Envy: Blah blah blah, already explained the early update, moving right along!

Ed: Ace5980 does not own FullMetal Alchemist.

Lela: Come on, Master, let's go back to looting Wal-Mart.

Envy: I'm right behind you! *walks off with panther girl to go do evil things*

16: A Lost Innocence Recalled

(7 years prior)

Kayla couldn't believe it. Lela had said she'd found a pretty decent place for once, solid as a rock on the main floor, and apparently it even had a pool. Unlike her younger sister, who'd only harrumphed at the news and crossed her arms, Kayla was ecstatic and practically bouncing in her delight. It was a rare emotion for Kayla to experience, actual happiness these days, what with the alchemists always on their tails for some reason Kayla couldn't' figure out; in fact, the girl would often voice that she wished for a father. When Sonya had asked why not wish for a mother, Kayla had merely blinked and replied that Lela already was their mom.

Like an overexcited puppy, Kayla ran ahead along every street, paying little heed to what few passerby were in the area, and anxiously awaited every now and again for the other two to catch up with an impatient look upon her face before she would dash off again. Like any other eight-year-old, her fantasies of the house were grand and wildly out-of-proportion for the ill-fated trio. There will be all kinds of cookies and a fountain that sprays chocolate milk and plenty of room for me to run around in with my friends! Sonya's eyesight will come back when we get there and Mom and Dad'll be there waiting for us to come home again! Wait, Lela was afraid of Momma when she was mad and Daddy when he wasn't, and I don't want her to be afraid anymore, so instead, there'll be a kind boy there to be our new Daddy and he and Lela will fall in love just like all parents do, and we'll all live happily ever after because all those nasty alchemists will fall down a well and be eaten by rabid possums with baby-eating weasels and puppies with Cheez-whiz and kitties with whipped cream and cookies! Delighted with the idea, she blurted out, "I call first round with the kittens and the cookies!"

Lela laughed at that, and Sonya facepalmed loudly with fairly impressive aim for a blind person. "Whatever floats your boat, Kayla," the oldest sister chuckled. Jolting forward with the energy of a sugar rush, Kayla ran ahead, skidding around a corner she wasn't supposed to. Two alchemists met the startled gaze of the naïve eight-year-old with smirks to rival that of a fox who'd just found the door to the chicken coop unlocked and wide open. They jumped on Kayla, pressing a cloth soaked in chloroform against the girl's gasping mouth until her struggling grew weaker and weaker. Only one thought remained in her mind as she blacked out. How did they know?(1½ years later)

Kayla let out a little whimper as she was given yet another injection. Her paws, covered in a light helping of silver fur, clenched around a ragged teddy bear unconsciously, unintentionally ripping through the stitching holding the arm to the body. A pair of lamp-like yellow eyes gazed pleadingly into those of her caretaker, but all she received was a slap across her cheek. She went reeling backwards, landing heavily on her pillow dog-bed.

She didn't dare move. She merely faked unconsciousness, knowing he never enjoyed it nearly as much when she wasn't awake, aware of exactly what he was doing to her, and squirming desperately underneath him. Tears pricked shamefully at the corners of her eyes, but she did not dare acknowledge them in any way. Heart pounding in her throat, she held perfectly still as her food, dog kibble mixed in with raw meat, the jackass, clattered into the metal bowl inscribed with her name, Kayla. It was only once she'd heard the clang of the door closing that she dared to investigate her wounds, the ones he'd inflicted on her so often she'd become mute to he pain and suffering she endured on a daily basis at his hands.

Carefully, she felt along her sides, whimpering pitifully when she found a particularly intense pain in her side, but sadly enough, Kayla was already familiar to that kind of pain. It meant that she had fractured a rib, something that would only last a day or two before her incredible healing process as an Ark Angel took over and repaired the damage. Careful not to jar herself, the wolf girl curled up, ears twitching, and fell into an uneasy slumber, hoping that someone, anyone, would save her.

(6 months later)

There was a familiar clang, one that made Kayla's ears twitch in the midst of sleep and her blood run cold in horror. She knew well what was about to happen. "Wake up, mutt," a cold voice snarled, stroking a cool finger down Kayla's back and up her tail.

She whimpered, her tail tucking closer to her. "No, no, please, don't." Her eyes showed deep fright. She was not the Alpha. It was not her whims that directed them. He was the Alpha. His whims were what drove them forward, despite her unwillingness.

"Why not, mutt? After all, don't dogs do this all the time?"

Yes, Kayla thought desperately, but I'm not a dog! She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping against hope that things wouldn't go that way again.

Instead, a strong female voice, cold as ice, whipped through the air like a knife. "Get off my sister, you miserable excuse for a human."

He shifted, sneering at the small figure standing there with long hair, devil wings, and bat ears. "Look who's talking, Sonya."

Instantly Sonya, for it was really she, pinned the alchemist to the wall, a knife black as night against his throat. "Unlike you, I'm not human and abusing ten-year-old girls for sex. Your crimes against truth far outnumber mine, bastard."

Another figure came in then, taking hold of Kayla comfortingly. It was Lela. The wolf girl tightened her grip on her older sister, ignoring the strong smell of iron cloaking the cat girl. "Come on, Kayla, this isn't something you'll want to see," she murmured soothingly and tugged on her younger sibling. "Be sure to find us quickly, Sonya."

"After I deliver justice to this lowlife," Sonya spat, pressing the knife closer to the alchemist's throat. Lela nodded and quickly pulled Kayla from the room, but she'd already seen the look of pure evil on Sonya's face, and it was one that would haunt her for years to come.

Kayla: IT'S THE MAILMAN! *tackles*

Ed: KAYLA, I AM NOT THE MAILMAN!

Kayla: You're not?

Ed: No. I do deliver paperwork to the unsuspecting people who dare to question my height though.

Kayla: Darn. Oh well, I'm not complaining!

Ed: Wha- *is silenced by Kayla kissing him*

Kayla: *pulls away* OH YEAH, THE REVIEWERS! Gosh, it's so hard to remember things when they're all off on a massive crime wave. Reviewers will recieve a magical key to get into my magical house of wonders as stated above with your choice of random dreamy guy inside!

Ed: You were so spaztastic at eight. You still are.

Kayla: AW, THANKS ED! *continues kissing*

Ed: *breaks away* STORY-WILL-BE-ENDING-SOON-AND-IN-TRAGEDY!

Kayla: STOP SPOILING THINGS FOR THE MASSES! NOW I'M GONNA HAVE TO PUNISH YOU!

Ed: SAVE ME!