The Edward Elric Guide to Snowball Fights

A/N: I am so sorry that I haven't updated in so long! sobs Girl Scout camp and babysitting took over my life for two weeks, but now I can keep writing!

The one thing Ed liked about wintertime was the excuse to go home for his birthday.

Winry had been suspicious when he had called to tell her that he was coming back, but was overjoyed when he showed up, automail intact and needing only a regular tune-up.

This meant that, in the spirit of happiness, a snowball fight was to be held. They had always had them in the winter around Ed's birthday, as that was when it was cold enough to snow most years. Of course, it was every man for himself, and with Winry's throwing arm, she usually won, causing Ed to complain that she should let him win as a birthday present.

This year, Al decided not to join in, but just to watch to make sure that things did not get too reckless. ("I'm sixteen, Al! I can control my temper!" had been Ed's retort.) He had signaled for them to start, with the first to drop being the loser.

At first, Winry seemed to have the upper hand, but Ed got better at predicting her throws as he teased her.

It did not seem fair that Ed would use a cheap tactic to gain the lead, but Al had to let it slide. The rules prohibited only physical contact. Anything else was fair game.

Winry finally figured out Ed's strategy. Needless to say, it made her even angrier, but two could play that game.

"I guess you want me not to throw right because you're so short that you need to get close enough to hit!" Winry jibed.

Ed stopped suddenly. "What did you call me?"

"You heard me!" Winry threw another snowball.

Dodging, Ed formed another snowball. "WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT A SINGLE SNOWFLAKE IS A MILLION TIMES BIGGER THAN HE IS?" He threw, missing completely.

Winry smiled. "You."

That did it.

Ed started throwing snow every which way in his attempt to drown out the little voice in his head, which, in a sing-song voice, was repeating, "You know you're short, she knows you're short…"

Al could not help it. He started laughing.

"Hey, Ed!" Winry called, "It helps if you make the snow into balls!"

That really did it.

Ed clapped his hands and transmuted the snow into a stack of balls that went to his waist.

"Thanks, Winry!" he called back, a smirk on his face.

Winry backed up. "N-no fair!" she stammered. "You can't use alchemy to win! That's cheap!"

"All's fair in love and war, Winry!" Ed grinned. "And this is war!"

He had hesitated just a bit too long, though. Winry had managed to make a snowball and threw as hard as she could. The next thing either of them knew, a very surprised Ed had his face and neck covered in snow. He blinked for a moment, then he felt the cold stuff slide under his jacket and shirt…

"Cold!" he cried, falling to his knees and unzipping his jacket in a frantic attempt to rid himself of the feeling of ice down his chest. He lifted his shirt to brush it away as much as he could, clearing it from his face and neck, as well. Finally, he was done. He straightened, only to find Winry had created her own arsenal.

"You were saying?" she taunted, tossing a snowball between her hands.

It was Ed's turn to back up. He had found new respect for the young automail mechanic, and he was not quite sure that he would be able to survive this attack. He picked up his own ball of snow. "I said that all's fair in love and war, and that this is war. Are you ready to lose, Winry?"

Winry shook her head. "Not in the least. To the fall, Edward Elric."

"To the fall, Winry Rockbell," he responded.

The snowballs –and insults- began to fly again.

TEN MINUTES LATER

Both Ed and Winry were breathing hard, hands on knees and pink-cheeked.

"Truce?" Ed called.

Winry nodded and inched forward. "Truce."

They walked toward the invisible centerline to shake hands, but Winry slipped, falling flat on her face. She looked up and gasped. "Ed, I didin't just lose, did I?"

As much as Ed wanted to win, she fell on a fluke. He deliberated for a moment, finally shaking his head. "No. The truce is still on."

She picked herself up and smiled. "Thanks, Ed."

IN THE HOUSE

"That was a pretty good fight you put up, Winry," Al complimented. "Especially when brother cheat-"

Ed interrupted, "At no time did we say anything about forbidding alchemy! Just physical contact- that's it."

Winry mulled it over. "I think we should ban alchemy."

"Even after you held your own against me?" Ed protested. "Two minutes more and you probably would've won!"

"Really?" Winry was surprised. "I think you're over-estimating me, Ed."

"I don't think I am," he said honestly. "You can beat Al and me when we don't use alchemy, and alchemy goes only so far."

Winry yawned. "I guess. Good night."

"G'night," Ed replied.

"Good night, Winry," Al called after her. As soon as she was out of earshot, he asked, "So why didn't you just use your alchemy to surround her with snow?"

"Physical contact. I'm not completely out to win, Al. It was fun." Ed sipped his cider. "Besides, I could've hurt her, and I wouldn't be able to forgive myself if I did." He put his cup in the sink. "G'night, Al."

On his way up the stairs, Ed thought about that afternoon. He probably could have beat Winry in the long run, but that would have meant using alchemy again. Once it had clicked in his head that using alchemy really was a cheap way to win, he had to give up. The truce was his only way to salvage his pride.

Still, it had worked, meeting her half way.

I should do that more often…

A/N: Now Ed's got it down-pat. He knows what to do. I had to put in the thing about all being fair in love and war, because it might have actually been love… but it was war at the time!

Hopefully there was more humor in this one. I tried!