Chimerical – Chapter One: Welcome Back
"Welcome home, Uncle Al!"
"How was Xing this time around?"
"Did May come back with you?"
"Hey, move over, I want to see if I'm as tall as him yet!"
"Winry, get the extra china, we've got guests!"
The family of blondes crowded at the door in awe and excitement as Alphonse Elric walked up the stairs and onto the porch. Alphonse smiled and waved to his extended family - his dear brother Edward, loving sister-in-law Winry and of course to their children: Maes, Sara and Alexis. The children all stared at their traveling uncle with glistening eyes. Maes, being the eldest and only boy, stood behind his sisters as they ran to their uncle. He attempted to hide his own excitement from the family, but eventually, his feelings got the best of him and he joined in. Maes was a very tall young man and he took pride in his height considering all the stories he heard about how short his father used to be. Sara, the oldest daughter, managed to tackle Al and almost made him fall back down the stairs he had just climbed up. Alexis was the youngest and very small. All she could do was excitedly jump up and down next to her uncle, her expecting eyes hoping for a present from the land far off to the east.
This happened every time Al came home to the quiet town of Resembool. It had been three years since the younger Elric brother had been home last; almost matching the amount of time that passed after Edward become a state alchemist and returned home for repairs. Looking back, it seemed like that was a life led by completely different people. Since then, Ed had lost his ability to preform alchemy, but in exchange, Al had gotten his body back. All of that happened twenty years ago.
In the time that had passed, Alphonse took to the east and studied with an old friend, May, until realizing they were more than just friends. The two married, but never had any children. They were more focused on helping the world, one person at a time. Edward traveled west, but after admitting his affection to his childhood friend, Winry, he quickly returned home to marry her and start a family. Alphonse periodically returned home to check on his family, often bringing exotic toys or recipes for the others to experience.
"Hey everybody! May is in town shopping right now. Since we're staying here again, we plan to cook for all of you tomorrow!" Al grinned and hugged his nieces and nephew.
"Ah yes, Xing cuisine, now I'm really excited!" Ed rubbed his stomach vigorously.
"What? Is my cooking not good enough for you?" Winry teased.
"Don't even try to start that again, Wintry!" Ed playfully bumped his wife with his elbow. "So, Al, how was Xing? Bring anything new back?"
"Well. Um. Kind of. I mean. Yes. But. Um." Al fidgeted with his fingers, slightly turning away from his brother. "The thing is, Brother… uh. Well."
"Spit it out already!" Ed whacked Al on the back of the head out of impatience. The children gasped and laughed at their father's frustration and Winry sighed, mumbling something along the lines of "not this again." After three years, Edward didn't want to listen to his brother fumble over words. He wanted him to speak.
"Okay, okay, but just - just try to stay calm. Don't freak out, okay?" Al rubbed the back of his head where a small lump was forming. "And stop hitting me over the head! I'm not a little kid anymore! I'm thirty-five!"
"Come on, Uncle Al! What is it?!" Sara pried.
"Alright, alright! I'll be right back." Al grumbled, turned away and walked back down to the car he arrived in. He opened up one of the back doors and leaned in. He seemed to be saying something, but the rest of his family couldn't hear him. They all began to slowly come down the stairs to meet Al. A look of confusion sat on Ed's face. Slowly, his confused expression turned into concern as an odd aura began to radiate from the car.
"Al… Move." Ed ordered, his voice stern and his fists clenched. He stepped in front of Winry. "Kids, get back."
Ed's children looked to their father. Sara was about to protest, but upon seeing the anger and fear in their father's face, all of the children backed away a few steps. Maes took a fighting stance, as did Sara.
"Brother, there's no need for that, really!" Al stepped away from the car, arms raised defensively. "Please, calm down."
"Ed, what is it?" Winry asked softly.
"I haven't felt something like this since we were under Central." He growled. "It's much, much weaker than that, but it's still a bad feeling."
"Brother, please stop!"
"Al, what did you bring to my home?!"
"Ugh, can you all please stop shouting."
Everyone's gaze shifted to the car, trying to see whom the voice came out of. A pair of feet slid onto the ground, but the newcomer's face remained hidden inside the car.
"That's better. You were giving me a headache."
"Al… who…?" Ed straightened up.
"Brother, everyone. I'd like you to meet someone very important to me. This is Nina." Al again turned to the car and reached out his hand to whoever was sitting in it. Slowly, he pulled out a girl. With her face down, she stepped away from the car. She was tall and slender with long orange hair. Her hair was loosely pulled back into a long braid and her bangs were left to cover some of her face, but the dark circles under her fiery eyes were still visible. Everyone looked over the girl very slowly. At first glance, she seemed somewhat normal. Her clothing was a bit out of place for the countryside – she was dressed in a loose white shirt that hung off of her shoulders, leather pants and rather chunky black boots. Her hand slowly reached up to scratch her head and Edward took note to how long her nails were. They were painted black and almost dagger like. The girl then grinned at everyone, revealing fangs. She waved.
"Hi there! I'm Nina. I'm sorry about the weird aura. Alphonse said it would freak you out. We're still trying to understand it, ourselves. May seems to think it's because I'm a chimera."