//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Editing Complete // Story: Transformers Prime: The Equestrian War(Revival in Progress) // by ALoyalAutobot //------------------------------// Getting the Team Together - Part 3 Boggy Bottom Bog "W-What? B-But how," Twilight stutters, her mind still trying to process the violence taking place in the swamp, "How is there even more Hydras?! I don't understand how there could be more Hydras! One Hydra was bad enough, but five?!" she manages to get out. Twilight was in panic mode at the battle being displayed, total devastation being brought to the thick murky waters of the swamp by the stray plasma fire. Every shot that misses the intended target would hit the muddy water; the force of the explosion sending several clumps of mud, clay, and dirty water scattering. Or hit a tree, exploding into little burnt bark, set a group of gathered trees on fire, or cut them clean off. The animals occupying some of the trees running for their lives. The Hydras were clearly hungry, and they thought these bizarre creatures would fit the bill. Each of the heads were like a whip, one by one would lunge their heads to take a bite of the bizarre meal in front of them, taking turns in the hopes of getting a taste of them. A frustrated growl followed by another after each failed attempt. The Bots were too quick, and were side-stepping with agile movements. Experience in civil warfare snapping their instinctive agilities into full effect. Each Hydra taking it's turn would either get a mouth full of swamp mud, or a painful punch in the face. Bulkhead has his blaster on his left arm, while keeping his massive, thrice the size of a boulder, wrecking ball-like weapon ready on his right. He would fire from his left to keep the other heads at bay. Whenever a Hydra head tries to make it's move, he would twist his large, bulky body around to deliver a skull-shattering THWACK! (The rest has yet to be edited) "Twilight, do something! My animal friends might get hurt! They'll be crushed!" Fluttershy panicked, extremely concerned for her animal friends. The giant's large-as-houses structures can easily crush unfortunate souls if carelessly stomping the grounds. They could see small green dots hoping all over the place, trying to avoid the destructive titans and the hungry monstrosities. Some narrowly missed becoming part of the earth or the Hydra's light snack. "I-I don't know!" she yelled, fear engulfing her mind with thoughts of horror. Never in her life had she dealt with a life or death situation. The battle will more than likely level the swamp and destroy the environment. Topping it with animal casualties will tear Fluttershy apart... how did it come to this? Fate now wants to play misfortune with the young princess, and it decided to lay this crisis on the newbie princess to resolve. Why did it have to be her? Rainbow, on the other hoof, pounds her fore-hooves together and gave an angry growl, "Five times the number equals five times the hurt! I'll show those creeps they picked on the wrong species!" She was quick to take to the air but Applejack was quicker on her tail, grabbing Rainbow's tail with her teeth. She gave Applejack an irritated look but a look in Applejack's eyes shows fear for her safety. "Hold yer horses, girl! We need a plan, and bein' headstrong ain't a smart move," Applejack states, turning her head to the violet princess, "OK, princess, we're all ears. What's the plan?" she asks Twilight, giving her a reassuring smile before a random thought pops in her head, "Why do ah feel like ah'm the least focused on" she shrugs, shaking the envious thoughts out of her mind. For the first time, this is one danger she can't get her thoughts wrapped around. But then she remembered what her old foalsitter used to say, "Take deep, calm breaths when you are feeling stressed, Twilight. There is nothing more dangerous than a pony in full-blown panic," the voice echoes through her head. Then she closes her eyes and began filling her lungs with slow-paced breathing, taking her time to slow her heart rate. As if with every lung full, she breathed out the stress that was building within her. The anxiety pent up inside her chest was slowly collapsing like the mountain being split in an huge earthquake. She started to feel a familiar warmth coming from her tiara. It was then did the inexperienced princess realize she did have a plan... After what felt like an eternity, she felt like she just came out of the Spa. All the worry was thrown aside, replaced with confidence. She turns to her friends, then bluntly states, "We use the Elements of Harmony on the Hydras," she got quite a few startled gasps, then Fluttershy quietly voiced her concern. "Won't they hurt the animals," shivering from thinking of the consequences that would come from using them. Sure, it purged Princess Luna from her evil when she was the feared Nightmare Moon, sealed Discord from spreading chaos around Equestria, but this is different! Pinkie Pie had a worried look on her face, it's rare that she even expresses worry, like it was never in her dictionary... on second thought, let's not think too hard about Pinkie's personal dictionary. Pinkie Pie comments, "Yeah, Twilight. What about our new friends? We still haven't thrown them their 'Welcome to Equestria Big, Scary, Alien Friends' and 'Welcome to Ponyville We Come in Peace' parties! They'll never even get to see they're new Super-Duper-Extra-Special-Most-Awesome Glowy Alien Friends from outer space. The Elements might give them big ouchies!" she said with her usual talking nonsense. Twilight smiled before she began to explain her plan, "We're not going to use the Elements at their full potential, but to simply give those Hydras a good scare. If we appear as a threat to them, they might leave us alone for a bit," she finishes, hoping the plan might be small enough to actually work. Twilight trotted up the hill, followed by Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Once the bearers were in position, they began to put their plan into action. Twilight started to charge her Element of Magic, the rest of the Elements recognizing their own as they began to follow suit. A white light began to glow off their bodies, slowly rising from the ground; defying gravity from their immense power. Bulkhead, Arcee, and Bumblebee had been evading, shooting, and beating the overgrown, four-headed lizard before them. Their optics soon caught a glimpse of white light, coming from the ponies they all, but Bulkhead, have met. Bulkhead felt a sudden rush of adrenaline, seeing rockets heading towards them. He's on Cybertron... but how? He didn't need to answer that, as rockets come crashing down. Green rocks of something, but they remind him off... wait... All around him, he could hear the groans, explosions, screams of agony and pain from his Autobots. "Ugh... H-help... I'm going... Offline..." "Don't let the fumes get to you, run!" "Run to where?!" they couldn't have a second to think, as a missile came within impact, silencing them for good... T-Toxin... No... NO! In a full frenzy, he was shooting in all directions. Trying to destroy the "projectiles" coming within range. But in reality, he was shooting things from his past that wasn't there. Arcee and Bumblebee were trying to restrain him, but he was too strong for them, as he then aimed his blaster towards the shimmering light... It was coming at them at full force, sailing at the speed of sound. The Elements didn't have enough time to react, as it hit point blank at the center. The light died down, revealing the surprised mares as they plummeted back to the hill they were on. However, the force of the blast sending the dazed alicorn outside the swamp. The Hydras took notice of this, and decided to go for the more appetizing-looking mares. The two Scouts scolded Bulkhead, but quickly turned their heads to the sounds of screaming. The Hydras are reaching them, completely ignoring them. They open fired on the Hydras, one nailing the back of it's head. It roared in pain, and turned around to the Autobots. The Hydras decided to have three go for the Autobots, while the last two go for the bearers. Twilight groaned as she regained consciousness. Opening her eyes, the world was blurry and her ears were ringing like they've been too close to a stereo system. She climbs up on her hooves, shaking as her aching torso felt the grip of pain on her body. Checking to make sure she didn't break anything, she bent her forelegs up one at a time, "Looks good down there, now for the hind legs," she winced from the response in her right hind leg. It's sprained, but she can walk it off, "My horn?" she concentrates through her horn, as the familiar surge of magic surrounds her horn, levitating a rock nearby. Everything seems in working order, but something felt off... "My wings! How could I forget my wings?" she thought with a smile, then shuts her eyes as she flexes her wings, "Ow!" she yelps in pain. Taking a look at her wings, she found her left wing bent at an odd angle. Slowly, she flexes her left wing, the same response was a sudden surge of pain in which she hisses in retaliation. "And I'm grounded... great..." lost in thought until a sick, gross, yet familiar, smell filled her nostrils. She recoils in disgust, "Eww, what in Celestia's mane is that?" Twilight's answer was a growl from the bushes, "Oh no... oh sweet Celestia, no! Not here, not now!" A wooden, wolf creature jumps out as if trying to provoke more fear, followed by a few 'friends' of his, "Timberwolves! Why now?!" she yells, her pupils shrinking to the size of pin needles. On instinct she flapped her wings only for it to punish her forgotten injury with more pain. Clearing her mind she fired multiple magical beams to no effect. It was clear that the Timberwolves weren't leaving without their catch of the day. Twilight backs away in fear, then for her flanks to meet the rocky wall of a cliff. She curls into a ball, tears in her eyes, wishing her death would be quick. With a howl it pounced, wooden fangs bared. Time seemed to slow down, as the end prepared her finish on the Timberwolves' menu. Instead of the taste of flesh, it was meet with a taste of metal thrusts into it's jaw, shattering into a crumpled wooden mess. At the sound of the clattering wood, she slowly opens her eyes. What she saw made her stare in astonishment. Standing before her was a giant... sure the other aliens were big, but he's huge! She saw the mess her savior created, it's arm jamming into the wooden pile of the once-working Timberwolf. Slowly pulling his arm from the earth, it reveals a long metal blade attached to his arm. He turned to face the rest of his remaining foes. He has the body strongly built as if he could lift an Ursa Minor, with armor plating painted with clear red and blue. A strangely frightening, but non-aggressive face was painted on the top of his right arm. Once he regains his bearing, he spoke with a voice that rang with authority but has a touch of tender care and respect, "I am not certain what this world strives for... but I will not allow harm to be brought unto the innocent," directing his gaze to the Timberwolves, "Stand down and return to your homes, or there will be... retaliation," his face mask covers his once visible mouth, intentions of protecting it was visible, clear in his optics; eyes with a piercing glare that would strike down the face of evil. Yet, the timberwolves seemed unfazed by his glare, as they begin to encircle him. Blades at the ready, Twilight could tell they're swords now that she can see them well. The red robot was keeping his blades posed, his senses, aware and alert. One of them made the first strike, intending on ripping apart Prime's armor. The leader had the reflex of the common elite soldier, and with a swift, agile strike, it collapses. Each of the timberwolves kept trying to attack him, only for it to end in the same result. Realizing they can't charge at him, one of them kept him facing forward while the other went around. The one in front of Optimus lunges at him, but was repelled by his blades. However, the experienced veteran felt a pain jab into his back as it sank it's claws and teeth in the leader's blind spot. As if karma harbored a grudge against nature, the timberwolf felt an unrelenting force strike into it's own back, then fell to join it's brothers in the growing pile of splintered wood. After the pain subsides, somewhat, Optimus turns and looks at the purple alicorn, who was expressing a giddy look on her face then stops when she notices him staring at her with a puzzled look. Twilight giving him an embarrassed blush... Before he could voice his gratitude to her, she suddenly yelled, "Look out!" Optimus quickly turns to see a Timberwolf trying to ambush him... then was blasted into the remains it previously was in. He looks around as he takes notice of an eerie green glow surrounding the remains as twigs and wood began to rise. Eons of conflict made the leader understand that they shouldn't hang around here anymore. He made a strange noise as he changed form, much like the one called 'Bumblebee' could, but this one had more wheels, and it was bigger and longer than the original form she witnessed from the young scout. "Get in!" he barks and opened the doors to his cab. She decides to not ask questions when the timberwolves neared the completion of their temporary deaths. Without hesitation, she jumps in as he closes the door behind her. Shifting from park to drive, he drove off when the they gave an angered howl that echoes throughout the forest when they've finished their revival... Rarity groans as she begins to regain consciousness. She was hearing voices but they were muffled as her hearing was trying to hone in on her surroundings. Where was she, what happened? Vivid memories slowly came to within the unicorn's throbbing head, as she vaguely remembers them using the Elements before a large blue projectile struck them, startling them all before darkness overcame her vision. Her eardrums slowly ceased it's muting on her mind as she listens. It sounds like Applejack was giving a hushed yell to somepony. Rarity's blurry vision surrenders the temporary blindness, and she could barely make heads or tails of the orange outlines of her country friend. Her vision freed from their confinement, waking up as she heard Applejack quietly yelling, "Fer cryin' out loud, wake up!" finally she confirms she wasn't deaf, blind or both, then groans as she lifts her body. Pain and aches stings her like angry hornets. "Ugh... I'm not exactly in need of magical treatment, darling," now noticing her surroundings. It appears they are in a tree of some sorts, before complaining in her thoughts, "Why couldn't we be in a less filthy tree." "An' sorry fer the messy interior, but we're not exactly here ta pick favorites ya know. Considerin' the fact we're bein' chased by Hydras, we can't stick around and be picky," she explains, as if she was reading Rarity's mind. "Now I remember, that big over-hulked green thing hit us with... something. I'll show him how to handle a proper mare when we get out!" Rarity makes a mental note to herself. She checks to see if her beauty's been scarred. She felt her mane and felt several leaves and mud sticking to her hoof. She whines, "Oh, the horror! My gorgeous mane is ruined! And my silk coat is tattered with bruises and cuts! Oh, it'll take forever to-" being cut off with a cyan hoof in her mouth. "Be quiet, do you want us all to get eaten!" Rainbow silently scowls. She won't let this unicorn give their hiding spot, no way no how. The pink mare giggles as she bounces with glee, "If we do get eaten, I wonder how we will taste? Ooo, I bet I'd taste like cotton candy! Ooo, and Rainbow could taste like skittles; Applejack, apples; Rarity, mint; Fluttershy, chocolate; and-" the same cyan hoof covered the oblivious mare's mouth. Hushing her with another scowl. "Shut. Up." Pinkie only replies with a simple nod with Rainbow's hoof stuffed in her muzzle. "A-Anypony seen Twilight?" the quiet voice spoke from the timid pegasus. It took them all a second to realize they're down by one. "Ponyfeathers! Where's Twi?" with worry present in Applejack's voice. The cowmare looking from the tree to find their egghead friend, "Ya'll don't suppose she's hurt...?" "How could that thing not hurt her?! She was sent flying!" Rainbow silently yells, anxious to get going. She doesn't like being constrained in a tight space, her love of flight making the tomcolt eager to get outside. The Hydras were searching high and low for them, and they were asking for a hard pounding. "Whoa nelly, ah think we need ta get movin'," Applejack says, anxiety in her voice "Why do you say that, darling?" Rarity asks. On cue the entire tree was ripped from the ground, screams filling the air. One of the heads with their hiding spot in it's jaw, while the rest looked down on them, hunger filled in their eyes. The other side of escape was blocked off by the second Hydra. Huddled into a group hug, they awaited to meet the end. With a roar of triumph, they lunged at their prize. They froze when they heard a honking noise coming from their right. A large red and blue carriage was flying straight into the air, striking the perfectly aligned heads, sending one after the other's necks into a nauseous spin. After their nauseous merry-go-rounds, they found themselves tied together in their own necks. The five mares, seeing their window of opportunity, they made a mad-dash(no pun intended for our speedy pegasus) for their escape. After they escaped, they made it outside the swamp, never before have they felt the relief of soft soil and trees to surround them. "Autobots, this is Optimus Prime. All units fall back. The creature is under no means of engagement. I repeat, make haste and retreat," the large rig commands. "Roger that, Optimus. You heard him, guys. Let's book it!" Bulkhead responds before switching his Comms off. Optimus sighs before they all reached his position, then they all reverted to their original bipedal form. Optimus addressed to his soldiers, "We need to reach the outer boarders of this jungle. Ma'am, may we be pointed in the right direction?" Twilight eagerly nods, "We need to head East, Ponyville is about a couple of hours from here." "Then we will head to your civilization for a temporary rest. Autobots, transform and roll out!" The team all responded with few odd noises from their conversions, then each of the mane six went to each vehicle of their choosing. Rarity and Fluttershy to Bumblebee, Applejack and Pinkie Pie to Bulkhead, and Twilight to Optimus Prime. Rainbow preferred flying. Once they get to Ponyville, Twilight has a lot of questions for the Autobot leader...