MAJOR SPOILERS

[deceptionshark]

The amount of fuss you are making over me is unnecessary, Mundane. Where one story ends, another can begin, and that includes my own. The strength of my own redemption rests fully on my own convictions, and my willingness to change. As difficult as it might be, I will no longer destroy. Perhaps my skills can be put to another use.

Our journey hardly ends here, Mundane, for I do not doubt that you and I can do many interesting things. You have never let me down when it comes to providing me with entertainment. It will be a long time before we say our final goodbyes.

And Optimus...

You got to me after all. Let us see what happens from here.

Comments

[deadlydoctor]

We all had a change of spark, it seems. [How strange to actually talk with Megatron about that.]

Perhaps for the best. [The best for him, at the very least.]

[thelastprime]

Mmm. It is...perhaps not quite the vision we both had for our departure.


But I am not unsatisfied with its outcome.

[deceptionshark]

Your spark seems to change more often than most, Doctor.

[He eyes him irritably. Turning over a new leaf doesn't mean he's going to forgive such blatant disloyalty, Knock Out.]

[deceptionshark]

The knowledge that I can never become one with the allspark is a heavy one.

It is a pity that you and I will never talk again, in this world or the next.

[thelastprime]

Megatron.

I have said this many times. And it will not waver.


Every living being deserves a chance at redemption.

[deceptionshark]

[Megatron gives Optimus a slightly scornful look. They have come so far since their days as a simple gladiator and a librarian, and out of all the things that could have happened, this ending wasn't the one he imagined. He's not sure how he feels about it, there is much he needs to think about.

In some ways, it would have been better for him to have simply died when the scout had stabbed him. It would have been easier that way.]

You never change, Optimus.

Orion.

[thelastprime]

[It was odd how despite the scorned look Megatron was throwing at him, his demeanor did not change. When it came to this...when the ultimate sacrifice would have to be made, he knew...He'd always known.

From the day Megatron seemingly perished at ground zero of the space bridge, he'd wished to change Megatron's mind. And not extinguish his spark. Many times that had been thought to be the case.

But...tale as old as time, the gladiator would not be down and out as long as there was a chance at life. Orion knew it, and so does Optimus. He kept that belief. Or tried to.]

Our lives constantly change, Megatronus. Our vehicle modes, our alignments, our opinions.



Perhaps...there needs to be a constant.

[deceptionshark]

[Megatron never believed that the day would come when his mind could be changed. He had always seen himself as the villain, the chaos that would bring down entire civilizations and rule with the iron fist of cruelty. Optimus was the good and he was the evil, that was the balance of the universe. Things have changed. Witnessing and being tormented by a power greater and more evil than himself has granted him a feeling of... well, he's not sure what. If Optimus could see into his mind, he'd call it empathy.

He can never become one with the Allspark. He can never join the others in the afterlife. This is his fate, and he accepts that. The most he can do is make use of what time he has left in this universe. Choosing to go the less destructive path is only one thing though, knowing how to do it is a different thing altogether. This is the path he has chosen, however. It is not the easiest path, but Megatron has never chosen the easy route. He will fight on as he ever did, but this time no one besides him will suffer for it. He, Unicron's former vessel, has caused too much suffering already.

The scorn dies from his face, and is replaced with an almost... lost... look. What does he do from here? All his life has been devoted to violence, that's everything he is and all he knows. What can he change, and what can he keep the same? Despite his revelation, Megatron rather likes aspects of himself.

He asks Optimus none of these questions.]

I...

[Was wrong.

But he can't say that, not yet.]

I wish you well, Optimus.

[thelastprime]

[That's the strange thing about fate. You could be absolutely certain things would turn out to your expectations, and then turn to see that...in actuality, they are farthest thing from your assumed goal. A single grain of sand can tip the scale.

Deep down, he knows Megatron is too fargone for the Allspark. But if there's one trait the Prime has been known for, and known as, it's hope. A hand stretches out, splaying across Megatron's pauldron, forgivingly and understandingly. There's no malice--there never has been. Just to let Megatron know that he's there.

And for as long as the once-warlord's spark still beat, he would be there.]

When I become one with the Allspark...when I am in the Well. I will still be watching over you, old friend. It's what I have done through this whole ordeal.

A gladiator may fall, but as long as a hand is outstretched, he will rise again.

[deceptionshark]

[Megatron glares at his old foe, uncertain how he's supposed to take this. After a moment, he seems to relax and he reaches up to touch Optimus on the shoulder too. An old gesture of a long-broken friendship.]

I am a gladiator no more, Optimus, nor am I a destroyer of worlds. I hope you watch as I discover who I can be instead.

It... would be easier if you were around.

[thelastprime]

I had always known, that you would be redeemable.

[His hand tightens slightly on that shoulder, as his head leans in, pressing gently against the forehead of the other. His eyes close completely trusting the other bot, as a small smile appears on his face.]

...Perhaps...the age of gladiators is over. It is up to you to decide what path that leads to.


I will be here, Megatron. If not in body, then in spirit.

[deceptionshark]

[For a brief moment, Megatron wants to draw away. It has been eons since he's allowed himself to touch someone else with such familiarity. It's comforting in a way that he almost enjoys. He sighs and closes his eyes, leaning into their forehead touch.]

You will not be disappointed, brother.

[deadlydoctor]

What can I say, life works in mysterious ways.

[Knock Out knows. That's why he's not going near Megatron anytime soon.] My paintjob is going to suffer less with them. And they're nicer too.