“(Inhales, exhales) Such a lovely day today,” said Rarity, breathing in the healthy air. “Don’t you think so, Doctor?”
Ratchet and his friends were together in the middle of the woods while the ponies and dragon were eating their snacks they brought. Transforming into his robot mode, he sat down with them and looked up at all the singing birds and trees around them. His optics brightened as he warmly smiled.
“I absolutely agree, Rarity,” said Ratchet. “This world truly is a majestic and peaceful planet. This actually reminds me of the days of Cybertron before the civil war began.”
“I always imagined how your world was like before this war happened, but I can’t imagine what it was like for you guys afterwards.” Starlight spoke.
“Ratchet always told us stories of how he fought all those Decepticons alongside his friends,” said Spike. “He even told us about the slow destruction of his own home!”
“Indeed, Spike. Cybertron was so dear and precious to me and my spark. Never in my life as a Cybertronian had I ever imagined it would be drained by those ruthless Decepticons—the very ones who betrayed me and my friends.” Ratchet sadly recalled.
The Mane Seven and Spike gasped at the last part. “Wait... you mean—?” Rainbow uttered.
“Yes, I do, Rainbow. They too were our friends. As a matter of fact, they used to support us in many things we worked on,” said Ratchet. “Most of them were military type while others were veterans who outstandingly fought and defeated other alien threats to Cybertron. They were amongst the greatest role models that our race had ever witnessed.”
“Wow... Autobots and Decepticons being friends?! That is AMAZING!!” Pinkie squealed.
“But what happened after that? What broke ya guys up?” Applejack asked.
Ratchet deeply sighed as he remembered those times. “Well... it all began with the very one who used to be the High Protector of Cybertron—Megatron.” The ponies and dragon gasped in shock again.
“WHAT?! HIM?! The one whom you said is the leader of the Decepticon ruffians?!” Rarity shouted.
“Yes...” Ratchet confirmed.
“But how?! I thought he was always the bad guy?” Rainbow asked, raising an eyebrow.
“Not formerly. He actually was the leader and guardian of Cybertron while Optimus Prime functioned as the spiritual and civilian leader. He heartily stood by Megatron’s side and treated each other as brother-in-arms.” Ratchet informed.
“Brother-in-arms? So Optimus and Megatron were like... best friends?” Twilight asked.
“In a way, yes. Unfortunately, that type of relationship did not last that long.” Ratchet replied.
Starlight listened intently to every bit of Ratchet’s story. “I never really had the chance to know him personally. I sincerely wonder why he became an Autobot in the first place. What drove him to be a medic...hmmm.” she thought.
“As I saying, Megatron resented Optimus for being Sentinel Prime’s favorite student. That resentment burned in his mind and spark which later led him in his downward spiral to evil. One day, he was gravely wounded by the aliens from the Eshens Nebula; however, he was healed by the mysterious sarcophagus that contained a malign intelligence within. It was there he encountered an ancient evil named The Fallen.” Ratchet resumed.
The ponies and dragon looked confused by that name. “Uhh, who is ‘The Fallen’?” Rainbow asked.
“And kind of a name is that? The Fallen...meaning what?” Applejack added.
“A fallen prime from the Dynasty of the Primes. He was the original Decepticon who cared not for the laws that regarded all life in the galaxy. He was the type of evil that spread itself like a virus to infect all those who encounter it.” Ratchet explained.
“He convinced Megatron to declare war on the Ejoornians while claiming that they desired to obtain power of the Allspark. Thus, The Fallen corrupted his mind and allowed him to turn against the very ideals that our whole society was based on.” Ratchet sadly recalled.
“Why would he do that?! How could this Fallen guy make Megatron do such a horrible thing?!” Fluttershy asked, shocked.
“Because The Fallen sensed Megatron’s seething anger and jealousy and used it to his advantage,” said Ratchet. “Even though Megatron succeeded in eradicating the Ejoornians, his hunger for power and conquest did not cease.”
“Megatron gained many followers. He even tried to convince Optimus to join him, but he refused and questioned his change of spark. The Fallen manipulated Megatron into thinking that Optimus would seek the Allspark’s power for himself. So he declared war on him and all those who opposed his cause. From that day forth, he adopted his catchphrase: ‘Peace through tyranny’.” Ratchet finished.
The Mane Seven and Spike took a moment to meditate on the story he told them and started to become very sad. They couldn’t imagine having ponies they cared and loved for betray them and declare war on them. The very thought sent chills to their spines.
“That is so terrible. It all makes sense why he turned evil... all because of jealousy and anger... I know how that feels like.” Starlight sighed.
“Oh? How so?” Ratchet asked.
“I had a friend who got his cutie mark when we were fillies. After he left me alone right after he got his cutie mark, I felt so bitter and miserable, so I blamed our separation on cutie marks. As I grew older, I decided to become a dictator of a small village by forcing ponies to surrender their cutie marks to become equal.” Starlight recalled.
“All because your friend left you?” Ratchet asked, surprised.
“Well... yes.” Starlight replied, sheepishly smiling.
“Hmmm, did you ever try to reach out to him through writing and sending letters? Meeting him in person?” Ratchet asked.
Starlight paused for a moment as she thought about it. Remembering how she never once attempted that, her pupils shrunk in stunning realization. “Wait...I never really did! I never once tried to talk to him through sending letters!”
“I believe that would’ve solved your relationship problem,” said Ratchet. “Talking to your companions of how you feel should always be the first line of proper communication.”
“Hehehehe, I guess I was way too bitter and angry to even think about that.” Starlight admitted.
“I would say the same about Megatron,” said Ratchet. “If he had talked to Optimus about how he felt toward him and sought for help and counseling, none of what I and my Autobot comrades went through would have happened.”
“Yeah, and there wouldn’t be any Autobots and Decepticons at all.” Applejack added.
“Precisely, Applejack.” Ratchet agreed.
After several moments of silence, Pinkie spoke up. “Oh! Oh! How about we go for a road trip? I LOVE ROAD TRIPS!!” The others agreed to her suggestion.
“Hmmm, very well, Pinkie Pie. Road trip it is.” Ratchet agreed. He transformed into his Hummer H2 ambulance and allowed them all to enter inside through the front doors. Then he finally drove off.
Ratchet drove the ponies and young dragon many miles in the Everfree Forest while they looked out through the open windows of his vehicle mode to gaze on the luxurious trees and flowers on either side. Once he drove by several trees, one of them changed into a dull purple Ratchet clone through a green flame. She narrowed her red optics as she saw the Autobot with his pony friends. She opened her comlink.
“Loyal servants, you know what to do.” Chrysalis commanded, evilly smiling.