The Legend of Elita
Chapter 7: The Greatest Honor
Word quickly spread around Iacon about the defeat of the Decepticons. Festive kites were flown. A parade was hurriedly prepared for the heroic soldiers who ended the Decepticon menace. It had everything: drum players, acrobats, even a dancing dragon. But the most important part was the soldiers marching near the front. In front of them, an official shouted, "Make way for the heroes of Cybertron!"
However, Perceptor was clearly the only one who was enjoying himself. The others were still reeling from the revelations of Elita's identity. Optimus rode his steed, Grimlock, near the front while Bumblebee, Brawn, and Bulkhead followed behind.
"I still can't believe that Blagarak was a girl the whole time," said Bulkhead.
"No wonder she avoided us at the pond," said Bumblebee.
"She was pretty wimpy when we first met her too," said Brawn. The other two gave an annoyed look at Brawn. "What? He was."
"You know, what the weird thing is?" said Bulkhead, "I don't think any less of her. She was a pretty nice person as Blagarak and I don't think she faked all of that."
"Actually, me neither," said Brawn, "Sure, she's still a femme, but if it weren't for her, we'd still be training back at camp. In fact, I might have dropped out if she hadn't figured out that pole thing."
"Yeah, but that's nothing compared with what she just did," said Bumblebee, "She saved our lives and all of Cybertron. That's a big accomplishment for any bot, mech or femme."
"Too bad the law keeps her from being celebrated as the hero she is," said Bulkhead.
Optimus was able to hear his men's conversation. In many ways, he agreed with them. However, he still felt betrayed about Elita lying to him. Obviously, it was necessary for her to do so. But for some reason, it seemed to hurt him more.
Just then, Elita rode Snarl through the crowds until she came up to Optimus. "Optimus!" she called.
Optimus turned to her in surprise, "Elita?"
"The Decepticons are alive, they're in the city," said Elita, "Well, not all of them, but Megatron is. They're still a danger."
Optimus' face hardened and he said, "You don't belong here, Elita. Go home."
Elita got onto Optimus' other side and said, "I saw them in the mountains. You have to believe me."
"Why should I?" said Optimus sternly.
Elita frowned before moving Snarl right in Optimus' path. "Why else would I come back?" asked Elita, "You said you trust Blagarak, why is Elita be any different?" Optimus paused for a cycle but then he moved Grimlock around Snarl. Elita then turned to the trio and said, "Keep your optics open. I know they're here." Then she rode Snarl further ahead before getting off.
Draco popped out of her saddlebag and said, "And where are you going?"
"To find someone who will believe me," said Elita before heading into the crowd.
The parade had advanced up to the Imperial Palace. Energon fireworks from one tower were shot into the sky in celebration. Optimus Prime and Perceptor walked up the stairs, with the dancing dragon close behind them. Optimus' troops followed behind the dragon. Alpha Trion walked down the first flight of stairs to meet them. Perceptor then handed over Megatron's sword, the one piece of the Decepticon leader they had managed to find, to Optimus. However, Optimus still felt a shred of doubt. Elita had sounded very sincere about her warning. Could the Decepticons have survived?
Then the drums stopped pounding and a gong rang for silence. When every Bot in the royal square was quiet, Alpha Trion spoke out, "My children, the Allspark smiles down upon the Autobot Empire. Cybertron will sleep safely tonight, thanks to our brave warriors." The crowd cheered loudly in celebration.
Meanwhile, at the back of the crowd, Elita walked up to one mech and said, "Sir, the Emperor's in danger." The mech turned away from her in a huff. "But the Decepticons are here," said Elita, but the mech didn't listen. Then she went over to another mech and said, "Please, you have to help," but that mech turned away from her too. She looked around and saw that she was being completely ignored. Then she turned to Draco and said, "No one will listen."
"Huh? Oh, I'm sorry, did you say something?" asked Draco in a disinterested voice.
"Draco!" said Elita.
"Hey, you're a girl again, remember?" pointed out Draco. Elita winced. She had forgotten how femmes weren't held with as much respect as mechs.
Then Optimus spoke, "Your Majesty, I present to you the Sword of Megatron." He held out the sword in front of him.
Alpha Trion looked at the sword and said, "I know what this means to you, Optimus Prime. Your father would have been very proud." Optimus smiled a bit at that.
But just as Alpha Trion was about to take the sword from Optimus, Laserbeak swooped down and snatched it out of their servos. The crowd gasped as the cyber-hawk flew off towards the roof with the sword. He dropped it over one of the gargoyles on the roof, which reached out a servo and caught it. Then the gargoyle stood up, showing the face of Megatron to the crowd below, who gave out a great gasp of astonishment and fear from the crowds. Then Laserbeak landed on Megatron's outstretched arm and gave a loud shriek.
After that signal was given, the dancing dragon burst open. Megatron's remaining Decepticons jumped out and charged forward. Optimus attempted to stop them, but Cyclonus blocked his hammer and knocked him over. Then he and Lugnut grabbed Alpha Trion and ran up the steps.
Optimus looked up from the ground and shouted, "No!" He changed into truck mode and drove up the stairs.
"C'mon!" shouted Brawn before he and the other soldiers changed to vehicle mode and drove up after their leader.
However, before they could get there, Shockwave and Blitzwing had closed the doors behind them, with Starscream shooting a few blasts from his cannons to keep anyone from getting too close. Optimus transformed back into robot mode and banged on the doors, but they were bolted shut. Not even the Magnus Hammer could smash through them. On the rooftop, Megatron gave a great laugh of victory.
The soldiers quickly picked up a large statue nearby and started battering at it against the door. However, the doors were built with the best of Autobot metallurgy and weren't showing any signs of breaking. Elita ran up the steps behind them and watched them try to break the door in for a few nanokliks. "They'll never reach the Emperor in time," she said to herself. Then a plan came to her head and she whistled loudly, catching the attention of the mechs. "Hey guys, I've got an idea." She then ran around the corner. The other soldiers watched her go before Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Brawn put down the statue and followed her. Optimus watched them go with puzzlement on his face.
On Elita's instructions, the mechs stripped of their swords and armor before they started to put on the clothing she provided. Meanwhile, Elita decided she needed modification of her own. She donned her full Beast Armor and started hunting around the palace. With some quick hunting, she found a spider, sitting in its web in a corner the maintenance bots had overlooked. Fortunately, it was the same type of spider as the one she first scanned in the garden. She scanned the spider before bringing up the specs on her armor. She started altering the armor, making it more form-fitting and feminine while retaining its combative effectiveness. When she finished, she uploaded the new configuration to her armor.
The Beast Armor shrank and blended closer with her skin. This will make removing it much harder than before, but it will be worth it. Bulky parts smoothed and molded itself against her natural body's shape. The claws disappeared from her gauntlets as they slid free from her fingers. The armor parted on her upper arms and legs, showing the now-purple flesh of her technorganic body. The boots slimmed before becoming feminine high heels. The eight spider legs on her back dwindled two as a spider's abdomen appeared on her lower back. The spider's head on her chest plate receded until it covered just her breastplate, leaving a noticeable midriff made from the spider's mandibles and fangs. Finally, her helmet shrank, showing her neck and lower face. It became remarkably less hideous, more of a helmet's than a spider's head. However, the four optics showing on it weren't ornaments, but her actual optics which had doubled with this upgrade. All in all, Elita's new armor was now a feminized version of her old armor, but still as practical in battle.
Then she walked back to the trio, now dressed up in their own disguises. Of course, their disguises were far less impressing, seeing how they were now dressed as femmes and very unconvincing femmes at that, particularly in Brawn's case. Then the four of them walked over to a set of pillars that went up to the windows on the second floor. They pulled out their sashes, made of cyber-silk from Elita's spinnerets. They wrapped them around the pillars like the weights Elita used to climb the pole back at boot camp.
They were about to climb when Elita felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned and saw Optimus. "I see my training hasn't been fruitless with you four," he said, before eyeballing the trio, "Though I don't think you were listening to well with my lessons on camouflage."
"I have a plan, Optimus," said Elita, "I'd explain it, but we need to save the Emperor now."
"Well, you'll have to explain it to me on the way," said Optimus as he took a banner and wrapped it around another pillar.
"You're coming with us?" asked Elita.
"Alpha Trion's in danger and it's my duty to rescue him," said Optimus, "Besides, if you were right about the 'Cons, then your plan will probably work as well. I just want to be there to do my part."
Elita smiled and said, "Wouldn't have it any other way." Then the five of them started to climb the pillars up to the second floor windows.
Cyclonus and Lugnut burst through the doors onto the balcony and carried Alpha Trion up there. The crowd below could see them clearly from up there. Just then, a face dropped down in front of Alpha Trion. "Boo," said Megatron before jumping down onto the balcony. In his arrogance, he had donned something he had been saving for the occasion: a purple cape, emblazoned with the Decepticon insignia. He turned to his soldiers and said, "Guard the door." Lugnut and Cyclonus bowed before walking back through the doors. Megatron smirked as he walked up to Alpha Trion, "Your walls and armies have fallen, and now it is your turn. Bow to me."
The five Decepticon warriors stood at guard at the door that led to the balcony. None of them noticed Elita's head as she peeked around a corner before turning back. "Ok, any questions?" she asked.
"Does this dress make me look fat?" asked Brawn. There was a smack followed by Brawn shouting, "Ow!"
Suddenly, the Decepticons heard giggling and pointed their weapons. "Who's there?" demanded Shockwave. Then a quartet of giggling femmes walked forward, holding unfurled fans in front of their faces. Three of them didn't move as gracefully, stumbling slightly on their dresses.
"Concubines," said Lugnut, lowering his P.O.K.E. missile.
Cyclonus grimaced and said, "Ugly concubines."
The three 'homely concubines' stood in front of the Decepticons and giggled. Lugnut waved back at them only for Cyclonus to smack him. Suddenly, an apple with a bite taken out of it rolled towards their landing gear and they looked down at it. Bumblebee noticed that one of his 'breasts' had fallen loose and quickly put a servo up to cover for it.
Optimus, who was waiting behind a corner, put his hand to his face and groaned. However, none of the Autobots counted on Laserbeak, who was perched on the doorway to the balcony. Laserbeak had spotted Optimus and was getting ready to give a shriek of warning. But suddenly, he felt his tail being pulled out while a pair of arms was forcing his wings together over his head. Laserbeak resisted as much as he could but then his automorph mechanism activated and he transformed to guitar mode. And before he could change back to bird mode, an intense flame welded his wings together, trapping him in guitar mode. Then Draco turned to Chip grinning and said, "Now that's what I call burning rock 'n' roll."
Chip laughed a little before saying, "I don't get it."
Lugnut reached down and gingerly plucked up the fallen apple with one clamp. 'Gingerly', since he could easily squish the apple into applesauce with a minimum amount of force. He handed it back to Bumblebee, smiling as much as his face structure could admit. However, Bumblebee already had an apple which he pulled out from where his breast should be, while Bulkhead pulled out two watermelons as Brawn pulled out an orange and a banana.
Before the Decepticons could fully realize what was happening, Bulkhead slammed the watermelons onto Cyclonus and Lugnut's heads before smashing them together, effectively knocking them out.
Then Bumblebee smashed the apple in his hand in shockwave's face. Before Shockwave could wipe the mess from his optic, Bumblebee kicked him in the gut, knocking him on his hands and knees. Then he smashed his head against Shockwave's back, knocking him down for the count. "That was for Wasp," he said before pausing and saying, "No idea why I said that."
Blitzwing was more on guard and tried to punch Brawn's head off. However, thanks to Brawn's shortness, he easily avoided the attacks. Then he grabbed Blitzwing's arm and judo-flipped onto the floor, knocking him out as well.
Starscream tried to blast Elita, but she kicked his arm away from her. Then she hit Starscream upside, disorientating him long enough for Elita to knock him onto the ground. She quickly wrapped Starscream up in her cyber-silk. "Optimus, go!" she shouted. Optimus ran up the stairs towards the balcony.
Megatron found his captive a lot more difficult than he had anticipated. "I grow tired of your arrogance, old man," he said, pulling out his sword, "Bow to me!"
Alpha Trion, however, stood tall and said, "No matter how the wind howls, the mountain cannot bow to it."
Megatron glared and said, "Then you will kneel in pieces!" He raised his sword up to chop the Autobot Emperor to bits. Just then, Optimus ran up and blocked Megatron's blow with the Magnus Hammer while simultaneously pushing Alpha Trion out of the way. Megatron tried to strike Optimus directly, but Optimus disarmed him and kicked him into a pillar. Then Optimus aimed a blow at Megatron's head with the Hammer, but Megatron grabbed his wrist, forcing Optimus to drop the Hammer. He then tried to throw Optimus over the side of the balcony, only for Optimus to shoot out a grappling line and swing back to kick Megatron. The two of them proceeded to scuffle on the floor of the balcony.
Just then, Elita and the trio ran onto the balcony. Elita saw that Optimus had Megatron preoccupied for the moment. But knowing the Decepticon leader's strength, he won't be able to hold him for long. She turned to Bulkhead and said, "Bulkhead, get the Emperor."
Bulkhead turned to Alpha Trion and said, "Sorry, Your Majesty," before picking him up and heading over to where a string of lanterns extended from the balcony to the ground below. He swung his sash around it before sliding down it with the Emperor under his arm. Surprisingly, the rope didn't snap under his tremendous weight.
However, Megatron, who Optimus had down in a pin, saw the trio escaping with his captive. "No!" he shouted before surging back up. He then grabbed Optimus' head and butted his own against it. Megatron's helmet was harder than Optimus' and the blow knocked Optimus out.
Elita winced as Optimus fell to the floor. "C'mon!" shouted Brawn from the ground. She had her sash around the rope and was ready to slide, but she couldn't just leave Optimus there. But Megatron was starting towards her, no doubt planning on going down the rope to get to Alpha Trion. Elita grabbed Megatron's fallen sword and chopped it into the pillar, cutting the rope. Megatron ran forward to grab the rope, but it had already fallen.
Megatron looked down and muttered, "No." The trio and the Emperor were already lost among the crowd and he couldn't pick out where they were. He couldn't just fly down there because the automated defenses would fire upon him as soon as he left the safety of the balcony. And by losing the Emperor before making him bow to him or cutting him down in front of them, he wouldn't be able to force the people of Iacon to obey him. He could hear them cheering about their leader's triumphant escape.
Megatron let out a roar of fury and turned around. Elita was helping Optimus up, who had just regained consciousness. "You!" snarled Megatron. He pulled his sword out of the pillar and stomped towards Optimus, who pulled a small energon dagger out. Megatron smacked it out of his servo and picked up Optimus and yelled, "You took away my victory!" He readied his sword for a blow through Optimus' Spark chamber.
A boot bouncing off the back of his head attention drew his attention away. "No," said Elita, "I did." She briefly altered her helmet to the one she wore as Blagarak.
Megatron recognized it instantly. "The spider from the mountains…" he said. He dropped Optimus and focused his wrath on her. His vendetta against him was inconsequential compared to her. It was bad enough that one bot was responsible for the decimation of his entire army, but for that one bot to be a femme was a disgrace beyond any forgiving.
Elita saw it was time to move as she put her boot back on and quickly ran down the stairs. She quickly slammed the doors behind them, but she felt Megatron pounding at them before his fist punched through.
Elita transformed to spider mode, which was lither now, and ran down the corridor. Draco dropped onto her back with Chip, Draco holding an electric guitar for some reason. "So what's the plan?" asked Draco.
"Um…" started Elita.
"You don't have a plan?" asked Draco.
"Hey, I'm making it up as I…go…" Elita paused as she passed by a window. She transformed back into robot mode for a better look. She had a clear view of the fireworks tower. One energon firework by itself would only knock someone back a bit, singe maybe. But if all of them were ignited at once… "Draco…" she said.
"Way ahead of you, sister," said Draco. He put down the guitar and grabbed Chip. "C'mon, Chip," he said before jumping onto a kite that was flying nearby. He detached the string and glided the kite over to the tower.
Just then, Megatron smashed through the door and charged down the hallway. Elita ducked behind one pillar, but Megatron just slashed through it with his sword. As she went around another, Megatron chopped through it too. Then Elita changed to spider mode and tried to climb up another pillar. But Megatron cut through that one as well, but lower than the others, causing the pillar to fall into and crash through a nearby wall. This left her dangling over the crowd outside the palace. But then she threw a line up to the roof and started climbing up it.
The two Bots at the fireworks tower were oblivious to the commotion going on in the palace and were getting ready for another display of fireworks. Suddenly, a voice behind them said, "Citizens, I need firepower."
They turned and jumped back when they saw some sort of creature that looked like a cross between bat and lizard. "Who are you?" asked one of the Bots.
"Your worst nightmare," hissed the creature, unfurling his wings. This was more than enough to scare the two Bots into jumping off the sides of the tower. The discomfort they'll feel from the landing would probably be nothing compared to the pain that monster would inflict on them.
Chip poked his head up from over the banister and asked, "Uh, wasn't that a violation of Guardian Rule #1?"
"Not if they didn't know what they saw," said Draco as he put away the kite he was using for wings for now, "Now help me find a nice big rocket, one strong enough to send a Decepticon flying, literally.
Elita managed to climb up onto the roof and changed into robot mode as she got a purchase on the rooftop. The crowds below noticed her and much murmuring were heard. Elita climbed up to the highest part of the roof, the beam between the tiles. She looked back and saw the fireworks tower. She judged the angle, level, and straightness of the main beam. To her relief, it was line up perfectly with the fireworks tower. Now she just had to wait for Megatron…
She didn't have to wait long. Megatron burst out of the roof behind her in space jet mode before changing back to robot mode. He advanced towards her, sword ready to strike. Elita quickly felt her person for something to use as a weapon. But all she found was that fan she used to hide her face from the Decepticon guards. She unfurled it, but a paper fan didn't seem much of a matchup for a tironium blade. Megatron grinned and said, "It looks like you're out of ideas," before lunging his sword at Elita.
However, Elita moved her fan in front of the sword. The sword easily went through it, but then Elita closed the fan around the blade and twisted it. The blade flew out of Megatron's hands. Elita caught it and swung it around, throwing the fan off the blade as she did, before assuming a fighting position. "Not quite," said Elita before calling, "Ready, Draco?"
Megatron looked at the other end of the roof to see Draco, who ripped the kite wings off his back to reveal a very large energon rocket tied to his back. "I am ready, baby!" shouted Draco before pointing the rocket at Megatron and breathing fire on a stick in his hand. He handed the burning stick back to Chip and said, "Light me!" Chip nodded before holding the flame to the fuse.
From that distance, Megatron mistook Draco for a small Bot aiming a missile at him. However, he understood the implication. He turned on Elita with a warcry but it was cut off when Elita stuck the sword in the rooftop and swung on it to kick Megatron upside the head. Then she dropped down and swiped his legs out from under him, making him fall down. As Draco's rocked launched forward, Elita grabbed Megatron's sword and used it to pin his cape to the roof. When Megatron looked up, he saw the missile heading right towards him. However, when he tried to move out of the way, he found he was stuck. Before he could unfasten his cape, the rocket struck, sending Megatron flying with it. Draco was left clinging onto Megatron's sword, which now only pinned a small piece of the cape.
Elita grabbed Draco and ran, muttering to herself rapidly, "Get off the roof, get off the roof, get off the roof…" Megatron let out a loud scream as the rocket flew with him right into the fireworks tower which virtually exploded on contact. Every firework went off at once. This resulted in both an astounding display in the sky as well as incinerating the top of the tower and everything in it, including the Decepticon leader.
Elita jumped as she got to the end of the roof. There was another rope with lanterns on it and she grabbed one and used it to slide down the rope. She let go over the stair in the royal square. However, her timing was a bit off as landed on Optimus Prime, who had just run out of the partially-burning palace. The two of them tumbled onto a flat between flights before looking at each other with surprise. Then the sword of Megatron shot down and landed nearby.
The trio ran up the stairs to them. "Elita! Optimus Prime! You're alright!" they cried.
"Was there ever a doubt?" asked Optimus.
"Well, I kinda got nervous when he started chasing me," said Elita.
"Well, I bet you had a great plan for that," said Bulkhead.
"Actually, I just winged it," said Elita.
"HUH?" Bulkhead's jaw dropped so low it actually fell of its hinges.
Draco landed shortly afterwards, laughing loudly. "I haven't had that much fun in centuries," he said. He reached up a hand and caught Chip. He held the cyber-cricket, who had a flame on his head, in his hand and said, "You are one lucky bug." He then licked a finger on his other hand and snuffed out the flame on Chip's head.
"Yep, more luck than I can handle," said Chip in a dazed voice.
The crowd cheered loudly. Not only at the brilliant firework display, but the demise of the Decepticon general it really represented. Fortunately, not too many people were in that section of the palace when the tower went off. However, one of those unfortunate few was stomping down the stairs. Optimus, Bumblebee, Bulkhead, and Brawn stood around Elita.
A notably-singed and perturbed Perceptor coughed before shouting, "That was a deliberate attempt on my life! Now look at what she's done! What a mess! Stand aside, that creature's not worth protecting!"
"She's a hero," said Optimus sternly.
Perceptor scoffed before saying, "She's a femme. She'll never be worth anything."
Optimus finally had enough of Perceptor and grabbed his shoulders. He shouted, "Listen, you pompous-"
"That is enough." The words, though level, carried a lot of weight. And well they should since they came from Alpha Trion's vocal processor as he walked down the stairs.
Bumblebee turned around in confusion and said, "But how… You were, we were, we didn't…"
Optimus let go of Perceptor, who stepped away, before walking forward and saying, "Your Majesty, I can explain…" started Optimus, but Alpha Trion held up a servo for silence before moving it in a gesture to stand aside. The four soldiers reluctantly stepped aside, revealing Elita behind them. Elita stepped forward and bowed to the Emperor.
Emperor Alpha Trion fixed a steely look at Elita and said in a steady voice, "I have heard a great deal about you, Elita-One. You stole your father's armor, ran away from home, impersonated a soldier, deceived your commanding officer, dishonored the Elite Guard, destroyed my palace, and…" Elita winced as she waited for the next accusation. "…You have saved us all."
Elita looked up, not quite sure if she heard what the Emperor just said right. Alpha Trion just smiled before bowing towards Elita. Perceptor, who had been writing down what Alpha Trion had just said, looked up and noticed his sovereign bowing towards Elita. He quickly threw himself on the ground in a bow. Beside Elita, Optimus, Bumblebee, Brawn, and Bulkhead all knelt on the ground and bowed as well. Elita looked back to see the entire crowd was bowing towards her, almost like a wave.
The only ones who weren't bowing were Draco and Chip, who were sitting on Snarl's back. Snarl had also lower his head in as good a bow as a triceratops can make. Draco sniffed and said, "My baby's all grown up and saving Cybertron." He turned to Chip who was also near tears and asked, "Do you have a tissue?"
Then Alpha Trion stood upright and said, "Perceptor."
Perceptor got up and responded, "Your Excellency?"
"See to it that this femme is made a member of my counsel," said Alpha Trion.
Perceptor sputtered for a few nanokliks before saying, "What? Uh, there are no counsel positions open, Your Majesty."
"Very well," said Alpha Trion before turning to Elita and pointing a thumb at Perceptor, "You can have his job."
"What? But, but, but…" stuttered Perceptor before his processor overload and he fainted.
Elita bowed to Alpha Trion and said, "With all due respects, Your Excellency, I think I've been away from home long enough."
"Then take this," said Alpha Trion, removing a pendant that bore his crest from around his neck and hanging it around Elita's, "So your family will know what you have done for me." He picked up Megatron's sword and gave it to Elita, "And take this, so the galaxy will know what you have done for Cybertron." Elita smiled at the gifts before throwing her arms around the Autobot Emperor in a hug. Alpha Trion looked taken aback for a nanoklik but smiled.
"Is she allowed to do that?" asked Brawn. The other soldiers just shrugged their shoulders. Elita moved away from the Emperor and towards her friends. Bumblebee and Brawn moved in to hug her. Then Bulkhead wrapped his arms around all of them and lifted them up in a big, if slightly crushing, hug. Then Bulkhead put them down and Elita walked away. Brawn started crying a bit and Bumblebee handed him a hanky to dab his good optic with.
Then Elita walked up to Optimus Prime. Optimus looked rather lost for words, "Um, you… you fight good," he said, patting Elita on the shoulder.
Elita looked slightly disappointed before saying, "Oh, thank you." She walked past him and up to Snarl, who had trotted up the stairs. She climbed onto the Dinobot's back and said, "Snarl, let's go home." Snarl snorted happily before turning around and galloping down the steps as the crowd cheered them on.
Alpha Trion walked up to Optimus and noticed the smile on Optimus' face. Alpha Trion smiled in understanding and said, "The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all."
Optimus turned to the Emperor in confusion. "Sir?" he asked.
Alpha Trion put it much more bluntly, "You don't meet a girl like that every dynasty." He turned around and said, "Now if you'll excuse me, I need to see to the restoration of my palace." He walked up the stairs, leaving Optimus Prime alone. Optimus' smiled again as he realized why his feelings have been so mixed up about Elita before.
Back at the One family's farm, Ratchet sat on the stone bench under the cherry trees. Their blossoms were starting to fall now, their pink petals floating around. A single blossom fell down onto Ratchet's lap and he looked at it. If he wasn't mistaken, this was the bud he had pointed out to Elita before she ran away. He sighed, he was so worried about his daughter, whom he partially feared he may never see again.
Just then, Elita walked out into the garden, Alpha Trion's pendant around her neck and Megatron's sword wrapped in paper in her hands. She spotted her father and hesitated for a moment before walking over.
Ratchet heard a noise before looking up to see the strange femme. Her coloring may have changed and her alt-mode appeared to be technorganic, but he recognized her instantly. "Elita?" he asked, scarcely believing it.
Elita knelt in front of her father and said, "Father, I brought you the Sword of Megatron." She placed the sword in Ratchet's servos, which were shaking slightly with surprise. "And the Crest of the Emperor," she added, taking off the pendent and placing it on the sword. Ratchet looked at the two artifacts as if not sure they were real or not. "They're gifts," explained Elita, "To honor the One family."
Ratchet looked at the gifts one nanoklik more before dropping them beside him. He got down and hugged Elita close and whispered, "The greatest gift in honor is having you for a daughter." Elita smiled, a pair of tears coming from her left optics. Ratchet wiped them away before embracing her closer. "I have missed you so," said Ratchet.
"I missed you too, Papa," said Elita as she hugged him back.
As father and daughter hugged, the other two femmes of the One family walked into the garden. They had met Elita already and were not surprised by her return. Arcee sighed with happiness but Red Alert was less than satisfied. "Great, she brings home a sword," said Red Alert sarcastically, "If you ask me, she should have brought home a mech."
"Excuse me." Arcee and Red Alert turned around to see Optimus Prime holding Elita's spiral sword. "Does Elita-One live here?" asked Optimus. The two femmes numbly pointed towards the cherry trees. "Thank you," said Optimus before walking past them.
Red Alert watched him past and said excitedly to Arcee, "Whoo! Sign me up for the next war!"
Ratchet noticed Optimus coming and stood up. Optimus bowed to him and said, "Honorable Ratchet-One, I…" Then he noticed Elita and said, "Elita! Uh…you forgot your sword." He held it out the sword to her before holding it to Ratchet, "Oh, well, actually, it's your sword, isn't it? I mean, uh…"
Ratchet and Elita exchanged a glance. Ratchet just shrugged his shoulders. Then Elita took the sword and asked, "Would you like to stay for dinner?"
Before Optimus could reply, Red Alert called out, "Would you like to stay forever?"
Optimus smiled at Elita and said, "Dinner would be great."
Ratchet turned to his daughter and said in a teasing voice, "Elita, you need to tell me before you bring home boys."
Optimus and Elita's faces blushed brightly. "Father…" hissed Elita, before pausing. "You know, I'm going to be wearing the Beast Armor for a while, aren't I?"
Ratchet took a good look at her and said, "I'm afraid so. You've bonded at a closer level than I thought possible. It will be several stellar cycles before you can remove it."
"I thought so," said Elita, "So I was thinking I could use another name. A warrior's name."
"Oh, so what should we call you?" asked Optimus, "We can't call you Blagarak anymore."
"You can call me 'honey'," called Red Alert. The three of them pointedly ignored this.
"'Blagarak'?" asked Ratchet.
"Just a name I was using while I was pretending to be a boy," said Elita, "I'll tell you all about it later." She thought for a few moment and said, "How about…Blackarachnia?"
Optimus nodded and said, "Blackarachnia sounds perfect…and lovely."
Blackarachnia smiled and said, "Thank you…Optimus Prime."
At the family temple, Yoketron was looking out the window and was watching Optimus meet the One family. He nodded in satisfaction.
Then Draco hopped up besides the window and said, "C'mon, who did a good job? C'mon, you can say it."
Yoketron sighed and said with great reluctance, "Oh, alright, you can be a guardian again."
"YEEEEEEEE-HAAAAAAW!" shouted Draco before jumping down, "WHOO-HOO-HOO-HOOOOOO!" Chip spat on his hands before picking up the stick and ringing the gong. The ancestor's spirits emerged from their headstones. Draco swung up to his old pedestal and called, "Take it, Chip!"
Chip started banging on pots and the gong like drums, quickly picking up a beat. "Best part of the job," said Chip.
The ancestor's quickly got in the party spirit and started dancing. "You know, he gets it from my side of the family," said one of the spirits.
Draco swung on a chain from the ceiling and shouted, "Call out for pizza!" Then Sentinel-One's head, which was tossed into the air like a volleyball, intercept Draco's chain and sent him flying forward.
Yoketron sighed to himself and muttered, "Guardians…"
Draco landed outside the shrine and on the steps. Blackarachnia, who was outside the shrine, knelt down and said, "Thanks, Draco," before kissing him on the forehead.
Just then, Sparkplug ran into the shrine, barking. He was followed from behind by the robot chickens. It looked like Draco's new tenure as a family guardian was off to a good start. "Draco!" shouted Yoketron's voice, making Blackarachnia and Draco wince. Or maybe not…
And here's the final chapter. And I am particularly proud of this one. As well making a couple of extensions, most notably the trio's conversation during the parade and Blackarachina getting her new monicher, I made a couple of changes. I had Megatron put on the cape because it was his style of arrogance and also because he doesn't have anything on his Cybertronian body to snag. I also had Laserbeak trapped in guitar mode instead of roasted because it made more sense that way. Anyhow, this is the fitting conclusion to a good story. I hope that next year's will be just as good. Please review and Merry Christmas to all!