Disclaimer: I don't own Full Metal Alchemist. If I did, the ending to that dumb movie would have never, I repeat, NEVER existed in a million centuries. I also do not own any crossovers that will appear throughout the story.

Author's Note:

Where do I start...?

Well, first of all, I would like to apologize for the long update. It turns out that I was at a loss on how to continue the plot. Which leads me to another thing: most, if not all, of you guys misunderstood when I asked for advice on continuing the plot. I didn't really mean what other stories Winry should tell, I meant how should I have her and Edward interact with each other. But it's most likely my own fault for not clarifying too much, so I'm not mad or anything. Thank goodness I was finally able to figure out something.

Along with this frustrating writer's block, I also found that updating every week probably won't work. You see, I take extra care before uploading chapters. I first type a draft, then print it out, take it to school with me, read it over, edit it, place corrections on the saved draft when I come home, print it out again, and then the whole cycle starts all over again. I'm serious, I read over my chapters again and again until I am almost sick of them. XP This all contributes to my efforts to make this story as good as I can make it. I know that I am not the best author out there, but I want to use the best of my writing abilities to make this story enjoyable for all of my reviewers.

In other words, I won't be able to update every week. The only reason why I was able to update almost every week so far was because I had already designed the prologue, the first two chapters, and most of the third before I even got my account. So if not every two weeks or three weeks, I will definitely update every month. I apologize to anyone disappointed by this, because I know how you feel. Many a time has happened when I was crestfallen by a late update. (I'm more of a reader than a writer.) However, more time between updates is greatly needed for better quality.

Another reason why this update is so late is because I felt guilty about not updating in a while and tried to make the chapter longer than usual to compensate. :(

I would like to thank all of my reviewers. Two additional people that I would like to thank are Irvine E., who looked over this chapter and helped give me plausible advice (and thus became my beta), and Georgina B., who helped encourage me to continue on with this story while I was still bumbling around.

Specific responses to your reviews for the last chapter are placed below. Now onto the next chappie: P

Chapter 4: Alive

Porters trudged along with their loads, merchants shrewdly bargained their wares, and butchers gloomily prepared the next stash of meat to hang for sale that day. Horrible as it was, all were waiting for the death gong to sound- the signal that another woman was sent to the land of the dead at the order of the sultan himself.

"Hey, it's almost time." A gruff character sitting at a bar took another sip of bitter wine. "He always executes them at the same time after every wedding." He grunted. "And then there goes another one."

He and other people around him continued to mind his or her own business, yet still waited to hear that chilling herald of death.

"Maybe he had mercy?" one muttered to another hopefully; this one was praying every day for the sultan's madness to end. The one he had addressed shook his head with irritation.

"That won't ever happen. The king will never stop killing his wives. He hasn't done so for the past year and a half, so why would he stop now?" The hopes of the former were crushed by this true remark.

However, as the day wore on and the sun rose to the middle of the sky, many people on the streets found themselves confused and puzzled. Had they not heard those horrible wedding bells last night? Doesn't the sultan always kill his wives at the coming of dawn? How come the gong didn't sound when it was supposed to?

The answer would soon be revealed at a small pub cornered near a dusty alley.

"Did anyone hear the gong yet? I don't think it rang today," commented the owner as he served drinks to his thirsty customers. "Is it broken...?"

One of them chuckled a bit, almost as if he knew something that no one else did. The small chuckles soon grew into deep laughter that rang throughout the small building and caused all chatter to die down. It then stopped when he noticed everyone's eyes on him, watching.

"And just what," the owner asked, "is so amusing, customer?"

He chuckled again in reply. "The fact that you guys just don't know. Well, I only found out myself because I was taking certain deliveries straight through the palace gates and heard all those servants chattering..."

"Well, would you be so kind as to relieve us of our ignorance, then?" The stranger's haughty manner was annoying to them all.

"Well, the reason why the gong didn't sound today was..."

His next words shocked them all.

"He let her live."

Winry sat up, drowsy and with hair unkempt. For a minute, she didn't even know where she was...and then the staggering truth hit her hard as hammers.

She was in the sultan's bedroom. And not only that, but...

She was alive.

Right after the sultan had walked out of the room, she and Paninya had stared at the door with unbelieving faces, as if he would slam through and change his mind any second. Neither of them would have been surprised at all if he had.

Due to their lack of rest, both had eventually drifted off to sleep. And now, thought Winry as she looked out of the window and saw the sun in the center of the sky, it's around noontime.

She looked down as she felt her stomach rumble. It was a while since she last ate.

But what was she supposed to do? She didn't know where the meals were served, let alone where the kitchen was; she didn't even know if she was allowed to go and get something to eat.

She huffed. Allowed. It was ironic how she, a mere orphan with little money or status, had overnight achieved the position of a sultan's wife, did another impossible by somehow surviving past dawn, and yet was unable to even get a meal. How had her shock about what had occurred over the last who-knows-how-many hours made her so...docile?

Never. Why, if the situation was different, she would have done more than just glare at her "husband" last night, and she knew it.

She seethed at the contemptuous manner she had perceived in him, and then abruptly stopped herself.

Who was she trying to fool? Right now, she was as frightened as a cornered mouse. Sure, she had survived, but he had made it very clear that this was only the inevitable being delayed. Instead of dying today, she is just going to die tomorrow. What use is it to be angry over anything anymore?

But then, what use is it being scared of anything either?

Edward yawned as the commoner ranted on and on.

"And then, sir, the little urchin just made a ruckus out of everything! He stole my purse and let my goats run free in the house. They upturned tables, smashed doors- my wife went hysterical when she saw one of them chewing on her jewelry...it was a complete outrage!" the man finished off his testimony with emphasis.

Silence.

The court- and the merchant- waited as he lifted his hand, placed it upon his crossed knee, and then in turn used it to prop his chin. He gazed down at the merchant with a hard, calculating look that betrayed no emotion.

"Let me get this straight," he began slowly.

"You were at your home...eating...and then a street beggar appears out of nowhere?"

The merchant nodded. "Y...yes, sir."

"After which, he all of a sudden jumped on your table, stole your money, and made a scene?"

"Yes sir, that's right, sir." He nodded more vigorously now.

"For no apparent reason at all, you say?"

"That is the truth, your majesty."

Edward was pensive. "And this urchin wouldn't have anything to do with that Merchant Maes you always mention, does it?"

The merchant started.

"I'm not one to forget things. I've noticed that there have been periodic complaints about this man, all of them from you and only you. I have also noticed that your statements on this man is the lone reason you request audiences. A bit suspicious, if you ask me."

"Well...I..."

"Let's see if your complaints are valid." The sultan then snapped his fingers.

Immediately two men covered from head to toe in deep purple clothing appeared and handed him a rather long scroll. They each had a black cloth hiding the lower portion of their faces, which made only their eyes visible as they glittered with menace at the nervous merchant.

"You merchants," Edward began as he started to search through the scroll, "are sort of like this kingdom's 'openings' or 'doors' to the outside world." His nearly invisible automail hand held his chin. "Therefore, you need careful watching over."

"Ah...here it is." He cleared his throat and recited the desired contents.

"Merchant Maes Hughes. Invests in the western caravans. Wares happen to be unusual trinkets from the western lands. Is married to a Gracia Hughes, whom he seems to adore above all else. Hmph." Edward snorted with disdain.

He then continued. "Is average in success- has a comfortable income. Used to be a mere servant for a wealthy landowner until he decided to become independent and start his own business. Worked exceedingly hard to achieve the position he is in today. Has no children, five servants, one chef, and one bodyguard, who all appear loyal to him. None of the aforementioned are known for causing any trouble." That said, he rolled up his scroll and stared pointedly at the merchant before him.

"What wares do you sell?" he suddenly asked.

"S-silk linens and thread..."

"Haven't those wares been in high demand over the last decade? I've heard that whoever was involved with their trade are now quite wealthy."

"T-that is correct."

"All of this evidence confirms my notion that this is a repeated attempt at a setup," he concluded in a quiet, menacing tone.

The merchant just stared in horror.

"I know that you have enormous wealth, Merchant Yoki. However, your greed is such that you wish to eliminate potential rivals around you in an effort to expand it even more." He then smirked devilishly. "Oh yes, and I also heard of the bribes you had paid some of my tax collectors to secure your current 'no tax-paying' position. Such actions are intolerable."

Merchant Yoki almost shrieked.

"You will be thrown into prison for several weeks for bribery, attempted setup, and refusing to pay my taxes. Your business will flounder as a result of your imprisonment and you will lose money equivalent to the amount you refused to pay me. Only then will I authorize your release."

Now Merchant Yoki really did shriek.

"N-NO! It can't be!"

"You will do well to remember that I govern my kingdom on equivalent exchange. Guards, take him to the dungeons."

"No!" the greedy merchant yelled as both his arms were each taken by a guard. He panicked as they dragged him towards the door. "This is injustice! This statement is nowhere near fair! You don't know anything about-"

Edward just ignored him as he took out a book, waiting for the next citizen to enter the hall.

"It's no wonder you can't keep a wife!"

Everyone in the court gasped in shock. They all went rigid with riveted eyes on the sultan, whose hair covered his brow and hid his face from view.

Even the guards were still, and their hands slacked their hold on the now pale merchant.

After a long silence, the sultan raised his head, his face expressionless and his voice calm.

"On second thought, have him executed."

"Almost there..." Winry muttered to herself.

The pearl-topped pin she had found was working wonders on the lock.

"Okay now...you got it...come on..."

A low, yet satisfying click was heard. She would have cheered, if not for the circumstances.

She slowly turned the knob and took a peek outside.

Casting cautious glances from one side of the long hallway to the other, Winry then stepped out and just as quietly closed the door.

"I'll be back," she whispered to a still-sleeping Paninya.

"Now where is the kitchen...?"

And just why was the door locked in the first place?

Shrugging other thoughts aside, Winry began her sojourn into the lengthy hallways. They were very wide and had many deviations from the path she was going down.

She hoped she wouldn't get lost.

"Please, your highness, I didn't mean anything by-"

"Quiet."

Though the calmness of his voice told otherwise, his eyes spoke cold fury.

"I beg of you, I'll keep my mouth shut from now on, just please don't-"

"Gag him," Edward said impatiently. The rest of Merchant Yoki's desperate appeal was cut short with thick, rough scraps of cloth. His bulbous eyes widened even more and he hyperventilated out of fear.

He was pushed down on a wide platform of a table that was stained with blood near the top. At the sight of this, he let out a very muffled scream. Its volume raised higher when he saw the sharp glint of an ax.

"Now, executioner." The ax readied itself over the panicky victim. Just as it was about to slice down, however-

The door opened.

Winry was lost.

"I knew I should have done at least something to try and mark my trail..."

She had wandered from room to room, ducking in various corners whenever she saw a guard pass by. After all, the sultan probably wanted her to starve in the first place.

'Uh-oh.'

There were now guards entering this hallway from both ends. Backing up, Winry found that there was only one door behind her.

'I hope this is the kitchen.' She opened the door and rushed in.

It wasn't.

Instead of bustling servants and the aroma of food, there were men covered in black, a man tied onto what looked like a large table, and in the uppermost seat overlooking all the others...

The sultan.

He still held that look, the look of someone derisive, prideful, and everything else Winry thought loathsome. Even right before an execution, in his face she could find no remorse, no sympathy, no disgust, nothing.

And his eyes, those that burned with command for the utmost respect and obedience, were outright glaring at her.

They stared at each other for how long? Hours? Minutes? Seconds, maybe? Winry didn't know. Under the hold of her fear, she couldn't think.

A brilliant idea formed in her head.

'Run away.'

Forcing her body to move, Winry picked up her legs and started to back up little by little.

His eyes followed her with each step she took.

Undeterred, she kept going until she felt the knob behind her, and then...

She ran.

The guards looked from the escaping woman to the fidgeting prisoner, unsure.

"What are you waiting for? Retrieve her." They moved.

"As a matter of fact, wait." His loyal soldiers halted. "I'll just get her myself."

Edward stood up and stretched. Then with a sudden speed that would have startled them all, he sprinted in his wife's direction.

"Follow through with the execution!" he called as he sped down the hallway.

The poor merchant had the good fortune to pass out during his final moments.

"Where to hide, where to hide..." Winry muttered as she ran in a panic.

So far, all the doors she had tried were locked. However, she was sure that she had heard footsteps behind her, so she kept on running.

"I have to get out of here..."

She never wanted to be here. She just wanted to go home and tend to her automail again while waiting for Paninya to-

She stopped short. Paninya!

Her breath now coming out in short gasps, she leaned one hand on the wall beside her and held the other to her side. She couldn't leave now. Even if she did manage to escape, the sultan will just kill Paninya in her stead.

The footsteps sounded again, and Winry's head snapped up. She may not be able to run away, but she could at least hide for the moment- whatever good that would do. Fleeing the dreadful sound, she continued to try one door after another.

Frustrated that all the doors were locked, she pounded her fist on the next one- and fell right through onto a carpet of lush green.

Looking up, she found herself in the most beautiful garden she had ever laid eyes upon.

It was a large garden divided into many small gardens, each lovelier than the last. All contained magnificent trees with the most luscious fruit imaginable, and flowers with scents more pleasing than the most fragrant perfumes. Singing birds chirped and twittered from every branch, filling the gardens with their sweet music.

Winry stood up and walked over to the largest garden she saw. Interestingly enough, it had front doors with huge padlocks.

"What are you doing here?" a harsh, familiar voice rang out. Winry jumped, but neither turned around nor answered. A sick feeling plopped into her stomach as she recognized its owner.

She heard his footsteps approach her, one heavier than the other. "You," he drawled out, "are never to be seen in these gardens."

"Not that it matters anyway," he continued. Winry heard him stop right behind her. "You won't be alive long enough to disobey me."

A/N: I hoped you liked this chapter. Now on to the review responses:

Cerulean San: You are usually one of my more energetic reviewers. I really enjoy reading your reviews. When you first started talking about Hana Yori Dango, I was like, "What's that?" and eventually had to go to Wikipedia. (scratches head sheepishly) It does sound like an interesting story, but I'm not sure if I'll use it for one of Winry's tales. Maybe if I modify it a bit to fit the story...? I don't know. I'm still going through some plot ideas in my head. Thank you for your energetic (and sometimes funny) reviews! ;)

aizuhime: Your reviews are usually short but concise, and I don't have a problem with that. They help encourage me to write for a reader's benefit, so thank you.

Larie-chan: Considering that you are my first reviewer, I am always pleased to hear from you. I must admit that your last review sort of made me go "uh-oh..." a bit, but I'm also glad to know that you consider me a good writer. I didn't mean to "cut corners" with my last story, so to speak. There is a reason why I put the story of Kingdom Hearts in there, and it will become evident later on. In fact, each story that Winry will use for her tales will have some sort of significance. Also, I actually was considering making this story with a European setting when I first planned it, but then kept it as Arabian for certain reasons: (a) An Arabian setting is much more mystical and rich than a European one in my opinion, (b) I wanted to keep the storyline a bit closer to the original, and (c) I had never encountered an EdWin story with an Arabian setting on Therefore, since I couldn't find what I wanted to read, I simply decided to create it. However, I will consider modifying future tales and maybe even make one of my own, like you suggested. I will also consider using one of tales told in the original story as well. Hope you won't be disappointed, but I had planned this whole thing as a semicrossover from the start, so I will continue to use such crossovers. Thank you for your informative reviews.

S J Smith: Thanks for your review, I really appreciated it. I never really heard of Cashern (time for Wikipedia again, I guess), but I will consider using it as a tale. I'm glad that you find this story entertaining.

blueducky511: Wow. What an energetic review! Thanks for reviewing when you did, because it helped me to force my writing gears into work. I'm glad that I could satisfy another reader's wishes.

Whew, that was long. Don't forget to review, please! ;)