King Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot dueled with their respective counterparts. Judging from her movements, Guinevere wasn\u2019t used to combat at all as she tired herself in dodging Rouge\u2019s attacks. Rouge then delivered a roundhouse into her abdomen, winding her and making her collapse. \u201cGUINEVERE!\u201d called Arthur and Lancelot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou\u2019re wide open!\u201d growled Shadow as he and Sonic spin-dashed into them, knocking them to the floor. The three Camelot Denizens panted as their Mobian counterparts helped them up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, Arthur!\u201d laughed Sonic. \u201cI know you were sleeping, but\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou suggested that Guinevere, a woman, should enter into combat!\u201d argued Arthur. \u201cTell me, what good would having a woman die on the battlefield serve?!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re suggesting that women should let the men die while we just sit at home and worry,\u201d snarled Rouge, \u201cyou\u2019re out of your goddamned mind!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cRouge is right,\u201d agreed Shadow. \u201cIt\u2019s their world too, and they have a right to defend it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd if both should die, who will care for their child?!\u201d asked Guinevere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNot everyone\u2019s so fixed on making babies,\u201d retorted Sonic. \u201cBesides, there\u2019s enough people that are to keep the species going, whatever that species is.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThou maketh life sound clinical,\u201d muttered Lancelot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLook, take it from a guy who lost his only friend 50 years ago,\u201d remarked Shadow, \u201cthere\u2019s more to life than just living according to a code.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u202650 years ago?\u201d asked Arthur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Her name was Maria Robotnik, Eggman\u2019s cousin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut how do you not age?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m an artificial life-form.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArtificial in\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThat\u2019s the end of that!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArthur,\u201d suggested Rouge, \u201cI hate to say this, but there ARE times when you need to put love aside. It could get you killed on the battlefield.\u201d Everyone looked to Rouge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWhy don\u2019t we take a break?\u201d asked Sonic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTwould be wise to ease our minds,\u201d agreed Lancelot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThen we shall rest until our bodies are prepared again,\u201d declared Arthur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPerfect! See you later!\u201d Sonic then took off for a run. Shadow and Rouge then left to meet with Omega. Arthur, Lancelot, and Guinevere then looked at each other. Arthur then shut his eyes before speaking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLancelot, My Queen, tell me true,\u201d he sighed, \u201cis thy love for each other still strong?\u201d The two flinched, then looked at each other, one trying to silently ask the other for help on wording.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Yes,\u201d Lancelot finally sighed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy King, I\u2026\u201d began Guinevere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAm I?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026My Lord?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAm I really a king if the kingdom I knew hath fallen long afore our reawakening?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe inscription on thy coffin,\u201d reminded Lancelot, \u201csays that thou art the once and future king.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe meaning behind that was that Camelot would be eternal, yet it is gone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Yea, tis true, but the ideals of the time are spoken about in legend.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cExactly, they are merely stories now.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArthur, I ask this of thee,\u201d interjected Guinevere, \u201cwhat be the purpose of stories? To merely offer a window into the past or to give hope to the future?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs there a point to this conversation?\u201d called Merlin\u2019s voice. He entered the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMerlin, are we not throwbacks to an age that no longer exists?\u201d asked Arthur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMere throwbacks, or assistance to the future?\u201d riddled Merlin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Merlin, my patience for thy riddles hath worn thin as I aged.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTis what I tried to tell him, Merlin,\u201d said Guinevere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArthur, it seems, to mine eyes,\u201d remarked Lancelot, \u201cthat thou thinks thyself useless to the modern world.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLancelot, answer me this: how can we survive?! We belong not in this time! Those who dwell on us are doomed to commit the same sins we have!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut they don\u2019t,\u201d answered Merlin. \u201cArthur, they do learn about your sins as well as your virtues. That\u2019s why it was important to have you return in this age. For what are stories if not a means to teach lessons?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLike the tales in the Good Book,\u201d offered Guinevere. Arthur then arched an eye ridge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Aye, tis true,\u201d he muttered as his heart became lighter. \u201cTis very true! Lancelot, Guinevere, Merlin, thou art all wise!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWiser, in my case,\u201d chuckled Merlin as he vanished in smoke. Arthur then turned to Guinevere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy Lady Fair, though our kingdom be gone, thy feelings still remain. Because of this, twould follow that thou hast more freedom to settle thy heart\u2019s desires. My Friend and My Queen, thou mayst romance as thou wish.\u201d Guinevere and Lancelot goggled at their king.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cArthur, art thou\u2026?!\u201d spluttered Lancelot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAye, I am.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDAMMIT!\u201d shouted Morgane as she looked through the scrying orb. \u201cThe triangle is being settled!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cShould we move?\u201d asked Onslaught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cTell your father that the time to search Shamar is NOW!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cSure thing, Ma.\u201d Morgane then goggled at Onslaught.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Ma?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cEr, I meant Ma\u2019am!\u201d Onslaught then scuttled off, leaving Morgane confused.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Over in Shamar, Cliffjumper searched the sands. \u201cThat signature was around here somewhere,\u201d he muttered. He then looked at the ring on his finger. \u201c\u2026Wouldn\u2019t it be selfish to ask?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWouldn\u2019t it be selfish NOT to?\u201d asked Shahra\u2019s voice, startling the bot and making him yelp. \u201cI\u2019m sorry, Master!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, no, it\u2019s all right,\u201d assured Cliffjumper. \u201c\u2026Hey, Shahra, what do YOU want?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cPardon?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIs it possible for you to grant your own wishes?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019m afraid not, not while I\u2019m bound to the ring.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf it were possible, what would you wish for?\u201d There was a silence that followed Cliffjumper\u2019s question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026No, it\u2019s silly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cCome on, you can tell me.\u201d Shahra sighed before answering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201c\u2026Freedom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI figured the ring was a prison. Tell me, can a master wish a genie free?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYes, but I\u2019m forbidden from telling you. If I tried, I would burst into flames.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cScrap!\u201d Cliffjumper then hit something and ended up bumper-first in a dune. He transformed and looked at the object. It was a grey thing protruding from the sand. \u201cOh, embarrass me, will you?! Shahra, I wish for you to help me dig it up!\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAs you wish!\u201d Shahra summoned a pair of shovels, one for each person, and they began digging. The object turned out to be an arm, a Cybertronian one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wonder who\u2019s buried here?\u201d he muttered. They started digging around the object and cleared away the sands to reveal a mech\u2019s head\u2026a mech\u2019s head Cliffjumper recognized, despite the scars on the face. He gasped and dropped his shovel as he stumbled backwards. Shahra then read Cliffjumper\u2019s mind and gasped as she got the message. \u201cWe never found him after the\u2026!\u201d The head\u2019s optics then flickered online, revealing a terrifying red color. He spat out sand, then looked up and gave a wicked grin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI suppose helping those less fortunate is completely out of the question,\u201d chuckled the mech. Cliffjumper and Shahra didn\u2019t speak, they were too terrified to do so. \u201cIf that is the case, you might as well use your shovels to finish me. I guarantee you\u2019ll never have a better opportunity than right\u2026now!\u201d Cliffjumper looked around as he decided his actions. \u201c\u2026Well? What are you waiting for?! Think of the glory! Seize the day! Optimus would.\u201d Cliffjumper then decided.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo, he wouldn\u2019t. Not like this! Shahra, we\u2019re getting out of here!\u201d He transformed and Shahra returned to her ring as he sped off.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll be sure to tell him the details of our conversation\u2026the day I rip out his SPARK!\u201d laughed the mech. Cliffjumper had long disappeared over the dunes, leaving the mech alone. He then started clearing away the sand around his torso, reveal the Badge of the Decepticon Lord! \u201cAll\u2026hail\u2026Megatron!\u201d chuckled the mech.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
King Arthur, Guinevere, and Lancelot dueled with their respective counterparts. Judging from her movements, Guinevere wasn\u2019t used to combat at all as she tired herself in dodging Rouge\u2019s attacks. Rouge then delivered a roundhouse into her abdomen, winding her and making her collapse. \u201cGUINEVERE!\u201d called Arthur and Lancelot. \u201cYou\u2019re wide open!\u201d growled Shadow as he […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":1058,"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":[98,667],"tags":[146,337],"class_list":["post-4239","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles","category-transformers-mobian-chronicles-arc-17-living-stories","tag-sonic","tag-transformers"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4239","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=4239"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4239\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4240,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4239\/revisions\/4240"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1058"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4239"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4239"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/samueljvinton.com\/wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4239"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}