CHAPTER 9

"Aunt Izumi, what happened to Winry?" Al started to panicked as well.

"I'm not sure, but she suddenly dropped on the floor and her breathing has become shallow."

"Just stay there. I'm going up." Ed ordered as he turned towards the castle's entrance.

Pinako barred her arm in front of Ed, stopping him from leaving, "There's no need for that Edward."

"What!?"

Pinako looked and the others looked up into the sky. In seconds, Winry emerged, already in flight. She almost dropped to the ground the minute she took flight, but she flapped her wings harder and headed off towards the lake.

"Why didn't she return to her human form?" Al approached Pinako. "We did something wrong isn't it?" his voice unsure.

"No, it's not something you did wrong. It's something one of you hasn't done--yet." Pinako replied.

Al turned to Ed, "Brother."

For a moment Ed looked away, clenching his fists, and shutting his eyes tight.

"I suppose she hasn't told you everything." Pinako shook her head and sighed.

Ed turned and walked a few feet away. He knelt and said, "I'll bring her back."

Then he clapped his hands and placed them on the ground. Ed transmuted the cement ground and raised himself up to the air, making a 'bridge' that carried him towards the lake.

"Do you know what to do?" Al shouted, but Ed was already high above the ground and Al only saw him saying something, but wasn't able to hear what he said.

Winry was already nearing the edge of the lake, and by this time her strength was already failing her. She was already faltering as she started to descend to the lake. Her wings tipped from side to side, touching the moon-bathed water. Finally, she was able to reach the edge of the lake where the water meets the grass. She was grateful that the moon was out that night, and as soon as the moonlight hit her, she transformed back to being human.

Ed was already halfway towards the lake when he saw a familiar light at the edge of the lake, and as he drew near, he saw Winry lying on the edge of the grass, her right arm outstretched into the water. Ed's heart pounded so hard that breathing became difficult.

"WINRY!!"

Ed jumped off from the 'bridge' and ran into the shallow part of the lake. He rushed towards her and gathered her in his arms.

"Winry, wake up." Ed shook her gently.

Winry didn't move. She looked like she's sleeping but her arms lay lifeless on the grass.

"Winry wake up, please!" Ed drew her near, almost hugging her.

Winry moved a little and Ed loosened his grip and looked down at her. Winry slowly opened her eyes and upon seeing Ed, she gave him a sweet smile.

"Prince Edward."

"You agreed not to call me 'prince' remember?" Ed smiled.

Winry smiled, "Ed, I …I feel so tired."

"Winry…wait." Ed searched his pocket and took out the ring. "This might help."

Winry shook her head gently and placed her hand over his hand that held the ring. "That's not really necessary Ed."

"Huh?" Ed looked confused. "The stone may be a little shattered but it still has its power, and besides, it's in my hands now."

"Ed…I'm sorry."

"Winry…"

Winry looked away, "I really want to go to sleep now."

"NO!" Ed exclaimed, panic was already overwhelming him.

Ed knew she was lying and he fought hard to keep his tears inside; he didn't want her to see him as helpless as what he's feeling right then. His throat tightened and he felt a lump of air trapped in his throat, making it difficult to speak.

"Why is this happening?! First, I lost what was rightfully mine, and when I finally got everything back, something will be taken away from me again…" Ed's voice trembled. "Whatever happened to equivalent exchange?" he looked away in resentment.

Winry tightened her hold on Ed's hand, "Ed, look at me."

Ed looked back at her.

She, lying there in his arms, her face radiated with calmness and her deep blue eyes smiled at him ever so dearly.

"It's alright Ed. Don't worry about me. I'm happy I was able to help. Please believe me okay?"

"But Winry-"

"I'll be going to sleep now Ed."

"Winry, promise me you'll wake up okay?" Ed begged.

Winry smiled and closed her eyes.

A tear escaped from her eye.

Back in the castle

Al paced back and forth while the others waited anxiously for Ed and Winry to show up from the 'bridge' Ed made an hour ago.

"You should have let me follow Aunt Pinako." Al said, a little upset.

"I told you Al, it's only Ed and Ed alone who can fix it this time." Pinako replied. "There's just two things that could possibly happen, either Ed comes back with Winry alive or with Winry…" she trailed off and gazed into the moonlit sky.

"So will you finally tell us why Winry's case is different?" Riza asked, Roy was still half-conscious and resting on her lap.

Pinako puffed her pipe and started to explain.

"When we were all told to flee to the forest, Winry insisted to come back, remembering Ed's pocket watch that was so important to him is still left somewhere in his room. She ran off to the already under siege castle, I following behind. However, we got separated from the falling debris. I ended up finding my way to where Roy's transmutation circle was which of course, where all of you were…and ended up just the same…

Winry managed to get the pocket watch, but by then she was already badly wounded and almost dying from the amount of blood she had lost. The sad part was I couldn't help her because I became a duck already.

In a desperate move to make sure that Ed and Al will some day come back to take what's rightfully theirs and help everybody, Winry attached a part of her soul to the pocket watch and half to the rays of light from the stone that Roy used for his circle. That's why she turned to an animal too, a swan." Pinako paused and looked at everybody who were all listening intently.

She continued.

"The reason why she can go in and out of the barrier is because she's not really inside the circle when she was transformed, a 50-50 effect if you may call it that way. And that's the same reason why her life is dependent to us being transmuted back to our original forms." Pinako sighed sadly.

"You mean to say Winry will die when we get our bodies back." Sheska asked nervously.

"Yes, because that means the power of the stone has already worn off, and everything will return to how it all was before." Pinako confirmed.

"We-we are back to normal…right?" Falmon pointed out uneasily.

"It can't be!! There must be some other way to reverse this." Al refused to yield.

"Yes there is. That's why Ed is there…hopefully he would do the right thing."

"What do you mean?"

Pinako gently set her pipe aside, "Equivalent exchange. That's how you call it right?"

"Equivalent exchange? But what's that have to do with Winry?" Al asked, a little confused.

"Simple. It's all because of love. Winry gave her life to get back yours and Ed's. To get hers back, Ed must show an equal amount of love, which would only be possible if Ed would make a vow of everlasting love and seal it with a kiss…before the time runs out."

Al leaned on the wall and slowly sat down.

"Are you upset it wasn't you?" Pinako asked.

"No." Al replied sincerely. "I know they both love each other. I'm just worried because brother can be so stupid when it comes to matters of the heart."

Back at the Lake

Winry felt so light, she knows her eyes are still closed, but it seems like she knows that wherever she is, it was all bright and peaceful. As if time was flashing before her, she can see in her head memories of her childhood up to the last memories she had a while ago. She saw all the places she loved to go to, and all the people she loved – and still continues to love.

A soft cool wind blew over her, sweeping her long blonde hair gracefully. She can still feel the soft cloth of her gown gently brushing as the wind blew again, she wondered if she really did pass away.

But suddenly, she felt gravity pulling from beneath, and the winds became stronger. She wanted to open her eyes, but they were too heavy and she felt she was getting weaker by the minute. Fear entered her mind, and she started to panic. She wanted to scream but nothing came out; she couldn't even open her mouth. In her mind, she knew that she was on the way to the end. She tried to calm down and think of happy memories, if she's really dying, then it's better to die thinking of happy thoughts.

"Edward Elric."

The pulling from beneath and the blowing wind stopped, and Winry realized she was back to feeling light as air, and the bright light started to come back. From a distance, she heard a voice that sounded so familiar, yet she can't decipher who owns the voice. She tried to figure out what it was saying, but by the time she listened harder, the voice faded away.

The next thing she knew, she was being pulled up, like being suctioned, but it didn't give her the scare. In her head, she saw a bright blue light that shinned like a star in front of her, getting bigger as she tried to reach for it. Not for long, the bright blue light enveloped her.

Winry had never felt so safe and happy like this before, except for those times that she's with Ed. She was glad to be feeling like this, at least for the last time.

Suddenly, she started to feel her body. She felt like someone or something is holding her, she wasn't sure. She can feel her fingers too, and when she tried to move her left hand, she felt something cold against it. But what got her the most is the warm sensation she felt against her lips. It was firm, yet not threatening; gentle yet passionate. Her heart started to pound like never before.

"So am I dead? Why's my heart pounding like this?" Winry asked herself.

The moon was shining brightly in the sky, it was all so peaceful.

"Finally."

Winry looked sideways and saw Ed looking down at her. He was smiling tenderly at her, something she thought that could only happen in her dreams.

"Ed? ED!!" Winry sat up and hugged him tightly. "Do you know that smile of yours is to die for." she added laughing.

"Hey, don't you go on dying on me again." Ed pulled her so she is facing him, "I went to great depths to bring you back."

Winry smiled, "So you really did do it."

Ed looked away, "Well, yeah…"

Winry beamed at him, "Oh, Ed."

Ed looked at her, "Why, you had doubts I can't do it?"

"No, its not that you can't…but, if you will."

Ed sighed and smiled at her, "Silly, of course I will."

"Why?" Winry asked casually.

"Because I vowed to always be here for you."

Winry nodded and lowered her gaze, "Thank you. I just wished I heard everything you said." she added laughing not lifting her gaze.

"But most of all because I loved you, still loves you, and will forever love you." Ed said calmly, so calmly it made Winry's heart overflow with happiness.

She looked up, stunned. Ed's eyes were calm and peaceful, something she hasn't seen for a long time.

"Edward…" Winry trailed off as she became teary eyed.

"I want you to know that you are not dreaming." Ed cupped her right cheek, and slid his left hand at the back of her neck.

"Ed…" Winry smiled shyly.

Ed moved closer and kissed her again.