CHAPTER TWELVE

Battle For The Princess

***

Meg: I hope nobody found that last chapter a bit too…full on.

Starscream: It was.

Emma: Ditto.

Meg: *Rolls eyes again* Anyway, the poll is ending in about half an hour, I really can't wait any longer. The votes still stand as before. It looks like BB might win.

Starscream: What does that mean for me?

Meg: *Holds up white lily*

Starscream: Oh.

***

Star and I made our way (fully clothed now) back to my parents' house. Since my ankle was hurting again, Star was carrying me, in his arms, bridal-style, this time.

We hadn't spoken since leaving the island but now, as we neared our house, Star stopped.

The house was in view.

"What is it?" I whispered, rather hoarsely.

Star's eyes narrowed. "Decepticons…" He muttered.

And that was when the house exploded and burst into flame.

*

Bumblebee's P.O.V:

I was speeding through the streets of Albany, not caring for speed limits or anything. My spark was kicking in now, and I knew exactly where to find Em.

'I'm coming…hold on…' I thought.

The explosion took me completely by surprise, and that's when I picked up Decepticons on the radar.

Well, one, to be exact.

Lugnut.

I increased speed, knowing that Em was now in danger.

*

I saw Lugnut before he saw me, and suddenly I was out of Star's arms, and using my powers to fly.

Star phased back into a robot and was right behind me. Whether to help me or not, I didn't know.

I didn't care.

My parents were dead, dying because of me, just like Nenona and Jerome.

I was angry.

Blue light glowed in my fists.

"LUGNUT!!" I shouted, and he turned to me. I saw Star out of the corner of my eye. "STAR, FOR PRIMUS' SAKE, HELP ME KILL THIS SLAGGING BASTARD!!"

Star and I attacked Lugnut at the same time, and I felt the energy of the All-Spark burning through my fists, setting me alight.

Star felt it too, because blue light now graced him.

Lugnut realised it.

"STARSCREAM, YOU SLAGGING TRAITOR!!" He shouted, before I punched him in the face. "AND YOU BLOODY BITCH!!" Lugnut told me, before Star slammed his hand into the Decepticon's face.

"YOU'RE GOING TO DIE HERE, LUGNUT!!" Star yelled back, before plunging his glowing blue hand deep into Lugnut's chest whilst I held the Decepticon still.

I heard Lugnut's tortured scream as Star ripped out his spark, but he managed to hit me just before he died, and I slammed into the ground, blacking out immediately.

Mum…Dad…everyone, I'm so sorry…

*

Bumblebee's P.O.V:

I arrived at the smouldering wreckage that looked all too familiar. I recognized Lugnut's dead form immediately, and took in Starscream's triumphantly glowing blue form.

My spark ran cold as I phased back into bot form, and faced Starscream.

"What the slag did you do!?" I asked him.

He smirked. "Killed Lugnut – you got a problem with that, shorty?"

I tensed. "Where is she? Where's Emma!?" I looked around, and saw her lying a few feet away. There was blood on her body, and she was unconscious. "WHAT THE SLAG HAVE YOU DONE!!??"

"I didn't do anything," Starscream said angrily.

"Then what's that blue light?"

"Oh, this?" Starscream's smirk returned. "You like it? You could say…the power of the All-Spark has…come out with me…"

My optics widened. "You mean…you…and Em..?"

He nodded.

My hands shook. "You didn't…"

"We did."

"Did she..?"

"She wanted it." Starscream smiled then. "Looks like I get the Princess, the power, and Cybertron – the whole damn lot."

"Is that all she is to you!?" I shouted. "Just her powers!? She's more then that!" And I attacked Starscream, even though I knew it was a kamikaze mission.

*

I didn't know where I was going, or what I was doing. I was crawling, half blinded by pain, towards a source of light, but I didn't know what it was or why I was going there.

Suddenly, I found myself at computer.

Reaching into my pocket, I pulled out a computer chip, and put it into the computer.

The screen came to life, and Cybetronian words began to appear. They slowly rearranged themselves into English, and I began to read.

My dearest Princess Emma,

I wish I could tell you this, but I've been forbidden to. You have the core of the All-Spark within you – you've had it since you were a young child. You were injured in a car crash. Your parents used it to save your life, because you had robotic parts put in you.

Bianca told me that, but nobody else knows.

There's something else I can't tell you in real life.

I love you.

You are my spark partner.

I can't live without you either. If you ever leave, I will follow you to the ends of the earth, just to bring you back. Unless you're happy…then I only want you to be happy.

I'll love you forever, my little butterfly, even if you don't love me.

Love, your Bumblebee.

He had known. And, he had wanted to tell me in person, but couldn't.

So he'd written this letter.

My heart felt overwhelmed.

Bumblebee or Starscream?

Starscream or Bumblebee?

"Primus…I can't make this decision…"

"You have to…" The Cybetronian god replied gently. "Do not worry my little one – listen to your heart, and it will guide you…"

*

There was a battle going on. I knew it, and someone was losing. Someone I cared about was being defeated, but I didn't know who.

I couldn't see!

What was going on? Pain was numbing my body, as I stood up and walked a few steps in the darkness.

"I LOVE EMMA!!" I recognized Bumblebee's voice, wracked with pain.

"WELL SO DO I!!" Starscream also sounded like he was in pain.

"SHE'S MY SPARK PARTNER!!" Bee yelled.

"SHE'S MINE AS WELL!!" Star yelled back.

What? But…how could I have two spark partners? I wasn't even supposed to have one…

I heard Primus' voice in my ear then. "Now, my child…" He whispered. "Do it now…put an end to this battle…"

"STOP!!!!" I screamed again, and threw a beam of burning blue electricity straight into the darkness.

It hit someone, hit his spark, and silenced him immediately.

***

Meg: Okay, so someone's gonna die – I'm gonna check the polls and then see…

Starscream: …

Bumblebee: …

Emma: …

Meg: Okay, I found out!