#about hardygal

[hardygalwrites]

Saw @thatsgonnaleaveamark and thought, "yes, I'd like to do this."

Rules: pick four of your favorite characters from four pieces of media and let your tumblr people decide which one most suits your vibe

It was actually rather difficult for me to choose only four characters out of my admittedly small roster of "most favourite characters ever of all time," but I tried my best to at least keep it varied by only picking each one from a different form of media (western animation, web show, video game, and book series, respectively)

Tagging: @the-lupine-sojourner

And anyone else who may still be following me! I know it's been a hot minutes since I engaged with pretty much the only tumblr community I actively engaged with (the whump community), but I hope you're still around!

[hardygalwrites]

I actually do not recognise this character 😅

So here is the list of characters I did actually recognise/know, picked out of the top 20

Pam Beesley (The Office): 88% - Character 6 out of 2000

Jane Bennet (Pride and Prejudice): 88% - Character 7 out of 2000

Peeta Mellark (The Hunger Games): 88% - Character 11 out of 2000

Meg March (Little Women): 88% - Character 12 out of 2000 i sure hope this gif is of meg look i only ever watched the winona ryder movie

Eliza Hamilton (Hamilton): 88% - Character 13 out of 2000

Samwise Gamgee (Lord of the Rings): 87% - Character 15 out of 2000

Katara (Avatar: The Last Airbender): 86% - Character 20 out of 2000

According to my sister, these all track, so there’s my personal confirmation lol Anyway, @the-lupine-sojourner, I think you would like this!

this quiz sorts through characters from like dozens of fandoms and finds the one you’re most like. I’m not even a little bit surprised by my result

[elite-guard-hardygal]

Story of my life…

[gamelpar]

letting loose a few recommendations of my own!

365 Drabbles - Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee by HardyGal

the drabbles about smokescreen are very nice and interesting tidbits to read! I’ve actually only read the chapters focusing on him cuz he’s the fave

Brothers by pipermca

Smokescreen tells Jack about his brothers. a favorite ⭐

Seasons to Cycles by dracoqueen22

post-deadlock au. shippy. in building bridges between autobots and decepticons, smokescreen takes the first step with knock out.

Insecurity by ASimpleArchivist

it’s an x reader fic, but it’s just pure shenanigans after the first meeting

Red by GreyLiliy

at first it’s smokescreen vs. knock out then it’s smokescreen & knock out vs. cosmic red rust.

Twice as Shiny by shadowfire125

it is actually a starscream joining the autobots au fic, but smokescreen’s role in it is interesting and i love his part and characterization in it so im gonna recommend it (it’s a good fic overall, but unfinished :c)

Where There Is Smoke by Lady Quickshift

au, set after Legacy, where june picks up where jack failed in teaching smokescreen about earth and becoming a more responsible bot. (i’ve never gotten around to read the full story, but as far as i got i remember it being good)

Outbreak by Elderberry

focuses mostly on knock out but with a little smokescreen and bumblebee to the side, as a nasty virus spreads throughout the autobot ranks

Team by DotnPolka

tfp/rescue bot crossover. heatwave calls the base for optimus, but smokescreen is the one to answer.

The Victory by rotarycell

bumblebee and smokescreen investigate possible decepticon activity halfway around the world. a nice read

Since we all love Smokescreen here, do you have any possible smokescreen focused fics you can recommend? 👀 I've been dying for some more content about him, but can't seem to find any

Unfortunatly there aren't that many, but I have managed to scrounge up a few(but a lot of them haven’t been updated for a while which no shame, I’ve done the same thing, but it’s still unfortunate)

Detours by Greyriver20 where Smokescreen avoids capture from Soundwave but still leaves. It’s just starting out but it’s very fun and I haven’t seen a fic with this concept yet

Watermarked By Your Ancestry by Wolvesowl where Smokescreen is the presumed dead kid of Jazz and Prowl and has some extra traits to deal with. Unfortunately this one hasn’t been updated for a couple months, but it’s a good read

Little Prince by Quiet_Shadow, which is actually finished! Smokescreen is Megatron and Oppy’s kid from their Megatronus and Orion days, but he’d been kept secret since Orion was scared what Megatron would do. However, Megatron ends up finding out during Smokescreen’s capture

Transformers Prime: Amalgamous by SilverBeetle, a fic where Smokescreen is actually Amalgamous Prime and doing what he can to keep that secret. (This actually inspired my own idea for an AU similar to it but I haven’t gotten around to posting about it yet)

Against Better Judgement by sloop_slorp which is just. Smokescreen whump with comfort way later. Basically his captured went WAY worse, to the point Knockout helped him escape, and he’s just trying to pick up the pieces. It’s finished and also has a completed sequel! Please head the tags though, shit gets dark in this one

and finally, Silly Little Fears written by yours truly. It’s a short one shot of me exploring Smokescreen’s trauma and how he perceives it

If anyone else has any more fics, please feel free to add onto this, I’d greatly appreciate it 💖

I really want to write some more longer fics in the future, and I have like. 5 WIPs in my docs and I just really need to actually get them done but Brain Won’t-

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN on around the 3rd of October, 2016

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 7 (KO) – Week 9 (BB) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Lord

"So, you are a bot of science as well as medicine."

Knock Out nodded respectfully. "Yes indeed, Lord Megatron. Though I will admit I enjoy disassembly more than reassembly."

"I see. And what of your combat skills?"

"I'm a medic, my Lord, not a field bot. I rely largely on Breakdown for the heavy lifting. However, I do know very well how to hold my own in combat."

"Good. Then I believe you have all the skills I deem necessary."

"I am deeply flattered, Lord Megatron."

"Welcome to my inner circle, Doctor. I trust you will not waste this opportunity."

Saw

"Why rotary saws?"

Knock Out looked up from his datapad. "Come again?"

"Well..." First Aid fidgeted nervously. "You're a medic. Why, out of all the tools you could've had built into you, do you have rotary saws?

Knock Out grinned one of those sly grins that always made First Aid's anxiety skyrocket. "Well, they may not be terribly precise," the medic said, extending his saw. "But they cut faster than any blade and work like a charm, especially in terms of disassembly."

"Ah."

Knock Out raised an optic ridge. "Any thoughts you want to share, nurse?"

"What? No, nothing," First Aid lied.

First Meetings

Knock Out had just finished tending to a bot with a missing arm. Stepping back, he said, "It's only a patch job, but I'm sure there's some bot you can contact who can provide you with a replacement arm."

The bot lifted and lowered the remnants of his arm experimentally, and nodded. "Hey, thanks, doc."

Knock Out froze. Staring at the bot with a narrowed gaze, he asked, "What's your name?"

The bot grinned, a very cocky grin for a bot with a missing arm. "Name's Breakdown, doc."

"Well, Breakdown," Knock Out said with a genuine smile. "You are welcome."

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN on the 3rd of July, 2017

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 46 (BB) – Week 48 (BB) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

The Return of MECH

The sound of radio chatter crackled through the woods. Bumblebee froze, before hiding as much as he could among the trees. More chatter sounded not too far away, and Bumblebee took a peek.

He had to hold back a gasp.

His perp was there, unconscious and surrounded by a group of heavily armed, disturbingly familiar humans. The dark uniforms, the advanced weaponry, the military training...

'Scrap, scrap, scrap...!' Bumblebee pulled back as quickly and quietly as he could. 'What're they doing here? I thought they were gone after Silas disappeared!'

He tapped his comm., hissing, "Team, back to base. Now."

Claustrophobia

"You're not claustrophobic, are you?"

What Bumblebee wouldn't give to shake his helm in response. He settled for an annoyed sigh. "No, not yet, anyway."

He tried transforming into bipedal mode again, failed miserably, and groaned. "Primus, and I thought the inverse problem sucked, but this is even worse! What is it about my T-Cog that has everyone going after it?"

"Maybe you're just special," Smokescreen suggested.

Despite being cramped and irritated, Bumblebee couldn't help but chuckle at that. He really appreciated Smokescreen's company and awkward attempts at tactful levity.

"Didn't know being special came with so much grief," Bumblebee said drily.

Partner After Partner

Depth Charge groaned, pinching the area between his optics. "Slaggit. 'Bee, I'm beginning to think you're cursed."

"I just haven't found the right partner, sir."

"Really? What the slag was wrong with this one?"

"He's a hazard," Bumblebee exclaimed. "Even in the most low-risk situations! You can't tell me that's not a problem."

"And what was Twister's problem?"

"She's never sober." Bumblebee shook his helm. "Seriously, we need to get her help."

"Well, what about Shakedown?" Depth Charge snapped. "You can't tell me he wasn't a good cop!"

"Sure he was! And he wasn't gonna be going anywhere with me as his partner."

This is Why I Don't Have Partners

"You have nothing to do," his partner exclaimed confidently. "So what's the harm in living a little?"

"I said I'm not gambling, Taper," Bumblebee said exasperatedly. "Why are you trying so hard to get me to hang out with you? Until now, you've been just fine with- Oh, no..."

"What?"

Bumblebee groaned, refusing to look at his partner. "Taper, please tell me this isn't some ploy to get me to watch your back because your gambling problem has finally got you in trouble."

Taper hesitated briefly before laughing. "What? Why the slag would you think that?"

"Oh, sweet carrier of Primus..."

Yeah, That was a Bad Time

The 'Con had gone straight for the throat and squeezed, possibly looking to pop his helm off. Bumblebee didn't know, but when his throat began to dent under the pressure and his voice box began to crackle, it was as though a switch had been flipped.

Strongarm later reported the arrest to be quick, though painful for everyone involved. Bumblebee had no way of judging for himself. He hadn't been mentally present for most of it. His team had eventually snapped him out of his panic, and it was clear they were concerned and looking for an explanation.

Bumblebee didn't give them one.

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN a little after the 17th of October, 2016

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 9 (BB) – Week 11 (BB) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Timey-Wimey

The bot's dull optics flickered when Bumblebee knelt beside him, and his voice box crackled weakly.

"It's alright," Bumblebee said gently, taking the smaller bot's servo. "Help is coming, I promise. It'll be alright."

The bot's voice crackled again, his optics losing focus.

Bumblebee gripped the bot's servo assuringly and continued talking. "I know it doesn't feel like it right now... I know you'll feel like it's never going to be alright ever again. But it will be." Bumblebee surveyed the surrounding ruins, the city from which the Allspark had been launched only hours ago.

Tyger Pax.

"I promise... everything'll turn out alright."

Atlas

The responsibility of leadership was a taxing one. Bumblebee had always felt a  need  to protect his teammates, but now it was an obligation. It was his duty to make sure all of his team members returned unharmed (physically and mentally).

This responsibility put a strain on Bumblebee’s mind, made him feel as though a great weight was resting on his shoulders. And for every failure, every injury, every situation that could've gone horribly wrong, that weight increased.

It had always seemed like Optimus carried the weight of the world on his shoulders while he was leading the Autobots. Maybe that wasn't far wrong...

Goals

"You... are aware that I don't tend to stick with one partner for very long, right?" Bumblebee said slowly.

The cadet nodded firmly. "Yes, sir," she replied. "I'm aware of your reputation."

"Reputation…?"

"I know I'm no different from any other bot you've partnered with, sir," the cadet continued. "So I know there is no reason I should expect special treatment. All the same, I can promise you that I will try my very best to be a partner worthy of your standards, whatever they may be."

Bumblebee chuckled. "Well, my standards aren't really that high... Still, I admire your enthusiasm, cadet."

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN on the 24th of July, 2017

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 49 (Misc.) – Week 51 (Misc.) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Mistakes Were Made

When news of the vampiric infection carrier's identity reached Arcee, she predictably didn't take it very well, and Knock Out was finding it surprisingly hard to remain cool when faced with a furious femme almost half his size.

"Look," he said quickly. "Some mistakes were made-"

"Some mistakes were made?" Arcee snapped. "You took her already predatory, energon-thirsty nature and ramped it to eleven! That's not a 'mistake', Knock Out!"

"If it makes you feel any better, I can honestly say I regret what I did."

"That’s not much coming from a bot being made to hunt his own monster."

You a Gamblin' Bot?

The club owner pulled on his cy-gar, looking Smokescreen over. "You a gambler, kid?"

"No. Not unless I can at least hope to win."

"Smart bot," the owner chuckled. "I gotta say, I wouldn't have guessed. 'Smokescreen.' Doesn't that sound like a gambling name to you?"

"I'm guessing you have a point here."

"How about we go a quick round, yeah? Just you and me. You win, I tell you whatever you want to know. I win, and I get to take something from you."

"Like what?" Smokescreen asked warily.

"That's for me to decide and you not to worry about."

Fallacy

Everyone watched, horrified, as the bots within the quarantine chamber were torn apart.

"Can't you do something?" squeaked a more skittish squad member.

"Why the slag are you asking me?" Knock Out snapped.

"You're a doctor!"

"And your point is?"

The squad commander lunged at Knock Out, pushing him against the wall. "It's the reason we brought you here, ya slagger, that's the point!"

"Forget it, sir," another 'Con snarled. "This slagger doesn't care about anything."

Knock Out laughed scathingly. "Now that is a fallacy. If I didn't care about anything, I wouldn't be participating in this slagging war now, would I?"

Born in War

The rebuilding of Kaon wasn't even halfway done, but already the city felt… kinda normal. Or at least what Bumblebee assumed was normal. The streets were alive with activity. The buildings that had been successfully rebuilt were beginning to light up as more and more bots returned to Cybertron. It was actually starting to get rather loud, but not with the sound of gunfire. It was, in a strange way, peaceful.

"Is this what Cybertron was like before the war?" Bumblebee asked, looking out over what he saw as a bustling city.

Bulkhead couldn't help but chuckle. "Not really. But we're gettin' close."

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN on the 22nd of May, 2017

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 40 (SS) – Week 42 (KO) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Pirating

"Pirates, hm?" Knock Out smirked as he set aside the scanner. "I've occasionally considered a career in piracy."

Smokescreen laughed. "You?"

"Yes, a gentleman pirate," Knock Out said smoothly, ignoring the incredulous tone. "Impeccable in both looks and poise, commandeering a widely feared crew, slaughtering opponents with flair, and preparing to become filthy rich."

"Good goals," Smokescreen quipped.

"Do you need someone to redefine the word 'gentleman' for you?" Bumblebee asked drily.

The medic waved that away. "Words, words, words. Besides, that aspiration is well behind me. To be the commander of any crew is more trouble than it's worth."

Exile

"You're coming with us?" Smokescreen said, surprised.

Knock Out carefully packed away his scalpels. "Well, someone's got to be responsible when Ratchet's old joints start getting the best of him."

"I can still hear you," Ratchet called from the other room.

"Yes, but that will eventually be the only thing you can do, old bot," Knock Out retorted, grabbing the spare buffer.

Not looking at Smokescreen, Knock Out continued hesitantly. "And, honestly, I don't have anywhere else to go. Unfortunately, it would seem I’m much better off with you than playing lone wolf."

"So we're stuck with you." Smokescreen shrugged, smirking. "What's new?"

Stuck. In Prison. Together.

"Stick together?" Knock Out scoffed. "Hate to break it to you, Bumblebee, but you're an Autobot. In a prison filled with angry Decepticons, you're the last bot I want to be seen associating with."

"It's a prison, Knock Out," Bumblebee retorted. "I doubt they'll be very friendly no matter who you're associating with, and I doubt you'll wanna face them alone."

"Yes," Knock Out sneered. "And a miniature Autobot is exactly who I'll want watching my back in this situation. You're not exactly a formidable powerhouse, Bumblebee."

"You're one to talk! Which is exactly why we need to watch each other's backs!"

[elite-guard-hardygal]

I AGREE WITH THIS. The show treated the whole concept of sentient cancer cells with an appropriate amount of tragedy - they’re born in a world that cannot tolerate their existence, and it’s not due to prejudice or anything, it’s because their world literally can’t live unless they die.

That’s what’s reeeally unique about this show - every single character in there has a reason for existing or a reason why they shouldn’t exist. Sometimes that results in an encouraging story, like with Eosinophil or Naive T, and sometimes it results in an absolutely tragic story, like with Cancer boi. The absoluteness of the world makes this show thankfully devoid of certain kinds of drama - no cell is going to give up their job because they messed up or because other cells don’t quite see their point. But the absoluteness of the world does lend the show to other kinds of drama - the cancer cells are dangerous mistakes and must be eliminated.

It would have been so easy to make cancer boi completely evil, like the germs and parasites and diseases and whatnot. But the writers didn’t do that. The character was aknowledged as having been born in that world, just like every other cell. He wasn’t an invader, he was a native. He had feelings beyond malevolence, and we even got to see what he was like when he was just born. But... his existence brings irrevocable disbalance to the world, and he has to die. Sad, but necessary.

In my opinion, no other show could ever get away with this kinda thing. Damn, this show is unique!

If you hate Cells at Work for giving a cancer cell a tragic backstory

Then let me explain how bullshit that is.

So, apparently, this whole hate on the series was started by a popular YouTube channel. I just want to get some things clear before shits blow up.

First of all, how? How the fuck could you ever expect it to be done in a blatant ‘oh he’s evil because he’s evil’ way? Cancer cells are being born as mistakes, they’re being born just to be murdered by cells that are supposed to protect them. So how could you expect that a cancer cell, when given emotions, aren’t going to feel that it’s being treated unfairly? To me, the story would be completely shallow and handled carelessly if there isn’t the tragic backstory. It is supposed to be dark, it is supposed to be tragic. It is supposed to make the viewers understand that no one can choose how they’re born. That’s reality.

Second, let me make it clear, people are sympathizing with the anime character, not the illness. Not the fucking illness. Nobody ever said it’s fine to let cancer cells live. If the anime promotes propaganda against the finding of the cure for cancer or some crap, then I understand that everyone should hate it. But no, it even did the opposite. It stated clearly that cancer cells need to be killed no matter what. So I don’t know what you’re complaining about.

Anyway, if this stops you from enjoying the show, then I’m sorry, and the door is always open for you to leave. You don’t have to hate on the anime and stop others from enjoying it.

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN a little after the 8th of May, 2017

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 38 (SS) – Week 40 (SS)→

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Heroic Scene

Prowl pored over the datapad. Smokescreen was sitting on the desk, vigorously drawing something. The sparkling finished with a victory whoop and held the picture out to Prowl.

Optics tiring from staring at the datapad, Prowl chose to look at the drawing.

"D'you like it?" Smokescreen asked excitedly. "See, that's you leading everybody else - look, I managed to draw almost everyone! - and those're the Decepticons - I couldn't remember all those pictures you showed, so I made a lotta these guys up - and look! That's me on your team!"

Prowl surveyed the heroic scene. He actually found himself needing to hold back a smile.

Phobia

"What are you afraid of, Autobot?"

"Good question," Smokescreen replied. "No idea. Not many things scare me. Like heights, those are no problem." He smirked up at the mech. "Guess I'm just fearless."

The mech pressed a claw against Smokescreen's forehead. "I do not speak of typical phobias, though you do have a few, despite what you claim. No, what is it you fear? What eats at your spark, keeping you awake even at your most exhausted?"

Receiving no answer, the mech smiled. "Hm. Pity."

"What?"

"In your incompetency, you failed a simple, yet important task. ...How can your comrades accept you now?"

Innocence

"A ground crawler." Alpha Trion smiled. "Quite fascinating creatures."

"Yeah." Smokescreen knelt down to get a better look at the idling ground crawler. "I used to play around with these little guys back when... Anyway, I liked watching their defense mechanisms. Here, watch this."

Smokescreen tossed a piece of debris in the small slug's direction. Alarmed, the slug encased itself in a small forcefield, and Smokescreen laughed excitedly. Approaching the crawler, he watched closely as its shield died, and it burrowed into the ground.

"Heh, so slaggin' cool...!"

Alpha Trion's smile softened as his young bodyguard stood up, grinning widely.

Hey, Buddy

A cyber-cat looked at him with disinterested optics. Smokescreen chuckled, surprised.

"Hey, buddy." Smokescreen slowly got down on one knee. "How'd you get past the perimeter guard? Heh, those guys must be losing their touch." The young guard looked out over Iacon. "Anything interesting happening out there?"

The cyber-cat lay down and stretched.

"Holding out on me, huh?" Smokescreen sat back with a sigh. "I know something's happening. Everyone's gettin' all tense."

The cyber-cat let out a vent, paws flicking idly at a piece of debris.

"Well, whatever's going on, you can bet I'll be there to help deal with it."

Young and Overconfident

"It is disappointing how many of my troops seem unable to end one single Autobot," Megatron growled.

Smokescreen smirked. "Come to see how many more of your troops I can beat?"

Megatron chuckled. "Your confidence is amusing. It is refreshing to see an Autobot who has not yet lost its spark."

"I'm a bounce-back-quickly-from-a-slump kinda guy."

"Or you have yet to experience the true stakes of war. ...Yes, I can still see it in you - a brash, overconfident youngling who has hardly been through enough to realize that war is more of a hell than the very Pits of Kaon."

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN on the 24th of April, 2017

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 36 (BB) – Week 38 (SS) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Serve the Autobot Cause

"Absolutely not! You've had no proper training, you are not prepared to go on the field!"

"Then train me, slaggit!" Smokescreen snapped, jogging to keep up with Prowl's stride. "It's not like I haven't been askin' you to! I've already been watching you guys fight for, like, my whole life!"

"Smokescreen, we have more important things to do than focus on training you!"

Smokescreen let out a short, scathing laugh. "Guess I should've seen that coming."

Prowl halted. "I don't have time for this." He turned on the younger bot. "Go to your berth. We'll talk about this later."

Smokescreen scoffed. "Yeah. Fine."

Dirty Works

Smokescreen's doorwings stiffened. He spun around, aiming his weapons at a bot attempting to sneak up behind him.

"All right, servos up!"

The bot slowly obeyed, before transforming and driving forward, knocking Smokescreen off his pedes and leaving behind a cloud of smoke. Smokescreen quickly got up, and nearly collapsed again. The smoke was wreaking havoc on his sensors, making it extremely hard to focus.

"Dirty move..."

"Dirty works," an unfamiliar voice claimed. "Look, I don't happen to be in one of my 'shoot first, ask questions later' moods, but that might change. So answer me this: where the slag am I?"

I'm Tired... I'm Really Tired

"How are you feeling?" Knock Out asked.

Smokescreen scoffed dully, not even looking at the Decepticon medic. "What's this, a therapy session?

"Scientific process, Autobot. I can only guess how you're feeling when you're not on the Synth-En, though I do have a few good guesses. So, how are you feeling?"

That was actually a good question. Smokescreen had been feeling a lot of things over the past few weeks - frustration, guilt, fear that he would never care to admit existed, and waves upon waves of blinding rage. Right now though, he was just feeling...

"Tired," he muttered. "I'm just tired."

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN around the 13th of February, 2017

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 26 (SS) – Week 28 (SS) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Trying Not to Pace

Smokescreen had overheard a Council member discussing something incriminating with an unknown party. Not ten hours later, the same Council member asked Smokescreen to meet him in his office.

The office was empty when he arrived - the Council member was running late, leaving Smokescreen more time to his nervous thoughts. Did the Council member know that Smokescreen had overheard him? What should Smokescreen even do with the stuff he had overheard? And if the Council member did suspect him, what then?

The office door slid open. "Hello, Smokescreen. I am sorry for being late."

Smokescreen bolstered himself, and nodded impassively. "No problem, sir."

How Hard Can it Be to End this War?

"The 'Cons are trying really hard to win, huh?"

Prowl didn't look up from his work as he replied, "We all are."

"I heard the others talkin' about how they don't know if we're ever gonna win..." Smokescreen turned towards him. "Do you think we're gonna win?"

Prowl said nothing.

"Well, I think we're gonna win," the sparkling declared, arms crossed high over his chest. "You're smarter than the 'Cons, and the others are really good at fighting. And when I get really good at fighting, I'm gonna take down as many 'Cons as possible to help us win!"

Prowl continued to say nothing.

[the-lupine-sojourner]

@elite-guard-hardygal I found it!! This is the comic I was telling you about!

poor baby Jonathan ;-;

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN a little after the 30th of January, 2017

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 24 (BB) – TBA →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Getting Problematic

Prowl glared at the three full grown bots in the lineup. "Honestly, an act of insubordination has been a long time coming for you three." Turning his glare down on the adolescent sparkling standing in the lineup, Prowl continued, "But I am baffled as to how you could've possibly been pulled into this."

Smokescreen scowled at the ground, muttering something under his breath.

"Smokescreen, if you have something to say-"

"Since when d'you care about whatever I'm doin'?" Smokescreen demanded hotly.

"I care when whatever you're doing is reckless and insubordinate," Prowl replied cooly.

The sparkling groaned, stomping his pede. "You suck, Prowl."

Wrapped Up

He was hanging upside down, wrapped in some kind of sticky webbing. His processor was pounding. He felt strangely exhausted.

"Ugh, where'm I...?"

A face moved into his fuzzy field of vision - a pointed, feminine face that appeared to be smiling. "Welcome to my parlour."

Smokescreen squinted. "What...?"

The femme laughed. "Poor dear. It seems that waking up earlier than expected has actually made you slower to the uptake."

"There was somethin' I needed to do... Somethin'..." He groaned, processor aching in protest.

The femme tapped his forehead. "Now, don't hurt yourself. Once I get thirsty enough, that will be my job."

Red and Gold

There was a loud shriek, followed by what sounded like a gunshot, and the night sky was lit up with a brief flash of light.

"Woah!" Smokescreen hit the brakes. "What was that?"

Bumblebee stopped alongside him and transformed, looking excited. *Fireworks! Look!*

The scout pointed towards the human city, and Smokescreen transformed to get a better look.

Several bright streaks had been launched from the city, accompanied by the loud shrieking sound as they rose into the sky. BANG! Smokescreen's optics went wide as the streaks burst into sparkling explosions of red and gold.

"Woah."

*I know, it's impressive right?*

[hardygalwrites]

Originally posted to FFN a little after the 21st of November, 2016

Simply archiving a writing challenge I did back in 2016 up to 2017 and featuring my favourite writing pieces from each week of the challenge here on Tumblr :]

← Week 14 (SS) – Week 16 (SS) →

Cartoon: Transformers Prime / Robots in Disguise 2015

Characters: Smokescreen, Knock Out, and Bumblebee, with appearances from numerous other characters (even ones not featured in the cartoons)

Synopsis: An Autobot Elite Guard rookie, a Decepticon medic turned Autobot, and an Autobot scout turned warrior turned street cop - three very different bots with a wide range of stories to tell. And we are going to spend the next year exploring said stories through daily-written drabbles, be they angsty, humorous, gut-punching, or just plain odd! Who doesn’t love a challenge? (2016 to 2017)

—

Drawing

Prowl raised an optic ridge as he examined the drawing Smokescreen had given him. It was a childish caricature of Prowl himself, arms crossed high in front of his chestplates, optic ridges deeply furrowed and abnormally large, and mouth drawn in a deep frown.

"Is this how you see me?" Prowl asked.

Smokescreen shifted uncomfortably. "Sometimes. The others helped a lot." The sparkling faltered, before adding softly, "They don't really like you all that much."

"Good to know that hasn't changed," Prowl muttered.

Smokescreen took back the pad. After some hesitation, he said, "It's all right. They don't like me either."

Second Guessing

He awoke with a groan. His processor ached terribly and there was heavy servo resting on his shoulder. "Optimus..."

His optics shot open and he looked up at the bot kneeling beside him.

"Optimus!" Ignoring the pain, he scrambled to his pedes, laughing ecstatically. "You're all right! The Forge, it-" He stopped. "The Forge..." And all of a sudden, he couldn't bring himself to look at his newly resurrected leader.

"Oh, Primus... Optimus, I'm sorry, I didn't know what I else to do, and I just couldn't-!" The servo was once again placed upon his shoulder. He faltered. "I'm... I'm sorry, Optimus."

Family

Bulkhead nudged Smokescreen on the shoulder. "What about you, kid? You got a family?"

Smokescreen scoffed. "Nah, just me. I mean..." He hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, just me."

Bulkhead raised an optic ridge. "No one? No friends? No guardians?"

"No." Smokescreen shook his helm. Then, after thinking a bit, he added slowly, "There was this one Autobot squad that sorta raised me before I joined the Elite Guard, but they weren't exactly a 'family'. They were just... a squad. But they're part of the reason I wanted to be a soldier, so there's that.

"But otherwise?" Smokescreen shrugged. "It's just me."

War

Lack of war experience made him extremely lucky. He retained his buoyant youthfulness and unrelenting confidence. He retained his faith in the Autobot cause, and the hope that it would all be over soon, very soon. He was lucky that he could still find it within himself to hope.

No, lack of war experience made him naïve! He was cocky and filled with delusions of bravado. He never understood the gravity of the situation, and he was destined for disillusion. If he only had some idea what it was like to fight for all these hundreds of years, maybe then he wouldn't be so ignorant.