AN: Hang on people this is my first Fullmetal Alchemist story. I started writing it before I saw the Conqueror of Shamballa movie. WHICH I WAS TOTALLY DISAPPOINTED IN THE WHOLE EDWARD AND WINRY SITUATION ALSO THE WHOLE MUSTANG AND HAWKEYE RELATIONSHIP! So I put together my own little ending into this story so for those of you who are with me you might like this one or it may be to mushy for you. EITHER WAY I DON'T CARE THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE WAY IT ENDED. Never take a woman's hopes and flush them down the toilet or shoot them out of the sky like a raving mad bird!

ALSO IF YOU WANT TO SEE WHERE THIS IS GOING YOU MUST REVIEW!

Beyond the portal

Edward woke up and looked at the blonde lying next to him. He moved the cover back and sat up and put his feet on the floor. He then put his hands over his face and his elbows on his knees. He could hear her voice calling him she haunted his dreams. He pushed his long hair back, which now reached his waist. The girl next to him stirred and looked up at him " Are you ok?"

" Yeah I'm fine." He got up and began to get dressed "Thanks for last night."

The blonde looked at him with a strange look " Edward I love you."

Edward exhaled slowly " I told you when we started this no strings." Tears weld up in the girls eye's " It's her again isn't it?"

Edward looked at the girl and put his shirt on "It's not her again it's always been her." He turned to walk out the door as he stopped to pick up his shoes he thought to himself 'I'm going to find a way to get back to you Winry.'

He put his hand on the door knob the blonde got out of bed and stopped him " Would you like me to braid your hair for you?"

Edward looked at the ground and took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes and in a low voice " No there is only one person I'll let braid my hair and she's not here." He reached down and picked the rubber band up off the table and pulled the top of his hair out of his face and into a ponytail and put the rubber band in it. Then he turned to the blonde " I won't be back I don't think it's fair to not feel the same way you do." He opened the door walked out and shut the door behind him. He got to the outside and sat down on the steps to put his boots on. He had been on the other side of the portal for four years now. He had been studying everything he could about technology and science. He thought that maybe he could find a way to open the portal back up the whole equivalent exchange process had him puzzled though with no use of alchemy on this side. Edward got up and walked down the street heading back to where he was staying. When he got to the room and board he was staying at the girl behind the counter stopped him " Edward there's a letter here for you."

Edward walked over and took it from her " Thanks" he noticed it was from his father " I wonder what he wants?" His father's letter was informing him that his body was decaying faster and he would soon be gone. As Edward got to his room he took his key out and opened the door and walked into his room. He sat the letter on the table and walked over to the window " Hohenheim your such an idiot." He starred out the window at all the people rushing about on the streets " Well I guess I'm going to have to go see him." He turned and walked to the bed and fell down on it and starred at the ceiling fan going around. With his hair draped over the edge of the bed almost touching the floor he began to think of Al. He hoped that everything was going ok for Al and that he was all right. He then dosed off and in his dreams he found himself face to face with Winry. He walked up to her and put his arm around her and gave her a hug then he kissed her on the forehead. Just then she was pulled out of his arms by an unseen force and was flying backwards he woke up screaming "WINRY!"

Winry was screaming "EDWARD!" as Al busted through the door " Are you all right Winry?" Winry jumped up "I saw him Alphonse it was Edward." She turned to him and explained " He was older and had longer hair but it was him Al." She touched her forehead where Ed had kissed her and she could still feel his arm around her. " I felt him Al he's out there somewhere." Alphonse smiled at her " You and Brother did always have a strong connection." Al walked over to Winry " We will find him Winry that I promise."

Edward jumped off the bed " WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?" He looked at his hands he made a fist with his left hand then straightened it and brought it to his nose and smelled it. He could smell Winry's perfume " I touched her?" He began to pace back and forth " That's impossible! What the hell's going on? Was she even real? I read something about the unconscious mind detaching itself from the body in your sleep." Edward sat down and tried to figure out what just happened he ran ideas around in his head but couldn't get a grasp on it. So he sat the rest of the night and starred out the window. When the sun came up he picked up his suitcase and headed downstairs.

The girl behind the counter came out " Are you leaving us?"

Edward smiled at her " Just for a little while I have to go see my father." He paid his bill and turned to walk out the he turned around and smiled at her again " Can you hold the room for me? I kinda like that one."

The girl's mother walked out of the back room " If it were anyone else I would say no but for you Edward I will hold it."

" Thank you" Edward started out the door and down the street to the train station. As he walked along he was remembering some of the things him and Al used to fight about toys, food, racing, fishing and Winry. He smiled to himself as he bought his ticket and got on the train he sat down in the window seat and got himself comfortable. The train started to roll down the tracks Edward began to think about how he could get the portal open. He didn't even know if he wanted to but being on the other side these four years he had figured out what he wanted and what he needed and that was Winry. He never thought he would miss her as much as he did. Her questions, her pushiness, her meddling, her blue eyes and the way she got so happy around new auto-mail. He starred out the window and pictured her face her smile always cheered him up and he hated to see her cry and he even missed getting clocked with an occasional wrench. All he ever did to her was to protect her and now all he wanted to do was be with her.

Alphonse was sitting at the table he looked over at Izumi " Teacher I think I have figured out a way to open the portal to get brother back but I need your help."

Izumi turned and saw the determined look on the now fourteen year old Alphonse's face. She looked at Sig and then back to Al " You have grown up so much Al and I am so happy you're so determined." She paused for a minute not wanting to discourage him because she didn't want him to know her health had taken a turn for the worst. "Alright Alphonse I will help you any way I can." She gave him a stern look "Now eat your breakfast." Al smiled and picked his fork up " Yes ma'am." Sig look at his wife and smiled at her. Izumi yelled " Wrath darling breakfast." Izumi and Sig had taken Wrath into their home seeing he was actually a human transmutation of their child and all he wanted was a mother. Since Winry had outfitted Wrath with the auto-mail she was making for Ed, Wrath had calmed down a little and started to interact with people better. Wrath came through the door as bouncy as ever " Yum breakfast thank you mommy." Izumi grabbed his hand, as he reached for a piece of toast "No wash your hands first." Wrath bounced over to the sink and washed his hands then came back and sat down. Izumi couldn't hide her condition from Wrath he knew something was wrong with mommy she had been weaker and paler than usual. He walked over to Izumi and gave her a hug a tear rolled down his cheek "I love you mommy." Alphonse wondered what was wrong he had never seen Wrath show such emotion "Teacher is there something going on here I need to know about."

Izumi looked at Al and smiled "Al I think it's time you go visit with Winry for a while." As Izumi went to turn she vomited blood and fell to the floor. Al jumped up " TEACHER!" Sig stopped Al as he walked over and picked Izumi up and took her to the room. Wrath walked over by Al "Mommy's not well" Al turned to Wrath "What do you mean?" Wrath began to cry he covered his face and ran out the door.

The next day Al and Wrath exited the train and were met by Winry " Hey Al why are you so sad?"

Alphonse looked away with a tear in his eye " Teacher passed away last night." When he said that Wrath screamed and ran off. Winry gave Al a hug " I'm sorry Al." She looked in the direction Wrath had run off in " Is he going to be ok or should we go find him."

"He'll be back when he's ready" The two started walking down the road. Al was in deep thought he knew his brother was out there somewhere. Wrath had told him he would take him to the underground city where Edward had disappeared.

Edward had met up with the Alphonse of his time and he was telling Edward about a society that believed that there was another world controlled by alchemy. This society had a serpent god that had told them about this world. He was teaching the people all about alchemy and the serpent had told them about a portal they could open up to this world. Edward couldn't believe his ears " Serpent god huh?" he clinched his fist

" So you made it through the portal too Envy." He was wondering if leaving the Al of his time with these people was a good idea. Right now though he had to concentrate on talking to his father. Just then a young woman caught his eye on the train. She was walking down the aisle looking for a seat as she got closer Edwards eyes enlarged " Winry" he whispered in a low voice. She walked up and smiled " Is this seat taken?" Edward shook his head and motioned to the seat "No have a seat."

She sat down " I'm Winry" Edward smiled to himself " I'm Edward." She was fussing with her bag " I'm on my way to college. Since the automobile was invented I have been fascinated with how they work. I want to be a mechanic and work on them. I want to be the first woman mechanic."

Edward smiled at her " A mechanic? Go figure. I'm sure you'll be the best."

She put her hands to her face and her eyes got real big and stars formed in them "Oh do you think so my father thinks I'm crazy."

Edward smirked " Yeah I believe you can be anything you want to be. I knew a girl once that could fix anything." It somehow comforted him to be sitting there talking to her.

She gazed out the window "That's what I want to do I want to be able to fix anything." She turned around and dug through her bag and pulled out two sandwiches. She offered one to Edward " My mom always makes me to much would you like one?" He reached for the sandwich with his left hand and his hand brushed against hers. He felt a surge of electricity go through his body " Thank you " she smiled a huge smile at him "Your welcome." As they sat there eating their sandwiches Edward wondered what his Winry was doing. About a half-hour later the train stopped and Edward got up " Winry thanks for cheering me up" She blushed as he got up " Well this is my stop good luck with your schooling. Remember you can do anything you put your mind to." He turned and walked off the train only to see her hanging out the window " EDWARD! Thank you for the words of encouragement." He waved to her " Good luck Winry." He whispered under his breath " I know you'll do great."

Edward walked down the street to the address on the envelope. He stopped in front of the building " Well this is it here goes nothing." He entered and went to the apartment and knocked. When the door opened he didn't even recognize his father the man had a scarf around his face.

"Edward my son come in" the man motioned for him to enter. Edward got a horrified look on his face and the stench in the apartment gagged him " Well I can smell that you're not doing that good." His hand went up to his nose " Can we open a window?"

Hohenheim walked to the window and opened it. Edward stuck his head out and gasped for breath "Well what did you want to talk to me about?" he asked in between his fanning himself and sticking his head out the window to breathe.

Hohenheim motioned for him to sit down, Edward shook his hand in front of him " I think I'll hang out by the window."

" Edward I wanted to talk to you about the portal." Hohenheim looked at his son " You know you have the power to open it?" Hoenheim sat down on the couch " Edward it's your blood that will activate it."

Edward pulled his head in the window and looked at his father " I just found out before I left that Envy made it through the portal and is here somewhere." Ed stuck his head back out the window for a breath

" And he is telling people about another world where people use alchemy. He's also told them about the portal and how to draw a transmutation circle."

Hohenheim stood up "Envy huh?" He walked over by Edward who was gagging out the window " Edward to open the portal you must use Envy and you're blood then you can go home." Hohenheim began to cough and Edward got concerned taking a deep breath he pulled his head in the window " Are you ok?"

"Edward chasing something that rules your life is not a way to live. You have a life in your world and a brother that needs you." Edward got mad and took a deep breath and pulled his head in and punched his father as Hoenheim flew backward his scarf fell off and Edward looked at his broken father on the floor.

"Since when have you ever cared what I've done?" Edward walked over to Hohenheim " You left me in my world and when I got here you left me again." Hohenheim stood up " Edward I loved your mother dearly and I love you boys. I can't make up for leaving but do you want Alphonse to lose everyone he loves never to see you again. And to go through life wondering if his brother is out there somewhere and wasting his life searching for you. You're twenty years old Edward it's time to start living you're life."

Edward looked at the ground he was breathing heavy " Damn it your right." He said softly.

Hohenheim got off the floor and walked to the couch and sat down and began to breathe short breaths

" Now go find Envy and go home to your brother Edward." As Hohenheim took his last breath Edward stood with his father and when his father was gone he knew the feeling Al must be feeling because at that point he felt it too. Edward walked to the train station and got on ' Now where do I find Envy' he thought to himself. He sat on the train and looked out the window his eyes were getting heavy and he dosed off.

Alphonse was sitting at the table at Winry's when Wrath came through the door. "Are you ok Wrath?" Wrath walked over to Al " I will take you to the underground city tomorrow."

Winry was in bed sleeping and in her dream she was transported into a dark space. She was sitting in the middle of this space and then she saw a light coming towards her. She starred as the light got closer and a voice softly whispered her name "Winry." She recognized the voice instantly and she stood up " Edward."

He walked up to her and stood in front of her his long hair down to his waist framed his face. She didn't know if he was real or not but she didn't care at this point she jumped on him and hugged him.

Edward was struggling to breathe " Winry I can't breathe." She didn't want to let go she was afraid he would disappear. " Edward is it really you?" Edward smiled at her " Yeah I don't know how this is happening but I could ask you the same question?" Winry let him go and moved backward a little she looked at Edward " Look at your hair Edward what have you been doing?" He smiled at her " I haven't had anyone to braid it for me." Winry pulled out a rubberband and spun him around " Well you're in luck I have an extra now sit still" she began to braid his hair " Your hair has gotten so long Ed."

In between the ouches and ooches of her pulling his hair " I know."

He got serious for a minute " Winry I don't know if this is real or not but if it is tell Al I've figured out a way to open the portal. I'm going to have to use Envy to open it and he'll have to open it on the other side. I'll need a couple of days to find Envy so tell him to try two days from now at noon. If the portal opens I'll see you guys then." Winry jumped back with stars in her eyes looking at the perfection in the braid she just finished "All done" Edward turned around to face her " Did you hear me?" Winry smiled "Yes Ed I heard you two days from now at noon."

"Thanks for braiding my hair" he looked at the ground 'what if this is the only time I get to tell her?' he thought to himself. He raised his head " Uh Winry if this is or isn't real I want you to know one thing." He stood there for a second trying to spit the words out. Then he just blurted it out "I love you, I've always loved you." Tears welded up in Winry's eyes and her mouth fell open "Ahhh What?" then it happened she was pulled backward in the darkness and she was gone. She woke up yelling " NO! NO! I DIDN'T EVEN GET TO TELL HIM I LOVED HIM TOO!"

Edward opened his eyes on the train and stretched that's when he noticed it his hair it was braided. The kid behind him had a shocked look on his face " That was neat your hair it braided itself while you were sleeping." Edward pulled the braid over his shoulder " It did? it's just a trick I learned a long time ago from a magician." Now he new it was real and Winry now knew how he felt he could feel the train slowing down so he got his bag and started to the exit and when the train stopped he got off. Now he would have to get the Alphonse of his time to show him where these people worshipped this serpent god of theirs.

Winry came running down the stairs to tell Al what had just happened. She knew that Al was going to need some help so she called Hawkeye to find out where General Mustang was.

Mustang caught the first train to central and the next day he was getting off the train and was met by Hawkeye. She walked up to him he looked like he hadn't shaved in days and his hair was in his face.

"Hello General. You look like hell." Hawkeye was her usual charming up front self.

Mustang looked at her " You are looking as good as ever Lieutenant." Mustang didn't come for idle chitchat " Any news of Fullmetal?"

Hawkeye turned to him " Let's get you presentable General and then you can call Alphonse sir."

"I'm not a sir anymore Lieutenant I'm just an enlisted man." Mustang and Hawkeye began to walk to the car.

Hawkeye opened the car door for him " It's a force of habit sir." Mustang went to say something and she slammed the door in his face and walked around and got in the car.

"Lieutenant I sense hostility in your actions." Hawkeye lost her cool demeanor at that point and slammed on the brakes sending Mustang slamming his face into the back of the seat.

She turned to face him with the devil enlarged behind her and in a cool lifted voice " LOOK IT'S BAD ENOUGH YOU LEFT ME WITH MY ASS HANGING OUT IN THE WIND. BUT DON'T COME BACK THINKING I'M NOT PISSED OFF AS HELL AT YOU. YOU BLAME YOURSELF FOR WHAT HAPPENED TO EDWARD. IT WASN'T EVEN YOUR FAULT YOU USELESS IN WATER FLAME FUCKHEAD!" She then turned around and pushed the gas pedal and as the car began to roll forward Mustang who was now in pieces on the floorboard slinked back into the seat.

While composing himself back in the seat with his head down " I guess I have been blaming myself and I'm sorry Lieutenant. I was only thinking of myself I talked that kid into becoming a state alchemist and then he went and sacrificed himself for his brother."

Hawkeye knew then that she had got her point across " Yes sir so now let's go bring him home then."

Mustang felt a little better about the whole situation " So you're sure he's alive then." Hawkeye glanced in the rearview mirror " You have to talk to Winry and Al sir."

Edward got back into town and went to meet up with the Alphonse in his time. Alphonse informed Edward that the people who worshipped the serpent had asked him to bring Edward to the castle where they were gathering tomorrow.

"Why do they want me to come Alphonse?" Edward was trying not to act very interested.

Alphonse put his hand on Edward's shoulder " They said the serpent asked for you personally. It told them you were the chosen one."

Edward got a glare on his face " Chosen one huh? Ok Alphonse I'll go and check it out."

Alphonse got excited " That's great Edward you'll love talking to him he knows all about that alchemy stuff you've been talking about. And this portal he's talking about might be your way home. Didn't you say that in your world alchemy had evolved more than technology."

Edward turned to face Alphonse " Al I wouldn't read to much into this serpent god." Alphonse got a confused look on his face " What do you mean?" Edward put his head down and looked at the floor " I've had a long trip Al we'll discuss it in the morning I'm going to bed."