Hey everyone! I'm Sommer and I have actually been planning this story for a while now but have just recently found this site and thought "What the Hell?" So You can probably tell that I'm new by my writing. I still haven't really gotten the hang of it yet so I pray you'll be patient with me. Anyway, here's a disclaimer so I don't get sued lol. I own nothing except for the original characters and some of the places in this story. Enjoy!

"The Transmutation is done...Let life begin again."

5 years after Edward Elric defeats Father and the Promised Day has passed, the now 21 year old alchemist cradles his brother in his arms after what might be the most daring human transmutation ever attempted. The price payed? Like his brother before him, Alphonse has given up his gate of truth in order to bring back a lost friend. Little does the non-human know that this life would be his last.

His eyes open to find himself in the arms of his brother. Everything is so blurry. 'I guess a second time going through the portal doesn't change how much energy it takes out of me.' Trying to focus on his surroundings he manages to recognize a voice calling out to him. "May?"

The now teenage princess smiles at him with tears in her eyes. "Oh Alphonse!" She was happy he had made it back okay. For a second, she even considers embracing him but she shrugs it off knowing he had to be very fragile right now. Winry runs from her position on the outer edge of the great clearing they were in. (She had tried to tell her husband that they should have stayed close to Dublith, but Ed had insisted on making the three day journey into the surrounding forest.) She crouches next to Ed and helps with steadying Al with one hand and slipping her other hand into his. Her wedding band shimmers in the light with Ed's.

"Did you miss me?" The deep, seductive voice from the middle of the circle carries to the Elrics and continues to the Xingese royalty. The glowing violet eyes make it all too apparent to the Xingese Emperor standing behind them, that the transmutation worked. "Greed." The homunculus grins, surprised that Ling would be the first to actually somewhat welcome him. "Hey what do ya know? The piss-ant actually remembers me!" Before he can even take in a breath, the squinty-eyed royalty is wrapped around his waist in a choking hug. The hell? With a slightly forceful shove the Avarice loosens his grip. "Whoa kid. Despite what you may think nothing has changed. I'm still the greediest bastard you'll ever know and I don't do hugs." He reinforces it by showing of his ouroboros.

The ruler is taken back by this. "But Greed..I thought.." "You thought wrong kid." He didn't wanna start being an ass to the kid already (He'd only been alive for 2 minutes for Christ's sake!) but he was getting too mushy too quick. I mean I definitely think of the kid as one of my only true friends. (Not like he'd ever say that out loud or anything.) He felt a tinge of guilt as the royal...pouted? He wasn't sure what that face was. Just as quickly as it came though, the feeling passed and he turned to the Elrics to see a worried Edward. "So little Al gave up his greatest power for this greedy bastard? Kind of a waste." Ed scowls at the Avarice. How can he just say that?! "Not that I don't appreciate it." The continuance of the sentence calms him down just enough to ask Greed for some help at getting them home.

He wasn't sure how he did it, but the pipsqueak managed to talk him into taking them as far as Dublith and then parting ways. I'm still Greed after all. He still wanted to possess everything. He had found friends yes, but he had just been born again and had nothing to call his own..and that was well, in a word, unacceptable.

The walk through the trees was quiet and peaceful at first, apart from May's whispers of get well to Al, who was practically being carried by his brother and sister-in-law. Without much thought, the Avarice pulled out the signature shades that he had come to love and put them on, feeling like himself again. Just for old times sake he was about to start a conversation when Ling stops in his tracks along with Lan Fan and May. He knew that reaction all too well. "Who is it?" The one to answer him is Lan Fan. "There's two immense chi's in that direction." They all look in the direction she was pointing. May shrinks back slightly. Guess she still has that sensitivity to chi. "They're the strongest I've felt in 5 years."

A loud roar startles them all as a large cougar leaps from the bushes, only to be followed by at least 5 others. In an attempt to shield everyone Ed steps forward with only Greed himself in front of him. 'Action already huh? Just what I like!' Greed spreads his ultimate shield up his arms in defense mode before he notices two figures in the trees. The two men are young ( Looking about 25 ) and look nearly identical. The paler of the two leans against a tree with a bored expression on his face. They both have gravity defying hair that is fairly long. The pale one however has black hair and eyes to match. His doppelgangers hair is snow white and his eyes are liquid silver. His skin is also tanned similar to that of an Ishvalan. The felines notice the two and charge at them. Just as the "silver" one looks as if he's had it, the "black" one uses a tree limb as a bat, hitting one of the cat's into a tree. Upon another attempted strike at him, "silver" steps to the side to catch one by the tail and sling it onto the already fallen brethren of it.

Not half bad actually. The homunculus couldn't deny that he was impressed with these strangers. He lifts a brow in thought as the last of the predators are chased off and two men approach him. With a quick grin, he outstretches a hand to the "silver". "Not bad there. It would seem we owe you our gratitude." His reply is calm and serine, almost courteous. "It's no problem. We get travelers out here every now and then and they tend to get themselves into trouble all the time." Greed's a bit taken back by this. 'How many people come through here? And this far away from town too.'

"It's such a drag." He hadn't really noticed "black" until he spoke. From what he just said though, Greed thought about his old sibling. Sloth had always thought of everything as a pain and apparently so did this stranger. "Silver" finally decided that introductions were in order and happily stated himself to be James. "This grouch over here is Evil Incarnate." His twin doesn't seem amused. "Asshole. The names Damon, don't wear it out." To everyone else, these two look to be the very face of trouble. But Greed, as always, sees nothing but possibilities. "We have no problem with you coming back to the village to regain your strength. The journey to Dublith is pretty long and your friend there looks drained." 'James seems to be more perky than Damon. But he's right, we should probably get the kid to a bed or something.' Without much more thought Greed follows the twins, leaving the others no choice but to follow or get caught in the dark, what with the sun already setting.

I'm liking this life already.

GREED: I'm back bitches!

Me: Unnecessary language Greed.

GREED: Hey if they don't like it they can stop reading!

Me: This is true but keep it to a minimum. ANYWAY, as you can see I enjoy my conversations with the characters (please don't judge me). So with that said, Greed, tell them about the next chapter.

GREED: Yeah, yeah. So I follow after the potential henchmen and we learn some new things, meet some new people, yada, yada, yada. But more importantly, we see more of me!

Me: Self engorged bastard.

GREED: You love me doll.

Me: Yeah I know.

GREED: Just keep reading her story or she'll get all depressed.

Me: Please?