So, I know I haven't updated for months. Sad to say but I'm actually out of this fandom, I have been for a while. It's just, before that I had a writing spree and I wrote chapters. So since people seem to be genuinely interested in this still, I thought I'd just post those chapters. I'm leaving this site soon anyway 'cause I'm losing confidence and I have to focus on my studies. No idea when I'd be back, but I have plans for my fics in the Digimon fandom before I do. If you're curious as to this change, you can check out my Author's Note in the latest chapter of my fic, Desire. You don't have to read the fic if you don't want to (it's rated M), the Author's Note is written above. Thanks to the people who have supported this story, and I'm sorry for being so inconstant. But most of all, thank you for appreciating my writing.

On with the story.

"Stories help people to understand the world."

"So, you're a prince."

Ling nodded from where he sat cross legged under the tree. "That's right."

"You're a prince."

"Yup."

"So that means you're the song of a king?"

"Emperor, actually."

"But how can that be?!" Russell exclaimed, pointing a shaking finger at Ling, who blinked. "You don't look like a prince at all!"

Ling pouted. "Is it really so hard to believe I'm a prince?" He said sadly.

"Yeah." Ed replied mercilessly. "You idiot prince."

Ling's expression turned even more downcast ad he mumbled, "You're not a very nice friend, Ed."

"Since when was I your friend?" Ed asked disbelievingly.

"…You're not my friend?"

"No!"

"Why not?" Ling asked curiously.

Ed opened his mouth, then closed it, scoffing and deciding not to deign the prince with a reply.

"So let me get this straight," Russell said, looking between the prince and the alchemist. "Ling's a prince from another world, and Ed's an alchemist?"

"Yeah." Ed nodded.

"…What's an alchemist- OW!"

"You idiot!" Winry yelled at him as she held her wrench over Russell's bruised head. "Weren't you listening at all?"

"I was! I just forgot!" Russell retorted. "You didn't have to hit me!"

"Chill guys," Alfonse said leisurely, a smile on his face. "Basically, Russell, an alchemist is someone like Ed, who can perform alchemy."

"What's alchemy?" Russell said as he sat up, rubbing his head delicately.

"Transmuting matter from one state to another," Ed provided as he looked at Russell with his golden eyes. "You draw a transmutation circle and rearrange the particles of matter to give it another form."

"So Mr Mustang was doing alchemy?" Russell questioned, grimacing slightly. "But how did he create fire?"

Ed snorted. "The bastard just rearranged the particles in the air, mixing hydrogen and oxygen atoms to make them combustible." He said. "The transmutation circles are on his gloves. Back in our world, he's called the Flame Alchemist."

"That's so cool," Russell said. He smirked at Ed, slate blue eyes glinting. "What about you, Ed?"

"I'm the Full Metal Alchemist." Ed replied as he leaned back.

"Fullmetal?"

"It's a long story." The alchemist said, raising his gaze.

"Hey Ed, can you show us your alchemy?" Winry asked excitedly.

"Nah," Edward shook his head. He lowered his gaze to her, his long blond ponytail flying in the breeze. "I can't do alchemy in this world."

"But you did it just now." Winry pointed out, blinking.

Ed glanced at the silent Envy, then said, "I had a medium."

"Hmmm." Alfonse said. He raised his gaze to the black haired boy beside Ed. "How did you heal Winry, Ling? That wasn't alchemy, was it?"

"Nope, it's called Alkahestry," Ling smiled. "It's a technique in Xing which makes use of the Dragon Pulse."

"Dragon Pulse?"

"Yep. The Dragon Pulse is based on our theory that the earth itself has a constant flow of chi," Ling explained, "This energy nourishes everything, as does the blood coursing through the veins. Alkahestrists transmit that chi through the pathways of the human body to heal the person. "

"How do you do alkahestry?" Alfonse asked.

"You have to learn it, of course."

"Can you teach me?"

Ling blinked. Then he smiled sheepishly. "Afraid not. I've never been really good at alkahestry until I found that shortcut," he said. His lips curled. "And well, that shortcut method to learning alkahestry isn't easy to attain. Sorry Al."

"It's fine, isn't it?" Russell smirked, placing his hands behind his head. "I mean, we already have a healer in our party."

"Party? What is this, an RPG game?" Envy finally spoke, with a snort.

"We're high school students, Russell." Al reminded him, smiling.

"Ahaha. I'm more of a swordsman, actually." Ling said cheerfully.

"Swordsman? That's so cool!" Winry leaned forward eagerly, blue eyes shining, "I've always liked swordsmen!"

"She's talking about anime." Al informed Ling in bemusement.

"Ah." Ling said.

"So you're a prince and a swordsman!" Winry continued excitedly. "How did you become a swordsman?"

Ling looked bemused. "By fighting and training since young. Since the Emperor has 43 children, I have many political contenders for the throne." He shrugged. "I had to learn how to defend myself from assassination attempts."

"That's scary." Russell said.

"I didn't know being a prince was such hard work!" Winry exclaimed in surprise. "Or a princess."

"Well, you get used to it." Ling replied. He smiled. "But enough about me. Ed, don't you want to tell them something?"

"Not really." Ed replied. He seemed distracted, but his golden eyes cleared when he turned to them, "Just, don't tell anyone else about us."

"Eh? Well obviously we won't!" Winry said, her tone slightly offended. She crossed her arms, "I didn't want to go to the hospital for a reason, you know!"

Ed blinked, then smiled at her. "I know. Thanks."

"No problem, Ed!" Winry replied. She was sitting beside him, and she patted his arm, "You should trust your friends more!"

"Yeah, Winry."

Alfonse smiled as Winry removed her hand from Ed's arm. "So, to sum up," he began, running his gaze across Russell, Winry, Ed, Ling and Envy, "Ling is a prince from Xing, which is like the equivalent of China in our world and Ed is an alchemist from Amestris who works for the state. "And you are both searching for a way to return to your world."

"Yup." Ling said. "I'm going to become the Emperor."

"Emperor?" Winry, Russell and Alfonse said in different tones.

"Yeah. The Emperor's in low health so all the princes and princesses are competing for the throne," Ling said as he looked up at the sky, "I ventured out of Xing to gain immortality. And now that I have, I'll return and offer it up to the Emperor to gain his favor."

"So you're immortal?" Alfonse's eyebrows furrowed. "How did you become immortal?"

"Uh…" Ling said. He looked to Edward, "Should we tell them?"

Ed snorted, "It's your secret isn't it," he said. "Not mine."

"If they know about Greed's existence," Ling lowered his voice, giving Ed a grim smile, "They will have to know about what he is." He glanced at Envy for good measure.

Edward blinked. He hesitated. "I don't know." He said honestly, voice low. His gaze flickered to Envy, before he turned back to Ling with serious golden eyes. "But maybe…it's time we told him the truth."

"It's alright if you don't want to tell, Ling," Alfonse said reassuringly, a calm smile on his face, "It's your secret after all."

"Hmmm." Ling said. He met Ed's eyes, then turned back to Winry, Envy, Russell and Alfonse, smiling sheepishly. "Well…he is a part of me. I guess you'll find out sooner or later."

"He?"

"This body has two existences," Ling said, pointing towards himself. "The first one is me, and the second is an immortal being, who I gained my immortality from." His lips curved into a wry smile. "And he wants to come out."

"Let him come out then." Alfonse smiled at Ling, and everyone looked at him in surprise in varying degrees. He grinned slightly. "I'd like to meet him."

The pony tailed boy smirked as he opened his eyes. "What an interesting human," he said, indigo eyes regarding Alfonse in amusement. "What's your name, kid?"

"Alfonse." Alfonse replied mildly. "Or Al, as my friends call me."

Greed blinked, then scoffed. "Heh. Friend? Sorry to disappoint kid, but I'm not your friend," he raised an eyebrow, smirking, "But nice to meet you." He held out a hand lazily.

Alfonse didn't hesitate in taking Greed's hand. "The same to you." He smiled at the immortal being. "May I know your name?"

"Huh. So polite," Greed was looking at him in amusement. He and Alfonse shook hands briefly, before he withdrew, jabbing a thumb at himself with a proud smirk on his face. "The name's Greed, kid." He allowed carbon to form over his hand. "Or you can call me the Ultimate Shield."

"I'll call you Greed." Alfonse said simply. He didn't seem surprised, an almost funny contrast to Winry's and Russell's gaping mouths.

"What the hell is that!?" Russell thrust an accusing finger at Greed, who raised an eyebrow at him. "Y-Your hand…"

"It's black!" Winry added, her voice a piercing yell in shock.

Greed winced, rubbing his ear. "Ow. Not so loud, woman," he said. "The prince is noisy enough. I don't need another noisy brat."

"Who are you calling a brat?!" Winry yelled, blue eyes narrowed in anger.

"Chill, lady."

"Greed's hand is black 'cause he has the ability to shift into carbon," Ed said before Winry could do something crazy like hit Greed with her wrench. "He can rearrange the carbon particles in his body."

"That's right." Greed smirked. "Which is why I'm called the Ultimate Shield."

"Calm down, Winry." Alfonse laid a hand on Winry's arm. He turned his gaze to Ed. "Is there anything else?"

"What are you?" Russell asked soon after, as he eyed Greed's hand with apprehensive slate blue eyes. "How can you do that?"

"'Cause I'm a homunculus," Greed smirked, "We're immortal and we can do things you humans can't."

"What's a homunculus?"

"An artificial human created by-"

"Greed," Ed cut in, his golden eyes narrowed as he glared at Greed. "That's enough."

Greed followed his gaze, then smirked. "Ah." He said. "You're too late, Fullmetal. He already knows." He drawled. "He's a homunculus- his mind works faster than a human's."

The homunculus got up and made his way to the purple haired sin, who didn't even look at him. "Hey Envy," Greed drew out, a mocking smile on his lips as he cupped Envy's cheek with his carbon hand, "What you thinkin' about, babe?"

Envy shot a lethal glare at him which would have taken Greed aback had he not expected that reaction. He shoved Greed's hand roughly away, stood up, and stalked away heavily.

"En!" Winry called but he didn't heed her.

"Let him go, Winry," Alfonse said. "He probably needs some time alone." He bit his lip. "He just found out what he is, after all."

"What do you mean?" Winry asked, confused.

"You're sharp, kid," Greed said in amusement. He stood up, looking down at Al with a smirk on his face. "That's right. Envy's a homunculus. An artificial human created by alchemy."

"The Seven Deadly Sins." Al said. His sea green eyes were narrowed as he looked at Greed. "Where are Lust, Pride, Sloth, Gluttony and Wrath?"

"Dead." It was Ed who answered. "All the homunculi are dead except for Envy, and now…Greed."

"He killed me," Greed said casually as he gestured to Ed. He looked amused. "With alchemy. The prince brought me back."

"We were enemies." Ed said tersely as he glowered at Greed. "And he kidnapped my brother."

"Heh. You still sore about that? I did let him go," Greed pointed out, smirking. "It's not like I killed him or anything."

"So that is why Envy was your enemy." Al said contemplatively.

"I think I've heard enough for today." Russell said as he stared at Ed and Greed. He grimaced. "I need time to compute….all this information."

Winry nodded. She stood up. "I'm worried about En though," she said, as she shifted her gaze to the space Envy had once occupied under the tree. "Will he be alright?"

"No, he's gonna die from the knowledge that he's a homunculus," Greed said. Winry looked at him and he snorted, "Of course he'll be fine. Who do you think he is?"

"A teenager with amnesia," Winry said, looking up at Greed unflinchingly. "I don't care if he's a homunculus or an artificial human or whatever. He's my friend and right now, he isn't in the best state of mind."

Greed looked almost surprised as Winry turned away from him and Al rose to his feet, "Come on, Winry, Russell, let's go. I don't think Envy wants us to follow him."

"We've gotta talk too." Russell agreed, standing up as well.

Winry nodded reluctantly, and the two friends walked away as Al said to Ed and Greed, "What are you two going to do?"

"I'm going back to get my bag I guess," Edward said. "I left it at the sports hall."

"School's still on, but I don't think Miss Harper expects us to attend classes," Alfonse replied. "She's probably already informed our teachers."

Ed couldn't help a smirk, "You're skipping class, Al?"

"Kind of, I mean Winry and Russell need time to digest these news," Al winked one sea green eye. "So I'll skip class with them."

"You're not surprised at all?" Ed asked curiously. "Even though I told you about my world…you didn't know about Ling or Greed."

Al just shrugged, "I find it interesting," he said with a mild smile. "And well, I'm just glad you finally told us, instead of keeping us in the dark."

Ed looked guilty. "Sorry Al."

"It's alright Ed, I understand. Just remember we're your friends," Alfonse said forgivingly. He looked into the distance. "I hope Envy remembers as well."

"He will." Ed said reassuringly and Al smiled. He turned, waved and departed.

"That kid," Greed said and Ed looked at him. "He's your brother, isn't he? This world's version."

"Yeah." Ed replied shortly.

"Hmmm." Greed said. "Your brother wasn't a bad kid."

Edward blinked at him in surprise, but it was Ling who looked back at him. "Well come on Ed, let's go back together!" The prince smiled.

Ed twitched and started forward as Ling said, "They took it pretty well."

"Yeah." Ed agreed. He glanced to the side. "Especially Alfonse." He bit his lip.

"Envy didn't though." Ling said. He caught sight of Ed's expression. "Are you worried for him?"

"Aren't you?" Ed retorted as they made their way back to the school.

"I still owe him an explanation." Ling replied simply.

Ed snorted, and increased his pace.

"Just remember we have to meet that bastard after school."

Ling looked at him, lips quirking as he followed the alchemist.

"I haven't forgotten."