//------------------------------// // Rise // Story: Transformers: Equestria's Darkest Hour // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// -CHAPTER XXV: RISE- IDENTITY: CONFIRMED YOU CARRY THE SPARK OF A HERO, CLIFFJUMPER TELETRAAN OFFLINE DUE TO AIRWAVE DISRUPTION As I lay on these tattered battle-wait…didn’t I already say this? Eh…who cares? It’s not like anybody did for me anymore. In fact, why was I even reminiscing? The Crystal Empire is gone, and everything with it. All hope, all the Autobots, everything. That’s why I felt so terrible. Of course the obvious pain coursing through my circuits, but a new pain….a pain I only felt one other time. A time when my dearest friends; Rarity, Pinkie, Twilight, Rainbow, Fluttershy, and Applejack had been captured by the Changelings, forcing Jazz and I to go out into the so-called “Badlands” to search for them. Oh no…. I forgot. Jazz. My best friend….is dead. All hope had begun to drain out of me, just like the Energon now making a large puddle around my injured form. I tried moving my arms, okay those worked. My legs? Wait…my right? I lifted up my head, groaning in agony once I saw nothing but a small stub replacing my right leg. How did I lose it again? I couldn’t seem to remember anything after that massive supernova wave took us all out, especially Prime, haven’t you ever gotten smacked across the chest by that guy?! Primus, he’s harder than the Ark’s outer armor! Wait…where was I again? Oh yeah….my deathbed. With the life slipping away from my grasp, my optics caught a slight glimpse hovering above me. I looked up, my mouth open but no words escaping once I observed what remained in the ruins of the Crystal Castle. The Nemesis leaves its mark alright….it leaves it in a BIG way. A massive mushroom cloud hovered in the distance where the castle once remained. I followed the smoky, dark column up higher and higher to where I saw the gargantuan mushroom-portion of the cloud. It shined dark red in the center, several thousand ashes raining down from its inner core. Just looking at this tragedy brought my breathing to slow down, just gaping in horror at the utter dread I felt staring at what remained of the orbital strike. My head hit the shattered grounds with a soft thud, just shocked to see that explosion flash before my optics and BOOM here I am. I stared above, the mushroom cloud slowly making its way over my head to spread across the empire, just to show all the crystal ponies the power the Decepticons truly had. They’ve taken the castle, they’ve taken the empire, they’ve possibly taken the planet, but worst of all…they’ve taken me, too. I know what they all say back on Cybertron: ‘No Autobot ever surrenders and all that jazz.’ Scrap! Stop mentioning his name…it’s bad for ya…it’s not like I want to forget all that quickly…it’s just….it’s just that I don’t want to accept the fact that my best friend is dead…but I guess I’ll see him soon. My life was fading. Death, war, eternal stasis? What’s the point anymore? I surely don’t know…but it doesn’t matter anyways. We failed. Yep…the Autobots lost the battle to save all of ponykind from the Decepticons invading the planet…for some reason, though…..I didn’t care. I didn’t care anymore. The war was over in my eyes. Just laying here on these battle grounds gave me a feeling of sanctity, peacefulness, knowing I went out with a bang. A pretty big one too. The only down side to this was that I would never be able to see my friends anymore…or Rarity. My spirits slowly began to rise up, but quickly fell down knowing that I could never win this on my own. Since our leader, Optimus Prime, was probably dead again, there was nobody leading us to victory. Rarity and her friends would have to save their home without our aid now…because we lost. Vision going static, pain increasing, everything….was fading away. Suddenly, a glowing light appeared in the distance, my optics growing wider. It appeared to be a bright color as it slowly swayed side to side and closer to me. Primus? No…Primus doesn’t carry the Decepticon mark. That wretched symbol slowly moved closer to me, wanting myself to spit in its general direction. But I realized I would have to save that glob of liquid Energon for the bot it belonged to… Megatron. The absolute last person I wanted to see right now was walking towards me, a slight limp to his step. His features seemed normal, despite scratch and burn marks pockmarking his body. Dread was the only expression I could decipher on his face, that and the glowing red optics staring me down. I stayed completely still, hoping that Megatron just thought I was another dead Autobot lying in the street. He unfortunately didn’t see it that way and stopped right in front of my leg, giving the worst scowl I’ve ever seen. I sighed, knowing that death would be quicker and painless when Megatron pointed the end of his riot cannon towards me, the end glowing brighter. He looked down at me, just another weak Autobot placed before his glory. I didn’t do a thing, just accepting eternal stasis. And even with my damaged hearing processors, I could definitely hear him speak in that low…low voice. “Still think you can blast the smile off my faceplate?” He asked, obviously wanting me to answer. I almost laughed, surprised to know that Megatron had remembered what I had sworn to do back on Cybertron. I managed a weak cough, really wanting it to be a chuckle just to be pissy. Megatron chuckled at that act; I really wished I had laughed at him just to see how angry he would’ve gotten. It would’ve been pretty funny. Once his chuckles faded away like the thousands of ashes hitting the ground around us, he continued with his glorious speech. “That’s what I thought,” Megatron grunted, never taking his cannon off of me, “My plan is complete now, the Changelings have successfully done their duties…and it seems…Trypticon managed to destroy the Crystal Castle. Not that you Autobots need it anyway.” ‘We kinda did.’ I thought to myself, the pain quickly putting out the anger I was building up in my damaged spark. I forced my optics open, wanting to see every astro-second of my destroyer standing before me. I could see those red optics grow closer to my being, his smirk growing as well. When he was good and close, I was almost ready to send the glob of liquid Energon into his mouth, oh Primus that would’ve been hilarious for a final death wish. He smirked again, quietly growling at me. “And now…no one can stop me. Not even you….Cliffjumper.” ‘Yeah, yeah, just get it over with.’ I thought to myself, finally having the memories return to the part right before the orbital strike blast had taken us all out. My name is Cliffjumper, I’m an Autobot, the Autobot traitor is… At that exact moment, Megatron stood back up to full height, his cannon glowing bright purple. I knew what coming next, death was. Eh…I really didn’t seem to mind now. The only thing that still really bugged me was that I could never see Rarity again, or the ponies I had come to find as my new family. Cybertron and every Cybertronian there was my family…but not anymore. This planet….this planet right here and everypony on it….were my family now. Although death was supposed to feel very painful, when Megatron fired one shot at my head I strangely felt nothing….nothing but darkness clouded my vision. That’s when I figured it out….. Megatron hadn’t fired the shot. ____________________ END TRANSMISSION -IDENTITY: UNKNOWN- Rainbow Dash pushed the rubble off of her, silently thanking it for protecting her. “Ugh…my head….what happened?” Rainbow Dash asked no one, remembering that she was on her own this time. After rubbing her head a bit, she lazily opened her eyes, finally realizing that it wasn’t even bright outside. It was dark. Looking upwards, Rainbow Dash gasped, eyes filled with horror. A giant mushroom-shaped cloud stood before her, giving away a dark entity that cascaded across the Crystal Empire. This gave her a terrible feeling of hopelessness and dread, as if the cloud was a reminder to never mess with the Decepticons, which she has already figured out several times before. All around her, ashes fell with no remorse. Earlier it was just a little sprinkle of the raining dust, now thanks to the mushroom cloud it was falling like nopony’s business! Rainbow scanned the area a few more times, fully taking in to the new age of Equestria. The Decepticons had finally made their mark on her home. The streets were dark with massive pieces of crystal rubble scattered across the grounds. Jets no longer zoomed across the skies as if to challenge her, nothing seemed to remain in the sky except for the terrifying cloud of ash and horror. The entire empire was infected with the color brown, several light fires on top of roofs, giving a light glow to the empire. Rainbow Dash suddenly realized where she was. Scrambling up to her hooves, Rainbow peeked down and saw the ground not too far of a drop away. She was on a rooftop. Rainbow rubbed her sore head again, trying really hard to remember what had happened. She was flying, obviously when WASN’T she flying, to finish the mission she was given by Jazz and the other Autobots. To save her home she was to bring Grimlock back to the Autobot side and change the course of the battle with his strength. But then that massive explosion caught her off guard, followed by millions of pieces of rubble falling down and one actually landing on her. The rubble actually saved her life. If it hadn’t had landed on her then the dirt wave would’ve trapped her under even more debris. She hadn’t realized until now but…she did see something before the explosion….a dark essence flying above the Crystal Castle. Squinting forward, Rainbow Dash realized that there was no Crystal Castle anymore! “What the…?” Rainbow questioned the event that had transpired, her gasps being the only noise resounding the quiet battle grounds. “Oh no…” She scrambled all over her hooves, her eyes darting back and forth, “oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no, oh no!” The castle was gone…the last hope for saving the Crystal Empire, for stopping King Sombra, for defeating the Decepticons, for saving her home….was gone. She wanted to scream, smash her hooves against some Decepti-goon’s head, but she knew better, knowing that her fury wouldn’t make a difference. SHE wouldn’t make a difference. Sitting on her rump, Rainbow Dash lowered her head in a defeated posture, her wings slumping to her sides. It was over. The end of days had already arrived and now her home was suffering. Rainbow Dash gritted her teeth, forcing the tears to stay in. She already was a quitter; she didn’t want to be a wimp either. But she found that there was a good reason to cry. She had failed everypony she loved. She failed to find Grimlock and bring him back to the Autobot side. Hay, she even lost Sludge’s core! With her ears flattening, Rainbow pressed her hooves against her eyes and let loose the waterworks. Her tiny whimpers soon turned to full-out sobbing, her cries echoing across the soundless buildings. The only witness to the crying Pegasus was the menacing mushroom cloud above, glaring her down with its terrifying appearance. This time she actually HAD a reason to cry. She failed everypony. A tiny, blue glow caught her teary eyes. Lifting up her head, Rainbow Dash wiped her nose with a foreleg and turned towards the direction of the light and saw it. A tiny sliver was hidden underneath a pile of rubble, glowing faintly underneath the dirt. With her eyes wide, Rainbow crawled over and pushed the rubble aside, cautiously lifting up the precious crystal in her tear-drenched hooves. Sludge’s memory core was okay. Clutching the precious relic to her chest, Rainbow smiled softly when she knew that there was still a chance. Not a chance to stop Sombra….but a chance to bring Grimlock back. The core began to tremble in Rainbow’s hooves, causing the Pegasus to look down at it. The crystal began to shake, unknowing to what the Pegasus thought it wanted. Giving it a strange stare, a sudden explosion caught her attention, bringing her head right. Even in the darkness, Rainbow Dash saw several bright lights coming from afar. In another street of the Crystal Empire, a battle was raging, but not between Autobots and Decepticons….it was between Decepticons and Decepticons. How did Rainbow Dash know this…? She heard the roars of a certain traitor come from the battle. Standing back up to her hooves, Rainbow Dash looked at the core clutched in her right foreleg, a smile spreading across her face to see it shaking on its own. “Let’s get you a new home, little guy.” Rainbow whispered, taking flight towards the new battle zone. ____________________ Starscream finally awakened, standing back up to his feet. “Well….a minor setback….nothing too hard for Starscream of course.” The Sky Commander gloated to himself, wiping off his chest of the tiny particles that had landed on it. Starscream rubbed his head, trying hard to remember what had happened right before that massive supernova. He and his newest slave had been tormenting some foolish Decepticon troopers who had foolishly tried to attack Starscream. With the aid of the mindless Dinobot, those Decepticons didn’t stand a chance to the power of the Air Commander. But…he saw something…flying above the castle which lied in the center of this empire…he didn’t know what it was or what it was doing….that is until it fired a yellow beam down on the castle, destroying it in mere seconds. Starscream snapped his fingers. That was it! It was the Nemesis that destroyed the castle! Now Starscream didn’t know why Trypticon would want to decimate such a structure but he didn’t really care right now…his focus was on the tremendous mushroom cloud in the distance. The Air Commander stood up to full height, pressing his fists on his hips as he stared down the massive cloud spreading across the dark skies. What amazing power Trypticon had. He had demolished what remained of the capitol in this empire and left a message to all those who dared try to fight him. The mushroom cloud was a message to all of those out there that survived the explosion, telling Starscream to follow his cowardice ways. “Hmmm….such amazing power Trypticon has…and if there’s power….then Megatron would want it for himself,” he rubbed his chin, deep in thought, “…Maybe…I should let Megatron fall to this beast once he transforms….yes…..yes that will do much better than what I had in plan.” So he waited. Starscream stared down the long street ahead of him, his smile slowly growing. He would wait; wait until Trypticon would transform which he knew he would. It was only a matter of waiting…. Starscream was so concerned with keeping his focus on the mushroom cloud, that he didn’t even notice the blue blur speeding right behind him….and heading for his slave. ____________________ The Pegasus soared across the ash-covered skies, blinking her eyes several times to get the dust out of them. Holding the precious spark under her chest, Rainbow had begun to fly downwards towards a new street in the empire. Rainbow hovered in mid-air, squinting down the long and tragic road. “Where…are you?” Rainbow Dash asked herself, scanning the road for any signs of life. When it remained silent, she was about to get a higher look and take to the skies, that is until the growl reached her. Turning back towards the street, Rainbow Dash squinted, finally noticing the Decepticon symbol glowing in the dusty air. “Gotcha!” Rainbow squealed, pumping her wings harder and flying towards the direction of the growls. On her way, she saw what remained of the Decepticon soldiers laying the street. The ground was filled with bodies of deactivated ‘Cons, pools of Energon giving the street a blue glow. Rainbow slowed down to simply stare at the massacre that had occurred here. Either from the explosion that had enveloped the empire earlier….or something else….these Decepticons faced a horrible demise either way. She quivered a bit, remembering to hold Sludge’s core and protect it at all costs. Her focus was immediately broken when several screams of pain came forward, causing the Pegasus to turn that way. Rainbow Dash slowed down even more, gasping when several Decepticons were thrown her way and hit the sides of buildings. Their massive bodies looked like ragdolls once they hit the crystal houses. None of them hit her, but she could feel the pain either way. Their screams, their deaths, the wheedling feeling of doubt, Rainbow Dash had almost began to retreat back to her friends, hopefully find them and tell them the bad news. But she couldn’t. She had to fight on, to do what was right and save her home. Instantly, her courage abandoned her to suffer once those glowing, purple eyes broke the mist. A massive head rose from the dust, letting go a piercing roar into the soundless empire. Rainbow Dash stopped and landed on the ground, her eyes gaping in horror to see the massive dino-head roaring above her. She gulped. “Okay…here goes nothin’.” Rainbow muttered to herself, clutching the spark in her right foreleg. She spread her wings and flew up to the corrupted Dinobot’s head, her eyes locked on the traitor of the Autobots. Sweat began to pour down her forehead, along with the biting of her lip as to how intense this situation was growing. Once she was right in the clearing, Rainbow Dash stopped and hovered in place, her breathing becoming heavier once Grimlock came into view. He was in his alternate form, his massive tail swishing back and forth as his head looked around in the other direction. Rainbow Dash could see what the battle had done to him, not much. Grimlock was an unstoppable war-machine, which brought up the question as to how he died in the first place. But Rainbow knew that the questions would have to wait….it was time to change the course of the battle. Holding the core in her right foreleg, Rainbow Dash brought up her other hoof to her mouth, taking a deep breath. This was her moment to shine, a moment to save her Autobot friend and bring him back, all the doubts she could dismiss them once her confidence slowly began to return. She closed her eyes, letting her spunky voice to the work. “Hey!” She opened her eyes, instantly regretting that once the Dinobot began to turn around. Grimlock turned his head back, his purple optics now locating a Pegasus or something flying a few feet from his head. Once he was fully around, stomping heavily on the ground, Grimlock lifted up his gaze only slightly to see the sky-blue Pegasus. She, it was she…wasn’t it? Grimlock couldn’t seem to remember. All he really did remember was his master, Starscream, bringing him back to life and telling him to destroy Megatron at all costs, which he has yet to do. But this….pony…sparked something in his tiny mind….something he didn’t understand yet. The pony had two wings, each pumping downwards to keep her airborne. She had a rainbow-colored mane and a blue coat, in her right foreleg was a glowing essence that seemed to take a liking to the Dinobot. Grimlock didn’t know what to do. He hadn’t received orders from Starscream to kill ponies, and his mind was still trying to process what this certain pony meant to him. It was like….he’d seen before. Grimlock tilted his dino-head, his razor-sharp teeth glistening with the reflection of the Pegasus in each one. Together they stared at each other, neither one willing to break the contact. Rainbow Dash flew in a little closer, causing the Dinobot to take a step back, unsure what to make of the situation. After a few more seconds of silence, Rainbow stopped moving towards him, clearing her throat. “Ummm…hey….Grimlock…” She began, wanting to slap herself on how stupid she sounded, “Ummm….how’s it goin’…buddy?” Now she just wanted to punch herself. Grimlock did nothing; his purple optics stupidly stared at the Pegasus. Rainbow gulped again, this was going to be harder than she thought. She observed the Dinobot, trying to figure out a good place on where to put Sludge’s core that would hopefully jog Grimlock’s memory back to its rightful place. She saw no opening, all except his mouth. Maybe she could shove it right up his- She shook her head, mentally groaning as to why she would consider doing that. Rainbow brought her attention back on the corrupted Dinobot again, her eyes landing on the Decepticon symbol right on his head. Scowling under her breath, Rainbow Dash glared at the insignia of the Decepticons lying on Grimlock’s forehead. It was a terrible symbol, a symbol of conquest and hatred; those things aren’t what her friend Grimlock was about, all the more reason to bring him back to the Autobot side. When the silence continued, Rainbow finally found the courage to continue on, despite the growls of anger protruding from the Dinobot. “So…umm…I-I have something for ya.” Rainbow quietly stated, holding out her hooves so Grimlock could get a full view at the cure for his infection of Dark Energon. Grimlock moved his head in closer, much to Rainbow’s dismay as she hovered a few feet back. Grimlock tilted his massive head, his optics studying the strange crystal that the pony said was his now. It radiated a strange power, a power Grimlock didn’t understand. Something deep inside of him told him to take it, but most of him didn’t agree with that. Growling, Grimlock looked at the crystal and snorted, steam erupting from his mouth that hit the Pegasus with a full blast. Rainbow Dash closed her eyes once the hot steam hit her face and body, her mane flying wildly passed her ears. Once she opened her eyes again, the steam had ended and Grimlock turned around, beginning to walk away. “No…” Rainbow Dash muttered, taking off towards her confused friend. She flew right in front of his snout, causing the Dinobot to stop in his tracks. He growled again, didn’t he already give her a reason that he wasn’t interested? But she seemed willing, considering the pleading look she had in her eyes. Once Rainbow was flying right over his nose, she gave a big, toothy grin and said, “It’s me, Grimlock! Rainbow Dash! Don’t you remember?” And once again, Grimlock snorted in her face, walking right passed her. But Rainbow was determined, knowing how stubborn Grimlock was just meant she would have to be more stubborn. She flew towards the Dinobot again, this time jamming her nose directly on his snout. “Listen, Grimlock,” she yelled, completely oblivious to see his mouth opening, “I came a long way to give you this crystal, and if you’re not gonna take it then I’ll just force ya to!” Grimlock only responded with a loud roar, sending the Pegasus back a few feet. After shaking her head, Rainbow nervously chuckled and said, “Oh yeah….forgot that you’re a Decepticon now.” This time when she looked at Grimlock, she noticed his head was tilting at her, his mouth open and his teeth showing. Rainbow Dash immediately froze in fear. She knew that look all too well. During the time when she first met the Dinobot, that dragon that wanted to gobble her up had that same exact expression. Oh no… Rainbow flew back a few more feet, clutching Sludge’s memory core as she did so. The entire time she kept her eyes on the Dinobot, frightened as to know what he was planning to do. Grimlock moved in closer, his tiny claws opening and closing. Her mind began to race a million miles an hour. If Grimlock was planning what she thought he was planning then that meant there was no stopping him. She would have to leave and abandon her mission to bring the mighty Dinobot back to the Autobot ranks so that her life wouldn’t be in danger. But it was too late… Grimlock released another roar as he reared towards the Pegasus, mouth fully open. He was a mindless beast after all, only meant for destruction and nothing else. Rainbow Dash screamed, flaring her wings upwards as she tried to escape the jaws. No luck. Grimlock bit down on her tail right before she could dash away. Feeling a sharp pain from behind her, Rainbow flapped her wings uselessly as the Dinobot held her tail in his jaws. Knowing that she was still fighting it, Grimlock swung his back and forth several times, receiving several screams from the frightened Pegasus. When he was certain she had enough, Grimlock released his grip and chucked the pony right to the ground. He watched as the Pegasus skidded across the gravel, eventually coming to a stop not too far away. Rainbow Dash lay on her back, her entire world shaking around her. Getting the blurriness free from her vision, Rainbow rubbed her head and looked forward to see the Dinobot stomping right for her. She gasped when those mighty jaws opened up to reveal several long and jagged teeth ready to devour her. Gulping, Rainbow Dash began to think of a way to get out of this. Flying was out of the question since Grimlock could easily grab her again. With her mind racing, trying ever so hard to find a solution, the Dinobot was only ten feet from her. “G-Grimlock,” Rainbow screamed, her eyes burning, “This isn’t you! You would never hurt me! Please, Grimlock! STOP!!!” Her screams meant nothing to Starscream’s slave as he continued to move towards the injured pony, now bending his head down in order to finish her off. But….something inside of him….told him this wasn’t right. He ignored it. Rainbow Dash looked around in panic, finally locating Sludge’s core and grasping it with her two forelegs. While clutching the crystal as if it was some kind of lifeline, Rainbow stared with horror by her side as Grimlock reared down at her. Something came back….an idea. Rainbow looked at the crystal in her hooves, seeing her own reflection. It meant something. Something that told her to trust her instincts. Rainbow remembered an old thought, questioning it if it would work or not. But with Grimlock closing in and time running out….what choice did she have? She looked at the Dinobot, growing a quick frown. “Grimlock! I don’t wanna have to use this on you! But you left me no choice!” And with that said, Rainbow Dash stood up on her hind legs, holding the memory core over her head. It was probably the dumbest idea she ever head….then again….it was also one of the smartest things she’d ever done. Right when Grimlock lunged for her, mouth open wide as can be, Rainbow Dash chucked the crystal right in his mouth. Grimlock reared back, tacking only two steps backwards. He swallowed. Rainbow Dash stared at her deed she had committed, unknown if to be happy or disappointed to know if her plan worked. If it didn’t work….then all hope was lost. She would’ve wasted an Autobot memory core for nothing. But something did happen….something incredible. Grimlock coughed hard, purple liquid flowing from his jaws. He stumbled backwards, nearly face-planting into a building. All the while Rainbow Dash stared at the event transpiring, deciding to sit down. The Dinobot coughed even harder than before, shaking his head uncontrollably as this new power entered him….and consumed him. Roaring in immense pain, Grimlock transformed back into robot mode, his purple lights and Decepticon insignia flashing wildly. He stumbled around the ground, his arms held above his head as he bellowed in pain. Soon enough though, an eerie blue light covered the Dinobot’s chest, eventually spreading across his body. Grimlock remained motionless until the light died down, sending the area around him into darkness just like before. He slowly fell to his knees, his visor dark along with every other light on his body. He caught himself right before he could face-plant the ground, his hands planted against the gravel. Heavy breathing filled his hearing processors….it was his breathing. Rainbow Dash continued to stare, unsure of what to do now. Slowly, she got up from where she was sitting, trotting over to the Dinobot. She didn’t feel scared anymore…like all the evil had escape Grimlock’s body and vanished into thin air. Once she was a few feet from his head, Rainbow tilted her head downwards, in hopes of seeing his gaze. At first, it only appeared dark… …and then it flashed red. Rainbow backed away only a few feet, watching passionately as Grimlock lifted up his head again, his red visor landing on the very Pegasus that had saved him. With his thoughts cast asunder, Grimlock stared at Rainbow Dash, and how he couldn’t be happier to see her again. After what felt like a millennia, Grimlock spoke. “Told you I’d come back.” Rainbow Dash flashed a smirk, along with her eyes brimming with joyful tears. “Welcome back, big guy.”