Two travelers, Optimus the disgraced knight and Megatronus the mercenary, had been travelling for a year now. They both knew finding the Allspark would not be easy, yet it felt like they’ve been going in circles for months.
They went from town to town, trying to find leads only to end up killing rats in a basement guarding a regular jewel, or helping the local lord fight off bandits drunk on dark energon. Today, after slaying a toad mind controlling the town, they had a free night at a local inn. “It just feels like every lead we finds turns into a dead end.” Optimus said at the bar, looking down at his mug of oil. The barkeep Maccadam nodded, refilling Optimus’ mug again. “Legends say it can take some time to find, but we haven’t even found any clues which turned out to be legitimate.”
“Perhaps it will find you.” Maccadam said, and Optimus shrugged. “That’s what most say.”
The doors to the bar burst open, and everyone glanced up except Optimus. He wasn’t fazed by such dramatic entrances anymore, and he knew who it was from the mere footsteps.
A large arm hugged around Optimus, and he looked up to see his companion; Megatronus. The gladiator had been in a hunting party, a large alloygator flung over his shoulder guard. “I have returned with dinner!” He cheered triumphantly, and the whole bar cheered at his catch. Optimus smiled, watching as Megatronus used the open hearth to cook the gator and speak with the other hunters. It was a well-known tradition in the region of Polyhex, which Optimus learned about the first night he stayed here.
“It’s the same in Kaon, anyone who volunteers to hunt the food or prepare it gets an equal share.” Megatronus had explained. “We all contribute, it’s part of how we survive the cold winters.”
Optimus got up, paying Maccadam for the oil, before meeting up with the others to help prepare the corn. He, along with most of the smaller mechs, had to shuck the coppercorn. It was typical behaviour, the hunters always wanted to carve up their kills rather than help with the smaller things. Soon they ate, with the fresh alloygator, some energon berries and cooked coppercorn, and the duo was returning to the inn with full tanks and slightly tipsy.
The halls were a bit cramped for Megatronus, but he ducked well and Optimus leaned on him for support. The halls of the inn were decorated with copies of famous paintings, with gleaming nameplates under them. Optimus looked over them as he passed, taking note of Sentinel Magnus, Ultra Magnus, even a few decepticon generals had their own portraits done!
One popped out at him, and Optimus halted as he looked at it. Megatronus continued to their shared room.
The figure in the painting was familiar, with large face vents and a sharp helm. A diamond indent showed his decepticon badge proudly, and he wore a warm coat over his shoulders to compliment his regal appearance. He even wore a small crown, sharp edges like a maw facing upwards. Looking down, he saw the name.
Megatron, Eighth King of the Decepticon Armada.
Megatronus then looked back as Optimus made a choking sound of shock. He looked up at the painting, freezing in place.
He walked back over, still bending down a little, and nervously asked, “What is it?”
Optimus looked up at him and back at the painting a few times. “I… we never saw how Megatron looked while I was still working in Fortress Maximus. I wasn’t expecting him to look… so much like you….”
He then shifted his optics to Megatronus, and like a mirror the whole world shattered for him.
Megatron landed on his hands and rolled over his back to face Optimus, who had just thrown him. His body felt suddenly sober and awake from the temperature shock, and all Megatron could look at was the betrayed look on Orion’s face.
There were glimmers of tears in his optics, which glowed like jewels in the warm light from the open door behind him. He thrusted forwards, pushing Megatron back unto his back and embedding his sword into the ground next to Megatron’s head.
“You LIAR!” Orion said, rage and grief pulled his usually pretty face into a sneer. “I trusted you, and you never even thought to tell me?!”
“Oh, and be abandoned in the wilderness?!” Megatron said back, but even he felt how weak his excuse was. Orion would never abandon him, even if Megatron was Unicron himself, and Megatron was far from defenceless on his own.
Tears dripped from Orion’s face, his eyes growing distant. “You’re lucky I put up with you this whole time.” He whispered, before standing and pulling his sword from the ground. “And if we’re really being honest, it’s Sir Optimus of Orion.” He said. “Orion is my house name, and the last survivor after your people massacred them.” Optimus said, his voice rising in volume.
“I will never forget what your people did to me.”
He stormed off back into the inn, the door slamming behind him and leaving Megatron to only be illuminated by the cool light of the moons. He slowly got up, before noticing a glimmer among the snow.
It was a small fragment of a jewel, broken. Megatron instantly recognized it from Orion- Optimus’ Knightly sword. Megatron gingerly picked it up, and held it inbetween his claws.
He almost considered going after the little knight, but he sighed.
When he came back in, everyone looked at him with suspicion and confusion. They wondered why they fought, what had happened, but he paid none of them any mind.
“Oil, the hardest you have.” He demanded from Maccadam, and he just nodded. “I talked to the innkeeper, they’ll charge you half for another room.” He said, and Megatron nodded.
He didn’t really care though, only looking at the small fragment he still had of his little companion.
The next day was full of sulking for Megatron, as Sir Orion had left in the night. He inspected the jewel, thinking of him, when someone stormed into the bar. Screeching wind and snow barrelled in, along with nearly every patron who had left earlier that day.
Looking out the window, Megatron noticed the heavy blizzard which swept in. The snow was piling up high, and he could barely see the treeline nearby.
He looked back at the group, groaning and trying to dry their things, when he spotted a small blue and red knight among them. He was shivering, and soaked, without a thick coat to protect him from the storm. It was harsh, even Megatron couldn’t make it through unless his people needed him to.
He gazed at him, seemingly in a daze, until he received a bonk from another patron. “He’s coming your way sugar.” He teased, and indeed Sir Orion was striding towards Megatron with a raging blush and a deep scowl.
“Room, now.” He whispered in frustration, and Megatron happily followed along to their room from the previous night.
“I won’t forgive you Megatron.” Optimus said, standing defiantly. “But I think we need each other; I realised that when I left.”
Megatron pursed his lips, leaning his head to the side. “As much as I like our company, I think we can both travel separately. You aren’t helpless Optimus.”
“I know, but,” Optimus opened his personal bag and revealed a large chunk of the Allspark. It glowed with life and power, leaving Megatron speechless, “I found this in the woods. I barely escaped with my life, and it could be our key to find the Allspark.”
Megatron looked back, eyes sharpening. “And why shouldn’t I just steal it now, Sir Orion?” He asked, looming above. Optimus kept himself from even holding the handle on his sword.
“Because I know how to use this.” He said calmly, pulling out the large fragment. Megatron tensed, as if he would attack with the fragment. Optimus instead focused himself, like how Prowl taught him, and the light focused towards northeast. When Optimus stopped, the glow dissipated. “Fragments can point towards other fragments, if you can focus it.” Optimus explained, tucking the large chunk away again. “But I also know that I can’t survive in the north, it’s full of customs and Decepticons who are eager to kill me.”
Megatron nodded, catching on and smirking. “So you need me to help guide you, correct?”
“Yes.” Optimus nodded.
“And what when we assemble the Allspark? We can’t both take it.”
Optimus didn’t know how to answer, and gave a shrug. “Split it evenly?” He suggested, and Megatron laughed. “I guess we can see if we even get that far I suppose.”
Megatron then looked out the window, noting the storm. “Want to join me for a drink, Sir Orion?” Megatron offered, his voice soft and sincere. “No more lies, but I can’t promise to tell you everything.” Optimus nodded, smiling again. “That… would be nice, Megatron.”
Megatron fidgeted, “Please, still call me Megatronus. I don’t want news to travel that I’ve returned yet.”
“Understood.” Optimus saluted playfully.