Ritsuka caught Ed as he fell, his left hand now horribly charred and blistered. Across the room, he heard Ritsu shouting angrily. Clinging to Edward, he glanced quickly around, trying to discern the cause of Ritsu's wrath. The amorphous form of what he assumed was Edward's brother on the other side of the Gate hadn't changed, but the runes on Ed's body had stopped glowing quite so brightly. What on earth had just happened?

"Ed… Edward, can you hear me?" Desperately trying to discover whether or not he was still breathing, Ritsuka pulled Ed closer to him, searching for a pulse. He had just barely detected one when suddenly, Ritsu rushed into their cage.

"What have you done? You little brat, what did you do to him?"

Ritsuka froze. What have I done? What is he talking about?

"Answer me!"

He lifted his hand to strike Ritsuka across the face, when the strangest thing happened. Ritsuka closed his eyes, and it was as if time had slowed. He inhaled deeply, and into his mind came a crystal clear image of the White Queen. Breathing in her scent, taking great comfort in her presence, he reached out his hand and saw it once again draped in the softest of silk, edged with beautiful white pearls. The gossamer fabric seemed to flow endlessly, all around him, like a pearlescent cloak, caressing his face gently and bringing him a feeling of blissful, sweet peace.

When he opened his eyes again, Ritsu was lying on the floor of the cage, stunned, staring up at Ritsuka with great surprise. "When did you learn…?"

Ritsuka wasn't sure what had happened, but he knew one thing: he wasn't going to waste this opportunity. Gathering Ed up into his arms protectively, he looked Ritsu straight in the eye.

"I wont let you touch him," he said in a clear voice.

Ritsu hesitated for a split second, then burst out laughing. "Oh, you Aoyagi brats have spunk, there's no doubt about it. What, do you think that because you picked up an alchemical trick or two on your little journey that you now have the power to defeat me? Is that it? You're pathetic. You're a pathetic little nothing, do you hear me? YOU'RE NOTHING! Nothing you do matters, and it never will. Do you want to know why, Aoyagi Ritsuka? Because you're weak, that's why. You're weak and the strong prey on the weak. That's the way it has always been, and that's the way it always will be. Better get used to it, kid. It's the way of the world. Now step aside, or I'll kill you where you stand."

Ritsuka could hear the blood roaring in his ears. His face felt hot. Standing in front of him was the man who had taken his father and his brother away from him. The one who had tormented his Fighter. The one who had taken his memories. The one who had made his mother's life a living hell, and by extension, his own. And now, this man, this man had the audacity to stand there and tell him he was nothing. Anger burned inside of him, white-hot. Rage overcame fear.

Your life is your own. He can't take that away.

Ritsuka stood up. His legs were shaking. His hands formed into fists. "I said I wont let you touch him."

"Then die. I tire of your presence."

Ritsu raised his hands, magic crackling around him. Ritsuka took a deep breath and was about to try summoning the protective energy of the White Queen once more, when he heard a loud clap behind him and he was knocked to the ground.

When he looked up again, Ritsu's hands were still in the air, but there was a look of horror on his face: a metal spear was sticking out of his chest and dark red blood was blossoming all over his neat blue cardigan.

Ritsuka spun around and came face to face with an Edward Elric who was almost unrecognizable. Gone was the hot-headed, obstinate teenager who was prone to throwing fits and hacking at trees. Nor was this the willful boy who demanded to know why Ritsuka would ever let anyone hit him, nor the angry, defiant young man who argued incessantly with his Fighter and refused to accept anyone's authority. This was… someone else entirely.

Edward stood poised, ready to strike, a second spear balanced perfectly in his right hand, his muscles tense, a palpable energy emanating from him like electricity. The feral look in his flashing golden eyes frightened Ritsuka: it was so primal, so intense, almost murderous…

Ritsu started to fall backward and Edward pounced. With a great leap, he was on top of him like a cat, driving the second spear in next to the first, twisting it savagely as Ritsu thrashed underneath him. Ritsuka put his hands over his eyes.

He opened them again as Ed rushed past, dragging Ritsu with him, dashing toward the still-open Gate. Hauling him up by his collar, Ed shoved Ritsu straight into the opening, clapping his hands as he did so. The runes on Ritsu's now-mangled body shifted and he was swallowed up almost immediately.

Before Ritsuka could cry out in warning, Edward plunged his two hands into the Gate, reaching out for his brother with all of his remaining strength. Ritsuka screamed and grabbed onto Ed from behind, terrified of losing him forever. No, you can't leave me now, NO!

Forcing himself to remain calm, Ritsuka closed his eyes, breathed deeply and once again called upon the image of the White Queen and her all-embracing, pearly-white cloak. He pictured it wrapping around himself, Edward, and Edward's brother. Safe. We are all here, we are all safe.

Blinking, Ritsuka found himself lying on the floor of the cage. Next to him was Edward, and next to Ed was a very pale, very thin, very naked boy whom he assumed must be Edward's brother, Alphonse. It worked. It actually worked…

The Gate had closed. It was done. Ritsu was gone. Edward had killed him.

Ritsuka turned to Ed, who had taken Al into his lap and was cradling his head in his hands. Ed glanced up and to Ritsuka's great surprise, he was smiling broadly. His eyes flickered toward the now-sealed Gate.

"Told you I'd fuck shit up, you asshole."