This chapter's long-ish and a bit somber, but it's the last chapter in the Cybertron arc.
Next week's chapter is going to be extremely short by comparison, buuuuuut it's gonna launch us into something a bit different!
Chapter 10 – Funeral
Maria, Vash, and Knives slept in two small guest rooms in the Hall of Records that had once been used for the human companions who had fought by the Autobots' side many centuries ago.
"I know they're not going to change these things on purpose, but I'm not so sure about the colors of that one room." Vash rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. "They were so loud."
"Miko was like that," Maria replied. She moved to the edge of the wide ledge that the guest rooms opened out to. "You two would have gotten along better with Raf or Jack, I think. They were much more quiet in comparison, and both for different reasons."
Knives said nothing. He hadn't said much since they'd been given their rooms for the night, and now leaned against the wall watching for a Cybertronian to pass by and – hopefully – get them to the location for the funeral ceremony. Optimus' office was not far from their location, which led Maria to believe that he was going to be the one to bring them there.
The sound of metal footsteps approached, and Maria looked up at the silver Cybertronian who approached and locked her gaze with purple tinted eyes.
"Megatron." Maria gave him a nod in greeting, eyebrows raised. "It's been a while."
The former leader of the Decepticons – his silver armor not covered in the spikes and spines he'd been adorned with during the war – raised an eyebrow in return. "No thanks to you and whatever dimensions have kept you busy. You owe me a few tales."
"Perhaps when we're not going to a funeral," Maria replied. "You're our ride, I assume?"
"You assume correctly." Megatron lowered a hand to the ledge that the three human-sized figures were standing on. "Come. It is time."
Maria stepped onto Megatron's hand without hesitation – something that, centuries in the past, she wouldn't have been able to imagine happening. Vash and Knives were quick to follow suit. "Optimus said you have the option of giving a speech. Are you planning on taking him up on that?"
Megatron looked down at them with a raised eyebrow. "Are you certain that you wish to know if one of the people she opposed will speak about her?"
"Considering that things evened out at the end, yes."
Megatron eyed them for a moment longer, then shook his head. "Heh." He didn't offer any other response as he stepped out of the Hall of Records and onto the Cybertronian street.
"So, are you going to put us down and then transform?" Vash asked, looking down at the ground.
Megatron gave a crooked smile at the question.
"Oh—"
Maria did not get the chance to finish speaking before her voice was overtaken by the loud sound of shifting metal and gears. Immediately, Maria, Vash, and Knives were surrounded by shifting metal that almost brushed past them with sharpened edges before settling around them in the form of a pilot's cabin.
Maria grabbed one of the seats and buckled herself in. Vash moved to do the same a moment later, which left Knives without a seat. He moved to stand behind the two and grabbed the backs of their chairs, looking out the tinted window in front of them that showed the streets of Iacon below.
"Did you have to do it that way?" Vash complained.
Megatron laughed. "You doubt my skills at being gentle?" He started flying forward at a fast, but casual cruising speed.
"N-no, but – you could have given us a warning first!"
"Where is the fun in that?" There was an underlying purr to Megatron's voice. He chuckled as he turned, causing his occupants to lean in order to stay even partially upright against the pull of gravity. "We don't often have people of your size here, much less riding in my cabin. I am going to enjoy every moment I can get from this."
"You do that," Maria replied dryly. Knives rolled his eyes.
The ride wasn't a long one, likely because Megatron was above the road traffic and wasn't stuck in the middle of it. The cathedral was deeper into Iacon, however, and that meant finding a place to land was going to be interesting.
Megatron dropped suddenly, causing Knives to grip the seats more tightly in order to keep himself from going flying. A few Cybertronians walking towards the cathedral's entrance – or standing near it, watching the procession of people heading inside – moved quickly out of the way of the jet coming in for a landing.
Maria reached for the buckle of her seatbelt. "Brace yourself!"
Megatron dropped down – and shifted before he hit the ground, bringing Maria, Vash, and Knives back into his hand in the process.
"How was it I knew you were going to do that?" Maria asked dryly, looking up at Megatron.
"I don't have the slightest idea," Megatron replied with a dry drawl. He gave them a sharp smirk, then stepped up into the cathedral.
Inside, the building was quiet, and there was only a small entryway before it led straight into the sanctuary. Which was already packed with figures – except for a few metal pews near the front of the room.
Megatron walked past with the three on his hand, which brought a number of stares from the Cybertronians who were sitting in the pews. Maria could hear some of them whispering in Cybertronian, others in English or other Earth languages.
"Is that Flare-Up? We haven't heard from her in—"
"Wildfire's MiniCon is still alive?"
"Are those humans with her? Is that why there's an oxygen bubble over Iacon right now?"
"I wonder how they managed to find them…."
Maria watched them out of the corner of her eye as they moved past, then looked ahead at where Megatron was taking them. She frowned when she saw the small platform installed in the bench up front. Jolt was sitting next to it, and Chronica was already sitting on a chair on the platform already.
Megatron lowered his hand, and Maria slid off his fingers, followed shortly by Vash and Knives. Chronica gave them a curt nod in greeting as Megatron moved to sit on the other side of the aisle, next to Optimus and Ultra Magnus.
Maria sat on the opposite end of the platform that Chronica was on, leaving Knives and Vash to take two of the three remaining seats. Chronica didn't so much as offer them a glance, instead turning her attention to the front of the church as Optimus rose from the bench and moved to stand in front of those gathered.
"I am well aware that ceremonies such as these are a human custom," Optimus began. "I am also very much aware that, as a native of Kaon, Wildfire would not have wanted to have us stand on ceremony, and would instead insist on us burying her and moving on with our lives."
Megatron made a snorting sort of noise. For the most part, he was ignored by the others assembled. Arcee, who was sitting behind him, rolled her eyes and leaned back on the bench.
"However, we cannot ignore the impact Wildfire made on those who were a part of Earth during the time of the Autobot-Decepticon war, and in an agreed statement from those who were close to her, as well as members of Kaon, it is agreed that we have a moment of time to discuss what we remember of her." Optimus motioned to the crowd in front of him. "We do have planned guests who intend to speak on this, but if anyone else wishes to come forward and speak as well, they are welcome to do so. However, the one we should start with is one of those she met on Earth who has become close to her."
Optimus looked over at Maria, and she took that as her signal to rise to her feet and walk to the edge of the platform. She jumped off and landed on her hoverboard, then flew forward as Optimus stepped back, then turned to face the crowd.
"I know that you know me as Wildfire's MiniCon or something similar to that, but I was human first," Maria began. "My name is Maria Carlsdale. You know me as Flare-Up, but I've been Maria for a lot longer than that. But enough about me; we're gathered here for a different reason."
The Cybertronians – those who didn't know Maria – shifted and exchanged looks with each other.
"I met Wildfire when I was five years old – in Earth years," Maria amended. "She didn't have much of an impact on me then, but her presence was much more noticeable eleven years later, when she appeared on Earth with Sparkseer, Jolt, Coil, Shape-Change, and First Aid." Maria nodded to Jolt, who nodded in return. "They joined in the last few events of the war then, and while I wasn't able to have that much of an impact on the events from the front lines, I did participate in other ways." She paused. "Wildfire was like a big sister to me. She had the same powers that I do, and as a result I've been able to harness my abilities a little better. I owe her for knowing those techniques, and being willing to spar with me in the centuries that I've lived. People on Gunsmoke are likely familiar with the swaths of glass we'd leave behind, that they could take and use for windows and the like. Wildfire pushed me to my limits during those spars, and I'm grateful for that. And I'm sure she liked being able to push me in return as well. I'm glad that I was able to have her for backup on the travels that I've made to other worlds – alternate realities of this one, in fact."
Maria saw the Cybertronians exchange surprised looks.
"We traveled to an alternate world where the war was reversed from a moral standpoint, where the Autobots acted like the Decepticons of this world," Maria explained. "Wildfire and her allies had remained neutral in this dimension, but unfortunately, the Wildfire of that dimension had passed. We managed to help them turn the tide of their war, before they could have left Cybertron, and returned here and finished the war before Unicorn was able to have the chance to overtake this dimension. I'm grateful for her being near me like that. At the same time, I'm…saddened, to hear that she passed in my absence. I was hoping that she would live for far longer – a lot of the other Cybertronians I know are currently outliving her – but I suppose there are only so many things that a gladiator from Kaon is capable of living past."
Maria looked over at Megatron. The Cybertronian seemed grim, but that was also how he tended to look a lot of the time.
"I'm glad to have been able to know her in life. I hope that others of you came to know her too."
Maria waited for a moment, then glanced back at Optimus and nodded before flying back over to the small platform and landing.
Optimus looked across the group present, and then Jolt rose to his feet and moved to the front of the sanctuary.
"When I first met Wildfire, it was in the ring. I was green, I didn't know what I was doing, and she pummeled me into the ground even as I attempted to spark her systems in order to stall her long enough to get my first win in." Jolt shook his head and chuckled a little. "I had no idea what I was getting into, going against an experienced fighter like that. I tried to prove I was better than her, later, or maybe try to get into her friend group, but I made all the wrong decisions and as a result, ended up in a worse place. But she saved my life, and brought me to a better place. After that, I managed to get into the profession that I wanted to be in, and…she let me ask her to test things I made. Weapons and basic tech, mostly – never upgrades, but important pieces all the same. And when we met the kids, well – I think it's safe to say we all bonded with someone. Joshua isn't here with Maria today, but…between the four of us, we were around each other for the longest possible. We got pretty close. I'm going to miss my sparring partner and the one who was never afraid to tell me when something of mine or Joshua's did something we didn't want it to. I'm going to miss that ear I could talk to about some of the things we went through."
The talks continued after that, with Cybertronians that Maria knew and didn't know coming up and talking about everything they knew and remembered about Wildfire. Megatron spoke of her prowess in the ring, from before the war, and how he had been glad to fight by her side later, when the Quintessans came calling on Earth's doorstep. Coil spoke of how she had been a big sister to him as well, and how she and Jolt had helped him harness his electrical abilities. Even Sparkseer – who needed to lean against his spear-like, staff-shaped energy channeler now more than ever – spoke of how Wildfire had been willing to speak with him on her own worries – including those to deal with Maria, when she disappeared for long lengths of time.
"I think she would have liked to know that you were still alive, and that you weren't in any true danger." The blue, tall Cybertronian nodded to Maria. "I understand there might have been some dangers, but…you seem to have come out whole, even if changed in some way."
Maria made a motion at him that essentially meant "we'll talk later, maybe."
And then came the Cybertronians Maria didn't know as well – Sideswipe and Sunstreaker, the twins, spoke of Wildfire's patience when teaching them some of her non-fire based moves. Others spoke of how she was someone you could go get the real truth from when it came to what happened during the war, as well as some fantastical tales that involved Flare-Up and almost felt impossible to believe.
"I swear her stories about humans with strange abilities like hers has to be something she made up," one young male Cybertronian declared.
Maria rolled her eyes and looked over at Jolt, who was holding back a snicker.
Eventually, the speeches from the Cybertronians slowed to a trickle, and then stopped entirely.
When they did, Optimus took to the front again. Maria didn't listen too much, instead watching the crowd of Cybertronians. Some of them stared back at her before quickly averting their gazes. Others didn't notice, but the ones who did and didn't look away merely made Maria raise an eyebrow at them.
It seemed there were some curious beings who were going to ask Maria a thing or two after the ceremony had been completed.
Time Break
Sixer kept himself busy, to some extent, while Maria was absent. He spent time reading and tending to the berry orchard and making sure the gnomes didn't try to get into the unripened berries. Or, when he wasn't doing either of those things…
"Come on, Grunkle Sixer! Do it again! I think you almost had it this time!"
"Easy for you to say," Sixer grumbled. He leaned back against the tree again and breathed deeply before focusing inwards.
First, the ground under his feet – not grass, but solid gray stone. The tree he had his back against wasn't a tree, but a solid stone column, covered in intricate carvings and designs that resembled axolotls. The corridor went on for a fair distance in either direction, with doors located at regular intervals. Some were larger than others, and some were open a crack.
Sixer had been in this hallway before, although it had been some time since he had been in its dimension. Centuries, in fact. And yet, he remembered.
An important fact about illusions – and the mirages Maria created – was that they were better made if the person making them had been there.
And, while the memory was fuzzy, Sixer could still remember what Jheselbraum's home looked like – or a part of it, at least.
There came a quiet gasp, and Sixer's ears twitched.
"Keep thinking about it, Grunkle Sixer! Just – just keep focusing on – aaagh, you were so close!"
Sixer sighed and opened his eyes.
One again, the forest clearing was just that – a clearing on the edge of the lake, untouched and unchanged.
A young girl with the lower body of a horse and with a unicorn horn growing out of her forehead was sitting across the clearing from him. "I saw it, Grunkle Sixer! I really did! The columns and the wall tapestries were great! But then I distracted you from what you were doing and – and it fell apart. I'm sorry."
Sixer shook his head and raised a hand. "It's all right. At least I've been able to make it this far. The next step would be holding that illusion so that I can see it for myself with my eyes open, on top of ignoring possible distractions."
Mabelcorn nodded. "You're getting there, Grunkle Sixer! I know you'll get it soon!"
Sixer gave a small smile, then pushed himself up to his feet and away from the tree he had been leaning against. "I am glad to know you think that. However, I am going to need a break for lunch. Care to join me heading back?"
"Sure!" Mabelcorn rose to her hooved feet. "Are you going to try something different next time? Like maybe another dimension or something?"
"I could…give it a try, I suppose. But I would rather not attempt to create one dimension only for it to appear as I left it." Sixer's tails flicked behind him, trying to dislodge the bits of grass and bark that stuck to his fur. He reached back and guided one of his tails in front of him and started picking things out with his hands. "Dimension 52 is the most peaceful location that I can remember, and even then the memory is difficult to grasp."
"You'll get it," Mabelcorn assured him. "I know you will."
Easier said than done, but Sixer knew he had been making progress because of her and others' encouragement.
"I can't help but wonder if Maria had this much difficulty when she first started creating mirages," Sixer commented. "A lot of what she knows seems to come to her rather easily now."
"Maybe we can ask her when she comes back," Mabelcorn suggested. "I mean, she's got to have some pointers that can help with that, right?"
"I should think so, considering how much she has used her own abilities over her lifetime."
Sixer knew the path back to the Shack, as did Mabelcorn. The grass had been worn down so much in places it was starting to take the hint and not grow back where it would be trod underfoot. Instead, the grass was starting to make up for this by growing taller along the edges of the path, but that wasn't going to last very well for long. There was a nip to the air now, hinting at decreases in temperatures and – possibly – the arrival of snowfall. But that wasn't going to be a happen for some time, unless Gravity Falls was letting its strangeness show a little differently this year.
Perhaps Weirdmageddon had caused some changes to the weather as a result of its presence? It would be something to ask his counterparts about, if they'd ever noticed changes of that sort.
Sixer frowned as they stepped out into the Shack's yard. "Didn't Stanley say the Mystery Shack was closed for business?"
"Yeah." Mabelcorn frowned. "I wonder what's going on…let's sneak around the back. I don't think I wanna find out what those people think if they find us."
Sixer nodded and followed her lead. "Have you had problems with people from outside of Gravity Falls before?"
"If you don't count those guys in the suits?" Mabelcorn shrugged. "I mean, I don't think Mom and Dad would have been able to handle seeing us like this. A couple tourists saw me and thought I was wearing a really really good costume, but they came in expecting a tourist trap, sooo…."
"If one of them sees me, then the thought is that they will only see me as someone wearing a costume, then," Sixer guessed.
"Maybe? I dunno if you wanna be a part of one of Grunkle Stan's attractions, though." Mabelcorn made a face. "It isn't exactly fun."
"I'll take your word for it."
They reached the back porch and snuck inside just as Stanley started yelling at someone over on the other side of the house.
"I'm tellin' ya, get off my porch or—"
"Is Stanley yelling at tourists to leave?"Sixer asked. "I was under the assumption that anything with a wallet was free game."
"They're not tourists, they're a couple agents pretending to be tourists." Crescent was sitting on the couch, looking like he hadn't moved for the last several hours. "The bus route knows the Shack's closed because of the weather and school hours kicking in for the kids. It's just a couple guys are trying to get entry and none of us're havin' that."
Sixer frowned. "This…doesn't sound like the right way to go about gaining entry. Is it?"
"Nah. 'Ccordin' ta the others, they need a warrant or somethin.' Goin' about it like this ain't what they're supposed ta be doin." Crescent tapped the side of his head. "An' the Trigger up here agrees. Well, his memories do, anyway."
"I wonder what is driving them to do this in order to gain entry." Sixer frowned and tapped his chin in thought. "They would have to be cornered and asked, I suppose, If a clear answer is something we want."
Crescent snorted. "Good luck with that."
"Good luck with what?" asked someone behind Sixer.
Sixer turned and found himself looking at Maria, a curious frown on her face as Vash and Knives stood behind her.
"Those agents're tryin' ta get into the house by disguisin' themselves," Crescent replied. He paused. "Oh, hey, you're back? Good timing. Is the bus still sitting out there?"
At Crescent's words, the sound of screeching tires came from outside, and Stanley stomped into the living room from the gift shop wearing his Mr. Mystery gear.
"Things are getting ridiculous out here," Stanley muttered. "Kinda wish those stupid agents would take a hint and leave us alone – especially since they're clearly not getting warrants ta get in here." He snorted, then blinked. "Oh, hey, Maria. I didn't hear ya come back."
"Hey." Maria waved. "I just got back. How long was I gone for?"
"Three days," Sixer replied. "How – how was it?"
Maria smiled, but it wasn't a happy smile. "It was good to see friends again. I wish that you could have meet some of them, but you were right before I left – it wouldn't have been the right time."
Sixer nodded. "Some other time, then."
"Yeah. So, what's happened since I was out, besides those agents showing up?"
Sixer's stomach attempted a grumble. "We could talk over lunch, if you'd like. I've been…working on a few things."
"Sure." Maria grinned. "What's in the fridge?"