Disclaimer:…does it look like I won anything? My name's Danitonfen13 not Butch Hartman or Hiromu Arakawa so, I can't own DP or FMA…alright?

Chapter 4

They had finally arrived at Danny's house in, pretty strangely, exactly ten minutes. Danny told them everything that happened and Tucker almost shouted when Danny finished. "Dude, the guy's off his rocker!"

Danny and Sam glared at Tucker and all he could manage to say was, "What?" and shrug his shoulders.

"Look, I know all this sounds really crazy and everything but I believe him. Plus, he promised to keep my secret, a secret. Also, think about. If he was really crazy, then how the heck did he figure out my secret?"

"What Tucker probably means is that, maybe he's one of those…you know, mad scientists. Vlad's pretty crazy himself, and he isn't some idiot," Sam offered up. Even though she wanted to believe the story Danny had told them, she still had her doubts.

Danny shook his head, "Nah, he isn't like that. Don't all mad scientists have some kind of weird tick or something? Plus, everything would make sense if science advanced in different ways than machines and technology."

"Or maybe somebody told him," said Tucker. Unlike Sam, he didn't believe any bit of Ed's story. "There's no way alchemy could've advanced more than technology! That's crazy! They wouldn't have gotten far! Seriously dude, why do you think he's in there? His family probably thought that he's crazy and can't take care of himself anymore."

Danny's eye twitched, "I doubt anyone that we know would've told him. They'd sooner go to the police and turn me in than tell someone else. Plus, everyone there seemed to stay away from him. No one would bother going up and telling him anything." Danny paused a little, "He figured out. I guess he's one of the few people in this town that is actually smart enough to figure out that I've been bustin' my butt out there to save them." He then gestured to his arm, "And you guys didn't see his arm and leg. They were more advanced than anything I'd ever seen. He couldn't have gotten them here, and if his old world had stuff like that, it'd be obvious that they were getting along fine technology-wise."

Sam decided to believe what Danny said. They had seen a lot of things in the past, why couldn't something like alchemy exist somewhere else? Tucker on the other hand, was still unconvinced. It was probably because he couldn't imagine a way for computers to exist if alchemy continued any longer than it did.

"So, whether or not you guys believe me, I have a plan to help Ed out," Danny stated. "Would you be willing to help me with it?"

Sam nodded but Tucker didn't. Sam jabbed Tucker in the stomach and with a loud 'Ow!' and a lot of pain, Tucker nodded too. Danny smirked. Heck, it would be pretty funny if you're best friend got jabbed in the stomach with the elbow by your girlfriend.

"Cool, come on, we have to go into the ghost portal."

Tucker, Sam, and Danny snuck downstairs into the basement. Danny opened the portal and went ghost while Sam and Tucker stood next to the Specter Speeder.

"Ready guys?" he asked.

"Sure, we're ready to go, but would you mind filling us in on what we need to do?" Sam asked. Danny had yet to tell them anything and it left both she and Tucker were completely confused.

"Good. Now, we're going to look for a big, creepy door. It probably looks ancient and, I don't know, maybe a weird vibe. Ed called it 'The Gate' just to let you know."

"Wait, I think I could look it up. Hold on." Sam said as she jumped out and walked to the computer and typed in 'the gate'. Much to her chagrin, thousands of things popped up. "Danny, could you be a little more specific? 'The Gate' is a way to common phrase."

Danny nodded and thought for a moment. "How 'bout you try big, creepy, and ancient door?"

Sam looked at Danny incredulously. "Are you serious?"

Danny looked at her innocently. "What? You said to be more specific. I was!"

"You know, he did get somewhat more specific," Tucker laughed. A second later, both boys had huge lumps on their heads and were cowering away from Sam.

She sighed and tried something different. She typed in 'the gate, alchemy'. "Okay, here we go. It says that there are things that live inside the gate and have been known for asking for payment in order to see into it. It goes on to say that if one wants to go through it, a life has to be sacrificed!" she felt a shiver go up her spine. She looked back at Danny and he shrugged. She continued to read, "It also says that it's the gateway to a place called Amestris! Hey Danny! Isn't that where you said Ed said he's from?"

Danny nodded.

"It also says that there were two gates, but," Sam's eyes widened as she almost whispered, "One of them was destroyed by Edward Elric and Alphonse Elric. The other one still exists in the ghost zone but neither of the men could find it, because they couldn't find a way to get to it."

"Whoa dude. I take it back. Maybe this guy isn't that crazy…" Tucker said staring at the monitor.

Danny was too surprised and shocked to say anything. "I was thinking that maybe if we found Ed's home then maybe we could bring him back."

"What?" Tucker and Sam yelled in unison. "Danny! Didn't you hear what I just read? It can kill people if they pass through!"

Danny shrugged again. "I'm already half-dead, maybe it won't count nearly as much. Plus, Ed's alive, and on this side. There must be a way to there without having to kill something."

"At least wait until Ed teaches you some alchemy," she begged. "That way we can get to the other side without killing anything, like you said. And…you won't look as clueless as you do here if we get to the other side." said Sam.

"We?" asked Danny.

"Well yeah, you can't expect us to let you go by yourself this time. Remember last time?" she exclaimed.

Danny grimaced, then sighed, then nodded, "Okay, fine. I'll wait."

Edited July 12, 2010