Pride looked around. He was standing in a white void. Nothing was there. Nothing except him, Ed and a Gate Of Truth. "So, this is the Truth," Pride said.

"Yep," Ed said. "And this is where it all ends."

"I take it you're here to retrieve your brother," a voice mimicking Ed said. It was a white figure about his height with no facial features except for a wide, grinning mouth. "So, how do you plan to pay to bring an entire human out of here? The homunculus that shares your body?"

"Yes," Pride said, but Ed stopped him.

"No. I told you, you're not doing that." Then he chuckled and pointed behind him. "I've got your payment right here!" The Truth and Pride were shocked as he continued, "This is my Portal Of Truth, right? That means I get to do whatever I want with it, right?"

Pride stopped him. "No! Don't do this, Ed! You'll never perform alchemy ever again without it! I won't perform alchemy ever again! We'll just be an ordinary human!"

Ed blinked. Then nodded. "I know. I know that this Portal contains every bit of knowledge alchemy has to offer. However, it also led me astray. I saw the Truth within it. I was convinced I could solve everything with alchemy, but I couldn't have been more wrong. It was just arrogance. And besides," he said to Pride. "What do you mean, ordinary? That's all I ever was. Just an ordinary human who couldn't save one little girl." Nina...

"Please! Use me," Pride demanded. "Keep your alchemy!"

"What is this? Are you concerned about me for once? Or are you too afraid that you'll truly be nothing if we have no alchemy? Looks like you've painted yourself into a corner." He grinned. "Consider this your punishment, Pride the Arrogant!" Pride gasped.

"You're sure about this?" asked the Truth. "Can you really live without alchemy?"

Ed thought of all the people he's met. All the friends he's made and all the loved ones he's kept. "Who even needs alchemy when I've got people like them?"

"That's right! You did it!" The Truth stretched its arms wide in an excited tone. "You beat me! Go ahead! Take him home!" Ed pressed his hands on the Door and it disintegrated. "The back door is right over there," the Truth said as it vanished. "Goodbye, Edward Elric!"

In the Truth's place was Al, skinny as a skeleton and his hair grown long past his shoulders. He slowly stood up and embraced his brother. "That was crazy, Al."

Al chuckled. "Speak for yourself."

"You idiot!" Pride shouted. "What am I supposed to do now?! I can't use your alchemy anymore! I can't use ANY alchemy anymore! And I can't call myself a homunculus anymore! I've got nothing to be proud of! Where do I go from here now that I have nothing?!"

Both Elrics looked at him in pity before Ed said, "You've got two feet, do you? Then get up, start walking, and move on. I told that to one girl in Lior when she had nothing."

Pride blinked. He watched as the two brothers walked to Al's Gate Of Truth before finally making his decision. He chased after the boys, closing the Gate behind him.

(!)

Al slowly woke up. I felt...cold. Then again, he was naked. The only thing to hide this was the blanket. He then realized, he felt cold. He looked at himself. No armor. Just flesh and blood. He was human again. He was back home. "So warm," he said. He looked around, taking a good long look at all the smiling faces. Suddenly, he felt someone hug him. Mei Chang gripped him tightly, sobbing. "Oh, Alphonse!"

Al chuckled. "Sorry, Mei. I must have really scared you."

"Alphonse," Pride's voice said through Ed's mouth. Al glared at him. "There's something I want to do now that you're back. Take me to Mrs. Bradley. I want to say one last goodbye."

"Why goodbye?" asked Al.

"I cannot go back to being Selim Bradley anymore. So, I want to say my goodbyes to her before we part ways."

"And where will you go?" asked Mustang.

"I don't know," Pride admitted. "I don't know what to do or where to go."

Ed regained control. "Then come with us. We'll find a way to make this work for you. Or you could just stay there and watch. Maybe you could learn something from just watching."

Pride considered it, then nodded. "Okay."

(!)

Mrs. Bradley was in a shock when Edward Elric came to her home and spoke in her adopted son's voice. "Selim?" She shuddered.

"No, mom. Not anymore."

She had to sit down, afraid she might faint. "How could you...?"

"Surely you must have known who I really was all this time. Or did a part of you think I would be your loving son forever?" Mrs. Bradley shuddered. "I'm sorry, mom." Pride sighed. "This is the price for my arrogance. Trapped in an ordinary human with no alchemy and stripped of my pride as a homunculus. So much for growing up to be an alchemist, huh, mom?"

Mrs. Bradley took Pride's hands. "I've always known. And I always was afraid of who you were. Of who your father was. But I still loved you. And I still do. Perhaps, in my own arrogance, I did want you to be my son, even though you weren't human. But now, I can see this as a learning experience for you. Maybe, you can learn how to be a human through Edward's eyes. You will take care of him, will you, Ed?"

Ed regained control. "Of course, I will. It is my container after all."

Mrs. Bradley smiled. Then she realized something strange. Pride was crying. "I'm sorry," he said, hugging her. "For scaring you. I'm really sorry!" As he sobbed, Mrs. Bradley patted his back. "See?" she said as she too began to cry. "You've just learned how to feel remorse."