Author's Notes:

Some light hearted fluff and interaction with some of our leads. A bit of development is nice now and then right?

The bright and sunny atmosphere along with the sounds of the waves crashing filled the air in Honolulu Hawaii. And as for Sunset Shimmer and her team of guardians, they were all alone, with themselves to protect her. Thankfully, there weren't any signs of Galvatron and his new army of Decepticons.

The group did make it all the way over to the motel that they were staying in, along with an additional surprise. There was no one staying there, meaning it was safe for the Bots to be exposed and about in robot mode, and thankfully peace for Twilight and Sunset.

Right now, everyone was hanging out at the beach that was with the motel. Both Sunset and Twilight hung down at the beach in bathing suits, and the Autobots all stayed near them and sat down in the sand. Ultra Magnus didn't say much, he just let the girls and the recruits have some much needed relaxation for the time being. Everyone was around the beach either playing in the sand, making sandcastles, or playing around in the water.

Ultra Magnus just sat by himself and watched as everyone was having some fun, splashing water, having a few laughs; it was a pleasant sight from all of the terrors of war. Leader-1 however was still on the lookout for the Cons so he continued to soar up high in the air.

Coming from the water and onto the beach was Sunset Shimmer who's hair was now soaking wet and limp. She walked towards Ultra Magnus who sat by himself and she sat in the sand next to him.

"Hey. Are you okay?" Sunset asked.

Ultra Magnus turned his head and gave a friendly smile. "I am fine. My concerns are mostly going for you though."

"I'm fine. I promise. Just... just enjoying the beach while I can." Sunset sighed.

Off in the distance, the sun was shining bright in a nice blue sky with a few clouds. The light reflected onto the water, making it sparkle like clear crystals.

"Its nice to see everyone having fun from the war isn't it?." Sunset asked.

Ultra Magnus paused. "I suppose it is."

Sunset felt a bit of disdain from the commander's voice. She tilted her head up to look into his blue optics.

"Are you okay?"

Ultra Magnus blinked. "I believe my command style may be having a negative effect on Optimus's new recruits."

"What do you mean?"

"The troops don't seem to respond very well to orders. I don't mean to be strict on them, but right now in our condition, we need to be running a tight ship." Ultra Magnus replied.

"Well, this isn't exactly the Elite Guard or Cybertron. Things are a bit different here."

"I know."

Sunset paused. "So... I'm not understanding your issue here."

"I want to keep things operating well, and I want everyone to respect me as a commander. But I don't want to push the new recruits too far."

"Well, I think this problem is a bit easy. You just need to speak calmly when you order them, speak clearly, but still be stern with them. Its the command I use when I need to lead them."

Ultra Magnus scratched his chin.

"I suppose I could give it a try."

"I'm sure it'll work. You just need to be calm, cool, and collective." Sunset replied, looking back out into the beach.

On the beach, she watched as everyone else was continuing to play. Road Rage and Wasp were busy making sandcastles, trying to make one single fortress. A couple of times they ended up knocking down their already built sets, but it didn't bother them much. They could just sculpt a new castle.

Perceptor and Twilight were enjoying a bit of time in the water, but also looking at lots of the marine life that they were surrounded in. Perceptor was very intrigued with the many organisms that he had found. He had no idea that so many species could exist.

The two slowly walked onto the beach and they looked down. Waddling along the beach was a little gray crab.

"What is that?" Perceptor said, crouching down.

Twilight smiled. "That's a Pallid Ghost Crab. They're pretty common here on sandy beaches and they're pretty active during the day."

"Fascinating..." Perceptor said. He transformed his body into a giant microscope, and the lenses began to slowly move to the crab, trying to get a clearer image on the animal.

"These creatures are amazing." Perceptor said in awe.

"Did you even know there are over 800 species of crabs?" Twilight asked.

Perceptor didn't move a muscle, but his microscope eyepiece tube slowly moved up and turned around to look at Twilight.

"I didn't even know that."

Twilight giggled. "Its kind of amazing really. There's freshwater, terrestrial..."

Twilight and Perceptor talked on and on about the many different kinds of animals that they knew. Perceptor even shared some knowledge about alien organisms that he studied out in space during his few trips. Twilight didn't know that there were so many organic life forms out there. These were quite wonderful and it was fascinating to hear this from her new friend. She would definitely need to go out into space to do some research.

As the day turned to night, the moon rose and the sun fell. The Autobots were staying in parking spots guarding the outside of the motel, all the while Sunset and Twilight were sleeping inside. But there was only one thing. Sunset wasn't asleep. In fact, she hadn't fallen asleep in her cabin. She couldn't get herself to fall asleep.

She yawned and she pulled herself up out of the bed and stared at her alarm clock. It was only 1:00 in the morning, and she couldn't sleep.

She carefully tiptoed out of her bed so she didn't wake up Twilight as she crawled out of the bedroom. She slowly entered the small kitchen area and she stared out the window. She could hear the waves crash against the beach and she could see the full moon provide light on the lake. A few palm trees bounced as the wind blew right past them.

But as she watched the sight she felt something was off. A small orange light was seen down at the beach. A fire was still going! She squinted her eyes and she looked closer, she could see a metallic form sitting at the fire all by himself. Red face, blue body, gray arms.

Why was he all out by himself?

She scrambled to get some clothes on and she made it outside the back door that led to the beach patio. As soon as she was out, she slowly moved her way over to the beach where the Autobot was sitting all by himself.

The Autobot didn't move, nor look up, or even flinch at the sound of Sunset's sandals touching the sand. His eyes were just looking straight down at the sizzling fire. A frown was permanent on his face, and his eyes were sunken in sadness.

Slowly moving close, she sat down on the bench that he had planted his metallic butt on. She looked up at Track's face to see if he noticed.

Nothing.

With a small smile, she slowly scooted herself closer trying to get a little comfortable.

"Sunset, I don't want to talk."

Sunset frowned. "You heard me didn't you?"

"I heard you coming a mile away."

Sunset frowned for a little bit, but perked back up to a smile. "Still a good thing you could hear me coming."

"Sunset, why are you even out here? Its 1:00 in the morning, no one should be up that late at night."

"I saw you out here by yourself, I couldn't just leave you there. Also... I can't sleep. Again."

Tracks blinked and he glanced over to Sunset. "You can't sleep? Why?"

"I don't know, I... I guess I'm still in deep thought about everything that's happened. I keep thinking we're going to lose, and what with Optimus gone, I... I guess I don't think I'll be cut out to be a great leader."

"Don't say that." Tracks said abruptly.

Sunset nearly fell back from Track's small outburst.

"Wait, what?"

"I said, don't say that. I know you keep hurting yourself thinking you're the worst leader, but you're not. In comparison, you're more competent than any other second-in-command we've had in the battle field. And that's saying a lot."

"But... why?" Sunset asked.

Tracks moved himself around some more to face the fiery haired teenager.

"Sunset. You care about protecting this entire planet at all costs, you want your own friends and teammates to be safe, and you even took the risk of protecting an all powerful relic held by our very own Optimus Prime. I believe you are more than worthy of second-in-command."

"Yeah, but... why do you guys think I'm good?"

Tracks gave a weak smile. "Sunset, I believe I just gave you the reasons. All I'm saying is, you've taken in a lot of wisdom from Optimus, and all the times you led us in battle in the past you've shown. Don't doubt yourself."

Sunset wanted to argue, but didn't. Instead, she simply smiled.

"You're right. I am doubting myself. But I guarantee you Tracks, I am going to keep on going, and I will show you that I can be the best I can be, and I can show Ultra Magnus that I am just as good as Optimus Prime!" Sunset shouted as she stood on her own two feet with her fist in the air.

Tracks tilted his head at her. "But, our mission still stands protecting you from imminent death."

Sunset drooped a finger down. "Another time. Maybe another time I can show everyone I can."

Sunset just sat back down on the bench with Tracks, staying warm near the fire. She glanced back up at Tracks with a hopeful smile.

"You don't seem very afraid."

Tracks stared blankly at the burning flames sighing. "I suppose I'm not."

"Tracks. Is something wrong? I think there's something bothering you, maybe we can talk about it."

"Sunset, I really don't think its something you'd want to hear. Especially coming from someone always seen as a high class narcissist."

Sunset scoffed. "I don't think you are."

"My fellow peers think that way. I can hear them talk about me behind my back."

Sunset didn't know what to say or how to respond.

"Tracks. Can you talk to me? As a friend? I want to help you."

Tracks looked back at Sunset's pleading turquoise eyes, and he couldn't help but smile at her adorable face.

"How can I say no to a face that's adorable?" Tracks said, booping her nose with his left finger, making her giggle. "Alright, I suppose I can talk.... Promise me you won't tell Strongarm?"

"Is it that bad?"

"Very."

"Okay. As a friend, I won't tell Strongarm. Now come on, what's wrong?"

Tracks sighed. "I... I'm scared. I'm afraid of what will happen to her if the Decepticons do end up finding us."

Sunset raised a brow. "I thought you hated her."

"I never said I hated her. We may not get along, but I never once stated I hated her."

"Really? Because all of the cues I've received in the past year has basically shown to me you don't like her." Sunset bluntly stated.

"Sunset... can I confess something? I know I'm always arguing with her, and I keep pushing myself away from her but in actuality... I... I don't want her to get hurt." Tracks said somberly. "Not like... her."

"Who?"

Tracks' hands held his face and he groaned in frustration. "Sunset, I... I have to tell you something."

"I'm listening." Sunset said, scooching herself around so she could listen to him.

Tracks composed himself together and he began to speak.

"Long before I enrolled with the Autobots, I was... a bit of a socialist. I worked at a bar on Cybertron serving everyone some fresh drinks, and I was often invited to attend galas and parties to interact with some very high class Cybertronians. And, at one of the parties I met..." Tracks sighed. "The most beautiful girl I've met in my entire life."

"I think I might like where this is going." Sunset smirked.

"Her name was Streetsmart. I talked her up, and apparently, as I found out, she was a police officer. A cadet in fact. So I talked with her some more, and we hit it off quite well. Soon after, I found myself inviting her out to dates, taking her to dinner, spending nice days of peace with her as we sat together, staring off into the stars... But then... the day the war for Cybertron commenced..."

Sunset's smile faded away and it changed into a frightened frown.

"The two of us were minding our own business at a social event, but then Megatron and his Decepticon army charged in and caused a riot. They shot almost every guest in that room. All of them... except us."

Tracks felt a gold tear of lubricant start to form, but he just wiped it away from his face.

"Streetsmart was the only one who had weapons. So, she gave me a gun, and told me to stay with her so we could fight our way out and get some help. As we tried to fight our way out, we made it out of the building. I went to the Autobots to tell them what was going on, and I took Streetsmart with me... cold, frozen, lifeless... dead."

Sunset gasped and she felt her hand go over her heart.

"There wasn't anything I could do, nor anything that the medical officers could do. I had lost the only girl I ever loved... all thanks to Megatron..." Tracks growled, rattling his fist for a few seconds.

He noticed his hand was clenched tight, ready to start punching, but he stopped himself and sighed. He pulled out a small gun from his side, holding it tightly and showing it to Sunset.

"Her blaster... the only thing I have left of her to remember her by. I keep this gun with me to remind myself of what I lost... and what I fight for."

Sunset's heart dropped into the pits of her stomach.

"Oh, Tracks... I'm so sorry..."

Tracks looked to Sunset with tear-heavy eyes. "Its... its fine."

Tracks used his hand to wipe away the tears from his face.

"But if that's the case, why do you keep fighting with Strongarm?"

"I'm scared about what may happen to her. I don't want her to die the same way. I don't want to lose her the same way I lost my Streetsmart... so, I thought if I pushed myself away from her and everyone else, it wouldn't hurt as much. But... it doesn't work."

Sunset looked up into Tracks' glowing blue optics with a friendly smile.

"Tracks. I know it was bad back then, and I'm really sorry about what happened. But things are different now. Just because it happened back then, doesn't mean it'll happen again. You don't know what the future may hold, even I don't know. But you can't keep pushing yourself away from everyone. Closing yourself off from feeling... won't help anyone."

Tracks looked back to Sunset's kind words with silence. He didn't want to be all alone, but at the same time he didn't want to be hurt like he was in the past. But that was over a thousand years ago. Things were different now.

"I suppose I could try talking to her again."

"That's great! And I'm willing to bet she'll understand if you just explain things calmly and carefully. Who knows? You might start a new friendship." Sunset said.

Tracks gave a smile.

"I think we might."

Little did Sunset or Tracks know that a figure with blue eyes, blue lipstick and sirens on her arms had been watching, listening to them talk. She heard every word they were saying, and just hearing them made her smile a bit.

"I understand Tracks. I do." She said to herself.