WN: Believe it or not, I had actually typed up this whole chapter last week, unfortunately my mum accidentally deleted it :( So sad... anyway, apologies for the late update.. thank you to those who have followed/favorited! (be warned have gotten watching Ouran Host Club, so may be a little bit slow in updating o.O
Chapter 2: Knocking at Truth's Door
"You know, I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but Ed was right"... Ling mused as he looked around. Their surroundings were completely white, nothing around them as far as the eye could see aside from the Gate of Truth. The imposing grey walls stared back at them, intricately carved with strange alchemic symbols.
"You know brat, you could have told me you'd been practicing alchemy" Greed piped up.
"Eh Greed... I'm no alchemist, besides you've been around this whole time, I've never learned alchemy, or alkhestry, other than being a homunculus and reading the Dragon's Pulse... I'm completely ordinary" Ling replied as he studied the door before them.
However as he stepped closer to examine the door, they suddenly flew back at the site of a white figure crouched in front of them. The figure was small in stature and like their current surroundings, completely white, faceless too. It was then it occurred to them both, having listened to the Elric brother's describe their trips to the gate. This could be no person other than Truth himself.
"You are far from ordinary Greedy Prince" Truth grinned, causing the two to retreat back a little under the being's sinister gaze.
"Look buddy, hate to break this to ya, we aren't alchemists; so why not just let us move on to the other side or whatever?" Greed quipped, trying to not appear as nervous as he felt. Greed always liked to know who his enemies were; their strengths. He absolutely loathed being in the dark.
"You can relax homunculus, I have no desire to harm you or your host; besides, you're already dead, so I couldn't very well kill you"... Truth remarked. The duo paused, thinking that he actually had a point.
"Regardless, what would the Truth want with a dead Prince of Xing and a former homunculus?" Ling questioned cautiously. From what he'd seen of Truth's "handiwork" Truth was a being that was not to be messed with; taking the limbs of children, a man's sight and a woman's ability to have children all from those who were desperate to bring back a loved one. Truth was an unforgiving being.
"So direct! I like that!" The truth cackled then added: "Well seen as you already know of me, I can dispense with the introductions, I have an offer to make of you and the homunculus"
"Look buddy firstly, we have a name, besides, what on earth could you possibly want with us, aren't you already like all powerful and immortal?" Greed questioned.
"If you ceased this pointless questioning, you'd find out; you both impressed me; Greed you overcame your base instinct; sacrificing your own avaricious desire to have everything by ultimately sacrificing your very being to save people who you had no affiliation with as well as those you grew to care about; Prince Ling; you sacrificed yourself in order to attempt to save the life of a being who ultimately ended up taking you down with him; your combined sacrifice brought about the demise of the all powerful being, the one you both refer to as "Father"
"Yes! we did it!" The duo cheered, then stopped. "So if he's dead... that means there's no threat to the world?" Ling wondered.
"For the moment, no active threat; however there is going to be one very soon; a being similar to myself.. I suppose you could call him "my brother" has found a way to bypass our laws and is hoping to turn your world into a domain of his very own" Truth told them, growing serious.
"Wait, how's this our problem? we're dead, he's your brother and again... we're dead, what do you propose we do to stop this guy?" Greed remarked.
"I'm getting to that, seriously, for a homunculus you're awfully clueless, I'm giving you the chance to live once more amongst the humans; to go back and save them from him; if I send you back, I promise you I will send you with the tools you need to carry out your mission, as a higher being, those of our kind are forbidden to interfere with those in the world below, Sin has betrayed our highest law and as such he needs to be stopped, the others have given me permission to make you two this offer, besides... I need the world below to still be interesting, right?" Truth stated, staring at them.
"So okay, say if we agree... would this mean we get to live again? or are we going to just die afterwards?" Ling asked.
"If you succeed in eliminating him, you'll get to live out the rest of your days as a normal human, provided you don't get yourself killed, think of this as an opportunity to atone for the deeds of the past" Truth replied.
"Whaaat a normal human? we're a homunculus"... Greed began.
"That maybe, but surely an avaricious being such as yourself wouldn't want to be immortal and see those he cared about die before his eyes, no?" Truth questioned.
Greed fell silent for a moment, feeling regret of those who died in a bid to protect him.
"Look.. we accept... but does this mean we can see our loved ones again?" Ling asked.
The Truth started cackling once more, his grin growing larger by the minute.
"Ohoho! that's for me to know and you to find out... now... good luck Greedy Prince!"
"Oh... wait! what's the toll! Curses! Greed! we're... aaaah!" The duo vanished, leaving Truth to stare at the spot where they once stood.
"Yes... this is certainly going to be interesting"
WN: Hmm... I don't know what to make of this chapter, anyway, thoughts are greatly appreciated. Hoping to get another review to help me decide on whether or not to update... thanks again :)