History Fanfic / RidingASunset

* GentleGiant: Bulkhead is TheBigGuy in every meaning of the word, with [[AuthorityEqualsAssKicking Prime]] being the only 'bot bigger than him. He's also one of the nicest, gentlest 'bots who wants nothing more than to protect his friends, and remains optimistic even when his friends are going through something. He's constantly expressing his fear of hurting/killing a human by accidentally stepping on them.

** Optimus Prime is this as well (though everyone knows that already).

* [[GoodCopBadCop Good Cop, Bad Cop, Neutral Cop]]: When the Eukarians are captured after kidnapping Charlie, the Autobots interrogate them. Ironhide (the bad cop) wants to treat them the way they treated Charlie, which is why he isn't allowed to interrogate them. Jazz (the neutral cop) isn't nice, but he recognizes that their prisoners are simply punks who were won over by the Decepticons and got in over their heads. Optimus Prime (the good cop) is actually nice, and is able to get information out of Steeljaw.

* IHaveYourWife: The Beastformers try to lure out the Triple-Changer Terminator (aka Bumblebee) by kidnapping Charlie. It works... they just didn't expect him to have backup.

** The story of how Hot Rod got his name. Apparently, it involved him shooting ''himself'' out of a cannon. The story was so funny that Charlie and 'Bee had tears of laughter by the time it was done.

* ParentsAsPeople: While Sally and Charlie's relationship is in a better place now than it was in the movie, they still have plenty of disagreements, especially when it comes to the Autobots. [[BothSidesHaveAPoint While Charlie is right that the Autobots would never hurt her and are trying to protect Earth]], Sally is justified in her fears, as her daughter is spending time with a group of transforming space robots who are at war with other, much more malicious transforming space robots. When the story is told from her point of view, her fears of losing her daughter like she lost her first husband are revealed, as well as her jealousy that the Autobots (specifically Bumblebee) were able to do more to help Charlie through her grief than she could.

* AbandonmentInducedAnimosity: Hot Rod, upon seeing Charlie and Bumblebee interact, believes that she's replaced him has 'Bee's best friend, causing him to act very cold towards both Bumblebee and her (calling her a "[[FantasticRacism fleshie]]" when he complains about the situation to Bulkhead). After Ironhide and Optimus explain to Charlie ''why'' Hot Rod's acting the way he is, she confronts him.

* MakeSomeNoise: During his conversation with Prowl, it's revealed that Jazz has this ability (much like he did in the G1 cartoon). He once used it to get away from Shockwave.

* NoodleIncident: Wheeljack has involved poor Brawn in a ''lot'' of experiments in the past. While we never learn ''what'' 'Jack was trying to do, Brawn suffered every time:
** Wheeljack set Brawn on fire when his invention blew up.
** Brawn went blind in his right optic for seven Earth days (although Wheeljack says he was exaggerating) because of what Wheeljack was experimenting with.
** Half of Brawn's chassis was melted off.
** Turned half of Brawn's frame green (despite the fact that half of his form is already green).

* TheBigDamnKiss: Jazz gives one to Prowl when the latter arrives at base, to the shock of all the humans present.

* BrooklynRage: Subverted; it's noted that Wheeljack speaks in a Brooklyn accent, yet he's fairly patient and doesn't snap very easily (which, due to his being a scientist, makes sense). Ratchet, Ironhide, and even ''Bumblebee'' usually lose their tempers before he does. Played straight with Thunderhoof, who has what Charlie calls a stereotypical mob boss accent. He's as aggressive and cruel as any of the Beastformers.

* EstablishingCharacterMoment: When Bee takes Charlie to the Autobot camp to meet the Autobots, Jazz acts as an escort and thus meets Charlie. He loudly introduces himself, playfully chides Bumblebee for not telling her that the other Autobots could talk, promises that he's got the duo's backs, and then spends the rest of the ride listening to Duke Ellington.

** Sally eventually admits that part of the reason why she doesn't like to spend much time with the Autobots is because, despite Sally trying to help Charlie and making no progress, Bumblebee was the one to get Charlie to open up about her pain and move on, and she's now spending every day with the Autobots. She eventually admits to 'Bee that she's jealous that the Autobots (specifically Bumblebee) make Charlie happy in a way Sally never could.

** Wheeljack is considered this among the Autobots. While some of his inventions are incredibly helpful or useful (such as the Energon-making machines and Charlie's Angry Bee taser-charm), the rest of them result in a minor/major explosion. At one point, his attempt to make Synthetic Energon results in creating radioactive waste.

''[[https://archiveofourown.org/works/17648414 Riding A Sunset]]'' by [=QAtheAuthoress74=] is a ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' fanfiction set in the {{Film/Bumblebee}} universe. Ten months after the movie, Bumblebee returns to Brighton Falls to see Charlie and bring her to meet the other Autobots. However, word of Bumblebee's fights against Blitzwing, Shatter and Dropkick have filtered back to Cybertron as rumors of a "[[NamesToRunAwayFromReallyFast Triple-Changer Terminator]]" among the Decepticons, leading to first Starscream, then Megatron issuing missions to destroy them. The Autobots ally with Sector 7 and the United States government to combat the threat.

* CloningBlues: [[spoiler:Bumblebee]] is captured and cloned in an attempt by the Cons to find and destroy the Autobot base.

* AbsurdPhobia: Ultra Magnus, who is almost as tall and powerful as Prime and has shown little to no fear throughout his time as second-in-command...is afraid of spiders. Made absurd because spiders are almost too small for him to see, and spider venom (since he's a giant robot) can't hurt him. Agent Burns [[LampshadeHanging lampshades this]].

* AFatherToHisMen: How Charlie describes Optimus Prime. We all know she's right.

* AllForNothing: Dr. Arkeville abused the Autobots' show of trust in Sector 7 to steal Wheeljack's inventions for a shady organization, and incriminated himself by injuring Wheeljack, damaging part of their base, and admitting to stealing the Autobot's projects before escaping with a cloaking device and several mystery items believed to be weapons...only they aren't weapons. [[spoiler: They're the fireworks Wheeljack made for the 4th of July picnic]].

--> '''Optimus Prime''': Taking the young lady was a ''bad move''.

* BaitAndSwitch: A [[VillainEpisode Villain Chapter]] opens with Megatron and Shockwave going to see/interrogate a prisoner who's being tortured for information. The reader believes that a poor Autobot is being interrogated before they're killed (much like poor Cliffjumper in [[WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime at least]] [[Film/{{Bumblebee}} two continuities]]). But the chapter soon reveals that the prisoner is a ''Decepticon''; specifically, [[spoiler: Skywarp. Turns out Starscream's attempts at [[TheStarscream coups]] aren't as clever/unnoticeable as he thinks they are]].

* [[ChekhovsGun Chekhov's Snack]]: When Charlie leaves with 'Bee to meet the Autobots, her mother makes her several sandwiches to eat while she's gone (leading to Charlie explaining to her friend what sandwiches (and food) are). Later, it's the sandwiches (specifically Ultra Magnus stepping on one) that lead the Autobots to Steeljaw's gang.

** Soundwave is among Megatron's most dangerous and loyal soldiers...and he will do anything for his Cassettes, who he treats less like servants and more like his pets/children. Shockwave implying that a sick Ravage could simply be replaced earns Soundwave's [[TranquilFury rage]].

** For most of the fic, Starscream is...well, Starscream. However, when Thundercracker and Skywarp joke about how run-down the once beautiful Vos is (calling it a dump), he tells them to show some respect, as many of their fellow Seekers perished in battle there.

* {{Foil}}: Prowl/Ultra Magnus to Starscream. The two Autobots (first Magnus, then Prowl) are loyal to Optimus Prime, kind to their fellow soldiers, and [[TranquilFury don't let their emotions]] [[TheStoic interfere with their jobs]]. Starscream is...well [[TheStarscream Starscream]]. He constantly plots behind Megatron's back, talks down to and mistreats his soldiers constantly, and is very emotional (often letting petty grudges drive his decision-making).

* IHaveYourWife: The Beastformers try to lure out the Triple-Changer Terminator (aka Bumblebee) by kidnapping Charlie. It works...they just didn't expect him to have backup.

--> “That’s practically in the bag,” Wheeljack waved off ‘Bee’s apprehensions. “I mean what could we possibly do ta make the humans not like us?” Immediately after he said that the solar panels caught on fire and were ablaze. “HOLY PRIMUS! Somebot call the Rescue Bots!”

* KickTheSonOfABitch: Tina Lark has ''not'' given up her bullying ways since Bee first left Brighton Falls, and takes any opportunity she can to make Charlie's life miserable. So it's more than a little cathartic to see her get repeatedly put down by Charlie, her followers, and Tripp (who dumps her after he hears her and her friends [[EveryoneHasStandards making homophobic jokes]]).

* TheLostLenore: [[spoiler: Arcee with Cliffjumper, and Optimus with Elita-1. Cliffjumper was killed by Shatter and Dropkick, while Elita-1 disappeared shortly before the war.]]

* TheOnlyOneAllowedToDefeatYou: In his first appearance in the fic, Megatron makes it very clear that he wants the Decepticons to wipe out every Autobot in existence...except Optimus Prime. He wants to kill the Autobot leader himself, and any Decepticon who tries to do it instead while be faced with a VERY ticked off Megatron.

* PintSizePowerhouse: Bumblebee is the smallest Autobot on Earth. He's also capable of taking out two Triple-Changers...''by himself''. The Decepticons' nickname for him is ''very'' fitting.

* TraumaButton: [[spoiler: Hot Rod]] doesn't like the sound of explosions.

* PapaBear: