Nothingness. That was the first feeling that registered in Ed's mind as he opened his eyes to the blank space around him. He turned around, and was conflicted whether to sigh in relief or scream at the morbidly familiar sight before him. The looming doors of the Gate stood before him, sealed tightly, bearing the intricate carvings of the world. Ed stared at it for a while, wondering when it would open for him, but it stayed patiently shut, almost mocking him. Ed wanted to shout in frustration or anger, but he held himself back.' For Al,' he thought, clenching his new right fist, ' this is for Al.' He forced himself to bring his gaze back up to the Gate, and raised his head up in mock confidence before calling out,

" Give me back my brother."

Then, the doors slowly creaked open, and a thousand purple eyes were upon him, giggling softly and encompassing him with an aura of knowledge and power. Ed stared straight ahead, unmoved by the threatening presence in front of him. He knew what was on the other side of the gate, he had been there and had fought his way back. He had beat the Gate and he could play whatever game it threw at him. Gold locked with purple, and with an unflinching voice, he repeated,

" Give my brother back. I don't care what price I have to pay. This was my sin to begin with, Alphonse deserves to live."

The soft laughing suddenly grew louder and louder, up to the point where Ed was sure his ears were bleeding. Slowly, the mess of eyes bled into one, unblinking eye, watching him, fixated. Ed still didn't move, glaring directly into the penetrating gaze. Suddenly, the eye blinked and a figure, gracefully, tumbled out from it. It rolled over to look at him, and Ed fought down the urge to run away. It was a white, faceless figure, with almost a child-like outline. It had no features whatsoever, other than an unnervingly huge grin plastered across its face. Ed stared at it, unsure about what to do, when it spoke,

" Edward Elric. My, my, how we seem to keep on meeting. One would assume you have an actual death wish."

Ed gritted his teeth, clenching his fists hard. He tried not to lunge at the figure before him, knowing it was pointless and would probably confirm whether or not he had a death wish. Stuck to his spot, he ground out,

" Look, I meant what I said before. Send me back to the other side, take my soul, I honestly don't give a shit. All I care about is returning Al to his body."

It just laughed and, if possible, his grin grew larger. Speaking again in its other-worldly voice, it replied,

" Are you sure? You only saw one side of the other sides, you might not like where we send you next."

Ed felt a sudden rage build up in his chest, contrasting to the lifelessness that was threatening to consume him. He had been feeling as if his soul was being slowly sucked away, although he didn't know whether or not it was side-effects from the Gate, or just all the stress catching up to him. His anger grew like a fire in his stomach, and he couldn't stop himself from roaring out,

" ALL I WANT IS FOR MY BROTHER TO BE SAFE! TO LIVE, TO BREATHE, TO FEEL! GIVE THAT BACK TO HIM AND TAKE ME!"

That seemed to strike something with the figure because it started laughing, and laughing, and laughing. It threw its head back and guffawed, causing a painful ringing in Ed's ears. Panting, he hissed out,

" I fail to see what's funny."

All of a sudden the laughing stopped, and the grinning figure turned its attention back to Ed.

" Don't worry Edward Elric, you'll understand with time. Well than, if that is really what you want. Who am I to disagree? I'm also curious to see what will happen, you are an interesting person Edward Elric, and those are rare to come across of. Since you fascinate me so much, I think I'm obliged to throw in a little gift."

Without time to react, millions of tiny hands shot out and started dragging Ed towards the Gate. Before he closed his eyes and let the dread of Truth overcome him, Edward saw a ten year old boy being pushed out the opposite way. Locking eyes for a millisecond, Ed saw the kind, grey eyes so like his mother's, and he knew who it was. 'Alphonse,' Ed chanted in his mind, letting the darkness surround him, ' I'm doing this for him.'