A Wanderer's Destiny
Epilogue: Fragile

"If blood will flow
When flesh and steel are one
Drying in the colour
Of the evening sun
Tomorrow's rain
Will wash the stains away
But something in our minds will always stay
Perhaps this final act was meant
To clinch a lifetime's argument
That nothing comes from violence
And nothing ever could
For all those born beneath an angry star
Lest we forget how fragile we are

On and on the rain will fall
Like tears from a star
Like tears from a star
On and on the rain will say
How fragile we are
How fragile we are"
-"Fragile", Sting

The sun was setting rapidly on Dantooine. Out in one of the fields near the old Jedi Enclave, soldiers and Jedi gathered.

Edward, Alphonse, and Hohenheim Elric stood among the Jedi massing on one side of the large funeral pyre that bore the body of Roy Mustang. Among the soldiers on the other side were Admiral Onasi and Roy's subordinates: Captain Riza Hawkeye (promoted after PR1-D3 was defeated), First Lieutenant Jean Havoc, Master Sergeant Cain Fuery, Major Alex Louis Armstrong, Warrant Officer Vato Falman, and First Lieutenant Heymans Breda.

Revan stepped forward. "We are here to remember Major General Roy Mustang, a Jedi Knight, and a distinguished member of the Republic Navy. He was killed fighting the Homnunculus PR1-D3, also known as Pride, who had infiltrated out government as Chancellor Bradley. His efforts were not in vain: PR1-D3, the rest of the Homunculi, and their Master, Dante, are dead, and a new Chancellor has risen in Bradley's place.

"Roy left this world the way he would've wanted to: fighting for what he believed in, what is good, and what is right. Remember what Roy has done for us, and may his soul rest forever in peace." She lifted a torch and lit the funeral pyre.

The soldiers present saluted and remained in that position as the pyre burned. Edward and Alphonse remained straight-backed as they watched. Neither showed any emotion on the outside, but inside, Edward seethed in anger at Dante for creating the Homunculi and thus taking the life of a man, who while arrogant and ambitious, did not deserve to die. He quietly suppressed his anger, remembering his training.

The funeral ended a few hours later. Edward and Alphonse walked towards the Enclave, where Trisha's Curse stood waiting. Winry ran towards them, hugging Edward fiercely. Edward kissed her forehead and wrapped an arm around her waist.

"How was the funeral?" Winry asked, softly.

"Depressing."

"Of course. What do you plan on doing now?"

Edward stared off into the night sky. "…There's a ware coming. The True Sith are mounting an attack on the Jedi and the Republic."

"Are they going to make you guys fight?"

"Probably."

"Please be careful, Ed. I don't want to lose you guys."

"We will, Winry."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

Edward continued to stare into the night sky, watching the stars and the streaks of ships taking off. A year ago he would've run from the war. Now, he was ready for whatever the True Sith had to throw at him.

End.

---

Preview of "Indiscretions"

Hohenheim Elric let out a low curse as his head hit the top of the vent he and his two sons, Edward and Alphonse, were currently crawling through.

"How do you two manage this so often!" He hissed at them.

"Practice makes perfect, old man, and since you've had no practice, you're nowhere near perfect at vent crawling," Edward said, glancing behind himself and smirking at his father. He stopped by a grate, blowing his long bangs out of his golden eyes. He shrank back from the opening as a red-skinned Sith guard glanced up at the grate.

"What's wrong, Brother?" Alphonse asked, softly.

"There's a guard down there," He hissed. "I think we're close."

Alphonse nodded, turning back to Hohenheim. "Ready, Dad?"

"As I'll ever be," Hohenheim panted.

Edward grinned and kicked open the grate, dropping through it and grasping the edge. He swung forward and booted the Sith guard in the head with his left foot, knocking him unconscious. He dropped to the ground, closely followed by Alphonse. Hohenheim fell through moments later.

"You need to work on your landings, old man," Edward laughed, holding out his hand to help Hohenheim up. "Now come on—let's go rescue Master Izumi!"

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Final A/N: When I was in my first Junior year of high school, I took a class called Rites of Passage. We studied various books in which the main character undergoes a radical psychological change or change in personality. Among our texts were Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, "The Bear", The Adventures ofHuckleberry Finn, Catcher in the Rye, Ellen Foster, and The Woman Warrior. My favourite of these was the last.

I suppose I never really had any appreciation for the Rite of Passage genre until I studied it in-depth in a paper for our teacher, Mara. Well, not so much a paper as a creative exercise. At the end of the year, we were to write our own Rite of Passage story. Mine was the longest in the class, because there was so much I wanted to include and I kinda got carried away. Mara didn't mind though, she said she enjoyed reading it immensely. The story itself may be found on my account (my penname is Kyuuketsuki Musume there), and on deviantART. It is called "World View", and was written in correlation with my original Manga "Legacy".

You might be wondering what this has to do with "A Wanderer's Destiny". Well, let me put it this way… When I started writing this story, I had only a vague idea of where I wanted it to go. On the 29th of November, 2005 (the same night I typed THIS monster of an A/N up), I was pondering how to end it and finally decided on the ending I have presented you with.

AWD has turned into, of all things, a Rite of Passage for Edward. He started off hating the Jedi, being disrespectful towards almost everyone he met, and overall extremely jaded and cynical.

And who can blame him? He lost his mother at age 13, his father was never around, and at age 17 he lost an arm and a leg and watched his brother die at the hands of a Dark Jedi.

But, in the end, he had changed. He was still jaded and cynical, but perhaps not as much as he was before. I hope I illustrated that change well.

So I must dedicate this story to Mara Nicastro, my Rites of Passage teacher in 2004-5. The class proved to be a valuable lesson in writing.

Also, to Damian (AKA Damos Taranth) and Amy (AKA Nadako-Mika): for introducing me to Full Metal Alchemist. I owe them many things. –hugs Damos & Nadako-

Thirdly, to my friend Peter: for many talks during Rites of Passage & US History in 2004-5, regarding Star Wars in general, and for recommending Knights of the Old Republic to me. You got me addicted, Peter, I hope you're happy. Also, for being so funny and being one of the very few people who was annoyed by both Bastila and HK-47, which I still find amusing to this very day. (…What? He was!)

And lastly, to every one of my 54 watchers on and the… 68? Holy frack. 68 on deviantART, and to the people at KotORFanMedia who graced my story with their attention. You people make my day, really. Thank you.

I hope you have enjoyed this story. Guten nacht!

:Dark Jedi Princess: