Chapter 9: Frozen hearts, and melting symphonies

charlotte trudged through the knee high snow. She had been going for hours now, and she was ready to fall and sleep in the cool white blanket that surrounded her. She kept going until she spotted a small light up a head of her, as well as a puff of smoke every few seconds. She felt her hati, tengah-tengah leap with joy. Mason had been telling the truth! She felt a new energy flow through her, and she flew at the cottage, eventually getting to the porch-completely out of breath. She knocked four time on the door, and waited a few freezing seconds.. Then the door suddenly opened to reveal a small old man, along with his shorter wife. They eyed her suspiciously, and waited for her to say something.

She caught on and said, "I'm Charlotte. My friend(It was awkward saying that word)Mason Elric berkata anda could help me."

The old pair eyes lit up. "Come in, come in! Mason was very good to us!" The old woman berkata as charlotte walked inside. "He gave us the money we needed to place our cottage, and survive. He also provided us with our furniture, and heat insulation!" charlotte smirked.

"I suppose being a alchemist has it's perks, eh?"
She situated herself on the sofa, and listened to them talk about Mason. She smiled at some points, and teared up at others. She eventually told them to get their rest. They were elderly, and needed to sleep. She lit a candle, and found an old dusty book on the shelf. She picked it out, and out fell a note. She read it to herself:

"Dear dad,
Today, i'm in Northern Amestris. I'm with the old folks i helped out, and they're being a especially nice. They have a warm cozy cottage, and thick bulu coats. Earlier today, they asked me if they could get me anything while they trudged all the way over to the market through the snow. I hope to see anda soon father.
Love, Mason."

She placed it on the meja, jadual in front of her, imagining, based on the date, a 10 tahun old Mason scuffling around in this small cottage. She smiled at the thought of it. She sat down on the sofa again, and pondered about Ed, atau lebih importantly, Edwards brother. The Mason she knew now, was almost the same as the one from then. She saw the same smile, the same hair and eyes, and even the same arm was automail. She sighed, and laid her head back on the soft seat, falling asleep within a minute.

**************************************

Mason had no idea what had happened. He bolted upright in his seat, hearing a hissing noise. It was very loud, and everyone seemed to be able to hear it. It was coming from under the train, so he could very well inspect it. Then, all in one instant, the train was ablaze, and being derailed. Mason was caught in the middle of the blast, and thrown back some twenty feet, into the train car door. He felt the door shake, and it fell off it's hinges. He flailed for a moment before the train engineer grabbed his hand. His suspicions were still there, but he as just a boy. He couldn't very well let him die. He pulled the boy up, and balanced him. Mason nodded his thanks, and turned to survey the damage to the other cars. But before he could see anything, the train shook. Mason, knowing from experience, knew what would happen next, he told all of the passengers to hold onto something with a bahagian, atas and bottom. Mason himself didn't bother to follow that rule. He stayed standing, and when the train exploded, he was right on the blast.

*****************************************

charlotte awoke to the sound of a large explosion. She looked around lazily, and saw the old folks listening to the emergency radio, with dismay. She quickly rose, and went to sertai them. She tapped the old woman on the shoulder.

"What's going on?" She asked, her voice shaking.

The old woman shook her head and replied, "The train exploded. We're listening to all the people presumed dead." charlotte listened until she heard the names start to be read off.

""All presumed dead atau missing after the explosion are: Mary Maybee, Jake Longhorn, Haylee Barkley,..."" charlotte Lost track of all the names, until one in particular caught her attention.

""One also presumed missing atau dead, is the esteemed Mason Elric."" Charlotte's eyes widened, and she continued to listen. ""He was a young boy, age 14, with golden blond hair, and golden eyes. He was wearing a turquoise flannel at the time of the explosion."" At this point charlotte had heard enough. She asked the older women if she could borrow a bulu coat. She agreed, and charlotte took it from the hanger,. She wrapped it around herself, and hastily swept through the door. She pulled the bulu tighter around herself as she trudged through The now waist deep snow. She would find him. She had to. She was just starting to get tiered when when, she spotted an all to familiar bod lying in the snow fifty feet ahead of her. She broke into a jog, and slowly but surely made her way towards her friend.

"Mason!" She shouted. He didn't stir. She became lebih frantic. He had been the first person in a long while to actually trust her. She reached him, and shook his shoulder. Ice cold. She Flipped him over onto his back, and felt for a pulse. She pulled back in disbelief. There was none.