Chapter 13: Sparkling-Sitter
The Autobots and Decepticons were having a party at night on Cybertron to celebrate a holiday dedicated to Optimus Prime, the end of the Great War, and how the Autobots and Decepticons are now united as allies. Suddenly, Knockout and Arcee's twin sons, Rotorcharge and Trailfire get into some fireworks to cause mischief during the party. Trailfire looks through the fireworks and grabs one of them. "No, no, the big one," Rotorcharge told Trailfire. Trailfire grabs the big firework that's meant for the main event of the holiday and the twins bring it inside a tent to ignite it. "You were supposed to stick it in the ground!" said Rotorcharge. "It is in the ground!" Trailfire replied as he and his twin brother kept pushing the big firework back and forward at each other. "OUTSIDE!" Rotorcharge yelled. "This was your idea!" Trailfire said.
And then the big firework blasts off, leaving both of them with an Ash Face. Said firework promptly turns into an enchanted firework dragon-like Predacon that tears through the air right above the heads of the party, putting a good scare into them before winging off into the sky and exploding. "Ratchet! Ratchet, watch out for the Predacon!" Orion Eclipse told the medic. "Predacon? Nonsense, there hasn't been another Predacon around these parts for a thousand years!" Ratchet said, not looking at what was behind him. The Predacon firework hovers over the crowd and moves over to the distance before it explodes into a large number of fireworks much to the delight of the crowd as they cheered despite being terrified at first.
"That was good," said Trailfire. "Let's get another one!" said Rotorcharge. Breakdown suddenly appears behind the two trouble-making sparklings and he grabs them by their audio receptors before the twins look up at their second father. "Rotorcharge and Trailfire. I might have known," said Breakdown. Trailfire and Rotorcharge were made to wash the dishes as punishment for lighting the big firework and scaring the scrap out of every Autobot and Decepticon when they ignited it. "This is your fault!" Trailfire told his twin brother. "You're the one who ignited it!" said Rotorcharge. Breakdown cleared his throat and the twins glanced at their second father as he gave them a serious look on his face before they stopped bickering and resumed washing the dishes as part of their punishment.
--
At the streets of Kaon, Megatron was spending time with his conjunx-endura, Novastar when he saw a sparkling mech playing with his sire and carrier
At the streets of Kaon, Megatron was spending time with his conjunx-endura, Novastar when he saw a sparkling mech playing with his sire and carrier. It started to remind Megatron of when he was a sparkling with his parents before he developed a sad expression on his face. "Megatron? What's wrong?" asked Novastar. Megatron rested his arms on a stone balcony and gazed at the stars above before he explained, "It's just...I miss my parents. Optimus told me that my parents are still alive, but he didn't tell me where they are now."
"Honey, I know what it feels like to miss one's sire and carrier. I was born from the Allspark and I never had any parents. The only fembot who was like a mother to me was my foster mother, Moonbeam." Novastar told her sparkmate. "Firestar? I mean, Novastar? Do you think my parents are out there beyond Cybertron?" Megatron asked. "I'm not sure if they're out there, Megatron." said Novastar. "Our son had to search the galaxy for me and he and I found you when we met Lazerdrive and the Survivors and that was a long time ago. But still, I wish my parents were still here so that they would meet their grandson...I am uncertain if they're online or offline." Megatron explained. Novastar made a gentle smile as she placed her servo onto Megatron's arm, comforting him before telling him, "You'll find them one day." she promised.
"I know I will, my love. But what if...what if they reject me, disown me and want nothing to do with me if I were to reunite with them?" Megatron said worriedly. "What do you mean by that?" asked Novastar. "Novastar, I've done many villainous deeds in the past as a Decepticon warlord. I may not be evil anymore, but what if my parents became embarrassed and ashamed to be my parents if they have already found out what I've done?" said Megatron. "I'm sure they won't disown you. Your parents still love you no matter what you've done as a warlord and I'm sure that they've already forgiven you. You just need to forgive yourself, Megatron." Novastar told her husband. Megatron made a deep sigh before he replied, "You're right. I guess I should have a little bit of hope that I will find my parents or they will find me someday."
--
At New Kokluar...
Orion Eclipse was spending time with his pregnant conjunx-endura, Altair Comet while taking care of her. Suddenly, he heard on the news that the Autobot/Decepticon preschool was in need of more caretakers to help teach a new generation of sparklings. Orion then had an idea as he later called his father, Megatron to talk to him about something. "Hello, dad." Orion said to his father on the commlink. "Hey, son. What's up?" Megatron asked. "Dad? I have a task for you. There's a sparkling preschool that Knock Out and Arcee's sons go to and it's in need of a caretaker to watch over the sparklings while it's teacher Mrs. Cognitivia is away. So I was wondering if you would volunteer to babysit some sparklings." Orion Eclipse offered. Megatron replied, "I'm sorry, Orion. But I'm afraid that I cannot go to that preschool. I'm scary and evil looking and those sparklings at that preschool would be afraid of me if I go there. What makes you think that I should sparkling-sit at that preschool?" Megatron asked.
"Didn't you say that you wanted to earn some experience of taking care of sparklings so that you can know how to be a grandfather?" Orion Eclipse asked. "Yes, but son I've taken care of you ever since you were a sparkling. I'm not sure if I can get along with sparklings that aren't even my family." Megatron explained. "But Flashblades goes to that preschool too and isn't he the son of your adopted son, Smokescreen?" Orion asked. "It won't hurt for you to at least go to that preschool to visit him at least since he's your surrogate grandson." he mentioned. Megatron paused before he answered, "Oh, alright. You've convinced me. But don't say I didn't warn you since sparklings run away in fear at the sight of me." Megatron said.
At the Sparkling Preschool...
The sparklings were at Iacon with their teacher, Mrs. Cognitivia and she had just received a call from Orion Eclipse that his father, Megatron will be sparkling-sitting the sparklings at the preschool while Mrs. Cognitiva is away for a while. "Alright, class. I will be away for a while, but for the time being...you will have someone to watch over you until I return." the teacher told the sparklings, Trailfire, Ford Runner, Rotorcharge, Cascade, Photonbolt, and Flashblades before Megatron arrived at the sparkling preschool as he flies over in his jet mode before transforming into his jet mode. Megatron was nervous about sparkling-sitting a few sparklings as he knows how sparklings would react to someone with sharp teeth, red eyes, and clawed fingers. But Megatron was willing to take care of the sparklings until their teacher, Mrs. Congitivia would return.
"Sparklings? Say hello to our leader's sire, Megatron. He'll be your caretaker until the end of school. Be on your best behavior and don't be shy with him. He won't hurt you younglings." Mrs. Cognitiva told the sparklings. Megatron gives the sparklings an awkward smile and wave as he is anxious about sparkling-sitting the kids at the preschool in Iacon. Rotorcharge raised an eyebrow as he was suspicious to know why the former leader of the Decepticons would be watching over the sparklings while their teacher is away. "Is he serious? Didn't he used to be a bad guy?" Rotorcharge asked. "OMP! That's my Grampa! My dad's adopted father! Hi, Grampa!" Flashblades said excitedly as he was happy to see his adopted grandfather. "Hello, Flashblades. Doing well at school today?" Megatron asked. "I think so. I'm just so happy to see you." Flashblades replied. "That is your grampa? I don't see the family resemblance." Ford Runner told Flashblades. "Alright, class. Stay here in school with our guest until I return. Try not to make a mess or cause any trouble okay?" Mrs. Cognitiva told the sparklings. "Yes, Mrs. Cognitivia," said Photonbolt, Cascade, Rotorcharge, Trailfire, Ford Runner & Medix. Mrs. Cognitiva then told Megatron, "Make sure they're safe, Megatron." Megatron nodded, "Yes, ma'am." he said.
Later that day, while Mrs. Cognitiva was away, Megatron got to spend some time with the sparklings while telling them stories, teaching them lessons, and even playing with them. The sparklings gathered around in the classroom as they were hearing stories from Megatron. "And then, I blocked the beast's attack with my shield and I hit it hard with my fist until it lost nearly half of its sharp, pointy dental plates," Megatron told the sparklings. "Then what happened?" asked Trailfire. "Then I used my long blade from my arm to cut off its limbs until the beast lost all of its Energon and once I've slain the beast at the arena, the crowd cheered for me after I've been victorious as I won another battle at the gladiatorial pits of Kaon," Megatron explained. "Grampa? Can you transform into a jet?" Flashblades asked his surrogate grandfather. "Why do you ask?" Megatron said. "He wants you to show us your vehicle mode," Cascade told the ex-warlord. Megatron replied, "I don't think I should do it indoors. Your teacher, Mrs. Cognitivia would not be pleased if I..." Flashblades gave Megatron a puppy dog face as he begged, "Pleeeeeease? Pretty please with an Energon Cube on top?" the young cyan sparkling asked. "Ohh, Flashblades. I wish I could. But your teacher wants you and the other sparklings to stay inside the nursery." Megatron said. Ratchet and Wheeljack's adopted son, Photonbolt then suggested, "Can you at least show us your vehicle mode outside the school?" he asked. "We can't go outside of school right now," said Megatron. "Awwww..." said Photonbolt. "I could however tell you what my vehicle mode is. However, I am not a vehicle. I can transform into a Cybertronian fighter jet." Megatron told the sparklings. "Cool. Jetfire can transform into a jet," said Cascade. "So does Dreadwing and Skyquake," Trailfire added. "Grampa? How did you get your jet mode?" Flashblades asked Megatron.
Megatron pondered the question, "Well, let's see...when I was a young adult, I scanned a fighter jet and I gained the ability to transform into one. My mentor taught me how to fly and how to fight while in jet form. It took me stellar cycles to learn how to master flight. It wasn't easy because it was scary." he explained. "Why was it so scary?" asked Ford Runner. "Because if you're a jet, you have to be careful when you're flying. Otherwise, you would fall or get hit by something or fly into something that could...um...that would K word you." Megatron said as he tried not to say the word 'kill'. "You mean "kill"?" Photonbolt said. "Photon!" Cascade exclaimed. "What? I know what he means by that." Photonbolt told Cascade. Megatron chuckled, "Alright, settle down, sparklings. Allow me to tell you a different story." He cleared his throat before he began telling the sparklings a story. "Long ago, the Decepticons and the Autobots were enemies with each other. I, Megatron was the leader of the Decepticons and Optimus Prime was the leader of the Autobots."
"Why were you enemies with each other?" asked Trailfire. "Because we were fighting over the lifeblood that nourishes and fuels us: Energon. The Autobots and Decepticons were in the middle of a Great War for four thousand millennia and Optimus Prime and I were mortal enemies until the war was finally over. Optimus set me free from being possessed by Unicron using the Reliquary of the Allspark before he gave his very spark to restore the Well of Allsparks to spark a new generation of Cybertronians. As for me, I disbanded the Decepticons and went into self-exile." Megatron told the sparklings. "Why?" said Ford Runner. "Because I saw the error of my ways and I wanted the Great War to be over. I realized back then that inflicting pain, torment, and oppression onto others was evil and I left behind the Decepticons and went on my own journey to find my true calling. But little did I realize is that by disbanding the Decepticons, I left my empty throne for one evil being in the galaxy, one whom I have banished for trying to overthrow me since long before you were born." Megatron explained. "And who was this evil being?" asked Cascade. Megatron paused before he answered, "Doomsayer. He was a villainous monster who took over my command of the Decepticons during my self-exile and during my absence, he started a group of terrorists and war criminals that live to serve him and Unicron which he named The New Decepticons because he intended to have them fight for anarchy and chaos instead of order. For you see little ones, the Decepticons fight for order and we wanted to rule Cybertron and the galaxy by my old creed, Peace Through Tyranny, but that was back when I was evil. Doomsayer, on the other hand, was way worse than me." Megatron told the sparklings.
Trailfire gulped. "W-What did D-Doomsayer d-do?" he asked in a fearful tone. "He tried to overthrow me to take over the Decepticon Empire, started a cult dedicated to Unicron the Chaos Bringer, killed more than 300 Autobots, and began his own reputation as a terrorist, a cult leader, a traitor, an anarchist, a murderer, a psychopath, and a monster. He tried to terminate my conjunx-endura, Firestar, who now goes by the name Novastar to hide her identity because Doomsayer thought he had destroyed her from when my son was your age." Megatron explained. "What else did Doomsayer do?" asked Rotorcharge. "He tried to force the Autobots to reveal the location of the Reliquary of the Allsparks which imprisoned Unicron and his Anti-Spark and Doomsayer wanted to resurrect his master in order to bring doom upon Earth, Cybertron, and the universe beyond." Megatron explained. "Why?" said Flashblades. Megatron replied, "No one knows why except, Shockwave informed me that Doomsayer wanted to serve Unicron by helping him destroy Primus and all of us so that the Chaos Bringer would help Doomsayer gain his revenge on his father. For you see, Doomsayer believes himself to be the son of my namesake, Megatronus Prime, also known as The Fallen." Photonbolt gasped, "No way!" he said. "I also forgot to mention that Doomsayer is a liar and a blasphemer. If Optimus Prime had not returned from the Allspark to help me, my son, and Bumblebee defeat Unicron and his Herald, Doomsayer, who renamed himself 'Galvatron', by using the Matrix of Leadership and the Sword of Primus to stop them from destroying the galaxy, then all of us would've been destroyed for sure."
"So then what happened?" asked Cascade. "Well, after we saved the universe, Orion Eclipse and his conjunx-endura, my daughter-in-law, made a decree that both the Autobots and Decepticons should unite and spark a new Golden Age on Cybertron where we can have peace and unity between both sides. Did you know that my son encouraged the Decepticons to help the Autobots save the galaxy from Doomsayer and Unicron?" Megatron explained. "I think I do. Orion Eclipse made a speech and he convinced the Decepticons to turn away from their false leaders, Doomsayer and even Starscream. And I still remember the story dad told me about when you and Uncle Orion disrupted Starscream's "coronation" long before Orion and Altair made a peace treaty for both Autobots and Decepticons." said Flashblades. "That's right, my grandson. After saving the galaxy, Optimus Prime returned to the Allspark. But not before promising us that he would return to help Orion and Altair maintain peace and unity between Autobots and Decepticons." Megatron said. "Megatron?" asked Trailfire. "Yes, Trailfire?" said Megatron. "If Orion Eclipse is the leader of the Decepticons? Then who's the leader of the Autobots?" the young purple Mechling asked.
"That would be his conjunx-endura, Altair Comet, the daughter of Optimus Prime, and his conjunx-endura, Elita-One." Megatron answered. "Right now, Bumblebee is a Prime who goes by the name 'Hivemus Prime'. Ultra Magnus is no longer leader of the Autobots, but he is willing to help Altair in leading her people along with my beloved son, Orion. In conclusion, the war is over. Peace and unity between Autobots and Decepticons are growing strong, everyone has moved on with their lives after years of fighting a Great War and what almost could've been a Second Great War. Now I'm a Neutral, meaning that I'm neither an Autobot nor a Decepticon and I once moved into a new home on Earth called the Terrestrial Valley with my conjunx-endura Novastar." Megatron said. "So, you retired from being a Decepticon leader?" Photonbolt assumed. "I guess you could say that," said Megatron.
After Megatron was done telling stories, he stayed in the classroom with the sparkling until he fell asleep. While he was napping, Trailfire and Cascade wrote on Megatron's face while he was sleeping. The sparklings tried not to laugh when they drew on Megatron's face. When Megatron woke up, he found out that the sparklings drew on his face, but he forgave them as he got a washcloth to clean up his face. By the time Mrs. Cognitiva returned, school time was almost over. Megatron walked over to the teacher and told her about his time with the sparklings before Mrs. Cognitiva thanked the ex-warlord for sparkling-sitting the sparklings. "Thank you for watching over the sparklings while I was away, Megatron." Mrs. Cognitiva said to Megatron. "You're welcome. I had a good time with the sparklings while telling them stories and making sure they were safe. I will admit though that they were a lot of work." the ex-warlord said. "Well, I think that school's almost over for them and it's almost time for the sparklings to return home. Thank you again, Megatron." Mrs. Cognitiva said. Megatron said goodbye to the sparklings before he returned home and he told his son, Orion Eclipse about his time at the sparkling preschool and how much hard work it was. Orion was glad that his dad managed to spend quality time with the kids without yelling at them and without frightening them.
--
Eight months had passed until Altair Comet and Orion Eclipse were finally ready to deliver their firstborn child as they rushed to the hospital. The medics, Knock Out and Ratchet were both there at the hospital when they helped Altair give birth to her and Orion's daughter once they delivered the baby, they wrapped the newborn infant in a pink blanket and Ratchet handed the sparkling to Altair as she then held her daughter in her arms. "Congratulations, Altair, Orion. It's a girl," said Ratchet. Orion gasped, "A girl?! We have a daughter?" he said. Orion and Altair looked at their daughter and she was as cute as a button. "She's beautiful," said Altair Comet in a tired voice. "Welcome to the world, little one," said Orion as tears ran down his cheeks while having a joyful expression. "What shall we name our daughter?" Altair asked. Orion Eclipse paused for a moment before he replied, "I think we should name our daughter...Oracle."
"Oracle?" Altair said curiously. "I wanted our daughter's name to start with the letter 'O' just like your father, 'Optimus Prime', and just like my name 'Orion Eclipse'," Orion explained. Altair Comet looked at the baby in her arms before she smiled, "Oracle it is then. Our little Oracle." Altair crooned. The sparkling yawned before she slowly opened her eyes. Her eyes were half-closed and she made some cooing noises. Orion Eclipse and Altair Comet became emotional as they welcomed their newborn daughter.
In the waiting room, Megatron, Novastar, and Elita-One waited until they were ready to enter the maternity ward to meet their newborn granddaughter. "You can come in now," said Knock Out. Megatron entered the maternity ward with his conjunx-endura, Novastar, and with Elita-One and they saw Altair Comet holding her new baby girl in her arms. Altair gave the baby bundle to her conjunx-endura, Orion so that he could show his newborn daughter to his parents and to his mother-in-law. "Mom? Dad? Elita? Meet your new granddaughter...Oracle." Orion Eclipse said. Megatron, Novastar, and Elita-One were filled with joy when they met their granddaughter for the first time and they were emotional as tears of joy fell down from their eyes. Knock Out and Ratchet were happy as they'd done a good job at delivering the baby. "She's perfect," said Novastar. "Yes. She's got her dad's helmet and her mom's antenna." Orion Eclipse agreed before he sighed sadly as he said, "If only Optimus Prime were here with us right now...so that he'd be overjoyed to meet his granddaughter." Elita-One wished the same thing as she still misses her conjunx-endura to this day. Orion then gently handed her daughter to his father, Megatron and he felt emotionally happy to meet his newborn granddaughter. Oracle cooed as she grabbed Megatron's finger with her tiny hand and Megatron hugged his granddaughter before handing Oracle back to her parents.