A/N: Hi everyone! I own none of the Transformers characters or storylines, all of those are © Hasbro and/or their respective owners. The OCs are all mine, however. This story used to be on this website, first called "Halloween" and then "The Sky's the Limit," written by RenegadeStarscream (me). I've tweaked it, polished it, and finished it. "Fun Size" has 29 chapters, and a sequel with more. (41, including the epilogue.) They both are done and done with extra done. I love reviews, and if this story receives a positive response, I'll post chapters faster for those of you who would appreciate that. I read them all because every person has something to say, not that they have to say it. But if you don't like something, I'm not looking for a hate speech. However, all feedback, positive and negative, feels fantastic to get. It's motivational and also gives me a sense of what you want to see versus what you don't.

Okay, I'm done rambling about reviews. You get it. So have fun with this. And if you all want more, don't hesitate let me know, because there's a lot more where this came from.

Pro tip: get popcorn, get the references, don't panic, yeah. I'm done. *mic drop*

Fun Size

Prologue

"Leaving so soon, Oliver?" Melanie pouted, flashing me a frown as she brushed her hair out of her eyes. But the look didn't quite work: she had a pen between her teeth and ink smudges on her cheeks from trying to click it on her jaw, except doing so on the wrong side.

"I promised a friend I'd visit, and I have a feeling he'll want me to give a lecture or two to some kids on advancements in sciences. We have the Cybertronians to thank for them, after all."

"You know that you two are practically celebrities of the nerd world." She reminded, referring to Will and I.

"A world you're a part of, you can't hide your equations from me." I simpered, tugging a book out of my bag. She threw a crumpled-up piece of paper at my head. I spun around sharply, "What was that for?"

Melanie didn't answer, but removed the pen and came closer, looking at what I was holding: a battered paperback copy of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.

"Nerd." she accused.

I let out a bark of laughter, "You've got all the geeky tees, so you're one to talk."

She leaned in further as I flipped through the pages, pretending to not have heard. "What is that?"

I didn't answer, gingerly pulling out an even more battered piece of paper. To be precise, a folded-up photograph nestled against page forty-two. I unfolded it slowly, making sure not to crinkle the scotch tape holding its tears and holes together.

Younger versions of myself and Will grinned up at me, looking as though we had just staggered off a rollercoaster. Surrounding us on both sides were a number of Cybertronians, but they were more than just giant robots. To me, they had become an extended family.

"That's sweet," Melanie smiled as I carefully folded it back up.

"It was a long time ago." I said absentmindedly, tucking it back in between the same pages.

"A lot can happen in eleven years, Oliver. Will he even remember you?" she prodded.

"I've kept in touch, don't worry." I countered, tapping the top of my bag. "It probably hasn't even felt that long to him, their life spans are far longer than ours and you have to factor general relativity into the mix."

A "just you wait" look drifted over her face. "He might not recognize you."

"That'll give them all a shock," I grinned mischievously and spread my arms wide as if addressing an audience, "The President of the Galaxy has returned–"

"No, we are not going there." She interjected, looking away while biting her lip to suppress a laugh. "I have to ask, of all the places, why keep such a nice photo wedged in a book?" she pried. "Especially that one."

I tapped the side of said book affectionately, "It serves to remind me that nothing is truly impossible, just maybe very, very improbable. And meeting as well as getting to know them–" I slid the book into my bag, then zipped it closed, "–was probably the most improbable thing that's ever happened or going to happen to me."

Melanie awarded me an offended smile, "Maybe so, but I should hope that marrying the one girl you had a crush on since forever is a close second."

I returned the look, "I'll have to think about that one."

She scowled sarcastically, "Oh, don't you just have a heart of gold."

"Ha, ha." I groaned.

"Page forty-two is a nice touch as well." She added.

I gave her a mock bow and pulled an alien device (yes, literally) out of my bag. "I should be going, or a certain giant robot will make my life h–"

"Don't have too much fun." she warned, twisting the gem of ring on her finger: a cut jewel of blue energon in a clear casing so she wouldn't get a burn from touching it.

"No promises," I gave her a light peck on the cheek and activated the device, instantly creating a swirling white-and-green portal that glowed invitingly.

"I'd love to come," she said with an air of finality, "but I'm scheduled to oversee a new asteroid redirect mission the day after tomorrow–"

"It's okay. I might bring you back a soil sample. I'm packing containers." I slapped the side of my bag.

"Ha, ha. How considerate of you."

Waving sarcastically, I strode through the ground bridge, lugging my bag and suitcase behind me.

It still took my breath away. I'd been informed that a few bots had made a room safe for humans, due to Cybertron's deadly atmosphere. Behind the glass walls, seeing Decepticons and Autobots off in the distance, sparks flying, it was almost as if nothing had changed. Almost. Though if I squinted, I could see beams being raised, everything from bridges to skyscrapers being built.

"We came so far," I breathed.

A voice made me whirl around. "Welcome, Earthling."

"Ha, ha. Long time no see." I grinned up at the mech who towered well above me.

His azure optics rolled in a dramatic circle, the glow disappearing for a split second. "Oliver, it has been awhile. You've changed so much." he said quietly, "Aged."

"On my planet, that's an insult."

A grin split his faceplates, "Oh, I know."

"And you haven't changed at all." I countered, returning the look.

"Maybe…" he mused, humming lowly, "were it not for you, I would not be here."

"Nor would I." I agreed. A moment of silence ensued, but it was a welcome one.

"I never did thank you," he said, "all these years have passed by and we've hardly exchanged a word."

"It's not your fault," I laid a hand on his pede as he knelt beside me, "life goes by fast, you said it yourself. No matter how many commas are in that number."

A sarcastic frown fell over his expression, "If memory serves, commenting on one's age is an insult."

I looked out over Cybertron, seeing the endings of its star, Hadean, setting shyly on the horizon. The silvery landscape still bore some resemblance to the pockmarked, war-torn graveyard this planet had used to be, if I could judge by what I'd heard from the other bots and Jack. Towering megalopolises were being rebuilt, the construction sparkling in the twilight. Next to them, vast metallic plains glittered, mostly barren, but certainly not lacking a foreign beauty.

"How've you been?" I finally asked, watching the silhouettes of the bots working off in the distance.

"Not so bad, though I miss Seven. He comes and goes from your planet, but I assume being an ambassador requires quite a bit of that. In our free time, we've been kept busy building a starship. It should be ready for flight within the next month. But I miss all of you," he replied softly, stretching out next to me, arms crossed behind his sleek helm. "I've been kept busy, but not with fighting. Thank the Allspark that's over with, I don't know how much more I could have taken."

"I feel for you."

Silence settled upon us like a thick blanket. The reddish starlight settled on his features, softening them and making his optics a dull violet. "Some nights I wake up screaming," he confessed quietly.

I looked up to him, biting the inside of my cheek. "I… I know the war was hard on you. If there's anything I can do…"

"No… believe me that if this is all there is, I'm grateful. It could have been a whole lot worse. As for the war, well, I wasn't exactly soft on it either." A tense, forced smile flickered across his features.

We both laughed at that, watching the star fall beneath the horizon.

"Allow me to show you something," he urged excitedly, standing now.

Curious, I followed, having to jog to keep up with his long strides. He stopped in front of the glass, and I saw that there was a door set into it. "I'm not going out there: Cybertron's atmosphere is toxic."

He cast a sideways grin at me, "A lot can happen in eleven years, Oliver." And with that, the massive door swung open. I took a huge breath and held it, terrified. He stepped through to the outside, beckoning me on. Figuring I was done for no matter where I was by now, I followed, my lungs beginning to cry for air. His grin widened and he pointed to something a few steps away from me on the ground.

I fearfully exhaled, and then greedily gulped down air. It felt cool, refreshing, even, but had a slight metallic tang to it. "What! What did you do?"

He pointed to the same spot, jabbing his finger a bit more insistently. I followed it to the ground and gasped. A little seedling of a plant, growing on a metal planet with a poisonous atmosphere stared back, fresh and green. Then again, I was breathing after all, and nothing's impossible.

"Only improbable…" I breathed.

"Mhm?"

"What? Oh, nothing."

"Earth and Cybertron are inextricably linked, as Megatron put it. He wasn't wrong. But our populations know of each other, and the very planets themselves are linked, isn't it only right to let our species commingle?" He gave me a look as I fingered the leaves of the fragile plant in disbelief.

"Genius," I breathed, "you're a genius."

"I wouldn't."

"What?" I asked, petting the green leaves.

"That's poison ivy." He said. I jumped backwards, cursing and wiping my hands fervently on the legs of my pants as he doubled over in laughter, "I'm only joking!" The smile faded, "Even though I would love to take credit, it isn't due to me. I've just been the one overseeing the terraforming of our planet."

I looked up at him, then at Hadean's tip, bleeding onto the horizon. "You have changed: for the better. And Prime was right," I smiled, "it does suit you."

We shared a smile. The stars slowly came into view, clustered between Cybertron's massive moons. The Milky Way looked different from here, its center was noticeably higher in the sky, a bit dimmer, but still a familiar sight more or less. To think that of all the little points of light were stars spattered across the sky, my home orbited one.

But after all, it wasn't really that far away.

A/N: This is technically the ending to the entire story, the first and second fics. (No spoilers for you.) So after you finish, that means you read it again and wonder where the time went. (ha) I won't leave many author's notes, so you all get to be spared of my rambling. But that doesn't mean the characters don't get to. ;)