Author Note: Here's another one. It's a little short but whatever.

Many of you have been asking when Edward will find out that Sarah is Sam, I'm glad that you guys are really looking forward to it. It will be in a few chapters probably around either ten chapters or less. I'll try to update faster so that the wait won't be so bad but still I hope you can all bear with me.

Disclaimer: FMA and its characters belong to Hiromu Arakawa

Chapter 19: Escape

Sam walked over and kneeled down next to Edward. He placed a hand on his shoulder making him look over at him. Sam smiled at him.

"Never lose hope Edward. No matter what happens keep fighting. You are strong so don't let this get you down. Think about all the things you've already overcome…they seemed impossible at the time but still you found a way…you can overcome this too." Sam reassured him. Edward stared at him with wide eyes a little overwhelmed by what Sam had said. He's right…we've come this far. We can't afford to give up now. Edward nodded then slowly rose staring Envy down with determined eyes. Sam smiled again at seeing Edward back to his usual self. Sam turned back to Envy then stepped forward so that he was standing slightly in front of Edward. Edward looked over at him wondering what he was about to do. "You act as if you don't care but you are also stuck here as well." Envy glanced at him then seemingly shrugged his shoulders once again pretending that he didn't care. "It's true that we won't last long here but what about you? You will stay here forever…kept alive by the philosopher's stone that is your core." Edward gasped at the mentioning of the philosopher's stone. He had forgotten that the stone served as the homunculi's core. Suddenly multiple ideas formed in his mind; Edward's brain was working out a way to use that bit of information to help them escape. Sam smiled when he saw that Edward was working it out. He knew that Edward would be able to use that information so he made sure to mention it. Eventually Edward ruled out all the theories until just one remained; it was still risky but he was willing to try it.

"I have an idea." He said gaining everyone's attention. He explained that he would perform a human transmutation here. Sam smiled again proud that Edward had figured it out. Since this was a false Gate then he would access the real one through human transmutation; he would break down his own body and soul then reconstruct them into an unaltered form. After explaining the plan Edward looked over at Sam who nodded his approval. Edward smiled at him grateful for the reassurance earlier. Envy and Ling were skeptical about the plan but eventually agreed to it. They walked over to a large piece of rubble so that they could create the transmutation circle. While it was being made Edward noticed that there was a strange mural on a nearby piece of rubble. Drawn to it Edward walked over to examine it. It was broken around the edges but the overall image was clear. It was a transmutation with symbols. Ignoring Ling's questions and Envy's complaints Edward stood there slowly taking it in. His eyes widened when he realized what it was…it was a transmutation circle that would create a philosopher's stone.

"What is…?" Edward tried to ask but couldn't get the words out.

"If I'm not mistaken this is from Xerxes." Sam said as he stood by Edward looking up at the mural. Edward looked over at him then looked back at the mural thoughts and questions filling his head. Xerxes? The country that suddenly disappeared. Could this have something to do with it? This is used to create a philosopher's stone…and if this came from Xerxes then does that mean that the people of Xerxes were turned into a philosopher's stone? Edward assumed that that was the case. He clenched his fists then turned around to face Envy.

"Is this Father of yours planning to recreate what happened at Xerxes?" He asked clearly outraged by the idea. Envy stared down at him then turned back to the circle they were creating. "Answer me!" Edward yelled after him but Envy just ignored him.

"Let's just get this over with." Envy said. Edward glared at him but relaxed when Sam placed a hand on his shoulder. Sam looked at him then nodded before leading him back to where Envy was waiting. They finished the circle but before Edward performed it he turned to Sam and Ling.

"If something happens to me please…tell everyone about the Homunculi's plan to use the people of Amestris to create a philosopher's stone." Ling scoffed before smirking at him.

"There are people waiting for you right? So make it there safely and tell them yourself." Edward stared at him a moment before smiling.

"Right." Edward then walked over and stood in the middle of the circle then using part of Envy's stone as the toll he performed the transmutation; he was reluctant to at first but after being assured that those in the stone could never be human again he agreed to use it. Light was emitted then the eye of the gate opened below Edward. The black arms swirled around him. Edward looked over at Sam who smiled at him. Reassured that everything would be okay Edward welcomed the hands. It wasn't long before he was engulfed in them leaving behind the awful sea of blood.

Opening his eyes Edward saw the gate in front of him. He smiled when he saw that his plan had worked. He looked around trying to spot the creep known as Truth. He froze when he heard a voice behind him. He slowly turned around and gasped at what he saw. There was another gate behind him but that wasn't what he was focused on…it was the person sitting in front of it. The person was boney and pale with long hair covering half of his face but still he was able to recognize him instantly.

"Al…" Edward said fondly. Alphonse's body smiled at him but made no move to get up. Edward started running towards him but was suddenly pulled back. He looked and saw black hands coming out of the now open gate. Edward struggled against them while he reached out for his brother's body. Alphonse smiled sadly at him but remained where he was. "Damn it!" Edward yelled as he was pulled into the gate. He managed to force his way back out but was still being pulled in. "Alphonse! Come with me!" Edward yelled at his brother. Alphonse slowly shook his head.

"I can't…I can only return when my soul comes to get me." Alphonse explained.

"Fine then I'll come back for you. I promise no matter what it takes I'll come back." Edward managed to say right before the doors of the gate closed. Edward was engulfed in darkness again but this time he felt that he wasn't alone.

Author Note: Because of the whole Hughes not being dead thing Edward never went to the desert and saw the mural so I had the whole thing there for him to see instead.

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