In the Autobot base, the team was in full relaxation mode, each person enjoying their downtime in their own way. Miko was strumming her guitar, lost in her music, while Demetrius, Jack, and Raf were deeply immersed in a racing game on the TV.

Paige leaned against the railing, chatting casually with Arcee, her arms folded across her chest. Nearby, Shiloh sat perched on Ratchet's shoulder, watching with mild amusement as Marley- still in her dragon form- pawed at one of the medic's prized wrenches.

Ratchet's optics narrowed as he looked over at her, his expression becoming the picture of annoyance. "Marley, stop playing with my wrench. I need that."

Marley raised her head indignantly, her deep blue eyes glinting with mischief as she curled the wrench closer to her chest. A soft growl rumbled from her throat, low and warning. Shiloh snickered, hopping down to the upper platform with a mischievous grin on his face.

Ratchet sighed, stepping forward with a patient but firm air. "Marley, give me the wrench."

The Dosyrian growled louder, her pupils narrowing to slits as her tail lashed back and forth like an angry feline. The standoff was getting more intense by the second.

"Oh, I thought Elana had the market cornered on shiny things," Harry teased, chuckling as he leaned against the wall, watching the tug-of-war unfold. "Apparently, Marley's just as bad."

Charlotte, standing nearby, let out a soft laugh. "Oh, she's definitely got that trait. Both of them would trade anything for something that glitters." She sent Harry a playful side glance. "Reminds me of someone I know."

The nineteen year old raised an eyebrow at her and playfully shoved her shoulder. "Not me," he said with a smirk, causing Charlotte to laugh louder.

Marley growled louder still, her claws digging into the wrench, while Ratchet huffed under his breath in Cybertronian, still tugging at the tool. The tug-of-war escalated as Marley hissed like an angry cat, her dragon tail whipping side to side, clearly enjoying the challenge.

Paige shook her head with a giggle, eyes twinkling at the absurdity of it all. Gregory, leaning casually against the railing, crossed his arms and observed the scene with a dry smile.

"You'd think Ratchet would know by now that he's not winning this one," Gregory mused aloud, amusement in his voice.

Ratchet shot him an annoyed look but said nothing as Marley growled triumphantly, her tail flicking in victory as she kept the wrench firmly in her claws.

The monitors suddenly blinked to life, drawing Shiloh's attention. Ratchet walked over, frowning as he studied the display. "It's Energon again," he said.

"We can go get it!" Demetrius immediately jumped to his feet, his excitement palpable.

Gregory raised an eyebrow, unimpressed. "Who's 'we'?"

"Me, Natalia, Paige, Charlotte, and Marley," the Dolrionian grinned confidently. Without another word, he vanished into a shadowy void and instantly reappeared next to Gregory, who had long grown accustomed to his fellow Protector's teleportation antics.

"Optimus, Ultra Magnus, and Elita are out on patrol, so... maybe it won't be a bad idea for us to handle a mission on our own," Anastasia suggested, glancing over at Ratchet.

Arcee frowned. "I'm not sure that's a good idea."

"If anything goes wrong, we'll call for backup immediately," Demetrius reassured her with a wink, "I swear on the Starlight Oceans."

Ratchet stood silently for a moment, contemplating the offer. After a few moments, he sighed heavily. "Alright. But at the first sign of Decepticons, you contact us. Understood?"

"We will, Ratchet," Paige promised, her tone firm.

With a grunt of acknowledgment, Ratchet watched as the ground bridge opened. The five Transcendants stepped through, the bright portal closing behind them.

On the other side, Paige took a deep breath, scanning her surroundings. The environment felt oddly familiar-like sneaking around her grandparents' house in Unadilla. She shifted into her wolf form and sniffed the air.

"Smell anything?" Demetrius asked, eyes narrowing as he studied her.

"Nothing yet-" Paige froze, her senses suddenly sharpening. Her eyes flickered with blue light before they shifted to purple. A strange pull led her forward. She blinked in surprise, before her wings stretched out, and she followed the trail.

"Paige!?" Marley called after her. The others hurried to catch up with their sister-in-arms, but Paige was already airborne, her wings slicing through the air as she tracked the mysterious trail.

As the group followed, the shape of an old church soon came into view. Paige's eyes widened. She slowed her flight and landed softly on her feet. The air around her seemed charged with something she couldn't quite explain, the purple aurora-like wisps lingering in her vision.

"A church?" Natalia said blankly, her voice filled with disbelief, "out of all the places Energon could be, it had to be in a church?!"

Marley, unfazed by Natalia's complaints, sniffed the air. Her dragon form flicked its ears, listening intently. After a moment, she padded up the steps and pushed the heavy wooden door open with a soft creak.

As the door creaked open, a heavy silence settled over the group. Inside, the church was dim, the only light filtering through the tall, stained-glass windows, casting fragmented rainbows of color onto the stone floor. The air was thick with the scent of age- dust, wood, and something faintly metallic, like the remnants of a long-forgotten past. The pews, once polished and well-kept, now lay scattered with dust and debris, their surfaces warped by years of neglect.

The high ceiling arched above them, its beams supported by intricate stone columns that seemed to reach toward the heavens. Cobwebs hung in the corners, and the faint sound of dripping water echoed from somewhere deeper inside. At the far end of the church, the altar stood, its ornate carvings faded and chipped. An altar cloth lay in tatters, its once-pristine fabric now yellowed and frayed with age.

In the center of the room, the floor was marked by long, dark streaks, as if something heavy had been dragged across it. The dimness of the space felt almost suffocating, the silence broken only by the occasional creak of the old wood beneath their feet.

Demetrius looked around the church, his eyes scanning the surroundings with a mix of curiosity and amusement. "You know, Megatron could probably find Energon in a Christian church with a Catholic priest doin' a sermon," he said, his tone light and teasing.

Paige snorted, covering her mouth to stifle a laugh, while Charlotte let out a long, exasperated sigh and facepalmed.

Marley's lips twitched, her shoulders shaking slightly with suppressed laughter. Despite the tension, she couldn't help but appreciate the Dolrionian's humor, though she quickly returned to her search, dragon ears flicking at every sound.

Natalia lifted her hand, and pink wisps of magic danced in the air around her fingers. Flames flickered for a second before she conjured up something more practical: colorful, retro-style headphones, which she placed on the heads of the four Transcendants.

"Trust me, we'll need some tunes to get through this," she said, grinning as the headphones adjusted perfectly to each of them.

The five Transcendants pressed the side buttons on their headphones, and a faint beep echoed through the air. A moment later, Ratchet's voice crackled to life through the mics.

"Can you hear us?"

"Loud and clear, Doc," Demetrius replied with a cheeky grin.

"Don't call me 'Doc'," Ratchet huffed, his voice laced with annoyance. "Have you found the Energon?"

"Not yet," Paige answered, her focus intense as she squinted into the distance. The purple aurora-like wisps danced in her vision, but she was still uncertain of their origin.

She frowned, her concentration deepening as she followed the trail of wisps, the purple glow pulsing around her. Her gaze sharpened. Something wasn't right.

Without a word, Paige transformed into her dragon form, her claws digging into the stone wall with ease.

Natalia's eyes widened in surprise. "Uh... Paige?"

The Dual-Blooded girl didn't respond. Instead, she tore into the wall with determination, her dragon tail wagging excitedly. After a few more moments, the unmistakable blue glow of Energon came into view, sparkling brightly in the dim light.

"Well, I'll be damned," Demetrius chuckled, his voice tinged with amusement. "Ratchet, we found the Energon."

Paige beamed, her excitement contagious. She glanced around, her eyes landing on one of the towering statues. She stared at it for a moment, as if assessing something about it before swiping her claws across its surface. In an instant, the statue crumbled into broken pieces.

Marley and Charlotte stared in shock, their jaws dropping. "What the hell, Paige?" Marley finally managed, still processing what had just happened.

Paige shifted back into her human form, her hands lightly dusted with the debris. She carefully rummaged through the pieces, her fingers brushing against something hidden within the rubble. Suddenly, she yelped in pain, pulling her left hand back with a swift motion.

"What's wrong!? Did you get cut!?" Natalia rushed forward, her voice laced with concern as she knelt beside her.

"N-no... something burned me," Paige stammered, her gaze flickering down to her palm, which now bore a faint, glowing mark.

Demetrius knelt down next to them, brushing the rubble aside with a cautious hand. His eyes widened in surprise as he uncovered small, jagged purple crystals, their surfaces glinting in the faint light of the church.

"What... are those?" he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

Paige stared at the crystals, her frown deepening as she examined them closely. "They look like energon," she answered, her tone quiet and unsure. She continued to rub her thumb along her palm, the burn mark still stinging faintly. "But... there's dark purple smoke coming from them. It reminds me of the Dark Crystals that Miguel, Valentina and I summon."

The air seemed to grow heavier, a faint chill settling in. The wisps of energy Paige had been following flared around the crystals, dancing with an eerie, unnatural glow.

"What is it?" Ratchet's voice crackled through the commlink, his concern clear despite the static.

Paige glanced up at Demetrius, who continued to study the crystals with unease. "I'm not sure," she replied, her voice tinged with wariness. "But these don't feel... right."

A low growl rumbled from Marley's throat as she stood close, her eyes flicking between the crystals and the darkening church. "Maybe we should take them back to Ratchet for further analysis. Something tells me this isn't just some random Energon deposit."

"That's dark Energon!" Ratchet's panicked voice cut through the static, his tone filled with urgency. "Get away from them!"

"What the Black Hole is dark energon?"Demetrius asked, startled. A ground bridge opened and the Transcendants tensed up. After a few moments, a familiar voice called out.

"Paige." It was Optimus. The five Protectors simultaneously sighed in relief and they hurried out of the church. Optimus, Ultra Magnus and Elita stood before them.

"Boy, are we glad to see you," Natalia sighed, visibly relaxing. Marley held out the energon, "we found blue energon!"

Elita chuckled softly and she knelt down before the Dosyrian, "well done, you guys." "While I do not enjoy the fact that you five came here alone without another Autobot accompanying you, Elita is right," Ultra Magnus seconded with a small smile.

Paige's wolf tail started wagging. She rubbed her palm. Natalia looked at her before she looked at the three Autobots, "um... we also found more energon but it's different."

Optimus furrowed his optic ridges, "different how?" "It's purple and smokey and it burned Paige," Demetrius answered, shoving his hands in his pockets. Elita and Ultra Magnus widened their optics and Optimus narrowed his.

"What could dark energon possibly doing here?" Elita asked with a frown.

"I do not know... but it is best that we retrieve it," Optimus answered sternly.

"I got this," Demetrius chuckled before he disappeared into the shadows. In mere minutes, he reappeared in the church and he looked at the dark energon.

The Dolrionian tilted his head. 'It really does look like the Dark Crystals,' he thought before he snapped his fingers. Shadows flickered and warped around the dark energon before it was lifted up in the air, ensnared by the shadows. Demetrius took the shadowy orb and carried it out of the church.

"Showoff," Natalia playfully huffed at her Gemini Twin who smiled innocently in response.

"Good job," Elita chuckled, "now let's head back to base."

The Transcendants nodded before everyone walked through the ground bridge. They walked into the base then Demetrius pouted.

"Damn it!" He whined, throwing his head back. "Language," Ratchet huffed.

"What's up with you?" Hot Rod asked, curious and surprised.

"There wasn't any Decepticon action!" The Dolrionian said, "I wanted to fight somebodyyyy!"

Harry shook his head, exasperated. "Pops, you already fought the Decepticons the other day." "Yeah, but that was because we arrived too early and then that giant dragon showed up!" Demetrius huffed.

"Predacon," Bulkhead corrected. "Right," Demetrius sighed. Marley looked at Paige, "hey, Paige, I just realized, why didn't you throw a cat fit when we went to the church?"

"We were on a small mission to get energon, Mar," the Evaran chuckled, shoving her hands in her pockets, "just because I'm not a fan of church doesn't mean I'm gonna throw a hissy fit every time I go into one."

"Why would you throw a cat fit anyway?" Jack asked, confused as he, Raf and Miko leaned against the railing. "Like I said, I'm not a fan of church," Paige shrugged, "I'm a bit of an atheist so I'd rather mess with my sister by hissing and swatting at a bible that she would hold whenever she came near me."

Kaitlin chuckled and she shook her head. Ratchet raised an optic ridge as he took away the shadow orb that was holding the dark energon. Paige looked over at the medic and she dug her nails into her palms. She took a deep breath before she walked into the hallway, making a beeline for the training room.

Arcee watched her and she furrowed her optic ridges. She walked after the Dual-Blooded girl.

***

Without a word, Paige moved to the center of the room, her clawed feet scraping against the floor. The moment her left claw made contact, she let out a sharp hiss, her wings flicking involuntarily. She quickly lifted her claw off the ground, wincing in pain as she held it close to her chest. A low growl of frustration rumbled in her throat as she examined the burn mark. The faint glow still lingered, a dull reminder of the dark energon's touch.

Arcee's optics softened, her concern deepening. She stepped into the room. "Paige, you alright?"

Paige's eyes flicked toward her, but she didn't answer immediately. Instead, she gave a low whine, her dragon tail flicking in annoyance as she began licking the burn mark on her claw, as if the motion could somehow ease the sting. The coolness of her tongue did little to alleviate the sharp ache, but it gave her something to focus on.

Arcee didn't move, watching her carefully. "That energon... it's affecting you, isn't it?"

Paige's tail swished harder, a clear sign of her irritation. She pulled her claw back slightly, still licking at the burn. "It's not just the energon," she muttered, her voice strained, "the dark energon... the way it felt when I touched it. It's like it's still crawling under my skin."

She finally stopped licking, her sharp fangs showing as she let out another frustrated growl. "I can't shake it, Arcee. And the worst part is that I've felt this kind of thing before; when I got my trident... when I met Nexusblaze... when I received the Universe's Blessing... and...," she fell silent and casted her eyes down. She didn't want to tell Arcee that she had died and the Universe Goddess brought her back. A lump formed in her throat.

Arcee could sense the hesitation in Paige, the way her words trailed off, the weight of unspoken truths hanging between them. She stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm, grounding in the way she always did when she was with her team. "You don't have to tell me everything, Paige. I can see what's eating at you, but I'm not going to push. I'm just here, okay?"

Paige's claws flexed slightly, as if she were weighing the decision to speak or not. Her dragon tail twitched again, the motion erratic- sharp, like a blade on the edge of something. She took a deep breath, the tightness in her chest still present, but she managed a weak smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes.

"I know you are," Paige murmured, her voice quieter now, "but sometimes, it feels like I've got these pieces of me that are too heavy to carry. Like I'm supposed to shoulder all of it on my own."

Arcee tilted her helm, her expression softening. "You're never alone in this, Paige. Whatever you're carrying, we carry it with you."

The silence that followed was thick, filled with a quiet understanding. Arcee remained beside her, her presence calm, letting Paige breathe through the weight she felt.

Paige stared at the floor for a moment, as if looking for the right words. Finally, she lifted her eyes, her gaze more grounded, more in control than before, though the storm inside her was still there.

"I'm still learning how to trust in that," she admitted. "It's just... sometimes, I wonder if I'm still the same after everything that's happened. After... dying and coming back. I don't even know if I'm the same person I was before."

Arcee's expression softened even more, her voice barely above a whisper. "You're still you, Paige. Everything you've been through, all that darkness you've faced- it doesn't take away who you are. It just makes you stronger. And it's okay to feel lost sometimes. You don't need to have it all figured out."

Paige swallowed, the lump in her throat easing just a little with Arcee's words. She nodded, though the weight of it all still pressed down on her. "Thanks, Arcee," she said, voice barely audible, "for being here."

Arcee offered her a warm, reassuring smile. "Anytime, Paige. Anytime."