//------------------------------// // Epilogue // Story: Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy // by AnonymousCardCaptor //------------------------------// Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy By Anonymous Card Captor My Little Pony-Friendship is Magic is created by Lauren Faust and owned by Hasbro Studios. Fullmetal Alchemist is created by Hiromu Arakawa. All other characters are the creation of the author. All thoughts or anything read by a character is in italics. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Epilogue One week after the fall of Wind Racer Cadets bolted left and right in sheer horror from the monstrosity that should only existed in their darkest nightmares. None would dare impede its passage through the halls of the presidential palace. The crowd of terrified cadets parted like the waters of the Red Sea. All they could was watch the terror pass by and tremble at its mere inhuman presence as it swung open the door to the main conference room and slammed it with such force that the door was torn from its hinge. “Where he is!” Olivier Armstrong bellowed. Generals Kiowa, Stryker, Hemtt, and Paladin were seated at a stretched out rectangular table cluttered with official documents, graphs, and maps of the major population centers in Amestris. At the head of the table and on the other side of the room was Alex Armstrong. “Where's that son of a bitch Roy Mustang!” “Now wait one second Major General Armstrong,” General Hemtt spoke up with all of the bluster of a nervous first year cadel, “you know better than interrupting a meeting with the fuehr...” “Quiet!” That one word was all it took to silence him. “Mustang is no longer in the military,”said Alex Armstrong, “We no longer keep tabs on his weara...” “Don't give me that crap. Mustang promised that I would be fuehrer.” “I'm afraid you're mistaken.” “WHAT?!?” Olivier Armstrong's stare sent shivers down General Kiowa's spine. “What scam did Mustang pull?” “There's n...n...no scam.” General Kiowa pointed a shaking hand at Alex Armstrong. “Mustang recommended your brother Alex Armstrong as the fuehrer.” ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Flashback The Armstrong mansion was in complete darkness save for the beams of moonlights shining through the windows facing east. The eerie silence was broken by the hourly chime of a grandfather clock. The ringing of its bells echoed through the halls. Olivier sat on a recliner facing the clock, which read nine. When the bells finished greeting the new hour, the silence was broken yet again by a gentle knocking coming from the servants' entrance at the back of the house. Olivier headed to the back of the house with a flashlight illuminating her path. As she approached the back door, the knocking ceased. Oliver peered through the peephole. An angry huff escaped her pouting lips which were now twisted into a sneer. Olivier flung open the door and was greeted by the very rival chosen by the late Fuehrer Grumman to lead Amestris over her-Roy Mustang. “You're a minute late,” Olivier scowled. “Sorry but I had to shake the night watchman off my path,” said Mustang. “Keep your excuses to yourself. Just get to the point.” Mustang nodded. “Did Brigadier General Armstrong give you a summary of our plans?” “Ugh!” Olivier gagged. “Must you call my weakling brother 'general'?” “Well, did he?” “And did he tell you what I thought of it?” Olivier folded her arms over her bosom and shook her head. “The man who beat me for the position of fuehrer wants my help to regain power?!? What a joke! Why shouldn't I bide my time and take over Amestris for myself? Why should I put my men in jeopardy for your half-ass scheme?” “Fuehrer Sinclair is a tyrant. You've heard of what he's done since he took over.” “As oppose to putting you back in power again?!?” Olivier snorted. “Roy Mustang-the martyr fuehrer. The man willing to crucify himself to appease the politicians. Amestris is better off with tyrant than a spineless, piss-poor excuse for a man.” Olivier pointed to Mustang. “At least Fuehrer Sinclair has a backbone.” “You know what, Major General, you're right. The military would never accept me as fuehrer. If I did return to power, I would barely be in office long enough to name a successor.” Mustang smiled at Olivier Armstrong. “Like me.” “You don't beat around the bush,” Mustang cracked a smile. “After the stream of weak and corrupt fuehrer, yourself included, it's time Amestris had a real fuehrer, and I'm the only general worthy of the office.” “I assure you, once Lodestone is dealt with, there will be a Fuehrer Armstrong running the military.” End of Flashback --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- “That's what that bastard really meant.” Olivier made a fist. Her hand turned a shade redder than her face under the strain of her tight grip. “I don't know what Mustang told you,” said Alex Armstrong, “but rest assured, he made his wishes perfectly clear” “I don't give a damn what Mustang said!” Olivier reached across the desk and yanked her brother out of his seat. “And as for you, no way in hell am I letting you become fueh...” “CEASE THIS INSUBORDINATION AT ONCE!” Alex Armstrong shoved his sister back knocking her off her feet. “I WILL NOT TOLERATE THIS BEHAVIOR FROM ONE OF MY GENERALS! IF YOU EVER LAY HANDS ON YOUR FUEHRER AGAIN...” Fuehrer Armstrong pulled out his sidearm and pulled back the slide mechanism feeding a round in the chamber, “I'LL EXECUTE YOU ON THE SPOT MYSELF! THIS IS FIRST AND LAST WARNING.” “You'd threaten...me?!?” “I DON'T MAKE IDOL THREATS! I MAKE PROMISES! DO I MAKE MYSELF CLEAR!” Olivier picked herself off the ground, took a deep breath, and exhaled. “I understand, sir.” “Don't let this happen again, General.” “It won't happen again sir.” “You're dismissed.” Oliver hesitantly saluted her brother who then returned her salute. Olivier made her way out when she paused at the door. She turned and faced her little brother/supreme commander of Amestris. “Permission to speak freely, sir.” “You dare ask after that unsightly display?!?” Fuehrer Armstrong fumed. “It's something I have to get off my chest.” “Go ahead but tread carefully.” “I'm proud of you,” Olivier cracked a smile for a split second before sinking back to the depths of Olivier' stern demeanor. “That's all I had to say.” “You're dismissed, General Armstrong.” General Stryker hastened to the peephole in the door and watched Oliver walk out of sight. “Fuehrer Armstrong, I'm impressed by the resolve you showed against your sister,” Stryker said once he was sure Olivier was gone. General Kiowa nodded in agreement. “None of us would have imagine you'd threaten the Ice Queen of Briggs herself, sir.” Alex Armstrong then clutched his pounding chest and slunk back in his chair. “That was no threat. It was a bluff. You have no idea how much terror I was feeling.” “A bluff?!?” “If she called me on it, I'd had no other choice but to step down. Oh thank God she fell for it.” The generals patted Alex Armstrong on the back. “I only did it because I was more afraid of my sister becoming fuehrer. She's run Amestris like she runs Briggs.” The generals cringed simultaneously. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Nine years later Alex Armstrong was heading back to his office with a handful of files when he was intercepted by the youngest member of his staff. Despite nearly a decade of military service, Corporal Enfield still looked much like the young cadet that enlisted during the fleeting reign of 'Douglas Sinclair'. “Sir,” said Enfield as he saluted Fuehrer Armstrong, “the former fuehrer is here to see you, sir.” Corporal Enfield pointed at the reception desk. Standing beside it was Roy Mustang. He was dressed in a beige suit with a black string tie. His raven black hair was peppered with white strands. Otherwise, Roy Mustang remained unchanged since the day he resigned from the military. “Come into my office, and we'll discuss old times.” Fuehrer Armstrong held the door open for Mustang. Roy accepted Armstrong's gesture and stepped inside. “So, how do you like the decorum? It's your first time being here since I became fuehrer and I made a few minor changes since then.” “I'm...speechless,” Roy frowned. The office was decorated with a common theme: paying homage to Fuehrer Armstrong's physique. Full-size posters of Armstrong flexing his muscles. Busts on the bookshelves of Armstrong shirtless showing off his biceps. There were some pictures of the other members of the Armstrong clan but whenever Fuehrer Armstrong was in the shot, he was showing off. Well at least he kept his shirt on the family portraits. “I haven't seen you since your wife received her promotion to Major last year. How are your children?” “Clara keeps getting into fights, and Seamus isn't in any trouble but the only thing he works hard at is getting out of work. I doubt either of them will be ready to graduate from middle school this year. In other words, they're angels compared to me when I was their age...or at least that's what Madame Christmas keeps telling me.” “What about the twins' biological mother?” Roy had a cross look on his face. “Clara still haven't accepted that her mother abandoned them. And after meeting that bitch, I hope she never comes back. Do you know she said about her own children! She said they got in the way of her finding a good man!” “How terrible!” Fuehrer Armstrong tightened his grip. “She's lucky we don't run out of Central City. And what of their father? What's his excuse!” “He baled before they were even born and good riddance to him as far as I'm concerned. But look, I didn't come here to talk about my family. I'm here because I heard rumors about the joint Amestris-Aerugo Iapetus expedition to explore the Southern Hemisphere. You know the good will mission to earn brownie points with King Claudio after that fake fuehrer invaded his country.” “What did you hear, and how did you hear of it? Certain aspects of that expedition is still classified.” “You have to ask that reporter from the Central City Register for sources. As for the rumors, I heard the expedition had four of those flying machines designed specifically to float and take off from the water and that those machines flew over Rodinia.” Fuehrer Armstrong took a deep breath and sighed as Roy spoke. “They flew over what should have been a frozen tundra and found forest, even tropical jungle. I even heard they was a false sky-a canopy with its own sun.” “I know where you're going with this and I'm afraid the answer is 'no'.” “Where else could Lodestone be?” “When the expedition was launched from Aerugo, they started with four amphibious airplanes, and all four were destroyed over the skies of Rodinia.” “Was it Miss Celestia?” Fuehrer Armstrong shook his head. “Some sort of flying creature. Going by the survivors' description, they couldn't be anything other than dragons.” “I have a feeling Miss Celestia was behind this.” “Not at all. In fact, two of the pilots were rescued by flying equinoids.” Fuehrer Armstrong noticed Mustang's confusion. “It's what we call the ponies from Rodinia to distinguish them from normal equine. The flying equinoids belonged to a military group called the Wonderbolts.” “Wonderbolts?!? That's a name that screamed modesty.” Roy Mustang said sarcastically. “Well, I'm grateful that these Wonderbolts saved two of our pilots.” “Did the pon...equinoids mention anything about Miss Celestia?” “I'm afraid not. By the time the expedition sent their report over wireless telegraph, the equinoids had left. I ordered the expedition to stay in the area and keep watch. So far, they've had only one other encounter. Approximately fourteen of these Wonderbolts shadowed the expedition for an hour before one of them landed on the deck of the flag ship while the rest hovered above the ship. The expedition was warned to leave for their own safety less they have enough encounter with the creatures that attacked our planes. This was given to the captain of the resupply ship that came back last week.” Fuehrer Armstrong handed Roy Mustang a black-and-white photo of a stallion with a spiky mane in a skintight suit adorned with lightning bolts patterns along the stallion's hooves and underside a lightning bolt with wings on his flank. Someone wrote the words 'Name-Soaring' on the photo and drew a line from the writing to the stallion. The 'g' on the end was crossed out for some reason. “I did get them to relay a message to Miss Celestia requesting diplomatic relationships with Amestris as well asking for Lodestone's whereabouts.” “His whereabouts should be here.” Mustang clinched his fist. “I should have never let them kidnap Lodestone.” “You did all you could.” “And it wasn't good enough.” Fuehrer Armstrong patted Roy on the back. “We haven't given up yet. We'll keep prodding until we get a response.” -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A tiny pegasus filly, too young to sport a cutie mark on her cyan coat, marched through the woods with her head tilted down. Her defiant scowl peeked from behind her pink bangs whenever she walked past the trees shielding her from the wind. Matching behind her was an earth pony mare with a dark neon pink coat and light pink mane with highlights that were also pink but two shades lighter. The grown mare's cutie mark was three daisies with warm smiles, though the owner of that cutie mark had a demeanor that was the polar opposite of her cutie mark. They stopped at the door of Fluttershy's cottage. The grown mare reached over the filly and knocked. The mare waited a minute before knocking on the door again. “I told you she isn't at home right now,” the little filly moaned. The mare looked her shoulder and stared down the filly. “And that sassy know-it-all attitude is what got you in trouble.” The mare knocked on the door again. This time, there was a response, but not on the other side of the door. A breeze blew down on the mare and was accompanied by the flapping of wings. “Ms. Cheerilee,” said Fluttershy as she landed beside Ponyville's one and only teacher, “...ummm...can I help you? There's nothing wrong, is there?” Fluttershy asked while looking at the tiny filly. “Oh there is. Was Wind Whistler misbehaving?” “I'm afraid it's worse than that. I was reading nursery rhymes before nap time when your daughter called me a liar in class.” “But mother, Ms. Cheerilee wasn't telling the truth.” “Wind Whistler!” Ms. Cheerilee snapped. “Is it true, Wind Whistler? Did you call Ms Cheerilee a liar?” “Mother, Ms. Cheerilee said fillies were made of sugar and spice and everything nice (though she never said what that was), but Father said fillies are made of the same substances as colts-65% oxygen, 19% carbon, 10% hydrogen, 3% nitrogen, 2% calcium, 1% phosphorous, and other trace elements.” Fluttershy rubbed her throbbing temple and took a deep breath and exhaled. “Ms. Cheerilee I'll take care of it this instant. WIND RACEEERRRRRRR!!!!” Fluttershy's yelled in the general direction of a shack just a few dozen yards away. It occupied the same amount of land as Fluttershy's cottage but only had one floor. The rustic shack was painted red. The sign hanging over the door had the picture of a horseshoe magnet and a gear on it. Sinclair raced out of the shack to his wife. “Hey Sweetiefly, is there something wrong?” Sinclair asked. “Don't Sweetiefly me, mister,” said Fluttershy. “Not after teaching our daughter to sass her teacher.” “Me?!?” Sinclair said pointing to himself. “Teach Wind Whistler to sass?!?” “Yes, you mister.” “Sweeties...Fluttershy,” Sinclair corrected himself after one glance from Fluttershy's angry stare, “I don't know what you're talking about.” Ms. Cheerilee trotted forward and looked Sinclair in the eyes. “I was reading nursery rhymes to the students and your daughter call me a liar.” “Wait a sec. You were the one who told Wind Whistler that old mare's tale about fillies being made of sugar and spice?!? Aren't you suppose to teach children facts, not fairy tales.” At the same time, Fluttershy moaned while Ms. Cheerilee huffed in indignation. “Could you excuse us?” Fluttershy led Sinclair to the other side of the shack. “Douglas, haven't you forgotten what Princess Celestia said about practicing alchemy?” “That's not alchemy. It's just rudimentary biochemistry.” “Douglas!” Fluttershy whispered in a harsh tone. “Those elements are already known by pony science. It's nothing anypony would be suspicious of.” “I said 'no'! I don't want you getting in trouble with the princess...again.” Sinclair took a deep breath and sighed. “I only wanted to teach my daughter something.” Fluttershy rubbed Sinclair's shoulder. “You already taught her to be a good-hearted filly. Isn't that enough?” “But she's a smart filly and I'd hate to see her talent go to waste.” “But it will if Wind Whistler keeps getting in trouble with Ms. Cheerilee.” Sinclair slumped his shoulders. “I guess I don't have any other choice. But now she'll think I lied to her.” Sinclair was about to walk back to the cottage when Fluttershy tapped him on the shoulder. “What if we just tell her nursery rhymes aren't meant to be taken literally and you won't have to take back what you told Wind Whistler...provided you don't take take nursery rhymes so seriously.” Fluttershy said more sternly. Sinclair chucked. “Okay, it's a deal.” He leaned forward to give Fluttershy a kiss on the forehead but she dodged. “Not so fast. I'm still mad at you. Now, go back and tell Ms. Cheerilee you're sorry for calling her a bad teacher. Hopefully, Princess Celestia won't hear about this.” “Hear about what?” To Fluttershy and Sinclair's shock, Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Sky Ripper were standing between them and Ms. Cheerilee and Wind Whistler. “Oh...my” Fluttershy stammered. “Not the dungeon again,” Sinclair moaned. “Ms. Cheerilee, Wind Whistler,” Princess Luna addressed the mare and filly beside her, “we wish to speak with Fluttershy and Wind Racer in private. Please wait inside?” Princess Luna telekinetically opened the door to Fluttershy's cottage. “I don't mind at all, your majesty,” Ms. Cheerilee said with a devilish grin on her face while staring directly at Sinclair. It was a look that screamed 'you're goin' to git it now'. Wind Whistler trotted around Princess Luna and leaped into Sky Ripper's waiting hoof. “Grandfather,” she said hugging Sky Ripper, “please come inside with us. It's been so long since your last visit.” “I'm sorry, Lil' Whistler, but your grandpa has grownup stuff to do.” “But Grandfather, I thought you retired from the royal guard.” “Lil' Whistler, I can't explain. You just have to take my word. I'll spend time with you on my next visit.” “But Grandfather...” “No backtalk, young filly. Now go with your teacher,” Sky Ripper said sternly. “Yes Grandfather,” Wind Whistler sighed. She slowly trotted away sulking. When Wind Whistler was inside, Fluttershy immediately bowed to Princess Celestia. “Your majesty, please forgive Douglas for telling Wind Whistler fillies are made of hydrogen and oxygen and all that other stuff. He won't do it again, I promise.” Fluttershy stood upright just long enough to force Sinclair to the ground bowing alongside her. Princess Celestia scratched her head and stared at the groveling pegasus with a bewildered look. “I'm not really concerned about that.” “You're not?” Fluttershy asked while still bowing. “There are far more pressing matters than whatever Mr. Sinclair said to your daughter. A fleet of human ships were circling Equestria, which isn't that unusual, but something happen that we never dreamed was possible. They thwart our protection spell and cross the barrier my sister and I erected. Uh...you can stand up now.” “But how is that possible?” Fluttershy asked as she and Sinclair got back on her hooves. “Did they use alchemy to get across?” “The protection spell was cast specifically to stop ocean-going vessels,” said Luna, but the humans crafted some sort of flying contraption.” “Did they have wings?” Sinclair asked. Celestia replied with a nod. “Airplanes. The last I heard they were theoretical,” Sinclair said joyously, “but I'd never imagine they'd perfect heavier-than-air travel in my lifetime.” “Don't sound so enthusiastic,” Sky Ripper scolded. “This is a major breach in our security.” “I apologize. I was caught up with notion of powered flight.” “Well, I'm not. Humans are dangerous enough already to earth ponies and unicorns. With these 'airplanes', even pegasi aren't safe.” “Do you need my help stopping them, your majesty?” Sinclair asked. “That won't be necessary,” said Luna. “I'm afraid they had a run-in with dragons. The Wonderbolts were able to save to two of the humans on the flying machines, but the rest tragically died when their air planes were destroyed.” “Then what's the problem?” “Time, Mr. Sinclair,” Celestia replied. “How many more decades before the humans create machines that even dragons won't stop?” “We can recast the protection spell to stop humans from crossing over the barrier,” said Luna. “But it won't be long before even humans force their way through and we're back fighting for the lives of our subjects.” “Luna and I decided our best course of action is to incrementally end our isolation. I need a go-between. Somepony who's lived amongst the humans.” Sinclair held a hoof to his chest and took in deep breaths. “Me?!? A diplomat?!? I'm the last pony you'd want negotiating on your behalf.” “You're not going as a negotiator,” said Celestia. “It's my responsibility. I'll be accompanying you and Sky Ripper to Amestris.” “Then why do I need to go, your majesty?” “They asked for you by name.” Sinclair pointed to himself. “They asked...for me?!?” Celestia levitated a sheet of paper in front of Sinclair. As Sinclair finished reading the letter, he made a soft gasp and held his hoof over his mouth. “Alex was right. Mustang does care about his subordinates. I misjudged him,” he said remorsefully. “So, they're still looking for you. Even if they weren't, you know more about humans than anypony else. Equestria depends on you bridging the gap between our people.” Sinclair glanced at Fluttershy and then back at Celestia. “How long will I be away from my family?” “At least a few months, assuming they're willing to talk.” “I've never been away from Fluttershy that long since I came back to Equestria,” Sinclair said anxiously, “And Wind Whistler...she's...” Fluttershy gave Sinclair a reassuring embrace. “...a brave little filly. We'll be okay. I promise.” “Pack up your essentially,” said Sky Ripper, “we're leaving in an hour.” As Sinclair and Fluttershy entered the cottage, Celestia leaned over to her sister. “You've been in Sinclair's dream, haven't you?” Luna nodded. “Why do you ask?” “Does he miss Amestris?” “Sometimes. If you're asking if he'll try escaping, the answer is 'no'. He has two very important reasons to come back.” ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I hope you enjoyed the conclusion to Friendship is Magic; Damnation is Alchemy. I apologize for taking so long to finish but I couldn't quite figure out how to wrap up the story and probably still haven't. To tell you the truth, this is the first novel-length story I ever finished. My previous attempt resulted in an abandoned, unfinished story. So, I'm a bit anxious about the ending. Whether the epilogue is a hit or a bust, I wish the readers of Fimfiction.net well. Take care, everyone.