Title: Step Through
Author: S J Smith
Rating: If you read the manga/watch the anime(s), you can read this.
Characters: Edward; Alphonse
Summary: It's the Promised Day and the Gate is opening.
Disclaimer: I promise to put Arakawa-sensei's toys back in the sandbox when I'm done playing with them.
Warning: Speculations for the Promised Day.
"He's going to open the gate when the day comes." Lin's words. I remember them.
"Listen to your father!" Winry's last words to me…damn, I'm such an idiot.
Pinako's voice, speaking for my mother, telling me to tell my father that Mom couldn't wait, that she was going on ahead of him.
I can't think for all the words swarming and buzzing in my head. The words are like insects. I hurt from their stings. My tongue feels swollen and my head aches. No, not just my head, everywhere aches and where it doesn't hurt, I feel cold.
Open the gate….
Once the gate is open, Al and I will plunge inside, like rabbits going down a hole. We'll get our bodies back. We'll come back, whole again, and the war will be over and it'll be warm. And Winry will be so happy to see us, she'll cry – and this time, her tears won't flay my heart because they'll be good tears.
Envy…I hear its voice now, must be getting closer. Trying to start a fight between us so it can watch and laugh. That bastard Mustang won't put up with that. He's gonna avenge Hughes' death. Wanna see that. Wanna see Envy pay for killing Hughes, so I can tell Winry…no, no, don't tell her this; she doesn't need to know about the deaths. Too much horror…she doesn't deserve that. When we get our bodies back, it'll make up for all the awful crap she's had to deal with.
Wait, that's Scar…he's on our side. He's screaming something…why can't I hear it? Who's there? Who's standing there like a giant? Donkey Kong? I need to move…Have to be ready to jump into that rabbit hole. Go down it just like that and come out a real boy again….
"Brother!" Alphonse landed on his knees next to the crumpled figure, afraid to touch Edward for fear he'd do more damage. "Mei, come here! Now!" Her alchemy healed. Mei told him what she could do, and Dr. Marcoh had agreed. He needed them both. Ed needed them both. "Marcoh! Mei!" He screamed their names, hoping they'd hear. They had to hear. This wasn't the way it was supposed to end. The heroes have to redeem themselves from their sins – not by dying but by living. "Brother, Ed, hold on."
"The gate's opening, Al, we've got to be ready." I smile reassurance at my little brother. He looks worried and I wish I knew how he manages to do that when his helmet is metal and can't change expressions. Maybe it's his soul coming through. Well, soon enough, he'll have his body and I'll be able to see his expressions again. And we'll go home and Winry will bake us pie.
"…gotta be ready," I say, and the Gate opens just for me.