*This chapter is brought to you by Greek Mythology, the undead, and various Yandere tales. It is also a Decpeticon chapter, so no Autobots will be in this story. Viewer discretion is advised. Do not ingest the River Styx if you plan to break promises you don't intend to keep. If you or a loved one has experienced seeing Death in the face, we advise you to sit back and relax as your soul gets taken out slowly. We assure you, you will feel total bliss after it happens.
Enough with the ads already! Time to get this story started!*
Darkness...
Total darkness all around my very existence. I am the terror that walks through the night, the cold shiver that runs down your back, that uneasy feeling when you know someone is watching you...staring from the beyond.
Who am I you ask yourself as you read these words. Some of you picture the face of a skeletal figure with a laugh so cold and malicious that it makes you sweat. Some of you picture the face of a hot guy with tons of black locks cascading down his pale face. Others will just notice the weapon I carry around that severs the bond between the living and the dead.
I am the being knowned as the Grim Reaper, reaper of souls and destroyer of man. I only have the power to tell when a person is ready to die. My powers of necromancy have hailed for millions of years. People fear me, dread me, tell stories of my unholy wickedness.
But I long for a companion, someone to confide my inner feelings with. I desire the interaction between two lovers who are madly enamoured by each other. Someone to hold in my arms, letting me run my fingers through their soft locks. Someone who will have a laugh that chimes like silver bells. Someone who will look pass this facade that has shrouded my darken persona.
But who could ever love death?
"Ow! Why you stupid plant!"
It was another crisp fall day in the suburbs of the Drake house. The cons and Penny were knee deep in the garden out back, harvesting vegetables from beneath the soil. Penny had her orange hair up in a high ponytail, a red checkered bandana tied around her forehead. She wore a red shirt, dirty blue jeans, and her rainboots. White gloves were digging inside the Earth, pulling out the rich brown potatoes that slumbered there. Beside her was Megatron, who was humming a jovial tune while he helped her. His frame was caked with dirt, but he didn't seem to care. By the tomatoes, Knockout was holding a basket for Breakdown, who was placing the juicy hybrids inside. Dreadwing was uprooting the carrots, yanking hard as he fell on his bottom with a grunt. Soundwave was doing inventory, counting how much they were harvesting and showing it on full display on his faceplate. Lazerbeak was cutting down the vines of squash that had settled on Penny's fence, causing some to smash on an unsuspecting seeker's helm.
"Starscream you're being too loud! Some of us would like to enjoy the nice weather without your constant screeching!" Megatron scowled at the seeker, making him glare back. Penny swatted his servos, a sign that usually meant for him to behave. He grumbled at this, but stopped as soon as he pulled up a big potato.
"I wouldn't be so screechy if a certain bird knew how to aim!" Starscream said, giving the bird a look. "He's doing it on purpose!"
"Screamer, maybe if you ask him politely, he can drop it in your basket." Knockout said, giving him a smug look. "Breakdown response to manners when I ask politely." To prove his point, the cherry mech turned back to his friend/brother. "Breakdown, can you please place the tomatoes in my basket?"
"Why of course KO! How nice of you for asking!" Breakdown played along, putting a rather plump one in his basket. "See Starscream? It's all about manners!"
The seeker was about to go over there and show them what he thought "manners" were when another squash fell on his head. Penny sighed and wiped the mud off her boots. Getting up, she walked over to take the squash off Starscream's head.
"Perhaps I should assign you a different job. You seem to have issues with Beaky." She smiled at the drone who gave her a happy chirp back. "Even though you all live together, why can't you all see that you work well as a team!"
"How do we work as a team?" Dreadwing asked, placing the carrots he'd gathered into inventory.
"Well..." Penny pulled the squash off Starscream's helm and started to wipe him off with her shirt. "Megatron is the leader who shows how strong he can be!"
Megatron nodded, showing off by hoisting the potato basket over his shoulder. He liked how Penny had called him the leader. She respected his privacy and loved him like a son. He loved being admired by many, but he loved being loved by one.
"Starscream, you have the makings of a leader, but you lack understanding and self-control." Penny explained, patting his helm. "But you have a great mind that can whip up a good solution for any problem you will face."
Starscream smiled at this, liking the feeling of Penny's shirt on his helm. Ever since he was adopted into her life, he had grown closer to her. She was the reason he tried to be nice to others and the only person who listened to him rant.
"Now Soundwave obviously is the smartest one out of all of you. His emotions may not show themself, but he has a big heart and cares deeply for all his friends!" Penny placed the fallen squash in the decomposing bin, Lazerbeak on her shoulder. "Even his birdie friend and other animals."
Soundwave displayed a sparkly heart emoji at this. It was true that he had a hard time expressing his feelings and emotions, but he learned how to in subtle ways. He enjoyed spending quality time with Penny in whatever activity they were doing.
"Knockout has medical experience and Breakdown is the muscle. You guys are a great pair." Penny got the basket from Knockout and went over to the inventory.
Knockout blushed at that while Breakdown kicked the ground. The twosome were great when they worked together and enjoyed the company that each had given. Penny even spent time with both of them, Knockout taking her shopping and taking Breakdown to the playground. Even if it was just the two of them with her, they would share the time they spent with her.
"Lastly, Dreadwing is the most loyal guy you'd ever met. He will never let you down even when times are difficult." Penny got the basket that he was holding and placed it under the tree.
Dreadwing sighed happily at the mention of his name. His favorite thing to do with Penny was cuddling, and boy did he enjoy a nice cuddle. He often would sneak into her room at night to get closer with her. He loved the warmth that radiated her very existence.
"You all have something that helps me learn more about your personalities and preferences. Even though I have no idea where you guys are from, I want to protect you and love you for your differences." Penny opened her arms wide. "C'mon you guys know you want a hug."
The Decepticons laughed as they ran towards her with open arms. A family group hug was something not common in the Decepticons, but nevertheless it was enjoyable.
As I took my daily stroll through the world of the living, I happened upon a domicile that stood out from the rest of the neighborhood. Intrigued by its beauty, I walked inside. As usual, a cold chill surrounded the house with outlooks of death and destruction. This was to be my curse for all eternity I suppose. I heard voices coming from the outside. Walking to the sliding glass door, I saw the most beautiful woman I had ever seen in my long life. Her hair was orange and vivacious. Her skin was kissed by the sun's rays, but not much to mar her gorgeous flesh. The dirt on her face and hands didn't bother her like most modern women. Her light pink lips were soft and delicate, making mine tingle with anticipation. Surrounding her were strange creatures, bodies of purple, black, and one of red. They were playing with her in a luxurious garden, the late harvest of October underneath the tree. How long have I searched for a woman like this, one who embraced the darkness and turned it into light. Who was not afraid of a speck of dirt and enjoyed the company of the different.
She was the one I needed, the one I desired. But alas, she lives. If only she were dead then our paths could meet. I would take her to my underworld kingdom and show her the splendors of the dead. I would make her live forever with me and become my queen. She would bare my children, ridding herself of the ones she had.
My lust has grown strong for her. If this was indeed fate, then I must make her mine!
"Stay where I can see you guys." Penny called out, resting by her flower beds with Megatron. The rest of the Decepticons were scattered throughout the backyard, playing a game of tag. Penny sighed as she fell back, making the weeds puff out their small seeds.
"Megatron, promise me something okay?" She said, making the red eyed bot give her a curious look.
"What is it carrier?" He asked politely.
Before she could reply, a giant crack opened up beside her. Megatron watched as a cloak figure emerged from the ground, carrying a scythe in his right hand and extending a bony hand with his other. Penny stood in front of him, terrified at the hooded figure, but wanting to protect her son.
"Penny Drake, your time has come. Follow me into the Underworld to meet your fate." It's voice echoed like a memory from the past. Not waiting for her reply, he grabbed her wrist and brought her to a standing position. Then he threw his cloak over her, causing her to scream with fear. Megatron rushed forward to save her, but was knocked back from the scythe. He fell to the ground, his helm cracked a bit. The Grim Reaper gave a rattled laugh sounding like the rattling of bones.
"Did you really think you could stop the Grim Reaper child? I am one of the most powerful beings of the undead and not even children will be able to stop me!"
"Give her back! Give back our carrier!" Megatron yelled, alerting the others. They saw the Grim Reaper and ran towards them. The Grim Reaper noticed the rest of them coming and started to descend into the crack he'd made in the ground. Megatron leapt after him, only for the crack to seal itself completely blocking off any means of entering the Underworld. The mechlings wailed for her to return, but to no avail. The one who took this the worst was Megatron, who pounded the ground in anger.
"We have to get her back!" He said, eyes full of rage.
"Where did he say he was taking her?" Knockout said, trying to contain his anger.
"Someplace called the Underworld, wherever that is." Megatron grumbled. "He just snatched her up."
"Well we have to find a way to get to the Underworld!" Starscream said, worried sick.
Breakdown tapped his chin in deep thought. "I may know how we can get there. I have a friend..."
"Breakdown, where the heck are we?"
The cold autumn air hit the metal hides of the Decepticons as they stood in front of an old abandoned house. The iron gate creaked open as if it was expecting some visitors. Breakdown strolled down the cracked walkway without a care in the world while the others follow. Knockout and Starscream both looked as if they were going to freak out. Dreadwing visibly flinched at every little thing. Only Megatron and Soundwave remained impassive, showing no signs of fear at all.
"I told you I know a friend that could help us out. She lives here after all." Breakdown replied, reaching the front door. He pulled the dusty rope that hung outside and waited. A deep bell sound came from the top of the belfry as bats flew from them. Starscream let out a shriek while Knockout jumped a few inches in the air. There was stillness for a second before the door opened slowly, revealing a pair of glowing eyes.
"Breakdown?" It was Sera, the blind girl from his club. The pale skinned female gave a look of surprise as she had sensed his presence before he came. "What are you doing at my home? Did you need your fortune told?"
"No, but we do need your help." Breakdown said in urgency. "It involves the Grim Reaper."
Sera's eyes widen as she looked around the dead gardens of her house. "Come inside quickly and don't make a single noise. Be careful of how you toss that name around here." She grabbed their servos and dragged them in, feeling the minions of the reaper himself watching their every move.
Meanwhile in the Underworld, Penny had finally regained consciousness. She groaned, feeling the pain spread around her body. Blinking her eyes, she noticed she wasn't in the backyard anymore, but in a throne room of some kind. The decor was grimly and dark. Red drapes were over large windows, the walls were grey, and the floor was littered with bone fragments. She shuffled backwards, only to find herself against the throne. Gasping, she noticed that the throne was made of some black material and was glowing brightly.
Penny felt something around her neck, weighing her down. Looking down, she noticed it was a chain that connected her to the throne. She was also wearing some sort of dress, black and grey in color and fabric. Her hair was braided with black ribbon as a black crown rested on top of her head. Her feet were bare, making her feel the cold floor. Come to think of it, she was a bit cold herself.
"Where am I?" She wondered aloud, her fears rising by the minute. "Where are the kids? Are they okay?" She started to panic when she thought of how scared they must be.
"You are home." A deep voice rasped, coming from the shadows. "As for your children, you don't need them anymore. I am the only thing you need in your life now."
Penny saw the figure approach her slowly, thinking he was trying to come off as gentle. As soon as he stepped into the light, she gave a soft scream. His face was...hideous to say the least. There was no skin, only a skull with no eyes. His bony hands were grasped around a large weapon with a blade, which she figured was his scythe. A long black cloak covered the rest of his body. If he had eyes, he would've shown her the love he felt for her. He reached out to touch her face, only for her to back up a bit more. Growling, he grabbed her chain, forcing her to come closer to him.
"You will learn to respect me. After all, we were meant to be." He caressed her cheek, making her whimper. "I've seen the way you look at those brats. Why do you continue to think about them? I will give you more happiness."
"Y-Y-You monster!" Penny looked away from him, feeling violated and disgusted. "How dare you speak about my children like that! They give me more happiness than you could ever give me."
"I see...then I'll just have to reap their souls to get you to love me!" The Grim Reaper whistled loudly, summoning his minions. "Find those brats and eliminate them!"
The minions cackled as they flew out if the room. Reaper turned back to the frighten Penny and grinned.
"Now, we need to get you ready for your big day. How do you feel becoming my queen!?"
"I feared one day that he might do something like this, but to your mother..."
Sera had seated them in the living room, pouring herself a cup of hot tea and them some hot oil. Megatron refused to eat or drink anything, to distressed about finding Penny. Starscream took a tentative sip before polishing the whole cup. Knockout played with his spoon a bit. Dreadwing looked around at the family portraits on the walls. Soundwave quietly read the random books she kept on the coffee table. Breakdown sat next to her, watching her mess around with her tarot cards.
"Enough wasting our time!" Megatron pounded on the table. "How can we rescue Penny? What do you know about the Underworld?"
Sera calmly took a sip of her tea, wiping her mouth before saying. "I know all because I am a fortune teller and descendant of a oracle. Penny is fine, but she won't have much time before she is forced to submit to the reaper's pleasures."
"Who is the reaper?" Dreadwing asked, curiosity peaked.
"The Grim Reaper is a powerful entity that resides in the Underworld, a place where the dead souls of the living go after he takes them." She held up a card that read "The Death". "Here's what he looks like."
"I recognize him, that cloak and scythe are scary." Starscream whimpered, taking another cupful of oil.
"Which is why you need to go get your mother before he finds a way to kill her and make her live with him forever!" Sera placed the card back into the pile. "But your quest will not be easy. He's crafty and will use everything in his arsenal to make sure that you lose. Only through working together can you be able to save Miss Penny and get out alive."
"What do we need to do? How do we even get there?" Breakdown looked even more worried.
"I can open a portal there using my mom's magic mirror!" Sera stood up and smiled. "You picked a good day to come. Mom is out buying groceries and Dad is out of town. C'mon!" She ran upstairs, leaving them to ponder what she had said.
"Are you sure that we can trust her?" Knockout asked his best friend warily.
"She knows who we're facing and is sending us to the Underworld to save her. We have no other choice." Megatron walked forward, the others following his lead. They went upstairs to find Sera standing in front of a rather large armoire. The mirror on it was misted over, a white glow coming from the screen.
"This is a teleportation mirror. It should allow you to get straight to the underworld or send you to Cleveland. Either way you'll basically be in purgatory." Sera said, her blind eyes glowing with humor. "When you get there, you will be tested in all sorts of ways. You need to-"
"Work together, we know." Starscream sighed before placing his servos in the air. "We need to hurry up!"
"Agree, so show us the way Starscream!" Megatron pushed him forward and watched him disappear into the mirror. He went through along with Dreadwing, Soundwave, and Knockout.
" I'll be back, thanks for the help." Breakdown said, jumping onto the counter to enter the mirror. " If there's anything..."
He was stopped by a kiss on the cheek from Sera, who blushed slightly. "Just come back alive."
And with that, she pushed him through the looking glass.