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The city of Iacon was a rather dismal place, sure it had an abundance of businesses, nice houses and manors, but that never did make up for the drab fog that hung in the air that painted the town in hues of depressing grays.
But it was home for young nobleman Optimus Magnus.
It was all he ever knew and all he was used to, but now it was suddenly going to change.
The poor young mech gazed at himself in the mirror, primed and polished to meet his future-future in-laws. And more importantly the bot who would become his conjux.
He felt sick at the thought that just in a few minutes he would be at his wedding rehearsal, and a few hours more the real ceremony would take place.
“Where is Optimus?! We might be late”!
Optimus cringed at the sound of his brother Sentinel's voice. But knew he needed to start moving soon enough, less his sire came for him.
So giving one last onceover to his now lonely little room Optimus raced down stairs into the carriage where Sentinel and his sire, Ultra Magnus, were currently waiting for him impatiently.
He gave a polite smile to their carriage driver Bulkhead, who gave a big grin back before
a nasty cough overtook it, then the young noble hopped inside taking a seat.
“About time” Sentinel snarked
“Sentinel
” cautioned Ultra
His elder brother grumbled but remained quiet…for a few minutes.
“You’ve certainly hooked a winner this time” said Sentinel “Now all you have to do is riel him in”
“I’m already reeling, Sentinel” muttered Optimus “Shouldn’t someone like Prowl from House Praxian be promised to a Lord or someone of higher nobility or something”?
“Nonsense! We're every bit as good as the Praxians, maybe even more so”! Said Sentinel sticking up his chin.
Then why don’t you conjux with them?
But Optimus already knew the answer to that, as the eldest of their house he was entitled to the family name, home, and business; along with that the right to decide who he could be conjuxed to. While Optimus was the current youngest, a place acquired since the death of his sister Elita, and had to settle with any match his father had chosen for him.
Though Optimus wished he had more time, more years of function before being tied to someone so intimately. Logically he could see this as a good match given that his family merchant business relied heavily on trading and the Praxian family was an old house with many connections. Along with that the Praxians had been looking to lock down their house since the death of one of their patriarchs, Yoketron.
But still….
“We never even spoken” Optimus mumbled
“Least we have that in our favor” huffed Sentinel before yelling out and banging on the carriage ceiling when Bulkhead gave another round of hoarse coughing.
“Hey, Bulk-for-brains! Would you stop it with that coughing”!
Optimus cringed “We really should have Bulkhead see a medic, he doesn't sound the best”
“Or we just fire the big lug”
“Sentinel, you do well to care about the state of your employees” Ultra Magnus warned.
Optimus had to hide a smile as he saw Sentinel wilt under their sires gaze, only to straighten up when the head of the Magnus family looked at him steely.
“I’ll take your suggestion into consideration, but only after the ceremony”
Optimus nodded stiffly.
It was barely any time before the carriage stopped and Optimus was standing with his family at the steps of the Praxian estate. Optimus could almost consider it a palace; the mansion was far bigger than his own family's estate home. Made up of blue metal with white accents, the roof had additional light sapphire arches that pointed to the sky.
A lovely dash of color to the usual hazy greys.
Optimus decided that, if this was to be his new home, then he rather liked it.
He wasn’t allowed to admire the outside of the house for long before Sentinel had him walking up the steps towards the door.
The group didn't even have to knock as the door was immediately opened by a service drone.
“The Magnus Family has arrived, my lords” the droid said in a neutral glitching voice.
Then quickly stepped aside to reveal two mechs stepping down a lavish stair large staircase.
The taller of the two mechs, with grayish plating and brownish highlights, was Dai Atlas Praxian. His angular face and shoulder spikes matching the sharpness in his stare.
The bot next to him was almost his opposite, a mech with pure white plating and a lovely blue visor that shifted with his welcoming smile. This was Jazz, the eldest Praxian
“Welcome there”! The mech said brightly, stepping down the steps and holding out his servo.
Sentinel was the first to take it, shaking it briskly before stepping past the mech to let himself inside and give a gracious bow to the head of the house.
“Lord Praxian” said Sentinel “I must say you don’t look a day over 20 megacycles”!
The smile on Jazz’s face faltered a bit at that.
Dai Atlas hadn’t moved from his position, not addressing Sentinel, simply staring down Optimus and his sire as they stepped inside.
“Ultra” he finally spoke
“Atlas” responded to Ultra Magnus with the same dry tone.
Finally Dai Atlas shifted to Optimus.
“Is this him”?
Optimus stood stock still under the Praxian heads gaze, feeling like an examined mech animal brought in for purchase.
“My youngest, as agreed” Ultra Magnus said simply “I’m sure you have no qualms against him as conjux for your son”
With that Dai Atlas face finally shifted, a small smile formed on his face plate but had a melancholy to it.
“No, I supposed I don’t” he said, before stepping down the steps to stand beside his elder son “What a pleasure to have you all here, our soon to be family”!
Sentinel smiled “Why thank you, it's a….” the blue and orange mech hesitated as he took in the rather empty room “...lovely home”
Optimus too was a bit surprised by the lack of decor, perhaps it was an aesthetic of theirs?
Dai Atlas didn’t seem to notice or even care about Optimus' brother's hesitance as he turned to the left hallway.
“We will be taking tea in the west drawing room” said Dai Atlas as he beckoned the group “Do come this way”
Sentinel and his father didn’t hesitate, Optimus slowly trailing behind them, seemingly forgotten despite being HIS soon to be wedding.
But knowing he had very little choice in the matter, Optimus was going to just suck it all up and try to get to know his new family.
Though before heading over to join the others, the mech noticed one of the few pieces of furniture within the room.
A piano.
Optimus hesitated, before gently stroking his digits over the smooth keys of the large instrument. Dust came away from it, evidence that the instrument hadn't been used for quite a while besides being made an unconventional table setting by the vase of near withered crystal flowers placed on top of it.
He looked to the hall, seeing it empty as his family and the Praxians have long since left. Then with a found smile he began to press at the teeth of the piano, at first giving out a few soft little notes before daringly sitting down and thrumming out a full melody.
He remembers how he and his sister, Elita, had begged to learn to play, their father at first hesitating till on the eve of their shared birth cycle they woke to find a lovely black piano sitting in their drawing room.
Elita had squealed and given her father a hundred kisses while Optimus struggled to climb the seats. Sentinel had scoffed at their enthusiasm, calling the instrument a waste of time. But that of course didn’t stop him from sitting in to listen as Elita and Optimus learned to make the piano sing for them.
But…after Elita died Ultra Magnus had the piano removed.
Optimus had been too laden with guilt to even protest, too guilty to even attempt another song after all these years.
But now, with everything changing, Optimus wanted to resurrect that feeling he had during his youth. Wanting that connection with his lost sibling.
So caught up in the music that Optimus didn’t notice that someone was behind him till they were practically looking over his shoulders.
The youngest son of House Magnus shot up, stumbling out of the bench with apologies already out of his mouth.
“Do-do forgive me”!
The mech before him was a slim built bot, painted in black and gold, his narrowed shades looking at Optimus with a neutral expression.
This was the youngest son of House Praxian.
This was Prowl.
His soon to be conjux.
“You play beautifully” he said, his voice betraying no emotion.
“Again, I do apologize, Lord Prowl” stuttered Optimus “How rude of me to-well-excuse me-”
“My sire wouldn’t let me touch this since my carrier died” Prowl said “Said it wouldn’t be respectful, too passionate as we are to grieve the fallen”
The tone in Prowl's voice hadn’t changed, but the way he stared at the piano Optimus could make out a hint of longing hidden under those shaded optics. One that felt all too familiar to him.
“I apologize, Lord Prowl,” said Optimus
“Don’t be” Prowl responded “Yoketron would have been delighted to hear one of his most prized possessions being used”
Optimus coughed awkwardly “Well, so long as no offence was taken my Lord-”
“Perhaps…in light of the circumstances” Prowl cut in “You could just call me Prowl”?
The smaller mech started right up at him, a genuine smile easing over his face.
Optimus felt his face plate heat up, it wasn’t a lie that he and Prowl have never spoken but it wasn’t like he didn’t know the mech. They had attended the same academy together, Prowl was considered by all means an oddity. He spent most breaks by the edge of the grounds where the metallic trees were thickest, sitting in or under them as he coaxed small mecha animals to come sit by him.
Once even causing an incident when he accidentally let a wild retro-rat loose in the classroom.
Prowl Praxian was a strange mech for sure, but one that Optimus couldn’t help himself but admire.
He only wished he had gotten to know him sooner than in this sudden arrangement.
“Well, yes, Prowl..” said Optimus, not meeting his gaze.
“Yes, Optimus” said Prowl, stepping close to him.
Optimus fidgeted with this helm cap “Tomorrow we are to be ca-con-cah-”
“Conjuxed”? Finished Prowl, his voice chiding lightly, before taking a graceful seat on the piano bench “I never much cared for my conjuxing day, such things always seemed so far way…though I did hope I would have found a bot I was deeply in love with, someone to spend the rest of my function with” he looked to Optimus with his previously black expression “Silly, isn’t it”?
“Yes, silly, ha” Optimus tried to laugh nervously, but catching himself he gave a sincere “No! Not at all”! before sitting next to his intended, trying to copy his graceful sitting. But the move turned awkward with his large shoulder pads that bumped the small vase of flowers over.
“Oh dear”! Optimus cried, getting up and trying to fix the mess, his and Prowl hands fumbled together as they stood.
Optimus' face felt like a smelter as he and Prowl's hands interlocked to cradle the crystal flowers.
“Hey now”! A voice called suddenly.
The pair shifted around to see Jazz in the hall staring at them with a smile and showing off all his denta, Prowl was quick to pull his hands away making Optimus back away embarrassed.
“Save some of that for the rehearsal, my bots” Jazz said raising and optic ridge “Don’t want my sire accusing any one of “impropriety” and whatever”
Prowl immediately grew a sour look before hastily walking back towards the hall. Leaving Optimus standing awkwardly with Jazz still staring at him.
“Lord Jazz, sorry about that-”
“No apologies needed, my bot” said Jazz giving a disarming shrug “Besides, if all goes according to plan we could be calling each other family soon enough…. just be sure to hurry, Alpha Trion is here, and he doesn't like to be kept waiting”
Optimus nodded stiffly before heading out with him.
Three Joors Later~
“Master Magnus, from the beginning again” the priest, Alpha Trion, said frustratingly
“With this servo I will lift your sorrows, your cup will never empty for I will be your energon, with this candle I will light your way in darkness, with this ring I ask you to be mine”
Optimus flinched as Alpha Trion leaned menacingly close to him on his walking stick “Lets try it again”!
They had all gathered in a ballroom in another part of the Praxian estate, where a small assembly of chairs was placed for immediate family. Meanwhile a small altar was set up holding a candle and a cup of energon. Optimus and Prowl were both in the front, each holding a candle.
“Yes sir” said Optimus before clearing his throat “With this candle-”! He announced before attempting to light it using the larger candle on the altar. But to his dismay the wick seemingly refused to light, simply pushing around the flame.
Optimus stood awkwardly as he attempted to light it several times, the glare of almost everyone there palpable.
“Do I seriously have to get up there and do it for him”?! he heard Sentinel mutter.
“Don’t get overheated Sentinel” said Ultra, but there was a clear frustration in his voice.
Optimus chanced a look over to his shoulder plates to see his family with an obviously shameful look on their faces while on the other side Dai Atlas looked on coldly while Jazz seemed simply bored.
Alpha Trion gave a sharp cough.
Optimus realized that the wick finally caught fire and gave a happy laugh as he leaned back, only for the flame to snuff out easily.
Everyone in the room groaned.
Just then a bell chimed that echoed throughout the house.
“Get the door, EM-1” ordered Dai Atlas
The service droid scurred off.
“Let's just continue from after the candle bit” said Alpha Trion
Optimus nodded enthusiastically but couldn’t help but stare at the newcomer that entered the room. It was a rather elegant looking Seeker, wings pointed upwards, painted in dark blacks and purples, the piercing red of his eyes matching the smile on his face.
“A Lord Starscream” announced EM-1
“I haven’t the head for dates” the large winged mech said, his voice posh “Apparently I’m a day early to the ceremony”
Dai Atlas looked questioningly at the mech with Jazz even asking in a low tone “Is he from your side or carriers”?
“I…can’t recall” said Dai Atlas, Optimus remembered a key fact of the Praxian family line did have seeker ties to it. The evidence being the door wings some of its heirs inherit.
“EM-1, set down a chair for Lord Starscream”
The Seeker had little trouble taking the seat and casually waved to the group at the altar who were staring at him.
“Do carry on”~
Alpha Trion didn’t hesitate “Lets try it again, shall we Mister Magnus”?
“Yes, sir, certainly” Optimus said, his eyes drifting to Prowl who had helpfully lit his candle. His eyes couldn’t help but follow the Praxian’s gilded digits.
“Right” announced Alpha Trion
“Right” Optimus repeated hollowly
“RIGHT”! Barked the priest, making Optimus realize he was referring to using the wrong hand to hold the handle.
“Right”! Optimus repeatedly as he corrects himself, reaching out to clasp Prowl's small servo and holding it up.
“With this servo-” said Optimus, looking at Prowls bright blue shades “-I ask you to be mine-”!
He grunted as his knees hit the altar.
“Three steps”! Bellowed Alpha Trion “Can you not count? Do you not wish to be married, Master Magnus”?!
“No”! Optimus said urgently
“You don’t”? Said Prowl, sounding almost hurt.
“No! I meant no, I don’t want not to be married” Optimus explained hastily “That is something I very much-OW”! He cried as Alpha Trion whacked him on the helm.
“Pay attention”! Demanded Alpha Trion “Did you even remember the ring”?
With an optimistic smile Optimus reached into his subspace and pulled out the ring that his sire had given to him. This was at least one thing he had done correctly.
He grasped Prowls servo once more, straightening a digit to place the ring on. He found himself lighted to see it over Prowls finger…only for it to of course slip off being too big for his intended. Before bouncing comically across the organic mesh flooring.
The group gasped and moaned as Optimus chased after it.
“He dropped the ring”!
“Are you kidding me”?!
“Obviously this mech does not want to get conjuxed”! Roared Alpha Trion.
Optimus finally scraped it off the rug, smiling shyly but seeing the horrified faces of his family he noticed that unfortunately when he was leaning against the floor his candle had lit the fibers of the organic rug.
Optimus tried to snuff out the smoke by stomping on it but was quickly pushed aside by Dai Atlas.
“Out of the way you nitwit”! He yelled.
The whole group tried their best to kill the flame but the smoke just kept growing, the heat eating at the fibers.
“Hoping it doesn't stain,” commented Jazz with a quick kick.
“Stop aiming at my ped”! Yelled Sentinel.
The fire was finally doused out when Ultra Magnus poured the cup of energon onto the carpet. Optimus flinched both from the hard glare directed by his father and Alpha Trion.
“This wedding cannot take place until he is properly prepared”! Said the priest before raising a thin long digit in Optimus' direction “Young mech, learn your vows”!
Looking at the angry glares of most of the mechs in the room Optimus spotted Jazz sliding up to Prowl. With an arm on his shoulder plates in a gesture of concern. Optimus was sure that the pair loathed the mech their sibling was forced to marry.
He rushed out, the last thing he caught was something Lord Starscream said snidely.
“Well, isn’t he a catch”~
Optimus couldn’t bring himself to go home
He walked aimlessly through town, but even there he felt the eyes of every mech and femme passing already knowing his blunder that day.
He sulked against the bridge at the end of town that connected to the chapel, looking at the water as tried to find some relief in the reflection of the watery surface.
“Oh, Prowl” he said out loud “He must think I really am a nitwit….this day can’t get any worse”
“HEAR YE, HEAR YE! REHEARSAL IS RUINED AS MAGNUS YOUNGEST CAUSES CHAOS”! Shouted Cliffjumper the town crier “PRAXIAN FAMILY ALL FIRED UP AS MAGNUS SETS HOME ABLAZE”
Optimus sighed heavily, walking off the bridge and further into the woods nearby.
Up above cipher crows cawed as Optimus walked under the full moon light. Scolding himself further for his blunder at the conjuxing rehearsal, all because he couldn’t say a few lines!
“It really shouldn’t be all that difficult” he muttered “It’s just a few simple vows! I memorized whole textbooks back at the academy! I could do this”!
He breathed before saying “With this servo…I will take your energon-no”! He corrected himself frustrated “With this servo, I will cup-” Optimus face heated up as he yelled another “Oh Primus, no”!
He paced aimlessly around trying all he could to repeat those lines.
“With this candle..with this candle…I will set your house on fire…”
Optimus sighed, wondering if he should just go home in defeat, maybe hope the ceremony will be canceled all together. The mech slumped onto a tree stump before feeling around for the ring in his subspace. As he took it out a small crystal flower also came along with it, somehow twisting itself in Optimus seems.
He looked at the flower for the longest time, before rising to his feet with new determination.
“With this servo, I will lift your sorrows”! Optimus said, raising his own digits up “Your cup will never empty, for I will be your energon”!
Flicking the ring into the air, he smiled with confidence imagining himself in front of his soon to be conjux party “Aw, Lord Jazz! You look well this evening”! He said to large shortage shrub with blue leaves, before turning to a large cyber tree saying “What's that Lord Dai Atlas? Call you sire? Why if you say so”!
Getting into the scene Optimus broke a metal branch announcing, “With this candle, I will light your way in darkness”!
Finally with ring in hand he bent down, finding a perfect blackened dark metal root he slipped the jewelry over.
“With this ring! I ask you to be mine”! He stated, proud of himself for completing all the lines without a hitch.
Optimus took a second to admire the simple gold band that rested perfectly on the root, it was still too big for Prowl but maybe he could talk his sire into-
The wind howled loudly as the cipher crow's calls grew in volume, Optimus shivered as the gust made the root he placed the ring on sway and twitched in an unnerving manner.
Almost like it was really moving.
All of a sudden the roots flexed before grabbing at Optimus and attempting to pull him through the earth. The young mech screamed as he was tugged at. Desperately trying to pull himself free from the iron grip.
Finally his struggles found purchase as he was able to throw himself from the ground, before he could sigh in relief Optimus gasped as he noticed the root or rather the arm still grasping his wrist.
Shaking it away in disgust he watched in horror as the ground began to crack and erupt as something large rose from the earth. Soil and thin roots rolled off a figure who stood tall in front of Optimus, dressed in ratty and torn clothes that shifted eerily in the moonlight with a tarnished metal holding it in place. Two red glowing eyes, the color of burning coals, stared at Optimus.
“This is a certainly an unusual way to propose” the figure, a mech, said in a hollow grave voice “But…I accept”
The large mech then raised its one hand out to Optimus.
Snapped from his panic, the blue and red bot ran through the forest, bumping and tripping along the way. But no matter how much he ran the figure seemed to keep close behind him.
He struggled and fought his way through branches, a glimmer of hope arriving when he caught sight of the bridge leading back to Iacon. Optimus raced forward! Not stopping till he felt his pedes hit the cobblestone of the bridge.
He took a breath and chanced a look behind him and to his relief the nightmarish mech wasn’t there anymore.
Optimus sighed in relief and made to turn towards the direction into the town, but to his shock collided with a solid barreled chassis. Optimus squeaked as he saw it was the frightening mech from before stood in front of him, now with both arms boxing him into the side of the bridge.
And before Optimus could breath out a scream, he felt the mechs chillingly cold breath against his face.
“You may kiss your conjux” they whispered.
Then everything went black.
----- CHAPTER BREAK -----
Optimus gave a heavy groan as his optics fluttered open slowly, his vision wavering before a single large optic blinked at him “A NEW ARRIVAL”!!!
The young noble gasped as he startled fully awake, he could make out now numerous people gathered around him but the only one he recognized was the towering figure that had stalked him through the woods.
But surprisingly the shadowy nightmarish figure that he thought was surely after his soul, was instead leaning down at him with concerned red optics.
“He must have fainted” he said, tenderly placing one servo under Optimus head as he pulled him up.
“Are you alright”? The large grey corpse like mech asked.
“Wha-what happened”? Optimus managed to sputter out.
Before the mech holding him could answer, the same large optic was in front of him again along with its overly large owner “Lord Megatron! Your Conjux Seems To Be Still Living”!
The mech holding him let him go to gently push the other away from Optimus “Yes, Lugnut, I’m aware” he sighed.
Suddenly a small red and white mech pushed forward wearing chef's attire, with wide front denta stretched in a smile and cracked shades over his optics he gave an appreciative whistle at Optimus.
“Ooooh, does he have a dead brother”?
The mech, Megatron pushed him away as well “Be polite, Swerve”
But try as he might, the large mech couldn’t keep another member of the crowd at bay as an even smaller bot, a cassette, dodge pass to lean close to Optimus and pat at his chest plate.
“He’s still soft” they remarked matter of factly.
“Rumble: no need for rudeness”! A mechanical voice scolded from the crowd.
Optimus' breath hitched as he took a good look at the little bot, seeing them covered in missing pieces of armor and their spark plate exposed to show nothing inside. Scrambling up, Optimus noticed in growing horror that he was what looked like a bar and all the bots surrounding him, from the mechs to femmes, were covered in an assortment of wounds and cracked armor. Their paint colors dulled and discolored as if they were…as if they were corpses.
“A toast then”! He saw a yellow minibot call out, so cheerful and upbeat as he swung a large goblet of energon despite having a large sword driven through his tank.
Less cheerful though when after a sip the sword was pulled out by a large warframe mech whose face-plate literally twisted in a cackle at the annoyed look the minibot gave him.
Only to smother it away as his face changed to a calmer deathly pale face-plate to give the minibot a kiss.
“To the newlywedz”!
“Newlyweds”?!! Optimus gasped looking at Megatron.
The mech in question smiled once more, using his ruined arm to grasp Optimus gently by the shoulders “In the woods you said your vows so perfectly”.
“I did”? The young noble gulped as he saw the oversized ring his sire had given him, now on the skeletal servo of a corpse that was apparently now his conjux!
“I always had a fondness for poetry, both in life and now in death” Megatron said with an affectionate voice.
“I did…” Optimus repeated before ripping himself away from Megatron's embrace before grasping the edge of a nearby bar booth and banging his helm against it.
“WAKE-UP! WAKE-UP”! He begged, wanting all of this to be a terrible nightmare. Some pre-ceremony jitters before he was set to marry Prowl.
He only stopped when he felt heavy cold hands grasp him again.
“Stop that, you’ll hurt yourself sweet-spark” said Megatron.
Optimus was going to turn around and make a storm about this walking corpse speaking so familiar to him, till he heard a series of thumps make they’re way towards him on the table. Looking over he saw to his amazement a large blue metallic cube bounce awkwardly against the bar.
“Coming-through, coming-through”! A voice said from within the cube, before jumping high and stretching out into a lithe blue speedster.
The young noble flinched at the numerous cracks and crushed metal of the bot as they grasped his hands to shake his servo.
“The-name-is-Blurr” they said speedily “And-I-am-the-head-waiter-and-the-mech-who-will-be-planning-your-wedding-feast”!
“Hey, don’t take all the credit Blurr”! the mech, Swerve, called out.
“Yeah”! Said another minibot, with faded white armor and standing beside a larger purple mech. Both wore the same chef's uniform as Swerve.
A large blue bot with a yellow visor walked forward, with several ruined cassette bots huddled over his shoulder with mischievous grins.
“Soundwave: salivating”
This was finally enough for Optimus as he yanked his hand out of Blurs grasp and fumbled backwards in a panic.
“Keep away”! He demanded, pushing himself from the walking offline bots.
All the bots optics in the room were on him, their graying discolored optics. Optimus scrambled for a weapon, fearing the horde of corpses. He barely registered the sword handle he picked up as he waved it in front of the crowd-
“I got a-a-”!
And realized it had the yellow bot from earlier
“-I got a minibot” he continued lamely “And I’m not afraid to use him! Now I want questions”!
“Answers” the yellow minibot corrected, not looking the least bit bothered from being dangled on the weapon Optimus was holding “I think you mean answers, my bot”
“Thanks, yes, answers”! Optimus politely said “I need answers! What's going on here”?! He yelled to Megatron “Where am I? And who even are you”!
For once the large grey mech face-plate broke into an awkward expression.
“Well, that's kind of a long story” he mumbled.
“And What A Story It Is”! A voice rang out.
Optimus and everyone's optics shifted to a corner of the room featuring a stage, where a red and orange mech stood. The young nobleman tank lurched as he saw the mech covered in several painful looking rust lesions and sores.
But that didn’t diminish the confident smile he threw to the audience who cheered him on.
“A tale of romance, passion, and murder most foul”!
“This is going to be good, you're going to love Rodimuses shows”! Bumblebee said excitedly, Optimus set the minibot down briskly.
“Hit it my bots”! Said the bot named Rodimus, snapping his fingers and sending dust of rust to flake off.
A series of bots arrived on stage making macabre forms of musical sounds from their creaking bodies while one member of their party began to play the piano. Rodimus glided on stage as he continued to rub at his rust covered arms, Optimus metal shuddered as pieces began to sprinkle the floor.
“Hey! Give me a listen, my dead femmes and mechs
Optics up here! Keep your audibles bent!
I'll tell you a story that'll make a sparkling bawl,
Of our own jubiliciously lovely dead, Mega-tron”!~
The mechs on stage began to sway and dance as they sang in a chorus before a stage light glowed exclusively down at Megatron.
“Die, die,
We all offline someday!
You don’t need to cry,
Cause it's really okay!
You might try to hide,
and you might try to pray,
But we all end up the remains of the day”!~
Optimus tried to take this chance to scamper away but the three faced mech that the yellow minibot was dancing with, grabbed his arm to keep him still.
“Well there was a general,
known from miles around-”~
To the young nobles' amazement the rust on the floor began to shift and gather up in the air, forming images against the lights and shadows to form a visual story.
“-when a mysterious stranger came into town.
He was plenty good looking!
But down on his cash”~
The silhouettes shifted to the rough form of Megatron and leaning besides him was a winged figure that felt oddly familiar to Optimus.
“And our poor dear mech?
He fell hard and fast!
But when his sire said no!
He just couldn’t cope!
So the lover came up with a plan to elope”!~
Soon the crowd began to join in the singing as well, dancing and swaying as they repeated the chorus. The mechs on stage were even using their own bodies as elaborate instruments, taking off limbs to use as trumpets, taping their own ruined metal chassis, and even opening their own platting to strum their wires that once ran with life-giving energon.
“Die, die,
We all offline someday!
You don’t need to cry,
Cause it's really okay!
You might try to hide,
and you might try to pray,
But we all end up the remains of the day”!~
Optimus was soon forced into the gruesome dance, being pulled this way and that by different fembots and mechs. With the singer, Rodimus himself, pulling him this way and that in elaborate fashions before jumping back on stage and bringing Megatron with him.
“So they conjured up a plan to meet late at night!
They told not a soul, kept the whole thing tight
Now in his sires ceremony cloth fit like a glove,
you don't need much when you're really in love!
Except for a few things, or so I'm told
Like the family jewels and a satchel of gold”!~
The rust shifted creating a scene of the shadow Megatron waiting by a twisted tree, looking back and forth, obviously waiting for someone.
“Then next to the graveyard by the old oak tree,
on a dark foggy night at a quarter to three.
That mech was ready to go, but where was he?
Suddenly the crowd stopped their joyful dancing as they huddled close to Optimus and whispered in unison in hushed tones.“And then”?
“He waited”~
“And then"?
“There in the shadows, was it his mech?~
“And then”?
“His spark beat so loud” ~
“And then”?
Rodimus hesitated, looking sadly as he made the rust flakes form a sinister winged shadow engulfing the form of Megatron.
“And then, my mechs, everything went black” ~
The whole room went dark for a click before a light shone, showing Rodimus sitting on top of the piano.
“Now when his opened his optics he was gray as dust,
His jewels were missing, and his spark was bust”! ~
Rodimus jumped up approaching Optimus, pulling him close as he continued to sing.
“So he made a vow lying under that tree,
that he'd wait for his true love to come set him free
Always waiting for someone to ask for his spark”~
Rodimus then pushed Optimus towards Megatron who the crowd made space for. Megatron offered a smile as he held out the same ruined servo with his family's ring.
“When out of the park,
comes this groovy young mech!
Who vows forever to be by his,
Till dusk and dawn”~
Optimus was suddenly launched forward into Megatron's arms who spun him around quickly, till he fell to the floor as Megatron's arm collapsed. Optimus slapped it away as it clung onto his waist, and he hastily got up. Then, like a long-awaited prayer, he spotted a staircase and readily made his way towards it while passing the corpses who were once again dancing.
“And that's the story of our own,
Mega-tron”!~
He caught Rodimus' last line as he raced up the stairs and just as he slammed the door open, but just before he made it outside he heard Megatron cry out his name.
“Optimus”!But he was determined to keep going, to find some way to escape this nightmare.