When All Lights Go Out I (TFP)

Chapter 29

Fifteen minutes into attempting to listen to nature and be able to understand her abilities more, Azura didn't feel anything. She didn't understand it at all. She was quickly getting frustrated about it as well. With the rain falling around them, Azura tried to understand her abilities like rain and rivers, but she still didn't understand what Optimus meant. She wanted to make this training session feel like it was worth it, but it felt like a waste of time at this point. She definitely wanted to spend time with Optimus instead. Plus, the sting in her back was distracting her.

She opened her eyes and looked up at Optimus. "I am sorry...I...I don't know what I am doing right now." Optimus kneels down as he listened to her. "My back is stinging and I can't focus...I'm sorry."

"There is no need to apologize, Azura. I had already guessed it would be difficult for you to achieve harmony with your abilities today. I know you will be able to use them fine even in situations where you could be hurt." He smiled at her as he leaned forward to kiss her head gently. Azura smiled as she was growing accustomed to Optimus's comfort. "If your back is irritating you that much, we can stop now. I don't want you getting frustrated."

Azura nodded and turned her body to face him, making her grimace. "I wish this pain would go away." He picked her up from the boulder and stood up to walk down the hill into the pine forest. "And do I have to tell Arcee, Bulkhead and Bumblebee about my abilities?"

"They are just worried about you, Azura. None of them are going to be angry about it." She was still worried regardless. "Let's not worry about that for now. We should just worry about spending time with each other." Azura smiled as she looked up at him. "I know I am not fully aware of everything that is on this world, but I have been learning just how beautiful it is." She nodded in agreement as Optimus walked through the pine trees. "I am glad that I can share this beauty with you, Azura."

She giggled at him before gasping suddenly. "Stop walking!" He froze instantly, looking around with worry, but he saw Azura looking ahead with a smile. "I see a black bear and her cubs." He looked ahead and he saw what Azura had spotted. It was instead a black bear and two small cubs. Azura smiled as she watched as the bears walk through the forest. "I love the animals of this world." She has seen bears before, as living in Wyoming before, bears live there as well. "Looks like they are heading for the rivers to fish."

"When I learned about the many different animals on this world, I was amazed. Cybertron had its animals too, but I think we definitely did not have as many as what Earth holds." Optimus's optics follow the bear and her cubs as they continue to walk before they leave their line of sight. "Especially with what is within the Earth's ocean."

"And not everything in the ocean has been explored either," Azura said with a chuckle before looking up at Optimus. "When we go to the island, I hope it has a reef. I love reefs, because it is so full of life and beauty, something that cannot really be found anywhere else because of the animals that live there."

"I look forward to it. Hopefully you will not have your burn on her back by then." She nodded in agreement as Optimus proceeded forward. "Is it okay if I ask about your life?" Her smile faded immediately. "I know you were abused in that orphanage, but I hope there was some good moments in your life."

Azura was silent for a moment as she thought about it. "I guess there was. I wasn't at that orphanage until I was...I think I was eight when I was moved there, but I don't fully remember. The foster home I had been placed at didn't want me anymore, which was why I was taken to that orphanage. And I don't have any good memories until I was about ten. That was when I started to help out people in the town by cleaning their cars and helping with their garden for cash."

"Did you have good memories at the foster home?" Optimus asked curiously, and she looked away, which was the only answer he needed. "I am so sorry we did not find you sooner, Azura. I had never thought I would ever find you when we sent you aware." He walked through some more trees and stopped as they found themselves by a small waterfall. Azura smiled as she watched the flow of the water and looked up when he sat down, and she saw his expression was full of sadness. "Would you believe I once had thought that I would never find you again?"