Somewhere, in a forgotten city, two siblings, bonded by a common goal, waited as an ancient elevator took them deep underground. They're not quite sure what this city holds, other than archeologists have been going missing while investigating it.
(Elder Brother:16, Younger Brother:15)
The older brother stepped forward, walking into the ancient city. Looking around for a bit, he rubbed the back of his head before looking back at the suit of armor and nodding. The two began to walk slowly through the city for a few moments, listening to the quiet of the area around them. The eldest smirked as he said, "Should be time for the scary creepy monsters to come out and eat the little boys who got lost, isn't it?"
"That's not funny brother!" The suit of armor said, looking down.
Ed smiled, "But it's true. Big monsters could come and eat the little boys who got lost."
"So they would eat you first?" asked Al. Only then, he paused and realized what he said.
"What...was...THAT?" asked Ed.
Al gulped.
At that moment, Al began to run towards a large, three-story stone building in the distance.
The building was well light, despite every other building being dark. It had large curtains in the front with large stone pillars. Two large metal doors stood in its front. One door was slightly ajar.
Al and Ed stopped chasing each other at the doors and began to take a look. As Al looked at the sides of the doors for any writing or inscriptions, Ed began to look at the slightly open door. After a few minutes of investigation, he slowly began to open it and look inside.
The doors had several meticulously drawn symbols all around the sides. Each symbol showed a figure washed away by a bright red wave: A round, bald human, a woman with snake-like arms, a large muscular man, an old man with a sword, a woman with a spear, a young boy, and a woman with long hair holding a young man's arm as he is being pulled away by the serpent. The design reached around one door and repeated around the next.
Inside the door was a small, white lobby. At the end of it was a ticket booth with a red curtain around it. Behind the booth were two doorways on opposite sides, also with red curtains covering them.
Lightly, the sound of a woman muttering could be heard.
Ed began to make his way towards the muttering, "What?"
"Brother?" asked Al as he looked at the two doors, "Did you hear something?"
"Yeah, muttering," Ed said, looking towards the sound, "How about you look at those doors and wait there."
"Ok, but be careful brother," Al said.
Ed looked back, "Aren't I-"
"No, you aren't," Al confirmed. "Don't lie to me."
Through the doorway was a large ballroom with a giant alchemical circle on the floor. In front of it, far away, was a woman in a purple frilly dress looking over a book. She had her dark hair cut short.
Ed stepped into the ballroom, looking at the large circle. Slowly, he began to study it and look it over. Then he looked up at the girl, "How did you get here?"
The woman stopped and turned to Ed, dark eyes piercing into him,"Edward Elric." She said with a frown,"You want to know how I got here? You want the short version or the long version?"
"Long," Ed said.
"Once upon a time, I was working in an abandoned town, much like this, with my 'children.'" The woman said, crossing her arms,"I was working on a plan to become truly immortal when you showed up and managed to thwart my plans. I attempted to escape when one of my 'children' went feral and tried to devour me. In a last-ditch effort to save myself, I transmuted the philosopher's stone held within my body. The next thing I knew, I ended up here." She pointed to the circle,"Since I arrived, I've been working on a way to use alchemy to send myself to other worlds, preferably my own." She smirked,"I'm guessing you're here because of my test subjects."
"The missing archeologists. What kind of woman are you to say their test subjects and... wait I never even met you!" Ed shouted.
"Not in this world, I'm afraid. Trust me," she said, before smirking,"Well, I couldn't necessarily test the circles on myself, I had to use someone to see if they would work. Don't worry... I'm certain it was painless..."
"So you're sadistic and insane. Good, I was hoping to beat you without regrets."
The woman laughed,"It's your sense of humor that I like the most about you. Shame about the other parts." She clapped her hands together,"I'm not about to let you ruin this for me!" She stepped out of the circle and slammed them onto the ground, summoning spikes.
"Wait what?" Ed said, jumping out of the way to create giant fists, "Since when can you do that?"
"Since I saw the same thing you have!" The woman said, clapping her hands again,"I went to revive my son." She chuckled,"But I got so much more out of it than his life, don't you think?" She put her hand on the ground, creating her own fists.
Ed put up a large barrier to block the fists. , creating some steps, he ran up the wall to jump at her. "You don't put a value on human life. You gained something but what did you lose for it."
The woman gasped as she leaped back,"My body was disfigured." She touched her normal face,"A minor toll, considering that I soon learned to switch bodies."
"You what?" asked Ed, going for a sweep kick.
The woman stepped back again,"I used a Philosopher's Stone to allow myself to switch bodies with others to extend my life. I believe that I am on my 16th body right now." She smirked,"Her name was Lyra, I believe. I wanted my former apprentice, but she destroyed her own body before I could get a chance."
Ed clapped his hands to form a spear and looked at her dead in the eyes, "Anyone ever tell you that you are insane?"
The woman smirked,"All the time, really." She clapped her hands, and put them on the ground, putting a wall between them,"If my body was complete, I'd be able to handle you in a normal fight. But I'm not about to leave myself at a disadvantage!" she turned and ran to gain distance...
She would if there wasn't a giant metal suit of armor in the way. She promptly slammed into said armor's chest and fell to the ground in a daze.
Al picked her up by the collar, "Big brother? Why was she running away?"
"She's insane and was using people for sacrifices"," Ed's voice came out muffled through the wall before he made a door with his smiling face on it and opened it.
"Oh," Al said looking back and getting ready to punch her. "Um... is it ok to punch girls?"
The woman snarled as she looked up at Al,"I don't know, what would your mother say at a time like this?"
"She would say that you are a mean lady and would deserve to be punched," Al said.
The woman sighed,"Of course. That bitch is causing problems for me beyond the fucking grave..."
Al frowned, although he couldn't really show it, and punched her in the stomach to send her flying across the room. Ed smiled and gave his little brother a thumbs up before looking down at the circle, "You know, when she wakes up, maybe we should give her credit for making the circle."
"Do you think it even works?" asked Al, walking away from the fallen woman.
"I," Ed put a finger and thumb to his chin, "Can't say. The formula is sound, the points match something big. It matches a few theories I read about multidimensional travel. Like if you use a proper star configuration plus something matching the theoretical human transmutation sigil, you could do it. However, you have to be crazy to try. The cost would be too great."
The woman began to laugh,"Thank you..." She brought her head up to look at them,"You truly are geniuses for telling me all that. I can see why Izumi picked you!" She clapped her hands together and slammed them onto the circle,"Come on a little journey with me, won't you!" She moved closer into the circle as several white hands began to appear all around them. Her body began to slowly come apart,"Maybe this'll work, or maybe we'll die... at least I'd have the pleasure of taking you with me!"
"AL!" Ed shouted, turning his head to look in horror as the hands began to grab at the armor.
"BROTHER!"Al said, his voice becoming distorted as he began to disintegrate.
Turning his head to look back at the woman, he shouted, "I'm gonna kill you bi-"
"Please, call me Da-" she said as she faded from Ed's vision, and his world went white.
After a few minutes, Ed blinked the white void away from his eyes. Taking a few minutes to reorient himself, he looked around the white room he was in. When he looked behind him, he saw a large door sealed. Engraved on it was a large tree with several circles on it, "Oh...god no. Not here. That means I have to hear-"
"Hello again, Edward!" A white figure that was almost completely blank except for a pale arm, leg, and wide teeth, said behind him. Behind the figure was a golden door with a similar tree,"Before you ask, no, I'm not gonna take anything from you this time. It seems that woman was successful... sort of."
Ed let out a small and almost singsong "fuck you, ass!" under his breath before he looked at Truth. "Almost successful? And what's with the golden door?"
"This is the Door Between Worlds." Truth said,"That woman managed to summon up enough energy to break the dimensional barrier. Unfortunately, she has no idea where she's going, but I do." The figure let out a large grin,"Your brother is safe, don't worry about that. This gate will allow you both to enter the world she will soon arrive in."
Ed looked at the door and then back to Truth, "And you want me to stop her? Good. I've got a score to settle with her."
"Good! I was hoping you'd say that!" The Truth said, holding their arms up,"Simply open those doors then. And one more thing:
A wild man whose strength is unmatched.
A coward who hides his great speed
A monster with the mind of a young girl
A young man in green, whose kind heart is tempered by a strong will.
Find these people, and they will help you."
Ed heard those words, frowned, and began to walk through the door, "You know, if I was anyone else, I would hate your guts for riddles. But I'm doing this," he then flipped Truth off and glared at them, "purely because you are the biggest ass I ever met."
Truth laughed,"I love you too, Edward!"
The doors opened, and several white hands came out to grab Ed.
Elsewhere,
Two siblings, with two companions, stand in front of a dilapidated house, having received a mission to find a demon lurking inside. This demon was responsible for several disappearances.
(Elder Brother: 15, Younger Sister: 14)
A young man in yellow looked at the subtitles above him, trying to figure out where they came from and how did they know. He was also very excited to know that he was around the same age as the girl. A certain man with a boar's head ran on ahead of them to both scout and kill.
The young man in green shook his head and walked on further into the old house looking around. Looking behind him, he patted the box, as if to reassure the young traveler inside. Then he looked on ahead, "A light? Zenitzu, think you could go and hide behind one of the bookcases. It might be the demon."
"Oh, sure! We know how it goes, I scout, get badly hurt, and then you get to be awesome. Well, I am not doing-" a soft hand touched his. Looking down, he saw Nezuko's pink eyes looking up at him with kindness. Feeling a strength he never had before, he ran inside.
Tanjiro looked back at his little sister, "That was dirty." she frowned a little, but he patted her head, "No, you did a good thing."
He then began to walk further in, looking down at the large circle beneath him, "A circle? Why would-" he sniffed the air, "Blood? A demon? No... something else is there, rot." he then put the box away in the corner and held his sword in a ready stance.
Around the circle were various bloodstains. In front, near a large balcony with a staircase was a small desk with a lamp. The lit-up lamp was overlooking a book.
Tanjiro walked over and began to look at the book, looking over the pages slowly.
"Once upon a time, there was a witch who had a husband who was a wizard. They lived happily in a faraway land filled with whatever they desired.
The witch and the wizard loved each other very much. Enough to have a child of their own. The child was loved well by them, and everything was peaceful.
Until the child was poisoned. The witch and the wizard attempted to bring the boy back to life but to no avail.
However, in their attempts to bring the boy back to life, the witch discovered that she could switch bodies to attain immortality. She told the wizard about this, and the wizard agreed that they would use this ability to keep on living...
Or rather, that's what the witch wanted. The wizard hated using other bodies, as he felt it inhumane, and thus, the wizard abandoned the witch.
The witch hated the wizard.
The wizard, then, eventually found a whore who bore him not one, but two children, who were wizards themselves. And then the whore died.
The children attempted to save her, but it wasn't enough. Their attempt cost the eldest the arm and leg, and the youngest his body.
They went on a journey to fix themselves...
But it was for naught, as the children found the witch..."
"I didn't have the chance to finish that fairy tale, boy. Don't read it yet." A woman's voice cooly said behind Tanjiro. Behind him was a woman with long black hair, dressed in a black uniform with white lining. Her catlike eyes were a piercing purple.
Tanjiro closed the book and looked back up to the girl, looking into her cat-like eyes with some trepidation. Staying a little on guard, he said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to read it so soon. Are you alone here?"
"That smell of blood and decay, it's coming from her. It's so strong, like smelling stagnant water," he thought to himself.
The woman smirked,"Yes, except for my chimeras, who are getting slaughtered by your..." She cocked her head,"Pig-headed friend?" She shook her head,"In any case, I assume you are here to kill me?"
"Yes," Tanjiro said, hand on his sword, "I'm sorry... chimeras?"
Several cat-dog hybrids lay dead on the floor as blood lead up to Inosuke's feet.
"WHO'S NEXT? I have plenty of room for you on my blade!" shouted Inosuke as he had at least two chimeras on one sword, and three on the other. One's intestines were hanging from his tusk.
"Yes, I took some animals from around the area, and then fused them together for my attack dogs. They obviously didn't work if they are so easily slain." The woman said. She held a sword at her hand,"I suppose I should take care of you myself."
"She's a swordswoman?" Tanjiro began to walk around her slowly, watching her. Slowly, he began to breathe, allowing the breath to come out in slowly eased pants. Then e took a step, "First form, water surface slash!" he then raced out, slashing out at her with a single strike, water seeming to flow from his blade to create a wave.
The woman quickly pulled out her sword for a block,"Neat trick..." She smirked,"You know, this is my 17th body... her name was Sayori, I believe. I wouldn't have had these skills if it weren't for her." She spun around for a strike at Tanjiro's neck.
Holding up his blade, he blocked her strike by holding it vertical, allowing the attack to slide against the sharpened edge with a shower of sparks, "You treat bodies like toys don't you? Throwing them away when you are done. Do their lives mean nothing to you?" he pushed her blade away and went for a slash at the leg and then the stomach.
She gasped when the strike hit her stomach,"You know, I almost miss the comebacks..." she muttered, before holding her sword at Tanjiro, stomach wound healing,"Why would I care about my bodies? Do you care about each slice of bread that you eat?" She thrust forward.
Tanjiro bearly moved to the side, getting cut lightly, "Only monsters put humans on the same level as food."
The woman did a horizontal strike,"Monster? You call this monstrous?" She laughed as she pulled away a bit of her shirt, showing black spots that appeared and reappeared,"A body that always regenerates, a body with enhanced strength, speed, and senses. She looked to her left,"I am even able to smell your friend's fear." She looked back at Tanjiro,"What you call a demon, I call the next step towards my ascension."
Zenitzu gulped as he trembled behind the bookcase, trying to stop himself from passing out. Tanjiro just took a quick step back from her slashes, returning with a few quick strikes of his own to try and hit her with a well-time slash. "Ascending? Ascending into what? A more demonic form? Your body is becoming as rotten as your soul!"
She kept blocking slashes,"A more powerful demon, or even a god." She gasped as one of Tanjiro's slashes caused her sword to fly out of her hand,"Shame about that..." She smirked,"I'm more proficient in hand-to-hand!" She sent a fist into Tanjiro's ribcage.
Tanjiro let out a scream of pain as he felt his ribs crack. Struggling to breathe, he growled, "I will not bow before a false god." holding his sword at a horizontal strike, he spun out, "Six" but a sudden jolt of pain in his ribs caused him to stop and take a knee. "C-can't catch my breath..."
The woman smirked as she walked towards Tanjiro,"That's why I aimed there." she lightly caressed his cheek,"I know you demon slayers gain power from your breathing, thus your weakness is your lungs."
Tanjiro took a shuddering breath and got back to his feet. Taking a few deep breaths, he began to try and move into a different position, "It hurts every minute to breathe. I need to get her to a position where I can strike hard..."
The woman did another punch, this time aiming for his neck.
Tanjiro took a step back, righting himself before getting back into his stance.
Zenitsu watched and began to pant and sweat as he started to feel faint.
The woman walked slowly towards him, before coming in with an elbow to his face.
"Oh gods, Tanjiro is losing. He's losing bigtimeandifthathappensthenNezukowillbesadandIwillhavetodosomethingand-" he then passed out.
Tanjiro tried for a slash, only to sniff the air. Though the blood was harming his sense of smell, he could smell the scent of ozone and static, and ten stepped aside. As he did, a living lighting bolt flew out from one of the bookcases, slashing at her stomach and chest.
The woman gasped in pain, before holding herself as blood flowed from her wounds,"... I appear to have underestimated your friend." She frowned, watching Zenitsu take a stance in front of her without looking,"He's fast, certainly." She clapped her hands, before leaping to the side.
"GOONGALA!" shouted Inoske as he crashed through the roof, stabbing down at her with his blades out.
She screamed as the blades stabbed her shoulder,"God, what the hell are you!?" She glared at Inosuke,"It's probably best I take you down quickly before you gang up on me." She slammed her hand outside the circle, causing light blue electrical energy to appear. Several wooden spikes came out from under the trio.
All three screamed in pain as the wooden spikes cut and stabbed through them, cutting into their bodies and drawing blood. As they took a knee, a loud scream sounded like 'get away from them you bitch" and a beautiful female demon erupted from the box and slashed at the woman with her long claws, bringing out fire as she did. Narrowing her eyes, Nezuko growled like an animal.
The woman held her cheek,"And here comes the little sister." She smiled at her,"Let me guess, you're on a mission to bring her back to normal?" She clapped her hands together.
"How...did you figure?"
"I've seen this story before." The woman slammed her hands onto the circle,"The four of you together might be able to kill me... I can't risk that, so come on a little journey with me, will you?" She smirked as she stayed within the circle.
Several white hands appeared all around them, grabbing at the group.
Tanjiro watched in horror as the hands grabbed at his friends. For a moment, he was grateful that Zenitsu was asleep so he wouldn't hear his friend screaming as he was pulled. Looking around, he tried to move to help Inoskue as he growled and roared at the hands. Seeing that his friend faded, he turned to look at Nezuko and reached out to her, "Nezuko!" he shouted at the top of his lungs, pulling and struggling at the hands. The more they pulled at him, the more he pushed his way through them in an attempt to grab at her. "NO! I won't lose her again!" he grunted as pulled against the hands, being brought to his knees.
Nezuko let out a tiny whimper as she reached out for her brother, tears in her eyes as she began to remember the worst day of her life. She reached out for him, her fingers beginning to slip from his hands as she let out a cry of "Tanjiro!" as her gag disintegrated.
Tanjiro opened his eyes in a white void, "Lilacs? Roses?" he sniffed before sitting up, "Heaven?"
"Close," A voice said from behind Tanjiro. Behind him was a large golden door with a tree on it. The tree had several circles on the branches. In front of the door was a pure white figure with a big smile, showing teeth,"You are not dead, and neither are your friends."
Tanjiro began to pat himself down, feeling his body being whole without wounds. Looking back at the white figure, he asked, "If I'm not dead, then where am I? Who are you, and where are the others?"
The figure laughed,"I'm so glad you asked, Tanjiro!" They waved their hands in the air,"This is the space between worlds, a place beyond what is called the Gate. The woman you fought used what is known as Alchemy to send herself and you here before you entered a new universe. The others are in similar places, waiting to enter their own Gates and see the world beyond them. As for me, I'm many things: The Universe, God, Truth, Reality, and..." Truth pointed a finger at Tanjiro,"I'm You."
Tanjiro looked at the being, "Me?" he asked. "Why did that woman go to that universe, and can I still save my friends? And... how do I stop her?"
"The woman desires power above all else. As for your friends, well..." Truth cocked their head,"They'll be fine, but you may have to find them on your own. As for the woman, well, I can't help you there, that's something you'll have to figure out yourself." They then held up a finger,"But, I will give you a little bit of advice:
A boy with a body of steel, but a heart of gold.
A man in red with a strong will, and the weight of the world on his shoulders.
These two will help you on your quest." Truth indicated the golden door,"All you have to do is go through the door."
Tanjiro nodded, "Thank you. I'll do what I can." he said, walking through the door and closing his eyes, "A man with the weight of the world on his shoulders."
"A young man with a kind heart sharpened by will," Ed said.
"Sounds interesting, " Ed smiled.
"I hope we get along," Tanjiro said.
In different worlds, the two pushed through the doors.
A/N: Why are there so few crossover fics of FMA and KnY? It's weird...
There are probably questions that you might ask, but they will be answered in the fic. Let's just say... I enjoy pulling things from all over a franchise, especially one with so many video games and light novels as FMA.
