Edward Elric headed for the kitchen without asking for directions. The theoretical alchemist believed he knew the way. In truth Ed did not know the way, as such he became lost almost immediately.


While Margot sutured his laceration Prince Junjie and Lady Xue murmured to each other in Xingese. The room smelled of perfume and iodine. On the bedside table the lantern burned high enough for Margot to work, low enough not to bother the prince's eyes.

"You've failed to uphold your end of the bargain," Junjie said.

"I've done nothing of the sort," Xue denied in dulcet tones.

The Ninth Prince winced in discomfort as the doctor pulled a stitch taunt.

"I supported Ling's claim to the throne. What do I have to show for it? Nothing."

"You will have your seat on His Majesty's Royal Council," Lady Xue assured.

"It's been five years. "

"Patience is a virtue."

The automail doctor hooked the needle through his skin again.

"I'm running out of patience," he hissed.

"It will pay off," Xue promised.

"Why should I believe you?" Prince Junjie frowned.

"The futures of our clans are intertwined."

"I don't follow…"

"The emperor intends to make your estranged cousin his one and only consort. By the time I've finished legitimizing her standing at court, and orchestrating their union, His Majesty will offer you a seat on his council. Most importantly, he'll believe it's his idea. No one will dare challenge our rule."

"You really think you can pull that off?" Junjie asked in disbelief.

Xue Yao smirked.


Lan Fan took her brother to the lavatory to clean off his shoes. Neither of them spoke on the way there. While Xiang went into the men's room Lan Fan sat on the bench along the opposite wall. In the corridor the sounds of the party were little more than white noise. Her breath hitched. Lan Fan leaned forward and put her hand over her eyes.

This is my fault.

Across from her a door creaked. Lan Fan wiped all trace of emotion from her face and lifted her head. Instead of the men's room the open door belonged to the ladies'. Mother and daughter froze at the sight of one another.

Suyin appeared apprehensive.

Commander Liu shifted her gaze over Lady Suyin's shoulder as she would with any noble with whom she wasn't familiar.

"Lan Fan-" Suyin started.

"Your son is in the men's room," The guard commander interrupted.

"Darling-" her mother tried again to no avail.

The Yao bodyguard rose swiftly from her seat.

"This one humbly suggests you take him home before he borrows any more trouble."

The Commander of His Majesty's Royal Guard bestowed the noble woman with a bow and walked away.

"Lan Fan!"

Commander Liu didn't turn back.


Xiang stood before the sink in sock feet whilst furiously cleaning the sticky mess from his shoes. Water only made things worse. The leather looked splotchy, and the black dye stained his handkerchief and hands. From the hallway he heard the familiar sound of his mother's raised voice. Xiang thought all the curse words he wasn't permitted to say aloud.

He put on his damp shoes and hurried into the hall.

"Mother?"

"There you are," Suyin stated.

Xiang looked up and down the length of the corridor.

Lan Fan was nowhere to be seen.

"Where's sister?"

"Never you mind your sister's whereabouts."

"Mother-"

"It's time to go."

"But-" Xiang couldn't get a word in edgewise.

"Whatever you have to say it can wait until we're home."

"You never listen! Why won't you ever listen?" Xiang railed at his mother.

"One more word and I sell the bicycle," Suyin told him in no uncertain terms.

Xiang clinched his jaw.

"Let's go."


Lan Fan Liu Zhang felt like the punchline of a cruel joke.

The Commander of His Royal Majesty's Guard wanted nothing more than to return to her room, change back into uniform, and resume her place among the shadows. Alas, the emperor tied her hands with his order of an invitation.

Against her will Commander Liu rejoined the party as a guest. She decided to head straight for the bar. Tingzhe and Bolin flanked her as soon as she entered the main hall. Even if she hadn't recognized them by their qi signatures she would've known them by their masks. The day the pair of them swore their allegiance to the throne she'd gifted the identical gold and black masks to them.

"Commander," Bolin accosted.

The hint of amusement in his voice vexed her.

"You two better have a damn good reason for being absent from the emperor's side," she snarled.

Tingzhe cleared his throat, and said, "His Royal Majesty wishes to speak with you."

Lan Fan halted in her tracks.

"Have I been summoned?"

The two of them shared a look over her head.

"Pardon?" Tingzhe sounded bemused.

"Is this a summons or a request?" Lan Fan clarified.

"A request."

"Inform His Eminence I'm indisposed."

Commander Liu continued on her way.

Bolin and Tingzhe shared another look.

"That is an order," Lan Fan called without looking back.

Her subordinates bolted to obey said order.

Wisely so.


Bolin and Tingzhe dragged their heels on the way back to the emperor.

"You should tell him," Tingzhe insisted.

"Why me?" cried Bolin.

"Because I nearly got my head bitten off back there! Besides, His Highness likes you better."

"He's not going to like either of us after he hears what we have to say," Bolin muttered.

"I'll roshambo you for it," offered Tingzhe by way of compromise.

"Deal."

"Ro. Sham. Bo," they said in unison, tapping their fists against their palms after ro and sham, and throwing down after bo.

Bolin chose scissors and Tingzhe went with rock.

"Damn it!"

"You lose," Tingzhe stated the obvious.

"I hate you."


Ling caught sight of Bolin out of the corner of his eye. He noticed neither Lan Fan nor Tingzhe were with him. The emperor extracted himself from his conversation with the minister of commerce in order to speak with the his guard.

Lieutenant Gao followed.

"Your Majesty," Bolin bowed.

"Where is she?" Ling questioned.

"Commander Liu is indisposed, sire."

The emperor stared at the bodyguard.

"Indisposed," Ling deadpanned.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

"What do you mean indisposed?" Ling inquired, lightly.

"She's unavailable," Bolin's voice went up an octave.

"I know the definition of the word, guardsman," Ling said through clinched teeth. "What did she say? Tell me exactly."

The bodyguard winced.

"Tingzhe told Commander Liu you wished to speak to her, and Commander Liu asked if it was a summons or a request. Tingzhe said it was a request then Commander Liu said to 'Inform His Eminence I'm indisposed.'"

Ling stared at Bolin long enough to make him sweat.

"Is that everything?"

The bodyguard hesitated.

"Is. That. Everything?" He asked again.

"Commander Liu wasn't happy about us not being with you."

Ling walked away to find Lan Fan himself.