Ed looked at the empty port where his automail arm used to be, holding his right shoulder with his left hand.

In the corner, Al lay inside a large box, all of the individual parts of him they had been able to retrieve sitting beside him.

"Brother, are you okay?" Al asked.

Ed shrugged. "Yeah. A little thirsty, I guess."

Al looked to the door. "You should get something to drink."

Ed nodded absently. "Yeah."

Ed slowly made his way to the door, feeling off balance with his right arm missing.

It was several hours after Scar's attack, and the brothers were staying in Hawkeye's apartment. They figured it was safer than the normal dorms, and they needed to rest and recover before they headed back to Resembol for repairs.

Ed made his way to the kitchen, and was surprised to see Hawkeye sitting at the table, looking as though she was expecting him.

Black Hayate looked up from a toy he was chewing on, gave a friendly bark, then went back to his toy.

Hawkeye smiled. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

Ed shrugged. "Sure."

He sat down, and took the cup with his left hand.

Hawkeye looked at him with concern. "Are you okay? Nobody would blame you for being shaken up after that."

Ed shook his head. "No, I'll be fine. Besides, I've faced death before, haven't I?"

Hawkeye frowned slightly.

Ed bowed his head. "I know, I shouldn't have given up. And in retrospect, it was pretty stupid."

His expression became serious. "But honestly...that wasn't the first time I'd contemplated dying."

His eyes widened, and he looked up at Hawkeye. "I don't mean like suicide or anything! I like living just fine."

His face became serious again, and his grip on the tea cup tightened. "It's just...Al and I lost our bodies when we made that mistake all those years ago. We're pursuing the philosopher's stone because it would enable us to bypass equivalent exchange. But...there is a way Al could get his body back while still using equivalent exchange."

He bowed his head. "If I sacrificed myself, I would be able to return him to normal. And he deserves that. I mean, with automail I can live a relatively normal life, but basic things we take for granted are denied to him. And it's my fault. If I hadn't…"

He trailed off.

Hawkeye shook her head. "You shouldn't think like that. I've never gotten the impression that Al blames you for what happened."

Ed looked up.

"Besides, you saw how distraught he was when you were almost killed by Scar. I'm sure he'd rather have a brother than a body."

She smiled at him.

Ed mulled this over, while Hawkeye took a sip from her cup.

Ed looked back at Hawkeye. "So, Scar's an Ishvalan."

Hawkeye nodded, allowing the change of topic. "Yes."

Ed tilted his head. "I remember the Colonel saying that, in a sense, Scar's desire for revenge was justified. But why? I mean, I know Ishval lost the war, but plenty of Amestrians died as well."

Hawkeye closed her eyes. "True, but what happened in Ishval was terrible."

Ed looked at Hawkeye curiously. "You know, the Colonel never likes talking about it, but I've always wanted to know. Would you mind telling me?"

Hawkeye set her cup down. "I suppose you deserve to know. Although, the story really starts before the war…"

The old man looked at his student with disapproval. "So, you've decided to become a soldier after all. That's all the proof I need. You're not ready to learn flame alchemy."

Mustang looked at his master with concern. "But sir, I am. It's the only thing left. I mean, haven't I already mastered the fundamentals of alchemy?"

"Of course you have." The old man replied. "And I regret teaching you even that much now that I know who you plan on using it for."

He closed his eyes and coughed harshly.

Mustang took a step forward. "But alchemy should be used for the people, shouldn't it?"

The old man looked at him carefully.

"Master, our country is constantly under threat from all sides. Our military needs alchemists, it's a matter of defending our homes. We don't…"

The old man interrupted. "I'm tired of hearing that vile rhetoric."

He bent over and coughed several more times.

Mustang looked at him with concern. "I can't stand to see you like this. There's no reason for a man of your stature to suffer in this kind of squalor. If you would simply join the military, you could get grants for your research, you…"

"I don't need a grant for something I've already completed."

Mustang looked surprised. "You finished your research?"

The old man looked up at the ceiling with a contemplative air. "I've created the most powerful alchemy. It would only cause tragedy if I placed it in the wrong hands. And now that I've finished it, I've allowed myself to grow complacent."

He looked back at Mustang. "We alchemists are hungry creatures. We must continue our search for knowledge as long as we live. If we forgo pursuing the truth, then we allow ourselves to die."

He smiled sadly. "Trust me, I've been dead for a long time."

He coughed again, and all at once collapsed to the ground.

Mustang ran over to help him. "Master! Are you all right? Master Hawkeye!"

The man looked up at Mustang, his voice now a whisper. "Look after my daughter. She's in possession of my research. Look after her…"

He stilled and breathed no more.

Ed looked surprised. "So, the Colonel didn't come up with his flame alchemy by himself?"

Hawkeye shook her head. "No. My father gave me his research, and I decided to entrust Mustang with it."

She set her cup down. "I did it partly because I felt I could trust him, but I also did it so that I wouldn't have to bear my father's secret alone."

Ed set his left hand on the table. "But what does this have to do with Ishval?"

She bowed her head. "State alchemists did much of the work in Ishval, and Mustang's flame alchemy was among the most powerful."

She sighed. "In some ways, a conflict with Ishval seemed inevitable. Their people believe in one god, Ishvala, whom they see as the one true creator. While alchemy is seen as a powerful and useful science in Amestris, the Ishvalans view it as blasphemy, as trying to assert control over that which is God's domain only."

Ed shook his head. "But alchemy isn't some all powerful force, it still has to follow the natural laws just like everything else."

He touched his right shoulder. "And anyone who tries to play God pays a steep price for it.

Hawkeye nodded. "I know. But the Ishvalans view the world differently than Amestrians, and when Ishval was annexed into the country, tension was inevitable due to the clash of cultures. But a full blown war wasn't a certainty."

She bowed her head. "Until, one day, an Amestrian soldier accidentally shot an Ishvalan child. That one bullet changed everything, and began an uprising that would come to sweep much of the east."

Ed nodded. "Yeah, I do remember it affecting Resembol, though not as bad as some other places."

Hawkeye nodded. "After the fighting had gone on for several years, the higher ups decided to get to the root of the problem, and sent in the State alchemists…"

Mustang stood on the edge of the camp, absently looking around. Off to his right he saw a fellow State alchemist, Frank Archer, being carried off to the infirmary, having lost his left arm and leg in the last attack.

He paused, and looked down at the red stone in his hand. His reflection stared back up at him, weirdly distorted by the shape of the stone. He tightened his grip on it, and he pocketed it.

"Hey, Roy! Roy Mustang!"

Mustang turned around to see an old friend waving at him.

Hughes smiled. "So, you got deployed too. Well, it's good to see you. Although, you've changed since the last time I saw you."

Mustang found himself unable to return the smile. "I could say the same, Hughes. You have the eyes of a killer."

Hughes nodded grimly, before turning his gaze toward the countryside. "Yeah. Look at this country. It's not exactly the future we imagined when we were at the academy."

"Yeah." Mustang muttered. "I guess that future could never be."

A man approached the two of them, holding out something to Hughes. "Captain, you have a letter."

Hughes looked surprised. "Oh, thank you."

Hughes took the letter, and abruptly burst out into joyous laughter. "I've still got a beautiful future, and her name is Gracia!"

He turned to Mustang. "She's patiently waiting in Central for the day I can come home! All alone…"

He suddenly became agitated. "How long before some jerk puts the moves on her? No, Gracia would never do that to me, she'd never have an affair like that. But she is all alone…"

Mustang looked mildly annoyed. "Hey Hughes, I got a little advice for you."

Hughes looked at Mustang. "It happens in movies and novels all of the time. The soldiers who never shut up about their girls back home, they don't make it."

Hughes scowled. "Not funny Roy."

He looked back at the letter, and his expression softened. "All right then. I can make it through this day. This letter is all I need. I can think about tomorrow again, even if this damn battlefield might not let me see it."

Mustang shook his head. "I can't picture any way out of this war. No matter how much military force we throw at it, the desert just seems to suck it up like water. All of this destruction, for what purpose? All that's left is sand."

Hughes nodded. "True. It seems a little excessive to oppress an uprising."

The two noticed someone approaching, and turned around to see who it was.

"Hello major Mustang." Hawkeye lowered her hood. "Long time no see. You still remember me?"

Mustang stared at her sadly. Damn this war. Even her? She has the eyes of a killer too.

A short while later, the three were back in the camp for their water ration.

Hawkeye looked at Mustang. "Maybe you can answer this major. Why are we being ordered to kill civilians when we should be the ones protecting them? I thought alchemy was meant to be used to help people, so why is it being used to kill them instead?"

Mustang looked miserably back at her, unsure of how to answer.

"Because that's the job we State alchemists have been given to do."

Mustang, Hawkeye, and Hughes looked around to see that the speaker was another alchemist, Solf J. Kimblee.

He looked at them with a slightly amused expression. "You ask why we're here killing these people instead of protecting them? Because this is a war, and it's what soldiers do. Isn't that right?"

Mustang glared at Kimblee. "You think this is our job, to cause tragedy?"

Kimblee shrugged. "Well, that's how it seems."

He shifted his gaze to Hawkeye. "Let's see. Tell me miss, you're not very happy to be here, are you? Well, you don't appear to be. But can you honestly tell me in that split second when you take down an enemy, you don't feel the slightest twinge of satisfaction or pride in your skills?"

Hawkeye looked horrified at Kimblee's words, while Mustang stood up.

"Well, miss marksman?"

Mustang grabbed Kimblee's shirt. "That's enough Kimblee!"

Kimblee frowned at Mustang. "I'll tell you what I don't get. Did you people expect something different? You act like you're surprised, like you didn't choose this."

Mustang paused, his eyes widening.

"Did you put on that uniform thinking you wouldn't be asked to kill?"

Kimblee stood up, and looked seriously at Mustang. "The one thing worse than death is to avert your eyes from it. Look straight at the people you kill. Don't take your eyes off them for a second. And don't ever forget them, because I can promise that they won't forget you."

The bell rang, interrupting the conversation.

Kimblee smirked. "Oh, too bad, there's the bell. Time for me to get back to work."

He walked away, leaving Mustang standing stiffly in place.

Hughes stood up. "I've got to head out too. See you later Roy."

Mustang turned back toward his friend. "Hughes, can you tell me why you fight?"

Hughes smiled sadly. "It's simple, I don't want to die. That's the only reason. The reasons are always simple."

Mustang walked back to his position, once again staring down at the red stone in his hand.

If that's so, what the hell is the reason for this war?

Hawkeye set her cup down. "And that was it. The State alchemists quickly brought the conflict under control, and after the most powerful ones were given red stones to amplify their abilities, the war swiftly came to an end."

She bowed her head. "Although it wasn't much of a war towards the end. It was more like an endless massacre."

Ed was silent for a few moments. "And yet you stayed in the military."

Hawkeye nodded. "If I had given up, everything we had gone through during that war would have been for nothing. The Colonel is determined to fix this country, and I'll be there to watch his back, and to keep him on the right path."

Ed looked at the ground, then back at Hawkeye. "That was a lot of personal stuff you just shared. Are you really okay with me knowing all that?"

Hawkeye smiled softly. "Yes, I think so. I know that you're trustworthy, Ed. And besides, it's only fair since I know a lot of personal stuff about you."

Ed nodded, still unconsciously holding his right shoulder.

He looked back at her. "So, do you really think the Colonel has what it takes to fix this country?"

Hawkeye shrugged. "I'm not sure, but I think this country could use a man like him."

Ed scowled. "Yeah, sure."

Hawkeye smiled. "But you have enough on your plate without worrying about us."

Ed nodded. "Yeah. Me and Al have a long way to go. And the first thing we need to do next is meet up with my old automail engineer."

Author's Note: Just barely managed to maintain my schedule of weekly updates, as I only finished this chapter a few minutes ago at the time of writing. I usually like more time to reevaluate and edit my work, but I wanted to get this out before Friday is over. Hopefully it was still pretty good, or at least not noticeably worse.

I felt that both shows handled the backstory of the Ishvalan war quite well, though they took quite different approaches. I went with Brotherhood's version for plot reasons, but I do think Brotherhood should have fleshed out the backstory of Ishval sooner than it did, instead of waiting until episode thirty something.