Chapter Three :: Year Two

You do not yet know what lies beyond the door and there is so very much to learn…

Shin flexed his automail arm; it had been two years since his surgery and today marked the day he was dropped in Amestris. Despite his condition he didn't even wait a year before he began training on his arms, he did routine calf raises and leg workouts every morning to make sure he didn't fall out of shape. His black hair had grown much longer than he thought it would, it went past his ears and now was touching his shoulders. Shin began to do pushups in his bedroom; Shin took a breath, he wasn't tired but he could feel the tingly sensations of the muscles tightening in his chest. For a seventeen year old, he was in fantastic shape for his age; mind you his legs had gone through two years of constant training even though the rehabilitation period hadn't passed yet.

Shin headed downstairs and walked outside the front door, the sun was beating down on his face. It felt good, a warm smile formed on his face as he walked into the market of Rush Valley, the small town was bustling with newcomers, both in need of checkups and new parts. It was a good sight to see,

"Yo, Shin!" a voice called out. Shin spun around to see who called his name; it was Frank from Frank's Automail repairs. He had met Shin 2 months after his surgery when he came to Treize's house in search of new parts. "Is Treize around? My hammer broke in two I was wondering if I could borrow his just for a few hours" Frank said holding the two pieces of the hammer to Shin.

Shin looked at it, "I can fix it, just give it here." Frank was confused, but handed the 17 year old the pieces of the hammer. Shin laid them of the ground and clapped his hands. He pressed his hands on the ground a thin blue circle appeared around the hammer and in a quick flash of stunning blue light it was repaired. "There, good as new!" Shin said beaming.

The man took the hammer, thanked Shin, and left. Shin went back to the house, Treize had returned and Wynn was sitting at the table with him eating lunch. Shin pulled up a chair and began to eat; it was a chicken sandwich with lettuce. This was Wynn's doing alright, Shin could always tell whenever Wynn cooked or Treize did despite their different styles of cooking. After a few minutes of eating Shin spoke up, "Treize," He began, "I'm going to Central, and I want to become a State Alchemist."

Treize paused in everything he was doing; he put his sandwich down and swallowed the last bite. "When did you decide to come to this conclusion?" he asked, maintaining his composure.

"The day I read that book on how to use alchemy." Shin admitted. Treize looked surprised but Shin continued "I always felt like alchemy was going to help me find answers, especially when you told me about the State Alchemists." Shin looked down at his lap, and clenched his automail arm, he could hear the gears inside tightening, "There's a whole archive on books about alchemy that no one else has, if I can just get my hands on that State Certification…"

"You be the Military's lapdog!" Treize snapped.

"I know that!" Shin shot back, "I know, when time of war arrives I'll have no choice but to be used as a human weapon. I read a book lying in your basement it talked about the Ishvalan civil war, I know how it ended. State Alchemists were used as human weapons to end the war quickly." Shin loosened his grip on his legs, "However, there may be something there that can explain my amnesia!"

Treize put one hand over his forehead, leaning back in his chair he said slightly irritated "You're a fool, Shin." Treize stood up; "However," he continued "if that is what you truly wish, who am I to stop you? There's a train leaving for Central in the next hour…get on it," Shin looked away; he couldn't look Treize in the face. He was ashamed to say it but there was still so much he didn't know about the two people that saved his life, even though it was a short two years; he felt close to them…like family.

"Wynn." Treize said cleaning up the dishes. Wynn looked at her father "You're going with him."

Wynn's face shot wide open with surprise, and disapproval. "Why me!" she protested, "Why do I have to go? Who's going to help you take care of the shop? What if—"

"Enough." Treize said calmly interjecting "Shin can't take care of the automail by himself; the most he can do now is oil it. What if something goes wrong with it? Do you really want another mechanic to take a look at it? Messing with your work?"

Wynn's face tightened "No, I wouldn't want something screwing with the design. It took me two summers to make that model it's one of a kind!" She turned to Shin and nodded "I'll go, besides, you'll probably fall apart without me!" she joked.

"Yeah, right" Shin said playfully a smirk cracked across his face.

Shin went upstairs and packed his things and took an extra suitcase that Treize gave him, he said goodbye to Treize and thanked him for everything

"Don't be a stranger now! You call me if you need anything!" Those were Treize's last words before he shut the door behind him.

Shin and Wynn headed for the train station. The train was leaving in the next fifteen minutes; they paid the fare and got their ticket, and boarded the train. Shin walked past a few rows and sat near the back, Wynn sat beside him lugging her suitcase of tools and clothes with her.

"So..." Shin began. Wynn looked at him

"So...what?" she asked.

"I've never been to Central before, have you?"

"Only once, I was little but I still remember what Central Headquarters looks like. It's a big place; it makes Rush Valley look like a small market town,"

Shin laughed at the thought. The train lurched forward, catching him off-guard. Shin was feeling a little tired so he rested his head on the window, the sound of the train got quieter and quieter until it all became muted.

"Shin! Shin, wake up we're here!" Wynn's voice spoke in Shin's ear. Shin let out a big yawn and stretched his arms, it was a long train ride and his body was still stiff.

The two disembarked the train and left the station, Shin took Wynn's heavy toolbox and began asking for directions for a hotel near Central HQ. A man told him of the Cascade Hotel which was on the corner of 8th and Fennell, Shin thanked the man and the two booked in the hotel.

To Shin's great surprise the hotel expenses were already covered, and there was already a room set out for the two of them.

"Ah, Miss Barton, your father expected you to get here around this time. Welcome!" the concierge said to Wynn.

Miss Barton? Who's that? Shin thought

"Thank you." Wynn replied. Shin walked up to room seven and opened the door with the key, it crept open. The room was quite large with two beds neatly made and a radio in the corner, one bathroom and a closet.

"Miss Barton?" Shin asked.

"It's my late mother's last name, my father's is Camara." Wynn replied.

Shin set his things at the door and opened his suitcase; he needed something good to wear to Central HQ. He noticed a new article of clothing he had never seen before, it was a white coat with a crescent moon, outlined in white, on the right shoulder. The outfit also came with a black top and pants and light combat boots.

"Treize, I owe you one" Shin said to himself. He quickly got dressed and departed for HQ. When he got to the front desk he was asked for identification

"Shin Maxwell?" the soldier asked "You have an examination taking place right now, if you follow me to the exam hall"

Shin was surprised; he wondered who set him up for an exam. It couldn't be Treize, he was against the idea of Shin becoming a State Alchemist, and it couldn't be Wynn...could it?

The man stopped at a set of small doors and opened them. It was almost like a lecture hall with the way everything was set up there was a large table at the front of the room and row ascended all the way to where Shin was standing. Shin walked down the steps and the official directed him to the alphabetized seating plan, he would be sitting in the 'M' row. He glanced at the test just briefly, it was all multiple choice.

"You may now begin the exam! Good luck!" a voice called out from the front of the room.

Shin dove right into the test with his natural gift for comprehension and studying alchemy and science for two year prior. He got stumped on a few questions like "Nitrogen constitutes what percentage of the Earth's atmosphere? 42%, 21%, 79%, 43%" He knew that 42 percent and 43 percent were automatically wrong so he narrowed it down to two options already. He got frustrated and guessed and chose 79 percent. Then there were obvious questions like "Which substance is the most reactive?" Sodium, easy question. Next. Shin told himself.

An hour and a half passed and a bell rang, a voice notified everyone that they had another half an hour, Shin spend the time very carefully examining and reviewing the rest of his answers. The second bell rang letting everyone know that their time was up and they had to hand in their tests. He was told to report back to Central at 1400 hours to see if he passed the exam or not.

Shin left the examination hall and went back to the hotel and open the room he was staying in, Wynn was sitting on the bed listening to the news on the radio broadcast. Shin let out an exhausted sigh,

"How'd it go?" Wynn asked, her eyes fixed on Shin's

"I finished, but it wasn't easy. I froze up on a few questions but managed to get it together near the end" Shin said hanging his jacket up in the closet next to the door.

Wynn snorted "Those books back home and around the city didn't teach you anything?"

"That's the thing," Shin began walking to the bedside "This test, was like taking a university grade test on science and physics. Like I said it wasn't easy, but I understood it." Shin sat down on the bed and fell backwards; he was so tired he could pass out right about now.

"Speaking of books, have some of your memories returned to you?"

"Hell if I know," Shin began, resting his hands behind his head "Actually," he paused realizing something, "I've been having this odd reoccurring dream. It starts out with a black void, I am floating inside of the void then everything goes blank and I hear a voice call out from the darkness: 'One who knows nothing can understand nothing.'"

"What about that girl you spoke of? The one that looks like me?"

"Well, that's the thing the more I dove into alchemy, the less often she would show up. When I become a State Alchemist I'm going to check out the archives and see if they have anything relating on my amnesia. I'm pretty confidence I'll find at least something relating to it. People in Rush Valley always said that Central's library is the biggest in the country"

"I'm sure you'll find something, Shin," Wynn replied, gently stroking Shin's automail.

"Thanks."

"What did they say about the automail?"

"They didn't," Shin snickered "I had it covered the whole time,"

"But won't they see it during the practical?"

"Yeah, if they ask about it here's what I'm going to say. 'Back in Rush Valley there was an unfortunate mining incident with a buzz saw which severed my arm. I requested automail a week later'"

Shin smiled, it was a good plan hopefully the officials wouldn't doubt the story. The phone rang it was one of the military men who was overseeing the written exam. Shin was asked to report back to Central HQ and come see his test. Shin put the phone down on the receiver and turned to Wynn, "Central just called they want me to see my test. Hopefully I passed."

"I have complete faith in you, Shin." Wynn said, her deep blue eyes shimmering in the light.

Shin walked out of the hotel and made his way back to Central and walked through the front doors, he was quickly greeted by the officer he already met when he first came. He directed him to the reviewing room; ironically, it was the exact same room Shin took the exam in.

"If you've passed the exam please follow me." the official said signaling to the applicants.

Shin picked up his examination paper and a beaming smile lit up his face. He aced the test scoring 85%; this was a surprise he wasn't very good with tests. Shin followed the solider into the next room, Shin could tell the interview was next it; was only him and a few other applicants passed the exam.

The official stopped at a set of doors and turned to the group. He held a clipboard up to his eyes and flipped through it, "Alright," he paused, "Shin Maxwell? You're up first, good luck!"

Shin swallowed hard and opened the room doors, it was dark and only a single spotlight illuminated a golden three legged chair; the rest of the room appeared vacant.

"Take a seat." A voice called out, "Alchemy is about balance. If you have the gift, it will not refuse you."

Shin walked towards the chair and sat down, the chair wobbled at first but Shin quickly regained balance.

"Now then, tell us why you want to become a State Alchemist for our military." the voice said.

Shin pondered the question for a second then carefully responded, "I need to set things right within this country, and seek a better understanding of myself. I believe alchemy is the science for that. Furthermore, I believe that with my skills I will be a valuable asset to the military,"

"That's good! Very good answer, Shin. You are dismissed; report back here at 0900 hours for the practical exam." the voice said.

Shin walked out of the interview room and went right for the exit. He returned back to the hotel where Wynn awaited his arrival. The room door opened and when Shin closed the door Wynn was already in his face. "Whoa!" he exclaimed.

"How did the interview go?" she asked

"Better than I expected. The person who was speaking seemed pleased with my answer to his question. The practical is tomorrow at 9 in the morning; hopefully luck will be on my side again."

Shin sat down on the bed face down. Drowsiness quickly overcame him and he drifted off to sleep.

Shin awoke the next morning he checked the clock it was only 8 in the morning. He still had a bit of time to get there but he wanted to get there early to set a good impression; he had been doing that for every time he had to show up. He jumped in the shower quickly and washed himself when he got out he quickly changed and jumped out of the bathroom only to be stopped by Wynn. She held a yellow towel and was in the way of the door.

"You didn't dry your automail!" she nagged.

"Oh…" Shin looked at his left arm realizing now that the metal was still wet. Wynn spent the next 7 minutes making sure Shin's arm was bone dry in every part of the automail.

Shin thanked Wynn as she jostled him out the door, "You'd better pass that practical exam!" she said shutting the door behind him. Shin noticed he forgot his boots,

"Hey Wynn—"

The door opened quickly enough for a crack to be shown and Shin's boots were placed outside. The door shut very quickly right after. Shin looked to his left and noticed that the concierge was staring at him oddly. He smiled awkwardly as he slipped on his boots heading out of the hotel doors to Central.

He was early much earlier than he expected. The practical didn't start for another twenty minutes, however the soldier he had seen for the past two days was nowhere in sight so he had to ask where the practical examination hall was. He proceeded to where he was told and waited outside the door there wasn't a bench in sight so he was forced to stand. Shin twiddled his thumbs anxiously awaiting some form of official to show up.

Twenty minutes has passed and an official walked up to Shin who was sitting on the ground tired from standing perfectly straight, "Shin Maxwell?" he asked.

"Yeah?" Shin responded standing on his two feet.

"You're here for the practical exam right?"

"That's right."

"Please, after you." the official said motioning to the door.

The examination doors crept open slowly and light shot through. It was a large hall with two balconies on each side of the room, there was a small podium on the far side of the room. Shin saw the examiner there, he was an average sized man about 5'7 with glasses and wore the same uniform as the official. There were spectators in the balconies that wore similar uniforms; he could probably guess that they were spectating him.

"You may begin when you are ready, Shin. Do you need something to draw transmutation circles with?" the examiner asked Shin.

"Yeah, I'll need a piece of chalk," Shin quickly replied.

An official quickly handed Shin what he had requested. Shin placed it on the ground, some strange looks were spotted. The official asked slightly unsure, "Do you know what the chalk is used for?"

Shin glared at the man "I know what I'm doing!" Shin clapped his hands together and pressed them to the ground; a stone slab erupted from the examination's floor and broke apart instantly. The resulting slab was a life sized model of Shin posing with a pointed finger; he had used the chalk to add detail to his facial features and other areas of his model body.

"He didn't even use a transmutation circle!" the official said very surprised. He looked to the examiner, and nodded in affirmation.

"Shin," the man began "Please follow me, this way"

The man walked out of the room and Shin followed him. They went down several hallways until they reached the destination. The doors were massive; much larger than the regular ones around Central. The official knocked on the door a calm voice answered back,

"You may enter."

The official opened the door; it was a rather large room. There was a man sitting in a seat directly in front of Shin, he had an eye patch over his left eye.

Shin tapped the official on the shoulder, "Who's that?" he whispered.

The man shot back quickly, "That's his excellency Führer King Bradley!"

Shin turned his eyes on Bradley, "So this is the Führer."

"You may leave now, First Lieutenant Blitz" Bradley said in a calm tone.

The man saluted and left the room leaving Shin on his own with the Führer, the door slowly closed until the subtle click sound was made, ensuring that the door was sealed.

"I've heard quite a lot about you, Shin Maxwell. Brigadier General Treize Camara spoke quite highly of you." Bradley said lacing his fingers underneath his chin.

Shin's eyes shot open with astonishment, it was Treize all along! It was him who paid for the hotel and the reason he was set up with the examination process before he even got in Central HQ!

But...Treize never even told me he was in the military. And with such a high rank too! What the hell is he doing fixing automail? Shin thought still dumbfounded with this new information.

"You're the second applicant to have passed the examination without the use of a transmutation circle," Bradley said writing on a sheet of paper, he appeared to be signing his signature. Shin's face lit up with joy, "Fullmetal Alchemist Edward Elric was the first" Bradley finished by slipping the paper in an envelope and motioning Shin to come closer to his desk. He handed Shin the envelope and a small box "Congratulations, Shin you are now a State Alchemist. This silver pocket watch is proof of your identification as a State Alchemist. Your code name will be Luna"

Shin tilled his head looking at Bradley "Luna, sir? Isn't that a bit…silly?"

Bradley let out a hearty chuckle and replied, "Quite the contrary, Shin! From what I've gathered from Treize, you appear to have a very special talent, exclusive only to you. Your transmutations become both more efficient and more powerful in the moonlight." Bradley paused and stood up. "I'm also assigning you to Eastern Headquarters and you'll be under the jurisdiction of Coronel Mustang. I trust there are no complaints?" Bradley asked.

Shin saluted proudly and announced in a strong voice "No, sir!"

Shin left the room and stood outside the hallway opening the portrait style envelope and read it over:

This official document certifies that the nation of Amestris, prefecture of the Generalissimoappoints the name LUNA to SHIN MAXWELL in the name of Führer King Bradley.

The State Alchemist shall follow all orders and policies of the military.

A research assessment examination shall be held once every year. In the case that the State Alchemist does not show signs of progress as a result of the examination, he shall be discharged from the services of State Alchemist.

The State Alchemist is entitled to the use of ample research funds, unrestricted access to classified documentation, access to various governmental facilities, and a military rank equal to that of "Major".

- King Bradley

Shin quickly shoved the document back inside the envelope and rushed outside on Central HQ, ran across the street full speed. He ran straight for the hotel, blasted through the doors and scrambled to room seven flying through the door. Wynn was sitting on the bed staring up at the ceiling.

She turned around when she heard the door swing open "How'd it go, Shin? Did you pass?" she asked anxiously.

Shin beamed as he showed Wynn his pocket watch. The girl ran towards the new State Alchemist and crashed into his 5'8" frame nearly knocking him into the hallway.

Shin laughed to himself, "Get your things together, Wynn" Shin began still smiling, and the taste of victory still in his mouth "We're going to East City!"