Reina stood in front of the council the day after she turned ten.

"This is ridiculous." One of the older men exclaimed. "She is just a little girl!"

"You can't send her into combat!" Another agreed.

"Colonel Mustang's judgment has been clouded by his love for the child. He isn't thinking about her well-being, just what she thinks she wants."

Reina listened to Roy's command, and said nothing. She stood up straight with her hands behind her back, listening to the comments, but not letting them get to her.

"Why should we even let her take the test?"

"She has unique alchemic abilities." Fuehrer King Bradley pointed out.

"Oh really? What does Colonel Mustang claim she can do?"

"He says she doesn't need transmutation circles to transmute."

"I've never heard of an alchemist like that. It's not possible."

"If she is actually capable of this profound claim, perhaps we should give her the chance to show us." Bradley suggested.

"Yes." Many people agreed.

"Alright Reina, show us what you can do."

"Yes sir." Reina pressed one hand to the ground and drew it up. It was a simple transmutation, producing an iron staff. She held it out in front of her and turned it into steel, then into aluminum, then titanium.

"Interesting…" Bradley studied Reina.

"How is that possible?"

"I don't know, but I would say that is a good reason to let her take the test. Does anyone disagree?"

Though no one looked happy about it, everyone agreed that Reina could take the next test. When she was excused, Roy, Riza, Hughes, and Armstrong were waiting outside. Roy was pacing back and forth.

"Maybe she wasn't ready." He mumbled. "Who knows what they are telling her."

He noticed Reina. "So? How'd it go?"

"It went okay." She said honestly.

"What did they say? Can you take the test?"

"Well, they said a lot of stuff, and there was lots of arguing. But they finally agreed that I… Can take the next test!"

Roy wrapped her in a hug.

"That's great!"

Reina had two months before the test. She studied twice as hard everyday.

Reina took her seat, ready for the written test. Not just was she much younger than the other alchemists, but this year, she was the only girl. The men snickered when they saw her, but she didn't care. She was ready for this, and nobody could change that. Reina was the first to finish the test, so she checked her answers. She was halfway through the checking process when the timer went off. Several men glanced over to see her book open to the middle page, then laughed.

"How is this possible?" A council member asked. "Not just did she finish the written test, but she got every answer correct."

"Maybe she does have what it takes to pass."

"She passed the psychological evaluation with flying colors." A councilman grumbled.

"We need to decide which alchemist is going to be certified as a State Alchemist."

"I hate to say this, but we all know who is the most skilled, and who has the most potential to advance."

"I will deliver the news." Bradley volunteered.

Mustang had to stop himself from jumping with joy when Fuehrer Bradley told him that Reina had been chosen.

"Thank you sir."

"I think you'll like her State name too." The fuehrer smiled as he left the office. Roy contained himself for a few more minutes. Then he had to let it out. He pumped his fists in the air and ran out into the hall. Hawkeye was standing professionally, with her hands behind her back. When she saw his expression of pure joy, she dropped the act and cheered with him.

"I can't believe she did it!" Hawkeye exclaimed.

"I knew she could! I knew all along!"

"Because you saw something special in her."

"And now we know what."

"Go tell her." Hawkeye gently pushed him down the hall. Reina and Hughes were sitting around the corner. Reina was smiling like she already knew, and swinging her legs back and forth.

"You made it in, I'm sure of it." Hughes said, seeming to reassure himself more than her.

"I gave it my all." Reina decided. "If it wasn't enough, I'll try again next year."

"That won't be necessary." Roy interrupted. "Because you did it!"

Reina jumped up and hugged him.

"We did it!"

"What are you talking about 'we'? This was all you! You blew the council away!" Mustang praised her. "Now let's go finish the routine when appointing a new State Alchemist."

They walked back to his office.

"Reina Sage, I present you with this certificate, congratulating you on your accomplishments in the Amestris State Military, and this pocket watch, identifying you as a State Alchemist. Your official state title is…" Roy read the name a few times to make sure it was correct. "Your official state title is the 'Armed Element Alchemist' for your skills in elemental alchemy and advanced combat. Congratulations."

Reina looked like more than a ten year old girl; she looked determined and powerful. She was standing in front of his desk with her shoulders squared, her hands behind her back, and her chin raised confidently. There was only a slight smile on her face, but her eyes told him just how happy she was.

"The Armed Element Alchemist." Hughes said. He had been standing in the far corner. "I like the sound of that."

"Me too." Reina agreed.

Mustang kept Reina at Central for a few months, researching and improving some of their alchemy books. She added an entire chapter to a book that almost every State Alchemist had read, but not fully understood until she made it better. Her work proved very useful in the field, even though it wasn't Reina using it. When she turned eleven, Mustang allowed her to travel around Amestris -usually with another military officer- to work on her research and learn how to use her alchemy in the real world.