Thundercracker was one of the calmer members of his trine. Skywarp could have his moments, but most of the time was happily dumb and impulsive. Nya, when she was alive, had once thought that the purple seeker had the cybertronian equivalent to ADHD, and after looking up the symptoms neither Thundercracker or Starscream couldn't've really argued against the suggestion. Spontaneous was a good word to describe his younger trine mate. Both in outliner ability and personality.

It wasn't a good word to describe Starscream, though…

The thought of his trine leader made something in Thundercracker's chest plate seize up. Still his all but swallowed it down to be cried out later. It wasn't the place right now. Especially with a sobbing Skywarp clinging to him.

Unlike Skywarp, Starscream wasn't a person to simply just do what ever came into his mind. Starscream was cunning, usually thinking his plans through, not that random emotional outbursts didn't happen from time to time. However, he was never a seeker who was fond of surprises. All this made the sudden news of the red and blue seeker's death less believable.

It didn't make sense for Starscream to suddenly die of wounds, of a terrorist attack. He was far too stubborn. They even used to joke that even if he was killed, he'd come back as a ghost just to tick off his killer. And before that he would've crawled to safety even if all his limbs were warped and bleeding from every fuel line in his body.

"I've done it before," Starscream had said in response.

So, death by terrorist? It wasn't the first time someone of their family died that way, but it wasn't the way that any of them thought Starscream would go.

Yet, less than a solar-cycle ago, word from Ultra Magnus came…and the trine brothers all but flew at high burn towards Iacon.

All through the flight, Thundercracker felt only denial. He was sure the message was wrong.

Then when they arrived, the denial melted, boiling into red hot anger.

Why? Why did this happen?! Why did this keep happening?! To their family. First it was Nya, their sister-in-law, killed fighting like the soldier she was. Then the twins were taken. His niece and nephew. Primus, he loved those kids. Nyx'Lee was like her father, focused and smart, but almost impossible to understand her reasoning if someone wasn't close to her. Wingnutt was more like his mother and uncles, very loving, and only ever wanted to make people laugh. Besides that, the young mech also shared Thundercracker's passion for film making. When Wingnutt was little they would make plans to build a movie empire. Sadly, that day would never come. The twins died when their transport ship crashed into the second moon of cybertron. So, young, taken far too soon.

And finally, their brother…Starscream. Killed so suddenly. They weren't even allowed to see his body. At least Ultra Magnus seemed to be understanding.

Thundercracker, hugged Skywarp closer. The purple seeker continued to whimper, as the press conference, that would declare the winglord dead, took place just ahead of them in the courtyard of the Iacon palace.

The bow in his hold felt both wrong and right. Right like how it fit almost perfectly in his palm, like it had been made for him. Wrong because his servos didn't feel like the right ones to be holding it. Rodimus' optics looked down at the beautiful weapon he held. Why was he so conflicted over this bow?

"You ready for this?" Nebula said.

Rodimus looked up, finding the blue femme crouched near the gabled roof edge of the Palace. Dawn had long passed and in the sunlight her colors appeared far brighter than he had originally seen them. Her battle mask down, and somehow beyond the seemingly focused expression on her face-plate, Rodimus could tell she was nervous.

"Are you?" He asked.

Nebula hesitated for a moment before finally answering, "I'm ready to do what needs to be done. It's just been a long time since I've been home. After father was kidnapped, the fight never seemed to end. I'm just having a hard time realizing that this might be it."

"You want to keep fighting?"

"I don't wish for war, but once you jump into one it feels like you can never get back out. Sometimes you just don't want to, because in the fight you know what to expect."

"You don't know what to expect as a ruler? You grew up with it."

"Yeah, I know. But now I also know that I can never be my father."

"You don't need to be."

"Neither do you."

Rodimus paused. The silence stretched for a moment.

"And yet, neither of us realize that. Thinking we have to be perfect," Nebula said, "We're just a happy pot and kettle, aren't we?"

Rodimus snorted.

"How's the bow feel?" Nebula asked.

"…Like it's supposed to be someone else's. You sure your fine with me using this? I know it belonged to…"

"He'd want you to have it. Believe me, it wouldn't belong in anyone's hands other than yours," She casted a look down on the small crowd that had gathered in the castle, "Cameras are live," She muttered before leaning into her comm-link, "Twins? You ready?"

"Let us at her!"Wingnutt's faint voice could be heard.

"She's going to pay for all that has been done against our family by her people's hand!"Nyx'Lee vowed.

"Let's get this show on the road then," Nebula smirked.

She stood at the head of the crowd. Her false servos gave the appearance of a light grip on the podium, but in reality, it was her grounding whenever one of the horrid reporting drones flashed their cameras. It was incredibly annoying. Far too many pictures being taken at once to even be considered efficient. She had to remind herself that glaring into the shots would most likely blow her cover, and never allow her the chance to watch each and every one of these terrors die in the most gruesome ways possible.

Still, they were here for a reason. She wasn't as good as Orion at planning, and manipulating idiots, but she still had picked up on a few things from working with her late partner. He always spoke of how media was a good tool too control lesser beings and he was right. With her shape-shifting ability, it was easy to take Nebula's place and well take everything else that came with the rank. People always believed the first lie.

Hence the reason for the impromptu press conference. The blue glitch had finally showed herself after a quartex of hiding like a coward. Of course, she couldn't have done that without being a pain the fragging aft. Nebula just had to make it into a fight and stole away not only the interdimensional travelers, but also two significant figures in government and military. Leading to this entire press conference, where the blasted reporter drones couldn't keep their flashes to themselves, to calm the panicking masses, as nothing in the palace could just stay under wraps.

"You're highness!" Called out a reporter.

"Yes?" She called upon them with a point of a digit.

"How did the group of terrorist sneak into the palace's defenses?"

"Hopefully it was merely a case of some of the older palace specks were leak onto the web," She answered.

"Is it true that the Winglord was killed in the attack?" Another one spoke.

One of the seekers in the background began to sob harder. Her initial reaction would be to roll her optics, but that wouldn't be how a grieving royal would react. Instead, she summoned false tears, and choked on nothing to appear shaken.

"I-I am I afraid it is the truth. Lord Starscream was present when I was ambushed on the grounds. It happened so fast…I could hear the blaster charring to fire, and suddenly he was in front of me…"

She faked a sob. Her lie a delicate weave of the truth and deception. They didn't have to know which princess the Winglord put himself between.

Taking a false calming vent, she spoke again, "I promise you, that with all my power, those who slaughtered the royal vosian family will face justice. I promise with all my power…"

"Except it's not your power to use! It's mine!"

Gasps came from the crowd of reporters as a blue and yellow femme swung down on a grappled form on top of the palace. With out her battle mask.

She didn't notice Ultra Magnus was smiling where he stood behind her.

Nebula felt her tanks churn when all optics fell on her. Glowing spheres of blues, yellows, reds, with the occasional violet thrown in there. The white flashes of the cameras adding to the display. However, her own azure pair locked with another shade of cyan. She felt herself relax, at least internally, when she caught sight of Ultra Magnus. It been far too long since she had last seen her mentor faceplate to faceplate. He nodded, and she knew this was the right move.

"An imposter!" the fake said.

Nebula put her servo to her hip, and raised an optic ridge, "An imposter? Your one to talk. If anyone is a fake it's you. Who are you really?"

"I am Princess Nebula, daughter of Optimus Prime, the leader of the Autobot cause, and savior of cybertron. That is who I am, and despite what you were taught to believe, you quintession born copy."

"You're lying."

The clone laughed, "And how did you come to that conclusion?"

"Because I never said anything about the quintessions. I never mentioned anything about the enemies I encountered in deep space, or rather you never did. But then again, I doubt it's easy throwing your own people underneath the bus."

Murmurs began to spread throughout the crowd like a plague and Nebula felt a smile spread across her faceplate. Just as she planned.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," The fake said.

"You know exactly what I'm talking about. In fact, I think you've been lying about everything. Everything that came from your in-take the moment that you took my place. The moment you shot down my ship and crashed me and my crew into the moon," Nebula said cooly.

"W-what are these accusations? Even if you knew what you were talking about, you have no proof of this claims. Guards! Take this insane femme to the brig until she can be properly evaluated."

The guards stepped forward, but Ultra Magnus raised his servo. The gesture halting the soldiers in their tracks, all be it with some confusion.

"Ultra Magnus?" The fake questioned.

"These are serious charges, and they should be thoroughly investigated before anyone is sent to the brig," Ultra Magnus said.

"I gave an order, and I expect it to be followed through" the fake said.

"These soldiers are underneath my command."

"And you are under mine."

"No. I am under the prime's command. Or whomever is standing in for one and at the moment you are neither."

The Fake almost flinched, but then steeled her resolve. Now they had a fight.

"I am truthful of who I claim to be, I assure you…"

"THAT WE WERE DEAD!"

Nebula smirked, as the roaring sound of burning hot jets raddled the sky. She glanced up seeing the twins preform threatening loops and twists in the air, before transforming mid-flight and landing at the blue femme's sides. They stood up, strong, proud and angry.

"Was it true?!" Nyx'Lee screamed.

The fury and passion that rose from the seeker femme's voice box was something that Nebula always admired about her friend. Nyx'Lee had the fire to make anyone quiver in their kibble. Especially, when it came to her family. She had the voice, and she knew how to use it.

And right know that voice had sparked shocked whispers among those present in the crowd. Sowing the seeds of confusion, and disbelief. Peeling back the layers of what they thought was the truth.

Nebula's smirk grew wider.

"Nyx'Lee? Wingnutt?" A small whimper came from the back of the crowd.

"Uncle 'Warp?" Wingnutt called.

Suddenly, there was a flurry of flapping metallic wings, as the Vosian Royal family reunited in the courtyard. The Trine members hugging their niece and nephew close. Quiet and joyful words being shared between them. Nebula's smirk became a smile.

"Imposters! All of them!" The Fake finally managed to speak, "Just as their false leader!"

"Really?" Nebula said, "I think that the royal trine would know who's their family or not."

Nebula felt something heavy landing behind her, but she didn't flinch. She knew that Zerlina was supposed to be watching her back after all.

"Now you've just exposed yourself!" The fake shouted.

"What's make you say that?" Nebula said.

"Well, what self-respecting autobot heiress would willing work with a decepticon!" The fake said.

Nebula's gazed narrowed, and behind her she felt Zerlina's stance grow hesitant. The atmosphere shifted, it tensed, all optics staring at the femme behind her with suspicion and hate. Oh, nope. This isn't happening. Not on her watch.

Nebula huffed, "Of course, only true autobots would be willing. Anyone else who's still holding on to their anger from the war can't call themselves that."

"You mean a traitor, someone siding with our enemy!"

"Are they, our enemy? Maybe in the war yes, they were, but now in an age of peace? Both factions are at the most two generations post-war! The hatred of the past should never be allowed to taint our future! At the end of the day, we're all cybertronians, and we can learn to be at peace with one another."

The fake started to laugh, it was a such an empty hollow sound, "Pretty words, but they are never ones that would come out of a true prime's daughter's intake."

"People probably would think that," Nebula huffed, "But they would be wrong."

"Oh, how so?" The fake scoffed

"Because before they were enemies, my father and Megatron were brothers. They shared the same ideals. At the spark our two sides aren't too different. Even now we aren't," Nebula said.

"It's true," Zerlina spoke up, "For a very long time, my people have lost the will to fight. The majority of us just wish to return home without the fear of death. Or like myself have never even our home land."

"All throughout the war my father held the belief that any con could become and autobot, or vise versa. 'till all are one' were words that came from both their intakes. And only a true autobot would forgive. And I intend to do just that. Finally mending the rip that has separated our two peoples. Not to mention holding on to anger, will only lead to conflict further down the line. We need to start thinking for our future again, not just our present," Nebula said.

"That's why, Nebula and I have struck a peace agreement between our two peoples," Zerlina spoke, "Granted it still needs to have a look over by the council, but we're quite confident there won't be much issue. Especially if they don't want to re-spark a dying war flame."

"That is…" the fake started.

"Entirely correct," Ultra Magnus finished, "I stood by Optimus' side in battle for millennia. He had always carried this grief that he could never save the one cybertronian he called brother. The one thing our late leader ever regrated was not being able to reason with Megatron. Only a true successor would follow that, and continue his work."

"I have to agree!"

Nebula's optics snapped to the unexpected voice. Thundercracker was standing tall, a look of fierceness on his faceplate. His brother, niece and nephew still in an embrace next to him. She had honestly forgotten he was there….

"Of course, a con would side with a con lover," The fake said.

"No! I am a cybertronian siding with the one who will actually look out for all cybertronians. Me and my brothers were once decepticons! Yet, Optimus gave us a second chance despite centuries of us being his people's enemy!" Thundercracker spoke, "And for the past Steller-cycles, me, seekers and other flight-frames have been allowed to live in peace on this planet. Regardless of which side we fought for in the war. However, don't think we haven't noticed the increasing tension around Vos' borders with our ground framed neighbors!"

Suddenly, the young femme remembered the reason why Starscream had made his blue brother, the regent in his absence until he dubbed one of his children his successor. Thundercracker, was passionate and caring when it came to others. Traits that the vosians have been favoring and fostering in their youth over recent times, after seeing how it had softened their once cruel and sadistic winglord.

Then the meaning behind his words settled, and awe melted into anger. There were a lot of things that Nebula didn't agree with her father on, mostly because of their stranded relationship, but the idealism of the old caste system, and how it falsely claimed different frames were better than others. It was…

"Something my father never allowed and neither will I," Nebula spat.

"Not every problem could be solved right away," The fake started, "We'll be getting to the territory issues soon enough…"

"Oh of course, I'd imagine that you've been so busy, splurging the tax fund on things such as increasing security around the, quote un-quote, more troublesome sectors and citystates. City states that include, Kaon, Tarn, and Vos?" Nebula challenged, "You know the decepticon siding city states?"

The atmosphere, at least the one of the media bots, tensed and taunted.

"Despite the fact that, the majority of my people's number are either dead or off-world?" Zerlina spoke, letting the implication hang in the air.

"How would you even know about…The commander…" The fake growled, "He always objected to them, the traitor."

"As did I," Ultra Magnus said, "And do you know the reason why, your highness?"

"Because deep down you been a traitor to the quintessions. When did you turn commander? Recently or have you been a betrayer since the Age of Wrath?" The fake spat.

In rare instance, the displeasure on Ultra Magnus' faceplate wasn't merely his resting expression, but rather rage began building behind it, "Do not insult my honor, when you have none. After all liars rarely have any."

"How dare you…"

"And do you know how I know this? Because, while it is public knowledge, that during her youth Princess Nebula was trained in combat by the elite guard. Who trained her is not known. But I would know the femme who has been underneath my wing since her sparkling-hood."

Nebula smirked, watching her double's expression melt into one of utter shock. Few mecha outside of the palace walls, knew of the true relationship between her and Ultra Magnus. The mech in all of his stern glory was practically her second father.

However, the blue femme knew that not everyone could be convinced by a simple look of confusion. Her blue optics drifted back towards the roof. She gave a single nod and an arrow of bright orange energy flew. It struck the fake. Her false blue body didn't burn or explode on impact, but rather spilt and splattered. Blue turned black, as millions of live, swarming, specks thrashed in a grainy rippling tar. Then it all remolded into the false mirror image.

Well, Nebula expected something else. But this would work in her favor.

Rodimus froze, as he watched the fake Nebula turn into black splash and then back into her body.

What in the matrix's name?

Holograms? Sure! Rodimus knew some bots in the war had modes that let them make illusions. Shapeshifters? Sure, why not, had to have happened as some point. A bot turning into ink? Nope.

However, Nebula or the others of her crew didn't really react. Was this common place in this universe? The crowd clearly didn't expect it with who the gasped and squeaked with shock.

"Swarm," Nebula called, with a sense of familiarity, "I should've known. The quints were always too lazy to actually go through with a solid plan."

The fake…Swarm?...scowled, then began laughing. The sound of which slowly morphed and shifted. The cheerful mimic of Nebula's voice, hollowed, deepened, split in to several different tones at once. Until there was no similarity between the two existing. The laughing petered out, and the copy slow clapped.

"Well, well, well, looks like you caught me!" Swarm said, "I hoped you wouldn't, but I guess all games come to an end. I'm just shocked it took you so long."

"And I'm shocked you played the long game. Usually, you're more impulsive," Nebula said.

"Well, someone else needs to be able to plan now that Dion is gone. I'm sure you're relishing in that victory."

Rodimus didn't miss the subtle flinch on Nebula's face. The creature clearly picking at an old wound.

"So, then since you've become such a strategist, what's your play now that we caught you? Can't be going to jail."

"Nope! Originally, the plan was well, revenge on the whole of Cybertron for the crimes committed against the Quintessions."

"Let me guess, use my faceplate, take over, bring an invasion party."

"Pretty much. But now I'll have to down size…to just KILLING YOU!"

With that declaration the entire façade was gone, melted away. Literally, the blue frame melted into the blackened alive tar. Robe shredded and ripped. The bejeweled crown left abandoned on the ground. All of the elegance forgotten, in favor of the now rippling shapeless dark form lunging towards the true Nebula.

Rodimus drew the bow for second time, but was suddenly shoved off of the roof…

Zerlina had been ready to draw her sword since the encounter with the fake, or more accurately Swarm began. That had been a well calculated preparedness. Father had always said, you have your blade always ready, because you never know who else has theirs.

Swarm lunged, their speed shocking for their shape and size. Zerlina was faster. The young lord of the decepticons drew her blade in the shudder of an optic and cut down the cloud of bubbling black cybermatter. Nebula was shoved behind her, Zerlina protecting her sister without a second thought.

There were several screams that echoed throughout the plaza surrounding them. However, one stood out amongst the rest. The young prime, the resent require to their support thin ranks, had a dry tone to his panic, much like the rest of his speech patterns. His yelp as he was sent tumbling off of the palace roof was no different. Though, Zerlina's attention was sadly pulled away from the plummeting prime to the hundreds of mini battle drones morphing from crown molding along the edge of the roof.

Oh, so that's what her friends were talking about when they mentioned some new decoration added to the building.

"I've never understood Gargoyles," She murmured, hearing Nebula engaging her battle mask behind her before zipping off on her pede blades.

A horde of drones arched in the air, hurdling towards a group of unharmed media bots. Zerlina was running forward before she registered her pedes moving. Her swords gleaming in the cybertronian sun as she leaped and slashed at the military machinery. The drones exploding on impact, their metal plating soft against the steel of her blade. Then the moment she landed she was ready to shield the reporters from any falling debris.

Some humorous part of her couldn't help but think that if she wanted to change the public mind about her people that this was the way to do it.

Nebula barely had time to shutter her optics before her arms were suddenly full of a maroon-colored prime. Rodimus latched on to her, the moment her servos grabbed him mid-air. She didn't blame him, the walls on the front side of the palace were uncomfortably tall and the fall always felt longer than it should. Trust Nebula, while she hadn't made it this far in all of her escape attempts, the few times she did often involve jumping off the roof.

Thankfully all that jumping taught her how to catch herself, even when carrying another bot.

Don't ask how Nebula knows that last part…don't ask Data either.

"You alright?" Nebula said setting Rodimus back on his pedes.

The prime nodded.

"You're highness!" A guard suddenly exclaimed running over, "I'm sorry we-we didn't know she wasn't-"

There was a massive scream in some direction, and Nebula was forced to cut the poor blubbering mech off.

"We'll discuss the clone situation later!" the blue femme snapped, "I want all civilians evacuated from the area now!"

"Yes ma'am!" The guard squealed before running off the spread the word to his comrades.

"Way too take charge," Rodimus muttered.

"It's all in the tone," Nebula replied.

There was a screech from above, forcing both the prime and primeling to witness a blackened cloud of battle drones swarming, taking positions for a purpose that Nebula wanted to remain oblivious too. Azure optics glance back at as sudden scream from her allies and she saw, Zerlina engaging with Swarm along side Ultra Magnus while the vosian royal family took to the air for the drones.

The guards were following orders thankfully, helping the reporters and remaining staff in the courtyard escape either out the gates or into the palace itself. However, even they weren't spared. In the fleeting moments between dodging Zerlina and Ultra Magnus' assaults, the liquid like being shot small dollops of their own being at the guards. Said blackened blobs caused the inflicted mechs to scream and thrash as the tar traveled up their bodies and attached itself to their faceplates. Nebula recognized the move. It was one of Swarm's signatures, and it was painful, not surprising, to watch as these loyal mecha turned on their commander and attacked Ultra Magnus.

"How good is your aim?" Nebula said.

"Decent considering I've never used a bow before, why?" Rodimus said.

"Handle the drones for now, but be ready to shoot at something for me," Nebula said shifting her servos in to a set of sharpened blades.

"Wait what am I hitting?" Rodimus called after her.

"You'll know!"

Nebula took off on her pede blades, lightning crackling around her form. The flashing drawing the thrashing monster of living corrupted cybermatter, who dared to attack and endanger her people and home. Swarm wasted no time generating new tentacle like limbs, reaching forward trying to smash at the blue femme. Dancing on her blades, Nebula narrowly avoided each strike, and slashed at one of the limbs with her electrified sword. The black matter sparked and shriveled upon impact.

In-between, the chaos of her duel Nebula spied the corrupted guards had Zerlina and Ultra Magnus overwhelmed.

"Time to drop in people! Let's roll!" She screamed into her comm-link and a green portal opened, letting in the cavalry.

Rodimus despite being born in war time, was born at the tail end of it and sent off to autobot city one of the more peaceful stations not long after, so in terms of experience he was rather lacking compared to many of his peers. However, as he continued to draw the bow and fire upon the horde of raining drones. Their bullets were small and nonfatal, but good primus they hurt, he learned after getting clipped with a few in the shoulder.

Thankfully he wasn't the main target of the horde. No, that privilege belonged to the seekers Rodimus was trying very hard not to hit as he fired another flaming energy arrow. Honestly, there was always sometime morbidly beautiful about watching seekers in the middle of a dogfight. Espeically the twins. No offense to the Thundercracker and Skywarp of this world, but they battle pretty similar to his world's counterpart to them.

But the twins…those two were straight outside of the box in terms of battle strategy.

Wingnutt would twist and twirl between the drones with the coordination and grace one wouldn't expect for a jokester like him to possess. Then at the top of the horde he reverted back to his root mode, dropped down helm first and detaching his servos. The taloned hands would then latch on to a drone and drive their long sharp digits into them. The drone braking in either a quiet shut down or shower of sparks before the detached servos leapt onto the closest drone to brutalize next. This pattern would continue downward until Wingnutt was about to crash. Before the seeker could go splat on the ground, his servos would re-attach and he'd transform to pull up like it was nothing.

Nyx'Lee was another matter entirely if one that her brother was unconventional. First off, she brought a violin to the fight rather than a more conventual weapon. Her wings shifted in shape, the feathering becoming more organic like until green blue and gold metal appeared to resemble a mythological creature known as an angel on earth. With feathers on her wings and fire under her pedes she danced through the swarm of drones, her long thin digits pull the bow and pluck at the strings of the violin, launching sonic blasts with each chord she played.

A shower of bullets rained down on Rodimus and with the split click he had to dodge, the prime rolled to the side. His gaze caught a glance at the fight on the ground, and he watched as the gathered allies took on the poor corrupted guards with efficiency, though it was clear they weren't trying to damage the controlled mechs.

He heard a shout and found it was only Nebula and Zerlina engaging with the liquid monster known as Swarm now. The two femmes dueled the being with great trust between each other and understanding of the foe they were facing. Rodimus had never seen this world's Optimus or Megatron battle, heck he's hardly seen his own fight beyond old battle films, and the one time it was in person...well…let's not talk about that. However, he could see the predecessors with in these Femme's forms. Zerlina was both flashy and deadly with her strikes, a true gladiator and warrior. While Nebula was fast, but always aware. Always knowing where ever anyone of her allies and enemy.

The battle roared on like this for…maybe it was minutes…maybe it was hours. Rodimus wasn't sure. The sky grew dark, with thunder and lightning flashes in the thick grey clouds that blocked the sun. Stray bolts hitting the drones they missed or couldn't see. The horde having been cut down through their combined efforts to barely a flurry now.

That's when he hears…

"Zerlina!"

Nebula hated when fights ran long. Cybertronian were tough and could last long in combat, however even they still had their limits as to how hard and how long they could fight. In her panic and anger, Nebula could feel her static rippling off her form and effecting the weather above. Swarm being made of nothing by mailable material was good at fighting on many fronts. They needed a break in this battle or nothing could change for either sides until one tired out.

Their break came in the form of Thundercracker and Skywarp. The seekers coming in from above. Destabilizing Swarm's body further through sonic attacks and well placed teleportation.

"Get me too the clouds!" Nebula screamed at Zerlina through the comm-link they shared.

The decepticon only nodded in understanding, before leaping into the air and transforming into her chopper mode. Nebula shot her grapler up and latched onto her sister's landing rods. The blue femme was used to the jerk she was given as she was lifted.

If she could just reach the storm clouds over head, and harness the built-up charge they held.

They didn't get the chance. Swarm let out a shriek, a large wave of blacked granny tar sending flying at both the decepticon and autobot heirs. Choppers weren't known for their speed, and Nebula was forced to watch as the much coiled around Zerlina's blades and consumed her body. The silver femme screaming, as the black grip tightened its hold, jerking the decepticon back and forth. Nebula screamed for her friend, being whipped sided to side as well, to the point her hook couldn't hold on any longer.

Her grappler detached and it wasn't long before a second sticky tendril had caught and taken hold of the blue femme. Azure optics wide watery and bright as Nebula watched Zerlina get thrown across the courtyard, skipping like a stone on the ground. A yelp was shoved out of her intake as she herself was forced into the hard metallic ground. Held down by heavy black goo, one servo pinned, but the other...

She looked to Rodimus, the prime staring at her in shock and pain, and nodded.

"Even if I don't win the planet, I still win over you," The goo whispered in her audio.

Nebula growled, "Not today."

The autobot heir summoned all energy from with in her, forcing it up into her clenched free servo. There was a heavy heat in her palm, as the power shifted it's matter going from a plasma to something solid, and warm like living stone. It's spark pulse echoing in time with her own. The crystal in hand Nebula hurled the small unassuming thing at Swarm's middle.

Swarm couldn't be cut up or fully destroyed. They could only be contained, but if enough damage was done at once, they could be knocked out.

Nebula smirked at the sight of an energy arrow striking the raw energon crystal, and lighting up the world like a supernova.

Rodimus barely had time to react after he took his shot. Assuming the small blue gleaming thing Nebula had thrown was the target. At first he was both surprised and proud that he had managed to hit such a small thing, but then the explosion hit him.

The young prime was sent flying backward, tumbling across the ground before being stopped by the palace wall behind him. His optics rebooted first, taking in the world surrounding him with minimum haze. Though the ringing in the audial sensors was persistent. Clearing dust from his vents, Rodimus looked out at the ruined battlefield.

Swarm, or what was left of them was scattered around the courtyard in a murals of weakly rippling splats. The gunk on the guards melted away, and each of them fell to the ground seemingly exhausted. The others were slowly picking themselves up. Soundwave helping Zerlina to her pedes, checking her over like a protective parent. Rodimus felt a sense of relief that was quicly dashed away, when he noticed a particular blue femme was missing from the scene.

His own pain and exhaustion forgotten ash e scrambled to his pedes and ran towards Swarm once stood. Nebula had been the closest to the blast, and hundreds of horrible possibles ran through his processor as to what could've happened to her.

Thankfully, he spied a crumbled blue form on the ground near the blast zone. Her platting was scuffed and burned almost to the point of losing it's color, but Rodimus could see her limbs twitching. Kneeling over Nebula, the young prime couldn't help but wince at the number of injuries he could see.

"Nebbie!" He called, almost scared to touch her.

"Rod?" She murmured, those azure optics shuttering on with difficulty.

"Yeah, yeah it's me," Rodimus took her reaching servo, pulling her to side up.

A laugh bubbled up from her in-take, and an almost hysterical smile spread on her faceplate. Rodimus was suddenly embraced in the most desperate hug, and he returned it fully. The feeling of this femme in his arms was right, and relief flooded his spark as he realized she was alright.

"We did it, Rod," Nebula whispered.

Rodimus nodded, helping the blue femme to her pedes, "Yeah, yeah, we did."

Blue looked at azure, before gazes drifted towards the carnage.

"What a mess," Rodimus muttered.

"It can be cleaned," Nebula said, almost happy about such an easy solution.

"Nebula!" Ultra Magnus called running over, "Are you alright?!"

Nebula nodded, "I'm fine Ultra Magnus, but we should get emergency services over here for anyone else injured and..." She trailed off a disturbed look coming across her faceplate.

Rodimus followed her gaze, finding it pinned on a statue of a femme…a femme that honestly looked a lot like her. Or more accurately her clone.

"And burn that," Nebula spoke pointing at the rather unflattering statue.

A/N:

So, it's been two years…I'm sorry. I finally figured out a battle plan and I'm sorry if it's a little underwhelming. I didn't have nay other ideas. Hopefully, the epilogue doesn't take too much longer.