I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist

Chapter 7

Ed listened as Roy explained his carefully engineered plan, taking in every detail. "Everyone understand?" Roy finished.

Everyone nodded, except for Hughes, who pulled out a picture of his daughter and began staring at it with as large smile on his face.

Roy pulled on his ignition glove, snapped his fingers, and burnt the piece of paper to ash.

"What was that for?" Hughes demanded, gathering every ash and stuffing it into his pocket.

Silence spread, once again, over the many people gathered at the edge of the road. As everyone stood up to leave Al broke the silence. "What about me?"

Roy looked at Al for a brief moment before replying. "I want you to stay with Fuery incase anything happens."

Al nodded glumly and followed Fuery as he went to set up his equipment. Hawkeye saluted to Roy before walking off and disappearing into the think tangle of undergrowth. Everyone went their separate ways until Ed and Roy were standing alone at the edge of the road.

"Let's go," Roy said as he began to walk towards the bushes. Ed followed, the thorns scraping at his skin and tugging at his clothes. Mud stained his pants and low hanging tree branched lashed out at him. Ed wished he was with Al at the moment instead of with this bastard.

The two of them kept walking until Roy held out his hand, signaling for Ed to stop. Ed waited for several minutes before he saw Hughes walk up to the guards standing outside of a surprisingly large building, each carrying a riffle. Hughes walked up to them and pulled out a picture of his daughter, shoving it into the faces of one of the two guards.

The guards raised their riffles and pointed then at Hughes, who put his hands in the air. There were two bangs and the men collapsed to the ground. Hughes turned to where Ed and Roy were hiding and gave the a thumbs up. The two alchemists crept forward and into the building. Roy pulled his ignition glove tighter and Ed made sure he was ready to transmute.

Slowly, Ed and Roy walked through the hallways, aware of every noise or sound. Roy had ignition gloves on both hands, usually he only wore one. Ed was prepared to transmute even though his arms were hanging by his sides. Every small noise made him jump and spin around, looking for danger.

"Hey! Who are you?"

Ed turned around and saw a young man, probably no older than twenty, standing nervously at the end of the hallway, a riffle clutched tightly in his shaking hands.

"Intruder!" The man shouted, his voice shaking almost as much as his hands.

Ed let out a sigh and clapped his hands. Blue transmutation sparks stretched out and a moment later the riffle was knocked from the man's hands and went skidding across the ground for several meters. The man stared at Ed and Roy for a short moment before turning sharply and running down the hallway.

"Come on," Roy whispered, grabbing Ed by the hand as they began to walk faster.

Ed glanced behind his to make sure they weren't being followed before quickening his pace. The two of them ran in silence for a while until Roy slowed down and looked at a door towards the left of the hall. "This is it," He whispered quietly. "Get ready."

Ed nodded. Roy pushed the door open and took a step inside. Ed followed and a second after he did there was a startled yelp followed by a familiar voice yelling out, "Ed!"

Winry ran over to his and threw her arms around his neck. "Ed, I'm so glad you came." She looked up at Ed and smiled before taking a step back.

Ed looked at her for a moment with a puzzled look on his face. "Uh, Winry, did they do anything to you?"

Winry shook her head. "What do you mean?"

Before Ed could reply the door slammed closed and Daniel Tucker stood there, his back to the door. "Look who decided to join us," he said coldly.

Ed stared at Daniel for a moment, his anger returning. "You bastard!" Ed shouted. "You took Winry and now you dare show your damn face!"

Daniel pouted childishly. "Why do you always have to be so rude?"

"Don't talk back!" Ed clapped his hands together and threw them to the floor. A large fist came out of the ground and hit Daniel hard in the face.

Daniel stood there, not a single scratch on him. The rig on his finger began to glow. "You asked for it, Fullmetal Alchemist." The Transmutation Circle on Daniels' hands began to glow an icy shade of blue. A blast of frost shot out at Ed, who stood there without moving.

"Fulmetal!" There was a snap and a spark shot through the air, melting the frost just before it hit him. "You okay Fullmetal?" Roy asked.

Ed's head cleared and he looked at Roy and nodded. He turned back to Winry. "Stay back."

"But Ed," Winry protested.

Ed looked a Winry for a second before turning back to the enemy. "Bring it on."

Daniel smiled coldly. "As you wish." Daniel shot out another blast of frost but this time Ed was ready. He clapped his hands and a wall of rocks shot up from the ground, blocking the worst of the attack.

"Fullmetal," Roy said. "You remember the plan?"

Ed nodded. "How could I forget."

Roy smiled and ran towards the edge of the small room. Daniel got distracted and turned his back on Ed, who at that exact moment clapped his hands and pushed them down onto the ground. A large column of the floor shot out and knocked Daniel over, pushing him against a wall.

Roy took that opportunity and snapped his fingers, setting the ground, which had been secretly lined with gunpowder, ablaze. Daniel only smiled as the flames drew slowly closer to him.

"You thin you can beat me that easily?" He announced. He brought his gaze to Edward. "Oh yes, my Chimera. I'll find you one day, but for now, please enjoy this little show." Daniel managed to pull his hand out from between the pillar and the wall and point it at the flames. Despite the heat radiating from the fire, the ice still somehow put it out. Daniel placed his opposite hand against the column. There was a bright flash of light as the column exploded into many pieces. Daniel walked away from where he was standing and stretched. "That's much better. See you soon, my lovely Chimera." Daniel walked casually out of the room.

Ed dashed over but when he looked he saw no one there. "He's gone."

Roy walked over. "He also specializes at disguises and is good at escaping."

Ed looked up at Roy for a moment. Confusion shone in his golden eyes. "How much does this guy specialize in."

Roy thought for a moment. "I can't remember. I think it's in his file."

"Um, guys," Winry said nervously. "Can we leave?"

Ed nodded and Winry ran over to him. "Come on Winry, let's get out off this damn building."

The three of them walked in silence. Winry stayed very close to Ed and soon they walked through the front door and emerged into the bright sunlight outside. "It's been so long since I've seen sunlight," Winry announced.

"Winry!" Alphonse ran out of the bush and wrapped Winry in a bone crushing hug. "You're alive! You're human! You're not an animal!"

"Al. You're suffocating me," Winry said. Al dropped her and she stood there for a second, trying to get her breathing the way it was before Al hugged her.

"Come on," Roy said. "Let's go before they attack."

Ed nodded and followed Roy as he led the way to the cars. When they got there everyone else was sitting around. Hawkeye saluted to Roy. "Glad you made it sir."

Roy nodded. He turned to the assembles men. "Havoc, Falman, Breda, and Alphonse. You go with Hawkeye. The rest of you come with me."

Hughes walked over to Fuery and pulled out a picture of his daughter. Fuery immediately ran over to Roy. "Please, can I go with Hawkeye?" He begged.

"Sorry," Roy said, hiding his grin. "Both cars are full."

"I can switch with someone," Fuery begged.

Roy shook his head and turned away, heading back to his own car. Ed followed and sat down in the car. Fuery followed and Hughes took a seat right beside Fuery. Winry sat up front and Roy started the car.

Ed gazed out the window at the tall trees slowly fading, being replaced by houses, which were then replaced by buildings. Fuery covered his ears while Hughes told him another story about Elicia and showing his countless pictures. Ed still didn't know how he fit that many photos on his shirt pocket.

"Look at how cute Elicia is," Hughes said, shoving another photo in Fuery's face.

"Make it stop," Fuery complained, closing his eyes and pushing down harder on his ears to block out the noise.

"We're here," Roy announced after a while. Fuery didn't hear him since his ears were plugged. He found out when Hughes flicked him on the head to get his attention, shoving another picture of Elicia in his face. Fuery, noticing the car has stopped, jumped from his seat and scrambled out of the car as fast as he could.

"Hey wait!" Hughes called after him. "I've got more photos to show you!"

Ed got out more slowly, when he got outside he stretched, his body stiff from the long car ride.

"It's great to be out of that horrible place," Winry said with a sigh of relief.

"That was horrible?" Ed said, slightly surprised. "You should have seen the place I was in."

Winry laughed. Her laugh was scratchy as if she hadn't done it in a while. "I missed you Ed."

Ed smiled. "Glad you're back."

Roy walked over to them, a smile on his face. "Come on love birds," he teased.

Ed's face reddened and Winry looked away from Ed. There was a flash of a light and Ed looked around to see Hughes holding a camera in his hands. "Can't miss this," Hughes said as he slid the camera back into his pocket.

Ed blushed until his face looked as red as a tomato. Turning away quickly, Ed followed Winry and Roy into Central HQ. Everyone else followed more slowly, except for Al, who ran over to Ed.

Soon they entered Roy's office. As usual Roy took a seat in his chair. He looked at the three teens and signaled for them to sit as well. Ed and Winry sat beside each other, but when Al decided to sit with them the whole couch sank under his weight. Winry and Ed fell on top of Al and struggled for a moment, each tangled in each other.

After a few short minuted Ed and Winry were finally sitting on the couch. Their struggle was entertainment to everyone else and Ed could have sworn he heard the snapping of a camera.

"Miss Rockbell," Roy began. "Would you like us to tell Pinako you're back?"

Winry nodded. "Yes please."

Roy nodded and picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Good afternoon Pinako," He greeted after a short moment.

"Yes, we've found Winry," Roy said a second later.

"Yes, she'll come, bye." Roy hung up the phone and looked at Winry. "Pinako says that she wants you to go back to Resembool."

Winry nodded and stood up. "I'll go after Ed does what he promised."

Ed looked at Winry questioningly. "I don't remember ever promising you anything."

"You told me that the next time I came to Central you'll buy me anything I want," Winry reminded him.

Ed sighed and lowered his head as he remembered what he promised. "I should really think twice before making a promise," he muttered in defeat.

Winry laughed and headed for the door. When Ed didn't follow her she turned around and looked in his direction. "Aren't you coming?"

Ed nodded, a smile spreading out on his face. I'm glad she's herself, Ed thought, relief washing over him. "I'm coming Winry," He called, walking over to the door and following her through the hallway and down the street.

***

"Can you buy me this?" Winry asked excitedly, pointing at a wrench in the window of a shop.

Ed nodded. But that was when he noticed the price. "What! 5000 cenz!"

Winry nodded and before Ed knew it he had bought on of the most expensive item in each store. Soon Ed was walking down the street heading back to Central HQ, his arms full of bags containing everything Winry had forced him to buy.

Ed looked in his wallet and noticed that more than half his money was gone. I spent all this on Winr,. He thought. Although Ed had just spent half a fortune, he was glad that Winry was her old self again. When they were back in Roy's office Ed turned to Winry. "Um, Winry, can I ask you a question?"

Winry looked up from an automail mechanic book. "What is it?"

Ed took in a nervous breath"Uh, well, I-I was wondering if you could tell me what they did to you at that place?" Ed asked nervously, a bead of sweat falling down his forehead.

Winry nodded and closed her book. "I'll tell you anything you need to know."