Alchemy Academy

AU FMA

Chapter One Part One: First Day and Salutations

It had started out like any first day of school in my second year at the Infinite Alchemists Academy, or IAA for short. I'd never been too crazy about that particular acronym but anyways. I, Zolf J. Kimblee by the way, had been walking on my usual route to school that morning after having fed my 'friends' in the alley out back. My uniform was relatively new and clean for the new school year. The academy blazer I wore unbuttoned and hung loosely on my thin shoulders. The school regulated button up I wore slightly untucked underneath leading to my signature red slacks. Which even though I received hell from staff and those snobs from student council alike, I couldn't resist the cool feel of the red suede as it clung to my small almost feminine, though I'd NEVER admit that, hips. To top it all off, I had just thrown on my favorite pair of old sneakers with the words "JUST GO BOOM" written all along the shoes, souls and laces with black and red sharpie. My long black hair was tied up in a semi-neat ponytail and the chain from my school I.D pocket watch jingled from my slacks as I walked. Needless to say I knew I looked badass. A pretty good way to start a morning right? Wrong.

As soon as I entered school grounds I was abruptly, and on purpose I just know it, shoved to the side as another student walked by. Nearly knocked off my feet due to my lithe form, I reared my head back hissing at the rude behavior inwardly groaning when I recognized the smug grin plastered onto the culprit's face. "Well if it isn't the little firefly~ I see you didn't build up any muscle over summer vacation Zolfy!" Roy FUCKING Mustang, of course. The one person on earth that has proven the theory that jerk offs rule the world correct and he had to go to my school. Vice president of student council right behind that prick and a self proclaimed star at sports, he much like myself is one of the few students enrolled at IAA who specializes in destructive alchemy. Spff even calling that weak little parlor trick he calls flame alchemy destructive is a joke in itself I thought snidely as I dusted myself off and readjusted my pack on my shoulder. Regarding him and his cronies Maes, who honestly isn't all that bad when he's not raving about his girlfriend up in Canada, Jean who is a chronic chain smoker even though he's only seventeen like most of us, little Fuery, squinty eyed Fallman, the fat one and Roy's personal fangirl Riza who clings to his side constantly, I gave my most sardonic smile along with my witty reply of the day that he should " Kindly fuck off, you damn pansy or I'll blow your pompous arrogant eyebrows right off that ugly mug of yours". Of course it wasn't the jab at my less then muscular appearance or the firefly thing that really pissed me off. It was simply because he'd used my first name as if we were best of friends even if it was that ridiculous 'Zolfy' he'd probably spent hours coming up with.

Needless to say, Roy overreacted as usual getting out one snap before Jean, who had apparently lit a cigarette during the whole exchange, and the fat one pulled him back. As weak and pointless as I KNOW his alchemy is, it did do a solid job of lashing out from his fingers and effectively burning through and snapping my ponytail holder. Giving a mock wave as my face was framed with newly fallen familiar black locks, I snickered as Roy fought against their hold before I headed inside rushing to first period since my little morning confrontation had nearly made me late, plopping down in my seat next to my best friend Miles just in time for my favorite class Chemistry to begin.

Miles and I have known each other since grade school. Our relationship was rocky at first since I'm Amestrian, even though I'm also a little Xingese, and he's Ishvalan. Though after a while, we both promptly decided we didn't give a damn and still laugh about our childhood rivalry to this day. Miles took the IAA entrance exam along with me and I never fail to tease him a bit about just missing a perfect score unlike me who scored top of my entire grade. Much like me he has long hair, though his is silver which he always ties up tightly in a ponytail. He also always wears custom snow blindness prevention goggles even though it doesn't snow here, though these hide his one other Ishvalan trait other then the hair and tan skin which would be bright red eyes. Not as cool as purple in my opinion, Always have liked purple for some odd reason such a nice dangerous color..., but still badass I suppose.

Anyways Miles raised a brow at my appearance as I sat down, earning a smirk from me as I flipped a strand of black hair at him teasingly. "Jeez Zolf, what happened to you huh? Going all natural this year I see" he remarked with a friendly smile showing he meant no harm by it. I chuckled softly as I pulled out my spiral and pen to take notes on the sure to come lecture replying wryly"Oh yeah soon as I start wearing that pink little number I've been saving for when ya ditch Olivier an take me to prom. HA! Nah me an Flame just had another tiff is all.." I left it at that. Miles just nodded and adjusted his goggles, organizing a few stray papers on his desk. Miles knew all too well my relationship with Roy and despite my whining and protests, went out of his way to help if things ever got too bad which they did on rare occasions. Sighing I tried resting what little I could of my rebellious hair behind my ears to not much avail."Oi! Miles, got any spare rubber bands on ya?" I whispered quietly as our odd but very bright chemistry teacher, Professor Tucker, began his lecture hoping Miles would yet again come to my rescue."Nope, sorry man. Oliv borrowed my last one this morning before she headed to gym."was the unfortunate but sympathetic reply I got back, causing me to groan as the realization occurred to me yet again that I was starting sophomore year single.

Miles and Olivier had always had awesome charisma to begin with so it didn't really surprise me when Miles had called me at around three AM in the middle of summer vacation to declare excitedly that they had hooked up. Both are in the military department of the academy, Miles ranking just slightly lower then Olivier. I was happy for him despite everything, it's an understatement to say I personally don't have much luck with women. Once the topic that you want to chase a career of blowing things to smithereens comes up, it seems to make one very unpopular with the ladies.

So with a distant sigh, I blew a few strands of hair from my face and listened intently now to the lecture which happened to be leaning towards one of my newly acquired favorite subjects. At IAA, alchemy is key of course in the alchemists department. And as such, much of our combined research has been based on the laws of equivalent exchange, to gain something you must give up something of equal value, etc. Honestly the whole concept blows if you ask me but hey im just a man with ideas...and bombs. Anyways for a while now there have been supposed breakthroughs in finding a loophole around this rule. Even talk of the fabled perfect material, the Philosophers Stone, and even rumors of perfect beings that could thrive off of such a thing. Just think about it, an artificial body that would never grow old or retain physical damage! A miracle in both theory and concept, many of my elders before me have either lost their minds or worse chasing after the fantasy. Shaking my head out of my own thoughts, I caught Professor Tucker mention the term Homunculi, a word used in regard to the much sought after perfect beings. Greatly intrigued, I leaned forward jotting down notes furiously unaware of the sudden addition to our quiet classroom.

The sniveling form of my friend Dorochette appeared practically in front of my desk as the poor small boy chewed nervously on his blazer sleeve in anxiety, his tail trembling between his legs. And yes you heard right, the guy has a tail. Dorochette's parents were top of the line state alchemists in the field of surgery and medicine with an interest in chimera. They both lost their titles however and were dishonorably discharged for experimenting on their infant son and eventually turning half of his genetic makeup into that of a dog. So Dorochette attends here for his inhuman abilities and uncanny sense of smell. Though at the moment however he seemed hell bent on covering his uniform in drool from what seemed to be a newly obtained split lip that matched a black eye I don't remembering him having either. "K-Kimbleeee you have to help me! There's some creepy delinquent on the roof and H-he won't let me take my afternoon nap there!" he stammered out in between bites of his blazer sleeve.

Don't get me wrong, normally I would be completely fascinated with Doro's little dilemma as well as a person who could apparently see through his famous puppy dog look and even send him packing with a fat lip, BUT I was deeply interested in what Tucker was saying and Doro was making it increasingly difficult to listen. "Yes Doro that's very interesting but if you could just move a little bit to the righ-"I tried to interject before he was off to the races again, effectively covering my notes with drool and spit as he talked, wearing my patience paper thin. "B-But Kim! He h-hit me! and..! and! HE'S SOME TEN FOOT TALL MONSTER WITH SHARK TEETH AND BLACK HOLES FOR EYES AN..AN..AN H-HE CALLED ME PUP an.." I slammed my palms down on the desk, now quite fed up with Doro's ramblings and literally shouting making everyone in the class including Miles and Doro jump "DORO I AM TRYING TO LISTEN NOW WILL YOU PLEASE JUST SHUT UP!". As soon as it left my lips, I clapped a hand over my mouth as if with some hope I could place the words back in my throat and out of the now near silent classroom. Horrified, embarrassed and a little pissed, my eyes wandered over to Professor Tucker who sighed heavily and adjusted his glasses."Mr. Zolf, as aspiring a young alchemist as you are, I will thank you not to interrupt my lesson. Please sit outside until class is over and then come speak with me privately..." Hanging my head in defeat, I nodded obediently and gathered my things as Professor Tucker pressed his glasses up to rest higher on his nose continuing his discussion to the class. Waving sullenly to Miles who gave me a sympathetic glance, I took my stuff and stormed out of the classroom followed quickly by Doro who had stopped sniveling more or less. "K-Kimblee...? I'm sorry I got you in trouble it's just-" he stopped mid sentence as I slammed my pack down on the floor now determined like a bat out of hell to thoroughly mess up the smartass responsible for causing me to miss my lecture, venom dripping from my words. "You said that jackass was sulking around up on the roof RIGHT?" he seemed to perk up despite my dangerous tone, tail wagging vigorously. "Ya mean it? You'll really get my napping spot back?" he happily squealed. Made my anger kind of sink at the sight of him bouncing around like a young pup buuut that was short lived as more thoughts rose of beating my frustration out on some bottom feeder punk and a nice boom and splat to go along with it. "Damn right. Now, take me to where the bastard is yeah? I wanna take my time with this.." I uttered cracking my knuckles, nicely manicured hands seeming their true dangerous self. Nodding without another word, Doro lead me to the school stairwell with obvious anticipation. Beginning my walk up fueled by all my violence seeking adrenaline, I had no idea I was moving to meet face to face with a being that would shake my entire world to the very core.