Healing Magic
Healing Magic
Resembool
Edward, despite his best effort, was drifting between sleep and awake. His head dipping down to his chest, only to jerk back up moments later. He didn't want to sleep, not after the nightmare, and Falman, and that wizard should be back anytime now. His dad had returned to Breda and Falman's room a few minutes ago to talk to Breda, who needed the company more than Ed did right now. Nightmares were terrible but they were in your head, what was happening with Falman was real and Ed wasn't holding his breath for a come back. It would hurt more if it didn't happen.
Roy, meanwhile, was listening to Breda quietly talk about Vato Falman. Roy had known for years now that the two of them were in a relationship, but it wasn't until this had happened that it had been officially outed. It seemed that it wasn't that Heymans didn't like talking about his personal life after all. Either that, or finding the one he loved on his deathbed loosened his tongue. Either way, he was in need of an ear to talk about it. Roy worried that Heymans was overdoing it, with his own broken ribs to worry about, but it was keeping the man calm without drugs so Roy was going to allow it.
"We… well remember that mission out near the border? The one with the horses that was supposed to be really simple, in and out, but turned into a real mess? About what six months after Ed showed up so right after we were assigned to East City." Breda said.
"Yes, I remember. It was one of the few field missions we had that year, mostly I was able to assign them to one of my field agents." Roy said in return. He did remember it. He remembered every case he assigned that went badly, because he spent the entire time worried. Ed still held the record for sleepless nights of course. Out of any of his people, office staff or field agents.
"That's when it happened. Getting together you know?" Breda said with a smile. "We thought we were going to die out there, so I guess we both went with 'Why not be honest?' then we lived…though it was another month before we actually worked it out."
"I understand." Roy said.
"I'm sure you do. You've been dancing around Hawkeye the whole time we've known you. Everyone knew you loved each other, but you never did get together until after the whole Promised Day mess did you?"
"No, it would not have been appropriate. I was her direct commander after all."
"Still. So anyway, yeah, we talked about moving together when we moved back to Central. You know, just claim it would be nice to be out of the dorms so going with roommates. Then we decided to wait a few weeks, and we both got transferred again to different places."
"Why wait?"
"Vato was worried Ed suspected, and that he'd tell you."
"I already knew. Ed never said anything to me though, he wouldn't do that." Roy said with a sigh.
"I know, I tried to tell Vato that. We argued over it. I even pointed out we were more likely to get caught sneaking around in the dorms than if we rented a place. He didn't listen. Anyway, so after Promised Day, and we all got to move back to Central, we went ahead and claimed the roommate thing. I was glad."
"I am sure he is as well. I am happy that you were able to find time for yourselves with everything that was happening."
"Wait. You knew we were together, but how long did you know? Who else are you spying on?"
"I wasn't spying, I am very intuitive. As far as that goes, From what you've said, I'd say I figured it out about six or seven months after you got together." Roy said with a smile. "Ed said he figured it out when he was about thirteen maybe fourteen, he didn't remember exactly when. I assume you simply told Havoc."
"Well, he is my best friend. I knew right away when he began seeing Rebecca. Wait. I didn't-"
"You aren't thinking clearly, Jean and Rebecca have been to my house as a couple, they aren't keeping it quiet."
Breda relaxed and nodded. Roy was glad that he was distracting him, because Falman was not doing well, and they both knew it. Breda had decided that should Falman start bleeding or anything again, that they should not continue to use extreme measures. Roy and Ed had not said anything about the possible Healer, and though Roy hoped there was something that they could do with the magic he wasn't counting on it. This was a deathbed vigil and they both knew it.
Ed poked his head in then, he had decided to walk around to stay awake and wanted to check on them. Roy smiled at him, and Breda offered a small wave. He didn't come all of the way inside the room however, instead offering a small nod before disappearing again. Breda asked what Ed was doing awake at this hour, and Roy shrugged and simply said nightmares. Both understood.
Ed meanwhile went across the hall once he assured himself where his dad was to check on Ross. He was nearly as worried about her as he was Falman. She was on an IV of antibiotics and Granny was still concerned. Broch was not doing much better, he was not healing well, the odds were not in his favor as far as his legs went, the healing wasn't as clean as originally assumed. Ed considered the possibility of searching for Marcoh. He had never asked if the Stone still had any power to it after healing Dad and Havoc, he hadn't really wanted to think about it.
It would be pointless to contact Ling. He had already given his Stone to his father in exchange for the throne, and even if he hadn't it would take too long to cross the desert. No, he was going to have to hope that once again magic could help them, because medicine and alchemy had done all it could. He checked on the pair before going back out to the porch in an attempt to stay awake.
Roy stepped outside a moment later with a deep frown. Ed looked at him questioningly, but he shook his head at first. "Pinako is with them, Snape isn't going to make it back in time, Falman's fading too fast. Breda asked for a few minutes. He's- well he's resigned to it now I think."
"If Snape gets here in the next few minutes we can send his help in right away, wait until the dust settles before worrying about vows and such. It's not like the boys are here." Ed said, worrying his lip. If there was even the slightest chance of helping Falman he would take it, this side of resurrection of course. Nothing could bring back the dead and he would never make that mistake again.
"Edward… go for a walk." Roy said, looking at his son with concern. The boy had lost too much, and the last year and a half had been one loss after another for them all. "Find a good spot to build the new compound, and look over the site for our house. Pick some flowers. Visit your mother. Just… go for a walk. I will wait for the wizards. I'll come find you when it's over one way or the other."
"I- alright." Ed said before opening the door long enough to grab his jacket and boots. He was wearing sweatpants and a long sleeved tee, even this early in the year it wasn't overly cold on the porch, but it would be once he set out across the fields. He knew what his dad was doing. A part of him was grateful for it, even as it also annoyed him to be treated like a child.
He walked along the road, deciding to visit his mother's grave before he did anything else. He hadn't been to see her in a while now, he still needed to bring William to meet her. He also needed to tell her about getting married soon, and being adopted. He had meant to stop by to see her before heading to Ishbal but they had been running behind, and since then he had been so busy.
He pointedly ignored the grave next to his mother's as he tended her grave, clearing away the twigs and weeds that had developed since the last time Pinako had been by, then placing fresh flowers, before he was done fussing, and sat cross legged on the ground in front of the stone. "Hi mom. I know I'm out late, or early, or whatever. A lot has happened since I talked to you. We won, and Al's back to normal. He's out in Xing right now, but I'm sure he'll be by to see you soon. Yuery's getting so big now mom! He is so full of energy all the time, and he's always asking questions. I know you'd just adore him. Oh, and before you get mad, yes he's a big brother now. It's complicated. William is just the sweetest child though mom. He loves to be cuddled and he loves his big brother, wants to do everything Yuery does already. He reminds me of Al sometimes. I am doing my best with them both. I want them to be happy. I'm not doing it alone. I know last time, I was so scared I'd be doing this all alone but I'm not. Roy adopted me and Al, and he's a great Dad. I'm going to drag him here to meet you in the next few days, because he needs to get to meet my mom. He worries like me, about if he's doing things right, but he's great. So thank you. For nudging us together."
Ed was quiet for a time, fiddling with the sleeve of his shirt. He worried sometimes, when he talked to his mom like she was still here and could hear him, but part of him preferred to think that she could, at least here at her grave. He had spent at least half of his life comforting himself with this idea, and so fairy tale or real it was real to him, and plenty of people talked to the dead at their graves. It wasn't like he was going to try to bring her back again, so it was fine. Though the idea of what else he wanted to tell her about was now making him nervous because he knew he wouldn't want to hear about this if he was her. He didn't want to know about this stuff as him.
"Hohenheim…I never told you this but I think he did. He wanted me as a weapon mom. He never wanted me as a person, and when I found out. When I found out he never wanted Al at all,I was angry. So angry, and I think maybe that's why… I stopped talking to Teacher, at all. She knew. Maybe. Al and Mei talked to her and they think she didn't, so maybe not. I don't know what to do. I miss her. I love Dad and Ji Mu and I don't need other parents, well I mean you know what I mean. I love you mom, but you can't come back. What if Teacher- Izumi. What if Izumi dies and I was too stubborn to talk to her again? Am I going to regret that? I don't know. I need to read Hohenheim's journals, if any of them survived. I need to get them back."
"I miss my boys, and Winry. They haven't even been gone that long, but I miss them. I'm kind of glad I sent them away with the wizards coming in, because I don't really trust them. Snape has done a lot to help us, and he hasn't told Dumbledore anything about us as far as I can tell. I need to get going, I want to look at the house and decide the best way to rebuild. Dad wanted me to stay away for awhile because he knows Falman's dying, and I think he knows I know that, but I'm staying away anyway. I'm tired of watching people I care about die. I feel old sometimes. So old."
Rockbelle's
Breda had asked for time to say goodbye privately. He knew it was coming, he heard the way Vato was breathing. The only reason Vato was still here, still fighting was for him, and he knew it. He had overheard the conversation in the waiting area He knew they had sent for help in hopes of a miracle, but Heymans had been around long enough to know miracles were rare.
He moved painfully out of his bed to stand next to the man he loved, Vato had been the most important person in the world to him for years now, he had no idea what he was supposed to do without Vato, but that was selfish. He smiled down , as Vato stirred slightly, not believing for a moment the other man would wake now, and for the most part Haymans hoped he didn't so that he wouldn't have to suffer more than necessary.
Heymans sat on the edge of the bed, and carefully held Vato's hand. "Vato, it's me. I know you're fighting hard to stay with me and keep your promise. It's okay. I'm okay now. If you need to go, if it's time. Let go. I will be alright, I'll make sure the others are alright. You don't have to keep fighting. I love you. Always. No matter what, I love you." Vato seemed to relax, as his breathing shallowed further. Heymans smiled sadly, he had suspected Vato had needed his permission to let go. He just wanted Vato to stop suffering.
When Pinako poked her head in to check on them a few minutes later, Vato had already slipped away. Heymans was calm. He had already done his screaming and bargaining and begging. Now he felt numb mostly. Pinako came in and confirmed Vato was gone by listening for his heartbeat, before giving Heymans a sympathetic pat and leaving to inform the others.
Heymans sat there a bit longer, before anyone else came. Eventually, Mustang came in and offered his condolences, he seemed hesitant to say anything further before Heymans said. "Had those people returned before he passed, I wouldn't have allowed it, sir. Vato had very strong feelings about alchemy treatments, I feel he would have extended that to magic as well. He's seen too much of what can go wrong."
"I understand. What of yourself Breda? Do you wish to allow them to help you with your injuries or so you prefer to wait it out?" Roy asked, he did understand too. He didn't really trust allowing magic to become involved, even if he agreed it was the only chance Falman and Ross had. Well now just Ross.
"I… let them look over the others first, I will decide before they leave." Breda said. "Thank you sir, for never trying to separate us or report it."
"You were valuable members of my team Breda. I wasn't going to just give you up." Roy said in reply. "It never interrupted work, therefore it was none of my business. Hell, my own personal life interrupted workflow more than yours. After all I'm the one who happily allowed children in the office."
Roy slipped back out again to give Heymans some more time before they moved Vato. As he gently shut the door, he heard a soft knock at the front. Roy rushed to the front of the house and let himself out onto the porch, greeting Snape and the other wizard with a nod.
"We lost our most critical patient a few minutes ago, so we're going to give them a few minutes out here before we go in." Roy said as he shut the door behind him, not giving them an option.
"I am sorry to hear that. May I ask what happened?" the strange woman asked.
"We had an attack a couple of weeks ago, bombing. Several of our people were caught up in the blast. One of them had internal injuries, and had undergone several treatment, but he succumbed to his injuries tonight. A second person is suffering from infection. He offered whatever help you may be able to provide, so she would be our next priority. I would prefer not to lose anymore of my people if possible." Roy explained.
"As a matter of security for all parties involved we will not be exchanging names, of anyone involved." Snape said before Poppy could ask any more questions. "This location is undisclosed, I am the only one who knows where we are and it will remain that way, however as an added precaution, after we have finished here I am going to provide you with a potion that will suppress your memories of being here, so that no one may question you about it. Is that agreeable?"
"Yes. That is perfectly acceptable. It isn't even the first time I remember taking such a potion, though I no longer remember the reason behind it, I do know that it didn't remove any of my relevant medical training therefore it is the best option available." Poppy replied. "Should it become necessary, I can also make a vow of silence on everything that has happened on this trip."
"I believe that would make everyone here more comfortable yes." Roy said with a nod. The vow did not take long, and soon they had entered the house, Roy explaining that the house was a home but also a medical clinic. She nodded along as he led them to the patient rooms.
Inside Ross and Broch's room, both patients were still asleep. Roy asked if there was a way to keep them that way, at least during the exam. Snape agreed before pulling out his wand and waving it at the room. Soon the three of them entered the room. The healer was quick to examine the patients, including asking a few questions about their injuries. Roy was quick to explain, and then bring in Pinako to explain.
Pinako and the woman then stood off to the side to discuss possible treatments for both patients. The healer (Poppy) explained Skelegro as an option for Broch's injuries, and had several potions and salves to administer for Ross. She applied the first treatments of both, before turning back to the others in the room. "We could regrow the arm, but it would require her being sent to the hospital. I don't have what would be needed here, and it would be slow and painful."
"We've already begun her automail treatments. Would that interfere with the process?" Pinako asked.
"What treatments?" Poppy asked in returned, but was surprised when Pinako pulled back the gown covering Ross's shoulder, revealing the first stages of automail implants. Poppy looked at it seriously for a few minutes, waving her wand a few times with muttered spells before shaking her head. " The metal and.. things.. would have to be completely removed before we could begin the other treatment. I don't know if it is possible…"
"Then it won't be necessary. If it can't be guaranteed I won't put my patient through removal only to have to have it reimplanted again a few weeks later." Pinako said.
"I am sorry we arrived too late." Snape said again quietly to Roy. "It is my understanding from your explanation of the injuries it was uncertain if she would have been able to help, but I know we would have preferred to try."
Roy nodded. "Magic, like alchemy, is not without limitations. I admit I have been reading the books you left my son to best help my grandson. They aren't that far removed on limitations."
"I am certain that is true. I haven't looked into alchemy myself, aside from what it could do to keep him safe." Snape replied while looking around the waiting area. "Where is Edward?"
"I sent him to look over the new building site. I didn't want him here for Vato's passing, he's lost enough people as it is. If I can spare him any pain I will."
"What are you building, if I may ask."
"A new house for my family while we're in the area. It's being rebuilt over Ed's childhood home that burnt a few years ago, and the military offices need to keep this project on track because it needs to be done."
"After I return our Healer, may I offer my aide here as well. I know a few building spells, and more importantly I think, I know more than a few protective spells."
"I will discuss it with Edward, but it is likely he will agree. Anything to keep his children and family safe."
"I had not intended any part of my visit to feel like a threat or threatening. We were in a war for many years, I wish only that the children have a safe haven."
Both men parted at this point, Snape to check on the progress and Roy out to the fields to break the news to Edward.
Journal Nine
1815-1820
01/01/15
I introduced Percival Dumbledore and
Kendra Potter today. Hopefully the pair
Of them co-operate. It is tiresome at
Times, making all these matches.
The Cores are developing as expected.
Gregor Lupin and Agatha Black were
Married last week. They nearly took
Resorting to a love potion. Thankfully
They finally stopped being stubborn.
This breeding trouble is more difficult than I
Assumed it would be, I admit.
_T.B.V.N.F.H
12/12/18
Romulus Lupin has a powerful Core.
He should work well, he is a sturdy
Child, he survived his first bought
Of illness well. I would not call
Him a well tempered child, but
His temperament, in the end,
Has no bearing on the project, and really
That is an issue for his parents to concern
Themselves with. I did a brief exam when
I was invited to meet him. He hasn't access
To his Gate. A disappointment, but not
Completely unexpected. Only half a percent
Of Wizards have access to their Gates.
The Dumbledore child should be here in the
Next few weeks. I do hope it turns out as well.
_T.B.V.N.F.H
08/08/19
Albus Dumbledore has arrived as well.
He is a lovely child, with a very powerful Core .
His Gate is partly accessible. He should be
Capable of Alchemy, to an extent. However,
Unless he committed the Taboo and survived
He is unlikely to be powerful enough to suit
My needs.
Still he holds the greatest potential I have seen
In years. I must become his teacher. With the correct
Training he should be great.
I need to return my attention home for now however,
Perenelle has written to warn me that there has been
Fighting dangerously close to my house, which is
Intolerable. I will return to check on the progress
Of these boys when I get the chance.
I am relieved the plan is starting to come together.
_T.B.V.N.F.H