So then, have you made up your mind to take the exam?
Of course! I can even wag my tail too, if you like.
Very well.
From now on, you two will apply yourself to your studies wherever you feel is most suitable.
"The Sewing Life Alchemist"?
Shou Tucker - the foremost authority on transmuting living bodies.
And so, we came to spend the remaining time before our exam at the Tucker house.
Man cannot obtain anything without first sacrificing something.
In order to obtain anything, something of equal value is required.
That is alchemy's Law of Equivalent Exchange.
At the time, we believed that to be the true way of the world.
Two years ago, Mr. Tucker successfully transmuted a chimera that could speak man's language,
and is someone who has taken the State Alchemist Certification Examination.
A Chimera that speaks man's language!?
It was a composite beast that was created at the cost of multiple creatures that had differing genetics,
or, to put another way, a Chimera that could understand what a person says, and could speak.
Awesome!
In addition to Mr. Tucker, he has a daughter, who is about to turn four, who lives with him.
Then he doesn't have a wife?
Here we are.
Wow, it's huge!
Incredible, huh, Brother?
What are you doing? Come over here, quickly!
Oh, right...
B-Brother...?
You can't do that, you know, Alexander!
Oh, I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
You're... Tucker?
Yeah, I'm terribly sorry about all this. We don't have any woman's touch around here.
It's like this inside the house, too.
Wow. Bigger Brother's clothes are funny.
Aren't they heavy?
It's all right. Big Brother is very strong.
I'm sure you'll have a chance to discuss their natures at some point.
Until you do, just accept them.
Okay, Nina, go play outside.
Alexander must be lonesome.
Okay then, I'll see you later.
Who would have thought you'd aspire to be State Alchemists at your ages...?
If there's anything I can do for you, just let me know, okay?
Well, Tucker, I'd like to have you show us the Chimera you transmuted.
Me too.
Oh, it died not long after it was transmuted, you see...
Anyways, passing marks come first. It will take more than just an overnight effort to pass this test.
This is the materials room. You are free to use it.
This is incredible, Brother. It's full of books I've never even seen!
The materials in here are just a fraction compared to what they have at the National Central Library.
If you pass the test, you can get materials that will give you dozens,
no, hundreds of times more knowledge than this.
Is that right?
Brother, we should get busy-
Oh, brother...
Ed, making any progress with your studies?
Yeah, some. But there's so much stuff here that I didn't know.
The test is hard even for adults who have received special education.
But you're still so young. You needn't force yourself to worry about taking it this year.
No...
I'll try to do everything that I can, no matter how slim the possibilities are of me passing.
If I can keep moving ahead...
Bigger Brother, you haven't eaten anything!
That won't do! You have to make sure to eat!
Huh? Um...
Thanks.
This sure does look delicious.
Be sure you chew it well!
Mm-hmm. This sure is good!
Here! Have another one!
Can't sleep?
Yeah. My head is too full of all the things I learned.
Oh, yeah? Say, Brother...
I'm sure you'll be able to pass the test, Brother. So you should at least get some good rest at night.
It sure takes me back, the way this all feels.
The two of us wanted nothing but to become State Alchemists...
Once we did, we felt that some kind of path would become open to us...
Oh, no, is it this late already?
Al, where are you?
Is he off playing?
Al!
Brother!
Little Big Brother, it snowed!
Big Brothers, I wish you could stay here all the time after you pass your test.
Big Brother, what are you drawing?
It's called a transmutation circle. It's an incantation to get a wish granted.
All right!
Watch this!
Incredible! Incredible! Big Brother, that was incredible!
Not bad!
Major Hughes!
Hey there! I've come to pick you up. It's your birthday today, right Ed?
Now that you mention it...
How would you know something like that?
I am with the research department, you know.
Come on, let's go to my house. My wife is waiting.
You too there, little lady.
A celebration is more fun if you share it with everyone!
Come on in! Thank you all for coming.
This is my wife, Glacier.
- Oh, my goodness!
- Your stomach's so big!
You're going to have a baby?
Very shortly now.
There's a big fuss inside my tummy, saying "I want to come out soon!"
Really?
Do you want to feel?
N-no...!
Nina wants to feel!
Go ahead, Nina.
It moved! Incredible! Incredible!
Okay then, does anyone want refills on their tea?
Oh, thanks!
Glacier!
Honey,
- Umareru!y's coming!)
- Uma?se?)
I-it can't be! The due date isn't here yet!
Well, the baby wants to come out already.
T-the doctor! We have to get to the doctor!
T-there's a blizzard!
In that case, I'll bring the doctor here! Sit tight, Glacier!
J-just a sec-!
Sorry about this, everyone.
Glacier, I brought some hot water!
Thanks. Set it there on the floor.
What else?
Let's see... I suppose we'll need a lot of towels.
Towels, you say? All right!
The doctor sure is taking a long time.
Yeah, with all this snow...
Aah! I can't take any more! I'm dying!
Brother! Glacier said she's going to die!
S-she couldn't be...!
She's not dead, is she?
You idiot! She's just lost consciousness, right!?
But if you think about it like alchemy, there's a considerable cost in creating a new life!
Childbirth isn't alchemy, you know!
T-thank goodness she's alive! Are you all right, Glacier?
Damn it, what should we do!?
How can there be nothing we can do at a time like this!?
Big Brother!
The water is cold.
Ah, okay.
Brother! What did you just do?
N-nothing...
N-nothing? But where's the transmutation circle!?
Then, how did the water get hot?
How do I know!? Must have been force of mind!
Aah! Here it comes!
What should we do!?
Isn't the doctor here yet!?
Outstanding! Outstanding, Glacier!
Thanks to everybody. I'm really, really grateful.
W-we didn't do anything.
Uh-huh, you stayed at my side.
This alchemy stuff - turns out it wasn't any help at all, huh?
In contrast, mothers are something awesome, huh?
They can do something an alchemist wouldn't be able to do in a hundred years.
The same goes for our mother.
Al...?
I wonder if I was that warm and soft when I was born.
O-of course you were!
Really?
After that, we became much more absorbed with alchemy.
It was all we could do, wishing to take back the bodies we were born with.
Come to think of it, Brother,
you heated that water before without using a transmutation circle, huh?
Yeah. That situation was something out of the ordinary, though.
Even so, it was still incredible of you, Brother. I'll have to keep at it, too.
W-well then, I'll quiz you.
The test was drawing ever nearer.
Every year, the test is held in the order of written exam, then interview, and then practical skills.
I can't say anything about how many people will be taking it,
but each year, there are only one or two people who pass.
You mean, that's all?
Um, what kind of things do they do during the interview?
In my case, all they did was a question-and-answer session,
but I understand that there are also physical examinations, depending on the person.
A physical examination, huh?
And another thing...
at the practical skills test, about half the people brought the results of their research, like me,
and about half showed off their transmuting on the spot.
What are you guys going to do?
I give up. What are we going to do for the practical skills test?
What if they do a physical exam before then?
They'll find out that the inside of this armor is empty.
Hey, I'm sure that Lt. Col. Mustang is thinking up something for us.
I sure hope so.
As we embraced our uneasiness, the day of the test finally came.
We will now begin the preliminary examination.
Begin!
Big Brothers! How did it go?
I didn't make it to the last question.
I got through all of it, but next comes the interview.
I never would have expected the younger brother to pass the written, too.
Is there a problem?
The interview...
You can't mean it! I can't accept this!
Why? Why would you tell me not to go through the interview!?
If you wish to go any further while still concealing your past, that's the only thing you can do.
But I want to stay together with my brother!
It's okay, Al.
It's like Old Lady Pinako said.
State Alchemists get rounded up whenever war breaks out.
Sometimes they have to use their alchemy to do harm to others, for the good of the people.
Passing equals "dog of the military".
But still...!
It'll be enough for me alone to become a State Alchemist.
I'll make sure I become one, and grant you your wish.
Brother...
A golden three-legged stool? Why doesn't it fall over like that?
Take a seat.
If you are a true alchemist, the chair will not refuse you.
Alchemist, at no time allow yourself to be afraid!
Very well.
So then, let's hear your motivations for taking the test.
I-it's because...
It's because...?
I made a promise!
I told the only other member of my family...
...that I would make sure I became a State Alchemist!
Al...
We chose the right path, didn't we?
I don't know.
But the one thing I am sure about...
...is that I want to touch you once again, Brother.
It's strange, huh?
Here we are, always so near each other,
but I can't even remember what it feels like to touch you,
or the warmth of your body.
And then, the morning of the practical skills test...
I'm off!
Big Brother...!
Nina...
Big Brother, here.
It's an incantation, to grant your wish!
Thanks, Nina!
We now offer you all of the matter that exists within these premises.
Please make use of it to transmute whatever you like.
Whatever I like? What on earth should I do in order to pass?
It is a magnificent article, but the fact that he's used up all of his strength is, well...
Is he serious!?
I'll go next.
Trees and water...?
I hope Big Brother is all right.
He has your incantation, Nina, so he'll be fine.
Nicely done.
He made paper and hydrogen out of the wood and water, huh?
This isn't good!
So he can do it without a transmutation circle...
An underage alchemist, huh? Intriguing.
Wow! How terribly pretty!
Al...
I'm going to stop all my wavering! I'm going to just look straight ahead and race forward!
If I dead-end, I'll deal with that then.
Someday, no matter what, I'm going to return you back the way you were!
When you do, Brother, your body will be there with me!
Fullmetal Alchemist!
Episode 7: "Night of the Chimera's Cry"
Nina...