sarah. “That might be sooner than we think if Roy’s words are any indication.”
“You think the colonel will make his move then?”
Maes nodded. “It’s the perfect timing. That war in Liore was no victory, and the media are already talking about the massacre there. People will start doubting Bradley’s way of running things, and this will work to our advantage. There are plenty of officers who will want to step forward and assume command as Führer.”
“The Brass won’t know whom to trust,” Sarah said, seeing through Maes’s train of thought.
“Exactly. And so we can go through with the coup d’ etat while they’re distracted.”
Sarah frowned slightly. “It’s a risky stunt. They won’t let us get away with this… or anyone who’s connected to us for that matter.”
“You’re worried about your daughter.” It wasn’t a question; both he and Sarah knew that.
“Aren’t you?”
Maes heaved a sigh. Sarah was right, there was no question about it. He had simply hoped that it wouldn’t have to come to the point that he would have to separate himself from Gracia yet again. But, if it meant protecting her, it was certainly worth it.
When Izumi said that she and Ed needed to talk, it didn’t take a great mind to guess that she meant in private. So, since it was to everyone’s best interests not to go against her wish, they allowed both the woman and her former student to converse in the comfort of the living room. Ed sat on a chair, looking as if ready to feel the wrath of Izumi on his head, while Izumi stood by a window with her arms crossed.
“You know why I’m here,” she said.
Ed nodded. “I take it you’ve found something back in Dante’s house.”
“Yes… although it wasn’t what I had expected,” Izumi answered, and she cast her eyes momentarily on the boy’s red coat; the insignia wove on it was still visible. “A winged snake on a cross… It’s intriguing how she twisted that symbol of good and turned it into evil.”
“You didn’t know what was in her mind, Teacher,” Ed said.
“But the signs were there for me to see,” Izumi said. “The way she belittled humans, regarding them as inferiors to her and unworthy of her assistance. It was against everything an alchemist stands for, yet natural for a god-to-be.”
Ed blinked. “Because of her search for the philosopher’s stone?”
“No.” She dug out of her pocket several yellowish envelopes, and she handed them to the teen alchemist. “I found these in the mansion. They’re letters that your father had sent to Dante, while they were still in contact.”
“Well, there’s something that she didn’t lie about,” Ed muttered darkly, and he opened the first envelope to read the letter inside. However, he barely read the first few lines when his eyes widened, and his jaw felt like it would drop on the floor a second time that day.
“These are love letters!” he exclaimed.
Izumi said nothing, nor did she have to. Rage igniting in his heart, Ed crumbled the letter in his hands in disgust.
“How could he?” he said, barely able to control his voice. “Mom gave him everything, and the bastard had an affair with that… that…”
“In his defence, the affair had ended long before your father met Trisha,” Izumi replied.
“How do you know?” Ed asked in a restrained growl.
“Look at the date.”
Ed did.
May 13th… 1538.
Ed gasped, his anger dissolving into thin air. “What the hell?!”
“Exactly,” Izumi said. “It took me a lot of time to read all those letters in the appropriate order so that I could finally understand, but the gist is this: Your father and Dante had managed to create a philosopher’s stone, and they used it so that they could attach their souls to other, younger bodies whenever old age caught up with them. It was their way of gaining immortality.”
“So… my father is actually more than four hundred years old?” Ed asked, aghast.
“His spirit is,” Izumi answered.
Ed didn’t know whether he should be amazed or sick. “So why did he leave Dante? They seemed to have a lot to… share.”
“None of the letters explain,” Izumi said. “In his last correspondence, he merely claimed that he had to leave for both their sakes and that she shouldn’t expect him to come back.”
“Joy. Abandoning his wives is a habit of his, apparently,” the teen alchemist muttered under his breath. “Do any of the letters say how did they make the philosopher’s stone?”
“All that I know is that they used a city,” Izumi said.
“Right.” Making up his mind, Ed got on his feet and headed to the exit.
“Where are you going?” Izumi asked.
“I’m going to have a talk with the old man,” Ed replied, opening the door. Not surprisingly, Beregond and Al were waiting outside in the hallway, and they were now regarding the teen alchemist in a perplexed manner.
“What’s wrong, Brother?” Al asked.
“I’ll tell you what’s wrong; our father is a damn liar!” Ed said. “He had a philosopher’s stone and he kept it for himself! He could have saved Mom, and he decided to go sightseeing instead!”
“Actually, he no longer had a philosopher’s stone, and he went away to find a cure for himself,” Beregond said then, looking quite serious. “He couldn’t bear the thought that he would outlive the most precious things to him.”
“So he says! If I get my hands on him, I’ll--” Ed froze, for it was then that Beregond’s words truly registered. “Wait a minute… You knew?”
“Not since yesterday,” Beregond answered, and he dug out of his pocket a small journal. “Hohenheim gave me this before leaving, saying that everything that we wanted to know is here. Yes, Ed,” the Gondorian added, seeing through Ed’s surprised look, “He’s left again.”
“Where to?” Ed asked, frowning.
“To find Dante,” Beregond replied. “I don’t think he liked the idea of someone using his own sons as puppets to create a philosopher’s stone.”
“Well, his timing stinks!” Ed exclaimed with a huff.
“Why? What did you want to know, Brother?” Al asked, red eyes locking on Ed.
“He and Dante had used a city in order to create a philosopher’s stone,” Ed said. “If we could find the ruins of that city, we would probably be able to find some clue concerning her; maybe even what’s her next step now that we’re onto her.”
Beregond pursed his lips momentarily. “You know what they say. Ask and ye shall receive.”
“What do you mean?” Ed asked, staring at the Gondorian.
“According to this journal, the unknown city is directly under Central; sunk after the creation of the philosopher’s stone,” Beregond said. “Moreover, Hohenheim has folded inside the journal a map which shows the way to that city via a secret passage. All we have to do is enter Central from the East and find a small abandoned church.”
“You realise that you’ll all be going straight into the wolf’s jaws,” Izumi pointed out, raising an eyebrow.
“Maybe,” Ed admitted. “But we can’t keep hiding forever.”
The woman smiled at those words, and she looked at Ed fondly. “You really have grown.”
Ed shifted on his legs, feeling a small blush creeping up his features. However, he got back on focus, and he rubbed his chin in thought.
“Well, if we’re to go to Central, we need to find a way to get there as fast as possible,” he said. “I’m not sure how we’ll be able to do that.”
“You’re still supposed to be the Colonel’s captives,” Beregond said. “We could go by train under the pretext you’re on your way to face a court-martial.”
“True… but the Colonel can’t just let you go, or he’ll be facing problems of his own,” Izumi added. “Unless, of course, someone helps you escape.”
“Who?” Ed asked, blinking.
“Um… Ed?” Al said. “I think you’re looking at her.”
Ed’s eyes widened, and he stared at Izumi in disbelief, but her nod only verified matters. Wincing, Ed realised that history had a way of repeating itself indeed.
“Just don’t hit us too hard this time,” he said in resignation.
Gracia closed the last one of her bags slowly, a sigh escaping her lips. The night was fast approaching and the room was in semi-darkness already, yet she didn’t turn on the light. And though she could feel Maes’ gaze locked on her as he stood at the threshold of their bedroom, she didn’t want to look at him either. She kept directing her gaze elsewhere, under the pretext that she was making sure she wasn’t forgetting anything.
Maes, however, knew her only too well.
“You don’t want to leave.”
Gracia froze momentarily, not sure what to answer. In the end, she decided it was only proper to reply truthfully.
“No, I don’t,” she said in a soft tone. Her fingers traced the leather surface of the bag. “We can still stay here.”
“Things are going to become really ugly from now on,” Maes replied. “I don’t want you or Elysia caught in this. You know that.”
“What about you?” Gracia asked, looking back at her husband. “I thought I lost you once; I don’t want to go through that again.”
“That’s why you have to go,” Maes replied, stepping closer. “I need to know you’re safe, so that I can help Roy without any setbacks.”
“But--”
“Please, Gracia.” He stretched his hand to caress her cheek soothingly, but she pulled back.
“No, Maes. Why must I always wait?” Gracia said, trying to control her voice and yet failing miserably. “Why do I have to leave, trembling at the thought that you’ll probably get killed this time? I almost died the first time. If anything happens to you now…”
Maes immediately embraced her, shushed her in a soothing tone. She tried to fight him back at first, but the fists she landed on his chest were only half-hearted ones and Maes remained where he was. He sensed her anger and frustration, and he was willing to ease it in any way he could. His fingers started running through Gracia’s hair, caressing it in the same loving manner that he always had ever since they got together.
“If I know you’re waiting for me, I can return to you,” he said, his gentle voice reverberating through his body.
That was all Gracia could take. Feeling tears welling up her eyes, she also wrapped her arms around her husband’s form and didn’t let go for a long time.
“Be careful,” she whispered finally.
“I will,” Maes answered, sealing his promise with a tender kiss.
That was all the reassurance she needed. Feeling her heart fluttering with hope once more, she picked up her bags and walked out, already calling Elysia at her side.
The first thing that Ed and Al did as soon as they agreed to Izumi’s plan (albeit uncertainly), was to talk to Colonel Mustang and inform him about what they were thinking of doing. The Colonel nodded his understanding, and he promised that he wouldn’t put up too much of a fight; just enough to keep the Brass off his back till he made his own move. Though neither of the boys understood what the Colonel meant by that, they decided not to pry any further. Something in the way the superior officer’s voice warned Ed and Al that they didn’t want to know.
By the time they had made these sort of plans, the sun had already set, and the boys realised that Beregond hadn’t been with them at all after their talk with their teacher. Not sure what to make of that strange disappearance, Ed and Al decided to locate the Gondorian in order to make sure that nothing was wrong.
It didn’t take them long to find the man. He was sitting on the porch, resting his back against the chair and looking ahead at the fields as they were covered by the dark veil of night. He turned around upon the sound of the familiar footsteps, and a smile tugged on his lips when he saw Ed and Al approaching.
“You’ve been here all day?” Ed asked, frowning.
Beregond shrugged. “I felt I should let you boys do your own thing,” he answered.
Ed and Al exchanged a glance in slight concern. Beregond sounded tired, almost listless. Something was wrong. And yet the man was still smiling as he pointed towards Faenel; the mare was resting several feet away, at the centre of the field.
“I’ll have to leave her here,” he said. “Central City is no place for a horse, even one as loyal as her.”
The boys looked at the horse, then at the Gondorian. Al stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on the man’s shoulder.
“Don’t worry. Aunt Pinako and Winry will look after her,” he said in a gentle tone.
“I know they will,” Beregond said.
Ed felt like revolting. Beregond was acting as if there was nothing left for him anymore.
“What’s the matter?” he asked, keeping his tone in check. “We’re finally reaching the end; you should be happy!”
Beregond looked at the young alchemist. “I am happy. Happy for both of you,” he said.
“Then why do you look so sad?” Al asked, red eyes locking on Beregond’s own.
Beregond, however, just patted the man on the helm. “It’s nothing. I was just thinking, that’s all.”
“Really?” Ed said, raising an eyebrow in disbelief.
Beregond nodded.
That, Ed suppose, should suffice as answer enough. He sighed, accepting Beregond’s secrecy for now, and then sat down on a chair close by.
“You know… Al and I have been thinking too,” he said.
That certainly caught Beregond’s attention. “Oh? What about?”
“Well…” Ed answered. “What we’re going to do after we deal with Dante and the Homunculi.”
The Gondorian’s eyes reflected a knowing smile. “I think I can guess.”
Al hummed his affirmation. “Wrath has Brother’s body, while my body is still at the Gate. There has to be a way to get them back.”
“Without the philosopher’s stone?” Beregond asked.
“Yeah,” Ed answered. “I’ve asked Scieszka to hand me a copy of an old alchemical book that we found in Major Armstrong’s mansion. It’s pretty hard to decipher, but I think we might find something useful there.”
“And if you do?” Beregond asked, facing Ed once more.
“I’ll fix my and Al’s body,” Ed said. “And then I won’t have to be Roy’s errand boy anymore.”
“You’ll quit?”
“It’s time we came back here,” Ed said.
“Oh, and we’ll have to rebuild our house, Brother. Don’t forget that,” Al said.
“That too,” Ed agreed. “And I bet you’ll ask Winry out.”
Al got positively mortified. “You… know about that?”
“Let’s just say I got my confirmation now,” Ed said in a tease. Indeed, he had suspected that something was going on between him and Winry, but it was Al’s reaction that gave it all away.
Al’s eyes grew large in realisation. The suit of armour started wringing his hands nervously. “You... aren’t mad then?”
Ed tilted his head, amused. “What for, Al? If you love her, you should go for it,” he said. “I doubt she’ll reject you twice.”
Al remained frozen for a while, then his eyes shone brilliantly, reflecting the smile he couldn’t show. “Thanks, Brother.”
Ed grinned, glad to see his brother so happy. He caught sight of Beregond from the corner of his eye, and he could see that the man was smiling too.
“See?” he declared to Al, pointing at the Gondorian with his thumb. “Even Beregond agrees with me.”
Beregond blinked, surprised at that. Ed, however, was far from finished.
“And trust me, we’ll be in need of his opinion for a long time.”
“Really, Ed? You mean it?” Al asked.
Beregond stared at the young alchemist, the same question in his eyes. Ed hummed his affirmation, and stretched his hand forward.
Getting the message, both Al and Beregond placed their hands over Ed’s sealing their agreement once more. Yet neither of the boys noticed the piece of paper that Beregond hid meticulously in his pocket with his other hand.
TBC…
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