It’s another day in Canterlot City: it’s the last day of school before spring break and Flash Sentry just arrived to class before the school bell to take his seat in the back corner behind Sandalwood and a few desks from Micro Chips. “Morning, Flash. You ready for spring break?” Sandalwood greeted him.
“Well… no.” Flash Sentry answered dejectedly. “I wanted to do jam seshes with Ringo and Brawly, but they’re busy with other stuff. I didn’t really have any other plans other than that.”
“Why don’t you ask Sunset and her friends if you could join them in whatever they’re doing?” Sandalwood suggested.
“Speaking of, where are they? They’re usually here before homeroom starts.” Flash Sentry wondered.
“Probably on another magic adventure.” Micro Chips commented as he read a tech magazine.
“I wish I could go on a magic adventure with them. They’re dangerous, I know, but they’re so exciting! I wanna be a part of one, somehow.” Flash Sentry said in an excited and hopeful tone.
“But you don’t have magic powers to handle all that.” Sandalwood added.
“Micro, are you working on anything over the break?” Flash Sentry asked inquisitively.
“I do have several experiments in need of test subjects.” Micro Chips answered. “Why do you ask?”
“You got anything that could get me on the girls’ level? Like a robotic battle suit, or something?” Flash Sentry asked.
“No, but thanks for the suggestion.” Micro Chips answered as the teacher enters.
Their teacher is a purple man in his late twenties with black bowl-cut hair, wearing a long khaki coat over a white sweater and jeans, and mismatching red and blue shoes. “Welcome, class. I bet you’re all excited for spring break.” He welcomed them with a cool demeanour.
“I should be. Instead, I’m stuck in Boredtown, population: me.” Flash Sentry grumbled to himself.
“I’m really gonna miss him. He’s the best substitute physics teacher we had, ever.” Micro Chips commented on the teacher.
“No duh, he actually makes physics worth paying attention to with all his crazy experiments.” Sandalwood added.
Barging into class are the Rainbooms: Sunset Shimmer, Twilight Sparkle, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity, all looking hurried and exhausted. “Morning, Mister Bottle!” Sunset Shimmer greeted the teacher hurriedly as the girls takes their seats.
“Please, I’m your substitute teacher, you won’t be seeing me anymore soon. Call me Full Bottle.” the teacher told her.
“Are we late?” Twilight Sparkle asked.
“By three-point-zero-five seconds, but who’s counting?” Full Bottle shrugs. “So, shall we start the headcount?” he takes out a list.
“Hey.” Flash Sentry greeted Sunset Shimmer as he sat behind her.
“Hey.” Sunset Shimmer responded.
“What’ve you been up to today?” Flash Sentry asked.
“Trying to get rid of a magic tree in Applejack’s farm.” Sunset Shimmer answered.
“A real pest, that one.” Applejack commented in annoyance.
“Every time we try something, it shocks us!” Rainbow Dash stressed.
“I attempted to use my diamond shield to cut it down. If it really is as hard as diamond, then it can most likely cut like it.” Rarity continued.
“Let’s try again after school!” Pinkie Pie suggested excitedly.
“Pinkie Pie?” Full Bottle called out.
“Present!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “That’s what I’ll give him at his farewell party.” Pinkie Pie whispered to her friends.
“Can I come? I’d like to help.” Flash Sentry offered.
“Sorry Flash, but you should leave the magical anomalies to us.” Twilight Sparkle denied.
“If you somehow get magic powers, maybe we’ll bring you along.” Fluttershy joked.
“Yeah, maybe.” Flash Sentry groaned dejectedly as the bell rings.
After school, the students rush out the doors and jump into spring break. “Spring break!” Pinkie Pie yelled as she leaps off the entrance steps.
“First thing’s first: get rid’a that tree.” Applejack decided.
“Look out tree, ‘cuz we’re coming to cut you down!” Rainbow Dash proclaimed as she points to the sky.
“Hey, girls!” Flash Sentry called out as he catches up to them.
“Flash, got plans for spring break?” Sunset Shimmer greeted him.
“Yeah, totally. What’re you girls up to?” Flash Sentry answered awkwardly.
“We’ve got some gigs planned here and there. You’re welcome to come, if you want.” Sunset Shimmer offered.
“I’d love to.” Flash Sentry accepted.
“We’re gonna go back to chop down the tree. Maybe you can sit with me and watch.” Spike suggested as he pokes out of Twilight Sparkle’s backpack.
“I need the audience to debut my new strategy: diamond saws! If my shields’ facets are as hard as the edges, perhaps they’re sharp enough to fell a tree in one swing.” Rarity added.
As they walk, they notice the back of the Wondercolts pedestal shining brightly. “Someone’s coming through!” Sunset Shimmer pointed.
“Who could it be?” Twilight Sparkle wondered. Flying out the portal and sent rolling along the pavement is another Twilight Sparkle, hurt, unconscious, and holding onto a metallic yellow object.
“That’s the other me!” Twilight Sparkle noted in surprise.
“What happened to her?” Rarity wondered as the portal shines even brighter.
Scrambling out the portal are two purple crystalline giants, and an even bigger rusted robot with yellow eyes, razor-sharp teeth, armed with a massive two-pronged claw. It shoves the claw into one giant’s abdomen, disintegrating it, leaving behind a purple crystal. When its back is turned, the other giant manifests a massive shuriken, only for the rust giant to turn around and slash its arm. As the giant keels in pain, the robot picks it up and tears it in two, dispelling it and leaving behind another crystal to crush underfoot before letting out a bloodcurdling roar.
“Evil robot attack!” Pinkie Pie screamed, gaining the giant robot’s attention. It stares her down with rage before simmering down. Rainbow Dash rushes up a wall and jumps, landing a kick on the robot’s face and knocking it backwards. It regains its footing before reaching out to Princess Twilight Sparkle, only to be stopped by her counterpart’s telekinesis.
“Release me.” the robot growled before Applejack punches it.
“Don’t lay a hand on our friend!” Sunset Shimmer exclaimed before the robot turns around and runs away.
“We’re not finished!” Rainbow Dash screamed as they rush to the curb with Flash Sentry carrying the other Twilight Sparkle. When they follow it around the corner, they find it has disappeared, despite the road traffic.
“It’s gone! How can a giant robot disappear like that?” Flash Sentry wondered.
“Maybe it’s invisible!” Pinkie Pie suggested.
“The tree can wait. Let’s get Twilight to safety.” Sunset Shimmer decided as she looks at the princess.
At the human Twilight Sparkle’s house, they lay the princess on her bed and treat her wounds. “I can’t believe it, she’s really back after all this time.” Flash Sentry said in surprise.
“I thought we’d see her again, just not like this.” Rarity added.
“She must’ve been in some crazy trouble.” Pinkie Pie commented.
“And what did she bring with her?” Rainbow Dash looked to the metal hunk in the corner.
“She’s waking up!” Spike announced as he stood beside the princess’ head.
Her eyes flutter open to see her friends and Flash Sentry waving meekly. “What…? Where…?” Twilight Sparkle muttered as she sits up.
“Slowly, Princess. You’re hurt.” Twilight Sparkle’s counterpart advised.
“I’m in the human world…” Twilight Sparkle looks at her hands then up to her friends.
“We’re glad to see you again, but what in Equestria happened to you?” Sunset Shimmer asked her.
“The Castle of Friendship, it was attacked, then… *GASP*” Twilight Sparkle explained. “Bumblebee! Where’s Bumblebee!?” she panicked.
“Calm down. Who’s Bumblebee?” Fluttershy asked.
“He was… he…” Twilight Sparkle tears up.
“When ya ‘rrived, you’re holding onto some metal junk.” Applejack informed her.
“Then there were giant robots that destroyed each other! One of them tried to grab you, but we scared it away!” Pinkie Pie recounted manically.
“Metal hunk? Where is it?!” Twilight Sparkle asked panickily before she looks to the metal hunk: a badly-damaged yellow robot’s head.
“Bumblebee!” Twilight Sparkle scrambles out of bed and kneels before the head.
“He… put his life on the line to protect me…” Twilight Sparkle mourned tearfully.
Sunset Shimmer goes to comforts her, then puts her hand on the head, triggering her empathy powers.
She sees Twilight Sparkle floating in a rainbow vortex, holding onto a green bag. “No… my friends… Fi-” Twilight Sparkle’s voice echoed.
“Twilight, look out” screamed a giant yellow robot who pushes Twilight Sparkle away, only to be grabbed by the purple giants. Twilight Sparkle witnesses his horrifying dismemberment before his head is torn off and thrown at her, then everything goes dark.
Sunset Shimmer is brought back to reality and backs away from the head in shock. “I saw its memories… it was a giant robot, and it really did sacrifice itself to protect Twilight.” Sunset Shimmer described.
“It’s a robot. Robots aren’t alive.” Human Twilight Sparkle refuted.
Unexpectedly, the head’s eyes beam with blue light. “Aaah!” the head screams.
“Aaah!” everyone in the room screamed with it. The head springs out insectoid legs to skitter around the floor whilst screaming.
“Someone, make it stop!” Spike barked over the screaming head.
When the head skitters towards Twilight Sparkle, her counterpart telekinetically grabs it. “Thanks, other me.” Twilight Sparkle thanked her.
“Where am I?! Where’s my body?! Where’s Eighty-One?! Where’s Fi—" Bumblebee panicked as his eyes dart around.
“Bumblebee, it’s me, Twilight.” Twilight Sparkle assured him.
“Oh… I know. I think I know where I am.” Bumblebee calmed down before turning to the others.
“Howdy, Applejack. How are you, Rarity darling? Rainbow Dash, staying awesome? Pinkie Pie, great to see you! Hi there, Fluttershy! Sunset Shimmer, hello. Sci-Twi. Flash, Flash, hundred-yard dash!” Bumblebee greeted them in varying tones to their bewilderment.
“What are you?” Fluttershy asked curiously before Pinkie Pie butts in.
“Lemme guess! You’re an alien robot from another universe sent to Equestria to find evil crystals made into soldiers by a robot warlord to bolster his army, then you were ambushed at Twilight’s castle where you were tackled into the portal and sent here?” Pinkie Pie deduced.
“Right on the mark.” Bumblebee confirmed.
“Wow, intelligent alien life, in my own home!” Sci-Twi hopped excitedly.
“Start from the beginning, how’d you two meet?” Flash Sentry asked them.
“We met in the Crystal Empire where I accompanied a pair of brave heroes solving a friendship problem. Bumblebee and his partner C-Eighty-One appeared after saving Princess Cadence and Shining Armour from crystal giants. We took them to my castle to examine some strange crystals, but we found the same giants attacking it.” Twilight Sparkle explained.
“They took your pony selves hostage, and we were thrown into the Crystal Mirror with those creatures, Crystal Terrorcons, I call them.” Bumblebee elaborated.
“Then you saved me from them… now you’re a head.” Twilight Sparkle concluded sombrely.
“This crystal?” Spike presented an intact purple crystal.
“Get that Dark Energon away from me!” Bumblebee screamed.
“Dark what?” Fluttershy asked as the crystal glows.
“Break it! Break it!” Bumblebee hurried before Applejack shatters it underfoot.
“Dark Energon’s bad news. It does unspeakable things to my kind. We gotta go back to Equestria to save the other yous.” Bumblebee proclaimed.
“Can’t imagine y’can do that as a head.” Applejack pointed.
“Where’s the rest of my body? I can feel them around, but I can’t recall them.” Bumblebee wondered.
“Aside from you two, three giant evil robots emerged from the mirror.” Sci-Twi answered.
“I speculate that your parts and your companions have been scattered after incorrectly passing through the portal.” Twilight Sparkle speculated.
“If the princess trusts Bumblebee, then we’ll help find them.” Sci-Twi assured.
“It’ll be like a treasure hunt!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed.
“Thanks, Sci-Twi. You aren’t Twilight’s best friends for nothing.” Bumblebee thanked.
“Why’re you calling me Sci-Twi?” Sci-Twi asked.
“Gotta differentiate between you two somehow.” Bumblebee answered casually.
“What’re we waiting for? Let’s go and—!" Flash Sentry rallied before Sunset Shimmer stops him.
“Sorry, Flash. This’ll be dangerous with an evil robot on the loose.”
“But—" Flash Sentry said before Twilight Sparkle approaches him.
“This is for your own safety. I’m sure you understand.” Twilight Sparkle told him. “If it’s any consolation, it’s good to see you again.” She said for Flash Sentry to smile slightly.
“To start, perhaps I can create a map by extrapolating the signals Bumblebee’s picking up.” Sci-Twi proposed.
“You ain’t N.E.S.T., but I know you’re smart enough to get into my head. You did build a magic-siphoning device that turned you into a nigh-unstoppable giant woman.” Bumblebee commented.
“This is the part where you say no offense.” Pinkie Pie told him.
“Hehe, sorry, no offense.” Bumblebee chuckled awkwardly.
“None taken.” Sci-Twi rolls her eyes before they leave the room.
They burst out the front door and run to the backyard where the lab is. “See y’all later.” Flash Sentry waves to the girls as he separates at the front door.
Twilight Sparkle waves back as they enter Sci-Twi’s lab, cluttered with machinery and experiments. “Can you connect to computers?” Sci-Twi asked Bumblebee.
“Cade installed U.S.B.s and H.D.M.I.s in the back of my head.” plates on the back of Bumblebee’s head shift to reveal a variety of inputs.
“Who’s Cade?” Applejack asked.
“He gave me the disassembly upgrade. I can disassemble and reassemble at will like a living Bionicle. But then… y’know.” Bumblebee answered as Sci-Twi plugs him into her computer.
“He must be a brilliant engineer to work on alien technology.” Fluttershy commented.
“He’s a behind, but he’s a smart behind.” Bumblebee reminisced affectionately.
“I’ve always been fascinated with your world’s technology. We don’t have anything like this in Equestria.” Twilight Sparkle observes Sci-Twi working.
“Hah, tell that to the Bridleway jumbotron!” Bumblebee scoffed.
“So… Twilight… how’re things here? Are you doing better at C.H.S.?” Twilight Sparkle asked Sci-Twi nervously.
“I am, Twilight.” Sci-Twi responded awkwardly. “How are you doing… as a princess?”
“This is going as well as I thought.” Applejack commented as the two converses.
“It’s only their second meeting. Give them a few more chances.” Rarity said.
“Considering how busy Twilight is, who knows when that’ll be?” Sunset Shimmer added.
“Star Swirl? Fascinating.” Sci-Twi responded to Twilight Sparkle.
Twilight Sparkle looked to Sci-Twi’s Geode bowtie. “Sunset Shimmer wrote about these Geodes before. May I see yours?”
“Sure.” Sci-Twi hands over her Geode.
“From what I understand, they work similarly to the Elements of Harmony, plus additional magic abilities.” Twilight Sparkle noted.
“Yeah, like super speed!” Rainbow Dash zips around the room.
“Animal communication.” Fluttershy said as a sparrow flies from a window and lands on her finger.
“Super strength.” Applejack flexes.
“Diamond shields.” Rarity manifests a diamond on her fingertip.
“Sugar bombs!” Pinkie Pie throws sprinkles that burst into sparks.
“Empathy reading.” Sunset Shimmer added.
“And telekinesis.” Sci-Twi concluded.
“My friends in Equestria naturally have those abilities. Except Pinkie Pie.” Twilight Sparkle noted.
“Doesn’t her party cannon count?” Bumblebee commented.
“Say, how do you know so much about us? You mentioned you’re a fan?” Twilight Sparkle asked Bumblebee.
“How should I put this…?” Bumblebee said hesitantly. “You guys are in a cartoon.”
Everyone widens their eyes in surprise.
“Never in all my life I thought I’d discover we’re in a cartoon!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed in manic surprise.
“A cartoon… and we’re the main characters?” Sci-Twi asked in bewilderment.
“Your pony selves, actually. You girls are the high school spin-off. I was hoping to meet them, but they got kidnapped.” Bumblebee answered.
“What’s an alien robot doin’ watching cartoons?” Applejack asked.
“A bot’s gotta have hobbies.” Bumblebee answered.
“At least we can skip introductions.” Sunset Shimmer commented.
“So, mister robot head, who’s your favourite character? It’s gotta be someone as awesome as a robot warrior!” Rainbow Dash asked confidently.
“Fluttershy.” Bumblebee answered bluntly to Fluttershy’s surprise. “She’s cute, friendly, and nice! I can’t help but smile every time I see her, and she’s awesome in her own way.”
“Oh, I’m flattered.” Fluttershy blushes.
“You’ve been watching our adventures?” Twilight Sparkle asked Bumblebee.
“Yep. One of my favourite moments was when Fluttershy went nuts at the Grand Galloping Gala. Oh! There was that time Pinkie cloned herself, and you had to blast them all to dust!” Bumblebee said excitedly to Pinkie Pie’s concern.
“This feels too familiar.” Twilight Sparkle commented as Bumblebee continues talking.
“How so?” Applejack asked.
“I released my friends’ Friendship Journal to the public. Suddenly, all of Equestria was obsessed with us.” Twilight Sparkle recounted. “Like him.” she looks at Bumblebee blabbering on.
“Today gets weirder and weirder. You return, we find Bumblebee, and now it turns out he’s a superfan to our televised adventures.” Sunset Shimmer said to Twilight Sparkle.
“There!” Sci-Twi exclaimed. “These are the last-known locations of Bumblebee’s parts.” Sci-Twi turns her computer to her friends, displaying a map of Canterlot.
“The closest part is my right leg at the park!” Bumblebee observed.
“What’re we waiting for? Let’s build us a robot!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed.
As they set off to the park, Full Bottle emerges from a bush. With a purple camera, he snaps a picture of Bumblebee carried by Applejack. “I think I know what I’m gonna do for spring break.” Full Bottle smiled as he looked at the picture.
As Flash Sentry drives home through a tunnel, a flash of light comes on from behind. “No tailgating!” Flash Sentry exclaimed. The vehicle behind rams him, swerving him into a wall, leaving him relatively unharmed. “Hey, what was that for?!” Flash Sentry yelled to the driver as he exits the car. The headlights turn off, revealing a rusted S.U.V behind it. “You listening to me?!”
The S.U.V.’s chassis fragments, scratching rust off as it transforms into the rusted robot from earlier. Flash Sentry runs, but the robot blocks him with its claw. “Back off! My friends got superpowers!” Flash Sentry threatened the robot before the robot drops a robotic yellow forearm before him. “Is that one of Bumblebee’s parts?” he wondered curiously.
“I need your help, boy.” the robot requested.
To be continued…