Chapter Six

Author's Note: Alrighty now in this chappy Ed is giving an account of what had happened the night before and how he became a Chimera. It will be told as it happened, not in first person. Warning: It gets a little of violent, but not really.

By now Ed was more than accustomed to the layout of the city and so to cut time, he ran through alleys instead of using the sidewalks. After about ten minutes of sprinting, Ed stopped near a post office to catch his breath. He glanced back to see the horizon lined with maroon and purple. Crap. I'm not going to make it in time. Hopefully Mustang's in a

better mood… Ed thought as he continued on. Passing behind a grocery store he heard the whimper of a wounded animal along with the furious bark of a dog. Ed didn't think much of it until a sharp yelp pierced the dry air. Stopping again, he turned in the direction of the distress call. Ed stood in place, his mind stuck between two decisions. Al would be happy if I helped and animal. Ed told himself. As for the Colonel… he shoved that thought out of his head and started toward the whining.

The street lamps were now on, but didn't do much for Ed as he walked further down an alleyway. He turned a corner and saw the profile of a figure lying against the brick wall. It wasn't moving. As he stepped closer he saw another creature standing next to the other, it whined as he neared. Ed had concluded that it was a large dog. Possibly a gray hound or something like that. Ed stuck out his hand and patted the mongrel where he guessed it's head was, his eyes were taking their time adjusting to the dark. It licked his hand.

"Come on boy… lets get you out of here." Ed called to the dog, but it wouldn't move. "Don't be scared, I wont hurt ya…" He bent to pet it again and reached further toward the neck to grab a collar or nap of skin. Instead of finding either he felt something long and hard jutting forth. He turned to look at the dog, eyes squinting. With a quick gasp Ed backed

away from the creature. His eyes had finally gotten used to the shadows of the alley and he realized that this was not a natural creature standing in front of him, it was a Chimera. He was right in deducting the breed of the dog, but it had two rows of long serrated spikes along the flanks and scaly paws.

Sensing fear the mutt snarled and snapped at Ed. He continued back until he stumbled over the limp body and fell next to it. He brought up the hand that had touched it and saw his glove soaked with a dark liquid. And as if on queue a half dozen pair of eyes flashed in the depth of the alley. Just great. Ed thought as he stood up and dusted his pants off with his clean hand. Throaty growls and hisses surrounded the young alchemist, the stalkers slipped along the shadows, readying for a pounce. Ed faced his closest opponent, clapped

both hands, in that all too familiar fashion, and transmuted a concrete spear. His choice weapon. The dog leapt at the boy and was greeted with a punctured torso. Ed threw the beast off and stared at the others. There was short moment of silence and all at once the rest attacked. Two in the front which Ed slashed across the chest, one fell, the other preparing for a second go. A heavyset Chimera went for his automail arm and dragged Ed down. He connected the beast's skull with his metal leg and sent the creature into the wall.

Another leaping from an overhang scratched Ed on the shoulder as it landed and hurtled itself at him. Ed dodged and jabbed the creatures flank as another from behind bounded for him. He transmuted the other end of the spear into a point and severed the Chimeras head off. Ed stood up and looked around as another throng of creatures advanced, he spun his, now, javelin in a menacing circle.

"Stop!" called a rough voice from above. The whole scene stood still as a shady figure leapt gracefully from the roof of an adjacent building and landed in front of the troop of Chimeras. "He is mine." it spoke forcefully. The surrounding creatures slinked back into the dark, but never really disappeared.

"Who are you?" Ed asked, his hand tightening on his weapon.

"You are the Fullmetal Alchemist, are you not?" the nearly invisible form asked, ignoring Edward.

"The one and-

"Of course you are. You're short. You have two automail appendages. The ability to perform alchemy without circles and" the figure glanced around. "a knack for getting yourself into little predicaments, such as these."

"Your going to pay for that short comment." Ed said wiping sweat from his brow.

"I think not, but since I have found my target, I must complete my mission." and with that the figure dashed at Edward, slashing his side with a hand.

Ed staggered a little. He's fast! Gripping his side he positioned himself for attack when the figure knocked him down with a rolling kick.

"Come on Elric. I know the stories of the Fullmetal Alchemist aren't fabrications."

"Who are you?" Ed demanded, but was slashed across the back causing him to loose balance.

"That is not important." The voice said sliding behind Edward and slipping something sharp along his neck.

Ed stumbled and turned toward the attacker. "Quit toying with me and lets get this over with!" Ed threw his javelin down and transmuted his right arm into a thick blade.

"Who are you to be commanding, when you do not hold the upper hand? And if I stop toying then what fun will have if your dead?" The figure paused long enough for Edward to prepare himself. It darted toward the teen, but the Alchemist was ready, he dodged left and stuck out his foot. The assailant reacted faster and cart wheeled around his prey. As it did so, Ed caught a glimpse of his foe. It had the face of a human, but had two large green eyes and long black pointed ears.

"You're… a Chimera!" Ed stuttered.

"Finally… yes I am." It sighed as if bored. " I was once a man, but have been merged with a black cat… I used to stay underground where I was reborn denying reality. I was, at first, disgusted by what I had become… until I… got used to my new 'features.'" The figure flexed his claws and Ed could barely see a tail swishing behind his enemy. "But enough chat, I have given you more information than intended, but yes, lets get this over with. I am going to take you to my master."

"Like Hell you are." Ed muttered. He would love to meet the guy responsible for this, to find out if it was actually who he believed, but not alone. Ed wanted back up, just incase things got ugly.

The Chimera leapt at Ed who ducked and punched at it with his bladed arm. He missed, the figure grabbed Ed's arm and threw him against the wall. A gasp of air escaped from Fullmetal as he clapped his hands together. A four foot cannon sprouted from the ground next to Ed, he shot six concrete balls at his enemy. The last hit it squarely in the chest, sending him into a collection trash cans. Ed stood up preparing for another succession. The Chimera jumped from the heap of garbage a immediately leapt at him. Surprised by the

sudden recover, Ed didn't have time to react and received a flying kick to the stomach. The blow completely sucked the wind from his lungs. The abrupt depletion on oxygen created an array of green spots dancing in his eyes.

"Good try Edward, but not nearly enough to take me out." The Chimera said as it closed in and knocked the young Alchemist over the head, placing him into an unconscious state.

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Ed felt a numbing ache all over his body. He rubbed the big knot on his head and winced. His eyes opened and almost immediately adjusted to the darkness surrounding him. Edward leaned against the wall, pulling himself up. He shifted his weight and found a big difference between his legs. He took a step forward and felt a tingle creep up his spine making him jump. The young alchemist turned his head to see something long and snake- like dangling behind him. He bent down and looked between his legs. It was a tail. Ed stood

up, his heart beating fast. No… He tried to walk forward when it seemed that he was limping. Ed glanced down at his feet and saw his left pants leg scraping the ground. He knelt to fix it and instead of seeing a black shoe it was a long furred paw. "No…" Ed cried to himself. Reality was beginning to hit him as a familiar smell caught his nose. It smelled like

cotton, sweat, and fuel used to ignite charcoal or… Ed's ears pricked as he heard the footsteps of someone approach. And of all his luck it had to be… Edward gasped as he saw a raven- haired man appear at the entrance of the alley. Mustang…