#mirbee

WHOO! After 9! Fucking! Posts! About Worldbuilding I am finally talking about the first trial for this AU!

Thanks y'all for being so patient with me. Anyways on we go!

Megatron was seated on a modest throne in the arena's grandstand with his conjunx Optimus at his side, his dearest queen holding himself with the grace and dignity only a Prime could bring to the table. The royal couple were flanked on each side by some their most trusted guards and soldiers. Their sons Cheetor and Hot Rod, the former accompanied by his own conjunx Soundwave, sat on their own humble thrones at their creators' side. The 'main prize' of the event however, Bumblebee, was nowhere in sight.

Megatron had one leg thrusted out and rested his helm against his propped up servo by the chin. The king's forehelm marked a deep frown as his other servo's digits tapped in irritation against his throne's armrest, his glowing red optics glued piercingly at the arena below.

"Megatron? What is wrong?" Optimus asked him, his brow ridges furrowed with worry. He hated seeing his dearest queen like this.

"Nothing you must concern yourself with, sweetspark." Megatron sighed dismissively.

"If it has you sighing like the weight of Cybertron itself is resting on your shoulders, I must concern myself with it." Optimus reprimanded.

Another sigh left the king's lips. No use in arguing with his queen. Especially now as eager citizens were starting to enter the stadium.

"Where do I even start, my dear sweetspark?" Megatron grumbled, rubbing his temples as if he were trying to avert a headache "The first trial is just about to start and yet the reason these trials are being held in the first place is a no-show."

"Do not hold it against Bumblebee. He had told you before how he felt about this idea. About the trials. Can you blame him for locking himself up in his own bedchambers instead?"

"I know I know." Megatron waved his conjunx off, having had this conversation numerous times prior "The very least he could do is at least try and pretend to be interested in seeing who his future conjunx might become."

Optimus simply put his servos in his lap, staring downwards at the arena below as servants ran across the court, busy setting up the last finishing touches.

"There is more on your mind still, though. Is there not?" Optimus continued, turning to look at the grey king.

"You've always been able to read me like an open book, haven't you?" Megatron let out an amused chuckle "But yes. There is... Your brother had offered to pay for the event's organisation and construction. Everything you see before you... the arena, the pavillions, the seating rows - even this balcony for us - it has all been funded by Sentinel!"

"My brother knew you would never wish to use your people's taxes to cremet these trials. So he offered to help. What is so terrible about that?"

"Your brother's gifts always come with strings attached... I just cannot figure out which ones... The fact he had basically paid for everything upfront before I could even properly reply to his offer does not sit right with me... He wants to cash in a favour from me in the future. Something big. I just know it. But whatever could he plausibly want or even need from me? From Kaon?"

"You are still this suspicious of my brother? Even after all these years?" Optimus questioned, sounding genuinly astonished.

"You are still not suspicious enough of him, my sweetspark. Even after all these years." Megatron mumbled into his non existing beard. He observed as the spectator seats below slowly filled themselves with Kaonites, keen to witness such public displays of strength to win their prince’s affection. Megatron could even spot a few Iaconians amongst the crowd - easily distinguishable by their smaller frames - and what appeared to be seekers from Vox. They must have travelled all the way to Kaon just witness the event.

Just in that moment a servo grabbed Megatron by the shoulder and the king could feel every fighting instinct from his years in the pits of Kaon kick in at once. Ready to suplex whoever had dared to sneak up on him from behind like a coward, the grey mech could stop himself just in time when he heard that voice rustle in his audials. His adrenaline and anger nearly instantly replaced by disgust and exasperation.

"Ah, Optimus! Megatron! Dearest brother-in-law, how's life been treating you? I hope the shanix I sent sufficed for this tournament of yours?" The pompous acting Prime cackled haughtely, patting Megatron on the back as if they had been friends for ages. Megatron looked over his shoulder to see his remaining in-laws, the original 13 Primes join Kaon's royal family on their reserved box-like balcony within the spectator stands. Hot Rod and Cheetor instantly jumped off their chairs to greet their grandsires and grandcarrier with warm embraces.

"The money was sufficient. Shockwave oversaw that it would be spent wisely while setting up the trials.", Megatron replied flatly, watching as the 13 took their own seats on the royal grandstand.

"Ah! So Shockwave is the one who came up with the different ideas for the trials then?" Sentinel quizzed.

"No. I came up with the upcoming trials. Shockwave was in charge of putting those ideas into reality... with your funds." Megatron hissed between gritted teeth. If there was one part he hated about being a royal it had got to be exchanging these fake pleasantries with pretentious bots he would have ripped to shreds back in his gladiator days.

"Ah, I see!" Sentinel theatrically smacked himself on the forehelm "Of course how silly of me. Speaking of silly... Optimus. Where is the little nephew I parted with all those shanix for? This event is being held for him and his future, afterall."

Megatron was barely able to hold back an annoyed groan. Sentinel had truly mastered the art of pressing every single one of his buttons.

"He... did not feel too well. But he might join us for tomorrow's trial", Optimus took over the conversation. Thank Primus.

"Ah, What a shame. Truly a shame." Sentinel exhaled dramatically, as he sunk down on his own designated seat behind Kaon's king and queen "Give Bumblebee my regards, in that case. I'll unfortunately only be able to join you today. I'm still the acting Prime after all. Can't just leave the throne of Iacon unattended for too long. You know how it is." Sentinel chatted in a carefree manner away.

"Thank Primus" Megatron uttered under his breath.

"Pardon?" Sentinel leaned in closer to Megatron, urging his brother-in-law to repeat himself when suddenly the deafening sounds of trumpets echoed through the stadium.

The first trial was about to begin.

Megatron gazed at the arena as Shockwave strutted to its centre, kicking up sand with each heavy step. The purple mech cleared his throat before adressing the audience.

"Dear citizens of Kaon! Dearest visitors from near and afar! And not to forget our dearest King Megatron and Queen Optimus and their family," Shockwave pointed with a grand gesture at the crammed spectator gallery and the royal family's private grandstand, gaining a resounding set of cheers and applause from the viewers.

"We are gathered here today to bare witness to brave mechs and femmes proving their prowess, vigor and aptitude to determine which one among them is most 'suited' to receive our king's blessings for his son's, prince Bumblebee, hand in marriage." Hot Rod had to hide his giggles behind his servo. He could practically hear the ireful groan stuck in Shockwave's throat at the 'suited' pun. It had been his requested addition to the speech.

"That being said, I present to you: The suitors!" Shockwave declared, his arm stretched out to a grand gate within the arena's surrounding walls. The gate slowly opened and one after another, in a perfect queue, the suitor's entered the amphitheatre. To the onlookers their march must have resembled a parade.

The suitors lined themselved up in a row before Shockwave, facing towards the royal grandstand. The row reached from the gate they had come out of all the way to the opposite wall of the elongated arena. If Megatron had to take a guess the number of his beloved youngest son's suitors must have reached at the very least the 100 mark.

The one eyed mech in the meantime pulled out a datapad from his subspace.

"Introducing: Princess Windblade of Caminus!" Shockwave shouted and a young jet femme stepped forward from the row of suitors, bowing in a deep curtsy before the spectators and royal family.

"I promise to fight honorably." She proclaimed.

"Sir Blitzwing of Kaon!" Shockwave continued and a large triple changer stepped forward from the crowd, kneeling down before the king he served.

"I shall proof my worth before all of Kaon." He announced before standing back up.

"Blurr of Velocitron!"

A blue speeder slowly crept up from the crowd, his bulging eyes darting across the arena. One could almost think he did not know where he was or why. Still just as those before him he bowed, though in a rather jagged, almost unsettled fashion. No one present was able to understand the blue bot's rapidly stammered announcement.

"King Grimlock of the Dinobots!"

"Prince Blades of Griffin Rock!"

"Marquise Frostbite of Crystal City!"

"Steeljaw of Kaon"

"Wasp of Iacon"

"Sir Starscream of Vox"

"Lady Blaze of Harmonex"

"Breakdown of Kaon"

"Sir Smokescreen of Iacon"

“Viscount Neutroline of Crystal City”

"Sir Supernova of Vox"

"Prowl of Praxus"

"Duchesse Aurora of Iacon"

"Mirage of Vox"

"Sir Swindle of ... oh wait no... that's it. It just says Swindle"

"Lady Strongarm of Iacon"

The introduction of the suitors went on like this for a near endless time, to the point Shockwave's poor voice box began to crack from sheer exertion. Even the most patient of spectators had begun to grow antsy and while some would still cheer if their own hometown was mentioned in the name of a suitor, the deafening applause had begun to die out after the 50th or so suitor had been introduced. Regardless one after another each suitor had stepped forward and given their bite-sized declaration before the king.

All except for one. One short bot, shorter than even the average Iaconian civilianframe who's frame lay hidden beneath a thick black cloak he had wrapped tightly around himself. His helm and facial plate lay concealed under the cloak's hood but one could still discern the vague outline of a set of horns underneath them.

Shockwave glanced between the mysterious bot and the list of participants in his servo in confusion. Had he missed a name? He skimmed over the list repeatedly but he could not find one he may have missed.

"Shockwave? What's the hold up?" Megatron shouted from the balcony, noticing that the audience was starting to grow bored.

"Forgive me, Lord Megatron but... something seems to be amiss." Shockwave excused the delay, frantically rereading the entire list.

"What do you mean by amiss?"

"Well... The last suitor... he is not on the roster." Shockwave explained while pointing towards the cloaked stranger. All eyes in the optics fell onto the mysterious bot.

"Just what I needed." Megatron mumbled to himself before speaking up, adressing the stranger directly "The registration for the suitors' trials has ended several weeks ago! So tell us who you are and retreat to the spectator benches!"

Everyone held their breath in anticipation as the cloaked stranger stepped forward and lifted his servos to reach the hem of his hood. The stranger ripped off the mantle in one fell swoop, the shroud being blown off by the wind. Gasped and agitated whispers filled the amphitheater upon witnessing the revelation of a bright yellow frame and the stranger's true identity

Prince Bumblebee of Kaon in the frame.

"Bee?" Optimus breathed in astonishment, a servo shooting up to his mouth.

"Bumblebee! What in Primus' name are you doing?!" Megatron shot up from his seat, gripping the balcony's railing so tightly the metal was left with two servo-shaped dents "Is this another one of your pranks? Did Hot Rod put this idea into your helm? I swear-. No matter. Bee, get up here and let the actual trials take pla-"

"No!" Bumblebee stood his ground, glaring straight at his sire.

"'No'? What do you mean 'no'?"

"It means I'm participating in the trials myself! I'm gonna fight for my own hand!" the prince announced with a strength he did not know his voice even possessed.

Before Megatron could utter a single word his two other sons raised from their own seats and ran past their sire and jumped over the balcony to the arena below. Hot Rod landed with a loud thud on his two peds, whincing slightly from the impact, while his younger brother Cheetor, in his beast altmode, had landed elegantly on four feet beside him. The two of them stomped over to Bumblebee's side with their helm held up high.

"May I ask what the meaning of this is?" Megatron yelled, not out of anger but genuine confusion and concern. Did his sons all have a screw lose? Did they think these trials were mere games?

"I already told you, sire." Bumblebee retorted balling his servos into fists "I'm gonna fight for my own hand. Sire, I know that to you I'm nothing more than the helpless little sparkling you gotta protect at all costs. But open your optics! I’m an adult! A fully grown adult! Yet you don't trust me that I can look out for myself! You're so scared for my safety you won't even let me chose my own conjunx cuz 'oh what might happen if Bee choses the wrong bot. What if he choses someone who cannot protect him? What if he choses someone who won't treat him like the glass doll he his?'"

"So you wish to prove yourself by participating in the trials I set up for your suitors?" Megatron raised a brow ridge as if he wanted to assure he understood Bee's intention correctly.

"Exactly. If I can win the trials you'll have to finally acknowledge that I can look out for myself and can make my own choices!"

"I see... And what about you two?" Megatron adressed his two oldest sons "Are you just bored or why are you standing in the arena?"

"We'll be joining the trials too. On Bee's side!" Hot Rod professed, his servos resting on his hips confidently.

"Sire, like Bee said earlier I know you just worry about him. About all of us, but your worries keeps Bee from spreading his own wings. So we will fight for Bee's independence - his freedom too." Cheetor explained calmly.

Megatron laughed heartedly, not in amusement, but pride, at his sons' determination.

"Very well. You may participate in the trials. But!" Megatron slumped back down on his throne "Don't think even for a moment that you will get special treatment just because you are my sparklings. You wish to prove yourselves? Than do it on the same terms and conditions as everyone else."

"We will!" the brothers shouted in unison.

"Then let the trials begin!"

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Alrighty enough prose for now! So this is how the first trial happens. I already explained in the very first post I had ever created for this AU what the actual first trial is about so I did not include it in the one shot, but for the first time readers amongst you here quick refresher: The first trial asks the suitors to reach the peak of a glass hill and grab one of the keys at the top within a certain time limit. The glass hill was constructed by Shockwave and his teleported into the arena itself. Of course fliers such as Starscream, Windblade, Blitzwing, Mirage, Wasp and Blades simply fly up to the peak of the mountain and grab a set of keys as the objective simply said 'reach the peak' not 'climb to the peak'.

While Bee starts out with over a hundred suitors a LARGE majority of them fail at the first trial already leaving us with the core set of suitors making their way onto round two. That core set of suitors of course being:

Windblade, Starscream, Grimlock, Steeljaw, Wasp, Swindle, Breakdown, Mirage, Blitzwing, Strongarm, Prowl, Blades, Smokescreen and Blurr.

Of course Bee and his two brothers also manage to win this round. Hot Rod reaches the peak by literally catapulting himself up the hill with his fire-axhilirator in his altmode. Cheetor basically jumps onto Starscream to reach the top (Leading to Starscream calling him cheater for the rest of the day) and Bumblebee reaches the top by getting a lift from Windblade.

Thank you so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed it! You may have noticed a few unfamiliar names in Shockwave's list of suitors. These are the my OCs and those of some of my mutuals. I added them as a little easter egg :3

Frostbite and Blaze belong to me.

Aurora belongs to @zephania-star

Supernova belongs to @catcake24

Neutroline belongs to @sassycandypoetry