A/N - Just like Chapter 10 of my previous Frozen story "The Polar Express but its with Frozen characters", this chapter is created mostly from scratch. Instead of developing the humans, though, this chapter exists mainly to develop the Autobots a little more before we get into the climax and ending.
Also, I like seeing reviews! I know people are viewing this, please share your thoughts!
And now, without further adieu, here is Chapter 16 of Frozen II with Team Prime.
Several long hours had passed. Optimus paced around the bottom of the Well of Ahtohallan. Elsa remained a lifeless, frozen solid ice statue and Ratchet remained in vehicle mode several feet away, facing away from both of them. The walls were too high and slippery to try to climb out, there weren't any visible ways to simply walk or drive out, and even if he was his original size he couldn't jump out. He already tried communicating with the other Autobots, but he was too far away and his com-link was damaged from the fight with the Water Spirit. Suddenly getting an idea, Optimus grabbed the Star Saber off his back and held it in his right hand. It started glowing a bright sky blue. He closed his eyes and suddenly, he could see the other six Autobots. They sat around a small area in a cave, a ways away from Anna.
"If any of us needed saving, Optimus would've found a way. We didn't. Simple as that." Said Arcee.
"We don't actually know what Optimus would've done because he's not here!" Exclaimed Bulkhead.
"You're pretty good at stating the obvious, Bulk. Anything else you'd like to mention that we already know?"
"Nothing I can say in front of the children." Said Bulkhead as he and Arcee closed their fists, looking like they were ready to tear into each other.
"Hey!" Yelled Smokescreen, who knew that Bulkhead was referring to him and Bumblebee since they were significantly younger than the other Autobots.
("We're not that young!") Bumblebee beeped.
"Soldiers, we may not be on Cybertron, but military protocol remains." Ultra Magnus said in an attempt to get the 'bots under control.
"My apologies, sir." Said Arcee.
Bulkhead, however, let out a frustrated yell as he slammed his fist down on what was left of the torch, extinguishing the little light it still gave off in a sudden burst of embers that went out in seconds. He, Bumblebee and Smokescreen re-activated their chest headlights.
"Bulkhead!" Called Wheeljack.
"What?! You needed that?! The only thing I need is our head honcho back!" Bulkhead angrily yelled.
Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Ultra Magnus closed in toward each other and got into a heated indistinct argument. Wheeljack and Smokescreen stood next to each other a ways away from the commotion.
"I'm... not sure I wanna see them right now. Not like this." Said Wheeljack as he transformed into vehicle mode and drove away.
"You know what? Maybe I'm just not good enough." Said Smokescreen as he followed suit. The other four Autobots stopped arguing as they saw Wheeljack and Smokescreen driving away.
Bumblebee beeped. ("Uh, guys?")
"I'll bring them back." Said Bulkhead.
Before he could go after them, a bright, sky blue light appeared behind them with some strange noises. Arcee, Bulkhead, Bumblebee and Ultra Magnus turned around to face it. Wheeljack and Smokescreen saw it in their side view mirrors, hit the brakes, and turned around and drove back to the others. They both transformed back into robot mode as the light shifted into a perfect holograph-like display of Optimus holding the Star Saber.
"I heard a commotion." He said.
"Optimus, good to see ya!" Said Smokescreen.
"It's good to have you back, Optimus." Said Arcee.
Bumblebee beeped. ("Where've ya been?")
"Autobots, we found Ahtohallan. And the truth about the past." Said Optimus.
"Where's Elsa?" Asked Ultra Magnus.
Optimus paused. The other Autobots didn't know for sure that she was gone, and he was gonna have to be the one to tell them.
"Elsa... has... become one with the Allspark."
"That's what you say when someone kicks the..."
Whatever upbeatness that was present in Smokescreen's voice at first quickly vanished when Optimus stepped back, letting Elsa's frozen figure come into the range of the Star Saber and appear to the others. A downer silence fell upon them as they realized that she really was gone.
"Poor kid." Said Bulkhead, who now deeply regretted his last words and thoughts toward her the last time he saw her.
"With all due respect, sir, I'm sure Elsa knew the risks. Every Wrecker does." Said Wheeljack. He had witnessed no less than five Wreckers that he considered good friends fall during the war, so he was used to friends dying on him. But even with that much experience, he still hurt deep down on the inside.
"Of course." Said Optimus.
Ratchet heard Wheeljack's words and transformed into robot mode.
Bumblebee beeped. ("How exactly was she like a Wrecker?")
"They accepted missions no one else would. And many of them did not come back." Said Optimus.
Ratchet marched right toward Optimus, entering the range of the Star Saber and appearing to the others.
"Believe me, Wheeljack. No one was aware that this was possible."
More silence fell on the Autobots, they could tell that Ratchet was in a mood. Indeed, he hated himself for taking protective measures for him and Optimus that ended up not being necessary while doing next to nothing for Elsa. Since we weren't the ones looking for the answers, we didn't freeze. It was Elsa, who was supposed to be immune to the cold, who froze. And I couldn't stop it or reverse it. Between all those Autobots I couldn't save, Bumblebee's voice box, and now this, I don't know how much more I can take.
"Ratchet, you all right?" Asked Bulkhead.
"Hm? Yes!" Ratchet said, but the others could tell that he wasn't being honest.
"I know you're feeling helpless, but this doesn't have to be your burden." Said Arcee.
"That's, one way of looking at it, I suppose. Though the medic... could have done better."
"Ratchet, you did everything in your power." Said Optimus.
Another moment of silence came, but it wasn't long before Ratchet broke it.
"Puh-lease! Do you really think this is simply about my inability to restore Elsa?! Besides, making things feel better is Olaf's job!" Ratchet stopped. From what the Star Saber showed of the cave on his and Optimus's end, he didn't see the sentient snowman.
"How is Olaf?"
"Not so good, Doc." Said Wheeljack.
"We've lost one this week. By the Allspark, don't let it be two."
Unfortunately, it was two. Many moments passed as the Autobots in the cave informed Optimus and Ratchet of the death they had to endure after they got the truth about the past.
"And then he was just... gone. Like he turned to dust." Said Arcee.
Bumblebee beeped. ("Maybe if she hadn't pushed us away...")
"Neither blame nor praise will modify past events. But we cannot afford to allow more darkness to fall. The curse must end here." Said Optimus.
"Yes, Optimus." Said Ultra Magnus.
"It isn't fair. How many more times do we have to save a world? Have to fight for the survival of a home?" Said Arcee, who was not looking forward to their inevitable struggle to take down the dam.
"Regrettably, the struggle between creation and destruction is an eternal one." Informed Ratchet.
Bulkhead activated his left cannon and started heading towards the exit.
"I say we go claim a piece of the dam's miserable metal hide!"
("Count me in!") Beeped Bumblebee as he deployed the blaster on his right arm and started following Bulkhead.
"Wait, what about Anna?" Asked Smokescreen.
Bumblebee beeped. ("Smokescreen, I don't think she's in any condition to handle this.")
"Where's the patient?" Asked Ratchet.
It took a minute before the Autobots were able to find Anna. She was in the exact same spot Wheeljack and Smokescreen last saw her in several hours ago as she sat alone in that part of the cold, dark cave, weakly sobbing. The Autobots watched from a distance, deeply pitying her.
"Olaf, Elsa. What do I do now?"
Ratchet holographically scanned her from a distance. She didn't notice.
"What's the damage, Doc?" Asked Wheeljack.
"Anna has suffered massive trauma. She... will survive." Ratchet paused before he added the next part. "She may never be fully functional again."
Bumblebee beeped. ("Now how's this all gonna end?")
"How do you think? Tragically, of course." Said Ratchet.
"This isn't how the story's supposed to end." Said Smokescreen.
"Smokescreen, this may not be the finish that we had planned, but if this is indeed the end..."
Before Optimus could finish, he noticed Ultra Magnus slowly approaching Anna.
"Ultra Magnus, I don't think it's wise for you-"
Optimus stopped Ratchet with a hand as Ultra Magnus approached Anna.
"Anna."
Anna opened her eyes, facing Ultra Magnus. What caught her off guard was that his expression was not one of anger or seriousness, but one of pity.
"Ratchet didn't think he was good enough. But I'll tell you what truly isn't good enough. Giving up." Ultra Magnus secretly regained a lot of respect for Anna when she showed a willingness to destroy the dam despite what it would mean for Arendelle. He knew she was going through a lot, but he also knew that it was up to them to make the problem go away. As the other Autobots approached her, Anna got onto her knees and one hand, keeping the other close to her chest.
"If you push a patient too far too fast, you risk exacerbating their injuries." Said Ratchet.
It took an impressive amount of willpower, but Anna found it in her to stand up on both feet. Ratchet was astonished that she had it in her.
"Doc, the commander's ready." Said Wheeljack.
Ratchet looked up toward Anna. She nodded.
"All right, good. So what's the game plan?" Asked Smokescreen.
"The dam must fall." Said Anna.
Bumblebee beeped. ("But that would destroy Arendelle. Can't we leave it be and find some other way to please the spirits?") Seeing the state Anna was in, Bee had second thoughts on destroying the dam, not wanting to make her feel even worse.
"No. For you know as well as I that Runeard used the dam to cyberform this land. And that is one abuse of power that we cannot allow. Ultra Magnus, we will be out of range for some time, so I'm putting you in charge." Said Optimus.
"I would be honored." Said Ultra Magnus.
"Anna, are you certain you want to travel down this path?" Asked Ratchet.
Bumblebee beeped. ("You don't have to if you don't want to.")
"It's the only way to break the mist and free the forest." Said Anna.
"Then let's do it. For Elsa." Said Wheeljack.
"Now, Soldiers, please follow me." Said Ultra Magnus.
Ultra Magnus started walking toward the cave exit. The other Autobots and Anna were right behind him. As they scaled a rocky wall to get to the top, Optimus offered some final words.
"Members of Team Prime, Autobot and human, it has been my honor to lead you. On this day, the fates of two worlds hang in the balance, and the battle to come may very well be our last. But for Arendelle, for this forest, for our comrades Elsa and Olaf, we must destroy the dam."
Anna and the six Autobots reached the exit and made it out of the cave. With that, the Star Saber stopped glowing and the holographic transmission ended. Optimus and Ratchet disappeared from their view, and they disappeared from Optimus and Ratchet's view, leaving them standing alone near the frozen Elsa as Optimus put the Star Saber back on his back.
"Optimus, helping humans will only result in more tragedy." Claimed Ratchet.
"Your opinion is noted."