Edward woke up. The train had stopped.

"Last stop, last stop!", cried the train attendant. Edward yawned and stretched.

"Took long enough", he mused.

He had arrived at Creta.

Sorry to disturb you Edward on your research Ed but I have a mission for you. We have been getting disturbing reports that someone has found a way to create a Philosopher's Stone without using human sacrifices. That person is said to be living in Creta. He goes by the name of "The Monk".

Your mission is to assess whether he/she is a threat or not and if possible, bring him in.

He still could not believe it, though. His father, Scar's brother and countless others had spent years searching for a way and all the time it had been with someone else. He would get into the bottom of the matter at any cost.

"But my priorities have changed. I have someone waiting back home. Someone to go back home to. Therefore, I cannot be as headstrong as I was before. Need to plan carefully."

Edward checked into a hotel and thought to take a look around Creta. It was beautiful at this time of the year. Creta looked like a city out of a picture book. Autumn had just touched the city. The leaves were half-yellow and half-green. The people were lively and merry.

"Must be peaceful this time around. Not that I complain."

Edward entered the local bar.

"What will it be", asked the barkeep

"A beer please". Edward had picked up the habit of drinking after The Promised Day. It was a trial on his nerves after all.

"Why the long face, Fullmetal?"

Edward whirled around fully expecting a hostile. Instead he found a pretty lady. Edward's face was left open.

"I'm not interested. Don't bugger me".

"Whoa! Easy there. I wouldn't be interested in an ex-shrimp anyways"

Edward frowned and did not say anything.

"Ha, ha you really have cooled down, haven't you? The Edward I heard about three years ago would have been at my throat by now", replied the woman.

"Well things change"

"Perhaps, it's a person hmm? Someone named Winry perhaps?"

"What did you do to her!", Edward demanded furiously.

"Nothing yet. But I can, you know. Resembool is after all a very small place. It should be easy to find her and…..

"And what?"

Bury her…

"I swear if you touch one hair on her head, I'll kill you". Edward was in battle-mode.

"With what? You cannot use alchemy anymore"

"How did you know that? That's classified military information. Only a few people know about it"

"I have my sources. They are deep and go further that you can imagine about"

Damn it! I will kill this bitch… No, if what she says about Winry is true then I cannot risk it. Considering the fact that I have made that many enemies…. How I wish I had alchemy now!

"Who are you?" Edward's tone was more guarded. He was not any calmer but he had to be. He could not afford not to.

"The Monk. I believe you have been sent here, hmm?"

That's impossible! I haven't even begun my investigation and yet she knows about my mission. Her connections should be way deep inside the military.

"What do you want?"

"What do I want? I wasn't searching for me. You were. What do you want?"

Keep calm. Keep calm. Don't get carried away in her pace. Remember, it's about Winry. First I need to get her alone.

"I'm not sure it would be wise to continue this conversation here."

"Easy there, tiger. I'm not about to go up to your room alone", she said mischievously.

"When did I say anything about being alone?!"

"Easy, easy. Wow you haven't changed that much, have you? Meet me at the TableTop tomorrow at 8.00 p.m. Wear something nice. We are going dancing, lover boy."

And just like that she was gone.

"What the? How did she do that? I did not even blink! Regardless she is dangerous and must be treated with care. I must report this to Mustang."

Edward got up and spotted a white card at the place where The Monk was sitting.

In case you think of going to Mustang. I would advise you not to. Here's some motivation…

Attested below was a photograph of him hugging Winry at the station after their confession to each other

"I guess no reporting then. I might as well sleep now. This is a lot to process", mused Edward

However, something is off. The familiarity with which she spoke… It seemed like we were old acquaintances. But I cannot seem to place her. Anyways, I'll find out more about her tomorrow. She is sorely mistaken if she thinks I won't be able to hold my own without alchemy.

And like that, Edward went to sleep.