Back in England, in the lovely city of Brighton, the evening was about to set upon England's green fields and quaint towns. At the Queen's Hotel, Russian Royal Advisor Marquess Fanny was on the line with the Ambassador Chad, telling him the grave news about the research.

"Look, I know it's terrible that this Jellal boy is dead. But we need to keep those open borders still open. I don't care if that stoopid empress would flip her lid. Do whatever it takes for the archeologists to do their work". She immediately puts down the phone, sighing in disbelief. IT's just all too stressful. She later hears a knock on her hotel door, after looking to see who it is, she opens the door to see Tsaritsa Rachel, whom she bows to.

"Your imperial majesty".

"At ease Fanny" Rachel replies. "Did you tell our ambassador the news?"

"Yes. I also told him to keep the borders between us and Rome open for as long as possible".

"Good. We will need that. Anyway, Queen Charity has invited us to the Globe Theatre. The Royal Shakespeare Company is putting on a performance of The Great Gatsby. You want to join?"

"Sounds interesting, I might join you later your imperial majesty. I just need to finish up work here and I'll meet you later".

"As expected from the royal advisor". They wave each other goodbye as Fanny returned to finish her work. Just then, an email was sent from the ambassador in Rome. She opens up her newly invented laptop to see the message sent to the Foreign Secretary and CC'd to her. She reads it and what she saw shocked her.

To Foreign Secretary Pearl,

Please have this wired to Kaiser Hohenhiem, Prince Alphonse, and other important German officials.

We regret to inform the German people and the German imperial family that the Crown-Prince Edward Elric has passed away at the hands of Empress Malty S. Melromarc. Advisor to the Roman throne, Ms. Kaname Chidori has regrettably informed that the tension between the prince and the empress has finally blown over to his demise. It is most infuriating and most sorrowful to hear this tragedy take place.

We would hope this message finds you well. Please express our dearest grief with Prince Alphonse, whom I'm sure is going through a lot with his sick father as well. We would also like to add that Prince Edward loved his younger brother and wishes he is well.

My most sincerest sorrow,

Ms. Kaname Chidori.

Telecommunicated by Russian Ambassador Chad Dickson to Rome

October 3, 2001 A.S.

Fanny upon reading the email gets on the telephone and calls up the local operator.

"Hello, Get me in touch with the German ambassador", the operator speaks on the other end, "YES! The one here in England!". Fanny speaks to the German ambassador in private about the news.

In the mean time, at the Coventry Opera House, German Prince Alphonse and his fiancé, the English Princess Pepper Mills were being treated to a delightful concert program presented by the Coventry Symphony Orchestra. In that program, it included music of the German composers Claude Debussy and Franz Liszt, the English composers Modest Mussorgsky and George Gershwin, and a new American composer who is debuting his Ninth Symphony entitled "From The New World", Anton Dvorak. Speaking of the symphony, The orchestra was just under way with its fourth movement, and the royals were enjoying.

"You know, this American composer is not half bad" Prince Alphonse says to the Duchess of York.

"Isn't he!?" Princess Pepper replies in an excited whisper, "I adore his music. Especially his Seventh Humoresque. That is one of my favorites pieces to play".

"And you played it very well the last time I visited you" Al comments on Pepper's skills on the violin he witnessed back in a state visit earlier this year. As they continue to enjoy the concert, a royal messenger comes in to the royal box, with a message from the German embassy to the prince. Al receives the letter, reading the message and putting it in his pocket.

"What was that all about?" Pepper asks him.

"They just want me to come to the embassy is all. I hope nothing to important. I think it be best if I go see to it after the concert".

"But I thought we were going to have dinner at the Ritz when we return to London".

"And we will" Al reassures her. "But maybe perhaps tomorrow. You know that duty calls".

"I guess honey, but you will take me to the Ritz tomorrow night yes? And then you will take me to your home in Germany?".

"Of course dear, just like I promised". As they finish up their talk, the concert was almost over. At the concert's end, the guards escort the two out and back to London. For Princess Pepper, it is back to Buckingham Palace. For Prince Alphonse, it is to the German Embassy in London. A terrace building overlooking St. James Park. Prince Al enters the German embassy and greeted by the German ambassador with shoulder length blond hair and golden eyes, just like the prince. He is in fact technically his half-brother, for Kaiser Hohenheim had a thing with another woman before his marriage and had an illegitimate child. The ambassador's name is William von Hohenheim, a veteran of the Third International Catastrophe who often went by the nickname "Envy". He has a most distressing look in his eyes, eyes that portray terrible news. This had the prince concerned, hoping that it is not too much grave news.

"Your imperial highness" William addresses him, "I'm afraid I have very upsetting news, you might want to sit down for this".

"Does it have to do with father? Is he alright?" Al asks worryingly, knowing full well that his father might be on his deathbed any moment.

"Fortunately it is not. But I know this will shock you just as much". Prince Al sits down on one of the chairs as William takes out the telegram that was sent after the Russian advisor called in.

"It's about your brother, Prince Edward...".

"What about brother?".

"Well..." William tries to not drop the upsetting news too quickly. "You know that your brother loves you very much".

"Yes I know that. And I am working with our diplomats to get him out of Rome as soon as we can".

"That... won't be necessary". This is probably the time that William drops the news to the prince, he knows how devastated with the news.

"What are you talking about". Without delay any longer, William gives the prince the telegram.

"We've been informed from the Russian delegation, who was informed by their ambassador in Rome, that Crown Prince Edward has tragically passed". Prince Alphonse was confused by the statement. He is in disbelief.

"I... I don't understand, she couldn't have".

"Her anger got the best of her, and all that tension between them has finally got the best of her. She ordered his execution earlier today, but we were informed by the Roman advisor who also informed the Russian ambassador that your brother recently received your letter. His final words were that he loved you very much and that he wishes you well".

The prince just sat in a state distraught. He has hoped to see his brother one last time. He hoped that the empress would be kinder and would finally set him free. He had trust that he would be out before an outbreak of hostilities. Those dreams and hopes have been crushed because of the empress' explosive behavior. All that the prince could think about right now was the good times he had with his brother before he left to wed the empress when they were growing up. Al was now in tears, which hasn't really happened since the death of his mother.

"I-I... can't believe it" is all that Al could say. "Brother is g-gone. I didn't even get to say, g-good bye".

"I don't know what to tell you your imperial highness. I too feel sorry for the loss of the prince" William says trying to comfort him.

"I, had a good day. It was an enjoyable day. But all of this... j-just ruined it. I can't believe how any of this can get worse". Just then, the office boy came in with a telegram, giving it to William and whispering something in his ear which was on the lines of urgency. William opens the telegram and is in shock and confusion. Confusion of whether or not to tell the prince.

"What is it?" He asks, trying to dry the tears in his eyes.

"I'm not sure if you'll like it".

"Just give me the paper". William does give the prince the telegram. What the prince read in the telegram absolutely destroyed his already fragile and broken heart...

To Ambassador William,

Please let the prince know that his father is failing in health rapidly. He needs to come home immediately.

-The German Palace Servants.

"Father?" Al whispers in shock and sadness and before anyone could say anything, he was on his way to Heathrow Airport to catch his personal helicopter back to the German imperial palace. He didn't say goodbye to Princess Pepper as he left in a rush to get home. He did however informed the German delegation of the International Senate that he would have to leave for home. A few hours later at 10 o'clock pm, the helicopter dropped down near the palace, where staff, servants, and guards greeted him, but he wasn't listening as he ran in such a rush to see his father. In one of the large rooms of the palace, he goes in finds the doctors and his ill and dying father on the bed. The many years of ruling the German empire has turned Hohenheim's once golden hair into a gray color, which matches his dying skin withering away from his body. One of the doctors go up to the prince with the terrible news.

"I'm sorry your imperial highness. We did all that we could to keep your father alive. I'm afraid there is not much time left for him".

"You did all that you can Dr. Knox. It is very much appreciated" Al responds to the doctor solemnly. With the inevitable coming, he goes up to his dying father, hoping to get one last glimpse. For a moment, Hohenheim's eyes opened up, but it would soon be his last.

"Dear Alphonse" he says in a raspy voice. "I'm afraid I am not long for this earth any longer. I will soon be with your mother and brother in heaven soon. I just wanted to say that I loved you truly".

"F-Father" Alphonse says with tears in his eyes.

"I know that you will have to the reigns of the empire. I'll trust that you'll take care of her. Please take care of the German people".

"Of course father. The German people are always on my mind".

"You know..." Hohenheim says before coughing harshly. "I-I wished that I have never betrothed your brother to the empress. I never saw this coming. After all that happened to him, he probably hates me".

"I'm sure he doesn't up there father. I'm sure you meant well". Hohenheim was at his last breath, holding hands with his son as he slowly slips away to the light.

"My son, your brother's death should not go in vain. Rome has become more of a threat to us and the world. Please. Don't ever. Forget what. Happened... Never. Stand down". Hohenheim begins to stray further into sleep. All Alphonse could do was watch. It was now eleven o'clock. Kaiser Hohenheim was now declared dead. Al stood there, mourning for the death of his father, kneeling by his bedside breaking down. The rest of his family, his mother, brother, and now father were all gone. He is now the last of Elrics. The servants take note of his new position.

"We give our respects to your late father. But now, you must continue your father's reign... Your Imperial Majesty". The servants and staff all bow down to him. They knew that there was a lot of things to do, from the funeral service to his coronation. Prince Alphonse was not expecting to become the new kaiser of the German Empire. But here he was. The leader of the world's second most powerful empire. He wasn't sure if he was ready to follow in his father's steps, but one thing was certain to him...

The Kaiser is dead. Long live Kaiser Alphonse... Long live the German Empire.

-End of Chapter Seventeen-