//------------------------------// // Chapter 3 // Story: Friendship is...Alchemy? // by ShinigamiOkami //------------------------------// Clouds whizzed past her as she searched for any signs, clues, anything. She was getting worried, as they'd been gone for a solid two days now. Nopony knew where they could be. They were lost, most definitely, and everypony in Equestria was worried sick, especially her... "We are sorry sister," Luna appeared next to her, stopping her midflight, "We have searched high and low, but there is still no sight of Twilight Sparkle or her friends." Celestia sighed, wondering where her faithful student could have disappeared to. "I know you're trying your best. It's just...I haven't been able to get any contact with them at all. They're far from my gaze, out there somewhere." She scanned her land, her little ponies whom she was meant to watch over and protect, no matter what. She'd lost them. She'd failed them. "I believe they must be in the everfree forest, for that is one domain I do not reign over. I..." She set her gaze on the mysterious land, determination coursing through her, "I'm going to search there." The younger of the two alicorns stood in her path, concern clearly covering her crystal blue eyes. "Sister, you mustn't! We know of the terrors that dwell within that place. Who knows what is there, what creatures even you do not control? We strongly advise against this!" "That's why I have to go, Luna." The sun princess smiled, assuaging all her sister's fears. "Besides, I am Celestia, Ruler of Equestria, all-powerful controller of the sun. Surely I can handle rescuing my little ones, right?" She patted her sibling on the head, then set off towards the Everfree Forest. ~///~ "Whaddya mean they 'got away', huh?" He stood over the scared-stiff scientist, hands on his hips. The employee could only stutter, rubbing the back of his head where a hoofprint was. Growling in frustration, the homunculus raised a hand to strike the worthless human. The voice of his comrade stopped his assault, flowing with a smooth yet sinister tone. "Now, Envy, no need to get so upset. Perhaps the good doctor here could make us a few more?" She smiled at the man, who was eagerly nodding her way. "Perfect. Then get to it." The alchemist's glee faded as he felt more beads of sweat roll down his forehead. "Ah, w-well, Miss Lust, it's not as simple as earlier...that was a mere accident. In order to find out how we got those chimeras, we'd need to know where the originated from." Lust looked unamused at the negtive results coming from this man's theory. "S-So we'd need to de-construct and send back something by tracking them...It involves using a bit of their DNA, as well as getting a 'raw material' to link to." Looking at the cell where the equine chimeras had once been, Lust spotted a tuft of multi-colored fur. Turning to her partner, she asked much like a magician picking a volunteer. "Would you like to go, Envy?" The long-haired homunculus smirked delightedly, "You read my mind." Lust tossed the scrap of mane to the scientist. "Come on then. I have a very thin patience, you know." Fumbling around, the alchemist cleared a large spot and sketched out a transmutation circle. "Good work." Lust praised wryly, then motioned for Envy to step in the center. The scientist then placed the fur at the top point. Clapping his hands together, he transmuted the homunuclus. "Now," Lust smiled, "Transmute another one of those chimeras." ~///~ Dash banked over a cirrus, trying to find her way back to the lab they had first come from. "It couldn't be that far...Horseapples! Where is it?!" She swooped through another grouping of clouds, instinctivly clearing them on her way. She stopped, trying to get her bearings. She didn't recognize a single thing, and the sun was already overhead. "Great, I have no idea how to get back..." she sighed, "I bet they're all worried sick about me, too." Landing on a near roof, she folded her wings in tight, remembering what she had gotten her friends into. "This is my fault...I didn't mean to..." She wiped away a tear that was out of line in her mind, stomping it off her hoof frustratedly. "I need t--" She heard a high voice below, followed by a luagh similar to a filly playing hide-and-seek. "It went this way, Daddy! I saw it! I pwomise!" Another set of hooffalls--or rather, footfalls, by these creatures' standards--came running after. Dash peeked over the edge to see an alley with a young girl, pointing right up at her. "Well, what do you know? It's you again." Dash's heart skipped a beat at the familiar man's face, his glasses hiding his eyes. "I thought Mustang had ya locked up? Did you escape?" The girl tugged at his pant leg, demanding for him to acknowledge that she was right. He picked her up and petted her soft hair. Dash leapt down to the man, knowing she could just fly away and that he couldn't hurt her without one of those weapons. "I didn't escape...well, okya I did, but not from that Mustang guy. I just flew out for a bit, stretching my wings, y'know?" "If you're not with Roy, then..." he adjusted his glasses, "Where have you been?" "Actually..." the pony scratched the back of her head with a hoof, a feat that the lieutenant couldn't fathom, "Me and my friends have been staying with this other guy..." ~///~ "EDWARD'S BEEN KEEPING COLORFUL MAGIC PONIES IN HIS ROOM AND HE DIDN'T TELL ME?!" The blonde girl's outburst sent the pegasus literally flying out of her seat in surprise. "The nerve of that shrimp...I'm charging him double next time he needs his automail fixed!" She sighed, putting the pieces together. "So this is why he had to delay the depature to Rush Valley...well, I guess the famed haven of mechanics isn't going anywhere..." Once Hughes had heard that the chimeras were staying with Fullmetal, he immediately invited the pegasus to come to his house to rest. She had been flying all night and was grateful for the hospitlity, but she immediately was ready to take off after seeing the reaction she got from telling Ed's friend her situation. "Daddy, can we keep the pony?" The little one from before was stroking Dash's mane, admiring its vibrant colors. She ran her fingers through the feathers of the wings, eyes sparkling. "Pweeeease, Daddy?" The man melted at her daughter's request, giving in. "Of course you can~! Anything for you, my little angel!" Dash chuckled, hoping it was a joke, then settled back into the chair to address the mechanic. "So, Winry, you and Ed are close, I take it?" She nodded. "Well, I guess it's lucky I ran into you, because...I kinda need to find my way back to him." "What were you doing out there, anyways?" Hughes interrupted, to which the pony lowered her head in embarassment. "I was...trying to find that place we came from. But I don't really remember where it was...this place is much bigger than Ponyville, though, so I...I got lost." "Don't worry!" Winry smiled assuringly at her, "I know where they're staying!I'll take you there. Although I wouldn't be surprised if they're out looking for you right now." ~///~ The ponies rushed for the door, ready to set out in immediate search for their friend. "Whoa, whoa! Hold up." Ed blocked the exit, arms crossed. "You can't go out like that! People will know you're not...well, normal." They gave him an odd look, then Twilight's horn lit up like a light bulb as an idea struck her. "Lemme guess," Applejack was the first to see it, "Y'all got some spell just fer this sit-chee-ashun?" Twilight asnwered by increasing her magic's output. Soon, the earth pony was enveloped in the orchid aura. A blinding light went off, similar to alchemy from Edward's point of view, and she was trasnformed into something nopony would've ever thought to have seen. She looked much like herself color-wise, but was taller now, standing on her hind legs. Her mane wasn't in pigtails, but was still a very creamy blonde, topped with her cowboy hat. "What the hay did ya do t' me, Twilight?!" "Relax, Applejack. I just made you look more like the dominant species of this world. Now you'll fit in!" Twilight beamed, clearly happy with her work, but AJ simply snorted in protest. "So, who's next? I figure I can send out just one more while the rest hang back." The rest of them started babbling excuses, to which she sighed. "Fine, I'll go myself, then." With another flash bang, the unicorn appeared with a shape similar to AJ. All her clothes matched her own color scheme, with her mane of hair highlited as usual. "Great! My spell was flawless." She scanned over her new body, raising an eyebrow. "Hmm...this'll take some getting used to. Hey, Ed?" The alchemist, who was still slack-jawed at the amazing sight that could never be done by any transmutations, snapped out of his stupor and mumbled some acknowledgement. "Do all humans have these, or is it just the females of your species?" She pointed to the top of her new body, namely a portion that had Ed's blood rushing to cheeks. Seeing it, she also blushed. "Sorry for asking, but I'm just not familiar with the anatomy of your kind." "I-It's fine," Al stuttered as well, a sweatdrop trickling down his helmet despite being a suit of armor. "Uhmm...y-yeah, it's just the girls..." He answered for his brother, who was now ready to go out the door. Twilight gestured for AJ to follow, completely forgetting the awkward moment she'd made. The others thought best to put it aside as well, setting out in search of Rainbow Dash. ~///~ "Shit...the hell am I?" Envy stood, brushing off dirt and debris. He looked around, seeing a dark expanse of trees that blocked out any light, the cries of animals echoing throught as a breeze swept by. "Ah, well. Doesn't seem so bad. Peaceful, actually. Now, to find one of those chimeras." He strode off in a random direction, going by instinct. A stark white horse, full-sized, landed before him.Envy silently thanked whatever invisible force had intervened for making this easy. "Who are you?" She spoke with the radiance of the sun itself, folding her wings in as she examined the new being. "What are you...eh, doing in the Everfree Forest, I mean? It's quite dangerous out--" Her omen was answered by the roar of a manticore, leaping out from the foilage. "Stand back! I sahll deal with monster." She placed herself betweent the two, ready to fight the beast. Instead of lettting her handle it, however, Envy simply walked right up to it with not a hint of hesitation. "You mean this little thing?" He pointed a thumb at it. The creature opened its maw, ready to chomp the guy's hand off. Envy let out a gutteral growl, clenching his hand to a fist. The monster whimpered and shrunk down, much to the amazement of the alicorn. "Stupid chimeras. So anyways...I'm Envy. You?" Recovering at the sight of something that could terrify a manticore, the princess answered, "I am Celestia, princess of Equestria." She wasn't sure how somepony couldn't know who she was, but then again this was a creature even she did not know of. "It is a, eh, pleasure to meet you...Envy..." She found the name sinister, but she was not one to judge, despite growing suspicions. "I ask again, what business do you have here?" The being called Envy smirked, causing Celestia to put her guard back up. "What am I doing here? Well," he surveyed the chimera, deciding he scored the jackpot with this one, "I'm here to take you back to my place, honey." She admitte the line fit Lust more, but nonetheless was sastified with the fighting look the alicorn gave her. "This is perfect! I didn't get to out my anger on that scientist earlier, so it looks like I get to here instead. Although I can't damage ya too bad, otherwise Lust'll get onto me." Ignoring all the names she'd never heard and the reasoning behind this intruder's aggression, the princess focused on the coming battle and lit up her horn, encasing herself in a veil of light. The enemy rushed at her with incredible speed, going straight for her source of power, her horn. A similar chimera, dark as the night sky, came barrelling down on him. They tumbled through the grass until she pinned him, hooves holding his shoulders. "We shall not let ye harm our sister, cretin! Prepare to face the wrath of thy ruler of the moon, Luna!" Her horn alighted as well, a dark shadow enveloping the invader. "Get yer hooves offa me, you damn horse!" Envy tried to shove the alicorn off, but was levitated up by some mysterious force. "Hey! Whaddya think you're doing?! I'll kill you!" He shouted, trying to wiggle out of the miasmic restraints. "You bitch horse! Put me--" He was immediately shoved against the ground, getting a mouthful of dirt. "That is enough out of you, beast!" Luna's voiced boomed, "Explain thyself, lest the punishment shall be doubled!" Celestia trotted over, taking the prisoner out of her sister's magical grip. "Thank you, Luna. I'll deal with him, now." She pulled the creature up to let him talk. "What did you mean by taking me back?" An electrical blue zapped around the white aura, pushing it back. "Heh. Looks like it's time to go." The sparks broke through the magical bindings, letting Envy drop to the ground as more of transmutation spread across his body. He reached out a hand, aiming some of the alchemy to take the sun princess back. ~///~ Winry led the pegasus through the alleys, careful not to be seen. She wouldn't know how to explain a talking pegasus to the average citizen, thus choosing to avoid that. "Okay, it shouldn't be too far..." She peeked around the corner, getting a questioning look from a few people, but was luckily left alone by them. "C'mon, quick! We gotta get to that next corner." The pony was over there before she was, a smug look on her muzzle. "Ha! 'Quick' is my middle name...well, it's not, but 'Dash' is my last!" Winry chuckled and lead her to the inn's back gate. "Alright, so you wana just fly on up to the window...Oh, and tell Ed I said 'hi', too!" She waved the pony goodbye and watched her soar up. ~///~ Ed scoured the streets, his two new companions looking with awe at the city. "This place is as big as Canterlot! I wonder where she could've gone?" Twilight pondereed as her eyes swept over the people walking along the streets, the shops full of energy, the clamor of the crowds. Applejack, who was just as excited, asked, "Ya reckon she headed back already?" Twilight thought it over. "Maybe...But I think we should keep looking. Besides, I think I'm getting an idea about where she went." "Really? Where?" Ed replied, eager to stop the sightseeing and get to searching. "Probably the lab," Twilight answered, "The one where we first woke up in. I haven't the foggiest where it is, though, and I'm sure Rainbow doesn't, either." Thinking it over, Ed first considered asking the colonel. After all, he was the one who found them and dropped them off at his place. The thought of Mustang just placing all the problems on him had his temper rising, but he decided they should go ask, nonetheless. "Let's check with Colonel again, then," he voiced his solution, "He may know where it is. Although...it might..." He mulled it over, then dismissed it as impossoble. "Nah, that lab collapsed in a pile of rubble...Anyways, let's get over to HQ." ~///~ "No!" A flash of purple darted between them, blocking the connection. "You can't take the princess like you did the others!" Both alicorns gasped at the amethyst dragon between them. "Spike? What in Equestria are you doing here?" "I was out looking for anything to help me figure out where Twilight went. I figured the Everfree Forest would be the best place to check, and Zecora said she saw Rainbow Dash go in before they all disappeared, so I thought I'd go search. I didn't expect this, though." Both of them admired how brave he could be in certain situations, raised so well by both Twilight and his own dragon instincts. "So, who's this guy?" The guy answered for himself, already starting to deconstruct. "I'm Envy, alright?! Now get outta the way! They need one of those chimeras, not you!" He kicked Spike to the side, then facing his prime target once more. "C'mon, Celestia, time's a-wasting." Luna once more grasped Envy with her magic, her darker powers grappling with the transmutation. "We cannot hold it off for long, sister!" She warned Celestia, who got the plan and flew up, wings expanding with a pure light. She would out a stop to this evil before it started, using the same technique she had on Discord. Despite that she did not weild the elemtes, she still had all the powers of the sun to aid her. "It's too late for you to play your hand princess," Envy boasted, the lightning of alchemy shooting off. Luna strained to keep it from escaping, pushing with all her power. Spike stood behind her, hoping they would be able to pull it off. A sudden emmission of an insidious aubergine replaced the transmutation sparks. "N-No..." Envy got a look of terror and anger, screaming, "No! S-Stop!" He could feel the heat of the deconstruction taking its toll. "Gah! Not this! Not a rebound! Lust! Help me, dammit! Stop the transmutation! STOP IT!!" Luna used what she could to contain, but it pulsed through her blood, tearing into her stream of magic. She was tossed back, landing on top of Spike. Celestia's spell went off, shooting towards Envy in a blink. The last he saw was that light, then nothing but empty darkness. ~///~ "My my, Envy..." Lust stood with a shocked look at the figure before her, far from what she expected to get back. "Looks like you're in trouble." Gluttony waddled up beside her, tilting his head at the strange figure. "Can I eat it?" His usal request was denied, making him sink in disappointment. Lust turned to the alchemist, a look of disapproval on her face. "Seems you messed up here, doctor." The man's eyes looked they were about ready to pop out of his skull. He pleade he just didn't know what wrong, but the homunculus ignored him. "Gluttony," she turned to her chubby companion, "You cannot eat them, but him, however..." She smirked at the fear on his face. "Him you can devour thoroughly." His grin spreading almost cartoon-like, Gluttony snatched the man before he could flee. Running a large tongue that his ouroborus tattoo was on, he opened his jaw wide. "Wh-what...?" One of the creatures looked on in horror as the scientist was ripped by the homonculus' boulder-like teeth. Blood spattered the floor in front of it, causing it to pass out. Lust chuckled as her fellow gulped down another limb, delighted anyways by the results. "Hmm... y'know, doctor..." she spoke to the corpse, already half-gone, "Perhaps this will do after all. Good work."