So a couple of weeks ago, I went with my brother to see the 1986 Transformers movie in theaters. That spurred the idea for this story with the question 'How would Zane and Syrus react to this?" I'd already thought Transformers would be a great show for both brothers to love and could provide a source of brotherly bonding. This will have some SPOILERS to the movie and original series. In case anyone who cares wants to watch them. Although since the movie came out 32 years ago, I'm not sure how much I can spoil at this point. But you have been warned.

I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh! or Transformers. All credits go to Kazuki Takahashi, Hasbro, and all other parties involved.

Transformers

"Transformers! Robots in disguise! Transformers! More than meets the Eye! Autobots rage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons!"

Six-year-old Syrus Truesdale sang along with the opening of the original Transformers cartoon. His brother Zane swayed back and forth, the widest grin on his face. Every day after school, the brothers would watch Transformers: Animated and then pop in their DVDs of the original series. After almost two seasons of the original and one of Animated, the Truesdales were hooked.

"Go, Optimus!" Zane cheered on the Autobot leader.

"Beat those Decepticons!" Syrus encouraged the transforming heroes.

"YEAH!" Both boys pumped their fists into the air when the Autobots managed to save the day in the nick of time.

"Zane, Syrus, it's time for dinner," their mother called.

"Coming!" they yelled back. They frowned and turned the TV off.

"Okay, Sy, this is it," Zane said as he tore the plastic wrapping off their new copy of Transformers: the Movie. "This has gotta be the most epic movie ever made. Are you ready?"

"Yeah!" Syrus narrowed his eyes at his brother. Just because Zane was a whole eight years old didn't mean Syrus couldn't keep up. "They're gonna kick Megatron's butt!"

Zane grinned and pressed play. "Transformers! Robots in disguise! Transformer! More than meets the eye! Autobots rage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons!"

"Woah, that one's so cool!" Syrus exclaimed at the new character Hot Rod.

"Optimus is still better," Zane said. He held up his Optimus Prime toy as proof.

"But Hot Rod is almost like Bumblebee from Animated!" Syrus argued.

"Who's still not as cool as Optimus," Zane insisted. Nothing would convince him otherwise.

They leaned forward, scooting closer and closer to the edge of the couch as the battle raged on. "No, Hot Rod!" Syrus cried when the energetic Autobot was used as a shield by Megatron.

"Optimus!" Zane yelled when Megatron shot him.

They leaned close together as the battle ended, fear running through them. The battles always ended with the Autobots winning. Yes, they won, and Megatron was probably down for good, but… "Optimus?" Zane whimpered.

Tears welled in both brothers' eyes as Optimus struggled to hand the Matrix of Leadership to Ultra Magnus. Once the artifact was in his successor's hands, Optimus fell limp and turned gray.

Syrus clung to his brother as Zane hit the pause button. "Is he gone, Zane?" the younger Truesdale asked.

"I… I don't know," Zane hugged him.

"What's wrong?" Their mother walked in. Candace Truesdale tucked a lock of navy hair behind her ear as she took in her sons crying on the couch. "You two have been looking forward to this movie all week."

"They killed Optimus," Zane whimpered, hugging his toy.

"I see," Candace looked to the still image of the dark gray Prime. She knew what that character meant to her sons, especially Zane. She sat on the couch between them and pulled them close, an arm wrapped around each boy. This wasn't how she imagined having this talk with them. "I know you're sad. It's okay. It's sad when people we love die. But even though they aren't with us anymore, we can still think of all the good times we had with them. And you boys can watch all the other episodes with Optimus Prime in them and remember why you love him so much. And I'm sure that's what the other Autobots will do."

"Okay," the boys brushed tears from their eyes.

"How about this?" Candace took the remote from Zane. "Why don't I stay with you, and we finish the movie? I'm sure it will have a happy ending."

"Sure," Syrus and Zane leaned against her. She pressed play.

Unicron was certainly terrifying as it sent Galvatron after Ultra Magnus and the Autobots. Syrus smiled every time Hot Rod came into view, still loving the cocky rookie. After Ultra Magnus was reassembled, the boys started bouncing to the beat of the music as the Autobots started to win against Unicron and the remaining Decepticons.

"I told you Hot Rod would be awesome!" Syrus looked to Zane as the rookie transformed into Rodimus Prime.

"Shut up," Zane pouted and looked away, clutching his Optimus toy.

Despite losing their favorite hero, the movie did have a satisfying ending. Unicron was defeated, and the war ultimately turned in favor of the Autobots. "See, what'd I tell you?" Candace smiled at her sons. "It turned out well, and those Autobots are going to keep Optimus and the others in their hearts forever."

"Yeah," the boys smiled at her.

"Mom?" Syrus turned hopeful gray eyes on her. "Can I have a Rodimus Prime toy?"

"Transformers! Robots in disguise! Transformers! More than meets the Eye! Autobots rage their battle to destroy the evil forces of the Decepticons!"

"YES!" Zane cheered at the title of the season three finale: 'The Return of Optimus Prime.' He held his toy higher than Syrus's Rodimus. "He's coming back!"

"I'm not going to fall for it again," Syrus protested. "Remember what happened last time?"

"But this one's the title," Zane insisted. "I just know he's going to come back." He folded his Optimus into its semi-truck mode and started driving it over the arm of the couch."

"It would be cool if they teamed up," Syrus folded his Rodimus and drove it alongside Zane's toy.

"But he can't be Rodimus Prime if he gives the Matrix back to Optimus," Zane pointed out.

"Maybe they can share it?" Syrus suggested.

"Sure," Zane grinned.

They put their toys back into robot form as the Hate Plague spread through the galaxy. "Come on, guys!" Syrus pleaded the remaining Autobots.

"Yeah!" Zane pumped his fists in the air when Optimus awoke, alive and well. "Go, get them, Optimus!"

The brothers couldn't stop smiling when the Autobots triumphed again. Optimus was alive, Hot Rod was still awesome, and the Decepticons were on the run. All was right with the universe.