The Trio decided to find a room for the night and to catch a train in the morning, Serah and Ed went over the market to buy some food while Al disappeared to find a place for them to stay.

"You know, while the stone was fake. At least now we know that it does exist, we just have to find out more about the stone." The Ishvalen mumbled softly as she gazed over the different types of bread, before choosing a dark grained bread with seeds. Ed had his hands in his pockets, sulking as he glazed to the side. Serah paid for the purchase, before turning to the older Elric; letting out a sigh as she noticed his behavior.

"Stop sulking, we will find something. It will just a while longer."

"I know, I just thought…" Ed turned to Serah, mumbling quietly. The Ishvalen hummed in understanding, before she moved over to another food stand. The Alchemist silently followed her, standing beside her as the Ishvalen talked a bit with the farmer. She pointed out a few fruits, and some cheese. Ed stopped her from handing over her coin, he paid for her purchase before taking her hand and pulled her with him. The Ishvalen held onto the purchases as they walked towards the middle of the town, Serah shifted as she sensed Al's aura wash over her. She made a sharp turn and walked towards Al, holding onto Ed's hand.

Ed was sitting on one of the beds, they had retried to their hotel room. He was picking at a piece of bread; Serah was stretching her legs. She placed her palms to the floor, able to keep her knees from bending. Before swinging her feet up into the air, moving into a bridge position. Serah held the pose for a few minutes; the Ishvalen stood up, rolling her shoulders. She bent down, tugging her arms close to her body as she rested her knees on her upper arms. Ed and Al talked quietly to each other; they were used to the Ishvalen doing yoga whenever she got the chance. Serah changed her position again; she lifted her legs as she moved to a headstand. The Ishvalen groaned as she stood up, stretching her arms over her head before rolling her shoulders. Ed threw an apple at her, she caught it in her hand before she sat down next to the Alchemist. Serah leaned against his shoulder as she bit into the apple, joining the conversation.

"So where are we off to, next?"

"Back to Central, but I want to make a step on the way, at Youswell." Ed spoke, pulling his automail leg up, resting his foot on the edge of the bed. Serah turned, sitting in a lotus style position; her free hand rested on Ed's raised knee.

"Sounds like a plan."

"About earlier, Serah. Why don't you like Rose?" The Ishvalen turned to Al, she let out a sigh. She doesn't dislike Rose; the woman got a good heart and head. But it's Rose's faith that worried her, the Ishvalen hopes that the older woman will find a way to move past the death of her fiancé. Rose just got blinded by the Fraud's lies and manipulations.

"I don't dislike her but the way she blindly and desperately put her faith in a priest just because she thought he could bring her fiancé back to life, bugged me."

"How so?"

"Just how naïve she was, I know she have had a different life then us but still."

"Serah, you can't expect someone to have the same view of things as yourself. Rose might be older than us, but she lived a normal life compared to us." Ed spoke, glazing at the Ishvalen. He got it, he understands Serah and her view on the world. But she got to understand that others don't see things the same way, that they view the world differently from her.

"I know." Serah sighed, finishing her apple and pulled her legs to her while she wrapped her arms around her knees. A second later, the Ishvalen stood up. She reached down and grabbed her bag, Serah moved towards the bathroom.

"I'm going to take a shower." She spoke, glazing over her shoulder. Before she closed the door behind her, a couple minutes later. The brothers could hear water running, Ed turned around, laying down on the bed with a groan. His flesh hand rested underneath his head as he closed his eyes, just for a moment. He woke up for a moment when he felt the bed shift as Serah crawled onto the bed, she lifted the covers. Ed laid on his back, his hand on his stomach, the Ishvalen rested on her side. Her hand rested on top of Ed's chest over his heart, her head rested on her other hand and Ed's metal arm was wrapped around Serah's shoulder. He pulled her closer, the pair closed their eyes as their breathing evened out.

Everything was filled with terror and fear around, she couldn't see anything for smoke that was in the air. Slowly it got harder to breathe, she felt trapped.

"Brother! Mother! Father! Anyone! Is there anyone?!" She shouted, walking through the streets that were filled with blood slaughter, and dead people. All she heard were screams of terror and horror as people around her, were being murdered, she noticed something on the ground a few feet away from her. As she came closer, she realized what it was, who it was. She dropped to her knees, screaming and sobbing. Red energy and screams filled the air again, flames followed right after.

"Mother! Father! Brother!" she screamed.

Serah sat up fast with a gasp, gripped the fabric of her tank top. She swallowed a scream as she remembered the terror and fear she felt during the war, she tried to calm her breathing. Pulling her knees to her chest while wrapping her arms, hiding her face from sight.

"Serah?" She flinched when she heard Ed waking up beside her, his voice was heavy with sleep. He reached up and rested a hand on her arm, concerned and worried. He sat up when she didn't answer him, being more awake as he felt her shift underneath his hand.

"Serah, what's wrong?" He shifted his hand to her shoulder and placed his other hand on her arm, pulling her close.

"Brother?" The Alchemist turned to his younger brother for a moment before turning back to the Ishvalen beside him.

"Don't worry, Al. I got her." Al nodded, staying silent, letting his brother take care of the Ishvalen. Whenever Serah gets nightmares, Ed helps her relax and calm down. They are usually about the Civil Ishvalen war, what she has experienced during it and the nightmares are few and far apart.

"What was it about this time?" Serah lifted her head a bit and rested her chin on her crossed arm, Ed tightened his hold as he stared at her with a frown between his brows.

"...I couldn't see anything with the smoke around me." She turned around and hid her face against his chest, he wrapped his arms around her. Holding her close as he rested his chin on top of her head with a sigh, he closed his eyes.

"It's okay Serah. I got you." Ed felt her nod against his chest, he moved to lay down, pulling her with him while doing so. She laid half on top of his chest with a hand right over his heart, his hand held tightly on her hip, holding her close.

"Try to get some sleep, we have a long ahead of us tomorrow."

"Okay." Al's eyes shined a bit brighter, watching the interaction between his brother and Serah. He is overjoyed to know that there is someone beside him that Brother is allowing to be close to him, meeting Serah and having her with them on their travels, is a very good thing that has happened in their lives.

The next morning, the trio arrived at the train station after traveling from Reole and to the closet train station. They boarded their train ride to the next place they are going. Serah took the seat next to the aisle with Ed beside her, and Al on the seat next to the window on the other bench. Ed crossed his legs while Serah held a lookout, noticed they were the only ones on the train. Serah pulled out a traveling journal and started to write something down in it. The Ishvalen was wearing the same outfit from the day before, her hair was tied into a loose low ponytail.

A few hours passed in silence between the Trio, Ed took a short nap, leaning against the window.

"…No one's onboard." Al stated to his brother and Serah.

"I heard rumors, but I didn't think it would be this bad…."

"That's because there isn't anything to see there." Ed nodded, folding the map in half while Serah closed her journal.

"The town at the end of the East, the Youswell coal mine." The trio stepped off the train and into the village, Ed was holding his suitcase while Serah pulled one of the straps of her bag onto her shoulder. Her eyes took in the sight of the village.

"I thought that there would be more life here." Serah pushed the shades higher up on her nose, moving to stand next to Ed. Al was standing behind the pair, the Trio looked around, taking in the sight of the town's people and the state of the village. Everything was as if it was a ghost town, everyone looked tired. Serah recognized the look they had, she had the same look once long ago before she met some members of the Amestris military and the Elrics.

"Everyone's really tired…" Serah pulled Ed to her right before a kid with a wooden lumber walked by, almost hitting the Alchemist with the end of the lumber. The kid turned around when he noticed the trio of the corner of his eye, giving them a bright smile.

"Oh! Tourist? Where'd you come from? Want food? Decided where you are going to stay?" The kid didn't let Ed get a word in as the Alchemist tried to protest, Serah tried to shift a laugh. Ed glared at her from the corner of his eye, before smiling softly. The kid turned around with a grin on his face, holding the lumber.

"Dad! Customers!" The kid called to a man on a working platform, wearing and holding some mining gear.

"Listen to what other people are saying!" The older Elric protested; Serah shook her head fondly at him while Al chuckled lightly at the pair in front of him.

"Hm? What is it, Kayal?"

"A customer! Revenue!" Kayal grinned happily at his dad.

"What do you-" Serah pulled Ed to her, cutting his sentence of.

"Relax, Ed." The Alchemist grumbled, casting a glare to the side.

"Hey!" The man pulled his helmet off and grinned down at the trio and his son.

"Sorry if it's a little dusty, the salary for coal miners is low, so I am working at this store at the same time."

"What are you saying, Boss? You're the one who's taking cash away from guys with money problems!"

"The wife would cry" Some of the other men tease Halling with grins and laughter, Serah smiled at the scene. The inn is the place with the most people, she has seen in the village. It's filled with life, laughter, it's sad if this place is the only place in town the workers can act like this.

"Shaddup" Halling snapped at the men, holding a glass in each hand.

"If you got any complaints, pay your beer tab!"

"One night with two beds and two meals for three, right?" A woman asked the trio, holding a server plate between her hands. Al and Ed turned to her; the older Elric nodded once to the woman as a thank-you.

"How much?" Hearing Ed speaking to the woman, Halling turned to them with a large grin.

"It's expensive" The mine worker spoke.

"Fear not, I have plenty on me." The Alchemist smiled at Halling, not knowing what he was about to himself into. Serah sighed while fearing that the price would be high because of Ed.

"Two hundred thousand!" Ed gaped at the price as Serah shook her head at him.

"There's nothing good about a rip-off- like that." The Alchemist bellowed at Halling, the Ishvalen crossed her arms as she opened her senses. Serah wanted to figure out if she could sense more from the town and its people, she frowned sightly. While the inn was mostly filled with laughter and life, there were a lingering sadness and despair.

"That's why I said 'expensive'" The inn owner offered in response.

"We have to get cash from the rare tourist."

"Don't joke around! I'll go somewhere else!"

"This is the only inn in town." Ed sighed defeated before grabbing Serah and Al over to a corner of the inn, Serah looked at the older Elric with a frown as they were kneeling next to each other.

"What now?" She asked, seeing that they didn't have enough money for the stay while Ed held his wallet.

"In this situation, I could change this rock to gold through alchemy!" He grinned causing the Ishvalen girl to sigh before she smacked him on the back of his head, he held a hand on the spot as he turned to her with a glare. She stared at him, raising an eyebrow while crossing her arms. He sweat dropped at the look in her eye, backing down immediately. He didn't want to argue with her, they have argued enough already, Al chuckled at the sight. They didn't notice that Kayal was kneeling beside them before he called out to his dad.

"Dad! This guy's an Alchemist!" A little while later, Ed was standing in front of a table in the middle of the room. An axe with the head in two pieces, Serah was standing a bit to the side behind him. Ed clapped his hands and held them over the axe, blue energy danced around the table and axe. A worker picked the axe up, intercepting the tool with other workers standing around him. Serah felt the air being filled with awe and wonder, she smiled softly at the feeling.

"Well, I'm happy! It's been a while since I've had an Alchemist as a customer." Halling explained to the trio, as he brought over a plate with food and a sandwich in the other.

"I used to do a little bit before, didn't have any talent, so I quit studying it." The inn owner placed the plate and sandwich down on the table, Ed grabbed the plate and pulled it towards him. Serah smiled as her eyes were on the Alchemist beside her.

"I'll give you a discount as a favor for a fellow practitioner." Ed beamed at the sentence, feeling lucky.

"Great, thank you" Serah spoke, pulling Halling's attention to her. He looked at her for a moment in wonder over why she is wearing shades inside, and why her outfit is so strange.

"That'll be one hundred thousand with the huge discount."

"That's still expensive." The inn owner stared at Ed for a moment, Al was sitting on the other side of the table. Serah and the youngest Elric watched the conversation between Halling and Ed.

"Hmm, you still haven't told me your name."

"Oh, right." Serah shifted a bit as she opened her mouth to stop Ed from speaking his name, the Alchemist held silverware in his hands ready to eat.

"Edward Elric." Serah flinched as the air in the room changed immediately as Ed spoke his name, she clenched her fists. Al stared at her concerned and worried, as Ed was about to take a bite of the dinner. Halling pulled the plate away from the table, the inn owner stared at the young Alchemist with a neutral expression. Serah turned her glance to the crowd, frowning sightly. She crossed her arms over her chest, she could sense the hidden anger and frustration from the villagers.

"If you're an alchemist named Elric…. That would make you a State Alchemist?" The blonde gazed at the Ishvalen from the corner of his eye for a moment, noticing the way she stood, tensing before turning back to the inn owner.

"Maybe a little on the side." He reached for the cup as Halling snatched it, pulling the cup away from Ed's reach.

"What's your problem!?" In seconds they were thrown out of the inn, onto the street. Their luggage followed right after.

"Get out!" Halling told the trio, Ed immediately turned around and glared at the workers. Serah felt the disappointment and anger in the air around the mine workers, they really hate the military, don't they?

"Hey! We're customers!" Al and Serah glanced at each other for a moment and nodded once as Ed bellowed at the inn owner.

"Shoo shoo! We don't have any meals or beds for a dog of the army!" Halling angrily told them, Serah stood up with Al beside her.

"We aren't apart of the army; would you be willing to let us a room for the night?" The Ishvalen asked the owner, Ed turned to her in shock and confusion. He wondered what she was planning but gave her the benefit of the doubt.

"Sure, come inside. But only the two of you." Halling pointed at Serah and Al, the Ishvalen nodded in thanks.

"Traitors!" The young Alchemist shouted at his brother and friend, keeping up the act. Al and Serah walked inside the inn, the armor first. Serah glanced over her shoulder and winked at Ed with a smile before turning back. Inside the inn, workers were mumbling among themselves.

"Good grief and I thought we'd gotten outsiders after such a long time."

"Don't be a sissy."

A little time later, the workers had calmed down a bit. Serah pushed her shades higher up on her nose, Kayal stared at her. She felt his eyes on her, turning to him with a neutral expression.

"Why are you wearing those glasses?" The kid asked, Al turned to him as he heard the question. The Ishvalen sighed, hearing that sentence almost everywhere they go.

"…" Serah stayed quiet, not really wanting to answer the question. The Ishvalen let out a soft sigh, resting loosely her arms on her crossed legs.

"Because of where I was born."

Some of the workers heard her and turned around, Al's eyes stared at the crowd of mine workers before turning to Serah.

"And where is that?" Kayal's dad asked the Ishvalen as he stepped to stand in front of the table where she and Al were sitting, the younger Elric turned to her.

"Serah if you don't want to-" he traded off, seeing the sad smile appearing on her lips. She huffed sightly with closed eyes, before glancing at Al for a moment.

"It's fine, Al.-" She reached up, pulling her silver locks over her shoulder. The Ishvalen slowly waved her fingers through the strands, getting tangled knots out.

"I was born and raised in Ishval." She tilted her head up and stared at the inn owner with her lips in a thin line, Halling when he looked closer, he could barely see the red color of her eyes. She could sense the pity from the workers, Serah huffed, hating being pitied because of her race. The Ishvalen crossed her arms, changing the topic.

"Anyway, the army isn't well liked around here, right?"

"Yeah, that's right, everybody here really hates anyone in the army. First lieutenant Yoki controls this place, he's real money crazy. He's the worst." Kayal told the Ishvalen and Al, Serah crossed her arms. She could understand where they are coming from, some people hate the military and what they stand for.

"The guys at central really look like they love it when he keeps sending them bribes."

"He brought his current rank too."

"He used to just be a coal mining proprietor, but he got greedy for promotion."

"So, he owns the inn and the town." Serah sighed, looking at the workers that had spoken.

"You got that right, young lady. This place is Yoki's private property."

"He takes advantage of his rights and lowers our salaries down to crumbs!" Halling's wife walked over to Serah and placed a plate with two sandwiches and a cup of water down on the table.

"Thank you." The wife smiled before turning around, Serah reached out and took one of the sandwiches.

"And on top of that, all of the guys who tried to complain about Yoki and his bribes get smashed up."

"He sucks right!?"

"People who used their title and power for their amusement and gain, are truly the worst." Al stared at Serah, worried as he watched her clenched her fist and her eyes hardened.

"And that guy became a State Alchemist. Alchemists live for the sake of the people. A practitioner has common sense as well as pride, I can't forgive anyone who would sell their soul to the State Military for its many special privileges. You understand that right? don't you? Young lady?" The Ishvalen glanced up at Halling from the corner of her eye for a moment, with a sigh she turned her glace to the food in her hand. Al placed a hand on her shoulder for comfort, the corners of her lips twisted upwards at the comfort he offered her.

"I do, I get where you are coming from. Believe me on that." Halling nodded, staring at her.

"Were you in the Civil War of Ishval?" Another of the workers asked her, Serah's expression turned grim. Serah stood up and took the other sandwich, Al stood up too and was about to step over to her when she shook her head.

"Al, I'm taking a walk." Al nodded as she walked out of the door, the door closed behind her. With a sigh she leaned against the door, holding a hand over her eyes for a moment before focusing on Ed's aura. She turned to walk in the direction where he is, he looked up when he noticed a sandwich in front of his sight. She smiled down at him; he noticed the small frown between her brows. She sat down next to him as he took the sandwich from her, leaning a bit against his shoulder. He wanted her to gather her thoughts before he asked about what happened in the inn, Serah relaxed feeling his aura calm her.