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The air hung thickly in Resembool making it uncomfortably muggy, usual for early August. The young boy walked down the only road that led directly through the small farming community slowly as if in a daze. His blonde hair hung damply to his head cascading down his shoulders moving slightly as he walked. Golden eyes stared blankly ahead with no show of emotion or light as he glanced slightly to his right taking in the site of a scorched foundation that had long been overtaken by weeds causing the concrete to split and crack. He stopped to look up at the tree that swayed ever so lightly in the hot breeze. The boy's eyes traveled down the trunk observing that only one side of it had been badly damaged and wondered how it had managed to survive so well despite an obviously horrific fire. His head snapped forward again as if coming out of a daze or remembering somthing and he began his slow walk. Any passerby's may have wondered how or why rather anyone would walk the dusty dirt path barefoot but it didn't faze the boy any, one being that he was a homunculus and pain didn't seem to register for him the same way it may for other things and secondly he didn't care. Every so often he would glance down towards the road catching small glimpses of his feet as he walked ahead and noted the small cuts he must have received from stray rocks but he merely lifted his head back up and kept walking. He stopped in front of the house with the porch and the wooden sign.
"Rockbell Auto Mail." He read softly to himself. He approached the steps lightly grazing his finger tips over the railing as he proceeded up onto the porch. He stopped in front of a window and peered in.
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Winry stood at the sink rinsing off the breakfast plates running a soapy hand across her forehead and sighing. The water ran over her hands as she dropped the sponge in the sink and turned the plate to rinse. She placed it next to her on the counter and picked up a glass proceeding to clean that as well. The past three months had been a trying time to say the least; Roy Mustang, a man she had respected and regarded as a friend had been found murdered, as for the famous Elric brothers they had seemingly dissapered off the face of the planet.
'They found General Mustang's body but not Ed or Al's. It's possible they could still be alive somewhere but why haven't they called to let us know.' she thought to herself for at least the millioneth time since Colonel Armstrong and Lt. Colonel Havoc had come by to give them the devastating news. Winry grabbed the stack of plates to place them in the cabinet behind her only to met by a pair of golden eyes staring at her from the window. Winry screamed despite herself and sent the plates crashing to the linoleum. She brought a shaky hand to cover her mouth as her vision blurred before a barrage of wetness fell down her cheeks dripping off her chin in currents.
"EDWARD!" She cried out running to the door and opened it hurridly. She stepped out onto the porch and half skipped half jumped until she was beside him. She took him in her arms holding him closely.
"Ed I've been so worried. Where have you been? Where's Alphonse? Is he alright? Ed why won't you answer me?" She yelled hysterically choking on her sobs as her tears continued to fall. He said nothing nor made any move to embrace her. He simply stood there with his arms dangling idly at his sides. it was at this point Winry noticed his right arm was flesh and bone. She glanced noticing the large red tattoo that adorned it from his shoulder stretching down to his fingertips. She backed off some still holding onto his shoulders and looked into his eyes. There was no sign of life in him, it was as if he were physically existing but there was no light in his eyes to indicate it.
'Dead eyes.' Winry thought backing away somewhat frightened as he stared at her blankly. She let go of him noting for the first time the short black shirt he wore revealing his midriff not to mention what appeared to be matching shorts, very short shorts. Winry took another step back as he continued to stare at her.
"Edward? Who is Edward?" It asked in Edward's voice. winry's trembling turned to nervous shaking.
"Who are you?" She asked low wishing she had a wrench in her back pocket in case she needed to run. The copy tilted it's head to the side and continued to stare at her.
"Who are you?" Winry asked again. It straightened it's head before replying.
"Pride." It said. Winry's heart stopped as her stomach churned wildly.
"That was the name of that homunculus Ed mentioned before. Are you a homunculus?" She asked slowly to keep her voice from wavering.
"Yes." It replied softly with a slight nod. Winry placed a hand to her chest as sobs of a different kind racked her body.
"If you're a homunculi then that means that Edward is..." She said before she remembered. "Where is Alphonse?" she asked suddenly.It cocked it's head at her again.
"Al..phonse?" It asked slowly. Winry shook her head backing away from this thing that looked too much like her friend and backed down the stairs slowly not turning her back to him.
'I'll run. I don't think he'll run after me. Maybe he had a memory from Ed and that's why he showed up here. Please don't follow me.' Winry thought as her feet touched the ground.
"Don't worry about it Pride. It's nothing." A voice said from behind her. Winry turned suddenly to be faced with a green haired violet eyed boy similarly dressed to what the Ed thing was wearing. She gasped walking back towards the stairs. She put her hands up defensively screaming as she was grabbed from behind. She glanced back to see the other homunculus holding onto her tightly.
"Ed! Please no let me go! Edward please let me go!" She cried out.
"Who is Edward?" It asked again. The green haired homunculi sighed and scratched at his head.
"I said don't worry about it. As for you there's really no need for such a big fuss." It said. Winry stared at him as he walked closer to her.
"We're not going to hurt you." He said leaning in close enough to whisper in her ear. Winry trembled as his warm breath fell upon her cheek but soon gasped as the burning pain ripped through her torso.
"No..." She choked out as she felt the warm stickiness of her blood drip slowly down her shorts and onto her bare legs.
"We're going to kill you." It said before bursting out in maniacal laughter.
"Ed I...blah." She choked out as blood erupted from her mouth splattering down her front.
"I'm sorry." She heard the Ed copy say distantly as she shut her eyes.
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Winry stood in front of what appeared to be a large door. She scanned it slowly from top to bottom taking in the ornate designs that decorated it.
"Where am I? How, how did I get here?" She wondered aloud. She glanced off to her sides only to be met with white nothingness.
"This isn't possible. What is this place?" She asked the void receiving nothing but her echo. She glanced down at her feet confused.
"I feel so light as if I'm almost floating." She observed. Sudden laughter emitted from the direction of the door causing her attention. Her head snapped up as an uneasy feeling took her over as the doors began to crack open slowly. The sound of grinding concrete blocked out the eery laughter as a brilliant light poured from the opening doorway. Winry shielded her eyes from it out of instinct. Her hands fell to her sides and she gasped as the figure in the doorway opened his arms to her. Winry slowly walked forward resting her tiredly on Edward's shoulder sighing deeply as he wrapped his arms around her tightly and the door, the gate closed on the couple leaving behind no trace they had been there only a few moments before.
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Sorry if this looks crappy but I had to type it up on notepad for the time being. My deepest appologies.