Disclaimer: I dont own FMA or its original characters, but I do own my story and the characters that I made up therein.
This chapter is a little shorter than the others have been lately...Hope I didn't spoil you with those long ones :)
The next morning, Calien woke up early. She put on a short blue skirt, with a white shirt, blue knee socks, and white shoes. Her hair went up in normal pigtails with blue ribbons. She looked very pretty. She went down to the cement lot, where the state alchemist exams were held. The people had arrived, and it was almost time to start. Before she went out there, she felt a light touch on her shoulder. She turned and it was Ed. He smiled at her, "I just wanted to wish you good luck.." She grinned at him, "Thanks, Ed.." He pulled her close and gave her a quick kiss on the lips. "For luck," he said with a wink and a grin. "For luck," she repeated with a smile and a nod. She went out into the lot to wait for Roy. He was so proud of her, a flame alchemist against a water one...there was no question who would win. He wondered if she would find beating Ed as easy as it is would be for her to beat him, her own father. When the signal was given for them to begin, Calien smiled at her father, she knew just how to beat him, "I learned this one from you, Daddy." "Huh?" Roy stammered..he hadn't taught her anything specifically in a long time. She snapped her fingers and he was shot with a stream of water, covering his gloves. Without them he couldn't create a spark. It really looked as if he had let her win. He desperately tried to do something, but he couldn't. He pulled a lighter from his pocket and got the spark from that, he shot the flames at her but there was a wall of thick ice between the flames and herself. Calien then caused the wet gloves on Roy's hands to freeze holding his hands in place. She had beat him with her own skill and her ability to think ahead. She had the skills of a true alchemist, and he was proud. The match was declared over, and Calien caused the ice to melt off of his hands so that he could move. Immediately afterward, Ed stepped out. "Don't take it easy on me just because we're friends, Ed." Calien whispered. "Oh, don't worry," he said with a grin, "I won't."
The signal was given and Ed clapped his hands and touched the ground, splitting the cement and in the process tripped her. She shrieked and leapt down. She was agile because she was so young. She could easily outrun an adult, but Ed was so close in size and age..not to mention skill, that they were evenly matched. At first, Calien was afraid that she would hurt Ed, so she didn't use anything too severe, even though she knew some pretty strong alchemic reactions. He was beating her and she was panicing. Finally, she screamed and pulled all the moisture out of the air around Ed. He coughed, then she pulled three fourths of the water out of his body. He gasped and then collapsed. Calien had won and passed her exam. Then she ran to Ed and replaced the water that she had taken away. Ed opened his eyes and smiled at her, "I almost beat you.." he said with a smirk. "You didn't let me win did you?" She asked. "I promised I wouldn't and I didn't, you beat me fair and square." She smiled and helped her opponent to his feet. They looked at the lot, it was a complete mess! They'd be out there cleaning it up for the rest of the day! They each took a broom and everyone else went inside. Ed smiled at the thought of so much time alone with her, then he realized what he had just thought. He smiled a little to himself and shook his head, it couldn't be the way everyone thought it was. They finished cleaning up just as the Sun was setting. "ooo.." said Calien as she gazed at the sky. They sat down in the lot and watched it. "Ya know..Al and I used to do this at home with our...our mother." He said looking at the ground. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Ed. I didn't mean for this to hurt your feelings.." She frowned. "No, no that's not what I meant." He objected quickly. They talked bout a few different things, then Ed noticed something he had seen before but didn't ask about. "Where did your locket come from?" He ask reaching toward her chest and lifting the locket off her skin. It was a golden locket that had belonged to her mother. "This was my mother's...before she died..." She then opened it up and showed the picture inside. It was her parents, with Roy at their wedding. The other half had no picture in it. It would be a long time before there would be a picture in it. Calien yawned, it was dark now and it had been a long day for her. Ed smiled and took her inside.
In his office, Roy gave Calien her own state alchemist's watch and made it official, she and Edward would now be working as a team. The three children were happy. They would be together now all the time, but Calien knew that she would have to leave Roy, and Hughes. The two people who had raised her. She loved them both dearly, but it was time for her to go. She would help the Elric boys as she had helped Roy. There was something about her that seemed to ease the pain of people like Roy and the Elrics. People who had suffered through emotional hell seemed to feel better when they were near her.
"Well, Edward, do you have any leads to pursue?" Roy asked trying to take his mind off of Calien's departure. "We met Dr.Marcoh on the way to Resembool, and he gave us the location of his research. We may be here in Central a while longer." Roy looked startled at the mention of Dr.Marcoh's name. He knew he couldn't say anything because they were smart children and they would get suspicious. He had to keep Calien's secret at least a few years longer, even from herself. Right now, she was not old enough to know the truth. Roy was thrilled at the thought of getting to keep his little girl a while longer. "That's fine, Ed, stay as long as you need." Roy finally answered in a surprisingly nice voice. Ed smiled feeling like the creation of the Philosopher's Stone...his goal, was closer than ever. "Alright then, we begin tomorrow," he said cheerfully.
Hey, thanks for reading again. Once I get 3 more reviews I'll put the next chapter up.