Beyond the Gate

by Lady Lance

Edward thinks about his life, and the forces that have shaped it. Spoilers for just about the entire series are touched upon in this drabble, so if you haven't seen it all, consider yourself warned.

Dante said that there is no equivalent exchange, only those who are strong enough to take what they want. We're at the mercy of the gods in the Gate. They're the ones who grant or deny us our wishes. They are the ones who pass judgment on us all.

Why else would I continue to live in this other world without alchemy, when Envy was all but torn to pieces before my eyes?

The beings in the Gate have already humored us so often, by letting my father, my brother and myself live, even if it is in ways that we did not wish for.

I can feel my brother searching for a way to find me.

I almost hope that he gives up.

I worked for so long to get him his body back so he could live a normal life. Of the two us, he deserves it most. He wasn't the one who thought up the idea of bringing mother back to life. He didn't ask to be turned into a living suit of armor, or worse still a walking piece of Philosopher's stone.

The search for the Philosopher's stone was an obsession. It led me to become a dog of the military. It led me to meeting Envy, Lust and Gluttony who would follow me until the end. It caused Scar's obsession; the destruction of entire cities, and cost thousands of soldiers their lives.

I don't want the cycle to begin anew.

I'm afraid it already has.