When Mommy ran away, I didn't get why. All I remember was Daddy yelling at her one night to be patient, to wait a little longer then we wouldn't have to worry about money ever again. But Mommy was very upset. She cried. She said she couldn't wait any more. She had me to think about and Alexander too. We were very poor and Mommy was worried about making sure I had clothes to wear and lots of yummy food to eat.

I hid behind Alexander the whole time they were fighting. I was so scared. I felt warm water rise behind my eyes. It wanted to fall but I refused to let it flow. If I let the waterfall go, I wouldn't stop.

I just wanted them to stop yelling. I wanted them to kiss and make up and then things would go back to normal.

Then Daddy stopped and turned toward us. The cold light outside filled his glasses turning him into something mean and creepy, but maybe I was imagining it. He told me to take Alexander and go up to my room. I got up and pulled on Alex's collar, shaken and teary. He whined as I almost dragged him out of the room.

The yelling stopped not too long after I hid under the covers in my small bed. See? I thought. Mommy and Daddy are fine. Everything's fine. I fell asleep, too tired to realize I'd never see my mommy again.

Daddy was brimming with energy the next day. He pulled me aside when I kept asking where Mommy was. He knelt down and told me the reason I couldn't see Mommy anymore was that she ran away. She couldn't stand being poor and went to live at her parent's house. But he assured me he wasn't leaving. We weren't gonna worry about money anymore.

He pulled out a pretty silver watch and dangled it in front of my face.

"Look Nina! Daddy became a State Alchemist today! This watch means we're never going hungry again!"

He was so excited I couldn't help but give him my biggest, bestest smile. If Daddy says something is true, then it is. I have no reason to doubt him.

...

Days passed. Daddy started spending less and less time with me. There weren't any other kids my age to play with and Daddy didn't really let a lot of people into the house because his work was very delicate. He let it fall into a state of bad neglect, leaving dishes stacked in the sink for days, books piled and strewn everywhere collecting dust and spiders. Only the public rooms were kept in some form of order.

And I spent most of my waking hours playing with Alexander while Daddy locked himself in his lab studying or working on his projects. Although...I wish...I wish someone would come and play with me. So every night after Daddy tucked me in-sometimes he forgot when he was super busy-I prayed someone would come play and help take my mind off how lonely I was in this big, big house.

Then one bright sunny day the doorbell rang in a long, loooong time. Alexander barked and rushed downstairs. I ran as fast as I could after him and nearly collided with Daddy in the hall. I heard a boy's loud yelp and a thud. My eyes grew wide. Oh no! Alexander jumped on someone!

Daddy and I reached the door at the same time. I felt a surge of incredible happiness at the sight of the little big boy with shiny gold hair and his bigger armored brother.

"Wow! We've got lots of visitors!"

The happy words burst out before I could stop them. Daddy looked down and scolded me for not keeping Alexander tied up. Why would I do that? I thought, unable to stop smiling. He's excited to see new people! I hadn't smiled this much since Mommy ran out.

I found out the boys' names were Ed and Al, the Elric brothers. I was excited to learn they were gonna stay over for a while. Little Big Brother was looking for a way to get Al's body back just as Bigger Brother wanted to fix Ed's. So they needed access to Daddy's research. But they soon lost themselves in Daddy's huge library reading lots of big books. I felt the sadness coming back. I wanted them to play with me but I knew Little Big Brother had a big goal to reach. I tried to stay out of their way, but my lonliness got the better of me and I wound up trying to get their attention.

I got Bigger Brother's first. He was so gentle and kind that I forgot he was a giant suit of armor. I wasn't afraid of him one bit. We played horsey for a minute before I heard Little Big Brother stomp over. He started yelling at Bigger Brother and waved his arms around. Alexander came out of nowhere and flattened him.

He was really mad, but I told him that was Alex's way of saying he liked him. Which was rare considering I was the one he stuck by at all times. I ended up telling them how nice Daddy was and that Alexander kept me company. But I admitted Daddy spending more time in his lab because his assesment was coming up made me feel rather lonely.

We ended up going outside for fresh air and more play time. It was fun! Little Big Brother clapped his hands together and a pretty blue light came out! That was soooo cool! We played till Daddy called us in for dinner.

He explained to the boys how poor we were before he got his State license. I sat by the fireplace stroking Alexander's soft coat listening to him talk. When he said he couldn't go back to those days I told him it was gonna be okay. If the higher ups said no, Alexander and I would go scold them until they said yes.

Then Daddy said the best thing yet.

"Hey Nina, do you want to play with Daddy tomorrow?"

Overjoyed I leapt into his arms, not noticing the icky smell of sour sweat clinging to his clothes. Daddy was finally taking time out of his busy schedule to play with me!

...

It hurts.

Why does it hurt?

Where's...all this pain...coming from? I'm so cold.

Alexander? Where...is...Alexander...?

Why is everything...so dark?

Am I...going crazy...?

Where's...Big Brother Ed? I'm scared. What's happened to me? I need...my big brothers...to come. This isn't fun anymore. Ed...where are you...?

Then I heard it. Al's tinny voice greeted Daddy as he opened the lab door. Thank goodness! My big brothers finally came! Ed knelt down in front of me and I took comfort in his presence. He always made me feel safe. But deep down, I could sense something was wrong. Very, very wrong. The way I sat, the weird way my body moved, the deep guttural words coming out of my mouth scared me even more. I don't sound like that!

Ed must've figured something horrible out because next thing I knew he had Daddy pinned against the wall with his right arm. The metal one. He was yelling about how he used his wife two years ago and now this time, it was me and Alexander-

Wait. What's he mean now? My head sunk even lower and if I had the energy it would've touched the floor. But my neck was longer. Just like...

Alexander! Suddenly everything made sense. My doggie...Daddy fused us together...I remember now. The big circle he had us stand in. Those dark, scary words he read out of a small book. A flash of dark red light...then pain. Lots and lots of pain. Does he mean Mommy used to be like me? She didn't go live with her parents like I was told? She...Daddy killed her to get that shiny watch?

A horrible thunk jerked me out of my pain-muddled thoughts. I watched helpless as Ed beat Daddy's face in with his metal hand. I saw red stuff fly and smelled it instantly through my new nose. Blood.

Stop it! I thought and believed I heard Alexander growl with me. You're hurting Daddy!

With all my strength I hobbled towards him, just as Bigger Brother stopped Ed from punching Daddy again. He looked down at me in horror as I spoke only two words.

"Ed...ward. No." All my attention was focused on the man who raised me and had pretty much murdered me, but I felt no anger. Only a deep sadness. I kept asking Daddy if he hurt. My words must've broken through Ed's anger because he let Daddy slump to the floor a bloody, broken mess.

Al knelt and softly began stroking my head. Sadness and regret tinged his voice.

"I'm sorry. Even with all our power, we can't change you back. I'm sorry. I'm sorry."

And somehow, way down deep, I knew he was telling the truth.

So I looked up hopefully and asked him if we could play.

Ed let out a loud, despiring wail.

The room grew colder when they left. I didn't want them to go. I didn't want them to leave me with this scary monster, but there was nothing they could do. Whatever Daddy did to me, they couldn't undo. So I watched Daddy pick his broken glasses off the floor. Wash and bandage his face. Then he dragged a chair into the middle of the room and sat down in front of the big picture window. Thunder lit up the dark room and rain beat against the glass.

I sat across from Daddy, mute.

"I wonder why no one understands us Nina."

I don't know either Daddy.

Then I smelled a strange scent enter the room. A large scary man stood in the door, dripping wet and smelling of danger.

"You, you're Shou Tucker correct?"

His voice was deep and rough. Daddy scrambled to face him, demanding to know who he was.

"Alchemists who stray from God's path will be punished."

What? What's he saying?

His big hand shot out and grabbed Daddy's face. A current of deadly blue light sizzled and he dropped Daddy to the floor. The smell of blood was stronger and I couldn't help but get up to see if Daddy was okay.

I nuzzled his finger. He wasn't getting up. He wasn't moving! Get up Daddy! Please! Get up!

"Daddy's hurting." For some reason, that scared me big time. Big fat tears welled up and since I didn't have any hands to wipe them away, they fell like rain to mingle with his blood. Alexander's whine mixed with my distorted voice. "Daddy hurts. No Daddy..."

Then the big man spoke again but this time his deep voice held regret.

"You poor thing. Once you have been given this form, it is impossible to separate you again."

I felt him approach and place his large hand over my deformed head.

"At least, your passing will be in peace."

Please. Make it stop. It hurts so much.

I felt my scalp boil as the lightning surged through my body.

The last image before I hit the floor dead was me and my doggie playing in the front yard with my big brothers.

I hope they'll be safe.

Wow. Episode 4 (7 in the original FMA) was one of the most traumatizing things I'd ever seen in my life. I thought I'd seen it all, but the Nina-chimera haunted me long after it aired on TV. I was numb and felt like someone kicked me in the ribs. But anyway I hope y'all enjoyed this!

Tell me who ya want to see next! There's a lot to choose from. :)