Shinobu sighed as a deformed looking statue made of earth and ice came from the ground…again. "Jean, why do I have to do this?"

"Because, the Fuehrer saw your display of Rendanshu and just wants you to make a State Alchemist if you can make this statue." Havoc said, sighing at the statue. The horse was perfect, but what was supposed to be the Fuehrer looked like a…bug.

Shinobu had been trying to make a statue of the Fuehrer for the past few hours, each time it came out deformed, but was always better than the last one. They were behind Central HQ, Mustang had told Shinobu that she could practice there because if she needed his help he was right there.

"Does the Fuehrer look like a bug, 'cause I can make a bug on a horse just fine…?" Shinobu asked, laughing.

Havoc laughed and then shook his head. "No, he looks like the statue in this picture." He showed her the picture of a statue of the Fuehrer made from earth and ice. It was the same one Kari had made years ago.

Shinobu sighed. "Why don't I just take the State Alchemy exam like everyone other person?"

"Because not everyone other person is recommended by the Fuehrer. Try again."

Shinobu looked at the white gloves on her hands, the designs were the same one's from her dream back when she was in Youswell. She clapped her hands together and closed her eyes, hoping for the best. She put her hands on the earth beneath her, also concentrating on the nearby bucket of water.

The statue arose from the ground in a flash of alchemical light, almost perfect…except…

"Where's his face?" Havoc asked, staring up at the faceless Fuehrer statue blankly.

"Um…" Shinobu didn't understand it, she'd concentrated on the picture of the statue Havoc had shown her in her mind.

Havoc walked around the statue, trying to see if maybe the face was moved somewhere else…it was… "Um, Shinobu, I found his face."

Shinobu ran over to Havoc and fell over, twitching, when she realized where the face had gone.

Mustang was walking up to the two to see how Shinobu was doing and stopped. "Do either of you want to explain to me why the Fuehrer's face is on his horse's ass?"

That's when Havoc started laughing uncontrollably; he was actually on the ground laughing. Mustang was just staring at the statue with confusion.

Shinobu stood up and clapped her hands together, breaking the statue apart into water and earth. "I don't why it ended up like that, I wasn't aiming for that result."

"Well, it's no wonder you got that result though." Mustang sighed. "You need another alchemist to train you, not Havoc."

"Well, that was actually the closest I've gotten to making the statue perfect." Shinobu said, nodding.

Mustang just sighed.

"Wait!" Havoc stopped laughing and stood up. "Are you saying I'm completely incapable of teaching alchemy?!"

"Yes."

Havoc sighed, knowing Mustang was right.

"I guess I do need some help with this one. I just don't understand why the Fuehrer wouldn't want me to take the exam. It would give me more time to prepare, and get this right." Shinobu sighed.

Mustang walked over to Shinobu. "Alchemy's actually easier than you think. Just concentrate, you have to flow energy through yourself and the circle."

"Circle?"

Mustang grabbed one of Shinobu's hands and showed her where a circle was on the palm of the glove. "The transmutation circle. Make yourself one with the circle and it will come naturally."

Shinobu shrugged. "If you say it's that easy then why haven't I gotten it right yet…?"

Mustang pointed at Havoc. "Because he's completely useless when it comes to alchemy."

"Hey, I'm not deaf!" Havoc shouted.

"Just try again."

Shinobu sighed and clapped her hands together again, concentrating just a little more. She put her hands on the earth mixed with the water and created another statue. This one came out perfect, just like the original. Shinobu smiled, she was glad it came out right this time.

Mustang smirked, impressed. "Very good."

"Cool!" Havoc said, also impressed.

"Impressive transmutation! But it cannot match the elegant, artistic alchemy of the Armstrong line!" Armstrong yelled as a large statue of himself appeared out of the ground next to the one Shinobu created.

Mustang and Havoc looked over at Armstrong and sighed.

"That was good." Shinobu said, nodding.

"Don't antagonize him!" Mustang and Havoc both shouted.

Armstrong walked over to Shinobu and looked at the statue she made. "Elemental alchemy, very impressive." He smiled, pink sparkles started surrounding his head.

"Um…" Shinobu was confused at the pink sparkles.

Armstrong looked over at Shinobu and gave her a hug – which was more like crushing her – with the waterfall of tears coming from his eyes. "It'll be so good to have you as a part of our military!"

"Air…! A…i…r…!" Shinobu yelled, trying to reestablish a connection with oxygen.

"Major, if you don't want your arms torched, I suggest letting her go." Mustang sighed.

Armstrong nodded and let Shinobu go. She coughed and took deep breaths, trying to catch her breath after getting crushed by the Strong Arm Alchemist. Havoc walked over to her to make sure she was okay.

"He tried to kill me!" Shinobu shouted, pointing at Armstrong.

"Don't worry about him, he's just overdramatic." Mustang sighed.

Armstrong looked at Mustang like he was crazy. "I am not!"

The three other people stared at Armstrong like he'd lost his mind when he said that. Armstrong merely ignored it and walked back the way he came after saying his subordinates probably needed his help with something.

"Anyway, Shinobu, make that statue a couple more times and I'll take you to see the Fuehrer about your state license." Mustang said, nodding.

Shinobu nodded excitedly and clapped her hands together. After a few seconds, Shinobu put her hands on the ground and made another statue.

"Good, but you need to be quicker. In combat, you won't have the few seconds you're using to concentrate." Mustang said sternly. "You need to have your concentration for the transmutation in a split second. Now, try transmuting without clapping your hands together, and make sure you're quick."

"Um… Okay…?" Shinobu held out one hand and concentrated for not even a second before another statue appeared out of the ground after a green glow.

Mustang clapped his hands together twice before saying, "Good, that's exactly what I'm talking about. Very good."

"Thanks." Shinobu said, shocked.

Havoc stared at the statue and mumbled, "It's just like before."

"Huh?" She looked over at Havoc. "Like before???"

"Um, like the statue before. Only you transmuted faster, very good!" Havoc said quickly.

"Thanks." Shinobu smiled. "So, can I go get my state license now?"

Mustang shook his head. "Make the statue again."

"But, you said—"

"Just do it!"

Shinobu sighed and did the same thing as a second ago, making another statue in only a second. "Now?"

"Again."

Shinobu transmuted another statue. "Now?"

"Again."

Shinobu growled in frustration and transmuted one last statue, but this time didn't say anything. That seemed to work, because Mustang told her to follow him to the Fuehrer's office after he destroyed all of the statues.

While they were walking, Shinobu asked, "Why did you destroy all of those statues I worked so hard to transmute?"

"Because Fuehrer Bradley is under the impression that your alchemy is already top rate. We can't have him knowing otherwise." Mustang said calmly.

Shinobu nodded and continued following Mustang through Central HQ until they reached the Fuehrer's office. Once they reached the office, Mustang told her to wait outside the office while he told the Fuehrer she was there.

"You can come in now." Mustang said, opening the door so she could walk inside.

Shinobu walked inside the Fuehrer's office, expecting a power-thirsty looking old guy to be glaring at her. Instead she was greeting with a smiling old guy with an eye-patch over his left eye, and a long black moustache.

"So you're Shinobu? The one who saved Colonel Mustang and Lieutenant Havoc, correct…?" Fuehrer Bradley asked, still smiling.

Shinobu nodded once. "Yes, sir."

"I understand that your alchemical abilities are very good."

"Um, I don't mean to be rude, sir, but it's called Rendanshu. Xing's form of alchemy."

Fuehrer Bradley merely laughed and said, "Rendanshu or alchemy, I want you among our State Alchemists. I'll even make you one of the Colonel's subordinates."

Shinobu smiled. "Thank you, sir."

Fuehrer Bradley stood up and walked towards Shinobu. "Follow me so I can see how advanced your Rendanshu, or alchemical skills are." He walked out the door with Shinobu and Mustang following closely behind.

Fuehrer Bradley walked into the courtyard behind Central HQ where Shinobu come from just minutes ago. Havoc wiped some sweat off of his forehead and leaned against the shovel he had buried the remains of the statues with.

"Lieutenant Havoc! What're you doing out here with a shovel?" Fuehrer Bradley asked, confused.

"I was just about to help some of the others with some landscaping for the courtyard." Havoc lied expertly. Lucky for him, there were other soldiers out landscaping the area. "It's good endurance training."

Fuehrer Bradley smiled and said, "Well, if you and the others will wait for the middle, Shinobu here will make a centerpiece for it."

"Yes, sir." Havoc stepped back behind the other three.

Mustang shot him a look that said "you're helping them now", and Havoc nodded and sighed.

Shinobu extended her left arm in front of her body and held her palm out. There was a green-blue alchemical glow followed by a perfectly detailed statue of just the Fuehrer in the uniform he was currently wearing. It was made from earth and some ice from the water that had soaked into the ground. The earth was strong as stone, and the ice added a coat on top of the statue that made it shine in the sun.

Fuehrer Bradley laughed and clapped his hands three or four times. "Very good, very good. I'm impressed, for someone who is accustomed to Rendanshu, you picked up alchemy quite well and fast."

Shinobu faced the Fuehrer and bowed in respect. "Thank you, sir." She smiled as she straightened back into a standing position.

Fuehrer Bradley handed Shinobu a manila envelope that she opened immediately.

"By the power vested in me as Fuehrer President, I, King Bradley, hereby bestow upon Shinobu the title of… Elemental. Elemental?" Shinobu looked over at Fuehrer Bradley confusingly as Mustang handed her a silver pocket watch. "How did you know that I could control earth and water with alchemy?"

Fuehrer Bradley just smiled.

He must've been watching me practice! Shinobu could find no other explanation for it other than her actually being the original Elemental Alchemist who killed the innocent Ishbalan woman. But that was one option she didn't want to believe.

Shinobu realized something then and looked over at Mustang, who controlled fire. "Can I also control fire? And wind as well?"

Mustang nodded. "I'll train you to control fire. Fire alchemy, though, is dangerous."

Shinobu smiled. "Bring it on!"

Fuehrer Bradley laughed and turned around, starting to walk off. "I look forward to you serving this military."

Shinobu smirked and suddenly, without even really thinking, she held her left hand out to her side and created a silver spear from the stone ground of the walkway near them. She grabbed the spear ran behind the Fuehrer and pointed the spear at the Fuehrer as he turned around and blocked her spear with one of his swords.

Mustang and Havoc were in shock; they didn't see that coming.

Fuehrer Bradley simply laughed again and resheathed his sword as Shinobu pulled the spear back.

"You're lucky I wasn't out to seriously kill you. The training they have for teenagers back in Xing in the best." Shinobu said, leaning against the spear she'd secured in the ground.

"Maybe so, but not good enough." Fuehrer Bradley laughed as he walked back inside.

"What's he talk—" As Shinobu was talking to herself, the part of the spear that Bradley had hit with his sword broke off and she fell. "Ow…!" Shinobu mumbled as she clutched the part of her head that hit the ground.

"Shinobu!" Havoc ran over to her. "Are you okay?" He asked, kneeling beside her and helping her stand up.

Mustang sighed and walked over to them. "You know, pointing that spear at the Fuehrer was stupid." He thought of something. "You remind me a lot of a blonde haired punk I haven't seen around headquarters in a long time."

"Yeah, normally Ed comes in at least once a month to check in."

"Who's Ed?" Shinobu asked, curious.

"The Fullmetal Alchemist, Edward Elric." Havoc said, looking back over at Shinobu. "He's the youngest to pass the state alchemy exam. At twelve."

"Wow! He's that good?"

Mustang nodded. "But he's an arrogant, blonde haired, punk-ass shrimp."

"WHO'RE YOU CALLING 'SHRIMP'?!" Someone said, jumping over Central HQ and landing in front of Mustang.

"Hey Ed." Mustang said calmly, he was used to this by now. "I just knew that would get your attention if you were anywhere in Central."

Ed turned to Mustang – he had been facing Havoc – and yelled, "You've got some nerve!" He yelled at Mustang, his golden-blonde hair shone in the sun, matching his gold eyes perfectly. He had on a black jacket with black pants and boots on, his right arm and left leg made completely of auto-mail. "Who're you to be calling me a shrimp?!"

"I'm your superior officer, I can call you what I want." Mustang said and then whispered something in Ed's ear that made his face turn red with fury and obvious embarrassment.

"If you ever call me that, you'll be six-feet under!" Ed yelled.

Shinobu and Havoc both tilted their heads in confusion. "Huh?"

Ed snickered. "Besides, 'Lord' Colonel, you're the one who should be called a shrimp. If everyone else knew what I knew, you'd be ruined."

Mustang's face now turned red. "You arrogant little punk!"

"Stubborn old man!"

"Shrimp!"

"PERVERT!!!"

Shinobu and Havoc were confused beyond either's reckoning. Neither had any idea why Mustang and Ed suddenly started yelling at each other all this random crap, but were enjoying the show… Until…

Mustang grabbed Ed's shoulders and brought the clearly much younger boy to him, kissing him passionately. Ed kissed Mustang back with the same intensity. (Don't ask where that came from, it just happened.)

Shinobu and Havoc both felt their skin rising from the shock, confusion, and plain out creepiness. "Um, um, um, uh… What the hell?!?!"

When Ed and Mustang finally pulled apart, they looked over at Shinobu and Havoc. A look of shock passed over both boys faces, they'd assumed that Shinobu and Havoc left.

Mustang blushed a deeper red than should've been possible. "Um… I can, uh, explain this…?"

Shinobu tilted her head innocently. "So, you two have consensual sex?" She summed that up from them yelling at each other earlier.

Now, Ed blushed too, but he also smiled. "Well, since you put it that way…"

Mustang put one hand over Ed's mouth. "Say one more word, and I'll barbeque you, Uke."

"WHAT THE HELL DID YOU JUST CALL ME?!?!"

Shinobu didn't even look over as Havoc fell on the ground and started twitching. "That was more information than needed." Suddenly, she felt dizzy and fell to her knees as voices and images started filling her head.

…

"Captain Hughes!" Kari shouted, running up to an older man with glasses and a scruffy beard.

Hughes turned at her voice, his uniform didn't seem to match his laid back personality, but he didn't seem to care. "Second Lieutenant Kari." He saluted. "What is it, ma'am?"

Kari sighed. "Stop being so formal, I'm younger than you, Captain Hughes."

"I try my best."

Kari sighed, "At ease."

Hughes relaxed a bit. "So, what do you want?"

"It's about Jean, sir. Have you heard anything from him?"

Hughes shook his head.

"Oh…"

"I told you, don't worry. Havoc can hold his own, he'll be just fine."

Kari looked up at Hughes's face and smiled. "Thank you, sir. You're right."

"No problem." He looked at Kari's eyes. "Yours are the same."

"Huh?"

Hughes shook his head. "It's just something that Mustang and myself have been noticing."

"Yourself and Major Mustang? What is it?"

Hughes looked at her seriously and said, "Everyone here. Their eyes have become that of a murderer, yours are the same."

…

Shinobu shook her head and stood up. She wasn't sure how long she'd been out of it, but realized that all three boys were around her.

"Are you okay?" Ed asked her immediately.

Shinobu nodded. "Yeah, don't know what it was."

Havoc sighed and shook his head. "Don't worry me like that! I thought something was seriously wrong with you."

Shinobu smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry. It's nothing serious."

Havoc sighed again and smiled. About that time, Bradley walked back out into the courtyard.

"Fuehrer, sir." Mustang saluted. Shinobu, Havoc, and Ed did the same.

"At ease." Bradley said, stopped in front of them. "It seems that Scar has been spotted in the area. I suggest staying here for a while."

"Yes, sir."

Shinobu and Ed sighed. "Why?"

Mustang and Havoc looked at them like they were crazy.

"Scar is a very dangerous man." Bradley looked at Ed. "You should know that full well, Fullmetal."

"I still wanna beat his face in." Ed said calmly.

Shinobu jumped in the air like an excited little kid. "Sounds like fun!"

Bradley shrugged. "Fine, I'll let you two find Scar and discover just how dangerous he is."

"Okay!" Ed and Shinobu both ran out into Central and started looking for Scar.

After nearly thirty minutes of looking, Ed transmuted something that flew at an Ishbalan man wearing sunglasses across the street.

"Found him!" Ed said happily.

Scar had dodged the transmuted rock with practiced ease. "Picking a fight with me, Fullmetal?! You're testing my patience!"

"Am I now? Good!"

Shinobu looked at Scar, the man whose ass she kicked with one simple transmutation just days before. "Scar?"

Scar looked over at Shinobu and his eyes became wide with rage. "You! I thought you were dead! My people said you wandered aimlessly into the desert! You should be dead!"

"What? I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Elemental Alchemist!" Scar raised his right hand and thrust it at the ground, sending a column of broken street into the air, aimed at the two State Alchemists.

Next Time;

Amestris – Resembool:

A fight with Scar leaves Ed unable to use his automail and Shinobu injured. But, while Shinobu and Havoc accompany Ed to Resembool to get his automail repaired, they run into someone there that Shinobu really hates.