Hope's Return

An Unexpected Meeting

Hope sat alone by the same tree she and Ratchet had bonded under so long ago. Clenching her servo in frustration, she gave in to her aggravation and punched the ground, creating a fissure that ran down the hill exposing part of the tree's roots. Growling, she laid her helm on her knees and allowed the breeze to calm her temper. 

Looking up at the skies she searched her memories of her life on Cybertron. She had been so young when the council chose her as the Champion. After the battle, she had been frozen in stasis, then transformed into human form with no memories of her past. She supposed that she had matured during her centuries of living among the humans but times had changed and so had she. 

Slumping back Hope placed her servo over her spark and followed the familiar path. She smiled as she felt Ratchet and Sunny link in briefly but all to soon she came to the part of her spark that had led to Optimus. 

Venting, she took the leap and followed the bond until she once more met the wall. A soft glow encircled her as she stood there, her mental servo pressed against it. Slowly she slid down, her servo till touching the wall.

Stunned, she found herself on a moonlit plain surrounded by stars. Staring around her, she was brought back by the gently tug on her servo and looked up to see an unfamiliar femme. Still in shock, she could only stare in bewilderment. 

"Primus child, you act like you've never met a prime before."

Her admission broke Hope out of her stupor and she scrambled to her peds.

"My lady, I apologize. I was overcome by my sudden change in geography. May I inquire on where you've brought me?"

Her formal apology and question brought a smile to the primes face plate and Hope found herself relaxing. 

"Be at peace child, I mean you no harm. We are in the land of the Primes and you know me as Solus Prime."

"Why have you brought me here?"

"I brought you here to warn you. There's a great danger coming to Earth and both you and your bonded will be tested."

"My bonded?"

"Your bonds with both your siblings and your sparkmates."

"Wait...sparkmates? As in plural?"

Solus sighed and placed her helm in her servo.

"Yes sparkmates. Optimus is still your mate even though he no longer has physical form. This is why Micronus warned me not to meddle but you deserved to be warned of the oncoming danger."

"What is this danger?"

"All I can do is warn you so you can prepare for it. Mech's have to many rules to follow when it's easier to be blunt."

"Will I ever see Optimus again?"

"Only Primus can answer that child but take comfort in knowing that you won't need to choose between them."

A sharp tug struck her spark and Hope felt herself being pulled away. She fought it but Solus raised her servo to stop her.

"I've kept you to long. Go in peace child, we will meet again."

The light faded and Hope found herself falling into the dark abyss.

************************************************

The lights shone bright on Hope's form as Ratchet worked frantically to bring her back to consciousness. He had been working when a stabbing pain shot through their bond and Hope's side went dark. A frantic Sunstreaker ran into base, clenching her still form to his chest plate soon after. 

Hope felt herself drifting up out of the abyss and clenched her optics against the bright lights.

"Primus what a weird dream..."

"Hope! Thank the All Spark! What happened to you! I thought we lost you!"

She found herself pressed against an orange and white chest plate and looked up at a frantic Ratchet.

"Ratchet...?"

"You disappeared from our bond! Sunstreaker couldn't sense your spark either!"

"I'm so sorry Ratchet. I was searching the bond and got yanked into the Realm of the Primes by Solus Prime."

"What were you searching for that you caught the attention of one of the 13 primes?!"

"Promise you won't be angry?"

Ratchet vented and slumped back in his chair before waving a servo for her to continue.

"When I visited Bumblebee, he admitted that Optimus was instrumental in sending him to Earth and had been appearing to him in reflections."

Venting softly, her voice cracked. "I just...wanted to know if it was possible  that he was alive, even if it was only in immaterial form. I miss him so much. He was so much better at dealing with all this human diplomatic bullshit!"

Ratchet stood and opened his arms and after a brief hesitation, she flung herself into them. He lightly stroked the back of her helm for a bit before speaking. 

"Even if Optimus returns, just remember I will always be there for you. I lost you once. It won't happen again."

Hope buried her helm into his chest and he slowly sank down into his chair again still holding her. That was how Sunstreaker found them as he answered the return of Hope's light to their bond. Shaking his helm in relief, he slumped against the door frame. 

"I'm to old for this slag."

Hope choked out a laugh at Ratchet's groan of agreement and nuzzled  in closer. Mumbling an apology, she allowed herself to fall into recharge. Both mech's looked at her, then each other before Ratchet sighed once more an stood to take her back to their berthroom.

Sunstreaker moved aside and watched them go, reliving the pain of the brief loss and once more his thoughts went to Sideswipe. It had been so long since he'd seen his twin and it was time to reunite with him whether he wanted to or not. He couldn't bear the thought of losing another sibling no matter how briefly. His decision made, he headed off to the refueling station. A glass of high grade or a fight would dispel the helplessness he still felt.