A/N:

Christmas, homework, friends, laziness, Evangelion, and finals. Those are some of the most important reasons why I haven't updated yet. I'm sorry that I ignored my story, and my fans. (Even if I only have a couple.) I'm going to try and update on a more regular basis. Also, congratulations to my lovely reviewers! u R sO eLiTe. Anyway, on with the story!

P.S.- This is a short, Full Metal only chapter. :(

Chapter Seven

Full Metal group

Ed and Al were sitting in a private compartment, each minding their own thoughts. Looking upon the fields of gold, and watching as the color changed as the sunset deepened. Throughout their time together Al had tried to start up conversation multiple times, but each time they slowly dwindled back into silence. Al knew his brother was worrying about the stone and if it would work, who wouldn't be with such a possession in their grasp? But there was something Al didn't know. Ed was also worried about meeting with Winry. It had been such a long time since their last visit. "Hey Nii-chan, how long has it been since we were last in Resembool?"

Ed turned from the view depicted within the frame of their compartment window. It had served to pass time, but he couldn't ignore his brother. "It's been about eight to ten months, why do you ask?"

"It's just, we haven't seen Pinaco or Winry since then, and I hope there not worrying to much about us." Al seemed forlorn in a way. As if it had been wrong to stay away for such a long time.

"It'll be fine, I've written to them now and then so they know we're ok." It was the best answer he could think of, with a fair amount of truth. There was only one slight problem. He hadn't written in five months.

In the last rays of sunlight, the train stopped at its final destination. A solitary station, built like any other small time station, to seemingly nowhere, with only a dirt road leading away from it. The only promise of life and civilization around here. Ed and Al took that road as the sun winked out of existence below the horizon.

In the Rockbell residence, there lived two people. Pinaco Rockbell, the shortest, and strictest person you'd see alive wielding a pipe. As well as master auto-mail builder, and grandmother to our second resident, Winry. Winry, the young, blond, and rather beautiful granddaughter of Pinaco, is an aspiring auto-mail mechanic in her own right, because of her grandmother's teachings. As well, she's the childhood friend of Ed and Al.

The same night Ed and Al got off at the station, Winry was dabbling in different styles of auto-mail. Mixing and matching, this and that to possibly improve, and balance the styles of auto-mail. To be more specific, attempting to integrate many of the more rugged components of durable auto-mail inside the sleek and sexy designs of auto-mail that's not as durable.

Pinaco on the other hand was cooking supper. Allowing the aroma of stew to fragrance the air. However, the calm and peace of the moment would not last, for without warning there was a knock at the door. "Just great, who could be knocking at this time of night?" She sighed, " Oh well. Hold on a second, I'm coming!" She turned the stove on low and walked across the room to the door. She opened the door, and was surprised to see Ed and Al on her doorstep, even though she didn't show it. "Well look who decided to drop in without even a notice! Get in before you catch a cold." She shooed them into the house and sat them down at the table within the kitchen.

Ed and Al settled at the table, getting comfortable and saying their hellos, while Pinaco fretted over the two. Once she made sure the two were okay, Pinaco went upstairs and knocked upon Winry's door. "Winry, we have company. Supper will also be ready any minute. Get cleaned up and come down." Pinaco then walked back to the kitchen and started catching up with the boys.

When Winry heard there was company this late at night, her curiosity was sparked. So she cleaned herself up from all the oil, dirt, and metal shavings from her tinkering, and walked down from her room. When she entered the kitchen, she was surprised to see Ed and Al there. She ran up to the both of them, and hugged first Al, then Ed. Only to pull up Ed's sleeve, and inspect his auto-mail rather closely. "You've better have taken care of this, it's my best work you know."

Ed smirked, "Why wouldn't I take care of my arm? I polish it and keep it oiled. It's great to see you after such a long time as well."

Winry blushed at the comment, and muttered "Flatterer" under her breath.

"Ok, ok, Lovebirds. Sit down and have some stew." Chimed Pinaco as she removed herself from the table. Only to set the table, then retrieve a large pot from atop the stove. The aroma was thickening within the room.

Both Ed and Winry blushed the shade of deep crimson, then sat down at their respective seats. Glancing around the room, in a shy and embarrassed way, only to deepen there cheeks once again when one caught sight of the other. When Pinaco returned with the stew however, both Ed and Winry forgot their shyness lone enough to dish themselves some supper.

After supper, everyone had been talking about what they did after there last meet. Everyone that is, except for Edward. He kept quiet and listened, every now and then taking a few seconds to throw in his own opinions, while others were spent looking at the windows. Pinaco noticed this, but left him alone for now, she would ask him what was wrong afterwards. Soon Winry released a yawn, signifying that she needed her sleep. Al was kind enough to escort her to her room.

Taking her chance, Pinaco started up another conversation. "So Ed, what are you so worried about?" Ed was taken by surprise, and was about to reply that nothing was worrying him, but was once again interrupted, "I've seen you staring at the windows, and your usually the most talkative out of all of us. Now no lies, I can always tell and you know it."

It seemed that he was stuck between a rock and a hard place. So, he took the right, and less painful, way out. "Ok, you caught me, but first," He got up and closed each window, shutting the blinds as he went. When he sat back down he continued, "There's certain... People who are after me and Al."

This piqued the old lady's interest. And she stated as such in her questioning. "Oh, and who are these people? Also what do they want with you two?"

There was no easy way to lay this down. But Ed felt that Pinaco would be able to handle such information. "There is an Ishbahl man who goes by the name of Scar. He's been murdering state alchemists lately, and I'm on the top of his hit list. But that isn't the worst of it. There are Homunculus after us."

Pinaco was shocked, to say the least. Homunculi were nothing but a myth. A tale of grand illusion to temp alchemists, yet warn them. But, if they were after Ed, then they must be real. The real question underlying all this information, however, would be the why. "Ok, there are homunculus after you, but for what reason? And are you sure they're homunculus?"

"I'm positive they're homunculus, as for the reason they're after us..." Ed got really nervous as he pulled something out of his pocket, "This." Within the palm of his hand was a small stone. Translucent, but very murky. With the faintest of glows enshrouding it. Its overall color was that of blood red.

Pinaco had heard of such a stone as this, but it was even more legendary than even the homunculus! Apparently, one legendary myth called to another. "How did you find the stone?" Pinaco gasped. Before she could gain a reply though, Winry walked in with Al.

Ed quickly hid the stone underneath his hand, only waiting for Winry to turn her back on him, before replacing the stone to its original area. "Well, it was nice to chat with you about old times, but I'm kind of sleepy. Good night." Ed removed himself from the table, then made his way to the guest bedroom. Al followed.

Once Winry had entered the room, she knew right away something was amiss, but she couldn't quite place it. She couldn't ask either, not with the both of them there, so she simply went to get her water. Once done, Ed went to his room, followed by Al. "Grandma, what's going on? I know something's up with Ed."

"Nothings wrong with him dear," Pinaco stated, while removing herself from the table as well. "He's just a little stressed out from work. You should get some sleep, you look tired." Pinaco gave one of her stern gazes, to add emphasis, before leaving the room.

Once Pinaco had left the room, Winry gave off an exasperated sigh. There was something definitely amiss in this household. Why else would the blinds be drawn? Why else would Ed and Pinaco be talking in private, then suddenly stop upon her entrance? She just couldn't figure it out. At last, she to left the room, and went to bed. However, her mind was adrift with many a ludicrous idea.

Winry's Dream

Winry was shocked, yet amazed, to find herself walking in a forest. The trees were all unknown to her, for she couldn't place a single one similar to the trees around her village. She had panicked for a second before chiding herself, she wasn't in any danger. Then, she made her way upon a road, more by luck then anything else. Winry was greeted with a great discovery, Ed and Al had just walked by her, and she ran up to them. There was one problem though, no matter what she did, they were completely ignoring her! She had tried multiple things, such as waving her hands, making a goof out of herself, and even to go as far as to make rude noises, nothing worked. Suddenly she stumbled on a rock in the path and fell upon her back. They didn't see a thing, and continued walking. She braced herself and waited for them to step upon her, to crush her. What a way to go... But they never did. Their feet merely went through her! It was an odd sensation to be sure, having someone's foot go through your stomach. This was getting weird. She got up, and began to follow them.

After a while of walking, she figured this must be a dream. Where else could such a thing as this happen? So she continued walking, until another lady came running from the forest. Winry had never seen this woman before, yet the woman's features struck her as familiar. The black hair, black, low cut dress, showing off far more cleavage then needed, and tattoo. All of these traits didn't recall any memories, but she had a bad feeling about this person. She stopped in front of Ed and Al, who stopped in return.

The lady then raised her hand and simply said, "Die." Tentacles shot from her hand, faster then she could follow. Winry watched in horror, unable to move as Ed managed to dodge the attack, but Al wasn't so lucky. One of the tentacles pierced the center of his chest and he was screaming. Soon though, he wasn't moving at all. The tentacle was extracted, and Al's body fell lifelessly to the ground.

Ed was in shock, how did she know where his blood seal was? He didn't have time to answer when some more tentacles shot at him. He dodged them, and in a fit of rage charged the lady. She smiled and raised her other hand. Tentacles shot out. A wave of crimson shot into the air, as a tentacle grazed his neck. Ed staggered, lifting his hand to check the wound. His glove was covered in blood. Ed slumped to the road. Everything after that went black, although Winry could swear the woman was looking directly at her, with that smile promising... Contentment.

End dream

"No Ed, Al!" Winry was breathing heavily. She realized that she was in her room, and that it was only a dream, but it felt, and looked, so real. More to calm herself down, then actually stating a revelation, she said, "Good, it was just a dream." It seemed to work. She looked over to her clock; the smaller hand was overtop the five. That was all she needed to understand. Knowing she wasn't getting anymore sleep, she got dressed and went over to her window. Looking at the sky, she marveled at the beauty within it. The moon and the stars, simply hanging there, each beautiful, and mysterious on there own.

She was ripped from her stargazing, however, when a shadow was noticed on her lawn. She looked down. There was Ed and Al sneaking off to, apparently, the old shed. She got a bad feeling about this.

When she got there she was amazed at what she saw. Two huge, oddly shaped transmutation circles were in there. One on the ceiling the other on the floor, perfectly opposite of one another. In the middle of each was Al, standing still, and at his feet was a glowing red stone. At that moment Winry understood what they were doing. She ran around the shed to the door, and when she opened it, she was enveloped within a blinding pink light. When that light settled down, there was simply no trace of anyone.

-Chapter seven-

Woohoo! From interruption to interruption, I have finally finished! Now. To commemorate my lovely achievement you shall all review!