Stand Up and Walk

All Things Are Possible

You whirl around to help Ed, but he's already gotten it taken care of. "Oh yeah!" he cheers, looking at the fallen man a few feet away, two large bumps already forming on his head. "Double strike!"

"What's this commotion?" a somewhat-familiar voice calls out. You all turn to see a broad, bald old man stepping out of the shadows.

Father Cornello.

"Ah," he says with a smile. "The Smokebomb and Fullmetal Alchemists. Welcome to the home of our sacred order."

Rose's fearful gaze turns into one of joy at the sight of the man. "Father Cornello!"

"I must apologize for my disciples' behavior," the priest tells you. "It would seem they've been misguided."

"Thanks," you snap sarcastically. "We'll pretend I don't believe you were the one guiding them. What happens now?"

"Have you come to learn the ways of Leto?"

"Well, there are a few things we're curious about. Like how you've been using sub-par alchemy to deceive your followers." You feel Rose's shocked glance landing on you, but you ignore her.

"My dear girl," Cornello says dismissively, "I don't know what you mean! What you're doubting I see as alchemy are miracles of the sun god, Leto." He brings his hands together and parts them slowly. There is a beam of red light, and then in his palm rests a statue of Leto. "There, you see? Could alchemy create something out of nothing such as this?"

Rose looks amazed, but torn yet again as Ed counters his argument. "Yeah, that's what we didn't get at first. How can you perform alchemy that ignores the laws of Equivalent Exchange?" he asks rhetorically.

"As I said!" Cornello shouts, setting down the statue. "Because it isn't alchemy!"

"But then we started thinking about it," you continue, as if Cornello hadn't spoken at all. "If you had somehow managed to get your hands on a certain object designed to amplify alchemy...one that supposedly makes the impossible possible..." You glance up at him from beneath your lashes. "That would explain everything."

"What?"

"We're talking about the philosopher's stone," Ed hisses. "Your ring! That's it, isn't it? We've been looking for that."

"Come now," Cornello scoffs. "The ring is just a ring. I am God's humble servant; it is from he alone that I derive my power!"

You click your tongue at the man as you and Ed begin striding toward him. "You're still trying to sell us that garbage?" you ask. "Give it up, Cornello! We've got you all figured out!" You shrug casually. "Well, that's too bad. If that's the way you wanna play it, I guess we'll just have to come up there and beat the truth outta ya!"

"My," Cornello growls. "You are quite the incorrigible heathens, aren't you? Rose, dear."

"Yes, Father?"

The Father smiles. "That gun there beside you. Pick it up."

"Uh..." Rose hesitates. "O-okay..." She leans down and reluctantly picks up the weapon.

"Now, child," Cornello continues. "I want you to shoot the Smokebomb and Fullmetal Alchemists."

You and Ed glance at each other sharply. "No, I—!" Rose gasps. "Father, I can't do that!"

"I am the sun god's chosen emissary. My word is the word of Leto himself." A shadow crosses the man's face as he cracks one eye open. "Shoot them, Rose. It's God's will."

Rose shudders violently as she brings the gun up slowly. You and Ed stare the girl straight in the eyes.

"Why hesitate?" Cornello encourages. "When you lost your fiancée to that tragic accident..." Rose's head shoots up, and there is pain in her eyes. "...who was it that saved you from the very depths of despair? Have you forgotten?"