Phase 1

The mighty doors of the Gate open up inside the building. Its occupants from the other side get tossed out and hurled some distance before crash landing on the floor.

"Ow!"

Sore muscles, scratches, cuts, bruises, dirt, and dust are mired onto their faces.

A few coughs to clear the dust from their lungs. Their throats are parched.

"Is everyone alright?" asks Hohenheim. Beads of perspiration are visible on his forehead. Blood from his puncture wounds seep through his clothing, covering his back and chest.

"I think so," Alphonse responds, shaking his head and rapidly blinking to ease his lightheadedness and to stop the stars dancing in his vision.

Edward props himself up and rubs his eyes to clear his vision. He turns his gaze towards his father.

Hohenheim did not immediately register why his son made a sound of exclamation or why he had a look of horror in his eyes. Soon it dawned on him. Edward wasn't looking at his father. He was looking past him. Hohenheim jerked his head to the right and his eyes grew wide with fear. There, laying a few feet from him, facedown in a growing pool of blood, was his eldest son, back in his preferred Homunculus form.

"William!"

Ignoring his own bleeding wounds and aching limbs, the man jumped to his feet and ran to where the Homunculus laid.

"William!"

He turned his son over, brushing aside the blood-soaked hair from the latter's face. Envy's eyes remained closed. Hohenheim tore off his coat and wrapped it around the unresponsive Homunculus.

"William! William! Wake up! Please wake up!" The father shouted frantically while shaking his son's shoulders.

Edward and Alphonse look on in stunned silence.

Seconds later, Hohenheim's actions were met with the response he was desperately hoping for -- a sign of life. The dark-haired Homunculus began coughing up blood.

"William!" Hohenheim cupped his hands around his son's face. Envy blinked several times, his vision and consciousness going in and out. He was gasping for air.

The alchemist placed an arm underneath Envy's back. He lifted his son up in a sitting position in an effort to prevent him from choking anymore on his own blood. Envy's head slumped against Hohenheim's shoulder. Blood continued to flow from the Homunculus's open wounds, mixing in with the blood stains that were already present on Hohenheim's coat and soaking it in a deep shade of red.

Edward's memory replays the moment when Envy tore through the lances -- blood gushing everywhere.

Envy's coughing fit gradually subsides. His eyes slowly open to rest upon a familiar figure.

"Father..." His voice was barely above a whisper. "It hurts...so much..." His words are cut off by a spasm of pain.

Hohenheim froze. A distant memory works its way into Hohenheim's consciousness -- a memory that he will never forget. It was over 400 years ago on the day the alchemist attempted to bring back his deceased child. When the transmutation had completed, all that was present was a mass of misshapen flesh that was now his son. "Father...it hurts...so much..."

A low moan from Envy brings Hohenheim back to his senses. The father tightens his grip on his child and begins to sob. "I'm so sorry...I'm so sorry, William!" His head was bowed with shame and regret. His body trembled from his sobs. "Father's right here. I won't leave you again."

Tears begin to slide down Alphonse's cheeks. Edward's mind goes numb.

For over 400 years the son had searched the world for his father, and now he finally found him. A serene demeanor found its way onto his face. He smiled, allowing this feeling of contentment to accompany him into slumber.

"William? Will -- " Hohenheim's words were cut off by a crashing sound from overhead.

Large chunks of the ceiling start crumbling down.

"Dad!" both brothers cried.

A piece of it falls towards Hohenheim. He holds his son's body close to him and prepares to take the brunt of the impact.

Edward and Alphonse simultaneously clap their hands together and then slap their palms to the ground. The floor rises and rolls towards the older alchemist. The transmuted concrete stops several feet above Hohenheim, forming an arched rooftop over his head. The falling debris makes contact, crashing into hundreds of smaller chunks.

The boys run over to their father.

"We need to get out of here! This whole building is collapsing!" Edward exclaims.

Hohenheim takes Envy into his arms and jumps to his feet. The three of them dash towards a way out as rubble rains down on them.

Prologue     Phase 2