Alchemy: Tiny Steps

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D/C: I own nothing.

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"English Speaking."

"Amestrian, Foreign Languages, or to add emphasis."

Written Notes or Add Extra Emphasize

'Inner Thoughts.'

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"They want to see meetings, set up negotiations, new outlines, they are turning everything over to the point they are going to force us to use hand…"

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Edward rubbed his forehead to ward off an upcoming headache, he kept fiddling with his collar of his uniform and pacing around the train station waiting for a certain train to arrive. Not even mentally going over chemical equations which would normally ease his mind. At this point, he should be preparing himself for any possible (very possible) serious injuries. 'I knew this was a very bad idea…'

In exactly 25 minutes and 38 seconds, Winry's train should arrive along with several items he needed, along with Xerxes. Winry had refused to send it all via Owl Mail and firmly stated she will come to Central with said items along with the tiny owl. Each second that ticks by only made Edward feel his demise approach by the second. He knew his time has come when he heard that familiar whistle signifying the close arrival of a train.

...

"Of all the things, they could have done…? This is ridiculous! How do they…? Oh, brother…"

Mei watches Alphonse pace around the Meeting room with papers in hand. She could only shake her head at how Alphonse is losing his mind over the documents the British Ministry of Magic had sent. What was supposed to be simple and not so overly stressful negotiations meeting turned into a complete and utter mess? From what she read, the current Minister is stepping down due to medical reasons and the one that is chosen is not the right person for the job. In everyone's opinion here, this guy is not the right guy. Not the right guy whatsoever.

"Fortunately for us, the Emperor had sent all those letters when he did. To think they believe Xing will go along with their plans." One of the advisors tutted. "This poor excuse…"

"What are we going to do now?" Another adviser asked.

"Going along with their agenda, that one that puts us against Amestris."

"Whom, we are trying to negotiate a peace treaty and alliance with."

"Are we all in agreement we continue with our negotiations with Amestris as we were doing?"

Everyone in the room agreed.

"What should we do then?"

"Hm…"

Mei glanced over at Alphonse to see him staring at a random spot in the room, his eyes seemed glazed over. She sweatdrop when she saw a familiar sparkle in his eyes, a very familiar sparkle she had seen in her Ling's eyes so many times before. With a sigh and a shake of her head, Mei made a mental note to try to have Alphonse not hang out with Ling so much. The latter's personality is rubbing off on the former. "Alphonse-sama…?"

"Winry and Xerxes should be arriving any minute now correct?" Alphonse asked Mei, turning his entire attention to her. "

Mei looked over at the clock in the room and nodded. "Your brother should already be picking them up right about now."

"Good. I'm going to need to use Xerxes to send a letter."

"What do you have in mind, Alphonse-sama?"

"How about we set up a meeting."

...

The Silent Treatment.

This is far worse than getting hit over the head repeatedly by the Wrench of Doom. Edward kept stealing glances over at Winry, who holds Xerxes's cage close to her person and mentally debated what exactly should he say to her. They hardly traded any words at the train station, it was mostly of 'How was the trip?', 'Are you okay?', and many others of a similar to those. They were in a military-owned vehicle and they were being driven to Central by a random officer.

"Winry…"

"Not now Ed."

"Okay…"

"Hoot, Hoot, Hoot~"

"Shut up, Xerxes!"

"Don't argue with the Owl, Edward."

"Hoot~~"

"Winry! She's mocking me!"

Winry bit her bottom lip in an attempt to hold back a smile and a laugh that threatened to bubble out of her chest. It only took for Xerxes to puff out her feathers and scratched Edward's nose. That was when Winry couldn't take it anymore, the Mechanic busted out laughing. She had been purposely giving Edward the silent treatment to see how far he will take it to make her talk to him again. The main goal is to complete the day, but this didn't even last the first couple of hours. "Xerxes, play nice."

"Hoot?"

"You played your part, and I believe Edward is punished enough into thinking he's going to be severely punished." Winry told the Owl with a chuckle, both her and said creature chuckled together at Edward's gobsmacked expression. "You okay there, Ed?"

"…Are we okay then?" Edward asked hesitantly.

"We're okay, Edward. I just wanted to see how you'll respond. So, worth it."

Edward's eyebrow twitched, he took in a deep breath in an attempt to release some of his pent-up tension. His eyes shot openly sharply as he lunged over at Winry, both hands on both sides of her face to pull her close to his face. Winry's eyes went wide when she felt Edward's lips on top of hers and as cheesy as it sounds. She swore fireworks went off and it almost felt perfect. It didn't help that Xerxes went wild in her cage and causing a complete ruckus in her cage. Ended up that Winry had lost her grip on the cage and it leaned over far too much for the Owl's liking.

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"Well… you both looked ruffled up. Anything I should know?" Roy asked not even bothering to hide his smirk from Edward and Winry. True to his word, Edward's hair is let loose from its ponytail and Winry's face is red as a tomato.

"Shut up, General!" Edward growled at the older male.

"Just saying." Roy raised his hands in mock surrender. His expression turned serious once the laughter ended for him and he glanced over at Winry then back at Edward with a questioning look. His unspoken question was answered when Edward wrapped an arm around Winry's waist and pulled her close to him. With that, Roy continued speaking. "Your brother is looking for you, he needs Xerxes to send a letter to the so-called government that is made up of magical idiots."

"Did he go over all the letters?" Edward asked with a snort, he had more or less read some of it and had to stop before he shredded them all in pieces.

"So, you know that the very possible future Minister wants to put restrictions onto Amestris among of other bullshit. Don't even get me started with what they have planned with Xing…"

"Ugh… don't remind me. I believe it has to do with the fact Magic unable to be done here and they want to exploit it. An entire country that magic is completely void to the point it terrifies them. Fudge is afraid of the unknown and will do whatever in his power make it appear he is on top of the situation, blatantly so."

"Any ideas to make them see…. Reason?"

"… it involves bribery, sucking up to people and using up a lot of my blackmail material."

"You have blackmail material?" Roy and Winry asked, looking at Edward as if he grew a second head.

"…First thing firsts, how about we look at every possible route before I use any of my blackmail material."

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"You do realize what they seek is foolishness?"

"Of course, I know that… Look at it this way, Cornelius is not opposed to the students learning Alchemy."

"He is opposed of a muggle of teaching it! Tell me again who exactly decided for that man to be the next Minister?" Severus rubbed his forehead in an attempt to ward off a headache. "Cornelius Fudge is playing an extremely dangerous game. We are talking about an entire country that is run by a Military. Military. Unlike us, they already managed to place their country back into order after a war that occurred two years ago, and we are still recovering from a war that happened years ago. They are sufficient and well trained, making enemies with them will be the last thing we want to do."

"We know that Severus…."

"Of course…" Severus snorted, he crossed his arms over his chest. "You do realize Amestris will not be played as fools. You cannot expect them to play anyone's games, Albus. They may act like dunderheads, but they are anything but as such."

Albus quietly sat in his seat, he interlaced his fingers together and lifted his hands up to rest his chin on them. He wasn't confirming or denying Severus words, well more so to the latter than the former. No matter what he said or done, he just could not get Edward Elric to see his way in anything. Trying to see into the young man's mind is right down nearly impossible, there is an outside force that makes it impossible. He knows this for a fact due to the fact whenever he attempts to do that action and fails, an eerily laugh will echo in his mind. Continuing from Severus words, he is right about the last part. Alchemists are anything but 'dunderheads', he had seen the books Edward has considered to be a light read on the topic. It was anything but a light read. He could only imagine what young Edward Elric would consider difficult in terms of Alchemy.

"Who was it again that picked Fudge again?"

"I did, Milicent had originally wanted me to replace her, however… Severus? Are you alright? Leaving so soon?"

"I need to write a letter…"

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"That is why I need to send a letter to the Minister."

Edward and Xerxes stared at Alphonse with blank expressions, both blinked slowly at him after hearing the reason Xerxes needs to deliver a letter.

Edward looked down at Xerxes. "Well…?"

"Hoot?"

"It might work, depends if Al could convince her."

"Hoot."

Edward and Xerxes nodded at the same time and both of them turned back to face Alphonse. "Let me send the letter. If you send to the Minister, there's a huge possibility that it will be intercepted, and it won't get to her. I made a… contact… in the Ministry that will help us."

"Who is it?" Alphonse asked, taken aback.

"…Guess… You kn-"

To be continued…

R/R