Chapter 4: Painful Past


Ashley sat on the couch as Sam was in front of her, trying to think of something, of how to explain to her about the Autobots that won't make her freak out, and so far he was stumped. The Autobots was sitting on the couch, in their holoforms, as they waited for Sam to start explaining to her.

He then took a deep breath and looked at Ashley with a serious face. "Alright, Ash, this might seem to be really complicated to understand but, these guys." He pointed at the Autobots. "Are not humans." he said.

She only blinked and raised a brow. "Wow Sam, I guess puberty was too much for you." she snickered.

Sam swats her head. "Shut up!" He hissed. "Will you just be serious for one slagging hour!" He shouted, using one of the Cybertronian swears that he got used to.

"For the love of God Sam, I think you're going nuts again, better yet you're having another mental breakdown!" Ashley glared at hims while rubbing her head. "Ow...damn it you hit me on the head hard..." she grumbled.

"Oh that's it! I'm trying to be honest with you and making it really understandable that they're aliens! But nonononono~! You just keep spatting it back to my face!" He then grabs her arm, Ashley widens her eyes. "Don't blame me if you freak out." he said.

"Sam! Wha-!"

"I'll show you..." He then dragged her back outside at the backyard when they were there, Sam let's her go, Ashley rubs her arm while glaring at him. "Alright guys, c'mon, transform for Ash." He said, looking at the vehicles.

For a while, nothing happened, Ashley crosses her arms over her chest and taps her right foot. Sam looks at her then back at the vehicles, not long enough they started to hear some metal shifting. He smirked when Ashley's jaw dropped and watches the Autobots transform in awe. "Holy shit..." she mumbled.

Optimus then kneels down in front of them, Ashley just stared at him for almost an hour, but something was knocking deep inside her mind that he looks familiar. She shook her head, and kept staring in awe at the mech in front of her. Even Optimus was curious about her, she was like a spitting image of Nebula, but he wasn't still sure about it. Still, something was gnawing in his processors.

"Hello Ashley." He greeted.

She didn't say anything, Ashley was quiet for about an hour making Sam really worried. Then they all watched in horror as she fell on the ground, she was on the grass completely out cold from all the shock.

"I think it was too much for her." Sam said, kneeling down beside his cousin. "I warned her though."


~Autobot Base~


(Ashley's POV)

~Dream~

What is this feeling? It feels as if...my father is close...that can't be right, my parents died in a car accident so I don't have any more parents. I'm all alone, but, it doesn't feel like it. I feel like my Dad is here, he's beside me, holding my hand.

Do I hear someone...singing? Someone is singing...but who?

"Daddy!"

I blinked and saw a little girl, she has the same hair and eyes like I do, but her skin was more...pale. She was running towards me, then I was like a ghost, because she ran past me.

"Daddy!" I heard her squeal, making me turn around.

I saw her, being picked up by a familiar red and blue mech. Before I could see his face, another flash of light was again blinding my view, the next thing I saw. Was a pod crash landing to earth, then I saw my parents they both look a bit younger. The pod was open, Mom walked over to it and I saw them carrying a little girl, It was the little girl that I saw earlier.

~Out of the Dream~

(Normal POV)

Why was he holding her hand? What could have made him do this? Optimus was confused, his holoform held Ashley's hand, like how he held Nebula's hand when she was sick with a virus, his thumbs softly caress it. Prime's attention was caught when Ratchet walks in, he immediately let's go of her hand and deactivates his holoform.

"Yes Ratchet?"

"The pod's video recording system was repaired." he said.

The leader nodded and followed him to the room to where they had put Nebula's pod in, Sam stayed with Ashley when he left. Even Sam was curious, he saw Optimus holding his cousin's hand.


~Nebula's pod~


As soon as Optimus arrived the room, he immediately went beside the pod, slowly he trace his index finger over it, wishing that Nebula would be inside. But the hatch was open, and nobody was in the pod, his little sparkling was out there, somewhere around this planet. She might be alone, hurt, or scared.

"Activating the pod's video feed, stand back sir." Ratchet said as he punches the code on the pod's control panel.

Optimus and the Autobots watched the video that was projected, they all watched when Nebula was being carried by him towards the pod, then leaving Cybertron, then the part where the pod had crash landed on earth. Optimus saw the pod's hatch open, and two humans, a man and a woman, went to investigate, they both took the unconsious Nebula to their car then left.

"Ratchet, replay the video and pause it at 4:90" Optimus said.

The medic did so and replays it, then paused to where they could all see the couple's faces. Prime record their facial identities and then looks at Ironhide. "Ironhide, search these two humans and tell me of their location." he said.

"Got it." Ironhide saluted before going to the control room.

Optimus looks back at the pod and went back to look at his data banks, remembering his little sparkling being stuck in his wires so many times, then he went farther to when she was born and Aurora was still alive.


~Flash back~


He was pacing back and forth, his men kept trying to calm him down and sit on the benches, but today is the day when Aurora is due. It's only natural for Optimus to pace back and forth, especially if the femme giving birth to a new born sparkling was his sparkmate. The atmosphere was so intense he could almost faint anytime, but if he did, then Primus help him to be active again for he do want to see his very first sparkling to be born.

"C'mon Prime, just sit down and relax." Jazz pats his back, and led him on the bench to sit down.

"I cannot Jazz, Aurora is giving birth to our first sparkling, I don't know if I can keep myself in control anymore." he said.

Ironhide sighed and helps Jazz to force Optimus to sit on the bench. "Will ya just relax Prime, she ain't goin' no where and Ratchet's gonna make sure your mate and the sparkling to be fine and safe. Now stop worrying and sit!" Ironhide reassures him.

"I...I...Very well." Prime sighed.

It's been over 6 hours and Prime is getting nervous again, he was wondering what was happening inside the med bay, he was about to stand up from the bench and walk in the med bay until he heard a sparkling's cry. He thought that the world had suddenly stopped, that was until Ratchet walking out of the med bay.

"Come on in Prime, she's right here and the sparkling's a femme, and congratulations, you're now a father." The medic said with a smile.

Without any hesitation, Optimus walks in the med bay and activates his holoform beside Aurora. She was laying on the human size berth with a little bundle of joy in her arms, though the sparkling's metal wings are wrapped around it's body, hiding from it's creators. Aurora made some coos and purrs to make the sparkling unwrap her wings so that she can be seen, so far there was only a twitch from it's wings. The mother sighed and looks at her mate, right beside her.

"Aurora..." Prime purred and wraps his servos around his mate.

"She's scared." She said then looks back at the sparkling, they notice the wings to be twitching as if a bit afraid to show herself.

"Let me try, don't be afraid little one...it is only us..." He purred and trace his fingers at one of the wings.

They both heard a tiny giggle and a happy purr, then slowly, the wings open up a little and they saw a pair of big blue sparkling eyes glowing brightly. "Don't be afraid..." Aurora smiled and cooed some more to remove the shyness of the infant, this time, the left wing unwraps and retracted on her backthen followed by the other wing to be retracting as well. The little winged sparkling cooed after she retracts her tiny wings and looks at her creators, Prime could definitely see the resemblance of his mate from her, though her eyes has been taken from him.

He smiled down and held her tiny hand, using only his pointer finger and thumb. To his optics, she was so tiny even in his holoform's view. She could be easily hurt or crushed with just one of his large hand, but her big blue eyes are preventing him from thinking about it. She looks too innocent and cute, any battle hardened mech could be easily fall to his knees. The sparkling cooed as she looks at his large fingers, she tilted her head to the side, curious. Her creators watched her with affection, she then gnaws his finger with her organic gums. He chuckled and kissed Aurora's temple.

"She has your beauty." he said.

"She has the color of your optics." she said.

"What should we name her?" He asked and looks back at the sparkling, who was now holding his finger with both of her hands.

Aurora paused as she tries to think of a good name for her, but she hasn't gotten any. "I don't have any good names to come up with, you?"

The Prime took a few nanoseconds as he thinks of a name, then he remembered something from the archives that he read. "What about Nebula?" he said.

She smiled and looks down. "Nebula...that's a beautiful name for a sparkling like her." she said.

The sparkling, Nebula, looks up as she hears her new name. She smiles happily and purrs, happy of her new name. Aurora felt her spark melted at Nebula's smile, so does Optimus. Her smile is now saved in his data banks, and he will never forget it.


~Few months later~


"Don't move so much Nebula."

Aurora sighed as Nebula squealed and splashes liquid similar to water but is made of crystal energon dusts, that is used to wash organic skin, in the large round bath tub, Prime's holoform chuckled and gets in the tub.

"Let me help dear." He said and holds Nebula, the little sparkling squealed and tries to squirm away from him. "Oh no you don't, you need this bathe little one." he purred, Nebula purred back to him then went back to squealing and splashing. Aurora had told him about the needs of a sparkling Celestronian, this was one of them and the most needed of all, sparkling Celestronians do not have the intelligence nor the will to control their vast amount of energon energy inside their flesh like shell, until they are already in their youngling years, so they have to undergo a special energon wash every night. But even adults needed some wash every now and then, since it is very relaxing to their body and mind.

After Aurora had rubbed a small amount of special substance in her palms, she first started to rub it on Nebula's left leg. Prime made sure that he held the leg with one hand so she won't kick Aurora's hands, thinking that her feet might be ticklish, it was a bit ticklish but Nebula wasn't kicking her legs. Few moments later, Aurora was now rubbing the soapy substance on Nebula's belly, turns out it was her ticklish spot as the winged sparkling began to giggle uncontrollably and squirmed a lot while her tiny wings were twitching. Optimus almost lost his grip around her if it weren't for his knee that he bent it a little bit to place Nebula's little bottoms for support, Aurora was quick on her belly now she was on her little arms.

"All done." she said and rinses her hand, then Prime slowly dunks Nebula's body in the mineral liquid, he made sure that only her body is dunked not her head. Aurora smiled and began to rinse the soap off of Nebula. Once she was done, she got off the tub to grab a towel for her. Nebula kept playing with the water by splashing it, she didn't notice that her mech creator was holding her close and was being splashed with it.

"Easy there." He chuckled, she stopped and looks up at him with a grin. "You were doing that on purpose were you? Well, two can play that game." he smiled and held her with one hand, then uses his other hand to splash her. She squealed and laughed, he laughed along with her, then he lifts her up and blew her tummy, since he now knew that she was very sensitive there aside from her wings.

Nebula burst out laughing and struggles to get away from him, but he held her firmly and securely so she won't be dropped accidentally. He stopped when she got a grip of one of his antennas, slowly he pulls her away from it but only making her tighten her grip. Prime groaned while she squealed at her new toy.

"Aurora." He called, he doesn't want to deactivate his holoform since he was holding Nebula.

A sigh of relief when he saw Aurora walking back in, with a towel in her hands. She saw them and had to cover her mouth to hide her laughter, he tried to shoot her a glare but the grip on his antenna was preventing him to. Aurora sighed and gets back in the tub and pulls Nebula away from him, Optimus sighed in relief once his antenna was free.

"She seems to find everything amusing, even if it is an injury." He said.

"That is because you look very interesting, and she is only a sparkling, don't forget about that." she said, Nebula's yawn caught her attention, she then wraps the towel around her and slowly went to the nursing room. Prime follows her after he got off the tub and pressed a button to drain the liquid in it. Once they were inside, he types in some codes at the panel beside the door, the light of the nursing room had changed and projected different types stars and planets that had started swirl around the roof. Nebula looks at it and watches in amusement while she was being dried, then she was placed in her berth after Aurora had dried her and put her clothing on. Then her creators gently leaves her room, before Prime had closed the door, he took a glance on the bright blue eyes of his daughter making him smile.


~Years later~


"Mommy! Daddy! I got a booboo!"

The once little sparkling, now had grown up to a child, ran towards Aurora and hugged her leg. Tears were running down her cheeks making Prime kick his parental program to overdrive kneel down in front of her, then rubbing his large finger on her back.

"Where is it my little sparkling?" He asked.

Nebula sniffled and turns around, then slowly lifting her skirt to show her knee to have a scratch.

"We will have Ratchet fix that." he said, but Aurora stopped him.

"It's okay, I can fix that." she said, she gathered her in her arms and slowly made a soft hum.

Slowly, Nebula watched her scratched knee to be glowing as her mother hum. Prime watched her, he knew that Aurora had full control of her powers by singing and humming. After she was done, the scratch was gone. Aurora then wipes off the tears from Nebula's eyes.

"There, good as new." she said softly.

"Thank you Mummy." Nebula smiled, she smiled back.

Prime also smiled, but then a loud explosion was heard and the other part of the room had blown away. Aurora held Nebula tight, then they all heard a loud snarl.

"Prime..."

"Megatron!"

Optimus shielded his family from Megatron, a dark chuckle emitted from the Decepticon warlord's lip plates. He drew his battle mask and his sword, readying himself to attack him. Megatron lunges towards him and growls, it was a brutal battle. Prime was then thrown off the wall.

"Aurora! Run! Take Nebula and go!" He shouted as he stands up again.

She grabs Nebula's wrist and runs off, but both of them was grabbed by Soundwave. Aurora then kicks his hand to let them go, Nebula was dropped on the ground, but Aurora didn't.

"Target: acquired." He said.

"NO!" Prime shouted and connects his fist on Megatron's jaw, before he could even go for Soundwave, Megatron had stabbed his leg, rendering him immobile, Aurora looks at Megatron to be approaching her.

"At last, a Celestronian to be used once again for our needs..." He smirked.

"NO! LET HER GO!" Prime begged to him.

Aurora knows what their very intention to her, and she would never let them use her energy for their evil plans. She knew only one thing to do, and it pained her to choose such option. But such sacrifice is needed if she were to save her family, and Optimus knew what she was going to do. He wouldn't, he can't let her do it, it was his duty to protect them not her's. However, he was too late to stop it. Aurora began to sing, her body glowing and releasing the energy inside her, slowly peeling off her shell. Megatron snarled while Soundwave tried to crush her but he was suddenly thrown at the wall after a shock wave of energy was release from her.

Nebula watched her mother turning into a figure of pure light, her flesh fading away. A bright light had surrounded them and Prime covers his optics with his servo, he heard Megatron shouting the retreat after a sound of the machine that he knew was heard. Once the light was gone, he removes his servo and looks around. He saw Nebula to be crying beside Aurora, who was now lying on the ground, half of her body was crystallized. He immediately crawled beside her due to his damaged limb, and uses his holoform to gather her in his arms.

"Aurora!"

Her eyes slowly open, it was evident in her eyes that she was losing energy. Tears was slowly falling from his optics, then fell on her cheek.

"Mommy!" Nebula cried beside them.

"I...I...had no...choice..." Aurora whispered, her voice was also lacking her usual softness, instead it was weak and faint.

"It was my duty to protect you..." He said, crying softly, the very sight of his mate being crystallized was like a knife being stabbed on his spark.

"It...was my choice...I could...never...let them use my energy...for their own desires...nor will...I ever let them...take Nebula..."

He held her close while crying, the crystallization continued, Aurora's life was slowly fading away. Prime tightens his hold on her, still crying.

"Aurora...don't go...!"

"I have released...all...of my energy...I'm sorry..." She began to cry as well, he softly kissed her tears then her eyes.

"Don't apologize...you are not to be blamed...after what you have done in order to save our sparkling..."

"Optimus...Nebula is in your hands now..."

"I promise you Aurora...I will keep her safe..."

Aurora smiled to him. "I know you will..." Were her last words before she became completely still and had fallen limp in his servos, he watched in horror as her head hung to her side and her whole body became crystal.

"Aurora?" He held her tight while the Autobots bursts in the room, their optics were wide with horror. Prime's optics started to pour energon and soon he roared aloud, his voice echoing the whole Base.

"Auroraaaaaaa!"


~Days later~


"Prime."

"Yes Ratchet?"

"How long are you going to keep this up?"

Ratchet watched him vented, he knew how painful it was to lose Aurora, but he needed to let it go and move on. What was worse was that, Nebula wasn't her happy self and Prime knew that too.

"Until I have let it-"

"When are you going to let go!"

Silence...

Ratchet sighed and rests a hand on his shoulder. "Prime...you have to let it go now...Nebula needs you, and you know that you're the only one who can get her back to herself..." He said softly.

Optimus turns around and looks at his medic, Ratchet was right in all levels and that seemed to have made him feel more guilty for Nebula. The connection of his and his daughter was losing, if this keeps up, Nebula might feel alone forever, or worse, she may die because of loneliness. He has to move on, he needs to accept that Aurora was gone, and he needs to keep his promise that he made for Aurora. Optimus took a few vents before walking past Ratchet, and towards Nebula's room.

When he arrives there, he didn't hear anything except the sound of faint sobs. She was still crying up to now, he didn't bother knocking the door as he enters. There he saw Nebula had curled into a ball and she was wrapped around with her wings, sitting in her berth His holoform slowly went to her berth and sat down, there was no movement from her, not even the twitch of her wings.

He sighed and traces her wings with his fingers, like what he used to do when she was like this. Nebula would in this position when she is scared or sad.

"Nebula?" He said softly.

He only got a whimper, then the wings tighten around her. Prime kept tracing her wings. "Nebula...please..." he pleaded. Finally, her wings slowly relaxes and starts to unwrap her. Optimus could see her face to be wet from tears, he wipes them off softly.

Nebula didn't say anything, at this point, she could only make whimpers and whining sounds. Her voice was gone, it was all taken away from the shock days ago. This was the worst possible scenario that had occurred to her, she couldn't compose a single sentence, nor a single word. She slowly crawled towards his open servos to hug him, her wet cheek rested on his chassis, his protective servos slowly began to wrap around her. If only she would talk, a single word was all he need from her. The days that had past after Aurora, he didn't hear anything from Nebula at all, and it was making the pain in his spark worse.

"Nebula, please say something..." He whispered, but nothing happened. "Nebula...please...call me 'Daddy' again..."

She still didn't say anything again, tears were starting to form in his optics, he lost his mate and his daughter's ability to talk. A miracle was what he wanted now, he wanted to accept Aurora's death and Nebula's voice to return.

Prime held Nebula very close, his optics offlines until he heard something.

"D-Daddy..." Nebula whispered.

He looks down at her, for the first time in days, he smiled. That was all he needed to hear, he nuzzled her, purred to her, cooed to her like he used to do. This was making their bond link stronger because Nebula was slowly beginning to open again. "I'm here my little sparkling...I am here..." He purred while kissing her temples.


~End of Flashback~


Optimus sighed to himself, he turned around then heads for his quarters, times like these he needed to be alone for a while. The Autobots saw him left and they all sighed too, they missed the little Celestronian too. Ratchet shook his head and continues to work something on the pod, searching through more data recordings to find some clue about Nebula's whereabouts.


A/N: Sorry if this has been slowed! X( I've been really busy lately! Hope you enjoyed this chapter, even though it is kinda sad of how Aurora died.