Ruby (TFP)

Chapter 1

The tail wiggled around before the back legs broke out of the shell with the paws slipping on the fluid from forcing the shell to break. They all could see the soft, light pink scales on the tail and legs, and there were white scales on the underside of the body. Her paw pads were a slightly deeper pink and had small, but sharp, black claws. They watch as the dragon moved its paws and began to push itself, either trying to break the rest of the egg or to pull out.

But it ended up forcing the egg to roll forward and over the front of the nest. Fowler was startled and help his hands out, as he didn't want the egg to roll towards the egg. But when it landed, more of the egg broke as its front legs broke out and a pair of wings broke the sides of the egg. Only the head and neck was still covered by the last shell of the egg, and Fowler sighed in relief, as did the bots, as they were worried that the dragon would hurt herself.

The dragon's legs were currently splayed like a starfish, and it shook its head before lifting its right, front paw and nudging the final piece off its head. Fowler crouch in awe as he could see the tiny, white buds down the dragon's back that would one day growing into long, sharp spines. The wings were quite large for the dragon as they were laying on the ground, and the dragon will likely have no muscle control over them straight away.

The dragon opened its eyes, sniffing loudly, while squinting as the new light around it was blinding. "Aw, it's cute," Bulkhead commented as he watched the eyes open. They all saw the ruby, red eyes as the dragon began to look around before it seemed to notice the autobots and Fowler. "This little dragon is almost big as Fowler!"

"I know." Fowler was smiling as he looked at the dragon. "It is very cute."

The dragon didn't appear to have any horns like Fowler expected, but it did have a long, white main and long, dark, pink feathers on the back of its head. The dragon looked at Fowler as it began to chirp a little before its sight seemed to have adjusted as it looked up at the autobots. It sniffed the air curiously as it looked around at them curiously, not knowing what they were, but only knowing they were the first things it sees.

"What kind of dragon would this be?" Arcee asked the human curiously as she did not take her optics off this creature.

Fowler was surprised and have to think. "Um...hmm...good question..." He thought deeply as he watched the creature continue to look around curiously. "Based on the mane and feathers...hmm...maybe a nature dragon...it is European, but not sure what kind...I don't remember pink dragons being a thing."

"So dragons are kind of elemental or something?" Ratchet asked curiously, and Fowler nodded. "Hmm...interesting..." The dragon was still looking at the bots before it looked up at Optimus and seemed to study for a moment before it began to smile and made a loud squeal. Optimus was surprised and looked at Ratchet in confusion. Ratchet smiled at him. "It seems to have a good pair of lungs at least."

"It definitely seems to." Optimus smiled and looked at Fowler who was still watching the dragon. The dragon squealed again before it began to make a loud, growling, crying sound. "I guess this means you will have a dragon to take back with you."

Fowler observed the dragon and watched as its eyes were locked on Optimus, and it was still crying at him. "Um..." The dragon rolled on its right side suddenly and Fowler smiled briefly. "By the way, seems like this dragon is a female." The bots look at him in surprise. He shrugged. "I used to have some reptiles, and I learned to recognize male from female. Anyway...as for taking her with me..." The dragon grunted before crying some more before she managed to crawl suddenly, surprising the bots, and began to crawl closer to Optimus. "Not sure if that's a good idea."

Ratchet groaned. "Great...now because it has hatched..."

"Not really, Ratchet. It is mostly because I don't think that the rest of the world needs to know dragons are still around. There are people out there that might still want to hurt them. And personally, I am too busy to take care of a dragon." Ratchet narrowed his optics at him and Fowler grimaced for a moment. "And, well, this is going to probably be hard to understand, but as she has looked at all of us, it seems she believes that Optimus is her mother."

Optimus widened his optics in surprise, glancing at the dragon for a moment and looking back at Fowler. "Me? Why? I am not her mother."

"I know, but she doesn't know that. She's imprinted, and now believes you're her mother. Which..." Fowler looked at the dragon as she began to try and stand. She whimpered as she managed to move her back legs and stand on her back paws, which kind of looked funny as she didn't lift her front legs yet, making Bumblebee, Cliff and Bulkhead chuckle a little. Fowler smirked as it was very cute. "She's so cute...but I don't think it is good she's imprinted on one of you guys...I didn't know she would...which also means that if I take her, she will make a big fuss."

"But we know nothing about dragons!" Ratchet snapped at Fowler. He looked at the dragon as she let out a yelp of surprise and her back feet slipped under her, and she looked at him in surprise. Ratchet immediately softened his voice as he had not meant to frighten her. "Optimus can't be expected to care for this creature. I am sorry that it is an orphan, but..."

"I know. But I know little about dragons. I don't know what dragon she is, I can only help you. And I can do that by buying food and stuff for her." Optimus was uncertain about this, but he wasn't about to throw the dragon out of the base. "And, if I am quite honest, she's safer here with all six of you than any other human."

Optimus did not know how to feel about this at the moment. He looked at the dragon as she cried at him again. Her small snort seemed to make her ruby red eyes look bigger on her face. She had no teeth currently, and she was looking at him with need of comfort. Optimus knew this dragon would not know she is a dragon, as she was a baby. Not knowing how to care for her was going to be bad. Especially as the autobots knew nothing about any animal on this planet. But he wasn't prepared to kick this dragon out. It would be unfair to her, and if she had a chance of living a good life, she should be given that chance.