Terrorize
Optimus awoke in an unfamiliar place. His mind was fuzzy with the events of the previous day and his newly organic eyes were blurry. His wings ached from the over exertion of relearning to fly.
He blinked several times until the image of the sun bathed room was before him. The room resided inside of a hollowed out tree and all along the walls were shelves lined with books. In the center of the room was a round table that had various books on it. Sitting at the table was Rhinox and Twilight looking over some sort of manuscript. Next to a staircase that leads to an upper loft, was a sleeping Rattrap cuddling his modified laser gun like a teddy bear. He occasionally muttered some words, some along the lines of “Lousy preds.” Or “Stick it up your aft lizard brain”. Silverbolt lay next to the door that lead out side. Neither Cheetor nor Blackarachnia were anywhere to be seen, although Optimus remembered that Blackarachnia was staying in the bedroom with the rest of the girls as a precaution.
Optimus rose to his hooves and walked over to Rhinox and Twilight. “Have you two been up all night?”
“Is it morning already?” Twilight looked out the window and saw that the sun had indeed risen. “I guess we were really caught up in teaching Rhinox to read Equestrian.”
“How is that going?”
“Better than expected actually, Rhinox is a quick study.”
“It wasn’t that hard to tell the truth.” Rhinox admitted while he continued reading the tome before him. “Much of it is similar to the human language English, though with a few distinct differences.”
Optimus nodded, not having much to contribute to the current conversation he changed the subject. “Where is Cheetor?”
Twilight answered. “Oh, Rainbow Dash had to get back to maintaining the weather, but Rhinox wouldn’t let her leave on account of you know who, so Cheetor volunteered to make sure nothing bad happens to her.”
Optimus turned to Rhinox with both a puzzled and agitated look. “Why didn’t you wake either me or Silverbolt? Rainbow Dash can fly, Cheetor can’t.”
Rhinox turned to his leader. “I did suggest that, but then Miss Dash started going on about how no one could possibly keep up with her speed. Well that’s when Cheetor jumped in with his own boasts about his speed. Before we knew it they were gone.”
Optimus sighed and shook his head. “They had better keep out of trouble.
“If you want you can just back out.” Dash stretched her wings. “No one will know and you can save yourself the embarrassment.”
Both Dash and Cheetor stood on a grassy hill just outside of Ponyville. Earlier Rainbow Dash and Cheetor had gotten in a heated argument about who was faster. Not long after that they figured out that words were meaningless and decided that a race was what was needed to settle their dispute. So here they were, with the course being the perimeter around the small town.
“Please, I haven’t had a decent run in weeks.” Cheetor stretched his legs.
“Don’t say I didn’t warn you.” Both of them stood side by side ready to see who was faster. “Ten laps around, no shortcuts. Ready, setgo!” In barely the blink of an eye Dash had vanished in a prismatic blur.
Once she had completed her first lap, Dash decided she could risk a quick glance to see how far back her opponent was. What she was surprised to see was that even though she was ahead of Cheetor it wasn’t by much. In fact He could touch her back hooves if he wanted to.
“Pretty good, but can you keep up?” and before Cheetor could respond, Dash blasted forward faster than any average pony could catch up with. What she forgot was that Cheetor wasn’t average and had only been a pony since the day before. When she looked back again, Cheetor was closing the gap she oh so briefly created. “What?! How?!”
“Come on Dash. I go on midnight strolls faster than this.”
Rainbow Dash could barely believe it; he was actually keeping up with her and he wasn’t even breaking a sweat. She knew that he was the fastest and quite possibly the most athletic of the maximals, but that was when he was a maximal not the pony he was now. Nopony had ever been able to match her speed, let alone an earth pony. ‘Although there were those times with Pinkie Pie, but those don’t count. Because it was, well Pinkie.’
She shook her head to get her brain back on track. “Alright speedster, let’s see how you handle Mach one.”
This time Cheetor was ready, because when Dash surged forward so did he. Now both of them were neck and neck, both of them mere streaks of color to observers. Cheetor tore out the ground while Dash left a vortex in her wake.
Unconciously Dash rose into the air building up even more speed with every wing beat. She began to feel resistance from a barrier all too familiar to her. It was her only chance, if she was going to maintain her status as fastest pony alive, she would need to break the sound barrier. She flew faster and faster as the invisible obstacle wrapped around her. “Almost there. . . . Wait, what is that?” she slowed down as quickly as possible. As she glided sideways she got a clearer look at what had caught her attention. “Is that. . . .” She squeezed her eyes tighter, attempting to clarify that she was seeing what she was seeing.
Cheetor noticed that the cyan Pegasus was no longer by his side. He dug his hooves into the ground and skidded to a halt, tearing the ground and nearly hitting a tree. He looked about and found her hovering behind several meters up. “Hey Rainbow! Why’dja stop?”
“Cheetor, you’ve got to see this, I haven’t seen anything like this in my entire life.”
“You know, I’d love to, but I left my prime jets in my other body.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and dived at Cheetor. She wrapped her fore hooves under his forelegs and flew him up into the sky. “How’s this?”
A slightly startled Cheetor took a minute to focus on a shadowy figure off in the distance. “Is that a scorpion?” Indeed off in the distance was the largest scorpion either of them had ever seen, about the size of a two story house. It wasn’t just its size, but the fact that its exoskeleton seemed to have been made of the night sky. Fourteen stars ran from its stinger and ended at its head with two stars on each claw.
“Twilight said something about that sort of thing before; they’re like Ursa Majors, only Scorpions.”
“Ursa Major?” Cheetor looked at her slightly confused. “Like the constellation?”
“Err, well yes. I mean no. I mean, I dunno. By Celestia’s wings I wish I had paid attention to Twilights lecture.” She paused to go over what she had said. “On second thought never mind.”
The starry scorpion didn’t seem to be doing anything. It was just looking around, not trying to find something, more of waiting. It occasionally clicked its claws nervously.
Cheetor then spoke up. “It isn’t headed for town, so we aren’t in immediate danger.”
“Then you don’t know Ponyville.” Rainbow then let out a chuckle at the unfortunate dark truth of that statement.
“Get me in close then. I’ll keep an eye on it while you go tell Optimus.”
“Why me? You’re clearly almost as fast as me, why don’t you tell your own boss?”
“Because I’ve had experience fighting giant scorpions.” He gave Dash a serious look.
Dash reluctantly conceded. “Fine then, I’ll let you have this this one time.”
She then set him down just outside the scorpion’s field of vision. The distance between the scorpion and Ponyville was roughly a mile, not much distance when contending with a giant scorpion.
“Try not to die alright; we still have a race to finish.” She then turned and flew towards the center of town.
Cheetor turned to keep watch on the oversized arachnid. Memories of bad experiences with a few particular arachnids flooded his mind. “Maybe I should have gone back.”
“A scorpius? Are you sure?” Once Rainbow Dash had returned to the library, she recounted the events of the morning. Twilight was both fascinated and surprised at the revelation of the midnight themed scorpion.
“Uh, if by scorpius you mean giant starry scorpion, then yes I am positive.” She pointed a hoof at her eyes. “Eyes like a hawk, don’t miss a thing.”
Rhinox walked up to the two girls. “Are scorpius a common creature?”
Twilight levitated a book off of a shelf titled ‘Manifestations of Midnight’. “Well, while it’s not impossible for them to wander from their habitat, it isn’t likely to find them this far from the dessert.” She took a quick glance at a section of the book specifically pertaining to scorpius. She then rested the book on the table. “We had better check it out.”
As Twilight headed for the door, she was stopped by a charcoal gray wing. “I’m sorry Twilight, but I think it would be better if you stayed here while we take care of this.”
“Optimus, with all due respect, my friends and I have had experience with this sort of thing.”
“You mean like yesterday?” Optimus gave Twilight a dead serious look. Twilight could feel herself trying to shrink away. “Not even a day has passed and already you have something at your backdoor.”
“Well, I uh-“
“With your lives at stake, I just can’t take any chances.” He then turned to Rhinox. “Let’s go.” Rhinox complied and grabbed his chain guns as he exited the tree. Optimus followed, but stopped just as he was through the door. He turned to the girls. “Could you wake up the others and have them meet us there?”
“I suppose.”
Optimus nodded and disappeared from view.
“Aw com’on.” Rainbow Dash exclaimed once she was sure the two maximals were out of earshot. “I don’t see why we can’t go. What’s the worst a giant scorpion can do?”
She was met with Twilight giving her a ‘do you understand the words coming out of your mouth?’ look.
“Point taken.”
“Let’s just wake up the others.”
Cheetor didn’t have to wait too long when Optimus arrived at the scene. “Glad you could make it.”
“Has it done anything?”Rhinox asked as he sized up the creature.
“Not really, he just seams lost.”
“Well Optimus?”
“Make contact.” He said as he unfurled his wings. “Stay close.” He then flew over to where he would be in the creature’s field of vision.
The scorpius scuttled back a few steps as the Pegasus approached. It shifted its eyes and clicked its claws nervously.
“Hello, I don’t mean you any harm; I am only here to help. My name is-”
It was at that moment the scorpius caught sight of the marking on Optimus’s flank. Its eyes narrowed in hatred. “MAXIMAL!” It then swung its claw at Optimus.
Optimus narrowly escaped the attack. He then recognized the monster’s oafish voice. “Scorponok?! But you’re dead.”
“Dead? Ha! You would be so lucky.” Scorponok then swiped at Optimus with open claws attempting to cut him in half. His face was then met with a short burst of bullets.
“That’s enough Scorponok.” Rhinox kept his chain guns aimed at the predacon’s head.
Optimus landed next to Rhinox. “Our surveillance of the predacon base informed us that you and Terrorsaur perished in lava during the quantum surge. How are you not only alive but here in Equestria?”
Scorponok thought about what Optimus was saying, but the more he tried to remember the more his head began to ache. He held his claws to his head trying to remember how he ended up in this new world. “Darkness, always darkness, but then. . . . then. . . .”
“Optimus!” Silverbolt’s voice came from behind the maximals. As Silverbolt flew towards them, Blackarachnia and Rattrap approached from the ground.
Scorponok took notice and his focus returned. “So that’s it, playing mind games while you wait for backup. Well you’ll never catch me off guard again!” He then rushed the maximals, snapping his claws and swinging his tail.
The maximals scattered avoiding Scorponok’s attacks. What they soon realized was that a scorpion of his size had limited flexibility and was no good in close quarters combat. As the maximals continuously struck Scorponok’s exoskeleton he tried his best to back away from the onslaught. Scorponok realized that he would lose this battle if he couldn’t turn the tide.
From the shadows of a nearby forest four figures watched the ensuing battle
“Well, well, well, looks like Scorponok is in a bit of a bind.” A rather sinister voice stated.
“He wouldn’t be in that mess if he hadn’t wandered off.” A shrill voice spoke.
“Well do we just stand here, or do we join the fray.” A third spoke in a thick Russian accent.
The last voice, a half-crazed one spoke up. “If any of you had any true loyalty to the royalty, you would assist me in helping our brother in arms.”
“Yes, you three go. Lure them here.” The first voice spoke once more. “I will prepare a surprise for them.” A maniacal cackle escaped him as he disappeared into the darkness.
Scorponok Managed to back off a ways once the maximals felt that he had had enough.
Optimus stepped forward to speak. “Well Scorponok, will you surrender and come with us quietly?”
“Surrender to maximals? I would rather die by ingesting scraplets whole.” He shakily rose to his full height and readied his claws.
As the maximals readied for another round they were caught off guard by a maniacal war cry. “FOR THE ROYALTY!” they whipped around to see a fire ant the size of a car charging at them.
The maximals scattered once more, unfortunately they weren’t able to gang up on the ant that was faster and better built for close range combat. Blackaracnia and Cheetor, being the most agile and fastest of the maximals engaged the maniac insect with many improvised martial arts moves.
Rhinox kept his chain guns on Scorponok as Rattrap readied his ‘Ratshot’ “Inferno too? What other creeps will crawl through the cracks today?” As if to answer his question he was hit in the back of the head and the world went blurry.
Rhinox saw Rattrap staggering around in a daze. “Rattrap, what’s wrong?”
Before he could answer, Rattrap was hit several times by an unseen force and fell to the ground.
Rhinox pointed one of his chain guns in the direction of Rattrap, looking for any hint as to where the perpetrator was. His attention was brought to patches of grass being pressed down unnaturally. Instinctively he fired a round in the general area and a feral scream was let out.
The clear air turned to solid black. Now standing before Rhinox was a panther, red blood trickled slowly down its back left leg that had been grazed by one of Rhinox’s bullets. “Проклятие это органическое тело!” The panther shouted as it attempted to guard its wound.
“Ravage.”
Ravage shot Rhinox a death glare. “Da, that is who I am, and you shall be dead soon.” The inexplicably Russian panther then vanished into thin air.
Rhinox went back to his rapid fire sweeping. Unfortunately he was unable to hit his target this time and his chain guns were struck out of his telekinetic grip.
Ravage reappeared and prepared his claws for another attack. Rhinox readied his stance, and in the next moment both of them were striking each other hoof and claw.
In the heat of the fight both Optimus and Silverbolt took to the air. They saw that the others were so preoccupied that Scorponok was free to do as he pleased. Both Silverbolt and Optimus silently agreed that they would deal with him. But as they dove they were clipped by a red blur. When they stabilized they saw before them what looked like a dragon, but instead of arms its wings took their place. It was smooth and streamline, no spikes or horns, save for the crest sprouting from the back of its head.
“Going somewhere?” It spoke in a screechy voice.
Optimus gained an annoyed glare. “Terrorsaur I presume?”
“Optimus Primal you remember me, I’m flattered.” Terrorsaur then turned to the silver Pegasus. “I don’t believe we’ve met.”
“Meet one underhanded predacon void of morals and you’ve met them all.”
“Fair enough. Well that’s it for introductions, let’s get this over with.” No sooner had he said that he flew right at the airborne maximals and sent them spinning. Before they could recover Terrorsaur grabbed Sliverbolt and threw him right into Optimus. This time they recovered before they fell to their demise.
Terrorsaur flew right over them. “Catch me if you can Primal!”
Both Optimus and Silverbolt gave chase as Terrorsaur flew away faster and faster.
. . . .
The maximals failed to notice that the predacons were controlling the fight so that they could lead the maximals into the nearby forest.
Back at the library Twilight and Rainbow Dash were sitting at the table, waiting for the maximals to return. Dash tapped one hoof on the table while she rested her head on the other. Twilight just looked at the books that lay on the table. They barely noticed the other four of their friends descend the stairs.
“Mornin’ girls.” Applejack greeted the two at the table. When they gave a barely audible answer she looked about the room. “Where’s Optimus an ta others?”
Twilight snapped out of her stupor. “Oh, Dash and Cheetor found a scorpius just outside town so they all went to see what it was about.”
“What?!” A rather annoyed pink pony exclaimed. “I missed them fight a dragon and now I’m missing them fight a giant scorpion?”
“They said it was for our own good.” Dash remarked crossly. “We’ve been in dangerous situations before and came out better than ever.”
“Yes but. . . You heard what they told us about Megatron.” Fluttershy attempted to remind them meekly. “He’s really dangerous, probably more than King Sombra”
“He’s far more cunning than Chrysalis.” Rarity stated.
“Far more blood thirsty than Discord.” Applejack added.
“Crueler than Nightmare Moon.” Twilight finished.
“Yeah I get that.” Dash began channeling her frustration into her wings and floated above them. “But they didn’t go to fight Megatron. They just went to check on a giant scorpion. We do that sort of thing on a daily basis. If we let the maximals have us stay behind for this sort of thing, what’s next? I’ll tell you, they won’t even let us leave this tree! Well I’m sorry but this pony isn’t going to be shoved onto the sidelines.” She then flew at the door and slammed it wide open as she flew out.
As the remaining five recovered from the outburst, Twilight headed for the door. “She’s right, killer dragon or no killer dragon; we have our duty to this land.”
She was followed by both Pinkie and Rarity, leaving Fluttershy and Applejack in the room.
“Sh-should we go to?”
“Ah know Ah’m goin’, someone has to keep them outta trouble.”
“Well, if everyone’s going. . . Then I should too. It’s not like anything bad is supposed to happen.”
“That’s the spirit girl.” Applejack was halfway through the door when she stopped abruptly.
“Is something wrong Applejack?”
“Hmm, oh!” Applejack just rubbed her chin with her hoof. “I jus thought I had heard something about a scorpion recently. Ah well, can’t be that important.”
It had been about fifteen minutes since the predicons had herded the maximals, save for an unconscious Rattrap, into the forest. Scorponok was far too large to fit through the tree line, so he remained outside making sure the maximals didn’t double back.
The six bearers had finally arrived at the scene, only to see the enormous scorpius monitoring the tree line and Rattrap lying on the ground several yards away from said creature unmoving. The girls circled around the maximal, attempting to wake him.
“Mr. Rattrap, o-or is it Mr. Trap? Can you hear me?” Fluttershy gently rocked him, hoping to avoid aggravating any serious injury.
Rattraps eyes opened, but they drifted around unfocused. His mouth opened slightly, exposing his buck teeth, it remained opened until he exclaimed. “BANANAFISH!” His hoof sprung upwards involuntarily and smacked Twilight in the nose.
“Oh dear, he seems to have a concussion.”
Twilight rubbed the end of her muzzle. She then looked over to the scorpius guarding the forest. “The maximals must have gotten on the big guy’s bad side and now it has trapped them in the Everfree forest.” Twilights eyes widened. “They’re in the Everfree forest!”
The rest of the girls gasped while Rattrap mumbled something about his great uncle Daniel.
“They may be capable soldiers, but there’s no way they are prepared for what’s in there.” Rarity stated with concern in her voice.
Dash floated above the group. “Well it’s clear we have to get them out of there, but not with ugly blocking the way.”
Twilight thought for a moment, and in no time at all had a plan. “Applejack, do you think you and Rainbow Dash hold off the scorpius while I go in and get the maximals out?”
Applejack looked at Dash, who had a look on her face that said ‘not a problem’, then turned back to Twilight. “Sure can. Ah would feel more confident if I had mah rope though.”
Just as she said that a pink hoof held what was indeed a rope an inch from her face. “Will this work?”
“Aaah, yes.” Applejack cautiously took the rope in her own hoof. It was a very nice rope, strong and practically new. “Wheredja get this Pinkie.”
“Rope vendor.” Pinkie then raised a hoof directing the girl’s attention to a white stallion pushing a mobile stall displaying various ropes.
“They said I was crazy for having a mobile shop selling just rope. Who’s laughing now Macy?”
The only response was from the still dazed Ratrap. “You! Soldier! You’re out of uniform. Put on some pants.”
Twilight and the rest did their best to push this turn of events from their minds and carry on with the task at hand. “Pinkie you’ll come with me to get the maximals.”
Pinkie saluted Twilight. “Yes mam.”
“Fluttershy and Rarity, you stay with Rattrap while he recovers.”
“No worries Darling, we have it covered.”
Twilight then signaled Dash and Applejack to begin their assignment. The two of them made their way slowly so they didn’t alert the arachnid.
When the two mares got a good distance from the group, Rattrap began to be coherent. “Uff, what happened?” He gingerly rubbed the sore spot on the back of his head.
“Easy now Rattrap.” Rarity placed a hoof on him so he wouldn’t make any sudden moves.
“You took a nasty blow.” Fluttershy informed him. “You must have really upset that scorpius.”
“You don’t know the half of. . . . Say why is it just you four?”
“Well,” Twilight began. “The scorpius has trapped your friends in the Everfree forest, so Applejack and Rainbow Dash are going to distract it while me and Pinkie go in and bring them out.”
Rattrap just looked back at her in utter disbelief. “Are you insane?”
Twilight was quite taken back by this. “You may be explorers and fighters, but you haven’t been here long enough to handle the dangers of the Everfree forest. We have been there many times, we can handle it.”
Rattrap just replied with indignant sarcasm as he crossed his forelegs. “Well I suppose if you say that, then you can handle preds as well.”
“Wait what?!” Twilight’s eyes widened.
Fluttershy began to shake. “When you say preds, y-you mean predicons?”
“Those ruthless blood thirsty barbarians?”
“The same. That thing you keep calling a scorpios, that’s Scorponok. Inferno’s here too. I was knocked out before I could see if anymore were here.”
“But you said they were all dead!” Twilight was really flipping out now. “How are they alive and here even?”
“You ‘spect me to know? I’m as in the dark as you.”
“Alright, yes.” Twilight did her best to calm herself down. “It’s okay, we’ll be okay.” Then realization hit. “APPLEJACK AND RAINBOW DASH!”
Applejack and Rainbow Dash were just about close enough to sneak attack the scorpius when Twilight shouted from halfway across the field. The scorpius became alert to the sound and tuned to see what was making the noise. Then it saw the cyan Pegasus and orange earth pony.
“Oh thanks a lot Twilight!” Dash fluttered in rage. “We were almost there!”
“Maximal reinforcements!” Scorponok then began flailing his claws and tail.
“Hay! Since when could scorpions talk?” Applejack did her best to jump out of the way of his claws.
“Who cares?” Rainbow Dash managed to avoid the stinger with ease. “Aw come on are you even trying?” Scorponok swung his tail at her once more, but Dash evaded without even thinking. “Let me make this easier for you.” She then flew into the reach of his claws.
“Rainbow what are you doing!?”
“GRRRRR! HOLD STILL MAXIMAL!” Scorponok snapped his claws viciously at Dash.
She managed to avoid his claws. “Okay, one I’m not a maximal, two why should I?”
Now the scorpius was creating a flurry of claws, every one attempting to bifurcate the mare, only for Dash to expertly dodge them and blowing raspberries every so often. In his fury, one of Scorponoks claws locked up. A look of panic, at least what could only be assumed as one, crossed his face. Now not only did he have a flying horse taunting him, but now his claw wouldn’t close.
Dash just floated there with her hooves on her hips. “Well, I bet that’s awkward.”
“Shut up!” He flailed his locked claw at her with the hopes that he could close it on her. Then his claw did snap shut, but it didn’t cleave Dash in twain, she was too far out of reach for that. What did happen no one saw coming.
Once the claw was shut, Dash heard what sounded like a sonic boom then felt a wall of concussive force hit her and sent het flying several yards back before she hit the ground. She could barely move let alone breathe.
Applejack could only stand there slack jawed. All she saw was the claw close, it didn’t even touch her.
Scorponok looked at his claws; he opened them wide enough to lock into place, then he released them with more cracks of thunder that rippled through the grassy plain. If he had a regular mouth rather than the mandibles he had, he would be smiling like an idiot. He then saw that the orange horse was still there, still in range.
Applejack saw him aim a claw at her. “Aww shoot.”