Author's Note: There isn't much I like about the ending of the first series, but this scene is one of them. We get a lot more interaction and indications of these characters' relationship in Brotherhood, so this was one of the few scenes where I really felt like the two reached an understanding. It also contains one of the deepest, most inspirational speeches I think Ed has ever made. Rather than just recreating this scene, I thought I would change things a bit, keeping the basic gist of the scene but making them admit things I'm not sure they ever would in the anime.

Timeline: Episode 48

Theme 36: Until we meet again

A tense silence settled over the back seat of the car after they had both explained their plans. Edward could tell they were both thinking the same thing: As soon as they parted ways, they would probably never see each other again. They were both heading off to fight their own battles, to face their own demons, and there was little chance they would prevail. He caught himself wishing that Mustang could be there with him in the end, to lend him his support as he had so many times before.

But Mustang was off to assassinate the Fuhrer. And if that wasn't an arrogant enough goal, Edward was planning on taking the fight to the mastermind behind this all, the leader of the Homunculi. Yeah. Getting out alive. Right.

Then, as Hawkeye turned another corner and brought them even closer to their separation, Mustang spoke again. "Are you sure?"

Edward looked up at him. "Are you?"

"It's...different. I don't have a brother to worry about. Will you be content to give up the Stone, after all this time, knowing you two might never get your real bodies back?"

Edward looked out the window and thought about that. He realized he'd accepted a long time ago that it was probably too much to hope for that they would both get their bodies back, but he'd been holding out a desperate conviction that at least Alphonse could get back to normal again. He deserved it more anyway.

Heaving a sigh, Edward felt old and weary. "You know what? I've been selfish for a long time. All my life, I guess. I've been trying to get our bodies back, not just for Al, but for me. Because I don't want automail. But now I've realized...there's something bigger than me. The Homunculi won't be satisfied until the whole world is flattened, so they hafta be stopped. This isn't about me anymore; it's about Amestris. If I'm the only one who realizes what's going on, then I'm the one who has to stop it."

"And your brother?"

Edward winced and stared out the window, watching the streetlamps blur and sway. "He's my brother," he replied softly. "I love him. So...if I get a chance...I know what I have to do. I'm not going to use the Stone; that was just me being selfish again. To think that I could have everything I wanted..." He sighed. He still wanted everything. "No. I need to stop being selfish. I'll give him everything instead."

He sighed and closed his eyes briefly. He would have to defeat the Homunculi to reach Alphonse anyway, and he didn't know if there would be anything left to give. But it was worth it. He'd made his choice. Opening his eyes, he asked, "What about you? You do realize you'll never be able to become Fuhrer if you're an assassin, right?"

Mustang looked out the other window, his face shielded from view. But Edward could see the reflection of his pained expression. "You said you were selfish, but...you don't know the half of it, Ed. I wouldn't make a good Fuhrer at all. It's better this way."

Edward glanced at Hawkeye's face in the mirror; she bit her lip, but said nothing. "What do you mean?"

"You know why I wanted to become Fuhrer in the first place? To avoid following unreasonable orders. Not to make this country a better place. Not to stop such unreasonable actions from ever occurring. No, I just wanted to avoid getting my hands dirty again. That's not what this country needs. Amestris needs change, not avoidance. So that's what I plan to do. I will kill the Homunculus leading us all astray, and if that leads to my execution...so be it."

Edward and Mustang looked at each other for a moment, and Edward realized they had ceased to be superior and subordinate. Now they were equals. Equal burdens, equal responsibilities, equal resolve. He wondered what it would have been like to continue like this, to fight alongside each other, to embark on the new path life laid for them. But they were both heading to their deaths; there was no point in avoiding the truth. This was goodbye.

All too soon, Hawkeye pulled over to the side of the road, where a side street would lead to the abandoned building where Edward knew he would find the Homunculi's lair. She and Mustang would continue on to the northern part of Central City, to the Fuhrer's residence. The sun was setting, red bleeding out across the sky as if predicting the death that would soon come.

Slowly, Edward got out of the car and walked to the front of it, nodding a respectful farewell to Hawkeye, who nodded back. Mustang followed him, and for a moment they faced each other. This time there were no quips, no friendly banter, not even the trace of a smirk. Mustang wasn't wearing his uniform, Edward had left his red coat behind...so different, and yet, the same as ever. It was...encouraging. Bolstering. Maybe he could do this after all.

After a long look at him, Mustang raised his hand to salute. Halfway there, he hesitated, then lowered his hand again, holding it out for Edward to shake instead. Bridging the gap of propriety and station that had always kept them carefully apart. As if acknowledging that they were both human beings. "Until we meet again."

A painful lump in Edward's throat made it hard to swallow. With colossal effort, he smiled and knocked Mustang's hand away. "Yeah. See you later."

Then he turned, and ran with all his might. Away from Mustang, away from that easy familiarity that had brought them through so much. His eyes burned, and he ran faster. The sound of a car motor faded into the distance.