Hey everyone! I'm back with a new chapter for Equivalent Exchange! Lauren and Edward travel to the countryside to meet one of his friends, and they learn about each other on the way as well.

I do not own FMA or FMAB, or anything concerning it. I only own this story and my characters. FMA belongs to the cow with the glasses.

Also, if you guys wanted to know, Amelia and Lauren's last names are Schatz. I thought it would appropriate for them since it means worker. I think.


"LAUREN!" I heard a deep screeching sound in my ear and jumped up off my bed to find my mentor, Edward staring right down on my face. "Ugh! What was that for?!" I yelled back in the same manor. "It's time." He sighed. "Wait, how did my sister let you in?!" "I told her that you were my apprentice."

"She can let a complete stranger into her house, yet when I'm locked out, she says 'get in another way'. That little.." Edward glared at me and I sighed. "Anyway, I'll get ready and she's going to fix breakfast downstairs." I explained and he nodded, closing the door.

I pulled my hair in two braids and wore a white long sleeved shirt with a brown upper knee length skirt and brown knee-length boots. After checking my appearance in the mirror, I finally went out of my room and downstairs.

"Hey, 'Melia!" She waves and smiles. Meanwhile, Ed is stuffing his face and Amelia is smiling. "Why are you so happy, Amelia?" I asked, tilting my head. "Nothing. Just the fact my little girl's going to be a alchemist!" Amelia pressed her cheek up against my face and kept rambling on about if I started at this point I could be a State Alchemist in my late teens.

Nope. Not a chance.

"Yeah..can you stop crushing me now, Amelia?" She loosened her grip and ran back to the table. "Oh, and um, Edward this is my sister, Amelia. She's runs a shop.." Amelia shook hands with Ed, and I just stand on the sidelines awkwardly. "So, Lauren, aren't you going to eat?" I snap out of my thoughts. "Hmm?" She asks the question once more.

"Oh, no. I'm fine." Amelia narrowed her eyes. "She's excited, that's all." Edward reassured her. That was true, actually. Besides, if it was about being the apprentice of one of the most famous alchemists ever who wouldn't be? "She can eat anyway. The last time she didn't she..." I breathed half-heartedly and shot her a look. "...did some rather repulsive things." I slapped my thigh, which was a bad idea since I had just finished washing my hands.

Amelia talked to Ed about what type of Alchemy I studied and how far I was on it. I was actually surprised at the fact that Amelia spoke so highly about me. She always said that I should stop for a while and take a break. "Yeah. She may be defiant, but she's a huge package when it comes to Alchemy." She finished. "Well, I'll keep that in mind when I teach her." He smiled and opened his golden eyes. "Lauren, let's go." I nodded and kissed my sister on the cheek.

"Thanks." I whisper. She smiled and nudged my head with her cheek, signaling for me to go on. "Bye Laurel.." I nod and go out the door with Ed.

-Town-

"So, where are we going exactly?" I ask. "Okay, so first of all, we need to practice. Like more on your skills as a person and not as a alchemist." I turn my head toward his, but he doesn't bother to look back. "What exactly do you mean by that?" He sighs. "I mean as in..how you would normally behave. But, you need to push all of your alchemy away for this.." I chew my lip sourly.

"Amelia spoke really highly about you.." I laugh. "She did, didn't she?" "..and she also mentioned the fact you were defiant." He narrowed his eyes and frowned. I felt like running seven miles just to Amelia's store to yell at her; screw the fact that I'd get slapped. "She deserves it.." I scrunched up my nose in complete thought. "Ah well, we can easily whip that out of you." I spun on my heel and glared. Ed grinned. "Hmm, I think we might have another me here.." He thought.

"Okay, so I'm not defiant all of the time. Just when I want something, I'll be sure I get it!" I whisper-hissed. Why? I'm a strict follower of the 'You get what you want when you work for it' ethic. "If I work for it, of course. But I just do it to bug Amelia."

"You better." He smirked and I rolled my eyes. "So, I heard that Amelia was talking about Briar. Who's she?" "She's one of my sisters. She's also a librarian and I get all of my alchemy books from her. She's pretty nice, for a second sister anyway.." I trail off.

"Really? I thought she was your mother." He deadpanned. Why does everyone say that?! "Oh really now. But how come?" "Easy. You guys look alike, so I just assumed." He shrugged. "Well, I guess that's okay.." I soon discover that we're not in town anymore, but instead we're walking in the countryside. "Ed?" "Hmm?" "Did you..live on the countryside, by any chance?" I ask quietly. He nods, and asks me the same question.

"Yeah. I did." I answer, yawning. Edward turns and looks at me, or is it the other way around? "Lauren, are you tired?" I shake my head and try to go on further, but I can't see too well.

-Ed's POV-

I picked up Lauren, and carried her on my back. "Mama.." I hear a murmur. "Mama.." I keep walking. "Where are you..can't you come out now..?" She starts to cry now. "Briar..Amelia...get her out.." Soon, she stops mumbling and starts to breathe in slow, quiet breaths. "We're here." I smile and call out to the balcony, only to see Winry run out and start to grab her wrench, until she sees Lauren.

"Ed! Who's that?" She yells and I hear Lauren mumble a incomprehensible string of words. "Laurel..wake up." I jerk her legs and she opens one eye, and another one. Until she's left staring at the house in front of her. "Hrrn..where are we?"

"Winry's house." This made Laurel gasp and wonder what would Amelia say when she got back. "Calm down, you. I told Amelia about it and she approved so, stop complaining." She started to seep back into sleep. "Nope! Get back up, Lauren!" I hit her chin with my shoulder and she jerks up, glaring.

Winry laughs and tells us to come in, meanwhile Lauren jumps off my back and fixes her collar. She then breathes and asks me:

"I didn't talk about anything, did I?" She asks, her face looking serious. "No. Not at all." She smiles and skips inside.

Meanwhile, I'm left wondering did she mean the things she mumbled. Oh well, I'll just go in and bug that mechanic for a while.


So! That's the third chapter. And Briar is Laurel's /second/ older sister and she helps Lauren with her alchemy by telling her to research and practice more. And why is mistaken for Laurel's mom? Because they look alike and she's 20 years old.

Anyway, read and review for more Edward!

Lauren: WHY IS MY SUPERIOR SO SHORT?!

Edward: WHY IS MY APPRENTICE SUCH A LOUD MOUTH?!

Me: Can't you feel the bonds between them? So beautiful...*sheds tear*

Edward: *trying to electrocute Laurel, meanwhile the latter is bursting metal things into flames with her nuclear Alchemy*

Me: Seriously, if Roy could, he'd totally be the greatest superior ever known to man if he taught that kid.

Translation: RUN FOR THE HILLS, DANGIT!