Tankor was dead. Deader than a doornail. But what did Megatron care? For he was about to secure the future of Cybertron by becoming its ruler. Megatron had trapped the Maximals, it was all over. All that remained was to take their sparks and perfect his ultimate ascension. He would have supreme power, power over all Transformers. At last his technological world would be perfect, complete. His place of business was the "Megatron, Tankor, Thrust and Jetstorm Killing House". Even in recent events Megatron did not change the name. As he sat in his Citadel he awaited the hour patiently,

"Excuse me...Mr Megatron." a quiet voice said. It was Optimus Primal,

"What is it Primal?!?" Megatron demanded for Megatron was a bitter old Transformer,

"Well sir, tomorrow is Christmas...and I was wondering-"

"You were wondering if we could have a truce correct?!" Megatron snapped, "And you want the full day! Bah! Humbug I say!"

"Tis only once a year sir."

"Very well. But I expect you to die the very next day! No excuses!"

"Yes sir."

It must be said that Primal was a humble Transformer.  More than humble, he chose to fight his battles with words instead of guns. Primal and his fellow Maximals had little this Christmas but they got by. Now I must repeat, Tankor was dead. Killed by the ambition of Megatron. But as Megatron sat in his Citadel he noticed something odd about the rubber duckey on the arm of the chair....it had Tankor's face. Megatron averted his attention imediatly and went about his work but as he sat he heard a strange noise. As though a large peice of machinery was driving in. He turned to see the ghost of Tankor,

"What manner of demon are you?!" Megatron demanded,

"I am Tankor." Tankor said,

"You appear to be my former partner...but I must have proof."

"SILENCE!" Tankor snapped, "Do you see this chain I keep with me?"

"It contains spark extractors...weapons...and keys to Vector Sigma." Megatron said looking at it,

"This is the chain I carried throughout life and thus the chain I must carry in death. But be warned Megatron! Your chain is even greater than mine! For your evil deeds have not gone unnoticed!"

"Tankor! There must be something I can do! Some hope!"

"Tonight you will be visited by three sparks. The first at 1:00am They will provide your salvation."then Tankor turned and left.

At the time Tankor foretold, there was no sign of the spirits,

"Bah! Humbug! It's just a dillusion!" Megatron said,

"MEGATRON..." a voice said. Megatron spun to see a spark floating there, "I am the spark of Christmas Past."

"All of time's past or just my past?"

"Your past." the spark said, "I will show you the mistakes you have made. Come with me." Megatron found himself floating from his chair.

Megatron looked around, this was his base during the Beast Wars! He saw several Predacons standing around the base, among them was Inferno,

"Ah! Old Inferno! Alive again!" Megatron said,

"He is but a shadow. He cannot see or hear us for you have killed him."

"Whatever." the Predacons were speaking,

"The Royalty will bring us to victory!" Inferno said,

"You are a fool!!! Megatron will destroy you and the rest of us!!!" Terrosaur shouted,

"And you would do much better?!" Blackarachnia yelled back.

"SILENCE!!!" a voice from the other room shouted. It was Megatron walking in, robot mode.

"Look at me back then." Megatron said, "Young, foolish, full of organics."

the younger Megatron spoke, "Now that I have both Golden Disks the Maximals are powerless! I will harness the power of the aliens and use it to my own advantage! Yesssss..."

"Remember when you were so cheerful about your plans?" the spark said to Megatron, "Always saying 'Yesss' to punctuate your sentences. You were much cheerful. But your ambition was at a price...

Time flashed forward to the death of Terrosaur and Scorponok,

"This wasn't my fault!!!" Megatron yelled,

"Oh? Who was it that used such faulty platforms? Their deaths are on your hands." as is Dinobot's. Time flashed forward again to Dinobot's battle in the valley,

"See how he fights so valiantly?" the spark said, "And your forces gave it all they had. But you didn't step in until the very end when all of them were deactivated. And what did it gain you? Another loss."

"Perhaps you are right. I see where I made my mistake. I should have shot Dinobot while I had the chance instead of threatening him with the primate." Megatron said,

"You still don't get it. Onward." the spark said. They found themselves aboard the Nemesis as Megatron was attack,

"Look around Megatron, another battle you lost."

"Blast that Dinobot! If I had known I would have destroyed him!" Megatron said. "*sigh* Nevermind..."

Megatron found himself back in the Citadel. Another spark appeared, "I am the Spark of Christmas Present."

"What did you bring me?!" Megatron said excited, "A new spark extractor?!"

"Not that kind of present!" the spark snapped,

"Okay, let's go." they flew out of the Citadel where seveal drones were surrounding the head Megatron once used, "Finally! I have those Maximals trapped like rats!!!"

Megatron said, "Yes, but what about them? Have you thought about what they're going through?"

"Nooo...." Megatron said. They passed through the wall of the head and into the chamber where the Maximals were. They saw Nightscream hobbling around damaged while Optimus spoke to Cheetor, "I worry about Tiny Scream. I fear this may be his last Christmas."

"So?" Cheetor said.

"I think we've lost this battle friends." Optimus said,

"No thanks to Megatron!" Blackarachnia said, "Why if he was here I'd-"

"Please, don't speak ill of Megatron." Optimus said, "I'm sure he's a kind man. He just needs a chance."

"Say what?" Silverbolt said.

"Well, the drones are closing in." Cheetor said,

"Primus help us every one!" Tiny Scream said.

The spark disappeared leaving Megatron in the dark.

Then a black spark appeared beside him, "You....you're the Spark of Christmas Yet To Come?"Megatron asked. There was no response, "You are the spark I fear most of all. Tell me, where are we going?" there was again no response but the spark flew forward. Megatron followed at a distance. He saw around him several deactivated drones and smashed buildings. Cybertron was a wasteland, "All of this....my fault?" Megatron said gasping. The spark continued on to the graveyard, "What of Tiny Scream? Did he die?" the spark stopped in the graveyard by a tombstone that read Here Lies Tiny Scream.

"Spark, I must know! Are these the things that will be? Or are they the things that may be?" again, no response. Then Megatron saw an empty grave with a tombstone bearing his name. He turned around to see a spark extractor facing him, "NO! NOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please Spark! I can change!!! I can change!!!!!!!"

Megatron suddenly found himself back in the Citadel,

"I'm back! I'm home!" Megatron said happily, "And I'm alive!!!" he saw a Diagnostic Drone pass by, "You there! What day is it?!"

"The exact solar cycle would indicate that it is Christmas Day." the Diagnostic Drone said.

"Ha! Ha! I haven't missed it! The Sparks have done it all in one night!" Megatron said, "Drone! Do you remember that box that's in the lower part of the Citadel!?"

"Yes."

"I want you to take it to the Maximals! But don't tell them who sent it!" Megatron said, "I'm going out to celebrate Christmas! And I know just what to wear!"

Megatron was true to his word in every way. Nolonger was he the evil leader who lost every battle. And that day at noon, there was a great explosion from within the head as the bomb Megatron had delivered exploded showering out a multitude of shattered Maximal parts.  In the wake of the explosion, Optimal Megatron landed in robot mode, "Finally! The Maximals are dead and the sparks are mine! Now to reclaim my throne and complete my ascension!" he transformed into tank mode, "Robot,tank, jet...I told the Spark I could change. YESSSSS......"

And so, as Tiny Scream observed: Primus help us, every one!