The State Alchemist clapped his hands and a chain reaction of destruction left the alchemist, red lights surrounded him and his family, and the alchemy shredded the ground and took his family with it.

He did nothing, frozen entirely in fear of what was going on, but then, the alchemy surrounded his brother and seeing his hotheaded but very beloved brother about to get blown to pieces, something in him just snapped and he ran. He ran over to him and jumped in between the State Alchemist and his brother. His body got torn by the blast but somehow he survived and could still walk. Clutching his left side; bleeding badly from the alchemic attack, well aware it would only be a matter of time before he would bleed out. His wounds did not matter though, all that did was finding his little brother.

He found his brother and collapsed before him, he was alive but just barely, his face torn and to his greatest horror: his right arm was missing. Blood flooded out from the wound. He tried to stop the bleeding, but he wasn't strong enough to block the blood from flooding out. And no matter how much he called for help; no one came. His brother would die... unless... it will probably end up with his own death since this is his very first transmutation but a sacrifice he is willing to take if it meant the survival of his own brother. He starts transmuting his own right arm onto his brother, but because he isn't ready to meet Ishvala, he attempts on healing his own wounds- as expected: his alchemy rebounded and the last thoughts he made. 'better me than you.'

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His eyes snap wide open and jerk up from bed, he regrets that choice right away when a painful jolt goes through his right side. Shade cries in pain, however, he's unsure what hurts the most; his right side or his head.

"Brother!"

Shade looks up, and for the first time, he truly feels like that man's older brother and not just someone he considered more like a roommate who claimed them to be in family with one another. Seeing his brother after that memory throwback feels him with relief, but also sadness. Now he knows how he got that scar- his namesake and... Shade lowers his gaze down to his own missing arm. Well, that explains why he feels a touch of pride from has lost it. Because due to that sacrifice; he saved his younger brother life.

Scar stops for a brief moment, the look his brother gave him; it startled him. Not entirely sure why, only that it made him wonder if his brother remembers their past together. He sure looked at him differently, but one thing first. Scar is aware that his brother is probably in a lot of pain by now, and even though he does not fancy alchemy one bit, he will look past it for the sake of his brother. He performs the numbing alchemy around the metal arm, allowing his brother some relief from the pain.

Letting out a sigh of relief when most of the pain disappears, Shade muses up to Scar. "Thanks." For he's not sure he could have done it himself. He has trouble performing alchemy when in pain, and unfortunately, he always got a low tolerance for pain. But now he can think straight, he can figure out what has been causing this pain.

Shade tries to leaves the bed, and his brother stops him, telling him hard. "Don't move, you need to rest." Yet the worry in his voice didn't go unnoticed for Shade. The few memories he has gotten about Scar hasn't said much on how this man is in personality, but Shade is starting to remember the love he felt towards his younger brother. He can however only wonder if their bond was anything like this before he lost his memories.

"I know." He replies Scar, but unlike the last time he went through this, he can heal the wounds and hopefully get past this whole ordeal much faster. He tries to move again."But I need solid ground to heal myself."

He really doesn't want his brother to strain himself, but he knows that Shade knows what he's talking about. So he allows and even helps his brother down to the floor, although it's reluctantly as he really does not want the wounds to reopen. "What do you need?" He asks, knowing his brother will use alchemy for this.

Shade points at his bag. "I need some calk."

When sure he won't move and reopen the wounds, Scar turns to the bag and briefly searches it. After he found what he's looking for, he hands the piece of calk to his brother. Shade draws down the transmutation array right beside where he is sitting on the floor, Scar notices it's the same one Mei draws when she's doing alchemy and thus looks into the bag again to see if there are any of those knives. He wasn't surprised not to find any; instead, he finds small metal poles, clearly made for the alchemy. He grabs those metal poles and turns back to his brother who has finishing up the drawing with his left hand.

Oh, Scar forgot that his brother can use his left hand as well as his right. He remembers his brother often wrote his homework with the left while eating with the right, he also remembers younger him found it weird he could do that.
He figures that's why he marked both of his arms, for him it wouldn't make a difference which hand he used. Scar is strickly right-handed though, and thus performing alchemy with the left is quite tricky, the only time he can use the left properly is during combat.

Before his brother can even ask, Scar gives him the metal poles, his brother is a bit caught off guard but quickly recovers. "Thanks."

Scar watches him placing five of them onto the transmutation circle and with it done; he activates it.

When the light fades, Shade checks his shoulder. "Hmm... not fully healed, but it has to do for now." He muses. Performing medical alchemy right after another is often a bad idea as the alchemy is, after all, using the body's natural healing ability to close up wounds and pushing the body too hard can be a disaster, especially when the patient is low on energy like he is. Shade pushes himself off the floor and back up to the bed. Back there he eyes the man everyone calls Scar, one he now is starting to feel like family and yet... has no idea what his name is... anyway, he thinks it's best they have a talk. "Could you close the door?" and he wants it in private.

Scar closes the door and since his brother has that tone, he knows this conversation is going to get serious. He takes a seat on the bed beside his brother, waiting for him to speak. To his surprise, Shade puts his left hand on his right. "I remember what I did."

Scar's eyes wide hearing this, of all the things his brother could remember; this is what he remembers first. He lowered his head, eyeing the arm there once belonged to his brother. There is a question he had asked himself many times, back then unable to get answered because he thought his brother dead. But now... "Why did you save me?" He knows his brother cares deeply for him, the many memories he has about him makes that clear. But had it truly been enough for his older brother to sacrifice his own arm and thus close of dying himself?
Shade blinks at this question and is frowning in his confusion. It's not often Scar sees this face so his question must really have been one he thought was obvious. Maybe it is, but he still needs to hear the answer. "What made you compromise your own life for my sake?"

He's not sure why his brother asks such a question since the answer is a simple one. "You're my brother." Shade answers him, yes even with barely any memories, he knows he cares for this man and Scar clearly feels the same way.

Scar thought so; still, it's nice to hear that has been solely the reason for this sacrifice. But Scar must admit that he would like his brother take back what he gave him all those years ago, it's painful to watch him suffer because of his selfless sacrifice."Brother?"
His brother titles his head slightly at him and Scar turns his right hand slightly. "Can you reverse it?"

Shade eyes the arm that once belonged to him, frowning ever so thought of reclaiming his right arm... it's not something that hasn't fully crossed his mind but clearly been on his brother's. He wonders how bad Scar feels about watching him struggle through the automail recovery, but; "I don't want it back, I sacrificed it to save your life." and one he was more than willing to pay.

"But you continue on suffering under this choice." Scar argues, not sure which one he's most angry at. Himself from misusing his brother's sacrifice to his own senseless vengeance or his brother for not seeing that he no longer has to go through all this pain. "I should be the one with the automail." For he is very confident that he can take the pain way better than his brother.

He stands corrected, his brother does not only care but seems to blame himself for something involving the arm. Shade's not sure what it is, but he doubts Scar will tell him anytime soon. He carries something he seems unable to let go. "Brother, even if it means I will be free from this agony; I will never take that arm back and put this burden onto you." He puts his hand onto the arm that once belonged to him but now is part of his brother. "That arm belongs to you now."

His brother did not like this answer, and Shade did think that Scar would start yelling at him but he doesn't. Instead, he leaves the bed with a rather gruff. "I'll get something for you to eat." Shade watches him leave and does wonder what is troubling his brother's mind. It's not just him dealing with automail, it's something else. It's frustrating he doesn't know enough about Scar to understand what might have been the issue, can only hope more memories will return. His brother returns with a plate of food and as he puts it down on the night bed, Shade asks. "What's the true reason you want me to reclaim the arm?"
His brother stiffens up, like an animal caught in a trap.

How is it he keeps forgetting about his brother ability to read him like an open book? The only thing saving him is Shade's lack of memories, if his brother knew about his past then he could've figured out what he has done... a dark part of him doesn't want his brother to remember, that way his brother can never figure out what terrible mistake he did and thus he won't lose his brother. "How severe are your wounds?" He asks in an attempt to change the topic.

His brother gives him a look of not being happy about him avoiding the answer but does, fortunately, drop the subject by letting out a small sigh.

"I managed to heal most of the wounds around the arm" Shade explains and takes a bite of the bread before continuing. "It's not perfect but has vastly reduced the recovery compared to the last time."

"You wasn't able to heal yourself the first time?" Scar asks, not sure if he should be impressed that his brother is clearly better in healing than Mei, or pity his brother from have gone through this before without any aid. He is starting to wonder if Shade can be just as powerful as the Elric brothers when it comes to alchemy.

Shade shakes his head. "No, back then I only knew the basics and Li couldn't heal major injuries such as the automail surgery do against one." He smiles, weakly. "One good thing came out from all of that agony though: Li spent a lot of time around me since she was my healer."

So that's how they met, Scar thinks to himself, glad that his brother met someone he could love. And even though he will never meet her in person, he still wishes to know more about the woman his brother married and later gave birth to Harika. "Tell me about her."

Shade laughs softly and starts to tell him a few memories about her that stood out for him.

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Shade sat in the room he was giving while living in the Wang clan, most of the room was filled with notes, books and scrolls about alkahestry. He was so engulfed into his research that he didn't hear the sliding door open, only got aware when his healer; the princess of the Emperor spoke to him. "I knew I would find you in here." He glanced to her with a weak and embarrassed smile of being caught studying when he should try and train his right arm. "I'm sorry, but I just can't put this down." He turned back to the book, the smile was gone from the thought this might solve the mystery that was his past. "Not when it might be the key to who I was."

Li took a seat beside him, her black eyes on the unique tattoo on his left arm; the only thing he had left about a past he no longer could remember. All he knew that he had been studying alkahestry since one of the marks was about the dragon pulse. It was a bit strange since he wasn't from Xing with those red eyes and brown skin. Shade wasn't from Xing, so much was clear but without his memories, he wouldn't know where he was from.

Li Wang eyed him, gaze serious but kind. "Let me help you." and she took one of the books about the dragon pulse laying on the table. Shade smiled, glad she wanted to help him figure out who he was. He felt quite lucky in having her as his healer, was a bit strange why the princess of this clan did such a task when there were plenty others capable of doing the job. While she deciphered the lower part of his arm, he remarked something he has heard people of the clan mention. "You know, now that I am healed from the automail rehabilitation: there is no need for you to stick around a foreigner such as me." However, it wasn't really meant in the way of shooing her away, more an indirect question of why she used his recovery as an excuse of sticking around.

Li snorted as if offended, but the gleam in her eyes said otherwise. "Eager getting rid of me Shade?" She asked him teasingly.

He returned it with a kind smile. "Quite the contrary, I enjoy your company and so does Selena. However, the chief and some of the clan's people have started to talk."

"People can talk all they like and don't mind the chief, he simply wishes I find myself a rich, boring husband." Li brushed his words off.

Shade smiled at her answer of wanting to be with him and Selena even though it could put her in a bad light. "I think I can do the boring part."

Li turned away from the markings on his arm and eyed him amused. "You're not very subtle, are you?"

He laughed at that and retorted back. "I simply said I am a boring man to hang around with," he gestured to the books he spent more time around than the people of the clan. "All I do is study and ask question people don't want to hear." One of those questions was who he was. His mind rarely could find rest; that was the first thing he discovered about himself. He opened his mouth but what he was about to say never left the lips for Li stopped them by learning up against his left side, resting her head on his shoulders. Her action and the sudden closeness caught him off guard. He looked down to her and she gave him a smile he would come to love. "Then I guess you fit the description of what the chief wants me to find."

He couldn't help but laugh from the sudden turn of event, yes he must admit that he has gotten certain emotions for her and was hoping she felt the same way. But he honestly hadn't expected anything to come out from it. This was the answer to why she ignored the talk among the people and chief. "You don't take the easy choice, do you?" He smirked weakly to the princess which she returned with her own somewhat smug one.

"Where's the fun in that? Besides:" she took off his glasses and stroke her thin yet strong fingers near his eyes. "I really like the color of your eyes."

He chuckled and after have reclaimed his glasses, he admitted: "I have been thinking a lot about you Li Wang, been intrigued in the way you can both destroy and create with your hands." He took her hands, those who could put a dagger through someone's throat but also create some beautify clothing out of the silk the Wang clan are making.

She kissed him and when their lips departed, she said. "This is why I want you Shade, no man has ever seen me the way you do."
He knew from that day that he and Li were meant to be together.

He and Li's time together didn't change much compared to how it was before, the only thing that did change was their interactions. He liked being close and feel her skin under his fingers, get the taste of her lips, just as much he enjoyed her brushing fingers through his hair and being near to him when he was researching.

They were somewhat careful in showing their relationship as the chief wouldn't accept the princess of the Wang clan being together with a foreigner, one who could give her nothing other than happiness. But Li had decided to throw the sneaking around out of the window when Selena had asked them both if they could be her new parents.

Shade and Li were both touched and said they would, Selena became an entirely new person after that. She became happy and full of joy, got harder keeping track on and it sure got Shade out from his room.

Li was the one who proposed to him, he admitted he found it both weird and amusing. "Last I checked, it's the man who should do it." He joked and she retorted back laughing. "Wouldn't surprise me if you have been trying but lost the nerve every time."

He hadn't answered, too embarrassed to admit that was in fact true. She teased him a lot about that, but it did ease him enough up to get on his knees and make the proposal. She, of course, said yes.

"I would love to get the chief's blessing, but I don't think he will allow this." Li admitted to him after she had weaved the ring meant for him and he transmuted one for her.

Shade felt the same way, the chief didn't care much for him but the moment they revealed their true relationship then he would become a thorn at the chief's side; a nobody who would by merely marrying the princess of the Wang clan, become a potential future chief and thus a rival to the current one. "Maybe we should do the bounds before we speak to him." Shade suggested, it would make the situation a win-win for him and Li. If the chief gave them their blessing, then they could simply pretend they haven't been married and if the chief refused, well, then at least he wouldn't have the power to banish Shade.

Li nodded in agreement. "We should. Can't have the chief arrest my husband of the reason he does not like my choice."

It took some sneaking around but they found a priestess who was willing to do private matrimony and bless their bounds. The only person who was at the ceremony was Selena and she was so happy to hold the two rings they made for one another. As the priestess blessed them, he put the ring on her finger and she put it around his metal one. When the priestess said the words, they sealed the deal with a kiss. He and Li laughed from Selena's childish "Ewww~!" response, and Li teased the girl by kissing her too, Shade side began to hurt in how much he laughed.

,,,,

"I would like your blessing to this marriage." Li finished to the chief, Shade stood close to her side and stared up to Tai Wang whose whole face has gone redder than his eyes from the sheer anger the chief must've been feeling from knowing the princess had chosen a nobody as her husband instead of one of the pawns he was picking for her. He knew the reply long before the man spoke them. "I forbid it!" The chief shouted loud enough for practically everyone in the palace to hear it. "I won't let you marry him!"

Shade glanced to Li and he felt both greatly sorry but also angry in seeing how heartbroken she was, but like the strong woman he knew she was; Li refused to shed any tears of their fear of Tai Wang refusing her happiness. "We feared as much." She spoke and explained the chief that they already have made the bounds and thus: "Shade is now an equal to you, Tai Wang." She told the enraged chief.

Shade did hope to defuse the tension and told Tai Wang calmly "This power struggle between you and me, I have no—" but he never got the chance to explain that he didn't care about power and all he wanted was to be by Li's side as a devoted husband.

"Shade you filthy scum! I should've thrown you to the tigers—"

"Don't you dare speak to him like that!" Li snapped at the Chief, and once again reminded him. "Shade is now the husband of the Wang Princess, so you do well in paying him some respect!"

Tai growled furies, but since that was true, he kept his tongue from insulting Shade further, but it didn't stop him from being petty. "I won't allow you to stay in my palace."

"Then we will take the Western mansion." Li told him simply, she eyed Shade once before she told Tai in a softer tone. "That will be where our children will grow up." and that included Selena.

The chief's eyes wide in utter shock of what she had said. "Are you?..."

She didn't bat an eye and Shade was more than impressed of her durability. "Yes, and I hope this child will have the eyes of my husband."

They only recently found out she was with child and they had somewhat been hoping of not living in the palace. Shade didn't really trust himself of not misusing his given powers, he feared he would become like Tai Wang and the council. He preferred to live a simple life, even though his never-resting mind wouldn't fully allow such a lifestyle.

With a single but not very respectfully bow, she left and Shade followed her, leaving behind a very enraged Tai Wang. When away from unwanted eyes, it was only there Li broke down and he let her sob into his shirt. "You did great, my love. He may have the name of a tiger but you carry the fierceness of the tigress protecting her cubs."

She hugged him tightly. "And you're like the wise dragon of the river."

He wouldn't call himself a dragon but he figured he kinda asked for it when he tattooed the dragon pulse mark onto his arm.

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They were quick to settle into their new home and although Shade still wanted to find out who he was before he lost his memory, he didn't want to spend every single minute on the past. He wanted to enjoy the present and thus often followed Selena into the bamboo forest in search of animals or special plants. When not doing so, he spent time with Li, letting her teach him about the different crops and how to properly tend them. He might've been a bookworm but Shade didn't mind getting his hands dirty, he was aware that books only could teach that much and some hard labor did tire his body out so he could focus properly on his studies back in the mansion when the sun would set.

Both he and Li wanted Selena and their future child to learn both from books but also the hard way, which meant they did allow Selena to play around places where she could get more than a scrape, but they both knew she would learn her body's limits through these scrapes and bruises. That often meant both Li and Shade got a lot of practice in putting a bandage on Selena from whatever crazy stunt she pulled off when running around in the bamboo forest.

Li encouraged him in also putting his alchemy to practice, Shade was at first hesitant. The reason why he was hesitant he wasn't entirely sure of but over time he got over his hesitating and began using his healing alchemy on the farmers and even a few of the soldiers. His wife also made him use his reconstruction right arm for specific tasks.

But there was, however some things he refused to put into practice, one of them was the knowledge on how to tap into the mind's dragon pulse which should, in theory, allow him to see people's memories. That would always stay as a theory if he could get away from it. The only time he ever put that theory to work was to see if he could unlock his past memories but... well, that sure backfired. Li got really angry at him and pretty much made him sleep outside for a week– after she was done nursing his stupid ass back to health.

,,,,

When Li gave birth to their daughter, and he held his newborn daughter in his arms; Shade felt like the proudest man in the world.

Tai Wang's hostility towards them began to ease a bit up after the birth of their child. He at least came on visits, but from how he kept suggesting things, such as names and them moving into the palace, it became clear the man only wanted to get in good grace with Li and thus their newborn daughter. It was annoying and Shade could see his wife was planning to do something that would remind the chief that their red-eyed daughter was of his blood.

"You should name her." She said one day.

"Love to, but I only know Xing names." He replied, but she kept insisting that he should be the one naming their daughter. He spent the next weeks wrecking his brain in a good name, even went through books in hope to find an answer there. But the solution didn't arrive from a book but when he watched a group of merchants passing through the city and a single word- a name popped into mind. "Harika." He had no idea how he came upon it or why it came when he watched the merchants, all he knew that it would be the name of their daughter.

He returned back home and told Li of the name.

"Harika, I like it." Li replied and stroked her fingers gently over the sleeping baby's still bald head. "My little Harika."

Shade smiled down to little Harika, did drop slightly when he noticed that Selena was off playing alone once again. The other children didn't like her for some reason. Li saw as well and remarked softly. "We should make Selena feel special too, she still fears we won't love her as much as our own daughter." Which was entirely untrue, both he and Li saw Selena as their daughter and lack of blood relation wouldn't change that.

Harika began to fuzz, sign she was getting hungry. Shade chuckled and told his wife. "What about you handle Harika and I will keep an eye on Selena? Sounds like a fair trade, don't you think?"

"Very much so." Li smiled and took a seat. "Selena spoke about wanting to go down to the river. Go there, and hopefully, the river won't make your right arm rust too much."

"I'm more worried about getting a fish trapped inside." He remarked jokingly and walked down to the river, stopped about halfway and called up to the laughing Li. "So if we smell rotten fish next week; that'll be me!"

"Now I really wish that'll happen!" She called back through her laughter. "If only to see the servants reaction!"

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Hearing those stories about the woman his brother chose as his wife, Scar can see why they fell for one another. He wishes he could've met her, his brother has a certain spark in his eyes he hadn't seen before when he told about Li, but unfortunately, that meeting is never going to happen. It's such a shame some assassins made Li's life short. It is clear his brother had truly loved her and from the stories, she did the same.

"Daddy?"

The two brothers turn to the door, at the opening stand Harika but only for a second, the next she has jumped onto the bed and hugs Shade tightly around the neck. "You awake!"

Scar has to pull her away from how pained his brother looks from getting pretty much tackled into his still healing right side. "Easy there little one, your father is still recovering." He explains the girl and she shifts embarrassed that she accidentally hurt him. "Sorry daddy..."

Through the starting to return pain, Shade gives her a crooked smile. "It's alright, just be mindful in the future, alright?" She nods she will and climbs onto the bed way calmer and carefully she takes a seat at his right side.

His brother wraps his right arm around her. "You worried us, daddy." She pointed out and Shade replies her softly. "I know, but you know this was necessary."

Harika nods, she knows that but that still doesn't change the fact she and Selena have been worried sick about their father's well being. "I know, but I was still worried." She points out pouting. It's not fun watching their daddy getting hurt and she really wishes he didn't have to go through this but she is smart enough to know their dad needs his right hand. Her dad rolls his eyes lightly and brushes her dark brown hair with his left hand. This action always calms her down and this time is no exception. She rests up against his body, happy her father isn't having a bad sleep and not aware of his surroundings like Selena said he would be, for that's how he was the last time this happened.

"Will you be able to travel?" Scar asks his brother.

Shade checks she skin around the automail, it's a bit inflated and exceedingly sour from the surgery, something his alchemy cannot remove. But the few wounds still around he can do something about "I will need to heal it one more time, but I will have to wait tomorrow for that. If I don't suddenly turn for the worse and we take it slow; I can handle the travel back to Ishval in a few days," Eyeing his younger brother seriously. "But even with my skills in the medical field; I cannot speed up the training progress needed to make the arm properly work. I won't be able to use my arm for at least six months."

"That's one hell of a shorten recovery time." Major Miles's voice remarks and the fully dressed soldier appears at the door. Shade eyes the man and it's easy to see Miles is impressed by his medical alchemy. "Most people need three years and you have shortened yours down to barely one."

"Mastery of alkahestry does that." Shade replies with a confident smirk that Scar has seen many times throughout his life from his older brother. He tries to be humble about his vast knowledge but his brother is prone to let the smugness come out now and then.
"You ready to go back to Ishval?" He asks his brother who nods with:

"This place has been interesting, but I am getting a bit tired watching prosthetic limbs."

"They're worse than when you geek out about a dusty old book." The voice of a bored sounding Selena says inside the bedroom she and Harika have been using.

Shade chuckles, Miles raises a brow with a faint smile while Scar puts his monk training to good use and holds a rather good poker face to hide his own amusement of what the girl had said.

I think if I ever write another story about scar and his brother, I will make Li Wang a bigger part of the story. I would like to expand her character further and I can't do it here since she died in this story.

it's more about the Ishvalen brothers anyway and I really enjoy writing about them.

I will try and see if I can make another chapter soon

till next time