"Little Flower—A Transformers Prime Fan Fiction"

Summary: two strange signals are appearing on the monitor one day, and everyone—except Optimus, of course—is excited about it. How will they react and interact with their smallest member?

~~This chapter is rated T for mild material.~~

TFP © Hasbro

Lily © Me

~PART THREE~

~Chapter Thirteen: The New Arrivals~

What started out as a normal, quiet morning soon became an eventful one, for Team Prime was about to have some new, unexpected guests. It started while Lily was learning how to walk properly. After almost two weeks of crawling around like a baby, she was ready to try and make her first successful steps as an Autobot. Bumblebee and Bulkhead watched to encourage her while Optimus stood by in case she fell—again.

"That's it, Lily," said Bulkhead. "Just one baby step at a time."

"Li-ly! Li-ly!" Bumblebee buzzed in a chant.

The small Autobot wore a look of determination as she strived to steady her shaky legs and shifted one foot forward after the other. She had her arms out to keep herself balance, like an acrobat on a tightrope. Occasionally she wobbled and flailed her arms a bit, worried she would fall. Her goal was to at least make it to the middle of the base. The further she ventured, the more Optimus followed so he would be ready to catch her.

"Slow and steady, Lily," he said.

The youngling giggled. "I'm not a tortoise, Papa."

"I am aware, but such advice appeals to your present situation. No need to rush."

Ratchet soon walked in to grab a few tools, eyeing what was going on around him. "Look, Uncle Ratchet!" Lily exclaimed. "See how good I'm doing!"

The medic blushed. "U-Uncle?"

Bulkhead laughed. "She's been calling me uncle, too," he informed the stunned Ratchet. "Same with Bee being called her big brother. It's nice, though. Makes you feel more part of the family."

Ratchet gave that a little thought; he never recalled Amira calling him, or anyone, uncle before. Bulkhead was right. It did feel nice. Ratchet smiled, then remembered what Lily said. "Yes, Lily, you are doing excellent. Keep at it and soon you'll be running. But hopefully not running off anywhere."

Suddenly, the monitor sounded and flashed, startling Lily and causing her to fall back. "Aw!" she pouted as Optimus scooped her up. "I was doing so good, too!"

"What's going on?" Bumblebee chirped.

Ratchet headed for the monitor. As he pulled up the map, his optics widened as two Autobot insignias blipped. "It's picked up two Autobot energy signatures!"

Everyone was excited—except Optimus of course; he just appeared relieved and content. Bulkhead cheered and pumped fists, and Bumblebee flapped his door wings with glee. Lily was a bit nervous, however. Two new Autobots? She had only been an Autobot for a couple weeks, and still adjusting. She wasn't sure she was ready to meet new faces. Would they confuse her for her body's previous owner?

Ratchet activated the groundbridge, and the others piled up in front. "Go on and bring our new arrivals here. The more players we have on our team, the greater our chances of winning this cursed war!"

Of course, Optimus took the lead through the bridge, Bulkhead and Bumblebee right behind him. Lily tried not to squirm anxiously in her papa's arms, and tried to appear as excited as the others, but the Autobots she first met were the only ones she knew best and grew to love. How would she know if she would get along with these new arrivals?

As they left the bridge, the Autobots stepped into a desert, where they discovered the new Autobots. Lily saw one was a buff-looking red mech with greenish-blue optics and horns on his helm. The other was a slim, small female Autobot with dark blue armor. She seemed a bit interested that there would be another girl on the team. The second they saw Optimus, they straightened up to show respect.

"Optimus Prime, sir," said the female Autobot. "Please to meet you in person." The Prime nodded his head, and they relaxed. "My name is Arcee, sir."

"Cliffjumper, sir," said the mech.

"Arcee, Cliffjumper, welcome to Earth, and to Team Prime," Optimus said.

Arcee spotted the familiar scout and went to greet him, and the big lug with him. Cliffjumper noticed Lily and smiled, approaching her. "Who's this little beauty?" he asked, leaning in. Lily became shy and hid her face in Optimus's chest plating. He laughed and leaned back again. "Got a shy one, don't you, sir?"

"Lily likes taking time to adjust to new faces," the Prime informed.

"Lily, huh? I've never heard a name like that back on Cybertron."

"That is because Lily is not from Cybertron. It is a long story, which I shall explain at a later time."

"Right. Well, she's a cutie. I didn't know you had a sparkling of your own."

"Like I said, it is a long story."

Optimus called for a bridge, and while they waited, Bulkhead got a bit excited for new team members and failed to see the power lines. His sparked, jolted dance caused Cliffjumper and Bumblebee to collapse with laughter until Arcee freed the poor big guy. Lily wanted to say it wasn't funny, but she felt if she said anything she would start laughing, too. Plus, she was still shy.

A bridge appeared and Optimus led everyone back to their secret base. Ratchet was pleased to meet them and showed them around to help them know their way around, as well as give them any needed information about Earth. Bumblebee and Bulkhead followed, assisting the medic. Optimus and Lily watched them go down the hall.

"They seem nice," Lily mumbled aloud.

"I have heard of these two," said Optimus. "They are both war heroes, in physical strength and of spark. They will become important members of Team Prime."

"I don't think Arcee likes me. She didn't even look at me."

"These things take time, Lily. Be patient."

"You make it sound easy, Papa!" Lily whined, causing the Prime to chuckle.

Once Arcee and Cliffjumper made themselves at home, they went about and did their own thing. Cliffjumper saw Lily playing with Bumblebee and invited himself in. "Mind if I join you?" Lily shyly blinked at him, then scooted over. "So, what game are you two playing?" When Lily was too shy to answer, Bee bleeped to him. "Pat-a-cake? Never heard of that game back home."

"Humans play it…" Lily mumbled.

"Oh. And you picked it up from the humans?"

"N…No, I…I once was…"

Bumblebee could see Lily starting to become upset and scooped her into his lap. Noticing the confusion on Cliffjumper's face plate, he briefly buzzed him an explanation.

"Whoa…" Cliffjumper's optics widened. "I never even knew it was possible. You used to be human?"

Lily shakily nodded as she buried her face in Bee's chest.

"Gee, that has to be rough. But you know what?"

"What?" Lily asked softly.

"You're really brave," he said, "being able to cope with it as easily as you are."

"But it's not easy. I've only been one a few weeks and I'm still learning how to walk. Watch." She demonstrated her current walking abilities, wobbling and flailing her arms before flopping onto her behind. "See? I'm still no good."

"Well, I'm sure it just takes a bit more time. Just gotta believe in yourself. I believe in you, Lily."

"You do?"

"Yes, ma'am." Lily smiled and crawled into Cliffjumper's lap, hugging him around his abdomen. He chuckled and patted her back. "So, why not show me how to play this pat-a-cake game?"

While Lily and Bumblebee demonstrated, Arcee stood with the others, watching. "I've never seen him act like so much a child," she wondered aloud.

"I think it's good Lily has a new playmate," said Bulkhead. "The more friends she has the better. You should get a chance to meet her as well."

"Thanks, but no thanks; I'm not so good with younglings. No offense, Optimus."

"None taken."

"Have you ever handled a youngling?" Bulkhead asked.

"Precisely my point," Arcee said.

"Well, you won't have any experience until you try."

"I also don't exactly make a good first impression. And I don't really have the patience."

"Lily can be a bit of a handful," said Optimus, "but she is a good kid; before and throughout her time with us, she's endured a great deal of tragedy. But steadily, she is recovering, through experience and support."

"Besides, she needs a mother figure around," Bulkhead added. "Trust me."

Arcee sighed and looked to her partner and two youngest Autobots on the team, laughing and chirping and clapping their hands. She eyed Lily, looking so happy and full of life; she wondered what hidden scars were burdened inside such a small femmling.

Later that evening, while Lily was resuming her practice of walking—or more so, waddling. She used the wall as support while roaming around the base. She heard commotion come from one of the private quarters and waddled to the doorway. She saw Arcee prepping her new room to make it feel more comfortable for her.

Arcee placed an Energon cube on her desk and wandered about, carrying data-pads. On the pads are photographs taken of her and of Cybertronians Lily did not recognize. There was one Arcee gazed at sadly, hugging it tightly and propping it up. Eyeing it, Lily saw Arcee and another mech smiling, like they were extremely close.

"Who's that?" she asked.

Her sudden voice startled Arcee as she spun to face the youngling, but she quickly became agitated. "Who's what?" she almost barked.

Lily pointed. "That mech. Who is he? You look so happy with him there, but you looked sad looking at the picture."

"Privacy. Which is something I would like to have. So run off somewhere else."

Lily tilted her head. "But I can't run yet. I'm still learning how to walk."

"You know what I meant."

The small Autobot then slumped her shoulders, and her pigtails sagged. "You don't like me, do you?" she tried to ask in her saddest voice. "It's okay…uncle Ratchet didn't like me for a while, either…"

The female Autobot's expression softened as she sighed and laid on her berth; although Lily was still very naïve and needed more lessons on personal space, she was still a child and Arcee could see she was feeling lonely and trying to make friends. "No, it's alright. And it's not that I dislike you," she said. "I just…have a harder time than most making friends. I'm not one everybody gets along with well."

Lily waddled closer to her, holding her arms out for balance. "I once thought the same about uncle Ratchet."

"Did you?"

Lily nodded with a smile. "He thought I was really annoying at first as a human, but then he—"

"Wait, slow down. As a what?" Arcee asked.

"Human."

"Human?"

"Yes."

"You were once human?"

"You have an echo in your room."

The femme shook her head in disbelief. "What in the world happened to you?"

Lily looked down, almost like she didn't want to explain. "W-Well…" she began, "what do you think happened to me?"

Arcee frowned a little as she examined Lily from top to bottom. "Probably…an accident?" she hypothesized. Lily nodded. "Alright. And, your life was in danger, so your mind was placed into this body."

"Yes, that's it."

"That's rough."

"Uh-huh."

"Did you have family as a human?" Arcee asked. Lily looked a little nervous at the question; then she appeared ready to cry. "I-It's okay, you don't have to talk about it!" Arcee said quickly, not wanting the little Autobot to become upset.

Lily sniffed and rubbed her wet optics. "I always get sad thinking of my mama and papa…" she whimpered.

Arcee smiled with pity; she could relate to the child, feeling melancholic when thinking of someone who has passed. With that in mind, she looked at the photo of the mech and saddened.

"What's his name?" Lily asked as she climbed onto Arcee's berth.

"Tailgate."

"That's a nice name. What happened to him?"

"Something…terrible."

"Oh…" Lily looked away. "Terrible things happened to my mama and papa, too…" she said. "They were both…murdered…by the Decepticons." Lily choked on that word.

"How awful…"

"And Megatron took away my humanity. But, there's only one Decepticon I hate the most…"

"Who?" said Arcee.

Lily gritted her dental plates as she hissed the name, "Starscream."

Arcee sat up a little. "Starscream? That poor excuse of a Con?"

"You know him?"

"There isn't an Autobot who doesn't. He may be an utter fool, but he's as dangerous as he is unpredictable."

"I know…" Lily's voice quivered as she started to become upset again. "He killed my mama, r-right in front of me! And I hate him for that! I will always hate him! I hate him, hate him, hate him!"

Arcee rested a gentle hand on the youngling's shoulder. "Easy, Lily," she said calmly. "I understand having resentment towards someone who takes away what you care about most. But too much hatred is unhealthy. And you're too young to be thinking of revenge." Arcee was internally kicking herself in the head, for she was speaking of things even she herself needed to manage.

Lily leaned against Arcee, barely nuzzling her. She had only known her for a few moments and she already felt that this femme was worth talking to. She trusted Arcee enough to talk about her past without becoming too upset; perhaps it was because she, too, was a femme?

Arcee lost track of time, but realized it must have been a while since either of them had spoken because Lily had fallen asleep against her. She smiled, scooped the child into her arms, and returned her to Optimus.

"Go, Lily!"

"You can do it! Keep going!"

Autobot Lily wore a look of fierce determination as she practiced more on walking. She requested not to have help from Optimus so she could pick herself up and start again. Her new goal was to walk to each of the members of Team Prime. She lifted one foot and placed it in front of the other, finding the right balance.

"You've got this," said Bulkhead.

"You're doing so well!" Bumblebee chirped.

Lily slowly waddled her way to the middle of the base; she decided to go straight and headed for Ratchet. Carefully, she brought her arms down lower against her sides and made her way towards him. About halfway, she realized she had less trouble dealing with balance, and her pigtails fluttered. With an eager smile, she giggled and walked her way over to Ratchet, grabbing onto his leg.

"I did it! I walked to uncle Ratchet all by myself!" she exclaimed proudly.

"Hooray!" Cliffjumper cheered.

"Well done," Ratchet commended her and patted her helm. "Now, try and go to someone else."

Lily chose to go to Bulkhead next; she held her arms out to him and sped up her pace. When she was close enough, she latched onto his leg. Bulkhead chuckled and lifted her up. "Look at you, walking so good already!" Lily squealed a giggle, hugging his massive chest.

He sat her down and she headed for Bumblebee next. She tried running to him, stumbling a little, but she made it. She was scooped up and spun around, the scout congratulating her with happy trills and bleeps. Of course, such enthusiasm may have been hyperbolic, but it provided Lily with the confidence she needed to keep trying.

Then Lily headed for Cliffjumper across the room. When she reached him, he high-fived her and playfully tossed her in the air. Once she was set down, Lily raced for Arcee, hugging her. She gave her a beaming smile; Arcee, still not quite comfortable around those smaller than her, merely smiled back and patted her head. Now Lily needed to walk to Optimus.

Her papa was waiting in his quarters, wanting her to venture a greater distance. She walked slowly down the hall and towards the private quarters. She stepped over obstacles, which were various stacks of Energon cubes. She tripped over a few but managed to pick herself back up. When she reached the doorway leading to Optimus's room, she grabbed onto the threshold and peeked in. He was reading a data-pad while sitting on the edge of his berth. He perked up at the sound of her giggling and smiled. He sat down the pad, knelt onto the floor, and held out his arms. Lily eagerly raced towards him and leapt into his lap.

"Papa, Papa! Look at me! I just ran to you!" she said.

He chuckled while patting her head. "Yes, I see. Well done, Lily." Looking at her brightening smile, he remembered the looks of horror and fear when she first awoke as an Autobot, even when she was human. To smile so happily, she had come a long way from how her life with the Autobots started, and Optimus was proud of her for it.

However, none were prepared for what happened merely days after, and the disastrous events that followed.

A/N: It's longer than the first version! XD