In Times of Trouble
Chapter Sixteen
Before the Storm
Amestris
Central Command
Council of Twelve
"If we do not send aide, and ignore this threat, it will come for us next." Roy said calmly to the Council.
"How many are we committing?" General Olivier Armstrong asked with her arms crossed and a scowl on her face. Her outward appearance was hostile but her response indicated her support.
"We are sending Alchemists." Roy said with a sour taste in his mouth. He noticed the looks that passed between the Generals, it was a well known fact that Fuhrer Mustang's stance on Combat Alchemists was as a last resort. He sighed. "Look, this isn't a normal situation we find ourselves in. This is a wizard's war."
"Please explain." Olivier said with a deeper frown.
"If I may, Sir?" Alex Armstrong replied quietly and waited for Mustang's nod. "When we fought this group in Xing, and it is from the same source, we made the mistake of sending normal troops. We lost a Battalion. These people, these wizards, fight in a similar manner as Alchemists. Sending anything less than Alchemists would be a waste of lives."
"Who will we send?" General Braun asked.
"Tringham, Armstrong, Elderwood, Marcoh, Elric, and myself." Mustang said. He raised a hand before they could protest. "I know it is unusual to send both myself and my second into battle. However, I believe we all agree my wife is more than capable of running this country until my return. This is not expected to take long. Perhaps two weeks. Most of the Populus will never know we were gone."
"What if you don't return?" Olivier said.
"Please." Edward said with a snort. "They are as attached to their little sticks as an apprentice alchemy student is to their chalk. Break a stick and they're useless."
"We are not underestimating this threat, but at the moment it is small, scattered. If we allow it to take traction we will lose people. I'm not willing to take that risk." Mustang said. "I'm also not willing to stand by and watch the mass execution of a school. That's their target. School children."
"When do you leave?" General Braun asked.
"I've already set most of the arrangements, and issued the order to the men, we will be leaving in the morning." Mustang said.
"Will you at least be taking support staff?" General Grunt asked in concern.
"A small detail, yes." Mustang said. "I've been in contact with the Headmaster and he assured me there will be a safe room for them to retreat to if the walls are breached. Fuery, Breda, Ross, and Broch will be joining us to act as liaisons.
"What will you tell the press then?" General Asper asked.
"Nothing, unless it becomes necessary, at which point I have prepared a release left with Riza." Mustang said, ready to release the meeting so he could spend his last few hours with his family. Edward was just as antsy to return to the mansion.
A few questions later, and they were assured there would be no trouble with their absence, if for no other reason because Olivier Armstrong intended to stay in the guest wing of the mansion to keep an eye on things and prevent any trouble.
Scotland, United Kingdom
Hogwarts
Headmaster's Office
Dumbledore had once again called a meeting. McGonagall, Flitwick, Slughorn, Snape, Sprout, and Pomfrey had arrived quickly, half expecting more trouble. They were surprised to see Alphonse Elric and Mei Chang-Elric sitting with Dumbledore when they arrived. It was not common to have people invited to these meeting that they had never met.
"Professors." Dumbledore began as soon as everyone was settled. "I have good news. These remarkable young people beside me have come as representatives of their countries to offer aide in our hour of need. They are willing to commit fighters to help defend our walls."
"Do we know these people, sir?" Slughorn asked with a nervous frown. He still didn't want to stay here, no matter what the others had said.
"Yes we do. This is Headmaster Alphonse Elric, of the Xerxes Academy. Younger son of the Fuhrer of Amestris." Dumbledore said gesturing to Al before nodding to Mei. "This is Princess Mei of Xing, favored sister of the Emperor and Headmistress of Xerxes Academy. We have been honored to have received the notice of the Hidden Continent, Cselkcess and they are coming to our aide."
"Elric?" McGonagall said, she recognized the boy vaguely. However, the last time she saw him he was pale and underweight.
"Oh. The cat." Mei said with narrowed eyes. She then pointedly turned away from her.
"Yes." Alphonse said with equal calm as his wife. "Elric. Well Mustang-Elric to be precise but most don't bother. Mustang is my father's name, the ruler of our country. Elric was my mother's name which I carry to honor her memory."
"My brother has generously offered to send you five of his best Wizards, and two Alchemists." Mei said. They had talked and agreed not to explain the difference between the two disciplines. The two her brother was sending had been told to refer to themselves as Alchemists while they were in Europe.
"In addition, my father is committing six Alchemists." Alphonse said calmly. "Of course, my wife and I will also be joining them."
"Will this help us turn the battle with so few?" Sprout asked with concern.
"If I may, I have seen what they are capable of, as has Minerva, this will be more than enough to fight off twenty ill prepared witches and wizards." Snape said.
"Will you be staying as well Severus?" Minerva asked."
"No. I have other…commitments. However, I will return in time to offer aide." Severus said simply. If he noticed Dumbledore's frown he didn't mention it.
"This is great news." Dumbledore said with a smile. "As you all know, I am well acquainted with alchemy, dabbling in the art myself, and to have the aide of those who specialize is wonderful. The only thing that would improve our odds were if Nicolas were to commit to joining us himself."
Al made a face at this comment, but Dumbledore failed to see it as Al was standing behind him. Severus was the only one who noticed. The meeting broke up fairly quickly after that, and Snape made sure to leave before Dumbledore could ask him any questions. He wasn't in the mood to explain himself.
Albus then called for a house elf to show Al and Mei to their room that they would stay in while at the castle. Tobbil arrived, with no small alarm to Mei and Al who were disturbed by his sudden appearance, and Dumbledore's assurance that the house elves were magically bound to service to the castle, and therefore could not be spies for her.
Al excused the elf as soon as they arrived in their room, and sat down at the desk in the corner to make not of everything he had seen in the castle so far to show his father and brother when all of this was over.
Amestris
Fuhrer's Mansion
Private Apartment
Edward decided to spend the afternoon with his wife and children, having years of experience with packing quickly he wasn't concerned about getting ready to leave just yet. Roy had similar thoughts, so the family was all sitting together in the living room.
Edward and Roy were both sitting on the floor with the boys, playing with their blocks and farm animal sets. Riza and Winry sat near by with the babies in their laps, Winry had cancelled her afternoon appointments, and rescheduled her appointments for the next two weeks. Either scheduling them with a different automail mechanic, or planning it out for the end of the month. Her official excuse was that the children had come down with a virus and she didn't want to risk spreading it to her patients.
Pinako had agreed to come up from Resembool to take Winry's cases that couldn't be put off. Once they had been informed of this, none of the patients complained. She would arrive tomorrow, not only to take over the cases but to help her granddaughter with the children while Edward was gone. Izumi was also arriving. She had originally offered to join Edward and Roy in Europe, but Ed had asked her to stay with the kids in case Dante showed up in Central.
Snape had also agreed to remain on hand until the day of the battle, at which point he would join them. Ed and Roy were leaving nothing to chance especially not their family. For now though, they were simply trying to enjoy the afternoon.
Yuery knew something was wrong, both his Dad and his Yeye seemed sad and Mom and Nainai were clinging to the babies. He didn't ask anything because usually grown-ups would tell you that everything was going to be fine, but wouldn't tell you anything. He knew that Will knew something was wrong too. Will was chewing on his lip like he always did when he was upset.
Maes knocked over the barn Yuery was building, and Yuery frowned at him. Maes then wandered over to sit with their Mom and frown. Dad didn't say anything, instead he just helped Yuery put it back together, so Yuery was really worried now. Yeye smiled at him, and said "I think we need to talk to the boys now Ed."
"I know Dad. Putting it off isn't going to change it, and I need them to understand." He replied with a sigh, before they began cleaning up the toys. Then Winry and Riza brought the babies and Maes back over to sit with them. Ed hugged Yuery and William both in his lap as Winry leaned against him, Maes and Trisha sitting in her own. Roy and Riza sat across from Ed with Tad between them as he shakily sat up and chewed on a stray block.
"Okay boys. I know this is going to be hard to understand, but Daddy and Yeye are going to go on a trip. It's an important trip, to help some people who need Daddy and Yeye to protect them." Ed said as he hugged the boys tighter. "We are going to come back as quickly as I can possibly get back to you. I know I've never left you at the same time as Yeye before, and neither of us have left in a very long time. So, I need you to all be very good for Mommy and Nainai." Ed said, swimming in guilt and hoping his boys didn't see him the way he has seen Hohenhiem all those years ago.
"You have to go help people so bad people don't hurt them?" Yuery asked, and Ed nodded. "Okay, we'll be super good!"
"Yeah! I p'tects Mommy!" William added with a smile.
"Bye-Bye" Maes added, only sort of understanding what was going on.
"Mommy will protect you, babies. Don't worry about Mommy. Just…don't give her a hard time while I'm gone." Ed said. "Granny Pinako, and Nonna are coming up to stay with you too."
"Yay!" the boys all yell, happy to see their other grandmothers.
"That went better than I expected." Ed said to Winry.
"They'll miss you." Winry said with a smile. "I don't know that they understand completely but they'll be alright. We'll be here waiting for you."
"I love you all. I'm sorry I have to go like this. I promise it's a one-time thing." Ed replied.
"Ed, it's going to be alright. Even if you have to do this again sometime down the road it will be. The boys have no reason to doubt your love. I will take good care of them while you are gone." Winry said.
"Thanks Win." Ed said as he leaned into her slightly, both arms still full so he was unable to give her a real hug. They continued to cuddle the children for a few more minutes, until the adults finally became aware of how uncomfortable sitting on a wooden floor was with the added weight of small children.
United Kingdom
Malfoy Manor
Lucius was livid. No one had been able to discover anything about his wife and son. Narcissa had made no attempt to access their vault since she disappeared, leading him to firmly believe she had been taken against her will. He wanted his family back, and he wanted whoever had taken them to suffer.
The house elves had taken to cowering away from him down in the cellar unless he called for them. He couldn't be bothered to be concerned with them. They still prepared his meals and cleaned the rooms. He didn't want to see them anyway.
He had gone to the Ministry, but had met with dead ends. He had gone to the Death Eaters, but no one had so much as heard a rumor. He couldn't think of another answer. He considered asking Severus Snape for help. The man had wonderful tracking spells, better than nearly any others he had seen.
That woman had been around six times in the last week to try to talk him, but he had found a reason to be very busy every time. She was back again, Dobby shakily informed him. He waved off the elf's fear with the order to tell her he was far to busy to entertain today.
Apparently, she was insistent, and had nearly broken past Dobby and his companion Dabby, but the elves had managed to keep her out. Once again he was annoyed by her threats. Dobby returned with deep bows before speaking once he was allowed. Apparently, the woman had informed him that if he wanted to see his family again he needed to commit to helping with the attack of Hogwarts.
Lucius was certain of two things at once, they were not gone by their own choice, and this woman knew exactly where they were. He saw red. His first impulse was to kill her, however should he do that he may never find his wife and son. He wasn't going to bow to this woman, but he did need to buy time. He asked her to return in three days, so that he would have time to contact the others. She agreed but warned him not to betray her, or he would never see his son again.
As a parting gift, she left him a lock of his wife's hair. It was the final straw. Narcissa had not cut her hair in the entire time she's known him. He couldn't imagine her willingly cutting it now. He sank into his chair, trying to decide his next move. He couldn't very well go to the Ministry or Dumbledore. The Death Eaters were still scattered after the last time he had been forced to help. He needed, more than anything, more time. Well that, and to have his family back.
Inspiration struck him a few moments later and he called for his elf. Their magic could penetrate any protection spell. Even he couldn't return the family to their home…or depending on the spell give Lucius any details, he could confirm they were safe and give his wife a message. He wrote a quick letter, then instructed the creature to take it to his wife, and not to return until she had read it and responded.
Feeling a bit better, after all now he would know one way or another if she still lived, he decided to work on his next course of action. Which would be to sabotage this woman's plans because no one. NO ONE. Threatened his family.