It's the beginning of the end people, at least for this story arch. Enjoy. This is going to get pretty intense for a while. I can already tell this chapter is going to be a monster, so I hope you have a bit of free time.

The day after my meltdown, I woke to a depressingly cheerful dawn, the sun shining heedlessly of my feelings. I reluctantly got up and shuffled down the stairs to find Ed, Al and Nina all waiting for me in the dining room. They stared at me, and I uncomfortably shifted my weight. I knew I looked like a mess, my hair in disarray and no doubt deep shadows under my bloodshot eyes. Nina hopped down from her seat and rushed to me, throwing her small arms around my waist. "Were did you go, big brother? We were worried about you," she cried.

I sighed deeply and patted the fussing girl on the head. "I'm sorry Nina," my voice croaked. I cleared it. I sounded awful. "All the excitement made me feel a little ill and I had to leave. I'll get better in no time."

The young girl looked up at me skeptically, if a child so young could be skeptical. Seeming to brush it off, she gave me a bright smile. "Daddy says that when you get sick, you should eat soup. I'll make you some!" With that, Nina bustled out of the dining room and into the kitchen. Banging pots and pans could be heard, and I wondered vaguely if I should go in there and make sure she didn't get hurt, but I couldn't bring myself to move.

I looked over to Ed and Al, attempting to apologize to them as well, but my words stuck in my throat. Two sets of eyes, one gold and one red, stared at me intently, as if trying to break through my walls into my very soul. "I…"

Al stood with a clank, rounded the table and stood in front of me. He loomed and I looked up into his menacing but somehow compassionate eyes, his large form casting a shadow on my face. Slowly, ever so slowly, he lifted his large leather hand, as if afraid I would be frightened. Gently, he brushed my blond bangs aside and placed his hand on my cheek. I closed my eyes as his emotions washed through me.

I felt worry, compassion and affection brush through my mind like a gentle breeze. "Alex…" Al whispered, distraught. I knew he could feel everything I felt, and I was a little grateful that he hadn't been in contact with me last night, or else he would have been all the more distressed. "I'm sorry," I said, attempting to pull away, but Al wouldn't let me. Protectiveness reached me through our link and I patted his armored arm affectionately.

"No," Ed suddenly spoke from his position at the table. His head was bowed, his bangs hiding his eyes. "We are sorry. We are the ones who did this to you. We will make it right, we–" His voice hitched and he clenched his fist on the table, the metal scraping it slightly through his glove.

"Ed..." Ed and Al seemed to be taking my upset really hard, even though I knew they didn't know the whole story. Maybe they didn't need to. I knew that they blamed themselves for what happened to me, but I guess I just wasn't ever expecting this level of protectiveness from them. I mean I was just a stranger, right? Sure we were friends, but in the end all I was was an obligation to them…but no. That wasn't right. Over the past few months, no, the past year and a half, we had become close. It was almost like…I smiled.

Abruptly I sighed, tired of all of this emotional crap. I stepped away from Al and ruffled Ed's hair roughly.

"Gah! Hey!" He exclaimed, trying futilely to whack my hand aside. He looked up from the table, disgruntled.

I snorted at his expression. "You know what? Soup sounds great." I turned on my heel and started to walk into the kitchen. I paused at the doorway. "And guys…Thanks. I couldn't have asked for better brothers." I left the two gaping, and in Ed's case, blushing, boys in my wake and went to join Nina, my countenance just a little brighter.

The season changed and Ed and Al dove into their studies with new determination. The exam loomed in the horizon, only days away, and I hardly ever saw them after that morning. Pressure was high, and failure just wasn't an option. We had just come too far. In those days, we felt that once Ed and Al became State Alchemists, it was like this huge door would open up, and we would finally start our journey to restore all that we lost. But first, they had to pass.

Ed and Al weren't the only ones on edge. Our host had taken to shutting himself in his lab for hours without coming out. When he did join the rest of us, it was only to eat, and he spoke little during this time. We knew he was stressed, but he barely even spoke to Nina anymore and she was becoming very worried. Ed speculated that Tucker's research was not going well.

"He told us that he might lose his certification if he doesn't do well on his assessment," Ed said. "We just need to give him space." Maybe Ed was right, and Tucker would go back to his normal self once he passed his assessment. But still, I couldn't help but feel slightly unsettled. Sometimes, when Tucker's eyes would pass over me, I would feel a foreboding shiver run down my spine. Those weren't the eyes of the kind man who had taken us in. They looked…I really hoped Ed knew what he was talking about, because I was starting to get concerned for Tucker's mental health. All that stress couldn't be good for one man.

Finally, the day for the written exam, what Ed liked to call E-day, arrived and we traveled to Central Command. Tensions were high, and I tried my best to lighten the mood where I could, but was having little success. We arrived at the large steps that led the white building that Ed and Al would be tested in. "Guys, you can do this," I encouraged. "Yeah," Al said. Ed just grimaced. The boys walked in determinedly, and I sat on the marble steps to wait.

–

"Hey kid," a man's voice yelled. I cracked open my eyes. I had been sitting on the stairs for a good two hours, and I had thrown my head back and just let the early spring sun warm my face. A blond man in uniform, the one who had addressed me, strode towards me from across the marble courtyard. His hair was cropped short, and he had a cigarette clenched between his grinning teeth. Vaguely, I recognized him as one of the men we met when we spoke with Mustang, all those months ago. "You're one of the Elric's right? How have you been?"

"Meh, could be better, could be worse. You?"

"Good, good," the man waved past the formalities. "So, are your brothers in there taking the exam? I heard through the grapevine that they were taking the test this year."

"Yeah, those guys are pretty amazing." I gestured vaguely for the man to sit next to me, not bothering to move from my lazy position. The man took a seat with a smile, a thin trail of smoke drifting in front of his eyes.

"What about you? Not into the alchemy thing?"

"Nope," I said, tilting my head back again. I had missed the sun, and maybe it was just because I hadn't been doing much, but the winter had felt really long. "I hate studying."

My companion snorted at that. "My name is Lieutenant Jean Havoc by the way. I believe we met a few months ago, but I can't remember your name."

I cracked an eye open to regard him. He looked amused. "Alex."

For the next several hours, Havoc and I chatted while I waited for Ed and Al to emerge. The sun drifted slowly across the horizon as we talked. I wondered why Havoc was sitting here with me while he was clearly at work. He only smirked. Some time later, he excused himself and left me on my own.

Eventually, the doors were thrown open and group of very tired looking people filtered out. I stood and stretched my aching limbs and went to find my brothers.

"Whoa, you guys look like zombies." Indeed, Ed and Al looked exhausted. Ed looked half dead and Al was slumped over, his arms hanging listlessly at his sides.

"What are zombies?" Ed asked, making a great impression of one.

"You know, zombies? When the dead –you know what, never mind." I quickly backtracked. Faux pas. "How did the test go?"

Ed slumped even further. "My arm feels like a noodle and I didn't finish." He whined.

"I got through it, but they said that there is going to be a physical exam. How am I supposed to get through that?" Al added, looking defeated.

"Awe, come on guys, it can't be all that bad." Slowly, we walked to an open patch of grass and sat down. Or, in the case of Ed, collapsed dramatically. "Some of that stuff I've never even heard of," Ed complained.

"Well, yeah, Havoc was telling me that most Alchemists have to study for decades before they even consider taking that test."

"Who's that?"

"One of Mustang's men. We met him when we first got to Central." Ed grunted, and we all fell silent.

"Ed, what am I going to do about the physical exam?" Al said forlornly.

"You could always put Alexander inside of you and pretend you're a talking dog." Ed said with a devious grin. Al whacked his brother in the gut, and Ed coughed dramatically. "I don't think that's very funny."

"So now what," I asked, leaning back in the grass.

"Well," Al said, "now we wait. They have to look over everyone's exams, and then if we pass, there will be a demonstration tomorrow. From those, one or two Alchemists will be selected to join the military."

"Greeeat," I groaned, flopping onto my back, "more waiting. Is this what I will be reduced to for the rest of my life? Following you guys around and waiting?"

"Of course not," Ed quipped. "There is a lot of traveling in this job. If you're a good boy, I'll let you carry my bags!"

"Why you!" I grabbed Ed in a headlock until he surrendered. We wrestled, releasing at least some of the tension we all felt, at least for a short while.

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That night, we traveled back to the Tucker estate, elated that the first step of the exam was over. Havoc was nice enough to give us a ride back, and when asked to stay for dinner, refused, only exchanging a few words with Tucker before promising to be back in the morning. Ed and Al would have to report back to Central Command bright and early, and it was then that they would be told whether they passed. If so, they would be taking the demonstrative part of the exam that afternoon. Al still fretted, but I had a good feeling that somehow it would all turn out right.

We ate dinner in relative peace, with only one mishap when Alexander felt left out and Nina thought it was a great idea to let him eat at the table. After dinner, as we were all getting ready for bed, I exchanged goodnights with everyone and entered my room.

That's when the chills started.

At first, I thought nothing of it, believing I was only tired, but as I tossed and turned in my bed I began to worry. I lifted my hand weakly to my forehead and confirmed what my body was telling me. I had a fever.

"Shit."

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The next morning at dawn, Edward Elric's eyes snapped open as soon as the early morning light touched his skin. Today was the day. This day he would learn whether or not he had the stuff to become a State Alchemist and start on his journey to restore the lives he had destroyed. He sat up and stretched his muscles, immediately tensing back up as he felt tenfold the anxiety that he had been feeling for months.

"Brother?" Al walked into the room, coming back from whatever it was he had been doing while Edward slept.

"Today's the day Al. Are we ready for this," he asked seriously.

"We have to be," Alphonse responded, just as grave. The two brothers quickly went through their morning routine, Ed showering and braiding his hair while Al tidied after his volatile brother and cleaned the room. Ed rushed through the maintenance of his automail, oiling the gears and making sure it was sealed, before hastily throwing on his clothes. He would probably regret not taking care of it properly if it rained later, as it was always painful when water got in between the joints, but he was just too excited to care. Today was the day!

Ed and Al, finished with their morning rituals, went to fetch Alex who was usually the latest in waking. "Yo, Alex," Ed knocked on the door with the back of his hand, "are you awake?" No answer. "Alex? I'm coming in."

Ed slowly pushed the door open. The inside of the room was shadowed still, as the curtains were drawn. He looked over the bed to see Alex haphazardly lying on top of the covers, the blanket discarded on the floor some feet away. Ed walked across the room and reached down to shake him awake. "Hey, Alex, are you still sleeping? Come on, Havoc will be here any minute…" Ed paused. "Al. Get in here."

Alphonse, who had been standing outside the door politely, walked into the shadowed room. "Brother?" He saw Edward standing over Alex's prone form. "What's wrong with Alex," he asked, alarmed.

"He has a fever," Ed said gravely. He furrowed his brown and gently brushed the boys sweaty bangs aside. "Go get Tucker. We need to get him some medicine."

"Uh, right," Al said exiting the room swiftly, leaving Ed to take care of the sick boy. The suit of armor ran down the stairs and into the kitchen. Tucker was there, drinking a cup of coffee and staring blankly out into the sunrise. "Mr. Tucker, come quick! Alex is sick!" Tucker slowly turned his head, his glasses reflecting the light from the window and hiding his eyes.

"Sick? Oh my."

Alphonse and Tucker rushed up the stairs. "This isn't good." Tucker removed his hand from Alex's heated brow. "I'm afraid Alex won't be going anywhere today." He pinched the bridge of his nose looking stressed.

The doorbell rang, buzzing obnoxiously through the house. Ed looked over his shoulder out the open door of Alex's bedroom. "That's probably Havoc. Ed, we have to go," Al fretted, worry thick in his voice. Ed nodded solemnly. This wasn't how he wanted it. Alex should be there when they took the exam, he was just as much apart of this as they were. It wasn't right. But…

"Tucker, I know your assessment is tomorrow and you're busy, but could you please look after Alex today?"

Tucker sighed, and dropped the hand that was massaging his temple. "It's alright. I've almost prepared my lab for what I have in mind."

The door rang insistently. "Thanks, Tucker, we owe you one." Ed took one last look at their ill friend and he and Al hurriedly went to go greet Havoc.

Within the darkened room, Tucker tilted his head down and stared coldly at the still young man. The boy was sweating profusely, and his breath was shallow. Wordlessly, Shou Tucker turned away from the bed and left the room, quietly shutting the door behind him. The child wasn't going anywhere, after all. He had made sure of that.

–

"What do you mean, I have to drop out of the exam, I passed didn't' I," Alphonse exclaimed. Shortly after they had arrived, Mustang had pulled them aside to talk. They stood in the shadow of a building, out of sight from the main entrance.

"Yes," Mustang said, his face cast in shadow, "your marks were outstanding, the both of you. However," he looked into the boy's eyes, expression serious, "if you want to keep your pasts a secret, you need to back out now."

"But I worked so hard! I will not be separated from my brother!" the boy protested hotly.

"And you won't have to be. Just because he gets certified doesn't mean we will lock him away."

"But–"

"Al, its ok," Edward interrupted his brother's fretting. "Remember what aunty Pinako said. State Alchemists have to work in service to the military. You have to go where they say, and do things you might not want to do, even hurt people for some greater good you don't understand. It means you are a dog of the military with a leash around your neck."

"But Brother–"

Ed interrupted him quickly, his face turning serious. "One of us needs to join to get what we want but both of us don't have to. I'll become a State Alchemist, and I swear, I will set things right. Only one of us needs to make this sacrifice."

"Brother…"

Mustang watched impassively from the shadows. "Come with me. It's time for the interview."

Edward patted his bother on the arm one last time before following Mustang into the light, walking into the imposing white building alone. He would bear this, because he had made a promise to the only family that he had left. Alphonse despairingly telling him that he couldn't remember the way Ed's touch felt, and Alex's desperate cries in the night; the boys who, despite Edward's heinous crimes, still smiled and supported him after all this time, flitted through Edward's mind. They were relying on him, and he would not fail.

Sorry guys, this whole chapter is basically a set-up for the next one. But don't worry! To make up for it, I will be posting the second half this afternoon. The chapter was just getting too long and it started to feel rushed, so I split it in half.

Thank you everyone who reviewed! Let me just say, it is really fun to read all of you speculating about Alex and his original body's fate. I'm getting some really interesting comments, and a couple of you have gotten in the ball park, but no cigar. We'll find out a bit more about that when the boys go to the fifth lab. Anyone who actually guesses gets a one-shot of your choice! Just let me know and I'll write it for you.

Just a reminder, this is a combination of both FMA and FMAB and I will shamelessly mess with the timelines and characters of both to suit my purposes. I may be following FMA for now, but that will fluctuate as I go along. Have faith! Everything will make sense in the end, so don't worry too much and just enjoy the ride. And please, keep reviewing! A lot of my humor and how I write scenes comes from how my readers react to previous chapters.

Next Chapter: Shou goes crazy and everyone pays the price. See you in a bit!