Ember Alchemist

Chapter 2 – The State Alchemists Exam

(Sorry about any typos etc, thanks for reading...)

"Pleased to meet you," Ember said to Ed, letting go of his hand.

"Ditto" replied Ed, "So… You're an alchemist"

"Yup"

"Oh and by the way, what happened to you?" Ember just gave Ed a confused look, "I mean, when I saw you, you were covered in blood and stuff… Although I admit, that wasn't really the first thing on my mind…" Ed pulled a face as he recalled Ember busting in on him while he was getting changed, he even turned a light shade of red as he remembered the little comparison she had made about the size of him and, well, something else... his, well 'manhood' as some would put it.

"Oh, well, I was beaten up, by, um… "It was clear Ember was reluctant to talk about it. It brought back painful memories of her past. "Well, I'll tell you after you tell me about what happened to your arm and leg!"

"So, you noticed…" Ed didn't really want to talk about his past either; it was painful for him too.

There was a short silence which was only broken after Ember stated "Well of coarse I noticed, I did see you naked after all, I saw everything!" This, despite his embarrassment, did ease Ed a little.

There was a knock at the door, "Ah, there you are Ember…" Said Tucker, "I've got together some money so Ed and Al can take you shopping for some new clothes"

Ember seemed to be the only one who remembered she only had a nightgown and a dressing gown to wear.

"No offence Mr Tucker, but I can't go out like this" she reminded him, trying to sound as polite as she could, afraid she sounded rude.

"Oops, I forgot about that"

"Here," Ed offered, "Take this" and he tossed Ember his long red coat. "It should be long enough to hide the night dress so you won't look too weird; I suppose you've already got shoes"

"Yeah, red baseball boots with a black rim," answered Ember, "Thanks"

"Don't worry about it, I've already got this black jacket to keep me warm so it's not a big deal" Ember smiled thoughtfully, taking off her dressing gown and trying on the big coat and buttoned it up to the top so there was no trace of what she had on underneath. It fitted perfectly which it should of as Al and she were just the same size. It actually looked good on her too.

"Heh," chuckled Ed, "It looks like you're naked underneath my coat 'cause it's so long"

"Oh shut up," Ember grinned at him.

Suddenly Alexander, the Tucker Family's large pet dog started barking wildly. "Daddy, there's someone at the door!" Nina yelled up the stairs. Everyone, including Ember and Ed, went to see.

"Hey Ed!" a friendly face greeted him.

"Maes Huges," Ed replied, "What are you doing here?"

"Well, I came to stop you from studying on your birthday"

"Studying?" Ember replied, "For what?"

"That state alchemists exam..." Ed gave a great sigh, "I'm going to become a dog of the miliary"

"Really?" then suddenly panic took hold of Ember, "Dammit, that thing is tomorrow! I havn't studied enough! Shit!"

"Wait, wait, why are you going to become a State Alchemist?" asked Ed.

Ember looked down at her feet, "I have my reasons..." she was eager to change subject, "Anyway, is it really your birthday today?"

"Yeah..." Ed replied, wondering where she was getting at.

"It's my birthday tomorrow! How old are you gonna be? Thirteen, twelve?"

Ed's blood began to boil, he knew he looked young because of his height, but surely he didn't look that young! "I'm going to be fifteen dammit!"

"Oh sorry, Heheh," Ember replied, "But isn't this weird, i'm going to be fifteen too"

"But aren't you forgetting something?" Maes Hues butted in, "It's my little Alicia's birthday too! " He whipped a small photograph of a little girl with bouncy blonde bunchies in her hair. "Isn't she cute, look everyone," he turned to Ember whom he knew had never seen her before, "Hey little lady, isn't she just adorable, look at the teddy bear she's got there, it's the smae size as her!"

"Well, um, we'd better get going to the market for Ember now, bye Maes!" Ed said; Maes was really getting on his last nerve. He always went on about is little girl.

"Wait!" exclaimed Maes, "I'll give you a ride there, we can talk about Alicia the whole way there!" He pulled Ed into the back seat of his black shiney car. Al and Ember sighed loudly as they followed him too, listning to Maes as he droaned on and on and on and on the whole way to the town.

"Kinda reminds you of Winery, huh?" Al laughed as he, Ed and Maes watched Ember run around from stall to stall of the busy market place looking at all the pretty clothes for sale, she had stars in her eyes.

"Oh yeah, Ed, what's your friend Winery gonna say about your little girlfriend Ember here?" smirked Maes.

"She's not my girlfriend, she's just our friend!" Ed snapped back at him.

"Well I dunno, Ed, you and her were alone in our room for an awful long time yesterday, and she's seen you naked and everything!" Al patted Ed on the back and he and Maes giggled like little school girls, exchanging looks.

"Will you guys shut up! She's not my girlfriend!" shouted Ed angrilly, steam coming out of his ears.

Suddenly the ground began to rumble violently from beneath Al and Mae's feet... But Ed couldn't feel a thing. It started shaking as roughly as an earthquake until eventually the ground was torn from beneath their feet and the two fell to the floor with a crash. Bits of rock and other things of what once belonged to the road scattered around them.

Ed's eyes flickered upwards to see Ember grinning, feeling pleased with herself, a transmutation circle drawn on the pavement beneath her feet. "That'll teach them," she grinned and went back to browsing the stalls. It was then, judging by the huge amount of ground and how effortless Ember had made the entire thing seemed, he knew how skillfull an Alchemist Ember must be.

That night back at the house, Ember was trying on the clothes she had bought in the market that day and showing them off to everyone. She was wearing a deep red strappy top with black staps and baggy three-quarter-length trousers with a red studded belt with her baseball boots and a black leather studded wristband. "I think you look great," said Tucker thoughtfully, Nina giggled and took Ember's hand, leading her to a seat where she sat on her knee. Ember tickled her and fondly called her a 'little rascal' which made her giggle even more.

"Yeah, I think it looks alright," agreed Ed, everyone else nodded their heads. Al was about to make a comment that Ed had to agree because if he didn't his girlfriend Ember would have kicked his ass, but then he remembered what Ember had done with her alchemy and decided it would be best to stay quiet.

The next day was to be the Alchemy exam, noone could sleep - they were all too excited. "Brother are you nervous?" Al asked Ed as they lay on they're beds in their room that night.

"Hell yeah," he replied, "But don't worry, i'll pass for sure and then we can get our bodies back!"

All of a sudden, the door creaked open and Ember entered. She had bought new night wear at the market and was now wearing a plain white t-shirt with black shorts. "Can I come in?" she asked, "I can't sleep"

"Sure, go ahead" Al answered, so Ember sat down on the ground, leaning her head aginst Al's bed side. She didn't seem to take any notice that Ed was only in his underwear, but the boys figured she would probably only say 'Well, I've already seen him naked, so it's not a big deal' if they asked, so they avoided questioning that, however, Ember had noticed Al.

"Wow Al, you really wear that thing to bed?" Al didn't reply, but Ember didn't mind.

"So, Ed, you excited about the exam tomorrow? I'm pretty nervous"

Ed sat up, "I'm dreading it, not too sure how I feel about becoming part of the miliary"

Ember sighed, "Well then why are you taking the test, ideot!" she glared at him, "And what happened to your arm and leg, you still havn't told me... and Al, how come you never take that armour off?" Ed ignored her and lay back down on his bed, turning away from her to the wall, Al did the same.

"We need to get some sleep" Al mumbled, turning off the bedside lamp.

'Well, if they won't tell me, i'll have to find out for myself, won't I?' Ember stood up and gulped. Al's armour shone brightly in the moon-light. She grasped hold of his helmet and heaved it off his body.

Ember screamed loudly.

"What, what is it?" Ed jumped up, turning his light on. "Ack! Ember, what did you do!"

"He- He's not got a body!" cried Ember.

"Uh-oh," Al said, "Look's like we've got some explaining to do, Ed"