I only own Mariposa!


School

August 13th, 7:00 am

"Mariposa, it is time to get up."

I whimper softly. "Five more minutes…"

"Sweetspark, you need to get up. You have school today."

I groan. "No wanna."

Carrier sits beside me. "You have to, Sweetspark." He sighs. "I need to get your breakfast ready. Are you coming?"

I sigh before nodding. "I'm coming." I sit up and give him a look, so he knows I'm not happy about this.


Carrier sets me in my chair, then sets a yellow butterfly print plate with eggs, hashbrowns, and sausage on it in front of me, and a matching glass of milk. "Eat quickly."

"Where's Unca Blue?"

Carrier turns from the sink, where he's either packing lunches, or washing their cubes. "He is upstairs, getting ready for school. He has already finished his morning energon."

"What you gotta do today?"

"Excuse me?"

"Where you gonna be when I'm in school?"

"I will have to go to the base today. I am not sure if I will be home before you, but Bluestreak will be able to watch you."

"When you gonna try an' be a cop here?"

"Not for a while. I want to wait until you are fully settled."

He takes my empty plate. "Come on. I will help you get dressed."


Carrier shifts into holoform and helps me into a dark pink short sleeved polo, tan pleated knee length skirt, dark pink shorts, a navy blue blazer, white knee socks, and my new navy blue Mary Jane shoes with dark pink stars. He French braids my hair before twisting dark pink hair ties with glittery hearts on the ends, then slips my new silver tiara with pink rhinestones in a vine design with a heart in the center and a flower on the top on. He turns away for a moment before turning back to me with a light pink fleece Disney Princess scarf, and lays it over my shoulders. "This will help you with your stims, and hopefully help keep your hands out of your mouth."

"An' my tangle?"

"I hope that will help too. If not, I will talk with your Sire when he returns."


I follow him downstairs, where he hands me my new backpack and lunchbox, then sticks my pink butterfly water bottle into the side pocket on my new backpack. "I have requested that you be allowed to have this with you, but try not to drink it all in the morning. You have energon in your lunch as well, and I put your milk money in your pencil case, and your cell phone is in your backpack. Try not to play with it during class, and do not call me unless it is an emergency. I am only sending it because your Sire is not home, and I could not safely give the base comm to the school. They will have my cell number, but I may not be able to answer right away."

Bluestreak walks in wearing his green and gray uniform. "Is Blue taking me?"

Carrier motions him toward his new red lunchbox as I watch him slip his phone into his back pocket, then tuck his new iPod into his shirt pocket, leaving the headphones coiled up for now.

"Not this morning, Mariposa. I am taking you."

"Why Unca Blue getta take his iPod?"

"Bluestreak needs the sound to distract him from his trauma, remember?"

"Oh, yeah…" I look up at him. "Bu' why I no' ge' music at school?"

"We do not know as of yet how you will react. If it is determined that music will help you in school, then we will speak with the principal and your teacher. Until then, your iPod stays here." He steps outside and transforms. I smile and clamber in. While I didn't like school with my human parents, I think it'll be different here. "Buckle."


Freedom Academy

Carrier opens his door to let me out, and climbs out in his holoform. He helps me into my bakpack, and hands me my lunch, before taking my hand. I stop for a moment to watch Bluestreak walk into his school across the courtyard before a slight tug makes me turn back to my school, and Carrier. I can see the playground through the fence, and there's kids playing on the other side.

We step through the doors. I inch closer to Carrier nervously. I'd give anything to get to go back home right now. We stop outside my class, and I stand at the door for a moment before looking up to Carrier. "I'm scared…"

"There is nothing to be afraid of, Sweetheart."

"Hi, Mari!"

I glance behind us to find Annie, wearing the same thing I am, her hair up in a ponytail, with a big pink bow, and she has a horse backpack. I smooth my skirt, suddenly feeling really weird.

"It is okay, Sweetheart."

"Hi, Marianne. Remember me?" I shake my head. "I'm Ms. Weaver."

Carrier sighs. "She is kind of clingy."

"I'm sure Marianne will do fine, but I'll call if she has trouble settling in."

"Thank you." He kneels to me. "Now, be good for Ms. Weaver. Tell someone to call me if you need anything. I have to get to work." He then stands and walks out the door.

I wave after him until he disappears, then look down at my new blue and pink shoes.

"It's all right, Marianne." Ms. Weaver smiles as she leads me to my desk, then shows me my cubby. I walk over and put my supplies into my desk before walking over to put my things in the cubby with my name on it. Once I have all my things put away, and she's finished with Annie, she turns to both of us. "Come on. The other kids are outside. You can play with them until school starts."

"Th-thank you…"

Annie turns to me. "Don' you wanna play?"

"…Yeah…"

"Then come on!"


Freedom High, Bluestreak's POV

I step through the doors in holoform before glancing at my schedule. I started one of the MP3 books I had picked out when I first pulled in, but I'm still really nervous. What if no one likes me. What if I get lost, or I forget my combination? I mean, I'm used to needing a code, because our home on Cybertron needed a code… Oh, Primus! What if I have a flashback, or panic attack?

"Blake?"

I turn so fast I manage to trip over my feet. I barely remember to use human phrases, and completely forget to be civil. "What the Hell!?" It takes a moment for it to sink in that it's just a human, not one of the Cons. Why would they know I chose the name Blake for my holoform, anyway?

"Whoa!" He holds up his hands. "Easy!" He holds out a hand for me to shake, so I do. "I'm Jason, your student liaison. Mr. Kingston asked me to show you around. He warned me to be careful…"

I sigh heavily. "Yeah… Sorry about that. I have PTSD. I just wasn't expecting you to sneak up on me like that."

"Don't worry about it. Most of us are soldier's kids, after all. You're not the only one shaken up. I lost my Dad over the summer." He snags my schedule before looking over it. "You're in most of my classes. That's good. I'll be able to show you around."

"Thanks."


With Prowl, Third POV

Prowl pulls into the base and transforms before stepping into the base.

"How did Mariposa handle starting school?"

He sighs before turning to his leader. "She did not wish to go at first, but at least she did not ask to stay with me today. I am not entirely sure I could have rejected her request if she had…"

"She will get through this. Compared to what she has already been through, school will not hurt her."

He nods slightly before slipping several data-pads out of his subspace. "Here are the reports from Saturday. I appologize for not bringing them before now."

"It is fine, Prowl."


Freedom Elementary, Normal POV

I head back into the classroom a few minutes before the bell rings.

Once the bell rings, Ms. Weaver walks up to the front and smiles at us all. She's wearing a pretty blue dress. "HAPPY WEDNESDAY!" She announces. Everyone is excited. "We have a very special new student today." She nods to me, silently asking me to stand. I walk up front to stand in front of her. She smiles and lays her hands on my shoulders. "This is Marianne. She's a princess."

I wave nervously, but smile sincerely, before sitting back down.

Ms. Weaver is still taking attendance right now, meaning my classmates and I are bored. Some are talking, but I don't know anyone well enough to talk with them, so I'm playing with my tangle.

She slips her book away and starts talking about addition, and writing problems on the board.


Recess, 9:10 am

I run out to the playground and sit on a swing before studying my shoes. Annie's playing with Mozi right now, but I don't care. I want Carrier, but he told me not to call unless it was an emergency, so I can't.

"Hey, Mari!" I look up to see Annie with Mozi and three other girls. "This is Violet, and they're Sophie and Destiny. They're twins." She grins. "We're gonna play follow-the-leader. Wanna play with us?"

"Sure!"

While we're playing, I run into a railing, hitting my right eye. It doesn't hurt too bad, so I brush it off.


Bluestreak's POV

I step through the door to the art room. I can't help but wonder what Mari's doing right now, and if she's okay. She's so young, and she's going through so much. She's only six, and she's already been on a battlefield, and had to use her powers to save Jazz—her own Sire.

"What's on your mind?"

I turn to Jason. "My niece. She was just diagnosed with Asperger's disorder, and she started first grade today." I sigh softly. "Someone else had been raising her, and they abused her. Jazz found her a little under two weeks ago, so she's still settling in with us."

"I'm sure she'll be fine."


School, Art Class, 10:30 am

I'm sitting at my desk in the art room, painting a castle. I've always loved hearing stories of princesses, and I love drawing and painting castles. While I'm working, Daniella grabs the pink and lavender paint I'm using, and dumps it on my clothes. I look at the splotches of pink and purple on my new uniform in shock. That only lasts for a moment before I start to cry, causing Mrs. Connors to run to my side. "What's—oh, Sweetheart. What happened?" I shake my head. "You need to tell me, Marianne. If someone's hurting you…"

I look down, my voice barely a whisper. "Daniella."

"What?"

"Da-Daniella d-did i-it. She h-hates m-me."

She sighs before looking me over. "I can get the worst of the paint off, but we're going to have to call your father."

"We hafta call his cell. He's at work." I look up at her, and wipe the tears off my cheeks. "Wanna go home…"

"We'll see…" She sighs. "The office is right across the hall, and the door's by the entrance. I'll stand right here and watch you."

"Thank you." I run my sleeve over my eyes.


"Hello?" The woman at the desk looks down at me. "What's wrong, Sweetie?"

I look up at her with tears in my eyes. "'Ella pour' pain' on me. Wanna go home… Wan' Daddy…"

"I'll see what I can do. Can you tell me his number?"

I run my sleeve over my eyes, trying to dry them again, then reach up and hand my new phone to the secretary. I haven't memorized his cell phone number yet, but I know it's programed in under "Daddy". While I wait for her to hand it back, I slip my thumb into my mouth.


With Prowl, Third POV

Prowl looks up when he hears a ring. It takes him a moment to realize it's the cell phone he bought two days ago. He activates his holoform and picks it up. "Yes?"

"Peter Tranquilli?"

"Speaking."

"This is Julia Osorio. I'm the secretary at Freedom Elementary."

"Do not tell me Marianne is in trouble already."

"Not exactly. One of her classmates poured paint on her, and she's in here crying, and she's begging to go home. Are you able to come in?"

He sighs before checking the time. "I will be there in ten minutes. Are her fingers in her mouth?"

"What kind of question is that?"

"She tends to chew or suck on her fingers. The psychologist believes it is one of her stims, and we are attempting to keep her from harming herself. That being said, she does not have anything safe to chew on with her. We are unable to order something she can use without a bank card, and cannot make something for the same reasons. We have been using pacifiers at home, but I did not wish to have her tormented for using one."

"I understand, and yes, she does. Her thumb."

He sighs heavily before getting ready to leave. "I will be later than I originally stated. I need to pick something up. Thank you for calling me." He hangs up, then returns to his normal form before reaching for his comm. "Optimus?"

"Yes, Prowl?"

"I am needed at Mariposa's school. I will try to return as quickly as I can."

"Take as long as you need."


Thirty Minutes Later, Normal POV

I look down to my paint-smeared uniform, my thumb still in my mouth. I'm sitting in the office now, across from the desk, waiting for Daddy while playing with my new fleece scarf. It's the only thing I was wearing that's not covered in paint now. I've got my stuff from the art room beside me, and my tangle in my lap. Mrs. Connors was able to get most of the paint off my clothes, but I'm still not very happy, and I've got tears in my eyes. I just wanna go home.

I hear the door open. "Marianne?"

I look up. "Daddy!"

He steps over to the desk. "I assume you are Miss Osorio?"

"Yes. Mrs. Connors and Ms. Weaver want to see you in the art room. It's just across the hall."

"Thank you." He turns to me before crouching in front of me. After he pulls my thumb out of my mouth, he slips something over my neck and lays a hand on my shoulder. "I need to talk with your teachers, okay?"

I nod. "Wanna go home."

"I know, Sweetheart." He sighs softly. "I need you to think about whether or not you will be able to get through the rest of the day, while I meet with your teachers."

I nod again. "An' if I can't?"

"Then you will come to the base with me. Orion knows I was coming to your school." I look down at my paint-covered uniform. "We will stop at home so you can change if you decide to leave." He stands. "Can you stay here and wait for me?"

"Yes, sir…" Once he's gone, I look down to find a new binky on the necklace, and slip it in. I know he wants me to stop chewing on my hands.

With Prowl, Third POV

Prowl sits in one of the small chairs in the art classroom.

Ashley Connors turns to him first. "Do you know why we've asked you to come in?"

"I was called here because a child poured paint on my daughter."

Melody Weaver sighs. "Daniella's been terrorizing her all morning. I haven't had the chance to talk with her yet, but I was hoping we could find a way to deal with this problem without including Daniella and her parents." She leans back against the wall.

I sigh heavily. "I need to talk to her, so I can find the best way to help the two get along better."

"You can't fight her battles for her, Peter."

I scoff. "You obviously know nothing of her condition, Melody. Marianne has Asperger's Disorder, and she is not capable of fighting her own battles. I need to help her where I can." I sigh softly. "Now, I want to talk with Daniella, and I may be taking Marianne home. She is quite distraught."


Office, Normal POV

Carrier steps back in. "Come. We need to talk with Daniella."

I sigh, but follow him into the principal's office, sticking close to his heels. I can see Daniella is sitting in one of the chairs, and the Principal is standing in front of him.

Carrier holds out a hand. "We have not had the chance to officially meet. I assume you are Brandon Savage?"

"Yes." He shakes Carrier's hand before moving behind his desk and sitting. "I assume you're here for her?" He motions to Daniella.

"We are."

He stands and walks over to the door. "I'll give the two of you some time."

Once Mr. Savage leaves, I turn to Daddy, only to be pointed to a chair. I nod and sit.

"Daniella."

"Who are you?"

"I am Marianne's father."

"So you're the king, then?" Daniella's voice is full of disdain.

Carrier scoffs. "No." He sighs. "What do you have against her? Has she done something to hurt you?"

"No." Daniella scoffs. "She's no princess! She doesn't even act like one, she doesn't live in a palace—she's too normal!"

He scowls slightly. "How do you think a princess should act?"

"They're spoiled, so they're going to be bratty, and stuck-up! She's quiet, and timid."

"Maybe I don't want her to grow up thinking she has to be something she's not."

"So she's not a princess?"

Carrier sighs, and kneels to her. He's being overly gentle with her, even though she's hurt me. I know it's because Daddy's a Praxian, and a carrier. He's been teaching me about his race. "No, she is a princess, but she is also a child, and I want her to have as normal a childhood as she can. I am sure your parents would want the same thing for you." He scoffs. "Considering that you are the one acting like a spoilt brat."

"I am not!" She growls. "Marianne's got everyone here wishing they were her. No one wants to play with me. They all want to be around her, but she only plays with Annie! She doesn't notice the rest of us!"

Carrier turns to look at me, causing me to shrug and slip my new binky out. I don't want her picking on me again. "I don' wanna be teased. They only wanna be my friend because I'm a princess. They don' wanna be my friend because I'm me. They wanna hurt me like that." I look at the floor. "They like to make me cry, just like Daniella did with the paint."

Carrier looks down for a moment before turning back to Daniella. "Why did you pour paint on my daughter?"

"To put her in her place!" She's right back to being her jerky self. "All the teachers act like she's someone special! She gets away with everything, from disrtupting class and distracting everyone else, to getting all their attention when we're working on our own!"

Carrier sighs. "Marianne has Asperger's. Do you know what that is?"

"No, and I don't want to!"

He scoffs, and explains it anyway. "It is a neurological condition—it is in her brain—that causes her to be unable to interact well with her peers. She is autistic. Having a child with such a condition in a normal classroom environment means they need more help. Her speech and intellegence is well above that of a textbook autistic child, but that is normal with her condition."

"So she's retarded."

"No." Daddy turns to me. "The same was said about me in school. I do not believe the same about you."

"I know, Daddy. I'm okay."

"She simply cannot understand some things normal kids can, like sarcasm and idioms. She is simply different." Daddy turns to me. "Have you decided what you want to do?"

I nod. "Wanna go home…"

He nods. "Go get your things, Marianne. I will wait for you."


With Prowl, Third POV

After Mariposa leaves, Prowl turns back to Daniella. "I do not wish to hear Marianne complain about you anymore. If I do, I will make sure your parents, and Mr. Savage, know that I will take matters into my own hands. My daughter is special."


I run back down the stairs, my backpack over one shoulder and my maybe-ruined blazer over my other shoulder. When I get into the office, Carrier reaches down for my hand. "I have already signed you out."

"Thanks…"

He stops by his vehicle mode and kneels to help me in. "Mariposa, what happened to your eye?" He runs a finger over it.

"What you mean?" He moves over so I can see my reflection in the side view mirror. "Ouchie…" I rub it slightly. "Annie and I were playing Follow-the-Leader with a few girls at morning recess. I kinda…" I rub the back of my neck. "Ran in'a one of the posts…"

"I will have Ratchet look at it once we get to the base." He slides the seat forward. "Now, inside. We have to get you home so you can change, then I have to get back to work." He deactivates his holoform before pulling out. "You will have to eat at the base."