"I Don't THINK So!" Poll--Who are we going to lose and what are you going to AU? (Ch. 102 spoilers)

[mfelizandy]

It's getting close to the end. Soon we'll have the last issue in our hands, and we'll know who survived and who didn't, and in what condition. I have my own opinions on who's likely to be a casualty of "The Ultimate Showdown of Ultimate Destiny", but I thought it'd be fun to see what the rest of the community has to say about the ending.

Poll We Know We're Going to Lose SomeNow for

Comments

[soraina_skye]

I HIGHLY, HIGHLY doubt that Ed will die, and here's why:

While Ed would, easily, sacrifice himself for Al, it would be in a blind-without-thinking act (such as taking a bullet for him, if Al had to worry about such things). And while he would think that "of course I'd die for Al", if such a case were to arise, I think it would rather be like the Riza/Roy moment of 101- Ed knowing just who would kill him were he to try something like that (Al and Winry). During Ed and Al's first contact with Scar, Al told him that sacrificing themselves was NOT how they were going to do things. Later, when they were trying to think of a way to get Al's body out of the gate...

Al: "You're thinking, 'what's another limb or two, right'?

Al once again told him in no uncertain terms that that just wasn't going to happen, and how him gaining his body in such a way would make him sad rather than happy. Ed is finally learning that there are so many people that care about him.
("I'm not going to let everyone cry over me"- the impaling incident) He wants to see everyone smiling, and is determined that both he and Al get out of the mess alive. He's made promises, and he's going to do everything in his power to not break them.

This is why the ending of the first anime pissed me off so much. It was as if Ed didn't learn ANYTHING. I wasn't sad at all, I was really mad at him for doing something so stupid (him and Al, actually). It goes against the grain of the series, and I really don't think that'll happen.

As for limbs, I don't know. In AU for me Ed will at least keep his arm. He's just not 'Ed' to me without automail. :P

Scar and Hohenheim are easily possible, Hohopapa more than Scar. I definitely want Hohenheim to redeem himself to Ed somehow, and in AU I usually have him alive to keep working at that redemption. Scar still should resolve a few things with Winry, and I honestly think he ought to pay for his crimes in some way. (again, redemption!)

I kinda want eye patch Roy. :P I don't know what I'd do for that one...I guess it would depend on the story. Havoc walking would be nice, but I'll be okay with the wheelchair so long as he gets together with Rebecca. :D

GreedLing is also possible for dying, but I don't think so. I have a theory that when Father dies, the homunculi die, so I think Greed will more or less fall quiet in Ling (perhaps living just a little, Ling's human form acting as a type of shield almost. In fact, this is in a fic of mine...)

Lastly, I don't think that Olivia will become Fuhrer. Simply because: "Who would want to sit in such an easily assasined spot?" from one of the latest chapters. She won- but she didn't take the throne. That speaks volumes to me. But, I very well could be wrong!

[evil_little_dog]

I have a theory that when Father dies, the homunculi die

Yeah, that's what I think, too.

[bob_fish]

But - Ling! LING! *sobs inconsolably*

If he dies you will see enemy and I adopting angstypants Ling mourning icons and changing our lj mood theme to all black.

(I know you're worried for Ed but I'm so confident he's going to be OK and make it back to his loved ones! What was that impalement scene and the big goodbye to Winry about otherwise?)

[evil_little_dog]

Hee, let me qualify: GREED bites it. LING makes it back to Xing. :D

And I definitely hope Ed makes it. What Al's body says just worries me, a lot.

[bob_fish]

Enemy will still go into mourning for Greed!Ling. She wants hundreds of his babies, you know. XD I'm kind of fond of Greed myself. But my heart belongs to LING.

Keep hope aflame - Ed must survive to get his apple pie! XD

[evil_little_dog]

I like Greelin. I think he's fun. However, I'm figuring when Father buys it, all the homunculi must also die, therefore....

And I <3 Ling by himself, being a bratty princeling (and poor RanFan, being his babysitter).

I try but I'm a pessimist. However, Winry might kill Arakawa if Ed doesn't come back safely.

[bob_fish]

Poor Ran Fan. I bet she represses the urge to just throttle him sometimes.

[evil_little_dog]

Either that or wishes she could legally put him on a a leash. Of course, Ling might chew his way out of a leash.

[bob_fish]

Enemy in fact had Ling mysteriously escape from a leash in the epic yaoi threesome of doom we did on kinkmeme. Ed had put him on a leash to stop him escaping the room service bill he'd run up, but then he woke up and found that Ling's ninja bill-jetting technique had triumphed and he'd gone. It was a very, very silly fic. XD

[evil_little_dog]

*snort* I'm not surprised Ran Fan probably helped.

[bob_fish]

In this fic, I kinda hope she didn't because her little eyes would have popped out of her head.

Or perhaps nothing Ling does could surprise her at this stage?

[evil_little_dog]

I doubt anything Ling does aside from escaping her sight surprises Ran Fan.

[driftwoodwings]

Now that I have time to write a bit of something~~

During Ed and Al's first contact with Scar, Al told him that sacrificing themselves was NOT how they were going to do things. Later, when they were trying to think of a way to get Al's body out of the gate...
This so much this. I think.. if anything that was a small sign on Arakawa's part to maaaaybe let us know that Ed won't/can't give his his life like that. IF he did Al and Winry would be crushed, Al would have his body back but not his brother. And.. thats a really sad ending for Al and..--many other people would be sad too. Like you said; he doesn't want anyone crying over him. so I get that, totally.

Although I really really REALLY hope Ed and Al make it through this. I can see Ed dying 'early' like in his mid 20s-30s for having to use some of his life energy as someone else already stated. But I don't see him giving his life up in this battle. No matter what. I mean thats just harsh and dark, even for this series.

[bob_fish]

Al: "You're thinking, 'what's another limb or two, right'?

Do you have a reference for this in the manga? I don't remember this bit but it sounds amazing. I completely agree with you about the brothers and sacrifice and Ed's impalement and first anime v. manga. And I agree with you about Olivia's refusal to sit in the Fuhrer's chair - I think it's going to be significant.

Havoc walking would be nice, but I'll be okay with the wheelchair so long as he gets together with Rebecca. :D

Self-pimpage: please see fic index at the top of my lj for my largely non-angsty post-manga Havoc/Rebecca fic (in which he keeps the wheelchair but gets the girl). I love Rebecca like fire, especially with Havoc.

[soraina_skye]

Its from chapter 45, "Scar's Return", just after the whole Lust/Xerxes thing. And I think the Olivia thing speaks for a lot- she very very easily could have assumed power right then. But she didn't. And there's so much about the first anime that pisses me off, so I'm always glad to find those that agree with me!

Haha, I'll gladly check that out, though I may have already and just forgotten to comment! :)

[bob_fish]

Ah, just checked it out! You tell him, Al. Thanks for the linkage XD

Yeah, I'm a mangaverse girl all the way. All hail the Great Cow!

Oh and if you'd like the Havoc/Rebecca, because I'm a complete tart for new readers, you want Fight On, Second Lieutenant, and the ensemble cast follow-up, which is plotty mystery with Havoc, Rebecca and their relationship playing a central role, No Small Injury.
Both on my fic index here.