Disclaimers – I don't own Transformers only my OC's
Summary: Sparklings always mean well especially when their parents are exhausted from work and problems.
Dreams…
"They're so sad, aren't they?"
Gem looked up from her coloring at her younger sister's words. Springflame had stopped her own coloring and had been staring at the others for awhile. Sunblossom, Flamebrat, Orion, Firefly and Ironstrike stopped drawing as well and followed the femme's line of sight.
The Autobots around the base were working as they normally would, but in their optics was a weariness that worried the sparklings.
"It's been hard on them, what with working on fixing Cybertron up, worrying about the humans, keeping us safe, keeping a lookout for any threats, working on the base and whatever else that needs to be worked on." Sunblossom listed off. "And that 'secret project' they've been working on for the last month."
The others nodded. "They just seem to keep going and going, they never have fun like they use to anymore." Orion said.
Flamebrat shrugged, "What can we do? We can't make them rest or anything, they'd just say 'Later' and go right back to work."
"What they need is a….what did Aunt Starblossom call them again?" Firefly said.
His brother answered for him. "She called it a 'vacation'."
At that word, Gem's optics sparkled in excitement. "I know what to do!" She quickly go up and ran over to her Aunt's games, swiftly sorting through them. Her siblings and cousins gathered behind her, watching her look for a specific game. "Here it is!" She held up a specific game to her chest and closed her optics, making a silent wish like she did so long ago.
Right before everyone in the base offlined because of Gem's wish, the sparklings saw the name 'Super Mario Galaxy 2'.
Groaning, Optimus sluggishly woke up, feeling soft grass underneath his fingers.
'Wait a second…I don't have fingers.' The Prime opened his optics…no, his eyes. He was human once more, like he once was when Gem had a wish granted from her spark.
"Oh Primus…what the slag hit me this time?" Megatron groaned. Other groans told him that everyone else was slowly starting to wake up.
Wobbly standing up, Optimus took in his surroundings. He and the others were in a small field decorated with flowers. Near that were a few metal steps that led to a large holographic map where a beautiful human femme wearing a soft blue gown was…floating?
While he pondered that for a second, everyone else stood up as well. The sparklings, or children now, were running around in the field, their mothers and aunts watching them laughing.
"Well sweetspark, where are we now?" Sideswipe asked.
Shadowblaster laughed, "We're on the Comet Observatory. And that lady over there is Rosalina, the Princess of the Cosmos."
Hearing her name, Rosalina turned from watching the map over to her guests. She smiled when Gem ran up to her and hugged her. "Hello Gem, how have you been doing?"
"Really good Rosalina. I want you to meet my family." Gem said excitedly. The others gathered around the duo.
"It's a pleasure to finally meet you all. Gem has told me some about you, and I've learned what else she hasn't mentioned."
"Greetings Rosalina." Optimus said. "Since this is very similar to what has happened to us before, I take it, it is because of Gem that we are here?"
Rosalina nodded, a gentle smile on her face. "Yes, and I agree with her. All of you need some time to relax and have fun. So, I arranged that for you." She pointed to the map behind her and two names popped up on it. "Usually these planets can't be visited by me, usually another does but he is off doing who knows what. So I will send you there." The names 'Cosmic Cove' and 'Starshine Beach' lit up.
Behind them, a bright portal opened up. "If you go through that, you will be taken to one of the two places, wherever it feels you best need to go. Take care, have fun, and you are more than welcome to stay as long as you need to. My Lumas will be in the area should you need them." With those parting words, Rosalina faded before vanishing in a flash of light.
With a whoop of delight, the former sparklings all rushed towards the light and disappeared into it. Laughing, the adults followed behind them.
*With the sparklings*
All the sparklings found themselves on a small beach, in front of them was crystal clear water. It was so clear that they could see a cave that went under a large cliff side. Above them was an endless sea of stars and galaxies, gently swirling in an endless dance.
"Wow…where are we?" Sunblossom said quietly.
"I know this place, this is one of Aunty Shadow's favorite places in the game. We're in Cosmic Cove." Gem said grinning. "Come on guys, follow me!" She grabbed a Koopa shell that had been lying on the beach and dove into the water. She shot off suddenly, the shell somehow acting as an underwater propeller.
Laughing the others followed suit and joined her. Under the water, which was a comfortable temperature, they could see the planet almost curving as they passed over it. They guessed it was just such a small planet that they could tell that.
Passing through the cave they reached what had to be Cosmic Cove itself. The stars and galaxies shone bright in the heavens. High above them they saw floating islands with waterfalls streaming down. On the water were small island-like platforms and two towers.
"Come on guys what are you waiting for?!" Gem called, having jumped out of the water with her shell before diving in. Laughing once more, the other sparklings followed, playing water tag and floating along under the stars.
*With the Bots*
The adults found themselves all on a small planetoid, standing on a small pillar and the rest of the tiny planet made of water. Far below them, a bright sunshine filled beach lined with small cover pools and deeper waters with ruins begging to be explored awaited them.
"Uh…how are we supposed to get down there?" Starscream asked.
"YIPPEE!"
Everyone jumped when Shadow raced passed them in a long jump, landing in the water and swimming to the other side of the tiny planet. Suddenly a water spout shot off, the femme at the lead and landed right on the edge of the beach down below them. "What are you waiting for guys!" She called up to them.
Smirking, her mates followed suit, the others right behind them. On the other side they found a large golden star, when they got near it shot them like they were cannon balls, fountains of water spraying around them.
Shadow was already long gone, having found a Yoshi and a strange pepper that made it literally run across the water at break neck speeds. Laughing, everyone spread out to do their own thing.
Unaware of the eyes watching them, glinting with malice.
*Back with the sparklings*
Gem and the others were now ice skating across the once warm waters of the cove. Springflame had found the switch that froze the top of the water, underneath they could still see fish swimming around.
"This is so much fun! We have to…what is that?" Orion said, tilting his head.
The others stopped and watched what seem to be 3 gold dots racing at them. As they got closer, they saw that they were Lumas. They started to float around the sparklings, anxiousness on their frowning faces.
"What's wrong?" Gem asked. The Luma merely chirped at her and turned into a Launch Star. "I think it wants us to go somewhere, let's go guys."
One by one they jumped into the Star, launching them into the galaxies they were admiring earlier. They eventually passed through a bright light, then saw that the Comet Observatory in front of them. Landing on the dais, Gem realized she was a Cybertronian again, as were the other sparklings.
"What's wrong Rosalina? Is it time to go?"
The Princess turned from watching something on the holoscreen, her visible eye filled with worry and sadness. "I'm afraid something has happened Gem. Your parents and the other Autobots are missing. Look." A video played on the screen, showing Starshine Beach, though it wasn't as pristine as it once was, it almost looks like a battlefield. "My Luma recorded this for me, they arrived after your family did as they were delayed by something and wasn't able to watch them as closely as I hoped."
"Who did this?" Flamebrat asked.
"My guess is, Bowser. Goombas were seen in the area as well, and the scorch marks are those of the Koopa King. I believe he wants revenge for all his losses before." Rosalina replied, staring off into the stars. "Yes….I sense him. He has your family. They are unharmed right now, and have been returned to their true forms as well."
Gem smirked. "What are we waiting for, let's go kick his shell and get our family back."
*With Bowser*
"LET US GO!" Megatron roared.
He and the others were knocked out by Paratroopas dive-bombing them while they were on the beach. Next thing they knew, they were inside some dark dungeon, in the Cybertronian forms once more, chained to the walls. All their weapons were either taken or offlined and not even Ironhide could break the chains holding them.
"Oh, I think not." A gravelly voice echoed in the dungeon.
All the Autobots froze at it, glaring out of the cell they were in. A pair of fiery red-orange eyes glowed from the darkness. When they first saw them, Shadow quickly identified them as Bowser's, but the Koopa King refused to step into the light where they could see them.
"You all are the perfect bait for that brat." Bowser continued. "And this time, no games, no chances. She will PAY." Laughing, he left the Bots to struggle in vain once more.
"I'm worried Optimus, the sparklings are out there, all alone." Star said softly.
Optimus reached over to touch her servo, thankful that they were close enough to do so. "Don't worry dearspark. I know they'll be ok."
While Optimus and Star were talking, Sunstreaker looked over at his thoughtful mate. "Penny for your thoughts Shadow? What's up?"
"I'm not sure, there's just something…off about Bowser. There's no doubt it's him, but there's just something…"
*With the sparklings*
Thanks to Rosalina's help, the sparklings made it quickly to Bowser's castle, or fortress as the case was. While the Cosmic Princess distracted Bowser by turning her home into a type of war ship, Gem and the others snuck inside through a cracked wall.
Inside was pandemonium, troops running all over the place in chaos, trying to figure out what to do against the attack. Which provided the perfect cover for the sparklings to sneak past without being spotted.
"Ok guys, let's get to the dungeons, that has to be where they're being kept. We free them, then we all kick Bowser's aft." Gem whispered as they made their way down the stairs. Torches of blue fire lit their way down.
After what seemed like an eternity, they finally reached the bottom. Inside the large cells were their family, chained to the wall and all unconscious.
"Oh Primus…do you think they're ok?" Ironstrike asked, staring at his creators.
"I think so, it looks like they've been knocked out." Gem said. "Alright guys, let's get them out of there before-"
"Before what."
The sparklings froze at the deep voice. Turning around, they saw molten red-orange eyes staring at the from the darkness. Gem glared and muttered, "Bowser. What did you do to them?!"
The King of Koopas laughed, sending a chill down their spines. "Oh nothing much, they were being annoying, so I had them take a little nap. Hopefully they'll wake up soon, to see me destroy you wretched sparkling."
Out of the corner of her optic, she saw Firefly, Sunblossom and her two brothers edging toward the cages to open them, while Springflame and Ironstrike flanked her. "Why are you in the darkness Bowser. Come out."
He chuckled darkly before stepping towards them, steps thundering slightly in the stillness. The Bots woke up from what happened to them, just in time for everyone to see Bowser, or what was left of him.
The thing in front of them was once Bowser, but now all that was left was a skeleton towering over them, no less dangerous or deadly than Bowser was when he was alive. His eyes glowed in their sockets like fire.
"Dry Bowser…" Shadow murmured, optics wide.
"I see you know what I've become. This is thanks to the last 'meeting' I had with this brat here." Dry Bowser pointed at Gem, "Along with those blasted plumbers and hedgehogs. Seems that falling as many times into lava has I have as taken its toll, along with granting me a gift." Dry Bowser stepped closer. "And now, I'll get rid of you, then those Mario Brothers, then I shall finally take over this wretched Kingdom!"
Dry Bowser roared, shaking everything. Boulders started to fall from the ceiling, crashing into the ground and showing a sea of lave underneath of them. Ironstrike and Springflame were separated from Gem who was thrown onto a platform with the undead Koopa. They were tossed near their siblings who had finally gotten the door open.
While they all tried to unlock the chains, Gem faced off again Dry Bowser. He was playing for keeps this time, launching off huge fireballs of blue flames, exploding on impact. It was all she could do was dodge them with some impressive aerobatics, bouncing off the walls, ceiling, pieces of ruble still falling around them.
"Dang, how can we help her?" Sunblossom asked. They had given up trying to free the Bots, whatever Dry Bowser used to bind the chains was permanent, it would only end when Dry Bowser was beaten.
"I don't know…wait I've got it!" Springflame said before jumping off the platform. The others saw her flipping around underneath of them.
Orion watched confused. "Where the heck is she going?"
"To even the odds. Come on guys, we gotta help Gem and buy Spring some time." Ironstrike said. He then jumped off the platform he was on, landed on Dry Bowser's head and dazed him. The other sparklings got the hint and jumped down too.
With multiple targets and distractions this time, the undead Koopa couldn't focus as much as he was. Whenever he would aim at one sparkling, another would crash into him and daze him again.
"RRAAARRR! WOULD YOU JUST HOLD STILL YOU BLASTED KIDS!" Dry Bowser roared, patience finally snapping.
Gem, having seen something, smirked and jumped backwards, the others right behind her. "Ok tough guy, give us your best shot."
Dry Bowser sneered, white fangs glowing with the blue fire he was about to unleash. "With pleasure." Just has he was about to fire, the floor from under him gave way, dragging him into the lava pit below. From behind where the platform once was, was Springflame standing on a large button.
"You'd think he would have learned by now to not put those buttons in the area." She snarked, before flipping up.
The chains were broken, the Autobots were freed. "I gotta agree with you on that." Shadow said, holding Sunblossom with her mates. "Never understood why he always put that in there."
"Maybe he just likes getting his aft kicked sis." Starblossom said.
Everyone laughed, holding and hugging the sparklings. "You saved us all little ones. You are heroes." Optimus said, nuzzling Gem. "Well everyone, time for us to go home." Just then a bright portal opened behind them. "Ah, our ticket home."
"Actually, I think I might stick around. Always wanted to see the Mushroom Kingdom, I might take a drive-" Shadow started but didn't get much further when Mirage tackled her
"Oh no you don't. You are not going to terrorize the poor denizens of this world with your driving." Mirage said, throwing the other over his shoulder and walking towards the portal.
"Oh come on! I'm not that bad! Mirage! Sides, Sunny, a little help here?"
"Sorry sweetspark, what the guardian says, goes. No driving around the Mushroom Kingdom and scaring the slag out of the poor unsuspecting townsfolk." Sunstreaker said, smirking. Shadow just huffed and pouted.
"Aunty Shadow just can't catch a break can she?" Gem said, the other sparklings nodded sagely.
"Well when your aunt can't drive a straight course and not nearly hit every object, Bot and invisible nonexistent thing in the area, yeah we're not going to let her drive in a new area." Sides said, snickering.
"I think Mirage was on to something when he suggested that she be a bumper car." Star said innocently.
"STAR! THAT'S NOT FUNNY!"
"I beg to differ dear sister!"
Everyone just howled in laughter, walking through the portal. High above them, Rosalina laughed as well, before making the Comet Observatory sail through the universe once more.