Prologue

 "William....."

"You still...remember my name?"

"How could I ever forget the name of my son? It doesn't matter what you choose to call yourself or what you look like. To me, you will always be my son."

Despite those touching words, the green dragon-serpent did not release its hold on the man. Instead, it became enraged.

"How dare you say those things to me! You, who abandoned me all those centuries ago - who left without a word and never looked back! Do you think I'm just going to forget and forgive you? No, Hohenheim of Light! You're going to die and pay for what you did to me!"

Hohenheim was taken aback. "But William...I did come back for you. Didn't your mother tell you?"

Now it was the dragon's turn to be startled, and it was all the confirmation that Hohenheim needed.

"So she didn't after all..."

"What do you mean? Just what are you saying? Tell me!" the great serpent demanded, sinking its fangs deeper into the man.

Hohenheim grimaced in pain, but managed to retain consciousness. "Back then, when you succumbed to mercury poisoning, I used forbidden alchemy with the Philosopher's Stone to bring you back. Only...things didn't go as planned. I didn't know -" He began to sob. "I didn't know that you would be in such terrible agony after coming back from the dead. I failed you once, and, thinking that I had failed you a second time - I was horrified at what I had done...and so, being the coward that I was, I left. I left because I couldn't face what I had done to my own son. I couldn't face you, William. And I couldn't face your mother either. And so...I left..."

Hohenheim falls into despair, his grief overwhelming him.

All the while, the serpent remained silent.

Gradually, the man regained his composure somewhat and continued. "But then I came back. I came back for you, but I was too late. Your mother told me you didn't make it." He pauses slightly. "If only I had come back sooner I could have saved you. And then things would be just like they used to." He draws in a breath. "But I was so stricken with grief back then, I simply walked away from it all. I'm ashamed of myself of having failed you so many times. I don't deserve to be your father."

All was silent, save the sounds of Hohenheim's crying.

Soon the dragon found its voice again, its long body trembling from distress. "You're lying...you're lying! Admit it, why don't you?! You left me because you hated me. You hated what I had become, and you still hate me! That's why you replaced me with Edward!"

"No! I never hated you!" The force of Hohenheim's words startle the beast. "You believe that I favor Edward over you? I left him and Alphonse when they were still toddlers, but towards you, we were together for eighteen years. Eighteen years! If you think I love and spoil Edward and Alphonse, then I have loved and spoiled you even more."

The dragon had no way to refute that logic. The words left him mute. However, it was what the man said next that truly made him question his centuries-old anger and resentment.

"From whom did you think your younger brother got his name from?"

An audible gasp could be heard. There was no masking the look of astonishment in the serpent's red eyes. Suddenly, the sound of running footsteps approached them.

"Dad! Dad!"

Hohenheim recognized the voices long before he knew who they belonged to.

"Edward, and Alphonse too. You both came." He saw that their faces and clothes bore signs of a scuffle. There was also something else he noticed. "Al, you have your body back. That's good."

The young men took note of the condition their father was in, along with the illuminated portal on the ceiling. "Don't worry, Dad. Brother and I are here to save you."

"No! This is what I want."

The brothers are taken aback.

"What are you talking about, Old Man?!"

"I'm a failure as a father. I failed to care for the son I brought back to life, and I walked away from my responsibilities towards you and Al. This is my way of making it up to you all." Hohenheim eyes the portal overhead.

It became clear to Edward and Alphonse that their father intended to use his own blood to open the Gate. "No, Dad! Don't!" Alphonse pleaded.

"I'm sorry. This is how it has to be." Hohenheim turns to face his captor. "If I can be forgiven for my sins through death, I'd gladly die by my son's hand."

"Old Man, don't do it!" Edward screamed.

"Give Pinako and Winry my regards." With those words, Hohenheim began to force the serpent's fangs further into his body.

Touched by his father's deepest regrets and apologies, Envy wrenched his mouth open and released Hohenheim from his suicide attempt. Hohenheim fell from several stories high.

"Dad!" Edward and Alphonse screamed for their father, feeling helpless as they were unable to use alchemy to save him from imminent death. Their attention was suddenly diverted when they heard Dragon Envy wailing in anguish.

Looking up, an expression of surprise crossed the alchemists' faces as they witnessed tears flowing from the corners of the dragon's eyes. Then, through a combination of brute strength, grief, and sheer will power, Envy tore through the lances that were impaling him to the wall. Blood gushed everywhere as he began his rapid descent in Hohenheim's direction.

Dragon Envy was heavier, and hit the ground first, saving Hohenheim from a fatal collision. For a brief moment, there was nothing but darkness, but pretty soon Hohenheim's vision came into focus, gazing up at the ceiling.

The portal pulsed and glowed brightly. An outline began to take shape in the diameter of the circle.

"The Gate!"

As if knowing there were inhabitants that did not belong here, the doors of the almighty Gate swung open to retrieve them. It changed the gravitational field in the vicinity, sucking in those who had prolonged their stay.

Synopsis     Phase 1