//------------------------------// // Chapter 7 // Story: Transformers Prime: Friendship is Magic (A Hub Crossover Special) // by thelastprime //------------------------------// It's been nearly twenty four hours since Optimus Prime and the other Autobots disappeared while investigating the strange portal that appeared over the base. Ratchet had not rested, or even moved from the computer monitors since the incident. He was glued to the screen, trying to find something, ANYTHING that could bring Optimus and the others back. As for Jack, Miko, and Raf, they too hadn't stopped worrying about their lost Autobot friends. "So tell me doc bot," Agent Fowler said while losing his patience, "How, in UNCLE SAM'S BEARD have you not found them yet? I thought you're the smart one of the group." Ratchet was at his processor's end. "For The LAST Time Agent Fowler! We DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED! I'm still tracing some of the residual energy from the vortex, but it's an energy I've never seen before!" "Are you sure the Cons don't have anything to do with this?" Fowler asked. "That's the other weird thing Agent Fowler," Jack Answered. "There's been no sign of ANY Decepticon activity since it happened. It's like they just left." "WHO CARES ABOUT THE CONS!" Miko cried, as she was in tears. "I JUST WANT BULK AND THE OTHERS BACK! For All we know they could be suffering!" Hearing this, deeply upset the others, as Fowler, Jack, Raf, and Ratchet looked on with concern. The Autobot weren't exactly suffering, but they were indeed in a rather awkward position. For as long as they've been on Earth, they had alwasys been robots in disguise. This however, felt out of their element. Princess Celestia had called for a grand public announcement at Canterlot. The citizens gathered from all around Equestria were too busy gawking at the Autobots and not really paying any attention to Princess Celestia's welcome speech. "Do not think of them as other worldly beings! But as Honored Guests. Treat then as you would any other po..." Celestia corrected herself. "Citizen! This is to be considered a Glorious moment for not just Canterlot, But for All of Equestria! Please I would like you to welcome our newest friends, It is My great honor to Introduce OPTIMUS PRIME AND HIS FAITHFUL AUTOBOTS!" There was a round of Cheering. Optimus did feel very humbled by this welcome. But he knew that coexisting with these new being was going to very difficult. However Twilight's warm smile did sooth his worries somewhat. "Well, so much for discreet." Arcee said as Smokescreen and Bumblebee began waving to the crowd. "Doesn't seem so bad." Smokescreen added as he smiled and waved. "Of course!" Pinkie Pie said, as she sat on his shoulder, "Everypony's very happy to meet you, and they can't wait to be your friend!" "I still don't know if this is a good idea." Bulkhead said to Optimus, "We've always been keeping a low profile as not to cause a panic." "I understand and have noted your concern Bulkhead," Optimus replied, "But these ponies seem less supersticious and more accepting than humankind. Perhaps it is for the best." As the bots continue to converse, Wheeljack then sees Sweetie Belle, the little unicorn filly from before run up to him. Behind her, two other young ponies around the same age range as her followed. One was a yellow filly with a red mane, and a bow in her hair, the other was a short maned orange pegasus. As they run up the the Wrecker, he can clearly see the huge smiles on their faces. "See?! I told you, ALIENS!" Sweetie Belle beamed. "Hi Wheeljack, remember me? I'm Rarity's little sister. These are my two friends, Apple Bloom, and Scootaloo. WE'RE THE CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS!" "Umm, yeah..." Wheeljack responded, slightly annoyed. "I think you're the coolest looking alien out of all of them." Sweetie Belle added, "and it looks like you already know Rarity pretty well." "We're not exactly friends." Wheeljack said to the filly. "I heard you can turn into a motor vehicle!" Scootaloo said, "How fast can you go?" "Yeah," Apple Bloom added, "Can ya do stunts and tricks?" Wheeljack simply rolled his optics and sighed. As Shining Armor stood next to Optimus, he was wearing his traditional red uniform. Identical to the outfit he wore during his wedding. As he stood proudly next to the Autobot leader, and his sister, Rainbow Dash began to giggle. Shortly afterwards, so did Princess Cadence. "You noticed it too huh Princess?" Rainbow Dash asked, as she tried to hold back her laughter. "Ooooh, yeah." Cadence smirked. "What's so funny you two?" Shining Armor asked. "NOTHING!" Both Dash and Cadence answered in unison, still snickering. Twilight Sparkle then noticed their chuckling, looked at Optimus, then at her brother, then at the Autobot leader again, then her BBBFF again. Finally she got what her sister in law, and one of her best friends found so amusing. The colors, the red torso, the blue helmeted head of Optimus, and Shining Armor's mane. The white colored legs. The two of them looked almost alike, though one's a giant robot, and the other's a unicorn. Soon, Twilight began joining in on the joke, as Shining Armor, still clueless as ever, looked on in confusion. The Nemesis "Dreadwing!" Megatron called to his second in command, "Damage report." "All of our engines are off line, and our weapon systems are non-functional Lord Megatron." Dreadwing responded. Megatron was furious. His ship had crash landed in parts unknown, and is currently crippled. It would make him and the other Decepticons sitting ducks should the Autobots, or human military attack at this very moment. "Get the ship airborn immediately. Use what ever means neccessary!" Megatron ordered. At that moment, Soundwave, and Knockout both entered the main bridge. "Lord Megatron," Knockout bowed before his master, "Soundwave and I have discovered a rather, disturbing new piece of information regarding our current predicament." "Yes, what is it Knockout?" Megatron asked in an annoyed tone, clearly not happy to receive more bad news. Soundwave then plugs one of his tentacles into a computer terminal. "It appears, that we are no longer on Earth, my liege." Knockout said, with a hint of fear in his voice. He wasn't sure how Megatron would react. "What do you mean?" Megatron angrily growled. "If we are no longer on Earth, WHERE IN THE PITS OF KAON ARE WE KNOCKOUT??!!" "According to Soundwave's readings, it appears we've crashed onto some uncharted planet, orbiting the Horse Head Nebula." Knockout answered. This was news, Megatron did NOT want to hear. "Are you telling me, that I am denied my destiny of ultimate victory....because of some twist of fate that has us trapped on some PRIMUS FORSAKEN BACKWATER PLANET?!" Megatron was about to blow a gasket. "Find a way to get us back, NOW! Repair the engines, and plot a course back to Earth!" "That may not be so simple my lord." Knockout responded. "And why, pray tell, would that be?" Megatron asked. "The engines will take several days to repair, Lord Megatron. And our shear distance from here, to Earth, would take us weeks to return. Even with the hyperdrive at full efficiency. But we'll most likely burn through our fuel reserves before we even reach Earth. This thing's a giant Energon guzzler after all.." " WHAT??" Megatron fumed. "I will not allow the Autobots to take advantage of our absence from Earth, and reap in all the spoils. Find a way to return us home, IMMEDIATELY Knockout, or you will regret the day you ever came online!" "Y...Yes, Lord Megatron." Knockout responded with fear, as he hurriedly left the bridge. "Soundwave, prepare to assist the repair crews." The Decepticon leader ordered, as Soundwave simply nodded. Suddenly, Soundwave's visor picked up a blip, then several more, then even more appeared. "My lord," Dreadwing asked, "What is Soundwave detecting?" "It appears, we have some rather.... unwanted guests, Dreadwing." Megatron replied. From the dark corridors of the hall, a number of pupilless blue eyes appeared. Many of the Vehicons, and Insecticons drew their blasters at the intruders. Then a pair of green eyes appeared. The owner of the eyes then stepped into the light. The creature appeared to resemble a horse with a crooked horn, yet had insect like features. It also had a small crown in it's head. The more Megatron noticed the features, the more he realized, this creature is female. "Nice place you have here," She said in a mock friendly tone, "A bit too high tech for my taste but it's not without it's charm." Megatron had no idea where this organic filth came from, but he wanted it off of his ship. He then points his fusion cannon at her. "You'd forgive me if I'd like to keep my ship pest free." Megatron said, as his cannon began to charge. "Nice toy you have, may I try it out?" the creature said, as she began to envelop herself in a green flash of light. However, to her shock, nothing happened. "What? Why can't I take your form?" "My form?" Megatron asked, slightly puzzled. "Blast! It appears I can't shapeshift into machines. No matter." She said, as she again envelops herself in a green flash. Standing in her place, was now a giant snake, around the same size as Megatron, yet she still retained her crooked horn on her head. The Vehicons, and Insecticons took defensive stances, as the rest of the Changelings began to advance towards the Cons. Dreadwing himself readied his cannon, and Soundwave prepared the Resonance Blaster. "Stand down," Megatron ordered, "I will deal with this organic myself." Right as Megatron was about to open fire, the giant snake had already jumped forward with lightning speed, surpising the Decepticon leader. Before long, Megatron was already coiled up, as the rest of the Decepticons prepped their weapons, ready to fight the intruders, and free their leader. "Ha, you're too slow." The snake taunted. "You and your drones will service us." "Megatron serves NO ONE!" He called out, as he struggles to break free. "Megatron? Nice name." She then charged up her horn, and fires a green beam at Megatron's chest. But then, something unexpected happened. As soon as the magical beam hit Megatron, it immediately caused some sort of strange feedback, and sent the beam straight back to her. She is then struck by her own magic as it backfired, knocking her down, and in another green flash, the snake had turned back to it's original horse-like insect form. "What happened, why did my magic fail?" "Magic?" Megatron scoffed, "how utterly pathetic." As Megatron stood for a moment, he realized what had saved him. "Ah yes, Dark Energon, the blood of Unicron the Destroyer flows through my veins. It has the ability to raise the dead, and It appears to have some rather, ill effects, on your particular abilities. Your shapeshifting powers, I admit, intrigues me. An organic on par with a Decepticon pretender, or a shifter like the late Makeshift." Megatron then approaches the creature, as the other changelings converge around her in a defensive stance. "No please wait!" She pleaded. "I can be of service to you. I was wrong to fight you, please spare me and my children." "And why should I show you mercy when not but a short time ago, you wished to terminate me?" Megatron said, again pointing his cannon at her. "Because I can help you. I can be of service!" "Look around you, organic," Megatron seethed, "I command an army aboard a powerful warship. The last flesh creature who offered his services to me, Silas, I believe his name was, ended in absolute failure. That foolish Human paid the ultimate price, as I do not tolerate failure! What can you possibly offer me?" "What if I told you, I can help you return to your world." This caught Megatron's attention. "And how would you be able to do that?" He asked. "I can find a spell, in the Canterlot Royal Libraries. I know for fact that such a spell exists. It brought you here to our world in the first place after all. Of course, once you help me defeat Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria." "Equestria? Is that the name of this world?" Megatron asked. "You are correct, oh gracious Lord Megatron." "Enough of your groveling. I've heard enough from both Starscream, and Airachnid, two notorious traitors I formerly had in my employ!" Megatron yelled. "Of course." she responded. "You will find me this so called, spell, and return us to planet Earth immediately!" Megatron yelled. "It will not be such an easy task. Canterlot is the capital of Equestria. The royal guard resides there, as well as the two royal sisters themselves. Their magic is great, and the capital heavily guarded. However, with this substance in your posession, Dark Energon was it? It can be used against her abilites as you did with mine. And I also see this ship of yours is quite powerful once fully repaired to it's great potential. You can easily defeat Celestia and her forces, and then I can take the throne for myself. My Changelings and I will thrive, and this world will become my domain as I rule it." "I do not need YOU to patronize me, organic!" Megatron yelled, as he was clearly losing his patience with this creature. "Please, call me Queen Chrysalis. I am the ruler of the Changelings." She introduced herself. "Well, then, Queen Chrysalis," Megatron said, still disgusted at these organic changelings, "Why should I help you conquer this world? When I can easily vaporize you here and now, raid the capital myself, and use this so called spell, to return my Decepticons to Earth?" "For starters," Chrysalis answered, "You need someone to cast the spell. And since you Decepticons have no magical abilities, you'll need me to do it for you. Second, Celestia has a new ally. An off worlder much like yourself. Very powerful, and made of metal, very much like you and your kind. For all I know, he's probably one of yours." "And who, in Primus' name would that be?" Megatron asked, now curious. "He calls himself, Optimus Prime." Megatron's and Dreadwing's optic widen at the mention of that name. The Vehicons, and Insecticons began to whisper and converse among themselves. "I see you're familiar with him." Chrysalis responded to the Decepticons' reactions. "He is my sworn enemy. It is my destiny to terminate him by my two hands!" Megatron yelled. "Optimus? Here? No matter, perhaps fate has been kind to me after all. As I will crush him, and bring glory to the Decepticon cause." "I too had an encounter with him. He thwarted my plans to kidnap Princess Celestia's prized pupil as a ransom. The ponies have themselves a rather strong bodyguard now." "Ponies?" Dreadwing asked. "The dominant species on this world, are sentient ponies." Chrysalis explained. "How utterly disgusting." Megatron muttered, "All the more reason to leave this place. This world seems to be even more primitive than Earth. It serves no purpose to the Decepticon cause." "Then help me take Canterlot. Once your forces, cripple the royal guard, Optimus Prime will surely fall soon after if we combine our two armies. Then I will hold up my end of the bargain, and return you to this, Earth, you so desperately wish to see again." Megatron merely growled, and pondered what Chrysalis just said. "So, do we have a deal?" Chrysalis asked. "...... So be it. Better to have a native on my side than against me. Though working with organics is still beneath me." Megatron replied. "But be warned, if I find that you are simply using us and abusing our resources, or if I detect any trace of treachery and deceit, I will not hesitate to make you suffer!" Megatron warned. "Now, begone!" "As you wish, mighty Lord Megatron. Come my children, let us return to our home. We'll be in touch." With that, Chrysalis, and her changeling swarm, teleported themselves off the bridge of the Nemesis in numerous green flashes. "Lord Megatron," Dreadwing asked, "Are you certain this is a good plan of action? I do not trust this Queen Chrysalis." "Rest assured Dreadwing," Megatron responded, "I would sooner reduce Chrysalis to ashes than fully trust that insect . But until then, we have need of her arcane powers. I will have Soundwave monitor her activities." Soundwave nods in agreement. "Now then, Soundwave, send Laserbeak on reconnaissance. I wish to learn more about this planet before we make our move." With that, Soundwave's chest plate transforms into a bird like drone, and flies out of the bridge. About two hours later, Laserbeak returns and re-attaches itself back to Soundwave, who then inserts several of his tendrils into the main computer, as Megatron looked on. He sees a village full of colorful ponies, as they go on about their lives. Seeing this disgusted Megatron, as he saw no value in these creatures, and seeing their level of technology wasn't even on par with the humans. But something else caught his attention. "Soundwave, zoom in on that mountain range." Soundwave did what he was told, and enhanced on the mountain. There, what the Decepticons saw, greatly caught Megatron's interest. "Energon, an entire mountain full of Energon!" Dreadwing stated with amazement. "Perhaps this world does have something worthwhile afterall." Megatron said to himself. He then activates a communications terminal on the computer. "Knockout," Megatron said into the computer's comlink, "I want all systems fully operational as soon as possible."