See my first ever footnote below after reading this chapter!
Enjoy!
Chapter Twenty
"Thanks for doing this for me, Gracia. It means so much to me, and it looks great!" Winry giggled as she looked in the mirror. She placed the mirror down on the table and shook her head slightly, feeling the massive difference in the weight of her hair. Picking up a nearby broom, she began sweeping her once long locks into the dustpan she held.
Gracia smiled as she washed her hands and pulled out some vegetables to cut for dinner, "I'm glad you like it. I thought I went too short at first, but it really does look good on you."
Winry stood up and walked over to dump the hair into the trashcan. "Yeah, Maes was shocked when he walked by on his way out the door. The look on his face was priceless! It's still not fair though, that he had to go in today. It's Saturday, and it's been almost two weeks since the Fifth Laboratory incident."
"Well," sighed the mother as she wiped her hand on a dishtowel, "apparently the Fuhrer himself let Maes continue his research into a possible corruption in the military; something that to do with military personnel attempting to make their own Philosopher's Stone. That and Maes said he was finally going to set aside some time to research that one soldier friend of yours. He felt bad for not doing it last week."
Winry sighed as she sat down on a nearby stool, "I've told him not to worry about it. I'm sure he could be doing a number of things more important than that…"
"But he thinks it is, so there won't be any stopping him," Gracia said, slightly chuckling to herself, "he can be so stubborn at times."
Winry stood up again and dragged the trashcan over to where she sat on the stool. Reaching over, Winry pulled a big pile of flowers toward her, "And thank you for letting me use so many of your flowers here. This amount will be plenty for what I'm going to do."
"You're welcome. I'd rather let you use them than be trampled by a four year old's feet," she laughed as she pulled something from out of the fridge.
Winry laughed along with the older woman and began to pluck the petals from each red flower, throwing away the stem once she had stripped them clean. Time passed quietly as each female was engrossed in her tasks.
The teenager was brought out of her trance when she felt a small tug at her jeans. Looking down, she saw Elysia rubbing her tired eyes. Winry reached down and picked up the young child and set her on her lap.
"Finished with your nap, Elysia? We didn't wake you, did we?" The child shook her head and finished rubbing her eyes.
"Winry, where did your hair go?" Elysia asked, noticing the change for the first time. She reached up and touched the spiky locks.
"I just needed a change…That's all…So, what do you think?" Elysia pulled her hand back and tilted her head to get a better look at the new hairstyle. A smile quickly erupted and she nodded as she spoke, "I like it!"
"Well, I'm glad I have your approval," Winry joked as Elysia squirmed, signaling to the teenager to let her down. She ran to her mother and hugged her leg.
"Momma, where's Daddy?" Gracia smiled slightly, picked up her daughter, and balanced her on her hip as she continued to stir the contents in the pot, "He'll be home later honey, he had to go in and work today." The child pouted and crossed her arms, "He always has work to do…"
Winry finished removing all the petals from the red flowers and dumped the rest of the stems into the trashcan. Then, getting up from her position, she moved it back into its original spot.
"Where do you keep your bowls?" she asked Gracia, and was directed over to a nearby cabinet, "There's also a cutting board in the drawer underneath if you need it for any reason." Winry nodded and retrieved the items and returned to her place at the counter. She placed the petals into the bowl, then reached over into her shopping bag and removed a smaller bowl and a stone.
"There's a great store downtown that I may start shopping at regularly," Winry told the mother, "Before I came here I was browsing through this store and found these in the back corner. That's actually where I got this whole idea."
"Forgive me for asking, dear, but what exactly are you doing?" inquired Gracia, setting down her daughter to check on the chicken that was baking in the oven. Elysia bounded up to the counter and eyed the items, then became bored and skipped off to play in the family room.
"You'll see, Gracia," Winry responded as she placed some flower petals into the small bowl. She took the stone and began to smash and crush the petals together, eventually making a fine red powder. "I'll show you right after I model my new clothes!"
Gracia sat down for a moment on a stool next to Winry, and watched while the girl continued to add more petals to the crushed mixture. "I think I have a vague idea as to what you're going to do, and I hope it works to help hide you from Edward. He would have a heart attack if he sees what you're doing…"
The teenager stopped grinding the petals momentarily before resuming, "Yeah…I hope he doesn't notice me either…"
Winry felt a hand on her shoulder, and looked up to see Gracia smiling at her, before going around the counter to place of pot of water on the stove, "Don't worry, Winry. Everything will work out fine. By the way, didn't he and Alphonse leave recently? I didn't know he was healed enough to leave already…"
"Yeah, they left a day or so ago to head to Dublith. Mustang said something about them going to find our sensei."
"I didn't know you two trained with each other…"
Winry laughed at the thought, "No, we didn't. After Edward had become a state alchemist, and after I got automail, I began studying alchemy. I remember him talking about his sensei, so I convinced Grams to let me go and search for her. I told her from the beginning that I was going to be a state alchemist, and at first she refused to teach me, saying she would teach no one to be a 'dog of the military', but I eventually convinced her." Winry cringed slightly, "I don't even want to think of what she will do to Edward when she finds out that not only is he a state alchemist, but he and Alphonse also tried a human transmutation."
"She seems like she can be a little tough," Gracia point out, "How did you put up with her?"
"Tough? That's such an understatement," she laughed as she added more petals to the powder, "But I was determined. Anyway, I have a feeling the boys aren't going to Dublith like they say. It just wouldn't make any sense. It just makes me wonder where they are going."
The phone suddenly rang and interrupted the women's conversation. Gracia wiped her hands on her apron, and then walked over to answer the phone.
"Hello? Oh, hi dear. What? Why yes she's still here…why, what's wrong? Okay, hold on so I can get her," Gracia looked to the younger girl and motioned for her to come to the phone, "Maes would like to speak with you for a moment." Winry could see worry evident in her eyes, and the wife handed the phone to her when she walked over.
"Hello, this is Winry…"
"Winry, this is Maes. I can't be on here long; I have somewhere to go soon. I wanted to let you know about your soldier friend." His voice sounded more rushed than normal, and Winry could not tell if anything was wrong.
"Yeah, what's up?"
"Winry…Stay away from him. He's not who he says he is. There's no way he can be…"
"Huh? What do you mean?" Winry asked, looking over to Gracia with her brows furrowed, confused by his response.
"Listen carefully, the name he gave belongs to a soldier who fought in the Ishbal rebellion. This solder died during the conflict, but for some reason, his name was never taken off the lists. It's weird too because there is also another enlisted soldier with the same situation—"
"Wait a second. I'm not really understanding what you're sayin—"
"Winry, this guy is supposed to be dead! Something isn't right, and I'm going to find out what's doing on. I have to visit someone tonight before I can look any further into it, though. The Fuhrer's secretary has arranged a meeting with the crystal alchemist, Dr. Marcoh, so I can ask him some questions. Until then, please don't go anywhere or do anything with this guy. Not until I can solve this problem. Do you understand?"
"Yes, I think I do. Thank you for telling me. It just seems like kind of a far-fetched story, but I trust you."
"Good. Okay, I have to go to this meeting. Don't tell anyone about anything I've told you. But please tell my wife I love her, and will be home shortly, so don't wait on me for dinner."
"Okay, Will do. I hope you find something out from Dr. Marcoh. Be careful."
"I will. Goodbye, Winry…"
"Bye
Maes…"
"What was that about," Gracia asked as the teenager hung the phone back in its cradle. Winry turned around, and had a strange feeling of sadness wash over her, but shook it away as she walked back to her stool.
"He basically just told me to stay away from William until he has more of a chance to investigate him. Apparently, Maes thinks the guy I know as William could be imitating a soldier that died in the Ishbal rebellion," Winry picked up her bowl again and began crushing the last of the petals. "Oh yeah, he also said that he loved you and would be home later, so go ahead and start dinner without him."
Gracia sighed at the news and went back to the stove to check on the food, "It figures. He's spent so much time at his office, I sometimes wonder if we should move our furniture there."
Winry chuckled at the woman's joke and put down her stone when she finally finished crushing all of the petals, "Whew. I thought I would never finish that."
The mother smiled as she took the chicken out of the oven to cool off, "Do you know where you're being sent next?"
Winry pushed the bowl containing the red powder into the middle of the counter and walked over to the sink to wash off her stone, "Yeah, Mustang let me know this morning that I'm going to Rush Valley to investigate some guys using alchemy to win gambling contests. Apparently they've been doing it for a few months, and have never been beaten so that's why I'm investigating. At least until I get there, they haven't." She smiled to herself at the thought of busting the two petty criminals. "He basically wants to go easy on me since this will be the first mission I've had since the fight with Scar," Winry clenched her fists slightly and frowned, "Though I'd like another whack at him too…"
Gracia saw the reaction when Scar was mentioned, and thought better if she didn't pry. "Well, don't keep me in suspense, Winry! Show me what you have!"
Winry pulled the clothes she bought from the downtown area and spread them out on the table. Gracia was surprised to find that, mixed in with her street clothes, was a military uniform, "I thought the Colonel said you could wear regular clothes?"
"Yeah he did, but he had this specially made in case I needed it. He mainly is sending me in appearing as a teenager, because most criminals would run at the sight of a state alchemist, which is also why I have these…" Winry pulled out a pair of gun holsters that could be worn on her back for easy access to the weapons.
"But you're an alchemist! Why would they give a teenage girl guns?"
"Easy," Winry walked to the woman and held out both of her hands, "See? On my left hand I've got my transmutation circle etched onto the inside of my finger, and on my right hand," she said, showing a small silver ring on her middle finger, "this ring also has the same circle. I'm not going to use alchemy as much anymore, only in certain situations, but with these circles, I don't have to worry about letting my enemies know what I'm going to do."
Winry grabbed a spoon and positioned it like she would if she held a gun, "All I have to do is touch one of these circles to something metal and I'll be able to do my transmutation normally, without having to move. That's another reason for people to not notice that I'm an alchemist. Not many people outside of Central know or care that a teenage girl is a state alchemist, which helps me in the long run."
The teenager saw the doubt written on the mother's face, "Don't worry. I'll be okay. First Lieutenant Hawkeye has been training me all week in target practice and gun care. How else do you think I was able to avoid Edward? He'd never visit the gun range…She told me that I was a natural!"
Gracia looked apprehensive, but slowly broke into a small smile, "Well, okay. I don't think it's a really good idea, but as long as you and everyone else thinks it will be okay…"
"It will be fine, Gracia. As you said…Everything will be fine, won't it? Or were you just trying to deceive a poor teenage girl?" she joked at the older woman.
"Of course not. Besides, dinner is ready. Elysia!" Mrs. Hughes called to the family room, prompting the four year old to bound into the kitchen, "Would you like to help Winry set the table? Only three people tonight, honey…Don't give me that look, Daddy called and said he would be late, so we are to start without him," she said gently as the child pouted.
Dinner passed by all too quickly, and Winry insisted on cleaning up the kitchen while Gracia gave Elysia a bath and put her to bed. The teenager just finished cleaning up by the time the mother walked back into the room. The two looked at each other, and sighed at the same time. Looking surprised, they then chuckled to themselves. Gracia fixed some tea for the both of them, and they sat down at the table to discuss other everyday things. Time passed by quickly, and after awhile Gracia looked to the clock to see it was already ten in the evening. Worried about her husband, she stood up and was about to call his office when the phone rang. Both women looked at each other, and the mother answered the phone. Winry watched while her normally calm and cheerful face went blank, then twisted in extreme pain. She cried out as she sank to the ground, her arms hugged close to her body. Winry jumped up and ran to her, not knowing how to comfort her. Gracia grabbed the girl as she kneeled down and hugged her hard, holding on for dear life. She could hear the woman saying Maes's name over and over again, and sobbing harder every time she did.
It was then that Winry knew what happened…
Winry stood with Gracia and Elysia as Maes' casket was slowly lowered into the ground. The new widow held onto her daughter's hand, and after Winry finished saluting, grabbed the teen's hand with her other one. The mother was strong, but was not prepared for this tragedy to have happened so soon. Silence surrounded the crowd of people as soldier began to fill the grave with dirt.
"Momma, why…why are they burying Daddy?" the small child questioned, as she pulled on her mother's sleeve, "Why are those people burying Daddy? Why?"
"Elysia…" Gracia said quietly.
"I don't like this! If they do that, daddy can't work anymore!" she became louder and more insistent, tugging her mother's sleeve harder with each phrase. "Mom, stop them!"
Gracia lost the composure she had, knelt down to hug her child, and wept quietly. Winry wanted to hug the mother, maybe make her feel better a bit, but knew that now was not the right time.
"Daddy always has lots of work to do. Make them stop! Don't bury him, Mom! Daddy! Daddy!" The girl began to cry along with her mother as the grave slowly filled up. Gracia finally regained some stability and lifted her child into her arms, holding her tightly against her. Winry placed her hand on the woman's shoulder, trying to help in any way she could. She could see Gracia turn her head slightly and smile in thanks, though the tears kept running down her face.
People began to leave the gravesite soon after the burial was over. Gracia looked to Winry after a few minutes had passed and nodded, insinuating that it was time to leave. The teenager walked with them back to their car, but noticed the Colonel and First Lieutenant staying behind at the gravesite. Her first instinct was to see if they were okay, but decided against it. They needed their own space, and besides, she didn't want to leave Gracia alone.
The car ride back was quiet, with each person lost in her own thoughts. Winry stared blankly out the window and watched the scenery pass by. Who could have killed Maes? Why? What was he about to uncover? She remembered her last conversation with him, and began to tear up. She willed herself not to cry in front of Gracia and tried again to think of who would want to kill her friend. He had been doing research to see if people in the military were trying to make a Philosopher's Stone. Maybe anyone who tried to get near the Philosopher's Stone, or tried to make one ends up dying. Is that what happened? Did someone not want him to find out? Is his death a warning to not look for any information regarding the stone?
"Winry, are you okay?" came a soft voice from her side. She looked over to see Gracia standing outside the car and looking in at her. Winry was so lost in her thoughts that she had not even realized the car had stopped by the Hughes' house. Blushing slightly, she crawled out into the bright sunshine, and shielded her eyes. The three girls walked into the quiet house; Gracia automatically went to the kitchen to make some tea. Elysia crawled into Winry's lap as the girl sat at the table. Gently stroking the top of the child's head, Winry looked around the house to see reminders of Maes everywhere.
"Gracia? Do you need me to stay here for a few nights? I don't have to leave until Tuesday…"
Gracia came from the kitchen with two cups of tea, and a juice box for her daughter, and set them on the table, "No, Winry. I think we'll be fine for the time being. Though I would appreciate it if you could drop by when you're in town for your reports." She slowly looked around and noticed the same things Winry had just looked at, "This house will be extremely quiet for awhile."
Winry nodded at her comment, while Elysia went off into the living room to color. The two women sat in relative silence, the only sounds coming from the child talking and humming to herself in the next room.
An hour or so had passed, and the sun was beginning to lower from the sky. Winry gathered her stuff and bade goodbye to Elysia, who in returned pouted and ran from the room. Gracia walked Winry to the door and gave her a small hug, "Don't have too much fun without us," she joked.
"Of course I won't, how could I ever think a thing like that?" Both women chuckled for a moment before silence fell over them.
"Um…Gracia?" Winry said quietly, gaining the woman's attention. "I, uh…just want to let you know that I am going to find out who…who did this," the teenager said, trying not to choke up, "to Maes. I'm going to find them, and make them pay for what they've done to you and Elysia." Winry kept her eyes to the ground so the older woman could not see her be so upset. She felt a pair of arms wrap around her and smiled slightly, lifting her arms to embrace the mother in a warm hug.
"Thank your for your thoughts, Winry," she whispered into the girl's ear, "But I don't think I could live with myself if something happened to you because of us. Maes…" she paused, "I don't think he would approve of it anyway." Gracia pulled back and Winry could see the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. The teen nodded in understanding and turned to the open door. A hand caught her arm, and she turned around to see the widow again.
"Just don't forget we're here…"
Winry smiled and nodded again, "I won't…"
First Ever FootNote!
Okay, first of all, I want everyone to wipe his or her teary eyes from the sad scene above. It was such a hard scene to write. I actually had to put the last part of it on hold and come back to it a month or so later because coincidentally my grandfather had just passed around that time. Since he was a retired military man, he had somewhat of a similar funeral. You don't know how glad I am that they didn't play Taps or something similar in the episode because I might not have been able to put that part of the chapter in at all.
Either way, I was finally able to finish it and wanted to mention a few things.
First of all…DON'T HATE ME BECAUSE SHE CUT HER HAIR! I know a lot of people get really defensive because a character they love changes dramatically, but hell, by this point you should be used to it because she has automail and is a state alchemist. And it wasn't because I just felt she needed to cut it; there was a really good reason for Winry to have it done. To give you an idea of what it's like, check out a picture of Deunan from Appleseed (a great movie I might add!). It's similar, but cut a bit shorter in order to stay out of her face. I wasn't going to make her have a crew-cut or anything!
As for the whole gun thing…It would be logical that she would spend time with Hawkeye at the gun range; heck, it really would be the last place for Edward and Alphonse to go to, and she can't spend the whole time at the Hughes'. Winry would feel like she was imposing on them. I thought it would bring a new dimension to alchemists if they were able to hide ( hide is maybe the wrong term?) their abilities and use them when they were needed. Either way, I was raised in a gun family and condone the responsible use of these weapons, and thought it would be interesting to try.
But before you email me yelling about her hair or the guns, please read the next chapter. It will kind of make sense then (I guess?)…
Tell me what you think!