Dragonelf 8: Just a note my main focus is on of the priest, but mostly on Ed. I really don't know on pairing; there might be there might not be, I haven't decided yet.

Chapter 2: Emperor of Hong-Nan

(Ed.)

Ed opened his eyes, to see the dungeon. 'What? Where am I,' thought Ed as he rubbed his pounding head. Slowly memories returned to him. There was a bright red light and he was about to leave, but he stayed because he had to look for Al.

"Your finally up."

Ed looked up to see Tamahome he was sitting right next to him. The room really was a dungeon; it wasn't a dream. Ed lifted his head up off the ground putting his hand on his pounding head. He could feel a thin cloth on his head were it hurt most. Looking to Tamahome he saw the bottom of his shirt torn. Tamahome answered his unspoken question.

"You hit your head when they put us in here. There was a scratch and it was slightly bleeding so I took care of it," answered Tamahome.

"Thanks," muttered Ed.

"How did you do that?"

"Do what?"

"Glow red."

Ed stayed silent for a while he wasn't really sure how he did it. He just wanted to escape the problem and almost did, until he remembered Al.

"I don't know really. How long have we been in here?" asked Ed changing the subject.

"While now," answered Tamahome.

"Well then let's go," replied Ed.

"How do you suppose we do that?"

"Do you know what alchemy is?"

"No."

"Alchemy is a science, when you change one thing of equal material to another. So long as there is equivalency," answered Ed as he clapped his hands. "Like they say 'if you can't find a way out then make a door.'"

Ed pressed his hands on the prison bars, which were thick strips of wood nailed together. In a flash of light a door stood before the two looking like a grand piece of art. Ed turned the handle and walked right out of his cell. Ed turned back to see Tamahome's eyes on the verge of popping out.

"HOW'D YOU DO THAT!" cried Tamahome as he got up and examined the door.

"I told you its alchemy," explained Ed as he waited for Tamahome.

"HEY! HOW'D YOU GET OUT!"

Tamahome and Ed looked up to see a guard coming at them to put them back in the cell. His spear pointing right at them as he drew closer.

"You shorty get back in the cell," ordered the guard.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO SHORT THAT IT TAKES THE WORLD MOST POWERFUL MICROSCOPE JUST TO SEE HIM!" yelled Ed as he collided his foot with the guard, knocking the man unconious.

"He didn't say that," muttered Tamahome.

"What's that noise? It came form the prison cell," said one of the guards outside.

"Aw, crap!" cried Ed as he clapped his hands again.

More guards bursted through the only to had stone hands grab them. The men struggled futility against the iron grip. Ed grabbed onto Tamahome's hands and the two ran through the palace wildly.

"Will they be okay?" asked Tamahome running beside Ed.

"They'll be fine," answered Ed.

"What was that back there? Why'd you get so mad?"

"Anyone that calls me short shall not go unscathed," replied Ed in a sudden burst of anger as he stopped, Tama did as well.

The two looked around they had no idea where they were. It was a long passage with only one door at the end, which appeared to be a dead end. Ed could feel something pull him to the door as he walked to it and opened it, Tamahome behind him. They awed at the room. It all glimmered red and gold, beautiful tapestries of a fiery red bird dazzling a people and giving blessings, but in the center was a giant gold statue of the bird on the alter glimmering in the light, incense swirling around it. A dark blue tapestry hung behind it contrasting with the red and gold. There were 28 constellations on it, each side holding 7.

"Huh. I didn't know they had shrine of Suzaku here," said Tamahome in astonishment.

"Suzaku?" questioned Ed.

"Yeah it's one of the four gods… 'Seiryu' 'Byakko' 'Suzaku' and 'Genbu.' Suzaku is our god. Each of the three empires has their own god to worship. Those stars behind it at the bottom are the Suzaku constellations," answered Tamahome, but he went on about the Emperors and the four gods.

Ed wasn't really listening though he felt as if someone watching him and Tamahome. Ed slowly turned around to see the door slightly ajar. A person was starring at him, a slight smile on his face. The person instantly turned around and ran. Ed, unknown to Tamahome who was still talking, went after the guy who was a long ways ahead. 'Can't have him warn a guard,' thought Ed as he ran. After a while of running Ed lost sight of the man completely.

"Darn it, where'd he go," cursed Ed wandering into a garden.

"If you want to leave, the door is over there."

Ed swiftly turned around there sitting on a stairway sat the most beautiful woman Ed had ever seen. Her long light brown hair flowed majestically down her back; her light brown eyes twinkled behind long eyelashes. She was wrapped in a white blanket, light purple clothes peeking out, and she wasn't wearing any make up.

"H-H-Hello," said Ed astounded by her beauty.

"So you're the one they captured yesterday?" asked the woman.

Ed quickly turned around and began to head away form the woman. He did not want to fight such a beautiful woman.

"You must be mistaking me from someone else," answered Ed nervously, "I'm just an anonymous passer by. Now if you'll excuse me."

"Don't worry! Don't worry!" said the woman as she followed Ed. Ed turned to face the woman again, "The guards won't hear about you from me. I've got nothing to do right now so how about I give you the grand tour of the palace? The special no- guard tour."

Elsewhere

"But that's not important. We've got to get out of here, before were caught," said Tamahome as he turned to Ed, but he was no longer there, "Ed?"

Tamahome looked all about the room but only he was there. Realizing what had happened Tamahome ran out the door.

"Uh-oh, where'd he go!" muttered Tamahome running threw the corridors.

One of the servants that were wandering through the halls spotted Tamahome running the opposite direction.

"GET THE GUARDS! I FOUND HIM!" yelled one of the guards as he ran after Tamahome.

Tamahome ran threw hallways a few guards on his tail. 'Darn it, but this is the only way,' thought Tamahome as he continued running. 'Ed… I'll lure them away while you escape!'

Elsewhere

"You need to find your companion?" asked the woman curiously.

"Yes," replied Ed, " He promised to help me find my younger brother Al, besides it's my fault he got in this mess. I refuse to go back home to my world until Tamahome is out of here and we found my brother safely."

"… You came form… another world," stated the woman in confusion.

Ed looked up at her unable to true read her. He couldn't tell if she was scared or excited.

"Well, its hard explain. I was in a library and the next thing I know I'm in some alley way," started Ed, " Everything here is foreign to me, the style of homes, clothes, hair, it's all new to me. Its like I'm trapped in a foreign land that never existed but does. I don't know where I am, but I know this is defiantly not Central."

Ed and the woman stayed silent for a while letting it all sink in.

"You probably don't believe me, I can understand that," said Ed again uncomfortable in the silence. "You must think I'm crazy."

"Not at all!" cried the woman joyfully, " I just love things like that!"

"Huh?" replied Ed starring at the woman in a weird way.

"That's incredible!" cried the woman as she began to touch Ed to feel as if he was real.

'Am I some kind of freak show?' thought Ed as the woman patted him on the shoulders and head. He was feeling really uncomfortable and was wishing he stayed silent. Ed could feel the woman move in front of him again.

"I'm 'Hotohori' although people usually call me something else," said the woman.

"I'm Edward Elric, I prefer Ed. Most people know me back home as The Full Metal Alchemist," introduced Ed.

Ed felt his head being gently pulled to Hotohori's as she place her smooth warm hands on her cheek. Hotohori looked down on Ed with gentle sweet eyes that ensured safety. Normally when Ed was around a woman he would feel his heart pound, especially in this position, but there was nothing around her.

"Stop talking about going away and stay here awhile. I just know the emperor would never have you killed. And I'm sure he'll help you search for your brother," said Hotohori, Ed watched her intently in slight confusion. "What's the matter?"

"Oh, I was just thinking how beautiful you are!" replied Ed laughing.

"Everyone say that," said Hotohori as well.

The two continued laughing, and only stopped when the two heard footsteps drawing nearer.

"Hide here!" ordered Hotohori as she pushed Ed into a bush.

She quickly joined him in his hiding as the two waited. Tamahome appeared his hands tied behind his back and around his shoulders restricting all of his arm movements. A few guards were around him yelling at him.

"Spill it where's the boy?" yelled one of the guards.

"Beats me," answered Tamahome honestly, "He got away while you guys were busy chasing after me. Too bad, huh?"

"So you were just some decoy…?" yelled one of the guards as he smacked Tamahome across the head.

"Tamahome!" yelled Ed as he ran out of the bushes. "You idiot what good is being a decoy?"

Ed moved his hands as to clap them together but before he could even being he could feel rough hand grabbed his shoulder and twist his arms back painful. Tamahome face contorted in anger as he lunged forward and kicked the guard square in the jaw. The demon character on his forehead glowed bright red.

"Lay one finger on that boy and your dead," threatened Tamahome.

"You little," cried the guards in anger.

Ed lunged forward punching the man in the face. The man fell back a huge swollen jaw started to consume his face.

"WHO ARE YOU CALLING SO LITTLE THAT HE COULD BE MISTAKEN FOR A PRESCHOOLER!" yelled Ed.

"Ugh! Brat!" yelled the other soldiers.

"Silence!"

Everyone turned around to see Hotohori jump out of the bushes. she discarded the blanket as she went. Revealing a large well-built body with brood shoulders.

"You are not permitted to touch those two without our direct order," ordered Hotohori.

"Hotohori," questioned Ed as he watched him.

"Y-Y-Your majesty!" cried the guards as they all bowed before Hotohori including Tamahome, whom was freaking out as his bonds loosened and was set free.

"Huh?" said Ed in confusion. "How could a girl so young and beautiful be the emperor?"

"GIRL! HIS MAJESTY IS A MAN!" cried Tamahome to Ed!

Ed's eyes opened wide and he rushed over to Hotohori. He began to pat at the emperor's chest. Trying to convince himself that Hotohori was a girl, but there was nothing there.

"It's flat!" cried Ed moving his hands across the emperor's chest. "That means that there's a…"

Ed's face went into a beet red as his eye lowered down further from his chest down lower slowly by the minuet.

"GET AWAY FORM THE EMPEROR!" yelled the guards knowing what Ed was thinking.

Later

Ed sat on his knees with Tamahome and the counselors form the Empire, before emperor Hotohori. Hotohori sat in a golden thrown clad in new clothes of bright red and gold, his hair in a bun with a crown on top of it, a few strangles of hair peeking out. Women stood by his chair holding fans in their hands.

"Our apologies. Trickery was not our intention," began Hotohori acting all formal unlike before. "We simply wished to understand you better."

Ed looked up at Hotohori; 'Strange he's acting like completely different person,' thought Ed.

"Okay," whispered Ed.

"At least we've disapproved our counselor's assertion that you are evil spirits," said Hotohori pointing to his counselors.

"Then your going to let us go," asked Ed politely.

"Of course, you shall not be executed," replied Hotohori, Ed took a sigh of relieve. "Whoever I do have one request. Will you protect our empire Priest of Suzaku?"

Ed eye's opened wide as he began to look this way and that to find whom Hotohori was taking to.

"I'm referring to you Ed. There is a legend in our land," continued Hotohori, "At a time when the empire falls into disorder and is on the verge of collapse… a young man would appear from another world seeking the power of Suzaku. The moment he possesses the power of Susaku, he will lead the empire to glory. It is the same with the other countries only with there own respective gods."

Ed remained silent everyone in the room was watching him intently. Ed face was contorted with horror and confusion. Hotohori continued more.

"This young Lady, called the priest of Suzaku, has finally arrived. He sits before us now."

"You… You've got it all wrong," cried Ed in slight despair. "I couldn't save a little girl, much less an empire."

Memories of Lena ran through his memory, all the horrible things he saw and all the people he couldn't save.

"Yet you are a man with a wish correct? You came seeking the powers of the Suzaku so that your wish would be granted, yes?"

"My wish," muttered Ed his eyes widening. "I could get Al and me back to normal."

"Your too modested Ed, have you considered ruling the world?" smiled Hotohori.

"No thanks, I'm not into that sort of thing," answered Ed getting up and walking to the emperor. "I've gone threw enough nut cases that attempted that to realize that's not what I want. But if this can get me and my brother back to normal I'll take the job with out a second thought."

Hotohori smiled and stood up as well.

"Everyone stand back! This young man will obtain the power of Suzaku. The priest of Suzaku who will protect our empire, stands before you!" cried Hotohori.

"I'll try my best," replied Ed.

"Thank you your eminence, Priest of Suzaku."

Ed turned around the room to see the enter room bow before him in gratitude, including Tamahome. 'Their treating me like I'm high and mighty,' thought Ed as he began to feel really uncomfortable.