Series: Post FMA:B or the second anime

Characters: Brief mentions of many characters, some of whom have been promoted. Please also see the summary.

Summary: This is an excerpt from Roy Mustang's inauguration speech. (Please imagine the crowd's and individuals' reactions. XD)

Warnings: Future fic. Spoilers- Mentions of key moments throughout FMA:B

The truth? FMA isn't mine, and it doesn't want to be mine.

I come before you today, humbly and, I hope, wisely and strongly. As you know, I have made terrible mistakes and committed atrocious acts. I've murdered many and have no possibility of forgiveness or atonement. There is no defense for what I've done. I continued killing the people of Ishbal despite knowing that I was wrong. My rationale was that I was following orders and trying to be patriotic, but I was really being a coward. There were State Alchemists braver than I- men who jeopardized their careers and freedom to avoid what I was too weak to reject. The only saving grace of the man that I was in that corrupt desert war was that he decided to spend the rest of his life striving to make it so that no person in Amestris would be coerced into following immoral orders. I promised myself and a small group of soldiers that I would rise in the military ranks and become Fuhrer. And that once I became Fuhrer, I would rid Amestris of its military government and establish a democracy. I also mentioned something about miniskirts, but that promise will have to be shelved. Sorry!

Events didn't occur precisely as I'd planned, but they did turn out pretty well. Fuhrer Grumman, who has long been my mentor and will soon be my grandfather-in-law, has stabilized our country, negotiated peace and established trade with our neighbors, overseen the beginnings of rehabilitation of the Ishballan people and region, and instituted a council composed of representatives from all corners of our land.

These changes would not have been possible without our great heroes: Edward and Alphonse Elric, the late Von Hohenheim, General Olivier Armstrong, Colonel Alex Louis Armstrong, Stig and Izumi Curtis, not to mention the lovely and lethal Major Riza Hawkeye. My dear friend Brigadier General Maes Hughes uncovered the conspiracy against the Amestrian people and gave his life for us. Many others sacrificed life and limb.

Fuhrer Grumman is a tough act to follow, but as I tell him, I am younger, stronger, and better looking. I shall continue his initiatives, but I also plan to launch several of my own. My indispensable team and I, in conjunction with Fuhrer Grumman, have drawn up a plan that will allow all adult citizens of our nation to participate in democratic elections for council representatives within the next two years and a democratic election for Fuhrer one year after that.

I may be able to light Captain Havoc's cigarette from across the parade grounds- really, Jean, don't you think that it's time to quit- but, like you, I don't know what the future will bring. I vow that I will spend my time as Fuhrer working to build happy and healthy lives for all. Our progress may not always proceed smoothly, but I will do my best. I will see to it that you will be able to choose your Fuhrer, and if I do well enough, perhaps it will even be me.

A/N- I see Politician!Roy as being brutally honest and earnestly hopeful. I also see him honoring all of the people who fought to make Amestris free. And, as implied by the grandfather-in-law remark, I see Roy and Riza getting married. Royai forever! (I see Riza rolling her eyes when he mentions her. XD)

Reviews are loved! Thank you for reading, and take care.