Chapter 1: Homecoming

She was one of the last children of Ishval, born during the last waning days of the unpleasantness of war. Her people were decimated but she survived, orphaned but alive. The girl couldn't remember her homeland, her parents or her family. She only knew hardship and surviving in the slums or whatever encampments the Amestrians allowed her "kind" to live. A child cannot grow into a woman of peace under such hardship and oppression.

War scarred her life and that life was just a small speck among the human masses also afflicted by such strife. However, only a handful of humans possessed what she possessed and learned to master. Call it alchemy, alchehestry or magic, it became the tool to give her might. In her mind, it also became the one and only truth and despite the power struggles of the current Amestrian regime, she yearned to make it the world's one and only truth as well.

Her forces amassed and grew ready to battle.

"The papers are full of these nonsense stories lately." He folded up his Central Currier and slammed it to the table, shaking the teacups.

"The people are scared and need a diversion from the current tension here in Central." Hawkeye raised one of the cups and took a sip. "It wouldn't surprise me at all if these were made up by someone in the establishment to get them talking about something other than the Fuhrer and problems here." She spoke with little emotion.

"Riza, you sound like a conspiracy theorist?" He raised one corner of his mouth devilishly partly revealing white teeth through the half-smile. "That, my friend, could land you in trouble."

"You told me to speak freely during tea."

"True."

"What are you going to do about these reports, Colonel?"

"I'm two steps ahead of you, Riza." Colonel Mustang picked up his own cup. "I've sent the Elrics to investigate."

"So, you think there is some truth to the newspapers? Do you really think someone is stealing the dead?"

"What do you think?"

"Roy," She lowered her cup and stared into Mustang's deep dark eyes. "I think Ed's gotten on your last nerve and you are getting him out of Central."

"That's harsh. He's one of my top investigators."

"Really..." She took a long sip.

"Al!" A long drawn out whine swirled with the wind through the long meadow grass. "C'mon, Alllllllll!"

The rolling green hills swirled as the wind whipped and whirled and a blonde mop of hair ran after a giant.

"Holy shit, brother, STOP!" Edward Elric came into view as he topped a hill. He bent over panting after running to keep up with the suit of armor that still ignored him. "Damnit! I'm sorry! Quit being a pussy and STOP!" He swore.

"Are you really sorry?" The steel giant stopped. "Really?"

"Yes." Pant. Cough. "I'm hoarking up a lung here trying to catch up with you, of course I'm sorry."

"Ed," The seven foot tall suit of armor turned, his hollow eyes showing their unnatural glow, the glow of his soul bonded to the suit. "Tell me then, why are you sorry?"

"Does it matter?" pant, groan, spit, "I'm. I'm here." He fell over, utilizing every ounce of drama his small frame could muster, his legs falling last with a thump.

"Ok, then," the armor turned back around and began walking, energized and with vigor away from the boy splayed out in the grass. "See ya."

"Al! I. Can't. Keep up!" He whined. "My legs..."

"...are too short?" Al couldn't help himself.

"...Are tired!" Ed shot up having a button pushed about his stature. He exhaled and lowered his blonde head, he'd have to suck up to the big guy or Al was going to kill him with all this cardio trying to keep up. "Ok. I'm sorry...for...for..."

"I'm listening, " Al replied slowing down.

"I apologize for dumping you at the last town." He bowed, feigning reverence. "For ditching you."

"And why did you ditch me?" He was liking this.

"Because I'm a moron who wanted to sneak a drink at the pub."

"...And?"

"...with a girl." He plopped down. Ed couldn't understand Al being so upset at him for wanting to flirt with a girl. If the tables were turned, he wouldn't get his panties in a wad if some girl showed Al attention. Then again, this girl, she wasn't Winry. Not close.

The armor turned and plopped down next to the boy.

"See." He patted Ed's back with a thud, almost knocking him over. "That wasn't so hard. You know, I just want to keep you honest."

"Celibate, you mean?" Ed snarled.

"Honest, celibate, to-may-to, to-mat-to..."Al giggled. He knew his big brother would thank him when they got to Resembool. He wouldn't have made it hung over and covered in hickies. He wouldn't have wanted to make it in that shape, and incur the wrath of Winry. "We are close to the road now. Want to rest more?"

"Yeah." Ed flopped his back down in the cool grass. For a minute, he thought about taking off his left glove so he could feel the soft green carpet. He longed to toss the heavy-soled boots and wool sock and feel the same coolness between the toes on his right foot. No need to remove the glove on his right hand, or the boot on his left foot for they were unfeeling, metal and cold as well. Automail limbs couldn't feel grass, it could only squash it. Besides, It would take too much time getting that stuff back on anyway so he threw away that idea. Still, the long grass tickling his cheek was almost as nice as being barefoot. "I've taken good care of it this time, Al."

"Yes, you have. You even used the expensive oil on the joints. She'll be pleased."

"I hope so or I'll get another wrench in the brain." He chuckled and flexed his prosthetic fist. Winry. Her name reminded him of all this swirling damn wind and he realized his heart was racing and he was panting again.

"Brother, are you ok?" Al sensed the change in Ed's physiology.

"Yeah," He coughed. "Just a bit wore out after running to catch up with you." He lied and he heart rhythms returned to normal. "Ready to get to the road now?" He jumped up and dusted the grass off his black pants. Ed rearranged his long red coat as the wind whipped it around. The wind also whipped and swirled his long blonde hair, messily pulled high with a single band. "I think I can beat you there." His golden eyes twinkled and he shot off with renewed speed.

"Oh, no you don't!" Al reached up and grabbed Ed's ponytail, stopping his momentum and causing him to fall harmlessly backwards to the earth again. The younger brother quickly overcame the elder and sped off.

"You jerk!" Ed quickly got back up, rubbing his head and ran after his longer legged brother.

"Granny, the Tenstu Times has a similar story on page two." The slender girl leafed through the paper amazed. "It says that the cemetery on Ratzull Hill was disturbed Monday night and every single grave was emptied, even the old crypts." She wiped the sweat from her brow, effective only smearing the grease on her hand across her forehead.

"Do you think some young punks would clear out a historic graveyard for fun?"

"Winry, if those dead souls were buried with valuables, I wouldn't put it past them." The older lady smiled and took off her surgeon gloves, throwing them in the trash. "These are hard times with many desperate people..." She began washing up in the kitchen sink and discarding her paper apron which was dotted with red. "I'm releasing Mr. Frankz to his family now, I think you did a fine job installing the port for his foot. He'll be back in two weeks for the automail...you'll have it ready, won't you?" She grabbed a towel to wipe her hands.

"Pa-leese, it's halfway done now. Nothing to making a foot." Her head was covered with a dirty handkerchief and she wore grubby overalls. However, the heat of the surgery and workroom made her unbutton the top so that it fell around her waist tied in the back. A black tube top covered her bust but revealed her midsection. She took her soiled hand and scratched an itch on her belly, subsequently smearing more grease and some blood across her abdomen.

"You might want to clean up since we are done." Pinako Rockbell uttered as she walked out of the kitchen to attend to her patient and his family.

"C'mon!" Winry snapped back. "I'm gonna finish that foot, I'll just get more dirty in the shop anyway." She stretched and yawned. Winry heard her dog Den barking outside but she didn't think too much about it. It was probably Mr. Frankz's family helping him to the car. She heard Granny Pinako giving them instructions on the care of his newly installed port until the flesh around it healed enough for the insertion of the automail foot. A few car door's slammed and the roar of an engine sounded and then dwindled off in the distance. But, Den continued to bark. "Silly dog, "Winry thought and started off for her shop until she heard Granny's voice outside.

"And look what decided to pay us a visit?"

Winry's heart skipped a beat. Could it be? "Ed...Al?" She whispered to herself and then wished she had cleaned up. The last time the Eric brothers graced her home for a visit they came because Ed had trashed his automail and had to arrive with Major Armstrong for protection. "God-damn-it," she put her hands on her hips and defiantly walked towards the door, taking two strides at a time. "He's wrecked it again. Only comes around when he's mangled..." She gritted her teeth and grabbed the door handle and jerked the door inward at the same time as someone was opening it and pushing it open. This caused the person on the other side of the door to lose his balance and fall into the house. Instead of falling on the floor, he was cushioned by the ample breasts of Winry Rockbell with his chin resting comfortably in the middle, the petrified girl holding both of them up teetering back and forth like a plank on a fulcrum.

"Brother!" Al's somewhat echoing voice boomed from inside his armor.

Winry's left eye twitched and her cheeks blushed pink as she looked down. Looking up into her face and between her bosom two amber eyes starred terrified into her own blue orbs. Ed's cheeks blushed bright pink and he tried to smile and as he did, his chin dug painfully in Winry's sternum causing her to jump backwards dropping him on the floor with a loud thunk.

"Granny Pinako?" Al could hardly subdue his giggles. He turned to the tiny old woman who didn't seem affected at all by the scene in front of her, instead she puffed away on her pipe. "Is this what they call flirting?" He couldn't stop laughing.

"Something like that." Pinako cracked a microscopic grin and gave Ed a small nudge with her foot to see if he was still alive. "Get up, boy, you look like furniture there on the floor." She walked past him and into the kitchen. Ed rubbed his red chin and slowly got up.

"So! Where is it? What did you do to MY automail!" Winry grabbed the red sleeve of his coat, pulling his arm to her. She pushed it back and jerked the white glove off, letting it fall to the floor. Holding on to Ed's index finger she twisted his right arm around examining what she could of the automail arm from the elbow to the fingertips. "Ok..." She squinted, not trusting what she found with the arm. "The arm seems ok, but I'll have to get you out of your shirt to examine your shoulder and the port." Ed blushed. Winry dropped his arm and in a split second, she grabbed his left ankle raising it high in the air. Before he could protest, she had Ed's boot off, letting it fall to the floor and she rotated his metal foot around, holding it by his big toe. Perfect. "In my shop! Now!" She pointed in the direction of the shop angered that apparently Ed had NOT broken his automail and this left her determined to FIND a blemish she could whack him over the head with a wrench for causing.

"Winry." Alphonse's soft voice shattered her anger with Edward. She dropped the eldest Elric's foot, causing him to wobble to keep from falling down again. Her eyes darted to the looming suit of ancient armor in front of her, tears welling up as she hugged him tenderly, avoiding the spikes on his shoulders.

"Al." She breathed in smelling the bland metal and heady leather of the armor and stepped back.

"How come HE gets a hug and I get inspected?" Ed demanded.

"Because," Winry gently nudged Edward in his side with her elbow then began dragging Al by his huge finger toward the kitchen. "You got a much better greeting than I was prepared to give already." Ed blushed as the two walked past him into the kitchen. Winry stopped to point again in the direction of her shop. "Shop! Now!"

"Ok, Ok." His shoulders slumped in defeat and he walked toward her shop. Pinako's voice echoed in his ears.

"Dinner won't be ready for a while and there will be plenty for seconds and thirds."

Ed, smiled and took off his coat and began unzipping his shirt as he walked into Winry's workshop. God bless that old woman. It would not take long for Winry to realize his...er, HER automail was in perfect working condition and then he could eat dinner.