"ALCHEMIST HIGH"

Rating: PG-13

Starring: Edward Elric, Alphonse Elric, Maes Hughes, Roy Mustang and Karen Kasumi from X

Chapter 1 - FIRST DAY

"You want to join Alchemist High?"

Roy's surprise in his voice was held back by his sudden curiosity. Ed and Al stood in front of his desk side by side. Roy sat at in his desk chair, his hands intertwined as he stared at them, as if trying to pinpoint the reason to their sudden decision. "Why are you so interested in the school for novice alchemist and state alchemist veterans? You've passed the State Alchemy Exam Ed, and your both on a search for the Philospher's Stone. I really don't see the point." Roy replied, leaning back in his chair and placing his hands on his lap. Ed's face was very serious as he kept his glance with the Lieutenant Cornel. "Al and I heard about it recently from some State Alchemist around town. Its not just a school for young alchemists ... I've heard all sorts of people go there. Some to become teachers of different alchemy, some go to do detailed research in the large library of the school ... but many go to sharpen their skills." Ed explained.

"You see sir, I may be good with alchemy and Ed may be a prodigy ... but we are still children with so much more to learn. We want to be as prepared as possible, no matter what is thrown our way." Al finished, slightly bowing in respect to Mustang. Allowing a small smile to cross his lips, Roy scoffed and stood from his seat. "Well ... I know better then to try and tell you different. I believe you guys could show that school a thing or two, maybe even some of the instructors there as well." he replied, walking towards them. "If its what you truly want, I'll allow it. I'll escort you there myself."

Within an hour, Ed and Al were on their way to Alchemist High. They rode in the car with Hughes and Mustang accompaning them, as they soon came face to face with the large castle like structure that was Alchemist High. Ed and Al's eyes became huge as they engulf the majesty of the school. "Whoa ..." Al replied. "Its so ... big." Ed exclaimed. Hughes laughed as he stared out the window of the car with them. "Yeah, its quite a site boys ... but don't let that intimidate you. The school is the best around for those who want to learn the science of alchemy. I went here when I was just a boy and it was possibly the greatest time of my life." he replied, looking over the establishment. "Is it really that great?" Ed asked. Hughes laughed again and patted Ed on the shoulder. "Believe me ... you can't find a greater melting pot of people and alchemists. You'll even find the instructors to be not only your teachers but your most trusted friends. Right ... Roy?" Hughes replied slyly, glancing over at him. Roy slightly blushed and turned away. "I have no idea what your getting at Hughes." he confided. Hughes chuckled to himself. He knew Roy was simply kidding himself. There was only one reason why Roy would ever come to Alchemist High.

The car pulled up to the entrance doors as they heard the class bell ring. Al was the first out of the car as he looked up towards the bell tower. "What's the bell for?" Al asked. Hughes walked out of the car followed by Ed and Roy. "Seems afternoon classes are over. Unless the students have night classes, the rest of the day is theirs to do with what they want. Many of them live here in town but most of them live in the dorms provided to them at the school." Al looked over to Hughes. "Dorms?" he asked. "That sounds more like a college to me." Ed replied. Roy laughed as he walked up to Ed's side. "The school is worldly known ... its prestigious enough to be thought as a college, but truth is ... this school gets all sort of alchemists from all over the world. From young to old. The military provides and funds everything this school needs. Who knows ... some of them may join up to be State Alchemist if that's their wish." Ed looked from Roy to the school as he smiled widely. "Well then, this sounds like it will suit us just fine, right Al?"

"You bet! I'm looking forward to starting!" Al responded back.

"I'd have to say the same ..." a disembodied voice called out.

Al, Ed and Hughes looked over to the entrance doors. A red head young woman with ruby lips came walking up to them. She was dressed in a short slinky red dress and a white lab coat. She was followed by a group of State Alchemists. She walked before Al and Ed and smiled sweetly. "You must be the world reknowned Elric Brothers I hear so much about." she replied. Both Ed and Al both felt their cheeks flush a bit, as he cleared his throat and returned to his confident self. "Yep, that's us. I'm Edward Elric, and this is my little brother, Al." he replied. Al stuttered a bit, being quite bashful and bowed his hello. The young woman laughed. "Its a pleasure and an honor to meet you both. I'm Karen Kasumi. The Headmistress of Alchemist High."

"Headmistress? So, does that mean your a State Alchemist too?" Al asked.

"Yes of course. The regal blue suits and salutes weren't my thing ... so I went more for the teaching of alchemy through this school to better suit my skills as part of the military." Karen smiled as she looked over to Hughes and Mustang. She clicked her heels and saluted her higher officers. "But in such cases, one can't help but go back to old habits." she jokingly replied, as the group of State Alchemists behind her also clicked their heels and saluted them. "Nice to see you again, Major." Karen exclaimed. Hughes smiled and let out a chuckle as he fixed his glasses. "Its always a treat to see you again Karen ... I know the boys will be in excellent care under your watchful eye." he stated, placing his hand on Ed and Al's shoulders. "They'll quickly become our school celebritites I'm sure. And I'll be watching over them personally. You know you can count on me." she sweetly assured him. Hughes nodded and laughed again, as Karen's eyes glanced over to Mustang. She scoffed to herself, and with her hand still in salute, she and the others turned to Mustang in a much higher salute. "Lieutenant Cornel ..." Karen replied. Mustang stood with his arms crossed and his eyes staring dead into Karen's. He turned away as he closed his eyes. "Miss Kasumi ..." he uttered back. Karen's face whinced slightly as she smiled and brushed it off.

She brought her her hand down and returned her attention to the Elric Brothers. "So ... Ed and Al ... I'm sure you want to get started as soon as possible. Please, allow me to give you a tour of the school and then I'll personally see you to your rooms." Ed and Al looked surprised for a moment. "Uh, but we don't have any of our stuff ..." Ed confessed, scratching behind his head. "Not to worry Ed!" Hughes interruppted. "I already ordered Major Armstrong to bring along your things to your room. Everything's taken care of, so don't you worry. Enjoy your first semester boys!" Hughes replied, waving goodbye and heading into the car. Mustang remained where he stood as he watched the boys start to walk inside with the group of State Alchemists. Karen remained in her spot as well as she watched the boys enter the school. "I'll be right behind you boys." Karen called out, sliding her hands in her lab coat pockets.

Between Mustang and herself, it remained an awkward silence. Karen closed her eyes and sighed, as her sweet smile reduced to a smirk. "Is there a reason to the sudden formalities?" she asked, almost in a faint whisper. Mustang closed his eyes again, his arms now draped to his sides. "I could ask the same of you." he answered sharply back. Karen laughed as she turned to look over at him. "Roy ...," she whispered, "What's happened to us? You don't stop by the school as much anymore ... and on official missions, you act like stone to me ... cold and hard."

"I treat you as I do any lower militant under me, Kasumi."

"I'm not just any lower militant, Roy!" she yelled out.

Again, the air around them came to a dead silence. Hughes watched with a serious and worried expression. He sighed to himself as he fixed his glasses. "Oh, Roy ..." he replied. Mustang turned on his heel and began to enter the car. He froze for a moment, with his back still to Karen. "The boys are quite the gifted alchemists. They'll do well here. However, Ed is still a State Alchemist ... the Fullmetal ... he and his brother might be called for missions from time to time." he replied. Karen's face became stern as she answered back almost scoldly. "Don't worry .. the boys are in good hands. And I'm sure Ed or Al won't let their missions in the way of their studies." she assured him.

Roy sighed and turned back to Karen, looking deeply into her eyes. "We'll talk ... soon. Until then ... I am sorry ... Karen." he replied affectionatly. Karen's face was shocked to hear her name as Mustang immediatly jumped into the car and it drove off. Karen watched until the car was out of sight as she smiled to herself. "Still the teddybear under all that armor aren't you?" she replied to herself.

"Miss Kasumi!" Al yelled out.

Karen looked back towards the entrance and chuckled to herself. "I'm coming boys!" she yelled back, as she began walking towards the entrance. Karen knew, having the prodigy of the military and his visual wonder of a brother, would prove to bring out the best ... and possibly worst out of the other students of the school.