To Thine Own Self Be True
Chapter 16 - You Were Suppose to Be Here
DREAM
"Maes... I want to become Fuhrer..."
A young Roy states in a dark room. A young Hughes looks on.
"I want to change the way this place is run."
"I'll help. Push you up as your subordinate."
"Thanks buddy."
"Hey anytime pal..."
END DREAM
Mustang wakes up. He is sitting across from a sleeping Hawkeye in a private train car. He turns to the window and looks out as the fast passing scenery. Slowly, the train comes to a stop and Hawkeye wakes up. They walk from the train and make their way to Central HQ.
"Sir...?"
"Hughes is keeping something from me. He didn't tell me about the Elrics. I found out on my own when the memo came."
Mustang continued to walk on. Night was falling. Hawkeye remained alert behind him.
"Colonel!"
Hawkeye and mustang turned around to face a frantic Ross.
"What is it?"
"It's Hughes... he's in the hospital!"
And Mustang, Hawkeye and Ross ran back to the Central Hospital. It started to rain as they ran. As much as Mustang hated the rain, he continued running. As they burst through the lobby doors, Mustang saw Armstrong, Brosh, Sheska, Gracia and Elicia. Mustang walked up to Gracia, who was in a nightgown and robe.' She turned around and collapsed into his arms.
"Why... why him?"
She cried into his arms. Mustang put a comforting arm around her as she cried. Hawkeye watched from afar. She looked over on the bench and saw Elicia sitting alone in her night clothes staring at her bare feet. She walked over and sat next to her.
"Hi Miss. Riza."
"Hey, Elicia. You okay?"
"I think. Mommy dragged me outside tonight and said we needed to go see daddy. Something was wrong though. I could tell. She was crying and hasn't stopped crying since we got here. Do you know where my daddy is?"
Hawkeye stared at the little girl. She didn't want to lie, but she didn't want to be the one to explain everything either. So, she took the lesser of the burdens.
"No, sweetie, I don't."
Just then, a doctor emerged from a hallway and approached Gracia and Mustang. Gracia turned to face the doctor. He said something Hawkeye could hear. But she has a feeling it wasn't good when Gracia collapsed to the floor. mustang caught her just in time. He picked her up and carried her over to a bench. As he walked, he caught Hawkeye's glance. His eyes told her the worst. They were empty and distant. Elicia watched her mommy but didn't move.
"Why is my mommy crying?"
She looked up at Hawkeye. Hawkeye couldn't answer. All she did was watch Gracia cry and the military personnel attempt to comfort her. Soon, Hawkeye and Elicia were the only once sitting there. Everyone else was across the lobby comforting Gracia. Hawkeye spotted a drink machine.
"Thirsty?"
"A little."
"What do you want?"
"Juice would be nice. Please and thank you."
Hawkeye went to the machine and got the child a drink. Elicia sat and drank in silence. Hawkeye put and arm around the child as she drank. Mustang looked up for a moment from Gracia and looked over at Hawkeye. Hawkeye looked back at him. A simple nod was all that was exchanged.
Two days later...
In the front of a large crowd, a man known as Colonel Roy Mustang the Flame Alchemist, stood silently. Colorful badges and rank bars adorned his navy blue jacket. White gloves with red alchemy circles on them, covered his hands and his black hair was slicked back. His right hand was raised to a respectful salute, shading his dark and distant and empty eyes.
"Mommy... ?"
In front of Mustang was a lady with short orange hair who was standing in a black dress. She was wiping her eyes with a tissue. Next to her was her scared little girl. She had long blonde pigtails and was in a small black dress. Her bright green eyes showed much fear.
"Mommy why are they burying daddy... ?
Navy blue dress uniforms arranging in all sizes; some skirts but mostly pants, stood behind and next to Mustang. Matching blue Military hats were tucked under their arms, while their white gloved hands were raised into a salute. Every single personnel who had anything to go with the military of Amestris was saluting. In the front of this VERY large crowd, stood two men who were slowly filling a hole with dirt.
"Mommy! Why are they burying daddy? Daddy says he can't work if they bury him and he needs to do his work! Mommy why?"
The lady bent down and picked up her daughter and held her tightly. And they cried together as the hole with her husband and Elicia's father was buried.
"Oh Elicia."
The lady carried her daughter from the cemetery, crying and walked down the many rows. She needed to leave. This was too painful for her. She knew her husband wouldn't want her and her daughter to suffer much more. Remaining behind at the stone was Mustang, and walking up behind him was his Lieutenant Hawkeye. Turning to the stone which read... MAES HUGHES, Roy started to speak as he puled his hat onto his head.
"You were going to help me. Push me up through the ranks. Now you've passed me... Brigadier General Hughes. What kind of friend does that? Goes ahead and dies like that..."
Mustang then turned his gaze up to the clear blue sky.
"It's raining Lieutenant"
Hawkeye looked at her superior. She was going to remind him of the clear sky, but thought better of it when the tear rolled down his cheek.
"Yes sir, it is."
And they stood their until night fall. A single street lamp lit up the area, making the cemetery a very dark place to be. But their they stood, stiff as stones, as the clear nigh sky shown down on them.
"sir..."
Mustang was still standing, his gaze switching every now and then from the stone to the sky. Hawkeye was not expecting what happened next. Mustang turned around, face to face with Hawkeye and just collapsed into her. No tears, no nothing. He rested his head on her shoulder and she hesitated, but then placed a hand on his back for comfort.
"Sir..."
"It's not fair. I mean no one hurts more then Gracia and Elicia, but it's still not fair. Why did they kill him. What did he have on them they threatened them?"
"Who sir?"
"I don't know, thats the problem."
After a moment, more, Mustang stood up and stared into her eyes."
"Sir... Id f it's any constellation, I'm planning to follow you to the top and push you."
"I don't want anyone else to risk their lives for that promise."
Mustang turned around and Hawkeye placed her hand on his shoulder."
"It's a promise worth dying for...sir."
Mustang looked down at the ground, then he placed his hand over her's.
"Thank you, Riza... for everything."
And with that he walked away. Hawkeye remained behind for a moment more watching him leave. Then she too, left.
A/N - See, I am creative. I am, I am! It's good none the less... right... ? ... Hello? Anyone out there...?
Please review. Constructive criticism accepted. No FLAMES (Thats Roy's job only). Please look in my profile oo0AnimeChild0oo for all my other stories. And again, thanks for reading.
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever"
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