Return of the Heir Chapter 16

The young prince took a deep invent, "We will be speaking with the Lord of Kaon.

"The Lord of Kaon, are you serious Optimus; no one has heard of the lost heir's return. Maybe it's just Primus having pity on the city and decided to let them live in the sun again?"

Iacon's prince knew that Bumblebee and Bulkhead where too young to know the full story of what truly happened to the lost heir, but there is no time like the present. "Bulkhead, Bumblebee; the story you have been told about Kaon's lost ruler is only true to a certain extent. The city did lose its heir, but what is known is that when Lord Megazarak died, the city fell into darkness. The only way the darkness could be lifted was for his lost heir to return." The two youngest members of the group listened as Optimus told them his tale and both sets of optics were wide with wonder.

Optimus and his traveling companions grew closer to the main gates to the city, "Okay, only I will have my hood up and I need the rest of you to remain quiet; let me do all the talking." The young prince observed that everyone nodding their helms made him sigh in relief.

Before they knew it, the two guards at the main gate had their pikes crossed any many more above them looking at them with hair trigger gazes. A third guard walked out from a doorway near the gate; he was stout and heavy-set dark brown paint job with tan accents, with a cy-gar in the corner of his intake. His voice had a slight scratchy edge to it, "Who are you and what are you doing here?"

Taking a deep invent, "We are here to visit with the Lord of Kaon, our message is for their audios only and is of the upmost important" Optimus spoke with as much authority as he could while trying not to sound to force in his voice. He didn't want to reveal his true identity, yet.

The mech before him frowned, "Well, if you want to speak with our lord, then you will have to remove your cloak and leave all weapons here. It is our custom, just so you know."

The Iaconinan heir was about to speak when… "It's not very polite to demand travelers to leave their belongings with a stranger now is it Bullhorn?"

Bullhorn had the decency to look ashamed, "Sorry captain, I was only doing what I thought was necessary to protect our king."

"It's alright, I would have done the same thing if I was in your place; in the future if someone informs you that a message is for our lord and for his audios only, then send for me and I will be delighted to escort them to the citadel."

"Yes sir, Captain Solarflare."

The blue and orange mech nodded; "Now then, if you will follow me, I will take you to see the king."

The group followed the mech deeper into the city admiring the cityscape. Tall buildings rose into the city, spiraling toward the sky, shop keepers putting merchandise out on displays, mechs and femmes talking with one another, and sparklings playing in the street or trying to get out of their creator's grip to see everything they could possibly get their hands on. Some of the citizens turned helms at the strangers, "Why are they staring at us" asked Bulkhead

"Because young one, some Kaonites are not too fond of Iaconinans; even after almost twenty-one stellar-cycles of peace. They fear you because it was the Iaconinans whom caused the whole mess of losing the lost heir in the first place" their escort responded. "We are here, gentle mechs I introduce the fortress of the Kaonites, Trypticon."

The group of Iaconinans stood in wonder at the tall, green, purple, dark grey building. Yellow flames dotted along the building, no doubt giving the soldiers light as the shadows casted their eerie shapes from the setting sun sinking below the mountain. They followed their guide into the castle, Optimus couldn't help but admire the architecture of the inside of the castle, the vaulted ceilings and weapons dotting along the walls.

Solarflare led them to a set of double wooden doors; "Now I must warn you, our lord wasn't really expecting outside visitors today, but he has made it clear that all is welcome amongst us and our people. Please, try not to go overboard with what you see." The doors opened and music filled the group's audios and their optics were filled with the sight of dancers, decorations of dark greys, reds, and purples. Walking into the throne room, everyone seemed to ignore them.

The figure on the throne, who had been talking to his friend Terminus, turned at the sound of the doors opening; with a wave of his servo the room became quite and turned to see the group of Iaconinans standing among them. "Welcome, guests; please make yourselves comfortable and enjoy the celebration."

Optimus, being bold as always walking slowly up to the king; "Your majesty, I wish to speak to you on upmost important matters."

"Of course, but let us enjoy the party a little longer."

Knowing this couldn't wait any longer, the Iacon prince let his hood down revealing himself to the courtroom. Staring in shock, the Kaonite lord was in disbelief, before him stood the heir of Iacon. "Guards, escort everyone out of the room at once; Terminus please see that the door is sealed." Once the room was cleared, Megatron could feel a helmache coming on. "Now that we are alone, what is it that you wish to tell me?"

Optimus swallowed hard before he spoke, "I came to warn you about an imminent attack on your city by Rodion forces. I was to be bonded to Prince Sentinel, but I ran because he has been mistreating me and my family. Plus, I heard one of his personal guard's state, that once he and I bond…I dare not say the rest."

Megatron pondered for a moment, servos steepled together, "Well, that is grave news; regardless, I will let you stay in the city for two deca-cycles. Unfortunately, this is all I can grant you at the present time until I have visited with King Ultra Magnus. Optimus, knowing this was a start, only nodded his helm in agreement.

Meanwhile back in Iacon: Ultra Magnus was pacing the throne room. His son didn't come down for the evening meal like he normally does. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the door opening, too much to his disappointment the Rodion Prince. "What do you want now Sentinel?"

The Rodion prince swallowed and smirked, "Your son is ignoring the fact that we are to be bonded in two deca-cycles and you have also not spoken to me about what was agreed."

Ultra Magnus's EM field flared in annoyance, "May I remind you Sentinel of Rodion, that you are in my kingdom and while it is still mine you shall not address me in that tone of voice again, or I will have the Elite Guard remove you from our borders; are we clear?"

"Crystal," Sentinel knew he had to play his cards right with this next statement, but someone else beat him to it, "My prince Sentinel, we have lost the trail of your intended. He claimed sanctuary in Kaonite territory in the name of the Primes; there was nothing we could do" Pyron then realized that he made a fatal error, or at least he hoped it wasn't fatal.

The Iaconinan King however, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU LOST THE TRAIL"; everyone in the room could feel the waves of anger, sorrow, and fear coming off the blue and white mech like lethal radiation.

"My king, your rebellious son, my intended ran away from the city in hopes of finding his slave that he hopes is still alive, but we know that is a fantasy he is chasing" Sentinel said while walking over with two goblets in servo filled with energon wine.

Receiving the goblet, Ultra Magnus took a drink "Ironhide, come in here at once." The aforementioned orange mech entered the study, shutting the door behind him.

"What is it that you want my lord?"

"I want you and your team to track down and find my son. Kill any who resist you or get in your way. Kaon has no ruler, so you should have no trouble in finding him." The orange mech saluted and left, leaving only Sentinel and Pyron with him. Taking another drink, "Sentinel, as soon as we retrieve my son, the bonding ceremony shall commence then and only then." The Rodion prince smirked and smiled taking a drink as well; 'My plan is going to fall right where I need it to be.'

Back in Kaon, the sun had long since set and Optimus found him self walking in the gardens outside the castle with the lord of Kaon, Megatron as he was called. Their conversation discussed their past lives and what they both wanted in their futures. Megatron wanted to lead his people into a new era out of the shadows they have known for the past 20 Stellar Cycles; he also mentioned that he wanted to eventually start a family, but only when he found the right mech or femme that would love him for who he is, or was, or will ever be.

"Wow, I didn't we would have so much in common; I too desire someone whom I can love and cherish with all my spark. But my sire wants me to bond for the good of the kingdom and not out of love."

Megatron could see the sorrow that filled the young Iaconinan's optics and it hurt his spark that there was not much he could do at the present moment. "Now, I know there was something you wished to speak to me about other than what that self-righteous Rodion prince wants to do; you are in fear of your next question and what the answer may bring are you not?"

Optimus was dumbfounded; but the king had a point, "Yes, I also came looking for a mech that may be here in the city. He… I helped him escape from a wrongful execution sentence and I fear he may have come here. If you could, can you find him?"

"What is his name?"

"His name is Novaton."

Megatron inwardly smirked, he had waited for this question, because he too was hoping to see his beloved prince again. To hold him in his arms once again, to feel his vents as they lay together like they did so many times before the were driven apart. To kiss those plump and soft dermas as their sparks danced in their chambers. "Well, I have heard of a mech with that name in my city once before; but it may be hard to find him in a city this big."

The way the king said that last statement maid Optimus look up in bewilderment, "Well if you are the king can you not order him to be found if he could be lost?"

"You do have a way with words my dear prince" laughed Megatron. "However, I think it is hard to find mechs once they have been found now is it?"

Optimus felt his spark stop and looking into those red optics he saw a flash of the bright blue he once knew; feeling a surge of pure love, he threw his arms around the now grey mech. "Novaton, I missed you; you leaving the way you did tore a hole in my spark I thought would never leave me."

Megatron embraced the little red and blue prince tighter than he probably should, "I may have a different designation in the optics of the people, but I will always be Novaton to you." The two mechs sat there in front of the fountain, under the stars and the watchful gaze of Terminus as the old mage watched the growing young couple and knew that their troubles, were only beginning.