The Perfect Score

Rai had been studying for the alchemy test for about a three week. She had spent all of her time locked in Riza's room of books. If she wasn't in the room, she was eating or sleeping. Most of the time she ate with a book at her side, and she always had a book in her hands when she fell asleep. Riza even caught her little sister with her nose in a book when she went to the bathroom. It started to bug Riza that Rai spent so much time reading. She guessed that Rai needed as much information as she could get.

On the morning of the test, Ed and Al were sent to Riza's house to escort Rai to the testing building. Ed thought it was senseless to send an escort. If Rai really wanted to, she could escape without breaking a sweat. He was sure of it, but he knew that Rai wouldn't dishonor her elder sister.

They finally reached the room where Rai was to take the test. It was in a small, secluded room with nothing but a desk for Rai to sit in. It also had two guards standing at the door along with Fuhrer Bradley and Colonel Mustang sitting at a table with Major Connell. Rai took one look at Connell then sat down to find a test and pencils in front of her. Bradley then stood up and addressed her.

"Thank you for coming, Ms. Hawkeye. You will have two hours to complete the test. I wish you the best of luck." He then sat down. Ed and Al were surprised at the look on Rai's face. She looked so serious and alert. She looked like she wanted to become a state alchemist.

"Begin!" Mustang instructed. Rai picked up her pencil and opened her test. She quickly wrote answers down and hurried through the test like she was taking some grade school quiz. Ed and Al decided to wait outside with Riza until her little sister had finished the test. Ed looked over to Riza and once again she looked paler than a ghost. Jeese, doesn't she ever have color in her face? Ed thought. Then again, her sister's life is on the line.

"Don't worry, Riza," Al said. "I'm sure Rai will do fine." And as if on cue, Rai came walking out the door. She had a weary look on her face that told them the test wasn't as easy as it looked. "So, how did you do, Rai?"

"I finished, but my hand is like spaghetti. I hope I can pass the interview part."

Major Connell handed Rai's test to the Fuhrer with a grin on his face. Mustang saw why after the Fuhrer read the test with disappointment. Bradley put it down and stared at Riza. "Well, it looks like she failed the exam."

"What?" Riza exclaimed. "That's impossible! She studied so hard for it."

"I'm sorry," Bradley explained, "but she didn't study hard enough. She missed the passing grade by two points. Major Connell," Connell showed attention to the Fuhrer. "Arrest Rai Hawkeye and take her to the prison hold. We will execute her tomorrow."

"Yes, sir," Connell said as he saluted.

"Hold on just one minute." Everyone turned to Mustang as he read through the test. "Some of the answers that are marked wrong are right. In fact, most of them are right."

"Let me have a look." Mustang handed the test to Bradley and let him look at it. The room was completely silent as Bradley checked the test. His eyes emerged above the paper after five minutes. "Well, if I'll be a monkey's uncle. They are right, every single one. It looks like we have our first perfect test in twenty years. Major Connell, cancel that order. Lieutenant Hawkeye, tell Rai that she has passed and then take her to the interview room." Riza saluted and left as Bradley turned to Connell. "Do you know who corrected this test?"

"No, sir. I will see to it that whoever did this is punished." Connell saluted and marched out of the room. That was when Mustang addressed Bradley.

"Do you think he had anything to do with this?"

"I'm not sure," Bradley said. "I want you to watch them both. I don't want any misconduct going on in the army." Mustang saluted and marched out with a smile.

Rai opened the door and walked towards Riza, Ed, and Al with a smile on her face. "I did it," she proclaimed. "I think I convinced them that I would make an excellent state alchemist."

"What about the chair?" Ed asked.

"Oh, the three-legged chair? Yeah, it was steady. I'm ready to kick that cocky Colonel's ass…Hey!" Riza gave Rai a swift smack on the head. "What the hell was that for?"

"Don't ever talk about Colonel Mustang that way," she said in a stern voice. "He could be your commanding officer."

"Maybe," Rai said with a sly voice. "Or is it possible that you love him?"

"What? I don't love him!" Riza denied.

"Oh yeah? Then why are you blushing so much?" Riza tried to hide her rosy cheeks from Rai's sight.

"I'm not blushing," she denied.

"Please, your face is redder then Ed's jacket. You do love him, don't you?" Rai insisted.

"Do not!" Riza continued.

"Do too!"

"Do not!"

"Do too!"

"Stop it you two," Ed finally separated the fighting sisters. "The important thing is Rai passed all the tests. All she has to do now is beat Mustang and she's home free."

"I won't be free," Rai said with dismal. "I'll be a dog of the state." Rai then turned around and started walking off. Al ran after her to make sure she wouldn't get in trouble.

"I wonder what her problem is," Ed asked.

"She'll be fine," Riza said. "Let's just hope she can handle Mustang.

I decided to save the big fight scene for next chapter. It would have made this chapter too long. Well, all I can say is keep reviewing and enjoy the story. I'll try to get out a chapter once a week if I can. Cya.