Al's Big Plot Chapter 3: Farthest Thing from Tears, a fullmetal alchemist fanfic

Chapter 2: The Farthest Thing from Tears

When I woke up I saw Winry happily making breakfast and setting it out on the table. "You always wake up and make breakfast this early or is it just a treat for having us here?" I said trying to understand if she liked me, how I like her.

"I am going to refrain from answering that because to explain that without you getting the wrong idea would cause me to burn breakfast." I think she's in denial, I think she likes me. "Stop using your brain so much, because you'll break your brain." I stared at her, and she smiled back. "Here, eat."

After a few minutes and two plates of food later I had eaten enough food to where no one but Winry and I were still awake. So I ran off and smiled and looked at Winry as she happily cooked more food for everyone, but especially for me. "How much do you think you're going to eat, I don't think I'll have enough for the party, you and I are going to have to take Al shopping for more food too."

"Whatever, I'm a growing boy." She sighed and packed up all the dishes and walked up stairs to Al's room and I followed. I smiled.

"Hey Al, you ready to go into town, I'm sure that you'd like to go for a meal but Ed happily ate all the food in our house." Al stretched and smiled.

"It's okay Winry, I know you were trying to make Pinako and I breakfast, did you get to eat?"

"No actually, I had just finished making the first batch then I gave it to Ed and he ate them so now I'm just plain hungry. Like Ed was saying I am still growing and if you want to be taller than Ed you're going to have to eat." Al laughed and then Ed turned around and he was upset.

"Brother, how could you eat all the wonderful food that Winry made for everyone? I'm sure that Pinako is hungry too." I smiled; I nodded so I used the remaining items in the fridge to cook some funny tasting soup.

"I was hungry and it was so good, sorry for eating it all." Al looked at me and I sighed.

"Its okay brother, but, you're buying Winry and Pinako all new ingredients for the party so they can serve everyone food; it's only fair that way." I huffed, I guess it was fair.

We walked down to the store and Al promised that she'd ask Winry if we could buy all the food last so that I wouldn't carry it around, she said "Of course Al, we wouldn't want all that food to spoil." I didn't appreciate having to pay for all that food, especially since I had no form of income since I was on probation.

"Winry, I'm going to get some stuff for the party. I'll meet you two up later." I was surprised that Al would go by himself; I could already sense the danger because of Daniel. I knew Winry would object.

"Al you sure that's a safe thing to do?" I never expected the answer.

"Ed, Al's only 1 year younger than you, he'll be fine to go in another store next door and pick up some things, doesn't be so worry some." She's the one who this has been bothering all the time why would she let him out of her eye, and mine.

"Winry, it may be a while, could you mind going on without me, and I wouldn't want to you two off from taking care of the food for the party."

"Al?" Al looked at her. "I guess, just be really careful Al." He was really happy, and he walked away. She turned at looked at me. "Guess it's just you and me Ed, please don't eat the food before we get it home, oh and if you even touch the cake I made I won't stop myself from hitting you with a wrench.

"Okay, I get it, come on. Shopping with you is duller than shopping with a spoon." I sighed, it really wasn't completely that boring, but it was, she looked around for things, and then put them in the cart, then walked somewhere else and was repeatedly doing this. I could watch her walk around gracefully, which was quite amusing. "Hey Win, why did you let Al go if you were scared for him."

"I don't know its how he looked at me, he did that and I just had to let him go. I don't know. I guess it was that I trusted him, it's you and Al's eyes, they transfix you, and you two can get me to do anything." Memo to self, if she looks into my eyes, I get whatever I want. "Don't you think about using that against me Edward?" She commanded.

"What if I am? What are you going to do? You don't have a wrench." She stared at me and then turned away.

"It doesn't mean I won't have one later, you'll be getting what you deserve later, using my weakness to your advantage. It's something that Eliza would do." She's right, Eliza knew how to upset me and trick me into being all head strong and giving up so I wouldn't defend my flag. "You figured out how she beat you, didn't you?"

"Yah, I do that a lot with you." I usually do, if I know something will through her over the edge then I'll do it just to upset her, to get what I want.

"I told you that I'd teach you where you messed up, didn't I?" I put my hands on my head and walked behind her.

"I'll give you a hint, I never doubted you for a second." She smiled and then she and I were just staring there. "Yah, food, we need some, I did eat it all." How long was I staring at her? I hope she didn't notice I was. Wait she didn't stop, I bet she does like me. We checked out and I paid for it and walked off. I noticed that she was shaking; it was pretty cold compared to midday. "Here, take it, you seem to need it more than I do."

"Thanks Ed, you're really maturing nicely. I guess grandma was right." She happily accepted that jacket, if I would have done that a year ago she would have denied that she was cold and caught a cold, girls, especially Winry are hard to understand.

We arrived at her house, well ours, mine burned down and I was given a place in her house. I lived there some of the time. I wished mine hadn't burned down. I sighed. She looked at me. "Anything bothering you, Ed?" I shook my head and we continued on. "Tomorrow, would you like to go visit your mom's grave Ed, we'll bring Al too. I know that usually when you visit you're upset maybe just because you're here would be nice. I'm sure it would do well for Al too." Is it just me or is she actually thinking about Al and I without being told to by her grandma.

"Winry, I'm sorry. I didn't get it before."

"What?"

"The reason why you wouldn't let me beat us Daniel. I didn't know that he had threatened to hurt Al and you. I'd never do anything if it meant hurting you or Al."

"I know Ed, that's why I didn't mind telling you. I know sometimes you're hard headed and don't think before you act but you are always thinking of others well being and would never do anything to hurt me or Al if you had a chance."

"Are you crazy, of course I'd never do anything to hurt you guys? What did you think; I was some crazy person who didn't care anything for his friends, or family?" She laughed; great I was amusing her when I was trying to be sarcastic.

"Don't get me wrong but sometimes you don't think 3 steps ahead of what you're doing and when people try to protect you, you don't listen and put them in danger." She was right, if I would have listened to her and my alchemy teachers I would have not blown up the house, put Al and myself in danger.

"I'm a danger to everyone around me, aren't I?" She looked sympathetically. "I'll be in the hall, don't bother me; I might endanger you." I sat and realized that if I did endanger her or Al I couldn't live with myself.

I came back down stairs and Winry was happily decorating her cake. I set down three notes on the table one each for Winry, Al, and Pinako. I walked out the door. "Where do you think you're going Edward, have you no consideration for Winry or Alphonse? They are both working very hard to make this the best party ever, and you decide to run off, what is wrong with you?"

"I have to clear my thoughts, I'll be back promise. Take care of Al and Winry for me. I'll be back in plenty of time for the party, got it."

I walked to my mom's grave and sat at it. "Mom, Winry's right, I only come here when I'm upset or something's bothering me. Give me the strength to do the right thing for Al and Winry. If I accidentally did anything to hurt them, I'd never forgive myself. Help me learn what to do." There was no answer, like I expected one.

"Edward Elric, like I expected to find you there. How are you?" I turned around to see Daniel. And I was on the offensive. I can't hurt him or he'll hurt Al. If I take him down then he can't get to Al and never hurt Winry again. I prepared myself to attack. "I wouldn't do that, we have your brother, you wouldn't want us to be unkind to him, would you?" Al, no, he's supposed to be safe. "Productive one that Alphonse is, he tried to use any tool he could find to transmute himself free but we tranquilized him, you can't have him. I need him."

"What for?"

"He has his whole body back, unlike you. I can steal the alchemy right out of him, alchemy is in the soul they say, but it's actually in the hands, so I take Alphonse's and I become and alchemist. She's brilliant that Winry isn't she? I broke into her house one night and tried to steal some books from your library on alchemy and she kicked me out, she's powerful too, but not before I had some fun with her first."

"What did you do to her?" He laughed.

"No worst than what's going on with you and her. She was clueless of most of it, she was invoking something and then I was back at my house, I didn't know how but that's how it happened. I bet she hit me with a wrench or did some form of martial arts and knocked me out and called the police." I hope that whatever he did wasn't permanently scaring her, I couldn't undo that like the metal in her arm.

"Why do you hate me, why would you take it out on her, and Al?" I asked.

"Edward Elric, you're smart, but not very bright at times. You're an alchemist, have whatever you want. You also had a brother and someone who cared about you and your brother no matter where in the world you were, she cared. You have friends, and family; which I don't. You also are an alchemist and are so rich but you don't know who Eliza is to you and me."

"Like I care about Eliza, I just want Al and Winry left alone." He laughed.

"I'm not all that horrible, I keep Al or Winry and I leave the other alone forever, fair. It's equivalent exchange, Edward. You know all about that, don't you? You'd have to. Since you're an alchemist, right?"

"I know it but it only works on Alchemy, not life. You can't make it apply it doesn't fit or all people would be equal and we're not."

"I like things equal." I just stared at him, he had Al and I needed Al. Either way he couldn't make me choose. If I let him have Al then Al wouldn't have his Alchemy or hands and would die, and Winry; well if he got her, it's a horrible nightmare, for her with one night of seeing him, think about a lifetime. I can't it's too horrid.

"You touch a hair on Al and you'll be in for it, giving me time to think." He laughed.

"Fine, my midnight tomorrow then Winry's party ends, this year I'm coming because it's open, before it wasn't so be prepared to defend her with your life. If you don't choose Edward then I'll take you and her as prizes."

"Wait, can I sacrifice myself for Al and Winry's safety. I have everything you want you can become me by connecting your soul to my body, would that be fair."

"Oh that is oh, too fair." He shot me with a chemical and I fell down. I saw Al walk out free back to the house and everything went dark and Al just looked at me. "Al go! Tell Winry I'm sorry, but she's safe from now on." Al nodded and sadly turned back. Everything went dark.

Winry's Viewpoint

"You do know that baking all that cake won't stop Ed from eating them all and it also won't help fix your problems, or his." I sighed and laid the cake down on table.

"Of course it wouldn't, grandma. I made the cakes to clear my mind, and we needed all these cakes. I already warned Ed that he'd be in trouble if he touched them." I looked out the window. "Hey, it's Al."

I walked outside and Al walked in and walked straight upstairs, with nothing in hand. It must have all run out, that's weird. He seemed so upset. I sat down at the table to figure out what had so badly upset Ed. "What are these grandma?" I said holding up letter that were addressed to Al and I.

"I have no clue, dear, read it." I nodded and opened it and set it out on the table to let light onto the surface.

"Grandma, Ed's gone." I fell back in my chair and stared at the note. "Dear Winry, I hope that when you get this note you're not too concerned about me. You always did worry too much. I'll be fine. I went on a walk into town to pick up things and clear my mind for the party. I promise to be back in time or you can whack me with the wrench. I'm not far but don't come looking for me. It's about what you said. About me not thinking and causing danger to others, you're right. I'll miss you, you'll much more beautiful then you were when I left, Edward Elric."

"I knew I didn't want to worry you so you'd mess up the cakes. He just went up to his mom's grave. Give him time to think, that's what he does when he needs time to think, he'll be fine. It's not as though he's in any danger."

"He wasn't when he wrote the note, maybe but when he was at the grave he was going to fight Daniel but brother heard that Daniel had me so he didn't fight. Daniel told brother what he did to you and then brother traded himself for the safety of us." I fell to my knees in front of Al.

"He's gone, isn't he?"

"I don't know, he's with Daniel yes but I don't know if he did it yet."

"What?" Al just looked away.

"I really don't want to tell you, brother's not okay. I can't tell you." I stood there in front of him. "Fine, he's going to take brother's soul out of his body and put in his own so he can have everything brother has."

"Al what do we do?"

"I don't know, brother's gone," Al was upset and crying.

"Alphonse, go to your room and calm down. Winry and I will figure something out." Al nodded and walked up to the room.

"I don't know what to do."

"You have two choices Winry, try one and if not, try the one that you'd rather not."

"But that would ruin everything between Ed and I. I mean saving him would cause him a great deal of disservice and his rep would be trashed, and the military would laugh at him more than ever."

"Stop caring about Edward's reputation and care about Edward being alive and how to do it. You know where Daniel is and what he needs to do."

"He needs one of the red stones, to fake alchemy. He doesn't have his own powers; he needs Ed's or Al's." I nodded, Pinako was guiding me through this I could do this. I went up to see Al.

"Okay Al, I'm going to walk onto the field wearing Ed's cape so they think that I'm you, then when they attack I jump and hide as you sneak in the back, wearing this old cape that I have. That way they won't see you or expect anyone if they see that. Okay?"

"But Winry, he could hurt you. Brother's note." I hadn't read the one to Al.

"What did yours say?" Al looked at the ceiling. "Al!"

"Dear Al, I'll be back for our big party, I don't know what to expect while I'm gone and whatever you do, don't let Winry get into any dangerous situations, that's my job, and she's too important to me, and us to be put in danger so keep her out of any place that she could be endangered. Promise me this Al, I know I won't be gone long Al but if anything was to happen in the short time I was gone, protect her for me, she's always been there for you and me, and always will and now I see that and you have been telling me that for years to return the favor if need be, Edward Elric, your brother."

"Why could you be that sensitive to me over the years, Edward?" I yelled and Al just stared at me. "Sorry, it's just that he shows so much respect to you, and over they years all he did was argue with me. It drives me crazy."

"He was sensitive to you Winry. You just didn't see it as that. When he'd protect you, or ask you how you were, it was his way of being nice. Brother and you just both were afraid that the other didn't like them so you used your anger to hide it. He hoped that you would see the little good acts as signs of his kindness instead of just the bad. So when he was being super nice to you it wasn't really that different it's just that he didn't cover it up so you noticed it. He's not afraid anymore because he's figured out you like him."

"I guess I was being very blind when it came to Ed's acts of kindness toward me, I should have been more appreciative toward him in the past. I guess I was wrong about Ed. I'm giving Ed more of a chance then before." Al smiled.

"I've never asked more out of you and brother than before. I knew that this would happen, actually everyone did. Except Daniel, he likes you that's why he wants to take out brother."

"It's my fault." I fell to my knees.

"No, it's Daniel's for thinking he can sway you feelings with things like Alchemy, and being in Ed's body, it's more than that, it's everything put together." I nodded and smiled.

"I like Ed for so many reasons, no one could replace him, even if Daniel were in Ed's body, there would be no replacing Ed." I nodded.

"Talk later, save brother now." I grabbed the capes and we ran off. I hope you're okay because if you're not you'll be in trouble with me for doing that to yourself.

Review Please

A/N: Ed has one metal arm, and Al is back to normal as in the series conclusion. If you want to find the details on how, watch it or look it up, don't ask me because I'm trying to understand it. I know they may seem a bit out of character but they still have a bit of their selves in there. Ed is so off though, he's realizing that he can show his feelings and for that to happen he has to change, for the better. Winry's herself except yells less, but that's because she hasn't seen Ed in forever and he didn't do anything wrong.

"We're back in the station again, I missed this place, and it's as boring as ever." Ed said very sarcastically.

"Edward, good, you're here, we need you to take another alchemy exam, and it's another one to keep your skills keen." Ed sighed and walked over to the field where it would be held.

"How's this one go?"

"We'll pick another alchemist on you're level and then you fight her, you're job is not to hurt the person, rather to destroy the flag placed on their side of the field. You can't transmute anything from the ground of her side, all aerial from your side, got it?" Major Mustang said, and Ed sighed and agreed.

"Who is the guy I'm battling?" Major Mustang laughed.

"It's not a guy, it's a girl, we've never talked to her other than for the paperwork, and giving her an assignment. She's a researcher here, and we use her for defense specialist, she's rarely on assignment. You'll find her quite very similar to you, Edward."

"Like me, hah. Out of everywhere I've traveled only a few people have been anywhere close to me and that's just hair color or height." The major laughed and pushed Ed out onto the field. "Hey, isn't Al helping me on this?"

"No, he never does, you know that. He's was talking to some girl on the phone, her name was something like Wind or something, he said good-luck."

"Was it Winry?"

"Yah, that's it, but Al says that I wasn't supposed to tell you, because you have something against her. So go on, Al did say something about the girl wishes you luck. You must be a real jerk to not like her, if she's wishing you good luck."

"She's too different for me."

"I doubt it as Al describes her she's just like you, blonde hair, and has an attitude sometimes and likes to beat up on things."

"That is her alright, but let me get this over with already."

"Okay, send her out."

"What's her name?" Mustang shrugged and walked off and a hooded figure walked onto the field. "You must be my opponent." The girl sat down on the ground, back facing to Ed. "Hey you respect me."

"Edward, just go fight her." Mustang said and Ed launched and attack of a huge metal boulder at her and then in midair it exploded all over the field. He threw more and they all did that. Then her flag exploded.

"I won, it exploded." Ed went to the crowd and cheered himself on, and then his flag was burst into a million pieces and then disappeared to dust. "Huh?" Then he looked at her and she did some sort of alchemy and her flag came back together just as it was before it exploded. "What happened?"

"Edward Elric, you failed your test." Mustang yelled.

"But it exploded first."

"Yours is gone, hers has no marks on it." Ed crossed his arms, and sighed. The figure laughed then walked over to him.

"Never forget the main goal, and never leave something unguarded for a second, never underestimate your opponent until it's all over, you never know what will happen next." She turned around and walked out.

"She's crazy. Wait, what was that symbol on her back." Everyone shrugged, and Ed went into the office to tell Al what happened.

"That's horrible Ed, how could you fail. That'll put you on probation for all of the next month." Ed sighed, and sat down on a chair.

"Edward, you have to go home. You're on probation until further notice." Ed nodded, and Al followed Ed to the phone.

Ed called Winry and her grandma to see if they could make arrangements for him, and Al. "Hello Mrs. Rockbell, it's Ed; I'm on probation for the next month for failing a test, can I stay there."

"Of course Edward, I'm sure that with Winry gone, there will be plenty of rooms for you two to stay in."

"Winry's not there?" Ed asked concerned.

"No, she left, she'll be back for the annual party she throws though, and I promise you that, you can see her then." Ed sighed.

"I was hoping to have a lot of time to catch up with her, about what she's been doing. She's always the one wanting us to take a break and when I take a forced break, she's not there." Al laughs. Then Pinako hanged up.

"Brother, didn't Mustang tell you?"

"Yah, that you were talking to her, where is she?"

"She's nearby, she's going to get some new equipment from the military, I was talking to her, at the ammunition area, and she was picking up some new metals for her automail." Ed nodded.

"Let's go see her." Ed said, walking.

"She's gone by now, she had to get ready for her party, she's not expecting us though, she didn't even invite us because she knew you'd pass, and be off somewhere but it will be a nice surprise, I'm sure."

"Oh, so she's getting on the train now." Al nodded. "Well we better get going too." They got on the train heading for Reisenbool. "Why didn't she stop by and see me too, Al. I mean, though I argue with her every second, she's my friend, you know." Al smiled.

"Yah I know brother, but I'm not completely sure she does. She probably hearing that you had an exam you wouldn't want to be bothered, she actually was at the match watching, I didn't see her but she promised she'd be there, she always kept her promises. Wait, isn't that the girl you fought at the match." Al said pointing at a girl in a cape.

"Yah, hey you, come back." The girl went on, and Ed sighed.

"Brother, find her spot and talk to her, I'm sure she doesn't hate you for losing, maybe if you one she would be but you lost."

"Thanks Al, I'll go." Ed arrived at her spot on the train. "Hello, I'm Major Edward Elric; I didn't get a chance to properly introduce myself, so hello."

"Edward, yes, I seem to remember stories of you, fullmetal alchemist; Nice to meet you too. I'm getting of next stop, so good-bye." Ed nodded and left.

"How did it go, brother?" Al asked.

"It went badly, she just sad that's she's heard of me, and she's leaving at the next stop. I wish I knew more about her, we could ask Mrs. Pinako if she would drive us back, or we could walk back on our own."

"Ed, take a break, you can't go back, you're on probation, and you'll probably never see her again." Ed sighed, and then nodded.

Chapter 1: Al's Real Plan

Ed's Viewpoint

"Brother, we're here." I awoke to Al celebrating when they arrived at Reisenbool station.

"Great Al, so let's go see Winry and Mrs. Pinako." I said stretching his arm and leg and then walked over to the station to see Winry standing by a near by tree, just relaxing, she waited from her earlier ride, for this one.

I just stood there after stepping off the train and stared at her, and wow, she was beautiful, I mean she's more beautiful then I remember. I was so star-struck I didn't notice her walk up to Al and hug him.

"Hey Al, it's great to see you again; you too Ed." She said not with as much enthusiasm as she greeted Al.

"Winry, you look more beautiful than ever, right brother?" I nodded and then saw that she had a suitcase with her.

"Have you been waiting for us all day, Winry?" I asked. She looked at her suitcase then at me.

"I guess, only maybe an hour, I just got off, then I went shopping for something for twenty minutes and then rested, and here you are." She smiled at me, and then she walked off with her suitcase, it seemed rather heavy for her.

"Winry, you want me to carry that? It looks heavy." She turned around as though she was surprised she cared.

"Thanks so much Ed, it's full of metals and stuff they use for armor in the military, I borrow it a lot of the time, it's not cheap but they give me the extra, and I'm grateful for that. So how do you feel?"

"About what…oh, you mean about that fight." She nodded. "I'm the laughing stock off the whole military, I could beat a girl."

"She wasn't a normal girl."

"Of course she wasn't. The fact that she was an alchemist set her apart from any other girl; I've never met a female alchemist in my life."

"I either, well until today."

"She made a mockery of brother and she got him on probation for a month." Al said upset.

"Poor Al, he won't be able to get more research done about the stone without being at the library so his work is on halt too."

"Poor Al, I got beat by a girl, she blew up every one of my attacks, and then she tricked me and took down my flag. It's like faking the death of your general then attacking, it was unfair."

"That was the point brother, war isn't fair, only alchemy is and that was war part, using alchemy, she outsmarted you." I looked at Al who was praising the girl, technically for her smarts, in beating me.

"I knew what to expect from her, I heard about her, I talked to her a lot when I war around for the few days I was there. She's smart in how she planned to do that to you."

"You knew how she was going to defeat me, why didn't you tell me Winry?" I was so upset with her wasn't funny anymore.

"She trusted me, I couldn't give away all her secrets, it was a test of your skills, so if I gave you a hint on how it would go that would be cheating and you'd be on probation for a lot longer." Al nodded, and I sighed.

"I guess, but you know her right?" She nodded. "What do you know about her, like her name, and stuff?"

"She goes by the name, Eliza. She never tells anyone in the military her name; they refer to her as the female alchemist or FA for short. Everyone knew she'd take you down before it started, she uses brains, then alchemy, and you'd never believe how much better you can be when you use your brain." I huffed and crashed into the door.

"Door!" I was about to use my alchemy to blow up the door but Al and Winry were watching me. I calmed down, and Winry looked at my cape and picked off a shred of something on it. "Stop, hand me that." She shrugged, and handed it to me.

"It's just something on your cape. It looks like…

"My flag, its part of the flag I was defending. How did she use alchemy without touching it, even I can't do that. She didn't write a circle on the ground either."

"Did I mention that she's a lunar like you?"

"What?"

"It's the technical term for a person who can do alchemy without a transmutation circle. What she bends is too delicate for her to write on, like water, it's written on her hands, except she washes it off to hide it, from others. It's a surprise for them." I smacked my head on the table as we sat down.

"What's his problem?" Mrs. Pinako said pointing at me, Winry laughed.

"Ed's met his match. A girl with lunar alchemic abilities like Ed's. She showed him up in his match, so he's upset." She laughed.

"Alphonse, would you like to come with me to the animal shelter, I'm going to see if they have any more abandoned cats." Al jumped up happily.

"Can I brother, can I?" I looked at Winry who seemed deep in thought and slightly depressed about something, maybe with a break from Al I could find out what's wrong. "Brother, stop staring at Winry and answer me, can I?"

"Sure Al, have fun." After a few minutes of when Al and Pinako left I walked over to Winry and sat next to her. "You okay?" She jumped.

"I guess I am, maybe." I noticed that was covering her arm with her jacket, but only that arm, for 110 degree weather, something must have happened to it. I snatched her jacket from her. "Ed!"

"Come on, what happened to your arm?" She picked up her hand, and then I realized that there was a huge scratch down her arm. "What happened to you?"

"It's nothing really Ed, when the rubble from her attack bursts it spreads all around the field and I was lucky enough to be hit with it, this ones not hers, I think it may be yours, I think it's metal. I tried using pliers but that was no use."

"You should have told me, it could get infected, you know the dangers of working with metal, have you lost your head today, or something?" She shrugged and looked quite depressed. "Stay still for a second." I put my hands on her arm and then it came out. "Wow Winry, it looks very bad, you should check that. It's pretty bad."

"Yah, I guess I haven't been thinking for a while. It hurts a lot. I should have asked for your help after the battle but I didn't." I looked at her; she was really down on herself.

"Now what's wrong, you're seemed so sad about something." She sighed and just looked at the ground, I wasn't doing a very good job of cheering her up or figuring out what was wrong.

"I had a really bad run in with a few people from the past, it was pretty bad, and it has me upset."

"Who was it?"

"Daniel Skyrocket, but Ed will you promise me that you won't do anything to him, please."

"If he did anything to you, I'm going to kill him." I jumped up and headed toward the door, and she stopped me.

"You can't, promise me you won't. It's my problem, and the threats, they're my problem too." She said sadly looking at the ground.

"What did he tell you?" She wouldn't say anything. "What, Winry?" I shook her and she broke down and was crying, at the same moment Al and Pinako came in the door.

"Edward, what did you do to Winry?" I was speechless.

"Brother, how could you after what's been happening to her over the last few months, are you crazy?" I looked at her, true I wasn't the problem but I hadn't solved it, I made it worst. "Come on Winry, you should go calm down in your room." She nodded and looked back at me.

"Al, I'll take care of Winry, you take care of Edward. I don't think Winry told him everything. She promised she wouldn't tell him." Al nodded leaving Winry with her grandmother. Al walked down here and sat across the living room from me.

"I couldn't protect her then, and she won't let me now, Al." I fell back on the couch.

"Trust me we all want to know what's bothering her, all Pinako knows as she's upset and it has to do with Daniel Skyrocket. He kept bothering her and won't leave her alone. She just cries and she's been missing you badly."

"Me?"

"I know brother, with all the ways you bother her, I'm sure she would be regretting bringing you back with her, but Pinako says that when she's upset she asks if you're here, and you never are, so she thought it would be good if you came back."

"So you set me up with Winry's friend, the alchemist?"

"No brother, that was all the system, but it was a good chance, either way you would have been able to come, if on probation for failing or passing you would have been put on mission to protect her, she's in huge amounts of danger."

"She wanted me to promise that I wouldn't hurt him, she wouldn't tell me why. All I know is that something bad will happen if I hurt him." I said miserable without helping her.

"Brother maybe if you figured out what would happen if you did, that might help. She must have promised him she wouldn't tell anyone what he's doing to her, but maybe she'll tell you the threat." I nodded, and walked up there. "Brother, apologize for upsetting her more, you scared her. You can be scary at sometimes, if you don't mean it."

"What?"

"Brother, it's like this, you're stronger then you use to be, you don't know how strong you are, you do things without thinking. You accidentally hurt her arm, something happened to it Pinako said." I smacked my head.

"That was my fault too, Al."

"How was that your fault brother?" I stood up and pulled the piece of metal that I had pulled out of her arm, I hadn't gotten a chance to throw it away.

"When my enemy, whose name is Eliza breaks things shreds of it fly everywhere, one into Winry's arm. I should have had more control. It was too loosely put together; she found a weak spot and boom. It was gone. I hurt Winry."

"You ever going to grow up Edward, that girl didn't care about the others or how you but it together, she's an alchemist, she pulled that together and blew it up, she endangered everyone from how I hear it, I don't know but I think that Winry's accident wasn't your fault. So apologize for accidentally hurting her arm, and then I'd bandage it up if she'll let you, she won't let me." I nodded and stood up.

"Thank you, maybe one day I'll understand Winry, like you do." Al laughed, and my apologizing to Winry and thanking Pinako. I turned around and looked at Al.

I walked up to Winry's bedroom, and then knocked on the door. "Ow!" She came to the door, and looked at me sitting on the bottom of the stairwell, in front of her door, she laughed. I was zapped when I touched the door and threw back. She walked out and touched the door with her left hand, nothing happened. "Why did it zap me?"

"It works on negative magnetism; its so grama doesn't burst in here with an axe or something like that. Here, let me help you." She smiled and I used my normal hand to grab her hand, she was still laughing. "Sorry about that, I didn't think you'd use your metal hand to knock on the door, actually I didn't think you'd knock."

"Why wouldn't I?" She looked at me. "Oh, that whole thing with your front door." She nodded and laughed.

"You okay?" I nodded and followed her in her room.

"Yah, I guess. Al said that Daniel might have forbid you from saying how he had hurt you, but Al suspected that he didn't forbid you from saying what the threat is. Al said it was best if I asked, though I don't see how."

"Al has everything figured out, it's your turn to figure it out, and I'll tell you all I can, because it's all about you. Daniel's jealous of you, Ed. He's going to kidnap Al, that's why I had grama warn him, he wants to take anything that you have that he doesn't away from you. That's why he started with me, because I was closest to someone who he could threat, Al can't be involved in this. If you hurt him, then bye goes Al; that's why."

"He wants you and Ed, right?" She nodded and looked at her hands. "You're arm looks hurt, does it hurt?" She once again nodded. I walked into her bathroom, and pulled out the bandages. She got enough scrapes from metal in the shop she knew how to take care of it but usually she didn't. But this was alchemic metal, metal bended by alchemy so it was more dangerous. She didn't understand that. I came back out and bandaged her arm.

"Thanks Ed, I just don't want Al hurt." She hugged me. I didn't know how to react. I use to hug her all the time, like the innocent way that Al did it. He had no thoughts like I did; he was just being friendly and nice. I couldn't play dumb any more. I wish I could remember how to comfort someone, when I comforted Al I'd say, "Come on Al, we can't break down like this now, this is war." Or something to that effect.

"You're welcome Winry, anytime you're in trouble or Al is I'll be there. He has one thing right, you and Al are the most important people and things to me, no one threatens them." She looked scared. "I promise not to hurt him if he stays away from Al, he comes on this property then he's in for it."

I stood up and left her there a bit happier then she was all day, except when she was talking to Al. She has to fake her happiness for Al because Al doesn't like unhappy people, but neither do I. I just deal, Al breaks down and Winry understands, saps but I care too so I guess I am too.

"Ed, I can teach you where you messed up in the battle and how not to make those mistakes again if you want. Everyone knows your weakness now, and so do you, but you've never thought it as a weakness, think about it, bye." What was with that? I mean you think she won't help you and she's no help and then she's the most helpful person in the world.

"Misunderstanding her again?" Pinako asked, I sighed and nodded and set my head down on the table. "Don't put your dirty head on this table, I just cleaned it. You might want to clean yourself up; Al and Winry are going shopping for outfits for the party."

"Yah, yah I will. Just tell me why she wouldn't help me before but now she will." Pinako laughed.

"Young Edward, equivalent exchange, you made her feel safe so she returns something you need, it's not cheating. It's something she lives for; to show you your weaknesses and this time she's just offering to correct them. She's not cheating just repaying you for her sense of safety you gave her."

"Oh yeah, I guess she always was the person to understand equivalent exchange better than Al and I. I'll go clean up. Wait, what does the party celebrate? She laughed.

"Your, Al and her birthdays; all in the same month, surely you don't forget the huge party she threw the year before you left, usually it's to remember you and Al leaving, and her birthday and for her your two birthdays but this year it's all that. Winry throws the best parties anywhere, like balls, customary to bring a date; it celebrates our heroes, you two, and their birthdays and hers. Everyone is invited this year, usually it's by invitation. She realized that some of your military friends wanted to come and left the party open for everyone." Wow Winry, you've been busy over they years.

"Bye and thank you for explaining everything." I bowed and left to clean up. After I took a shower I went to my and Al's old bedroom. It was tiny compared to what I remember. I put the two small cots together then transmuted them together for Al and I'd sleep in the hall, the cots were when we were younger. I had forgotten where I use to sleep when Al was in his suit.

I awoke, it is about 4am and I heard someone. I went back to sleep. Then something hit me hard, it was light but it had quite a force with the speed it hit. "Ouch." It said; I know that voice.

I turn on the flashlight, "Winry, what are you doing up?" She just looked at the ceiling, which was very suspicious. "Come on Win, fed up?" She crossed her arms and turned around and got up. I grabbed her arm and she tried to struggle free, then lightning struck. She screamed and she fell to the ground and I could see her eyes they were full of fear, I turned on the hallway lights. She was breathing very hard and then she just hugged me, she was crying.

Al and her grandma came out in the hall and saw us. I was blushing badly but it was a good thing she was crying because she couldn't see that I was crying. "Brother, what did you do to Winry now?" I sighed and then looked at her grandma. Winry didn't loosen her grip it was very tight around me, she was very scared.

"Winry, are you okay?" Winry didn't listen to her grandma and I looked at Al hoping he'd understand. "Edward would you mind taking Winry back to her bedroom, she's gone through her drama stages again."

"What?"

"Later Edward." I nodded and picked up her because when I let her walk she fell down and wouldn't walk. She wouldn't let go, so I sat there until she started falling asleep then I laid her down and covered her with the blankets.

I walked into her grandma's room, Al was there too. "Okay, she's finally asleep." I nodded. "Ever since Daniel moved back in town and she visited him, she's been like that, she leaves her room and walks over to the hallway and goes outside and runs all the way around the house and comes in the backdoor and walks back up the stairs, she's reliving drama of whatever happened with Daniel. The first times she's denied it happen, and then if we touched her during the stage she'd scream and struggle and fall to the ground in tears. I'm sorry she had to bring you into this, especially you Edward."

I nodded and returned to bed. "Should we tell him?"

"I don't think so Alphonse; he'll know when it shows up itself. She won't be fine unless she tells him; it's for the best that way." I didn't get it was something that she needed to tell me that I needed to know.