Hello everybody, Happy New Year, the sequel has arrived!
TO AVOID CONFUSION HERE IS THE SETUP: the original third season never happened, so Shockwave is still spending his lonely days on Cybertron, the planet was revived by the Omega Lock which not only gave back its life but restored the buildings, roads...etc as well (we could see that when Megatron first tried the Omega Lock's power on a nearby building in season 2 episode 26, Darkest Hour).
Oh, and this time I will write in third person's POV, because we have many characters and it would make it troublesome to use different POVs for every scene and bot.
Warnings: I don't own Transformers Prime, I only own my OCs! Oh, and pls forgive my bad English, it's not my native language.
Let's roll out!
Chapter 25: Fresh start
.….
Crystal City - Three days after the Omega Lock Restoration Event
Cybertron's sun rose over the horizon and illuminated the surface gently, like a mother caressing her newborn, on the planet's first morning after its revival. The dead husk has disappeared, replaced with a living metal that glowed with power. Energon fountains opened and the underworld channels began to fill up with fresh, flowing energon.
A miracle, really.
But there were very little noises yet. The only living, moving object was the Nemesis, which prepared to dock in Crystal City for an undefined time now that it has served its purpose. The only remaining crew on it was there to maintain the ship, since the current Decepticon leadership was busy in the city otherwise.
Many things have changed over a very short course of time. Too quickly, if you asked some of them, or the Autobots, but the Neutrals were all too happy to face the hastily approaching dawn with a new sense of excitement.
The future of Cybertron now lay in the hands of three leaders: Optimus, the last Prime, Soundwave, the successor of Megatron, and Starscream, the one who played his cards right. Most would think these three wouldn't be able to sit at one table and make agreements, but surprisingly enough, they did.
Except over a few certain things.
"I say we set up a large barrier and all returning ships will be examined thoroughly before we let them land on the surface," Starscream suggested with an air of arrogance from his side of the table.
"We don't have the resources nor the personnel to manage such a daunting task," Soundwave argued in a flat tone. "There could be millions of survivors out there."
"My remaining Autobot officers have reported over two thousand ships enroute, and only more will be coming," Optimus agreed.
The three sat around a conference table inside Crystal City's Scientist Council Chamber. It used to house large scientific gatherings but now due to it being empty, it housed their daily meetings instead. The rest of their crew was on standby in and outside the building, awaiting orders or simply acclimating to the new way of life on their empty planet.
"Then how will we make sure our factions don't start a battle in orbit the moment they see each other arrive at the same time?" Starscream sneered while tapping a claw against the table's surface in irritation.
"We will make a broadcast," Soundwave suggested. "Optimus and I lay the rules out so they would be threatened to be punished if they reject direct command."
"Excellent!" Starscream rolled his optics, "And what if the Decepticons argue that they will only listen to Megatron's command? What then? How do you explain your sudden rise up the ranks? Aren't you afraid they will label you a traitor the moment they see you in one frame with Optimus?"
Soundwave's optic twitched under his visor but he showed no sign of annoyance outward. He had assessed the risks involved, but even upon further consideration there was no better way to approach this problem.
"I think the chances of that are minimal. I support Soundwave's idea," Optimus turned to Soundwave with a nod. "We must address our factions with a short but straightforward message. It's paramount that we prevent any unnecessary deaths and misunderstandings before they even reach the orbit of Cybertron."
Starscream's wings spread behind his back as his irritation grew while watching the two come up with the outline of a plan. The more days passed, the more he felt like he was treated like an insignificant addition in the room, and not an equal partner in conversation. The Seeker knew it was probably due to the fact that the Neutral party currently had two members and a previously unaccounted hypothetical mass that didn't exist as of yet since they haven't been seen since the great Exodus. The only reason he was given a seat at the leadership table was probably that both Optimus and Soundwave knew that leaving Starscream without any promise of power would sooner or later cause more problems to rise than not. The former Commander of the Decepticons clung to his old titles and positions like they still meant something and it was only a matter of time until he collected followers who would back his insane ambitions to rise higher in power.
It was best to forego all of that and grant him a title beforehand, forcing the Seeker to play by their rules and make compromises with them.
Starscream found he didn't like the idea of being a third wheel though.
The meeting concluded with an agreement that Starscream would be included, reaching a servo out to any Neutrals hiding in space with a promise of safety under his wings.
Soundwave wondered whether Starscream's idea would backfire on him, since he was a well-known face for the Decepticons, and probably not a welcome sight for the Neutrals. The Seeker's addition posed a risk for Soundwave himself as well, because for the most part, Decepticon command has always been associated with Starscream after Megatron. Never with Soundwave, in spite of the silent mech being a symbol for the cause. Decepticons were in for quite some confusion.
Compromises had to be done however. Whatever their messages will result in will remain to be seen.
"Argh! This standing around is killing me!" Halo loudly whined in the main hall of the maculate clean and shiny Scientist Council, throwing her head back like a hysterical youngling.
The odd group around her only sighed in frustration for the thousandth time, except one white mech with double 38s on his wingdoors.
"Halo, please. There is an important meeting going on the upper floor," Crossflare chided her younger friend with a stern look, arms folded over her chestplates.
"It's about to conclude," Mercy added with a blank expression, her focus more on her sparkbond than the world around her.
"What did they agree on?" Halo was quick to get into Mercy's face, excitedly grabbing the white femme's arms. "Tell us! Come on!"
"I…uh…Soundwave hasn't told me anything yet," Mercy shook her head and removed Halo's servos from her person. "Be patient, they will be down in a click."
"But it is rather boring just standing around here, waiting for their chit-chat to be over," Knock Out agreed with Halo as he put his servos on his hips, pouting. "There are miles of fresh tracks ahead of us, we could be having a nice drive, but no, we have to wait here for what reason exactly?"
"We await orders, Knock Out. We are still part of the crew whether we like it or not. We are not free to do as we wish yet," Crossflare replied in a soft yet stern voice.
"But man, I would also like to work my tires!" Smokescreen rolled his shoulders.
"In for a race, Autobot?" Knock Out perked up with a grin.
"With you?" Smokescreen pointed at him, perplexed. A series of flashbacks about their shared memories flew before his optics, making him hesitate.
"Hey, if you are still sour about our little history, then let's call it even! I almost cut you up, you put me into a wall, it's all in the past! Let's make up and drive!"
Smokescreen exchanged an uncertain glance with Halo, who grinned all too enthusiastically for Crossflare's liking.
"It's okay, Smokes, KO adores racing. Indulge him a little!"
"Why are you encouraging him!" Crossflare rubbed her forehead with a sigh as she chided her. Mercy merely chuckled in the background.
Dreadwing appeared behind Knock Out from nowhere just as the two were about to bail through the entrance and have their little thirst for racing quenched, and glared down at the medic with an air of annoyance.
"I advise you to postpone your outing, Doctor."
"Uh…it's good to see you Commander?" Knock Out raised his servos in a placating manner, taking a step back. Smokescreen also retreated, warily eyeing the other Decepticon.
"Await orders, or I shall remind you of your post," Dreadwing leaned down threateningly and Knock Out recoiled with a nervous laugh and a nod.
"Of course, Commander!"
Dreadwing straightened back and huffed in satisfaction, then glanced at Mercy next with a much softer expression.
"Are you well?"
Mercy blinked in surprise, but quickly pulled up a smile.
"Yes, thank you for the concern, Commander."
Crossflare drew her optic ridges together as she looked her younger friend over.
"Why? Have you been unwell?"
Mercy blinked in surprise, then caught a servo to her mouth when she realized that there was something she forgot to tell her friends due to the last few days being a hectic mess. It was ironic that even Commander Dreadwing was informed of the developments but not her amica endura.
Halo and Crossflare leaned closer in anticipation when Mercy motioned for them to do so, and the white femme whispered nervously like she was sharing a dangerous secret:
"Actually, I'm….you know….I'm carrying a sparkling."
Crossflare's optics widened to a ridiculous size and Halo's jaw hit the floor.
"What?" the oldest of the trio hissed in astonishment.
"Wow! Mercy, that's insane!" Halo grabbed her friend by the shoulders again, but this time her optics sparkled, "There hasn't been a single sparkling made in what - like a millennia? Congrats! I mean, wow, I didn't expect this!"
Mercy smiled sheepishly and scratched her cheek in embarrassment.
"I know right? It was hard to believe at first…"
"This is why her safety must be ensured first and foremost," Dreadwing joined in with a cool but also commandeering tone.
Crossflare gently took Mercy's servos and cradled them as if she was about to say something, but she couldn't seem to find the right words.
"Mercy…" she mumbled, her optics full of affection and concern, and the younger femme waited patiently with a soft, reassuring smile, until Crossflare just pulled her friend into a warm embrace.
Mercy hummed in surprise but didn't hesitate to return the hug.
"Aw, don't leave me out!" Halo threw her arms over them and gripped tight.
Their intimate moment was interrupted by the sounds coming from the upper floor and soon all optics in the great hall turned to look at the trio of mechs descending the stairs.
Halo let go of her friends and beamed happily at the sight of Starscream. The Seeker had his long talons clasped behind his back as he approached, his expression not exactly satisfied, but smug enough for show. Halo had a suspicion her partner would tell her his grievances the moment they were alone, so her interrogations had to wait. She was simply excited to see him again.
Mercy brightened when she spotted Soundwave as well. The slim mech has fully healed by now, barely any signs reminding anyone of his duel with Megatron just over a week ago. It was still an unusual sight to see the silent mech go about, carrying out leadership like his Lord before him, but the Decepticons were slowly warming up to the thought. They had to, afterall. No one had the courage to challenge the mech who snuffed Megatron with his bare servos.
Optimus nodded them goodbye when the three parted from each other and the Prime returned to his faithfully awaiting Autobots on the other side of the hall. Smokescreen also joined them in a hurry, waving a hello to Halo before he left.
Starscream watched the rookie pass by with an annoyed expression but straightened himself once he noticed that Soundwave joined his side on their way to the small group where Halo and Mercy stood. The Seeker couldn't help but feel envious of the mech walking beside him.
"Look at you Soundwave," Starscream chuckled darkly. "You have everything that I've ever wanted."
Soundwave paid him no mind, but the gray mech was wiser than assuming his silent companion didn't have thoughts on the matter.
"Star!" Halo's excited welcome snapped his thoughts back to the people in front of them as they arrived at the group. His partner was by his side immediately, taking one of his servos into hers and bouncing from ped to ped with a wide grin. "So? How did it go?"
"Could've gone better," Starscream replied curtly.
"My Lord," Dreadwing bowed his head in respect towards Soundwave, who in turn did the same.
"Have we received word from outer space?" Soundwave inquired.
"A lot more than we anticipated. They wait for confirmation that the war is over."
"I will record a message for them. Until then, keep track of any ships."
"Yes, my Lord."
Halo grimaced.
"Wow, it's still so strange to hear Soundwave addressed as Lord. No offense by the way."
"People will have to get used to it, or we will have a problem," Knock Out shrugged.
Soundwave exchanged a last glance with Starscream, then turned and led his Decepticons towards the entrance.
Mercy waved apologetically towards Halo, then followed the rest by Crossflare's side.
Halo watched them go, smiling, not really concerned about them. They were safe under Soundwave's rule, she was sure of that. But she couldn't go with them. She had someone else who needed her support now. Maybe more than ever.
"We should leave as well. I've been planning to visit Vos for the last few days but I never got to actually do so," Starscream nudged her elbow and she fell into step beside him.
"Is there a particular reason? Vos is empty just like the rest of the planet, isn't it?"
"I want to see it with my own optics," Starscream shrugged, then a grin formed on his face. "It wouldn't be bad to seize up the capital of our territory just for the sake of it, would it?"
Halo laughed.
"Right, why not? If we have the time! I'll finally get the chance to see where you come from!"
The two left the building then jumped into the air and left without a care in the world, knowing that no one would stop them.
"This denies all logic..."
A purple figure with a lone red optic hid behind a corner of a nearby building, marveling at the sight of the square in front of the old Scientist Council Chamber with caution. Autobots and Decepticons were talking and walking around like they had forgotten about the war.
The fact that Cybertron was miraculously alive again went against rational thinking already. Everything happened so suddenly, so unexpectedly that he couldn't wrap his head around it. He has been alone for such a long time that seeing living beings outside of energon tanks felt a bit odd.
Shockwave didn't find the time optimal to show himself yet. It would be wiser to avoid attention and stay in the shadows for a while longer. Who knew what was going on?
He could still barely process that like lightning from the sky, the city he had been hiding in - inside his secret lab underground of course - awakened and was restored by a blinding light, then the Nemesis appeared above the buildings and Shockwave followed its path to where it landed only to then hide away because the first who exited it was Optimus Prime and his Autobots. How did the Prime take over the warship or where was Megatron, he had no idea but his hopes already vanished into thin air.
Something must have happened but he refused to believe that the Decepticons had lost so he continued to monitor the cooperation of the factions. They spent most of their time around the Scientist Council Chamber.
Maybe he should sneak onto the warship and see what he would find there? Or continue hiding and finishing his project?
He had many questions in his mind, but one thing was sure: he couldn't trust anyone.
Nemesis - Two days later
Ravage was the first to notice that something wasn't right. Soundwave only second because he wasn't there to spring into action.
The warship had been quiet for some time, save from the now always buzzing Communications Room. A whole Decepticon horde was on their way to Cybertron, eagerly bombarding the Nemesis with messages and incoming calls, making all Communications personnel busy. Mercy was all too happy to take part in answering questions the newcomers had. She liked hearing the awe and surprise in their voices when she told them that Cybertron was really alive and healthy again. A miracle, really, but a true one.
She did not expect to faint in the middle of writing up one of these messages. Her faithful minicon friend immediately caught her and requested help to get her into the med-bay as soon as possible.
Knock Out wasn't really surprised, he just found the timing bothersome. Crossflare on the other hand, she was tripping over herself in worry.
"What are we gonna do, Knock Out?" she helped the Vehicons lay Mercy onto the medical berth carefully and the red mech immediately put her in forced stasis to prevent her from awakening. "Have you ever done a spark-separation surgery?"
"I don't think I have," the medic shrugged nonchalantly, as if it wasn't a big deal. "But I know how it goes. I haven't skipped any of my classes at the academy, you know."
Crossflare didn't look any less concerned but she nodded, servos still on her friend's as if she was able to make things better just by holding onto her.
"The big question is: will the spark accept the protomatter we brought to the surface?" Knock Out stepped over to the hovering container by the wall, fully filled with a very soft, almost liquid-like metal.
Soundwave had sent down Vehicons to retrieve some of Cybertron's living metal from the Well of the Allspark the moment the Nemesis landed. This metal was previously used to make protoforms for cloning - a cheap imitation procedure of creation, as labeled by many back in the day - but it was the only method capable of keeping a bond-born Cybertronian alive and house their spark. Cloning procedure itself derived from here, bringing its own set of ethical and moral dilemmas with it.
"What can be the side effects?" Crossflare eyed the soft, squishy metal warily. While she used to have a bond and even had one right now, she never exercised the merging method enough times to cause a fracture in her own spark.
"Mercy will be fine. A little dizzy and weak for a while, but her spark will naturally stabilize itself," Knock Out flicked his servo, "The newspark's survival however, now that will be an issue. If they reject the material we give them, they will fizzle out."
"What are the chances?"
"Eighty-twenty. Good chances overall. But there is still a chance that they don't get to live. No wonder the old Council called those who practiced this form of reproduction cheap imitators of Primus."
"You cannot deny that bond-born bots are individuals themselves as well!" Crossflare argued.
"That might be true, but why play Primus when we have Primus?" Knock Out gestured towards the door, indicating he meant the Well of the Allspark.
Crossflare couldn't really argue, but agreeing didn't sit well with her either so she remained quiet as she turned back towards Mercy's still form.
"Should we begin?"
"Soundwave told me to wait. He wants to be here," Knock Out shook his head but returned to his worktable to ready his tools. "Help me with these. This will be a sensitive operation. We cannot have any of my equipment dull."
Crossflare hurried over to help him check everything. She stole a few glances at him from the corner of her optics, spark hammering. There were a lot of things she wanted to say, wanted to ask. Private moments had been a scarcity these days, and even when they were alone in the med-bay, they were on constant stand-by mode because Vehicons entered and exited the bay frequently.
Patrols were taken seriously due to the changes in relations with the Autobots. Many of their artifacts were still stored on the ship. Arcee and Bumblebee cruised the halls regularly to make sure the Decepticons wouldn't just steal their belongings. Everybody was being watched with rapt attention. Private conversations had to wait until the crew could breathe again.
There was tension between them, albeit not as much as it used to be, Crossflare knew well. But the tension between her and Knock Out troubled her more than the dealings between the factions. They were back to their routine inside these walls. But not in every way. They haven't shared a berth ever since and Crossflare shied away from touch. Guilt gnawed at her and she found herself between a rock and a hard place. It was a tricky predicament to be in.
The med-bay doors swished open, revealing Soundwave's slim form. He seemed to be in a hurry. Ravage welcomed him with a happy flick of his tail when he trotted up to his master. It was rare to see the cat and his original master together since he lent the minicon over to Mercy, but Ravage didn't mind. He obliged his master's wishes with pleasure, knowing that his guarding duty meant a lot to Soundwave.
"How is she?" Soundwave went straight to Mercy's still form, looking over her in silent concern.
"I put her in stasis, we are ready to begin the spark-separating operation in a click. Do not worry, Soundwave, she is in the best servos!"
The Decepticon warship lay eerily quiet in the eastern bay of Crystal City, relatively close to the Scientist Council Chamber. It was decided that the ship would stay temporarily on ground for as long as there was no need for it to leave the city. The Autobots had to drive all the way to the ship if they wanted to check their cargo's safety though.
One green car headed towards it in the early hours of a new dawn.
"What's the problem?" Bulkhead transformed as soon as he drove through the gates of the Nemesis, where a squad of Vehicons already waited for him.
"One of the transported items disappeared. Or, well, rather left on its own," the Vehicon answered with a shake of his head while leading the Autobot deeper into the labyrinth of corridors.
The storerooms were full of Autobots belongings they had brought from the base, but only one of them was capable of walking away. Bulkhead immediately suspected which 'item' was in question.
"Which one?" he followed the Vehicon into the room, but no answers were necessary.
An Insecticon's stasis pod stood in the middle of the dark room, torn open, empty.
"Oh, scrap..."
Crystal City - a month later
The fireworks exploded high in the night sky, their fascinating lights illuminated the whole city in spectacular, vivid colors. Loud laughter, shouting and other noises rose into the air. Relief and happiness filled the streets, with little to no tension to speak of. The bliss of freedom and peace. And lots of high-grade, of course.
About ten thousand ships have arrived so far with variously aligned passengers. Faithful Decepticons decided to follow Soundwave's lead, although not without complaints, and the rest flocked to Starscream, who now represented a more neutral approach, similar to that of his political stance before the war. It was more appealing than the old regime that they saw represented in Soundwave, even if Megatron was no longer present.
The most restless were the Autobots though, as strange as it sounded. Most who returned were unhappy with the peace treaty, saying it practically excused all crimes the Decepticons have committed against the planet and its inhabitants.
Neutrals, for the most part, arrived in small numbers, uncertain and nervous. Just a couple of ships, but more were on the way, waiting for confirmation that it was indeed safe to return.
Long story short, the factions needed a conclusion to the war. Something more than a fancy peace treaty.
Thus the three leaders decided to throw a celebration.
It seemed like the best idea anyone could have suggested since it was the perfect place to start. And so, to mark the start of a new era Optimus labeled the Age of Revival, the three leaders decided to hold a homecoming feast to celebrate the resurrection of Cybertron and to offer something to indulge the restless and confused masses with.
It took place in Crystal City as it became a sort of intersection hub between the three factions, and the whole city got decorated within a short span of time. The fireworks were bought from Earth by Halo and Mercy (since it was their idea) and the beauty of these harmless explosives amazed the Cybertronians.
Decepticons and Autobots mingled together, albeit in their own groups. Everybody was searching for old friends and relatives, hoping to find familiar faces in the crowd. Old enemies decided to steer clear of each other's way to avoid making a fuss, silently swearing revenge in the dark for a later date. Neutrals were afraid to join in at first, but then got encouraged as they realized there was little to fear.
The festive spirits got to everybody the longer they were into the night.
"I really missed high-grade!" Wheeljack grinned, then downed his whole glass in one gulp.
"Yeah, like old times!" Bulkhead laughed beside him and filled his own glass by the counter once again.
"Bleh, this tastes horrible," Crossflare muttered with a grimace and searched for a better blend in the tanks behind the barmech's back. She pointed at the one with yellow tainted energon inside. "Let me try that!"
The barmech nodded and hurried to get her chosen drink.
The street behind them was filled with bots to the brim, everybody either drinking or dancing to the loud music blaring from the city's speakers. It threatened to deafen all conversation, yet they somehow still heard each other over all the noise.
"Hey, where's your psycho friend?" Wheeljack looked over to Crossflare while he sipped from his new glass. "Late to the party?"
"I told him I will meet him later so you two wouldn't meet. Primus knows, it would be a disaster," Crossflare thanked the barmech and pulled her glass to herself. "I wanted to spend some decent time with you."
Wheeljack almost choked on his drink and began coughing roughly. Bulkhead clapped him on the back to help.
"Ugh, don't say such things to me, it's not fair," Wheeljack wiped his mouth clean and got himself together.
"You okay, Jackie?" Bulkhead looked at him in worry. It hasn't been that long since he got to know that his best friend got bonded to Crossflare of all people. It was still a shock and he still didn't know how to act around them when the three of them were together. The whole situation screamed 'complicated' and Bulkhead wasn't good with such things.
"Yeah, I'll be fine," his friend grimaced.
"We haven't been able to talk properly since we got back," Crossflare's expression got more serious, dismissing the unease she felt from his side of the bond. She had to tell him what Knock Out's plans were about undoing their bond. It was a serious issue and probably not a topic for a celebration, but at least she wanted to make the Wrecker know they would find a way to undo everything and save each other the trouble of feeling….too much. Maybe she should postpone telling him? Her feelings were conflicted on the matter. She didn't want to hurt him.
"I think it's for the best, sweetspark," Wheeljack tried to smile. "I'm tryin' really hard to give ya the space ya need."
Crossflare's spark screamed that she didn't want so much distance because Wheeljack was practically everywhere on the planet except her vicinity, but she fought the urge to do so. She knew what they had agreed upon. She knew their predicament and wanted to respect his wishes as much as she could…but it was hard.
The more time she spent with Knock Out, the heavier her spark felt. She shouldn't have felt guilt yet she did. A part of her - the part that in spite of the 'no feelings' rule still felt - wanted to make up for it somehow.
"Look, we knew it won't be easy, and I'm not complainin', so stop worryin' about me. I'm fine," Wheeljack could feel the care and attention she tried to direct at him and he fought valiantly to keep her at bay. She was too caring for her own good. She got attached too deeply. He didn't know how to tell her that he didn't need all this attention and that she was complicating things for herself, because he knew it's just the way she has always been.
A femme with too big of a spark to really deserve anyone. Wheeljack definitely did not feel worthy of owning half of her. She was too kind, too giving. He could clearly see why Knock Out would want her for himself. Having her attention felt like an undeserved divine blessing.
Wheeljack figured she would do anything he would ask of her and so he has tried to minimize their encounters since they came back to Cybertron. Best to stay apart so both of them could live their separate lives in peace.
Easier said than done because distance meant nothing to joined sparks, but he still tried. He made a promise to her that he would not shackle her down and he intended to keep it.
If only she could understand that and stopped complicating things for the both of them….
"Should I leave you two alone?" Bulkhead scratched his head with an uncertain expression.
"Nah, don't go, Bulk," Wheeljack patted his friend's arm and pushed himself away from the booth. He tried to smile reassuringly as he waved goodbye. "Anyway, it was nice to see ya, Crossflare! We gotta get goin'! There're plenty of faces we want to search for!"
Crossflare's spark jumped in unreasonable fear and she immediately left her beverage to move after him but he stopped her with a servo on her shoulder. The contact sent an electric jolt down her spine and she blinked at Wheeljack's quickly retreating servo in concern.
"Sorry, darlin'. Can't come with us," he shook his head, his optics soft yet distraught. "Make sure ya say hello to Knock Out for me though!"
Wheeljack was actively running from her.
Crossflare felt like her spark started crying and she watched as her bondmate turned and disappeared into the crowd before her. She wanted to go after him. The pull of her bond was strong. She knew she was being irrational, but she has never been in a predicament such as this.
Back then, it was evident that she would be by the side of her bondmate all the time. It was a natural instinct.
She knew it wasn't any easier for him in spite of his love for solitude. An active bond overrode a lot of his programming as well. It bothered both of them.
Crossflare wanted to scream, but instead she let her spark bleed as she watched the crowd flow around her like a river. In the end, she couldn't tell him anything she had planned.
"Want me to get you something sweet?" someone asked from behind, and she whirled around with wide optics.
She found herself looking at Knock Out leaning against the booth's counter where she had been just a minute before. He held a glass in his servos with red tinted energon in it. His optics held her gaze with a meaningful gleam.
"S-since when have you…?"
"I decided to search for you sooner. You are awful at disguising your intentions," he replied in a casual manner and sipped from his drink. "I figured you would meet him. Predictable."
Crossflare walked over to him with a desperate expression, fishing for words to say.
"Knock Out, I…"
"No need for explanation, I know how fracture bonds work," his voice gained a sour undertone, but he pushed her beverage closer to her encouragingly. "I just wish I had the power to magically make you forget about it."
"I'm sorry…." she hung her head while her servos cupped her glass. Her reflection on the surface of her drink stared haughtily back at her.
Knock Out's features softened a fraction.
"Nevermind. I'm not here to chat about that Wrecker. Forget him for a few hours. I wanted to enjoy the festivities with you without anything clouding your processor."
Crossflare couldn't help but offer a small smile. He grew more tolerant of her situation after she told him the details of how it all came about. Wheeljack was still his number one enemy but at least he realized hurting or killing him would lead to Crossflare's immediate demise at the same time so he had to restrain himself. There was no other way, he had to figure out how to separate two fracture bonded sparks, a medical achievement no one has ever accomplished before. It was an impossible feat. Yet Knock Out grew determined to see it through, even if he had to secretly kidnap bonded pairs to experiment on. He just couldn't imagine letting Crossflare go. Not like this. Not when he has gotten so close. He wouldn't admit defeat. Never.
So he had only one way to go.
Forward.
Halo had too much to drink. Starscream too, but he tried to keep it in check since his sensitive fuel tank was about to cause trouble for him if he wasn't careful. Their entourage consisted mostly of Seekers. They walked the higher streets and chose to occupy balconies to stay above the unruly grounders down below. Even after eons of pointless war, they tried to create an illusion of being better than everyone else.
Halo whined that she wanted to get down and search for her friends, much to Starscream's chagrin. He knew she would wish to visit the ground level but he would have preferred her not to. Knowing Halo though, his chances to convince her otherwise were close to zero. So what did that leave him with?
He needed to mingle with average bots down below. Ugh. Not what he preferred, but he tried to make the most of it if he couldn't help it. Most bots recognized him. It was a blessing and a curse at the same time because some shied away in fear and some yelled curses at him. The previous he relished, the latter annoyed him. If Halo wasn't there to keep his mood in check, he would have already caused a scene to get his well-deserved respect, but she made sure to divert his attention towards different things.
"Oh, look at that venue! So pretty!" she pointed ahead, grinning. Her wings wiggled in excitement and Starscream sighed with a small smile, following her to appease her curiosity.
"It looks decent."
"Come on, Star!" she giggled and pulled him by the servo. "Loosen up!"
"I have some reputation to live up to."
"It can wait until the party is over!"
She still didn't understand the full responsibility on his shoulders, but he was determined to teach her how to navigate her way through the slowly rebuilding social hierarchy. Halo wasn't good with authority - neither was he if he wanted to be honest - but he knew she would listen to his advice if he worded it nicely. She could be reasoned with when he pulled on her emotions. It still surprised him how easily the young femme fell back to following him, as if it was the most natural thing in the world, even accepting the distance from her amica enduras with relative ease.
Halo's unexpectedly reliable loyalty never ceased to bewilder him.
"Oh! There! That's Crossflare! And Knock Out! Star, Star, let's go meet them!" she pulled him out of his musings by literally pulling him across the street to where the two mentioned grounders were heading.
Starscream couldn't care any less about them honestly, but he figured he could tolerate the two for a while. They were one of the better people to cross paths and have a chat with.
"Halo?" Crossflare whipped her head around when she heard her amica's yells. She waited until the younger femme jumped at her in a crushing hug and chuckled once she was released.
"And look at that, isn't it the Lord of Vos himself?" Knock Out grinned at Starscream and tipped his head in mock-respect. "On the ground level? How unexpected."
"Just checking if your kind is enjoying the festivities," Starscream shrugged and straightened himself with an air of arrogance. "Can't have people complaining when I'm in charge of organizing this show."
"We can't complain so far, Starscream. You have certainly outdone yourself," Crossflare assured him and her words made him perk up with a proud smirk.
"What are you drinking?" Halo was more interested in the beverage her friend was holding and she quickly stole it to have a sip for herself.
Crossflare merely rolled her optics and took the glass back from her once she has taken a taste.
"Wow, this is extra sweet!"
"Halo, you shouldn't drink more," Starscream warned her, and they continued their way through the street towards the great square with their new company.
"I haven't had enough yet!" the young femme grinned mischievously in response.
"No, I forbid you from drinking more. I won't be dragging you after you knock yourself out."
"Aren't you too strict, Starscream? Let her enjoy the moment. We certainly earned it," Knock Out chided him.
"First, it's Lord Starscream to you, second, I have duties to attend to while I'm here so no, I can't have her act irresponsibly."
"Party killer!" Halo whined.
Knock Out and Crossflare both snickered quietly, much to Starscream's chagrin. The four of them followed the crowd's flow through the street, sometimes they stopped by a booth to look at the goods or buy some non-high-grade energon and chatted about everything and nothing.
Starscream boasted of the rapid growth of Vos' economical power and Knock Out complained about the many job offers he has got from both medical and scientific sides. Crossflare was debating whether to join the Scientist Guild and Halo was wondering if she could finally get proper training to become a full-time military bot.
"You still want to fight?" Crossflare looked at her amica in surprise. "Haven't you had enough?"
"You know I've always wanted to be one," Halo shrugged. "I could be Starscream's bodyguard or something. I want to be able to protect him and myself."
Starscream silently questioned whether she would ever be fit for the position but kept his thoughts wisely to himself. Her wish to protect him filled him with a sense of calm. As annoyingly clingy as she could be at times, she was more than a useful ally by his side.
The flowing crowd suddenly opened a path and everybody looked up to see a slim, dark armored mech walk calmly through with an air of unbothered confidence that commanded respect from everybody. On his side a softly smiling white femme walked with a cat-like minicon in tow. They were flanked by curious Decepticons who wished to take a closer look at them.
Crossflare and Halo's faces brightened at the sight. They were told that Mercy wouldn't be able to come because she would be spending her time in Kaon with her sparklings who were still in the phase of protoforming, meaning they were kept in incubators for the time being. Oh, and yes, there were two of them, much to everybody's surprise. Mercy hasn't really left their side since then and only occasionally showed herself when the need called for it.
It seemed like she decided to take a break from monitoring her sparklings to enjoy some of the festivities as well. Her and Soundwave's presence seemed to gather a crowd though. It wasn't a surprise. Ever since news of Megatron's death spread, people began to look at Soundwave differently and in turn look at the strange femme by his side quizzically.
"Mercy! Good to see you here!" Halo jumped and ran up to her enthusiastically.
Mercy laughed softly when she embraced her energetic friend, happy that they had managed to cross paths in this crowded place.
"I couldn't miss the chance to see everyone celebrate. But...you are drunk, aren't you?"
"A bit," Crossflare joined them, and bowed her head a little to show due respect to Soundwave.
"And Knockout and Starscream are here too!" Mercy beamed upon the sight of the two mechs arriving into their circle. The previous welcomed her with an easygoing chuckle while the latter mumbled a gruff greeting of sorts. The group exchanged experiences from the festival and some of their private plans for the future.
"Have you met familiar faces? We have already stopped for a few chats! It's amazing how many bots from the past managed to survive the war!" Mercy asked, changing the topic.
"Oh, you would be surprised by how many ghosts managed to crawl out of their graves," Starscream grimaced, recalling how hearing about Slipstream's return and her siding with Soundwave had upset him. "I have a feeling we will meet more unsavory people than we would wish to."
"I wouldn't mind meeting my old classmates!" Halo chimed in.
"I wonder if any of my old colleagues are alive as well," Crossflare wondered.
"I do hope mine are dead."
Every optic turned towards Knock Out with an aghast expression.
"What? My colleagues were terrible. You wouldn't want to meet them."
Before any of them could have asked for details, Ravage called for his master's attention.
"Boss, someone wishes to speak with you."
Soundwave turned to look at the mech arriving from the crowd that had gathered behind him and Mercy. The femmes stood aside to let the older mech join them. His green and grey paintjob was littered with scars and dents, and his large rearview mirrors on his shoulders looked a bit crooked, but his smile held the same carefree air as in the past.
Mercy's optics widened and even Soundwave's spark skipped a beat.
"Your Lordship," the bot bowed decently, then straightened with a wide smile, "Long time no see."
"Rearview!" tears welled up in Mercy's optics and she couldn't help but throw herself at the mech in a joyful hug, "You are alive!"
"I am, little femme," the old mech chuckled and gently returned the hug.
Crossflare and Halo blinked in confusion, but Knock Out and Starscream weren't much wiser either since none of them had any idea who the stranger was.
"You disappeared after I left Kaon. Where have you gone?" Soundwave tilted his head curiously.
"After you left I decided to go to Praxus to search for Mercy. I knew the war she had prophesied would keep you busy and I figured I could watch over her until the two of you reunite. I hadn't managed to find her so it was all pointless in the end. I escaped Cybertron on a small Neutral ship much later."
Mercy's spark warmed at the thought that Rearview had decided to search for her in the past.
A small smile spread on Soundwave's face under the visor. He had his most appreciated medic by his side again.
"I can offer you a place if you happen to be unemployed," Soundwave offered.
Mercy perked up with a joyful glimmer in her optics. Rearview with them again? Yes, oh yes!
"I'm in need of some cash, so why not?" Rearview agreed with a grin and Ravage rolled his optics. Always this medic and his financial problems!
The mech turned to Mercy next:
"I have been pointing you out as Lightswitch to some people. There are quite a few old fans who wish to speak to you."
Mercy followed the direction he pointed at and noted how the majority of the bots gathered looked like late gladiators or late low-caste factory workers. Then she spotted a familiar neon green and blue bot in the crowd. He anxiously looked in her way.
"Wait, isn't that…isn't that Mixtape?!" Mercy gaped, not wanting to believe her optics.
She left the group without a second thought to go and meet her old employer.
The others watched her get surrounded with excited bots and aside from Soundwave, nobody understood what it was about.
Starscream especially frowned at the sight. For a femme who had no data to her name, she seemed to be rather well-known. He had always been suspicious of her mysterious background, but now his interest was piqued further. He had to look into this carefully.
"Who is that mech?" Halo asked with a puzzled expression, watching the anxious neon green and blue bot talking to Mercy as if he was pleading for his life.
Soundwave decided it was time to join his bondmate and help her out, so he left the group as well to go over to her. Bots opened a path for him without having to ask, knowing well who he was.
"I-I didn't have a choice! I'm terribly sorry! M-My business w-was in danger, I had no i-intention to hurt y-you or anything! I h-have changed!" Mixtape babbled in a frenzy, no matter how many times Mercy wanted to interrupt.
When he noticed Soundwave, he shrunk even more in fear.
"Please don't kill me! I swear I-I have changed! I m-mean no harm!"
Soundwave sneered under the visor.
"Get out of my sight. Don't bother to settle on my territory. Cowards like you are not welcome."
Mixtape backed away and then bailed, running for his life while he could. Mercy watched him go with a sigh.
"He thinks I would want revenge on him for him abandoning me to Leto. I reassured him that he would live, but he didn't listen."
"He is wise to fear you now," Soundwave replied coolly. "He knows power has shifted, and not in favor of him."
"Lightswitch, just a moment!" someone else called for her attention and she turned to oblige. It still came as a shock that so many people began to recognize her, or even remembered her. They were curious about where had she disappeared back then, where had she been during the war, how did she survive… Questions she didn't really have an answer for.
"Do you still sing? Sing for us!" a voice demanded enthusiastically, and others joined in, soon turning into a chant of: "Sing, sing, sing!" She had summoned a crowd large enough to attract even more attention from bystanders and soon the whole square turned curiously in their direction, wondering what was going on with that odd looking Decepticon group.
Crossflare and Halo couldn't help but gape at the sight. How did these strangers know their friend could sing? What was going on?
Mercy looked around in awe, suddenly humbled by the display. She turned towards Soundwave with a helpless expression.
"Is it a good idea?" she asked through the bond. "The city music is too loud. I won't be able to outsing it."
"The cause wants your voice. Give it to them. Trust the rest to me," he assured her.
Mercy nodded with determination, and told the crowd she would indulge them with one song. Happy cheers and claps followed her announcement. Her spark jumped in anticipation, her thoughts frantically searching for a song to entertain them with.
She made her way to the closest stairs to get to a vantage point over her audience while Soundwave's visor flickered as he accessed the city's systems and took control. The music blaring from the public speakers stopped, and bots from all around looked up, wondering what was going on.
Mercy raised a servo high over her head and activated her own loudspeakers to let her voice carry far when she addressed the crowd before her.
"Welcome Crystal City! I feel honored to stand before you all as Lightswitch again. Allow me to dedicate this song to those who have survived the war and have come back with hope to build a better future together for Cybertron! Let's celebrate that tonight we are finally all equal and free!"
A murmur ran across the square and bots began to surround the place, curious to see what she was going to do.
"No way, she is going to sing for real? Where are some glowing sticks when we need them!" Halo pushed herself ahead to the first row in excitement.
"Well, I've always wanted to see her perform," Knock Out offered a servo to Crossflare, who was still in shock by the unfolding events, and led her after Halo. Starscream followed them with less enthusiasm but he was curious enough to join the audience as well.
Music flooded the square and Mercy opened her mouth, her spark hammering but ready, her white armor shining bright in the crosshairs of the citylights.
"~Walking circles in a dry oasis, we feel the rain is coming. We'll overtake all of the war torn places, and build our hope again~"
Many optics followed her figure as she slowly moved up the stairs.
"There's no other time like this we've seen, we've got the keys to set us free. I know we're worn down to our bones, this our prayer, this is our oath~"
She moved with elegant grace, her voice soft and firm and the crowd couldn't help but listen, enraptured.
"~We feel the spark in us, we got the golden touch. There's royal blood in us, chosen for this! When darkness overcomes, there's still a light in us. Destiny rising up, chosen for this!~"
Her audience began to sway to the melody, and sparks swelled with emotions while her voice carried on, strong and pure.
Starscream stared in awe, and suddenly it dawned on him what this femme was to the Decepticons. He hasn't considered her important since he knew nothing about Mercy of Praxus, a harmless nobody. But very few Decepticons could say they never heard about Lightswitch of Kaon, the popular diva who has moved many slaves with her rebellious songs and then mysteriously disappeared during the uprising.
Mercy made her way back to Soundwave once her song finished and the audience's applause subsided. They wanted her to sing more but she declined, and let the city continue to play its own music for the masses. Bots began to dance, emboldened by the lively atmosphere and her example.
She was surrounded on her way with clapping bots cheering for her from both sides, and her spark soared.
Soundwave looked at her with satisfaction, his own emotions stirring when she reached him. He reached a servo out to her:
"Dance?"
Her optics lit up with that old, familiar flame and she didn't need to reply because he knew her answer. She took his servo and he led her away from the crowd and into the circle of carefreely dancing bots.
"So many people are watching us..." Mary mumbled quietly.
Soundwave smirked under the visor and pulled her close while Ravage made a quick run around them to clear enough space.
"Just focus on me."
And they finally moved. They didn't need prefabricated choreography, they had perfect harmony and sync in their sparks. The rhythm dictated their sparkbeat, and every twirl, every spin, all the dips and elegant slides matched perfectly. The ground made of steel, pure as glass, reflected the glowing lights of their bodies, their brilliant blue and jade-green softly mingled together. The colors of the fireworks and the buildings seemed faint and dull compared to them.
Amazed optics followed every moment from the sidelines, absorbed in their beauty and grace.
Soundwave wasn't ashamed to exploit the situation to his advantage. Mercy made it easy. The way she unawarely yet selfishly demanded attention, turned heads and locked optics on their pair alone. They stuck out of the crowd perfectly. He always did in some way with his intimidating appearance, but tonight his goal wasn't to install fear.
All three leaders tried to make the most of the festivities. The Prime held a speech, Starscream toured the streets and conversed with people, and Soundwave, well, did what he did best and let his actions speak for him by creating a spectacle that will be hard to forget.
Halo managed to drag Starscream into a dance as well. He tried his best to resist, but eventually resigned to her demands. One dance he can endure. Then it turned into several more, and he just went along, even if Halo had her servos shamelessly all over his body for the entire duration.
It was nice actually. Or maybe it was the high-grade in him making him think that.
Either way, he found himself enjoying her attention and moved along with her while carefully maneuvering to avoid hitting their wings into other bots.
Halo snaked her arms around his neck and flashed a mischievous smile.
Oh no, what was she up to again? But instead of coming up with something questionable, she leaned in and left a chaste kiss on his mouth.
Starscream blinked in surprise.
"Relax, Star," she smiled at him sweetly, "I know you have been stressed about everything because you want things to go smoothly, but things are fine. Look around! People are happy! You deserve to be happy too! Loosen up a little and enjoy the fun!"
Starscream's spark twisted and warmed at the same time. It was still a shock to see or experience her care. The way she followed him everywhere, even if it meant distancing herself from her friends. The way she looked at him, with such open adoration he sometimes doubted his optics were functioning well. She did unspeakable things to his spark that he would never admit out loud.
Starscream chuckled and drew her closer by the waist.
"Don't worry, I'm quite enjoying myself, Halo."
She lifted an optic ridge in doubt while studying his face for any trace of a lie.
Whenever she expressed concern like this, he felt compelled to just devour her on the spot, but this was no place for affectionate displays, so he restrained himself.
He still needed to meet up with a few business associates and it wouldn't do good to his image if he couldn't control himself.
Another pair joined the fun not so far from them. Knock Out finally managed to lure Crossflare into a dance with some persuasion and sweet words. She warned him that she would be clumsy, but he didn't mind, he promised her that he would lead.
She was careful not to scratch his finish while pressed close to him. Primus knows he would be angry but he would tame his temper. He has been doing that a lot lately. Crossflare noticed more and more changes the more time she spent with him and he grew more understanding once she explained how her complicated situation came about in detail.
Crossflare did her best to forget her worries about their unorthodox relationship and the constant guilt gnawing at her spark but her doubts plagued the back of her mind. It must have been visible, because Knock Out decided to inquire:
"Are you still thinking about him?"
Crossflare blinked at him with wide eyes.
"N-no…I was just…." she couldn't find the right words. It was hard to express the whirlpool of feelings raging inside her. "I was thinking about you. Us."
"Worried again, are we?"
"I can't help it, Knock Out. I feel like I don't belong."
He twirled her and then pulled her closer.
"You belong where you want to, my dear, and you are welcome with me."
Crossflare cast her optics down.
"I feel like I failed you."
Knock Out huffed.
"Look at me, sweet cherry."
She raised her gaze hesitantly and found him leaning closer, his crimson optics piercing right into her spark.
"Remember, I told you I would fix everything. I wasn't lying."
Crossflare opened her mouth to say something but realized she was out of words again.
He smirked in response with that devilishly handsome smile of his.
"Loosen up, Crossflare. We are here to celebrate."
She forced a smile while her spark still bled. He wasn't easily fooled by her display though and suddenly pulled her into more frantic moves, turning and dipping her boldly.
"Wha-Knock Out! What are you doing?" Crossflare tried to keep up clumsily and he kept going with a grin.
"I'm making you forget!" he replied in a sing-song voice and they continued to strike funny poses until she couldn't help but laugh. They were making a fool of themselves, but hardly anyone cared. They could drown in the noise and the lively atmosphere, dancing in their small bubble, their own little world where it was just the two of them.
Knock Out's optics shined as he watched her laugh. Has he ever heard her making such a lovely sound? He couldn't recall but he found himself engraving the moment into his memory banks. Smiling fit her, but happiness was a rare guest among her expressions.
His pride swelled upon the realization that it was him who had achieved unlocking her laughter, and he was pretty sure that stupid Wrecker was now far from her thoughts.
Knock Out dipped her again and she clung to him harder when he pulled her back into a loose embrace, still smiling. His own spark couldn't help but race at the sight.
"You are so silly," she snickered, then noticed his intense stare and stilled in his arms. He looked happy, as if she had just given him a compliment he had been waiting for.
The next thing she knew Knock Out leaned forward and kissed her. It was so abrupt, her processor momentarily shut down. The kiss was gentle at first, then after noticing she wouldn't move away, his hold on her tightened and he pulled her in deeper, kissed her bolder. Her engine roared involuntarily in response, his answered, and suddenly her world tunneled into the haze of the kiss and the feel of his servos against her frame. If he didn't hold her, her knees would have buckled.
It was everything she had feared, and something she had secretly wanted ever since she realized he had wormed his way into her spark. Her feelings were there, buried under piles of denial. She has run from them more than once, like a coward, and now she is back to square one again.
A sudden movement in her spark snapped her back to reality. The other side of the bond retreated uneasily, feelings of dismay washing over her that were not her own. Her bondmate sensed her emotions and was reacting negatively to it.
Crossflare pulled herself away immediately and guilt crashed onto her as if she had just committed a heinous crime.
Knock Out seemed confused by her sudden withdrawal and she frantically tried to look collected and not show her sudden panic outwardly. So she mustered a smile and retreated her servos from his chest to his arms.
"What's wrong?" he tilted his head with a crestfallen expression and it hurt to see him look at her like that.
"Ah, nothing…..it's just…it was nice, but…." she fumbled with what she wanted to say and Knock Out's frown told her he knew exactly what was going on.
"He felt it, right?" he asked and she cast her optics down with a nod shamefully.
Knock Out's anger simmered for a moment, then it changed into vengeful satisfaction and a devious grin crept to his face.
"Serves him right!"
Crossflare snapped her gaze up with a gasp.
"Knock Out!"
"I hope he feels as uncomfortable as angry I am!" he continued to grin and pulled her back against him. "How about we make him squirm a little?"
"Absolutely not!" Crossflare pushed against him with a heavy blush and turned to look for a distraction. "Let's drink something! Over there! It looks delicious!"
Primus knew she needed a drink, or twenty more, or else she would succumb to the fact that she wanted him to kiss her more. She couldn't let that happen.
A shady figure monitored the ongoing events and the carelessly celebrating crowd of Autobots, Neutrals and Decepticons from the safe seclusion of a building's roof, out of sight.
Her glass of high-grade glowed bright in her servo as she sipped from it, then licked her mouth in satisfaction. At least her outside trip had some pleasant perks. She crossed her legs, gazing over the scenery below from her high vantage point with an air of frustration.
Just a few minutes ago, she grabbed a bot from the crowd when no one was looking and dragged him into a dark alley, ordering him to tell her everything about what was going on.
"Who rules Cybertron? If you scream I will kill you in the slowest and most painful way you can imagine," she hissed threateningly as she leaned uncomfortably close to her trembling victim.
"O-Optimus Prime, Starscream and Soundwave!" the bot shut his eyes in fear.
"Soundwave? What happened to Megatron?" the attacker seemed amused and surprised at once.
"Soundwave challenged and killed him...that's all I know! I'm not a Decepticon! P-please let me go...!" the bot begged in despair.
His captor chuckled maliciously, then released her hostage and the bot ran away, back to the crowd as quickly as he could.
Now the hiding figure sipped once more from her high-grade while mulling over all the information she had collected. This news thoroughly wracked her processor. She could barely believe Megatron was gone. And by Soundwave's servo of all bots?
Her optics focused back on the crowd and found familiar faces. Her spark filled with loathing just by looking at them. Mercy and Soundwave danced carefreely as if there was nothing to fear. No doubt, the petite little femme now enjoyed the advantages of Soundwave's rise in the ranks.
How did this good for nothing pleasure bot get so high while she was forced into the shadows, running for her life? Unacceptable.
And let's not forget Soundwave's betrayal either. Why beat her for acting independently as a commander when he would eventually kill his own master? Resentment simmered in her spark.
"Soundwave, you are such a fool...you have to pay too for humiliating me."
The high-grade tasted bitter in her mouth now and she squeezed her glass in fury. There were Starscream and Halo and that stupid Knock Out and Crossflare in the crowd as well, enjoying themselves to the fullest without a care in the world. She grated her denta, frustrated just by looking at them.
Let them be careless and happy. They will never see what's coming for them….
Her thoughts were snapped back to reality when a deep detached voice called her name through her comm-link.
"Airachnid. What have you gathered so far?"
"Oh, plenty of interesting details. I think you will be surprised to hear the news," a vicious smile spread on her face.
"Return immediately."
"You can be so impatient sometimes. I'll be back in a click. Do you want a little high-grade? I can bring you a glass."
"Just return quietly. If anyone discovers you, your chances of escaping capture will be close to zero."
"It wounds me how much you underestimate me, Shockwave," she stood with a wide smile and let go of her glass, allowing it to plummet into the depth below. She took one last look at the celebrating city, then flipped into the air, transformed, and disappeared into the darkness of the night.
This chapter was a pain to write because my iPad Notes decided to forget I wrote something in the last four days and simply deleted everything I wrote in that time frame and all the edits I made. You guys have no idea how upset I was. Like, I was about to explode and flip tables, and then after realizing I didn't have backup saves, I resigned to the fact that I have to write everything from scratch for the second time. It's not as good as the first one and I'm very upset by this. I wanted to give you something good but this is not even close to how well the previous was written. I'm sorry. T-T
Updates will be irregular, I will start at my new workplace soon so my creative spree seems to come to an end. I will try to update whenever I can. See you guys around! :)