I own nothing and all belongs to Hiromu Arakawa…

CHAPTER 11:

MOTHERLAND

The trains stopped slowly in the station at Valora, inside were some Amestrian soldiers who accompanied the royal passengers and their entourage. Throngs of people were waving their national flags as the train doors began to open and Valoran soldiers stepped down and formed a straight line to greet the Emperor and their long lost princess' daughter. Amestrian soldiers, a platoon of them were standing near in attention.

The crowd went wild with cheers and shouts as they saw their beloved ruler step down slowly, his right hand waving at them as greetings. Smiling from ear to ear, he held out his hand at the entrance of the door and a delicate hand reached out to hold his. She was dressed simply in a lavender dress and a pink flower adorned her hair. Her eyes were blue like her mother's and the people clearly were excited as they cheered some more, welcoming her – Princess Isolde Winry, the daughter of the late Princess Briganthia – known to Amestris as Sarah Rockbell.

Pair of other blue eyes was looking at her longingly, he stood among the ranks of the Amestrian platoon, he smiled for her and he wished he could get a cigarette right now as she seemed to shine. She looked among the crowd with a smile and she looked at the blue – uniformed soldiers for a familiar face, just once and she will feel better. She craned her neck a little and there he was amongst the crowd, looking straight at her – just her and no one else.

"Welcome home Princess!" the people shouted in unison as she waved, while her grandfather escorted her to the royal carriage.

"You're so pretty Princess." A group of small children said to her as they gave her a bunch of flowers in which she each one a kiss on the cheek as a reward.

ROY:

I'm standing near the Emperor when she alighted from the train, she wore a simple lavender dress and a pink flower was on her blond hair. She was breathtaking as ever and I couldn't help but feel happy inside, thankful for the Fuhrer for letting me be a part of the escort platoon to Valora.

Her back straight as she greeted the massive crowd in front of them, royal guards and soldiers were controlling the crowd when they did not notice a group of small children running towards her, one of them holding a bouquet of wild flowers. She gave each one a kiss on their cheek and they giggled back.

"Princess! I'm gonna marry you someday!" one of them shouted gleefully, such a cheeky one, this boy here, his hair blond and I imagined Fullmetal would have said that to her, if only he was here.

The Emperor asked me earlier on the train that I stay, together with my platoon, for another week in Valora. They are celebrating their annual flower festival on Saturday night and in honor of their Princess' return. I agreed, selfishly because I wanted to see her more.

WINRY:
a soft hand held mine as we rode through the wide streets of Valora, she smiled at me reassuringly. Rose was kind enough to accompany even just for a few weeks, leaving her son to Mrs. Hughes back in Central and Elysia was delighted to have a playmate.

"Are you alright Winry?" she asked me softly, Grandfather was still waving his hand to the people and his smile reminded me of a certain bald headed Colonel back in central, gleeful and kind.

"I'm alright Rose, thank you. I'm grateful you could come and stay with me for awhile. I smiled at her but she knew better. She looked at my right arm were a faint star shaped scar was there. She knows everything that I go through, knew everything in what I had been through and she knows it well. She was there when my granny Pinako died, worried and shocked when I came home with bruises and scars after training in the desert with the scarred man and Sig Curtis, and cried for me when she learned that I decided to train and fight, when I decided to hunt him down. Yes, she was like a sister to me, a friend and my confidante.

The palace was massive with towers on each corner, heavily armed with soldiers and walls that seemed to be impenetrable. Now I know why Amestris was not able to bring this country to her knees, the heart of Valora was more massive than Central and East HQ combined.

Roy Mustang and his team were greeted by the royal guards and most of them were women who looked stern and beautiful. I can see that Fuery was blushing when one woman with curly red hair gave him a red rose. She was petite and pretty with green eyes.

"Meet your second degree cousin my dear." The Emperor boomed at me happily.

"Hello cousin! My name is Marion, so happy to have met you…" She gave me a kiss on my cheek and embraced me with much glee. She did not hesitate to welcome Rose and she embraced her as well. She grabbed both our hands and led us to the grand halls of the palace.

I looked at both Roy and Havoc who were behind us when grandfather led them away to another palace hall somewhere. I was sure Jean was trying to say something to me and Roy just kept looking with his one good eye.

Winry and Rose were led into a large door where Marion hushed with a smile, "Cousin, this was your mother's room, feel free to explore. See you later!" she embraced them again and walked quickly towards the staircase.

"Gee Winry, she was really nice, and it runs in the family." Rose teased Winry in which she gave her a smile.

Winry opened the door and the room was large with a queen sized canopy bed, a large beautiful dresser nearby, a balcony overlooking the forest and the city. The room was kept clean and in order, just like her mother used to do for her when she was little. She removed her hair clip and set down the flower on the table while Rose sat on the soft couch near the bed. Winry walked towards the balcony and felt the wind blow on her hair. She closed her eyes and smiled – she knew in her heart that her parents were beside her as she breathed the fresh Valoran breeze.

"Ouch!" she heard Rose inside and checked on her.

"You alright Rose?" she asked her with concern.

Rose nodded and reached in under the couch cover and felt a metal box underneath it. The box was made of bronze with silver linings and an intricate seal of the coat of arms of the Princess Briganthia, a phoenix rising from the ashes while it held a snake with its talons, a flag of Valora was behind the legendary creature. The box was large like the books that Edward used to read from and it was locked it will not be hard for Winry. She held the box and examined it, Rose knew what Winry was thinking and took out some tools from her luggage and gave it to her, within seconds, and the box was open. Rose couldn't help but smile when she saw a proud gleam from Winry's eyes.

Winry's eyes were full of concentration when she saw what was inside the box, her mother's old pictures, a lock of blond hair, a red ruby ring the size of a cherry and two pairs of push knives, also with the phoenix design on each of their handles. Lastly, she found an old diary of her mother's. She remembered receiving a letter addressed to her from her grandmother Pinako three months after she died. She requested the priest to give it to her only granddaughter once her life slips away, but the letter came too late when the priest also died and the replacement found it among his belongings and was kind enough to send it to Winry at Central, when the Emperor revealed her true bloodline.

My dearest Winry,

I knew the truth will come to you soon so I might as well tell you. Your mother is not from Amestris, she is of Royal blood from the country of Valora. She came here to Amestris to study as a surgeon and there she met your father Urey, they arrived in Risembool and Sarah was already pregnant with you and your father kept that a secret for fear that the Emperor will look for her.

She chose to come here not because she did not love her country but to look for happiness that the prestige of Royalty cannot offer. Her heart was always wild and full of hope and that led her to decide that she leaves and follow her heart.

Please do not hate me for this Winry, I was scared of losing you if you found out. I was scared when you were in a coma and may God forgive me when I requested the help of this man named Shou Tucker to wake you up. I did not meant for you to live that way, I did not know that he would implant in you a philosopher's stone from a dead homunculus, the ultimate spear, he had called it. Only a part of that monster is now in your right hand. I am so sorry my dear child for all of this. I only wanted you to live Winry.

Urey and Sarah will not forgive me for this I know that because I was selfish in bringing you back, but I hope and pray that they will be with you in spirit wherever you go and whatever you do. My child, I know I am leaving soon from this world and I want you to know that you have always been my happiness, you and the Elric brothers. I know you are strong and I am proud of you, may God bless you and give you much graces when you go with your grandfather. I know he will find you someday and I can trust my instincts on that.

I hope this letter finds you well and may you find the happiness and peace that you seek, like your mother had been through.

Love,

Granny

Yes, the letter came too late, the monster in her right hand started to pulsate again and she understood where it came from, what it did before and now it is residing her right hand waiting for the right moment to come out. She held it down with her left hand and she breathed deep while Rose stood her for she knew what was happening, the small monster was trying to get a hold of her friend but she calmed down when Winry stood up and smiled at her reassuringly. She secured her mother's ruby ring in her necklace then kept the push knives fastened in her thighs. Maes Hughes taught her a thing or two before with those push knives of his when he was alive, when the Elric brothers were too busy. He was one of the reasons why she has to continue searching.

"I forgive you granny, I love and miss you." She whispered to herself and quietly prayed to the wind that those words will be carried to Pinako wherever she is right now.

"I forgive you…" then she breathed again slowly.

The palace grounds below were green and lush with flowers and Jean Havoc stood there, looking up at the balcony where he watches her, making sure that she was alright. He wanted to tell her that he has fallen into a deep pit…somewhere he can never reach out to escape nor will he ever try to…fallen for her…Winry.