6.
Her blonde hair, tied back in an elegant bun, shone golden in the candlelight, a few curled strands dangling down by her face. Her blue eyes shone like stars were in them. Her dress was long and flowing, fitting her body perfectly; decorated simply but beautifully with many silver and gold patterns, curving round the fabric. Around her neck was a single silver chain, with a silver rose on the end. As she walked down the stairs, her face flushed slightly from the many faces staring in the silence. A pair of silver shoes were revealed as she lifted the flowing skirts of her dress slightly to walk down onto the dancefloor. Ed stared at her, his face rising into a steady tomato-like colour as his eyes traced every inch of her perfect self. It had to be her, that girl by the lakeside, that girl he had wished to meet ever since he had first laid eyes on her. And here she was, in all her perfection.
... Maybe his birthday wasn't going to be so bad after all.
Winry could feel her face slowly rising in heat as dozens of eyes all laid eyes on her. What were they staring at? Gradually people seemed to recover, and the ball began to stir itself to life again. Letting out a relieved sigh, she looked round at everyone, her heart filled with utmost happiness. She remembered how Trisha had suddenly appeared to her, and then all she could think of was just... white. The next thing she knew, she was wearing this amazing outfit, and on her way in a carriage, to the ball of all places! But Trisha's words echoed through her mind; My magic can only last until the clock strikes twelve... Good luck, Winry. She knew she only had another two hours, but she any amount of time was enough for her. She couldn't believe she was here, at the ball... Suddenly she became panicked as she noticed her two step-sisters glaring at her from under a large flower arrangement; Luckily she realised that their eyes were full of jealously, and that they didn't recognise her. Instead she gave them a sweet smile, and began to wander around, trying to ignore the many faces turning her way. She suddenly noticed that many of the eyes were drawn to someone else, ahead of her. As she followed the direction of the eyes, her heart leapt as she realised who it was;
The prince!
Ed held his white-gloved hand out to the girl ahead of him, his heart hammering against his chest.
"M-M-May I a-ask you to d-dance?" He managed to stutter out, his face burning. The blonde... princess, that's only what she could have been, gave a small, amused smile and nodded in return. He took her soft hand in his, his face still blushed, and carefully led her to the dance floor. Everyone stopped and suddenly the floor was cleared, only to create a crowd around them, watching. Ed carefully held her hands by his, their fingers entwined, and began to lead her in the most interesting dance he had ever given. He could only stare at her, nothing else; whenever he tried to advert his eyes, they were only drawn back to his dancing partner. He studied her slightly-red cheeks, suddenly wincing at the pain in his right toe.
"S-Sorry, I haven't really danced before..." The girl whispered to him nervously, growing even redder by the second. Ed smiled and shook his head slightly, leading her round, teaching her the steps as they danced.
"It doesn't matter..." And to him, it didn't. All that mattered was that he had finally met her. His heart leapt again as she gave a small smile, letting him lead her round. Gradually, and somehow, he led her out the garden, both of them sitting on a stone wall.
"I-I never asked your name..." Ed finally asked the question he'd been wanting to say all night.
"It's Winrella... But please, call me Winry, I hate my full name." The girl by him grimaced slightly as she answered. Ed smiled at that- she was so different, so unusual. Suddenly he found himself grimacing as well as he rubbed the bump on his head.
"You know, your wrench packs a real punch..." He complained. Winry stared at him for a minute before gasping and clasping her hand over her mouth.
"T-That was you?!" She said, horrified. Ed nodded slowly, a small grin coming onto his face at her expression. His grin faded though as Winry stood up, looking mortified and gently reached out to touch his head.
"I-I really hurt you? I did...?" She whispered. Ed winced slightly and flushed, before shaking his head.
"No! I mean, it hardly hurt at all! And I shouldn't have scared you like that, I mean, of course it was going to make you uh, hit me with a wrench, you were just protecting yourself..." Ed babbled on, furious at himself for making her have such a guilty expression across her face. Winry's eyes stopped tearing up and she drew her hand away, before smiling brightly.
"O-Of course, I knew that! I was just worried about having my head chopped off for hurting a prince!" Winry laughed. Ed grimaced. Maybe she's not so cute after all...! but he found himself lost in her blue eyes; it was like gazing into the ocean...
Winry blushed as he gazed at her, surprised to find herself staring back. She wondered how eyes could be so... gold. Before she could even realise, they were getting closer to each other, their faces almost touching, their lips almost together -
Suddenly a loud chiming began to ring out, making Ed fall backwards off the wall in surprise. Winry blinked and giggled, leaning over to look at him.
"A-Are you ok?" She asked, holding out her hand to him. Ed nodded, as bright as a tomato, and hesitantly took her hand. As he was pulled up, Winry suddenly shrieked and let go, making him fall again.
"I-I have to go!" She wailed, suddenly taking off back through the open door of the palace and sliding across the dance floor. People muttered and shuffled out the way as she bumped past, but soon leaped out of the following prince's path.
"W-Winry! Wait, where are you going?!" He yelled, chasing after her, not caring if his princely manners had gone out the window. Winry just shook her head and carried on running, up the stairs until she tripped and sprawled out on the floor... Ed falling straight on top of her. He flushed bright red as he stared down at the face staring back.
"I... don't want you to go..." He managed to say. Winry shook her head and pleaded with him.
"I have to... If anyone sees me for who I really am, then-" She gasped as her dress slowly faded to a dirty brown, it's fabric getting shorter, and more ragged... Her hair fell out of it's elegant bun, falling down into it's once more dirty streaks of blonde by her face. The crowd of dukes, duchesses, gentlemen and ladies, stood... and stared. Then they began to laugh. Winry's eyes filled with humiliated tears and she hide her face behind her hands. But Ed frowned, pulling her hands away from her face, making her blink. He sat up, gently pulling her with him, then stood up, helping her up. Winry stood and stared at confusion at him, tears streaking down her face.
Then, he kissed her.