Title: Free Fall
Author: Spirix

Genre: Drama/Romance/Action
Rating: T for Teens
Pairing: Edward/Alter!Roy, Edvy, Ed/Roy

Spoilers: A lot… This story is AU because it has both parts from the anime, the manga and even some that comes from no where but my insane imagination.

Summary: Ed is given the ability to put Al back in his body but at a price that takes him from everything he has ever known. Forced to live in another world without alchemy he resigns to the fact that his previous life was a dream to test him for his real future. Edward does well in his new life until one fateful day the worlds overlap but how can he save people he spent years telling himself did not exist?

Disclaimer: I hate this part; it just reminds me of my lack of owning such a great story.

Dedication: To everyone who loved my Bleach fanfics


Isn't This a Dream?

Chapter Four
Jilly


"Pride awoke with a start and smacked his head off the marble bench he fell asleep under. He cursed up such a storm all the birds took flight. He gets so angry. It kind of makes you wonder how he's even able to calm down between fits of rage."

Roy Mustang smirked and sipped another taste of his wine. Jilly having a lot to say would be an understatement. Roy had no idea when he added a bit of "flavour" to the table wine that her tong would unravel like a poorly knitted sweater. She just kept going on and on about her childhood to a point Roy thought about walking out of the room to change into comfier clothing and come back in to see if she even noticed. He highly doubted it.

The blue collar was stiff and abrasive against his neck. He hated this jacket; it wasn't properly worn in yet. Roy could hear Hughes in the back of his head telling him he was lazy for using melted wax on inside of the material to keep it so crisp without ironing. Roy took off the coat and undid the first couple of buttons of his light shirt. He sighed in relief as he could finally feel the cool night on his slightly sweat slicked chest. The room was incredibly stuffy with the windows closed and fireplace going. It was a small and rather pathetic ember glow but it didn't help.

Roy blamed the overly cold fall that was fast approaching. Apparently it was going to be the coldest one on record. He hated snow… and rain, and cold and, and, that his gloves were in the pocket of his other one. He cursed himself for being an idiot.

"My little sister was such a wild child. I think she probably still is. I haven't seen her in so long now, almost two whole months. That's an eternity for family you know."

She started giggling stupidly at how there was still cheese squares on the tray. Roy popped a tasty cube into his mouth and watched the former slave mush a piece between her fingers. She was wasted and on a beverage that was ninety percent table wine and ten percent vodka. It wasn't good but Roy only had two ingredients to work with. Who knew Gracia kept a flask in her sewing basket? From the looks of it she never used it but still, it was unnerving. Jilly's amazed words brought him back to her stories. Hughes was already in bed but Roy had the feeling he still had a while to go before she would tell him anything relevant.

"She had the biggest crush on the littlest Pride back when he was first bought. My sister was never a slave like me. The General said she could live in the house if she worked. He was a fair man and one of the nicest masters I ever had. Mia and I were his first two. After us he filled the house with women from all over the world saying it was nice having a hobby. Who thought collecting women could be a hobby. I always liked beads myself."

From what Roy had gathered so far he realised had had enough information to do absolutely anything… that is if he redefined anything to mean nothing. It was frustrating. Roy hated being so left out and not in control. He needed to get things back in order. Jilly was one of many keys to get him back the ace up his sleeve. Edward never realised how much of an influence his loyalties had on the common man. They saw the Fullmetal Alchemist as one of their own and if he followed the Flame Alchemist then it was for a good reason. His "death" caused a chained of reactions even Roy couldn't have foreseen. And domino affect that changed the country into what it is now, a realm of fear because to leave was to never come back in.

If he could convince Edward… no Pride to stand at his side, Roy new he could find an angle to make the people be on his side once again. He just needed to convince the once alchemist that he cared about what happened in Amestris. With the rate things were going the word is only a name soon to be only important in history text books.

"The General used to have two sons you know. They died in one of the Empire's silly battles to conquer the world. He was heart broken, poor man. The house was quiet for months before he said he couldn't take it anymore. Mia was the one who suggested he buy a couple of male slaves to have around. The General always liked to treat his slaves like real people. Our opinions were valued and he even hired entertainers to come and perform for all of us. We were a weird sort of family. Can you buy a family Roy Mustang?"

"I never thought so but I'm sure there are circumstances that you can do such."

"Well the General was determined to buy as many women as he could to fill his big empty mansion and one day him and Mia went out in search of two more. He put in a request to his usual supplier for two young men and it just so happened he just caught two a month or so prior but they were still being broken in. The General never lived caught slaves. Mia and I were born into our lifestyles so it's ok."

Roy snorted but listened with avid attention. Was she actually telling him about how Pride was captured?! Unbelievable, Roy smirked at his own luck. He loved how things always seemed to just work out.

"He came back with a silly big grin on his silly big face. He was as excited as a dog with bone. He said he found two lively ones. Trust the old warhorse to be happy about two unbroken slaves. He told me about how they toppled over a few fruit stands and even looked him in the eye. I told him he should send them back until they know their place. Mia and I were different because we had been his for almost 10 years but these new purchases should be obedient. I don't he was even listening."

"You're very opinionated for a slave."

Jilly tossed hair main over her shoulder and ate another piece of cheese.

"Just because I was treated my whole childhood like an object doesn't mean I don't know how to be a person. I am not just some body for you to do with what you like. I am free and I'll be damned if some blue-clad silken haired prince comes waltzing into my life and tells me I'm too opinionated. Well too bad Mr Roy! I can say whatever I like now and I have to say I love your eyes but hate how they see things! Your perspectives are fucked up."

She stabbed another poor piece of innocent cheese with her fingernail. Roy wondered if there was something in the water around here. It was the country air, it had to be. Why else would everyone and their dog be jumping down his throat?

She examined a cracker and smiled. Whatever ticked her off before was forgotten. Roy made a mental note to not mention her loose lips or her slavery. She was too valuable to his plan to mess things up now. Her expressions sobered.

"Its hard to believe that he was once a whole person. I never got to meet Pride until after he was broken and incomplete. There were times when I could see the man he used to be peeking out but he never surfaced. Why do bad things happen to good people?"

Roy didn't know what to say. He wasn't given much of an opportunity to think about it either as she started in again.

"It took almost a year for him to accept whatever was poisoning his heart and be happy with us. Then our General was assassinated. We were all sold to different aristocrats, except for those two. They managed to escape and go into hiding for a while but it was too late. The General had mentioned they were both special but I thought he just meant because they were guys but he said they had a special magic that the Empire intended to use to gain more territories. So they ran and almost got away but were caught in the end. The world isn't large enough to hide from Caesar."

She sniffed a bit before continuing. Roy didn't want to break her rhythm so he kept still and listened.

"Pride is a good man regardless of what anyone says, those children he carted around and poor Wrath. Sometimes I just don't know how he can even smile when I know he is dying on the inside. His fake laughs and shallow happiness get under my skin. He was captured trying to save his dying lover whom I never met. If that wasn't tragic enough, Envy was killed too just when Pride was letting himself love again. Roy I don't think I can help him this time. I can't even help myself."

She was crying softly, large crocodile tears spilling down her face and dripping onto her shirt. Roy tried to assimilate what she just said but she cut off his thought process with whimper.

"Everyone keeps dying… Envy, Wrath, Ashura and, and, and he comes home and his brother doesn't even welcome him like he should. He talked about that boy endlessly. I just thought that maybe there would be a happy ending. This world seemed so nice but it's the same. I know I'll be fine. My boys have their father and he's a good man. But I want to go home and I want my best friend to stop hurting. I can't, I can't, I can't do this all on my own."

Roy handed her a tissue. Their playful conversation was a distant memory.

"I don't even know why I'm talking to you. You don't care about me or Pride. But I don't know what else to do and I can't stop crying… How do you recover when your lover was murdered and there was nothing you could do to save him? He said he didn't blame himself but I don't believe him. He was a ghost in that horrible prison for over half a year before he met Wrath. She helped him in that pit and helped him more when he got out. Before I knew it he had those three children under his wing and a big plan to save the world."

She coughed and wiped away more pearly tears.

"But then, then, oh it was awful. I still can't believe she's dead. I can't believe what happened. And Pride was heartbroken and I was left alone to look after that baby. He couldn't. After she died in child birth he just sat there, covered in her blood and looked at the wall. It took me three days to get him to move and another to just to get him to drink. While all this was happening, my sister, my little sister went missing. If it weren't for that I truly believe Pride would have killed himself. I know it."

Roy gapped at her with wide eyes. This was more than he bargained for. He felt dirty and sick. He should have never had tampered with the drink. This was private and here he was trampling all over it like an unwelcome guest with muddy shoes on a new rug. She was still going and that made him feel worse but a part of him didn't want this to stop. With ever whispered confession he learned a little more about the unreachable Pride. Roy needed to know. It made him ill but he felt closer to the man even if there were walls and streets between them.

"What should I do? He's the only family I have left. Pride is like my brother. And I'm scared he's out there somewhere doing something I don't know and when I do it will be too late. Too late to help him, too late to save him and too late to say I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for? I don't think you did anything wrong."

She stilled and looked him in the eyes. She was serious and beautiful in her grace and grief.

"I left him alone when he needed me most because I was afraid to interfere. I thought if I gave him his space he would grieve and then we could move forward but I know now that it's too late, too late, just too damn late."

She shuddered and curled up on the sofa. Roy got up and moved over to her but she passed out hugging pillow.

"Why didn't you come over to her sooner?"

Edward Elric, his own personal ghost, sat on the coffee table, looking at his boots. His blonde bangs caught were caught in a steady breeze only the imaginary could feel and his coat fluffed out behind him.

"Actually I don't care, I think the better question would be, why am I out here… but I can tell you don't know, even though you should."

"Why should I?"

Roy looked at the blonde and saw an empty room except for the woman on the couch. He turned his head and saw the boy looking out the window. Even though he was facing a new direction, the wind still blew to his gracefully curved face.

"You should because you're not stupid. I'm in your head Mustang. I am your perfect memory of someone who never existed and I'm here to open your damn eyes. No one is perfect. What are you afraid of?!"

The blonde backed him into an armchair and placed a hand on either side of him. Edward leaned in close and Roy would sear on his life he could feel the hot breathe on his face. The dark haired man leaned back as much as he could but it didn't matter.

"I'm not afraid of anything."

He said calmly but with a trace of mortification. The boy leaned forward until it was hard to focus on his non-existent face. Roy keep screaming at himself that if this was all in his head, why couldn't he focus his eyes?

"You're scared of the world Mustang; as soon as anything real comes to your doorstep you burry it in cheap displays of self beneficial heroics or your favourite drink. Tonight a woman told you exactly what you wanted to hear yet you are not taking it the right way. Think man and stop lying to yourself!"

"Think about what?! Pride is too damaged. Why would I want someone with more emotional baggage than I have!?"

He yelled it out without meaning too. Edward quirked and eyebrow at him and spoke flatly.

"Who says he has more. I think they are the same in measure. The only difference is you are too afraid to even figure out what your baggage is. What's your past? When was the last time you thought about anything the happened before today besides that fucking letter?"

Roy folded his arms over his chest and gathered his mask. He smiled that special fake grin that didn't reach his eyes. Edward stepped back and looked at him expectantly.

"What the fuck are you doing you bastard? I know all your tricks and shields. Don't try to fool your own head… I thought you were smart?"

Roy growled. He didn't like being goaded, especially by a kid that barely reached his elbow.

"Watch it! Just because I'm not real doesn't mean I'm not going to kick your ass old man. Now think about what you just heard. Stop trying to distract me therefore yourself. This is serious shit and I am tired of having these lame conversations."

He tilted his dark head to the side and looked at the boy in front of him. Edward was determined to not let him over look and step aside from the truth.

"Ok so your life is hard. Big deal, whose isn't? You lost a lover or two, that's hard on everyone. Gracia lost hers. You can't dwell on the past. It was you who always said to move forward."

Edward sat back down on the table and looked at the cheese longingly. His transparent hand passed through the food and he sighed, not facing him.

"Do you hear yourself? I am not a person Roy Mustang. I am not Edward Elric or his ghost or even your memory of him. I am no one but you keep bring me up as if I am someone. But since you're as thick as those stupid milkshakes you need a spoon to eat I will break this down for you in what you should think of first. You better be thankful your own mind wants to help you out."

The blonde stood up and stretched out the kinks of his back before sitting back down. He held up his gloveless auto-mailed hand palm up and flat. He slowly closed his fingers into a claw like shape as if holding a ball as he spoke.

"Pride is a no longer a child. He is closer to you in maturity than his brother for example so your first step is to stop treating him like you would Al or even the old him. Stop talking down to him. You want an ally rather than another person to look after right? So get it out of your head he needs you in any way shape or form. If there comes a time when he needs you I'm sure he would never ask for your help anyways. That's step one."

The blonde examined the back of his and wiggled his fingers. Roy wondered what the hell the apparition was doing when he was shot a dirty glance.

"Well say something!"

"Pride not a kid, got it. Anything else oh knowledgeable one?"

"Shut your fucking face, how's that?"

Roy smirked.

"I thought you wanted me to talk?"

"We don't have time for this. On to step two, you bastard. Jilly told you some important facts that will help your campaign with or without Pride. He was heavily involved in the politics of his world; therefore his crew was too to some extent. They are already meshing with your own men so its time to get to know those twins, Slim and Fish. They may have applicable skills and they already like it here. Tomorrow you need to eat breakfast with them. These men are food orientated so it's an opportunity to poke around and figure out what it will take to increase your numbers. You need a team on the outside of the ranks; they would be an excellent start."

He considered the idea and decided it was good. It was his thought after all… Roy shook his head. This was stupid. Why was he talking to himself?

"Hey, don't skip ahead. I'm not there yet. Step three is for Hughes but you have to give him this assignment. He should research Envy. You need to know if it was this world's Envy or the other world's. I'm sure he could get it out of her."

He pointed at the unmoving figure. Roy raised his eyebrow.

"I thought she said his name was Eevee, or maybe it was Ivy. It probably isn't even the same person."

"Mustang, you know damn well it was that homunculus. She said it and you can feel it. What you need to know is if it's actually the one form here. It would be very informational to know the details of their partnership but I doubt you'll get that form anyone beside Pride himself. Now for our last step which is ironically where we started. Why am I here?"

Edward cross one legs over the other and propped his face on one hand. He looked annoyed beyond reason but strangely patient. Roy had to remind himself that he wasn't real.

"That's right, I'm not. So why keep bringing me up? You know. Stop fighting it and answer me."

"You're here so I can sort out my thought, like a visual brainstorm."

Edward pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and unfolded it. Roy recognized the creases and the familiar letterhead immediately. The ghost read line after line silently, his golden eyes going along the lines.

"Mustang, what does this parchment mean to you?"

"I thought you already knew?"

"I do because you do but you need to hear yourself say it."

What did the letter mean to him? Roy pondered the many answers he could give and wondered vaguely if he could lie to the other. A shimmering glint of a glare told him that it couldn't happen. So the letter, it helped him figure out what to do. Roy remembered the late nights and the empty liquor cabinet in his house only too well. It was... it was...

"The kick in the ass you needed to get out of that overly comfortable chair that you sat in so much it formed to your body. But that was all it was supposed to be, that and a goodbye. You need to stop making it more. So the real question is this, do you love me?"

Roy opened his eyes wide as Edward tucked the letter away, stood up and replaced his hands on the armrests. His golden eyes glowed in the dim light coming from the fireplace. His hair almost looked silver as it moved and swayed. Roy wondered why Ed looked like he was under water, with the way his clothing was moving. The apparition solidified and his transparencies diminished, leaning closer to him. Roy reached out to touch his smooth angled jaw line but Ed turned his head to the side, just out of reach. Roy withdrew his hand back about halfway between them; it was still in the air when he heard the low whisper. It sent shivers down his spine.

"Answer me bastard."

This time he didn't lie to himself.

"Yes."

Something flickered behind those jewel like eyes. Edward placed his knee on the bit of chair between Roy's spread legs and slid his hands down the armrests, bringing them to either side of his head, only touching the chair. He was so painfully near but Roy didn't want to touch him just yet. He was savouring this moment. The shorter alchemist drew in close so that their noses almost touched; his eyes were closed as he tilted his head down to brush foreheads but once again stopped short of contact. He whispered in a barely auditable voice.

"Do you love him or me?"

Roy wasn't thinking properly now, his hand burning to run through those sun-light locks and his lips eager to meet those pale rose hewed ones. Roy's breathe moved the yellow strand that was the only thing between them besides air. Or at least he thought it was his breath. The air was thick around the golden-eyed boy before him. The answer came easily.

"You, always you."

His eyes opened slowly. Edward took his flesh hand to caress Roy's face as he drew in to claim the older man's parted lips in the amber glow. Roy leaned forward with lidded eyes. His insides were humming that he finally got to do what he had been waiting so long for. If felt like an eternity. No matter how far forward he leaned, there was nothing. He opened his deep sea blue eyes and looked into Edward's glowing ones. He whispered again in a sad voice.

"But I'm not real and nothing can change that."

Tears were gathering in the corner of Edward's beautiful eyes.

"Why are you crying?"

"I'm not, you are."

Edward's outstretched hand passed through Roy's cheek before the image disappeared completely before his eyes. Roy looked into the now entirely dark room and tried to catch his breath. He could feel his eyes clouding with unshed tears.

Not real... not real... not real...

"Come back."

A weak voice stated this into the shadows. He peered around to see its source but found no one. Jilly was still out cold and the fire was more than gone. It took him forever to realise it was him who voiced those desperate two words. Roy looked into his shaking hands. Not… real. He was chasing a dream of a person who didn't even exist. The Edward in his mind was not the Edward who wrote the letter, not even the Edward that lived in his heart. That apparition was just a combination of loneliness and undeniable hope for something real and consistent. The General stood up swiftly, letting his discarded jacket fall to the floor. His eyes were level with core ferocity.

"That's enough," he said to no one but himself, "of this. This is not who I am. I am not a pathetic shadow of a man who, who only sees what he wants to see. I am a man who works hard for what he wants. I am in charge of my own life and starting right now I am going to live it how I want."

"And what do you want Roy?"

Mustang didn't even turn his head. Hughes always had impeccable timing.

"To change the world Maes, like always."

He picked his fallen jacket off the floor and bent over to place it on Jilly like a blanket. Tucking the corners under her, he turned to face his longest friend. The man was still in his uniform and looking dreadful.

"Didn't you sleep at all?"

"I… can't go in there alone. The bed's so empty. It just reminds me of my own life. Never have so many people stayed in this old relic of a house… but to me it's a void. You know I will do anything I can for you Roy. I just wish this would happen faster. I want my family home and safe at the same time. You think that's a lot to ask?"

Roy thought about it. Where was his family? Where was he home and safe? Hawkeye came to mind first, and then Hughes followed by his men. They were a type of family. His Edward ghost pointed to his own pocket while standing next to Hughes. The man couldn't see the apparition. Edward looked longingly at him for s moment and put his hand in that pocket before dissipating once again.

Let me sleep. You don't need me.

He could almost hear the shadowed, distant voice. Roy reached into his own pocket and pulled out the key.

He finally saw it for hat it was. This key was not an extreme tool for magic or a link to another world. The key, like the letter, was a symbol that there was someone who cared about him enough to steal his liquor cabinet key in an absurd gesture of trying to stop him from drinking. It was foolish and didn't even work, but the gesture in itself was all that mattered. Edward Elric may have aged and been through a whole circus of sorrows and trials but that didn't change him into another person. Roy knew now to stop trying to figure out a way to revert the blonde back into the Fullmetal Alchemist, because he never stopped being it. That was just a piece of that person. Roy fingered the key and addressed his friend with smile that was more in his eyes then around his lips.

"You know what Maes? I want my family home and safe too."


He had always hated these meetings, not only was nothing accomplished but he had always suspected it was all for show to keep him distracted while the lower ranks pilled his desk with unwanted paper work. Roy sighed mentally as he watched another old man with more brass and ribbons on his chest than skin rattled on about the unrest on their borders. It was rather pointless, he thought, to have meetings about fixing problems they were secretly the cause of. Mustang twiddled his pen between long, strong fingers. It kept them limber and ready at all times.

His thoughts wondered as the lights went out and a light projection of Amestris with coloured areas appeared on the wall in front of him. Why did the Furher even bother? He knew exactly who was attacking those small rural areas, his own men. This charade just made him boil on the inside. Roy was doing all he could to protect the people of this country but even he couldn't save them all when it was their own ruler who was burning their farms, poisoning their water and stealing their people.

He couldn't prove it though, not even close. It was just and educated hunch that refused to go away. All paths lead to this conclusion. But why would the Furher go through such lengths to protect people he was just killing? The chain of events that lead to here was as plain to him as white bread. He was just missing pieces of the puzzle.

When Edward had died it was all over the news. 'Fullmetal Missing' and 'He Died For Us' were just some of the words plastered all over the headlines. It happened so fast Roy wasn't even certain how at first. After the younger brother was discovered in Resembool and Maes in his office, there was no doubt in Roy's heart that the blonde shrimp was gone… he allowed himself the word gone but never dead. Dead was definite, absolute and definitely absolutely heart crushing. The Furher made his move before Mustang could react and called for a press conference. Roy was still unable to find his spies who got such information about Edwad being gone so quickly. The speech rang in his mind.

"Today is a tragic day for this beautiful country for she has lost one of her proud sons. The Hero of the People, The Youngest State Alchemist ever registered, the one we all know as Edward Elric died tragically earlier this week. It is only now with a sorrowful heart that I announce the circumstances surrounding his heroic but catastrophic end. For years I have strived to rebuild Amestris into the shining example of what she used to be before the war came upon us. But as we grew in lustre and brilliance our neighbouring countries grew envious, wanting prosperity such as ours for their own without contributing any of the hard work this State has exhibited. The nipped and bit at our borders for what felt like an eternity but it was only a distraction."

Roy paused to remember how it had poured that day. He stood in the crown with his issued coat, hood pulled in a desperate attempt to stay dry and listen to the lies that shaped his country.

"Unknown was the dark workings of forbidden human transmutation alchemy they attempted to use on a grand scale. One of our most esteemed State Alchemists discovered this through his hard work, skill and an unlimited amount of courage and patriotism but it was too late. When he found the labs of the Xing Empire he was doomed. We do not know what happened to his body but he gave his life to warn us. If we are to stop the invasion coming we need to get preparations in motion. I am just a man, but I am a man who will do all in my power to keep my country, my home safe! His death will not be in vain! It will be the last!!"

He could still here the roars and cheers around him, even though now he was just looking uninterestedly at a picture of someone's ashen corps. Within a month Edward Elric was considered an official hero and all the preparations were done in his name to protect the country he died for and her people. It made him sick then and still did now.

Larges walls were placed around the country to keep out unregistered foreigners. Furher King Bradley used the blonde's image as a propaganda symbol for every major change he erected to save them all from an enemy that didn't even exist. The Furher had made it all up. Roy's letter proved it along with his gut instincts.

Every alchemist, tall or small, now was registered and could be called upon at anytime to let their pride show and fight. It was after he saw that first poster that Roy's own rebellion formed. It was one of Edward pointing at the viewer with that stern look in his eyes. It had on it "What Are YOU doing for your country?" He was almost glad Pride hadn't been in downtown central yet. He may have exploded seeing the shameless us of his old name everywhere. At least the picture didn't look like the Edward he remembered. The one pointing was taller, with glittering automail and a blue uniform.

"…and that is why we are rotating our new search and rescue team to the Eastern front. With the Eastern rural communities burned to the ground we have lost a major supply of agricultural and livestock resources. If we cannot repair the damage we will be forced to begin importing and export deals with distant nations which is out of the question."

There were murmurs and heated conversations breaking out into the room. Roy watched all the high ranking officers in silence. It wouldn't be long before-

"Major General Mustang. You know our alchemist division inside and out. Find one of them that can fix this!"

He turned his cold gaze to Lieutenant General Hakuro. No matter how hard he worked the man always passed him in rank. Now unless half the council died there was now way Roy was moving any higher up. He was right were they wanted him. Important enough for the people's view but low enough so that he wouldn't be able to interfere with anything. He was just for show.

And this man… Why did he always think alchemy was some magical solution? He told his superior something to that extent but with proper protocol and manners. The room became riveted with side conversations. Mustang sat back in his chair and looked around at all the pretty stars and stripes gesturing and whispering about. Hughes sat silently beside him, his mind somewhere else. Turning there was one other man not entering in the small debates. The Furher was looking at the map on the wall; his eye patch was all Roy could see of his expression. It unnerved him that even though the man was looking away, he could feel himself being watched.


Hughes thought about the meeting afterwards. He was immensely glad the girls got out alright. Winry called from one of the towns on the way here to reaffirm them. He was watching his world fall a part and what could he do. He was still head of the investigations department yet he knew nothing. Everything around him was a cloak and dagger scheme. He just didn't have the energy anymore. When had he become so tired? Was he officially old now?

Hughes rubbed the back of his head and walked into his kitchen. The house was quiet due it its lack of occupants for the first time in a month. Pride was still out doing whatever it was he needed to get done and the rest were working at their various jobs to familiarize themselves with their new world. He didn't like being so alone and was almost tempted to call Roy when there was a knock at the door.

Fixing the cuff of his casual striped button shirt he opened the entrance to reveal Riza and Jilly. They had just lunched together and were wearing smiles.

"Hello Maes. I know you like this sticky buns so I brought you home some."

She hand him a paper bag with a wink before sitting at his island counter in the kitchen. Riza followed suit but in a more reserved fashion, just a small smile on her face. Jilly was wearing another floral dress in shades of green and violet while Riza had on a pair of tan pants and a pick short sleeved shirt. He thought it was too cold to be wearing such attire but noticed their coats on the backs of their chairs.

"So did you two have fun?"

Jilly grinned and winked at him. Maes smiled and played bartender of tea for the two of them. He new for certain that she didn't remember her drunken confessions from earlier the week. He really wished he could forget it too. Looking for intelligence on the man who kill him and was suppose to be dead wasn't his idea of fun. Roy never told him why but he had the distinct feeling it had something to do with Pride once again. He was laced and stitched so elaborately into all their live Maes wondered how long he thought he could hide from them.

"Completely. I have to say I had my doubts on how much fun you could be but I enjoyed myself so much. It was almost like old times! We are just one short of my favourite lunchtime activities. We should do this again Wrath! When's your next day off?"

Hughes stopped pour the tea to look at the flowery woman. She beamed until she noticed the looks on their faces.

"What is it?"

Riza took her tea from Maes and sipped it. She looked cam but Maes could tell she was calculating the situation, just like someone else he knew too well. She kept it casual and asked simply.

"I've heard the name a couple times now. Who is Wrath?"

The curlier of the two women blinked.

"Did I call you that? Oh I'm sorry, habit but I'm sure you understand right? It's an honest mistake."

Maes was interested now, not that he hadn't been before but now those warm chocolate eyes looked surprised at them.

"Don't look at me like that. Wrath was one of my best friends. It is hard to forget her so easily when her double is sitting next to me. It took a while to get used to but I finally realized your two different people… didn't Pride talk to about this?"

Riza eyes flashed in a hint of worry before their casual air returned.

"Edward hasn't looked at me since his return, nor has he spoken to me."

Jilly bit her finger and wrapped a curl around her other finger.

"Well… this is going to be a fun conversation. Maes, grab a chair and sit down. This isn't right. I can't believe him. I am going to kill that man when he comes back. He always just leaves!! I swear I am going to break those legs of his!"

She pulled at her hair for a moment and Maes wondered how much pain was awaiting the blonde here in his home.

"Where to start… well I guess the place would be who she is… Wrath's real name was Riza Blackbird. She is Knight's mother and your other world double. Pride told me that he was always bumping into people he knew from here, but they never knew him. It looked lonely if you ask me."

Maes sat through the entire rendition as if it were an intense one-woman play. The prison, the slavery and finally the baby, she gave the two of them everything she could remember in detail. She must be really pissed with Pride to go behind his back like with these sensitive materials. Riza interrupted a rather detailed description of the other Riza like her deserts.

"So the sixteen years old me and Edward had a CHILD TOGETHER?"

The epentheses was hardy subtle like Riza how usually handled conversations without her sidearm. Jilly looked puzzled as if that were absurd. Maes could have sworn he heard Al and Slim talk about his brother having a son at some point.

"No, Pride never touched her even once."

Riza looked cross at the obvious gap in the information.

"Listen Riza, if you ask that block head what happened he would simple tell you it was his fault and then go sulk somewhere without looking like he was. But I am going to tell you the truth because you deserve it. Riza Blackbird was raped viciously to the point where carrying a child endangered her life. She would die before it was ever born and she concealed it from everyone until one day she passed out and nearly bleed to death. She begged Pride to save her baby… and he did. He kept her alive the extra three months so that the child would be old enough to survive the birth. She was a living corpse for most of that time and he drained his own life force to sustain the one within her. It took all of Pride's magic to save that baby, when he did Riza was already dead. I'll never forget that night. He should up to my house covered in blood and just curled up into a ball and went to sleep on my rug with a newborn. When he wasn't asleep he would stare at nothing. I had never been so shocked in my life."

She looked into a distant memory he could not see.

"It had taken a great deal to get him to let go of little Knight. And even more just to get him to interact with anyone. After a week or so he finally did something. He got restrictors put on his magic so that he could only use two percent of it without the permission of his master. He tried to once just to test them and ended up with a high fever and horrible dreams. I think that still happens when he tries to disobey. But he rarely does… Does that make him a good slave or a bad one?"


It was midday and Jilly was on her way to pick Riza up for another lunch. Things had been tense between them the day before. She fidgeted with her bracelets and thought about how much she let slip. Jilly was a horrible person and Pride was going to kill her. She had told Maes and Riza everything… and that meant everything about the pillars and Envy.

Maes looked to so strange it scared her. Maybe he knew Envy? It could be possible. Pride said the two of them lived here first so it was quite possible. She pondered where to go for lunch when she realized she was lost. The streets were nice enough but she had a bad feeling. Why did she feel like she was in danger?

The crowd grew thick around her and before she knew it she was being pushed and shoved in an unwanted direction. Jilly thought the main route was always such a pain. Getting her bearings by the sun and a distant tower she cut through behind the main drag. The alleys were wide and welcoming to someone used to the shabbier alleys of Rome and she smiled.

Corner after corner she made her way toward the clock tower that was a few blocks from Riza's apartment. She really did love surprising people. The only people who knew she was going were anyone who read the note she put on the fridge. Jilly was proud of her English skills, with each passing day she was able to do something new, like writing a coherent note.

She was so distracted by her own inner pride that she never saw the cloaked hand reach for her long pony tail. No one heard her muffled scream except the near by black bird that took flight as she was dragged into a paint chipped door.


Pride sat on a park bench looking at the creation in front of him. With Gluttony's help he made what looked like a bizarre array but was in fact something quite different. It was a massive, literal web of apples, sticks and wool. Each apple had a name carved into it and was staked onto a stick erected from the ground. He bit into an anonymous fruit and threw one to his companion. Lust wasn't there.

"See Gluttony? This is a Relations Web. Contrary to majority opinion is does not only depict the romantic or physical relations of one couple to another but it also displays how we interact with one another on a broader scale. Each coloured sting is symbolic of a bond or tie. For example:"

Pride pointed to a yellow string that connected 'Roy Mustang' to 'Maes Hughes'.

"That is the symbol of friend or ally. But also notice that there are multiple strings between them. This red on connects everyone who is a part of Mustangs secret team to overthrow the Furher. The blue one connects all military personnel. The black one is for everyone a part of the Furher's personal team. See, you and Lust have a black string while General Hakuro as a black and a blue."

Gluttony tilted his head to the side and pointed at the Lust apple. It was a green fruit instead of a red one like everyone else.

"All homunculi are green apples. Generals and up have stars on their apple."

It was enormous project but Pride knew he needed to organise his thoughts and the apples looked really good when he was out for his walk. The chill ripped through his open white jacket. He wrapped his scarf tighter around his neck and tucked the ends into his shirt to keep from flapping about while he tired to concentrate. He had several circles with bonds between them. One of the people he met in person in Amestris, another with the people he didn't know but still of their involvements and made special not to get pictures and a final web of everyone he had put a tracer on while under the Empire's iron fist in the other world.

He still didn't know what to do with himself but after spending three days on the bathroom floor he realised he needed something to do. Lust had graciously left him alone but his still had the other companion. Pride heard a crunch and whipped his head around to glare at the Sin. He ate half of one of his unknown characters.

"Gluttony, if you're hungry, eat the extras! I need these ones that are labelled!"

It felt good to be yelling at someone again. He took the fraction of a fruit and steered the sin towards the neglected basket by the tree. The emptiness that threatened to over whelm him was filling, even if only a little. He still felt like shit but not so much that he was going to die of starvation in a condemned bathroom alone. The apple was barely recognizable.

Pride walked around his wide project and tried to identify who was eaten by process of elimination and the strings. There was a black string and a blue one and they all connected to the Furher. He was defiantly was an officer. Leaves swept by as the park became colder. Pride did up his jacket and looked about. There were people in all directions walking dogs and holding hands. He expected annoyances from any of them but had been left peacefully alone. He didn't really want or care why.

Gluttony sat but the tree, having eaten all the apples except one. He offered it to Pride with a mitten encased hand. He really did look silly. The shorter of the two was clad in a wool jump, mittens and his bowler hat. Pride found it amusing that Gluttony wanted to go out into town with him and told the other that he looked too out-of-the-ordinary to leave without Lust. That phrase was no sooner out of his mouth when the round thing pulled the sweater out from under the couch. Pride didn't even try to resist. He kind of liked the company and before he knew it, Pride was explaining it all to the sin in detail whether he cared or not.

Pride took a massive bite out of the fruit and sighed. He really loved apples. The open admission he made prior made him less irritable. Now that he knew the problem with his messed up shell of a soul he could… well do nothing but at least he wasn't a ghost. He was a slave with tasty apples.

The blonde went back to his web and continued to ignore those around him. He finally figured out who he was missing.

"Colonel Archer!"

Pride re-wrote the name on the half and stabbed it onto its proper stick. He wasn't aware of his audience until a sharp tongue of are grabbed his scarf and threw it to the other side of his wool contraption. A man in an ivory full length coat caught it easily. Gluttony was out of view because of the massive tree trunk. He looked in Pride's direction with a surprised smile. Who was this man?


Zolf J. Kimblee wandered around the park with a refreshing sigh. He hit another dead end. He was tired of this endless travelling around. It has been his soul mission for the past month, ever since the Furher acquired his new secretary. Usually the man picked someone from within the ranks but this woman showed up from no where and within a day she had the position. Not that he cared, the damn man could hire whoever he wanted as staff and long as Furher Bradley kept paying him and he could work alone.

His mission was to find a man with a very vague description considering he was labelled dead as a mid teen and now he was looking for the man version. Kimblee never met Edward Elric; he was in prison for the whole duration of the boy's heroic era. He didn't even bother research him very hard. Apparently he was critical to their operations. Kimblee found himself once again not giving a damn. What did he care? The park he was going to eat his lunch in was full of bustling people. He sat on a bench and opened his turkey and Swiss cheese sandwich. He took in his surroundings and relaxed. He loved being able to just sit and watched people walk by.

One particular sight caught his attention. There was a girl looking at the ground on the other side of the man made natural area. Normally he wouldn't care but her hair kept catching the faint light of the cloudy day. Kimblee finished his meal and decided to go see what she was looking at.

His ivory coat fluttered in the wind and his almost had to catch his matching bowler hat in one particular gust. When he got closer he saw what looked like an array. Zolf looked at the symbols on his palms with a smile. She was an alchemist too. His interest was peeked. The large construction was composed of apples, wool and sticks… how eccentric. She was stacking another apple on a stick when her scarf came his way.

Zolf caught it easily as it rode a cold current. He smiled as the red silk caressed his inner palm. The dark haired man savoured the feel before raising his bowler shaded gaze to the owner. She was slender wearing a crisp white coat with a black collared shirt and dress pants that matched. Her bangs whirled wildly about along with her long, high ponytail. From his estimate, her hair must go to just about her waist when down long. He did love women with longer hair than himself. He smirked and commented on her outfit.

"Nice coat."

She just nodded with a surprised look. Zolf smiled again and looked at the scarf, cool as a cucumber. He twirled the thin material between his fingers.

"This is very striking, but it would be better on you then on the breeze, don't you think?"

The corner of her mouth twitch into an almost smile. Kimblee chuckled. There was something about her that intrigued him so he took a step forward and held out the accessory. She walked around her project and took the scarf back, looking straight at him as if looking for something. She looked familiar somehow.

"So what are you up to here Miss..?"

Her golden eyes flashed and her curious smirked turned to a frown. She turned away the wrapped the scarf back around her neck loosely.

"Not even close."

Zolf's eyebrows shot into his head. She was a guy! He was tempted to just walk away but his interest was still peeked. He wasn't a picky person about gender, only looks. He was pretty enough. Zolf took another step forward.

"Does it really matter? Personally I think it's your fault. Why are you wearing a woman's coat and a silk scarf? Sounds kind of weird to me? And your hair… you're just asking to be mistaken for a girl."

The blonde whirled and pointed a gloved finger.

"Hey, last time I checked you had long hair too. And a white coat! Don't start with me, I don't even know you!"

Kimblee grinned at the small tantrum but something was bothering him. He couldn't put his finger on it. All sorts of bells were going off in his head so he pushed further.

"But mine is a man's coat. And I am manly so it's good."

"Are you calling me girlie!?"

"Just little."

Zolf dodged an apple flying towards his face. The scarf escaped again and flew past his dodge. He turned to get it but someone else caught it. Zolf eye grew wide at the familiar short sin that was eating the apple with the scarf on shoulder.

"Thanks Glut."

The blonde walked past him to retrieve his scarf. His collar was exposed and he saw the glint of a golden collar. It was him! And he was with Gluttony? Kimblee reach into his pocket and pulled out a cloth and a bottle of ether. Soaking the rag he approached Edward Elric and smothered the drugged material around his mouth and nose. He felt the light male collapse onto the ground.

Gluttony looked at him with his beady eyes.

"Where have you been Gluttony? Pride has been wondering where you were and Wrath is about to hunt you down himself. Where is Lust?"

The sin pointed to their hideout. Kimblee picked up the knocked out victim and walked in that direction. He had a package to deliver and the Furher was waiting… and so was his secretary. What was with her and those antique ornamental jewelled finger claws?


Chapter Four End