Doubly here. Introductions aside, I have to warn people that this is my first mpreg fic. Until recently I would have gone, Eww, mpreg, gonna have lots of hormonal lashing out and junk, but I actually tried some and found them rather sentimental. So I'm going to try and not write just about senseless sex here (not that I usually do, heehee…no seriously, I need some practice) but also get that make-them-all-misty-eyed genre up and going as well.

This story has no particular setting in time (nor, for this first chapter, place – just think it as merely inspired by that opera house in the first anime) but I'd say it's more manga-verse in some parts. And I'm just going to pick random characters out of here and there sometimes, but other than that I'll try to make the story flow.

Disclaimer: ARAKAWA HIROMU, HEAR MY PLEAS. EDXROY IS DA BEST.

Please read…


Envy looked at his hands in slight awe. "Well," he said, in a dazed tone, "Will you look at that."

His voice resounded all around the great domed building, it's ornate halls large enough to fit several whole Amestrian armies, right down from Fuhrer to janitors. It's great polished floor reflected the paintings of angels and Paradise depicted on the ceiling high, high above them, but the few people standing – or lying, in a terrible position, wounded and nearly dead – smothered various parts of the mirrored work of arts, the morphing sin's new accomplishment stunning them to stay rooted on their feet – or, side.

Ed stole a glance at the fallen Roy, the only human apart from him in the room, mere feet away from him with Envy standing in their paths. The blood had not stopped streaming – it welled up around the prone body, like a dark red sea of rubies, surrounding it and getting soaked up by the thick, blue military uniform the Colonel always adorned. His breathing seemed to be getting shallower, and even as Ed strained his ears to hear them, Envy's taunting jeer swept in to capture his attention.

"I can use alchemy!" The sin crowed triumphantly, victoriously. "The Philosopher's stone worked! I HAVE POWER!!" He screamed horribly, throwing his head back, dark hair sweeping the back of his knees, and cackling madly.

Ed finally felt his slacking jaw find their hinges and remembered how to work them again. "That's not possible!" he snarled. "You have no soul! You're a homunculus! Even the Philosopher's stone won't give you the power to alchemize!"

"And it will give you the right to get your bodies and limbs back?" Envy shot back. "Do you think your purposes are far better than mine? How different are you to me? You committed a sin – I'm an embodiment of it. While I am the sin itself, you are the maker of it. In some ways, aren't you worse than me? If it wasn't for the lax attitude you humans have, if it wasn't for your ways of spelling away your spare time, by wishing ill on yourselves or others, such things as sins wouldn't exist. Yet you try to cower away from it and tell yourself you are different. You humans consider honesty to be the best policy, right? Well then, since I never mistook or convinced myself that I was otherwise than what I am, I must be more honest than the likes of you, and therefore better than you. Which I'd been trying to tell you this past year or so, but of course, dishonest human you are, you never even tried to listen."

Envy grinned at his own logic, and watched Ed struggle, and this was real global news, at loss of words. His golden eyes tried to strain themselves from flickering towards the still figure before him, who didn't seem to be breathing much anymore, who didn't seem alive

Don't worry. He's had worse than this before, he can get through this. He'll be alright, he'll be alright…

"Trying to bring yourself justice with petty words, Envy?" he said through gritted teeth. "Trying to prove that you're at least on equal standards with us?"

Envy's face fell, his sharp toothy smile sliding off right away. The creases on his foreheads deepened, and his eyes were starting to look murderous. Not long, Ed thought, before he cracks and the pulsing, heated battle starts up again. He readied himself for the blow.

"Don't you dare try to compare me with your kind, Pipsqueak Alchemist," the homunculus growled. Not even giving Ed enough time to spasm correctly, he continued on with growing anger and volume. "Don't you dare degrade me down to your levels. Don't you – don't you even try to look down at me, or even see me as one of your kind, insect, don't you–"

"Throwing a tantrum now?" Ed hurled the scathing remark at him. "Because you can't get what you want? And you're better than me?"

If it was a less serious situation it might have been funny to watch. Envy's face was growing purple, and he didn't seem to be metamorphosing in any way. He seemed to have given up on the use of words, and looked around wildly, hair flying in all directions as he swept his gaze behind him. It fell on the barely living body of one Roy Mustang.

Ed wasn't sure he liked the sudden leer which broke out on the homunculus's bony face. When he saw where Envy was striding towards, he suppressed a frantic yell and watched with widened eyes as the shape-shifter grabbed the Colonel roughly by the back of his collar, yanked half of his upper body up, still dripping blood, from the puddle of crimson below, and turned around again to face the blonde alchemist.

"I may have lost your brother," Envy sneered, shaking the dangling soldier with one slender hand that was stronger than it looked. "And he would have been a more painful torture for you; you love him first, more than anyone else amongst you mortals – ha! Stupid pigs," he continued maliciously, and Ed couldn't move, he was just frozen there, if he made so much as a twitch it could set the detonator that was Envy off, "Depending on such frail emotions like love to get through your lives. That's why you die easily; that's why you get hurt so easily, and that's why sins are born. But you know what? You, Fullmetal Alchemist, you don't stop loving any more than the rest of your breed does. You drag other people into your business – you hurt them to get your way. This one," Another shake, "Got too close to you, and will pay for his foolishness. He got too close, and was burned."

"He's Flame," Ed forced himself to whisper. "He doesn't get burned."

"Doesn't he?" Envy mocked, grin still in full force. "Maybe to you, weak and blind, he is a force of nature unto himself. But I can see reality – I can see that he's the same as you, weak and blind, blinded especially by useless ambitions and love for his icky boyfriend."

"Let him go."

"Am I likely to do that?" he started off towards the large transmutation circle he had recently stepped out of, dragging poor Roy's limp body behind him. Ed felt his stomach lurch as he saw a thick ribbon of red follow their path as if to mark where they had passed, and instantly attempted to take a running jump at Envy to kick the shit out of his head. The pain in his ribs made him recoil from doing that, however, and he had to make do with staggering like a sick old man behind them, panting and cursing himself for being so rash and imprudent.

"He's got nothing to do with this," he tried again, wanting to and not wanting to stop and catch his breath at the same time. He urged himself to hurry, to catch up to them – but then what was he going to do?

"Didn't I tell you that already?" Envy called, rather matter-of-factly, over his shoulder. "You brought him into this, and now you've no chance of getting him out."

Screw what he was going to do once he reached them, what is he planning for Roy??

His answer came soon enough. Envy dumped the prone Colonel into the middle of the circle, stepped over him casually and made his way out. He grinned at the still limping figure of Ed far behind him. "I only used my Philosopher's Stone – practically my life source, this – to acquire the ability to transmute. I don't quite recognize these symbols and whatever," he carried on, waving a hand in the vague direction of the huge circle in front of him, "But with a sacrifice, how much do you think my power will be amplified?"

He smirked at Ed, still on his valiant journey to trudge towards him with water in his eyes. "You got your talent by passing through the Gate and seeing the Truth," he said in a low voice. "I can get that gift now, too. All I have to do," he raised both his hands, palms downwards, "Is to wish," he positioned himself into a steadier stance, "For power."

"NO!" Ed yelled, pitching forward despite the pain. He cried out, but his legs carried him onwards – having him lunging the next few meters and into Envy. But it was too late, the familiar bright lights were crackling and snapping, like whips on beasts' rippling muscles, and they were being dragged in towards the circle. The momentum of Ed's sprint had done it's job, and Envy fell forwards, arms flailing, mouth an empty gaping hole. He hit the ground hard, and vanished from sight in that moment. Ed gave a grunt as his hand felt the impact of supporting the weight of his injured body full on, but it didn't last long when the floor disappeared from beneath him. Ed followed the homunculus' fate; and his last view of his world before he fell through to another, was Roy's face, eyes closed peacefully even while covered in dried blood, his body no longer heaving with the motion of breathing.

*~*~*~*~*~*

The vast, infinite white space was just as Ed had remembered it. It was boundless, it had no horizon, it was a place with nothing at all. Apart from a great door floating before him in the middle of nowhere.

And now, the scowling homunculus which stood next to him in the blankness, glaring at the door.

"Way to go, Pipsqueak," Envy grumbled. "Now we're both stuck here."

With raised eyebrows, Edward noted the absence of the ache in his chest. "You were the one who initiated it."

"Yes, but obviously I didn't plan in coming all the way myself."

That sounded so obliviously foolish Ed couldn't help but start snickering. Envy turned to him, fists clenched. "What?" Envy snarled, and did his noteworthy skill of imposing the glare from Hell with his gleaming eyes. Ed stopped smiling immediately.

"You can't pass without giving a payment," Ed said mildly. "Equivalent exchange."

"Well, I have plenty to give," Envy said confidently, striding forwards and placing a hand onto the crack down the middle of the door. "I have the Stone."

Ed made no movement to help the sin as he groaned and struggled to pry the heavy door open for a while. He took his time to mull things over in his head.

What do we do now? The Gate isn't opening…is it because there're two of us? It can't decide on whom to take? What will happen to the other one left behind, then?

Envy had, in record time, given up and was resolved to shouting at Ed. "It's not opening!" he yelled, frustrated. "I need to get through for power! Why isn't it opening!?"

"Because it's not yours," Ed found himself answering. "It's mine. It only opens for me."

The shapeshifter frowned. "Where's mine, then?"

"Don't know," Ed shrugged, turning to look around. His eyes almost bulged out of their sockets when, quite suddenly, he discovered another door a little distance away, this time behind him.

"Maybe it's that one," he pointed. But Envy had already seen, and had taken off, brushing busily past Ed and stopping some steps away to examine his door.

Time ticked on, if clocks existed in this bare, strange dimension. Ed wondered if the Gate wasn't ready to take him yet, for it was not making a sound.

I'm forgetting something…

Finally, when Envy spoke, it surprised Ed to hear it hold a tiny ounce of doubt.

"It's different to your one somehow."

It was true. They were both of the same height (some twelve feet), same colour (a rich, dark brown that reminded Ed of grey iron at the same time) and floating a few inches off the "ground". Yet something seemed off, and he swiveled his head to and fro to distinguish the dissimilarity. He stopped when an excited cry came over from Envy's side of the whiteness.

"It's opening! It's opening!"

And so it was. The yawning darkness was a strange contrast to the rest of their surroundings, and the coils which sprung forward to grab at Envy seemed to shine with a black light. Envy crowed in triumph and offered himself freely, chest flung forwards and arms back, fingers spread wide, as he yelled delusional words.

"I'm going to have POWER! I will become so strong! I will not feel the envy, the jealousy, of strength insects BELOW me has anymore! I will be STRONG! Watch, you humans, I'll grind you under my heels once I'm finished, I WILL HAVE POWER, just wait, JUST WAI–"

The slam of heavy doors cut his shrieks off. Ed bit his bottom lip, wondering if he should have stopped it.

Still, what could he have done?

He looked up at Envy's door again. Then, realization hit him hard. Envy's door was blank, with no engravings upon it, while his had that of an old-fashioned decoration with strange words and symbols around a tree-like picture.

Perhaps it was because Envy had no soul, as a homunculus. It seemed vaguely unfair to Ed that he should have at least something to make his Gate look fancy, and because it wasn't simply Envy's fault he was born as he was.

The sin's words in the hall drifted back to him from the back of his mind. Ed himself had witnessed just how ignorant and impertinent humans could be, and while they loved and cared, they brought undesirable things into the world with them. But, Ed reasoned, no one could be perfect, could they? He certainly wasn't; he pretended integrity all the time.

I never mistook or convinced myself that I was otherwiseI must be more honest than the likes of you

He shook them away again.

Roy.

That thought was unbidden and sudden. Ed felt as though he was about to have a seizure when he remembered the black-haired, bloody man.

If we're here, does that mean we've attempted human transmutation? But Roy wasn't the only one in the circle – otherwise why would I be here? So was Roy the one we transmuted? Or was it ourselves?

He was thinking over it so hard, he didn't even notice the giant door creaking open. He took no heed of the slivering black coils as the first of them came creeping out.

Was he even alive when we left? Because why isn't he here as well? Was he – no, it's not possible. Roy's too tough. He won't die – he won't…

He gave a sharp cry as something grabbed him by the leg. Shocked, he looked down to find the blackness rapidly encasing him in. He made a half-hearted attempt to struggle, but slowed when his mind went back to the Colonel.

If he died, he died for me. It would be my fault. He got too close…he got hurt…What am I going to do?

They were dragging him, pulling him into past the Gate, he couldn't see anything beyond his nose, it was all dark –

I don't want him to die! We just got Al's body back – we need him, too! I love him! I've loved him for years! Don't die, Roy…don't leave me!

"I WANT ROY!' he yelled, as the doors slammed shut.

*~*~*~*~*~*

Envy's voice.

Always that goddamned bastard. Wasn't he dead yet?

If it wasn't for him, Roy wouldn't have…

Roy wouldn't…

He didn't force his eyes to open. The voices seemed to be having a rather heated conversation, but it sounded more like it was all in his head; muffled, unfocused, hard to track down. It might not have been there at all.

"I want the power that Elric kid has. I want a higher level of alchemy, and I want to get the hell out of here as well."

And I'm telling you, you have nothing to offer. You have the conscious to speak, move, and think, but you don't have an inside. You don't have essence. Heck, you don't even seem to have a stable body. Will you quit changing forms? I can see well enough you're getting agitated without having all that flickering hurt my eyes. If I had eyes.

"Just give me the power! I don't care what I have to give, I said what I want! Now give it!"

I'm being nicer to you than most people, you know. If you don't have nuffin' to give, you don't get nuffin' to take.

"Shut up! I have the Stone! We went through a lot of trouble to make this – you better take it and be grateful!"

This thing? It looks like it's going to crumble any second now. If time existed around here, that is. …Ah. You used it too much, didn't you? To get this so-called power of alchemy?

"Look, just give me what I can get! I know this isn't some trash human bargaining market, I WANT MY POWER!!!"

…You know, you still haven't paid your travel expenses yet.

"What does that got to do with anything?"

You want power, right? I'll give you it. But…that's if you have anything left with to hold it.

"...What? Hey, what are you doi–"

Your payment.

"Stop, wait a mo–"

Will be your life.

"NONONONONONONONONO–"

*~*~*~*~*~*

I believe introductions will not be in order?

"Be quiet," Ed said wearily. "I'm not here for my arm and leg, if you're wondering."

Ha. Gotten smart have we?

"What I want is – I want that man I left behind…I want him to be alive."

A pause.

"What?"

Nothing. Just…you haven't changed at all, stupid shorty.

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING A SHORTY BECAUSE APPARENTLY HIS OWN IDIOCY HAS WEIGHED DOWN ON HIS HEAD AND MADE IT DENSER??!! IT HASN'T, BY THE WAY!!!!"

I didn't say that much. And I feel rather stupid myself, because I actually though you'd picked up some more brains while you were away. You do realize it will cost you?

"What would it take?"

I need your travel expenses as well.

"Have anything you want, I just wish for Roy to live," Ed said desperately.

He's not quite dead yet. His spirit still seems to be intact.

"Thank G–…whoever's up there," Ed muttered, dropping his eyes to his boot-clad feet in relief.

But if you go back now why he's left like this, he won't be able to make it.

The boy could practically feel his heart worming it's way through his body to plummet to the pit of his stomach. "Oh, fuck," he mumbled, coaxing his numbed tongue to work. "Oh, please, I'll do anything; I'll give anything, please save him!" Ed moaned, wringing his hands and hopping from foot to foot.

Well, I do have a proposition for you. I'll even throw in the travel expenses if you like.

"I thought you didn't bargain," he pointed out accusingly.

I don't. The result will be depending on how you can handle this – if you live or die is not my problem. It is if you will take the payment. Will you?

"I will. Anything."

Hm. Very well, then. I'll just meddle a bit here and there, if you don't mind, and if you survive this we might be seeing each other again.

"Hopefully not anytime soon," Ed gritted out, but not too loudly because whatever it claimed to do no bargains, the Gate surely seemed to be in a good mood today.

*~*~*~*~*~*

It was burning.

He threw his head back as a hideous scream was ripped from his throat. He was being torn apart – his DNA was being unfolded and studied momentarily, his body was dissipating into dust, his mind was awhirl of all the activity going on around him, and he would go insane, he would rather die…

But I'd rather die more than have Roy die on me.

With that one thought, he had a newfound determination, and prepared himself for what was the worst to come. The tearing of limbs, probably, or his insides being stolen right out. But whatever it was, it never came, and he found himself falling face first onto a smooth marble floor chalked with alchemic symbols. Ed glimpsed the blurred, shocked and anxious faces of Hawkeye, Havoc and Alphonse – his poor, frail brother Al, whose long matted hair fell around his shoulders like a dirty yellow wig, so thin his bones could be seen through his ivory meatless skin, naked except for a rag-like blanket wrapped around his small self. But he was no longer a hunk of metal, a cold piece of armor; he was human, wonderfully definitely human again.

Ed passed out then, with a small smile on his blood caked face.


I'm sure we got all kinds of preliminary ideas here. I might touch a little on how Ed and Roy fell for each other (so as a hint, they're no strangers to their relationship by now) and what the hell Envy was doing there in the first place. But all for later.

It would be absolutely mortifying if my mother came in while I was researching the insides of male's and female's body, and pregnancy information. She'd probably think I had either gotten myself in a certain type of trouble, or that I had set my eyes on taking the medical course for university and planned to become a pathologist in the middle of the battlefield or something. She's paranoid like that.

…and review.