This chapter is going to be a sort of crowd control nightmare…too many characters…

Chapter 4

Before they even got all the way up the road to the Rockbell house, they could hear the commotion. There were shouts mingled with the noises of large animals.

"What the hell?" Edward moved to the side of the road and craned his neck a little to get a better view, but a moment later, an elephant, elegantly arrayed in gold and white trappings, a great gold howdah on its back, appeared around the side of the house. It was soon joined by another in blue and silver. Edward stiffened with surprise, then let out a whoop of laughter.

"I don't believe it!" he cried. He rushed to Winry's side and grabbed her hand. "Al's here! And he's not alone!"

The young couple ran up the road toward the house and Danika looked up anxiously at her father, grasping his hand and pulling on it. "Come on, Papa! We gotta catch up!"

"You go ahead, little one," Scar told her. "I'll be there soon enough."

"'Kay!" Danika raced to catch up with Ed and Winry, who paused briefly for her. They each took one of her hands, and the three of them ran the rest of the way toward the house.

By the time Scar arrived, a scene had formed that looked very much like a circus. Four lavishly decorated elephants and eight camels were being attended to by silk-liveried grooms. A huge tent was being erected in a meadow behind the house. Most of the occupants of the house had come outside to admire the animals as well as the new arrivals. All it needed were clowns.

In the center of this mass of bodies were Edward and Winry, and they both had their arms around two of the newcomers, all four of them laughing with joy. Scar could have sworn Alphonse had gotten taller. He knew Edward had, and Alphonse still topped him by an inch or two. Joining their embrace with no apparent concern for his elevated station was a black-haired young man clad in rich damasked silk. Flanked behind him was a retinue of servants and masked guards. Scar recognized him immediately, even though he had seen him before only briefly. He who had once been possessed by a homunculus had gone on to become emperor of one of the largest countries in the world. That was almost less surprising than to see that this same emperor had traveled across the desert to attend a small town wedding in Amestris.

The four of them were in turn sandwiched between two large men. Jerso and Zampano were nearly in tears at this reunion.

Scar saw a flash of movement out of the corner of his eye and he braced himself for the approaching impact.

"Mister Scaaaarrr!"

In a flurry of braids and silk, May, princess of the house of Chang, flung her arms around his neck and sent him staggering several steps back. Her small familiar, Xiao Mei, scampered onto his shoulder and snuggled there, making excited little squeaking sounds.

"Oh!" May leaned back in Scar's embrace, her eyes widening as she gazed into his face. "I'm sorry! I should have said Mister Andakar!"

"For you, I'll answer to both," Scar said, setting her down on her feet. He stepped back to get a good look at her. She had definitely matured and grown taller, although she was still petite. Scar still wasn't quite sure where to place her age, but he took a guess at perhaps fifteen. "You look well, May," he told her.

May beamed up at him. "So do you!" Her smile widened with affection. "You look happy!"

Scar considered this for a moment. He certainly didn't amble around with a grin on his face, but he supposed the fact that fate had been much kinder to him than he deserved was bound to be reflected in his demeanor somehow. "I'm content," he replied.

May gave an excited little gasp and clasped her hands together. "I must meet your family! Alphonse said your wife is beautiful!"

Scar looked around, but he wasn't even sure if Rada was anywhere in the bustle of people. He did see his daughter skirting around the edge of the crowd. "Danika!" he called out.

The little girl turned and scampered over. She and May stared at each other in delight. "Danika, this is—"

Introductions proved to be superfluous. The two girls both let out a squeal and threw their arms around each other.

"I'm so happy to meet you!"

"Me too!"

May stepped back and grasped Danika's hands. "You're so pretty!"

Danika giggled. "You too!"

Xiao Mei crept down May's arm to inspect Danika closer. The little girl froze in utter delight, not daring to move lest she frighten the small creature. "Xiao Mei," May said, "this is Mister S—I mean Andakar's daughter!"

Xiao Mei gave a squeak and hopped onto Danika's shoulder, making the little girl giggle helplessly.

One voice rose above and cut through the hum. "Ling, you scapegrace!"

Ling gave his friends one more tight hug. "Don't go away!" he warned them then turned to the approaching Ishvalan with his arms wide. "Shua, you shameless rascal! I hear you've moved up in the world!"

"Ah, I've always been on top of the world!" Shua gave him a tight hug then held him by the shoulders at arm's length. "Well, look at you! You haven't done so bad yourself."

Ling shrugged and grinned. "Oh, well. You know. Can't complain."

"Sorry to hear about your dad, though," Shua said. "I never actually saw his face, but he made me a prosperous man."

"I didn't do too badly by him either," Ling replied. He lifted himself onto his toes and searched the faces around them. "Now where is that Scar fellow? Your Ishvalan governor?"

Shua looked around. "He's here somewhere, I think. Ah! There!"

Scar saw himself pointed at, then he watched as the Emperor of Xing strode purposefully toward him. Scar placed his palms together and bowed.

"Greetings, your Majesty," he said in almost flawless Xingese.

Ling's mouth dropped open and in his surprise he replied in his own language. Scar quickly held up his hand.

"Forgive me, your Majesty. I only remember a few phrases. My brother was, among other things, a linguist, and he tried to teach me Xingese."

"Well, it sounded fine," Ling replied. "A hint of a middle-class accent, but we're not at court, so it hardly matters. Speaking of which, please just call me Ling. After all," he added, his grin flashing brighter, "you and I were very nearly related!"

Scar raised a surprised, questioning brow. "How so?"

"Oh, it was back a ways." Ling frowned in thought for a moment, then called over his shoulder. "Hey, Al! Come on over here!" He turned back to Scar. "Al's the one who found the account. I gave him the whole run of the Imperial library and now you can hardly get him out of it. May's been feeling very neglected, haven't you, May?" Ling looked over at his half-sister with a mischievous grin.

May just sent him a look of mild contempt and stuck her tongue out at him.

Al extricated himself from the group hug and trotted over. Scar watched the younger Elric approach with an approving look. Life in Xing appeared to agree with him. He had not only grown a little taller since Scar saw him last, but he seemed to have more breadth to his shoulders. The slightly hollow look to his face had completely disappeared and he practically glowed with health. If the Xingese were looking for a true shin hito, they wouldn't have to look much farther.

Al broke into a smile and extended his hand. "Zhaarad Khorovar!"

Scar clasped his hand warmly. "It's good to see you again, Alphonse!"

Ling gave him a nudge. "Tell him what you found out!"

"Oh, that! Well," Al began. "I've been spending a lot of time in the Imperial library, you see-"

"I just told him that!" Ling cut it. "Get on with it!"

"Yeah, I know!" Al assured him. To Scar he said, "They have chronicles going back for centuries!"

"The Xingese are really big on chronicling," Ling added, then chuckled. "We're chronic chroniclers!"

Al pushed his shoulder. "Would you shut up! I'm never going to finish at this rate." He turned back to Scar. "The Master of the Library has been really great about translating things for me. I found a lot of material written about Xing's relations with Isvhal that goes back over a thousand years."

Scar interest focused sharply. "What kind of material?"

"There was a lot of activity between Xing and Ishval back then, much more than there is now. They were both royal courts and they exchanged ambassadors and everything. The ambassadors kept accounts of what they were doing, their personal observations, stuff like that. And the caravan masters were all supposed to keep detailed records of their travels and their business transactions. There's a ton of information, at least on the Xingese side."

Scar shook his head in amazement. "Much of our own written history from that time was lost in the Great Earthquake. We were able to preserve what we could, but I want to see these accounts!"

Ling waved a hand. "I'll have my people start translating them for you as soon as I get back."

"I'd be grateful."

"No problem! Expect a state visit." Ling nudged Al again. "So tell him! You're the one who read it all."

"Well, I haven't read all of it yet." Al looked at Scar, his golden eyes bright. "But I came across this one account that was written a little over a thousand years ago. One of the sons of the Xingese emperor—"

"From the Yao clan!" Ling cut in.

"Yeah, anyway, he traveled to Ishval as a companion to the ambassador," Al went on. "While he was there, he fell in love with this young noblewoman. Her name was Khatirah. The ambassador wrote that she was gorgeous and the prince tried his best to win her affection. He's supposed to have gotten pretty close, but she ended up marrying the prince of Ishval. Vozrahir, I think his name was."

Scar nodded. "He was the last prince of Isvhal! And his wife was—"

"From the house of Ruhad!" Ling finished for him triumphantly. "So you and I were just that close"—he held his thumb and forefinger and bare half inch apart—"to being family!" He clapped Al on the back. "You gotta love history!"

"With respect, Ling," Scar said, "I don't think it was that close. An Ishvalan woman would never marry a man who would take other wives, not to mention concubines."

Ling gave an unconcerned shrug. "You've got to keep the lineage going. I think it's great!"

"For you, maybe," Al scoffed. He looked at Scar, pointing to Ling. "He's got three wives already!"

Scar wasn't entirely able to keep the look of disapproval off his face, but it was completely lost on Ling anyway. The young Emperor just chuckled like a small boy. "We're just one big happy family!"

"I daresay," Scar replied in a tone that did not encourage elaboration.

Ling seemed to have already moved on. He glanced around. "So who else is here? Anybody I know? Oh! There's Mustang!" The young emperor hurried off to where Roy and Riza were talking to Ed and Winry. "See you around, almost cousin!" he called back with a wave.

Scar turned back to Al. "You're not planning on taking multiple wives, are you?"

Al reddened and shook his head with a grin. "Um…no." He chuckled quietly as he glanced over at May, who was deep in conversation with Danika. "Ling was ready to get us married as soon as I got to Xing, and it took me a while to convince him that we wanted to wait."

"Good for you."

"But then he said if I didn't marry May by the time she was eighteen, he'd send a squad of assassins after me."

"It won't come to that, surely," Scar said with a hint of a smile.

"Oh, no," Al said with a shake of his head. "May and I already have our own plans. We'll probably end up settling here in Resembool."

"Al! May!" Winry called, one hand cupped beside her mouth and the other hand waving. "Come over here!"

"Excuse me," Al said quickly to Scar as he moved away. "We'll talk later! Come on, May!"

May gave Danika another hug, then took Al's hand as they walked away. Danika turned to her father. "Papa, can I go see the elephants?"

"All right." Scar had developed an admiration for elephants, and these were a fine group, somewhat larger than the ones who were in the circus that had come to Ishval. As they headed toward where the animals were being attended, a masked figure appeared on their path. The figure was dressed in black and leather, and the mask was a sharp contrast in white and red. The figure reached a gauntleted hand to the mask and removed it, revealing the delicate features of a young Xingese woman. She bowed deeply, then gazed up at Scar, slightly in awe.

"Do you remember me?" she asked.

Scar studied her face. Every moment of that day was seared into his memory, and her face was one of the brighter images. She had given him aid without judging him, as one warrior to another. He had taken those few moments of respite to explain about his brother's research and his struggle to find a way to break the power of the homunculi. Then he had passed out from loss of blood and he never saw her again until this moment. "Of course, I remember you."

The young woman seemed pleased by this, giving a little smile and another bow. "Your lordship honors me."

Scar stared at her, startled. "What?"

The young woman looked up at him. "My lord the emperor learned that you are of a noble house. Is this not true?"

Scar shrugged a little. "Nobility is a matter of virtue and merit, as far as I'm concerned. You're referring to an age long past. I hold my position by the will of my people, not divine right."

"Oh." The young woman considered this for a moment, but seemed reluctant to accept it. "You are still, I think, extraordinary, otherwise your people would not have chosen you to lead them." Her gaze didn't lose any of its admiration. "I knew you would survive that great battle."

"I'm flattered by your confidence," Scar said. "I had some doubts, myself. Forgive me, but I never learned your name."

"It's Lan Fan," the young woman replied, giving yet another bow.

"Lan Fan," Scar repeated. "I'm just a man, and whatever gifts God has graced me with I use for His will and for the good of my people."

Lan Fan nodded. "Then your god has graced you with wisdom, your lordship."

Scar mentally cringed and was about to correct her, but at that moment her attention was diverted. She frowned slightly as she instinctively tensed and her eyes flicked toward the sound of Ling's laughter as it carried from where he stood across the yard, joking with General Mustang.

Scar glanced back over his shoulder, then looked back at Lan Fan. "He's safe enough here."

Lan Fan gave a brief nod, and her frown grew to a smile that was meant to be guarded but could not hide the affection that inspired it. "He may be emperor, but he hasn't changed. He's still silly." She reddened as a sudden guilty look crossed her features and she glanced up at Scar, alarmed. "I meant no disrespect!" she said quickly. "You won't tell him I said that, will you?"

"Certainly not."

"He is also wise, in his own way."

"I'm sure he is."

"My family has served his for generations."

A smile pulled at Scar's mouth. "Between warriors, Lan Fan, your secret is safe with me."

Lan Fan looked relieved. "Thank you, your lordship."

Scar gave a quiet sigh. This needed to get nipped. "That really isn't necessary."

Lan Fan's eyebrows pinched slightly. "Then how shall I address you?"

"I call him Papa!" Danika offered helpfully.

Lan Fan smiled at the little girl. "Your father is a great man," she told her.

Danika grasped Scar's hand with both of hers and swung it back and forth. "I know! He's the khorovar!" she pronounced proudly.

Lan Fan nodded, then looked back at Scar. She pressed her palms together for one more bow. "Master Khorovar," she said solemnly.

Scar inclined his head. That would do.

"Can I meet your elephants,?" Danika asked excitedly.

Lan Fan glanced back at the elephants. "Yes, of course you can. They're well-disciplined and quite safe." She smiled at the little girl. "I'll ask the elephant master if he'll let you sit in one of the howdahs."

Danika breathed in a deep, ecstatic gasp, which was all the answer she could express.

"You go ahead, Danika," Scar told her. "I want to go find your mother."

Danika was too busy hopping up and down in delight to answer. Lan Fan took her hand. "I'll guard her well, Master Khorovar."

"Then she'll be in safe hands," Scar replied.

As Lan Fan led Danika to where the elephants were being attended, Scar went back toward the house. It was necessary to pass Jerso and Zampano on the way and they descended on him, clapping him soundly on the back and pumping his hand.

"Hey, buddy!" Zampano declared. "How's it hangin'?"

It was a far cry from being addressed as his lordship, but Scar wasn't sure it was an improvement.

Jerso grinned. "So…um…how's the missus?"

"She's well," Scar replied. "We're expecting another child."

Zampano let out a loud whoop. "Congratulations! That makes—what—seven?"

Jerso gave Scar a sharp nudge and a broad wink. "You never did pull your punches, did you?"

Both chimeras exploded in bawdy laughter. Scar suppressed an urge, however well-meant and good-natured, to knock their heads together. He let them guffaw at their own humor and moved on. As he neared the house, he came across what appeared to be a conspiratorial huddle that included Mustang, Havoc, Miles, Shua, and Dejan. In their midst was Edward, and they seemed to be trying to either explain something to him or convince him of something.

"It's an ancient ritual," Roy was saying.

"Steeped in manly tradition," Miles added.

"We'll I'm in!" Dejan said.

"It'll be great, Fullmetal!" Havoc assured him. "All you have to do is show up. Everything's been arranged."

Edward frowned. "When did that happen?"

"About a week ago," Roy replied. "Now that they have them, I've been on the phone with Havoc and Miles. And not just them." He grinned. "All your old comrades-in-arms will be there! Breda, Falman, Fuery, even Major Armstrong."

"Oh, Ollie's gonna love that!" Shua declared.

Off to one side stood Winry, looking not entirely happy. Scar glanced at her, then turned to the men. "What is this you're planning?"

"Oh, it's been planned," Roy replied. "But the guest of honor"—he gestured at Edward—"is a little unclear on the concept."

"I know what a bachelor party is!" Edward retorted. He shrugged with what was supposed to be nonchalance but wasn't quite convincing. "It was just kind of a surprise, that's all."

"That's the point, kid," Havoc replied. "That's all part of the manly thrill. The element of suprise helps get your adrenaline pumped up."

Edward threw up his hands. "Yeah, okay, okay! Sounds like fun!"

"A bachelor party?" Scar asked, his tone making his distaste apparent.

Miles glanced at the others and muttered, "Told you so." He went to Scar's side and put an arm across his shoulders. "That's why we didn't tell you about it, red-eyed brother. We figured it wasn't your cup of tea, so to speak."

"You're right," Scar replied curtly. "Is Rada still in the house?"

"Yeah, she is," Miles said. "The ladies managed to get all the babies to take a nap at the same time, and she's keeping an eye on them while she's up there sewing."

Scar nodded and headed for the back porch steps, but he felt a hand grab his arm. He stopped and turned to see Winry looking at him with desperate worry.

"You're not going to this party?" she demanded.

"No, Winry," Scar said firmly. "I'd rather have my eyes gouged out."

"But you have to go!" Winry hissed insistently. "The wedding's tomorrow, and all they want to do"—she flipped her hand to indicate the party of conspirators—"is get Ed stupid drunk and then he's going to be a wreck in the morning! You're the only one I can trust to keep Ed from doing something stupid!"

"I don't think anyone is capable of doing that."

Winry gripped the sash that lay across his chest with both hands and pulled on it, gazing up at him imploringly. "Please, please do this for me!"

Oh, Blessed Creator, is this the punishment You've been saving for me? Is this truly just recompense?

Scar closed his eyes and let out a long sigh. He looked down into Winry's pleading blue eyes. "Winry Rockbell, you are one of the very few people on this earth who could ask me to do such a thing."


The story that Al tells Scar is one that I might elaborate on someday. Maybe.