The brothers were all back in their holding cells again. After their return, all Sideswipe would say was “Frag this guy.” He seemed unwilling to say what had happened, probably because of the presence of the others. Caramon looked completely morose, which caused Raistlin some apparent confusion. Mega just leaned up against the wall between his cell and his brother's, arms crossed over his chest, looking down at the floor, though he did offer a small smile to show he was okay, sort of, though it didn't quite reach his eyes. And Zentarou just sat right down on the floor, legs crossed and ears back with his expression dark, facing his twin. Zantar, in his cell, paced something like an agitated animal. Those who had been in there with him the whole time had noticed that he was slowly becoming more and more uneasy, nervous, like a angry, well, cat.

For several long moments, no one spoke. Then, abruptly, Zentarou's ears twitched and raised, and he looked up in surprise.

“I think I might have figured something out about our captor, or at least how he thinks.” That got all's attention.

“What?” asked Sunstreaker, as Zentarou stood.

“I was just wondering why we went in, in patterns. It couldn't be coincidence that all of us on one side went together, as did all those on the other side.”

“He has us sorted,” Raistlin concluded. “There's something all of us on one side have in common, as do all those on the other, that makes us different.”

“Age?” asked Proto. Down the row, they compared. But while Mega, Zentarou, and Sideswipe were all at least technically younger, if even by only a microsecond or two, Caramon was older than Raistlin by several hours, ruining that theory.

“Hmm....” Raistlin began to pace. “This could be important. The more that we can figure out, the better chance we have in surviving this ordeal.”

“Well,” Mega said, “it's not our 'professions,' as he put it.”

“Nor size, or race,” Sunstreaker added, “since there are two mech pairs.”

“But what?” Zentarou murmured. Zantar gave a small snarl.

“I'm more concerned with what he's going to do to us next.” Abruptly, Raistlin looked over at the cat.

“You got something, Raist?” Caramon asked eagerly.

“Perhaps... Sunstreaker, who between you and your brother is the more violent, prone to anger?”

“I am,” was the answer.

“And Mega? You or Proto?”

“Proto.” Zentarou nodded, apparently following.

“And Zantar is the warrior of us two. I see what you're getting at.” He gave a small 'humph.' “We're separated by personality. All of us on this side - “ He gestured to either side. “ - are the 'gentler' twin, while all opposite, the more violent.”

“Bravo,” came the Voice. “Well deduced, as I might have expected from two spell casters. You are, more or less, correct. That is why I had to put you through those particular tests: I wished to see how those less likely to show emotion would react to such a sight as their twin, their other half as it were, dead, and those who are as you put it 'gentler' would handle their greatest fear without their stronger brother by their side.” They thought the Voice gave a small chuckle. “Though I had no idea each of you would in a way share the same fear: losing your twin.” Sideswipe tipped his head back slightly as if rolling his optics.

“Well, DUH, slag-for-brains! What'd you think it would be, little fuzzy bunny rabbits?” For some reason, that got a small laugh out of Caramon, and a barely noticeable smile from Raistlin.

“Honestly, I thought it might have been facing your own destruction, Mega, the Tyrant Jynx, Zentarou, Megatron, Sideswipe, and an army of Kender, Caramon.”

“Scary,” Caramon agreed, “but I fear losing Raist more.”

“Well then, I shall be 'cruel' no longer.” There was a brief pause, during which they wondered what he meant, then he said, “I'd move, Mega.”

“Huh?” Abruptly, the walls separating each twin from the other flashed and vanished, and Mega, who'd still been leaning against it, toppled over with an oof and getting a burst of brotherly laughter from Proto.

“Sorry,” said the Voice, as Proto, at first carefully until he could be sure the walls were gone, went to Mega's side to help him up.

“S'okay. Next time someone says 'move' I'll just move.” Gratefully the twins were rejoined, though walls still separated each pair from the others. For a few moments they quietly talked together, making sure each other was okay – the Autobots using a murmuring language that was incomprehensible to anyone but them – and generally reassuring each other. Then, the Voice spoke.

“If you please, it is time for the next task, though I promise, I will no more split you from your brother.”

“You fragging better not,” Sunstreaker growled, as doors opened. This time, both the til'Cat twins and the Autobots were to go the same direction, while the Majere and Bro-Bot twins were to go another. With just a nod to each other, all eight went through.

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Author's Note: A Cookie Point for anyone who gets why Caramon and Raistlin thought what Sideswipe said was funny. :)