Alaunt Mistress: Hey there. Same old same old. Don't own FMA, blah blah blah. Slight spoilers in this chappie, but that's the way things go. Reviews are always appreciated, and most importantly, enjoy.
Woods of Song
Chapter 5 – Secrets Revealed
The sister swirled the tea in her mug slightly. She could feel the brother's gaze on her and sighed. Best to get this over with and get to bed. She looked up at Ed and found his head in one hand, the other drumming on his leg, obviously irritated that the girl had taken this long to collect her thoughts. Al on the other hand was patiently sitting in his chair, hands folded in his metal lap. The sister took a deep breath and let it out. She started to say something, but found that she couldn't. She looked down at the floor, hating herself for not being able to tell them. Why did she fear them so?
"How about you start by telling us your name." Al said politely.
The sister nodded, and replied blandly, "Chrissy."
"No last name?" Ed asked.
"No. What Mr. Samuels, the bartender, said was true. He found me when I was hardly a year old. He took me in like I was his own. He was the one who discovered my gift in elemental alchemy, when I accidentally burnt down his favorite plant, then built it back up again."
"SO YOU CREATED LIFE!" Ed asked, nearly knocking his chair over in his excitement.
"No, the roots were still intact, I merely accelerated its growth rate." Chrissy continued.
"So what is with the symbols?" Al asked.
"You should recognize them Al." Ed said, it must be late for his brother to be forgetting basic alchemy.
"Oh yeah, that's right. The triangle means fire, the triangle with a line through it is air, the upside down one is water, and the upside down with a line is earth!" Al said almost triumphantly.
"That's right." Chrissy said, her voice rasping a bit and she took another sip of tea.
"Why are you so hoarse? You haven't been talking that long." Al said.
Chrissy smiled into her mug and continued. "There are two things that amplify my alchemic powers, moonlight and song. I don't know why. That's why I'm so drained tonight, it's the New Moon. But I had to go out tonight to help the fields grow because I wasn't able to do it before tonight."
"That's ridiculous, you can't perform alchemy by singing." Ed said, leaning back in his chair.
Chrissy merely glared at him, then looked back down at her tea, it was cold. She opened her mouth and began to sing. It was short and simple, but it took both brothers by surprise when her tea started to steam again. She sipped it and smiled at the elder Elric brother, whose mouth was hanging open in a dumbfounded expression.
"But why do you have to make yourself into all those different people? Why not just be yourself?" Al asked, the first to recover from Chrissy's strange feat.
"Because of us." Ed said quietly.
"Us? But she just met us." Al said, shocked that such a thing could be.
"Not you, but the military." Chrissy said, looking out the window, and ashamed look on her face.
"If the military found out that someone could control all four elements, they'd probably haul her off to a lab somewhere. So by splitting up each different element, there's less likelihood of her being found out. I mean, you've got people all over the world who excel in one element, but all four is unheard of." Ed said, explaining for the girl.
"Until I came along."
"It's okay Chrissy, I'm sure that as long as you don't abuse it, the military won't take any interest." Al said reassuringly.
"Nina didn't do anything." Ed said quietly. Al fell silent and Chrissy could tell that this hit a sore spot on the brothers.
"Well, I for one need to get at least a little bit of sleep. I've got school in the morning."
"You go to school?" Ed asked, not seemingly interested.
"Nope, I help teach." Chrissy said, and went into her room.
The brothers sat a little while longer in silence. It was Al who finally broke the tension. "What would they do, if they found out about her brother. I mean, she's never done anything wrong, and I'm sure she won't. She's just a kid…"
Ed stayed silent, unwanted memories had surfaced. "I don't know…" he finally said. "I don't know what they'd do." Ed laughed a little bit. "The ones with power fear anyone else who could possible pose a threat. That's how the military would view her Al, a threat."
"I don't want her to get hurt." Al said, more to himself than his brother.
Ed looked up surprised, then realization came to him. His brother fancied the alchemist. Well, that was his business and Ed wouldn't pry. "Get some sleep." He told is brother. With that, he went to his own room and fell asleep.
There we go. Keep an eye out for Woods of Song: Chapter 6 – The School House.
