Don’t take any lives. That’s all I asked you, Bald… And as it turns out, you did exactly as you were told.
BBald
So I take it you’re Mustang. HAAAAA!
I controlled myself. The damage to your skin isn’t nearly as bad as it feels. You can call me Roy Mustang, or just Lieutenant Colonel. Hell, you can call me the Flame Alchemist. Whatever you do, remember the pain.
Hey! You knew! That’s why you made us take this train! You put us at risk on purpose!
Come on, you think I have the whole world on strings? But… the General heard about your exploits, saving the train; he’s letting you take the State Alchemy exam.
But you always said we could take it! That’s the reason we came!
Come on, Ed, the State’s never let a kid take a military exam before. But, I guess lucks on your side, good thing you took that earlier train, huh? Whether you decide to take the test is still up to you, I’m not trying to run your life.
Of course I’ll take it! And pass! I would have done it anyway!
Those people had us playing right at the palms of their hands, didn’t they? I guess it doesn’t matter what we do. We’ll never be the ones in control.
So, boys, you’re really convinced you’re ready for this?
That’s right; just tell me what to wear to graduation…
Careful, Ed. I’d hate for you to get cocky, as you know, you find your own training, and I suggest him.
Sowinglife alchemist, huh?
Shou Tucker, practically wrote the book on bringing things to life…
[Voice over] That’s how it started; we spent the months, before the exam, living at the Tucker Estate.
[panicked] When you think of it like alchemy, making a life's expensive! You'd have to give something up!!
CHILDBIRTH IS NOT ALCHEMY, YOU DOPE!
AAAH! I CAN FEEL IT'S HEAD NOW!
AAH! SHE CAN FEEL IT'S HEAD?! WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?!
I'M NOT TOUCHING BABY STUFF!!
Damn it, what am I going to do? I didn’t think we’d have to prepare anything…
And what about the interview? They could look inside my armor and see I’m empty…
Hey, you could put Alexander in there and pretend you’re a talking dog...
I don’t think that’s very funny…
NNina
Oh a letter! Who are you writing to?
Eh! Ah! A person it doesn’t matter!
Oh! It’s to Winry, isn’t it?
Hey! It’s just a simple report! Just passed the alchemy exam! How’s the weather, that whole thing, ok?
NNina
Winry’s a pretty name! Is she your girlfriend?
AAAHH! She’s not! She’s not! She’s not! She’s not! We’re friends!
NNina
I know I’m going to write a letter to my mommy too!
So your mom lives far away, doesn’t she Nina?
NNina
That’s right! She told my dad, ‘He was a good for nothing alchemist, who couldn’t do anything right. Hopefully, she’ll send a reply this time…
[Havoc and Edward are in a car with Havoc driving.]
What’s the matter, chief? You look like the sky’s falling down. Don’t let the Lieutenant Colonel get to you, his mind’s in on a case now.
Serial killer, only targets women.
Eh… Sounds like police business, why does he care?
It’s the Military’s backyard, it’s dishonorable. Mustang cares about that stuff.
Or wants a promotion. [Havoc suddenly stops the car.] Uhh!
It’s true kid, Mustang’s no political novice, he’ll do whatever he has to, to move up the chain around here. But if that’s all he was about, we wouldn’t follow him.
Tell me then, what else is he about?
You’ll learn soon enough.
BGBasque Grand
Don't they just eat at you? I hear when that kid showed off his transmutation abilities without the use of a circle, the king actually opened up his mouth and complimented him. Now that upstart Mustang is getting points for discovering him. My points, Tucker!
I...I'm sorry if they caused trouble for you, sir.
BGBasque Grand
I smoothed things over for you last year when you turned in that pile of trash and called it research. Fail it again and then I'll get the heat for endorsing you.
BGBasque Grand
What, Tucker?! Would you rather the alternative approach? You wanna pass the title of Sewing-Life Alchemist to that boy and go back to your old life? Drifting the streets of some backward town with ideas and an empty stomach? Your assessment's in two days; it's time to show or roll over.
When was the first time you made one of these...human-speaking chimeras?
I thought I told you. It's been two years now.
And when exactly did your wife leave you?
And those letters...that Nina wrote...did any of them ever reach her?
What are you...getting at?
Tell me this... Where have Alexander and Nina gone to?!
[Sighs] I hate prodigies like you Ed. Too damn perceptive.
[Edward throws Tucker against a wall.]
This guy used his own wife, Al!
HIS DAUGHTER!....and his dog! He transmuted them into that...THING! An easy process when you use people, right?!
Why are you getting so upset, Edward? It's the nature of scientific progress: animal testing, experimentation, trial and error! All advancements have -- a price.
SHUT UP! I'm not gonna let you rationalize this, you monster! That was your own family, damn it! You've been toying with people's LIVES!
Toying with lives? What?! Like your arm and leg there? Or your brother's body? Or trying to bring your mother back? That's toying, isn't it? You don't really think you are any different from me, do you, Ed? [Edward punches Tucker, sending him to the ground. Tucker chuckles. Edward prepares to punch him again but is stopped by Alphonse.]
Why, Mr. Tucker? The whole point was to pass the assessment and continue your way of life. But now your family's gone. What life is left?!
That's the funny thing, I didn't have a reason. I fully understood, no matter what I did, my life would be ruined. I could either do it with the science, or without. And so I chose science, to see if I could.
When you have the power to do something, it's hard not to try. Isn't that what we agreed on, Ed? Aren't we so much alike?
Sure...part of me did it for respect and this house. Just as you partly did it for your mother. But there's more. You're desperate to put your mind to use, Ed. To see what you're capable of, to put the world under your fingers...that's the essence of alchemy. You did it for knowledge...control. Above all, you did it just to prove you can. [Edward punches Tucker again]
You're wrong. Alchemy isn't meant to be... I'm not like you! [Edward repeatedly punches Tucker.] I'M NOT! NOT! I'M NOT!
Brother, you'll kill him!
