Title: Writing Names on Dragon Wings

Author: Evil_Little_Dog

Rating: Teen

Disclaimer: This is a derivative work, and, as such, I make absolutely no money writing this. Darn the luck.

Summary: Before going to the East and West, respectively, the Elric brothers and Winry decide to take a trip to Milos. Unfortunately for them, Milos and Creta are still battling over Table City, and they get caught up in the war. What's worse, Creta has invented flying warships. Milos might still have the upper hand, though - they have dragons.

Notes: Alternate reality for canon, post-108, original characters, canon-type violence. This story is completed, but still being edited, so expect a chapter approximately once a week. Additionally, thanks to my artist, Dzioo, and my beta readers, Cornerofmadness, Anat Astarte, and Shanachie Quill, for their help on this monster. ART will be posted on Dzioo's Deviant Art account and also on my Archive of Our Own Account.

Chapter One: Flying Machines and Other Impossibilities

It is said by scholars and learned men that dragons do not exist. That the creatures are a metaphor. That, even though each country has pervasive tales of giant lizards that could fly, or spit fire (or ice, or acid), that could carry away whole cows, or an armored man on an armored horse, or even an elephant, dragons were no more real than a fairy tale, a bogey to give children or childish adults pause.

There was no reason to wonder at the dragon's place in alchemy (just because a lion – a real creature - appears in the same texts means nothing). A salamander can no more control flames than a fish can. No Celestial Pearl is sought by three- or four- or five-toed drakes.

This is what is believed by the learned; despite thunder being the 'dragon's growl', and lightning being his forked tongue. Despite the first steam engines, crossing countries on their rails, being likened to sinuous wyrms, blowing cinders and with steam clouds curling in their wake. Despite the 'Dragon's pulse' enhancing Xingese alchemy.

Despite what knowledge one creature in all the world could be sure of – dragons existed – though the homunculus wasn't about to share that knowledge. It knew dragons thrived, at least, once upon a time. Perhaps not in this world, not in this time, but there are always possibilities, and isn't that where dreams come from, anyway?

Winter-Spring, 1916, Risembool, Amestris

It had been decided, before the brothers went East and West, respectively, they'd all go on one trip together. Alphonse made the decision, "We should go back to Milos. We didn't get to spend a lot of time there, really, and I'd like to see Julia Crichton again."

He hadn't expected the teasing – "Did you tell Mei about Julia?" Winry asked, grinning. "Should you write her and let her know you're visiting an old girlfriend before you go to Xing to see her?"

Edward clicked his tongue thoughtfully. "Dunno, Winry, Julia might be able to take the bean girl. She's a really good alchemist."

Mentally cursing his skin for heating up, Alphonse protested. "It's not like that! I mean, I like Julia, but not any more than Ed likes Rose. Or Armony!" As soon as he said her name, Alphonse regretted it. The light in Edward's eyes flickered and dimmed, and Winry, confused, looked from one of them to the other.

"Who's Armony?"

"A girl who wanted me to teach her alchemy." Edward twitched his shoulders, his jaw tightening. "She died," he finally said.

"Oh." Winry glanced down at her hands, twining them in her lap. "Well, maybe we should go to Aerugo instead?"

Alphonse latched onto the change of subject. "We don't have time to get passports to Aerugo, but we could probably get them for Table City pretty easily, especially if we write Julia and tell her we're coming."

"You do that, Al," Edward said. "She probably doesn't remember Winry or me." The teasing lilt wasn't quite back in his voice, but he made the effort. "Get on it, and let us know what she says."

That had been almost two months prior. Julia responded in about a month. They spent the rest of their time getting visas, since Edward no longer had his State Alchemist watch to flash for admittance anywhere. Plus, they had to get clothes for traveling, and gifts for Julia, but finally, they were ready to go.

"You kids are sure about this?" Pinako asked over the supper table, just a couple of nights before they were supposed to leave.

"Why wouldn't we be?" Edward paused, spoon halfway to his mouth.

Pinako made sure to meet all of their eyes. "I know we don't get a lot of news out of the west, but is it safe?"

Alphonse glanced at his brother, then at Winry. "How many times have we been someplace that isn't safe, Granny?"

She sighed. "I suppose you're right. Just try to be careful, and come home in one piece."

Two mornings later, they were ready to board the train. With some hugs to Pinako, and Den, too, and promises to not get into any trouble – Edward - and to come back with presents - Winry and Alphonse, they climbed aboard the passenger car.

"I don't get why you two don't get scolded. You get into just as much trouble as I do," Edward said, pushing his way through the aisle between the bench seats.

Winry snorted. "You're going to be in so much trouble this trip."

"Me? Al is, when the bean girl finds out he's been visiting an old girlfriend."

"Julia isn't a girlfriend! She's a friend-friend," Alphonse glared at them both as Edward shoved his little suitcase under a seat. Sitting down, Winry scooted over to make room for Edward. He flopped next to her, both of them watching as Alphonse settled onto the bench across from them. He wished he could ignore them, but that would mean a few days of ignoring, and he wasn't up for it. How was it his brother and Winry wore matching evil grins? When did Winry learn that kind of smile? "Stop looking at me like that!" Oh, it was going to be a long trip.

Near Border City, West Amestris

The train stopped before the Amestrian border, a military checkpoint to verify visas of those crossing the land bridge on into Milos. Winry nudged Edward awake as a lieutenant approached, followed by a sergeant, a rifle slung over her shoulder. The lieutenant's hair looked like it'd been dyed in ink, and clung to his skull like his head might try to escape. A thin mustache rode on his lip, like it had been drawn on. The sergeant had walnut hair wrapped into a neat knot at the base of her neck, and her brown eyes scanned the three of them as if she thought they might be a threat. Winry wondered if the pair were acting, trying to frighten them, as they were the only ones on the passenger car. According to the porter who'd stopped and talked to them briefly, very few people went to Table City now, since Milos had claimed its independence from Amestris two years ago. The brothers alternated between looking proud and worried, as if their appearance there might've triggered it. Maybe it had, Winry considered at the time; look at what happened in Lior, at least, according to Rose. If Edward and Alphonse hadn't shown up, Lior might've stayed under that priest's rule. Who knew what might've happened to Milos if the Elric brothers hadn't visited.

"Visas," the lieutenant said, breaking into Winry's thoughts. He stood next to their seats, his sergeant behind him, watching them like they were strange, possibly vicious, dogs.

Winry offered her visa. The lieutenant reviewed it with great scrutiny, turning each page. Beside her, she could feel Edward bristling, but this time, she kept her elbows close to her side, not about to nudge Edward. The sergeant's cold eyes made sure Winry didn't move in any way that could be considered threatening.

The lieutenant raised his gaze from her visa, studying her face closely, then looking back at the photograph. Shifting uncomfortably at the inspection, Winry froze when Edward half-rose from his seat next to her to slap his visa over Winry's in the lieutenant's hand. "Here," he grumbled, not quite angry enough to build up to a growl yet, "why don't you look mine over?" The dare hung between Edward and the lieutenant for a long instant, with the sergeant's hand moving toward the pistol at her hip, her shoulders rotating to throw the rifle back out of the way of her intended movement. The lieutenant sniffed, his mustache twitching, and he studied Edward's visa, then handed both of them back to him. His review of Alphonse's visa took much less time.

Edward made a show of replacing his and Winry's visas in the breast pocket of his coat as the lieutenant asked, "Why are you traveling to Milos?"

"We're visiting a friend," Alphonse said, folding his visa and pocketing it.

"You have a friend in Milos?" From the way his eyebrows jerked, the lieutenant didn't believe Alphonse. "Travel to Table City has been restricted since 1914, when the Milosians rose up against Amestris."

"Yeah," Edward said blandly. "But Milos and Amestris are still allies against Creta. It wasn't an actual uprising so much as Milos negotiating to retain their rights and sovereignty. At least, that was my understanding, when we were here in 1914." He gestured between the three of them. "What was the name of that idiot commander who got himself recalled from duty then, Al, because of what he did to us?" Edward snapped his fingers as if the noise might trigger the memory. "You know, the guy who looked kind of like Yoki, but wasn't nearly as smart."

"Soyuz," Alphonse said, helpfully. "He was court martialed for interfering with your investigation, if I remember right."

Winry managed to keep from slapping her forehead, but only just. When the brothers started tag-teaming on their bragging rights, it made for a lot of stress, as far as she was concerned. "We're friends of Julia Crichton," she told the lieutenant. "We have a letter of introduction!" She'd kept control of that, at least, and pulled it out of her travel bag to offer to the lieutenant.

He gave them all a sour look as he accepted it, though his sergeant regarded them all with a little less open hostility. "I see," he said, tilting the vellum to show off the embossed seal of Milos – a phoenix rising from the flames. Angling the page so the sergeant could see it as well, both of them relaxed a little bit more. "Well, if you have an invitation, we're not going to stop you," he said, "but you should be aware, as Amestrian citizens, the conflicts between Milos and Creta have heated up."

Alphonse leaned toward the lieutenant. "There hasn't been any word of it," he said.

The lieutenant sniffed again. "I could require you to remain on Amestrian soil, where it's safe."

"You could," Edward said, with a yawn, pulling a silver watch out of his pocket. Alphonse shot Winry a sharp-eyed glance and she shrugged slightly, indicating she didn't know Edward still had his State Alchemist's watch, either. "But we'll be fine. You don't need to worry about us."

The lieutenant's face blanked for a few seconds as he studied the watch. "I'm sorry, Major. I didn't know."

Edward grinned. "That's the way I like it, when we're traveling incognito. Now, I'd appreciate it if you kept this," he tapped the watch case before stuffing it back in his pocket, "between us. I'm here undercover, with my friends."

"Edward Elric – you're the," the lieutenant began.

"Shh!" Edward held up his hand to cut him off. "Secret, remember? Go on, and remember, you didn't see us."

"Of…of course, sir." The lieutenant started to salute, but hesitated at Edward's glare. "Have a good trip, sir, and be safe." Including Winry and Alphonse, he added, "Be careful in Milos."

"Thank you, lieutenant, we will," Alphonse said, and turned his head to watch them walk through the car. When they exited the car, he leaned over to punch Edward in the arm.

"Ow! Al!"

"You – you idiot! Why do you still have that watch? You're not an alchemist any more!" Alphonse cocked his fist back. "I ought to hit you again!"

The train car jerked as the engine began moving, making them all rock in their seats. That didn't stop Winry from elbowing Edward and asking, "Why didn't you tell us you kept your watch?"

Edward whined, "I figured you'd get like this! And look!" He flapped his hand between them. "You are!"

"Because you're not an alchemist any more!" Alphonse ground out through his gritted teeth.

"And it's illegal," Winry hesitated, looking around the empty train care reflexively before continuing. "To impersonate a soldier!"

"An officer, it's illegal to impersonate an officer," Edward corrected.

Winry poked him in the chest with her blunt fingernail. "Someone in the military!" She was almost pleased with his wince.

"Not my fault Mustang never asked for it back!" He was gloating. Winry wanted to slug him. Alphonse reared his fist back farther, and Edward raised his hands, a flicker of nervousness in his eyes. "Hey! It got us out of the questioning, didn't it? And we'll be able to go on to Milos. Which is what we wanted, right? Right?"

A headache started building behind Winry's left eye. From Alphonse's expression, he was ready to chuck Edward out the train window. "You – I'm going to tell Granny about this," he said.

Grinning, Edward said, "She'll agree it's a good idea."

Alphonse narrowed his eyes, shaking his finger at his brother. "Teacher won't."

The grin turned sickly and Edward shot Winry a pleading glance. "Uh uh, this is your idea," she said, waving her hands to absolve herself of any of this. "Don't look at me to help you get out of it! I was in," her voice trailed off. Something floated outside the train car window. It reflected color, making it hard to see, but something dangled off it. Winry squinted, shading her eyes as she peered through the window. "Wow."

"Wow?" Edward frowned, turning his head. "Wow!" Leaping to his feet, he shoved the glass down, halfway climbing through the window. "What is that thing?"

Winry and Alphonse both shoved at him to get room enough to see. "It's amazing!" Winry squeaked. "I didn't know any country had airships! Why didn't I know? I have to get on board and see those engines!"

"It'd be great to fly," Alphonse elbowing Edward to keep his place at the window.

"Gllk!" Edward wriggled around so he was behind Winry, his chest against her back. The heat of his breath on her neck nearly distracted her from the airship. "What the – are those the Black Bats?" He pointed over Winry's shoulder, nudging her aside to stick his head out of the window. She could barely hear his question of, "What are those things?"

The haze on the glass gone, Winry could see marginally better without the glare. Something wheeled around the ship – somethings, she amended to herself – soaring and falling and flying around it.

"The hell," Edward said, pulling back inside.

Alphonse cupped his hands around his eyes to cut the glare even more. "Brother," he said, warning. "I think."

Edward stabbed his finger out the window at the ship, blurting, "Is that a cannon? Fuck!" Grabbing Winry's shoulders, he spun her around, shoving her toward the center of the train car, reaching for Alphonse. "Al, get down!"