leviprime:

zombieheroine:

Relationship status: Archenemy

@bonnini,

because she continues to be the one I blabber at. And like she so eloquently put it when I wondered if I’ve ever written about Megatron and Optimus’ enemy dynamics: “Hskshaldldhsls GO”.

So let’s go. Let’s dwell in the meaning and form of “archenemies”. 

Megatron certainly has many enemies, a mech in his position can’t really avoid that, but there’s only one archenemy. How do we know this?

Archenemy is the ultimate opponent, the one true enemy who is the pinnacle of everything that opposes you in this world. Archenemy is the focusing point of all the opposing forces, the perfect idea of the enemy to the point that they are like a negative mirror image of yourself.

Archenemy is the perfect match, both in mentality and strength. Their ideology and ethics and goals are in direct conflict with the other half, but the strength is matched, creating a “stable” relationship. Stable, because archenemy relationship is a long-term commitment and requires molding one’s own plans to match the other’s, and because of the matched strength neither gains the upper hand in the relationship, keeping it from being destroyed. 

A really good, long-term archenemy relationship is actually so perfect it involves a certain note of affection. That affection is also what separates archenemies from your regular, less perfect enemies. 

Archenemy is familiar, worthy of time and dedication. Fighting them is a special occasion that takes effort. 

Archenemy means respect. We know Megatron doesn’t value any other opponent as much as he values Optimus. Optimus is the one he addresses by name, whose strength he recognizes and who takes priority over all others. Others simply don’t compare.

Optimus Prime is the one who “never disappoints”, “listens to reason”, and who must be slain by his own hand. He recognizes the might of his archenemy even before his own subordinates, for example scoffing at Dreadwing, one of his most loyal officers, that he shouldn’t try to take out Optimus because he is way above his skill-level and strength. Megatron even jokingly says to Soundwave that he will be very surprised if they ever hear  of Dreadwing again after Dreadwing persists and goes to challenge the Prime.

Archenemy means dedication. They will take over your “darkest dreams”, like Ratchet describes Megatron’s coma dream in Sick mind (1.13), but they are also what brings you out of them.  

Because no fantasy can match the real thing.

Yes, what is it that you want the most? The most in the whole universe?

You want your archenemy. You want to be their match, you want to keep fighting them, until the very end. The end that needs to meet a very distinctive and special standards before it’s allowed to happen, the end that has to be just the two of you after a very, very long time of glorious battles and light-years of shared travel and all your darkest dreams and wildest fantasies come true.

You could also say, forever. 

TFP Megatron respects Optimus Prime so much that he even praises him that he would have made a fine Decepticon and when they were both battling in Egypt, Megatron tells Optimus Prime,

 “At last we take our rightful places Optimus, as GODS!!! Wielding the powers of the cosmos.”