This is my first fan fiction ever. I don't know how good it is, but you're welcome to leave me reviews to tell me your thoughts. This story picks up right where the anime left off. By the way, a lot of different time periods will be represented in this story. I may not get all of the facts straight about what happened in which time period. (I was never good at history.) If I end up putting PCs in the 50's and treadle machines in the 70's, just overlook it and enjoy the story. This is my story world, so some of the rules will end up being bent. Enjoy the story!

Edward Elric was perplexed. It had been several months since he'd landed in London after having traveled through the Gate. He had studied rocket science for a short time, hoping that it held the key to his getting back to his own world. But, alas, the Einstein theory proved to be the most dependable. That meant that there was no ether in space. That meant that he couldn't get home that way. He would have to try a different method, but what else was there to try?

Filled with questions, he decided to take a walk to clear his head. After saying goodbye to his father, Hohenheim, he slipped out onto the street and started walking to nowhere in particular. He used to hate his father for leaving his family, especially for leaving his mother. But he'd developed a deep respect for his father after learning why he had left. Hohenheim hadn't wanted his children to have to see his rotting body.

As Ed was walking along, he passed by a metaphysical shop. His father came here often, as he was studying magic, since he wasn't able to use alchemy on this side of the gate. Curious, Ed stepped inside.

"Blessed Be," said the woman behind the counter, "Can I help you find anything?"

"No, I'm just browsing," said Ed, "My father comes here a lot, and I was just curious about what you had here."

"Your father comes here a lot? Look at me, son, let me see your face."

Ed turned and faced the woman. She gasped, "You're Hohenheim's son."

Startled, Ed asked, "How could you tell? Do I look that much like him?"

The lady shook her head. "No, you look quite different from him, but I'd know those eyes anywhere."

Ed was a little confused. Seeing this confusion on his face, she explained, "You and your father are the only human beings I have ever seen with gold-colored eyes."

"And that's…unusual…here." Ed said.

"Indeed it is most unusual here." The lady replied, "But I gather you are not from around here. Where are you from? Where do people with gold-colored eyes originate?"

A shiver ran up Ed's spine. He knew that someone was going to ask this question sooner or later, but he wasn't sure how he was supposed to answer it.

"I…" he began, then his voice trailed off.

"Are you okay?" asked the lady.

Ed nodded in response, then took a deep breath, and began again. "I-I'm from a place that you've probably never heard of before."

"You wouldn't have happened to have come through the Gate would you?" asked the lady.

Ed jumped back and nearly tripped over himself. "What do you know about the Gate?"

"I only know what is written in my coven's book of shadows. It says that the Gate is a portal between our world and another that is very much like this one. The main difference being that while this world has developed quite impressive technology, or will develop it in the future, the world on the other side of the gate has developed alchemy instead."

"That's it!" Ed said, starting to get excited, "Does it say how to get back to that other world?"

"Unfortunately, no." replied the lady. "However, people from our side of the Gate must have gone to the other side and back, or this information wouldn't be in our book of shadows."

"Yes, but how did they do it?" Ed asked, a bit frusterated.

"I'm not sure, but I may be able to provide a way for you to find out on your own." She replied.

"What is it?" asked Ed.

"It's very dangerous." The lady replied.

"What IS IT?" demanded Ed.

"I have a spell that will summon the gate, but it won't allow you to pass through it. Instead, Time will grab ahold of you, and carry you back and forth in its currents, periodically dropping you off at some point in history. By talking with the people in these various time periods, you may be able to find the answer you seek. However, once you are under the control of Time, it is very difficult to get free. You will also need to find your answers before the spell wears out, or else you'll be a victim of Time, forever."

"A victim of Time?" asked Ed, "What is that?"

"When the spell has run its course, you'll be left wherever you are, permanently. If you're lucky, you will land in some time period. If not…"

"I'll be traveling through time forever, and never stop." Ed finished. "Just the same, I'm willing to take the risk. Anything that gives me even a slight chance of getting back home is worth the risk. What do I need to do?"

"You mean you want me to perform the spell right now?" asked the lady, "Shouldn't you go and ask your father first?"

"I don't answer to him. He left us when we were young, though I no longer blame his for that, and my brother and myself have been living on our own for the past four years. I think I'm well equipped to make my own decisions." Said Ed.

"But he'll worry about you." She said.

"If this goes the way I'm hoping it does, then I'll be back in this time before he even knows I'm gone. If not, then at least I've tried." He said.

"Very well," the lady said, "Then follow me."

She led him to a room where religious rituals obviously took place. A large pentagram was etched out on the floor, and there were candles surrounding it in a circular pattern.

"Stand in the middle of the circle." The lady told Ed. Ed did as he was told. The lady then proceeded to recite the words to a spell.

"Time come and send this person
On his journey to find the answer.
Elementals, please lend me your aid.
Increase my power to send him on his way."

Suddenly, Ed saw this strange light appear and start to bind him like a rope. On an impulse, he tried to shake himself free from it, but its hold only grew tighter, as it continued to wind itself around Ed's body. He closed his eyes and swallowed. This was strange, but he knew he could handle it. He could feel that the strange light almost had him fully bound. Ed opened his eyes again. He could see the lady standing in front of him. She started to grow fuzzy, then completely disappeared. All Ed could see was light all around him. There would be no turning back now.

To be continued…