Transformers: Equestria's Darkest Hour

by JDPrime22


Starscream's Betrayal

-CHAPTER XIII: STARSCREAM’S BETRAYAL-

"I am the leader of the future!"

-Starscream

INTEL: As the air commander of the Seekers, Starscream is as ambitious as they come. During the early days of the war, Starscream sold the military services of the Seekers to Megatron in order to one day usurp his Decepticon master and take command of Cybertron for himself.

____________________

TELETRAAN COORDIANTES RECEIVING…

LOCATION: EQUESTRIA

-CANTERLOT-

It was a very sad day.

The train pulled up to the Canterlot station with the six mares piling out, their heads hung low and faces somber. They ignored the guards who offered to take them back to Princess Celestia. They just wanted to be alone.

The Autobots and their leader trudged past the guards and followed the Element Bearers into Canterlot. Optimus still didn’t know what happened. That strange unicorn had come from the so-called "Crystal Heart". Whatever the Crystal Heart was…it was gone now.

While Optimus was busy with his thoughts, the other Autobots didn’t feel very good when they walked into Canterlot. Warpath looked to his left to see several Canterlot ponies give him and his team angry glares before they stormed off. Why are they acting this way?

They saved them before.

Optimus still paid no attention and kept to his own thoughts, but the other Autobots had definitely wakened up and faced the wrath of Canterlot. All around them, ponies booed and shouted hurtful things at the heroes of Equestria.

Bumblebee felt a tomato hit him in the side of the face. He recoiled and blocked all the fruit that was being thrown at him. “Hey, watch it!” Bee shouted as more and more fruit kept getting thrown at him. The rest of the Autobots blocked the fruit while Optimus did nothing when an orange hit the side of his faceplate.

Twilight finally looked up when she had heard all these terrible noises. She looked back and stopped in her tracks. The rest of her friends looked up to see Twilight’s mouth agape, as if she couldn’t believe what she was seeing.

They all turned around to witness the horror.

All around, Canterlot ponies flung fruit and rocks at the friendly giants cautiously walking through the Equestrian capital. They yelled hurtful words and shouted at the only aliens that had ever arrived to their home and defended it.

A large grapefruit hit Cliffjumper’s face causing him to stop and momentarily rub out the stain. Rarity gritted her teeth and ran back, she stepped in front of her friend and screamed, “How dare you!?”

The Autobots stopped for a quick moment and looked back to see the white unicorn defending one of their fellow Autobots, while the other mares watched in awe. Optimus Prime himself stopped to see what would happen.

Rarity received all the angry glares the ponies gave. She didn’t even care. She pointed her hoof back at Cliffjumper and screamed, “How dare you throw fruit at the very people who saved your lives?! Why I never-!”

She was suddenly hit in the face with a large tomato.

Crying out and whimpering, Rarity clutched her face and tried her best to get the paste out of her eyes. Applejack and Pinkie Pie quickly came to her side while Cliffjumper blocked the fruit being thrown at his pony friends.

Rarity continued to cry now that her beautiful coat was tainted red; Cliffjumper frowned and quietly whispered to her, “Just keep going. I don’t want you to get hurt anymore because of me.”

Applejack and Pinkie Pie embraced their hurting friend closer as they returned to the rest of the group. Cliffjumper sighed and stood back up with more fruit and rocks hitting him in the back of the head.

The Autobots and Element Bearers made their way through Canterlot…with the hatred growing.

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“I do not understand how this could happen.” Luna quietly uttered and looked at the shards from the Crystal Heart. Applejack had gratefully shown the princess of the night what remained of the mighty relic once they had made it to Celestia’s throne room.

“Ah don’t either, yer highness.” Applejack sadly tapped at one of the dim-lighted shards on the marble ground. Her eyes drifted across the room to see Princess Celestia and Twilight in a tight embrace. She could hear the cries from where she was sitting.

Twilight looked up from her mentor’s chest, her tears staining her face as she cuddled closer to the princes of the sun. Celestia could hear her student cry out, “I’m so sorry, Princess! I failed you! Chrysalis escaped and King Sombra is back because we were too late to stop her from destroying the Crystal Heart and-!”

Celestia placed her hoof over Twilight’s muzzle silencing her. Twilight looked up with teary eyes to hear Celestia speak. “I know, Twilight. There was nothing you could have done. You must understand that I don’t blame you, your friends, or the Autobots for Sombra’s return…but I fear my other subjects have.”

Twilight wiped her nose and asked, “What do y-you mean, Princess?”

Celestia’s eyes softened as she answered her quivering pupil in a soft tone, “I had received news from Shining Armor before you all returned from the Crystal Empire. He told me that the mission failed and King Sombra had been resurrected from the destruction of the Crystal Heart. I had no choice but to put Canterlot in full alert yet again, it seems the ponies have already taken the news….badly.”

“Yeah, what’s up with that?” Both Celestia and Twilight turned back to see Rainbow Dash approach them. Her face was pleading and her ears hung low as she asked, “Why were they throwin’ stuff at us?”

“Yeah,” Pinkie yelled and immediately came next to Rainbow’s side, “that was SO mean that they threw fruit at the Autobots! What did they ever do to them besides fighting the Decepticons and almost destroying all of Canterlot and possibly putting all of Equestria in danger now?!”

Celestia’s eyebrow rose. Pinkie Pie literally just explained why the Canterlot ponies were so mad. She never could truly understand that pink pastel pony one bit. But she did forget one thing…

“Pinkie Pie,” Celestia began before looking around, “all of you, come here. I need to tell you something.” In a few seconds, the Element Bearers were surrounding the princess of the sun with Luna behind them. Celestia also caught the blue eyes of Optimus Prime and his Autobots focused on her.

She closed her eyes and began, “The reason that the Canterlot folks are being so rude…is because I have told them the news of the destruction of the Crystal Heart. I had no choice but to inform them to stay calm because of King Sombra’s resurrection. They took the news horribly and when I saw all of you coming back from the train station, it broke my heart to see my loyal subjects pelt you with such hatred…you must understand that I had no choice but to tell them….and I regret ever doing that. Now they all think that Optimus Prime and his team are a plague to this world and should be wiped out.”

She opened her eyes to see each mare with their mouths open as wide as possible. Pinkie Pie’s was almost touching the ground. Her sister, Princess Luna, gave her the most horrified expression she had ever seen.

It hurt her in so many ways. She couldn’t even imagine what the Autobots must felt about this.

The giver of the sun looked up to witness Optimus Prime sigh. The other Autobots shook their heads while most of them groaned in their own self-pity. Now they were hated…like things could get any worse.

The doors flew open to reveal Shining Armor and two of his guards.

They all watched as the Captain of the Royal Guard flew past the Autobots and quickly bowed at Celestia’s hooves. His snout almost hit the ground as he faced the princess. Twilight could see he was obviously stressed with several splatters of red juice on his armor.

He saluted and panted, “Your…your highness! We couldn’t stop them all. They want the Autobots gone…they’re scattered across the Canterlot grounds…all of them. You gotta put a stop to them, your highness.”

Princess Celestia sighed and stood back up to all fours. She looked up at Optimus Prime with a sorrowful look. Optimus could only nod as he walked with Celestia out of the throne room and into the long hallway to go outside.

Twilight had heard Optimus’ deep voice as the doors closed.

“Let us stop this.”

Twilight looked back up to see the rest of the entire Autobot team push open the doors and bend down to leave the throne room. She turned her head to her big brother. Shining Armor, being completely unaware of his little sister, turned his gaze towards her.

Her eyes were beginning to water.

A big brother had to do what he had to do. He grasped his little sister and pulled her in for a nice hug to calm her down. He didn’t want to see anymore crying out of her. As Twilight’s chin rested on his broad shoulder, he heard her speak.

“Why are they doing this, Shiny? Why?”

Shining Armor sighed, “I don’t know.”

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Twilight Sparkle and her friends all made it down the long hallway and out of the Canterlot Castle. When they approached the large doors, the sounds of screaming and shouting became louder.

“This can’t be any good.” Fluttershy whimpered as Shining Armor trudged past her with his two guards. They pushed open the doors where the setting sun met each mare with a bright explosion of light. Not only did sunlight meet them…but hate as well.

Twilight walked outside to see possibly ALL of Canterlot’s citizens in a massive crowd of angry shouts and hurtful signs. They held up the signs with all kinds of writing on them. She caught the words like, ‘Be gone, Autobots’ and ‘We hate you’. She couldn’t even bear to imagine how the Autobots might be feeling about all of this.

There they stood. The entire Autobot army; Jazz, Cliffjumper, Jetfire, Silverbolt, Air Raid, Slingshot, Fireflight, Skydive, Blaster, Ratchet, Perceptor, Wheeljack, Bumblebee, Slug, Snarl, Swoop, Hound, Warpath, Ironhide, Sideswipe, and Optimus Prime all stood behind Princess Celestia and Luna. The two princesses were obviously trying to calm everypony down.

Nosing their way in, Twilight and her friends stood by Shining Armor’s side next to Princess Luna. Twilight could truly see everything that was transpiring. Several hundred maybe ponies crowded forward and screamed several insults and tried their hardest to throw things at the Autobots. Most of them didn’t reach but one lucky pony hit Bumblebee in the cheek with a tomato.

Bumblebee groaned and wiped the fruit splatter from his face. Fluttershy began to cry when she saw her good friend be treated so badly. The princess of the sun saw this act of violence and raised her voice.

“Quiet down now! I order you all to…STOP IT! I am your princess and you will-!” Princess Celestia was saying before she was cut off by an even louder voice.

Everypony covered their ears when Luna spoke.

“BEEEEEE STIIIIIIIIIIILL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

Twilight took her hooves off her ears and looked to see Princess Luna standing on her hind legs with her hoof in the air. She dropped to the ground with her hooves banging on the hard gravel…it was the only sound heard. All of Canterlot was quiet now.

Princess Luna smiled and looked back at each pony. She winked.

Princess Celestia cleared her throat and spoke loud and clear, “Yes well…now that we have your attention…you must tell us what you angry about. The Autobots wish to know.”

After the fear of the Princess Luna subsided, one unicorn in particular stepped forward. Rarity scowled in disgust and took a step back, hopefully he didn’t see her. The unicorn stomped his hoof on the marble ground and shouted in an elegant voice.

“These ruffians have been nothing but trouble! Ever since they got here, they have caused so much grief and distaste for common culture that I can’t even LOOK in their general direction!” The unicorn shouted and stuck his snout in the air.

Princess Celestia’s brow furrowed at the unicorn. She said, “Prince Blueblood, now is not the time to be ranting about every little detail that the Autobots clearly don’t want to hear.”

The unicorn sufficed and pointed his hoof at each Autobot behind the princess. He shouted with a hint of distaste in his voice, “THEY are the cause for all this tragedy! We want them gone!” As he shouted those words, several ponies behind him yelled in agreement. He continued, “They are the reason that Discord escaped! They are what inspired the Changelings to capture the Elements of Harmony! And THEY are the cause for King Sombra’s resurrection!” He glared at what he presumed to be their leader. He shouted, “We would be so much better off without them infesting our world!”

Ratchet nudged Blaster and pointed at the white unicorn. “This fool is terribly misinformed,” Ratchet said as Blaster nodded in agreement. While the other Autobots obviously did not agree with Blueblood’s ideas, Optimus Prime did not feel very well.

With Princess Celestia and Luna shouting over Prince Blueblood’s arguments, Optimus placed a large hand against his forehead and thought for a few moments. He opened his optics and looked at the unicorn Prince.

“Optimus…what are you doing?” Twilight asked as the last of the Primes walked forward to the hateful crowd. Optimus past the two princesses and looked down at the large crowd. They booed even louder and shouted at him to go away.

Optimus paid no attention and looked at the male unicorn. He asked, “Do you truly believe that you will all be better off without us on your planet?”

Prince Blueblood smirked and said, “Yes! You hooligans don’t belong here! Just get off our home and never return!” Right before Rarity could unleash her rage on him like she did before; Optimus spoke without any sign of anger.

“If you truly think that you are all better off without us, than we will honor your decision and leave your world.”

Several gasps came from behind the last Prime, both from Autobots and the ponies. The six mares looked up to see Celestia approach Optimus Prime. She asked, “Optimus, are you serious?” She didn’t want him to be serious. If they left Equestria, than there would be nothing that could stop Megatron and the Changelings from invading and taking over Equestria. And with King Sombra on their side, there was no stopping them.

Twilight didn’t want Optimus Prime to leave. She cared so much for him and if he left them all again…she couldn’t bear to imagine all the suffering she had gone through trying to forget about the Autobots.

“But…”

All heads were turned towards the Autobot leader. Optimus Prime narrowed his optics at this so-called prince and spoke, “When Megatron unleashes his master plan and we are not here, what if we leave…” Optimus Prime leaned forward as Prince Blueblood and several ponies backed away from his head. His optics were hard focused on the Prince as he finished his statement.

“And you’re wrong?”

Prince Blueblood was speechless.

Optimus Prime slowly got back up and retreated into the Canterlot Gardens with the rest of his team following. Somehow…they didn’t feel welcome in the presence of ponies anymore. Princess Celestia looked back and shouted, “Return to your normal everyday activities! NOW!”

The crowd quickly dispersed into the city. Prince Blueblood gave a snort before trotting off with his tail flipping behind him. Sometimes even Celestia couldn’t stand that colt. It was a very stressful day for the two princesses. They had betrayed the Autobots and now want them off their planet…it broke her heart to see her subjects acting so horribly around the peaceful aliens that had saved all of Equestria from Discord’s wrath.

There were also six little hearts broken.

The five mares raced back to find their Autobot friends and hopefully cheer them up…but not Rainbow Dash. She sat on the ground and sighed to herself quietly, the two princesses nodded to her as they both entered the castle. Rainbow could hear them speak.

“Please raise the moon, Lulu. I wish to rest for a long time.”

“As you wish, Tia.”

Rainbow Dash sat alone. The sun was setting lower and lower every second. It wasn’t long before the darkness overcame the entire capital including the shivering Pegasus. She didn’t have any more Autobot friends…

Grimlock was her only Autobot friend that she felt closest to.

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Pinkie Pie chewed at her hoof as the temperature began to drop.

She had searched everywhere and she still couldn’t find the right Autobot. They had all scattered across Canterlot in hopes of nopony finding them…

‘Why do they want to be alone all of a sudden?’ Pinkie thought to herself as she came across one of Canterlot’s many ponds. It was truly a sight to behold. The bright crescent moon hung in the night sky that created a reflection across the pond waters.

Pinkie trotted across the bridge that led to the ponds. Her head gazed into the water; there she saw her own reflection.

“What are you waiting for?” Her reflection asked, “Jazz is out there feeling down in the dumps and you’re just sitting on your rump not doin’ a thing!”

Pinkie’s frown deepened as she sighed, “I know…it’s just that I can’t really find him right now…they want to be alone and…”

Pinkie’s head jerked back as her reflection slapped herself across the face.

“SNAP OUT OF IT, PINKIE PIE!” The reflection screamed while Pinkie rubbed her cheek in pain. The reflection continued, “This is Jazz we’re talking about! He’s always cool in these types of situations!”

Finally rubbing out the pain of slapping herself, Pinkie said, “Yeah…but what if-?” Something was holding the pink pony back. And she soon found out what it was.

Pinkie Pie jolted her head up when a loud splash reached her ears.

She spun her head around until she focused her eyes forward to see him. She almost shed a silent tear when she saw Jazz sitting at the edge of the pond while tossing small rocks in it. When the pastel pony finally caught up to her friend, she couldn’t believe how down he looked.

Usually Jazz always kept a positive attitude, but this was not right. He looked awful. Jazz turned his head towards the pink pony, his blue visor glowing in the darkness. He didn’t even smile and muttered, “Hey Pinkie Pie, how’s it hangin’?”

Pinkie Pie curled her lower lip and gave the saddest expression Jazz had ever seen. She approached his face and placed a tiny hoof on his cheek. Jazz heard her whimper, “Why aren’t you smiling? I loved it when you smiled.”

Jazz sighed and lifted the small pony from his face and onto the ground next to him. He looked at her with a face of pure defeat and muttered, “I don’t even think smilin’ will help us this time, Pinkie.”

She sniffled and asked, “W-Why?”

The Autobot was in silence and looked away and into his own reflection. There he saw someone he hadn’t seen in a long time….the face of someone who was truly hated. Jazz had never felt like this before, he always tried to keep his attitude up in any type of situation…but this was different…

He sighed, “I’ve never felt so….hated before. But I guess we do deserve it…we did bring war to your home after all. I feel just terrible about all of this, Pinkie.”

Jazz lifted up his head when he felt a soft presence on his right arm. He looked down to see the adorable pink pony nuzzling him affectionately. Jazz smiled after felt like so many years of not doing so. Pinkie Pie always had that sense that could make anyone smile.

As Pinkie lifted up her tear stained face, Jazz smiled her way which caused the pink pony to smile back. She jumped forward and landed in Jazz’s lap where he petted her head and scratched her back.

She laid her head down on his leg with a soft sigh and continued to embrace him. Jazz felt better…how this little pony could make him feel happy obviously didn’t make any sense. It made as much sense as Pinkie Pie herself.

“Keep smiling, girl.” Jazz whispered into her ear.

Pinkie Pie smiled, “Stay smooth, Jazz.”

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Rarity pushed the horrid wet leaves out of her way.

It got so much worse when night awakened and the cold overcame her shivering body. But her friend was hurting. He was somewhere in the Canterlot Gardens wallowing in guilt, her generosity would allow her charming good looks to be ruined for Cliffjumper.

Once she had passed a couple of bushes, the sound of footsteps arrived to her twitching ears.

The alabaster unicorn quickly got to cover and watched as the red Autobot trudged through the clearing. His feet stepped on several flowers and bushes as Rarity came out of hiding. There she saw Cliffjumper stop in his tracks and look at the ground in front of him.

Wanting to be noticed, Rarity politely coughed and asked, “…Cliffjumper? Darling, are you okay?” He didn’t answer, nor did he turn around. Rarity trotted forward closer to him, she could see the glowing red lights spread across his body.

She came up to his side and asked, “Do you…want to talk?”

Cliffjumper shook his head and muttered something barely audible, “If by talk, you mean me apologizing for distressing you and your people so much…than yes, I would LOVE to talk.”

Rarity gave her most somber of features; hopefully Cliffjumper would have seen this so he didn’t have to be so dismissive of her. When he didn’t turn his head, Rarity gave a soft smile and said, “Oh…Cliffjumper, it’s not your fault…or any of the Autobot’s faults. You would never distress me, dear. I just hope you find out soon what happened was because of somepony’s arrogance to want to cause such dread in her own home. Chrysalis has shown terrible ways that must be dealt with,” She placed her hoof on Cliffjumper’s leg and said, “It was NOT your fault, darling.”

Cliffjumper remained silent for a period of time until he answered her.

“Rarity, when Optimus told me and Jazz to go and find you out in the Badlands, I swore to return with all of you safe and sound,” He turned her way and narrowed his glowing blue optics, “What would’ve happened if we failed and you and your friends died in the Hives?”

The unicorn took a step back; obviously surprised that anyone would ask her this. When she didn’t respond, Cliffjumper continued, “I would’ve never forgiven myself. Optimus would’ve never forgiven me. This world would hate us even more than it does now. And now…AND NOW....they hate us!!!”

Rarity backed away from Cliffjumper’s anger clearly getting more afraid of him. She never saw him like this. Usually he was always having a good attitude, but she could understand why he was upset.

He continued while clenching his fists, “Love us…or hate us…we will defend your home no matter what. And apparently, being hated doesn’t give me the spirit I need to fight some Decepticons. But I guess that doesn’t matter now, you probably hate me and my team for bringing war to your world…and I do not blame you, Rarity.”

Cliffjumper sighed and faced away from her. Of course he didn’t want to talk about anything that had happened today. It always made him feel bad to hear his failures come from his own mouth. But what this little unicorn did…

Cliffjumper looked down to see the white unicorn shedding tiny tears. He was even more surprised to see her trying to climb, so he made it easy for her and bent down. She climbed into his arms and gave his giant chest a great pitiful hug.

The Autobot felt his knees quiver and he allowed himself to sit down. He held her tight as the whimpers escaped her lips and her head pressed against his chest. There they sat in the wet grass with Cliffjumper rocking her back and forth and Rarity crying in his grasp.

“I don’t hate you, darling,” Rarity sniffled, “How could I ever hate someone as friendly as you?”

Cliffjumper smiled. “You don’t.”

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Applejack shifted in her hiding spot.

She had been spying on the tall red Autobot for some time. When night fell, she shook and wrapped her hooves around her body to keep warm. It wasn’t a very good hiding spot. Ironhide and decided to hide out at the entrance of the Labyrinth.

Applejack hated the Labyrinth. Those past memories made her clench her already shivering teeth. This was the place where Discord had separated her from her closest friends and made her something she wasn’t: a liar.

But there he was, Ironhide standing all alone at the entrance of the massive maze. It was as if he wanted to go in there and get lost.

It was getting colder, and Applejack had almost had it with the freezing night. She warmed up her front hooves by blowing into them, she could see her breath turn into mist and then fade away in the air.

After several more minutes of continued silence and continued spying, Applejack clenched her teeth and thought to herself, ‘The hay with it! Ah’m goin’ ta bed! Ironhide obviously doesn’t want ta talk.’ When she stood back up, Applejack silently crept away without looking back.

She made the mistake of turning her head one last time to look at Ironhide. Her hoof crushed a twig lying on the grass. Her entire body froze and cringed when Ironhide’s deep voice resounded in the cool night air.

“Who’s there?”

Applejack breathed in deeply and turned around. There she was met with the towering Autobot with his head turned towards her but his body facing the Labyrinth. Applejack could clearly see his arms crossed. The farm mare trotted forward and gave a soft smile.

“A friend a ’yers.” Applejack smiled while tipping her hat to the Autobot. Ironhide gave a chuckle and turned away from the mare.

Ironhide answered back after his chuckles died down, “A friend huh? Do you really believe that?” It was silent again. Applejack tilted her head as Ironhide still didn’t look back at her. What kind of question was that?

“Ironhide, sugercube, what are ya talkin’ about?” Applejack asked as she finally came to Ironhide’s side. She sat down and looked up at the Autobot with hope in her eyes. It quickly faded as Ironhide spoke again.

“Do you really believe I can be a friend to you, after what we did to your world?” Ironhide quickly frowned and tilted his head downwards. He saw Applejack’s eyes soften and her voice as soft as the wind.

“Of course Ah can,” Applejack sternly said, “Yer mah friend no matter what.”

Ironhide growled. Applejack slowly backed away as the Autobot said, “After what we have done to your home, taking refuge, fighting a war that was meant to end millions of years ago, almost destroying it to the brink of extinction, and possibly scarring everypony on this world!”

Ironhide glared down at the shivering mare and yelled, “We don’t belong here! You do NOT want to be my friend! The closest friends I ever had were either killed or forever scarred because of our tragic war! And since I like ya, kid, I’m gonna give you the choice to leave and never speak to me again, because I don’t want the horrible things to happen to you!!!”

He lowered himself to one knee and almost planted his face against hers, he still wasn’t finished and shouted, “I can’t be your friend. How about you do us both a favor and just GO AWAY!”

When he was finally finished, his anger extinguished like a fire being put out by blanket cover when he saw a tear fall down her eye, landing on her freckles. Applejack sniffed with her eyes ready to explode. Ironhide felt even worse with what she just did.

Applejack glared through teary eyes and shouted, “Well fine! If that’s the way ya think…then…then Ah won’t be yer friend anymore!!!”

Ironhide reached for her but it was already too late to apologize when she took off away from where he was and to the castle. He could hear her crying before her tiny form disappeared in the night. The Autobot stood back up. His anger was gone and only guilt remained. He never wanted it to happen this way. He just wanted Applejack to be safe…by hating him.

Along with the rest of Equestria.

“I’m sorry, Applejack.”

____________________

Fluttershy slowly pushed the door open.

Her light cyan eyes scanned the room until she found what she was looking for. She had followed him this far, ever since the sun went down and the high moon rose, she followed him to the ball room where the Grand Galloping Gala was held.

There she saw through the darkness was Princess Celestia’s statue and the moon entering the large window. The light of the moon scattered across the shiny ground where her eyes lifted up to see her old friend.

His head was low and all she could see were the glowing red lights and the single Autobot symbol. He was sitting at the very front of Celestia’s statue with his arms resting on his knees. Fluttershy cautiously stepped in and closed the door behind her. Once she entered inside the ball room, the Autobot didn’t move at all and continued to stare at the ground.

Fluttershy’s fear took the better of her and she tried to slowly walk out of the room to leave him in peace.

“Fluttershy.”

The Pegasus yelped and spun around with her hooves trembling. There she saw the yellow Autobot lift up his head with his glowing blue eyes reflecting off the polished floor. She gulped and slowly approached him.

“Bumblebee.”

The said Autobot lifted up his head to full height and forced a smile when Fluttershy approached him. She stopped right in front of him where Bumblebee softly rubbed his hand through her mane. Fluttershy’s entire body tingled at the touch of this Autobot; she opened her eyes to see Bumblebee’s face close to hers.

“I’m so sorry, Bumblebee,” Fluttershy heard herself speak, “What those ponies did to you wasn’t fair. I feel just terrible to see you like this. And if there’s anything I could do to make you feel better, let me hear it.”

Bumblebee’s blue eyes softened as he spoke, “There’s nothing you could do for me, Fluttershy. What those ponies meant by were true. We don’t belong here. We did bring war to your world. And worst of all…..I don’t even think we can stop the Decepticons this time.”

Fluttershy held her gasp in and continued to stare at Bumblebee’s face. All the while, she found herself getting lost in his eyes. Years of warfare and conflict danced in his optics that made the Pegasus shiver. What these Autobots went through…would be forever scarred in their memories.

She hid behind her mane, only one of her eyes visible. With an innocent flicker of her eyelashes, she asked quietly, “Bumblebee, I may have not known you for a long time but…I have to tell you something a very close friend of mine told me when the going gets tough…”

Fluttershy lifted up her hoof and softly placed it on Bumblebee’s cheek. The Autobot’s eyes softened and his smile fell to a look of sorrow. The butter Pegasus’ smile faded as well but she knew…she had to tell him.

“Never give up…be brave…because we ALL can make a difference if we try our hardest and prove that we are powerful on the inside.” She finished by placing a kiss on his forehead. Bumblebee’s eyes closed and his head fell back down.

The Pegasus backed away. With a helpful smile, she patted his head and whispered, “Be brave, Bumblebee, be brave.” As she turned away from the small Autobot, her ear twitched when Bumblebee muttered something to himself.

Or possibly her.

“I wish I could.”

____________________

Twilight Sparkle entered her mentor’s throne room.

The moonlight lit the room with an eerie white glow. Twilight sighed with relief when Princess Celestia wasn’t around and probably asleep in her own room. She crept inside with her eyes darting back and forth. She had followed him this far…and it looks like her journey was finished. In the darkness, she could see the glowing red lights appear on the outside of the throne room and on the balcony.

Twilight got to the entrance of the balcony where she heard Optimus Prime loudly speak.

“…I am Optimus Prime, and I send this distress signal to all of those listening above in the heavens. We are dying. Equestria is in danger. Help us….in this dire time of need.”

Twilight peeked out from the throne room and trotted out to the large balcony. If it could support a large metallic being, than it could obviously support a little unicorn. But Twilight felt uneasy. When she heard Optimus say those words, it was as if he was calling for help.

That can’t be true.

“Optimus…” Twilight said as the last Prime turned his head back, she couldn’t help but smile and ask, “Optimus Prime, are you calling for help?” He wouldn’t do that. He was the leader of the free Autobots, so why in the name of Equestria would he be calling for-

“Yes.”

Twilight stopped moving. She looked up to see Optimus Prime turned away from her and his focus clearly on the moon. Twilight stood at the edge of the balcony with him; there she could see all of Canterlot and Equestria at that. She saw what remained of Ponyville in the far distance. She saw the plains and the mountains cascading the land of her beautiful home.

The stars danced across the sky while Luna’s moon shined brightly which gave Optimus Prime a great reflection off his armor. Twilight looked up at him. Her smile grew as the thought of Optimus calling for help arrived to her mind yet again. Imagine, the bravest and strongest of the Autobots calling for help. What a funny thought, Twilight imagined!

She couldn’t contain her giggles anymore. Optimus looked down with a frown present when he saw the violet unicorn giggling all over the balcony floor.

“You…find this humorous?” Optimus asked with his voice lower than usual.

Twilight stopped laughing and seriously looked at the last Prime. Her smile left her face and her eyes turned soft. She began while looking at her hooves, “Well…I-I mean you’re the leader of possibly the strongest alien race I had ever seen! So why are you calling for help?”

Optimus faced the moonlight again and said, “We all need help once in a while, Twilight.”

“Not you!” Twilight accidently yelled too loud, Optimus looked down at her as she sheepishly said, “I mean, not you. You’re Optimus Prime. You can stop all of this just like you did with Discord. You can put an end to both Chrysalis AND Sombra. You know why? Because you’re unstoppable,” She got closer to him and quietly added, “You’re my friend and I believe in you.”

Optimus Prime turned her way, his optics narrowed on the little unicorn as he spoke, “Not even I could stop Discord by myself. I required assistance from very unlikely people. One being my most hated of all brothers: Megatron. And the other…..being you.”

Twilight’s eyes grew wider. She quickly asked with her impatience growing, “What do you mean? You don’t need our help. Slug was right,” Twilight looked at the ground miserably and kicked at the cobblestone, “we’re worthless and weak.”

She never felt so sad before. Twilight finally knew that her entire species were helpless. With Queen Chrysalis and King Sombra working together, and with Megatron and his army growing stronger, there was absolutely no way a bunch of little ponies were able to stop them all.

“Just because ones decision to say you are powerless and weak, doesn’t mean you are.”

Twilight lifted up her head and looked right to see Optimus Prime lowering himself to her level. He placed a large finger under her chin and calmly spoke, “How can something so weak defeat the mighty Bruticus? How can something so worthless conquer the treacherous Starscream?” His finger softly rubbed her cheek as he finished his statement, “You and your friends saved my life, Twilight Sparkle. You are not powerless.”

Twilight blushed when Optimus’ finger left her cold cheek. He stood back up to full height and faced the moon again. The unicorn didn’t feel so bad anymore…Optimus always had his way of making her feel better.

Twilight smiled and said, “Thank you, Optimus. Really….thank you.”

Optimus didn’t even look at her as he said, “Then you finally understand. You and your friends hold the hope for a better tomorrow with the powers inside of you. The love and peace that each of you held in the Elements of Harmony can cleanse this world of horrific war. Your hearts…are the core of peace on Equestria. And as long as each of you shall live, no one shall ever doubt you.”

Twilight nodded, really absorbing Optimus’ wisdom in hopes of her own mind becoming stronger. They hold the hope for a better tomorrow. The love and peace they hold can heal their home.

Their hearts were the core of peace on Equestria.

Twilight opened her eyes. She opened her eyes when realization finally hit her.

Love and peace….heart is the core….the power is inside them.

Twilight’s eyes sparkled and her heart did a flip in her chest. She finally knew what to do. The idea that she held in her very powerful brain would help her home and stop King Sombra. The heart was the answer to everything.

“The love and hope from everypony will fill the heart so peace and love could reign in Equestria once again!” Twilight screamed in delight with her hooves held high in the cool air. Optimus Prime looked down at the tiny unicorn to see her smiling from ear to ear.

She shouted with her smile never broken, “Optimus Prime, you’re a genius!!!”

Before he could answer, Twilight galloped out of the balcony and into Celestia’s throne room. Optimus looked at her until the unicorn disappeared behind the large doors. There he stood alone….with confusion rocking his central core.

“Was it something I said?”

____________________

LOCATION IDENTIFIED

-BADLANDS-

The night arrived throughout all Equestria, including the Badlands. The large dead landscape filled the large plains with no life at all. A calm breeze spread through the area with the dead grass flowing like waves. The stars lit the sky with a lot of help from Luna’s moon.

Skeletons of large beasts scattered the landscape. Bones of dragons were seen filling the plains while dead Manticore corpses littered the dead forests. Tiny little creatures scurried across the ground and entered the remains of these dead animals in hope of finding a pinch of meat left.

Dark mountains painted the background of these light brown colored lands. Large rock structures and boulders spread across the desert of this unforgiving wasteland in Equestria. Nothing survived long here…but life would soon enter this horrific site.

The tiny creatures scurried away in fear when a loud monstrosity soared above the grounds. It created such a loud noise that it could be heard for at least five miles. The flying mechanism soared above the grounds until the backside gave out and the entire thing fell to the earth with a loud….scream?

It transformed and landed on the dead grass with a loud grunt.

The two-legged monster slowly stood and wiped itself off with two arms and several fingers. The dust flew off its sleek and dented armor as the creature looked around the area. Its red eyes pierced the darkness until it had found it.

It smiled when it found the shattered rock structure.

“Finally…after so many cycles of searching….I, Starscream, have found it at last.”

The once-Air Commander for the Decepticons, Starscream trudged forward to the fallen cave with only his thoughts keeping him company.

“He has to be here. From my past observations, the Autobots had arrived here in a number of six as I recall. Only five made it out with those dreaded ponies…which means he is still here. I just hope he hasn’t completely been destroyed….he’s no use to me as a rusting scrap pile!” Starscream grunted as he stepped over the shattered rocks.

His foot hit a hole causing the Decepticon to back away and smile with glee.

“Megatron will rue the day he made a fool of me,” Starscream exclaimed while pulling out a detpack from his back, “He can keep his precious army, I will build one of my own.”

And with that, Starscream placed the detpack on the ground and backed away. With a few beeps, the detpack exploded sending the entire floor to the deep grounds below. The Decepticon Seeker screamed as his body fell to the hard ground below.

Standing up and dusting himself off yet again, Starscream grumbled when the darkness of the deep cave made it absolutely useless to see clearly. His optics scanned the cave; nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

“No fallen Autobots here,” Starscream mumbled and began to move forward, “I must go deeper. Only Primus knows how deep this cavern is.”

Starscream made his way through the maze of destroyed rocks and shattered caves, strange goo covered the walls and floors of this once life-filled Hive. No it was nothing but a dead cave deep in the earth. The Decepticon kept moving, his feet made squishy sounds when he had arrived to a new area.

“I must be getting close…the ground reeks with foul odor. These Changelings are so uncivilized. Or should I say…WERE uncivilized hehehe.” Starscream chuckled at his slight humor, due to the fact that he had seen several dead Changelings lying all over the ground.

He had gotten deeper with each step; his head almost hit the ceiling of these endless caverns. Just when the darkness couldn’t get any more treacherous, Starscream took one step forward where the entire ground collapsed.

“AHHHHHHHH!!!!!” The Decepticon screamed as he face planted the hard ground. He stood back up and groaned in pain, “I REALLY need some repairs and fast.” It was true. His rocket feet couldn’t catch him in mid-air due to Megatron’s hatred towards him. That blast nearly killed the Air Commander.

But something caught his optic.

Starscream slowly looked up and smiled when he had finally found him.

Hanging from the nearest support beam of this large cave, was none other than the mighty Grimlock. His body was motionless and his head hung low. All of the lights on his body were black including his visor. Starscream observed closer and saw that the tree roots from the support beam had hung the Dinobot in place. His arms were tied above his head and hung uselessly in the air while his abdomen was ripped open with several wires hanging out. His legs were tied to the bottom of the support beam where a small pool of liquid Energon laid…dripping from his open abdomen.

Starscream gulped and moved forward, his optics looked at the dreadful wound Grimlock had. These Changelings had tried to eat him…ripped him open and strung his remains on this large rocky beam. What a horrible demise.

Bur Starscream wouldn’t give up so easily. He had come this far and lost too much to stop now. Slowly approaching the dead Autobot, Starscream smiled and spoke with his hand in the air.

“Ahhhh…well, if it isn’t the mighty Grimlock?”

The remains of the Dinobot leader didn’t move…Starscream continued.

“You may not remember me because you’re far too stupid,” Starscream smiled and politely bowed, “I…am Starscream,” He faced away from the dead beast and continued, “I know what has happened to you. The powerful Lightning Strike went in these very Hives to save six pitiful ponies. Pathetic! But it seems…your plans didn’t go out quite…expected…as have mine.”

Starscream turned back towards the dead Autobot and said, “But what is a Grimlock to do? Surely the ponies have forgotten about your very essence. And Optimus doesn’t care that you were even part of his team anymore! But I’ll tell you what…”

Starscream struggled for a moment before his feet burst to life and he hovered closer to the deceased Dinobot. He spoke, “I will give you redemption on one condition…you will swear your allegiance to me! You will do my bidding! And in turn…I will grant you life.”

Grimlock’s remains stayed still, his visor as black as the dark cave. Starscream smiled and moved his head in closer. “I-I’m sorry I didn’t quite catch that because you are…um….DEAD! HAHAHAHA!!!!!”

When his laughter died down, Starscream landed back to the hard gravel with his smile fading away. He kicked at the ground and muttered, “How low can you get, Starscream? Talking to the dead for a quick laugh? That is just pathetic!”

The Air Commander’s worries just kept growing. Grimlock was indeed dead and there was no way he could revive his spark. Starscream thought for a while longer until he got it. It was a long shot…but maybe it would work.

Starscream opened up his chest and pulled out a long, jagged, purple crystal. It shined in the darkness of the Changeling Hives as Starscream looked up hopefully at the dead Dinobot. His rocket feet activated and he was hovering right in front of Grimlock’s chest.

Starscream gripped the crystal and hissed, “I guess I have to thank you, lord Megatron. If you never gave me that supply of Dark Energon when I had joined the Decepticons, I could not have done this…” His red optics focused on the open abdomen of the mighty Dinobot.

“What better way to power my newest soldier….than with Dark Energon?”

And with that said, Starscream reared back and drove the Dark Energon crystal straight into Grimlock’s wound. The crystal reacted as it should with a Cybertronian. The body shook and the tree roots began to rip. Starscream landed on the ground and backed away as Grimlock’s wound closed up and his body came back to life.

Grimlock’s visor glowed violently purple as did the Decepticon symbol on his chest.