Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Set in Stone ❯ Fairytales Beyond The Gate ( Chapter 13 )

Chapter Thirteen

Fairytales Beyond the Gate

 

`...when we finally know we are dying, and all other sentient beings are dying with us, we start to have a burning, almost heartbreaking sense of the fragility and preciousness of each moment and each being, and from this can grow a deep, clear, limitless compassion for all beings.'

Sogyal Rinpoche

 

Ed opened his eyes groggily, slowly taking in his surroundings. He sat up, and raised a hand to his heavy head, waiting for the feeling of dizziness to pass. He looked around, lying next to him, still unconscious, were the figures of Noa and Alphons. However, even as he glanced at them briefly, Alphons began to stir, and Ed stood up.

 

He stood in the middle of a gigantic circle, in a huge hall that he recognised. “Dammit, not here again,” he muttered. “Should've blown the place up.” He studied the runes and curved lines beneath his feet, and found the design to be the same as the one he completed all those years ago, accidentally sparking the Thule society's interests. He could hear the faint noise of Alphons trying to wake up Noa, but his interest was elsewhere as a woman he recognised came into view.

 

“Hello,” she said in a deceivingly welcoming tone. “It's good to see you again. You may wonder why you're here; no doubt you heard the news.” She walked to the edge of the circle, a smile on her face.

 

“About Hitler?” Alphons asked viciously, helping Noa to her feet, “yeah we heard,” She smiled as though he wasn't speaking to her with anger and resentment.

 

“The Fürher will make this country a better place.” She said, “He will help all of us, to become better citizens.” Noa grasped Alphons's arm delicately.

 

“If you think we're going to help you with your twisted idea of a better future Eckhart, you're more insane than I thought.” Despite Alphons's negative words, her smile widened. And she continued to circle them, her soft footsteps echoing in the large cavern. She stopped when she reached one of the points of the large painted star.

 

“My requests are reasonable.” She said at last, the welcoming tone somewhat more subdued, and her body language much more demanding. “You can give me something in exchange for something you may desire.” She looked up at them, an evil glint in her eye. “If you care about what happens to that girl there, you might think it wise, to consider my proposal.” Alphons moved in front of Noa protectively, even as she tried to step out before him bravely.

 

“Don't you even-” Alphonse began angrily.

 

“And what would your demands be?” Edward asked over Alphons's angry outburst. Alphons snapped his head toward Ed.

 

“What?” He hissed quietly. “Don't you even think-”

 

“I want weapons from Shamballa.” Eckhart said simply, her shoulder's rising smoothly before drooping back down in a shrug and she turned her eyes toward Ed. “That's not too difficult, is it? Not for someone of your…status.” she said, almost mockingly.

 

“And what would I get in return?” Ed asked calmly, not betraying the utter outrage he felt brewing inside of him. “Equivalent Exchange, after all.”

 

“You,” she answered, “could be able to return to your home, is that not what you desire?” She said silkily. “To return home, to see your brother, to see Winry?” Ed's eyes narrowed.

 

“Where would you get the idea,” he replied, his tone harsh, “that I had a brother?” He took a step forward. “Or that I knew a person named Winry? Where would you get the idea, that I possessed any status that would allow me to gain weaponry?”

 

Her face remained plastered with that infuriating smile; making her look like a demented child. Her eyes snapped open and the smile changed to a smirk. “Major Edward Elric,” Ed snarled. “I understand that it may require time to regain the Military's trust, let alone be able to receive any kind of weaponry. However, someone with your reputation-”

 

“Where the hell do you get off telling me what I have? You've got no idea!” He interrupted loudly, a dangerous rage on his face. However, she was far from intimidated.

 

“But it's true, is it not?” She asked calmly, and Ed gritted his teeth. She nodded in acknowledgement of the lack of response. “Whether you decide that you like what's happening or not, Edward Elric,” she said in a cold cruel voice, “I'm afraid, that you don't have much of a choice in whether you are a part of it. We can do this the easy way, or you can make it hard for your friends, and those that may be closer to your heart.”

 

At that moment, the large double doors to the side of the room burst open, and a man was brought before them, being led by three other beefy looking men. “Dad!” Ed called out. It was then that he heard the deep growl of anger from above his head, and the first time since waking up, that he looked to the ceiling of the room.

“Woah…” Alphons exclaimed, looking up the same time that Ed did. “It's a fucking dragon.” Noa screamed as the thing looked down at them and lunged forward, stopping mere inches from their heads. Alphons also backed up quickly, while Ed nimbly leapt back a few steps.

 

“So that's how you knew…where did you find it?” Ed asked, not addressing the thing. It snarled and snapped its jaws at Ed, unable to move any further due to the restraints holding it in its place.

“We had a reported sighting over the skies in London and were able to track him down,” Eckhart replied, looking at the dragon with a glimmer of respect in her eyes.

“Him?” Alphons asked incredulously, moving forward cautiously, despite Noa's hesitant approach. “How the hell do you know if it's a him?”

Eckhart laughed. “Granted, he knows no German, only English, but he speaks.” She explained. Alphons looked at the great beast in front of him, with an almost childish wonder.

“English, huh…” he muttered, and tried again. “What is your name, Dragon?” he said, speaking in the language he'd learnt over the years. The green snake-like creature turned towards the pitiful human who had spoken and answered.

“I had a name once.” He said, breathing a foul stench upon the group, “Hundreds of years ago, and I had a life, but this bastard.” He reared his head at Ed, snapping his jaws uselessly again, revealing the sharp rows of gleaming white teeth.

“He is called Envy,” Edward answered, “and he is no dragon.”

“With this magnificent beast, our dream can be realised. Shamballa is a mere stones throw away, and by fooling Hitler, I can gain the power I deserve, I will rule Shamballa, and then I will rule the world.” Eckhart said, and for that instant an insane grin spread from ear to ear across her face. (1)

“Go ahead.” Ed said, in a bored tone. The look disappeared, replaced by one of curiousness, with a hint of anger. “I'd like to see the mess your body becomes once you try to go through the gate.”

 

The smile returned to her face, making Ed glare at her. “Do you really think I'd send myself, before I tested the theory with others?” She sent a sympathetic look towards Ed. “We could've done this the easy way Edward, all I wanted was your help to help out our great Fürher, then this country would have a leader that could bring them victory. But…if that's how you feel, then I'm afraid, I'm going to have to resort to more drastic measures.”

 

“What are you planning?” Alphons asked his attention diverted from the dragon.

 

“Edward and his father,” the dragon growled, “are the only one's that are known to have survived the trip through the gate. Even that fool with the bomb didn't survive. I'll send you in, find out how you did it, and if you don't have the uranium ready for me to create more of these weapons, then I'll destroy everything and everyone you care about.” She said simply. Hoenheim was thrown roughly into the circle, and Ed moved to help him up.

 

The dragon above them roared as he began to be lowered to the ground. “What are you doing?” Noa asked, moving to leave the circle.

 

“The dragon is necessary to draw power for the journey.” Eckhart explained. “However, if any of you escaped that would be most unfortunate, so he can be used as a fence as well, to keep you locked in.”

 

“Why don't you struggle?” Ed asked Envy in the language he spoke. However, he received no answer and opted instead to make a run for the edges of the circle. “Don't just stand there you idiots! Move!” He yelled at Alphons and his Father. Noa having already moved away from the centre, waiting impatiently for Alphons.

 

“Hurry, Alphons.” She called, underlying fear in her voice. However, she didn't notice the men move up behind her and grab her arms. She let out a cry of surprise as they dragged her towards the edge.

 

“Noa!” Alphons called, running towards her, arm outstretched.

 

“I've other plans for you, girl.” Eckhart said with a small smile as she was dragged past, screaming for Alphons. Ed ran towards her, being closer than Alphons and attempted to attack the men holding her, only to be knocked off his feet by Envy's tail, which had enough freedom to at least accomplish that much.

 

“Bastard.” Ed growled. Standing up again, clutching his stomach where the massive tail had bruised his skin. He lunged forward again, only to have to quickly step aside to avoid another blow from the giant creature. By this time, Alphons had reached Noa, and kicked one of the men holding her, turning to deliver a strike to the other when he came face to face with the barrel of a gun.

 

“Woah.” He said quietly, raising his hands. Eckhart smiled victoriously as Ed and Hohenheim stopped moving.

 

“Al!” Noa called, “No! Leave him alone, take me!”

 

“Noa!” Alphons said a sense of urgency in his voice, “shhh.”

 

“Get back in the circle.” Eckhart ordered. Hoenheim, Ed and finally Alphons moved back into the circle, though considerably closer to the edge.

 

“What's going to happen to her?” Alphons asked through gritted teeth.

 

She smiled in false sweetness. “Nothing bad, if you do as you're told.” The dragon reached the floor, and began to glow purple as Eckhart chanted. The circle beneath them also began to glow, and the great beast turned its head towards Hoenheim.

 

“C'mon, we've got to get out of here.” Edward said quietly, glad for the cover that Envy's giant body provided from Eckhart's watchful eye. He grabbed Alphons's hand and began moving to the edge.

 

“What about Noa?” He asked fearfully, eyes wide.

 

“We'll get her too, but right now, we have to get out of here or we won't be able to do much at all. Dad, c'mon!” He said urgency in his voice, despite the quiet tone. The circle beneath them glowed an even brighter purple, and Ed and Alphons made a run for the dragon's side.

 

Ed jumped up onto the dragon's body, checking to see if the coast was clear, and helped Alphons up. “Dad!” He whispered, beckoning as Hoenheim stood entranced, staring at the creature that he'd created.

 

“Go.” He replied, “It's time I faced my demons.” Ed stared on horrified.

 

“No,” he called. “Get out, move!” His pleas attracted the attention of one of Eckhart's minions, who had come around the corner. The guard raised his gun, and aimed it at the unaware Ed.

 

“Run!” Alphons said, pushing Ed off the body of the dragon. He fell to the ground with a shout, crushing the fragile arm beneath him in a shower of sparks as he hit the cold, hard stone. Alphons took off, running around the side of the dragon, as bullets flew after him, piercing the scales, and causing Envy to scream out in anger and pain.

 

As he sprinted around the circle, Eckhart and Noa came into view. “Idiot!” Eckhart called anger evident on her face.

 

“Al!” Noa called in worry, at the same time. “No, Alphons! Stop!” she asked of Eckhart, turning and clutching the woman's arm. She recoiled seconds later, with a gasp of fright. (2)

 

“Noa!” Al said, preparing to jump off the side, when something flew and hit him in the shoulder. Eckhart began chanting again as the dragon moved, twisting forward so he could see Hoenheim better, and behind the old man, Alphons fell; the bullet that hit his shoulder propelling him backwards into the circle.

 

“Alphons!” Both Ed and Noa called, Ed having stood up followed Alphons around the corner. His arm still was setting off an occasional spark. “Cheap…” he muttered darkly, pulling the thing from the socket before it lit his clothing on fire.

 

“No, get up! Come back!” Noa called, distraught, her voice chocked, and breaking. “No, Al! You can't get hurt! You can't die! I love you!” She continued crying, struggling against her captives in hysteria, “Please,”

 

Ed leaped again, trying to get back into the ring, to see if Alphons was alright, but by that time, Eckhart had finished her chant, and it was too late. Instead of becoming a part of the transmutation, he found himself standing in front of the gate, watching as Hoenheim wrestled between the teeth of the dragon to survive, and Alphons lay lifeless on its body.

 

He ran forward, calling out to the both of them, but as he reached the gate, it had shut closed and he beat his fist uselessly against the carved door. “Let me in,” He called. “Open up! Let me go home!” But no matter how hard he tried, to pry it open, to beat it down, nothing happened and when he lowered his head and his hand in defeat, raising his eyes again, the gate was gone. And he was alone in the room that he'd disappeared from.

 

He looked around, in despair, and noticed the morning sun filtering in through the windows. He dared not make a sound, and instead quickly made his way out of the building, and hailed a taxi home.

 

However, the sight he was greeted with when he stepped out of the car; the sirens, the flashing lights, and the pile of rubble his house had been reduced to; was not a comforting scene. And only when the taxi driver left, without asking the shocked man for any money, did the realization of what had happened really hit him.

 

They'd gone. Alphons…Noa…his father. He had come so close to reaching his dream, to returning home…he'd been in such a hurry to get back, that he'd forgotten what he would have left behind. And it was then that he spotted the ashen faces of Marian and the 3 year old girl on her lap as the doctors looked them over.

 

Marian spotted him, and flew into his arms, tears falling from her cheeks. “They went after you,” she sobbed, “Where did you go? Everyone had gone so I went to bed, I woke up and the place was filled with smoke, I couldn't see, I was so scared.” She said, and Ed rubbed her back sympathetically.

 

“I'm sorry,” he said, lowering his arm from her back and taking the hand of the little girl. “I shouldn't have stormed off like that.”

 

“What happened to your arm?” Marian asked, drawing back and bringing herself together, her fingers brushing over the port where the arm usually connected.

 

“Damn!” He swore, and she hit him, glancing meaningfully down at the little girl, who she picked up. “My other arms, they were all inside!” He growled in frustration. “Was anything salvageable?” Marian shook her head despondently.

 

“By the time the fire department arrived, the whole house was gone; I didn't think to grab anything. Can't Hoenheim make you another?” She asked rocking the tired child in her arms as her head fell upon Marian's shoulder. “What?” She asked when she saw the pained look that crossed his face. He shook his head silently.

 

“We need a place to stay, c'mon, I know a woman who'd give us a room until we get back on our feet.” He smiled encouragingly, despite the way he felt inside, and turned to ask one of the investigators if they could call a cab for them, eventually getting a lift in the fire engine, much to the little girl's enjoyment.

 

They stopped outside a small bar, with the few belongings that they had managed to spare. Marian held the small girl in her arms, while Edward knocked on the door. The door opened after he knocked a few more times, and a sleepy woman answered the door. “Edward?” She asked, rubbing her eyes. “Oh my, what happened, come in.” She opened the door and let the three of them inside.

 

“Sorry, about the late visit. Do you think you could give us a room for the night? We've got nowhere to go.” He asked. She nodded turning and grabbing a room key from the board behind her.

 

“Of course, it's no trouble at all.” She smiled at the bedraggled group. “You hardly visit anymore Edward.”

 

Ed grinned warily. “Yeah, sorry `bout that. I've been a bit busy.”

 

“So I hear, this must be Sophia,” She said, reaching out a hand to the small girl. Ed nodded.

 

“Just turned three,” He said, following her up the stairs to the room. “We won't stay too long; I just need to find another place to live.” He explained.

 

“Ah was yours the fire I heard about?” She asked, opening the room for them. Marian nodded in confirmation.

 

“All our stuff was in there. Including Ed's spare arms.” Gracia glanced down at the missing arm.

 

“Couldn't Hoenheim make you some more?” She asked. Ed sighed.

 

“I'm afraid not, he…was called away…for a while.” Marian sent him a curious glance.

 

“He always was a busy man.” Gracia mused aloud, “Well goodnight, come down for breakfast at nine, I understand if you're a little late though.” She shut the door behind her and Marian could hear her proceed down the stairs again. She turned to Ed, who was sitting on the bed, running a hand through his hair tiredly.

 

“What happened?” She questioned gently, sitting beside him, a glance at Sophia, who was sleeping on one of the beds.

 

“The Thule society.” He replied with a sigh, and she gasped. “They opened the gate, and Alphons and Hoenheim disappeared through it. I don't know what happened to Noa.” He put his hand over his face, running it through his hair again. “Damn, what are we going to do?” He asked, to nobody in particular.

 

“We'll figure it out, we always do.” Marian said encouragingly, though she half didn't believe it herself. “Get some sleep, and we can worry about it in the morning.” He nodded and lay down in the bed, with a quiet goodnight, and she went to bed after. But sleep didn't come to either of them quickly.

 

 

“Alright! I'll do it!” The voice echoed around the large cavern. “You win,” it said in defeat.

 

“No!” A female joined in. “Don't be an idiot, please! Don't do it!” However the man had already been taken out of the room and the desperate woman grabbed her child close to her as she was returned.

 

“Mama?” She asked, “Where's daddy going?” And the woman could do nothing but sob despondently into her daughters shoulder as she wrapped her arms around her mother, trembling in fear.

 

“It'll be alright.” The woman repeated, like a mantra, holding the child to her, rocking the both of them backwards and forwards as the people around her celebrated their victory. “We'll figure it out…we always do.”

 

 

Noa pulled her hand away from the sleeping man and moved unsteadily back to her seat on the train. “Anything?” Eckhart asked her, sitting next to her, and across from Ed. Noa shook her head, and folded her hands across her lap.

 

“Only memories,” she replied, looking out the window, and in the distance she could see their destination. The large city of Grand Central. Eckhart smiled, and there was something not right about it.

 

“It's only a matter of time now.” She said, and Noa looked back at her, then out the window again, used to the crazy expression she wore. “This world will be mine.” Eckhart glanced at Ed's sleeping form, as he turned slightly in his sleep. “All thanks to you.”

 

`The supreme irony of life is that hardly anyone gets out of it alive.'

 

What is a story without an evil homicidal maniac who wants to take over the world?

Ooh, freaky vision, which I will soon forget about and never elaborate on lol. I'll try.

 

So this'll basically be the end of the memory chapters, unless they are in snippets later on in other chapters. Ooh I love this song. Sorry listening to my radio and it's got `High' by James Blunt. The name of the song's so suss. Lol.

 

Phe: Once again, BASTARD! I'm kidding chill out, none of my friends like FMA or stuff like that, well one does but she's never watched the series. And she always complains when I try to get her into it, she's a funny one. Now all I've got to do is convince dad to let me use his credit card to go on Amazon and buy the movie. After I get that iPod that plays movies. Alphons is sorta nicer in this chap, to the good people anyhow. Australia always gets stuff late, I'm collecting the manga and I was looking for some shops that would sell them around where I live and I accidentally went on the American one and they're like 3 volumes ahead of us. I was annoyed.

 

Misa92: I know, isn't she such a bastard. *Glares at Phe* I'm kidding chill out. I probably should've written the last thingy better, I've seen all the episodes but number 4. And yeah, that's where I saw the movie too. But it sucks when you're on dial-up cuz it takes 2 hours for 10 minutes of movie to load so I had to watch like one part every time I could manage to convince dad I was doing assignments. Lol. I'd love to be in a band, we just finished selecting out senior subjects today and I was so annoyed because I had to choose between Music and Chemistry. So naturally, because I hate science with a fiery passion, I chose Music. And then because to do the course I want for uni, I had to pick a science I had to pick Biology. I'm still tossing between Art and Ancient History. I've got a sorta easy version of Brothers for the keyboard if you want it, I could email it to you?