Me: *Snoring*
Ed: SD?
Mustang: Wake up StoryDreamer
Me: Hm? Oh, sorry. *Yawns* Was up late from being sick but I'm better now. Just ... *Falls back asleep*
Al: *Finds new chapter*Well at least here's another chapter. SD wishes for you to "Enjoy"!
It was a long and painful year. Almost as painful the ones at the orphanage but at least it wasn't cruel. After the surgery we spent a few months just letting it heal. At least I wasn't bound to a wheelchair like Ed since he also needed automail for his leg. Ed and I finally managed to talk when we both were still stuck in bed.
-Flash-
"So, your name is Laura huh?"
"Yup. And you're Edward right?"
"Yeah but just call me Ed. Can I ask you a question Laura?"
"Sure."
"What exactly were you running from?"
My eyes began to water and I looked away towards a wall. "My old home, if that's what you want to call it."
"And where's your family? Surely you don't want to leave them behind as we travel."
I turned back to him and looked him in the eye. "Edward. I'm an orphan."
"I'm sorry. I can understand how you must feel."
"Do you? Do you know what it feels like to be thrown in a horrible place? Left to abuse day in and day out? Do you know what it feels like to be unwanted and left completely alone? At least you and Al had Granny and Winry. I had no one. Even the other orphans shunned me."
He fell quiet as he processed all that was said. He can't know what it feels like. No one can. "At least now you're not alone." he said looking at me, "We're happy to have you come."
"Thanks Ed."
-Flash-
Since that time we have recovered and and worked on rehab. Being that Ed's rehab is working on two parts of his body I was completely healed about a month before him. During that month Al taught me to fight. I sparred with him daily. Winry and I have talked off and on during my stay but for the most part she was with Ed. Finally Ed was healed.
The moment he was able, Ed ran outside when Al and I was about to spar. I stepped back to allow the brothers to spar first. He was amazing. Even with automail he was a natural at fighting. The clash of metal on metal was deafening. Flips and slides kicked up dirt. Finally, they were done. "Looking good Ed." I complimented.
"Yeah." agreed Al, "It seems like you're in perfect shape."
"Yeah." Ed said while looking at his hands, "Now I'll just need to try some alchemy. I guess it's been awhile since the last time I used it."
"I know. Not since the night we tried to bring mom back." Ed glanced at me but for his sake I pretended that I didn't hear anything. Looking away he clapped his hands together and transmuted his automail arm into a blade. "Brother!"
"Yeah I'd say that's right on the money!" he said, examining his new weapon.
"Ed!" I exclaimed, "Don't you realize what you did?"
"That was amazing!" Al excitedly exclaimed, "You didn't even use a transmutation circle! You perform alchemy the same way teacher does!"
"You can do it too, can't you?"
"Me? No. No way."
Ed turned to me and was about to say something when a wrench came flying and smacked him right in the head. We all looked to find Winry leaning over the porch rail. "Hey you! Don't you mess up my automail! Do you know how hard I worked on that?!"
"Well if it's half as hard as you throw a wrench I'd be surprised." Ed whined "For real. You could try acting more like a girl and less like a gearhead."
"If you think I'm a gearhead that's fine! But you better get used to it because as long as you guys are wearing my automail you're stuck with this gearhead whether you like it or not!" And with that she turned and went back into the house.
Once the door closed behind her I finally let out a stream of laughter. The look on Ed's face was priceless! "So, Laura."
"Yes Al?" I managed as I tried to control myself.
"Can you really do alchemy?"
That stopped me. "Well yeah. Since I was little that was my only escape from the horrors of my past. But now that you mention it..."
Using the knowledge given to me by Truth, I clapped my hands together and also transmuted my arm into a blade. Mine, however, was much more slender like a katana. "You did it too!" Al exclaimed "Just like brother!"
I turned to Ed to find him staring at me before he said "So you didn't see it, Al?"
"See what?" Breaking eye contact he looked at his brother. "Never mind."
I decided that it was time for a subject change. "So, how about we do a three-way spar match?" So that's what we did.
For months afterwards Ed and I did what we could to be ready for the test. When we weren't strengthening our body and practicing our alchemy, we were studying. Who knew there was also a written portion of the state alchemy test? Finally, the day had arrived. It was time to leave for Central, and by extension, the test. We packed about a weeks worth of necessities since that'll be how long we would be staying. After saying goodbye to everyone Ed and I boarded our train and then sat in silence when we found a seat.
About halfway through the train ride Ed decided to break the uncomfortable silence. "So, you saw it too?" he asked quietly.
There was no doubt what he meant. My mind flashed back to that night. "Yeah. I saw the gate."
"How? You weren't involved with our er, experiment."
Keeping a straight face I replied, "I honestly don't know. When I was with Truth he, it, whatever, didn't exactly explain."
Then we were again consumed with silence. When we had arrived in Central we went to our hotel and then once we were settled, we once again studied.
All week long that's all we did, day and night. We barely slept or ate. We needed to pass this test. When the night before the test came we decided it was best to not study. We also needed rest. So we went to bed early and I don't know about Ed but it was still a while before I fell asleep. I was that nervous. Then it was time.
We ate breakfast and then while making our way to the the military base Ed and I stayed in complete silence, each lost in our own world. When we had arrived, there was still ten minutes before the test was to begin. We were escorted to a waiting room where about eighteen other test takers sat, all of them grown men. One of the larger men looked up as we entered. "You kids lost?" he asked in a deep booming voice.
"No." I replied, "We're supposed to be here."
"Yeah right. You obviously are lost. This room is only for those taking the state alchemist tests."
"Duh." Ed snapped in reply, "That's why we're here."
"Ha! They're letting a couple of little kids like yous take the test? Please. You won't even get through the first quarter of the written test."
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING LITTLE?!"
I sighed. "Ed, we are only twelve you know."
When is was finally time for the test we were all taken to a room that had been set up with tables and chairs. Once we took our seats we were each handed a sealed test. The man in charge of the test said "Once I give the mark you will have an hour to complete all 150 of the state level alchemy question. If you are done before time runs out you will bring your test to me and then you are free to head back to the waiting area. Begin."
The room went in complete silence as we opened our test and began to write.
After only a half hour the first person handed in his test. It was Ed. A few minutes later it was me. I gave it to the man and then went to join Ed. It was at least another fifteen minutes before the slow stream of men came back. The one that had been taunting us came in with two minutes to spare. When he entered he gave us a dirty look but said nothing. Once the test was over we had to wait another whole hour before we would learn who moves on. From what I picked up from the men there usually is not that many that make it. Sometimes only one or two. A few of them have even taken the test multiple times before now. Ed and I shared anxious glances but nothing else. Finally the same man who supervised the test came in. "This year we have only two to take the final test. Would Marsive and Elric please come with me." We leapt from our seats and gave each other a high five and then as we followed the man Ed childishly stuck his tongue out at the taunter.