AN: I'm back! This chapter is one I have been wanting to write for a while, however I was never really happy with it. Finally, I got it sorted and I am happy with this one :D

I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it! :P

The Aftermath

Roy sat stiffly in the cart as they rode back to the castle. Elizabeth had passed out a few minutes ago, finally succumbing to her exhaustion. He stole a glance towards her, although he knew he didn't deserve to. She was a good person who didn't deserve to be paired with a monster.

He shifted away from her, closer to the edge of the cart. He didn't want to hurt her anymore.

Looking out at the land before him, he felt a striking familiarity with it. Before his… capture, he had never travelled this far north before. He and the team remained with Elizabeth. Where she went, they went. There was no need to come this far north, as it was mainly wilderness. There were old ruins from centuries ago, but apart from that people tended to avoid the area due to the bad energy. Now he knew the real reason for that energy, it made him sick to his stomach.

He had been a part of that. At times, it felt as if he was in a dream. His body was moving, doing these terrible things, but he could do nothing to stop it or alter its course. Other times, he had be conscious, but there was something within him that was moving his body for him. It was as if he was simply a passenger within his own body, watching someone else with the reigns.

The things he had seen and done… It would haunt him for the rest of his life.

"You all right there, son?" Berthold asked from his horse. Roy jumped, startled. He had been so lost in his terrible memories that he hadn't even heard him approach. Immediately averting his gaze from his adoptive father, he looked down at his bound hands. He was too ashamed to face him.

Berthold had referred to him as "son". That word stabbed a knife in his heart. Roy had been anything but. He had tried to kill the man's daughter and his wife. How could he still show him any courtesy at all? He could be thrown in a dungeon and left to rot. Berthold shouldn't even be addressing him at all.

Roy didn't even answer the King. When Berthold realised he wasn't going to answer, he sighed lightly.

"Listen, Elizabeth has explained to myself and Amelia everything that has transpired these past few months. We know you are not to blame." Berthold's voice was low so the other riders wouldn't overhear their conversation. "I cannot begin to fathom what you have gone through. But that doesn't mean I don't want to help. For your own sake, I hope you the up the offer."

Tears sprung to Roy's eyes as Berthold spoke. He let them flow freely, not bothering to wipe them away. His time with Father had already wiped away any dignity and pride he had. What did he care now if someone saw him cry?

"Please, Roy," Berthold begged. "Say something." The man was desperate. Probably for his daughter's sake, more than mine.

"There is nothing to say. I have done enough." His words were final. Berthold sighed and rode to the front of the group.

Roy's gaze returned to his hands.

"He's right you know," a strained voice spoke. Roy, fearful to look up and face Havoc, raised his gaze halfway. He didn't want to see the fear, disgust, and disappointment in his eyes. He had let them all down. "For your own sake, we hope you do too."

Havoc said nothing more on the matter. He lay back on the cart and closed his eyes.

Roy felt his heart clench at his old friend's words. He didn't deserve them. They had no idea what had really happened while he had been under the control of that thing. If they did, they would have left him Father's complex and never turned back.

As the company pulled into the main courtyard Roy kept his eyes and his head down. He heard gasps as they passed, no doubt at the state of him. Had they heard of his atrocities? Were they afraid of him now?

Good… A voice whispered in his head. Let them be afraid.

Shaking his head vigorously, he banished the voice. The same voice that had followed him for the past few months. Fear spiked through him. Both Elizabeth and this Roy from another world had destroyed the shadows. As soon as Roy destroyed the last set it felt as if the fog had lifted from his mind. The pressure which had been a constant companion to his brain was gone. The pain had been excruciating, Roy had almost passed out, but he was sure it was gone. It was definitely gone, wasn't it?

"Roy, are you all right?" Berthold asked, his face concerned and slightly alarmed. It was then Roy realised he was panicking.

Searching frantically for an escape, he tried to vault out of the cart, only for his leg to get caught. Tumbling to the hard ground, the voice in his head cackled wildly.

Shaking his head frantically, Roy rose his hands to his head, clutching it tightly. Squeezing his eyes shut tightly, he blocked out the confused and alarmed shouts from the others. Berthold called his name continuously, trying to get through to him, but to no avail.

"Shut up," he hissed to the voice as its laughter continued. It's happening again.

Something pierced his arm and he hissed in pain, rising into a crouch. He snarled, eyes narrowing at his attacker. Instead, he saw Berthold and Hughes, the latter holding one of the Healer's instruments. It was one they used to inject medicine into patient's veins.

Once again, Roy felt the control of his body slipping away as he ready to pounce on Hughes. However, before he could move he felt himself go limp, the fight leaving him in an instant. Hands descended on him as he lost consciousness. Half of him felt angry towards Hughes. The voice shrieked in his mind, however it sounded far away and more subdued than it had been previously. The other half, wanted to thank Maes profusely for giving him a reprieve. He couldn't go back to the way he was under Father's control. He couldn't.

Roy's eyes opened and the first thing he noticed was he was in the infirmary. His limbs felt stiff as if he had been lying still for some time. He shifted slightly, testing his limbs. There was a slight soreness to them, but nothing he hadn't experienced before after a hard training session.

"Oh Roy," Amelia gushed as she entered the room suddenly. Tears were in her eyes as she smiled on her approach. She reached out to hug him, but he flinched from her touch. The Queen's face fell slightly, her smile wavering, however she never let it fade. It surprised Roy to no end. He had tried to kill her. She shouldn't happy to see him. "I am so glad you are awake. How are you feeling?"

Opening his mouth to speak, he found it dry. "I'm all right," he croaked. Amelia was up in an instant and offered him a glass of water. Roy shook his head no, however Amelia was having none of it.

"You need to drink, Roy," she told him sternly. Suddenly he was a child again being told off for not eating his vegetables. Amelia's hand remained in front of his face with the glass.

Huffing in annoyed acceptance, he accepted the glass from her. "I know where Riza gets her stubbornness from," he muttered darkly. Realising what he said, his eyes widened to the size of saucers. He had never spoken to the Queen so casually before. Sure, Berthold and Amelia had adopted him from a young age, but he still wasn't their son. He would always regard them with the utmost respect because, in the end, they were still his King and Queen, no matter what relationship he had with their daughter.

Expecting to find a glare gracing Amelia's face, he looked up fearfully. However, there was a wide grin on her face. She was definitely surprised, but happy.

"I am so sorry Your Majesty," he stuttered, sitting up in his bed earnestly. "I did not mean anything by it, I…" Roy wasn't sure how to continue. He didn't know what had overcome him.

Amelia simply laughed. "Oh Roy, do not fret," she grinned. Her grin faded to a fond smile as she regarded him. She was simply happy he was home with them.

If Amelia was being honest, his comment had surprised her. She had noticed throughout the years that Roy had always conversed with them formally. While both Berthold and Amelia appreciated it, they wished for a closer relationship with their future son-in-law.

They had both known for years that Elizabeth would choose Roy as a husband. They were inseparable as children and even more so as teenagers. They were evenly matched in whit and stubbornness. In short, they were perfect for each other.

"Do not feel the need to speak to me so formally," she reminded him for the thousandth time. "You are my son-in-law. Forget about titles."

Roy sat in stunned silence. Everyone continued to surprise him today. He had expected hate, harsh words, punishment… They were what he deserved. But they never came. Everyone treated him with kindness and some with sympathy. In a way, it was worse. Because he knew he didn't deserve their kindness. He had done so many terrible things under the control of Father that even thinking about it now made him want to vomit. He wanted to be punished. He needed to be.

"If I may be so bold, can I ask something of you, Your Highness?"

"Of course, Roy," Amelia encouraged with a smile.

"Could you escort me to the dungeons? I would like to be confined there for my crimes."

Amelia's smile vanished.

"Roy," she began, struggling to find the right words. "We have decided that there is to be no punishment against you. We –"

"Well, there should be," he retorted, angrily.

"Roy, listen," Amelia continued softly. "You were not in control of your body. It wasn't your fault –"

"Yes it was," he hissed dangerously, glaring at the Queen.

She leaned back in fright. In truth, she hadn't expected his harsh tone.

Yes… Make her frightened of you. You deserve to be feared, Roy Mustang.

The sound of that voice was like a slap in the face. Roy sat up, his back ramrod straight.

"I am so sorry," he uttered fearfully. Not again. "I am so sorry."

Repeating the phrase over again, Roy brought his hands to his head, closing his eyes in fear.

Not again.

"Roy." Amelia's voice was stern in an effort to regain his attention. His head raised fearfully. Looking into his eyes, she could see how troubled he really was. He needed help. The only person who could help him was lying unconscious in the next room.

He needed Elizabeth, not a prison cell.

"If that is what you wish, I will take you there. However, just so we are clear, this is on your own terms. I do not want you in there. Wait for Elizabeth to awaken. Talk it through with her –"

Roy's face was stricken at the mention of her name. He shook his head. "No, I must bear this punishment. This is what I deserve." He threw the sheet of his body and climbed out of the bed. Making his way to the door, he heard Amelia sigh.

"What you think you deserve and what you need, Roy, are two very different things."

Roy paused in the doorway as she spoke. Unsure of how to answer, he simply nodded and continued on his way.