A/N: The wonderful writer, Jachien on AO3 wrote a beautiful alternate ending to the last chapter: "Alternate Ending After Horse Ride."

If only these two idiots could actually get their acts together that quickly. Alas, they're just a couple of fools. Still, you guys should go check it out!

Unfortunately, the chapter got too long to include the sparring match, but it's coming. I promise!

Enjoy!

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Aftermath of War

Chapter Six – Birds of Feather Flock with Horses?

Chapter Summary: In which Evie is annoyed and Roy questions his gut. Also, there is plot. A LOT of plot.

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Songs of inspiration: "We Weren't Born to Follow" by Bon Jovi, "Troublemaker" by Olly Murs (feat. Flo Rida), and "Maybe They're Onto Us" by NEEDTOBREATHE

Quote: "Indecision is the greatest thief of opportunity."

~ Jim Rohn

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Evie spurred Aine on faster. Well, that conversation went better than she thought it would. Then again, Mustang wasn't aware of a lot of things yet.

She hoped.

Although, after a while, he did seem somewhat amenable to the idea of marriage to a complete stranger. She refused to acknowledge that it bothered her. What would he do if – when – he found out she was the princess?

He's gonna be so mad.

As a rule, Evie didn't like lying. Oh, she definitely used it as a tool in her belt, and sometimes she was even good at it – unless Al was somehow involved. He usually gave her away. In this case, she felt like she was on shaky ground with Mustang, and when the inevitable happened, he might decide he wants nothing to do with her.

Deciding that there wasn't much she could do about it right now, she pushed the anxious thoughts to another compartment in her mind and gave Aine his head, allowing him to go as fast as he wanted. The wind whistled through her hair, and the horse's powerful hooves thundering under them gave her a rush of adrenaline that made her feel like she was flying.

And man, if Oraine saw her riding like this, that lady might just have a heart attack.

There's an idea.

Evie took them the long way around giving Aine more time to run. They avoided trampling on the barren fields; had done that once when they had first arrived and were being shown around.

The farmer had not taken kindly to it and had told her off. He was instantly apologetic when he found out who she was, but she took his warning well and apologized in kind – she was the one who had been in the wrong. "See Al, I can be mature."

Evie threw a look over her shoulder to see how Mustang was doing and was surprised to see him lagging so far behind. Pulling Aine's reins, she slowed to a stop and waited for her unwitting future consort to catch up.

He was out of breath when Zephyr slowed beside them. She grinned. "Let's hope your sparring game is better than your riding game," she teased.

He glared at her. "What did Prince Rinam call your horse in the stable this morning?"

She shrugged. "No idea. I rarely listen to him," she responded unrepentantly. "Though, based on his fear of Aine," she patted the horse's neck, "he probably called him a 'black horse demon'."

At Roy's questioning look, she shrugged again. "People have stupid fears. But hey, if it keeps them away from me, I'm fine with it."

He huffed out a laugh. Really though, what did he expect from her? "How did you come to own such a beast?"

Aine pawed the ground, and Evie soothed him. "He doesn't like to be called names," she said archly.

Roy sat quietly, waiting. Just like he used to do when he knew she was withholding information. She hated that.

Why do I lo- like him?

She threw her hands up. "Ugh. Fine. You win."

He gave her his 'I knew it was worth it' smirk.

"Whatever," she grumbled and moved Aine into a slow walk. "Come on, Zephyr," she called, overriding any direction Mustang might have given the other horse.

He was clearly surprised, but she knew he wouldn't let her distract him from the question. Why was it so important anyway?

She ran her hand down her face and sighed. "We had heard rumors about wranglers herding up wild horses out in the barrens outside of the city. Some of the wranglers were taking some of the citizens' horses. I don't want to talk about what they were doing with the animals," and by the dark look in her eyes, Roy could take a pretty good guess what had been happening. "As you can guess, this didn't go over well with the people. There were a lot of complaints to the palace about it, but Oraine," she bit the name off, "didn't seem to think it was that important."

"I -," she grinned sheepishly, and maybe it was a foreign look to him, because he seemed somewhat taken aback. "Well," she continued, clearing her throat, "the princess didn't like it and asked me to take care of it. So, I scouted out the camp, sneaked in one night, and freed the horses."

His face darkened as he heard the end of her story. The corners of his lips pulled inward, and his nose flared a little. She knew all his angry signs; she had been on the receiving end of his temper enough. She had always admired how protective he was over his people. Am I still one of his people?

She cut him off before he could get after her. "Don't worry, General. As you can see, I'm fine. Besides, I wasn't alone." She wouldn't tell him that she only had Al and Leo with her. "Most of them were owned by citizens," she hurried to cut across whatever he was about to say, "so we took them back to their owners. There were three that didn't belong to anyone, so we took them back to the palace. However, one of them was wild and didn't want anything to do with anyone, so we sold him. Only for him to come back the next day and follow me around." She patted Aine's neck. "To this day, he really doesn't like anyone," she finished.

"He seems loyal to you," Mustang responded. His voice was off though, as if he was thinking hard about something. He added just as quietly, "Maybe we should add 'Hero of the Animals' to your list of titles.

She gave him a withering glare. If he only knew how long that list actually was. "Ha, ha. You're so funny. Asshole." She led him onto a gravel road lined with a dilapidated fence and brown weeds along the edges. A large murder of black crows and ravens gaggled and hopped about. They took no notice of the larger animals and their riders; simply moving out of the way when the horses got to close. One of the crows broke away from the group and flew up, landing on Evie's left shoulder. Unlike the other corvids, this bird had red and yellow feathers sprinkled in throughout his plumage. "How's it goin', Amber?" She greeted with a small smile.

The bird cawed and nipped at her ear gently. She laughed, "so cocky," and ran a hand down its side before it flew away.

"My point," Mustang smirked.

Evie grumbled and watched as one of the ravens flew up and around their heads giving the bastard more fuel. The young woman groaned when she recognized this particular bird with its purple-black plumage and obsidian, marble-like eyes. It was an omen not to be taken lightly.

She groaned. The old lady was nearby, she could feel it. "Hold, Aine," she murmured, pulling on the reins.

All at once, a dark fog descended on them making Zephyr startle and Mustang yelp. Evie reached her left hand out to the other horse, patting it gently, saying, "I'm here."

She gasped when Roy grabbed her hand, "and I'm here," his deep voice said into the darkness. It was different from how she had heard him before, but that could just be chalked up to the darkness around them. She thought she might have heard a hint of fear in his voice, but that would be ridiculous. There was nothing to fear, and she would never suggest that her former commanding officer was scared of anything. She absolutely would.

Evie huffed and tried to pull her hand from his, but he tightened his grasp.

Rolling her eyes, she yelled into the fog, "Oh, for Truth's sake. Get on with it, will ya?" She realized her mistake when she felt a spark of electricity near her ear.

"Hey!" She tried to rub at it, but Roy's grip was practically iron now. She could feel the tension radiating from him and wondered if he had his other hand up ready to snap. She didn't think he was wearing his gloves, so even if he did, at least there wouldn't be any fighting to quell.

They just had to get through this encounter, and all would be well. Evie really hoped the elder wouldn't recognize Roy for who he was. The woman could be quite unhinged sometimes.

"Always so impatient, tifl*," an old, croak-like voice came out of the lightening fog.

Evie scowled as the fog lifted and parted, swirling around the horses' hooves. The elder finally made her appearance. She wore a long, rose-printed tunic-like dress with a wide black belt and leaned heavily on a walking stick much taller than her. The raven sat on top of it, its beady eyes watching them. The woman's lips were pulled into a thin line, and her crimson eyes were sharp and judging. The scars on her face crisscrossed over her cheek bones and lips, adding to the many wrinkles that made her look older than Priestess Shan, though Evie always thought they were about the same age.

"Madame Rhotan," the blonde said with barely there tolerance. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Roy turn his head toward her.

Her mother had always told her to never dismiss a seer, and out of a sense of loyalty to Trisha, Evie always heard what Madame Rhotan had to say.

That didn't mean she had to like the old lady nor have much respect for her anymore.

"I thought that was you I heard racing through the fields. You should be more cognizant of other people's toils," the elder said.

Evie looked around at the barren, brown landscape.

"'Tis winter, Seer. What toils? The harvest has already been got, and the animals have been let out to pasture," she responded formerly, not wanting to actually be electrocuted by the woman. "Besides, Aine and Zephyr were only walking. What could they have possibly destroyed?"

Roy shot her an incredulous look. She supposed he had never heard her speak in such a way. Well, she thought, I am usually cursing at him when we talk about anything. Except this morning. This morning has been nice.

"Your sass will get you in trouble one day" the elder rebuked.

Evie shrugged. "What else is new?" she asked nonchalantly. Another spark of electricity sizzled near her linked hand this time. Roy must have felt it too because he squeezed her fingers.

She squeezed back, if for no other reason than to make him loosen his grip. (Which he did not). Keeping her main focus on the elder, she said through gritted teeth, "is there a reason you stopped us, or did you just want to tell me off again for trampling through the fields?"

Madame Rhotan's eyes glimmered with disdain. She pursed her lips and huffed. "You need to take care, 'Amira*. The owl has been singing his song in the morning light."

"Maybe he's just not tired," the girl replied smartly. The lightening that crackled over her head was more omen to Evie than any owl the old woman told her about. Damn, I really need to learn to watch my mouth. She dismissed the thought as soon as it went through her head. She knew herself well enough to know which habits she would get rid of.

Madame Rhotan frowned. "Do you think this is a joke," she hissed, stomping up to Aine. The horse pawed at the ground and backed up a few steps making Mustang finally loosen his grip. Good, I was starting to lose feeling. He didn't let go entirely, simply guiding Zephyr back along with Aine.

"Whoa, boy," Evie patted Aine's neck with her free hand. She turned her attention back to the elder lady with narrowed eyes. "I don't believe in omens. And would you STOP with the lightening? I don't appreciate you spooking our horses!"

The elder scoffed and responded to the first statement, ignoring the demand completely. "And yet you make sure the well that is hidden deep under the sands has not run dry.

Evie was grateful for the lack of lightening rebuke at her outburst but could not hide her surprise at the elder's knowledge. "How –"

"Heed my warnings, tifl*. The magpies have gathered by the dozens in the fields. Hard times are upon us."

"Magpies? It's winter. Why are magpies even here? They don't come out to play until spring. Speak plain, Seer. I don't have time to decipher your warnings."

Madame Rhotan stomped her stick and electricity crackled in the fog around them. The raven flew up just above the stick and was backlit by the brightness of the lightening making its shadow appear large, threatening, as if it was going to attack.

Evie could feel the world closing in around her and had to hold herself back from clapping her hands and giving away one of her bigger secrets. She barely felt Amber landing back on her shoulder and nuzzling into her neck.

"This country has been cursed," the woman growled, bringing the blonde back to the present, "you must do something about it, or we will fall into chaos and dissension."

The younger woman breathed in deep, letting it out slowly. She would not hurt the old bird lady. She would not. Instead, she muttered, "Pretty sure we've already got the chaos part down." She didn't expect for Roy to hear, but the warning squeeze he gave told her otherwise. Aine knickered as if laughing at her. Raising her slightly trembling voice, she told the lady, "sakhidh hdha taht almashura.*"

The elder nodded. "See that you do. Now get. Do you not have a sparring match that you are to be at this eve?

News certainly travels fast.

Or have you already chosen your hamat 'ukhraa*?" Madame Rhotan eyed Roy with a look of disdain. "One would hope 'Amira might have a better preference in suitors," she scathed.

Evie felt her neck heat up and was grateful for the fog that hid her blush. "I haven't found anyone," she snapped and wrenched her hand out of Roy's. She barely remembered her manners and called out a good day as they rode off. However, she wasn't too far away to feel the electric spark near her other ear or to be able to ignore the elder's warning of "stop trampling the fields!"

Evie dug her heels into Aine's sides and raced even faster. Amber kept pace above them.

The general would just have to catch up.

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Roy would never admit to anyone, not even Hughes if he was still alive, that he actually felt a sheer unadulterated fear come over him when the fog and darkness suddenly appeared. Every part of his body froze. Zephyr's front hooves did a small hop and Mustang yelped.

His nerves tingled throughout his entire body and his shoulders were stiff. It was only Ed's hand in his that kept him grounded. Letting go was not an option even though he could tell she was annoyed. Though who she was annoyed with more was up for debate.

He didn't like the threatening disposition of the old woman. She reminded him of when they first met Scar. Ed however, seemed to be taking it all in stride, including the surrounding lightening.

There had been a few times when he was ready to snap his fingers and get them the hell out of there. He damn near hit his limit when the woman slammed her cane on the ground scaring them all. He didn't miss the tremor in Ed's voice when she gave her snarky response.

Seriously? Was she trying to get herself killed? The old question flitted through his mind.

He breathed a sigh of relief as the conversation came to a close, though he was surprised to hear Ed speak in perfect Ishvalan. In theory, he knew that both she and Al could speak several languages fluently; he just hadn't ever heard them do it. He wondered if Ed would tell him about some of the words he had heard, but he could tell by the pain in his entwined hand that the blonde was getting more and more agitated and would probably tell him nothing.

She snapped at the old woman and wrenched her hand from his.

Not wanting to stay anywhere near the creepy woman, he followed suit.

He saw the snap of electricity near Ed's ear and furrowed his eyebrows as he glanced back at the old woman.

"Ed," he said, finally catching up to the wayward woman as she slowed down. She stared forward, back straight, refusing to acknowledge him. He didn't know if her red cheeks were from whatever the old woman had said or from the wind, but now he really wanted to know what that lady had called him.

"Ed!" he called again more insistent, and when she didn't answer a second time, he fell back into their old routine. "Was it necessary to be so short with that elder?"

He was not disappointed.

"Who are you calling so short -!?"

Until he was.

She stopped herself mid-rant and glowered at him. "What do you want, asshole?"

"Answers would be nice," he deadpanned.

She rubbed at her forehead. "Wouldn't we all."

Ed had always held things close to her chest, rarely sharing information unless she had to. He knew this about her, but maybe if he asked a question that he knew she would answer, "who was that woman?"

She huffed. "An outcast Ishvalan seer. She was one of the first to seek refuge here, though if the stories are true, she went back to Ishval during the war to 'help.'" She gave him a significant glance, and he understood why the woman seemed familiar. He had probably seen her at some point during the war. No wonder she had disdained him.

Like all of his other feelings about that war, he pushed them into the corners of his mind and asked, "if she's Ishvalan, why does she use alchemy?"

Ed's face closed up, "she doesn't," was the tight answer.

"Then what -?"

"Look," she sighed, "once you marry the princess, you'll get answers to all of your questions. Well, most of them anyway."

He still wasn't sure if his earlier realization was a truth or just fleeting hope. He was leaning towards the latter. The universe didn't like him that much, and Ed would never want to be married to him, even if it was for a political alliance. "I still haven't decided if I want to marry her though," he pursed his mouth and asked a different question, "by practically ordering me to marry her, aren't you doing the same thing that the regent is doing to the princess?"

He watched her carefully, noting how her shoulders stiffened and her brow furrowed. After a long moment, she sounded almost sad when she responded, "nobody is forcing you to marry her, General. You can simply decline sparring, and you won't even be a candidate for the marriage. There are other options," she mumbled the last part, but the wind carried it to him.

"I thought you said if I didn't marry her, she would be forced to marry someone else."

Ed shrugged and with a resigned voice said, "she's resourceful."

Something heavy settled in his chest. "You really want me to marry her, don't you?"

She gave the sky a contemplative look before closing her eyes for a moment. When she opened them again, she was determined, "I know it's hard to believe that I would choose you as our princess's consort, but it wasn't as simple as all of that. She actually chose you first."

And now he was even more confused. He repeated Furey's words from the train to her again, and she nodded, her lips twisting up into a slight grimace. There was something sardonic in her reply, "That is definitely something she said," she murmured.

She was exasperating. Why couldn't he just have a normal conversation with her? Why did she have to make everything so difficult? The earlier headache was coming back. "Then why did she choose me?"

A thundering of hooves behind them and shouts of "'Amira!" put a halt to the conversation making him sigh in annoyance.

Two horses came up beside them. A man in a black hat and brown coat sat behind a dark blonde woman who was wearing a red jacket. Another man, with the same square chin and laughing eyes as the first sat on the other horse. He had brown hair and similar to the other two, wore a black coat. They were all about the same age as Ed, and Roy was intrigued to see her interact with them. He had only ever seen her around people much older than her. Al and Winry didn't count.

"'Mira!" The woman said again, a wide grin on her face.

She gave them all a genuine smile that faded when the single rider said, "I'm glad we saw you before getting to the palace, amyrat saghira*."

"Call me that again, shithead, and I'll give you a free ass-kicking," she said through gritted teeth.

Cole laughed. "Will it be during today's sparring match? I hear the Fullmetal Alchemist will be choosing a consort for our princess." He waggled his eyebrows at her. "I wouldn't mind taking that position," he added suggestively.

Roy felt a sudden inexplicable urge to punch the guy.

Ed scoffed, "I'm sure she would."

"Stop teasing, 'Mira," the woman on the other horse said. "She has 'nough stress." She smiled warmly at Roy and said, "I know 'Mira won' introduce us," her language was broken, and she rolled her 'Rs', but she was understandable. "I am Lucricia, and this," she gestured to the man behind her, "is my affianced, Aaron."

The man grinned at Roy, "I'd shake your hand but," he gestured at the horses. Roy laughed at the absurdity of it. "

"That," Aaron picked up from Lucricia, "is my twin brother, Cole. Ignore him. He's a nimwit.

"Hey!" Was the indignant response.

Lucricia giggled, "I think he is only dumb 'round Lady Ed."

Roy didn't like the implications of that. Another possible suitor for Ed? No thanks.

He pushed that aside for later. "I'm Major General Roy Mustang."

Lucricia's eyes widened, and she gave a blinding smile to Ed, "hamat 'ukhraa," she whispered in what Roy could only take as awe.

"What?" That was the second time he had been referred to as that. Although this time, at least, it was in a more positive manner.

Ed glared at the other woman.

"It's –" Lucricia started excitedly.

"Just a term," Ed cut in. "Don't worry about it."

Now he really wanted to know. He decided he would pester it out of her later.

"I'm assuming you guys are on your way to the festival?" Ed directed at them.

"Yeah," Aaron rubbed the back of his neck. "Miss Winry asked for us directly."

Her eyebrows shot up to her hairline. "Where's Bernita, then?"

"Helping her parents with the breads," Cole grumbled.

"Missing your accomplice, are you?" She teased. The man shrugged and looked forlornly ahead.

"Do you know what Miss Winry wants to see us for?" Lucricia brought them back to the conversation at hand.

Ed opened her mouth, but then shook her head and said, "no, I can't say that I do."

She's withholding information from them, Roy noted, glad that even now, he was still able to read her.

Distant laughter had him looking up to see the palace was in sight. A banner that read, "Festival of Hope" in gold letters hung over the gate.

"What's the "Festival of Hope,"" he wondered aloud.

"It's how the prince will remember his anniversary for years to come" Cole answered with a flourish of hands. "Maybe you and Lucricia should get married around a holiday, Aaron," he said to his brother, "then she'll never get mad at you for forgetting. The prince is onto something here."

"I will punch you," Aaron promised though he was smiling.

Lucricia laughed. Turning to Roy she said, "I'm surprised 'Mira didn't tell you 'bout it." Ed didn't acknowledge the pointed look. The other woman continued, ""Festival of Hope" was started as a promise of return of the royal family. When the prev'ous monarch and his family left, they threw a party to vow their return. Bernita's father was rather close to the royals. He said the prince never wanted to leave, but it was safer for everyone at the time. Nobody knows why, though I suspect that the princess has a good idea. Unfortunately, only the young prince and princess were able to come back to us.

"At least they did," Aaron added darkly.

"You make it sound like you didn't believe they would keep their promise," Roy queried.

"A lot of people were beginning to think they wouldn't," Cole affirmed, "and when the new regent took over, a lot of things changed. People who didn't agree with her policies disappeared. Class divisions became more prominent. Then she started talking with the Zeminites and the next thing we know, there's a new bill being drafted that'll close the borders to everyone. Lucky for us, the prince and princess showed up before they could put it in place."

Roy's political mind kicked in. He knew that Lady Oraine seemed a bit off when he first met her, but so far, she had been nothing but welcoming to the dignitaries and guests. Was she only being open to keep good relations with other countries? Is this why she barely tolerated Ed?

"Gave us a right scare at the beginning, the princess did," Aaron said with a laugh. Bringing Roy back from his thoughts. "We thought she was going to die before even saying hello."

Ed rolled her eyes.

"Why's that?" Roy asked.

"Nobody's sure," Lucricia took up the tale. "All an'one knows is that very shortly after they arrived, e'en before they got to the palace, the princess passed out and went into a coma for about a week."

"The regent didn't know what to do," Aaron continued, "with the royal children back, the whole political system was rocked. It wasn't exactly stable to begin with, but the prince and princess brought back a hope that had been lost to the people.

"The government seems pretty stable right now," Roy said.

Ed scoffed shaking her head drawing his attention to her. She had been silent through most of the conversation, allowing the others to do the talking, and he noted, leading them around the outside of the festival grounds where there weren't many people to notice them. "It's in a power struggle, Mustang," she said as if it were the most obvious thing in the world, which now that he thought about it and hearing what Lucricia and Aaron were saying, he felt like he should have realized sooner.

He could have smacked himself; he had been so focused on the intrigue of identities and missing his former youngest subordinate, that he hadn't given the New Xerxian government much thought. Now that he did, he understood a little better why Ed was so insistent he marry the princess.

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Evie watched as Mustang contemplated the situation and shook her head. She needed him to just do as she asked for once, without questioning her motives. She didn't understand why he was being so indecisive about marrying the princess. Did he figure out that Evie was the princess? Would he be so against it if she was? Was the idea of being married to her that bad?

Not that it really mattered to her, of course. Once they were married, he could go back to Amestris and do whatever the hell he wanted. He could call her if he needed anything. He probably won't.

She could handle things here just fine.

Just then, Prince Rinam and his advisor came around the corner in deep conversation with a man Evie could only dream of never having to deal with again. He was tall, with a square jaw and a goatee. His sandy blond hair was slightly greying in the front and swept back from his cold eyes in the modern Zeminite style. Some might call him roguishly handsome.

Evie called him a viper in a man's body. She was certain he was the true mastermind in whatever coup Oraine was concocting. She just had to prove it.

"What the hell is he doing here?" She blurted, stiffening in her seat, and drawing her companions' attention.

The three New Xerxian's faces darkened in varying degrees of anger. "You don' think…?" Lucricia started at the same time Aaron said, "this is bad, and Cole growled.

Mustang looked confused and asked the obvious, "who's that?"

The three men hadn't noticed them yet, but Evie didn't want to wait around for them to do so, "you guys need to go. Now." Her voice was quiet, but the urgency wasn't lost on them.

They nodded their assent and turned their horses away. Turning a dark grin to Evie, Cole quipped, "Welp, see ya 'round, m'lady," and surreptitiously led his companions away.

Evie gave a half-wave, too distracted watching the group in front of her to do much else.

"Ed?" Mustang asked pulling her attention to him.

"Let's go, General." She said softly and turned Aine away before they were noticed.

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Roy followed suit, glad that she didn't leave him behind for a third time that day. Not that he thought she would in this case. It didn't stop him from wondering who that man was and why he made them all so uneasy.

She led them towards the main festival area behind the palace and slowed her horse to a stop behind a copse of trees next to the wide garden walkway. There, she jumped off an anxious Aine and grabbed his reins with shaking hands. "We're going to have to get lost in the crowd," she answered his curious look with a strained voice.

He could practically see her jumping in her skin though she hid it well. Getting down from his horse, he came around and grabbed her hands. "Ed." he was surprised at the amount of anger and determination he saw swirling within her eyes. "Tell me what's going on, so I can help."

She huffed and pulled her hands out of his grip. "The only way you can help is to win that match today. Otherwise, stay out of my way," she said gruffly. "Here. Hold him," she ordered thrusting Aine's reins at him.

He scrambled to grab them, eyes glancing between the horse and rider. He still couldn't figure out why New Xerxes was so important to her. Had she really become so attached to it in the four years she spent here as an ambassador?

Aine pulled on the reins making Roy stumble forward. He threw his hand up catching himself on Ed's right shoulder. Zephyr knickered in the background.

He growled at his horse even as he thought it was odd that she didn't even flinch from his weight.

She smirked, thinking that his grumbling had to do with Aine. "Oh, don't worry. He won't do anything to you. Not with me here, anyway."

She pulled a gold chain out from the inside of her shirt then twisted the pendant to the back and the clasp to the front and unhooked it. Aine turned his head to his rider, and the movement forced Roy forward another step.

Ed patted the horse's nose, "I think you scared him a bit," she muttered to the animal. Roy watched as she wrapped the necklace around one of the rings on the harness attached to Aine's nose and startled at the glowing symbol on the pendant. It was the exact centerpiece of the alchemical symbol he had seen on his favorite painting and the one that had glowed when he touched his door handle. The knot of anxiety was back. "What does that insignia stand for?" He asked.

Ed stopped fiddling with the necklace and stared at him for a long moment. "Sometimes I wonder if you're as smart as I like to give you credit for," she said thoughtfully. Shaking her head, she finished attaching the piece while also stating, "For the sake of New Xerxes, I can only hope it doesn't take you long to catch up. Preferably within the next couple of hours," she added pointedly, glancing back towards the bustling crowd beyond the trees. Her moods were giving him whiplash.

He sputtered. What exactly was he supposed to catch up with? Unless his earlier thoughts and theories were correct? What if they are?

"Ed…?" He began, dropping Aine's reins and stepping into her personal space. He backed her up against the tree, hands on either side of her head.

Evie's eyes widened and her hands came up as if to push him away. Although, he was gratified to note that she didn't do so. "What are you…?" she sputtered.

He smirked at the hot blush rushing up her neck and across her face. "What are you hiding from me?" He whispered.

She huffed and looked at the sky. Her eyes were guarded when they came back to his. "Don't you think I would have told you already, if I could have?"

"Given your track record of hiding things from me?" He replied archly.

He was amused to see her giving actual thought to the question; her lips pursed, eyebrows furrowed, and nose scrunched just a little. Finally, she nodded, surprising him with her concession and then ruining it with, "someone else would probably have told your dumbass eventually."

Shaking his head and trying to hide his amusement, he straightened up, allowing one of his hands to fall to her hip.

He watched as the blush that had started to fade came back even redder. Interesting. "Can you at least tell me who that man was and why he upset you and your friends so much?"

She looked away huffing, and then jumped when his finger made a circle over her clothes. Her eyes were wide when they snapped back to his face. She stared at him for a long moment, only snapping out of it when a bird cawed nearby.

Mirroring his actions, she too straightened, pushing his hand off her hip. "I already told you, marry the princess, and you'll get all the answers you want.

Looking up into the trees, she gave a light whistle through her fingers. He watched as the crow with amber wings flew down and landed on her outstretched hand.

"Such a pretty bird. So smart too," she cooed, petting it. "You should share some of your brains with this moron."

"Hey!" was Roy's indignant response

The bird eyed him and then cawed in dismissal. Ed grinned and surprised him by telling the bird to "be nice." She went to the two horses and rubbed three of her fingers down each nose as if in a ritual. "Alright, Amber," and the bird flew up in front of the two horses, "you know what to do." It gave another caw and flew down, landing between Aine's ears.

"Follow the phoenix," Ed whispered just before the horses took off, and Roy gaped as the glowing light on the pendant flared and then dimmed.

Ed turned to him, "oh close your mouth already. It's not like I used magic. Geeze." She walked off mumbling, "Come on, General. Let's get this shitshow started."

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -* Roy/Evie *- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

A/N: I sincerely hope that Roy's inner confusion is coming through and that the story is much tighter to my readers than what it seems from this author's point of view.

In my mind, I associate the Ishvalan language with Arabic, and the Cretian language with French. All words and phrases with asterisks are translated from Google. If I got anything wrong, please let me know. I have a much better understanding of French as I have been learning as a second language for many (many) years. I don't know the Arabic language at all, though I have heard it spoken, and it truly is beautiful.

*tifl - child

* hamat 'ukhraa – significant other

* sakhidh hdha taht almashura – "I'll take that under advisement"

* 'amira - princess

* amyrat saghira – little princess

*le cheval démon noir

Comments and Kudos are Love!