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Summary- Grumman on Royai
Many years ago, back when I was still just a Colonel, my beloved daughter ran away from home. I did not approve of the man she wanted to marry, so she left us. My wife was so heart broken. About two years later she got sick and passed away. After the death of my wife I went in search of my daughter and her husband. When I found them I discovered that she had a daughter of her own. The girl was beautiful and looked just like her mother.
For years I kept tabs on them, never contacting them for fear that they would run away again. Then, when my granddaughter was just six years old, my daughter passed away. My heart was filled with anguish, I had now lost both my wife and my only child, I decided I would not waste anymore time. So I went to my son-in-law's house and tried to talk him into letting my meet the girl. He tuned me out, accused me of trying to take her from him as I tried to keep my daughter from him.
I begged the man, but he would not budge. As we were arguing she came to the door to see what the commotion was about, that was the first time I had ever seen her in person. Tears came to my eyes as she asked who I was, her father told her I was from the military and that she needed to go inside. As soon as she heard the word "military" she ran. It had become obvious that they had poisoned her against the military, my son-in-law told me to leave and never some back. I never did return, perhaps it was because of the fear in that little girls eyes or the knowledge that I would never get any farther with her that I did that day, I may never know. However fate has a way of bringing things together in mysterious ways.
Again the years passed and when my granddaughter turned ten things changed once again, but this time, I believe, for the better. I had an old friend who had recently taken custody of her young nephew; he was about two years older than my granddaughter and had a talent for alchemy. My friend then decided that it would be best for the boy to have a proper alchemy teacher. My son-in-law was an alchemist and I had heard from one of my informants that he was looking for a student. I saw this as an opportunity to get to know my granddaughter, even if indirectly. I gave my friend his information and to my great luck my son-in-law took the boy in.
I was rather fond of the boy and kept in touch with him regularly. He told me about his master and his master's daughter. He told me all sorts of interesting things about the girl, like that she loved practicing with guns and that she loved to read. I looked forward to every letter, not only for the new about my granddaughter, but because I was genuinely interested in the boy too. He was idealistic and in many ways naive, but I could sense passion and determination from him. I knew even back then that he would do great things for our country.
Once again the years went by, six to be exact, and the boy, now a young man decided he wanted to change the country. He decided that the best way to do that would be to join the military. By then I was a General and fully endorsed his application. He wrote to me that his teacher had been angry with him, even expelled him, but the girl trusted him. He wrote that while her father hated the military she had grown to see that he was wrong, that now everyone in the military was evil. That gave me such hope that one day I might finally get to really meet my granddaughter.
During his time in the Academy we continued to exchange letters. He told me of his progress, which was quite amazing for someone so young. I heard rumors about his philandering but did not put much stock in them; after all I was the one who taught him the value of keeping your informants a secret. The one thing he did not talk about in his letters was his master's daughter. While it pained me I could understand, he did not leave in his master's best graces so it makes sense that all contact would be severed, even with the daughter. I felt bad for him aw well, I could tell by the way he spoke of her that he had feelings for her, and I decided then and there that if she chose him then I would not step in the way. I liked the boy, and I would never risk any sort of relationship I might have with her like I did my own daughter.
By the time the boy was almost out of the academy the problems in Ishval were starting, and I got called off to try to help settle the disputes. It was quite a while before I could write or receive any letters. The next time I had heard of the boy was just after he passed his State Alchemy exam. I recognized his form as what my son-in-law had created long ago, and decided to talk to him about it.
When I was finally able to speak to him again he told me some very disturbing things. He told me that his master had passed away, and that the girl had no family to go to. I almost told him who I was then, but then he told me something that kept my mouth shut. He told me that she had joined the military and was about to start at the academy. I was shocked to say the least. Last I had heard she still was apprehensive about the military and now she was joining. I couldn't help but wonder if it had something to do with the man I was speaking to.
He told me that she was going to the Eastern Academy, so I decided to see her for myself. I was able to stop by on my way back to Ishval. When I got there I inquired about the class she was in, but not her specifically. I found out that she was an excellent shot and her instructors planned to put her in the special snipers class. She was at the top of her class, the only trouble they ever seemed to have with her had been during shower time. It seemed strange but she was perfect in every other way so they mostly let it slide.
The year before my granddaughter was suppose to graduate war had officially fallen upon Ishval. It was a brutal war, no war is the wrong word; it was a massacre. People were dropping left and right, on both sides. We were loosing so many people that they began sending in cadets who were just barely qualified. To my dismay the position in greatest demand was snipers. I feared for my granddaughter's life, for I knew she would be called in. That was also about the time they called in the State Alchemists. So they would both be there.
During times of war it is difficult to keep in contact with anyone, especially if the other person is also fighting. I wasn't able to speak directly with either of them, but I did watch the casualty list for their names. I was also able to keep an eye out for their names in the incoming reports.
They were both making quite a lot of buzz. She was known for her infallible aim, everyone knew that they were safer with her watching out for them. No one was safe, but she did improve chances of everyone making it out alive. He was known for a less pleasant reason. It was said that he could take out a hundred Ishvalins with a simple snap of his fingers. Knowing him, it had to be eating him alive. Both were known for their ability to kill, however she was able to at least take solace that she was protecting her comrades in the process, not that it helps much, that I know from experience.
Finally the war ended and they both came out alive, they even got promoted. He became a Lieutenant Colonel and she was a Second Lieutenant by the time it was all said and done. My suspicions about her reason for joining were confirmed when she requested to be under his command. I had hoped that she would quit after everything in Ishval, but whatever her reason was she stayed.
They put together quite an impressive team, and with them made a big name for themselves. Everyone knew the team, his loyal dogs, that's what they called them, and she was the most loyal of them all. They worked many cases, had the highest number of solved cases in the reign maybe in the whole country. They were very impressive.
After the war I was able to speak with them more, however I never told either of them that I was her grandfather; instead I decided to help advance him so they could finish sooner and she could get out. I knew that if it became public knowledge then I would not be able to help them nearly as much, so I kept my mouth shut. It was by my recommendation that they moved up in ranks again, him to Colonel and her to First Lieutenant.
She was still known for her impeccable aim, and he for his womanizing, but mostly they were known as an unstoppable team. Which is why they got transferred to Eastern Command, the higher ups were afraid of what could happen if they were stationed anywhere else. Even after the demotion of a station their work continued to impress everyone. Once they found those boys there was no doubt that they could do anything.
Now several more years have passed, Führer Bradley is dead and so is most of the senior staff. They have gone back to Ishval to help rebuild it. During the events of what was known as the Promised Day, it became increasingly clear that those two can not live without one another. He is now a General and she is a Lieutenant Colonel, but they still work together as well as they always have.
I became Führer and am reaching the point of retirement. I already know who I intend to appoint as my successor, although they will be someone else who will be incredibly angry with me about it. There is still one last thing I need to do before I step down, and that it to make it so my beloved granddaughter can finally marry the man who side she has been beside for the past 20 years. Once I take care of that pesky law I will finally be able to hand over the country to them, and I know that once again they will impress us all.
A/N: Finally got all 15 votes, it took a while but it did happen. To the person who cast the 15th vote I just want to say that I absolutely love you for pulling it out of a tie. This time I limited it to only two votes and I want 20 unique voters. This will be the last time you see these people in the poll, the final results for this one will determine the order for the rest of this grouping. The next poll will be to determine what grouping I do next; I will explain more about that when the time comes. Also I would like to point out that this chapter is about 4 times as long as the first. I may eventually go through and revise some of the earlier chapters, but not right now. I want to thank everyone who reviewed the last few chapters and invite everyone to continue to review. One last thing, I counted how many of these I intend to do and I am up to 35 more so far, we will see if any more are added or subtracted. Thank you for reading, see you later.
P.S. Does it ever actually say that Grumman is her grandfather or is that one of those fan assumed things that we all really wish was true so it kind of becomes true? I can't think of any time when it is outright stated, I know there was the whole "marry my granddaughter thing" but I don't think they specify who she is. Just something to chew on, and if you can think of a specific time then please let me know, because I really want to. Also sorry for any character mistakes, this one was hard. Later
