Autobot Ark - Around Midnight
The royal sister trotted out of the cave entrance to the Autobot’s ark with Optimus following them out. “We appreciated the hospitality and the warning you have given us, Optimus,” Celestia said, looking up to the leader.
“My pleasure Celestia I hope we can work more closely together to combat this threat,” Optimus said.
“Well my student is more than willing to not only learn but to also help you,” Said Celestia before turning to her sister. “Now if you excuse us we have to inform our own military command and get to sleep ourselves,” They said before spreading their wings and taking flight. Optimus waved them off.
No sooner had they left there was a bright flash taking Optimus by surprise. When it cleared there stood a guilt ridden Tempest Shadow along with a concerned Twilight Sparkle. “What’s wrong Twilight? And just who is this?”
Twilight was silent for a moment before gesturing her hoof to the unicorn. “This is Tempest Shadow and she has something she would like to share with you.”
Tempest stepped forward feeling intimidated by Optimus’s size. “I believe I was aiding your enemies…”
It was then Optimus noticed a familiar insignia on the unicorn’s armor. “Come inside,” he simply said.
An hour of explaining later nearly every Autobot and the one Decepticon in the ark had a look of horror on their faces. “You did WHAT?!” Exclaimed Ironhide.
“Let me get this straight,” began Prowl. “You were once a commanding officer that was used by an evil king to invade Equestria only to save it from him?”
Tempest nodded before Prowl continued. “And despite that, no one forgives you and then you have met the Decepticons who offered you a chance to prove you have changed?”
“I didn’t know they were planning on world domination. I was only told they needed my plans and input on the world to help them change it. I didn’t know it was for horrible intentions.”
“She has a point,” began Shockwave. “It explains why she didn’t see the other seekers rescue me. Because Starscream didn’t want her to see the conflict we were already having. It would also explain why she wasn’t with my former colleagues on the night of my betrayal. Megatron didn’t want her to see his style of execution.”
There was a brief silence until Optimus knelt down to Tempest and looked into her eyes. For Tempest it was hard to judge his face due to his face mask. Optimus sighed and then spoke up. “I can understand your desire to right the wrongs you have done. The road to redemption is a long and hard one. I have seen dozens wander that road during the war for Cybertron.”
“Despite her horn being broken, she is very skilled. Maybe she can help us?” Twilight suggested.
“Like Shockwave, she has to earn that trust,” Optimus said.
“Optimus, for all we know she could be a spy,” Red Alert said with worry. “We are still new to this world and we barely know much about these lifeforms.”
“Then let’s at least consider this a learning opportunity, besides we have limited resources.” Optimus then looked back down to Tempest. “What else do you know about Megatron’s plans?”
Decepticon Fortress - An Hour Later
The fortress not only had newly built defenses but also railroad tracks and additional metal structures built. Megatron grinned as he looked down from a ledge overlooking the fortress.”I just love it when a plan comes together, especially a plan to build a bigger empire.” He then turned to his second in command. “Starscream, what’s the status of the drone trooper maker?”
“It’s performing well but we only have enough energon to make fifty troops, maybe slightly more.”
Megatron sighed. “Then the fifty will have to do until we can get more energon in the form of raw energy forged from this planet. Manehattan has a power plant we can utilize. That's why we should focus our first major assault there.”
“Of course Lord Megatron. Shouldn’t we also worry about what other powers this world has?” Starscream asked.
“Look around you, Starscream. We have a sizable army and fortress that will slowly grow, we have a combiner, and we have the simple but effective military technology provided by that unicorn.”
“Yes but Shockwave’s notes had facts about other species like dragons that could easily burn a forest in one breath,” explained the seeker.
“And if a dragon comes we’ll be ready. For now, we just continue to expand our horizons.” He then pointed to the sky. “Now get to patrolling and eliminate any who dare approach us.”
Starscream jumped off the ledge, transformed and flew off. As he flew further away from Megatron his mind was elsewhere. “Megatron thinks he can single handedly take on the world. When I'm the leader, I’ll show him.”
Autobot Ark - The Next Day
Fluttershy and Twilight trotted into the ark. Fluttershy was a little concerned. One moment she was feeding her animal friends the next moment Twilight Sparkle approached her saying the Autobots requested her assistance with something. At first, Fluttershy was still intimidated by the Autobots but the moment she saw Red Alert they both smiled at each other. She then saw Optimus and Shockwave approach her. “So why was I called here?” she asked.
“My project is completed and you might play a vital role in keeping it…tame,” Shockwave said.
Fluttershy looked up in confusion. “Why me?”
“This project involved using both CNA from cybertron and DNA from a whole other world I had once sent a drone to,” he explained.
“CNA?” Fluttershy asked with a raised brow.
“Cyber Nucleic Acid, the building block of all Cybertronian matter,” Optimus said. “Apparently Shockwave’s project is some kind of animal hybrid.”
“And we had learned of your unique ability to handle wild beasts of this land,” Shockwave added. “In fact Scootaloo told me you had tamed an unfriendly beast you refer to as Angel.”
Fluttershy went from confused to annoyed as she facehoofed. “How many times must I tell everypony, he’s not mean he’s just grouchy.”
“Debatable…” whispered Twilight before getting a glare from Fluttershy.
Optimus cleared his throat. “We have important things now, can we count on you to help us?” Fluttershy nodded. Optimus then turned to Shockwave. “You have my approval to activate your project.”
Shockwave left the command center and went down a hall. A few minutes later Shockwave came back into the room followed by Wheeljack and Perceptor. A series of loud stomps followed them. Every Autobot in the room stood at attention, one aiming a weapon at the door. Shockwave turned to the door to see a shadow stretching across the doorway. He then turned to Optimus. “I give you… Project Grimlock.”
Entering the room was a large robotic beast. To Twilight and Fluttershy it looked like a robotic, wingless dragon. Red Alert aimed his rifle with shaking arms. “What in Primus’s name is that beast?”
The beast looked at Red Alert and growled. “Some other scientists on Cybertron refer to it as a Dinosaur, more specifically a tyrannosaurus rex,” explained Shockwave. “This is a hybrid of that, made to be stronger than the original.”
“A dinobot…” thought Twilight.
Optimus slowly approached it. “Prime, keep your distance, that beast could be unstable,” warned Ratchet.
“Not to worry, Grimlock is under my control and by some extension Optimus’s as well,” Shockwave said.
Optimus slowly got in front of it and raised a hand to it. The beast just stared intently at the prime. Optimus slowly placed a hand on Grimlock’s nose. The Dinobot slowly leaned into the gesture. Fluttershy then hovered up to it. “Oh my… such primal magnificence,” she said as she too placed a hoof on his nose.
“Please stand back everyone its time for a test,” said Wheeljack as he picked up two scraps of metal.
He then got in front of Grimlock and showed one scrap that had the Autobot insignia on it. Grimlock just stared at it and did nothing. Wheeljack then showed the other scrap that had the Decepticon insignia. Grimlock stared at the scrap and then growled. He then suddenly snapped and bit the metal out of Wheeljack’s hand and began gnawing it like a chew toy.
“You already taught the beast loyalty?” Optimus asked.
“It seemed logical given the limited resources and that Cybertronian brains are far more complex. Not even I can fully produce a functioning one. Not without slicing one open.” Shockwave explained. “That is also why I had Ratchet also give me this,” he said as he gestured to the new Autobot insignia on where his Decepticon one use to be.
Suddenly from the same entrance Tempest Shadow entered. “What’s going on here?”
Grimlock then turned to the unicorn and stared at it for a moment. Shockwave then noticed she was still wearing the clothes that had a Decepticon insignia. “Un oh.”
Grimlock then growled and roared at Tempest. Tempest screamed and ran away with the Dinobot giving chase. The Autobots and two ponies ran out and chased after them.
Tempest Shadow ran as fast as she could with all the adrenaline she had in her body. She attempted to blast Grimlock but all that did was barely slow him down. She then turned a corner where much to her bad luck, she ran into a dead end. “No no no this can’t be.”
She then turned to see the Dinobot now slowly closing in on her. The beast got lower to the ground and growled. All Tempest could do was cower in fear. Suddenly Fluttershy got between them and stared at the beast the same way she would to a misbehaving animal. Grimlock went from looking intimidated to scared as it now took a step back.
“Tempest take off the armor! He attacks whoever has the Decepticon insignia!” Shouted Wheeljack as he ran up to them.
Tempest wasted no time and threw her armor on the ground where Grimlock then picked it up and started chewing on it. Fluttershy just continues to stare at Grimlock. “You should be ashamed of yourself. Attacking someone unprovoked. How would you feel if someone did that to you?”
Grimlock just stared at the ground in shame and whimpered. Fluttershy then nuzzled him as Twilight ran up to Tempest. “Are you okay?”
“Yes I'm fine, just a little shaken up,” Tempest said, calming down.
“Why were you still wearing that?” Wheeljack asked as he looked down at Tempest.
Tempest thought for a moment. “I have no idea.”
Optimus just observed the scene, processing everything. “I believe it’s best for this project of yours to have further testing as well as obedience training. Fluttershy would you like to help us further with Grimlock?”
“Me? I couldn’t I still have my-”
But before Fluttershy could finish he then saw Grimlock looking at her with what looked like pleading eyes. ”Further obedience training from you is most logical as I have no experience with taming organic beast. Let alone bioorganic,” said Shockwave. “Besides it seems Grimlock has taken a shine to you.”
“She has that effect on all animals,” smiled Twilight as she watched Fluttershy give some affection to the Dinobot.
“Okay I guess I could help out here with Grimlock,” said Fluttershy as she continued to Nuzzle Grimlock.
Optimus turned to Shockwave. “Earlier you said you had other projects you were working on. What were they?”
“One of them was phase two of my Cyberfusion experiments. Phase one was what I did to Scootaloo. Did your team recover a Cybertronian Skeleton from my lab?”
“No, Project Grimlock was all we found,” said Optimus.
An Unknown Place - Around the Same Time
Former Queen Chrysalis just looked at the metal structure. “Okay I may have had bad luck with my revenge but this could help me. That strange alien might as well have given me a proper advantage.”
The changeling flew up to the skeleton’s ribcage and her horn glowed brighter surrounding the skeleton in a bright green aura. “I could feel it. This new form of power. I like it.”
Suddenly the ribs folded inwards pinning the changeling inside. Chrysalis gasped. “What is this?”
Suddenly she felt several sharp stings all over her body. It was like she was being zapped by lightning. She screamed and struggled against the metal that was holding her in place. It felt like she was on fire but at the same time she felt like she was getting stronger as both her body and the skeleton began changing. Soon a bright light flooded the forest she was in and once it died down. There was silence.
Then came a giant footstep followed by another. A large black robot rose to her feet as she examined her new body. She then began laughing. “Now this is what I call a huge makeover,” Chrysalis laughed.