Phoenix swiftly turned human and knelt down to her wounded friend. He was covered in a purple liquid that she guessed was his blood. Xana had his eyes closed but they opened slowly when Phoenix pulled him into a gentle hug. He looked up at her with a terrified look in his eyes. It was truly spark breaking for Phoenix. Here Xana was, millions of miles away on an alien planet dying in a battle that was never his to fight. Phoenix bit back her tears as she saw him start to drift off to sleep. She knew what would happen once he fell asleep.

"It's okay, Xana. Everything's going to be okay." She whispered to the youngling. He was shaking slightly with fear which worried Phoenix. He tried to move closer to her but failed miserably. She gently pulled him into her arms. She was slightly thankful that no one else was there to watch.

"I'm scared, Phoenix." He whimpered. Primus knows she was too. She held back her tears as she stared down at him with worry.

"I know, just go to sleep and you won't feel any more pain." Xana frowned, knowing that he was going to die. Phoenix was just trying to help him get through it. He curled up slightly in her arms. Phoenix knew she was getting covered in his blood but didn't care about it.

"Will…you…sing…that…song…again?" his words were spaced out between painful breaths. Phoenix knew that his time was coming fast. She knew what song he was talking about, The Edge of Night. She steadied her own breath and forced herself to remember the words to the song.

"Home is behind the world ahead, and there are many paths to tread, through shadow to the edge of night, until the stars are all alight. Mist and shadow, cloud and shade, all shall fade, all shall fade." When she finished the last note Xana's eyes closed. He was smiling in his sleep. He let out one last shallow breath and Phoenix knew he died. Phoenix finally let the tears she'd been hiding fall as she placed Xana down. She buried her face in her hands as she began to sob. She should've had him stay home. If he hadn't come with them he wouldn't be dead.

The twins grew worried of Phoenix and went to look for her. Sideswipe knew she was already emotional from everything that had happened to her over the past ten years. Sunstreaker felt his twin's worry and placed a comforting servo on his shoulder as they walked. When they heard sobbing their pace quickened. They froze when they saw Phoenix bawling in front of Xana's dead body. There was a dead decepticon nearby, showing who was responsible for the furling's death. Phoenix jolted in surprise when Sideswipe picked her up and held her close to his chest. Sunstreaker glared at the dead decepticon in disgust.

"T-They killed Xana!" Phoenix cried out. Sideswipe used the tip of his thumb to rub his daughter's back in an attempt to calm her. Sunstreaker gave her a look of pity before picking up the small alien. Phoenix eventually calmed down and looked up at Sideswipe. "Can you put me down?" her voice was small and broken. Sideswipe silently did so she could transform.

"I think we should take him to his home planet for an honorable funeral, one that only a true warrior deserves." Sunstreaker suggested. Phoenix nodded in a silent agreement. They walked back to where everyone was gathered. The autobots stared at their fallen friend in horror.

"Optimus, I request for your permission to bring Xana back to his planet. It's only a day's journey and he deserves to be buried at his home." Phoenix said quietly. The leader was surprised that she was asking him, she wasn't officially an autobot and therefore under only Sideswipe's authority. He realized how much respect she really had for him. Bumblebee stared at the femme in pain. His spark ached for her. He knew all too well what she was going through. He'd lost some of his closest friends, like Ironhide and Jazz, in this war. He resisted the urge to just walk up to her and give her a hug. He couldn't do that mainly because Ratchet was currently repairing him. Eventually Optimus and Phoenix made arrangements for her to fly to Mars to bring Xana home.

"Autobots," Optimus began, catching everyone's attention. "While Phoenix takes Xana's body home, I'd like you all to help bring the humans into one general area." Everyone was about to get to work when Sideswipe stepped forward.

"Wait," he said. Everyone stopped and stared at him. "I'm not exactly comfortable with Phoenix traveling out there alone. Will someone go with her?" Phoenix didn't know whether to be grateful or annoyed that her dad wanted her to have someone come with. What she was annoyed at was Skids and Mudflap wrapping their arms across her shoulders.

"We'll watch over the little femme!" Skids said. Phoenix elbowed them both in the side. Sideswipe was not amused by the other twins but couldn't help but smirk at Phoenix's reaction. Sunstreaker also shot them a glare.

"I can go if that's alright." Bee said quietly. Sideswipe looked over at the shy mech. He knew Bee was crushing on Phoenix but it didn't really bother him. Sideswipe sighed and agreed that Bee should go with Phoenix. The femme, however, was a little weary. She had her own confusing feelings, they were mainly confusing because of the fact that she knew nothing of a spark. The two flew off, with Xana in a makeshift coffin so it wouldn't remind Phoenix of what had happened. Surprisingly Phoenix rejected Bee's help and was able to run the ship in Pretender mode.

"I learned a long time ago how to fly one of these things as a human. It's the only way I know how." Phoenix mumbled as she worked. Bee was amazed by her efficiency and watched with a trained optic. Eventually he placed a servo in front of where the exhausted Phoenix was about to work, blocking her path.

"Take a break, you're making yourself exhausted." Bee said calmly. The young femme looked at the yellow bot with a look that could break even Unicron's spark. Bee knelt down to face her with worried optics. "I know you're blaming yourself, I can see it in your eyes. Xana did not die in vain. He's one of the bravest soldiers I've ever met. He helped us fight and he showed true valor. He died a hero Phoenix, a hero." Phoenix looked away from him but didn't complain when he picked her up. He held her close to his chest comfortingly as he manned the controls. He looked down and noticed her fighting her tears. He sighed and gently rubbed her back with a finger. "It's okay, Phoenix. It's okay to cry. Don't hold it back, it will only make it worse to bear." Phoenix complied and sobbed into her hands. Bee continued to hold her human form. Why didn't she just transform into her bipedal mode? He looked down when she became silent to see that she had fallen asleep. He placed her on the table and activated his holoform. He made sure she was comfortable and deactivated the holoform. When he found the red planet he landed carefully.

"Mm daddy?" Phoenix mumbled as she sat up, rubbing her eyes. She realized who she was with and immediately became embarrassed. "Err sorry uh you didn't hear that did you?" Bee chuckled as she became more embarrassed. "So are we on Ythunha yet?" Bee nodded slightly. Phoenix glanced over at Xana's coffin then at Bee. "Stay here, I'm gonna look for his foster family." Bee thought about refusing to stay but simply nodded as the femme left. Phoenix wandered the small planet for a while before finding a village that she had landed nearby the first time she visited. A small child saw her and screamed. Phoenix froze when many of them ran out to see what happened.

"Who are you?" one of them hissed. Phoenix kneeled down slowly and held up a hand.

"I am searching for anyone who knows of the orphan Xana. He left with me a few days ago after my ship was messed with." Phoenix replied. A few of the furlings gasped, remembering the alien.

"I know you! You warned us not to trust the red eyed robots!" the bigger one from last time exclaimed. Phoenix smiled and nodded. "I'm Dami, his foster father."

"My name is Phoenix. You must come with me to my ship…all of you. There is much to tell you but," Phoenix's eyes lowered painfully. "Xana refused to go home when I found my father. I told him that the battle would be dangerous but he didn't listen. He fought with the strength and bravery of any of the autobots. He…he was lost in battle." Everyone gasped and Dami looked shocked.

"Xana fought in a war?" Dami asked. Phoenix dipped her head down low.

"Yes, even after I told him that he could possibly be destroyed by it. He impressed my comrades and my father. Optimus Prime, our leader, said himself that Xana was a true warrior, and that he was honored to fight with him." Phoenix answered. Everyone looked surprised. They had no idea what Xana was capable of. "I brought him in a quickly made coffin so he could have a proper burial with his people."

"Take us to him!" someone demanded. Phoenix was slightly worried at what their reaction might be to seeing Bumblebee. She stood up and backed away.

"I must warn you how tall we really are. My comrade, Bumblebee is here with me, but he's watching over the ship. This is merely my Pretender form." Phoenix said. She bit her lip at their confused looks. "Don't scream or freak out, please." They nodded so she slowly began to transform into her bipedal mode. They all gasped at her full height. "I'm actually the shortest one out of all of us. I will take a few of those who were close to Xana, but not everybody." She kneeled down so a Dami and another person climbed onto her hand. While they walked she told them stories about what had happened during her time with Xana. When they made it to the ship Bee was waiting outside.

"Who is this?" Bee whirred. Dami and Yeham (Xana's foster mom apparently) glanced up at Phoenix in confusion.

"Bumblebee, this is Dami and Yeham, Xana's foster parents." Phoenix introduced. She looked back down at the furlings. "Dami and Yeham, this is my comrade and friend Bumblebee." They gave the yellow mech a small wave which he gladly returned. She nodded at Bumblebee so he went inside.

"Where's he going?" Yeham asked. Phoenix sighed as she looked down at them with sad optics.

"He's bringing out Xana's body. I forgot to mention, Optimus Prime requests that he'd be honored as a soldier lost in battle. He said that he fought for freedom and that we are in his debt." Phoenix replied. They nodded as Bee walked back out with Xana's coffin.

"Will you take us back, Phoenix?" Dami asked in sorrow. Phoenix nodded and walked back to the village where the others were waiting. Phoenix placed them down before transforming into her Pretender mode. "Thank you Phoenix for watching over him." Phoenix smiled and said goodbye to them. Bee picked up Phoenix and transformed around her. She sat in the passenger seat of his alt form while he drove away.

"Bee?" Phoenix said suddenly. The seatbelt tightened a little to show that he was listening. "Why did you volunteer to take me?" Bee hesitated, loosening his hold on Phoenix. She leaned her head against the window as they sped off.

"You're my friend, Phoenix…we are friends, right?" Bee paused, waiting for her to answer. Phoenix rubbed the dashboard reassuringly.

"Of course, Bee." Phoenix laughed when the car shuddered at the circulatory motion. "You bots have strange reactions."

"It's not my fault! You're the one who touched a part that's…sensitive." Phoenix doubled over in laughter at his excuse. She could just imagine Bee pouting if he were able to. "You're a very strange femme, Phoenix." Phoenix raised an eyebrow at his radio. "What? Strange is good in my opinion! I didn't mean to offend you if…I mean…I…" Phoenix laughed again as they made it to the ship. She hopped out of Bee before they both transformed and walked into the ship.

"Jeez Bee, you really know how to get yourself worked up." Phoenix observed. Bee crossed his arms and muttered in Cybertronian before starting to fly the ship. Phoenix talked with him the whole trip home. When they returned they were greeted by Optimus and the twins. Sideswipe couldn't help but smile when he saw his daughter having fun and finally happy again. Optimus stepped forward to Phoenix with a smile as well.

"Phoenix, what's left of your people is gathered together. They do not believe that they can bring Earth back to its former glory. Since you were once human and you have a Pretender mode, I would like you to speak to them." Optimus said. Phoenix's optics widened.

"I-I've never spoken in front of a crowd before! Why can't a different human or something do it?" Phoenix asked with fear tinting her voice.

"Phoenix if you're anything like your Carrier, and Primus knows you're the spitting image of her, then you can do this." Sideswipe said as he placed a servo on her shoulder.

"If it helps, we won't be anywhere nearby so you won't have to worry about making a fool out of yourself in front of us." Sunstreaker said. Sideswipe elbowed his twin with a glare. Phoenix sighed, her shoulders dropping.

"Fine, I'll do it. How long until I have to go out there?" Phoenix asked Optimus.

"Now," the three replied together. Phoenix facepalmed; this was going to be a long day.


Next chapter Phoenix will be giving her little speech to the remaining humans unprepared. Will she succeed in building up their hopes or will the plan crumble and humanity perish?

Also, I have an idea for a chapter and I need titles of some awesome songs!

Reviews are welcome! :)