//------------------------------// // Act 1: Masters and Students // Story: Friendship Is Magic: Prime // by Darkryt Orbinautz //------------------------------// Friendship Is Magic: Prime by Darkryt Orbinautz Act 1 Chapter 3 Masters and Students "No one gets away with messing' up the Wonderbolt's show!" Rainbow Dash yelled, taking to the sky and preparing to charge. "Ah, ah, ah!" Megatron waved his pointed finger in a lecturing manner, "I have something that may be of your interest...Airachnid?" the bits and pieces of helicopter parts of the back of the green shift and whirred. 'Airachnid', as she was addressed reached behind her back and pulled out a net, that seemed to have...a lavender pony sleeping in it. "Twilight!" Dash cried out. Megatron laughed as he took the net from Airachnid, "Yes. Yes. Soundwave here-" Megatron gestured to the blue giant on his right. "Scanned Twilight Sparkle for information. And as such, I know that this...pony is the personal student of the Princess. If that Princess would please step forward..." Celestia flared her wings and flew up, floating to by Rainbow Dash's side. Celestia was blunt in her questioning. "What do you want?" "To add Equestria to the list of the Decepticon's conquest." Megatron answered. "And what makes you think I won't fight to prevent that?" Celestia snorted. Megatron smirked, showing fanged teeth that likely could've rended pony bones. "Do you know what Energon is?" "I do not." "It is the lifeforce that runs through us Decepticons. Our blood and fuel. Can you imagine what would happen to a pony if they were, say...injected with the substance?" "...No." "Let's find out together, shall we?" Megatron took his spare hand and began gently rocking Twilight Sparkle's body. "Twilight...Twilight, dearie, wake up." For such an imposing creature, Megatron was being quite gentle with nudging Twilight awake...a fact that sent Celestia's mental warning sirens on overdrive. Twilight groaned, stretched her legs in the net, and let out an adorable yawn. She blinked, showing that the whites of her eyes had turned a glowing light blue. "Wha...what time is it?" Twilight questioned, seemingly unaware of the danger she was in. "Twilight Sparkle?" Celestia called out with increasing concern,as she noticed that Twilight's cutie mark was also glowing faintly with that light blue color. "Twilight Sparkle, do you know what's going on?" Twilight Sparkle's eyes drifted to Celestia. "Um..I just woke up from a nap in a net held by this big, scary dude. That's it." Twilight gazed off in the distance dreamily before pointing at Celestia. "Hey, lady! How come your hair's all multi-colored and floating?" Celestia and Dash gawked at Twilight in disbelief. "Uh, Twilight? Princess Celestia's hair has always been like that." said Rainbow Dash. "A Princess! Oh, wow! I'm talking to a Princess! I must be the luckiest filly in the world!" Twilight exclaimed. Megatron choose that moment to interject with a dark chuckle. "Hmhmhmhm...It would she is having memory difficulties. One must wonder how long it'd be before she loses her sense of self. Such a tragic fate could be avoided...for a price." "I'll do anything!" Celestia snapped, "Just, please...fix her!" "Princess?" Dash asked with concern. It wasn't like Celestia to lose her cool like this! "Anything?" Megatron repeated with amusement. "Even, say...Giving me your crown, throne and everything they permit?" Celestia closed her eyes and lowered her head. "...Yes." "Princess, no!" Rainbow Dash protested. "We can take 'em!" "Can you?" Airachnid responded. Holding her claw out flat,Airachnid shot a bundle of spider webbing from it at Rainbow Dash,binding the cyan mare's wings together and causing to fall the ground. A portion of the crowd adjusted itself to avoid being crushed. Spike, Pinkie Pie and the others rushed through the crowd to address their friend. Celestia tore her gaze from Megatron and looked her little ponies below. "When you are a leader, there comes a time when you must choose between your personal feelings and what is best for your people as a whole. I must now make that choice and...my feelings for my student are too strong. I am...I'm sorry." She turned and lowered her head in such a way that her crown fell off and began to plummet to the ground below. Megatron held out a jagged finger and the crown fell onto it like a diminutive ring. Megatron looked towards the crowd. "Even now, some of you will question your leader's choice, and wonder whether she was even fit to rule to begin with. But before you start your rumor-mongering, please note that your former Princess' choices were...rather limited." Megatron turned towards Airachnid and handed her the net Twilight was in. "Take her to Knock Out." Airachnid saluted and began skittering away. "And now with that done, you...will...all...KNEEL!" Megatron screamed, the assembled crowd exchanged looks at one another, and, unable to think of a better response, did as they were told. "Jerk..." Rainbow Dash growled before following suit. "Brute!" Rarity whined. "Cheater..." was Applejack's only comment. "Party-Pooper." Pinkie Pie observed. "Oh my..." Fluttershy mumbled incoherently. "Twilight..." Spike whimpered. Seeing that the entire crowd had did as he told, Megatron let out a thundering, mirthless laugh. The Decepticons wasted no time in leaving their mark on Equestria. All the ponies were routed to their hometowns and were doing as the Decepticons ordered. Apparently, the plan was to put them all to work on the outskirts of their homes, finding Energon for the Decepticon's usage. Celestia did not exempt herself from the Canterlot grouping, but apparently the Decepticon's did. The purple drone soldier (something she was told was called a 'Vehicon') directing pony traffic stopped when it was Celestia's turn. "Hey, you!" Celestia feigned surprise and gestured to herself. "Who, me?" "Yes, you! You Celestia?" "If I am?" "Megatron said to bring a Celestia to him to 'talk'." The drone informed her. Celestia raised an eyebrow at this. "About?" The drone shrugged and turned around, "I don't know...hey Charlie! Got a pony here I need transported!" Another purple drone solider walked over and took a glance at Celestia. Muttering 'affirmative' or something like that, it shifted it's body into a boxy purple car. It opened one of the doors. "Get in, then." 'Charlie' told Celestia, who did as instructed, climbing into the passenger seat of the the vehicle. She grew steadily uncomfortable during the ride, wondering what cruel fate Megatron might be planning to stow upon her. Still, she couldn't deny the Vehicon's seats were extremely plush. Going up a spiral path into the Fortress the Decepticons were building as part of their operation, the Vehicon hit it's brakes just outside a door that seemed like a huge gate to Celestia, but was no doubt an average door size to the Decepticons. She made her way out of the car and thanked 'Charlie' for the ride. "No proooblem." The car drawled, then started going in reverse back down the spiral path. Celestia went off into the incomplete parts of the gate and looked around. The place was being built purple, with the occasional window here and there. Her interest was caught by two flying Vehicons whom were holding a construction beam, being guided by a third flying Vehicon who was wielding those red-and-green-take-off-light-things, and the two drones dropped the beam, causing a huge hole in the floor. The third Vehicon shot a glare the first and second, and they both pointed at the other in an attempt to shift the blame. Celestia giggled at the antics as she watched them,then proceeded to continue inward through the building. She couldn't find anything to suggest she was going the right way, and wandered blindly until she found a Decepticon who wasn't as tall as Megatron, but was just as, if not more bulky, with a color scheme of dark blue and silver. His left hand was a large hammer, which he was using to pound nails into the support beams. Having little better options,she cleared her throat to get his attention. "Excuse me, sir?" The Decepticon turned his head, showing a red face with one yellow eye, and its other eye seemed to have a black plate on it, like an eye patch. "You need somethin'?" he asked, the hammer on his arm shifting and turning into a match for his other hand. Celestia gawked at the transformation a bit before composing herself. "Uh, yes. I've been told Megatron wanted to see me?" The Decepticon looked at her a bit, putting a hand to his chin. "You Celestia?" "Yes, I am." "Breakdown." He introduced himself, "Come on, I'll take you to him." Celestia followed as Breakdown began walking away, guiding her through the seeming labyrinth of construction eventually coming to a needlessly spiky black door that had been completed. "Right through here. I'll go in and announce you." Breakdown told her, opening the door and (failing to) close it behind him, as he left it slightly ajar, letting her the sound of a fight coming from the room. Curiosity overcoming her respect for others privacy, She took the opportunity to gaze through the slight gap and saw a large room, five Decepticon-sized windows on either side and a throne made in the same black, spiky fashion the doors were. Megatron was standing with the thin blue 'Con by one of the windows,observing with interest two clashing blurs of red. Breakdown walked over and whispered something into Megatron's ear, which was met with a dismissive hand motion. Eventually, after much beating and pounding, the two blurs stopped, revealing themselves to be a slick-looking red and white Decepticon with a fin on his head and a staff in his hand, the other being a crimson stallion with a whip in his mouth. Both looked damaged and tired. Hang on...isn't that...Applejack's brother? The red Decepticon took in a deep breath and exhaled, "You're tougher then I expected from someone with an apple on his butt." He took a bow, "I yield." He walked over to Breakdown, while Megatron walked over to Big Macintosh with his claws clapping. "I am impressed, Big Macintosh. When you came dashing in, asking to be named an honorary Decepticon, I thought you were just a little pony who wanted to play with the big boys. I see that assessment was incorrect. Yours willbe a welcome addition to our ranks." Celestia's jaw dropped. Big Macintosh...had asked to join the Decepticons? Megatron cleared his throat, "Ahhem...I, Megatron, through the power invested in me by right of being Decepticon Leader, hereby decree the pony known as 'Big Macintosh' official status as an Honorary Decepticon." Big Macintosh bowed, "Thank you kindly...Sir." Megatron turned towards the other Decepticons in the room, "Breakdown, you are freed from construction duties. I want you to take Big Macintosh and supervise the ponies in Ponville. Knock Out, return to your prior post. Soundwave, send Celestia in." Celestia quickly backed away from the door,not wanting them to know of her eavesdropping. The Decepticons,plus Big Macintosh exited it. Breakdown waved jovially at Celestia. When Big Macintosh passed, Celestia took him by the hoof and brought his face to hers. "Big Macintosh? You...you're joining the Decepticons? How? Why?" Big Macintosh shrugged, "Weell, ah heard that ya surrendered to them, so ah figured ah rush in and throw myself in with them. Gotta be on ta' winnin' team, right? 'Sides, this way ah can..." "Celestia?" Breakdown greeted, interrupting whatever the farmer was about to add "Can I get you and Big Macintosh to continue this later? Me and him got stuff to do." Celestia nodded and let the stallion from her grip. Big Macintosh nodded politely to her and rejoined Breakdown. Knock Out, when he passed her, paid her no mind. After they had walked some distance, the blue Decepticon peered the through the door and beckoned Celestia in with his long fingers. Celestia cautiously trotted in,greeted by the sight of Megatron sitting on a throne with an eerily warm smile on his face. "Celestia! Welcome, welcome. I do hope the place is your liking." Megatron welcomed her. It was disturbing to Celestia just how friendly he was making his voice sound. "Mmmm...Purple's more my student's thing." Celestia informed him,the bitterness in her voice apparent. Megatron's smile flickered,but didn't fade. "Yes...your student." He said ,beginning to pace around the room, approaching a window that the sunlight was shining through. "I've been thinking, Celestia..." Megatron started, "Using your student and emotions against you like that, it...it was so very rude of me." Celestia looked at Megatron with interest. Where was this going? "So I thought to myself, 'Hey,why do not something to make her feel better?'...but what? Maybe...let her see her student...but then I run the risk of her freeing her student,and removing any barriers between her fighting power and mine...and then it hit me. 'Hey! She was Princess of Equestria before you jerked the crown from her! Why not give her a royal position!'...So, with that, Celestia...would you consider being my adviser and tutor while I am on this planet?" "Tutor?" Celestia commented. "While I know things that apply to all planets -such as 'threatening a loved one is a good to tick someone off and/or make them do what you say' I know nothing of this planet works. The clouds do not move. The sun is stoic, and the animals flock to you ponies...why? All this and more...you could teach me, Celestia. If you would only say yes." Celestia glared at Megatron a bit. "Who knows? I may...reconsider my stance on letting you see your student if you... behave." Celestia blinked and nodded her head,that sentence letting her see quite clearly Megatron's intentions. I know what you're doing, Celestia thought to herself. You're trying to butter me up by offering me a comfy position and things you know I want. Then, when I'm good and lubed, you'll pry Equestria's darker, more destructive secrets from me for your own purposes. But I'm on to you, oh yes. You're not the only who knows to manipulate ponies. "Lord Megatron! I am honored and humbled by your offer! Mere words...cannot express my gratitude for your generosity!" Celestia said with a bow. "...I take it that's a yes, then?" The Decepticons had all directed the entire population of Ponyville- that included pets and the likes of Zecora who didn't live in Ponyville proper- had been ordered to stand in the mountain range that everypony used to find jewels, waiting by a huge machine that had been put there until the Decepticons arrived. A green portal appeared,and multiple purple-and-silver Decepticon drones, accompanied by a more-then-fairly large, bulky, white and blue one with a thorny head and red face. A pony was closely following their feet exited from it. "I do not mean to point hooves at another, but pardon me, isn't that your brother?" Zecora tapped AJ's shoulder. "Tarnation! It is!" Applejack cried out after leering the pony closely following the dark blue robot's leg, it was Big Macintosh, wearing a leather jacket with what was recognized as the Decepticon insignia over his cutie mark. "Hello ponies, my name is Breakdown." The white robot called out. Nopony in the audience responded. The robot stomped his foot, causing the entire audience to leap three feet off the ground and take an expression of surprise. "Let's try this again,when I say 'my name is Breakdown', I want you to say 'Hello Breakdown' or 'Good morning, Breakdown.' Ready?" the ponies nodded "From the top...Hello ponies, my name is Breakdown." "Good morning, Breakdown." dully chorused throughout the crowd. "That's better! Now, let's get down to business..." Breakdown gestured one of the drones closer,and it presented him with box. In the box were what seemed to be anklets, and the drone also gave him a pile of dirt. "Now, I suppose y'all are wondering about the generator here is about." Breakdown asked . The crowd nodded. "Well, I'll show you." Breakdown took a emerald and tossed into a hole on the side of the generator. The machine whirred, hummed, and cranked, and,once finished,a small glowing pink cube rolled out of the belt. "Your purpose is to harvest Energon. To do this, you will be digging in and around the mountain,finding as many gems that you can carry, and bringing it back to the generator. You will be wearing these-" he pointed the box of anklets "To ensure that nobody-" A drone leaned and whispered something to Breakdown. "That nopony will try any funny business. I mean it." He held up a remote, "Do something we don't like without our permission, and we'll use this...and it will be unpleasant. Any questions?" Applejack and Rarity both instantly raised their hooves, Breakdown pointed. "You! Orange pony with the nice hat! You go first." "Uh, yes, I have one. What the hay is my brother doing with you lot? !" "Oh, you mean Big Red?" Breakdown replied. "Big Red?" Applejack muttered under her breath, quiet so Breakdown wouldn't hear her. "Um...helping me with supervision duties?" Breakdown replied. Applejack stomped her hoof. "That is not what ah meant!" Breakdown shrugged, "Well, you can discuss what you 'meant' with him...after hours. You! Marshmallow pony, what's your question?" Breakdown pointed at Rarity, who stepped forward a few clops. "We're not...really going to wear those dull, dull anklets...are we?" Rarity complained. Breakdown's face twisted to a scowl. "Oh...you're one of those... Could you come over here,sweetie?" Breakdown responded, his voice chilling sweet and doing a beckoning motion with his finger. Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Dash and Fluttershy all swallowed in fear of what could happen, but Rarity complied. They covered their eyes with their hooves in dread and began to hear awful things. "Oh you-! Get your hands off me- that's private! You uncouth-...Nice. Not everypony can do one of those." Rarity protested, slightly drowned out against the sound of whirs and drills. Eventually, the protesting and sounds died down,and Applejack removed her hoof from her eyes to see what...terrible...thing...they..did to Rarity. "Go on. Laugh. Get it out of your system." Rarity told her. The Decepticons had turned Rarity's coiffures into a braid, with multiples of the anklets serving as the braid holders. They had also put multiple anklets on most of her body, with trios of them on all her legs, 4 serving as earrings, and one as a nose ring. Appejack nudged Rainbow Dash,who opened her gaze to what was Applejack was pointing at,Dash proceeded to nudge Pinkie, who nudged Fluttershy. The four of them did indeed share a good laugh that was cut short by Breakdown. "Now, if you will please form three single file lines -one for the ponies, one for the young ponies, and one for the non-ponies- so can we affix these anklets to you, we can get started." Breakdown told them. The ponies, with a sigh, did as told, dividing up into three different lines to have their anklets put on. In one of the completed rooms of the Canterlot fortress. A medical station, containing all the things a Decepticon medic could need,Knock Out was finishing up on 'fixing' Twilight Sparkle. Twilight was hooked to a machine shaped like an ice-cream machine via tubing, which was slowly draining the Energon out of her and into a container. Knock Out was carrying a conversation with himself as he did this. "'Do something cruel and unusual, Knock Out' Hey! I know, how we pump her full of Energon? 'That's brilliant, Knock Out!...Oh, sorry Knock Out, we need you to drain the Energon out of her now!'...Eesh, Megatron, Make up your blasted mind." The machine dinged, letting Knock Out know that it was finished. "All right." Knock Out unhooked Twilight from the machine, picked her up and put her in a green crate that was just the right size for a pony. "Good night, Twilight Sparkle." Knock Out told her, exiting the room and turning the lights off. Twilight looked around. No one was there. No pony or Decepticon. Using her magic, she opened the crate door and levitated a tank of the Energon and shook it, trying to figure out to put it back in here. She scanned the room, and saw a syringe. She levitated the syringe over and poured the contents of the tank into it, then stabbed herself in the Cutie Mark dead center, loading the blue liquid into her. It took a moment for it to spread in her bloodstream. She used that moment to put all the tools away in their right place, and locked herself back in her crate before somepony noticed. The blue glow returned to her eyes and Cutie Mark. "Oooooooooooooh..."