Naturally, I struggled on the way to the Fuhrer's office. I would not go down without a fight. But there were simply too many officers. I took down as many as I could, but whenever one went down two more took his place. Nevertheless, I fought like hell to get away.

Ed was crying. Not on the outside, of course, but inside I could see the tears flowing freely. It was the only way. Logically, only one of us should have to go down. He could survive and only I would die. There was no way to save us both. Plus, Ed would be free, and hopefully get the chance to save me later.

If I survived.

The wood French doors swung open and I found myself in the Fuhrer's office. The officers forced me to my knees. I saw a pair of highly polished boots come to a halt in front of me. An officer grabbed me by the neck and forced me to look up at Nikolas Hiller. I felt rather than heard Ed growl at him. I immediately pictured him with a puppy collar and could not hold back a smile. Hiller smacked me across the face.

"Now. I'll try to make this easy for you." Hiller paced in front of me, agitated. "Give me the names of everyone in the Resistance and the location of your base and I might let you live."

I glared at him defiantly. "I'll make this easy on you. Let me go and stop hunting my people and I just might not make your death excruciating. Just agonizing." I could sense Ed's smile.

Hiller scowled. "I can do this all night, Rockbell. Sooner or later, you will tell me. And then I will have you publically hanged for the whole country to see what happens to traitors."

I smiled lazily.

"Gah!" He smacked me again. My face stung, but it was worth it. "Take her to my Chamber," he ordered, smiling maliciously at me. "I'll be there after I'm done congratulating Mr. Elric. Well done, my boy. You captured a dangerous criminal."

Ed unclenched his jaw. "Thank you sir," he said flatly, saluting. Only I could see the pure hatred in his eyes.

They knocked me out with chlorophorm. When I woke up, I was strapped to a metal operation table, wearing nothing but a paper robe. My face flamed and I struggled against my restraints.

"Don't bother. They're steel." A cold voice sounded from the shadows. "It's just you and me now," the voice crooned, sending chills down my spine. Dread curled in my stomach; how was I going to survive this?

Hiller grabbed a scalpel from the tray next to me and pulled up my robe, exposing my bare white thigh. "Such luscious skin," he said. The tone of his voice made my hair curl and my stomach churn.

He pressed the scalpel into my skin and carved the letter "T" into my leg. I forced myself not to scream.

He continued cutting, "R" "A" "I" "T" "O" "R", then went back and traced them all again. I started screaming at "I" and it was downhill from there.

He pulled back, smiling. "Ready to tell me what you know?"
I said, between gulps of air, "Ne…ver…"

He clucked his tongue. "Pity." He moved to my other leg and started cutting again. "Does this name mean anything to you?"

He cut "E" "D" "W" "A" "R" "D" into my leg. I screamed and screamed, unable to stop myself. I finally yelled out a breathless, "No!"

"You're lying." He carved "E" "L" "R" "I" "C".

I couldn't take any more. "Okay yes! Yes! He's a childhood friend! We grew up together in Risembool, but I don't know him anymore! I didn't even know he was in Central!"

Hiller stopped. "Good. Now, the names of your people and the location of your base."

I sneered. "You can go to hell."

I saw something snap in his eyes. "You first!" He plunged the knife into my stomach, over and over. My agonized shrieks echoed around the room. Luckily, the scalpel wasn't very long so the cuts weren't deep, but I had a lot of them. Not good.

The door swung open suddenly, making Hiller jump. "What do you want?" he snapped, clenching his jaw.

An officer, with his hat pulled low over his eyes, said, "There's a riot outside Central Command, sir. The Resistance has coordinated a mass strike, and they're gaining ground."

Hiller glared at me. "Seems I'll be meeting your little friends with or without your help." He sneered and turned toward the door. "Watch her," he ordered.

"Sir!" The officer saluted. As soon as Hiller was gone and his footsteps had faded, he took off his hat. A blond braid flopped out.

I smirked. "Took you long enough. Where were you?"

"Gathering friends." The door opened again, and a very familiar man with messy black hair walked in, a blond woman at his side.

My eyes went wide with surprise. "Colonel ! Lieutenant!"

They saluted. "General Rockbell! We are honored to make your acquaintance!"

I gave Ed a look. He simply said, "I recruited them."

I smiled. "Welcome to our ranks, Mustang and Hawkeye. I apologize for my appearance and for the circumstances in which I greet you, but unfortunately there is nothing to be done." I looked at Ed. "Can I get out of here now, or should I stay and have tea?"

"Don't be smart." He released the restraints and winced at his name carved into my leg.

I stretched. "Status report."

"We're attacking the gates. We have their forces completely overwhelmed, and we should own the building within the half hour," a voice said from the hallway. My lieutenants entered the room and saluted, smiling broadly. "Glad to see you're still in one piece, ma'am."

"Glad to be in one piece, Reyna." I waved away their helping hands. "Get me to the front lines."

As we hurried down the hallway, releasing prisoners, I asked Mustang, "How were you impeached?"

"Hiller's men forced the government officials to sign a document asking for my immediate removal from office. I don't even think they used guns, the cowards just gave in." He scowled.

I put my hand on his arm. "I'll get you your office back. It's yours to begin with."

He smiled that famous lazy Mustang grin. "Thanks, Rockbell."

We arrived at the front lines just a few minutes later. By now it was mostly over. Central Command was ours. I took great pleasure in making Nikolas Hiller go down on one knee in front of me. I regarded him coldly. "Fuhrer, here he is. The man who betrayed our country."

Mustang stood tall and proud. "Arrest this man for treason and murder, and God knows what else."

Hiller spat at his feet and Hawkeye slapped him. "Show some respect to the Fuhrer of Amestrus."

Ed and I grinned at each other. His arm was draped around my shoulders and I leaned against him.

"We started the night with a simple patrol and ended with total revolution," Ed mused in my ear. "Not bad, Rockbell, not bad."

I had to agree. My people had stormed a military base to rescue their leader, taking down the entire government in the process. I couldn't have been more proud. "Reyna, Anna. You are truly amazing officers, and truly amazing girls. I'm honored to have fought beside you." I saluted them.

"The honor is ours," the twins said in unison, blushing furiously.

I broke rank and military code and hugged them. "No, it's not."

The sun chose that moment to rise. "Well, our country's timing is as good as ever," Ed said. Everyone laughed.

I looked at Ed for a second and pressed my lips to his. I pulled back, grinning at his shocked face. "You're gonna pay for that," he threatened, taking my shoulders in his hands and kissing me… and kissing me… and kissing me.

Mustang groaned. Hawkeye smiled. Anna beamed and Reyna rolled her eyes. Ed and I kissed.

And Amestrus was born again.

To all my reviewers, particularly you, Hotaru-Naichingeru, ScarredStar, SierraPaige, kurosakiLenalee and many many others, I give you all a big hug and a resounding thank you. You guys make the long hours, the headaches, the cramping fingers and the annoyed parents worth it!