A/N: First thing I have ever written for FF, so please go easy. Hopefully they arn't too OOC

DISCLAIMER: I don't own FMA as much as I wish I did...

Of Sparkles, Swords, and Everything In between

Alex Louise Armstrong was always a courageous, gentle, and caring young boy. He always did what he was told and accepted any challenge that came his way, even though he was only six years old. He wasn't normally scared of petty things like the dark or bugs at his age, he considered himself to be fearless.

Well, there was ONE thing that scared him to death.

"ALEX!"

He flinched and looking towards the open doorway to his bedroom where his older sister Olivier stood, looking particularly angry at the moment.

Yes, it was none other than his older sister who could scare the pants off of him. She could send one glare his way and send him cowering in fear (as well as anyone else who dared to cross her path).

"Ye-s-s-sss?" Alex said with a look on his face as if he were about to be killed, which he didn't doubt could happen.

His ten year old sister strode over to him with a glare as cold as Northern Amestris during the winter, "I need a practice dummy for my sword practice, you will have to do." Alex didn't have much of a choice; she might go easy on him if he said yes.

Who was he kidding? He was toast either way.

He accepted her challenge; she said to meet her in the courtyard within ten minutes and left his room.

It only took him minutes to get ready but he was still scared out of his mind, what if she chopped him into bits? What if she made a stew out of him? These thoughts were rampaging through the six year old's mind.

There was no way he could stand a chance! Swordsmanship was the one thing that was passed down the Armstrong line for generations that he simply wasn't good at, his sister on the other hand, had already mastered the skill and could slice his head off before he even knew that she had moved.

To say he was scared was an understatement.

He was terrified!

The ten minutes were almost up; patience wasn't one of Olivier's strong points. He gained his composure, tried to not let his fear show, and headed to the courtyard where Olivier waited for him.

He stood in front of the huge door, sweat trickling down his forehead, trying to build up the courage to march out there and take on his sister. Still terrified beyond all belief and frozen in front of the door, it suddenly swung open. Alex jumped back just in time to avoid being hit by the door; Olivier stood there looking angry like usual, she never did like Alex. He never did know why she hated him; it seemed only natural for her. Ever since he was born she'd act hostile towards him, the only time she ever smiled was when she was tormenting him.

She was smiling now.

"Hurry up you coward! I don't have all day!" she said with her booming voice.

As they headed out into the courtyard, Alex found it hard to not show his fear, but judging by the look on Olivier's face, he guessed that she could see right through him.

Before he knew what he was doing, they started to spar; he was blocking every one of her attacks, but just barely. She managed to hit him a few times, but she was only using her wooden practice sword instead of her steel one. She always used her wooden sword but Alex always thought one day she'd switch so he kept on his toes and his fertile six year old imagination was always running rampant through his mind. He thought one day she'd just go up and shoot him to get it over with.

With one quick blow to his right ankle, he fell to the ground with a loud thud; she towered over him, smiling in his defeat.

"You really are worthless. Oh well, good luck tomorrow."

She then walked off and left young Alex lying on the ground.

'Just another day' he thought to himself.