A/N: To ensure that I don't go on about it for the whole of the author's note…I'd best say it now…Selim's new English voice… I really…really…hate it! I don't know why it just…isn't cute! Anime1's Selim dub voice wasn't…good but at least he didn't sound so…childish? This is a rich high class boy we're talking about…not counting when he fanboys for Edward Elric (sorry, Pride's full name basis is rubbing off on me I think). The voice filter might save him when he's Pride but…arrgh! ...Ok, ok I'll stop now before I really do take up a whole page.

…rant over…at least until episode 24 when he reads that report….but this fic will be finished by then- definitely. I'm sure I'll get used to it anyway…even though I watch it subbed.

Ok so flashback time, Father dreams of his creation…Pride has to…too! I have taken a few liberties with Pride's true form (like I don't think that thing on his head is his Ouroboros)…but I won't be describing him that much…so that's ok I guess.

I've used my out-there theory that Pride is a badly made version of Truth (as Gluttony is a badly made version of the doors), this might also tie in with my other theory that Envy is an attempt at making something both male and female (going by the hermaphrodite being a perfect existence), going by this these are the only homunculi that have 'true forms' (Baby Pride, Embryo Envy and Tiny Gluttony [the one growing off of Father when he runs out of lives] respectively). But my theories are all weird and probably all wrong anyway.

I don't think this chapter is that good, but writing Father's really awkward (by the way, he'll be called 'Homunculus' for a few chapters).

Hiromu Awakawa owns FullMetal Alchemist


Sin's child

Chapter Three: a Fabricated and False Truth

May 21st 1590: Underneath Central city

Homunculus stared at the flask, his mouth agape. Surely he had just imagined it, he couldn't have possibly succeeded. Back then it was planned, but now…

After so long…

It had to be a lie, it was impossible.

And yet it seemed that it was no illusion, a tiny speck no more than half an inch tall suspended in the flask before him, unmoving, but very much alive, Homunculus could see tiny veins and arteries pulsing underneath the pure white skin of his creation, no doubt the Philosopher's stone keeping it alive, a blurred black outline running across its body, defining its shape, Homunculus smiled

"So it really is Truth…then it's only a matter of time until…" The artificial human paused, strangely curious at the small blob in the flask, a flask eerily similar to the one he used to be confined to, Homunculus felt sorry for it, for a moment, to be all alone, completely isolated from the rest of the world, undeveloped eyes making it as good as blind for the time being, unaware of even its own existence "Do not worry, my Pride, you will not need to remain in that flask for very long, I am not so cruel." Homunculus leaned in closer, making sure his creation was perfect; he needed it to be if it was going to make him a perfect being after all- fifteen years of preparation could not have gone to waste.

His pride looked much like a human baby, naturally posed as humans did before birth, smooth skin the colour of the snow-covered mountains far in the north- outside of Amestris' current control- thinly veiling its helpless form, only disturbed by Philosopher's stone filled veins and a few spots of red, one on each hand and foot, one on its forehead and a line running down its back, allowing it to move around once it awoke. The infant shifted, revealing something that distinguished it from human infants, it…he lacked a navel, confirming it as a purely unnatural being, and in its place was a symbol, a symbol that showed him to be something beyond human; the child could not understand such a concept as 'human'. Homunculus couldn't help but feel slightly in awe at his child's first movements, he wasn't proud though, he couldn't be, this child embodied his pride now, he was without that sin. "But you won't last long with only twelve souls; I will need to look after you…won't I?"

The newborn homunculus didn't react, but he didn't mind, it probably couldn't hear him anyway, but if it did, it surely understood didn't it? It was Truth; it knew everything, Homunculus just needed to be patient.

Rather content with himself, Homunculus left his creation to rest, after all, it would be of great use to him, in time.

0 * 0 * 0

October 2nd 1590

Homunculus stared at his still flask bound child; it was over four months old now, it needed more souls to sustain him if it was to be of any use. And so, Homunculus had carefully placed another Philosopher's stone inside the flask, it now floating beside the infant in question, but it hadn't responded to it.

"Do you understand what it is?" He rotated the flask, reasoning a side view to be more beneficial. The younger homunculus was still asleep, it hadn't awoke since its birth, but its chest moved slightly now, it had learned to act independently, but it still could not survive without the red stone that was in front of it. The stone glowed softly, as if sensing the one that was already housed in creation, the infant moved, a tiny fist scraping against the smooth surface, Homunculus observed silently

That's it…go on...

The child remained still, unsure how to react, Homunculus was as equally unsure, how would it go about absorbing the stone? It was almost as big as it.

It's Truth…it knows what to do…

And yet Homunculus failed to even convince himself, though seeing no reason as to doubt its abilities. The fist fell limp, returning to its original position, as if it had never touched the stone at all. It curled tighter, trembling, its whole body quaking as if caught in a blizzard, it scowled, and a liquid formed in the corners of its eyes.

A moment passed, and a crack formed on the side of the flask- Homunculus hadn't heard it, but he knew- the child had screamed, Homunculus' eyes darted between the large crack in the flask and his creation, the latter's neck currently sparking red as water continued to pour from its closed eyes- the scream had damaged its unused vocal cords.

"It rejected it? But-"

Another scream- the crack spread further, causing the forming pool of water to spill out onto the table.

Homunculus didn't know what to do, without the stone it would die; if the flask broke it would die, if it continued screaming it would eventually be unable to regenerate, and if it continued crying it would eventually drown. He could effortlessly repair the flask, but if it was the light that was upsetting it the flash from the transmutation would only make the situation worse. A sigh, Homunculus stepped away from the table, quickly regaining his composure,

"You won't appreciate this, but you are…far too precious to lose…"

The room lit up with crimson light, and then all was silent. The flask was fixed, the water had evaporated, and the philosopher's stone was gone. The infant's movements slowed, but it still shook with unheard sobs, a final tear sliding down its cheek.

Homunculus' brow furrowed

"How many souls do you have left now…?" with a brief stare he knew the answer "Just the one?" he shook his head "You damned fool, rejecting the stone…how am I supposed to support you now?" he knew that the infant couldn't reply. Still, he wanted it to acknowledge its idiocy, to feel guilty and apologise. But now it couldn't do anything anymore, and neither could its father. "I know you can hear me, you're Truth, you're supposed to be able to do anything, so don't just sit there crying, you're my pride, but you shouldn't be so arrogant as to defy your creator, I gave you life, why are you just curling up and letting yourself die? ! Well? !" The younger homunculus flinched at the outburst, instinctively pulling its legs tighter to its chest, trying to protect itself against the faceless aggression that had reached its ears. But nothing could protect it now- that was certain. With another shiver and another pitiful tear it adopted another instinctive human trait; it raised a shaking fist, and put its thumb in its mouth. A new thing for it, no doubt the only comfort it could create for itself, and a childish human one at that.

"Hm?" Homunculus looked closer, still his creation insisted on frowning, still shivering, but soon he saw it- its body was sparking erratically. Its mouth twitched for a moment, before it coughed, minute drops of blood trickling down his thumb.

It hadn't been able to heal itself a final time

"Oh? So you're bleeding; you're going to choke, on your own blood…how pitiable an end…you should be ashamed, you haven't even opened your eyes…such a waste." For a moment he thought he saw part of its skin crack and fade away as specks of dust, maybe he had just imagined it, but the moment itself was more than inevitable, whether now or in a few days, it didn't matter, the former was almost guaranteed at this point.

Strangely, he didn't even feel disappointed, instead he felt a peculiar ache inside, was it the loss of his pride? Or did he actually care about what became of it? Did he… not want it to die? He, who had killed hundreds of thousands of humans without a single moment of hesitation? Who had mocked the very idea of having a family? He didn't know "Blood looks a lot like Philosopher's stones, doesn't it? But of course, the irony of it is wasted on someone like you." The younger homunculus didn't stir; having drifted back into a peaceful sleep- maybe it hadn't awoke at all- more violent coughs shook its body through its rest, blood still pouring from its mouth, staining its pure skin- that can began to flake- a deep red. Truth's outline flowed along the developing holes, futilely trying to conceal the irreparable damage. Again, he felt concerned for it, hoping that its young form was unable to feel pain, or at least wasn't aware of its situation.

With a sigh, Homunculus turned his back on his dying child, knowing that when he returned in the morning it would be gone, the flask empty, its whole existence but a memory. "…Wait! Maybe I could…!" A fleeting backward glance, at the crimson stained child and the forming puddle below it.

Blood…

Homunculus smiled, his eyes alight with mischief, and maybe the spark of relief; perhaps his pride had a chance at life after all…