Fullmetal Alchemist and the Flight of the Anti-Social Butterfly

Chapter 4: Not Your Average Girl

     A few hours had passed where DeAnna was asleep on her new bed as Edward and Alphonse were able to move all of her stuff into the new house while Zoe kept a close guard.  Then she stretched and woke up to see a few butterflies fluttering outside of her window as she gazed at them with awe.  She ran outside and Edward asked, "Hey!  Where are you going, DeAnna?"   She answered, "I am going to spend time with the butterflies.  They seem to be calling for me."  Edward answered, "Good luck and have fun!"  Then DeAnna sat down in the backyard as she got out some nectar and honey to feed the butterflies.  Within minutes, she had a swarm of butterflies surrounding her.  She told them, "I am living here now, but you are welcome to drink from these offerings as you please."  Then slowly, DeAnna had a pair of pink antennas appear above her head that were slightly lighter than her red hair.  Alphonse was taking a walk as he saw DeAnna's new look so he called out, "Brother!  I don't think DeAnna is an average girl anymore!"  Edward asked, "What are you talking about?  Is my student ok?"  So he ran outdoors and saw her antennas, but he was speechless.   DeAnna looked at Edward and said, "I can explain.  Remember when I told you about my mother's death?"   Edward nodded.   Then DeAnna told him, "She sacrificed her life for me.  I was born prematurely so I wasn't born with wings, but I am part girl and part butterfly.  Yes, I am Princess DeAnna of the Butterflies.   But due to not having wings at birth, I was almost killed until my mother could not take the idea to heart and she traded her life to spare mine several years after I was born.  Because of having autism, I could only socialize with butterflies and Zoe after all this time because they were the only ones who would accept me as their friend.  That's why I love butterflies!" Edward asked, "Then what happened to your legs that forced you to have automail legs?"  DeAnna looked downwards again as she answered, "I tried to spend time with a bunch of boys while trying to get them to bow down at my royalty, but they denied my royal bloodlines because I didn't have wings and they instead had beat me up so badly that my real legs were broken.  The doctor said that my legs could not heal properly so they had to be surgically replaced with automail."  Edward noticed her lack of eye contact so he reminded her, "You are looking low to the ground again, DeAnna.  Butterflies soar to the air upwards, not crash downwards.   Please look up at me, ok?"  DeAnna apologized for her lack of eye contact, but Edward understood.   DeAnna also told Edward, "I am sorry for hiding this from you, but I was too scared."   Edward smiled as he told her, "It is natural to be scared, but I think those antennas look cute on you.   May I please call you 'my butterfly princess' from now on?" DeAnna giggled as she blushed.  She answered, "I don't mind.  You actually believe me!  I feel so blessed to have met somebody like you, Edward."  So Edward grinned at her then he praised, "I am so proud of you, DeAnna!  You had the courage to tell me the truth, you didn't get emotional, you thanked me, and you gave me another compliment.  That's my girl!" DeAnna realized she had just taken another step towards overcoming her struggles then she ran up to Edward so she could give him a big hug.  Then Edward explained the situation to Alphonse.  As Alphonse looked through his books, he read that DeAnna the Princess of Butterflies was a rare encounter and that her heart is pure as rain.  The book article continued to say that if anybody earns her loyalty and love in return, he would be destined to have a life filled with happiness.  Alphonse also read to Edward, "It says here that because encountering her is so rare, it explains why the mob wanted to use her for their own evil schemes."  Edward answered, "It appears so, but there is one question that remains.  Could it be that DeAnna is slowly showing an interest in me and trying to win my love in return?"  Alphonse gasped then he praised Edward, "Way to go, lover boy!"  Then Edward got annoyed so he told his younger brother, "Hey! We don't know for certain who or what she likes, but DeAnna fits all descriptions in the book."  Alphonse asked, "Do you think she would go for a DNA test to be certain it's her actual identity?"  Edward replied, "I don't know, but I don't want to lose her trust over a minor experiment as if I was calling her a liar.  But even if she wasn't the real deal, DeAnna is still my butterfly princess."