Last time Will and the others arrived on the home dimension of Ed, Al and Winry. The demons on that world had concentrated far to the north of Central, the capital of Ed and Al's nation. While preparing to head out, Taranee and Hay Lin admitted that they did it with their respective boyfriends, leaving Cornelia and Irma the only ones willing to wait for marriage. Before heading north, Eric asked Ed and Al to teach him the basics of Alchemy so he can be more help against the demons instead of a spectator. On with the show!

Chapter 12: A Warning

Back in the inner lair of The Dadga Khan, Pai-Mey was on the verge of a tantrum. "Where did they go!" she raged, "One minute Will and her pathetic friends were on Metamore, the next they're not! They didn't go back to Earth, so where are they!"

"Patience Pai-Mey," said The Dadga Khan, "There's no place the Guardians can go that my tracking device cannot find them. It's only a matter of time before they are located. Then we'll finish them once and for all. Have you found the Guardians yet, Xellos?"

The demon named Xellos, who was working at the tracking device turned around to face The Dadga Kahn. "No offence master," said Xellos, "But this would go a lot faster if you weren't asking me that every five minutes." "My apologies Xellos," said The Dadga Khan, "Carry on."

"You and your minions are more refined than other demons I've encountered," said Pai-Mey. "My self and my employees have been blessed with more intelligence than other acolytes of The God Hand," said The Dadga Khan, "Our methods of chaos are more refined than others."

Just then a demon named Racorw whispered something to his master. "When did they find the body?" asked The Dadga Khan. "About ten minutes ago," said Racorw, "We didn't want to disturb you until we could fully identify what was left of the body." "You did the right thing," said The Dadga Khan, "Call the guards, have them restrain the imposter; I want him alive for questioning." Racorw bowed and left to carry out his orders.

"What's going on?" asked Pai-Mey. "You see the technician working the consul second on the left? The one called Serato?" asked The Dadga Khan. Pai-Mey noted the demon in question; this one had three arms and five eyes in its head. "Apparently his body was found not too long ago," said The Dadga Khan, "or what was left of him. What we have here is a spy in my organization, and the one thing I hate above all else is a spy in my mists."

Just then the technician working the scanning device called out to The Dadga Khan, "Master! I've found them!" Pai-Mey rushed over to the scanning device to see Will and her friends boarding a train." So they've Folded to another dimension," said The Dadga Khan, "One where I've already sent several troupes to stir up some chaos." The Dadga Khan then called forth the demons Jerry and Mr. Styx. "Prepare another group of grunts for transport," ordered The Dadga Khan, "As soon as we've solved the problem with Serato send them to finish off the Guardians."

Jerry and Mr. Styx bowed and left to carry out their orders. "Who's that with the Guardians?" asked Pai-Mey, "The short blond boy with the red coat I mean." "I don't know," said The Dadga Khan, "But that tall man with the huge sword on his back seems familiar somewhat. It matters not, they shall all be dead soon enough."

Less than a minute later Serato was brought before The Dadga Khan, several demon guards flanked it. "Master," said Serato, "I've done nothing to upset you, why am I being treated like this?" "You can start by telling me who you really are," hissed The Dadga Khan.

"I don't know what you are talking about," said Serato, "Is this some kind of loyalty test?" "Don't try to out-weird me!" shouted The Dadga Khan, "I've gotten stranger things for free in my breakfast cereal! Now who are you and who sent you to spy on my operations?"

"I am Serato," said the demon, "Your loyal technician." "Cut the crap!" shouted The Dadga Khan, "We found what was left of the real Serato. Now who sent you? Was it Skull Knight? The Cenobites? Tell me and I'll make sure your death is quick and relatively painless."

"Then there's no point in continuing this charade," said Serato. A ring of white light formed around the demons' torso and split into two rings, one traveling up, the other down. When the rings faded Serato was gone and was replaced by a short man in a black sleeveless shirt and black shorts. He had long spiky green hair. Tattooed to his chest was what appeared to be a red snake wrapped around a crucifix.

All around Pai-Mey the demons were glaring at the imposter with a mixture of hate and fear. She could hear several of the demons growing in rage while a few were whispering what sounded like "abomination!"

"So you managed to infiltrate my inner-most sanctum," spat The Dadga Khan, "Congratulations, you're dead!" "It would be wise to hear what I and my comrades have to say," said the green-haired person, "Oh, my name is Envy by the way, and standing behind you and your lady friend are my friends; Gluttony and Lust."

The Dadga Khan and Pai-Mey turned around to see a man and a woman standing behind them. The man was slightly shorter than Pai-Mey yet extremely fat. He was completely bald, had a large nose, huge arms and eyes completely white. The woman was a bit taller than Pai-Mey. She wore a long black revealing dress. She had long black hair, a pale face and black colored eyes. Tattooed above her left breast was the same symbol as Envy.

"Three of you," said The Dadga Khan, "I'm impressed that you filth had the nerve to come into our world." "Say what you wand about our kind," said Envy, "All I ask is that you hear what we have to say. Do what you wish after that, I won't try to stop you." "Very well then," said The Dadga Khan, "Speak!"

"The Elric brothers," said the woman named Lust, "Edward and Alphonse." "What about them?" asked Pai-Mey. "They are not to be harmed," said Lust, "Not yet anyway. It would be in your best interest to leave them alone for now."

"And just who are these Elric brothers that I should stay away from them?" asked The Dadga Khan. "You've already seen one of them," said Envy, "he's that short blond kid in the red coat. His brother Alphonse is nothing more than a human soul bounded to a suit of armor. They shouldn't be that hard to identify. So in short, stay away from the Elric brothers or else."

"Or else what?" growled The Dadga Khan. "Or you'll find yourselves in more trouble than you've ever bargained for," said Lust. "You know what," said Pai-Mey as she drew a kuni knife from behind her back, "I don't have to take this sh$t from you or anyone!" She threw the knife at Lust, who caught the knife less than an inch from her pale face.

"Not bad," said Lust, "I feel that a demonstration of our power is necessary to get the point across!" With that, very long black fingernails grew from Lust's left hand. She pointed her hand at Pai-Mey and the nails continued to grow at an alarmingly fast pace. Pai-Mey narrowly avoided being impaled on the nails.

"Not bad at all," said Lust as her nails retraced back to her hand, "You truly are a skilled ninja." "You ain't seen nothing yet," said Pai-Mey as she disappeared in a puff of smoke. She reappeared behind Lust and stabbed her with two kuni knives. "Lust!" exclaimed Gluttony, "My precious Lust! What have they done to you?"

"I'm fine, Gluttony," said Lust as she pulled out both knives. To Pai-Mey's shock the wounds she inflicted seemed to vanish. "Not bad at all," said an impressed Lust, "But I still feel that another demonstration is in order. Gluttony, take a bite out of one of the demons." "With pleasure," said Gluttony, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. Pai-Mey could see the same snake symbol tattooed to the tongue.

Despite his huge shape, Gluttony soon had one of the demon technicians cornered. Before anyone could do anything, Gluttony had bitten off half the demons' right arm. He opened his huge mouth to take more when he was stopped by Envy, "That's enough Gluttony!" exclaimed Envy, "We've made our point."

"Since we've settled that problem," said Lust, "I suggest that you seriously heed our warning. If you do then you'll never see us again. If you don't, then we'll be back. Remember; stay away from the Elric brothers. Envy, Gluttony, let's go." "But I'm still hungry!" whined Gluttony. "So we'll get you some cheeseburgers when we get home," said Envy, "And some milkshakes, but let's go already! This place stinks!" "Ooh milkshakes!" smiled Gluttony, "Very good day!"

With that Gluttony hurried after Envy and Lust as the left the room, leaving Pai-Mey, The Dadga Khan and the demons in stunned silence. It was The Dadga Khan who snapped everyone back to normal, "Don't just stand there! Go after them!" several demons guards then ran after Lust, Envy and Gluttony.

"Are you alright?" asked The Dadga Khan to Pai-Mey. "I'm unharmed," said Pai-Mey, "Though I can't say the same for your technician there." The assaulted demon was grasping the newly formed stump of his violated arm. "That thing!" it exclaimed as other demons cared to it's injury, "That freak! It was eating me!" "Master!" exclaimed the demon guards as they returned to the room, "The abominations have disappeared!"

"What were those creatures?" asked Pai-Mey. "Homunculi," said The Dadga Khan, "False humans created when someone is foolish enough to use Alchemy to attempt to bring the dead back to life. That is why we who serve The God Hand never use Alchemy to resurrect the dead; we have other methods to restoring life to that which had it taken away from."

"So what is to be done?" asked Pai-Mey, "It's more than obvious that these Elric Brothers have joined forces with the Guardians." "We continue as if this incident never happened, "Only when we send this next batch of grunts, we order then to attack the Guardians and only the Guardians. If these Elric Brothers get in the way, it's their funeral." "I truly enjoy the way your twisted mind works," said Pai-Mey, "I only wish we joined forces before."

"Yes," said The Dadga Khan, "If only. However, I won't be satisfied until the Earth Guardian is mine and the others are dead, and to make sure of it, I shall join the next batch of grunts we send against the Guardians." "You still haven't told me why you want that blond bimbo," said Pai-Mey, "What's so special about her?" "All in good time, Pai-Mey," said The Dadga Khan, "All in good time."

The end of chapter 12. Next chapter Will and her friends learn the story behind Ed and Al. Please review and I'll see you next time!