Chapter 3
-The Emperor's Urgency

The wary Xing citizens draped in ragged and burnt clothes stood around the houses that were gated within the capital of Xing. The neighbors lived right at the feet of Emperor's temple, which was a massive palace made of steel and century carved dragon statues swirling around the massive stairwell leading up to its entrance. The citizens were tired, wounded, and hungry; cooking small fish and animals they managed to catch from the forest on open pit fires. Some people were covered in bandages, missing limbs, and stitched up wounds.

A tall woman draped in shadow stepped through the gate left open from the busted lock littering the soil. Her dark brown eyes shifted over the depressive state of the town as she emotionlessly strolled through. Many townsfolk took one glimpse of her black uniform and darted back into their shelters. The stranger shook her head, surprised these were the so called 'brave' people of the mighty Emperor.

She made it to the gate where ten big guards blocked her path. They dropped their spears, pointing the sharp gleaming tips right at her head. The woman stopped and calmly raised her hand, gesturing for the men to relax.

"At ease warriors of the Empire, I'm at peace." She reached a hand draped in steel brass knuckles into her pocket, fishing out a small chromed scroll. Whipping the metallic glass tabs open, she pointed to the words identifying her name and ID for the captain to see. "I hail from the Han clan, I merely wish to speak with the emperor. The matter is urgent."

Looking at each other, the captain nodded as his men stood by at the wave of his commanding hand. The stranger bowed in respect as she skulked pass the armored brutes and whisked her way up the steps. She huffed, a little exhausted from the stairwell that seemed to go on forever. Relief washed through her when she pressed her ungloved hand on the steel ring of the door's handle. It was wet from the morning dew, causing goosebumps to bounce up and down her arms. Breathing in, she pulled the door open, a loud shrill squeak of its hinges screaming through the dense hallways.

Stepping inside and pulling the massive door shut behind her, she huffed and slicked her silver hair back. Turning forward, her eyes examined the long hall with impressively carved statues of famous warriors lining the walls. It was almost like a historic hall to honor the mightiest of deceased Xing warriors. She nodded, impressed by this decor, but decided she'd dawdle later and continued on.

Figuring her way down the winding corridors, she finally reached the emperor's chamber. Stepping in, she saw the young man sitting crossed legged on the crimson pillow that served as his throne. The emperor was draped in a grand red robe with a polished golden band looping around his forehead, a representation of his royalty. His face was hard as a stone and as stoic as a hunting tiger.

"My lord." The woman, whose name revealed to be Yi, bowed to her ruler. "I have traveled far from the mountain tops to see you. And may I say, it is honor, Emperor Ling Yao."

Ling's stern face shifted to a big grin as he clasped his hands excitedly to his folded knees. "Oh, Miss Yi, representative of the Han clan, I was anxiously awaiting for your arrival!" He waved his hand, beckoning her in. "Please please come in, no need to stand. Feel free to sit by me."

Yi blinked her squinty eyes in surprise and nodded awkwardly. She had known about the new Emperor being a gracious individual, just never quit expected him to have the chi of a puppy. "Thank you," she walked up to him and carefully sat down on the smooth green marble flooring.

Folding her legs in a similar sitting position as Ling, she breathed in a wary breathe. "Now, if I may, I have some very important things to discuss with you my lord."

"Sure sure, one second." Ling turned his head to a dark corner sitting on his left. "Lan Fan, you may come out, this is Yi Han of the Han Clan."

A shorter yet mildly muscular woman hidden behind a black and white mask slowly stepped out. A thick green jacket and hood with matching baggy pants hung loosely over her frame. A thick steel vest housing all sorts of tools and weapons protected her chest. She silently bowed to Yi before moving to stand stiffly by her emperor's side, eyes trained forward, as if forgetting they were there.

Impressed with the formality of his bodyguard, Yi glanced towards the emperor. "Anyways, Master Ling, I need to—hm?"

Ling was already chomping down on some rice and Raman with some chopsticks he had somehow acquired in five seconds. He ate so fast his hands were practically a blur, making Yi twitch her eye in surprise.

"Hey Lan Fan, here!" He shoved a glass bowl towards his bodyguard. "It's fresh!"

Lan Fan, going from stiff as a board to snatching the bowl at lightning speed, pulled her mask off and dug in with equal gusto to her ruler.

"Now," Ling spit out with a mouthful. "What was it you wanted to speak to me about?"

Eyebrow twitching, she cleared her throat and resumed her stoic expression. "Very well, umm—the matter that needs to be brought to your attention is the progression of this war."

Ling's face turned serious when he stopped stuffing his face and put the bowl down. Folding his ring decorated fingers in his lap, he nodded for Yi to continue.

"Well, as you know, this rebellion of the clans has been going on for a few years." Yi kept her back straight, head forward as her voice cracked stiffly. "But ever since you have changed the laws of taking on multiple consorts to produce rightful airs, the rage has burned even hotter between the clans."

Ling's eyebrows met in the middle as his lips flat lined. "If you are here to speak to me about reversing the law to which I have disposed of, I refuse." He crossed his lean arms, spiky black hair rising up on the back of his neck. "I have already selected my one wife." His head briefly shifted to Lan Fan before bouncing back to Yi. "I'm already betrothed, despite what the clans think. I believe one should choose their own partner in life, as should the rest of my people."

Yi's stoic expression did not falter as she tightened her fist. "My lord, I respect you eternally for making such a change. But you know as well as I do that is not the reason why the clans are battling amongst each other. They are dueling because the change of matrimony prevents any clans outside your lineage from acquiring the throne. They are fighting because the clans want to establish their own hierarchy under you. Not to over throw you."

Ling breathed in, rubbing the dark circles beneath his sleep reduced eyes. "I know they are not trying to overthrow me, but I am trying my best to restore the order. The clans just have to accept the fact that I will not be breeding with their daughters like some kind of farm animal."

Then, Yi's eyes narrowed, her stern expression dropping to a look of sheer worry. "My lord, the problem that faces us—is that you and your wife have yet to provide a single child."

Lan Fan's face faltered as she put her bowl. Grasping her stomach, she scowled and looked away, glaring venomous stare to the window. Her wedding ring hidden beneath her brass knuckled gloves.

Ling's eyes shot open, sweat rolling down his neck. "She nor I are barren, some of us just need time. I did not want to rush Lan Fan into having children till I knew she was ready."

"But my lord, the fact of the matter is I know you've been married for a few years now. You have yet to produce even one pregnancy." Yi brought her head down, eyes squeezing shut. "Master, this is a dangerous time, if something happens to you—your new laws prevent another clan from taking the throne."

Ling knew that when he established this new law of banning the polygamy scandal of his father, there would be many repercussions to fix. But the one problem he did not want to face, was the possibility of him and Lan Fan being barren. Which means no air, and a future full of struggles between fifty clans.

Detecting his concentrated silence, Yi snapped her fingers to gain his attention. "My lord, the only loophole around this law is—if you're unable to provide a biological air—then the only other option is looking to your siblings."

Ling and Lan Fan glanced at each other, the tension growing darker and more gruesome the longer the silence lingered.

Yi opened up another pearl crafted scroll she had hidden in her vest's front pocket. "Emperor Ling, you're running out of family." Whooshing the scroll opened, she ran a broken nail down the long list of names inked into the white paper. "This rebellion has taken thirty-eight out of your forty-two siblings, all biological airs to the throne. Only four are left, and three are not even married."

Ling swallowed the lump in his throat, already knowing where this was going. "What do you expect me to do? Take my remaining siblings from their clans and provide a child?"

Yi shook her head. "If you cannot provide an air soon, then you must acquire a niece or nephew from your siblings. That is the only way to restore order."

Lan Fan placed a comforting hand to Ling's shoulder to help reduce the stress that threatened to boil over in his chest. He had grown pale with sweat the size of bullets pouring down his jawline, eyes wide open like he'd just witnessed a ghost. "I know," he whispered hoarsely.

Lan Fan narrowed her eyes and glanced over to Yi, speaking for her husband till he regained his breath. "What are the current status of the remaining siblings?"

Nodding, Yi glanced back to her scroll, reading over her handwriting. "Last week, prince Tai Lung was slain in battle. All that remain are princes Huan, Daisuke, Cho, and the princess Mei Chang." Yi paused before continuing. "All four are battling against the other clans, it is critical that you reach out to them immediately master Ling."

Ling tightened his fist, veins creasing up his neck as he slapped a frustrated palm to his forehead. "Damn it," he muttered under his breath. "Huan has been hospitalized, I know, I saw him when he was hauled off by medics—missing both legs. I don't want to ask him."

The leader of the Han clan sighed, bringing a regretful hand to his shoulder. "If you wait any longer, then restore will be even harder to restore." Looking to her list, she tapped her chin. "What of the one who is married?"

Ling smacked his forehead, anger growing even higher. "No, Mei Chang is only engaged, last I heard. She's been fighting on my behalf to help restore order."

Yi glanced back at Ling as Lan Fan tried to soothe him by offering her husband some water. "It'd be difficult getting airs from your brothers, given neither three are married. So I'll try and contact Mei Chang immediately, do you know to whom she is married to?"

Ling froze, hands shaking as fear breathed down his neck. "I know she is engaged to an outsider from a small town in Amestris." He kept quiet about the little details—for if the clans found out about the sins of the Elric Brothers being married into their country, that'd cause even greater havoc.

Yi blinked, surprised at hearing this. "I understand Miss Chang has departed to the desert about a week ago after getting momentary leave from the military. I assume Amestris is where she is staying?"

Ling swallowed a dry wad of spit, desperate to moisturize his throat. Raising his hand, he silenced his guest. "I will make the arrangements of contacting my surviving siblings with this delicate information. Thank you, you may return home."

Surprised at this sudden command, Yi hesitantly stood up and bowed. "If you wish," she turned to leave. "But Emperor, I advise great haste. Our country is falling if we do not restore peace soon." With that, Yi departed down the half and out the door to return home.

Once alone, Lan Fan quickly grasped Ling's sleeve. "My lord—huh?"

Ling cut her off, eyes heavy and face sagging from exhaustion. "Please, send out a summons for my brothers to meet me here as soon as possible."

His wife pausing, her dark eyes glimmering in worry. "What of Mei Chang?"

Pressing a shaky palm to his head, Ling closed his eyes, his raggedy breath burning his agitated throat. "Mei has been sworn to Alphonse Elric, the younger brother of the Fullmetal alchemist and my friend Edward Elric. But there's a problem, last time I spoke to them, there was a… problem with the transmutation circle after Ed defeated Father and the last Homunculus. I had not seen Al, but I am not sure if he is human yet."

Lan Fan froze, eyes widening. "You mean t-the armored boy."

"Yes…" Ling whispered from behind his hand groping his mouth in distress. "We cannot bring Mei into this, if word gets out to who she is married to and the taboo he committed—I fear for her safety." Tightening his knuckles, he shot a stern look to his wife and bodyguard. "Move with the speed of the wind, Lan Fan, fetch my brothers, deliver to them my request for aid."

Bowing, Lan Fan slapped her mask back into place. "Yes my lord."


A/N: Hope you enjoyed, please review.