Since this fic has more popularity than the other one, I will give more importance to it, chapters will go out sooner than the other one.

here is chapter 4, enjoy.

Chapter 4: An Alliance against the Darkness

The leader of Amestris was surprised, but the Elric Brothers were frozen. In front of them, his foreign friend and formidable warrior, was standing covered in very fine clothes, worth of a Prince, but with very fine jewelry, worth of an Emperor. Just a month before he was trying to find the clue for immortality to gain the favor of the Emperor; risking his life in the process. Now he was in front of them covered in that fineries willing the title he wanted to protect his clan.

But what could have happened in Xing for him to be declared emperor so easily? How he surpassed the other 16 princes and became the most powerful person in that Empire? They couldn't wait for the answers, but they couldn't talk to him yet, it was the meeting two governors. They could only be watchers then.

-Führer Roy Mustang! – Ling Claimed, making a reverence – I know both of us are new in the duty and art of taking care of our countries; but I came here because I have a problem that concern both of us.

- I will be glad to help a colleague and friend – Mustang replied- just tell me what can I do for you and your country.

- Beining, the capital of our empire, had been attacked and almost completely destroyed by some unknown force. 14 of the Princes and the Emperor were killed while I was here doing a quest for my country, and I've been chosen as the Emperor by the elder council at my return, according to the Xingjian tradition. And I am here again because I have some reasons to believe that the source of the attack came from this country.

That asseveration made Mustang to change his charismatic semblance to a serious one. After some seconds of silence, he broke it.

- Emperor Ling Yao, Maybe the army that made the attack was really strong, but you can't be sure that they were of our country. At least in my Government and the one of the last Führer there haven't been plans to attack or invade Xing.

- I never said anything about an Army – Ling said without changing his manners – It was only one being, the one responsible of the attack to Beining.

All the Amestrians at that room were completely shocked with the last sentence of Ling. How could they think that the Empire who had control all the oriental lands could be defeated by just one person. There was entire silence in the office and it was suddenly broken by a clap sound followed by glowing light. All the others then turned around to see Al; on the palm of one of his hands, a glass of water was being created and then it was filled with fresh water dragged from what it seemed to be nowhere.

- Sorry, I need a glass of water – he apologized drinking what he had just created. After that, Ling followed.

- As I said, it was only one being the one responsible of the attack; I can say that thanks to the declarations of the few witnesses that survived the attack. But I am not accusing this government for the attack nor the preceding; I know that in this country there is a secret society formed by some beings called Homunculi who had as leader an alchemist called Hohenheim. I can say that because I fought with there, and I know they could only be the responsible of the massacre of our city. And if you don't believe me about the power of this beings, you can ask the Elric brothers, who were also there at that time.

- I personally fought one of that Homunculus in the past; I know what they are capable of – Mustang Replied

- But Ling…sorry…Emperor, We have also fought the Homunculi at the past, and we know that they are powerful, but not powerful enough to destroy an entire city.

- I know Ed, I know; but that's not the only clue I have about that attack; the other ones are the number of death people and the appearance of the attacker.

- The number of Death people? How many lives were taken?

- 5929 Falls, 77 times 77.

- 77 times 77? But what does that mean?

- Maybe you don't know because you're an atheist Ed – Roy replied – but in our religion, 7 is the most important number, meaning eternity, and in our Holy Book, when the asseveration 77 times 77 is made, it's saying something like "forever and forever, forever"

Then he faced Ling – I admit that that could point our state, but that could point also Areugo or Drachma.

- Of course it can, but we don't have Homunculi in neither of them. And there is also the other clue. Hao Yen was the only survivor of the 15 princes that were in Beining at that moment. And in fact he is the only one that directly saw the face of the attacker; thanks to his drawing abilities, he was able to make a picture of him; but before I show you this; I want to know if I have the support of your country with this problem. This problem concerns to both or our people and we need to solve it as fast as possible.

- the government of Amestris will support the Empire of Xing in any mean possible; if an Alliance against the Darkness is needed, then we will made then

- Ok, then, here is the picture of our attacker…

He was going to brought out something from his jacket when the lights suddenly went off

- What happened? - The Führer asked, facing Riza –

- No response, Sir – Riza Replied, checking the phone.

Suddenly they heard some strange sounds and roars, and they sounded stronger each second; they were approaching.

- I know that sound – Mustang said, quite tense now -………….CHIMERAS!

Suddenly, one of those horrible creatures broke the door and showed itself; something that seemed to be the fusion of a dog and a panther. It didn't have time to attack; it was reduced to ashes before it could move.

- What does that thing came from? – Mustang said, relaxing his battle pose.

- Isn't it obvious? They have from the Underground Maze, remember, there should be several entrances here.

- But I made all the labs and the HQ to be searched and all the places that looked suspicious to be sealed. I personally supervised that.

- do you really think that normal concrete and bricks will be enough to stop these creatures, you should…

But they were interrupted by the roars of other chimeras and the shouts of terrors of some of the personnel and a "WE UNDER ATTACK!" asseveration.

Impelled by their instincts, both the Elric brothers went out of the office to help the people around. They guided themselves by the shouts and the shoots.

Both of the leaders were still inside the office

- Please stay here Emperor, this is a problem of our country and you have to be save during your visit.

- Are you kidding me? – Ling replied to Mustang's words- I'm the Emperor but I'm also a warrior and if we're going to form an alliance against the darkness we should start helping each other in this time of problems.

- it will be in that way then – Mustang said, fixed his gloves, while Ling grabbed his sword. Then both of them went out of the room.

And Riza, feeling quite ignored in the entire meeting, grabbed his gun. Some loads and ran behind the Führer.

That was their first battle since their return to their original bodies; and although Ed missed the use of his automail as a blade, the use of other weapons compensated the lack.

Al seemed to be having a lot of fun. In fact, chimera slaughter was a incredibly funny after a month encaged without doing anything than reading the same book (the library was closed due to reparations) and his joy was visible.

Ed was quite worried about him overstress his recently re-obtained body, but he preferred not to say anything, fearing to end like one of those chimeras.

He didn't pay so much attention about how Al was fighting the chimeras, but the only time he did, it seemed that he didn't need any approach to the chimeras to kill them. He was on that thoughts and he didn't notice that one of that monster was above him and ready to attack the neck. The devil animal almost reached him but something that seemed like a stone arrow killed it, leaving the corpse stabbed at the wall.

- Beware! Edward Elric! You can't lose your attention in the middle of the battle – a very familiar voice said, Ed turned around and saw a shirtless Armstrong flexing at the other side of the passage.

- Thank you very much mayor, I'll have that in count –

- Beware you pitiful creatures! You'll taste one of the ancient techniques of the Armstrong Tradition! – The Major said, walking towards a chimera swarm at the bottom of the passage.

No matter how many of them they kill, they still appeared and appeared, he knew he had to stop the source; he had to return to that place.

He thought it could be too stressful for Al, so he decided to go alone. He left the place without saying anything to his brother and he returned to the Führer's office, which was empty then. He knew that there was an entrance to the Underground mace from that office; otherwise it would have been impossible for Bradley to communicate with Hohenheim without being noticed. He just had to found it.

He looked around trying to find something different, willing that Mustang hadn't blocked that entrance too; but he finally found that suspicious columns, bigger than normal and started checking it. It didn't take him a lot of time to find the hidden switch; he pressed it and the column opened, showing the stairs that were supposed to lead him to that place. He followed that path.

The way was long, but he finally reached that place. It was incredibly dark, seemed that the energy was also gone at that place. Ed tried to search something to ignite to light him; nut the darkness prevented him to even do that. He was also unable to return from the way he came, he lost the way.

He was thinking about what to do then when he heard the roars of the chimeras and the sword of a swinging sword and alchemic reactions, it seemed that someone had already came down, but who?

He tainted the way, approaching to the source of the sounds; the sounds were louder and louder each second, at the point the sounds were the loudest, they completely stopped. Ed felt lost again for some seconds, but then he heard a voice, the most familiar voice for him, but tainted with a very unfamiliar mix of Pride and Joy.

- Well, they were all of them – the voice said – So he finally achieved to do that, but how he achieved to break the anti alchemy seal, what a mystery…

Ed approached a little more "how he arrived here and what is he talking about?", he thought. When he was nearer, he dared to ask –Al?

Suddenly the lights returned, showing the person in front of him. A fitted young blond man all dressed in black leather, giving him the appearance of a gangster.

The teen turned around facing Ed. – Who are you?

Ed was completely stunned; he couldn't say anything more than to repeat his question – Al?

But there was something strange, too strange. The strange kept glaring at him, with serpent like gold eyes.

A/N: The encounter has finally ocurred, a lot of action, desperation and suffering will start from now on, I know you're going to like it.

Next Chapter: Kaos Overture.