[video]
[There is nothing but empty white space. Leech-Envy blinks in confusion and looks around at the vast emptiness.]
Where am I? What is this place...?
[Behind Leech-Envy stands a huge stone door with the Systema Sephiroticum carved upon its surface. Before him sits a figure composed of light and shadow, completely featureless, save for a cunning grin. There is another door behind the figure, this one jet black, without any adornment.]
Who the hell are you?
I'm what you would call "the world". Or "the universe." Or "God." Or "Truth." Or "all." Or "one." And... [The mysterious figure raises one finger and points at Leech-Envy.] ...I'm "you." [The figure spreads its arms wide.] Welcome, you arrogant fool!
[Leech-Envy's mouth gapes open.] No way!! You're "God"?! The "perfect entity" that Father is trying to emulate?
Emulate? Not exactly... That arrogant fool tried to swallow me up and make my power his own. But he failed. Not even he was powerful enough to keep me contained for very long... [The cunning grin grows a bit wider.] Don't worry, little homunculus. I've put him in his place. [The Truth thumbs at the door behind him.]
What...? No way!! How could Father possibly fail?! [Leech-Envy clenches his tiny fists.] The plan was perfect! Perfect! Not even those scummy humans could interfere once Father attained the power of God! It's impossible!!
You underestimate human beings. Just like your "Father."
Where is he? What have you done with Father, you bastard!
I told you: I put him in his place. To the one who sought freedom and knowledge by stealing from "God," I have granted an eternity of darkness and isolation. That should suffice as "proper" despair for one who has grown too boastful.
So, what you're saying is that Father is trapped behind those doors...? Fine. Then open up and let me in. If that's where Father and the others are, then that's where I want to go. I belong by Father's side. I'm his dearest, most beloved child, after all!
And what a loyal, devoted child you are! But I'm afraid I can't grant that request.
Then I'll just sit here and wait until you do!
[Leech-Envy then proceeds to sit down on his tiny haunches and cross his arms over his chest; the epitome of a petulant child. The Truth seems to be grinning with something akin to amusement now.]
You can't stay here.
I'm not going back! There's nothing left for me back in that world. I'm not moving from this spot until you take me to where Father is, and that's that!
Envy... The homunculus born of your Father's envy and jealousy toward humans, and the bonds they form with one another-
Shut up! I am not jealous of humans! Why does everyone keep saying that, huh?! They're weak and pathetic! They possess nothing whatsoever that I, Envy-a strong and beautiful homunculus-could possibly desire, understand?!
You think homunculi are so different from human beings, do you? So much better than they are, right?
Of course!
[The Truth slams his fist into an upraised palm, imitating the gesture of one who has just come up with a brilliant idea.]
Then it's settled. I'll take "that" from you. "That" should suffice for the toll.
T-Toll...? You can't do that! I didn't agree to pay any toll! [The huge door behind Leech-Envy begins to groan open. He glances at the yawning portal, then back at the Truth.]
I shall take from you that thing which grants you pride as a homunculus. That should be enough to send you back.
W-Wait just a minute! [Small, ethereal black arms snake out of the portal and reach for Leech-Envy.] I don't want to go back! [Grasping fingers wrap around the tiny homunculus's body.] Stop! Don't do it! Let me go!
So long, Envy... [The Truth raises one hand in farewell at the door.] Soon, you too shall learn of the despair wrought of your pride.
[The black arms pull Leech-Envy toward the door, which is already beginning to close. He squirms against his bonds.] You can't do this to me! You can't send me back like this! Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
[The doors close with a resounding boom, which echoes in the vastness, along with the last of Leech-Envy's screams. The Truth simply sits there, eternally grinning.]
Perhaps, someday, you shall see that this was the outcome you desired...
[The camera fades out.
When it fades in again, the view is of peaceful farmland somewhere in Risembool. The sun is bright and shining, revealing miles of lush pasture filled with sheep. In the background is the blackened remains of a burned structure-a house, perhaps?-and a charred tree, which might have once been an oak.
The tall grass in the foreground rustles a bit, and someone moans softly. The figure sits up groggily, revealing itself to be Envy (in a decidedly less slimy, more human form). He raises one hand to his eyes, shading them from the sun.]
Where am I...? [Envy pulls himself to his feet. It's immediately apparent to anyone watching Envy is completely naked, though Envy doesn't seem to realize just yet...] That grinning bastard! When I get my hands on him, I'll-Eh? [Looking down at himself, Envy realizes that he's not crawling around on all fours (eights?) and that he's no longer green and scaly.] Since when did I...? Hey! Where are my clothes?!
[Envy frantically begins examining his body, his eyes growing wider as he realizes something else is missing... His fingers touch the spot on his left thigh where the Ouroboros tattoo should be.]
It's... It's gone. He took it. Then... that means that I'm...
[Envy stares into his upturned palms, his face twisting into a painful expression of anguish. Burying his fingers into his tangled hair, Envy falls to his knees, and screams wordlessly at the heavens. Once he has emptied his lungs, Envy hunches over and covers his face with both hands. He is making strangled, choking noises, which might be sobs...]
((OOC: Okay, Envy's back, and now he's a human being! Yes, he'll actually respond to this post. For more info on human!Envy, please see this permission meme/info dump here.))
Where am I? What is this place...?
[Behind Leech-Envy stands a huge stone door with the Systema Sephiroticum carved upon its surface. Before him sits a figure composed of light and shadow, completely featureless, save for a cunning grin. There is another door behind the figure, this one jet black, without any adornment.]
Who the hell are you?
I'm what you would call "the world". Or "the universe." Or "God." Or "Truth." Or "all." Or "one." And... [The mysterious figure raises one finger and points at Leech-Envy.] ...I'm "you." [The figure spreads its arms wide.] Welcome, you arrogant fool!
[Leech-Envy's mouth gapes open.] No way!! You're "God"?! The "perfect entity" that Father is trying to emulate?
Emulate? Not exactly... That arrogant fool tried to swallow me up and make my power his own. But he failed. Not even he was powerful enough to keep me contained for very long... [The cunning grin grows a bit wider.] Don't worry, little homunculus. I've put him in his place. [The Truth thumbs at the door behind him.]
What...? No way!! How could Father possibly fail?! [Leech-Envy clenches his tiny fists.] The plan was perfect! Perfect! Not even those scummy humans could interfere once Father attained the power of God! It's impossible!!
You underestimate human beings. Just like your "Father."
Where is he? What have you done with Father, you bastard!
I told you: I put him in his place. To the one who sought freedom and knowledge by stealing from "God," I have granted an eternity of darkness and isolation. That should suffice as "proper" despair for one who has grown too boastful.
So, what you're saying is that Father is trapped behind those doors...? Fine. Then open up and let me in. If that's where Father and the others are, then that's where I want to go. I belong by Father's side. I'm his dearest, most beloved child, after all!
And what a loyal, devoted child you are! But I'm afraid I can't grant that request.
Then I'll just sit here and wait until you do!
[Leech-Envy then proceeds to sit down on his tiny haunches and cross his arms over his chest; the epitome of a petulant child. The Truth seems to be grinning with something akin to amusement now.]
You can't stay here.
I'm not going back! There's nothing left for me back in that world. I'm not moving from this spot until you take me to where Father is, and that's that!
Envy... The homunculus born of your Father's envy and jealousy toward humans, and the bonds they form with one another-
Shut up! I am not jealous of humans! Why does everyone keep saying that, huh?! They're weak and pathetic! They possess nothing whatsoever that I, Envy-a strong and beautiful homunculus-could possibly desire, understand?!
You think homunculi are so different from human beings, do you? So much better than they are, right?
Of course!
[The Truth slams his fist into an upraised palm, imitating the gesture of one who has just come up with a brilliant idea.]
Then it's settled. I'll take "that" from you. "That" should suffice for the toll.
T-Toll...? You can't do that! I didn't agree to pay any toll! [The huge door behind Leech-Envy begins to groan open. He glances at the yawning portal, then back at the Truth.]
I shall take from you that thing which grants you pride as a homunculus. That should be enough to send you back.
W-Wait just a minute! [Small, ethereal black arms snake out of the portal and reach for Leech-Envy.] I don't want to go back! [Grasping fingers wrap around the tiny homunculus's body.] Stop! Don't do it! Let me go!
So long, Envy... [The Truth raises one hand in farewell at the door.] Soon, you too shall learn of the despair wrought of your pride.
[The black arms pull Leech-Envy toward the door, which is already beginning to close. He squirms against his bonds.] You can't do this to me! You can't send me back like this! Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
[The doors close with a resounding boom, which echoes in the vastness, along with the last of Leech-Envy's screams. The Truth simply sits there, eternally grinning.]
Perhaps, someday, you shall see that this was the outcome you desired...
[The camera fades out.
When it fades in again, the view is of peaceful farmland somewhere in Risembool. The sun is bright and shining, revealing miles of lush pasture filled with sheep. In the background is the blackened remains of a burned structure-a house, perhaps?-and a charred tree, which might have once been an oak.
The tall grass in the foreground rustles a bit, and someone moans softly. The figure sits up groggily, revealing itself to be Envy (in a decidedly less slimy, more human form). He raises one hand to his eyes, shading them from the sun.]
Where am I...? [Envy pulls himself to his feet. It's immediately apparent to anyone watching Envy is completely naked, though Envy doesn't seem to realize just yet...] That grinning bastard! When I get my hands on him, I'll-Eh? [Looking down at himself, Envy realizes that he's not crawling around on all fours (eights?) and that he's no longer green and scaly.] Since when did I...? Hey! Where are my clothes?!
[Envy frantically begins examining his body, his eyes growing wider as he realizes something else is missing... His fingers touch the spot on his left thigh where the Ouroboros tattoo should be.]
It's... It's gone. He took it. Then... that means that I'm...
[Envy stares into his upturned palms, his face twisting into a painful expression of anguish. Burying his fingers into his tangled hair, Envy falls to his knees, and screams wordlessly at the heavens. Once he has emptied his lungs, Envy hunches over and covers his face with both hands. He is making strangled, choking noises, which might be sobs...]
((OOC: Okay, Envy's back, and now he's a human being! Yes, he'll actually respond to this post. For more info on human!Envy, please see this permission meme/info dump here.))