Seven: End of a Dream
"Yes, that was me," Aileen said, staring off into the sky. "I narrowly escaped, and when I did, Colonel Mustang caught me."
"Funny, he never mentioned that to me."
"He probably wouldn't have. He only let me go because I was younger and looked so harmless."
"Wait…you aren't the age you told us, then?" Ed questioned, lowering his auto-mail arm.
"No. I am actually as ageless as any homunculus. I am one. I was created by someone that I despise for doing so."
"Why exactly were you there? Other than looking for the Philosopher's Stone, that is?"
"Lust sent me. I had just met up with her and was a bit lost. She told me that finding information on it would help me figure out my past and what I had to do to become a true human. Once I found out about its secrets, however, I took back ever wanting to become human. I wished to stay ageless, no matter how much Lust didn't."
"So how'd you end up caught by Mustang?"
Aileen's eyes fell upon Ed's. "I was careless. I can hide myself in the shadows if I wish, but only if I concentrate. My control is better, now that I've honed my powers."
"So he caught you. Then what?"
"He pinned me to the wall, a knife against my throat. I was barefoot – my Oroborus in plain view. I didn't know what it meant then. He tried to kill me, but couldn't when he saw my eyes."
Ed knew what she was talking about – her eyes were mesmerizing. He shook his head to clear his mind. He didn't want to fall for any more tricks. "But why did you go looking for information there?"
"Because I didn't know what was going on! I was attacked! I didn't know much of anything at that time. Lust and Envy showed me what to do. They showed me the true meaning of being a homunculus. And—"
"As much as I'd love to hear the story of your life, I've heard enough of that kind of thing from Hughes." Ed suddenly sprang forward, landing a rather solid blow on Aileen's sword. She pushed all her weight into it, driving Ed back a few feet, but seemingly not enough.
Relentlessly, Ed drove Aileen to the edge of the tower, cornering her just as Envy arrived.
"Treachery!" Envy yelled, running toward the two.
"Too late," Ed muttered as he hit Aileen one last time, her limbs buckling beneath her. He pushed her off completely, stepping back to make sure his footing was solid and he didn't follow her down. Envy stopped moving, shocked, as he watched the silver-haired homunculus fall toward the glittering water.
Time seemed to slow to a crawl, making it feel almost as if she wasn't falling at all.
Is it over?
No.
It's just begun.
She was drifting into a dream-like trance she knew she wouldn't wake from. Quickly, she took the sword Envy had given her and hurled it back at the tower. Ed, who had turned back to Envy, was struck in the shoulder by the blade, the steel burying itself in his flesh. The blond alchemist fell forward on his knees, blood flowing down his shirt.
Below, Aileen splashed into the lake surrounding the castle. She floated down into the depths, all the while smiling softly. Her silver hair floated around her as she closed her green eyes once more.
Back on the tower, Envy was fuming.
"Edward, you…" Envy wasn't able to finish his sentence. Taking a hold of the sword's handle, he roughly ripped it from Ed's shoulder, causing the blonde to cry out in pain, blood running from the wound down his black shirt.
"You're lucky, Fullmetal," Envy hissed, turning to head back down the stairs. His anger was at a dangerous level. He knew he had to leave, that there was no time or way to find Treachery. He disappeared into the castle, unknown even to the trio waiting below the tower.
"I…I'm actually kinda sorry, Aileen…but you were a homunculus and all…and…" Ed's vision swam with colors. He quickly fell into a state of unconsciousness, blood flowing freely from his new wound, leaving him on the broken tower alone.