//------------------------------// // Chapter 10 // Story: Transformers: Harmony // by megatron_91 //------------------------------// Transformers: Harmony Chapter 10 By: Megatron_91 It took what felt like several minutes for Twilight to start coming to her senses. Her entire body burned as she began to stir. An overwhelming scent of oil wafted into the young unicorn’s nose, making her gag and wretch, forcing her to wake up. She looked around, hoping to figure out where she was, but her vision was still blurred from the blow to the side of her head the massive, metal bird had given her. Her entire body suddenly snapped to alert as she remembered the large bird blowing up the train and attacking her and-. Where was Fluttershy!? Hopping to her feet Twilight frantically began searching around her for the undoubtedly scared pegasus. She was standing on a small platform about twice her size that was completely made of metal, leaving her little area to search. The shy, pink-haired pegasus was nowhere to be found. As the worried unicorn looked in all directions, the only things she could see in her immediate area were massive, iron bars. Looking up at the flat, featureless roof and down at the identical floor Twilight began to piece together what was going on. She was in a cage. What was she doing in a cage, she wondered? Had the metal bird placed her in here? Did it kill Fluttershy before taking her? Twilight grabbed her head, trying to calm herself as she thought of what the buzzard may have done to her friend while she was unconscious. The lavender mare poked her head out through the bars to try and get a better grip on her location and look for any clues about her missing friend. The room around her was shrouded in shadow. The only light emanated from a couple of mounted screens lining the far back wall; they cast a mysterious, almost frightening, glow out onto their surroundings. From the small details she could make out, Twilight knew she didn’t want to be where she was. The entire room seemed to be made of metal. Spikes jutted out from random spots along the wall and floor; while broken chains hung from the ceiling, dangling and swaying in the slight breeze that wafted through the room. The whole area reminded Twilight a bit of the dungeons in Princess Celestia’s castle. As she scanned the shrouded area, trying to make out some more details she caught sight of a pair of blood-red eyes staring at her from the darkest corner of the room. “Soundwave,” a voice hissed form the darkness, filling Twilight with dread. “She awakens…” Suddenly the sounds of massive falling footsteps filled the room as Twilight looked up to see the roof of her cage being lifted. A large, blue Decepticon stared at her through a blood-red visor before reaching down and trying to grab her with his clawed hand. Twilight instantly tried to dodge the hand and fire off a bolt of magic at her attacker, but, much to her horror nothing happened. Looking up, she could see a small metal ring had been placed around the base of her horn. As she tried to figure out how the ring was blocking her magic, the Decepticon took the chance to grab her with his large, clawed hand and pull her out of the cage. Twilight screamed and struggled as she desperately tried to free herself from the Decepticon’s grip. But it was no use. She watched helplessly as this “Soundwave” carried her over to the bank of computers lining the wall and set her down on one of the terminals. She carefully watched as he briefly turned his attention away from her to recalibrate something on one of his computers. Seeing her chance to escape, she tried to run for towards the edge of the panel and jump to the floor, but she was stopped when the Decepticon’s slammed his open palm down in front of her. A large shoulder cannon emerged from the mech’s shoulder and took aim at her, daring her to try and run off again. He silently glared at her before speaking. “Twilight Sparkle,” The Decepticon’s face plate moved up and down as he spoke. His creepy robotic voice was different from the other aliens; it was one that the unicorn would have expected a robot to actually have. “You will aide me in locating these coordinates,” he demanded pointing towards a long list of numbers flashing across one of the middle screens. “They were written using a method of map making no longer used by your culture. I do not have the required data, nor do I have the time to gain said knowledge of how to convert these ancient coordinates to the standards used by your maps today. You will do this for me and tell me where they lead,” he ordered. Twilight stared back up at the Decepticon in shock. This Decepticon who had kidnapped her and held her in a cage was now demanding her help? “You’re out of your robotic mind if you think I’m going to do anything for you!” she spat, turning her back on the Decepticon and stomping her hoof against the cold, hard metal that made up the command terminal. Soundwave waited silently for a moment before responding. He slowly leaned over to the computer on his left and began punching in a command. He didn’t take his eyes off his prisoner for even a second. The monitor suddenly changed as he continued typing on the controls beneath it. No longer did it show a series of red flashing text like the other screens; now it showed a picture of Twilight’s Library home and the small, purple dragon working outside it. “If you do not aide me, then I will send Laserbeak to destroy your home and bring me the head of this little one,” he replied, pointing towards the monitor at Spike. The lavender unicorn watched as the blood-red eyes that had reported her to the Decepticon earlier emerged from the dark corner of the room, revealing the large, metal bird that had attacked her earlier. It hissed at her in delight as a pair of back-mounted guns spun around wildly. Twilight stared up at the monitor where she could see Spike, running around the house trying to catch her pet owl, Owluysius. She dreaded to think of what the crazed bird behind her would do to the young dragon if she didn’t comply. The dragon was part of her family. She had no choice. As much as she didn’t want to she closed her eyes and solemnly asked; “Where should I start?” ……… Under normal circumstances, the Autobot’s medical lab in Outpost Celestia One boasted as being one of finest, most well-stocked, medical centers in the Autobot military. If a bot needed fixing, they knew they could find what they needed at Celestia One, but not now. Now, the Autobot’s chief medical officer and surgeon, was throwing open drawers and cabinets as he frantically searched for the few items he had that could treat a wounded organic life form. Finding what he was looking for Ratchet quickly returned to his patient’s side and slowly ran his diagnostic scanner over the shaking pegasus’s body, checking to make sure she hadn’t suffered any internal injury during the explosion she claimed to have gone through. “Alright, Fluttershy,” he asked. “One more time, explain what happened.” All around the fast working medibot Fluttershy’s friends watched on anxiously. Only minutes before had she burst into the Autobot base screaming and ranting about Twilight and Decepticons and giant, evil birds before she collapsed on the floor from exhaustion. Ratchet had been quick to move her into his medical bay so he could check on her and make sure everything was alright. He had discovered several burn marks on her wings and was able to ascertain from her that there had been some kind of explosion. Since then, however, the timid pegasus had been silent. “Flutterhsy,” Ratchet repeated as his usually cheery voice was replaced with a much more professional one. “I need you to talk to me, what happened?” he repeated. “Th-There was an explosion,” Fluttershy stated, finally speaking up again. “And th-then we were attacked, and then T-Twilight was taken by a Decepticon,” she exclaimed. Looks of shock and disbelief spread amongst the other members of the Elements of Harmony like wildfire. Each one had to turn to the other to double check what they were hearing. Had Twilight actually been taken captive by the Decepticons? Why? What could they want with her? A small wave of panic and worry rode through the assembled mares as they thought of what the evil robots might be doing to their friend. “Describe it for me,” Rathcet ordered, ignoring the panicking mares below him. He carefully began using his pinkie-finger to rub a strong smelling liquid into Fluttershy’s wings hoping it would cool some of the burns. “He looked like a really big bird,” Fluttershy answered, wincing as the liquid stung her wings slightly while Ratchet continued to massage it in. “Laserbeak!” Bumblebee growled. The yellow Autobot had been sulking in the corner of the pristine, white medical bay, watching the others talk. Seeing Fluttershy hurt had really upset him. He felt that maybe if he had stepped in and prevented Twilight from leaving, or at least offered to escort her home none of this would have happened. Rainbow Dash bolted into the air flying straight towards the small Autobot scout. “Who’s Laserbeak!?” she demanded poking her hoof at Bumblebee’s chest. “And why does he want Twilight!?” “Laserbeak is one of the minions of Soundwave,” Bluestreak explained as he calmly walked into the medical bay through the sliding glass door. He had returned from patrol early once he learned Fluttershy had come back to the base wounded. “And if Soundwave’s involved, there’s no telling what he could want Twilight for or what he is doing to her. Soundwave’s about as mysterious as they come,” he explained, looking down at the ponies on the ground. He took note of their worried expressions and wished he could tell them something positive. Bumblebee growled into the air and slammed one fist into his open palm, a usual sign that he was burning up inside and wanted a fight. “We’ve got to do something!” he shouted, pumping his fists into the air. “Bluestreak’s right, Soundwave could use Twilight for anything! We’ve got to go recue her!” “Yeah!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed in agreement while she hoof-bumped Bumblebee. On the ground, Rarity nodded along, while Applejack and Pinkie Pie rushed up Ratchet’s operating table to help Fluttershy who had begun to try and stand up. “And how do you expect to do that!?” Ratchet snapped, turning to face the two younger beings. He couldn’t believe Bumblebee was suggesting this. “Laserbeak will have taken Twilight to the Nemesis and you know very well we have no way of tracking its location!” he ranted, pointing at the small black-striped robot. “Well, we have to at least try!” Bumblebee argued, pointing back at the older medic. “It’s our fault this happened! Someone should have escorted her and Fluttershy home and you know it!” he growled. He took a step towards his superior officer as if he was challenging him to disprove his point. “And what would you do if you found the Nememis Bumblebee, hmm?” Ratchet retorted, tilting his head as he asked his question. “Launch a one-bot assault to rescue Twilight? Have you forgotten that there is the chance Megatron is on this planet now?” he asked. He, too, took a step forwards and made a gesture with his arms, begging the smaller scout to think his plan through. “Do you want to risk Megatron being there and give him another chance to destroy your voce chip?” he barked, as he made reference to the brief period of time late in the war where Bumblebee had been temporarily robbed of his ability to speak. Fluttershy fidgeted and groaned as she lifted herself back onto her legs with Applejack and Pinkie Pie’s help. She slowly walked forward and tapped on the back of the medic’s leg to get his attention. “Ratchet, I don’t know if it will help find this Nemesis thing, but I followed Laserbeak as far as I could before I decided to come back here and get help,” she explained. She winced in pain again as she tried to fold her splayed out wings back to her sides. “I saw him carry Twilight up to the Hanging Valley” Ratchet sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose between his eyes. It was quickly becoming clear to him that these young ones weren’t going to listen to him, all they were concerned with was saving there friend. Admittedly however, he could see their stance; he would do anything himself if Ironhide or Wheeljack were in danger. No matter which way he looked at it, the midibot knew he wasn’t going to win. “With Optimus and Ironhide gone, and with Prowl out on patrol, I am in charge,” Ratchet explained looking wearily over at the two younger Autobots. “Bumblebee, you have my permission to take Bluestreak and scout out the Hanging Valley.” Bumblebee would have jumped for joy if he didn’t know there was a chance he could land on Rarity, who was standing next to his foot. “Alright Docbot! You’re awe-” “If you find the Nemesis,” the older mech growled, cutting off Bumblebee mid compliment. “You are to return to base immediately! We will not even consider a strike on the Decepticon flagship until Optimus has returned. Am I understood?” “Yeah, totally docbot.” Bumblebee smiled. He knew Ratchet hated that nickname. “We’re going to,” Applejack proclaimed as Pinkie Pie nodded along next to her. As an experienced seeker of the truth, the orange earth pony could tell Bumblebee was going to try and rescue Twilight regardless of what his superior officer had just told him. And if he was going to do that, then she was going to make sure she and the others were there to help rescue their friend. “Absolutely not!” Ratchet exclaimed. “If they do manage to find the Nemesis, it would not be safe for natives such as you,” he informed, waving his arm in a wide arcing path. “If the Decepticons spotted you, they would not hesitate to reduce you to piles of bone and ash in an instant!” Applejack stomped her hoof against the huge metal table in an act of defiance as she stared down the larger robot. “With all due respect Ratchet, we aren’t a part of your army and therefor aren’t under your orders. So, if Twilight’s in danger we want to be there to help find her,” she declared as all around the room the other mares nodded in agreement, backing up the earth pony’s statement. “Ughh…very well,” the older medic sighed, grabbing at the bridge of his nose again. “But Fluttershy remains here with me. She is still injured and I want to make sure her burns will heal properly.” “That works for me,” Applejack stated as she and Pinkie hopped off the operating table to rejoin Rarity on the floor. She looked back up to give Fluttershy a reassuring glance; to let her know everything was going to be okay. “Alright!” Bumblebee excitedly exclaimed as he suddenly transformed into his vehicle mode and ignited his holo-matter avater. “Let’s roll out everyone!” The yellow stallion roared, emanating his idol before immediately galloping off through the open door to the medical bay and down the hall with Bluestreak and the Elements of Harmony in tow. Ratchet rolled his optics and turned around to take another look at Fluttershy’s damaged wings. He lowered an extending lens down over his right optic so he could get a closer view. As he looked across the burnt feathers, he couldn’t help but nervously bite on his lower lip. Deep down the medic had a gut feeling that something was wrong. ………… As night set in around the vast Apaloosan desert, Princess Luna’s quiet, calm moon rose high in the sky. On the ground below animals of all shapes and sizes desperately escaped to their shelters for the evening. Where Celestia’s golden sun brought harsh rays of heat and light, Luna’s moon brought with it the dangers of the cold night. The desert, some would say, was even more dangerous after hours then it was during the day. At night, the temperatures dropped well below zero degrees, and the rock wolves, a distant cousin of the timber wolves, were free to prowl the sandy hills for any unfortunate creatures that were unable to find shelter. But tonight something was different. The cool air billowed throughout the dark desert, whipping up sand into the night sky and scattering it to the farthest reaches of the sandy plains. The only noise that could be heard across the cold, dusty, oasis was the sound of the tiny particles of sand, pinging away at the large, metal train that was slowly coming to a standstill on the tracks that ran through the open area. Coming to a complete stop Ironhide and Optimus Prime transformed, assuming their true robotic forms. “The last recorded location of the two energy signals is in that canyon over there,” Optimus indicated, looking up from a small computer built into his arm. He was pointing towards a large gap in between a series of tall red plateaus that dotted the dark landscape to the west. Ironhide grunted and shifted the cannons on his arms. He was anxious. “I don’t like this,” he growled. “It feels like a trap.” “I agree old friend,” Prime responded. “But we must discover why the Decepticons are here in this part of the desert. I was under the impression that they had already sucked this area dry of its energon veins,” he explained, remembering back to the numerous Decepticon mining operations they had dealt with in this area in the past. The two metal titans began walking towards the canyon to the west. As they went, they could feel the sand seeping into their joints as their heavy feet sank into the dunes. A small sandstorm began to whip up, obscuring their vision and forcing them to cover their eyes as to keep the granules from interfering with their optics. They couldn’t see anything let alone the canyon they were supposed to be heading towards. Ironhide growled in annoyance as the sand continued to lash across his body, it didn’t harm him of course, but he hated the feel of the grainy material in his joints. This entire desert reminded him too much of the Sea of Rust. After about five minutes of fighting through the small sandstorm, the pair finally reached the plateaus and the canyon they formed. Peering into the large, open area, they found what they were expecting--nothing but a flat empty space surrounded on all sides by towering red rock. The wind blew through the canyon, creating a whistling noise that sent shivers down the black robot’s back struts. He already didn’t like this place. It was the perfect spot for an ambush. His warrior instincts were screaming at him not to go in. “I don’t like this,” Ironhide repeated while taking another look around at the canyon walls. They were far too steep to climb. If someone managed to get in behind them and block the entrance, they’d be trapped. “Stay on your toes my friend,” Optimus said as he cautiously stepped into the open canyon. He stealthily reached behind his back and pulled out what appeared to be the main smoke stack of his train mode. Within moments, the harmless smokestack had folded in on itself and rearranged its parts to form the Autobot leader’s iconic and legendary Ion Blaster. “Be on alert for anything that may seem out of-” Optimus was cut off by the sound of jet engines screaming through the night air. Diving down from the sky like an eagle catching sight of its prey, a large Cybertronian gunship flew straight towards Prime at mach speed. As it approached its target, the vehicle suddenly straightened out and flew right over the Autobot commander’s head, before veering up towards the top of the canyon. The massive ship transformed into robot mode and landed on top of the large plateau looking down into the canyon. Slowly, the bulky, silver Decepticon turned to face his age old enemy. “Optimus!” Megatron exclaimed, almost happy to see his eternal opposite as he looked down on him. “Been well?” he asked, taunting his opponent. “I knew you couldn’t resist the chance of tracking me down.” Ironhide growled and cocked his cannons. He was ready to fire a round off at the Decepticon leader, but the Autobot commander placed a hand on his arm to restrain him. “Why are you here, Megatron?” Optimus asked, looking up at the Decepticon leader with the utmost hatred in his eyes. “Me?” the Decepticon tyrant continued to chide. “Why I am only here to collect one of my fallen soldiers. To prevent the beasts that inhabit this world from laying their hooves on it,” he explained while waving his arm outward in a grandiose display of triumph. “However, once I learned that it was here where the body of poor, departed Oil Slick lay, I couldn’t help but to set a little…surprise for you, my old friend!” He began laughing as the cold, night air suddenly filled with the sounds of dozens of jet engines. Appearing from the darkness in the sky about twenty or thirty of Megatron’s jet soldiers flew down and transformed, landing on the ground around the two Autoobt warriors. Optimus and Ironhide were surrounded. The Decepticon soldiers slowly drew their weapons; there ruby red visors, the only feature visible on their featureless faces, glowed in the light of the moon as they took aim at the trapped Autobots. “DESTROY THEM!!” Megatron ordered, laughing as the hordes of Decepticon troopers began to advance forward on the Autobots.