AN: FINALLY!

It was a new Universe, just coming into consciousness and starting to knit together its governing forces. She didn't have much experience with the new ones, so she decided to check it out as soon as she was available. It didn't take long; her enemy was well under control at the moment and she had less work to do than usual, and when she politely requested access to the new Universe she was easily granted it.

The place was pretty empty, still forming stars and galaxies and whatnot, but she could sense a presence here, which meant there were likely two. There were always at least two.

She watched the presence she had sensed as he wandered and became acquainted with his domain, identifying the best way to introduce her existence. He was aware of more than most, and he had several multiverses to dabble in, making him more open to where she came from. Eventually she decided she could just go ahead and introduce herself and maybe he wouldn't be offended or freaked out, so she revealed her presence. He noticed almost immediately and promptly came to her, curious. She took it as a good sign.

He greeted her cautiously, also a good sign. He understood that he might not be the biggest, most powerful thing around, even though in many ways he was. She returned the greeting, their communication flowing as thoughts and emotions from their true-forms, and told him her name and asked for his.

There was a troubled pause as the young deity was presented with the challenge of deciding what to call himself for the first time, and her energy swirled in gentle amusement. Eventually he settled, seeming more confident now that he had resolved the issue he had not even been aware of until that moment.

"I am called Unicron," he told her.

And in that instant Star saw him and what he would become and how their natures would pit them against each other for eternity in an unending battle between the light she embodied and the dark destruction he would eventually come to embrace. It was an outcome she knew she could not change.

But for now…

"It is a powerful name. Well chosen," she complimented him, and his true-form swirled proudly.

"Brother!" he suddenly exclaimed. "You must meet my brother. Come with me. He doesn't have a name yet," Unicron told her smugly. He hurried off and Star followed with amused acquiescence, flowing after his essence easily.

The young deity led her to a forming galaxy where the second entity she had been sure was around somewhere was watching the formation with rapt attention, reaching in cautiously to tweak its development and watching it react, learning through trial and error the rules by which creation was governed. His attention turned to them as they approached, first distractedly, and then fully as he realized his brother was not alone.

"Brother," Unicron greeted happily, "I have found one like us, from the Beyond."

He moved aside to let his brother and Star meet, mingling their true-forms for a moment in mutual greeting and curiosity.

"And, I have a name," Unicron announced, swirling with pride.

His brother reacted with surprise and wonder at the concept, and warmed to it quickly.

"You should chose a name, brother," the young god encouraged. "Mine is Unicron."

"Unicron…" the other deity murmured, expressing his approval and pondering what would be a fitting designation for himself.

It took a while, longer than it had taken Unicron, and his brother began to grow impatient. He reached out to nudge his nameless sibling. "Well?"

"I would like to be called…Primus," he finally said softly. The name carried in its form a note of power and authority. It translated loosely as 'First and Foremost.' There was a twinge of apprehension and a quiet note of apology in the young god's true-form; he did not want to claim such a lofty designation if it would offend his brother. Unicron's energy swirled and spiked for a moment as a variety of emotions passed through him, but then he pressed close to mingle with his brother.

"You were with me when I woke for the first time. In all my memories of existence, you are first and foremost. Do not hesitate to claim a title that reflects your own importance, brother. Your name does not diminish mine; your existence does not impose upon me. Be proud of your choice, my brother. It is a good one."

Primus relaxed into his brother's comfort and encouragement, sharing his excitement for the name and for his brother's approval.

"Brother," he said.

"Brother," was the firm reply.

"Unicron."

"Primus."

Their true-forms bubbled with joy to call each other by their chosen names for the first time before both turned to their new friend to draw her into the merge, including her in the small celebration and thanking her for bringing it about.

Star laughed at their childlike exuberance, letting them catch her up into it, reminding her that it was good to find joy in the simple things. When the mercurial merge calmed a bit, she pulled back to observe the two deities. They turned their attention to her expectantly and she let her happiness at the meeting be known.

"Boys," she told them, and even if Unicron huffed at the term he couldn't deny the age disparity between them, "I think this is the start of a wonderful friendship."

The brothers agreed, and asked her if she'd explored the place and if she would like to see what they had discovered of their domain, and she followed them as they showed her everything they had learned since coming into being, knowing that this peace and mutual love would not last. Sometime, somehow, she didn't know when; but she knew that it would grow cold, that they would break apart someday, and that she would have work to do here to maintain the balance.

But for now… they could be friends.