Search (Part 3 - The Four Fables)

[1913, Central City]

It was 7 PM, and Roy was standing in front of someone's door with a bouquet of flowers, in his casual clothes. He knocked at the door, and within a few seconds, the door opened. The person who opened the door was none other than his best buddy, Maes Hughes, and there was a big smile on Maes' face. Even after Maes saw Roy right in front of him, he still looked outside on either side of his door. Looking at Maes' unusual yet expected behavior, Roy said, "Aren't you going to let me in?"

Maes stood up properly and looked at Roy. "I was expecting somebody else as well," Maes answered.

"Who?" Roy asked.

"You know who, don't act stupid. You come to Central once in a while, and even though she is with you, you never bring her," Maes' scolded.

Roy sighed and replied, "Can you first let me in? I will explain."

Roy then gave the bouquet to Maes because he couldn't see Gracia or Elicia, and he entered inside. As soon as he stepped inside, Maes mocked while closing the door, "You call yourself the ladies' man, but you couldn't even persuade her to come here," and he shook his head while saying, "What a fake title."

Roy sat on the sofa at the hall and said, "You know how stubborn she is."

After closing the door, Maes put the bouquet on the small table in front of the sofa and instead of sitting with his friend, Maes started looking for something. Meanwhile, Roy asked, "Where are Gracia and Elicia?"

Maes didn't reply to Roy's question, as he was attentively searching for something. And watching his friend unsettled, Roy looked inquired, "What are you searching Maes? Tell me, and I might help you."

Maes still didn't reply to him, and he walked behind the sofa where Roy was sitting. Then Roy heard Maes saying affectionately, "Here you are."

Roy turned around and saw Maes pick up Elicia from behind the sofa. Roy was looking at his friend carrying his daughter in his arms and smiling with pure love oozing out from his heart. Maes then moved around the sofa with his daughter in his arms and sat on the sofa chair present beside the sofa. He looked toward Roy who was looking at him with a big smile. "Gracia has gone to her friend's home, so it's just me and my beautiful daughter at the moment, serving you tonight," Maes informed.

"I see," Roy acknowledged.

"How is Oliver?" Maes asked.

Roy took a deep breath and leaned back his head on the sofa. "He is fine, but his interest in alchemy worries me sometimes. I have heard many times from the caretaker that he spends most of the time reading alchemy books, instead of playing like the other children in the orphanage," Roy replied.

Meanwhile, Elicia was trying to break free from her father's arm in order to reach the bouquet put on the small table in front of them. So, to make her happy, Maes pulled out a marigold flower from the bouquet and handed it to her daughter. As soon as Elicia held the flower, she started plucking the huge number of petals one by one, slowly and steadily.

Now that Elicia was occupied, Maes looked at Roy and said, "Oliver is a smart boy… Maybe he is smarter than you," and he smiled.

Roy sat properly and smiled back at his friend. "Far smarter, Maes, and I am proud of him," he said.

Both the friends had happily embraced their newfound responsibility as a father. But, one could see his daughter's smile every morning he woke up, while the other one couldn't even hear his son's cries.

"Look at my daughter, isn't she a cutie?" Maes said with an awed face.

"You have told me that a millionth time now Maes," Roy replied.

"And she is still the cutest thing ever, isn't she?" Maes questioned while looking at his daughter with adoration.

"Yes, she is," Roy answered.

And then suddenly Maes looked at Roy very seriously, which made Roy startle faintly. "Roy, I want to give you a favor in advance, just because you are my best friend," Maes put his free hand on Roy's shoulder.

"Favor!!" Roy exclaimed.

"Yes," Maes replied and continued, "In future, if your son falls for my little sweetheart, then I have no objection for their marriage. She will be wearing a white bridal dress that will be the most beautiful dress in the entire Amestris, and you will be…"

But, before he could continue anymore, Roy shouted, "MAAAEEESSS."

Roy's shout definitely helped him to stop Maes, but it also startled Elicia and she dropped the marigold flower in her hand. Roy looked at her and realized that he made a mistake, but before he could do anything, Elicia started crying. Maes quickly held her with both his arms and lulled her. And within a few seconds, Elicia calmed down. "Sorry, I didn't mean to," Roy apologized.

"It's okay," Maes put Elicia on the floor with some toys and continued, "by the way, I got some information about your Master's book."

"What information?" Roy looked at Maes with widened eyes.

"Berthold Hawkeye wrote a total of 3 books on record which the Amestrian military seized from his home long ago," Maes replied.

"Yes, that was before I was his student," Roy informed.

"You also mentioned about the fourth book that Riza gave you after your Master's death," Maes said.

"That's true," Roy confirmed.

"The names of the other three books were, 'The Wizard', which was the first book written by Berthold Hawkeye. The second one he wrote was, 'The Fairy', and the third one was titled 'The Princess'. Seems like your Master liked to write fables," Maes apprised.

"He was a great alchemist, Maes. Everything he did had a reason behind it. 'The Knight' was his final book, and he gave it to me. The book must be hiding some alchemical secrets, but I am unable to decode it till now," Roy said.

"Maybe he wanted you to start from the beginning to understand the end. That's why you are unable to decode it," Maes replied, and as soon as he completed his sentence, Roy looked at him and smirked.

"What?" Maes asked.

"Seems like you have a brain after all," Roy answered, but before Maes could brag about himself, Roy inquired, "Now, tell me where the books are?"

"That's the issue. I could only find the records of the book in the central library, but they went missing a few years back," Maes informed.

"Missing?" Roy looked at Maes with narrowed eyes.

"Yes," Maes replied.

"But, how?" Roy asked.

"It seems like someone else is also interested in those books. But, as long as you have the final piece of the puzzle, that someone won't be able to solve it," Maes answered.

"And neither can I," Roy added.

Roy took a deep breath and leaned back on the sofa. "I think I should go to Madam Christmas' now," He said.

"You are having dinner here, you dumb idiot," Maes scolded.

"Fine, I will stay for dinner. But, don't expect me to stay much longer. I have a train to catch tomorrow," Roy informed.

"You have your Lieutenant to wake you," Maes grinned and continued, "Well, how does she wake you? Does she give you a morning smooch or you two directly get into some kinky stuff?"

"Stop it, Maes, your daughter is here," Roy proposed politely.

"Don't worry, she is busy playing with flowers and toys. And anyways she won't understand a thing," Maes replied.

Maes then kept on asking his friend a lot of personal stuff, he even made theories on why Riza suddenly started growing her hair. He was so persistent that Roy had to finally give up and he started sharing some stories with his best friend. Gradually Roy became comfortable talking about his past. He even described his intimate moments with Riza to his friend, and they laughed at some instances which were funny. Sometime later Gracia was home, but even during the dinner, the topic of discussion was Riza and his relationship. Gracia also knew about Roy's and Riza's past, but like her husband, she never spilled the secrets out in the public or talked it with anyone other than Maes, Roy, and Riza. And while talking, Roy lost the track of time and slept at his friend's home.

While he was closing his eyes with a big smile on his face, he heard a bark, and the barking was getting more frequent and sharp. He opened his eyes and saw Hayate was standing in front of him, wagging his tail, while he was taking a nap under a tree at the Central Command during noontime. He felt a bit sad when he woke up, because his best friend, was only in his memories. Then he saw Hayate's face, wagging his tail and sticking out his tongue to get attention. That small thing reminded him that he was not alone. He had also Riza, Oliver and many more important people in his life.

Roy smiled and called Hayate by saying, "Come here boy," and petted him.

In the meantime, he heard a very masculine voice. "Good afternoon General Mustang," Alex greeted.

Roy raised his head and found Colonel Alex Armstrong, the strong arm alchemist was walking toward him. "Good afternoon Colonel," Roy reciprocated.

Alex stood right in front of Roy like a big tree, and said, "Looks like you are also exhausted from the paperwork."

"Yes," Roy replied.

"After becoming Colonel, I am also surrounded by lots of paperwork," Alex said.

"I know, paper works are boring, but with greater responsibilities comes more paperwork," Roy smiled.

"True," Alex responded.

"So, what happened last night?" Roy asked and continued, "I heard that the Elric brothers caught the Ishvalan human chimera."

"Yes, but I reached there after the fight and missed all the actions. Still, I saw the weapon that Ed used during the fight," Alex answered.

"Weapon?" Roy stopped petting Hayate and looked at Alex with furrowed brows.

"He was using an exoskeleton on his arms," Alex informed.

"I thought it was only used by a few people in the military. Where did he get that kind of equipment?" Roy inquired.

"Winry," Alex answered.

"Of course," Roy said and continued, "Who else it can be? Looks like with age my deduction ability is weakening."

"There is one message that Ed wanted me to relay to you," Alex informed.

"He could have come by himself to deliver the message," Roy stood up and shrugged off the dust on his uniform.

"They left for Rush Valley this morning due to damage sustained by the automail during the fight," Alex said.

"Alright….so, what was the message?" Roy asked.

"Ed bought a book from a pawn shop by the title, 'The Knight'. He told me that it has a brown cover with BH written over it," Alex replied.

"WHAT!! HOW THE HELL THAT BOOK WAS IN A PAWN SHOP?" Roy shouted.

Alex was surprised at first by Roy's reaction. "Didn't you sell it?" Alex inquired.

"I lost that book a few weeks back," Roy informed and continued, "Where is it now?"

"Ammm…Ed took it," Alex said hesitantly.

"He took it?" Roy looked at Alex with narrowed eyes and continued, "That pipsqueak took my book, and the only thing he did was to send a message through you?"

"Anyways he will be coming back, Sir. At least now you know where your book is," Alex said.

Roy calmed down and breathed a sigh of relief. "I think you are right," Roy responded.

"I should go now, otherwise my paperwork won't be over," Alex had a fake smile.

"Yeah, I should also finish my break now. Thank you for delivering the message Colonel," Roy extended his right arm for a handshake.

"It's my pleasure, Sir," Alex handshaked and then saluted before leaving the place.