Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ The Truth Behind Melancholy ❯ Chapter 3 ( Chapter 3 )

Authors Blog: So yah took forever for me to get back to this. Life is so busy, I feel so horrible when I don't get to write. Anyways I'm just finishing up some Fan art for this story…yay me…

 

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“The Meeting”

 

It was very late in the evening by the time the entire invited group of military officers and State alchemists had arrived at the Meeting Hall. Many tables were pushed together, so that the ends of each table touched creating a large empty centered square. Even with all the seats present, many still were standing in the background. The Fhurer was sitting in the middle of one of the long tables. On his right sat Hawkeye who looked very solemn.

 

As soon as the Fhurer had the attention of the attending military officials he called the meeting to a start.

 

“We are here to discuss the matter of absolute importance regarding the beings named the Homunculus.” Mustang started slowly, telling what he knew from Edward's stories of the Humunculi. Ed, himself, was sitting with his brother next to him at a different long table to the right of Mustang. He looked at noone for the longest time before looking straight into Mustangs eyes and giving a nod of his head giving his thanks to him for not making Edward say all that himself.

 

On the far long table from Mustang, someone stood.

 

“As the currently ranking Lieutenant Colonel of the North, I want to know why this affects my part of the state? The homunculi have never, to my knowledge, had anything to do with any crimes up north.”

 

Anyone who had not been to this kind of meeting before, would think he was being rude. Unfortunetly, it was these kinds of meetings where notes were being taken that sayings of this kind were necessary to say. The notes that would be documented needed this information on them.

 

“Lieutenant Colonel Tulk, I understand your position,” Mustang started. “Yet you must understand, that if we are to beat these creatures we must work together.”

 

“I thought you said the homunculi could not be beat. That they were as close to immortal as one could get?” One of the Majors claimed.

 

“They are nearly but they do have a weakness…”

 

“When they are near their remains, bones and such, they become weak…and there has to be the right kind of alchemy circle in place. That is when they are weak…” Ed cut off Mustang.

 

“Then why have they not been defeated yet if it is so easy and you already know how to?” the Lieutenant Colonel from the East spoke up.

 

“Lieutenant Colonel,” Hawkeye intervened. “It is not that easy to kill a homunculi. Each has their own special unique power that is difficult to overcome.”

 

“That isn't the only reason Lieutenant Colonel Hawkeye.” A quiet voice came from Amelia, her eyes concentrating on the top of the table. It was a few seconds before she finally looked up and continued scanning her eyes at everyone she could.

 

“It is in fact much harder to kill them then you are making it out to be. Being near their remains makes them weak. It doesn't make them stupid. They still will fight with all they possess. They are not easy to defeat.”

 

She sighed heavily before taking a quick glance in the Fullmetal Alchemist's direction letting her gaze stay on him for a few moments before continuing and taking her gaze off him.

 

“Fate, mixed with a little bit of human need, keeps them going. A Homunculi is created when an Alchemist performs a human transmutation, and it fails. And sadly, these events are not uncommon.

 

“The Humunculi…”she stalled in her rant slightly before taking a deep breathe.

 

“The Humunculi will keep “being” if their master is not killed as well. They're only wish is to be human, for their transmutation to be completed. What the master calls upon them to do is his own bidding. While he lives, he also feeds them life.”

 

She sighed again looking at the table taking her eyes off everyone in the room,

 

“You seem to know an awful lot about these homunculi, Colonel.” Another major spoke up.

 

“Anyone can do research. It isn't that hard.” She snapped back. She suddenly felt like the room was slowly shrinking and she felt crushed.

 

The meeting went on, yelling started when Ed said something that he might not have needed too, and Mustang gave him a quick gesture telling him to say no more for fear of him revealing his secret.

 

The Colonel from the West decided to stay silent for the rest of the meeting. It was just passing midnight when the meeting was adjourned with the promise of another one like it the evening after next.

 

That day, as Mustang pointed out was The State Alchemist Entrance Exams and he wanted to be able to have some sleep.

 

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Anyone who looked at a clock, the time being near 1:00am would wonder why a figure would be sitting on top of the Central HQ buildings roof.

 

Amelia was anxious. She knew she wouldn't be able to sleep even if she tried.

 

“If this is going to be some ritual I want part of it! It's very tranquil up here don't you think?” A new being was on top of the military headquarters roof. He sat next to Amelia before scooting even closer to her and placing his arm around her shoulders.

 

“Shove off!” Amelia roughly pushed off the intruder and slapped him across the face.

 

“That was mean! You hurt me! Can I have a kiss better?” A smirk crossed the shadowed mans face as he stared Amelia down.

 

“Lay off Envy. I come up here to dive into my thoughts. ALONE. If you don't mind I like it better without you here.” She turned her back to him and crossed her legs.

 

“You know you are the exact opposite of that annoying sister of yours! While she is over confident, and constantly bitching about something, you are brooding and completely depressed.”

 

“Ha ha ha! Now that's a laugh and a half. Since when am I depressed? I'm like one of the most happiest people in the world…”

 

“How hard are you studying for that state exam?” He said changing topics quickly.

 

”What's that have to do with anything?” She was facing him now. The smirk she was getting from him was making her uneasy.

 

“You know they are going to except you no matter what…”

 

“But the written…” she interrupted him before he interrupted her, “You will pass the written. You know enough. Relax, and maybe come out with me tonight, you look worn. You need to do some of your exercises. It has been too long. You should come and talk with us homunculi, after all, I mean when you transmuted your sister…”

 

“If you don't shut up right now I will do something rash. I do not need to do the exercises. I am perfectly fine. All my limbs are working and I can breathe naturally. Just leave me alone before I do something rash.”

 

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The exam would start in less than 5 minutes. So many `alchemists' were there to try to win the title of State Alchemist.

 

Amelia was sitting on the steps trying her best to not shake in nervousness. If she blew it on the written there was no way she would be able to stay in the military. She knew that the interview and the practical would be no problem, but she didn't know if she could handle the written.

 

Nervousness was an understatement of her mood at the moment.

 

Different men were showing up left right and center, but like she expected she was the only female trying out for the title.

 

She sighed to herself tucking the hem of the sides of her military issued skirt under her even more. Mustang had told her specifically that she had to continue wearing her military uniform while here in central for looks more than anything. He didn't want to allow her not to wear it and someone get the wrong idea and snoop into their affairs.

 

“Alright everyone. You may now enter the exam room and good luck to you all!” A random man in a military uniform had opened the doors and walked back inside after his announcement.

 

“Alright Boots,” she mumbled to herself, “Its now or never…”

 

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Hidden in the shadows, a woman and a man stood together.

 

“Well Envy lets see if she makes it.”

 

“Of course she will Pride. It's too important to her not to. Besides, Amelia can handle herself. I trust she wont let us down. After all, she has the connection to the FullMetal Shrimp.” Envy stared at the nervous look on Amelia's face before she turned and entered with the rest of the State Alchemist wanna-bees.

 

“No, she will make it. Boots would never let her military friends down. No, she will definitely make it for them…and for us. She is on our side after all.” Envy smirked before turning his gaze back to Pride.

 

“Envy, I'm not so sure. Sure she is brilliant enough. She recreated me after all, but if the military sees through her in the interview…She never had an interview before she got into the military.”

 

“I've been with her enough the last week to know she will make it in.”

 

“You only spoke with her once. Spying on her from shadowed corners and listening to her conversations doesn't count!” Pride crossed her arms and pouted.

 

“I can't see how you can stand being around her so much. She doesn't deserve that of you. After all… you are mine …” Pride placed her arm around Envy's waist possessively while still pouting, before looking up at him and batting her eyelashes.

 

“Don't forget your place Pride. Remember our mission. You need to get your head strait before I make you.” He removed her arms from around his waist.

 

“She will get in. There is no doubt in my mind. It's what she does afterwards. Being a dog of the military isn't going to make her job easy, but she is with us and her loyalty lies with me and with Father. “ He smirked flicking his long green hair away from his eyes.

 

“After all, we have you as a bargaining chip. She can't deny us when we could reveal you to the military Pride...her transmuted twin sister. After all, not only would she be released from the military and killed, but also her brother Fhurer Roy Mustang.”

 

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The written part of the exam was easier that she thought it would be.

 

As everyone exited the building, she found herself to be one of the only ones with a smile on their face.

 

Clicking the heel of her boot on the cement walkway in joy. She made her way straight to the interviewing waiting room. Finding her name eighth on the list the Colonel sat with a scowl, her happy mood ruined. Next to her was red headed man that looked to be in his late forties.

 

He was drumming his fingers on the armrest quite noisily. A name was called and he stood and left the room.

 

Most of the remaining men looked to be in their late twenties or thirties, although a couple couldn't have been older than eighteen.

 

She smiled as one glared at her with obvious distaste that there was a female in the room.

 

Others looked onto her with lust in their eyes as she crossed her legs trying to hid anything they might see. By the time the seventh person left the room she was almost asleep. Her name was called and she stood pulling down the hem of her skirt and tucking some blonde hair behind her ear.

 

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The Fhurer was always present when the interviews were happening. This was Mustang's first though. And when he knew his sister was the next to sit in that 3 legged chair, he wanted nothing more then to be not there. When he saw the blonde enter, he smiled warmly at her once she sat on the stool before quickly putting back on his emotionless face.

 

The others around him, unfortunetly for him not including Hawkeye, were all rather bored already.

 

The current Fhurer looked sideways at each of them before asking the questions.

 

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Now for the real Alchemy test.

 

Amelia didn't know what to do for this part. In the West, she hardly did any alchemy anymore. Her subordinates did everything.

 

With her gloves, she was known for her abilities to manipulate any liquid into ice. That in her mind was impressive. Also the symbols on her boots could be used for something.

 

The one thing she did know though, was that she had to be careful.

 

Like Edward, she only had to clap her hands to do her alchemy. The gloves she wore were only to take attention away from the clapping, because in reality she only clapped her hands anyway - An after effect of seeing the gate. If she did anything of the like, Edward would recognize it, and knowing him, he would call upon it if someone else didn't that saw his State Alchemist Entrance Exam.

 

The man behind her pushed her roughly aside and worked his way to the front stepping out on the testing ground. He created a huge tree out of nothing but a leaf. He smiled as he stepped aside.

 

A few men had taken their turns, and then over the crowd she heard the red headed man next to her say “What's a GIRL doing trying out for the State Alchemist Title. Pretty girls like you should be in a kitchen.”

 

Amelia looked scandalized. The red headed man laughed along with the others around him. Amelia huffed before looking at him.

 

“I'm going next!” she said pushing her way through the crowd. She stood in the middle of the testing ground and looked in every direction. She saw Ed standing next to Mustang who had Hawkeye and some of the others she knew well standing around him.

 

`Oh crap now what' She thought to herself a slight blush creeping onto her cheeks.

 

She looked down at the ground and then at the pond and trees surrounding her. She did the quick calculations in her head before putting the gloves onto her hands. She hoped she wasn't sweating as much as she thought she was. What she was planning on doing she had only done once before.

 

The last time she had feinted afterwards, and that would not get her the title of State Alchemist.

 

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Authors Blog: Yay done…the next chapter has some action in it finally. Things go boom!!!!

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