A/N : This is one of my old fics I wrote a few years ago and posted it up here. And in which I kinda neglected it for a few years. So I finally found some time to update it and also re-write the chapters. So for those who read this fic before, this is the newly updated version. For those who haven't, well, hope you like it.

This fic is written based on my knowledge I obtained from the manga and the movie, Conqueror of Shambala. I did not watch the first anime so I don't really know what difference are there between the manga and the anime.

Disclaimer : I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist. If I did, you guys will suffer from my laziness to update the story...hehehe...

Crossing Over

Chapter 1

The stillness of the night was broken by the sound of the fire and the anxiousness of the villagers. Villagers from all ages crowded around the Rockbell's house. A long line of men were seen trying to extinguish the fire but from the looks of it, whatever efforts the men put in, the house was beyond saving. When one of the men broke the news to the crowd, the women – especially – started to cry and an elderly lady clung unto him.

"No! You musn't give up! Truly with this many men, you can stop the fire?" she questioned but the man shook his head.

"I'm afraid I can't. Even if we could extinguish this fire, nothing much can be saved," he reasoned regretfully.

"But, Winry! Winry is still inside!" A voice cried from the crowd. The elderly lady looked up at the man but he avoided her gaze.

"I'm sorry. There's nothing more that we can do," he piped out, trying to keep his tears from falling.

"She's still so young. Why must the gods be so cruel? They've already took Pinako away! Why should they take Winry also?" the lady cried out bitterly as she cursed the heavens. The villagers just looked at her sadly. They all had the same thought.

Winry was only in her early 20's. There's still a long future ahead of her but yet…this accident had to happen. Her grandmother passed on almost a year ago. Perhaps this accident was a blessing in disguise. To help the young orphan out of her misery. But despite that thought, the villagers knew that Risembool will never be the same again without her.

---

Gracia held back her tears as her eyes stared at the gray tombstone in front of her. The name 'Winry Rockbell' was carved into it along with the year she was born until the year she died, which was actually a week ago.

"Mama, Winry is going to meet papa right?" Alicia's voice broke the silence. Unable to speak, Gracia just nod. Alicia bends down and placed a basket on the grave. "I hope you and papa can share this apple pie I made."

Unable to curb her tears any longer, Gracia wept. She came to Risembool with Alicia because she wanted to surprise the young automail mechanic and to grant Alicia's wish to spend her birthday with her. Armed with an apple pie and a few pairs of clothes, they made their way to this serene village, only to be a week late. She was shocked to see the Rockbell house burnt down and even more shocked when one of the villagers she turned to for helped directed her to the cemetery when she asked for the whereabouts of Winry.

According to the man who brought them here, Winry's remains couldn't be found when her house burnt down. Perhaps her body was burnt so badly and crushed by the pillars but even so, the villagers made a grave for her, alongside her grandmother and her parents, as a memorial.

When Gracia noticed that the sun was setting, she held Alicia's hand and with a shaking voice, told her that they were going home.

---

Darkness surrounded her. None of her senses worked as if she's just an empty shell. Death, perhaps this was it. She succumbed to the darkness and as she began to slip deeper into it, a barely audible voice resonated.

Winry

Her eyes flickered a little and her fingers twitched when she heard the voice. Slowly, the voice grew louder, calling her name over and over again. Her senses returned and she finally found her voice.

"Who…who are you?"

As soon as she speaks, the darkness began to fade and images began to flood her mind. Images of her life, of people she knew, places she has been, things she has done. As the flashes became overbearing, Winry passed out.

---

"When do you think she will wake up?"

"Who…who's there?" She thought when her clouded mind began to clear and through her eyelids, light began to pour in.

"I don't know, Cathy. It all depends on her." A second, more mature voice replied the other. She struggle to speak but her throat was dry and no voice came out. She wanted to ask who were they but instead, she gagged.

"Wait, Cynthia, she's waking up!" The first speaker said.

She could feel someone rushing to her side and lifted her head a little. Then she felt someone cold touched her lips. Slowly, liquid began to drip into her mouth, soothing her dry throat. When she felt that her throat was alright, she tried to speak again.

"Who?" her voice came out finally, though it was barely a hoarse whisper.

"Shh…don't force yourself to speak. Can you open your eyes?" the more mature speaker asked. Slowly, she opened her eyes. She winced at the brightness and waited for her eyes to adjust to the sudden brightness.

"Where…"

"You're in Dr. Cynthia's clinic," the first speaker, a young girl of ten said and looked curiously at the blonde girl's face.

"I'm Dr. Cynthia," the other person said when she noticed the confusion on the bed-ridden girl's face. "This is Cathy. What's your name?"

She was silent for a while before she replied slowly.

"Winry. Winry Rockbell."

A/N : There. The updated version. More words compared to the version before. Haha! I'm still working on the other chapters so please be patient with me...