Author's note:

Ok, to the very few people who actually read this-

I am SO SORRY that this took so long. I'm going to be totally honest here- the only reason that this wasn't posted earlier was because I was lazy. I'm sorry. I promise it won't happen again (haha, we all know that it probably will happen again).But I'll try to prevent this from happening again. I'm sorry.


Edward's eyes widened. Alphonse gasped. Even Mustang stood up in shock. "H-how could… how is it possible… just, why?!" Edward stammered. "Why would you even think about performing alchemy while using your life as a medium?"

"I just… I just thought that it would increase the chance that they would be resurrected." Rei said quietly. "I just thought that I would be able to transform my lifespan into theirs…"

"Oh yeah, well it looks like that didn't work for you." Edward said sternly. "So you failed a human transmutation and lost half of your life."

"And not only that," interrupted Mustang, "Every time you use alchemy, your lifespan is shortened. Not to mention that you are now a State Alchemist, a job that requires you to use alchemy regularly!"

Rei stared at them. "No matter what I do, and no matter what I say, it will never change that fact that I performed the ultimate taboo. You can scold me all you want, but it won't affect what happened in the past."

Edward, Alphonse, and Roy stared right back at Rei. "How the hell," Mustang started, "are you supposed to complete your duties as a military officer if your alchemy kills you in the process?"

Rei sneered a bit. "I could always resort to my fighting skills. When I lived in Xing, I was trained to be one of Emperor Ling Yao's personal guards, so if I'm attacked for any reason, I should be fine."

"You know Ling?" asked Alphonse.

"Of course I do," Rei replied. "Why?"

Alphonse began to feel just a bit nostalgic, "My brother and I met Ling a while ago. We're good friends of his. Wow, now that I think about it, we met him a really long time ago. I wonder how he's doing now."

"Not well. In fact, the entire country of Xing isn't well. We've had several threats and attacks from Amestrians. Right now, the emperor is on the run. And that's why I'm here."

Edward placed his palm on his forehead. "I guess these people are responsible for both your parents' deaths and the kidnapping of your brother. But you say they're Amestrians… if I'm correct, this country is an ally and a friend to Xing. Why would anyone from Amestris straight up attack an ally? Al, does this have anything to do with you? You were in Xing for a while."

"No!" Alphonse exclaimed, "Why would I try to spark a war between two countries? That's insane!

Mustang took a good look at Rei. "It's possible that the attackers are terrorists of some sort. A lot of people don't exactly like having to rely on another country for resources and such. I honestly think that they're full of bullshit." He looked out of the window in his office to the night sky. "Rei, I'm assuming that you became a dog of the military in order to seek out the people who killed your parents, am I correct?"

Rei stood up from the chair and said, "Sorry, Brigadier General Mustang, but you're only partially correct. Yes, I did join the military to find the men who killed my parents and abducted my brother, but not only that. I plan to find them, and kill them. I'll do whatever it takes to avenge my mother and father. And I plan to protect the people of Xing. At this point, it doesn't matter if I'm killed in the process; it only matters if I succeed."