Story forcast: Murky for the foreseeable future.

Hm. Hmmmmm. Happy thoughts, happy thoughts…

I shifted in my seat slightly, grimacing a bit at the cool hardness that seeped through my thin pants. I ignored the discomfort. Happy thoughts. A soft sound to my right distracted me momentarily, but I brushed it aside, thoroughly absorbed inward.

Think of sunlight against your skin, Nina when she laughs, the way Roy looked that night you brought him wine…

I sat in a lotus position, and had been for hours on end. Not that I really noticed time passing. After my stay in my empty prison, I seemed to have gained the ability to completely shut out reality in favor of my own thoughts. Huh, and here I thought I was no good at meditating. My old masters would be so proud. Kind of sucks that it was born out of necessity, but useful now, because my thoughts and emotions were somewhat of a jumbled mess at the moment. Another shift beside me and a delicate huff disturbed my peace, causing an involuntary frown to mar my face. Happy thoughts...

Lust with a bullet through her head….there we are. That lovely image brought a genuine smirk to my lips, though it was only a twitch.

"Empathy…"

"Hush," I reprimanded, as if scolding a child, and an irritated scratch against stone was my reward. My smirk got a little wider.

Another noise disturbed the silence and I finally cracked open an eye. Lust sat beside me with all the grace and poise of a woman sitting upon her throne and not a filthy piece of rubble. Candle light flickered across her pale skin dully and flashed against her eyes, which were glaring at me while doing an excellent job of projecting bored disinterest. I couldn't see much outside of our little bubble of light, but as far as I could figure we were in some kind of old underground processing plant, long abandoned. Why we were still in the sewers was anyone's guess, but I figured it had something to do with keeping me out of the public eye until Lust was ready to take me to...wherever it was she needed me to be. Either that, or this was just where the homunculi always hung out. I couldn't bring myself to care at this point.

My captor crossed her arms in agitation and I shook my head infinitesimally, not entirely believing what I was seeing. The ever poised and patient homunculus was starting to show, well, impatience. I had never seen this from her before; this woman who had seemed to be so powerful and in control, everything going according to her whim, was pouting. It was almost surreal that, for the moment, she was listening to my demands. Maybe it was just out of necessity, but her momentary weakness gave me just the slightest hope that she wasn't as all powerful as she seemed. Thus my current–if not suicidal–smugness.

"Are you quite finished," she demanded, tone droll as she placed her chin on a delicate hand.

"Lust..." I responded, imitating her irritated tone. "We've been over this. If you don't want me to go on a complete mad rampage, I suggest you let me finish my meditation." And with that, I closed my eye once more. Happy thoughts. Her unladylike grumbling was a satisfying reward.

We had had this argument before. I'm not sure how long we've been in this stalemate, but I would say at least a day if my internal clock was to be trusted. I don't know what's gotten her so uptight now, considering just how pleased she seemed at the discovery of my new power. No doubt she had already come up with infinite ways to use it to her advantage, but whether it was her impatience with how long I was taking to adjust or my attitude, she was not happy with me at the moment. Tough shit. I had other things to think about.

I don't think I'll ever be able to quite describe what it was like to absorb someone else's emotions like I did to Scar. In some sick way, I was…fascinated. In that moment of desperation I had instinctively acted on a suspicion I had been having since the philosopher's stone was inserted within me: that I had the power over other's emotions. But that wasn't quite right. That would imply that I could change what they were feeling within themselves alone. That wasn't quite what happened. Instead, I...absorbed Scar's rage, I suppose, so that it was inside of me instead of him. It made sense, in a way, if 'empathy' is the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

As much as anything made sense in this backwards place.

That moment, that fleeting second, I saw Scar's enraged eyes become empty, confused, and even afraid. Then his foreign emotions hit me like a battering ram to the chest, all of that murderous fury that I had only gotten a taste of before infusing into me all at once. I hated. I wanted to tear the man within my reach to pieces. And he could see it in my eyes.

Luckily–or perhaps unluckily, depending on your perspective–I didn't have any time to act on it. There was some sort of gas explosion, as far as I could figure from my stilted memory, and then the rage was the last thing on my mind as I was torn apart from behind. Red sparks and the image of a limping figure getting away through the dust were all I could see for a while as my body regenerated, so I assume Scar made it out alive. Bastard. I was hardly in a position to care, however, as I was forced to completely shut out the world in favor of dealing with my newest rage monster that was doing it's very best to break free and consume me. Unfortunately that left me at the mercy of a displeased Lust to drag my body out of the rubble and make our getaway.

Lucky for her I didn't lead her on a merry chase while I destroyed half the city in a monstrous rage, because no amount of threatening on her part would have stopped me. I was beyond reason or fear, my soul roiling in a mass of molten hatred. If I hadn't been so accustomed to controlling the stone at that point, that would have been my fate. As it was, I was compressing Scar's rage into a tiny ball of attrition in the very back of my soul, locking it away like so many skeletons in my closet.

Thus the fascination. It felt separate from the other emotions I was feeling from within the philosopher's stone, as if it were it's own entity. It would not merge and it would not dissipate. And even as I attempt to describe it as a physical entity, I could say with every certainty that it was not. It brought into question just what the rage was. Some form of energy? Perhaps a piece of Scar's soul? Vaguely, I wondered if it was something I could utilize, or if it was just another burden. Whatever the case, I was able to lock it away.

Several hours ago, in fact, and thus my current suicidal smugness at being able to have some sort of control over my captor in even this small way. She was forced to listen to me on this, or face the aforementioned (if not entirely accurate) consequences.

For even Lust the lascivious, powerful homunculus as she was, could not face Empathy in fair combat and win. At least, not without her little power ploys. And someday soon, I would find a way to break from her...someday soon.

Lust shifted abruptly, and I opened my eyes warily to take in her suddenly content features with some trepidation. "It matters not," she said, looking into the darkness. "Because our friends have arrived."

I tensed, eyes scanning the darkness, but I could sense nor see a soul. My brow furrowed in confusion.

"So, the prodigal prince has awakened," a malicious voice echoed from the gloom, and I jumped, whipping my head around from the direction it came. I squinted in recognition a moment later, stomach sinking with dread as I remembered the night I had been abducted with unfortunately vivid clarity.

The rest of the 'family' was here. Joy of joys.

A deep frown pulled at the corners of my mouth as my legs unfolded slowly, readying for an attack. The man chuckled, as if the very idea of someone like me standing up to him was laughable. "No need for that little brother. Don't get your feathers ruffled."

I hardly relaxed as two forms drifted silently from the shadows. A bulbous man was revealed first, and I cringed at the strange insanity in his white eyes. He wasn't staring at me though, but Lust, a long finger clutched in his mouth and an imploring look on the woman, who studiously ignored him.

A thin man drew my eyes away from the first as he stepped around, half blocking my view of the strange creature he came with. At least, I thought he was male. He seemed feminine in movement, lithe hips swaying and legs exposed proudly. Long black hair fell over his shoulders, waist length and impeccably straight, held back from his face with a thin piece of fabric. His fair face fell into a wide grin and his red-violet eyes glinted with amusement and vanity. "Like what you see?"

First impression: terrible. So he was one of those guys; so conceited and insecure they felt the need to constantly compete with those around them. Resisting the urge to roll my eyes, I merely said, "You aren't remotely my type," before dismissing him with a flippant wave. Inwardly I winced as his grin turned into a dangerous frown, struggling to keep my face neutral. Great, I thought, just piss off all of the powerful things that can kill you. I really needed to get a handle on this dangerous attitude I seemed to have fallen into since my release.

A chuckle beside me eased me somewhat however, as Lust clearly took amusement from my statement. The glare had been fixed on me from the stranger redirected at the delicate snort, decidedly more malicious. "Looks like that 'perfect form' of yours is not so perfect after all, Envy," Lust said huskily, resting her chin once more on her hand in amusement. As I observed the exchange, I couldn't help but feel I had stumbled upon a long standing rivalry. I tucked the information away for future reference. Could be useful...

Envy's glare intensified before a seamless transition turned his lips with a smugness that would make anyone's blood curl in irritation. "That's easily fixed." His attention fell once more on me, and I remained motionless, giving nothing away. Hips swaying in what I can only assume was an attempt to be seductive, he sauntered forward. I glanced over at Lust, somewhat nervous, but she only assumed a bored and vaguely indulgent smile. I could only fix my focus back on the newest threat and tense, waiting.

"Hm...just what kind of man are you, Empathy? I'm dying to know." My eyes widened slightly as sparks began flashing up his form, and gasped as a startling transformation took place. His hips widened, his chest inflated and his lips turned red as blood, even as his hair shortened in length, fluttering just above his collarbone and turning golden as sunlight. "Do you dream," 'he' said, voice lightened to the daintiest of lilts, "about soft curves beneath your palms."

He can change his appearance, my mind supplied redundantly as I gaped, mouth hanging open. At his smug expression, a spark of dark irritation snapped my jaw closed, and I brushed off my shock in favor of a bored stare. I derived probably more pleasure than was necessary (or healthy) when Envy's eye twitched. Two could play this game.

"Not you style, hm? I can't say I blame you for finding this form," he glanced at Lust and she sneered, "distasteful. Perhaps this…" and he changed form again, this time a much slimmer girl, looking closer to Edward's age with short black hair.

A small smile began growing on my face and I had to hold back a laugh as I crossed my arms. He has no idea. He seemed to take my expression as a challenge. "No? Then," He changed again, and this time I couldn't hold it back. I laughed. It was a woman again, but this time vaguely ugly.

"Tch. I don't know what it is you think you're doing, but you will never guess what my type is. Idiot."

A dangerous growl was my only warning before a vicious grip closed around my neck, choking off my air supply. "Why you little–" Before I could even register what was happening, Lust was on her feet and my neck released, leaving stinging trails where fingers had scraped skin. I wheezed as I caught a glimpse of Envy's body regenerating from numerous lacerations on the very edge of our light, yards away from where he had started. There were curious deep gorges on the ground where his feet had dragged, the only evidence he had been in my space at all. I glanced between the two, rubbing my neck with feigned nonchalance even as inwardly I trembled. I really needed to be more careful if I was going to survive this. But that was just it: I needed an outlet or I would go mad. Unfortunately for me, the easiest target was one of the most deadly creatures in existence. Figures. Still, despite the danger, I couldn't help but let out a last little giggle at my newest enemy's disgruntled expression.

"Do not," Lust growled in the fridgidest of tones, "touch what is mine."

A stalemate ensued between the two, the air verily crackling with aggression, and I suddenly got the image of two predators about to compete for territory. And I was the choice meat. Ew.

Before I could sort out just how I felt about the evil witch calling me hers, then subsequently protecting me (disgusted or grateful? I just couldn't decide), a small gasp drew my attention to the previously ignored second arrival. The overweight...creature… had dropped his hand and wore an aggrieved expression on his face as if the very world was ending, staring at Lust with shock and longing. He turned his empty eyes on me and I flinched, almost tempted to scoot away.

You know that moment, when you bring a new cat home and you let it loose so your other cat could kind of sniff at it curiously? Well, you know that second moment, when your old cat realizes what is actually happening, and all hell breaks loose?

Guess who's the new cat.

"Lust…" the creature whimpered, horror seeming to dawn on him. They ignored him.

"Lust," I tried as well, and she acknowledged me with an irritated look, but my gaze was locked on the slowly changing expression of the madman who was a little too close for comfort. "I hate to interrupt but…"

"Oh, this is precious," Envy suddenly said, regaining his original form and confidence in a split second. "Looks like Gluttony has just realized mommy has a new favorite."

"What," Gluttony whimpered in a strangely young voice. "What is it? Can I eat it, Lust…?"

"No," Lust snapped, and I drew in a quick breath of air through my teeth. She really wasn't helping this delicate situation. It looked like any second this creature would snap and attempt to tear me apart if it thought I would steal her away. Lust seemed to realize this as well, as her tone became decidedly softer. "This is our new friend, Empathy. You can't eat him." He whimpered again."Oh, stop it. If you're good, I'll let you have a little snack at the prison later." She couldn't have looked any more disgusted and resigned, yet Gluttony didn't even to notice. His face lit up like Christmas had come early, and he seemed to completely forget about me for the moment. It was an unsettling transition from his previous intensity and I couldn't help but feel that if insanity had a poster child, it would be this creature.

That...might be a problem. Envy I could deal with, as his motivations were obvious. This creature...I would have to watch him closely. He seemed to have a connection with Lust, an almost worship that would be extremely unhealthy for me to get in the middle of. And there was no way I was going to get into a fight with him for Lust's attention. Just, no.

Heart easing back into it's normal pace, I slipped off the wall and put Gluttony on the other side of the pale woman, using her as a shield against any surprise fits of rage. Envy eyed me with clear amusement even as Gluttony seemed to relax with 'his' Lust no longer blocked from view.

"I see you are recovered," Lust assumed dryly, and I nodded, no longer interested in prolonging this game while the others were here. "Then let us get to business," she continued, leaning back languidly against the rubble we had been occupying moments before. "What is the latest."

Envy rolled his eyes, mumbling 'buzzkill' under his breath. "Same as before. The target is locked in his office hitting dead end after dead end." Clearly, the man didn't think much of this 'target', but then again, I couldn't imagine Envy thinking anything good about anyone at all.

"Careful, Envy, you know as well as I do what a setback it would be for Father if he figures anything out and tells his little friends."

I flicked my gaze between the two suspiciously, trying my best to follow. Father...like the man I met at the Gate? And why were they speaking so candidly in front of me? Did they believe me so under their control that any thought of me ruining their plans didn't cross their minds? Perhaps they did...and wasn't that just dandy? Looks like I'm well and truly part of the pack now, I thought, depressed.

I cast a nervous glance at Gluttony, but he was merely sitting, swiping at something only he could see.

"Yeah, yeah. So why not just kill him?" My head snapped back around with a slight thrill of alarm. I remembered the rather violent assassination of Shou Tucker and swallowed, hoping–perhaps futily– that I would not have to be involved in such a task. The way Lust liked to play with me though...I didn't think I would have any choice.

"As usual, you aren't thinking," Lust drawled, and Envy growled. "Just killing him isn't going to work. It's too conspicuous. We need someone to blame."

I did not like this. At all. Someone had clearly gotten on the wrong side of these creatures and was going to pay the price. Just what had this target found out that would ruffle them? Come to think of it, what was their plan? Lust had only ever talked about me, about saving me, not ever what the bigger picture was. All I knew was that they needed alchemists, namely the Elrics, to complete it. I shuddered to think of the possibilities. Somehow I didn't think it would be good for those boys, nor the people dwelling above us. Not in the least. I had already seen what these creatures' manipulations could do to a community, much less a huge city like Central. I scowled darkly in frustration. I couldn't do anything about it in my current situation but continue to wait and watch...

"What about one of his subordinates, then? You know: the one that always follows him like a puppy?" At this, Envy casually changed form, sparks flitting through the dark and casting striking shadows on the walls before they faded back to black. The shapeshifter smugly stared Lust down with a new stolen identity.

All color drained from my face. Before I could control my reaction, a strangled gasp escaped my throat as I was confronted with one of the last people I thought I would see in this dank, dark place. Barret, tall and tan, stood before me with an un-customary grin on his face. He leaned back, demented smile looking so wrong in contrast with his usually impassive nature, eyes devoid of any warmth I might have come to recognize there. And in that interminable moment I was filled with a nameless dread and a suspicion that froze my blood even as my heart began to rapidly force it through my veins. No...no, no, no. Not him. Please don't be talking about who I think you're talking about...

My shocked gaze landed on Lust, and I realized my mistake too late to hide my true reaction. She and the disturbing imitation of my friend were eyeing me with sudden interest. I took an involuntary step back.

"Oh, that's right…" Envy said gleefully in his stolen voice, and my stomach roiled at the wrongness. "You were staying at his house, weren't you…"

My chest constricted as the dread tripled. No...it can't be...please let me be wrong. "Maybe we should let you do it," Lust simpered, the fake affection in her voice making me physically ill. "After all, you did so very well with that Scarred man…And this would be the perfect test of loyalty..."

"No," I gasped immediately, taking another trembling step in reverse. "I won't!" She spoke of murder like it was some kind of sick reward for being good, some kind of treat.

"What was that?" The woman bared her teeth in a feral grin and an icy shiver crawled up my spine. She stood from her languid position and used her superior height to loom over me. Suddenly, I very much felt Edward's hatred for being short… "You don't get to say that to me, pet." She gripped my jaw tightly, digging her nails into the soft skin, and licked her lips at my pained whimper. "You will do as I say, or I will have you locked away so long, you will forget everything but me..."

Envy looked between us with interest, a slight frown on his face, but I had no attention to spare for him. She was serious, I could see it in her eyes. Even now, madness lingered on the edges of my conciousness, just waiting to pounce as soon as I slipped. I couldn't go back there...not again. If I did, I would lose myself for real this time. I would become just like Gluttony, a vacant thing for this woman's amusement.

And that terrified me more than any physical pain she could ever inflict.

But...I couldn't do it. I couldn't make the choice between my own life and the life of someone I held so dear. I shook my head slowly. Her frown only deepened, digging her nails so harshly I could feel droplets of blood slide down my skin.

Suddenly, her face cleared and she released me, stroking my abused skin softly. I flinched in confusion.

"Okay, love. I won't make you." Her fangs glinted. "I'll just do it instead."

I froze. Wh-what? She ran her fingers through my hair, clearly enjoying the dawning horror painted all over my face.

"Oooh, can I eat him, Lust," Gluttony suddenly piped in, grin widening his overlarge mouth, going way past a normal width and seeming to consume his lower jaw. Inhuman. My heart jumped, even as Lust's eyes filled with alarming anticipation.

Suddenly, red was all I could see, splashes off it in violent bursts and gore. "NO!" I shouted, slapping her hand away. My eyes jerked back and forth between the three of them; Envy's amusement, Lust's smugness, and Gluttony's ravenous hunger. "I won't let you touch him!" I clenched my eyes tightly, adrenaline and dread piercing my heart with a vicious point. Because I knew what I must do. I couldn't let them touch him, for they would show no mercy, would destroy him utterly before violently taking his life, and I couldn't let him go through that. And who knew if they would stop at him? What if they went after his family? Bile burned my throat at the gruesome possibility. No, no, not them, please.

It would have to be me.

I forced my shoulders to relax with a deep breath and straightened, opening my eyes slowly. As I had before, I allowed anger to harden like a shield over my heart. Envy lifted an eyebrow, and I returned his look with a glare. "He's mine."

I would do this because I owed him everything for taking in Nina, for the kindness he had shown me and the Elric brothers, and because he was one of the most decent men I had ever known. My my blood turned to ice as I sent Lust my coldest stare. I would do this because there was no way I was going to let this bitch and her cronies touch him.

For my love for him, and everything he and his family had done for mine...I would eliminate Maes Hughes.

–_–_–

Hughes hummed softly as he tucked his daughters beneath soft sheets. It was a quiet night, and his little darlings would sleep well, safe in their beds.

"Mister Hughes," Nina whispered, and Maes smiled a little sadly as she still refused to call him daddy like his little girl. But perhaps it was just as well. After all, she had someone else out there who cared for her just as much as he did. In the end, it would be her decision who she called father... Those two had been through so much together, after all. He didn't think Alex realized just how much he meant to this child.

"What is it sweetheart?" Maes whispered back, mindful of his little Elicia sleeping in her crib just feet away.

"When will you come back? You keep staying at work…it's lonely."

Hughes' heart curled in his chest at the adorableness of this little angel. "Don't worry, I'll be home soon. I just have a few more things to do at the office. In the morning, we can go for ice cream, okay?"

Gracia smiled softly from the doorway, watching. Nina giggled as the family man cuddled her belly, excited for the treat she would get tomorrow. The next day Maes had promised to take a day off to take the girls, something he had not been able to do for much too long. It would be good to see them bonding again.

"Night, night," Maes said, and Nina mumbled a response before rolling over. The man placed a gentle kiss on her cheek before going over to the smaller bed and repeating the same on his youngest child. The door clicked softly behind him, only leaving the nightlight to illuminate their sweet sleep.

Gracia pulled her husband into a hug, comforted by the warmth of his arms around her. "Be careful, okay."

Hughes pulled back and placed a quick, teasing kiss on her nose, making her giggle. He grinned. "I always am!"

Gracia watched with a smile as her husband left the house with a jaunty wave. That night, she took a calming draft of tea before reading a chapter of her favorite book. The novel fell limply open on her lap as she slipped into a comfortable sleep, waiting for him to return.

–_–_–

AN:
Here we go, guys. We are almost to the part where I wrote the preface. So, this part of the series, I cried. I legitimately cried over an anime character. I barely ever even cry when something bad happens to me in real life! The writing of the original story was just so beautiful, I couldn't help it….sniff. I hope I'm able to do it justice.

More development for the homunculi this chapter. It was fun! They'll become more fleshed out as we continue along. Heh, yeah, Envy has no idea who Alex originally was, so he was making the safest (if completely wrong) guesses. Tsk, tsk, he of all people should be more open minded.

Thanks for sending your love! No promises on scheduled updates, what with the insanity that is my life right now, but I will never give up on this story. Neveeeeeerrrrrrrr! See, I even finished my Passing Stranger series. I'm reliable!...Right? Right!

Bye!