Fullmetal Alchemist Fan Fiction ❯ Guardian ❯ Chapter 8 ( Chapter 8 )

Guardian 8

 

 

 

Ed paced in the Gate. It had been three months since he'd entered the Gate. It had taken him a month to master the abilities and limits of his new form. The other two months had been spent learning to monitor the energy flow and how to Jump between two locations. He also honed his fighting capabilities in his Guardian form. Once or twice, he'd Jumped to the other side of the Gate, to see what was there. He'd picked up some interesting things there.

 

He was slightly bored now though. His hooves chimed gently on the energy stream he walked. His head lifted at a change in the Flow. ~What is it?~

 

ONE WITH POTENTIAL IS IN DANGER. WHAT WILL YOU DO, GUARDIAN?

 

~Protect. I will not see this one destroyed. I will be back soon.~

 

With that, Ed Jumped from the Gate. As he landed, he glanced fleetingly at the child he had come to protect. ~An Ishbalan. Good thing I came.~ With an angry scream, he lunged at the nearest thug. The first he speared with his horn, flinging the body into another. Hind hooves caught a third man in the head, crushing his skull instantly. Strong jaws clamped on the back of a neck and jerked, snapping the man's neck. The fifth man he cut in half with his horn, while the last received a spine-snapping kick. Ed eyed the downed men, before slicing open each throat to be safe.

 

Ed turned to the child. A girl no older than seven scrambled back, arms out to try and protect herself. Ed lowered his head and Projected gently. ~I'm not going hurt you little one. I'm sorry if I frightened you. I want to take you somewhere safe~

 

“You're not gonna kill me, like ya killed them?” The girl indicated the dead thugs with a jerk of her head.

 

~No. I came just to stop them from hurting you. I'll take you someplace safe if you'll let me.~

 

The girl stared at him for a long moment, before nodding sharply. “A'right. I'll trust ya.”

 

Ed bent to his knees and waited until the girl was on and had hold of his mane. ~Hold on tight. It might get a little bumpy.~ He Jumped; holding in his mind the image of Scar. It took three Jumps to reach the Ishbalan man; and his refugee camp.

 

When he landed from the last Jump, Ed found himself not two feet from the man he sought. ~You are the one called Scar?~

 

“I am.” Scar replied, a glow forming on his right arm. “Who are you?”

 

~A friend. I found this little one being attacked by many men, because she has the potential to use alchemy. I rescued her, and brought her here, for I have heard that you will protect any child who needs it. Will you take her in?~

 

“No child, even an alchemist deserves a fate like that. I'll take her in.” Scar lifted the little girl off Ed's back and held her for a moment. “Thank you for saving her.”

 

~It was no great difficulty. I will take my leave now.~ As Ed turned to leave, the girl pulled away from Scar and ran after him.

 

“Wait!”

 

Ed turned partially. ~Yes?~

 

“Thank you. What's your name? And will I ever see you again?” the girl-child flung her arms around Ed's neck as she asked her questions.

 

~I… do not have a name, not anymore. Why don't you pick one for me? And I will visit when I can, if your guardian does not object to it; or my bringing other children in need of help to him.~

 

Scar walked up and laid a hand on the girl's shoulder. “I have no problem with that. You are welcome here whenever you wish, friend.”

 

~My thanks, Scar of Ishbal. I will return when I can.~ With that, Ed launched into a canter, Jumping just before a stone wall.

 

Ed landed back in the Gate. ~That was fun and productive, don't you think?~

 

YOU HAVE DONE WELL, GUARDIAN. PERHAPS YOU WILL BE BETTER THAN YOUR PREDECESSORS.

 

~Bastard~

 

INDEED

 

 

TBC