The Beginning…of the End

Sideswipe had endured a long, laugh-filled April Fool's Day in the Autobots' base; those he didn't prank treated him to several rounds of high-grade energon in celebration, toasting his marvelous success in bringing down three of the biggest –and in some cases, most uptight—mechs amongst their number.

They recounted the day's events with intoxicated cackling, leaning on each other for support as their raucous laughter filled the crowded bar, optics of the other patrons swiveling to the disturbance. They had a marvelous time telling Sideswipe's story to anyone who would listen, and the mech of honor even managed to pick up a few femmes as a result.

It didn't seem like long before the owner of the club shooed everyone out the front door so the bar could close, and it wasn't until the wee hours of the morning that the thoroughly cratered group managed to make their wobbly way back home.

Red Alert, who was heading back to his quarters, looked as though his processor was on the verge of fritzing again as the mechs barreled in through the front doors of the base, nearly plowing him over as they let out a series of tittering giggles.

"Shhhhh!" shushed Bluestreak, his dermal plating flushed bright red from the high-grade. "You'll wake everybody up!"

That last part hadn't been intended to be a shout; the Datsun had little control over the volume of his vocals anymore, and several mechs dove on him to silence him as others quickly moved to pacify the poor security director, who looked like he wanted to bellow for Prowl to come and "save" him.

After regrouping, the small company made their way through the maze of white hallways, using their best efforts to be stealthy, but failing miserably. As the wing bearing their quarters came into view, their hopes soared; they were almost home free…just a little bit longer!

"Going somewhere, men?"

The mechs groaned as their processors recognized the familiar voice. They were sunk, and drunk as skunks standing in a huddled, frightened little cluster in the center of the enormous hall. How embarrassing…

Prowl allowed an uncharacteristic smirk to slide onto his chiseled face as the stupor on the intoxicated mechs' faces morphed into a look of pure terror. He held up several pairs of handcuffs and jangled them with unprecedented glee as he moved toward them. "Party's over, boys."

Fully knowing the routine to come, the red Lamborghini was the first one to turn around to be cuffed, but was startled when the tactician breezed past him, and began to arrest the others before sending them, heads hanging in shame, to the brig.

"I…I don't understand…"

"Oh, don't worry, Sideswipe." Prowl leered at him, and the red mech began to slowly back away as he closed in. "You're not getting off that easy…"

Primus…how humiliating!

"Say it again!"

A heavy sigh of air cycled through Sideswipe's intakes as he proceeded to be marched –PAINTLESS!—down the main hallway of the base, the shackles on his wrists and ankles digging in far too painfully for his liking.

"I will never be as appealing as Prowl."

This "admission" caused the Autobots to burst out laughing, and they only laughed harder as the tactician poured a few barrels of tar over his head. The hot, oozing sensation was uncomfortable enough as it was but, those done wrong were not finished yet. Optimus, Ratchet, and Sunstreaker were currently scooping up massive armloads of white and yellow feathers, and flinging them onto the sticky goop coating the mortified red warrior, giving him the appearance of a large, mechanical chicken.

"Pulling those pranks while we were sleeping-" growled his twin as he shoved a particularly large bunch onto Sideswipe's aft, giving him a "tail". "That's so weak!"

"I'm afraid I must agree," added Optimus, a pleasant smile clearly behind his faceplates as he flung more feathers into the air to rain down upon his attacker. "But I think that justice has been done."

Taking his cue, the medic dropped the feathers he was holding, and withdrew his welder from subspace with an evil grin. "Told ya I'd weld your aft to the wall."

So, after a few more minutes of heckling, the crowd dissipated to start their morning routines, leaving Sideswipe poultrified, drunk, and welded to the wall at the aft with Prowl standing nearby.

For once, seeming completely at ease, he smiled at the thoroughly embarrassed Lamborghini.

"Who's the fool now?"

Author's Note: I know…I said this story was completed. But so many of you asked for a follow-up with Sideswipe getting his just deserved, and I finally caved, lol.

This was just a quickie, seeing as how I should REALLY be paying attention to my work, but I hope you guys like it!