Ice Prince Alchemist

9foxgrl

Ch. 9 State Alchemy Exam

"Do you see that?"

"Those three kids in the back?"

"Snot nosed brats have been getting cockier ever since Fullmetal passed."

"I'm still telling you that was a fluke."

"Holy Crap! Is that-"

"What's wrong?"

"The white haired kid!"

"The one reading from the notebook?"

"You see any other white haired kid around here?"

"What about him?"

"That's Fullmetal's apprentice!"

"What? Are you serious?"

"So that's General Armstrong's son?"

"Holy crap."

Zephyrus merely rolled his eyes as the proctors began to explain the exam and then started to hand out the exams. Taking a deep breath he looked down at the first question.

After seemed to be like an eternity, Zephyrus walked outside where his uncle was waiting with his friends.

"So how did it go?"

"I complete all but the last six questions." Lisa said as she rubbed her tired wrists.

"Same here." Ethan muttered as he winced as the sunlight hit his uncovered eyes.

"I managed to complete the written portion." Zephyrus muttered as he rubbed his eyes.

Ethan and Lisa looked at him in shock. "Crazy Ravenclaw."

"Oh shut up." Zephyrus muttered as he climbed into the town car. "Just be thankful it will be two days before we find out about the interviews."

Alex just chuckled as he patted his nephew on his head.

"Don't worry, if I can pass the interviews, then so can you. Have you given any though as to what to do for the practical?"

"I have a new alchemy circle that I'm working on."

"Same here."

Zephyrus struggled not to close his eyes.

"Depends on the weather." He muttered.

Upon returning home Zephyrus skipped dinner and went straight to bed as he his eye lids became too heavy to stay open much longer. Since the first dream visit from Truth, Zephyrus had been plagued with voices and images that all seemed to blur in his mind as he tried to sleep.

"Pass the Exam and I will return someone lost to this world."

Zephyrus gasped as he awoke. Sitting up he grimaced at the dream.

"Stupid door." The teen cursed as he ignored his bed for the carpeted floor.

The next morning Zephyrus was awakened by a maid stating that his interview had been placed for the following afternoon. Getting up to get dress he cursed as Truth's message constantly repeated in his head.

(-Ice Prince Alchemist-)

Ethan fidgeted nervously as he followed the soldier leading him to the meeting room. His name was first to appear on the roster for today.

"Enter Alchemist." Called out a voice from inside.

Ethan entered and headed for the chair in the center. Without a second thought he sat down and faced the council with his unconcealed Ishvalan eyes.

He mentally patted himself on the back as he noticed two of the senior officers fidget.

"Welcome the second part of the exam." Grumman stated as he looked at the teen with surprise. "If you manage to pass from here on you will be expected to obey the military laws. Will you be able to?"

"As long as you do not order me to follow in Kimblee's bloody footsteps then I will." Ethan replied sternly.

Lisa's was interview an hour later.

"What made you decide to be a state alchemist?"

"Because, I decided that I want to be able to protect the innocent with all that I can."

By the time Zephyrus' interview came he was nervous. His was the last one of the day.

"Why do you want to become a state alchemist?"

Zephyrus just stared straight at Grumman as the memories of all the Briggs soldiers who he had seen die in the line of duty flash before him.

"So that I can protect those who cannot stand for themselves and repay all the ones who shielded me from harm."

By day's end there were only ten candidates out of the original forty who were moving on.

(-Ice Prince Alchemist-)

"Welcome alchemists to your practical exam. We've provided you with some nice raw materials. So show us how you stand out."

The three teenagers hung back as the older alchemists eagerly raced forward to try and show the younger ones up. After letting the older crew exhaust themselves Lisa stepped forward and took out six pellets in her hands with a new transmutation circle written on them.

She tossed three in the air with the circles active, letting them explode into colorful fireworks. Seeing the older alchemists look unimpressed she threw the other three up as well, except these exploded with a more volatile reaction.

"Don't underestimate a girl who likes explosions." She said with a wink as she headed back to her spot.

"My turn!" Ethan yelled as he slammed his fists into the ground creating several larger pillars that created a barrier of protection around him. Unfortunately he miscalculated and one burst out beneath Zephyrus' feet and sent the unsuspecting boy flying into the air.

"Damn you!" the white haired teenager yelled as he clapped his hands and started to pull the water from the clouds above him. He quickly converted the water vapor into an ice slide shaped like a spiral, that lead back to the ground. Landing on the ice feet first, he slid down, then halfway transmuted the ice back into water and hit Ethan's barrier with the force of a small tidal wave.

Grumman laughed and just clapped at the show. "Ah youths these days! So adventurous!"

As soon as the trio returned to Armstrong Manor Zephyrus began to chase Ethan in the garden with a blunted practice sword.

It was another two days before the council came to a final decision. Surprisingly there were five who made the cut.

Two were of the older crowd who were shuffled into the research branch to help in reversing the damage that the former branch did under Bradley's command. Lisa and Ethan made the cut tied for second and Zephyrus to Al's amusement, beat Ed's score by two points.

This official document certifies that the nation of Amestris, prefecture of the Generalissimo appoints the name Ice Prince to Zephyrus Rex Armstrong; in the name of Fuhrer Grumman.

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".

- Grumman

"Ice Prince?" Zephyrus questioned aloud.

"The man has a sense of humor." Ed snickered as he read over Zephyrus' shoulder at the document.

Zephyrus just shook his head in dismay. "Why do I have a feeling that the soldiers of Briggs were behind this? They are the only ones who already called me that since I was a kid."

"Because it is more than likely true." Everyone in the room replied.

"At least you didn't get one like mine." Ethan replied. "I think that my scaring the senior staff resulted in this."

"What?"

"I am now known throughout Amestris as the Graveyard Alchemist."

"Well you do tend to like mortuary like themes." Lisa said as she looked at hers. "What's a corona?"

"It's the circle of light that one would see around a sun, moon, or star."

"Oh, well that's a lot better than the combustion alchemist or something." Lisa replied happily.

(-Ice Prince Alchemist-)

"Hurry, the one I am giving back will awaken soon!"

"Oh shut up already." Zephyrus replied to himself he felt some kind of invisible pull to the outskirts of the city. It was still early in the morning, the sun was barely even up, and a layer of fog seeped throughout Central. "Just stop giving me so many nightmares you stupid door."

After what seemed like an eternity, the pulling finally stopped, and Zephyrus found himself in the military cemetery facing a tombstone.

Maes Hughes

"Zephyrus? What are you doing out here?"

Zephyrus turned and was surprised to see Roy and his uncle walking up to the grave, the former carrying fresh flowers.

"I couldn't sleep." He replied.

"So you decided to visit a cemetery?" Roy asked incredulously as he replaced the flowers.

Zephyrus looked at Roy with annoyance. "It just so happens that I try to pay my respects to the fallen every year. It's the least I could do."

"…I didn't even know you knew Hughes."

Zephyrus looked away and down at the grave.

"I only met him once when I was little. He was the one who help Mother to adopt me. It would be disgraceful if I don't pay my respects to him after he did so much."

The three stood there in silence for a few minutes before Alex spoke up.

"The sun is coming up, we should get back before people start wondering where you ran off to."

"You're right Uncle." Zephyrus replied as he turned to follow. "Let's go."

"Help me! Someone please let me out!"

The three men froze and slowly turned to face the grave they were just standing at.

"Did you just hear that?" Roy said uneasily.

"It was probably the wind." Alex said unsurely.

"Is anyone out there? Let me out! I'm still alive!"

As one they screamed.

"H-HUGHES?

"WHAT THE HELL?"

"Let me out of here!" yelled the muffled voice again, this time hitting the coffin below to make a reverberating thud, causing the flower vase on top to fall over.

"Quick! Dig him out!" Roy screamed as the three started to claw away at the grave.

"Wait a minute! What are we doing?" Zephyrus yelled, than clapped his hands before slamming them into the ground, causing the dirt to part like a cellar door. Mustang and Alex then ripped off the top of the coffin. They all jumped back as Hughes sat up in coffin and started to gasp for air.

"Seriously Roy? What did I do to piss you off that you would bury me alive?" Hughes demanded. "And how the Hell did you get Gracia to go along with it?"

The three just stared at Hughes in mute shock.

Before the summer's end the name Ice Prince shall become legend across Amestris and the celebration of a new begin shall dawn.

Next Time: Protector of the People

OMAKE!- He's a Prankster?

"Hey Miles."

"Yes Fred?" Miles replied as he looked away from the wall he was working on to the Weasely twins beside him.

"You said that you've known Zephyrus since he was little right?"

"Since he was four."

"Was he always like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like a wall of ice."

Miles just snickered. "Well actually, up until he was six, he was quite a prankster. But his mother reined him in after a certain…incident."

Fred and George stopped working and looked at the man in shock.

"Zephyrus…"

"…the cold Raven…"

"Was a prankster?" the Twins crowed. "No way!"

Miles just shuddered. "That boy…is craftier than the foxes of Briggs Mountains."

"What did he do?"

Miles just shivered. "Let's just say…after that weekend of terror, the Bears knew not to piss off Zephyrus. All it took were some empty paint cans full of used grease, and a raccoon. I'm just glad the General made him swear not to prank anyone in the military unless she said it was okay."

The Twins exchanged a look and then in unison said "We are so challenging him to a prank war."

If they had turned around they would have seen the soldier pale.

"May Ishvalla have mercy on your souls."

OMAKE! – Mistaken Identity

"Miles! Is this your son? He is so cute!"

Miles and Zephyrus simultaneously choked. They had gone to the Ishvalan refugee camp on the outskirts of East City to help find the people who would be moving to Ishval when Miles ran into an old childhood friend of his who took a very long look at Zephyrus.

"Just look at him! His hair is as snowy white as yours! I bet he gets those gorgeous blue eyes from his mother!" the young woman (whose name was Ruth by the way) chattered gleefully, completely ignorant of the two males staring at her like she grew a second head while Roy and Hughes were laughing their heads off behind them.

Elijah (formerly known as Scar) was not helping any either.

"Oh just wait until grandma hears that you actually married! She will be so happy!"

Miles finally snapped out of his stupor and his jaw dropped in horror as Ruth ran to one of the shacks and came out with an elderly woman who beamed at the sight of the two males.

"By Ishvala's grace; so you did marry. And a son! Congratulations!"

"What?"

"What did you say?"

"Miles married?"

"He has a son?"

"Really?"

Miles paled even more as practically everyone in the refugee came up to congratulate him and praise him for fathering such a handsome son, as well as blessing to his 'wife' and any future children they may have.

Both were too stunned to retaliate and Roy had passed out from a lack of oxygen.

2 Days later when Olivier came to get her first look at the restored city, she was very confused as to why she was receiving so many well wishes from complete strangers and asking if she and Miles planned on having another child soon. There was also a letter from her parents asking why they were not told about her being married.

Needless to say, Miles stayed far away from the Ice Queen when she came looking for answers.