So then, have you made up your mind to take the exam?
Of course! I can even wag my tail too if you'd 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.
Take the memories of distant days, tear them up with your own hands,
kimi no te de kirisaite tooi hi no kioku wo
Take the memories of distant days, tear them up with your own hands,
kimi no te de kirisaite tooi hi no kioku wo
and squeeze the life out of your sorrows for me
kanashimi no iki no ne wo tomete kure yo
and squeeze the life out of your sorrows for me
kanashimi no iki no ne wo tomete kure yo
and squeeze the life out of your sorrows for me
kanashimi no iki no ne wo tomete kure yo
Come on, and pierce my heart as it yearns for your love!
saa, ai ni kogareta mune wo tsuranuke
Come on, and pierce my heart as it yearns for your love!
saa, ai ni kogareta mune wo tsuranuke
Come on, and pierce my heart as it yearns for your love!
saa, ai ni kogareta mune wo tsuranuke
Looking at the sky, thinking tomorrow must be coming,
asu ga kuru hazu no sora wo mite
it's too much for my captivated heart to take
mayou bakari no kokoro mote amashite iru
As a bird flutters along beside me,
katawara no tori ga habataita
I wonder where he managed to find his light
doko ka hikari wo mitsukerareta no ka na
Say, would you carry me along on your back as well?
naa, omae no se ni ore mo nosete kurenai ka?
Say, would you carry me along on your back as well?
naa, omae no se ni ore mo nosete kurenai ka?
Say, would you carry me along on your back as well?
naa, omae no se ni ore mo nosete kurenai ka?
And leave me at the highest place there is,
soshite ichiban takai tokoro de
far away from kindness?
okizari ni shite, yasashisa kara toozakete
Take the memories of distant days, tear them up with your own hands,
kimi no te de kirisaite tooi hi no kioku wo
and squeeze the life out of your sorrows for me
kanashimi no iki no ne wo tomete kure yo
Come on, and pierce my heart as it yearns for your love!
saa, ai ni kogareta mune wo tsuranuke
Come on, and pierce my heart as it yearns for your love!
saa, ai ni kogareta mune wo tsuranuke
Come on, and pierce my heart as it yearns for your love!
saa, ai ni kogareta mune wo tsuranuke
State Alchemist Qualification Exam
Two years ago,
Mr. Tucker successfully transmuted a Chimera that could speak man's language.
He has taken the State Alchemist Certification Examination as well.
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 it another way, a Chimera that could understand what a person says and could speak.
Awesome!
Mr. Tucker also lives with his daughter, who is about to turn four.
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-san?
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-san, 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're 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-kun, are you 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 don't need to force yourself to worry about 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.
So you should at least get a good night's rest.
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! Big Brother, that was amazing!
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, Gracia.
Your stomach's so big!
Oh, my goodness!
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-chan.
It moved!
Incredible! Incredible!
Okay then, does anyone want refills on their tea?
Oh, thanks!
Gracia!
Honey, uma—
Uma? [horse]
Umareru! [the baby's coming]
I-It can't be...! The due date isn't here yet!
Well, the baby wants to come out already.
A doctor! We have to get to a doctor!
Th-There's a blizzard!
In that case, I'll bring a doctor here!
Sit tight, Gracia!
J-Just a sec—
Sorry about this, everyone.
Gracia-san, I brought some hot water!
Thank you. Set it there on the floor.
Wh-What else?
Let' 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...
I can't take any more! I'm dying!
Brother! Gracia-san said she's going to die!
Sh-She couldn't be...!
She's not dead, is she?
Mama-san!
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!
Th-Thank goodness she's alive! Are you all right, Gracia-san?
Dammit, 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 would I know?! Must've been force of mind!
Here it comes!
What should we do?!
Isn't the doctor here yet?!
Outstanding! Outstanding, Gracia!
Thanks to everybody.
I'm really, really grateful.
W-We didn't do anything.
That's not true.
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 in 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 I did,
and about half showed off their transmuting on the spot.
What are you guys going to do?
I'm at a loss. 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've 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 harm 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 amazingly beautiful!
Edward Elric
State Alchemist
Certification Examination
PASS
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 cross that bridge when I come to it.
Someday, no matter what,
I'm going to return you back to the way you were!
When you do, Brother, your body will be there with me!
Older Brother - 12
Younger Brother - 11
With you always in my sight, I can manage to draw breath
itsumo no shisen ni kimi ga ite kokyuu ga dekiru
And for me, that ought to be enough in itself, and yet...
boku ni totte nara sore dake de mou juubun na hazu na no ni
All little old me ever does is repeat the same old mistakes
chippoke na boku wa kurikaesu ayamachi bakari
How much strength do I need to come by
dore hodo tsuyosa wo te ni shitara
before I can get by without hurting anything?
nanimo kizutsukezu ni sumu no?
I am not going to stray, I'm going to trust this love,
mayowazu ni kono ai wo,
and with it I will go on living!
shinjikite yuku
I'm going to take these wounds,
fusagaranu
the ones that will not close, and squeeze them tight!
kizuguchi mo gyutto dakishimete
The two of us must keep on walking,
futari wa arukitsuzukeru
The two of us must keep on walking,
futari wa arukitsuzukeru
since we can never return again
ato ni wa modorenai kara
Even now, deep within my heart,
ima demo kono mune no oku,
I still feel the pain of this indelible sin
kesenai tsumi wa itamu kedo
Darling
Night of the Chimera's Cry
Fullmetal Alchemist...
Episode 7: "Night of the Chimera's Cry"
Nina...