DISCLAIMER: I own nothing.

CHAPTER TWENTY: The Final Question

"...So that's it," Al finished explaining. "What should we do?"

Izumi studied the two boys for a long, long while.

"Izumi?" asked Ed.

"What's it like, living a life in hiding?"

Ed and Al blinked at the sudden question.

"Well... it's not really in hiding. Not as much as it used to be." said Al, after a while. "When we were kids... well, it's silly, but I always got the feeling that maybe they were kind of ashamed of us... our alchemy, you know? I know they weren't," he hastened to add, "But... it felt that way. Just a little."

"Yeah," Ed nodded. "It was sort of... I don't know. We were always being rushed off to our rooms when we had company, having to lie about things..."

"Did you ever feel you were missing out? Did you ever feel lonely?"

"Well, sure," Ed shrugged. "But it was alright. I mean, we had Mum and Dad, and each other, of course. I never really thought about it, to be honest. What's with the questions?"

"Even now..." Izumi sighed. "Doesn't it bother you to use false names? Hide your intelligence? Don't you ever wonder if, maybe, just maybe, you'd go further as Edward and Alphonse Elric than you ever could as Edward and Alphonse Curtis?"

There was a brief, shocked silence. "Izumi, are you suggesting...?"

"Maybe the world's ready for alchemy again," she said softly. "And maybe you two are ready to stop hiding."

"But- what about Ishbal? War? Izumi-"

"Medicine," said Izumi abruptly. "Cures for life-threatening illnesses. Inventions that could save lives. World hunger! Ed, have you ever wondered what alchemy could do about world hunger? Al, haven't you ever considered the possibilities for peace?"

"Alchemy isn't just some magical solution-!"

"I know that!" Izumi interrupted. "But it is a solution, isn't it? Alchemy isn't the only dangerous thing in the world. Locking alchemy away forever won't stop people from getting hurt, it won't stop people from dying! Eventually someone else will find the missing piece. What if that person isn't as conscientious as you? You have an opportunity to introduce alchemy to the world on your terms. People will do bad things, yes! But people will always do bad things- with or without alchemy!"

Al bit his lip. Ed looked torn.

"There are good people out there, people who do good things. With alchemy, those people could do amazing things." she said gently. "Knowledge should be free. It should be for everyone. And you two should be yourselves."

"But... if people get hurt because of alchemy, it'll be our fault." Edward protested.

"No," said Izumi. "It'll be the fault of those who chose to use it poorly. We don't lay the blame for every murder on the person who made the weapon- we blame it on the person who chose to use that weapon in that way."

"But-"

"There will be laws, won't there?" Izumi pointed out. "The use of alchemy can be regulated. Come on, Ed, Al... what was that old motto you found?"

"Alchemist, be thou for the people..." Al murmured.

"Exactly." Izumi said.

Ed couldn't come to a decision.

People will do terrible things.

Yes, they will. They'll also do wonderful things.

People will get hurt.

And other people may be saved. Besides... people already get hurt.

The world isn't ready.

Maybe it isn't. Maybe it never will be. But who am I to decide?

What if it's the wrong thing to do, and I do it?

What if it's the right thing to do, and I don't?

"What do you think they're gonna say?"

Roy sighed. "I don't know, but I doubt it's going to be good news for us."

"We don't know that," said Riza. "Mrs Curtis is a little fierce, but I have no doubt that she is a reasonable and intelligent woman. The boys obviously like her... who knows?"

There was a brief silence as they considered this.

"We are so doomed."

"Jean!" Riza scolded."I'm sure that's not the case."

"Look, let's not leap to conclusions. I'm sure they won't be much longer." said Maes- and he was right, because at that moment, Edward and Alphonse Elric stepped back into the room, Izumi behind them.

"We've... we've has a long talk about it," said Alphonse. "And we've come to a decision."

"And... what have you decided?"

"We're going to allow you to tell the world the story," he took a deep breath, "The whole story."