Honest fact: I always wanted to be in beauty pageants while I was growing up, and no one would put me in one—not even when we got the invitations to them once a year. I'd beg, they'd say no, I'd cry.
"Normal Talk"
"Bee's Talk"
"Bee's Talk Holoform"
"Other Side Over the Phone (Comms)"
'Thoughts'
~Bond communication~
~Telepathic communication~
First Pageant
July 10, 7:10 pm
With Mariposa sleeping soundly, I turn toward her new outfits for this pageant. I've sent her pictures and registration form in, and now I have to pack. I take each one and pack it into a light pink suitcase. I've also had Violet purchase a large makeup set and carrying case using some of the money Agent Fowler has put up for Mari.
I've agreed to do this because she wants to try, but I really don't care for the idea of having my daughter in pageants.
6:00 am, July 11, Ratchet's POV
It's pageant day, but also the morning after the first time Mariposa has slept through the night since her rescue.
I shift into my holoform and step over to her crib before gently shaking her awake. Today will be completely off-schedule, and I hope it won't throw her too much. "Mari, Little One, wake up."
She sits up and rubs her eyes tiredly. "Dada?"
"We have to get you ready, Little One." She looks up at me. "It's pageant day."
"Go, Dada! Go!"
"Slow down, Baby. You need to eat and get dressed before we can leave."
"Wan' go!"
I can't help but laugh. She's so excited over something I never wanted her to have to do! I sigh, and warm up her oatmeal with bananas before filling a bottle with grape juice, then hand both to her, with a . With her schedule off, the best I can do is keep her energy up.
Of course, her energon will help too.
While she eats, I pack her diaper bag with grabber pouches, bottles of water, her milk, and of course, her energon in steel bottles, before tucking the usual supplies in.
"Dada."
I turn to her with a smile. "Let's get you cleaned up and dressed." I change her before washing her off, then dressing her in a light pink T-shirt with a silver tiara graphic and "princess", light pink jeans, light pink socks, and light pink velcro tennis shoes, then her tiara.
"Go?"
I nod. "We can go now." I shift into my normal form and pick Mariposa up before grabbing her diaper bag and suitcase, and start for the main room. I hand everything to Arcee before transforming, and wait for her to get Mariposa settled and get her bags loaded.
Arcee steps back and waves. "Good luck, Mari."
New York, Hotel Room, 9:30 am et
We pull out of the ground bridge in an alley, about a mile from the hotel where the pageant is being held. It doesn't take us long to get there.
I climb out in holoform and carry her inside with the luggage. I get her checked in and get the room number from Violet before starting to our room.
"Now, Rick. We've got half an hour before they do her group. It doesn't take a lot with babies, so I'm sure we'll make it under the wire. When she's older, we'll have to get here earlier."
"Vi! Do!"
She turns to Mariposa and tickles her. "I know, Mari." She turns to me. "Beauty is first, at ten. I'll do a little makeup, then we'll get her dressed." She gets started, explaining things as she goes. "The top of the dress laces in the back. It can be hard to do with a squirming baby, so I'll hold her for you."
I nod, and pull out her dress before slipping her into it. It's light blue, with off the shoulder sleeves and silver straps. The tutu has white bands going to the edge of the skirt.
She whimpers as I start to lace the dress, and flinches each time the string touches her spine.
"That's strange…"
I shake my head. "It could mean something about her true form, Violet." She gives me a confused look. "Any bots with some form of wings or rotors are notorious for having sensitivity issues in the general area." I sigh and finish with the dress before slipping a bow headband on her head, then her white socks with light blue lace and white Mary Jane shoes.
Confrence room
Unlike most of the pageant kids, my daughter, young as she is, is well-behaved, and simply looking around at her surroundings and the competition.
"Dada?" I glance down to her. "Inky?"
I slip a silver rhinestone-covered pacifier with a red heart into her mouth. "You can't have it on stage, okay?"
"Okay."
Violet steps over and starts to pin her number on her dress before pinning it to the maroon polo I'd chosen. Usually I just adjust my holoform, but I'd opted to use human clothing today. She's number fifteen. "What a cutie."
"Tank u."
They call her age group. Violet reaches up and takes her pacifier. "I'll stay out here. She's more confident with you."
"Contestant number fifteen, Marianne."
I carry her out, being careful to follow what Violet had said—keep her facing the judges, and make sure she smiles. Look at her to keep the judges attention on her. Smiling doesn't seem to be a problem, as she's beaming over all the attention. Maybe I did the right thing, and this could help her in her diplomacy once she is old enough to train.
I set her on her feet. Violet said it wouldn't matter if she could stand or walk, but she got tired of being held, and she'll start crying if I don't put her down. She spins once, slowly—something Violet had been working with while she was in the cast.
"Her favorite color is pink, her favorite person is her dad, and her ambition is to become a doctor."
I lead her off before joining Violet. We start up to our room. I have no desire to see any more of the horrible pageant mothers around me.
"Inky?"
Violet hands it to her, and she quickly slips it into her mouth.
Hotel Room
"Good job, Baby Girl." She turns to me. "Next is Outfit of Choice, which is the…" she rifles through Emily's suitcase. "Coca Cola waitress outfit."
Mariposa yawns. She's due for her morning nap. "Give her one of her snack pouches. She'll get a chance to nap when they get their next break."
I hand her one mixed with blueberries, and she quickly drains it. I take the empty pouch before handing her a four ounce bottle of water. "I hope she can last that long. It would only be nine back in Jasper, so I'm not too worried, but I don't want her losing it." I take her bottle before handing her an energon bottle.
Violet looks shocked. "Rick, what are you doing?"
I sigh, barely managing not to roll my eyes. "Giving her some energon. She's techno-organic, and she needs it."
She rubs the back of her neck. "Sorry. I thought you'd suddenly become another one of those pageant parents who give their kid too much sugar."
I shake my head. "Low grade energon. Anything else would send her out of control." I watch the bottle hit the ground before looking up to see her lick a few drops off her lips. I kneel to get the bottle. "Go ahead and get her makeup fixed."
She gives me a look. "Why did you decide to do the makeup, but not the lashes, hair, or nails?"
"I may not know much about young human femmes, but I do know from Agent Fowler that they love playing with makeup. I figure I can give her that, since it will wash off."
She cleans off the old eye shadow before turning to the makeup kit. "And the tan?"
"We live in a desert, Violet. It isn't hard to get a natural tan. I can just take her out to play."
"She doesn't play in her pageant wear, Rick."
I sigh heavily. "Then I'll install it with the program. I will not spray-tan my daughter."
Violet sets her brush down before turning to me. "Let's get her dressed."
I help her into a red short sleeved dress with red and white checked cuffs, waistand, and buttons, and trim under the white collar, and a full skirt with red checked trim and a white apron with "Coca-Cola", white bobby socks, white boots, and a red waitress hat. Violet pins her number on her skirt.
"Dada? Vi? Inky."
I slip her pacifier into her mouth before starting down the stairs with her on my hip.
Violet takes her pacifier the second we reach the conference room. "Vi!"
"No binky on stage, Mari."
She nods before looking down, peeking out just enough to look cute. "Sowwy."
"Don't be, Little One."
"Contestant number fifteen, Marianne."
This time, I let her walk out, and hold her hand in case she falls. Her routine is simple, and, since Violet made it like a game when training her, flawless.
I carry her off the stage. "Good job, Little One."
"Dada! Do!"
Violet hands her the pacifier. "Your father's right, Baby Girl. You did really good out there."
"How long until Theme?"
She looks at her watch. "Two hours to finish this category, and an hour for lunch."
"Then she'll have time for her nap."
Hotel Room
I turn from the microwave and set her food in front of her. She's wearing only her diaper for now, but the room's warm enough and the dresses far too expensive to risk her making a mess.
While she eats, I get her next outfit and accessories ready.
"She's done. Want me to put her down for a nap?"
"Go ahead. Give her one of the steel bottles when you do."
Two Hours Later
Mariposa sits up on the bed and whimpers. "Dada?"
"I'm right here, Little One." I step over before handing her a banana and strawberry pouch while Violet gets her makeup ready.
"Inky?"
"After you're dressed." I change Mariposa, then dress her in a pink paisley tutu dress with white short sleeves and green and white polka-dot bows, green rickrack trim, and a john deere patch on the chest, pink paisley bloomers, a green and white polka-dot bow choker, white lace socks, and white Mary Jane shoes.
"What a cutie!"
I look up from where I'm pulling her hair into two ponytails before clipping on green and white polka-dot bows. "It was a gift from her biological great grandfather."
"But tractors, Rick?"
I scoff. "It's an American company, it stems from the country, and they want creativity." I shrug before holding up a small bushel basket. "Besides, it's a farm girl."
"Dada, inky!"
I nod before handing it to her. "Sorry, Little One. I forgot."
We step into the conference room and take our seats to wait for them to start her age group. "Baba?"
Violet sighs. "Not right now, Baby Girl. You'll get it all over your pretty dress."
"Violet's right, Little One. Later, okay?"
"Okay." She looks down at her dress before back up at me. "Dada?" I glance to her. "I go?"
"Not yet, Mari. They're still doing the babies."
"I baby."
"I know, but…" I sigh heavily. "They're doing the babies under a year old. You're over a year." I sigh when they call her age group.
"Contestant number fifteen, Marianne."
I help her up the stairs, then step up myself before handing her the tiny bushel basket. She toddles over to the center and kneels, acting like she's picking something and putting it into the basket. She then turns to the judges and smiles before spinning, then toddles to the other side of the stage. She stops right at the edge of the stage and smiles before I help her down the stairs.
She giggles in my arms.
"Good job, Mari!" Violet slips her pacifier into her mouth.
I turn to Violet as we start for our room. "What's next?"
"Talent for three and up, then judging. We'll get her ready and cover her with that blanket you brought."
I nod as I open the door. "That way she can have her bottle and it won't mess up her dress."
"Baba?"
"Yes, Mari. I'll get you a bottle, as soon as you're changed."
"Okay."
True to my word, I change her into a dark pink cap sleeved dress with large pink diamonds and a large dark pink tutu, white bobby socks with dark pink lace, and white patent leather Mary Jane shoes, cover her with a blanket, then hand her a bottle of milk.
Violet and I start down, planning on watching the talent competitions. Most of them are awkward, since they are young children, but some are good.
I can't help but wonder if Mariposa will be as good as the others when she's older. She's already doing so well, and she's only fifteen months. What could she accomplish by the time she's five—or when she's fifteen years?
"Rick?"
I start before turning to Violet. "Yes?"
"They're about to start judging." She glances to me. "You okay?"
I shrug. "Just thinking about Mari."
"She's doing better than I expected." I raise an eyebrow. "Not that I thought she'd mess up, Rick, but—" She sighs. "Most kids her age have at least one tantrum before judging, but she's been so good."
"She wanted this, Violet. I'm the one who didn't want her up there." I motion to the stage.
"Now, let's have our 12-23 month age group on the stage."
I hand the blanket to Violet and take her pacifier out before sticking it in my pocket. I may need it. After I carry her onstage, I set her on her feet and crouch to her. "Remember, Little One. It doesn't matter if you won or lost, just that you had fun doing it." I smile at her when she nods. "But if I were the judge, I would choose you. You were the best behaved, and you were the best I saw out there today." She nods before looking out at the audience. I'm not sure she even understands what I said, but I don't want her turning into one of those other, undisciplined younglings running around.
"Best personality goes to: Jessica!" One of the girls gets a medal. "Best smile goes to: Marianne!"
She looks up as the woman handing out prizes slips a medal over her head. "Dada?" She reaches down and picks it up before holding it up to me.
I manage to tune out the announcer, so I can give her my full attention. "It's yours, Mari."
"Mi'e?" I nod. "Me wi'?"
"Not yet."
"Best natural photography: Daniella!" The girl to our right, with blonde hair, gets a medal. "Best portfolio: Jamie!" The girl to our left gets a medal. "Best Glitz photography: Marianne!" They slip another medal over the first. She lifts the first, then the second, before looking up to me curiously.
"Mi'e, a' mi'e?"
"Yes. They're yours, Mari."
"Prettiest eyes: Marianne!" A third medal joins the other two.
"Dada, yook!"
I smile down at her. "I see."
"Your 11-23 month princess is: Destiny!" An African-American girl at the far end of the line is given a sash and tiara. "Your 11-23 month queen is: Janie!"
She looks at her feet. "No c'own."
"Now let's have our two-year-old division on stage."
I pick her up and start back for our seats. She quickly climbs into Violet's lap and looks up at Violet with a whimper. "Vi! No c'own!"
I smile when Violet starts tickling her to cheer her up, mostly tuning out the announcer. Once she gets her to smile, she stops before looking down at her. "Mari, they still have more prizes. You may have gotten a big one."
"Me c'own?"
"Maybe."
I take Mariposa back and sit her on my lap so she's facing the stage. "We just have to wait, Mari. We'll know in a little bit."
"Now let's have our 14 and up division on stage."
The oldest group is sent down a few minutes later. I notice Violet shifting to where she's fully focused on the stage.
"Okay, we're gonna get started with our supreme titles. Your 0-5 Mini grand supreme is: contestant number 14: Daniella!" The blonde girl from earlier is carried up, and gets a crown, sash, trophy, and money, before being taken back to her seat.
"Your 6-11 mini grand supreme is: contestant number 38: Mikaela!" A white girl with brown hair runs up to the front before receiving the same prizes. I believe she is around ten.
"Your 12 and up mini grand supreme is: contestant number 43: Madison!" A black haired girl runs to the stage and claims her prize. She appears to be thirteen.
The announcer shifts through her papers. "Your 0-9 grand supreme winner is: contestant number 23: Kelly!" a red-haired girl darts to the front. She's about six.
"Your 10 and up grand supreme winner is: contestant number 40: Olivia!" An African American girl with long black hair walks to the front. She can't be any older than eleven.
"And now, our Ultimate Grand Supreme winner of this years American Cuties Pageant is… Contestant number 15: Marianne!"
She looks up at me. "Dada!"
I sit there in shock for a moment before being elbowed by Violet. "Go on!"
I stand and carry her to the front, where they present her with a sash, a large swirled crown, 1,500 dollars, and a trophy almost taller than my holoform.
It's at least twenty minutes before we get back to her room. Violet had to carry her so I could carry the trophy.
Violet sets her on the bed. "Wi'?"
I nod. "Yes, Mari. You won."
"Wi'!"
I slip her medals off and slip them into her suitcase before turning to her diaper bag. "I need to get her changed."
"Want me to take some of this down to your v-mode?"
I sigh heavily. Sometimes, I don't like that we've got a government agent as her trainer. "Go ahead. I'll be done soon enough."
"You may want to put her medals in a case of some sort when you get home, and label it."
I turn to her, confused. "Why?"
"Bill's cleared a room at Unit E for anything you may need to store, including her prizes." She smiles. "Someday, Mari may want to look back at her accomplishments, and it'll help her if you keep them together by pageant."
"I'm not even sure she'll keep winning." I turn to the bed and change Mariposa, tossing the dress haphazardly to Violet in the process.
She puts it in the suitcase, glaring at me as she does. "Rick, these dresses aren't cheap, you know! Try to at least be a little more careful with them!"
"And I plan to get new ones before we do this again!"
"Some places buy and sell second-hand dresses, or rent them out!"
I roll my eyes before dressing Mariposa in a white short sleeved blouse with green cuffs and a white peter pan collar, a pale orange gingham jumper with a white zigzag waistband and a squirrel appliqué, pale orange gingham bloomers, white tights, and brown Mary Jane shoes, then slip her everyday tiara back on. "Ready to go home, Little One?"
She nods. "Go bye! Op see! Me wi'!"
"Violet?" She turns to me. "How good are you at teaching a child how to walk down an aisle?"
Violet turns to me with an expression of pure shock. "Excuse me?"
"Mari's in a wedding next month, as the flower girl. How good are you at teaching a child to walk down an aisle?"
"I'll see what I can do."
Base, 2:00 pm pt
I pull into the base and stop. For once, I'm grateful to see Agent Fowler waiting for us on the platform. He walks down the stairs as I open the door. "How'd she do?"
I can't help but laugh. "Why don't you look inside and find out?"
He glances in the back door before shaking his head. "What in the Sam hill?!"
I'm tempted to laugh at Optimus' confused look. "Special Agent Fowler?"
"How the devil am I supposed to get this on my 'copter?"
"Could you stop talking about it and get it out of my vehicle mode so I can transform?"
Optimus steps over. "What is the problem?"
"Ratch? What happened?" Bumblebee kneels to glance at what Agent Fowler's complaining about—the five-and-a-half foot dark blue and gold trophy in the back of my vehicle mode. "Holy Primus! Where'd you get that?"
Agent Fowler finally drags it out as the rest of the team—minus Cliffjumper—walks in. He climbs back in to get Mariposa and her bags, as well as the crown she'd won.
"What the frag?"
"Arcee." I transform before glaring at her with Mariposa in my hand. "Watch your language! There's a sparkling in the room!" I scoff before sighing. It's hard to stay mad when my daughter's just won the top prize. "Mariposa won the pageant."
Arcee beams. I know she looks at Mari as a sister, if not a daughter. "That's great!"
Bulkhead runs a finger over her head gently. "Good Job, Mari."
Optimus smiles at her, his optics brightening. I know how rare it is anymore, to see him truly smile—not his usual I'm-smiling-to-keep-from-crying expression he uses around Mariposa. "Congratulations, Mariposa."
She nods before looking down, barely peeking up at him. While earlier a similar motion looked angelic, now she just looks like she's embarrassed with all the attention. "Tank u."
Bumblebee takes her from me before dancing around with her in his hands, causing her to squeal and giggle. "Yaaaaaaaaaaay!" He sets her down on her feet and waits to make sure she's stable before he lets her go. "I'm proud of you, Mari."
I look around. "Where's Cliffjumper?"
"Just missed him." Arcee sighs. "He took Electro for a drive to see if he'd recharge. Mechling didn't want to go down for his nap."
I sigh. "All right. I'll take Mari to my berth room so she won't bother the other sparklings." I pick up her bag and crown, having sent everything else she won with Agent Fowler, then start for my berth room with her.
Bedtime
I change her into a light pink short sleeved onesie with a dark pink tiara and "Daddy's Pretty Little Princess" with dark pink trim, and dark pink footed pants, then tuck her into her crib, a bit earlier than usual. "Sleep well, Little One."
Part of me wishes I hadn't sent her prizes with Agent Fowler, but it's better to leave them with him, then to have her starting to feel like she's better than everyone. I'll set up a place to display her crowns, for now, and maybe someday, she'll get to have all her prizes in one place. Her money, of course, will go to open a savings account in her name, for when she's older.
