Chapter 50
Signpost of the Soul
"I think you both have me mistaken for someone else. I do know this Van Hohenheim, though….he's a very old friend of mine. But we haven't spoken in years. How do you know him?"
The teenagers moved closer to one another, just in case. Xiao Mei moved onto the armour girl's shoulder, teeth bared once more.
"…We're his daughters," Alphonsa said, slightly nervous.
"We were his—"
"His daughters?!" the man was before them in a flash, making the trio jump, as he placed a hand on one of each of the Elric's shoulders, looking them up and down. "My goodness, he had children? And took on a surename as well? Oh, how nice, he tried to live a normal life."
He looks like…but that was so long ago…maybe… Ling opened her mouth to speak.
"Elric is our mother's surename!" Edwina cried with a snarl. "Hohenheim never put a surename in the register. And a good thing too. We're not his children, and haven't been since he left us! If you're not him then why do you look and sound like him?!"
The man did not reply, seeming to have withdrawn to himself, the girls catching a few words. "So he kept going… hypocrite…I wonder how he feels about…see him again…" the young women heard him mutter to himself.
"Hey!" the Fullmetal Alchemist shouted. He doesn't seem so threatening. Is it an act?
"Oh my, I forgot my manners," Father said. "I'm so sorry I left you all in this state to satisfy my own curiosity."
The Fullmetal Alchemist yelled again as the white-clad man clutched her right forearm. One alchemical reaction later, all the stinging and throbbing was gone. Edwina slowly undid the splint, feeling filling the limb. No circle? Figures. But…he didn't even clap his hands…
"Anywhere else?" He ignored the girl's protests to "get the hell off me!" as he poked and probed until she gasped as his fingers grazed her ribs. Her pained breathing was gone in a moment. The man turned to the Xingese girl next, who instantly backed up, hands raised. The man inspected her no less roughly, and repaired her ribs as well. "Dear, dear, Envy." He shot a glance at the beast, before turning to the armour girl.
"Ah, I don't think you need to—"
"This may not be your real body, but it still be complete, to make the best of it." From within the lightning, her hand was restored.
How? The sisters unknowingly thought in unison again as the younger stared at the hand. There wasn't the material.
"That's everything now, right? Dear Elric sisters, you must take better care of yourselves. You are previous lives."
The Amestrians' thoughts were interrupted by Ling moved up beside them, glowering at them. "Shouldn't you be asking what he wants to do with your country, instead of being gullible idiots?" she moved into a combat position as fixed the blonde man with her glare. "Who are you? What is your plan for Amestris?"
"Is that anyway to talk to someone kind enough to let you into their home and even heal your wounds?" Father's voice was a little deeper. "You know, I was about see what kind of use I could have of you…but if you are going to rude and obstructive..." He shook his head. "Gluttony, you may eat her."
"I'll get you this time!" Gluttony cried, standing up and immediately leaping towards the girl. She ducked to the side, sniggering a little as creature left almost-breaking dent and cracks in the wall that had been behind her.
"She's our friend!" Alphonsa protested as Edwina looked between the man, the homunculus and the warrior.
"It matters not. If a human is not a use to me, they are not an ally to me. What must you creatures allow your emotions to get into the way of progress and victory?"
Edwina sighed at herself. "Ling!" she cried, taking note of the small pool of blood around the human shells. Clapping her hands over it, she fashioned the iron into a fang shaped sword. The would-be-princess leapt away from another blow and caught the blade. She grinned as she turned to face the once more rushing homunculus. Seeing her chance, Xiao Mei leapt down to stand at the Xingese girl's side, unnoticed.
Edwina returned to a waiting Alphonsa and they clapped in unison.
"And here I thought we could have a nice little chat…" Alphonsa said, slightly disheartened. "Oh well, I have what I wanted."
Envy watched the beginning chaos with its usual expression, too tired to join in. The Amestrians each sent a row of spikes towards Father. He did not even blink as he raised a wall to stop them and both were destroyed.
"He didn't even move again," the blonde muttered to the armour girl.
"You really thought defeating the creator of your enemies, and therefore the worse of them, would be so easily?" Ling quipped as she sliced a pouncing Gluttony across his middle, causing him to slide slightly after landing. Xiao Mei had latched herself onto the plump being's back, ripping out chucks of flesh with her teeth.
They have to run out of healing power eventually, the young warrior thought. "Think before you act for once!" The Fullmetal Alchemist returned a scowl to her glower. Ling's eyes flicked to Envy before she delivered a dazing blow to her attacker's chin.
"Oh, right…" Edwina said. The sisters ran over to one of the walls and sent two of the pipes out to bind to the scaled beast, even changing the ends into snakeheads as a little mockery. The creature let out a roar of rage, cursing itself rather than them as it toppled forwards in its struggles. Smirking much like the fourth oldest homunculus, they send out several more to bind Father. The only change in his position was a frown as he reduced the metal to shrapnel dust. Envy shot him a scowl, but he looked at the being with a slight shake of his head. The trio enchanted expressions, the Xingese girl having just attached herself to Gluttony's back and in the process of hacking off his remaining arm. Edwina mouthed their plan, and the other teenager nodded, finishing off the task at hand. While the alchemists ran at the robed man, she moved behind him, and did the same. Raising one hand, Father caused Edwina to cry out as she and Alphonsa's fists collided with another wall. Raising his other hand, he then sent out a serpentine piece of ground that smacked the Emperor's daughter out of the air like a fly, knocking her down onto her side, winded.
How is he doing that?! It's almost like he's predicting our moves… Alphonsa thought as she looked around for the other two, who were just sitting up.
Father sighed. "Enough of this nonsense." Taking a few steps closer to the alchemists, he stamped one food down, and a large circle of floor around him glowed purple, a wind whirling around it. The sisters found themselves rooted to the spot as the energy pulsed beneath them. Now very close to the base, Mao felt the surge, causing him to stumble slightly. Even Scar could feel it. They hurried along.
As the energy died down, the Amestrians examined themselves. There was no injuries, no body and soul separation, though both felt…weaker?
As Ling stood up, and stared their opponent, thinking, they clapped their hands again. Envy smirked again. There only reaction was the sound of their hands slapping the stone. A misfire, perhaps? Another try yielded nothing. They looked at each other. Father destroyed the binds around the second oldest homunculus. They dodged the first few slashes and bites, punching and kicking, serving and jumping, but without their best talent, it was useless. As she ran for the wall, Envy swiped at Edwina's legs, bowling her onto her stomach before using its front claw to pin her.
"Nee-san!" Alphonsa turned back, her fist raised. Veering away from the other grabbing talon, she managed to clamber onto its back, over the remaining moaning heads, ignoring the building horror. Spying another chance, Xiao Mei jumped from Gluttony and scampered up on the larger homunculus's back as well. The armour girl and animal delivering punches and bites to the homunculus's face, the teenager going so far as to jab on of her fingers into ones if its eyes, hoping the pain would loosen its grasp. Envy just writhed and swung its body until the younger Elric lost her grasp. She did not even have time to register she was on the floor before she was pinned by the two front claws, opposite Edwina. He then shook off the little animal as well. After digging her claws into the floor to break her fall, she walked over to a corner to sit in shame.
"Good try, Al," Edwina gasped out.
Kicking Gluttony off her, and stabbing him again, Ling rushed towards the pair, the sword above her head. She had not even closed half the short distance before the second youngest homunculus tackled her, the force causing her to skid before he sat onto of her. She wondered just how she could still breathe, or how her bones were still intact.
"Nice job breaking your own rule!" Edwina yelled at her, before twisting her head to look at Father. "What the hell did you do? Why can't we use alchemy?! How the hell can you use alchemy when you barely move?! I get the feeling you're going to kill us soon, so we might as well have a good story until then."
"I'm not going to kill you," Father said, for a moment his face becoming the kindly man. "As I said, you two are precious to me, but I cannot explain everything to you either. You'll learn all you need to when the time comes." The man was about to turn to his 'son' when Envy gave a cackle. "You really think, after all you've seen, we're that stupid? Really, you lower life forms think you deserve it all, that you will always come out on top! But the minute you lose your power, you became scared and lost! It's hilarious!"
That's why I didn't ask you, bastard, Edwina mentally huffed
"Be quiet, Envy," Father growled. "You've done enough damage as it is!"
The beasts frowned. "…Fine."
The blonde man looked at Gluttony. "It was incredibly stupid for you to bring these people here."
"B-but..!" The plump being whimpered. "But at least you're making up for it." He eyes moved downward. "You know, Miss, judging from your combat skills, I might just have a use for you after all." He raised a finger and pressed it to the centre of his forehead, and energy transferred from the former to the later. A thin, lengthwise cut opened in the centre of Father's forehead, the skin sliding and crinkling aside like curtains to reveal another eye of the gate. Liquid bubbled and pulsed from sides of the eye, and for a moment, the humans thought it was blood, until it formed into a sphere in the man's upraised hand.
"A Philosopher's Stone!" Ling cried gleefully, forgetting the situation for a moment.
"You want it?" Father asked, approaching the girl. "Good. Perhaps this will be quicker than the last time."
"What are you going to do?" the would be princess asked.
"I am going to pour the stone into your bloodstream, and yours and the souls within, which includes my former son, Greed, will fight for control. Regardless of who wins, if this is successful, you will be a homunculus."
"I'd be immortal?" Well, it's not in the way I needed it to work, but perhaps, if the Emperor just knew it was possible…
"Indeed," Father replied.
"Ling, don't be so stupid!" Alphonsa cried, as Envy shoved them both harder into the floor as he saw Edwina attempt to speak. "It'll kill you! And even if it works, he just outright stated you'd be another pawn! What kind of future empress lets herself to be used or ordered around?!"
Edwina managed to move her head to the side and grind out. "You're forgetting about Lan Fan and your clan again?! You're such a…" The duo struggled back against Envy. "…selfish bitch!"
"This is my decision!" Ling growled to them, ignoring the pain as the second youngest homunculus bit down into her shoulder and scraping off a patch of flesh. "So sweet…" he said as he clomped the flesh.
"Lan Fan, Fu and my clan will rejoice in seeing I have obtained immortality not only for the Emperor, but myself as well." The would be princess focused her eyes on Father. "Do it, already!" The man gave a small smile before turning his hand over and letting the stone drip into the gash. Almost immediately, the invader began.
Gluttony jumped back in fright as Ling screamed as every one of her muscles began to erupt as Greed coursed around her body. She seized and flailed, her scream ending as her eyes boiled and her tongue swelled and burst. Her body repaired, then her veins pulsed, and the cycle began again. The Amestrians were horribly transfixed. Envy was grinning. Father returned to his seat to watch in calm curiosity. I almost pity her…
Just like the man before her, after what seemed like an unending time, the pain suddenly stopped, everything going black as she fell splayed on her back.
"…Ling?" the girls said in unison.
Once again, Ling found herself floating, this time surrounded by pained get determined faces, their cries melding into a throng of shouting and screaming around her. She shoved a finger into each of her ears in an attempt to quiet the sound, but it did nothing. A new voice cut over the verbal chaos. "Oh, it feels good to be alive! First thing, I'll…hm?" Ling opened her eyes to see a demonic face before her, the others cowering away from it. "I thought I'd kicked out the host of this body...". He flew at the girl, winding his spectral form around her. Ling closed her eyes again, concentrating. She gave a cry as the soul was thrown from her own.
"Hm, been a while since I had a tough one," Greed said. "Just look at these wimps."
"Thank you," Ling grinned. "I'd like to propose a deal: we can share this body. I'll have your immortality, and you can have control for a while, and we can switch when I need do something, such as fighting and plans." she fought the urge to punch, to kick, to protest and curse.
Greed gave a cackle. "Gah hah hah! Sorry, but I want all to myself. Part of my nature, you know."
Again she fought the urge to fight, the noise around her beginning to overwhelm her. "How about, you always have control, but I'll give instructions to do certain things, and if you don't, I'll fight!"
"Nope!"
Her face contorted in anger, at herself rather than the being as she retorted, "Fine! But as soon as I'm done using you, I'll find a way to expel you! You're only getting my body because I'm giving it to you! But as soon as I need it back, you're out!"
This time, Greed had a gleeful leer.
On the floor of the room, Edwina and Alphonsa did not move their eyes away from Ling's still form. Not another one…not another one…not another fucking one…
The Elrics felt a surge of joy as she twitched, before sitting up with a hiss and a groan, one hand running over her face as she blinked rapidly. "Let's see if I can figure this out…" As soon as they heard the voice, the Elrics stopped their squirming. After a few failed attempts, Greed managed to pull himself to his new feet. "Yeah!" he cried, as he felt the strapping arms and shoulders, and stretched the strong legs, before clamping his hands in raised fists like a child. "It's good to in the world at last!" Purple-tinged eyes swivelled to Father. "Thanks for the second chance, old man! I'll try to be better than my predecessor." The reborn homunculus froze as his exploring hands passed over his chest see if the physic continued to his torso. He looked down. "…I'm in a girl's body?! What the hell?"
"My apologies," the golden-haired man said. "The girl was so willing."
"Well…" He looked behind and down. "…Being this way is going to reduce the amount of women I can have…but I'll just have to turn the others…I guess this could work out…" he grinned again. "…It could give me a mental advantage…" He gave another chortle. "Yeah! This is perfect!"
Author's Note: Wow, fifty chapters now? My writing really does keep me motivated. I think I need to start making the chapters longer again, though.
I know this might sound sexist/a double standard, but with Ling being a female, taking about the giving of bodies while the still male Greed just sounds so…creepy and wrong. I cringed when writing it. As you can see, I had this Ling protest a bit more, because, given her personality, she would want it on her terms, and for her goals. I know the original did that too, but he just surrendered just like that. Cliché as this will be, I think that Xing is rather more Patriarchal than Amestris, and therefore (not to mention the hardships of clan life, I'm guessing), she would be so ready to give anything up.
Once again, I hope Greed's little speech about how he can use Ling is not too cheesy.
I am trying not to make all the female characters main trait b "I'm rebelling against TEH EBUL MANZ", though.
As for that new greeting…um…I think I'll just stick with the nice, polite one I already have. I mean, I got the feeling that saying it all the time made me sound like I was not being genuine, but I am, as writing and seeing the good comments makes me more confident in my original fiction.
Sorry for another long note.
Thank you ^_^.
