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Fullmetal Alchemist: Conspiracy

Fullmetal Alchemist quote:

"When I pointed the spear at the president, you didn't react at all, you just sat there. It doesn't seem like you are a very loyal subordinate."- Edward Elric

"Unbelievable."- Roy Mustang

"Colonel, you should at least take a pose in such circumstances."- Riza Hawkeye

"Talking"

Thoughts

Chapter 6: The State Alchemist Exam

The next day Edward and Alphonse woke up and decided to go visit Hughes's wife and daughter. They talked with Gracia and played with Elysia. Hughes was at work at Central Command so he didn't know they were there.

"What are you two going to do now?" Gracia asked. "What are your plans?"

Edward sat on the couch with Gracia, while Al was on the floor playing with Elysia. "We're going to hang around Central for a little while. There is some business here that we need to take care of. After we finish this, I don't know what we will do. Our plans are changing because of some unforeseen events." Edward replied.

Gracia smiled kindly at him. "Let me guess. The military?"

Both boys looked at her shocked. "How'd you know?" Al asked.

"You've been running and sneaking away from the military since you got here. It is easy to figure out." Gracia replied as she laughed. "So the military is causing you two trouble? It's not a surprise. The military causes a lot of people problems."

"Yeah. The military is horrible. It's just a bunch of corrupt officers trying to take control of everything." Edward growled.

Gracia frowned. "That's not true. Not everyone in the military is like that. A lot of them joined to be able to protect their country and they have families who they want to protect, like Maes. Do you think he is a bad person?"

The older brother sighed and fidgeted in his seat. "No. Hughes is good guy. I like him. I guess he isn't bad."

"They are others like him in the military, who want to protect their country and the people. Everyone just looks at the military as a whole and say they are all corrupt and evil. But if you look at the individuals in the military, you will see that not all of them are like that. Not all of them want power and money." Gracia explained.

Edward rubbed his head. "I guess."

Gracia smiled at him. "I'll go make lunch. Can you two watch Elysia for me while I make it?"

"Sure." Ed replied.

Al looked up at his older brother and smiled. "Brother, after lunch can we go to the library?"

"Why?" Edward asked.

"I want to get a book to read. I need something to do while you are preparing for your test." Al explained.

After playing with Elysia and eating lunch, the Elric brothers left the Hughes's house and headed for the library. It was a twenty minute walk to library, but the boys didn't mind. It was such a nice, warm day outside. The boys brought some ice cream while on their way to the library. Even if it had milk in it, Edward loved ice cream. It was just like when he ate stew, even with milk it was good.

"Hey brother?" Al asked as they reached library.

Edward stopped licking his cone to look at his brother. "Yeah Al?"

"What do you think Master will say if you do become a state alchemist?" Al asked.

Edward stopped walking and his eyes filled with dread. "She's going to kill me, Al. She's going to kill me. We must never meet her. She will kill me."

Al laughed nervously at his brother and went back to walking. "Come on.

In the library, while Al was looking for a book, Ed was walking around and looking at the people in there. They didn't look like anything special, just normal people. The only one that caught his eye was a woman in a military uniform. She was a mousy brown haired girl with glasses and dark eyes. She was sitting at a table piled with books.

"Got enough books?" Ed asked amused.

The woman looked up and smiled shyly. "I don't think so."

"Do you like reading that much?" Ed asked.

"I absolutely love reading." She said.

Ed chuckled. "Where do you work in the military?"

"I work in the investigation department under Major Hughes." She explained.

"Then shouldn't you be at work?" Ed asked.

The woman screamed and jumped to her feet. "I totally forgot. Thanks for the reminder. I'm Sheska, by the way." She said hurriedly before leaving a befuddled Edward behind.

Ed blinked and stared at the table full of books.

"What's wrong, brother?" Al asked as he appeared by his brother's side.

Ed shook his head. "Nothing. Did you find any books?"

Al raised a brow. "What do you think I'm holding?"

Ed turned to look at his brother to see him holding three books. "Oh, well, go check them out so we can leave."

The next week and a half went by fast. Ed and Al didn't go back to the Central Headquarters or the library. In fact, they stayed in their hotel room the whole time, only leaving to go shopping. Ed spent his time going over Alchemical formulas and reviewing for his test while Al spent his free time reading or reviewing with his brother. The Fuhrer took the annoying guards away when Ed asked…or more like demanded they go away. He hated guards. He felt confined with them around. Al didn't say it, but they were bothering him too. Their master trained them in alchemy, hand-to-hand combat, and how to use weapons. They didn't need a babysitter.

On the day of the State Alchemist Exam, Edward left the hotel at eleven and went to Central Headquarters. Since Al wasn't taking the test he decided to stay at the hotel and wait for his brother to get back.

"Elric, what are you doing here?" Mustang asked when he saw Edward entered Central Headquarters. He was heading to the room where the alchemists were going to take the first part of the test when he saw the young alchemist.

Edward put his hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders. He was about to say he was here to take the State Alchemist Exam, but then he thought that Mustang would just laugh and say he couldn't possibly pass because he was a kid. "I'm here to see the Fuhrer. Where is he?" Edward asked.

"Elric, the Fuhrer is busy. He is going to begin the State Alchemist Exam in thirty minutes. Can this wait until later?" Mustang asked annoyed at Ed's attitude. Who did the kid think he was to come in here and demand to see the Fuhrer?

"No. So is he in the testing room?" Edward asked.

Mustang didn't reply but continued on his walk to the testing room. Edward frowned and followed him.

When they entered the testing room, Mustang walked over to the Fuhrer and saluted him. "Fuhrer, sir, Edward Elric is here to see you."

"So you came, Elric?" The Fuhrer said.

Edward crossed his arms. "I said I would come."

The Fuhrer laughed. "You didn't tell Colonel Mustang the real reason you came here, right?"

"I figured he would laugh and say I had no chance if I told him the truth. So I figured I'd just say I came to meet with you." Edward explained, a frown forming on his face.

"Sir?" Mustang said confused.

"Elric is here to take the State Alchemist Exam." The Fuhrer explained.

"Him?" Mustang questioned, pointing a finger at Ed. "Him? He's only twelve. There's no way he can pass. He may have been able to save a train, but there's no way he can pass the State Alchemist Exam."

Edward's eyes narrowed. "Oh yeah? We'll see about that. I will pass and become the new state alchemist." He had been planning on failing the exam on purpose so he didn't have to be a state alchemist, but Mustang was challenging his intelligence and Edward was not going to let him he think he was right.

Half an hour later, Edward was taking the first part of the State Alchemist Exam which was the written part. They got three hours to work on the written part.

It took Edward the whole three hours and he didn't even finish his test. He turned it in and left the testing room with the smirking bastard following him.

"Do you want something?" Edward snapped at him.

Mustang's smirk grew. "Test hard?"

"No." Ed snapped at him.

"Then why did it take you three hours?" Mustang asked.

Ed's eyes narrowed. "It's a long test and I was making my answers as precise as possible."

"So you didn't finish it?" Mustang asked. Edward crossed his arms and frowned. "I thought so. You better hope your answers are really good or you'll fail."

"Whatever." Edward muttered. "Can I eat here or are only military officers allowed to eat here?"

"You can if you want." Mustang answered with a shrug. "The test results will be in tomorrow. You will get a call tomorrow saying if you passed the first part. If you passed it you will be asked to come here tomorrow to take the next two parts of the exam, then the Fuhrer will decide who will become the next state alchemist. Only one or two alchemists pass each year. Your chance of passing is very slim."

Edward humph. "I'll pass. You'll see." He entered the mess hall, got food, and sat down at a table. Mustang sat down across from him, still with that smirk on his face. "Why do you keep bothering me?"

A hand landed on Ed's shoulder making him jump. "Hey Ed, why are you here?" Hughes asked, as he sat next to Ed. Havoc and Hawkeye sat down around the three as well.

Edward didn't even look at them. He was still glaring at Mustang. "What do you want? Can't you just leave me alone? I got better things to do then listen to you."

"I want to make bet." Mustang replied. "I bet you can't pass."

"You want to make a bet on this? Why?" Edward asked.

Havoc watched the two confused. "Our crew always makes bets about things. What are you betting he can't pass?"

"You are military officers and you waste your time and money on bets?" Edward questioned, raising a brow.

"We have to make fun somewhere. The military doesn't have any fun in it." Havoc replied. "And it's not always money we bet. We bet other stuff."

Edward leaned back in his chair. "Fine. This is stupid though. What is it you want if you win?"

Mustang leaned back in his chair and stared at Edward. "How about if I win, you tell me how you learned to do alchemy without a transmutation circle."

The young alchemist frowned. He couldn't tell Mustang how to do alchemy without a transmutation circle. To do that would mean he would have to reveal that he did Human Transmutation and saw the Gate, but if he disagreed to the bet then Mustang would know he did something bad. It was a lose-lose situation. By agreeing he would have to have complete confidence in his skills that he could pass the State Alchemist Exam, which he did, so the bet was no problem. "Okay, but if I win, you will leave me the hell alone forever."

"Deal." Mustang said and held his hand out for Edward to shake.

"What is it you betting on?" Havoc asked.

"Whether Edward passes the State Alchemist Exam or fails it." Hughes answered.

Edward turned to look at Hughes. "How did you know that?"

Hughes smiled. "Well, the first part of the State Alchemist Exam is today and you are an alchemist. I can't see any other reason why you would be here. You aren't part of the military so you have no reason to be here, but to take the exam."

Hawkeye frowned. "I got the feeling that you didn't like the military, Edward. Why would you come take the exam to become a state alchemist?"

Edward muttered something and got up from the table. He threw his food away and left the mess hall. When he was outside Central Headquarters, he ran back to the hotel.

"That kid is strange." Havoc said.

"Whenever he doesn't want to answer a question, he changes the subject or leaves." Hughes said. "I guess there is a reason he is trying to join the military, but he doesn't want to talk about."

Havoc shrugged his shoulders. "Sir, why do you want to know how to do alchemy without a transmutation circle?"

"I'm curious. Not many can do that. In fact I can't even name one person who I know who can do that, but a little kid appears out of nowhere and can do it. What are the chances? Not only that, his brother can't do it. Why? If his brother can, why can't the younger one too? Something is going on and I'm going to figure out what it is." Mustang said.

Hughes shrugged. "Curiosity killed the cat, just so you know."

Mustang smirked. "Yeah, but I'm a dog, not a cat."

The next day Edward got a phone call at one telling him he passed the first part of the exam. After he got off the phone, Edward told Al and left for Central Headquarters for the next part of the exam.

The next part of the exam was the interview part, which Edward passed easily. After the interview, there would be a practical exam.

Right now, Edward was sitting in the mess hall, staring out of a window waiting for the rest of the interviews to be finished. He was trying to think of an idea for his practical exam that would impress the Fuhrer and higher rank officers.

"So Elric, you finished two parts. Have any idea of what to do for the practical part?" Mustang asked.

Edward groaned. "Why do you always have to bother me? I can't wait until I pass so I never have to listen to you again." Edward saw Hawkeye entered the mess hall. "First Lieutenant, can you get him to leave me alone?"

Hawkeye smiled at Edward. "Sir, you have paperwork you could be doing during the free time you have. The practical exam isn't for another hour and a half."

"I can do it later." Mustang said.

Hawkeye pulled her gun out and clicked the safety off. "I suggest you start it now, sir."

"Yes ma'am." Mustang replied and left the mess hall.

"Thanks First Lieutenant." Edward said, grinning.

Hawkeye nodded her head and put her gun away. "Good luck with your last part of your exam." Hawkeye left the mess hall and went back to the Colonel's office to make sure Mustang was doing his work.

After sitting in the mess hall for an hour and twenty minutes, Edward went outside to the back of Central Headquarters to wait for the practical to begin. He groaned when he saw the Colonel was already outside waiting for the practical to begin.

Mustang smirked when he saw Edward. He didn't come speak to Ed as he was speaking with some other officers, but he was obviously thinking of ways to annoy the hell out of him.

"Who is that kid?" General Halcrow asked Mustang. "Why would a kid be here?"

"That is Edward Elric. He's the one who saved the train you were on. He's here to take the State Alchemist Exam." Mustang replied.

General Halcrow frowned. "Him? He's just a kid."

"I thought the same thing. But he insists on taking it and the Fuhrer is allowing it." Mustang replied.

For the next ten minutes, Edward stood glaring at Mustang's back. He couldn't stand that man. Every time he saw him, he wanted to punch him in the face.

When the practical began, Edward watched as the other alchemists, who made it this far, make big things trying to impress the judges. Most of them got tired out after making them and could barely move. Edward heard the officers talk about that and say that they wouldn't be good state alchemists if they tired themselves out.

"Elric, your turn." The Fuhrer said.

Edward frowned. Elric? Why do they keep calling me that? My name is EDWARD! Is it so hard to just say my name?

Edward walked forward and looked at the Fuhrer. "Do you need anything to draw with?" A man on his right asked.

So only Mustang and his friends, or are they just comrades(?), know I can transmute without a circle. This will be fun. Edward smirked. "No."

Ed clapped his hands and placed them on the ground. He stood up as he formed a spear, slowly bringing it up with him. He twirled the spear in his hand and looked at the Fuhrer in disinterest. Edward smirked and threw the spear at the Fuhrer. The spear zoomed past the Fuhrer's head and landed in the ground behind him.

Everyone stared in shock at Edward, some of the officers even pulled out their guns and pointed them at him, but he just stood there with a satisfied smirk and a hand resting on his hip.

"YOU DISRESPECTFUL FOOL! YOU'RE DISQUALIFIED!" The man on Ed's right yelled at him.

Edward looked at him and laughed. "You look funny when you are mad."

The man spluttered in rage at Ed.

Edward laughed and turned around. He began walking away to leave. He didn't care all that much that he got disqualified. He still hated the military very much. And as for his bet with Mustang? He would figure out later what to say to Mustang without telling the full truth.

The young alchemist stopped walking when he heard the Fuhrer talk. "Elric, you've got a lot of guts attacking me like that. But I'm guessing that your aim is really good. You aimed past my head because you didn't want to kill me."

"Yeah. My Master taught me well. She taught me how to use all types of weapons and how to use them so my aim is really good." Edward replied. "See ya."

Edward left the exam area and headed back to the hotel.

A/N: Please Review!