Ed was surrounded by books in his room "Strong and powerful...Brave, polite, mediator...responsible...punctual!"
He stood up. "Oh man I'm gonna be late!"
Ed lit incense at Al's memorial. "Don't worry Al! I'm gonna nail it! I'll get a great bride and make Mom proud!"
Ed ran into the chicken coop, threw the bag of feed into the air, clapped his hands, and made the feed land in the bins.
"That's it! Now for the tea! Everyone knows a good husband can make great tea!"
Ed clapped his hands and made the water boil. He pulled the pot off and poured the tea, giving a cup to his dad.
"Geez Hohenhiem, can't you at least follow doctor's orders? Mom's gonna worry!" Ed lectured. "If you make her cry I'll clock you!"
"You're going to be late for the Matchmaker." Hohenhiem said calmly. "If you screw it up again—"
"I'm not gonna screw it up!" Ed yelled. "Stupid!"
"Just go meet your Mom in town. She bought you a new jacket." Hohenhiem said. "You ruined the last one."
"I can make a new one!" Ed protested.
"Your mother went to a lot of trouble." Hohenhiem said. "You must bring honor to the Elric family in the only way a man can. Not through Alchemy. Through marriage."
"Things should be different!" Ed said. "I'm an alchemist!"
"So am I. But it's not the way the world works." Hohenhiem said. "Now, get to town! I'm going to go pray some more."
Xxx
Ed arrived in the clothing shop in Resembool where his Mom and Pinako were waiting.
"You're late, Ed." Trisha said disapprovingly. "At least you washed up beforehand."
"Yeah I'm sorry Mother. You really didn't have to go to this much trouble." Ed said. "I memorized everything! I'm going to impress him this time!"
"If he even lets you by. You're still not quite tall enough are you?" Pinako said.
"What was that tiny shrimp grandma?!" Ed shouted.
"Ed enough. Let's get you into your coat." Trisha took out the red coat, Flamel symbol on the back. "It's just like you like."
"Your style's going to ruin us." Pinako said.
"What's wrong with it?" Ed demanded.
"What kind of strange bride are you going to attract?!" Pinako said.
"A smart one, like our Ed." Trisha said, patting his head.
"There, you're ready." Trisha said.
Ed was wearing a sleeveless black shirt with a black jacket that has silver lining along the edges. Over the top he wore a bright red, long-sleeved, hooded cloak whose tail came down to his upper calves. Emblazoned in black on the back was a Flamel, signifying his tutelage under the master alchemist Izumi Curtis.
"Showing off that alchemy. I guess we will get a smart bride..." Pinako said.
"Ed will bring us great honor." Trisha said, as Ed lined up with the other men, most of them showing off their strength and courage. None of them as small and intelligent as Ed. But in Amestris, for a man—that was a bad thing.