Chapter 1

A/N: I unfortunately don't own TFP or my favorite book The Demon King by Cinda Williams Chima.

Han Alister-Bumblebee (pale, raven hair with golden streaks, icy-electric blue eyes)

Princess Raisa-Moonrose (pale, golden hair, crystal blue eyes)

Micah Bayar-Soundwave (pale, black-violet hair, violet eyes)

Lord Bayar-Megatron (pale, black hair, red eyes)

Fire Dancer-Knockout (tan, red hair, red eyes)

Amon Byrne-Smokescreen (slightly tan, blonde, blue eyes)

Fiona Bayar-Midnight (pale, black-blue hair, red eyes)

Captain Byrne-Ultra Magnus (slight tan, blonde hair, blue eyes)

Lucious-Solus Prime (Windblaze; old, blind)

Averill-Optimus Prime (slightly tan, black-blue hair, royal blue eyes)

Willow-Arcee (slightly tan, auburn hair, blue eyes)

Digging Bird-Stormfly (tan, brunette hair, silver-blue eyes)

Queen Marianna-Skyfall (pale, red hair, light blue eyes)

Princess Mellony-Icefire (pale, red hair, light blue eyes)

Mari-Luna (pale, blonde, blue eyes)

Mam- Eclipse (pale, blonde hair, blue eyes)

Speaker Jameson-Alpha Trion

Bumblebee carefully walked over the thin crust over the hot muds near the hot springs of Solus, one of the many mountains around the main city of Iacon. "Why do all the good plants have to be in all the hard places," he grumbled. Taking another step, his boot went through the thin crust and into the superheated mud. "BY UNICRON'S BLOODY BONES!" He leapt back and landed on his back on the solid ground.

Knockout was laughing his head off as he walked to his friend, and helped him up. "You know I don't hear many people swear by the chaos bringer."

"Shut up," 'Bee said looking down at his boots. "Great, Mom's gonna kill me."

"Why? Your boots?" Knockout asked.

"You know how she is; 'Those were clan made! Do you know what those cost?!' That's what she'd say," 'Bee retorted. "Great I got mud in my cuffs too." He began to try to scrape the mud off the irremovable black cuffs with yellow engravings.

"What's our catch?" Knockout asked as 'Bee picked up his satchel.

"Let's see, we have some moonshade, willow bark, lavender, and some leaf grass I can pass as sage in the town market," Bumblebee said.

"Not much," Knockout said with a frown. "Want to go hunting? The elk are moving in the Flame Meadow."

"Sure, I got my bow," 'Bee said showing the bow and arrows slung on his back. "Maybe me bringing back an elk will make up for me getting myself covered in mud." 'Bee gave a small smile to reassure his friend, repressing a wince as his stomach growled. It was spring, meaning all the winter rations his family had were long gone and, well…food was hard to come by when you're poor.

They got to the meadow, going downwind of the deer. As they moved 'Bee tested the pull on his new bow; like everything else in his life it was clan made, made to match his growth. Right as he was ready to take down his first elk of the season, but the smell of smoke reached him. "Smell that?" he asked.

"Yea, but nothing's supposed to burn this time of year," Knockout said lowering his bow in confusion.

The two sixteen year olds looked up at the smoke, to see red, yellow, orange, green, and violet flames licking through the upper mountain.

"Are there any plants that burn like that?" 'Bee asked.

"No," Knockout said as they ran towards they ran out of the way.

"What about the horses?" 'Bee asked.

"They'll find somewhere safe," Knockout said covering his mouth and nose with his sleeve.

As the two boys stayed low, and breathed through their shirts, they watched as the flames passed three boys about their age rode up behind the flames. They were dressed in fine clothes not seeming bothered by the flames.

"Spellcasters," Knockout said using the clan term for wizards.

Bumblebee's eyes widened, he'd never encountered a wizard before. Wizards normally served in the royal court as advisors or ambassadors. It was their power that kept triple alliance of Tarn, Trypticon, and Gygax from attacking. The only other kingdom with wizards was Kaon; their wizards were far more numerous and powerful, especially their royal family, if they didn't vanish after the Breaking. The most powerful wizard was known as the high wizard, and was the queen's main advisor.

As the three approached the two, Knockout stepped out. "I am Knockout of the North Woods Camp. Wizards are forbidden on the mountains as decreed by the Healing. What are your purposes here?"

Rolling his eyes at his friend's stupidity, Bumblebee stepped out and stood next to him. The boy on front looked at him and Knockout, irritation flashing in his violet eyes.

"Your names," Knockout growled. He then pointed to the fire. "That looks like wizard flame to me."

~How does he know what wizard flame looks like?~ 'Bee thought.

The boy in front looked at his two companions, before looking back at them. "I am Soundwave Morgenstern, of the Titainus House," he said after a moment. "We received orders from the queen. Queen Skyfall. She and the Princesses Moonrose and Icefire are hunting in the valley. We were driving the elk to meet them."

There was something about his tone that told 'Bee that he wasn't telling the whole truth, but 'Bee shrugged it off.

"So the Queen ordered you to set the mountain on fire so she could have a good day hunting?!" Knockout snapped looking furious. "You shouldn't even be using magic or carrying an amulet! You're underage! If the Queen wants to hunt she can come up to the mountains as she always has."

Soundwave wrinkled his nose in disgust. "Where she can sleep on a dirt floor with dozens of other filthy clan members? I'm not surprised she prefers the valley," he sneered.

Bumblebee blinked as he remembered the comfortable beds with warm pelts, and the relaxing, friendly atmosphere in the North Woods Camp. This guy clearly knew nothing.

"If I recall correctly Princess Moonrose lived in the Nightshade Camp for several years," Knockout retorted with a smug look.

"Prime has some radical ideas," Soundwave said. "As if I'd marry a woman who'd spent even a minute in the camps, she'd be ruined."

Knockout pulled out his spear. "Say that again Demonblood," he said using clan insults for wizards. Soundwave didn't say anything, but he and his companions pulled their horses back a bit. "I say woman have more to fear from demonbloods than the clans."

Bumblebee sighed quietly, and grabbed an arrow and notched it onto his bow. He loved Knockout like a brother, but he was becoming more and more certain that his best friend would be the death of him.

Soundwave gave a smile. "My father just says that women who go to the camps come back with opinions, and are difficult to manage," he said as if it was a joke.

"You're saying the Crown Princess needs to be managed?!" Knockout growled with venom.

"Knockout," 'Bee warned as he began to size up their opponents. Three on two, not bad odds, and 'Bee certainly had his fair share of street fights. Each boy had a sword that had never been used, and magic. 'Bee had two heavy swords, a bow with arrows, a long black knife, and a few throwing knives. Knockout had his spear, a bow with arrows, and a knife.

"Do you have a last name, Knockout? Or are you just a bastard? Perhaps you sired yourself, after all you have no father" Soundwave sneered.

Knockout lunged at Soundwave, but 'Bee knocked him down, grabbing the spear. Knockout gave Bumblebee a glare full of fury, but the other boy didn't waver.

Soundwave, and the other wizards sat there stunned, before his gave went to cold fury. "You'll pay for that," he grabbed the amulet and was about to cast a curse when 'Bee aimed his loaded bow at him.

"Say another word, and this arrow meets you're heart," Bumblebee growled. Soundwave looked at him again, having forgotten that the other boy was there. "I'm pretty sure arrows are faster than curses. Now remove the amulet, and toss it on the ground."

"Do you know who I am? Who my father is?!" Soundwave growled indignantly. "My father is the High Wizard and when he hears about this-!"

"Go ahead and tell him, you don't belong here," Knockout said.

"Now the demonpiece," 'Bee said motioning with his still aimed bow.

"You aren't serious? This will incinerate you as soon as you touch it," Soundwave said looking shocked.

"I'll take my chances," 'Bee said flatly. "Drop it."

"Just do it Soundwave," one boy said. "You know what they say about Clan; how the drink your blood then feed you to scraplets so they never find your bones. Or how they'll sacrifice us to Unicron."

"You know I can't give it to them, if my father finds out I'm dead meat," Soundwave said.

"Then you shouldn't have taken the amulet in the first place," the other boy piped in.

Knockout and 'Bee smirked looking at each other as they listened to the conversation.

"What are you smirking at?" Soundwave snapped.

"I'm smirking at someone who's dug themselves into a pretty deep hole," Bumblebee said looking smug.

"Just drop the amulet," Knockout said.

"You aren't even clan," Soundwave said looking at 'Bee. "Who are you?"

Not wanting to give his real name, 'Bee used that of his old rival. "Steeljaw, Northridge gang lord."

Soundwave continued to study him. "You know, you seem really familiar…nevermind."

'Bee suppressed a wince as sweat began to run down his back, his new bow was a lot tighter than the old, and it was becoming hard to hold. "You either drop the amulet, or I shoot on the count of three. "One…" Soundwave instantly yanked the amulet off, and dropped it. "See how easy that was?" 'Bee asked lowering and relaxing his grip, putting the arrow away.

"Pick it up, I dare you," Soundwave said.

Shrugging, 'Bee went up and grabbed the amulet, it was warm, but nothing happened. "Incinerate me huh?" he asked with a raised eyebrow, as the three wizards looked at him stunned as he put it in his bag.

"Have fun putting the fire out, now get off the mountain," Knockout growled.

They spurred their horses and rode away.

"Dude, what was all that about?!" 'Bee asked in irritation.

"Nothing," Knockout said.

"Nothing? NOTHING?!" Bumblebee snapped.

"JUST LEAVE IT!" Knockout snapped.

'Bee sighed before pulling out the amulet and looking at it. It was a silver predaconian dragon, its eyes were rubies, and it was circling a deep amethyst jewel, dark enough to pass as Unicron's blood, and had a slight red-violet glow. He considered selling it in the market, but opted against it and put it back in his bag.

Knockout gave a shrill whistle and two long legged, graceful mountain horses trotted over. A dark buckskin stallion walked to Knockout, and he hastily mounted the Kaonian (A/N: Western saddle) saddled horse. Bumblebee mounted his black stallion with red eyes dubbed Nightmare, also Kaonian saddled. The two lightly clicked to the horses and they began to trot away.