Fullmetal Kingdom ~ Chapter 25

Chapter 25: Wandering Minds

After they escaped the mansion, Sora and the Elric Brothers sat on a small hill, looking at the moonlight. Donald and Goofy in the meantime went down town to see if there are any motels that would allow them and their friends to sleep for the night.

Ed broke the silence and said, "Damn, my body aches all over!" Al then said to Ed, "You'd think he was pretty powerful, huh?" Ed shrugged and said, "Hmph, he had something give him a boost, that damn red rock in his hand! IF HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT STONE, I COULD'VE KICKED HIS TEETH OUT!"

Sora then asked, "...does that mean they're finished with the Philosopher Stone?" Ed replied, "I don't know, but we're gonna find out." Alphonse then wondered to himself, "Hmm, I wonder what their real names are, or if they're really brothers at all? And I wonder if the older brother is actually much older than you are, or-!" Ed pushes Al over in response, "SIZE DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING!" Sora replied, "Well, we're bound to find out sooner or later. Come on, let's check on Donald and Goofy."

Ed then looked at Sora and said, "By the way, you've been acting funny ever since we got out of the mansion. You've been sitting with us with a really serious look on your face. Are you feeling OK?" Sora fanned his hand and replied, "Hey, come on! I'm fine, I'm just eager to get the stone as soon as possible, just like you two."

Al then asked, "Sora, we don't know about your past, but it was clear that you had some history with that Tidus person." Ed stood up and said, "I knew it! You were thinking about your former buddy! Look Sora, just take my advice and don't get near him. Whatever issues he's got isn't worth finding out at the cost of your life."

"Neither is finding out about the Philosopher Stone."

Ed and Al couldn't believe what came out of Sora's mouth, so Al asked, "Sora, why would you say that? You know we're only trying to restore our bodies." Sora replied, "Yeah well, the world doesn't revolve around you two and what you want! Did you ever think about what other people would want? Or are you too busy looking for a piece of jewelry to use to make your three wishes come true?"

The Elrics were even more confused as to why Sora was acting so furious. Sora sighed and said, "I-I'm sorry, I just...need to get some sleep, that's all!" Al grabbed Sora by the shoulder and asked, "Something did happen, didn't it? (Sora: Let go Al!) Sora please! You can tell us, we're your friends."

Sora looked at the Elrics and slowly nodded, signifying his acceptance to tell them what was wrong. Sora turned around and said to the Elrics, "...Tidus...he's wearing a Slave Crown."

Ed and Al were startled at how serious Sora sounded, though they never heard of a Slave Crown, they were starting to get a good idea about how bad the situation was.

Back at the mansion, Russell and Fletcher were continuing their progress on the red water. While checking on the plants used for their experiments, Fletcher said to Russell, "Brother, maybe we should give up this ruse before we get caught. What if the real Elric Brothers turn us in, then what?" Russell replied, "Don't worry; nobody around here is going to believe anything they say. So just concentrate on finishing the stone so we can skip town."

Fletcher still felt unsure, "I just hope it works out that way." while he was examining a bottle of red water, Russell said, "Well I'm not going to let Mugear take all the credit for all the work dad devoted his entire life to!" Fletcher was about to say something, but Russell interrupted and said, "Don't worry Fletch, if it comes down to that, I'll make sure you get away safely, no matter what."

Russell was quite confident in his and Fletcher's ability to succeed, but he was unaware of how Fletcher felt about the plan. Fletcher thought to himself, ‘You don't get it brother...I'm not worried about myself. There's a lot more going on than that.’

Meanwhile, under the mansion, there was a large tunnel filled with candles. The tunnel led to a large chamber, where a fountain of red water was bursting out. Observing the spring of water was a pudgy old man.

As he stared into the glowing red source of power, a woman's voice was heard, "You really shouldn't be that close to the red water." The man was startled at first, but he went calm after seeing the woman who spoke to him, Lust. The old man said to her, "I wasn't expecting you." Lust then said, "And I didn't expect you to let those kids in."

The old man was startled at Lust's knowledge of the sudden break in. The old man explained, "T-there's no need to worry, my men scared off the Elric Brothers! I think we've seen the last of them." Lust shook her head in disappointment and said, "Don't be funny with me, Mugear. It's going to take more than a bunch of muscle-headed men and an amnesiac bodyguard to scare them away. It's actually quite a desirable trait they possess. Well, we'll see how long they can keep going when their new friend is long gone."

Mugear asked, "You mean the Elric's bodyguard? The one from Y. O. U. T. H. that was inexperienced? Don't worry about it, Tidus was more than enough to beat that little-" Lust looked at him and said, "Are you sure he was beaten? That boy destroyed a giant monster in Central and you think some other skilled brat can beat him?"

Mugear then said, "W-well my dear, it's not the size that counts-" Lust gave an annoyed look, "Are you correcting me?" Mugear's heart skipped a beat that moment. Mugear then said to Lust, "N-not at all mam. This time, I'll make sure the Elrics get the point! I'll send Tidus out at once!"

Lust smiled and walked towards the exit, but before she did, she looked at Mugear and said, "You had your shot, but maybe it's time you called the quits, Mugear." Mugear bent down and pleaded, "A little more time, please, I beg you! That's all I need, a little more time! I promise you, by the time this week is over, I'll have completed the Philosopher Stone."

Lust glared at Mugear, "MAKE IT FAST! You know I hate being dissatisfied."

Back on the hill, Sora was explaining the Slave Crown to the Elrics...

"A few years back, Y. O. U. T. H. was already overstocked with countless children. Many of them seemed to hyper to train, and many others seemed too violent to listen to reason. That was when one of the co-founders of Y. O. U. T. H. thought of a way to solve the problem...the Slave Crown. It was a simple accessory that had a strange gem on the center. Around the band, there were ruins written in, Riku translated the writing for me when we were younger, they read...

'For those who seek to kneel,

place me on their brow,

for I, the Puppeteers Wheel,

shall have you forever now.'

The words were linked together so that they can be used as a Transmutation Circle. When an alchemist activates the transmutation, the wearer of the Slave Crown becomes an obedient servant. They will follow any order given to them, even the most...unimaginable orders. They were placed on every last one of those children, and because of them, the children were no longer difficult to deal with."

Ed then said, "So those things can control anyone that wears them?" Sora replied, "Yes, they worked so well, that none of the founders objected...except one." Al asked, "Who?" Sora smiled and answered, "...my teacher." Ed then asked, "Really? I never would have guessed. So who is he?" Before Sora could answer, the three heard someone approach them.

It was the girl's uncle, Belsio, whom Ed then remembered, "Hey, you're the guy with the lemons." He said to the three boys, "If you need a place to board up, you can come with me."

After a few hours, Belsio lead the Elric Brothers and Sora to his house. There, he prepared something for the Elrics to eat while Sora would go out and look for Donald and Goofy. While they waited, Alphonse said, "Thank you for helping us." Belsio replied, "I couldn't just let you guys sleep outside, could I?"

Ed felt suspicious, so he had to ask, "Aren't you gonna ask us what our names are?" Belsio replied, "You’re the Elric Brothers, that's what you say." Al stood up from his seat, "So you believe us?" Belsio replied, "Honestly...not in the least. But I guess you kids have your own reasons for saying you are. It makes no difference to me."

Ed then noticed something, "...you don't seem into the Philosopher Stone like your neighbors are." Belsio sat down and said, "Everyone is unable or unwilling to forget the wealth gold once brought them. So Mugear's got them all wrapped around his finger."

"I'm back."

Sora came in with Donald and Goofy following him. Goofy took his hat off to Belsio, "Hi mister, thanks again for giving us a place to stay." Belsio replied, "No problem, there's some porridge on the table if you want any." Goofy saw the bowl filled with lemon porridge and licked his chops, "Gwarsh! It smells so good (ahyuk)." Goofy then took a spoonful and tasted the porridge, "Hmm? It...it...IT TASTES EVEN BETTER!"

At the next morning, Ed, Al, Donald, and Goofy came out of the guest room. Donald looked around the kitchen and asked, "Hey Fullmetal, where's Sora?" Ed replied, "How should I know? I'm not his nanny!" Then the four heard Belsio answer, "It's OK, your friend couldn't fit in the guest room, so he slept outside."

Back outside, Sora's closed eyes were met by the sun's peaceful rising. Sora smiled and stood back up from the bed of hay he made for himself. He did a quick stretch and walked towards the door, but before he got a chance to knock on the door, someone else knocked, it was Elisa, the little girl from yesterday who was trapped under a mining cart until Ed rescued her.

Belsio answered the door, "Elisa? What are you doing here? Your father won't approve-." Elisa interrupted, "Oh don't worry about daddy; he's too hyped up for the gold mine to even notice." Belsio lets Elisa in and closes the door on Sora, setting in an awkward moment.

"Well, since I'm not wanted here, I might as well check out the town." Sora said with an annoyed voice.

Back inside, Belsio remembered, "Oh yeah, I forgot to let the kid in!" But before he could, the Elrics and the two Genomes greeted him, "Good morning." Alphonse said. While she sat in a chair near the dining table, she noticed the two Elrics and walked over to them, "Hey there, it's the make believe Elric Brothers and their cool looking pets."

Goofy smiled and blushed, "Gwarsh, you think I'm...cool? (ahyuk) I've never been called cool before!" Donald shook his head at Goofy and turned to the girl, "We're not pets, miss. We're proud agents of a free society on a mission to search for our leader and friend!" Elisa asked, "You're what now?" Donald thought to himself, CRUD! I gave away my secret mission again! Elisa patted Donald and said with a smile, "Hey Mr. Duck, ha ha, you got big eyes! (giggle) your funny looking!" As Elisa hugged him like a stuffed animal, Donald scratched the back of his head, "Uh...thanks, I think."

Elisa then noticed Ed's bruise on his cheek, "Hey, that looks like it hurt, did somebody hit you because you were telling lies again?" Ed covered his bruise and replied, "I'm telling you kid, we're not the imposters, but I did get clocked by one!" Elisa then realized, "Wait, you didn't break into Mugear's mansion, did you pretend brothers?"

Ed angrily replied, "OF COARSE WE DID! We can't just let those phonies run around using our names! Besides, it's a major crime to use the Philosopher Stone to make gold! He's going down-" Ed was going to continue, but Al stopped him in time to see Elisa's face. She looked like she was going to cry, so Ed dropped the subject.

Ed went to the door and said, "I'm gonna see what I can find out in town." Donald then said to him, "Wait, we'll go with you! After all, Sora might be outside! Come on Goofy!"

Meanwhile in Xenotime, Sora walked through the town, looking for a place where they sold food. As he walked, he saw the townspeople watch him and chat with each other about how he was associated with the supposed 'fake' Elrics.

He didn't pay any attention to their words, instead, he continued looking around the place for a food joint. Just then, as he was walking, a conversation between two people caught his ear...

"It's hard to believe Father Cornello's supporters would just come back to him like that! I mean, the Elrics exposed him for a fraud, and yet, after watching him perform one of his supposed miracles, the people of Lior just up and ran straight back to him! What did he do that was so inspiring to them?"

"Well, from what I've heard, he found countless birds dead in front of his temple and then (snap's his fingers) brings'em back to life! It's never an easy feat to resurrect something that's already been dead, but I've got to admit, I'm starting to believe in miracles. After that fiasco, people started switching sides, there were fights, battles, and even bloodshed, and for what? The different opinions about what was real and what wasn't? Give me a break!"

"I kinda wish I could do something to help, but then again, they are Ishbalins. They'll do anything for their supposed God."

"Well, other than the religious issues, I heard that a girl with funny looking hair was trying to stop the conflict. She doesn't have much support, but she seems pretty sure of herself. She won't stand a chance though; it's only a matter of time until she cracks under the pressure, just like the rest of ‘em."

Sora could barely contain his disbelief of what he heard, ‘Rose...I...I have to go back!’

"I knew I'd find you here!"

Sora snapped out of his thoughts and looked in front of him, there, standing before him, was Tidus!

"What do you say we finish what we started?"

End of Chapter 25