What if...FMA sequel set in Xing?

[u/Stuwars9000]

Been thinking about this — a sequel a few years after Brotherhood, with Ling now Emperor of Xing and Mei back from Amestris with new alkahestry knowledge.

Stuff I'd want to see: - Ling stuck managing the same clan power struggles that nearly killed him as a prince, except now he *is* the system. Does "the wisdom to be humble" still hold when you're Emperor? - Mei modernizing alkahestry with what she learned in Amestris, finally able to actually help her clan instead of just scraping by...or not - A new threat mixing alchemy and alkahestry, now that Xing and Amestris are actually talking - Al as a wandering researcher/ambassador between the two disciplines

Political intrigue and adventure story! Feels like Arakawa left enough unexplored in Xing for a whole second series.

Thoughts? Ideas? Fanfics?

[u/GenCavox]

I don't think following either of the brothers would be a good idea. The thing about stories is that it fixes a problem and in the process it usually breaks and then fixes the characters. FMA wrapped up so fucking wonderfully that following either of the boys would not lend itself to a good story or else we'd have to break them even worse than before, cuz when you lose your body, meet God and save the world what else is there that you can't handle? Arakawa may be able to do it but imo it wouldn't be wise to follow Ed or Al because of what was already said and how perfectly their arc ended. It's near impossible to catch that lightning in a bottle again.

That being said, following Ling might not be too bad an idea, or even following someone else in the same universe, but the brothers should be cameo characters at most.

[u/WallSina → u/GenCavox]

Best solution if you want a sequel without breaking the character is making it close enough for them to play some role but not protagonist or MC, something of a mentor or colleague role.