The Black Rose Alchemist - Ed X OC

9. Fullmetal Alchemist

Year 1911

Ed POV

I looked at the paper in front of me and wrote the answers to the simple test without any problems. Seeing the truth made this test a piece of cake for me. I tapped my automail fingers on the desk. 

I remembered the day my automail was attached. 

I cried out again as yet another nerve was connected to the gear. It was definitely the second most painful thing I have ever felt. 

The first would probably forever be the day that I lost them and bound Al to a suit of armour.

I felt so guilty when he told me that he no longer needed to eat or sleep. No longer felt hot and cold. No longer able to cry. 

I was almost consumed with the guilt and I blamed myself wholeheartedly for the entire incident. It was me after all that came up with both ideas, now Al was suffering the consequences of both.

I grit my teeth and tried to be strong. I wouldn't cry out in pain when Al was in this position because of me. Soon she was done with my arm and moved onto my leg. 

I didn't scream for the rest of the time. 

"I still can't believe the look in that mans eyes," Winry said with a sigh. "He looked devastated."

Pinako frowned, she had spoken to him after he left. She wouldn't tell us what it was.

After that, we got the idea that we could get out bodies back after remembering what Mustang had said to me and I decided to try out for the state alchemy exam. Doing that would give me the freedom and funds I needed to do more research into finding a way to become normal again. 

And here I am writing the exam now. I was determined to become a state alchemist. I would do it for Al. 

I finished the exam sheet and turned the page over so no one could copy any of my answers. The test was too easy for me.

I leaned back and waited for the man named Maes Hughs to gather the papers and see if we would make it to the next round. 

***

"You've been accepted into the next round," Mustang said with a smirk. "I knew you would do it. With this next part, you will be tested in a one on one situation to test your fighting skills."

I nodded. I was ready for anything. 

We kicked and punched each other. Al swung his metal hand at me and I dodged. He just barely missed my cheek.

"You nearly got me that time!" I said and had my legs swept out from under me. Al had knocked me over and was now gloating above me.

"I thought teacher taught you better than that," he said with the hollow voice of my brother.

I frowned and nodded, "she did. I was just letting you win."

He laughed and I again frowned. We had another fight and again, I lost. "Awe no fair Al!"

I flexed my automail arm. It felt stiff and sore from the extended use. Winry said I would get used to it eventually.

***

I stood in a large room with a room with nothing in it. Before me stood the Fuhrer. Alone. I frowned. Would he be the one to test me? I guess so. Bring it on!

I sigh as he gives me the instructions. Drawing a circle on the ground, I created a spear and ran towards him. I rested the spear right between his eyes, "you know, you should probably have some people with you. If I were an assassin, it would have been all too easy to kill you right about now."

Before I could get any more words out of my mouth, my spear flopped to the ground with a thud in two pieces, "duly noted." His sword was put back in its sheath and multiple guards came out pointing guns at me.

He waved them off and they walked away.

I stared at him in shock. "Congratulations, you now can move on to the final round."

I gave a sigh and nodded. Thank God! I left the room. I was sure I was going to hear it from Mustang eventually. 

On the way back to his office, we bumped into Riza. She looked at me and frowned. "I wish I could tell you that you remind me of someone, but I don't want you asking who." 

I was confused by what she meant, but I wasn't going to ask since she made it clear that she didn't want me too. I turned to Al and he shrugged.

We went to Mustang's office in silence. I knocked on his door and heard the muffled 'come in' from the other side.

Up until now, I hadn't noticed the picture frames that sat at his desk. Most he turned downwards the moment we opened the door like he didn't want me to see them. 

As he looked at me, he started his lecture, "WHAT THE HELL WERE YOU THINKING!..." I knew it was coming.

I spaced out, looking around his room. I took notice of a wedding photo. It was Riza and Roy! I studied it. I knew they were close, but I didn't imagine that they were married.

In one photo that hung on the wall, it was Hughs holding a little girl with light brown hair that I at first thought was Elicia. They looked so happy. The little girl was beaming brightly.

I frowned and tuned back into what he was saying, "you could have been charged with treason!" He sighed as he realized that I didn't pay attention to most of what he said. He ran his fingers through his hair and pushed it out of his face. 

"Since your clearly not paying attention to what I am saying to you, I will just tell you that your final test will be in two days," he turned away from me and I took that as my queue to leave. I beckoned my brother to follow me. 

I muttered to myself about him screaming at me and treating me like a child.

"I think he just cares about you, brother," Al said with a sigh. "If you were paying attention to what he was saying, you would know that as well."

***

I stood in a room filled with the many different elements. Air, earth, sea, water and metal.

"You may use whatever you like. Try to be creative, you are showing off how powerful you are after all," Hughes said with a serious look on his face. I don't think I have ever seen that guy be serious.

"You may now begin," he said and within a second, a flurry of movement and alchemy sprang to life at once.

Things went to chaos quickly though as a man's tower was hit with a blimp and began to crumble. Giant boulders were falling all over the place and people scrambled in terror. Not me. 

The man who had created the tower was now cowering as a larger boulder came tumbling down directly above him. 

Without thinking I ran forward, "look out!"

I clapped my hands together and built the structure to become sound once more. I looked down at my hands and blinked. I did that without a transmutation circle?

Everyone stared in awe as I just looked at my own hands. I did that? Smirking, I knew that this would definitely come in handy. 

***

"Congratulations," Mustang said with a bored look on his face. We were standing in his office. No ceremony, though, I didn't expect there to be one. He threw me my new pocket watch. "You are now a dog of the military. Carry that on you as identification. The Furher took the liberty of naming you himself, go ahead and take a look."

I nearly began to laugh when I saw the name on the slip of paper. 

I am now the Fullmetal Alchemist.