And he walked a great path
Behind him lied the past
Replete with misery and failures
At the Crossroads known as frustrations
The traveler saw hope for the first time in his life.

Before him were Gateways that had never been opened or realized
Each one a shimmering doorway into a brighter, stronger future
But the traveler paused for a moment, and in that moment of hesitation
The Past had caught up with him yet again
And it screamed with all of it's culminated fury ...

"I WILL NOT LET YOU GO!"

The traveler struggled with the inner demon made real
Here, in this place of all wonders and possibilities
Fiercely they fought, mentally and physically
Yet the traveler noticed something new again
For the first time in his existence he heard the Fury say in a pleading voice ...

"I need you. You are all I have."

Their struggled ceased, and for the first time he and his past
Looked at each other, and in the reflection of the mind, they were surprised to see ... each other
The same image intertwined, one almost idinstinguishable from the other
Then a most surprising thing happened, the traveler gently separating himself from the past, stepped back
And with a sense of profound loss and sadness, the traveler found himself gently, yet firmly speaking to his past ...

"But I no longer need you."

The traveler opened his scorched eyes, looking up at he who had so shortly ago been his enemy. Summoning the last reserves of his strength, he held onto the strong metal hands and asked:
"Did ... I do good?"
With a sadness that came from only losing a Spark so recently turned to the Matrix, Optimus Prime looked down upon the still melting body of Scorponok and spoke the simple truth.
"Yes, old friend. You did good."
And with those final words of acceptance, the Decepticon closed his burning eyes and died.