"What is your analysis, Soundwave?" Megatron demanded, resisting the urge to lose his temper with the incredible din that the cassettebots were creating. Ravage and Laserbeak- Buzzsaw was undergoing repairs- stood together on one side of the cavern, snarling and screeching at the unicorn, trapped by the energon net at the other.

Skywarp and Starscream had deposited their captives in the nearby outpost, only partially converted from the natural cave system it had once been. The walls were half metal, half rock, and only a handful of equipment had been moved in, including a computer console in the main cavern, which Starscream, Rumble and Frenzy were busy installing parts of, and electronic doors between chambers. Hound, Windcharger and the unicorn were in the main cavern, for lack of any other place to put them at the moment; the unconscious Autobots had been parted from their weaponry and bound with energon rope, while the unicorn had been left tangled in the energon net. On-line but helpless under the drain of the net, it lay flat against the floor, its limbs splayed at uncomfortable looking angles and its head pinned down sideways. It glared at the Decepticons gathered about it, which only seemed to antagonize the cassettebots more. Even Megatron found something about that gaze unnerving; only Soundwave seemed unfazed as he scanned the creature.

"Energy readings in the creature's system are abnormal," Soundwave concluded in his usual monotone, as he ran some sort of handheld device over the length of the unicorn. He held it over the horn for a moment. "The position of the horn is causing a disruption to the power flow. It channels it into new pathways."

"Meaning?" Megatron asked as he walked over to look over Soundwave's readings, his tone slightly more threatening than normal.

"The implications are unknown. Energy flow of this nature has never been documented before."

"Then what good is it to us if we cannot find a way to use it?" Megatron snarled, waving his hand at the unicorn dismissively. The reaction was as sudden as it was surprising- with a burst of energy the unicorn snapped its head up despite the net, its horn glowing a bright blue, and it jabbed it at Megatron's arm. The Decepticon leader immediately pulled it back, but not quick enough to avoid being grazed along the forearm. An acrid smell entered the air as Megatron stared at his arm and the singed armor there. Starscream snickered behind him.

"Having some trouble, fearless leader?" he said snidely.

"How dare you!" Megatron roared at the unicorn, pointing his fusion gun at it as it lay helpless once more, its energy spent. The barrel of the gun glowed as Megatron gathered energy for the killing blow- but then it started to fade, as he reconsidered his choice of action. Perhaps this creature could still be useful- and he could have his revenge upon it for its impudence.

"Soundwave, prepare one of the other chambers. We will dissect this creature and learn its secrets." He smiled maliciously as Soundwave acknowledged the order and left the chamber, all of the cassettebots in tow. ("Finally," muttered Rumble, "that thing was givin' me the creeps!") No sooner had the door slid shut behind them, a message came across the computer- it was Skywarp from one of the lower caverns. He had been tasked with building a holding cell for the prisoners and needed help with something. Grumbling something about good help being hard to find, Megatron was about to send Starscream down when he had a better idea. He hadn't forgotten the Seeker's earlier remark.

"I will assist Skywarp, Starscream. Since you seem to enjoy our new acquisition so much, you will be given the pleasure of watching it and the Autobots while I am gone." His smile was just as malicious as the one he'd had at the thought of dissecting the unicorn as he left the sputtering Starscream alone with it and its piercing gaze.

Muttering to himself and trying to ignore the icy stare, Starscream turned his attention back to the computer, and all else in the cavern was quiet. What the Seeker did not realize, however, was that the unicorn was not the only one watching him. Hound had started to come around sometime during Soundwave's assessment of the unicorn's energy flow, and though he'd still been woozy from the effects of the null ray, he'd had wits enough to know that for the time being it was in his best interest to pretend he was still off-line. As his head had cleared, he had begun to assess his situation, and it didn't look good. The null ray had corrupted his memory from the moments before he had been struck- he didn't know if he'd been able to send out a distress signal for the others to find him, and even if Soundwave wasn't already jamming communications out of this location, he'd detect Hound's signal as soon as he tried to send it.

With Starscream's back to him, the scout chanced a look at Windcharger, lying bound next to him, but couldn't determine his companion's condition. He looked to his other side, in the direction of the unicorn, and the creature met his gaze, fixing him with the same accusing glare it had given to the Decepticons. Hound quickly looked away, focusing instead on the energon rope binding his hands. Whichever Seeker had tied it hadn't done a very good job; Hound had been steadily testing it and carefully working at it while everyone was distracted, and he thought he might be able to get free...

Starscream couldn't take it anymore. Even facing the computer console, he could still feel the unicorn's stare on his back. He whirled around and was met by its blue eyes, burning so fiercely he felt as though they'd pierce straight through to his spark...

"Stop staring at me," he commanded, but was met with only silence. "Stop staring at me!" he shouted, stomping over to the creature. The unicorn still didn't look away, and Starscream was starting to feel foolish, which only made him angrier. He looked around, as if expecting someone to jump out of the walls to stop him from what he was about to do; when he was sure that there were no witnesses, he violently kicked the unicorn.

Hound inwardly flinched at the crack of metal against metal, but there was nothing he could do to stop it. The unicorn grunted in pain, and Starscream kicked it again, and again, even more furiously. Causing the creature pain felt good, as if he could release all of his frustrations upon it. The unicorn began to cry out, just as Hound felt his left hand slip free of the energon cord. Starscream, he thought, watching the distracted Seeker while undoing the bonds around his legs, your cruelty will cost you...

Starscream was enjoying himself so much that he didn't even notice the scout as he crept up behind him. Hound tapped him on the shoulder, and Starscream spun around just in time to see Hound's fist as it connected with his face. The Seeker crumpled to the ground, and Hound bent over him to make sure he'd been knocked off line, pleased that that move had worked so well. And Prowl said he couldn't learn anything from watching Earth cartoons!

Satisfied that Starscream wouldn't give them any trouble, he quickly detached the Seeker's null rays and rushed over to Windcharger, who began to rouse as Hound freed him from the energon ropes. He helped the smaller Autobot get shakily to his feet.

"Wha- what happened?" Windcharger asked, holding a hand to his head.

"We've got to get out of here," Hound replied, pressing one of the stolen guns into Windcharger's hand. He looked toward the door opposite the one that the Decepticons had exited from, hoping that the assumption that they'd gone deeper into the cave proved true.

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Windcharger stumbled to the door and began to fumble with the control panel.

"Hold on," Hound said, his gaze wandering to the corner where Starscream lay crumpled and the unicorn was still trapped. Without entirely realizing it, he found himself walking in that direction.

"Hound, we don't have time for this!" Windcharger hissed. The scout didn't give any indication of having heard him as he started to kneel next to the unicorn. "Hound!"

"This is one prize the Decepticons aren't going to get," Hound said, reaching to grab the energon net. The unicorn lunged at him with a surprising burst of strength, checked only by the weight of the net, and he jumped back with a shout.

"Forget about it!" Windcharger pleaded, a note of desperation in his voice as he slid the door open. Hound approached the unicorn again; the beast glared at him, but this time he steadily met it with his own optics, and this time the unicorn looked away, offering no further resistance as he again attempted to untangle the net. It was unpleasant work; the energon netting numbed his fingers every time he came into contact with it, and the unicorn shuddered any time he brushed against it, but after what seemed an eternity- in reality, only a few minutes- the unicorn was disentangled enough that it could struggle out from under it and onto its feet. Almost as an afterthought, Hound flung the netting onto Stascream. Without sparing the Autobots a second glance, the unicorn shot by Windcharger and disappeared into the gloom of the corridor beyond.

"All right, let's go!" Windcharger yelled, but another sound from the opposite end of the cavern commanded both Autobots' attention. Windcharger turned just in time to see Hound's chest explode, surprise and horror mixed on the scout's face as the force of the blast knocked him down.

"Leaving so soon?" came a rasping, mocking voice as several figures entered the room. Soundwave lead them, though it was not he who had spoken; in his hand was Megatron, transformed and powering up for a second shot as his sights swung from Hound to Windcharger.

"M-Megatron..." Starscream moaned weakly as he started to come to.

"I'll deal with you later, Starscream," the Decepticon leader said dismissively as Soundwave walked past the fallen Seeker, Skywarp and the cassettebots in tow. The procession continued forward menacingly toward Windcharger, who could do nothing except back away. Whether he fled or fired back, even he wouldn't be fast enough to avoid the next blast. Soundwave stopped in the center of the room and took aim, as Windcharger prepared his own gun in the desperate hope that he'd at least do some damage before Megatron sent him to the Matrix.

A soundless shadow burst from the corridor at Windcharger's back, colliding with Soundwave just as Megatron fired. Windcharger was pelted by fragments of rock as the fusion cannon blasted the wall above his head, and the Decepticons exploded into chaos as the unicorn pulled its horn free from Soundwave's wrist. The attack had sent Megatron flying; he was already transforming back to robot mode as he arced through the air. He landed on his feet, but immediately doubled over in pain, and Windcharger quickly saw why: the unicorn's horn had skewered both Soundwave and Megatron, nearly severing the former's hand and piercing the side of the Decepticon commander. The wound wasn't fatal, but it was deep; Megatron could barely stand.

Not waiting for a command, Ravage leaped forward to defend his injured leader, snapping at the unicorn and driving it back. The other cassettebots joined him, surrounding the unicorn as it slashed and kicked at them. Seizing the moment of confusion, Windcharger leaped for cover behind some of the electronics and opened fire on the stricken Decepticons, hitting Ravage, who yelped before dropping senseless. Bemused, Skywarp charged at the Autobot, and Windcharger dropped the null ray and started charging his electromagnets. Though still weak, they managed just enough power to hurl the Seeker into a wall, taking a hapless Rumble down with him along the way. Frenzy jumped aside, forgetting the unicorn's sharp hooves just long enough for the beast to kick back and send him flying into the pile, anyway. Laserbeak, realizing he was the last healthy Decepticon standing and not liking the odd, broke off his attack and fled back to Soundwave, who stopped clutching his injured hand just long enough to open his tape deck and allow him entry.

It was then that Thundercracker rushed in from the main entrance. "Megatron, perimeter scans detect several Autobot signatures incoming. I need backup to- wha?" The Seeker stared uncomprehendingly for a moment at the carnage before him, ducking just in time to avoid a shot from Windcharger.

"Decepticons- retreat through the rear exit!" Megatron ordered, leaning on Soundwave as the two shuffled toward the door they had entered through. Skywarp, Rumble and Frenzy hastily managed to untangle themselves and follow, Skywarp trying to keeping the raging unicorn at bay while the two cassettebots half carried and half dragged Ravage to safety. Thundercracker provided cover fire behind them, pinning Windcharger to keep him from following.

"Wa-wait for me!" came a pitiful voice. Starscream, still partially entangled in the net, had struggled free just enough to hobble towards the exit. Thundercracker answered him with a smirk before hitting the emergency lock on the door.

"No!" Starscream wailed, diving for the closing doors. He'd have never made it had the unicorn not charged him then, connecting with his aft and sending him howling through just as the doors slammed shut. The cavern fell suddenly, eerily quiet.

Windcharger stepped out from behind the computer, his optics finding Hound. The fallen scout was still alive, but only just- sparks arced from his ruined chest, and his body twitched in ghastly spasms. Windcharger knew that there was nothing he nor anyone else could do to save him.

A movement in his peripheral vision caught his attention, and he instinctively raised his gun and pointed it in that the direction. The unicorn was making its way toward Hound silently, cautiously. Windcharger followed it with the barrel of the gun, trigger at the ready, expecting it to attack at any moment, not willing to let it further harm Hound, who'd given his life to save the infernal thing. It reached the stricken Autobot's side and stopped, solemnly regarding him for a moment, as Windcharger felt his finger tighten on the trigger. Then, it looked up and met Windcharger's optics directly, and he was surprised by what he saw in the beast's gaze- they were gentle, and almost pleading.

Never fully understanding why, Windcharger lowered his gun.

The unicorn knelt on its forelegs, its horn beginning to glow. Slowly, carefully, it touched its horn to Hound, who stopped twitching. Windcharger could see that he was still alive, however; the spark of life shone in his optics, and it seemed to grow stronger as the unicorn continued to make contact with him. Soon he began to stir again, but it was purposeful movement, as though he were coming back on-line from a good recharge.

The surreal moment was broken an instant later as the main doors burst open and Wheeljack, Bumblebee and Spike rushed in, the two Autobots with their weapons drawn. They took one look at the unicorn and turned their guns upon it, and too late Windcharger realized what it looked like to them- they saw the dangerous, wild unicorn hovering over Hound, its deadly horn embedded in his savaged chest...

"Stop!" he cried, but he was drowned out by the sound of the lasers' discharge. The unicorn reared up, screaming as it was struck, and it glowed for a moment before disintegrating into thin air. The smell of burnt metal hung heavily in the air.

"Ratchet!" Wheeljack turned and called behind him, and the medical officer pushed his way through and ran to Hound. Windcharger just stared numbly as more Autobots entered the cavern.

"Is he all right?" Spike asked desperately.

"I'm fine, Spike," Hound replied, trying feebly to get up. Ratchet gently but firmly pushed him back down as he examined the damage.

"What happened here?" Wheeljack asked, looking around at the various holes left in the walls from laser fire, and one curiously Skywarp shaped imprint to the side. "We got a distress call from Hound, but it was cut off before we could pinpoint the exact location, so everyone in the vicinity got here as fast as we could to scour the area. We spotted Thundercracker on patrol and managed to home in on this location, but it looks like we missed one wild party."

Windcharger still found his vocalizer refusing to engage. Fortunately, Hound spoke for both of them. "We were captured by the Decepticons and brought here with the unicorn. We managed to get free and held them off until you arrived. The unicorn-"

"Will you lie still?" Ratchet snapped at him, irritable. This pattern of damage made no sense- Hound had obviously suffered massive damage, but his vital systems were not only completely intact, they seemed to have been restored to factory condition, as if his self-repair systems had been working at an impossible speed and to an impossible degree. There was something going on here that Ratchet didn't understand, and he didn't like it one bit.

Windcharger finally found his voice. "The unicorn... it, it was just trying to help..." he trailed off, not sure what else to say.

Wheeljack looked to the spot where the unicorn had last been before it disappeared, his normally cheery demeanor now tinged with regret. "Yeah, I was sorry to have to destroy it, but when we saw it bearing down on Hound like that, we couldn't take any chances."

"Do you think it could have escaped? Teleported out?" Spike asked hopefully.

"No," Hound said quickly. "My sensors aren't detecting any of its teleportation signature. It was completely vaporized- I saw it with my own optics."

"I told you to stop- oh, never mind! You'll be fine once I get you back for repairs. Somebody call in Skyfire for an airlift!" Ratchet was so flustered that he didn't notice that Hound's sensors were actually off-line, or the knowing look that he shot Windcharger. The smaller Autobot gave a small nod in understanding, and the faintest smile crossed his face as the others prepared to move Hound.

They were all about to leave when Spike froze in utter dread.

"What's wrong, Spike?" Bumblebee asked.

"We're in deep trouble," he replied. "We might need reinforcements."

"What is it?" A note of alarm had now entered Bumblebee's voice.

"I just realized that we left Carly in the woods."

"It's sure been quiet around here lately," Jazz remarked to some of the off duty Autobots in the Ark one day. It had been several months since the incident with the unicorn, and Decepticon activity had been minimal as they'd recovered and regrouped. "I think we might've been on to something with that unicorn- if just one of them can do that much damage to the Decepticons, imagine what a cavalry of 'em could do!"

"No, thanks," muttered Huffer. "One of them was trouble enough. For us, that is!"

This elicited a few chuckles from those around them. Even Spike smiled a little, and looking over at Carly he could see that she was, too. Things had pretty much returned to normal in the intervening months- Hound had completely recovered, Carly was talking to him again- and everyone was enjoying the respite. The unicorn was rarely mentioned anymore, especially since Hound and Windcharger seemed reluctant to talk about their encounter with it. They tended to just exchange an odd glance with each other, as though they shared some special secret. Spike had long since given up trying to tease it out of them. Even now, although they were smiling like the others, it seemed as though it was for a different reason.

"We should take it as a lesson in caution with the beings we create," Optimus said mildly. "Let's not forget that we ended up having to destroy it." The others nodded, and the atmosphere about the Ark became somber for a moment.

The moment was destroyed as Wheeljack entered the room. "Prime!" he said eagerly. "I'd like to talk to you about an experiment I want to design."

"Oh?" Prime's voice was edged with caution.

"Haven't you learned anything?" Huffer groaned.

"Yeah, Wheeljack, I think we've had all of your experiments we can take," Bumblebee chimed in.

"But I've got a great idea for a design! This inspired me. What do you think?" he said, holding up the tattered remains of the mythology book that had stared it all. It was open to the picture of a large, fire breathing dragon.

Mount St. Hillary itself seemed to shake with the chorused "No!" that rang throughout it.

Stephanie sat by herself beneath the charred stump of what had once been her favorite tree, hoping the serenity of the forest would wash away the memories of Karen and her friends, and how they'd made fun of her at the house that morning until she couldn't stand it anymore.

She sighed deeply, her face feeling stiff with dried tears. This was the first time since the attack that she'd come back here, and though the trees still bore scars from the fire, new growth had started to cover it over. She wished that she could just stay there, and watch the forest heal itself, but she knew that sooner or later she'd have to go back home and face Karen.

Will I be like that when I grow up? she thought, as the shadows began to lengthen. It would start to get dark soon; she would have to start back.

A glimmer of movement caught her eye from the far side of the clearing. She stared at it; at first she thought it was just a trick of the light and shadow, but as she watched, one of the shadows did seem to be moving of its own accord. A form seemed to coalesce before her, and a creature stepped forward, so silent as to be made of dream itself. Girl and dream regarded one another for a moment; then, as quietly as it appeared, it vanished, leaving in the clearing a wide eyed child and a world now full of promise.