Chapter 9

The dance

Well It has come to an end thank you for sticking with me and reading this. Please R&R and enjoy. And I do not own FMA.

"How was school?" my mom asked.

"Good." I answered.

"Tonight's the dance right?" how did she find out? I thought.

"Yes." I replied.

"I got a phone call from school today about it. It's supposed to be modeled like a ball room." you have no idea. I thought. "Oh I know just what you should wear that pretty White and blue dress. Oh you will look so pretty." She almost squealed always happy to find an excuse to dress me up. Great, I thought I will look good for the first time in my life just in time to have my soul ripped from my body. Tonight is going to be crazy. When we got home my mom went to work doing my hair and makeup and apparently I had a dress where it came from I will never know. For me that's a nightmare. I don't actually like makeup or dresses or getting my hair done stuff like that. I tend to repel it. And in my whole life I have worn two dresses. One for my sister's wedding and one for my 8th grade dinner dance. I am not exactly pretty so I don't bother to dress up.

The dress was white with a light tinge of powder blue on it. At first glance it seems white but then you stop to do a double take realizing the blue. My mom showed me how to walk so it would trail behind me and not trip me up and all that stuff. Finally 8:00pm hit and my mom dropped me off at the school. My hair was up and there was a huge white flower on one side giving it a look as if it were leaning. I went right to the bathroom and began wiping layer after layer of makeup off my face. Then I went back out to the dance and spotted Kate. She was in a shorter dress that had a cut off torn look to the bottom. She also had a purse. Her hair was straight and down with a flowered clip holding her bangs out of her face.

"Were are we going to meet Greed?" she asked

"He should be here any minuet. We are going to need to help him sneak in. Envy and Sloth are watching the doors monitoring who comes in." we saw a figure approach the door and we both knew who it was. I quickly ran to the snack bar and bought a pop for a dollar. I rushed to the door and pretended to take a sip and pretended to trip and my pop spilled all over the palm tree in the corner (AKA. Envy in disguise)

"Oops," I said lamely as Envy's face appeared.

"I'm glad you die tonight." He sneered. I smiled smugly at him but he glared at me. Kate was standing beside Sloth distracting her.

"What would happen if you were to jump into a pool and transform into water? Would you still be able to get out or would you become this huge fat water monster? And why are you water if you are sloth the two don't connect at all." Greed walked right past them into the dance like nothing happened and Kate and I walked away without another word leaving Envy and Sloth staring after us in disbelief. Kate and I walked up to Greed and noticed he was looking at every girl in sight. I rolled my eyes and Kate hit him with her purse. He gave us a universal 'what was that for?' look. I glare at him for a second before saying.

"Look I am going to sneak downstairs and try and steal some red stones to amplify my alchemy." Greed nodded and Kate handed me her purse.

"Take it. You can store the stones inside." I looked inside and saw her wallet and a can of pepper spray. I nodded to her in thanks.

"You have to keep him in line." I said pointing to Greed. She nodded and punched Greed who was looking at the girls.

"Why did I team up with you?" he asked regretting his decision to help us.

"Because we kick butt," Kate and I said simultaneously. I walked down stairs to the 'off limits' room and began shoving stones into the purse. Then I went to the room with transmutation circles taped all over the walls and put a few basic ones into the bag for Kate, just the basic one, ice, and fire. I was about to leave when I heard a voice behind me.

"Where are you going?" I turned around and saw Wrath the cute little evil kid. "Put those back and go see Dante. We can tell her what you're doing."

"Oh hey Wrath, want a red stone?" I asked waving them in front of me.

"I won't fall for that again. Now put those back." He took a threatening step towards me with a 'no nonsense' face only a child can pull off.

"Come on Wrath, yummy stones." He didn't go for it. I shrugged ad said. "Wrath, please just pretend you never saw me here." Wrath ignored me and stepped closer, blue alchemy light sparking around him. "Ok Wrath I tried." I clapped my hands and touched the floor. The floor rose up and encased itself around him, trapping him. "Bye," I told him with a wave as I ran out the door. Blue light emanated from him as the floor began to move and release him. I ran across the 'off limits' room towards the stairs but when I heard the door above me slam shut I looked up to see Bradley. I gasped and staggered back away from the stairs he slowly walked down towards me and I turned and ran into the cafeteria. If I could cross the floor there was another stair well there and I could go straight up to the dance. I looked behind me and didn't see Bradley and accidently slammed into a wall. I shook it off and looked up, my eyes widened in shock a bit only to realize it wasn't a wall it was Bradley. I backed away and my back hit an actual wall and I was trapped.

"What were you trying to do?" Bradley said mocking me that it didn't work out.

"Um…I um…" I stuttered as I reached into the purse. "Um… I'll just give this to you then." My hand wrapped around the cold hard medal and I gripped it as my only chance. I yanked out the pepper spray getting Bradley right in the eyes. I did it hard enough so it soaked through his eye patch and got in his super eye which I was hoping is super sensitive. He jumped back and ripped off his eye patch both eyes turning pink from infection.

I dashed past him and charged through the door into the stairway. Before I ran up the stairs I saw another door it must have been right under the dance room. I hesitated for a second before running through the double doors. I never noticed this room before and all the lights were off it was pitch black at least the size of the 'off limits' room. My hand ran across the wall until I found the light switch and illuminated the entire room with a yellow light. My eyes widened and I let out a slight gasp as I saw the entire floor was painted with a human transmutation circle.

"Do you like it?" a voice asked from behind me. I spun around to see Dante right behind me. I stumbled backwards and she said. "That's a pretty dress. Soon to be mine of course."

"I won't let you get away with this." I said but Dante snickered.

"Are you forgetting your friend is upstairs? Remember her life is on the line."

"You can't play that card anymore." I said sternly. "I will stop you." The idea of all the people above me losing their lives sickened me and I felt about ready to throw up at the thought.

"I'm afraid you are too late. You see all that's left is for the transmutations to be activated. Now be a good girl and touch the circle at our feet."

"And end the countless lives upstairs? NEVER!" I yelled angrily.

"Now, now dear you can't do anything. Just listen to us and I promise it will be over before you know It." she smiled evilly and added "I promise you won't feel a thing."

"I have been listening to you. And you know what I really don't like your attitude!" I prepared a fighting stance. Gluttony appeared behind me and Lust's eyes glowed blood red in the dark corner behind me. Dante said.

"Come now you know better than to defy me. You are outnumbered. I know you are a smart little girl so do the smart thing and give up." she said reminding me Wrath and Pride were outside the door. I heard Lust's nails shoot out for me two of them.

"And your outmatched." I snapped and dived out of the way of the spears and made a mad dash for the door my dress flapping at my ankles. Dante clapped her hands and the ground under me began shaking. I jumped over to the door and slammed open the doors. But something wrapped around my foot and began crawling up my leg. I looked down to see a vine tugging me back into the room. I yanked out of its grasp and fled up the stairs right into the crowded dance floor disappearing into the mess of people. I found Kate and Greed and took relief in the fact I wasn't alone in this fight.

"Emily!" Kate cried out when she saw me panting an out of breath. My hair was surely undoing itself by now and I probably looked like a mess. "What's going on? Why were you gone so long? Why are you out of breath? Are you alright?" I was doubles over hands on my knees panting.

"They-have a giant – transmutation circle- right below here." I choked out between breaths. "Times running out." we all exchanged grave looks and Kate asked.

"What do we do?"

"I realize they didn't tell me a lot and Greed we defiantly need you to fend them off while we destroy the circle." He nodded "That means you use your full shield." He opened his mouth to talk but I cut him off saying. "And we don't care if it covers your face, it's no great loss." He glared at me for a second before we all agreed to the plan.

"What do I do?" Kate asked eager to help.

"You come with me. Remember what I showed you about alchemy?" she nodded.

"I still need a circle though." I reached into the bag and pulled out the circles I stole and handed them to her and a few red stones that she hid in the folds of her dress. "That works."

"Let's go." I said and we headed for the stairs. We ran into the room with the circle and shut the door behind us. The homunculi and Dante were gone and Greed kept guard while Kate and I used alchemy to crack the floor and dishevel the circle. Greed's shield began to encase him completely as Gluttony ran in with Lust. Then a door on the other side of the room opened and Bradley and Sloth rushed in. Bradley grabbed Kate from behind and she let out a cry of shock as he yanked her off her feet away from her circle. A nail of Lust's hit the ground beside me and I was startled out of my transmutation and fell back into a sitting position. I felt a hand on my shoulder and I turned to see who it was only to see a fist come flying at me. The force knocked me back and I looked up to see Envy flexing his fist and say.

"I've wanted to do that for a long time." I glared up at all of them. Greed was in the corner fighting Gluttony, Lust and Sloth he was sorely outnumbered even with his ultimate shield. I clapped my hands to help to do something but nothing happened. Counter alchemy was to strong and I looked up to see Wrath. My breathing quickened with the adrenaline that was speeding through my veins, but there was nothing I could do. Dante walked in acting as if she were queen. I smelled her before I saw her. The overpowering sickening smell of rose perfume mixed with year old lunch meat.

"I warned you." She said to me, I growled and to my surprise Greed broke free of Sloth's choke hold on him and he ran out the door and abandoned us to these idiots. "I told you it was useless to resist. I always get what I want." She touched her hand to the floor and a light glowed brightly fixing the circle until it looked perfect.

"Release her!" I called out and looked over at Kate. Nothing happened.

"Are you going to commit the taboo even if it ends the people upstairs?"

"Never." I hissed. Dante gave Bradley a glance and he let go of Kate and in a blink of an eye he was holding me back. "What's going on?" I demanded.

"Well I can't exactly do the transmutation without giving something up. Rather than give up red stones I think I will just give up poor little Kate."

"We will never do it." I yelled in response, Bradley's grip tightened and it started to cut into my skin.

"Do it Kate." Dante coxed. "There is no hope for you anyway."

"I can't." Kate responded.

"Yes you can dear, just do it now. It will be over before you know it and I know you can do alchemy."

"Kate no!" I yelled.

"Take her away." Dante snapped. "Tie her up if you must and take her to the other room." Bradley bowed his head to her slightly and began dragging me towards the door.

"NO!" I screamed to Kate. "Whatever happens, don't do it!" the door shut with a bang, leaving everything in silence. Bradley pulled me down the hall to the 'off limits' area. "Let me go. Let me go!" I continued to kick and scream. He pulled me through a side door that also had a human transmutation circle covering most of the floor. In the room was the evil traitor of a teacher Mr. T. Bradley threw me onto the circle and kept a close eye on me as he went to stand beside Mr. T who was glaring at me. A minute later the doors burst open and Dante stormed in.

"I need my new body." She said. I gritted my teeth and demanded.

"Where's Kate? What have you done to her?"

"Why do you care? You won't have much longer to care, but if you must know. She still won't start the transmutation so I left Envy in charge until I get my new body." I growled and she clapped her hands. "Say good bye Emily." She brought her hands down to the floor and suddenly the doors burst open and suddenly I felt like something his me in the side and I was shoved out of the circle and landed on the floor by the wall Greed on top of me. I pushed him off and muttered just loud enough for him to hear.

"Thanks." I stood up and turned to face Dante. "TAKE THIS!" I screamed as I ran up to her and punched her. Greed and I ran out the door down the hall to Kate.

"Don't call me that!" I heard Envy scream and I knew Kate must have called him William and I knew from experience how he would react. I rushed through the doors and as I expected he had Kate lifted off the floor with his hands around her neck strangling her. I ran up and grabbed him, and pulled them apart.

"Leave her alone!" I called and punched him. He turned to me so angered he was breathing hard. "William leave her alone!" I screamed. He lunged at me but I jumped back and was surprised that two hands slowly being encased in black caught his punches.

"William is it?" Greed asked as he finished putting on his shield. Greed seemed esthetic that he now knew how to annoy Envy. I helped Kate up off the floor and growled.

"Why can't you just keep your head down you don't need to go around drawing danger and anger to yourself. Be more careful."

Ding, ding, ding.

The loud school bell rang midnight. Dante stepped out onto the circle; I could see the stone in her pocket.

"It's time Emily and there is nothing you can do to stop me. I want my new body, and I will have my stone all in one transmutation." She clapped her hands and reached down to the floor.

"NO!" I screamed and I quickly clapped my hands and brought them down onto the circle, using counter alchemy. Dante's alchemy and my own clashed in a battle for power over the reaction. Whoever was strongest would prevail while if I won she would be tossed into the gate and if I lost then my body would be taken and my soul consumed by the evil witch. Unfortunately she was by far older than me, which made her way more experienced and powerful. Even though I had stones in my pockets I felt the energy and power drain from me as if I was being shocked with electricity. I slumped down to one knee and I could barely move. My time was out, my alchemy wasn't good enough. Then hands came down beside me and I felt some power return to me and there was someone on my side. I gathered my strength to look up at Kate who was wearing a determined look on her face. The bell chimed again and I saw Dante look up. I knew she was looking past the ceiling up at the people dancing, the people she saw no better than pawns.

"NO!" I shrieked and focused on the current, the wave of energy and without apposing it I directed it off slightly to open the Gate. Before I knew it a large eye opened in the middle of the circle, small hands reached out to us, wrapping themselves around Kate, Dante and me. Dante yelled in anger, Kate shrieked in fear, and I yelped in shock. What was going to happen? We all landed in front of the Gate and it opened. I threw one of the red stones I had in my pocket into the dark depths of the gate and it was swallowed up by the eternal soul sucking void of darkness.

"Look what you've done!" Dante screamed at me.

"I won't let you return to a world. I refuse to let your ridiculous scheme continue." I told her. "And take your homunculi with!" the small hands emerged coming for us.

"No I will prevail." She pulled a red stone from her pocket and I knew as long as she had that she could return. I was running out of time with the hands rapidly closing the distance. I did the only thing I could do. I dived at Dante, tackled her then ripped the red stone from her grasp I tossed it to Kate just as the hands grabbed us all and pulled us into the bottomless pit of doom. Once the doors closed I could no longer see or hear Dante screaming at me or Kate screaming in fear. Images, videos, words, sayings, books, wisdom poured into my scull, engraving knowledge into my brain. I saw a little light emerge at the end of the fall and it grew closer and closer as I tumbled towards it. When I fell through it I landed beside Kate and Dante inside the gate.

"I just want to go home." I muttered to myself. I looked over at Kate she looked as if she were fighting off a killer headache similar to mine. The Gate opened again and I could see the large school basement as if I were looking through water. Kate and I jumped to our feet eager to get through only to see a gate behind us open. There was a second door and behind that one in watery vision we could see the FMA world, a clear image of Ed and Al talking to Mustang. It was our choice what world we went to. Dante climbed to her feet and we all looked at the gates as they began closing.

"Come on!" Kate yelled and dashed off for our world. The image was fading and I was about to be trapped in the eternal nothing of the truth for all eternity. Dante rushed after us.

"Get away." I called to her as I jumped through the gate her hand grabbed the door but I kicked her and she let go as the door slammed shut and she didn't make it. Next thing I knew Kate and I were laying on the floor in the school basement breathing hard. The eye was still open and the hands reached out again. They passed us and grabbed the homunculi (including Greed) and pulled them all into the truth to join Dante. The eye closed with a snap and the light faded leaving Kate and I in the room alone. We both slowly stood up.

"We did it." Kate said in awe, surprise and shock. "We actually did it!" we hugged and I said.

"We need to go back to the dance and make sure everything is alright." We rushed up the stairs and looked around. The music was so laud no one even noticed that anything had been happened. I was relieved to see everyone was unaffected. The DJ said.

"Ok now we are going to slow it down a bit." A slow romantic song came over the speakers and everyone was in pairs moving slowly across the floor. I saw a blond head move towards us in the crowd, two blond heads actually. My jaw dropped when I saw who it was. Ed and Russell…ok what went wrong? They didn't let on knowing anything about alchemy or about FMA so I guess it was just this worlds Ed and Russell doubles. They belonged on this side of the gate.

"Hello." Russell greeted Kate. "My name is Fletcher, may I have this dance?" Kate and I were speechless both of us cracking up inside at the name mix up. But Kate reached out and took his hand and he led her out onto the dance floor. Ed looked at me. He really did look more like the Ed from conqueror of Shamballa.

"My name is Al. Would you care to dance?" ok apparently this was the truths version of a joke mixing their names up like that and hooking me up with an Ed look-a-like… well freshmen year, I uncovered a conspiracy, defeated the bad guy, learned alchemy, and ended up with an Ed look-a-like. Despite the cons like my best friend being held hostage, nearly getting killed multiple times by multiple people, traveling to another world, and being forced to help the bad guy for a time…I guess it really was a good year. I guess I really did get my happily ever after. But this is only freshmen year… I fear sophomore year.

The end