A/N: Ok...here it is the long awaited chapter 3! This will probally be the last update for a bit cause these chapters were all pre-typed up and me and TNFMA got a bit more work to do before the next chapter will be released. Anyways I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: Neither of us own FMA

"Welcome to Central Military Headquarters, guys," Edward said somewhat proudly as he swept his hand out, showing off the large white building's grandeur.

"Wow…" Jayson and Jacque said in unison, staring wide-eyed and rooted in place.

"Fullmetal?" Hawkeye asked, turning towards Edward. "If you don't mind sir, we should really get going - the Colonel is waiting for us."

"Yeah, yeah, I know, I know…" Ed sighed as he turned to follow the Lieutenant. "See you guys later…" he called out as he waved a hand.

Jayson blinked. "Wait a minute - what the hell are we supposed to do, then?" He demanded, hands on hips.

Ed turned around, surprised. "Gee, I never really thought of that… Hmm… Hey, I got it! Al, why don't you take them and show them around Central a bit?"

"Yeah, sure!" Al nodded with a clank, excitement in his hollow metal voice. "Come on, Jayson, Jacque! We'll go look around until Ed's done visiting with the Colonel! We'll take you guys to sign up for the exam once he's finished."

"Alright, Al!" Jacque said with a smile.

Jayson sighed. "Ok… I guess…" This wasn't what he had had in mind…

"Alright then, see you guys later!" Ed said as he turned to leave again.

"Bye, Brother! And don't be too rude to the Colonel!" Al called out. Ed only waved a hand in response. "Come on, you guys, let's get going - there's a lot to see in this city!"

Al, Jacque, and Jayson began to make their way down the side walk when Ed, walking up the steps to the HQ building with Hawkeye, suddenly stopped. He slapped himself on the fore-head. "Idiot!" he said out loud to himself. "You forgot to tell them!" And with that he tore back down the front steps and after the other three.

"Fullmetal, sir! Edward! WAIT!" Hawkeye shouted futilely. Her words fell on deaf ears…

"Jayson! Jacque! Wait!" Ed puffed as he ran to catch up. "AL!" he finally shouted.

The large suit of armor stopped in its tracks and turned around. "Brother? What's wrong?"

"There's… something… I forgot… to tell you… guys…" Ed managed as he tried to catch his breath, clutching at a stitch in his side, a product of his long sprint with no warm-up.

Jayson and Jacque looked at each other quizzically and then back at Edward.

"What is it, Ed?" Jayson finally asked.

Ed straightened up. "You shouldn't need to use transmutation circles to perform alchemy any more," he said simply.

Jacque and Jayson just stared.

"Oh, yeah! That's right, Brother! They shouldn't have to anymore!" Al said, the meaning of what Ed's words dawning on him.

"What do you mean?" Jayson asked, eyeing Edward warily. "How are we supposed to perform alchemy without circles?"

Ed grinned. "Like this!"

"CLAP!"

"ZZZT!"

"SHING!"

A gleaming metal blade now replaced Edward's right auto-mail hand.

"Wow!" Jacque exclaimed.

"Cool!" Jayson shouted, face lit up with a smile. "So we can do that now, too? Clap our hands and transmute, I mean."

"If you've seen the Gate, at least," Ed told him, suddenly serious. "Jacque?" he asked solemnly. "There's something I've been wondering about…"

"What?" she asked apprehensively.

"How were you not attacked by the Gate? You helped in the human transmutation, didn't you?"

"Yes… I did…" she said softly.

"I stood in front of her to shield her from the Gate," Jayson told Edward quickly. "I… I wasn't sure if it would hurt us or not… So I had to protect her - just in case…"

Ed nodded slowly.

"When it took my arm," Jayson continued, gently clutching his new auto-mail, "I knew it would go after her next… So I stood my ground - to protect her! As a result, I lost both an arm… and a leg…"

"I see…" Edward said softly, mulling it all over. After a few minutes of silence, Ed slapped himself on the forehead (again), making everyone jump. "I almost forgot again! Jacque, Winry asked me to give this to you before we left Resembool," he told her as he handed her a paper-wrapped package.

"Oh! My staffs!" she said as she carefully took the package from Edward. "Thanks, Ed!"

"No problem!" he said, smiling.

"Fullmetal? Fullmetal, sir!" Hawkeye said as she rounded the corner, coming fast - and right towards Ed…

"Uh-oh…" Edward breathed.

"Sir," Hawkeye said sternly, every word weighted, "I think that it's about time that we go and see the Colonel, don't you?" she gave him a steely look that quickly turned to one of confusion and concern. "Edward, what happened to your forehead? It's so red…"

"Hahaha! Oh, nothing, nothing, just me being clumsy! Haha!" Ed laughed sheepishly. He quickly stopped, however, when he noticed that the Lieutenant wasn't buying it. "It'd be in my best interest to go now, huh, Lieutenant?"

"Yes, sir, that's correct…"

"Right… Well, then, I guess I'll be seeing you guys later! Bye, Jayson! Bye, Jacque! See you later, Al - "

"NOW, sir!" Hawkeye said fiercely as she pulled out a loaded gun and put it to the back of Edward's head. Ed distinctly heard the safety click off…

"Ok, it's been great you guys, see you later!" He shouted before running off in the other direction, Hawkeye in hot pursuit.

Jayson and Jacque laughed. Al just sighed.

"Is she serious? She wouldn't really shoot him, would she?" Jacque asked, looking up at Al with a face filled with bemusement and mild concern.

Before Al even had a chance to answer a loud "bang" was heard - the unmistakable sound of Riza firing off a round…

"Oh, shit, I think she is serious!"

"COLONEL!" they heard her bellow, followed by the sounds of more shooting.

Al chuckled as he turned to continue walking down the street. "Looks like the Colonel tried to get out of his paperwork again!"

Jacque and Jayson laughed somewhat nervously as they followed Al into the main part of town, both secretly hoping that the Colonel Roy Mustang that Edward had been talking about was nowhere near as frightening as Lieutenant Hawkeye…