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Selim's Memories, Pride's Battle

Pride watched emotionlessly as Gluttony was tortured, not batting an eyelash when he screamed out in pain.

"Pride," Father commanded as he turned toward his 'son', "I need you to provoke Edward Elric. Do something unspeakable that will surely wound him deeply." The grin Father wore was malicious and bloodthirsty.

"Kill a family in front of his very eyes, torture them if needed,"

Pride didn't show any emotion but a respectful bow, before disappearing into the trusted shadows he had control over as he prepared to fulfill his mission.

And then they came.

The images.

Pride had thought he was seeing things, but the images were becoming clearer and clearer with every atrocity he committed. The wobbly images turned to faces, faces of people he knew and didn't recognize. People that may have known Selim Bradley, the Führer's son, the body he used as a host.

The boy was dead, but Pride had secured his body to use in order to complete his orders for his dear Father.

He had no emotions, he was a Homunculus, the Homunculus, he prided himself over his title, being one of the eldest and most powerful of his brethren.

And yet, at times, those images didn't grant him any peace of mind, even distracted him during his missions, they had to stop, but Pride had no idea how to silence them.

He had tried mingling them with the endless tempest of souls locked inside him, the souls he had devoured with pleasure, but they were still there, taunting him, reminding him of events that never were, that didn't affect him.

Selim was playing with his mother outside in their private garden, he was chasing after a small dog, his pet, his mother was laughing and smiling. His father had come, abandoning his duties as Führer and deciding to spend time with his family.

His father had been so kind, a serious, strict man but a kind and doting father and husband nonetheless. Selim had always felt safe and at peace when his parents were nearby, as did every child in his young age.

Another image appeared, where the Führer was mending a small cut on Selim's knee, comforting his son and telling him that one grows stronger with each injury he conquered and healed, the scars that would stay later on were a reminder of their strong will and heart.

An image of his mother, his beautiful, kind mother appeared next, how she fell ill due to a virus and his father had actually taken a whole week off to take care of her. They had had maids of course but his father's family was more important than his duties. He remembered how his father was making sure his mother was as comfortable as possible, feeding her soup, cutting her solid food into small pieces for her to chew on easily, carrying her to the bath to clean her, making sure her fever didn't grow…

He remembered his parents smiling at him so proudly, happy that they had a son they loved so very much-

No!

Pride clutched the side of his face, suddenly falling to his knees as if in pain. He panted heavily, willing for these, these memories to go away.

No!

Selim!

Pride roared, "I'm not him! My name is Pride and I'm a Homunculus!" Pride grit his teeth tightly, shutting his eyes to silence the achingly familiar voices of his parents, no, Selim's parents.

"I never had a family, these are not my memories! Curse you Selim…curse you boy! Implanting such disgusting memories in my head to torture me! I'm Pride!

He concentrated on the screams of agony the countless souls inside him released, after a while he calmed down, relishing in the screams of terror from the souls he had devoured without remorse.

He stood up, determined to fulfill his mission in order to please his Father.

Father…

"Father has done everything for me, he created me. He deserves the utmost respect, anyone opposing him shall be killed, be it human or Homunculi," an evil grin grew on Pride's face as he was walking toward his next target.

"Winry, it's far too dangerous for you to be mingling with our business. The Homunculi and Father are surely planning something bad, they failed to capture you but that doesn't mean they will stop trying to get to me and Al," Ed was sitting calmly at the table, one leg resting on the other as he drank water.

"I don't care Ed! You will get your automail busted up again! I'm here now so at least let me help, right Al?" Winry looked at the suit of armor containing her childhood friend's soul with a hopeful and fierce expression.

Alphonse scratched the back of his helmet, suddenly feeling extremely small at the two heated glares his brother and former crush were giving him.

"Umm…" he played with his fingers nervously, "Brother…I think Winry should stay here but I agree with brother that you shouldn't come with us on dangerous missions Winry," Al wanted nothing but to ensure his friends safety, if that meant that she should stay at home out of harm's way then so be it.

"Ugh! You're all the same! I can't believe I came here all the way just to be stood up by you two again! You know what? Do what you want! If Ed gets my automail destroyed then you can find yourselves another mechanic!" Winry rushed up the stairs, slamming the door shut loudly in her anger.

Edward sighed heavily, glaring into a corner of the kitchen, thinking deeply.

"Brother,"

"What is it Al?" Ed looked at his younger brother.

"Um, do you think we were too harsh on Winry? She is only worried about us after all…" his brother squirmed in his seat uncomfortably.

"Tch, whatever, she should cool off. She doesn't understand that if she tags along the Homunculi will only target her and use her against us Al. I can't risk her safety just because she throws a tantrum," Ed's word seemed final, as he stood up from his chair and walked outside, shutting the door behind him none too gently.

Al sighed heavily, looking upstairs towards where Winry stormed to and towards the door where his brother went out of. He had a very bad feeling, this couldn't end well at all.

"Oh brother…when will you learn…" he shook his head.

Pride smirked, watching as a angry Edward Elric walked out of the small house, now was his chance.

He moved out of sight, locating a little cozy family home not too far from where Elric was strolling about. Yes, this would be perfect.

The family inside was contently eating supper, a small boy was laughing when his mother wiped away the stains near his mouth.

And then their laughter ceased.

"Oh my god, honey!" the woman shouted in terror, clutching her son close to her as her husband was suddenly held up by what looked like black tentacles with red eyes.

"Dad!" the boy shouted, trying to squirm out of his mothers grip to aid his father.

"S-stay back!" his father commanded, trying to kick the appendages away but they only tightened their grip on him.

"How disgusting you humans are and so fragile," Pride smirked when the man shouted in pain as Pride broke his rib, "Your lives are so very short and filled with sorrow, why do you continue to live? Why do you bother?" Pride walked closer toward the mother and her child.

"Scream, scream in terror! Let everyone hear your terrified screams as I kill your husband in front of your very eyes!" Pride laughed in manic pleasure as he tightened his hold on the man, breaking another rib and another-

"Pride!" Pride wasn't able to dodge the sharp blade fast enough, it cut his shadows in half, freeing the injured man as he fell to the floor, heaving and gasping for breath.

Edward Elric's amber eyes were glowing in rage as he glared at Pride the Homunculus, "Why the hell are you here?! Why did you attack them?!"

Pride smirked, not at all bothered by his severed shadows as new ones grew thanks to the light in the room.

"Edward Elric, let me show you true despair." Pride acted fast but the Alchemist was faster.

Ed dodged the oncoming attack, jumping over it and attempting to slice Pride in half before one of his shadows took the blow and another five restrained the young enraged male.

"What are you planning Pride?!" Edward growled, struggling hard against the shadows, Pride smiled as he effortlessly destroyed his automail arm, shattering it into thousands of pieces of screws, bolts and wires. Ed growled in anger, now he couldn't perform alchemy, he couldn't fight Pride.

"How foolish of you Edward, I thought you would be excited to enjoy the show," Pride smiled as his shadows moved toward the withering form of the father on the floor.

"No!" the woman shouted in fear as Edward struggled harder to help the man.

Pride froze as the little boy, their son, suddenly stood in front of his father, tears in his eyes but a determined expression on his face as his little hands were spread wide in a pathetic attempt to shield his father.

"I won't let you hurt my dad anymore! Get away from us!" the boy shouted, glaring at the body of Selim angrily, "Why are you hurting us?"

Pride chuckled, ordering his shadows to circle the boy that looked to be his host's age and size, "You foolish little boy, this will be the end of you,"

The shadows advanced.

The boy shouted angrily at Pride, "Why are you here?! Leave us alone! Go to your own mama and papa!"

Pride froze, his eyes wide in shock as his shadows froze mid-attack as well.

Go to your own mama and papa!

Go to your own mama and papa!

Mama

Papa

Pride's eyes widened further and he fell to the floor, the shadows releasing Edward as he clutched his head in despair, "No! Not again! No!" Pride was shaking uncontrollably.

The images.

They were back.

Far stronger than before.

No…

No!

"Selim, I'm so proud of you, my son," King Bradley petted his son's head proudly with a warm smile.

No!

"Selim! Please be careful!" his mother's worried voice carried over his laughter as he chased the dog around, his father watching with a smile.

No! Stop!

"Stay back," Edward uttered softly as he healed the internal bleeding of the injured man, helping him limp toward his wife. Edward eyed the teary boy and Pride.

The boy, now confused over Pride's behavior, slowly walked toward him. Pride was shaking on his knees, clutching his face and head, tears streaming from his haunted eyes.

It couldn't be.

Were these…feelings?

No!

He was Pride!

The strongest of the Homunculi! His Father's favorite!

Yes, Father loved him and only him!

"What's wrong? Don't you have a mama and papa?" the boy asked sadly, now kneeling in front of Pride.

Pride's eyes widened in fury, "You vermin! Father loves me! I'm his favorite son!" the shadows shook as if hissing in anger.

The boy, unaware of the danger, smiled brightly, "Then why aren't you at home? I'm sure your mama and papa miss you a lot!"

Mama and papa miss you a lot!

Miss you a lot!

Selim!

"No!" Pride moved away from the boy, he looked at the boy, then at the terrified parents.

"Jean! Come here!" his mother shouted, opening her arms wide to beckon her son to her. The boy ran immediately towards his mother, hugging her tightly and hugging his father in joy and fear.

"Papa!"

Papa…

Selim's memories swept him away.

"Papa, do you have to go?" a young Selim Bradley asked his father sadly.

"No Selim, now why are you asking that?" the Führer's eyes blinked in surprise, petting his son's head.

"You are away so often, you aren't at home a lot, mama is pretty sad about it," Selim clutched his father's shirt, afraid he would leave.

A tender, loving smile appeared on Bradley's face, "Now, now, I won't be going anywhere Selim. Remember, no matter how where I go or how far, I'll always return home to you and your mother,"

Selim smiled happily, wrapping his little arms around his father's neck as he laughed in joy.

"No….I-I'm not…no…" tears rolled down Pride's face, "No…Father…he loves me…he loves me…I'm his f-favorite…"

Memories of Selim's parents appeared in his mind's eyes, the images of King Bradley and his mother.

"Selim…" Ed frowned, slowly walking closer to the emotionally broken Homunculus.

"Don't touch me Edward Elric!" a shadow shot out and harshly threw Ed away from him.

"Argh!" Ed cried out in pain as his back slammed painfully against the wall.

Pride was gone.

The shadows having swallowed him in their depths.

And sometimes, Edward thought the shadows of his past swallowed him as well.

"Pride?" Lust asked as she noticed the small Homunculus on the floor near their hideout, panting as if hurt.

Pride slowly opened his eyes, tears swimming in their depths as he was lost to Selim's memories.

Lust had carried him back to the hideout, keeping quiet about what she saw and Pride, for the first time in his life, had been thankful about it.

At night, the memories of Selim Bradley still haunted his sleep.

And sometimes, he thought they were his own.

I hope you enjoyed it! Sorry this one's a bit sad T_T Opinions are welcome! :3