Protect Me

Written by: Luna

Chapter 14 – Reunion of Hope

Disclaimer – I do not own Fullmetal Alchemist, yet any new characters that I have created to fit the story are mine, and part of Protect Me. Thank you!

The town of Golden Vale was a small, quiet place, populated by few people. Most of the people there were survivors from other towns that had been affected by the war. It was a town located in the desert and the nearest to where Liore had once been.

There were merchants along the main road that ran through the town selling food or drinks, clothes or jewelry. It was the busiest part of town.

"Ah, look who has decided to grace my day with her smile once again." An old man spoke as a young woman walked up to his stand where he was selling fruits and vegetables.

"Hello, Mr. Carter." She replied with a small laugh, and blushed slightly at the comment, as she waved hello. She closed the distance to the stand and glanced down at the produce.

The man smiled broadly. "So how have you been lately?"

"I've been doing alright. Just getting by, but that's good enough. It's the simple things in life that can make you the happiest, right?"

Mr. Carter sighed. "Yeah, ain't that the truth. Well, I'm glad to hear you're doing well, my dear."

The woman had been gathering her choice of fruits and some vegetables and placed them in a paper bag as she continued talking to the man. She retrieved her coin purse and paid for her items as she gathered up the sack in her arms and turned to leave.

She looked back and smiled happily. "Have a great day, Mr. Carter."

He grinned in return and waved. "Same to you, Roze. See you next time."

Roze turned and left, walking down the street through the crowd.

Ed stepped out of the car after Cliff had pulled to a stop right inside the small town of Golden Vale. He looked around him and took a deep breath. This was his last hope. If he couldn't find anything here, he was on his own with the search because there were no other cities on his list.

Cliff had stepped out as well and was resting his arm on the top of the car. "So, was this as far as you wanted to go? I could drive you to the other side of town if you needed to be there."

Ed looked over at the man and shook his head with a smile. "Nah, this is good enough, thanks." He reached in the car and pulled out his suitcase and then stood back up with it slung over his shoulder.

The man nodded and waved as he got back into the car and then stuck his head out the window. "Good luck to ya, kid." With a final wave from the window, Cliff turned around and headed back to Timperd City.

"Well, here it goes." Ed mumbled to himself as he started down the main street through town.

The first thing he decided to do was find a hotel room just so he would have a place to leave his things and not have to worry about finding one that night. He was planning on searching for answers the entire day.

Ed took a turn into one of the hotels on the main road and went in. There was a young woman behind the desk who stood up from the chair she had been sitting in when Ed came through the door.

"How may I help you, sir?" She asked in a pleasant tone.

"Hi there, ma'am. I just need a room for the day, please, nothing fancy." Ed replied, putting his suitcase on the floor. He rested his right arm on the desk and glanced around the main foyer.

"Alright. You're room is all set for you." She turned around and took a small key off the ring board and then placed it on the desk. "Here is your key, and the total will be twenty dollars." The woman said with a smile.

He slid his money across the counter. "Thanks." Ed smiled politely, grabbed the key, and picked up his suitcase, heading towards his room. Once he found it, he unlocked the door and let out a quiet sigh at seeing another hotel room yet again. He went over to the bed and laid his suitcase down, opening it up to make sure he didn't need to take anything with him that was kept inside. When he felt he was ready, he left the room, locking the door on the way out.

Ed walked out onto the crowded street that ran through the center of Golden Vale and decided that this would be the best place to start. He pleaded within himself that Al and Winry were still alive and all right.

The sun was close to setting when Ed collapsed onto a bench on the edge of the town. It was a nice little park and some families were just leaving to take their children home after a day of playing.

Ed looked off into the distance with a blank stare, the sound of the children's laughter passing by him.

Nothing. He had come up with absolutely nothing.

What was he going to do now? This was his last hope, the end of the line, and he was sure he would have found something here. His empty eyes glazed over as he thought back to when Al had finally gotten his body back. The turmoil his brother went though and how… Ed stopped in his thoughts as the first tear ran down his cheek. How he had promised Alphonse that he would protect him.

Ed dropped his head in his hands as he leaned over onto his knees. His body shook with the relentless sobs that had been eating away at him from the inside. Ever since Sid had shown up and taken Al and Winry he had remained focused and calm for the most part, but now he wasn't able to hold anything in.

Winry counted on him and he knew it. She had always been there for Al and him. She never deserved to ever get mixed up in something like this because of him. He had always prayed that she would never have to see the horrible things he had seen.

Ed clenched his hair that ran through his fingers and let out a sound of agony as his sobs continued. Then Al. His little brother was so innocent and had already led such a difficult life because of him. He knew that Alphonse had been against human transmutation from the start, but he insisted that Al take part in his plan and that they learn alchemy in order to bring their mother back. It was all because of him that Al had suffered and he knew it. Now that Al finally had a body again and was healed from his wounds this had to happen. Now that his brother could live a happy life that he so very well deserved.

"Damn you, Sid." Ed let out through gritted teeth as he still hung his head in his hands. "No matter what happened to you before, involving innocent lives to get revenge is not right. Give me a sign. Where are you!"

"Ed? Edward, is that really you?"

Ed lifted his head and turned around to look at whom the voice belonged to. Who froze in shock at who he saw, his breath catching in his throat. "R…Roze? You're alive? But…Liore…how?"

Roze was standing on the path that led into the park. "I was away when the city was destroyed." She said sadly, then looked at Ed with concern. "Ed, what's wrong?"

Edward went to wipe his eyes hurriedly and turned to look straight ahead to avoid her gaze.

She approached him from behind and went to stand by his side. "Please Ed. I heard some people talking in town saying that a boy had been going around and asking questions all day. They described you and I knew who it was immediately." Roze stood in silence for a few moments.

"I'm sorry, Roze. I just have a lot on my mind right now."

Roze went over to sit on the bench beside him and stared off into the distant sunset.

Ed looked over to her as his eyes widened slightly. Winry had sat with him like this before when Al was sick. The thought caused a frown to appear and he turned his head back straight.

After a while of silence, Ed finally spoke.

"I've been searching for someone. I haven't been able to find many answers so far and I'm beginning to lose hope that I'll ever find them. Al and Winry were kidnapped, Roze."

Her eyes widened in surprise as she turned her head to face him.

"And I am looking for the one who took them."

She spoke quietly. "Who?"

"His name is Sid Ronalton." Ed reached into his coat pocket and pulled out the picture, which was now worn around the edges from use, and showed it to Roze.

Roze looked at the picture and then grew pale, her eyes watering over as she brought up a hand to cover her mouth. "No."

"Roze? What's the matter?" Ed questioned in a startled and concerned voice.

Her voice quivered as her eyes stayed transfixed on the photograph. "No…no…there must be some mistake. He would have never done something like that."

"What?" He asked as his breath caught in his throat.

"Sid and his sister, Selene, and I…" Roze looked away from the picture and stared into Ed's penetrating gaze. "We grew up together. We were best friends."

Ed whispered as he kept his eyes on hers, his voice hopeful. "Roze. Do you know where he would be right now?"

She closed her eyes and thought, and then opening them she looked back at Ed and spoke. "Yes. I believe I would have an idea."