"The Little Prime"

Summary: Optimus visits Unicron the Chaos Bringer, promised to have the answer to his problems.

Lyrics modified by me.

Original lyrics belong to Disney.

TFP © Hasbro

Little Mermaid © Disney

~The Little Prime~

~~Chapter 8

Soundwave and Shockwave led Optimus to the ominous city of Kaon. Optimus knew this city had a troubling reputation with crime and violence, but this was the only city on Cybertron that had a spacebridge that led directly to Unicron's lair. Optimus was already a bit uncomfortable being in unknown territory, and when the spacebridge was powered up, he began to have second thoughts and hesitated to step through.

"This way," the two Decepticons uttered, gesturing to the bridge.

Optimus swallowed hard and clenched his fists. He still had the buzzing sense of uncertainty in the back of his mind, but he kept his focus on why he was doing this in the first place: to meet the princess Elita face-to-face. He drew a deep breath and followed them through. Not far behind, Ratchet and Ironhide watched him enter the bridge, and hastily ran after him.

Once he was through the bridge, Optimus realized he was on Earth, deep underwater in a crevasse where hardly any light reached the ocean floor. He could feel the pressure of the ocean weighing him down, but it wasn't enough to crush him or limit mobility. Soundwave and Shockwave hurried along, knowing the way by spark. Optimus was more hesitant as to where he stepped, using his optics as a light source to see what was around him. He noticed a huge crack in the side of the crevasse that led further downward into darkness.

As they ventured on, Optimus could see trembling lights dimly lit around them. There was even the faint sound of moaning and creaking. Upon further inspection, Optimus was mortified to discover that they were disembodied souls—the boundless sparks of other Cybertronians. He shielded himself as they began to stir around him, the moans increasing with volume. Some even tried crashing into him, almost screaming at him. This only made him more and more anxious to hurry through and rushed past the flurry of wailing sparks. He quickly caught up with Soundwave and Shockwave and tried to catch his breath.

"Come in…" said a voice. Optimus looked up and noticed he was being led into a large chamber. "Come on in, my boy. We mustn't lurk in doorways. It's quite rude." Optimus gulped as he saw Unicron emerge from the darkness and approach him. He looked of pure evil, within him flowing Dark Energon. A grave smile was etched across his age-ridden face plate, and his optics glittered with malice. However, Optimus knew Unicron could help him with his problem—whatever sort of help it may be.

"One might question your upbringing," Unicron added as he sat before a table and picked up a small cube of Dark Energon. "Now, I understand that you are here because you seem to have a…thing…for this human; this little princess girl," he said, facing him slightly. "Not that I am shaming you for such feelings, young Prime. She is quite charming in her own unique, squishy human way."

Optimus lowered his gaze, fiddling with his fingers behind his back.

"But, you are in luck, disciple of Primus," Unicron told him. "The solution to your predicament is quite simple. The only way to achieve the goal you want…is to become a human yourself."

Optimus gasped and perked up. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. It sounded almost too good to be true. "A-And…you can do that?" he asked.

Unicron grinned and rose from the table, placing a hand on Optimus's shoulder. "Oh, dear boy, that's what I do! It is something I've learned to live for: to help unfortunate young bots, like yourself. Such poor souls, with no one else to turn to."

"I admit that in the past I've been a nasty

They weren't kidding when they said I brought chaos

But see my isolation

Bid me relaxation

And now I've seen the light, though at a loss

True? Yes.

"And I fortunately know a little magic

It's a talent that I always have possessed

And here lately, please don't laugh

I use it on behalf

Of the miserable, lonely and depressed

Pathetic...

"Poor unfortunate souls!

In pain, in need.

This one longing to be thinner

That one wants to get the femme

And do I help them?

Yes, indeed.

"Those poor unfortunate souls!

So sad, so true!

They come flocking to my chambers

Crying, "Spells, Unicron, please!"

And I help them!

Yes, I do.

"Now it's happened once or twice

Someone couldn't pay the price

And I'm afraid I had to rake them across the coals.

Yes, I've had the odd complaint

But to all, I've been a saint.

To those poor unfortunate souls!"

"Now, here is the deal," Unicron said, grabbing Optimus's shoulder and guiding him towards a holographic projector. "I will give you a special potion that will turn you into a human for seven days. Got that? Seven days. Normally, I'd only offer three, but learning to be human is much harder than it appears to be."

"I understand—" Optimus started.

"Hush and listen. This is very important," Unicron shushed him. Seven suns appeared on the projector, rising and falling. "Before the sun sets on the seventh day, you have to get little miss princess to fall in love with you," he said, a heart appearing inside of a golden crown. "Of course, that means she has to kiss you. But not just any kiss. It must be a kiss of true love."

"A kiss of true love?" Optimus repeated.

"That's right. And if she does kiss you before the sun sets on the seventh day, you will remain human permanently, and may live happily ever after with your beloved princess."

Optimus smiled as a human male hologram, representing him, roamed around freely. But his smile vanished as the human changed into an Autobot and disintegrated to a dim orb.

"But, if she doesn't," Unicron continued, his tone darkening, "you will transform back into a Cybertronian, and…you will belong to me, forever."

"No, Optimus!" Ratchet cried. He and Ironhide had hung back and observed quietly to see if Optimus was truly going through with this. They felt the need to act as soon as they heard of Unicron's intentions, but they were silenced by Soundwave and Shockwave.

Optimus turned towards them, confliction clear on his face plate. "If…If I become a human," he said, "I'll never be with my Teacher or the other Primes again."

"Yes, that is true," the Chaos Bringer nodded, "but you'll have the girl of your dreams. It is so unfair for our lives to be filled with such tough choices, wouldn't you agree?" Optimus stared at the ground while Unicron chortled deeply. "Oh! And there is just one more thing," he added. "We forgot to discuss the subject of payment. You can never get something for nothing."

"Oh, but I don't have any…" Optimus started, but Unicron put a finger to his lips, stopping him.

"I am not asking for much," he said. "Just a token, really. A trifle! You will never even miss it. But what I want from you is…your voice box."

Optimus absentmindedly raised his hand to his throat. "M-My voice box…?"

"You've got it, hot shot. No more talking, singing—zip!"

"But without my voice box, how can I…?"

"Oh, hush, boy," Unicron told him. "You will still have your young, dashing looks. And quite a pretty face. And, with this being a desired trait with humans, never underestimate the importance of body language!" With that, he quickly began gathering ingredients and items, tossing them into a pit on the other side of the lair.

"The girls up there don't like a lot of blather.

They think a guy who gossips is a bore!

Yes on Earth, it's quite preferred

For young men not to say a word

After all, boy, what is idle prattle for?!

"Come now, they're not all that impressed with conversation!

Most of the girls avoid it on their world

But they dote and swoon and fawn

On a man who is withdrawn!

And he who holds his tongue will get his girl!

"Come on, you poor unfortunate soul!

Go ahead, make your choice!

I'm a very busy mech, you know

I haven't got all day

It won't cost much

Just your voice!

"You poor unfortunate soul!

It's sad, but true!

If you want to cross the bridge, my boy, then you've got to pay the toll.

Take a gulp and take a breath and go ahead and sign the scroll!

(Soundwave, Shockwave, now I've got him, boys!)

The boss is on a roll!

These poor. Un. Fortunate souls!"

Optimus winced as a physical contract was placed inches from his face. A cold pit in his tank was telling him to turn back, but he wasn't sure if he could. He was willing to trade his birth form to see the one human he longed for most. Closing his optics, he placed his signature at the bottom of the contract, using the Prime's Seal for certification. Unicron grabbed it, and his optics flared. He then extended his hands over the boiling pit.

"Cybero, Chromero, come winds from the rusted sea!

Larynxis, glacitis, et max laryngitis, la voce to me!"

From the pit arose two dark plumes of smoke, slowly morphing into the shape of claws. Unicron turned to Optimus, a hideous grin on his face. "Now…sing, boy."

Optimus began softly vocalizing the first song that came to mind—an old lullaby his Teacher would sing when he and the other Primes were all very young. As he began vocalizing louder, he felt an odd buzz in his throat.

"Keep singing!" Unicron demanded.

The claws reached for Optimus; the Prime involuntarily backed up, but the claws came even closer. He still vocalized, even as the smoke worked its way into his body, and then exited, holding the main component of a Cybertronian's voice box. While Optimus himself was silent, the song continued being vocalized. He clasped his hands over his mouth in surprise.

Unicron then concealed Optimus's voice inside of a vial and locked it away. Once everything had fallen into place, he began to laugh maniacally.

Optimus suddenly found himself cocooned in a powerful aura. He instantly began to feel the transformation begin to take place. It was quite painful, but no sound was heard. He writhed and twitched as his Cybertronian body was morphed into a human physique. Once it was complete, the aura disappeared.

Feeling lightheaded, Optimus tried to breathe, only to find himself choking on water. He grabbed at his throat in a panic and collapsed on the floor.

Ratchet and Ironhide ran to him, carefully scooping Optimus into the medic's hands. Then, a spacebridge appeared before them.

"You'd better hurry!" Unicron said. "Humans do not belong here at this depth!"

Ratchet ran ahead, cradling Optimus, with Ironhide quickly behind him. They leapt through the bridge, leaving the sea floor for a shallow cove. Ratchet could see the surface and shoved his hands upward.

Optimus spat water from his mouth and coughed, heaving for air, wheezing as it stung his throat. Ratchet and Ironhide surfaced as well and began to head for land. Exhausted, Optimus felt his eyes roll into the back of his head, and he passed out.