A/N: HEYO! Sorry for the long wait, but this is one of those big chapters I don't want to mess up with, so it took longer than previously thought to put it together. Didn't help that I've been given more hours at work so I am not home as often but that will soon change. Anyways, this is going to be several parts as putting it one seemed just to much for one and also, its fun! So today, we begin the saga of Dream Team, I'll be uploading for the other story soon, just have iron out some stuff but its coming, don't worry. But anyways, I hope you enjoy, this first part was a favorite of mine to write...hehehe...

So please, enjoy the show!

Chapter 15-Dream Team, Part 1

Cenotaph's POV

I stared in delight at what I had done. Everyone was scattered here in my dreamworld that I had so lovingly crafted. What did this dreamworld look like you say? Well, it was recreation, of my old home that was wrenched from the clutches of a vampire lord. You may or may not know it as the infamous Castle Ravenloft, the same from which I threw myself from, located in a recreation of it's home, Barovia, the land of despair and darkness.

Currently, I stood in the King's Bedchamber, a lavish room decorated with reds, purples and blacks. A large canopy bed rests on the northern wall and underneath it is a fine rug. There are closets and dresser galore, with a mirror on one wall. Many candelabras burn low light in the room as it's in the inner part of the keep. A few paintings and tapestries hang on the walls, one of which conceals a secret door. There were only two doors visible in the room, one to the hall and another to a private bath.

I smelled that old musty smell, I definitely got everything right in this dream, right down to the old King's style.

I was currently staring at the mirror, it clouded until I say who I want to listen in on.

Everyone was placed for a reason in each place, whether they were alone or not.

For instance, Ratchet, my beloved thrall was with me in the room, resting soundly on the bed. I had yet to concede consciousness to him in my dream but that was to come yet.

The others were farther scattered.

Starscream and Moonfall were currently in the North Tower Peak, one of the highest towers of the castle. Nerium and Bulletta are currently in the Chapel and Cliffjumper with Rafael are deep within the catacombs of the castle in Strahd's Tomb, the vampire lord that once ruled this castle and those in the lands below.

Of course, none of this is real, but I want to scare them a bit.

Why ultimately did I separate them in such a manner? Well clearly Starscream and Moonfall need to have real alone time together, Nerium and Bulletta were just random and Cliffjumper as well as Rafael were put there for bonding time. And of course then there's Ratchet, who is with me. I wanted to keep him close, even though this castle isn't the real one I still heard tales from the others of this castle's many traps and trickery, even though I have made the traps inert in this rendition.

I don't know, but I just didn't like the feeling of being away from him.

I sighed, and snapped my fingers, letting everyone including Ratchet awaken in their new found place. Hopefully, this will bring us all together, a little bonding exercise and then, then we can truly begin.

No One's POV

Slowly, but surely, Ratchet awoke from his groggy slumber. He tried to recall how he fell into recharge, and how he was now staring at a wooden structure above him. All his senses were on full blast but for his optics, he moved his servos and arms, feeling the softest and smoothest material he had ever felt.

The air was warm and what was beneath him was equally so, he wondered what was going on with his internal systems as well as none of them were booting up in his HUD. Then, his memory returned through the haze, the scraplets, Arcee and Optimus trapped in the arctic and then….Cenotaph….

He gasped, sitting straight up now only to be confounded by his surroundings. He was on a berth of sorts with draps coming down around it, colored black and purple, some sheer some not. The material on the berth was smooth and shone in the lowlight of the room, the light itself flickered and danced.

Then, he got a glimpse of himself as he reached out of the material draping around the berth.

He stared in shock at the very human-like servo stretching out from him. He looked down to see, indeed, his Cybertronian body was somehow transformed into a human!

His metal was now a tanned skin, with black, orange and white hair in a short cut. His blue eyes just stared straight ahead in shock, his fingers brushing against his ears to find strangely that they were slightly pointed. He knew he wore no shirt, for some reason but wore black pants that were skin tight with bands around his shins and a belt around his waist.

He muddled on how this could happen and where he was.

Then he stopped in his thinking, as he heard shuffling and movement beyond the canopy bed. Walking in front of the flickering light was a figure, moving slowly and carefully so as to not scare him, which did nothing for the medic, as the figure came closer to the bed he could now make out more feminine features, curves and slender features. She was tall by his estimates and something finally clicked in him that not only made the fear increase, but a dark excitement.

As the curtains pulled away his thought was confirmed.

Even in a organic form, he could recognize the necromancer femme any day.

She was still taller than him, with pale skin and black arcane tattoos down her face, her eyes still a light violet, her black hair dreaded and pushed back, her curves and posture. She didn't wear the same dress as her Lander form, her dress was a simple red dress that was shoulder-less and had a deep cut on both the front and the skirt. He could clearly see the arcane tattoos that spiraled down her entire body, ending at her toes.

"Cenotaph, how did we get here?" He asked, trying to sound confident and resolute when in reality he was falling apart on the inside.

She gave a knowing smile as she sat on the edge of the bed, "Don't you remember?" She playfully asked.

"Right, the spell. But, what is this place, why am I like this and what is going on!?" He said, his words forced and harsh as he started losing control over his own mind.

That said mind, was currently in turmoil. Not only was he organic but he was also dragged into this strange place of Cenotaph's making, which with the amount she knew about her made him worried. Then there was the fact that a very, very attractive femme was sitting very close to him and the very very dark and lustful thoughts springing forward from said situation.

Didn't help that she also smelled like the sweetest Energon.

Cenotaph, on her end, was enjoying the amount of turmoil in his eyes.

"Well, let's start with the first one, this is Castle Ravenloft, my previous home. Second, you are like that because I dreamed so and no, you are not human, you are a Half-Elf. And finally, you are here for a meeting of a secret cabal that has the goal of ending the war that has plagued your world for too long." She sighed, "Oof, that was a lot, did you get that all, my thrall?"

He stared at her with comically wide eyes, he cycled through what he was told several times before asking.

"Secret...cabal?" He said dumbfoundedly, Cenotaph found it cute when he was dumbfounded.

She sighed though, "This is going to take forever isn't it? Here…" She pressed her finger to his forehead with a slight bit of force.

Then, before he could question her, his mind was flooded with thoughts, memories and events of everything all of the Falling Stars had done since they arrived on Earth. Even the Decepticon side which through both of them for a loop, she didn't realize that the Prime's had nudged her to do this, allowing her to understand the other side while Ratchet was subjected to both sides.

Everything was laid bare, the mission, the Primes currently involved, and then for the Decepticon side, how Moonfall came to save Cliffjumper, how she and Fowler gained respect for one another, then her subsequent 'death' at the Space Bridge, then her finding Starscream in her ghostly form, then Nerium's arrival into the Decepticons and her integration, finding friendship with some, enemies with others and finding a kinship with Megatron.

After a moment, taking everything in, Ratchet finally said.

"Well that explains so much."

She giggled, "That was certainly interesting, now that we are all caught up, what do you want to do now?" She suggested moving slightly closer to Ratchet.

He seemed not to notice but asked, "Cenotaph...what was your name before you came here?"

She stopped, confused, "Why would you want to know that?"

He looked her in the eye, "Because I'm now very interested in you. After all, you were chosen by a Prime."

"Oh," She said, completely turned around. "Well, it was Fraya Stormbringer, nothing too special I assure you."

Ratchet scoffed, surprising her, "Don't be ridiculous, besides, that's a unique name and I quite like it. Though I still enjoy your current name, it has a ring to it."

This made her mind reel even more, "R-Really?" She stuttered, finding her heart racing and her head light.

"Of course, why wouldn't I say that about you?" He asked her questioningly, "It's obvious, isn't it?"

She frowned sadly, "Well, it's just I've….never had anyone care what my name was, ever."

"Well then they are a bunch of scrap that needs to get their helms out of their afts." He said with a growl.

Cenotaph just stared at the strange medic in front of her. Never before had anyone cared on that level about her name, sure it was just a name, but it was hers and no one but a select few cared about her or her name. They just stared at her, like either she was a piece of meat or a nobody. The memories of what had transpired before Bulletta had rudely interrupted back into the front of her mind and chased a shiver to go down her spine to settle in her lower abdomen, if he did that with her with such tender care and attention then she should've known he'd be like this.

"Ratchet...thank you." She said softly, catching him slightly surprised.

"Oh, sure, but there is no need to thank me. I find you...very interesting, Cenotaph." He said, looking away from her as he felt those dark thoughts growing stronger in his mind, his skin became flush with red, which was new.

She came closer to him, slowly crawling onto the bed, just staring at him.

"Well I want too, no one before has taken that kind of attention towards me, ever. You are first to care, the first to listen and the first to...be so kind and tolerant of me. I know I can...push your buttons, but it's with good intentions Ratchet. I'd never want to hurt you in any way because this…" She paused as she got close enough to feel his breath on her face, "Is something I never want to pass up."

He breathed slowly, controlling his urges to reach out touch every part of her to say.

"I'll be honest, the first moment I saw you, I was entranced. You are...different and I like that. You are so confident in yourself and you skirt with the darkest of the dark in the world in both profession and personality. You are...something I couldn't ever push away, and I don't want to because I want to know what makes you tick, what makes you do what you do. You are a riddle, wrapped in a mystery, inside an enigma and I want to undo that.'

He breathed again, his entire body trembling with the amount of control he exerted over it, she never moved from where she was but she tilted her head slightly.

'And I am a bot, a mech, that craves that sort of thing. I love taking things apart and putting them back together, improving on them and building on top of them. You are the greatest challenge, a hard to solve puzzle that is more than enticing, alluring. That's why I asked you that question, why I wanted to be an apprentice, because magic is a fundamental part of you, and to understand it, is to understand a small part of you."

Her eyes drooped slightly, hooded over with a combination of every single positive and pleasant emotion within her.

"Ratchet, I'm going to admit something to you that I have never admitted to anyone else including myself...I use my sexuality as a weapon to get what I want from people, I did it for a King for years, when his diplomats didn't work, I did, seducing them into giving me either information for blackmail or to making them sign a deal with our King. Not one of those who I came to bed with cared for me, personally, I was just a pretty face and I still use it today, you know that well…'

She sighed and grasped the back of his head.

'What I am trying to say is simple, you have done more for me in the short time I've known you than any other person I've come across. And I show my appreciation differently than others...I'm more physical when it comes to showing appreciation. I hope you understand that I mean well, with every touch and physical interaction we have."

He hummed, "So...that explains what happened earlier."

She smiled slightly, "Sorry for no heads up."

He shook his head, "I already guessed….but why are you telling me this now?"

She whispered in a low voice, "Ratchet...kiss me."

For a second he was surprised then it passed as he remembered what she just said.

So, he leaned in the rest of mere inches between them. Even in this dreamworld, everything felt real to the touch and other senses.

Her lips were soft against his, the kiss gentle and light at first. Then Cenotaph pressed deeper into the kiss, Ratchet did the same, they slowly fell back on the bed, their hands in each other's hair smoothing over and running through it. Cenotaph lightly hummed in the kiss with content, Ratchet groaned in pleasure as their mouths opened and their tongues began to taste on another.

Reluctantly, Cenotaph pulled away from the kiss, leaving a small link between them before the liquid pulled apart.

Both were panting for air, her skin flush purple again, her runic tattoos also pink again while Ratchet was beet red.

Through the haze of pleasurable tingle left by her lips, Ratchet asked.

"What's with the purple and pink?" He huffed out, his words low and husky.

She looked away shyly, "Just…something unique to me."

Ratchet smiled smugly, "Well, I think it makes you look fascinating."

Her shyness quickly turned around, "Oh, don't get any crazy idea's Ratchet, besides, you look more cute when you are the one flustered."

Ratchet was about quip back at her when she stopped him by kissing him roughly.

Then as quickly as she went in she pulled out with a smirk, "Now, now, Ratchet, don't talk back to your master like that." She growled out playfully.

Ratchet looked at her more intrigued than offended, "Master? What am I, a Decepticon?"

She barked out a laughter, "No, but you are my apprentice and I am the Master of my craft, so it is such, got it?"

He rolled his eyes, "Right, got it, never gonna happen though." He said with a challenging look.

"Oh it will, just you watch."

In Strahd's Tomb in the Catacombs…

Cliffjumper's POV

I groaned as I woke up, or seemingly so. Everything felt strange, I clearly remembered going into recharge but something felt off about this boot up. My HUD was completely missing and it rather felt as if my senses were dulled before they all came back at once and very rapidly as well.

I heard another groan from another source nearby and I opened my optics in search of it.

The room was dark, with only a few burning torches around, there were stairs that led out with a raised iron gate in them. The stone was completely black and the smell of fresh soil permeated the room. In the center of the room was a inset box in the floor, dark wood with brass accents. Across from me were three alcoves and near the left alcove was a small figure, Rafael, who was slowly becoming more aware of his surroundings.

"Raf, are you okay?" I asked the young human who looked at me in surprise, his expression then morphing into that of fear as he took in the room and strangely, me.

He shook, "W-Who are y-you!?"

I looked at him in confusion, why was he scared of me? Sure this isn't the greatest place to wake up in, courtesy of Cenotaph, but he should be able to know who I am. That's when I stared down at myself, only not to find metal, but organic features.

Something fell onto the floor nearby, almost appearing out of nowhere a small mirror landed on the dark floor. Cursing Cenotaph silently, I grabbed the mirror and looked at myself.

I was turned into a larger size humanoid, as I didn't look human enough to be called human. That was due to the red skin, my eyes were dark blue, and coming out of my head were two horns that curled back, I could feel an extra appendage on my back and moved it to see a long tail.

I had a mop of orange hair on top of my head. I wore orange and different shades of red clothing, a sleeveless shirt that wrapped around my neck, a sash around my waist and pants tucked in by bandages on my shins that also wrapped around my bare feet. My arms and hands also had bandages.

I was well built. On my back was set a heavy crossbow and on my arms were gauntlets and when I flicked my hands popped out daggers.

I flicked them again and they were gone, then, I looked back to Rafael and noticed something different as he stood and backed away from me.

He was taller, more older but still human. He wore a white long-sleeve shirt, over it was leather armor that covered his chest, shoulders and forearms. Where the armor didn't cover on his torso was filled with belts and pouches, he wore a clasped shawl over his armor, a bright yellow turning to orange on the edges. Same type of coloration on a cloth that hangs from his belts around his waist and were cut into four sections, underneath he wore white pants and brown boots and gloves.

His hair was the same brown and his eyes the same hazel, but now, his hair was longer and pushed back with shaved sides. His glasses were a sleeker design and round instead of square. Around his many belts I spotted a rapier sword and a whip.

I had to break the silence as I stared at the older boy now.

"Rafael, it's me, Cliffjumper." I said in a calm voice, I stood slowly as the boy looked warily at me.

"W-What?! That's not possible-where are we!?" He asked frantically, looking around the creepy room.

"This must be what Cenotaph had in mind, this is a dream, Rafael. It was why you were told to keep an open mind. Cenotaph brought us here for a simple reason. For you and others to join in on the greatest secret in the history of secrets!"

He started to come around, being less afraid now, "But then, where are we? Why are we here and where are the others?"

I looked around too, "I'm also wondering that, I thi-"

Suddenly I screamed as pain filled my helm-er head, as did Rafael. It was so sudden and I had no idea what was happening to us, then, visions flew past our opti-eyes. We were suddenly filled with all the knowledge of the collective Landers, even the Decepticon Landers. And when it all stopped, it was silent and clear, no pain remained.

I looked up to Raf, seeing him on his knees breathing heavily. I got up and got to his side quickly.

"Are you alright there, I know that was a lot...even for me." I grumbled the last part, but I focused on Raf instead.

He looked at me with an exacerbated expression that held a tint of curiosity, "Alright, you know have my attention."

I smiled, "Good, 'cause I don't think I could explain it all anyways. We do need to find the others, after all, this was a meeting to discuss things about the Cabal."

"Right, this Cabal." Rafael stood to his feet and looked at the stairs that led out of the creepy room, lit by torchlight. "There are so many things I want to ask, but I think we should focus on getting out of here, wherever here is."

"Then let's get going, I mean, how large can this place really be?" I said, a cheery smile on my face as I led the way up the stairs past the raised bars and further up.

"By the way, do you know why we look like this?" I asked, looking at the older boy.

He shook his head, "No, but I do appreciate the older body, it makes my mind feel more at ease than when I'm awake if I'm completely honest."

"Well, maybe this is you're actually mental age?" I frowned, "But that doesn't explain why I look like this."

Raf smiled, "Well, maybe Cenotaph has the answers."

"Right, let's find her quickly, I don't know how time works here, but I think it's limited."

The Chapel of Castle Ravenloft…

Bulletta's POV

I slowly awoke from hearing movement close by, it was soft enough to register as the sounds of someone breathing close by. Sensitive ears strike again, it's a wonder sometimes when I get sleep at all….sleep….sleep...dream? Dream. Wait…DREAM!

I shot up from my position on the ground and groaned at the soreness, since when do you feel sore in your dreams? Ah well, maybe it's a Cenotaph thing, I swear she has sadistic tendencies, then again, she is a necromancer, so no surprise there.

Slowly I took in our surroundings, the tall broken windows and ninety-foot domed ceiling of what appeared to be a chapel. I could see about fifty feet up was a balcony with two slumped figures sitting in large chairs. The chapel floor was littered with debris, broken piers and shattered glass, some stained. At the head of the chapel sat an altar with a shaft of light beaming into it, a silvery statue sat on it of an unknown figure.

But what caught my eye, was the person who laid close by on the dusty and dirty floor.

A gnome, of green spiky hair and olive skin, with strange swirling tattoos on her cheeks. She wore leather armor and had a blood stained scimitar on her back. Next to her, sleeping soundly was a large golden eagle, it softly chatting in its slumber.

I was confused for a moment, I knew this was another Lander, most likely Nerium or whoever she used to be. But, why was she in her organic state? I looked at myself in a broken pane of glass to see I too had returned to my organic form.

The grey skin and horns, the yellow eyes, the white hair, my red armor and black coat with my black pants and boots. Yep, looked like the old me. But still the question lingered, why? Why would Cenotaph do this? Where were we? And why were we separated? I thought this was supposed to be quick but I guess the sadistic femme had other plans.

A groan alerted me to Nerium's awakening, slowly her golden eyes blinked open, clearly taking in the new surroundings. Then, her eyes landed on me, for a moment everything was still than she hissed and drew her blade scowling as she barked out.

"Who are you!? Where am I? What's going on!? Answer me quickly or die by my blade or magic!" She said, her bird companion awakened next to her, squawking and almost hissing at me as well.

I sighed, "I'm not an enemy, my name is Moon Nemesis, but you will know me as Bulletta. I'm a Lander Autobot, and this, this is a dream conjured by a dramatic and sadistic Goliath that loves toying with people."

She hesitated, then slowly lowered her weapon. "So, that's what this is. And why you asked for an open mind, clever." She said with a blank stare, her emotions suddenly hard to read.

"Ah, so you are Nerium, good, good. Now, how about we get out of this place, I don't quite like it, feels...wrong." I said standing and looking at the shambles of the Chapel.

Nerium as well stood, clearly shorter than I due to her nature but she still gave a aura of 'don't-fuck-with-me'.

"Well Bulletta, I don't quite know what this is either, but I bet you the place she's hiding is one of the higher points of….whatever this place is." Nerium said, as she picked up her bird friend and placed her on her shoulder.

"I think it's a castle, go figure, I thought wizards liked towers, not castles." I said with a sarcastic roll.

"Wizard? Of course it is, let me guess, you don't like her?" Nerium asked, her cold neutral expression strange in her somewhat lively voice.

"I'm not fond of magic users…."

She gave a slightly pointed look, "Really? I don't see you staring at me with disgust and disdain?"

I sighed, "Never mind that, you're different from her, now let's get out of here."

I turned and started to make my way to the double doors of old oak when Nerium called out.

"If I didn't know any better I'd say you are a hypocrite."

Her voice echoed throughout the large chamber and I stopped in my tracks. Slowly, I looked back at her, a mixture of emotions bubbling to the surface. She stared at me with a cold and unassuming expression but I could smell a sting of smugness and….something else….something I only smelled on Cenotaph.

Darkness.

She went on, "If you knew what I am capable of would you still treat me with how you just did? You clearly know who I am, no doubt from a source we both know. So, why do you talk as if Cenotaph is a devil yet you are kind to me?"

I went to retort when I lurched forward in pain, my words dying in my throat as my mind exploded in pain. I heard a distant cry as Nerium too felt the strange power of pain and knowledge wash over us. My mind sifted through the visions, the knowledge and the wisdom of all that had transpired.

When the pain left, I panted, staring at the ground as I took in the new information about not only my fellow Landers, but of what had transpired between other people they've met along the way.

I looked up, Nerium was panting as well but quickly shook it off, muttering something to herself.

"Listen," I said, my voice crisp and clear in the chapel, "I don't trust Cenotaph because she is a Necromancer, she practices the dark arts. You, on the other hand, are for life. You are a druid and a powerful one at that, yet you do not seek to bend life and death to your will alone. That is why I don't hold disdain for you, but I don't trust you either."

"Good," She said, her voice dark and snappy, "You shouldn't trust me, Bulletta. But I want you to know something. I may be a druid, but I am far from what people would call 'on the side of life'. After all, sometimes, I enjoy the thrill of the kill." She growled at me.

She began to walk towards me, then as she past said, "Cenotaph may practice the dark arts, but I am sure there is a reason for it. Just as I have, a druid who doesn't protect life but enjoys snuffing it. I can imagine that Cenotaph may not be what she seems."

Then, she kicked the old doors away with a loud bang and walked out of the room.

I stood there, shocked to hear what I heard.

But deep down, I knew she was right.

Nothing is ever as it seems and I believe this place will prove that a thousand times over to me.

Back in the King's Bedchambers…

Ratchet's POV

"You really have thought of everything, haven't you?" I asked as we watched the mirror, it currently held video of Rafael and Cliffjumper getting out of the tomb, before it switched to Nerium and Bulletta making their way out of the chapel and finally Moonfall and Starscream in the North Tower Peak talking to each other quietly.

Cenotaph chuckled into my audi-ear, "Why wouldn't I? I'm a planner and besides, team building exercises never hurt anyone."

"Right, so, what? You just going to let them wander?" I asked, looking up at her, she was quite taller than me but I didn't mind.

I now had the rest of clothes that Cenotaph reluctantly gave up, I wore along with my pants a black button up dress shirt, a orange waistcoat, a pendent holding a white tie, black gloves and boots as well a whit coat that stopped above my ankles hanging from my shoulders.

"Oh no," She said as she finished putting on her actual clothing, which was the same as her Lander form, just more organic than before. "I have a challenge for them to pass."

"A challenge?" I looked at her curiously. "What kind are you thinking of?"

She smiled wickedly, "It's different for each, but let's just say, they won't know what hit them. I want to test them, bond them, and when it's done. This Cabal, will be established."

"Is this really your decision to make though?" I questioned out loud.

She shrugged, "Maybe, maybe not. Who knows, but I certainly don't care."

"So, what about us? Is there something other than before that you had in mind?"

She smirked at the question and walked around me, she pulled my chin up so that our eyes were locked. Her smile deepened into a devilishly smirk as she said.

"Today, here Ratchet, I am going to begin your magic lessons."

"Why here?" I asked.

"So many questions Ratchet, it's simple, here you can't harm anyone. And well, I determine if you succeed or not. As well, wizard magic isn't innate it must be studied. So come, we are heading for the study room." She said, letting me go and walking towards the door.

I stared after her, completely entranced by her. I wonder sometimes what I had gotten myself into and then I remember. Cenotaph is something no mech in their right mind can resist, even if it was intentional to get me attention I'm pleased it worked.

I was close to getting the power to aid the bots, and to further my people's science.

And if it meant I was by her side the entire time, I wouldn't mind that one bit.

After all, who can resist a specimen such as herself?