Visitations
Visitations
Elric-Mustang Apartment
10:00 am
Ed was allowed out of bed to shower and eat his breakfast this morning, provided he not stand longer than necessary, and that he makes no attempt to step outside of the apartment. Winry's orders. Ed and Winry had talked the night before when she's arrived home and had agreed that Ed was reckless and Winry was short tempered and that they both needed to try harder. So, to avoid antagonizing his future wife, Ed was following orders.
He had demanded that he was brought his paperwork, after nearly a week in bed it had to have been piling up, even with some of it mysteriously being sent to the generals instead. Currently, Ed was sitting on the couch while Yuery and William played next to him and Winry worked on some possible options to help prevent a second burn for Ed. A knock on the door, followed by Havoc walking in with a stack of paperwork under his arm. Elder Sham, and a couple of other Elders that Ed couldn't name, arrived with Havoc. They had been concerned when they had heard that he had fallen ill and decided it was time to call on him.
"With the supplies that have been delivered, and the work the others in your group have done, we have nearly repaired the worst of the damage." Elder Sham said, as she smiled at the young colonel.
"Don't worry, I'll be back on my feet soon and back to work." Ed assured her in return, as Yuery climbed up next to him and William stared at the visitors with wide curious eyes.
"That is our concern, that you will go out there and push yourself too far yet again." Elder Sham replied.
"I miscalculated. It can happen to anyone." Ed said with a frown. "It's not something to halt the project over. Though I want to talk to you about the alchemists."
He felt the room grow colder at the words. He knew he was pushing his luck bringing this up, that they barely tolerated him helping let alone anyone else. It would be so much faster if they let him utilize his full team however, so he had to try at least once. "Look I know how you feel about Alchemy. Believe me I understand. I have the same feelings toward magic." Ed began as he took a deep breath and looked down at his son. For this boy he was going to have to change his views on magic, he might as well start trying now. "Look. Alchemy is a tool. Just like a hammer or saw or, yes, a gun. Just like any tool it depends on the person using how well it works, and how disastrous the results."
"If this is about Lt. Fuhrer Mustang- "Sham started.
"Well it is, in part, but also the Tringham brothers. See the thing is Russell and Fletcher are plant alchemists. With their help, you could have the countryside replanted in a single season. I've seen the projections, and without them you will be relying on Amestris for imports for at least five years. Our purpose here is to return our independence so that any trade you engage in is of choice not need."
"Amerstian, you have no idea of our struggles." One of the other Elders said with a frown.
"Do I know what it's like to be Ishbalan? No, I don't. Do I know what it's like to watch you home torn apart by war and the people you know, and love die, when you're too small to do anything but hide? Yes, I do. I was born and raised in Resembool. My wife's parents were doctors here in the war, she lost them before she lost her first tooth. I lost my own parents even sooner. I know loss. I know pain. I know what it's like to know people see you and know you don't belong. "Ed said as he watched his boys across the room"My adoptive father, Mustang, is not Amestrian as you can tell. My birth father wasn't either. I know you knew this; it is the sole reason you allowed me to use my alchemy."
"I have discussed it with the council after speaking to Mustang, and he brought to light his own connection to the Sage. We have agreed to allow him to help rebuild." Sham said with a smile.
"That is a good start at least. This is Dad's passion, his project. He made an oath at the end of the war to restore Ishval to its former glory and prevent another Ishval from happening. He still has nightmares nearly every time he sleeps from what he was forced to do as a child." Ed replied. "I make no excuses for him, nor does he make any for himself. He is simply doing his best to right a wrong he committed toward your people. He does not now, nor did he ever, hold any hate for your people."
"I appreciate your honesty. I listened to his as well. He will be allowed to help, as for the other two, we need to visit the issue as a council before I can rule." Sham said.
"The more you let us alchemists help, the quicker the Amestrians will be out of your country, just so you know." Ed couldn't help but add.
The Ishbalans left soon after, and Ed hoped they had listened to him. He never noticed Winry standing just out of sight, listening to the whole thing, she knew he would not bring up her parents if he knew she was standing there, so she had remained silent. She did hope that they listened to him though, because the quicker they left the desert the better she would feel, she spent a lot of time worrying about how Ed was holding up in the sand and sun.
Yuery and William decided their father had spent enough time paying attention to other people and were demanding he play with them. Ed laughed at their antics, before sliding to the floor to crawl after them as the screamed and played. He was mindful of his injury, though not especially concerned with it as it was nearly healed.
Paperwork was still sitting on the coffee table, and Winry was worried about it being knocked over during their game so she slipped into the room and collected it. He could worry about it later. It looked like it was all a bunch of numbers on the costs of supplies and labor. Winry had been running the shop long enough to know how important it was to keep these records in order.
2:00 pm
Winry had just left to return his paperwork for him. He knew that if they were anywhere else, it would not be allowed, but then if they were elsewhere, he would be in his office. As it stood the entire civilian population of this outpost currently stood at four…and three of them lived in Ed's house. Fletcher was the fourth. Everyone else here was military, and there weren't enough of them to be counted as anything more than an outpost.
Therefore, no one was likely to even notice Winry returning Ed's paperwork, let alone make an issue of it. She wasn't going to make a habit of it anyway, but he wasn't to walk right now. She was also still trying to make up for her original reaction to his injuries, though no one aside from herself felt she needed to. Ed wasn't aware she was this upset with herself over it or he would try to talk her out of it, and she knew it. She was so busy brooding, she nearly walked straight into the man standing just outside the offices.
He was an odd one, dressed entirely in black in this heat, he was going to get sick just like Ed. She approached the man hesitantly, he seemed strange beyond the clothing, he had an air about him. Once she was an arm's length away from him, he finally turned to look at her. "Good afternoon." He said in an accent she did not recognize. "I wonder do you know Edward Elric?"
"He's not available at the moment, but if you were to stop in his office you could leave a message." Winry replied, already moving toward the door. "It is right in here."
"I do not wish to be a bother. I simply wished to speak to him briefly." The man said as he followed her. "Perhaps I can simply leave a message with you? Do you know him?"
"I can't really say." Winry said, concern giving out to panic. Rose had been taken right from their home, and it had nearly destroyed Ed, what would losing a second person, possibly without a trace do to him? To the boys? She didn't want to die. She was just starting out in her own shop, and she was getting married in a few weeks, and she wanted to see who her boys were going to grow into. She kept moving, now at the door already pulling it open.
"Very well, then I shall visit his office after all." The man said with a sigh before stepping forward to hold the door for her. She quickly darted inside, thankful for how small the building was as she dashed into, not Ed's office but Roy's.
She didn't wait to see where the man went, she just rushed in and ran past the staff straight to the inner office. Roy was inside, ideally twirling a pen through his fingers as he read a report. He looked up at the sound of the door, and as soon as he saw her expression, he jumped to his feet dropping the pen. "What is it? What's happened?" Roy demanded even as he rounded the desk.
"There was a man outside with a strange accent asking for Ed and when I wouldn't tell him anything, he followed me inside the building, and I know I'm overreacting but after what happened to Rose- "
"No, you have nothing to apologize for Winry, if this man scared you, he scared you. The chances that he is allowed in here isn't likely. You know everyone who works at this outpost. Even if it turns out to be a misunderstanding, I will rather file an apology than an autopsy." Roy said, hugging the girl briefly. "Now I am going to go search for this man, please stay here and don't let anyone in unless it is me, okay?"
Winry nodded and Mustang left the office, he first found that his staff was still awaiting instruction. He ordered them to watch over Winry and rushed into the hallway in search of the man. He hadn't bothered to ask for a description of the man because the plus side to having such a small center was, he knew everyone who was allowed in here.
It didn't take him long to locate the man who had frightened Winry. Roy looked into Ed's office, and there was the man dressed entirely in black leaning over Havoc's desk as he wrote a note, Havoc chatting with him as he wrote. Roy stepped closer and the man stood, turning to Roy. He recognized him as Severus Snape.
Roy wasn't certain if he was relieved or annoyed, but he was no longer concerned about Winry's safety. Snape had already cast some strange spell the last time he was here that prevented him from harming or taking any member of their family. He still hadn't expected to see the man again and was alarmed to see him in person now that the relieved annoyance was fading. "Snape. Why are you here?"
"Ah Mustang. I'm here because the others noticed that you moved house but they failed to learn where and grew concerned. I was asked to check in on the situation, and while I am unable to give any details, can at least inform them the situation is not dire. I however decided to make contact to warn you that both sides are trying to locate the boy." Snape said as he walked closer, Havoc frowned and started to stand before a look from Roy returned him to his work.
"I believe you said the spell you cast prevented you from reporting back on anything regarding us." Mustang said as a statement not a question.
"It's complex. I cannot, as an example, inform anyone that you have moved to Ishval. I can state that I located and confirmed your safety, as long as I do not mention the boy directly." Snape said. "I have grown quite adept at how to word statements to convince those in power that they still hold the cards."
"It's a delicate balance." Roy replied, having spent several years planning against the leadership he did understand what Snape meant. He didn't trust this man but didn't feel threatened by him either. Last time he had given them a great deal of help and he had respected their boundaries regarding the child.
"I was just leaving a message for Edward. He is unavailable I am told."
"He suffered from overexposure to the heat a few days ago, he will be fine."
"I see. I would offer my services, I am not a medical expert, but have many small treatments l can offer."
"No, I- "Roy began, then wondered if they may have something to help Ed's leg after all. He was worried about infection this far from a hospital or medical center. "Actually. He suffered some burning around his port. Let me go talk to him, and if he's comfortable with the idea I can see if there's anything you can do for it."
"Very well."
Roy quickly stopped by his own office to gesture for Winry to follow him then walked over to the apartment while explaining the man was the wizard they let help them a couple of months ago, when Rose was kidnapped. He added that he suspected at this point he wondered if they had interfered in Alphonse's rapid recovery, and that Snape was offering to look at Ed's burns. Winry nodded along, now that Roy told her who it was, she was less afraid.
Ed, on the other hand, was more concerned to learn the wizards had returned. He had expected them to return, he just did not want them to become a regular fixture in his life. He did agree to have Snape look at his leg, if for no other reason to help Winry's concerns. Roy brought Snape over as Winry took the boys to their room for a nap.
Snape arrived with a rather small bag, produced seemingly from nowhere and Ed shrugged it off as Snape looked at the burns on his leg. "I believe I have a salve that will heal this rather nicely." Snape began as he rummaged through his bag. "I have a few potions that may help; however, I do not know how they would interact with the amputation. Without knowing the nature and age of the injury that would be irresponsible."
"Hey, have you ever heard of a man named Van Hohenheim?" Ed asked suddenly as Snape applied the salve.
"I do not believe so, no." Snape replied calmly. Ed nodded as he tried to remember any other alias his father had used. He knew from the little he had read of the journals before his Dad took over that the old man had mentioned traveling to Europe. "What about Nicolas Flamel?"
"Flamel is famous for his work on the Philosopher's Stone. He disappeared a few years ago from public, though I know he still speaks to Albus Dumbledore on occasion." Snape said. He was fairly certain Flamel was who Dumbledore lost a few months ago, but he was not going to spill the older man's secrets. So far no one said anything about Flamel passing away, so it was likely being covered up. Snape had no real proof at any rate, just suspicions. He did notice the way Ed stiffened and wondered if the boy knew Flamel as well.
"The Philosopher's Stone? "Ed questioned stiffly.
"Yes, he is the only know creator of a Stone. It is much sought after, which is believed to be Flamel's primary motivation for disappearing from the public eye. Have you heard of it?" Snape asked.
"Do you know how they are made?" Ed asked, trying to wrap his head around the idea that Hohenheim may have made additional stones.
"No, I'm afraid not. He has said more than once that he would take that secret to the grave." Snape replied. "Flamel appears and disappears whenever it suits him. As I said, Dumbledore may know how to contact him, no one else as far as I know has his personal information. "
"What about the stone? Has anyone actually seen it?"
"…I can not say for certain. If anyone has, it would be Dumbledore. They have been…close…for years." Snape said delicately. "It is my understanding that Flamel as Dumbledore's Teacher when he was younger, and it is well known they have worked on several projects together through the years."
Ed nodded with a huff. It always came back to Dumbledore. He was going to have to speak to the man at some point. Now it turned out his worthless father was friends with the man, well known to be friends with the man. The stone was more concerning to him. If his Father had made another stone… well he hadn't thought his opinion of the man could get any lower.
"It is said that the Stone is the greatest alchemical achievement. Have you heard much about it then?" Snape asked genuinely curious.
"It's the Devil's research." Ed said, quoting Marcoh. "No good has ever come from seeking it."
"So, you do know of it." Snape replied.
"This extends to the family secrets thing? Does the vow prevent mention of my birth parents as well as my adoptive parents?" Ed asked. "If I were to tell you this would you be able to repeat it?"
"The vow protected all of your family secrets, including those of your parents." Snape said.
"Van Hohenheim was Nicolas Flamel. He is my birth father, and he was hundreds of years old." Ed said, with anger in his voice. "If he shared a Stone with Dumbledore then I have no reason to trust that man at all. Though I doubt he would. In my father's case, it was not a physical Stone. He was the stone."
"Is he no longer then?" Snape asked, unable to think of another question.
"My father used up his stone during Promised Day. He's dead now." Ed said coldly. "Should you ever come across a stone, leave it and run."
"I see." Snape said with a frown. He had expected this, but it was still surprising to hear it out loud.
"The final ingredient." Roy said, finally interrupting. He knew it was important to say it out loud, and that it was too hard on Ed in this context. Ed frowned but didn't stop him. "The final ingredient, the piece no one dares to write down. Is souls. Human lives. Hundreds of them."
"Dumbledore would never- "Snape said recoiling at the idea.
"I seriously doubt the idiot gave that information to anyone." Ed scoffed. "He's an asshole, but not that big of an asshole."
"He may have mentioned the Stone to explain his agelessness without ever fully explaining it to anyone." Roy suggested.
Snape nodded as he searched for a less disturbing subject matter. He returned his attention to the burns. He should offer a spell to prevent further burns. He made the offer and after a brief argument between the others it was agreed to give it a try. Ed insisted that Winry be consulted first. Roy went to get her, the boys both appeared to be asleep, so he followed her back out front to watch himself.
Snape finished the spell, with Winry hovering close by and Roy watching on with a frown. No damage was done by using magic on the leg. Yuery appeared in the doorway rubbing his eyes in search of his parents. Snape smiled at the boy even as Winry scooped him up to rush him back to his room. Snape waited until he was gone before stating simply. "He has his mother's eyes." Before packing up his bag and standing to leave. "I will be by again to check on you all. That burn should be gone by morning."
Journal Four
1670
01/06/70
I have been working with Dexter
unknown to him he has taught me
how to harness the magic I thought
myself incapable of which is wonderful.
Dexter is asking after my wife again. I
Will have to satisfy his curiosity soon, less
He suspects she is gone. I need to seek a woman
Who looks similar enough to the woman in the
Portraits.
I went in search of such a woman in France over
The summer holidays. Perenelle had many sisters
Perhaps I will luck out if I look there.
Meanwhile, I hired a muggle woman to pin
A series of letters for me to send 'to me'
In my absence. That should satisfy him
Until I return.
_T.B.V.N.F.H
06/08/70
I have found a suitable replacement
She is nearly identical to my Perenelle.
Fortune has it that she is also willing
To play the part.
Gabrielle will shed her name and become
My bride as soon as her affairs are in order.
I offered her a generous sum in exchange
For her deception and she has agreed to
The terms.
Her mother is ill and her father overworked.
I have cured her mother with a combination
Of alchemy, magic, and a redstone sent to
Me a few years back.
I now have formed a reliable plan to explain me.
The redstone.
_T.B.V.N.F.H
12/12/70
We wed this morning. I chose
This date so as not to confuse my
Already existing anniversary. I think
She may have been slightly insulted
When I explained this, but she made
No fuss, so I do not believe it will
Become an issue.
It has been a good match overall.
Dexter has also been satisfied for
His questions. I should have learned
By now to avoid being overly friendly
With the Headmaster. It leads to these
Troubles.
No matter, I am nearly done with my
Research. Soon I will be able to visit
My real home.
_T.B.V.N.F.H