Across The World I Will Follow:
A/N: I've noticed the numbering problems and luckily the Site allows numbering anyway so from now On I am not numbering the Chapters to stop confusion.
Gone the Fallen Angel
The train had been on the go for nearly an hour. Winry Rockbell was a mess. Her hair was all frayed out and tear stains streaked her face as they stood at the back of the train. Khristie was holding her trying to get her to calm down but Winry had become attached to the man she had only known for 3 or 4 days of her entire life.
"Betty, why was my brother following you?"
Winry realized that both of them still had no clue who she was, but she knew the time was nearing to finally let Alphonse in on who she was. It would only be a little time before her red hair would begin to fade and already blonde was peaking at the summit of her skull. Winry knew that Alphonse wasn't that thick to notice who she was as soon as her hair became blonde again, but she decided to keep it quiet until they made it to Liore.
"Sissy are you gonna be okay?" Khristie was still holding on to the hem of Winry's sand coated capris Winry bent down to her level and looked her in the eye.
"You trust sissy don't you Khris?"
Khristie looked at her and nodded, "Of course I do Sissy."
The time had come she realized the fact was she couldn't hide it any longer. She patted her on the head and stood up and looked at Alphonse. "Do you trust me Alphonse?" Alphonse looked at her and nodded. She looked back down at Khristie. "Even if I told you both that I'm not who I say I am?"
Central,
State Headquarters,
"Brig. General Roy Mustang Sir?" Kain Fuery walked in. He stood before Roy Mustang waiting for him to answer.
"Yes Fuery?" Roy mustang was sitting at his desk looking over paperwork for the first time of his own free will.
"Sir, The train has arrived from Maribel the funeral for General Alex Louis Armstrong has been scheduled for 5 O' clock this evening."
Roy laughed, "Well thank you Fuery for updating me on the condition." He turned his chair around, stood and walked to his window overlooking the courtyard a few stories below him. ",any word on Fullmetal?"
"Sir I believe that Fuery has no information on him." A familiar female voice spoke from behind Fuery. Roy turned to find a violet haired woman in a military uniform quite similar to Sheska's. "Oh Private Alyssa Vontino," Roy turned to Fuery, "Fuery your dismissed." Fuery and the Brig saluted and he left the room. "Oh close the door behind you."
Fuery walked out and closed the door. At that moment the door shut the woman returned to her true form. "Well Roy Mustang you want to know about the Fullmetal Boy and Hiessgart don't you?"
"You very well know that this is my operation just as yours correct?"
"Roy how conceited are you!" Chastity became furious her eyes began to glow a great white. "You do realize that you are putting on the line more than your life, if this war succeeds they will denounce all rights of the Alchemists believing that Alchemy has brought this nation nothing but pain and misery. They will either banish or kill any of you that try to perform alchemy after the change of rule!"
He turned and faced her. "My dear Lady, you really think that they will care about the ones who fought on their side?"
"They don't care! They will only use you Mustang!"
He laughed, "Then it is my folly that will be my undoing, but I'm not doing this for the glory or for the power or to become Fuehrer." He stood up at his full height and stared her directly in the eye. ", and while we're making accusations," He pointed a finger right at her. "What exactly is up with the girl?"
Chastity laughed she began roaring with laughter. "That is the part of the plan that only I know." The two stared each other down looking for information in each other's eyes in their movements and their stance.
"Tell me Chastity tell me everything. I can easily pull my men out of the equation."
Chastity looked Roy Mustang down and sighed. "It all began 7-8 years ago,"
Hiessgart,
"What the hell were you doing attacking a Colonel Mr. Shimkus?" Edward Elric was sitting in Robert Shimkus' apartment. Shimkus was directly in front of him guarded heavily by two soldiers to his left and his right. There were Soldiers to the entrance to the balcony and the front door. Robert had his head bowed.
"You would understand sir would you not?"
Ed looked at him. "Haven't you ever had a feeling that the only meaning of your life is to give yourself up for some purpose you don't understand?" He looked up at Edward and continued talking. "You are the Fullmetal aren't you? You sold your life to the state and now everyday you put your life on the line for some purpose that you don't truly understand."
"I'm not the one being interrogated here Shimkus!" Edward slammed his fist on the coffee table nearly breaking it with his metal arm.
"You may not be." Shimkus looked down at the floor once more, "but you must understand I had a good reason!"
Edward laughed, "A good reason for defying a boneafied State Alchemist such as myself."
"I did it so that girl could be free."
Ed looked him in the eye. He looked deep within him and noticed a spark in his eyes. A spark that he knew was the same spark that drove him. Purpose he knew that the end was coming near for him so he threw aside his chances at freedom so that the girl could be free. "Well you are a brave prat aren't you?"
"I did it because I knew I had no other choice I've lived a full life I was willing to throw it away."
Ed looked at him and realized that even if he asked he wasn't going to get anything from him. He stood up and motioned for his men to follow him. He walked to the door hands in his black coat, but as he neared the door Robert spoke again.
"But may I ask, you were the brother Alphonse spoke of, the one who was fighting in Maribel?"
Ed didn't turn to look at him. "The very same." He continued walking and left Robert to continue living his life. He was willing to give up his life for the life of another. That wasn't equivalent exchange he may not believe of its principle in Alchemy but in life he knew a life wasn't the price for a life.
5 O' clock Central Cemetery,
It was a dark day in Central. The sky was weeping for the Fallen Angel Alex Louis Armstrong. Many people were at the funeral for the Late General. The sky was a dense gray, the rain pouring down upon the people present. Armstrong's family, Roy Mustang, and Fletcher and the Two girls closest to the Casket. The reverend stood next to the casket with an umbrella above his head looking down upon a bible.
"And now for a moment of prayer." He spoke with a loud dull monotone deep voice. The part of the crowd that believed in God prayed. Roy mustang just lowered his head staring at the casket of his fallen friend. Annabella was holding Arianna close the two were wearing full length black dresses and their hair tied back in a braid. Arianna was crying into the hem of the skirt of her Dress holding on to it and not letting go. Annabella lowered herself to her level and hugged her throughout the moment of prayer. The rain continued to fall and the sky showed the feelings of the crowd.
After the moment of prayer they lowered the casket to the ground while guns were shot to the sky honoring the fallen comrade, after he was lowered Roy Mustang stepped up to one of the alchemists that was going to seal up the hole. "I'll do it guys go on home." Roy Mustang stepped forward and began shoveling the dirt back into the hole. Fletcher came up to him and joined him returning the dirt to Armstrong's grave. The Armstrong family watched as they finished burying their beloved son. The rain had begun to dissipate the sun breaking through the dusty gray sky. Fletcher came up to Roy as he stood before the grave. A stone wasn't yet placed there but the Mr. Armstrong was waiting for the two to move out of the way.
"Not many Alchemists would dig a grave by hand." Fletcher placed a hand upon the shoulder of Roy mustang and guided him a little ways from the block of stone that would soon be the marker of Strong Arm's Grave. Mr. Armstrong stepped forward and drew a transmutation circle upon the stone. He clapped his hands and figure of Alex Louis Armstrong sitting on a Large chair his head bent down leaning on one of his fists and wings from his back.
"Anyone want to design the epitaph?"
He looked towards Roy but from behind him a voice came.
"Gone may I be the Fallen Angel,
Gone may I be the Fallen Hero,
Gone I shall not go from the hearts of the People."
The adults turned to see a young Ishbalan girl standing with her sister. She was standing up straight now holding on to the hand of her sister. Fletcher looked at her and smiled then turned to Armstrong. "Sounds like a good one wouldn't you agree?"
Armstrong turned to Fletcher and smiled. "I do so agree."
After a flash of light written upon the tombstone were these words.
'Gone may I be the Fallen Angel,
Gone may I be the Fallen Hero,
Gone I shall not go from the hearts of the People.
General Alex Louis Armstrong
B. August 27th1883 D. September 9th 1918'
The two girls stepped forward and laid their hands upon the grave and then walked away. Then the others followed and left was Roy Mustang standing in front of his Grave.
"What is it with this world and my subordinates passing me up in the ranks after their deaths?"
The Train to Hiessgart,
"What if I told you I wasn't who I said I was?"
"What do you mean Betty?"
Khristie was staring up at Winry she was holding on to the side of her Capris once more holding on to her. "Sissy you know I love you, you have always been nice to me and no matter who you are as long as you are still you no matter what your name is you are still my sissy."
Winry looked down at her and then turned to Alphonse. "Alphonse, its, its me Winry."