TWO YEARS PASS
It was a normal day for Edward. He sat in the colonel's office drowning out his lectures. "Ed? Ed are listening?" Mustang asked.
"Huh?" Ed asked opening up his eyes.
Mustang sighed. "You're dismissed." Mustang said and sent Ed out. Ed shrugged and walked out to meet Al.
"Brother. What happened?" Al asked.
"I don't know. I didn't pay attention." Ed said scratching his head.
"What am I going to do with you?" Al asked. In the distance footsteps could be heard.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Ed asked.
"Nothing brother." Al said.
"LOOK OUT!" a young female shouted.
"What the?" Ed said turning to see a charging girl in his face. She ended up tackling him sending him to the floor with a thud.
"Sister!" another young girl called. Her long black hair flowing in the wind. Her amber eyes searching the place. "Sister!" the young girl cried as she approached the swirly eyed teens on the floor. The younger girl helped her supposed sister up on her feet as she dusted herself off.
"Sorry about that. I'm kind of in a rush." the brunette said offering a hand to help Edward up. Ed sprang up without the help of the girl.
"What the hell?" Ed shouted.
"I said I was sorry!" the girl yelled out. "Excuse me though. Could you point out where the colonel's office is?"
"Over there." Alphonse said pointing in the direction of Mustang's office.
"Thank you." the girl said, bowed, and was sent rushing off into the little room.
"What was that about?" Ed asked brushing himself off.
"Oh, Fullmetal." Hawkeye said. Ed turned to her. "colonel Mustang has one more thing to talk to you about."
"Great! What can he want now?" Ed said grumpily as he walked into the colonel's office, Al not far behind.
"Oh, so you considered this over two years huh?" Mustang asked resting his chin on folded hands.
"Please. I've come to become a state alchemist." the brunette from earlier said bowing.
"You've grown a lot over the years." Mustang said with a prominent smirk on his face.
"Um…Am I interrupting something?" Ed asked walking in. The brunette beauty stood up straight startled by his voice.
"Oh, nope. Just take a seat." Mustang said. He turned to the girl. "So you've finally came to be state alchemist then huh?"
"Something urgent came up." the brunette said. "Will you open up the offer again?"
"I'll think about it." Mustang said. He looked at the two teens. "What? Don't remember each other?"
"What are you talking about Mustang?" Ed asked.
"Edward, this is Erika. As in Erika Evans." Mustang said. Ed looked her over.
"She doesn't seem familiar to me." Edward said simply.
"Erika. This is Edward Elric." Mustang said.
"Not ringing a bell." Erika said. Mustang fell anime style. He grew an anger mark at the inconsiderate teens.
"Edward. You two met in Ashwell. Erika, he's the state alchemist who helped you put out the Chief of the Police two years ago." Mustang said through his teeth.
"This termite is a state alchemist?" Erika asked gesturing to the seething blond.
"Who you calling a termite, hot head?" Ed yelled.
"Hot head? I haven't been called that in two…" Erika trailed off realizing something. She pointed her finger at the blond. "You're that trouble making midget!"
"WHO YOU CALLING A MIDGET, KLUTZ?" Ed fumed.
"Klutz? Come on I said I was sorry about that!" Erika argued.
"You tackled me!" Ed yelled.
"And I see you're still as short as ever huh shorty?" Erika asked teasingly.
"SHORTY?" Ed fumed.
Erika laughed. "I'm just kidding! Geez, learn to take a joke." Erika said.
"Two years huh?" Ed asked.
"Yep." Erika replied grinning showing a glimpse of her pearly whites.
Ed took a moment to look over his old friend. From the last time he'd seen her she was just a girl going through an awkward stage. Now, she was a beautiful teen girl. She had developed over two years and had graced features. Her hair was now longer and turned into a nice chestnut color while her sapphire eyes were still bright and determined as they were when she was only a small girl. She still had her same ponytail except she held it in a white ribbon instead and she was still stubborn as to wearing a skirt besides the day at the river.
"What are you staring at?" Erika asked. Ed shifted his gaze downward.
"Nothing." Ed mumbled. Erika rolled her sapphire orbs and turned to Al who engulfed her in a giant bear hug.
"Erika! I haven't seen you in such a long time!" Al exclaimed squeezing Erika.
"Nice to see you too Alphonse." Erika said flatly because of the tight squeeze. Al put her down.
"How old are you now Al?" Erika asked.
"I'm fifteen and brother's sixteen." Al said happily. Ed smiled at his brother's enthusiasm.
Just then a certain amber eyed girl walked in. "Did he accept you in yet?"
"Amy!" Ed and Al said in unison.
"Edward? Alphonse?" Amy asked surprised. "I haven't seen you two in…two years! How've you been holding up?"
"We've been great." Al said.
"Hey. You still have your freckles." Edward said poking at the young girl's nose.
"Hey! Don't point them out!" Amy said covering her nose to hide the freckles that dotted her face.
"Oh, c'mon Ames! They're cute!" Erika said draping an arm over her little sister's shoulders.
"I hate them!" Amy pouted. Erika smirked at her sister's annoyance.
"C'mon! Some boys find it to be quite attractive. Right Al?" Erika asked grinning.
"Mm-Hm…" Al said sheepishly. Erika stopped grinning and blinked at Alphonse.
Erika decided to change the subject again. "I can't believe I forgot a seven foot suit of armor and a blond, short tempered shrimp!" Erika said in disbelief.
"WHO YOU CALLING A MINI SHRIMP WHOSE SMALLER THAN A PIECE OF PLANKTON?" Ed ranted.
"I didn't even know that you knew what plankton was." Erika said blinking.
"Shut up Hot head!" Ed said.
"You two haven't seen each other in two years and all you do is argue?" Mustang asked in disbelief.
Ed and Erika looked at him blankly. "What did you expect us to do? Burst out in tears?"
Amy smirked. "Considering you cried when they left, I figured as much." Erika turned red.
"You cried Erika?" Al asked. Erika turned a brighter shade of red.
"I did not! Ames, stop putting false information in their heads!" Erika protested. Ed smirked.
"You cried did you?" Ed asked grinning and enjoying every moment of her embarrassment. "I didn't know that you'll miss me so much! Do you feel like crying now?"
Erika clonked him in the head with a metal badge. "Did you miss my hits?" Erika said sarcastically with her hands on her hips.
"Hey. Erika is that a new badge?" Al asked.
"Huh?" Erika asked and looked at the badge in her hand. "Crap! I forgot to put this back on the shelf!"
"Erika!" Amy whined. "Why'd you bring it with you!"
"I forgot about it in my pocket!" Erika said panicked.
"What's so special about the badge?" Al asked.
"It's my dad's!" Erika cried out. "I was supposed to put it back on the altar!"
"Wait, what altar?" Ed asked.
"The altar at the station!" Amy cried.
"It's alright." Mustang intervened. "We can have someone ship it back to Ashwell by hand if you want."
"You'd do that?" Erika asked in utter confusion. "You'll do it out of the goodness of your heart for me?" Erika asked with sparkles in her eyes.
"Under one condition." Mustang said. Erika's cheerful demeanor fell.
"I knew there was a catch…" Erika said. "What is it…"
"You'll find out as soon as you pass the exam." Mustang said with a smirk.
"You're taking the Exam?" Ed asked.
"Well, yeah. Remember the offer Mustang gave me when you two left Ashwell? I've decided to take him up on it." Erika replied.
"That's great Erika! Now we get to see you more often!" Al said cheerfully. "Amy are you joining too?"
"Oh, no. Sis won't let me." Amy said.
"If only one of us has to get in then that's how it'll be. I don't want you to be the military's lap dog if you don't have to." Erika said. Ed looked at her.
"What do you mean-" Ed started.
"Well, aren't you going to show me where I can take the Exam?" Erika interrupted.
"Sure. Right this way."
BN: Told you that I wouldn't end it there. I still have much more in store for you so stay tuned. Now, for the typical saying: Criticism is fine and comments are always welcome. Until Next chap! =:D