Snow

A train's whistle rose from the smoking roofs of North City. The city was covered with a soft layer of snow. Children were running in the streets, the sun created amazing illusions shattering its rays against the ice crystals.

Thomas ran out of the station. As soon as he passed the gates he found himself in a world covered in white. The child looked around with wide eyes. Snow wasn't so frequent in Resembool after all.

-Mom! Dad! Nina! Look! It's snowing!-, he shouted turning back.

-Brother wait for me!-, Nina answered running towards him.

Thomas didn't even bother to consider his sister's voice and descended a few steps of the staircase that led to a small square. He was so eager to reach the small platform below the station that he didn't realize the steps were frozen, so he slipped and fell down hitting his head. Nina laughed while Winry leaned out from the top of the stairs.

-Thomas! Did you get hurt?!-, she asked, worried.

The kid stood up rubbing his sore head.

-No... -, he answered, annoyed by Nina's laughter.

-We've just arrived and you've already got into trouble?-, Edward asked amused, adjusting a leather bag over his shoulder.

-Yeah, reminds me of someone...-, his wife pointed out. Edward looked at her with a pout, dropping on the ground Winry's heavy toolbox.

Thomas in the meanwhile had started to explore the square, shrilling in surprise at every single brick, claiming he had never seen anything so strange or breathtaking. Winry's calls failed to make him stop. The young mother gave up and reached her oldest child holding Nina's hand. Edward followed them carrying the luggage.

-Mr Elric!-

A man, a soldier, approached them stopping a few meters away from the family. He was rather young, not taller than Edward. He had black eyes and fair skin. He stood a few seconds to catch his breath, then started talking:

-Welcome to North City! We're happy you decided to accept our invitation. I'm Second Lieutenant Stevens and it's my duty to take you to the outskirt of the city where Captain Falman is waiting for you to escort you to Fort Briggs.-

-Fort Briggs?!-, Thomas exclaimed. Suddenly the square lost all its fascination and the kid reached his parents and sister.

-Are we going to Briggs dad? Is this the surprise you've been talking about?!-

-Yep!-, Edward answered smiling at his son's excitement.

-Yay!-

The three adults laughed.

-When are we leaving? When are we leaving?-, Thomas asked tugging at his father's arm.

-Even now if you want, young man-, Stevens answered.

-Yes! Yes!-

Nina, satisfied with the snowman she had decorated, joined the group e all together got on the armored vehicle of the Amestris' army waiting for them on the other side of the square.

During the journey, Thomas asked his father tons of questions about his previous visit at Fort Briggs, but only a few received an answer. Nina, on the other hand, remained seated on Winry's lap and kept looking out of the window in the hope to see some sort of wild animal.

The vehicle stopped near a fence marking the border with the Briggs territory. The Elric family got off the vehicle and approached another one where Falman was waiting for them.

-Edward! It's nice to see you again! It's been a while!-

-You can say that again, Captain-, Edward greeted shaking his hand. -Let me introduce my family: you remember my wife Winry and they are our children Thomas and Nina.-

-It's a pleasure to meet you all-, Falman said shaking Winry's hand.

-The pleasure is ours. Am I right children?-, she added patting her kids' heads.

-Very well! Stevens already told you I'm going to escort you to Fort Briggs. So who wants to go?-, Falman asked.

-I wanna go! I wanna go!-, Thomas exclaimed jumping up and down.

-Perfect then! All on board!-

The vehicle moved and started to slowly climb the frozen mountains of Briggs.

Sliding on the snow the vehicle crossed a breathtaking landscape. Ice crystals decorated trees as pearls intertwined between the branches. There were some moss-covered rocks here and there on the white ground. The forest was covered by the fog and only a few lucky sun rays were able to penetrate its thick veil. Suddenly before their eyes appeared the natural black Wall of Briggs.

Thomas stared at the enormous building he had always heard amazing tales about without managing to see the top, hidden by the fog. The vehicle entered the Fort then parked in a giant room divided in four different sectors. On the walls there were many small spotlights which illuminated lots of armored vehicles and soldiers going back-and-forth, attending their duty as their lives depended on it.

-Thomas! Come here!-, Edward shouted trying to slow down his son's enthusiasm. The child didn't bother to listen to his father's call and kept on running around. His sister, on the other hand, seemed to prefer to rest on her mother's side, still sleepy after the journey.

-Dad look! These trucks are huge!-

Edward sighed and grabbed Thomas' hand dragging him to the rest of the family.

-Welcome back shrimp!-

A mysterious and unsettling female voice drew the group's attention. While Winry and the kids tried to understand who could it be, Edward, remembering his previous visit at the Fortress, shivered at the mere thought of having to meet the most cruel General of Amestris.

Suddenly a black figure appeared on the top of the staircase that brought to the center of the building. It moved a few steps and Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong revealed herself in all her authority. The woman descended the stairs with grace accompanied by some soldiers and met the Elric family.

-I know you don't like me, but don't you think you should at least introduce...-, she said looking at Winry and the kids, gifting them with one of her rare smiles.

-Yeah... sure-, he answered rubbing his head. -This is my wife Winry and these are our children Thomas and Nina.-

-It's a pleasure to meet you. I'm General Armstrong-, the woman said shaking Winry's hand.

-The pleasure is ours!-

Thomas, who had been quiet the whole time, took a few steps and offered his hand to the older woman.

-Hello. My name is Thomas Elric.-

-Nice to meet you, young man-, the General answered. -And you must be Nina-, she added looking at the child.

-Yes!-, she exclaimed smiling. - Nice to meet you!-

The woman smiled again.

-Your children sure are well educated... much more than you were indeed.-

-What?!-

Edward's annoyed statement didn't reach the General who started to bark orders to her subordinates.

-Conant, take care of the vehicle! Smith, contact Stevens and tell him the Elric family arrived here safe and sound! Falman, take them to their room!

-Yes Sir!-

-I'm glad you accepted my invitation-, she added then turning to Edward. -But we have some problems with a tunnel we are working on under the west mountains. Let me know if you need something.-

The woman dismissed the soldiers and then left. Conant checked the armored vehicle, Smith contacted Stevens and Falman approached the family.

-She hasn't changed, has she?-

-Not a bit-, Edward smiled lowering his shoulders.

-Follow me-, the Captain said holding up his hand. The family followed the man through the long and bare corridors and reached the Fortress' area dedicated to the accommodations.

-This is your room-, Falman stated opening a door.

It was a rather big room. On the wall in front of the door there was a window from which you could see the white mountains of Briggs. On its left there was a large double bed and on the opposite side two smaller ones. Next to the main door, another one led to a small bathroom and in the middle of the room was placed a table with a sofa and two chairs. From the ceiling hanged a blue chandelier.

Winry entered the room holding Nina in her arms followed by Edward who grabbed Thomas' hand.

-If you need something just ask. Dinner will be ready in a couple hours. See you later!-

Falman greeted his guests and left closing the main door behind his back.

The children didn't waste a second and started to run around immediately.

-Well, what do you think?-, Edward asked.

-It's amazing!-, Thomas screamed jumping from one bed to another. -I can already see my friends' faces when I'll tell them I've met General Armstrong!-

Edward and Winry laughed at their son's euphoria.

-And what about you? Do you like being here?-, Edward asked his daughter kneeling in front of her.

-Yes!-, she answered hugging him before joining her brother.

-See-, he then said to Winry, who looked at him skeptically. -It wasn't a bad idea after all.-

-Well...-, she smiled. -At least it's not a cell.-

Edward pouted pretending to look annoyed by his wife's words but his smirk gave him away.