A/N: And we are getting to meet a new character entering the Autobot side! Woah! I was particularly excited for this one she is one of my favorites to write for. Also I'll be posting bio's and stuff on my profile for this story and some other stories I got so keep an eye on that! Anyways, next chapter will see the events of Masters and Students as well as some time before that episode, but enjoy the introduction to the newest Autobot!

Chapter 9-Wanted Endings, Desired Beginnings

? POV

"What price are you willing to pay?" I mumbled to myself the question, it's a question I've always been asked and have asked.

The last time that question hung in the air was the last time I saw combat. And that was 5 years ago, during a time when my newly found party and I traveled the world together, in search of monsters and loot. Now, they've settled, to rule the newly freed Kingdom of Barovia from the clutches of a vampire count.

Of course I've settled as well, becoming the first Headmaster of the Ravenloft Academy and the Royal Archmage of the Barovian Council. Being the head of school for magic and sitting on the Barovian Council is tougher than I could've realized and it has run me down ragged at points.

But, the one thing that's freshened up my life once in awhile, where my other...hobbies. Not only do I further research and study in my own school of magic, but I am sent out by the King himself for...diplomatic missions. Such missions that his regular diplomats couldn't complete for him.

Truth be told, some question if they just replaced a bloodthirsty tyrant for another, although he literally doesn't crave blood unlike his previous vampiric predecessor.

The reasoning is quick frank, ever since he came to power he's being establishing Barovia as a country not to be messed with. Through sheer diplomatic power he has conquered many smaller countries in expanding our own. Nine times out of ten, his usual diplomats can pull these feats off, but the ten percent of the other times...well my services are called in.

I may be a highly respected, intelligent wizard of the arcane, but even I have...needs. I may dress in black, be of the taller and stronger races, but even I like to feel pleasure from time to time, and what better way going about it then being productive at the same time!

Anyways, that's just some of the things I did to pass the time as the years went on. But now, it is no longer enough.

Nothing I do, no matter what, satisfies the hunger growing within me.

The darkness...the power, it beckons to be unleashed in its full glory.

I've done all that I can in this universe, this kingdom is at its height, my friends have settled with families. Even my King, my friend who I spoke most too, was beginning to stagnate in his conquests at his older age. The people around me bore me, and they age, while I do not.

As the Headmaster of a school for mages and as the Archmage to the King himself, I've found ways to put off my demise.

After all, it's the School of Necromancy's thing, to control death and undeath.

And yes, I am a Necromancer, some may say it's an evil practice but I beg to differ, it's what you do with said power that really matters.

That power, it wishes to be released in full, not just in little burst as I have for several years. I have wasted this world, I have seen all it can offer, all it can be. It's time for something new, refreshing, thrilling.

So, in secret, deep within the twisting bowels of Ravenloft Castle, I began to experiment with a magic mirror I had discovered on one of my diplomatic missions. It said to reveal other worlds, different planes of existence, like the Astral Sea, or the Nine Hells and so on and so forth.

But I wanted to push it beyond that, push beyond the unknown planes beyond the boundaries of what we knew. To break into another universe itself. And to make that portal more than I spying glass but a portal to take me there.

That is when I met someone...strange.

A being of metal with no lower half but floating tendrils of metal, and a mask covering all but it's green glowing eyes. He told me of another universe, far beyond my own, and he wanted me to come and aid him.

It was an interesting offer, one that seemed too good to be true.

So, over the months we talked, shared things about our own works and our worlds. He told me of his, his descendants at war for centuries and of others, like me, who were helping to end the carnage. It seemed there was no set plan on how to end the war, the Primes just wanted it done.

As he spoke of his world, I also spoke of mine, how I came from an unlikely beginning in the mountains, living in a tribe of Goliath raiders, being the outcast of my own people...well, lets not get into that well of secrets just yet.

As we talked over those months a connection was formed, one of a colleague who was just as interesting in life and death as I was, someone I could finally relate too.

Finally, I made up my mind.

It was time for a fresh start, one not on this world or any, but in a new universe with new goals.

This also meant I could study his people biology, they were so interesting, including their legends of the afterlife and death.

There was only one problem, I had to die in order for it to work.

Well, it really wasn't a problem, but I still had to die, somehow.

The easiest solution we came up with was simple, since Ravenloft was perched high on a mountain top, the edges of the castle, it's defensive walls were built right into the cliffs of the mountain and it was a long drop to the valley below.

Climbing to the wall I looked to see if the guard was to be seen anywhere, clear for now I looked down at my doom below. The day was dark, an overcast day with lightning striking through the clouds as rain began to pelt down on me.

It didn't faze me though.

I stood their, smelling the ozone and rain, my black dreaded hair drenched and waving the wind, my black dress soaked and heavy, my cloak also damp. My corset becoming tighter at becoming wet, my black spellbook hooked to my belt.

I closed my light violet eyes, my white skin that held black tattoos of arcane runes didn't sting at the cold or the rain.

I pulled in a breath, stepping onto the edge.

Smiling I opened my eyes, raised my arms and took a step, off the wall.

My smile grew wider as I fell, looking back up at the disappearing walls of Ravenloft with satisfaction...until I hit something hard and felt my back break as I became impaled on a jagged rock.

The world faded into pain and numbness, I smiled the whole way through, savoring the pain for but a moment until I felt death's claws snatch my soul.

I was the first Headmaster of Ravenloft Academy and the Royal Archmage of the Barovian Council.

I was the Goliath Wizard of Necromancy and a member of Dragonslayers.

I was Fraya Stormbringer...and I am dead...but not for long.

I gasped or more like-vented. My optics flashed anew as they stared up at the night sky. I stared at the beautiful wonders in the sky, remembering as a child staring at them, before bringing myself to reality.

Sitting up, I now look to see I lay on a raised platform, a table made of stone. The cavern walls were dark, made of some type of volcanic rock. There was a large hole that led to the surface above the table, allowing moonlight and starlight in, above the hole was thick jungle with barely enough room at the top of the canopy to let light in.

Around me surprisingly was my old equipment but more advanced, microscopes, centrifuges, chemistry equipment etc. It would help with the study of Cyberology. Also I had access to new equipment, a computer that was already hacked into the Autobot database and Decepticon servers.

I smiled as the torches alight with purple flames, alighting the whole of the chamber. There were other tunnels that led off into other areas, each I knew what held.

Before I had died, I had discussed with Quintus Prime about setting up my own research base. So as to not be interrupted by the team I chose to sign up with, the Autobots.

So the other tunnels led to a chamber holding several tubes big enough to hold the biggest of Bots and Cons, another held a pool of goats blood which is one way I stay so young, another held personal bedchambers and the last one led to a study.

The only way out of this place was by personal groundbridge, to which the device was held in my sub-space.

Near the computer was the same mirror I conversed with Quintus Prime, I got off the slab and walked over to it to inspect my new form.

I was a very tall femme, I surmised I was the same height as Optimus Prime. My protoform was the same white with black runes tattooed down my face crossing my light violet optics and down my neck going under my dress. My face was crested by 'headphones' like audios with a band of metal sticking up. Black cords hanging from my helm.

The dress had two parts, the dress and the cloak.

Cloak was held to me by a clasp in the front of the eclipsed sun, with metal going around my shoulders, the cloak hanging from the back, purple in color. The dress was under a metallic version of my white and gold corset, with a deep V black dress made of a soft metallic metal.

A triple moon lay on top of my wrist and on my hip was my spellbook.

Not to far away was my staff with the same triple moon on top of it with the crests floating next to an eclipsed moon.

"Hm, I can definitely work with this…" I hummed to myself as I turned in the mirror, I also took note that my HUD made it very clear that I was unable to transform, something I did want to have.

Magic was much better than transforming, so I opted not to be able to transform.

Smirking with sharp teeth and brushing my cords away with my claws I walked over to the staff and grabbed it. Walking to the computer I began to access the Autobot bases camera systems, I smiled as I easily got in and began sifting through the feeds before landing in the main hall.

With no audio I had no idea what they were saying, but the humans were talking to the medic, mostly disheartened but for the girl my system identified as Sierra. It seemed what they said made the medic slightly angry and made him stomp off, with the others snickering to themselves at something being said by the others.

Sighing, I turned off the computer, the sun light now cresting into the room.

"So, my chosen, how has it been so far?" A familiar voice asked, looking into the mirror I saw the visage of Quintus Prime.

I chuckled, "I've not done much other than spying and, while I love doing that, I still need to establish myself among them."

He hummed, "I have an idea, but first, you need a corpse correct?"

"Yes," I said with delight, "I need a cadaver in order to study, dissect and all, and maybe raise from the dead while I'm at."

I could he was smirking under the mask, "Well, why not kill two birds with one stone, I will give you coordinates to recent battle where they defeated a warrior, and their, you will meet an Autobot."

"Which Autobot?" I asked curiously.

"You'll see…" He said slyly, I rolled my optics and grabbed the remote groundbridge.

As said, the coordinates were there, and not far from the Autobot base either. Giddy with excitement I opened the portal, seeing in person was so different then just hearing about it from the ancient Prime, smiling wider I strutted through the groundbridge to the other side.

My light violet eyes danced around the new features that surrounded me, the canyon was tall, even for my height. Walking forward I finally reached where I was to find the body. There, in the canyon was a pile of rocks, definitely made by Cybertronian servos, a grave marker.

The power swelled within me again, wanting to reanimate the corpse that lay beneath my feet. It had been so long since I had performed the spell, I was eager and I suppose it was better than me dragging it through that portal and into my labs.

Twirling my staff I stabbed into the ground and began muttering arcane words as my optics turned completely black. The ground cracked and glowed with a dark light, the cracks spidering out and glowing a deep onimus color. I could feel the power reach the lifeless corpse.

A fluttering sensation hit my spark, not from the spell but from my senses, someone was watching.

I hummed aloud slightly, and my smile widened as I now understood the presence to be of an Autobot.

But for now I focused on what stirred beneath me. The power surged through the lifeless corpse and the undeath awoken within it. I tore the staff from the ground, the light fading and my optics returning to the light violet.

I waited for a moment, before suddenly a servo burst from the ground and a sizable Decepticon crawled out of his tomb. He stood at my height but was slouched, his body dented and destroyed, clearly in a fiery demise. He groaned an eerie growl but remained as he was, awaiting command.

My first time using the Animate Dead spell in such a long time, it was thrilling.

As I petted his helm I called out, "I know you are there, come out, and speak like a decent mech."

I heard cursing and the sound metal peds approaching cautiously, finally I got a good look at my peeping tom. He was quite smaller than me but not much, his orange and white paint were dulled in the night sky that overtook us. His blue optics filled with worry, curiosity and a hidden emotion I couldn't quite identify.

He was slightly trembling, his plates rattling ever so slightly in fear...maybe that was the emotion he hid? No, no...that's not right.

I smirked and he took a small step away as I stood tall and proud over him.

"Now, who might you be? You don't seem like the warrior type, what are doing out here?" I asked, my smooth voice trying to take the edge off of him, if only to have him spill his secrets.

He vented in and said, "I-I don't know...I just needed some...fresh air…"

He was lying through his fucking denta, oh how adorable!

"Really? Alright then," I said before looking back to my new undead, "Did you know his name?"

He seemed startled that I asked such a thing, he nodded, "His name is Skyquake."

"Interesting name, what's yours, my thrall?" I purred as I stepped closer to him, he backed away, unsure of my presence until he hit a wall.

He seemed unwilling to answer, only staring me down with a neutral expression, though his body betrayed his fear.

"Come now," I cooed, leaning down and close to his face, cupping his chin in my claws. "Don't be rude." I warned.

He seemed to steel himself before answering, "Ratchet."

My smile lightened and I let his chin go, standing to my full height and backing away, "Was that so hard now?"

He said nothing, but he looked relieved not to be so close to me. Though I could hear his cooling systems kick in, hm, I like that sound.

"Now, you are with the Autobots, correct?" I asked him, walking towards my undead Skyquake.

"Yes." He murmured.

"Good, I want to join." I said, inspecting Skyquake.

He seemed to freeze in the corner of my optic, staring dumbfound at me.

"YOU JUST RAISED THE DEAD?! WHY DO YOU WANT TO BE AN AUTOBOT?!" He screeched, his anger and confusion overriding his fear apparently.

I growled, never liking being yelled out, he immediately regretted it as I said.

"Because, Ratchet, I have my reasons and a friendly note, don't tick off the Necromancer in the room, it will get you dead." I hissed, leaning over the smaller mech who simply gulped and nodded.

"Good." I returned to my smooth voice. "Don't worry about Skyquake, his going to a place that will keep him safe."

I opened a groundbridge, psychically I ordered him to stand watch over the base. Slowly, he walked through and I closed the bridge behind him.

"You have a personal groundbridge?" He asked, eyeing the device.

"I do, maybe I'll tell you where I got it, if you behave, my thrall." I said with a smirk, overtime it seemed his fear waned and he became more...assertive.

"I'm not a sparkling, don't talk down to me!" He growled, though specks of fear remained he was becoming more of a problem to me.

"Whatever you say, my thrall…" I said, "Now, are you going to talk all day or are we going to meet your Prime."

"In a minute, what is your name?" He said, his fierce blue optics now remained, no fear left.

I said it without a single thought, "My name is Cenotaph, pleasure to meet you, my thrall."

…

…

"Stop calling me that…"

"Heh, never."