Hotshot: So far, so good, right? I will probably post the fourth chapter later on after work. I'll be trying to post two chapters a day, one when I get up and another during the night. Anyways, enjoy!

Transformers Prime
Eternal Flame
Chapter 3

Autobot Base, Outside Jasper, Nevada, Earth
3 years later

*FLAMEBURST*

I slowly opened my eyes as I yawned and stretched. I looked around the cave that I called home for these last three years since the incident. I had dug as I tried to find energon, which I did. I had yet to go back to Carrier and the others- not that I don't want to. It's just I wasn't ready to face them because I had changed, both physically and my behavior. It's like I'm more hotheaded than I use to be, and I didn't know how well I will listen to the others.

I let out a sigh before standing up and walking out of my cave, looking around before heading off. I don't know where I'm going, all I know is that there's a pull that's leading me somewhere. I just hope it's nothing bad.

Of course, knowing my luck, it will be.

*NO PROV*

Ratchet and Optimus walked out of the bridge and into a desolate, rugged area with tall rock formations. As the two began to walk, Ratchet couldn't help but send Optimus a questionable look.

"Optimus, what do we hope to find here?" Ratchet questioned.

"The site of the largest cybertronian battlefield in this galaxy."

"On Earth? You must be joking."

"Do you recall the period late in the war when both sides began hiding their energon spoils off world?"

"Of course. It's the reason engeron deposits exist on planets such as this one."

"It is also the reason battles came to be waged on Planets such as this one, and I fear Megatron's memory is as long as history."

The two Autobots fell into silence and soon, they walked into a giant clearing, the wind howling in their audio receptors. As they came to a stop, they looked at the old and torn bodies that filled the area.

"For the first time in my life, Optimus," Began Ratchet. "I had hoped that you were wrong."

A sound of engines filled the air and they looked up, seeing a silver jet fly overhead. It flew to a large pillar type rock and transformed, landing on it.

"Optimus, been well?" Megatron's voice echoed through the clearing with a slight mocking tone. "I see you brought your trusty watchdog. I was certain he'd be convalescing in a scrapyard by now."

"Why don't you invite him down here for a chat?" Ratchet glared up at Megatron with hatred burning in his optics.

"I know why you're here, Megatron." Optimus stated.

"Hardly a surprise, Optimus. After all, you and I have been at this for a long time, and your time has come to an end!" He pulled out a large chunk of dark energon before throwing it into the ground. It sank into it when it landed and the whole side of the clearing cracked, purple light shining through them.

"Rise, my army!" commanded Megatron and the deactivated bodies rose from the ground, purple tainting their optic sockets other cracks in their armor.

"By the allspark." Ratchet's optics widen in horror.

"Behold, the power of dark energon!" Megatron shouted and smirked.

"Megatron has desecrated the resting place of our fallen ancestors and his own." Ratchet took a step back as he clenched a fist.

"Not even the dead are free from his war-mongering." Optimus stated sullenly.

"Destroy them!" commanded Megatron. The undead went towards the autobots before Optimus changed his hand into his blast and began shooting. He kept this up as he and Ratchet shuffled backwards to get more distance between them and the undead.

"Optimus, if our combatants are already deceased, how can we possible defeat them?" questioned Ratchet. Optimus said nothing as he continued to blast the oncoming enemies. Even he didn't know.

"Ratchet, retreat!" ordered Optimus. "Bridge yourself back to base."

"No, I shall stand with you, Optimus." Ratchet transformed his hands into his scalpels. He went and stood beside his leader. "You may require a medic when this is over with."

Ratchet charged in and started to slice some. Once he saw an arm that was sliced off stopped glowing, he glanced over at Optimus. "I recommend dissection. The smaller the pieces, the better!"

"Sound advice old, friend." Optimus switched out his guns for swords and started to follow Ratchet's example.

"I have mastered dark energon." Megatron told them. "When you fall, Optimus, you too, shall join my army."

Optimus glared at Megatron before fighting harder. The two Autobots fought with all of their strength but it was proving to be far more laborious than it should have.

"Optimus," grunted Ratchet. "This prolonged exposure to dark energon is sapping our strength."

"We cannot falter now." Optimus looked down at Ratchet before the two went at it again. Some of the undead bots started to climb all over Optimus before forcing him down to the ground.

"Optimus!" Ratchet looked over the pile, distracting himself before more of the bots began to do the same thing and one even took out his right arm.

Megatron watched gleefully as his arm swarmed the two, knowing that Ratchet will soon be deactivated and only Prime will remain. He didn't expect for a jet of fire, coming from another section of the natural wall that surrounded the clearing, to light the bots that was covering Ratchet on fire. They instantly either fell over or stumbled away. He snapped his head towards the direction that the jet had come from and his optics widened.

Ratchet let out a groan as the weight slipped off. He slowly opened his optics and tried to get up, wincing as he moved his arm before looking at Megatron. He saw the bigger mech looking at something, shock in the purple optics. Ratchet frowned before following his gaze before freezing.

Standing on a section of the wall was a creature with red scales, a whitish underbelly, a flame on the tip of its tail and a horn protruding out of the back of its head. Its red eyes scanned the area, taking it all in before it zeroed in on Ratchet. It let out a roar- a slightly deeper one but it was also recognizable.

"F... Flameburst…?" Ratchet breathed, not knowing if he should believe that it is her.

She jumped off, her claws beginning to glow white. She landed on the ground before bobbing and weaving through the undead bots, using her claws to tear into them until she finally got to the pile that hid Optimus and ripped the bots off. Once he was freed, she went and tore into more of the bots, Ratchet and Optimus following her lead. Optimus got as close to Megatron as he could on the ground.

"Bravo, Optimus." Megatron called down. "Though, this is but a prelude. You may wish to save your strength for the main event."

"You will not prevail, Megatron," Optimus said as he began to climb. "Not while energon still flows through my veins." He finally got to the top, but he was still hanging off the edge.

"Fitting," grinned Megatron as he knelt towards Optimus. "For it is dark energon which flows through mine."

Optimus swiped his arm at Megatron, but he jumped into the air and transformed and blasted off, dodging as Optimus tried to shoot him. Optimus' changed his hand back before helping Ratchet up before staring at the now dead undead bots littering the ground.

"If this wasn't Megatron's endgame, what is?" questioned Ratchet. Optimus didn't answer as his optics narrowed. Their focus wasn't on that for long though as a fight reached the hearing. The two looked down and saw Flameburst dispatching a final bot.

"It seems we should go and welcome back our youngest." suggested Optimus as he and Ratchet climbed down, Optimus helping Ratchet along the way.

*FLAMEBURST*

After finally destroying the last bot, I heard footsteps approaching and I looked. Carrier and Optimus were walking towards me and I knew I couldn't run, especially after seeing Carrier's face. So I stayed put, watching as the two stop in front of it.

"Flameburst, it is nice to see you alive and well." Optimus stated as his facemask slid back, revealing a barely there smile.

"Optimus, been a long time." I greeted before looking at…

"Carrier…"

Carrier fell to his knees before wrapping one hand around me (I only come up to his knee), pulling me close as he released a shuddering breath before mumbling that I'm alive and I'm safe, as if he's telling himself that.

"It's time to head back Ratchet." Optimus spoke up. Carrier hesitantly pulled away and stood up to his full height. The two lead me to a spot before stopping. Optimus pressed his commlink and ordered a ground bridge. The familiar green and white swirling vortex opened in front of us.

Optimus walked into it, followed by Ratchet and after him, me. When I walked through and into the base, I took everything in. Everything looked the same, mostly anyways. They added stuff here and there but I could still recognize everything.

"What's that?" I heard a voice asked. "Is it a dragon? Is it-"

-Flameburst? - I heard a familiar chirp. I looked over and saw big blue optics staring down at me.

"Long time no see Bee." I smirked.

Bumblebee ran to me and scooped me up, nuzzling my head. -I thought you had offlined! I missed you! -

"Missed you too, Bee."

"I take it they know each other." A voice asked. I looked down and saw three humans, two teenagers and one kid. Looks like they threw the "no civilian rule" out the window. Bulkhead also came over to greet me, though he didn't try to hug me.

I looked over where Carrier was and saw that he was getting a brace for his arm put on by Optimus. Once they were done, He walked over to the three human children as well as Fowler- I finally noticed him lying on a hospital bed.

"What happened to you guys, anyway?" asked the girl.

"We engaged an army of undead cybertronian warriors." Ratchet answered.

"Zombies? You fought zombies and I missed it?" The girl pouted. Huh, what a strange human she is.

"Bulkhead," Optimus spoke up. "You exercised extremely poor judgement in allowing the humans to accompany you."

"It won't happen again, Optimus." Bulkhead promised.

"But it wasn't Bulkhead's fault." The girl stated.

"Miko!" Bulkhead whispered, obviously hoping to stop her but was ignored.

"Check it out." She pulled out a pink thing- a phone, I think. "Recon!"

I started to get bored and jumped out of Bee's arms before walking away from the group and settled near the ground bridge. I watched as as Ratchet opened the ground bridge and the eldest of the human trio walked through it.

I glanced at Arcee, who seemed saddened at the human's departure, making me think that she was probably his guardian. I continued to watch her until I heard small footsteps walking towards me. I looked over and saw that it was the youngest.

"Hello…" He greeted, fixing his glasses. "I'm Raf."

My eyes soften before tilting my head in a slight bow. "I'm Flameburst, it's nice to meet you, Raf."

I watched as he smiled before slowly inching his way to my side. He gave me a questioning look and I nodded. He sat down against my side before taking out a laptop and began to type.

He was now, officially the youngest of the group and now, it's my duty to protect him, even if he has a guardian already and my behavior be damned.