When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

It was the next day, and Azura woke up feeling pretty happy. She was happy mostly because she had not been in trouble with Optimus the day before, and that he was understanding of the whole situation. And Ratchet intended on sitting her down to do at least a thirty minute to an hour lesson on Cybertronian. Being a Sunday, Jack had voiced that he wanted to join in. But Ratchet told him that he can watch as he wanted to focus on Azura's education. He did know that Jack and Raf were interested in learning, while Miko did not particularly care. Besides, she apparently had a history report to work on to hand in later in the week, but she hasn't been working on it very hard. It was clear spending time with the autobots has been distracting her in regards to school. But they still needed school.

Right now, Azura was painting her second dragon image, and had decided to paint with her fingers instead of using the brushes. She found she was able to make the painting look smooth by using her hands, and she did not mind getting her hands covered in paint. It was something to do for the morning after being fed and waiting for the bots to bring the humans to the base. And Ratchet had decided to wait for Azura to spend a bit of time doing something she wanted before getting straight into education. He felt that was the better way for her to spend her time.

Optimus was watching her paint the image. She had mixed some of the paint, and she was currently painting the first layer of the image. Azura was aware that he was watching, but he had not said anything to her. She knew he was aware of her ancestor, and she loved to draw and paint dragons anyway, so it was very easy for her to do. Plus, Optimus did not know she was painting an image of what she believed she would look like in her dragon form. So he simply just knew that she was painting an image of a dragon, and that was it.

"At least you know that we have paint on Cybertron," Optimus commented with a smirk, making Azura grin as she remembered the story Ratchet mentioned about Bumblebee when he was young. "Though I will admit, if you do happen to deliberately spill paint or paint over the walls, I certainly won't be happy. Though I know you are unlikely to do that."

"Of course not. I am not that silly." Azura looked at her hands and looked at him with a curious expression. "Though I have paint on my hands and some has dripped onto the floor...would that kind of count?"

Optimus shook his head. "No. It just means a little bit of cleaning, but that is nothing to be concerned about. Besides, you aren't being silly about it either. You are using your skill to create something nice, and if there is a little bit of mess, it is fine. I'll make sure your hands are clean before Ratchet starts his education with you."

"I...I am kind of nervous. I am so used to the human way of school..." Azura pondered on it a little and turned to Optimus. "Is there something I should expect from Ratchet? Or am I being too nervous for nothing?"

"You are indeed being a tad too nervous, Azura. Ratchet is not a horrible teacher. I understand you think otherwise because of the fact that he can be a bit...strict is not the word I would use...but he is very serious. But you already know how kind he is towards you, Azura." Optimus smiled at her as she seemed to relax a little. "So you need not worry. Plus, you already seem to understand the alphabet just fine. He may get you to revise that before he has you write out sentences. I will be there, but I won't interfere."

"Okay." Azura turned to the painting again. She currently had painting the silver part of the body, but she needed it to dry. "Um...I think I am done with it for now. I need to let it dry before I continue." She looked at her hands and placed down the paint palette down and looked up at Optimus. "I guess..." She didn't get to finish as Optimus had already been prepared as he opened his chassis and pulled out a cloth. When he had seen she was using her hands to paint, he had walked away to get a damp cloth prepared to clean the sparkling's hands. Azura could not help but giggle a little. "I guess you were a little ahead of me."