Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Her Knight In Shining Armor ❯ Hope ( Chapter 28 )

[ T - Teen: Not suitable for readers under 13 ]

I do not own the characters Ed, Al, Winry or the basis for their past history. They belong to the creators of Full Metal Alchemist. I also don't own any of the fairytales mentioned. I don't own much of anything…

Warning: There will be some references made to the show. It won't give away anything about the ending… I don't think… Anyway there will be threats of rape and murder. Not too vivid though.

There will also be spelling mistakes due to where Lorna originates from. I allowed some spelling error because it's words she would use. And I don't want any flames on it. I'm from where she's from so I just had her speak the way I do!

Chapter Twenty Eight: Hope

Al was sitting with me in my room chatting. Duchess sat on his lap. I was still confined to the bed. Edward came in, holding a book. “Listen, this says that he was able to make a stone similar to the one in our world!”

“Who?” I queried. I hadn't been reading the journals with the brothers and had no clue what they were about.

“He never gives his name. Apparently it was all done in secret. People didn't want him to try and make a philosopher's stone.” Ed explained still looking at the book.

“But brother, wouldn't that require human sacrifice, like in our world?” I could hear the worry in Al's voice as he spoke.

Ed shook his head, “No, because it's not the real deal. This one doesn't even have to use alchemy. The writer was from a world without the science but wanted to be able to perform it. That's why he made the stone.”

I listened, wary of what this could mean. `Maybe they'll go on another quest, leave Winry and me behind.'

Edward was still glancing through the pages, “But I can't figure out what he ultimately did with it. I think he may have died before being able to use it.”

“Equivalent exchange.” Alphonse murmured causing his brother to look up. “In the end, he gave his life for it.”

We all stayed quiet for a moment. It was a sad realization, the completion of a work only to be taken before reaping its benefits.

“What's it look like?” I wondered absentmindedly.

Ed turned to me, “Look like? Well, the original was a red stone. I suppose his would probably be red too.”

I nodded then a thought struck me. “Alphonse, how were ya able to come to the dream world? Ya know, the night ya found me.”

He turned to me, “I'm not really sure. I was sitting in here at your desk. For some reason I nodded off and found myself there with you.”

His brother looked at me questioningly, “What are you thinking? That it could be here, in the house somewhere?”

I shook my head, “Who would it work for?”

Edward's face fell, “Mostly for people who couldn't use alchemy. It wouldn't have responded to Al without the use of an alchemic array.”

“No,” I started, “But it could a responded to me.”

The brothers both watched me, not following my thinking. I turned and lifted the corner of the mattress. There it was, right where I had left it. I pulled the stone out slowly then dangled it on the chain before me. Edward's eyes grew large.

“I was wearing it, that night.” I held it out for Ed to take.

He turned it over in his hand slowly. “But where did you get it? Was it in the attic?”

I shook my head, “No, when I went to get Christmas gifts, a lady was trying to sell it at the pawn shop. The guy behind the counter claimed it wasn't real, that he didn't know what it was.” Ed was still gazing at it as I continued. “She was an older woman, said her husband had given it to her.”

Now Edward looked up at me, “This could be it. Look at the inscription.”

He held it out to me. On the clasp, so small I could barely read it were the words, “New World Philosopher's Stone” I read aloud. “But how's it work?”

“It can help you.” Al laid a hand on my shoulder, “In things like, well having me come to you when you were hurt. It probably kept you alive too.”

I nodded then thought back, “Do ya think it could have… shown me ya'lls past too?”

“Were you wearing it that night?” Ed had turned his attention back to us. I nodded. “Then, yes, it probably did.”

He handed the stone back to me. “But can I make it work? For what I want?”

Edward looked at me thoughtfully, “Why?”

“Well, Winry said that with the other stone ya'll could get your bodies back.” I paused a moment. “Could this one help ya do that?”

Al moved his hand along my back, “Brother?”

Ed was staring at the gem, and then shook his head. “No, it's too risky.”

I sighed deeply. “For who?”

Al's hand stopped moving. “For all three of us. This stone may still require some form of equivalent trade.”

I looked up at him and touched his face, “Who'd it take it from?”

Edward moved to take the stone from me but I held it tightly. “It could hurt you Lorna. Al and I already have to live with what we've done. You don't need to be our next casualty.”

I scowled, “But if it'd help ya'll…”

Al's hand came up and pressed against my lips. “No, brother is right. We did this to ourselves.”

The room grew quiet. Winry had been listening from the hallway. Now she moved to look through the doorway. “I'd be willing, to try.” She whispered.

Edward jumped, he hadn't realized she was there. He turned on her with worry, “No! It isn't up for discussion. You girls aren't going to do anything that would risk yourselves.”

“I would, if it'll help.” My eyes were locked with hers.

We both loved these two brothers very much. The will of a woman in love is a strong thing. Between the two of us, we could have taken on anything.

“No.” Al grabbed the jewel out of my hand quickly. “We can't let you do that.”

“But we're a family!” Winry yelled, “That's what we're supposed to do!”

Ed moved to hold onto her but she backed away. He hung his head and sighed, “We lost mother, Al and I don't want to loose either of you.”

A pain struck my heart. `They're afraid it wouldn't work, that we'd be killed.'

“I'm sorry.” I whispered to Al. “We weren't thinking.”

Winry had tears in her eyes as she looked at me.

“We need to talk.” I told her. The boys took the hint and left the room. Al held tightly to the stone.

“Winry, they're afraid of losing us.” I motioned for her to sit next to me. “What if it didn't work and they stayed as they are… but lost us?”

She hung her head, “I want so much to help them.”

I put an arm around her. “I do too, but we can't push the subject. Maybe later, after Ed's figured out how the thing works, we can try talking to them again.”

Winry nodded and hugged my neck. We'd become like sisters. As she had said, we were family. Not the kind that you're born into, but rather the kind that is created by chance and good fortune.

Author's Notes

Lorna: Sob

Joy: Why are you crying?

Lorna: I'm so happy… to be home again.

Al: I'm glad too.

Joy: Rolls eyes Oh yeah these two are so strong.