Disclaimer: I own nothing of Full Metal Alchemist, ok? I'm not the happiest person on the world, if I own Roy Mustang.
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For the next week for Lily had passed slowly between setting up her new house, getting calls after calls from her worried friends, and finally studying her exams. Luckily, Sheska helped her in that department, giving her books on alchemy she couldn't bring from home. She decorated her home with paintings and strange objects, she used the other room as a study slash work out room, she couldn't really decided which one to use. Every waking hour for her was spent studying for her exams or eating, hardly any sleep. Finally, when she had learned all the information she needed, she literally collapsed on her bed and spent that day just sleeping.
It was the eve of the exams and Lily was having a huge panic attack. She paced up and down the carpet of her bedroom, biting her fingernails, her stomach giving very bad butterfly feeling. She couldn't sleep last night and she was regretting now, her stomach growling, her hair in vicious tangles, and her skin paler then usual. She stopped only when she heard someone banging on her door. She stumbled over to the door, opening it to face Sheska. She looked Lily up and down before starring at her face.
"Lily, what in the world happen to you?"she asked
"I'm so worried that I wouldn't pass my Alchemy exams tomorrow that I couldn't sleep last night, I haven't eaten for the past twenty-four hours, and I forgot the last time I bathed!"she exclaimed
"Whoa, let's get inside before people will think you have gone insane,"Sheska said, pushing herself and Lily in, locking the door behind her.
"Should we call your friends, Mary and Leo, or maybe Viktor?"she suggested, setting the panicking Lily on the love seat
"God, no! Mary will only come over as quickly as she can and try to cheer me up with one of her Roy Mustang fairy tale stories, how he saves the princess from the evil dragon, Roy and the princess fall in love and marry. The princess turns out to be Mary herself. Leo...Lord, he will just be like Mary but less crazy. Viktor is another story..."explained Lily
Sheska bit her lip, trying to figure out what to do in this situation. Her eyes beamed when she finally thought of something she read in a book once/
"Maybe some herbal tea will help you."Sheska said
Lily sighed,"Fine, just make it fast or else I will truly go insane."
After Sheska quickly made tea for her friend, she order something from one of the restaurant near by, ordering Lily to eat, which she did with a gusto. After she nearly ate everything in the house (I mean everything, kiddies) she took a long bath, washing away the dirt on her body, Lily slipped into a gown and went under the covers of her bed, to sleep for the rest of the day and night. Tomorrow was another chapter in her life. Only the gods themselves only knew if she would make it to be a full State Alchemist or not.
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Sheska stayed the night, sleeping the couch, making sure Lily got to the Exams on time. She woke up the little sleeping beauty around 5 am, even though she was tired as well, but the exams were only four hours later. Lily took a long bath, making sure her hair was washed thoroughly and making her skin smelling other then nasty smells that could make the judges think she hadn't bathed in moths. She quickly ate a big breakfast from yet again, ordering from the same restaurant from last night, Lily was too mentally exhausted to cook. After styling her hair into a bun on top of her hair and a strand of hair coming out of in the middle of it, brushing her teeth, and applying very few make up, it was two hours to go. During that time, she cramped the last remaining book in her study before whisking off to the exam building.
She skidded to a stop at the gate to the building, unlocking the gate and walking inside. She almost fell over the person in front of her. She mumbled a 'sorry', which they just grunted, pretending not to notice her. She almost fainted at the sight of hundreds of people standing from the front door of the building and to where she was. Was this the line to the bathroom or to the Exams?
"Man, it's a lot of people here this year."said a voice behind her.
She turn and was faced with man much older then herself, maybe with just by five or so years. He had shaggy hair, and a pair of green eyes hidden by his long bangs.
"Yeah...I guess so."Lily said
"I'm Rick Masters, perhaps you heard of me?"Vic asked
"No, sorry, I haven't."she said
"So your here for the Exams, too?"he asked
"Yeah, or why would I be in this line in first place?"she asked
"Wow, a seventeen year old entering the Exams, should you be in school, kid?"Rick asked, acting cocky
"I'm twenty years old, thank you very much!"Lily snapped
"So, your legal then? Maybe after this is over, how about we get a cup of coffee?"he suggested, a grin on his face.
"Sorry, no thanks. I rather have someone drive a spike through my head and let them play with my insides then go on a date with you,"she poked his chest,"Besides, I already have a boyfriend."she lied, turning from him.
"What's his name?"
She turn around again,"Excuse me?"
"What is your boyfriend's name?"Rick asked again
"And why would I tell you? You probably don't know him."Lily said, crossing her arms.
"Honey, I know lots of people, trust me. I would know him or at least talked to him in some point in my life."he said, seeing through her little white lie.
"Uh...his name is...Roy Mustang!"she said
He looked stunned at her,"The Roy Mustang? The legendary Flame Alchemist, Roy Mustang?"
'Roy Mustang! How could you think of him at a time like this! You could have made up a name like Shaun Smith! Why Roy Mustang!' a voice in her head screamed.
"Yes, Roy Mustang. We have only been out for a short time but we know we really love each other deeply. It's only time before we get married."Lily quickly said.
'Yeah...real smooth, girl. That should get you out of trouble.' The voice said, being sarcastic.
"Really? Why don't you dump the zero and get with a hero."he said, smirking.
"Oh, you know of one?"Lily said, smirking inside.
"Why you little..."
Lily turn her head around when she saw the front doors opening and letting the exam takers in.
"Oh! The doors are opening. We don't want to be late for the tests!"Lily said, taking off towards the doors, before he could finish his sentence.
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Lily had some trouble getting past the hundreds of people to get a seat for the written part of the exams. They were in an auditorium of some sorts, mostly filled with curved desks, on the bottom had the high up ranks of the military, even the Führer was there as well. She gulped as she twisted the hem of her shirt in worry, her stomach was tightening.
She jumped in her seat when the Führer banged his mallet against a piece of wood, "We'll now commence the preliminary exam. Good luck."he said
"Begin!"
She took a deep, calming breath as they passed the tests the room for everyone. When her's finally came, she stared at the hunk of page, nearly an inch thick.
"You can do this, do it for Viktor and everyone back home."she whisper to her self as she picked up a pencil and begin writing and filling in answers.
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An hour and a half later, Lily sighed in relief as she walked outside and into the sun. She stretched out her sore muscles, careful not to hit the other passing people. She spotted Sheska in the crowd looking for her, Lily walked towards her.
"Hey,"she said, making Sheska almost jumping out of her skin.
"Sorry."
"Hello, Lily, how was the test?"Sheska asked after calming down from her fright
"It was alright, I was only three quarters from finishing. But, I hope I passed. Now comes the interview then if I make it, the practicals test, which I'm not ready for."Lily sighed
"Don't worry, when it comes to that part, you will think of something."she said
"Sheska, what has gotten into you? You seemed so out of character."Lily pointed out.
"Wait, I think I got it. You have been reading through my personal books while I was away, right?"she questioned
"He he, maybe,"Sheska blushed
"Ok, I will deal with you later after I'm done. I have to get ready for the interview."Lily said before walking off.
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Lily stood in front of a grand, marble structured door. It was filled with designs she had only seen in books. From here and beyond there, would change her life forever. She gulped before pushing on the doors and walking in. She stood in a darken room until flashes of light almost blinded her that she saw a long table filled with the same people from before. She glanced around and saw a three legged chair.
"Take a seat. Alchemy is the science of balance,"the Führer spoke from his place at table,"If you have the gift, it will not refuse you."
Lily nodded and sat in front of the officials, surprising the chair stayed in place. She sat calmly, waiting for whatever will happen next.
The Führer smiled,"Very good. Now, tell me why you wish to an alchemist for our military, Lillian?"he asked
Lily bit the inside of her cheek as she tried to form the words in her mind. Flashes of friends and family flashes before her eyes.
'Mary...Leo...Viktor...'
She looked at the ground,"Because..."she lifted her head to face them,"Because I believe I serve a great purpose then being a normal, girl from the country. I believe that if I use all the power and know lodge I have, I will be a famous Alchemist one day, just like my mentor. I promised him that I will try my hardest and make him proud."she said
The Führer looked at her sternly before smiling.
"Good. You have prove your point, tomorrow will be the practicals, let's hope you have enough courage here then you will have there."he said
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Lily sighed in relief as she enter through the doorway of her bedroom. She felt drained, both physically and mentally. She felt like she had been run over by a truck ten times. She toed off her shoes and fell onto the bed, face down. She was about to go to sleep when the phone on her nightstand began to ring loudly, adding more to her headache. She picked it off the receiver and put it against her ear.
"Hello?"she asked
"Lily! Finally you answer, I was try to reach you all day! Where have you been?"a familiar voice nearly yelled from the other end.
"Hello, Mary. Yes, I'm fine, how about you?"she asked, coldly.
"Don't you start that tone with me, missy! I'm have you know-"
"Look, Mary, I'm happy to hear from you but I'm tired and I need sleep for the Alchemy praticals tomorrow."Lily said
"Oh my God! You got in! I'm so freaking happy for you!"Mary yelled, happily, totally changing her mood.
"Did you see Roy Mustang there? Did you ask him to sign your chest-"
"Mary!"Lily yelled, cutting her off,"Behave yourself, will you? No, I didn't see much of him and I didn't ask him to do...that! Mary,"she rubbed her temple,"If you don't mind, I would really want to get to the point why you called before I send Mr. Funny Bunny's head in the mail."she warned
"NO! Not Mr. Funny Bunny! You monster!"Mary cried before acting calm,"I got carried away there, didn't I? Hey, Lily, me and Mr. Curve are thinking about heading to Central in a few weeks, to check on you and see if the military is treating you well or else."
"Yeah, yeah, fine,"she said, not paying attention,"I have to go, later, Lucas!"she said before hanging up the phone.
"I need to get new friends."she whispered before falling asleep.
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The next day, Lily was rushing off to get dress, grabbing a bite to eat. She nearly knocked down everything in the house as she rushed to get ready for the praticals in less then thirty minutes. She quickly threw on a blue tank top, blue jeans, and a pair of running shoes. She ran out the door, still busy putting her hair in a ponytail.
With five minutes to spare, she ran towards the building were the praticals were held. She saw what looked to be a mixed up painting, with trees, snow covered mountains, some regular ones, and a small river. She joined the group of others, it seem to be only twenty five at the most, totally less then yesterday. She looked around, she almost jumped out of her skin as she saw Rick from the other day, smiling and waving at her. He blew her a kiss and smirked at her discomfort.
"Jackass..."she mutter under her breath
Everyone quite it down when the Führer cleared his throat before speaking.
"Welcome to the practiacl skills exams. We've provided you with some nice raw materials for your alchemy. You may use them to create whatever you see fit."he said
"First up, Michael Scrubs,"a military personal said.
A tall man with broad shoulders and short white hair walked out of the crowd. Lily watched as he drew a weird looking transmutation circle before taking some water and ground, throwing them roughly on the circle. He placed his hands on it, a soft yellow glow come from it and in a flash, there stood a metallic suit of armor. People clapped before he was excused for someone else to try. As Lily alchemist after alchemist transmuting raw materials into objects from strange and remarkable standers, she waited for her name to be called. She straighten when she heard a familiar name,
"Richard Masters, please come up and show us your skills of alchemy."
She watched as Rick walk up, a strong sense of confidence in his face. He smirked and drew his transmutation circle. After he was done, he grabbed a bucket of snow, some water, dirt, and parts of a tree. He turned his head, winking at Lily. She sighed, shaking her head. Can't the guy just leave her be? She was cut off from her thoughts when she heard a loud sound and looked up to see an statue of the Führer himself made of black marble.
"Show off..."she cursed under her breath
She spotted something strange at the corner of her eyes, there at the base of the statue, the foundation was quickly falling part. She tried to warn Rick over the loud clapping from the officials and the alchemist, but it failed in the end. She pushed past the others, trying to reach Rick and warn him. When she finally broke free of the mob, she and the others saw the top of the statue falling down from the ground and towards the clueless Rick, she used all of her energy and ran towards him.
"Watch out, Rick!"she yelled
She fell on top of him, trying to get him out of there. Before she could do that, the statue fell on them both, the statue breaking into millions of pieces. Everyone was hushed, too afraid to move, fearing that those two were both dead. Before anyone could react, a big burst of red light filled around the area and a large booming sound was heard. Red rose petals fell from the sky and onto the ground, that didn't shock them, it was that both Lily and Rick laid on the ground, completely unharmed. Lily starred at her trembling hands as she felt great power pulsate through her finger tips.
Führer Bradly smirked from his spot, as the others starred at the young Lily, "Another one capable of using alchemy without circles. I think we found our new State Alchemist."
Lillian Marshall: State Alchemist
Certification Examination: Passed
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Author Notes: Yay! Lily passed! Do the happy dance! Or maybe not...if you want, I'm not forcing you. I had to wait for the dvd with the Alchemist Exam in the mail from Netflix before I became typing this, I had to do some research. If you notice I took stuff from that episode and some lines from the Simpsons, if you notice. The only reason I named Rick Master, he was nameless for awhile, because I don't know if I would use him again. But, if you guys want him in here, tell me in the reviews. I love the comment of Roy Mustang posing as Lily's boyfriend, at least in conversation. What would he think he knew about it? Is it foreshadowing? Maybe or maybe not.
Next chapter: Lily gets her offical State Alchemist title and heads to work, meeting up with Roy Mustang.
P.S. While I was waiting for the DVD, I made this for the 'fic. It what the button from chapter three would look, but round and much better. If you want to see it, just review and I will send it in email.
If you use it, tell where you got it. Thanks again!
review!
