Hey readers! I'm really excited and proud because this is the longest chapter I've ever written! This is sadly the second to last chapter for this story.. :,( I'm so sad cuz I'm gonna miss Blaze and crew. So I had this weird dream, what if I made a sequel? I wanna know what YOU, that's right, YOU think about a sequel to this fic which will have Blaze (duh) and a very VERY badass plot to it! Ok, just think about my proposition and tell me what you think when you review.

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA but I own BLAZE MCDUFFIE!

REVIEW AND FAV AND FOLLOW PLEASE! I'LL MISS THIS STORY AND ITS REVIEWS SO MAKE IT HONORABLE! :)

Chapter 21

The intensity in the room was increasing as the walls shook and rumbled. Everything was flashing with dark colors such as red and purple with a sickening shade of green. Pride's grin grew wider as ancient writing started to carve its way into the stone floor, circling him and Blaze. The cursed Ishvalan girl was still laying limply on the floor, the swirling alchemical light tousled her hair. Edward was a few feet away, still clawing at the ground to free his legs. He was close to tears as he watched the painless expression that Blaze wore as more blood soaked through the floor.

"Finally, my brethren will come back to me! Together we will rule mankind by Father's side!" Pride yelled, a hint of madness cracking in between his words. The whipping wind got more furious as it blew debris away and levitated the artifacts of the past Homunculi who were about to be reborn. Ed had to turn to his last resort, transmuting his auto-mail legs off and leaping towards the transmutation circle.

"Damn you!" Ed screamed over the wind as he clapped his hands and placed them on the back of his auto-mail legs. In a bright flash of blue and white light, the metal creaked and snapped in half. Now Ed was being pulled in with the strong current, his little metal stumps for legs were screeching against the stone floor. He had a plan brewing in his head and it had to be perfectly aimed just so. He was going to destroy the transmutation circle etched into the floor. But Pride saw Ed's body quickly crawling his way towards the circle, his determined features flashing beneath his whipping blonde bangs.

"Oh no you don't! I've come too far to lose to the likes of you!" Pride yelled as he raised a hand and shadows spiraled at his auto-mail foe. Ed dodged them by rolling and turning on dimes to avoid the shadowed enemies without the luxury of legs.

Ed then clapped his hands and tapped his arm, a large shovel like blade prodded out. With a cry of determination, Ed raised his arm, took a leap as much as his stubs would allow but the tornado of colors helped, and struck the ground. Soon the metal heaved the cinder block out of the ground, acting like a lever in the process. Once the chunk was out, Ed smashed it into bits, a part of the Homunculi transmutation was now destroyed.

Pride's eyes widened in fury as he sent shadows at Edward. Three of them pierced his skin, each of them were injected into his cheek, stomach, and shoulder. Fortunately, the eyed shadows didn't dig deep enough to cause damage but it still sent pain through the teenager's body. Pride retracted his allies and stared in awe and shock as the high winds and colors suddenly stopped dead its tracks and the artifacts clattered to the floor. Blaze's unconscious body was still intact besides the stomach wound because the transmutation wasn't ready to sacrifice her being.

In utter defeat, Pride sunk to his knees, his hands leaving the limp Ishvalan's body. Suddenly a stone spear shot its way through his torso and pinned him to the wall. There stood Edward on his arm and stumps, gritting his teeth and glaring daggers at his enemy. After a few seconds the anger passed through Ed's body and was replaced with realization of what was laying beneath his toned figure.

His fallen ally.

His partner in justice.

His trusted friend.

His friend to relate and confide in.

His murdered love...

"Blaze... n-no, no, NO!" He faltered off as he picked up her body with ease, his fingers already drenched in blood. Her black hair swirled around his fingertips as her head rolled onto his chest. Ed's golden eyes formed pools of tears as he sniffled up his sobs.

She's... she's actually gone. It can't be true, she has to be alive...

Carefully, Ed rested his ear upon Blaze's chest, eager to hear a heartbeat, anything. Then it came suddenly, a soft thump-thump sound. It was very faint that Ed had to do a double take and strain to hear it. Then he could hear soft, slow breathing as her chest rose and fell ever so slightly. His mood changed instantly, a spark of hope appeared in his heart as he gave Blaze a nervous smile.

"Human transmutation..." Ed whispered as he quickly, yet gently, placed Blaze down. Taking a deep breath, he brushed a few strands of midnight hair out of her face. Closing his eyes, he brought up his hands and slapped them together. He then placed them on Blaze's bloody stomach, alchemical light already surrounding her wound.

Alchemist's Greatest Sin.

But what else could he do? If he sealed up her wound, she would still die from the blood loss. He couldn't wait for the military to arrive with a doctor, they wouldn't make it in time nor did Mustang know that the Elrics were even out in the abandoned base. This seemed like the best choice to make, even if it would take his life.

Banishment if Attempted.

He didn't care anymore about the consequences. He just wanted the one person he's grown attached to over the past few months back. He wanted to see her knowing smirk, the way she moved when she fought, the way she always seemed to make him feel better when he was down. Edward missed her so much that he couldn't stand the thought of her dying.

The Ultimate Taboo.

The light swirled around the two teens, the feeling all to familiar to Ed. Suddenly a large black oval ripped out of the ground and a purple pupil dotted the middle. Little hands outstretched from the darkness and reached towards Ed and Blaze.

The portal of Truth has opened, and it's looking for it's toll.

Pride cracked his eyes open to notice his enemy performing human transmutation. Standing up, he stares at the worried look plastering Ed's features, his own look of distraught taking over his face. Pride then stood up and started to walk towards the duo which turned into running.

"I won't let you have your happy ending! Both of you will die in the end!" Pride screamed as he was so close to touching Ed's shoulder. But suddenly Edward and Blaze were sucked into the large black and purple eye. Pride halted to a stop and tried to pry himself away from the grasp of the tiny deformed hands. Soon Pride was pulled into the portal of Truth after Blaze and Ed, screaming as he went.

The cries of fear soon turned into echoes as the trio found themselves in a blank space. All around them was just white open space except two enormous double doors on either sides of the space. Ed was breathing hard as he still knelt on the ground cradling Blaze's blood crusted head. She was barely holding onto the small string of life and was fighting to stay alive. Pride was standing near the injured teenagers, frantically looking around because this was his first time in this realm, and he was paranoid.

"Well, well, looks like the Fullmetal Alchemist- Edward Elric has come back after restoring his younger brother's body. Hmm, but who's this little lady? She looks like she'd seen better days hasn't she?" A double-tone voice rang into the emptiness. Everyone turned to look at a white figure outlined in gray sitting cross-legged in front of one of the doors. Pride was the first to speak up.

"Why the hell am I here? Who the hell are you?" He shouted at the grinning figure who just gave a chuckle.

"Why, I'm referred to as many things, child. I am all. I am one. I am the world. I am God. I am me. I am you. I am everyone. I am justice. I am the bearer of knowledge. I am Truth!" The figure called Truth explained as he shifted in his position on the floor. Ed took this opportunity to try and heal Blaze.

"Truth! The girl in my arms is my trusted friend, Blaze McDuffie. She's been born with a curse that lead her to get beaten this badly. She's dying, Truth, and I want- no, I need you to heal her! Please, I'll do anything!" Edward called with a determined look even though he felt like breaking down in tears as he heard Blaze's breathing turn even more into ragged whispers. Truth's head cocked to the side in amusement as his smile grew larger.

"Oh really, Edward? And what makes you think that I'll just give that Ishvalan's life back, just because you asked politely? Equal exchange, Edward, you should know better." Truth replied with a playful edge to his dual-tone voice. Ed growled as he tried to keep his cool. He stared at the place where Truth's eyes would've been and called to him in a determined voice.

"Yeah, you don't need to remind me. That's why I will sacrifice anything for Blaze! Take my other arm, my insides, my heart and soul if it means sparing her life! Bring her back to the Earth alive!" Ed yelled as Pride looked shocked and Truth's smiled withered slightly.

"Hmm, is this girl of more importance to you than your own life? Is she your mate, or just a friend?" Truth called as he shifted and stood up on his outlined feet. Ed blushed slightly and blinked a couple of times before answering.

"Y-yeah, she does mean more to me than anything else. You could say that." Ed said as he gazed down at the Ishvalan girl in his lap, brushing away a few strands of hair from her face. Truth slowly made his way to the sitting duo, his grin dimming a little more again. He held the palm of his faint hand on Edward's forehead, ready to take what he needed to bring Blaze back to full health. But suddenly Pride grabbed Truth's wrist and yanked it away.

"Gimme my brethren back! If you can restore lives then restore all the Homunculi then I'll give you these two brats in return!" Pride spat as Truth tilted his head to the side.

"Now that's not equal enough little boy. Two sacrifices to bring back five sins in unfair to everyone don't you think?" Truth said with an edge to his voice. Pride kept on glaring at Truth, not letting the subject go.

"I am Pride, and you will answer to me!" He shouted as he raised his fist and tried to strike Truth. Truth stopped the impact by catching his fist, an angry scowl replacing his sarcastic smile. Truth then ripped an outlined hand through Pride's chest, pulling out a Philosophers Stone. Pride's eyes widened as he coughed up blood, his body falling to the floor in a kneeling position.

"I've always hated little boys like you, always wanting and don't think before they act." Truth pointed out as he examined the stone in his hand, then tossing it up and catching it. "I've made my decision, you're no use to this world anymore."

"W-wait, no. I-I'll c-change!" Pride sputtered out as his body slowly flaked away and swirled around Truth's fist with the Philosophers Stone. Truth's grin quickly came back to his face as he walked towards the large door. Suddenly the huge double doors creaked open and dozens of small, black arms came barreling at the Homunculus.

"Wait, I said I'd change! Let me go now!" Pride screamed again, as if having a tantrum while he tried to kick the hands off his body. He was dragged towards the open doors with Truth standing by with a wicked grin on his face. Soon he was almost inside the doors, his head was still struggling to poke out. "I Won't go alone!"

A sharp eyed shadow cut through the air and was aimed at Edward's head. Ed's eyes widened at he wrapped his hands protectively around Blaze's limp body. But Truth intervened by sticking his hand out and grabbing the shadow, breaking it in half. Pride's expression was pure hatred as the final inches of the doors closed shut, making a loud thump noise.

"Now, where were we?" Truth's carefree attitude rang through the tense air as Ed stared at him. Without thinking twice, Ed blurted his answer.

"My decision still stands! Take anything you wa-"

"Nothing is needed nor desired from you." Truth said as he towered over the shocked alchemist.

"W-what? You're not kidding right? I don't need equal exchange to heal Blaze?" Edward asked as he sat up a little straighter with anticipation. Truth nodded his head in agreement.

"Yes, seeing that there's no use you leaving this realm unharmed and I'll be left to deal with the dead girl, I'll give you my farewell gift." Truth tossed the Philosophers Stone at Ed and he caught it. "Nothing more to explain now. Do as you wish with the Stone, that little brat didn't deserve it."

Edward stared at the crimson oval in his palm, figuring out what to do with it after he healed Blaze. But that was for later, now his main mission was to use the power of the Philosophers Stone to bring Blaze back into reality from near death.

Clenching the Stone in his hand, he held his hands over Blaze's body and watched as the red alchemical light zapped through the air and around her stomach wound. Ed witnessed the power the Stone had as the crusted blood flaked off her stomach and the large gash closed up. Suddenly Blaze's right leg shook and the stone leg clattered to the ground along with the auto-mail base. In a bright flash of blinding light, Blaze's flesh right leg was attached to her breathing body once again. Once the light dimmed, Ed was astonished as the smaller cuts and bruises healed and the red light died down.

"Amazing." Ed mustered out as he laid her head on the ground. Edward sat with his metal stubs facing outward. He held the Stone in grasp, unsure of how to heal his wounds and bring back his legs and arm. Truth stepped up and held out his gray lined hand. Ed nodded and placed the Stone in his palm. Truth straightened himself out as he held out both of his hands above Ed.

"I'll see you the next time you decide to do a Human Transmutation, Edward Elric." Truth called out as Ed smirked and closed his eyes and waited for the process to begin. He felt the wind caress his blonde braid and the sound of the alchemical zaps. He felt this tingling in his flesh as he felt the cuts and scraps close up. Then the normal numbness he felt when he had his auto-mail on was decreasing and he felt a lurch of pain start up in his shoulder and mid thigh where his metal bases were. He heard the metal clash on the floor and his auto-mail arm fall off as the pain increased.

"You may become unconscious, but don't worry, I'll send you back to your realm with the girl. I bet you younger brother is awaiting your return." Truth called as continued on with the healing process. Ed nodded painfully as he felt his his nubs start to extend and form into actual limbs. Holding in the screams of agony, Ed finally lets them out as he dug his nails into his pants. Suddenly he fell over to his side in an overflow of pain, landing right on top of the resting Blaze.

Soon enough Truth finished the process and watched as the Philosophers Stone disintegrated into crimson ashes in the palm of his hand. Grinning once more he looked over the duo, looking at the content and peaceful looks they had on their faces.

"They've been through Hell, how do they manage to look this peaceful when they sleep? Crazy, stupid, kids are so fascinating though, I bet I'll see Edward and that girl soon."