Fullmetal Alchemist and the Flight of the Anti-Social Butterfly

Chapter 16: Young Zoe, The Playful Companion

      DeAnna was busy playing with her new baby chimera, Zoe, indoors when she noticed that Zoe was panting from playing too much.  "Do you want some water?", DeAnna asked. Zoe let out a tiny bark then she swished her tail back and forth.  So DeAnna grabbed a saucer from the cupboard and filled it with water.  "Here you go! Enjoy, my little cutie!", DeAnna cheerfully told her baby chimera as she started petting Zoe.  Edward cleared his throat then DeAnna asked, "Yes?  Is there something wrong, Edward?"  He told her, "Perhaps your baby chimera might need a break from all the playtime so she can rest?  Then we can get your bath ready."  DeAnna nodded.  

       Alphonse got into the restroom to turn on the bath water to a warm temperature that wasn't too hot for DeAnna, but it was Alphonse's turn to take care of the bathtub situation.  So Alphonse asked, "Is this warm enough for you, DeAnna?"  She replied, "Yes.  Thank you very much, Alphonse!"  Then Alphonse thought to himself, "Funny.  She has put on a completely different personality ever since she got her new pet.  I hope she will be ok otherwise."  Then he left the restroom as DeAnna entered with a clean outfit to wear.  As she soaked in the relaxing bathtub, she saw Zoe approaching.  She giggled then she asked, "Do you want to join me?"  Zoe walked back out of the restroom.  DeAnna thought, "Zoe must be scared of water and especially this deep.  Oh well.  I will check on her later, I suppose."  Then after DeAnna got done with her bath and got dressed, she brushed her hair then put some fresh deodorant on.  Afterwards, she brushed her teeth so they were sparkly clean.  

      Then she cheerfully announced, "I am done with my bath, boys!"  Edward was concerned so he asked, "Are you ok?   You've been taking long baths lately and I want to make sure nothing is wrong."    DeAnna insisted that she was just relaxing so it was settled.  She looked over to see that Zoe was curled up by a warm fireplace and taking a nap.  Edward instructed, "Please let her sleep.  Zoe has had a long day today."   DeAnna nodded then she asked, "What was it like being in the military?"    Alphonse and Edward both sat down to tell her about their adventures over a mug of hot cocoa.    DeAnna grew very interested, but she listened all the way through.  The story took a few hours then she yawned and stretched when they finished their story.  Edward pointed out, "Uh, oh!  Was that a yawn I just saw?"  His girlfriend apologized, but Edward told her that it was getting late so DeAnna went to bed.  

      Several hours later, the sun had risen once again.  Edward greeted DeAnna a pleasant good morning then she smiled at him.  He complimented, "That's the pretty smile I like to see!  Good eye contact too!"   DeAnna got out of bed then Zoe came to greet her owner a good morning as well.    Alphonse pointed out, "It looks like your baby chimera is happy to see that you're awake!  That or she's hungry."  So DeAnna fed Zoe then she sat down and waited at the table for her breakfast.    Edward said excitedly, "Look, DeAnna!  You get pancakes with blueberries this morning!"  She couldn't wait to eat her blueberry pancakes, but she struggled with using a fork and a knife.  So her boyfriend corrected DeAnna by saying, "No, DeAnna.  This is how you cut your blueberry pancakes and eat them properly."  She heard Edward scraping the knife against the fork then she plugged her ears.  Alphonse asked, "Is something wrong?"  Edward looked at her girlfriend then he explained, "She is most likely having a sensory issue to the noise that the knife and fork are making.  I'm sorry, DeAnna."  She replied, "It's ok.  I should've told you in advance, but thank you for the apology."  Then Edward patted her head and said, "No problem.  Now please eat up, ok?  Don't want your breakfast going cold!"  Alphonse asked, "Can I get you some juice, tea, or water?"  DeAnna answered, "Can I please have a tall glass of water with a few ice cubes?"   Edward asked, "What do you say afterwards?"    DeAnna added, "Oh, and thank you."  Then her boyfriend smiled as he praised, "That's my butterfly princess!"  She blushed then she ate her breakfast and drank her glass of ice water.  

       Afterwards, she gave Zoe some water in a saucer along with some food and took her outdoors to do her business which was a successful attempt.  DeAnna praised, "Good girl, Zoe!  Awesome chimera!"  Then they both went indoors for awhile to relax.  As DeAnna and Zoe were resting on the sofa in the living room, Edward suggested that Zoe gets a harness or some kind of training device since she is getting big enough to start her first lessons of training on how to be a service chimera.    DeAnna agreed then Edward asked, "How does tomorrow sound for you?"  She looked confused then she told her boyfriend, "Days don't make a noise, silly!"  Edward laughed briefly then he corrected himself, "No, DeAnna, they don't.  I meant to ask if you want to visit a pet supply shop tomorrow to get training supplies for Zoe since she's going to need some and they need to be for young chimeras or puppies.  Either one will work since Zoe is a hybrid pup."  DeAnna nodded so Edward exclaimed, "Then it's a date!"  DeAnna blushed excitedly because this was going to be her 2nd official date, but she also hoped she had the courage to behave like she did at the veterinarian during the most previous visit or better.  After all, she wanted to make Edward proud so only time would tell.