"The emperor requests an audience with you, Alphonse-dono, before your departure."
"Does he?"
"Yes. He demands it on pain of certain painful death, sir."
"I see. At least I know where I stand in his graces. Not so good, it would appear…"
"So it would seem, Alphonse-dono. He was quite put out when I delivered your message."
"I wouldn't have expected any other reaction. Thank you, Mao. I will go see him now."
"As you wish, sir."
The old retainer stooped in a respectful bow and left the room. Alphonse clasped his final suitcase, fully packed and ready for the caravan, closed. He sighed and glanced at Mei who had stopped moving since the entrance of the servant. As expected, her eyes were as wide as saucers with worry and her body was as tense as rope.
"Mei, stop worrying. We knew he would not approve of me doing this. He has gotten too used to me being around because he is an old soft fart." He lifted the suite case up and deposited on the platform that was to be rolled out. It held all their luggage which was plentiful, since this was to be a permanent move for Princess Mei.
"It's ominous that he did not request my presence." She said skeptically. "Perhaps they will detain me while you are with him."
Alphonse let out a bark of a laugh, his eyes glowing. "You know that is NOT the case, Mei. He has embraced you as his family. He isn't about to go taking something like that back. He is just gonna whine and chew us out a bit. But – we are both decided."
He gave her a reassuring pat on the shoulder and a squeeze of the rump, and left her to her thoughts.
/
The emperor of Xing had many throne rooms and ceremonial halls for different purposes in his expansive palace. However, he preferred the outdoors and high places so he would rarely be found in one. It only took a few minutes of searching before Alphonse located him – his body guard only inches away, her face covered in a red and black mask.
He was on the roof.
Alphonse thought this extremely dangerous. Since his inauguration as emperor and ruler of Xing he was forced to wear long, velvet purple or blue robes that were at least 20 feet long (or at least Alphonse guessed). It was still an a mystery to him how anyone walked in Xing because usually there were wearing the longest silk robes that Alphonse had ever seen. Ling, the emperor, managed it though with an uncanny, magic grace. He was standing on the highest point of his palace, a small square foot of flat space where two slanting sections met. The wind whipped at his flowing clothes but still he stood steady as a rock – overlooking his people…with…a frown the size of Xing.
Alphonse balanced as best he could, sticking his arms out and walking as close as he dare. Lan Fan was motionless beside her master, her head down. The youngest Elric was afraid to speak first, learning from Xingese custom that it was rude to do so in the presence of royalty. The problem was, Alphonse could never guess how formal his friend would be, when there were not advisory eyes on them.
Ling saved him the trouble, "I hear a nasty rumor, about you Alphonse." He said quite seriously.
"What is that, my lord?" Alphonse replied.
"I hear that, after 3 years of calling Xing your home, you intend to leave it for good. Never to return."
Alphonse chuckled. "That is indeed a rumor. I do plan to leave – and for quite some time I probably will not return, but I would not guess as to nev-"
"I am not finished!"
"Sorry, my most bountiful Lord." Alphonse grinned.
There was a hint of a hesitation (perhaps there was a smile) "What is worse. I hear you intend to take Princess Chang with you on this journey…and that you intend to marry her on foreign soil without my permission. My sources also tell me that you have taken a job – a job that Princess Mei is also undertaking although it is a debasement to have a royal family member stoop to such lowly labor. I hear this job is teaching at a school in the Amestrian countryside. May I stress here, without my permission."
"I am afraid everything is true. Though, I must say, as a citizen of Amestris – I hardly need the emperor's decision to return to my own country. The emperor has never had issue with me or the princess travelling before."
Ling rocked back and forth thoughtfully in place. Lan Fan looked up for a moment to hear her master's face, which Alphonse could not see.
"That is true. But, something feels very final this time around. I have a feeling that you both will be gone a long, long while. When we see each other again, things will be very different. I cannot say I approve of Mei going with you. Is she decided?"
"Yes. She knows how important it is that she be there to instruct the young people of the world in the secrets of alkahestry. She is a master, and has a lot to give. Our school will benefit all young alchemist, from Xing as well. Mei intends to invite students from her own country and help pay for their travel to Amestris for school. This is a great opportunity for cultural and educational exchange between our two nations, my lord. Not only will there be students from Amestris and Xing, but Creta, Aerugo and many other nations. We have recruited both students and professors from around the world. With such exposure to Xing's young minds, your country will truly progress as you so wish it. We had every thought in the world of benefiting you and your goals for Xing."
"You should be a diplomat with that tongue." Ling said with a sigh, his shoulders slumping slightly. "I have gotten used to having you around Alphonse. You have been a great advisor and friend. My court will not be the same without you." Finally, her turned to face him, but Alphonse was happy to see he was smiling.
"Not that you asked for it, but you have my blessing. Though we may be older, I feel certain we will see each other again someday. I still have a standing invitation for your runt of a brother to appear at my court."
Alphonse smiled.
"Brother's automail makes it difficult for him to cross the desert. But, I must confess there is another reason why I am anxious to return to Amestris my lord. It is also another reason, I am afraid my brother's coming to Xing will be further delayed for some time.
"And what is that?" the emperor asked, his curiosity peaked.
"My brother, well…let me be more accurate, Winry is having a baby."