Fullmetal Alchemist and the Flight of the Anti-Social Butterfly

Chapter 15: Young Zoe

     DeAnna was tossing and turning in her bed, but she couldn't let her recent loss escape from her head.  She then heard a weak whimpering noise so she got out of her bed to check it out.  "Zoe? Is that you?", she called out.  Then she got a flashlight and followed the sound all the way to the backyard.  Then DeAnna saw a young chimera pup shivering next to the polished rock.  "Bless my soul!  You poor thing! I will take care of you.", she promised the new discovery.  Could this have been a young relative of Zoe's or could this be Zoe as a reborn chimera hybrid pup?  DeAnna scooped the chimera hybrid pup into a warm blanket and brought it indoors.  Edward and Alphonse saw the baby chimera hybrid, but they both thought it was adorable.  "It's so cute!", Edward said.  Alphonse asked, "Where did you find this one?"  So DeAnna told the Elric brothers that it was cold and hungry, but it was whimpering next to the polished rock.  

      Edward exclaimed, "No way!  Could it be?"  Alphonse told DeAnna, "I think this is Truth's way of understanding your feelings for Zoe so he granted you another chance by allowing Zoe's rebirth to happen."  DeAnna looked at the baby chimera hybrid and said softly, "Zoe?  Is that you?"  The baby chimera hybrid let out a tiny bark and started panting happily.  DeAnna cried happy tears as she shouted cheerfully, "Zoe!  You came back to me!  I missed you so much.  Let's never part ways again, ok?"  Zoe let out a cheerful tiny bark to show that she agreed.  Edward pointed out, "Now that she's a baby again, it looks like my butterfly princess isn't the only one getting trained!"  

      DeAnna giggled then she went to get some food for her new pet.  Zoe ate it with much enthusiasm as DeAnna watched with a big smile on her face.  Alphonse was making eggs and toast with a fresh pitcher of tea for everyone's breakfast since morning had finally arrived so Edward and DeAnna decided to have fun with baby Zoe while breakfast was being cooked.  Edward told DeAnna, "Now that you have a new pet, I think we should take Zoe to the veterinarian for a checkup."  DeAnna looked downwards as she remembered what happened during her last visit.  Edward corrected her, "Oh, no!  DeAnna's not looking at me with eye contact.  That's not very good social skills, my butterfly princess."  DeAnna raised her head then she looked at her boyfriend as she explained, "I was just lost in thought about the trauma that I had endured on the previous veterinarian visit, that's all.  I'm sorry for my bad manners, Edward."  He patted her head as he commented, "It's ok, sweetie!  Looks like I still need to train you a bit more, but I have faith in you."   

      DeAnna blushed then she giggled cheerfully.  She then scooped up her baby chimera hybrid and put her in a proper crate then she walked with Edward to the veterinarian for Zoe's first checkup after breakfast.  The veterinarian commented, "Aw....this is such a cute one!  Good bloodlines too, it looks like."  Then DeAnna asked as she looked downwards, "What gender is my baby chimera hybrid?"  The veterinarian checked the rear and near the belly then he answered, "This one is a girl.  What is her name?"  DeAnna replied as she looked into the veterinarian's eyes, "Her name is Zoe."  Edward smiled at his girlfriend as he thought to himself, "My butterfly princess has finally learned to talk to other guys.  Good job, DeAnna! I knew you could do it!"  The veterinarian said that Zoe looked very healthy so he gave her the first set of shots and had given her some medicine to help overcome parasites since she was found outdoors the night before.  Then Zoe whimpered from being poked and DeAnna said comfortably, "You will be ok.  See?  You are healthy and you took your first checkup like a good girl!"  Then Zoe barked happily as DeAnna hugged her then Zoe was placed back in her crate to go home.  

      As Edward was walking with DeAnna, he praised, "I just saw you initiating in a social conversation with the veterinarian and he's a guy.  You handled that beautifully!  But I did notice you had your head lowered towards the beginning of the checkup.  I understand your concerns about young Zoe getting poked and you don't have to worry because young Zoe wasn't going to be killed."  DeAnna smiled and she thanked him for comforting her.  Then DeAnna asked her boyfriend, "I see your arm is healing. How is your broken heart healing?"  Edward sighed, "It is still slightly broken, but your good behavior and being such a caring girlfriend are slowly stitching the pieces of my broken heart back together."  

      So DeAnna and Edward got to the back porch then DeAnna asked if she could gently touch Edward's heart area of his chest, but Edward gave her permission to do so.  He thought, "I wonder why she asked?  I trust her whole-heartedly, but what is DeAnna up to?"  So she placed her hands where her boyfriend's heart is then she sadly commented, "Poor Edward.  You heart really is still broken.  Here, let me help you!"  Then she clapped her hands and placed both hands on Edward's heart area as a flashing light had started to shine on his chest. Edward asked, "What did you just do?" DeAnna answered, "I used a healing alchemy on your heart so it should be back to one piece now."    Edward smiled as he patted her head and complimented, "You're so cute!  DeAnna, you are an amazing girlfriend!  Thank you for taking care of me.  Now let's get the bathtub ready so you can take a bath then we can give young Zoe a bath afterwards."  DeAnna nodded then she told her boyfriend, "I think Zoe has to take a potty break first."  Edward exclaimed, "Oh!  If she has to go potty then let's help her to gain confidence in relieving herself, ok?"  So they let young Zoe out of her crate and she peed in the grass almost immediately.  DeAnna praised her baby chimera hybrid then they all went indoors to relax.