Midas Touch
By Jodi Marie Johnston
Disclaimer: Full Metal Alchemist is a copyright program and all characters belong to the companies. However all other characters are my own creative works and creations. Note: This story goes off from the main story line.
Chapter Two:
Al and Ed spent the night sitting next to Aura's bedside. She slept long and hard. Pinako had seen to her wounds and set up an IV in order to make up for the loss of blood. The old woman held her tongue from all the questions that filled her mind. Though no one would say it everyone believed that Aura was either the victim or the perpetrator of human alchemy. Her wounds were just too similar to Ed's. As dawn rose Ed woke up and looked over at Al who had been up all night.
"Morning Al. Any change?" Ed asked.
"No."
"At least she looks peaceful."
"Brother, what do you think happened to her?"
"I don't know Al but I am certain that alchemy was involved. I went back to check the place where we found her but all that was left as a single circle."
"But what about what we saw?"
"Gone. Whoever did this, they must have cleaned up their tracks and destroyed the evidence."
"But we didn't see anyone else. I mean it was an open field."
"I know Al. I'm going to have to report this to Mustang."
They fell into silence again. Aura began to wake up. She opened her eyes and looked up at Al and Ed.
"Hi." Al said.
"Hi?" Aura said.
"How do you feel?" Ed asked.
"Feel?" Aura asked.
"Never mind them." Winry said as she opened the door. In her hands she had a tray with oatmeal and milk. "I brought you something to eat."
"Eat?" Aura asked.
"Like this." Winry picked up the spoon and took a bite then handed the spoon to Aura.
Aura looked at the spoon then at Winry and Ed then took a bite. Her eyes went wide and Aura proceeded to devour the entire bowl.
"I think she likes it."
"That's an understatement."
Aura handed the empty bowl and tray back to Winry as best she could with one arm. Aura let out a small sigh of satisfaction. Winry set the tray on the nearby nightstand.
"Now that she is feed everyone out," Winry said.
"Well see you later Aura," Al said.
Aura watched as Ed and Al left the room. Her eyes got big and she started to panic. As the door was closing Aura bolted from the bed. She fell on the floor scrabbling to regain her balance.
"Ed! Al!"
"Aura?" Ed asked opening the door again only to be knocked down by Aura who was wrapped around his chest.
"ED!" she cried
"Aura it all right."
"I think she is a bit attached to you, Ed." Winry teased.
"Ha, ha. Um Aura, let go." Ed said as he pried her fingers from his shirt. "Look we will be just outside. Winry going to help you get dressed, understand?"
"Winry?"
"Yes, that's me Aura. Boys and girls don't change clothes in front of one another."
"Al?"
"I don't think she
understand Winry." Al said.
Aura was still latched onto Ed.
Winry let out a sigh.
"I have an idea. Ed, go stand in the corner."
"What?"
"You heard me. It is obvious that she doesn't want you to leave and I can't have you watch her change. So go stand over there."
"Fine."
"And you Al, wait outside."
"No problem."
Al stepped outside and Ed went over to the corner letting out a sigh. Winry smiled and walked over to the closet. She took out one of her old childhood dresses, a pale blue simple single piece that would be a little big on Aura but would do for now.
"This will look lovely on you."
"Lovely?"
"You know pretty, beautiful, lovely."
Aura cocked her head to the side.
"You don't understand a word I am saying do you? Well that is all right. Here let me help you."
Winry removed the nightshirt that Pinako had put Aura in last night. Aura let herself be dressed without complaint. Winry pulled the dress over her head and secured a blue ribbon like a belt at her waist.
"That looks nice. You can turn around Ed."
"About time. Why do girls always take so long to get dressed?"
"Shut up Ed. Let's go downstairs." Winry said and walked out of the room.
Aura had attached herself back onto Ed. He looked down at her and smiled.
"So shall we?"
"Ed?"
"Coming brother?" Al called.
"Yeah, we're coming."
Ed led Aura downstairs to join everyone in the kitchen. Sitting at the table was Winry, Pinako and Al. Pinako had made some cookies and there were two empty seats.
"Why don't you sit down?" Pinako said indicating to the two empty chairs. Ed sat down and Aura mirrored him.
"My name is Pinako, I think you already met Winry and Al."
"Al," Aura said pointing to Al then she pointed to everyone in turn. "Ed, Winry, Pinako."
"Right, Aura."
"She really doesn't know our language at does she?" Winry asked.
"As far as we can tell. We really don't know anything about her."
"Are you certain that alchemy was involved." Pinako asked.
"Definitely. But I don't know how she was involved. I informed Mustang."
"What did he say brother?" Al asked.
"He's given us three days to find out who she is, where she came from, and what happened to her."
"Three days?" Pinako asked.
"Yeah that is how long it will take Armstrong to get here."
"Really?" Al said looking hopeful.
"Shut up Al."
"Well I think there are still some children's books in the attic you can start building her vocabulary."
"I'll do it." Al said.
"Good then I will go double check where we found her. See if I can find anything new."
"Winry and I will begin working on her automail." Pinako said.
"Automail?" Aura asked.
"Yes. My arm and leg are both made out of it. Look."
Ed took off his black coat and showed Aura his arm. She came forward with her good hand out stretched. Aura began to study Ed's arm. Her nimble fingers traced every curve of the metal.
"What do you think?"
"Aura automail?"
"I think that can be arranged." Ed said with a smile. "But now I want you to go with Al. I have to go for a while. Al see what you can do with her."
"Right."
Ed got up and left the table. Winry and Pinako started to clean up the table. Al turned to Aura who was eating her third cookie.
"Aura come with me I have something to show you." Al said and held out his hand to her. Aura looked at him then at the outstretched hand. Grabbing four more cookies she took it and followed Al upstairs. He led her into the attic and found the books that Pinako referred to. He remembered sharing them with Winry and Ed when they were kids. Al opened the book showing a picture of an apple.
"Apple." Al said pointing to the picture.
"Apple," Aura repeated.
"Good. This is Ball," Al said pointing to the second picture.
"Ball," Aura said. And they continued this until she knew every item in the books provided. Al led Aura down to her room to rest. She now understood that this was her room and that Al and Ed were not abandoning her. The one thing Al did not notice was that Aura had taken an old dictionary with her. After he had left she sat down and opened the book.