Chapter 8: The Forgotten Life

Disclaimer: I do not own FMA or any aspect of it (besides Seren Soulheart and any other OCs that I add).

A/N: I think I tied my OCs' history back into the main storyline of FMA. (Woot, I ended this chapter with the words that Homunculus spoke to Number 23!)

The weeks passed by as the court marveled at Seren's creation. After their initial shock at the life form within the flask, they began to accept it. King Xerxes was drawn in by Homunculus; both desired power. As the days dragged on, they were seen closeted away in some corner of the palace, discussing the various forms of energy that mortals could freely tap into. Seren was happy during this time, as everybody praised her of her great work. This time of tranquility wouldn't last, however.

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Homunculus sighed as it watched King Xerxes piecing together a new alchemical array. As his scribes furiously wrote down his new circles, Homunculus decided to spice things up.

"Master?"

King Xerxes looked up from his table, moderately displeased as he said, "Yes, Dwarf?"

Homunculus seemed to freeze at this, as if seething. Its voice was steady as it asked, "Why haven't you created a circle that uses the life force of humans to power it?"

Xerxes cocked his head at Homunculus, his eyes clouded in thought. Tapping a slender finger against his temple, he began to nod.

Glancing at the doorway, he ordered, "Guard, fetch me one of the prisoners from Xing."

The guard saluted and ran off to do his lord's bidding. Xerxes shuffled over to a clear space on the ground and studied a few of his previous designs. Picking one, he held it in front of the flask.

Homunculus agreed and said, "Yes, Master."

Xerxes snapped his fingers at two of the scribes and commanded, "Draw this array exactly as it is laid out on the parchment. No mistakes will be tolerated."

The two scribes glanced at each other for a moment before bowing to their King. They set down their notes and began to trace the circle on the stone floor. As the minutes slowly dragged on, the guard returned with the Xingese prisoner. As the scribes finished drawing the circle, Xerxes beckoned the guard forward.

"Place the prisoner in the center of the array."

The prisoner sat down on the floor, looking away from everybody else in the room. King Xerxes knelt at the edge of the array, studying the runes. Satisfied, he clapped his hands and lightly touched the edge of the circle.

A blinding red glow suffused the room and the prisoner began to tremble. Wisps of what looked like steam rose from him as the alchemical reaction took effect. Homunculus bobbed around happily in its flask; it was gaining the power from the transmutation! The prisoner slumped over soundlessly as his soul was ripped from him and absorbed into the energy of the transmutation. Finally, the light began to flicker and eventually died.

Xerxes glanced around in curiosity, as did the rest of his retainers. He walked back over to the flask and shook it.

"What effect did this array have, Dwarf?"

Homunculus glared at the King before replying, "It doesn't appear that there was any reaction, other than the glow, my King."

Xerxes glanced at the flask in disgust and turned towards the doors. He stopped, however, when he noticed Seren standing there with her hands over her mouth.

Seren whispered, "Father, what did you just do?"

Xerxes peered back at the limp figure lying within the circle. He replied, "Furthering our knowledge of alchemy, my daughter. This circle is now obsolete. Take the Dwarf into my audience chamber."

Seren nodded mutely, still gazing at the poor slave in pity. Sighing, she wrapped her arms around the flask and walked off to do her father's bidding, lost in thought. Homunculus peered up at her face the entire time, black anger suffusing its eye. A thought finally occurred to it and made it open its mouth in a sadistic grin.

"Princess, can I make a suggestion?"

Seren nearly dropped the flask from her surprise, but steadied her arms and instead held the flask up at eye level.

She murmured, "Yes, my creation?"

Homunculus formed an arm and pointed it at a shut door. It said, "Isn't that a storeroom?"

Seren nodded and Homunculus seemed to think for a moment before saying, "I withheld my knowledge of a unique array from your father. It allows the alchemist who activates it the ability to shapeshift. Would you like to try it out?"

Seren pursed her lips and glanced at the flask suspiciously. She replied, "What does it require?"

Homunculus stated, "Nothing, other than the circle to be activated."

She nodded her head and went inside the room. She grabbed a piece of soapstone and began to etch the circle as per her creation's instructions. She wiped her brow upon finishing the complex design. Maybe what happened was an unforeseeable mistake, Seren thought. I can also tell Father of this circle later. Setting the flask down upon a stand, Seren knelt within the circle, hands hovering over the edge of the array.

Homunculus seemed to energetically bounce in its flask, but stopped moving when Seren glanced back at it.

She asked, "This is reversible, right?"

Homunculus nodded, dancing with joy inside its mind. Seren sighed before clapping her hands and laying them upon the edge of the array. The glow of reaction shocked her; it alternated between the normal blue light of common circles and the red glow of human transmutation circles. The pain hit her then, raking her mind. As she fell to the ground, twitching, Homunculus began to speak joyfully.

"Unluckily for you, Princess, your thirst for knowledge has lead you here. While it might have seemed as if the array that your father created didn't work, it did." Homunculus stopped talking as it pulled back part of its shadow to reveal a flickering red light. "I have the power of a single soul at my command, Seren. I can bypass the law of equivalent exchange enough to send you through time itself!"

As the glow of the reaction became brighter, shocked exclamations were heard from outside the room. Homunculus danced around within its container, reveling in the fact that the one who would have been his greatest adversary was now out of the way.

It added as an afterthought, "You are going to be sent to my plane, however. The guardian there requires a toll for any mortal who dares to pass through! The array will protect you from physical harm, but your memories, on the other hand.." It paused for dramatic effect before continuing, "Your memories will be lost. Farewell, Seren!"

The reaction took effect shortly after that, transforming Seren into a white haired tabby. The portion of the circle beneath her turned red and she fell through the hole. The alchemists burst through the door once the light had faded, but were left with an astonishing sight. The flask stood on the windowsill, as if getting ready to fall over. While one of the alchemists rushed forward to save their Princess's greatest gift, the others stared at the smoking figure of a burnt humanoid that lay in the middle of the array.

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The King's grief over his lost daughter overshadowed all others. He banished Homunculus to the very room where his daughter had been lost. A few days passed, and Slave Number 23 finally made his way into the room with a broom, determined to finish cleaning for the day. Homunculus held silent while Number 23 swept the room, clearly engrossed in his task. As Number 23 stopped sweeping in order to take a short break, Homunculus spoke.

"Young man. Yes, you over there."

What happened to poor Seren? (You get a brownie point for posting your answer in the reviews!) When will Seren reveal what had happened to herself?

A/N#2: I'm returning back to the hospital for the next chapter.