Chapter 1: Of Things to Come

Winry's POV

As I stretched and yawned, Den barked happily at my feet. I showered, dressed, ate breakfast, and went to check the mail for new requests. Ever since Granny died last year, my auto mail shop has been getting harder and harder to maintain. I dread getting mail now, because any day an official mandate could come from Central, ordering my business closed because I didn't pay bills or meet standards. However, my friend the President wouldn't let that happen. Mr. Mustang has been very kind to me since that day, exactly two years ago today, when Ed and Al saved the country from a horrible fate.

According to Mustang's report, the mysterious man known only as "Father" set up a country-wide transmutation circle, and absorbed the souls of every single citizen in the country in one fell swoop. However, Mr. Hoenhiem had some kind of secret anti-transmutation circle set up, which pulled everyone's souls back into their bodies. Mr. Mustang, Miss Hawkeye, Ling, Lan Fan, Mei, Mr. Scar, and Mrs. Izumi came out heroes.

Ed, Al, and Mr. Hoenhiem didn't come out at all.

Mustang was the last one out, and he couldn't see to tell anyone what went wrong. All I know is that the Elric family has been wiped of the planet. Last year, when the last debris was cleared, there were no bodies under Central, only dust and a discarded red coat. There is still a memorial where Central HQ once stood, and the coat was given to Granny, as Edward's legal guardian. When she passed away last year, I was left all of her possessions, including the coat. Inside one of the pockets was a diamond ring inside of an envelope, and a letter. The letter read:

"Dear Winry,

I've been waiting to say this for a long time and hoped I'd be able to do this in person. However, I realize that after I defeat Father, there'll be too much going on in Central for me to come to Resembool, and there's no way I'd let you come here just to see me. So, here I go with spilling my heart into a letter, to be mailed as soon as Father dies and I'm sure nobody can hurt you anymore because of me.

I love you. I've loved you since I first saw you, even if I didn't realize it at the time. When you get this letter, it's official. Don't go promising your heart to anyone else while I'm gone. It's mine. I know it's selfish, but you're my Winry, gear head and all. As soon as this is over, I'll come and do it officially, if you want. You know how hopeless I am with expressing my feelings, so this should be just as good.

Winry Rockbell, you are the only one I've ever loved. Will you marry me?

Yours forever,

Edward Elric"

Today's mail contains no letters of doom or tears, just a postcard from Schezka that was sent three months ago, the newspaper, and an unmarked letter. I look at the newspaper, and decide to read the front page article, titled "New Official Annual Holiday Declared by President Mustang" According to the tiny script, Mustang yesterday convinced his cabinet to declare a holiday, Elric Day, to commemorate their brave sacrifice for their country. He announced that a school was being set up in honor of the child heroes, and it would give educations to the comrades of the brothers who played a major role in defeating Father.

I sigh, remembering my childhood, when education was considered unnecessary, and anything you learned was from a private tutor or books you read yourself. I would never get into that school. Closing the paper to look at later, I went to open the letter. Inside was a single sheet of paper, fancy stationary. I peel it open, and a train ticket falls out. Reading the letter, I am overwhelmed with shock.

Dear Miss Winry,

You have been admitted to the Elric Academy. Enclosed is your ticket for the three o'clock train to Central on May the third. A teacher will be waiting there to pick you up. No books are required. Bring nothing. Clothes and supplies will be provided. Attendance for the admitted is compulsory. Failure to attend will result in closure of any businesses you may own.

Wishing you a safe journey,

Superintendant of Elric Academy

I drop the letter and sink into a chair. May third! That's in only a month! I grit my teeth, and then smile broadly. If I'm going to Elric Academy, then I can see Lan Fan, Ling, and Mei again! It'll be nice to see who else comes. I wonder how they will accommodate Ed's friends who are adults… Oh well! This'll be amazing! I can't wait until May third!

One Week Later…

I go to the mailbox to grab the morning mail, only to be greeted by an ecstatic Elicia, Mrs. Hughes, and… Mr. Hughes himself! "Hellooooo, Winry! Nice to see you again!" I can only stare at the man who has been dead for four years, yet somehow stands right in front of me. "We came here just as soon as we could, to make sure you found out! Mustang's been keeping it out of the papers, but…" Here he lowers his voice into a conspiratorial whisper. "I came back to life. Isn't it great! I just woke up in my house! Last thing I remembered was being shot, and I somehow wasn't dead!" I somehow take this all in stride. A tiny part of my brain realizes that this is impossible, that something must have been lost to achieve this, but I ignore it. Why question this? It's an amazing event, and I should feel nothing but happiness for the reunited family.

"Look here, this is my adopted daughter Nina. She's two years older than my darling Elicia, but they're both just as cute as ever!" It amazes me how Mr. Hughes can just spread his enormous heart to cover an extra family member and still give equal, if not more, love to all. It's like his heart doubles in size with each new addition to the family. Mr. Hughes has been rambling this entire time, and I look up to be blinded by a flood of pictures of his precious daughters. He suddenly starts ignoring me as he picks his daughters up, puts one on each shoulder, and starts running around the hill with arms outstretched.

Miss Gracia's quiet voice breaks into my thoughts. "I thank any God there is that he's alive. I don't know how, and I don't want to. He's alive, and that's all that matters." She turns to me, beaming. "Did you hear? On the same day Maes came back to life, Roy regained his sight! Isn't that wonderful? I also heard that one of his former subordinates who was paralyzed from the waist down regained feeling that very same day. Truly, it was a day of happiness." I nod in bewilderment, agreeing. So much good, and yet the one thing, the one person who could make me truly happy is forever gone, ripped violently from my life.

I smile to the happy family. With all of their joy, I cannot bear to be unhappy. Later, in my kitchen having tea, Mr. Hughes mentions that he and Miss Gracia will be teachers at the new Elric Academy! I happily explain how I am to go to the Academy in three weeks. Mr. Hughes tells me that he will hold off his departure to Central until then, so I won't have to travel alone. Three weeks later, I find myself in Resembool Station, readying myself to board the three o' clock train to Central. My suitcase's nametag sticks out in case I lose it, and Mr. Hughes ran off to get a last-minute present for his darling daughters.

As I board the train, I run into two small children, a brunette girl and a blonde girl. The adorable blonde one looks directly at me with shining gold eyes, and my thoughts fly to the boy whose engagement ring I found in my only keepsake from my best friend and love. My attention is pulled back to the present by the blonde's bell-like speech. "Hello, Miss Winry! How are you doing today?" Her friend immediately chastises the blonde, leading me to assume that the shorter brunette is in charge, and that the blonde did something she shouldn't have in greeting me. How did she know my name? I can't hear the words used in the scolding, but the brunette turns to me, keeping her head down as she talks.

"Hello, Miss." Her voice belongs to an angel. "I apologize for my sister's rash behavior. We saw your nametag sticking out of your suitcase, and she just loves to make new friends." I nod, and Mr. Hughes comes running up, holding two stuffed teddy bears. He stops, dead.

A/N: YAY! I love Hughes! He came back to life! But now… Bad things are happening… Ed is going to die next chapter… GOOD TIMES, GOOD TIMES!!!