Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Megatron...no that wasn't his name anymore.

He couldn't carry that name any more. What was once meant to be his own true name, was no more then a title of shame now. For all the cybertronians he had been in his life cycle, he couldn't be Megatron anymore. What little pride Unicron hadn't ripped away from him refused to let him be D-16 once again. He couldn't take on the soulless excuse of a designation that the quintessions saddled him with when he was first forged. So, that left only one name left, and in truth it had never really been his to begin with. Megatronus was a hero from a legend that the elder miners told in their few meagre breaks. A small fantasy he had used to escape the pain and abuse of his daily life so long ago. It was a name of great strength, of a bot who could stand up for something, his naive youthful mind latched on to anything that seemed to be remotely colorful in that life of monotones of the caves. So, he had chosen it when he started anew in the gladiatorial arenas. It had been his name of hope...

It was only fitting that he chose it, when he found himself on a strange copy of his home world. Megatronus, after everything, the war, the death, Unicron, didn't expect to ever return home once renouncing the decepticons and taking off into the sky. He had no idea where he would go, or what he would do, but he knew he wouldn't be welcomed home. Call it a self-imposed exile, but it was the least he could do after all the destruction he caused.

So, one could imagine how shocked he was to seemingly wake up in the middle of a cybertron's wild-lands with a lifeform that looked a lot like some of the passive herbivore creatures that earth had, staring at him, mere inches from his face plate. Things only grew more and more confusing from there. While the cybertron he knew had been restored, it had still been dead for centuries, and the damage had yet to be reversed. The surface appearing a near gun metal grey, and lost it's lively luster, and yet the world Megatronus found himself on was ever bit alive as Cybertron had been during the golden age. Vast gleaming mountain ranges that shifted and changed form, a clear sky that let the stars and planetary lights from solar flares dance, and finally the stunning dawn of pinks and golds. Megatronus felt both nostalgia and spark break as he watched the sunrise after so many centuries of nothing but darkness. 

Still, as beautiful as this planet was, Megatronus was no fool. Years of working with some of the least trustworthy cybertronians, had made him weary of anything too perfect. And he quickly learned of the hidden dangers of the wild paradise. First hint, the abandoned cities and bases, or the lack there of. Megatronus knew the war had destroyed most of his homeworld's surface but still the cities were built to last, and the larger ones should've left behind some from of memory. However, after flying all over the metallic landscape, Megatronus saw not one recognizable city. No, Vos. No Tarn. No Kaon. There had been intelligent life here at some point, there were small broken down structures that were long over taken by dust and organic life. Now the question as to what happened? Megatronus could make a pretty good guess. 

The Quintession ship, didn't technically sneak up on him. Megatronus, originally being forged in the lower-caste with a vehicle mode made for the dark underground, was born with less then perfect optic-sight in bright daylight. Before he was reforged into a flight frame, it was actually to the point where he needed reading glasses. Though after the operation it had partially fixed his sight limitations, flight-frames needed to be aware of everything. It wasn't to the level of a natural flyer like Starscream, but it was enough for him to notice the giant groaning ship hovering over the surface. Megatronus knew what they were immediately. It didn't matter if he didn't recognize the type of ship they were on, he'd never forget the people who were responsible for taking away the freedom of his people.

Quintessions.

Old anger weld up in his spark, the surrounding chamber growing hot, however he knew better than to act on it. While Megatronus was powerful, and a skilled fighter, he couldn't take on an armada of that size on his own. Rather, then attack he needed to retreat, and regroup. He knew all to well, what these monsters were capable of.

As he took to the sky, Megatronus couldn't help but plot, how were the quintessions even here? If this was cybertron, they had been banished stellar cycles ago. Did he time travel? Shockwave had mentioned the possibility once after getting drunk on high-grade. He kept that theory in the back of his processor as he searched for somewhere safe. If the quintessions were here, it had to be for a reason, some resource they needed or people they enslaved. The squids didn't care for anything that wasn't useful. Meaning there was something here he might be able to use. 

He stumbled onto the trains by accident, but it was a blessing Megatronus wasn't going to waste. This was something that actually looked cybertronian, that wasn't over run by rust and grim. In his flight mode it was easy to keep up with them, and they eventually lead him to the first thriving city he had seen. The architecture was both foreign and familiar, gleaming spires and buildings that both hung from the cave ceiling and grew from the ground. A complex collection of stalagmites and stalactites that was in ranging metallic shades from copper to rose-gold. It looked like Iacon, if the city was split in half and closed on a hinge. Drifting into the air-traffic with practiced ease and a healthy level of caution, Megatronus could pick out the difference in certain levels of the city. He growled internally, if the quints were back why not the bloody caste system?!

The ex-warlord was sadly not able to grumble on the matter for long, as too his right there was a screaming mech falling off the side of a building! Now maybe it was his recently returned conscious or maybe it was the red and blue coloring the bot possessed, but Megatronus arched suddenly in the air, swiftly shrieking through the wind and caught the little mech.

"Hold on!" Megatronus called over the wind, and was relieved to feel tiny digits grip the panels in his armor. 

By some miracle or luck, the smaller mech managed to hold on until Megatronus found a side walk clear enough to put the little one down and transform. The little one stumbling slightly as he got to his pedes. Megatronus did his best not the flinch at the familiar color scheme. 

"Are you alright?" He forced himself to say. 

The little bot nodded, blue optics gleaming almost manically as they vented hard for breath, "Yeah, yeah I'm good. Thanks for the....the save..."

At first Megatronus suspected the little one trailing off on account of his own appearance. The elder mech had to admit, he was rather tall compared to most of the cybertronians that surround them, and the spikes in his battle armor were certainly not helping. However, Megatronus stood corrected when the sound of angry flies approached whipped around them. Two flight frames, shuttles if Megatronus was guessing due to their thick frames and towering size, looped around them and landed not far off with a heavy thud. 

"There he is!" The shuttle on the right growled. 

"Oh slag," The little blue and red mech squeaked. 

"You're a dead husk NO-cog!" The shuttle on the left spoke. 

With that sentence out of the shuttle's intake Megatronus quickly realized the situation, and old frustrations began to burn. Not a violent flame like they were when he was young, but a gentle heat that would not stop him from just walking away. No doubt these were higher cast enforcers on a power trip who were picking on a bot of lower cast. Yeah...no...nope. He might have ended the war but this will not happen in front of him. 

"Get behind me," He spoke quietly to the smaller red and blue bot, using his talons to shield the little one, "is there a problem here officers?" 

"No issue here sir, just taking care of a criminal, don't worry about it," One of the shuttles tried to brush him off.  

 Megatronus fixed a still very intimidating glare at the mechs, making them shrink back slightly underneath his fiery red gaze, "Criminal you say? Pray tell, what charges are against him? I doubt one such as he is worth your time."

The words tasted sour as Megatronus spat them out, he hated to talk down about a mech who was already down trodden in his life-cycle, but years of experience told him that appealing to others beliefs, at least at first, was the fastest way out of a situation. 

"Breaking into the archives!" Spoke the shuttle on the right

"Yeah, and this little glitch is a repeat offender! No doubt he's trying to sabotage the records!" Said the shuttle on the left. 

Megatronus raised a disbelieving optic ridge, "And just how do you know that is his goal is sabotage?" 

"That's what all malfunctioning miners do! Mess up the system in place!" the right said. 

"Espeically this little screw up, Oreo Pox!" The left ranted. 

"Orion Pax," the little bot behind him muttered, quietly correcting the shuttle, and causing Megatronus a spark attack. 

Of course...Of course that paint job just couldn't have been a coincidence. Primus hated him, that was the only conclusion, and Megatronus couldn't even blame the god. Clearly this wasn't his cybertron, not even his cybertron's past, so of course there would be different versions of those he had befriended, and fought all those eons. His Orion Pax, was never a miner as these shuttles implied, but...if this was a second chance? Well, be it a punishment or blessing, Megatronus wasn't going to let these shuttles take this young version of his brother away again. 

"Hmm, if you are so certain of his intentions, perhaps we should ask him," Megatronus turned to the small mech behind him, "Tell me little one, were you trying to sabotage the records?" which felt weird to ask, given how taken his Orion was when it came to dusty old data drives.

Orion shook his helm, "No of course not!" 

"Then your reason?"

"I-I just wanted to read," Orion said. 

The shuttles started laughing. 

"Yeah right! No miner needs to read! That's how we know he's trouble, and needs to be chased off before he can do anything!" The left spoke. 

"So that's why you chased him out of the archives, leaving such important documents unguarded for a mere miner?" Megatronus spat, "Actually, if it is your job to protect the archives, why are you not there currently?" 

"We were chasing-" 

Megatronus waved him off, "Yes you said that. However we are not currently in the archives are we? Orion here is no longer a threat, meaning that what you are supposed to be protecting are no longer under guard," Megatronus hummed, "I doubt your superiors would enjoy hearing that you chose to play around with a minor threat over actually doing your jobs, when we live in such a time of turmoil. Anyone could do anything after all." He glowered. 

The shuttles shrank under the subtle threat.

"Well uh," One of the shuttles stuttered. 

"How about we make a deal?" Megatronus purred, "I'll this little interaction a secret and in return you leave this one to me."

"T-to you...uh sir?" the second shuttle said. 

"I'll handle the miner's punishment, after all he latched onto me mid flight. He could've caused a horrible accident," Megatronus drew his smallest blade, though it was still sharp and gleaming, "He'll be dealt with, after all I would hate for an alternative to happen." 

It worked like a charm, the shuttles backed off. Cowards at spark just as he predicted. They fled after giving quick nods and pleasantries. Megatronus sheathed his blade, and turned to Orion Pax. The similarities between the young mech and the brother in elder's memories now plainly, and spark-achingly, evident. 

Softening his tone, he spoke, "Do you have anywhere you can go tonight?" 

Orion shuttered his optics, before sputtering, "Uh, y-yeah, the miner barracks."

Megatronus nodded, "Come, I'll walk you." 

A confused expression graced Orion's faceplate, "What?" 

"Don't act as if you didn't hear me, I'll walk you," Megatronus said, "If those idiots loop back around, and see us separated, they would quickly figure out I was bluffing. Something that most definitely would not end well for you." 

"Bluffing? You were bluffing?" Orion squeaked, "Wait, does that mean you aren't actually going to beat the slag out of me?" 

"Of course not," Megatronus nearly shouted, no he wouldn't hurt Orion...not again, "I-I don't enjoy watching those with power use it to take advantage of those less fortunate, there's no glory in crushing people who can't protect themselves. Now come along, best we get you back home."

Orion nodded, "T-thanks for the save I guess...uhm...uh."  

"Megatronus. I am Megatronus." 

"I'm telling you D! This guy was the coolest bot I have ever seen! Scariest too, but he really came in clutch for me," Orion rambled to his friend over the sounds of the drills. 

Mining was a dangerous task, meaning it needed absolute focus, however that didn't stop some of the deepest darkest secrets to be spoken in the near pitch tunnels. Gossip was generally considered to be a bad habit, but it didn't stop anyone from doing it. Chipping away at metallic stone for cycles on end easily became repetitive and some bots needed to talk in order to stay present. Orion was one of these bots, shame it seemed only one other bot was willing to listen to him ramble. 

"So, you mean to tell me that a transformer, not only helped you a cogless miner escape, but lied doing it?" D16 said with a lack of belief in his voice. 

"Vein is about to close, everyone pack up!" 

No needing to be told twice, Orion and D grabbed their equipment and quickly joined the rest of their team as they flew up the shaft. There was thankfully no panic in their urgency, meaning the red and blue bot decided to continue his conversation.  

"Is it really so hard to believe me?" Orion said. 

"That you got in trouble, no. That some bot pulled out a weapon to defend you? Oh yeah," D said, "Look Pax I know you think the system is over-rated but it's there for a reason, and Sentinel Prime wouldn't set anything up unless it was for the better meant of cybertron. No transformer would go against him."  

"Yeah, yeah the system is there for a reason, and I get that D, really, but we shouldn't be treated like slag for it. I'm just excited that some transformers get that too. I mean would you rather I had gotten the slag beaten out of me?" Orion countered as they landed in the upper shaft, and began to load up the carts they were carrying.  

"Well, no. I don't like seeing you get hurt Pax, even if you were doing something incredibly dumb, but I have a hard time believing any mech other then me, would do that for you. Especially considering that you haven't even given me this mysterious mech's designation," D said, putting his drill away. 

Orion lit up once more, "Oh that's the coolest part. This guys designation was fragging, 'Megatronus'." 

D16 rolled his optics, "Okay, now I know you're pulling my pede." 

"I'm not! That's his name! Okay, probably not the one he was forged with, but you should've seen him D. A mighty warrior in every sense of the name. He didn't look like Megatronus Prime at all, but in behavior it's exactly like how I imagine him," Orion spoke exitely getting ready to ramble once more. Only for Jazz to cut him off on accident. 

"Hey who's talking with Darkwing?" The visored bot said suddenly, drawing all of his fellow miners attention. 

Orion immediately looked towards the mostly hated supervisor, and felt a smile bloom on his face plate. Standing next to Darkwing, nearly a helm taller then the supervisor, was a mech of silver, with crests of gold and violet. Megatronus! Before Orion could stop himself, he grabbed D's arm and started running towards the large transformer, who just left a bewildered and angry looking Darkwing in his wake. 

"Wha! Dude!" D yelped. 

"C'mon D! That's him! That's Megatronus!" Orion squeaked, before calling out to the larger mech, "Megatronus!"

Warm red optics turned to them, and a gentle smile split the mech's faceplate, at their approach. 

"Ah the little archivist. Orion, pleasure to see you once more," Megatronus said, his voice rumbling with metallic power. 

Orion felt D stiffen at his side, whether it was from shock that Orion had been right or from the commanding presence that Megatronus had, he wasn't sure. However, the little red and blue miner didn't tremble. This transformer was safe, something in his spark told him Megatronus wouldn't hurt him. 

"Good to see you too. This is D16, he's my best friend," Orion gestured to his - still shell shocked - fellow miner. 

A flash of surprise drifted on to Megatronus' faceplate, but it was quickly shoved away in favor of another pleased grin, "Pleasure to meet you as well Little Warrior." 

D was gob smacked at that, and Orion could see the denial rising up his friend's intake at being called a warrior. So to save the silver miner from the embarrassment, the blue and red mech jumped in first.  

"What are you doing down here?" Orion asked. 

"Why else, little ones?" Megatronus grabbed a pick, that was small in his grasp, "To work."

Megatronus knew little about humans, really he hadn't given much thought about the organic race. However, there was one thing they did that he respected.

They didn't send their youth to toil away in set jobs from the moment they were forged. Most young humans were given the chance at an education and guardians to ensure they learned about the rules of their society and culture. A chance to choose who they became. Cybertronians didn't do that. Young were forged and set to work, as soon as their first transformation. Maybe if they were lucky enough a name was bestowed to them as well.  

Or well, at least that's how it worked in Megatronus' cybertron, sadly things in this world weren't much better. It wasn't the alt-mode that decided where someone went it was if they could transform at all! Honestly the ex-warlord was calling that whole cogless were made to mine utter cyberbull slag. No child of primus would be denied the right of transformation. There was no doubt in Megatronus' mind that this Sentinel was a total sham, and likely working with the Quintessions. Still, his spark no longer had it in it to fuel another war. So, rather then preach to the masses and gather an army, he instead to turned to a far more important task. 

Ensuring that when this youth uncovered the likely truth, that their lives were nothing but lies, that they wouldn't make the mistakes, Megatronus made. Especially two specific miners.  

Megatronus returned to the mines, for one reason, and that was to protect Orion. Clearly this version of his brother was far more reckless then the one he remembered and in order for Sentinel to truly fall one would need to rise to take his place. Megatronus could see the potential Orion had for primehood, and he would ensure this mech met his destiny with a steady servo to guide him. However, one critical detail that the ex-warlord looked over, was that of his own double. 

The Megatron, or rather D16 of this world, was young and completely sucked into the propaganda that Sentinel had constructed, but he was no less strong willed then Megatronus had been at that age. He could see the hidden pain and frustration the young silver miner had inside, and suddenly there was a second reason to remain in the mines below. It wasn't only Orion who would need guidance. Megatronus watched as the mechlings chatted and joked, and he knew, this was what he truly needed to protect. The brotherhood between this version of himself and Optimus, if this world, this cybertron were to have a better fate then his own. 

So, Megatronus stayed in the mines, constantly looking out for these two mechlings, though eventually on shift, the elder mech did eventually start also looking out for the other youngsters. Darkwing was cruel, but he was weak willed at spark, everyone knew that the supervisor would not land a servo on anyone if Megatronus was on shift. Very quickly, he found himself being followed around by young miners if they had made a mistake or an accident occurred. Somehow, he had become a pillar of safety in the mines, and the irony was not lost on him. In terms of living conditions, being to large for the miner barracks, Megatronus had gotten his own low cast apartment, even if he technically qualified for better housing. He wanted his home to be somewhere close, so the little ones could find him even off shift. His apartment quickly becoming another place to hide if someone needed a break. 

However, along with the respect the miners gave him, there were rumors. After all, he was quite bizarre, no other miner was his size or had a cog. Naturally, some would wonder why Megatronus was even down in the depths. Honestly some of the theories the youth came up with were quiet amusing. Such as the one of him being a retired high guard soldier who disrespected Sentinel and was punished by having his rank and job taken away. Or the one that he was Megatronus Prime reincarnated and was scoping out his next high guard soldiers. Or the one where he was a quintession spy who mistook his real target for Orion Pax.

Of course, when it came to those who confronted Megatronus about the rumors, the old mech couldn't have given them straight answers. 

"I blew up Vos on accident."

"I set Sentinel's tail pipe on fire."

"I killed a mech with this apposable digit." 

It drove poor Jazz mad. He lead the charge regarding the theories and rumors, vowing to one day know the real story behind Megatronus' life choices. 

After a couple of cycles, Megatronus had built his own life on this strange cybertron. He was that safety the young miners needed in their harsh lives, a trusted adviser, someone who they could count on. However, there was always a special connection he maintained with Orion and D16. Maybe it was playing favorites, but he needed to make sure the mechlings didn't fall like he and his own brother did so long ago.

Megatronus chose to be the structure they needed, he tried to rein in Orion when his antics grew too chaotic. The eagerness too take action being something that the old mech wasn't expecting, his Orion always being the voice of reason between the two of them. However, the pure need to making things better for those he cared about was a perfect reflection of the brother Megatronus once knew. 

"I understand your desire too help Little Archivist, however, there is a time and a place. You'll play your part one day, I know it. Patience is virtue."  

When it came to D16, he let the young miner rant about his frustrations, be them about his daily struggles or of course Orion. Megatronus knew that when he was young he almost never allowed anyone to see his struggles. It the pits of kaon, it was viewed as weakness and the only way to protect himself was to shut it all way. This D16, would not be allowed to stew in his pain until it shaped him into a monster.

"You shouldn't keep this locked away D16. Anger and frustration is justified, but you should never let it blind you."

However the ex-warlord also made sure he was a source of comfort and amusement. When a new shift captain by the name of Elita One transferred over and Orion developed an attraction to her, Megatronus encouraged the young mech's quest for love (he had set up the two in another universe successfully, he could do it again). He helped D16 with his poetry hobby, when the mechling was having trouble finding the right words. In secret he encouraged their interests, bringing them date pads from the archives, and teaching them basic combat techniques just in case. There were many a night that they snuck over to his apartment after a shift, or Megatronus would join them on the barracks roof, to simply enjoy each other's company. 

"Were you a soldier?" D16 asked one night.

Megatronus hummed placing his energon cube on the ground next to he where he sat, "What makes you ask that Little Warrior?"

"Well, you are always taking about warrior's honor and stuff."

Orion started laughing, "C'mon D, Jazz has been trying to get Megs to spill for cycles, we aren't going to get anything out of him." 

Megatronus rumbled, pride swelling in his spark as he saw the mechlings share a tender moment, and he sighed, "I need you boys to promise me something." 

The somber tone of his voice drawing the mechlings attention. 

"What you both have," Megatronus spoke, "This bond, this brotherhood, that you share. Promise me you'll treasure it."

The youth shared a confused glance, Orion eventually speaking up, "Uh, sure, no problem. Me and D are thick as thieves."

Megatronus shook his helm, "No Orion. There are dangers in this world, and I might not always be there to protect you. I fear that when times of turmoil return to Cybertron, all that we have will crumble. I fear what will become of both of you should you lose each other. Promise me, that when the world tries to tear you down, or rip you apart, that you'll hold close to each other."

The old mech could see the flash of fear in those golden colored optics. They had been yet another surprise Megatronus had been met upon arriving in this world, his own optics were always a burning red. Though, no matter they once were, he could now read them perfectly, and waited for what the mechling had to say.

"Times of turmoil?" D16 eventually spoke, "Do you mean the Quintessions? D-do you they'll come back?"  

Megatronus hummed, "I have seen those monsters do despicable things, and I wish every night that you boys will never have to face them. I'm not certain what role they might play in your futures, all I know is that in chaos of war many unexpected twists come flying at you. Lines are crossed, bonds are broken. By the end of it you might look into a mirror and see a stranger looking back at you."

"War?" Orion squeaked. 

"Trust an old mech little ones, peace is a fragile thing, and as much as I wish it weren't true, I feel it in my frame. Ours is about to topple and shatter."  

Chapter Text

Waste management was not the most glorious post in the world, but it was a needed function. 

As such, Megatronus did his best to be very respectful to the cogless that worked in this low empty sub-level. Even if he didn't usually trek this far down into the Iacon's outskirts. 

However, now he had a reason. The recent mining incident didn't do anyone favors. Nicking a live energon vein is a simple matter of chance, no one could've seen it coming, no one could've stopped it. However, some bots need someone to blame even in the wake of a completely unavoidable accident, and Darkwing was one of them. Sadly that meant some of the lowly workers had to pay. Jazz suffered injuries while escaping (Megatronus made sure to get the young bot to a medic since none of the cogged supervisors could give a damn), Elita One was demoted, and Orion decided to pick a fight with Darkwing over it (It was horribly chivalrous of the young bot to defend the femme he loved, even if currently unreciprocated, and Megatronus had half the processor to be proud, but that little mech really really really needed to work on his timing).  

As for the now scorned Elita One, due to the Iacon 5000 and the given time off of shift, Megatronus decided to visit her to see if she needed support. He knew she would be working, day off or not. The young femme was driven, she had dreams and was willing to chase them. Problem was that she stuck to the book and didn't dare stray from the rules, no matter how unfair they were. The fire she had would be good thing in the future, she just needed to make sure she knew how to use it. 

"Elita," Megatronus greeted politely.

The femme froze from her angry crate stacking and turned to face him, the tension in her posture relaxing slightly, "Megatronus, what are you doing down here?"  

"I came to see if you were alright."

Elita scoffed, and crossed her arms, "Alright? Yeah I'm alright. I'm great! It's not like I had all of my cycles of hard work was thrown down the drain because of that red and blue idiot yesterday!"

"Orion is not an idiot, he's just optimistic and has horrible impulse control," Megatronus said.

"Yeah, well his impulse control got me fired!" 

"You can not blame the accident on him, no one can predict when a vein will go off." 

"Maybe, but that's why we have protocol! For when unpredictable events happen! If we follow it nothing bad happens! But for some reason Pax just can't get with the program."

"Perhaps, but Jazz would've died if he did. Orion might break the rules but he always has a reason behind it."

"Why are you taking his side!?" 

"I'm not Elita. There are no sides here. I'm simply asking you to listen."

The young femme pouted, but leaned against the crates, giving a sigh. Her optics focusing on him. 

"You are correct, protocol is there to make sure nothing bad happens," Megatronus spoke, "However, protocol can not account for every situation. If Orion had followed it to the letter, Jazz would've died. A consequence that he was not comfortable living with, because Orion values the lives of those around him over following the rules. Now, I'm not saying you need to start thinking like that, nor am I saying you need to understand it, but you do need to respect it, because that's simply how he's wired. Orion never wanted to get you fired Elita, in fact he picked a fight with Darkwing over it, after you left."

Her helm snapped up, "he what?!" 

Megatronus chuckled and nodded, "Would have gotten the slag beat out of himself too if I hadn't intervened."

Elita groaned letting her faceplate fall into her servos, "He is so dumb!" 

"Perhaps, but he does what he does because he cares."

"I don't believe it! There are miners in the race!"

Megatronus' gaze darted right towards the small beat up monitor, and felt his intake drop. There on the fuzzy screen, were two miners, one silver and black, one blue and red, flying with jet packs surrounded by rage racing alt mode. What on Cybertron-?!

"You have got to be kidding me," Elita rolled her optics, "He's still stupid even if he cares!" 

The ex-warlord couldn't even argue, he just turned and started back towards the city to find D16 and Orion. Primus above these mechlings were going to be the death of him. 

Finding his mechlings turned out to be far more complicated then initially expected.

There were only a few select places Orion or D16 could be. First most likely was the miners barracks. Megatronus could see Orion openly soaking up the glory for racing while D16 was receiving the praise from their peers more quietly but no doubt enjoying it just as much as his brother. However, there was no excited chatter in the barracks when the old mech arrived. Rather the atmosphere was tense with concern. No one had seen Orion or D16 since the race. 

The second most likely place the mechlings would be was the hospital. On the slight off chance the racing officials would even allow the boys medical care after getting slammed around in that blood sport event, Orion And D16 would've been sent to be repaired. Some part was a little relieved that the little ones could be there. Megatronus knew the Iacon 5000 often ended with injuries and sometimes even deaths. The entire event was rigged in Megatronus' opinion. The only competitors that really had the chance at the crown were the ones who could afford the needed upgrades, meaning most champions were for the highest class while everyone else paid for their victory with their spilt energon. Granted sometimes a lower caste bot with lucks favor slipped through and won. But never a miner. The game was a gamble, a bet not worth making if one couldn't pay to win. Honestly he wasn't shocked a sport so slimy was the favorite of Sentinel, beyond the veil of a celebration was the true reflection of all the faults in a casted society. 

The young mechs couldn't understand Megatronus distaste for the race...and some part him was worried what would happen if they ever did. 

However, much to his ever-growing worry, the boys weren't at the hospital by the time Megatronus arrived. The very snobbish receptionist was little to no help, but she did prob the old mech to dig deeper. It had taken everything in the ex-warlord not to snap at the copper-colored seeker, when she claimed that his mechlings died of their injuries. Right away Megatronus knew that was a load of functionalist slag. He had been watching the race and knew that neither young mech had never taken any hit worse than anything they had received in the mines. So, skipping over the administration, Megatronus went straight to the medibots for information.

Being a frequent visitor to the hospital, after all once coming to his senses Dark Energon flowing through him now appeared to be a horrible idea, Megatronus had gotten close to quite to most of the staff. His "infection" was quite the study case for young medics in training and the most of the nursing staff would playfully flirt with him on occasion. Needless to say he had a lot of pull in the gossip pool, and usually used it to get miners care they needed for smaller wounds and chronic conditions (thankfully the Ratch of this world was much less impulsive or reckless then in his own). Suspicions of fowl play were all but confirmed when the doctors explained that they hadn't even had gotten the chance to take a look at Orion and D16, much less declare them offline. 

Once the hospital was a bust, Megatronus tried less likely locations. Bars the boys liked to frequent, arcades, places such as those. Neither Mechling were at any of the known hangouts. Megatronus searched until he had a shift, and he hoped the boys would be there.

They were not, and the make things worse the news of their "deaths" had reached their peer. Jazz and Arcee had come to Megatronus sobbing over the loss of their close friends, and for most of that shift, the old mech spent protecting the little ones' right to grieve from Darkwing's bitter aft. Megatronus couldn't describe the amount of pride he had felt when he had seen the boys take out the self-entitled supervisor during the race. If only he could find them to tell them that.  

Megatronus began to search through all of Iacon with a fined toothed scrub-brush after that shift. For two days, the old mech nearly drove himself insane looking for his charges. And what was even worse! Elita had gone missing as well. Megatronus had returned to waste management if only to ask if the pink femme if she had heard anything, only to to learn from her co-workers that she had missed two shifts! Now, this might not have seemed weird to the other bots in waste management, but they didn't know Elita like the old mech did. Elita had only missed one mining shift in her life, and that was for two reasons. One Megatronus forced her to take the day off, and two both her arm and leg were mangled beyond functionality. And she still fought him on it!

Needless to say, now the ex-warlord was really getting worried. So, it should've been a relief when Orion finally commed him nearly four days later. 

Key word should've been. 

"You're WHERE?!"

Several mecha in his immediate vicinity jumped at the volume of his...relief... 

So, this Sentinel was just a rotten if not more so than his own world's...Well Megatronus wished he could say he was surprised. 

Needless to say after his call with Orion, the old mech was all in for taking the Fragger down. 

Originally, Orion had wanted Megatronus to meet him at the miner barracks to help convince his peers to fight for their freedom, but the ex-warlord, as much asi t pained him, knew he couldn't be present for that. If Sentinel was being taken down, it meant that Optimus's ascension wasn't far behind. Megatronus knew that a prime from such lowly beginnings as a miner might have a hard time gaining followers, especially from the higher castes. Orion needed to amass his own army, and step into the role of the inspirational leader that he was always meant to be. That was a step the young mech could only take alone. If Megatronus asked the little ones to follow him, there was no doubts they would charge behind the old mech, but it was not his role to play. It was Orion who will lead Cybertron into the future, not him. 

"Do not worry Orion. You're right, the others would listen to me, but you have the gift to inspire them to follow you. Trust your spark little Archivist, it has never led you astray," Megatronus told the young mechling. 

The call was rather bittersweet in a way, Megatronus always knew that Orion was doomed to become Optimus, but some part of him would miss the days. The days of wrangling the youthful impulsive Orion, and seeing the little mech ssmile care-free. Things would never be the same after this day. There was grief in that, but the old mech was prepared to be there for whatever happened next. 

For both of his charges.

Speaking of, Sentinel made a mistake when he took D16 captive. With Orion and Elita getting more troops for whatever their plan was, Megetronus sneaking towards the false prime's tower. Using his vehicle mode to glide between the security measures, and land on one of the many decorative ledges on the gold leaf plated siding. His back pressed again the gleaming metal, red optics glared through one of the windows at the drama happening inside.

Megatronus snarled at the crowd of chained up warframes, and seekers forced to kneel at a throne of sparkling lies. His energon boiled at the over-compensating gleam of polished armor as the false prime pranced amongst the crowd almost leisurely. As if he had everything under her control, as if he isn't about to destroy all of these mech's lives. His Sentinel was a piece of work, don't get him wrong, the fragger claimed his power after over-throwing the quintessions, but never made anything better. This one though. This one was worse. This one made deals with the damned squids, robbed newsparks of not only their free-will, but of their transformation. A basic bodily, right that all children of primus were supposed to have. Not even unicron himself dared to do something so despicable. 

That's when Megatronus spotted him, not the false prime, but his young charge. D16 was in the front row, and even with the changes the T-cog installation had given him, Megatronus knew him. He knew that angry expression. He had worn it himself in ages past. 

No Little Warrior, do not go down that road. 

D16 suddenly stood up, clearly defining the false prime. Both fear and pride welled in Megatronus' spark. This action could either be clever or foolish, depending on Sentinel's temperament. it was soon proven foolish as Sentinel threw D16 to the ground, leering over him. The ex-warlord nearly leaped through the window right then and there, but he recognized Sentinel posture even if he could not hear the words being spoken. The lair was gloating, celebrating a victory he had not yet claimed for himself. Likely, he would say things, let secrets slip, secrets they could use. However once Megatronus saw a guard walking towards the false prime with a blow torch, he had had enough of this charade. 

In vehicle mode, the old mech crashed through the window, shards falling around him like a diamond hailstorm. The crowd barely had time to blink before Megatronus hurled his body into the false prime knocking the pretender into the far wall. 

"GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Was Megatronus' battle cry. 

Taking advantage of the stunned silence of the room, the ex-warlord made quick work of D16's restraints using his sword.

"Are you alright?" 

"I will be once I take Sentinel down!" D16 growled.

"No, you need to free the others."

"But I can-!"

"I don't doubt you're ability, Little Warrior, but the room will be flooded with Sentinels' reinforcements any nanoclick. Even with our skills we can't take on an army alone. Do not let the battle distract you from the war being fought." 

The Mechling growled, but listened running over to a little yellow mech near by, and began to pull at his chains. With that settled, the ex-warlord turned back to the false prime, now picking himself up off the ground. His platting now scratched up from the tumble. It was honestly an improvement. 

"Just who do you think you are?!" Sentinel growled. 

Megatronus merely shrugged, "Shouldn't you know? Being such a mighty prime?" 

"You have got a lot of nerve for a rusted piece of junk!"

"Well, now, this old mech may have seen better days, but I would say I look pretty good for someone who actually has seen war, unlike some cowards who thought it was better to turn on their brothers and sister for the sake of a tin foil crowns and subscription to metal polish," Megatronus purred, "Tell me little mech, did you actually slay the primes with your own servo or did you  let others with more superior battle skills bloody their hand while you fled?" 

"Superior Battle Skills?! You want a fight you got one, YOU GLITCH!" 

Sentinel made his first mistake right then and there, as he drew his sword, claiming Megatronus as his opponent. The old mech smirked drawing his own blade in return. 

 The duel that followed was one for the ages. Sentinel was quick, and inventive with his shapeshifting sword, but he was nothing Megatronus hadn't seen. Eons of war, and almost just as long in the arena, gave Megatronus more experience than the false prime could ever dreaming of having. Every strike, every attack Sentinel sent his way, the old mech parried and blocked perfectly. Toying with the pompous mech, as if this was a mere sparring match. Even better when every failed attempt the false prime grew more and more frustrated, blinded by his ever growing rage, getting lost in the heat of battle. Perfect.

Now unlike Sentinel, Megatronus never lost track of exactly where he was and what was happening in his surroundings. D16 was now taking out intruding guards in his newly acquired tank form. The young mech was honestly impressive with his skill, should all this go well, Megatronus would train him into the finest warrior to rule alongside his brother. The yellow mechling was now working on the other's chains, and the spider was doing her best to attack everyone. It wouldn't be long before air based back up would arrive for Sentinel. They needed a flier in this fight. 

There was one red and blue seeker on the ground near by. Megatronus might not have ever met this mech in particular, but he knew of him. This worlds Starscream, and even considering all the history he had with his own, the old mech that no one else was a better fighter in the sky. It wasn't hard to pull the duel over until they were practically battling over the seeker's helm. Megatronus feinted an attack, and just as planned Sentinel met to meet it with twice the force. Only for Megatronus to pull his blade away, making Sentinel shatter Starscream's chains. Setting the seeker free. 

There was a moment of stunned silence between two of the three parties involved. 

"Oops," Megatronus jeered and Sentinel lunged at him once more. 

 Instead of blocking this strike however, Megatronus dodged. Ducking underneath Sentinel's blade and sinking his silver talons into the false prime's soft mesh. With a roar, the ex-warlord hurled the false prime across the room, making him skip like a stone on water.

He turned to the seeker, "Take to the skies, and do not let anyone of his forces through. This ends today." 

Starscream only nodded, and took off. 

Sentinel didn't get the chance to get to his pedes, before Megatronus twisted his heel into the pretender's chest plate, pinning him down and leering over him. The false prime began to helplessly struggle against the hold, clawing at the old mech's pede in a desperate attempt to escape. Pathetic. 

"Who are you?!" Sentinel shrieked.

And a wonderfully awful idea came to Megatronus. 

"Just a mech looking for some justice," Megatronus purred, "Does the name Megatronus ring a bell to you, dear Sentinel?"

The sudden horror in the false prime's optics was worth every bit of that white lie. He would have to thank Jazz for that theory later.

Megatronus drew his blade, only for it be used to block the sudden attack by the spider. He was suddenly shoved off of the pretender and almost immediately was hit by a train of all things. 

His world went dark before the ground stopped his fall, after getting knocked from the tower of fool's gold.

It took him far too long to wake up. 

It took him far too long to get air born.

It took far too long for him to find Elita and the yellow mech.

It took him far too long to find his boys.

By the time they had reached the old well in the middle of the city, Megatronus could see his mechlings arguing on a pedestal of gold, the false prime's wings ripped off and crawling like the roach his was. The large canon on D16's arm, almost sent the old mech spiraling with flashbacks. 

It all happened so fast...one moment the canon was charging and the next....Orion was in front of it...

It took him far to long to move...

After years of war, Megatronus had seen all sorts of wounds and as Orion's chest plate was shredded, the metallic confetti flying everywhere energon dripping from them, he knew. This was a kill shot. Orion couldn't be saved, even as D16 had run forward to catch his brother, to stop his brother from falling into the empty well. Megatronus couldn't move. He could see it, but he couldn't believe it. The greying of Orion's platting. D16's expression of conflicting anger, regret and anguish. For a moment, Megatronus believed that this worlds fate would be Optimus prime dying in his brother's arms...

Then D16 let go...

Megatronus watched in horror as Orion fell, a spot of red dulling to gun metal grey, fading deeper and deeper into the darkness of the well. And with him fell the hope of the peaceful future for this cybertron. 

Optimus died in this world, before he could ever rise. The heart of the autobot cause gone with in an instance. Megatronus had failed...but not only Orion.

The old mech couldn't gain as joy or satisfaction as he watched Sentinel's actions catch up with him. The execution wasn't a moment of triumph against the tyranny of a corrupt leader, it was a fit of rage and grief of almost wild feral violence. Still reeling from the lost of one son, Megatronus was forced to watch as the other spiraled into insanity from his first kill. No doubt Orion's blood burnt his little warrior's hands so bad that nothing else seemed to cause him pain, as he reached into Sentinel's corpse to rip out his T-cog. 

"THE AGE OF PRIMES HAS ENDED! NO MORE FALSE PROFITS! FOLLOW ME! AND YOU WILL NEVER AGAIN BE DECIVED! RISE UP!"

The crowd began to riot and cheer. Suddenly the old mech was once more in the arenas of his youth, a dead monster in the background, a lone mech preaching to the masses and a crowd frothing at the intake for a fight. Out of instinct, Megatronus pulled Elita and the yellow mech closer to protect them from the tension that was slowly rising to a boiling point.   

Megatronus watched as all of D16 was scorched away as the bitter t-cog was forced into the young mech chest, forever altering his frame. Making his metal thicker, and weapons to sprout out of every limb and servo. A true war frame, born out of bloodlust and pain. 

"I AM MEGATRON!!!"

And with that...Megatronus had failed. Megatron had risen, with no Optimus to stop him. 

Heh...Distancely the old mech wondered if this sinking horror was what his own Orion felt when he burned down the sente in a fit of betrayal...

"BURN IT DOWN ALL OF IT!"

Blaster fire rang out all around them. The peaceful square, was turned into a battlefield with in moments. Buildings were blow up, with debris falling like that of a rainstorm. The hurricane of war crumbling down on the false peace, forever slaying it. 

"He's going to kill everyone!" the yellow mech said. 

"We have to stop him!" Elita said.

And both young bots ran off, with either bravery or foolishness guiding them, to stop the manic fall of their friend. Who had no one else left to catch him...well almost no one. 

Elita and the yellow mechling distracted, D-Megatron well enough. Their meager size compared to that of the silver mech being the only thing really holding them back. Megatronus really was the only one who could match the mechling now in size. The older mech grasped the younger's fist, the servo once so small in his own now shaking with rage, stopping him from striking the young yellow mechling. 

Red optics met burning scarlett, and for once in his life, Megatronus could not summon a weapon.

"Please," He pleaded, feeling wetness well up in his face "Stop this. Do not make me do this to you." 

"Get out of my way!" Megatron growled. 

"Do not go down this road."

"As if I'll ever listen to a senile mech like you again! How dare you think you have any say over my life after everything you've done! Tell me old one did it make you feel any less guilty to walk down into the mines and give us lowly cogless miners your pity!" 

"What I felt for you was never pity, Little Warrior," Megatronus spoke softly, finally drawing enough courage to draw his blade.

By some primus given miracle, a star burst from from the ground below. The gleaming blue glow was blinding and with it came shockwave of warming wind. Out of reflex, Megatronus moved to shield his charge from the blast, but both of them were tossed off of their pedes and sent tumbling back. 

Megatronus recovered quickly, his optics quickly homing in on a figure of smoldering freshly forged red and blue armor that came crashing down into the earth with a sense of power. A truly magnificent sight before them, and the old mech almost wept in relief. The mech of red and blue, stood tall with crown of blue horns, the gleam of the matrix in his chest and a familiar set of passion filled blue optics. 

Optimus Prime, risen and alive. 

The ex-world smiled at his Little Archivist with pride, and that battle mask slid back to reveal the rest of Orion's youthful face. The little mech still living inside of this new form. Megatronus refused to see it as anything else. Orion, different, but still the same in his spark. He didn't see it the last time this happened. 

"Impossible," Megatron whispered next him.

And he will not allow history to repeat itself...

"Primus gave you the matrix!" Megatron rose to his feet, clearly ready to fight once more. 

Megatronus reached out and snatched Megatron's wrist, his grip gentle yet firm, "No."

Megatron spluttered, "No? what do you mean no?" 

"NO." Megatronus roared, "I will not allow the mechlings I taught, cared for, and raised to rip each other apart anymore!  Your brother has been returned to us! I will not let you throw this second chance away." 

"And since when do you care about us!?" Megatron roared, "Why should have you every cared about us?!"

"Because I was you Little Warrior! I was once young and brash, back then I had a mech I called a brother too! But I was foolish and let the world and my anger tear us apart! It wasn't until he was dead and in the ground did I realize how wrong I was to push him away!  

Megatron's face plate twisted denial and anger mixing in a dance that made Megatronus push forward.

"You want to know why I chose to take you and Orion under my wings? Its because I saw a chance to stop a young mech from making the mistake I did! So, mechling do not doubt for a moment that I don't not know what you are feeling in this moment!"

Megatronus could feel all optics on him, but he kept pushing.

"I know what you're thinking Little Warrior. That this," the older mech gestured to the prime, "This isn't your brother! It's the matrix puppeteering his corpse! You despise it because it means Orion will never rest!"

Megatron shook his helm violently.

"You believe it's a this is phantom! A cruel Ghost primus has sent to haunt you for your sin!"

"Shut up!' Megatron tried to pull away. 

"That this is your punishment for killing your brother!"

"Stop!" the younger mech lashed out, tears running down his faceplate. Megatronus subdued him easily and gently.

"That you killed Orion!"

And with that Megatron broke free landing one final flimsy fist on Megatronus, but the elder didn't even flinch. He only caught the youth as he crumbled onto the ground, sobs shaking his frame. 

"You're pain is valid little warrior, but please don't use it hurt others blindly," Megatronus kneeled in front of his charge.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm-" 

"I know," Megatronus pulled the mechling in by his shoulders, "I forgive you." 

He looked up at the freshly forged prime. Optimus looked horrified, blue optics round and wide, with one servo reaching out no doubt wanting to comfort his brother. Megatronus stood up, gently patting Megatron's shoulder platting and turned to the prime. 

"I humbly request you pardon his actions, your grace," Megatronus spoke, feeling ill at the formal tone but pressing forward, "My charge is young, his anger misplaced and fleeting. And Frankly I'm inclined to agree with his actions," a short glared was sent at Sentinel's corpse, "But I understand if you're hesitant to keep him in the city."

Optimus looked close to sick, but Megatronus flashed a small warm smile, and mouthed nodding to the still crumpled mech behind him, "He needs to hear you say it." 

The young prime nodded, looking more and more uncomfortable by the click, but eventually spoke, "He is pardoned. While not the trial I wanted for him, perhaps Sentinel would've ended up this way no matter what." 

Megatron looked up in shock, awe and gratitude. Megatronus knew that Optimus would've forgiven his brother, he always did. It might take a little longer for it to settle in the younger's mind however. Still an overwhelming sense of peace came over the ex-warlord. 

The road ahead would be rough, but Megatronus knew, Orion Pax and D16, or Optimus Prime and Megatron, would remain brothers forever more. 

The next couple of mega cycles were chaotic. Many people wanted to greet their new prime, the energon wells began to flow once more, and somehow all the T-cogs were returned, before any of them realized it night cycle had rolled around and if Megatronus had anything to say about it, his four, yes four younglings the little yellow one would be staying ("what is your name little one" "B-127 Sir! those my friends call me BADASSATRON" "really? You look more like a Bumblebee to me. Also little one, never stop talking"), would be getting some well deserved rest. Unfortunately the miner barracks were no longer an option due to them being too small, and Megatronus' apartment had the same problem. 

So in a twist of irony, they had settled in Sentinel's old courters, which were far too big and fancy for one mech alone to take full advantage of. Spread across the lavish berth, Elita, B, and Megatron were all curled up and in deep recharge. Megatronus smiled at the sight, still riding the relief of keeping both his boys together. Now if only he could get that wayward prime to come to bed then things really would be perfect. 

Despite the heavy battle that had take place there not to long ago, most of the tower was in relatively good condition, meaning there were many places for a newly minted prime could hide. Thankfully Megatronus had a pretty good idea as to where Optimus had wandered off too. He found his little archivist standing in front of Sentinel's broken throne. 

"You should be resting," Megatronus said.

"Huh? Oh, yeah, I'm going it's just..." Optimus fidgeted nervously, "I don't know what to do next."

Megatronus hummed, "Well, first thing to do is rebuild. Damages to the city of course and construction on new homes for all the former cogless. You could probably make a lot of new jobs out of hte project for those who have been displaced, especially those with construction based alt modes...I'm sorry. Am I being too forward?"

Optimus shook his head, "No, no keep going please. This is more of a plan then I was making up." 

Megatronus nodded, "Well, when it comes to assigning jobs based on alt mode, make sure you stress it to the populace that it's temporary. Keeping an alt based caste society will only make more problems in the long run. As you can see bots will fight for their freedom if they feel it is threatened."

"Okay, okay. So, that's the plan for rebuilding," the prime began to pace, but what about the quintessions?!"

"Optimus."

"I mean sooner or later they will realize Sentinel is gone and attack...."

"Optimus."

"We can't handle a full invasion right now...."

"Optimus!" 

"I can't give in, and by more time with energon, then I wouldn't be any better then Sentinel!"

"Orion!"

The prime stopped his frantic pacing and fidgeting, blue optics wide and watery. Megatronus took a seat on the steps below the broken throne and gestured for Optimus to join him. The young prime didn't need to twice, sitting down with his helm in his servos. 

"I don't think I can do this," Optimus said. 

"Your scared, and that's understandable," Megatronus said.

"It's just...I was always looking for the matrix, but I wasn't sure what I would do after I did find it, and even then I was going to give it too....you know..."

"Orion, you're very hesitance about wielding such a power you've been given in the very reason you are worthy for it. Some mecha they gain power and they let it corrupt them until they barely recognize themselves."

"How do you know that won't happen to me?"

"Because at spark you are always putting others before your self, a trait every good leader needs. And if you ever get off course you will have me and the others to correct you. You are not in this alone Orion, don't forget that. Heck some of the high guard could likely help with making a plan to protect us from the Quintessions."  

"So you do know some of them?" 

Megatronus shrugged, "Only by reputation, but some of them are trustworthy," he took a deep vent, "But Orion the final reason I know you are worthy, is because of who you remind me of."

"Your...Brother?" Orion raised an optic ridge, suddenly looking very curious.

The old mech nodded. 

"So, that was the truth...I'm sorry for the loss..."

"He's in a better place now, that's all I can hope for." 

"W-what was he like?"

Megatronus sighed, "Out of the two of us he was the gentle one, always a peacemaker, wanting everyone to get along. Though when it came to standing up for himself his skills were...lacking...speically when it came to this femme he had his optic on. I had to get him really drunk and practically shove him over to her in order to get him to dance with her."

Optimus snorted, "Did it work?"

"They were conjunxed for several cycles, and I had never seen a more devoted couple. She'd had killed for him, and we were both scared of her."

Optimus' smiled dimmed, "She's gone too isn't she?"

Megatronus nodded. 

"Well, I still don't see how I remind you of this guy, I'm not that shy." 

"It isn't in your mannerisms that you remind me of him Orion, it's in your spark. You are just as selfless and caring as he was. That's how I knew you were meant for great things, because he was great as well....and you'll be even greater with a good night's rest, now come on."

"Alright alright," Optimus stood up and started walking towards the berthroom, "Hey? What was your brother's name if you don't mind me asking?"

Megatronus chuckled, "Nice try little archivist, but I am still entitled to my own secrets." 

"You're never going to give me a full story are you?" 

"We will see, little archivist, we will see."  

Chapter Text

The room was both clean yet unkept. Almost as if it was unfinished, the owner leaving in a hurry, fully expecting to return to finish their work. Only...it wasn't them who step in. Opening the door to let the golden light of the hall way into the darkness of the empty tomb before being sealed forever. 

Optimus looked around the bedroom with a sense of sorrow in his spark. The berth was unmade, the desk cluttered with data pads and paper, but everything else was dusted clean. So much character in an empty room, so mysterious and so comforting. Just like the mech it belonged too. Elita squeezed his hand, and Optimus looked over to his Conjunx, giving her a sad smile. They had made it official not even a cycle ago. Just a small intimate ceremony with friends and loved ones. The quintessions were still at large then, and they didn't want to attract too much attention, making Elita a target to get to him.  If they had waited only a few months they could've thrown a big splash, but Optimus was glad they didn't.

Someone very important wouldn't have been there. 

He looked to his brother on his other side. The orange of Megatron's optics were dim with grief. Optimus knew that the sudden new of Megatronus' death would hit the silver mech the most. After everything, they were close. The old mech always seemed to know what his young charge was thinking and always had the right thing to say. Optimus wished he could do that, especially now when the loss was still fresh. 

"You okay? We can do this later," Optimus spoke softly. 

Megatron shook his head, "No, the funeral has passed. We-We need to do this, put him to rest. L-let him rest. After all the slag we put him through, we n-need to do this."

Optimus nodded. Megatronus had lived quite the life, that much was known. Even if most of the world only knew the tail end of his story. His past was still a complete mystery. Other then the little mentions of a dramatic history that the mech would drop in the middle of conversation, and Optimus was fairly certain only half of them were true. The only thing concrete was that Megatronus once had a brother. A brother he loved and lost; the old mech never lied about him. Optimus hoped that they were finally together again in the well of allsparks. 

No one may have known Megatronus' beginnings but Optimus vowed they would all know his end. Dying a hero to sink the quintession's main battle ship, leaving a legend in the wake of his ghost and corpse. Megatronus II a mech who guided the next generation of cybertronians from behind the scenes, with a firm but gentle hand. His influence was so well known that Optimus swore all of cybertron showed up to the memorial. All the miners he protected. All the high guard, who still were under the impression that he was Megatronus Prime re-incarnated despite the old mech trying endlessly to correct them (poor Starscream the seeker had been wailing for days about failing his prime for a second time). Even civilians who had never spoken to him personally showed up. It was quite to surreal sight to see such a crowd gathered at the base of the mountain as they lit the pyre, the sunrise blazing in the background.

"If don't make it burn me, and spread the remains on the surface of our world. I've spent far too much of my life underground away from the sun, I won't spend my death down there."

"You know," Bumblebee said, breaking his rare moment of silence, "It's still weird to think he's gone." 

Optimus could only nod to his yellow friend. Bumblebee hadn't known Megatronus for as long as the others, but the short time they knew it each other wasn't any less meaningful. After all it was Megatronus who gave the little mech his name. At some point in his mysterious past, the old mech had traveled to a world beyond the stars. Where he came across little creatures known as Bumblebees. They were small and yellow, armed with stingers, known for buzzing with energy. At first it started out as a nickname, but it didn't take long for others to catch on. B-127 was replaced with Bumblebee and it was all the better for it. 

"I bet it is for you, after all he's the only one who would listen to you babble without complaint," Elita playfully jabbed.

Megatron huffed, "Remember when he told you to never stop talking?" 

Bumblebee cackled, "Yeah, I'm pretty sure Shockwave was three steps from passing out when he heard that!" 

Optimus snorted, before walking deeper into the room. His watery blue optics traced over the surroundings of his late mentor's courters, with a sense of longing. There was still so much he wanted to ask, so much he wanted to say. However, now there was only a ghost to talk to, and some part of Optimus wanted too. Ironically, the old mech claimed he never believed in spirits. 

"I don't believe, because that means there are a lot of either angry or amused ghosts wasting their time following me, when they should either be enjoying paradise or burning in the pit." 

Optimus chuckled at the memory. It was before all the drama. Him, Megatronus, Jazz and some of the other miners had stayed up all recharge cycle telling scary stories and all of them were all spooked the next day. Megatronus was the only one who was unphased, claiming he had lived through worse, and his stance of on the paranormal. 

The young prime looked over at the old mech's work desk. The space was cluttered with old datapads, and writing utensils. It was a familiar sight to Optimus, Megatronus had a desk just like this one back in his old apartment during the early days. Only that desk was smaller and not at all as fancy as this one. A single datapad caught the young prime's optic. He recognized this one. It was older then the others, Megatronus had been writing in it since living in that small low caste apartment. Optimus had heard him working on it many late nights that he slept over after ticking off Darkwing, drifting off to the sound of the old mech scribbling. He had never seen what was in it though. His digits froze  as he reached for the pad. Some part of him wondering if they should really go digging into the old mech's secrets even after he was gone. Still curiosity won over hesitance, and Optimus didn't regret it when he saw the words written on the first page. 

"To, Orion, Megatron, Elita, and Bumblebee."

"Hey guys!" Optimus called, "Come look at this."

"What is it?" Elita asked. 

"I think he left something for us." 

The desk was crowded with in moments and Optimus took the datapad with in his servos, flipping the page. With a nod from his love, his brother and friend, he began to read...

"Orion, D16 or someone else, if you are reading this, likely that means I've finally joined the great scrapheap in the sky. There has only been one thing I have ever wanted to pass on to you all and that was how important it was to hold on to each other even when ideals and anger tries to pull you apart. If you can remember that, than you are already a galaxies ahead of what me and my peers were capable of so long ago. Mentors stand still so their charges can look back to see how far they have come and to you, all I can say is the farther you go the prouder I'll be. Though for all my lessons and stories too you, there is one I have held back from saying out loud, simply because I wasn't sure how to explain it. Though, I suppose if I'm dead it doesn't matter what my intake can do anymore. So, as a final gift to you my wards, here the truth of where my wisdom was gained. Now, make no mistake little ones, this is not a tale of glory. It is one of an old mech's regrets and how I hoped to spare you from my own suffering. You might hate me after reading this, and I wouldn't be upset with you. Do not feel shame for it, I love you all the same. Now, that's probably enough stalling on my part, I would hate to bore you with this final farewell. 

"It starts a long time ago, in the depths of a city known as Kaon..."

Optimus put down the datapad with a heavy spark, almost unable to believe the story he just read.

Bumblebee had started sobbing halfway through, Elita allowing the yellow mech to cling to her. Her own optics wide with shock, as the gruesome descriptions of war and bloodshed were plain as the sky above. 

Megatron fled the room, mere moments prior...and Optimus couldn't blame him. There was a lot to unpack in this datapad. The truth being far more fantastical than any rumor that could've spread throughout the miner barracks. 

"That's why he never wanted me to stop talking," Bumblebee choked, "because he-he!"

Optimus grimaced, looking down at the datapad. His mentor didn't mince any words, all of his sins on full display for the world to see and judge. It was almost like looking at someone else. A completely different mech who spiraled almost to the point of no return.   

"...all I know is that in chaos of war many unexpected twists come flying at you. Lines are crossed, bonds are broken. By the end of it you might look into a mirror and see a stranger looking back at you." 

Heh, the old mech really wasn't lying was he? 

Blue optics drifted to the open door, and the frantic tread tracks that exited it. The prime couldn't even imagine what his brother was feeling if he was so conflicted and confused. 

"Go after him," Elita said and it was all the permission needed. 

Optimus took off down the hall in vehicle mode. Maybe it was a bit excessive, but there was this need to get to Megatron. Not that it was all that hard to find the silver mech, Optimus had this idea as to where his brother went. Megatronus, once the surface was deemed safe enough always traveled up there to watch the sun rise. It hadn't taken long for Megatron to start joining him, claiming the quiet of the dawn was relaxing, and helped him remember what this was all for. That's where the young prime found his brother. Sitting on the ledge their mentor loved so much, orange optics gazing out into the horizon. Optimus too a seat on Megatron's left, never on the right...that spot belonged to...anyway the prime remained silent waiting for the silver mech to start. 

"'I was you'," Megatron eventually said. 

"What?" Optimus prodded. 

"'I was you', that's what he said to me, when you were granted the matrix...I never thought it was literal. Like he was another me! From a completely different cybertron! H-he had a you!" 

"Dee breathe," Optimus interjected. 

"He had a you! Whom he fought and hunted down for years that died before he could apologize! That-that could've been me," Megatron's optics were wide with fear, "H-how close were we to becoming what was in that datapad? How were we to killing our planet?! Killing each other?!"

Optimus reached out, wrapping an arm around his brother's trembling shoulders, "I-I don't know."

"I guess that's why he never gave up on me, because he feared what I could become if he did."

"No no Dee. Maybe fear was apart of it, but he always saw the what good you could do as well. He believed in you, so you would be better then him."

Megatron snorted, "Not really a high bar there pax."

Optimus chuckled, "Yeah I guess it isn't, but either way, I'm glad he was here to make sure we could do better then him."

"Yeah, even if we have no answers as to how," Megatron sniffed, optics welling, "I miss him, pax."

"Me too, brother, me too."

Optimus squeezed Megatron close, his own gaze shifting to the rising sun. A dawning of a new day, the beginning of a new chapter. One they would have to face alone...well not completely alone, Optimus thought. He'll have his brother at his side. 

Megatronus' memory would live on, Optimus vowing to never forget, and maybe that was enough. 

Megatronus smiled as he took one last look at his boys. 

Megatron and Optimus were far from the little mechlings he had met in the mines all those cycles ago. They still had aways to go, but there wasn't a doubt in Megatronus' mind they would succeed. Creating a better world for all of cybertron. Together, as they should be. 

"Megatronus?" A soft voice called from behind. 

He turned, finding the outside having suddenly shifted into an old archives of blue and purple hues. Shelves lining the wall with endless scrolls and data pads. In the middle of it all was a tall, red and blue mech, with a calm smile and meek demeanor. 

His Orion beamed, "Are you coming? I found an old book of poetry in Alpha Trion's old office I think you'll like." 

At his brother's request, Megatronus almost followed, but he casted a glance back at the boys. Hesitant to leave.

"It's okay, old friend," Orion spoke softly, "You did good with them. It's time to worry about your own rest."

With that comfort, Megatronus finally turned away. Walking into the vision of the archives. All the scars and blemishes fading from his body, plating becoming clean and polished. His spikes shrinking down and blunting, until he resembled his younger days. Megatronus stepped into paradise with his brother at his side. Finally together once more...and some part hoped, he would see his boys again one day. 

The weight of his sins lifted, by the forgiveness and love from those he cared for, and he was finally allowed to rest.