Fullmetal Versus Shining Heart

.:Mustang:.

"Colonel Mustang."

I raised my eyes as Hawkeye entered, hand to her brow. "Yes, what is it, Lieutenant?" I asked, my pen pausing on the paperwork in front of me.

"There's someone here to see you, Colonel," she said, letting her arm rest at her side. "She says it's dire."

"'She'? My interest is caught, Hawkeye," I say with a devilish grin. I sit up completely. "Tell me—brunette or red-head?"

"Neither."

My pen rests on the desk as I fold my hands, elbows on the mahogany as I lean forward. "Black hair?"

"Blonde."

"With golden eyes?"

"I said it's a she, Colonel."

"Can I come in yet?" a voice demanded from the hallway. The door was flung open the rest of the way and I was faced yet another shock.

This girl had waist-length dark blonde hair and fierce blue eyes. Her hands were fixated firmly on her hips, her bootleg jeans tucked under a fitted grey t-shirt. The black jacket did nothing to hide her left hand—which was solid steel.

"Let me guess." My gaze drifted to the earrings dangling from her pierced earlobes. Shimmering letters floated on sparkling chains with a diamond at the base of each. "Morgan?"

"Megan," she snapped. "Listen, Fire—"

I couldn't help but lean forward. "It's Flame."

"Whatever." She sniffed. "I want to know when the State Alchemist license renewal exams are. I heard they were this week, but I don't know the exact date."

I rocked back hard in my chair. "You?" I couldn't help but exclaim. "What are you, ten?"

"I'm fourteen!!" she yelled. "Haven't you ever seen a girl before?! Now are you going to answer my question, Fire, or do I have to ask someone else??"

"It's Flame!!"

I stood up fast, hands on the desk. She was pissing me off just about as much as Edward Elric does. Hawkeye's hand slipped to the back of her thigh, but I gave her a warning look and her hand skipped away from her gun.

Megan's brilliant gaze met mine, eyes burning.

She would be hot if she hadn't such a short temper.

It was almost as if she could read my mind. With that, she tossed her hands into the air and saluted me.

"Asking utmost forgiveness, Colonel Roy Mustang, for my previous rudeness. Please," Megan said in a softer tone, "would you relinquish the details of the State Alchemist exam?"

Hawkeye's jaw nearly hit the floor at the girl's sudden change in temperament.

I felt myself leaning back into my chair. Collapsing in it, I touched my fingers to my forehead and closed my eyes. "You're just like that boy who comes here—what's his face. Short, blonde, and arrogant."

"You mean Ed?" She laughed heavily. "Blonde and arrogant I can see, but don't call him short. You'd be lucky to end up alive."

My eyes opened halfway. "You know Ed?"

"How could I not? He and I got into a tiff over some book in the library. Now." She snapped her fingers a few times. "Dig up the dirt, Mustang. I want to know when the exams are."

"They start next week," Hawkeye said before I could move.

She flashed her teeth. "Brilliant."


.:Third Person POV:.

"Dammit, dammit, dammit!" Edward raged, throwing another book at the wall. "I can't find a thing to do my report on!!"

"Can't you challenge another alchemist to a battle?" Megan asked, picking up his thrown book.

"Been there, done that, got a t-shirt," Edward growled. "Mustang wasn't favorable."

She raised an eyebrow. "Hmm? The fabled Fullmetal Alchemist scared of a challenge?"

"What the hell're you—"

"I challenge you. You and me." She smirked. "Fullmetal versus Shining Heart. Unless you're scared."



"In the blue corner, the Fullmetal Alchemist himself, Edward Elric!" Havoc bellowed into the mic. A great roar rose from the crowd as Edward worked a muscle in his jaw, grinding his teeth.

"And in the red corner, a new addition to the State Alchemists, the Shining Heart Alchemist, Megan Black!" Havoc yelled.

She smirked as the cheers died slightly, but many people still roared her name.

"Let the match…begin!"

And he was gone.

At the same time, of an unconscious accord, both alchemist slapped their hands together and hit the ground. A gasp rose around the grounds.

She doesn't need a circle!! Edward thought in shock. She was launched into the air by a great stone pillar erupting beneath her feet. The force shot her upwards as she clapped again and hit her arm. Twin swords erupted from the automail; she braced them high over her head as she came down.

Edward, now clutching a long sword-like spear, caught the blades against the hilt, although the force sent them both skidding backwards.

"Still scared?" she grunted, jerking her right hand down and punching him hard in the gut. He staggered backwards, but leapt deftly away from her blades.

"No!" he snapped, slamming his hands together again and touching the ground. There was a huge flash of light and dust exploded around him as he was sudden riding the top of a massive cannon.

A few people in the crowd yelled out. Havoc barreled into the crowd, bowling over Breda and Falman. Fuery screamed and clutched onto Havoc. Mustang's eyes widened slightly. Hawkeye smirked.

"I'm not scared, but you should be!" Edward yelled, and slapped his hands together again. The Shining Heart Alchemist let out a tiny whimper, eyes stretching huge as her hands fell to her sides.

"This is going to hurt," she said lightly.

"You bet your ass it is!" His hands hit the top of the cannon and he flipped backwards off of it just as a massive explosion sent the parade grounds up in smoke.
People screamed as they were thrown backwards. Before the smoke had even cleared, a shrill shriek could be heard from the Fullmetal Alchemist, mingling with that of the Shining Heart, and another explosion occurred.

Silence fell, thick and heavy.

As dust settles upon the ground, a hush settled upon the crowd.

Edward, looking battered and beaten, was holding the limp girl with his arms around her back, her head against his collarbone, unconscious. As they watched, his eyes slid closed and he crumpled to the ground as well, their unresponsive bodies laying fitted like two pieces of a puzzle.

Mustang and his group rushed forward to the aide of the two State Alchemists.



"What was that last explosion about?" Havoc asked, slouching on the bed, elbows on his knees as he lit a new cigarette. Megan and Edward laughed.

"We both clapped at the same time and hit hands," Megan admitted, scratching her neck. "It rebounded. I think our alchemic reactions tried to cancel each other out."

"I'm shocked I stayed standing," Edward added. "My back hurt really pretty bad and my knee had dislocated. My automail one," he added hastily at Fuery's wide-eyed look. "By the way, can I use a phone? I need to call Winry."

"You think she can fix my arm?" Megan asked, nodding to her limp automail. Her shoulder had broken and her hand had dislocated in the final explosion.

"I'm sure, if she doesn't beat me senseless with a wrench first."

They all laughed at this.



That night, Megan was almost asleep when she heard the creak of bedsprings, the clatter and squeak of injured automail, and Edward asked, "Are you still awake?"

"Yeah."

"You can transmute without a circle," he said softly. "You've seen that thing, haven't you?"

"The Gate. Yeah."

"How? Why did you attempt it?"

"I didn't."

There was a long silence.

"Edward, I'm not stupid enough to attempt human transmutation—er, sorry. I didn't mean to say it like that." She rolled over and looked at him. He was staring at the ceiling, flesh leg kinked over his automail one, flesh hand behind his head. "I tried to save my mother with alchemy and saw the Gate. I just barely escaped."

"I'm…sorry. I didn't realize."

"I don't think that counts as human transmutation, though."

"I don't think so."

They were quiet for a moment.

"Fullmetal?"

"Yeah?"

"Move over."

He looked over. She swung her legs out of bed, grabbed her pillow, and stumbled to his. She sat down on the edge and folded the blankets back.

He shifted to the side and moved his pillow over, pushing himself up on one elbow. She laid her pillow beside his and stretched out next to him, curling up against his firm side. He put his good arm around her and rested his cheek against her hair, covering them both up again.

"Good night, Edward."

"Good night."

>//u//<