Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Set in Stone ❯ Home is Where Your Rump Rests ( Chapter 3 )

Hello all, wooh I got a review!!! Thanks Flame Phoenix, nice to know that it's interesting to somebody! You're too nice!! Sorry I'm slow at updating this thing, I was going to do it last night but I was baby-sitting. Well here's chapter 3, enjoy .

 

`Til The Sun Rises

 

Chapter Three

Home is Where Your Rump Rests

 

`First you must decide, then you must follow through, it is the only way anything can be accomplished'

- Lacus Clyne, Gundam Seed

 

“Hello? Is anyone here? Colonel?” she knocked on the door once more, a lot louder this time. “He better be here, I didn't come all the way from Risembool for nothing.” Winry complained, shifting the hand her toolbox was in.

 

“Maybe they've already left for work, Winry?” The young woman at her side suggested.

 

“But why would he ask me to meet him here, he said that one of his officers need some new automail. I don't know who would though.” She said, frowning slightly. “I hope none of them have had an accident.” She said worriedly.

 

“Look, I know where they keep their spare key; let's look around for a note or something.” The other girl suggested, disappearing around the side of the house and emerging a moment later with a shining silver key.

 

“Yes, Winry one, Mustang Zero.” Winry said gleefully, trying to snatch the key.

 

“Oh no, you don't. I believe the score is, Uncle, Winry, Zero, Elicia Off the chart.” She said, posing victoriously.

 

“One is hardly `off the chart' Elicia, you'd be lucky if people'd notice that chart.” Winry said sourly.

 

“You're just jealous.”

 

“Just open the door.” Winry ordered. Elicia grumbled in defeat and turned the key in the keyhole. The both of them entered the house, looking around for signs of life.

 

“I don't think anyone's home.” Elicia said, whispering for some reason.

 

“There's a note on the counter, c'mon lets look.”

 

“How does he always know when I'm gonna break in?” Elicia asked, looking thoroughly perplexed, “There's always a note.”

 

Winry picked up the note and read it quickly, her face getting more stunned by the minute.

 

“What is it?” Elicia asked concerned as Winry's eyes filled with tears, “What's wrong?” Winry dropped the note and ran down the Hall, in the direction of what Elicia understood to be the guest room. She picked up the note almost instantly after Winry had dropped it and quickly scanned it.

 

Fullmetal,

 

Winry is expected to drop by this morning sometime, though I doubt you'll be up. In fact I wouldn't be surprised if Winry or Elicia gets this first. Winry, he's in the guest bedroom, hit him over the head with a wrench for me, just for old time's sake. Elicia, I thought I already gave you a key.

 

Roy Mustang

 

Elicia laughed and put the note down, soon after hearing a loud thump. She rushed into the guest bedroom, only to find Winry hugging the life out of someone sitting awkwardly on the floor. She was saying something, but Elicia couldn't decode it.

 

Finally Ed had had enough. “Ahhh, alright, I get the point, would you get off me! I was sleeping.” He complained.

 

“Oh god, is it really you Ed?” She asked tears of joy streaming down her face as she got up and helped him untangle himself from the sheets.

 

“Yeah, yeah, it's me, and don't go on about `god' he had nothing to do with it.” He said, jokingly.

 

“You forgot to hit him over the head with a wrench.” Elicia pointed out. Ed quickly pulled her into a hug.

 

“I really missed you Winry.” He said softly. “Don't spoil that by giving me a concussion.”

 

“You shouldn't have added that last part.” She replied dryly.

 

They separated and he yawned loudly. “Who's the Random?” he asked, looking over at Elicia, as she studied him, as though trying to remember a familiar face.

 

“This is Elicia, surely you remember her.” Ed gawked at Winry, then at Elicia.

 

“Wow, you sure have grown.” He said, laughing.

 

“I remember you now.” She said, “You're that short kid in dad's photos.”

 

Ed glared lightly at her, but laughed all the same. “Yeah, I suppose so, that was a long time ago though.” A couple of seconds later he was on the ground. “Hey! What was that for?” He asked Winry angrily.

 

“For going away and not writing, I told you I'd do that if you didn't come in for check up's regularly.” She said, pocketing her faithful wrench.

 

“Ow,” Ed groaned, rubbing his head, “That's a new wrench, no fair.”

 

**

 

“I would've thought you would want to stay in Central a little longer Ed, I mean, Al is here and I can stay.” Winry said, when later on he was packing the few possessions he had with him.

 

“I've already told you Al and I had a fight. I've stayed away long enough, right now I just want to go home.” He said. “Ready? Alright good, let's go.”

 

“I could do your automail while I'm here, and you could make up with Al.”

 

“It was a pretty big fight Winry.” He replied, closing the door behind him and stowing the key under the doormat.

 

“But I'm sure you want to catch up with all the others, like Mustang or Havoc.” She argued.

 

“If you didn't want me to come so badly, you could've just said, I can take a hint.” Ed said, humoured.

 

Winry sighed. “It's not that, I just know Mustang will want to talk to you.” She said, jogging slightly to catch up to his fast pace.

 

“That's an even better reason to leave while we can. C'mon hurry, we can catch the train that leaves in 5 minutes.”

 

“I can't believe you still know the train times,” Winry said, now having to run-hop along constantly to keep up with him. “Why do you want to leave so quickly, there's another train in half-an-hour?”

 

“Yeah, but by now Elicia's reached HQ.” he replied, with a wicked grin, paying the lady outside the train station. “Two to Risembool thanks.” He said, tapping his foot impatiently while the old woman slowly counted the money. He quickly grabbed the tickets and boarded the train, dragging Winry in tow.

 

“All aboard! Stand back please!” The station master yelled as the train slowly began its journey. Yet over the yell and noise of the station master and train an angry voice could be heard.

 

“Fullmetal you sneaky bastard! Get back here, coward!” Ed poked his tongue at the moving black haired head of Mustang who was angrily pushing his way through the crowd.

 

“Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me!” Ed yelled back, after opening the window. “Say bye to the rest of the team for me, and take a chill pill. I'll be back, I don't think they'll let me quit over the phone!” Ed yelled, receiving great satisfaction from the look on Mustang's face and the sight of Hawkeye, gun at the ready, standing behind him, while he was blissfully unaware.

 

“You really shouldn't get such a good feeling from something even slightly evil.” Winry sighed shaking her head.

 

“Eh, he'll live,” Ed replied, “So I want to be filled in, I hear you have a new apprentice, dragged someone else into your obsession aye?” Ed asked, receiving a well deserved lump on the head.

 

“You don't speak to woman like that.” Winry said.

 

“Show me one and I won't.” Ed muttered under his breath. Winry merely glared at him.

 

“Well, yes. Chris, that's Roses' son, was always interested in mechanics, and after granny died, he took over my role as the rookie.” She said. “He'll be helping me create some automail for you, it's too bad I gave those one's I had been designing for you to Wrath.”

 

“Wrath?” Ed questioned.

 

“Yeah, after Rose brought him to our house, Granny and I gave him the new automail I had been designing for you, I haven't seen him except for when he comes for maintenance checks; at least I can rely on him to.” She said, glaring at Ed.

 

“Well I've grown anyway, so I doubt they'd still fit me, and I don't need the leg one anymore.” Ed said, ignoring her glare.

 

“Why? Why don't you need your leg repaired?” She asked, slightly suspicious.

 

“Didn't Rose tell you? Al got my body back.” He explained.

 

Winry laughed sheepishly. “Yeah she tried to explain, but I didn't really understand so I didn't really ask her.” Ed laughed as well, making her blush slightly. “Shutup!” she said. “I don't understand what you boys do; all that alchemy stuff gives me a headache.”

 

“How `bout I try explain it to you then?” Ed offered. She nodded and Ed recounted the trip the brothers had taken to the underground city.

 

“I'd heard stories about that village. The desert kingdom of Lebis (1), or something.” Winry said amazement in her voice. “I can't believe it really existed.” Ed had conviently `forgotten' to mention his fathers prolonged life, and his first son. He didn't really want anyone knowing that knowledge, perhaps not even Al. Not when they were fighting in any case.

 

The train rode along the countryside, Ed looking out the windows and occasionally commenting as Winry informed him of what she had been doing for the past 15 years. She had gone to Rush Valley and lived with Paninya for a few years. She had then returned to Risembool and lived there for another 2 years, teaching Chris and helping out Pinako with the Automail shop.

 

Rose had gotten herself a job in Risembool, selling some fruits and vegetables at a stall she had set up, and had eventually moved out, then moved back in when Pinako died to care for the house. Winry, on the other hand, had moved to Central and shared an apartment with Scheiska, and continued a small Automail business from there.

 

The only news she ever heard of Al, was the occasional letter, and the rumors. Of a new `hero of the people' following in his older brothers footsteps, helping out people with Alchemy. “That wasn't really what he was trying to do, of course,” Winry had said. “He was really looking for a way to reunite with you. I suppose he had just done what the two of you had before and run into problems along the way. Anyway, he met his wife on his travels in a small town up in Drachma. He traveled everywhere; I don't believe you had ever left the country together.”

 

“Alchemy wasn't really the other countries strong points, though with the medical knowledge in Xing, we probably could have found something there, but” Ed replied, “We decided to search the corners of Amestris first.”

 

She hadn't heard much of him after a letter informed her of his new girlfriend, and later on, they had showed up on her doorstep. Winry had gone traveling, going all throughout Amestris, to Xenotime, to see the incredible line of silken clothing they had developed, bringing the city riches once again, to Dublith to visit Izumi, Sig and Mason. She had of course been present for Mustang and Hawkeye's wedding. “Oh, they're so cute together.” She said; Ed rolled his eyes.

 

Only 4 years had passed since she had returned to Risembool, staying permanently instead of just temporarily. But of course visiting Central for Al's wedding. She had re-opened the Automail store, Chris had not been able to do much on his own, and Rose had moved into the house, selling the old one. The most interesting thing, according to her that had happened since was the phone call in which Mustang had mysteriously asked her to come and do some “`whirling of my wrench' I believe he said.” She said dryly. Ed chuckled.

“Oh, I never imagined it would be you. I…I can't believe it, but I think I kind of…gave up.” She admitted, blushing in shame.

 

“Don't feel guilty, Winry.” He said, “I hadn't given up completely, but I was damn close. And it was easier for me; all the evidence didn't say you were dead.” He said. “In any case, I don't think I've ever been happier to see you again, or Al, even if we are fighting. I don't blame him, for saying what he did.” He said quietly, looking out distantly at the rolling hills.

 

Winry frowned slightly in worry, but didn't say anything. “I'm happy you're back too Ed.” She said looking out the window as the train came to a slow halt. “Here's our stop.” They stood up and got off the train as the doors opened at the station.

 

“I don't think I've ever been happier to just be home.” Ed said.

 

“I thought you didn't have a home?” Winry asked slyly, referring to their burnt down house.

 

“Well you know what they say; Home is where your heart is.” He laughed and walked down the steps onto the old dirt road. “Far out, they're not wrong when they say the country is cut off, this place hasn't changed at all.” He said looking around.

 

“Well I'm sorry there aren't a whole lot of obnoxious people driving around in cars, honking their horns and rushing off to their boring office jobs.” Winry said sarcastically, walking alongside him.

 

Ed blinked, “I never said it was a bad thing. Just…different. In a good way.”

 

**

 

There had been much excitement when Ed had walked through the door of the little house on the hill. Rose had freaked out, and almost suffocated him, then insisted that she was going to cook a huge meal and invite everyone in the neighborhood to attend.

 

However, that plan had quickly come to a standstill when Ed and Winry had talked her out of it, insisting instead, on a small dinner between friends. Aka: Ed, Winry, Rose and Chris. Rose babbled on as she seasoned the to be roast chicken. “I always knew you'd come back,” she said. “Or I would've gone and found you, and killed you myself.” Ed was rather frightened in the joyful way she had said that. “I'm glad you kept your promise at any rate, even if it is rather late.”

 

“Promise?” Ed questioned. Rose laughed.

 

“Well of course, you promised me you'd get out of that blasted chapel, and I've held you to it.” Ed smiled at her. She seemed a lot more joyful.

 

“Of course, I never break a promise, and that's a promise.” The both of them laughed, and silence fell over the house, the only noises were that of Winry instructing Chris on different techniques in the construction of automail as she put together Ed's new arm, and the noise of Rose bustling about in the kitchen. “I think I'm gonna go for a walk, y'know, check out the neighborhood.” Ed announced, getting up and leaving before waiting for Rose's answer.

 

He strolled down the dirt path, his feet unconsciously leading him until he arrived at the almost non-existent rubble of his old home. Most of the wood and remnants of old furniture had turned into mouldy wood and been taken over by soft green moss. Though Edward could remember the ruin of the house perfectly in his mind, if you hadn't seen it before, it would be difficult to distinguish certain features.

 

He carried on from his old childhood home, to the tree on the hill, Risembool's graveyard. He stared sadly at the grave of his mother, and the more recent one of his thought-as aunty. It was then he noticed a smaller grave, next to Pinako's and couldn't help but laugh a little at the name. Den Rockbell, “I suppose you're not quite the survivor Black-Hayate is aye Den?” Ed asked the gravestone quietly.

 

He walked around the place for a bit longer, reintroducing himself to everything, before stopping once again at the old house. He could tell Al had been there, a lot of the photos had been removed and a few things had been fixed with alchemy. Suddenly, Ed had a stroke of genius, and slowly began moving pieces of stronger wood and furniture and other useful things to a pile on the path. He towed it all back to the Rockbell house, much to Rose's annoyance.

 

“What're you doing with all that dirty, mouldy, old wood?” she asked, `tsk'ing at him like a mother would scold a child.

 

“Oh, Relax.” He said, lugging the last of it into the backyard. “I'll make something if you let me keep it?” he asked childishly. Rose rolled her eyes and carried on inside the house. And true to his word, over the next day and a half, while Winry slaved over his arm, he slaved over his mysterious creation. Rose would often poke her head out to see what he was doing, but he would shoo her off. Much to her annoyance, he invited Chris to help him, getting him to do the stuff he couldn't with one arm.

 

“Why don't you just make it with Alchemy?” Winry asked, looking at the odd bits and pieces of things here and there.

 

“You know what my teacher always use to say, `if you can fix it yourself then do it; you can't always rely on Alchemy.' Sure if I wanted it done in a rush I would, but I've all the time in the world.” He had answered. “Why hurry?”

 

“You always used to use alchemy for everything.” Winry argued, “What's changed now?”

 

“I haven't used it in over 15 years,” Ed replied, “I'm not even sure if I still can.”

 

“You don't just lose a talent like that Edward.” Rose added.

 

“Well, they say `use it or lose it' for a reason,” Ed said. “If the opportunity, or need,” he added, “should arise, then I'll probably start using it as often as I did before, but at this point and time, I'm going on strike.” He said. Winry shook her head, and her and Rose exchanged glances. “What?” he asked.

 

“Boys,” The both of them said at the same time. “I'll never understand you, Ed.” Winry said. “The Automail's almost done, Chris is just doing a few little things here and there, and I can do the surgery tomorrow.” She said.

 

“Then tomorrow it is.” Ed said firmly.

 

“Are you sure you want to? It'll hurt worse than it did before, the wound's not new.” Winry said, furrowing her brow.

 

“What are a few days of pain, compared to a useable arm?” Ed said, “I'll never finish that damn thing with only one.” He said, nodding his head in the direction of his creation outside. Winry rolled her eyes and went upstairs, the rest following shortly after.

 

**

 

“Damn, Fullmetal, running off like that, after I let him stay at my house and everything.” Mustang muttered angrily under his breath, having just returned from another night of paperwork and annoying subordinates.

 

“Aw, we all know you love him, boss.” Havoc said, driving the car.

 

“Shutup and drive, Major.” Mustang answered.

 

“So what's the story with him anyway?” Havoc asked conversationally, “Why'd he run off in the first place, I'd expected him to stay a little longer?”

 

“He's gone to Risembool to have himself another arm made, and he ran off to avoid my interrogation.” Mustang answered. Suddenly the car came to a sudden halt and Havoc leaned on the horn. “What are you doing, Havoc?” Mustang asked annoyed.

 

“Some idiot just ran in front of the damn car, I almost hit him.” Havoc answered angrily. “Oh great, now he's coming over here.”

 

“Stay here.” Mustang ordered, getting out of the car and walking to the person approaching from the shadows. Havoc followed him. “I thought I told-”

 

“You are Roy Mustang?” the shadowed figure asked him, in a heavily accented voice, though against what Havoc had said, the person was most obviously a woman.

 

“Yes.” Mustang answered. “And you?”

 

“Not important. I'm looking for Edward Elric, you know him, yes?” Havoc made a movement behind him, Mustang almost trod on his foot to signal to him not to answer.

 

“No, I know nobody with this name.” Mustang answered coolly. “Is there any other reason you almost had my driver crash our car?”

 

“Wrong answer.” The figure replied. “You know an Edward Elric; your signature is on the forms. Where can I find him?”

 

“Uh, Boss, we have a bit of a situation.” Havoc said warily behind him. Mustang subtly slid on one of his gloves.

 

“I don't want any trouble, miss. I suggest you leave now, before this gets messy.”

 

“Seine Hände, die Handschuhe.” Another female voice said. Mustang turned, that was the language Ed had been muttering the other night. However when he saw the scene in front of him, he pulled his gloved hand out of his pocket and snapped. Havoc and he made a dash for the car, leaving the group behind them to stamp out the flames. Havoc slammed his foot on the accelerator and Mustang was thrown across the seats, just as the back window shattered, the glass falling on him, the shot echoing in the before quiet street.

 

“Sorry boss.” Havoc called. “Where to?”

 

“HQ, I have some calls to make.” He said, after they had lost the group of strange foreigners. “We're paying a visit to Fullmetal.”

 

`If at first you don't succeed, leave no evidence that you tried.'

 

Also I forgot to add the footnotes in the last chapter; I'll explain why Ed's only got an artificial arm later in the story, actually it's kindof a lot later but it'll be explained all the same.

 

In the Manga, I'm pretty sure that's what they call it, of course I'm not sure if it's the same thing but the whole `disappeared after failed attempt at philosophers' stone/human transmutation' thing is the same. That was a lot longer than it needed to be.