WN: *Waves* So yeah... so sorry it's been a while. For fans of the original of this, I kinda hoped to be able to do an update before Christmas, which was when things went horribly wrong, ended up losing my job and basically had a breakdown. In the process of being diagnosed with depression and anxiety :/ Anyway, I am hoping to see what you guys think about this potential rewrite as wasn't overly happy with the first one, though if people truly liked my old version, I do have an idea or two to finish it. Anyway, without further ado, here is the new, rewritten chapter. Usual disclaimers apply...
Chapter 1: It began with sacrifice
Truth watched as the chaos unfolded in the world below him, humans always had a knack for causing destruction in their world even when they didn't have alchemy. That's what made them so much fun to watch, not to mention to toy with. He knew that the dwarf in the flask would be joining him in their own corner of the universe soon; arrogant fool that he was. How dare he consider himself better than Truth, than anyone, instead trying to consume him. Oh well, he would get what he deserved soon enough, judging by the way the little alchemist was so hell bent on taking him down, also so he could save his brother. Speaking of...
"Looks like that brother of yours is nearly at the point of destroying the dwarf in the flask; I have to hand it to you; you two are the most persistent humans I have ever met!" The Truth turned to study the former armored alchemist closely. Since he reunited with his body in order to allow his brother to regain his arm, the younger brother sat at his gate, emaciated yet happy. He had total faith that his brother as well as their friends would all succeed. Such blind faith was totally predictable in the eyes of truth. He would be almost sad to see them defeat father; aside from the usual mundane wars, there would be nothing truly entertaining for him. Though he was dying to know what the little alchemist intended to give up in order to pull his brother; body and soul from the gate.
"He'll be back for me.. I know it!" Al replied with a look of pure determination.
"Hmph.. oh?... well this is new" Truth turned his attention to another one of the humans, the Prince from Xing, who seemed to be talking to himself; oh yes... it was then Truth remembered this was the human who willingly accepted the homunculus Greed, born from the dwarf in the flask's own avarice. It was clear to all that the dwarf in the flask had every intention of reabsorbing his wayward son; though judging by the exchange going on between the duo, it seemed that for once; he underestimated the homunculi and humans. Maybe they could change after all.
"Let go dumbass, there's no need for you to get absorbed into my old man along with me!"
"Tough it out Greed! I am not going to let you die!"
"... look, it may not be as grand as ruling the world together, but how about becoming emperor, that doesn't sound so bad after all, right partner?"
"Yes.. that's right!"
*SLAM*
"What the hell Greed, you.. sucker punched me?! what happened to "fighting together?" you always said that you don't believe in telling lies" Truth shook his head at the desperation in the young prince's voice. Typical needy human. Though it surprised him as to how much his ally had changed, considering he was the embodiment of a sin.
"That kid is the one and only lie of my entire life... Lan Fan has the Philosopher's Stone, you don't even need me anymore kid"
"But I do need you Greed... we were gonna... oh no... my body!" Ling watched in horror as his body slowly began to disintegrate, seemingly merging with the remains of Greed's essence.
"Dammit you little pissant! your arguing has made us both get absorbed into the old bastard!" Greed desperately tried to force Ling back into his own body, but had no success.
"YOUNG LORD!"
"You bastard... you. will..pay.. for destroying my possessions!"
"Why Greed, why did you betray your own father?" The dwarf in the flask looked truly pitiful, having destroyed his avaricious son's container, it seemed now Greed was to have the last laugh.
"I reversed the ultimate shield you gave me daddy dearest, your body is now the most fragile form of carbon there is!"
"Go back to nothing, return to the nothingness you came from!"
"Damn.. it seems our time's up.. still can't believe I, the avaricious let humans talk to me like that, still... they were my friends, hell I'm dying with my friends... still... yeah, I've had enough, goodbye, my friends of the soul" And with that, the spirit of Greed vanished into the atmosphere, taking Ling along with him.
The battle between the humans and father didn't seem to rage for that long afterwards, so truth turned to speak with Alphonse once more.
"We don't have much time left Alphonse, still it would seem that I am going to get my entertainment after all" The truth grinned at him once more.
"What.. do you mean by that?"
"Heh.. you'll see soon enough"
Elsewhere, a certain duo slowly regained consciousness.
"You know, as far as I know, the Xingese history books said nothing about the afterlife being completely white..
"Yo, Ling... I don't think this is the afterlife..."
"Wait... isn't this..."
"The gate of truth?!"
WN: Okay, yeah mixed feelings about this opening, but thought hey why not kill some boredom by writing it, as usual reviews are food to my writer's philosopher's stone ;)
