I do not own fullmetal Alchemist or Fairy Tail.
"So, is everyone up to speed now?"
They crew gathered back in the hotel room, telling each others stories of how they came to meet. Ed, Winry, and May sat on one couch, Winry in the middle and Ed closest to the bed. Erza and Gray sat opposite of them on the other couch, pointing out places on the map they had been to Lucy and May. Natsu sat on the bed with Lucy, both of whom were propped up on the headboard. Lucy laid her head on Natsu's chest while Natsu played mindlessly with her hair. He tried very hard to keep his anger under control.
"I think so." Lucy answered Ed's question. She sat up slightly, trying to look a bit more dignified as she addressed everyone. She hated showing so much weakness to people she didn't know…. or trust.
"You were attacked by a celestial spirit, thrown into this world, and then Loke found you and helped you until this girl came along." Gray summarized while pointing at May, who blushed, "That is when she brought you to this town and healed your wounds with her mag…uh, abilities. Is that right?"
"It sounds so simple when you say it like that, but yeah, pretty much." Lucy admitted with a sigh. "I really am pathetic huh? I couldn't even take care of myself."
Natsu's hands moved from her head to around her waist as he pulled her closer. In her ear he whispered, "You are not weak. Stop talking like that."
Lucy breathed deep and leaned back against the dragon slayer. "And you guys followed me here through the same door that the spirit left open. That is when you met up with this man's," pointing at Edward, "commanding officer and he introduced you all, right?"
Ed shook his head, offering her a smile. She still wasn't sure about him, he seemed off to her somehow. If was almost as if he wasn't human like the girl next to him was. In fact, she had gotten this same feeling from May when she first met her, but the kindness of the girl had warmed Lucy to her. The feeling was much stronger in the boy than May too. Lucy just wasn't sure what that smile hid behind the surface.
Everyone started conversing in their own groups when Lucy felt her magic activate. She bowed further into Natsu's torso as the draining continued, realizing that there was a visitor coming. She knew she had to be strong so that he could do whatever it was he was here to do.
"Hello everyone. I can see that you all have become good friends." Loke announced as he came from the spirit world. He surveyed the room, taking note of how everyone was divided based on who they knew. "Any new developments since I have been away?"
"Loke, you know I am grateful to you for saving Lucy," Natsu started, "but you really should leave for longer than just a couple of hours. She is doing everything she can just to hang on to conscious as it is."
"I know, believe me I wouldn't be here so soon if it wasn't important. I have a something for Edward."
Ed snapped up, shocked to hear his name come from the stranger's mouth. Well, he wasn't a complete stranger, but it wasn't like he knew the guy beyond the half hour they spent in the lobby. Oh yeah, and that he was a star or something like that.
"What's up? Did you find out something about what I told you about?" Ed inquired.
"I understand you want to keep your suspicions quiet, but Lucy needs to hear this too. And since there is no way Natsu would agree to leave while we three have a strategy meeting, I figured we can just let everyone in on it."
"What the hell are you talking about Loke?" Natsu demanded. Ed cut in before the spirit could.
"Natsu, do you remember when you pointed out that Orion's belt was missing in the sky the other night?" Natsu shook his head and Lucy gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth.
"Loke!" Lucy screamed, "Tell me that he is mistaken?"
"I'm afraid not Lucy. They have indeed fallen."
"How could this have happened?"
"I'm not sure."
Gray was obviously getting annoyed at the pair. "Would someone please inform us non-celestial wizards what is going on?"
"Sorry," Loke offered. "You see, there are three bright star systems in the spirit world that serve as a type of barrier. They are very strong, and are not allowed to leave the celestial world. The fact that they have left leaves a lot of room for interpretation. I have never personally met them, so I have no clue as to whether they are good or bad."
"Are they celestial spirits too? Could there be someone contracted to them?" Erza asked.
"No, not in the same way I am. You see, for them to be on earth they need a host, a flesh form if you will. They only have their celestial forms, therefore cannot thrive in the human world."
"Is there any way you can locate them in Earthland?"
"I tried. As far as I could sense, they aren't in Earthland. My only guess is that they are using magic to conceal whom they have entered."
"Wait, wait!" Ed blurted, "Back up a bit. Are you telling me that there are three of these 'spirits' out there possessing some people for some unknown reason?"
"Basically, but not really possessing. They cannot control their vessel's actions; only power them through their own strength. One thing is for sure, we have to find them, that way we can find out what happened to make then leave the spirit world."
Everyone sat still and silent, trying to take in what Loke had just told them. Natsu's anger was to the boiling point, and it was taking everything Lucy had just to keep him under control. Erza had her hand to her chin, contemplating their next move. Gray leaned back on the couch, visibly disturbed at the information Loke brought. Ed, Winry, and May didn't know what to think. They understood that this wasn't a good situation for the others to be in, but it didn't have a direct effect on their world, or a world they could even access to for that matter. It was one thing to worry about your home, but to be bothered by a place so fictional as their Earthland was proving a difficult challenge.
Ed glanced up at the wizards on the bed to see how they were coping when he spotted the blondie staring at him. Her eyes betrayed her composure, for Ed could see the malice in them. He couldn't figure what the woman was seeing to make her so hostile towards him.
"What's going on Ed?" Natsu asked when he noticed the pained expression on his face. Edward glanced at Natsu and then back to Winry, who had replaced her look with one of innocence. He made a mental note to ask her about this when listening ears weren't around.
"Nothing, just thinking about what we should do next. We surly can't stay in a hotel for the rest of your time here, that would be way too expensive."
"What do you suggest we do?" Gray sarcastically asked.
"Well if it is okay with a certain mechanic I know, you could come stay at the best automail shop in Amestris." Ed proclaimed with a grin. He looked down at Winry, who was staring up at him with disbelief.
"Who is this mechanic you speak of?"
"Wow Erza, you really are slow on the up-take sometimes." Gray palmed his forehead while he spoke. He raised his eyes to see Winry, giving a smile. "Would it be okay if my comrades and I come and stay at your place till we are able to go home?"
Winry blinked, not sure what to say. She glanced back up to Edward, who was smiling his toothy grin at her. How could she say no to that? "Of course. We have plenty of room. But let me go call my grandma so she can have the place ready." With that, Winry left the room.
Ed arose from his seat and stretched his arms, cracking his back at the same time. "Well that's settled. Miss Lucy, when do you think you will be able to travel?"
Lucy went red with embarrassment, "Um, I guess I could go now. With Loke gone," everyone looked in Loke's direction to see that he indeed had left. They must have really been distraught to have miss that detail, "I am feeling better. How will we be getting there?"
"Train, of course."
Edward watched as Natsu slammed the back of his head into the headboard, moaning.
"Edward! It's so great to see you!" Alphonse called from the Rockbell house. Ed watched as the frail boy ran towards him and Winry, his paced increasing as he spotted May. "May Chang! Do you realize how much trouble you are in for not calling me?"
"I'm so sorry Al. I truly didn't mean to worry you." May answered as she hung her head. She brought it up once she spotted the man in front of her, meeting his gaze. May had grown quite a bit in the past nine months. Where she used to stand to Al's waist she now met his shoulders. Al spread his arms wide and slapped them around the girl, excitement radiating from his voice.
"Oh May! Its so good to see you. You look great." Al buried his head into her shoulder as he spoke. May returned the gesture and hugged him tightly, returning the complement.
"You look wonderful too Al. I must say, I like your hair better this way too." The couple pulled apart, but kept their arms on the others shoulders. Their smiles continued as the rest of the group simply walked past them, not wanting to disturb the reunion.
"So, are they like a couple or something?" Natsu asked of Ed.
"Not that I know of. Remember that battle I told you about? Well if it weren't for May we could have lost. It's a very involved story for another time though. But as far as I am aware they haven't seen each other since the battle, only able to write letters. You see, May if from a different country than us, therefore it is difficult for us to keep in contact with each other."
"Oh, I see. Well, they are very good friends at least."
"You haven't heard the best part. They first meeting we had with her was her taking Al out with a full body kick to his side." Natsu stared at him in surprise. "She was traveling with a man who wanted to kill me, and therefore she fought with him when we ran into each other. She swears she knew nothing of his murder intentions; she only was with him to help herself in her own quest. It all worked out in the end though. Even the murderer became a comrade in arms."
"Well I can understand that. I actually have several friends that at first wanted to beat me senseless."
Natsu and Ed laughed at their shared feelings all the way to the Rockbell house. Upon entering everyone was visibly exhausted. Ed wanted to discuss things further, but he knew they all needed some time to themselves after the long journey.
"Let's see, there are four bedrooms. Winry's , mine, Al's, and the patient's room. Al and I will take my room, and May can stay in Winry's. How do you four want to split?"
"It doesn't matter to us." Erza answered. "Natsu will need to care for Lucy, so they can have Mr. Al's room. Gray and I can take the patient's room."
"Okay, I'll go get the extra cots from the basement." Ed proclaimed. He started making his way down to the storage when he heard footsteps behind him. He didn't need to turn to know who it was. "Winry, what are you doing?"
"Helping, duh. You are going to need four extra cots, which is a feet even you can't accomplish on one trip."
"Three."
"Huh?"
"I only need three cots. I doubt Natsu will be sleeping in a cot while Lucy is in a bed."
"Don't you think you should offer one at least?"
Ed stopped at the bottom of the stairs and turned on her, grabbing her waist before she could make it all the way down. He slammed her against the wall brought his lips to hers, urgency being the theme he was playing off of. His hands traced her face and her hands clutched his abs as they kissed, neither one wanting to break the contact.
A crash sounded above them and they broke apart. They heard the call of 'my bad' come from upstairs and tried to calm their heartbeats. Winry stared into his softened expression and inquired as to what that was all about.
"If we were in a room together, would we be in different beds?" He answered with his own question.
"Well no, but you didn't have to do that to get the point across."
"I know, but the more I thought about it, the more I wanted it to happen." Ed sighed and pulled away, heading for the cots. He grabbed two and Winry grabbed the third and they headed back up the stairs. Upon arrival they got very confused looks from Al and May.
"What took you two so long?" Alphonse asked first. May was right there with him, but her expression proved she truly didn't know what had caused the delay. Al's face betrayed more knowledge. He knew exactly what was going to happened had…
"So Al, did you break anything?"
"Nope, just spilled some milk. But you don't need to cry over it or anything."
Ed walked up to his younger brother and put his arm around the boy. He leaned in close to his ear. "I ain't crying, but you will if you ever pull that stunt again."
Al burst out laughing at his brother, doubling over with the effort. The Fairy-tail'ers, as they wanted to be called, stared at him with confusion, along with May. Edward joined in his laugher, Winry soon following.
When the laughter subsided Ed reached for his brother, grabbing his ear. He pulled him up the stairs as he announced, "It's late. Let's all get some sleep."