Notes: For Summary, Disclaimer, Rating, Warnings, and Notes on the timeline, please see Chapter One.

Whew! It's here! Chapter 3! The last Chapter before the RP itself! Because I still can't think of a better title, this sucky one is just gonna have to stay ick But I'm still working on a better summary, though I don't hate that nearly as much as I do the title.

This chapter is a bit longer than the others, just as I had anticipated, though I'm not sure it's as long as I'd thought it would be. The story itself deals with the results of the State Certification Exam and then Ed's shipment off to Ishbal for the Civil War in the East.

The Exam itself I have taken some liberties with, as is further explained in the chapter itself, mooshing some elements of the manga with that of the anime. Basically the Exam is conducted the way it's portrayed in the anime, but Ed's practical goes the way it did in the manga.

Just to address a question that came up in the last chapter: It was assumed (or supposed to be assumed anyways) that Edward saw The Gate because of his near-death experience in the train accident at the end of Chapter 1, as opposed to the attempted human transmutation as it states in canon. Sorry if this wasn't clear .;;;;

Chapter 3: Older Brother, 18 Younger Brother, 14

"Don't worry, Brother, I'm sure you did fine."

"Yeah, right." Edward groaned, shoving a hand into his bangs. "They only take one or two applicants a year, and there were at least twenty other Alchemists there. I didn't even finish the written portion and I really screwed up on the practical."

The State Exam to become officially certified and recognized as an Alchemist by the Military Government was held once a year at the Central City Headquarters. Each year Alchemists came from all corners of the country to take the exam with the promise of nearly unlimited funds for their research, besides a hefty salary for themselves, and, of course, the highly coveted silver pocket watch, engraved with a chimera, the symbol of Amestris and its Military Government, and which would grant the bearer access nearly anywhere they wished, including the Central Library, which contained the records and notes of previous State-Certified Alchemists alongside literally hundreds of thousands of Alchemic texts. It was something that many an Alchemist had tried to gain, but only a select few had ever accomplished; the State Alchemists were the best of the best, and the State Exam was specifically designed to pick them out of the bunch.

The Exam was split into three different parts: The Written Portion, an Interview, and a Practical.

The Written Portion consisted of two-hundred questions dealing with chemistry, geology, botany, mathematics, and Alchemy in general, both the processes and the laws regarding its usage, and the applicants had two hours to complete them all. The questions were designed to test the applicants' level of understanding of the natural world and their competency as Alchemists; for if you do not truly understand the world around you, then you cannot manipulate it to your advantage, as Alchemists do.

The Interview was conducted in a private room at Central Headquarters, conducted by the Fuhrer and overseen by the four highest-ranking State Alchemists. In the center of the room stood a golden chair which was set in the middle of an elaborate array and stood, impossibly, on three legs. The applicant was challenged to approach it without fear and if they were a true Alchemist, then the chair would not reject them. When the applicant was seated, the interview would begin, starting with the question, "Why do you want to become a State Alchemist?"

The final portion of the Exam was the Practical, in which the applicants were given all the materials they might find in any given terrain -- trees, ice, water, earth, and the minerals contained therein -- and were asked to display their skills as Alchemists. They could transmute anything they wanted, which should show off their strength, creativity, and their ability to think clearly under pressure.

While Ed hadn't been able to complete the written portion of the Exam, if anything were to keep him from passing it was what he'd done in the practical portion, he was sure. While the other applicants had been showing off their skills trying to transmute something impressive, something that would show off their skills (some overdoing it a bit and having to be carried off of the field), Ed had been glancing at the Fuhrer out of the corner of his eyes.

The man had just been standing there, a little apart from all the applicants, but with not much more security than one State Alchemist in particular that hadn't seemed to have left his side since the beginning of the Exam. While the other overseers were there, they were scattered around the area where the applicants stood, trying to either intimidate or simply catch a better look at the transmutations themselves, Ed assumed; after all, the Fuhrer couldn't be expected to know too well what to look for as far as the transmutations were concerned, not being an Alchemist himself. There were other soldiers stationed around the area, but the more the blonde watched, the more he wondered: Why was such a high-ranking official standing so casually in the midst of these potentially-dangerous people?

Then it struck him, what he could do to grab the man's attention, he just hoped he wasn't going to be going overboard. The blonde waited until the last of the applicants had finished (and been helped off the field by the same rather weary-looking soldier that had helped the others off) and the Fuhrer asked if there were any other applicants that hadn't gone.

"I haven't." Ed announced, stepping out of the crowd of hopefuls before anyone could point him out.

The Fuhrer gave the blonde a discerning look, clearly comparing this eighteen-year-old boy to the other, much older men standing there, before he finally gave a nod. "Go ahead, young man."

The blonde took another quick look around before turning that determined gaze back to the Fuhrer and, without another moment's hesitation, Ed clapped his hands together, completing the circular array with his body, and ignored the gasps and mumbles of surprise as he crouched to the ground and began his transmutation. Golden eyes locked with the one visible of the Fuhrer's as a perfectly-formed spear adorned with the crucified serpent of his Teacher rose from the ground and in the next moment, Ed was charging at the man, moving faster than anyone had time to react, and he didn't stop until the point of the spear was centimeters from the Fuhrer's throat.

It felt like an eternity passed before Fuhrer Bradley lifted his hand, and it was then that Ed noticed the three guns trained at his head. They dropped, however, and Ed pulled the spear back, holding it upright on the ground with one hand while his other sat on his hip.

"Assassinations could have been done just like that." the blonde said, still holding the man's gaze. "Shouldn't you reconsider this method of examination?"

The man lifted his hand to chin with a thoughtful, "Hm," before he answered, "You're right -- I'll rethink it."

Before another word could be said, the man that had been standing beside the Fuhrer began shouting about disqualification. "Don't decide that on your own." Bradley chided. "He had no problem in the Written Exam and Interview, right? From what was seen, his skill is impressive. And, furthermore," the man continued, turning back to regard Ed with a faint nearly imperceptible smirk, "He's got guts. He just doesn't know how big the world is"

Everyone watched in varying states of shock as the Fuhrer turned to leave, the State Alchemists moving to go with him. However, Ed's attention was suddenly focused on the spear in his hands as the tip fell to the ground, cut cleanly off by the saber the Fuhrer had been wearing at his waist and now rested in his hand as we walked away. "Just wait for the announcement of the results." the man called back before he disappeared into the building of the Central Headquarters followed by the guards and the State Alchemists.

Well, it was now the day the results were to be announced, and Ed and Al made there way to Central Headquarters to get the official announcement as to whether or the older blonde had been able to fulfill his goal.

"May I help you?"

"Yeah," Ed answered, walking up to the receptionist in the lobby of the Headquarters building, "I'm here about the State Certification Exam results."

"Name please?" the woman asked wearily, as if she'd been having this conversation all day. Which, of course, she had.

"Edward Elric."

"Edward Elric?" the woman asked, blinking up from the clipboard in her hand before flipping through a few papers. "Edward Elric, born sixteenth of January, 1888 in Rizenbul?" she clarified, reading off of a sheet once she'd found it.

The blonde raised an eyebrow at the woman, turning back to his brother who was most useful as he shrugged and shook his head. "Yeah, that's me."

The woman heaved a great loud sigh of relief, "Oh thank god!" and dropped the clipboard back onto her desk, burying her hands her hair as tears suddenly sprung to her eyes.

"Huh?"

The receptionist blinked back up at the young man in front of her and offered him a sheepish smile, straightening up again and fixing her hair. "Sorry," she apologized, "It's just we've been waiting for you all day, we were getting a bit worried that you might not show up at all. It has happened before, and it's just a matter of tracking the applicant down, but it is such a bother and it's so much easier when they just come back. I think most of the time it's just because they're afraid of the results and--"

"Excuse me," Ed interrupted, pinching the bridge of his nose with the fingers of his left hand, trying to be very patient as he waited for some sort of explanation. "I'm sorry, but I'm a little confused as to exactly what's going on."

Again Ed was blinked at with more than a little surprise and the woman just gaped at him wide-eyed for a few moments before a sly little smirk twisted up her lips. "Never you mind," she murmured in a mockery of an innocent tone, tearing the paper she'd just been reading from her clipboard, handing it over to the older blonde, and gesturing him towards a flight of stairs off to his left. "You just take this and then go up those stairs to the top floor, that's the sixth floor, and go to room 600, that's the very last one down the hallway to your right, with the big double-doors, and they'll take care of you there."

With that Ed suddenly found himself being pushed off in the direction of the staircase with a piece of paper in his hand. When he managed to get his senses back, the blonde pulled away from the woman's hands and gestured back towards his brother. "Let go of me! Geez. C'mon Al, let's go."

"Oh, no, I'm afraid he can't go." the receptionist objected holding up her hand.

Al, who had already run up to his older brother's side frowned disappointedly. "But...why not?"

"Because," came the answer in a tone that warranted no further objections, "This is private business between Edward Elric and the Military Government. He is not Edward Elric, nor is he part of the Military, therefore, I'm afraid he cannot be allowed to go with you. You can stay here, though, alright?" the woman smiled down at the younger boy, "We can keep each other company while we wait for your brother to get back."

Ed scowled at the woman, but a glance at the reassuring look on Al's face and he simply sighed and turned towards the stairs, listening to the conversation until he couldn't hear it anymore.

"How did you know we were brothers?"

"If it weren't for the shade of your hair and eyes, you two could be identical twins!"

"Oh, right, I sometimes forget that. But Brother is taller than me."

"Only by about an inch, though. How old are you?"

"Fourteen."

"Oh, well then, you're still growing. You'll probably be taller than your brother by the end of the year!"

"Don't let him hear you say that! He's a little sensitive about his height."

The paper that the receptionist had thrust into his hands turned out to be Edwards original application to take the State Exam and he briefly read through it for the first time in about a month.

Name: Edward Elric

Age: 18

Date of Birth: 16 January, 1888

Place of Birth: Rizenbul

The application went on to ask such things as "How long have you been studying Alchemy," and "How long have you been practicing Alchemy?" "Have you had any training? If so, from whom and for how long?" "Have any of your family-members worked for the Military Government, as a State-Certified Alchemist or otherwise? If so, please list their name, rank, and whether they are still working for the Military Government. If they are not, please explain why."

This last question was the one that had worried Edward the most; he knew that his father had worked for the Military as a State Alchemist, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that his father had run. Of course the blonde had considered lying -- after all, he could always just claim that his father had never told him, if anyone confronted him about it, which wasn't really untrue -- but he figured that it would probably just be best to write it down anyway, they couldn't honestly punish him for his father's transgressions, after all. Besides, he needed this job more than just to raise money to propose to someone; he needed this job to take care of his little brother, and that was far more important than anything.

As Ed ascended the final flight of stairs, he couldn't help but grumble to himself wondering why they'd made him climb all the way to the top floor just to tell him that he'd failed the Exam and "Good luck next year!" Because, even despite that rather strange reaction from the receptionist, the blonde was still positive that his antics in the Practical portion had taken it too far.

As he approached room 600, the young man idly noticed that, despite the receptionist's very specific directions that it was "the last room at the end of the hall," there weren't very many rooms to choose from. Even if all of them had had the large mahogany double-doors, guarded by two sentries with rifles, it wouldn't have taken him too long to figure out which one he was supposed to be in, only having to peek into two other offices (well, he assumed they were offices, and down the other way, if he'd turned left after the stairs, appeared to be bathrooms).

Just as expected, the two sentries halted his progress before the blonde got within twenty paces of the double-doors, asking for identification and what business he had being there. "My name's Edward Elric," he answered, holding up his application for the two men, "The receptionist in the lobby sent me up here."

One of the sentries took the paper and quickly read through it before handing it to the other, seemingly for confirmation. When the other nodded, he handed the paper back and both men stepped aside and saluted. "Please, go right in, Sir."

That...was a little odd, considering what Ed had expected since the end of the Exam. But...calling someone "Sir" didn't necessarily mean he'd passed...right? It was just a term used by everyone to politely address a young man of his age or older... Right?

"Ah, Mr. Elric. So you've finally decided to show up, have you?"

Edward blinked a few times as the doors closed behind him and he entered the office; though it wasn't necessarily because of the bright light of the sun filtering in through the immense picture-window behind the desk at the far end of the enormous room. It was because Fuhrer Bradley was sitting behind that desk, wearing that same pleasant grandfatherly smile he had been throughout most of the Exam (though he couldn't honestly say this was wholly unexpected either, especially considering the guard outside).

"Please, have a seat."

Taking an imperceptible deep breath, the young man strode to the chair sitting across from the Fuhrer's desk with an almost palpable air of confidence, though he might not have been able to honestly claim such a thing if asked. Bradley didn't look up from his desk for a few moments and Edward noticed that he seemed to be looking over a file.

"Please, relax, son," the man finally spoke up, "There are just a few questions I want to ask you before we get down to the big business at hand." He paused, as if expecting a response, but not being able to think of one, Ed simply attempted to relax without seeming disrespectful. "Right. First of all, I noticed, over the course of the Examination, that your right arm seems to be made of automail."

That did manage to get a response out of the blonde. "How could you tell?"

"Your sleeve would ride up occasionally and I noticed a peek of metal. May I ask how that happened?"

"It was an accident," Ed answered, tugging off his glove and pushing up his sleeve so that the Fuhrer might get a better look, "Six years ago. I was on a train with my little brother and my parents and it derailed. I lost my left leg and right arm."

Fuhrer Bradley "hm'd" thoughtfully as he regarded the young man's steel arm. "Yes, I heard of that incident. A tragedy which I wish our country had not had to face. And what of your family?"

"My younger brother has some minor scarring along his legs, but there were no other injuries. Both of my parents died however."

"Ah yes," the man nodded, "Your parents." Bradley shuffled through a few papers in the file on his desk, his tone somewhat giving away the fact that he'd gotten to the question that he'd really been wanting to ask. "Trisha and Hohenheim?"

"Yes." Ed nodded.

"Hohenheim Elric," Bradley recited from a paper in the file, "The 'Sealing Alchemist,' specializing in the decomposition of materials into their purest forms. Employed by the Military Government as a State-Certified Alchemist and Major 1876 through 1878. Reported Missing In Action June 1878; determined Abandonment of Post July 1878 after receiving notice that he was alive but would not be returning to the Military Government." The Fuhrer looked up from the file and gazed at Ed meaningfully. "Did you know about this, son?"

The blonde pursed his lips, his mouth thinning into a line as he determined the best way to answer that question. "No, Sir. Not until three years ago. A neighbor of ours, Pinako Rockbell, and a long-time friend of my family, took in my little brother and I after the accident. It was from her that I learned that my father had even been in the Military. While he was alive, he taught both my brother and I Alchemy, but he never mentioned having ever been in the Military's service."

"I see." Bradley murmured thoughtfully. "And may I ask, what you think of his actions?"

This was where it got a little sticky. If Edward answered wrong, he could completely ruin his chances, which he was now almost positive he had that silver pocket watch nearly in his grasp. "I only know what I heard from Mrs. Rockbell." he answered evenly, "She didn't tell me very many of the actual details, and it had been nearly thirty years since she'd heard the story herself anyway. I think he did what he thought was right, and I can't begrudge him that, however, if he had a quarrel with the Military, then he should have handled it better, gone through the proper channels and asked for a discharge if the problem couldn't have been resolved. However, I would like to also add that, while he was my father, I'm not Hohenheim Elric. If I was, I wouldn't be sitting here right now; yet, even with what I do know, I have chosen this path for myself. I will bear the consequences of my own decisions, but I refuse to bear the consequences of my father's."

The young man sat patiently as Fuhrer Bradley mulled over this information, and he couldn't really deny that he did feel a bit nervous, wondering if maybe he's just pushed his luck for the second time. However, as the man's face, which had settled into a rare serious expression, softened into the more common grandfatherly smile, his worries were lifted.

"Very well, son." the man nodded and rifled through a few more sheets before finding the one he needed and handing it over to Edward.

"Under the authority of Fuhrer Bradley," the young man read aloud, "The name 'FullMetal' will be granted to Edward Elric along with the rank of Official State-Certified Alchemist."

"That is your contract." Ed looked up to see that Fuhrer Bradley was standing, and still smiling warmly down at him. "You need to sign it before you are officially to become known as 'FullMetal,' but there's really no need to read that whole thing. Basically it says, in a lot of fancy words, that, in return for gaining access to resources, research facilities, and funds, you swear loyalty to the Military Government, and vow to never perform a forbidden act of transmutation."

Ed had followed along in the contract itself as Bradley spoke; while there was a bit more detail than that, it did seem to be the major theme. "So I can't perform human transmutation or transmute gold, and I have to remain loyal to the Military, going off to fight should a war break out; and, in return, I get the Military's backing to study just about whatever I want, with your approval and so long as I pass my yearly examination." he clarified.

"That is the basic idea, yes. Also, as you have decided you wish to enroll in the Military as a soldier as well, you would be given the rank of Major, in addition to your title as State Alchemist." Bradley nodded, obviously pleased that the young man was, in fact, reading through what he was about to sign, and he picked up a pen from his desk and offered it to the blonde.

Ed read through the contract one more time before he accepted the pen and signed. He quickly shook away the inexplicable sense of foreboding he felt as he handed Fuhrer Bradley back both the pen and the contract, and the man turned back to his desk, placing the document back in the file and removing another, handing it to Edward along with a white box.

"This is your copy of the certificate officially declaring you as a State Alchemist, and this," he said, removing the cover of the white box to reveal the pristine silver pocket watch within, engraved with Amestris' chimera insignia, "Is your silver pocket watch, recognizing you to everyone else as the 'FullMetal Alchemist.'"

Carefully as though he were touching glass, Edward removed the watch from its box and examined it closely.

"Thank you, Sir." he murmured, standing and offering a vaguely awkward salute.

"At ease, son," the man chuckled softly and watched as Ed put on the pocket watch. "There are still a few details to get into order, but I'll have my secretary contact your commanding officer and he should be in touch with you within two days."

"Right, okay." Ed nodded.

"Well then," Bradley chuckled again, "If you don't have any other questions, then I guess you're dismissed."

The young man gave another more confident salute before he headed out the door, barely even noticing the salutes he received from the two sentries outside the door as he headed back towards the staircase. He must have read through the certificate about thirty-seven times by the time he finally made it back down to the lobby and, before he even realized what was going on, Ed found himself wrapped up in a near-back-breaking hug.

"Congratulations, Brother!" Alphonse shouted. "I knew you'd pass!"

Edward had a moment to glance at the receptionist who merely gave him an innocent shrug, and he simply rolled his eyes at her before prying himself out of that suffocating grip. "Yup, I sure did, Bean Sprout!" he grinned, ruffling his little brother's hair playfully. "Now come on, I'm treating you to a celebratory dinner! Anywhere you want!"

"But, Brother," the younger boy objected as Ed began leading them back out onto Main Street, "This is your celebration, you should choose."

"Nope, it's a celebration for both of us and, considering I'm the one that's going to end up paying anyway, I insist that you choose."

The two brothers continued arguing until night fell and they were forced to agree on something before all of the restaurants in the city closed.

Edward met the Colonel he would be working under the next day and was presented with his uniform, the deadline at which he was to propose his chosen area of study, and his first paycheck in advance. Most of the money was put away towards renting an apartment for he and Alphonse to share, but, in the meantime, the boys moved into the Military-assigned housing.

It was two weeks later that they received the official announcement: The political unrest in the East had exploded when a soldier, one Juliet Douglas, accidentally shot and killed an Ishbalan child seven years before; the riots which succinctly broke out had been easily handled by the soldiers stationed there. However, the riots had spread all throughout the Eastern area, and a Civil War had broken out. All available troops were to be shipped out to suppress the threat, including the State Alchemists.

"But, Brother, I don't want to go back. I don't want to leave you."

Edward turned back from the ticket booth and handed his brother the ticket before leading him out onto the boarding platform. "Believe me, I don't want to leave either, and I'm not sure how comfortable I am with you going back to Rizenbul with how close it is to the conflict. But if something's going to happen, I'd rather you be with Winry and Auntie than alone in the dorms."

"But, Brother-"

"No 'but Brothers'!" the older boy snapped, not even flinching as he saw the nearly hurt expression on Al's face. "I promised that I'd take care of you Al," he continued firmly, gazing steadfastly into those bronzed eyes, "One way or another. I'd rather stay here with you, and, believe me, I would if I could; but that's not possible right now. I'm being shipped off to Ishbal with the other State Alchemists day after tomorrow, and I won't leave you behind by yourself. I'm sending you back to stay with Pinako and Winry, and that's that. There is nothing you can possibly say that will change my mind."

"But-"

But Al's response was cut off by the whistle of the train as it came into the station and both boys turned to watch it, Edward with a look of angry impatience, and Alphonse with an expression of wary fright. Before the train had even stopped, the older brother had lifted Alphonse's suitcase and was heading towards one of the doors. Once the flow of departing passengers had trickled to a stop, Ed carried the suitcase onto the train and secured it in the overhead compartment, nearly forcing the boy himself into the seat below it and forcing himself to ignore the cries that were steadily growing in anguish as he stepped off of the train.

"Brother!" he heard the younger boy cry through the open window, and he finally turned back, still keeping the same expression of fierce determination, even as he saw the tears running down the younger blonde's cheeks. "Brother, I want you to promise me! Promise me that you'll come back! And you'll bring me back here with you!"

The older boy's answer was cut off by the engineer giving the last call; there weren't too many people looking to head East now that the civil unrest had reached a head, and all of the passengers had already gotten on board, so the train wasn't even going to bother waiting.

"Brother!" came another shout, becoming even more desperate.

"I promise!" came the reply over the second call to board, and the older boy had to raise his voice even more as the whistle called and the engines started up again, and he had to start following the train down the platform as it began its slow departure. "As soon as I come back, Bean Sprout! I'll come and pick you up myself and drag you back to Central! I promise, Al! I promise, Bean Sprout!"

He wasn't even sure if younger boy had heard him, but he could still see him clearly enough to see that there were still tears running down his cheeks, and he wiped a stray one away himself.

Alphonse watched the receding station platform, and Edward watched the departing train until neither could make out anything on the seemingly empty horizon and, as each turned their backs to face their separate immediate futures, it would be the last time the Elric brothers would see each other for a very long time.