Chapter Ten

Coronation and Treaty

Coronation Day

10:00 am

Ling's Apartment

This was it. They were less than two hours from the ceremony. Everything Ling had worked for for his entire life was here. He was about to be Emperor of Xing, he's already underway to uniting the clans. He managed to marry the girl he's loved for longer than he understood what that meant. He's the father of two wonderful sons. All of his dreams have come to fruition. It had all worked.

He should be happy. He had been happy, was mostly happy. But… he was a bit scared. What if he couldn't do it? What if he failed all of his people, and his children, his wife, his sisters and brother? He was worried. He felt panicked , and he didn't have Greed to steady him anymore. Ling was pacing around the sitting room as he listened to activity around him as Lan Fan and Mei got ready and the nurse dressed and fed the boys.

Ling nodded to himself, before he informed the maid who was busy setting the table for their early lunch to tell his wife he went for a walk. He walked straight out of the door, and before the guards could start to follow him walked right into the apartment across the hall. Inside the Mustang-Elric suite they were busy as well, though currently blissfully staff free.

He had just shut the outer door when Ed spotted him as Ed was coming out of the bedroom while fighting with the medals of his jacket. His hair still hung loose around his shoulders and his feet missing his boots, which were next to the door along with Roy, Riza, and Winry's. "Hey, Ling. Decided you shouldn't bother with knocking after all? Honestly, I'm surprised it took you this long." Ed said with humor in his voice.

"Well, it is my palace after all. Or will be by this afternoon at any rate." Ling said, his voice barely etched with the strain he had been feeling all morning. Just bantering with his friend calmed him, it was almost like they were on the road again only without Greed. "Just thought I would stop by and check up on you. How's the side?"

"Healed completely, and I would thank you not to ask about it loudly enough to remind my father that he's still planning my grounding." Ed said as he half pushed half led Ling into the sitting room and shut the door. "So, what's wrong?"

"Nothing, everything is running smoothly, exactly as expected." Ling said calmly. Ed nodded in understanding. The lack of issues was the issue. He was the same way, something was bound to go wrong, and until it did, Ling was going to be tense.

"Well, since nothing is wrong, you might as well be lazy here as easily as in your own room. Excuse me I have to go get Dad to help me with these stupid pins. I blame my hand. It doesn't have good fine motor function yet."

"Yes, I'm sure. Plus you don't know what order to put them." Ling said with a snicker.

"My hand isn't metal anymore, but I can still hit you." Ed growled.

"How would that look? Hitting the future Emperor just hours before the coronation?"

"Bah. I wouldn't leave a bruise on your face, you'd be fine."

"Go find your Dad to help, I don't know the order they go in either." Ling said as he stood from the couch with a stretch. "I'm going to see if anyone needs any help, then I'll go back to my rooms to make sure they're all ready." Ling ignored Ed's indignant huff as he went in the direction of Yuery's excited babbling. He hadn't even had to explain anything to Ed and already felt better.

He rapped on the open doorway of the bedroom. Inside stood the other three adult members of the apartment, surrounding the excited toddler who was sitting on the center of the bed, half dressed in the outfit he had worn to the dinner. Every time one of the three moved to grab him he would move out of their reach, laughing at the game he had invented to avoid putting on his pants and socks.

Ling watched with amusement as he was greeted by the adults, who kept their attention on the toddler, who was now attempting to pull off his jacket as well. Winry said as Ed walked up behind him. "Yuery was dressed five minutes ago, then he decided to strip, and now we have to fight him back into his pants."

"How? I spent almost an hour wrestling him into his clothes, how'd he get out of them so fast?" Ed said as he slid passed Ling and joined the others trying to catch the now bouncing toddler. Roy reached for the boy again, who ran closer to Riza. Before Riza could grab him he switched course and jumped toward Winry. Ed grabbed him mid jump and held him out to allow the others to redress him.

Roy shoved on his pants while the women each forced on a sock and shoes, before Ed changed his hold to settle the child on his hip. "No Dadda. No." Yuery said, once again pulling on his outfit even in his father's arms.

"I know you don't like it Buddy. I'm not to fond of dressing up either but its gotta be done so you can watch Uncle Ling become a king." Ed said as Roy walked around the bed to fix Ed's pins.

"I'm his uncle now?" Ling said. He was touched but that didn't stop him from sounding surprised.

"Sure, you are. A kid can never have too much love. Besides, you've changed his diaper, as far as I'm concerned make you his uncle. Don't give me that it was Greed story either because same body, so it counts." Ed said before leaving the room again. Ling smiled after him, as Roy ruffled his hair and welcomed him to the family.

4:00pm

Ballroom

The coronation had been as long and boring as Ed had feared. Luckily, Winry had been there to slip out mostly unnoticed with Yuery when he had decided he'd had enough. Ed noticed a nurse had done the same with Huan and Ping. Really, small children could not be forced to sit through hours of speeches and ceremony. All three boys were returned by the time it was needed for them to take pictures and greet people.

The party, which had started a half an hour ago, seemed to be a better fit for the toddlers. Both Yuery and Huan were currently being walked around as people offered them bits of food from their own plates, charmed by the boys. Ed was doing his best to suppress the urge to go snatch his child from the strangers. What if they offered him something he couldn't eat? So far, he hadn't found any allergies, but anything was possible. Plus, so many strangers touching him was bound to make him sick, all those germs. What if one of them was a wizard?

Ed's eyes met Ling's across the room, and in that moment, he realized they were in the same boat. Ling wanted nothing more than to go rescue his child from the strangers. It almost made Ed laugh. At least, going forward, he would always have one ally in the overprotective corner. Two, when he remembered that Roy's knuckles were nearly white clinching them as he stiffly nodded consent for the nurse to wander around with the boy.

Winry was still standing beside him, though he had no idea what they had been talking about the last few minutes. She tapped his shoulder after his third nod when she paused to get his attention. "Ed, you haven't heard a thing I've said, have you?"

"Of course, I did." Ed said stubbornly.

"Okay, what was I talking about?"

Ed froze, paling slightly at being called out. He jumped at the first idea that came to mind. "Something about automail?"

Winry sighed heavily. "I said I was proud of your restraint, but would you like me to go retrieve our son before your brain explodes. Apparently, it's too late for that."

"Yes, please go get him. Thank you." Ed said, ignoring the jab. After all, he was getting what he wanted and hadn't had to make a scene to do it. Plus, he rather enjoyed that Winry had started referring to Yuery as 'hers'. Hopefully Al wouldn't get weird about it.

Roy, having overheard the entire exchange leaned in to whisper. "You weren't completely wrong. She had mentioned opening an automail shop in Central right after Yuery walked away…when she realized you really weren't paying attention, she even got you to agree to model your leg to bring in new clients. I don't think she'll hold you to it. Maybe."

"What?! Oh great. At least it's not Rush Valley. Those people are crazy." Ed grumbled. "She took advantage of my distraction to get her way, how could she!"

"Get used to it. Riza's been doing it to me for years. It helps you to learn to divide your attention though, which is good." Roy said. "After the fourth time I agreed to go into town and help carry back that weeks groceries while reading, I learned how to listen to her at the same time as I did anything else. Those two have a lot in common. Now they are sharing notes so we're both in trouble."

"Lan does the same thing to me, always has." Ling said from behind them, making Ed nearly jump. He'd known Ling was making his way over, but hadn't expected him to be so close.

"We should all be grateful Teacher isn't here." Ed said solemnly as they watched Lan Fan join Winry and Riza in whatever conversation they had begun. Huan was safely on Lan Fan's hip, as Yuery was on Winry's and Ping was in Riza's arms. They noticed the men watching them at the same time, and waived.

The men waived back, as Ed asked "How much longer is this thing? I don't know if Yuery's going to be able to keep going much longer. He already missed his nap."

"Another hour or two according to the advisors." Ling said with a shrug. "You should probably be able to get away with slipping out before that though. Just make sure everyone sees you making rounds. You were already seen speaking to me, so that's good. Tomorrow we officially sign the treaties."

"Ugh. Don't remind me. We're going to have to sit through a ton of pictures and questions, and I have to wear this suit again." Ed groaned.

"It's better to get used to it now, you'll be wearing a suit to work from now on." Roy said with a smile. Ed glared at him, but didn't say anything before walking away to shake hands with strangers. Roy chuckled at Ed's reaction, before excusing himself with a bow to do the same the opposite direction.

Ling sighed. Ed may be able to escape using his child as an excuse, but Ling was stuck until the last of the guests. He was tired, and wanted to just sit for awhile. Luckily his father had left a while ago, to be sure to catch his train. Apparently, the man had decided to travel abroad now that he wasn't tied to the throne.

Ling hoped he never felt that way about it, like it was an obligation to be endured, instead of an honor to receive. He suspected that like leading his clan there would be days where he just wanted to walk away, but there was a difference between having a bad day and not caring what happened to his people. He'd hated his father for years because the man didn't care, but had he always been like that or had being the ruler changed him? Ling vowed to not allow this to happen to him. If he started down that road, he would remove himself long before he could fail his people that severely.

Treaty Signing

10:00 am

This part was largely ceremonial, everything having been worked out over the last few days before Ling's ascension. General Mustang, as Fuhrer Grumman's proxy, Prince Claudio as his father's proxy, Tsar Viktor, and Emperor Ling stood together in front of an ornate table as cameras flashed to take photos of the momentous occasion.

For the first time in four hundred years the four countries had agreed to work together for a better future for their people. There was an immediate ceasefire on the borders, a rail line was to be built across the desert, connecting Xing by land. A trade agreement had been made between the four countries, that included not just goods but knowledge.

A joint university would be opened, open to all four peoples, to teach the various forms of Alchemy. At Edward and Ling's request, they would also teach magic. It was time to stop fighting and work together, because it had been going on for far too long.

Edward was drug up to the table to be included in several photos, despite his protests, as the Hero of Amestris. It was bad enough being called the Hero of the People, but now this! If anyone deserved the new title, it was his Dad which Ed was quick to point out but was ignored. He smiled for the cameras, waived to the people, and vowed to burn his uniform as soon as possible. Apparently, some of his thoughts were showing on his face because his dad made sure to whisper to him that even if he lost the suit they would just issue him a new one.

Ed hoped the whole thing was over soon, he wanted to get a chance to properly say goodbye to Ling and Lan Fan before they left later today to head back home. After much discussion they were bringing just Mei with them to help start up the joint program, she would be acting as Ling's proxy in Amestris for the next few months. Chen, however, would be waiting until they had settled the details before crossing. Al was going to be thrilled.

Ed glanced at his watch a few times, but time was slipping away fast. Luckily they had already packed, so all he had to do was meet Winry, Riza, and Yuery at the carriage. Roy finally signed all of the paperwork, and they were excused, so Ed managed a couple of minutes to talk to Ling before Roy almost dragged him away. The two boys promised to write often until the phone lines were established.

Ling watched the carriages drive away with all of his guests, before he returned to his office. He was certainly going to miss his friends and his sister, though it seemed his father had left him enough work to keep him busy for the next few weeks. Now that he had made treaties with their neighbors, and with some of the clans, it was time to worry about the rest of the country.