Across the World I will follow:
Chapter 4: Among the streets of Central
Ed had finally made it to Central. The train rolled into the large train station bustling with activity. There were many State alchemists in the building checking passengers as they boarded and departed from the station. They stood out among the crowd in their blue uniforms. The train finally came to a stop and the people began to leave the locomotive. Edward grabbed his bag and exited the train with everyone else. When they got off the train they were showed to the security booths to check their bags and make sure they weren't smuggling anything into the Capital. Edward was about tenth in line so he only had to wait a few moments. When he got up all he had to do was flash his watch and he was let through. Edward walked through the station looking for Roy. "Damn he's usually here the moment I step foot in central, what the hell is up with this?"
After about an hour Edward gave up waiting and decided that he might as well start walking. So he worked his way through the hustle and bustle of the big city. People on all sides the streets were very crowded and easy to get lost in. Ed thought it would most likely be the best to try to take the back roads. In front of him a tall black man spotted him and ran off in the same direction as Ed was going. Ed noticed this but didn't think anything of it.
Winry was walking the streets now after bronze had told her of Edward's presence in Central. She had known since she arrived that Ed would come to central first off. She was actually quite surprised at his delayed arrival. She blended in with the crowd around her and quickly traipsed her way through the streets of the lower city.
Ed had begun to worry about what he was doing. He had noticed many glared looks at him as he was going through the town. "GO BURN IN HELL YOU DAMN DOG OF THE MILITARY!" yelled an elderly man from a window. Ed ignored him and continued his walk. More insults aroused from the air around him. Catcalls, anger, and hatred sounded all around him. The children running in fear from him, and then a group of men in about their thirties stepped out in front of him.
The three of them were in pretty much the same attire a rangy pair of pants and a torn shirt. One of them had a bat in hand and the other two had chains. "Argh, damn dog of the military among our midst." Spoke the one with the bat.
"Aye, and day' smell o' em' is drivin' me Zanny!" spoke the one to his left flailing his chain harmlessly. And the third just grunted at the other two's insults.
"Gentlemen, Gentlemen please we don't need any of this violence." Edward waved his hands in the air looking innocent.
"Pipe it up pipsqueak!" The bat carrier yelled.
Ed double took that comment. The rage in his eyes grew. He lowered his head and then steam began to blow from his ears. He raised his head and began to glare at them. He clapped his hands," NO ONE CALLS ME A PIPSQUEAK!" His hands glowed and he brought forth his blade. Ed smiled gruesomely and jumped forward.
Winry was walking through the streets she was only 10 blocks from the train station. She kept walking but then she heard screaming among the streets. "A DOG OF THE MILITARY! A DOG OF THE MILITARY!" Winry immediately knew who it was. She began running and saw the fight going on.
Ed jumped forward and took his first shot at the baseball man his face was a glow with frustration and fear as he lifted up his bat and the top half of it fell to the ground. He yelled for the others to do something. The two other goons jumped back and began spinning their chains in the air. Ed saw this quickly and stood in between the two of them. He stood their watching their movements calculating their moment of attack, but he forgot about the other man. He yelled and began running at him. And right as the others began to attack a girl in a grey poncho ran out in the way.
"Stop You idiots! You harm this dog of the military more than you have and he'll go back to the State and bring more down upon us and destroy what little there is left of us!"
The goons watched her and they looked like they were still ready to fight, but they obliged." Your right Bet, Dog," the largest man turned to him." I don't want to see you down here again. If I do I will murder you personally." He walked away with the other two following. The girl in the poncho stood their for a second and then started to walk away.
"Bet!" Ed yelled.
Bet stopped and spoke."What do you want dog!" Ed walked up behind her and placed his hand on her shoulder and tried to get her to turn around. "I want to thank you…"
Bet was shocked."Why would a damn scumbag dog of the Military want to thank a skank of the streets? Isn't that what you dogs think of all the woman of the streets? Playthings?!"
Ed looked at her and tried to get her to turn around, but then an old woman stepped out. "Bet, come on dear." She winked at her and gave her, her hand."Come on daughter we must go see your father he has fallen very ill." Bet accepted the hand and was pulled away from Edward.
Edward was shocked but didn't try to get her to stay. He waved goodbye to her back and yelled a one last thank you. She scoffed and the two walked away, and Ed turned to head to the State building.
The two women walked away towards the train station. Winry finally tired with the charade spoke."Who are you?" she asked. The woman looked at her and laughed. "Child I saw the way you were about that boy. He must have something to do with you."
Winry looked at her and bowed her head."Yes, he does, somewhat, but I don't care I'm running away."
The woman looked at her. "Well if you're going to runaway, work your way to Ishbal. Everything goes to Ishbal at one time, from Ishbal leave this place and cross into the middle east into the deserts of Neuruvia."
Winry watched her and was suspicious of her but thought maybe she was right. "Well if you don't mind, I must go." She then began to run towards the station leaving the poor woman behind. She stopped and stared at her a moment right in front of an alley. She stepped into the alley and turned her head. A faint violet glow emitted from her eyes. "It has begun Winry Rockbell." The eyes then glowed brightly then disappeared into the dank darkness of the alley.
Winry finally made it to the train station. She walked to the ticket booth and purchased a ticket to Hiessgart. She walked down the steps and found herself a seat to wait for the train. She grabbed something from her bag. It was a sandwich and she began to eat it. A little girl walked passed her she looked lost and scared. "Hey are you alright?" she asked the girl who was only about 8 years old.
"No no miss, I'm an orphan, and I'm starving." She looks at her. Winry looked down at her sandwich and offered the girl it. The girl took it thankfully and sat down next to her. "What's your name?" She asked her.
"My names Khristie, Khristie Lyanne Turner." She continued to eat the sandwich with a smile on her face. Winry looked at her and felt very sorry for her. "Khristie do you have a home?"
Khristie looked at Winry and she shook her head and started to cry as she continued to eat her sandwich. "Would you like to come with me Khris?" Khris jumped up and nodded. "Yes yes yes!" she clapped her hands. ",but can I ask you what your name is?"
Winry looked at her and then put her hand on her shoulder. "My name is betty but you can call me sissy if you want too." Khris smiled "Okay sissy" and she jumped into her arms and gave Winry a big hug. Winry accepted her embrace and started to cry. This girl needs me and I need someone to be with me. I'll keep her safe. She wiped her eyes and then whispered in her ear. "Right now I'm mommy though okay? Till we get to Hiessgart."
Khris nodded and stood up and took her hand. The two walked to the train and got on. The two sat down and Khris leaned her head against Winry and fell asleep. Winry watched her as she slept and stroked her long silver hair. She remembered her bright bluish green eyes as she looked at her the first time. Winry closed her eyes and leaned her head against the window and wrapped Khris in her arms the two strode off into slumber.