A.N. First the disclaimer clears throat I do not own the Transformers. If I did own the transformers there would be far more Soundwave and far more slash. Transformers are the product of…somebody other than me. Thank you.
First I would like to thank Hellsfirescythe for betaing this for me and then I would like to thank PuraJazzBot for her livejournal challenge, which finally got the fanfiction bunnies back to their usual happy, rabid selves. The challenge was/is to write a story about the Transformers in a country outside the US and Canada, incorporating something special about the country as well. I chose Ireland. I hope you all like it and for those of you who get a bit confused there will be an explanation at the end of the fic. Have fun!
Ratchet cursed the battle-torn sky as he worked furiously on the red Lamborghini. It was bad enough the two had been separated when the Decepticons attacked, it was even worse that Sideswipe had taken the volley meant for the taciturn medic.
"What kind of slaggin' place is Heapstown Cairn anyway?" Ratchet grumped to himself. His optics surveyed the damage with a sense of hopelessness. He couldn't just wait for help to arrive, the wounds would cause him to bleed out before Skyfire or the Aerialbots could arrive, but there was also no way to perform the necessary surgery here. In anger he brought he brought his hand upon the giant pile of rocks beside him, scattering them.
"Who dares disturb the Tobar Sláine?"
Ratchet jumped at the sound and looked to see a man standing nearby, dark eyes narrowed at the Transformer. His gaze drove through Ratchet like a blast from Megatron's fusion cannon, and the medic felt fear and a strong sense of protectiveness when the human focused on the fallen form of Sideswipe. "He is injured." It was a statement, not a question. The man fixed Ratchet with his piercing gaze again "You cannot heal him?"
"No." Ratchet watched the human warily, his survival programming warning him to make sure the man did not leave his sight.
The man looked at Sideswipe once more, muttering to himself in a language that was unlike any of the other Earthen languages Ratchet had heard. The man continued for a few minutes, then seemed to make up his mind. "Remove the stones, there you shall find a place to heal him."
Ratchet raised an optic brow. "Excuse me?" Was this human insane? The only that would be under the stones was more dirt, which certainly was not be able to help with Sideswipe's wounds.
"Those of the Tuatha Dé Danann do not repeat themselves," The man's voice boomed, shaking the hazel trees surrounding the area where the three were situated. At the sound Ratchet involuntarily tensed above his patient. The man's gaze softened. "The Tobar Sláine will heal him." He offered. "On my name do I swear this to you."
Ratchet watched the human for a moment before beginning to dig at the rocks and piling them beside himself. What did he have to lose? As he dug at the rock pile the size of a two story house he wondered briefly if he had gone insane to be listening to this human.
When his hand hit something wet, his optics widened in surprise to see a giant pool had formed. The water was murky, filled with plants. Ratchet analyzed the vegetation quickly, finding it to be a combination of willow, hemp, lavender, dandelions and chickweed. The Autobot pulled his hand out and glanced at the human questioningly.
"Put him in the pool," The human offered.
Ratchet cast him a glance and considered the humans words. The man obviously knew more than he was letting on, and the medic really had no other option besides do nothing and let his patient die. Ratchet growled before dragging Sideswipe as carefully as he could into the pool. For a moment nothing happened and Ratchet turned to glare at the man accusingly. The man nodded.
"You see? He is healed." Ratchet looked back at Sideswipe and saw that indeed the red mech didn't have a scratch on him. "Dian Cécht does not lie."
"How did…?" The medic tried before turning back to the human. Dark eyes twinkled with amusement before the man turned and disappeared into the surrounding woods.
"Wait!" The Transformer cried out, getting up to take a few steps after the man.
"Ratchet!" Ratchet watched in shock as Optimus Prime strode through the trees where the man had disappeared, followed by Jazz, a worried looking Sunstreaker, Bluestreak and Windcharger. All a little worse for wear, their optics brightened considerable when they spotted the medic and his patient. Sunstreaker immediately pushed through the other Autobots and ran towards Ratchet and past him, intent on reaching his brother.
"Prime! You could have stepped on the human!" Ratchet berated his leader.
"Ratchet man, what are you talking about?" Jazz asked him worriedly. "There isn't a human for miles."
"There was one right there! The one who helped me fix Sideswipe!"
The other four Autobots glanced at each other then back at the medic.
"Okay." Jazz stated after a minute staring at Ratchet as if furbys had started crawling out of his audio receptors.
Ratchet glared at the other four then scanned the surrounding area for a heat signature. He gaped at the results before scanning again.
Nothing. Nada. Zilch.
"He was right there!"
"I'm sure he was Ratchet," Optimus said carefully watching the CMO before changing the subject. "We had better head back to the Ark quickly for repairs."
"No need we can use the pool," Ratchet frowned.
The four stared at him again before Bluestreak whispered something.
"What?" The medic asked.
"Ratchet, there is no pool."
"What in the Pit are you talking about? How do you think Sideswipe got fixed?" Ratchet snapped. At the blank stares he received he turned to look at the red warrior. Sunstreaker was gazing wide opticed at the medic, and crouched protectively over his brother on the stones that Ratchet knew he had removed. The only visible wound on Sideswipe was a dent in his helmet.
"The SLAG?!" Ratchet felt his logic centers working overtime.
Prime shared a worried look with Jazz before transforming into his alternate form. "Sunstreaker get your brother and Ratchet inside."
Sunstreaker steadily carried his brother into Prime's trailer before coming back for the still confused Ratchet. He led the medic in and got in with them. Prime revved his engine and followed the road by the stones that would lead to town according to his internal computer.
Still sharing worried glances the other three transformed as well; Bluestreak and Windcharger hurried after Prime, distressed about the health of their CMO.
Jazz paused for a minute, looking at the hazel tree grove again, then sped off, convincing himself that the soft laughter he heard was just a figment of his imagination.
A.N. That poor medic. There are certainly going to be stories going around the Ark tonight .;)
So, who knows the god that Ratchet was talking too? The answer is Dian Cécht, the Celtic god of Healing of course. Son of Dagda, father of Miach, Airmid and grandfather of Lugh, this god was one of the more important figures in Celtic life. Besides the myths of Nuada's silver hand and the killing of his son, Dian's most important role was in the second battle of Magh Tuiredh where he conjured a magical well, called the Tobar Sláine, which he filled with herbs. The well was able to heal all wounds but decapitation and guaranteed the Tuatha Dé Danann victory. The Heapstown Cairn is located near Sligo and is the largest Cairn in Ireland outside of the Boyne Valley. In mythology it was created after Ochtriallaig, a Fomorian and enemy of the Tuatha Dé Danann, filled in the well with stones to keep the other side from healing its warriors. The associated herbs of Dian Cécht are chickweed, woodsorrel and dandelions and his tree was the hazel tree. Willow, a plant that soothes and relieves physical pain, lavender, a sedative and antiseptic, and hemp which takes care of about everything were all included in the well because of their healing properties (and also because I just wanted to throw them in there.)
Anyway, thank you very much for taking the time to read my story and if it wouldn't be any trouble a review on your way out would be very appreciated.
Thanks!
TBPK