Chapter 3: Winry's Secret
I walked out into the yard and then put on Ed's cape and then prepared myself for the road ahead. I walked into the forest and then saw the whole place where Daniel was staying. I burst in the door and walked in.
"Ah, Alphonse Elric, you came back to save your brother, I'd rather not have to fight you but let's go." I was hit by something and flew back threw the window.
"Al!" Ed yelled at me thinking I was Al, but I wasn't. Al was sneaking in the back door. Then Daniel was hit in the back with a huge metal rod, I just stood there helplessly, I couldn't move.
"Smart Winry, using yourself as a decoy to set up Al to attack me from behind, well it worked, but I figured it out. I know you better than Al and Ed do, would you like me to share your secret with them?" He said looking at me, then grabbing my arm and pulling me from my side onto my knees.
"Al, now!" Al had drawn a circle on Ed's cage and broke it, why Ed hadn't done the same thing wasn't so obvious before. Daniel would forever bother us if he didn't get Ed, or one of us too, it was very unfair.
"Girls should not have friends that are boys, they should be slaves, or die." He shoved me on the ground to the side where I was badly hurt. "Now it's your turn to die."
"No, it's yours." I stood up holding my side, I think my ribs broken. Ed was ready to attack.
"Ed, Al, leave now, I'm going to solve this myself, I forbid you to interfere, got it."
"But Winry, he has the stone, he has alchemy, not real but he can, you can't do this, brother stop her."
"What are you thinking, Winry, you can't do this, you'll die." I laughed in my mind, they had no clue but they would soon, I had to stop him from doing this.
"I'll be fine, now go." Ed wouldn't move. There was a wall that separated Daniel and I from Ed and Al. "You ready, I'd rather not have them know, so it's just you and me, got it."
"Fine with me, if I win, you come with me, and if you win, then I'll leave all three of you alone forever."
"Fine by me, let's go." That's all I remember. I could feel myself being held by someone stronger than myself, and I desperately hoped it would be Ed or Al, and hoped it wasn't Daniel. "I can't see."
"You're okay." I know that voice, it is so familiar, it was definitely Al's, for being my size he could carry me around, knowing Ed he'd be afraid to hurt me with his arm. That only happened the first time he got them, he's usually very conscious of what he does..
"Al, where's Ed. He okay?" I tried desperately to open my eyes.
"Brother well he's um, we'll trapped again. He broke the wall that appeared and ran off and handed you to me, and told me to run into this cave with you, he's not okay, he's trapped again. I want brother to be okay too, Winry." I couldn't see the tears, but I knew both Al and myself were crying.
"I do too; I should have just listened to grandma and stopped caring. I can't see but that doesn't mean I can't fight."
"What are you crazy, Winry?" Al doesn't know either, I guess it's time to fed up.
"I have to Al, I have to save Ed, he would do the same for me."
"Did you see how you were taken out, you can't even see me." I nodded, I know I couldn't but now was as good a time as ever to tell Al.
"You know that wall that appeared, that was me. I'm Eliza." If I could see I'm sure Al's jaw dropped, I laughed.
"Why didn't you tell me, or Ed. We would have let you come on the journey with us, instead of listening Ed fret from time to time about leaving everything behind because he made the worst mistake of his life and get down on himself."
"Al, I can't tell Ed. I'm his biggest opponent in the exams, it's best if he not know, or he'll think less of me as an alchemist, when the time's right we'll tell him. Promise me, you won't tell him. Please Al?" I pled.
"Winry, I don't like hiding things from brother, can't you just tell him. He'd let you go on the journey and you could stay with us, wouldn't you like to do that?"
"Of course I would Al, I don't' like lying to Edward either but until he respects Eliza more, I just can't. Edward would ask me to battle him so much, and a month of fighting would put me in a hospital and him back in the automail shop for months because of his discrepancy. I'd love to go with you and Edward on all your journeys and maybe it's not completely out, I could go as Eliza, that might work. I know it wouldn't be the same, but at least I'd be there with you."
"But brother we battle you then too."
"They wouldn't let him fight me on a mission but he'd know all my tricks so it would be good for him. I would love to be with you guys, it's not just something that I can do in person, Edward would forbid it."
"Brother would understand Winry."
"Of course he'd understand, but would he respect me, you should have seen his face when he fought on the battlefield. You couldn't see it as I did, he treated me like I was an equal person, it felt nice. You hear what Daniel said." I knew he'd understand but would he still treat me as an equal.
"Yah, about how girls shouldn't hang out with boys, and be slaves, that wasn't right, but brother wouldn't treat you like that ever." I understood that but what else could I explain it to Al.
"I want to feel as though I'm on Edward's level, I may be in scores on Alchemy exams but when it comes to how he treats me, he'd lose all the respect I deserve and earned for myself. I can't do it now. What's the plan?"
"Take the black cape, and go out there and do all your alchemy take down Daniel, then I sneak in the back and carry Ed out, maybe he won't know it's me and think that, black is you."
"You've been having a lot of wonderful plans lately. I hope he doesn't find out."
"Just take out Daniel and then go around the back and save Ed, you can fight him, I don't' have the strength too, and that way he'll think you're in the back, and I was the one doing the alchemy." Great plan but your alchemy and mine are so different, how could we manage this.
"Brother is knocked out before, maybe he won't remember any of this, just save him."
"We can only hope so much. Bye Al, be ready." He shook his head.
"After you run in back hand me the coat and I'll jump into the trees so he knows that I saved him when I come down, got it." That might be enough to trick Ed, let's just hope he's okay, but unconscious.
I took the cape and ran off into the house out of the cave. All I have to remember is be careful not to say anything. I looked in and Ed was unconscious so I could say stuff, but I'd still try to not say anything.
"Ah, Miss. Eliza you've finally arrived yourself. I've been awaiting you, with Edward Elric unconscious and Al no where to be found you've shown your face, oh how the mighty have fallen, from far away you save these too."
"Shut up!" If Ed is awake but his eyes are closed he might believe I came to save him, as Eliza. I created a stone wall around him, then crushed it on top of him, the red stone is limited to agricultural alchemy so it wouldn't work on the hard stone in here. I jumped up next to the cage where Ed was hanging. I transmuted the lock to dirt and it fell and I grabbed Ed's body and carried it over my shoulder, it is so heavy, oh the cape, right. I tossed it aside.
A hour later at our house, after Al and I both carried Ed home, he was still asleep. "Help!" Ed yelled. I laughed.
"You're fine, Eliza came and saved you after I called her, she lives nearby and she came to help. Sorry you missed it." Ed crossed his arms and was upset.
"She is too secretive, can't she just be normal. You'd never know if she's human, she hides her face, and you can't see her arms or legs. She gets on my nerves. Can you take me to see her?" I looked at Al.
"Ed, she really doesn't like people bothering her, especially people who don't respect her."
"Huh, respect her, I respect her?"
"Answer this honestly brother; what would you think if Winry was an alchemist?"
Ed fell to the ground laughing. I sighed and he looked at me suspiciously. "Are you?" My eyes widened.
"No, of course not, are you crazy? With you and Al I get more then enough alchemy in my life, and the state alchemists in central, they are show-offs." Ed looked at me.
"You aren't stationed in central, they throw shows every month to show the people they protect that they are fit to protect them. I say it's just to show off. All the people in the defense are sometimes asked to show a demonstration."
"You're a genius, Eliza will be at the show this weekend, she has to, it was on the board, so that's what I'll do. I'll meet her there. You want to come Winry?" I looked at Al.
"No, I told you, this is enough alchemy for me, I might stop by after her demonstration though, to see her, and talk, but she probably won't so don't expect much."
"You call her and tell her that she better talk to me after her show or I will be forced to track her down. She's on my nerves, showing me up and disappearing." I nodded, crying; Ed and Al looked at me. Al stopped and set Ed down on the couch and escorted me to my bedroom to talk.
Ed's Viewpoint
Something's defiantly up with Winry today, she's brave then she's upset for no reason. I walked up to her room, then listened to their conversation.
"Ed's gone too far this time Al."
"Brother's okay, I think. I feel really bad for you though, you are going to have to deal with him for the rest of your life." Where is Al going?
"No, I'll only have to put up with him until I move away or when I tell him the truth. Thanks for helping me through this Al, I couldn't do this without you." The truth about what, what is this?
"I feel bad that brother doesn't know."
"He will someday, maybe."
"Maybe, you can't live your life without telling him, if you do and he finds out on his own then he'll be really mad at you."
"I don't care, I think I should tell Eliza to just disappear from every record, she's not safe, and neither am I."
"Ed would never leave you alone if that happened."
"I don't care if he bothers me for the rest of my life, it's too dangerous for Eliza. I'm going to rest, that fight took a lot out of me."
"I bet, you did a lot, you're really beaten up. Is your rib okay?"
"No, it's pretty badly broken, actually a few of my ribs are broken, and I have other things that haven't healed from the fight with Ed, he really went all out, I guess it's my fault for being so close to the lines." How much damage did I do to her with that fight, and with today, I didn't think she got beaten up that bad. Al was coming out, I went and walked downstairs and sat on the couch.
"Hey Al, so is she okay? And how are you? You look like you're limping." Al looked at his leg.
"No I'm not brother, I think you're mistaking me for Winry, she's got it bad, flying threw a window, those stones being thrown at her, and tossed on her side, and at walls. I was protected the whole time, she wan't.
"She's an idiot, trying to fight off Daniel by himself. He could beat me in a fight with that stone, if he had control. That powers amazing; how'd Eliza beat him?"
"She just made a whole stone structure around him every way brother, and then crashed it down on him, then Winry came in and carried you out. Good thing Winry knows Eliza, right?"
"Yah, I don't know what we'd do without her, I'm going to write her a letter and see if she'd respond, you think she'd ignore a letter?"
"No, but you should seriously respect Winry more, just because you think she's weak doesn't mean she can't protect herself." Hardly, tossed around, thrown around, she sure did a good job.
"What is with Winry and respect all a sudden?"
"Brother, ever since you became an alchemist a few years ago you're starting to act a bit snobby, like you're better than her, and she's defenseless. That's why you lost, good-night."
"Al!"
"No brother, think about it, then after you talked to Winry, then talk to me, you need to learn the consequences of your actions brother." I sighed and fell asleep thinking about it.
"Finally, you go smart, Edward Elric. You slept on the couch instead of the hallway where I could step on you." I opened my eyes to her and she happily stood there with her hands on her waist.
"What's going on today?" She kept staring at me. "Oh yeah, the party; we totally forgot to get an outfit." She laughed.
"Al went out earlier to get his, I have to stay here and watch you and grandma so you don't run off. We can go to the mall too if you need to."
"Of course I need to, I didn't buy any dresses, what smells so nice?" the smell was so great I had to eat it. I walked over to the kitchen. She whacked me with her wrench. "What?"
"Edward Elric, you are not going to eat my meal, it's for everyone, like breakfast yesterday. Now let's go since grandma is out setting up for the party."
"When's the party?"
"It's at 10, so we have to hurry, we have 4 hours but being back in to hours would be good." I shrugged and picked up an invitation off the desk.
"What's this?"
"I sent out special invitations to people at central to come, if you're in Reisenbool you can automatically come but other than that, it's by invitation, so that's what it is. They sent them back with the list of their dates. It's very formal so most everyone is bringing dates."
"What about Eliza?" I laughed, and sort of sighed.
"Ed, get it threw your thick head that she hates any sort of major public events, I doubt she'd want to attend the demonstration if she wasn't forced too. This party is for 5 days, today thru Friday then Saturday you and Al are free to go to the demonstration."
"I got it, so dates huh?" I nodded. "You have one?" I shook my head. "What about Al, that's a no too, right?"
"Actually Al does, I was surprised when he told me, it's a girl from central, she's in military, you'd never guess who she is." I looked at her.
"No, come on, are you serious?"
"I didn't think it would happen but I guess it was bound to happen. You guys do spend a lot of time in the library and after all that time that Al had helped her out, and she helped you two they just did, so it's Sciezka."
"Um, since you don't have a date, would you like to come to the thing with me?"
"Yes, I'd love to." Is it just me, or does she like me? "So we both need to get outfits." I looked at her surprised.
"What?"
"I just expected since you were throwing the party you'd of had something to wear by now, you've know about before anyone else, you started this with our surprise party upon our leaving, how could you not be ready." I sighed.
"I do this every year, I through the biggest party Reisenbool has ever attended but I'm so caught up in the food, invitations, guests, and everything that I go running out early morning the first day of the party. I usually don't go all out for these things but I've saved up a lot of money over the years and with you and Al back here I'm sure that I could get dressed up in your honor."
"I guess I should look good too, since this is in my honor."
"They people of Reisenbool will be happy to actually have their guest of honor with them, it'll be great. This is going to be the best year yet, usually we celebrate your honor without your presence and the first one was in honor of your departure, most of these people haven't see you in those years, most of them don't know what happened, or how it was undone. I know you don't like talking about it but you do know that someone's bound to ask." I nodded, I would rather not talk about it but if many people asked, I'm sure I could handle telling them.
"I'll be fine, you know I always am, sometimes I just get a little touchy about it."
"Touchy like we could tease you about your height in years past." I just stared at her, I wasn't so forgiving to people who called me short, or especially a shrimp; that annoyed me. We finally arrived at the store and I watched as Winry walked up to the man who stood by the door.
"Ah, Miss. Rockbell has finally graced up with her very late presence. And is that?" Winry smiled and nodded at this older gentleman who was the owner of the store.
"Yep, that's him, Edward Elric, he's back. Trust me, I'm the happiest person about Al and Ed being back." The guy was surprised and was looking around. "Al was in here earlier this week, didn't you see him." I looked at Winry.
"Al's back in his old body, he probably just walked in bought in and walked out, knowing him he wouldn't want to draw attention to himself he didn't like that at all when he was in the suit." I said keen to not do anything to upset myself before I needed to.
"Al always was a very shy kid, some things never change, but others do. I'd never expect to see you with Miss. Winry, Edward. You two were always fighting with each other, I haven't seen two people fight more than you two, that is surprising." I could see Winry smile, even though it wasn't a real date and we weren't an official couple she seemed super happy to be escorted to the dance by me. I hope I can still dance, it's been too long, at least I don't have to worry too much about stepping on her feet, since my leg isn't metal anymore.
"I'd love to keep talking about Ed, Al and the good old days but Ed and I are the guests of honor and Al is expecting us back by 8 or so." He nodded.
"Why you do your shopping last minute I don't know, everything's over picked but you have a very special figure and no one fits your size so you still have a very good selection. Edward, what size are you wearing, you're a lot taller than last time I saw you." Winry put her hand on my shoulder, people saying I use to be short was offending to me.
"Don't worry about it, I'll take care of Ed and myself, okay?" The owner nodded and walked away. "So we'll start with you." I shrugged and we went to my side, I haven't shopped in so many years.
I tried on 3 suits, and they were okay but not for me. Winry sat and didn't say anything and I just went back to the dressing room and tried on another, nothing struck her fancy, no fancy clothes I liked. I was about to give up after trying on 9 but she said that if I was only going to show up to one of these every 5 years I'd have to dress up. I sighed, I liked this one but I'm not an expert in clothing, and how it works with people, neither was Winry but she was still very good. "Almost ready with the last one in the shelf?" I nodded and walked out. "What do you think about it? I like it, what do you think?"
"I liked it to begin with, so I'm going to buy it or we'll be here all day." She nodded and neatly folded it and set it in her basket she was carrying. We walked over to her section and she was looking at something on the wall, it was some sort of color chart, it matched up a hair color, and eye color with a color of dress, which I had no clue what it was about but that's what it said. The funny looking paper said that she should pick something blue, or red, or black, I didn't know which one. She picked up a pink one, and an aqua colored one. The pink one was okay on her and she refused to come out in the aqua one. I hadn't seen it but she argued that it looked horrible on her. I took all her clothes and the other dress so she'd be forced to come out and show me, I've been what she's worn before and nothing looks bad on her.
"Edward Elric, you have to have everything your way, don't you?"
"No, just this; I'm sure it looks great, come on." She came out in the most beautiful dress I've ever seen on her. It was strapless like her black shirt except it had teeny tiny little straps and it was very long and was like designed for her, it was great and it was like a pure ocean, the most amazing color I've ever seen, her eye color exactly. "It looks amazing on you." She blushed and then turned around and it looked amazing from every angle.
"You really think so, I thought it was a little small on the hanger so I decided not to try it on but it is very pretty, I'm going to buy it." I handed her clothes to change back into. "It's not that horrible when you have your way."
"I just can be more open to things than you sometimes, others you're the more rational one." She took the dress from me, and folded it and was about to check out.
"I should get some dress shoes to match this dress." I shrugged and I picked out a pair of shoes while she got hers, then I told her I was going to get one more thing and I went and got it and met up with her.
"Ready to go?" She nodded, then we walked back to the house. No one there yet and Winry happily walked up the stairs after preparing the last things for the party. "Al, where are the holding it this year?"
"Pinako says there's a party grounds nearby that they hold it at and it's beautiful with petals and there's a stage and food. It's a very fancy dance hall, and they use it for the greatest of parties, remember the one for the military."
"Yeah, I almost stepped on that one girl's foot who tried to get me to dance. She was crying all night, I didn't hurt her that bad, did I?" Al just looked at me, I crossed my arms.
"You broke her food, I wouldn't say it was that bad, at least you got better after than, and even if you mess up brother you're foot's not automail and you've only broken every bone in Winry's body twice; she'd forgive you anyway."
"Thanks Al," Al smiled and laughed. "That was sarcasm."
"I know, so how did shopping go this morning?" I shrugged.
"For shopping it was a little less boring than normal, the suit is okay, I'd rather not wear one though but it's okay for a suit." I said with very little excitement.