The Order of the Pheonix
Chapter Seven
Xing Village
Constable's Office
Anya had been offered dinner, which she had accepted politely as she awaited her father's people. She was not surprised that along with dozens of guards, her father arrived. Fuhrer Elric and Emperor Ling also arrived with their own escorts. Everyone wanted her to tell them what had happened and she was happy to do so, still annoyed at the man who had taken her.
"So, then after he declared it late and time for bed I pretended to fall asleep and waited for him to pass out. I knew it wouldn't be long as he had drank three bottles of strong liquor since arriving back from town. Once he was asleep I snuck out. I knew he had been gone thirty eight minutes earlier, and what direction he had left in so I went down the path while counting the time assuming I would find the village. I knocked on the first door I saw but when no one answered I chose to come to the center of town to find help where a shopkeeper escorted me here." Anya finished.
"Why would the man attempt to put a nearly thirteen-year-old to bed this early?" Asked the constable with confusion.
"He likely was too drunk to notice the time." Fuhrer Elric said with a frown and shake of his head. "He spends a great deal of time drunk from what I've seen and it does nothing to help his sanity."
"It was to our advantage he did so since it allowed my daughter to escape when there was still light enough to find her way and businesses open." Her Father said.
"I have men out there searching for him now, along with the ones you brought, we should have him captured shortly." Emperor Ling frowned. "Though he does seem rather good at evasion. My advisors informed me that he was able to change his appearance to gain entry of the boundary by appearing as young woman. If he is still using this tactic, we will have to search harder for a way to capture him."
"The campsite he was at with your daughter has been completely abandoned. He removed all evidence of recent occupation, but Anya here managed to leave a few markings that indicated it had indeed been where she was held. Smart move, carving your name into both that tree trunk and the dirt." The constable said.
"I have been kidnapped before. It's easier for Father's men to track me down if I leave clues. Kidnappers tend to move you around a lot." Anya replied with a shrug.
"Until this Dumbledore situation is resolved, I wish to extend the offer of some of my guards to watch over your daughters. They are magic users and can help keep him away." Ling said after all of them frowned at her casual explanation of repeated kidnappings. "You can of course discuss keeping them on longer after this is over should you choose to do so."
"I will consider it." The Tsar agreed with a matching frown. Accepting guards would be a political risk, but he also knew both Edward and Ling well enough to know they were really concerned for his children's safety above politics. Both were good men, who valued family above espionage unlike the previous leaderships of both countries.
Anya was obviously tired, and Viktor knew far more shaken up than she was appearing, so he then insisted it was time to take his daughter home. The other two agreed readily, their own search would likely last long into the night since he seemed to have a head start even with Darius and Severus leading the search.
Amestris
Fuhrer's Mansion
Alphonse took the call as dinner was being served and was relieved to hear from Ed that Anya was on her way home and was perfectly healthy following her ordeal. The rest of the room relaxed too after Al announced the news. Yuery and William both sighed with relief that their friend was safe, as were the adults.
Alphonse and Mei would still be staying for a few more days until Dumbledore himself was captured, Sovann was much safer here than anywhere else inside Amestris where Dumbledore couldn't enter thanks to the additional protection of his Vow. Sovann was enjoying the time he got to spend with Elizabeth and Izumi as well, since the three of them were the same age and had finally reached the stage of actively playing together.
Winry recognized the expression on Yuery's face as dinner went on. She had seen it many times over the years, first on Ed then on her son. He was working himself up to something he knew she and Ed were not going to approve of; a quick glance around the table assured her that both Alphonse and Riza had noticed as well.
She then noticed William's nervous fidgeting. He knew what his brother was plotting. That made things easier, William was always the logical one of the two in her opinion. Yuery, for all his brilliance, was impulsive like his father. She already saw the same trait in Trisha as well unfortunately. Winry mentally set aside time to pull William into a private discussion to find out what his brother was plotting.
Fuhrer's Office
Edward, Roy, and Severus, along with Armstrong and Breda were awaiting the arrival of Minerva McGonagall before the men left to capture Dumbledore. They hoped she might have an idea to aide in getting Dumbledore to surrender, or be willing to help capture him. They were also all o edge and wanted to get on with the search quickly.
Minerva arrived just as Edward suggested he take some of their men and go ahead, leaving Roy and the rest to catch up. "What has happened? Black-"Minerva began.
"No, it's Dumbledore. He kidnapped the princess of Drachma in an attempt to force Edward to hand over Yuery. She managed to escape from him, but he also managed to slip away. We are going to go find him now. We could use your insight?" Severus explained.
"He won't listen to me; he believes I have betrayed him. I can help search for him though, we cannot allow him to continue as he is, someone will be injured or killed." Minerva said.
"Thank you. We will hopefully have you back here by the time the trial begins again tomorrow." Edward said as Severus enchants a portkey from one of the books Edward set aside for travel. "Viktor and Ling both have people waiting for us to help find him too."
Imperial Palace
Ling sat quietly as his guards assembled. Inside he was seething, this man had gotten in on HIS border, had stolen an ally's- no a friend's- child to attempt leverage against another friend's child and then managed to disappear again. This would not stand. This man, when he was found, would be thrown into strongest cell they had, stripped of his powers, and left to rot if Ling had any say in it. Which of he did, but only somewhat. As angry as he was, It was Edward and Viktor who should have final say in this, their children were the ones he took.
Ling mentally shuddered at the idea of one of his children being taken. Huan was the most likely, as he attended Xerxes, whereas Ping…Ping like Ling himself, still had residual echoes of what once resided inside him. The homunculus was well gone, he knew that he checked occasionally to ensure his son was still safe, but the echo was not to be completely removed. It left the child with strange dreams and insights that Ling tried not to dwell on but could also make him a target if this Dumbledore was half as talented as everyone seemed to think he was.
On the other hand, he didn't seem to feel that the force once inside Yuery was no more. Ling didn't think the man truly cared either, not with as obsessed as he was with being right. Before his thoughts could further darken, he was informed that his guards were ready to go. Kenja had decided at the last moment to join them when she learned this man had been in her territory and had the nerve to take a child. She already had some of her own guards there searching the area.
He waited until the room was quiet with his assembled guard, before he stood from his throne. "we will find this man and capture him. There is no other acceptable outcome of today's search. We are to be joined my men from Amestris and Drachma, respect their authority on this matter. Amestris first, then Drachma, have claim to this man for his misdeeds and I intend to allow them their say before ours. That does not lessen my desire for him to be brought before me. I expect him in chains by sunrise. Beware, he is a magic user, and full of tricks."
Amestris
Fuhrer's Mansion
Yuery approached his mom after the others had all been sent to bed. He knew she suspected he was planning something and didn't want her to worry he was going to sneak out again, not with everything that had happened recently. He knew she worried about him, but Dad was the one he was worried about right now. Dumbledore, for all his idiocy, was a talented wizard and could be ruthless from what he had read in the history books. Dumbledore also seemed to despise his father, as his father despised Dumbledore. He was the reason for this dislike, though he did not believe himself to be personally to blame from his understanding of it all, it had to do with the idea of him.
His Mom was in the sitting room reading a book, or at least pretending to read. She didn't seem to have moved her eyes at all while he watched her from the doorway. Likely she knew he was there and was waiting for him to say something. "Are you coming in or heading to bed?" she asked after a moment confirming his theory.
"It isn't my bedtime yet." Yuery shrugged as he came into the room and sat bed=side her on the couch. "It's barely Izumi and Sarah's bedtime yet."
"Is everything alright, do you need to talk about it?" Mom asked instead of arguing the point.
"Dad's going off after Dumbledore, then he's going to head to England." Yuery said, though his father had not told him these things directly, he hadn't hidden them either. Dad knew Yuery and William had been standing there when he talked to Mom earlier.
"Yes he is, but he isn't going alone." Mom said as she draped an arm around his shoulder ruffling his hair after a quick hug. "Dad is not going to be in anymore danger than any other field mission."
"That's the thing Mom. All field missions are dangerous, and this one involves the wizards. People Dad only has to deal with because they are obsessed with me but he won't even consider letting me help!"
"You're twelve years old Yu, You're a child. Of course your Dad isn't taking you with him to deal with these things." Mom said with a sad smile, "Now, before you once again try to bring up all the crazy things your Dad did growing up it isn't the same. Not at all. No one was there to help him, or stop him. Yeye couldn't have even if he had known what was coming in the future. He wasn't his Dad yet."
"I know all this Mom, it doesn't change that this is all about me. It's not going to stop until they get there way or are all gone. We all know it. Yeye even said he knew one day I'd have no choice but to fight. SO, why not let me help?!" Yuery said as he stood angry and scared. He hadn't meant to yell at his mom though, he knew he should apologize.
"When did you discuss this with your grandfather? It doesn't matter in the least whether you believe you should be involved, your father and I are not allowing a twelve year old CHILD to fight these people!" his mom said.
"Dad was involved in worse! You can't just say it isn't my problem, you don't understand." Yuery said, anger rising with her refusal to understand. "You aren't a wizard or an alchemist…you aren't even my real mother." He saw the hurt flash through her eyes even as her mouth tightened in that way he knew meant he was in serious trouble. Worse, in a way, he spotted William in the doorway and he looked horrified at Yuery. He knew he should take it back, he wanted to take it back.
"You are not going to England with Edward. You are going to your room and remaining there until morning. You will not be leaving this apartment until Edward and Roy return , your Dad can speak to you then about this." His mom said, he could tell the subject was closed.
"I- I didn't mean that Mom. You're my mother, I didn't mean-" Yuery said fighting back tears, he didn't want her mad at him, not like this.
"I know Yuery." His mom said, before pointing in the direction of his room. She gave him a quick hug, before returning her attention to her book. Yuery hung his head in defeat. William watched him walk toward their room a frown on his face, before glancing back at Mom then following him.
"How can you say something like that to our Mom?!" William demanded as soon as the door closed. Maes looked up from his toys sharply as he heard the anger in his brother's voice, Tad frowning as well.
"I was mad, but I really didn't mean it. She is definitely Mom. I never knew my first mother, and I don't need to. "Yuery said sadly, he fought back the tears, his Dad and Mom were both going to be mad at him for this, probably his brothers and sisters too, and they should be because he shouldn't have said it. It was awful. She had never once, never, acted like He or William were less her kids than the others. He couldn't explain though, he was frustrated and it wasn't coming out right. She couldn't understand. "She isn't an alchemist though, or a wizard. She isn't even a soldier. She doesn't understand this fight, and she's trying to treat me like a baby."
"I guess I can't understand either then." William said with a huff before turning back toward the door. "I guess I'll just go be perfectly boring with our mom and you superior beings don't have to bother with us."
"Will, no, that's not what I meant-" Yuery tried but his brother was already gone. Maes stared at him with a similar look to William's when he had heard Yuery in the Sitting room. Yuery sighed, knowing Maes was mad at him too.
Without a word, Maes held out a hand to Tad and lead him from the room as well, leaving Yuery alone in his misery. Yuery watched them go sadly, before he set about cleaning the bedroom. He had chased them out, the least he could do was finish their chores for them.
Amestrian Prison,
Alchemist Cellblock
Remus had stayed after the others had left, at least long enough to let the potion completely wear off and keep Sirius company. Sirius had begun pacing as soon as the room was mostly cleared. Chen was still there as well, just outside the door. "They got the girl back, I just heard." Remus said after a brief exchange with Chen as he sat on the edge of Sirius' cot. "They are tracing Dumbledore now I doubt it will take them long to capture him."
"how did they manage to get the child but lose him?" Sirius asked as he paused in his pacing. If there was even a chance he was going to come after Harry, Sirius was going to have to find a way out of here.
"He got drunk apparently, the girl waited for him to pass out and then escaped. She called for help, but by the time the authorities went to the location he held her Dumbledore was already gone. I'm sure he hasn't gone far; he can't really go much of anywhere. Xerxes and Xing, Even there they are currently working on borders to further trap him and the team of men that captured you are currently after him, along with others from Drachma and Xing. I cannot imagine he will evade them long." Remus replied. "Please sit down for a while. I want to talk to you about Yuery."
Reluctantly, Sirius sat next to his former friend, as Remus sighed. He had asked Ed directly before they left if he could speak to Sirius about this so the Vow would allow it. He needed Sirius to understand, he needed Sirius to believe the child was perfectly safe in the care of his parents and that Sirius taking him would cause him nothing but pain.
A/N: There will be no update next week or the week after. I will not have access to my laptop to post during this time.