"Even a well lit place, can hide salvation
A map to a one man maze that never sees the sun
Where the lost are the heroes

And the thieves are left to drown
But everyone knows by now
Fairy tales are not found."
(It Has Begun - Starset)

☆

Planet Earth was a lot different than what Optimus Prime had expected.

When he had scoured the known universe for a safe little planet where he and his Autobots could hide out, he'd seen the hologram image of the quiet little backwater planet and thought it would be a perfect setting for their people to regroup, rebuild, and plan their next move against their Decepticon enemies.

Transformers as a race knew little about distant worlds, especially ones as 'primitive' as the Earth. That was partially why Optimus had chosen it, because he didn't think there would be any life there that would be endangered by their mechanical war.

So when, as he promised B-127, followed to Earth and crashed landed and emerged to find himself having accidentally obliterated a farm barn with his arrival. He was shocked as his robotic form slowly stood tall over the rubble, to see a shining city situated by a river in the distance, it's lights shining against the backdrop as the sun started to set behind it, casting a iridescent golden glow over its metallic structures. Optimus could hardly believe his optics. It was so beautiful, so modern and so much more advanced than anything he had expected.

He slightly felt guilty of underestimating what was now clear to him. A planet of intelligent beings. Though he also felt guilty in an opposing way. Because he and his scout's arrival meant that these intelligent beings would now be in danger.

He knew that his scout would be aware of this civilisation. From what he saw, whoever they were they spanned far and wide. He hoped that B-127 had found a way to protect them, and perhaps ally himself with them. After all, Optimus had sent him there to protect the planet. It would be in their best interest to unite, before the Decepticons, and the rest of his Autobots arrived.

So in the spirit of friendship, Optimus Prime searched around the farm, hoping to apologise for damaging the owner's land and learn where he was in regard to location. He searched what seemed to be a home or base building, peering in through its tiny windows and calling out, but no life appeared to be home. Though after hearing a strange sort of 'bleet', Optimus found some little fluffy four legged creatures in the field that seemed rather spooked by his presence. They weren't responsive no matter how much he tried conversing with them, and so he deduced they were not the intelligent species that constructed that great city.

Optimus knew he wouldn't get any help there. Moving on would be a wise choice. He had to find his scout.

Spying an interesting looking vehicle parked by the small house, the Autobot leader decided that perhaps the inhabitants of Earth would be less timid around him if he appeared as something they were familiar with.

And so scanning the modest but adequate semi truck, Optimus stamped out the fire started in the grass by his crash landing, before he 'transformed and rolled out', as he would announce if he was rolling out with company.

He would soon have fellow good Cybertronians company, he silently hoped. Primes weren't supposed to be sentimental and wish for personal things, but he hoped he wouldn't be alone for too long. Yet more incentive to locate the scout he sent ahead.

Though Optimus knew that finding him would be no easy task. His scanner didn't have a wide enough range, and without the scout's landing coordinates he didn't know how far away he could be.

But he had one lead. The same lead that, unknown to him, the Decepticons Shatter and Dropkick had followed to locate B-127. Caused by the overcurious yellow Autobot deciding sticking his finger into an electrical socket was a smart idea.

The Energon Spike.

Luckily for Prime, Energon and electricity don't mix.

Optimus had intercepted the signals sent regarding it from the 'military', which he assumed was their version of an army. He couldn't get ahold of the spike's coordinates, but he had a location name: "Brighton Falls."

Of course, that name meant nothing to him. Right now he wasn't even sure where he was himself. So he drove onwards, in the hopes that he could find some direction, or someone that could assist him in his endeavour. Driving along the dirt roads, he couldn't help but admire how smooth the ride felt thanks to his new alternate mode.

These beings must be sophisticated indeed to have constructed such a wonderful vehicle, and such an incandescent city.

Perhaps the city would be a good place to start?

Yes! The beings there could direct him to "Brighton Falls". Who knew, perhaps when he arrived there, more intelligent beings would be waiting with B-127 to welcome him.

As Optimus drove for a while down the dusty country roads in the direction of civilisation, he passed some vehicles that left him curious. He attempted to greet them, believing that perhaps this is what the Earth's intelligent species must use to travel. None responded, and when he tried to drive alongside a couple, they for some reason sped away.

That left him somewhat confused. Did the Earthen truck mode not seem friendly enough?

Continuing on with his thoughts, Optimus was passing a field that housed a pond when his brakes screeched loudly, bringing him to an abrupt stop as he spotted something.... Different.

Crouched by the pond, he spied a lone creature that stood bipedal like his kind, but this was much smaller and comprised of flesh like the small fluffy creatures from before. They too had 'fluff', but sleeker and only coming down from their head. It was long and beautiful gold. Optimus found himself intrigued by what appeared to be soft armour the creature was wearing. Bright red covering their chest, a lighter blue on the legs. Almost like his colourscheme, how strange. They seemed to be watching something by the water with curiosity.

Optimus was in awe. It was like nothing he'd ever seen, so colourful and... soft. Could this be one of the intelligent ones? Could they perhaps direct him?

The semi alternative mode rumbled closer and onto the field slowly, carefully as he didn't want to spook the colourful little being.

Coming to a stop just close enough that he wouldn't slide forward into the water body, he beeped his horn lightly to announce his presence.

"Excuse me?"

The horn got the creature's attention, they looked up sharply with what Optimus considered to be beautiful blue eyes to compliment that lovely gold on their head.

Good, he'd been noticed, and this one hadn't driven away. That must be a good start, right?

"I hoped that you could help me..." Prime explained slowly and honestly, watching her through his semi mode and hoping that they could understand him. From the transmission he'd intercepted he'd synthesised what he could of their language since he doubted they could speak Cybertronian.

The colourful creature seemed to frown, they stood up slowly as they stared uneasily over at him. Optimus internally winced. He'd unnerved them like those drivers.

"... Help you with what?" The creature asked after a moment, not daring to come closer to him but still watching intently.

So they could understand him, that was good.

Optimus worried they would run. They didn't look overly trusting of him at all. The truck mode was supposed to rectify that.... Perhaps that was unnerving them?

"I do not mean you any harm." He expressed honestly, and deciding to try this more personally, Optimus transformed into his robotic mode, looking down at the now much littler being with friendly eyes and a tilt of his head.

"I hoped that you could direct me to a location called 'Brighton Falls' - -" He asked hopefully, but was then cut off as the creature let out a shaken scream, and before Optimus knew it they'd fallen backwards onto the ground. They weren't moving.... Why weren't they moving?!

Eyes widened with panic, Prime worried that he'd just accidentally killed the little being he hoped would help him.

This is not how he hoped his arrival to Earth would go down.