Greetings fellow readers and writers! This is my third Kingdom Hearts fic and I hope you like it! Okay, this takes place immediately after The Shinobi Path, the previous volume of Beyond The Door to Light. This fic crosses Kingdom Hearts with Fullmetal Alchemists, one of the best Animes I have ever seen, believe it.

I don't own either Kingdom Hearts, or Fullmetal Alchemist, so please don't' sue me. What I do own are the original characters featured in this fic. And now, without further delay, the show begins!

Prolog: New Assignment

On a world not all that different from Earth, there was a large nation known as The State. The capital city of The State was called Central, mostly because the city lay in the exact middle of the nation. The city resembled an average metropolis one would see on Earth in the 1920's, with electric lighting and automobiles. In the middle of Central was a large, classical style stone building that was the headquarters of the State Alchemists.

State Alchemists, or any Alchemist of that matter, practice the art of alchemy, meaning they could identify the basic structure of an object, be it solid, liquid or gas, break that object down to the basic structure, and then put it back together as something else of equal mass.

Each State Alchemist has an official nickname reflecting his unique alchemic talent. One such alchemist has a very special nickname that goes hand in hand with his talent. His name is Edward Elric- the Fullmetal Alchemist.

"I don't get it, Al," said Edward Elric, or just Ed to his friends and family, "that jerk Mustang gave us free rein to go looking for the Philosophers Stone, and just when we finally have a lead on it, he orders us back to Central. I swear, I'm gonna deck that guy someday!"

Ed stood rather short, barely 165cm, and that's with platform shoes and counting the tallest part of his blond hair that was tied back in a ponytail. He had amber eyes that could shift from friendly to enraged in a heartbeat. He wore a black shirt that had a zipper on the front, with black pants and boots underneath a red coat that had a symbol of a serpent wrapped around a crucifix on his back. On his hands were a pair of white gloves.

"He wouldn't have called us back if it wasn't important, brother," said someone next to Ed. Alphonse Elric, or just Al, wore a large suit of armor with glowing white eyes at the slits on the helmet. The armor had the same serpent symbol on his left shoulder. There's far more to Al than meets the eye, but that is something that has to wait.

"Yeah, well it'd better be important," said Ed as they entered the building. They walked down a set of corridors and entered an office, where a man, about 30 or so with pale skin and jet black hair, sat behind a desk. He wore a dark blue uniform and a set of white gloves that had red symbols on the backs.

"Reporting as ordered, sir," said Ed in a reluctant tone as he and Al saluted.

"Welcome back, boys," said the man, Corneal Roy Mustang, the Flame Alchemist, "I heard that you two had been in one adventure after another, and that you keep getting into trouble almost everywhere you go."

"What can I say?" Ed asked in a casual tone, "trouble has a habit of finding us."

"But we did so much good," said Al, "we helped so many people and brought a tone of bad guys to justice."

"So I've heard," said Mustang, "you do know what they're calling you out there, Ed, out in the countryside."

"'The People's Alchemist,'" said Ed, "guess I'm lucky to be so popular. But let's cut to the chase, Mustang, you didn't call me and Al back to the city just to catch up on old times."

"Still got that attitude," said Mustang, "one of these days, Ed, you're going to dig yourself into a hole that not even the best of Alchemy can get yourself out of."

"If I can't dig out," said Ed, "I can make a staircase."

"I'm sure you'll try," said Mustang, "but enough small talk. We have a serious situation on our hands."

"We're all ears, sir," said Al as he and Ed sat in a pair of chairs in front of the desk, "more or less."

"Approximately four months ago," said Mustang, "rumors began circulating in the city of strange creatures being sighted in the small villages and towns to the east of Central."

"What kind of strange creatures, Sir?" Al asked.

"The kind never before seen by anyone," said Mustang. He then showed Ed and Al some sketches of a vaguely humanoid shape. It was short, barely 3 feet tall and crouched. It's skin was pitch black, like a living shadow. It had two glowing yellow eyes, a pair of antennae and two arms and legs that ended in three claws each.

"What are these things?" Ed asked, "are they chimeras? Or some other kind of alchemy experiment gone horribly wrong?"

"They're not human, that's for sure," said Al.

"And they weren't created by Alchemy," said Mustang, "as far as we know. At first the creatures were spotted individually or in pairs. But then more and more were sighted. Then one day about three weeks ago, we lost contact with a town 200 miles from Central. Investigators reported that everyone in that down had either been killed or had vanished without a trace."

"You think these things are responsible?" Ed asked.

"I know so," said Mustang, "it wasn't long before other villages were attacked and overrun by these 'Feeders,' as they are being called, they appear to be drawn to human emotions, especially negative ones such as grief and rage, and they grow stronger from those emotions."

"What are they doing to the people who have vanished?" Al asked.

"It's assumed that they've been killed," said Mustang, "or worse. Some theorize that the Feeders reproduce by turning a person into one of them."

"That's gross!" exclaimed Al, while Ed made a disgusted face.

"Now you know how serious this is," said Mustang, "so far the Feeders are staying in the eastern desert and haven't been sighted any closer than 150 miles from the city, but it's only a matter of time before they're sighted all over The State. From then they can surround and attack Central."

"You want us to find out where the Feeders are coming from," said Ed.

"That and discover whom or what is controlling them," said Mustang, "at first they seemed to be creatures of no intelligence, only instinct. But when they began attacking populated areas, they acted as if on orders. Someone or something is directing them."

Mustang then stood up from his desk and walked over to his window, looking out at the city, "I'll be honest with you boys, the Feeders couldn't have come at a more worst time. Half of all active State Alchemists are on separate assignments throughout The State and cannot return to Central any time soon, and most of the other half are out looking for that Alchemist murderer, the one with the scar."

"We know about that one," said Ed, "so Al and I will be on our own."

"Not entirely," said Mustang, he handed two file folders to Ed, "there's two State Alchemists already in the east. They're the ones who requested assistance. Normally we'd send more experienced Alchemists on a mission such as this, or," he smirked, "at the very least, taller ones."

"What are you saying?!" exclaimed a very irate Ed, "that I can't handle a bunch of weird monsters? Just because I'm short!? Just show me those Feeders and I'll rip 'em in half!"

"Easy, brother," said Al in a placating tone.

"I'm alright, Al," said Ed. He then glared at Mustang with gritted teeth, "just so long as this guy remembers that I'm as capable as any Alchemist, despite my shortcomings."

At that Mustang laughed, "and here I thought you didn't have a sense of humor, Edward Elric. I'd never believed you'd make a pun about yourself."

"I did what?" a confused Ed asked. He then realized his mistake, "oh, yeah, shortcomings. Al, remind me to never use that word again."

"If you say so," said Al, "but still, it was funny, brother. You really need to stop reacting so badly when people make fun of you. Just laugh and shrug it off."

"Well that's easy for you to say," said Ed, "you're tougher than I am when it comes to insults," he tapped Al's armor, "insults and jokes just bounce right off of you."

"I guess I'm lucky," said Al.

"If we could get back on track," said Mustang, "Ed, Al, I wouldn't be sending you if I and my superiors didn't believe that you could handle it. I'd feel more comfortable if you went in with backup, but there's no one else at this time," he handed several more files to Ed, "this is all the information we have as of now on the Feeders. Study it well, hopefully by the time you reach the target area, you will have discovered a more effective means of combating the monsters."

"How tough can they be?" Ed asked as he began looking at the information.

"One of the survivors of an attacked saw a policeman unload a pistol on one of the creatures," said Mustang, "each bullet was on target, but they had no effect."

"So if guns won't work," said Al, "then maybe Alchemy can."

"Exactly," said Mustang.

"In that case," said Al as he took all the file folders under his left arm, "we'll get right on it."

"You're scheduled to take the next train east," said Mustang, "it leaves in half an hour. You are to proceed to Shanal Town, 120 miles east. A car and driver will be waiting for you at the station that will take you to the town. From there you'll proceed out through the affected area. Once there you are to gather as much information on the Feeders as you can; what they are, how they were made, where they come from, who or what is controlling them, why they are here, and most importantly, how to destroy them. I'm sure you're aware that these things, whatever their intent, it isn't good."

"We understand," said Ed.

"We won't let you down, sir," said Al. The two of them saluted and left the office.

"Good luck, Ed and Al!" Mustang called after them. He then sat down at his desk, "you're sure to need it."

Outside State Alchemist headquarters, Ed and Al waited for a taxi to the train station. "What do you think of all of this, brother?" Al asked.

"These Feeders are just some crazy alchemist's experiment gone wrong," said Ed, "despite what that jerk, Mustang, thinks."

"But they've killed so many people," said Al, "and all those other people who are missing, what about them?"

"We'll find out," said Ed, "and the sooner the better. Once we're done with this mess in the northwest, we can get back to finding the Philosophers Stone, then we can get you back to the way you were."

"I thought we were going to take care of you first," said Al as a taxi pulled up.

"I'm used to them by now, Al," said Ed as they got in, the cab then drove to the train station, "you know that."

"I know," said AL, "it's just that I don't like seeing you this way."

"Well how do you think I feel with you like that?" Ed asked as he looked at Al in all his metal glory.

"We can worry about who gets fixed first later, Al," said Ed, "right now we need to figure out what these Feeder things are."

"I hope we find out soon, brother" said Al, "I've got a feeling that this mission is going to be our toughest one yet."

"I think you may be right, Al," said Ed, "I think you may be right."

…Central…

…The State…