Epilogue

Six months later…

Central Headquaters-Ametris, spring 1927

Several chipper chirps from two finches sitting on a branch near an open window made a dark haired man sitting at a large oak desk pause a moment in his writing and turn the plush leather chair around to view the scenery beyond his four walls. The sun was high in the afternoon sky and a light breeze rustled the sheer white curtains that hung high above the floor to ceiling glass. From his position he could see a gathering crowd around the large steps that lead into Central's headquarters, decorated heavily with streamers, banners and, balloons.

A light rapping on the office's door made him turn slightly away from his people watching, to address his new visitor.

"Enter."

"How are you feeling, sir?" A poised uniform woman with neatly tied back blonde hair stepped through the small opening, a gentle smile lighting her face as she closed the door behind her.

"You know me. I'm as calm as always…General." The woman's face flushed red at his words.

"Sir, please…"

"You've earned it."

"This is your day. All of Ametris is waiting to hear the address of their new fürher. Is this your speech?" She walked up to the desk and took a few papers from the desk, scanning over them.

"Yea, though I'm not much of a public speaker. I just hope I don't get booed."

"The people of this country love you. You showed excellent strength and leadership during a very tumultuous time for this country and helped rebuild the reputation of the military. You are their leader. They chose you, sir."

The man shifted slightly to look back out of the window. "…thank you, Riza."

Hawkeye's head shot up and she blushed brighter at the sound of her first name from the man's lips. A few moments passed before she was able to speak again.

"…S-sir, the report from that incident was finally completed and locked away into the records." Mustang remained facing the window. "I could have them sent up if you'd like."

"No need, Hawkeye. I don't think we'd soon forget what we saw there. How is that young man recovering?"

"Better. I recently spoke with the butcher, Curtis who said that Mason is making great progress with his physical therapy."

"So he's walking?"

"A little, every day."

"Hm. What were the eighth division able to recover from the last investigation of the house?"

"Not much. Mostly antiques."

"And Dante?"

"We don't think she was able to find a transfer. After we arrived and found the young man on the ground near death and Ms. Rockbell…we searched for her after she tried the soul transfer and failed…" Riza's voice sounded distant and reminiscent as she recapped the horrific scene of discovery their investigation lead to almost six months ago.

They had found the house and the gruesome actions that were taking place. Winry Rockbell's body lay lifeless in the middle of a transmutation circle before a conquering Dante, as she stood over the girl with the cursed stone, in the midst of a soul transfer. Mustang and Riza had stormed the place after seeing the blast of alchemic power from the road and after rushing to the house,a battle immediately broke out. Dante was thrown, turning to use her energy to dispose of the two intruding officers. She had called out a name, and they soon found themselves facing a newly created homunculus; a bumbling being named 'Sloth'.

"Do you think…that we'd be able to open the-"

"I think that if Ms. Rockbell has found her way back to the other side, she wouldn't want to come home."

Ellis Island, spring 1927

The hum of the crowd was constant as several long lines of people stood patiently in their respective places. A variety of faces, many from a number of European countries and backgrounds, standing next to small bags, probably their only possessions, a telltale sign of the past they'd left behind them for a new start in the 'new world'.

Two young men moved closer to a small window after a couple ahead of them side stepped away. The shorter of the two stepped forward and patiently waited while the attendant pulled a file and acknowledged him.

"Name?"

"Elric. Edward and my brother Alphonse."

"Here's your forms. Please fill these out thoroughly and the both of you stand over there for your examination." He followed the finger of the pointing woman over to the far right of the large room and turned back to her.

"Thank you. C'mon, Alphonse." The two men gathered up their bags and proceeded to walk in the new direction, stepping aside and allowing a new anxious pair to face the window.

His head hung low; he wasn't really interested in the faces around him. They were, much like all, just another face. His brother, however, revealed in the place, and tried his best to cheer his sullen-faced counterpart up.

"Look brother, so many different people are here. So many people are seeking the same things we are. This truly is a new start."

"Hm…sure, Alphonse." He kept moving, catching a few snatches of conversations here and there in his ear; though it was a female's voice that made him stop cold.

"Thank you." That voice. It sounds strangely familiar. He turned around to face the voice behind him. She was walking towards them, her head bowed slightly, seemingly glancing down at a few papers in hand. She paused to find her place and their eyes met, the blue with the gold.

"Ed?"

"Winry?"

end.