Hey guys! Wow, I am so, so, so, sorry. I promise there's a reason for the massive wait between my last post and this one. The main reason is the move. I have spent the last two months moving and it has been brutal. The house we moved out of was a big one with a massive attic, a huge basement, a two-bay attached garage, and a three-bay detached garage. And all of those spaces were full of junk. We moved into a house with no attic, a small basement, and a two-bay attached garage. And it's a smaller house in general. So getting rid of a ton of stuff was the big priority.

The other issue I had was actually writing a chapter worth reading. I had finished this chapter quite some time ago. But when I finished reading it, I realized how terrible it was. Seriously, it was bad. And you guys deserve better than that. So I had to rewrite it. It's shorter than what it was before, but it's better.

After reading the last chapter, I realized that it was a tad mushier than I wanted. So I'd like to try and steer away from that for this last chapter. Hope you guys enjoy!

The weeks that followed proved to be difficult for Jazira. Her healing process was hindered by an unnatural rainy period. The black clouds covered the sun for a continuous span of eight days which forced Jazira to stay indoors and remain unable to soak in the sun's rays to hasten her lengthy healing process.

The day after her arrival, she had been lying on the tarmac watching several members of NEST give Optimus a much-needed washing. His armor, though repaired, was still lacking its brilliant luster. Jazira lay transfixed as the dirt and grime was scrubbed and rinsed away in a river of bubbles. Once dried, Optimus transformed and inspected the work. All that was once corroded and filthy was now shining and reflective. Pleased, Optimus thanked the soldiers and assisted in cleaning up the mess.

Jazira watched Optimus and the soldiers walk to the hangar where they stored tools, equipment, and any other items used to keep the Autobots in working condition. Jazira smiled as she watched the massive Autobot interact with the beings beside him that were a fraction of his size as if they were his equals. He truly was a just leader.

She shut her eyes and focused on the sun's rays. Her wings tingled pleasantly as they absorbed the precious light and translated it to energy that worked to heal her. The broken ribs were already set and healed and the gash in her leg was little more than a pink line in her thigh where the scales hadn't grown back yet. But her back and shoulders were proving to be more of a challenge.

Then, without warning, the tingling vanished as a storm cloud as black as night covered the sky. Jazira looked up as she heard a sound that resembled wind rustling through leaves. Her eyes widened when a sheet of rain came roaring toward her, getting louder as it approached.

Optimus saw it too. He called to Jazira and ran back out to the tarmac. He knew that Jazira's bandages were not meant to get wet and she would need help to get back to shelter. The wall of water reached them as he made it to her. It pounded them both and made loud 'ping' noises as it bounced off Optimus's armor. Jazira had already gotten to her feet but welcomed Optimus's help as she hobbled through the storm. A flash of silver caught her peripheral vision and she looked up to see Sideswipe at her side as well.

With the help of the two bots, she hobbled back into Ratchet's med bay soaked to the bone. Optimus stayed with Jazira as Ratchet quickly started the task of changing the bandages on her shoulders. But to his frustration, the bandages were stuck cleanly to her wounds. At first, he tried peeling the bandages off slowly. But that only earned a squawk and a deep growl from the dragon.

Frustrated, Ratchet sighed in exasperation.

"Really now Jazira, he huffed. "A dragon, the fiercest creature on this planet, can't handle a simple change of bandages?" Jazira, who was lying on the floor next to Optimus sitting on the berth, turned her head and glared at the Autobot's medic. She didn't mean to be snappy, but she was still very tired and Ratchet condemning her wasn't doing anything to improve her mood.

"Ratchet, my pain tolerance is pretty high," Jazira snorted. "But what you're presently trying to accomplish is the equivalent of ripping my skin off."

Standing straight to stretch his cramped back strut, Ratchet regarded her with slightly more sympathy.

"What do you propose then?" he asked "Those bandages have to come off."

Jazira thought for a moment before replying. "Well, an infection is something I don't welcome and I don't want the healing process to take any longer than it has to." She shifted and splayed her wings neatly beside her. She twisted her neck to eye the wet bandages. "So, I would rip those suckers off and hope that I don't thrash too much."

Ratchet took a moment to consider what she had said. He had spent many hours searching the internet for information on the human body. It was plentiful to say the least. But while he now considered himself equipped to perform medical procedures on humans, this was something different. While Jazira did possess a human form, he was quite sure that human anatomy would do him no good with her current form. So, figuring that she knew more about her body than he did, he looked up at Optimus who had been listening intently the whole time.

"Optimus, give me a hand." He mumbled.

Optimus seemed to know what the medic wanted, for not a second later he was kneeling next to Jazira, holding her wings down to prevent her from further injuring herself.

Ratchet surveyed the bandages carefully before setting to work. He noticed that each strip of material was firmly attached to the one next to it. This would allow Ratchet to remove everything with one quick pull. And, with a count back from three, that was exactly what he did.

Every square inch of the bandage being removed brought white hot agony. Jazira reared back her head and howled as her legs involuntarily kicked out. Her massive claws left white scratches in the floor as they screeched over the concrete.

Optimus held onto her until the pain finally subsided to a dull ache. When he released her he sat back on the berth and allowed the dragon to rest her head on his lap. He stroked her neck as Ratchet cleaned the wound again and stopped the bleeding. It was then that Ratchet decided that applying bandages again would be a terrible idea.

The following days fared better. The clouds cleared and the bright Diego Garcia sun beat down on the island once more. Jazira spent her days lying on a patch of grass soaking in the rays. By then Optimus had returned to active duty.

At first, he had insisted on remaining with Jazira in the med bay until she had fully recuperated. It wasn't that he didn't trust Ratchet; in fact there was nobody Optimus would trust more than Ratchet. But she had saved his life. The least he could do was stay with her while she recovered.

The logic was difficult for anyone to deny, but once the rain stopped, Jazira advised Optimus that he should get back to his soldiers. Having him close by to keep her company had made the days significantly more bearable, but NEST needed him and the politics wouldn't wait. But, each day he would visit with her while the soldiers flocked to the mess hall for lunch, and then again when the day ended. He would sit next to her on the grass and they would talk about themselves, sharing their stories.

One afternoon, almost two weeks since Jazira's arrival, the dragon was sitting on her usual patch of grass enjoying her usual sun bath. It was Saturday, meaning that NEST, Autobots included, had the day to relax. On this particular day however, both Optimus and Bumblebee had taken time to give Jazira a bath.

In the two weeks that she had been at the base, she had refused to let anyone do anything for her besides Ratchet's daily checkups. She had even been catching her own food. It had been Bumblebee that approached her on an afternoon that she was struggling to catch fish for her lunch. She admitted that her insistence on being independent derived from the fact that she didn't want to be a bother to anyone.

After some reassurance, she was finally convinced that she was just as important as anyone else on the team.

Now, Jazira lay enjoying the pampering as rivers of murky water flowed away from her. The amount of sand and grime that had accumulated on her silver scales had taken the sparkle out of her entire form.

Bumblebee and Optimus took their time cleaning every one of Jazira's scales. It was an opportune time for Optimus to learn about her and what she might be capable of in battle. They took extra care to be delicate with her shoulders.

She no longer bore an open wound that carried risk of infection and her scales were beginning to grow back, but a few spots under her scales remained that had not completely healed and were still tender.

The Autobot leader took note of every sturdy muscle that flexed and ripped beneath his metal fingers. Her entire body was a total masterpiece. Her head was regal, but vicious looking with a long ivory horn protruding from her nose. Her sleek white mane of hair began in a thin line on the top of her head and continued down her back, increasing in thickness as it trailed down. Her chest was broad and sturdy, her legs and shoulders were corded with muscles, and her massive wings glittered in the sunlight.

As Optimus moved from cleaning the dirt from Jazira's shoulders to her forelegs, he was struck with curiosity.

"Jazira, I have seen you transform into several types of dragons, all of which have different strengths and abilities. But surely there must be a limit to the number of abilities you have." He reached down to examine her paw. "And perhaps some of your other forms possess…a less deadly appearance." He said with amusement as he examined her dagger-like claws.

Jazira chuckled deep in her throat.

"Sort of." She replied. "As I gain strength, train, and learn, I unlock more capabilities. For instance, as I am now, there are limits to my size. I cannot become a dragon that is smaller than a young child or bigger than what I am now. But that's just one of my flaws among many. With more training I will learn to achieve greater things with my power."

She raised her head toward the sky and closed her eyes, relishing the feeling of the water running between her scales and the two bots scrubbing the dirt from her nearly-healed body.

"But someday I will have only the limits of my imagination to hold me back." She turned her head to look toward Optimus with a mischievous glint in her eye. "Of course I had planned to demonstrate my abilities to you when you came to meet me but that sure didn't work out did it?" she said.

Bumblebee perked up. He had wondered why his leader had insisted on going to see Jazira himself. Now he realized that it had been to take the time to learn about Jazira, and quite possibly….to spar with her.

Excitement bubbled in his chassis at the thought of Optimus and Jazira duking it out. Jazira: a ferocious engine of destruction, squaring off against Optimus: leader of the Autobots and the last of the mighty Primes was something he had to witness.

"Sir," he began, using clips from movies and old songs. "Perhaps…you do it…be good…help you learn…'bout 'er."

Optimus considered Bumblebee's suggestion as he scrubbed the last few feet of Jazira's long tail. There was still much to be learned about her and he had intended on sparring with her when he first met her. At the time he had thought it would have been with his holoform, but now that Jazira's ability was known to him, he knew he could test her with his true form. It would indeed be a fine opportunity. However….

"That would ultimately be up to Jazira, Bumblebee." He rumbled sternly. "She is not yet healed and only she knows whether she can-"

"Next week." Jazira cut in. The Autobot leader and his scout both turned to her slightly shocked.

"So soon?" Bee asked as he rinsed the last of the suds off her.

"Absolutely. I'll be healed fully within the next couple of days and I'm certain that you wouldn't be able to wait much longer than that anyway." She replied with a toothy grin and a wink at the scout. After a moment of thought, Optimus rose to his peds.

"If you are certain, then it is only proper that I request it of you formerly." He said to her. "Jazira, might I request you as my sparring partner next week?" he asked.

Jazira rose to her feet, her spotless scales caught the afternoon sun and reflected it everywhere, casting brilliant patterns of light that shimmered across every nearby surface.

She stood at her full height with her shoulders squared and her neck arched like a bow, facing Optimus eye-to-optic.

"You're on, Prime." She replied with a smile.

By the time the following Friday arrived, Jazira's injuries had fully healed, she was able to transform back into her human form again, and she had settled into the base and gotten to know her fellow soldiers quite nicely. And everyone knew of the event that was to come that evening.

Word spread like wildfire of how Optimus had challenged to newcomer to a friendly duel and everyone intended on being there to witness it.

As the sun began to set that night, the soldiers and Autobots all gathered on the tarmac.

The humans clustered together on one side, and the Autobots on the other. Jazira stood with the soldiers in her human form with Will.

"You're sure you're up for this?" he asked her. "Optimus isn't called Prime for nothing. He's the best fighter here and then some, and just because you two have agreed to just fight hand to hand doesn't mean that it gives you the advantage."

Jazira turned to Will with a look of utter disbelief on her face.

"You've got money on him don't you?" She said. Will clapped her on the back.

"Yes, yes I do. And it doesn't look like he's going to be leaving me broke for the weekend either." He said with a smirk as they looked up to see Optimus step out of the group of Autobots and onto the dueling space in all his glory. His metal soldiers banged on their armor and shouted phrases in Cybertonian which Jazira could only guess were words of encouragement.

Jazira turned back to Will with a look of friendly accusation.

"You're such a pal." She said in a tone of flat sarcasm. He patted her shoulder with a smile as she turned and started to make her way through the sea of soldiers. They all began yelling and hooting and whistling as they saw her approach. It was a cheer that could rival that of any NFL game.

Jazira's attention never left Optimus. Even as some of the soldiers clapped her on the back or offered her high fives, her eyes never left Optimus's. Finally, she broke through the soldiers and stepped onto the dueling field. And everyone went silent.

All eyes watched as Jazira focused her energy into her transformation. She had thought long and hard about what type of dragon she would use in this battle, and they were all in for a treat.

She closed her eyes and her body began to change. Her neck elongated, a tail appeared, and scales erupted from her skin. But this dragon was different. Instead of walking on four legs, this dragon walked on two, while leaving the arms free to use however she liked. Her wing span stretched wider than she was tall, giving the appearance that she was larger than she truly was. She stood as tall as Optimus at her full height. Her entire body was covered in thick black scales, her underside was blood red, and three positively deadly-looking horns protruded from her head.

After taking a moment to look her up and down, Optimus nodded to her. She returned the respectful gesture. Then, as if it was rehearsed, they began to circle each other and their spectators began to cheer again.

Jazira remained crouched close to the ground as she circled, like a serpent ready to strike. Optimus took the moment of preparation before the battle to speak.

"You will make a fine opponent for any Decepticon, Jazira." He said as his battle mask slid into place. "Your current form will give them all a reason to shudder."

Jazira's green eyes glowed and her jagged teeth flashed as she smiled.

"True as that may be Optimus," she rumbled "That's no reason for me to not practice intimidation tactics for those that are foolish enough not to."

And with that she opened her mouth and released a mighty roar that sent shockwaves across the pavement.

Then, without hesitation, they both charged.

And the rest…is to your imagination.

Please don't hate me guys! Haha. I just wanted to thank everyone that read this story and showed me so much support through this long process. It has truly taken this story to make me realize how busy I really am and how much I really need to start relaxing more. But for now, I will leave you with the reassurance that I don't plan on making this the only story I post here. I intend to keep writing for you and continue Jazira's journey with the Autobots. I may even send her into the world of Transformers Prime. Speaking of which, if any of you have not watched that show, I really encourage you to take a look into it. It is a masterpiece and is engaging for all ages. So, with that being said, I love you guys, thank you again for all you've done for me, and I hope to read comments from you all. Peace out and much love. –Dragongyrl24