A/N: Alrighty…

To my anonymous reviewers…
Mei Fire: As my dad always tells me, "You're psychic message is not getting through…you need to think harder" XD And don't worry…things'll turn up.
CJ: Glad I could help! And yes…it was strange (only because I couldn't figure out what else to do with him). Then…prepare to be even happier! XD

With nothing else to say that won't make readers depressed, I present to you…!

The End of Heartache

While I was inside The Gates, the military had found Father's hideout and had sent in troops…including State Alchemists…to search out the place and take in prisoners. Using my powers to search through these Alchemists, I was slightly surprised to find Alphonse Elric within the ranks…and he had somehow regained his human body.

Now? I was holding Gel close, carefully monitoring her vital signs while simultaneously trying to keep track of where the older boy was (well…technically, he's an adult now, but you get what I mean, right?).

After pinpointing where exactly he was, I started making my way toward Father's main room (you know, where the elevator stopped at and where he has his "special chair"?), careful with the precious cargo I held in my arms.

Her signs were low and her face was ghastly pale, but I could still feel her life force barely holding on to the badly-injured body.

Hold on, Gel…we're almost there.

I had to stop several times to avoid running into military soldiers, finding a third useful ability: transparency. Now, if only I could walk through walls…

Feeling a faint shudder, I hurriedly looked down at my (possibly) dying friend. Almost sighed when I realized it wasn't the rattle of death that caused her to shudder.

Looking up and down the corridors, I swiftly resumed my ascent to Alphonse's location.

We're here, Gel! Don't let go!

Standing near Father's chair was a young man in his early twenties with blonde hair that had a hint of brown and wearing a cloak that greatly resembled Edward's. When he turned toward me, I saw that his gold eyes had a hint of gray, making them appear almost brown. But there were enough similarities for me to know who he was.

"Alphonse…" I looked back down at the beautiful young teenage girl I held in my arms, feeling the desperation holding even tighter than before. "I…need you to do something for me."

The young man, Alphonse, hurried over, alarm in his faded gold eyes. "Gel…? What happened!?"

"It's a long story," I answered quickly, tilting her head slightly to help straighten her airway, noticing her breathing was becoming weaker. "And we really don't have time for it."

I guess he noticed the hurt I failed in covering up in my voice (don't gawk, I really admitted defeat), a sympathetic look on his face. "She doesn't have much longer, does she…?"

Biting my lower lip, I nodded hesitantly. "Al…" I lowered myself to my knees, no longer able to stand for fear of falling over in distress. "Please…can you heal her…?" My heart sank at the hesitation in his being, his mind revealing to me doubt.

"I don't know, Envy…"

A splitting pain hit my chest as I hugged her to my chest, my forehead against hers. I can't believe I was so close to crying…but I didn't want to lose her. I was helpless to do anything else…

He knelt down in from of me, placing a gloved hand on my shoulder (damn, I was trembling…). "But I'll try…" His eyes were on Gel when I looked up at him, hope beginning to grow inside of me. "I'll try to open The Gates."

I nodded, gently laying my beloved Gel on her back between Al and I. Stroked copper-brown hair out of her face before pulling back to give the young alchemist room to do his work.

A sharp sound echoed off the walls as he clapped once, placing his hands on his chest in something of an X. Then a blinding light exploded, white and gold filling my view. And then, we were standing before The Gates, Gel's body lying between us.

It opened barely a crack, but wide enough to allow a shape to slither out. That shape turned out to be The World.

A grin spread on its detail-less face, its translucent form slowly walking toward us. "So it's you two again, eh?"

"Cut the crap," I interrupted coldly, glaring as icily as I could. "Open The Gates."

"Now, now," it started in that annoying tone, seeming to be oblivious of my mission. "Don't need to be so hasty." It studied us a little more, the grin disappearing off its face when it noticed Gel's body. "So…you wish to collect the rest of her soul?"

I nodded, holding back the urge to swallow. Turned down to her almost lifeless body.

"If it's not too much trouble," Alphonse added, which made me give him a sharp look.

The World seemed to be contemplating about the situation, looking between Al and me before landing its gaze once again on Gel. "…what do you intend to give me as a Passage Fee?"

Feeling more desperate than I ever remembered, I scrabbled around in my mind for anything. Then, without thinking, I blurted, "You can have all the souls I have in here." As I said this, I tore open my chest to show it the Philosopher's Stone I still had inside of me. I barely noticed the stunned expression on the young Alchemist's face, though I didn't care if he thought I was crazy.

It nodded, reaching to grab it. Strangely, it didn't hurt when it pulled the Philosopher's Stone out, another organ quickly taking its place in my chest.

"You…" I turned my attention to Alphonse, who was staring at the opening. "You have a heart? But…homunculi…"

"I'm not a homunculus anymore," I answered simply, turning away from the gawking human back to The World. "Is that sufficient?"

"Yes," it answered after a moment, gently squeezing the item in its hands before reaching toward The Gates with its free hand. "It's more than sufficient…"

The Gates opened, another light filled my field of vision…

…and last I was aware, we were back in Father's main room, Al and I both on our knees with Gel laid out between us.

"Gel?" I asked softly, gently stroking her face.

A small moan escaped from her before aqua-blue eyes slowly opened toward me. "Hi, Envy…told you I'd be back."

I laughed, bringing her to a sitting position and hugging her. And I'm glad to say she was hugging me back with just as much force. "Don't scare me like that again…"

"Guess my brother was right about one thing."

Gel and I both looked at Alphonse, who had a small smile on his face and a light glimmer of sadness in his eyes. I knew he was remembering Edward, which obviously still hurt him to do. But his smile grew wider as he finished, "The only thing that can ever scare Envy is death."

I slapped his shoulder playfully, smirking when he chuckled. "It's not that funny, you know."

"Aw," she started, wrapping an arm around my shoulders (which was a bit awkward because she was situated in front of me). "Let him have some fun, Envy. But you do have a point…he needs to have fun with a different subject."

I would've started laughing except I couldn't help but notice that military soldiers were coming into the room. Helping her to her feet, we stood looking at all the soldiers with their guns pointed at us.

"It's okay," Alphonse said in a mildly commanding tone, raising his hands. "They're no threat. You two, escort this couple outside, alright?"

The two soldiers the alchemist pointed to immediately went to work, though they all stopped pointing their guns at us.

"Come along," one of them stated, gently taking Gel by the arm while the other did likewise to me. "We'll get you out of here."

I looked down at the young teenage girl with a smile, and she smiled back.

We finally made it…

To Be Continued?