Hello y'all!

I forgot to post this one yesterday although I had plenty of time to do it... I want to post one chapter of this compilation each Saturday (I have more under my sleeve).

Here we are at Ed and Winry's wedding, and something's wrong with the pie.

Theme: Curcuma

Characters: Edward Elric, Winry Rockbell, Alphonse Elric, Paninya...

Rating: K

Genre: humor, romance

Enjoy!

Culinary mistake

Edward and Winry turned to face each other. The bride gave her husband a beaming smile, and he smiled back at her. The former alchemist held a plate where a slice of apple pie was lying. It had been specially prepared for this special day. They had cut the enormous (1 meter of diameter!) pie in two and were about to eat the first slice of it. With his spoon, Edward cut a small piece, and Winry did the same. They both presented their spoon to the other to take a bite of the pie. That would mean that everyone could take some dessert.

However, when his tongue touched the piece of pie, Edward knew that something was wrong. The taste was unexpected, unusual. He glanced at his wife, surprised, and saw her troubled face. She'd come to the same conclusion. A major change had been made to Gracia Hughes' apple pie recipe.

Winry frowned. Something had altered her pie. It missed an important taste, replaced by something more… spicy? She put down her spoon on the table, kissed her astounded Ed, whispering she would come back, and left the big tent where the party was happening.

Edward stood still for a few seconds, then regained control of himself and put the plate on the table. He turned to the guest with a smile. "Don't worry, all is fine! Winry wanted to… check something. Meanwhile, I think we can listen to the little speech Al has prepared."

Alphonse glanced at him, taken aback. He had to speak before they danced, not now! And Winry wasn't even here, he couldn't begin without her… "Ed," he began to say. He was cut by her loud voice, as she strode back under the tent, a furious look on her face.

"Alphonse Elric, what have you done?"

The young alchemist gave his brother a desperate look, then glanced at the guests, but none of them helped him. "What?" He tried to ask, not quite used to being scolded by Winry. Usually it was Ed, but this time the reprimand was for him.

Winry stood in front of him, showing him a little bottle full of a yellow powder. He recognized its content. "It's some of the curcuma I brought back from Xing! I wanted to cook the curry I learned to do there."

"I know that!" Winry exclaimed. "But it doesn't explain why this spice has replaced cinnamon on my apple pie!"

"Eh? What?" Alphonse was flabbergasted. His curcuma? On the wedding pie of Ed and Win? "I don't know what happened, I haven't touched the spices, I only peeled and cut the apples!"

"So, who took care of the final touch?" Winry asked in an impatient tone.

Creating a scandal about her apple pie in front of all guests didn't seem to be an issue for the mechanic. Edward and Alphonse looked at each other, then turned to the guests, and more particularly to a woman with dark skin and automail legs.

"Paninya," Alphonse said, apologetically. He was certain that she hadn't intended to ruin her friend's wedding, but he felt sorry for her. To his great surprise, Winry only sighed before calling Paninya. The former thief walked to them, a bit unsure, even if she didn't show it.

"Yes?"

"Why is there curcuma on the pie?" Winry asked calmly, suddenly conscious that all eyes were turned to their small group.

"Well, there wasn't any more cinnamon, so I took what was in the cupboards. Why, is that so awful to eat?"

"Let's say that… it gives it a strange taste," Edward said.

"Strange? It's culinary nonsense at the best!" Winry replied.

A strong-eastern-filled voice rang behind them. "I think it gives it a taste like home. What do you say, Lan Fan?"

"I agree with you, your Majesty Ling," a feminine voice answered.

Winry, Edward, Alphonse and Paninya turned around. Ling Yao, Xing new Emperor, and Lan Fan, his loyal bodyguard, were gobbling several pie slices, not caring about others.

"Hey, Ling! What do you think you're doing?" The groom cried.

"You did eat a piece of the cake, so it means we can take our part, doesn't it?"

Technically, he wasn't wrong, Ed realized. Ling had well understood how Amestrian weddings happened. He sighed, resigned, and straightened. He smiled at the guests who were looking at them expectantly. He didn't miss Colonel – no, General now – Mustang's mocking grin, despite the disapproving glance Captain Hawkeye gave him.

"Well, my friends, I can only wish you a good experience with that pie, if you want to taste a bit of it!"

He wanted to keep a smile on his face but knew it didn't look natural. After all he couldn't expect his wedding cake to be changed so drastically. And yet, beyond all his hopes, the pie disappeared wholly, and he received many congratulations because of the culinary experience people had lived. Even Gracia – who'd given the original recipe – didn't take offence.

Eventually, as they were waltzing along lively music, eyes in eyes, Edward and Winry knew that the recipe didn't matter if the event itself could allow them to gather people they loved around them.