Rain came down in sheets, the sounds of metal on metal clashing mixed with the thunder. I was fighting a Vehicon next to Optimus who fought Megatron. My dress was soaked with energon, blood, sweat, and rain. Roars came from the two faction leaders as they clashed. When I dispatched the Vehicon I made a move to help my friend and lover when a searing pain erupted in my abdomen. Time seemed to slow as I coughed out blood and fell to the ground. Silence covered the battle field.

"Cora!" The deep baritone voice of my friend and love yelled. The pain was to great for me to move.

"Now no one can foil our plans!" Starscream proclaimed. "Now that I have defeated the Priestess of Primus."

"You fragger! Cora was a friend to everybot." Knockout shouted punching the seeker. He joined Ratchet's side in hopes to save the young woman's life.

"O-Opti....mus...I'm so....sorry." Cora weakly said. The Prime held her in his holoform's arms.

"It's not your fault." He whispered. "Ratchet and Knockout will fix you up."

"No...use...I can hear....P-Primus... calling my... name." Harsh coughing wracked the pale woman's body.

"Cora?" The soft voice of Miko asked. Jack and Raf were with the teenage girl.

"Miko, you shouldn't be here." Bulkhead looked at his charge with saddened optics.

     I could feel my life fading as I layed there in a muddy mix of energon, blood, and rain. The pain was already gone, but only physically. Emotionally I was writhing in it because I didn't want to leave the mech I loved. Weakly I lifted my bloody hand and placed it on his cheek. He put his own hand over mine to keep in in place.

"I love you.... Till all are one." My vision became white and my body limp.

-Third Person Pov-

     Cora fell limp in Optimus' arms. Her hand sliding off his cheek, leaving a bloody smear as it fell into the mud. Her bright electric blue eyes dull and seeing nothing. With and anguished cry Optimus held the dead woman close to his chest as her Autobot and Decepticon friends alike stood vigil. Megatron, angry for the murder of his frenemy, turned to the seeker and cleanly offlined him.

"I'm sorry Optimus. Let us call a truce till the mourning and funeral of our friend and your mate is over." Megatron said looking sadly at the woman. Optimus only looked up and nodded.

     A bright white light shot out of Cora's chest startling everyone. The light began covering her whole body. All the energon that was in the mud rose up in the air and glowed brightly, purifying itself and going around the glowing woman. When the glow died down everyone was amazed at what they saw. Cora was no longer beaten and bloody, instead she was in repose hands down at her sides. She wore a red dress with golden flames stitched into the skirt, her hair looked like it was given beach waves and the gold highlights shone brightly against her flaming red hair.

"This must surely be the work of Primus." Ratchet gasped.

-Time Skip to Predacon's Rise-

     When the Autobots returned to Cybertron after defeating Megatron, they placed the crystal containing Cora in the center of Iacon. Once the planet was rebuilt, the Autobots were going to build a monument and place the crystal at the top for all to see.

-Cora's Pov-

     It was sunset and all the Autobots were gathered at the edge of the Well of the Allspark. I stood off to the side with the sun to my back, no one could see me though since I was there in spirit. Optimus stood closer to the edge than the others. Since he now contained the Allspark in his Matrix of Leadership, he had to sacrifice his life to bring life back to Cybertron. A soft breeze blew my red dress around me. I watched as the love of my life flew into the air and dive into the Well.

"Let life be returned." I whispered.

"Above all, do not lament my absence, for in my spark, I know that this is not the end, but merely a new beginning. Simply put, another transformation." Optimus' spark hovered before the Autobots before his spirit came out of it.

"Till All Are One." I said loudly gaining everybody's attention. Optimus came towards me and stopped next to me. Since we were both offline now, we were around the same height. "I waited for you."

"I love you, Cora." Optimus rumbled leaning down and kissing me. It was our first REAL kiss, not like the ones in his holoform.

"And I you, Optimus." Smiling I took his servo in my hand and looked at the awestruck living cybertronians. Waving one last time I heard a squeal and saw the small silver and gold form of Optimus and I's daughter.

     She had been killed when I was. Her name was Symphony. Scooping up her small form I looked at Optimus as he smiled at us and we walked into the sunset to spend our eternity together at last.

The end is only the beginning.
With a salute,
I give
A
Hero's Goodbye.