Upon seeing Pride's shadows, Greed immediately took control back from Ling. He peered cautiously into the darkness, expecting a small, child-like figure to emerge from the shadows.
Instead, a fully grown man with dark hair and a white suit stepped forward, with the shadow tendrils stemming from his feet.
Greed looked at the man carefully. "So that's your new container. Wasn't the man's name Kimblee?"
Pride smiled softly. "Yes. With some help from Father, I was able to convert his body into the container you see before you now."
Pride looked down at his hand. "I was getting rather tired of my child-like form, though I'll admit that it did have its advantages. You wouldn't believe some of the information you can get out of people when they think you're an innocent little youth."
Greed smirked. "But won't your mommy miss you and wonder what happened to you?"
Pride's smile became cold. "That's been taken care of. Officially, Selim Bradley has been sent off to West City to a fancy boarding school. If Mrs. Bradley ever wants to talk to him, Envy here can just imitate his voice."
Fu frowned. "Who is this?"
Greed grimaced. "He's my oldest brother. His name is Pride, and aside from my old man, he's the most powerful homunculus. We need to be careful."
Pride chuckled. "Careful? Are you seriously contemplating fighting me?"
The shadows grew larger and towered over everyone. Envy looked mildly impressed, while Dante and Misery remained stoic.
Lan Fan's knees had begun to shake, and Marta's eyes were wide.
Pride turned the shadows into sharp blades. "Surrender now and I will grant you the mercy of a quick death. Oppose us further, and we will draw your death out as long as possible."
Greed shook his head. "No."
Pride grinned. "Have it your way then."
The shadows struck, forcing the five heroes to hastily leap away.
Ling was thinking quickly. Greed, does Pride have any weaknesses?
Greed panted as he deflected several of the shadows with his shield. "Not really. Although, he is somewhat vulnerable to bright light."
Fu should have some flash bombs. Tell him to use them, now!
Greed yelled. "Old man, flash bomb, now!"
Fu got the message right away. He tossed a flash bomb into the air, and it detonated a second later.
Pride flinched, and his shadows disintegrated.
Everyone except Greed and Fu had been caught off guard by the flash bomb, and Greed took advantage of the distraction to rush forward and attack Pride.
He got a few powerful blows in, but the second the light faded Pride's shadows came back, forcing Greed to retreat.
Fu and Marta rushed up to help him, but lacking Greed's ultimate shield they were forced on the defensive.
Meanwhile, Lan Fan squared off once again against Misery, while Kid was stuck trying to fight Envy on his own again.
Fu eyed the shadows warily. Damn. His chi lets me detect where he's coming from, but I can't keep this up for much longer.
He tossed out another flash bomb, giving them a brief moment where they could do some real damage against Pride.
Lan Fan's fight against Misery was starting to turn against her.
Lan Fan panted. This is bad. We get tired, while the homunculi just keep coming back no matter how serious the injury.
Kid tried to catch Envy off guard during one of the bright flashes, but Envy countered him easily, and smashed him into the ground.
Envy grinned viciously. "Nice try kid, but that won't work. Without your disgusting human friends distracting me you don't stand a chance."
Kid glared at him. "Shut up! Just shut up!"
Dante watched the three fights from a safe distance, her face a mixture of amusement and indifference.
Before long Fu ran out of flash bombs, and the three of them began to tire.
Then, all at once, one of Pride's shadows darted in fast, impaling Marta. She shrieked in agony.
Greed's eyes widened in concern, but he couldn't help as he was forced to deal with another one of Pride's shadows.
Distracted by Marta's scream, Lan Fan glanced toward Pride, and Misery struck, injuring her as well.
Lan Fan and Marta landed near each other, their blood staining the ground.
Pride smirked, and his shadows surrounded the two injured women.
"Goodbye little worms."
Greed and Ling yelled.
"Marta!"
Lan Fan!
The shadows struck.
Lan Fan and Marta closed their eyes, thinking this was the end.
But they didn't feel anything. They looked up, and saw that GreedLing had leaped in front of them and taken the blows, some of which had managed to pierce his ultimate shield.
Several drops of his blood fell to the ground, and his face was tightened in pain.
A tear rolled down Lan Fan's cheek. "My lord!"
Marta looked alarmed. "Greed! No!"
Greed grunted, and managed to shove the shadows away. As soon as they were gone, his wounds began to heal, but he still looked winded.
Pride looked at Greed dismissively. "A sweet gesture, but a futile one."
His shadows grew larger, and towered over them all. "If you truly want to save the humans, then give it up. You know you can't win this fight. Or shall I have to resort to tactics you would call dirty?"
Pride smirked, and closed his eyes, his shadows examining the surrounding woods. A second later, two of his shadows came back to his side, and two female voices began to scream.
Kid, who had been pinned down by Envy, looked up, and saw that Pride had snatched two young women, and was dangling them in the air.
Lan Fan gasped. "No!"
Fu's eyes widened. "Miss Winry!"
Pride glanced up at Winry and Paninya, then back at Greed. "Give up now, or I shall consume these two humans in front of your very eyes."
Winry looked frightened out of her mind, but Paninya was still struggling.
Paninya yelled. "Let us go you freaky bastard!"
Pride looked at her with a look of condescension. "Or what?"
Paninya kicked her feet back, and opened the canon in her leg. Before Pride could react, she fired a shot that hit him right in the face.
Pride was caught off guard, and his shadows dropped both Paninya and Winry. Paninya, thinking quickly, managed to catch Winry and her automail legs were able to withstand the fall. She then leaped away from Pride and ran over to Greed's side.
Pride slowly got back up to his feet, his face completely unscathed, but now looking slightly angry.
"Well, I'm impressed. You surprised me. But still, that's hardly enough to stop me."
He sent his shadows forth once again, clearly intending to finish all of them off at once.
But before he could, several pillars of earth sprouted up and a bright light shone out from the top. The light specifically targeted Pride's shadows, disintegrating all of the ones near the heroes.
Pride's eyes widened. "What?"
Dante and Misery also looked slightly surprised.
A second later, another pillar of earth came up and smashed into Envy, sending him flying away from Kid.
Envy quickly got back up, a fierce frown on his face. "What was that?"
Everyone glanced up at the top of a nearby hill, and standing at the top was a man with golden hair.
Winry's eyes widened. "Isn't that Ed and Al's dad?"
Greed frowned. "Is that…?"
Envy's frown became a snarl. "Hohenheim."
His arms bulged out, red alchemical light emanated from his body, and in a matter of seconds he transformed into the giant green monstrosity that was his true form.
He roared. "HOHENHEIM, YOU BASTARD!"
Winry's face paled with absolute terror. "Oh god."
Lan Fan's hands began to shake as she looked over the enormous creature's body. "What?"
Marta was somewhat calmer, but still looked nervous. "Shit."
Envy crouched, then leaped into the air directly at Hohenheim, his claws and mouth ready to tear him apart.
But just before Envy landed on him, Hohenheim held up his arms and a red shock wave emanated from his body. Envy was momentarily suspended in mid air, and then abruptly tossed back down to earth, where he crashed into the ground, sending dust and debris flying.
Marta looked stunned. "Whoa."
Winry's looked at Hohenheim in shock. "How on earth did he do that?"
Dante looked at Hohenheim warily. "Calm yourself Envy. As strong as you are, you're not powerful enough to take down Hohenheim."
Envy growled, but shifted back to his humanoid form.
Hohenheim began to descend toward the group. Pride sent out more shadows to try to stop him, but Hohenheim created more beacons of light that kept the homunculus at bay.
Eventually he stood in between the heroes and the enemy.
Dante looked at him coldly. "This doesn't concern you Hohenheim. We're simply here to retrieve two runaway homunculi. Let us take them, and we'll leave the humans alone."
Hohenheim looked at her sternly. "I can't let you do that, Dante. A life is a life, whether it be a human or homunculus. If they do not wish to be a part of your twisted schemes, then they have chosen the path that you have foolishly abandoned, and I will protect them. If you want them so badly, you'll have to get past me."
For a moment, nobody spoke as Hohenheim stood up to the homunculi. Pride was frowning, Envy was livid, while Misery once again appeared completely apathetic.
Dante smiled bitterly. "Fine. Have it your way. Farewell for now, Hohenheim."
Envy shot Hohenheim a dirty look. "Bastard."
Hohenheim looked at Envy uncertainly, and then his eyes widened slightly, as if he had just realized something terrible.
Pride's shadows swallowed himself, Dante, Envy, and Misery, and the mass of shadows retreated.
A moment of stunned silence followed, which was eventually broken by Greed.
"Well, thanks for the help. So, you're Hohenheim, huh? You look just like my old man."
Hohenheim glanced back at him. "Yes. It's a pleasure to meet you, um…
Greed smirked. "The name's Greed. This is Kid, Marta, and according to Ling those are Lan Fan, Fu, and Winry. Oh, and Paninya."
Hohenheim looked at Winry in surprise. "Winry."
Winry looked at him uncertainly. "You remember me?"
Hohenheim glanced to the side. "A little. I left when you were still very young."
Winry took a step forward. "Why did you leave?"
Hohenheim shook his head. "It's a rather long story."
He surveyed the group. "Some of you were injured in the fight, right? Here, let me heal you."
Hohenheim walked around and healed everyone. Marta and Lan Fan had taken the most serious injuries, but after Hohenheim's treatment, they were as good as new.
Before they could thank him, however, they noticed more people appearing at the top of the hill.
Greed looked at the approaching group cautiously. "Whoa, what the hell is this?"
Hohenheim held up a hand. "It's all right, they're with me."
The two groups came together, and split off into smaller groups almost immediately.
Winry gasped and began to run forward. "Ed! Al!"
She rushed forward and gave Ed a fierce hug.
Ed was caught slightly off guard. "Oof."
Al looked at Winry in shock. "Winry! What in the world are you doing here?"
Winry stepped back. "It's kind of a long story."
She gave a brief summary of how she had figured out what was going on, and how the four of them had gone on the run.
Ed looked at her in concern. "I see. I'm sorry if we worried you."
Winry smiled at him warmly. "I'm just glad to see you're okay."
Ed looked over at Greed uncertainly. "So, Greed's on our side now?"
Winry frowned. "I guess. I'm not sure."
Paninya walked up to Scar and Rose. "So you're the big bad Ishvalan they've been talking about in the papers. Are you on our side now?"
Scar frowned. "Not exactly. I don't want to save Amestris, I want to change it. I want it to acknowledge what it did to my people, and to make sure it is never capable of doing so again."
Paninya put her arms behind her head. "Sounds like a good plan. My dad was Amestrian, but my mom was Ishvalan."
Scar blinked in surprise.
"I never really knew them very well though. They died when I was very young."
Rose looked at Paninya sadly. "I lost my parents when I was very young as well. They were killed in the eastern rebellion. Were your parents caught up in the war too?"
Paninya shook her head. "Nah, I'm from the Southern sector. They died in a train accident, and that accident also cost me my legs."
"Oh my."
Paninya shrugged. "It's not so bad. Sure, I still sometimes miss my parents, but these legs are just as good if not better than the ones I used to have, and life's been pretty good overall."
Scar glanced to the side. Amestrian and Ishvalan. In the end, we're all human. We all suffer, we all die. But we all have the same drive to make the most out of life. That's something I lost sight of. Forgive me brother.
Overwhelmed by the sheer number of people, Kid had retreated to a more secluded spot. Izumi had noticed him, however, and slowly approached him.
"Child?"
He looked up at her, and he looked almost afraid.
Izumi's voice became gentle. "It's okay. May I sit down next to you?"
Kid shrugged halfheartedly, and Izumi took a seat next to him.
She looked at him worriedly. "Are you okay?"
Kid hugged his knees. "No. I don't even know what okay is. Most of my life has been one long hell, and I don't know where I fit in the world. I can pretend I'm human, but I'm not, and even for a homunculus I'm a freak."
He put his head on his knees. "I'm a monster."
Izumi frowned. "Is that what they told you?"
Kid glanced at her. "Well, it's true, isn't it?"
Izumi abruptly hugged him, and he gasped in surprise.
"Don't let yourself think that. Not for one second. It's true that your origins are unusual. But everyone's circumstances are different, and many of us have to deal with hardships. What matters is the choices we make."
She pulled back and looked down at him. "Do you want to do what's right?"
He glanced away. "I guess. But…I don't know. I have a lot of knowledge, but there's so much I don't understand."
Izumi patted his shoulder. "Then, perhaps, what you need is someone to help you and guide you, someone who will love you unconditionally and never deceive you or abandon you."
Kid looked at her uncertainly. "But…I'm not really your child. I'm a mistake."
Izumi shook her head fiercely. "No. Never think that you were a mistake. No one ever asks to be born, but are still given the gift of life regardless. My human transmutation was a mistake, but I will never consider you a part of that mistake."
His eyes widened, and after a moment he broke down and began crying against her arm. His sobs were quiet but his shoulders were shaking.
After he calmed down, Izumi asked. "What's your name?"
Kid rubbed his eyes. "I don't really have one. The name Father, I mean, the homunculus gave me was Spite, and Greed has been calling me Kid."
"I see."
Izumi thought back to the past. When she and Sig had wanted a child, they came up with two names. If the child was a girl, they would name it Lydia, and if it was a boy…
"How about Lujon? Would that be a good name?"
Kid tilted his head. "Lujon? Yeah. Yeah, I think that will be a good name."
He smiled sadly up at her. "Thank you."
Several yards away, Greed was explaining to Lan Fan and Fu how he had ended up in Ling's body, and how he had broken away from the other homunculi.
"That about covers it. Marta and I have been traveling ever since."
Fu stroked his mustache. "Is it all right if we speak to the young lord?"
Greed rolled his eyes. "Fine, I'll give him a few minutes."
Ling smiled. "Thank you both for looking out for me."
He looked at Lan Fan in concern. "Are you doing okay Lan Fan?"
Lan Fan clutched her left shoulder. "Yes."
Marta looked at Lan Fan curiously. "What happened to your arm?"
Lan Fan looked at the ground. "I lost it after an encounter with King Bradley."
Marta grimaced. "King Bradley? Looks like you payed a steeper price than I did."
Marta pulled her shirt to reveal a scar just below her collar bone.
Ling winced. "Ouch, that must have hurt."
Fu shifted his gaze back to Ling. "So what now? Young lord, can you come back to Xing with us?"
Greed smirked. "Sorry, not just yet."
Fu growled. "Why you…"
Greed chuckled. "Relax old man. The idea of being an emperor sounds pretty sweet, so I'll go along with what Ling wants. But I want to settle the score with my old man before we do. Sound good?"
Fu sighed. "Very well."
Marta's eyes widened. "Wait, Ling said he was a prince, but he's first in line for the throne?!"
Greed shook his head. "Not exactly. He has to distinguish himself from his other brothers and sisters. But I don't think that should be too difficult with me to help."
Greed glanced to the side, and noticed that someone else had just walked up. "Hey, who's this?"
Mei looked at him suspiciously. "I was about to ask you the same thing. You look like Ling Yao, but I can tell from your chi that you're a homunculus."
Greed rubbed the back of his head. "Is that so? Well, this is Ling's body, but the name is Greed right now."
"Greed?"
Marta looked at Mei uncertainly. "Who are you?"
Lan Fan looked at Mei cautiously, while Fu explained. "She's the Chang heiress, another rival for the throne."
Marta raised an eyebrow. "Wait, seriously? This little girl is eligible for the throne?"
Mei huffed, and abruptly kicked Marta in the face, much to everyone's shock.
"I'll show you who's the little girl!"
She rushed at Greed. "Now give me your philosopher's stone! I need it to save my clan!"
Greed grabbed her and held her up. "Hold on there. There's no need to get so uptight. I think we can work something out."
Mei frowned. "What do you mean?"
Greed smirked. "You want to save your clan. Ling wants to do what's best for his country. And I want power and prosperity. If you ally your clan with Ling's, then everyone wins."
Mei blinked in surprise. "Really? But the Yao clan is so much higher than the Chang's. This kind of alliance is unprecedented."
Greed shrugged. "I don't really give a shit about that and neither does Ling. If we work together we can all get what we want, sound good?"
Lan Fan frowned. "Maybe."
Fu looked thoughtful. "I agree that an alliance with the Chang clan, though unconventional, would be a good idea. But I'd be happier if you'd leave Ling's body."
Greed grinned. "Sorry, but you're stuck with me. You might as well get used to it."
On the other side of the area, Winry's face had become serious.
She looked past Ed and Al. "That's Scar."
Ed glanced at him, then back at Winry, looking uncomfortable. "Yeah. He's on our side now, but…"
Winry began to walk forward. "I want to talk to him."
Ed grabbed her shoulder. "I'm not so sure that's a good idea."
"Please. I need to."
Al looked at Winry in concern. "Winry."
Ed reluctantly let her go. "Okay."
Winry walked over toward Scar. Deciding she should be okay, Ed and Al walked over to where Izumi and the newly named Lujon were sitting.
Ed nodded at him. "Well, it's nice to see you again. I hear you and Greed ditched the other homunculi."
Lujon nodded, looking uncomfortable. "Yes."
Ed tilted his head. "Something wrong?"
Izumi stood up. "It's just…is it okay if I tell them?"
Lujon silently nodded.
Izumi then explained to Ed and Al where Lujon had come from, and how he'd ended up here.
Al was stunned. "Oh my."
Ed scowled. "Dante sure had us all fooled, when all this time she was actually a twisted evil bitch."
Izumi nodded grimly. "That she was, and is."
Al straightened up. "But still, she won't get away with her plans, and neither will Father. We actually…"
Lujon stood up. "There's something I need to tell you, Edward."
Ed blinked. "Oh? What is it?"
Lujon looked at him seriously. "When I entered the portal of truth, I obtained a lot of knowledge. But I also ended up gaining something else."
"What?"
Lujon opened his mouth, but found himself unable to speak.
Ed smiled uncertainly. "Come on, what is it?"
Lujon took a shaky breath, and ripped his shirt open.
Izumi's eyes widened, Al gasped, and Ed's face paled.
Ed stumbled forward. "That's…that's…"
He lightly touched Lujon's chest.
"That's my arm."
Lujon swallowed, his breathing faster than normal. "I know. I'm sorry."
Ed glanced down, and could tell by looking at Lujon's foot that the left leg was also his.
Ed's mind was racing. After all our searching, they're right here. But, what the hell am I supposed to do? Rip them off his body and transmute them onto mine? I can't do that. It's not like he intentionally stole them, and he's suffered enough as it is.
Al and Izumi looked at Ed in concern.
"Brother…"
"Edward…"
After a moment of silence, Ed forced a smile.
"It's okay. We'll figure something out. But right now, we need to deal with this Father guy. Do you think you can help us with that?"
Lujon looked startled. "You're…you're not mad?"
Ed shook his head. "No. Not at you."
Lujon trembled, then hugged Ed. "I'm sorry!"
Ed looked slightly taken aback. "Hey, it's okay."
A little ways away from the Elric brothers, Winry was confronting Scar.
"I need to know. Why did you kill them?"
Rose looked back and forth between Winry and Scar.
Scar bowed his head. "As I told Fullmetal, there's nothing I can say that won't sound like an excuse, and nothing can change the fact that I am responsible for their deaths. But, if you want the whole story, I will tell you."
Scar then explained to her what had happened.
Winry pondered this, her face expressionless. "I see."
Rose looked at Winry uncertainly. "I'm so sorry. Both of you."
After a moment of silence, Winry spoke. "I…I can't forgive you. But I won't hold a grudge against you."
She folded her arms. "I think that's what my parents would have done. And they saved you, there has to be a reason for that. And I can see that you are trying to do the right thing."
She looked at him sternly. "But I won't ever forget what you did, and I'll always hold some anger toward you."
Scar closed his eyes. "I understand."
Clearly uncomfortable, Scar walked away.
After a pause, Rose turned to Winry. "So, how do you know the Elric brothers?"
"Oh, we're from the same town. I've known them for about as long as I can remember."
Rose tilted her head. "Is that so? And are you their automail mechanic?"
"Why yes, I am."
"In that case, I want to thank you."
Winry looked surprised. "For what?"
Rose explained how she lost her boyfriend, how Cornello had deceived her, and how Ed brought her to her senses.
She smiled softly. "Ed helped me to begin walking again. He helped me get me back on my feet, and you helped him get back on his feet. So you indirectly helped me out, and I want to thank you for that."
Winry shook her head. "Oh, it's nothing. Still, it sounds like Ed was kind of a jerk about it."
"He was just trying to help in his own way. He's a good person."
Rose gave Winry a knowing look. "But I'm sure you already know that, don't you?"
Winry blushed.
Several more conversations occurred, some serious, some silly, and at one point Paninya stole something from Yoki, causing him to chase her around in circles for several minutes.
Eventually, Hohenheim got everyone's attention.
Hohenheim cleared his throat. "I'm glad that everyone has had a chance to catch up. However, there are a number of urgent matters that we need to discuss."
Author's Note: Do all of the conversations sound natural? I hope so, let me know what you think.
I didn't mean to cut it off where it did, but this chapter was getting a bit long, and the next chapter would have been rather short otherwise.
I'd post my thoughts, but I've been so busy lately that I'm having trouble focusing, so hopefully my writing speaks for itself. See you next week, where the characters will get a little time to breath. After that, one more major crisis, and then after that, the Promise Day.
