//------------------------------//
// Ch. 1: Trouble Sleeping 
// Story: Drifting Sunset 
// by Kamenriderjester 
//------------------------------//

    "Did you grow or did I shrink?" Drift asked as he looked deep into the young girl's eyes. Their green color reminded him of emeralds he once saw on a distant planet. 
 
    “Does it matter?” she asked, flashing him a smile that seemed to warm his very spark. "We are finally able to be close. To be together."
 
    He didn't question it. This was what wanted. To be with her, to hold her in his arms, and express the love he had for her physically. 

    “I love you Sunset," Drift whispered as he slowly started to lift her closer to him. 
 
    "I love you too," Sunset replied as she leaned forward and brought her lips ever closer to his. 

***

    It was just as they were about to kiss when the alert buzzed in Drifts sensors reminding him it was time to get up. 
 
    As he slowly became aware of his surrounding he realized something. One, he had energized his holomatter avatar while his was sleeping. Two, he had materialized it in Sunset Shimmer's house. Three, he had picked up the young girl and the energy construct was now holding her in his arms as she slept soundly. With the light of the rising sun peaking through her window and outlining her sleeping frame clad in her purple pajamas she seemed look more radiant and beautiful. Part of him never want to set her down. 
 
    The fear of her waking up any moment and being startled shook him from his daydream and he gently placed the girl back on her bed and covered her up with a blanket before disengaging the avatar entirely. His consciousness once again whole he began to wonder what had just happened. 
 
    It has been five months since he had been since he had been assigned to Earth to help with the Unit E project. The project was a coalition between the government to try and make Optimus Prime’s induction of Earth into Cybertron’s Council of Worlds (see Transformers: Robots in Disguise #49 for this event) actually work. A few select Autobots would work with recruits to try and keep the world safe from any alien threats. 
 
    Drift had been paired with Sunset Shimmer, one of the seven girls who had been put under observation by the government after display bizarre powers on several occasions. Sunset had admitted the group didn’t know what to make of the situation after they were picked up by the government. She briefly feared they would be dissected. Instead they sworn in as agents under the Unit E project and paired with the Autobots to work to guard the planet. 

    In the months since he had become her partner and taken up residency in her garage, the two of them had spent a lot of time together. They had bonded over their checkered pasts. He a former Decepticon and she a person who had become obsessed with power to the point it turned her into a demon. The two had long talks about the regrets from their past and how they would do all they could to work harder in the future not to make the same mistakes.
 
    Drift had not become close to another being in a very long time. It was different from bonding with Rodimus, Pipes, or even Ratchet. His feelings for her were much stronger and deeper. The more he thought about her the more his very spark would strain from these foreign feelings. 
 
   Despite whatever he was feeling the fact his holomatter avatar had activated when he hadn't meant to was disconcerting. He would have to talk with Ratchet about it and see if the good doctor had a way of making sure it didn't happen again. His initial thought would normally be to use some spiritual aids like a healing crystal to solve his medical concerns but If he didn't fix this problem soon it could happen again. He had no guarantee she wouldn't wake up next time and he dared not do anything to jeopardize his friendship with her. 
 
  Still his feelings for her were getting stronger and stronger. Why did he have to feel this way? Why did the idea of being close to her make his spark core glow with happiness? He knew it couldn’t work. She was a human and he was a Cybertronian. They were literally from two different worlds. 
 
    Realizing there was no way he could deal with the malfunction at the moment he decided it was time for his morning routine. After transmitting the signal to the garage and opening the door he shifted into reverse and backed out. Transforming into his robot mode, he walked into the lot next to Sunset’s house. 
 
    One of the reasons she had been able to afford her house so cheap was because it was located next to an abandoned construction site. No investors had come in since leaving an abandoned building with an unfinished roof. This made it the perfect place for him to train. Unsheathing the twin swords at his side he began his training routine. A bit of Shim Gum Do, some Tai Chi, and finally finishing with meditation. He succeeded in finding his center. He pulled up a display and saw it was time for Sunset to head to school. 
 
    He transformed into his alt mode, opened the garage, and drove in. He didn't have to wait long before Sunset came out with her book bag over her shoulder. She was dressed in a blue blouse, blue jeans, black boots, and her black leather jacket with orange on the sleeves. She looked as beautiful. 
 
    Flashing Drift a smile she said, "Good morning partner. Sleep well?"

   "Yeah," Drift replied, deciding not to talk about the incident earlier right now. He wanted to discuss it with Ratchet first and make sure it hadn't happen because of something major. "I may have to head back to the base today though." 
 
    "Really?" Sunset asked with concern. "Everything alright?"
 
    “Yes,” Drift said, trying to not go into the reasons for the trip to the base. “I just want to talk with him about some things. You know bonding and all.” 
 
    “Ah, guy time. I gotcha,” Sunset said as she opened the driver’s door, threw her backpack in his backseat, and got into her robot partner. “I’d better drive this time. You dropped us off last week and Trixie wouldn't stop asking if you were my boyfriend.” 

    “She did?” Drift asked, a surge of glee at the idea of being accused of being her boyfriend. “What did you tell her?”

     “I told her to mind her own business,” Sunset shrugged. “Trixie can be a pain in the butt on a regular basis. The last thing we need is for her to know I have an alien living in my garage. She would probably try to extort me.”
 
    “Right, good idea,” Drift tried his best to mask the disappointment in his voice. He was getting his hopes up for nothing. He knew there was no way a relationship would work. He needed to accept the truth and move on.  
 
    Shifting Drift into reverse the two made their way to to pick up the first guest on the journey to school. Like most mornings as they drove, the pair listened to a national news channel Drift was able to pick up through satellite radio. This helped them to be aware of what was going on in the world and be up to date on any major catastrophes which might be on the horizon. The discussion this time was between a commentator and his guest. The guest was insisting if he was elected he would find a way to solve the Autobot problem. 
 
    “Sometimes I can’t help but question if Optimus made the right choice,” Drift sighed as he cut the broadcast and started talking through the speakers. “We saved the Earth but people still hate our kind.” 
 
    “Hey, no getting down on yourself,” Sunset replied with a smile. “If you hadn’t come back we would never would have met. Now that all of us are together in Unit E, we’ll show the world the good human and Autobots can do working together.” 
 
    Again Drift felt his spark warm with Sunset’s compliment. He was about to say “I’m glad I met you too” when he was interrupted by Sunset applying the brake and shifting him into park. A second later the door opened and a familiar voice was heard. 
 
    “Good morning darling,” The fashionista said as she slid into the car. “You will not believe the outfit I designed last night. You will look wonderful in it. Good morning to you too Drift.” 
 
    “Good morning Miss Rarity,” Drift replied politely. He had always tried his best to reflect proper etiquette wherever he went and refer to all of the girls as ‘Miss’ when he first met them. Rarity was the only one who didn’t tell him to stop as she thought he sounded like a proper gentleman when he said it.  
 
    The rest of the drive was uneventful as Drift allowed the girls to talk about different things going on in their lives. School, social media, and what they were going to do for the weekend. Within minutes they were at the Canterlot High parking lot and Drift was parked in his usual spot by an old oak tree. Rarity and Sunset got out of Drift and stood by the tree as they waited for the rest to arrive. A moment later a bright red Pontiac Firebird Trans Am pulled next to Drift. He immediately recognized it as Windcharger. His doors opened and Rainbow Dash and Applejack got out of the car and joined their friends. 
 
    “Three minutes and fifteen seconds,” Rainbow dash announced proudly. “A new record!” 
 
    “We don’t have to race to school everyday after you pick me up you know,” Applejack grumbled. “You are going to get a speeding ticket one of these days.” 
 
    “A speeding ticket,” Windcharger announced through his speakers. “I welcome one. It's the perfect reminder to let you know how fast I was going.” 
 
    “Exactly partner,” Rainbow Dash replied as she patted Windcharger’s hood. “Besides if we have a problem, we can always ask the brass at Unit E to take care of it.” 
 
    Before any of the other girls could tell Rainbow Dash she shouldn't abuse their privileges, they were interrupted by a blue Jeep Wrangler pulling into the other parking spot next to Drift. Again,he recognized it as the alt form of Beachcomber who was the last Autobot of the Unite E team outside of Ratchet who preferred to stay near their base. The remaining three girls, Pinkie Pie, Twilight Sparkle, and Fluttershy, Beachcomber`s partner got out and walked to where the other girls were standing. 
 
    “Good morning,” Pinkie Pie sang as she ran up and hugged Sunset Shimmer. As always the young girl was always full of energy. “Everyone ready for another super duper day at school?” 
 
    “Good to see you too Pinkie,” Sunset replied as she returned Pinkie`s hug before prying her off. Before any more plans and discussion could be done their was cut short by the ringing of the bell. Realizing they had five minutes to get to class, the girls headed towards the building while saying goodbyes to the three vehicles. Some may think this strange but with Flash Sentry’s daily routine of giving the hood of his car a long hug before leaving it alone the school didn't really make any comments about how people treated their cars. 
 
    “We’ll go check on Mr. Browntail after class today,” Fluttershy said as she gently stroked Beachcomber’s hood before walking in. 
 
    “Sure thing baby doll,” Beachcomber said cheerfully. Of all three of the Autobots, it often seemed like he was the most flirtatious with his human partner. Everyone wondered if it was just Beachcomber being cute or if a relationship was actually happening between the two of them. Unfortunately, when questioned about it Beachcomber’s response was to joke about the “hot passionate nights they shared” and Fluttershy’s reaction was to blush bright red. 
 
    Rainbow Dash patted Windcharger and Sunset Shimmer looked back and waved at Drift before all the girls disappeared into the school. Once the parking lot was empty of students and the three Cybertronians were alone, Drift took the time to get a hold of the team’s medic. “Ratchet, do you read me?”
 
    “I read you loud and clear,” Ratchet answered. From the video feed it was easy to see he was at his workbench as usual running different experiments. “Any activity at the school?”
 
    “No, I just have an odd question for you,” Drift said as he did his best not to reveal what happened earlier in the day. “Have you ever known a hollow matter avatar to come online and walk around while someone was in sleep mode?” 
 
    “Yes I have actually,” Ratchet replied as he pulled up some files on the subject. “Usually it occurs when someone hasn't been getting a proper recharge at night. You should probably think about coming back to the base and sleeping in your quarters for a change instead of at your partner's residence.” 
 
    “Yeah, sounds like a plan,” Drift agreed. He had made it a point to know there were times when he needed to do what the Doctor ordered. This was one of those occasions. “I'll let Sunset to find another way home and I'll just drive to the base.” 
 
    “Do you want me to activate the ground bridge and bring you here easier?” Ratchet offered. 
 
   If Drift were in his robot mode he would have shook his head. “No. Actually I could use the drive to clear my head.” 
 
    “Everything alright?” Despite how much of a grouch Ratchet was known for he still cared deeply for his friends. 
 
    “Yeah,” Drift replied trying his best to deflect the the conversation away from what was really bothering him. “I've just been debating something something I probably should just forget about.” 
 
    “If you need someone to talk to I'm always here,” Ratchet commented. ”You know that right?” 
 
    “I appreciate it,” Drift chucked before cutting the communication. 
 
    The rest of the day was uneventful as the trio waited for the girls to be done with school. Windcharger challenged Drift to a few games of electronic Go over their display screens but he was not nearly as good an opponent as Blurr was. Beachcomber would often note some of the birds flying in the air. Drift found it fascinating how he had memorized so many animals on the planet so effectively. 
 
    Finally the day was over and the girls met up with their Cybertronian Guardians. 
 
    “So how about we finally see who's fastest,” Dash asked she leaned against Windcharger’s hood. “I'm pretty sure red here has all of you beat.” 
 
    “Actually,” Drift interrupted. “Before any plans are made, I have to go back to base and talk with Ratchet.” 
 
    “Are you sure nothing is wrong,” Sunset asked with a distinct look of concern in her eyes. 
 
    “Yes. I just need to talk with him about something,” Drift replied. “He thinks I should stay at the base overnight to make sure nothing's wrong with me.” 
 
    “Why does he want you to stay over,” Sunset prodded. The idea of him not being around was starting to make her feel uneasy. 
 
    “I'm fine,” Drift chuckled, trying his best to deflect Sunset’s concerns. “He's just worried about me that's all.”
 
    “Is that all it is?” Rarity asked as she threw her hair behind her shoulders. “Here we thought you two would make a cute couple.” 
 
    “Really?” Drift asked. Relationships between Cybertronians were not like they were on Earth. Two beings with similar interests and attractions often gravitated towards each other. Still, if the girls had already been planning and discussing this for a while it meant Sunset didn't carry any feelings for him. “You all thought me and Ratchet should get together?”
 
    “Yeah,” Sunset replied as looked away and started to play with her hair. “You deserve to have someone in your life.”
 
    “Right someone,” Drift did his best to mask the disappointment in his voice but it was hard. He needed to get out so he could process what had just happened. Activating his holomatter avatar so it appeared in the passenger seat, he rolled down the window, and waved. “Have a good night.”
 
   Shifting into reverse he maneuvered out of the parking lot and away from the school. As she watched her partner drive away, Sunset felt an emptiness start to form in her stomach. It reminder of how she had felt when the girls had been suggesting they make a move towards setting Ratchet and Drift up but now it was back and made her stomach turn so bad she felt nauseous. She was only brought back to reality by Rarity touching her shoulder and suggesting they go to Sugarcube Corner for dinner. 

***

   The drive back to the base felt like an eternity. Drift considered calling Ratchet and having him open the Ground Bridge but decided to shoulder through. He knew if he let the feeling of despair wash over him more it would finally cement the bitter reality into his brain of what had just happened. Sunset didn't care for him as more than a friend and had been working towards setting him up with Ratchet. Though the good doctor was his best friend and had been the one who came after him after leaving the Lost Light (See IDW’s Drift: Empire of Stone series) they  were nothing more than good friends. He never thought once about asking Ratchet to be his sparkmate.
 
    The events of the day weighed on him and he looked forward to making it to his quarters and finding the peace only sleep could offer. 

***

    Driving into the disguised mesa which was actually an old military missile silo, Drift transformed and walked down the hall until he came to Ratchet’s laboratory. Opening the door Drift found the doctor seated behind a series of monitors going over data files. Several empty energon containers were piled within reach of where he was sitting. Typical sight involving Ratchet. 
 
    “Your late,” Ratchet grumbled as he continued to tap information into the computers. “I told you I could have opened a Ground Bridge.”
 
    “Sorry,” Drifft sighed. “For some reason I just couldn't get up to speed today”
 
    “You're exhausted.I can hear it in your voice,” Ratchet snarled as he stopped typing to turn towards his guest. “You should be sleeping in a proper recharge slab instead of being at your partner’s place so often.”
 
    “What about Windcharger and Beachcomber,” Drift asked, realizing he hadn't taken the time to ask his teammates if they were having similar problems. “Are they here every night?”
 
    “Windcharger is,” Ratchet said as he got up from his seat and stretched. He grabbed one of the unopened energon containers and took a big swig. “He makes it a point to see if he can’t increase his record on his way to Rainbow Dash’s every morning. Apparently she always waits with a stopwatch every morning for him to pull up. Meanwhile, Beachcomber has the ability to survive in any environment for weeks without needing as proper recharge page station. You on the other hand continuously push yourself past the breaking point and then I have to twist your arm before you will let me treat you.”
 
    “What can I say, I’m a machine,” Drift laughed, hoping the joke would cause Ratchet to relax. Ratchet’s way of showing he cared was by giving others a hard time. Still, a joke usually caused him to crack a smile. 
 
    “Good point,” Ratchet chuckled dryly. “Well hopefully in this case all you need is a good night's sleep. I'd hate to think you were coming down with some type of cyber flu.”
 
    “You and me both,” Drift replied as he looked at Ratchet's workstation. He always kept so many files open it was hard to follow what he was doing at any given time. “What are you working on?”
 
    “Finally taking the time to look over the information we were given about the girls and their “phenomenons,”” Ratchet said as he took another swig of his drink. “The information is pretty detailed, even by Earth standards. The special forces apparently didn't have proper energy scanning devices in the area but have instead provided me with a mixture of video, environmental reports, and some satellite imagery hoping I can figure out this magic stuff. I barely have time to keep up with Cybertronian medicine and now I'm suppose to understand the Anatomy and Physiology of humans and when they are displaying powers associated with another dimensional plane of existence. Makes me wish Wheeljack and Brainstorm were available to help.”
 
    “Just do what you can Ratchet. It's all we ever ask of you,” Drift was going to mention how Sunset Shimmer had tried herself to experiment on the girls to figure out how magic worked in this world but found himself stopping short. The thought of her and what had happened earlier was fresh in his mind and made him feel exhausted. He knew he needed to head to his quarters. “I better turn in Ratchet. I need to get back at my best as soon as possible.”
 
    “If you notice any other symptoms let me know right away’” Ratchet said as he finished his energon and put it with the pile of empties. 
 
    Nodding to his friend, Drift made his way out of the lab and towards his quarter. In the distance he could hear the sound of tapping as Ratchet returned to the work station and continued his research. 

***

    Entering into his quarters Drift placed his swords on the racks and laid down on the recharging slab. He intertwined his fingers and began to enter standby mode and get some much needed rest. He closed his optics but opened them again an instant later. Pressing his fingers to the side of his head he activated his communication system, selected a frequent contact, and called it. 
 
    "Hey stranger," Sunset answered cheerfully. "How's the slumber party at the base?"
 
    "Boring," Drift chuckled. "Ratchet is absorbed in his work and Windcharger is out on patrol. I was just about to power down but I thought I'd make sure everything is fine."
 
    "Everything is fine," Sunset replied. "The girls and I grabbed dinner at Sugarcube Corner and then I just came home after. It felt weird riding the bus again after so long."
 
    "Sorry. I'll make sure to be back in the garage by morning to take you to school," Drift said, doing his best to restrain the excitement of seeing her again. "To tell you the truth I actually prefer sleeping there."
 
    "Really," Sunset asked. "Sleeping in the chilly garage is fun?" 
 
    Drift mouthed, It allows me to be closer to you but instead said, "I have slept in worst."
 
    "We'll I'm going to write to Princess Twilight Sparkle and the go to bed," Sunset announced as she yawned. "Don't stay up too late partner."
 
     "I won't. Good night Sunset," Drift replied with a smile as he ended the call. He attacked the supply unit to his chest, folded his hands again and prepared for sleep mode. The sooner he had a good night's recharge, the sooner he would be able to see Sunset. 
 
1 hour later
 
   "Damn it," Drift grunted as he shifted to his side. Despite his wish for sleep to overtake him, his mind wouldn't let him find peace. He briefly tried meditating again but thoughts of Sunset kept disrupting him from being able to obtain any type of enlightenment or peace. Just as it seemed he had got her out of his head, a vivid image of a former enemy like Tarn busting into Sunset’s bedroom and kidnapping her would cause him to lose of any sense of nirvana. 
 
    Laying on his side he decided to try a different route. He would break his delusions with cold hard reality.
 
    "I'm a Cybertronian and she's a human," Drifted muttered to himself. "It would never workout."
 
    As he tried his best to use cold hard facts to convince him a relationship would be impossible, the gentle whisper of his conscious, voiced by an angelic Sunset corrected him. "Love will find a way."
 
   "The entire world hates my kind," Drift grunted as kept trying to hold onto the bitter thoughts. 
 
   The cheerful conscious didn't let up. "An entire faction of bots still looked at you as an enemy but noble ones like Kup spoke up and accepted you. The same thing will happen here on Earth.”
 
    "I don't love her," Drift shouted to the empty room. 
 
    "Yes you do,” The conscious sang. 
 
    Unable to take anymore Drift got up, disconnect the charging cord from his chest, and left the room, not even taking the time to grab his weapons on the way out. He made his way into the energon storage area of the base. He ignored the standard rations and energon goodies as he knew he needed something much stronger. He briefly considered going all the way for the bottle of Nightmare Fuel Trailbreaker had given him long ago but instead opted for a container of Engex. Opening it, he took several large gulps, enjoying it's intoxicating effect. The mixture didn't taste nearly as good as what Swerve served in his bar but it wasn't watered-down as much either. 
 
    Grabbing another he slowly walked through the base towards Ratchet's lab. The good doctor was always one to work late into the night. 
 
    “You need an assistant,” Drift said as he walked into the lab and caused Ratchet to jump. He was so immersed in his work he didn't even hear Drift coming. “Someone who can make sure you actually remember to take breaks.”
 
    “I take breaks when I'm not onto something important,” Ratchet grunted as he returned to the screens in front of him. “Check this out.”
 
    Drift looked at the Ratchet’s workstation. Seven of the screens each had a picture of one of the girls, each with different numerical displays next to them. He couldn't tell what it meant but the information next to Sunset showed particularly high numbers. “What am I looking at?”
 
    “Well turns out when I combined what I thought was going to be nothing, mainly the environmental research footage, and scanned it using a basic Cybertronians Energy scanner I found something interesting,” Ratchet replied as he stroked his chin and tapped a monitor not containing one of the girls. A picture came up of a environmental satellite, time stamped from the incident where the girls battled the Dazzlings in concert (See Equestrian Girls: Rainbow Rocks for this scene). “The temperature spiked to an intense degree in the area about them during this period.”
 
    “What exactly are you saying? Drift asked, trying to grasp the significance of Ratchet’s discovery. He extended his hand with the other container of Engex and offered it to his weary comrade. “You found out what the girls magic is scientifically?”
 
    “Scientifically? Not at all,” Ratchet commented as he shook his head and took the drink. “But by comparing the temperature in the air at the time of the incident with the scanner I was able to get a figure of just how much energy is produced even during one of these occurrences.”
 
    “How much energy are we talking about?” Drift asked nervously, he took a swing of the Engex, not liking where the conversation was heading. 
 
    “If my calculations are correct and I they should be since I ran through them three times before I even thought about telling another soul,” Ratchet said as he put down the Engex and pointed to screen containing Sunset Shimmer and the values which were by her picture. “Your partner alone could power a Titan like Metroplex for 100 stellar cycles.”
 
    “Delete this information now,” Drift insisted without skipping a beat. The idea of one girl, no, any organic being powering a Titan for the equivalent of 62 human years, an amount of energy which would come from draining the ecological power of a small planet was unthinkable. Many cybertronians had used a process known as Pink Alchemy to drain organics into fuel but they never yielded such an amount. Still, given the bizarre powers he had seen her display in the past he knew it wasn't impossible to consider. He knew what would occur though if anyone did attempt to obtain the energy from her. It would involve a process which would leave her depleted and on death’s door. “If this got into the wrong hands the girls would be in danger.” 
 
   “I understand your sentiment,” Ratchet replied stoically. “But this information came from a simple scan and a few simulations I conducted. It won't be hard to recreate these findings. Even if we delete it this someone will discover it again.”
 
    “We have to do something we can't let them be used as pawns” Drift’s eyes locked on the readings for Sunset.  
 
     “I sympathize with where you're coming from. I don't want harm to come to them either.” 
 
    “No you don't understand,” Drift stated. He gaze hadn't left the scientific data for the girls. He was half tempted to smash his container of Engex into the console. “There's more to it than you know.” 
 
    “What are you talking about?” Ratchet asked. 
 
    Drift paused for a moment before continuing. It was time to come clean to somebody about how he felt. “I'm in love with Sunset Shimmer.”