Chapter 11: The Source of All Things Alchemic
Winry and Ed walked back to the house and he sat on the couch and she next to him and looked at him, "Am I the cause of your problems?"
"What, where did this come from? No, of course not, my innocence combined with stupidity was the cause of all my problems, not remembering what I had been taught. I was taught in death live on, I didn't and that was my first mistake. I didn't understand death was the second, which was my downfall." She kissed him on the cheek.
"No, your downfall was that you weren't perfect, and that makes your mistakes equal to the world's because we all are not perfect, but something I fear is that when I do need my alchemy it will fail me."
"Your alchemy is in your heart, and that's what will save us all."
"You're wrong." A man said walking into the house. "I'm your father's best friend and this is the last year of my life and he left this for me. It explains why you only just now got your powers and everything about them. I came here to be buried here where they lived, and give you that."
"Nolan?" Winry asked, he nodded and fell in a chair. "Will my powers help people when I die, I need to know."
"As long as you are in the heart of that person your power lives on, your power comes from him." Nolan pointed to Ed.
"Ed, me?" The asked together.
"As solid as you two are now, is because you're together, not because you're together you're solid, two halves: protection and will, power and maturity not the same but two halves and now that you are complete both of your true potential is reached, he basic alchemy was given by another, which is now in both of you which name is not known to me, but he wants this it his plan and purpose, he is the one of weakness and innocence. He hands each to you two, because of him when you were young he made you innocent to facts, and the other weak and without power but that is what kept you from each other, because the power when put together with love is more powerful than a love that burns forever if it starts strong then it lasts longer than one that is weak and lasts forever."
"Al," Nolan nodded to Ed's word.
"The boy you speak of was so innocent the brain felt the need to do something for him, and when the heart were with him at the beginning he made you weak no powers so you couldn't become what you are and earn respect then, then nothing would come to be while waiting did it, and when he was gone from his physical body that left you two, it is the power we all have just yours takes a human substance, called Alchemy."
"So to do alchemy you have to have some of those characteristics, correct?" He shook his head.
"No Winry, because it was needed it came to be but the three protectors or you, me and Al came we were sent to protect and that came with a price…
"…as do all things in life. The lack of what you'd become was what caused the accidents, the accidents had to happen to become what you are, to finish your own minds off, and for one to lose it."
"Ed's body that lost innocence and had to grow up, My weakness which had to conceal the will of my alchemy, and then Al's body held the weakness and innocence but when destroyed of the boyness, those things couldn't bother us and we released and gave us that what we needed, maturity and strength."
"You understand now, that your place is with each other because that is how the array is, the three has served it's purpose and connected the two keys back to the seal which causes the two things lost to return which are the will and the maturity which cause the most perfect harmony in alchemy by understanding when and when not to use it and the correct way to use it as well as power to keep the other standing to defend another day is why you two are the seal." He said and he coughed up blood and died there. With a note on Winry's lap, and Ed took it and handed to her. There are a lot of words but on one side it has a chart, with the words way, understanding, power, defend and on the other part are will, maturity, power, protection, and the will and heart.
"It's a test on the harmony of our alchemy; I did horrible on this during the test."
"Funny because this was easy for me; it's word associations, way-will, maturity-understand, power-power, defend- protection and the words will and protection was the powers of me, while your powers are power and maturity, got it." Winry said figuring it out. Ed hit his head.
"Really no, but I'm sure my brain wouldn't have figured it out, they are a circle Winry." The words made a circle how they were connected each of the words match was across from them, the titles of her and Ed were in the middle and that made the seal which was the exact replica of the transmutation circle she sometimes needs so she marks on her hand.
"It's the circle for will transmutation, you just never realized but that's what you've been doing all along, ketsui or will is the kind you just didn't know but when you tried that's what showed up, didn't it."
"Yeah so whenever I needed it I wrote it on the substance or my hand but I remembered how you could create the array but I could only do until I competed with you, and even until then I had a trouble." Ed thought about something.
"Like he said ever time you do alchemy by will you pass out, and have a problem because you need power have of your array is missing but when we do normal alchemy, it is complete because it's not effected by something we can freely create."
"Then let's try this. Ed when I say to clap your hands together like normal, but then put them against mine, I'll do the same and see how far I can go with this."
"That sounds threatening to you, seeing how far you can push yourself."
"According to our power theory, you are my power source, so as far as you can go, I can, so technically we're testing my will and you're power and we'll see how much both can do in harmony?" He nodded.
They clapped and put their hands together and she focused on their goal, and it was done, every person not protected in the bubbles was now protected by a protection that sealed them, without a bubble and the people in bubbles went to theses knew ones as well as her and Edward.
"What is it?"
"A will-powered bubble, my will your power, endless possibilities, everyone in the army's wives, and anyone in danger has them, with in this entire continent, you and I too." Ed was amazed that her will to defend then and his maturity to understand what his power meant to her did all that."
"We're amazing, I guess that I could have done alchemy without even an array," she shook her head.
"Normal alchemy still requires and array, ours does too, it just needs two halves of an array to complete and become whole, so we will forever need an array, except when it comes down to me, then will if strong enough can but chances are I'll pass out again if I try so we just need to never be from each other's side, and we'll be fine."
"Fine by me." He said taking her side taking her outside onto the grass and laid next to her and they kissed for hours and eventually were so tired they fell asleep on top of each other and then it rained and she realized that the bubbles would stop rain too so she returned to holding herself close to Ed and fell asleep instantly.
"Brother, Winry, is you okay?" Al screamed waking them up from their peaceful sleep with the other.
"Why do you ask Al?" Winry said quietly.
"When I realized the bubble was gone it had to mean that Winry was gone, so I came out and saw you and I thought you were dead."
"Al, the bubble's still there it's just form fitted and capable to do anything you can do, and it's invisible so no one knows it's there." Ed replied.
"How?" Al asked.
"Winry's father friend explained our powers, Winry can create the bubbles by thinking about it but she's too weak to do it and I'm the to be her able to so when we combined she and I protected the whole continent and now, all in danger from harm are protected."
He stood there in amazement and they waved good bye and went to bed and fell asleep in each other's company. Winry had always felt safe being in Edward's arms. He was strong, caring and intelligent that made for a great person, and protector. That was what the circle was about too, he was mature to understand and powerful to protect, she had the will and heart to protect people. Together they were in love, perfect for each other, and perfect for the world, they were in love with no doubts and no fears they had while with the other and so entirely perfect.
Winry awoke realizing Ed was gone and a bit concerned, she looked around to see he was sitting by a tree, realizing of her movements he coaxed her over and she happily came over. "We have many concerns to take care of, one the party, two Mustang's problems, three everyone else."
"The party just needs food which I can make easy, Mustang, just leave him to me, with everyone being protected Al, my and your services aren't needed, and everyone else is perfectly safe, except you and me, if I touch you, the bubble pops so we have a concern there."
"No, you just stop doing your whole caring thing for a second, as long as I'm with you then we're perfectly safe and fine, so don't worry, you've got food to make and I'll entertain myself somehow."
"By that you mean…
"Yep, I'm going to watch you cook, I like watching you and eating your food, and I like food so watching you cook is something I will forever enjoy doing." She sighed and took an early start with Sciezka making tons of food, no one had been up except for Al a few hours ago it was only 6 so they'd be getting, Sciezka hadn't gotten up to help but she would and then Al would also help cook too. Ed was a fair cook but he would eat the food before anyone to get some so he was forever banished from cooking, except when someone needed help or when he was alone. He had to cook for himself for many years while they traveled because Al didn't need to eat and he needed to, and Al wouldn't cook for Ed, seeing it was very unfair and would sometimes upset him.
Winry had made all the early preparations for the food, now it just had to cook for about 2 hours, so she made everyone a simple pancake, egg, and bacon meal. Ed had also hated to watch milk being put in food making him sick. Winry would never understand why he despised milk, she had thought it was either he just hated it or he was allergic to it and there was to for sure way to know but she was careful in how she prepared food for him, Al was sensitive to the food he ate too, not as discussed by it but his body hadn't taken very easily to being deprived of food and started with small meals like a small child.
"Morning Winry, and brother," Al greeted happily. Al was so perky and Ed and Winry smiled returning his happy gesture. "Winry, I was wondering something." She stopped watching the bacon for a second and looked at him.
"Yes."
"Are you going to be okay?"
"Of course Al, why would you think otherwise?"
"Because you're really weak when you do alchemy and I'm afraid that if you keep it up then you'll get sick and die." Ed choked on his food and Winry looked at Ed, sighed then walked over to Al.
"Everything solved, my alchemy is not whole Al that's why it's hard because it's only half, it has no strength on it's own like normal alchemy, it's defensive no strength so it needs my strength but see when Ed is nearby it works like to battery so I can do alchemy, it's two halves that make a whole that is one solid very strong alchemy. Understand?" Winry explained to Al, Ed watched as she too contemplated how to explain this.
"So you're fine to do alchemy now?" She nodded. "So how much alchemy are you two limited too, since Winry can barely hold her own without you brother?"
"My limits, as much alchemy as I could do without passing out is how much she can, and hers has no limits on it because it uses the air around us so it's limitless, and solid. But Winry still has her normal alchemy, it's her array that's weak, she has to use a circle still if she wants to do it by herself, though I wouldn't let her anyway." She turned around and stuck her tongue out at Ed.
"It's good that you two can still be yourselves and you're both okay. And these bubbles they are a real trouble, I can't take a shower, or wash up, or get dressed." Winry laughed, she touched her hand to the bubble and it would be gone but no one could see it, it was a felt thing.
"Al but do Winry and I a favor, hurry up so she doesn't worry herself to death, those bubbles run on her will and if she's scared it will appear and then you won't be able to get clothes on so hurry and don't to anything dangerous." Ed stood up and put his hand on a worrying Winry's shoulder.
"Worrying Winry?" Ed asked, she replied by nodding. "Come on, we have two hours to play." He took her hand and guided her out of the house. Ed took her into the woods where there was a clearing and there was a playground they use to play on. He climbed up on top of it like a little kid and then hoisted her up again like so many years ago; they were a bit big for the small playground he and Al had transmuted.
"Was there a purpose for bringing me to this spot or you just wanted me to follow you here?"
"I just wanted you to follow me here, it's also a purpose but it's simple, I wanted to be alone with you." She smiled and rested her head against his left shoulder and he embraced her using his metal arm to secure himself and Winry to the playground so they wouldn't fall and get hurt. He took her head gently and brought his to her and they kissed for a while, and then Winry felt something shaking, and she grabbed to Ed and he laughed he clapped his hands and put his hands on the playground and it was fixed and able to secure them again. She smiled, alchemy was something she loved to watch Ed do even if she understood it and could do it herself, she hadn't mastered it like him, she probably never would or could, but together they had mastered it. They made out some more and then when it had been 4 hours Winry had wondered if the food was taken care of, lost in her world of love with Edward she had forgotten all worries, everything except him and her love for him. He hopped of the playground and helped Winry down who had a problem with jumping and falling so he took her hands and picked her up and set her down. They walked back to the house to see Al, Sciezka and another girl playing.
"Ed!" the little girl screamed and crashed into Ed. Ed picked her up and looked to see Winry smiling at him. "Who is the pretty girl Ed?" Winry blushed and then Ed whispered something in her ear and she ran off to see her mother inside. Winry looked at Ed and he just kept walking.
"There you two are, I wondered where you went?" Sciezka replied.
"I didn't leave my duties I made everything didn't I the alarm went off and all someone had to do was take it out, simple." Al nodded giving Winry the signal he had taken care of it, Ed smiled at his brother for understanding his actions.
A women holding the little girl comes out from the door and Ed bows and she bows too. Winry quite confused bows too, Ed nods suggesting it was the proper thing to do. "Elicia tells me of great news from you Edward. How are you?"
"I'm fine Garcia, and you and Elicia?"
"We're doing fine Edward, who is the lovely young lady?" Elicia giggles and whispers something into her mother's ear. "I see, why don't we go inside and all talk, Sciezka and Alphonse, you are welcome to join."
"No thank you, we are perfectly content out here." Sciezka replied, and Al agreed.
"So what is your name dear?" Garcia asks Winry.
"Winry Rockbell, it's nice to meet you. I've heard your name mentioned many times from Ed and Al but it's a pleasure to finally meet you."
"As am I to meet you, Edward has in a round about way mentioned you and asked me questions about how to explain things to you but never would I have guessed you were this beautiful, you are much more beautiful then he describes you." Winry blushes and so does Ed.
"Thank you, so what brings you to our house?"
"Edward didn't ask you, oh, I'm sorry. Edward." She scolded. "Edward asked me to come here and to see Al and himself again as well as you and your grandmother. I didn't know he hadn't told you, I'm sorry."
"No, I'm sorry that Edward didn't tell me. He'll get it later." She laughed. "But I'm glad to finally get a chance to meet you and your daughter; I met your husband once when I came down town to take care of Ed's automail."
"I've heard of your work, it's legendary in central. I'm glad you got to meet him." Winry agreed and bowed her head and Ed looked away not wanting to feel the pain that wanted him to have revenge again. "So Edward is what Elicia says true?"
"Yeah, I told her to tell you that myself."
"Then I'm glad for that, it's very good for you."
"If you could excuse me, I'd like to know what Elicia said." Garcia looks at Edward and she looks at the ceiling.
"Elicia told me that you were Edward's girlfriend. I feel upset knowing Edward would hide that from you."
"Me too, Ed, why didn't you tell me."
"I thought it was obvious, will you?"
"Of course."
"Just please don't hurt me." She laughed and playfully patted him on the head. They faced Garcia again.
"That's good that you have a very conversational relationship. I hadn't heard from Edward and Al for a long time and even then I would like to get to know you Winry, seeing as you are someone special to Edward." Winry and Ed blushed again.
"I'm not that special, I work on automail most of the time, but in rare cases where someone is endanger they call me on special assignment, in use of my alchemic powers to defend me."
"You're an alchemist?"
"A defensive alchemist, the only one in 40,000 years; I'm also a state certified alchemist. I'm not a state alchemist because my powers can't be used in war but I do at sometimes do work for them, my purpose is helping people. People who are being threatened by bad people or a normal person who lost a limb, it's my job to take care of anyone who needs it."
"And you're good at that from the way Edward and Alphonse were raised; they are the two most wonderful boys I've ever met. I'm glad that you were there helping them get through their tough times, you're really a remarkable person. Edward is lucky to have a girlfriend like you and everyone is lucky to have a friend like you." Winry blushed.
"You bet I am." Edward replied. Winry blushed.
"I do all I can for everyone, my grandmother and parents gave their life to helping others and I just followed in their footsteps. It came natural to me."
"That's good, the more women that we have like us and your family the better this world becomes. So how can you be a defensive alchemist Winry, seeing as it's rare you could guess I don't know much of alchemy especially rare forms." Winry looked to Ed.
"Winry's alchemy is a combination of physical prowess and alchemy, she uses her body and mind in unity to out smart her opponents or create a strategy perfectly fit to easily disable her opponent without looking at them, or touching them, or the object. It's amazing." Ed explained.
"Wow, I heard alchemy was hard but that seems so hard, and is anyone else in your family an alchemist?" Garcia complimented.
"I heard of alchemy from Ed and Al but defensive alchemy was my only way to go because if I used it offensively then I'd be going against what my family stands for. So I designed alchemy perfectly suited for the job, to protect Ed and Al."
"So you wanted to be and alchemist to protect Ed and Al wasn't it a little late?"
"No, they still need so much help. Al not so much but Edward seems to get himself and me in trouble constantly so I particularly joined to do a service to everyone and Ed and Al. I also did it to earn respect from Edward who had no respect for female alchemists, or me." Winry helped her understand.
"That was smart but wouldn't normal alchemy without the title done that same thing, and served the purpose." Garcia asked.
"Normal alchemy was not an option because Ed wouldn't have respected me for being an alchemist most likely. I had to fight him beat him, and to do that I became Eliza and fought him for his exam and won but the point was to be respected and beating him defiantly got me more than respect." Winry explained
"I've heard of Eliza. She is the one that put the bubbles around everyone to save them. Elicia and I got in wagon accident while traveling and fell and got hit by the cart and didn't get hurt then someone explained that you Eliza made it so we couldn't get hurt. But why?" Winry just looked away and snuggled into Ed's arm, she nodded.
"Someone like Barry and Scar." Winry shivered and Garcia nodded, she feared her and her daughter's life with Barry but she didn't fear anyone in her family's life, just the two boys when Scar attacked.
"If you could excuse me, I need to get a few more things for the party and maybe figure out a way to get all the food there, good-bye Garcia, Ed, see you two when I have completed preparations."
"Wait, Winry, I want you to take this, and read it when you're alone at the dark of the night, it's for you, and you deserve it. It was written for you, and one for Alphonse and Edward as well but I don't think they fit the requirements of theirs yet, as you have. Here." Winry walked to her, took the letter bowed and ran out the room, like training had taught her. When learning alchemy she learned a lot, she learned quick reflexes, always defend, never leave the item unprotected, and learn more as you advance and be quick for once second could make the difference.
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A/N: This next chapter is probably going to be my last until I come back, I can write there but no internet so I'll have chapters but I can't update until I get home so sorry. I'll update, promise. You'll be happy with my progress. Aniecä