It had been a few weeks, and Ratchet had deemed my leg fully healed, though since I hadn't been using it for a while it was weak. I went to the training room by myself and sighed. I had a long way to go before I was back to normal. My leg wasn't very sturdy and I'd been struggling with my balance ever since Prowl brought me back.
I focused on exercises at first that would strengthen my leg and improve my balance, most of which consisted of holding the 'tree' pose for longer and longer periods. I gradually moved to light gymnastics, eventually going back to my old routines. I had to admit, it felt good to be back on my feet and flying through the air.
I stuck the landing at the end of a flip and whirled at a small noise to face the door. There was no one there, but I knew it had been Prowl that was watching me. I facepalmed, walking out of the room and grabbing my jet pack. I grumbled to myself as I activated my jet pack and exited the plant. I flew to the woods, landing in a clearing and trying to calm my thoughts.
Why can't he just leave me alone? Hasn't he done enough already?! I thought. My ears suddenly pricked at the sound of conversation and I stepped quietly through the trees, silent as darkness.
There were six Decepticons standing in another clearing, it was Starscream and all five of his clones. How Ramjet got out I didn't know, but I had to go get backup, like now!
I backed up quietly and slowly, just about to turn around, I ran into something. I spun to see Prowl, he had followed me. My foot had hit his, and the sound of metal on metal had attracted the Decepticons' attention. Quickly, we were surrounded and I drew my sword, on guard. One of Starscream's clones drew back, cowering.
"A-Are you sure this was such a good idea? What if they call reinforcements? We'll be slagged!" the clone said. He had a similar paint job to the original Starscream, and another clone with an odd, yellow paint job activated something on his forearm. I heard a sort of deep, pulsing sound, and felt something short out in my ear.
"Skywarp, put a muffler on it. Nice job, Sunstorm, if I do say so myself. Though I, Thundercracker, am far superior to all of you insignificant clones." Another clone with a dark paint job said. I tried to use my commlink, and found that it was the item that had short-circuited. Annoyed, aware of Prowl standing back-to-back with me, I sensed he had tried and failed to use his commlink as well.
"It's no use, Sunstorm used an EMP pulse to short out your commlinks. It looks like this will be easy..." Starscream said. I noticed what appeared to be a femme version of Starscream standing next to him, and I also recognized Ramjet standing behind and to the side of the femme.
"How did you get out of the Elite Guard's prison?" I ventured to ask, my question directed at Ramjet.
"Oh, I had absolutely no help at all from Starscream and the rest of his clones." Ramjet lied. I saw the femme facepalm herself and start to say something. Starscream turned and gave her a look.
"Don't start, Slipstream." Starscream said. Prowl spoke up from behind me.
"Why are you here?" he asked. Starscream answered.
"It's not really any of your business, now is it? Though now that we've got you and your little friend there, it won't be hard to take you both offline." Starscream said. My eyes widened slightly, and Starscream evilly ordered his clones on how to attack.
"Thundercracker, Sunstorm, Slipstream, take care of Prowl. Ramjet, Skywarp, you're with me. Let's have some fun..." Starscream ordered and he and his clones launched their attack. Cyber-ninjas though we were, I knew Prowl and I wouldn't be able to win, there were too many of them and we were too busy dodging attacks to land an attack of our own.
I saw Prowl catch my eye in between clashing with Sunstorm, and I knew he was thinking the same thing as me. Here, now, as I was fighting to stay alive; a realization dawned that I couldn't be angry with Prowl anymore. He had acted foolishly, but out of his affection for me, and I supposed he thought it as a way to pay me back after all the times I had saved him without thinking.
My sword clashed against Ramjet's arm, and he made a face as he pulled back and examined the scratch on his armor.
"That didn't hurt at all." Ramjet said. I took slight satisfaction in the fact I had hurt him, only to see something out of the corner of my eye that pretty much ended my hope.
Prowl had been dodging shots from each clone, though it was just too much. Thundercracker landed a hit square in Prowl's chest, and he was knocked backward onto the ground. I could see he was still conscious, but barely, his optics were very dim, almost not even on at all. Whirling, I called his name, only to have a blinding blow strike me across the back of my shoulders.
Sparks popped across my vision and I fell to one knee, trying to regain my bearings. I felt a large hand grab the back of my neck and hoist me into the air, my sword was wrenched from my grasp and I was turned to see that it was Starscream that had a hold of me. I tried to yank his hand off of my neck, but he was too strong. Sneering coldly, he raised a clawed hand.
"Don't feel bad, you'll get to join Prowl in the Realm of All Sparks." Starscream said. He reared back before ramming his claws directly into the front of my throat. I could see my own energon splatter onto the ground and I made a strangled, choked sound. Starscream sneered, yanking his hand out of my throat and tossing me to the ground. I coughed, more of my energon spilling onto the forest floor as I felt it running down my chest plate as well.
Starscream motioned his clones to fall back.
"Let's go, neither of these two are gonna make it." Starscream said.
"That's what you said the last time you tried to take that girl offline..." said Slipstream as she followed the rest of the clones and Starscream into the air.
"Shut up." I heard Starscream say. He and his clones left, leaving Prowl and I alone. I looked up to see he wasn't far away, though his optics were now dark. I was afraid he might have been offline, but I saw his armor still retained its color. I clasped a hand over my throat and staggered to him before falling. My energon was squeezing out from between my fingers and I knew I was probably dying.
Prowl's chest looked like a mirror image of when Starscream had blasted me instead. Without Ratchet or Sari's key, I knew this was the end of us both. I saw Prowl turn his head slightly, and his optics came on, though they flickered a lot. I coughed again, turning so I didn't spatter him with energon, though he had a fair amount of it running out of his chest as well.
"Are you alright?" Prowl said quietly. I shook my head, momentarily removing my hand only to have energon gush out of my throat.
"Neither are you..." I croaked, my injury making it hard to speak. Getting weaker, I collapsed forward onto the ground close to him. Coughing repeatedly, I turned my head to him, my optics starting to flicker as well. I could see his energon mixing with my own on the ground out of the corner of my eye. I could tell we were both going to lose consciousness soon, and I choked out what had been weighing on my mind.
"Prowl, please...stay awake for this. I'm so sorry...for what I said...I know I hurt you deeply." I paused often, my speech raspy and hitching because of the energon filling my throat. "I don't hate you...I never did...deep down it made me love you even more...that you would...do anything to have me back... Please forgive me, Prowl..." I said. I almost thought he was out cold and didn't hear me, but his optics lit up slightly more and he turned his head to completely face me.
"I already have..." Prowl said. I felt a tear of mixed emotions slide down my face and I looked away from him, the world getting fuzzy.
"I love you, Prowl." I said. I felt him take my hand, comfortingly holding it while we were both struggling to stay alive.
"I love you too." Prowl said. I saw his optics flicker out a moment before mine did as well.
...
~Prowl's POV
I truly thought this was the end for both of us, but I knew it would be okay. We would still be together, and I was now certain she had forgiven me. My last conscious thought before it all slipped away was the feeling of her hand closed inside of mine...
