Spirit Animals

Chapter 15

Edward honestly couldn't remember the last time he was this happy and that was before as he spotted the familiar lavender dress and chestnut brown hair standing at the clothesline, the figure hanging out some washing. His mum had her back to him as he raced towards her as fast as his little legs could take him. He had this feeling in his gut that something was off but he was too excited seeing his mum right there in front of him. He had no idea where Ayala, Alphonse or Chester were but that was okay because his mum was right there, smiling, happy and healthy and that was all that mattered in that moment. He held his chubby hands out to show her what he was holding.

"Mum, Mum, look what I've got!" he called, excited and proud. She turned from the washing she was hanging out and smiled the smile she always saved just for him.

"What do you have there, Ed?" she asked, gentle amusement in her voice when she saw how proud her son was standing.

"It's a present! I transmuted it!" he told her, his chest puffing out just a little more at the way she looked at him, like she believed he really could do the impossible.

She knelt in front of him, tucking her chestnut brown hair behind her ear as she inspected the proffered gift. Ed almost questioned the fact he couldn't see Cleo nearby but the way his mum's eyes lit up as she looked at the transmuted gift, like they so rarely did after his bastard of a father left, distracted him again. He'd never felt so relaxed and safe.

"You did? You're your father's son alright!" Ed almost bristled at the mention of him but Trisha's loving praise continued, wiping away any annoyance Ed felt. "Thank you very much! That's an amazing thing you did. Creating something as neat as this takes talent." The honesty and love in her voice made him swell with pride and happiness.

Suddenly the skies darkened and a strong gust of wind almost knocked little Edward off his feet. He looked around, confused at the sudden turn in the weather and his mum straightened, face turning completely expressionless. Ed didn't understand what was happening. When he saw his mother, his bad feeling grew into terrified one as he took a couple quick steps back from the horror unfolding in front of him.

"But if you could do that, why couldn't you make mummy better?" The Trisha Ed knew, his beautiful and kind mum, melted and transformed into that thing they'd created. Ed felt his right arm and left leg grow heavy and he glanced at them to see his automail shining back at him. That thing, that bastardised version of his mother stepped towards him and Ed wanted to throw up as it's arm fell off, just like it had done that night. Acidic bile crawled up his throat and hot tears pricked his eyes as he watched clumps of almost-black, coagulated blood spatter onto the ground from the torn flesh. Just before the nightmare could reach for him with its one remaining arm, Ed found himself older and in front of Nina and Alexander.

"Big brother!" she called like she always did when they turned up at her place, child-like excitement and like she was the luckiest girl in the world because they came back. He felt himself calming instantly at the sight of her big blue eyes and Alexander's tongue lolling out of his mouth in his doggy version of a grin. He smiled softly back at her; his nightmare almost forgotten when a new one started unfolding in front of him as Nina and Alexander merged into the chimera Tucker created. "Let's play!" The chimera's slow, deep voice sent chills running down Ed's spine as it moved towards him.

Golden eyes flew open as Ed woke with a startled gasp. He sat himself up and was greeted with the dull pre-dawn light flooding the small dorm room. Ayala was sitting up with him, nosing his neck and cheek, making sure he was okay. He absentmindedly stroked her head as he shut his eyes tight before opening them again, trying to rid himself of the nightmare he just had.