Crimson Angel
Chapter 4 Ð Take Me to The Other Side
Rae was not ready to bring Al and Winry through the Gate. She wondered if it was a mistake to even consider bringing them. She had gone through once, by herself, to learn the way through the gate and scout out the other side. It had not been a pleasant experience, but at least she knew how to get them all through safely. They had planned to leave that evening, and Rae intended to keep them to their schedule. Al and Winry were nervous too, but she couldn't afford to let them back out now. Al wouldn't, after a few days getting to know him, Rae was confident that he would go through with her no matter what the risk if there was a chance of finding his brother. Winry, on the other hand, could very well back out which would make trouble for Rae. Once through the Gate her automail had failed, and though she suspected that it would work on the other side with some fine-tuning, there was no way she could perform the maintenance herself. She needed Winry to come with them, and so too would Edward Elric when they found him.
Rae let herself review what she had learned about the missing alchemist. He was fifteen when he went through the Gate, which would make him twenty, twenty-one, provided time moved at the same speed on the other side. He had become a state alchemist at age twelve, the youngest anyone had ever been granted the title, and was given the name "Fullmetal" because of his automail limbs. There wasn't much Al could tell her about his brother's disappearance, whatever had happened had erased years of Al's memories, but he was adamant that Edward had to have gone through the Gate. And since she had no other leads, Rae accepted his story.
She finished the huge array she had been drawing on the ground outside Winry and Al's home and sat back on her heels to make sure it was perfect. She had learned quite a bit about them too in the few days she had spent with them. On the long train ride Rae had learned that they were engaged, and from what she had seen they made a wonderful couple. They worked well together, and even to Rae it was evident that they were in love. It didn't surprise her that they both came out of the house together a few minutes later, Al carrying a duffle and a bag Rae had seen Winry packing full of wrenches and other tools earlier. Winry had a smaller bag that they had packed that morning, with food and general supplies. They looked ready to go, and Rae felt her nervousness increase ever so slightly. Neither of them had experience with the Gate, Rae would have to prepare them for the trip they had agreed to.
They walked slowly towards her and placed their bags with hers on the edge of the array. Rae stood, dusted the dirt from her hands and pants, and joined them. She smiled at them to hide the anxious feeling that had grown inside her, but as long as they did what she said they would all make it just fine. "You should know what to expect, when we get to the Gate," Rae looked at both and saw their determination, so she continued. "The Gate is huge, and when it opens there is only darkness within. After we pass through the doors you must not speak, and there are two things that, above all else you must not do. You must not loose contact with each other. If we are separated there is a chance that you will not make it through the Gate, but if for some reason we do get separated, keep moving forward, I will come find you. Second, you must not, for any reason, no matter what you hear, speak your names while we are inside the Gate. Names have power, particularly within the Gate, and you would not want to give the Gate Power over you." Finished, Rae regarded them. Winry opened her mouth, preparing to ask something, but Rae cut her off. "I'll answer questions later, but it's best if we just go. Al, take Winry's hand, and I'll take her other hand. Remember, don't let go, and you'll be fine."
They gathered their bags, adjusting them for comfort. Rae knelt and shifted Winry's hand to her shoulder. She had to concentrate her energy through the array, something that she hadn't done for years. It felt strange, but the array activated without any problems. In a few seconds the light faded and darkness surrounded the three. Rae glanced behind to check on Winry and Al. They looked at her from the darkness, and she reached up and squeezed Winry's hand gently. They shuffled forward through the darkness until the Gate seemed to form out of the darkness itself in front of them. There was no sound in the darkness, even as doors eased open to reveal grasping baby hands. Winry gasped, but she didn't say anything. Rae guided them forward, up the steps and through the massive portal. The baby hands parted to reveal a passage.
The three walked for what seemed an eternity. Winry and Al seemed to instinctively avoid the walls and the outstretched arms, for which Rae was thankful. If they were pulled into those greedy hands, Rae wasn't she what would happen but she knew instinctively that it would be far from pleasant. She wondered how long it would take to reach the other side, it hadn't taken her this long when she had come through on her own. Winry and Al had been perfectly silent, as Rae had instructed them, though she couldn't be sure how much longer they would last. Even Rae was getting tired of walking and wanted nothing more than a soft bed in a warm, dry room.
Suddenly, Winry stumbled, and in the split second her hand lifted from Rae's shoulder, Rae disappeared. With no one to guide her, Winry stopped abruptly causing Al to run into her, nearly knocking both down. Despite the darkness, there was enough light for them to see each other by. Al helped Winry catch her balance, and they stood close, holding each other for a few minutes. Too soon for Winry's liking, Al pulled away though he continued to grip her hand firmly. Rae's earlier instructions to keep moving seemed to whisper in his ears. He had always been taught to stay in one area if he was separated from a group, but inside the Gate, it seemed that anything had to be better than staying still. Al pulled Winry as close to his back as he could around the packs slung over his shoulder, and started to again to walk through the darkness.
Rae felt Winry's hand leave her shoulder, and in the split second that followed chubby hands shot out and pulled Rae into a suffocating embrace. She didn't fight, though part of her wanted to. She had made a deal with the Gate, and as much as she recognized the terrible timing, if it was time to pay her debts she would accept it and hope that Al and Winry would be able to complete their mission. The hands continued to wrap around Rae and squeezed slowly, but abruptly released her. Rae tumbled to the floor, bumping her hip and elbow painfully when she hit. Though the hands had released her, Rae could feel them pulling her hair, pinching, petting, and she was thankful for her coat and gloves, which prevented the hands from touching her flesh. Rae shivered at the thought.
"What do you seek?" A familiar voice sounded in the darkness. Rae felt a sense of dŽjˆ vu, but she answered without hesitation. "Passage through the Gate to the place where Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist of Amestris resides, for myself and my two companions." Rae waited for something to happen, and finally the disembodied voice replied. "And what will you give in return?" Rae's answer was the same she had given every time she had stood before the Gate in the past eight years, and just as suddenly as she had been pulled away from Winry and Al she was pushed back towards them.
Rae collided with Winry and Al from the side, knocking the over. As the three fell light exploded around them, sunshine poured down blinding them. A searing hand yanked Rae's wrist, and as she escaped the darkness the voice she associated with the Gate spoke one last time. "Your exchange is acceptable. Payment will be collected when darkness falls."