Deep shadows shimmered on the edge of my vision, but my eyes focussed through them as easily as if it was broad daylight. Still, the sight of them brought a smile to my chapped lips, and I licked them absently as pure contentment warmed my frozen core, melting it just a little bit.

So often it has been reiterated by both the great and weak-minded that darkness was something to be feared; the darkness in people's hearts, the pitch where nightmares crawl, where predators stalk. But to me, the shadow I cast upon the ground, the darkness that hid details from my view, was beautiful. The darkness so many had feared since the advent of man was a cool balm on my shattered mind, holding back the vivid imagery that had plagued me so, wrapping around me like a soothing blanket of the softest silk. Because every time I opened my eyes, every time I would flash back to the perpetual blinding light of that place, the simple reassurance of contrast and flickering of my own shadow, a long missed friend and companion, made my heart soar.

I took a deep breath...and marveled.

Everything was so real. I ran my hand over the damp stones beside me, revelling in the rough texture, the slide of condensation, the coolness. Even when something sharp pricked my finger, I could only smile at the sensation. I was moving. I took steps and the world passed me by, the friction beneath my shoes propelling me forward. Time passed here, and there was so much sound; the drips from the water draining above us, a clatter of a rock when something moved and even my own breathing which came back to me in an eerie echo. And the smells...well, I could have lived without them to be honest, considering where exactly I was, but I would take what I could get.

Even the soft click of heels behind me couldn't dampen my lightened heart, because I was free. I wanted to touch everything, revel in the changing scenery as I moved forward, and so I did, and I felt.

_–_–_–

When I truly woke from the nightmare, at first I couldn't breathe, and for several seconds disorientation and panic gripped me. My body felt heavy as I adjusted to the gravity of the real world once again, its pressure so very different from what I had become accustomed to. It took several labored breaths before my heart rate settled and I was able to open my eyes in wonder and disbelief, almost afraid of doing so in the terrible case that this–my liberation–was all in my overactive imagination. But as the physical sights and sensations of the real world washed over me I was relieved to acknowledge its truth.

I was not in the same place I first woke in, that image merely burned into my mind like a particularly vivid dream. And perhaps it had been. It would not have been the first time I had hallucinated during my unorthodox incarceration...But that man. He seemed so real, and familiar to me somehow, though I struggled to place it. I shook off the thought, resolving that my immediate situation was much more important.

Drab wallpaper and a scratchy bedspread led me to believe that I was in some kind of cheap hotel room. But I didn't care, couldn't focus on that because I was much too busy being shocked by all of the physical sensations I was experiencing for the first time in eternity. I could smell must and cleaning solution, could see the dull blue of an old blanket, could feel it's rough surface, moving air brushed over my bare skin...And then I stood up, and the world shifted around me, a shift in perspective that dazzled me as if I had been blind my whole life and was seeing everything for the first time. I took a trembling step and moved forward.

I couldn't describe to anyone the joy I felt at that moment; the joy I would feel for a long, long time at the barest simple acts that had been denied me so long. Never again would I take the simple act of standing and moving forward, because now I knew what it was like to lose it.

And with a desperation that consumed every molecule of my being I never wanted to lose it again.

An ice cold prickling at the back of my neck alerted me that I was not as alone as I appeared, and with dread I recognized the frigid presence. I turned around slowly towards the window to see the very figure I could blame for all of my misfortune sitting on the sill, blocking the sunlight from entering. "Welcome back," she said in her smooth voice, and for a brief moment I could only shiver, our last encounter still fresh in my mind, and the humiliation I had been forced to endure sitting like an acrid taste in the back of my throat.

"How long," I whispered lowly, finding my voice. It was a question that had been plaguing me for so long, and no matter what, no matter the consequences, I had to know.

Lust merely smiled and closed her eyes. "Nine days."

Nine...days? But it had felt like...I looked down at myself, the worn clothes still hanging limply off of my body, the ragged hair that fell in tangles to my waist. No, it hadn't just felt like it, it had been months. And suddenly I was angry, furious. Why was she lying to me? "Don't fuck with me," I growled, long past my limits of patience.

Her grin only widened with a small chuckle, setting my teeth on edge with dread. "Time passes differently in the Infinity," she said, brushing aside my anger with a warning flash of her eyes. "You will find that much less time has passed for me than it has for you." As my eyes widened in shock I could feel a pool of dread form in my stomach. That was why. That was why she had been so incredibly patient, why she could afford to spend so much time on this game. Because she hadn't had to contribute much time at all.

She leaned forward, and I couldn't stop myself from cringing. "And I can send you back there if you would rather not help me with my little project. I would be gone for several days after all. Who knows how long that would be for you…"

Before I could process the blatant unfairness of that properly, she gestured towards the door to the bathroom with a magnanimous motion. "Clean yourself up. I can't have you walking around like that now can I?" With one last chuckle, she stood gracefully and walked to the door, stepping out into the hotel hallway without a backwards glance. The door closed with a soft click.

I only stared in shock, some unseen clock ticking in the silence. She just...left me. In a daze, I wandered over to the window and looked out. An unremarkable ally greeted me, a worn building face and a dirty street below. But that wasn't what had held my attention. It was the sky, blue and crystal clear and free. I could do it. I could just open the window and jump out, into that vast sky. And I almost did, but for the sinister whisper in my mind…

I will find you.

I shivered and stepped back. No. I would not escape, and she would never cease looking for me, no matter how many innocents got in the way. So I turned around, away from the sun, and headed for the bathroom.

Heat from the shower washed over me in rippling waves of pure pleasure and I was able to regain some of my earlier euphoria. I let the familiarity of the simple act of bathing wash over me and felt like I was washing away the pain, the desperation, the numbness, and as I stood under the spray, I felt just a little bit of my will return. I felt Lust's threat hover over my shoulders like a miasma, but as long as I drowned in sensation, my body so over-sensitive after so long in emptiness, I could ignore it.

Finally, the water turned cold and even that I basked in, absorbing the sensations like a coveted drug. But even with my heart light as a feather, I could not completely dispel the urging in my blood warning me that to delay would bring disaster. Briefly, a familiar spark of defiance pricked somewhere behind my collar bone, but I brushed it aside with a flick of thought. None of that, unless I would risk...I shuddered, forcing myself not to think about it. With a heaving sigh I stepped out onto the frigid floor, the tiles slick with condensation, and found myself face to face with my own reflection.

For a full minute I stared. Just looked, eyes frozen on my bare body as if it was the most fascinating thing I had ever seen. I took a step closer, noting that the expression on my face was pulled in confusion, disbelief even. Not because I looked different, no...I was shocked because I looked exactly the same.

A startled laugh escaped my slack jaw, more a disbelieving huff of air really, but, well, I guess I had expected...something. I dunno, after everything I went through, there should be some difference in my body, my face, my complection, anywhere, but...there just wasn't. My red-violet eyes traced over my chest and torso, just as defined and tanned as if I had spent every waking moment training in the sunlight without a shirt. But no, even more so, I was in better shape than I had ever been, my shoulders just a little broader, more defined. A frown pulled at the corner of my mouth, drawing my attention back to my face.

I frowned deeper, examining more closely. No...there was a difference. I looked...older. My jaw was more defined, that of a young man than the boy that had stormed Lab Five. I didn't even really look like Alphonse anymore...more like Edward really, but even older than him. That...shouldn't be possible. I shook my head slowly, confused. I hadn't been in there that long had I? I looked down, tearing my eyes away from my reflection and resting my hand over my chest lightly. The ever present hum of the philosopher's stone made itself known to me, its clamoring souls becoming slightly more loud as I paid attention to them. I pushed them down without effort, long since used to controlling them by now, and worried my lip in thought. Eventually, though, I only heaved a resigned sigh and smiled wryly, if not a little bit bitter. I had been going through so many changes in the last few years that what did it even matter if it looked like I got a few years older in an impossibly short while. Compared to everything else, this was the least of my worries. In fact, it didn't even register as such. I hadn't been a child in a long long time after all, so looking a bit older was fine by me.

I turned sharply from the mirror, intent on leaving as quickly as possible, but a glimmer of red caught my eye. I paused, carefully brushing my too long hair out of the way before my breath caught in my throat. Slowly, I lifted my hand to the side of my neck, hoping beyond hope that my fingers could disprove what my reflection was telling me. But as I grazed my fingers over unfamiliar ridges I could only close my eyes and turn away from the damning image. There, on the side of my neck was an ouroboros tattoo, bright as blood against my skin.

Like a brand.

I took a deep breath to calm myself, banishing the thought before it could burden me further. I already knew what I was, but seeing the visual proof put a bad taste in my mouth. I desperately grabbed for the optimism I had been feeling earlier and stepped out of the bathroom, running fingers through my stubbornly tangled hair.

A shiver tingled up my spine and I jumped, a slight thrill of fear pulsing in me before my eyes snapped open and I realized I was still alone. But there was a pile of fabric on the bed that hadn't been there before, and I cringed slightly for walking out of the bathroom completely uncovered. Lust had left, yes, but that didn't mean she wouldn't come back, in fact already had. Being bare in front of her would be...bad. Not that she had ever demanded anything of the sort from me but the look in her eyes sometimes...I shuddered, quickly moving to the bed to find what had been left for me, eager to be covered once more.

My lips pulled back in resigned distaste as I lifted the soft pieces of fabric. Black. Of course. I quickly pulled on the loose black pants, relieved to be somewhat decent again, before moving onto the shirt. As I lifted it, a glimmer of silver scintillated in the light and hit the bed before bouncing off and clinking against the floor. I huffed in annoyance, bending over to pick it up with a quick swipe of my hand. I carelessly began to throw it back onto the bed, thinking it a lot more important to clothe myself before worrying about whatever it was, but a spark of familiarity stayed my hand. Slowly, I uncurled my fingers one by one, revealing the small object to my widening gaze.

An earring, no bigger than my thumb, glinted in the palm of my hand. An impossibly detailed snake wove and writhed around a crowned cross, draping across it like an arm around the shoulders of an old friend. Nestled in the center of that cross was the deepest blue stone I had ever seen, its color so pure that it could only have been made by magic. Wings spread out from the peice, reaching wide as if it meant to fly from my hand into the brilliant sunlight its polished silver reflected so well.

My eyes blurred slightly and I blinked rapidly, realizing only a second later the tears that fell down my face unhindered. It was the Flamel, the symbol tattooed onto Izumi Curtis' chest, that Alphonse wore engraved on his armor, and Edward wore on the back of his clothes like a crest. Edward's smiling face and Alphonse's warm soul on the day that they presented this earring to me, so happy because–The earring that Mustang complemented in jest but I could only feel pride because–

Because you're our brother.

It was the symbol of my family, given to the Elrics when Izumi accepted them as her students and then given to me when Edward and Alphonse accepted me as a brother. Why...why did Lust give this to me?

Because she wanted to hurt you with the memory of what you lost, of what you can't have.

Slowly, like clouds parting for the sun, a fierce smile tugged at my lips. It hurt. Oh, it hurt. I may not be able to see them, may not even want to after everything that happened but as the memories washed over me and burned through my blood I could only smile.

Lust miscalculated. She thought that it would break me further to see a symbol of my second life, but it only served to remind me who I was. Reverently, I brought the earring to my ear and slipped it in, only stymied for a second when I had to re-pierce my healed skin. As its familiar weight settled and brushed the side of my neck I let my smile drop into neutrality, even as my heart soared and it felt like a little piece of my soul returned with a satisfying click. The desperation and despair I had felt in the Infinity faded just slightly in the face of the hope of reality and the memories of who I was.

I was still afraid, terrified even, of being trapped again, and until I could find a way to either escape or destroy Lust completely, I was never going to regain my freedom. Until then, I would be forced to play her game.

I looked up with dull eyes but a fierce heart when the door opened. Lust stepped through and seemed so pleased with herself at the tear stains still lingering on my face, thinking the round won.

Until then…

_–_–_–

We traveled through the sewers, the putrid smell of ammonia and unspeakable filth burning my nose and the tunnels snaking endlessly. I did not yet know why we were here or where we were going, but it hardly mattered to me at the moment, lost as I was in the sensations of my own body. I wondered vaguely if I would ever get over the simple joy of feeling texture beneath my skin, even if it was a distasteful slime of who knows what. I tugged lightly at the cloth around my neck with my other hand wondering vaguely if the piece of fabric was a simple design preference or if it was designed to feel like an animal collar around my neck. I couldn't bring myself to care though, as it covered my ouroboros tattoo up nicely. Small blessings in disguise.

So distracted was I that I barely noticed it at first. I was so used to the sensations of disturbed souls brushing against mine that I almost didn't realize that what I was feeling was coming from outside of myself. I froze in confusion, hand sliding to a stop against the wall, and squinted into the darkness of the tunnel beyond. At the corner of my eye, I could see Lust come to a stop beside me, uncomfortably close, but I ignored her as the sensation grew stronger.

A mass of immeasurable aggression and anger pulsed from the darkness like some kind of insidious pressure. I blinked and took a step back, feeling the emotions boil like a particularly dangerous chemical. That was...new. I had never felt the emotions of another without direct contact before...The faint sound of dragging footsteps echoed off the walls, alerting me to the presence of someone approaching. The intensity of it was staggering and I wouldn't have been able to imagine all that coming from one being if I wasn't feeling it for myself.

I shifted slightly, not having even the slightest desire to face whatever tortured soul was capable of such malice, but a strong hand on my shoulder held me in place. I glanced quickly at Lust, but her eyes were locked on the tunnel in front of us, a devilish smile on her lips. Another particularly strong pulse of anger caused me to cringe.

A figure slowly revealed itself in the darkness. Filthy clothes wrapped over a strong frame, tattered and revealing hard and tanned skin in places. The man lifted his chin when he sensed our presence, and my jaw dropped. Crimson eyes glared from the darkness, deeper even than my own, a true red. But that was hardly the most shocking thing at the moment. A thick, roped scar in the shape of an 'X' crossed between his eyes, startlingly white against brown skin.

"Scar…" I whispered, adrenaline instantly spiking in my limbs. His blood red eyes locked onto mine, and I tensed, feeling the miasma of his volatile emotions rack up a notch along with my own as a flood of highly unpleasant memories assailed me.

"Fullmetal," he growled. The name hung heavily in the air between us as I was struck speechless, surprised at having been mistaken for Edward, but he corrected himself a second later. "No...but that's impossible. I killed the abomination he created."

"You certainly gave it your best shot," I said with an ironic quirk of my lips, voice shaking through the weak attempt at humor. My hands inched to the small of my back and grasped convulsively, acutely missing the weight of my weapons.

"Scar…" Lust cut in, her words nearly a pur. Scar's splintering gaze released me to regard her, and I let out an involuntary sigh of relief. His eyes narrowed as he took in the new threat. "We have been searching for you."

I scoffed in disbelief before I could stop myself. "This is what you were going to do? Find Scar? Are you absolutely nuts!?"

The words were completely ignored as her gaze never wavered. Scar's brows furrowed. "I know you…"

Lust frowned, momentarily thrown, before reinserting her smile. "You have become a problem, my dear," she simpered, folding her arms delicately across her waist. "You see, I can't help but think you were plotting to lay your hands on the Elric boys again. And I can't have that…"

"What–" I gasped, but a clench of her hand on my shoulder silenced me. I stared at her in horror. What did she want with Ed and Al? I thought–I thought she wouldn't bother with them after she had me.

"You look like her, but that can't be true…" Scar muttered to himself, and I blinked dizzily. We were all talking around each other. Tension was building in the air, and I whipped my gaze between the two spasmodically. Scar took a step forward, tensing his shoulders, and I startled as Lust abruptly released me. Stumbling back, I dare not tear my eyes off the predator in front of me, but dearly longed to glance at the one at my back.

"Empathy...Kill him."

Eyes widening, I wasn't able to utter even a startled 'Huh?' before Scar lurched forward with an animalistic shout, arm bulging into a claw and thrust threateningly out at me.

Crimson alchemy consumed my vision and I screamed.

–_–_–

An explosion rent the air, shattering the silent night of Central City in a violent spray of concrete and stone. Buildings shook and the ground trembled as the street by the river was torn apart by an unknown immeasurable force, bringing down the building behind it and shattering the pavement a hundred yards in each direction. Dust flung into the air as the ruined infrastructure tumbled into the dark waters, then settled into a ringing silence. And then the first screams began.

–_–_–

AN:

Hello again. We have finally arrived back in the real world. *sighs in relief*. Not that I wasn't enjoying the drama in the Infinity, I was, but I was also relieved to move forward again. Heh *nudges Empathy in the side at the lame joke. He is not amused*. It served its various purposes well, such as establishing Lust and Empathy's relationship and the advent of his new powers (*shifts eyes* convenient time jump? I have no idea what you are talking about…) and setting up Lust's backstory all without terribly inconveniencing the timeline. Whoohhh. It was pretty tough getting all that in there without dragging it on for freaking ever, let me tell you. And now it's over tralalalaaaaa.

Hehee, Lust miscalculated by giving that piece of Alex back didn't she. I don't think she'll like the consequences of that |:) Somebody doesn't have as much control as she thinks hoho~

Well I hope you guys are following all right. I know it's been kind of a challenge to get back on track for me since I've had to take a break from writing. If it feels disjointed, let me know and I'll do my best to fix it. Thanks for your support.

Next Chapter: Mustang is back on the trail, and he's not the only one…

Oh yeah. The appearance thing. The stone accelerated his growth a bit before freezing him in immortality. I thought it would be unspeakably cruel to leave him as a kid for eternity, so he pretty much looks like Ed did at the end of fma/b. I mean, I already changed his gender. I'm not that mean! *points at Lust* she's the mean one, attack her! Now I'm just being silly...no more coffee at night.