Each homunculus froze. Envy's mouth dropped. Wrath cocked his head ever so slightly. Gluttony continued to drool over himself. Sloth looked up at Lust, who looked to Dante on her side, whose mouth was open ever so slightly.

"I thought that the potion wouldn't disturb her memory," Lust said, folding her arms below her bust.

"So did I," the alchemist replied. "Obviously I misjudged the red stones once again." her voice heightened in anger.

Sloth looked back down at Kraya and touched the side of her face with one of her black-gloved hands and smiled. "We're here to help you, little one,"

"What are you doing?" Envy hissed inside Sloth's ear. "You're treating her as if she were only—"

"—Sixteen years old? You're right, Envy, I'm doing that because in her mind, she is sixteen years old!" Sloth hissed back. She then turned her gaze back to Kraya. "You don't have to worry, my dear," she said warmly.

"Where is my family? Where is Hansel?" the questions spewed out of her mouth like lava from a volcano. Sloth silenced her by putting her forefinger over Kraya's lips.

"Do not speak," she whispered. "We are your family now," Kraya's eyes started to fill with tears. Sloth sighed and pulled her into a mother-like hug, then looked up at Lust and Dante. "What will we do?" she asked.

Dante turned away. "Stop crying, girl," she barked. "You are one of us now; one of the homunculi. Leave Kraya Ami'ish behind you. Your new name will be Pride. Do you understand?"

Pride pushed out of Sloth's embrace and nodded. Dante smiled.

"A very strong girl," she commented. "Teach her how to control her powers," she directed to the homunculi. "She must learn what she forgot in a matter of days, not hundreds of years." And then she retreated to her room.

The homunculi looked at one another. Then, Envy spoke.

"Wrath, Gluttony and I are going to leave you two with Pride. Have fun with that," and the three of them walked off, leaving Lust and Sloth with Pride.

"Thanks a lot, Envy," Lust snarled in her silky tone. She turned back to Sloth. "She's your responsibility, Sloth; definitely not mine." She started to walk away, but an automail hand touched her elbow. Lust looked down to see Pride's disgusting face staring straight back at her.

"Please…" she pleaded. "Help me…"

Lust rolled her eyes and groaned. "Wonderful," she said sarcastically and turned back to Pride and Sloth, sitting on the floor. "Listen," she started, lifting a finger in warning. "I'm not going to baby you, so you'd better learn fast."

"It won't take you long, anyway," Sloth assured Pride. "It's almost like remembering a dream; you remember what it felt like to use the power, but you can only vaguely remember. Once you use the power, you never really forget it. The more you concentrate, the more you'll remember."

Pride nodded and closed her eyes tight, straining to remember anything.

Lust rolled her eyes. "Well, this is going to be fun," she said and smacked the kneeling youth on the back of her head. "You won't get anywhere that way, you idiot!"

Pride frowned and looked up at her two mentors. "Then tell me," she demanded. "Tell me how I should do this." Lust and Sloth looked at each other. "I don't want to be a burden to anyone, so I want to learn how to use my powers quickly. No one should have to protect me."

The wavy-haired homunculus chuckled mockingly. "Honey, no one would risk their neck to protect a weak, worthless and pathetic girl like you."

"Lust!" Sloth hissed.

The homunculus shrugged and started to walk away. "I'm only saying the truth."

"I think you hated me," Pride whispered, rising to her feet.

Lust froze. "Excuse me?" she turned around.

"You heard me," Pride growled. "I think you hated me when you knew me last time. That's why you're so hostile towards me."

Lust approached her fellow homunculus and only stopped when she stood, mere inches away, towering over the petite Pride. She grabbed Pride's chin and leaned down. "Perhaps you're right," she admitted silkily. "Perhaps I did hate the old Pride. I guess you could say that I like Sin better." Pride tried to look down, but Lust jerked her face back to eye level. "But you know, I think you could be quite the spitfire." She released Pride's chin and Pride jerked away. Lust turned to Sloth.

"She needs better clothes," then, to Pride, "Those masculine clothes just will not do for this crowd, I'm afraid." Lust turned away and began to walk off. "Stay alone for awhile, get to know your powers. You'll feel the past come back to you very soon. It will be painful, yet you will need to endure it in order to excel in your powers." Pride nodded, looking after Lust and Sloth as they left the room.

Sloth turned to the homunculus beside her. "Do you think that she will remember meeting the Elric brothers?"

Lust shook her head. "I don't know. She may remember up to the point when Dante cut her to pieces, but let's not hold our breath."

MWAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA! how i love this story. it's so fun to portray Kraya so many different ways. first, she's Kraya and all innocent, then she's Pride and absolutely EVIL(BOOYAAAAAH!), and then she's Sin and KICKASS!. then, it's back to being VERY EVIL! well, ENJOY THE STORY! AND KEEP R&Ring!

Shadeslayer390