A/N: Hey guys! Boy I feel so brain dead, especially since it is very hard to be a junior, luckily though it hasn't killed my thought process lately. I'm thinking of asking someone to be my beta reader for this, because I am not that great with my grammar or just plain English and I always miss things that I kick myself for missing in the first place (after being corrected). Maybe school is having a bigger affect on me then I thought. So if anyone is interested, I guess just message me or whatever Beta readers do... I don't know what it is about this, but I just feel like I have to get this finished before I resume on my other fics. Maybe it's because this little plot bunny is months old and somehow found a way out of its cage. I can't believe this is almost half way done though. Yeah. It's not intended to be a very long fic.

Disclaimer: I don't think I need to tell you guys that I don't own Transformers Animated or any of the characters. Besides, I think I morphed them horribly into pathetic oocs. Yes, I did draw some inspiration from the TMNT episode "Same as It Never Was" as well as other series episodes that are similar, so you'll probably spot some similarities.

Warning: Violence. Lots and lots of violence (not in the beginning, but it builds up). Maybe some cursing.

Recap: After waking to a shock, our young hero Bumblebee finds himself not in Detroit, but in a nightmare. After being saved by Lugnut-bound Bulkhead, Bumblebee grievously learns that things have changed and among them, his friends, his team, and his old life have vanished from existence like the wind's evanescence. What could possibly be worse of a shock to the youngest of the repair crew? Perhaps Starscream's unexpected alignment with the "Last Resistance" or being attacked relentlessly by whom other then Prowl?

Same As It Never Was

Chapter Three

Bumblebee never thought that Prowl was capable of displaying sheer acts of lethality. Could this have been a mistake on his behalf? Sure, he pressed the ninja to more then his fair share on more than one occasion, but how was he supposed to know that twenty stellar cycles later into the future he would be at the mercy of the very same 'bot? Even so, Bumblebee never once saw true rage or wrath on that face plate, unlike what this one wore. He saw nothing of tranquility or calmness; only violence and virulence. He knew that Prowl was very angry (it seemed like everyone was currently), and he didn't need the emphasis of Prowl's optics glaring down at him or his tight grasp on him for the obvious.

"Why?! Why have you returned?!" Prowl spat in an enraged question. From the cracks in his voice, it almost sounded as if he was overwhelmed and barely kept himself together.

"Prowl...Just listen..." Bumblebee pleaded quietly, his optics straying away from the death glares focused at him.

"Listen?! What could you possibly have to say for yourself?" Prowl's servo only pressed down with greater force instead of loosening as Bumblebee wished that it had.

With a growing sense of a jolting restiveness, Bumblebee gazed weakly upwards. Bulkhead had said that Prowl was the one who changed the least of them, but Bumblebee specifically remembered that Prowl was nothing like this...callous mech. Why wasn't Bulkhead helping the yellow 'bot anyway? Quickly glancing to the still larger and bulky one, Bumblebee came to the realization that Bulkhead was watching with a rather unsure and acerbic tone on his faceplate, but did nothing to assist him.

This future- no... nightmare. It just wasn't right. Bulkhead may have been just a big, unsightly klutz, but he always stood up for his friends even if the consequences would mean a chewing out from Prime or Ratchet. Bumblebee couldn't comprehend exactly every single ordeal that the big mech had been put through, excluding his change of chassis, to change him so drastically, but it must have been horrible. It didn't seem like anyone else had it easy either though. No one was spared. Sari and Ratchet were gone, Prime was nowhere to be seen, and Bulkhead wasn't even "Bulkhead" anymore. Not to mention that Prowl easily became a lethality by just a tiny spark of surprise.

Suddenly Bumblebee found himself broken from his sad reminiscing and forced to stand up by Prowl. He was suspiciously stronger for a ninja 'bot; a lot stronger then Bumblebee had remembered him to be. Than again the twenty stellar cycles could have allowed Prowl the chance to train himself more vigorously. But at the moment, that didn't particularly help Bumblebee's situation.

"Get out! Go back!" Prowl hissed at Bumblebee as he pushed him forward. Bumblebee turned with a questioning glance, but found himself face to face with Prowl's laser before being shoved forward again.

"Go back?! Prowl please-"

"You had your chance. Now leave!"

Prowl couldn't be serious! If Bumblebee went back outside then chances were that the scouting machines would find him and the outcome would not be good.

"Enough!" The sudden boom from Bulkhead's voice caused both Prowl and Bumblebee to cease movement and both quickly turned to face the larger mech. Prowl's faceplate wore an angered glare that demanded an explanation while Bumblebee was grateful that Bulkhead decided to intervene; better late than never.

Perhaps things only became worse because of Bulkhead defending Bumblebee. Prowl and Bulkhead had entered a standoff of glares accompanied by an occasional brazened grunt that only added more tension to the room. The only one who seemed to be unaffected by this was Starscream.

From a glance towards the "scientist" standing behind Bulkhead, Bumblebee realized that he was obviously enjoying this. He didn't say anything, but it wasn't like he had to. The flier was leaning on to the support of his lower right servo with crossed arms. An amused grin was all but hidden on the seeker's faceplate. It even looked like he was chuckling at the sight of Prowl and Bulkhead, inaudibly that is. Once a Decepticon, always a Decepticon. Starscream and his attitude was definitely not an exception from that no matter how much he would try to say otherwise.

"Let him go Prowl..." Bulkhead quietly warned as he watched Prowl with a narrowing optic while Bumblebee turned back towards the two. Prowl only seemed to become angrier and angrier with every word Bulkhead murmured, but remained silent. Venting a frustrated growl, Prowl slowly turned his focus away from larger mech.

He turned back to face Bumblebee, dim blue optics darting accusingly to the yellow 'bot. Bumblebee almost expected to be pushed or yelled at once more, but after fearfully glancing up towards the taller black and gold mech and found himself at a loss of words. For a split-moment Bumblebee could have sworn Prowl's malicious faceplate had switched to an almost anguished one written with regret. Unfortunately any trace of such a face had quickly disappeared when Prowl hastily turned away and marched up to Starscream.

"Why are you still here?! Take these to Lockdown! NOW!" Prowl barked at the befuddled seeker as he withdrew small, grey disks from the storage area of his golden throwing stars and thrusted them into Starmscream's servo.

"Of course! But only since you asked so nicely," Starscream replied with his ever so annoying and screechy sarcasm.

Prowl retorted with a vexed glare Starscream, as if sending off a silent warning not to push it, but did nothing more and walked away in slow pace.

"Geeze Bulkhead," Bumblebee began warily and stared questiongly at his larger friend after being sure that the ninja 'bot was out of hearing distance, "I thought you said Prowl changed the least!"

"Well, he never acted that way before." It was the only response Bulkhead gave. Nothing more or nothing less.

"It doesn't take that much to figure it out," came Starscream's voice in a deducting manner. He pointed his index digit at Bumblebee and chuckled wryly. "He blames you."

"Blames me? For what?"

"Everything I suppose." Starscream moved his arms nearly around him in a circle in an emphasizing manner.

"Everything? What do you mean?"

"Must I explain such a simple thing to you? It feels like I'm communicating to nothing more than a protoform! Yes everything! Your allies' deaths! Megatron seizing the AllSpark! But above all, I believe he thinks of you as nothing more than a coward who hid himself away for twenty stellar cycles." Bumblebee could feel Starscream watching his every move as he spoke with his snobbish tone. Despite how much he wanted to deny it, Bumblebee knew that he was right. Starscream's words had made an impact and Starscream most likely knew that fully well. Why else would he add, "Then again what would I know about grudges?" innocently at the end, with a coy smile?

Slag. Why does each chapter keep getting shorter? (Quality over quantity?) Oh well...On a happier note, it's my birthday September 9 (which is this Tuesday.) B-day wishes anyone? See you all next update!

Edit: Thanks once again RGW!!