Right, in IDW, the prophecy of "The Chosen One" states that a great conquering leader will bring unity to the Cybertronian race. This was a huge key in Starscream's ascension to leadership of Cybertron and he often calls himself this. However... what if it isn't Starscream? What if it's someone else?

My candidates for the list include:

Optimus Prime
Prime's the obvious candidate; well, first of all, he awakened Metroplex (something only a great Cybertronian can do) and bore the Matrix for four million years. In "Dark Cybetron", he also defeated Nova Prime and saved the universe from Shockwave. In the present, he prevents Starscream from annexing the colony worlds, leading to the formation of the Council of Worlds and unifying the scattered Cybertronian colonies. Finally, he defeats Galvatron, pretty much ending the war between Autobots and Decepticons once and for all.

Starscream
Starscream was, supposedly, named the Chosen One by Metrotitan; well, that's what Scoop thought. He is the current leader of Cybertron and was the one who "unified" the colonies (technically, the "scattered warriors" referred to in the prophecy). Technically, it was also his rise to power that was a contributing factor for Megatron's defection (Megatron realised that he had gone too far in his goals), which in turn led to, largely, the end of the Decepticons as a military faction.

Bumblebee
One could argue that Bumblebee may have been the "Chosen One"; his death was the impetus for Megatron's Heel Face Turn, which led to him renouncing Decepticonism and, largely, the end of the Decepticons as a military faction (the groups led by the DJD and Galvatron are, by this point, splinter cells; MTMTE #45 makes it perfectly clear the majority of the Decepticons have stood down). This allowed Galvatron's leadership of the Decepticons to begin, which eventually led to Soundwave's (and the remaining militant Decepticons') Heel Face Turns.

Rodimus
Roberts (and others) seems to really be building the messianic parallels up with him; in MTMTE 21, he's literally put on a cross to use divine power to wipe away the consequences of sin, at the potential cost of his own life. His connection with the Matrix (during the brief time he had it) appeared to be better than that of Optimus; he said it "felt wonderful", whilst it hurt for Optimus. He also has been unconsciously drawing a map to Cyberutopia; in response to this, he even said "Is it too late to have 'Chosen One' tattooed on my forehead?"

Windblade
This is the one I'm least enthusiastic about (mostly 'cos I don't really like Windblade as a character) and the one with the weakest evidence, but there is evidence that she could be the one spoken of by the prophecy; she's largely the one who convinced the colonies to re-join Cybertron in the Council of Worlds. The former Cybertronian colony worlds could be interpreted as the "scattered warriors" mentioned by the prophecy, meaning that Windblade, by bringing the colonies together, brought unity to the Cybertronian race.

Who do you think the true "Chosen One" is?

 

I want to say Rodimus, for how the Matrix reacted to him when he briefly had it.

The problem with that idea is that since Roberts has had use of the character, he's completely wiped away the slow move towards maturity and destiny that previous writers seemed to have in mind for him. Roberts uses him as a comedic figure who never really learns anything and seems less mature two seasons into MTMTE than he was at the end of the ongoing. He almost seems less mature now than in Autocracy, which I think is canonically supposed to be his first appearance. But hey, he's funny -- wakka wakka wakka

 

I wasn't aware this was really a mystery...? Like, there's been no indication it's anyone other than Starscream. If anything, what's a mystery is what Metrotitan really meant when he said that Starscream would "conquer" and unite everyone.

I'd also like to note that Barber's the one who introduced this and he's talked in the past about how he's actually not a fan of "chosen one" stories because of their promoting classism. Combine that with how Starscream has used the title to become rise above everyone else... I really don't think it's intended as a positive title.

 

It's Rodimus because he could be the Real True Chosen One, and Starscream is just a false Chosen One.

 

this

 

I wish it was Rodimus.

 

The prophecy has existed for a very long time (it was first said by one of the Thirteen Primes). Metrotitan's wording is also directly related to who the true "Chosen One" is. It's like the Dothraki prophecy in Game of Thrones; the wording of the prophecy is directly related to who it most likely fits. If the "scattered warriors" referred to are the Autobots and Decepticons, then Bumblebee (whose death was the impetus for the end of the Decepticons as a military faction) could fit the title just as much as Starscream. If the scattered warriors are the colonists, then Windblade could very well be the "Chosen One", since she's, largely, the one who convinced the colonies to come back to Cybertron.

Yeah, I don't think the title isn't a positive one... but also I don't think Starscream (or anyone, really) understands what it means. Scoop commented in "Dark Cybertron" that the title may not have been all that positive. The main reasoning I have for that is that the prophecy is completely ambiguous as to the meaning of "unity".... I mean, destroying the Autobots and/or Decepticons and conquering and subjugating the colony worlds is technically bringing "unification" to the Cybertronian race.

 

Well, if Rodimus is ever going to be the chosen one, he needs a new writer who can let him mature and have some character development, rather than just use him as permanent comic relief.

 

To be completely fair to Rodimus if most of your authority was taken from you and given to the guy who once shot you and threw you into space, you'd probably be acting up to.

 

I hope for it also.

Rodimus really fucked up and he really did want to change but then everyone just shits down your throat and then they take your greatest enemy and force you to share the title of co-captain.

I can totally see why he regressed.

It's not smart or correct but I get it.

It'd be nice if in Lost Light, he tries to seriously get his shit together. I mean having almost everyone onboard abandon you on a desolate planet with some of the most dangerous psychopaths in the universe and barely survive to tell the tale is a good enough starting point for his redemption.

 

Depends what they're chosen for I guess.

 

Exactly.

 

Exactly. It's like the Dothraki prophecy in Game of Thrones; the wording of the prophecy is directly related to who it most likely fits. If the "scattered warriors" referred to are the Autobots and Decepticons, then Bumblebee (whose death was the impetus for the end of the Decepticons as a military faction) could fit the title just as much as Starscream. If the scattered warriors are the colonists, then Windblade could very well be the "Chosen One", since she's, largely, the one who convinced the colonies to come back to Cybertron.

About whether the title is a positive or a negative one... again, the prophecy is completely ambiguous and Scoop even speculated that the title could have been a negative one; Starscream could have been chosen to destroy them. It's also ambiguous as to the meaning of "unity".... I mean, destroying the Autobots and/or Decepticons and conquering and subjugating the colony worlds is technically bringing "unification" to the Cybertronian race.

 

Hurley. It's always been Hurley.

 

I put other for now. The most dynamic figure that change Cybertron is Megatron. He is the one who remake Cybertron a better society. Megatron can be the Chosen One he is a great leader.

 

Victorion: just by her actions in the IDW-verse and the Machinima CW intro video

 

I think that's honestly more likely what will end up happening.

Machinima's CW series has no bearing on IDW at all. All they have in common is Windblade, Optimus, Starscream and other hi-jacking the story away from the combiners.

 

This doesn't answer your question, but now that the war has been over for awhile they really need to drop the faction conflicts entirely, and give the TFs a bigger universe of rivals, partners, and villains to play with (aside from Humans, who I find to be the most 2-dimensional, pointless characters across all the fiction).

I guess that's what they're doing with Revolution? And maybe even have been slowly doing since just before Titans Return? But I don't find any of those other forced Hasbro properties interesting in the least.

Either way, the TF books need to get some universe building done sooner. I think the IDW universe is getting pretty stale, and with Revolution going on (which I have little interest in), I find that I'm not really missing the TF books much.

 

I really want to see more with the Galactic Council.

 

I'm sort of torn between going with my Joke answer of "Tailgate" and my more serious answer of "no one".

Prime was a Wartime leader, Rodimus is charismatic (ish) but immature, Starscream is scheming, Bumblebee was in over his head and Windblade is uncertain.

None of them scream "Chosen one" to me.

I can get behind that.