This chapter is particularly inspired by Britt Nicole's song "The Lost Get Found" off of her second album by the same name.
Warning Notice: There is a very unpleasant scene towards the end of this chapter so those with the faint of heart or just aren't a fan of that particular note, it is not mandatory for you to read it but it will be discussed again in a future chapter just not so explicitly as in this chapter.
Alchemist Chronicles
Chapter 30 - The Lost Get Found
Standing in a hallway inside of the North Command Center watching the rain fall outside, Roy has a flashback of when he found Ari during her first kidnapping.
{Flashback Begins}
Rain is falling, downpouring onto the streets below. On the top step in front of the mansion, both Hughes and Mustang are trying to pry open the door. After they finally get the door open, Maes grabs Roy's shoulder. "Roy. I want you to remember. If we do find her. There's a chance she could be..."
Roy glares at Maes. "Don't you dare finish that sentence, Hughes. Like hell, I'll let her." The both of them walk into the Mansion. Making it to the stairwell casings, they freeze in place when they turn the corner and see her.
She's lying there on the floor, face down and motionless. The both of them notice the broken rope around her neck. The other part of the rope is hanging from the chandelier. Her arms are so skinny that it looks like only skin is covering bone. Her once tan skin looks pale and lifeless. They also notice the punctured wounds on her arms and legs. Dried blood is on and around her. Her hair is all matted, tangled up as well.
Roy walks slowly closer to her with tears already filling his eyes. When he finally reaches her, he slowly bends down and gently places his hand on her shoulder, ('She's so cold' He says to himself) slowly moving his hand to her neck to try to feel a pulse.
Surprised to hear a light heartbeat, he turns to Maes and says. "T-There's a pulse." Maes rushes over and checks her as well. "Yeah, but it's faint." Roy takes off his jacket to cover her, Maes follows his lead. Wrapping her up, Roy grabs and picks her up. The both of them rush out of the Mansion and immediately head over to the hospital.
{Flashback Ends}
Sounds of running footsteps breaks him out of his memory. "Lt General Mustang!" Fuery yells. "What is it, 2nd Lieutenant?" "She's back. She's with Olivier."
Opening the door to the office, Roy immediately steps in. "How nice of you to knock first, Mustang." General Armstrong says. Roy replies. "My immediate apologies are in order then, General." He looks over and sees her standing next to Nathan. Turning back to look at Armstrong. "The Sargent and I have a big day tomorrow, so we will be leaving immediately." Janine looks at Olivier. She nods her head towards Mustang. AJ sighs and keeps her head down as she's walking towards Roy.
Roy salutes General Armstrong. Janine follows his lead and salutes as well. Fuery does the same. "Thank you, General," Roy tells her. All of them then exit the room. AJ starts walking first in the hallway until she notices something and stops. She quickly turns around. "Where's Alphonse?" She asks Kain.
Roy and AJ rush through the hospital double doors, reaching the room where Ed is at. Al is sitting next to his brother. The dim-lighted room makes it hard for both of them to see Ed even though they can tell that someone is lying in the hospital bed. Al then stands and opens the door to the room when he notices them in the hallway. "How is he?" Roy asks. "Is he gonna be ok, Alphonse?" AJ asks.
Al- "The doctor said that he's gonna be fine. Although he had a wound on the back of his head and they had to stitch it closed. A few cuts and bruises as well but he'll make it." AJ and Roy breathe a sigh of relief. AJ then sadly asks. "H-He doesn't know about Winry yet, does he Al?" Al nods his head (no).
Al grabs her hand. "We need to talk." He pulls her away from everyone else. Reaching the roof of the hospital. (By this time it's stopped raining) "So you have a grandfather as well?" Taken aback by Al's sudden question. "Y-Yes I do. His name is John Rambo. But I don't know if he's alive or not. Been MIA for quite some time according to Olivier. Disappeared during the Ishbal war and yet wasn't even ever sent over there." After a few moments, Al says. "Sorry I asked." "Don't be Al, I should of told you." She puts her head down sadly. Al looks at her sadly as well. He then walks over to her and pulls her into a hug.
Al - "You know, you're a pretty cool girl, Janine." AJ blushes. "I mean when I saw you in battle when you shot at that bird chimera. Then there was the other day when that chameleon chimera came after you but then you stood your ground and shot at it, even after it grabbed you." "You cut it's tongue and saved me, though," AJ tells him. "Yeah I did, didn't I." They smile at each other. Al then says. "And then there's that stone that you have." AJ pulls it out from underneath her shirt. Al pokes it with his finger. AJ chuckles a bit. It briefly glows brightly. "It senses your alchemy, Alphonse." "Indeed."
Al makes a surprised expression. "What's the matter, Al?" "That was too weird. I just sounded like my dad." AJ starts laughing. Al joins her. After a few minutes, AJ tells Al. "You know, you're pretty cool yourself, Al." Al smirks. "Really?" "Totally. It's so cool that you can just clap your hands and swah (She mimics his hand jesters), you can perform alchemy just like that. I mean I do understand now how but it's still amazing to watch. The only other person that I knew could do that was Roy."
Al - "Yeah. It is cool but its a serious commitment. Alchemy is a not game like most people take it as. It's a deadly practice. And should be taken seriously. Can you do more than just metal manipulation?" The stone starts glowing lightly, Blue Cloud tells him. "Yes and No. She can use it to an extent and with light. That is the only kind of Alchemy she can do. The healing aspect is straight from her lifeforce." Al stares at her in shock. "She's only used it during and after her second kidnapping."
AJ nervously looks away from Al. "I-I uh also wanted to heal Roy after his battle with Lust but he wouldn't let me." Al grabs her by her shoulders and backs her into a wall. "Don't." He says in a serious tone, with his head down. He looks back up at her. "Don't ever use it again. Please, Janine." "Al." She says as she looks up at him.
Al inches his head a little closer to her's as she moves hers closer to his. Both of them close their eyes as their faces are getting closer and closer to each other. Their lips gently brush against each others. Looking at each other, smiling afterwards. Al moves his hands from her shoulders to her cheeks, gently holding her face. He kisses her again only with a little bit more flare as she places her hands on his cheeks as well. Both are very clumsily and awkwardly since this is both of their first time kissing someone.
When they break, Al and AJ are blushing with their biggest smiles to match. Breaking into chuckles and giggles at each other, once settled Al wraps his arms around her waist as they go in to kiss each other again. Parting, Al turns his head once he hears the door to the roof open.
Falman - "There the both of you are. Al, the doctor's looking for you. Says he has a question to ask you regarding Edward." Nodding his head and smiling. "Sure." Al turns back to AJ and whispers something her ear causing her to brightly blush red and start giggling. Holding hands, they walk back.
Making it to the room, Al lets her hand go as he walks back into the room with the doctor and nurse. Holding her hands together, she waits outside in the hall. 'I hope he's ok.' She says to herself.
Roy - "There you are." He says startling her. She looks up and notices him. She proceeds to look back down sadly and turns her head away from him, to which he then places a hand on her shoulder and bends down to her level. "Look at me." She looks at him. "I understand what happened and I get it. Probably could of handled certain things a little differently, but you're still a kid nonetheless." "Am I trouble?" Roy shakes his head. "No, but take this as a warning. Don't do it again, are we clear?" She salutes to him. "Understood, sir." She says with a serious face. Al opens up the door and asks Roy. "Um, General? Do you think we can transfer my brother to Central by tonight?" Roy looks at him surprised at first then smiles. "Definitely. I will help you with getting everything ready for him, Al." Al smiles back and says thank you.
The morning after next in Central, Ed wakes up. Groaning and moaning from the pain of trying to sit up on his own. A doctor comes in. "Take it easy, young man." The doctor rushes over and helps him sit up. "Agh. My head." Ed says, placing a hand on his forehead. Realizing something, Ed starts looking around. "Winry! WINRY!" He yells. Roy, Janine, Riza and Al rush into the room. The doctor excuses himself and leaves. Ed looks directly at Riza with concerned eyes. "Where's Winry, Hawkeye?" Before she could say anything. "She's gone, brother." Al tells him. Ed looks at Al confused. "What do you mean she's gone, Al? TELL ME!" Al and AJ flinch at the tone in his voice.
Roy - "She's been kidnapped, Edward." Ed immediately jumps out of bed and runs over, grabbing his clothes off of the table. He turns around and sees both Hawkeye and Mustang covering AJ eyes. "I probably should of stayed in the hallway." AJ says. Al glares at Ed. When Ed walks out of the bathroom a short time later, dressed, he apologies to AJ. Ed tells them. "Well, I was clearly knocked out on purpose so whoever that bastard is that grabbed her, obviously planted the bomb as well. Do any of you have any leads, General?" "Yes, but the question is, where did they take her? And where are they at?" "They? So there's more then one of those bastards!" Ed replies sharply.
Roy then looks at AJ as she raises an eyebrow at him. "You know they're gonna want something in exchange for helping me?" "Then, by all means, find out what they want." She rolls her eyes at him. She then looks at Al who looks back at her. Making an annoyed sigh. "He's so annoying when he does this." Al chuckles.
Ed - "C'mon spill. What in the hell are the both of you talking about?" AJ and Roy look at each other, AJ then looks back at Ed. Before she could say anything, Ed interrupts her. "Scatch that. I want to know How In The Hell Did She SURVIVE YOUR ATTACK?!" Pointing to AJ. Everyone else starts chuckling or giggling. Al then looks at AJ. "You can tell him." She tells him. Al then smirks and sits on a chair backwards, facing his brother. "Brother." Ed looks at him. "What if there's another stone out there other then The Philosopher's Stone?" Ed looks at Al, surprised.
Ed snorts and looks at Hawkeye. "He's bluffing. My own little brother is trying to trick me. Way to suck at pranking there, Alphonse." Al makes an annoyed expression and sigh. "Do you know want to know what an Oritronic is, Brother?" Al asks. "Yes. So get to it. Start talking. You know I don't have all day." 'Jeez this guy really is impatient' AJ tells herself.
AJ then brings her hands together as the stone floats itself out from underneath her shirt. Ed backs away from all of them, staring at AJ with a scared/shocked expression. "WHAT THE FUCK IS THAT!" Ed yells, pointing at the stone. Riza tells him. "Edward. Sit on the bed." Ed slowly walks over and sits on the edge of the bed, not moving his eyes away from the stone even after it stopped glowing. Al pokes it again with his finger and it glows again. "AL! Don't touch it!" "Relax brother, it's not gonna hurt me." Taking it off from around her neck, she holds the stone up by its chain. "Ever heard of The Metatronic Stone, Edward?"
Ed - "No. Can't say that I have. So that's what its called? What does it do?" AJ explains the stone and the Oritronic to him. "So let me get this straight, you purposely linked your soul to that stone, along with the lady inside of it. You can use Alchemy but its only limited to anything light or made of metal. On top of everything else, that suit of Armor that is running around with that asshole Russell is the boy who was you thought was dead after Adam shot him from way back when." Riza glares at Ed. He flinches.
"Colonel, stop," AJ tells her. Riza looks at her with concern. "Obviously I'm always gonna hear his name regardless, so there's no point in trying to make anyone not say it." Riza sighs. "Ed." He looks at her. "What I'd just showed and told you, you need to keep it to yourself and not tell a single soul. I'll tell Winry when I'm ready to talk to her about it. Understood?" Ed nods his head. "Say it, Edward." "I Understand."
AJ looks back at Roy. "But if I do have to ask for their help, there's still Olivier that we need to go through. And you know there's no way in hell we'll get by anyone up around or near Briggs." "Then you will have to ask for a transfer." Hunched over then correcting herself seconds later. "Ughhh! This is gonna be so annoying. I can't believe this. We don't have a week for all of this. If only we had something of Winry's, then we would be even closer to finding her."
The three officers raise an eyebrow and turn their head towards Ed. "Do you want AJ to find Winry, Edward?" Riza asks him. "I have a friend up north that can help," AJ adds in. "Who?" Ed asks. Before Roy could answer, Janine interrupts him. "Wait." She turns to Hawkeye and salutes. "Permission to leave, Colonel?" "Permission Granted, Sargent," Riza replies, saluting back. AJ smiles and excuses herself. "Relax boys, she'll be right back," Riza tells them.
Almost an hour later, AJ pushes the door open. "HI YA! So I have some good news and some bad news." "Start with the good." Roy orders. "The good news is that I am temporary transferring to Briggs. Actually I should be on the train with Olivier as of right now but instead I'm here talking to all of you. (She shrugs a 'Whatever' to them, Al chuckles) The bad news is that I have to stay there for at least a week. Olivier's agreement with the Fuhrer. No exceptions to the exception." "You're an exception?" Ed asks her. "I don't why you're so confused or surprised. You were an exception as well." AJ tells him. Ed looks at with an surprised look.
Riza - "Anything else?' "Yeah, uh actually, there's another ...catch," AJ says. "A catch?" Roy asks. She tells them the catch. "YOU DID WHAT!" Both Roy and Riza screech at her.
Riza - "WHAT IS THE MATTER WITH YOU!"
Roy - "YOU CAN'T MAKE RASH DECISIONS LIKE THAT, JANINE!"
Ed - "In her defense, Olivier is scary as hell when she forces you to do something." Al nods his head in agreement. Roy and Riza look at Ed. Riza adds. "Well, at least Ed's recent injury didn't affect his memory." Ed stares at Hawkeye before sighing defeatedly. Riza smirks.
Roy - "Well, get on with it. The quicker you leave, the quicker we can save, Winry." AJ stands there in shock. She then nods her head, glumly. "R-Right. Of course. Take care, everybody." She waves to the brothers and quickly leaves afterwards.
Ed - "That was a bit harsh, even for you." "The snow storms up north are harsher than any words I could of ever have said. And she knows this already." Roy replies then leaves the room. Riza then looks at Edward. "When she joined, she did ask him not to baby her. He's only doing what she asked him too." "She's his family, though." "Yes, but that doesn't mean that he has to take it easy on her. It's best for her to gain her tough skin now then later, wouldn't you agree?"
Ed then looks at Al, who is looking at Riza. "You know, I'm not surprised he's her critic. Ed is mine." Riza looks back at Al and nods her head before she too leaves. A few minutes later, Ed lays back on the bed. "I hope Winry's ok. I feel so weak and pathetic not knowing where she's at or being there to protect her." He says with sadness in his voice. Al tells him. "We'll find her, brother." Sitting back up, Ed looks at Al. "I-I need to call granny." Al stares at his brother with anxiousness.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Win - "Who are you?" Winry asks him. "The name's Dixon, toots. Drake Dixon." "Where am I?" Winry asks while looking around. "That's not important, doll." "Quit calling me those names, jerk!" Dixon smirks and then laughs.
Win - "W-Why am I here?" She rubs her arms with her hands after feeling a slight breeze through the window. "You, my dear... are bait."
Win - "Bait? I don't get it." "Blondes are really not that bright after all." "Hey!" "Don't you see, sweetheart? We want someone else and that someone else is probably on their way to find and save you. Not to mention. You're not the person with the stone so it does seem pretty pointless in keeping you alive." Winry whimpers at the thought. "But don't worry, my boss says that I'm not allowed to hurt one strand of hair on your pretty little head, so by all means don't do anything stupid that will get you killed."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Three days later, Ed is back in Resembool. As Pinako and Al are in the town, they overhear a radio news broadcasting about a recent situation happening back in Table City.
Al tells Ed when he and Pinako make it back home. "They were talking about another uprising involving Milos and Creta." "I hope Roxy and Lenny are ok," Ed says. "Who's Lenny?" Al asks. "He's one of Roxy's friends from Cornwall Ridge. He lives in Table City and owns a business there as well."
There's a knock on the door. Ed jumps out of his seat and runs to it. Opening the door, Alex greets him. "OH EDWARD ELRIC! (Alex bear hugs Ed. Ed - "AAAAHHHH!") THE HEARTACHE THAT HAS INGULFED MY ACHING SOUL! HOW COULD SOMEONE BE SO HEARTLESS AND KIDNAP MS. WINRY! (bringing his remaining fist up with fire his eyes) BUT FEAR NOT. WE SHALL FIND AND SAVE HER, EDWARD ELRIC!" "Uh, Colonel?" Alex looks to where Al is pointing at. Ed has passed out in his arms.
Shortly after Ed wakes up. Walking down the steps to the living room, he only sees Pinako sitting at the kitchen table. "Uh, granny." "At the river stream, Ed." Before Ed leaves completely, he turns back to her. "I'll find her, Pinako and I'll save her." "I know you will. Bring her home." Ed smiles and runs to go catch up with the others.
Making it to the end of the stream, Ed looks up and sees his brother, Alex and another person that they chatting with. Jogging towards and catching up to them. After the introductions with Nathan and the Elrics are done, they start walking a bit more, they make it to the outskirts of Mouhed.
Alex and Nate stop at where a cliff and the path divides into two, leading up the Rivene. They look around trying to find someone. "This is where she told us to meet her?" Al and Ed look at the both of them, questionably. They all sharply look up when they here a wolf's howl.
All are in shock. AJ then walks forward wearing civilian clothing and sits by Greywolf with her feet dangling off of the climb, looking down at the rest of them. She waves to them. "Hey there. Surprised to see me?" She smiles at them.
Al - "HOW?!" AJ smirks, then looks at Greywolf, who looks back at her. Petting the wolf's head briefly. "I know right? He's incredibly beautiful, ain't he." She smiles and tells them how her and wolf became friends and equals. "He's also attached to the stone as well." Both Greywolf and Ari let their eyes glow the same blue as the stone, facing everyone. "Has Roy met him?" Ed asks. Greywolf snorks and turns his head away from the group. AJ laughs and replies. "He doesn't like what he's mostly heard about Roy." "I like Greywolf even more already," Ed replies as well, smiling.
Al - "Can we pet him as well?" "Really, Alphonse?" Ed says, looking at his brother confusedly. "Sorry Al, that's not up to me, it's up to him." AJ then stands up and walks down the path to the group. Once she steps directly in below of him, Greywolf jumps down next to her.
AJ - "Did you bring it, Ed?" Ed takes out Winry's bandana. Before Ed walks forward, he asks her. "I need to know Janine, will I be getting this back?" "Yes. Although he may toss it around a bit, not to intentionally damage it of course but it will enhance her smell. And before you ask. No, none of them will attack her especially once they come into contract with her pure heart like all of us here already have. They will only attack a human if they feel threatened or for revenge purposes. That's always been Greywolf's rule. He is the leader of his pack just so you know."
Ed takes a deep breath and walks over to AJ. After several steps, AJ tells Ed. "Stop." Ed looks her confused. "You have to sit and let him come to you. I can't touch it or else my scent will mess up everything. You also have to be extremely patient with a wolf or with wolves, Edward. He doesn't know you and is also scared of you as well. I understand your frustration and hastiness in wanting to find your wife as quickly as you can. Everyone here wants too as well." Ed then sighs and sits with his legs folded.
It takes a few minutes and eventually Greywolf stops walking around nervously and starts walking towards Ed. As the wolf is taking slow steps towards him, AJ tells Ed. "Hold the bandana in front of you." Ed follows her instructions. Greywolf follows the new scent with his nose. Sniffing and grabbing the bandana with his mouth, Greywolf jumps back a few feet with it, placing the bandana on the ground. Rolling it around a bit, and smelling it intensely.
He then sticks his nose up and then looks directly at Janine. "He's got it." She tells them looking straight back at Greywolf. Greywolf then picks up the bandana and places in front of Edward. "He wants your permission to take it others so they can help us as well." Ed looks at Greywolf before he sticks his hand out. The others gasp at Ed's recklessness. Greywolf places his head underneath Ed's hand and allows Ed to pet him. As he is petting the wolf, Ed tells him. "Thank you. Thank you for helping us find my Winry." Greywolf sneers and rubs his head briefly against Ed's hand before he grabs the bandana and takes off to meet up with the other's.
AJ - "Alright. Let's get going then, shall w-?" "So he's your friend from the north?" Al interrupts her. Ed smacks him mildly in the head. "Ow!" "Don't be rude, she was talking." Al glares at Ed while rubbing the back of his head. "Yes, Alphonse. But he's not the only one. There are others." Ed then asks her. "So spill, how did you make it pass Ice Queen?"
AJ - "Well first I snuck away from Fort Briggs with Nate, Miles and his (pointing to Alex) help of course. Then for the past several hours, I've had to walk and catch a train wearing a disguise with fake cards. But as long as I can make it to the Fuhrer first before Olivier or Roy, then there's no way either of them can kill me or bury me alive."
Ed looks at AJ with a surprised expression and smiles. "Wow. Your blatant optimistic honesty amazes me." AJ giggles. Al walks forward and pulls her into a hug. She blushes deeply hugging him back as he tells her. "Let's go save, Winry." She nods her head. "Yeah." Everyone starts walking.
Making just outside of Guud, they follow the paw prints of the wolves to a cliff that is over looking an abandoned bunker. Greywolf then jumps on the roof from the other side. Ramia (A brown wolf) and Artemis (A black wolf) are also smelling around it with the bandana next to them. Greywolf then hears something, jumps down grabbing the bandana and all three take off running towards the woods to hide.
The door to the bunker opens up. A man comes walking out. They drop to their stomachs, laying on the grass, watching the guy. AJ then turns to both Alex and Nate, whispering. "He's wearing the same uniform that Dixon had on, on the train." Alex and Nate look at her in shock.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Winry, who is sitting on the floor of the cell, looks up and at the other woman across from her. "What's your name?" The woman looks up, then covers her face with her knees. "My name Winry. Winry Rockbell Elric." The woman looks up again. The husky-built guard outside looks up as well right at Winry. "Can you tell me your name now?" "It's- It's-" The guard hits his sword against the metal bars of the cell, all while staring at the other woman. She looks at him and he nods his head (no) to her. She then puts her head back down. 'I wonder why he won't let her tell me her name?' Winry asks herself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once the man leaves and walks away from the bunker. He hops into the nearby car and takes off. Ed grabs Janine's shoulder and asks her about Dixon. "I'll tell ya later. Right now Winry is more important." Opening up the door to the bunker, they walk down a flight of stairs and into a dark room. AJ finds a switch on the wall and turns it on. Looking around, she looks down and spots a difference with a block in the wall. Pushing the block in, a secret door opens up.
All of them walk through it and head straight down the dim-lighted corridor. Making it to another set of doors. Alex and Nate pull open the door. Every one of them are surprised at what is on the other side.
Back at the headquarters, the Fuhrer sends Roy, Riza, Jean, and several other soldiers from Central to the group's destination. (So just to explain this part. While Alex and Nate went to go to grab Ed and Al, AJ contacted the Fuhrer in Mouhed to update him on the plan.)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The guard with the sword stands up as well as Dixon. Dixon opens the gate and pulls Winry out of the cell as the guard grabs the other woman. Both are then pulled towards upstairs to a dining hall in a Castle. They force Winry to sit on a chair while the guard pulls the other woman away into another room. Dixon then takes a sword off of the wall.
Dixon - "You know what I hate the most about someone, is when they decide to use tactics. That pisses me OFF!" Winry whimpers and ducks out of the way as he throws the sword directly at her and it gets stuck in the wall behind her. He then grabs her by the back of her head by her hair and makes her look at him. With tears already falling down her eyes and whimpering, he asks her. "If they get into this castle, are you gonna let me know, pumpkin?" Holding and sliding a knife across her cheek and neck, she shakes her head yes lightly.
Dixon - "That's a good hostage." He lets her go as she silently starts weeping. The door to the side of the room opens. A man comes walking through and stops when he sees Winry. She calms herself down and looks up. "M-Mr. Watson?" Winry asks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(This is the part with the warning that I mention at the start of the chapter.)
The group walks into a large surgical room with a laboratory in a back corner. They see cut up body parts. Everything from eyeballs to organs in jars of all sizes. Dead, incomplete bodies on tables or piled on top of each other into stacks on the other side of the room. Splatters and streaks of blood are all over the walls, floor, and tools.
After recollecting themselves from regurgitating because of the thick smell of the room, all of them run past to the double doors on the other side of the room. Closing the doors behind themselves and catching their breath. Ed tells them. "I'm not 100% sure on this ... but Al did you see it too?" "Yeah... T-That was definitely a transmutation circle in the middle of the room." "So- So much b-blood. Oh my God!" AJ shrieks as she puts her head to the floor. Ed rubs her back in comfort.
Alex - "That was the most revolting thing I've have ever seen in years!" "Don't remind us, Strong-Arm," Nate tells him then asks AJ and Al. "How are you two kids holding up?" Al looks away making a disgusted face and AJ is laying on the floor face up, with her hands covering her face.
Placing her hands to her side, Blue Cloud says. "Those poor unfortunate souls." With tears falling from her eyes.
Roy and the others by this time, have made it to the outside of the castle thanks to the wolves paw print tracks.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Watson - "Hello Winry. I didn't know that you also travel to take care of your customers too?" "No, I don't. And I wouldn't call this a check-up trip either." She sharply replies. "Oh? You don't say." Watson grins widely. Winry flinches uncomfortably at his response. Watson then turns to look at Dixon. "I sure do hope that you are treating our guest, kindly." "Well, of course, Mr. Watson. I know how to treat a lady after all." He replies, winking at Winry who makes a disgusted face and turns her head to the side.
Dixon smiles. "Aw. Don't be like that, babe." "QUIT CALLING ME THAT! ONLY MY HUSBAND IS ALLOWED TO CALL ME PET NAMES AND YOU'RE NOT HIM!" She yells back at him. Once Dixon raises a hand to her, Watson grabs it. "Just What Do You Think Your Doing, Dixon? Raising Your Hand To A Woman! Shame On You! Leave! LEAVE THIS INSTANT!" Dixon huffs and storms away. "Can't I just go home now?" Winry says sadly with her head down when suddenly...
Boom!
Boom!
BOOM! A wall in the room behind Watson crumbles, creating a dust cloud.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking up a flight of steps, all of them are still shaken up from the previous room. The group faintly hears a woman yelling. "Isn't that?" AJ asks. Ed's face lights up with excitement. Alex steps forward. "Allow Me To Assist You, Edward Elric!" Alex punches the wall a few times and it collapses.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Once the dust cloud settles, Winry stands up and looks in that direction. Watson is nowhere in sight. The guard with the sword walks out of the broken wall and towards Winry. She screams loudly.
AJ's and Roy's group hear her scream and immediately rush over to her.
Ed and the others make it to the room and see her against a wall. The guard has her by her neck (She's passed out at this point) and has his sword pointed straight at her chest. Ed immediately takes out his own sword out of its stealth and rushes toward him. "GET THE FUCK OFF OF MY WIFE!"
The guard tosses Winry at Ed and he catches her. Al and the rest of them rush over to Ed and Winry. Ed hands Winry (Who is alive but just unconscious) to Al and asks him to get her out of there. Ed then stands back up and AJ walks right next to him after grabbing the sword that was stuck in the wall. Al carries Winry on his back as Nate follows him and they leave/ running into Mustang's group. Alex stays behind and helps Ed and AJ.
As they are gaining the upper hand, the husky-built guard stands back up and rams into Alex, knocking him into a wall. He then turns his attention and does the same to Ed. Ed screams in pain as his arm slams into the wall first and he collapses onto his knees. The guard then turns around to AJ. She slowly starts back up as he walks closer to her. Alex and Ed look up and see her stop, tossing the sword to the side, closing her eyes and places her hands together, separating them afterward and creating an energy sphere. Then aims it straight the guard who tries to block it but fails, throwing him against a wall, breaking it. The guard then morphs back into dirt. Ed stands there in shock, holding his dislocated arm. Alex as well. Both of them are thinking the same thing. 'He was a golem' Then looking at each other with worried expressions.
Alex corrects himself and walks over to Ed. "Ow! ow! ow! OW! Damn it, Armstrong!" Ed whines as Alex grabs Ed arm, forcefully. "My apologies Edward, but we must fix this quickly." AJ walks over and heals his arm, biting her lip, enduring the recoil drain. She takes a deep breath afterward. "Al and Roy are gonna hate me for doing that but I couldn't leave you like that. You need to leave and head straight to Winry because the first person that's she gonna wanna see when she wakes up is you, Edward, her husband. Especially after the traumatic ordeal she just went through." She points her finger to the exit. "GO! NOW!" Ed stands up and runs.
Making it to the entrance hall of the castle, Ed runs into Roy and others who tell him that Al is outside with Winry, both are being guarded by the MPs. Ed takes off to join his wife and brother. Greywolf runs over to him and gives him back Winry's bandana. Roy continues on and makes it to AJ and Alex, who immediately salute to him once they see him.
Roy doesn't say anything but only just stares at AJ with a straight face. "I understand what I did was reckless and I'll take full responsibility for my part," Janine tells him, sadly. "And I'll take responsibility on my end as well, Lt General," Alex tells him as well. Both are still saluting him. Roy sighs and then says. "Very well then, let's get moving."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Walking out of the castle, AJ and Alex are the last ones to leave before other troops and MPs storm in and search the building. On the express train back to Central, a broadcast announces that many of the missing women and children from Guud have been found, but that there are also an undisclosed amount of dead bodies found in the castle as well.
Ed sighs as Winry is laying on his lap and he's holding onto her. "Don't be too hard on yourself there, Edward. At least most of them were found alive." Jean tells him. "I know that. It's just... (He sighs again) I wish that we would of found them sooner, ya know." "Yeah, I know how you feel, Ed."
Once they make it back to Central, Winry is rushed to the hospital with Ed by her side. Pinako, Mr. Garfiel, Paninya and Pitt with a few other of their other friends are there as well. Winry is then checked out by the doctor and her well being is cleared, Al walks out of her room, grabbing AJ hand. Holding her hand as she's walking behind him, they take a walk outside together.
Al - "Ed told me what you did." AJ stops dead in her tracks and looks away sadly. Al stops and turns around to look at her. "I... I can't say that I'm mad. Disappointed is a better word. But I get it. I understand why you healed him. But ... I- I just wish there was another way." Stoking the side of his cheek, AJ tells him. "I wish there was another way too but this is something that I have to live with because of the decision that I made. It's not my brightest of decisions but at least I'm glad that it shows me that I have to be responsible for that action if I choose to do it." "That's a hell of alot of responsibility for a kid to deal with, Janine?" AJ looks at Al with a surprised expression and then starts laughing. Al joins her in laughter.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(SS)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Roy walks down out of Winry's room in the hospital, looks around and asks Jean. "Where's the Sargent?" "She and Al went for a walk outside around the hospital. Said that they would be back in a few." Roy nods, then takes a seat next to Havoc and waits.
Al then moves closer to her, pulling her into a hug. She blushes as he looks her in the eyes and tells her. "Thank you. Thank you for helping us find and save Winry." He then wraps his arms around her waist and kisses her deeply. She kisses him back as well, wrapping her arms around his neck.
Jean stands up and says. "Well, I'm stepping out for a smoke break and some fresh air." Roy nods his head and joins him. Walking out of the hospital, they hear something in the distance as Jean is lighting his cigarette. Walking over to where they heard the noise, they both freeze in shock seeing Alphonse and Janine making out.
Immediately leaving, Roy heads straight back to Winry's room. Just as Ed walks out of his wife's hospital room, Roy grabs him by his ear. "Ow!" "Follow me. You need to see this for yourself." Letting his ear go the minute they step outside, Ed rubs his ear and follows Roy. Once Roy stops walking, Ed stops as well and looks in the same direction.
Al and AJ are in smiles as they are occasionally kissing each other slowly and softly. Ed walks away smiling. Roy turns his head moments later and sees Ed already walking back into the hospital. Catching up to him, Roy tries to say something but Edward stops him. "If they make each other happy, then why get in the middle of it. (pointing to Roy) Your words, not mine." Roy doesn't say anything back.
Ed then walks back to where Winry is resting at. A few minutes later, Janine and Alphonse are in smiles and holding hands as they are walking down the hall in the hospital. Al and AJ knock before they enter the room. "How is she doing, Ed?" AJ asks him. "Still out of it but she's fine." Al and AJ breathe a sigh of relief.
Ed asks her. "Can you stay overnight? I'm worried about her when she wakes up." "Of course. She's gonna need all the support she can get from all of her friends and family." Ed then sits on the opposite of Pinako, holding Winry's other hand.
End of Chapter 30
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~(A.N.)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Poor Winry!
It was really interesting researching the behavior of wolves and their behavior towards humans. They are honestly very beautiful animals.