"So how does this work?"
Shockwave nearly crushed the console with his hand as Dash continued to pester him. The blasted insect of an ape ran about the base, along with the rest of the infestation. The pink one especially annoyed him the most, the little human was decorating the base for some party for the Cybertronians.
"Hey, that's a big rat!"
If she does not cease her behavior, Shockwave might just open her up like an Amphiboid, but Arcee would never allow him to divulge in the inner workings of this speedster.
"Human," Dash stopped just as she was about to press a random button. "If you continue to bother me, then I am not to be blamed for what I might do."
Dash smirked smugly. "Yeah right, we know Starscream has you on a tight leash!"
Shockwave slammed his fist against the console. "You grow too faithful to that seeker, and I promise that it won't be me who breaks you."
Dash was not deterred, she marched around the keyboard nonchalantly. "So what's all this? It's like you're looking for someone."
"This does not concern you, mon-keigh, go back to your trivial human business."
She blew a raspberry at him. "You do know we can help right?"
"And what would any of you humans do? None of you could even use the console or any of this Cybertronian tech."
"You're literally browsing memes..."
"They serve better as news outlets than your Earth cable. Do you see that giant rodent? After extended research, I discovered that this giant rat is located somewhere here in this Everfree Forest, and I have the evidence to prove it."
"Woah, so the giant rat is real!?"
"Affirmative, now go bother someone else."
"Hey, Twilight!"
Shockwave watched as Twilight rode the drone she acquired from Swindle, it was amazing that she managed to fix up that old machine and found a way to control it. Twilight hovered above the console right in front of the monitor. "Did you need something, Dash?"
"Yeah, so the cyclops is looking for something and he doesn't want our help." Dash explained to her friend.
"Oh, I am confident that we could help!" Twilight claimed. "Here, just let me see what I can do."
"Fine." He said to her.
Twilight sat down to get comfortable and opened up her laptop. Shockwave watched as she punched in some keys and brought up a series of search engines. And this was the only moment Shockwave had felt a tinge of interest as the human in front of him worked efficiently.
"Can I know what you're looking for exactly?"
"We are looking for a Decepticon called Blitzwing." Smokescreen decided to take the initiative and answer for the scientist. "He's a triple-changer that turns into a tank and a jet. From what the others told me, he's kinda sandy in color with purple highlights."
"Hey, Smokescreen!" Dash greeted.
"Short stuff, glad to see grumpy pants finally want some help!" Shockwave simply scoffed at Smokescreen.
"Yeah, been trying to get the guy to ask us, but luckily, he's as smart as you all say!" Dash said with a sly grin. "Now my friend here will show off her big ginormous brain! Bet she's even smarter than him."
"Unlikely." Shockwave seethed.
"I got something!"
Shockwave snapped towards Twilight, eye glowed intensely. "Impossible!"
"Possible!" Twilight said cheerfully. "After searching for anomalies and oddities, I've discovered that there was a sighting of a phantom tank in the borders of Poland!"
Smokescreen sent a grin at Shockwave who only glared back. He then turned towards Twilight to speak about her findings. "So, since Shocks couldn't find anything, I'm sure you can explain to us what you found so far, Twilight."
"A Japanese tank was spotted in Poland, it looked to be a prototype which resembled a Type 10, the biggest difference is that this tank has two barrels instead of one. It also has the colors that fit your friend's description." Twilight explained. "And it says here that the government of Poland is in a heated meeting with Japanese officials. And right now, the tank is still out there."
"Ha, see Shockwave! Twilight did it better than you, and let me guess, Twi', you found it all from Sellit!" Dash loved Shockwave's reaction, it was clear that he detested the fact he was beaten by a human, who is still in her adolescent years.
"No, I was just looking around Clover."
Dash gagged. "That place? Heard it is full of icky stuff."
"Well that's what happens if you have too much free speech, no one really cares what you do and stuff, Sellit has too much censorship. Anyway, I triangulated the location of the tank and believe that he is currently between Czech and Poland, seems like he is heading towards Germany."
"Brilliant work, human!" The thunderous applause echoed through the room as Starscream entered. A vile grin plastered on his face as he approached them. "Now that we know where he is, we can rescue Blitzwing and receive a formidable ally! But we must purge the internet of any information about this mysterious tank and make sure that no one talks about it again. That means you must stay here, Shockwave."
Shockwave did not protest, he said nothing and focused more on the task given to him. Before Twilight knew, every source she had was deleted everywhere. Which left the small conflict between Poland and Japan to be without context. The scientist worked fast, everything was gone before the minute.
The other Decepticons joined them as soon as they heard the Starscream's voice filled with joy.
"Smokescreen, you are with me!" Starscream ordered. "Thunderblast! This is a simple grab-and-run mission, but we will need you to vouch for us. Blitzwing might not know who is friend or foe yet."
"Sure my love, I will be right by your side, I promise!"
"Where is Arcee?" Starscream finally questioned.
"She's on the moon scouting out the enemy base," Shockwave explained. "Before you express your anger, need I remind you what her role is other than your bodyguard? She, just like Optimus' favorite, is a scout. Her smaller build will help her spy on our enemies without getting noticed."
"Well, I see... Alright then, let us embark!"
"Wait, can we come?" Dash asked.
To which Smokescreen was quick to step in. "Oh no you don't! The last time you went out, a Decepticon nearly snatched you!"
"Wait, Starscream told you!?"
"No, it was I who debriefed everyone after our return." Shockwave said. "Especially when Slipstream attempted to take you back to their base."
"You almost got what!?" Sunset exclaimed. "Dash, you didn't tell us about this!"
"I got caught up with something, okay! The whole thing bothered me so much that I kinda forgot to tell everyone about it."
Pinkie hummed confusedly. "But you didn't seem to be that bothered when you told us everything."
"Well, whatever!"
"Actually," Starscream spoke and stole their attention. "This is just a simple grab mission, so I doubt that there is any harm in bringing these humans along. I mean, we can think of it as a bonding outing as well, there's no danger I'm sure."
"Starscream, I don't think this is a good idea."
"Oh please, you brought those humans to your missions all the time."
"When we needed their help with something." Smokescreen argued.
"Well whatever, I may dislike them, but these humans can follow us if they like." Starscream turned away from the Autobot. "Shockwave, open the Bridge and send us to Blitzwing!"
"Alright! Hey girls, we're going to Poland!" Dash was quick to tell the others.
"You're on thin ice, Starscream, if Arcee hears about this she'll have your spark."
"She'll be happy to hear how well I took care of them," Starscream smirked at Smokescreen, the Bridge opened behind him and the room was bathed in bright light.
Blitzwing drove through the forest, he cared not for tracks he left, his voices argued in his head for hours now. He still remembered the time he was thrown out of the escape pod. His treads crushed everything in his way, and honestly, he was happy that he discovered an alt mode all the way out here. Though he was unsure why a tank from another country was driving along the border of Poland, that same tank belonged to Japan mind you, but he couldn't really bother to find out.
He stole its design, destroyed the tank, and scared off the weird little humans.
Blitzwing would've chased them down as well, but he wanted to see what Germany was like and wondered if he could take over the country. Of course, they were all puny humans, so he couldn't really see how it would work out for him. Too small and frail, if anything they were better off as food.
Wait no, that's disgusting... Maybe...
He shrugged off his previous thought and continued forward. But then his treads came to a halt, something in the air caught his attention. His body shifted and his tank form broke apart so he could stand on his two feet.
"I smell it, ve are not alone."
"It appears so," Blitzwing hummed. "But, if they vanted us dead, then they vould've attacked us by now."
He snapped around and his cannons came to life, the trees in his sight were reduced to nothing, but his optics beneath his visor widened. A barrier had caught the brunt of his wrath, and the humans behind the light were unharmed.
"What the heck man!?" A tiny blue human shot up to his face, furious that he had attacked them out of the... blue. Strangest part was, this human had wings.
"Mein Gott, ze humans, they have evolved!"
"Excuse me," Fluttershy approached, she could not hide her fear when the giant stared at her.
"You've caught my attention, speak now vhile I am merciful!"
"Hey, don't talk to our friend like that!" Applejack warned him. "Or else Ah'll show y'all a thing or two!"
"Forgive me, but that's just how he speaks calmly." He explained. "Now why have you come for us, candy horses!?"
"Didn't I say not to run off from us!?" Smokescreen entered the scene, only to be brought down by the larger bot. Blitzwing did not end his attack, he tossed Smokescreen against the tree and trained his cannons at him.
"Wait!" Sunset ran in between them, though she was small and weak, Blitzwing hesitated. Especially the fact that there was a sword on his neck.
"Blitzwing, calm yourself!" All eyes turned to Starscream, who wore a disgruntled look. "This isn't my fault, Smokescreen, you should've kept these humans on a tighter leash."
"Hey, we aren't pets!" Rarity told him.
Blitzwing relaxed. "Knowing the DJD, you wouldn't stand with them, ze strangest part is zat you brought humans and zis Autobot, and I can smell zat perfume, Thunderblast."
"Oh, hey Blitzwing!" Thunderblast greeted Blitzwing as she peeked over her hiding spot. "I was just... hiding here..."
Starscream snapped back his sword and glared at Dash and her friends. "And you humans, we told you not to approach him like that, this little trip of ours could've ended horribly!"
Smokescreen groaned as he was helped up to his feet by Blitzwing. "Guess we didn't have to bring Thunderblast with us if you were this easy to convince."
"Forgive me if I had acted on my instincts, I am still a soldier even after ze var."
"It's alright, just happy that you didn't hurt the girls." Smokescreen said as he silently glared at the teens.
Twilight was too occupied in her notes to even notice, she wrote down the fact that the Cybertronians had the sense of smell. She learned so much about their race and she was hungry for more. What she didn't see, unlike her friends, was how close Blitzwing was to them, his face hovered over the tiny humans and his eyes stared with a strange look.
"Uh, Twilight, you might want to step back," Sunset told her.
"You all smell strange..." Blitzwing pointed out.
Twilight shuffled away. "Fascinating, you could tell that we are different from other humans?"
"Ja, considering zat one of you could fly, and be able to conjure a large shield, I'm inclined to believe zat you seven are... unique."
"Well, we do have magic." Pinkie said with honesty.
"Fascinating," Blitzwing hummed. "Do you know about this, Kommandant?"
"Blitzwing please, address me as Lord Starscream from now on, since I am the only Decepticon worthy to take charge. And yes, I did notice their irregular traits." He then ignored Blitzwing and waved the thought off as something else important came to mind. "Shockwave, we have found Blitzwing before he could disappear once more."
"Are there any traces of the enemy?"
"No, Shockwave, we are clear for exfil, open a Bridge on my coordinates."
"Bridge is opening, move with haste."
Just as Shockwave said, the Ground Bridge tore open a rift in reality and was ready for extraction. Starscream said nothing and motioned for the rest to go through, Dash was honestly disappointed that the mission went without any action. She hoped that there would be another encounter with the big bad robots just so she could show off, but instead everything was as peaceful as this forest.
Though there was also the fact that Thunderblast started to take interest in Dash, she could tell that the seeker stared intently at her as if Thunderblast had remembered something. Rainbow Dash looked back at Thunderblast who averted her gaze when they met. Strange, Dash felt a familiar aura between her and Thunderblast, it reminded her of Slipstream.
"I say this field trip is going great!" Starscream laughed as they all returned home.
"It's not over yet," Shockwave told him as the Bridge shut down. "There's trouble..."