Chapter Text
This is Radio Capital, reporting live on the arrival of Princess Mei Chang to Amestris. She is coming for the wedding of former State Alchemist Edward Elric and automail mechanic Winry Rockbell. The Princess has made it safe to Ishval’s newly built train station, a collaborative project between Amestris and Xing as a means to restore Ishval and connect the two countries more efficiently. The Princess’ stay in Ishval is a short one, her most prominent stops being the military base and hospital.
The train pulled into the station a few minutes ago now and we are waiting for the Princess to make her appearance, and there she is! She steps down the train to meet Major General Roy Mustang. Wonder how this meeting will play out…the Major General summons someone from his team, Major Hawkeye, who has a flower arrangement with her. Ah, I see! For the Princess, who takes it graciously.
Alongside the Princess comes Alphonse Elric, brother of the groom and rumored to become Ambassador. He has been traveling the East for the past two years but keeps coming back to Xing, and if our sources are true he will soon remain there. The Emperor of Xing, Ling Yao, has previously expressed his wish to continue a strong relationship with our country, so having an Ambassador would be the next step. Speaking of the Emperor! He is set to arrive in five days. He will stay for one day in Ishval before going straight to Central City, where the wedding will take place. The Princess, however, will go to Resembool after Ishval and she will remain there for two days before going to Central City.
My, she looks radiant! Exactly what you imagine when you think of a Princess. She is wearing a Xingese styled lavender dress, high neck and floor length. Surely we will soon see this style replicated in our country’s clothing stores. The Princess looks confident as she greets our military’s high ranking officers, her young age of seventeen does not seem to hold her back.
“Turn it off, it’s making me anxious,” Ed asks Winry, who complies readily.
“Yeah, same here.”
“Although,” he says after a thought, “if we’re lucky, they’ll be too busy gushing over Micro Princess over there and leave us alone. Or better yet, how crazy do you think they will go when Ling makes it?”
“As much as I wish that would happen,” and as she says it she feels awful for wishing all that unwanted attention on her friends, “I just don’t think it would work out the way you think. If anything they will make it a big deal about the wedding of the century having royals as guests. Ed, how did it get like this?” She groans and drops her head on his shoulder, the one that used to be metal.
“It’s your fault for becoming so famous during your time in Rush Valley.”
“My fault! Why, former State Alchemist Edward Elric who saved the country, that is rich coming from you.”
“No, it’s definitely you,” he insists and presses a kiss to her temple. “Your automail and your gorgeous looks.” He feels her face going hot against his neck and she doesn’t say anything in rebuttal, speechless after his compliment. He likes it, being able to make her feel this way, making her feel so much that she can’t even speak. But he also knows that part of that is embarrassment, and he’s no stranger to that, so to soothe her he wraps his arms around her and tells her, “but really Winry. We can call this big thing off. We would just have to grab Al and Granny and have a small ceremony here in Resembool.”
But somehow, Edward already knows Winry will decline that. She wants a big wedding, not for show, but because she wants everyone who has been there for them to part of their wedding. She wants to share this time in her life with them and celebrate and be openly in love, even if that last bit does mortify her. To be honest, Ed wants the same thing.
She sighs and regains her voice. “No. I want those who are special to us to be there and there are so many of them. If we want to make that happen we will have to just deal with all the attention, it is what it is. It’ll be worth it.”
Ed sees the chance, and he takes it. “So you could say it’s…”
“Don’t,” she warns.
“…Equivalent Exchange.”
She pushes him away. He laughs.
“That is good to hear, dear,” Pinanko says from her workbench. “Grabbing me and breaking out on a run for a rushed ceremony seems like too much of a hassle, with my age.”
“Granny! Have you been listening this entire time?”
“Well, yes, I’ve told you. My hearing has not gone and I am right here.”
Winry freezes in mortification. Edward’s recent compliment flashing in her memory and forces herself to make a hasty retreat to her bedroom.
“Hopeless as you are. She’s getting married in a week, and still the though of anyone witnessing the two of you being cutesy makes her flee.” Her musings are interrupted by a coughing fit and Edward rushes to her side.
“Come on, Granny. You need to rest.”
“I’m fine, my boy,” she assures him when the coughing lets up. “It’s nothing.”
“It would make me feel a lot better if you laid down for a bit. And don’t want to cause more stress the groom, do you?”
“And what do you plan to manipulate me with after the wedding?”
“I’m sure I’ll come up with something.”
Her health has been deteriorating faster than anyone expected it. It seems her age is catching up to her. Her hearing is intact, but the rest of her not so much. Her eyesight gets worse and worse, she is slower than ever and she feels tired all time despite sleeping longer hours. It is difficult for Pinako to admit it but she knows her day is coming, sooner rather than later. Most of all, it is the ever-present pains that bother her the most. She wouldn’t bother Winry or Ed with it, not with their wedding so close and even if they are suspicious.
Perhaps Pinako won’t be here to witness the birth of her future great-grandchildren, but she would witness her precious granddaughter marry the love of her life and that was enough. A life well lived. And who knows, she thinks as Edward tucks her into bed, maybe she will see it from far away. Next to Hohenheim and Trisha, and with her beloved son and daughter-in law.
Yes, Pinako thinks as Edward helps her to her bedroom, death will be just another friend coming for a drink. But not yet.