The Ultimate Taboo
Lazuli, a young girl who lived in Amestris along with her parents and little sister, Lapis was an aspiring alchemists. Her father was the famous state alchemist Jack Crowley, code named the Silver Bullet Alchemist. He was also exceptional at swordsmanship and believed in the samurai code. Lazuli and Lapis spent hours a day sparring with their father to better improve their skills. As the older sister, it was up to Lazuli to look after her sister if misfortune were to befall their family. And indeed it did. Their mother, Corniche fell ill with a fatal disease. There was no known cure for the disease and many died from it within 10 days. Jack left the country of Amestris and crossed the desert to the county of Xing in search of a doctor that could help. Lazuli and Lapis stayed with their mother, comforting her whenever she needed it. They would tell her that she wouldn't die and that their father would be home at any time. However, Jack did not make it in time and she died peacefully in her sleep.
The family grieved for several months. Jack suffered the most as he had lost his state certification and had developed a drinking problem. His family had no money and barely got by on scraps. But, no matter the struggle, his daughters continued to practice their alchemy and combat. Almost a year later, he decided that he had hurt long enough. He would commit the ultimate taboo, human transmutation. He needed his wife back by his side or he feared he would go mad. With any luck and the help of alchemy, his loved one would come back to life.
He gathered all the necessary materials. "Water, 35 liters. Carbon, 20 kilograms. Ammonia, 4 liters. Lime, 1.5 kilograms. Phosphorus, 800 grams. Salt, 250 grams. Potassium nitrate, 100 grams. Sulfur, 80 grams. Fluorine, 7.5 grams. Iron, 5 grams. Silicon, 3 grams…" He listed 15 other elements. All of which were required to make an average human adult body. Jack dug up his wife's grave and retrieved a handful of her hair as well as her eyes and a few fingers. After sending his daughters to bed late one night, he found an old shack in the outskirts of the village. He drew a transmutation array in the center of the room and dumped every substance in the middle of it. Next, he deposited the items of Corniche dead body onto the circle to provide her genetic data.
Jack placed his hands on the outer edge of the circle and started the transmutation. There were a few flashes of golden light and a strong gust of wind. He prayed that the transmutation would be a success, even though there had been no record of anyone succeeding in the past. He had studied countless methods and theories. He understood Alchemy's basic principle: To obtain, first something of equal worth must be lost. He thought he had suffered enough pain, and now it was time for him to receive something of equal value, his wife. But alas, the bright yellow light suddenly turned black.
In an instant, he was in a white space with only a large metal door behind him. His eyes landed on a shadowed figure sitting in front of him. "Who are you?"
"I am All and One. Start and Finish. Beginning and End. World and Galaxy. Love and Loss. Pain and Compassion… Most importantly, I am, you. " The voice called out to Jack. The door behind him opened and he was being pulled through the Gate of Truth. He was granted great alchemical and universal knowledge. He could see everything. Everything from the past to the present and from good to bad. Everything he would ever need or want to know was in the Truth. As he went through, he felt as though his head was going to explode and all of the information would come pouring out. He begged the voice to released him but no one answered.
The gate opened and Jack stood before the figure once more. "The Truth… I Almost saw it… How to compete human transmutation… Please let me see it again!" Jack begged the spirit, but it had no effect."
"I can not allow that. The portion of the Truth that you saw was equal to the price you have paid."
"Price?" All of a sudden, Jack felt lighter than ever before. He couldn't see out of his left eye or move his lips on that side of his body. 'What was happening?' He gazed down and to the left only to see that nothing was there. Half of his body was missing, lost to the Gate.
The form grinned wickedly. "What's wrong? It's equivalent-exchange, alchemist."
The man gasped as he snapped back into reality. He screamed horridly as pools of blood emptied from the left side of his body. He fell face forward onto the ground, partially onto the circle. His guts and organs on the right side collapsed along with the red fluid, as they could not hold up without proper support. The room quickly became hazy, but Jack managed to look up from his distorted position and glimpse at the dark shape in front of him. "C-Corniche, you're ali-" The pleased expression disappeared from the male's face as he looked closer and saw that the thing in the midst of the smoke, was not his wife. Whatever it was, the nasty creature was not even human. He shed a subtle tear, closing his eyes and taking his last breath. "Lazuli...Lapis…I'm sorry…"