The Brat Prince of Vos
Chapter 3
Continuity: Pre- and Post-TF:A, a little bit of AU here and there
Warnings: None for this chapter
Pairings: None for this chapter, eventual Megatron x Starscream.
Whew! Three chapters in one night, I'm definitely inspired for this story XD
Thank you for the reviews so far! They must make me write faster or something...:D
Megatron groaned, letting his head fall to the table with a clang.
In the end, Cyclonus had stayed with him all night, right until the early morning hours. While Cyclonus didn't seem to tire at all, listing custom after custom, tradition after tradition, Megatron desperately wanted recharge - or a nice cube of high-grade at least.
"That's about all you need to know, really," Cyclonus finally said with a pleasant smile, and Megatron's optic twitched in fury. If he wasn't so tired, he was sure he would strangle Cyclonus right there and then.
As if sensing Megatron's hostile intentions, the Minister pushed a button on the table, and a cube of energon was automatically produced. "Here," Cyclonus said, pushing it towards the Decepticon.
"I suppose there's no point in me trying to recharge now," Megatron grumbled, gulping down the energon in one go.
"There are a few hours yet until the King awakes. His morning sessions take place right after breakfast," the Minister replied, producing another cube for Megatron, which the Decepticon leader gladly accepted, sipping at this one more slowly.
"You know," Cyclonus said, standing and pushing his seat back under the table, "I've come across your…'faction', in my travels outside of Vos." The purple flier hesitated slightly. "I…sincerely hope the King takes up your offer. It is time for Cybertron to change." And with that, the Minister turned and silently left the ambassadorial chambers.
Megatron stared after him with a mixture of surprise and contemplation, but quickly shook it off. He sipped at his energon once more, and began to run through the information Cyclonus had given him, trying to plan his words in order to get the King to commit to the Decepticon cause.
The Decepticon woke to the sound of knocking, and moaned unhappily - one hour of recharge was not at all refreshing. He stretched his joints and stood, dusting himself off, while Cyclonus and another, ancient looking Minister walked in.
"The King has nearly finished his breakfast. Are you ready?" Cyclonus asked, looking far too refreshed and awake for someone that had been up all night teaching foreigners customs.
Megatron grunted in affirmation, taking his cannon off and placing it on the table in his quarters. He nodded at Cyclonus, and the purple flier beckoned for him to follow.
The Decepticon leader was led back out to the central shaft of the palace and up further steps. Each door they passed seemed to become bigger and grander than the last, some embossed with traditional paintings of various Vos victories and fairy tales. Cyclonus stopped outside a door three times the height of Megatron and knocked on it gently. Two members of the Royal Guard opened the door, and Cyclonus and the other, silent Minister led Megatron inside.
The throne room was impressive, to say the least, with windows making up the entirety of the farthest wall. At the other walls, rows of Royal Guards stood to attention, silent and accusing. The ceiling was embossed with silver and gold, while the walls were Royal Blue like the rest of the palace. In front of the windows was an imposing throne on a raised platform - twelve platforms of smaller heights, each closer to the floor than the last were arranged in front of it.
Cyclonus whispered to Megatron before taking his place to the left of the throne. "Kneel in front of the throne, there - remember not to look up until all the Royal family are seated."
Megatron did so, staring down at the floor for a long time. It irritated him, having to kneel in front of anyone - he reminded himself to have patience with the backwards Vos mechs, and grit his dental plates together. After a while, a door in the far corner of the room opened, and he heard the voices of younglings laughing and talking amongst themselves merrily, their footsteps light and graceful as they took their places on each of their platforms…
…Except, Megatron could see from the corner of his optics, for one. The thirteenth - the youngest, Prince Starscream, painted Fuchsia and grey - sat on the floor, silent and ignored by his siblings.
Then the heavier footsteps of the King came in, accompanied by yet more guards, and he seated himself leisurely on his throne. "Rise, Megatron, and welcome to my Kingdom," he boomed in a rich, deep voice.
Megatron rose, as he had been instructed, and bowed again. "Your Majesty, King Rainmaker the Fifth, it is an honour to be allowed an audience with you," he recited dramatically. The King nodded his approval. Megatron turned his attention to the heir to the throne. "Your Majesty, Prince Rainmaker the Sixth, it is an honour." The Prince - almost a full adult mech, and almost identical to the King, save his more youthful appearance, nodded solemnly.
The process was repeated for each of the Royal Family. Some of them ignored Megatron completely, talking quietly amongst themselves, while others spared him a disdainful glance, completely uninterested in the proceedings. The Princes and Princesses that did look at him regarded him with suspicion and frowns.
"…And your Majesty, Prince Starscream, it is an honour," Megatron finished, cycling a puff of air quietly in relief. The smallest Prince - no longer a sparkling, but barely a youngling - regarded him intently with a strange expression, but nodded politely nonetheless. Unlike the other younglings (save the heir to the throne, who mimicked the King) that seemed to be occupying themselves with datapads and games, Starscream did not look away from the Decepticon leader.
"Excellent," the King smiled, pleased, drawing Megatron's attention away from the thirteenth child. "Cyclonus has taught you well in a short time. Now, you may speak freely - what have you come here for, stranger?"
The Decepticon leader cleared his vocaliser and began…