Chapter Eight

"Independence"

2 Years Later

"Come on, Sam! We're going to miss it!" Everett shouted, as he and Sam ran down the dirt roads of Resembool, trying their best to make it to the train station in time. The warm summer breeze lifted Everett's overcoat and ruffled his hair. The smell of flowers, grass, and clean air was something he was going to miss, surely, but not enough to stop him from going to his new destination.

In the last two years, Everett had continued his alchemy training, and had become quite good at it. He had been able to nearly perfect his own transmutation circle, which had the ability to control water and things that contained it. Teacher once called it ironic, but he didn't understand why. He had spent the better part of a year researching, testing, and then researching again. It wasn't like no one had ever used water based alchemy before, but Everett wanted to be as original as possible. He was able to finish his transmutation circle before he left the house earlier. And he was now on his way to Central, where Sam would be starting an apprenticeship with a Central doctor, David Knox, and Everett would try to become a State Alchemist. Edward had set up the apprenticeship for Sam, since he had once known David's father. Ed hadn't exactly approved of Everett's choice, however. The conversation he had with his teacher was still fresh in Everett's mind.

"I'm not happy about it, but there is nothing I can do to stop you." Ed sighed.

"You used to be a State Alchemist, didn't you teacher?" Everett asked quietly.

"Yeah, which is why I have no right to stop you." Ed frowned.

"This has been something I've wanted to do since I was little…" Everett mumbled.

"Why?" Ed looked at his student. The boy had arrived two years ago a bit shorter than him, and was now a very little bit taller than he was. But that didn't mean he couldn't glare at the kid. "Or do you not have a reason?"

"Of course I have a reason!" Everett snapped, a little angry that his teacher would say something like that.

"Then what is it?" Ed asked sourly. Everett looked at the floor, and his fists clenched.

"It's a little personal…" the boy mumbled.

"Well, you'd better get used to talking about it; because odds are someone is going to ask you sooner or later." Ed sighed. He could understand a personal reason, but Everett should at least be able to talk about it with someone.

"What happened to my parents wasn't right… The west should have been evacuated sooner… But the military hesitated. They died because the people in charge were scared of becoming sick themselves. It took Fuhrer Grumman stepping in to get Western Command to do anything! If I do this, and I pass, I can climb my way to the top. That way, I could make sure nothing like that happens again. I can protect those below me, and then they'll protect those below them… It's the least I can do… For my mom and dad, and for everyone else that died."

Ed was certainly impressed. He was a lot more like Mustang than Edward realized. His work ethic was Riza's… But his mind set was all Mustang's.

"Well, I can't argue with that, can I?" Ed said. "I hope that works out for you, Everett."

"Teacher?" Everett seemed confused by the sudden acceptance from Ed.

"The written exam is the worst, remember that." Ed smiled slightly.

"I will." Everett smiled back.

"Hey, Everett! Sam!" he heard a voice call from the side of the road. "You guys finally going to Central!" It was Lucas, a resident that lived nearby. He was tending to his sheep by the side of the road.

"You bet!" Sam shouted, as they kept running. Both boys waved quickly, not stopping, fearing they were already too late. The station wasn't too far away; they could see it down the road. The train was still there, but they weren't sure for how much longer.

"Good luck!" Lucas shouted.

The two boys made it to the station right on time, and managed to run onto the train just as it blew its whistle. They were able to find seats rather quickly, since the car they entered was practically empty.

"You wanna know what the first thing you're doing when you get to Central is?" Sam asked, panting from the run.

"What?" Everett asked, just as out of breath.

"You're buying a car." Sam grinned.

"A car?"

"It's not like you don't have the money, right? All the inheritance your Aunt left you, not to mention the money you got for selling everything…"

"I guess." Everett sighed. "It would be nice having to take the train anymore…"

"Damn right it would be."

"Good thing I got my license two months ago, huh?" Everett smiled slyly. He had gotten his license because he could pay for it, Sam, on the other hand, had no means of paying for it, and still hadn't gotten his. He didn't like being reminded about it.

"Shut up." Sam grumbled.

"So, is your uncle still going to meet us at the station?" Everett asked.

"Yep. He's been living in Central for the past year. You know he's been living in Xing with his family for a while now, right?"

"Yeah, I remember." Everett nodded. "What's he like?"

"Well, he's much more polite and quieter than my dad. He also likes to call himself better looking…" Sam said. "And he has short hair, which dad says is very 'un-Elric like'." Sam smiled, as he pointed to his own ponytail, which was identical to Ed's.

"His name is Al?"

"Alphonse. But he goes by both." Sam nodded.

"I hope he doesn't mind us staying with him until we find our own place…" Everett mumbled.

"I think he might like the male companionship." Sam laughed softly. Everett gave him a quizzical look. "He lives with his wife and two daughters."

"Geez." Everett exhaled. He could barely stand living with Genny when she was in a bad mood, it was probably much worse with three girls. "How old are they? Hopefully not too young…" Everett didn't want to have to listen to the crying and whining of small children.

"Trisha is eight, I think, and Lin is seven." Sam said.

"That's not too bad." Everett said, leaning his head against the window, watching the hills of Resembool disappear in the horizon. He was going to miss it, but not enough to stop him now.

Both boys got up from their seats when the lights from Central could be seen in the darkened distance. The sun had just begun to set, and everyone was turning on their lights. Everett had never really been to a city before. He had only ever been to East City once, on a fieldtrip to some boring museum. East City wasn't really a city, though…

Just seeing Central grow closer made Everett want to shout. He had dreamt of this moment for most of his life, and to see it, right there in front of him, was almost too much. He and Sam kept their noses pressed to the window until the train pulled to a stop at the station. Even though they were both sixteen now, they looked like small children, with their expressions of excitement pressed against the glass.

As they got off the train, Sam started looked around. He didn't see his uncle anywhere.

"He must be late." Sam mumbled. "That's weird."

Meanwhile, Everett was marveling at the station. It was huge compared to the ones in Doyer and Resembool. Was he really here, or was it just the best dream in the world? If it was the latter, he didn't want to wake up.

Alphonse rushed past people leaving the station. He was never late. He was always known for being early! He was only late by a few minutes, but still! He found his way to platform 4, where his nephew and Everett were waiting.

Ed had filled him in on Everett's situation only a few days ago. Al remembered being there when Riza had the baby in Resembool, and never expected to see the little newborn again. It was amazing how small the world was. Ed had made sure that Al wasn't going to let anything slip. "The military keeps a really close watch on the kid, Al. You need to be careful." Alphonse has gotten pretty good at keeping secrets over the years. He really didn't worry about this one.

Ahead of him, he saw a golden haired boy with a pony tail, and a taller, slender, black haired boy with shorter, unkempt hair.

"Sam!" Al called out. The boys turned around, and a large smile formed on Sam's face.

"Uncle Al!" Sam grinned, as Al came to a stop in front of them.

"Wow! You've grown, huh?" Al grinned. He hadn't seen his nephew in three years, as was surprised by how much taller he had gotten. "You're taller than your dad was at your age!"

"So I've been told." Sam laughed. Everett cleared his throat politely. "Oh, Uncle Al, this is Everett."

Al faced Everett, and was a little surprised. He had been told by Ed that Everett looked like his father. Most boys do take after their fathers, with bits of their mother's thrown in. Like Sam, he had his father's eyes, hair, but he had Winry's nose, ears and mouth. The boy standing in front of him now, though, was full on Mustang, with a few small changes. His eyes were brown and his eyelashes were long, like Riza's.

"Thank you for letting us stay with you for the time being, Mr. Elric." Everett put out his hand, which Alphonse shook.

"Please, just call me Al." he smiled warmly. "Is this your first time in Central?" Everett nodded. "You're gonna warm up to it right away."

"Uncle Al?" Sam yawned. "Can we go to bed? I'm really tired…"

"Oh, sure. We don't live too far from the station. Do you want me to take a bag?" Al gestured towards their luggage.

"No, I'm fine." Everett assured him.

"I'm good too." Sam said. With that, Al led them to the apartment, where May, Trisha, and Lin were waiting to see their houseguests.

"May made dinner already, but I guess if you're tired…" Al began.

"Are you kidding! I'm starving!" Sam perked up quickly.

"I thought that might change your mind." Al smiled. "Come on, let's go."

Central waited right outside the station.

"I don't see why we have to go to this stupid thing…" Roy grumbled as Riza tied his bowtie. "It's the same thing every time." He was complaining about Fuhrer Grumman's annual Summer Ball. It was held every year to celebrate the country returning to the parliament sixteen years ago. Grumman, who was now pushing 70, also enjoyed seeing all the pretty girls in dresses, something he had once told Roy.

"I don't know why you hate it so much." Riza sighed. "It gives us a great reason to get out for a night without Lily."

"I know, but the stupid State Alchemist exams begin in two weeks… I have to get all this stuff done for it… Grumman just had to move it at the last minute… I don't understand why he couldn't just keep it during the winter." Roy frowned.

"I have to go get dressed, Roy." Riza finished the bowtie. "Can you go wait for Elicia?"

"Elicia's babysitting? I thought she was in college in South City."

"Its summer Roy, all the universities have vacation."

"Oh. Right." Roy nodded. He walked out into the hallway, and found Lily eating dinner in the kitchen.

"Hi dad." The ten year old grinned. She had cut her hair shoulder length a few days ago, and he still hadn't gotten used to it.

"Hi." Roy smiled.

"You look nice." Lily said.

"Thanks. Are you going to be okay with Elicia tonight?" Roy asked, filling a glass with water from the faucet.

"Yeah, I like Elicia. She's cool." Lily nodded, as she slurped up the spaghetti on her fork.

There was a soft knock on the door. Roy gulped down the water that was in his mouth before putting the glass down and walking to the door. He opened it and saw twenty-one year old Elicia Hughes. Her light colored hair was being held back from her face with an orange head band, and a large smile was on her face.

"Hello, Uncle Roy." Elicia said happily. Roy and Riza saw Elicia and Gracia so often that the Aunt and Uncle titles just managed to form on their own. Both of them actually liked it.

"Hey, Elicia, come on in." Roy stepped out of the doorway. "How's college?"

"It's great! I really love it in South City, but nothing beats being home." She said.

"Yeah, I'm sure." Roy smiled.

"Oh, hello Elicia." Riza said from the hallway. Both Roy and Elicia looked over. Roy's jaw almost dropped to the ground. Every year they went to the ball, and every year, Riza would make his jaw drop. Her strapless gown was a dark purple, and she wore very simple silver jewelry, including her usual silver ball earrings. Her hair was up in a loose bun, and she was wearing neutral colored make-up.

"You look so pretty, Aunt Riza!" Elicia said, in her usual bubbly manner.

"Thank you." Riza smiled.

"Uh... um... You…" Roy was barely able to speak. "You ready to go?"

"Yes." Riza nodded. "Thank you again, Elicia. I think Lily is still in the kitchen eating."

"Alright. I'll have her asleep before you get home, like usual!" Elicia said. "You two have fun!"

"Fun… Right." Roy grumbled as he and Riza left the apartment.

Roy sat in the driver's seat, waiting for Riza to come out. She had forgotten her bag in the apartment and went back up to get it. A few people were walking around the city at this time. It was probably around nine. He looked out at the sidewalk, and saw three people making their way past the car. It was Alphonse with two others. The shortest one had his hair in a ponytail, just like Ed's. The other…

Looked just like him… Everett.

He waited in silence for the three of them to pass the car. Once he could no longer hear them, he exhaled loudly. That was his son. Riza was right. The resemblance was uncanny. Although, the kid was a lot thinner than he had ever been, he could almost be considered scrawny. Roy jumped when the passenger door opened, and Riza sat next to him. He must've had an odd look on his face, because she gave him one back.

"Roy, what's wrong?" Riza asked.

"He's here." Was all he could say.

"Who?" Riza frowned.

"Everett's in Central."

A/N: I am going to try doing one Author's Note. So, I hope I didn't keep you all waiting too long. I wrong another long one to make up for it! It's Al! Alphonse finally decided to show his face in the story! And he and May have to girls? Aw. I've always felt that Al would make a great dad... :3 So! Next chapter is already in the works. You shouldn't have to wait too long! Don't forget to review! I love you guys!