Arsha and Optimus were waiting for Blancalmarem to pick them up by the Gateway. \u201cI must say,\u201d mused Arsha, \u201cI\u2019m a little surprised she\u2019s judging us.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYeah, I thought she was an announcer with Nemengra,\u201d agreed Optimus. \u201cWhen did announcers…?\u201d his question was interrupted as white light flashed and formed Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCommander Topaz has prepared the firing range,\u201d she announced. \u201cWe\u2019ll just go there now and…\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMadam, a question,\u201d interjected Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes?\u201d asked Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHave you always judged a round?\u201d inquired Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy, yes, all of us princesses do,\u201d replied Blancalmarem. \u201cNemengra and I may be the main commenters, but we don\u2019t have a monopoly on that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWho\u2019s taking your place?\u201d asked Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAt the moment, Elizabeth is,\u201d answered Blancalmarem. \u201cAny further questions?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, we\u2019re good,\u201d replied Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen, away we go,\u201d declared Blancalmarem. The three then vanished in white light and reappeared at the firing range. Commander Topaz rubbed her eyes as she recovered from the flash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019m EVER going to get used to that,\u201d she muttered.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cUs contestants haven\u2019t gotten used to it either,\u201d supplied Optimus. The camera appeared and Blancalmarem smoothed out her dress before beginning.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI am Blancalmarem,\u201d she began, \u201cthe white princess of Chizara and the life leader! Representing T-R-4-N-5-F-0-R-M-3-R-5-M-0-8-1-4-N-C-H-R-0-N-1-C-L-3-5, we have Optimus Prime with home-turf advantage! Representing T-H-3-T-H-R-3-3-R-3-4-L-M-5, we have Arsha Royana! This bout will be a test of acuity in magic. Optimus and Arsha will each fire a magic blast from their wands, trying to get close enough to the center of the target. They will each have ten shots and whoever gets the closest shot to the center is the winner. No other weapons may be used and neither will interfere in the other\u2019s attempts. Optimus Prime, are you ready?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBring it!\u201d cheered Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArsha Royana, are you ready?\u201d asked Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLet\u2019s start the match!\u201d answered Arsha.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen I shall determine who fires their first shot,\u201d declared Blancalmarem. \u201cOptimus, since you have home-turf advantage, call it.\u201d She pulled out a coin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTails,\u201d called Optimus. Blancalmarem flicked the coin into the air, then caught it, slapped it to the back of her hand, then got a peek.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGood call,\u201d praised Blancalmarem. \u201cYou may fire when ready, Optimus.\u201d Optimus twirled his wand before slicing the air from side to side and firing a magic blast. It hit the target on one of the interior rings. He holstered his wand and indicated it was Arsha\u2019s turn. Arsha smirked, then pointed her wand down before flicking it upwards towards the target and fired a magic blast. When it hit the target, slightly nearer to the center than Optimus\u2019, she holstered hers and nodded to Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh no,\u201d groaned Oak. \u201cThey\u2019re baiting each other!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHappens in your universe too?\u201d sighed Jazz.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201d asked Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re trying to show off how flashy they can flick their wands,\u201d explained Jazz. \u201cA Mage\u2019s rap battle, if you will.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAh,\u201d realized Richard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBy the Allspark, I thought he grew out of that,\u201d groaned Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t change much, does he?\u201d chuckled Ultra Magnus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSometimes his attitude,\u201d mused Blackarachnia, \u201creminds me of when we first met.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was at a party on Cybertron, ten years before he received the Matrix,\u201d recalled Ultra Magnus. \u201cHe was boasting about his family\u2019s preference to be warriors.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI got so sick of it and threw a full Energon cube at his head,\u201d giggled Blackarachnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou then told him that he was a disgrace to the Pax family name,\u201d continued Ultra Magnus, \u201cand mopped the floor with him.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDad was spark-showering mad at that,\u201d revealed Blackarachnia. \u201cI seem to recall your mother telling him he was going to Yoketron\u2019s estate as punishment. Yet, he talks about Yoketron fondly. Why?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe met Jazz there,\u201d replied Ultra Magnus. His attention was then grabbed by Optimus\u2019 next shot. His wind-up looked like he was fencing with his wand. His shot was slightly farther from his first.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cFolks, I promise you,\u201d Blancalmarem assured to the camera, \u201ctheir posing has no merit in this bout. All I\u2019m judging is their accuracy.\u201d Arsha pirouetted three times before tilting her body so it was parallel to the ground and she lightly flicked her wand, making a magic blast hit the target. It was perpendicular to her previous shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cOh yeah?\u201d remarked Optimus. He then got into a one-handed handstand and pointed his wand between his legs, firing another blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cGetting fancy, are we?\u201d chuckled Arsha. She then leapt into the air and expanded her skirts, letting the sudden updraft keep her afloat and parachuting down gently as she fired another magic blast.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShowoff!\u201d hissed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLike he has any room to talk!\u201d snapped Brendan as he and Jandro set up aluminum-backed mirrors to replace the silver-backed ones so they could see themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat boy is quite the cocky one, from what I\u2019ve read in my copy of his dossier,\u201d recalled Jandro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI swear, I never displayed this level of OW!\u201d Brendan accidentally cut his lips with his new fangs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was tough for me, too,\u201d assured Jandro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI need to ask before I say something stupid,\u201d muttered Brendan, \u201cwere you born a Vampire?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNope, I was turned,\u201d answered Jandro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen you DO know what I\u2019m going through,\u201d sighed Brendan. \u201cOkay, that\u2019s a bit of a relief.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBrendan, sweet-blood,\u201d chuckled Jandro, \u201ceven Vampires that have been that way since their birth have the occasional mishap.\u201d Just then, there was a knock on the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cComing!\u201d called Brendan. He opened the door to reveal a sparkling, pale human.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ve got two deliveries,\u201d explained the sparkler. \u201cOne for a Mr. Jandro Dormu from After Academy\u2019s Uniform Department.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s me,\u201d called Jandro as he took the package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd the other is for a Mr. Brendan Patterson from Fabric of Reality,\u201d continued the sparkler.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy new dress!\u201d cheered Brendan as he accepted his package.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHey, if you ever feel tired of him,\u201d purred the sparkler, \u201cmaybe you can hang with a real Vampire?\u201d Both Jandro and Brendan bared their fangs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBack off, you pale imitation!\u201d snarled Brendan. \u201cYou sparkle-fairies are NOT Vampires!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI dare you to take Brendan from me!\u201d growled Jandro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t you go take a bath in holy water?!\u201d challenged the sparkler. Brendan then grabbed the sparkler\u2019s shoulder and punched him straight in the mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cInsult my boyfriend again! I dare you!\u201d he taunted as the sparkler spat out his chipped fangs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMY TEETH!\u201d he cried. \u201cYOU RED-EYED…!\u201d The door was then slammed in his face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cStupid imitation Vampire!\u201d muttered Brendan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHow that ridiculous Twilight<\/em> garbage has ANY following among VaOUCH!\u201d yelped Jandro as he cut his lips with his fangs. \u201c…See what I meant earlier?\u201d chuckled Jandro.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLet\u2019s not focus on the knock-off Vampires, my rose,\u201d advised Brendan. \u201cI believe the match is still going on.\u201d Optimus and Arsha had both taken seven shots each while the altercation went on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIf you\u2019re quite done on deciding!\u201d hissed Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t rush a magic blast fling pose!\u201d retorted Optimus. He then did a bit of break-dancing before firing his eighth shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNice try,\u201d laughed Arsha. She leapt into the air, did ten backflips, then punched the back of her wand, making it shoot her eighth one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cKids,\u201d muttered Rachet as he, Emily, Marshii, and Henry tidied the infirmary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou were that young once,\u201d remarked Henry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTrue,\u201d conceded Ratchet. \u201c…Okay, where\u2019s the laser scalpel?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat\u2019s it look like?\u201d asked Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLong silver tube,\u201d described Ratchet. \u201cRed light at the end that generates the laser I need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat one?\u201d asked Emily as she pointed to the tube.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, there it is,\u201d sighed Ratchet happily. \u201cThank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNot a problem, Doc,\u201d replied Emily.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t call me \u2018Doc\u2019!\u201d snapped Ratchet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHey, Ratchet, about the microscope I lent you…\u201d began Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAh, yes, the microscope,\u201d recalled Ratchet. \u201cJust finished my analysis of Emily\u2019s blood. I\u2019ll give it to you once we\u2019re…\u201d He was interrupted by something breaking. Everyone turned to see Henry looking guilty at a mess he made of a couple of pieces of equipment, specifically, Marshii\u2019s microscope and the machine Ratchet used to operate it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo…I guess the red button SHOULDN\u2019T have been pressed,\u201d gulped Henry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI NEEDED THAT!\u201d shouted Ratchet and Marshii.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Optimus traced various shapes with his wand before firing his ninth shot. Arsha made her wand cartwheel across her arms five times over before she caught it and fired her ninth one. \u201cRight, this is the last one!\u201d declared Optimus. He tossed his wand into the air, got into a push-up position, transformed from vehicle to robot mode five times over, got up and did ten jumping jacks, then proceeded to do an entire kata before he kicked the end of his wand and fired his last shot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOkay, that\u2019s good, I\u2019ll give you that,\u201d mused Arsha. \u201cBut, this is where it ends.\u201d She then tossed her wand into the air, shut her eyes to concentrate, moved her tails in a graceful manner, danced as if she were gliding instead of stepping, twirled, then, as it came level with her, flicked the end of her wand and fired her final shot. She stopped her dance, opened her eyes, caught her wand, and curtsied. Optimus clapped his hands, impressed at what he saw.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat topped mine,\u201d conceded Optimus. \u201cGood job.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, the wind-ups were amazing,\u201d remarked Blancalmarem, \u201cbut that wasn\u2019t what the contest was about, was it?\u201d Optimus and Arsha arched their eyebrows in confusion, then widened their eyes as they blushed in embarrassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cScrap, that\u2019s right!\u201d groaned Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cTarget shooting,\u201d winced Arsha. \u201cOops.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou two seriously forgot?!\u201d protested Blancalmarem. She then sighed. \u201cSome people are so easily distracted.\u201d She ran outlines along the targets and shot-marks, Optimus\u2019 in red and Arsha\u2019s in pink, lined the outlines up and measured each shot. \u201cThis contest is over,\u201d she announced. \u201cThe winner, with her fifth shot, is Arsha Royana! You two will be returned to Vorton shortly. Optimus, though you have suffered a defeat, know that it only brings as much dishonor as you feel necessary. Would you care for an interview with Nemengra and I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201c…You know what, sure,\u201d replied Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThen I shall bring you to our garden once Arsha is dropped off,\u201d declared Blancalmarem. White light surrounded them and took Arsha to Vorton while Optimus went with Blancalmarem. Arsha was congratulated on all sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat was nicely done!\u201d cheered Megumi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, looks like my boy needs to work on his magic shooting,\u201d mused Ironhide. \u201cFirst off, I gotta remind him that you can\u2019t get distracted with anything fancy, especially in battle!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd it seems YOU need that reminder as well, Captain,\u201d rumbled Oak. Arsha just giggled nervously and rubbed the back of her neck as an embarrassed grin crossed her blushing face again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The interview broadcast began as usual. \u201cI am Blancalmarem, the white princess of Chizara and the life leader,\u201d began Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am Nemengra, the black princess of Chizara and the death leader,\u201d finished Nemengra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI had the honor of judging the bout between Optimus Prime and Arsha Royana today,\u201d continued Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe bout was centered around magic target shooting and Arsha claimed victory,\u201d explained Nemengra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNow, if they just remembered that, the bout would have gone a lot quicker!\u201d grumbled Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes, the competitors soon switched their focus to whoever could wind up their shots better,\u201d recalled Nemengra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOptimus has accepted being interviewed, so, maybe, we can get some answers from him,\u201d mused Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHere\u2019s is the interview in full,\u201d announced Nemengra as the screen behind them displayed the interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt says in your dossier,\u201d revealed Blancalmarem, \u201cthat you\u2019re the first adolescent to be named Prime. What were your thoughts after that?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, the usual,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cUnderestimating how hard leadership is, failing a lot, listening to grumbles of unhappy bots.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYet you stay on,\u201d mused Nemengra. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBecause, at the end of the day,\u201d answered Optimus, \u201cI still feel pride for my job of serving Cybertron in my current capacity.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou view your job as a public service?\u201d summed up Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery job in the field of politics, even voting,\u201d affirmed Optimus, \u201cis a public service. To try to make a career out of it, in my opinion, cheapens the sacrifice you\u2019re making. That\u2019s why I instituted term limits to all politicians on Cybertron.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAnd people feel as if they\u2019re being heard?\u201d quizzed Nemengra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s one of a few solutions to restore honor to politics that I have in mind,\u201d replied Optimus. \u201cAnother is to do away with our electoral college system that we adopted from 21st<\/sup> century Americans and go for a pure democracy in electing our representatives.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, sounds ambitious,\u201d mused Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe people\u2019s voice needs to be heard,\u201d declared Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThat is, indeed, a noble goal,\u201d agreed Nemengra. \u201cNow, concerning the bout…\u201d Optimus sunk into his seat as he blushed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s about the show Arsha and I put on during our wind-ups, isn\u2019t it?\u201d guessed Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, that,\u201d answered Blancalmarem, \u201cand I\u2019m still trying to figure out how you two forgot the fight terms since you BOTH agreed to them!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMages, sometimes, love to show off,\u201d explained Optimus. \u201cMore often than not, that gets in the way for us. It looks like it\u2019s a \u2018multiversal constant\u2019, as the Vortex Riders put it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cSo, you succumb to childishness frequently?\u201d guessed Nemengra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYes,\u201d mumbled Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, I think we\u2019ve said enough,\u201d declared Blancalmarem. \u201cThank you for your time, we\u2019ll send you home.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDo you need to?\u201d gulped Optimus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou\u2019re gonna have to hear the lectures eventually,\u201d answered Nemengra. \u201c\u2018Til all are one.\u201d The screen went dark and Blancalmarem and Nemengra returned to their audience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m sure Optimus is getting an audioful,\u201d sighed Blancalmarem.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter the break, Amavorte will be judging the round between Megumi Hishikawa and Queen Phury of Appoplexia!\u201d cheered Nemengra.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Arsha and Optimus were waiting for Blancalmarem to pick them up by the Gateway. \u201cI must say,\u201d mused Arsha, \u201cI\u2019m a little surprised she\u2019s judging us.\u201d \u201cYeah, I thought she was an announcer with Nemengra,\u201d agreed Optimus. \u201cWhen did announcers…?\u201d his question was interrupted as white light flashed and formed Blancalmarem. \u201cCommander Topaz has prepared […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":2500,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[101,102],"tags":[9,345,337],"class_list":["post-2499","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-trinity-soul","category-trinity-soul-chapters","tag-kamen-rider","tag-three-realms","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2499","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2499"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2499\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2501,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2499\/revisions\/2501"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2500"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2499"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2499"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2499"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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