This chapter is slightly weird in the sense that this will be a fluff piece after a sort of dramatic chapter, but I had the idea and it got stuck in my head and won't leave me alone until I write it. Plus, I couldn't think of anything else at the moment and I wanted to get one more chapter up before I got super busy with the school year, which unfortunately starts this Wednesday.
Chapter 7: A Ball Before the War
Edward Elric P.O.V.
I tugged at my suffocating bow tie with my right hand as my family and I were allowed through the doors and into the enormous ballroom. Don't even ask me why Roy thought it was a brilliant idea to have a ball when we knew a war was just about to be started, but at least security was at maximum level. The guards pretty much had us strip before they let us through the doors. They nearly had Winry do it, but before I could brutally maim them for even suggesting it, Winry beat me to it with her wrench that magically appears whenever she's ticked off. I was proud of her though, cause as she did it she yelled, "I am a married woman! Do you not see the kids and husband next to me, you perverts!?" I think she maimed them more than I would've and the ambulances couldn't get to them fast enough. The guards limped rapidly towards them and nearly got hit in their desperate need to get away.
The ball did have a certain perk though. Winry had insisted that we dressed super nice because it was a ball where the Masked Alchemist and I would be promoted, and while that meant Anthony and I had to wear suffocating tuxedos, Winry was absolutely gorgeous and Maybelle was so adorable that for once I knew why Hughes behaved the way he had. Winry wore a stunning, strapless, glittery silver ballroom gown and Maybelle wore a simple lavender, short sleeved one. I literally had to fight the urge to act like Maes.
A small hand tugging on my left arm brought me back to reality.
"Don't tug on that arm, Anthony." I instructed as I winced due to the waves of pain going through my shoulder.
He stopped immediately and said, "Yes, Daddy." He probably wouldn't remember that instruction in five minutes, but at least he had stopped for now.
"Now, what was it that you wanted my attention for?" I asked patiently.
"That lady over there, she had a leg and arm like your leg, Daddy." He said as he pointed towards Royal who, while no longer wore her mysterious cape and white gloves, still hid her face behind her grey mask.
Wait, was Roy going to reveal her identity tonight? If so, it was surprising it took him to so little time to convince the reluctant alchemist. It had only been two weeks since she revealed her identity to us.
She wore a slimming navy blue dress that was tied up behind her neck and it had a slit that revealed a great portion of her right leg and a pair of black heels that left her heels visible. An expensive looking diamond embedded necklace adorned he thin neck, a gift most likely from the Armstrong family as a get well present. Due to the dress, I was able to see the two scars I knew of plus four more, but the chances were that there were more. I almost wish I had my memories of what happened with Truth when I was getting my alchemy back, almost. If I actually remembered I might let some info slip and then Winry would find out and kill me and then hunt down my detached spirit and destroy that. She'd probably do it all with a wrench too.
"What's with that grimace?" Winry asked suspiciously, pulling me out of my thoughts.
I plastered a smile on my face once I realized I was grimacing and nervously asked, "What grimace?"
"The one that was on your face a minute ago." She commented coolly.
"I have no clue what you're talking about." I replied nervously.
She was so not falling for. If something with even minor importance happened now that would pull me from this conversation, I'd be eternally grateful.
Anthony tugged on my left arm yet again, sure enough having forgotten my earlier instructions.
I winced again as I instructed once again, "Don't tug on that arm, Anthony."
"Yes, Daddy."
"What do you need, Anthony?" I asked, being as patient as I was grateful.
"I've got to go potty." He explained.
"Okay, come with me, kiddo." I said as I took his left hand in my right to lead him to the bathroom.
Wew, disaster avoided. Hopefully Winry would forget about it by the time I got back.
Roy Mustang P.O.V.
I carefully surveyed my guest from a balcony. No was behaving suspiciously, nor was anyone making a hostile move towards my niece. Riza had insisted that until my niece's identity was revealed that I remain out of her line of view or in any range where I could perform an "uncle" move. It was important that it was kept a secret until it was revealed. There would be twenty snipers placed in the balconies when it was time so no one could attempt another assassination. Riza was not going to be among them due to the fact she was going to be my date. Due to the fact that she would not be able to offer her support as a sniper I had made sure that security was a little tighter than I would have made it if she was on the job. The fact that each of the followers of the homunculus had a black Ouroboros tattoo somewhere on their body made identifying them a whole lot easier, though if we found a tattoo that was red that would mean that there would be a whole lot more trouble than any of her followers could cause. It would mean that Imperious herself had shown up. If that were to happen the guards were to immediately alert me and evacuate all non-military personnel.
Something below caught my eye. A small boy with golden hair tugged on his father left arm. It took me a minute to realize it was Edward. He appeared to be talking patiently with the his son before grabbing the boy's hand and leading him towards the bathroom. I knew Edward had kids, and I even met them in the hospital, but it still was shocking to see the hot-tempered pipsqueak I once knew act so grown up. It seemed so unlike him. Then again, it had been five years since I had last seen him and that boy had shown me that he didn't need a lot of time to change. He had gone from a weak looking boy in a wheel chair to a state alchemist in one year, so it was quite likely that he could go from a hot tempered brat to a caring father in five.
Someone tapped my shoulder. I turned to see Riza in a stunning blue ballgown.
"Roy," she started, "It's time for the ceremony."
I cleared my throat and smiled as I said "I guess it is. Shall we?" As I stuck my arm out for her to grab.
When we stepped out onto the top of the grand staircase that would serve as our stage, the crowd broke out into applause.
"Thank you all for coming to this special occasion. Normally such a big deal would not be made for a simple promotion, but these are no ordinary alchemist. First will be Edward Elric, the Fullmetal Alchemist, one of Amestris's heroes from the Homunculus War and then we will have the Masked Alchemist who had promised to finally reveal her true identity." I explained. "Now, can I have the Fullmetal Pip- I mean Fullmetal Alchemist, come up here?"
"Very funny, Fuhrer Bastard. Have you forgotten that you're the pipsqueak now?" Ed shouted as he climbed the stairs.
Almost everyone in the audience gasped and murmured at his behavior, which was our usual banter.
"Just being an inch taller than me does not qualify me as a pipsqueak, you cocky idiot." I teased.
He hugged Riza once he reached the top and then me, and once that was done we continued on.
"Edward Elric, due to your heroics and loyalty to Amestris, you are to be rewarded and congratulated. Also, due to the fact that you have been out of service for five years as well as the fact that you work better on special missions than battle field, you will not be promoted to the rank of colonel, you will be promoted to special agent as well one of my consultants." I announced. I then handed him a new red coat with the symbol of his rank sewn onto it. "This new rank will allow you to give orders to anyone below my rank when necessary, but they will have to report to me every order you have given."
"I think I am going to like this new rank. I certainly didn't want to be someone who had to order battalions around." Edward smirked.
I couldn't picture him doing it either. He liked doing research and working on things with Alphonse, not trying to figure out how he needed to place men. This rank would allow him to be free to do as he saw fit as well as provide him with back up.
Once Edward had made his way back to his family I called, "Now, could we have the Masked Alchemist come up?"
My niece ascended the stairs silently. It had taken quite a bit of convincing and late nights to convince her to throw away her mask once and for all, and she was still not an ounce happy about it.
Once she stood right next to me, I looked at her expectantly.
"I will not reveal my identity until after you award me my rank. I'd rather not getting a gushy and embarrassing introduction." She commented determinedly.
"Alright," I agreed, "The Masked Alchemist, due to your loyalty, dedication, and warning of the soon to come war, you are to be rewarded and congratulated. Also, due to the fact that you have only gone on special missions and have never gone out to fight in an actual war or battle, as well as the fact that you are a bit of a loner, you also will receive the rank of special agent as well as my consultant due to your special gifts." I handed her a new navy cloak with rank also sewn onto it.
"Thank you, Uncle." She said as she pulled off her mask to reveal her real face. Most of the scratches on her face had healed, but the fact that half her face was covered by a giant red crescent scar didn't help anything. The audience gasped and started to murmur. Even Major Armstrong who stood at the base of stairs appeared to be shocked.
"Ladies and gentlemen, my name is Royal Mustang and I am the last surviving relative of your Fuhrer. My Uncle himself did not know of my secret until I had arrived here three weeks ago, bringing news of an upcoming war." She began.
"No wonder why he trusted you so easily, but how'd you know? How did you know of our plans, bitch?" A woman from a balcony screamed as she swung down on the tapestries.
She landed right next to Royal and before anyone could react, her left arm was wrapped around her shoulder and her right hand held a knife to her throat.
"Now tell me, you ass! How'd you know?" She hissed.
For the first time, I didn't know what to do. I felt frozen in place. But Royal seemed perfectly calm and unaffected despite it being her throat the knife was held to.
"If you had only waited a few more minutes, then you might have lived to hear how." She responded darkly. "I hope you are prepared to meet Truth."
With that, Royal clapped her hand together and touched the knife, which began to thin out and then it shot around Royal and into her captors throat, killing the woman instantly. Once the woman fell to the ground, my niece examined the body and she found the tattoo behind the woman's ear, hidden by her long hair.
"This is our enemy!" She said as she stood erect. "The homunculus have not been completely destroyed. One remains and is like a god to these people. They wish to over throw us and give the government to their leader, Imperious. These scars on my body, my missing limbs, are how I managed to see the coming war. It is a process that I do not anyone to repeat however, so the details will remain disclosed. I have gifts that will help us in this war, and I have returned Edward's alchemy to him so we can be prepared and stronger for this battle. While this one lacks the deception of the last war, it will not lack the carnage and ferocity. I bare ten of these crescent scars so that they will not win, and I trust that we will be supported by everyone in Amestris!"
Her speech got the crowd riled and determined. They were not going to let their country come so close to falling ever again. My niece had done her part to win their trust, but what kind of person could she be, to be able to just kill someone like that? Were there more scars on her than just physical ones? What had rally happened to her?
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