October 23rd, 1950

Alphonse was looking forward to the start of negotiations with the Xing government. He was aware that it was likely to involve weeks of all day discussions and a lot of back and forth and meetings, but that was all right. It was the first time he had gotten a chance to be an active part of the government process in a way that would be a benefit beyond just alchemy. So, as much as he would have loved to join Edward and Ethan in days of alchemy study, he was glad for the experience and that Breda had asked him to go on this mission.

Al, Roy, Dunstan, and Worley met Emperor Mao and three of his advisors around a large low-slung table. Al was getting used to sitting cross-legged at tables. It really wasn't uncomfortable. The advisors had a lot to say, Al soon discovered, though it was always in the form of suggestions. It was Mao who made any final decisions, entirely of his own volition. It was a very efficient way of having government compared to the Assembly, but Al certainly had no wish to return to a style of government that could so easily turn to corruption or be controlled. Mao seemed to be a well-meaning and intelligent man with a lot of promise and common sense. His predecessor however had been the cause of decades of strife that had nearly driven the Empire to ruin with factionalism. Mao had a lot of things still left to fix, though he seemed to be making a lot of progress.

The first day seemed to be mostly in deciding what exactly should be the purpose of this set of talks and what their objectives were. It was determined that over the next few weeks they would discuss the state of the old train tracks that ran between Xing and Amestris; should that direct travel connection be restored; how much of the work would be done by each country, and how to handle patrolling the borders and Customs to assure peace and that no one would attempt to use that route for any military purpose. They would also discuss the encouragement of trade and re-establishing tourism between the two countries. If they made it that far, they would then discuss more directly the implementation of import and export fees and the like.

Apparently establishing that much was an incredible amount of progress for a first day; according to Worley and Dunstan who seemed pleased.

"Oh definitely," Roy agreed as he and Alphonse walked back towards their rooms afterwards. "When we have negotiations with Creta even though we're allies it can take a week to get this far."

"I'm glad I didn't make a career out of diplomacy then," Al laughed. He might be patient and good with people, but doing this for a living would likely drive him more than a little crazy!

"I'd much rather be on a battlefield," Roy replied. "Or in the library," he acknowledged with a smirk.

Al chuckled. "Or teaching." Any of the places where an alchemist really belonged! At least, a State Alchemist. "I hope Ed and Ethan are getting a lot of good research done."

"If nothing else," Roy laughed, "They have much more appealing company!"


Their first lesson in Xing alchemy with Mei and Ren turned out to be more helpful than months of studying had been, and proved how lousy some of the translations really were!

"Clearly, there is little about alchemy that is truly different between ours, yours, and even the Grand Arcanum practiced by your Ishballans," Mei nodded after the first hour of discussion, "At least in the practice. It seems to me that the difference lies in the theory."

"What we haven't been able to figure out," Ed replied as the four of them sat at a table in the Imperial library, books already spread out around them, "Is how you are able to heal human bodies with alchemy, or to what extent that's possible without a major alchemical amplifier." No alchemist he knew had been able to heal a human body without a fake stone – or the real thing. Even then, there was equivalency to consider. What did it cost the person who was healed? What did it cost the alchemist?

Mei smiled. "The key to healing with alchemy is that you cannot force healing upon the body. You can encourage the body itself, and coax it with the energy within; bolster it to encourage faster improvement. You can help arrest what's wrong, and let the body heal itself."

"But how?" Ed pushed, thinking through her answer. "Other than natural cures that can be made with alchemy, where do you get that much energy?"

"Much of our healing alchemy is pharmaceutical," Mei nodded. "But this is our special talent. Using too much of a body's energy – the patients or yours – will eventually burn it out. So it is still limited, depending on how much energy can be used from the outside….from the nature around us; the ki. Just because you get energy from beyond this Gate you speak of does not make it the only possible source. Pulling it from nature around us and using it saves wear on both the alchemist and the patient."

"So you can use the energy in this world as well?" Ethan asked eagerly. "But how do you access it? I mean; the Gate energy is the energy an alchemist uses inside himself. But this…" he faltered, not sure how to explain further.

Mei chuckled. "The energy within us is easily accessible. The energy in your patient is instinctively pulled in and used when you attempt to heal an injury or damage done by sickness using alchemy. Likewise," she sketched a drawing on a piece of paper, a diagram really, showing the flows of energy involved. "When you create a transmutation circle, you can bring in the energy around you as well if you think about it. It's not as much as you get from within, but it is a…boost as you might call it."

"So that extra energy doesn't have to come out of the lives of the alchemist or the patient," Ed nodded thoughtfully. That made sense, and would make it easier to manage healing, especially if they tried it the way she explained, instead of trying to make the body better. The body was such a complex mechanism that even an experienced doctor would have a difficult time not getting in the way of involuntary systems or damaging something else unintentionally. Of course, not everything could be fixed that way, but a lot of things could! Even without the extra energy, there was a lot more that could be done understanding how to work with the body.

"What do you mean, Dad?" Ethan asked. Up until the last few months, dealing with the human body and alchemy had not been a subject Ed had covered extensively with Ethan. It was some of the most advanced and dangerous alchemy out there, and he had refused to give his son the same temptations and access Ed had studied when he was a boy. So while they had discussed a lot, there were some things they hadn't completely covered yet.

Ed looked at his son. "The theory on alchemically healing the body is that for the equivalent use of energy in healing a body that energy comes out of the life of the patient or the alchemist. You can save someone's life, but it will cost you a little of your own in the end. Of course," he shrugged, "There's no real way to measure it, or know how long a person was ever supposed to live or scheduled if you believe in that kind of thing."

"So you can substitute other natural energy in its place?" Ethan's brow furrowed as he thought seriously.

"You can substitute any energy if you have a source powerful enough to magnify what you have or bring it in from elsewhere," Ed shrugged. "The fake stones that Marcoh made, imperfect as they were, magnified alchemical abilities and increased the energy by their nature." He looked up at Mei and Ren. "Since you already clearly know something of human transmutation and homunculi, tell me; did word ever reach you here of what happened in Amestris?"

"Rumors that many people did not believe," Mei nodded simply. "That your leader was a homunculus and deposed, and the others were destroyed." She smiled then. "By yourself as the stories go – and your brother. They also say you do know how to make a Philosopher's Stone, though the method is not well known in Xing." Her tone implied that otherwise even Lin Yao would not have been foolish enough to seek it out. "I know more than most."

Ed grinned. "I gathered that. Well," he went on, "Under Bradley, the government funded all sorts of alchemical experiments. That included failed attempts at a philosopher's stone using a compound we called red water. The final product was far from perfect, but it did enhance transmutation."

"So you're saying it does the same thing by amplifying an alchemist's abilities," Ethan caught on. "But you can do it without a stone."

"To a lesser extent," Ed nodded. "But that's what we seem to be looking at." It was incredible really, and yet so simple when he had it explained to him. Not that doing it was the same thing as understanding the principles.

Ren looked mildly confused. "I do not understand fully what you mean by red water."

"This is history we have not heard," Mei nodded. "Would you please explain further?"

"Uh well…sure," Ed hesitated only a moment then laughed at himself silently. It was in his book after all. If anything else, this was his best chance to convince alchemists in Xing not to follow that particular path. "Though I have to warn you, it's a pretty long story!"

"That's all right," Mei rested her head on her hands, elbows against the table, and got comfortable. "We have plenty of time."

November 9th, 1950

"Last shot!" Ed bellowed, dodging as Ethan's leg shot past his face. Ed flipped into a handstand, rolled down to the side, and came up. "And you're too late," he grinned as he brought his knee up as Ethan went over him, extending his leg right into his son's stomach.

With a grunt, Ethan rolled as he hit the ground, then landed on his back and lay still. "Darn it! I thought I had you."

"Not quite," Ed laughed as he stood up and dusted himself off. They were sparring in the middle of a grassy area in one of the larger Palace gardens. After days of sitting in the library pouring over books, finally Ed had had enough. He needed a little action! With Alphonse and Roy wrapped up in negotiations most of the time, he and Ethan had decided to do it on their own.

Well, mostly.

"Impressive," Mei laughed, clapping as Ed helped Ethan to his feet. She and Ren were both watching from the covered porch that ran along one side of the building. "Do all of your soldiers fight like this?"

"Just the ones Dad's trained," Ethan grinned as he bounced up, heedless of Ed's hand. "Most the military does hand to hand and grappling and stuff but nothing like this."

Mei looked contemplatively at Ed and he found himself warmly uncomfortable under that gaze, though he couldn't have said why. Then she smiled. "Your style is surprisingly similar to our own, with the acrobatics involved. You have excellent skills"

Ed blushed and shrugged, grinning as he rubbed the back of his head with one hand. "Thanks. It's kind of a mix of styles really; anything I've picked up over the years, but most of what I was taught was by my alchemy teacher when I was a kid. She taught Alphonse and I both. Izumi felt that you had to train the body in order to properly train the mind."

"We have the same philosophy," Mei's smile widened and her expression turned coy. "Would you care to test your style against ours? I am not a warrior, but I am also trained."

She wanted to spar against him? Ed was momentarily taken aback. He hadn't been expecting that. Was it even permissible to fight with the Emperor of Xing's mother?

"Why do you hesitate?" Mei stepped down onto the grass, moving toward him confidently. "I hear there are women in your military; female alchemists. Surely you trained them. Or do you prefer not to fight women?" She was taunting him!

Ed couldn't let that go unchallenged. He smirked. "Oh, I don't mind fighting women," he let a little cockiness into his voice. If she wanted to play, he wasn't going to let her get the best of him no matter what her rank was. "I just feel bad when I beat them. There's not some rule against beating you is there I should know about first though? I'm not going to get imprisoned or something."

Mei laughed lightly, placing her hands on her hips. She wore a red silk dress trimmed in gold today, but without the larger more formal skirts. "The only rule is that you cannot hold back for fear of hurting me, or my feelings. I dislike special treatment."

"Fair enough," Ed grinned as they squared off. He had to wonder how well she could move in that dress, but he was fully clothed as well. Anyone who couldn't fight in whatever they were wearing was already in trouble!

Ethan moved off to the side, sitting down on the steps near where Ren stood by a roof support beam, and Ed squared off against Mei. His stomach flipped briefly, but he pushed the inexplicable nerves aside. It was probably because this was the first person from Xing he had fought since the war, and the first time for a one on one encounter! It was just a friendly little sparring match; no big deal.

It turned out to be very educational. The Xing style, at least the one that Mei practiced, was indeed as acrobatic and aerial as Ed's own preferred moves, and it quickly turned into a game of 'touch me if you can' with them both moving around each other in more of a dance, rarely landing a hit or even trying to make one; dodging and whirling and ducking with fluid movements.

It went on just long enough that Ed wasn't expecting the first blow when it actually came, striking along the side of his arm. He dodged and was ready to block the second. She had switched forms so smoothly! He adjusted, learning quickly, and following her movements with his eyes, looking for hints of where she would move next from the way a hip cocked ever so slightly, or her balance shifted. Still, it was all Ed could do to keep up until he began to learn to anticipate the new moves.

Then Ed struck using a very simple, but uncharacteristic of the style take-down that was a tried and true. He caught Mei in a split-second where she was off balance and they hit the grass, rolled, and he came up on top of her, her arms pinned to the ground as he straddled her body so she couldn't get up.

Mei panted beneath him, then smiled and laughed aloud. "It seems I got what I asked for."

This close, Ed noted, she smelled of jasmine and cherry blossoms. At that thought, he jumped up. Belatedly he offered her a hand so as not to seem rude. "Your form is beautiful," he commented, then was sure he was blushing again when the tone sounded like he was actually surprised.

Fortunately, Mei did not seem offended. "I would practice more, but those of true skill are not willing to lay a hand on me without direct orders." She chuckled as she took his offered hand and stood. "It seems I will need to train further," she smiled up at him. "Thank you for the demonstration. May we do this again sometime?"

"Sure," Ed tried not to stammer, still a little off-balance. "Umm…shall we get back to work?"

Mei nodded. "If you are both ready to return," she glanced over at Ethan, who stood up and nodded.

"Smooth, Dad," Ethan quipped softly as they walked inside behind the two women. He was grinning.

Ed wasn't sure he liked that. "What do you mean?" he asked.

Ethan laughed. "I haven't seen you that hesitant in a fight before – or after."

"I just didn't want to accidentally start an international incident," Ed countered softly, glad the ladies were far enough ahead not to hear. At least, he hoped so! He didn't like the uneasy feeling in his stomach, and he wasn't even sure what was causing it. Something about Mei was making him nervous, which was just stupid. "I was caught off guard, that's all."

Ethan seemed to buy it. He shrugged and smiled and they all went back to researching. The first couple of weeks had been very productive as Ethan poured over transmutation circles and correlated what he knew of alchemy to the human body. Ren worked with him. Edward and Mei worked on the beginnings of a translation of one of their primary medical alchemy texts, though a lot of it was discussion and explanation as they worked through what was wrong with the existing translation. They also had begun to discuss, at length, the things Ed wanted to know about most – or at least, why he had come, and that was exactly what alchemy had been involved in creating the hallucinogenic pharmaceuticals that he had been forced to endure. That was the elements of this kind of alchemy he was already more familiar with, even if it was laboratory style alchemy. Distasteful as it was, Mei explained what exactly they had done, and what ingredients were used. She had also explained in detail the laws of Xing that governed what was not permissible with alchemy, and Ed had been taking copious notes. There was a lot of good stuff for his book, and also for their classes. A lot of what she told him would also never see the light of day in Amestris. At least, not from Ed.

Ed also found out just how lucky he was that he had come out of that particular form of torture with minimal damage. Some of the longer-lasting effects and side-effects were hideous!

"Perhaps it is the difference in our physiology," Mei had suggested at one point. Whatever it was, Ed was glad to be alive.


It was almost dinner time before Ed and Ethan returned to their rooms, heads crammed full of new alchemy knowledge; a feeling Ed always found satisfying.

Al and Roy were already there for once. "And here I figured you'd still be in negotiations," Ed chuckled. Roy was sitting on the little couch reading a book, and Al knelt by the table having a cup of tea.

"We actually got finished early today," Al smiled up at them. "We finally worked out the details for getting the railroads open again and how border patrols and crossing will be handled."

"Great!" Ethan grinned. "So does that mean the next time we come out this way we won't have to travel by hot car for days?"

We? "That's the idea," Ed nodded. He hadn't given any thoughts to Xing past this trip, though Ethan may very well come this way more often in his life. "So negotiations went well then."

"Very," Roy nodded. "Now if we can get the trade agreements to go as productively, it will be very good for us." He looked up from his book and smirked. "Though we heard you got a little action today."

Ed's head spun around and he looked at Roy. "What do you mean?"

Roy smirked. "Oh come on, Ed; your little match with the Emperor's mother? You didn't think word of that wouldn't get around did you?"

"I don't think I like your tone, Mustang," Ed scowled. He didn't like what it inferred. Word?

Roy laughed. "So I shouldn't tell Winry about it then."

When it sunk in what Roy was really inferring – entirely in jest sure, but still! – Ed almost hit him. "Talk about poor taste. That's not even remotely funny." He spun and headed for his room before he really did haul off and deck the man!

"Ed, wait!" He heard Al getting up from the table but he didn't stop. He went into his room and dropped the books in his hands down on the desk. "He's just joking," Al caught up with him. "Take it easy."

"Well he picked the wrong topic," Ed growled before he got control of the surge of anger that had come on so quickly. He hadn't been expecting to get defensive. He sighed. "Sorry, Al. I just never thought of that."

"No one else has either," Al shook his head. "Roy's just being Roy. Mei came in after the meeting was over and was telling the Emperor about it. He laughed when he heard it and told her it served her right that you beat her." He grinned. "So take it easy."

"Yeah, yeah," Ed shrugged. "I'm not even sure why I let him get to me." He smiled at Al, though he didn't really feel amused. "You're right of course. So, when's dinner?"

Al looked momentarily taken aback at the switch of emotion, but then he laughed. "Same old, Ed. We have about half an hour until dinner is served."

"Great." Ed smirked. "Time to get a bath in then." Sparring with Ethan and then Mei had worked up enough of a sweat he wanted to get clean. He was really getting used to the ease of Palace life though. If he left laundry out at all, it was always back and clean in a few hours. And the bath was always freshly stocked with soaps and salts and shampoo and anything else someone could want. While Ed had always been happy with plain old soap and water, he wasn't complaining! They didn't have to do any of the day to day chores that Ed was just used to helping with around the house either. There were currently two people on staff taking care of their delegation specifically. If they wanted a snack, a drink, anything really, all they had to do was ask.

How easy it was to be spoiled!

Ed ignored Roy when he crossed back through their living room to the bath room and shut the door firmly behind him. As he filled the tub with steaming hot water he sniffed some of the myriad scented oils and such that were available. Really, he had been wondering for the past couple of weeks which ones he should see about taking home; Winry would love some of them he was sure, and who knew what it would cost once they had to start paying import prices back home.

Ed's personal preferences for him were less-flowery scents, but as much as Winry was not prissy or girly there were things she enjoyed – like long soaking baths – that always reminded Ed that the right gifts that most women enjoyed made his wife very happy!

He popped one bottle open and took a whiff, letting the delicate scent of blossoms cross his nose. Without warning, Mei's face appeared in his head, and he realized it was very similar to the perfume she had been wearing earlier. His face warmed and he closed it again briefly, irritated. Never before had any other woman's face intruded on his thoughts of Winry. He didn't like it.

Or rather, he admitted reluctantly to himself as he climbed into the water, he didn't like it because he wasn't sure he wanted to understand the implications behind it. It he was completely honest, it had been impossible to not notice over the past couple of weeks that Mei was an intelligent, vibrant person. With her pinned under him earlier, it had been painfully evident that she was also very lovely; a fact he hadn't expected to mean anything.

That was why Roy's words irritated him so much. They had hit a nerve. Ed loved Winry. He had missed her all the way here and every day they had been in Xing. He had written within a day of their arrival to let her know he had gotten there without incident and that everything was going smoothly. There was no dissatisfaction, no boredom; they had a great relationship.

So why the hell did he find himself randomly thinking of Mei at odd moments? The way she looked at him, or chuckled when he said something, how easy it was to talk with her, her first admission that she thought he was handsome…

If Ed was honest with himself… he didn't want to be honest with himself. Now seemed like a very good time not to be.

November 14th, 1950

Negotiations were going surprisingly well. Al had found he was actually enjoying them! The two countries were eager to re-establish connections and, since the Empire was not as strong as it had been, they were willing to agree to several compromises the old Emperor had been too stubborn and prideful to consider even if they were in the interest of his own country.

Today they had finished early, pushing through lunch to get done. Afterwards, Al asked and found out that Ed and Ethan were still buried in the stacks in the library with Mei and Ren and decided not to disturb them. In the evenings, Ethan and Ed would often talk about what they had learned each day and Al knew Ed was taking notes, so he would be able to catch up with them after they got home! It was fascinating stuff.

"Want to go into town?" Al asked Roy. Mao had assured them that the Amestrian delegation was welcome to go where ever they liked in the city unescorted, though escorts and translators would be provided if they wished. "I wanted to see the Grand Market Jiu was talking about last night at dinner." Mao's wife had spoken highly of the best part of the city for shopping for pretty much anything.

Roy smirked and shrugged his shoulders. "Sure, why not. It beats sitting around here all afternoon. Riza would probably disown me if I didn't bring her back something anyway."

"I wanted to find something for Elicia," Al admitted, grinning. He had written her several times already while they had been here, telling her about everything he could put in a letter that wasn't directly confidential government discussion. "Though it's funny that we seem to have more free time than Ed does; I figured it would be the other way around."

"Your brother is a glutton for punishment," Roy commented as they headed out of the Palace. "Though in this case, I'd say they're probably having far too much fun."

In more casual attire, Roy and Al wandered down into the city that surrounded the Imperial Palace. They declined a translator. At this point, Al felt pretty confident he could handle something as uncomplicated as a trip into town!

"If I get swindled, I'm blaming it on you, just so you know," Roy warned him cheerfully.

"I'll keep that in mind," Al grinned. It was a couple of miles of walking to the Grand Market, but it was down a long broad avenue that ran from the heavily fortified front gates of Palace down into the city. They had ventured out of the Palace escorted a couple of times before, so it wasn't entirely new. Al liked the chance to just see how people lived in different places. That was how you really learned to understand a culture; by understanding the daily lives of its people. Children ran and played in the streets, businessmen cried their wares, and women talked outside their houses and hung laundry between buildings. The language might be different; the mode of dress, the scents and smells, but it was still a city. Al found himself feeling very much at home. He and Roy drew quite a few looks of course, but no one seemed to mind them. They weren't the only foreigners on the street, just some of the very few.

The Grand Market was just how it was described; a two mile stretch of two lanes lined with stalls and shops. There were grocers, clothing shops, perfumeries, furniture stores, and shops with every kind of knick-knacks and whatnots anyone could look for. There were book shops too. Al and Roy managed to spend several hours pouring through there, though Al was the only one who knew was most of them were. They looked at antiques and, another favorite stop, Xing weaponry! They had a very interesting collection of ancient swords in one shop that both men enjoyed look at immensely. Though somehow Al didn't think any of their wives would be pleased if Al or Roy – or Ed, who would certainly appreciate the weapons – came home with a suitcase full of sharp objects!

"Oh I don't know," Roy commented at Al's observation as he fingered a particularly unusual dagger, "As long as I let her play with them too Riza might like a couple of these."

Eventually they got around to browsing for wife-appropriate gifts and, at least on Al's part, anything he thought Will or Alyse might like as well. There was no rush, and he was having a good time. Alyse was fairly easy to shop for. His daughter was, perhaps amusingly, fairly traditional for a girl. She enjoyed anything that was pretty and, these days, especially if she could wear it! Of course, being thirteen, she was also starting to attract a lot of attention from the young men in Central. Ready or not, Al had a teenage daughter!

In the end, he picked up a couple of books for himself, a classic Xing painting he was sure Elicia would like, a book on Xing philosophy for Will – who was also learning the language – and a hairpiece for Alyse that he knew she'd adore that picked out a butterfly in tiny gems of emerald, jade, and deep blue sapphires set in delicate silver pierce-work.

"Maybe we're paying you too much," Roy teased as they headed back up the hill, packages in hand.

"Take it up with Breda," Al shrugged, smirking at him. "He's the one who forced me to take the promotion." He looked at the wrapped package over Roy's shoulder. "And you just hope Riza will let you in the house with that huge sword."

Roy's grin broadened with a cool arrogance that Al knew to be only partially feigned, but in this case for show. "Oh no, this is just how she likes them."


"All right," Mei said as Ethan held out his hand toward her. She held out the small knife and nicked his thumb. Slowly a drop of blood welled to the surface and trickled down his finger. "A simple wound," she said with a smile, sitting back on her knees. Ethan was sitting cross-legged in front of her. Ed sat to the right of his son, with Ren watching on opposite him in their little circle on the library floor. "The body naturally wants to clot blood and close a wound, yes? So all you need to do is give it the energy to do what it wants to do anyway, instead of trying to force it to close."

"And the equivalent exchange is only that the energy is moving from one place to another. Nothing is gained so nothing is really lost right?" Ethan asked, sounding a little timid.

Ed didn't blame him. In all his life, he had never healed so much as a scratch using alchemy excepting his all-encompassing offer that brought Al back from within the Gate.

"That is correct," Mei replied patiently. "Just keep that in mind as you perform the transmutation."

It was almost funny to hear it referred to that way, Ed realized. While all alchemy was technically transmutation, in this case the body was repairing itself; the alchemist wasn't technically doing the work, just supplying the energy and direction. No wonder it was so difficult! It ran counter-intuitively to almost everything he had been taught.

Ethan swallowed then nodded. "Here goes nothing." He placed his other hand down on the transmutation circle sketched on the floor between them. It immediately began to glow blue and Ethan closed his eyes, concentrating obviously, though his face was surprisingly calm.

The transmutation lasted longer than Ed had expected for something so small; a couple of minutes, and when Ethan opened his eyes there were beads of sweat on his face. He held out his finger then, and pulled out a handkerchief and wiped his thumb off.

There was no cut, not even a line.

"That's incredible," Ed stared at his son's finger.

"It's exhausting," Ethan countered, but a huge grin cut across his face. "I didn't think it would take that much energy!"

"That is why you are a conduit and not so much the source for something of this magnitude," Mei smiled. "To take that much energy from a person's body makes it that much harder for them to recover. Well done."

Ren held out a cup of fruit juice and Ed watched Ethan down the whole thing in a couple of gulps.

"Your turn Mister Fullmetal Alchemist."

Ed looked up sharply and found Mei watching him with an amused smile, the little knife in hand. Swallowing, he took the knife from her. He had cut his own finger before to perform a transmutation. He'd rather not let someone else have the honor. He didn't flinch as he made a very small cut on the tip of his index finger. It stung, and began to bleed. That was all right.

Ed usually didn't use a circle anymore but that didn't mean he couldn't and, with one hand cut, it seemed more reasonable to try it the way it was traditionally done until he understood it better. It might also make using energy outside himself easier. He closed his eyes and laid his hand on the circle, feeling the energy began to flow as the transmutation began. He concentrated on his finger, trying to do as Mei had described. Don't force it to close, don't try and make it, just direct the energy where it needs to be, let the body do its work. It sounded so simple in theory and yet it proved to be much harder in practice. To be so passive in a transmutation, to not form anything purposefully with all that energy as he poured it into that one space and nothing seemed to happen until…

His eyes popped open as he wobbled and cut off the energy flow, gasping and sweating. Ethan, Ren, and Mei were watching him. He swallowed, closing his eyes again momentarily as he steadied himself. Ed looked down at his finger and felt a surge of disappointment. Perhaps the bleeding had slowed a little, but in the couple of minutes he had been trying to heal it, it could have done that all on its own. The cut was still there. "Well that didn't work."

"It takes time," Mei commented without sounding disappointed or concerned. "Often it is easier to learn a concept when one is new to it, or has a deeper understanding of the nature of that which they are trying to transform."

Ed understood what she was saying. He'd been studying alchemy for over forty years; in his mind the information was ingrained so firmly that it went against all his instincts to do this. Ethan had been training for a few years, but he had medical training that Ed didn't and he hadn't had time to become as set into one way. It came easily to his son. For Ed, he might as well be trying to knit socks, given the differences between the two actions. He shrugged and smiled self-consciously. "That's a humbling experience." He hadn't actually failed a transmutation he'd started since he was a kid! "I'll get it next time."

Ethan looked surprised, then a little amused. "Of course you will," he replied encouragingly.

Mei surprised him then by pulling out a roll of damp cloth and a dry bandage. "We should clean that so it doesn't get infected." She reached out and, before Ed could flinch or pull back, she took his hand and began dabbing his finger clean.

Ed tried very hard not to look flustered. "It'll be fine," he said, but he didn't insult her by pulling away. "It's just a small cut."

"Couldn't you heal it?" Ethan asked, looking up at Mei with almost as much surprise as Ed felt.

Mei chuckled and began winding the bandage around Ed's finger. "Of course I could, but this will take a couple of days to heal properly even clean. Which means," she looked up at Ed. "You will have the opportunity to try it again tomorrow. But not before then." Only then did she tape down the edge of the bandage and let go of his hand.

"Why not now?" Ed asked as she sat back. He tried to stand, and realized why an instant later as he wobbled unsteadily again and braced himself with one arm against the floor.

"Drink," Mei handed him a glass of juice. "And sit still for a minute. You have exerted yourself a lot today and, while you have certainly not damaged yourself, you are tired. Alchemists, or even any doctors, must take care of themselves; otherwise they are no good to anybody else."

Ed nodded and drained the glass. He felt a little like a child getting a lecture, though it was the gentlest lecture he had ever received. His own mother was the only other woman who had never gotten loud when she was angry that had ever scolded him. Well, other than Winry, but that was very different. His hand felt a little warm where Mei had touched it. "You're right," he shrugged. He smiled then. "I'll just consider this a good reminder of the lesson." He held up his finger.

"A wise choice," Mei giggled, smiling brightly and shaking her head just a little. "Rest up well and we will continue tomorrow." She stood. "Come, Renxiang. We have other duties before dinner."

Ren stood up and bobbed a polite curtsey to them both before following her mother out of the room.

Only when they were gone did Ed try to stand again. This time he made it to his feet. It had been a very long time since something as simple as alchemy had tired him out! "No wonder Marcoh needed those stone fragments," he grimaced. At least his head wasn't spinning anymore. "That's a lot of power for something that looks so simple."

Ethan nodded. "I could eat a cow," he chuckled. "Okay well, maybe half."

Ed chuckled. "I'll take the rest of it. Let's go get something to eat. You heard her; we'll be doing more of this tomorrow."


Tomorrow did not come as quickly as Ed would have expected. After a large dinner and an evening of just mellowing and telling Alphonse and Roy about what they had covered that day – and hearing about what the others had accomplished on the real mission to Xing – Ed had actually turned in early. He was still a little more tired than he liked to admit after today's transmutation exercise, and he hated how he kept thinking of Mei's hand on his, the smiles. He was sure they were nothing…damn it! But if he was sure why did it bother him so much? He enjoyed her company and he felt guilty for it.

Sleep did not come easily. Ed tossed and turned for a couple of hours. He tried sleeping on his back, his sides, his stomach; the last turned out to be a bad idea. He just couldn't get comfortable. Finally, he determined that maybe he was just still hungry. Usually at home a small snack would settle his stomach and he'd be able to sleep. Feeling like a wimp for being this tired out, he decided not to bother the attendants and pulled out slippers and a robe and decided to just slip down to the kitchens himself.

November 15th, 1950

Alphonse woke feeling rested and looking forward to the day. He came out of his room to find breakfast already on the table, Roy drinking coffee, and Ethan wolfing his way through breakfast almost as eagerly as he had dinner the night before. "Still recovering?" he asked his nephew with a chuckle.

Ethan nodded, pausing between bites to grin. "We'll be trying again today. I don't want to pass out in the middle!"

"That would be a tragedy," Roy quipped sarcastically.

Ethan ignored him. He was getting better at that.

"Where's Ed?" Al asked, looking around.

"Still out cold I think," Ethan shrugged.

Al crossed the room and knocked. Getting no response he opened the door, peering into Ed's darker interior room. He could barely see Ed's hair on the pillow; he seemed to have the covers pulled up pretty well over himself otherwise. "Hey, Ed. Breakfast."

On most days, those words should have been enough to send his brother catapulting out of bed – or at least sitting up! Al's comment was met with a rustling of the covers. "Nnngggh… later okay?"

"Ethan will have devoured it all by then," Al chuckled, though he felt a twinge of concern. Ed seemed to be eating less at meals lately and he wondered if maybe something was bothering his brother that Ed wasn't letting on. Given where they were, it would make sense for him to still have insecurities.

"I'll order up something else in a while," Ed replied, sounding groggy.

"Suit yourself," Al shrugged, closing the door again. What he really wanted to do was press the issue but he knew better. Now was not the time to try pushing Ed. If he was still tired than he wouldn't be overly agreeable; or at least he might be slightly less argumentative if Al talked to him later.


Edward heard the door close behind his brother and relaxed, if only slightly. The truth was he just didn't feel like facing the world this morning. He kept his head buried under the covers in the dark, and wished he were anywhere else, or better yet some one else. Then he wouldn't have to feel the overwhelming sense of guilt that paralyzed him this morning.

Each night his dreams were worse than the night before; not nightmares certainly, unless that person was Ed. Last night was the weirdest and, really, the worst. Mei kept intruding into the dreams Ed usually enjoyed most; the ones that were always about just him and Winry. Her dark eyes and pleasant laugh cut in where he didn't want them…he knew he didn't! Pathetic as it sounded to have to defend that stance to himself, he could do no less. He didn't dare, and he couldn't take it otherwise.

Curled up under the sheets, Ed felt the pillow beneath his head turning damp. This was so damned messed up!


That afternoon, Alphonse took the opportunity to work through his forms in one of the gardens. He was enjoying the trip, but compared to their usual work schedule in Central, he didn't feel like he was getting nearly enough exercise. He found a quiet spot where he wouldn't bother anybody and practiced until he worked up a decent sweat. It was as he was taking a break to get a drink of water that he heard someone coming down the path and turned to see Emperor Mao walking with a very wizened old man that Al had seen a couple of times before. The man had sat quietly in the corner, apparently asleep, during several of their sessions, or he would be seen talking to Mao or Mei, sometimes even to Jiu or Ren. But they did not invite him to join them at things, and Al felt it rude to ask.

The old man walked off and Mao turned spotting Al. He grinned and walked over to join him. "I see I am not the only one drawn to the charms of this spot," he laughed.

Al smiled. It was a really pretty area with one of the larger water falls that flowed down several layers of rocks into a small stream. It was well shaded by trees, even though this late in the year the trees were beautiful colors of scarlet and gold and the weather was getting chilly. ::It is a pleasure to find so many places such as this. It's hard to choose between them.:: Al chuckled, replying in Xingese. He was enjoying speaking the language when he could. His pronunciation and vocabulary had increased tremendously just in the time they had been here.

::This is one of my favorites,:: Mao replied. ::I come here when I have a lot to think about and want to clear my mind and focus on what's important.::

::I can see why. It's beautiful,:: Al replied.

Mao nodded. ::I have been wondering. Are you enjoying your time in my country?::

Al chuckled. ::Very much. I have read about Xing for many years and studied the language, but the reality is much preferable. This has been a wonderful opportunity and a lot of fun as well. Your people are very welcoming.::

::I am glad,:: Mao smiled. ::It has been so long since there was peace and contact between Xing and other nations. I have been concerned. And your brother?:: He asked the last more anxiously. ::Is he enjoying himself?::

Al could imagine why Mao wanted to know about Ed. Ed was the hard sell supposedly in this instance. Captured, tortured, and nearly killed in the hands of Mao's people –no matter that Lin Yao had acted alone- Ed had more reason to openly hate the Xing than almost anyone else even though he didn't. ::He is rather wrapped up in studying your Rentanjutsu:: Al smiled. ::When my brother gets into researching something new, he will often forget about everything else…except eating,:: he chuckled. ::He has complimented that several times, but also the friendliness of your people, and I know he has enjoyed seeing your country when he has been outside the Palace. He has been uneasy, but he has never blamed an entire people for the actions of a few men.::

::I could wish more people were as understanding and forgiving,:: Mao nodded. ::Though I am glad to hear it. I admit I was surprised to hear he was coming with you at first. It has made quite an impression on my Court.::

::A good impression I hope.:: Al would not have been surprised to hear otherwise, but the Xing were not easily impressed.

::They believe Edward is either insane or incredibly brave to come here,:: Mao chuckled. ::None of them is brave enough to question the first opinion, so they are publicly siding with the second.::

::I don't think Ed will mind being a legend in yet another country,:: Al laughed. ::He has that effect on people. Though, between you and I, it is probably a little of both.::

::Given the stories, I am inclined to believe you,:: Mao grinned. ::It would require both to do the things he has done and come out alive.::

::He would say it takes both to want to rule a country,:: Al countered, smiling back.

Mao laughed heartily. ::He would be right, I think; especially on the insanity. My father was to have this position first, not me, but it was important that I take his place for the sake of Xing and I have no regrets. I love my country and my people.::

::In my experience those are the best kinds of leaders,:: Al said. ::The motives of the person who wants the job are one critical element towards success or failure. We learned this the hard way.::

::So my mother has told me,:: Mao replied. ::Unfortunately, I must get back to 'business as usual.' It has been a pleasure speaking with you, Alphonse. I would like to discuss philosophy with you sometime I think.::

Al smiled as the Emperor turned to go. ::It would be my pleasure.:: When Mao was gone, he headed back inside himself to clean up a little before dinner.

November 20th, 1950

Ed was getting frustrated. Perhaps it was the distraction of his own thoughts, or the guilt, but he was having trouble concentrating on research and lessons. Ethan was improving by leaps and bounds. Okay, so in this case leaps and bounds constituted taking only thirty seconds to heal the cut it had taken two minutes to heal before and coming out of it a little less tired. But Ed had tried for nearly a week to accomplish the same thing and he had barely managed to get the fresh cut on his finger this morning to clot. At least it was something, though it left him panting, drained, and starved.

"You have to learn to let go and trust. You must trust the energy to flow where it is needed and the body to do the rest." Mei said calmly as Ed insisted on bandaging his own finger this time. Her presence lately made him irritable and jumpy, though he was hiding it with all the acting ability he possessed. Her presence in his dreams bothered him, and he didn't like the fact that he noticed how smooth her hands were when they had touched him, or the scent of her perfume. Today it was something softer and more subtle – lotus he thought – a scent he had only recently come to know. "You are still trying to keep too tight a control."

It took Ed a moment to get his thoughts back on track and realize what Mei was referring to. He nodded, sighing. "I know," he replied. It wasn't Mei's fault. He finished the bandaging and stood up. They were practicing in the gardens today. He was beginning to understand the appeal to the layout of the buildings in Xing. They made the peace of nature much more accessible. It was almost a shame to go inside, but what he really wanted was a meal and a nap. Maybe he'd nap outside today while the weather was nice. They were dining with the Emperor and his family again tonight. At least, the alchemists were. Worley and Dunstan were attending a diplomatic function in the city. Roy had gotten out of it since he was dining with the Emperor himself. Ed had to admit, he kind of liked a place where the head of the country could get out of attending diplomatic affairs for an evening and not worry about public opinion!

"You should rest," Mei said, her smile faltering a little when his response was terse. "Perhaps we should take a couple of days from this and focus on your other research. Coming back to it fresh and without the frustration may help."

"You have a point," Ed smiled unconvincingly. It was beyond frustrating to know the theory, and still fail a transmutation that looked so simple. He wasn't used to failing at things anymore; it was rather humbling. "We should finish that translation."

"We can work on it this afternoon," Mei smiled back. "If you're up to it."

Ed chuckled. "I'll be fine." His ego wouldn't let him admit to anything less, though it was going to be a long afternoon until dinner.


Dinner turned out to be a lot more interesting than originally anticipated. Alphonse hadn't been surprised that Mao had invited those not attending the diplomatic function to dine with him again. They were well on their way to becoming friends. Tonight though, Mao seemed mildly concerned and a little more contemplative than his usual public face, and it didn't take long into dinner to find out why.

"I was informed this morning," Mao said over the third course, "That there is an assassination attempt planned." That brought conversation temporarily to a stand still, especially with how matter-of-factly he said it.

"Is this a common occurrence?" Roy asked.

Mao actually smiled. "Actually, it is. At least two or three times a year we get a report that someone is planning to do away with me. Usually they are dealt with quietly and simply vanish, then wind up imprisoned when anyone hears from them again. It's very effective at keeping the peace, though not particularly dramatic."

"So why is this one any different then?" Ed asked, swallowing first.

"I would like to make an example of the faction in question," Mao replied, his smile replaced by a more serious expression. "To that end, I would like to tell my guards not to interfere until the party is actually on palace grounds and openly attacking. Then no one can dispute my actions when they are punished for their crimes."

"Seems a bit dangerous," Roy commented sarcastically.

"Indeed," Mei nodded. "But necessary."

"That is why I would ask…a favor of you," Mao said, looking slightly pained. "It may put me doubly in your debt but I would ask it anyway. Would the four of you, specifically, be willing to assist in guarding my family if I allow the enemy attack to come to us directly? Certainly they aren't helpless," he grinned then, and Mei actually chuckled, "But I can think of no better protection for my family than some of the finest battle-trained alchemists in the world."

"The purpose is to capture these attackers while catching them in the act?" Al wanted to make sure he understood the situation fully.

Mao nodded. "I do not ask this in an official capacity of course," he added. "But, in the hopes that new friendship might be enough."

Al made eye contact with Ed, who looked mildly startled, but shrugged almost imperceptibly in a 'sounds like a plan to me' kind of way. Roy seemed to be thinking the same thing.

"Well I'm for it," Roy grinned. "A little honest work never hurt anyone."

Even Ed was smiling. "Oh yeah. Don't worry. You've come to the right guys. Right Al?" He looked almost feral, like he was looking forward to a little danger.

Al sighed but nodded, smiling as well. "I can't think of anyone better," he agreed.

Ethan looked a little stunned, but he nodded silently in agreement.

"Thank you, my friends," Mao looked relieved. "If our intelligence is correct, and it pretty much always is, the attack is planned for the late evening, two nights from now. I would like to simplify the matter by being in three places at that time." He looked at Alphonse and Roy. "The two of you I would like to come visit our apartments that evening for a friendly social call. Myself, Jiu, and Tao will be there. Renxiang's rooms are right next door." He looked at Ethan then. "I would appreciate it if you would protect my sister."

Ethan swallowed, nodding. "Yes, sir," he replied simply, looking like he'd never expected this kind of responsibility, especially when it came to his skills as an alchemist and a fighter. "I'll do my best." Renxiang was smiling at Ethan, and Al wondered privately if that was part of why Ethan was uneasy!

Mao looked at Ed then. "You, Edward; I would request that you protect my mother." From the way he said it, Al understood that Mao valued his mother perhaps above himself.

Edward, if it was possible, looked slightly more stunned than even Ethan had, a sudden change given his eagerness. At least it was apparent to Al; it was probably a much more subtle difference to anyone else. "Sure," he replied after a moment. "I mean, of course. I'd be glad to."

"Excellent." If Mao noticed Ed's hesitation he didn't show it. He smiled at them all. "Obviously we will want to make the ruse seem as natural as possible so that they do not become suspicious and change plans. Ideally, they will not know all of you are there and it will be a complete surprise. We almost never have guests in the private apartments, so breaking with that tradition should make this a complete surprise to the enemy."

From there, discussion quickly devolved into details of how to work the timing of things. They were also going to have the old man Al had seen that Mao referred to as his 'spiritual advisor' in the room with Ethan and Ren, for propriety's sake if nothing else. At least, that was what Mao said, making both teenagers blush and Mei laugh.

"Two alchemists to guard a trained fighter and one woman and child?" Alphonse asked Mei quietly as he happened to fall in beside her in the hallway after dinner.

Mei nodded. "Mao could likely defend them entirely on his own," she admitted softly, then smiled. "Jiu is not incapable with a sword either. However, it is our custom not to speak of personal matters too publicly, and what my son has not mentioned is that his wife is once again with child. In her condition, it is much better to keep her out of the fighting as much as possible."

Well that explained it! Al couldn't blame the man for that. He'd have felt exactly the same way. "Of course," he agreed, nodding. One thing for sure, this was going to be an interesting addition to their visit. Al just hoped they could do the work they were being asked to do. Failure here was not an option.

November 22nd, 1950

Ed had a feeling of dread that only grew as the day wore on. He had been looking forward to helping foil the plans of assassins, getting into it in a scrap that was likely to be relatively uncomplicated and do some good while he was at it; honest alchemist work as he thought of it. However, that had been until Mao asked him to guard Mei personally.

"I'd like to show you some artifacts of mine," Mei told him early in the afternoon. "They are of some significance in alchemy. I think you would find them particularly interesting."

"Sure," Ed agreed. He didn't need to ask to know this was a natural lead in to him being in her quarters later this evening if anyone asked the reason after the fact. And he really was interested in seeing them; nervous as the idea of being alone with Mei in her quarters made him. It was stupid really; it wasn't like anything was going to happen. Other than their likely getting attacked anyway; but that was the plan.

Ed tried to ignore the knot in his stomach that evening, firmly telling himself it was just his combat senses kicking in. It had been a while since he'd been in a real fight. He was just edgy about that. Really.

Mei's rooms consisted of an outer sitting area, her bedroom, and a bath all to herself as well. It was elegant and yet much more personal a space than the sitting areas in the rest of the palace; it was hers. It was clear in the choices of wall-hangings and draperies and colors that this was a very different setting.

"Would you like some tea?" Mei offered as she closed the door behind them. "I have a really nice brew from the South you might enjoy; it's spiced."

"All right," Ed took his shoes off at the door as was polite and then wasn't sure exactly what to do next.

Mei poured them both tea and then turned around and smiled. "Sit down and relax, Edward. This is nothing but an evening's conversation between friends and fellow alchemists."

Right. Ed chuckled and sat down. "Sorry. I was just under the impression that my even being here would normally be well… inappropriate."

Mei chuckled. "By the stuffiest of Xing customs, but yes that's technically true." She set the tea down and then went over to a small lacquered cabinet and picked up a couple of small items. Then she came back and sat down. On the table she placed a small jade statue of a man and an intricately carved wooden box.

Ed looked down at them as he sipped the tea, and was momentarily distracted by the richness of the drink; heavily spiced indeed and sweetened. It was good! He made himself focus on the items again. "Just what are they?"

"The statue is, in its own way, a focus for alchemical power," Mei replied. "Not nearly as powerful or effective as your Philosopher's Stone or the fakes, but it has long been thought that the nature of the stone is in a way attuned to our Rentanjutsu," she used the word pointedly. "As an ingredient, or as a way to boost properties, it is a small thing. The box is as much of a mystery to me as it is to you. The carvings are those of a transmutation circle on each side, but I have not risked trying to use it without understanding the circles, which I have never seen before."

That had Ed's full attention. He leaned over and looked at the little box. "Fascinating. May I?" he motioned as if he was picking it up.

"Go ahead," Mei chuckled. "You have more experience with strange artifacts than I from what I hear. I've been hoping to get your opinion on them."

Ed picked up the box, looking it over, then pulling paper out of his pocket and a pencil and he started sketching the pattern of the circle out where he could see it more clearly. Each side was slightly different from the others and the circles were much more intricate than many he had seen, especially since it all had to be carved together and functional.

Ed completely lost track of time. The clock read three hours later when he heard Mei chuckle from behind him as she peeked over his shoulder and looked at his drawings. "Incredible. And you do it all so quickly. It's getting late though and nothing yet. I'm going to get a bath and get ready for bed. If nothing happens tonight I do not intend to miss out on sleep."

The words bath and sleep registered, and Ed looked up, startled. "Won't people think it strange that I'm in here while you're you know…" Bathing? "Sleeping?"

Mei smiled impudently. "Officially, of course, but really there is a lot of leeway for a woman in my position. My husband is long dead and I have raised my children. Who is in my sitting room in the middle of the night is my own business. Besides," she shrugged. "Even if anyone has suspicions or assumptions, as long as I am Mao's mother no one will dare voice any of them."

Even if they suspected or assumed. Ed felt his face flush red. "Right," he stammered. Shit! He looked back at the box and tried to focus on that instead.

"And there I go again," Mei sighed behind him. "I'm sorry. I have a terrible habit of saying things the wrong way. Mao complains that it's entirely inappropriate," she chuckled. "I meant that as a joke."

"No, it's all right," Ed commented, still not looking up. He sipped his tea. Joke or not, he didn't like to think about what people could think. He was married damn it! But he needed to be in here tonight. He was on a mission and he just kept telling himself that as he heard Mei walk into her room, slide the panel closed, and then pad quietly in to where her bath was.

He heard water filling, then the light splashing of someone sitting down in a tub, and tried his hardest not to visualize what was going on in the other room. He was so focused on trying to focus on anything else, he almost missed his warning.

A slow scratching come from somewhere; a very small sound, not much more than the sounds of mouse-feet on the floor only too regular and consistent. Then the sound stopped. Ed tried not to look like he was bracing for an attack even as he heard the brief shuffle of feet right before three Xing men in their style of body-armor charged in, one breaking through the window, another through the door to the hall, and a third dropping down from the ceiling! "We have company!" Ed shouted as he came off the floor, dodging as one of the men shot at him. Well what had he expected them to have, swords?

It turned out they had those as well, though only one attacker had his pulled. Two more men dropped down from the ceiling as Ed came up, his arm transformed into a blade and he cut upward, knocking the gun out of one man's hand, the barrel split neatly in two. He spun thing, bringing his foot up into the man's head and sending him crashing over the table sideways.

Ed ducked then, avoiding another shot and then he stumbled as two of them tried to corner in on him at once, as another broke away for the bath. "Mei!" Ed gasped as he collided with something. It was only a moment later he realized he had collided with another human body which pressed up against his back.

"You should watch your back!" Mei gasped and he realized she was the one behind him, back straight, in as much of a fighting stance as he was. He glanced over his shoulder and caught glimpses of a sword, long black hair, and a smooth expanse of unclothed shoulder and….

His head snapped back around so fast he almost gave himself whiplash. Hell! She was completely naked!

"Move!" Mei cried out as she dodged away from him, sword in hand, fighting back as one of the ones with a bladed weapon went for her. She spun with surprising speed and agility, her hair – almost to her knees when lose, Ed had been right about it being long – lashed around her and became another weapon as it slammed her opponent in the face; a useful distraction as she ran the man through.

Ed unfroze with just enough time to bring up his arm blade and deflect another attempt to smack his head. Then he grabbed for another man's gun and when the round went off against his auto-mail the gun bucked and bent as Ed flipped away.

The room was chaos. In a clear moment, Ed slammed his palms together and dropped to the floor to be less of a target. The hole above them closed and he temporarily sealed the doors. No one was getting out, but no one else was getting in either. The plan was to capture if possible, kill if necessary. Capture still seemed feasible, maybe!

The fight was over the moment they both had a chance to really use alchemy. At the same time Ed sealed them in Mei grabbed a small set of knives from the top of a shelf and tossed them at the floor. Immediately a transmutation circle glowed, forming between them and the luxurious silk curtains transformed into long lengths and bound their attackers….ropes of silken cord that bound tightly and were ridiculously difficult to cut with a knife.

Ed stood and looked at the five men; two unconscious and bleeding, the other three looking rather disheveled and annoyed. "Tastefully done," he commenting, turning to look at Mei, and freezing to the spot again. He'd forgotten.

Mei stood there by the door to her bedroom, panting; her hair disheveled and loose, tumbling all over down her shoulders as she scowled at their defeated enemies. She nodded briefly at his comment, but her attention was clearly on the men in front of them. She went off in Xingese then, and Ed only understood half of it, but it was enough to know she was tearing into them.

He took that as an excuse to pry his eyes away and start picking up the mess. The two artifacts and his notes were scattered but undamaged. He was just about finished when they heard what sounded like an explosion and light flared up just outside the screened windows!


The other two attacks had gone off simultaneously with the one on Mei. Ethan and the old man and Ren were playing a Xing strategy game that was similar to Chess – Ethan had seen President Breda play it a few times at parties at their place and had some idea of how it worked, so he was doing pretty well – when they were met with two assailants. Apparently that was all they thought it would take to take out a sixteen year old girl. They were able to subdue and capture both enemies with surprising ease. Ethan had already sketched out a transmutation circle on a sheet of parchment in preparation to save even a couple of seconds. The two men hit the ground as his hands hit the circle, and they immediately found their feet encased in the find hardwood of the floors. The old man struck out with his walking stick, lashing them both quickly across the temples and knocking them out cold.

Ren shrugged and smiled. ::Well,:: she commented with some amusement. ::That was simple!::


The big fight was in Mao's family's quarters located in the middle along the hallway. Alphonse, Roy, and Mao were sitting having a friendly chat in the sitting area, while Jiu and Tao had supposedly already gone to bed – there was a female guard surreptitiously sitting watch in there anyway just to be sure. When the attack came it was from multiple directions at once. Fortunately, the three men had a plan. Mao pulled the ceremonial sword he had been showing off from its stand and attacked, while Roy lit the first three who charged on fire in a flash-burn that merely hurt the skin without second thought and Al took three steps back and slammed his hands together, then outward, hitting the two ceremonial sets of Xing armor on stands along the wall. They were on wire frames, which held them together wonderfully. The two suits stumbled away from the wall, pulling their swords and attacking the enemy. Suddenly three defenders were five.

A scream from inside the bedroom sent Mao running, and Al and Roy moved in closer to cover each other as they defended. Capture, not kill, if possible. Al had no interest in killing anyone today. "What now?" Roy asked as they stood shoulder to shoulder.

"Divide and conquer?" Al suggested with a grin. Really, if they split and each took half, he suspected they could be stopped.

"Into the courtyard!" Mao directed as they moved to spread apart; he protected his wife and child as they hurried out, followed by the defending female bodyguard who was fighting against a couple more attackers. Shots rang out. Al and Roy followed without argument, backing out of the room, Roy sending spouts of flame in front of him as he backed to keep them at bay.

Alphonse spun, watching the approaching men – there were twenty of them now, and one at the front in robes that seemed to have transmutation circles written on them in Xing. An alchemist! The man glared at them, clearly annoyed. Obviously though, the enemy meant business if they had hired an alchemist. Alchemists willing to do this kind of thing rarely worked cheap.

Or they worked for free. Roy had taken on Bradley hadn't he? In this case, Al's judgment told him they were fighting on the right side. Mao had told them who these assassins worked for; they sided with a family that was an ally of the Yao.

They were coming quickly and Al knew they needed something to stop the small regiment of assassins charging them. Obviously this had been planned from the inside as well. How would they have ever gotten that many men into this wing of the Palace without paying someone?

Stop them; right. Clapping his hands together Al concentrated and a tornado whipped up out of nowhere between them and the oncoming fighters. They hesitated, but it was clear they would try and get around it before long. Then he had a flash of insight. "Roy!" he called out, knowing the Flame Alchemist was behind him. "Light it!"

"Whatever you say," Roy actually laughed and Al heard the sound of his fingers snapping and watched as, from the bottom roaring up to the top, his tornado of air turned into a real pillar of fire, reaching up into the night sky and bathing the entire area around them in a hot golden glow!

Behind him, Jiu screamed in surprise and Tao yelped, but Al kept focused on keeping the inferno going. The enemy soldiers had stopped dead, looking to the alchemist to clear the path.

The man in the robes seemed prepared to do just that. He tossed a handful of small knives at the ground and a transmutation circle glowed on the ground in front of him. He tossed his hands out dramatically – and entirely unnecessarily – and from the ground erupted grasping vines that began to intertwine with Al's legs.

"I've got it!" Roy called out. Flames flashed again and the vines burned, recoiled, and mostly died where they lay.

Al smirked at the Xing alchemist. ::You'll have to do better than that, you third-rate amateur!:: he called out in Xingese, taunting the man. If he was even half as cocky as Edward or Roy, he should be able to get him riled up.

::Out of the way, foreigner,:: The man responded then. ::This is none of your concern.::

::I think my friend here believes otherwise,:: As Al spoke the burning tornado continued to walk forward. The soldiers behind the alchemist backed off, save for the ones who were beating down Al's soul-imbued Xing armor and staring at it as if it were bewitched. ::You've already lost!:: As he called out, a controlled wall of fire sprang up between the soldiers and the door to Mao's rooms. Roy's work obviously. Al grinned. ::Give up now!::

::You have no chance of escape Fan!:: Mao shouted from behind him. Apparently, the Emperor had recognized who the man ahead of them was.

::Oh I think you have it backwards, Mao Xian!:: The man – apparently named Fan –laughed coldly. As he raised his hands again however, the ground below him erupted, tossing the soldiers off their feet and grabbing Fan physically, twisting around him and pinning him in place, arms up in the air but unable to move.

"So you're Quiang Fan." Ed shouted and Al turned his head slightly to see his brother striding across the courtyard, having come out the door that led to Mei's rooms. "Long time no see!" His eyes were glowing redder gold in the firelight. It was rather eerie really. Ed was obviously pissed off. "I've wanted to thank you for your hospitality for a long time; personally!"

Al blinked and let the tornado go, the area around them suddenly much cooler and darker as the light vanished with the extinguished flames, though the wall between them and the door vanished as well as Roy dropped it; the palace guards came pouring through only seconds later, taking hold of the attackers.

Quiang Fan looked disgusted and a little mortified as Ed confronted him, getting right up in his face. ::I have nothing to say to you,:: he spat at Ed.

Ed smirked and crossed his arms. "Well I've got one thing to say to you," he retorted. ::Go to hell.:: With that, he socked the man in the face, knocking him unconscious.

"Edward!" Al gasped, moving forward in surprise. What the heck?

Ed turned and gestured back over his shoulder with his thumb at the now unconscious alchemist. "This is the bastard, Al," he commented coldly, "Him and his creepy sister."

Then Al understood. So this was one of those two alchemists. Al sighed. "Then I retract my stunned exclamation of disapproval," he replied.

"Good," Ed nodded. "I'm done here. I think I'm going to go find a midnight snack. You coming?"

The brusqueness was unexpected, but perhaps understandable. "I need to help clean up the mess here first," Al gestured to the burned grass and singed roof of the building. His tone implied Ed should stay and help too.

Ed gave him a warning look. "I already cleaned up inside." With that he turned and strode back the way he had come. As he vanished inside, Mei came running out in a green silk robe tied tightly around her waist that went up to her neck, her hair pulled back but not up, flowing out behind her like black cloth.

She looked relatively unruffled despite being barefoot and carrying a handful of the small knives Al had gotten used to thinking of as typical of Xing alchemists. ::We took care of five,:: she said, walking right up to Mao. ::Two are unconscious. They are all incapacitated.::

::Have we seen Renxiang?:: Mao asked, looking concerned.

::I am here!:: Ren said, and Al looked up and saw Ren, Ethan, and the old man coming out of the door to Ren's rooms. ::We caught two!::

::You are unhurt?:: Mao asked.

Ren grinned. ::I was well protected.:: She smiled at Ethan, who blushed but looked pleased.

The rest of the attackers seemed to now be in custody. Most were bound and being dragged off while several of the palace guards split off into Mei and Ren's rooms to pick up the other traitors. The alchemist remained unconscious and in Ed's land-made restraints, though they were prying him out and tying him up as well.

"Well that was thrilling," Roy snorted as he walked up. "Nice work."

"You too," Al grinned, a little tired but not too bad considering. "Let's clean up this mess, shall we?"

"Do we have to?" Roy asked, looking dejected, though he obviously already knew the answer.

"We did make a lot of the mess," Al shrugged. "Let's get to it. It shouldn't really take long. It's mostly re-growing a little grass."

The two of them spread out and, with Ethan, Mei, and Ren's help, had everything back the way it was within about fifteen minutes. Understandably, Mao had taken his wife and rather tired son back inside and was talking to the palace guards, making his wishes made perfectly clear as to what was to be done with all of them, especially Quiang Fan.

Finally, a little after midnight, the three alchemists made their way back to their rooms. Ethan crashed immediately with barely a wave and Roy vanished into his room as well with a small glass of rice wine. Al glanced in the direction of Ed's room. They had gotten used to leaving anything they wanted picked up by palace staff out in the main room for minimal fuss, and outside his door were an empty tray, a rumpled towel, and an empty glass. So it looked like Ed had come back, had something to eat, taken a bath, had a drink, and gone to bed…in some order.

November 26th, 1950

The next four days were a little chaotic, and everyone's schedules were off as diplomatic talks – the official ones anyway – were suspended while Mao dealt with this little matter of the Yao assassination attempt on the entire Imperial family. That meant that alchemy research and training were thrown off as well, though that was fine with Edward. He slept late, preferring the early morning daylight since that was when he dreamed least, and spent most of his time working on his own research, compiling notes, and working up a clean copy of the translation they had so far of the primary Xing alchemy text that he and Mei had been working on. The improved accuracy and explanations would be a boon to alchemy in Amestris, Ed was sure.

Really though, he was glad to be away from Mei without going out of his way to avoid the woman. He holed up in their quarters, working his way through research material and not even really breaking for meals unless there was something scheduled, he just ordered up food whenever he was hungry.

Anything was good as long as it kept his mind off the images of Mei Xian that kept coming into his mind at inconvenient moments and haunted his dreams all night long. Before had been bad enough. Now, she was always the way he had seen her that night, alive and capable and completely unclothed. He couldn't get away from them, and the harder he tried not to think about what he had seen the worse it got!

So Ed kept his mind on things he knew would keep him distracted, especially alchemy, food…Winry. He thought about Winry and his kids and tried not to feel the guilt that threatened to overwhelm him. How was this happening? Why here? Why now? Why at all?

Yeah, he was keeping his mind off her…right.

Ed was beginning to think he should never have come after all. Maybe Al was right. He should have just stayed safe at home with Winry, where he belonged.