The Diego Diaries: Amblin' (dd6 178)

-0-At the Autobot City Stables

The horses were saddled, waiting for their riders, their tails swishing almost in unison. They were huge and beautiful, a mix of mechs and a couple of femmes, smaller mares that were chosen for the more timid. None of the horses were out of bounds, all of them chosen for newbies, and as the handlers got them ready, the riders took stock of things.

"We have been riding, Ratchet," Kestrel said. "Orion and Tagg like to ride around the area and I ride them, too. It took a while for me to try but I love this," he said as he was helped up on a white horse, a big robust male who could carry a mech Kestrel's size. Kestrel was self effacing, low key and still on a recovery path from a very long traumatic experience on Cybertron during the Occupation. His demeanor made him seem less robust and assertive than the others in his family but he was no small bot. He sat his horse, gathering the reins, then smiled at Ratchet. "Last one in the arena is a slowpoke." He tapped his horse and the big animal, one of those belonging to Prowl and Optimus began to move toward the big open doors.

"PONY UP, POSSE!" Alor said as he clambered onto his horse. The rest were helped or climbed on by themselves, then began to wander into the huge covered arena. The seating which surrounded the arena was empty of individuals as they clip-clopped in.

Ratchet rode in with Anders, Edict, Laslo, and Delphi, sticking with them because the first three had never ridden before. "If you want them to go faster, gently tap their sides with your heels. Gently." Ratchet did and he began to lope ahead. Edict followed, then the others as they cantered around the big open space together. Soon, fourteen individuals were riding around the big open space, laughing and guffawing as they circled and came back around.

Edict glanced at Joon with a big smile. "I think I love this. How do you get to do this?"

"I think you come and take a spin during open riding joors, Edict," Joon said as she galloped past on a small spritely mare.

"I think I'm going to come," Edict said as Laslo and Anders caught up with him. They rode along together, enjoying the freedom of the activity. "I think this is wonderful."

"I like this a lot," Laslo said. "I didn't know that riding was so much fun. Lucien would never do this. I may have to do this by myself."

"Ask him to come, Laslo," Anders said. "I don't care if Burris wants to or not. I like this."

Madura rode along by himself, then grinned at Ratchet as he galloped up, then slowed to match his stately pace. "How are you doing, Madura?" he asked.

Madura glanced at him, then grinned. "I think I'm going to need some practice. I do like this very much. I wonder if Proteus would do this with me?"

"Ask," Ratchet said. "You know … when you talked about not having friends and having to support the bond, it made me sad. There's two in your bond, Madura. You have as much right to do what you want as he did."

"I know," Madura said. "Its weird to remember it. I had a lot of freedom growing up because of Atar spending his time and effort on my brother. I could come and go. I liked to try things, anything. When I bonded, it was like going into prison. I love Proteus. He's a good mech but it meant that everyone watched you, scrutinizing you for advantage. I felt constricted and then, I didn't do things. I stayed home and never came out."

"You're out now," Ratchet said. "You're riding a slagging horse," he said with a laugh. "You get as much say here as anyone else. Remember that. Get Proteus here. Ask for one of my horses. Ride them."

"How many horses do you have, Ratchet?" Madura asked as Bluestreak and Delphi flashed past, racing each other around the arena.

"Prowl and I have about 11 horses each. One of them is strictly Sunspot's horse. The others, they belong to us and we lend them out to the Watch and to the Autobot Scouts. They have a merit badge to earn that pertain to horses. Since we run that, we got the horses. Win-win," Ratchet said.

"You have an interesting life," Madura said.

"You can, too, if you want it badly enough," Ratchet said. "I see nothing but blue skies for you. I don't see why you can't jump in and do whatever you want. How's Proteus doing now?"

"He's terribly happy. He works at the Halls of Order. He liked what he does and who he works with. He's relieved to be useful. Having him in the prison was so terrible. He wants to do something that helps. Heatout has been very kind. They have conversations together. Proteus has a very good education and they have things in common," Madura said. "It's been good and for me, it saved me, Ratchet. If Prime hadn't done this for him, I'd be housebound, still."

"Then good all around," Ratchet said as the group including Kestrel rounded the bend and passed them at a gallop. "Look at that."

Laslo, Anders and Joon who came up on Ratchet and Madura laughed and waved at the group as they headed onward. After a bit of riding, they sped up and soon were galloping around the arena as well. Laughing, waving, sobering up a bit, they continued for a while, then rode toward the gates again. One-by-one, they rode through it and headed toward the big paddock where half a dozen grinning mechs and two femmes waited. Joking and guffawing, everyone dismounted, Alor falling to the ground when he tried, then the horses were turned in. They were hugged and kissed, then the group gathered to go.

Alor bowed, then smiled with his arms spread wide. "THANK YOU, HORSES! THAT WAS FUN!"

A good fourteen horses gazed passively at Alor before Bluestreak and Delphi grabbed his arm. Walking out, some of them singing loudly, the group walked to the sidewalk that would take them to the Fortress Metro Station and onward to destiny.

-0-At an apartment high in the sky

"Atar, what are you doing now?" Hero asked as she stood on the floor watching Ironhide at the sink.

"I'm putting Halo into her sleeping onesie," he said. "She's so small, she might need extra warmth. Ada told me to do this."

"He did?" Hero asked as everyone in the room watched the big mech gently handle the tiny femme with the glittering 'hair'. "Can I help you?"

"You can keep talking to me," Ironhide said. "I think I need confidence. You can give me confidence. It's been a while since we had one this small."

"Okay," Hero said. "How do I give you confidence, Atar?" she asked sweetly.

"You keep talking to me. Just hearing your voice makes me feel great," Ironhide said with a grin. He slid Halo into a Seeker bag, then put her on his arm. Looking down at Hero, he grinned. "I couldn't have done it without you."

She smiled like the sun, then followed him back to his chair. He sat, then she looked around. "Your cookie plate is empty."

Ironhide grinned. "Whatever will I do?"

"I'LL GET YOU MORE!" she said with excitement. Taking his dish, walking over to the kitchen, she put it on the floor and looked at the counter.

"Do you need help, Hero?" Tru said as he leaned forward to watch her.

She smiled at him. "I GOT THIS, TRU! THANK YOU, THOUGH!" She turned to the problem at hand, then tugged a chair closer. Climbing up, she gathered a few of the cookies Ironhide liked, then looked at the plate on the floor. Carefully, slowly, she aimed each cookie to drop on the plate. They landed, all six of them. She climbed down, then bent to grip the plate. Dragging it slowly and with effort toward his chair, she finally reached it. Everyone in the room watched her, mesmerized by her plucky tenacity.

Ironhide leaned over the chair to pick up the plate and put it on the end table next to it. Looking down at his daughter, he watched as she clambered up, moving to sit on the arm. She picked up a big cookie and held it up to him. He leaned down and took a bite. Chewing it a moment, he grinned. 'Thank you. That was amazing."

She smiled with great happiness. So did everyone else.

-0-At Macadam's Old Oil House

They pushed tables together and sat amid the crowded bar filled with youngling mechs, a few femmes and a bunch of younger soldiers. It was noisy, filled with laughter and talk, and nearby, pool and dart games were going strong. They ordered, then sat back with grins. Some of them were starting to sober up and that wasn't going to do. Miler grinned. "There's a lot of good looking mechs in here. If I were several eons younger and single, this would be where I would come."

"We never did. I never did, anyway. What about you, Madura? Edict?" Joon said. "We never got to just run around in my family. I have never enjoyed myself so much just running around tonight."

"No, we never did," Edict said. "If it wasn't school, it was clubs and hanging out helping the family do this and that with the career."

"I got more freedom and I used it," Madura said. "I got to go around the city as long as I didn't get into trouble."

"Lucky you," Laslo said. "I was set up to go to University and make something of myself. It took a long time to find out what I liked. Futurism and planning, that was fun." He sat a moment. "Both of them deal with freedom."

It was silent a moment, then a fight broke out at a pool table. Everyone turned to watch as two big mechs who worked as bartenders and bouncers walked over with crowbars. The argument settled almost immediately, then it all began again.

Joon grinned. "That looked like it was going to be something."

"WE AREN'T DRUNK ENOUGH!" Ratchet said. "WAITER! MORE!"

They would get their drink on.

-0-At the top of the world

The last mech wandered out, leaving the mess behind at Ironhide's insistence. Six of the big kids volunteered to stay to help but were let go to make it home. They were also required to message that they got there since the night had arrived. Games were long past over and there would be a lot of fights and hoo-haw out there. They left at last leaving Ironhide with Fireball, Genesis, Quasar, Hero, and Halo. The other infants were grabbed by their grandfathers and carried off with them. Glancing around, Ironhide grinned. "We better police this space, infants. Old mech will slap us around if we don't."

The three big boys grinned. "ON IT!" they said. It was amazing how fast they cleared the place up and put things to right. Hero would straw boss from the top of the table. Ironhide would sit in his chair with a grin and his latest dollie.

-0-On the sidewalk heading for the next bar

Prowl weaved beside his ada who was feeling no pain and Bluestreak. Everyone was feeling awesome as they walked along the street heading for the club. It was a dance club, one with music, good food and better drinks. The streets were filled with mechs and femmes heading together for fun. Everyone was in a good mood as they went their way. They reached Club Domino, then entered. It was loud and the dancing was going hard. They reached a table near the wall and sat. Ordering drinks, they began to get loaded, laughing and telling jokes when a small mech with a great aura walked to their table. He paused, then laughed. "Well, hello!" he said with a giant smile.

Everyone turned to look. Then Ratchet smiled gigantically himself. "MISTERMASTER! YOU SLAGGER, YOU! HOW YA BEEN!?"

-0-TBC 11-1-17 edited 12-25-17

ESL:

self-effacing: humble

plucky: tough, never give up

tenacity: sticking to something until its done, the act of doing it