Summary: While Ed is still trapped in the gate he meets a girl who was also placed there but for her own protection. Al becomes a state Alchemist and goes on a never-ending search for Ed. Winry joins Al in his search but when they find out that Ed is still locked inside the gate they have to split up to do separate research on how to get Ed out. Parings:

Al/Winry, Ed, More but not elaborated as much.

A/N: Well, well, well! My first FMA FF and I'm actually liking it! huggles FF

Please R&R or all my dancing pocket Edo plots will drift away into nothingness! Sigh

Well, On with the show!

Disclaimer: As much as I want my own Edo to huggle, snuggle, and glomp I can't have one cause I can't own FMA which really sucks.

End of Hope

Prologue: Cold, Cruel, Real

"Al! Get out of the way Damn it!" Edward yelled his breath harsh, shoulders thrust forward, automail arm transmuted into a large blade. If only Alphonse would just move out of the way Edward could have cut this creep into a million tiny slices by now. His younger brother merely stood in front of him metal body blocking his eyesight and Edwards only chance of winning this fight. Trying to run around Alphonse only succeeded in getting himself picked up rather harshly by the back of his shirt and dangling in the air. "Put me down Al! She's gonna get away!" He yelled while attempting to get out of his younger brothers grasp.

"No Niisan! Let her go it doesn't matter if we catch her or not she'll escape just like when she fought Colonel Mustang! I don't want to risk you getting hurt as bad as he did Niisan!" Alphonse exclaimed hugging his brother to his metal body. Edwards face softened a little in his brothers embrace then it hardened again. Pushing at Alphonse's metal chest with his human hand he finally fell to the ground.

"Okay Al I won't go after her. Now…" Edward transmuted his automail arm back to normal and picked up his red coat and outer black shirt that had gotten flung across the room during the fight. "Let's head back to central since the colonel's gone maybe I can get some more work done on the philosophers stone research. Let's just hope Hughes doesn't find us though. He'll shove more pictures of Elicia at us like normal." Edward said with a sigh. Hughes was always running around with pictures of his daughter to show someone. It made Edward want to strangle him sometimes.

"But Niisan, I thought when we found Marcoh's research that we were going to quit searching for the stone?" Alphonse asked rather confused. Looking up at his little brother Edward smiled.

"I promised you I would get your body back. That's just what I intend t…" Edward was cut off by a shrill cry sounding somewhere outside the building they were currently in. Sweat immediately started beading on Edwards forehead as his eyebrows knit together in anger. Only one word escaped his lips as he started racing off "Winry." Alphonse followed quickly behind his older brother.

Outside the rain fell down in sheets cold and bitter. Edward quickly transmuted his automail back into it's blade ready to protect his childhood friend. Winry lay helpless on the ground staring at the gun held so close to her face. There she stood in all her glory, light brown hair plastered to the sides of her face, green eyes sparkling with cruelty, hand gun firmly in her grip, finger strategically placed on the trigger. Crimson. At least that's what the tabloids had called her.

"Winry!" Al yelled worry clearly etched in his voice. Edward smirked at this. Now Al had no choice but to let him fight.

"What couldn't come fight me with out putting one of my friends in danger? You're pathetic!" Edward spat at the girl who looked up at him placing the barrel of the gun at Winry's right temple. The blonde whimpered and closed her eyes in a desperate attempt to calm down.

"I beg you're pardon?" The brunette said pushing the barrel closer if that was even possible at this point. "You're the pathetic one Edward Elric." She spat at him. "You don't even know when you're sleeping." Quickly she moved the gun from Winry to aim at Alphonse. Her aim was impeccable. The bullet spiraled out from the barrel of the gun as if in slow motion. When time sped back up the bullet plowed strait through Alphonse's metal chest in turn destroying the blood seal that held Alphonse's soul to the suit of armor. Instantly Edward ran to his younger brother.

"Al!" Edward yelled but before he could reach his little brother the suit of armor disappeared into thin air.

"NO! AL! DON'T GO!" Edward woke in a cold sweat. Quickly he looked across the room to the bed that was always there now empty. Alphonse had been gone for awhile now. Edward didn't understand why he wasn't used to it by now. Putting a hand to the side of his head he sat up. A headache became normal after waking up anymore. Why did reality have to be so cruel. After Alphonse had turned into the Philosophers Stone and Edward had been trapped inside the gate he knew Alphonse was alive and out there somewhere. He just had to find him. Silent tears slid down his face as he stuffed his face into his pillow trying his best to go back to sleep. For now Alphonse would only have to exist inside his dreams.

"Niisan is out there somewhere Izumi-sensei!" Alphonse Elric exclaimed glaring at his teacher. "I know he is!" Izumi crossed her arms over her chest staring down at the boy. He had been like this for two years now. Searching for a boy who no one really knows to exist since the death of King Bradley and the military's new reign over the government.

"Alphonse just face it! Edward is gone! Not even his superiors know where he is anymore!" Izumi barked back at him making the boy turn red with anger. Alphonse was not an easily angered person but when it came to his older brother he would fight as hard as he possibly could.

"I will not give up! I know he's alive I can feel it!" Alphonse shouted before turning and stalking off to his bedroom to think. Edward had to be alive. He just had to be. With out Edward there really wasn't any other reason for Alphonse to even exist unless he found Winry again, but even their childhood best friend was hard to keep track of. The last time he had seen her she was an automail mechanic working in Rush Valley. With a sigh Alphonse pulled off his clothes until he came to his boxers and hopped into bed.

"I will find you Niisan. I'll never give up hope."

To Be Continued