We've done it lads- my 50k+ story of why Sentinel is such an asshole in Transformers One is complete lol
Link to fic: The Throne Remains Warm on Ao3
Links to @zolikemm's art:
Cover page
Wild Amazing Comic
Links to @pricklybruin's Art:
Wildly Detailed Comic Page
Art of Cogless Starscream & Sentinel
Zoli Also made a Spotify Playlist: LISTEN HERE
This fic was definitely me trying to explain Sentinel in TF One, but I really don't redeem him. His reaction to how the Primes abandon him is consistent with his ego, his main character syndrome, and even his idol worship of the Primes- but it's truly overboard. The Quintessons manipulate him, yes, but he might know it, and not care. Starscream ends up being a passenger in this fic, and this surprised me- Starscream is almost always a catalyst/protagonist for me, but not this time. And it was kinda fun not to let him take over.
The parallels between D-16/Orion Pax and Sentinel/Starscream are pretty obvious, but so fun when played out. Sentinel is occasionally reminiscent of D-16 when he is so angry and gleefully killing the Primes. Sometimes Starscream is Orion Pax as he sees his best friend/lover consumed by rage that he can't stop. But I have more hope for MegOp in this universe I've layered on than I ever did for SentiStar. It's tragic and made for angst.
I wasn't sure I was going to be able to pull off all the scenes I wanted. The removing of the cogs, the recording of the Primes saying they won't save them, Starscream asking "what have you done," are the highlights. And if you pick up on Sentinel pining after Prima and killing Megatronus in front of his lover on purpose, you get a cookie.
Anyway, I hope you enjoy. Please leave a comment or a kudo if you enjoy it <3
Tag info:
Chapters: 16/16
Fandom: Transformers One (2024), Transformers - All Media Types
Rating: Mature
Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply
Relationships: Sentinel Prime & Starscream (Transformers), Sentinel Prime/Starscream
Characters: Sentinel Prime (Transformers), Starscream (Transformers), Prima (Transformers), Megatronus Prime
Additional Tags: Tournaments, Kidnapping, Implied/Referenced Torture, Non-Consensual Body Modification, Loss of Faith, Angst, Rivals to Lovers, Angst and Tragedy, Sentinel's Rise to Power, Prequel
Summary: Captured by the Quintessons and presumed dead, Sentinel endures silent betrayal, invasive manipulation, and the slow erosion of everything he once believed in. His only companion in the gloom is Starscream, whose loyalties are as shifting as his smirk.
Starscream wants things to go back to how they were—except maybe with fewer knives to each other’s throats and more time in the same berth. But Sentinel is colder now. He’s watching, calculating and waiting. Because if the Primes thought the battle was over, they shouldn’t have taught him how to fight it.