Disclaimer: I do not own Full Metal Alchemist; however I do own the character Alchemy.
I would like to thank Ellen Tree for reviewing my story. Thanks!
Note: I am terribly sorry for not updating in a while, I'm still developing a lot of my other stories, and I am also sorry for making the last chapter so short. I'll try to make this one longer.
Clouded Dreams
Part One
Hearts Bloom
Ch. Seven
The State Alchemist Test
The Beginning of the Ishballan Curse
Six O'clock, Alchemy's Room
Alchemy sighed. She couldn't get to sleep. This whole test was on her Mind, and she was afraid she'd fail it. But…Lieutenant Hawkeye had said she'd pass it, no doubt. Was she really that good in their eyes? Alchemy sighed again.
"Oh, Magical, I Wish you were here…" Alchemy said quietly
Alchemy walked to her bookshelf. She picked out a book about Alchemy. (Not her, the transmute type of thing) It was a very old book; possibly centuries old. She flipped it to a specifically marked page: The Ishballan Curse. She closed the book, pulled a thick binder of the shelf, and walked to a comfy couch nearby the window.
As the Sun came up, Alchemy opened the book back to the page of The Ishballan Curse. She opened the binder as well. Inside were many diagrams, charts, files, notes, ingredients for certain potions, types of potions that could be altered slightly to make them better or worse with Alchemy. This entire binder contained information about the Ishballan Curse. Alchemy began to analyze a piece of information she had written some Time ago.
"The book says there's no cure." Alchemy stated "But that's because no one ever bothered to find one. But I will."
Six Thirty, Ed and Al's Room
Ed grumbled. Someone was shaking him; whoever it was wouldn't let him Sleep more.
"Brother, wake up!" Al exclaimed
"Mmm…" Ed grunted "What, Al? I'm tryin' to sleep here…"
"Yes, but," Al protested "Why are you sleeping on the window sill?"
"Huh?" Ed pushed himself off the window sill he had fallen asleep on last Night. "Oh, I must have fallen asleep here again."
"Brother, why do you keep falling asleep on the window sill?" Al asked "It's been like that ever since you met that pink haired lady. What have you and she been doing?"
"We've just been talking, that's all Al." Ed said, scratching his head.
"Talking?" Al said "What? The entire Night?"
"What the Hell was she thinking last Night?" Ed muttered "Kissing me on the cheek and then just leaving…"
"What did you say, Brother?" Al asked, not hearing what Ed had said completely
"Oh, nothing, Al." Ed said with a smile "Come on, let's get some breakfast. Today's Alchemy's test day, after all, remember?"
"Oh yeah!" Al said excitedly
"I'll find a cure, I just have to!" Alchemy said, shoveling through the jumbles of notes and papers. She read the long history of how the Ishballan Curse came to be, what it did, and just everything about it in general. The only thing it was missing was the cure for it. Alchemy had read this same passage over a million times, but she still couldn't figure it out.
"Why can't I figure it out?" Alchemy shouted "Damn it!"
Alchemy sighed. She closed her book and the binder. She replaced them back on the shelf and walked out of her room. Lieutenant Hawkeye passed by.
"Lieutenant Hawkeye." Alchemy saluted her Superior.
"Good morning, Alchemy." Hawkeye said good naturedly "Coming to have some breakfast?"
"Yeah," Alchemy said
"I think Ed and Al are already down there." Hawkeye commented "I think they were waiting for you to come out."
"Thank you, Lieutenant." Alchemy said. Alchemy saluted Hawkeye once more, waved good bye, and left down the hall. Alchemy made her way to the dining hall where all the military soldiers ate.
"Alchemy," Al called enthusiastically.
Alchemy sighed. She carried a tray of food towards the table where Ed, Al, Maes, and Winry sat. She sat to Ed's right, "Hey guys."
"So, you nervous about the State Alchemist Test?" Winry asked excitedly
"Not unless you don't stop jabbering on and on about it." Alchemy stated, irritated
"My, someone's agitated this morning, huh?" Ed said just to annoy her.
"Shut up, Ed." Alchemy said, nibbling lightly on her bread. "Say, Winry, I thought you were supposed to return to Risenbul."
"Oh, well I didn't really want to yet." Winry said with a smile
"Great." Alchemy mumbled sarcastically to herself. "So, Ed, have you had any visits from 'Miss Pinky' lately?" Alchemy asked
"He had a visit from her late last Night." Al said in a less than happy tone.
"It's not like there's anything wrong with it." Ed stated
"Yeah, except for the fact that she kissed him on the cheek." Winry said in a strangely angered tone.
"She did?" Alchemy said, surprised "How come? What? Have you to started going out or something?"
"Now I Wish I never told that to any of you…" Ed said, slapping his hand over his face "Winry, you just can't keep your mouth shut, can you!"
"Well, she's going to be your partner, and I thought that she'd just like to know!" Winry protested
"That is, if I pass." Alchemy commented dryly "I'm not even sure that I'll pass."
"I'm sure you'll pass," Maes stated "Just like Shorty over here did."
Ed was about to start shouting about that when Alchemy shoved a piece of bread into his mouth, "I have enough problems without you bursting my eardrums."
Ed chewed and quickly swallowed, "Look who's talking!" Ed shouted back
Alchemy sighed exasperatedly, "You can be so immature sometimes, Ed."
"Well, it's eight fifty-two." Alchemy commented "I should be leaving soon." Alchemy turned to leave when Ed called her back
"Alchemy," Ed said. Alchemy turned back around "Good Luck, on the test." Ed extended his hand towards Alchemy. She accepted it and they shook. "You'd better not fail, Partner." Ed added to Alchemy as she left.
Alchemy raised her hand in a farewell sort of way, "I don't intend to."
Alchemy walked to the entrance hall. Only a few of the people preset for the test were actually here.
"Ah, Alchemy!" Mustang enthusiastically "I was wondering when you would show up!"
"Colonel Mustang." Alchemy saluted him
"Well, we may have to delay the test awhile." Mustang said "Less than half of the people who entered are here."
Alchemy sighed, "I wish I could just get over this already."
"What?" Mustang asked "Don't you want to be a State Alchemist?"
"Well, yeah, but…I guess I'm just nervous." Alchemy stated
"Well that's perfectly normal." Mustang commented
"Um…Colonel Mustang?" Alchemy said timidly "Let's just say, if…If I were to actually pass this test, could…could you do something for me?"
Mustang looked at her strangely, "Like what?"
"I…I need a copy of every Alchemy book you have on Viruses and Diseases created by Alchemy that Central has." Alchemy said quietly
Mustang gave her a strange look, but smiled, "You're just like the Elric Brothers, always asking for a deal. Alright, if you pass, I'll get you a copy of every Alchemy book on Viruses and Diseases created by Alchemy that I can."
"Thank you." Alchemy told him.
"Alchemy, can you just clear something up for me? Why do you need these books? I mean, making diseases and viruses by Alchemy is an unusual task. An even more task is finding books on them to read."
"I just need it to clear something up." Alchemy stated
Mustang sighed. He still didn't get what was going on. Why did she need books about viruses and diseases made Alchemy? There were only a few of these, most of which were no longer used. More than three fourths of such things were ruled against the law because of their effects on any living thing.
"Alright, it seems that all the entries have showed up." Fuhrer Bradley stated "Why don't we start with the written test? Then we'll move on to the interrogation part, and lastly the demonstration."
All the Alchemists around nodded and followed Mustang, Fuhrer Bradley, Hawkeye, Strong Arm, and Iron Blood into a huge stadium like room. Truth be told, Ed and Al had been in this room six years ago. This was the room with the hundreds of seats for the Alchemists to take the State Written Test.
"Alright, find a seat and wait for further instruction." Mustang commanded
Alchemy walked silently to the nearest seat, one at the very top of the room, and sat down. The superiors below began to pass out the exam. Hawkeye came up to Alchemy and handed her a thick packet of paper. (I really don't know how long this test is, they never said on the show. I'm just going to suppose this is how long it was.)
9:01
Alchemy first wrote her name on the top of the many sheets of paper: Alchemy Amity Calantha. Alchemy read the first question and began to answer it…
12:00
"Okay, that obviously took longer than expected," Mustang commented "But let's keep going. The next will be the one on one interrogation made by Fuhrer Bradley, Lieutenant Hawkeye, and I. The first person I would like to call into the room is Calantha, Alchemy."
Alchemy stood from her seat and followed Mustang, Fuhrer Bradley, and Hawkeye into a room nearby.
"Hello, Miss Calantha." Fuhrer Bradley said well naturedly. "How are you doing this fine morning?"
"Fine, thank you for asking, Fuhrer Bradley." Alchemy replied calmly
"Please, take a seat." Fuhrer Bradley pointed to a normal looking chair. That is, until you saw its legs. These were skinny and stuck together at the middle of the seat. "Only a true Alchemist will know how to balance her/him on a chair such as this one without faltering." (This is the seat that Ed was tested on during his State Alchemist Test)
Alchemy moved in front of the chair and sat calmly down. She did not falter, she did not fidget. The two men and woman smiled at her as they began the interrogation…
4:30
"Move it along, all of you!" Hawkeye shouted "Out onto the grounds!"
"Lieutenant Hawkeye," Alchemy said "What're we doing out here?"
"The demonstration, remember?" Hawkeye stated with a smile.
Alchemy smiled. She seemed calm on the outside, but she was ready to burst on the inside. She was worried, during the demonstration, what was she to do?
"Who wants to go first?" Iron Blood Alchemist shouted
A small woman stepped up timidly, "I would, –"
Suddenly, five gigantic Chimeras sprang out of nowhere. The Alchemists around gasped in surprise. The Chimeras gave them no second thought before bounding off somewhere towards Central.
"No." Alchemy whispered.
Alchemy clapped her hands together and threw them out in front of her; in an instant a pink net had formed before the Chimeras. They scrambled and squirmed, trying to get out of the net. They turned around and attacked the State Alchemists.
"Oh no you don't!" Mustang said.
Mustang snapped his fingers and a burst of Flame shot out at the Chimeras. It was of no use; one of the Chimeras turned around and sent a yellow energy ball at the Fire. They made contact and negated each others power. All the other people around seemed to have frozen. Hawkeye swiftly drew her gun and fired at them as the Chimeras advanced upon them.
'Damn, what's going on?' Alchemy thought to herself 'Fire won't work…Another energy ball at them would just be negated by one of their energy balls…I've got to do something!' Then it came to her 'That attack! But…It'll take a lot of energy out of me…Well, tough! Gotta save these people!'
Alchemy inhaled and exhaled deeply before stepping forward.
"Alchemy, stay back!" Mustang shouted
"I know what I'm doing, Colonel Mustang!" Alchemy shouted back to them "Trust me!"
This time, all five of the Chimeras attacked. 'Perfect.' Alchemy thought as they approached. When they were right before her, Alchemy closed her eyed and jumped high into the air. She held her arms out completely straight, her legs pressed tightly together and pointed downwards. She opened her eyes; her eye color was now a flurry of colors in a Rainbow. A deep, dark black vortex spun behind her outlined in pink.
Alchemy fell to the ground; she only had enough energy to prop herself up on one knee and one hand. The vortex began to pull things into it; Rocks, Trees, and most importantly the Chimeras. When the last Chimera went through the vortex, it closed in a burst of light pink and blue flowers. As a Shadow in the shape of a Star, the black and oink vortex shot off into the Sunlight somewhere. Everyone around cheered and shouted with joy. Alchemy panted and smiled.
"Well, now, I think we all know who deserves the title State Alchemist here." Fuhrer Bradley exclaimed.
Still panting, Alchemy looked up to find Hawkeye extending a helping hand towards her, "Thank you, Lieutenant Hawkeye."
"Congratulations, Alchemy." Hawkeye said, pulling Alchemy up. "I told you you'd get in."
Alchemy smiled.
Next time, on Clouded Dreams…
Hey, Ed here:
So, Alchemy got in after all. Anyway, tomorrow she gets her Stated Alchemist name, wonder what that's going to be…
Alchemy and I are sent to do a task in the library when all State Alchemists receive an urgent report: Five important libraries in the city around Central are being attacked by Chimeras!