Thanks for the 3 updates!

Might seem like it's not alot for some authors-

Daisy: Or for some people...

but for a new one, it's an accomplishment!!!!!

Hayate Izumi - Thanks 4 being my 1st reviewer!

Alphonse and I - Thanks 4 taking an interest in the story! I hope u enjoy it.

Starry Dreams of Other Worlds- Thank you 4 the review 2!!! I'll try to keep that tip in mind!!

So, since I have 3 people who are counting on me, I shall begin this new chapter! And the one after that, and the one after that, AND THE ONE AFTER THAT, AND-

Daisy and Delilah: CHILL!!

...sorry...

anyway, here u go. It might not be so good though, since like I said, I suck at fighting scenes. ToT

Declaimer: I do own Fullmetal Alchemist. Psych!!! I don't own Fullmetal Alchemist.

Chapter 3: Fullmetal vs. Floral Blossom

As promised, Ed, Al, and Aysa all met together behind the field at Eastern Headquaters to carry out there sparing match. Once they arrived at the field, Ed and Aysa both geared up. Ed removed his cloak and did warm ups as Aysa, a couple of meters across from him, warmed up too. Once finished, Al began to explain the rules,

"Alright, this is a sparing match, and anything goes. Including the use of alchemy, combat skills, and anything else you can think of. I'll be the judge of this match and will decide who wins. But remember, this is a sparing match, not a fight. So do not use any type of violent behavior when sparing.Ok, ED."

"What!? The match didn't even start yet and you're already pointing me out!"

"I've known you to well to know that you have a habit of being rough, brother."

Ed just scoffed as Aysa shook her head in disbelief.

With that said, Al continued, "Now, take your positions."

The pair went into their own fighting stances.

"On your mark,"

As Al began the countdown, Ed thought about his plan of action, 'I know she has automail, so all I need to do is figure on what part of her body it's located. Then, I need to just make sure I avoid any moves she makes with it. Besides that, this match shouldn't last long at all.'

"Get set,"

'I might finally be having some fun for a change. It's been awhile since I've ever been this wound up about something. Fullmetal, it's time to show me what you've got. Don't you dare think about disappointing me.'

"Start!"

And the match was on.

Ed was the first to lunge at Aysa with fist clinched. She easily dodged this by pacing back from the hit. Ed staggered to regain balance and Aysa relized her moment to strike. She propelled herself into the air, and came down with a hard kick, beating forces of gravity. At the last moment, Ed blocked it, with his arms. Aysa used his arms as a leaping pad and sprung off him, landing on the soil clean. Ed clapped his hands together and rested them on the ground.The girl cocked her head for a moment before she grasped the fact that blue alchemic light flashed around him. In response, a series of stone spikes hurled at Aysa. She stared shocked, 'You've got to be kidding me!' Without a second thought, the girl swiftly took ahold of her rose. With the rose, she put her hands together and placed them on the ground. As well, blue alchemic light sparked around her. As a result, a series of overlarged, prickled stems that were packed tightly together erupted from the ground. The flower stems towered atleast three feet higher than Al as they protected Aysa from getting hit, with the spikes penetrating the stems. Aysa came from behind her "sheild" and sighed in relief as the boys stood dumbfounded.

"W-wait a minute. You can use alchemy without a circle?" Al stuttered.

"Yeah. And looks like I'm not the only one." Aysa eyed Ed a tad surprised.

"So then that means you-" Ed was purposely interrupted by Aysa before he could finish.

"That's enough chit-chat." Aysa alchemized her rose again. This time, it transformed into a staff that had the stem of another prickled flower swirled around it. With the staff as tall as her, she held it forward waiting for Ed.

"Now quit playing around and lets really get this match started."

Al stepped forward, "Wait, Aysa! I said this is only a sparring match!"

Ed frowned at not being able to continue his question, but also alchemized his arm into his famous blade, "You asked for it."

"Brother! Not you too!"

Ed smirked and replied cooly, keeping his eyes on Aysa, "Relax, Al. We're just having a little friendly competition."

Al sweatdropped. The language the two retorted a moment ago was definately far from "friendly." Al looked down, "Just make sure you guys don't go so hard on each other. Remember, you guys are partners. Not ene-" Al glanced back up, but saw that Ed and Aysa had already begun their match, totally ignoring Al. He sweatdropped again,

"They won't ever listen..."

The match between Ed and Aysa was in full throttle. A combination of alchemy with combat made the battle fierce. Ed threw his alchemized blade straight for Aysa. She ducked and delivered a nasty uppercut with her right fist. It struck directly under his chin with surprisingly powerful force. The end result caused him to fall back unsteadily. He was surprised on how particulary strong that punch was. It was tad to strong to be sent by a regular fist. Something was up with that right arm. He shook it off and eyed Aysa, who was smirking, thinking that this was an early victory for her and that this match was as good as finished. However, Ed just smirked right back. He figured that last punch given to him was to strong to be delivered from a regular fist. The force of the hit had to belong to some type of machinary, more specifically, automail. And with that, Ed concluded that Aysa's right arm was all automail.

"Something funny?" Aysa asked, curious to why Ed had the smug grin.

"Naw. Just think I finally figured you out."

She looked at him quizically, but shrugged and readied her staff. She hurled herself at Ed with her weapon pointed forward.He jumped back to dogde. In swift speed, Aysa came at him again. She swung at him from left to right repeatedly. In return, Ed jumped back to avoid getting hit. Aysa knew that he could only do this so many times, and when it came down to it, she would strike at him when he was most vulnerable. She then swiped at Ed from an upward angle. Here was his chance. He blocked the attack with his automailed arm. In a quick movement, he pushed the staff off him, it flying out of Aysa's grasped. She gasped in alarm. Without warning, Ed lunged his blade at her right arm.

"Brother!! What're you-"

But Al was interrupted by the clashing of metal. He stared shocked at what he saw. Aysa had blocked Ed's move with her forearm, which was automailed. Damage had been done to the arm, though, with it being pierced by Ed's blade. This match was over, with Ed being the winner.

"Y-you knew I had automail this whole time?" Aysa asked still alarmed as Ed removed his blade from her automail and stood up.

He laughed nervously, "Nope! I just took a stab in a random arm to see if it was automailed or not. Good thing it was, though. Cause if it wasn't, boy, would we have a problem!"

She knocked him on the head, "That's not funny!"

A bump formed on his head as he yelled, "I was just kidding! Can't you take a joke?!"

"I failed to see where the joke was in that!"

Al sighed at the pair's bickering, but broke it up as he spoke, "So, in that case, I guess Ed wins the match." Ed smirked, boasting with enough pride to fill a bowl. Al then turned to the female alchemist, "You did well, Aysa. Is your arm ok, though?"

"Yeah, it's fine. I just need to get it taken to a mechanic. Haven't changed it in forever." she replied while examining her wrecked automail.

"Well, we know friends from our hometown that are mechanics."

Ed raised an eyebrow, not liking where this was going, "And just what're you trying to say, Al?"

"Brother, we can't just leave her automail like that!"

"Al, we don't have time to go back to Resembool."

"But her automail is in no condition to be left alone. It has to be fixed. And you haven't gotten your automail fixed in awhile either, so it might need to be changed. Besides, I'm sure Winry and Aunt Pinako won't mind if we visit."

Ed took a deep breath, "Seriously, Al! How's side are you on?"

"There aren't any sides once it comes to partnership. You guys need to work together as a team, and I'll follow close behind. All for one."

Ed took a moment to take in his older brother's wisdom. As hard as Ed didn't want to admit, Al was right. No matter how much they hated it, Ed and Aysa were partners, whether they liked it or not. Plus, Ed was outnumbered two to one. He had no other choice.

With a final moment to think, Ed sighed in defeat and pouted, "Alright, fine."

"That's it, brother." Al congratulated.

Aysa went to go claim her staff that had changed back into her velvet rose. As she did, it brought up a question that Ed had meant to ask, "Hey, before we leave, answer this for us: how is it that you can perform alchemy without a transmutation circle?"

Al also seemed interested in the answer as he added more to it, "And does it have something to do with the reason to why you have automail on your arm?"

Aysa just paused at them for a moment not knowing what to say or how to respond. She then just answered simply, "I tell you about it later."

Ed and Al looked quizically at her for a moment, before she continued, trying to change the subject, "But I should be asking you the same thing, Ed. And, why're you in a suit of amour, Al? I mean, what if you ever have to go or something?"

Al blushed in embarassment as Ed felt like he was going to fall over.

"WHAT KIND OF STUPID QUESTION IS THAT?!?"

"I was just asking!"

"WELL THERE WAS STILL NO POINT IN ASKING IT!!"

"Calm down, shorty!"

"AND STOP CALLING ME SHORT!!!"

This was the start of a brand new partnership for Edward Elric and Aysa Lockhart.

Author's Note: It is pretty late... and I am sleepy. I hate this ending, but heck, like I said before, I 'm sleepy! I didn't know how else to end it. I did this story while half asleep, so if something doesn't make since, or there's grammer issues, tell me and I 'll try to fix it ok? Anyway, on the next chapter, Aysa's past is revealed!! So, uh, keep reading - if you want...

ATLgurl gone and ...ZZZZZZZZ...