Chapter 4

"Winry, I love you so much. I promise I'm going to find her. I promise." Edward cupped Winry's cheeks in his hand and kissed her lips gently.

They didn't get much sleep last night, between crying and tossing and turning, worrying about their daughter. "I trust you, Ed. Please bring her, yourself, and Alphonse home safe. I love you."

They kissed one last time before Edward picked up his suitcase and met Al and Sora out on the front porch. He motioned for them to follow him, and the three began the walk to the train station.

The train ride to Central was a very quiet one, as an uncomfortable silence had fallen between Sora and the Elric brothers. When they pulled into the Central train station, Ed and Al led the way to the Central Command Center. Even though Edward was no longer a State Alchemist, people still waved and said hello to him and all as they walked the halls to Mustang's office. And of course, Sora got a few strange looks.

"Well, if it isn't the Elric brothers- in the flesh!" Roy Mustang greeted Ed and Al with handshakes and a grin towards his own joke. "And who's this?"

"Well, this is the reason we're here, actually. Could we have a seat?"

After Edward, Alphonse, and Sora had all chimed in to explain their current predicament, Mustang shook his head in disbelief. "Ed, you know this may just be the craziest thing I've ever heard."

"After all we've been through over the years? This is the craziest?" Ed almost had to laugh.

"I guess you're right." Mustang rested his chin on his gloved hand in deep thought. "Well, Sora has his Keyblade, and Al has his alchemy…But you don't have yours anymore, Ed. How are you planning on defending yourself?"

Ed nodded in agreement. "Well, I brought a little something with me from home. I have to turn to real weaponry after giving up my power to transmute one at will." Ed moved his coat to show a sword holstered at his hip.

Mustang nodded. "Based on what you've told me, I really don't think the military can be of much help at this point. We haven't had any strange activity going on here, so I really don't know which direction to point you in. Do you have anyone else you could call or visit, to see if you can get some information?"

Ed pondered that for a minute. "Yeah, actually, I think I do. Could I use your phone?"

"Of course, you're welcome to it." Mustang stood to leave the room. "Hey, Ed? Be careful out there. Bring your little girl home safe." With that, he left the room.

Ed picked up the phone on Mustang's desk and began dialing.

"Who are you calling, brother?" Al asked.

"Trust me, you don't want to know." Ed chuckled.

"You called May Chang?" Alphonse exclaimed, blushing furiously.

"Yup." Ed laughed. "And I'm glad I did. She said her friend in the South had seen what seems to be Heartless. Specifically in South City."

"Back to the trains?" Alphonse asked.

"Back to the trains."

The Elrics and Sora walked out of Central Command and started back toward the train station. "Hang on," Al said as they passed a shop. "I'm going to get a drink for the train. Do you want anything Ed, Sora?"

Ed and Sora both shook their heads and stayed outside the shop. Ed was fantasizing about the many ways he could destroy whoever was responsible for taking his daughter from him when Sora broke him out of his trance by yelling, "Ed, look out!"

Two Heartless dodged past them and into an alley beside the shop. "Hey, get back here!" Ed shouted, drawing his sword and chasing after the creatures. When he and Sora turned into the alley, however, they saw no Heartless. Slowly, Ed walked further into the alley. Still no sign of the Heartless. "What the hell-"

As Ed began to turn around to walk out of the alley, he was bombarded by two large shadows of darkness. These were no Heartless. Ed swung his sword as the shadows swirled around him at an ungodly speed. "Sora! What the hell are these things?" He glanced over at his companion, to see him also in whirlwind of these creatures, swinging his keyblade furiously.

"Gahh!" Ed gasped as he was pushed back by one of the creatures, his sword flying from his hand and further down the alley. "Shit!" He screamed, falling backwards. He was pinned against the alley wall with the creatures whirling in front of him and no weapon to strike them with. Sora was trapped in his own vortex, hacking and slashing with his keyblade.

"Ed, hang on, I'm coming for you!" He yelled, swinging faster. These creatures seemed to be multiplying.

Ed began swinging his fists as the creatures came closer to him, knowing he was done for with no alchemy and now no weapon to boot. He squeezed his eyes shut and tried to think of a plan as his heart raced.

He suddenly felt his heart swelling and he though he may be having a heart attack, until he felt something growing into his hand as well. He opened his eyes to see a keyblade transforming in front of him, right into his own hand. "S-Sora!" He gasped, and then forgetting his shock, he began using the tool that appeared in front of him to slash the creatures that were attacking him. He made the two that had him pinned dissipate and then ran to help Sora, who was surrounded by at least ten of the creatures.

"Edward! Sora!" Al raced around the corner, dropping his pop bottle to the ground and reached for the chalk in his pocket. He used it to draw a transmutation circle to morph the ground into a sword for himself and help Ed and Sora fight the rest of the creatures off.

Finally, they had destroyed the last of them. Gasping for breath, Ed asked "What were those things?"

Sora's hands were resting on his knees, doubled over, trying to catch his breath as well. "Nobodies. Those were Nobodies."

Alphonse gaped at Ed, staring at the keyblade in his hand. "Ed, you've got one of those keyblades. How did you-"

"It just-it just grew in my hand. I don't know what happened. Sora, how did I get this blade?"

"Well-"Sora stood taller and visually examined the blade. "You don't choose to wield a keyblade; a keyblade chooses you. And this one chose you. The keyblade will only choose the people who have enough power to fight the darkness. It only chooses people who have a strong heart."

Ed began to grin. "I do have a strong heart. After what I've endured, Sora…I've got a heart made full metal."