To Thine Own Self Be True
Chapter 10 - To Test or Not to Test
Mustang left the office. He arrived at the alley just as the Elric brothers did. They stood in the shadows. Mustang leaned against the wall, completely hidden due to the fact he was wearing his black jacket.
"Sir...?"
Edward walked up and stood in front of Mustang.
"You've both passed."
"Great!"
"Awesome!"
The boys said excitedly.
"Al I want you to drop from the test."
Mustang looked at the armor.
"What?"
"It's for your own safety. The next part they are going to question you about your past."
"But!"
Al argued with Mustang.
"Al, just do it. He's right. anyway, I'm the only one who should have this burden. Anyway, all state alchemists become dogs of the military. When they say jump you jump. When they say kill, you kill. When they say die, you die. no questions."
"Fine I wont take it."
Mustang left. The following day, he was standing in a dark room. The Fuhrer was sitting next to him. The door opened and in walked Edward. He closed the door and walked into the dark room.
"Hello?"
A light came on and shown down on a single golden tripod that should not be stable enough to stand on it's own.
"Sit. The chair will not reject you if you are a true alchemist. An alchemist should never fear."
Fuhrer spoke as Edward walked over to the chair. He looked at it, then forcibly sat down, hands on his knees. Mustang smirked. 'A small chair for a small person.'
"Very good, now why do you want to become a State alchemist?"
The Fuhrer asked. After a moment of hesitation...
"I promised someone special to me that I would become a State Alchemist."
Mustang stared at Edward and Edward stared at the smiling Fuhrer. Mustang was much impressed at how Edward got right to the point. He never told Ed what the question was going to be, so he couldn't rehearse his answer. But his answer was perfect and the Fuhrer thought so two. That night, mustang made five more phone called. Then the following day, Mustang stood next to the Fuhrer again. He was tired and wanted to sleep.
"Welcome. You are the few who have passed and made it this far. Now you see before you a field full of natural resources. This is the practical part of the exam. Use these resources to your advantage. Begin."
The Fuhrer smiled as Mustang kept his hands behind his back. This was going to be interesting. The field consisted of a perfectly blended mountains, river, ice and trees. The first man transmuted a spire. But he weakened and fell to his knees unable to stand. The next guy used trees and water to create a balloon filled with hydrogen gas. The balloon rose up but popped and crashed into the spire. The stone began to fall to the ground.
"This isn't good."
Mustang stepped forward and pulled on his gloves. Just then, Edward stepped forward and slammed his hands together, then on the ground, transmuting the spire and balloon into flower pedals.
"He didn't use a circle..."
The Fuhrer smiled as flower pedals began to rain down on them.
"Mustang, I do believe I have found our new State Alchemist."
"Yes sir."
The pedals continued to fall apon everyone. They all smiled as they looked up. Upstairs in one of the windows. Hawkeye was watching from Mustang's temporary office. She watched the pedals fall and caught one on her hand through the open window. It smelled like... tiger lilies. She looked at it and smiled then let it fall to the ground with the others. She then leaned on the window still and watched the alchemist remove the playing field and the court yard go back to normal.
"Lieutenant?"
Hawkeye turned around and faced Mustang.
"Sir."
"At ease Hawkeye."
"Yes sir."
Mustang walked over to the window and looked out on the field. It was a mess, but looked pretty with the flowers.
"He passed."
"Thats good?"
"Yes...I think."
"Sir."
Mustang was leaning on the window now. He turned his head to look at Hawkeye. He then looked back out the window. He could see over the court yard wall where Edward and his brother were celebrating. On Al's shoulders was Tucker's daughter, Nina. Mustang smiled.
"He worked hard."
Hawkeye didn't reply. She wasn't really familiar with alchemy. She wasn't pleased with it, but she still excepted it.
"But I hope he knows what he is getting into."
Hawkeye looked in Mustang's hand. He held the certificate and box which held Edward's watch. She recognized the certificate. Mustang had his framed one on the wall back in the office in Eastern.
"I best go give this to him. We'll be going home to Eastern shortly. Are you ready?"
"Yes sir."
"Good, meet me at the station at 0300."
"Yes sir."
Mustang turned around, and stooped. He stared at Hawkeye for a moment. She stared back. Their eyes met and they just didn't move., Their faces showed no emotion. It was like he was trying to tell her something, but she didn't get it. He then smiled and left. Hawkeye saluted until he as gone. He watched him leave and then disappear around a corner. After giving Edward his stuff and telling him he is now a Major in the military, he leaves an head for the station. She sees Hawkeye sitting on a bench, no book. He figures she finished it already. Next to her is her small suitcase of clothing she brought with her. Mustang has an equally small suitcase.
"Let's go."
The two board the train and head home for Eastern.
A/N - Is it falling the plot good? Please review. Constructive criticism accepted. No FLAMES (Thats Roy's job only). Please look in my profile oo0AnimeChild0oo for all my other stories. And again, thanks for reading.
"Write a wise saying and your name will live forever"
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