CHAPTER 4
The Elric brothers looked around. All they could see were more and more people gathering around them. Some were familiar faces; others were completely unknown to them. There seemed to be thousands surrounding them, and all they could do was stare in amazement.
They saw Riza Hawkeye standing next to a boy with a straw hat and a large grin and a woman with red hair and grey eyes. Ion Fortuna ran towards the woman crying out "Esther!"
They also saw Wrath standing next to boy with Tamaki's uniform and a bunny doll and a girl with orange hair and brown eyes. The boy suddenly smiled and called out,
"Hey! It's Tama Chan!"
Wrath looked over and saw the Elrics.
"Fullmetal!"
Tamaki smiled and waved back at the boy.
"Hunny Senpai! I'm so glad my host club is returning to me!"
"Hey, Tama Chan, you wouldn't have happened to see Takashi around? It got pretty lonely without him."
Tamaki looked around.
"Oh! There's Mori Senpai! Over there! "
Hunny ran towards Mori. He climbed up onto Mori's side and hugged him tightly.
"I'm so glad you're okay, Takashi!"
Ed looked over at the scene, and saw a familiar face next to Mori.
"Well, Fullmetal, how do you explain this? Something tells me you have something to do with this."
"Well if isn't the Colonel? Do me a favor, don't lay this one on me. I honestly don't have any idea what's going on."
"You're right, you're too short to even create something as big as this."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT IF HE WAS A DRAWF STAR, YOU COULDN'T FIND HIM WITH THE MOST POWERFUL TELESCOPE IN THE WORLD?"
"Oh! Edward and Alphonse Elric! I'm so glad you boys managed to make it out okay! Of course, it would have been better if you had me come along, because the art of survival has been passed down the Armstrong family for generations!"
Ed and Al looked towards the voice. Major Armstrong was standing with his shirt off next to a guy with green hair and three swords and a guy with tall black hair and some sort of suit. They both looked freaked out as Armstrong flexed his muscles.
"We do not know this man." Murmured the one with green hair.
Suddenly, Tamaki gave out a cry.
"HARUHI!"
He leaped towards a girl with short brown hair and large brown eyes, wearing the same exact uniform as Tamaki. He took Haruhi in his arms and nuzzled his cheek against her forehead.
"It's okay, Haruhi. Daddy's here! Daddy's so glad he found you! He was afraid you were lost forever. NEVER LEAVE DADDY AGAIN, HARUHI!"
"Senpai… Please let go of me."
Ed watched the bizarre yet somewhat endearing sight, but then his eye caught on to a familiar face beside Haruhi. She was talking to Haruhi over Tamaki's rambling.
"So this is Tamaki, huh? He seems… sweet. It's weird, though, because he sounds an awful lot like-"
She stopped talking the minute she looked Ed's way.
"Ed…" She murmured.
"Winry." Ed murmured back.
Ed soon saw a huge smile on Winry's face.
"ED!"
She ran towards Edward. Before he knew it, he was in her arms, wrapped around in an embrace. He could manage to keep a gasp of surprise from escaping his mouth, but he felt his cheeks redden.
"Ed, I'm so glad you're okay. I thought… I thought I'd never see you two again."
He looked at her face. Tears were brimming from her eyes.
He gave her a little smile.
"Yeah. I'm glad you're okay too, Winry."
They both blushed and looked at Tamaki and Haruhi. Tamaki was still holding her close.
"Ed, he sounds a lot like you. And what's more, that Haruhi girl sounds kind of like me. Do you know what's going on?"
"To be honest, I haven't a clue. But what I do know is that we're all from different worlds, yet some of us have the same voice as others. I don't know what all of this is, but I'm just hoping we get home soon."
"Edward, you never told me about this beautiful lady here."
Dark had come out of nowhere and stood beside Winry. He stroked her chin and lifted her head slightly, a wicked smile upon his face.
"It's no wonder. You're beauty is so indescribable, he probably couldn't bear to tell us about you. It's a shame, I really wanted to know your name before we met. I am Dark Mousy, and I'm hope Ed knows how lucky he is to know a girl as pretty as you."
He leaned in to kiss her.
Ed sucker-punched him in the face with his automail arm.
As Dark fell down, Ed began his rant.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU, SOME KIND OF PLAYBOY? GO USE YOUR CHEEZY PICKUP LINES ON SOME OTHER GIRL, YOU BASTARD!"
Dark quickly got up and rubbed his cheek, brushing off the punch's impact. He then turned to Tamaki and Haruhi.
"Well then, if I can't be allowed near Edward's girl, I might as well get a chance to meet the incredible Haruhi."
He swept Haruhi out of Tamaki's arms.
"You know, Tamaki's been shouting for you this whole time. He kept saying how cute you are, and how he loves you like a daughter. I do agree with him about how cute you are, but not necessarily on loving you like a daughter. If I were him, I'd have something more… intimate in mind."
As he leaned in to kiss her, Tamaki kicked him in the face. He caught Haruhi and set her aside.
"HOW DARE YOU TRY TO DEFILE MY PRECIOUS HARUHI! YOU ARE NO MAN, DARK! YOU ARE A SCOUNDREL! AS HOST KING I BANISH YOU FROM THE HOST CLUB!"
A boy with red hair and red eyes walked forward.
"Dark, stop embarrassing yourself. You're just not lucky today, so get over it."
Dark got up and smiled softly at the boy.
"I'm glad you're okay, Daisuke."
Suddenly, in all of the chaotic murmur of the crowd, a loud noise rang out.
It was soft, like the wind, yet high, like a flute. It was a sweet sound that rang out above the crowd and stayed in everyone's ears.
Above their heads, a white light appeared. Everyone looked up in awe as the white light grew brighter and brighter. The light formed itself into some sort of shape, but none of them could see exactly what it was. As Ed looked up at it, it reminded him distincvely of that thing he saw at the Gate: indescribable, abstract, and yet a humanoid shape.
The figure came down into the middle of the crowd. The crowd parted so that the thing could have space. When it finally landed on the ground, it took a more distinct form. What everyone saw was a woman made of light, yet it had no features upon its face. It was more like the outline of a woman than an actual woman, but woman nothingness. Ed thought she was beautiful.
The woman of light called out to the masses.
"I know you all are confused. I cannot possibly explain everything to you all, so I am going to have to ask that ONE representative from each world follow me into the domain of light. I will explain all there."
Her voice was commanding yet melodic. It was the voice of a mothering figure. Ed could have sworn it sounded like his own mother.
The woman suddenly walked towards the crowds surrounding her. They cleared a path as she came by. When she finally found her way out of the crowd, she turned towards the people. She outstretched her hand, as if holding something in her palm.
A little ball of light came from her hand. It floated further away from the crowds and from the woman. Soon, it became dimmer and dimmer as it got deeper into the darkness.
Suddenly, the little dim ball of light exploded. It burst into a large, brilliant globe of white light, nearly blinding everyone who saw. It hovered above the blackness.
The woman of light walked towards the ball of light. She turned to the people once more. In that moment, Ed saw the woman's face turn into his mother's. He stood there mystified and shocked. The woman gave a Mona Lisa smile and walked into the light. The light consumed her and she was gone.
No one moved a muscle. They all stood staring at the brilliant sight that stood before them, amazed and entranced.
Suddenly, on person walked from the crowd. It was a boy with spiky orange hair in a kimono, carrying a large sword across his back. He walked slowly towards the light, breathless and glassy eyed.
Soon, others began to emerge from the crowd. Ed suddenly had the urge to go to the light himself. He had to see that woman again.
He started to stagger towards the ball of light, making his way through the crowd.
"Brother." Al called out to him, his voice breathless and distant, but Ed ignored him. He had to be there. He could hear the sound come from it, calling him. As he walked towards the ball of light, he felt someone behind him. He turned his head to see Haruhi. He didn't remember her name at the moment, his mind being completely compelled towards the globe of light.
As he took each step closer, he felt his thoughts float away. He soon forgot why he was even walking towards the light, but something inside him compelled him to do so. Finally, he was at the globe of light, staring up at its awe-inspiring beauty. He felt himself still clinging onto a single thought in his mind that wouldn't leave. It told him to look back. Edward, having nearly no willpower at all, did as the thought told him to. He looked back at the crowd with blank faces, and finally came upon the face of his brother.
Al only stared ahead at him, but soon gave a little wave.
Ed smiled and waved back.
He sighed and closed his eyes and let the light swallow him whole.