Fullmetal Alchemist and the Flight of the Anti-Social Butterfly

Chapter 22: Go Back Or Move Forward

      Two weeks later, the big day had finally arrived.  Everyone gathered at the church as they sat in the pews to wait for the bride to walk down the aisle.  Alphonse was the Best Man by Edward's choice and Roy Mustang was the Ring Bearer.   The bridesmaids included Rose, Pinako, Riza, Winry, and Sheska.    The rest of the military were also there to witness the happy occasion.  Then as the organ began to play, Zoe the chimera handed DeAnna a beautiful bouquet of flowers as she walked down the aisle.    Edward had waited patiently as he saw DeAnna looking a bit nervous.   "It's ok, DeAnna.  You can do this!", he thought.   

       Then as she approached the front of the church, Peter, the son of Cornello, got out a book to read the vows as he questioned the happy couple on their devotion to each other.  The devotion took several minutes of reading then Peter finally concluded, "Do you, Edward, take this woman to be your wife for as long as you both shall live, through sickness and in health until death do you part?"  Edward smiled into DeAnna's eyes as he answered, "I do."  Peter commented, "Very good."  Then Edward turned towards DeAnna as Peter asked, "Do you, DeAnna, take this man to be your husband through sickness and in health until death do you part?"  DeAnna had a lump in her throat from nervousness so she looked into Edward's eyes instead of paying attention to the crowd as she replied, "Yes. I do."  Peter concluded, "If anybody thinks this young couple shouldn't be together in marriage then please speak now or forever hold your peace."  The whole church was silent.  So Peter continued, "Very well. Edward, you may kiss your bride."  Then Edward leaned forward as he kissed DeAnna on her lips.  

       The whole crowd cheered really loudly with happiness. Edward told his wife, "I promise to protect you and make you the happiest young lady in the world."  DeAnna blushed with happy tears as she replied, "I know you will."  Then the reception took place after the wedding rings were handed to the now married couple.  Roy Mustang was in the kitchen using his flame alchemy to create a barbecue feast as Alphonse got the cake ready.  Den, Hayate, and Zoe were all playing around with each other so they didn't mind being together in one room until the dinner was over.   After about an hour or two, the food was prepared so everybody decided to dig in.  

      Once dinner was finished, there was a dance that took place.  DeAnna invited Edward as she asked, "Please dance with me, Edward."  He gulped with nervousness as he grabbed her hand because he had no experience dancing with his wife, but their dancing together came naturally in the center of the dance floor.  "You dance beautifully, DeAnna!", Edward commented.   She smiled, "You never asked, but I'm happy for the compliment."  Then towards the end, DeAnna threw the bouquet of flowers and Riza caught it. Edward threw his bunch of flowers and ironically, Roy Mustang caught it.    Edward teased, "Could it be that your love for Riza has just created a new spark in life?" Roy Mustang commented, "Very funny, Edward!  Enjoy your life with DeAnna, ok?"  Edward nodded.  Then they got in a car that said "Just Married" which Alphonse was driving as Edward, DeAnna, and Zoe all rode in the back.  Edward asked, "So where to on our honeymoon, DeAnna?"  She answered, "I will show you by giving Alphonse directions, but I want to show you the butterfly kingdom that I came from."    Edward smiled, "Anything for you, my butterfly queen." Then he kissed her cheek as they drove out into the sunset.

      DeAnna was very excited to finally show Edward her butterfly kingdom that she came from, even if it has been many years since she had been there last.  She explained to the Elric brothers, "In exchange for being spared of a death sentence related to lacking a pair of wings, my father and I were exiled to live elsewhere.  My father left me for unknown reasons, but he gave me Zoe as a farewell gift before he left.  My mother died in my place because she loved me and didn't want to see her only daughter get killed."  Edward asked, "What is it you hope to gain from revisiting your past?  If you keep revisiting your past or even having regrets about it, you will never move forward in life itself."    Alphonse added, "My brother is right, DeAnna.  It's ok to take a brief look at your former home, but if you were exiled then it's best not to intrude."  DeAnna wasn't listening, but she saw the banner that welcomed visitors to the butterfly kingdom.  "There it is! Alphonse, please stop the car!", she pointed out with excitement.  

       Alphonse sighed as he put on the brakes. "So this is it, huh?  It is beautiful, but please be careful, DeAnna.", Edward warned.  DeAnna skipped merrily as she approached the entrance.  The guards stopped her by asking, "Who are you?"  So DeAnna answered, "I am Princess DeAnna of the Butterflies!"  The guards told her, "You were exiled many years ago.  We are sorry, but you may not enter."  DeAnna tried hard to convince the guards and even the Elric brothers tried to argue their answer, but DeAnna was denied her entrance.  Then she ran up to the car and went back to sit in her seat with tears in her eyes.  "Why won't they accept me?", DeAnna sobbed.  Alphonse explained, "Maybe it's for the best.  If there was a chance you would be sentenced to death for trespassing, would you still do it if it meant breaking Edward's heart?  He would be sad and lonely if you were killed, not to mention Zoe."  

      Edward placed his hand on DeAnna's shoulder as she cried as he told her, "Even if they won't accept you, who needs them?  You've got us and we accept you just the way you are.  So forget about their hard feelings about you because they refuse to move forward!   You're better than that, DeAnna!    Those days may be over, but I am a boy who loves you.  You've got a bright future to look forward to and if they don't want to be a part of it then that's their problem!  If they are that heartless to discriminate you then you don't need them!  On the other hand, I want you, DeAnna.  So what do you say we end this honeymoon early and we all go to a nice restaurant to celebrate our marriage?"    DeAnna wiped the tears from her eyes and she agreed.  "I want pizza!", DeAnna exclaimed.  Alphonse commented, "Pizza sounds good."  So Edward told Alphonse, "Ok. Pizza, it is!  I believe there's a pizza parlor that is open even in the later hours of the evening so let's all share a pizza together."  

       They got to the pizza parlor a few minutes later and were seated within minutes.  Luckily for DeAnna, they let Zoe in as a service pet as long as she behaved herself.  As they all sat down, the waiter asked what they wanted to drink.  DeAnna ordered a lemonade, but Alphonse ordered an iced tea and Edward ordered a cola.  After they had their beverages served, the waiter asked what they wanted to order.  Edward asked DeAnna, "What do you want on the pizza?"  DeAnna answered, "Pepperoni, please."  Alphonse added, "Extra cheese too, please."  Edward told the waiter, "A large pizza with pepperoni and extra cheese, please."  The waiter wrote down the order and told them it would be about a half hour wait.  So Edward, Alphonse, and DeAnna were having a discussion about DeAnna's future life now that she is married to Edward which brought up a few ideas.  Alphonse told DeAnna, "If you should have children with Edward, I can be their babysitter if you ever need one.  I'm willing to do this as a volunteer thing because you're my friend, DeAnna."  She thanked Alphonse then after a few minutes more, the pizza arrived. 

       They ate together and enjoyed their meal which was very filling, but both Elric brothers split the bill.  Then after the meal was paid for, they all headed home to go to bed.  Roy Mustang was at the door and he told the now married couple, "As a wedding present, I got a bigger bed so you can sleep next to Edward since you are married.   After all, DeAnna, we want to make this marriage official." DeAnna blushed as she turned to Edward, "Will everything be ok?"  Edward answered, "We won't mate just yet, but I think it's time we share a bedroom together."  DeAnna nodded then they all went inside to see the big bed that the military provided.  It was huge and comfy, but DeAnna fell asleep in her clothes rather than in her pajamas as Edward soon followed suit.