Maximize
Twilight Sparkle, Spike, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack had arrived at the far edge of town where the dragon had been sighted. Ponies had started gathering, but avoided going into the street to avoid being seen. High above the three girls saw a large red dragon circling above them.
Twilight turned to her own dragon assistant. “Spike, could you hold onto this while I deal with the big guy?” She then telekinetically handed the jewel box to Spike.
“What is it?”
“That box contains the Elements of Harmony, so be careful with it and don’t let it leave your sight.”
Spike fumbled the box, almost dropping it at the revelation. Once he firmly held the precious item he looked back to his mentor with determined eyes. “You can count on me!”
“I know I can.” Twilight then walked out into the street. She turned her head to the sky and raised her voice. “Excuse me, Mister Dragon?”
The airborne behemoth turned his attention to the miniscule unicorn beneath him. He then dove to the ground in a manner that could only be described as though he owned the earth as he did the sky. When he landed the earth shook, not enough to knock a pony off their hooves, but enough to send chills of terror through them.
Twilight now stood before the dragon, which was towering above her and possibly the surrounding buildings. The smell of brimstone hung in the air nearly choking Twilight.
The maximals had arrived to the witness the scene unfold.
“What is she doing?” Cheetor exclaimed under his breath.
Optimus held out a hoof to ensure neither Cheetor nor the others did anything rash. “She seems to know what she’s doing. If it’s just a common creature here then we won’t need to assist. But even if it is Megatron, revealing ourselves will only cause harm to the Ponies in the area. Well just need to stand by until needed”
Twilight coughed a few times before she composed herself. “Uh hello. I’m sorry to bother you, but could you fly around somewhere else? I don’t mean to be rude, it’s just-”
The Dragon lowered his head eyelevel to Twilight so he could examine her with his burning yellow eyes. “Are you aware of a pony by the name of Twilight Sparkle?” He spoke in a voice that could be described as both soothing and slithering.
“It’s Megatron alright!” This time Silverbolt tensed up ready to attack.
“Steady now.” Optimus spread out his wings, a gesture to hold his team back.
Twilight was taken aback that a wild dragon would know her name, let alone one that would seek her out. “Uh yes, that’s me. How do you know my name?”
Megatron chuckled as he rose back to his full height. “You are a bearer of one of the Elements of Harmony. Your actions are nothing short of greatness.”
Rhinox turned to Optimus with concern in his eyes. “How would he know this? We haven’t been here half a day, and we don’t know the significance of these elements.”
“I know, something’s not right.”
Twilight rubbed her neck, trying to ignore that she was blushing. “Well I uh. . . I’m honored.”
“Do tell me,” Megatron continued. “Do the remaining bearers reside here as well?”
“Well yeah!” Dash burst into the conversation. She fluttered to Megatron’s level and saluted. “Rainbow Dash, fastest Pegasus there ever was, and the Element of Loyalty at your service!”
“Do they not remember us telling them about Megatron?” Blackarachnia asked enraged that the mares were freely telling their names to their old nemesis.
“And ah’m Applejack, Element of Honesty. Unfortunately the other three of us are busy at the moment. Did you need us for sumthin?”
“You could say that, an old acquaintance of yours asked me to do something for them.” Megetron flexed his claws. “They wanted me to kill you.”
“What!?” Megatron swung his claw right where his targets stood. His claw cleaved only wind.
Being the fast pony she said she was, Rainbow Dash managed to grab Twilight and Applejack to fly them out of harm’s way. “Hey! What’s the big idea?”
“Were you not listening? How about I spell it out to you, my new employer wants you dead.” He unhinged his jaw and a stream of scarlet flame burst forward. Dash did her best to avoid getting herself and her friends burned, but the unnatural flame kept following as Megatron adjusted his aim. Megatron halted his current jet and took aim once more, and once he got a sight that guaranteed a hit he readied a deathly breath. At that moment something hit him in the head, redirecting his fire.
When he recomposed himself he found there was a silver colored Pegasus floating between him and his targets. “Megatron! You dare harm innocents? Are there depths you won’t sink to?” Silverbolt took a fighting stance in preparation for another attack.
“If it isn’t the chivalrous Silverbolt.... you’re a Pony.” Megatron was momentarily confused as to the fuzor’s change in form. “I take it you weren’t the only one to survive the crash were you?”
“You’ve got that right Megatron.” An all too familiar voice called to Megatron. When he turned to the source of the voice he saw, along with ponies retreating from sight, Optimus Primal along with what Megatron assumed were the rest of the maximals in pony form. “and we won’t stand by while you kill innocent civilians.”
“Aside from assuming they are innocent, how do you expect to stop me?”
“We have you out numbered.”
“I am a dragon.”
“Got ya there fearless leader.”
“Be that as it may, we have stopped you before and that isn’t changing now. Maximals protect Twilight and the others!”
Silverbolt dived to deliver another blow to Megatron’s face, unfortunately Megatron was expecting this and swatted Silverbolt out of the air. While Megatron was distracted Cheetor took this opportunity to run up to his right leg and pounded his fore hooves into the knee, increasing the force with every hit. Blacharachnia used her telekinesis to lift nearby objects, such as barrels and carts, and launched them at the offending dragon. Rhinox attempted to follow her lead, but failed to grasp how to control the mysterious force he was supposed to wield now.
While Megatron was distracted by his current attackers, Optimus decided to assist Silverbolt, who was now rising back into the air. He stretched out his wings, took a running start and leapt into the air. Instead of soaring into the heavens as he had done many times before, he glided only a foot off the ground for a distance of ten feet. “Right, no prime jets.” He recalled the times he had seen Airazor and Silverbolt had flown in beast mode by flapping their wings. He did his best to imitate this action, and by trial and error managed to get airborne. He shakily flew up to Silverbolt.
“Are you ready to teach this demon a lesson Optimus?”
“When am I not?” The both of them dove, fore hooves first to deliver a nasty blow to the foe below.
In the ensuing chaos, Rainbow Dash took the opportunity to hide herself and her two friends in an alley out of sight. “Those guys are the real deal.”
“Okay, so that’s Megatron.” Twilight stated to clear up her head swimming with thought. “I know I should have expected that, I just thought if he was here, he would have been turned into a pony like the others.”
“Hold on.” Applejack was peaking around the corner of the alley. “Ah only count five of them. Where’s ta other?”
“Lookin’ for me?” Rattrap walked out of the shadows of the alley.
“Rattrap!” Twilight shouted with concern. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be out there with the others?”
“You kiddin’? I ain’t riskin my neck for no reason.” He emphasized by tapping his neck.
“Ah thought you we’re the type that doesn’t back down from a fight?” Applejack threw the diminutive stallion a scornful look. “That is if ah recall your story correctly.”
“Normally yes.”
“And yer not out there because?”
“Look kid, my specialties include espionage and sharp shootin. Reconnaissance won’t help in this situation and my superior aim is useless without a ranged weapon.”
Twilight tapped her chin. “So you’ll only be able to help if you have something to shoot with?”
“It’s not that simple.” Rattrap waved a hoof in Twilight’s face. “A quasar rifle ain’t operable less you have fingers. Sure I could do it if I had that horn voodoo of. . . . yours.” Rattrap trailed of staring at Twilights horn.
“Uh… Rattrap? What is it? Did I get something on my horn?” Twilight tried to examine her horn self-consciously.
“I just got what Cheetor would call an ‘Ultra Gear’ idea. Follow me Twilight Spackle.” Rattrap ran off in the direction opposite of the battle, which now escalated with volleys of fire.
Twilight ran alongside him. “It’s Sparkle, Twilight Sparkle. What are we doing anyway?”
“We have to get back to the shuttle, everything I need is there.”
“If that’s the case I have a faster way to get there.”
“How’s tha-?!” Before he could finish both he and Twilight were enveloped by a purple light and vanished.
Meanwhile at the battle grounds Rhinox was still desperately attempting to tap into his telekinesis. “Blackarachnia, how exactly are you able to do this?”
Blackarachnia had currently run out of carts and barrels and now was utilizing the splintered remains as ammunition. “It’s not that hard.” She then lobbied a barrage at Megatron. “Just imagine you have an invisible fifth appendage that can grab anything. Just don’t think too hard about it.”
Rhinox quieted his mind and did as she said. He turned his attention to a nearby pile of stones. He visualized the hypothetical hand extending from his horn and wrapping around them. Once the imaginary grip was tightened a golden aura surrounded both his horn and the stones. Rhinox continued this strange ability and lifted the clutch up off the ground. With a snap of his neck he sent the rocks sailing through the air to collide with the pre occupied Megatron.
“I can get used to this.”
Just outside the hatch of the Omega Delta Twilight and Rattrap appeared in a flash of light.
Rattrap patted himself to make sure nothing was missing. “Are my teeth supposed to be buzzing.” He then sniffed the air a few times. “And what smells like chlorine?”
“Don’t worry, those are just temporary side effects, Just make sure to stay hydrated and you’ll be fine. Maybe.” She walked into the shuttle ahead of Rattrap while he got his bearings. “So what do we need?”
“You let me worry about that.” Rattrap passed Twilight and pounded on the shuttle’s wall where a door opened. Rattrap reached in and brushed the contents on to the floor. “Just do what I tell you to do. We’ll need to make this fast.”
Back at the front Megatron decided to take flight to get out of range of the grounded maximals. Now he only needed to deal with Optimus and Silverbolt. He slashed with his claws, flailed his tail, and spewed flame.
Optimus and Silverbolt managed to avoid the worst of these assaults, but they were unable to return strikes and their new bodies, while being at peak physical condition, began to tire.
Down on the ground Rhinox, Cheetor and Blackarachnia could do nothing but watch. “Any bright ideas?” Blacharachnia asked not really expecting an answer.
“I do.” Both Blackarachnia and Rhinox were taken aback by Cheetor’s immediate answer. “Just let me get a running start.” He then ran about a quarter mile away from the aerial skirmish. He then turned about and ran as hard as he could, building speed with every meter. “I’m going to need a boost!”
Both Rhinox and Blacharaachnia understood the cat’s madness. Just as Cheetor was about to pass the two of them, they gained a telekinetically grab on the speedster. Then they lifted him into the air and let momentum take over. Cheetor careened through the sky and slammed his hooves into Megatron’s back.
Megatron was knocked off balance, drawing his attention from the pegasi and to the annoyance from his back. This gave Optimus and Silverbolt a chance to go into a glide and take a breather.
“What is this pathetic attempt of a battle Primal? My superior body can handle a thousand blows without consequence. One cleave of my claw and you will be on your way to the Matrix. Face it Primal, this is a battle where the victor was chosen from the beginning!”
“FRAG YOU DRAGONBUTT!” As these crass words reached Megatrons ears his left eye was blinded with a searing red heat.
The rest of the maximals turned to see Rattrap, who had been absent through most of the fight, had an odd contraption attached to his right foreleg which he had pointed at Megatron.
“INSOLENT VERMIN!” Megatron dropped to the ground and glared at the sharpshooter with his one good eye.
“Havin’ problems with your superior bod Megs?” Rattrap teased in his signature condescending voice. He them let loose more bolts of red energy from his wrist. This forced Megatron to attempt to defend himself with his arms and wings covering his face.
“Rhinox!”
Rhinox turned to see Twilight galloping towards him; she was also carrying two things in her telekinesis. “Twilight! This isn’t the best place for you to be.”
“I know, but Rattrap told me I should bring you these and that you’d figure out the rest.” She held two mechanical box like objects out to him, they almost looked like circular saws with maces attached to them.
A smile spread across his muzzle. “Oh that Rattrap thinks of everything doesn’t he?”
Megatron just about had it with this. “You want fire? You can have it!” he removed his wings and arms from the front of his face and blasted a jetstream of flame. Rattrap barely managed to evade the blast, slightly singeing his tail in the process. Megatron was about to follow up with another breath, but was once more interrupted by what felt like a wall of stings. He turned to see Rhinox operating his signature chain guns with his golden aura. Megatron fell to all fours and pounded the ground signaling that he surrendered.
Optimus landed next to Rhinox placing a hoof on his shoulder telling him to stop. Rhinox complied and ended his attack. Optimus approached the fallen dragon, his entire side salted with partially melted ammunition. Cheetor, who had managed to not only hang onto Megatron’s back but also avoid the gunfire, jumped down and walked past his leader to regroup with the others. Optimus stopped walking when he could clearly look into his enemy’s good eye.
“You have won this round Primal, but I will never lose this war. I shall see to the demise of the maximals.”
Optimus rose on two hooves and slammed Megatron’s head into the ground. “You listen to me Megatron. I will never allow you to win, not on earth, not on cybertron, and certainly not here. I will not let you get away with hurting anyone, pony or cybertronian, not without consequence. I will never let you win, even when my spark is extinguished.” He then released Megatron.
Megatron rose up back to full height. “Proud words Optimus Primal, they’ll only worsen your failure when it comes.” With a powerful beat of his wings, Megatron ascended into the sky and shrunk into the distance.
Optimus turned and walked back to his team. “Well done to all, especially you Rattrap.”
Rattrap flexed his gun leg showing off his new gadget. “Aw boss, you’re making me blush.”
“Where did you get that anyway?” Blackarachnia asked her rodent like teammate.
Rattrap held out the contraption for all to see. “Made it myself, with Twilight’s help of course.” The thing was a jerry-rigged mess of straps, wire, a power cell and a laser barrel, with a triggering mechanism wrapped around his hoof. As he was showcasing his new tech he noticed something. “Hey Boss, you’ve got somthin’ on your rumpus.”
All attention was turned to Primal’s flank, awkward as it was. Instead of the dark gray fur that was there before, a red familiar catlike insignia took its place.
“Congratulations Optimus.” Twilight spoke. “You’ve just earned your cutie mark.”
The sun had lowered as Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack and the maximals walked down the currently empty road.
“So let me see if I have this straight.” Rattrap began to relay what Twilight had told them about cutie marks. “When a pony does somethin’ that makes them realize what makes them who they are in life they get a magic tattoo on their butt?”
“Err, in a sense yes.” Twilight answered, granted she would have put it a different way.
“. . . . This planet is weird.”
“Do I really need to repeat myself?” Dash quipped.
Applejack elaborated why Optimus got his. “When Optimus got in Megatron’s face bout how he wouldn’t let him win anything, he showed an incredible amount of courage and leadership. Which is why he got tha symbol of yer team on his flank.”
“Still weird.”
“You’ll get used to it, ah we’re here.” Twilight pointed out to the group that they had reached their destination. Which was a house that looked to be made entirely from sweets.
“And the weirdness meter has broken.”
Cheetor turned to Twilight. “What is this place?”
“You’ll see.” Twilight walked up to the literally sweet looking house and walked inside followed by Rainbow Dash and Applejack.
The maximals hesitated, until Optimus ventured forth into the darkened interior of the house, the rest followed suit. Once the last maximal had entered, Cheetor this time, the lights flashed on and they were met with several out of sync shouts of “Surprise!”
The interior was covered with colorful party supplies, steamer and balloons. As well present were a substantial number of citizens from the town.
“What’s all of this?” Rhinox stated in both concern and surprised.
Pinkie Pie bounced toward the Stunned maximals. “What can’t you read the sign?” She pointed to the banner that hung from the ceiling.
“Actually no.”
“Oh right, different worlds and stuff.” Pinkie rubbed her neck sheepishly at this revelation. She perked up the next second with as much spirit as she had before. “Well it says ‘Welcome to Ponyville Maximals and congratulationsonbeatingadragonthatactuallyturnedouttobeyourarchnemesisfromanotherworldhowdidImissthat?itsoundslikeitwasawesome!” Pinkie inhaled deeply, due to reading the banner in one breath. “I added the last part last minute.”
The maximals just stared at Pinkie, having no honest idea of how to make of any of this.
“What are we standing around for, Let’s PARTAY!”
After getting over the awkward start, the maximals began to enjoy themselves and mingled with the town’s residents. Silverbolt and Blackarachnia had engaged in pleasant conversations with a few other couples. When I say pleasant, I mean as pleasant as Blackarachnia would let them be without blanching. Cheetor engaged in the various games, doing rather well in fact, not to mention catching the eyes of quite a few mares. Rattrap resorted to inventing his own games, Such as making near impossible shots with his blaster ‘The Ratshot’. Shooting a cupcake off some ponies head, utilizing reflective surfaces to hit a cake behind a counter, much to the owners chagrin. Rarity was there as well asking Twilight and Applejack if they were alright from the most horrendous ordeal. Meanwhile Rainbow Dash was attempting to coax Fluttershy out from beneath a table. Unfortunately she wouldn’t on account of there being a dragon on the loose. Optimus and Rhinox however stood off to one side of the room, too concerned from the day’s events to fully enjoy the festivities.
Optimus voiced his concern to his oldest friend. “Megatron specifically came here to kill Twilight and her friends. We were here by chance, his agenda didn’t include us.”
“The question is, why? What would he gain?” Rhinox took a sip of punch.
“What I want to know is how he even knows about these girls, the elements even, while we barely know what’s going on.” He looked to Rhinox. “As far as we know Megatron has the upper hand.”
“What do you suggest we do?”
Optimus mulled over the options. “If Megatron has motive to attack these girls, then we must protect them at all costs.”
Rhinox gave an understanding grunt. “Should I gather them all so we can make plans?”
Optimus shook his head. “No, let them have this moment of innocence for now, just until the party is over.
Megatron sat upon a cave floor picking out bits of shrapnel from his scales. “I would have preferred that the maximals died in the crash like you said they would.” Megatron seemed to speak to nothing. But he responded as if someone was indeed talking to him. “I may be powerful, but I still am only one dragon.” He flexed his claw to symbolize the power he held.
Silence.
“I don’t doubt I have kindred spirits in this world, but building alliances takes time and they have their numbers now.”
Silence.
Megatrons eye widened. “You can do that?”
Silence.
“Just worry about getting them here, I’ll deal with any issues of loyalty.”
Silence.
“I will need all of them, all of them. We can’t risk taking chances.”
Silence.
Megatron gave an evil chuckle. “Yessssss, it’s all coming together.”
Once the party had ended Optimus gathered the mane six and the rest of the maximals to discuss what to do with the situation at hand. Optimus advised that for at least tonight that they all should stay in one place. There were a few complaints about all of it being unnecessary, but eventually agreed that while there was a megalomaniac dragon on the loose; sticking with the maximals was in the best interest of the girls. They had also agreed to stay at Twilight’s house/library so the maximals could get a chance to learn more about the world they currently occupied.
Night had fallen as they all walked towards the library.
Both Optimus and Twilight took the lead. “I am sorry for the inconvenience this may be Miss Sparkle.”
“Oh no I understand, we all do.” She glanced at the rest of her friends to reassure herself. “and you can just call me Twilight.”
“Stars sure a purty tonight.” Applejack stated.
Rhinox turned his head up wards to gaze at the twinkling lights. “They sure ar-Optimus.”
Optimus along with the rest of the group looked heavenward to see what Rhinox was looking at. “What, what is it?”
“Don’t those constellations look familiar to you?”
Optimus’s eyes opened wider as the realization dawned on him. “By Primus spark!”
“Are ya tellin’ me that not only did we not make it back to Cybertron, but we didn’t even leave earth?!”
In the darkest hours of night, high in the stratosphere, a rift of dark energy divided the heavens. From the rift poured orbs of light. Eight spheres of malicious intent.
As if to answer the darkness’s challenge, a second rift formed, and from it came five more orbs of light. These spheres came with a far more virtuous intent.
As the celestial scars closed, the lights fell to the planet below.