Chapter Text
The first time Wrath had seen Ednazar Elric, he immediately thought that Mother had lost her mind. Because that Xerxesian child had to come from Mother herself. No amestrian had enough Xerxesian blood to give birth to a child so golden and that looked so much like Mother. Mother must have completely lost her mind, creating a homunculus so strange that no trace of the philosopher stone could be sensed in it. A child Homunculus, about twelve years of age, with a grin that looked just like Mother's. Who was she? He had discovered that all their names were inspired by the deadly sins, and almost all the sins names had been used already. Was she Pride? Or Lust? Had Mother chosen to give her new child to the military? Why? Did she think he wasn't enough? Maybe that he was becoming too old? Did Mother create a Homunculus stronger than him? More wrathful than him? He hadn't expected the alchemy. He hadn't expected her truly and crystalline intention at his position; to be warned so playfully with a spear aiming at his face. He didn't feel good, watching at her bright golden eyes shining with Pride and playfulness. He stopped her spear with his sword, while the soldiers were aiming at her with their guns.[ while his sword had stopped her slow spear, with the soldiers aiming at her with guns]. She didn't even consider them, as if they were only lowly humans. In that moment he realized that Mother had given birth to Pride, with an imperceptible Stone. He had a new little sister, which possessed the powers of alchemy, a new little sister that, perhaps, was aiming at him, at his position. Mother had definitely lost her mind, in that stupid desert she obstinately called her home. Maybe he should order Envy or Sloth to pay a visit to Mother and check if her mind was really that gone. Wrath still remembered about how she kept looking in his eyes, completely ignoring the soldiers surrounding the two, of them. He didn't want to be hated by his new sister. He didn't want to give her more reasons to kill him when Mother inevitably will end up finding him inadequate. And definitely he didn't even want to warn the humans about them, the Homunculus. So, at that time, he joked about it. He joked about it, promoting his new sister as State Alchemist and running away, because he knew that even if she faked being that slow; he did not possess the powers of alchemy, unlike her. Not even talking about the Homunculus Powers, which he didn't think were related to her alchemy. Greed's Power had always been useful; Envy's Power was very tricky; Gluttony's Power was... strange. And Sloth's Power was handy, even when in the hands of a brother so lazy. But his new sister was too much of a mystery to him. Not to mention that when he ordered to search informations about her, he found out that she had a family. A place where she was born, and people who knew her, and neighbors and friends. Why did Mother take all this effort in making her? Modifying minds and memories wasn't exactly difficult, he thought; but why? Not to mention his brother, stuck inside an armour. Maybe Mother had given her a newborn, like the previous Wrath had done with him. A human that became a homunculus, with memories and a family of their earlier persona. Probably Mother didn't even think to give her birth as a Homunculus; but to save the last human Xerxesian, the injuries on her body now shown off proudly with the use of her automails. So, he gave his sister a fresh proudful name. Fullmetal. He heard stories about her and how she clashed with Colonel Mustang. He heard of a coal's mine in Youswell. He heard it all. And Envy and Gluttony had told him that in the Fifth Lab their sister didn't stopped her bleeding, that she almost created a Stone with alchemy but didn't complete it. Wrath couldn't understand her. Couldn't understand if she was really like them or not. She seemed human, more human than him; but all that Pride couldn't be a coincidence. And with a mission to aim at his head, now with the help of Colonel Mustang; he wouldn't try to approach her only to talk. It was better to treat her like his sister and never try to open the talk of if she was human or not. It could enrage her even more, to be compared to a low human; or blow his cover as human and consequentially all that of his brothers. But one day, while walking around East City HQ to meet General Grumann, he heard her talk. Talk their Mother's language. Talk Xerxesian with her brother in Mustang's Office, while the others just ignored them as if she wasn't talking like Mother. With the same tone, the same accents, the same glare; because the young soul in the armour didn't seem to remember those words that she had already teached him. Four centuries ago, the Xerxesian Empire collapsed and died. No Wrath had ever heard that language spoken by another person that wasn't Mother or his brothers. Not so fluently. And when he asked her what language she was talking; the glare she gave him was enough to make him understand. Enough that he almost didn't needed her irritated growl with "Mother" between teeth. He had a new sister. Maybe she was previously human like him; maybe her previous persona was still inside her to let her behave like a human; maybe the imperceptibility of her Stone was a test Mother tried or a collateral effect; but this was enough. All humans call their parents "Mom" or "Dad". His adopted human child, called him "Dad" and his human wife "Mom". And he had heard her talk about a "Dad". But that "Mother" was intentional. Intentional and with a growl as to advice him to not talk about it. To not talk about Mother in front of humans. He still remember the Team Mustang's face at her behaviour. But Wrath wouldn't want to complicate the situation with her. His sister after all was Pride. And he was Wrath. It was only logical that his sister would behave like that with him. They were family, while they were only humans. Pride and Wrath sometimes clash, isn't it? Both of them prideful and wrathful, unable to step back. His new sister was more powerful then him. But maybe he could gain her neutrality. Especially, when Mustang was so worried to ask for forgive her, because her relationship with her Mother was "complicated". He knew it was. He knew that more then ten Wrath didn't ever seen her in all their entire life. He always managed to control her leave request and permissions to travel, her missions and reports. But what he never ever thinked to read, while sitted at his desk, was a request to study Xerxesian's Alchemy at Xerxes. To study the Ruins to find some useful array. Some array. Everyone of them, knew about the alchemical array sealing Mother's house. They all knew, that only Mother could open her house because they can't use alchemy and that no human could open it. But his sister was different. She could use alchemy, and was good at it almost as Mother. Mother didn't needed to clap her hands; but every human he had seen, needed an array drawn, tattooed or at least stylized. She doesn't. Pride was going to pay a visit to Mother. And by the way all this was hidden by a stupid request to "search for a healing array" for her brother; this seemed that she didn't want him to knew that she was going to take their Mother out of her house. Because Mother always said that she wouldn't exit from Xerxes until her love would come back. But her love was dead, right? The few times she talked about her love, she always talked about her while Xerxes was still alive. And it was four centuries ago. Wrath understood why Pride hid it from him. But his sister should knew that they were eager to see Mother. Pride could open her seal, fight her and even take her out to a real walk. That's why, Wrath was looking attentively in the eyes of Colonel Mustang. The man just entered and that now was watching him trying to understand the why of his convocation. He knew Colonel Mustang was aiming at his position. He knew that Pride in his squad wasn't a coincidence. << Sit down, Colonel Mustang >> he talked, pushing the request slowly toward him << I've called you only for a chat >>. The man masked his face, nodding but watching the closed folder << Yes, Fuhrer. Ask all you need to know >>. Wrath opened the folden, watching his dark eyes dart down to read and understand if it was a file about his betrayal or not. << Fullmetal asked to travel to Xerxes, to study Xerxesian's Alchemy >>. Mustang's mask almost cracked by his confusion << Yes, Fuhrer >>. << Can I ask you, if you know why? >>. The Colonel glanced up at him << Yes, Fuhrer. Fullmetal want to study Xerxesian's Alchemy, to heal her brother >>. He raised a brow to him << That's all? >>. << Yes. Fullmetal want to heal Alphonse, and hope to find some arrays or.. Or new inspiration >>. Wrath watched his eyes, his emotions still masked. But he wasn't lying or hiding something. Something about Mother. He didn't knew, then? Poor Colonel, caught in the middle of Wrath and Pride. He could even found his sister amusing; if she didn't aimed at his head. << There's a problem with it? >> the Colonel asked, after some moments of silence. Wrath smiled at him, soft and knowing << She didn't talked about her Mother? >>. At this, the man's mask cracked and he shifted on his seat, frowning. But the second later he recomposed himself and looked up at him << Fullmetal's mother... She told us, she left them alone. It's relevant to the request? >>. Wrath closed his eyes, smiling. Mother left all of them. But Pride was the only able to open her seal and drag her out and maybe to them. They all wanted to see Mother again. It was seventeen lifes ago, that Wrath had last seen her. << I wanted to ask if it was related to her Mother. Nothing more >>. The man frowned sightly, but accepted his uncomprensible words. Because he was human, and couldn't understand this. << I've a mission for you, Colonel Mustang >>. He looked at him prudently, before nodding << Yes, Fuhrer >>. << I want you and your Team to accompany Fullmetal in her search >>. He blinked, surprised. << I think she will need help. Even if a State Alchemist, she is still a girl. Some nomads or slave traders could try something >>. Pride would probably need help to drag Mother outside her stupid house. What was more successful, then let Mother see her daughter with a human man at her door? << Fullmetal is able to fight and defend herself, Fuhrer >>. Wrath frowned deeply. His sister shouldn't relate to such humans that after something like that; don't volunteers to protect her. He glared at him, and watched the young Colonel back away his head and straighten his back. No humans deserved his sister's alliance and assistance. No humans like those. Pride was so special between them Homunculus, that all those stupid humans didn't even realize that. Because she seemed human like them. << I- I accept the mission, Fuhrer >> he gave in. Wrath nodded << Good. Tell Fullmetal, that I hope she find what she search >>. Mustang frowned at him, clearly quizzed by the easy implied reference; but still confused. He understood he was talking about something only Wrath and Pride could know; and he didn't. << You're dismissed >> he smiled.