A/N: The grand-finale + epilogue. Finally, the TBK journey comes to an end. Hope you like it.
Happy reading!
CHAPTER 25: TO BE KING~PART TWO
INTERROGATION CHAMBER
CENTRAL COMMAND
AMESTRIS
There were only few instances in life when Major General Olivier Mira Armstrong fell at a loss. As she sat on the rickety metal chair outside the interrogation chamber, she couldn't help but think over what she heard from that traitor.
What on earth were you babbling about, Brandish? she mused, rubbing the material of her coat between her fingers.
"Sir!"
She looked up to see a corporal saluting her.
"Go and inform the Fuhrer that the interrogation is complete. I'll come up shortly and personally pass him the details," she said.
The corporal saluted again and marched out.
The Gate will submit only to the King Candidate...no human can fulfil the requirement. And if the Gate is presented with the wrong person, you all will die!
What on earth was Brandish trying to say?
*/*/
ROCKBELL RESIDENCE
RESEMBOOL, AMESTRIS
Pinako Rockbell woke up to a dark morning, but she was unperturbed—after all, she had known Van Hohenheim for the better part of her life and so, ability to deal with strangeness came with the territory. She stoked the fire in her workshop, looking out at the gloom through her window. It was cold, even by late autumn standards. She wondered what those two were upto.
They are Elrics...of course they will be fine.
*/*/
SECRETARY OFFICE
THE ROYAL PALACE
MILOS
Julia Crichton couldn't help but shiver at the forbidding darkness that plunged the morning into gloom. She knew something like this was bound to happen, if the Amestris' Western Command's Major General's letter was to be believed.
Lady Julia Crichton
Pardon me for not following the decorum but ex-Alchemist Edward Elric tells me that you can be trusted with this information. I don't have any choice, so I am writing this letter to you.
Tampering of unimaginable proportions have been done to the Gate by the Homunculus Pride, aided by the terrorist faction responsible for the Ishvallan Civil War. Both you and I know that they are being funded by Creta, your ally.
I understand Milos is a small nation which shares most of its border with Creta. Frankly, Milos does not possess the firepower to counter Creta at the moment as it is in the process of building itself into a sovereign nation. I know Milos has indulged in alchemical espionage against ex-Alchemist Elric when he last visited your land. He considers you to be a good friend, so I have kept this particular piece of information from him.
Pride will attempt to open the Gate very soon. If something goes wrong, and there is a high possibility of it happening, please ensure the safety of your people. Milosian alchemy, though archaic, has its roots in simple shielding transmutations—I am sure your researchers will be able to pull it off. But DO NOT inform Creta of the same—if I believe my sources, the Cretan Army is considering to use your nation as a sacrifice if the need arises.
I hope you can survive this trying time—I know I am not being very helpful here but this is the most I can do at the moment. As for Creta, you should not worry much...the damage radius falls short by at least a hundred miles from the nearest Cretan city. Due to most of the Eastern Creta being deserts, civilians do not inhabit that area. So, concern yourself only with your people and stay safe.
Maj. Gen. Rei Alstenheim
Western Command
Amestris
P.S.: Please destroy this letter as soon as you have read it.
Julia looked at the faint yellow circles of light levitating above the houses—the "Shielding Transmutations", the ones her parents had discovered a long back. She gave a small smile as she recalled the Alstenheim's words about not worrying about Creta. Ed must have told her that she was originally from Creta.
Typical Ed.
She looked at the pulsing transmutation circles, determination burning in her teal eyes.
This...is nothing. This cannot defeat the mighty legacy of Milosian Alchemy!
*/*/
SOMEWHERE IN THE PLANE OF EXISTENCE
THE GATE OF TRUTH
Ed gathered his limbs into a ball; he felt a bit secure with all his body parts close. He couldn't put aside the mental image of some strange sword lopping his flailing appendages in this gloom.
And with all the strangeness he had endured till now, he wouldn't be surprised if the same actually happened.
"What King? What's going on here?" he called out.
The one that rules...
The one that seeks...
The one with the all...
The one with whom is the all..
That one, who is the One?
"You're harking crazy...just spit it out, what d'ya want with me?" Ed said.
The descendent of the one who walked beyond long...
The one who tried to bring back the gone...
The one who saw all that is to be seen...
Tell me, who is your king?
This is some serious shit, Ed thought, trying to find some place of coherence in the unending dark space. What king? And what is that voice? Who's is it?
Tell me, O Alchemist. Have you not wondered why is your country falling apart? And why are your allies involved in aimless skirmishes? Why is it that after the death of Father, your rule is slowly falling apart?
"Falling apart? Have you gone crazy, Voice-man? We're fine here, thank you very much," Ed snorted.
Let me rephrase, then. What do you mean by the Gate?
"The Truth of all Truths, the doorway to the knowledge of the world," Ed replied, slightly startled at the off-track question.
Hmm...a pretty interesting definition. That is what you, and countless others who have defied the Taboo, have seen. Information at the cost of something precious. But is the Gate just that?
"Just that?" he repeated, a bit confused.
This Gate...is the doorway from this world to the next. You can cross into, but you cannot come out. And to prevent people committing the Taboo, there is the Gatekeeper. And the Gatekeeper chooses the One, who then chooses the King.
"The One?"
Yes, friend of the Gatekeeper. The One.
*/*/
SOMEWHERE IN THE PLANE OF EXISTENCE
THE GATE OF TRUTH
Al and Alex managed to create a fortress of sorts to protect themselves from Pride's out-of-control appendages. Rei managed to make one portion of the wall into toughened glass which enabled them to witness the events outside.
"You sure you don't want to come in, Travis?" Al asked, slightly worried. The Homunculus was standing just outside the wall, contemplating on the perfect way to attack Pride.
"But I don't understand...will defeating Pride get us back?" May asked.
"I don't know, May," Rei answered slowly, her eyes fixed on Truth. "But it will reduce our worries by a fraction."
Al nodded in agreement. "At least we won't have to worry about a maniac fixated on sacrificing us."
"Travis?" Rei prompted.
"I can say Pride is losing his momentum—either he's getting crazy beyond measure or Truth is choking his alchemy," he replied.
"Choking his alchemy?" Al said out loud.
"Yes, young Elric...and there's something else going on here...I don't know what. But I've got a feeling that we gatecrashed the wrong party," Travis added, sounding worried.
Al felt May clutch his arm more tightly.
"What is it, May?" Al asked softly.
"In Xing, there's a legend about the Gate, something which is like a bedtime story...but now when I think back, I'm afraid it might be true," said May, her face going pale.
"What legend?" Rei asked.
"About the King Candidate."
*/*/
THE RUINS OF XERXES
THE GREAT DESERT
"The legend of the King Candidate?" Hawkeye repeated.
"Yes, every Xingese child knows the story," Lan Fan said softly. Ling gave a tired nod in agreement.
"Once upon a time in Tiangong-shi, there lived a boy named Zen Xiang. He was an extremely intelligent boy, clearing all his school exams before he hit his teens. He was hungry for knowledge so he set out on a journey.
Years later when he turned into a man, he ran into the Great Sage. He was delighted to encounter someone with such immense knowledge so he begged the Great Sage to make him an apprentice. The Great Sage was not eager to do the same but Zen Xiang's persistence won him over and he finally agreed. The Great Sage and Zen travelled all over the East, encountering different people and spreading the knowledge of alkahestry. Zen was fascinated by the entire concept of alkahestry, and so he researched more and more.
One day when he woke up, he found that the Great Sage had disappeared. He had left behind a note, which stated that he had taught Zen all that he knew, and Zen should know apply his intellect his own way. This saddened Zen a great deal, as the Great Sage had become more of a father-figure to him. But he decided to continue his journey.
Years later when he was exploring Creta, he met a woman named Lisbeth Flamel. They fell in love and after a brief courtship, they married. Zen finally settled down into domestic bliss, teaching medicine at the local university in Vorstok. Now, Vorstok is in Milos but in those days it was a tiny town in Creta.
Two summers after their marriage, an epidemic wiped out the better part of Vorstok. Zen tried to help, but he could only do so much. His alkahestry could only minimise the pain, he couldn't save lives. The Cretan military decided to massacre and burn the town in order to halt the epidemic—but an enraged Zen destroyed their ammunition.
A week later, Zen was the only one not afflicted by the disease. As Lisbeth lay dying in his arms, he wailed at the cruelty of fate and, in an attempt to defy it, he decided to halt death.
He devised the circle of Human Transmutation and offered himself in exchange for Lisbeth.
As the Gate opened, he realised how foolish he was. And how pitifully inadequate was his knowledge. He berated the fact that the Great Sage had never told him the existence of the Gate, nor the fact about equivalent exchange.
And he realised how pitiful was a civilisation without a proper King.
And thus Zen Xiang ceased to exist, his last words being a prayer of enlightenment."
"Zen Xiang...in Xingese, Zhenxiang means Truth..." Ling muttered.
"You don't say..." Roy muttered.
"After what we have seen over the last six years, I wouldn't be surprised if this legend turns out to be true," Ling said, wiping away a thin sheen of sweat off his forehead.
*/*/
SOMEWHERE IN THE PLANE OF EXISTENCE
THE GATE OF TRUTH
"Holy crap...this is crazy!" Al exclaimed.
"Are you saying that this Truth is actually Zen Xiang?" Alex asked, for once soberly.
"No...it's not that," Rei muttered, scratching her chin thoughtfully. Al gave her a bemused look.
"Truth is not a physical being...I'd say that Truth imbibed Zen Xiang's policy. That would explain Father's seemingly uninterrupted reign over Amestris," Rei continued thoughtfully.
"All said and done, why Father?" Travis asked.
"Zen Xiang's last thoughts were his realisation and hatred towards the Great Sage—who's Van Hohenheim. So I guess his 'ideal' ended up being Hohenheim's antithesis which is Father," Rei answered.
"Could be," Al concurred. "That would explain why Dad tried to stay away from us...I think he believed that he brought misfortune wherever he went but the truth was, it was his personality that Ziang hated and that was what he felt."
"So what now? How do we get out?" Alex asked.
"We need to convince the bit of Zen Xiang's consciousness that lives inside Truth to finally let go," Travis said, cracking his knuckles.
"No offence, but how exactly are we supposed to do that?" May pointed out.
Al looked around at the white expanse, the dull quietness punctured by Pride's frustration and Truth's cackle.
"That...is a very good question, May," Travis said, a mirthless smirk on his face.
*/*/
SOMEWHERE IN THE PLANE OF EXISTENCE
THE GATE OF TRUTH
Ed felt some direction to his seemingly aimless "suspension" in the gloom.
You, alchemist, are not ordinary. You seek the unattainable, but not for shallow gain.
"Just stop speaking in riddles, will ya?" Ed growled, now finally fed.
You remind me of my erstwhile teacher...he too was of the same temperament. And perhaps, it was unfair of me to uphold that grudge for so long. He had done no wrong...it was I who attempted to transcend boundaries.
This piqued Ed's interest.
"Teacher?" he asked, curiosity winning through the apparent bewilderment of the situation.
I had a teacher too...he was a good man. It was I who was blinded...though it is too late to act on that realisation. In retribution to what I had assumed was his mistake, I began to exact higher value in exchange for each alchemical reaction he carried out. But I was devious, wasn't I? I exacted the toll, but made it so that if he did not carry out his alchemy, he would be doomed.
"Hang on a second..." Ed gave a low whistle as a piece of memory floated in front of his mind's eye. He was in the guestroom back at Milos three years back, deciphering the notes of Nicolas Flamel.
"The curse...the iron thing. Haemochromatosis..." Ed whispered, the pieces finally falling in to place. "It was you...you killed our Mom!"
*/*/
CENTRAL COMMAND,
CENTRAL, AMESTRIS
"Major General sir! Your orders!"
Olivier Armstrong sighed as she looked out of the window to the gloomy vistas—it was around eleven in the morning and still the sky showed no signs of clearing. She wondered what Alstenheim and group were doing.
"What is the border status?" she asked.
"Aerugo is neutral, Xing has extended its support, Drachma is silent and Creta slightly hostile," the corporal answered, his hand still in the salute mode.
"Slightly hostile, eh?" Olivier grinned, her teeth a menacing white. "Get the Western Border Corps up in arms...we need to defend Amestris!"
"Sir yes Sir!"
As the corporal hurried out of the room, Olivier couldn't help but feel energised. Creta was confused at the moment—which meant that whatever was happening in the deserts, it was good. Time for their western neighbours to feel the pressure.
"It's time for some old-fashioned border clash! I knew I hated paperwork!" Olivier said, pumping her fist as she walked out of the room.
*/*/
CENTRAL HOSPITAL
AMESTRIS
"David, are you sure about this?" asked Dr. Rainsworth, looking slightly awed at the precision with which Dr. Matthews was working.
"After Trisha died, I couldn't help but do some research on her disease. Haemochromatosis isn't a very famous disease, if you put it that way. It's mostly because people often fail to read the signs. It takes alkahestry to keep it under control but that too isn't always enough. And alchemists never have this disease for the simple reason being the fact that alchemy utilises the iron present in the body. But what I'm doing is trying to get an alchemic reaction bottled-up in a capsule...if this works, we might be able to save Ed!" Dr. Matthews answered, jotting down the measurements feverishly into his notebook.
"But wouldn't it be a bit too late? I mean Major Elric is out on the battlefield if I'm not mistaken," Dr. Rainsworth said, sounding worried.
"I know Ed...he's one slippery eel. He'll be back. But before he gets back, I need to get the antidote ready. I have sent a message to Dr. Aruo Chang of Xing before leaving Arktown...he is researching the same thing as I am and I believe he'll arrive within a couple of hours," Dr. Matthews replied, grinning.
"You do know how to work fast, don't you doc?" Rainsworth grinned back.
"Seriously, you didn't take me for a country bumpkin now, did you?" Matthews said, adding the ground powder from the pestle to the test-tube.
*/*/
SOMEWHERE ON THE PLANE OF EXISTENCE
THE GATE OF TRUTH
"Rei?"
"Yeah, what is it, Travis?"
"You know we're in a spot..."
"Stop stating the obvious!"
Travis sighed before sending another wave of rocks flying towards Pride. The giant swatted them off effortlessly, raining the group with dust and bits of stone.
"This will go on forever! We need to find a way to take him down!" May exclaimed as her cage of wires broke before it could imprison Pride.
"I agree! No one's losing any energy here...it's like a cycle," Al groaned, sliding down the protective wall Alex had raised moments earlier.
Al saw Pride stagger slightly.
"Well, Pride's getting wobbly," Al added, looking at Travis.
"Rei?" Travis prompted again.
"There has to be something...something! It's like those 'spot the difference' games...the answer's right in front of you but you still miss it...damn!" Rei yelled, frustrated.
When confused, close your eyes and force your mind to go blank for a minute. Think nothing, hear nothing, smell nothing. Then picture your sanctuary, feel it. Open your mind's eye to the widest. You will find your answer.
Rei closed her eyes as she felt her teacher Neulahn's words wash through her.
The feeling of the cool dew on the blades of grass as she ran barefoot...the ripple of water...the smell of apple pie...the breeze ruffling her hair...the sunshine...
"The question is always complex, kids," Neulahn said, flicking James' forehead as he surveyed the lone drop of water suspended in the air. "But the answer is always easy. The trick is to figure it out."
"That's what makes the question difficult, Teacher!" Rei pouted, the hands crossed across her chest.
"No, Rei. Pounding your head over something will only give you a headache. But if you lose the screws or poke through the weakest link, you problem will fall apart. Don't you think that is a way better method to solve a problem?" Neulahn smirked before unleashing a wave of sand over the hapless duo.
Weakness...what on earth could be the Gate's...
Hold on a second!
Rei slammed her fist into her palm, her eyes taking on an eerie amber gleam.
"Guys, we've been thinking on the wrong foot...we were trying to find out the solution to the problem but the thing is, we ourselves are the solution at the moment!"
"Um...don't get me wrong but..." Travis began, only to be interrupted by Rei.
"May's story...that Zen guy...he did not die, did he? He was absorbed by the Gate...and this Keeper is kind of his conscience, right? This Keeper is a soul...and he's stuck! So what do you do with a stuck soul?" Rei said.
"Set it free!" Al exclaimed, catching onto Rei's thought process.
"The last time I checked, we weren't exorcists," Travis pointed out.
"Of course we are not. We don't need to be one...the fact is, the Gate is the house of souls, but unfortunately the Keeper cannot go in. I bet it is because unless a new Keeper is found, the old Keeper can't be free," Rei explained.
Al looked at the white humanoid figure which was still grinning at Pride's attempts to engage into battle with itself.
"And I think we've got a perfect candidate for the new Keeper," Al said, pointing towards the giant Homunculus.
"Change of plan...what the—?" Rei shouted, surprised as a body fell on top of her from above.
"Guess I've loved gatecrashing, eh?" Ed said, rolling off Rei.
"Brother!" Al exclaimed, enveloping Ed into a giant bear hug.
Rei got up on her feet, a small smile working up her face. This now was going to be the final battle.
"Ed?" she said.
"I've got it covered...caught the last bit of your explanation. Long story short, I know the Zen story and I agree with Rei. We need to assure Truth that we have got a King's Candidate and the fact that Pride will be a great Keeper of the Gate," Ed added, running his fingers through his hair.
"How's Winry? Did you meet her?" Al asked.
"She's fine...and I owe you one, Travis," Ed said gratefully. Travis grinned back. "I've got your back, Ed."
Ed rubbed his hands as he gave a cursory glance at the one-sided frustrated duel between Pride and Truth.
"Listen...we haven't got much time...Roy's holding open the Gate from the other side and I don't think he's going to last very long. I haven't got any alchemy—Al, Rei and Alex...you guys have to open the Gate," Ed said.
Rei's eyes widened and she turned to look at Travis. The latter gave her a gentle smile. Ed looked confused at their non-verbal exchange.
"She knows," Travis said gently.
"Oh."
"Plan C, isn't it Ed?" Rei asked softly. Ed nodded, looking away.
"Plan C?" Al asked, puzzled.
"Something which I wanted to avoid at all costs," Ed said, scuffing his automail foot. "We force the Gate to open, get Pride in it. But opening the Gate will also connect this space to the passage Roy is keeping open so we will be forced out. But Travis won't be affected...since he's the anomaly in the natural equation."
"The only one who would be able to get Pride inside the Gate...but that's what Pride wants, right?" May said slowly.
"The Gate...it is a very powerful thing. We might study alchemy for another millennium but still we won't be closer to solving its mysteries. So I think we should leave it to the Gate to decide whether it wants to keep Pride," Ed said, staring at his shoes.
"That's the best option, I think," Travis concurred. "Let's get this show on the road, then. You're the alchemist, Rei."
Al thought he saw Rei's form shake for a moment but the next second, her eyes hardened into cold amber shards and her spine was straight. He could feel authority radiating off her.
"I don't think Roy would be able to hold on much longer, let's wrap it up and then...then, we go home," Rei said, her hands forming into fists.
"May, you distract Pride if the need arises. Al, Alex and myself will open the Gate. Travis..." Rei's voice slightly broke.
"I know what to do," Travis said, smiling. "It was fun, working with you guys...I consider it my privilege to have had this experiences—for all practical purposes, I'm a dead man walking. And Rei...thank you. And please, don't mourn...I'm happy. This way, all these souls inside me will finally get a sense of peace."
"Travis...man, you're one big idiot, you know...just like Greed," Ed said, patting his back.
"You were supposed to be Rage and all, but you're just a big softy," Al added.
"And take care you two. Especially you, alchemy nerd. You have people who'd be sad if you pop off all of a sudden, so restrain that sacrificial streak of yours," Travis said.
He walked up to Rei and placed a hand on her head.
"James died that day itself," he said in a low voice.
"I know you as Travis, you idiot," Rei said angrily. "You are YOU! Not James, not Rage but Travis Baker, the mechanic-cum-informer from Western Command."
Travis looked startled as Rei enveloped him in a fierce hug.
"You're a good friend, Travis," she said, her voice muffled in his shirt. "I'll miss you."
Travis was first to break the hug. "Okay...now let's stop the sob-stuff. We've work to do."
Rei nodded, rubbing her eyes. "Damn the dust...they wind up everywhere!"
Ed stood at the front. "Three seconds. As soon as the Gate opens, Travis..."
"You worry about going back, I'll do the rest," Travis said, flexing his arms. "Shall we, Ed?"
"When I give the signal, begin the transmutation," said Ed grimly.
Al, Rei and Alex nodded.
"HEY PRIDE! I DIDN'T KNOW YOU WERE SUCH A WIMP!" Ed roared, goading the giant.
"Er...don't you think that went a bit too far," Travis said, looking at Ed in disbelief.
"Oh come on! Don't tell me you never wanted to curse that brat!" Ed grinned maniacally.
"Ah! Mr. Alchemist!" Truth finally stood up, his teeth displayed in prominence. "You've arrived. So, the answer. Do you have it?"
Ed stepped forward, his arms open wide.
"You asked me for my King's Candidate, I say I don't have one. The people rule their own lives, no other person can do that. I can't do that. It's the people who will choose, not me!"
Truth's grin got wider.
"Well, isn't that a good answer, Mr. Alchemist!" It cackled loudly.
Ed nodded towards Travis before taking a deep breath.
"NOW!"
*/*/
EPILOGUE
3 MONTHS LATER
ROY MUSTANG'S CABIN
CENTRAL COMMAND, AMESTRIS
"For reasons classified 'Top Secret' by the Amestrian military, Creta has finally given Milos is complete independence. The Milosian government wasted no time in allying themselves with Amestris, their ambassador Lady Julia Crichton already in talks with the Amestrian-Xingese alliance.
On homeground, the first ever elections for the Members of the Parliament have been peacefully concluded. Ex-alchemist and current Military Strategy Advisor Edward Elric and the newly promoted Major General Roy Mustang the Flame Alchemist are the big favourites from their provinces of Resembool and Dresden respectively. Post the mysterious 'Gloom' Day, great reforms on both political and military front has taken place—the major one being the division of powers between the military command and the soon-to-be-elected Parliament. Needless to say, the citizens are excited..."
"Lay off the reading, Win. We know," Ed yawned, sprawled over his favourite couch as he chewed on berries Ling had sent over from Xing a few days back.
Winry was sitting near his feet as she read out loud the front-page, now pouting at the pretending-to-be-oblivious-to-the-death-stare blond.
Hawkeye looked up at the duo from her desk, a rare smile gracing her otherwise serious features.
"Don't mind him, Winry. Men sometimes forget their place," she said, cocking her gun innocently.
"Ed, I wouldn't mess with her," Havoc advised as he controlled his urge to reach for his cigarette.
"Yeah right," Ed agreed. Winry made a face as she continued reading.
A couple of minutes later, Mustang poked his head out of his cabin.
"Can you keep it down for a minute? This is my office, Fullmetal! And I'm on the phone!" he fumed.
"Wazzup, Colonel?" Ed asked, flipping a berry into his mouth.
"For the last time, kid, it's Major General. And it's our dear missing friend Rei Alstenheim on phone. If you're not interested, you can show yourselves out. Otherwise, keep your voices down!" Mustang hissed angrily before slamming the door shut.
Ed jumped up onto his feet, nearly choking on the berry.
"Rei? After three months of disappearance, she calls up Roy? What the hell!" he exclaimed, wrenching open Mustang's cabin door and marching in.
*/*/
Rei Alstenheim replaced the receiver and stood at the window of her apartment. Three months already...time was cruel.
Already, she was missing her office.
After the transmutation inside the Gate area, all of them—except Travis, that is—were pulled out to the place where Roy was almost on the verge of collapsing with exhaustion. Ling didn't look too good himself, and the rest of the team members looked relieved at their arrival.
After ensuring that everyone reached their homes safely, Rei decided to go on her own little trip.
To Ishval. Where everything had begin. She didn't know what she was going to find amid the ruins at the border...perhaps a sense of closure?
The ruins were as she remembered them from the war...broken, formless, desolate. Zar-Al-Anam was just like she remembered a decade ago. The town square...the school building where she last fought...
They stood like sentinels of the time that passed. Unmoving...silent...
After Ishval, she travelled incognito to Aerugo in an attempt to find Kazark's roots as to why did he work for Creta. She didn't find any answer, though she could fathom a number of reasons. All of them warranted one thing—a deeper study into the neighbouring countries and increase in the number of diplomatic visits. The other countries had no idea what alchemy constituted and looked at it with suspicion.
And in such an environment, to brainwash someone wasn't that hard a job.
And when she returned, she realised what she really wanted to do. Her days as the Dancing Alchemist were over. Amestris no longer needed State Alchemists...she needed ones who could uphold the wishes of the people.
She looked outside her window to see the streets. Over the last ten years, she had witnessed the change in the way people went about their jobs—the tension during Bradley's reign, the relaxed look during Grumman's reign. But today, she could see something else.
Hope. A different sort of energy was thrumming in the atmosphere.
Rei decided that she liked this.
*/*/
"What did Rei say?" Ed demanded, slamming his fist in a well-worn dent on Mustang's work-desk.
"She wanted to ask some advice," he replied slowly, resting his chin on his steepled fingers.
Ed gave him an incredulous look. "You?"
Mustang sighed, reaching into his drawer and pulling out a piece of paper.
"She sent me a proposal for the Parliament and some reforms it could bring, provided I get elected. I had asked her to participate as Pendleton's representative but she refused," he said, handing the piece of paper to Ed.
"Read it," Mustang added, pointing towards it. "You'll find it interesting."
Ed skimmed through the writing, making a couple of mental bookmarks.
"Yeah...fine...but what now?" he pressed on.
"Grumman is hounding her to be the National Security Advisor—no one can read the enemy tactics better than her," Mustang replied, wiping imaginary dust from his desk. "Even Armstrong of the North is backing this proposal...but she's strangely reluctant. I'd wager Travis'...well, death, might have shaken her. And quite frankly, I don't blame her."
Ed pocketed the paper, feeling glum.
"I don't blame her either," he concurred, a sad smile on his face.
Mustang stood up, straightening his jacket.
"Fullmetal, can you do me a favour?" he asked, slightly fidgety all of a sudden.
Ed raised an eyebrow.
"It's a delicate matter but this time, I cannot possibly ask Major Hawkeye to accompany me. But if you'd just nod at the right times and keep your mouth shut, you might be of help," Mustang explained, deliberately avoiding to look at Ed.
"Meaning?"
Mustang sighed before answering. "It's Grumman, Fullmetal. This ordeal has taught me one thing—I should not take anything for granted. So I'm going to ask his permission for marriage."
Ed gave him a puzzled look.
"What?" Mustang asked, mirroring his look.
"Hey, it's fine if you have varied preferences but Grumman? He's a bit old, don't you think?" Ed asked.
Mustang looked blank for a second before realising what he had stated previously.
"Of course not! You...It's Hawkeye, you idiot! He's Hawkeye's grandfather, remember?" Mustang exclaimed, exasperated as he slammed his palm on his forehead.
"Dear oh dear...someone's getting the jeebies!" Ed teased, quickly dancing out of Mustang's reach.
*/*/
The entire Central Command could hear the screams and shouts punctured with bursts of fire from a certain Flame Alchemist's office. People shook their heads and with smiles on their lips, they continued with their work.
All was well.
A/N: All my reviewers, readers, followers...thank you! My first ever long fic comes to an end...*sniff* My baby grew up!
I am planning a sequel, tentatively would be titled FOREVER KING. I have a couple of insane ideas for it, let's see which one wins!
The interview season is at a close and the results are on the verge of getting released...*fingers crossed*
Well folks, guess it's au revoir for now...
TILL NEXT TIME, FOLKS!
*/*/Nazrath/*/*