Chapter Text
Ariel
A simple pink and white femme, created and raised like many others in the sparkling city of Iacon; the cusp of Cybertrons Golden Age. Life for her was simple.. A stable job as a dock worker, high grade energon on special occasions, a home that provided some form of comfort, a loving intelligent mech who adored her. She was content where she was; a normal life. There could be more fancy things, like new upgrades or bigger living quarters. Yet, those were all material things, things that her and Orion could live without. What she had was all she could ever ask for and it was more than many had. Iacon was epitome of a utopia, at least to the happy couple. Why leave? Why change?
As time slowly passed her spark did begin to yearn for something more. Orion Pax and Ariel had discussed their future man times over. Would they settle down and start a simple life with sparklings or was there something more? Was their destiny something bigger than just Orion Pax, as a clerk in the Iacon hall of records and processing energon? He above many knew there was more than their own lives to consider. The mech saw it every passing day with each new archive. The more he learned the more melancholy he became over the well being of their home world. Prosperity would not last forever and there were thousands that did not have the simple luxurious he and Ariel often took for granted. He knew he could do more to help those who could not help himself and Ariel supported that.
The life she had planned and the life planned for her were two very different paths.
Everything would change once Orion stumbled across the warrior from Kaon: Megatronous. He wouldn’t shut up about him for well over two orns. Ariel had seen the footage over and over again, it wasn’t like she didn’t agree with the silver Mech’s words. Freedom was the right of all Cybertronians who could possibly be against such a notion? Could a warrior taking the name of a fallen Prime really be the change Cybertron needed, the change it deserved? Ariel didn’t know, but Orion was willing to try. “Just be cautious, not everything is what it seems,” She would warn Orion again and again. He was so optimistic issuing her to not judge a mech by his past or by his means. "His sparks in the right place, Kaon is a different. They do things differently there."
As the orbital cycles dragged on Orion and Megatronous became well connected friends. They were almost inseparable. Ariel felt a little more than uncomfortable with their relationship. Supportive, but still ever uneasy. Perhaps that was due to Megatronous’ ally, the mech who solemnly spoke, Soundwave. He gave her the creeps even more than he gladiator. Not to mention his as he put “Political Aid” Nebular. A purple metallic femme twice the size of Ariel and just as blood thirsty as Megatronous. Both always watching and listening. Orion encouraged her that rebellion was the part of change and that these Decepticons only wanted what was best for all of Cybertron.
Nebular was at least somewhat talkative to Ariel when she wasn't glued to Megatronous' frame. The femme gladiator encouraged Ariel that femmes needed to rise up and band together beside the mechs. They were among the many oppressed in Cybertron's elite society, she would know more than others. Explaining how she was born and raised into servitude clawing her way out with the help of Megatronous.
"Servitude is forbidden." Ariel stated
"In Iacon," Nebular snorted polishing off her container of spiked energon.
"You're just going to sit by and watch while the mechs take all the glory?" She would sneer.
Ariel knew she was right, but revolution could lead to war and war was nothing something she wanted to endure. Many femmes didn't have a voice even in Iacon. How many more fem's like Nebular were there? Siting waiting for their freedom, their justice. Could she be that voice? Would they even listen to her?
"Make them listen!" Take your place in this fight Ariel!"
Ariel remained unsure for her position in all of this madness.
But after that day, she would no longer be a simple dock worker. Now she was a part of the revolution of Cybertron...
“Your head is in the clouds,”
“Well, I couldn’t leave you up there all by yourself now could I?”
The last bit of the conversation held between her and Orion Pax before the council meeting swirled around her helm as she stood beside Alpha Trion; one of her oldest friends and mentors. The council had granted Orion and Megatronous an audience as sparks raged across the lands of Cybertron. They would not intervene if they did not deem it necessary.
Alpha Trion had watched quietly from the sides of the council's floor beside hundreds of others. Hidden, but still present. The older purple mech stood silently observing the room. Studying the reactions of each council member. The wise mech had openly expressed his concern of the Decepticons knowing that not everything was what it seemed to be.
Ariel, also silent, was more anxious. Picking at her plating, rocking on her heels and venting faster with every passing moment. Alpha Trion placed a servo on her shoulder, to calm the nerves that tensed her frame as Megatron addressed himself to the high council. The room was uneasy Alpha Trion had warned both Orion and Megatron before they entered to be mindful of how they spoke. It wasn’t so easy to change the minds of those old Cybertronians. He would know, he had stood on that very podium more times than anyone could remember.
Ariel had to physically restrain herself from reacting to the mech's insane demands. Others held no restraint from being vocal. She would have been naïve to say this was unexpected. The young femme could finally understand why she never truly trusted the Gladiator of Kaon. He courted a throne; not justice. He wanted the power and glory that a warrior deserves. Soft murmurs floated through the upper walls as Megatronous bowed ending his speech. As he exited the podium his optics caught Ariel’s however briefly. The blue optics held something she had never seen before at least in him. Lust.
“Orion Pax. Come forth.”
Now she caught the optics of her mate and whatever horrific feeling Megatronous had made her feel melted away. She did not need words to reassure and encourage him. Orion already knew what to say once his peds stepped onto the podium.
With each passing word her spark melted even more. Leave it to Orion to speak his mind. So pure and genuine, he asked for nothing, he expected nothing. All he wanted was for them to listen, to see the errors n their current ways of life. Freedom was the right of all Cybertronians. The council would come to do far more than just listen. Her optics flickered up to Sentinel Prime one of Cybertron’s greatest military generals; even he was unable to keep a smile from tugging at his face.
“Orion Pax… You have such passion for our kind has not been seen since a time many of us have never known….” Ariel gripped Alpha Trion’s arm as hard as she could. “After careful consideration the council has deemed you worthy of the obtaining the title of a Prime.”
Ariel nearly collapsed Alpha Trion holding her steady, Orion stood frozen at the podium as the room erupted in cheers, applauds and chants. Slowly he turned around expecting his ally, his mentor,his friend to express the same gratitude. Only instead to see the large silver frame disappear from view into the shadows. Orion did not see the shift in Megatons optics from a crystal blue to a chaotic and fiery crimson.
Ariel did and she was afraid.
It would be twelve stellar cycles of war before Orion and Ariel would see the gladiator again. Megatron had severed all ties to his once ally. Cycles bled together as Orion mourned the loss of a friend and the destruction sought in his revenge. Sentinel led the front against the Decepticons knowing Kaon would be the first to fall. Allowing the young and ever still naive mech train to take the mantle of a Prime.
But not even Iacon was not safe from the tyrannical power of Megatron and his Decepticons. Sentinel and his forces were soon captured and would only be released to an audience of the soon to be Prime.
Megatron’s servo extended to to the pink femme; offering her a place at his side. What better revenge against Orion than to steal Ariel right out from under him? It was a bold move, yet the femme remained firmly planted behind red, sliver and blue mech. Clinging onto his frame for dear life. With a strong glare she gathered up enough energon in her mouth and spat as hard as she could in his face; satisfied to make her mark. “Rust in the Pits.” She swore as a stoic Orion pushed her farther behind him. There was no possibility of winning a fight against Megatron should he challenge the femmes curse, but that didn’t mean Orion would back down if it meant protecting Ariel. A snort like chuckle rumbled from Megatron’s chest as his arm dropped firing a crippling blow into the helm of Sentinel. Orion shook and Ariel screamed. Their last defense. Their last chance for a normal life. Mercilessly executed.
“Remember this day Orion Pax. You will learn to regret your treachery, for this war has only begun.”
With the last word hanging in the air, Megatron began firing into the Autobot forces. The lat thing Ariel would see was Nebular and Megatron slaughtering countless young Autobots troops that desperately tried to hold the line. The couple barely escaped the siege that ensued. Seeking refugee with Alpha Trion. Alithex was the second city of Cybertron to fall by Megatron’s hand. There was no more waiting. Orion had to take the mantle of the last Prime.
“He executed Sentinel Prime!” Ariel screeched as she paced the floor, tears flooding down her face. “What if the council was wrong?!”
“Ariel.” Orion pleaded, quick to grab her arm and pull her into his frame.
She clung to him in nothing more than pure desperation. Even she knew such a statement was a lie. The council wouldn’t have made a mistake of that magnitude. Orion was to be the next, the last, Prime. “Orion, my love, there must be another way. I cannot bear to watch you slain at that monster's hands. I cannot. I will not”
“I must retrieve the Matrix of leadership from Cybertron's core. Only then will I be deemed worthy of the title of a Prime. The council made their decision. I am just as responsible for this war than Megatron and I will not stand by and let the innocent suffer for my actions. This is the only way.” The two held onto each other savoring perhaps their last moments together.
The door slid open a few moments later, with Alpha Trion leading and the last two remaining members of Cybertrons council standing calmly in it’s frame “Orion, it’s time.”
And just like that Orion slipped from her fingers leaving her alone with Alpha Trion.
“Young Ariel,” Her optics flickered to the mech still standing in the doorway. “Come with me. If Orion is to be a Prime then there is much to be done to make you ready for this war.” The bearded red and purple mech addressed coolly before stepping out of the doorway and out into the hall waiting patiently for the femme to follow.
One last tear escaped her optics before she straightened her frame and strode out into the hallway. As they walked she dared to look back down the opposite end of the hallway where Orion had left, now long gone from her sight.
One thing was now certain she wasn’t going to let him fight this war alone.
Alpha Trion never did disappoint when it came to his knowledge on advanced upgrades. Ariel remained in stasis-lock for far longer than intended, but it would take time for her body to adjust to her new form. The first of the most elite, battle ready Autobots. When she finally awoke her squinted optics caught the silhouette of a familiar pair of crystal blue optics staring down at her.
“Orion?” She vented.
"Yes, my love?"
That was not Orion's voice, it was gruff and deep dripping with authority. She lunged off the table and straight into the mech her warrior instincts taking over any train of logical thought. The two crashed onto the ground Elita 'pinning' the mech to the ground. His face plate retracted and his arms remained pinned against the ground. Prime could have easily over powered her, but he knew she didn't mean any harm in her panic. She was only confused to see him in this new form.
Elita gasped as she finally put two and two together; this was Orion. Staring at the new mech beneath her, her servos grazed his new chest plate unable to stop herself. He was taller, bulkier… stronger than she could ever imagine. An entirely different mech than the one she said goodbye to. It was hard to distinguish if any art of Orion was left. Though he could no doubt say the same to her. “Ariel,” He whispered his fingers brushing against her cheek soflty. Embracing his mate in the same passionate tenderness as the days of old. They were two different beings now, but their spark-bond had never been stronger.
The sounds of peds echoing down the hall halted their joyous reunion. Both immediately looked to see a beaming Alpha Trion standing at the entrance to the room. “If I'm not interrupting anything, may I have a word with you both?” The two nodded silently as he entered.“Elita-One meet Optimus Prime. Optimus Prime meet Elita-One.”
The pride that beamed from Alpha Trion lightened the mood almost to the point of forgetting why these upgrades. "How are you feeling my dear?" Elita rose with Prime following suit. The femme taking a moment to look over and admire her new form before issuing a reply, "Better than ever. I can't even begin to think of how I could repay you for these upgrades."
Alpha Trion raised his hand brushing off the comment. "Win the war."
"You both with have an orbital cycle to adjust to your new forms while the front holds the Decepticons. Use this time wisely, train, introduce yourself to your Autobots, plan. That last one is probably the most crucial."
Pink and sliver arms wrapped around the frame of Alpha Trion a whispered, Thank You, for everything ... delivered on behalf of Elita. She patiently waited at the middle of the hallway for Optimus.
"The life of every living being of Primus is counting on you now, Prime."
"I won't fail you."
"Good. That's was the correct answer." Alpha Trion placing a servo on the mechs shoulder with a little reach.
“And remember, every strong mech needs a stronger femme by his side. Don’t underestimate her Prime. You need her just as much as she needs you.”
“I never have.”