Last time, while helping the Guardians fight off another demon attack, Ed's metal arm was severally damaged. Winry Rockbell, a mechanic from Ed's world, arrived and repaired it. She told Will and the others that her home world was under attack by the demons. Will and the others agreed to help Ed and Al fight the demons on their world. On with the show!
Chapter 10: An Overdue Reunion
By mid-morning the next day Elyon had used her magic to help Martin make enough of his invention to equip every soldier on the planet. "With your energy channeling device," said Elyon, "The demons won't find this world so easy to destroy. You're a real hero, Martin." "I do only what I'm needed to do," said Martin, "And that's help out when I can."
"Now that Metamore is better able to protect itself from demons," said Taranee, "We're probably out of a job." "We're not obsolete yet," said Will, "We still need to stop the demons from where they're coming from. But first we need to stop the demons that are attacking Ed and Al's world, and for that, we'll need the boys help."
Will pulled out The Heart of Candracar in order to Fold back to Heatherfield to collect Matt, Eric and Nigel. But before she could do so, a guard announced that Vathek had returned.
In came Vathek, followed by a rather tall man in black armor and a huge sword strapped to his back. "My Queen," said Vathek as she bowed before Elyon, "once again forgive me for not being able to follow your request." "The situation was beyond your control," said Elyon, "You did the right thing."
"Thank you," said Vathek, "And it is my pleasure to report that the remaining demons have been destroyed, thanks to my friend here. May I present Guts, The Black Swordsman. Without his assistance the situation with the demons would have been much worse."
"I'm honored to meet you, Your Majesty" said Guts as he bowed, "Vathek has told me so much about you." "The honor is mine," said Elyon, "I am grateful for your assistance in the present crisis."
It was then that Guts noticed Will and the crystal. "So you're the new Keeper of The Heart of Candracar," said Gust to Will, "From what I'm told, you and your fellow Guardians have done a lot in such a short time." "You know about us?" asked Will. "I've crossed paths with several generations of Guardians in my time," said Guts, "Especially Nerissa's group. I'm sorry that she went down the path of darkness."
"So am I," said Will, "But she's been given another chance to do something with her life." Who is this guy? Thought Will, and how old is he? He doesn't look a day over twenty.
Will then introduced Guts to her friends. When she introduced Hay Lin, a small look of shock appeared on Guts' face. "Forgive me for asking," said Guts, "But are you in any way related to Yan Lin?" "She's my grandmother," said Hay Lin, "Do you know her?" "I did," said Guts, "Is there any way I can see her?" "That can be easily arranged," said Will. She then used the Heart of Candracar to Fold back to Heatherfield.
About an hour later Will returned with Matt, Nigel and Eric, whom she apprised on the situation, as well as Hay Lin's grandmother Yan Lin. "It's not possible!" said a shocked and surprised Yan Lin as she saw Guts, "You're still young!" "And you are still beautiful," said Guts.
"Okay," said Irma, "I'm lost." "I don't mean to be rude, Grandma," said Hay Lin, "But…" "I understand," said Yan Lin, "Guts and I had a rather special relation when I was a Guardian, in fact, there was a time when he could have been your grandfather. Back before Nerissa went insane with power, I met Guts when he was about to be slaughtered by a horde of demons. Actually, he was doing all the slaughtering. By the time Kadma, Halinor, Cassidy, Nerissa and I reached Guts, nearly all the demons were dead, killed by that huge sword of his. We fought many battles against the forces of darkness together, and for a time it looked that he would settle down with me. Then one day he just up and left."
"There are times when I wish I had stayed with you," said Guts, " It pained me to leave, yet that ship sailed long ago. Besides, you would have been killed if I did stay." "I told you then that it didn't matter if you were constantly being hounded by demons," said Yan Lin, "We could have defeated them together."
"Then we would have been fighting demons almost all the time," said Guts, "What kind of life would that have been for you? I told you that I'm used to always looking over my shoulder for demons out to destroy me. Would you have been able to live that way?"
"No," said Yan Lin, "And I did needed to be reminded of that." "And are you happy with the way your life has turned out?" asked Guts. "Yes," answered Yan Lin. "Then I did the right thing by leaving," said Guts, "And that's not an easy thing for me; I'd rather fight with my sword than run away."
"I hate to interrupt the Soap Opera here," said Irma, "But I think we're ready to go save Ed and Al's world from the demons." "What are you talking about?" asked Guts. "This could take a wile," said Will, "So everyone else grab a snack."
Will then spent the next 90 minutes explaining to Guts the situation with the demons so far: How the demons first tried to kidnap the children of Metamore for a sacrifice; that the leader of the demons was Pai-Mey; how Pai-Mey later teamed up with Nerissa to destroy Candracar; and that Nerissa was working for The God Hand. "So you think this Pai-Mey is behind the current demon attacks?" asked Guts. "It looks that way," said Will.
"Griffith," said Guts to himself, "You son of a bitch, you always did prefer to have others do your dirty work." "Who's Griffith?" asked Taranee. "A man who I once called my friend," said Guts, "Now he's my enemy. When I next see him, I'll kill him just like any other demon that gets in my way."
"Didn't Phobos tell us that one of the demons that make up The God Hand was human once?" asked Cornelia. "He did," said Elyon, "A man that betrayed his friends and comrades to demonic sacrifice." "Then it appears that we share the same enemy," said Guts, "I'd be more than happy to join forces with The Guardians again."
Shortly later Will and the others were back at the Krell Gateway. Ed and Al were using the many stone tablets around the pylons to reprogram the Gateway so that it would open back to their world. "The Gateway on our world," said Ed, "Was found about two months ago when a construction crew was digging the foundations for an office building. It didn't take long to figure out the pylon's function." "After the Gateway was activated," said Al, "My brother and I, along with several Alchemists used it to explore several dimensions." "Well I'm glad you found this one," said Will.
Meanwhile Winry and Martin were examining Gut's metal left arm. "This is amazing," said Winry, "It has the same features as Auto-Mail, but no chemical power source. It's all mechanical." "It has a socket for a repeating crossbow," said Martin, "And, I don't believe it, is that a cannon?"
Guts didn't say anything, but he smiled as he pressed a small lever on his arm. His hand swung down from his wrist to reveal a large barrel built into the forearm. Attaching a lanyard to his forearm, Guts pulled on the lanyard, which fired the shot from his arm cannon. "Sweet!" exclaimed Ed, "Why can't I have a cannon in my arm?" "You don't need a built-in cannon, brother," said Al, "You can use Alchemy to make one from a pile of scrap iron." "It'd be cool if I had one," pouted Ed.
Eventually Ed and Al activated the Gateway back to their world. "I'll go first," said Ed, "So that whoever's waiting back home knows that everyone else is coming through." With that Ed stepped through the Gateway.
Winry went next, followed by Will and Matt, Taranee and Nigel, Irma and Martin then Al. Meanwhile, Guts and Yan Lin were saying goodbye, again. "It was good to see you again, Guts," said Yan Lin, "I'm sorry it didn't work out between us." "No matter what dimension I'm in," said Guts, "No matter where I go, I'll never forget you." "You won't?" asked Yan Lin. "Never," said Guts, "You're too weird to forget, in a nice way I mean." "I suppose I'm a little weird," said Yan Lin.
Guts then went through the Gateway. Cornelia and Caleb were the only ones who were left to go through. "Do me one favor," said Elyon to Cornelia, "Just come back safe and in one piece." "I always do," said Cornelia. With that she and Caleb stepped through the Gateway, which closed after them. "Be safe my friends," said Elyon.
The end of chapter 10. Next chapter we arrive in the capital of Ed and Al's home. Please review and I'll see you next time!