Chapter 3
Winry Rockbell stood in front of mirror, happily looking at herself. She was in a beautiful white gown with a veil over her head. Her delicate hands were holding a bouquet that composed of roses, lilies and jasmines. Her hair was nicely done, half up and half down. Her dress was made of satin. It was low-cut with a slit on the skirt, revealing her long, healthy legs. On her left hand, there was a blue sapphire ring. Now, she couldn't wait to have a wedding ring band above it.
It was the most glorious day of her life—her wedding day. She remembered how she used to be the spinster of the village. Every time when there was a dance or a festival, she would be dateless. Not that she really cared; she just hated it when other girls laughed about it behind her back. Now, she could slap them in the face. Her fiancé was not only a good-looking man, but also a state alchemist. She hated the way Ed acted towards her. But then again, any man was better than no man. According to Pinako, Ed is the best thing ever happened to her. "Those Dogs of Military, they do earn a lot of money," she told her.
Ed had been gone to the Central Headquarter for nearly a month. Just a week ago, Pinako received a postcard from him. He wrote:
I will return to Resembool in a week. The wedding will be on May 7th. I have already sent out the invitations. Get things ready.
Major Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist
Pinako showed it to Winry. "Well, that shrimp really is going to marry you," Pinako laughed. Winry ran to her room happily. She hopped on her bed and laughed out loud with joy. One thing said it all—Winry Rockbell would not be the spinster of the village.
Numerous guests had arrived. Some of them were Ed's guests, the military personnel from the Central Headquarter. Colonel Roy Mustang arrived with a pretty date. She was a tall woman with blonde hair. Her name was Riza Hawkeye. She was also a military personnel in the Central Headquarter, very well known for her shooting skills. Hughes arrived with his wife, Gracias and their little angel, Elysia. Breda and Fury came without any date. Actually, Breda said that Fury was his date. They had no time to find a woman, Fury reasoned. As for Havoc, his date was a widow in her thirties with two small children. Although Havoc insisted that she is his date, everyone could tell that she merely used him as a babysitter for her children. The only reason she came was because she liked to attend weddings and meet other men.
Some of other guests were neighbors who lived in Resembool. Everyone was interested to meet the guy who had the nerve to marry the shrew of the village. Winry was happy to see them. She wanted everyone in Resembool to witness the day that a man takes her as his wife. She looked beautiful and proud. She was the center of the attention. The guests showered her with numerous gifts along with flowers. She was the bride after all.
The ceremony was going to be held behind her house. Winry strolled down from upstairs of her house all the way to the backyard. The trail was decorated with lilies on two sides. Two little girls from Resembool served as flower girls. Elysia was fascinated with the whole wedding. She told her father numerous times of how she loved Winry's dress. Then she cried that she wants to be a flower girl too. To make her happy, Pinako told her that she could stand next to the bride during the vow exchange to hold the bride's bouquet. Hearing that, Elysia jumped up and down with joy.
Everything was set. The bride was ready. The guests took their seat among the audience. The minister arrived. But there was one remaining problem: where was the groom?
---x---x---
"Come on, brother," Al shook Ed. "Wake up, you are going to be late for your wedding!"
It was 10 AM, and Ed, the groom was still sleeping in the Central City.
"BROTHER!" Al shouted. Ed awoke with alert.
"What are you yelling in my ears for Al?" he asked him.
"Today is your wedding day!" Al reminded him.
"I know, the wedding won't start until 11:00 AM anyway," Ed said. He was so careless.
"Brother, you got to get ready. You are the groom."
"I know…I will. Just give me a sec." Ed pulled himself slowly out of the bed. He yawned and stretched himself. He went to the water-closet and splashed some water against his face. Then, he braided his hair and threw on some loosen, common outfit he wore everyday.
"I'm ready, Al. Let's go get my bride."
"Brother, you're not ready! You can't go get married like this!"
"What's wrong with my looks? Just relax Al, I know what I'm doing. Let's head to Resembool."
---x---x---
Winry stood in front of everyone with the bouquet in her hand. It was one o'clock in the afternoon. The minister was waiting. The guests were waiting. Yet, there was no sign of Ed. Winry was very frustrated. Angrily, she threw the bouquet on the ground and walked toward Mustang.
"All right, where is he? Where is he? Don't tell me you sent him on a mission on my wedding day!"
"Calm down, Miss Winry," Mustang said. "I did not send him anywhere. All I did was telling him to make sure that he will appear on his wedding."
"Then where is he?" Winry asked again. She was desperate. If Ed did not show up, then this would be most humiliating day of her life.
"Look like the shrew will never get to marry after all!" someone in the audience shouted.
"How dare you!" Winry yelled. She took out her wrench and launched at that person. She wanted to beat someone up to release her anger. That idiot just volunteered.
Just as the wedding was about to become chaotic, Fury ran in. "The Fullmetal Alchemist is here!" he shouted. At the very moment, everyone stopped what they were doing and returned to their original position. And there was Edward Elric, walked into the ceremony. He was neither in a tux nor his military uniform. Instead, he was wearing some loosen up clothing covered with dirt and mud. His hair was a mess. Al came behind him. He apologetically looked at Winry. Just before Winry was about to explode, the minister begun, "Dearly beloved…"
"Hey! Cut it out!" Ed yelled. Carelessly, he strolled to Winry's side, ignoring everyone's gazes. He grabbed Winry's left hand and said to the minister, "Quit mumbling and get to the final part, will ya? You are just wasting my time and delaying my marriage! " Then, he looked at Winry, and said, "What a fucker!"
Hughes was astounded by Ed's rudeness. Gracia was covering her daughter's innocent ears. Mustang couldn't believe what he was seeing. The bride was about to blow up while the groom's mouth was full of foul words. Pinako did not say anything. After all, what could one expect? Breda and Fury just watched and wondered what will happen next. Havoc paid no attention to any of this, because he was busy settling his "date's" children. Meanwhile, that pretty date of his was looking dreamingly at Mustang.
"Will you, Edward Elric take this woman as your lawful wedded wife…?"
Before he finished, Ed cut in. "Yeah, yeah, of course. I mean, who else but me?"
The minister ignored him. He turned to Winry, whose face was red in anger. "Do you, Winry Rockbell, take this man as your lawful wedded husband?"
Winry was silent. She looked at Ed, she wanted to punch him. How dare he embarrass her on their wedding day? The minister asked her again, "Do you, Winry Rockbell, take this man as your lawful wedded husband?"
"I WILL N—" Before she could finish, Ed crushed her lips against his.
"Now by the law of the state, I pronounce you husband and wife." The minister finished.
---x---x---
The band played the sweet music in the back. Hughes was dancing with Gracias while their little daughter was playing with the flowers. Havoc was chasing the mischievous children of his date. His date, in turn, tried to have a romantic conversation with Mustang. Breda and Fury just sat and drank. The other guests were talking among themselves, commenting about this "interesting" wedding ceremony they just witnessed.
Winry stood next to Pinako. She was not in a good mood. All her pride and glory as a bride were gone. She was embarrassed and humiliated in front of everyone she knew. Ed, on the other hand, acted as if everything went well. He chatted with guests, receiving their congratulations.
"Edward, it's good to see you find yourself a wife," Fury told him.
"Yeah, you got married before Colonel. I always thought Mustang would be the first one to get married," Breda added.
"Ah, Fullmetal, seems like you really make your bride happy today," Mustang teased.
"I got to say, Edward, it was quite…interesting," Riza commented.
"Now, ladies and gentlemen," the host of the wedding announced on the stage. "It's the time for the bride and groom to dance!"
"Uh, excuse me," Ed went on the stage and tapped him behind the shoulder. "I have an announcement to make." The host handed the microphone to him.
"Ladies and gentlemen," Ed announced. "I'm very happy that you all can be here. Today, is the best day of my life, because I am married to the most beautiful woman on earth…"
Hearing this, Winry was somewhat touched.
"I am married to the most beautiful woman on earth whom no other man wants to marry." When Ed finished, some guests burst out laughing. Winry's face was whitened.
"And I like to say, thank you all for your blessings. I am very sorry to say that my brother and I cannot stay any longer. We have some issues to take care of in Central City. Thus, I like to say thank you and have a nice day."
"Fullmetal, I don't believe there is anything you need to take care at the Central," Mustang told him as Ed hopped off the stage. "I gave you a week off."
"Well, it's something personal that Al and I have to handle."
"But can't you stay for another while?" Pinako asked him. "At least for the bride-groom dance."
"Yeah, Ed, stay for a while," Havoc said.
"No, we really have to go," Ed replied.
"Brother, maybe we…" Before Al could finish, Winry appeared before them. She looked at Ed and said, "Please Edward, stay."
"That's nice of you, but no," Ed said to her.
"Well then!" Winry's face angered again. "Go, see if I care! I'm going to enjoy the rest of my party myself!" She turned and began to walk away.
"Oh no you don't!" Ed grabbed her arm. "You are coming with me!"
"Who are you to tell me what to do?"
"I'm your husband. Wherever I go, wherever you go."
"Yeah, right! That's what you think. I'm not going anywhere. So, butt out!"
"I'm warning you, Win. This is your last chance before I lose my temper: are you coming or not?"
"NO!"
Ed pulled her toward him and grabbed the hem of her skirt. He torn a piece of satin off and transmuted it into a rope. With the rope, he tied her hands together and lifted her up over his shoulder.
"Let's go Al!" he called. Al was stunned, as well as everyone else.
"Let go of me you shrimp! You bean! You little, small midget!" Winry cried, kicked and screamed. "Granny! Granny! Help!"
Pinako couldn't believe her eyes. She never saw her granddaughter being so helpless before.
"Ed, Ed! Put her down!" she yelled.
Ed ignored everyone and walked away from the Rockbells. With a screaming bride over his shoulder and a gigantic armor following him, he headed down to the train station.
"They sure make an interesting couple," Mustang said to Pinako after they left
"How long you think they would stay together?" Havoc asked Breda.
"About a month maximum," Breda replied.
"I bet about a week," Fury said.
"You guys are wrong," Riza said. "Ed needs his automail for the rest of his life. And he needs Miss Winry for it."
"But he can turn to other mechanics now. The military fills his pocket easily," Fury pointed out.
"I bet $10,000 that they will separate within a month," Breda put down his bet.
"I bet $10,000 that they will separate within a week," Fury said.
"I bet $10,000 that they will remain together but chaotic," Havoc said.
"I will bet that they would stay together and live happily ever after," Mustang said. "If I win, I take all your money. If I lost, I'll supply each one of you a pretty date."
Riza let out a sigh. Men, crazy as ever.
Coming up next: Winry's first night with Ed. And review plz!
Note from the author: I know both Ed and Winry are quite out of their characters. But since this is AU, what the heck! Yet, if you watched FMA series, you should notice that both Ed and Winry have quite a temper.
