Story: It Is What It Is, Chapter 19

Disclaimer: I don't own FMA.

MANAGING 5 CHARACTERS AT A TIME IS HELL! T-T

I also had a lot of trouble writing for Ling in this chapter, he's so happy, yet he has some of the best inspirational moments with Greed, it's just hard to get him right.

Omake for previous chapter(Made by one of my friends, who also helped me with the information and passage about the chemical compounds in the previous chapter, which has been revised by the way, if any of you are interested.):

Ed: *smug* You just wish you could make awesome dolls like these.

Roy: If by 'awesome' you mean 'in appalling taste', sure.

Replies to Reviews

Clairdetoile - chapter 20:

Hello!

I'm reading all your story these days. I wanted to say to you how much i like it! It's pretty good, and i'll be waiting for more. All your ideas are really nice and i like all so much! Please take care of you, and of all important for you, and after, i will be happy to read more!

I'm glad you're enjoying my story, and I hope you will continue to stick with me through this journey! :D

KittyKatz009 - chapter 20

Another good chapter! I like the mystery that is starting to build in this story. I also am interested in seeing how the conversation between Ling and Edward is going to go. Keep up the great work!

I was worried that the mystery wasn't that great haha. And I hope this conversation is to your satisfaction.

KittyKatz009 - chapter 19

I like how in this chapter we really get to see Ling and Al bonding. Ling helping Al with his research to help Ed was really nice and I liked it. I also thought you did a good job with the hypoglycemia at the end. Poor Ling, will he ever remember his snacks?

I personally wish we had so much more bonding and time spent with Ling in the series, but it's always fun to imagine what he went through and write for him. (I've actually been going by ancient Chinese culture to base my understanding of Ling off of though. Since Xing is supposed to be based on Ancient China.)

Acedia the Apathetic - chapter 20

You updating so often is the best thing ever.

So glad you're keeping up. :D

…

When everybody, except Roy, had returned, the smell of cooking broccoli had filled the kitchen.

Alphonse had temporarily went to the guest bedroom to put up some books he'd apparently checked out at the library. When Edward was, even momentarily, left to his own thoughts, however, he began to wonder why Roy hadn't come by yet. He said he was going to. Did he say he was going to just to be nice? Had something bad happened? Nah, he's probably just being held back by some paperwork or something. He is dealing with that murder case...

I still don't know what that guy thinks of me half the time… We banter and argue a lot, but then he turns around and tells me that I should give myself more credit, even though I'm the reason Hughes is-

"So what's for dinner? It smells delicious." Ling's voice cut him out of his thoughts.

Edward jumped, glaring at him. "What are you doing he-?!"

Riza immediately had her concealed carry out in a flash and was pointing it at Ling. "Who are you?"

"W-w-wait! Hold on, Lieutenant." Edward jumped in between them. "This is Ling, one of my friends. He's from Xing."

Under normal circumstances, Edward would have never admitted to seeing Ling as his friend, but this was kind of an emergency.

Much to Edward's and Ling's relief, Riza lowered her gun, albeit still a bit suspicious.

"Xing?" She inquired, as a thoughtful look filled her gaze. "Hold on, but isn't that all the way across the desert…?"

"Yes, it is, but this idiot prince here got the brilliant idea of crossing the desert in search of the stone. I tried to tell him he shouldn't try to seek after it, but, like a dumbass, he wouldn't listen."

Did Ed just say Prince? This boy is a prince?

"Hey, lighten up on the 'idiot' stuff, will you?" Ling wined.

"No way, I'm only saying it because it's true. Only an idiot crosses a desert without proper food and water." Edward lightly hit him on the head. "And only an even bigger idiot would continue to seek out the philosopher's stone despite the warnings to stay away from it."

In reality, Edward knew that he would have sounded like a total hypocrite to those who knew his situation, because he had looked for the stone for two years. However, getting Ling too deeply involved in this was dangerous. He didn't want the same thing to happen to Ling that happened to Hughes.

"Oh, Ling, you came!" Alphonse said excitedly, coming back in.

"Hey, Alphonse! I was wondering where you were." Ling held up a hand. Riza was still currently cooking, but decided to let them to their own devices.

"Hang on, Al, are you the one who invited him?" Edward asked. And how did he even get in?!

Unknowingly, that was a question Riza also had. Well, as it turned out, she'd be checking all of the doors and windows later after this.

"Yes, and he's here to help you, brother." Alphonse told him.

"Help me...? What are you…? ...Wait, you told him?!" Edward exclaimed incredulously, jumping up from his chair and slamming a hand on the surface of the table. He told Ling, of all people. Great, Ling will probably think I'm crazy now. This is the last thing I needed. I suppose it's not as bad as Winry, but still.

Alphonse jumped a bit, but he had expected this. He could take it. "Please, try to calm down, Ed. I just want you to get better-"

"Better? You think this is gonna make me get better?! Telling each and every single one of our 'friends' that I cut myself?!" Edward retorted.

"Yes, I just want you to be able to smile again…!" Alphonse insisted.

Riza observed from the side, debating whether or not to intervene. He seems harmless… But I should probably keep an eye on him to be absolutely certain.

Oh, Great, I'm almost sounding like Roy...

Edward didn't know what to think at this point. He couldn't deny the guilt welling up in his chest at hearing Alphonse's last words, but it wasn't that long ago that Ling had had his bodyguards attack him and Alphonse, so why? "...Why do you trust him so much, Al...?"

Edward desperately wanted to know.

Riza turned off the stovetop and began draining the water from the pot.

"Because… he's been down the same path you're going…" Alphonse trailed off into silence.

It took a moment for to realize what Alphonse was implying.

"Wait, you mean…" Edward's eyes widened, before he turn to look at Ling. "No, that can't be, Ling, you wouldn't…"

"Unfortunately, what he's saying is true, Ed..." Ling said grimly.

"But why…? You always seem so happy." Edward wanted to know, his voice sounding of pain and disbelief.

Ling couldn't put it into any specific reason why. For one, his family had kept putting pressure on him to be a certain way, He got called weak by his siblings for not being able to use Alkahestry, was told that he would make a terrible Emperor without it. He didn't have any close friends, wasn't allowed to because his family was afraid of further assassination attempts. Every single aspect of his life was distantly controlled by his father and his standards.

"I did it for several reasons, actually… But I think I mainly wanted a sense of control." Ling said. "And at the time, I thought it was helping me, I thought it was making everything better, but it wasn't. It was only making my hypoglycemic spells worse and it was hurting the few people in my life who knew and genuinely cared. More importantly, it was ruining my life. So, finally, I swore to myself to never again let my family or anybody else decide my worth or tell me what I can or can't do with my own life. I told myself that I would decide on my own who I am. And that's where I am now."

Edward didn't know what to think about now. Ling and Roy both had issues with this… Both of them had overcome them.

If they could, maybe he could.

"Ling, I… I had no idea…" Edward mumbled, suddenly finding admiration for Ling just as he had for Roy. "I think you're amazing, but... I'm not sure if I ever could be as strong as you…"

"No, you're wrong, Ed, you can and you will… It may take time, but don't ever doubt yourself..." Ling murmured.

Edward was silent for a moment, before speaking. "...Over the past few weeks, I've seen how cutting hurt those around me… How it's hurt Al… And I want to stop, I don't like being this way, but the temptation… It's still there, Ling, no matter what I do...!" Edward's voice choked up as he squeezed his arm, but tried his best to refuse the urge to scratch. "What if it never goes away...?! What if I can't-!"

Riza and Alphonse were both preparing to rush over, but Edward seemed to calm down when Ling reached out and took his hands. The physical contact distracted him a bit, especially as Ling began rubbing his hands for stimulation.

"Pull yourself together, Ed…!" Ling said. "It won't ever go away completely… But you still have to fight against it, even when it's hard to, even when you want more than anything to give in all together, and when you can't fight it alone, you have people around that will fight against it with you… But you have to let them in first."

Let them in, huh…?

Edward looked up at Riza and Alphonse, wondering whether he should open up about some of what had been bothering him lately or not, when Roy's voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Well said, Prince of Xing." Roy entered in that moment approaching them. "I couldn't have said it better myself."

Edward was truthfully happy to see him, although he wouldn't admit it.

"Yes," Riza said, laying some broccoli and cream of mushroom on the table with some bowls. "I was trying to tell him this morning that he can always trust us. But he just gave me one of those "okay"s like you used to, Roy."

"Ah, is that so… I suppose we have a little bit of work to do then. But first thing's first… Let's eat." Roy said, coming over to the table.

"And am I starved." Ling smiled innocently.

Edward glared, and pushed him back. "Who said you could join?! Go get your own food!"

Riza bopped him lightly on the head. "Play nice and eat, Ed."

...

A/N: I finally got to PART of the conversation. A vERY special surprise is coming up soon, though(in the next few chapters). :D

Going back to work today, so I'm not sure when I'll be able to post again. Maybe tomorrow, or maybe in a few days. Possibly next week. Right now I've hit a really inspirational streak.

I personally think Ling has gained people who respect him(Fu and Lan Fan), because of his not caring what other people think of him. He's bold and brazen and will pursue becoming emperor regardless of what others have to say. As such that 'not caring what other people think of him' thing, is what would give him that leadership quality. A leader must have confidence in themselves before they can hope for others to have confidence in them.

Sorry that probably made no sense.