7-21-13: Attention, first few chapters have been edited! You don't have to read them, but you can if you want. It won't effect the story overall, only the first 3 chapters. I think I did a good job, they are really funny! (check out ch. 3 ;p) :3
Chapter 10 - Exams: Time to Show Off! Part 1
After suffering through the same schedule for a month, the others and I found ourselves with a new problem: exams.
"Exams are so troublesome! Studying is useless, you either know the stuff or not. If I knew it would be so much work, I wouldn't have bothered coming." I was glad Mark finally got past his aloof personality from before. He finally had no problem voicing his opinion, however, we found that he is probably the laziest person in Amestris! I doubt anyone could be more unmotivated than he is!
"Look on the bright side, we can show everyone what we can really do! If we pass these exams, we are one step closer to getting out of this god forsaken place and joining the military ranks. I don't know about you guys, but I want to show everyone how awesome Stephen Burke really is!" He dodged a book Mark threw at his head.
"Knock it off! You're too loud. Some of us are trying to actually study. Do any of you even have a plan for passing?" Leave it to Arron to be the voice of reason. We all thought a moment about actually planning what we were going to do.
"Explosions." The four of us turned and gave Kai a look of disbelief. It was the first time he spoke all night. I took a look at what he was planning for each test.
"Um, Kai? I hate to break it to you, but I'm pretty sure you can't burn your test paper. I think that's an automatic failing grade." If Stephen even thought he would fail, Kai has to change something.
"Do not underestimate the power of a perfectly timed and executed explosion. It is an art." The four of us just backed away slowly and continued our studying.
"I don't know about the rest of you, but I'm going to wing it. It hasn't ever failed me before! I've always turned out fine!" I looked at each boy's skeptical face.
"Really? It's never failed you before? What about that fight with the guy who ended up having a brother?" Aaron was talking about my Lab 5 experience. I didn't give them details on my different fights, but I did tell them about some of the situations I've gotten into before.
"Yeah, and there was that time you said your arm broke half way into a fight," Stephen chimed in.
"Ninja girl." Even Kai was contributing?!
"Let's not forget about the run-in with -"
"Okay! That's enough! You all have proved your point! I'll study, okay? Sheesh! Get off my case!" The four shrugged and we continued through the night. There is a reason the word dying is in studying.
I stared at the top of my paper. There was only one question for the history exam, and I was about ready to copy Kai and just light it on fire.
Describe one contributing factor of Amestrian military that has allowed it to prosper throughout the countless skirmishes.
How did they expect me to answer that?! I can't just say we won because it was all a plot the homunculi and Father concocted to create the world's biggest Philosopher's Stone! They weren't doing it to make it into the book of world records either!
I sighed and began to write. The state alchemist branch was what won most of the wars. Starting in the Ishvalin war, alchemists used their awesome skills to force everyone to surrender...
The Strategy and Tactics exam was almost worst than the first! We had to come up with solutions for five different scenarios and describe our plan of action. I look over at Mark, who is asleep with his paper filled out. Damn lazy genius, he finished after the first ten minutes! If he ever joins the military, I have to have him play General Grumman in chess. He is like some sort of tactical expert. I look at each scenario and start writing down random ideas.
It doesn't matter if they make sense or not, the enemy isn't going to give you time to come up with a strategy! When I fought the homunculi, I couldn't plan stuff! You can't just say, "Sorry Envy, can you wait like 10 to 15 minutes? I have to plan out how I'm going to win." If you did that, you would die in three seconds. I really need to speak to the higher-ups about the crap they are teaching the future soldiers of our country.
I. Hate. My. LIFE! We spent the last hour showing all the different formations and marching patterns! During our firearms examination, I might "accidentally" end up shooting our instructor in the leg. Bastard.
Arron, Kai, Mark, Stephen, and I relished our lunch break. After our morning of torture, anything had to be better! As we got our lunch, I noticed five people I hadn't seen before. "Hey, who do you think those people are?" The others shrugged, so we went over to investigate.
The five new students were an odd bunch. There was a guy with dark hair staring at the clouds, a guy with blond hair in a ponytail that covered one eye, a girl with brown hair in buns, another kid with wild blond hair and... whiskers, and a kid with black hair and orange goggles. They were the weirdest kids I have ever seen.
The lazy guy spoke first. "New people... troublesome." I sweat dropped. He and Mark would definitely hit it off, in fact Mark was laying down next to him.
Aaron was talking to the single female of the group. She had been sharpening weapons and were absorbed in an in-depth discussion about the weapons. If those two get together, the kitchen is going to be missing their knives.
I look over to Stephen and Kai, but they have left too. Stephen and cat-man are arguing about whether technology benefits a battle or not and Kai was in a corner with the blond ponytail guy. I hear "explosion" and "art" a few times and see the weird guy give Kai some suspicious looking clay he randomly had. I don't know where he got it from, but I don't want to know where he was keeping it.
I was about to leave before things got crazier, especially Kai and clay-dude, but was stopped by the last member. "Hey, you have to get me away from these people! They're insane!" I was about to comment on his sanity, but decided against it.
"So, what's your story? You seem like the only sane one of the bunch." The kid snorted.
"I am the sanest one! I just happen to be skilled in combat and come from a family of prodigies." I can relate. By the time we make it to where Al and Winry are sitting, I found that I have a lot more in common with him than I initially thought.
"Al, Winry, this is my new friend Tobi." At the end of our break, I went to find the others who had an interesting lunch as well. I waved good-bye to Tobi and for a moment I thought I saw his dark eyes flash red. I blink and his eyes are back to normal.
"I swear, this place is driving me insane." My suspicions of being delusional were later confirmed when the five mysterious new students seemed to have disappeared. "Yep, I'm going crazy."
A/N: Exams are here for Ed and the crew! Similar to the classes, each will go in order. I wanted to shake it up a bit, so I made this chapter a mini-crossover. Cameo appearances from Naruto characters! I thought their personalities matched with Ed and the others. It was just for fun, so they probably won't show up again. I am so happy that people love my story! :') It makes me so happy! I LOVE YOU ALL! :D I hope this chapter met your expectations! If not, TOO BAD! Well, thanks to all my super fantastical reviewers! RetroMonkey, nyx, SpenstarianCreed, Musa1992, pokemondude61926, 69AnimeFreak69, PhantomKnight102, hitty-chan, Guest, littledarkangel9797, Siari, Emina333, Piper-inu26, FwooshEye, and DreamerRenuki! 15 reviewers and 33 reviews! Thank you so much for making this my most popular story ever! YOU ROCK! XD
Manga-neko signing out! :3