Night Elementalist

Disclaimer- If I did own FMA I'd make Night a real character!

Chapter Three: Shou Tucker

"Nrh, regret," Night growled. She tagged along with Mustang, Ed, and Al to Tucker's home. She nudged Ed. "Watch your back."

The next thing anyone knew, a large white dog was on Ed's back, panting and wagging his tail.

"Alexander, I told you to stop!" A little red-haired girl opened the door and looked out, smiling. "Daddy, guests!"

A man walked up behind the girl. "Nina, I thought you tied him up."

Night hissed quietly. Mustang shot her a warning glance before addressing the boys. "Ed, Al, meet Shou Tucker, the 'Sewing-Life Alchemist.'"

Ed eagerly flipped open a book and started reading. Tucker's library was enormous, isles of bookshelves full of books running through it. Night felt extremely tiny in such a monstrous room.

"I'll send someone to get you before dark," Mustang said.

Al nodded. "Thanks."

Night looked over Ed's shoulder. "Has incredible focus ability. Focus on reading much, not hear noises around him." She made a quiet sound like a near-jealous purr.

After Mustang and Tucker left, Night sat in the library and observed Ed reading for hours without talking once. The clock chimed, snapping Ed back to reality with a loud gong.

He looked up. "It's that time already? Al! Al, come on!"

(Bark!)

Alexander ran up and jumped on Ed's back again. "Gaah, Alexander, get off!"

Night laughed. "Ah, playful pooch."

"Hey Big Brother." Al poked his head around the corner of a bookshelf. Nina was sitting on his shoulders, laughing happily. Al chuckled. "Nina asked me to play with her. I couldn't say no."

Night couldn't hold her laughter any longer. Her laughing echoed loudly throughout the large room. "Such young energy! Ah, I wish younger!"

Night and Maes Hughes were walking through the fresh snow, talking. Night looked at the darkening sky. "His birthday today. No need to work." She looked at Hughes. "Day of rest, you agree?"

Hughes nodded. "I completely agree. Here's an idea: I found it's Ed's birthday, so I told my wife Gracia to make him a cake. As always, she was delighted to help, and she told me she wants to meet him. She's nine months in, so I told her we'd bring them to our place. Is that okay?"

"Yes. Been wondering how Gracia doing. Child come soon, yes? Nine months, you said. Time comes very close. Wonderful."

"Hughes?" Ed looked up. "What are you doing here?"

Hughes smiled. "I can't let you work when it's your birthday."

"Aah! How'd you know?!" Ed's eyes widened in shock.

"Well, I'm in the Investigations Department, so I checked."

Night smiled. "Happy birthday Edward Elric." She closed her sparkling eyes. "Call someone by full name sign of respect among dragons. No higher honor than that to come from me."

Ed smiled back. "Thanks, Night. That's the best thing you've ever said to me."

Ed, Al, Night, and Nina followed Hughes to his house for dinner. Gracia greeted them all warmly with a smile.

"Maes told me about you, how you want to become a State Alchemist," she told Ed. "I'm honored to meet you. Happy birthday."

Ed blushed a little and smiled. "Thanks, Mrs. Hughes."

After dinner Gracia brought out the cake. It was beautifully decorated and "Happy Birthday" was written in the middle. Night was very impressed with the work.

"Happy twelfth," Al said. "Hopefully we're one step closer to reaching our goal."

"Yeah," Ed replied. "We've worked so hard already. I wonder how much longer we'll be like this."

"Not long you keep looking," Night put in. "Road is long one, many struggles, many joys, move forward still. Goal is in sight." She looked at Nina. "Ed needs all help can get. You help him reach goal?"

The sweet four-year-old smiled cheerfully. "If Big Brother Edward any needs help he can ask me."

Night patted the girl's head. "Such caring girl. Grow to be strong one day."

Now did you notice Night's speech improvement? Still no? You're just not looking! Review and tell me what you think!