Chapter 21

"Humans coming out of Gluttony's stomach?" Father mused as he gazed at the boys in front of him.

Ed tensed as he stared at the man, "Hohenheim…?"

"Metal limbs? Armor?" Father mumbled, looking Ed and Al over. "Are you the Elric brothers?"

Ed reared back in disbelief, "Wait…you're not him?"

"Are you mistaking me for someone?" Father asked. Rory couldn't believe this man was the man the gate had warned him about. He just didn't seem all that evil but his presence gave off a whole different feeling.

"Wait," Father rubbed his beard. "Hohen…?" He gasped, staring at them strangely. "You mean Van Hohenheim? What is your relation to him?"

Ed frowned while Al answered shakily, "He's our father."

"Father?!" Father grabbed Ed by his face suddenly, startling the blond. "I'm surprised. He had kids. But your surname is Elric?"

Ed pulled away, growling, "It's our mother's surname. Our mother and Hohenheim never got married."

"I see," Father chuckled. "No wonder I didn't notice before. Where is Hohenheim now?"

"How the hell should I know?" Ed retorted.

"So he's alive," Father whispered to himself thoughtfully.

"Who are you?" Ed demanded. "And why do you look like Hohenheim?"

"He's even had kids," Father continued talking to himself.

Ed bristled harshly, "Answer me!"

Father blinked out of his reverie and looked at the boys. "Are you injured? The youngest brother is missing his left hand and the illegitimate son is missing some of his trousers."

Rory blinked, wiggling his toes as he remembered he didn't have his shoes or socks on.

Ed frowned, "I forgot. Al's hand is still in Gluttony's stomach."

"And my leg is in yours," Rory deadpanned.

Father put his hand on Al's missing one before a flash of light burst from it. "Is this alright?" He asked as Al stared at his new hand in awe. He then grabbed Ed's broken arm, "A bone fracture." Ed yelped in pain before light burst and his arm was fully healed. He gazed at his arm in disbelief.

"Anything else?" Father asked. He patted the protesting Ed down before smiling, "Ah, your ribs." He slammed his palm into his abdomen.

Ed and Al stared at the man in shock. Rory swallowed dryly, trying to stop his hands from shaking.

Father huffed lightly, "You are precious lives after all." He went up to the blue eyed boy, putting his hand on his leg. His pants suddenly materialized as did a shoe that fit his foot just right. "We must take good care of your bodies." He glared at Rory. "Even yours."

Rory was surprised when Father gripped his neck tightly, choking him. He wheezed, clawing at his hands.

Ling pointed his sword threateningly at Father. "Put him down," He growled. "What the hell are you? What are your insides? What joke is this?"

"I'll ask you the same," Father said solemnly, throwing Rory towards him. "What are you?" He turned away from them, "You may eat those two, Gluttony." Gluttony grinned delightedly before Ed and Al got in his way.

"Wait!" Ed shouted.

"They're our friends," Al stated hastily.

"I don't care," Father said blankly. "You bring a human I don't need and a boy that's supposed to kill me. Friends? I find that useless."

"What?" Ed spat angrily.

"Brother," Al held him back. "He's the one called 'Father'. He created the homunculi."

Ed inhaled sharply, "So, a bad guy?"

"Seems that way," Al replied slowly. "But he fixed our bodies."

"I don't like it," Ling panted lightly. "Those eyes. That attitude. Just what you'd expect from the homunculi's boss. Laughing at humans, calling them fools."

Rory stood unsteadily, rubbing his regenerating throat. He didn't like where this was going, and he had a feeling it was only going to get worse. He put his hand on the hilt of his sword cautiously.

Father chuckled ruthlessly, "Foolish? I do not think that. Do you humans see a beetle crawling on the ground and think it foolish? Even when an insect is struggling, aren't your levels so different you don't spare emotions?" He glared at them sharply, "What I feel towards you humans is the same as that."

The ground rumbled roughly as Ed's transmuted the ground to hit Father who simply put a wall up to block it without even moving. Rory whipped out his sword quickly, readying himself for defense.

"Hey, you don't know what he's capable of," Ling exclaimed hastily.

"I don't care if he healed my wounds, I can't get along with him," Ed hissed. "I'll beat him up and then we'll leave."

Rory rolled his eyes, sighing, "Really, Edward? As much as it's appreciated, you aren't the strongest in the world, okay? Keep a level head."

Ed huffed but nodded, "We'll take care of him. We can't worry over the small fries."

"Are you going to be okay?" Al asked Ling concernedly.

Ling smirked, "To think a prince would be getting pity from a civilian."

Envy roared at them, "Who are you calling a small fry, you pipsqueak?!"

Ed's face darkened as he clapped his hands with Al. They placed their hands on pipes which whipped out and around Gluttony and Envy.

Envy laughed triumphantly, "What do you think that will do?" Rory quieted him by stabbing him in the eye.

Ed pointed past him as the pipes caught up to Father, "I told you, we're aiming for him." The pipes wrapped around him. Ed pumped his fists, grinning, "We got him."

Father disintegrated the pipes much to everyone's surprise. Ed growled, running at him. He threw a kick which was blocked by a wall Father put up. Al transmuted the floor to rise and attack Father. He simply lifted his hand and destroyed it. Ling appeared behind him but was stopped by a pillar smashing into his stomach. Rory charged at him, only to be pushed away roughly and have spike go through his stomach. He coughed up blood, holding his injured side as more blood poured from his fingers.

"Rory!" Ed called, trying to crawl towards him.

Father shook his head disappointedly, "What a waste of time." He stomped his foot powerfully, shocking everyone in the room.

Ed and Al stared at him as they clapped their hands and put them on the floor. Nothing happened. They clapped their hands again and repeated. Nothing happened again.

"Alchemy," Rory panted as he tried to stand. "He made it so alchemy doesn't work." He was suddenly lifted into the air by Envy's tail who tightened his grip on the blue eyed boy. He choked, trying to reach for his sword which lay by Envy's giant feet. Al and Ed were soon trapped by said feet.

"Guys!" Ling called worriedly. Gluttony rushed up to him, catching the sword in his mouth and sitting on him, pinning him to the floor.

Father tsked, "Look what you've done to my house. It's pathetic that you've allowed people to trespass here." He glanced at Rory and Ling. "These two have had good upbringings. They seem strong. If I'm going to kill them, I mustn't let human resources go to waste."

He pressed a finger to his forehead, and the eye that had once been in Gluttony's stomach now showed on his forehead. "I might be able to add him to some of my pawns." A red liquid seeped from it into his hands. "I just happen to have an empty seat for Greed." Rory growled, focusing his wind to bring his sword to him without anyone noticing.

"A Philosopher's Stone," Al gasped.

"Oh," Envy rumbled. "You're going to do that, Father?"

"That?" Ed questioned confusedly.

"He's going to put the philosopher's stone in his blood," Envy answered as Gluttony took off Ling's bandage on his cheek. "If the human survives it, the human based homunculus will be complete."

"Wait," Ed grunted from under Envy's foot. "They say the philosopher's stone is pure energy."

"That's right," Envy smirked. "On top of that, the souls inside of it will fight with the body. If he can withstand that, he will have great power. If not, he will die."

The boys struggled, clapping their hands and trying in vain to transmute something. "Let us go!" Al yelled.

"You bearded bastard!" Ed shouted hostilely. "He has someone waiting for him!"

Waiting for him, Rory thought. Was someone waiting for him? Was Winry? Were his parents? He grabbed the gun Riza had given him, shooting the tail that choked him. Envy roared in pain as Rory panted as he hit the ground.

The blue eyed boy stood quickly, readying his sword until he was stopped by Ling. "Don't, Rory," The Xing boy grunted heavily. "Don't butt in. No matter what happens, don't but in."

Rory shook his head, steeling his eyes that welled up against his will. "Not Greed. You can't be Greed."

Father smirked before pouring the Philosopher's Stone into Ling's cut. His body seized as it went inside his bloodstream. He thrashed around wildly, scaring the boys.

Before Rory could step towards him, Ling wheezed, "Don't butt in. Just stay right there. Who do you think I am? I'm the man who will be Xing's emperor; Ling Y-"

He was cut off by his own scream of pain. He spat blood before his body relaxed. He stood unsteadily, rubbing his neck.

"Ling…" Ed called worriedly.

"Hm?" A deeper, familiar voice came from Ling which made Rory freeze. "Must be the owner of this body." He chuckled manically, "This is a nice body. Thanks for birthing me, Pops." The bandage around his left hand fell, revealing an Ouroboros tattoo. He straightened, fixing the jacket's collar.

"Aww," Envy whined. "You've gone and succeeded. Now the form of that cheeky brat is left. You disgust me, Greed."

Greed-Ling chuckled, "You're looking pretty repulsive yourself."

Envy growled while Gluttony cheered, "Nice to meet you, Greed. I'm Gluttony. That's Envy."

"Gluttony and Envy? I see," Greed-Ling nodded. "It's nice to meet you, my brother's by soul. And also," He turned to Father, kneeling. "Old man. Thank you for birthing me."

Father stared at him, considering before nodding, "I will gradually introduce you to your remaining brothers."

"Greed?" Ed questioned, still under Envy. "That Greed?"

Greed-Ling furrowed his brow confusedly, "What do you mean?"

Rory loosened his grip on his sword, feeling his heart constricting painfully, "You don't remember? Not even the gang or Devil's Nest?"

"Which Greed was that?" Greed-Ling asked.

"The Greed before you," Father answered.

"Ah," Greed-Ling nodded understandingly. He scratched the back of his neck, "Nah, I'm a different Greed from the one you knew."

Rory sobbed dryly, falling to his knees. Greed-Ling glanced at him, frowning, "What's wrong with him?"

"Greed was his friend," Ed mumbled, staring at the broken boy sympathetically. He then glanced at Greed-Ling, "Ling…is he…?"

"Friend of yours?" Greed-Ling grinned. "He was an interesting kid. He accepted me easily. Sorry. Greed is the container of this body now."

Ed shuddered, shaking his head disbelievingly, "No. It's a lie."

Al pounded his fists. "He told Rory not to butt in."

Ed growled, "There's got to be a chance. Is one to get taken over that easily? Huh? Ling?!"

"He did it on purpose!" Rory shouted, tears sliding down his face quickly.

Before Ed could open his mouth to retort, he was cut off by a growl coming from the doorway. The chimera walked towards them before spurting out blood and falling to the floor lifelessly. Scar and the little Xing girl from before stood behind it.

"Scar," Rory hissed hostilely, standing up and grabbing his sword.

"It's the girl from before," Al commented.

The Xing girl, May Chang, tensed, gripping Scar's sleeve in fright. Scar glanced down a bit worriedly, "What is it?"

"I don't like it," She whispered fearfully. "That person. I don't like it. He's a person but he's not a person."

Scar grunted, "Indeed."

The small panda that was in Al's armor rushed out and ran into May Chang's arms. She gasped happily, "Xiao-Mei." They both cried as they held each other. "Thank goodness. I was so worried."

Greed-Ling clapped, "I don't really get it, but it's a touching reunion." Rory, against his will, smiled slightly at his sarcasm.

Scar gazed at the boys, furrowing his brow when he saw Al, Rory and Ed. "The Fullmetal Alchemist."

"Where? Where?" May Chang asked frantically, glancing around rapidly.

"There," He pointed to Ed who was still under Envy's foot.

Rory bit his lip, trying to hid his amusement when May Chang's face when from excitement to heartbroken disappointment. "HOW DARE YOU PLAY WITH A WOMAN'S PURE HEART, YOU GRAIN-OF-RICE-BOY!"

Ed exploded, "WHAT DID YOU SAY, YOU GRAIN-OF-RICE-GIRL?!"

Rory covered his snickers with his hand as Al gasped in horror, "Brother. What did you do to that girl?"

"I didn't do anything!"

Gluttony tapped his chin, watching the scene. "It's the Ishvalan I missed out on eating."

Father narrowed his eyes at the man, "The disobedient nation? If I remember correctly, he's the one who keeps getting in our way with his destructive alchemy."

"Idiots," Envy hissed. "To think he could just come here with a circumstance like this. Gluttony, get rid of him."

"He can't use his alchemy!" Gluttony cheered as he rushed towards Scar who retaliated by shoving his palm into the homunculus and ripping it off.

Everyone looked on in surprise and shock. May Chang clenched her fists, shaking her head. "Unforgivable. Walking over a maiden's heart and stealing Xiao-Mei on top of that." She brought out her kunais, "Divine punishment!"

She threw them at a piece of the floor the boys had made when they fought Father. She made a transmutation circle, putting her hands on it and transmuting the wall into giant fists that punched Envy in the mouth causing him to let the boys go.

"Why can they use alchemy?" Envy yelled indignantly.

Ed and Al clapped their hands, placing them on the floor. Unfortunately, it didn't work which caused them to run away towards Rory who brought out his sword.

Ed licked his dry lips. He inhaled deeply, pointing at Scar, "Scar! I'll tell you the truth about the Ishvalan Rebellion. The murder case of that child that became the trigger for the civil war is-"

"Hey!" Envy shouted in protest.

Ed pointed right at him. "This homunculus called Envy disguised himself as a military officer and purposely shot the child. These guys instigated the rebellion. They know everything about it."

Scar clenched his fists, his face darkening dangerously. "It seems I'll have to ask you to explain this in detail." He walked towards the homunculi. "Answer. Why did we have to fall to ruin? According to your reply, I will send you to-"

He cut himself off when he smashed his palm into Gluttony's face causing his jaw to explode. "No," He growled. "I will not send you to the God where my fellow countrymen of Ishval reside. Think yourselves as undeserving of redemption." He slammed his hand on the floor, destroying it and sending everyone apart.

Father grumbled, "Greed, get rid of the outsiders."

Greed-Ling grinned, "Alright, alright." He walked towards Ed, "Sorry."

"It can't be," Ed swallowed thickly. "Ling…"

"Don't get it mixed up," Greed-Ling hissed. "I am Greed." His hand hardened into steel.

He blinked in surprise when said hand was cut off easily. Rory grunted, wiping his tears with his jacket sleeve. "You're not Greed, and even if you were, I'd still have to kill you."

Greed-Ling smirked wickedly, "Oh, I like you, kid." He rushed at him, swiping at him with his other steel hand.

Rory dodged the claw, kneeing him in the jaw. "Give Ling back. I won't hesitate to kill you."

"I'm Greed," Greed-Ling demanded, throwing a punch at him.

"No you're not," Rory caught his arm, throwing him over his shoulder. "You're not Greed. You know why?" He pointed the sword at his neck. "Greed is dead and you can't bring the dead back. I've tried!"

Greed-Ling stared at him before chuckling, "You're one hell of a kid."

"Greed also never had anyone but subordinates," Rory growled, pressing the sword into the homunculus' neck. "Tell me, are you going to leave Lan Fan?"

Greed-Ling blinked, and for a moment, Rory was sure he saw the old Ling's eyes. Seeing the distraction, Greed-Ling swiped at his chest, cutting him deeply. The homunculus grinned, "I got him, old man."

"Good," Father said. "Take them to Wrath." Envy pushed both of them the other way, away from Father and the other two homunculi.

Ed glared at Rory, "What was that? You almost had him."

Rory covered his chest wounds, frowning, "Ling is still in there. I saw it." He knew for a fact Ling was still alive because there was no way Greed was back.