The Medic and the Lion

by Prime10

After witnessing his father's death in a war he wasn't supposed to see, Prince Leo of Heroville runs away and ends up in Jasper, Nevada where another war between two armies of giant robots is going on. This is the story of how Leo met Ratchet and his friends, thus becoming a true friend and ally to Team Prime. Disclaimer: I don't own TFP.

2. Chapter 2

Chapter 2: Knowing the human world/Bonding friends

"Leo, calm down. This is Special Agent Fowler, he won't hurt you." Ratchet told me, only I shook my head quickly, "No, keep him away from me!"

Agent Fowler backtracked a bit, "Do you mind explaining why there is a lion cub in your base."

Ratchet didn't know how to explain why I was here, "I found him out in the desert. He is an orphan." Fowler looked at me, I was still hiding my face in my paws. "Leo, is it? Look, it seems like you had a bad history with humans, but I can assure you, not every human hunts animals for fun." I looked out from behind my paws, "How do you know it was hunters I dealt with?"

"This world has people who kill animals in the wild too." Fowler told me, I hesitated and climbed off Ratchet's shoulder and walked over to the human. "How can I trust you?"

Agent Fowler knelt down to my level, "Because I never hunted an animal or harmed one."

I backed away, "No, I was always told humans are nothing but killers of animals. They don't think animal lives are as valued as theirs."

"Whoever told you that wasn't telling you everything about humans. Not all of them are that heartless to kill animals."

I looked up at the human, "You're doubting my father's words? He pretty much did tell me everything about humans."

Fowler sighed, "Come here, Leo, I'll teach you about the human world."

I looked over at Ratchet, "It's alright Leo, go on." I hesitated again, but followed Agent Fowler over to the couch area and he took a little device that turned on the box like thing with the antennas on it. I was pretty impressed by this, we didn't have this in Heroville, we only had fight clubs, the yearly Grebe Dance, stargazing, and many other things for entertainment. "What is this?" I asked seeing the people on the colorful screen talking, "It's a TV, Leo. For entertaining us humans." Fowler told me. I got a little closer to the TV and pawed at the screen. Agent Fowler smiled at my curiosity, he got a lion cub to start liking TV. "What else is there?" I asked. "How about you tell me about you, I still don't know why a lion cub would be here in Jasper, Nevada." Fowler said. I turned to face him, "You want my life story? Alright. Well, I from a world called Heroville that is separated from your world, I'm the heir to the throne and the next Super Lion." I started, Fowler stopped me, "Wait, you're a Prince? Then, that would mean you'll be a king."

I nodded, "Yes, I am royalty, but I'm exiled. The fifth war for Heroville took my father's life, and the humans were the ones who started it..." I rose a paw to my face and started crying. Fowler saw this and went over to me. "Leo, it's ok, you'll forget about the war. I've seen war too and it's not a thing for anyone to see, especially a kid like you." He wrapped his arms around me, I've never been hugged by a human. It felt nice. I nuzzled him while purring. "Thank you."

Fowler petted my head, "No problem." He stood up, "I'll see you again soon."

Once he was gone, I couldn't believe what I just did. I have made friends with a human. If my father was still alive, he would have my fur if he ever saw me with a human. "Leo."

I turned to look at Ratchet, "Are you alright?"

I nodded, "Yeah, I'm fine." I took my backpack and headed down the platform stairs and down the hallway to do a little training session.

Later that day, Optimus heard something in the training room and went to see what it was. To his surprise, he saw me standing in the middle of the room, blindfolded and holding a small blade. I suddenly started floating off the floor then rise up and throw the blade at a target, my ears twitch at the sound of footsteps coming into the room, landing on the floor on my hind paws and taking the blindfold off, I saw Optimus standing by the doorway of the room. The Prime looked surprised by something.

"What? I was born with powers that were from my father." I said.

"I see. What are you training for?" Optimus asked.

"For when I avenge my father."

Optimus eyed the target, then looked down at me. "You have a good aim."

I rubbed the back of my neck sheepishly, "Thanks. I've been training with my father to become the next great hero of my homeland."

"What do you mean by next?" Optimus asked.

"My father was Super Lion before me and his father before him, he passed down powers to me and my brother…." I trailed off at the last word, "After he was killed one day, my father gave the future of Super Lion to me and of course future king too."

Optimus gave a sad look, "You had a brother once?"

I nodded, "Yes, and he died five months ago." I looked up at Optimus, "What about you and Megatron? Weren't you guys like brothers?" Optimus nodded, "We were. But that was a long time ago." I scoffed, "Oh, come on, I'm sure Megatron still has some good in his heart left."

"Spark," Optimus corrected, "we call it a spark."

"Right." I say. "Anyway, I'm sure if your former friend digs down deep enough, he'll find that you and him are still brothers."

"I wish that were true Leo, but Megatron has gone down the path of destruction for too long. It's too late to change him." Optimus replied making me scoff again, "Hey, it was a suggestion."

Optimus kneeled down and allowed me to get onto his hand, "Perhaps you should suggest that for the human responsible for taking your father's life."

I rolled my eyes, "No, I don't think that'll work and like you said, once someone goes down the path of destruction, it's too late. Besides, Charles has killed a ton of animals over the years, so you can't reverse that."

"Agreed." Optimus replied.

After talking with Optimus, I went to find Bumblebee or Bulkhead. Hopefully to know more about them and they can know more about me. I was able to find Bumblebee in his quarters. "Hey, Bee," I said knocking on the large metal door to get the scout's attention, "Mind if I come in?"

"No, not at all." Bee buzzed, "How can you understand me by the way?"

"I just have a thing for understanding how people talk differently." I say as I walked in the room, "I can tell what your saying by your facial expressions."

Bee helped me onto his berth, "Well, I can't see how that's possible."

"I know, I can't really see it either." I said, leaning against Bee's leg, "And I wanted to ask, what happened to your voice?" Bumblebee looked away, "You don't have to tell too much. Look, if you tell me, then I'll tell you something that happened in my past." I said quickly, Bee looked down at me, "It was during the war, I was scouting in Tyger Pax and the 'Cons ambushed me. I was questioned by Megatron about the location of our base, I refused to tell him and he crushed my voice box with his bare hands."

I gasped, "He just crushed it? Just like that?"

"Yeah. And Ratchet tried his best to repair it, and that's how I can communicate like this." Bee explained. "Oh, my gosh, I'm sorry." I said. Bee shook his head, "Don't worry about it."

"That's like a lion losing the most loudest sound he could make; roaring."

"Roaring?" Bee questioned. "It's the sound lions make to make enemies stay away or to warn others of danger." I replied. "Can you roar yet?" Bee asked. "No," I say, shaking my head, "I can't roar until I'm two years old." I climbed up onto the scout's leg, "But don't let your missing voice get to you."

"Now, you tell me something that happened in your life, I bet it's not war related." Bee tells me, I sighed "I already said that both my parents are dead, but I didn't want to say anything because it's too painful. But, I'll only tell you once. In my homeland, a war happened. It went on for five long months, my kind against humans and I couldn't bear to lose my father, so I went into the war zone."

Bumblebee cut me off, "Wait, you went into the battle field?"

"I had to. My father risked his life out there." I said in a rough tone, "Anyway, I saved my father from the hunter leader who tried to kill him, but my father made a deal with the hunter, let me live and kill him. So, the hunter agreed and killed my father right in front of me."

"And that's how you came here?" Bee asked, I nodded, while slowly clenching my paws into fists, "I should have done something, instead I let him get killed." Bee gently ran two fingers down my back, "I feel you Leo, no one should ever go through that as young as you."

My ears pinned down against my head, along with a few tears that fell down my face, "I know. You seem pretty young too, to be in a war."

Bumblebee picked me up and hugged me against his chest, "I guess we're both on the same page."

"Thanks, Bee." I said as the scout let me go, "No problem, Leo."

I then jumped off the berth and went to find Bulkhead. Walking down the hall, I didn't see the green mech anywhere yet. I looked in the training room, he wasn't there nor was he in the main room. I didn't think to look for his quarters, so I went back down the hallway. As I walked down the long corridor, an open door to a room got my attention and I backtracked seeing Bulkhead drinking a light blue liquid out of a cube like container. I slowly walked in until I stopped next to the green mech's foot. "What is that?" I asked. Bulkhead looked down, seeing me waving up to him. "Oh, hey. Leo, right?" He asked, I nodded. pointing to the cube in front of him, "What is that?"

Bulkhead looked at the cube then back at me, "It's Energon. Our lifeblood and fuel."

"How do you get it?" I ask.

"Energon mines, there are a lot of them on this planet." Bulkhead tells me. "Oh, so it's like mining for crystals and then harvesting them?" I ask. "Uh…Yeah, it is like that. How do you…"

"Oh there is a crystal quartz mine in Heroville. Every year they are mined, harvested and then sold throughout the land to whoever needs it. It also powers this," I held up my late father's power watch. "It's the reason how I got here. It's like a mini ground bridge, only I can travel between worlds."

"What happened to your Dad?" Bulkhead asked suddenly, making me tense and ball my fists again. "He died in war." I say in a low tone. Bulkhead gasped slightly, "How old are you?"

"Fifteen months." I reply. "That's not right for a kid like you to see a war." I hear Bulkhead say, "Why was there a war?" I sighed, "I'm not entirely sure, but for all I know, the hunters in Heroville are jealous of what us lions and other animals have; freedom and rights. While they have rules to follow by my kind who rule the land, well, the king does."

Bulkhead puts two and two together, "So, your Dad was the king of where you come from. If you don't mind me asking what is a king?"

"It's someone who rules over a land." I replied. Bulkhead nodded, "Your Dad was a king and that makes you a…"

"A Prince." I finished.

"Well then, Prince Leo I presume," Bulkhead says, bowing his head a bit, making me laugh a bit.

"You know, you kinda remind me of an animal back home." I point out. Bulkhead gives me a confused look, "What do I remind you of."

"The biggest, one of the strongest land animals in the world; the elephant." I said. "I actually have an elephant friend back in Heroville, and I know that elephants and lions are enemies. But as a prince, I made it work."

(Flashback: Heroville-five months ago)

"Wait up, Leo! You know I can't run fast!" I hear Ellie call after me and I slow down for my elephant friend. The young calf slows down and nearly collapses in her tracks. I chuckle at this, "Come on, Ellie, you have to catch up."

Ellie frowned at me, "I don't have super speed like you, Leo."

Ellie was part of the elephant herd that roamed the grasslands of Heroville, she and I were friends since we met at five months old and some think it was weird to see a lion and elephant as friends, but I was a Prince and loved by most animals around. "Wanna play hide and seek?" Ellie asks, I nodded and started counting to ten. Ellie quickly goes to hide while I counted.

Once I got to ten, I went to find my friend.

"Ellie, where are you!" I called, hearing faint giggling not too far ahead. Going over to a patch of bushes, I saw a thin tail sticking out, I laughed, then yelled, "Gotcha!"

Ellie came out of her hiding spot, "No fair, you cheated." I smiled, "Hey, they don't call me the Master of Seeking for nothing." Ellie huffed, "At least I don't cheat at in a game of who's stronger."

"Alright, fine I guess I can't outweigh you, yet." I say crossing my arms.

"Oh, yeah?" Ellie teased, then playfully tackled me,"Says the Prince with super strength."

I giggled as Ellie held me upside down by my hind leg with her trunk,"I won't use it this time."

"Right," Ellie says in a sarcastic tone. "Come on, let's go to the Oval Lake."

She put me down and we both walked over.

The elephant calf jumped in the water and splashed around, "Come in Leo, the water's fine."

I stood where I was, "I don't know, I'm not really a fan of water."

Ellie sprayed me with water from her trunk, "Come on! Don't be a scaredy cat!"

I shook myself of the water, "Ok fine, geez." I walk over slowly, dipping one hind paw in, "Come on!" Ellie, pulled me in the water, startling me. "Ellie, let go!" I exclaimed before she let me go. I sat up, spitting a stream of water from my mouth, my ears were looking floppy. Ellie giggled, "You look like a hunting dog puppy."

I smirked, then started slashing at my friend who splashed back.

We played for a while until a voice from not too far away called, Ellie and I looked up to see Cornelius, Ellie's father. "Ellie, time to go." he said, "Ok, Dad." Ellie said climbing out of the water, then pulled me in for a hug with her trunk, "Bye, Leo."

She let me go and went off with her father, but not before the bull elephant turned to me, "Good day, Prince Leo." He said bowing a bit then leaving with his daughter. I waved goodbye before hearing my own father calling me.

(Back to Present)

"Do you think you'll see her again?" Bulkhead asked, taking me out of my trance, "I don't know, I hadn't seen her since the war happened."

Bulkhead smiled at me, "I think you might." He gently petted my head with a finger while I purred. "And you said you have super strength?"

I nodded, "Why?"

"I'm just curious."

"Ok...then." I said slowly then left the room.

I walked back to the main room, still thinking about my elephant friend. I wondered if she was safe when the war happened. Did she know I was exiled? Does she miss me? It has only been five months but to me it felt like forever. Whatever Ellie was up to now, I hope she is in no danger of hunters.

(Heroville Grasslands)

Fifteen month old Ellie picked at the tree bark of the large tree in front of her, she wasn't that hungry, a friend whom she missed a lot was on her mind. "Ellie," Cornelius said coming up behind his daughter, "what is wrong, you haven't eaten all day."

"I'm fine, Dad." Ellie replied, "I just miss him."

"Leo, right?"

Ellie nodded, "It's not fair, though. A war just happened and Leo was exiled just because his Dad was killed. Why are the hunters like this?"

Cornelius sighed, "It's just how they are. You can't change a hunter. They kill us for food and for our skins and tusks, not even King Firepaw could prevent the hunters."

Ellie's eyes filled with tears, "But Leo didn't do anything to get him exiled! The hunters think they can just kill animals whenever they feel like it?"

"Ellie, you know the hunters are not all bad, the women and their children don't kill us like the men do." Cornelius said, "and Charles did kill my brother and your mother."

"Do you think Leo will come back?" Ellie asked. Cornelius shook his head, "I don't know, but let's pray that he will one day return and maybe take his place as king."

(Autobot Base)

I sat on the medical berth in the med bay. Another friend of mine was on my mind, one who I kinda had a crush on for a long time. Linda. That is her name. She lives in the Lion Village with her parents. She probably knew about my exile too that was only ten hours ago, I wondered how she was feeling now. She always got scared whenever I was in a bad situation and me being exiled probably freaked her out. I can only imagine what she must be feeling now; scared, worried, and in complete panic.

As I thought about it, Ratchet came in the room and noticed me on the berth. "Leo, there you are."

I gazed up at the medic, "Oh, hey. Just thinking of a few friends I left behind in Heroville."

Ratchet sat on the berth next to me, "You miss them?" He asked. "Of course I do, and I can't go back to see them." I say while staring down at my late father's power watch, "I can't even go back for my father's funeral." Tears once again filled my eyes and I started whimpering. Ratchet looked down at me, feeling sorrow in his spark. Then, he got an idea. He gently picked me up, holding me to his chest, I heard his spark beating. Although, I felt a weird feeling in my own chest, looking up at Ratchet, I realized that I felt safe with him. Like I didn't have to worry about the war that happened or the hunters. But I did have to worry about my friends war, the Decepticons are on this planet and their war against my new friends seemed to have lasted for many many years. And I was willing to help anyway I could.

Weeks turned into months as I stayed in Jasper. Agent Fowler came whenever he could and taught me more of the human world with great songs, movies and wars that happened over the years. I even began training myself more to gain more of my powers that aren't unlocked yet. I also bonded with my autobot friends more, knowing more about their pasts and lives during the war. And I told them more of my past, including how I lost my brother and mother. I wasn't planning on going back to my homeland, al least until I was a bit older and a bit stronger to defend myself against Charles. I also taught Agent Fowler a bit about my world, the animals we had that were the same like the ones around the world here, how my land was made, the many kings who ruled over the years and the wars that Heroville had.

I was growing fast too, my mane wasn't showing yet, the top of my head was getting fuzzy to show that a very early mane was starting to grow. My voice started getting deeper too, I could say I sounded like my my father a little. Of course I had to soon find out what makes a hero a hero. That was something I hoped to find in the future.

(Five months later)

I lay awake in my room at the end of the hallway from the main room. I now had my own room in the base and had my own bed and a small tree that was weirdly growing in the far left corner of the room. I was now twenty months old and still was troubled by my father's death in the war, I'd usually wake up to hearing gunfire and yelling in my head, so tonight, I didn't want to sleep.

I slid out of bed and went down the hall to Ratchet's quarters since the medic let me come to him if I couldn't sleep. The door was opened wide enough for me to get through, I carefully slipped through the opening and saw Ratchet sprawled out on his berth in deep recharge. The only way to get onto the berth was to use Ratchet's desk that was almost near the berth. I carefully started climbing up the leg of the desk and reached the top and saw a bunch of data pads in front of me.

There were at least five pads here.

I carefully walked passed the pads so I wouldn't wake Ratchet, then I got to the end of the desk that was near the edge of the berth. I then jumped off the edge of the desk, latching my claws onto the corner of the metal berth and pulled myself up. Slowly approaching the medic, I climbed up onto his chest. "Ratchet." I moved my tail across his face, making him stir awake.

His optics slowly opened and he nearly sat up abruptly once he saw me inches from his face. "Primus, Leo, what are you doing up?"

"I can't sleep," I say.

Ratchet sighed, "This is the fifth night in a row, but I guess I'll let this slide." I rubbed my arm, "Sorry, I guess the nightmares don't want to leave me alone." Ratchet sighed, "We all have nightmares, and the war for Cybertron has affected us all."

I huffed, "I hate it."

"What?" Ratchet asked. "War?"

I nodded, "Heroville has had five wars over the last forty years, and all of them were between lions and hunters, because we can't get along. WHY IS IT SO HARD!"

Ratchet flinched at my tone, "Leo, lower your voice."

"NO! WHY DID THIS HAPPEN TO ME!?" I shouted, voice cracking, then went small, "I didn't ask to be exiled or for my father to be killed." Ratchet sat up more on the berth and took me in his hand, "I want to show you something." He walked out of his room, and to a giant elevator that brought us up to the roof of the base. He placed me down and told me to look up at the sky. "What am I looking for?" I ask, Ratchet points to a very small dot in the sky, "Is that Cybertron?"

"Yes, it is," Ratchet tells me, "even with no life on it, it still shines."

"Oh, I see. The war corrupted Cybertron?"

"In a way, yes," Ratchet replies. "But, one day, we will find a way to revive our planet and end the war once and for all."

My ears pinned down against my head, "I didn't know it was that bad, I'm sorry."

"Don't be, I feel the same way for your world. Living among hunters who don't respect your kind or any species of animal." Ratchet said. I then used my flight ability, and did my best hug around my new friend's head, "What are you doing?" Ratchet asks, "I'm hugging you." I say while purring. "Thank you, Leo. Can you let go of my face now?"

I looked and realized that I was covering the medic's optics, "Oh, sorry." I climbed onto his shoulder. Ratchet went back in the base feeling a bit relieved that he told me about Cybertron going dark, but one thing still nagged him in the back of the head, someone he knew since he was a young mech. But he decided to tell that some other day. That day he lost the one who was most important to him still haunted him. But he wouldn't let it bug him. Not until he was really ready to tell it.