//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 // Story: Transformers Prime: Ponies in Disguise // by RavageXeno //------------------------------// Starscream stood on the ridge, watching as the two sides raced towards each other. The enemy army only filled up half the valley on their side, giving them a huge disadvantage as they would be attacked from the side as well. On their side of the valley, the valley leveled out into the forest that Starscream had first met Olethron. The clouds covering the sky seemed to make the forest look darker. With swirling black shadows swarming between the trees. Starscreams attention was then drawn from the forest by Scar, who shot a large beam of magic into the cloud layer thickening the clouds into dark storm clouds. Which in turn darkened the battlefield further. However Starscream was still able to see the battlefield below him clearly. As he watched the armies close in on each other, his attention kept being brought back to the shadows swarming around the trees. After a large clap of thunder, the shadows seeped out from beneath the trees, and seemed to run alongside the other army. Though the shadows quickly overtook them, and collided with his army well before they did. Starscream took a step back, as his army started to fall when they reached the shadow. Olethron snarled, then started shouting abuse at her army for being so weak as to fall to magic. Starscream held his tongue though. Not certain that Scar’s spell is what had caused this. Scar wasn’t the most adept at magic, the simplest spells had tired him easily and Starscream had even seen Rarity do more impressive spells. But he quickly pushed the thought out of his mind, and concentrated harder on the shadow trying to discern how it was stopping his army. The shadow was still swirling, as if it was made up of hundreds of individuals. As he watched, a dark spot appeared from the tree line, and he traced its course as it charged at his army. When it broke through the the first few lines of soldiers, it sent them scattering, with loud screams of surprise. But now he could see what it really was. And judging by Olethron’s gasp she also understood. A huge Xenomorph, almost three times the size of the normal ones he had seen, was laying waste to a good number of his soldiers. It had a large crest on it’s head, that it was using as a battering ram as well as reflecting away any spells that were fired at it. It’s sides weren’t as equally protected, but none of the soldiers were able to get close enough to it’s sides without being crushed or thrown across the battlefield, so they quickly started backing up. The other Xenomorphs took advantage of this, and quickly filled into the opening, hiding the large Xenomorph back into the swirling mass until they would repeat the process. Starscream couldn’t see Xena Rose, but he knew she would be down there somewhere. And he mentally shuddered at what Olethron would do when she realised she had been tricked by a filly. “No, I won’t let this happen,” Olethron almost shouted, as she began firing blasts of magic into the cloud layer, in an attempt to use sunlight to slow the Xenomorphs down. But the thick clouds wouldn’t budge, responding only with another clap of thunder. Enraged, Olethron stomped her front hooves on the ground and glared at her army, which now had to halt their advances for the moment. The sound of muted laughter came from behind them, and Olethron turned with a scowl on her face. Starscream’s cape became slightly itchy as he turned to see Rainbow laughing even harder now she could see Olethron’s expression. The rest of the ponies were giving Rainbow warning glares, which she was typically ignoring. “Something funny Rainbow Dash?” Olethron said walking towards her slowly, she spat the name out as if it had left a bad taste in her mouth. Rainbow stopped laughing long enough for her to mumble something that sounded like ‘your face’ before she continued as Olethron’s expression darkened further. The two bodyguards shuffled nervously and avoided looking at their Queen. “Guards leave us.” Olethron ordered and they swiftly obeyed, retreating to a safe distance at a reasonable pace that preserved some of their dignity. Olethron just grinned at Rainbow, and only then did she stop laughing, as she understood what she’d gotten herself into. “Rainbow, Rainbow, Rainbow,” Olethron said, turning and walking back towards the ledge as she talked. “What ever are we going to do with you?” she continued, grabbing Rainbow and her restraints and pulling her off the platform to stand next to her. The other ponies cried out for her to stop, but Olethron merely ignored them. “I tried to be nice, I made sure that you had the highest comfort,” she continued, malice dripping out of her voice as she drilled the loose chains of the restraints into the ground so Rainbow couldn’t move. “I even gave you the finest apparel.” She caressed the muzzle before taking a step back as Rainbow growled at her. “But it seems we’ll have to find, more permanent, ways of keeping you quiet. Though I’d hoped that I could add you to my collection,” She was quiet for a moment whilst she let the words sink in. “Starscream.” It was implied as an order, but he knew what it really was. She was testing him. So far he might have done as she instructed, but she was far from a complete fool. She returned her attention to the battle, whilst she waited for his response. Starscream stood there in silence, looking at the ground to avoid looking at anyone else. His thoughts drowned everything else out, even the battle below him seemed distant and quiet. He absently started messing with his right gauntlet, bringing forward the spikes before looking up again. He took a step forward, towards Rainbow and Olethron, with his gauntlet raised. He built up the courage to look Rainbow in the eye, and saw nothing but betrayal, which made his ears dip down before he took a deep breath and continued forward. He had to remind himself that he was a Decepticon with each step. When he was stood behind them, he reared up onto his back legs and raised his right hoof above his head. Then he quickly brought it down, accompanied with a snarl. Olethron screamed. Twisting in agony around where the gauntlet was stabbed in her back between her wings. He then grabbed her with his other hoof to make sure she didn’t try and get away. “Long. Live. The. King.” he said as he pushed her over the ledge.