We both know that Mei and Ling came to Amerstris for the Philosopher's Stone. And both characters have been developed around that being their story. Will Ling become Emperor, and have Mei's clan die out? Mei said herself that if she didn't get the Philosopher's Stone, her clan would surely parish. Or will Mei become Emperess and have Ling with his dream unfulfilled? Or maybe there's a way they will both be happy in the end...?

What do you think?

Oooh, thats an interesting one. I guess because Mei's so young, I can't really see her becoming empress, but at the same time I don't think Arakawa's gonna give her a sad ending. I'd like them to have some sort of coalition rule (you can tell I've had too much politics homework ) - but thats only possible if Greed leaves Ling...he sure ain't gonna share.

I think that Ling will rule over Xing (probably, really probably without Greed - somehow). I also think that the Chan clan won't perish and somehow Mai will save it, but I'm pretty sure that she won't become the new empress - probably because she's so young.

I have a feeling May will become the new Empress. Lin has shown too much "greed", I think he doesn't think enough of the repercussions some of his actions could have on his country. He would probably give the Emperor the method to create the Philosopher's Stone, hoping he won't have time to use it, but that would be overly optimistic. May said herself that she would never bring that secret back to Xing. Plus I have a really bad feeling about the feelings of the clan Yao towards the Chang clan... Ran Fan did call May Chang a "root of evil"...

Plus I always support the underdog, and Lin clearly had better odds than May to succeed : he is from a powerful clan that could afford two body guards and he has some connections in the Xing community in Amestris. Poor May Chang only had a mini-panda and her thirteen years old body, which is somehow weakened by her youthful personnality and naivety.

Plus, May has made a more diverse pool of friends in Amestris : a doctor in Marcoh, a powerful and loyal fighter in Scar, a selfish but somehow efficient servant with Yoki, an excellent alchemist with Alphonse, etc. She could make some good in Xing with that kind of help, as I'm persuaded that Scar will survive and follow her to Xing, probably with Yoki and Marcoh.

Thanks for your opinions, everyone. I personally hope both characters will do well in the end. Ling will hopefully rid himself of Greed, and become Emperor... and maybe Mei could somehow save her clan. Though, I can't imagine Ling befriending Mei.

I considered Lin Yao the only possible candidate to Xingese throne that now I completely stand up for Mei Chang. She and her clan and her panda deserve some peace. She proved to be very high-spirited and brave to cross the desert by herself and without any servant, only with her companion
Whoever wins, I hope they won't kill the other one. Well, maybe it's too early for Mei Chang to become empress, she's too childish right now...

Personally I think that the way Ling's story arc has developed compared to May's I'd say he's got the better chance of being Emporer in the end - IF either of them become Emporer at all. Also, has May ever said she wants to become empress? She just wants to find a way to save her clan and gain favour with the Emporer from what I remember. beside, not to appear sexist, but I think May's chances are very low because she's a girl, and from the sounds of things I doubt the current emporer would hand down his title to a woman.

Story wise, Ling's shown alot of commitment and is constantly talking about what it means to be a rular with King Bradley so it'd just be weird if he didn't become emporer.

Well, she wants to the same thing than Lin, or is it Lin who wants to do the same thing than May? Given that Lin has no knowledge of alchemy and that his clan always had a good enough position to claim the throne, I wouldn't be surprised if May went first and then the Yao clan heard about her quest. Either way, she wants to gain favor from the Emperor so that her clan will be the next one to reign over Xing. Unless she isn't her clan oldest heir to the throne, she should be the one to be put on the throne.



The FMA universe has shown to have little to none prejudice against women when it comes to work and career. I wouldn't be surprised if this was also extended to Xing.

This is a tough one.

"Who WOULD win the Emperor's favor" - probably Ling being from a powerful clan already

"Who SHOULD win the Emperor's favor" - although Ling is my favorite character, Mei has completely beaten the odds set against her. Ling has essentially become "Greed" and I'm not so sure if he will get the just rewards. He will eventually lose everything in the long run; Ling doesn't seem the type of person to throw friendships and family away.

"Who COULD win" - either one. If Ling continues to harbor Greed in his body, I have no doubt that he'll win (if he came down to a battle, you see).


I'm very, VERY interested in some more Xing history but don't know if we'll get any since the manga is coming to an end.

Question : who do you think is the most "mature" between the two? I would have thought the answer was obvious, Lin is the most mature of the two. But now I'm not so sure... Lin isn't mature enough to make sacrifices or see the world in a "realistic" fashion, notably thinking that he could bring immortality to everyone.

And then something hit me. Two bodyguards, a clan that has always been quite powerful? Lin had it easy. Not too easy, because he still had to defend himself against assassins, but a lot more easy than May. May's clan is extremely poor, she had to learn fighting too but could count only on herself, no clan loyal to her family to defend her. May probably had to work to help her clan survive, while learning Rentanjutsu and martial arts. The things that tag her as "immature" are her weird fantasies and the facility with which she trusts people. But let be honest, the first one isn't really important. And the second one, although a bad point at first glance, is teared apart after a closer examination : she trusts Scar and Yoki, yes, but so far she was right. But does she trust her father and emperor to be anything else than a greedy tyrant who wouldn't hesitate to sacrifice his people to be immortal? No mister! She distrusts him and his mad desires. And so refuses to bring him the way to make a philosopher's stone, the rik is too great for her. Lin would probably estimate the risk worth the reward.

I'm a bit afraid because I'm new and I dunno where i must to introduce myselves.... but i can't stay here and read without write anything!!!
I want Ling to become emperor of Xing... i HATE May Chang.... she's too childish and she's annoying.....
(Sorry if my english is uncorrect, but i'm italian! =3=

May is childish, but she is exceptionnaly mature for someone her age and, surprisingly enough given that she is the one with weird fantasies, a lot less naive than Lin. Life was harsh with May : born in a very poor clan, used to work from a very young age, she probably lived some days where food was scarce, etc. Compare with Lin who has bodyguards, eat so much he is probably used to it back at home and is merely educated in the arts of a clan heir, not hard physical work. Lin believed Greed's philosopher's stone would bring immortality to everyone around him. May knew that the secret of that stone should never fall into the hands of the Emperor, because he would not hesitate to make a remake of Xerxes. Compare the two. Maay is incredibly more grounded in reality than Lin, something that maks her a better candidate for the throne in my opinion.

I think that Mei has a better view of the real world than Ling, considering all of the hardships she's experienced at a young age. Her understanding of what everyday people experience might make her a better candidate for ruling, but she doesn't seem like the type who'd want to be burdened with that sort of responsibility.

It's hard to say what would happen to Mei's clan if Ling became emperor, because although we know Lanfan doesn't like her, we haven't really seen how she and Ling behave around each other.

What's all this talk about one of them becoming emperor? If the current emperor gains immortality he's not going to suddenly give up the throne.

Sammom
May is childish, but she is exceptionnaly mature for someone her age and, surprisingly enough given that she is the one with weird fantasies, a lot less naive than Lin. Life was harsh with May : born in a very poor clan, used to work from a very young age, she probably lived some days where food was scarce, etc. Compare with Lin who has bodyguards, eat so much he is probably used to it back at home and is merely educated in the arts of a clan heir, not hard physical work. Lin believed Greed's philosopher's stone would bring immortality to everyone around him. May knew that the secret of that stone should never fall into the hands of the Emperor, because he would not hesitate to make a remake of Xerxes. Compare the two. Maay is incredibly more grounded in reality than Lin, something that maks her a better candidate for the throne in my opinion.

Irena
I think that Mei has a better view of the real world than Ling, considering all of the hardships she's experienced at a young age. Her understanding of what everyday people experience might make her a better candidate for ruling, but she doesn't seem like the type who'd want to be burdened with that sort of responsibility.

It's hard to say what would happen to Mei's clan if Ling became emperor, because although we know Lanfan doesn't like her, we haven't really seen how she and Ling behave around each other

I agree... but i think that Ling is like Mustang in certain things. I think that ling is more suitable then May to the role of emperor because is more pragmatic.

Annoying? People use this word way too much in the anime world and many people can't justify their reason for calling a character annoying. Tell me, what is annoying about Mei? Her fantasies. please everyone has fantasies. I have fantasies that I'm going to marry Hayden Christensen and Usher. Do you think I'm annoying? What's wrong with being childish if you are young. Young people are supposed to act young and enjoy their youth. I personally think that being childish is way more fun than being serious. People should stop hating Mei it's getting tiresome.

I don't like May because she doesn't understand what other people think.
I mean, in the chapter where May must to explain Rentan Art to Al she's complitely useless in a very important moment of the story! I don't want to insult anyone.... then calmdown . I'd like to see Lan Fan as emperor of Xing... but unfortunately is impossible.

She's a child with no teaching abilities, that's not unusual. Plus, I think that when she learned Rentanjutsu, she used knowledge and beliefs that are common plae in Xing, but completely alien to Al. How was she supposed to teach anything when Al doesn't understand things that her people considers as "granted" ? Do not ask this kind of thing to a child who doesn't even speak the language properly...



Is he really pragmatic when he thinks he can bring immortality to everyone?

Well this is going to be totally biased because I LOVE LING!!! So my answer is Ling. LOL

And sorry but I can't really stand Mei-Chang. I don't hate her. I just groan whenever I see her taking up space on the t.v. or manga.