Serah was still leaning her chin on her palm while staring out the window, Ed had folded his arm over his crossed knees. Armstrong was reading a book that he brought him. They had stepped onto the train, an hour earlier, heading to Resembool. Not much had been said as the Alchemist and Ishvalen were lost in their own thoughts, the Major was ignoring the pair as he knew that they needed the time to think about their next step.
After they got off the train in Resembool and Armstrong went to get Al from the livestock car, Serah grabbed Ed's suitcase in her left hand while her bag was hanging from her shoulder. They started to walk towards the Rockbell home. Serah shifted her hold on the suitcase a bit. A while later, the four walked past the graveyard of Resembool. Ed glanced over to his left, looking at the graveyard for a moment. Serah narrowed her eyes in worry as she gazed at the Alchemist, he let out a sigh before giving the Ishvalen a small smile. Soon the Rockbell house came into view, a dog came running towards them.
"Hm, aren't you looking lively?" Ed looked down at Den the dog with a smile, Armstrong had Al on his shoulder and walked behind Serah and Ed. Pinako exhaled a cloud of smoke as she stared at the four with her hands on her hips.
"Hey, we need your help again, Granny Pinako." Ed greeted the old woman, she smiled happily at the boy who is like an extra grandson to her. The Elric boys had grown up alongside her granddaughter Winry, she had watched them grow ever since their birth. Pinako took them in after their mother died, they needed someone who could take care of them. Their father isn't in the picture as he had left years ago before Trisha died, and they had no one left. Pinako's gaze turned to the tanned girl and the large man, well looks like the boys brought company with them this time around. They stopped a few feet away from Pinako, Serah placed Ed's suitcase on the ground as he gestured to her and Armstrong, introducing them to the granny.
"This is Major Armstrong and that is Serah."
"Pinako Rockbell." she greeted herself to the Major, shaking his hand before turning to Serah. Pinako looked her over before she grinned, Serah looked amused at the small granny. The Ishvalen stood close to Ed, half a feet away. Their shoulders were almost touching, Pinako noticed their closeness immediately as they walked up to the house. The Granny turned back to Ed as her expression turned neutral, holding her pipe in one hand.
"But in the time that you've been gone, Ed got small." Pinako compared the height of Armstrong to the height of Ed, the Alchemist stomped up to his Granny with a furious expression. Serah flat-palmed her face in disbelief as the two started to fire insults at each other, the Ishvalen stepped back and turned to Al with a sweat-drop.
"Are they always like this?" Serah pointed at the arguing due, looking at Al who nodded the best he could from the box, he was in.
"Yeah, as long as I can remember. They have always been arguing like that." The Ishvalen exhaled deeply as she placed her hands on her hips while turning to the alchemist and the Granny.
"Hey, Ed!" Someone shouted right before a wrench came flying through the air and hit Ed in the side of his head, knocking him to the ground, Serah turned her narrowed eyes to the balcony where a young girl was standing with long blonde hair in a ponytail with a scarf tried around her head. She was wearing a black tube top and beige overalls tried around her hips. Ed immediately stood up. He went over to Serah, noticing that she tensed slightly and moved her feet apart. The older Elric shook his head lightly, Serah glanced at him for a long moment before turning her head away while she folded her arms over her chest.
"Didn't I tell you to call at least once before you show up for a maintenance check!?" The girl shouted at the young Alchemist; Ed glared up at her as he shouted a remark back at the girl.
"Winry, you jackass. Are you trying to kill me!?" Winry laughed largely with closed eyes.
"Welcome home!" Serah looked at the blonde with a neutral glance before it turned to a slight frown, the air feels so light and warm. It is just like… home, she shallowed hard while she closed her eyes. This warm feeling from around her brings her back to a time where her own family was still alive and safe, she misses her mother, father, and brothers, her home. She has gained another family in Hughes, Garcia, their daughter, Mustang and his unit, and Ed and Al, but it can't erase the fact that she has lost her blood family violently. She can see it, with the way Al and Ed are talking and acting with Pinako and Winry that they are just like family. The brothers have grown up alongside Winry and were kinda raised by Pinako after Trisha died. The Ishvalen want that familiarity they have, with someone again, the sibling and familiar bond. The bond Ed and Al have with the Rockbells and a place where they can come home to…. Her home isn't a place or building anymore, but rather it has become a person… once, long ago before the war, back then. Her home was a building, the house where she grew up with her parents and brothers. But the definition has changed during her years traveling with the Elric brothers, Serah turned her glaze to the sitting Alchemist. Yeah, her definition of a home has changed, Ed, turned towards the Ishvalen, feeling her eyes on him. The Ishvalen quickly turned her head away from the older Elric, she lightly gripped her elbow, hating the fact that she is so far away from Ed, when he is just right besides her. She have pulled away from the brothers and she knows that, it is just her thoughts is all over the place and there are things she have to figure on her own. The Ishvalen don't know how to explain or if she even should, she don't want to burden the brothers with what she can't make sense off.
"Yeah!" He turned back to Winry for a moment, Armstrong picked Al up and walked inside the house with Pinako behind him, Ed followed while Serah stayed behind with her hand gripping her elbow tightly. Ed noticed that the Ishvalen wasn't following and turned around with a questioned look in his eye as he stared at her.
"Serah?" She had been staring on the ground when he called her name, she turned her glaze up at Ed and gave a forced smile. The Ishvalen stepped towards the Alchemist, seeing that his brow narrowed in worry. She stopped for a moment when she stood beside him, turning slightly towards Ed like she wanted to say something but changed her mind. Casting her eyes to the ground in front of her, she stepped inside the house. The Alchemist followed after her, staring at her with worry and concern in his eyes.
A little while later, Ed and Serah were sitting beside each other on a couch in the living room, with a cup of coffee in hand. He had crossed one leg over the other. Serah had helped Ed out his red coat and folded it over the back of a chair, the Ishvalen was wearing a loose dark grey sweater with a black tank top underneath, a pair of black leggings along with brown leather booths.
"WHA!" Winry shouted in disbelief, pointing a finger at the empty space where Ed's automail arm should be. Serah lifted the mug and took a sip of the coffee, looking over the edge of the mug at Winry.
"Oh, sorry. It got busted up." Ed explained with a flat voice, taking a sip of the coffee, also staring at Winry.
"'Busted up,' wait one minute! Just how were you using that first-class automail that I had so painstakingly made!?" The blonde mechanic angrily scowled at the Alchemist; Serah ignored the scene beside her as she took another sip of the coffee, before glancing down at the dark brown liquid; able to see the tired and weary expression she wore.
"Got smashed into little pieces." Ed ignored the question of what happened when the automail got destroyed, Winry grabbed a wrench and hit Ed with it before she turned to Al in the wooden box.
"So, what happened? Why's Al also busted up? Just what are you guys doing?" Al looked petrified as he stared at Winry, not sure how to answer the question. Serah and Ed had finished their cup of coffee, the Ishvalen took Ed's mug before walked over to the sink and placed them down in the sink. Ed pushed himself up from the couch, grabbing his suitcase, and walked into another room. Minutes later, he returned in a loose grey shirt and white boxers. Serah leaned against the edge of the dinner table, overlooking as Pinako kneed down in front of Ed.
"So you want to go to Central as soon as possible to get the files on the Philosopher's stone?"
"Yeah, I want to do this, pronto."
"Right, it's not just the arm. Your leg's going to need some adjusting." Ed turned to her with a grin on his face, she knew that later he would be bragging about it. Some small revenge for all the times, she has been teasing him with his height.
"Oh my. You've kind of gotten bigger." Winry stared at her childhood friend with her hands on her hips, before she turned to the Ishvalen. Winry hesitated when she saw the color of Serah's eyes, the Ishvalen had pushed the shades ontop of her head. The young Rockbell flashed a forced smile at the Ishvalen who narrowed her eyes slightly. Serah let out a sigh before she turned towards Winry with a neutral smile, Ed frowned his eyes in worry as he watched the girls staring at each other. Sizing each other up, both wanted to see who would crack first. Winry furrowed her brow as the mechanic placed a hand on her hip while Serah raised a eyebrow, standing with folded arms over her chest. The pair kept staring at each other, before the blonde gave a slight smile. Serah nodded, giving a half smile as she held out a hand towards the young Rockbell. Winry reached out and shook the Ishvalen's hand.
"My name is Serah, and it is nice to finally meet you. They have told me a bit about you and Pinako."
"Winry Rockbell, only good things, I hope."
"As if they ever speak badly about you and Pinako." Pinako tapped Ed's automail leg with her pipe, Serah moved back to lean against the edge of the dinning table with crossed arms.
"The leg's fine because we still have the base, but we'll have to start from scratch with the arm."
"Huh? So that would take around a week." Pinako inhaled from the pipe before smirking at the older Elric.
"Don't underestimate me, it'll be three days." Pinako gripped the metal leg, near the top of it before pulling, unlatching the leg. She placed it on the ground, before taking the space automail leg and latched it in place. It was stiffer and less detailed, Serah noticed that Pinako did it with ease, having it more times than the Granny could count.
"Anyway, just put up with using the spare for three days."
"Yeah." Ed agreed, before pushing himself up from the couch. Tilting to the side, almost falling if Serah hadn't grabbed his arm and pulled him to stand straight.
"Whoops, it's pretty hard to walk with a leg I'm not used to." Ed tested out the spare leg for a moment, while Winry had grabbed his usual metal leg and rested it against her shoulder with a cloth underneath.
"After carving, there's assembling, adjusting, connecting, and finishing…" The blonde Rockbell sweat dropped as she counted what needed to be done, Serah stood by Ed's side as the pair stared at the mechanic.
"Ack, this is going to take three all-nighters."
"Sorry for asking you to do so much." Ed apologized, Winry turned to him and Serah with a smile and a huff.
"You want to go to Central as soon as possible, right? So, shouldn't I do as much as I can? Cause in exchange, I'll be getting oodles of cash from you right away!" Winry almost smacked Ed if Serah hasn't grabbed a handful of fabric and pulled him back. Winry realized that Ed stood on a leg, he isn't used to and gave a apologized look to the older Elric.
A short while later, the trio was sitting outside the house. Armstrong had placed Al down and up against a barrel out of the wooden box, Serah and Ed was sitting side by side on the ground while Den was a foot away from them to the side.
"Why is she always so violent," Ed mumbled under his breath, a tan annoyed at the young Rockbell.
"I assume that she has always been like that?" Serah asked softly, leaning her arms crossed on top of her bent knees, Ed and Al nodded in agreement. Winry have kinda always been a bit violent, especially when they couldn't agree on something when they were younger.
"Three days, huh?"
"Anyway, when we have nothing to do, we are on a break, there aren't any libraries here either," Ed grumbled the last bit under his breath, as he turned his eyes to the blue sky.
"But isn't it nice to have an occasional break since we haven't had it easy for a while?" Al asked his older brother, staring down at Ed.
"I don't work well with breaks!" Ed complained as he waved his remaining limps around, Serah huffed at the scene.
"Of course, you don't, Ed. Well, then it means we have to find something to do." Ed glared at the Ishvalen as he pushed himself up and turned to her with a scowl on his face.
"Yeah like, what?"
"You are from the countryside Ed, use your imagination. I have already found about eight things to do." The Ishvalen spoke as she stared at the scenery of the countryside.
"Oh right! Now that you have the time, you should go visit Mother's grave."
"Visit her grave, huh… but you can't go with the way you are now."
"I don't want the major to carry me, so I'll stay here. Once the automail is fixed, we'll head off to Central right away, won't we? So, you should go there while you have the time to."
"Yeah… I'll be off for a bit." Ed got to his feet and stared at the ground for a long moment before he turned to Serah with hesitation and vulnerability leaking of him, as the Ishvalen sensed that. She pushed herself to her feet with a frown between her brow as she glanced at the Alchemist.
"Ed… what is it?"
"Serah… would you come with me?" Her eyes widened in light surprise and a bit of confusion; she stepped closer to the Alchemist with slight hesitation.
"Are you sure?" The older Elric nodded as he stared at the Ishvalen and after a few minutes to get Ed's coat. They were off, walking towards the graveyard with Den following after them. They stopped to buy a bouquet with different types of wildflowers, Serah held the bouquet in her hand.
A little while later, two farmers with a herd of sheep stood by as Serah and Ed walked closer. The farmers turned to the pair; each farmer had a smile on their face.
"Ah, Edward! You've come back."
"It's been a while." The farmers stepped over to the Alchemist and the Ishvalen, looking at the Elric as their smiles turned to a grin.
"Just as small as always!" The older farmer grinned as he leaned forward towards Ed.
"Don't say small!" Ed growled with a glare towards the farmer, Serah smiled softly at the Alchemist for a moment before turning to look at the beautiful countryside.
"You're still doing that State Whatchamacallit?" The other farmer asked, Ed, talked with them for a bit longer. Before the farmers excused themselves and walked away with the herd of sheep, it took a little while longer for the pair to reach the graveyard as they were stopped by another from Resembool; who knew Ed and Al from when they were children. Ed stepped in front of his mother's grave first, leaving Serah a few feet away as she didn't want to intrude. Her glance stayed on Ed as he gently placed the bouquet in front of the gravestone, she can sense it, the love and grief he is feeling right now. The Ishvalen turned her eyes to the ground, hating that there isn't much she can do right now to help him. Ed pushed himself up from his position on the ground and stepped towards Serah.
"There is something else that I want to show you." The Ishvalen stared at the Alchemist for a long moment, sensing the hesitation and pain from him. Serah sighed lightly, before she spoke.
"If you are sure."
"I am, Serah."
Together the pair and Den walked to a top of a small hill, Serah stared at the remains of a house. The air felt different, heavy sort of to the young Ishvalen. She could still sense the smoke from when the house burned to the ground, she turned to Ed who had a weird look in his eyes.
"Ed… is this...?" He nodded once, as he pulled his pocket watch. His glace was locked on the seal of the military on top of the watch, Serah moved so she stood in front of him and reach out. She rested her hand over the seal, hiding it from view. They looked at each other for a long time as they stayed silent, there wasn't a need for words between the Alchemist and the Ishvalen.
"I made a choice when I became a State Alchemist, to burn down my home. So, there wasn't any choice to turn back, so all Al and I could do was to keep moving forward. Even though sometimes it doesn't feel like I made the right decision to do it. What if, one day Al and I want to return home to here?"
"Ed, at the time, you and Al made the right choice; and if you ever want to return to this place someday, you could always rebuild the house if you chose to. Sometimes the meaning behind a home can change from a house to a person." Serah kept looking at the Alchemist as she spoke, Ed stared at her for a long second before giving her a slight smile.
"Let's go back, Serah. Everyone is waiting." Ed spoke with a distance look in his eyes, the Ishvalen nodded. The sky had turned to a darker blue with a bit of red in the west where the sun was setting as they took the time to just be beside each other, they didn't say anything for a long time. Den followed after the pair as they started to walk back to the Rockbell home, Serah and Ed returned, just in time for dinner ready to be served. Pinako had prepared a plate for Winry who was staying in her workroom, having started on Ed's automail arm. Serah sighed as she knocked on the door to the room, wondering why she asked the granny if she could bring the dinner to Winry. Al and Ed had spoken about the Rockbells with praise and care, the white-haired girl at least could give it a try to get to know them. After all, Pinako helped raise the Elrics and Winry grew up alongside the brothers, a muffed 'come in' could be heard through the door. Serah pushed the door opened and stepped inside; she glanced around the workspace with a small interest in her red eyes before turning to the young blonde mechanic who had turned around.
"Pinako asked if I could bring you a plate of dinner, otherwise you wouldn't have eaten anything." Winry laughed weakly as she rubbed the back of her head, before gesturing for Serah to take a seat next to her, the Ishvalen hesitated for a second before sitting down on the chair.
"Yeah, Granny is right about that."
"So you lose yourself into your work as well?" Winry stared at the Ishvalen; a bit confused as she tilted her head while taking a bite of the dinner.
"Ed does that too." Winry laughed a bit, Serah let the carefree and happiness sweep over her, like a thick blanket wrapped around her. It felt… nice, it has had been a while since the Ishvalen sensed emotions like this. The last time was when they were in the mining town with Halling and Kayal, Serah closed her eyes.
"How long have you traveled with Ed and Al?" The Ishvalen opened her eyes as she turned to the mechanic who was staring at her.
"About three years now." The young Rockbell looked taken back, it was clear that she hasn't expected that answer. Winry turned to her dinner with down casted eyes, Serah stood up and turned towards the door. The Ishvalen could easy sense the disbelief, hurt and slight anger from the blonde, the reason why Winry feels that way is completely understandable to Serah. Ed and Al are like brothers to Winry and to learn that they had a stranger to her, traveling with them would hurt. And for three years, with no call or visit to tell her and Pinako about Serah.
"Three years?" Serah stood with her back to the blonde was tense while tightening her fists, the Ishvalen rested her hand on the doorknob.
"I do not know why they have not call you or your grandmother in the past years."
"You're the one traveling with them, and you said you don't know why?!" Winry turned around with hurt and anger clear in her eyes, the blonde nearly stood up from the chair.
"Winry, if you want an answer, do you not think that you should ask Ed or Al about their reason for why instead." Serah opened the door and walked out the room, leaving Winry to stare after the Ishvalen. The Blonde felt slightly ashamed over her reaction towards the silver-haired girl, Winry knows that she shouldn't have gone after Serah, the girl hasn't done anything wrong. Winry sighed, knowing that she should probably get used to the Brothers having the Ishvalen around, it looked like that she isn't going anywhere. Winry figured that much out from the few minutes, she saw the brothers interact with the Ishvalen. Their relationship is tight, the trio is close to each other, but still three years and she didn't know at all about Serah. It feels like that the brothers don't trust her and Granny, aren't they supposed to be a family?
Ed had fallen asleep on the couch in the living room, Serah stepped over to the young Alchemist after she placed the plate down in the sink. She huffed as she placed her hands on her hips for a moment before starting to look around for a blanket. The last thing they need right now, is Ed getting a cold as the older Elric gets intolerable when he gets sick. Around a year and a half ago, he got sick and the entire time. All he did was combine about how bad he felt and that it felt like he was dying, Serah was so close to just go and get another room in the motel, so she could get some rest and quiet. Women have to give birth and what does man have to do, the Ishvalen wasn't very impressed with the Alchemist in those four days where he was sick. Serah returned with a blanket folded over her arms, she folded it out and rested the blanket over the sleeping Elric. Serah kneed down in front of the couch, she brushed a few strands of golden hair away from his closed eyes with a soft smile and expression. Staring at the older Elric, she lifted her arms and rested them on the edge of the couch. Pinako glanced over to the couple and watched the two for a moment, turning back to working on Ed's automail leg with a smile at the thought of Ed finally having someone to stand by him, outside of Al. The major had brought Al inside and placed him up against the opposite wall of Serah and Ed, the younger Elric was also watching his brother and the Ishvalen. After a while, Serah pushed herself to her feet and shook Ed awake. He yawned as he placed his feet on the ground and allowed Serah to pulled him up from the couch before they walked over to Al.
"Will you be alright for the night, Al?"
"Yeah, don't worry about it. You two should get some rest." Serah reached out and rested a hand on top of the helmet for a moment as she gave a half smile. A small blush appeared on Al's cheeks; Ed stepped through the door. Serah moved to follow after the Alchemist, calling out to Al.
"See you in the morning, I promise that I will teach you more about the Ishvalen language."
"Sounds good." Ed walked up the stairs with Serah right behind him, he opened the door to the room where he and Al used to stay in when they visited years ago.
"Come on, we should get some sleep."
"You were the one to fall asleep downstairs on the couch." Ed grinned slightly at the Ishvalen who gave half a smile in return. Earlier, when Serah brought dinner to Winry. Ed took their luggage to the room; Serah went over and took her bag before turning around.
"Where is the bathroom?"
"Down the hall, at the end." Serah passed him, Ed grabbed hold of her arm; stopping her in her track. The Ishvalen glanced at the Alchemist with a question look in her eyes.
"Serah, talk to me." She stared at the floor with a down casted glace before pulling her arm from his grasp.
"Not now." Serah moved out of the room before he could stop her, Ed groaned in frustration as he turned around. Ever since they left Central, it feels like that there are a distance between them and it feels wrong. What is going through her mind and why now? Ed just can't make sense of it, of Serah right now. Why is she keeping silent, when it is clear that she wants to tell him and Al something?
Truth groaned with annoyed eyes, they stood in front of the vision mirror with crossed arms. The longer they stared at the mirror, their glare narrowed further in disbelief and anger. This is not supposed to happen, what went wrong?!
"Unbelievable! This is wrong! They are not allowed to pull away from each other like this!" Truth spoke in anger and frustration. The person behind them laughed, causing Truth to turn their glare to the hidden person.
"You can't control the actions of humans, they have to figure this out on their own. But don't worry in the end, anything will be fine."
"You have to much faith in those two." Truth scoffed, turning the two gates that were side by side. The strange person huffed while shrugging a shoulder.
"That might be true, but I believe in them and what they believe in." The hidden person smirked lightly while turning to the gates. Truth grinned at the person, while Truth placed their hands on their hips as they turned to the two portals behind them. The unknown person kept their gaze on the portals while their smirk turned to a soft smile.
What is this? Two chapters in two days?
Anyway the trio and Armstrong finally arrived in Resembool, the next chapter will mostly be written about Pinako and Winry's opinion of Serah and the Ishvalen's relationship with the brothers. And the chapter may or may not reveal why Serah have been acting weird or strange, she might end up at an crossroad between two choices in a later chapter.
I know that this chapter is different from what the pervious chapter nine, and that I have gone in a completely different direction with Serah and Ed along with their relationship and when they become a couple. Don't worry, they will get togther, at some point in the story.
Take care and stay safe :)
I will go and finish my culinary assignment now, till next time :)