I only own Mari!


Moving In

August 8th

I'm shaken awake by Carrier before being handed a silver stainless steel water bottle with a yellow gripper with a monkey graphic and a yellow lid, with a red wrist strap. Sire's nearby getting my clothes out. I climb out of my berth wearing my pink sleeper with a yellow and teal butterfly print. I have to wear sleepers here because the base gets really cold at night, and I don't have a lot of blankets, but I like them, so I don't mind. They're snuggly. Carrier promises I'll have more blankets when we move into the new house, since he's going to be working with the police department when Optimus doesn't need him.

Once I finish my energon, I change into an azure blue, lavender, and white butterfly print tank top, a purple cap sleeved shrug, blue jeans with butterflies embroidered on the left leg, azure blue socks, and new pink butterfly twinkle toes. I love my new shoes, because they light up, and sparkle.

Optimus knocks on the door before peering in. "My trailer is ready when you are, and I will be a comm away."

"Thank you, Optimus." He turns to me. "Mariposa?"

I grin up at Optimus. "Opt! Opt! I'm gonna live by Annie!"

He smiles down at me. "I have heard, Sweetspark. I understand you are excited?"

"Duh!" I hug his leg before running back toward Carrier and Sire.

"Calm down, Sweetspark. We still have to do your hair and load the trailer."

"Ah can ge' the twins ta help load up."

"Just make sure they do not break anything of importance." Carrier turns to me. "Come here."

"Braids?"

He smiles slightly. "Of course." He braids my hair, then slips my butterfly tiara in before standing. "Come on. We must help prepare for the move." He sighs. "I hope you will be able to transform into your robot form soon." I look up at him curiously. "You are currently stuck in holoform because of a lack of energon. The sooner we can get you back into robot form, the better." He sighs. "Though you will have to use this holoform to go to school…"

"I under'tand."

"You do?"

"I 'mart, Carrier."

He chuckles softly. "I know you are, Little One." He lowers a hand. "Now, climb in. I do not wish for you to be harmed."

I clamber in. "Let's go!"


Outside, 2 Hours Later

I run outside with Flutter and Blankie, and my new Cabbage Patch Kid—a blonde haired one in a velvet pantsuit. Her name's Lily, and she sleeps with me, like Blankie and Flutter, but she doesn't like to go with me like Flutter does. Right now, though, she's got to come with me, because we're moving to our new house. Carrier and Sire transform before Carrier opens his back door. I climb into my booster and buckle up before grinning. "I's ready! Le's go!"

"You need to calm down, Sweetspark."

"Can'! Too 'cited! I's gonna live nea' Annie!"

"I know, Mariposa."


It only takes half an hour for us to get there, but it's still too long for me. Carrier lets me out before moving to help Sire, and his brother empty Optimus' trailer. "Carrier?"

"Get up to your room, Mariposa. I will be up with your things soon enough."

"Epps and I can get the boxes, Prowl."

"Just be careful. I do not wish for anything to get broken."


Afternoon

I look around my room. Flutter and Blankie are in my arms, while Lily's back on my bed. Carrier and Sire got it set up before anything else, so I can play. The walls are yellow with a butterfly border, and there's a pink flower light on the ceiling, with blue and yellow butterflies hanging down, like a baby mobile. I have my own bathroom, and its pink, with pink and light blue tile, and a Strawberry Shortcake border. I know they've got someone putting an energon storage cabinet in the wall in the kitchen downstairs, and I can hear Carrier and Sire putting things away downstairs—human groceries to go along with our cover, and for me—and my Uncle down the hall.

I walk downstairs. "Carrier?"

He looks down to me. "Annabelle is not allowed to come over until we have settled in, Mariposa."

"But I's bored!"

"I am bored, Mariposa."

"Wha'?"

"It is "I am bored"." He sighs heavily. "A bored youngling, I am able to handle. A bored Jazz is a lot more difficult."

"Wha'?"

A gray mech walks over to me. "Jazz gets bored easily."

Sire, who is apparently shelving movies in the living room, turns to us indignantly. "Ah resen' tha'!"

I smirk. "Na, Sire. Ya resemble tha'." Carrier looks down at me, causing me to shrug. "I's—I'm smart." I mime something smaller than me. "I just little."

"Bluestreak, would you take Mariposa to the park so we may finish unpacking?"

"Of course!"

"Thank you." Carrier turns from the cabinets to lead me upstairs. "I need to help her change first. I do not want her good clothes getting damaged."


Carrier leads me into my room and helps me into a purple striped cap sleeved shirt with 2 butterflies near the hem, lilac leggings, a purple skirt, white socks, and my pink butterfly twinkle toes. "Now, I want you to behave for Bluestreak. I do not want to have to punish you."

"Who Blue?"

"He is my younger brother."

"Unca Blue?"

"Yes." He sighs. "Will you behave for Bluestreak?"

"Yes, Carrier." I glance to Flutter. "Can Flutter come?"

"What is with her and that toy?" He glances to her. "Fine, but do not lose it."


We return to the first floor and Bluestreak. "Do not talk her audios off. She is still a sparkling, after all."


Park

Bluestreak and I climb out of his vehicle mode once we reach the park. We aren't alone on the playground. There are a couple kids on the seesaw, three standing in line for the slide, several playing on a merry-go-round, and four on the monkey bars.

I run to the playground from the car with Flutter hanging from my hand by an antennae. "I wanna swing!" I turn back. "Push me ona swing, Unca Blue?"

He nods, and follows me as I run to the swings. I lean Flutter against the pole in the ground, then clamber on, and he starts pushing me. "Higher, higher!" I squeal happily. "Higher!" I look up when I hear someone scream, then hear a panicked sound from Bluestreak. "Blue 'k?"

He finds a kid stuck inside the dome-shaped monkey bars—the source of the screaming. "Yeah, I'm fine, Mari."

"What's wrong?"

He sighs. "It's nothing."

"Blue, you froze when tha' boy scweamed. You' scared. You' 'k?"

He sighs heavily. "I'm fine now, Mari. Just… a little jumpy. It's too quiet out here."

"Quiet? Kids are shouting, and playing! I's shouting and playing!" I sigh softly. "Got music?"

"Why?"

"I cans sing. Sire sai' I was goo'. I sing for you. It help." He sighs before starting a song. I smile at the intro. "I gotta sing fas' for this one!"

"You can sing fast?"

I nod as the lyrics start.

It was noon time, down time, break time
Summertime, Miller Time, anytime
She was looking pretty fine
A red light, green light, go
All fired upside downtown
She was shaking me all around
I was tuned in, going nowhere, second wind
Jonesing, drooling, feeling good, if you would

Oh yeah, by the way she moves
She's got me rolling in dirt in a white t-shirt
Breaker Breaker 1-9 she's a big ol' flirt
By now she's got me pretty tied up
Tied down, any way I choose
I got nothin' to lose

In like Flynn, I was
Looking for the win
Just trying anything, hey
Baby, where you been
All my life I've been looking for
Someone like you
Falling head over heels
Hey what can I do

Oh yeah, by the way she moves
She's got me rolling in dirt in a white t-shirt
Breaker Breaker 1-9 she's a big ol' flirt
By now she's got me pretty tied up
Tied down, any way I choose
I got nothin' to lose

Now I'm in the fast lane going 98
By now I know she can
Smooth operate me
I know now she's no goody two shoes
But hey I got myself nothin' to lose

Oh yeah, by the way she moves
She's got me rolling in dirt in a white t-shirt
Breaker Breaker 1-9 she's a big ol' flirt
By now she's got me pretty tied up
Tied down, any way I choose
I got nothin' to lose

Oh yeah, by the way she moves
She's got me rolling in dirt in a white t-shirt
Breaker Breaker 1-9 she's a big ol' flirt
By now she's got me pretty tied up
Tied down, any way I choose
I got nothin' to lose

Noon time, down time, break time
Summertime, Miller Time, any time
She was looking pretty fine
In like Flynn I was looking for the win
Just trying anything, hey baby where you been
All my life I been looking for someone like you
Falling head over heels hey what can I do

I got nothin' to lose, yeah

One of the mothers walk over. "She's good. Is she your daughter?"

He rubs the back of his neck. "No, she's my niece."

"I saw how you reacted to Bobby's scream."

"Bobby?"

"My son." She nods to the boy who has given up on screaming for no good reason, and is now trying to find his way out of his self-made metal prison. "You were in New York on 9-11, weren't you?"

"New York?" He looks it up. "Prowl?"

"What is wrong, Bluestreak? You should not have any trouble with a youngling femme at a park."

"It's not Mari, Prowl. *Sigh* It's America."

"And what of our new home?"

"They had a mild attack similar to Praxus the Earth-year Mari was sparked. She would have been five months."

"How did you learn of this?"

"One of the mothers asked if I had been there. I had to look it up."

"That will be good enough as cover for you, Bluestreak."

Bluestreak sighs before nodding.

"Blue! Wan' Polly Wolly Doodle!"

"What?"

"Pwease play Polly Wolly Doodle."

He sighs before looking it up, then plays it for me.

Oh, I went down South
For to see my Sal
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day
My Sal, she is
A spunky gal
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day

Fare thee well,
Fare thee well,
Fare thee well my fairy fay
For I'm goin' to Lou'siana
For to see my Suzy-anna
Singing Polly wolly doodle all the day

Oh, my Sal, she is
A maiden fair
Sing Polly wolly doodle all the day
With curly eyes
And laughing hair
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day

Fare thee well,
Fare thee well,
Fare thee well my fairy fay
For I'm goin' to Lou'siana
For to see my Suzy-anna
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day

Oh, a grasshopper sittin'
On a railroad track
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day
A-pickin' his teeth
With a carpet tack
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day

Fare thee well,
Fare thee well,
Fare thee well my fairy fay
For I'm off to Lou'siana
For to see my Suzy-anna
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day

Oh, I went to bed
But it weren't no use
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day
My feet stuck out
Like a chicken roost
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day

Fare thee well,
Fare thee well,
Fare thee well my fairy fay
For I'm off to Lou'siana
For to see my Suzy-anna
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day

From behind the barn,
Down on my knees
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day
I thought I heard
That old chicken sneeze
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day!

Fare thee well
Fare thee well
Fare thee well my fairy fay
For I'm off to Lou'siana
For to see my Suzzy-anna
Singin' Polly wolly doodle all the day!

He sneezed so hard with the
Whoopin' cough
Singin' polly wolly doodle all the day
He sneezed his head an' his tail
Right off
Singin' polly wolly doodle all the day

Fare thee well
Fare thee well
Fare thee well my fairy fey
For I'm going to Louisiana
For to see my Susyanna
Singin' polly wolly doodle all the day
For I'm going to Louisiana
For to see my Susyanna
Singin' polly wolly doodle all the day

Blue looks around, and sighs when he finds the mother has gone off to help her son, leaving us in peace. "That song would crash your Carrier for sure."

"Crash?"

Blue nods. "Your Carrier has a logic glitch. If something doesn't make sense, he'll crash." He sighs when I look up at him. "It means his processors stall. He's okay, though. Ratchet's a great medic."

"That why he wa' 'bused?"

Blue sighs heavily. "Yeah, Mari. That's why he was abused."

"I no hafta do nofin' to ge' 'bused. I jus' 'xisted. They no like me back in 'ndiana. I wanna be loud, they wan' me quie'. I wanna be quie', they wan' me loud. I wanna slee', they wan' me 'wake. I wanna be 'wake, they wan' me slee'. I wanna w'ite, they wan' me do yucky homework. I wanna pway, they wan' me work." I slide off the swing and grab Flutter before hugging her tight. Suddenly, I don't want to play anymore, and I want Carrier.

"Sounds like you had it hard, Little One."

"I's still haun'ed. I's… wha's tha' word? Tha' Carrier used to 'scribe you?"

"Traumatized?"

I nod. "I's tha'. I's scawed they gonna fin' me an' take me an' bea' me 'gain."

"We'll keep you safe, Mari. No one's taking my niece from me again." He laughs softly. "You talk more than I do."

"I's fun! I lika talk, and sing, and dance, and play!"

"Just like a youngling should." He checks the time. "We'd better get you home. It's almost your bedtime."


Evening

I run in and throw Flutter on the floor so I can hug Carrier's leg. "Carrier!"

"Did you have fun?"

I nod as Bluestreak hands my butterfly back to me. "Blue push me ona swing, and I singed!"

"Sang."

"Oh, Prowler. She's jus' a sparklin'. She don' hafta talk like ya do."

"Jazz went after some human food. I will prepare human meals once we have finished unpacking, but for now…" Carrier motions to the chicken leg and French fries on the table. "This will have to suffice."

I clamber into my chair and start to eat. "She don' seem ta min', Prowler."

"It is Prowl." He turns to Blue. "You will need to prepare for schooling, too. I am sending you to the same academy as Mariposa."

"When do you want me to pick up Mari's and Blue's uniforms."

"'Nifo'ms? No wan'." I swallow my mouthful of French fry before continuing. "Don't like uniforms."

"You must wear one, Mariposa."

"Awh." I look down before glancing up at him. "What it look like?" He projects the picture in front of me. "Okay, I wear. It pretty, Carrier."

He smiles slightly. "Thank you, Mariposa." He sighs. "Now, get upstairs and get ready for recharge. I will be up in half an hour, and I expect to find you in your berth."

"Yes, Sir."


I climb upstairs and change into a light blue long sleeved ankle length nightgown with ruffles at the neck, cuffs, waist, and hem, then climb into my huge bed. There's a bunch of warm blankets, so I can have the weight I need. No one else understands why I need so many blankets, but apparently Carrier does.

"Mariposa."

I look up. "Carrier?"

"Good. You are ready to recharge." He pulls my blankets down, and waits for me to climb in with Flutter and Blankie before pulling them up to my chin. "Recharge well, Little One."

"Okay. Love you." I roll over and pull Lily to my chest with Flutter, and rub at Blankie as I always do. It helps me relax. My old baby blankie's draped over my window seat—I have a window seat!—and Carrier's got curtains up on it and my other window, so I can sleep.