4. Grave
"I'm going to do it, you know. I'm going to make the world a better place. It's not just some idiotic, idyllic dream."
Roy stared at the grave of his teacher, as though he expected Mr. Hawkeye to rise from the grave and try to convince him otherwise.
"I think that's what he would want you to do, even if he never said it nicely," Riza said from behind him, surprising Roy just a little bit.
Roy could feel himself blushing a little. "Sorry. I didn't mean to be bad-mouthing your father in his grave."
Riza shrugged. "Either way, he wanted to see you succeed."
"But… he… I…"
"You came for Flame Alchemy, I know. And while it might not have seemed like it, I believe my father knew that you truly wanted it to make the world a better place. His insistence to the contrary was probably what you might call a last test." Riza looked from the grave to Roy. "And while I'm not my father, I'd say you've passed. But that means I get to hold you to your promises. You're going to make Amestris a better place."
"Of course I am."
"To do that, you'll need Flame Alchemy." Riza sighed. "How much do you know?"
Roy looked at her cluelessly. "Wait… how do you…?"
Riza started back toward the house, seeming resolute about something. "Come on. I'm going to show you what you need to accomplish your goal."
Wondering what exactly this would entail, Roy hurried after Riza. It really didn't matter, though, as long as he accomplished his goal in the end.
And he would.
A/N: Song: "Welcome to the Black Parade" by My Chemical Romance