What Lies Beyond the Gate

Truth be told, the Gate is the source of ALL life on Earth...

!DISCLAIMER! - I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist or any of its characters, storylines, and whatnot. If I did, I wouldn't be writing a FANFIC, now would I?

Chapter Two – That Which is Lost…

The plane was in horrible condition when Ed and Al came crashing down upon the open Earth. It seemed they liked to attract attention for people saw the bright light of the Gate and crowded the crash site. The Gate, one by one, released the black flesh-eating hands and little by little ate away the crowd. All the while, Ed and Al jumped out of the plane and rushed the remaining folks away.

Women screamed, children cried and men protected their wives and their lives. The Gate's backflow was starting to affect this world! Suddenly, an explosion sounded and everyone was silent. All, except for Ed who shuddered in fear. The Gate...it had just suddenly showed itself to Ed, and only him. Al looking to where Ed was looking at...but saw nothing. "Brother? What's wrong?" Al asked.

Ed shivered and scooted as far as he could away from the iron doors before him. Why was he so scared? He's faced the Gate so many times...

Why? Ed stood up and realized exactly what it was coming for. "Al...Get these people as far away as possible...right now..." Ed said. Al just stood there, dumbfounded and confused. But knowing Ed as well as he did, he nodded and obeyed his orders. Al got on an old, large rock and cupped his hands around his mouth.

As thoughts started to taunt him, Al quickly got the announcement out to the folks. "Everyone! Listen, please! I have to make this announcement! My brother is going to do something that requires all of you to get to safety…so I'm in charge of getting you to a safe distance!" He shouted. Sure, he knew, briefly, what Ed was going to do: sacrifice himself to the Gate in exchange for this world's safe continuation.

The people Al made the announcement to be questioning him. Al shook his head, and then sighed. "Please, hurry and follow me!" Al said, but before he left, he turned to his brother and tears streaked the thin layer of dirt that covered his face. Ed just stared at the Gate. "Are…are you sure? I mean…I could help you…" Al said to his brother. Sure, he couldn't see the Gate, but he very well knew that it was right there, if his brother could see it.

Ed didn't respond. He didn't move. His golden eyes shown with deep determination. "Brother…NO! I won't let you do this alone." He said and Ed finally moved and turned to him.

"Why?" Ed asked. "What's the point of helping me when you know the Gate will do as it did before?" Ed said. Ed was obviously referring to the first time they had an encounter with the Gate. Al was hurt from that.

"Brother, I…" Al was silenced by Ed's hand. Ed raised it for Al to be quiet. Still looking into the Gate, Ed started t walk to it.

"Al, get them to safety and quick!" Ed said. Al just nodded, more tears streaking and trickling down his face. Hot, salty tears…

Al turned to the townspeople and yelled for them to start following him. The people saw a bright light attack them and they started to follow. No longer questioning Al or his brother, Edward.

I hope this works, thought Ed, briefly, because I'm not sure if I'll ever be able to see Al or anyone else again. Ed sighed and looked at Al who was around 500 feet away or so. "That should be a safe enough distance for the Gate to open up completely." Said he.

Al looked over his shoulder at his brother as heavy winds kicked up dirt and sand, sending it into a whirlwind of desert horror. "That which is lost…" started Al, "…can never be regained." He finished and shook the thoughts that had continuously been haunting him away and continued to forcibly make his way through the sandy storm. It was proof enough for Al that the Gate was really there when the storm kicked up. It was the Gate that had been the cause of this wreckage, and Al really wished he could have somehow helped.

Ed looked over at Al once more. He then lipped the words; 'Take care of Winrii…' to Al and upon sensing something, Al looked over and smiled.

Ed focused back into the Gate's depths. Ed reached inside and said aloud to the Gate, "Take me for I shall be their sacrifice." He meant, he was the people's sacrifice. The world's sacrifice. Long, black arms stretched to Ed's body and Ed was pulled into the depths and the Gates closed. The slamming of the Gates closing alerted Al and he turned and saw nothing.

His brother…

Was gone…

"Will you ever come back, brother?" Al asked. "Or will you simply ignore this world to keep it safe when in reality, we need YOU most of all?" Sighing, Al told the towns folks to go find their homes and get a good nights rest. Meanwhile, Al had other plans for the night.

Part of it to find a way to get his brother back. The other part to go home to Winrii's.

The dust and sand settled back to the ground soon after and people parted to their homes. Al, on the other hand, was running quickly to his childhood friend's house, down in Resembool, knowing it would take quite some time to get there.

Coming across the old train station of the town they were in, Al looked around for any signs of use. It seemed abandoned. Good, he thought, I'll stay here for the night and continue to Winrii's tomorrow.

And as Al thought, he jumped up, onto the platform, and went into the station. Clapping his hands, Al then placed them onto the ground and made a small bed for him to sleep on. Though many thoughts were crowding his mind, Al managed to fight it and managed to find a way into sleep.

The next morning, Al felt very refreshed. Though, as soon as he came out of sleeping, those thoughts from the night before rushed back, Al managed.

"I wonder how brother is doing." Al asked himself. But he shook his head again to clear those evil thoughts.

"I best be getting to Winrii's," said Al, again, "I'll worry about Ed later…"

That Which is Lost is forever gained, yet, you can't regain what is gone for it is forever lost...

A/N: Well, there's your next chapter of 'What Lies Beyond the Gate'. I hope it was good enough. Once again, it took around 2 or so pages in Microsoft Word. To me, that's better that what I usually do. Wow…my hand's cramping up too…