A Decepticon convoy, ten vehicons with two drilling machines, trudged through the snowstorm Equestria’s northern reaches, carrying a load of energon to their comrades besieging the Crystal Empire. They marched through the storm, their progress agonizingly slow, constantly battered by the weather. The soldiers took cover behind the two giant drill machines, advancing at a crawl as the giant machines shielded them from the wind.
“I don’t get why they don’t just fly this energon in on the warship,” one of the soldiers shouted over the wind.
“You heard Shockwave, he doesn’t want to risk the sensors on the ships taking damage,” his commander told him.
“I know, but-oof!” The disgruntled soldier suddenly slammed into his commander’s back, who in turn smashed into the back of the driller in front of them. “Hey, what’s the hold up?”
The engineer manning the machine slowly turned towards the Vehicons below him, his hands trembling as he did. “Optimus Prime is standing in front of us,” he said with a weak, shaky voice. The other Decepticons glanced at each other, some beginning to tremble as well.
“Optimus Prime? Here?” the commander questioned. He peered past the drill, only to quickly duck back behind the machine. “Yeah, that’s him,” he told his men.
“What are we gonna do?” one of the soldiers asked.
“What else? Attack!” the commander ordered. Every Decepticon under his command remained still. “Well, what are you waiting for!” he questioned, shoving one of his men out, followed by another soldier. Eventually, the entire force advanced in front of the drill machines, energon guns drawn.
“Celestia, are you ready?” Prime asked over his comlink.
“Yes, I am,” Celestia answered. She lay in the snow next to Optimus, along with two guards from the Crystal Empire. She’d dressed in the armor of the other guards, white in color, the various pads and plates contouring to her body. She’d had to use a spell to turn her mane and tail white, though she didn’t need to paint her face white as the other guards did, thanks to her natural fur color.
“Good,” Optimus said, before changing forms and speeding towards the Vehicons. The advancing soldiers loosed a volley of bolts and Prime, only to watch as they bounced off Celestia’s golden shield. He slammed into the two squads, sending their members flying, before changing back to his robot mode. His fist slammed into the first Vehicon’s chest, denting it before sending him flying backwards. He drew his sword, slashing another Decepticon in half with the blade. The Vehicons drew their knives, striking at Prime. Despite their strength, Celestia’s shield deflected their blades, leaving Optimus totally unscathed.
Optimus suddenly drew his ion cannon, blasting through another two Vehicons with a single bolt. The remaining Decepticons scattered, fleeing in terror. Optimus started towards them, only to stop in his tracks a few steps later. The two Decepticon machines charged towards him, their drills whirling as they approached. Optimus strafed left, but he wasn’t quick enough to avoid the drill. The bit’s edges scraped Prime’s chest plate, threatening to crush him under its treads. He wrapped his arms around the drill, stopping its spinning, but the machine’s engine still pushing him forward.
In the snow, Celestia gasped quietly. She channeled her magic into Prime’s body, a glow surrounding him as she did. Still, the drill kept moving, causing Celestia to remove the alicorn amulet from under her wing. Optimus dug his feet in, but the machine was still too powerful. Celestia brought the amulet closer to her neck. Then, just as the amulet reached her chest, Optimus grunted loudly, before lifting the drill off the ground. His entire body groaned under the stress, his joints buckling as he heaved the massive machine. He quickly glanced to his side, before using the first drill as a bludgeon against the second. He swung the vehicle like a club, letting go just as it smashed into its twin. The two drills tumbled in the snow, energon and bits of metal alike flying as the machines destroyed each other.
Finally, the two vehicles halted in the snow, bursting into flame in the snow. The remaining Vehicons trembled in the snow, before changing forms and driving away as fast as their wheels could carry them. Optimus sigh, kneeling in the snow as steam rose off his hot armor. Before his knee hit the ground, Celestia rushed towards him, sliding the Alicorn Amulet back under her wing as she galloped.
“Optimus, are you alright?” she asked.
“Yes, only tired,” he answered.
The two crystal ponies lifted themselves out of the snow, slowly trotting toward the two, when Celestia spun around and halted them. “Make sure they don’t regroup, but don’t engage them; keep your distance,” she ordered. The two guards obeyed the princess, galloping in the direction of the retreating.
Optimus slowly rose to his feet, his limbs somewhat shaky as he stood, “Did you use it?” he questioned in an almost harsh tone.
“Almost, when you were being shoved back by the drill, but no,” Celestia told him.
“Good,” he said, retracting his battle mask to reveal a smile. “Come, we should gather these energon cubes.”
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Luna’s valiant guard fled in terror, galloping as fast as they could, the sound of their pursuer’s wing beats driving them forward. The first soldier suddenly tripped over a tree root, his flank smashing into the guard behind him, who was in turn run over by the third guard. The three stallions lay in a heap, too tired and too dazed to resist any longer.
Starscream landed in front of the heap of stallions, his horn glowing as his wings sending leaves into the air. The guards were enveloped by crimson magic, each of them clenching their eyes shut as they prepared for the teleportation. A bright light filled the forest, illuminating the trees and blinding the guards.
The three stallions opened their eyes, expecting to have been transporting somewhere else, only to find Starscream had disappeared.
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Starscream reappeared deeper in the woods, suddenly realizing why the guards were running from his attempts to teleport them. His knees wobbled, until Galvatron took control, instantly stabilizing their body. “What is the meaning of this?” he growled.
“Greetings, Megatron.”
Galvatron swiveled around, baring his teeth at Shockwave. “That is not my name!” he shouted.
Shockwave cocked his head, slightly, before returning it to its upright position. “Lord Megatron, I must ask that you return to the Nemesis.
"I must examine you to determine the source of your psychological damage,” he said.
Galvatron fired a bolt of magic at his former scientist, only to watch as it bounded off a magical shield. “Please,” Shockwave pleaded as a magical glow enveloped Galvatron. “Return to the Nemesis with me.”
Thinking quickly, Starscream grabbed a tree next to Shockwave, bringing it down on top of the enemy Decepticon. Shockwave fell to the ground, breaking his grip on Starscream, who fell to the ground. “Galvatron, we need to get out of here,” he said.
“No,” Galvatron said, charging the fallen Shockwave.
“He has magic,” Starscream pointed out.
"Lord Megatron is conversing with himself. This is likely the result of psychological damage," Shockwave noted, though neither Galvatron nor Starscream reacted to his voice.
“So do we,” Galvatron said as his horn ignited. The Decepticon scientist lifted the tree, righting himself and taking hold of Galvatron once more, instantly halting his charge. Finally, bot Starscream and Galvatron could see how their enemy harnessed magic. Shockwave wore a gauntlet around his right hand, with a white unicorn’s horn in its tip.
Suddenly, a blue beam struck the Decepticon in the back, sending him tumbling forward. Princess Luna landed nearby, quickly tearing the gauntlet off of Shockwave’s arm, before sending him flying deeper into the woods. As she took the gauntlet, Galvatron fell, freed from Shockwave’s power. Luna strode towards Galvatron and Starscream, examining them for injury. “This development is disturbing,” she said towards Starscream.
“I doubt I could agree more,” Starscream said as he stretched his limbs.
“We should pursue him,” Galvatron told Luna, his horn glowing again.
“No,” Luna told him. “We need to inform the others.”