//------------------------------// // The Search, Chapter 5: Murky // Story: Transformers: Ancient Legacy // by Goldymarg //------------------------------// - Canterlot Throne Room, Late Afternoon Celestia trotted down the lavish hallways of Canterlot Castle at a snail's pace, her eyes lazily tracing the hem of the red carpet. So, there were indeed Autobots angered by her decision. Jetfire may have been sympathetic, but Gears' attitude towards her was just as she expected - as well as feared. Even now, she questioned whether or not sending those innocent ponies to the outer corners of Equestria alone was such a wise choice. From what she had been told, the Decepticons were warmongers, and anypony who was unfortunate enough to encounter the one that escaped from the Ark would undoubtedly be exposed to warfare. She raised her head, increasing her stride. The captain of the Canterlot guard was still out on his honeymoon, so it was up to her to organize Equestria's first line of defense. Using her magic to open the double doors to the throne room, she raised her eyebrows upon seeing the pony staring out the window. “Luna? You're up rather early, is something troubling you?” The night blue pony made eye contact with her, her mouth just slightly creased into a frown. Her eyes showed a hint of tiredness, but not from a lack of sleep. “I could ask of you the same, dear sister. And...yes. Something troubles me deeply.” Celestia walked up to her sister, placing a wing over her in a warm hug. With a sad smile, she said, “Well, I suppose we all have something on our minds...would you care to go first?” Luna leaned into her embrace, closing her eyes. “It...it concerns the time before my...fall. I cannot seem to recollect it. All I can remember of those days were bouts of jealousy and hatred. But sister...when I first encountered Beachcomber, I felt something within the recesses of my heart. A certain feeling dear to me, as if I were playing with an old friend. I cannot truly explain what it is, but it feels like...nostalgia.” Celestia raised an eyebrow, giving her a curious look. “How very strange...is this not the first time we have ever encountered the Cybertronians?” “Indeed, it is...which is why I wish to remember. Something inside tells me that my faded memories possess the answers I seek. Though so far, my efforts have all been for naught...” The sun Princess rubbed her cheek against her sister's, soothing the turmoil in her heart. “Please do not stress yourself too hard. Perhaps your memories will return when the time is right.” Luna looked in her sister's eyes again, showing a small smile. “I thank you, dear sister.” *slam* “Your highness, you wished to speak with – oh!” A white pegasus clad in golden armor threw open the doors to the throne room, stopping himself short before he entered any further. “Please forgive me, I had not intended to interrupt...” Celestia stepped forward to face him, folding her wing. “No, it's quite alright lieutenant. There are matters that I need to discuss with you.” Luna disengaged herself from her sister, knowing that royal duty called. Closing her eyes, she said, “Very well then. Dusk approaches regardless, so I will take my leave.” ---- - Horseshoe Bay, Two Hours Ago Just Outside Baltimare City Limits “(sigh)...Twilight Sparkle's ridiculous compass is pointing directly into the bay. So, can either of you take us out to sea? The Great and Powerful Trixie refuses to soil her attire with salt water.” “Ugh, somebody fry my motherboard already...” Even in vehicle mode, it was clear Warpath was getting more restless than a windsock in a thunderstorm. He had only spent around four or five hours hanging around Trixie, and already her banter was wearing his patience down to the size of a proverbial pebble. His cannon tilted up and down repeatedly, and his hover jets rocked him back and forth. (“Oh man, if I gotta listen to this blue thing even a nanosecond longer, I'm gonna - ”) “...both Warpath and myself are equipped with hydrofoils, so going out into this mass of water will be of no consequence.” Then there was this guy. The white and black vehicle resembling a police car, complete with red and blue sirens. Thankfully he was mostly silent up until now, but he knew it wouldn't last forever. He rolled up next to Trixie, the disdain in his voice clear. “As for your apparent disposition, I suggest you stow it. Your whole purpose here is to lead us to the energon signal, not to listen to your arrogant remarks. It's ineffectual and annoying.” Well, at least they agreed on something. “Hmf! You're lucky Trixie agreed to lend her marvelous talents to your silly little mission! And also...ugh, where is Fluttershy?! Why would she go off by herself at a time like this?!” She kicked a rock into a bush, leaving a visible hole in its leaves. This whole excursion was a waste of time, and her supposed partner was only adding to her frustration. “You know what? Forget her. Her simpering cowardice would only get in Trixie's way.” Prowl's rear wheels kicked up dirt, accelerating in front of the blue unicorn and cutting her off. Covering her face with her foreleg, she gave the Autobot a mean look as he retorted, “Out of the question. As per our agreement with Princess Luna, both of you agreed to accompany the two of us. And despite my own resentment for such conditions, I will not defy protocol.” Trixie sneered at the vehicle in front of her with grit teeth. “Oh, fine! Then help Trixie find her, if she's sooo important!” “Warpath and I are here to investigate the energon signal, not babysit a couple of ponies. She's your responsibility, not ours.” This was unbelievable. He hadn't said a word the entire time, and yet Prowl had managed to get under her skin in less than a minute. She glared at him as if she were trying to incinerate him with her gaze, unconsciously causing one of her eyes to twitch. If he wasn't a three story tall robot, Trixie would have probably attacked him by now out of sheer anger. Instead, she took her rage out on the foliage around her, thrusting branches and leaves out of her way with levitation as she stormed off. (“I am getting so sick of everypony treating me like I'm nothing! Now I've even got aliens belittling me! Alien robots of all things! Oh, mark my words, you'll ALL see just how terrifying the Great and Powerful Trixie can be!”) ---- “Oh, uhm, thank you mister sailor. I'm sorry if I disturbed you or anything.” “Fluttershy! What in Tartarus are you doing over here!? We've about to shove off!” The yellow pegasus yelped at Trixie's enraged shouting, nearly tripping over her own hooves. As the unicorn came bursting out of the brush, she saw her speaking with a burly, light brown stallion carrying a white duffel bag over his shoulder. He wore a blue kerchief around his neck, and had a manecut resembling faded white hardtack. She surmised it was probably due to sun and saline damage. He spoke with a gruff tone, “I guess this is the pony you were talkin' about?” Fluttershy nodded in a crouched position, covering half her face with her forelegs. “U-uhm...we were about to...go into Horseshoe Bay to go looking for, uh...something.” “Dressed like that? Don't think that's a good idea, miss.” He was referring to her wizard's cap and cape, decorated with white and gold stars. Her choice of clothes were perfect for a street performer, but not exactly for sailing. Trixie eyed him up and down, giving him a pretentious look as she raised an eyebrow. “And just why is that such a bad idea? I seriously doubt there's anything dangerous about going over a bay.” “If that's what ya think, you're as good as shark food. Listen lady, I used to be part of a shipping crew that transported goods between here and Manehatten, and Horseshoe Bay used to be the main hub of oceanic commerce. At least until Howler showed up a couple years back...” Fluttershy stood up again, tilting her head sideways. “Howler?” The sailor pony grimaced, looking down with a pained expression. “It's some kinda sea monster. Problem is, nopony's ever gotten a good look at it. Only thing we sailors ever see is a black shadow goin' across the water, and this loud, creepy howl. Next thing you know, your ship's capsized. Took my sea legs away, he did...” He raised his head, looking Trixie in the eye. “That's why I'm sayin' it's not a good idea. Nopony's ever gone back into Horseshoe Bay cause' of that thing. I'd say turn back now, but it ain't my business tellin' fools what to do...” With that, he hefted his duffel bag and trotted off, his head lowered once again. Fluttershy watched him leave as Trixie came up in front of her, shouting into her face, “And just what were you doing going off by yourself?!” She backed up slightly, looking away. “Oh! I'm so sorry Trixie, but...but you see, I've never been so close to the ocean before. I thought I'd be able to see some plants and animals that live near the sea, a-and I saw this paw print I've never seen before and...” “...and you decided to go off looking for what made it.” “Please forgive me, Trixie! I'm almost positive it belonged to a big kitty cat! I just wanted to meet him and say hi, but I, uhm...ended up here instead. I'm sorry...” Trixie put a hoof on her face, dragging it down. “Ugh, never mind that. We need to get going, now.” Fluttershy yelped again, going back into her crouching position. “Y-you mean...we're going into Horseshoe Bay?! But what about what that sailor pony said?! W-what about Howler?!” “What about Howler? The Great and Powerful Trixie does not believe in such silly fish stories. Now get a move on! Trixie is not beneath dragging you!” ---- “So, uhm...how do you like Equestria so far, Prowl?” “Don't distract me, I'd rather not have us go off course because of inane chatter.” Poor Fluttershy frowned, her eyes drifting out Prowl's window once again. All she had wanted was something to help take her mind off the sailor pony's story, yet no one here seemed interested in speaking with her at all. Prowl seemed anti-social, Warpath kept making awkward excuses to avoid her, and she dared not speak to Trixie after the way she yelled her. Instead, she again found herself scanning the waters as they rushed by, hoping against hope that it was just an innocent fish story after all. “Wha – Prowl, stop here! The compass is flashing!” He came to a sudden halt, throwing an unsuspecting Fluttershy into the windshield upside down. Paying no mind to her, Trixie said, “It seems like we've arriv – ugh. Forget it, it just stopped. Keep going down the way we were – what?! Now it's flashing again!” She took the compass between her hooves and brought it to her face, glaring at the blue shard. “Hmf, just as Trixie suspected, it's broken.” Fluttershy fell onto her side and rubbed her head. Crawling off the dashboard, she looked into the compass as well. “Excuse me, Trixie? I-I'm sorry, I don't want to interrupt you, but - ” “This is what happens when you trust an amateur with making enchanted hardware. Well, what are we supposed to do now?” “U-uhm, about the compass...” “It may have been a false alarm. And logically speaking, I seriously doubt Soundwave would be out here in the middle of the ocean without good cause.” “The blue shard's pointing down...and-and it's moving...” Trixie leaned back into the seat and crossed her legs at the knee, her tone becoming dismissive. She tossed the compass into Fluttershy's hooves and said, “Oh well, then I guess our five hour journey across Equestria was just a wild goose chase...can we go back now? The Great and Powerful Trixie has some unfinished business to take care of.” Warpath's voice yelled through Prowl's intercom, “You mean we came all the way out here for nothin'?! AUGH, you gotta be kiddin' me! I didn't even get to blast anything!” [“Krzzzt – Prowl? Prowl, do you read?”] Several lights in his dashboard's display became active, signaling another voice coming through his intercom. “This is Prowl. Is this line secure?” [“Ah...yeah. This is Blaster, what's your status?”] “We can confirm that Soundwave is not at this location. However, the compass that was given to us is showing irregularities. Whether or not this means an instability in the energon signal or an instrument error remains to be seen. Regardless, we'll be departing the area soon.” [“What – krzzzzt – that? Your sig – krzzzzzt...”] “Blaster? Blaster, do you copy?” The line crackled with static, eventually becoming silent. Trixie's eyes were half-lidded as she raised an eyebrow, while Prowl responded, “That's odd...what could be causing this interference?” “HWOOOOOOHHH...” It was then that the air resonated with a deep, baleful howl. Fluttershy squeaked, instinctively hopping over to the blue unicorn and wrapping her forelegs around her in a crushing hug. Trixie wasn't quite ready to acknowledge the sailor's story as true, but couldn't stop herself from trembling along with her. That sound wasn't just frightening, it was real. Just like her encounter with a certain wild animal from the Everfree, there was a chance that her life was in danger again. But she didn't want to believe it, she didn't want to acknowledge some absurd urban legend. Unfortunately, it only took one fearful, steady look out into the bay's waters to finally convince her. (“There isn't a cloud in the sky, but...!”) It was there. A black shadow passing by beneath the waves, slowly fading from sight. Not wanting to allow the last part of the story to come true, Trixie gathered her wits the best she could before stammering out, “Prowl! Get...get us out of here NOW before it...BEFORE IT GETS US!!!” “What is going on here?! What was that noise, and why are the two of you – GAH!” A strange, massive object emerged from the sea, separating the two Autobots and throwing both ponies into the right side window. Trixie was too busy screaming her lungs out to notice, but Fluttershy was just brave enough to peek open one of her eyes, quickly recognizing what lay under the waves. The thing that nearly threw them into the ocean was a grey dorsal fin, matted with dark purple, crystalline welts. “Oh my goodness...! E-everyone! I think that's a megalodon!” Trixie pulled her hat back, uncovering her eyes. “A megawhat?!” The terrified pegasus opened her mouth to speak, but the only things that came out were harsh breaths. She watched the fin dip completely beneath the water before she was able to speak again. “It's...it's a...GIANT SHARK! A shark so big it can gobble up a pony in one bite! PROWL, RUN AWAAAY!!!” “Stop yelling at me, I know when we're outclassed! Warpath, fall back!” “What?! I didn't come all the way out here just to turn tail and run! Where is that fish, I'll KABLAM, blow it outta the water!” The moment he stabilized himself, Warpath faced his cannon in the last place he saw the fin disappear to. “Are your logic circuits crossed?! We're sitting ducks out here! Fall back to shore immediately soldier, that's an order!” Judging from what little he'd seen, this 'megalodon' was most likely capable of devouring them whole, and Prowl had too much pride to allow himself to be eaten by an offworld creature. He jerked his hydrofoils around and faced dry land, only partially caring whether or not Warpath followed his command. The red Autobot sat in place for a moment, but reluctantly followed suit. A dissatisfied grunt could be heard over the intercom as he caught up. “U-uh, listen Fluttershy, I'm – I mean – Trixie apologizes for yelling at you, so can you please fly us out of here?! I don't know if we're going to make it to shore fast enough...!” “HWOOOOOOHHH...” There was that dreadful howl again. Only this time, Trixie was forced to cover her ears. That sea monster was close, and getting closer by the second. Prowl didn't have a rear window to look out of, but she could just imagine its giant dorsal fin slowly rising out of the water behind them. Her nerves getting the better of her, she grabbed Fluttershy by the shoulders and started shaking her. “WHAT are you waiting for?! Get us out of here before it's too late!” Unfortunately, the delicate pegasus had been reduced to a quivering mess. She tried to unfold her wings, but they were almost literally glued to her backside. No matter how hard she strained, she couldn't get them to budge a centimeter. “I...I'm sorry Trixie, but I...I can't...!” “What do you mean you can't - AAAHHH!” The ponies were thrown to the rear this time as Prowl's entire chassis was suddenly tilted backward, his armored plating groaning and creaking. Trixie held her head forward so as not to slam it against hard metal, gasping at the sight outside the windshield. Feeling her whole body cringe in fear, she scrambled forward and started banging her hooves against the glass to no avail. She could only watch as a colossal set of jaws clamped down in front of her, as if it were eating the sky itself. It was the last thing anyone saw before everything went dark.