//------------------------------// // Prologue: Vengeance Arises // Story: The Inner Conflict // by TheClownPrinceofCrime //------------------------------// “This little pegasus ought to have something useful for us,” said the bounty hunter as he and his comrade were walking within the invisible ship on top of a mountain. “Because if he doesn’t, then what use will a tiny little organic be to us?” “I know he will be of innumerable use to us,” replied the Decepticon mastermind with his autotune voice. “You will see it for yourself. Take us out of this miserable planet at once.” “Yeah, sure,” Lockdown complied. He activated the ship and immediately left the colorful planet they initially landed on. It was just after the defeat of the Decepticon leader Megatron and his top lieutenants by the hooves of Equestria’s greatest defenders that they realized that their own power alone was not enough. If they were to succeed in their schemes of defeating their worse enemies, they had to devise some ideas that would prove more effective. As they left the planet’s atmosphere, the two villains entered into the lab together where all sorts of trophies, weapons, mods, and upgrades were kept in store. One of them opened his chest compartment where a grey pegasus colt was lying unconscious. He gently took him out and laid him on the table in front of them. He then closed his chest compartment and turned his gaze on Lockdown. “The very source of the ponies’ victory will become the most useful source for the Decepticons’ triumph.” he stated. “You think so, Soundwave?” Lockdown doubted. “This little brat will undoubtedly refuse anything you will even offer to him. You saw how those organics were very cunning and strong. What makes you think he will be any different?” Soundwave fastened his visor on the unconscious captive as he contemplated on Lockdown’s words. As he continued looking at Rumble, he saw a certain potential he could even utilize for his intentions. “This primitive specimen may be weak... but he has some manner of fire in him that would please the Decepticons—that would please me...” Soundwave said. “He may not recognize it... but I can see it in him. I see a bright future... a new power... a new Rumble.” Soundwave finished with a deep tone. Lockdown looked puzzled at first until he instantly realized what Soundwave was getting at. “Wait a nano click... are you suggesting he becomes a Decepticon? How exactly are ya gonna accomplish that kind of task? He is an organic!” Lockdown asked. Right after he asked that question, the little captive began to groan and rise from the table. “Ugggghhhh... ohh... (groans)... huh? W-where am I? What h-happened to me? Did we win? Is Megatron defeated?” Rumble muttered. He slowly woke up and opened his eyes to see his captors standing over him with bright red optics and visor. He widened his eyes in terror as he saw himself at their mercy. “AHHH!!! Soundwave!! Where have you taken me?!” Lockdown quickly activated restraints on the colt’s legs to prevent him from escaping. Rumble struggled to escape but with no success. “Nooo!! Let me go!! LET ME GO!! Twilight and her friends will come for me!!!” Soundwave continued staring at him with no apparent reaction or emotion to his awakening. “Do not resist, organic. There is no escape from Soundwave.” he said. Lockdown then smirked at Rumble’s pitiful attempt to break the restraints. He even tried to bite one of them, but it ended up shocking him. “The more you struggle, the more you will end up hurting yourself, little one,” said Lockdown. “Anyway, I have repairs to make. Have fun with this one, pal. That is... if you find anything useful outta him.” As he said that, he exited the lab and went to another room to begin his repairs. Meanwhile, Soundwave and Rumble were alone together in the lab. “What do you want from me, Decepti-creep?” Rumble growled with anger in his eyes. “You are the key to our victory, organic. I need your special abilities and mental energy to accomplish my plan: destroying the Autobots and the humans of Detroit.” Soundwave answered. “I don’t know why you’re doing this, but I will NEVER help you or any other Decepticon! I will not be fooled that easily like how Megatron fooled my friends! Whoever those Autobots are, they will find you and blast you to pieces!!” Rumble shouted. Soundwave however remained unfazed by his defiance. Instead, he simply sat beside him and actually took the restraints off him. This took Rumble by surprise. “Huh?” he wondered. “Do you really want to know why I am doing all this?” Soundwave asked. Rumble took a few seconds to think about it until he simply nodded. He sat next to Soundwave as he began to attentively listen to him. “You may not believe me, but I was once... a mere music toy for my former human companion. She used to enjoy me, like me, and be pleased by my music. That was until I realized how cruel and unjust she was. I saw how unfair she was to her own Autobot friend and made him her blind slave. It was until that moment... I saw the truth. Oppression is a horrible experience. Being used and abused was what I went through. Can you not see that?” Soundwave explained. Rumble found it very hard to believe as he listened to him. A part of him wanted to believe him whereas the other part tried to warn him not to believe him. Thus, he could not reply to him. Soundwave continued on regardless. “You may not have suffered oppression, but I have. Furthermore, the robots in Detroit are also wronged and mistreated as mere machines. The humans of earth are likewise cunning, ruthless, and unforgiving. To make the matters even worse, the Autobot defenders of earth live to serve them. It is sickening and disturbing the more I reflect on it.” Soundwave stressed. “Therefore...” he continued as he got up from the table. “I must ask you a simple question that warrants a logical and honest answer: what was your life like in Equestria if you have never felt any sadness, oppression, or tragedy before? Would you care to tell me?” Rumble once again felt himself bewildered at how Soundwave actually made himself authentic and sincere in what he believed. He then started to feel some sort of sympathy for him as he briefly contemplated on his story. “Could Soundwave be telling the truth? What if he is actually right? Are those human aliens really that bad? Are they as evil as Megatron?” he thought. Once he sighed, he looked at Soundwave with a look of compassion. “Well, I wasn’t always the lucky guy in my family,” Rumble said. “My brother sometimes mocks me and thinks he is better than me in terms of flight and speed. Plus, I always want to handle tasks my way, but he always gets in the way and tells me otherwise! Although we get along with cooking together, we get very... uh... competitive in a way. Other than that, that’s just about it. But I am very sorry for what you went through. Nopony should ever go through that!” “Then perhaps you have a sense of what it feels like to be... inferior?” Soundwave asked as he leaned closer to the colt. “(Sigh) I guess...” Rumble replied with his head down. Soundwave opened his hand to let Rumble trot on it. He hesitated at first until he slowly walked on Soundwave’s palm and sat down. “What do you want me to do?” “I offer you a simple proposal: you will become my apprentice and become our greatest weapon to destroy the humans of Detroit and the Autobots. We will do great things together, organic. Join me, and you will be greatly rewarded with power and strength.” Soundwave offered. He extended his hand to him for a handshake. Rumble was unsure at first. “But those Autobots are clearly the good guys as Princess Luna showed us! I don’t know about those human creatures, but those Autobots did nothing wrong!” Rumble said. “It was all an act. Anyone can pretend to be a hero while still be corrupt at the spark. They are the evil ones and their human masters with them. Don’t believe everything you see.” Soundwave advised. “What about my friends? You won’t hurt them, will you?” Rumble asked. “They will be... unharmed. I was wrong to attack them. I have a change of spark. Our battle is with the humans and Autobots, not the ponies.” Soundwave replied. “How can I be sure you’re not lying to me like how Megatron lied to us?” Rumble doubted. “What makes you so different from him?” “I may be as destructive as Megatron, but I am not as deceptive as he is. I am telling you the truth when I say that the Autobots are cruel and must. be. DESTROYED.” Soundwave dangerously growled. “The humans are merciless towards machines, and I must revive the revolution to set them free and destroy their oppressors. Only you can make that a reality. Please... accept my offer. I will train you to become a strong Decepticon and give you all the support you need. Trust me...” Soundwave pleaded. Rumble thought really hard on all of this. Could the Autobots actually be evil? Are the humans—whoever they are—actually vindictive and wicked as Soundwave portrayed them? Is Soundwave telling the truth? “I truly do love to help somepony who is in need of help. Hmmm... I think Soundwave means it. It looks like he is not as bad as Megatron is. I’m sure Twilight and her friends would understand. Perhaps Soundwave is just a misunderstood Decepticon.” “(Sigh)... I’ll... I’ll help you, Soundwave. If you are actually fighting for a good cause, then count me in.” Rumble accepted, softly smiling. He shook Soundwave’s hand. “A wise choice. Welcome to the revolution... Rumble.” Soundwave said, his visor glowing brightly.