Chapter 8: Hello StarKnight, the new Autobot.

I was in my room, on the couch watching a movie. Ratchet had let me out of the med bay about a week ago. My cuts had healed over as best as they could and now I have scars. I'm still in my dragon form, I have tried many times to change back but I can't. I think it has something to do with the fact that my wing is broken.

I felt Sam's and Mikaela's presence coming down the hall. I was wondering how they would react to my new look, I guess I'm about to find out. I got up and paused the movie, I went over to the door just as it slid open and Sam and Mikaela walked in. When they saw me, the look they gave said it all.

"Hey Sam, Mikaela."

"What happen to you?" asked Mikaela.

"One word. Decepticons."

There was a few moments silence as they took in my new look.

"Anyway, we came to say thank you for bringing Bee back." Said Sam.

"Bee's a pretty cool Autobot and a very good friend. Life would be different without him." I replied.

Then I realised that life is going to be different without any of the Autobots around when I get back home. I looked around the room knowing I won't be here for every much longer.

"Is everything ok?" asked Sam.

"Yeah. Life is defiantly going to be different for me when I get home." I said still looking at the room. I looked back at Sam and Mikaela. "Not having the Autobots around is going to be strange. No Ratchet coming up to me every now and then wondering how I'm doing. No training with IronHide. No twins pulling pranks on me. And I won't be able to see you two. Primus everything is going to be different."

"So Optimus has found a way for you to get home?" asked Sam.

"No. He hasn't told me if he has found a way but that's not like him. Has bumblebee told you any more about my abilities?"

"He told us you get these feeling that in a way tell you that an event is coming up." Said Mikaela.

"That's how I know I'm going home soon. They don't tell me what's going to happen but sometimes they are easy to figure out."

"Well that is good news to hear."

"I wonder how Anna is going to react when she sees me like this."

"Anna?" asked Sam.

"Anna is my best friend back home and she is the only one to know about my ability."

"So your parents don't know?" asked Mikaela.

I shook my head.

"Why?" asked Sam.

"'cause I'm afraid of the way they will react. Not even Anna was supposed to find out."

"Well tell them. They have the right to know and if you don't, then one day they will find out the hard way." said Mikaela. I looked to the ground, she was right, if I don't tell them, they will find out the hard way and it will be even harder for me to explain. I looked back to her.

"Ok, I will." I went back to the T.V and turned it off. I went back to Sam and Mikaela. "I'm going to go hunt. I'm quite hungry now that I think about it." I said to them as I walked by and out of my room. Sam and Mikaela shared a quick confused look with each other.

"Why not go to the cafeteria and get something from there?" asked Sam

"I'm more dragon in this form and my instincts are telling me to hunt. Besides I have never hunted before so I want to give it a try." I replied and they followed. I walked through the halls to the hanger and then outside. I sensed for any animal presences and I picked up a few. I sniffed the air and picked up the scent of rabbit close by. I walked into the long, dried out grass, downwind of the rabbit. I lowered myself into a hunters crouch, I could see it a few meters away. Sam and Mikaela watched quietly in the hanger. They were soon joined by Optimus.

"What is the Young one doing?" he asked.

"Hunting." Replied Sam.

I crept closer and closer to the rabbit, quiet as possible. And about a meter away I stopped and got closer to the ground. In a few heartbeats I pounced, landing on top of it and killing it in one bite. I sat up and nodded to myself satisfied that I had done what I came out here to do. I lent down and started eating and in a few bites all the meat was gone. I swiped my tongue around my snout, licking up any meat that was there. And finally I berried the bones. I felt O.P's presence get closer. I turned to see him walking up to me. I trotted up to him so we met half way. Optimus lowered his hand and I jumped up into it and he brought me up to his optics level.

"Instincts?" he asked. I nodded.

"Although there probably be more prey out at night." I said.

"Do as you wish and what feels right to you. If you feel the need to hunt, just don't go off the base grounds."

"Ok O.P" then I felt Ratchet's, IronHide's, Bumblebee's and Will's presence getting closer.

"I'll tell Skids and Mudflap that if they see you out here at night they are not to disturb you."

"Thanks Optimus. Thanks for everything."

"I have no objection to her hunting, the less rabbits on the grounds the better." I looked down and saw Will.

"Will." I said and Optimus let me down.

"The Autobots told me what happened."

"I'm not surprised they did." I replied giving a quick glance at the mechs around us.

"Knowing that you are the new Allpsark so to speak, they're going to protect you the best they can."

"And I'll do the same for them." I saw Will's eyes widen a little but then he smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. He looked up to Prime.

"You wanted to see us big guy?" asked Will.

"Yes. I would like to talk to you all in my office."
The Autobots started walking away.

"Ironhide…" Ironhide looked to me. "Is it alright if I go to the shooting range? I might not be able to fly right at this moment but I can still work on my aim."

"Of course young one."
I nodded my thanks to IronHide.
I ran back to Sam and Mikaela and told them that I was heading to the shooting range and that they could watch if they wanted to. They told me that I did pretty good job at hunting and that they would love to come but they had one last thing to do with Bee and the others before they went home. I said goodbye to them and raced off to the shooting range.

…. With the Autobots ten minutes later….

"How will you give it to her?" asked Will to Optimus.

"I'll carve it on a piece of metal which I'll make into a tag and attach it to her collar."

"That's a good idea Optimus. Instead of the collar reminding her of something bad, it will remind her of something good."

"So it is decided?" asked O.P looking at Bee, IronHide, Ratchet, Sam, Mikaela and Will. They all nodded.

"Ok. We will hold the ceremony in a week at twelve pm." And with a nod Optimus dismissed the group. 'you have proven yourself. You deserve this… Starknight' Prime thought.

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Six days have passed and it's just after sunset. I'm out hunting for my evening meal, man I didn't realise how good my eye sight was at night when I'm in my dragon form. Last night the twins, Skids and Mudflap were out on duty and thought it was a good idea to scare away all the prey on the grounds, that did not sit well with Prime when I told him. So I have been waiting all day to get a decent meal. I had just finished my second rabbit and was stalking my third when I sensed an unusual animal presence. I turned my eyes to the forest. I didn't see anything at first but when I narrowed my eyes I saw a panther with electric blue eyes stalk out of the forest and up to me.
Something told me to relax and that I should be horned by its presence.
I bowed my head as the panther sat in front of me.

"There is no need for that Zara Moonday." I brought my head back up.
'Did it just talk?' I thought. The panther closed it eyes and smiled.
"Yes I can talk." The panther said as if it heard my silent question. It opened it eyes again. "My name is Paloona." I opened my mouth to say something but that was when it hit me, as I looked into her eyes. That night, before I was sent here, I saw two blue dots outside, her eyes, she must have been the one to have sent me here.
"Y… You were the one who sent me here, weren't you?"

"You catch on quick. Yes I was the one who sent you here."

"Wait, how do you know my name?"

"I knew your name the day you were born. As you can tell, I am no ordinary panther. I was gifted with speech by the higher ups."

"Higher ups?" I echoed.

"Yes. The Primes and your ancestors of both sides of your gean, human and dragon. They were the ones who told me your name."

"I have a lot of questions but I'm guessing you're not here for chit chat."

"No and I have told you as much as I can. The reason why I am here is to transport you back home."

My eyes widened. "Now?" Paloona Nodded. I was happy, I was excited that I was going home but then I was disappointed. I couldn't go home stuck in my dragon form. I looked down to my paws. "I'm sorry Paloona but I can't go home, not yet. My wing…" Paloona looked at my wing that was in the cast. "Is broken and I can't change back. My family doesn't know about my ability and I can't go without saying goodbye to the Autobots."

"It's alright young one. I'll come back when your wing is healed enough for you to change back."

"Thanks Paloona." And with that she stalked back off into the forest.
I went back to my hunting and caught a couple more rabbits before I went back inside.

The next day was a bit surprising; the Autobots were more active than usual. I went to the hanger hoping to go outside; going through the hanger was the quickest and most common way to do so. When I came to the doors that lead into the hanger, I was surprised to find Bee standing in front of the doors.

"Hey Bee." I said walking right up to his feet. I looked up to him and he looked down to me.

"Morning young one." He said with a soft smile.

"Could I get passed please? I would like to go outside."

"The hanger is off limits till further notice."

"Ok… I'll see you around then." I said and started walking away.

"Before you go…" I turned to look back at him. "Meet me in your quarters at 11:55." I nodded. And went the long way to get outside. Once outside I stretched. It was a nice clear day, a cloud here and there. The wind picked up and I in braced it. I sensed that IronHide was just around the corner so I decided to go over and say hello. IronHide was standing in front of the hanger door, which usually isn't closed?

"Hi IronHide."
IronHide looked down to me with a soft smile. Strange? It was the same smile that Bee gave me. There was something about the smiles that the two mechs gave me, something hidden but yet exciting.

"Good morning Zara."

"I'm just off to the shooting range."

"Alright young one, just don't forget your meeting with Bumblebee."

"Wait h…" then I remembered they could com each other. "Never mind. Could you let me know when it is 11:50 please?"

"Of course."

I nodded my thanks and went off to the shooting range.

Time went by quite quickly and soon it was 11:50. I sensed IronHide coming closer, I waited till he was a few meters away before turning to him.

"It's 11:50 Moonday." He informed me. I tilted my head a little, confused and surprised. Hide had never used my surname before.

"Thanks." And I ran off, heading back the way I came and to my room.
I made it to my room at 11:53 and in just a few seconds I could sense Bee coming down the hall. Just as the Alarm clock on my bedside table time changed to 11:55, Bee step through the door.

"Primus! You guys take the meaning of 'on time' seriously don't you." I said walking up to Bee.

He smiled warmly at me. "Follow me Zara." He said walking back out of the room. I was confused but I followed. We came to an Autobot sized door, on the other side I could sense Optimus and the other Autobots as well as all the military guys who work with the Autobots.

"You are to sit up the front beside Mikaela." Bee said looking down to me. "When you are called, you are to go up to the platform. You are not to speak unless spoken too." I nodded. I was confused, I was worried. Had I done something wrong? Then something flared up inside me, it was the Allspark. In a way it told me to relax and that I hadn't done anything wrong. That this was something they did all the time when it was called for. I relaxed a little but still remained nervous. I followed Bee through the door and into the hanger. Like I sensed, everyone was there. They were all lined up in two groups, creating a path down the middle. There was a platform right at the front with stairs leading up to it, facing Prime, which came up to his chest height. Elita-1 was standing a little of to Optimus' left with something in her hand. Bee broke off and stood with the rest of the Autobots, who stood at the back. All eyes and optics were on me now as I made my way to the front and sat next to Mikaela. Then bang on twelve o'clock Optimus started speaking.

"Zara Moonday, please come forward." He said. I made my way up to the platform and stood there, looking up into Optimus' optics. He looked down to me; there was a hint of happiness and warmth in his optics. He looked back to the crowd.

"This is a special day..." he started. "In many ways than one. We are gathered here today to acknowledge the loyalty and bravery of Zara Moonday. When attacked by the Decpticons she did not back down from the challenge, even when the odd were against her. When she fought, she fought to protect the ones she cared about. And when face with the option of changing sides, she spoke her feeling and declined…" he looked down to me. I was still looking up at him with a smile. "True qualities of an Autobot." He looked back at the crowd. "I have spoken to Ratchet, IronHide, Bumblebee, William Lennox, Sam Witwicky and Mikaela Banes, and they all agree with me on this. Today this young one becomes one of us." that was when I realised what was going on. "Today Zara Moonday officially becomes an Autobot." O.P looked back down to me. "Do you, Zara Moonday, sware to uphold the Autobot code, to use your power to protect and to bring peace?"

Excitement, disbelief and happiness were roaring through me. My tail was swinging from side to side in joy. "Yes." I nodded. Elita came up to him and place what she was holding in his hand.

"From this day on, your Autobot designation will be StarKnight…" he said attaching something to my collar. He took a small step back. "The protector of the skies." He finished. Everyone started clapping and cheering. I brought my paw up and lifted the thing that O.P had attached to my collar. It was a light blue, metal tag with the Autobot symbol carved on it in white. I felt a tear run down my cheek as I looked back to prime and Elita. I turned to the crowd letting them look at my tag. I couldn't believe this; they had just made me one of them. I was so overwhelmed with joy, I looked back to Optimus and Elita, and let a purr escape my throat. I wanted so much to leap up onto my hind legs and roar my joy but I knew some of them wouldn't get it that I was doing it because I was happy. I tuned back to Prime. "Congratulations StarKnight." He said once the clapping and cheering had died down.

"Thank you Optimus Prime." I turned back the crowd. "I promise to uphold the Autobot code. I promise to protect the innocent and the one I care about. I promise to bring peace. I will NOT let you down because I PROMISE to give it my ALL."

Everyone started cheering my new designation "StarKnight! StarKnight! StarKnight!" I felt overwhelmed; surely this was just a dream? But I have been here too long know all too well that this wasn't a dream. That this was for real. I looked back to O.P over my shoulder and he nodded, saying that it was ok for me to go back down.
I made my way down the stairs and to Sam and Mikaela but I had not intended for everyone to try and gather around me. Everyone congratulated me, saying how happy they were for me and how I would make a good Autobot. My eyes finally landed on Bee. I jumped up and he caught me, like I knew he would.

"So this was why all of you were so active this morning and why the hanger was off limits." I said. Bee looked down to me smiling.

"When Optimus told us what he thought, we thought it would be a nice surprise for you, StarKnight." He answered using my new designation. I smiled warmly at the group of Autobots with tears flowing freely. Here they are giving more than I could ever imagine or ask for and now they made me one of them. Which I am more than grateful for.