Fullmetal Alchemist: The Midnight Eclipse

"Sounds good as long as I don't get cat scratched again." Xioimara nodded.

Mr. Sig was waiting by the door as the group came back. "Where's Izumi?"

"She's with Ling and Xoram. They went after those two women."

 

"What I'd like to know is how Juliet Douglas can change her mass into Water." Ed said.

Xoram lost sight of the women. "Damn. Any luck?" he asked Izumi and Ling.
"No."
"Negative."

 

Xioimara shook her head. "Either they're not human or she's figured out a way to physically turn the sixty percent of water in her body into literal water without killing off her cells..." Xioimara tried to explain. "If she removed water from her cells to say, change her arms into water, the removal of water from her other cells should pretty much instantly kill her..." Xioimara started. "So physics says anyways."

"It was worth a good shot." Armstrong said. "We should probably turn in for the night so that we aren't too tired for tomorrow."

"What happened?"

 

"Could it be the same principle as a Chimaera like you?" Ed said.
Xoram and Ling escorted Izumi to her house. "We are sorry for disrespecting you before." He said with a bow.
"Truly." Ling said, also bowing.
Izumi noticed that the Elrics and their other companions were talking to Sig. "Apology accepted. Just do me a favor. Go with the Elrics and watch out for them." she said.

 

Xioimara shook her head. "I just change around my DNA molecules. My mass stays the same. That's why I'm much larger than a regular wolf." Xioimara commented. She didn't want to bring up bad memories but she did remember how to Elric brothers kept saying Sloth looked like their mother. "Can I ask something personal?" Xioimara started slowly, looking at both Edward and Alphonse.

Mr. Sig watched quietly as Xioimara and Ed conversed about their situation. "Was anybody else hurt?" Mr. Sig asked, nodding towards Xiomara.

Armstrong shook his head. "Edward might have gotten a few scratches. Xioimara and that woman were the only ones to really try and inflict damage." He told Sig.

 

"Yes?" Ed said.

 

"Did you try to transmutate your mother...?" She asked, doing her best to keep them from getting sad, angry or some other obscure emotion. Xioimara looked back to Edward after she saw Alphonse nod. "What happened to her body?"

 

"We were kinda worked up and panicking so we don't know." Ed explained.

 

Xioimara paused for a moment. "Ever think that might be her?"

"Why would their mother try to attack them?"

"I'm not positive it is. I've only heard stories about what happens when you try to create human life..." Xioimara said. "But supposing anything is possible," Xioimara started. "Ever hear of an artifical human life?"

 

"Isn't that what Al is?" Ed said. He was really confused and didn't know what was right or wrong.
"Hello all." Izumi said.
Xoram stayed quiet. He and the Young Lord had saved them but he was sure Xioimara would still be pissed.
Ling stood next to Xoram and Smiled his stupid smile.

 

Xioimara shook her head. "His death was fresh, and if anything, he may not have been completely dead." She thought this idea over. "Where as, say you're away from someone for years, maybe even months, your memories of them fade." Xioimara said, "If your mother was deceased for a while before you brought her back, perhaps, her memories faded and that's why she's attacking you. She is confused or perhaps has been led to a darker side."

 

"That makes sense. She had been deceased for about a year before we tried to bring her back. But then again, Hoenheim may have tried to bring her back as well, so that lady could be the result." Ed concluded. If they had to ask Hoenheim for help...

 

"Hohenheim?" Xioimara asked. If he had attempted to bring back their mother beforehand than this man might know a thing or two about transmutations or homunculi.

 

Ed suddenly looked pretty mad. He hoped Al would tell her because Ed HATED their father for leaving.

 

Alphonse quickly stepped in. "We'll talk about it later..." He told Xioimara. He could see she easily understood. She backed off the subject quite quickly as his brother's body language jolted towards rage. 'She'll understand...' Alphonse told himself. He didn't know Xioimara's background but he could easily see she would have a problem if someone started talking about someone she didn't like very much. Alphonse would have sighed. He was sure Dad left for a reason. Edward just couldn't seem to see that... Even if he didn't want to be around them anymore it was still a reason to live. Perhaps he just didn't want to be their dad anymore... He did tell Mom that he'd be back though.

Alphonse pushed back the thoughts for now. They would be something to re-visit some other day when they became of greater importance.

Xioimara backed off the topic as Edward's posture and energy became much more stiff. So this Hohenheim fellow was someone that Edward didn't feel positive about. She understand that. "Perhaps we should talk more tomorrow when we're rested..." Xioimara suggested. She was tired and knew she was just about to start snapping at people as well if even the smallest topic she didn't like was brought up. Xioimara knew she wasn't thinking very clearly either. Her body started to ache as the adrenaline faded away.

"I agree." Armstrong stated to Xioimara. It was easy to see at least Xioimara was tired. He felt tired as well. It had been a long night and he could feel the sun drawing near. He wanted to at least get a few minutes sleep before dawn started. This certainly was an interesting day and he knew they would have a colourful future ahead of them at this rate. The least they could do is try to rest in the meantime. "Would it be okay if we stayed here please?" Armstrong turned asking to Izumi.

 

"Of course." she said. "Sig, please make the guest beds for them will you?"

 

Mr. Sig nodded. It had become a very late night for them. He was pleased with the idea of going to sleep after this. Sig quickly made the beds and showed them their rooms. "Make yourself at home." He said gruffly and returned to Izumi. "You need to take it easy..." Mr. Sig suggested. He knew his wife liked to take her own road but it always concerned him when she pushed herself too hard, sometimes to the point of throwing up blood. Then he would just become worried all over again.

Xioimara felt her body suddenly feel like she was pulling bricks on her legs. She laid down on the bed and curled up. They would revisit the Midnight Eclipse in the morning... Xioimara felt the warmth of sleep envelope her briskly. The wolf sat in a field. The warm sun filled her fur. It was comforting. She laid down in the grass soundlessly to enjoy the heat. She felt the presence of two more stranger but friendly wolves join her. She only glanced over to see what they looked like but felt she could trust them. One was gray and almost silver while the other had lighter, peach fur.

Alphonse sat down in the corner of the room once they were brought to their places. He normally waited out the night while his brother slept and got lost in thoughts of the past and the future. He was feeling more than happy to welcome the presence of his mind this night. There was so much that was happening and too much to process. He needed to take the time to think things out.

 

"I know... but I can't just let those boys go on their own right? Especially because of what happened..." she touched her belly sadly.
Ed got into his room where Al was. "see ya tomorrow Al, ok?" he said.
Ling went into he and Xoram's room. "Find Lan Fan yet?" Ling asked.
"You know mi sister, she's always moving from one place to the other."

A girl with blonde hair knocked on the door of Izumi's shop. She had seen Ed and Al go in but where they staying here?

 

"I know, Izumi... I know..." Sig started. That day still depressed him but whether or not the two liked it Alphonse and Edward were growing up. "We can't hold on to them forever." They had been like sons to him and Sig was positive that Izumi felt the same. He looked at the door once someone knocked on it. "We sure are busy tonight..." He spoke as he opened the door to the girl, "May I help you?" Sig asked.

Alphonse nodded to his brother. "Sleep well."

 

Winry Rockbell looked up at Sig. "You're bigger than Ed and Al told me you were." she said.