Chapter Twelve: Enter the Matrix

Without a giant owl hounding him, Steven was able to appreciate the majesty that the enormous tree held. Now that he could see it in the daytime, it was apparent just how large it really was, especially when compared to the other, normal-sized trees that dotted the landscape. Of course, most of his questions were about the field behind them. "What's that other symbol mean?" he asked, his eyes focused on the purple icon around half of the flags bore.

"Nothing–just some Cybertronians who didn't necessarily share our views," Magnus said quickly, indicating he would rather not dwell on it. "But that's all in the past now. What we should be focusing on is the future–which means exploring your blooming abilities."

Meanwhile, Elita was over by the tree's roots, running tests on its bark. Sideswipe 'helped,' which consisted of him reclining on one of the wooden outcroppings. They were all curious as to how exactly the tree had reached out to Steven as it had, with Magnus having the leading theory.

Steven placed a hand over his chest, remembering how the image of the tree had just appeared in his mind. "So…you think this tree's connected to the Matrix somehow?" he asked.

There was a momentary pause from Magnus before he replied. "There was no mistaking that glow when you opened the groundbridge. Not to mention, there are few things powerful enough to interfere that heavily with the network–and the Matrix is one of them. Come on, let's see what they've found."

They headed over to the other two, with Elita putting away her scanner. "It's as we thought: the energon levels are spiking," she reported. "As for why that is, I can't say, but it seems to validate your theory. Are you sure this is the best option?"

"Positive," Magnus said. "Something like this doesn't happen for no reason. The tree called to Steven. He needs to answer."

"Uh, hey, sorry," said Sideswipe, hopping down to join the others. "I don't mean to sound ignorant here, but how exactly does a tree call to anybody? It's a tree. They don't do much."

Elita sighed. "If you had been helping me instead of slacking, you would know that this is no ordinary tree." She turned to face Steven, her demeanor shifting to become much more positive. "You see, so much energon was spilled here that the local flora had no choice but to absorb it. In most cases, energon is largely toxic to organic life, but every so often, you come across some of just the right purity that it has the opposite effect: healing and strengthening whatever it comes in contact with!"

"Over time, all that energon coalesces into a single organism," Magnus continued, earning him an angry look from Elita. "In this case, this tree. And because of its origin, it is able to resonate with other sources of pure energon. Can you guess what one of those might be?"

"The Matrix," said Steven. "So this tree can teach me to access my powers!?"

"Eh…an oversimplification, but essentially, yes!" said Elita. "In theory."

Steven's excitement faltered. "'In theory?' So you've never done it before?"

"Well, none of us have held the Matrix before," Magnus said. "Only Optimus Prime had that honor, and as far as any of us can remember, he mastered the Matrix before any trees like this appeared. He wouldn't have needed to try it."

Needless to say, this didn't exactly encourage Steven. "Yeah, I guess that makes sense…" Sideswipe noticed his disappointment, so he swooped in to cheer him up.

"Hey, you know what that means, right? It means you get to be the first Autobot ever to talk to a tree! That's pretty cool, right?"

"Yeah!" Steven exclaimed, his sadness all but forgotten. "I'm gonna be a pioneer in Autobot-tree relations! C'mon, let's get started!" He hurried underneath the tree's roots to find the perfect spot to access the Matrix.

"Don't you mean 'pine-neer?' Eh? Eh?" Sideswipe wore a goofy grin, looking back and forth between Elita and Magnus. Both of them ignored him in contempt, following after Steven. "Eh. Pearls before swineoids." He followed too.

As excited as Steven was to commune with the tree, he didn't have the slightest idea how to begin. "Uh…hey there, tree! It's me, Steven. I saw you in a vision yesterday. Remember how I accidentally teleported all my friends here, and then I fought that owl? Good times. …So, how do I do this?"

"You'll want to start by clearing your mind," Magnus advised, crawling underneath the roots as well as he was able. There wasn't much room for Transformers down there, so he had to crawl just to be able to see Steven. "You've meditated before, haven't you? Just let the calmness wash over you, and be at one with the universe."

That sounded much easier said than done. "Uh, I can try," said Steven. He sat down and closed his eyes, doing his best to follow those instructions. "One with the universe…one with the universe…one with the–Are you sure this is the best way to do it? I don't feel any different."

"Well, how did you do it last time?" asked Sideswipe. He and Elita had both worked their way under the tree as well. "Back when I almost ate ya, what was going through your mind?"

"...The thought that I was about to get eaten, mostly," Steven replied. "All I could think about was how Connie and me were in mortal peril, from Sideswipe, who was also in mortal peril, and it just sorta happened. Boom, Matrix!"

"Hmm…think we can put him in mortal peril again?" suggested Sideswipe.

Elita nixed that idea immediately. "Not a chance. Steven, the Matrix may be a useful tool, but it's also a symbol of the Autobot movement itself. It goes back millions of years, all the way back to its original creator. You don't need to be in danger to access it–all you need to do is to be in tune with what it means to be an Autobot."

'What it means to be an Autobot.' "So, helping people in need, fighting evil monsters, and protecting freedom?" asked Steven. Elita nodded. "Seems easy enough. Alright, here goes nothing!" With that, he screwed his eyes shut tight, trying to think Autobot-y thoughts.

All three of them watched him, waiting, if not expecting, for something to happen. "This may take a little while," Magnus said quietly, not wanting Steven to overhear. "If you want to take care of some things, I can stay here and watch him."

"No, wait–look," said Elita, pointing up at the tree. The bark had begun to shimmer, emitting the unmistakable blue glow of energon. The glowing traveled from the tips of the roots towards the very center, until the entire underside was completely illuminated. It was brightest right above Steven, who had begun to glow as well.

Steven's glow coalesced near his chest, taking the form of a spectral orb of light that hovered before him. Though faint, this orb was surrounded by a tell-tale image of…

"The Matrix," Magnus said in hushed wonder. "Does this mean he did it?"

"You're asking us?" Sideswipe said. "You're supposed to be the expert. Hey Steven, did it work?"

But there was no reply from Steven. "He's already attuned," Elita said in a hushed whisper. "I never expected him to take to it this quickly. I'm not sure even Optimus managed it this fast!"

"Well, guess he should've tried meditating under a magical tree," Sideswipe said.

They continued to watch Steven, who was by now adrift in the great knowledge that the Matrix held. Although each of them wanted to join him, this was one quest he had to undertake alone. "I wonder what he'll see in there?" Magnus pondered.

Feeling the warmth of pure energon washing over him, Steven opened his eyes. He was floating in what looked like a sea of blue clouds, completely weightless. "Huh? Is this…inside the Matrix?" He glanced around, looking for any sign of orange walls surrounding him, but saw no landmarks of any kind. "It's a lot more empty in here than I was expecting. Hello? Helloooooo?" His voice echoed, but he got no reply.

Despite floating in an empty void, it was far from foreboding in here. In fact, something about this space was oddly comforting, though he couldn't place exactly why that was. He moved his arms to try and swim through the clouds, and to his surprise, it worked.

"Woah, it's like I'm in space!" he exclaimed excitedly, darting around like an expert in no time. After a few moments of this, however, it soon lost its appeal. "Kinda boring in here, though. I wish there was more to look at…"

"I can help you with that, lad." Steven whirled around upon hearing the unfamiliar voice. Before he could respond, mountains began to appear in the distance, as though being formed from the bluish mist that permeated this place. Upon looking closer, he saw that they weren't mountains, but were in fact towering buildings, bigger than anything on Earth, a whole city of them. A metallic floor then appeared beneath him, to which he descended. "The secret is to picture it in your mind."

Steven squinted, trying to make out anybody though the heavy fog. "Who're you?" he asked. "Some sort of helpful Matrix guide?"

A shape then materialized before him, taking the form of a Transformer walking out of the mist. "I suppose you could say that!" He was reddish in color with a faint amount of purple, and had a long beard on his face–an oddity on a robot, to be sure. "Hello, Steven Orion Universe, holder of the Matrix of Leadership. I was wondering when you and I would first meet."

"Oh, hi," said Steven. "...Who are you?"

The Autobot before him grinned. "I am Alpha Trion, creator of the Matrix of Leadership, and its very first holder." He gave a slight bow upon introducing himself. "I am something of a record-keeper, taking note of every holder of the Matrix since its creation. But of the many Autobots who have taken up this mantle, none have intrigued me quite so much as you, Steven Universe."

Steven wasn't yet sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing. "Uh, why is that, exactly?" he asked. He hoped the answer wasn't that he was a disappointment, or something along those lines.

Alpha Trion seemed to sense his worry, offering a reassuring smile. "Because, my lad, you are unique, even among the hundreds of Autobot leaders I have seen. For all of them have been fully Cybertronian, while you are partially a human. Nothing like you, nobody like you, has ever been known to exist."

"Don't I know it," Steven replied, a little bitterly. "So, since you're a guide here, does that mean you have a user manual for the Matrix? Or some kind of pamphlet?"

The elderly Transformer chuckled. "I had a feeling I would like you! No, I'm afraid it isn't so simple. To master the Matrix is to master oneself, as the Matrixis the purest form of the Autobot ideals. Mastery such as this is not so easily taught, though it can be learned, provided you have enough discipline."

All of this was beginning to sound to Steven like a kung-fu movie–which, of course, made him even more eager to learn. "All right! So, what do I have to do? The Matrix has all the knowledge of past Autobot leaders–can you show me some of that?"

"I suppose I could show you around. I am a guide, after all," said Alpha Trion. "But be warned, Steven Universe: the knowledge contained within the Matrix of Leadership is as deep and as vast an ocean. And like an ocean, it is life-giving, but one must be careful not to delve too deeply, lest you become lost in its depths."

"Don't worry, I'll bring my floaties!" said Steven. Upon saying that, a set of inflatable orange life preservers appeared on his arms. "Huh. I was kidding, but this actually works!"

Alpha Trion observed him for a moment, before producing what looked like a Transformer-sized quill. Using it to write in the air, the landscape around them began to shift. "In that case, prepare to dive right in!"

"...So, uh…how long is he gonna sit there for?" asked Sideswipe. The three of them continued watching Steven, some of them with dwindling interest. "He doesn't need us to be here, does he? 'Cause I was thinkin' about going to grab a snack or something."

Truthfully, none of them knew exactly what to expect from Steven's jaunt into this sacred artifact. Whenever Optimus had sought the Matrix's guidance, he had been in there for anywhere between a few hours to a few days. "I'm sure he'll be out in a minute or two," Magnus assured them all, including himself. The boy in question sat still, enveloped in a blue glow with the image of the Matrix hovering before him.

Elita shuffled her way out from under the tree. "I don't like this. Optimus was always hesitant to consult the Matrix, only doing so when he had to. I'm worried we're thrusting this on Steven before he's ready."

"No need to worry, Elita," said Magnus, turning to face her. "Steven won't be alone in there; Alpha Trion's echo is there to guide him. Plus, he's a smart kid, he can figure his way around." As before, it sounded more like he was trying to reassure himself.

"I mean, yeah, he's figured his way out of a bunch of stuff before," said Sideswipe, watching the still boy. "Why were you so insistent on having him do this, anyway?"

Magnus went back to watching Steven as well. "Because this is a perfect opportunity. The energon from this tree should give him the boost he needs, enough to keep him on track."

"...On track for what?" asked Elita, suddenly growing suspicious.

But Magnus had already fixed all of his attention on his young pupil. "Do you think he is seeing Cybertron yet?" he asked nobody in particular.

A vast landscape began to form around them both. Massive buildings stretched to the skies, filled with lights even brighter than the stars. Speaking of, hundreds of stars filled the sky, some of which were moving–Steven realized that these were actually ships, coming and going to and from the ancient metropolis. Cybertronians of all shapes and sizes roamed the streets, both in their base modes and their altmodes. "Wow…" said Steven, too in awe to say much of anything else."

"'Wow' indeed," said Alpha Trion, proud of being able to impress the boy. "This, as I'm sure you've managed to guess, is Cybertron, as it was back when I was newly-made. It was a planet of peace, prosperity, and harmony. A true paradise for all mechs."

Steven picked up on his word choice. "'Was?'" he asked. "Did something bad happen?"

Alpha Trion looked down sadly. "Alas, something always happens. That is the issue with paradise: unless it is a complete bubble, isolated from the rest of the universe, something must always change. And when a place is as good as it could possibly be, that change is always for the worse."

He waved his quill, and a dark shadow appeared over the city. Transformers ran in terror as a multitude of tentacles descended from the figure, red eyes glowing intensely as it snatched up anyone it could reach and dragged them back towards its form.

"I regret to say that the history of our people is one of war," Alpha Trion continued. "Namely, a great many races wished to use our powers for their own gain. In order to free ourselves from this tyranny, several of us came together to make our hope a reality."

The scene changed to show several more shadowy figures, these ones decidedly less menacing. One pounded away at an anvil with a hammer, before whatever they were working on was passed over to the next. This next figure poured energy from their spark into the device, which Steven now recognized as the Matrix. It was when handed off to another, who held it above their head triumphantly. It emitted a bright light that repelled the encroaching tentacles.

"Such is the story of the Matrix of Leadership, and with it, the Autobot Order," Alpha Trion continued. "That one you see there is none other than Prima, not only the first Autobot, but the first Prime as well. He founded the Thirteen, and we protected Cybertron for many generations."

Steven was very impressed by everything he saw, but one question still burned in his mind. "So, if I can see all of Autobot history here…could I see my dad?"

"Why, of course," said Alpha Trion. "Within the Matrix, you can contact anyone who previously held it. And because you are his direct descendant, consulting the echo of Optimus should be a cin–be a cin–be a cin–a cin–a cin–cin–cin–cin–"

While not immediately worried, Steven had a feeling that Alpha Trion suddenly skipping like a record did not portend anything good. "Uh…are you okay there?" he asked. In addition to his voice repeating, his guide's body was blinking in and out of visibility, like a tv set with poor reception. "Do you need me to…do something?"

"...cin–cin–ciiiiinnnnnnnn…" Alpha Trion's voice and form alike dissolved into static, leaving only a harsh buzzing behind as he faded away. The scene around them became much darker, just like the shadow that had menaced the city. As the smoke grew denser, Steven noticed that there was a bit of it that was even darker than the rest. And it was rapidly growing closer.

Steven did the only thing he could think of: he ran, speeding through the now-empty city streets as the black cloud gave chase. "Even in the literal heart of goodness, something still wants to kill me!" he lamented, hoping that he could run faster in here than he could in the real world. "Hang on, can I even die here? What happens if it catches me?" He stopped, turning to face the darkness. However, after seeing the writhing mass of shadows barreling down on him, he quickly changed his mind. "Nevermind, I don't wanna risk it!"

An ear-splitting metallic screech reverberated through the air, seeming to come from the pursuing cloud. The sound would have made Steven run even faster than he already was, if he wasn't already running as fast as he could. Buildings cracked and windows shattered as the formless menace grew closer and closer to its prey.

"Someone, help!" Steven shouted, unable to think of anything else. He knew that the city was deserted, and didn't expect anyone to hear him, let alone come to his aid. And yet, there was suddenly a brilliant glow coming from behind him. Risking a glance, he saw a figure, silhouetted against the bright light, driving back the darkness.

The shadow writhed and thrashed under the light, letting out more horrifying shrieks. For just a moment, Steven saw what he thought could be glowing red eyes glaring back at him, before the shape fled, disappearing back the way it had come. Hesitantly, he approached his rescuer.

As the glow gradually faded, he could make out more of the robot's appearance. He was blue and gold, with a slight boxy frame. Despite his basic shape, Steven couldn't help but freeze when he turned around. "You are safe, child," he said, his voice reverberating like it was many voices at once. And yet, as freaky as that should have been, Steven inexplicably felt safe in this being's presence.

"T-thanks," Steven said, wondering if he should bow. "Um…are you Prima?"

The figure nodded. "We are Prima. We are the Autobots. We are the Matrix." With a wave of his hand, Prima dissolved the cityscape, and they were once again floating in a cloudy void. "And you are Steven Orion Universe, correct?"

Steven found himself drifting closer to Prima. "That's me! So, uh, Alpha Trion was showing me around the place, but he sorta…glitched out, or something. Did that cloud thingy cause that?"

"We believe so," Prima answered. His face was almost completely still, showing almost no emotion. Steven wasn't sure if that was a conscious choice, or just how he was made. "As for what it is, we are not certain. It is not a product of the Matrix…and yet, it is not invasive. It merely is."

If the first holder of the Matrix, and possibly its embodiment, had no idea what it was, Steven figured it wasn't meant to be known. "Well, at least it's gone now. With that out of the way, do you think you could point me towards my dad? Optimus Prime, I mean. He should be around here somewhere."

Prima once again waved his hand, and their surroundings changed to the inside of an enormous citadel. A long hallway lined with statues of Transformers led to a giant door, which Steven could see was slightly open. He also saw that he was hovering in midair, something which the newfound gravity quickly remedied. He fell with a thud, but easily dusted himself off. "Here you will find another Matrix-Bearer. He will be able to take you to your father. But beware, young Steven: the greatest darkness is often the darkness which lurks inside ourselves."

With that cryptic bit of advice, Prima vanished in a burst of golden light, leaving Steven slightly star-struck. "Huh. Well then." He headed down the hallway, wondering what sort of character he would meet next.

Magnus anxiously tapped his finger against the bark. It was true he had wanted this for Steven, but it had been hours. The sun was already beginning to set, and he had not moved an inch. Despite his nerves, he held onto hope that Steven was mastering his abilities with the knowledge the Matrix provided. He tried not to think about how some of that knowledge he might not be ready to learn.

On the other hand, Elita was far less patient. "Magnus, this has gone on too long," she said. "It's been hours. We have to wake him up–the longer he's in there…"

"I know, but just think what he could learn!" Magnus said. "The Matrix contains everything there is to know about the entire Autobot movement! Just think: a few hours more, and he could be every bit the leader Optimus was! He could hear wisdom directly from all the bearers who came before him!"

But Elita still wasn't impressed. "Yes, or he could learn things he isn't ready to learn! What happens if he stumbles across what Predacons really are? How will he react when he first sees a Decepticon? The Matrix can show him anything in our history, and that means the good and the bad!"

While they argued, Sideswipe crawled closer to Steven to check on him. "Hey Ste-man, you good?" He prodded him, eliciting no reaction. Steven continued to glow, sitting completely still. "Yeah, uh, hey guys? I don't think we're waking him up anytime soon…"

"Look at this! What happens if he never comes out?" asked Elita. "You knew how dangerous the Matrix could be, and you let him go in before he was ready!"

"Optimus told us how he consulted the echoes of past bearers," Magnus countered. "They'll be there to guide him." Despite his assurance, his face darkened as he looked back to Steven. "He'll return to us when he's good and ready."

Elita looked at him as well. "Yes, that's what I'm afraid of…"

Steven looked up at the massive statues that lined the hall as he walked past. They all looked sort of the same, but he wondered if these were past holders of the Matrix as well. Or perhaps they were other Primes…though he wasn't sure what that meant yet. Before today, he had only known of one Prime, and that was Optimus.

He stopped when one of them caught his attention. "This one kinda looks like him," he noted, part of him hoping it was. There were a few differences, however. "There's probably a statue of Dad here somewhere, right? I still wish I could see the real thing, though. Or as close to real as this place gets…"

With a gasp, he turned around. The shadows on the statue's face had shifted slightly, leading him to think something had moved in front of the light. When he saw that there was nothing there, he sighed in relief. But when he turned around again…

To his horror, he saw that the shadow of the statue was beginning to emerge from the wall. The darkness formed into a familiar miasma, emitting screeches and growls like an animal. Steven stepped back, resisting the urge to scream and run. Since making a break for it hadn't worked last time, he instead hid behind another of the statues.

"What is that thing!?" he whispered, hoping that it hadn't spotted him while it was still in the process of materializing. Apparently it hadn't, as he could hear its noises moving around aimlessly. Slowing his breathing, he chanced a look around his hiding spot. The mass, though still nebulous, seemed to have taken on a slightly more solid form. It almost seemed like four legs were carrying it along the ground, searching for Steven. As it moved down the hall, Steven headed in the opposite direction, darting from statue to statue.

The further he moved from the…whatever it was, the more he felt he was in the clear. He couldn't help but feel excited at meeting his father for the first time, and being safe from that awful thing! But all his hopes were dashed as another eerie shriek split the air: he had been spotted. The cloudy mass launched after him, and he once again ran as fast as he could. Red eyes peered out of the shadows at him–four of them, in fact. Two on each head. Two snakelike heads roared as Steven got closer to the door, and it got closer to Steven.

The door thankfully reached Steven before the shadow did. Despite how heavy it looked, he was able to pry it open with no issue, aided both by his Cybertronian strength and his rushing adrenaline. The fact that it was not even a real door may also have helped. Once in the next room, he slammed it shut, holding it closed with his back.

Even though the shadowy beast was still screeching up a storm behind him, Steven still took a moment to admire the decor. The circular room was lit by evening sunlight coming in through a stained glass window in the ceiling, illuminating more statues of potential Primes. "Huh. This place would be really pretty if it wasn't for–" He froze: he felt something cold along his back, realizing with a start that the dark mist was leaking through the crack between the double doors. "...for that!"

Steven's next move was to bolt away from the doors as his pursuer phased through the crack, its twin heads becoming visible once more, snapping their jaws at him. He backed away, only to run into what he first thought was a statue. Only thing was, statues didn't loom menacingly over him, nor did they level an enormous blaster his way. As if one evil shadow being wasn't enough, now there were two.

Crying out, Steven shielded his face as the figure's blaster started to glow. Rather than firing at him, however, it raised the cannon towards the door, shattering it apart with a single shot. The miasma took most of the brunt as well, nearly dissipating. It roared at this new enemy, only retreating when several more shots rocked its incorporeal body. With it once again on the run, Steven got a better look at his rescuer, again.

A Transformer, but that much was obvious by now. He was covered in mostly white armor, with some greenish-blue underneath. In addition to the gigantic cannon, his impressive stature was further enhanced by wings spreading out from his back. "What are you doing here?" he asked, his voice as gruff as would be expected.

"Um…here, or here here?" Steven asked. "I'm here because Prima sent me, but I'm here because I went inside the Matrix to–"

"I do not remember asking for your life's story," the robot said, his cannon folding up as he took on a (slightly) more friendly posture. "Steven Universe, the first son of a Cybertronian. And with an organic, no less. If you ask me, that's a lot of trouble just waiting to happen."

This bearer was much ruder than Prima, but he had still saved Steven. "Thanks for scaring that thing off," he said. "You don't happen to know what it is, do you? And also, who are you?"

"Nova Prime," he said, walking out another door onto a balcony. Steven followed. "I don't have the slightest idea what that thing is, or where it came from. I haven't seen anything like that in the Matrix before…at least, not until Orion Pax took it."

Orion Pax–his father's original name. "So, you think he had something to do with it?" asked Steven. He looked out over the landscape: the building they were in was so tall, he could see for miles around, all of it city.

"I can only speculate…it either came from him, or from you." He looked down at Steven. "None of us bearers are free from our inner darkness. All the rest of us have had millenia to overcome ours, so as to not poison the Matrix with our demons. But you…you are a mere child. All of your fears, doubts, and ignorance have manifested into that detestable shape."

Steven had a hard time believing that thing had come from him–if that was true, why would it be trying to attack him? But, Nova Prime had been here a lot longer, so probably knew what he was talking about. "I mean, I guess that's good. I was worried it was some dark energon that got in here somehow."

"Ha! As though the Matrix of Leadership could ever be corrupted by something so impure!" Nova Prime said disdainfully. "No, this is not an outside force, but one from within one of us. And as I said, we are not so easily led astray by worldly emotions!"

Somehow, Steven doubted that, at least for him. In any case, he was getting a bit frustrated. "Look, can you just show me the way to my dad? I wouldn't want to waste any more of your time…"

Nova shot him a glare, but didn't pursue the matter. "Very well. The sooner you take that horrid cloud with you, the better." He raised his cannon once again, firing a shot into the sky. It exploded like a firework, creating ripples that made their surroundings disappear. "Beware how deep you travel, little one. Although it is a force for good, the Matrix will devour those who are incautious…" His words echoed as he faded from view.

"So I've heard," Steven said to himself. "But how deep does it go, really? Dad was the most recent holder, so shouldn't that mean he's less deep? Ah, I probably should've asked more questions before I tried this." A landscape began to appear from the fog.

At first, Steven assumed it was like all the others, with large buildings stretching up to the skies all around him, with hundreds of stars above. However, he realized this was different when the buildings were swaying in the breeze. They were not buildings, but trees, as he was in a forest. And not a Cybertronian forest, either.

"Is this Earth?" he asked, looking around. He walked further into the forest, keeping his eyes open both for his father as well as the cloud of darkness he was sure would threaten him again.

Night had long since fallen on the energon-enhanced tree. Hours had passed, and Steven remained static. Magnus was now the only one who still waited for him, as Sideswipe had joined Elita in worrying about his condition. "Magnus, please, we have to face facts," she urged. "Steven has gone too deep. If we don't do something now, it might be too late!"

"Do you have that little confidence in him?" asked Magnus, perhaps more aggressively than he had intended. "Steven will be perfectly fine! He has help in there, much more than we could ever give him!" However, his voice quavered, indicating even he didn't believe his words.

Sideswipe scoffed. "If his 'help' is that good, why hasn't he come back up yet? What's so good in there that he'd lose track o' time like this?"

"He's probably spending time with Optimus," Magnus said. "And why shouldn't he? A boy his age, deprived of his father, would no doubt take any opportunity to speak with him in person! We certainly would, wouldn't we?"

"I've heard enough; we're taking him home right now!" Elita marched back underneath the tree's roots to retrieve Steven.

Magnus tried to stop her, but was ignored. "Hold on! We have to let him come back of his own accord! If you pull him away from Optimus, he might never forgive you!"

"C'mon, man, what's your deal!?" asked Sideswipe. "Is Steven meeting Optimus really that important to you? Are you sure this is about what he wants, or what you want? 'Cause it's startin' to look like you're making this about yourself."

Insulted, Magnus glared at him. "The Matrix is the most important Autobot artifact to ever exist! It is the birthright of the Autobot leader, and I would never even think of co-opting that right! Steven should have the opportunity to learn how to fully access the powers it grants him!"

Sideswipe raised an eyebrow. "The rights of the Autobot leader? I thought you were the leader. Unless you're trying to pass the baton onto him or something?"

"Absolutely not!" Magnus shouted. "But as the Matrix-bearer, a time will come when he must take up the mantle–and as he is part human, that time may come sooner than we realize! Is it so wrong to want to prepare him for his destiny?"

"Yeah, if you're doin' it to get out of responsibility!" Sideswipe shot back. "And that's coming from me, so you know it's bad!"

"Alright, alright, that's enough," said Elita, cradling a sleeping Steven in her arms. "Magnus, open a groundbridge back to the Ark. Without the tree acting like an antenna, his connection to the Matrix should be weaker, right?"

Magnus took a moment to respond. "Y-yes, yes, that should work." He fumbled with the groundbridge controls, eventually managing to get one open. "Come on, he shouldn't be too hard to rouse." He looked at the boy with concern as the three of them returned home.

Steven continued walking through the forest, disarmed by the beautiful scenery. He had forgotten all about the potential threat, until he heard the fighting in the distance. "Huh? What's going on?" He hurried towards the sound, reaching the edge of the trees at the top of a hill.

It was hard to make out, both due to the dark and the movement, but two figures fought in the distance. One was clearly a Transformer, and the other was unmistakably the shadowy entity that had been hounding him all day. A pair of massive wings now aided it as it attempted to overtake this other holder, who swung an enormous weapon with great strength.

He made his way closer, trying to remain unseen, just in case. The Autobot fighting the thing had dark blue and orange armor, and his weapon was a gigantic hammer. He, too, had winglike bits like Nova Prime, though his were smaller. Terrible screeches, which Steven had grown to hate, once again filled the air. At this distance, the dark shape had taken on a more definite form: a great two-headed metallic dragon.

"Come on, you demon!" the bearer shouted, striking the dragon repeatedly with his hammer. "I've felled greater enemies than you! You'll have to try harder than that!" With one powerful uppercut, the dragon fell to the ground, where he drove the hammer down onto its chest. Wounded, the thing let out a pained screech, before scrambling back to its feet. It flew off into the distance, apparently knowing when it was beaten. "Ah-ha! Yes, flee with your tail between your legs, beast!" Victorious, the Autobot turned in Steven's direction. "It's safe to come out now! Come, let me get a better look at you!"

Steven was surprised he knew he was there, but realized he shouldn't be. "Hi there!" he called, jogging over once the dragon had flown away. "Thanks for defeating that thing! It's been chasing after me since I came in here!"

The other bearer's hammer collapsed into a tiny form, which he clipped onto his waist. "Not at all! Vanquishing evil is the whole purpose of being an Autobot!" He sat down, shaking the ground with a thud. "I am called Zeta Prime. And you, young man, are Steven Orion Universe–the son of my protege!"

He couldn't help gasping. "Y-you mean, you're Dad's–uh, Optimus' teacher!?" Steven couldn't believe he had ever heard of Zeta Prime. Considering who he was, he figured someone would have at least mentioned the name before. "Tell me all about him! What was he like? What were his interests? Did he ever say anything about having a son!?"

"Easy, one question at a time!" Zeta said with a laugh. "Your father was a wonderful Transformer. He was bright, kind, always eager to help others, no matter who they were. I couldn't have asked for a better successor." He got to his feet, and waved his hand.

Although the scenery stayed mostly the same, a few noteworthy differences appeared: namely, the once-tranquil field they had been sitting in a moment before now became a bed of carnage and devastation. Craters littered the landscape, as did the bodies of fallen Transformers, their weapons scattered across the field. Steven realized that this was the exact same field he was in currently, where the massive tree would grow thousands of years later. Among the fallen, he saw only one survivor, leaning down over another form–who was also still alive, but barely.

"That's…you," Steven said, realizing that he was witnessing Zeta Prime's final moments. "And that must be Dad, then. Before you gave him the Matrix."

"Indeed," Zeta said from beside him. "Orion Pax was his name. I knew, even before this battle, that he would one day lead the Autobots. I knew that he would protect the Earth…and he did."

Steven looked closer, and suddenly noticed something beneath the memory of Zeta Prime: beside him was a tiny sapling, onto which his energon was leaking. "Wait a minute…that's the big tree, isn't it? Does that mean you're the tree? Were you the one who called me here?"

He chuckled. "Yes it is, no I am not, and yes, I am. I sensed it on the day you saved your friend Sideswipe: you opened your connection to the Matrix. When you opened that groundbridge, I was able to strengthen it." He looked away bashfully. "Apologies about stranding you and your friends here. That was…unintentional on my part."

"No problem," replied Steven. "So, what is it you wanted to tell me about? Something about my super secret Autobot destiny or something? My connection to Optimus Prime?"

Zeta pointed at the scene. "No. Watch." He did.

Orion cradled Zeta Prime. "No, no, Zeta, you can't die!" he lamented. "Please! We still need you! The Autobots can't survive without your leadership!"

The memory of Zeta chuckled weakly. "Oh, no, the Autobots will thrive. They will have a leader far kinder, far nobler, and far braver than I ever was: you."

"B-but I'm not ready!" Orion begged. "I'll go and get Magnus, he can fix you up, you'll be fine! We can… We can…"

"Shhh…my time has come, Orion Pax. And your time has just begun." Zeta Prime reached towards his chest, and in a flash of light, the Matrix appeared. "Take hold of your destiny, and become who you truly are."

Orion was at a loss for words. "But…but I'm not ready," he said tearfully.

"Nobody ever is," Zeta replied, smiling warmly. "But we cannot choose our destiny. It chooses us. Just as I have chosen you. Now, take the Matrix, and arise, Optimus Prime."

And rise he did. Hesitantly, Orion took hold of the Matrix, which illuminated their surroundings. Holding it aloft above his head, his body began to shift and change. He grew bigger, stronger, faster. When the light dimmed, Optimus Prime stood where Orion Pax had been.

"And there you have it," said Zeta, breaking Steven out of his awe. "Optimus may have held the Matrix, but he was unsure if he was worthy of it. Unsure if he had what it took to lead the Autobots. But despite his uncertainty, he went on to become a legendary leader. Now, who does that sound like to you?" He looked down at Steven.

Steven placed his hand on his chest. "You mean…I can be just as great as he was?" he asked. "Even though I'm…just me?"

"'Just' you? Nobody is 'just' anybody, least of all a bearer of the Matrix!" Zeta exclaimed. "You are young and uncertain, but so was your father. You have a lot to learn, but so did he." He knelt down beside the boy. "I know you feel yourself unworthy of the Matrix, my boy. But rest assured, no Autobot in history has ever been sure of themselves when they first receive this power, myself included. Not even Prima himself."

"Not even Nova Prima?" Steven asked.

Zeta Prime laughed. "No, not even Zeta Prime! What is important to remember is this: no Prime stands alone. Just as Optimus had Elita and Magnus by his side, so too do you have your family to support you. I trust you will make a brilliant Prime one day, Steven Orion Univ–"

His heartfelt speech was cut short as he was violently tackled to the ground by the two-headed shadow dragon. Steven instinctively fell back as it and Zeta thrashed around, struggling to overcome the other. As though an aftereffect of its arrival, the sky turned a foreboding black while they fought.

"Go! Get to your father!" shouted Zeta, attempting to drive the monster back with his hammer. It seemed more powerful than ever, with his strikes glancing off its armor. "I'll hold it back as long as I can!"

His dad was so close now. "Be careful!" Steven called, running away from the dragon. Its angry screeches rang in his ears, but he didn't dare look behind him as the battle raged. Frozen in time, Optimus stood with the Matrix raised, a brilliant statue that Steven was sure would save him from this nightmare.

It seemed that the dragon was not interested in fighting Zeta anymore, as it grabbed him in its jaws and hurled him aside. Both heads shrieking, it took to the air and swooped towards Steven. "No!" shouted Zeta.

Steven turned just in time to see a mouth filled with metal teeth ready to close down on him. He cried out, covering his head and bracing for the inevitable. However, the bite never came. Hesitantly, he opened one eye, then the other, seeing that the dragon was frozen in place. Slowly but surely, it, as well as the whole scene, began to dissolve, leaving him floating in empty space once again. "Here you are," he heard a familiar voice say behind him. "I've been looking for you, lad."

He turned around. "Alpha Trion!" he said, floating over to the familiar face. "Did you do that? Man, you saved me just in time! I…hang on, where did you go the first time?"

"Unfortunately, some manner of outside force corrupted my memory," he explained, bowing his head. "I was able to overcome it, but I fear it will continue to spread if left unchecked. As such, I can only stay here a short while longer."

Steven glanced over his shoulder, half-expecting to see the two-headed dragon waiting for him. "So that thing, it's not supposed to be here?" he asked.

"I cannot say for sure," Alpha Trion said. "The beast is malevolent, but it may or may not be the source of this corruption. What I can say is that it seems to grow stronger the deeper into the matrix you travel. As for why this is…again, I am sorry to say I do not know."

So then it was connected to him somehow. "Prima told me that our greatest darkness is inside us. Do you think…it could be that? My inner darkness?"

Alpha Trion nodded. "That is the most likely possibility, though it still leaves many questions unanswered. And speaking of questions, I come now to you with one." With a wave of his hand, two shining lights appeared to either side of Steven. One was a vision of Optimus Prime, holding the Matrix aloft. The other was…himself, sitting still in a meditating position.

"Myself or my dad?" he asked.

"You traveled into the Matrix to meet your father, correct?" asked Alpha Trion. "That is still within your power. If you so wish, you can meet Optimus Prime. But be warned: the darkness will be waiting for you, stronger than ever, if you go any deeper." A two-headed, winged silhouette appeared behind his dad. "Or, you may return to your body, and awaken in the physical world. If you choose this, it will be some time before you are able to enter the Matrix again–though with some effort, its powers may still be yours."

Steven looked back and forth between his two choices. While he definitely wanted to meet his dad in person–or as close as this was–he didn't want the others to worry about him. But also, he wasn't sure that dealing with that dragon getting even stronger was a good idea, even with Optimus to fight it off. But also also, he was wary of the prospect of being unable to return into the Matrix in the future, however long that would last. Ultimately, what made up his mind was a sound coming from near his body: the voices of his family.

The sound was distant and echoing, like Steven was hearing it at a distance–which he was, in a way. The overlapping voices of Elita, Sideswipe, and Magnus, all trying to rouse him from his slumber.

"Steven, if you can hear me, it's time to wake up. If you stay in there much longer, I'm worried we won't be able to bring you out. Please, come home."

"Yo, Steven, quit fooling around! These guys are worried about you! Heck, I'm worried about you!"

"I'm so sorry, Steven, this is all my fault. I never should have rushed you into this. If you're staying in there because of me, I understand, but think of everyone out here who misses you."

Steven turned to Alpha Trion. "Okay. I think I made up my mind. I know what to choose now."

Alpha Trion nodded. "Farewell, Steven Orion Universe. Know that no matter your choice, I shall remain here, alongside my brethren, watching over you." He vanished just as the fields had done, leaving Steven alone once more. But he wouldn't be alone much longer, as he walked towards the path he had chosen.

"Uh, guys? I don't think this is working," said Sideswipe. The three of them stood over Steven's bed, where his inert body sat, still meditating. "We gotta try something else."

Elita relaxed slightly, though she was still quite tense. "Are you suggesting anything? Because we don't exactly know how the Matrix works. If we understood it better, maybe we could…" She sighed.

"This is all my fault," Magnus said quietly. "I was the one who rushed him into this. He wasn't ready. I thought I could make him ready, so he wouldn't have to…to face the hardships I did. I can't believe I tried to put all of that on him." He placed a hand near Steven's bed, leaning in close. "I'm so sorry, Steven."

A moment passed, with all of them silent. Unnoticed at first, the glow from Steven's chest faded. He opened his eyes, gradually coming to his senses. "Guys?" he asked groggily, looking around. "...When did we get back here?"

There was a brief pause before the three realized he was awake. "Steven!" cried Sideswipe, lifting him out of his bed for a hug. "Man, that was fast! Did you hear us talking or something?"

"Kind of," he replied, his voice strained from being squeezed. Sideswipe set him back down, and everyone crowded around. "It was…there was a lot happening in there. I met Alpha Trion, and Prima, and Nova Prime, and Zeta Prime, and…oh yeah, there was also a two-headed dragon made of my inner darkness that tried to eat me. So, some good, some bad."

Ultra Magnus and Elita shared a glance. "Two-headed dragon?" she asked. "Did it…talk to you?"

He looked confused. "Uh, should it have? It just sorta screeched at me a lot, like an angry seagull. With two heads. Why? Do you know what it is?"

Magnus cleared his throat. "In any case, I'm not sure if you heard my apology, but…I'm truly sorry I forced you to do this. I was so worried that you would turn out like me, forced into a position of leadership with no idea what you were doing that I…I lost sight of what would have been best for you. I hope I didn't cause you any sort of harm."

Steven smiled. "No, not at all! No more than I usually run into on these sorts of adventures, anyway. And for what it's worth, I think you're doing a great job as the Autobot leader!"

"Are you sure?" Magnus said. "When Optimus told me his plan, I… Well, I wasn't sure I was the best pick, to say the least."

"Zeta Prime showed me how he gave Dad the Matrix," Steven said, a hint of sadness crossing his expression. "Optimus…he wasn't so sure of himself either. But Zeta told him he didn't have to do it alone. He had all of you…just like I do. And just like you do, too."

Magnus looked between Sideswipe and Elita, placing his arms around the two of them. "He was a wise one, that Zeta Prime. I'm glad you got to meet him."

"Yeah, he was pretty cool," Steven said, before he grew sad again. "Didn't get to see my dad, though. Like you said, going too deep into the Matrix is dangerous. I had to choose between him and you, and…well, you're still here."

"Steven…" Elita hesitated for a moment. "It might not be the same as meeting him face-to-face, but…would you like to see Optimus? Not in that way, of course." A knowing, somber expression crossed all of their faces.

The prospect intrigued him, but Steven was unsure what that look meant. "Uh, yeah, sure," he said. "Does that mean what I think it means?"

With a nod, Magnus held out a hand for him to climb onto. "This way," he said. All of them headed back to the Ark, walking further into its depths than Steven had ever been before. "Do you remember when Sideswipe was corrupted by dark energon, and I thought I knew where to find the Matrix?"

He did remember that, even the parts he rather didn't. "You mean you thought it was down here?" he asked.

"I think he means he thought it was still on Optimus' person," Sideswipe said knowingly, as though trying to ease Steven into where they were taking him.

But Steven already had a hunch. The room that served as their destination was at the very end of the Ark, and consisted only of a small space with a raised pedestal in the center. It was dimly lit, with only a few glowing crystals on the walls. Steven's suspicions were confirmed when he realized that what he thought was the top of the pedestal was actually a box: one the perfect size for a larger Transformer. "This is him, isn't it?" he asked solemnly. "He's in there."

"Indeed he is," Magnus said, his voice low with reverence. "If you're old enough to wield the Matrix of Leadership, you're old enough to pay your respects in person." He placed a hand on the coffin for a brief moment, seemingly saying a silent prayer.

"May I?" said Steven softly. Nodding, Magnus placed him next to it. He did the same, placing a hand against its side. "Hey Dad. It's me. Sorry we didn't get to talk earlier, but I…I wasn't ready to leave these guys behind. But I still really wish I could've met you–everyone says you were really incredible. So I, um, hope I can live up to your legacy as Autobot leader one day. But I have a feeling that'll be a while, especially since we already have a pretty great leader already." He looked up at Magnus, both of them beaming.

Sideswipe and Elita both said their respects as well. "Not to sound disrespectful or anything, but mind if we head back?" he asked. "This place kinda gives me the creeps…"

"Today has been a heavy day for all of us, some more than others," Elita said. "It might be best if we did something a bit more uplifting before someone's bedtime."

"Does that mean it's movie night!?" Steven asked excitedly. "Do I get to pick it!?"

"You always get to pick it," Magnus said with mock frustration. After a pause, everyone began to chuckle. Once their laughter petered out, they left the tomb with one last look to their fallen comrade.

The last one out, Elita closed the door behind them. "I'll see you later, Orion," she whispered, before leaving him to rest.

AN: Since this is the last chapter of 2023, I'd like to take this moment to wish you all a happy new year! See you in 2024!