Becky stared at the being with wide eyes. She couldn't believe what Truth was telling her. Both of these women knew better than to bargain their lives with Truth. She pulled at her hair in frustration, her eyes falling to Avarice and Amaya. Their eyes were vacant, dull orbs looking out into nothing. They seemed to sway at every breath, held upright by unseen strings of a puppet master. Avarice was standing in her real body, her leather jacket trying to fall from her now bony figure. Her red hair didn't have its usual luster, gleaming a rusty red rather then the fine color of blood. Her skin was ashen and Becky would have sworn her body would be cold to the touch. Amaya was no better, her short black hair hanging limply on either side of her face. Her face was gaunt and without her smile, she looked strange. Truth looked from the girls to Becky and back again.

"If you don't hurry, the fate the decided for you is going to happen," the being advised, "And I can guarantee you won't approve of it."

"What fate?" Becky demanded. Truth did not answer. It simply waited for her decision. The carefree manner at which he was handling this only made her cross. She could feel the rage burning in her body like bile.

"What the hell kind of choice is this!" Becky demanded angrily. "I don't even know what 'existence' does what!"

"Why didn't you just ask?" Truth wondered. A small, glass orb appeared in each woman's hand and they shuffled forward. Avarice was jerked forward first, the orb extended in her hand. Cautious, Becky peered at it and saw, beneath the surface, was a swirling gray mist. The surface of the orb sparkled in the light, making it somewhat pretty. Becky grinned a little when the mist cleared, slowly being peeled away from the image. She found herself looking into a large bedroom with books scattered all over the floor. A bed was messily made and clothes were piled high at its foot. The walls were plastered with drawings and posters. A girl with short, brown hair moved in and out of it trying, it seemed, to clean it. Becky looked into Avarice's blank eyes as the mist once again clouded the surface. As the homunculus took a step backward, Amaya came forward, holding her orb up for Becky to see. The mist inside her orb was black. Once it peeled away, it revealed a face that Becky loved and adored. Ed's gold eyes glared up at her, his braid in its rightful place. His scowl disappeared as it transformed into a smile. Her turned away and began to walk away from her, his image getting smaller and smaller. The last thing she saw was Ed turning back to look at her as the mist overtook the orb once more. Amaya stumbled backward and Truth smiled at her. Tears blurred Becky's vision as she tried to take in what she had just seen. Avarice wanted to get her home and Amaya wanted her to be happy. She wiped the tears away before they could fall.

"Mister Truth," she said slowly as she flinched. She had a respect for the being but referring to him with it made her jaw clench. Truth grinned, humming a merry tune to itself as it listened. Becky fell silent, gathering her wits back together. When she was ready, she picked up where her thought had left off.

"I want my friends to go free, back to their own worlds. I want to be able to say good bye to Ed and Al and the others and then I'll be happy."

"Sounds like a lot of 'wants'," Truth commented loftily. "What are you willing to give for that, especially since I own their lives until you make the decision?" Becky gritted her teeth. She hated dealing with him. There were to many things that could go wrong.

"I offer my existence instead," she said calmly. Life flared in Avarice's and Amaya's eyes. Rage burned as the two women launched at Becky grappling with her. Avarice wrapped her fingers on one hand around Becky's throat, the other reaching for the pistol on her hip that was not there. Amaya's fingers tangled in her hair, yanking back hard.

"Don't you dare degrade us like this, fangirl," Avarice snarled, her eyes blazing with fury. "We chose this and we will pay the price."

"We aren't going to let you throw away your life over us," Amaya hissed in her ear. As suddenly as it happened, the two women became lifeless once more, releasing Becky. The blonde alchemist gasped for breath, rubbing her neck as the two women slid to their knees. Avarice had managed to keep the furious expression on her face but Amaya's was one of sadness. Becky looked at Truth, who regarded the women with interest.

"You see," the being said conversationally, "they won't let you. Both of them have pledged to go through the Gate and never return if you were to try to walk through yourself. Very demanding these two are but very determined as well." Becky felt her jaw drop. She looked between her two friends in despair. There was no way she could choose between them. Amaya had been her friend for nearly four years now. She was alike in many ways to Becky. To lose her to her own choosing was more than Becky could handle. Avarice, on the other hand, had saved her life multiple times and had proved herself to be more than just what she had been created for. Not only that, Avarice was one of Becca's creations and, in essence, a piece of Becca. It was not a fair decision. She did not want to have to sacrifice one of her friends for her own gain. However, it appeared she was not getting an option. She pulled at her hair in frustration then rounded on Truth, who had begun humming again.

"Truth, you are a cruel, cruel bastard." She wasn't surprised when the being only smiled and continued humming. She glowered at him, trying to stall making her choice.

"If I were you, I'd choose quickly," Truth said loftily, "I don't mind acquiring three prizes but that isn't very equivalent, is it?" The look Becky gave him would have made Izumi flinch. However, the intensity was wasted on the being as it returned to humming once more. Becky looked back and forth between the two women and, with her heart in her throat, she walked forward and made her choice.