A/N: Welcome to the dark carnival, brothers.

So, HOLY CRAP. Knowing my obsession with Greed and Ling, I HAD to see how Greed dies in the original FMA. Well, yes, at one point it is really graphic (And he's slightly less hot in this version), but it…DUDES IT MADE ME CRY. LIKE HOLY CRAP.

GREED.

YOU.

SELFLESS. (Considering he's the sin of Greed, I know this is the best he can manage!)

KNIGHT.

I'm holding back tears just typing this! My chest is like heaving! I know he dies sort of weirdly, but that! Was! Fucking A-mazing! Edward, I love you this much more for regretting to kill Greed. Though, here's the thing.

He did want to die, after all. I can see why. Watching your friends die for you like that…seems you have more of a heart in the original FMA than Brotherhood, Greed.

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or FMA Brotherhood. Nor do I own the lyrics to "Again". If I did own FMA, Greed's smexy body wouldn't have been melted down. I'd have saved it in my pocket for later.

Your creators must hate you. Allow me to give you one last chance to bite back at your siblings, at the very least.

—Oh and on a side note, I remember I usually describe Zeal and Cat with gray eyes and sometimes with red eyes. Yes, I confuse myself, as well. It's just that I color Zeal/Cat with red eyes because it's cooler, so sometimes I mistake the two when writing. THE POINT IS SHE HAS RED EYES EITHER WAY OK. FORGET GRAY.


Rapacious

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| It's not that I want to go back to the days of back then…

It's just that I'm searching for the sky I've lost. |

Chapter 9

Aftermath

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Drip drip.

The cold substance irritated him, and pulled him from restless slumber. As Greed opened his eyes however, he was only met with inhospitable pairs. Four, in fact.

"…Huh. I could have guessed it would be my siblings pulling the strings."

The homunculus who found himself pinned on a crosshatched stake only scowled. They were the last people he had ever wanted to see, but one can only escape from their past for so long. Because sooner or later…

"…But to start…we never really were much of a family, were we?"

…It will come back to haunt you.

"…Wakey wakey, Greed. Haven't seen you in years," a feminine figure, undeniably beautiful, was none other than Lust. Greed could point her out better than anyone else.

He cooed, though meaningless, "Why hello there, big sis. I'm relieved you're here to welcome me; I couldn't stand just being greeted by my hideous brothers."

"Like we'd humor you with a warm welcome."

"Hello Greed!"

From his elevated view, Greed spotted Envy "moping" and Gluttony looking as clueless as ever. He supposed that since things were looking grim for him, he'd have a little fun poking at his loving family.

"Hello, Gluttony. Still haven't found a diet that works for you yet."

To which the latter only responded by sucking on his thumb.

Greed ignored the defective homunculus and shifted his attention towards the androgynous looking teenager, "Ooh. If it isn't little Envy the Jealous. For the last time, get a new outfit. I'm sure everyone here can agree with me that you look like a little girl."

Resting his face on his palm, Envy only replied, uninterested, "You're in no place to throw comments like that."

"…So where's the big one?"

"Sloth's busy on an important mission. After all, we can't have him slacking off," Lust replied.

"Oh really…" Not really surprised, though Greed was disappointed none of them changed. The fourth face, however, was a new one—sort of. "…Who's the newbie?"

Previously staying quiet on his end, the dark-haired elderly-looking man had his hands crossed behind his back, not even sparing a glance at Greed, "I am called Wrath, the Furious."

"So the Führer's a homunculus? That's a real interesting story to tell the guys back home."

"What friends? Last I heard, all of your little 'possessions' were slaughtered back at Dublith!" Envy cackled, choosing now, of all times to butt in. His sadistic laugh shrunk to a mere smirk as he calmed down, "…You're the only survivor. I can only imagine the remorse you're feeling right now."

Greed couldn't come up with an immediate response. He had to fake a wolfish grin as thoughts ran through him. Was he really the only one to survive? Had Zeal escaped with kitten? Did Martel get away?

What the hell happened? Was he really going to die like this, without knowing if they were all right or not?

Fuck it. He was going to have some fun.

"Remorse? Ha! You don't know a thing about me, apparently. If I were you, I'd stay in my sulking corner and just keep my mouth shut, all right, ugly?"

The younger homunculus' eye twitched, "…What did you just call me?"

Greed whistled, "Whoa, someone's getting angry! Come on, why don't you show us all what you really are, you hideous little freak!"

"You bastard…I'll kill you—"

"Cease this quarrel. I will not tolerate bickering between brothers," it was a male voice, reprimanding like a parent but without the love.

And Greed could feel the lack of love right away, "…If it isn't my old man. The years certainly haven't been kind on you, because you sure look decrepit."

Closing a book their Father was reading, the bearded man glanced at his son; with no sense of care on his face, "Tell me, Greed…why did you betray your loving Father?"

"…Heh. I can't believe you just asked me that, pops. After all, you created me to be this way, right? I'm just being myself. I simply have higher ambitions than spending my life working for you!"

"I see. And if I asked for you to return to working for me?"

The homunculus' eyes widened, then he smirked, amused. Finally, he fiercely replied, "Never!"

"Very well then, Greed. I'll just have to see your position replaced by that human-based homunculus friend of yours," the father figure stood up, a book spread out on one of his hands.

The homunculus' lips parted, everyone else in the room other than Father disappearing, "…What?" His surprised voice softened as his gaze lowered from the old man to the vat below him, "…So…kitten made it out alive, eh?"

"What is it, Greed? Does your former possession matter to you?"

The homunculus lifted his head, smirking. If his arms weren't restrained against his back he probably would have flipped Father off, "Possession? Heh. Good luck getting kitten to listen to you, much less that crazy bitch inside of her!" Greed laughed at the impossibility, "It's impossible. I couldn't even get kitten to listen to me; I don't really know what she thinks of me personally."

"Impossible? And this comes from the guy who always said nothing was impossible! You change your mind or something?" Envy teased, but neither Greed nor Father would have the mind to retort to him about it.

"As you've said, your personal relationships don't interest me, and I'll have you know I will have no trouble subduing that zealous nature of hers. Do not worry your head about it Greed, after all, you'll be headed to a much darker place."

Heat pooled under his boots, and a bright orange glow struck the form of his body. He smelled smoke and ash, and realized he would soon be a part of it. A sweat drop trailed off the side of his face, but he managed to joke, "Talk about cheesy…"

"Return to me, Greed!"

"If you say so…but don't blame me when you get a stomachache! You did it to yourself!"

The vat slowly closed in, until the tips of his shoes touched intense lava. He did scream, much like those screams he heard in the tunnels back in the Devil's Nest, but despite his painful cries, there only remained a single thought in his mind.

Zeal if you get kitten killed I swear I will fucking come back to haunt you.

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"Come on, lazy ass, WAKE UP!"

"I don't wanna."

"You can't stay here! If teacher finds you she'll kill you! Worst of all, she'll kill me!"

Catalena pulled the covers over her mouth, only staring listlessly out into the morning light through the window, "Blah."

Edward, already groomed and dressed in his stylish red cloak, clenched his teeth and fists, pouncing on the bed and grabbing a hold of the older figure's shoulders. Damn, she felt like dead weight the way he attempted to shake her awake, "WAKE UP WAKE UP WAKE UP! We're going to miss the train!"

"Uh, yeah, you can sleep on the train, if you want!" Alphonse proposed, holding one of his hands in the air timidly. Unlike Edward, Alphonse could relate to her predictable nature as of late.

As Edward's small figure was sitting on top of her, the woman slowly brushed the blonde boy away, causing him to shriek a little, before she met red eyes with glowing ones, "…Okay."

"What, so you listen to him and not me?"

She just wasn't a morning person, and thanks to Zeal, she hadn't gotten much more than four hours of sleep.

Catalena crossed her arms over her chest, seated in the seat across the two Elric brothers. For now, she would wear Zeal's late choice in clothing, since there was no way she could go back to the Devil's Nest for her own.

The train slowly kicked up speed; the woman could see the smoke trail across the peaks of the window frames. Looking out into the Dublith train station, she spotted two people: a large, dark looking man and a woman with dreadlocks, waving towards their window.

"Brother, look, it's teacher and Sig!"

Edward Elric and Alphonse peered out towards the window, with wide grins on their faces (Well, Edward), as they waved at these friends of theirs, Catalena supposed.

She had a most indifferent and independent appearance; her red eyes watched with solace at the scene she envied entirely.

Even more, behind that scene—those people, was the place she was born in and knew everything about. All of its interesting perks and people, all blown away in a cloud of engine smoke. She decided all that had to be left behind; she was running from the past.

But how long can you run before it comes back to haunt you?

Save for their relations with people, she and these boys had no homes to return to. It was sort of pitiful, they being children and she, an adult. Catalena immediately turned her head from the stretching bodies of the two, instead pinching her eyes shut in hopes for blissful sleep. She wouldn't hurt herself by thinking about it. Her choices were made, and there was naught she could do about it now except accept.

"What do you want from me? My brains? My body?"

"That's thinking too small."

"So what, then?"

"I want everything you are."

Crimson eyes flashed awake, and acknowledged the floor of a moving train. Catalena lifted her gaze to the two napping boys in front of her. Well, Alphonse looked occupied, staring out into the window like that.

Recalling the memory that caused her to stir awake, Catalena looked away from the both of their beings, trying to hide a smile to herself, "…Now I remember the words that followed immediately after that; the thing about your response being cheesy."

Hey! Hey, I saw that! You smiled! Don't try to hide it.

Consider her dreams crushed right in front of her as her lips parted in astonishment. Catalena squeezed her upper arms, since they were crossed; she felt a stress mark form on her temple, "Quiet. You realize that there are people around and I don't want to look foolish."

There was a whistle on the other end,

Heeeey, you're the one on the outside, not me! Anything you do isn't my problem!

Catalena, however flustered, struggled to retain a smirk, "So what if I had myself arrested? Is that your problem or are you going to lie to me and say you wouldn't care spending an eternity with me in a jail cell?"

I'd just break us out, of course. Then I'll show you the brighter and livelier side of the world.

Once her eyes opened, she sighed, "…You're so predictable."

I'd like to see you say that to my face.

"Considering your true face isn't ugly."

It's prettier than yours.

"Now you're just being childish."

It means having a personality; you should try it for once.

For once, Catalena could not muster a retort. That and the armored Elric brother appeared to be observing her. The woman noticed him, and failed at trying to play it off,

"Good morning Alphonse! What are you doing awake?"

"It's afternoon and I can't sleep. Were you talking to Zeal again?"

Staring at his stoic figure for a second, the woman swallowed hard before turning away again, "…Yes. She creeps up on me and harasses me. So I can't help but try to fight back."

"It's sort of funny. Zeal isn't that bad, is she?"

Her cheeks felt hot while she replied, in an almost forced tone, "She's…pleasant…to be around." After hearing a laugh in the confines of her consciousness, Catalena blatantly added, "When comparing her to the other homunculi."

"So, does she know them or not?" Alphonse inquired, tolerating Edward's head, which leaned against his cold shoulder.

Eyebrows raised, Catalena replied, "Know them? No. Right now, I think it's safe to assume she hates them. And that's sort of funny: at first she wanted to seek them out the first chance she had, because Zeal is just as lost as I am."

"Zeal seems more like a human than the rest of them, " Alphonse's metallic voice, which always sounded cold without actually meaning it, felt cold just for this once.

"…Yes. But Greed wasn't so bad either."

Wasn't so bad? Is that your way of telling someone your feelings for them? No wonder you're twenty-two and single!

Catalena blushed real hard, before clenching her fists and shouting, "Shut up, shut up, shut up!"

That's the story of the train ride to Rush Valley.

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"Winry, this is Cat. Cat, this is Winry," Edward pulled the two females by their shoulders together, even though both of them stood taller than him. He stretched as far as he could.

The perky blonde smiled warmly, wiggling her fingers in substitute for a formal wave, "It's Winry Rockbell. Nice to meet you! I work as an automail mechanic for Mr. Garfiel."

With her mouth slightly open due to the kindness that was practically radiating off of this blonde, Catalena lifted her hand out in front of her for a shake, "…Um, Catalena Artenie. No one calls me Cat."

The girl was wearing a black tube top with baggy pants and a green sweater tied around her hips. On her head was a green bandana, and Catalena could already tell she was either A) automail mechanic or B) tomboy. She could be right in both ways, considering the girl lived in Rush Valley.

Winry giggled before shifting her attention towards the two quiet boys in the background. Resting her hand on her hips she voiced, "Sooo! How do you three know each other? Don't tell me these two asked you out on a date or something."

"Whaaat? No way! She's like twenty-something, Winry. Geez, don't get so presumptuous," Edward thoughtlessly whined, shrugging his shoulders.

"Okay, fine! But why are you two back from Dublith so soon? Did you find your teacher?" The girl asked, looking cooperative and less frightening.

"We did, and I got my memories back. So the trip wasn't for nothing!" Alphonse added, trying his hardest to keep Winry from trying to dig any deeper into the subject.

"That's great, Al! So you two know where you're headed for next?"

This is when Edward's ego deflated and he looked as translucent as the ghost he was going to become while he rubbed the back of his neck, "You see…I'm going to need a few more repairs on my automail…" The blonde slowly raised his right arm, showing broken wires and missing plates. Catalena easily spotted the result of Greed's own work.

She was sort of relieved to see some form of memento from her friend, yet at the same time feeling pitied as this Winry Rockbell girl proceeded to fly into a rage with a wrench.

The girl looked so busy and fulfilled, completely content with herself, watching the odd, frilly man instruct her on whatever mechanism was laid out before the two of them.

Catalena only sat and watched from her seat at a dining table near an open window.

The four of them split up after Winry fixed Ed's automail in a feat of rage. The latter whom retreated with his brother to cool off their heads and get some lunch, leaving Catalena in Winry's care.

She was far from talkative, but Winry didn't seem to mind.

While resting her head on her entwined fingers, she failed to notice the two had finished an automail leg they were preparing together.

"Wow, Winry! That looks so good! You got like, loads better!"

"Do you really think so, Mr. Dominic? Thanks!" Squeaks and giggles from a teenaged girl and a middle-aged man. To Catalena's chagrin, the blonde girl turned to smile at her, "Hey, Miss Catalena! Can I ask what your work is, if you have any?"

This girl is a little too bubbly for my tastes.

"…I'm an information broker," Winry's smiling face slowly turned flat, but Catalena saved the day, "…But not a criminal or anything! I try to help whoever needs valuable information, and that's how I met your friend."

A relieved sigh escaped Winry's lips. She must've been worried the two brothers got themselves caught in the underworld of Amestris for a second there.

Oh, how accurate she was…

"Whew! I was about to beat them for being so reckless again. You know this is like the fifth time he's come to be to fix his automail?"

"Who? Edward?"

"Yes! Those two boys always get into fights. I wouldn't be surprised if they came home tonight with a broken arm again," Winry rubbed her temple, but luckily for her, Garfiel came for comfort.

It must be nice having someone look out for you. Catalena started to wonder if this young girl had any parents, but she didn't feel it was right to ask. For the record, she reminded the woman of Cain.

She wondered if he was dead or alive. But how would she ever know?

"Well! Me and Mr. Dominic are heading out to fetch some supplies!"

"Hey, are you going to be okay all by your self like this~?"

Catalena had a habit of forgetting those around her. If the homunculi ever came after her, she would be such an easy target.

"I'll be fine."

Could you head upstairs to the guest room? I think I need to catch some shuteye.

Right after the two humans left, Catalena cradled her head in her arms across the table, eyebrows furrowed, "I thought you didn't need to sleep."

It doesn't mean I can't try. What else am I supposed to do? Waiting around here is soooo boring! I can't believe you agreed to hang out with those two brats!

"What else can I do, Zeal? They may just be boys who are trying to regain their lost bodies, but who am I? What am I trying to do? The least I can do is help them, right?"

Don't lie to yourself. You're too greedy to be that selfless. You're seeing something in these kids, and you're going to use them. That's it—there's nothing personal.

The table began to shake under her arms, and she could hear some unrecognizable sound crackle through the atmosphere. Catalena lifted her head, and Zeal fell quiet for once. She had two choices:

1) Go outside and check out the loud noises, or
2) Go to bed.

Obliging to Zeal's wishes, Catalena hit two. Not only was she tired, but also she didn't want to admit just how right Zeal was.

She traipsed up the stairs, almost dragging her dress shoes along the way.

Or is it that you sympathize with them?

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She was an office nightmare—a ballpoint pen menace.

Catalena found a container of said pens in a random nightstand drawer, and was currently flinging them at the only entry door. Whoever dared walk in would be welcomed with a hail of pens in their face (or she would miss entirely, be it Edward who walked in).

This what you do for fun?

The klunk klunk against the wood surface of the door caused the sounds of Zeal's voice as well as footsteps along stairs to fade.

But Catalena could still hear them.

She couldn't stop tossing the pens against the door for some unknown, nostalgic reason.

The lean, tall figure stood in the doorway, the ballpoint pens conflicted against his bare chest as she relentlessly hailed them.

Oh my God, what if it's Garfiel!

In the midst of her realization, she couldn't process his face or that he had fallen to the ground, cradling his head.

"Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! Something hit me on the head! I'm bleeding! Save me, Fu! Lan Fan!"

Catalena stretched her upper body far enough so that she could peer over the foot of the bed. She secretly wished she hadn't, though.

Holy shit, it's the squinty brat again.

Whoever Ling Yao called for wouldn't come, so Catalena had to bring it upon herself to rush to his aid. Throwing her legs and the pens across the width of the bed, she knelt beside his crouched figure, "You okay?"

He was holding his stricken head, and she could see he hadn't changed even though it had only been about two weeks since they last seen each other. She felt kind of happy to see him, "Yeah, I'm fine…I thought you struck blood, but I guess I was wrong~"

"..."

Ling lifted his gaze, and stopped rubbing his head immediately, "…Wait…you're—"

"Ling Yao?"

"No—I'm Ling. You're Zeal!" The Xingese prince pointed towards Catalena's face, and she slowly backed off until standing up completely.

"That's not what I—"

Before she knew it, the boy pulled her into a tight hug, which she was unable to react accordingly to. She wouldn't know how, but Zeal did.

WHAT THE HELL IS THIS! Bastard! That's my body you're hugging!

Catalena, wide-eyed, saw fit to only return the hug to this young boy, almost like a mother would. She didn't know why he was hugging her, but she felt he needed it for some reason.

"I can't believe I found you! You know, after our last encounter, when you told me you were a homunculus—I looked into it, and it turns out Catalena actually made my wish come true!" Ling pulled away, keeping a firm grip on the slightly shorter woman in front of him.

Catalena only raised an eyebrow, "Excuse me?"

Ling did look like his dreams had just come true. Without her noticing, he grabbed her wrist, pulling the woman towards the door, "Come on, let's get out of here!"

ASDFGHJKLL—!

As he led her down the stairs, Catalena threw questions at him, "Wait, what are you doing? Where did you come from? How did I grant your wish?"

Halfway down the stairs, Ling looked just as confused as she was, looking each other dead in the eyes, "…Wait…you're not Zeal anymore?"

"No, I'm Catalena now."

"…Where's Zeal?"

"She's still here."

His flat expression was easily replaced with a smile as he continued to lead her down the long trail of stairs, "Let's go, then! Lan Fan and Fu will be outside."

"Answer my questions!"

Once they got to the feet of the stairs, and Ling was about to head out the exit, a voice reprimanded him,

"Hold it right there! Ling! What the hell do you think you're doing?"

The two realized it was Edward who was speaking, and that Alphonse, Winry, and Garfiel were also dumbstruck as they watched the Xingese prince make off with the human-based homunculus.

Wait. Human-based homunculus=homunculus=Philosopher's Stone=immortality.

That's it! That's why Ling wants Catalena to go with him! She slowly tried to wrench his grip away from her wrist, but that grip held all of his ambition and struggles.

Ling looked ignorant and harmless as he playfully replied, "Oh, I'm just taking Catalena here on a trip to Xing! We'll be back before you know it, Ed~!"

"Cut the crap! I know exactly why you want to take her with you, but guess what idiot prince—I WON'T ALLOW THAT!" Edward launched forward, snagging Catalena's free hand. She felt the sleeves of her black blazer stretch as the two boys ensued in a tug of war match and hissing.

"She's staying here with us! She already agreed to it!"

"We had a deal! She's coming with me to Xing!"

Alphonse moved forward to stop them, Catalena never had this much attention in forever, Winry was laughing and Garfiel was joining her, Fu was watching, and Lan Fan looked about ready to tear Edward's head off.

Now what would Zeal do?

Red, almost electric-like tendrils slashed across their hands. Ling and Ed stared with wide eyes as Zeal displayed an example of her power: to amplify the abilities of whoever's body she is in. Thanks to the Philosopher's Stone, those same abilities are strengthened.

Ling immediately let go of Zeal's wrist, causing Edward to plummet forward and to also release his grip. The boy took a moment to squirm on the ground as the red light subsided. Then he lifted his gaze from Catalena's dress shoes to glowing, sadistic looking eyes.

"…Crap. You're Zeal now, aren't you?"

The human-based homunculus, which appeared the same as before except her facial expression was malicious, straightened out the wrinkles in her blazer, "…Yep. What's it to you, kid?" After acknowledging the Elric boy, Zeal tried to cover a yawn with her hand.

Edward's face smashed against the floor in defeat, "Damn it. Could you please go back to being Cat again? I would really appreciate it."

I agree. I don't like it when you surprise me like this.

Zeal's red slits looked away from all of the amazed faces in the room—those who could finally observe a homunculus in live action. Though two of those faces in the room, hadn't a clue about anything.

"What's going on, Ed!" Winry demanded, watching Zeal poke the boy with the heel of her shoe. Garfiel only held his chin, pursing his lips and watching in amazement.

Edward propped himself upward, trying and failing at explaining things to Winry, "You see Winry, there's this theory about artificial humans, called a homunculus and—"

"So you really are a homunculus…" Ling said quietly, watching Zeal place her hands within her blazer pockets.

The former turned her attention towards the taller Ling Yao, and anyone could tell she disliked him, "I did tell you that before, didn't I? And after all this time, you still have this thing about touching my body without permission. You really are rude. Who do you think you are?"

Edward and Alphonse both gasped, but Alphonse was the only one to have the breath to speak, "Y-you two have met before?"

"If you're the Zeal from before, then I'll have to introduce myself formally. My name is Ling Yao; I am the 12th prince of the Emperor of Xing. You see, I asked the human side of you for help on claiming a Philosopher's Stone, which she agreed to. I see that she succeeded, though it cost her control of her body," Ling pressed his palms together in front of him, bowing formally.

"…"

"I apologize for that…but can you still come with me? You're exactly what I need to become Emperor."

Zeal didn't look at all convinced, "Why should I do that? What's in it for me?"

"You can live an eternity by my side~!"

"But I hate you! So. Much."

Edward butted between the two, facing Ling. "She's with us, Ling, and that's that. If you want her, then I guess you're going to have to come with us."

Ling proceeded to wrap his arms around Edward, falsely affectionately (More like a housecat).

"Then I guess I'll just have to stay with you two until she does~!"

Zeal was quite happy Ling's hug missed her.

What have I gotten myself into?

And Winry and Garfiel were confused, "Um? Seriously, guys, what's a 'homunculus'?"

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A/N: So this is what happens if a random Homonculus was given to Edward during the events of Episode 15, FMAB.

A little break from seriousness. The whole situation seemed pretty awkward, and I know—Catalena's character is slowly changing. I'm not asking you to pity her or anything, but just put yourself in her position.

That is, if you don't understand all this text I'm throwing at you~

Thank you and oh my god I smell onions

MERRY CHRISTMASSSSS!

May I have a review for Christmas? COLON D

:D