Optimus: well you took your time!
Jetfire: We've been waiting here for ages!
Me: Sorry! I've just had other stuff to do! Be thankful I'm getting this up now; I have a science exam on the 24th!
Jetfire: The 24th? Well what are you waiting for? Get on with the chapter and then get revising woman!
We: Wuaah! Soul Eater is just so distracting! Also, as a side note: I've changed Sir Blurr to Sir Silverbolt. It sounds more knightly and this way I can sort of have him act like Beast Wars Silverbolt! :D
The midnight blue double doors leading to the throne room swung open with that usual banging-hiss. As an after thought, Stepper snatched up Jetfire chain leash before Optimus could see otherwise. The Prime turned, then gave the two mechs an appreciative gaze.
"Well you took your time!"
"Sorry, my lord. The Songbird's armour was being difficult today." Stepper minded himself; mere servants weren't permitted to speak the name of their master's Songbird. Ever. But Jetfire insisted everyone do so when Prime wasn't looking. Optimus nodded in understanding, then walked towards them to take the leash.
"The chariot is waiting Jetfire; are you ready?" He asked, giving the chain a gentle tug to get his Songbird's attention. The white mech jolted, then nodded in acknowledgement.
"I am looking forward to seeing Kaon's palace, master." Optimus' optics gave off a smiling sparkle, then he lead Jetfire and Stepper to a door at the side of the room, coincidentally the stables. Upon entering, Jetfire engaged in his routine glaring contest with his master's favourite horse, Leader 1. He didn't hate animals, actually, he really liked them! It was just Leader 1 he couldn't stand, and the Cyber Stallion felt the same for the Songbird.
Stepper twitched, wanting nothing more than to run to the back of the stables to see Nightbeat and Incinerator. Nightbeat was his own horse; small and cute, but fast! He was really the only one the right size to ride the little mare. Incinerator was a blazing white steed that belonged to Sir Silverbolt; powerful and strong, not to mention one of the fastest Cyber Stallions on Cybertron (and rumour had it that Silverbolt named him Incinerator because his mane bursts out as flames whenever the Mustang cantered, but rumours were just rumours, right?). Incinerator had taken a particular fondness to Nightbeat, and refused to be put in any paddock if Nightbeat was not right next to him. It was quite endearing to see really.
Optimus passed a glance to Stepper, who was staring longingly down the length of the stable. With a tender smile behind his mask, he tapped Stepper's forearm gently. "Go and tend to your horse. I will call for you when we are about to leave." Stepper's optics swelled with thrilled joy; he then bowed and quite literally bolted down the length of the stable. Jetfire stared after him in amazement.
"He moves fast, for such a little bot." He muttered aloud.
"Indeed. It is most admirable; I haven't been able to run like that for centuries!" His master chuckled. He then guided the Songbird into the cart, clamping his shackles to the floor and sitting him on the soft seats.
"You know, if you trusted me, you wouldn't take such precautions." Jetfire slipped in hopefully. Optimus smiled at him.
"You are a most valuable treasure Jetfire," He said, caressing his Songbird's cheek with a large, blue servo. "How could anyone not want to steal you from me?"
Jetfire's pride swelled slightly, but his refrained from boasting needlessly. He didn't need Optimus' weird ego-fetish getting a poking right now. So he just hung his head and kept quiet.
Stepper stroked his servos down the length of Nightbeat's face, pressing the ridge of his olfactory sensor against the her soft horsey nose. "Who's a good girl?" He cooed, making her whinny happily. "That's right! You are!" He laughed kissing between her eyes softly.
"You certainly adore your horse." Stepper's flinch, Spark skipping a pulse at the deep, rippling voice. He jumped behind Nightbeat's head, for all the good it did him, peering at the tall, sky blue knight suddenly standing at the door to Incinerator's paddock. "It's very sweet to watch."
"S-sir Silverbolt! I d-didn't hear you..."
"That's because I didn't want you to. You would've stopped that adorable display just then." He opened the door, hand-brush strapped around his servo, then closed it again once inside. Stepper crept around, standing on the other side of Nightbeat so he could still see the knight. Sir Silverbolt had rescued him from a group of Decepticons, followers of the very Dictator he was going to be visiting with his master. Silverbolt had shot down every Decepticon there within a moments notice, then scooped up Stepper, placed him on Incinerator's back, then sat behind him and brought him to Iacon, to Optimus Prime. And to Hot Shot and Jetfire.
Silverbolt began grooming the long, dark grey mane that supposedly caught fire at great speeds, clicking and cooing at Incinerator to keep him still. Nightbeat leaned over, trying to see Incinerator, but Stepper was in the way. The Mustang snorted at the little blue and yellow mech, making him jump and step away so he could touch his nose to the Arab's comfortingly. 'Don't worry, I'm here.'
"Incinerator, that wasn't nice." Silverbolt scolded his stallion with a gentle smack on the steel backside. Incinerator just snorted again, actually kicking his owner in the shin plating. "Neither was that." Playfully, apparently, since Silverbolt wasn't writhing in pain.
"You seem to love your horse too." Stepper smiled shyly, stroking Nightbeat's muzzle again, peeking out around her head. Silverbolt nodded.
"He has been my trusted friend for many centuries. The day I must see him go will be a said day indeed." The knight placed his hands on his horse's muzzle, stroking it and nuzzling it tenderly. "Your brother gave you Nightbeat, correct?"
"Uh, y-yes! She was the best birthday present I ever received." He smiled, kissing Nightbeat's cheek and making her snort happily. Silverbolt smiled.
"Come your next birthday, you will be of age, correct?"
"Um... yes...?"
"Perhaps I will be able to top your brother's efforts, hm?" Stepper stared at the knight bluntly. Silverbolt chuckled; how could one mech be so stupid and so cute at the same time?
"Stepper!" Optimus called to him. "Come. We're leaving." Stepper acknowledged, then kissed his horse's head again, then bowed to the knight.
"You're off?"
"Yes, but we'll be back soon!" He smiled sweetly, then scampered off down the stable. Silverbolt leant on the door of the paddock, watching that perky blue aft bob as Stepper ran. Incinerator head-butted the knight gently.
'Pervert.'
"Shut up 'Cin."
Optimus smiled at his little servant skidding to a halt by the carriage, sparing a glance at the chained Jetfire inside, who was leaning out the window to coo at another horse; a Caspian named Comettor.
"In you go lil' bro!" Stepper looked up to see it was Hot Shot driving the carriage; his own Danish Warmblood, Jolt next to Optimus' Dutch Heavy Draft, Leader 1.
"Please don't get us killed, big brother!" Stepper teased, taking his lord's servo to help in pulling himself into the carriage.
"Sheesh, I won't!" Hot Shot pouted. He then gave the reigns a tug and clicked his glossa, and the two Cyber horses began trotting out of the stables.