Edward looked down at Alphonse, who was now dead. He had transmuted himself in order to get my arm back...in order to defeat Father...so that we could win...was this really the only way?! Hohenheim had offered himself as a sacrifice to bring back Alphonse, but he refused. No more lives are going to be lost. Edward knew what he could pay to bring his brother back This could be one of the biggest sacrifices he would ever make. Ignoring May's sobs and the protesting shouts of nearby soldiers, Edward began to draw the array with grim determination. Al sacrificed himself for me, it has to be me alone doing this. He sighed, closing his eyes and slamming his hands onto the circle, the noise around him disappearing almost instantly.
When Edward opened his eyes again, he saw the whiteness of Truth's domain, then of course Truth himself. He smirked at Edward from across the "room," sitting down with one hand on his knee. He looked even more amused than usual.
"So, what do you have to pay me? I already know what you want, you made that quite clear last time you were here," Truth said, grinning maniacally. His voice held a teasing tone.
Before Edward could answer, Alphonse came stumbling out from behind Truth, materializing from the air. Alphonse immediately ran towards Edward, who embraced him tightly. I'm...I'm really going to get him back!
"So, Edward, what are you going to pay me with?" Truth asked, standing and walking over to them. It stopped ten feet from them, but the two still took a step back.
"This thing, I don't need it anymore" Edward said, jabbing his thumb over his shoulder pointing at his gate confidently. I don't need alchemy, and what I've developed on it ought to be enough for Al. Truth can't deny the alchemy has been used well.
"Oh? You think you can just give that away?" Truth asked, grinning even wider, watching the blood drain from Edward's face. "You have forgotten human, that all gates are mine," Truth said, his tone still jovial. "So, I'll ask again, what do you have to pay me with, for your brother's life?"
I failed. Edward had thought this would work— that he could save Al and that their pain would be over. He had thought wrong. I don't know what to do, this was supposed to work!
"B-but it's my alchemy... My gift that I built on! It's mine to give away!" Edward screamed, stepping in front of Al, "I'm taking Al with can't stop us! We're leaving together, alive!"
"Brother, calm down, please... don't anger him!" Alphonse said, grabbing the edge of Edward's shirt, holding him back. He looked ready to attack the Truth. "You'll only make it worse— please, calm down and think this through! There's gotta be something we can do! Anything...anything you want! Just take it!" Al cried, his fingers digging into the torn cloth.
"Take back my arm! Take it back," Edward shouted desperately, Take my leg! All my limbs! Take whatever you want! Anything! I don't care! But please— let me and Al leave here alive!" He screamed, a sob breaking out from him as he fell to his knees. "Please….after all we have been through, after all we have done, it can't end like this, please, it can't end like this," Edward begged, turning and clutching Al to him.
"Actually, there is something you can do," Truth said, it's tone a little less jovial."Something the lot of you can do."
Truth stood waving its hand forcing two more doors to appear. They slowly opened, Edward and Alphonse only able to see the darkness within them... Suddenly, Izumi and Mustang were thrown out of the gates, landing in a heap on the ground. Izumi looked both outraged and terrified at the same time,trying to figure out what had happened. Mustang slowly started reaching around him, trying to find something to steady him. He began to ask where he was.
"Edward... Alphonse!" Izumi shouted, running over to them She crouched down looking at their distraught faces.. "Are you two alright? What's going on?" She asked in a concerned tone.
"We...we're in-" Edward whispered swallowing thickly as his teacher's face transformed into disapproval. He shook as he looked up at her as fire begin to burn in her eyes.
"What have you dragged us into now?!" She roared, looming above them. Both of the Elric's sat shaking as they held each other in fear.
Al took a shaky breath then pointed up at the Truth, who gave a them a cheshire grin from where it suddenly sat on top the gate. Izumi turned to looked at it then scowled. "You! What have you brought us here for? What's going on?!" Izumi shouted,demanding answers.
"What is going on? What's happening? !" Mustang shouted, unable to see any of the events, only hear Izumi's yells. "Where am I...Hawkeye? Why is it quiet here?" Mustang asked, his face screwed in concentration. He held his hand outstretched in front of him ready to fight. "We aren't in the field, I don't smell the gun smoke and blood... Izumi, are you there? Where are we?"
"We appear to be in Truth's domain, for some unexplained reason," Izumi said, walking over to him and lowering his hand. "Don't attack,Mustang, it will only end badly for you," she snapped, aiming a glare at Truth, "So demon, why are we here? Why did you rip us from the field? Had to throw in some of your own mess, too?" She asked.
"I want you to do a task for me, something that I cannot,unfortunately, do myself. However, the four of you can and will," It said, walking around them in a predatory manner.
"Why should we help you?After,everything you've done to us, you think we would want to help you?" Mustang spat, looking towards the sound of Truth's voice. He was unaware of the silent footsteps as it stalked closer to his back. "I have done nothing to you that you did not bring on yourself," Truth said, waving it hand in a flippant motion. "It is called equivalent exchange after all, you're the ones, who as you say, asked for it."
"I did not be asked to be pinned to the ground by Pride, and have that circle activated without my consent! You took my eye sight. I was not the one who committed the transmutation... He was!" Mustang screamed, but it was at Izumi, who looked as if she'd beat him for it.
"The homunculus,Pride, is unable to perform a transmutation. Only an alchemist can. Therefore, you are guilty,Truth said, coming up beside Mustang. "I'm not here to hear your excuses You are the ones who have taken more and survived." I want the four of you to do something for me.
"Who's going to die soon?" Izumi demanded "all of us here committed human transmutation, whether we liked it not, who did you leave out and why are we so important for That? Are you planning to take over the word as well?" She demanded.
"Hohenheim," Edward said hoarsely. "He's the only one who was there when Father performed his human transmutation."
"That's correct, Edward Elric" Truth said, it grin returning to its ear splitting form "His death will be right in front of your mother's grave very soon-" It said turning to face them all,"but that doesn't matter right now, what matters is that you do this task for me. Perhaps, I'll restore your bodies. After all, I need you in peak condition to do my task. Maybe... I'll even let you all go back to your world, eventually."
Truth waved its hand over Mustang, restoring his vision. Mustang brought his hands up to his face, moving his fingers rapidly, examining his gloves, then looking at the rest of them.. Next, Truth waved its hand over Izumi, causing her to look down at her abdomen in shock and awe as her insides were restored.
Truth grinned,even wider, at Ed waving its hand over the boy. Edward screamed as his automail began to tear at the seams, being pushed out by a reforming leg. He could feel every fire weaving itself together. His arm was on fire as it inflated with muscle, strengthening rapidly.
Last was Alphonse,who would need a whole make-over. His immune system was strengthened; his digestive system developed into a mature healthy one; his body developed into a muscular build. At the same time, a layer of fat was added to his face making him appear healthy and young. Finally, a fresh hair-cut took the place of his mangled hair. His scream though, ruined the healing. His whole body was in agony. (basically as he was at the end of the anime)
"All of this, you can have you do this task" Truth said, letting them admire their restored bodies. "And as a bonus, I'll even return you not long after the battle."
"How do we know we wouldn't be restored on our own, without your help? Alphonse could have recovered with therapy and Marcoh could restore myself and Ms. Curtis, " Mustang shot back, glaring at the creature.
"Hmmmm... let's see," Truth said, pretending to ponder, it's hand in it chin and mouth pursed. "Mustang, you are right on your account. Marcoh would have restored your sight, with the help of a philosopher's stone. My... my... and wouldn't dare tell the Elric brothers what you had done. You also had it restore Havoc' s legs."
Both of the boys glared at Mustang who refused to look at them. It hadn't happened yet, so why were they so mad at him?
"Now let's see, Izumi poor girl, you never went and got any help. While your husband was out getting supplies, you began to throw up blood while taking a bath. Not only that, you body would not follow your commands as it was panicking from the blood loss and act of puking. You slipped on the tub, adding shock to your body as you began to drown in a mixture of blood and water. Your body was in too much shock from blood loss to react to the drowning, and you were already low on air from the throwing up blood thing, so really, it didn't take too long for you to drown, and inch from the surface. Your husband, your poor Sig, had quite the shock of his life when he came home and found you. And sadly for you, and the meat shop, it was the last shock he ever had" Truth said, sounding like it merely just got done telling a funny story, with a cheese eating grin to top it off.
Izumi was as pale as ghost, as where the others. That was a fairly gruesome story, and it would have come to pass.
"Now let's see, Edward. You wouldn't be getting the happy ending you thought you were. Let's give you the good news first. Just to lighten up the mood up, a bit," Truth said, giggling. Edward gulped, not liking this at all. " You marry Winry, the automail goddess of your dreams," Truth said, watching Edward unintentionally allow a small smile grace his face. "You have two children with her, a boy and a girl. You love them to bits, just like Hughes. Ahh— Alphonse, we can't forget about you or can we? Poor, poor Alphonse was in the hospital during all that time," it said, grinning as Alphonse went pale.
"You see, Alphonse had no immune system to speak of—a barely functioning body. He could barely swallow a spoonful of oatmeal or he would be spewing his guts on the floor. Of course, sickness took a hold of him, putting him in a near death like state. With very little food and water going in, and Alphonse unable to hold down medication, he was getting worse by the day. Desperate, Edward forces Alphonse to swallow food and medicine. Even after his poor little brother would though it back up and beg him to stop forcing him to eat it all. All the throwing up ruptures his stomach, making him suffer from internal bleeding. And Edward, not heeding his pleads, continues to force the food down his throat , making the hole bigger and bigger, forcing more items where they do not belong. Alphonse died soon after, Edward was arrested for murder. He was sent to a mental hospital losing his mind after murdering Alphonse. His children left without a father."
The brothers looked as pale as ghosts. Edward looked like he was ready to throw up himself as Alphonse looked ready to faint.
"Not quite the happy ending, now is it?" Truth asked, sitting down in front of them. . "I can change all that however, you can change it. Mustang can have his sight and will never have to use a philosopher's stone on himself. Izumi will never have to die, an inch away from breath. She can even have children with Sig. And Edward will never have to kill Alphonse, leaving his two young children fatherless."
"I'll do your task," Edward said, getting his demeanour back and stepping forward. "I'll do it. So, none of what you said will happen."
Alphonse nodded. "I'll do your task. To prevent that future from happening."
"I'll do , Sig and I can have the children— we have always wanted," Izumi said, stepping forward. They turned to look at Mustang, who had the least to lose.
"I'll do it because it's right. I won't promise that I won't use the stone to heal Havoc. But, at least, I won't have to use it on myself," Mustang, stepping forward.
"Good, I didn't have force you. That's always a plus!" Truth said cheering, crossing it's feet and grabbing it's ankles. They all glared at him for that.
"Now let's see, I'll have to explain to you what exactly the task is, don't I?" Truth asked, getting a chorus of "yes" and "Don't you think?" back. "The task is to hunt down the Homunculi, excluding Father."
"Do you think we're idiots?" Mustang spat."They're dead! All of them! Unless you want us to hunt down their ashes, which is impossible. There's nothing more that can be done!"
"They're dead in your world, Mustang. However, they are very much alive in another world. Living very different lives, as we speak," Truth said, put his grin seemed to die down. "And they should be dead."
"WHAT do you mean, they should be dead?" Izumi asked, her eyes narrowed. "Don't you control what ever happens in this domain? Why can't you go get them yourself?" She asked, crossing her arms..
"The Homunculi weren't mine. Father created them. They're entirely apart from me. Each creature had a piece of me to come into existence, a gate of their own. The homunculi were created apart from me, which is why they could not perform alchemy. They did not have the part they needed to do so. However, in death, those parts are returned to me, then I transfer then to another life. The opposite happened with the homunculi. Their souls took parts of me, bigger than I would have felt comfortable to giving , yearning for the things that the others had, and went into the new world. The new world however, does not have the same laws as yours. Having a piece of me doesn't mean they can do alchemy, in fact, none in that world can do it at all. But those pieces that they tore off, the affect their lives and they affect me by being absent" Truth said, looking at the each of them. They appeared to be somewhat shocked.
"How are we supposed to find them in this new world? They could be anywhere. We wouldn't be able to find them; unless, they were doing some act of mass then, how would we get them? If alchemy doesn't exist, how are we to trap them and get back?" Izumi asked, glaring at the Truth. He appeared to already be trying to make this difficult for them.
"I will give you ways to find them. I am not as cruel as you think I least, for the moment," Truth said, giving out a little snicker, then lifting his hands and holding them out towards them. When he opened his hands, several small pendants were in them. Seven to be exact, each containing a philosopher's stone.
"With this, you can track down the homunculi individually. Each of them will act as a compass, enabling you to find them quickly. The stones will pull you in the direction of the homunculus. The closer you are to one, the harder the pendant will pull. When the pendant touches one of the homunculi, it will meld into them, restoring their memories. It will not however, give them their powers back," Truth said, allowing them to pick up the necklaces. "Now, any questions?"
"Yeah, how do we get back?" Mustang asked, crossing his arms and glaring. "Do we tie them up and hold them up to the sky saying here you go?"
Truth laughed, looking over to Mustang. "I'm breaking the rules of that world for you, can't you tell? You will get one transmutation, only one. You have to draw out the circle and be inside of it, a human transmutation one that is. That's your ticket home, and you can't leave until you have all of them." Truth said..
Izumi scowled at the floor, Edward and Alphonse looked at each other then at the Truth. Mustang was pointedly staring past Truth.
A huge door appeared behind Truth, similar to theirs but much larger, and some type of power coming from it. It opened up slowly, revealing the black darkness before hands shot out of it, grabbing onto them, slowly dragging them inside. The descent into the darkness was slow and agonizing.