Disclaimer: The Wakabe Writing Firm has no claim on Transformers, and makes no money from any writings done on it. All characters of Transfomers belong to Hasbro. The Guardian and his summoner are property of the Wakabe Writing Firm.

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. Things are crazy right now. Anyways, the ritual/spell done here is based off a bit of Natsumi and Michiko's own practices (quarters, calling, and salt) along with a bit of research done, as well as just a pinch of special effects. We hope you enjoy, and ask that if you are so inclined to please review this chapter. Many thanks. – Sephora (Secretary in Training, Wakabe Writing Firm)

Chapter 1

Herald the Guard

The day was much like any other in the Ark: bots were cycling in and out of the Rec Room, Prowl was holed up in his office again doing reports, Optimus was making his morning rounds with Ironhide following close by, and Red Alert was on monitor duty, optics darting from screen to screen as he looked for any signs of either a Decepticon invasion or the newest prank of the twins, whichever one came first. And, just like clockwork, the most recent Decepticon attack came, right on schedule. Immediately, Red Alert commed the commanding officers, and then, on speaker, alerted everyone to the attack. Immediately, all four of the other officers came running in, optics drawn to the scene that was unfolding on Teletraan 1.

"Another power plant has been attacked by the Decepticons, Optimus," reported Red Alert, digits flying across the console, bringing up more images from security cameras, data sheets on each Con that appeared on screen, as well as geographical data and other background information.

"Seems to be a kind o' hobby for 'em," Jazz quipped up, a smirk-like smile gracing his lip components.

"Indeed," rumbled Optimus as he took in all the information that flew across Teletraan 1's monitor. His processor called forth data of who was on patrol, how far the location of the attack was (this time in San Francisco of all places) and how long ETA would be if they left in the next breem. "Jazz."

"Yeah, Prime?" asked the Lieutenant, stepping forward and in front of his Prime.

"I want you to gather what mechs you can that are not on duty and call in Skyfire. Make sure that you get Blaster in on this as well, but send him here first. We need to get to that power plant. Red Alert, you stay here and monitor the situation, but make sure that you have a connection established with Blaster before we leave- you can give us more information as it comes. Prowl, with me; we can start planning as we get to the landing pad. I want those of us that are going to be informed of what it is we are up against, and a basic strategy for when we get there. Ironhide, I want you to stay behind and be ready to send and lead backup, should we need it."

He turned and surveyed his mechs, and then, after another quick glance at the monitor, turned.

"Autobots, roll out."

In the end, only four more Autobots were available to accompany the commanding officers for the coming excursion: Bluestreak, Cliffjumper, Sideswipe and Sunstreaker. All seven of them filed into Skyfire, gathering together near the front, where they could watch for any signs of the Decepticons.

"So, what's the plan, Prime?" asked Jazz as he lounged next to Blaster, who was sifting through the radio waves, listening in on various reports, of what was happening. Optimus turned his helm briefly to his third in command, before looking back at his second. Then, the two of them moved back to the rest of the troops, and began the briefing.

"The first thing we are going to do is try to evacuate as many humans as possible. Blaster, what does Red Alert have to say about the civilians near that area?"

"Not much," Blaster answered, his optics a bit unfocused as he started to relay to Red Alert what information was desired about the situation. "From what he can pick up from the spycam and the human authorities on ground, it seems that they have already started to do their evacs. They're trying to clear a space of two miles right now, although they are pushing to expand it. For now though, their biggest concern is getting everyone within those two miles to get out. Must be going pretty good of they can say that they're now pushing for more cleared space."

"Not surprising, considering that this is not the first time that the Decepticons have targeted San Francisco," commented Prowl. "By this time, I would be surprised if they did not try to get everyone out and to have a wide berth between their civilians and the attack area."

"But that's not all," Blaster suddenly interrupted, looking a bit complicated. "It seems that there was some kind of event going on there, some kind of event going on just prior to the Decepti-creeps showing up. It doesn't say what happened, or who was there- only that some of the locals were a bit unnerved by it."

"And you have no way of checking to see what was going on?" asked Prowl, frowning slightly. "If the humans were doing something there earlier, maybe it could be their activities that drew the Decepticons there, besides the Power Plant."

"Not yet," Blaster said, optics still slightly hazy, a frown marring his face. "Give me a minute and I can see if maybe there was something on someone's blog about today."

"Optimus," interrupted Skyfire. "We are coming into San Francisco airspace. ETA is 1.5 breems."

"It doesn't look like we are going to have time for that, Blaster," Optimus said, before turning to the rest of the group. "When we get there, we hit the ground running, and we hit hard. I don't like the fact that they have had so much time to get comfortable. Our goal is to hit hard and fast."

"Yes sir!" came the resounding confirmation from the troops. Then, the hangar to the outside started to open up, and in a well-practiced move, Optimus ran out the door, and went off into battle.

Crouching behind a bit of rubble, Cliffjumper cursed as the corner of his temporary shelter was shattered by photon blast. Quickly, he rose up, took a quick shot at one of the Decepti- creeps (Astrotrain, if that paint job was anything to go by) before ducking behind the concrete barrier that kept him from their own blasts. He glanced over to his right and saw Bluestreak starting to scale one of the buildings. No doubt he was going to start taking down the Cons like flies. Another shot at the edge of the concrete slab had Cliffjumper cussing again as he scrambled toward the other end, and began calculating the likelihood of his ability to make it to Prowl's position without getting his helm shot off. Then, Astrotrain decided to charge him and Cliffjumper didn't have much of a choice on whether or not he wanted to chance getting shot at. He still made sure to turn around at some point and shoot the fragger, just to make sure that he got him back. Then, as he spun into the cover provided by the building that Prowl was using, he saw a flash of black. Frowning, he tried to think of anyone that could be that small, and had black. His first thoughts were of one of those blasted cassettes, but he shook his head. He knew that it couldn't be one of them, all of them were accounted for. A quick scan over the battlefield confirmed what he already knew: Laserbeak, Buzzsaw and Ratbat were in the sky dropping bombs and laying what waste they could on the Autobots below, Ravage was making his way back to Soundwave, and Rumble and Frenzy were both guarding the cubes of energon. None of the other minbots were here, and he was pretty sure that Jazz was facing off against one of the grounded seekers that he had managed to get down. So who in the name of Cybertron was here?

"Prowl!" he semi-shouted to the Datsun next to him. Prowl didn't give any verbal acknowledgement that he had heard Cliffjumper, but that was to be expected, seeing as they were in the middle of a battle. "I think there might be some humans here!"

"Where?" That was Prowl; quick to the point, short and sweet, hold the fluff.

"Over by the Cons, building with the rod on top." Prowl ducked behind the building completely, opening his com link to the others on the battlefield.

"Prowl to Autobots, we have a civilian in the area." Instantly, responses came in. "I need a visual on its position. Last seen at the main building east of us."

"Bluestreak to Prowl, I have a visual. It's a girl. She's crossing the building now! She's headed straight for them!"

"Can anyone intercept her?"

"That's a no go, Prowler. We each got a tango partner already in this dance. Can't afford to change partners now," came Jazz's response, from where he was still entangled with Starscream. A quick look around confirmed what he already knew. He would have to do what he could, given the situation: ensure that the Decepticons were focused elsewhere, while he sent one of them (most likely Cliffjumper) to retrieve the wayward human.

"I want everyone to draw their attention away from where she is. Cliffjumper, you are to circle around and retrieve the civilian. Everyone else, distract them."

"Yes sir!"

"Cliffjumper," Prowl addressed the bot standing next to him. "You know what to do?"

"Yeah." A distracted nod from Prowl was his only indication that he was to get going. Cliffjumper grumbled to himself as he started on his least favorite part of fighting Decepticons: evacuating wayward humans that didn't know better. Honestly, you would think that the humans would know better, especially since they all knew that Decepticons had no issue with squishing humans.

It was time. It was time. It was time.

He could feel the power that gathered there, in a land far from his home. He could hear the voices, chanting, calling- not quite to him, but to the vast amount of (heka, magic, chi) energy that he resided with. He knew, knew deep in his core that this was what he had been waiting for. He grabbed hold of the energy that was rushing to that distant land, elated and excited in a way that had once been seen as unbecoming of a Guardian of his status, but he did not care. He was finally being called again. He could finally be worthy again.

As he crossed over the oceans and mountains, the rivers and cities, marveling at all the wonders that he had never seen before (it was so different from his home lands), he finally saw where his magic was being called to. A gathering of people (as large as the crowds once were so long ago before such actions were forced into those stone cold and strict fortress-like buildings) were all there. Men, women, children; people of many colors, heights, appearances, all of them calling, crying, heralding for something that few had dared to call out in the open for so long. As he came closer, he could see that this was no ordinary casting. It did not call to one but many. There, below him, he could see already that many others (fellow guardians from other lands, different deities from many cultures, spirit guides, entities, "angels" and others were all there and it was so good, so good to be amongst his own once more, no longer tucked away in his little spot waiting for them to call to him again, watching and waiting) were also called. He could hardly believe his luck. To be among his own kind again, for something that few had been called upon for so long, was wonderful. Eager to find the one that had called to him, he landed in the eastern quarter, and felt the many auras and webs of energy, magic, and beings that were there.

She was here.

The one who had called him was here.

He walked through the crowd, unseen, but not ignored, as his essence passed through people on his quest to find the one that had called to him and his energy. He drifted toward the center from the east, then headed north, then south. None of these quarters held his charge- a most unusual prospect, considering those of water rarely called him (that was more his brother's domain, water). Regardless, he headed west, to the quarter of water, femininity, sensuality, the life giving and drowning element that raged against land with the wind, but nurtured it too, with its essence. The pull was strong here. And there, toward the back, whispering as her hands moved in ways that she should not have known (few of his wards had survived those Times, and none that he could recall had been able to pass on the knowledge) was the one that had called to him.

In that moment, when her eyes flashed that golden hue of brown (just like Hers, and His and Theirs) he knew that he had found the right one. He stepped forward, ready to make himself known to her, and to hopefully become a Guardian again.

And then those creatures appeared.

It happened fast, and he did the only thing he could think of: ensure her safety (in ways that he should have done for Them) and answer her call when she returned to that battle. He had hissed to her that it was not safe, that though he was now here, he could still not do much because there was no set agreement yet. She could not hear, and instead ran behind buildings, dodging into any place she could, under balconies, into plantation areas, until at last, she reached her goal. The center of the gathering; it was the only thing it could be. The circle had been broken, salt scattered in all places, the liquid markings that had once adorned the ground now nothing more than puddles in random areas, and candles that were not yet lit.

She went to the eastern quarter, opened the circle with two fingers (and how amazing was it to see that she could do that with her energy, and be welcomed in so gracefully). She stepped in, he followed. She closed the circle, sealing it from the inside. Then, after fumbling through what was probably a rehearsed prayer, she started what the others had been unable to finish: a spell to force those metal creatures away.

Next Chapter: Lavender and Sage

Excerpt:

So small and so fragile, yet containing within themselves a power that was far greater than anything else that they had yet. How was it that they had hidden this from them for so long? If a single child could bring about such things to the Decepticons, then why was it not being used? These questions, however, remained unanswered in the days to come, as Optimus Prime debriefed his bots on the strange happenings of San Francisco. In the end, only three things could be known for sure. First, the gathering that had happened earlier had something to do with it. Second, the girl that had finished the act had done something that no one had ever seen before. Three, they had to find out what this was all about, and who were they.