"Jen, why in hell did you bring that guitar?"

"Because i need it."

"For what? It's the State Alchemist exam. Are you gonna be our entertainment or something?"

"Its gonna be part of the practicals, once i find the right array. Plus, the written part is gonna be easy, didnt i tell you i ate books for breakfast? Its just theory, so its gonna be fine."

Ed rolled his eyes as we walked along a street in East City, Al on his other side. "You arent an alchemist, you're a street perfomer."

"You tryin to say something, pipsqueak?"

"WHO YOU CALLIN' SHORT, GIRLY?!"

"WHO DO YOU THINK IM CALLING SHORT, SHORTY? AND WHAT DOES GENDER HAVE TO DO WITH IT, YOU SEXIST PIG?"

"GUYS!!!" Al moved in between us to stop us from breaking into a fight, "We're almost there!"

I grinned evily, "I cant wait to suprise Burnt Popcorn when we show him up after we become State Alchemists." I rubbed my hands in an i-have-an-evil-plot sort of way, anticipating his face.

"Burnt Popcorn?" Both Ed and Al asked.

"Mustang? Guy that showed up at the train station, almost didnt let us take the exam, the manipulative bastard with an apparent god complex? Yeah, hes the Flame alchemist, replace Colonel with its homonym, and tada, Burnt Popcorn. His head even looks like a piece of burnt popcorn."

Ed's face resembled a crocodile, "That's a good one. I'll have to remember that."

"Just remember to credit me."

"Riiiight....Hey, is that it?" He pointed to a building that was so obviously the building we were looking for it wasnt even funny.

"Holy crow... its bigger than the capital building back home..." I whispered.

I met eyes with Ed and Al, and grinned, "Lets give Burnt Popcorn a suprise, shall we?"

"So you kids think you're ready for this?" Colonel Mustang asked, though it was more of a statement.

"Damn straight," both me and Ed answered at the same time.

I looked at him, "Jinx."

"Whatever."

I looked back at Mustang, flashing a 'charming' smile, "Just tell us what we should wear at graduation."

He smirked at us, "Careful, Jen, i would hate for you to have your hopes shot down,"

"Pshht! Yeah right. If Ed can do it, so can I. And lemme tell ya, Ed can do it."

"You guy's will need to find your own training. I suggest this man," He pushed Ed a clipboard with a paper on it. I looked over his shoulder, along with Al.

Al-"Shou Tucker?"

Ed-"The sewing-life alchemist?"

Me-"Sounds interesting. Cant wait."

I gave Mustang my sweet-and-innocent-with-just-a-hint-of-evil smile"Thanks so much, Burnt Popcorn. You're a charm."

...You know, i really expected a reaction out of him, but nothing actually happened. He just kept smirking.

"Two years ago, Tucker created a chimera that could actually speak, using alchemy." Mustang explained as the car rolled down the street.

This was our reaction to that statement:

Al-"What"

Me- "The"

Ed- "Hell"

Me and Ed- "How the heck did he do that?!"

Mustang shrugged, "Beats me. I think he combined a lot of animals with different genes. Had Central in an uproar for a week."

"Sounds cool" Ed said, voice filled with awe.

Mustang nodded, "Its not just going to be the three of you, Tucker also has a small kid. Be polite." He said as the car stopped.

We all got out, "Umm... are you sure that's a house and not a hotel?" I asked.

"Its HUGE!" Ed and Al chimed, amazed.

It was indeed huge. It wasnt just a house, it was a mansion.

"ROUWROUWROUW!" SMASH!

Edward's compact form dissappeared, suddenly replaced by a large whitish labrador.

"...Ed? You never told me you were a were-dog..." i said, amused. That got nothing but a grumble from Edward.

Mustang went up and knocked on the door, and a little girl poked her head out, "You know thats bad, Alexadew!"

An older man appeared in the doorway, "Oh, dear, im terribly sorry about that."

Ed winced "No prob, just... dont say roll over."

"Ahh. Come in, come in! Alexander!" He gave the dog a command, and the dog released Ed. I pulled him up to his feet and we all walked in.

"Sorry about the mess, we just lack a woman's touch here... Oh, im sorry, that was sexist. Ive been so out of sorts lately."

The little girl hung on Al's hand , looking up at his seven-foot frame, "Hey Daddy, Bigger Brothews clothes are funny, they like a pots-an-pan. Arent dey heavy?"

Al chuckled, "Thats okay. Bigger Brother is very strong."

I felt Tucker's eyes on us, and heat flooded my cheeks.

"Mr. Tucker," Mustang went into Millitary Mode, "Im sure you will get a chance to talk to these kids about their unusual traits. Untill then, please just take them as they are."

He nodded, and shooed Nina out of the room. "Sometimes i wonder if i can raise her right..." he said with a sad smile. "You kids are so young, taking the exam. I'm happy to help out!"

Ed nodded, "Thanks, Mr. Tucker. Is there any chance we could see the chimera you created?" I winced.

"The talking one?" Al added.

Tucker looked down, "Unfortunately, it died shortly before you came."

I tugged on Eds braid, "That was really rude, you know?" I reprimanded. He rolled his eyes and rubbed the back of his head.

Mustang cleared his throat, "I should get going back to work. Thanks for looking after these kids, Tucker." With that, the Flame Alchemist left.

Tucker cleared his throat, "Would you kids like to see the library?" he asked, trying to bring happiness back into the room.

I nodded, elbowing Ed, who winced "That would be great!" I smiled cheerily at Tucker, "Just lead the way."

His PERSONAL library was probably bigger than the Public Library back home. I walked in, awed at the sheer number of books. All on alchemy! There was no way i was gonna stay behind Ed and Al, now! I ran down the aisles, brushing my fingers on the worn spines, and finally plucked one from the shelf. Alchemy and sound. Sounds like fun. Maybe it will help with my project...

"They say 'All teenagers scare the living shit outta me,'

They could care less as long as someone'll bleed,

So darken your clothes,

Or strike a vi-o-lent pose,

Maybe they'll leave you alone, but not me!"

I sang as i worked, flipping through any book that had to do with sound, trying to find the perfect array. I was no good at making my own, i hadnt been studying for more than a year and a half by this point, but if i could find some kind of array that would let me....Never mind. I'll leave that to surprise you. Mwa-ha-flipping-ha.

Ed poked his head around a corner, "What are you singing now?"

"Teenagers. My Chemical Romance."

"That local group from where you're from that you like?"

"Yep. Maybe someday I'll teach you."

Ed smirked, not quite a crocodile grin, "Yeah right. A girl like you wouldnt be any good,"

"WHAT DID YOU SAY, SHRIMPY?!"

"THATS JUMBO SHRIMP TO YOU, GIRLIE!"

"YEAH, JUMBO EGO! AND STAY AWAY FROM THE GENDER CRACKS UNLESS YOU WANT ONE IN YOUR SKULL!"

Are you sure she dosent have another relative?

Yes, the only one is the one who put her in here with a bullet in her chest and three broken ribs, a broken tibia and a cracked collarbone, and he's in jail for manslaughter and attempted murder.

She's taking up space, soon we have to turn the machines off.

Yes, but her brain activity is very active, like she is sleeping...

Nobody has been able to wake her up in the year she has been here.

I know. I wonder what's happening in there?

I picked myself up slowlyfrom the stupor the book i was holding had put me in. Who knew alchemy and psychology were even related?!

Then i fell off the top of the bookshelf i had been sleeping on with a loud thud and an oof from the squishy thing i had landed on. Looking down, i saw a blonde mop of hair and a metallic arm.

I blushed, getting up, "Oh, god, i'm sorry!" I squeaked, and Edward rubbed his head.

"Dont worry about it," he replied, "Just watch where you fall next time."

I shrugged, "Last time i fall asleep on a bookshelf. It wasnt like i enjoyed that tumble. " I thought a minute, then added with a devilish grin, "You're so small, you didnt pad my fall much anyway."

"?"

"You wanna find out, your gonna have to beat me in a fair fight."

"Deal."

"Outside in five."

I climbed the bookshelf again, and grabbed my jacket i had wadded up beneath my head. It was a long gunman's trench, not dissimilar to Ed's red coat. It was also warm and light and everything you could want in a coat. It was freakin' fantastic.

I strode out to the courtyard to wait.

OKAY FAITHFUL REVIEWERS!

ITS CONTEST TIME!

Iggy: Read: I need your help, people who read this chapter!

Me:....Okay, yeah. I need you to review and choose: Jenna becomes state alchemist, Jenna does not become state alchemist.

Because depending on your answer, the storyline of the rest will have some changes and i obviously cant choose BOTH. So, REVIEW AND VOTE PEOPLEZ.

Iggy: Cuz she wont stop flipping out about it otherwise.