Across the World I will Follow
Chapter 3The Lady On The Train
It had been about two weeks since Ed found Winry's letter. He had walked for about a week through the country side sulking over his brash behavior as of late. His temper had grown recently maybe from all the extra work he was putting in on trying to get the Philosophers stone. After a week walking the country side he finally made it to a train station to get on his way to central.
He straddled his pocket watch, his State Alchemist pocket watch. He held it in his hands as the train pulled from the station. The day in the little town he boarded the train was bright. The trees swaying in the early October breeze, it was only a few days until the anniversary of the day that they left and began searching for the Stone. Ed watched the prairie roll by and on the horizon the sun was peaking over the snowcapped mountain tops.
The train trekked across the prairies it rolled along at a leisurely pace for so long. Ed sat there staring out into the sky as if looking for some celestial answer to his problems. He sighed and opened his watch inside was the same 3.Oct.11 that had been there since he had gotten the watch. He stared at it then placed it back inside his pocket.
He then rustled through his many pockets and pulled out a picture. He remembered that day very clearly. It was the day he had first kissed Winry. Winry was sitting next to his bedside after an operation to fix his automail. Aunt Pinaco(Sorry guys couldn't remember her name but then I found it this is granny Rockbell for those who didn't know!) had left the room and Ed who was majorly beat up from his previous battles had just woken up. Alphonse was in the room and took a picture of the two as they stared each other down. Alphonse left the room and then Ed had motioned her down for the kiss. They enjoyed it and from that day forward Ed had come home as often as he could to see her.
But now, he had to worry about keeping her alive. He was worried, more than he had ever worried before. His heart was pounding faster and longer than it had ever had before. He had put his wants before the needs of the one he had supposedly loved. Ed sat their cross legged in his seat as the bustle of the train moved around him. His eyes were growing weary and he decided to drift off into slumber.
"Ed-ward, Ed-ward, Ed-ward, Ed-ward," a screechy voice sounded from the darkness. Ed looked around he was on a dark street. Surrounded by nothing but buildings and shadows.
"Nina? Nina? Is that you?"
"Ed-ward, Ed-ward, Ed-ward, Ed-ward," the voice continued to grow in intensity, as if it were getting closer. Ed began to run he looked behind everything. He ran all through the alleys searching for the source of the voice. He cautiously stepped into a darker portion of the alley. He walked deeper into the catacomb. He felt the walls around him closing in. then about half way down the alley, a light was on a dimly lit and ghostlike greenish yellow glow, and standing in the center was something Ed couldn't quite make out."Nina?"
He stepped closer towards it,"Ed-ward," continued to sound from it. It was an eerie noise almost like someone scraping their fingernails down a chalk board. Edward took baby steps as he gently neared the creature. Then it let out a sudden scream.
Ed winced and fell backwards. He landed on his behind and he watched as the figure turned towards him."Ed-ward, Ed-ward, Wh----y!" It slowly turned into the light. It was a dog a chimera, "Nina?" Edward asked himself, are you Nina? Then it grew closer to him its four legs slowly inching their ways to the fallen Alchemist. Ed was sweating, droplets of water rolling down his neck and arms. The chimera continued to screech "Ed-ward, Wh—hhyy!" Then it came right next to his ear. The ears of the animal were long and blonde they reminded him of someone."Why? Did you leave?" Then it rose on its two hind paws. And let out a roaring cry, as it began to fall down upon Edward, but as it came down upon him it disappeared into nothing and all that was left was a lock of hair and then Edward woke up.
Ed screamed as he was shaking in his sleep. "WINRY! NINA! NO!"
"Are you alright, honey are you alright?" a woman was shaking him trying to get him to awake. Ed hopped and he noticed the woman there. She was a plump old lady with a violet sun cap, and her hair graying red hair tied in the back in a bun. She wore a Violet full length dress and had a purple calico handbag." My dear you must have been having a horrible dream, If you would like you can come to my carriage and have some tea with me and we can discuss it, I happen to be a wonderful listener." She smiled at Ed. Ed looked suspicious of her but agreed to the tea.
Ed stood up and grabbed his things. He then followed the woman down three cars to the near back of the train to her private carriage. It was brightly decorated like a day room. The curtains were of course a violet color; she had a table with pink doilies in the corner and a light red sofa. She walked over to her kitchen section and began making tea." My name is Mary Elizabeth Stephanie Michelle Mays, and you are?"
Ed looked at her as she made her tea. "I'm an Alchemist."
She laughed. "Funny coincidence my son and Husband, May they rest in peace were alchemists." She grabbed a tea kettle and two glasses and sat them at the table. While she was pouring them she offered him to sit. "Please my dear sit I won't take no for an answer." Edward nodded politely and sat down and began drinking the tea.
Mary sat down across from him she stared at him for a moment. "So Alchemist, What is your name?" Ed fumbled with the sugar and began to stir his tea. "My name is Fullmetal."
Mary's jaw dropped and she began to talk hyperactively," So you are the famous Edward Elric! I am pleasured to finally meet your acquaintance of such an admired individual of the state! I've heard quite a many things about you from my son before he died at the hands of Scar a few years ago," she seemed to be quit ecstatic at meeting Edward. Ed just sat listening and staring out the window. " so my dear what was it that was bothering you in your sleep?"
"As you know Miss. Mays, Alchemists go through traumatizing experiences in their careers. Deaths, wars, Human transmutation, and the threat of death on one's self, I am no exception, but you could say I've done two wrongs I want to make right I made some promises, and I'm working hard to keep them, but I'm starting to see, some promises may have to be broken." He stood up looked out the window.
"Oh my dear so young and yet so old at the same time it's not always the best thing to grow up too quickly."
Ed turned and looked straight into her eyes, they too were a violet." Yet sometimes the only way to make it through in life is to grow up, no matter what the costs it does to you inside. Sometimes it's the only way." Ed continued to look into her eyes. He sensed something different about her essence. Her aura was strange something he had never felt before but yet it felt, familiar.
She looked back at him and nodded."Sometimes the young can be more wise the elderly." She took a sip of her tea then returned it to the table." Well Fullmetal Elric what do you plan to do? I know your heading to central but I have heard that you are not entirely too fond of the State yourself."
Ed laughed, "No I am not but everything starts in Central, so I'll begin searching here, and move on from there." Ed took one final sip of tea and bowed to her. " I thank you for your kindness but I must return to my seat." He grabbed his things again and walked out the door.
The lady continued to watch him as he walked out. "Edward Elric, The Fullmetal Alchemist, We will meet again." She smiled and then her form changed. She became a slim young woman, her hair was a shoulder length violet, her eyes violet and she wore a long violet gown. She smiled and then a bright light shined, and she disappeared.