Spring on Cybertron, as many other organic beings would call it, was the most beautiful time of year all across the planet. Besides the festival city of Six Lasers being almost blindingly bright, Drain Deer howled in the night, their soothing songs bringing even the most troubled sleeper content recharge. The many Voltai scampered about, their biolights light up even the darkest of corners.
Not only where the sights and creatures cheerier than usual- the beings of Cybertron where much more jolly in the spring than during any other season,
The weather on Cybertron did not change much, and the Princess was grateful for that fact. Summertime, though, was a time of radioactive storms and electric surges all across the planet, especially in the wasteland cities. Kaon, Polyhex, Yuss, and Tarn's populations decreased steadily when the season changed, as many mechs and femmes moved to other dwellings in Iacon or the other Bright Cities.
Bots of all sub-races and classes came to Iaocon, and Airachnid gave an inward wince, there had been too many reports of rape last spring, and the Princess hoped that her father, being King and all, would work harder to stop both mechs and femmes from forcing and being forced into intercourse, as it usually ended in the victim being killed. It was the one factor of living in Iaocon that was a negative, almost everything else about the city was perfect in every way. Airachnid was positive, though, that her brother, Turantulas would try harder to fix that problem when he was king. It is doubtful, though, considering he's forced himself upon others in a similar way.
Airachnid shook her helm, clearing her processor.
A princess must have a clear head. Airachnid told herself, in the strong, brave voice her mother always used when addressing any mech or femme below her, which was most everyone. The Queen was a femme of a hard stature, and Airachnid longed to be the reincarnation of her mother. Lady Flamewar, the Mistress of Law always said that if she wanted to be like her mother, Airachnid had to just simply believe in herself. Though her brother Turantulas always snickered and sneered whenever the topic of future goals for the young Princess, saying that she would be nothing but the wife of some high-ranking Lord's son.
After those types of conversations, though, The Queen would smile and lean down to whisper to her daughter "The Queens are the true ruler, my sweetling. And you shall be that true ruler."
A sigh slipped past her lips and she mouthed a few ancient words of peace Grand Maester Orion had taught her during their many nights spent studying. Spring was here, and there was no need to worry, yet Airachnid knew all there was to do was worry. What else was she to do? All she could do was ask Lady Flamewar about the happenings of the council meetings, to which the Mistress of Law would answer 'Nothing new, my sweet' and then continuously change the subject.
It infuriated her to the highest level. After all this talk about how she would be Queen one day, not a soul would speak to her about this infamous "rebellion" going on near the wasteland cities. If only I was born a mech. Then they would be required to tell me. I could wear a sword on my hip and kill whoever stood in my way. She balled her fists, and stared hatefully into her mirror, examining her own, feminine armor. Although all Cybertrons wore armor, only mechs wore armor truly fit for battle. Female armor was made to show off the latest fashions, and Airachnid couldn't help but stare longing at her own hip, where, if she only had the grace of the opposite sex, a weapon of death would have lay.
The lining in her golden armor matched the halls of the Gold Keep, and Airachnid gazed more thoughtfully into the mirror. Her head-crest was delicately made, with lines of gold alloy twirling across the surface of the obsidian inner plating. The skirt she wore was a soft lavender, just a hue lighter than her optics, and it all made her facial features stand out. Purple optics glowed faintly, and her ebony optic ridges were perfectly curved in a similar fashion of the tips of her head-crest.
Gently the Princess rubbed the tip of her elbow, trying to ease her restless processor, when there was a sudden knock at the door.
"Princess?" Lady Firestar's, the Red Fury's voice rang out into her room.
"Whoever it is, send them in, Firestar." Airachnid replied, voice meek but polite.
When Lady Flamewar and the Queen entered, Airachnid smiled softly and moved to greet them. The Mistress of Law stared into the flames hungrily, unbeknownst to the Queen. Over the years of knowing the femme, Airachnid had found she had a strange obsession with fire, and burning those who broke the law to the highest extreme. Besides the fact that almost every piece of clothing she wore bore the sigil of her House, bright flames clawing at the body of a cybertronian, Flamewar was anything but recognized as an actual member of House Alystar. House Alystar was an old, humble house, at least that's what she learned from Grand Maester Orion during their many study sessions. The first Lord Alystar had been a pyromancer for one of the ancient Predator Kings, and was raised by that same king
It was rather intimidating, if Airachnid had to be truthful. The flames seemed to move in the firelight, and the young Princess could barely comprehend the terror that she must strike into the criminals she tried every day.
On the complete opposite of the spectrum, though, Queen Elita bore similar resemblance to the many maidens she read about in her stories. Her optics shown a bright blue and her outfit was as pink as pink could be. White accents adorned her armor and gold lining traced over her hips. Airachnid had been too busy admiring her mother's dress to notice that the pink Queen was speaking.
"How are you today, sweetling? Is everything alright?" Her mother asked, kissing her lightly on the forehead, the Queen letting her arms rest softly against her own.
The warm beating of her mother's spark beside her own gave the young princess comfort, and she let out a breath she did not know she'd been holding. Against her better judgement, Airachnid gave her mother a tight, almost scared smile. If this was her most trusted family member in all of House One and in all of House Tibeerus, then why was she lying to her own blood? To the femme who carried her small form to the Well of Allsparks until it was her naming day. To the femme who had risked both Airachnid's life and her own so that the Princess could enter the world.
Why? How could she lie to her?
On the other hand, though, who could she trust? Why should she trust anyone? No one. Trust no one. She thought savagely. Turantulas has taught me this at least.
"I am well, mother, I am sure that you are doing well, what with the young Prince waiting away inside you." Another forced smile came into play.
Her mother seemed to believe the act for now, but Flamewar was not impressed. Her molten optics stared into Airachnid's, sending a shiver down her spinal column.
"Ha, yes, my sweetling. Your brother is quickly growing, and I fear soon Flamewatch and Ivory will have even less time in their busy day as I sit in my berth complaining." The room shared a a laugh, even the two aforementioned bedmaids. All but Firestar smiled. The firey femme was busy staring out into the hallway, looking rather intimidating in bright red-and-orange armor.
"Do you know when my newest sibling shall be coming to join us? I am sure he will not remain in there forever, correct?" The princess asked once more, in perfect courtesy.
The Queen's eyes seemed to lower and dim, and Airachnid wondered if her mother was displeased with the fact of having three children instead of only two. Of course it grew less and less rowdy every cycle as the Prince and Princess grew into the roles that were destined for them their entire lives.
"Ah, my sweet Airachnid, I truly loathe the day." Several strange looks met the Queens gentle blue optics. "Not entirely, of course, but I fear telling my brothers. Lord Sunstreaker and Lord Sideswipe surely do know how to throw an exceptional party.
The Princess had only been to one of her Uncles' magnificent parties and it had truly been outstanding, but after Turantulas had taken the maidenhood of a random young femme, Queen Elita had declared that until they were both a femme and mech of proper age, they would go to no more festivities at Light's Keep.
All she cared to remembered where bright lights and loud music from all around her. Airachnid felt dizzy at the thought of it. Bright lights, loud music, and High Grade were not a good combination for the Princess.
"That is true, mother, Uncle Sunstreaker and Uncle Sideswipe are sure to be remembered for the exceptional festivities they provided during their lifetimes." Another short, awkward laugh filled the air.
"It is, my sweet. But, I must have my leave now. I pray I have not preoccupied your plans by much? Ser Smokescreen said he was taking you on a tour of the newest addition to the Hanging Gardens?" Queen Elita stood, smiling softly down at her daughter and then turning to the other femmes who filled the room.
Trust no one. All but mother are you enemies. "Yes, of course mother." The rather happy thought of spending time with Ser Smokescreen of the Kingsguard brought a genuine smile to her face. The young knight enjoyed spending time with both the Prince and Princess. Taking walks and riding were just two of her favorite activities to do with the young Ser.
"Really? I trust that you will be safe with him. You must go speak to Grand Maester Orion about the Hanging Gardens, I remember a special tale he once told to your brothe-"
"I know it mother, I have read plenty on it. It was where every Predator King was born." Airachnid interrupted, bowing her head to her mother.
A pained smile fell across the Queen's lips, looking down at the mirroring floor and then back up at her daughter. "Of course you do, my smart girl. I wish you good fun."
And then she left.
After Flamewatch, Ivory, the Queen, and her own bedmaids had left to perform one of their many duties, only the Mistress of Law remained.
After what seemed like vorns of silence, the brightly-painted femme spoke up. "My sweet Princess, you remembered what we spoke about earlier?" An optic ridge was raised by both.
"Of course I do, Lady Flamewar." Again in perfect courtesy, a hint of annoyance plucked at her voice.
"And?"
"What do you mean, Lady Flamewar?" Airachnid held back a hiss.
"Do not play the damsel, sweetling. What did I tell you? I wish to hear it spoken from your own lips."
"You said I shall have my day."
"And you shall, my sweet, sooner than you've ever imagined."
"Wondrous, my Lady. I shall await it."
Once the Mistress of Law departed, the Princess was alone for not even a cycle before the gleaming young Ser Smokescreen arrived at her chamber doors with a Bioflau in hand. The dark red biolight chippings that floated just a bit over it's metallic stem gave off a pale light that reflected off his gleaming white armor. A grin was on his face, the stupid kind, mad with love, all for her. Her one indulgence, the only lie she had ever kept from her family, and that made every moment of being near him absolutely spectacular. Her spark thumped as she returned the silly grin, optics brightening to a pale pink, and her faceplates heated when the young knight place a kiss on her servos.
"How has m'Lady been lately?" He asked, quite boisterously, but leaned closer after a moment, and spoke again. "Has she missed her gallant young knight?"
Airachnid gasped and hit him in the chest for that comment, but she leaned forward to wrap her thin arms around his torso. "She has. Very much."
The two shared a laugh, Ser Smokescreen moving to rest his servos on her hips as they shared the presence of each other's spark-beats. There was no other feeling quite like hearing his beating spark beside her own, and eventually the steady thumping synchronized and the two let out a sigh of enjoyment.
"We are supposed to be out walking, my gallant knight."
"Yes, well." He cleared his throat awkwardly and shifted momentarily.
"That was not a request for you to let go of me, good Ser." Smokescreen shook his head, laughing, and offered her his arm instead.
"Well then, the gardens await, I heard that the Voltai are let loose during the day to roam. There are even Kaonite Coppers, your favorite." He winked at her, grinning once more like the fool he was.
"Interesting, then. I do remembering spying a Vossian Vivid on my last visit with Ser Thundercracker." She stated as they began to walk, arm-in-arm.
"Oh? So you are cheating on me with the Winged Knight, eh? Well then, We'll just have to see about that, my sweet Princess." Smokescreen gave a soft tut-tut and shook his finger at her.
"Of shush yourself, or shall I call you the jealous knight instead of the gallant one? I'm positive the Winged Knight would not be as jealous, he does have Lady Lyzak to keep him company." Airachnid was fond of the green Seeker, and lady-wife to the Winged Knight. She was quiet and shy, yet got people's attention with simply a call. She was easy to talk to, and fun to listen to.
"Lyzak? Aye, I couldn't tell you how many sparklings were spawned from her, all of House Crystos. Wing's sure does have a way with femmes."
Airachnid shook her head, and met his eyes for a moment, there optics locked but there feet continued to move. The young knight ginned at her, his back-wings twitching in delight. They were an odd appendage, that was for sure, and like Ser Thundercracker's Wings, they twitched when he experienced a spike of any emotion. Airachnid was puzzled in this, of course, all Praxians had the odd, practically useless appendages strutting out from their backs, any and all books she had read on them had told her nothing more than she already knew. The princess washed her eyes over his lean, gleaming white armor, and ended on the energon blade that rested diligently on his hip.
"I shall call it Sparkache, for that is what I feel every time I must use it. The only time an ache does not fill me as I swing this blade is when I am protecting you, my sweet Princess, and I am not afraid to say it will remain that way forever." The memory of his proclamation of love for her warmed her entire body, and she squeezed his arm tighter, a thin-lipped smile forming. She couldn't help herself from smiling in his presence, he alway seemed to bring her joy, and carry and bubbly air about him.
Her servos played aimlessly with the Bioflau, her thoughts wandering as they walked towards their destination.
