00; A Gift From Above

By Phoenixfire90

Prologue; A Dawning Of A New Era On Cybertron

Not long after the Allspark was found, peace was restored and a new burning sun was created using the Allspark.

Life on Cybertron has changed for the better.

Not long ago we were warring tribes, fighting over dwindling Energon supplies.

Now we are all truly one.

We can now rebuild our lives, settle down, start families again without fear of the war.

Just before we found the Allspark; Optimus married that warrior girl.

What was her name? Oh yeah Ariel.

Megatron was thankfully away from the tribe at the time and none of us told him till later that Ariel was married to his Step-brother.

Why all this fuss over Megatron and Ariel?

Well, let’s just say they both wanted the girl; both fought each other for her and well, didn’t end too well.

I should note this situation has been taking place for years and frankly it’s only just stopped.

I’ve even recently heard that she’s now expecting.

But I don’t know if this is true, I haven’t seen or heard from Optimus in sometime to ask him.

But now the Allspark’s been found and our planet now orbits a sun, thus place should be better for any future generations to come.

Just like it was when the Dynasty of Primes ruled.

But that was such a long time ago, so long that I can't remember when they disappered.

And then The Three Guardians Of The Primes got murdered.

After that it went into chaos.

The planet itself started dying from lack energy and we started fighting other tribes for what was left.

But now it’s a dawning of a new era for Cybertron and for us really.

But it just won’t be the same without old Sunrise.

My dearest friend...

I’ll miss her dearly; I’ll miss her song that she used to sing right across Cybertron, I’ll miss her visiting me Iacon City every now and then.

Things just won’t be the same...

But there’s no point in dwindling in the past, you can’t change it, we must move on.

I’m now considering retirement from my leadership role.

But who should I pick to succeed me?

Megatron, Ultra Magnus or... Optimus?

Megatron’s ill-temper and loose cannon attitude is too bad, Ultra Magnus is nice bot but he just doesn’t feel comfortable in command.

Optimus on the other hand has shown time and time again that he’s very comfortable in command and that the fact he can command and command very well at that.

He has the making of a great leader inside of him.

He’s compassionate, caring, but also firm and brave.

No surprise considering his blood-line, he was born to lead literally.

But right now he’s got a lot on his plate, so retirement won’t be for me for some time yet.

I already told Optimus about my plans in private, I also told him about his blood-line and how I wanted him to take over from me, but being himself he was too humble too accept and I think he didn’t believe me about his heritage.

Poor robot, he’s an orphan who got taken in by Magnus’s family along with Megatron. I knew it would be too much for him to take in, what I honestly expected.

But I fear we may have been overheard.

So I’ll wait a while after Ariel has had the Sparklings then I’ll decide what to do.

Chapter 1, The Waiting Parents.

Location: Planet Cybertron, Iacon City, Nexus Apartment Complex, Floor 16; Apartment number 214, Home to Ariel & Optimus.

(From Optimus’s point of view)

I love my new home, only been here for a little while and already I’ve settled in. I mean the view from this balcony to second to none. I can see the entire city of Iacon from here.

"Optimus dear." A voice said behind me.

I should change what I said just there, our, our home.  I turned around to see my dear love of my life, Ariel.

You wouldn't believe it, but she's pregnant, she doesn't look it but she is.

She smiled, came up to me, hugged and kissed me; I touched her chest, felt one of my kids move.

"Shouldn't you be lying down my dear?" I asked.

"Hey, remember what First Aid said, he said I should continue on as normal."

I kissed her again, she went back into the living room to lie down and read her book.

She married me and found out she was pregnant before the Allspark was found, then again we only found the Allspark about week and a half ago.

Three months in, one month to go before the birth. I remember about two months ago, First Aid said it could be a boy and a girl. 

What should we call our Sparklings? I had asked my wife countless times, but we don't have a clue.

"I'm glad that monster isn’t in town right now!" Ariel shouted to me.

"What monster?" I asked.

"Your horrible Step-brother, Megatron. I don't want him anywhere near me when I give birth!!"

"Alright, alright!! Remember what the doctor said; don't get your Energon pressure up." I moved back into the room and continued, "And besides my brother isn't a monster..... yes, he's mean, but that's just him."

She said nothing to that. She hates my Step-brother.

The last I recall seeing him was just after we found the Allspark, before I had that talk with Sentinel Prime. You wouldn’t believe what Sentinel said to me. He said I was a Prime and when he retires I should take over as the leader of Cybertron (or something like that). I told him that I didn’t believe him and that I wasn’t ready for leadership. He was very disappointed when I said that.

*Heavy sigh* Well, on the bright side Ariel's got one more scan at the hospital soon.

I closed the balcony doors and sat back down, across from my wife.

I started to relax when Ariel asked."What do you want to name them, Optimus dear?"

"Honestly, I don't know." I thought for a second about star constellations then I said, "How about, if ones a boy, Draco?"

I got up and sat down besides her, she sat up and I put my hand on top of the spark chamber, feeling the Sparklings reaction to the names.

"Draco, that’s a nice name." She replied.

I felt a small kick from one of them as she said the name.

"Okay, by the looks of things he likes it as well. Okay, how about, if ones a girl, Phoenix?"

"No, that's a boy’s name!"

"Are you sure?" I asked.

She nodded her head.

But I felt a punch from one of them.

"Well, I think she likes it, but let me improve on that name. How about Phoenixfire?"

This name started the unborn child kicking and punching, we both looked at each other, she felt it, and I felt it.

"Well Phoenixfire and Draco it is." She said.

*Sigh* I still remember the night she told me....

FLASHBACK

3 months ago.

I had just come home from work and was studying some reports on the living-room table.

She came in and sat across from me, she looked a bit worried.

I knew something was the matter so I stopped writing.

"Optimus... I've got something to tell you." She said, keeping her voice low.

We held a silence, then, "You're going to be a father...”

I was shocked at hearing this, at first I thought she was joking, but the serious look changed my mind.

"I'm going to be a what?" I asked.

"I'm pregnant you IDIOT!! Opps sorry, side affect of all this."

At first I never said anything, "Did you go to the doctors?" I then asked.

"Yeah. I’ve felt ill for the last few days so I went to First Aid. Don't know how many, don't know what gender it is, all I know is that I'm pregnant."

I smiled at the news and shouted, "This calls for a celebration!!"

"Ok honey, but, tonight don't go out drinking, specially with that no good brother of yours, Megatron.

Every time you have a drink with him you get in a fight!! Oh sorry!" She said.

"No, no your right, besides he's the one who starts the fights, I just get dragged in."

She started laughing to herself.

END OF FLASHBACK

Now we wait.

Just then the phone rang and my wife picked it up.

“Hello? Sentinel Prime, nice to hear from you again. Oh heard that rumour then. Yeah it’s true. Two we think. I know how could he keep such big news from his friends. True, Magnus would only get jealous and Megatron, he’s already jealous of us. You want to speak with Optimus?”

I shook my head quickly and whispered. “I’m not here!”

She nodded her head and said into the phone. “He’s not here at the moment, can I take a message?”

For a few minutes there was silence as Sentinel said something to her.

She then sighed, and then yelled “OPTIMUS!! IT’S SENTINEL PRIME!!”

I got up and took the phone off her as she went into the kitchen to tidy up some more.

“Good evening Sentinel. Before we continue on, what did you say to her just then?” I asked.

“I said that I knew you were there and not to lie to me.” He answered.

“But how did you know?”

“When she says ‘He’s not here at the moment, can I take a message?’ that usually means you’re there and you’re just avoiding me.”

I sighed deeply and he continued. “For the last week you’ve been avoiding me and don’t deny it, why Optimus why?”

“Look Sentinel, I respect you as a father figure and all but you know fine well why I’ve been avoiding you.” I said.

“If you mean that talk we had...”

“What else could it be? Look I’ve got enough on my plate at the moment with Sparklings on the way and a family to run. I’m not ready to lead, give that job to someone who can do and who wants it. And I’m sorry I couldn’t accompany you to Trypticon but unlike you, I have family commitments.”

“Optimus will shut up for two minutes and listen to me. I didn’t phone you about that. Megatron’s been attacked.” He said.

I stiffened when I heard that and said. “What?”

“You’re brother’s been attacked by a Driller monster. He was talking to Shockwave in Thetacon when a field trip of Hatchlings got attacked along with their guardian. They of course fought the monster and they beat it into a retreat, thank Primus.”

“Was Megatron injured?” I asked.

“No, not as I know. But it came close.” He answered.

“Where is he now?”

“He’s heading to Trypticon. This brings us to the second thing I phoned you about.” He said.

“What is it?” I said, knowing he bringing this back to that chat we had.

“Look you remember the chat we had last time we met and you said something about science, how you loved to study it or something like that. Anyway I have a brilliant idea.”

“I’m listening.” I said.

“I was thinking about that conversation we had and how about this, instead of one leader ruling the planet. How about two leaders co-ruling and what if both leaders commanded two different parts of the job. Like the Defense Force and the Science Division. Thus said leaders have time to do other stuff.”

I can see where this is going before you say, so I asked the question I knew he wanted me to ask.

“And whom would be these leaders?”

“You and Megatron.”

Oh no, that was asking for trouble.

“Who would be commanding what?” I asked.

“Since you are a mech of science Optimus, you would be commanding the Science Division. Your Step-brother Megatron since he has a knack for violence and guns he’ll command the Defense Force and will acquire the name ‘Lord High Protector of Cybertron’.”

Well, maybe this won’t cause trouble, especially since he’s getting both his favourite job and name title.

“That sounds a good idea. Have you told Megatron yet?” I said and I meant it too.

“Yes I told him yesterday, that’s why he’s heading to Trypticon. I’m going to announce this at the first Cybertron Unification Day celebration. So do you think you can make it to Trypticon by tomorrow morning?” He asked.

“I don’t know, I think Ariel might have something to say about that.” I said.

“Wait Ariel, Optimus you’re a mech you can make your own decisions. Don’t let her make them for you.” He said.

I sighed as Ariel came in and sat down.

“I’ll take the next high-speed train to Trypticon and I’ll meet you tomorrow morning. Bye.” I said putting the phone down.

I turned around to face my wife; she was still sitting down but with her legs crossed and an impatient look on her face.

“What did he say?” She asked coldly.

So I told her about Sentinel’s idea (I left out what happened to Megatron in case she laughed), about the two leaders thing and who would be leading what.

“Megatron leading the Defense Force!?! Has Sentinel lost his old mind??” She cried when I told her.

“I actually think it’s a good idea.” I answered.

“Optimus you know what he’s like. Giving him power over the defence of this planet will cause nothing but trouble and you know it.” She said.

“Look honey, don’t worry about it. I’ll keep an optic on him, just for you.” I said as I kissed her on the head.

“You’re heading to Trypticon then.” She asked.

I nodded my head and she then asked. “When are you coming back?”

“Tomorrow night, why?” I said.

“My hospital scan is tomorrow afternoon, do you think can make that?”

“I think I can, I’ll phone you if I can’t make it.” I said.

I headed towards the door and as I opened it, I turned back and asked. “Will you be okay on your own?”

“Don’t worry about us honey, Phoenixfire, Draco and I will be fine.” I said with a warm smile.

I said bye and left for Trypticon.

Chapter 2, Cybertron Unification Day

The Next Day somewhere near Kaon, after Sentinel’s Prime speech back in Trypticon.

(From Optimus’s point of view)

It wasn’t along after the long speech, my step-brothers and I decided to spend the rest of the afternoon in Maccadam's Old Oil House and talk things through.

“I think a toast and congratulations are in order Megatron.” I said raising my glass of High-Grade Energon.

“To Megatron, Optimus and the future of Cybertron!!” Ultra Magnus cried in joy as we drank.

The old male bartender who was listening in turned his attention to us and asked. “What are you three celebrating about?”

So we told him about the Sentinel Prime’s speech in Trypticon but half-way through the bartender put his hand up to stop us talking and said. “Say no more, I know what you’re talking about. And let me guess, you two boys,” He pointed at Megatron and I. “Are the new leaders everyone’s talking about.”

“Yes,” Megatron growled, “I’m the head of the Defence Force; my goodie-two-shoes-brother here is leading the Science Division...”

“And may I ask brother, what is wrong with leading the Science Division?” I asked him.

“Oh come on. All your team does is digging up rusty old relics.” Megatron droned.

“And, control the main politics of the planet with the help of the Defence and the Security Force of course.” I informed him.

Ultra Magnus then asked the bartender. “How did you know about all this?”

The bartender took a minute to remember something, and then as the piano-bot started playing that dreadful tune he said. “One of those old Thetacons came in here not long before you three came in, he was talking about something like this was the start of bright new future for Cybertron and its people. He told me about the speech and all that. He left just a few minutes ago.”

“Wait did this mech look old, have two large guns attached to each arm and have a scar across his right eye?” I asked.

The bartender nodded his head and said, “I never forget a face that walks through that door.”

“Ironhide...” I mumbled.

So with that subject over we took another drink and changed the subject.

“So, I saw you were talking to Elita-1 earlier again.” Ultra Magnus said.

“Yeah she was introducing me to her sisters, Chromia and Arcee. She asked if Arcee and herself could join my Science Division.” I said.

“And??” Both brothers said waiting for me to continue.

“Well, I said that they would be welcome to join.” I answered.

“What about Chromia?” Megatron asked.

“I think she’s joining up with the Defence Force.” I said.

Ultra Magnus started chuckling to himself then said to me. “I think Elita might have crush on you.”

“No... You think??” I asked him.

“Primus yeah. I think she was Sparkbroken when you married her best friend. But in my opinion you married the right female.” Magnus said.

“Wasn’t it Elita that introduced you to Ariel in the first place?” Megatron asked.

Yeah it was now that I think of it, which was ages before we found the Allspark during the war against Thetacons. I nodded my head in response.

The bartender stopped polishing the Energon glasses and said. “You’re married??”

“Yeah, married and expecting Sparklings.” I said proudly.

“Congratulations mate.” The bartender said with a smile.

I was taking another drink of Energon when I suddenly remembered something.

Oh Damn, oh damn!! I forgot Ariel’s hospital appointment!!!

Oh man she’s going to kill me for this!!!

I slammed my glass on the table, causing both my step-brothers and the bartender to look at me in surprise.

I let go of the glass, got up quickly and said. “I’ve got to go. Ariel’s waiting for me at the hospital for her scan and I’m late!!!”

I ran out the door and transformed into truck mode.

An Hour and a Half a Later, in Iacon General Hospital

I walked in and headed for the cafe.

Ariel and I agreed sometime after we first found out she was pregnant, that if I got called into work on a day she was having her hospital scan, we’d meet in the hospital cafe before or after the scan.

Hopefully she should still be there.

As I got there the cafe was mostly empty, a few medics were sat at a table talking and sitting at a nearby table was my dear Ariel.

She was sitting there on her own, sipping a cup of hot Energon and reading a data-pad book.

She looked up at me and her face said it all.

Anger and disappointment.

“Where were you?” She asked coldly as she turned her attention back to her book.

“I was with Sentinel Prime, speaking to him about politics and I lost track of time.” I lied.

I really couldn’t say that I was drinking with Megatron and Magnus in Maccadam's Old Oil House, she’d go absolutely crazy.

“No you weren’t, I phoned Sentinel just half an hour ago. He said you went to Maccadam’s Old Oil House to have a few rounds with Megatron and Magnus...” She said narrowing her optics.

Damn, ratted out by the old-timer, harsh.

“In my defence,” I said before she could continue. “Megatron suggested the idea to celebrate Cybertron Unification Day and to talk ideas and that through. And when we voted on the idea, I was outnumbered.”

“No excuses dear, my scan’s in fifteen minutes. You were almost late!” She snapped.

It was clear that I had put her in foul mood so she got up and we made our way to the ward, all the way I kept my mouth shut.

When we got there I talked to the receptionist and we were asked to sit down and wait.

While we waited, Ariel didn’t say a single word to me. She was that angry at me.

Just then Nurse Beta called us and she led us to Doctor First Aid.

"Ah Ariel, Optimus, nice to see you two again. How are the Sparklings?" He asked.

"Restless.” She said as she lied down on the medic table.

The scanner came out and scanned her whole body, and then centred at her chest.

First Aid then typed in a command on the keyboard, this made an image appear on a screen.

The picture was of the Sparklings and by the looks of things, they both looked healthy.

"You're a perfect weight Miss Ariel, and your Sparklings are very healthy." The doctor admitted.

“When are they due?” I asked the doc.

“If you want my opinion, by my calculations they should be born on... Cybertronian New Years Day which is still a month away.” The doc-bot said.

She smiled, and then she asked, "What happens if I can't make it to the hospital at all?"

"Then just call Beta, she'll get a delivery team together and they'll come to you." He said, looking at the nurse in question, she nodded her head.

"You mean I can have a home birth?" My wife asked.

"If that's what you want and you feel comfortable with it." First Aid answered.

She then said she'd do that and it was something nice and natural.

Then I asked a question, "What happens if I get called into work that day?"

"Well I doubt that will happen since it's a holiday, but if you do, then Ariel will tell us to phone you."

That was good to know I thought. I often get called in for work in the middle of the night.

My wife got up and dusted herself off, shook the medic's hands and we left.

On the way back to our home we started talking again. The bad mood must have past and she was quite happy again.

"So what do you think the Sparklings will look like?" She asked.

"I'm not sure. Maybe they'll look like you, or me." I replied.

"Or both of us."

We were quiet until... "OW!" My wife yelled and came to a sudden halt.

I asked her what was wrong, her reply was, "Well, if anything's to go by then one of them is a fighter like you."

As arrived at our apartment, we opened the door and the phone went, "Hello?" I asked as Ariel went into the kitchen to make dinner.

"Oh Optimus it’s you,” Said the voice on the phone. “It’s Arcee, is Ariel home?”

“Yes she’s here.” I said.

I put my hand on the speaker and yelled. “Honey, it’s for you!!”

“Who is it!?” She called back.

She always asks that when somebody calls for her, in case it’s Megatron...

“It’s Arcee!” I answered.

She came out of the kitchen, took the phone of me and said. “Hello Arcee. How was the speech?”

Chapter 3, The Birth Of Phoenixfire and Draco

A month later, 4 a.m.; Cybertronian New Year.

(From Optimus's point of view)

RING RING!! RING RING!!

"Ariel! Could you get that?" I yelled.

I was in bed with her at the time the phone went; I'd only just got to sleep as well.

"Hello? Yeah... Uh ah, yes he's here." She covered speaker part of the phone and said, "It's your brother."

"*YAWN* Which one?" I asked.

"Magnus, its Ultra Magnus." She replied as she pasted the phone to me, I sat up and said, "What is it Magnus, it's... four in the morning and it's a world-wide holiday."

“I know Optimus. I’m phoning because Sentinel Prime is holding a meeting of both his advisors and the best scientists on Cybertron. And he wants us to be there.”

“What!? Why!?! He knows fine well it’s our day off.” I groaned loudly.

"I know, I know, don't go whining to me. I was asleep when Sentinel Prime phoned. He said that he wants to discuss some promising archaeology sites on Cybertron and he can’t do that without us."

"What this early in the morning?” I asked.

“Look Optimus I’ve already tried to talk him out of holding the meeting this early when he was on the phone to me but I couldn’t. And he told me to call both you and Megatron.”

“Where is he holding the meeting?”

“Trypticon City.”

"Damn, it’s going to take me ages to get there, even on the train. Alright I'll be there as soon as I can. Bye...” I put the phone down and switched on the lamp.

"Ultra Magnus says Sentinel Prime wants me to meet both him and my Step-brothers in Trypticon City. Maybe I should phone my brother back and tell him I've got to keep an optic on you today." I pressed the redial button on the phone, but Ariel grabbed the phone off me and put it back down.

"Look honey. Phoenixfire, Draco and I will be fine. We'll just keep resting." She said.

"But..."

"But nothing dear. We'll be fine and if I feel they're ready, then I'll just phone Beta and she'll come here with her team. Don't worry and don't risk your job."

I turned around, smiled at her and said. "I love you Ariel. You are an angel, thank you!”

I got up, put my armour on and ran out of the door.

Three hours later, in Trypticon city.

“So besides Simfur, where are the other excavation sites?” I asked.

“Well, I’ve also found potential sites in Kalis, Nova Cronum and Tagon Heights.” Sentinel Prime answered.

I’ve been here for the last two hours now. I would have been here earlier but the trains got delayed again and then I hit morning rush hour.

I can certainly say Sentinel was far from pleased when I finally turned up. But he had forgiven me and moved on to the subject at hand.

So, as you can see, we were just discussing where to start excavating.

Megatron looked both bored and tired of this whole thing and Ultra Magnus was only here because he was my other Step-brother and my advisor.

“And may I ask Sentinel, but why do you need me here?” Megatron hissed.

“Because Megatron, some of your troops will have to stand guard over the excavation sites when the work begins. And I also want your honest thoughts on the subject.” My mentor said.

“You want my honest opinion!? Fine, I think this whole thing is a waste of time! I mean what is the honest point of digging up old junk and looking at it.”

“Old junk!?!” Wheeljack cried in disgust. “How can you say that Megatron. That ‘old junk’ is the only link to Cybertron’s past and it could be the key to all of our futures.”

“And for the record Megatron,” Perceptor said calmly, “we’re not looking at it, we’re studying it.”

“Same thing...” Megatron hissed.

“Moving on.” I said before the scientists and my step-brother started arguing or fighting.

“Look we can’t excavate in Simfur right now.” I continued, “Because the former Thetacons are building a temple there. So I think the one that’s closest to Iacon will be the first.”

“Nova Cronum it is then.” Sentinel Prime said, “Now just to pick out the points in the city we’ll excavate and...”

But just as he was finishing his sentence he was interrupted by somebody’s phone ringing.

Everybody looked around to see whose phone it was.

Then everybody looked at me and I noticed it was my phone ringing.

My Spark started beating wildly as I put out my shaky hand to pick it up.

“Hello?” I said.

“Hello Optimus, its Nurse Beta.”

Alarm bells started ringing in my head as I said. “How’s Ariel?”

“She’s doing fine Optimus. She started to give birth and she wants you down here as soon as you can." She said on the other side.

I slammed the phone down, said sorry to everyone and ran out the HQ.

But not before hearing Sentinel saying. “What’s wrong with him?”

An Hour and 1/2 later in the apartment.

I pretty much flew though the doors to the apartment.

A nurse was waiting for me in the living room, she smiled and said. "Ah Optimus, you can't go in right now," she was pointing to the closed bedroom door, "you could be in for a long wait."

"That's fine, just as long as I know that she's okay."

The nurse nodded her head, opened the door and went in the room.

Of course I tried to follow her but I walked straight into the closing door.

So I decided to sit down on the sofa and wait.

For the next hour and a half, I waited, blocking out the noise from the bedroom then...

"WAAAAA WA WA WA!!"

Was that sound what I think it was?

Thirty minutes later Beta came out, I stood up quickly as if a cyberwasp had strung me and I started asking questions.

But I suddenly stopped talking when I noticed a small blanketed bundle in her arms and I took a closer look at what she was holding.

The bundle moved and then started crying.

She said, "Congratulations Optimus... It’s a girl.”

I then realised that this was my first newborn child in her arms; Beta then handed her to me and went back into the bedroom, closing the door behind her.

I sat back down and looked at this newborn Sparkling in my arms, she was still crying and there was still Spark goo on her closed optic-lids.

And she looked just like me...

I smiled sweetly but she still kept crying. This at least this drowned out the noise from the bedroom.

But I tried everything to calm her down but nothing was working.

Then a hand, made its way out of the blanket and she then grabbed my hand and held it tightly.

This stopped her crying at last. And then she opened her optics.

Her optics were beautiful, in fact the most beautiful optics I’ve ever seen. Even more beautiful than her mother’s optics.

And that’s saying something.

But those optics didn’t look anything like mine, but they looked exactly like Ariel’s.

As she stared at me she looked very confused.

I guess she was expecting her mother to be the first thing she saw, not her father.

“Hello little one.” I whispered to her.

She chirped back and then started to suck her thumb.

Then as I was rocking her back and forth in my arms, I heard. “WWWWWWWAAAAAA WA WA WA WWAAAA!!!!!”

I raised my head and looked at the door as the crying continued from the room.

That was my second child crying.

It was a while before Beta came out again looking for me.

She smiled at me and my daughter and then said. “She’s ready to see you now Optimus.”

I got up and walked into the bedroom with my daughter in my arms.

And sitting up on the bed was Ariel, holding a second blanketed bundle.

"There's my beautiful daughter! It's good to see you too Optimus." She said.

"It's good to see you as well, how is it?" I asked.

"He's fine."

"He?"

"Yes, a lovely baby boy and he looks just like you Optimus."

I came round to the side of the bed and handed back the girl, at the same time I looked at the boy.

He looked just like me and my daughter with the same optics as Ariel’s.

And after Ariel had fed them both, I noticed something strange.

The ears, they had the same birthmark on them that I had.

And on the hands of the Sparklings was another birthmark, those birthmarks looked just like a phoenix and a dragon.

The girl had a dragon mark; the boy had a phoenix mark.

I told my wife this; she said that the latter ones matched their names.

Wait... The names. Oh Damnit, I forgot them, what were they again?

Oh yeah, Phoenixfire and Draco.

Yeah, good names, at least that was what the nurses said when I mentioned it.

And yes I cried, but can you blame me.

I then asked Beta and her delivery team if they'd come to the party at my base in Iacon City.

They said they would be delighted.

After they left we took a nap, but this was short-lived.

2 p.m.

"WAAAAAAAAAAAA WAAAAAAAAAAA WA WA WAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!"

"Ariel!!"

"Optimus!!"

Chapter 4, Sparklings Of Optimus

Three weeks later, in the middle of the night...

(From Optimus's point of view)

"WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA WAAAAAAAAAAAA WA!!!!!"

That's what woke me up, Primus, not again.

"Optimus!!! Phoenixfire's crying!" Ariel yelled in my audio receptors.

"I'm on it." I muttered back as I got up from bed.

I slowly walked down the hallway, passing photos and books, until I got to the nursery.

I entered the room and switched on the lights, in one crib was Draco awake but not crying; instead he was staring at his older sister, who was in the second crib crying her optics out.

I picked her up and told Draco to try and get back to sleep.

Phoenix on the other hand, had stopped crying when she noticed me.

I then rubbed her head, while I was doing that I heard a growling noise from the Energon Storage Unit, she was hungry.

"Ariel!!! Where are the Energon bottles?" I yelled.

"In the cupboard dear!!" She yelled back.

So with that I took Phoenix into the kitchen, placed her on the table and searched the cupboards.

Eventually I found one; I picked it up and put it in her mouth.

She accepted it without trouble and finished it quickly.

I picked her up and stared to make our way back to the nursery.

She kept hold of the empty bottle as we left the kitchen, but when we walked out of the door she started to shake it and put it in her mouth again...

She was trying to tell me something, but she couldn't talk yet, thankfully I understood what she was trying to say.

"Dear!!! Phoenix is still hungry!!!" I yelled into the bedroom.

"Give her another bottle then, while you're at it, give Draco one too." She yelled back.

So with that I got the other twin, put them on both on the table and got them both bottles.

As usual she finished it first and then she did something that shocked me.

Draco had only drunk half of the watered down Energon milk and he was doing it slowly and happily.

His sister then grabbed the half-full bottle off him and she drunk it instead, this whole thing caused him to cry loudly, very loudly.

She continued to drink it until she looked up at me, I had my hands on my sides and was tapping my foot on the floor, I said, "Phoenixfire, give that bottle back to your brother."

She handed the quarter empty bottle back then he whacked her on the head with it. Oddly she didn't cry, I guess she knew she had it coming.

When he had finished I took them both back to their room and got back to sleep.

The next morning.

*YAWN*

I turned to see that Ariel wasn't there, but I could hear her in the kitchen and the children laughing in the living room.

I slowly got out of bed; I wasn't in a hurry so I looked at the clock.

10.45 a.m.

I usually started work at 11, but since I was taking care of the kids Sentinel Prime gave me six months off.

But I was heading into work later with Ariel and the children.

Why? Because I asked Sentinel if we could hold a party there and invite some friends a few days ago, he said that would be fine if he was invited, I was going to invite him anyway so I said yes.

I entered the living room to see Draco and Phoenix sucking on Energon-milk bottles, their optics followed me as I headed for the kitchen.

"Good morning dear, how did you sleep?" Ariel asked.

I replied that I had a good sleep and inquired how she was.

She was fine too.

I then asked how the kids were; she said they were fine after last night and that they were hungry... again!

We took our breakfast to the dining table to eat. While we both ate the Sparklings played with each other nearby.

When we were done, my wife got the pram out and put the Sparklings in it and put the blanket over them, she also put bottles, toys and other stuff besides in the pram basket underneath.

With that we both left for the Iacon HQ...

Two Hours Later in the Iacon HQ.

"Oh Optimus they're so beautiful."

"Yeah, twins too! What a rare sight!"

My work partners were going gaga over my children, even Sentinel loved them.

He had even got two rattles for them, through Phoenix being Phoenix she thanked him by whacking him on the nose with one.

“Ow! What a troublesome little female. I wonder who she gets it from.” Prime said.

“She must have got it from Ariel because I wasn’t a trouble-maker when I was a child.” I said.

At this comment Sentinel started laughing.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“Get real Optimus, there wasn’t a moment when you weren’t a little trouble-maker. And your adopted parents knew it.” He said smiling.

“Most of the trouble I got in when I was a kid was because of Megatron.” I justified.

“Very true Optimus.” He said nodding his head.

“Speaking of kids, how are the newborn Hatchlings?” I asked.

“Absolutely fine. Flatline can’t keep up with the rate they’re hatching at. And all of the new parents couldn’t be happier.”

“That’s good to hear.” I said grinning.

I looked back to my son as he started to play with the other rattle, and then he put it in his mouth and sucked it.

My old friend Ratchet and Wheeljack were glad that after I had left that meeting in a hurry, everything had went well.

Beta and her team turned up as well and they were saying things like, "Oh they've grown quite a bit since I delivered them." and other things besides.

The females work-partners were happy that there friend had kids while my mates asked if I was up for a drink tonight, I mentioned that since they were born I haven't drank and I wasn't going to change that now.

All of us were very happy, until...

"Megatron!?!" One robot shouted.

My wife and I turned around to see my other step-brother sitting on an office chair, legs up on the desk above us on another platform.

I should mention now that Ariel carries a small weapons belt around her hips, on that was a small gun and two swords.

She drew those swords and put them in a guarding position in the air as an X, she barked, "WHAT ARE YOU DOING BACK!!"

"Well it’s been ages since I last set foot in Iacon City and its HQ. And I’ve been hearing of rogue Transformers in the area so I thought ‘why not visit my brother and his very beautiful wife while I’m here’." He answered.

"Alright, so beat it then! I'm sure you've got other things to do!!" She snapped back.

"I don't know," He said, getting out of the chair, "I come back to Iacon after a month of being out of town and this is the welcome I get. I have a feeling that I’m not wanted here.”

“Whatever gave you that idea?” Ariel sarcastically said.

Sentinel narrowed his optics and finally stepped in saying. “Megatron this is not a good time for a visit.”

“And why isn’t....” But he had suddenly stopped mid-sentence, staring at the pram behind us.

He then jumped down and pushed his way through the party and looked at the Sparklings in the pram then at us.

“Are these your Sparklings?” He asked.

“Yes brother, your niece and nephew.” I said as my wife relaxed and put her swords back on her belt, but she kept staring at Megatron in suspicion.

“I guess that’s why you ran out of that meeting three weeks ago.” He said.

I nodded my head, putting my hand on my wife’s shoulder.

He looked closer at my Sparklings in the pram and asked, "So what are these little cybermites* (*termites), I mean dears called then?"

I answered, "Phoenixfire and Draco, one on the right's Phoenix and on the left is Draco."

“Good names.” He muttered.

But as he put his head closer into the pram, Draco started to cry and Ariel was close to losing her temper, but then we all heard...... "OW!!!!!!"

Megatron swiftly lifted his head and put both of his hands on the centre of his forehead.

Draco stopped crying and I heard his sister giggling, she had whacked her uncle on head with the rattle.

My wife yelled, "Let that be a lesson Megabutt. I don't like you; my Sparklings don't like you SO GET LOST!!!!"

He growled and walked off, muttering curses under his breath.

Afterwards I thought Sentinel would have gone mad at me for making a bit of a scene.

But when I later sat down, he joined me and I told him my concern and he said. “Sparklings will be Sparklings Optimus, you couldn’t have controlled what Phoenix did, cheeky little thing.”

“Thanks for not shouting at me at least.” I said smiling.

“That’s alright my friend. Besides between you and me, Megatron had it coming.” He said chuckling to himself.

“Yeah he did.” I said also chuckling.

But as I sat there laughing, a nagging thought came into my head.

“Sentinel can I ask a favour of you?” I asked rubbing the back of my head.

“Anything Optimus anything. Well within reason of course.”

“I was thinking and... Would you like to be Phoenixfire and Draco’s Godfather?”

A stunned look appeared on my mentor’s face, it then changed to deep thought.

“Have you talked to your wife about this idea?”

“Yes I have, and she agreed with me that it’s a good idea. So what do you say?” I asked.

Sentinel stroked his metallic moustache then his beard as he went into deeper thought.

He then smiled warmly and said. “I would be honoured Optimus, truly honoured.”

“Oh thank you Sentinel, thank you very much.” I cried.

Just then Ariel walked up to us with pram and asked. “What’s going on dear?”

So I told her about the conversation my mentor and I just had and how he had agreed to be the Godfather to our children.

“That is brilliant, I’m so glad you agreed Sentinel!” She cried in delight.

But before he could say anything in return a loud crying noise filled the air.

We all looked into the pram and saw that both Sparklings were crying.

I guess they must have been asleep and Ariel’s shouting must have woken them up.

Ariel picked Draco up and rocked him back and forth in her arms, trying to stop him crying.

I picked up Phoenix and looked at her; I then put her over my shoulder and patted her back in case she had a bit of wind.

“Hush Phoenix hush, its okay. Dada’s here.” I whispered.

“How sweet.” My mentor said.

After sometime Phoenix burped and I felt something else on my shoulder armour.

Then the smell hit my nose, it smelt just like digested Energon milk.

I then realised that she had just been sick all over my new shoulder armour plates.

Sentinel was trying not to laugh but was failing miserably. And so was Ariel.

I sighed deeply, brought Phoenixfire face to face with me and said. “You were just sick on me weren’t you?”

She clapped her hands and giggled as a simple yes.

Draco had finally stopped crying as well and Ariel put him back into the pram.

I handed her back Phoenix and got a towel to wipe off the sick.

“Remind me to have a wash later to remove the smell dear.” I said to my wife.

She nodded her head as she put our daughter back in the pram.

Chapter 5, Check-ups and First Steps

3 months later.

(From Optimus's point of view)

I was reading a newspaper that morning when Phoenix crawled past me.

She tried to stand up to face me, but she fell flat on her face. She didn't cry, but she just giggled to herself.

I put down the newspaper and picked her up.

I lifted her to my face where we saw optic to optic. She started to feel my head, grabbing hold of one of my long antennas and she yanked it, yes it hurt but I didn't mind.

Then she felt my large nose and pulled that.

I smiled happily, she had tried to copy it a few times before but she always ended up making a funny face that made me laugh. But this time, she smiled like me.

"Hey Ariel, Phoenix just smiled at me. Come and have a look." I shouted.

My wife came in to have a look and she cried. "Well, I'll be she's smiling, good girl."

I then felt something tucking on my leg; we all looked down to see Draco pulling a part of my leg armour.

My wife picked him up and put him on my lap along with my daughter.

My daughter then pushed Dracoagongo, he pushed her back and then they started fighting with each other. Thankfully we pulled them apart before any damage was done.

Sibling rivalry, I should know. Megatron and I fight and argue all the time, even to this day.

Then Ariel looked at her diary for the day and yelled. "Oh Primus!"

"What is it dear?" I asked.

"Today's check-up day for the children at the doctors, and it's at twelve o'clock and it's now... fifteen minutes past eleven."

I looked down, expecting to see my kids but they had vanished.

They both hated the doctors, why, because a month after they were born they got the Cosmic Rust Jab. You know to stop them getting it and you should have heard them, they were crying for two days straight afterwards.

And now they're gone!

"Phoenixie, where are you? Come out, come out wherever you are." I said as I searched for them.

Hopefully, this won't be a problem when they're older.

I looked under all the draws and stuff. I found her in last place I'd look, under the sofa and I asked her. "Are you going to come out?"

She shook her head.

"Please?"

Again she shook her head.

Then an idea came to mind. "You can have a lollypop if you come out and go to the docs."

She thought hard about this and then she crawled out.

But Draco was harder to find, not long after I had found Phoenix I heard. "Found him!"

"Where was he?" I asked my wife.

"Under the sink in the kitchen!"

How did he get there without us knowing?

When she brought my son into the living room, he was struggling but when I told him about the lollypop, he stopped.

Ariel looked at the clock, it said 11.30 a.m.

"Well there's no time for walking, let’s get down to the ground floor."

On the ground floor.

When we got out of the door of the apartments Ariel transformed.

Her transformation was a sporty Cybertronian pink hover-car.

I did a wolf whistle, she said shut-up as I loaded the children into the two seats that she had and fastened their seatbelts.

I transformed into my silver and blue Cybertronian truck mode. We then started to make our way to the doctors.

We travelled along the highway, carefully driving along and making sure we weren’t going over the speed limit.

Then we got to the doctors.

I transformed and got the children out Ariel’s transformation, she then transformed herself. We then carried our children into the doctors.

We got there with 5 minutes to spare, which was good because we didn't have to wait long.

"Optimus and Ariel Pax?" The nurse called.

Yes, my last name is Pax; well actually it's my wife's last name. Myself? I don't have one that could ever remember.

We got up and went through.

In the Doctor's Office.

"Well, well, well. It's good to see you four again." First Aid said.

We put the children on the table and they starting fighting again.

"Do they always..." He started to ask.

"YES!" We both answered.

He looked at them; he then looked very confused and asked. "Which is which?"

I pointed out that Phoenix was the one on the right and Draco was on the left.

"How do you keep track of which is which, they both look exactly the same to me?" He asked me.

I then told him that my daughter always crawled to me first, since I was the first person she ever saw. And Draco was a bit of a mama's mech. The young doctor laughed at that last comment.

As he examined them, he kept asking questions like, "So, they've started crawling then?" and. "Have they started walking or talking yet?"

He checked their Sparkbeats, Energon pressure, audio receptors etc. Basically their overall heath.

When the examination was over, the doctor said sorry to the Sparklings about the jab a few months ago.

Phoenix then handed him her rattle in forgiveness, but he wouldn't accept it.

We had just picked them up and were heading out of the door when she shook her rattle.

I put her to my face to see what she was saying; she then put the rattle in her mouth and sucked it.

Oh the lollypop, I nearly forgot about that.

"First Aid, you don't have an Energon lollypop for them both, do you? It's just I promised them it if they came." I said.

"In fact, yes I do."

He opened a small draw with a whole load of them; he got two out and handed them to my children.

We thanked him and we headed back home.

4 months later.

(From Optimus's point of view)

By this time I had went back to work and was working overtime as the Science Division leader.

I wasn't forced too, I just needed (and wanted) to make for lost time. Usually I started work at ten o'clock and finished at six o'clock. But recently I’ve been coming home as late as nine o’clock.

Ariel wasn’t too happy that I was coming home at nearly nine o’clock instead of six. And Sentinel Prime keeps telling me that I’m overworking myself.

Anyway the day started out like any other normal day, I went to work in the morning and I came in that night, a bit tired.

I put my briefcase on the Energon Coffee table and looked for my wife, she was in the kitchen.

I said good evening to her and kissed her on the face; she half pushed me away and said. "Ditto. How was work today dreary?"

I replied that it was fine and then I asked about my children.

She turned to face me and said. "Draco's fine but Phoenixfire's been trying to learn how to walk on two legs, but she's getting nowhere. Would you find her and help her out? Shout me when you've found her."

So I started to look high and low for her, but then I found her sitting on the floor of the twin’s nursery, surrounded by toys.

She turned her head around to face me and she waved, wiggling her little fingers at me.

I sat down besides her and asked. "So, you've been trying to walk then."

She looked up at me and nodded her head. I patted her on the head and she smiled.

Then Draco crawled up behind us and sat down besides us.

"Ariel, I found both of them!!"

I looked behind me to see my wife saying. "Here Phoenixie, come to mummy!"

Phoenix saw her, tried to get up on her two feet and fell flat on her face.

She did this three times and every time she fell.

We then switched, Ariel held my daughter while I coaxed her over to me.

My wife then let go of her and she started to walk towards me, slowly, bumbling but she was walking.

"Good girl, come on. You can do it, just a little bit more!" I said.

It took ten minutes for her to walk seven foot. But in the end she put her arms out to hug me (as she was still walking) and she tripped but I grabbed her.

"You did it! Well done Phoenixfire!" I said and her response was a giggle.

I hope you haven't forgotten that Draco was watching all this and when he saw that she was getting more praise, he tried to walk.

This ended in him falling... Backwards on his bum. And of course he started crying his head off.

His sister rolled her optics as if to say 'cry-baby'! She wasn't kidding.

I was hoping that Draco was going to stop this crying.

He didn't, why?

Because he saw that his sister had started laughing at him.

As my wife picked him up, he jumped out of her arms and back to the ground.

Within seconds, both brother and sister had started fighting.

That's the only problem with having twins. We broke them apart without trouble.

I knew this was down to the usual brother-sister rivalship as usual. I personally know this rivalship well, though Magnus, Megatron and I were older than when normal rivalry starts.