Author's Note: I apologize if Envy seems a little OOC. I didn't realize it until after I'd written this chapter but I think he might be. Oh, well! I hope it's not too bothersome!

When Genevieve woke up a few days later, she knew something was going to happen. She'd never be able to explain it. Her instinct had never been wrong before and she doubted it was about to start. Slowly, she sat up from her hard bed and started to stretch. It was only as she stood to do something like a warm-up for the day that she realized something. Her sleep hadn't been fitful or uncomfortable. If anything, the brunette had felt safe and warm. There was something lingering in the air too; it was almost tangible.

Memories of her visitor the night before brought a light blush to her cheeks. Not only had she looked a mess, but she'd also yelled at him. He hadn't yell at her for it either. Her cheeks brightened even more as she hugged herself. Envy had held and comforted her.

It was so strange and yet familiar. As her heartbeat quickened at the reminder, the assassin thought to one of the dreams she had before getting arrested. If she put the homunculus's visage in the place of the one holding her- She fell over.

Truth just loved toying with her.

It was a perfect match.

Envy sighed as his eyes drifted open. His shoulder was still a little stiff from Genevieve leaning on it. Which was weird considering how fast he normally healed. But then, he'd deliberately refused to let it heal. It reminded him that what he felt had been real.

The homunculus wanted to curse himself for allowing the aspects of their game to change. In only a few short encounters he'd become smitten with the reluctant assassin. How that happened, Envy wasn't entirely sure. One moment he's using her attraction against her and the next he's attracted to her. The Truth was a cruel thing, it seemed.

He clenched and unclenched his fist, watching it as his thoughts drifted to Friday. Friday was tomorrow. And while Envy knew it was only a cover-up for moving her underground, something was bugging him. He suspected his newfound bond with the brunette was causing other emotions he wasn't familiar with. He sighed. The only thing to do was watch and wait.

Later in the evening, a commotion began to stir. Soldiers rushed passed her cell as someone barked orders about holding off an intruder. Apparently, there was a rogue armored soul running through the halls looking for someone. Curiosity got the best of her as she tried to listen for whoever or whatever was coming.

However, she hadn't expected the armor from the Fifth Lab to be looking for her. He waved a bloody cleaver this way and that, calling out her title or her name. When silence finally fell, he stopped in front of her cell with Maria Ross right behind him. She blinked owlishly as he slipped familiar curved handles between the bars. He started hacking at them as he said, "Hey there, sweetheart. You're coming with me!"

"No."

Ross stared at her wide-eyed. Barry the Chopper stopped and looked at her in what she suspected was shock. Neither could believe she wanted to refuse. "What do you mean, 'No'!"

"Just what I said." The brunette took a deep breath. She knew who was behind this. While it made her happy, this is where she had to be. Something was telling her to stay so that's what she was going to do. If that feeling led to her death, so be it.

Ross tried to protest, "But, Miss Dawkins-"

"Maria, I'm not a good person." Blue met brown in a silencing glare. Genevieve stood to her full height and continued. "I have done things no sixteen-year-old should ever have to do. And while I'm not proud of it, I survived. I'm not sure how this will end for me, but I'm not going down without a fight!"

The Second Lieutenant could only stare in awe as she stared at the girl before her. The maturity and determination burning in those eyes were enviable. Whatever had happened between the Fifth Lab incident and Genevieve's arrest had been the final boost she needed to change. No longer was this girl a guarded and seemingly emotionless teen. This young brunette had become a woman forged in the fires of whatever tragedy she'd suffered. For some reason, this made Maria proud to know her. Maybe one day, when they all made it through this, she could live to be a woman like the one Genevieve had become.

A look of finality crossed Genevieve's face as she spoke again. "There's a Xingese immigrant down the hall. Do me a favor and free him instead."

Ling couldn't believe his ears. He hadn't known she was aware of his presence down the hall. Granted, she could've been there the day he was arrested. But that just made him more wary of what she knew. Someone who'd been accused of murder had given up the opportunity to escape. And then they'd asked for his freedom instead? He was thankful for her choice and would properly thank her one day. Whenever that day came.

Barry spluttered for a few moments before screaming his displeasure. Charging down the hallway, he did as she asked and set the prince free. Then, the three escapees left without intervention.

As they ran, Ling suddenly realized the person who'd asked for his freedom also held one of the strange auras. The young prince stumbled for a second. Her aura was strong, laced with a power that differed from alchemy. However, she also held alchemy and the two powers seemed to be warring within her. If the execution didn't kill her, her powers would. When he found Edward, he would ask the blond if he knew anything.

As they made their escape, the one left behind tucked her blades away, thoughts still conflicted. She wanted to rebuild the strength she once had, but without an escape plan, there was no hope. Not only that, but her nightmares were waking her constantly. She was always tired, fighting to stay awake even as sleep took her anyway.

It was now, after nine years of numbing herself to trauma, that her walls had broken. In her dreams, the faces of all those she'd killed surrounded her, swearing revenge for what she did to them. The guilt on her shoulders was heavy; something she knew would never be lifted from her shoulders. Genevieve knew that was tied to whatever kept her here.

However, the young brunette did not plan to go down without a fight. It didn't matter how long it would take; she would prevail in the end. But something in the back of her mind told her freedom wouldn't come without a price.

"She what," Mustang yelled in outrage. He'd had a whole plan to help Genevieve and Ross escape ready. But. Genevieve. Refused. The colonel was seething but also confused. He didn't understand why she did it. Ross had told him the girl didn't have a plan. She didn't believe she belonged there either. Just what the hell is she thinking?!

Edward found him pacing in the alleyway shortly after Barry disappeared and the corpse of Maria Ross lay burned beyond recognition. He raged at the man for killing an innocent person but there was a look in the Flame Colonel's eyes that stopped him. The blond deadpanned at the man before remembering the other reason he came. "Colonel, where's Ling?"

"Up here!" They looked up to see the prince sitting on the roof above them with a smile on his face. He dropped down, landing gracefully on his feet. "I don't know what that woman is up to, but I'm grateful for what she did."

"Woman?" Ed looked to Mustang as realization hit him. His frustration flared again. "Wait. What were you going to do?"

"We were going to help Genevieve escape," his simmering coals met hesitant gold, "but she refused."

What confused him most was why the Fuhrer would agree. He gave her the recommendation. He assigned her to work with Fullmetal. So, why?

"That woman is strange." Both alchemists looked to him in annoyance. "Maybe it has something to do with her chi."

Ed frowned. "What do you mean 'her chi'?"

"I've explained it to you before, right?" The blond nodded. "Well, the one you're talking about has a weird chi. There's something dangerously...off about it."

Edward only grew more confused but Mustang immediately made the connection. He sighed. Suzanne was right to worry. He could only hope the delicate balance wouldn't tip and kill her. From what he'd read, she was on the verge of something that could dangerously tamper with the balance between magic and alchemy.

Glaring hard toward the prison, Mustang hoped the assassin had a plan.

When Envy heard about the break-in, he immediately made his way over to the prison. His thoughts were racing. It was quite obvious that the Flame Alchemist had orchestrated the stunt. He wondered if Genevieve had escaped. If so, he would be sent to get her.

It would be the perfect excuse to take her underground. He smirked, loving the thought of having her locked up in his room. Oh, the things he would do to her. A sadistic chuckle rumbled in his chest.

Imagine his surprise when he found the brunette sitting in her cell and staring out the barred window.

She was leaned over her legs, hands propping her head up. The faint outline of her blades' curved handles lay on each of her hips. Her clothes had become scuffed and marred with dirt. Every curl seemed to be fuzzy with frizz. Yet the new light in her eyes gave him pause.

He'd noticed it the last time he left, but now it was stronger. His stone pulsed with the realization that he'd put it there. Slitted pupils expanded slightly as he took the final steps into her darkening cell.

It was strange. Even like this, he thought the young alchemist attractive. He'd always admired her strength - no matter how reluctant that admiration had been. But when he first met her icy gaze, something in those swirling pools caught his interest. The frozen fire in those eyes had been strangely alluring. Even now, when she was only a day away from working with him, there was an undeniable strength in her eyes.

But something about it was...broken. There was something missing in her gaze. What that was, he didn't know.

However, when she turned to face him, he was surprised out of his thoughts when a slight smile appeared on her lips. The pulsing in his chest sped up. The homunculus may have realized what that feeling was, but it still left him unbalanced, unused to experiencing any emotion other than what he was named for.

"Envy." His head tilted in curiosity. "What are you doing here?"

Genevieve was a bit confused by his actions. The shape-shifter had mocked her, toyed with her. Then he suddenly appeared at the moment she really needed someone. Instead of taunting her - instead of degrading her for the vulnerability she showed - he actually comforted her? Something in her warmed at the memory of his arm around her and the sense of safety and content that feeling created.

There was something special about it. Something she couldn't name that made her heart race with joy. Whatever it was, she wanted to learn more, maybe experience it again. But that likely wouldn't happen. Envy, despite his name, was a prideful being. To allow himself to fall for a human was unthinkable. But, what would happen if we let this feeling grow?

"I heard about the break-in and wanted to make sure you didn't try to escape." He leaned in close to her face, an arrogant smirk on his lips. He lifted her face up to his with a single finger and watched with satisfaction as her cheeks reddened. "If you did, I would have find you and take you underground."

She swallowed and blinked a couple times to recompose herself. It was difficult considering the intensity of his expression sent her heart into overdrive. So instead, Genevieve focused on the guilt that helped keep her there. The light in her eyes dimmed slightly as her gaze shifted to the floor. "I couldn't escape. Not when I have destroyed so many lives."

"Does that mean you're still giving up?" Anger surged through him. After finally releasing her anger, she was still pathetic? He roughly released her face and straightened. "I thought you were passed that 'I deserve this' bullshit!"

"I am!" she seethed at his accusation.

"Really?" Envy crossed his arms. "It doesn't look like it."

"Because I'm still lost!" Eyes blazing with fury, she stood and glared at him. "What did you expect? I can't magically fix my emotions in a few short days, Envy. Humans can't help how they feel, its simply our nature!"

"That's just an excuse." His violet eyes narrowed at her.

Nevie groaned in frustration. How could she get him to understand if he didn't listen! She raced forward, catching him by surprise and pinning him the ground. With a growl, she forced her blades into the concrete on either side of Envy's face. He flinched in shock at the proximity of her blades but watched in growing curiosity as a fierce fire lit her eyes. The fire he suddenly realized had been missing from her icy blue eyes.

"If you would just wait and listen for a moment!" Nevie resisted the urge to choke him as she continued, "If I'd have left, I know Mustang would've sent me out-of-country. But lately, I've been having strange nightmares that tell me to stay here."

That was all she could afford to tell him. Her attraction to him wouldn't blind her from who he was. And while the homunculi were aware of her knowing their plans, they didn't have to know that she'd connected it to Xerxes. It was bad enough that she was practically a tool for them to use. She didn't need them knowing about her magic or what it could do.

With a sigh, the brunette relaxed slightly. Running a shaky hand through her hair, she looked down at him again. "The problem is I need to stay alive to figure out what those nightmares are trying to tell me."

He scoffed. "They're nightmares. They don't mean anything."

Icy eyes narrowed at him. "To you, maybe. But to me, something bad happens either before or after to trigger them." Lightning flickered in her eyes as her gaze intensified. Her eyes seemed to glow with electricity as she continued. "My life hasn't been all black and white. Mom warned me about things like this, so I listened. Those meaningless nightmares helped me make good decisions in the past! They're widely sporadic but helpful."

Envy still didn't believe her but he brushed it off. He'd seen something that shouldn't exist before, why should now be any different? After seeing the alchemist before him fight a witch, he shouldn't be surprised. There was just something about her. He didn't know what it was, but there something...other about her alchemy.

He sighed in irritation and pushed those thoughts aside. The homunculus suddenly realized their position and smirked amusedly despite the pink dusting his cheeks.

Genevieve looked confused by his change in mood. "What?"

"I never thought you the bold type." His amusement only grew as she looked down and realized what he meant. The red in her face made him chuckle. She raced to get off him and stood, rambling a bit about not getting the wrong idea. Envy outright laughed at her embarrassment.

Genevieve made him feel more human than ever before. And he loved it.

"Get up," ice met stoic brown, "it's time."

She sighed. There was really no getting out of this. Every plan she thought of would put her friends at risk. No way was she going to do that.

Through the night, Hurricane came to realize how much she'd opened up since joining the Elric brothers. In just a few short months, her mask of indifference had crumbled to nothing. Before meeting them, that would've bothered her. But now, she was happy they'd saved her from the darkness.

However, they saved her a little too late.

Frizzy, brown curls waved softly in the wind, head held high with the last pieces of dignity she had left. Her sun-kissed hands were cuffed together behind her back. The sun mercilessly beat down on her back and restrained arms. Her body was rigid with determination. She refused to show them her anxiousness as resignation and determination warred within her.

Her icy gaze fell onto the noose before it was snugly tightened around her neck, hanging from the plank above her.

Genevieve Dawkins had been accused and found guilty for multiple accounts of murder. Today, she was to be executed in front of the senior staff - even the Fuhrer was present. It was laughable really. The very people who'd force her into this lifestyle would watch as she died for it.

The wood under her feet suddenly dropped. The brunette screamed in surprise. For a moment, it felt as though time slowed. She fell freely, arms bound and unable to reach the blades at her sides. Her legs kicked helplessly as she tried to slow her fall. The rope of the noose slowly tightened around her neck. This is it, she thought. As if that calmed her, Genevieve stilled her panicky movements waiting for the rope to snap her neck.

Before that happened, two, steel-like arms caught her, wrapping her in a calming embrace. One quickly reached up, morphing into a blade and cutting the rope before returning to support her. The familiar feeling brought relief to her pounding heart.

Envy's features darkened into irritation as he turned to the Fuhrer. "This wasn't the plan, Bradley. Father needs her alive."

The king narrowed his eyes at the androgynous teen. He had noticed the homunculus's growing affection for the girl. It seemed the mutual bond was stronger than he'd anticipated.

"Her corpse could be just as effective."

"No. It would be sluggish and decaying." He tossed the assassin over his shoulder, careful not to jostle her more than needed. He'd hurt her like that before and it physically pained him. The older homunculus sneered as he focused on Bradley. "I'm taking her to the other prison. She'll stay there until Father sends one of us to get her."

Without waiting for a response, he turned to leave. Envy would never forget how it felt to save her that day. And though he brushed it off at the time, the homunculus knew he would never regret it.

Tears of relief pooled in the brunette's eyes as they finally left the execution site. Her mind was still in a state of shock. It was slowly catching up to the fact that she wasn't dead. That Envy had saved her. She'd be taken underground and probably forced to work for them, but that was better than death.

"Thank you, Envy." He paused for a moment, grunting a 'whatever' and continuing. She smiled at his response and almost gasped when his grip on her tightened. Though he didn't say it, the assassin could tell he was worried about her. The thought made her heart swell. Maybe working with him wouldn't be so bad.

"Someone will get you in a few days, so stay put." Genevieve hummed her acknowledgment. They walked silently until he set her on her feet and unbound her hands. Tossing a cape over her, he transformed into Dwayne Morrison and escorted her away.

News spread quickly of the Hurricane Alchemist's execution. When it found Mustang and the others, they were devastated. They fought with themselves about doing more to help her but knew in the end, she had given her chance at freedom to someone else. That someone was quite thankful for her sacrifice and felt honored by the chance she'd given him.

"She's still alive." Hawkeye gave him a sullen look. "Hurricane wouldn't refuse my help if she didn't have a plan. I know she's still out there."

The lieutenant sighed. Out of everyone, Mustang had taken the news the hardest. She couldn't really blame him for it. Only days after finding his goddaughter she gets sentenced to death? It must be hard on him knowing he'd tried to get her out. That he was in denial was natural. But no matter how many times she tried to help Roy accept it, he simply wouldn't listen. The sniper had given up trying to convince him, finding it better he do so on his own. She could only hope it didn't take long.

However, Mustang's thoughts were just the opposite. He just had a feeling - no, it was more than that. He just knew she was alive. For Genevieve to outright deny help, he knew someone or something had kept her there for a reason.

Roy only hoped that reason wouldn't get her killed.

Her eyelids shot open as yet another nightmare woke her. She sat up from the hard mattress, knowing she wouldn't be going back to sleep. No matter how many times her nightmares showed her, the brunette could always feel the terror of the night Xerxes fell shortly before seeing Amestris' citizens suffering the same fate. Every time, a huge, gray eye covered the continent and flashes of red lightning crackled through the sky as weeping souls flew to the center of the pupil.

It could only mean one thing.

If what she and Hughes found was right, whoever was behind the scenes - probably Father, as Envy had slipped - either knew what to do or had lived that long enough to repeat history. Genevieve wasn't a fool. She knew there were beings who could grossly outlive humans. This...Father was probably one of those beings. She figured he wanted to use what happened to Xerxes to gain more power. She also had a sneaking suspicion that they had an underground connection to more than just Central. Nevie couldn't let that happen.

Perhaps whatever force kept her in that prison wanted her to stop them. Maybe she had to gain power before she could stop them. As she was, alchemy was really her only safe power. The brunette knew that alone wouldn't be enough. Father likely had more than homunculi than Envy, Lust, and Gluttony working for him. While they couldn't use it themselves, they could easily hold their own without it.

But what if alchemy wasn't all she had?

When she was first imprisoned earlier in the week, Kyubey had reminded her of his contract to become a magical girl in exchange for a wish. Being the curious person she was, Genevieve asked the question that had been bugging her since he arrived: why did he make contracts? The truth horrified her.

His race - the Incubators - was using the energy produced by human emotions to keep their universe alive and to power their planet. They chose girls between twelve and seventeen because they were the most emotional people. They also seemed to hold the most potential in soul worth.

Which then brought the question of "why me?".

"That's simple." He slipped from her shoulder and into her lap so he could look her in the face. "Your mother was a Magical Girl. When she gave birth to you, some of her power entered you. As you've discovered, people like you come to be naturally gifted with magic. That, along with the added activation of a contract can produce more power than any regular Puella Magi can."

She shivered. Poor Mom. No wonder the woman had been so worried when she took an interest in alchemy. Magic and alchemy were violent opposites; but for her, the magic had lain mostly dormant. At least until Kyubey came along. Ever since then, her magic had been steadily overpowering her alchemy, warring inside her and causing intense chest pain. It was fickle and seemed to have a mind of its own at times. If she tried to ignore it and leave her magic unused for a few days, it would leak into her transmutations and disrupt them. Very few times had her magic caused a rebound; even rarer, amplified her transmutations.

But people were dying. Her friends were in danger of being used for power. She couldn't do anything here. Having barely escaped death, the ex-assassin decided it was time to tip the odds in their favor. The key to her desires was sitting in her lap. She need only take it. But...

Was her desire to protect stronger than her love for what made her human?

Genevieve had spent the last few days thinking it over, trying to determine the answer to that question. After many years of isolation and discrimination, the young brunette was thrust into a world of friendship and acceptance. It had opened a path that she hadn't seen before. When she was sent after Hughes, it destroyed her - she could still feel that weight. Despite that, Gracia understood and hadn't blamed her. The young mother had even comforted Genevieve when she broke down that night. he and his family would want her to move forward.

Dawning sunlight peeked through the barred window of her new cell, pulling her from her thoughts. Her curls were wilder than usual, frizzed beyond finger-combing. Sweat stuck to her face, adding to the summer heat that suffocated her. Lifting a hand to shield her face, icy eyes looked thoughtfully at the gallows in the courtyard across town, thoughts turning to what Envy had mentioned about Father's plans. If she didn't decide soon, there wouldn't be any other chances. As the sun rose high into noon, her mind was set.

"Have you decided," asked a small voice from the cell bars. She turned to face the emotionless creature, uncaring of her disheveled appearance.

"Yes." Closing her eyes, Genevieve took a calming breath before leveling a determined gaze on him. "I wish to always have the power to protect my loved ones!"

His eyes widened. "That wish-"

"Can be done, right? Based on all that you've told and shown me, you can do that."

"I can."

"Then what are you waiting for?" She steeled her nerves, bracing herself for the pain to come. "Grant my wish, Incubator!"

Kyubey jumped to the windowsill, closed his eyes and lifted his ears.

Everything fell silent as the air thickened with magic. Their surroundings darkened as the light of magic began to glow from her chest. Icy eyes glanced down in awe as two very different shades of blue shone like a circle split in half. The two hues bled into one another, merging into the soothing lake blue she'd always loved.

There was a slight smile on her face before the pain finally registered. It radiated through her in waves so intense that she couldn't scream. It felt like she was burning from the inside out, and getting struck by lightning with electricity surging through her all at once. Her silent screams went unanswered as her body struggled through the pain.

Then suddenly, it was over. Genevieve was slowly lifted from the ground until her back was to the floor. Blue light poured from her chest as the Incubator started pulling her soul out. Her surroundings fell to the background as an orb of blue light floated above her. Despite the numbness in her body, Genevieve felt the urge to touch it.

"Grab your Soul Gem and claim your power as a Magical Girl!" His voice sounded distant, but she did as told. With shaky hands, she reached up, fingers barely grazing the orb a few times before she finally got a hold of it. Light exploded and consumed her vision, taking her consciousness with it.

The last thing she heard was an echo. 'You cannot walk away from fate, Puella Magi.'