The alchemist who interested the truth
All around nothing but endless white stretching as far as the eye could see, with a single man disturbed in the middle of it all desperately looking for something to focus on.
A chuckle echoes before Roy realized someone was behind him, finding a figure worthy of the place he was in and perhaps it was the adrenaline of the moment, the injuries or the sheer shock of what happened a minute before, but the words caught in his throat as he saw the creature in front of a large door.
“Welcome alchemist” were the first words uttered by the white creature surrounded by darkness, echoing in mockery and some surprise from what he realized.
“Who are you...what are you?” Roy's mind raced trying to get a grip on the situation, his sharp gaze was accompanied by a scowl that didn't seem to faze the being.
The smile of truth widened in an unnatural way, seeming to wait for that question “maybe I am the world, maybe the universe, maybe I am god, I am everything and I am one, I am also you, I am that which they call, the truth” he said like a mantra.
Receiving a wary look from him, who could remember one of fullmetal's explanations of human transmutation, but with no time to contemplate that fact before the truth would continue.
“Although this is the first time I've received such a peculiar guest.”
“What do you mean?” He said changing his posture instinctively to something more defensive, covering his chest with his arm and fingers ready to snap, consciously ignoring the fact that his alchemy is not guaranteed to work in the situation he finds himself in.
This remains uncaring to the truth, which if it had eyes might be looking at him as a creature of interest.
“A human being forced into human transmutation, with the knowledge to do it but refused the realization of it, is... refreshing” Truth commented with what sounded like surprise and... admiration? In his voice, Roy had to force himself not to shake his head and refocus on the situation.
He is left not knowing how to take that information, keeping silent as he futilely tries to read the creature, almost cursing the habit that ends up leaving him more confused than he should be.
“Yes... It could be” whispered the truth approaching him.
Roy without thinking took a step back squinting his eyes, by his own understanding truth was never very talkative with the Elric brothers, but that could be his own perception, or at least he hoped so, for the alternative left him with no flattering explanations of what this change in attitude may mean.
“What are you talking about?” was what he said as the truth surrounded him watching him from the side in a contemplative manner, after circling him in silence, shaking him in a way he couldn't remember since... It may have been a few minutes, it hasn't been his best days, but this was certainly different than seeing the führer nailing him to the floor or finding out your government wants to kill the entire country, this looked in a more uncertain way with his intentions.
He looks at what looks like a nod of part of the truth, can he express himself as a human? Roy shakes his head finally surrendering to understanding.
After what seemed like an eternity to him that non-human voice sounded again in space “what would you think of an equivalent exchange?”.
“...What?” was all that came from his lips opening his eyes facing the creature behind him.
“An alchemist who is not stupid enough to perform human transmutation but with all the ability to do so, sounds like something really useful...it would be a shame to waste this opportunity and unlike the Elric children, this is the only time you will come to me.”
He doesn't know how to take that, holding his silence for a moment to analyze her words “You knew I would come” he stated in a mixture of disbelief and annoyance that seems to be ignored by the truth.
“Yes... it would be a shame then I'll give you two choices” That surprises him, looking both puzzled and distrustful, looking at truth unperturbed with that smile on his face in anticipation of an answer to continue.
“Why would you do that?”
“I already answered that alchemist” Was what it said widening his smile with what sounded like amusement in his voice ”you can listen to it or you can go back to the situation you came from with the respective price.”
With a glance Roy looked at the door behind him and at the being in front of him, before erging with a firm reply “what are these options?”.
A chuckle echoes down to his bones before receiving the reply “very well Mr. Alchemist how about doing a couple of tasks for me in exchange for a commensurate reward?”.
Roy is taken by surprise with that proposal, recomposing himself with more distrust for such an exchange, truth be told, an omniscient and omnipotent being giving him a task sounds like nothing more than a coming problem.
“Don't look at me like that mister alchemist, I'm not done yet” he comments truth sitting down on the floor using his leg to support his arm in a relaxed pose ‘how about you take care of a nuisance in exchange for your human transmutation toll and I give you another task for something you really want?’.
Though his eyes doubt Mustang can't deny the interest he has, cursing his own curiosity he remains silent for the truth to continue, which he does eagerly seeing that the alchemist in front of him didn't immediately refuse.
“There is a world that I have not been able to control properly...” it begins to explain as if it were a small weed problem ”it would be appropriate to take this opportunity to correct that.”
With a narrowed gaze, Roy runs his gaze over Truth in silence until he registers every word “world... you say that as if you meant another.”
That seems to cheer Truth, waving his arms upward as if celebrating “very well, I'm glad you understand, this place has a man who thinks he can outwit me or death by his standard and that's your first task.”
It leaves him surprised and silencing a curse to the ground, letting out a sigh at the absurdity of the situation and forcing himself to answer seriously “And the second task?”.
Turning his gaze he feels a small shiver down his spine and a flip to his stomach at the change of expression to one of annoyance on the part of the truth “Oh, that's more complicated, I need you to close a loophole that is breaking my control in that world” it says seriously.
Silence takes over, causing him to take a tense breath “what does this breach involve what did you call it?”.
“This breach draws energy from my realm, it gives more than it should to the humans of that world and the more they use that energy the less control I have over the world, sooner or later someone will take too much and the world will begin to be consumed by the energy of the rebound.”
He doesn't know if it was the explanation or the coldness with which it was said but Roy felt his stomach churn, he is no kind of hero but he can't just ignore that information “and how should I shut that down?” he asks her uncertainly.
“That's your job” she answers truth clapping her hands and making him jump a little in place ‘you take care of that and in return I'll reward you’.
Finally giving in to truth's mood swings he crosses his arms and decides to finish listening “and what might this reward be?”.
“Maes hughes.”