This little drabble came into my head as I was watching Fruits Basket. Knowing how much Al likes cats, I wondered how the Elric brothers would react to the story Tohru was told. Also, I looked up their zodiacs. (I needed 'em, didn't I?) For all you fangirls:

Alphonse is a rat, and Edward is a pig.


Edward and Alphonse lay quietly in their beds, their mother sitting in a stool between them. "Do you two want to hear a story?"

"Yes!" Alphonse said, nodding his head happily. Edward grumbled about being 'too old for bedtime stories'. However, he was entranced once his mother opened her mouth, beginning the story.

"A long, long time ago, when the world was still very young, God decided to hold a banquet. He invited all of the animals to come to the banquet, saying that he would put them in the Chinese calendar if they did. Thirteen animals replied, saying they wanted to come- The rat, ox, dragon, monkey, snake, dog, pig, sheep, tiger, rooster, horse, rabbit, and cat."

"I didn't know cats were in the zodiac!" Alphonse said, innocent surprise in his voice. Edward rolled his eyes.

"They aren't, stupid," He snapped.

"Edward!" Trisha scolded.

"Sorry, Al..."

"Anyways, let's continue with the story." Trisha Elric shifted in her chair, getting more comfortable. "The rat decided to mess with the cat, and so he went over to the cat and told him the banquet was the day after tomorrow. This wasn't true- the banquet was actually tomorrow. However, the cat did not know this, and so he readily accepted the lie. The rat walked away, satisfied with himself.

"The next day, the other twelve animals went to the feast happily. In fact, the rat got there first, riding on the ox's back! As all the other animals ate, rejoiced, and earned a place in the zodiac, the cat was at home, sleeping. He was never let into the zodiac, and to this day all cats will hunt any rat they see." Alphonse gasped, drawing the sheets up closer to his face.

"That was so mean of the rat! That poor cat!" He sniffled, eyes watery.

"You are a rat, Alphonse," Edward huffed. "Besides, the cat deserved it. You always have to check your facts."

"How can you be so mean, brother? The poor cat had no idea that the banquet was going on without him. He must have been so lonely!" Al replied, his voice muffled from behind the sheets. "I know! I'll stop being a rat and become a cat!"

"You can't do that, it's impossible," Edward said, turning over on his side and away from Alphonse.

"Goodnight, boys," Trisha said, kissing Alphonse on the forehead. Edward wouldn't let her because it was 'too childish'. As she left the room, she closed the door quietly behind her. As Ed drifted to sleep, Alphonse lay wide awake in his bed.

"From now on, I'm gonna help every cat I see," He whispered to himself, making an oath.

To this day, he picks up any stray cat he sees, still feeling sorry for the one who slept through the banquet.