I'm Friends With the Monsters (AOE)

Chapter 14: Remember Me

"Quickly, I'm setting off Lockdown's grenade!" He scooped us up and held us against his chest, activating rocket boosters (I KNOW!!!!) and shot into the air! I clung on for dear life, my hair whipping around in the wind as we climbed upwards rapidly, and below us there was an explosion! 

Optimus swooped around, and it took me a few moments to realize something.

It was over... the battle was over.

We'd won.

---

Optimus landed, Chinese military everywhere! For a moment, I thought they would attack us, but instead they cheered! Well, glad to know we weren't about to get balsted full of bullet holes after all of that. 

"Grimlock!" I called out, seeing the Dinobots approach. That's when Shane hugged me.

"You're a troublesome little kid, y'know that?" He asked, kissing the top of my head. WOOOHOO!

"I know." I coughed with a dreamy grin on my face- SNAP OUT OF IT GABBY! I pulled away. I knew that he and I, were never going to happen. Oh well, he was still hunky.

"Let's go home to graduation huh?" Uncle Cade said as he pulled away from hugging a crying Tessa. Awwwh! "You're okay kid." He brought Shane into a hug, and looked down at me. "You're mom would've been so proud of you today Gabby."

I sniffled and hugged Uncle Cade. "yeah... she would've also h-had a heart attack or two." That made everyone share a chuckle as Tessa was pulled into the family hug. We were all together, nobody died. Crisis was averted, we were safe. 

Joshua approached us, looking- wait, was that humbleness on his face? Who woulda thunk it!

"We don't have a home dad." Tessa suddenly realized. Right... it was blown up by Cemetery Wind at the beginning of this crazy-ass adventure.

"I might be able to help you with that." Josh said. Well, he WAS humble! Hunky-dory! And the weirdest part was that Uncle Cade hugged him too and he hugged back!

"And you," he looked down at me. "I owe you an apology. They were needed, like you said."

"Y'know what? I'm sorry for hitting you." I said, albeit slightly reluctantly. Hey, he apologized first! I looked up as the Dinobots approached, and bowed their helms at me as the Autobots returned, all of them alive and safe. 

"Brave warriors," Optimus began and Grimlock raised his club triumphantly. "You are free!"

"Thank you!" I called out. "Thank you so much!"

*You... welcome. You... friend. Grimlock friend.* The Dinobot told me before transforming.

"I'll ride with you anytime, Spike!" Crosshairs pointed at Scorn with a wide smirk.

"Actually, it's Scorn but, Spike's good too!" I told him, and he snorted.

I watched as Grimlock gave a triumphant roar, belched out a burst of flame and tore for the valley. They grow up so fast...

"This Seed belongs to our Creators." Optimus told the Autobots. "Whoever they are, there remains a price on my head. I endanger you all if I stay."

Wait, what?! Was he- no, he couldn't! Not after all of this! No way! NO!

"I shall take it, where it can never be found." He said, confirming my suspicions.

"YOU CAN'T LEAVE!" I cried out. "PLEASE OPTIMUS DON'T GO!"

"I must, to keep you and your kind safe." He told me, and I couldn't stand it. I ran over and hugged his foot, again.

"please... you- I need you here on earth! I'm not strong without you!"

Optimus looked gravely down at me. "Gabby... I must give you something." He knelt down, and pulled out an oddly-shaped object. 

"W-what is it?" I asked as it shrank.

"Gabriella Vanell Yeager," he stated, and I had no clue how he knew my full name. "do you swear upon your life that you shall protect your home, your people, and your world?"

"I-I do..." I said softly, nodding.

"Then, by the power bestowed in me by my predecessors and Primus, I name you Prime until my return." He handed me the object, now the size of one of my hands! "May the Matrix of Leadership guide you upon the right path."

Everyone looked shocked, even me. Then I straightened up, and I gripped it in my hands. "I won't let you down." I promised him.

"I know you will not."

"... will we ever see you again?" Uncle Cade asked, looking up at Optimus.

"Cade Yeager, I do not know." He answered, and I gulped. He was naming me Prime because... he wasn't sure if he would come back alive. Or ever, for that matter. "But, whenever you look at the stars, think of one of them as my soul." He looked down at me as he said it, and I smiled up at him, briefly recalling the night we stargazed.  "Defend this family Autobots, as they have you. Defend..." He gazed down at Uncle Cade now. "All they can be."

I swallowed back my tears, letting out a shaky sigh. "G-goodbye Optimus Prime. And thank you... for everything."

He looked at me one last time and... he smiled. Then, he activated his boosters and shot upwards, into the air, disappearing from sight.  Everything was quiet for too long... then Tessa broke the silence as she approached me.

"Gabby? Are you okay?"

I looked back at her, at Uncle Cade, and Shane, and Joshua Joyce... then upwards at Bumblebee, Crosshairs, Drift and Hound. I ducked my head for a moment, and my grip on the Matrix tightened. Then I looked up at her, and smiled.

"I'm fine."