Very short. It came to me in Applied Linear Regression. Don't own Full Metal Alchemist. Knee jerk agnostic, so don't get your hose in a knot.
In your name, Dante, have I sinned.
Spilled the blood of humans and chimeras, creations of God… and creations of Man.
I am an embodiment of Sin. Named so, created so, I live so.
Humans live their lives, and try to be happy. Their transgressions, their sins… In their minds, they must atone for their sins, otherwise they are punished. Alchemists call it Equivalent Trade. In return for their own lives, a little better, a little wiser, they trade the life of another, faceless, nameless… different.
How am I any different from them? I have lived, longer than any true human, but I have lived, and I have sought my happiness. I have these vague memories, of the woman who shared this face. She was happy once. Is she what I seek? Do I really seek to become her once again? She was that man's lover, his obsession, and I, in my creation, in my very being, am his sin.
But does that mean I am not human? I have sinned, but so have they. It may have been me whispering in their ears as they slept with their fitful dreams. But it was they who spilled that blood, who let Sin into their hearts. And now… afterwards. They ask forgiveness; seek to atone for their wrongs. They have an idea, some intangible line between what is right and what is wrong. Does that make their humanity… does that make them truly alive?
Those boys… the Elric brothers. I can see that they are alive, human. Even though one is not of flesh and bone, as even I am, he is human in the eyes of his brother. And in that belief, he finds his truth. Because his brother has said so, he will believe that he is human. Even though the other is steeped in sin, even as I am. Equivalent Trade, isn't it, Edward Elric. You gave the people of Lior the truth, and the price they paid for it was peace. The price you paid for it was peace. How many nights did you lie sleepless knowing this? Is that what makes you human? Your guilt, your grief, your shame? Is this the price you pay for your humanity?
Is this your atonement for your sins?
This war you fight with us, Homunculi, Dante; Sin. Is destroying us how you intend to atone? This foolish desire, the real fear in your eyes, the anger, the confusion. You would kill that which bears your mother's face, your Sin, you and your brother's. But you would not have him do it. You think he's paid enough, losing his body, his beating heart, his red blood, his eyes, his hair, the face you remember…
Is this the evidence of your humanity?
Fine. You keep saying you won't make me human. I don't need you to believe that. You already believe that your brother is human. I have something more powerful than the words of a State Alchemist. I have the memories of a time long ago, and I have the memories of a time not so long ago. I remember the man you call Scar, and the woman I was loved him as a brother. With these eyes, I saw him leap to protect me, I who can not die by the weapons of man. His heart, his humanity, his sacrifice. That told me he believed I was human. I will not hold this against you Edward Elric. If humanity gives one the power to sin, then it also gives one the power to forgive. And that man forgave you… and me.
In your name then, Scar, have I forgiven. In my name will I atone for my sins.
And in your God's name, will I hope to all Hell you know what you're doing, Full Metal Alchemist, Edward Elric.
Very quick... Pointless even.