House of the Homunculi

Disclaimer:

"I do not own Full Metal Alchemist...
Not even the no named civilians in the background...
Or the random animals like street cats and dogs...
I don't even own a single coin from that world...
That's how Poor I am. And that is how I shall remain."

-Introduction-

Thanksgiving and Gluttony

Oh... we're back to introductions again. Well it always seems to be like that. Anyway! Happy Thanksgiving Everbody! It's Turkey day! And for those who don't live in the U.S or don't celebrate this holiday, well... Have a nice and food-full day Anyway! Speaking of which, a day with food is a good day for GLUTTONY! So everybody... FREAK OUT! Foood for Everybody! I love these random coincidences...

Speaking of which, Gluttony is pretty old... hmm... It's kind of scary, especially since he acts like a kid all the time. Anyway, the little runt gets lonely all the time. And for you, GreedxEnvy pairings and yaoi fans, I once again apologize. I'm not very good at writing shounen Ai fanfics, also I'm trying to be as realistic as the anime itself. Please don't get offended or anything. Because I don't think Envy and Greed in the anime ever loved each other like that. Anyway, have a joyous holiday, and lock your doors! If you don't Gluttony will come after you! He's Hungry XD. The Story is going to move forward from here, leading up to the events in the show. Enjoy! Also, today is super special Turkey day! So I worked Extra hard! 3 Acts woohoo!

-Psychodog, Out

Chapter VII: Time and Time again

Act XII: Food For thought

Setting: Gluttony's Room

The Sun streamed through the room. Its bright rays lit the room and the morning sun began to rise. The Light penetrated through the glass revealing a brand new morning. It's been 5 days since Gluttony was born. Greed was still asleep on the blood stained bed. He slept for 5 days straight... why you ask? Because he wanted to. He didn't have a hang over, nor was he terribly injured that he was in a coma. The Ultimate Shield just felt like sleeping... no apparent reason it seems. He wants to sleep, then the man will sleep. Well that's what Greed wanted to do, but something was preventing him to do so.

"Hrmmmm..." Greed mumbled turning over on his side. "Leave me alone..."

Something began to lick his hand.

"Quit it, I'm trying to sleep..." Greed mumbled annoyed; swatting whatever was licking his hand.

The thing whimpered slightly... silence followed.

"Can't a guy get some... hrmm... shut eye around here?" The Ultimate shield gave a grunt.

"Because you don't deserve it." A voice replied, "So get off your bum-ass and get outta bed."

"... 5 more minutes..." The Ultimate Shield replied sleepily again.

"What a pain in the ass..." Envy scratched his head, sighing heavily. "Don't say I didn't warn ya..."

The Ultimate Mask looked around the room for something heavy to hit him with... nothing particularly useful was around. The room was still half eaten and covered in blood stains. Envy tried kicking him, jumping on his bed, pounding away at his skull and even threatened to steal his dirty magazines. Envy even jumped on Greed's stomach, pounding his legs into the idiot but that only left a hyper-active Envy and a Greed that was still asleep. Nothing worked, the Ultimate Shield refused to wake up. Envy's patience was waning thin... Greed wasn't sick, he wasn't injured, and he wasn't drunk. He was asleep... The Ultimate Shield was lying in the bed his head on the soft pillow, his hands gripping the blood stained sheets. Envy sighed... Greed was deffinitely NOT a morning person.

Gluttony, now fully grown and fully fed merely watched Envy, his finger in his mouth, sucking on it tenderly. He was bald, with a big nose, a round stomach and two heavy arms swung by his side. He stared curiously at the man in the bed, his stomach growling...

"Hungry..." Gluttony replied, he tugged on Envy's short skirt thing. "I'm hungry..."

"You just ate breakfast." Envy snapped, "So stop complaining."

"Awww..." Gluttony looked down sadly. "Hungry..."

"Quiet, you! You're nothing but a walking stomach." Envy pat the thing in the belly, "Not only that you ate MY breakfast! My meal is in there too, you know?"

"But I'm so hungry..." Gluttony replied sadly rubbing his growling tummy. The Cute little Ultimate Hunger was not only hungry but lonely to. Envy was no fun to be around, the Mean Ultimate Mask loved to kick him around and use him like a punching bag. Gluttony couldn't feel the blows, but when Envy was mad... the world seemed to crumble around him.

"Be grateful Dante even gives you three breakfasts..." Envy grumbled scratching his head, "You get fed 7 times a day, Since this Dumbass won't get out of bed you get to eat his meals too. Not only that but you steal food off of my plate! And don't you deny it tubby, I saw you!" Envy pointed an accusing finger at Gluttony. Gluttony looked down sadly.

"You need to go on a diet." Envy kicked Gluttony, his kick bounced off the Ultimate Hunger's flamboyant body. "All the fat isn't good for you."

Gluttony's stomach was growling again, "When do we get to eat?"

"Oh forget it..." Envy punched Gluttony, "You probably don't understand a word I'm saying!"

"Why is he dead?" Gluttony asked pointing at Greed who was snoring away on the bed.

"Dead?" Envy paused, "I wish he was, but he isn't. The idiot is just sleeping..." Envy shrugged, "If he did die, that would do me a favor, big time. Are you going to ask a stupid question like, 'Can I eat him?' too?"

Gluttony only looked up at Envy, his head bent, staring curiously at the elder Homunculus. He began to chew on some broken pieces of furniture that was on the floor... It was boring... Envy sat beside the bed staring hopelessly at the idiot... Normal people, Homunculus or not, don't sleep for 5 days straight. Then it clicked. Envy's devious mind began to laugh maniacally again.

"Hey, Gluttony." Envy put his hand on the Homunculus' bald head. "Do you want to play with Big brother, Greed?"

"Yes..." Gluttony replied. His stomach replied as well.

"Good, Good..." Envy put on a very happy smile, "Show your big brother a nice smile."

Gluttony smiled, not an evil smile, but a very cute and innocent one.

"Good, good..." Envy patted the Homunculus' in the head, "Ok, you see... big brother Greed over there is dead."

"Dead?" Gluttony stared at his sleeping brother. He wasn't moving... The newborn Homunculus could only assume he was dead already. Gluttony looked down sadly... "Why is he dead?"

Envy shrugged, "Beats me."

"Will he wake up?" Gluttony asked.

"Yeah, yeah..." Envy smiled, "You see, we can make him wake up. We can make big brother wake up from being dead. Then you can play with him all you want!"

"Really?" Gluttony walked over to Greed. The Ultimate Shield was sleeping away, his black leather jacket was now stained with dry blood stains, he had a blissful smile on his sleeping face. Gluttony began to shake Greed furiously. "Wake up! Don't be dead! Wake up!" Gluttony yelled, "Why are you dead?" Gluttony demanded. Greed didn't answer, he began to silently snore away.

"See?" Envy giggled, "He's pretty dead, huh?"

Gluttony walked around the room sadly.

"Cheer up, big fella." Envy winked, "I have a secret to make him come back to life. Leave it to me."

Greed was having such a nice sleep. He dreamed about alot of things... most were about women, being rich, and hanging out in a bar all day with only his friends and girls. Also, the best part of his dream was that there was no stuck up Dante there to tell him what to do. There was no house she locked him in, there was no Envy to bug him all day long, and best of all there wasn't that annoying smell of her rotting perfume! He didn't have to listen to anybody! Everybody listened to him, not the opposite. Greed didn't like questioning things, thinking made his head hurt, he was smart... but not that smart. His dreams made him happy, then dreams were good. That's all he needed to know.

Suddenly something Extremely heavy landed on top of him with full force. Greed almost jumped in surprise. Whatever it was, it was heavy... and whatever it was, it jumped on him continuously.

"Whoa! Elizabeth you gained some weight!" He blurted out, wrenching his eyes closed. The light was beginning to burn his eyes. Then it hit him. Someone was trying to wake him up! Angrily, Greed covered his eyes from the light with his arm. Whatever that was on him felt like a ton of heavy rocks... maybe more. If he wasn't a homunculus, his bones would have cracked for sure. To make things worse, the heavy weight was slamming on him, again and again. In anger, Greed gritted his teeth attempting to ignore the pounding and the screeching that comes next.

"WAKE UP! WAKE UP!" Gluttony yelled jumping on him.

"I don't want to!" Greed roared, "Leave me alone! Quit annoying me!"

"WAKE UP!" Gluttony yelled again.

"You show him, Gluttony!" Envy was laughing hystarically on the floor. He was laughing so much, the Ultimate Mask a.k.a the Monster was holding his stomach in pain from all the laughing. Envy was slamming the floor with his fist and rolling around, it was such a goddamn funny sight. From Gluttony's pounding and Envy's hystarical laughter, the room was beginning to shake.

"Wake up! Wake up! Don't be dead or I eat you!" Gluttony yelled.

"Aww man, you two are killing me!" Envy hooted with laughter, tears coming down from his eyes.

Greed turned over on his side shoving whatever was pounding on his stomach off. He grabbed the sheets and flung it on top of him, He obviously did not wish to awaken. The Youngest Homunculus wasn't satisfied, he once again jumped on top of Greed. Gluttony bit the Ultimate Shield in the arm, but Greed elbowed the ultimate Hunger in the face. "Quit it, Envy! I'm trying to sleep!" He snapped angrily. "Buzz off or I'll tear your face off your head!"

"Me?" Envy howled in laughter, "It's not me, fool! Wake up to reality, dumbass!"

"Huh...?" Greed opened his eyes slowly... everything was fuzzy at first. But sure enough a face was right in front of him. It sure wasn't the face of a hot chick either... "WHAT THE!" The Ultimate Shield jumped in surprise... well he wanted to jump but a huge flab of meat was sitting on top of him. It was odd... Waking up to see a Big-nosed, Bald and fat looking animal staring at you with hungry eyes. Greed almost jumped in shock, not only was his face hilarious but it was ON TOP OF HIM! The only thing that was allowed on top of him was a mountain of cash, or women.

"What the hell are you? And WHY ARE YOU ON TOP OF ME?" Greed asked shoving his baby brother off of him. Gluttony wouldn't budge, it only sat staring at him curiously, his finger in his mouth.

"Not dead?" Gluttony asked.

"What?" Greed asked.

"Not dead?" Gluttony repeated.

"What are you talking about?" Greed asked, "And why the hell are you on top of me! Get off!"

Obediently, Gluttony slipped off of Greed's stomach and fell off the bed. Landing on his rear he sat there for a second, blinking once. Blinking twice. Blinking three times before he got back up. His Flamboyant body protects him from much injury... He slowly got back up on his feet by pushing himself up with his arms. He stared at Greed, a finger in his mouth.

"Ouch... ouch..." Greed rubbed his ear, "So freakin' loud in the morning... ugh... A man can't even get some shut eye around here?"

"You're late dumbass..." Envy giggled, "Asleep for 5 days... no wonder the house has been so quiet recently."

"5 days?" Greed scratched his head. "I slept for that long?" He stretched his arms and cracked his neck his whole body was stiff... Envy nodded, smiling happily.

"And what the hell is that?" Greed asked pointing at the fat Homunculus who was chewing on another Piece of wood. "Your new pet, Envy? Didn't Dante already yell at you about bringing in pets."

"Feh, So I get lonely..." Envy replied with a smirk, "I need a new friend from time to time, not such a big deal." Envy jumped off from the chair he was standing on and walked to the door. "I always play with my friends. Its so fun it's to die for." Envy smiled evilly.

"You make a good point." Greed rubbed the back of his neck, a lazy expression on his face. "I'd rather die than play with you, anyway."

"Think you what you want." Envy walked over to Gluttony, playfully he put his arms around the Baby brother's neck. A smile on his face. Gluttony looked up at Greed chewing on the piece of wood, hungrily. "This is our new baby brother." Envy snickered. "Say 'hi' to Big brother Greed."

"Baby brother...?" Greed crouched down staring at the Fat thing sitting in front of him. "Yo...err... kinda chubby aren't ya...?"

"I'm Gluttony." Gluttony replied with a smile.

"Gluttony...?" Greed paused. A sigh escaped from his mouth. "What kind of name is Gluttony? That bitch is really terrible at names... Well whatever... So you're the mutant ball of shit from before, huh? Been eating your Red stones lately?" He tapped the huge stomach, it growled in response.

"Red stones!" Gluttony replied happily. "Food!"

"Gluttony..." Greed sighed, "Stupid name, whatever..."

Envy laughed, "Ah well! She can't help it if she's senile. By the way, Lady Dante isn't feeling well today."

"'Lady Dante'?" Greed stared confused, "Since when do you call her, Lady Dante?"

"Since she told me to." Envy replied shrugging, "I could care less, really. Anyway, she wanted me to tell you that she's not feeling very well... So you have to report down to her when your ready."

"Oh? Not feeling well, is she?" Greed asked. "I wonder why..."

"Let's just say, her stomach isn't at its best today..." Envy snickered, "Now we know why this little guy's name is Gluttony. Well whatever, I have to go do something so... Dante wanted me to tell you that you have to take care of Gluttony for a while." Envy waved.

Greed looked down at the Flab of meat that was chewing on a chunk of wood. Not only was it kind of chubby... it wasn't a woman. Gluttony stared up curiously at his older brother. "Err..." Greed paused. "Ok... that shouldn't be too hard I guess..."

"Be grateful. I had to baby sit it for five days." Envy replied with a smile, "And I baby-sitted you too, unless you haven't forgotten."

"Ooh, that makes you special." Greed mumbled sarcastically.

"It does!" Envy laughed, "I'm special! So show me a little respect! Well, not now anyway... I gotta go do some errands. See you two around! Get to know each other... Brotherly bonding is good for you." Envy winked and slammed the door; whistling he walked down the hall. Greed could hear the Ultimate Mask stomp down the stairs and jump around. Gluttony and Greed were alone in the room.

"Kinda cheery this morning, isn't he?" Greed asked. An eyebrow cocked upwards in confusion.

"Mmhmm." Gluttony replied. The Homunculus continued to gnaw on the piece of wood. He swallowed it and began to chew on the leg of a table. "I'm hungry..." Gluttony mumbled.

"Yeah..." Greed sighed rubbing his head. "I'm hungry too... So what's for breakfast?"

"I ate it." Gluttony replied.

"Oh you did, did you?" Greed sighed, "Ah well...want to go get something to eat? My treat."

Act XIII: A Lesson about Family

Setting: Dante's Study

Dante sat by the window of her study. Her Manor was quite large, almost like a castle. She lived an isolated life of luxury... Quiet Luxury... Evil Luxury. Her body was aging rapidly, day-by-day it slowly aged. Her current body was now in its 80's reaching a limit... She still had quite a large fragment of the Philosopher's stone left. She hasn't used it since Hohenheim sent it to her. She treasured it lovingly, a gift from her beloved, just by putting it close to her chest it began to pulsate with life. She would use it to live on forever...

Now all she needed was a new host. A new body that suited her fancy...A young body, a fresh body, a body that was both beautiful and powerful. No human knew her secret, if they did she would silence them for good. Normally, she would appoint a nice apprentice, teach her, deceive her, and keep her close. Then when her limit was near, she would steal that body. Attaching her soul, switching it into a better body, then destroy the evidence. It was simple, easy and clean.

She preferred Orphan girls. They were common everywhere, the world was a dangerous place. Also, with Orphans there was no family to deal with and no one would care if that person disappeared. Dante has been doing this for over 200 years now... She needed a new body, fast. The Elderly woman gripped her abdoman, the blood flow has stopped but the body was still weak... Human Transmutation has its sacrifices, afterall. She could have easily avoided this by using the stone... but why waste its precious power when you can just use an old aging body that's about to die anyway? As you can see, Dante is alot more intelligent than she seems.

There was a knock on the door. Dante slipped the piece of the Philosopher's stone in an old jewelry box. Just by the knock she can tell who it was. It was most deffinitely Envy, the guy usually never knocks, rather he storms right in. But when he does, the knocks are loud, fast, and somewhat irritating. Greed was calm and quiet, as if he's relaxing and not rushing to get in. Though if he's impatient he would just kick the door open. Gluttony's was slow and heavy, slamming his massive heavy arms against the door. Well, the knocks were furious, quick paced and loud. Most deffinitely Envy.

"Come in, Envy." Dante replied.

"You wanted me to come?" Envy asked. "I'm here."

"Ah, I see. Well did you do what I asked?"

"I managed to wake up Greed this morning." Envy giggled as he opened the doors. "So what's up, now?"

"The usual. Envy, do you mind doing me a favor."

"You know it's more like a command than an actual favor." Envy shrugged, "Whatever, so what do you want this time?"

The young looking Homunculus placed his hands over his waist, a twisted but playful smile on his face. Greed and Envy haven't been going on missions together for a long time, now. Especially since Greed ran away from home alot more than usual. He was a big boy, Greed could handle himself.

Envy, on the other hand has been having a blast recently. For the past 5 years he infiltrated the Military... Under Dante's command, of course. It was so much fun! The Military's influence seems to be rising steadily across the country. Envy, using his transformation abilities to his fullest has manipulated much action for Dante. Not only that, his abilities were useful in silencing enemies. Killing high ranking officials in "accidents" were so much fun. Of course he had to be extra careful... to slip his identity would cause much trouble. Envy was the cause of the chaos in the military, and the one who easily solved it. Thus, he was promoted under his fake identity easily.

"While you're out to cause mischief... Please bring me back a nice young body." Dante replied with a smile.

"A body?" Envy paused, thinking to himself. "A female body, right?"

"That's right..." Dante continued, "This body is slowly reaching its limit... I need a new host. You don't mind, do you?"

"Not that I mind... but..." Envy placed both his hands behind his head, "Shouldn't you ask Greed to do this? He'd be thrilled at the idea... Plus the guy is way better at human women trash." Envy paused... he couldn't believe what came out of his mouth. The Homunculus slapped himself, "Hah! What am I talking about? Did I actually say that dimwit was better than me? As if!" Envy laughed, "Well fine, I guess it shouldn't be a problem at all! I'll kill two birds with one stone! Err... Let me rephrase that. I'll Kill several humans with one stone!"

"Ah, I'm so glad you agree." Dante smiled, "Besides I'm sending Greed to do something else for the time being."

"Oh?" Envy asked curiously, "It better not be something more fun than my job."

"Not really." Dante opened up a small book. "I'm only sending him out to search for Hohenheim..."

"Hohenheim..." Envy whistled sarcastically, "Greed is a dumbass. He won't be able to find Hohenheim, that's for sure." Envy snickered, "That dimwit can't find his way out of a tuna can even if it bit him in the ass..."

"He'll have Gluttony with him, I'm sure he'll be fine." Dante skimmed through the pages of her book, "I thought you'd have another fit about Hohenheim. You are the one who wants him dead, don't you?"

"Yeah..." Envy smiled, "But what's the point in searching for him when humans are fun to terrorize. I'll kill Hohenheim some other time."

"My, my Envy. You're in a good mood today."

"I am, I am." Envy smiled, "So many humans I can torment, manipulate and kill. It's amazing!"

"Well then, you're dismissed." Dante replied. Envy walked out of the room with satisfaction on his face. Another day to terrorize people... it was so refreshing and it never gets dull. Envy was the sole reason why the Military is being chaotic as it is... He walked out of the room, a grim smile on his face.

"Foolish humans," Envy replied evilly, "They are such simple idiots. Don't they understand? In this world, there are those who use, or be used... Just one or the other." Envy giggled, "I'm the one using you, so watch out!" Envy wasn't being used by Dante, he only listened to her because she understands him well... It was fun. He chose to be this way. He chose the life to use others...

Setting: The Kitchen

First thing to say, Greed isn't that great of a cook. He never cooked in his life, or atleast, not for a long time anyway. Sometimes he would watch Dante prepare some food but that's about it. The Most Greed could make was probably be toast... and half the time it would be burned pretty badly. Dante was the cook, the mother of the house not him. He was the Ultimate Shield, not the ultimate Cook. Greed prepared a pretty lousy meal, most in which only consisted of preheating them...But despite the terrible taste, Gluttony, the Ultimate Hunger ate the sorry-excuse-of-a-meal happily and without a complaint.

"Wow, you sure love to eat, huh? Pretty Amazing... that mouth of yours." Greed watched in amazement and shock at the younger Homunculus. In his hand was a fork, but no matter how much he tried, the Ultimate Shield had no desire to fork his food and eat it... His eyes were twitching slightly, watching the Walking stomach gulp down the food.

"Mhhmmm..." Gluttony mumbled with glee as he stuffed the food down his throat.

"That's good, That's good." Greed replied, he hasn't touched his food. Just watching his younger brother eat the food like a monster was enough to make him pretty sick. He had a bottle of beer and drank it contently. When Gluttony was done eating what was on his plate he eyed the untouched food in front of his older brother.

"You want some more, don't ya?" Greed gave a smile, his sharp fangs showing. "Then by all means...knock yourself out." He handed him his own plate. Gluttony shrieked in happiness as he began to eat using his two hands. Greed chuckled.

"How's it taste? You like it?" Greed asked.

"Mmhmm..." Gluttony replied while gobbling the food down.

"Your hunger must be just as bad as my greed, ain't that right?" Greed's elbow was on the table, his face leaning on his palm. Staring intrigued at the monster. "No matter how much you eat, you can never stop being hungry..."

"Hmm?" Gluttony's face was covered in food as he looked up curiously at the older Homunculus.

"Just like my greed. We can never satisfy it." Greed took another drink of his beer.

"She said, She said..." Gluttony began.

"Huh?" Greed paused, "She said, what? What did the bitch tell you?"

"She said, if we... if we..." Gluttony began to think, something this homunculus was relatively new at. "She said, if we do good, She would turn us into humans... than I won't be hungry anymore..."

"She said that?" Greed had a very bland expression on his face. "Interesting..."

Gluttony finished his plate, quite literally too. The Homunculus cleaned the plate spotless, licking its surface. Finally, he chomped the plate and reached for the basket of bread on the table. Being slightly short, the Homunculus couldn't reach. The Table was, afterall quite long. Greed picked up a loaf of bread and was about to hand it over but paused. He took a bite from the bread and kept it, instead, he handed the rest of the whole basket to the Hungry Homunculus. Gluttony happily began to munch on the bread.

"Do you want to become human, tubby?" Greed asked tapping the round stomach.

"Gluttony no know." He replied with bread in his mouth. The Large loafs of bread was sticking out of his mouth, the poor thing tried to eat them all at once. It wasn't forced down easily... Greed handed him a glass of water to force it down.

"Don't choke." Greed sighed. "Take my advice, you take so much in at once... it won't be easy to hold down. Same thing with Greed. We're alike you and I..." Greed paused, "Except... I got a full head of hair, and I'm not so round... I don't eat that much..."

"Gluttony finished." Gluttony replied rubbing his tummy. The Homunculus was still hungry but a bit of sleepiness was kicking in.

Greed finished the last of his beer. "Really? Good... go wash up and we'll go see her together..."

Gluttony nodded, lifting himself up he dizzily walked out of the room. Greed got up too, his hands in his pockets, his shades over his eyes, and his back hunched forward. Greed stared back at the kitchen, then at Gluttony who slowly walked up the stairs.

"What's the point in becoming human?" Greed chuckled to himself, he looked down at the Ouroborus tattoo on his hand. "Humans are weak, They die unfulfilled...and its not much fun... So what if we're not human? What's so good about it anyway? Well... I know for sure that my Greed will never be satisfied if I'm a human." Greed shrugged and walked out, his mind wandering slightly. He took a whiff of his clothes and coughed.

"Blegh, I reak of shit..." Greed pulled the jacket off; his muscular body revealed through the tight black sleeveless. "Looks like I gotta shower... then let's see what that hag has in store for us." Without another word Greed walked up the stairs and disappeared to the bathroom.

Act XIV: Fear

Dante Reviews all her facts! (Super Spoilers)

I shall overfeed you with information. (Muehehe) So beware! Then when you get fat with information, I'll feed you to Gluttony! (Maniacal Laughter)

Setting: Dante's Study

The Music echoed in the Large room. The Noon Sun hung high in the sky casting its bright rays on the Earth. Dante held open her book of notes, so far in the past centures she began to gather alot of useful information. She sat by the window, the smell of her perfume filled the room and the haunting melody that followed. She began to review her notes, her information. Closely she was getting to the truth, slowly but surely she was reaching higher. She began to reread them to herself. Reabsorbing the knowledge, the more she transferred bodies, the more she learned.

About the Philosopher's Stone

"The Philosopher's stone, an ancient and legendary catalyst... Able enhance Alchemic power to its full potential..." Dante read aloud, "With it, miracles are performed... Gold can be made from the smallest of substance, Life can be extended to immortality, Water into wine... The dead flesh back to life. 400 years ago... Hohenheim and I created the Philosopher's stone, together, by the use of Sacrificing the people of Old Central... They disappeared in one night. To hide the evidence, Hohenheim and I hid the city below the Earth... Now together we used it to extend out life. Obtain immortality... Human bodies are merely shells for the soul."

Dante continued to read on, "All Alchemic reaction requires something of equivalent value. Law of Conservations states, Matter and Energy cannot be destroyed or created, only transferred to one form to another. In addition, the energy to begin the transmutation is also necessary... The Philosopher's Stone is a substance of immense strength and power... Something that humans cannot hold, something humans are not ready for as of yet."

Dante paused. The Law of Conservation may be true for Matter and Energy, but it doesn't abide to life. Like the soul and its many secrets, there are still many unanswered questions... Dante flipped the page. "To create a Philosopher's stone the purest and rawest of materials are necessary... Sacrifices is a vital ingredient. Human blood, fresh human blood, lives of people are the most valuable and most purest substance... every life has an abundance of energy that can be used. When concentrated together, they can create a substance known as the Philosopher's stone."

This was true, but the value of human lives differ... (Information from the manga) "Not all human lives have the same quality, it requires more lives if the humans are not Alchemists... those that opened the 'gate' are better qualified for human sacrifice... Those who have witnessed the gate can perform a transmutation without a circle. The Philosopher's stone can be created from the lives of a single village... or an entire Country."

"To prove this theory, Hohenheim has sacrificed the City of Xerxes in one night... the residence of the City were Alchemist radicals. Highly qualified candidates with the 'ability' to become the Philosopher's stone. Rather than one Country, a single city was taken. We can safely assume that Alchemists are a vital ingredient to create the ultimate Catalyst. Energy from all Transmutations come from across the gate... currently what lies beyond is unknown."

Homunculus

Dante flipped to the next page, her notes on Homunculi. "Homunculus is created as the result of failed human transmutation. Created by the many elements of what is in a human body they are similar to humans. When manipulated correctly, they can possess their own form, usually the form of those they failed to resurrect. Homunculus cannot survive long in their primal state, lacking in energy, nutrients and strength the body can fall apart over time." Dante continued, "Homunculus cannot use alchemy, lacking a soul, they excel in mind and body. But since they are not human, they cannot age and cannot die by normal means. And due to the different structures in Homunculi's they can rearrange them by will and possess abilities impossible to man."

"Homunculi's, like the Philosopher's stone requires a number of human lives to increase their strength. An easy and sufficient source would be that of the Red Stones, or the Incomplete fragments of the Philosopher's Stone. When consumed they are given 'numerous lives', regeneration and strength. When lacking in this, their body structure fails, and they become inanimant, resulting in vulnerability and the weakness of their primal state. Lacking in a soul, these monsters show signs from their previous lives... possibly by the memories of those that created them..."

"Homunculi become frozen in the presence of their formal bodies. Thus being their only weakness... This is due to their 'fear' of their past lives. Reminding them of their existance, and their lack of existance, Homunculi are vulnerable to their memories resulting in confusion and chaos. Depending on the Homunculi... and the Creator that created them... they may have obsessive emotion and desire for a certain motive... Homunculus are artificial humans. When man attempts to play god..."

Dante flipped to the next page... "Humonculus possess emotions, yet no soul... strange but true. This must result in that they have no Alchemic powers, no gate inside of them to power themselves... interesting... They feed on human lives yet they cannot create life like humans nor god. Homunculus are truly a sin against god... Thus it is taboo. Humunculus are merely mimics, fabrications of humans and their emotions... A hypothesis yet to be proven."

Gate

"The Mysterious entity known as the gate..." Dante read, "In every human soul there is a gate that transfers energy from a mysterious source... thus making the soul a vital ingredient to the creation of the Philosopher's stone. Those who have seen the gate can use Alchemy without a transmutation circle. Circles are necessary to create a small gate of energy, the energy flows from the circle creating energy from the gate. When clapping the hands together, you formulate your own circle by tapping directly into the gate of your soul."

"What is beyond the gate is unknown. Our hypothesis, a large energy source that powers all Alchemic reaction. The Gate is the key to knowledge... the Ultimate crossing. The Gate is most vulnerable when the host is close to death, or new to life... when the soul is fresh from birth, or when the soul is ready to cross after death."

Dante snapped the book shut. A low knocking was heard from the door. It was low, easy and patient, Greed was outside. Greed's hair was still wet from the Shower, he had a towel over his head and a relaxed demeanor.

"Come in..." Dante adressed the two Homunculus who were waiting for her audience.

"Yo..." Greed entered the room, hands in his pocket and his head leaning forward.

"Greed, Gluttony, I'm glad you came to visit." Dante replied, pleased.

"Well yeah, you know..." Greed mumbled, "I heard you're not feeling too well."

" I'm fine... I'm fine..." Dante covered her abdomen with her hand. "Now, are you two ready? I need both of you to look for Hohenheim again... understood?"

"Fine." Greed shrugged, "Let me guess I have to drag tubby with me too, eh?"

"Now, Now... He's still young. Gluttony will be essential to your search for Hohenheim." Dante said with an icy cool tone.

"Oh? How'll he be useful? He'll probably eat the old fart before we can even drag his sorry carcass back here." Greed peered down at Gluttony who was licking his fingers. "Not to mention there will be ALOT of rest stops..."

"Come here, Gluttony..." Dante called soothingly. Gluttony, as if in a trance walked over to his creator. Greed watched, pretty surprised. She pet his head affectionately and held up a small piece of cloth, "Do you smell it? That's the scent you need to find, ok? When you find him... let Greed handle the rest, alright?"

Gluttony nodded.

"Hey, so this guy can track him by scent? Interesting... So you're not so useless afterall!" Greed paused, staring at Dante with a mixture of hatred and anger. He hid it well, but his cold sharp eyes were burning with an invisible malice. "All you want us to do is fetch this old guy...?" Greed asked, "Why? There's ton of other men in this world... what makes this one so special?"

Anger glared in Dante's eyes, "Are you questioning me, Greed?" Dante asked, "Hohenheim is not just a man... should there be any soil of doubt upon his name... You as my child, will be shown no mercy..."

"Easy, easy." Greed shrugged, "I didn't mean it that way. But... what if he's already dead?"

Dante was silent.

"He is human afterall..." Greed chuckled.

Gluttony, who could feel the air of anger rising between the two began to quiver in fear. "Scary..." Gluttony whimpered covering his head. Dante was enraged, she held it in very well but it was apparent. Greed could see it easily, the hatred biting away at her. "So scary..."

"You better hope on your life that you're wrong..." Dante replied venomously, "He's my love... and that will never change."

"Ok, Ok..." He raised his hand in surrender, "Whatever you say, your lady-ship. Well then, 'Lady Dante', I'll take my leave." Greed waved, his Ourborus shown clearly on his left hand. A smile was on his face... he liked it. The look of anger and despair in her face. She was growing old, weak and short tempered... The Ultimate Shield couldn't help but smile. "Come Gluttony..."

"Greed..." Dante called him.

"Hmm?" Greed turned his head, facing Dante. "You need something?"

"Don't forget to take this with you, it's for Gluttony." She slid the small red pouch to Greed. Greed picked it up, staring at it for a while. "Make sure he eats them all..."

Greed tossed the bag up and caught it, stuffing it in his pocket. "Yeah, I'll do just that. Come Gluttony!"

The Quivering Gluttony wearily followed Greed out of the room. Greed shut the door behind him. Once again the room was silent, only Dante's heavy breath could be heard... followed by the Nostalgic music in the background. She clutched the stone in her hand and the love letter, that was hidden in her book of notes, in the other... Her aging body was growing weak... She snapped open a small bottle of pills. She created these pills herself, medicinal purpose pills... Her hand was unsteady, shaking in anger. She reached for a glass of water on the table, and placed the pill in her mouth.

"Hohenheim..." Dante closed her eyes, "Hohenheim of Light..."

To be Continued...

Drabble Corner

Ahh, long chapter. Yay XD. Anyway Happy Thanksgiving everyone... eat well, don't die and have a nice day! I hope you enjoyed the fanfic, if you didn't than I apologize. Things are starting to move toward present day... Like the Infiltration of the Military. (Remember, if Greed was locked in the 5th Labrotory for over 100 years ago than she must have had some Control of the Military, yeah? Or else he'd be sealed in her house or something...)

Also, one of you stated that Gluttony feared Greed... true, but not technically. Gluttony was afraid of where he was locked away, where he was imprisoned. The seal does wonders, hahah. Anyway Gluttony was present when Greed was sealed, so it tells alot. They may fear Greed for his powers, but I'm not quite sure that is likely. Now we see Greed finally proving he doesn't wanna become human! Greed and possible Envy are the two who like being a homunculus, but Greed later seeks immortality! You Go greed! Anyway I hope you all liked Gluttony in this chapter! It's his day to Shine! THANKSGIVING BABY!