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.
Chapter Five: Twenty Questions
Pinako busied herself in the kitchen giving everyone room to disperse. Ed and Al escorted Aura back upstairs to her room. Al disappeared for a moment only to return laden with books.
"Good thinking Al," Ed said picking up a dictionary. He turned to face Aura who was now seated on the bed. Ed pulled up a chair and looked her dead in the eye. Aura never backed down from his gaze and held it until he looked away.
"Aura I know this isn't easy for you but we need to know what happened to you and how it is that you can do what it is that you."
"Brother I think you are confusing her."
"How would you put it Al?"
"Lets start with the basics. Where did you come from Aura?"
Aura stared at the two of them for a moment. Al opened up a map in one of the books.
"See we are here. Where did you come from? Where were you born?"
Aura pointed to the field where the brothers had found her.
"That's where we found you, but where did you come from before that?"
Aura frowned.
"Take your time," Ed said
Aura took some deep breaths and clapped her hands together. Closing her eyes opened one hand and dropped it onto the map.
"Here."
Al and Ed looked at the map. Aura's finger lay dead in the middle of the desert where no there were no known human settlements.
"Are you sure? According to the map there is nothing there, Aura."
"There, castle, entrapment. Aura there then," she pointed to the field. "Aura here. Meet Ed and Al."
"But how did you get there?"
"Circle."
"What kind of circle? Was it alchemy?"
Aura thought for a moment. Similar. Circle from one place to circle in other place. Aura travel."
"How did you find that circle?"
"No find, create. Aura create escape. Pain too much pain." Aura said holding her shoulder where her arm once was.
"But how did you do that?"
"No understand."
"Did you use alchemy? How did you know you could create that circle?"
"Aura knew, always know."
"Just like you knew how to make automail?" Ed asked.
"Yes," Aura said with a smile.
"Where did you learn all this?"
"No learn, know. All know."
"You know everything/ then how come you have such a problem with our language?"
"Different. Slow. Painful. Frustrating. Too separate. Not clear. Not certain how to make clear."
"So where you came from, your language was different."
"Yes."
"And can we learn your language?"
"No know how to learn you that. Problem with the fall."
"What fall?"
"I not fall. I not speak like you, but attempting to speak like you. Apologies."
"Its not your fault. Relax for a moment." Ed said and signaled Al to come outside to talk with him for a moment.
"What do you think brother?"
"I'm not sure. But I fear that she is not what she seems."
"Do you think she is a homunculi?"
"Maybe. That could be why she cannot speak like we do. But there is one way to find out. Watch my back Al."
"Brother are you sure you want to do this?"
"No but I am going to."
Ed and Al entered back into the room Aura was waiting for them in the same place as before. Ed sat down next to her.
"Aura I want to check something."
"What?"
"The things you said sound familiar and I need to test a theory, if you will let me."
"Certainly. Aura trust Ed."
"This should not hurt a bit." Ed clapped his hands together and formed an alchemistic circle. He reached out and touched Aura's chest. Blue light filled the room and ancient symbols unlike any Ed or Al had ever seen appeared on Aura's body. She wasn't homunculus, she was something else, and something bound. Ed released her as if he had been burned.
"Brother, are you all right?"
"Fine Al. How about you Aura? Are you all right?"
"Aura, all right."
"What was that brother?"
"I'm not sure. They looked like binding circles inscribed on your body Aura. Like they were meant to keep you somewhere."
"Yes. Symbols, signs, circles, keep me here. Allow Aura to stay with Ed and Al."
"You cast them on yourself?"
"No."
"Who did this to you?"
"Men."
"Which men?"
"Uncertain."
"So much for knowing everything."
"Brother."
"Why don't we take a break and go outside."
"Yes," Aura said and practically bolted out the door. Al and Ed looked at one another and followed her outside. In the backyard, Aura was playing with Winry's dog. The two of them were bouncing all over the yard. The more Ed pushed the more Aura seemed to pull away. This didn't make sense. She should be able to communicate properly, but words only seemed to make things more muddled and confused. What was the key? He needed to figure it out and soon before the people who did this to Aura came looking for her.