Chapter 9

A/N: I just own my OCs and plot changes, nothing else.

"East High Spirit! Spirit Week is my favorite week out of the whole school year," Ultra Magnus said. "Arcee did you know I was a cheerleader when I went to school here?"

"No…anyways, can I talk to you? About my nephew, Bumblebee?" she asked. "He hasn't been himself recently…"

Inside the school Yellowjacket was fighting a ghost inside of counselor's office.

"…I'd talk to him, but as his aunt he'll just think I'm being bossy," she explained as they walked through the halls. "And all that frustration he's repressing could come out the wrong way."

A chair broke over his back. Brushing it off, Yellowjacket fired at him, hitting everything, but the ghost as it dodged his attacks. The ghost flew off and 'Bee decided the chase wasn't worth it. At that moment, the door opened revealing Arcee and Magnus. "Should've chased after," he muttered.

-.-

"Does it need to be so cold in here?" Arcee asked.

"I find that cold temperatures keep the mind icy sharp. And don't worry about this mess of an office, I was thinking about redecorating anyways! Something like this was bound to happen, right Cee?" a woman with thick black hair that had gold and violet highlights, pale, skin, violet eyes, and was dressed in a pair of black pants, silver boots, a violet shirt, and black jacket smiled.

"Arcee, my friends call me Arcee," she replied.

"Well your nephew calls you shrink!" 'Bee snarled.

"I'm just trying to help! We used to help each other all the time," she said.

"That's when I was eight and you weren't such a know-it-all!"

"That's enough Bumblebee," Ultra Magnus scolded. "Get to class while Ms. Spectra and I call your father to discuss your punishment." Growling, Bumblebee stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. "Unlike her nephew, Arcee is one of our best role models. She'll be giving the pep-speech at the assembly this Wednesday."

"That's why I'm here isn't it? To pump up the pep! One student at a time!" the woman smiled.

"Arcee, Dr. Arachnid Spectra is a highly recognized motivational speaker, and teen therapist. She's agreed to come and help this week."

"And this is my assistant; Hardshell," Arachnid smiled as a large, buff, scarred man walked through carrying some files. Arcee waved, only to get a growl in return. "You and I are going to have a ball this week! After the assembly—show her Hardshell—we're going to set off this domino chain that spells out East Spirit! The dominos represent how each person affects the next! Killer huh?"

"If you mean weird, then yes," she replied.

"And the spirit sparklers will still go off right?" Magnus asked.

"Oh course! What's spirit week without spirit sparklers!?"

"You're a little over-peppy but my nephew might benefit from talking to you," Arcee said. "He won't listen to me."

"But he will listen to me," Magnus growled.

-.-

"So you're saying my popularity is dependent on my beauty?" Midnight asked as she walked out of Arachnid's office.

"I'm not saying that, but if you feel like you need a lot of make-up, I say go for it! You're the only you, you've got!" Smiling the woman turned to see her newest patient. "Bumblebee! Come on in!"

"I can't believe Magnus is making me do this," he muttered. "Can we turn up the air in here? I can see my own breath." He was used to colder temperatures due to his natural body temperature being hypothermic for most people, but this was ridiculous!

"Wow you do complain a lot. Arcee did say you could be a bit of a baby," Arachnid said.

"What?!"

"Sweetie, it's not your fault she thinks you're a loser."

"She what?!" he snarled baring his fangs slightly.

"It's her issue, I don't think you're a loser," Arachnid said putting her hands on his shoulders.

"Then why do I feel bad?"

"Bumblebee, you might be a mess, but mess is the beginning of message! Now go out there and be a better you!"

He got up with a snarl and left, making sure to slam the door behind him. Arachnid looked into her mirror and smiled as her beauty restored itself.

"Why are you wasting your time on some messed up kid, when we have a big to-do plan for Wednesday?" Hardshell asked.

"It is a few days away; I have to get some of the nectar that's teen misery to keep myself looking the way I do! And that Prime boy is like a walking spa treatment!"

"Then perhaps I'll up the ante for him," Hardshell said turning into a ghostly beetle.

-.-

"You ok dude?" Soundwave asked.

"No! I can't believe Arcee told that shrink I was a loser!" he hissed.

"You sure that was Arcee? Doesn't sound like her to me," Moonrose commented.

"What doesn't sound like Arcee to you?" said person asked. Bumblebee just crossed his arms and glared at her. "Still mad?"

"Wow, you certainly are smart aren't you?" he asked with a heavy tone of sarcasm.

"I'm trying to help you. Ever since the accident—" she began before he held up a hand.

"I know, I'm sure I'll appreciate it when I'm older, but right now I don't," he said.

"You need to talk to someone 'Bee. You barely have any friends," she said noticing his closest friends glaring at her. "Besides these two. And you don't have any extracurricular activities."

"Unless you count ghost hunting," Soundwave mumbled before Moonorse elbowed him.

"Maybe this is me now?! Did you ever consider that?!" he snapped as his ghost sense went off. "JUST LEAVE ME ALONE!" He ran down the hall, looking for a place to hide his changing.

"A FREAKISHLY LARGE BEETLE! RUN!" a kid screamed before hiding himself in a locker.

Arcee screamed as the Beetle rounded a corner and loomed over her.

"Back off ghost bug!" Yellowjecket hissed slamming it through the wall.

"Ghost bug?" Arcee said looking at the perfectly intact wall where the figure and beetle vanished. "Wait…that was a ghost? That was two ghosts?!"

"Someone call an exterminator?" the Halfa sneered.

"My, you certainly are smart. Swat this whelp!" Hardshell snapped using one of his horns to slam the teen aside and cut his arm.

Yellowjacket hissed and grabbed his arm. "Slag, why didn't I go intangible?" he growled. "Think I'm getting worse at this…" Looking up he saw the beetle flying down at him and he summoned a shield. Hardshell slammed into it and flew off. "Great…another one gets away. Maybe Cee was right, maybe I am a loser."

Arcee looked down at the ghost boy flying off with a shocked expression. "A ghost. A real, actual ghost. Wait till I tell 'Bee!"

-.-

"What do you mean you didn't see a ghost?" Arcee inquired as she and 'Bee were doing homework.

"It just looked like a giant beetle, so I ran, like a loser," he grumbled.

"You're not going to listen to me are you," Arcee growled.

"What gave you that idea?"

"OPTIMUS! I THINK THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH YOUR SON!" Arcee called. She would've also called her sister, but she was out of town at a conference.

"What's wrong?" Optimus asked walking in.

"Does it involve ghosts?!" Wheeljack and Bulkhead asked behind him.

"Is there something you both need to talk about?" Optimus asked ignoring her uncle-in-law and his friend.

"Actually, yea," 'Bee smirked. "Arcee thinks she saw a ghost today. Tell them about it."

"WHAT?! AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US!" Wheeljack exclaimed.

"It would've been the prefect time to test the Ghost Peeler. It rips ghosts apart atom by atom!" Bulkhead exclaimed pressing a button on the device and he was covered in armor.

Thankfully only Optimus noticed all the blood drain from Bumblebee's face at that declaration. "Have a nice talk," 'Bee said leaving the room, Optimus fallowing as Arcee groaned.

"So, is it true?" Optimus asked once they were out of earshot.

"Yea, I fought one this morning, but it got away. Magnus found the destroyed room and put me with a school shrink because he and Cee think I'm a 'troublemaker.' Anyways, the one she was talking about came later. It looked like a giant bug, got me pretty good too," 'Bee said showing his father the injury he received.

"Be careful, we won't be able to explain these injuries if you get them consistently," Optimus cautioned as he pulled out the first aid kit. "You feeling alright? You've been awfully down lately."

'Bee shrugged. "I don't know…"

-.-

"Have either of you noticed he's been acting odd recently?" Arcee asked Moonrose and Soundwave. "Been really negative?"

"Arcee, we're 'Bee's friends. That means we keep his secrets from you," Soundwave stated adjusting his glasses.

"We appreciate you trying to help, but 'Bee isn't a little kid. And he hasn't done anything criminal," Moonrose defended. "Besides, he's perfectly capable of handling things by himself."

Across the hall, Bumblebee stopped by the water fountain for a drink. He didn't notice the ghostly hand grab the strap of his backpack and attach it to the fire alarm.

-.-

"A month's detention?! But I didn't do anything!" 'Bee said dripping wet in front of Ultra Magnus.

"It was just an accident!" Arachnid said. "But we're going to take that accident and make it an acci-don't! So it'll never happen again!"

"No buts Prime, you can learn a thing or two from Ms. Spectra," Magnus said.

-.-

"I would rather go to hell," 'Bee said as Arachnid encouraged him to wear an outfit that would "help him get over his fears" as she put it.

"This'll help you get over your fear of getting called a baby," she said.

"I'm not afraid of being called a baby," he hissed.

"Hey loser!" Barricade sneered.

Arachnid smiled as she felt his negative emotions grow.

-.-

"Ms. Spectra says I worry way too much about material possessions," Firestar said as she and Smokescreen got ice cream.

"At least you'll have them. She says I'm going to grow old, broke and alone," he responded.

"Man, I can't believe she tried to get you to wear that stupid baby suit," Soundwave said.

"Yea, luckily Dad caught wind of it, otherwise I would have," Bumblebee growled.

"'Bee, he's only trying to help," Moonrose said.

"I know," he muttered putting his head on the table. "I don't get it. That shrink was supposed to be helping me. Instead I feel depressed and angry! And it's just been getting worse."

"Hey guys," Arcee greeted as she walked up. "What's up?"

"Like you care," 'Bee muttered before he jumped as his ghost sense went off.

"If my skin is perfect, I'll be perfect," Midnight said as she sat at a make-up booth across from them. The ghost from yesterday morning appeared behind her.

"Well if you'd going to side with her, why don't you hang out with her instead!" Bumblebee snarled shoving his aunt into his seat. "Take my seat, you already took my friends!"

He ran off into an exit. "Wait!" Arcee called chasing after. Knowing what was going on both friends got up to stop her. Getting outside Arcee gasped as she saw Yellowjacket standing where her nephew was just a split-second before. "'Bee?!" turning around she saw Soundwave and Moonrose staring after the ghost flying away. "Did you see that?"

"What?" Soundwave asked playing dumb.

"Arcee, ghosts aren't real, you're starting to sound like your uncle," Moonrose commented.

Arcee thought about the things Bumblebee's friends told her earlier. "Right, it must be rubbing off. Oh, look at the time! I've gotta go!" she lied and ran back inside.

"Do you mind?" Midnight asked as she felt something hovering behind her. "I was here…first?" She cowered as the ghost roared at her.

Yellowjacket dove down and slammed it aside. "I know you need make-up, but you'll have to wait your turn," he said.

The ghost fired several shots, all of which missed and hit various things around the mall. Seeing the fight people began to flee.

The ghost slammed 'Bee into another rack. "You aren't very good at this are you?"

"It's just an off day. I don't need to be at my best anyways to beat you!" Yellowjacket hissed.

The new ghost shapeshifted into a wolf and bit into his side. "Leave him alone!" Wave snapped before the wolf turned towards them.

Tackling it out of the way, Yellowjacket and the wolf rolled a few times, till the wolf loomed over the teen. "Well, if it isn't the little loser and his baby friends," he taunted.

Yellowjacket bared his fangs and kicked the wolf off and into a soda machine. Summoning an energy blast, 'Bee hit it with more force, making the energy turn white from heat.

"Well, I think that's enough damage for one day," the ghost said turning back into the blob-like form and vanishing.

"Hope this place is insured," Soundwave commented.

"Great, he got away again another ringing endorsement for the local screw-up," Yellowjacket said before flying off to let off steam.

-.-

Bumblebee sat at his desk picking at his food. He wasn't hungry, and he couldn't focus on his homework. Hearing footsteps he saw Arcee walk in and stare at him. "What?"

"Nothing," she said walking over and pinching him.

"Hey!"

"Sorry…'Bee, I know I've been hard on you lately, but you do know I think you're great right?" she asked.

"That's not what I hear," he grumbled.

"Then you heard wrong. You know I can be pushy, a know-it-all, and a jerk sometimes," she said noticing him smirking. "You can stop me at any time."

"I know."

"All I'm saying is I'm your Aunt, and it's my job to look after you. You can talk to me about anything," she continued.

"Um…" he began before an explosion sounded in the living room. Rushing in they found the couch destroyed.

"All I'm saying is that we need to find that ghost at 'Cee's school so we can use this!" Wheeljack exclaimed holding the Ghost Peeler.

"But we don't want to completely vaporize it," Bulkhead reminded. "We need some pieces to study."

"WHEELJACK! BULKHEAD!" Optimus and Elita roared from where they stood on the second floor, overlooking the living room.

"RUN!" both scientists yelled as the two predacon pets chased them.

"I don't want to talk about it," 'Bee said sitting back down.

"I can understand," she said kissing the back of his head.

A small smile crept to his lips, before he realized what just happened. "Hey…"

-.-

"Is it just me, or is this the worst spirit week in the history of spirit weeks?" Rose asked.

Looking around they saw all the students looking depressed. "Another day, another 24hrs closer to a career pumping gas," Barricade sighed.

"At least you'll have a job, I'm going to become a hobo!" Smokescreen whined.

"Did you know wrinkles can start as early as your mid-twenties?" Midnight asked as she and Firestar walked by slowly.

"And to make it worse, we're going to have to sit through Arcee's boring speech about some peppy nonsense," Bumblebee growled slamming his locker. "Why is she so happy?!"

"I know, usually I'm the sour one," Rose said. "But compared to everyone else right now, I'm the goth bird of happiness."

"Same," Wave agreed. "We're the only two people who haven't had a session with Arachnid."

"Wait a sec," 'Bee said pulling up an image of him standing near the psychiatrist. "See that?" He zoomed in on the image of the blue mist near his mouth. "I always thought I was seeing my breath, but what if it was my ghost sense going off? If she is a ghost, she could be using her powers to make everyone miserable."

"One way to find out…"

-.-

"I hate my life," Soundwave said as he and Moonrose walked out of Arachnid's office.

"I hate your life more," Rose replied.

"Bye! And remember, there's only an I in misery if you spell it that way!" Arachnid called after before closing the door.

Yellowjacket phased in invisibly watching as she restored her looks with his friend's negative emotions.

"I'm gonna miss these kids, they're a waterfall of misery," she smiled as the ghost he fought at the mall came in and turned into Hardshell. "Is it all set up?"

"Yep, when the spirit sparklers vaporize the only chipper kid left in the school, there'll be enough misery and anguish to make us look young forever!" he replied.

The bell rang, and both perked up. "Ready to bum more kids out?" she asked.

"Gladly," he said taking her arm as they left.

"Cee," 'Bee whispered in horror.

"After we've destroyed everything, are you up for a movie love?" Hardshell asked.

"Oh, that sounds good, especially if it's a sad one," Arachnid grinned only to gasp as he was blasted back.

"I get it, you feed on misery," Yellowjecket hissed.

"Sorry, can I help you?" Arachnid asked.

"No, you're only capable of helping yourself," he replied avoiding her hands. "You find the one thing a kid fears: looks, confidence, future, whatever and you pick and pick at it while you and your assistant feed off it!"

"Very good," Arachnid said allowing her spider legs to grow out of her back and her eyes to turn solid violet.

-.-

"…Which we represent with these dominoes. Each of which will fall into the next and trigger the ceremonial spirit sparklers!" Arcee spoke. Nodding to Magnus, they began to fall.

-.-

"You think you can stop us?" Hardshell sneered as he slammed Yellowjacket into a tree. "You're just a frightened little kid!" He swung his claws down ready to cut him to ribbons, but he didn't expect the teen to phase into the tree.

Flying out of the ground, 'Bee slammed the shapeshifter back, only to find himself wrapped up in Arachnid's claws. "Let me go!" he demanded.

"Why should I? Your doubt, your misery; it's delicious!" she exclaimed dragging him up to the window. "And once that last domino falls and kills her, I'll leave you here to take the blame! And when I'm done with you, you'll be sure it's all your fault!"

"I'm done letting people look down on me, and I'm done looking down on myself!" he snapped ripping out of her grip.

"Hardshell, get him!" The ghost took on a ninja form, only to be sucked inside of the thermos. "I will end you for this!" she roared.

"No way!" he snarled hurling her into a dumpster. "Cee!" Swooping in, he barely yanked his aunt out of the way of the deadly rays. Going into a storage room he set her down.

Arachnid grabbed him and slammed him into a wall. "What are you? A ghost trying to fit in with humans? Or a creepy little boy with creepy little powers?" she taunted with a sinister smile. "You know what you are? You're a freak! Not a ghost, not a boy! Who would care for a thing like you?" She smiled as she felt the negative emotions start to well up more, feeding her powers.

"Excuse me," Arcee said. "I beg to differ." She pulled out the ghost peeler and fired at her, ripping away the layers till an old woman remained.

"Literally nothing within," 'Bee mumbled.

"No! my youth!" she screamed as she was sucked inside the thermos.

"Weird but useful," Arcee said putting the peeler away and standing before Yellowjacket. Seeing his discomfort, she put up her hands. "Ahhh, ghost…you should probably go."

Turning 'Bee slammed into a wall, and rubbed his head. "Right…"

"He can tell me when he's ready," Arcee smiled watching him leave.

"Ms. Spires," Ultra Magnus said walking towards her. Walking back into the auditorium she saw the entire school cheering, "seems your disappearing act worked wonders. They've got their spirit back."