Wrath. Pride. Lust. Sloth. Gluttony. Greed. Envy.
I was taught that these were the names of the seven deadly sins. I never thought that there could be more.
It all started when I was eight years old…
***
I'd had great friends in those days, like the Rockbells and the Elrics. We lived just outside the minute town of Resembool.
I was pretty young back then, so of course I wasn't too bright. I even used to think that Alphonse, the younger of the two Elric brothers, was my boyfriend. So, my parents had had to explain that one to me.
"Noel, when a boy is your boyfriend, it usually means that you love him," explained my father.
"No, that's a husband, Dad. You know, 'cause Mom loves you," I insisted, wrinkling my nose.
It took me a while to understand.
Later that day, Al, as we called Alphonse, came running to my house, telling me that he HAD to show me something really cool. We got there to find Edward, or Ed, Al's older brother. He was just as excited as Al. He stood next to our friend, Winry Rockbell, who was just as confused as me.
All over their wooden floor, the brothers had drawn, in chalk, a strange circle containing many other strange lines and inscriptions. They identified it as a transmutation circle.
Winry and I stared wondrously as the boys then proceeded to pour some sort of…gray dirt in the middle of the circle. They then stood at opposite ends, faced in, knelt, and slapped their tiny hands down on the floor.
Out of nowhere, a bright light emerged from the circle and a mysterious breeze picked up. Suddenly, the powder began to move, taking two shapes.
Winry screamed. The boys finished and hurried over to her as she cried. But I couldn't take my eyes off of what had been made from the gray material. There were two dolls on the floor. They had made those for us.
"Noel? Noel, are you okay? I'm really sorry…Noel?" Al gently shook my shoulder. I ignored him, moved forward, and picked up a doll. It had short, apple red hair, just like me. The other had Winry's long, blonde hair.
I smiled. Ed showed Winry the other doll, and she was soon convinced. I found out how they made the dolls.
It was something called…alchemy.
***
A few days later, Winry's parents were killed.
Ed, Al, and I headed to her house together, where she lived with her grandmother, Pinako. She explained how Winry's parents were shot during the war.
"But they…they were just doctors…!" Ed suspired.
The shot had been from someone on their own side, we learned. They would treat anyone who had gotten injured, even on the opposing side. It was causing a big problem for their side, so the order was given to…
"They just…got rid of them?" Ed was scolded on his lack of respect; "It's 'murdered,' not 'got rid of.'"
After that, we didn't know what to say.
***
After a couple of weeks, Winry had recovered. She did everything she could to cheer up, have fun, and enjoy things again.
One evening, as twilight set in over the hills, I grabbed my doll- the one that the Elrics had made for me- and went outside to sit by the tree. I ruffled through the doll's hair for a while.
"BOO!" came Alphonse from behind the tree. I practically jumped out of my skin. But I did drop my doll.
"Stop, Al!" I groaned, picking the doll back up.
"Sorry," he chuckled, sitting beside me. "What are you doing out here, anyway?"
"Just watching the sun set…!" I replied brightly.
We watched together. Soon, it was dark.
"I'd better go inside," I muttered, standing, stretching, yawning, clutching the doll. As I headed inside, I thought about what had just happened. We just watched, we didn't say anything at all until the sun was gone. But we'd done that before…so why did I think so much on it now?
***
The next day changed my life forever. But, of course, it started out fairly normal. My parents left for work that morning. Before I woke up, Ed, Al, and Winry had gone into town for a while.
So, I was home alone. What to do, what to do…Before I knew it, it was lunchtime. I had been told several times never to use the stove without my parents. Let's just say that I was…pretty "forgetful." "One can of soup can't hurt," I told myself, carelessly lighting the stove.
As it heated, I went to the living room with a book. Our couch was so comfortable. I sat. Soon, I sprawled out and lay down. I should've gone to check the soup. Soon, I began nodding off. I should've gone to check the soup…
I awoke to the sound of crackling and the stench of smoke. As I tried to peel my eyes open, they were forced shut; there really was smoke. Finally, I could see. The entire area was ablaze.
I gasped and stood on the couch, which was soon surrounded by fire. I quickly found myself gasping for air. As I started to slump and things rapidly grew dark around me, I felt hands. Arms. I heard my name several times. I heard gagging. It was definitely Alphonse. By the time he got me out of the burning house, we were soaked in our own sweat. I could feel him fall to the ground, taking me with him.
***
Resembool had a very tiny hospital. When I stirred, things were attached to me. There was a tube up my nose and something covering my mouth. A bright light shone, which I could see through my eyelids.
I could hear my mother crying, saying it was her fault. I knew that Dad was with her. Her sobs were muffled; she was probably buried in his shoulder.
Then I heard Ed. And Winry. Both of them crying for Al. I hadn't know that he was there, too.
"Grandma, they're not d-dying, are they?" squeaked Winry, sniffling.
"Fortunately, no. It was quite a close call," answered an unfamiliar man's voice instead; probably a doctor. He went on, explaining the damage. I, obviously, was in worse condition than Al. Still, both of us would have to be here for a while.
"Noel!" cried Winry, finally noticing me peeking around at all the equipment. There was a curtain next to me so that I couldn't see Al. Ed navigated around it and pushed his nose in my face. Everyone was soon smiling at me.
Still, I felt terrible. I couldn't talk. I was dizzy. I'd made everyone worry. I'd made Al hurt himself to save me. Both of us had another good week or two kooked up in here.
I should've gone to check the soup.
***
Two days later, I could finally talk, but only a little bit. Al had been talking since yesterday, but only if he had to. Neither of us had left our beds once yet, so I'd had the nurse pull aside the curtain yesterday morning.
Al looked awful. Parts of his face and arms had been scorched, and his hair was slightly singed. Today, he glanced at me, tried to smile for me, and fell in a coughing fit. The curtain came back as the doctors calmed him down.
It was my fault. But I was so sick that I couldn't cry.
***
Al got to go home after a week. I stayed. Alone. Three more days, and then they let me go. But I had nowhere to go, so I found that my family was staying with the Rockbells. As soon as my parents guided me into the house, we saw everyone there, waiting in the living room: Ed, his mother, Winry, her dog, Den, her grandmother, Pinako, and some neighbors. I found out that Al had received the same greeting.
Speaking of which, he wasn't there. I was told that he was in his room, napping. My dad helped me up the stairs, and then let me find Al by myself.
Out of habit, I knocked first. No answer, he was asleep. I entered anyway. Al lay in his bed, turned on his side to face the wall. There was a pair of crutches resting against his nightstand.
Al coughed just then. Even though it was very possible for him to have coughed in his sleep, I suddenly got the idea that he was awake, and I frowned a bit.
"Al…?" I whispered. He responded with a slight jump, and, slowly, he rolled his head over his shoulder to see me.
"Noel…!" he wheezed, sitting up off the side of the bed as quickly as he could. "You're back already?"
My eyes teared up at the sight of him. His right ankle was in a cast. His hair was still black at the tips. His smile flipped as I started to cry. I cried into my hands.
"Noel…don't cry. It was an accident. Come on…"
But I couldn't stop. Even though I couldn't see them, I became aware of Ed and Winry standing at my sides.
"You'll be okay, Noel…" Ed offered as Winry pulled me close.
They were all still right there for me.
***
After two weeks, Alphonse and I were finally back to normal. Except that my family had to move away. We were going to a big city far to the south called Obaval. It came into question whether I would ever see my friends again as the three of them crowded me outside.
"But, you have to come visit us real soon!" begged Winry as my parents loaded the rest of our things recovered from the house into the car.
"I don't know when I can," I muttered. "We're moving really far away."
"But, we can't never see you again!" whined Ed.
I sighed. My parents called me to the car. Ed and Winry gave me hugs and headed over to Pinako. Al smiled at me.
"I never told you, Al…thanks for saving me," I mewed. "I can be so stupid, and so you go hurt." Great. I had myself crying again. Al gave me a hug.
"Trust me, Noel- it could've hurt a lot more."
He flashed one last smile and headed inside. Speechless, I went to the car. I noticed Al appear in his window, still to see me off.
"You two are so adorable," sighed my mother.
Soon, they were out of sight. I clutched my doll.
***
Five years. I was thirteen now. Thirteen in the big city. Obaval was really pretty for a big, industrial city. I liked it here. We had a nice apartment on the twenty-third floor, right in the middle of the big city.
Big city. It was just programmed into my brain now.
For a while, it felt like living in the future. Thousands of people lived here in Obaval. We could see all of them from our balcony as they crowded the streets.
My dad started studying alchemy around the time we first moved here. Not his best idea, considering the geography; he still wasn't too good at it. He could make some simple things, like small tables and flowers. Mom didn't like this. I paid no mind.
But, within about one more year, and I was fourteen, he was suddenly an expert. One evening, he burst into the apartment, frantically gathering Mom and I in the living room.
A strange woman had given Dad something called a Philosopher's Stone. The thing he'd always blabbered on about. It enabled the ultimate alchemic power without any laws. Some people believed it could even bring back the dead.
"Marque, get rid of that thing," demanded Mom. "For heaven's sake, you got it from a complete stranger!"
Dad kept telling her not to worry. I stared at it in wonder.
Later, when things had calmed down, I headed to bed. My parents told me they'd be in soon. As soon as I turned the lights on, something hit my head and knocked me out.
***
"Lust, she looks so yummy! Why can't I eat her yet?"
My eyes flew open. The moment I saw myself tied to a chair, I struggled for my life. The room was dark; I couldn't recognize it at all, and I was fairly cold.
"Help! Somebody! Hello?!"
"I'm sure Daddy's on his way," purred a woman's voice. She stepped in front of me; a lady with a long, dark, wavy gown and hair just like it. Her eyes were violet and snake-like. She studied me as I panicked.
"What do you want with me?" I spat.
"It's actually your father we want," A man now stood beside the woman, with long, stringy hair and the same eyes. "We gave him the Philosopher's Stone that we finally managed to find. And we're going to force him to turn us into humans."
"Humans, wait-" I muttered.
"Lust, I can't wait! She smells delicious!" cried the crazy voice. A short, fat man appeared at the woman's side, with his round, white eyes set on me.
The woman named Lust smirked. "You're too young to understand."
"Then why am I here?" I demanded.
Just then, the door at the other end of the room flew open, revealing my dad.
"Just then, the door at the other end of the room flew open, revealing my dad.
"Just in time, Marque," snorted Lust.
"Dad!" I called.
"Let her go this second!" my dad ordered angrily.
"Not so fast. We have a deal for you," said the stringy-haired man. "We trust that you brought the stone?"
Dad frowned and reached in his pocked. Out came the Philosopher's Stone. "If it's this that you want-" he glared at Lust- "then why did you give it to me in the first place?"
"We don't want it back," said Lust. "You're going to use it to turn us into humans. And, if you refuse…"
Two huge arms wrapped around the entire upper half of my body, and something hot and wet landed on my head. It was the crazy man's mouth. I let out a blood-curdling scream as his cackling laughter rang through my ears.
"Get off my daughter!" Dad bellowed. "Oh, my God, what are you?!"
"You, an alchemist, should know something about homunculi and the seven deadly sins. Like Lust…" Lust turned to the man, "Envy…" then to the other man sucking on my hair, "and Gluttony."
"You're homunculi? All three of you?" gasped my dad. "But…a homunculus spawns from a failed attempt at human transmutation! You're…"
"Yes. And Gluttony here is getting rather hungry, so you'd better hurry up with the transmutation. Sadly, our group can't perform alchemy." grumbled Envy.
Dad thought hard. Suddenly, he slammed a fist into the floor. A red glow burst from his hand, and the whole room began to rumble. He watched me carefully.
Lust growled. "Big mistake." Out of nowhere, she shot a hand out…and her fingernail extended! It pierced my dad right through his shoulder! The next thing I knew, Envy had torn me out of my chair, slung me over his shoulder, and dashed past my dad out the door. Lust and Gluttony followed us.
Now, I knew where we were. It was the warehouse underneath our apartment building. Envy took me outside, and, within seconds, we were outside of the city, completely unnoticed.
The four of us watched as my apartment crumbled to bits. Mom. Dad. Everyone else in the entire building. Crushed. Dead. Within seconds. I shivered.
I had forgotten that Envy had me over his shoulder until he sighed and dropped me on the grass. I sat up and gazed at the three grins.
"That's too bad," Lust sighed. "All he had to do was make us human. Gluttony…it's suppertime."
Gluttony reached for me. No matter how much I kicked, no matter how much I shrieked and begged for my life, it wouldn't change what was happening. What HAD happened.
Those three faces…they were my last memory.
***
Marque finished drawing the transmutation circle.
"Those beasts can't take my baby girl away forever…She's not gone. She's not gone…" he panted, pulling the Philosopher's Stone from his pocket. "With the stone, I can bring her back to me! The first human transmutation, performed without fail! Noel…"
Marque placed his hands on the ground. The entire area lit up. He stood. A strange, gigantic gate appeared before him. The doors creaked open. Something pulled him in. Hands- tiny, black, everywhere. The gate swallowed him whole and slammed shut. In that brief moment, Marque was gone.