[Winry's checking the gear for new updates from everyone when she sees this post. Right, they could go get Al soon-ish, but they'd see Goldenrod before that.

She won't reply with a video, instead she walks to the Pokemon Center and cheers up on the way. Everything's still weird without Ed here... Okay, get something else to think about! Aurum's on her shoulder.]

You can talk to me anytime and for many minutes~. What's up?

[Winry, always being sweet-- it makes Katara feel better and guilty at the same time. She's moping for herself and Winry is actually the one who should be the most upset. She's known Ed since they were kids, and she...]

Hey, Winry! Hey, Aurum. [She's all smiles by the time Winry's gotten there. She starts towards the doors of the center-- ignoring the change in music --so she can check her Pokemon in to rest while they talk.] I just wanted to see when you might want to head out to Goldenrod. I know some people there right now that can let us through the crossing, so it shouldn't take any time at all.

[If Winry can stay positive, so can Katara-- surely. She doesn't want to bring Winry down.]

Hey, Katara.

[She's got to stay sweet and positive or else she'll start crying... and then she won't be able to stop because Ed's not here to stop it. Besides it would make her feel guilty because she wasn't here for as long as Katara before Ed went home, and Katara's seen Ed here more and... She can always try to be like this is a situation from home: Ed and Al gone to get their bodies back and Winry left behind to wa-- well, except Al's still here but anyway! It's normal situation that Ed's gone somewhere, but otherwise this is all abnormal.]

[She walks in too, the new music gets a smile from her. PCs! And Nurse's adorable pokemon~. Yup, Winry loves pokemon centers.

Oh, right. Most people actually tend to ask opinions from others. Winry's not quite used to it yet.]

Oh. That's great! Well... We can go as soon as your pokemon are ready to go? I don't think anything's holding us here and I'm curious to see Goldenrod, so I'm ready when you are.

They should only need an hour or two. I figure that gives us time to grab some supplies before we go. I'm kind of excited. Once I get the badge from Goldenrod I should be able to travel a lot faster with Charizard or Claus. That means I'll be able to come visit you guys pretty much whenever we want. [She smiles hopefully, because she definitely likes Winry and enjoys spending time with her. For a while splitting up seemed like a good idea, but lately she's not sure. She and Aang have always had at least Sokka around so traveling with just two would be weird, and Winry and even Al are friends too.

Yeah, let's go get all supplies while they rest, then we're all ready to go once you get your pokemon back. [...Oh, right, they are going to split up once they get to Al. It's a shame, she really enjoys this company and it's kind of like she has a sister? Winry smiles anyway.] You're also welcome to visit us whenever you want, you know that, right? You - or you two or your new friends here - just give us a call before you come over. [They don't have to give that call, she won't be busy with automail customers. She's just used to say it.] But we're both excited to get to Goldenrod, I'll see you battling in a gym again and then I can go shopping for anything I want~!

[Yeah, she... she doesn't really want to leave the group, but she wants to figure out a plan aka: mundane is still sorting things ooc'ly.]

Of course, and you guys too once you're able to. [She offers a small smile, but she's just as determined as Winry to not make this sadder than it has to be, she doesn't want to see Winry crying and she doesn't even know about the promise. She's already been through enough-- more than Katara realizes. She moves to give her a tight hug.]

[Winry really doesn't want to let her go either, even if she's used to letting people close to her to go on their journeys... But maybe, just maybe, sometimes there's got to be endings for some things to have beginnings for new things.]

Of course we will! And who knows, we might accidentally be in same cities sometimes - or we can just meet in the halfway to some place a-- ['and go there together then' A hug? Winry smiles. She'll miss Katara, really, and she's so grateful for everything she's done. She returns the hug.] Hey, I'm not going anywhere without you, not yet...

[Katara needed to hear that, she really did. So she just holds on, she didn't mean to interrupt Winry but the urge just came over her and now she can't help herself. She hasn't talked to Aang about this, she tried, but she felt unsure about dumping her feelings on him since he didn't know Ed that well. She doesn't want to do this to Winry either, but she figures Winry will understand even if it's not the same.

Besides, now that she's started she really can't stop.]

Sorry... I'm so sorry, I just... Ed's always been the one I'd talk to when someone went back home, I don't really know what to do now that he's the one that's gone.

[Winry won't let go of her either, especially because she obviously doesn't want to let go yet. Let's just keep holding on then~. Dammit, she even pets Katara's dark hair. She can talk to her, of course, she can break down too... Winry just... Can't. Stupid promises and the feeling that it won't stop if she starts and she hasn't even fully realized that Ed's not here anymore...]

There's nothing for you to be sorry about... Really, nothing. [Oh gowd, Winry's not good at this, not at all. Well, she can try...] I... Never know what to do without him either. He's always been my pillar and strength to carry on... Always. [And Winry has to fight her tears at this point. She fights against them well!]

And... He's tbe big brother who always knows what to do and takes care of people around him and... ...and I'm so grateful to you for traveling so long with that dummy even though he can be a real pain because he's Ed and he can be so difficult... Thanks, for taking care of him here. We... will do something. I don't know what. But I promise I won't go anywhere if I can help you instead of him. Maybe he'll come back someday. And if not... well, he has so much important stuff to do back home...

[Katara's heart breaks a little, hearing those words. How must Winry be taking this? Has she even let it really sink in yet? Katara's grip tightens gently, wanting to be there for Winry as much as Winry is there for her right now. Ed, you are in for SUCH an ass kicking when or if you come back, you'd better believe it. It doesn't matter that it's not your fault you left, you should definitely pay for making two girls come so close to crying.

And really, Katara is close to it too. Her voice sounds thick and heavy with tears as she speaks moments before, and only marginally better now.]

Yeah... [The big brother, yeah, Winry was right about that. Granted that she argued with him way more than she would with Sokka, and aside from a fascination for the scientific side of things he really was nothing like her brother, and it was even true that her feelings had been... well... but he'd been here when Sokka wasn't. Somehow or other he filled that void even if it was just in the same vein of: "Someone that is always there and I know has my back.".

He was there before Aang and Toph, after all. He was there when Zuko returned home, when Azula showed up, when Toph disappeared.

That short tempered doofus. Katara thinks she might lose it when Winry thanks her for looking out for him. She really might, her eyes feel hot, but she holds back.]

I know... but still. I hope he does. He'd better, and I'll kick his butt myself for disappearing so soon after we finally found you, and after his brother came. I'll help, anyway.

[Because she's sure Winry will have that covered all on her own anyway, really. She attempts a smile, finally losing the fight against a few tears, but she's not going to let herself break down like this. Winry doesn't deserve having to deal with some other girl crying on her shoulder like a baby when-- she's the one that has every right to.]

[Yeah, Ed, it doesn't matter that it's not your fault you left. You should have kicked Johto's ass and stay here. There will be lots of pain when you come back!

And hearing that Katara is close to tears too doesn't exactly help Winry much. What would Ed do? Uh, hard swallow and try to put a brave front? Winry tries that right now, except she's no good at making brave fronts.

Kicking butt and all the other things make her smile though!]

Of course he'll come back. And he'll be pissed to this world because it made him go home all of a sudden at the perfectly wrong timing - what with you coming to get me and Al arriving to Johto - and then he missed weeks of training with his kick ass pokemon too. Yeah, he'll be pissed. And in severe pain as soon as my wrench hits him.

[...Winry bites her lip when she sees those tears wondering if Ed which option makes Ed more pissed:
a) she lets it all out and cries now breaking her promise with him
or
b) she holds all those tears back and tells him that she kept that damn promise even now.]

...I can try to be a good pillow if you need one right now.

[That's right, that's right. :| And then lots of hugs.

Katara laughs a bit, pulling back and wiping at her eyes quickly. It's all just been a little much. She hasn't allowed herself to cry about the disappearances since Sokka disappeared. Ed's was just the last straw. Still, Winry has a point, he'll be back, Katara has to believe that. So will Sokka, he WILL. She just... started to feel a little unsure after months had passed. How long has she been in Johto now? Five months? Nearly half a year. Nearly half a year without Sokka, without Toph, Suki, her father, and almost without Aang too... Yeah, she could safely say she deserved a good cry over that.

She takes Winry's hands and squeezes them, looking her in the eye.]

Me too... if you need it, but I'm okay... thank you, Winry. I guess I just... I'm a little more homesick than I thought. I'll be fine. I've got you, and Aang, and Zuko is back. At least I got to see most of them for a little while.

[She takes a steadying breath, looks up at her again, and smiles more certainly.]

Let's hurry, Alphonse is waiting for you, right?

That was so cool! It'll be a pretty long time before my Pokemon get to that level.

[Modest smile, but she's pretty proud of her team. Too bad Ed and Toph couldn't have seen it too.]

Thanks, Aang. I can help you with training if you want? It could be just like old times.

[Aang gives Katara a wide grin.] That'd be really great.

You're coming to Goldenrod City?

That's right. It just makes sense to take that gym next since we're so close. It'll make traveling much faster. [She grins.] Plus the shopping there won't hurt. You're in Goldenrod, Estell?