To The Ends of Eternity
Chapter 2: Memories Forgotten
June 8, 2006
By CCD

A/N: (SPOILER!) I noticed how confusing that first part of the last chapter was after I posted it so I figured I would take the time to explain the real ending and answer some questions. As far as the Ed story line goes, Envy ends up killing him and Al took it upon himself to use the Philosopher's Stone (that Scar created within him) to rejoin Ed's soul with his body and repair it (he gets his human limbs back). Mustang nearly dies in the real story line, before Bradley's "son" shows up with his weakness. Mustang uses it to kill Bradley.

I've heard a few people tell me that it's funny that I made Roy Mustang the new Lust, so I thought I would say why. I don't want Greed to exist at this point (plays an important role later though) and since Envy, Pride, Gluttony, and Wrath are still alive all I have left was Lust and Sloth. I thought Ed should be Sloth since he created and destroyed the last one so Mustang had to be Lust. (Besides, knowing Mustang's reputation as a lady's man, doesn't it just fit?) Oh and just for reference, I DON'T DO ED X ROY! I hope this cleared up a few things for you!

By the way, as I pull from their memories the first 32 episodes as well as episodes 48-51, they will be from the English dub. For episodes 33-48 I have the subtitled versions so sorry if this bothers anyone 'cause I know we all have our preferences on sub and dub (I like both which is why I have all 51 episodes and the movie subbed and working on getting all the dubbed.)

"Edward…You sure we should do this?"

"Of course. Don't wimp out on me now."

"But no one's ever done this right. I mean alchemy is Equivalent Exchange. The body content seems simple enough, but what about the soul? What could we possibly offer?"

"Just hold out your finger Ok."

They cut their fingers with a knife and dropped the blood onto the pile of powders and liquids.

"What's a soul really? When you take out the myth, it's just the spark that starts life. This is our blood…from her blood…that's a fair trade.

Sloth shot up from the bed. It was that dream again, a memory of his former life, his human life. He got up, walked into the bathroom, and splashed cool water on his face.

What could have triggered it this time?

It was always the same dream. He recognized the transmutation circle on the ground, but couldn't quite remember what it did. And the other boy…why did every time he saw that boy he felt protective of him? What significance did this boy hold in his past life?

The young Homunculus brought a towel to his face and dried it off before taking a good look at himself in the mirror. He knew that he had been called Edward Elric and was also known as the Fullmetal Alchemist. Lady Dante said that he had been caught with Brigadier General Roy Mustang in military crossfire and had died. She said that she had felt sorry for two such talented alchemists and decided to bring them to her side and give them a new life. He had been given the name Sloth, while Mustang had been given the name Lust.

The two of them had been placed in Pride's charge and were told to keep up the appearance as if they were still alive. Pride gave them a promotion and squandered any rumor that had come up about the two of them. It seemed as if Pride's power was absolute as he pretended to be human and was the Fuher of Amestris.

Sloth sighed and pulled out the braid in his hair. As he did so, his tank top slipped a little to reveal a flash of red. He knew what it was from. When he had first become a Homunculus, he had stared at it often. He slowly pulled his top down so that he could see the tattoo better. It was the mark of the Homunculi; a winged serpent that devoured his own tail, better known as the Tattoo of the Ouroboros.

It had been a fascination of his to look at his marking and the symbol featured on the back of the coat he had worn as a human and continued to wear now. To him, there was a connection to the Ouroboros and the crucified winged serpent and he knew that he was only a step away from figuring out just what it was.

A loud knock on the door pulled him from his fleeting thoughts. Sloth quickly pulled his tank top up and opened the door to see Lust in the doorway. The younger Homunculus frowned.

What's he doing here?

"You're being noisy so I decided to come check on you."

"I don't need checked on. I'm perfectly fine."

"Right and that's why you're covered in sweat and cold water."

"Go away Lust. I'm fine."

"Whatever you say, oh, and Envy wants us ready to go in an hour. He wants to scout out the city for alchemist and weak fools that would want to make a Philosopher's Stone."

With that he shut the door and left the blond homunculus to his own thoughts before walking back to his room. Sloth fumed for a moment before planting his fist into the wall. He hated being treated like he was some child.

Lust walked to his room with his eyes closed and his head down. He was able to avoid Envy and slipped silently into his room. He gently closed the door and sighed. He could tell that Sloth had not slept very well either. In truth, Sloth wasn't the only one who had flashbacks.

"I had it in my mouth Maes, and I couldn't pull the trigger. I was too afraid to end it."

"I'd hope so."

"It's just the kind of cowardly human that I am."

"Every sane person is."

"But still, my life, detestable as it is will have some use."

"Huh!"

"Maes, I've got a plan."

"Let's hear it, Roy,"

He could still see the man in his mind. Short black hair, green eyes, glasses…who was he? Why was he in his memories? What importance had he held that he would tell him one of his plans…one that he knew nothing of because the dream always ended with, "Let's hear it, Roy…"

Roy was such a stupid name. Simple, unintelligent…it was one of the things he hated about his past life. He hated the fact that he wasn't stronger when he was human. That he had died in something as stupid as crossfire between soldiers and rebels, or so Lady Dante had told them. Envy was right, as humans they were nothing but weak things. Even the human he once was called himself cowardly.

Lust walked into the bathroom and took a quick shower. In truth, Homunculi didn't need to do such things, but sometimes it was nice to indulge in showers, food, drinking beer, and even sleeping though to most of them it only brought the painful memories of the lives they left behind for good. All of them understood that no matter how much they wanted to, they could never return to the humans they once were. Lady Dante kept the Philosopher's Stone for herself and that was just how it was.

The hot water felt like fire on his skin. It reminded him of the alchemy he used on a day-to-day basis. For some strange reason, both he and Sloth could still use alchemy when the other Homunculus couldn't. Lust had heard that Wrath could do it at one point because he had human limbs, but Lady Dante had taken them away due to the fact that he was a spoiled child that needed to be taught a lesson. Only recently had she given him automail to replace his lost limbs.

Lust smirked. He hadn't done anything to defy her yet and wasn't planning on doing so. Lady Dante had given him a chance to become stronger and overcome the barriers place on humans. In truth, he had no loyalty towards her, but since he had no other place to go or things to do, he figured he would tag along. That and for some strange reason he felt a bit protective of Sloth almost like a father figure to him.

The Homunculus stepped out of the shower and dried off. He made a face when he saw the red tattoo on his stomach that all Homunculus had, and unconsciously shrugged. Why was he going to dwell on something that he had no control over in the first place?

He quickly put on some cloths and left his room, locking the door behind him. He saw Envy and Sloth standing at the head of the hallway and walked over to them. Envy grinned when he saw him approach while Sloth looked disinterested in his arrival.

"It's about time you got here."

"You've been doing this for four hundred years, Envy. Surely the mayhem can wait another five minutes," Lust said calmly.

"Yeah, Yeah let's just get going. The fun starts now!"