A Thousand Years

by Sundiel260

For a crime he unknowingly committed, the young god Bumblebee has two options laid out before him. One with a demand of law to pay back with blood, and with the other forcing him to serve the one he had wronged for a thousand years as punishment for what he had done. He chooses servitude and is whisked away into the Underworld to sever the one he wronged. But fate has other plans.

1. A Broken Promise

Once, a long time ago, there were two entities.

The Primordial God made of Light and Order named Primus, and his twin brother, the Primordial God made of Darkness and Chaos named The Unicorn.

These entities held the balance of the universe, holding power and abilities that none had ever seen before.

With their powers combined, they created wonders and horrors beyond imagination, beings of immense power and shaping the world and its creations to their plans and desires.

Soon, they made two distinct races of Titans.

The Radiance, the keepers of light under Primus, and the Shades, rulers of darkness under The Unicorn.

For a long time, there was only peace.

But one day everything changed when The Unicorn, filled with madness and chaos from his powers, tried to end creation and destroy the balance.

Taking up arms against his brother, Primus and his creations went to war against The Unicorn and his followers, clashing power and might that shook the heavens and the earth for stellar cycles until Primus finally sealed away his brother and followers in the Underworld, ending his reign of power and chaos of the universe.

With balance now restored, peace once again came to the heavens and—

"Boring!"

A flinch went through the older mech's body, gazing down in mixed shock and surprise. "Boring? W-What do you mean boring? Bumblebee, this is important history!"

"Yeah, but I asked for a story, not a history lesson!" The younger mech huffed, hugging a stuffed white rabbit close to him. "You know I get enough of that sort of stuff at school Boss-bot. I wanna hear something exciting and dangerous! Like the stories Ratch often tells!"

"And what kind of stories does he tell you?" The older mech inquired, though he was getting a sinking feeling inside he already knew and dreaded the answer.

"About the war!" Bumblebee jumped to his peds, striking a warrior's pose with a glint in his bright blue optics that made the older mech cringe. "About how the Autobots fought against the Decepticons in all the battles!" He kicked and punched the air, making little noises like he was actually fighting against an opponent. "How one Autobot can stand up to a Decepticon a bajillion times their own size and still win in the end!"

"I thought I told Ratchet to stop telling you about those types of stores." The older mech sighed, watching as Bumblebee continued to pretend to fight against nothing but air. "Mechs your age shouldn't be listening to those types of stories. I'm going to need to have a talk with him next time he comes over."

"Aaaaw! Come on Boss-bot!" Bumblebee flopped down next to the older bot, smiling brightly up at him. "Ratch's stories are cool! I don't need to listen to all those sparkling stories. I'm too old for that stuff!"

"You're still a child Bumblebee. Besides, I don't think anyone should be telling seven stellar cycle old bitlets about those types of stories."

"But they're coooooooool!" Bumblebee persisted, flopping over one of the mech's legs and beaming up at him with a wide bright smile. "Besides, it's not like they even hurt me. I get no nightmares and I'm perfectly fine."

"I don't get nightmares." The older mech sighed as he corrected Bumblebee's grammar. "It's, I don't get nightmares, Bee."

"Whaaaaaatever." Bumblebee huffed, shuffling himself to sit on the older mech's lap. "I still think those stories are cool."

"And I think you're still too young for them." The older bot looked down at the younger mech. "And there's nothing wrong with learning about our history, Bumblebee. They help teach us about our faults of the past so we don't make the same mistakes in the present."

"Yeah? And what was the mistake made in that story?" Bumblebee challenged with a smug look on his face.

"Being too trusting with our darker halves." The smug smile on the young bot's face faded by the firm answer. "You see, very far in the past, the Radiance were too trusting with their counterparts, the Shades. They were only focused on keeping the balance of the universe that they didn't see the signs or the warnings of an uprising right before them until it was too late."

The older mech pulled a small frown, placing a servo on Bumblebee's back. "Thanks to that, a horrible war broke out and everything suffered from it. We won in the end, but it had too great of a cost on the world and the heavens, and many lives were lost on both sides and in the crossfires. It took many centuries to undo what had been done, but not everywhere is completely healed from that long ago war."

Bumblebee frowned sadly, holding his rabbit closer. "But… we still won. Right? That's a good thing, right? We don't need to worry about the Shades anymore because they're all gone."

A sad smile crossed the old mech's face. "They may be gone, but their descendants aren't. And they are just as bad as their creators, if not worse. And you must never get yourself involved with them, no matter what."

"Why not?" Bumblebee asked slightly hotly. "Because you think I'm just a kid?"

"You still are, yes." The older mech chuckled slightly. "But also it's because nothing good ever happens when Decepticons are involved." His tone grew serious, catching Bumblebee's attention rapidly. "They are masters of deceit and deception, who revel in others misery and pain, and spread chaos and disharmony everywhere they travel. It is said that the Shades made them from blood of the damned and ashes of the wicked, filling them with nothing but the desire to destroy the harmony our ancestors tried so hard to keep."

He looked at Bumblebee with sad optics. "We are lucky to be living right now in a state of peace, Bumblebee. But that doesn't mean that we are completely in a state of peace. The Decepticons are still out there, and we must always drive them back before they do any sort of harm to the balance."

"But… but I've never seen a Decepticon. No one has except Ratch. And that was a long time ago." Bumblebee pointed out. "And he said that they were locked away with The Unicorn and the Shades in the Underworld for all e… e… eter eeeterniiii… ty?"

The older mech nodded his helm in approval. "Yes. They were banished along with their creators, but that doesn't mean that they aren't still around."

"… wahda mean?" Bumblebee's voice became quiet, staring up at the older bot in concern.

A strange look crossed over the older mech's face, rubbing his chin with a look Bumblebee came to recognize as deep thinking. "Well, I was younger than you are now when my sire told me about this. I… guess it wouldn't hurt to tell you this if it'll keep you safe."

"Safe?"

There was a serious look in the mech's optics as he looked down at Bumblebee, his voice even and steady yet held great authority and importance in his tone. "While it's true that the Decepticons have been locked away with the Shades and The Unicorn, they are not permanently locked away like their creators. They are, in a sense, still free and roaming about."

Bumblebee tensed at the revelation. "R… really?"

"Yes, but only slightly. For you see, Primus made a powerful spell to lock away his brother and the Shades, but the Decepticons managed to find a way to slip through that spell. Now, they roam through the shadows, hiding in the darkest of places, waiting for a chance to strike unsuspecting bots when they let their guard down completely."

The young mech's optics widen, wiping his helm about to the dark corners of his room. Was there a Decepticon there? Hiding in wait to come and pounce when he let his guard down?

His attention was drawn back to the older bot when he heard the mech chuckling. "I had the same reaction too. I always thought that there were Decepticons hiding in every shadow in every corner and in every dark place I knew. But you don't need to worry about that. For as long as we have one of these in our home." He pointed to a blue crystal floating on a nightstand. "Brightly shining with a bit of the AllSpark's power, the Decepticons can't enter our home or the heavens to attack us."

Bumblebee gazed at the crystal on his nightstand. It was a bright light blue, about the size of the older mech's thumb, floating over a special holder keeping it in place and upright, casting a soft glow in his room that covered all four walls into a shade that resembled the bright sky. It wasn't as bright as the larger crystal down in the living room that was kept behind in a large glass box. He always thought of them as just some glowy rocks, but he now looked at it with newfound respect and wonder.

"These crystals are very important, Bumblebee." The older mech continued, reaching his servo over and carefully scooping up the crystal, bringing it closer over to the younger mech. "They may not be a part of the AllSpark, but they are infused with a small bit of its power to keep us safe from the darkness."

Bumblebee stared at the small crystal for a short while in awe, gazing at the glowing stone in wonder. He then looked up at the older mech curiously. "Is that why no one goes out at night? Because the Decepticons might get them in the dark?"

"A bit." The older mech placed the crystal back on its stand. "If it wasn't for the protection of these crystals keeping them away, they would certainly cross over the boundary of the Underworld and attack. But it's hard to predict what they'll do or where a Decepticon might pop up."

A deep frown of worry crossed Bumblebee's face, casting a quick gaze at the crystal.

"I wouldn't worry too much Bee." The older bot grabbed his attention. "Decepticons hate the light. A single touch of it burns their skin, so they wouldn't dare attack during the day. That's why we have the Night Guards to watch over and protect everyone when the night comes around. They keep the Decepticons back, keeping everyone safe till morning comes again. Do you understand?"

Bumblebee nodded, smiling up at the older mech.

"Good. Now, I need you to promise me one important thing."

Bumblebee frowned. "What?"

"Never, no matter what, no matter where or when or even why, ever get yourself in trouble with the Decepticons." Bumblebee's frown deepened. "I'm serious, Bumblebee. I know you're genuinely a good bot, but you sometimes get yourself in deep trouble. I don't want you running the risk of getting in trouble with bots I can't save you from so easily."

"But I've never even seen a Decepticon!" Bumblebee argued. "How would I even get in trouble if I never even seen one before?"

"I… don't really know. But I don't want to run a risk of that, and I especially don't want you to ever meet a Decepticon ever in your life. So please." The mech gently grabbed one of Bumblebee's small servos. "Please." He gave it a small squeeze. "Promise me that you will never, ever, ever get yourself involved with a Decepticon. No matter what." His gaze was soft with concern, looking deeply at Bumblebee with protection and love that only a parent could hold for their child. "I don't ever want you to get hurt in a way that I can't protect you from. It may never happen, and I hope it never happens, but please Bumblebee. Please promise me that you'll keep yourself away from anything involving the Decepticons and keep yourself safe. Okay?"

Bumblebee stared at the older mech in silence. He knew the mech was protective of him ever since he came into their care, but he could feel the seriousness in the mech's tone that was unlined with worry. The thought of meeting a Decepticon had never crossed the young mech's mind before, but seeing his caretaker act like he would be taken away from him forever and never see each other again… that, was a very scary thought.

"… okay." Bumblebee finally spoke, squeezing the larger servo. "I promise not to get myself in trouble with the Decepticons. But I doubt I'll ever see a Decepticon. So you need to worry!"

A soft smile crossed the older mech's face, his tense shoulders dropping in relief. "That's good. But remember to keep your promise, alright Bumblebee?"

Bumblebee smiled up at the older mech in confidence. "I promise!"

---

Fear.

That was all he could feel as he was pulled along harshly.

From the bottom of his stumbling peds to the tips of his small horns, fear was coursing through his every being.

Was this real? Was this really happening?

His gaze shifted around, trying to figure out where he was. But nothing was familiar to the young god.

Everywhere he looked he could only see barren darkness. Nothing from the closest stone to the furthest eternity of shadows looked familiar to him.

There were no trees, no grass, no bright blue sky, no birds singing in the background, no soft breeze or the smell of morning dew in the air. Nothing but barren endless darkness.

"Keep up." A gruff voice commanded, snapping his attention away from the surroundings.

"Where are you taking me?" He asked with notable shaking in his voice. He had been quiet up to this point ever since he came to this strange place, being pulled along without stopping by this large mech.

He couldn't see the mech very well due to there being very little light in this place, but he could tell that this mech was big. He knew he was a small mech and that everyone stood taller than him, but this mech seemed to tower over everyone he knew. And telling by the iron grip on his arm, this mech was strong too.

"Keep up." The mech repeated, tightening his grip hard enough to start hurting. He cringed in pain, biting his lower lip to keep from screaming out.

How did this happen? One second he was in his secret place watching the eclipse and the next he was dragged here… wherever here was. He took another glance around, trying to think up of the best possible place to match here.

The Sorrow Forest? No, there were no trees here. The Caves of Memories? No, he had been there before, and this wasn't even close to looking like those caves. The Waters of Salve? No, that was a forbidden place, and even he knew that its location was hidden to even the most skilled of trackers and adventurous crusaders.

So, where was he?

"W-Where are we?" He asked, wondering if it was a bad idea to even be talking to this mech. "What is this place?"

The mech remained silent, leaving his questions unanswered. This only drove more fear into the young mech.

They continued in silence for a long while. After some undetermined amount of time, the young mech saw something in the distance coming closer towards them. It took the young mech a while to realize that they were getting closer to it.

"What is that?" He asked under his breath as they continued forward. What he could make out in the darkness, it looked like the front of a temple. But it didn't make sense. Why would there be a temple here? Temples were usually in the mortal realm, not in the heavens or wherever he was right now.

"An important building." He nearly jumped. He hadn't expected the mech to hear him, nonetheless actually answer him.

"Why are we going there?"

"Jou'll zee."

Well that's not very helpful. He muttered in his head.

It wasn't long before he was being led up steep steps, stumbling and falling more due to being rushed and not being able to see where he was going. Each time that he slipped, the mech yanked him back up by his arm, alarming the young god that he might pull it out of its socket if the larger mech yanked it hard enough.

When they finally reached the final step, the mech suddenly halted. The sudden movement jolted him, staring up at the mech in surprise. "Why'd you stop?"

The mech was quiet for a while, standing so still that he though the mech wasn't breathing. He on the other hand was panting as if he had run a full Velocitronian race track, those went on for miles and miles. He would know, he tried to finish running the whole track twice and only made it three fourths of the way to the finish line. Though it was still an impressive feat, even by Velocitronian standards.

"Vhen ve go in." The mech suddenly spoke up, startling the young god once again. "Jou must be very quiet und not utter a zingle vord. Zis place is both zacred und cursed, zo jou vill do vell to keep zat in mind."

The spark in his chest constricted, feeling a sudden urge to run away. "W-why?"

The mech was quiet again but soon answered. "Because vords are taken zeriously here. Deathly, zerious. If jou zpeak zomezing in zis place, it becomes real as jou und I, bound to jour zpark und being for eternity."

His optics widened. "Like… a curse?"

"… Like a curse." The large mech confirmed, moving forward again.

The young god stared up in alarm as they went towards the door, trying to get a word out but couldn't manage a single sound as the mech pushed open the door.

The inside wasn't any different from the outside and seemed to be only darker. The young god took in a sharp intake as a gust of icy air brushed against his body, picking up loose fabric and chilling him to the core. He opened his intake to complain, but instantly remembered the mech's warning and snapped it shut.

The mech pulled him forward towards the wall of darkness, giving him no room to back out or think this through. His gaze over his shoulder, watching as the door closed the last bit of light with a heavy thud that echoed around him. Despite the circumstances, he inched closer to the larger mech, reaching a blind servo out to his other arm and grabbed one of the mech's curled digits around it, squeezing it for support.

The mech faltered in his steps, pausing a moment before continuing on again. He didn't know how the larger mech could move around in such darkness without falling or running into anything. Were they even moving forward, or in circles? Which way was right and left? He couldn't ask. He didn't want to end up accidentally cursing himself.

Plenty of mechs and femmes told him his whole life that he ran his mouth more than he could handle and that it would come back to bite him hard in the aft one day if he didn't watch his words. He did not want to prove them right.

But he was never good in silence. Silence was never something he picked up on so easily like others did. He was a mech full of noises and sounds, and loved talking. And to keep one thinking… certain thoughts.

Time was hard to keep track of for the young mech, so he didn't know how long they moved till the larger mech slowly came to a halt. Something shifted in the darkness, with a soft click and he was suddenly shoved in.

He stumbled on his feet, almost falling face first to the floor but managed to barely catch himself, hopping on one leg before straightening himself out. He quickly turned around when he heard something shut behind him and quickly came to regret it.

The room he stood in was dimly lit hue, but cast enough for him to truly see the other mech who brought him here. The mech was big as he thought, but he was even bigger now that he got a good look at him. He was even bigger than his best friend, and they towered over everyone.

This mech was much taller, standing three times his own size or more, shaking the ground with his heavy footfalls as he passed by the young god. A cape dark as night covered the mech's form, but what he could see peeking through the fabric seemed to look like armor, though he couldn't get a good look at it to be sure.

"It's zafe to zpeak here." The larger mech rumbled, shifting his cape and revealing two thick arms, reaching up to pull his hood down. His entire helm was covered by a helmet, concealing their face behind thick iron. "Zee curse von't affect jou here, zo jou can—"

"Where am I?!" The young god yelled out, clenching his shaking servos tightly as he stared at the mech. "Why am I here?! What's going on?! Why did you bring me to this place?! Did you kidnap me?! Why?! Who are you?!" His voice echoed in the room, bouncing around the walls of the dimly lit surface.

The mech stood in silence for a while, staring down at the young god through his helmet. At least he thought he was. The helmet didn't have any eye sockets for his optics to be seen.

He hoped they were blue.

"Hmm… vell, zat's a lot of questions." The mech hummed, scratching the side of his helmet. "Und ve don't have much time. Zo I'll keep zis zhort und zimple." The mech pointed at the young god and the air became colder around him. "Jou, kleiner Käfer, are in zee Undervorld to zerve out jour punishment for jour act against me."

The young god's optics were wide, staring at the being before him. "… Underworld?" His voice came out hushed and strained. "Punishment?"

"Ja. Zat's what I zaid." The mech turned, heading deeper into the room.

The young god stood there in a moment of shock, trying to process what he had just heard from the mech. The Underworld? Was he really in the Underworld? It can't be! He was well warned to never enter such a place his whole life! And the entrance was sealed and hidden away! How could he be the Underworld?! And what was this about a punishment?!

"W-wait! You're not making any sense!" He chased after the mech. "Punishment? The Underworld?! How?! The passage to the Underworld had been sealed off since the war millions of stellar cycles ago!"

"Zere is more zan one entrance to zee Undervorld, little god." The mech spoke with little amusement in his tone. "Zere are plenty of other vays to get in und out of zis prison. Zough I vouldn't recommend zem if jou vant to keep most of jour limbs." He giggled in an unsettling way.

"But why am I here?! And what's this punishment you mentioned?! I didn't do anything!" Before he could react, the mech suddenly spun around, leaning down far enough that his face almost touched the helmet.

"Didn't do anyzing? Dear mech, I'm afraid jou violated a very important law zat can not be overlooked."

"What?" The young god stepped back, growing even more confused by the second. "What law? I don't remember breaking any law." He narrowed his optics at the bigger mech, crossing his arms over his chest. "What law are you even talking about? I've studied all the laws and I'm pretty sure that I didn't break any of them to be brought here. So what did I even break to deserve this?"

The larger mech tilted his helm, setting the helmet at an odd angle. It was then that the young god noticed the design of the helmet, shaped and crafted to resemble a skull with no eye sockets with large horns curling sharply out from the sides. What little light there was, it made the helmet appear more frightening to the young god.

"… Have jou ever ztudied zee ancient laws?" The question caught the young god off guard, blinking in surprise.

The ancient laws? The First Laws of Primus himself? "… No. No one is allowed to, not unless you're trying to study to be one of the High Counsel. But they don't even look at it unless under dire situations or the Magnus says so. But who would follow any of those old rules anyway? I mean, if no one else was allowed to know these rules, why bother to follow them?"

The larger mech slowly shook his helm, sighing quietly. "Zen I'm afraid zey vithheld a very important rules from everyone." The mech turned again, heading deeper in the room.

Hesitantly, the young god slowly followed behind the lager mech, feeling a pit slowly form in his stomach with growing dread. "… Such aaaassss?"

"Laws of Forbidden." The mech spoke without looking at the young god. "Laws zat are meant to be followed und obeyed." He motioned with one arm to the wall. "Laws zat vere made to keep order not only to zee universe but to all zee gods as vell." The mech's voice dropped lowly. "Vith dire consequences if broken."

"But what law did I break?"

The mech stopped again, turning to face the young god. "… Jou killed my favorite." He growled quietly.

The young god stopped in his tracks, staring up in shock and alarm. "… W-what?"

"Jou killed my favorite zcout." The mech repeated, taking a slow step forward. The young god started backing away as the larger mech slowly advanced towards him. "Jou killed my zcout out of bounds of var during a call of ztalemate, breaking a forbidden law zat vas agreed upon by both Decepticons und jou puny miserable Autobots."

As the larger mech kept advancing, looming over with his height that his shadow fell over the young god like a dark blanket. The young god felt his throat tighten and his spark pound in his chest. He could feel the power that this mech was giving off. It wasn't soft or gentle like his caretaker's, nor stern yet understanding, or shy and warm like other's.

This mech gave off power that felt like danger, strength, and darkness. His body was telling him to flee, yet his legs felt weak and heavy, tripping backwards and falling flat on his back. He tried to sit up but stopped when the mech above him slammed down one of his servos next to him. The young god got a good look at it.

He was sure the servo was a normal one. But it wasn't.

It was like a foot of an eagle, shaped and made to look like a servo with four fingers and a thumb, covered in dark scales with long sharp talons at the end of each appendage. The talons dug into the floor, cutting deep grooves in the hard stone, driving fear further into the young god's spark.

"Jou killed him in cold blood." The mech growled above him, casting his optics away from the strange servo. "Jou killed him vithout a zecond zought or hesitation or remorse." His growling grew deeper as he leaned close. "For zat, laws demands zat I have the right to exact my anger on jou for what jou have done."

The young god trembled, feeling the ichor in his veins stall and grow cold. Favorite? He killed this mech's favorite? And it was a serious crime against an ancient law? Tears pricked at the corner of his optics. Oh. Oh slag. It can't be. "I-I-I'm sorry."

"Zorry doesn't cut it." The mech growled lowly, blowing hot air on the young god's face. "Vhat jou have done can not easily be forgiven. Und I am not an easily forgiving mech." He hissed dangerously.

The young god whimpered, closing his optics tight and letting his tears flow freely.

"… But I am also an understanding mech as vell." The young mech opened his optics slowly as the larger mech suddenly spoke in a calm voice, watching as the mech moved off him and offered his servo to him. He blinked in confusion at the offered servo. Hadn't it been like a beast's foot just a moment ago? He stared at it for a moment before hesitantly grabbing it.

"Zeeing as how jou vere greatly uninformed about zee old laws und unavare of zee consequences of jour actions, I offer an ultimatum to jou." The mech explained, helping the young god sit up. "As law dictates, zince jou killed my favorite during a ztalemate, I in turn am allowed to kill jour favorite or zomezing jou cherish greatly in turn."

"… But… I don't have a favorite." The young god mumbled, wiping his optics. "I'm not a high ranking god, so I can't make a claim for one like others can."

"A favorite doesn't have to be a claim. A favorite can be zomezing or zomeone jou cherish or zpend time vith zee most or have zee deepest attachment to. Zomezing zat jou love deeply in jour zpark zat jou treasure more zan jour life." The mech explained, standing to his full height. "It could be an item, or a pet, or zomeone jou are just close to in general."

The young god was confused by the mech's words. He knew what a favorite was and what it entitled to, but he also knew that only more important higher ranking gods had claims to those. He liked plenty of things but… "But, I-I still don't have a favorite. I like a lot of things and a lot of stuff but I don't think I can say that any of them are my favorite."

"Oh? Is zat zo? Is zere really nozing jou're deeply attached to? An item? A relic of zome zort? An animal jou vish to keep as a pet?" The young god shook his helm at each question. "Zen how about zomeone jou're close to? Zurely zere must be zomeone who jou deeply care about. A friend? An aqunatiance? Or maybe." Mech tapped his chin. "Zomeone like a… caretaker?"

The young god began to shake his helm when his mind suddenly froze with a sudden thought. There was someone he cared about a lot. And unfortunatly, they fell into one of those categories.

"Ahh, zo jou do have zomeone." The young god flinched as the mech spoke.

"N-No I don't!" He denied. "There's no one. I don't have a favorite and that's that!"

"Zee law ztates zat it's either zee favorite or zomezing jou deeply cherish." The mech said with a hint of smugness. "Und zince it zeems jou do have zomeone jou care about."

"No!" The young god moved to his peds, standing before the larger mech with fear and protectiveness coursing through him. He wouldn't dare let them be subjected to this he was in. "There's no one! I swear! No one else is involved with this!"

"No one else vould have to be if jou hadn't killed my favorite. But law is law. Und law demands zat zey die for vhat jou have done."

Panic rose inside the young god, grabbing the cloaked mech desperately. "You Said You Would Give Me An Ultimatum! You said so! I didn't know the law so it should only be me! I should be the one to suffer so please! Leave them out of this mess please! Just punish me!"

The mech looked down at him, remaining frozen and quiet. For a long moment they stared at each other. The young god stared at the mech with pleading optics, begging him to be merciful. He didn't care if he would suffer, not as long as he could protect the one he cared about most from another one of his messes.

"… I did zay I vould give jou an ultimatum." The mech finally spoke, grabbing the smaller god's servos and gently pried them off. "Be in mind zat jou had no idea of zee law. Zough it demands zat I take zee life of what jou cherish most, zere is another vay."

"Anything!" The young god grasped the large mech's servos, feeling some hope restored to his spark. "Anything to make sure they don't suffer. They already have enough on their shoulders and… and I'll take whatever it is to make sure I don't burden them more."

"… Law zay zat I must kill… but it also has another, more kinder demand jou may be more interested und more villing to take. I vill be generous to jou und let zem live." The young god sighed with relief. "In turn, jou must be my zervant for a zousand ztellar cycles."

"… what?" The word tumbled out of his mouth. His whole body felt like it had been dunked in a cold river.

"Be my zervant." The mech repeated slowly. "For zee next zousand ztellar cycles."

The young god stared up at the mech in alarm, suddenly feeling faint. "… s-servant?"

The mech nodded.

"For a thousand stellar cycles?"

The mech nodded again. "Usually it vould be longer. But a zousand zeemes more zan enough to forgive what jou have done." He squeezed the young god's servos. "Be my zervant for a zousand ztellar cycles, und I vill pardon you for what jou have done."

The young god continued to stare.

A thousand stellar cycles? That was a long time! Even for a god! The longest punishment he had to deal with was at least a hundred, but a thousand?! "And, if I say no?" He asked timidly.

"Zen jou vould be free to go, but I vould still take zee life of zee one jou care about."

Dread washed over the young god again. Two options laid out before him. One with a demand of law to pay back with blood, and with the other forcing him to serve the one he had wronged for a thousand stellar cycles as punishment for what he had done.

If he said no, then the one he cared most about would die. If he said yes, he would have to be this mech's servant for a thousand stellar cycles.

"… if I become your servant." He turned his gaze to the ground. "That means I won't be able to return to the suface for a thousand stellar cycles. I'll be stuck here, in the Underworld. Far from everyone I know and love." He could already see the looks on their faces, looking at him solemnly and in deep sorrow. "I'll never see the sky. Or the stars. Or sleep in my own bed in my room in my home and…"

The other mech was quiet. Listening to him speak with a trembling voice.

"… and if I don't… you'll kill them…" Tears began to swell in his optics. "… you'll kill them… because of something… I did… and it's…"

"… if it's any consolation." The mech spoke gently. "I can give jou my vord zat if jou agree to zerve me, I vill try to make jour life as comfortable as possible." He brought one of his large fingers under the young god's chin, lifting his helm to look up at him. "I vill provide a room for jou to use. Space if jou need it. Food if jou're hungry. Und zough I cannot guarantee zat the Undervolrd vill be any fun for jou, I vill provide zomezing for jou to do in jour zpare time."

The young god looked at the mech in disbelief. He was here to be punished, yet this mech was promising him gifts and free living? "… you sound like you're offering a place for a homeless person." He halfheartedly joked, though it came out more sad and weak.

To his surprise, the mech chuckled. "Ja vell, jou are going to be zpending a lot of time vith me if jou agree. I vould rather have jou in a better mood zan a moopy one. Und I at least try to be a good master."

A smile twitched on the young god's face for a brief moment before it vanished. He mulled over his options again. Freedom and the loss of his loved one? Or loss of freedom and the safety of his loved one? He wished that it was just his freedom and the safety of his loved one with nothing else attached to those options.

He turned the two options over and over in his helm, thinking carefully about each one. Thinking of the pros and cons and how they would affect everything and everyone around him.

"… if I agree to be your servant…" He looked up at the mech, trying to hold on to the last bit of his bravery in his spark. "… then… can you promise nothing bad will happen to them? That you won't do anything harmful or hurtful to them while I serve you?"

"… I zvear on my zpark zat I vill do nothing to zem if jou agree." The mech said after a brief moment, even drawing an X on his chest.

Hearing this the young god relaxed somewhat, relieved to hear that no one would get hurt. "… Then… I agree. I agree to be your servant for a thousand stellar cycles. To make up for the crime that I did."

"PREFECT!" The young god jumped in surprise and suddenly pulled along with the mech again. "I vas honestly ztarting to vorry jou vould choose jourzelf to zafe jour own zkin, but I'm glad I vas vrong! Ahahaha!"

"… What is up with you?" The young god stared at the mech in confusion. First he was strict and serious, then he was angry, now he was laughing and goofy?

"A lot of zings actually!" The mech snickered as if he knew a good joke but wouldn't share. "Zough half of zee time I don't even know what comes out of my own intake! AHAHAHAHA!"

Did I just get put into service with a loon for a boss? The young god thought in disbelief. "But you didn't say who you are." The mech glanced over his shoulder. "If I'm going to be working for you for a… a thousand stellar cycles, than at least you could tell me your name so I know what to call you."

"Are jou zure jou don't just vant to call me master?" The mech snickered before sighing. "Zough I guess jou have a point." He went quiet for a moment before finally speaking up again. "My name is Blitzwing."

The young god looked up, suddenly filled with a newfound fear. "You're… you're Blitzwing?" He managed to squeeze out. "As in… B-Blitzwing, Blitzwing? The G-God of Chaos and Destruction?"

The mech chuckled, looking back at the young god. "Zee very zame. I'm zurprised zat jou didn't catch on earlier vith my accent. Zey must have taught jou zat much."

"N-No. More like your personality." The young god swallowed a lump in his throat. "I've read about you. In the old history books. Th-though they didn't say much of what you looked like, but every one of them at least mentioned that you have three distinct personalities."

The mech, now known better as the god Blitzwing, suddenly stopped and stared at him in silence for a long moment. "… Did any of zem mention my accent? Any?"

The young god lifted one optic ridge in confusion, slowly shaking his helm.

"Typical." Blitzwing huff, resuming moving along with the young god. "If zey bothered to mention my personalities, zen zey could at least bother to mention about my accent too."

The fear the young god was feel morphied into confusion at Blitzwing's words. "I just figured out that you're the Decepticon Blitzwing, and you're more concerned about history books not mentioning that you have an accent?"

"Jou're zee one about to become my zervant und jou zink my concern about none of zee history books mention my accent vhen jou just figured out vho I am is more concerning?"

" … touché." The young god shrugged.

They walked in silence for a while before finally coming to a stop. What laid before them was a fountain.

It wasn't a nice looking fountain that saw in the gardens he had been in. All the fountains he had seen were made of marble and white stone, shining in the rays of sunlight with wide ranges of layers and decorated with animals or precious stones.

This fountain wasn't anything like the fountains he'd seen. This fountain was dark, shaped and crafted to look like a snake coiled around itself. Its head hovered over the middle with its mouth opened wide. Dark red liquid poured from its mouth, pooling in a basin hung underneath that overflowed the sides and dripped down.

A shiver ran up the young god's spine, instantly recognizing the fountain. "The Unicorn's pet."

"Zo jou've heard of it." Blitzwing hummed.

"Everyone's heard of it." The young god stared at the fountain, feeling dark energy coming from it. "At least, about the curse."

The Unicorn's pet. Not much was known about it except that it had been the dark Primordial God's pet. Various stories surrounded it, but most were just thought to be speculations or made up while some even dismissed the snake even existed in the first place. But there was one story about the pet. There were various versions of the story, but it all ended the same way.

During the highest point of the war, Primus took his hammer and stuck down on the Unicorn's pet, killing it in a single blow. But not before the deadly creature had bitten him in the ankle, poisoning the Primordial God in which the Decepticons had almost won the war.

Some say that Primus's twin was so distraught over the loss of his beloved pet, that he placed a curse on the flowing blood. Whoever touched the blood was cursed for all eternity to suffer greatly without stop or rest and would only know the days of agony and pain in life and death. A few had claimed that the previous Decepticon lord would use the cursed blood to torment his victims during the war and take great pleasure of it.

"Vell, zis is only a mock copy of it. Zo zere's no curse." Blitzwing pulled him closer to the fountain. "Or maybe zere is." He giggled as they came to the edge. "Zough it's not zee original, zere is zomezing zpecial about zis fountain. Its vaters have a very… interesting effects on zose vho drink from it."

"Oh? Like what?" The young god asked, keeping his optics on the fountain and the turning waters inside.

"If I took zee time to explain zem all, ve vould be here for a vhole ztellar cycle. But ve don't have zee time." Blitzwing huffed, shifting one servo towards a small cup and wooden ladle sitting on the edge of the fountain. "Most of it involves inflicting curses und use of dark rituals, but it also has another priority to it." Grabbing the ladle, Blitzwing reached out towards the basin and scooped out some of the dark water from it.

Was it water? It looked more like dark blood to the young god. "Do I… do I have to drink that?" He watched as Blitzwing carefully filled the small cup with the questionable liquid.

"Ja. It's necessary." Blitzwing confirmed, setting the ladle aside. He then pulled out a dagger from his cloak, letting the young god go for a moment. The young god watched in slight horror as Blitzwing proceeded to cut himself across his palm, letting the ichor flow from the wound and drip into the cup as he spoke in a language he didn't understand. He then turned to the young god, beckoning him forward.

The young god stared at the knife in fear.

"I just need a zmall bit of jour blood kleiner Käfer."

The young god glared at Blitzwing. "My name is Bumblebee."

"Bumblebee." Blitzwing hummed, glancing at him up and down. "… it zuits jou." He finally stated. "I just need a bit of jour blood. It's important for zis zo please." He held out his wounded servo.

Bumblebee stared at the servo, watching as the dark blood flowed freely from the wound and drip onto the floor. He stared at it a while, then at his own servo. "… just… a little right?"

Blitzwing nodded. "A few drops at best und nothing more."

He stalled for a while before getting enough courage to approach Blitzwing, placing his servo in Blitswing's and letting the Decepticon guide it over the cup. He hissed slightly as Blitzwing made a small cut in his palm, letting the golden ichor flow out of his veins.

Blitzwing hummed with curiosity. "Golden god vith golden blood… how poetic."

Bumblebee didn't think so. The sight of the golden blood made him feel slightly sick.

When a few drops went into the cup, it flashed with bright light. Blitzwing released Bumblebee's servo, grabbing the cup and holding it out to him. The Autobot stared at it, unsure if he was really doing this. "… do I —"

"Need to drink zis? Ja." Blitzwing stated as he handed the cup to the reluctant Bumblebee. "It's necessary. Fair varning, I've been told it tastes terrible, zo it's best not to zink about it und just to get it over vith."

Bumblebee stared at the swirling liquid. The cup was more like a shot glass that he had seen in his youth, so there wasn't much of the liquid. But it was still rather unnerving. He was going to be drinking blood for Primus sake. "Uh. Is it really? I-I mean isn't there another way or—"

"Either jou drink it now or I vill zhove zee vhole cup down jour throat zis instant."

Bumblebee frowned at the threat, gazing down at the cup. Slowly taking a deep breath, he tried gathering his last remaining courage. He turned his thoughts to the good memories that he had for support, thinking back on his youth and the stellar cycles that he made over the centuries. "… sorry Boss-bot." He murmured quietly, lifting the cup to his lips and downing the liquid quickly as he could.

Fire erupted in his body as the liquid traveled down his throat and the air seized up in his lungs. The world around suddenly became unreal and danced with colors as pain danced within him. He lost grip of the cup, reaching for his neck and losing sense of balance. He tried speaking, yet all that came out was intangible sounds. It felt like centuries when it only left as quickly as it had started, leaving the young god senseless and numb as the room started to go dark.

The last thing he saw was a large figure rushing towards him as his mind could think of only one thing before blacking out.

Sorry Boss-bot.

I couldn't keep my promise.