A/N: Here's the next chapter! This is a lot of Wrath stuff, though there's a little of Envy at the end. I do enjoy writing these chapters. I like exploring the difference between humans and homunculi. Hope you enjoy!

Chapter 36: Choice

"Where is she, Liz!" Ed asked when we had all returned to the butcher shop. "Where's Izumi?"

"How should I know?" I snapped back sourly. "I didn't see her."

"Why not? You both went to find the kid, didn't you?"

"Well its not like we went to steal back the kid together. It was a separate kidnapping mission." I rolled my eyes. "And anyway, why didn't you keep a better eye on her?"

"Because the freaky lizard guy and the pyrotechnic nut job distracted us!"

"Edward, what have I said about taking drugs?"

"Shut up, Liz."

"We're really worried about her!" Al was pleading with Sig. "Please where is she?"

Sig was stoic as always. I got a feeling Izumi told him not to say anything.

"The place where the human transmutation happened." Winry said softly and we all stared at her. "Where she transmuted the dead body of her son in a desperate attempt to bring him back to life. Isn't that right?"

"How did you find out!" Mason blurted before covering his mouth.

"I knew it." Edward whispered.

Realization swept over me. Was that why she cared for the boy? Because he reminded her of her son? And she had used human transmutation... to bring her son back to life but it back fired like every other attempt. I had known that Izumi had lost a son and couldn't bear another one but... it did seem a little hypocritical to me how she told me to let go of the past yet here she was protecting the child who reminded her of her dead child?

Something Envy had said back at Southern HQ came back to me. He had told the boy to find his creator. But that couldn't mean…

I drew in a sharp breath and Al glanced at me. "What are you thinking Liz?"

"Nothing," I said softly. "Its just that… she would have picked somewhere isolated, right?" I shook my thoughts from my mind. Izumi could be in danger. If Envy had wanted Wrath to find her, who knows what he would do. "And there's an isolated place we know of very well."

"Yok island." Winry said. She looked to Sig. "That's right, isn't it?"

Again he didn't say anything. He didn't have to.

"Then let's go," Ed said hurrying for the door. "We need to get to them… before something bad happens."

"Right," I said following after him, praying silently that everyone would be alright. That I wouldn't have to choose.

Praying that I could prove Envy wrong.

Winry accompanied us to the island. As soon as we hit the beach, we began frantically searching for her, calling out her name into the dimly lit forest.

"He wouldn't hurt her would he?" I asked. "I mean, he liked Izumi. I know he did."

"We can't take chances" Al shook his head. "He's a homunculus Liz." His voice was unnaturally cold for Al. The closer we got to a confrontation with Wrath, the more my stomach tightened. The boys were ready to fight. But I couldn't let any of them get hurt.

"I know..." I murmured. After Envy had explained it I couldn't really doubt him. The boy was a homunculus but... maybe he still had some heart. I had to believe that he did. He still tried to protect me from Envy after all. That was proof of something. And I couldn't just believe that the peaceful boy I knew was a monster.

We continued through woods calling for Izumi. Suddenly Ed gasped "Teacher!"

I turned in the direction he was looking and my heart clenched. Timmy was standing over Izumi, hands around her throat.

"No." I whispered.

"GET OFF HER!" Ed yelled picking up a rock and chucking it in the kid's direction. The boy leaped away from Izumi, avoiding the rock. Izumi collapsed and drew in a gasping breath, coughing violently on the ground.

Ed let out a violent snarl, clapping his hands together and transmuting his arm into a blade as he charged the boy, rage glowing in his eyes "YOU BASTARD!"

"Ed wait!" I cried but there was no stopping him.

"Don't touch him!" Izumi commanded, her voice firm despite near strangulation. Ed froze. Shakily Izumi raised herself onto her hands and knees and positioned herself between us and Wrath, her expression grave "Leave him alone, Edward."

"But... we saw him!" Winry protested. "He was trying to kill you!"

"I brought him out here... to kill him." Izumi murmured. "But... I'm the one who deserves to die." I drew in a sharp breath. What the Hell was she talking about? Was she going crazy?

"What do you mean?" Ed demanded. "Why?"

"Because Ed." Izumi stared at the ground "I created this child."

"Oh my god," I muttered. So my speculation wasn't wrong. God I hoped it was. Human transmutations weren't supposed to succeed. They were impossible. And yet…

"Yes." Izumi said. "I used the remains of my baby and some other elements and attempted a human transmutation to bring him back to life. But... what came back." she looked up at Edward. "Well, you know what it was."

"Something not human" Ed whispered.

Izumi began to tell us about the transmutation, the gate, what she saw there and all the while I couldn't draw my eyes away from the boy. He was supposed to be innocent and peaceful. Like Timmy. Not a homunculus... Not Wrath.

"This child appeared on Yok island the same place he was born" Izumi finished. "It's the only explanation. Had the child grown up they would be the same age. As soon as I laid eyes on him I knew that there wasn't a doubt."

"But that doesn't make any sense!" Ed said. "Homunculi are created from alchemy alone."

"We weren't created by anyone. We were born." Envy's words from lab flashed through my head.

"Is that what you really think Edward?" Izumi asked sharply. "Do you know how a homunculus is really created?"

"Not exactly but." Ed reasoned. "But they're probably created like chimeras in places like lab five."

"No" Izumi started to say but was interrupted by the boy who spoke for the first time since we had arrived.

"Your wrong!" he said it his child like voice now filled with malice. "Either because of love or out of foolish curiosity human transmutations are attempted and when these attempts all back fire a new life is created. A being with a body and mind but no soul. That is how the damned are born! That is a homunculus!"

"No soul" I repeated.

"And how do you know all this!" Ed demanded.

"Envy helped me remember where I'm from and what I am." the kid answered. God I was gonna kick Envy's ass one of these days. This was his fault! He'd made the kid think that he had no choice but to be angry. To be cruel. When he did have a choice. I'd seen it. How dare he taint this child with his own thoughts?

"Envy?" Ed's eyes widened. "You've seen that monster?"

"I have." Wrath made no attempt to debate Envy's monster status. "Envy was born the exact same way. So were the other homunculi because idiots like you decided to play God. And now all we want is to become human ourselves."

"That's ridiculous," I spat and Wrath stopped speaking. "You're letting Envy fill your head with that kind of crap? It's stupid. What will being human really change? You already have the capacity to be human. I've seen it. Just because you're a homunculus doesn't mean you have to start causing pain." I took a step forward. "You're not allowed to use that as an excuse!"

"We have no souls," Wrath said.

"Then why did you try to protect me from Envy?" I retorted.

There was a long silence. I felt all eyes on Wrath and me. He cocked his head to the side. "I'm… not sure. Envy was confused too. But… I don't want you to get hurt, big sister."

"See." I took another step forward. "See that proves it. You don't have to fight. You don't have to be what they want you to. It's still your choice."

"Wait a minute. What is he talking about?" Ed asked. "You've seen Envy? You knew he was here?"

"Maybe," I said slowly.

"Then why didn't you tell us?"

"We had more important things to deal with at the moment, pipsqueak!"

"Why did he let you go?" Al asked.

"His own entertainment." I muttered. "And now I see what he means."

Everything started to become clear to me. Wrath didn't just remind Izumi of her son. He was her son... and he was my little cousin... so I wasn't really that far off in the whole brother thing. Homunculi were created from human transmutations. So they did succeed to an extent. Then that meant... that something had been created from Ed and Al's attempt as well, and that Envy had been a human brought back by someone else. Same with Lust, and Gluttony. All of them.

"Envy knows what he's talking about. He's a homunculus like me," Wrath studied me. "You're human. How can you understand?"

"I can't," I said. "But still, please—"

"If you just stay out of the way, I can become human." Wrath turned his eyes on Edward. Malice filled his irises again, morphing him back into that almost unfamiliar monster. "I just need his body."

"Sorry, but its not for sale." Ed's eyes narrowed and he raised his arm slightly.

"Edward stay out of it," Izumi said.

"Perhaps that's what you should do," Wrath said glared down at Izumi. "I am thankful to both of you." His voice rang with bitter sarcasm. "For this incomplete body. For this incomplete life. Nothing can match my gratitude." His fists clenched. "Not even my hate." His eyes flashed. "Now, give me the rest of your body Edward. If you don't… I'll just have to take it." He smiled a sharp toothed smile and launched himself toward Edward.

Al got there first. He pushed Ed out of the way and blocked Wrath with his arm, sending the young homunculus spinning back before landing unsteadily on the ground.

"Ow that hurt!" he exclaimed. "Your metal bodies not the one I'm after!"

"Timmy stop it!" I cried.

"Stay out of it, big sister" he glanced at me again with his slightly less vicious look. "I don't want you to get hurt. And my name is Wrath... not Timmy."

"Brother if you aren't going to do this then I will!" Al was saying his voice laced with unmistakable rage.

"Please don't Al he's—" Winry tried to reason with the armor.

"I have to!" Al's fists were clenched as he stared the kid down. "His arm and leg are my brothers! They are the things he lost all because of me. It's all my fault! I'm the reason Ed doesn't have his limbs!"

"Al you can't!" I said. "You aren't acting like yourself! Please—"

"All this time we've been trying to get our bodies back! Nothings going to stop me now!" he lunged at Wrath his fists clenched with every intention to hurt him. Whether it was to kill or not I wasn't sure, but Al was driven by unstoppable rage.

"AL!" Winry and I cried in unison. I would've run to Wrath's aid but Izumi was there first launching him out of the way and hugging him tightly to her chest, protectively.

"Teacher." Al seemed to have been brought to his senses.

Then there was a flash of blue as Wrath took control of the fabric of Izumi's clothing and spun her around off the ground before letting her fall. Then he shot forward with the white laces still attached to his arm and shot them at Al. I watched in shock as the battle ensued and Wrath tried to make Al crush Ed's automail.

"Stop it! DAMN IT STOP IT!" I cried out.

No one was listening to me though. Al ripped away the fabric and charged the kid again punching down as hard as he could. The kid had blocked him with a sharp rock though, molded onto his left fist.

"Brother" Al said shakily. "You said homunculi couldn't do alchemy but this one can... and I think I know why. He creates a transmutation circle with his body and can shape shift it to other materials... but the real reason he can perform alchemy is..."

"Because he has Ed's limbs" Izumi whispered.

"This power doesn't belong to you!" Al exclaimed. "It was taken from my brother! GIVE HIS ARM AND LEG BACK!" he raised his arm to punch but Wrath knocked him back with a huge chunk of sharp rock sending the armor flying.

"NO!" Ed was out of shock though I could still only watch. "MY TURN NOW!" he transmuted a spear from the ground and Wrath did as well and they began to fight.

"Al you have to stop this!" Winry was pleading with Al.

"Why?" Al asked harshly. "Are you defending this homunculus? He isn't human!"

I slowly brought myself to my feet. Not human. No. That was wrong. He still could feel. He still trusted me.

"Human or not he belongs to Izumi!" Winry said firmly.

Ed had now tackled Wrath to the ground and pinned him there.

"What exactly do you want Edward?" Wrath asked, panting.

"Only what's mine!"

"Really? But you gave up these limbs at the gate, didn't you? You got something for it. This leg was for your mother. And this arm for your brothers soul."

All this time I was slowly walking toward them but no one noticed me moving. I was going to stop them. I wasn't going to let anyone get hurt. Envy said I would have to choose, but screw him. I was getting everyone out of this alive.

"What are you willing to give up in exchange for your limbs while you deprive me of mine!" Wrath challenged. "Equivalence."

"SHUT UP!" Ed raised his blade arm.

You might think what I did next was impulsive, illogical and completely unpredictable. But if so, where have you been for the last months of my life. I am impulsive, illogical and unpredictable. You should be used to it by now.

I ran full speed at Ed and knocked him out of the way with all my weight then rolled back in front of the kid and stood in front of him shielding him from harm.

"Big... sister?" Wrath's voice was shaking.

"I'm here" I muttered.

"Liz! What are you doing!?" Ed stared at me.

"I can't let you!" I yelled feeling tears coming to my eyes. "I won't let you kill Ed! Dammit I'm not going to let you go through what I did. I won't let you kill and I won't let him die!"

"Liz he's a homunculus—" Al began.

"I know!" I snapped. "I know what he is! But he still trusts me. You can't use what he is as an excuse to kill him." I swallowed hard. "And I'm not about to watch Timmy die twice!"

Ed glared at me. "So you choose to help him over us?"

Choose. That's what Envy had said. I'd have to choose. But I wasn't playing that game.

"Don't you guilt me Edward Elric!" I snarled. "I'm not choosing anything! I'm just protecting this kid from you. And I'm protecting you from your own stupid anger!"

"Move Liz... or I'll have to push you out of the way." Ed stood slowly.

A moment of in decision crossed my mind. I looked at Wrath hiding behind me then at my friends. If you're lucky it won't be life or death that is what Envy had said.

"God dammit!" I drew my knives clasped them together and drove them into the ground causing gorge to form between us and the others.

"Go!" I told Wrath. "Run!" He did and I took off after him not daring to look back.

I didn't choose one or the other. I chose to help both. I chose a third option.

Your move, Envy.

I ran ahead of the kid trying to find a place to hide him and he followed behind me. I kept running, not looking back, until I broke onto the beach, running head first into someone's chest. I fell back, rubbing my forehead. "OW! Damn it!"

I blinked and looked up and saw Envy looming over me. "Well, look who it is."

I scrambled back but he grabbed me by the collar and hoisted me up. "Fancy seeing you here, kid. Where are your friends? I hope they weren't hurt."

"My friends are great." I shoved him back, pulling out of his grip. "No one got hurt."

"And yet it looks like you decided to protect the homunculus boy." Envy tilted his head to the side. "That is interesting."

"I'm protecting everyone, thank you very much," I said. "But protecting him means getting him away from the brothers."

"Still, interesting that you would even choose to help him at all now that you've seen what he is." Envy studied me. He wasn't even being sarcastic. I think he was genuinely confused.

"I don't use what he is to justify hating him," I said. "Whether or not any of you are human doesn't mean squat to me. I hate you because you're an asshole." Envy's eyes narrowed but I ignored the warning. "And you don't get to justify that with your 'I have no soul' crap. I don't get to justify my mistakes with what I am. So you don't get to make excuses either. Now if you don't mind, we have to be going."

"The boy must come with us," a woman's voice said. I noticed her for the first time. The Fuhrer's secretary. Was she a homunculus too? "You can't protect him. We can."

"Like hell," I placed myself in front of Wrath.

"Big sister. I can go with them," Wrath said quietly. "They're like me. Like I said. You don't understand."

"Liz!" I heard Edward calling from somewhere in the forest. "Hey Liz!"

"I think your friends have found you," Envy said mildly. "They're close."

I gritted my teeth together. "Fine. Go."

Wrath nodded and rushed forward and transmuted himself into Sloth... whose body was made of water... which was really weird.

"You better not hurt him." I growled at Envy.

He just smirked and winked at me then morphed into the Fuhrer just as Ed and Al appeared.

"Liz, we—the Fuhrer!" Ed and Al froze.

"I was looking for the homunculus," I said stiffly. "When I ran into them." Yeah I was hiding them but this was for Wrath not them.

"Funny running into you here Fullmetal" Envy said. "It seems we are looking for the same thing."

"The homunculus?" Ed asked.

"Yes I hear that's what the enemy is calling itself."

Wow Envy... I don't think you're cut out for the military business. Formal doesn't work on you.

"Tell me do you boys know how a homunculus is created?" Envy asked. "It is when an alchemist performs a human transmutation."

"Human transmutations are strictly forbidden" Sloth said. "Do you boys know who might have done this."

"Sorry but we don't know anything" Ed said. "Now we're in a hurry." He spun and stalked toward the trees. "Come on Liz. We need to talk."

"I'm coming" I muttered and followed. As an afterthought I glanced back at Envy and shot him the bird. He just smirked at me and I strode off.

Who the hell would've wanted to try and resurrect him anyway?

"You're letting her go?" Sloth asked. "I thought master was in need of her."

"She is. But plans have changed now that Greed is back in the game," Envy replied, watching Liz and the brothers disappear into the trees. "Greed is more of a priority. Besides, she'll be easy enough to catch again."

"Less easy to hold onto, apparently," Sloth said. "She's escaped you twice. Usually you're more effective than this."

Envy gritted his teeth together, glaring at the woman out of the corner of his eye. "Don't lecture me Sloth. Don't forget, you're still young. And you have no authority over me."

"As you say," Sloth said. "But next time, the girl must not escape. Master might get suspicious."

"About what?" Envy asked.

Sloth didn't reply. She only headed down the beach. Envy glared daggers at her back. What the hell was she talking about, suspicious? Did she think he was letting the girl go on purpose? Her escape at the fifth lab wouldn't have happened if not for Scar. True, the escape on the train was his fault. He shouldn't have left her alone. But he couldn't sit in the same room with her sometimes without wanting to kill her to shut her up. She got under his skin in the way very humans did.

She was interesting. She hadn't played out his little game like he expected. She was surprisingly unwilling to hurt people for a human. Why?

Envy shook his head. Interesting didn't matter. She was another pawn in Dante's game. A necessary sacrifice to keep the queen alive.

More valuable pieces didn't lose sleep over the loss of pawns.

A/N: Its amusing to me the fact that a lot of Envy and Liz's relationship starts out as Envy being like 'what is this strange human thing and why isn't it acting like I predict' and Liz obsessing over making Envy angry. Truly this was true love from the start :) Hope you enjoyed. REVIEW!