//------------------------------// // Chapter 4: Behold, Optimus Prime // Story: Light Our Darkest Hour // by Dat Dash //------------------------------// The Friendship Express, or at least, what was thought to be the Friendship Express, was making its way to Canterlot, chugging away towards its destination. Spike looked wistfully out the window of the passenger compartment, nervous about what was to come. It seemed Equestria was in danger every other week, but though he was used to it, he wasn't happy either. More than that, he was scared. What could it be this time? "Are you alright, Spike?" Twilight asked. "Yeah... well, no..." replied the young dragon. "I'm just worried, is all." "About what?" "About why the Princesses need us in Canterlot." "Well, whatever it is, Spike, don't worry," replied Twilight with a comforting smile. "You've got us with you, remember? It's probably nothing we can't handle!" As if to prove her wrong, a loud crashing noise could be heard from the back of the train car as it deatched and derailed from the rest of the train. "Let's see how you handle it then, Twilight Sparkle!" said a familiar voice. Twilight faced the source of the voice with a stern expression "Chrysalis..." "That's right... I'm BACK... and better than ever!!" The metallic Changeling cackled maniacally. "C'mon, Chrysalis, put 'em up! Fight me like a mare!" shouted Rainbow Dash as she charged towards the Changeling queen, hoof outstretched, ready to kick. Unfortunately, when she made impact, Rainbow Dash felt a sharp pain in her hoof, as if she had kicked a solid block of pure metal, which she had. "Foal! My new body makes me impervious to anything you or your little friends can throw at me!" proclaimed Chrysalis proudly as the poor, injured pegasus grasped her hoof in pain. Applejack merely growled in disgust. "I beg to differ!" said Rarity as she tore a seat away from the train with her telekinesis, albeit with some difficulty, and tossed it Chrysalis's way. The seat merely shattered upon impact. Chrysalis laughed. "What did I tell you? ANYTHING YOU CAN THROW AT ME!!!" Fluttershy hugged Pinkie Pie in terror, squeaking as she did so. Pinkie returned the hug. "I DON'T WANNA DIE!!!" shouted Pinkie. "You won't," said Twilight, "I've got this." She charged up her horn for a powerful magical blast, and fired when it reached maximum charge, only for it to bounce clean off of Chrysalis, who had enveloped herself in a magical shielding bubble. "Why throw away your life so recklessly, Princess?" asked Chrysalis tauntingly, "Wanting to join your little friend Starlight?" "YOU KILLED HER?!?" Twilight had become absolutely livid. Smoke began to rise from her increasingly frizzled mane, as Twilight breathed heavily through her nose, her horn charging up for another blast. Chrysalis tackled her opponent, pinning Twilight to the floor of the car. "I can happily arrange a reunion for you," sneered Chrysalis. "After all, she died just like you will... trying to stop me... with empty boasts about "friendship" this and "friendship" that." Chrysalis's hoof changed shape into a long, glowing green blade. "It's time I taught you a lesson about reality... a short, sharp lesson!" Spike clung to Rarity's leg in fear. "Don't look, Spikey-Wikey," said Rarity somberly. Twilight shielded herself with her hooves, bracing for the inevitable... "LET THE EQUINE BE!!" shouted a voice, and it was a voice unlike any Twilight had ever heard. It sounded mechanical, but had a wise, fatherly edge to it. It had a stern, commanding tone that intimidated even Chrysalis, and it seemed to be coming from the train that was headed right for them. Wait... the train?! Twilight looked up as the red locomotive charged towards the Changeling queen, before it did something that seemed impossible. The train leaped into the air, and changed its shape into a massive bipedal robot with ape-like arms, a red upper body with windows for pectorals and a cowcatcher for an abdomen. His massive blue lower legs alone towered over even Chrysalis. "Never!" shouted Chrysalis defiantly at the titanic automaton, "This is MY kill!" "If you think I have come to slaughter the poor, innocent mare," the robot replied, "you are gravely mistaken." Chrysalis flew up to face the strange robot, only for her to be swatted away with his massive metal hand. The robot turned to face Chrysalis. "You... What... what are you?" she asked in shock. "Your worst nightmare," replied the metal giant sternly. "Leave... now." Chrysalis did so, not ready to risk herself against this new foe quite yet. "Don't think for a moment that this is the end, Twilight Sparkle!" declared the angry Changeling queen as she flew away, "You may have a new ally, but I have an army! An army that will tear you and your friends apart! And you all WILL DIE SCREAMING! I SWEAR ON IT!" And she was gone. The ponies and the dragon stared up in awe as the robot kneeled down in order to reduce the height difference and seem less intimidating. "Are any of you injured?" he asked. "Well... I hurt my hoof trying to attack Chrysalis, but otherwise we're fine," replied Rainbow Dash in bewilderment. She couldn't believe what she had just seen. She would have thought it was awesome had their lives not been on the line. "Rest easy, little ones... You are safe now." Twilight stood up slowly. Wanting to know the identity of her sudden rescuer, she asked, "If you don't mind me asking... what are you?" "My name is Optimus Prime. I am an autonomous robotic organism from Cybertron, a planet which lies in another dimension from your own." "An auto-what now?" asked Applejack, confused. "Autobot, to use the shorthand term," Optimus explained. Twilight smiled. "Mr. Prime... Thank you for saving us. We are in your debt," she said. "I'm Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship here in Equestria. These are my friends; Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Spike." The others waved in time with their respective names. "Well, Twilight, you and your friends need to come with me," Optimus said as he returned to train form. "Your world is in grave danger." The group climbed inside the cabin section of the train, with Rainbow Dash trying (and failing) to suppress a fangirlish squeal. With that, Optimus and his passengers departed for Canterlot.