Standing before me were the stairs into the State building, the only gateway preventing me from becoming a state alchemist. I wondered how I had gotten onto this path. It seemed so long ago that I had done a border patrol at Fort Briggs. What I would do to go back.

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I grew up in the North. I did not know my family or if I had one at the fort. I cannot remember anything that had happened to me before I turned 10. I was trained to fight and survive. I knew where my loyalties laid and what was expected of me. I was a dog of the military. Nothing special. So when the opportunity arose for me to leave Briggs, I didn't know how to react.

During the staged coup d'etat, I was left to defend the walls while the older and higher ranks went. Afterwards, with many changes of commands and deployments, I was given the order to be deployed in the west to help with the Ishvalans.

"Hey, don't look so glum. It's an adventure," General Armstrong had said to me harshly.

"But-" I remembered stammering.

The general would not hear me and had sent me away. I was deployed.

Something interesting had happened on my deployment. The officer who had taken me in was an old state alchemist. I knew about alchemy, its basic principles, the whys, hows, ands, buts, and the most famous alchemists, naturally. I had never once been tempted to try it or anything of the sort. It had not interested me. I specialized in blade works and throwing knives. Not drawing a transmutation circle. Nevertheless, I ended up helping my guardian with some tasks and had found out that I was quite proficient in alchemy. The officer urged me to study alchemy.

"Why? It is not comfortable and takes too much time," I remembered asking.

"We are in a great need of alchemists. Scar had murdered many, as you're well aware of. If you have the potential, we need you as an alchemist more than a soldier."

His words made sense, but I did not agree with them. Even so, I took his advice and committed to becoming an alchemist. Which wasn't hard.

____________________________________________________________

I took a deep breath and entered the building. The instructor handed out tests and I took them. They seemed simple enough...unless I have underestimated them. Looking around me, I saw a few others sweating or hanging their heads. I shrugged. Whatever I got was whatever I got. Afterwards, we were shooed out outside and were to wait until the scores were posted. While we were waiting, a car pulled up and two men exited it. Well, a man and some pipsqueak of a man. One I recognized as the Fuhrer candidate, with him being in full uniform and decoration, the other I assumed the state alchemist that was to judge our "live" performance today. He had long blond hair pulled back in a braid and wearing a red trailing coat. I showed no interest in them as they passed me.

"Why did you have to drag me here, Mustang," I heard the smaller one of the two grump. The Fuhrer candidate replied but I didn't pick up on it. An instructor came out to announce those who were to proceed on to the next task. My name was called. The few of us that had passed the exam were now heading to the place to demonstrate our alchemic abilities. My heart started racing. I was getting nervous, I didn't really plan to get this far.

Of the judges, there were two other instructors, the Fuhrer candidate (Mustang?), and the pipsqueak. Who did not want to be here it seemed. My heart went out to him, I felt the same.

"Here are all the materials you can use. Begin," One of the instructors announced. A few went to make towers and obstacles but one I saw, out of the corner of my eye, constructing a blade. He aimed it for the Fuhrer and let go. Nobody saw until it was too late.

In the spark of the moment, I threw my hands down and changed the blades intercourse to head back to the traitor. It made a nice and clean puncture to the neck. I didn't think it would work. I was so surprised that I gasped.

Everyone's eyes were on me. Regaining my composure, I stood up and stared them down. "Well?" I asked. The instructors rushed to the dead man, the other candidates just gawked, whereas the Fuhrer candidate clapped. This surprised everyone and stopped them in their tracks.

"Well done. Just what I expected of a soldier from General Armstrong's group."

I stood up straighter. "My apologies, sir. Sgt Saewynn Shade, at your service," I saluted.

"Great, another dog of the stinkin military," the blonde pipsqueak said. I bristled. "Be quiet, Fullmetal," the Fuhrer said and added, "Carry on. Follow me, you're our brand new state alchemist." Fullmetal, which I figured was the Fullmetal Alchemist, started to sneak away. Without glancing back, the Fuhrer called, "You too, Fullmetal." He stopped, slowly turned with the look of defeat, and joined us. We walked side by side, I was shocked that he was actually a slight bit taller than I. He caught me eyeing him.

"What are you looking at?" he grumped.

"Nothing."

"You were thinking I was shorter than you, didn't you?! You thought I was a nobody runt didn't you?!" Fullmetal freaked out. He seemed to be all over the place, steaming and everything. It confounded me that he could hold out that much anger in such a small body. It was quite amusing so when the Fuhrer told him to stop, I was a bit disappointed.

After arriving at the Fuhrer's office, he threw me a pocket watch. I caught it, it was silver and official looking. I pocketed it and looked up at him. "Sir-"

"Just call me Mustang. I'm not Fuhrer yet. But you are no longer a Sgt. But a state alchemist, by the name of the Blade Alchemist. You will be accompanying Fullmetal back to the east...since he's a bit handicapped now."

I turned around to face him. "What, can you not do alchemy or something?" I joked. He just stared at the ground. "Wait, really?" My eyes widened. I burst out laughing. Mustang and Fullmetal glanced at me in shock. I couldn't help it, it was hilarious that the Fullmetal Alchemist, one of the best of the best, can't do alchemy anymore! I gasped and calmed myself down. My little outburst was over before they knew it. "My apologies, that won't happen again."

Fullmetal lifted his head, he shook it. "No, I like it better when you smile. Don't be so uptight around me," he smiled. I was taken aback, I didn't know how to respond. Fullmetal's smile grew. He beckoned for me and turned around to open the door. "See ya, Mustang. Got a train to catch." I looked back at Mustang. He nodded, so I followed after Fullmetal.

"Don't call me Fullmetal, call me Ed. There's no reason to be formal with me, either."

"Okay," I replied. I walked behind him until we left the building. Ed faced me, "Where do we need to go to pick up your things?"

"Nowhere. I have everything right here." Ed nodded. "Alright. Let's go then." And so we were off to the station. We arrived a few minutes early, so we found a bench to sit on.

"Where are we going?" I asked. "Eh, somewhere east." I did not like this answer. Ed could tell I didn't. He smirked. "Ya know, you're sorta cute when you look like that."

"What?" My cheeks were burning. I've never been embarrassed by a boy before. Yet, when Ed said that, my heart did skip a beat...what is this new feeling?

"I'll enjoy working with you," Ed winked.