Disclaimer: I do not own fullmetal alchemist, any of its variations or the characters. I only own my ideas and changes.

This is the only disclaimer I will do. I expect it to stand for the whole story.

'word' – talking on the phone

"word"- regular speaking

Word- thoughts or descriptions

Chapter 1

EPOV

"Well Granny, Winry. I guess this is goodbye," I stated.

"Wait Ed. I need to speak with you."

Granny. I wondered when she'd confront me about this.

"Alright Granny. Let's talk outside." So outside we went.

"Ed, why are you pretending? This is fraud. If they find out you'll be court-martialed or executed. Why can't you be who you really are?"

"Granny, female officers aren't exactly in high demand and it's even less so with female state alchemists. They probably wouldn't even let me take the exam."

"Does Al know? That you aren't his brother but his sister?"

"No, he doesn't. I've been pretending my entire life. What're a few more years? Al will find out eventually. Hell, I'll probably hafta tell him soon. But it'll hafta be after the exam."

"Ed, what about when you start…err… "developing?" What are you going to do then?

"Don't worry Granny! I've got a plan. Anyway, we hafta go! See ya!"

I ran back to the house, meeting up with Al, and walked to the train station.

"Brother, what were you and Granny talking about?"

"Al, I'll tell you after the exam."

"If you're gonna tell me anyway, then why not tell me now?"

"For reasons that you'll understand after I become a state alchemist, Al. Now, I'm gonna get some rest. Long trip ahead! Night Al!

~~~0~~~

"Al, I'm gonna go use the phone. Got an important call to make."

"Okay! I'll be… here I guess…."

"Go play with the cats. I'll be back."

I walked toward the back of the train where the phones are.

"Hey kid, what're you doin'?"

"I need to use a phone. This is the way to the phones, right?"

"Yeah but they're being used. Let me see if they'll get out. Yo, Hughes, I got a kid out here that needs the phone!"

"Just a sec! Talking to Lieutenant Colonel Mustang!"

Lieutenant Colonel Mustang?

"Wait, that's who I need to talk to," I said.

What! You're just a kid! What do you need to talk to a military man for, shorty," the man questioned.

"Who you callin' so small Mustang wouldn't even notice he'd stepped on him, huh?"

"Fuery, shut up! What's your name, kid?"

"None of your business!"

"If you don't tell me I can't let you talk to the colonel."

'Hughes, what's going on? Who wants to talk to me…? Hughes!'

'Just hold on a minute lieutenant colonel! Let me get his name!' "Now kid, what's your name!"

"It's Edward Elric, Major Hughes. Please relay my name to Lieutenant Colonel Mustang. I'm certain he'll be… excited, to hear from me."

"Alright… I'll tell him." 'Sir, he said his name is Edward Elric…'

'Edward Elric!' Put him on, now!'

'Alright.' "Here Elric."

"Thanks." 'Lieutenant Colonel, It's Edward Elric.'

'Edward, what are you doing on that train?'

'Whaddaya think, bastard? I'm heading to central.'

I heard a hushed gasp from Hughes and Fuery as I insulted the Lieutenant Colonel. They were obviously expecting a blowup I knew wouldn't come.

'Why are you coming to Central, Edward?'

'Are you seriously that much of an idiot! I'm coming to take the exam like you suggested!'

'Oh… Oohhhh! What about Alphonse?'

'Mustang, you know he know he can't. He'd be… We'd be… He just can't. He is with me though.'

'I understand, and don't worry. I'll arrange a place for you to stay while you're here.'

'Do you honestly think I won't pass? It's impossible for me to fail. Al's future is riding on this.'

'What about yours?'

'My future doesn't matter. As long as Al ends up okay I'll be happy whether I die or not.'

I noticed two people choking outside the door and knew they'd heard, but to be honest, It didn't matter.

'Edward, isn't that a little extreme? Don't you care about yourself?

'It may be extreme to you but for me it's the only way. It's my fault my baby brother is going through this and I'll do anything to dix it, even die. The one thing I won't do is kill someone else for this. Al made me promise and I always keep my word.'

'Alright, put Hughes on. I'm going to talk him into letting you stay with him and his pregnant wife. Good experience for them.'

'Fine, whatever. Just… don't tell them what happened, okay? Not till after the exam.'

'Alright. Now, let me speak with Hughes.'

"Yo, Hughes! Mustang wants to talk to ya!

"Alright!"

Hughes POV

'Hey Mustang. What's going on? Who is that kid and what were you two talking about?'

'That "kid" is Edward Elric. Don't worry about what we were talking about, you'll find out soon enough. Now, I need you and Gracia to take the boys in and let them stay with you awhile.'

'Sure. Wait, plural?'

'Yeah, Edward and his younger brother Alphonse. You'll only need to feed Edward though. Don't ask why. And you'll find out why they're here soon enough. Take care of them Hughes. They're very important to the country and my goals, especially Edward. Now put him back on the phone.'

'Alright.' "Edward!" The Lieutenant Colonel wants to speak to you again!"

EPOV

"Fine, gimme the phone." 'Whaddaya want now?'

'I got Hughes to let the two of you stay with him. Now, we need to talk about the exam process and what you'll need to do to pass.'

'Can't we talk about that when I actually see you Mustang?'

'I suppose it can wait. Anyway, I'm going to drop off some alchemy books at Hughes' house for you to study when you get there. You need to keep sharp. I'll register you for the exam and come see you and Alphonse the day after you get here. Then we can talk.'

'Fine, fine. I got it. See ya then. Bye!'

I hung up the phone after he clicked off. Time to talk to Hughes.