The Ishval War Finale: A Story Ends, Another Begins
May 30th, 1901, Outskirts of Ishvalla, Regional Capital of Ishval, Ishval
You walked downstairs to see Arthur, Johan, and the man known as Joshua… or Scar as your Uncle has taken to calling him, sitting, drinking some coffee as they smiled at the stories Arthur was telling. Your father's notebook was in your hands.
"So I called Bradly out on his inaction and blasted the bitch with a shotgun." Arthur stated as Johan chuckled, and Scar was rather… indifferent.
"You make jokes and attack your leader out of a perceived notion of moral posturing?" Scar asked.
Arthur smiled. "Sometimes one has to partake in humor because that's how we cope… and it's not moral posturing when you have the moral high ground and the man you are attacking enables genocide."
"Yet it gets a little murky when you plan behind my back, and put me into a dangerous situation." You stated as you walked to the table, sitting down, and taking a cup of coffee.
Arthur remained quiet for a moment. There was silence at the table. "Glad to hear your voice again Alfred." He stated.
"Uncle… I love… but if you don't want to see my mother again shut up." You were forceful in your tone. You wanted him to be quiet.
You then turned to Johan. "Fuck you."
Johan frowned, expecting anger and frustration, but not so… muted. "To be honest, I expected far worse from you Alfred, I truly was."
You crossed your arms. "Oh, If I had it my way, I'd send a spike up your ass for leaving me out to dry because you decided Chasing Frank Archer was a damn fine idea!"
Arthur shook his head. He wanted to make some semblance of peace. "Alfred. That was a ruse to throw Dante off the scent, and confuse the enemy of our true motivations."
"Though it would have been a bonus if I offed Archer." Johan quipped.
Scar for his part sighed. "These two idiots seem to think that the ends justify the means."
You couldn't help but agree. "Alright uncle… what was the plan?" You asked.
Your uncle nodded. "Johan was going to follow you to the camp where Dante was at, and rescue you, or at very least, keep an eye on you, and try to prevent you from, causing too much damage, to your reputation, and to Ishval itself."
"You were planning to kill me?" you asked, anger bubbling in your blood.
"No." Arthur stated. "We had an ally, Scar's brother, he's an Alchemist, he had a theorem that could pull your soul from the philosopher's stone. Before your father died, he had been exchanging information about energy and the potential energy within the Human body… trying to discover a way to destroy a philosopher's stone."
You raised an eyebrow. "They are real?"
Arthur nodded. "Real… and very dangerous." He pointed to the notebook in your hand. "Do you really think it was a coincident your Father was called "The Energy Manipulating Alchemist?"
"He manipulated Electrical Energy… at least that was what I thought?" You replied.
Your father's notes were in Cyphers… complicated ones. He didn't want anyone, even you to really understand everything… not until you were ready. Only a few pages were simple enough to read and understand with little code-breaking.
"Your father was into much more volatile subjects… they wanted him to make a bomb that could destroy a city." Arthur stated.
"I know… Hydrogen and Helium manipulation… trying to make a mini sun i think?" You stated.
Arthur nodded. "I never understood my brother in-laws work, but I did know that before he quit, he was working on a type of material… radioactive material." He stated. "Weakened his health considerably, but it never stopped him."
"What type of Material?" You asked. The Alchemist in you was very… interested.
"Don't know, he couldn't say… but I do know it was something powerful and potent." He stated.
Then you realized something… he was trying to change the subject, off of his responsibilities. Controlling the conversation.
Damn, he was good at that.
"It still doesn't make it right what you did, planning without my consent or knowledge… I could have helped." You stated.
Johan scoffed. "If you knew, then Dante would have known, and that means you would be dead… you were lucky your father was able to help you."
"You trusted everything to go as planned, had that much faith?"
Johan shrugged. "We had an Angry Ishvallan Monk who wanted to keep you safe because his prophet told him so… We would have succeeded."
Scar shook his head. "Arrogance."
Johan shrugged. "It worked."
You turned to Scar. "That true?"
"Yes, the Prophet wished for you to remain protected while in Ishval, to protect you from the military." He stated. "For the work, you have done, and lives you have saved."
You were quiet. "I am honored." You gave a small bow.
"Don't be… we should be the one honoring you… risking your life for the Truth." Scar replied.
Arthur nodded. "To Alfred, hero of Ishval!" He toasted.
And you drank.
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Arthur waited at the train station for you. "Took you long enough?" He stated.
"I didn't know if I should come, or let you leave with your own guilt." You stated.
"I didn't mean to hurt you." He replied, looking at you. "I wanted to protect you."
"You don't need to lie to me." you sighed. "You didn't trust me… neither did Johan."
"I know." He looked at the train. "I don't intend to plead and beg for forgiveness for my mistakes. That is for you to make… not me."
You nodded. "I know."
Arthur held out his hand. "Until we meet again?"
You shook it. "Yeah."
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The War is over… what do you do:
[]Head Home (Begin A Break): You are going home, Sarah has some things to talk to you about… something about the newspaper.
[]Hunt Frank Archer: You are not doing this for him. You are doing this to stop a criminal who has escaped justice. (Begin Side Arc: The Monster of the South)
[]THe Missing Gold: THere is stolen gold that needs to be found. You will… try to find it. (Begin Side Arc: The Gold of the Desert)