Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Here's the cover art I made for this fic and for Fanfiction.net! I made an Elita design specifically for my own AU! :D

I was thinking about making this into a comic instead at one point but I decided to just add pictures and stuff to here!

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Art, Elita-1 design by me, TheHiddenPredacon  

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Chapter Text

A decade had passed since the war ended and the last Prime entered the Well. Cybertron was at peace again, well, almost there one could say. There were a lot of problems in the way that they had to face. Cybertron was half restored to its former glory but it’s government was in total chaos once again. The former Council was gone. Team Prime tried their best at helping out at first which worked for a while until the population started growing more and everything became harder with some Cities back in order. Finally, Elita decided to step out of the shadows and decided that she alone will try her best to rule the planet. She knew Optimus’s plans better than anyone else could have. He spoke to her about them all the time before. . . well, never mind that. She once managed an entire rebellion alongside Optimus, How hard could this possibly be? Everyone was rather shocked that she would want to take control so soon. Though, even she could not handle the pressure herself. No one can. Not without help at least. What she and Optimus had planned together was meant for both of them and she failed to keep up with it without him. But at the same time, she didn’t want the power of the Council to go into the wrong hands. She didn’t want to just hand out the position to some average bots or strangers who don’t actually know what they’re doing.

They need bots with experience. Cybertronians who could be trusted to lead Cybertron to its glory into the new age. They were so close to achieving true peace. They couldn’t afford one slip up. Elita would never forgive herself if another war started in her care. The femme herself was currently in her office in the Council building rereading some notes she remembered Optimus giving her this one time in secret. She had her optics fixed only on the notes. Nothing else except her mind questioning her own actions recently. Instead of thinking straight, she acted on emotions as of late, thinking it was best for the people but most knew she was hurting even though she denied it. Since Optimus’s departure it had not been easy for her.

The team may have grieved for the loss of their leader and friend but she was still hurting. Nothing compared to the pain she was feeling. She was spiritually connected to him through their bond. It was a common side effect of them being suddenly broken. He was ripped from her so suddenly again. Though, it was rare to see bonds this insync like theirs. No one really knew the side effects because they could never study it. Now they had the chance. She didn’t just rely on the bond either. It was her power source, energy source. The one thing that could recharge her powers if needed.. She relied on it like a lifeline. It kept her alive and in her best frame condition she was currently in. Since it was gone she was not able to use her powers as a defense system anymore nor for travel. She was just your average bot again. She, however, didn't like being so defenseless. She forgot how it was like to be simple. Nothing was simple when you were bonded with a Prime. Weird things were bound to happen but she knew what she was signing up for when the Matrix came into play.

After the war ended just like that, she closed herself off from everything and everyone. She didn’t leave her apartment for anything unless it was needed for months. The only bots she would let visit her at the time were Ratchet and Ultra Magnus for important things but that was mostly it. Occasionally, she’d let another person stop by if it was quick but that was it. She feared if she allowed too much things going on in her life, deeper emotions would rise up again to make her power activate which could hurt someone she didn’t intend to. She’d never forgive herself for that. Soon she heard a knock on the office door, causing her to blink out of it and look up.

“It’s open.” She told whoever was at the other end. It was around midnight. She didn’t realize she worked all day non-stop. The bot that came through the door was Ultra Magnus. He was her helper with law enforcement and made him the Head Enforcer.

“Elita, You should go home and rest. It is midnight.” He told her. With her working overnight most nights she looked tired all of the time. She did? She thought to herself. She didn’t realize it so she looked over at the window and noticed it was that was dark and frowned.

“Oh- I suppose I should get going but. . . I wanted to pull another all nighter so I could finish these plans.” She told him with a long yawn. She covered her mouth with a servo and chuckled softly.

Magnus sighed as he noticed her yawn. He knew she was over exhausted but she wouldn’t admit it to herself that she needed help.

“Elita, you need rest.” He told her as he walked over to her desk. “How about I take over for now until you get your proper recharge?” He then offered. He was worried for her well-being. She had seemed out of it as of late.

Elita frowned more when he offered. "But Magnus, I'm fine."

“If Optimus were here I would assume he would do the same so I suggest taking my advice.” He replied.

She tapped her chin at first but immediately frowned at the mention of Optimus. Instead of dealing with the emotional issues at hand, she avoided them by constantly working these days just like how Optimus used to do with such situations. She let out a soft sigh after taking a moment to think about it. He was right. She was overworking herself but she couldn’t help it. It was a habit she started when Optimus departed. Finally, after a couple minutes of thinking she gave a nod as she stood up from her chair. She definitely needed the rest.

“I suppose you’re right.” She packed her stuff up quickly into her storage space and held her data pad in her servos as she started walking to the door. More like, limped. She looked over at Magnus before leaving.“Thank you again for your help, Ultra Magnus.”

She gave a nod as he gave one back as she left.

She had a bad ankle that was acting up again lately because she injured it again not too long ago. Since Ratchet went MIA so suddenly she couldn’t find anyone to properly help it. Ratchet knew her inner systems the best. Hers were far too complicated for any mere newbie doctor to figure out. Especially with her weird Prime stuff going on. She would have to explain that again as well.

There was no proper way to explain it.

Elita kept walking out of the building after saying goodnight to Magnus and went on her way. Once out of the building, she transformed into her pink ferrari vehicle mode that she chose on Earth and drove to her old apartment that she shared with Optimus a long time ago. She hadn’t changed it since. She didn’t even take off her Autobot symbol either. It meant too much to her. She couldn’t part with it. It was the only thing of Optimus she had left.

As she made it to the door of her apartment she hesitated opening it. When she did she just stood there solemnly while letting out a soft sigh. Alone again, huh? She didn’t like this feeling at all. The pink femme walked over to the nearby couch after shutting the door. With her previous status as a lower class before the war she felt odd coming back to an apartment. She felt too privileged. She was also using the rest of Optimus’s shanix he owned.

The local bank in Iacon thought the Prime would allow her to use it so she owned them now. She thought it was thoughtful of them and she gratefully took it for the sake of keeping Optimus’s things to herself. At times, she felt selfish for keeping the Shanix due to Optimus not being there but this is what kind of thing he would have wanted. Her to have a more stable life than before. Her previous status didn’t allow her to do much. She was one of the few lower class bots as a dock worker. She was reminded of that when she went to check how much Shanix she had herself. She didn’t have much and that made her more upset about the reminder.However, With her new Time power added to the picture of everything she still struggled to find her place in the working world. She tried everything but nothing seemed to get her excited anymore nor fitted her.

As Ariel, she always struggled with that but she didn’t know what it even was or how to even use it back then. Now that she does, it was a whole different game. What was her purpose now? Was she only a puppet made for the Primes? As of now, she sure felt like it. Ever since the war ended, the Primes went silent on her and she felt left out. She felt like she should be doing more but what?

She had all this power in her veins but she could do nothing about it. How could they just leave her like this? A great source of power wandering aimlessly. Alpha Trion nor Vector Prime gave her any sort of guide book to go off for her power either so she was conflicted on what to do with it now. It was also tied with her emotions. When she was angry it boiled within her, begging to freeze someone in time which is why she refused to have anyone over her own place. She was easily triggered at times these days.

During the war, she normally took it out on those dumb vehicons troopers but now she had to find something else that was equally satisfying for her powers that won’t set it off. If she did, well. . .

However, after the long day of working she decided to rest for now. She closed her optics as she thought to herself and fell into recharge on the couch. She didn’t even bother to go to her berth.

~ Months Later ~

After months of thinking, Elita decided it was time to step down as Cybertrons main ruler and during that time before they found a replacement Ultra Magnus took over but even he got too overwhelmed with the work that contained in with being in charge. He didn’t understand how Optimus and Elita could do it. Optimus did have a specific plan ready as well which consisted of himself and Elita entirely but that plan greatly faltered. When he couldn’t handle it anymore he quickly found a replacement Council that took over. Who exactly? Elita didn’t know.

She didn’t know what Ultra Magnus was thinking when he decided to put a random Council group in charge. However, she had to give them some credit. They did great on the rebuilding process so far but something seemed. . . off about them. She just couldn’t put her digit on it.

One morning, well, moreso afternoon Elita had woken up late. She felt groggy. She hadn’t slept in so long that one night wasn’t going to cover it. She hasn’t been properly taking care of herself since Optimus disappeared. Even Ratchet had tried to convince her to take a walk every so often but she mostly refused. But with the odd twist of fate, she felt something was so off that she decided she would go this time around. Something was itching at her to do it. Perhaps she will take his advice for once and go for a stroll to see the new buildings and reconstruction.

Perhaps even visit her old Observatory, or maybe even visit her old stomping grounds at the Hall of Records. The place where it all started. . .

Chapter Text

When Elita woke up all groggily she groaned softly as she laid on the couch of her apartment, blankly staring at her ceiling from her recharge. She continued having that blank expression on her faceplates as she had covered herself with a blanket somehow. She blinked as she looked around aimlessly. Scrap, she overslept again! She hoped it wasn’t too late to visit the places she wanted to. She slowly got up from the couch, made her energon for the day and went on her way to the streets. It wasn’t too busy it seemed. She noted as she looked around. She also made sure to grab a cape covering of some sort with a hoodie to make sure she wasn’t recognized so quickly. She wanted to avoid the annoying camera bots like the plague. She hated them. Always trying to capture the embarrassing moments of the war heros.

As she walked around, she stared at the ground thinking about how far Cybertron had come since the war ended. She began walking towards her old stomping grounds at the Hall of Records. She wanted to see if Alpha Trion’s things were still there that she could collect for later purposes. As she could see the building in view she couldn’t help a small smile crossing her lips. The building looked new and added a few statues as well as stained glass windows. The reconstruction bots who helped make the statues thought it would be meaningful if they made statues of the Prime and herself together in the center at the front of the building. She looked up at it as she walked around it slowly and let out a soft sigh. If only Optimus could see this. . .

It just wasn’t fair.

As she made her way to the first steps that lead up to the door of the building she paused for a moment before walking up. It had been years since she stepped pedes into this place again. It was the very place where she had met Optimus and Alpha for the first time. And it was the place where she learned about the Primes and how to use her powers. A lot of precious memories were held in this very building that she held dearly close to her. She took a breath in before she started walking up the steps finally and ended up at the front door but she didn’t walk in yet. As everyone else passed by her she just stared hesitantly at the floor. Well, here goes nothing. Elita thought to herself as she slowly moved a leg forward but as she did that a rush of bots came through and trampled her. One of the bots who fell at the same time groaned as they got up again but noticed they tripped on another bot.

“Oh! Sorry miss, here let me help you-” The young random bot began as he reached a servo out to help her but then noticed her Autobot symbol and seemed to give her a strange look about it as he stared quietly. When Elita noticed he was staring at it she covered herself with the cape, noticing the look he was giving but took his offer of help and used his servo to lift herself up.

“Uh, Thanks.” Was all she said and he gave her a nod then ran off to where he was going previously. She raised a brow after that odd encounter but shook it off as nothing. She hasn’t been up to date on major events recently with the new government. She wanted no part of it anymore. She was done helping Cybertron’s peace come to life. Everyone else got their peace of mind except her. She never got what she had wanted. Why her?

Just like Optimus, she never wanted to become a leader. As previously a dock worker she never fully understood the system. She only helped Optimus because he was her friend, dearest sparkmate so she wanted to help him no matter what was in their way. They were a team. She was there to only make things easier for him. Since she was finally trampled into the building she kept looking around the new additions to the building. She stared in awe at the new stained glass windows and the new relics that were displayed. The more important ones were in the restricted section in the back. Ah, she remembered as Ariel she would constantly try and get Orion in trouble. Not on purpose, but she was just a curious one back then and snuck into places that weren’t meant to be snuck into. They never spoke of it but a memory came up as she looked at the restricted section in the back and snickered to herself while covering her mouth. She and Orion may have, uh, made out in the restricted area. She was a sneaky one back then for sure. Orion was totally against it but she kept pushing it and it just sorta happened. They almost got caught but they escaped just in time. Then her optics finally laid eyes on Alpha Trion’s office. She smiled as she aimlessly started walking towards it but was stopped by the new librarian who asked for Elita’s name which caught the pink femme offguard. Her light blue optics blinked a few times.

“Excuse me?” Elita questioned with her deep intimidating voice and raised a brow.

“Name please. We need your name ma’am before you could advance further.” The new Librarian mentioned while holding a data pad. Ah, this must be the new rules added by the Council. She thought. The pink femme bit her lower lip as she looked around then leaned in to whisper her name, “Uh, My name is Elita One.” She gave an awkward grin, hoping she didn’t recognize her. Otherwise, she would be in trouble.

The librarian did the name check on her data pad and shook her helm. “Sorry, ma’am. We don’t have an Elita on here.” Now that was odd. She swore she changed it before the war got worse! The Archives should have her name in the system already! Elita started to become nervous as she bit her lower lip again and harder this time. She never wanted it to come to this.

“Uh,” She tapped her chin lightly. “What about Ariel-?” She asked awkwardly in a soft mumble. She never thought she would have to say that name again. The librarian checked again. This time she seemed to smile at the name popping up finally on the screen with Elita’s old picture.

“Oh! Miss Ariel! Why didn’t you just say so? Welcome back!” She shook the femmes servo rapidly, excitedly. Elita tensed up with the sudden servo grab and kept her fake smile on her face. She laughed awkwardly as she went with it. “Heh, yeah, Thanks- It is certainly great to . . .be back.” She kept grinning awkwardly.

“Well, here’s your Library card which will help you access your things and take out any book you desire! Happy reading!” The librarian motioned to the bookshelves nearby after giving Elita her old card with her old picture on it then walked away while waving bye. Elita just stood there after the library lady left and blinked a few times as she held her card. She looked almost frazzled for a moment. Though she managed to collect herself again as she let out a soft sigh of relief now that she was gone and raised a brow. “Well that was weird.” She couldn’t help but say something about it in a soft mumble. Then she looked down at her old library card and winced while seeing the pony tailed-self again.

“Oh c’mon! Not that picture. . . That is something I will definitely change later.” She rolled her optics at herself and placed the card into her storage space in her frame and continued onto her main goal: To visit Trion’s old office and collect his things that were still around. Quick and simple. Then out and back home!

Elita continued walking towards the door and managed to stop right in front of it. When she was face to face with Trions office she shakily yet slowly placed her servo on the plaque that still said his name. She closed her optics for a moment of respect. “I’m sorry I failed you.” She mumbled softly and then as she opened her optics again she slowly moved her servo to go open the door but she was stopped with the voice of an officer.

“Hey, Miss!” The bot said as he ran over to stop her which caused her to freeze for a moment. “Citizens are not allowed to enter that door! Only the head Archivist can.” The cop warned her as he stood near her, trying to block the door. Elita put her servo down from the door handle and narrowed her optics then raised a brow angrily.

“What? Why not? I am more than accepted to be in that room!” She demanded an explanation. “A better reasoning for this would be highly appreciated.” She did not look too pleased. First she was stopped by the librarian and now a cop? Great! Just what she needed.

“I’m sorry miss but I cannot give you the reasoning. Only the Archivist has it. They just ordered us to guard this place due to it being highly classified.” The cop explained. Elita was getting annoyed by the minute she stayed there.

“Well, undo that rule! I am more than authorized to step through that door!” Then she pointed to the stained glass windows and statues outside. “There is literally a stained glass window about me!”

The cop raised a brow as their arms were folded.

“And a couple of statues!” She tried reasoning while pointing at them but when that didn’t work she narrowed her optics with a soft growl as her powers started boiling within her with frustration.

“Fine. Then perhaps how about I show you how authorized I am?” She said in her dangerously low threatening voice as she started slowly forming a white ball of light in one of her servos and her optics turned white as well while her time power activated. They also called it Chronostasis. They didn’t want to just keep calling her time power, time powers so they gave it an actual name so it sounded more intimidating and interesting during a big fight. The cop backed up as he noticed what she was doing and quickly called for backup while getting out a button stick and some cuffs. The other cop nearby quickly shot her from behind with a stasis round. When she was zapped, Elita slowly started to wobble and as she stood her power stopped forming in her servo. She tried resisting the stasis mode but she couldn’t and she collapsed on the ground. As she did she tried talking and reaching out to Trions office.

“I-I just wanted to ch-check on-” She couldn’t even finish her sentence as she fell on the ground and went into stasis mode. She blacked out for a few hours.

~~~~~~~~

Hours later, Elita slowly woke up again and found herself in a strange room, sitting in a chair with cuffs on. Well, she found it strange due to being half awake. She groaned softly as she woke herself up then her optics widened as she realized she was in an office of some sort. Then she looked down at the desk which read the name ‘Ultra Magnus’. She looked rather shocked. Great, she was in trouble. Nice job, Elita. She looked up and around the room, noticing no one was there yet. How long was she out for? The last thing she remembered was being in the archives with a cop. Oh. . . right.

Shortly after she woke up Magnus came in with her file. He let out a soft sigh after closing the door and disabling the audio from the cameras. She looked over at him with an awkward grin and wave. Magnus walked over to his desk and stood near a tv. “The Archives wanted to press charges against you but I reasoned with them.”

Elita was about to open her mouth to speak but he continued. “Elita, you are lucky you did not get arrested by someone else. I saved you from owning them several times but I can only do this for so long. So please, do not do this again or I will be forced to charge you and you will have to find work.”

The pink femme winced at the mention of getting a job. No one will take her with the new status that she had. And not to mention most would be scared of her due to her power being greatly known. She let out a soft sigh and looked at the ground in an upset manner. “I apologize, Magnus. But I can’t help it. It appears my old habits are starting to seep through. It’s even worse with my power now involved without. . ..” She tried explaining and frowned as she looked back at him with distress. Magnus sighed again. “Alright, I will let you off the hook this time again. But if you make one more mistake I will be forced to start charging you.” He told her. “And not by my own will.”

Elita continued to wince everytime he mentioned charging her. She gave a short nod. “Understood. Perhaps, I should move elsewhere to not cause such. . . problems. Everywhere I look in Iacon just reminds me of. . “ She let out a soft distressed sigh.

Magnus nodded. “A good suggestion. Bumblebee is currently working in Kaon on duty. Perhaps I could inform him that you will be there and he could try and help you. Being with an old teammate might. . . help your needs. Besides myself of course.” Elita tapped her chin then smiled, nodding. “Perhaps, indeed. Then it’s settled! I’ll move to Kaon. Away from. . .” She lowered her helm and cleared her throat. “everything. Perhaps, It’s exactly what I need! A new change of scenery.”

With that, Magnus nodded in agreement and walked over to her to uncuff her.

“Here. I’ll uncuff you.” He leaned over but he was stopped as she already handed him the cuffs. He blinked a few times as he stared at them in his servo. “No need. I did it while we were talking.” She spoke casually as she stood up and snickered.

“I highly suggest working on that. You do realize who you’re talking to, right?” She smirked. With her past, she had been in many handcuffs thanks to Megatron and she had started to learn how to get out of them since she was captured so many times before. When captured, why not figure out how to get the cuffs off instead of sitting there in a bored manner? That was what she thought. Elita patted his shoulder as he stood there, frozen while she stood up and started walking out of the office.

“But nonetheless, Thank you for your hospitality, Ultra Magnus. It has been a pleasure.” She bowed in respect before leaving the building and heading to her apartment again. This time to pack up! Once she sold everything, she packed her bags and headed to Kaon city to her new apartment. She was ready for a new change of pace! Iacon was her home but she had to leave. Everything reminded her of Optimus and it wasn’t good for her mental state. It has caused her lots of pain and distress. Though she still questioned why the encounters at the Hall of Records were so . . . weird? She never had interactions like that before. And why was her name deleted from the manifest of the Archives? Where they trying to forget or get rid of her? She had many questions that she’ll figure out in time. But now. . . off to her new apartment in Kaon!

Chapter Text

Soooo
FINALLY on winter break!
I can continue this fic once again!

Hopefully I can get a little further along the story this time! :)
Been trying to think up quite a plot for you all!
Hope y'all are excited!
wooooooo!!

This will be removed when the next chapter comes!

Chapter Text

I SWEAR IM STILL MENTALLY WORKING ON THIS,
I just havent gotten the time to write it yet. RIP :(

But i have many stuff planned!
~ from Beanz , the writer.