After watching Darkest Hour and seeing Optimus dead I actually cried and decided to write this one-shot about what happens afterwards. If you want me to continue it please say so. If you haven't watched the episode, then exit this story and watch it before reading this. Or else you'd just be confused. Hope you enjoy.


"Optimus…is dead." Ratchet said sadly. The Autobots, after a month of hiding, had finally come back together. Everyone took the news in a different way. Arcee screamed in frustration and punched a tree with all her might, putting a hole right through it. She ignored the pain as she kept punching various things. Bulkhead was constantly cursing in Cybertronian and smashed a rock with his wrecking ball. Bumblebee started crying and rambling in Cybertronian. Smokescreen sat and held his helm between his knees, unable to say anything. The humans were in shock and couldn't say or do anything. "He wanted to make sure the Decepticons were unable to trace us and he stayed behind."

"It should've been me then!" Arcee yelled. "It shouldn't have been Optimus! Smokescreen could've easily watched over Jack! Optimus was our only fragging hope! He was the last of the Primes and now look! There is no one left. The remaining Autobots who weren't there to see what really happened can be easily manipulated to think that Optimus betrayed everyone and died a coward."

"Arcee, please don't say that." Jack said as he found his voice. Arcee just looked away and began to cry. It was over now, the Decepticons won. No one understood why Arcee was taking this so hard, it was as if she thought it was her fault. "Arcee no one could have stopped it. The war isn't over as long as there are Autobots still willing to fight the cons!"

"Jack's right, Arcee. We can get through this." Smokescreen said as he walked up. Arcee shook her helm and stormed off. Smokescreen looked down at the ground. Obviously Arcee knew something they didn't. He stealthily followed her through the trees in the forest they'd met up in until she came to an opening. A ground bridge opened in front of her and Smokescreen froze as a familiar bot came through.

"Solus, we must find the hidden Prime now if the Autobots have any chance of surviving now." The mech stated. Smokescreen held back a gasp. It was him. But he called Arcee Solus so that must mean…Smokescreen jumped out of his hiding spot angrily.

"You lied to us!" He accused to Arcee. Both bots turned to face him. "You're name isn't really Arcee, you're Solus Prime! How long were you planning on hiding it from us? From Optimus? He offlined not knowing the truth! Well I want to know what the truth really is! Alpha Trion, you led us to believe you were offlined when Iacon was attacked!"

"Smokescreen calm down, you have to understand why we hid it from you." Solus said gently, though her voice still had clear depression in it. "I sent undercover by my brothers in the Thirteen to find the Prime in hiding. He doesn't know he's a Prime so it makes it that much harder to track him. That's the real reason I came to Earth, clues were given to us that he'd be here soon."

"And I did not mean for you to take my message the wrong way, it was the only way I could successfully communicate with Optimus Prime without Decepticon interference." Alpha Trion added. Smokescreen couldn't believe his audios and for a moment he thought he'd glitch.

"Come on you guys, the others need to know! This could help us survive this shift in the war." Smokescreen pleaded. Solus sighed and looked to her fellow Prime in worry. Alpha Trion merely nodded and the ground bridge he came through disappeared. Before they left Smokescreen stopped Solus. "Arcee, why did you say that it should've been you left behind?"

"Prima would not have allowed it, and would have sent me to their dimension to protect me long enough until I could return safely to find you." Solus explained. When they made it back to the others everyone gasped to see Alpha Trion behind their comrades. "Guys I have a confession to make."

"That you apparently know Alpha Trion?" Ratchet asked in disbelief. Solus gave a sheepish smile. "Arcee, what is it?"

"My name's not really Arcee…I'm actually Solus Prime." Solus admitted. Everyone fell silent, even Miko was speechless. Jack's eyes went from Solus, to Alpha Trion, to Smokescreen, and finally landed back on Solus. He couldn't believe that his guardian and partner was a Prime.

"So…Primus gave you a Matrix too?" Raf asked hesitantly. Solus frowned and shook her helm sadly. "Then how are you-"

"I was created by Primus himself." Solus blurted. The humans were even more shocked, but the Autobots already knew about the Thirteen. "I'm one of the Thirteen original Primes, the first Cybertronian to walk the face of Cybertron. I was one of the ones who brought down Unicron, along with the Fallen, our own brother. Alpha Trion is also my brother, one of the Thirteen."

"Wait, so basically you're the descendent of Primus himself?" Jack asked. Solus nodded. "Then why did you join the war? I mean, it would've saved you a lot of trouble."

"I've been sent by Prima to locate the Prime in hiding. What makes that task hard is that they have no idea that they're a Prime." Solus muttered the last part.

"Great! We find the Prime and they can lead us to victory! Right?" Bulkhead exclaimed. Solus glared at him and crossed her arms.

"Do you think this is a game Bulkhead? That I can just close my optics and instantly know who are where the Prime is?" she growled. "It's not that easy! I've been searching for them since the war began! The only clue I have is that they're on Earth right now. But I'm not sure that it's anyone here."

"Solus you've made your point." Alpha Trion sighed. "It is critical that we find the Prime before the Decepticons destroy this planet and the lives on it. This is truly the Autobots' darkest hour until we find that Prime."

"No offense, but the cons have all the relics and the advantage in numbers. How are we gonna find the bot without getting caught?" Jack asked. Solus walked up and knelt down in front of him so that they were face-to-face.

"Jack, during the Golden Age of Cybertron when the Thirteen still ruled there were many rebellions against us. For a while it seemed like we would lose control, especially after our own brother, Megatronus, betrayed us and became the Fallen, killing a few of us. But we were able to stay alive and retain the balance. If we were able to survive all of Cybertron turned against us, certainly the Autobots can too." Solus stated. She looked up at the remaining Autobots and stood.

"You few are the only hope of the Cybertronian and human race. We will need the help of everyone, including the children." Alpha Trion looked down at the humans as he said this. Miko, who had been silent during all of this, continued to stare at the ground in guilt.

"What good are we? I always snuck out and got into trouble with cons and dragged Jack and Raf into them. Because we got ourselves kidnapped the Decepticons got the Omega Keys and took over Earth and Cybertron." Miko asked. She was near tears. "Because of a stupid mistake Optimus is dead!"

"Miko," Bulkhead sighed as he picked up the crying girl. Solus felt like punching something again, she couldn't stand this war. But she looked down at her servos and almost cringed at how badly she'd wounded them. Smokescreen couldn't take it anymore and spoke up.

"Guys this is our one chance to make up for past mistakes. If we find this Prime then maybe he or she can really lead us to victory. Jack, Miko, Raf, if it weren't for you guys, I don't think the war would still be going on. We would've lost Optimus to the Decepticons if you didn't help bring back the memories. Raf's helped Ratchet with technology more times than I can count. And Miko…" Smokescreen turned to the Asian girl. "I was told by Bulkhead how many times that you've run away but always brought back some useful information. Alpha Trion's right, we can use all the help we can get."

"Hmm," Solus thought for a moment. She stared at him intently with wondering optics. He'd been wise when he said it, but his earlier words and action would contradict them. There was only one way to find out the truth, though it might freak out everyone. "Smokescreen, I need to talk to you alone."

"Uh sure Solus." Smokescreen followed her until they were out of hearing distance from the others. Before anything could be said Solus grabbed his helm and held it close to hers, glaring into his frightened optics. "S-Solus w-what are you doing?"

"My job." Was all she said before her optics shone a bright white. She watched his past like a movie before looking into his very spark. What she found confirmed her suspicions so she let go of him and backed off. Smokescreen looked completely horrified. "Don't you dare glitch on me."

"What did you do?!" he exclaimed. It reminded him of when Megatron probed his mind to find out what the Omega Keys were for. But somehow…it was different from then. But it still freaked him out and he was slightly disturbed that she would do something like that.

"Smokescreen, like I said before: don't glitch on me. But you're the one I've been searching for, you're the lost Prime. Your past and your spark are pure, much to my surprise, as that of a Prime's." Solus informed. Smokescreen was too stunned to answer. Normally he would be getting excited and proclaiming that he knew he was destined for something great but…this time it was different.

"I-I'm no Prime, Solus. I don't deserve the title!" Solus frowned and looked back to where the others were. They were desperate for someone to guide them and a hero to lead them into battle and come out victorious. They needed Smokescreen, but he denied her.

"Smokescreen, look at the others. Their lives have been torn apart because of this war, more specifically the death of Optimus Prime. They don't need me or Alpha Trion. They only need you and the hope only you can give them. If you accept the Matrix, then there is hope for us. If not, then Earth and all who live on it will perish. Smokescreen, ignore what I said to you in the past. You are an Autobot through and through. Everyone, especially Optimus, could see that." Solus turned back to Smokescreen who looked like a lost child.

"I…I'm not ready to be the leader." He sighed. Solus put a servo on his shoulder with a small smile. She expected this to happen.

"I know you're not, but you have Alpha Trion and me to help you become ready. And when you are ready, there's not a doubt in my mind that you'll lead us to victory. I'm afraid only I can fight in this war from amongst my brothers, but we will support you in every way we can. You are now the leader of the Autobots alongside me. Alpha Trion will not stay but he will visit on occasion, as well as my other brothers." Smokescreen looked away but nodded hesitantly.

"I'll try, but no promises I'll succeed." Solus smirked at his words.

"That's all I ask for."


Tada! I hoped you guys liked it!

Reviews are welcomed! :)