{POV Alphonse}

The train trip to the outer province was quiet; Ed and I sat together, while Emily sat one seat over. She hadn't said anything since we had left central. Her dark sunglasses covered her eyes, and her hair kept everyone from suspecting the truth. I would have to say Emily was pretty, but she wasn't soft. She must have seen a lot of death during the Ishvalian war. It made me wonder why an Ishvalian would become a dog of the military.

"Hey Al," Ed said, drawing my attention away from Emily.

"Hmm, what?" I asked.

"We have to make a pit stop," Ed said, scratching his head, he grinned at me, "I sorta, kinda need Winrey to fix my leg."

"What did you do to it?" I asked him, I thought back I didn't remember him doing anything.

"Well, I-ah," he rolled up his pant leg and there was a gapping whole in his mechanic leg.

"Brother!" I exclaimed. Emily went ridged, and looked over.

"What? What is it?" she demanded.

"Can't you see the whole in his leg!" I said, gesturing to my brother's useless limb.

"How did it happen?" Emily asked, relaxing a bit.

"When I got up to go to the bathroom before we got on the train some guy ran by me with some lady's purse. So, I grabbed him, but he stabbed me. I took the purse and knocked him out and returned to purse. I can still walk on it, but I can never fight with it," Ed explained, he didn't like Emily so I assumed he said this more for my benefit.

"I see," was all Emily said, she crossed her arms and relaxed back into her seat, satisfied that there was no danger.

"So we will have to get off to see Winery," Ed continued, all serious now.

"Okay," I said, I never minded seeing Winery. I suspected Ed was much happier to stop and see her than I was, though he would never admit that.

The rest of the ride went by smoothly, Ed and I talked about different things and Emily remained silent. When the train finally pulled into the station of our stop we all hopped off. Emily stumbled on the stairs, and I reached out to help her. She shied at my touch.

"Thank Alphonse," she said, 'but that is unnecessary. I am fine."

"Al," I said.

"What?" she asked, looking puzzled. I gave a small laugh.

"Just call me Al," I clarified.

"Oh," she said, "Okay then, Al, thank you for help, but I am quite capable myself." It might have been my imagination, but I think she blushed slightly.

"Hey you two, hurry up!" Ed called, limping his way across the station.

"Brother! Wait up!" I called, hurrying after him. I lost Emily in the shuffle, but I wasn't worried, she could find us.

I caught up with Ed and grabbed his arm.

"Wait for Emily," I said.

"Fine," he huffed, pulling his arm away. I looked around and saw Emily standing in crowed turning this way and that looking flustered. I waved my arm at her but she didn't see me.

"Emily, over here!" I called. She turned at the sound of my voice and stumbled forward. She stopped.

"She's weird," Ed said, his arms crossed as he studied Emily.

"Lay off," I said.

"Whatever," Ed said, "Hurry up and get your girlfriend so we can get out of here." He turned away and started walking again. If I had had a body my face would have flushed.

"She's not my girlfriend!" I said, embarrassed. I felt a tug on my arm and I turned, it was Emily.

"Al," she said, she looked stressed.

"Yeah, what's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing," she said, turning her face away, "I just don't like crowed and noisy places." She walked forward but she stayed close to me. I didn't know what to think. Was she…? No, she couldn't be! But maybe she was!? No! I didn't know what to think, I had no experience with girls.

We followed Ed out of the train station and onto the road that would take us to the Rockbell's house. Once we got away from the city Emily relaxed again and fell into an easy stride.

"So Emily," I said, unsure of what to say, but wanting to brake the awkward silence. She didn't say anything but turned her head slightly in my direction.

"Umm, I was wondering, if you're Ishvalian, why is your hair blonde?" I asked. Emily's lips turned up just the slightest bit.

"I dyed my hair," was all she said, she lengthened her stride so she wasn't walking right beside me, but not next to Ed.

"Oh," I said. The silence continued.

"May I ask why?" I asked tentatively.

"Ishvalians aren't well liked, I can't change my skin tone and I can't change my eye color. However, I can cover my eyes and dye my hair. Now I look like a tan Amestrian," she stated, like it was obvious.

"So how did you end up with the military?" Ed asked.

"It's a very long story, one I don't care to share," Emily said. Ed snorted and shook his head.

"What?" Emily asked, "You don't tell your life story to everyone who asks, do you? I don't think we will every meet again after this arrangement. All you need to know is that I am the second youngest state alchemist, and my specialty is assassinations. I'm good at what I do, and I have your back as long as you have mine." When Emily finished Ed had a look of pure shock written all over his face.

"You're an assassin?" he asked, as if he hadn't quite heard her right. I was surprised, too. I hadn't expected that.

"Yes," Emily said, curtly holding her head high.

"You kill people for a living?" Ed asked, as if he still couldn't quite wrap his head around it. Emily sighed.

"Yes, Edward, I kill people for a living. That's what being an assassin means. I didn't choose it, I was assigned. I'm good at it, and most of the time, the people I hunt and kill are the ones that deserve it," Emily said, she sounded like she really didn't want to be having this conversation, or any conversation for that matter. I got the sense she didn't usually talk this much.

"But what about the people who aren't, and who are you to judge them anyway!? What makes you so special!?" Ed said, he was getting really worked up now. Emily walked in front of him, then stopped and turned to face him.

"And who are you to judge me," she hissed, she was mad; "you have no idea who I am, of what I've been through. I am a dog of the military; this is what they command me to do. I'm just following orders. What I think is right or wrong doesn't really matter."

Ed glared at her, and they just stood there like that, facing off. Ed turned away first.

"Whatever," he said, waving his hand as if shooing a fly. He stepped around her and continued walking. I didn't try to break the silence this time, so it remained silent until we reached Winery's house.

{POV Winery}

I whipped the sweat on my forehead off with the back of my hand. I glanced over at the clock and groaned. It was almost noon; I had been working for 8 hours. No wonder my back was killing me! I put down the parts I had been working with and arose from my chair. I gave a good stretch and sighed. There was a soft knock on my door.

"Yeah Granny? It's open," I called and faced the door, she was probably just coming to tell me lunch was on. Granny stuck her small head around the door and gave a toothy smile. Her eyes seamed to sparkle behind her small round glasses.

"We have visitors," she said simply.

{POV Emily}

There was a loud shrike and I instantly tensed. Out here, in the wide open and I didn't like it. A door opened and the shrike came again. I crouched. I listened; there was someone of medium stature running toward us. I was about to spring when-

"ED! AL! YOU'RE HERE!" the voice cracked and caused me to flinch. But I relaxed, this must be Winery.

"Hey Winery, good to see you-whoa!" Edward started, but Winery had reached him and had hurdled herself into him the two fell and Al began to laugh. They fell at my feet and I leapt to the side, to avoid a collision.

"What are you guys doing here?" Winery asked, as she and Edward righted themselves.

"Ah, well, you see, um," Edward and Al stammered. I found this strange.

"Oh, who are you?" it was Winery again, though this time she addressed me. I faced her and stood straight, but instead of replying I just stood and listened. I listened to her heartbeat, and that of Edward's. I listened to the birds flying overhead, I to the sound of Al's armor as he moved, I listened for the sound of those who should not be there, and found none. I relaxed.

"Well?" Winery asked, her voice gave the sound of curiosity and not impatience.

"Ah, this is Emily, she's our guide for our next mission," Al said hastily, stepping forward as he spoke.

"Oh, so if you're on a mission then what are you…ED! WHAT DID YOU DO!?" Winery yelled, she moved toward Edward and Al. Once again I crouched, but this time I sprung!

Winery fell forward as I landed on her, changed her momentum so that she moved sideways, and I quickly rolled off and into a defense position in front of Edward and Al.

"Winery are you alright!" Al called.

"Are you crazy?!" Edward yelled. I turned gave them a confused look. Al rushed over to Winery as she moaned a bit.

"She was advancing toward you in a threating manor. I had no choice," I stated.

"NO CHOICE! NO CHOICE! WHY YOU LITTLE!" I sidestepped Edward as he lunged at me.

"Brother!" Al called, his voice filled with shock. Edward stopped his attack.

"What Al?" Edward asked, his voice filled with annoyance and anger.

"Winery is fine, she just got a little bump on the head! We need to get her into the house and get her some ice. She'll be fine!" Al said with conviction. Ed turned away and went to Winery.

"Ow, my head hurts…"Winery said softly.

"It's okay, I gotcha," Edward replied and huffed as picked Winery up. I stayed where I was. I had not meant to cause harm, I was merrily on edge from the change of scene and on alert. Winery had acted threatening; I was unaware that she posed no danger. I heard the door close as the boys went inside, calling for someone named 'Granny'. When the door shut, I let out a sigh. This was going to be a long mission.