Ascendent

Part 1-Sacrament

Disclaimer: I don't own the Transformers. They officially belong to Hasbro and Takara. I'm taking them for a short spin.

Sacrament-a visible sign of a sacred thing.

The blue and red frame was sleek, smooth unblemished, but it wouldn't stay that way much longer.

The ceremony was more than symbolic. It meant the passing of his creator's power to him, and all the duties and responsibilities that went with it. He only hoped he wouldn't succumb to the gravity of such weight, letting it crush him in both mind and spirit.

But he was strong. Sometimes even his own brother failed to see what went on behind his eyes. This day would mark Optimus Prime more ways than one.

The vast Chamber of Ancients held very few mechs at this moment. Nearby stood Kup, eldest still in the elite guard, his former mentor, and now one of his closest friends and advisors. Next to him, Ironhide, his lifelong friend. By Ironhide were his future lieutenants, Prowl and Jazz. Standing back from them was Megatron, lost no doubt in the memory of his own branding, which marked him Lord High Protector of Cybertron. Their creator, A3 had business elsewhere, but he was there in spirit.

Optimus caught his brother's eye, and Megatron walked over. He could feel his brother's anticipation and fear through their bond, sending back what he hoped was reassurance and support. Though they were twins, a rare thing, and shared the same spark, Megatron wasn't an overtly emotional mech, but in moments like this, especially where his younger twin was concerned, he made an exception.

"I fear you will feel much pain, my brother," Megatron said, placing a hand on Optimus' shoulder. "Bear it well. Make me proud."

Optimus nodded, knowing it was time. He watched Megatron step back as Kup stepped forward.

"On your knees, lad," Kup said.

Optimus obeyed, kneeling before the ancient mech. He didn't look up, knowing what Kup held in his hands. Then he felt it--the first of the sigils branded into his helm.

The mark seared into him, burning him to his core. It bound him to the past, present and future, as well as his people. It was unbreakable. It was said any oathbreaker would be destroyed from the inside out if he forsook his bond, be consumed by madness.

But where Megatron felt pain, as that was what he considered it to serve, Optimus felt pleasure, and the very fires of creation itself as he arched back as the energy from the Allspark surged through him, connecting him to the others in the room. He felt the charge building in his spark, tempered by the pain from the brands. Though he wasn't touching anyone else, he could feel them all--Kup's steady and wise presence, Ironhide's gruffness and loyalty, Prowl's usual logical self splintered by what he was feeling and glimmers of laughter and slyness from Jazz. But not his brother. Optimus pushed it aside, lost in his bond with his friends.

He held back as long has he could, then gave in, overload consuming them all.

Optimus came back to himself breems later, finding Kup standing over him, offering a hand up.

Once he was standing, Kup placed a hand on his shoulder.

"'Til all are one," he said.

"'Til all are one," Optimus murmured back.

--

Optimus came out of recharge, jolted awake by the long-buried memory. His optics onlined, he realized he'd fallen asleep in his office, head resting on his folded arms. His fingers went to the glyphs branded on his helm. They'd been a part of him since his ascension to Prime, would always be a part of him.

The Autobot leader sighed, wondering what prompted him to recall that particular day. He hadn't thought about it in a very long time, but he had tried to push away what it also brought up--another memory, more a myth than anything else. That any who broke the bonds of their oath once branded would be destroyed, consumed by madness.

He'd wondered, more than once in the days since Megatron's destruction if the old stories were true. But he was more practical than that. Once, he would have believed. Not anymore.