Thanks to those of you who have followed and favored this fic, I'm still happy to entertain even a few of you! :)

And also a big thank you to my first reviewer! This chappy is dedicated to you! :D

Un-edited... Of course.

Chapter 4; The Avaricious and the Complete

The skies turned from black to blue as the sun rose over the forest, and still there was no sign of when Ed and Ling would return to us. Gluttony had stuck to Al and I like his life depended on it, muttering something about how he was going to be scolded for swallowing a candidate... whatever that means. The robust homunculus had also swallowed one of his own, so maybe that one would be able to tell the boys the way out? Was there even a way out of whatever dimension they had been quite literally sucked into?

Or were they really inside Gluttony's stomach?

The thought alone makes me shudder even now.

Gluttony stood off to the side as Al sat cross-legged on the ground deep in thought. I kept to Al's left and held the tiny panda that he had found a while back closely, catching a glimpse at the longing look the homunculus was now giving us. The creature would circle around trying to sneak a better look and find a good angle to approach at, so I moved away from him to Al's other side and narrowed my eyes.

Gluttony looked disappointed and then became defeated, "I'm so hungry, but Father won't let me eat now that I've swallowed a sacrifice..."

Sacrifice... Could that be what he meant by a candidate? "A sacrifice?" I repeated.

Gluttony nodded with a deep frown but made no other reply.

Suddenly Al looked up and locked his eyes on Gluttony, "Envy mentioned earlier that I was a sacrifice as well," Gluttony nodded with a smile, "Can you take me to your Father?"

The homunculus looked thrilled, "Yes! Father will be very happy!"

"She comes too!" Al added quickly as he motioned to me.

Gluttony, having already turned around to begin walking, never made an objection to my tagging along so we quickly ran after him to catch up.

I looked up at Al with a frowned, "I hope you know what you're doing..."

"Yeah..." He sighed, "I just hope that when we get there, that this 'Father' will be able to bring Brother and Ling back."

Ling... "Yeah."

x-x-x

Street after street, we continued to walk down alley ways that seemed to go on like a never ending maze. Gluttony continued to lead us without faltering or deviating as if to bring us into a trap, and eventually we ended up in front of a simple door that was attached to a rather normal looking (but abandoned) building. Al and I exchanged looks before nodding to Gluttony, who opened to the door and allowed us to proceed first.

I felt the tiny panda grip my arm tightly as she began to shake, "Shh, it's going to be okay."

Al walked silently beside me as we followed Gluttony down yet another elaborate maze of tunnels.

"Whoa!" Al looked up as the sounds of growling were heard, "A-Are they going to attack?"

I frowned and kept close to him as Gluttony nonchalantly replied with, "Not unless I say so!"

Al and I shared one look before continuing our trek behind the homunculus. Eventually, we ended up in front of a normal looking door. Gluttony stopped and opened it before turning to us with a huge smile and told us to enter. I could feel the tiny panda cling tightly to me as we passed through the doorway.

If it were possible for a suit of armor to become stiff, well, I believe I just witnessed it.

Al and I walked cautiously through the door and took in the sights. There were large bolts and strange looking pipes draped over the walls and lining the floors leading up to what looked like a throne. There were two sets of stairs leading up to a platform where a bunch of tables with what looked like chemistry sets cluttered everywhere.

"This place couldn't get any creepier, could it?" I mumbled so only Al could hear me.

"Father!" Gluttony suddenly boomed waving his hands in the air, "I've returned with two candidates for human sacrifice!"

Al went rigid and I felt my face pale, "Your father?! This is all so sudden-"

"And who might these two be?" A commanding voice questioned, immediately drawing our attention to its source.

Standing there behind the railing on the platform, stood a man with a face I had not seen in years. Al gave a tiny gasp as his armor began to shake slightly.

"D-Dad?" Al whimpered.

I looked up at Al with a frown but the sudden loud screams coming from Gluttony pulled all attention towards him. Blood spewed from his stomach as the portal from before attempted to open and threaten to rip him apart. The homunculus tried hard to keep himself together, flopping down on the ground several times before the portal finally won the battle. Suddenly, a gigantic arm burst from where the eye had been, bright red electricity cackling angrily around the figure as it hauled itself out from Gluttony's stomach.

"Envy?" The man who Gluttony called 'Father' inquired as he looked over the giant green monster.

"Envy?!" Al repeated in shock giving the beast one more look, when suddenly he ran forward, "Brother! You're back!"

I followed closely, my eyes falling on both Ed and Ling.

"Al?" Ed looked up at his brother with a disappointed look but soon grinned and bumped fists with Ling, "We made it."

"BROTHER!"

Ed had no time to respond as Al lunged at him, pulling him into a bone crushing hug. I blinked as I watched the two before turning to Ling, who was now on his feet taking in his new surroundings.

"Ling," I frowned and gripped his arm causing him to turn and look at me, "Are you okay?"

He nodded and gave me a half-ass smile, "Don't worry about me."

"Where the hell are we anyway?" Ed suddenly asked after a minute.

"How fascinating," Father walked over, "People capable of opening the portal from within Gluttony."

Ed and Al faced him, the older of the two looking up at the man with a glare, "What in the hell are you doing here, Hohenheim?!"

"An armored body and steel limbs? You two must be the Elric brothers I've heard so much about." Father inquired to himself, "The name you used; do you mistake me for someone else?"

I remained close to Ling as Father suddenly came to realization on who the brothers spoke of, and became thrilled at the fact that Hohenheim had children.

What was more remarkable, was watching this man use alchemy to repair and heal Ed and Al without the use of any techniques. No clap of the hands, no circles, nothing. It was if he could use his alchemy without the equivalent exchange.

"In considering you both vital resources, you two must stay unharmed and healthy," Father stated.

I could practically feel Ling tense beside me, his sword suddenly thrust forward and his body in a defensive stance, "What the hell is the guy? Just who the hell are you!"

"I see that we have some unnecessary baggage here," Father turned and walked away, "Go a head and indulge, Gluttony."

"Wait!" Ed called as the brothers ran towards Ling and I, "You want to keep us happy, right? Don't hurt them!"

"You mistake my act of kindness," Father turned back to look at Ed, "The two standing behind you of are no use to me."

I narrowed my eyes, "Don't underestimate humans, you bastard!"

Ling stumbled forward to stand up front with Ed and Al, "This man, he cares nothing for humans. I can tell he laughs at us and what we live for."

"Do you step on an insect or walk passed it?" Father began, "You simply end its miserable existence and pay no mind to it. That is how I feel about you humans."

It was then, that all hell broke loose.

"Enough talk!" Ed yelled with rage and clapped his hands together.

The ground shook as giant spikes rocketed out of the ground and towards Father, who effortlessly destroyed them. Al went to his brother's aid immediately and began to fight as well, sending giant pillars towards the man in order to injure him.

"Stay back!" Ling whispered harshly to me before running towards the battle, jumping into the air with his sword at the ready.

Yeah right! I glared and grabbed a rock, quickly drawing a transmutation circle.

"Keep hidden," I glanced at the tiny panda before slapping my hands down on the circle and sent a barrage of spikes hurdling towards Father.

Ling's body flew through the air after getting struck with a giant stone fist and landed with a hard thud against the ground beside me, "Ling!"

"Damn him," Ling struggled to get back to his feet.

"This is pointless," Father sighed and gave a heavy step forward.

Aggressive, bright red electricity lit the room with intensity for what seemed like hours before suddenly disappearing. Ed and Al proceeded to clap their hands and slap the ground, but nothing happened. In fear of my abilities being hindered as well, I narrowed my eyes and slapped my hands down on the circle I had previously drawn with no effect as well.

"Damn it! Why isn't it working?" Ed hollerd loudly, "What the hell did you- HEY!"

I watched as Envy stepped on both brothers to keep them pinned and felt my blood boil. Scrambling to my feet I quickly rushed forward not far behind Ling as he ran towards Father, only to be grabbed by Gluttony and flung to the ground with the homunculus landing on top of him.

"You know, things would be much easier if you two would behave yourself," Envy stated with a drawl tone.

The brothers continued to struggle under the giant hands pinning them down. I felt myself pressured now that I didn't have only Ed and Al to help, but Ling was also being held down as well.

"It seems I may have use for you two after all," Father said, and suddenly he was in front of me.

I tried to jump back away from him but to no avail. Stone binds had me leashed to where I was standing and in that instant, I was helpless. Out of the corner of my eye I could see Ed and Al fighting with all their might.

"Don't touch her!" Ling yelled angrily.

Father looked over his shoulder towards him, "Fine, I'll begin with you instead."

Ed began to struggle even harder, "Get away from him!"

We all watched in horror as an eye appeared on Father's forehead, a red liquid spilling out and pooling into the palm of his hand.

A Philosopher's Stone? How is that possible?

"Wait!" Ed struggled more, "Don't do it! Get away from him!"

"You're really going through with this, huh?" Envy asked with a hint of amusement, "Are you going to turn the girl into a homunculus too?"

Ed continued to struggle and scream at Father to stop, when Ling growled.

"Stop! Don't get involved! If this man wants to grant me immortality, I won't be one to object!" Ling gave Ed and Al both warning glares, "This is exactly what I came to your country for, and this man is just willing to give me what I want!"

Father stretched his hand out so it was directly above Ling as Gluttony pulled the bandage off Ling's cheek, "Intriguing. Lets see if your stomach is as big as your appetite."

"LING!" I struggled hard against the stone bindings and watched as the red liquid seeped in through the cut.

The veins on his face and neck popped out and his body visibly pulsated. His limbs cracked and jerked in unnatural directions as he screamed in agony. The same red electricity from before sparked off Ling's body as he continued to writhe.

"Ling..." I felt tears sting my eyes.

When the screaming stopped, Ling fell into a relaxed position and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Ling?" Ed sounded hopeful.

"Huh?" Ling looked at Ed confused, "Oh, you must mean the guy who used to own this body."

"What are you talking about?" Al looked up at him.

Ling's eyes suddenly opened and revealed not onyx, but amethyst colored orbs.

He smirked and lifted his bandaged hand as the white linen slipped off, "Sorry, but it's Greed now."

"What did you do to Ling?!" I screamed and struggled, "You asshole, what did you do!"

Father turned to look at me, "Ah yes, now for you."

Ed and Al screamed at Father to not come close to me while Greed pocketed his hands and watched. Again, the eye opened in his forehead and the Philosopher Stone pooled in his hand. I felt my heart stop and my blood run cold.

"Don't you dare touch her!" Ed thrashed under Envy's hold.

Al struggled, "Get away from her!"

I stared at Father as he seemed to contemplate on what he would do. With his mysterious alchemy, he created something sharp and marked my arm.

"I have something particular in mind for you," He mused before draining the liquid from his hand into the flesh wound.

Agony. Pure, unfiltered agony.

The same agony Ling had gone through mere seconds ago.

The binds holding me were suddenly released and I felt myself drop to the ground. I could feel my limbs breaking and twisting around. I could feel my insides burning, threatening to burn right through my flesh. It was passed that pain that I could see a door into my mind, and it was that door that seemed to be pulling my very spirit closer and closer towards it until I was suddenly thrown into it.

All I could see was red faces of the tortured souls Father must have murdered as I fell deeper and deeper into the abyss I was in. When I finally came to a stop, I was surrounded by seven large faces that stared down at me with mocking eyes.

"And who might this be?" A very distinct, feminine voice spoke.

"Another little human who thinks they're worthy enough to be one of us!" Another spoke with a more mocking tone.

A nasty cackle sounded from behind as I turned to face yet another set of eyes, "How ridiculous this is of him, thinking he can put all of us into one little human."

I narrowed my eyes, "Just who exactly are you, and what is this?!"

"Feisty, isn't she!" A voice that sounded familiar to the one coming from Ling's body laughed in amusement, "Sounds more like she'd be suited to Wrath to me."

"Hh," Was all that came from the one beside him.

"This is so troublesome," Another stated with a tired, bored tone, "Lets just finish this."

"Agreed!" A more cheery of the voices spoke.

"I can tell by seeing into her soul that she will be an intriguing creature, indeed," The last of the seven spoke, "Lets see how she handles not one, but all seven of us, shall we?"

"Just who do you all think you are?!" I asked incredulously, "You can't just take over my body!"

"Sure we can," Was the amused response, "What makes you think that you could stop us?"

"It's my body," I retorted hotly, "Don't I get a say? This was against my will!"

"Hmm, I love the passion in her eyes when she's angry!"

"Enough! Lets just get this over with!"

"Agreed," The feminine one spoke once more, "Human, I hope you're ready."

I felt the words of disapproval die in my throat as the seven suddenly became one giant entity. The light radiating around them was blinding, and suddenly I was completely consumed by it.

It was the last thing I remember before I woke up.

Hello to the few of you who read this! :)

So I'm assuming at least ALL of you saw this coming, haha. I'm losing my touch big time when it comes to surprises.

Soooooooo, I decided early on to turn Xya into a homunculus, but I'm hoping I at least caught one of you off guard with the fact I had all seven of the homunculi involved. ;)

Thanks to all who have read this and for those of you who favorited this! I appreciate that this fic is getting at least a little attention!

Please note, that once chapter five has been posted, I will be editing all of the chapters posted thus far. :)

Love you all!