//------------------------------// // Slivers // Story: Through The Looking Glass // by Darkryt Orbinautz //------------------------------// The Decepticons gathered around, surveying the wreckage of trees left in Superion's wake. "All right, Decepticons." Megatron walked forward with a brisk pace, despite still clutching at his sides because of the pain he was in. "I need ideas. How are we going to stop that thing before it destroys homes and kills innocent ponies?" "I say we rev up and go after it before it has time to get away." Side Swipe said, banging his fists together with a battle-ready smirk. Megatron gave him a look, pondering if Side Swipe had perhaps gone insane. "Good ideas. I need good ideas." "Sir, if I may, Side Swipe may be onto something." Starscream said. "If we move now, we have a chance of catching up with Superion before he goes too far. I recommend splitting up in two groups; one to track Superion and keep him in our sights, engaging him only if necessary, and one group to come up with a plan." "I ... suppose that could work." Megatron said. He dropped to his knees. Starscream and Soundwave rushed to his side. "I would recommend having you stay with the idea group." Starscream said. "That way, they could take you back to the ship for repairs." "No, really, Starscream? I hadn't figured that out for myself at all." Starscream and Soundwave helped Megatron to his feet. Megatron grunted. "Side Swipe, Cliffjumper, and Starscream. You follow the trail of devastation and locate Superion. Chrysalis, Soundwave, you help me some repairs while we try to think of a plan." "Are you sure that's a good idea?" Starscream asked. "It might be better to have me take you for repairs. I could fly you to the ship faster than Soundwave could carry you there." "Maybe." Megatron said. "But there's a chance that Superion will notice you before we're ready. If that happens, I need a fast, evasive flier to avoid getting hit by him to buy us some time, as well as a capable commanding officer to keep Cliffjumper and Side Swipe from getting flattened, and that's you, Starscream." Starscream's cheeks flashed beeping yellow lights. "I, uh, well … thank you, sir." "Starscream, are you blushing?" Chrysalis asked. "You are! You totally are! I didn't know Transformers could blush!" "Think maybe we should take some Changelings with us?" Side Swipe asked. "They could come in handy." "Changelings are at their most combat-efficient in a swarm." Megatron said. "Splitting them into groups doesn't seem like the best idea, and I'm not sure sending wave after wave of squishy insects after a combiner is the best idea. Er, no offense, Chrysalis." "None taken, dear." "Decepticons!" Megatron dramatically pointed his finger. "Move out!" To Megatron's utter humiliation, he proceeded to fall on his face. "Don't worry, Mega-dude." Soundwave picked Megatron up and draped him over his shoulder. "We'll get you fixed up." Cliffjumper, Side Swipe and Starscream converted to their vehicle modes, driving after Superion's trail while Soundwave carried Megatron away. "You know," Cliffjumper mused, "this reminds of the time-" "Cliff, no ones want to hear more of your stories about your home dimension." Side Swipe curtly in formed. "We're in the middle of a crisis here, in case you haven't noticed." "Hmph." Cliffjumper was a bit put out. "That did not go well." Twilight Sparkle complained as she threw herself up over a ledge, her back hooves flailing and dangling as she climbed back to their base by hoof. "That did not go well at all." "Twilight Sparkle!" Rodimus and the other Autobots rushed to greet her, eager to learn how the results of their experiment went. "Yer back! How did it go? Hey … where are those Aerialbots, huh?" "I, Grimlock, cannot help but notice you also lack Megatron's head, wot? From that, I, Grimlock, presume your efforts were … unsuccessful." Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes with shame and shook her head. "Superion was doing really good at fighting Megatron, but then that meanie managed to punch him to the ground! I had to teleport out of there to make it out with my bones intact! He's out there right now, and without anypony to tell him with to do, I know he's going to go on a rampage!" Twilight cupped her cheeks. "Oh, my poor baby! "I, Grimlock, see." Grimlock turned to Rodimus. "Well, Rodimus, it appears your efforts with Twilight Sparkle have not paid off." Rodimus narrowed his eyes. "Are youse tryin' to suggest sumthin tah me, Dinobot?" "I, Grimlock, am suggesting a change in leadership is still in order." Grimlock said, demonstrating his height over Rodimus by leaning over and casting a shadow over Rodimus. "I, Grimlock, have the brains to lead and the power to prevail over our enemies. I, Grimlock, am, and always was the only … logical choice for leader." "Now youse listen here, Dinobot." Rodimus said. "I'm still in charge of this here outfit, see? And I don't know about youse, but I think I've done pretty well so far! Maybe I'll still screw it up but good. If and when that happens, then maybe I'll let youse take the reins. But for now, youse still follow my lead, see? We haven't lost. This is just a, eh, a minor setback." Rodimus waved his hands. "A minor setback?" "That's what I said." Rodimus glared. "Do youse need me to repeat for yer tiny Dino-sized peabrain? No? I thought not. Listen … all we have tah do is go out there and find us a combiner. We'll get Twilight tah talk to Superion, calm him down a bit. Then, after he cools off a little, we'll take 'im to the crash site and take over that ship and free our, eh, incapacitated comrades, see? It's a foolproof plan." "Hmm. I would hardly call it foolproof – once again, Rodimus, you fail to take account variable factors, such as the Decepticons. But I, Grimlock, do see the potential for victory in your plan and will go along with it … for now." "Now that's what I like tah hear!" Rodimus smirked and clapped his hands. "Now, let's see if we can't muster up some muscle for our little expedition, just in case things get hairy." Soundwave, with what little help Chrysalis could give, carried Megatron to the mountains where their ship crashed. Their ship, the Nemesis, and the Autobots' ship, the Ark, each crashed into the same mountain by virtue of the fact the ships had been docked together, with the Autobots attempting to board and overrun the Nemesis. The fact both ships were now crashed into a mountainside demonstrated how well the Autobots' plan went. "Ah, the Nemesis." Megatron smiled as Soundwave carried him into the ship's interior. Megatron looked over the various stations spread throughout the ship, beeping lights covering the walls. "Coming back here does my Ember good." "Really?" Soundwave asked, dragging Megatron to the infirmary. "It being, like, kinda crashed into the side of a mountain doesn't bum you out?" Soundwave laid Megatron across a Transformer-sized chairs. "Perhaps." Megatron said. "But inside this ship is the closest thing we have to life back on Cybertron." "Ah, yeah." Soundwave picked up a tube and plugged it into the chair. "I can get behind that, boss." "Feeling homesick, Megatron?" Chrysalis asked while her glowed in preparation of surgery. Megatron grimaced and turned his head. "No." "Megatron, as someone who feeds on emotions, I'm somewhat of an empath." Chrysalis bragged. "Don't try to hide your feelings from me." "Sorry." Megatron placed a hand on his cheek. "It's just … as a leader, I shouldn't be distracted with … petty, inconsequential emotions. I can't let my emotions get the better of me, or they'll inhibit my ability to make rational decisions." "You can have emotions without letting them get the better of you." Chrysalis zapped the tube Soundwave plugged into the chair, channeling her magic through it and powering up the machine, allowing for a complicated series of mechanical arms, each equipped with an automated tool, to begin work on repairing Megatron. Letting the machines do their work, Megatron turned his head towards the further end of the ship. It was true; the inside of the Nemesis and the neighboring Ark were the closest things to a room on Cybertron on the planet. The floors and walls were made of durable titanium and steel, each room was covered with blinking lights, and almost everything was automatized, from the doors to the security systems. Megatron's optics drifted toward the back end of the ship and he frowned. The thought of what was inside the back room depressed him. Autobots and Decepticons, close to a hundred each, were inside the room and scattered about on the floor, trapped in what the Cybertronians dubbed "stasis lock" - more than sleep, but not quite death. Had Megatron's team sufficient Energon and other materials, they would bring the other Decepticons back to full life, repair the ship, and return to Cybertron with the Autobots as prisoners of war. But Megatron's team were only brought out of stasis themselves by Equestrian magic, and while they could use magic to power some things – as Chrysalis was doing with their repair bay right now – it was no substitute for adequate supplies of Energon, as proven when they tried to use Changeling magic to bring one of their comrades out from stasis lock. The magic had no effect, leaving their comrade trapped for a little while longer. Megatron turned his head away, trying to push out his longing for home and mourning for his comrades. He pushed a button on his arm, activating a subspace radio signal to communicate with his officers. "Starscream, this is Megatron. Report. What is your status?" “Let's see … we have some giant footprints, some broken trees, but other than that, a who lot of nothing. No sign of Superion.” Starscream reported. “I'll alert you to any developments.” “Understood. Megatron out.” The signal terminated and Starscream's team continued their search. “The environmental damage being done here is terrible.” Cliffjumper said, driving around the piles of broken trees and noting the numerous holes where those trees were once planted. “If it'll make you happy, we'll get around to fixing it, but not until after we take care of Superion.” Side Swipe assured him. “Okay, Cliff?” “Everyone, stop!” Starscream announced, the terrible visage of Superion coming into view. Superion trekked through the forest, knocking trees over and causing tremors. Some of the trees he picked up and hurled forward in a fit of rage, tossing them as though they were darts. Starscream, Side Swipe, and Cliffjumper converted to their robots, taking cover by the trees. “Now, Side Swipe, I know, as a former Autobot, your first instinct is to charge at him, but this situation calls for stealth.” Starscream said. “We need to keep track of him without engaging him.” “Well, excuse me if that isn't more than just a little bit fractionally prejudiced, thank you very much!” “Yeah.” Cliffjumper said, sticking up for his friend. “What about me? I'm an Autobot, too. Aren't you going to lecture me?” “Cliffjumper, we all know you're … different.” Starscream said. “Now be quiet before he hears us.” Starscream dialed Megatron. “Megatron, come in. This is Starscream. We've located Superion.” “Good work, Starscream. Does he know you're following him?” “No, he hasn't noticed us yet.” “HUH?” Superion stopped rampaging and swiveled his head. “WHO'S THERE? SHOW YOURSELF!” “Scrap.” Starscream swore. “Looks like I spoke too soon.” “Try to keep your distance, and don't let him hit you.” Megatron said. “Trust me. The shock alone will be enough to keep you on a bed for days.” “Understood. Starscream out.” Superion rummaged through the forest, each tremendous stomp shaking the ground, until he found the origin of the noise which disturbed him so, finding the Decepticons and their hiding place. “Hey, there!” Cliffjumper flashed a smile, trying to lay on the charm. “Superion, old buddy, old pal! How's it going?” Superion roared at them. “PUNY DECEPTICONS MAKE SUPERION MAD!” Starscream held his arm out to keep Side Swipe and Cliffjumper from going forward. “Let me handle this.” Starscream transformed into his jet mode and flew up straight, pelting Superion with laser fire so Superion's anger would be focused on Starscream as he ascended towards the sky. Superion growled and lunged at Starscream, his enormous hand reaching out to grab him. Starscream routed power to his afterburners and accelerated, evading Superion's hand moments before Superion's fingers closed around him. Superion took another swipe at Starscream, again missing. Starscream, in kind, fired a few more shots at Superion's chest, for all the good it did. “Surrender now, Superion.” Starscream said. “You're too slow to catch one of the Decepticon's ace fliers!” “Grrrr ...” Superion stood in place, his fists shaking with rage at his inability to capture the flying gnat mocking him. “Grah!” Superion aimed a fist at Starscream, and was surprised as anyone when a panel on his arm flipped open and a missile popped out, each firing at Starscream. “Scrap.” Starscream exclaimed, flying upwards to avoid the incendiary ammunition. It ran out of propellent and exploded in mid-air before it could reach Starscream, but the explosion was still too close to Starscream's tail for comfort. Superion himself was awed at his new weapon. Admiring his arms, with some effort and concentration, he activated more panels, exposing a whole assortment of rockets on every part of his body. “What ...” Side Swipe said. “How did he do that?” “He's still new.” Cliffjumper said. “He's only been online for a few hours, at most. He's still exploring his combined body. He hasn't time to investigate all of his parts and learn what all of those parts do.” “And … how do you know this, Cliff?” “Like I tried telling you earlier, in my home dimension -” “Get down!” Side Swipe jumped and tackled Cliffjumper out of the way as Superion launched a rocket on them. The explosion took out a few trees and left behind a smoking crater of ash and soot. Cliffjumper surveyed the scorched ground with a grimace. “Thanks for the save.” “Don't mention it.” Side Swipe pushed himself off Cliffjumper. “Now, why don't you try telling me about your home dimension later? Right now, we need to deal with this guy.” Side Swipe reached into his hips and unsheathed a pair of swords, one for each hand, while Cliffjumper pulled out a large gun. Superion continued launching volleys of missiles at the Decepticons. Some of the missiles hit the ground, shredding the earth and uprooting the forest, some of them exploded in mid-air. Some ponies who saw the explosions from a distance mistook the smoke and ash for fireworks, though few of them thought to question how they could see fireworks in the middle of the afternoon. In the Nemesis, Megatron tossed his legs off the side of his bed, testing his ability to stand. “Whoa!” Soundwave came rushing in. “What are you doing, boss?” “Starscream and the others need our help.” Megatron said, grunting and wincing as he forced himself to stand. “Your repairs aren't finished yet.” Soundwave said. “There's no way you'll make it out of a fight.” “I can stand.” Megatron proved this by stepping forward and walking around, though he did hunch over a little. “If I can stand, I can fight. I'd say I'm at least eighty-percent repaired. Besides,” Megatron lifted the cannon on his arm, “Rumbler will cover for me.” “I don't think so.” Chrysalis said, acting as the sensible mother to Megatron's impatient child. “You sit back down in your bed and finish your repairs, young man.” “Chrysalis, I'm not going to discuss this with you. Our friends need us, so let's go.” Megatron rushed out the door. “I'll come back and finish my repairs after Superion's been dealt with.” “Groovy.” Soundwave remarked, following after Megatron. Chrysalis sighed. She saluted at Megatron he left. “I admire your bravery and loyalty to your friends, Megatron ... even if it does make you act stupid at times.” Chrysalis joined in on the party, galloping after Soundwave. Side Swipe slashed away at Superion's with his swords, slicing them across the giant's skin, to no effect. Superion tired of the vague itching sensation he got and punted Side Swipe away, sending him tumbling and making him drop one of his swords. Starscream swerved, dodged, banked right and light, and did barrel rolls and somersaults to avoid Superion's missile barrage. One missile rode on his bumper, and Starscream thought for sure it was going to make contact. Whether or not a Cybertronian could survive a direct missile tended to vary on the make of the missile and the tenacity of the Cybertronian in question, but Starscream would just as soon not find out. He didn't have to, thanks to the intervention of a laser blast hitting the missile and causing it to detonate prematurely. “Megatron!” Starscream exclaimed as Megatron's jet mode came into view, joined by Chrysalis and Soundwave on the ground. “What are you doing here? You should be at the Nemesis getting repairs!” “I was. I did.” Megatron said. “But I couldn't just sit there on a slab when I knew my troops needed me. Sit back, everyone. I'll handle this.” Megatron did a nosedive, transforming to robot mode and landing at Superion's fight. “Superion, listen to me! We don't have to fight.” “Uh ...” Side Swipe scratched his head. “We don't?” “It doesn't have to be this way.” Megatron said. “We can talk this out.” “Uh, Megatron?” Chrysalis asked, coming up on Megatron's leg. “What are you doing?” “Trying to reason with him.” Megatron said. Chrysalis gave him a questioning look. “Trust me.” Superion ceased firing missiles to address Megatron. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE TOLD SUPERION TO SMASH MEGATRON. SMASH DECEPTICONS.” Megatron pointed at Superion. “Can't you see she's using you? You're just a weapon to her, a tool to get the job done! But you don't have to be a weapon. There's still hope for you. You can turn things around. All the Autobots will do is point you in a direction and make you stomp on things, but if you join us, we could teach how to be individuals. How to be your person, free from the influence and control of others. All I ask is that you separate into your components and quit destroying the countryside.” Superion paused, appearing to consider Megatron's offer. Chrysalis found it quite jarring when Superion spoke in a voice not his own, in a much more timid and quiet tone. “What do you guys think?” The voice from Superion said. “Is he right? Is Twilight Sparkle just using us?” Superion turned around, carrying on a conversation with a ghost only he could see. He spoke in another, different voice. “No, you idiot! Can't you see he's trying to trick us?” “I say we give it a try.” Another voice emerged. “I mean, how bad could it be?” “What's going on?” Chrysalis asked. “What's happening to him?” “It's the combination process.” Megatron said. “Even back on Cybertron, the process was never perfect. It's more than just five robots merging into a bigger robot, it's also a mental fusion. The combination requires mental discipline and cooperation between all individual parts of the combiner. To maintain the gestalt conscious, all of the members have to be in agreement.” Megatron looked up at the struggling Superion with a sense of pity. “But of course, getting five people to all agree on the same course of action is hard enough without being inside each others' heads. They have to agree not only on their actions and goals, but their very thoughts as well. Maintaining that kind of mental focus isn't easy, as you can see here.” “Shut up!” Another, different voice from Superion roared, sweeping a fist through the air. “All of you, just SHUT UP! We'll smash Megatron now and then worry about Twilight Sparkle later!” Superion knitted his fists together and raised them over his head. “Uh oh.” Megatron realized what Superion was about to do and began running away in the other direction from Superion. “Take cover!” Superion swung his fists down in an arc, pounding the ground with enough force to send out a shockwave. The shockwave threw all of the Decepticons and Chrysalis off their feet, giving a confused, frustrated Superion time to turn and continued marching through the forest to collect his thoughts. Megatron groaned and rolled over, aiming Rumbler at Superion's back. He fired, hitting Superion's backside with an impressive, powerful blast, but Superion didn't even seem to realize he was being shot at. “Scrap.” Megatron rued, pushing himself up. “How did Twilight Sparkle build Superion so tough?” “More importantly, how are we going to counter him?” Side Swipe asked. “He's shrugged off everything we've thrown at him.” “That's what I keep trying to tell you.” Cliffjumper said, raising a finger and glaring at Side Swipe, who cut him off earlier. Side Swipe didn't understand why Cliffjumper was upset at him. “Something a lot like this happened in my home dimension, and the only way we're going to counter him is if we do the same thing.” Megatron and Side Swipe exchanged looks before turning to Cliffjumper. “All right.” Megatron nodded. “You may proceed, Cliffjumper.” “In my home dimension, my Megatron made these Stunticons to attack the Autobots.” Cliffjumper explained. “My Optimus Prime countered by making the Aerialbots. So, since everything is backwards to what I know in this universe, it follows that since Twilight made the Aerialbots to attack the Decepticons ...” “Cliffjumper, what are you saying?” “What I'm saying is that we should counter them by building our own team of Stunticons!” “Hmm.” Side Swipe said. “Could work. I've heard crazier ideas. Say, Cliff? You got a Twilight Sparkle in your home dimension?” “Not that I know of.” Cliffjumper said. “The whole part about being built by a crazy unicorn didn't happen in my dimension.” Megatron hung his head, dejected. He walked away from the other Decepticons. “Megatron?” Cliffjumper asked. “Hey, are you all right?” “Yes, I'm fine …” Megatron lifted an arm up to examine it. “Aside from still needing repairs.” “What's troubling you, sir?” Starscream walked up to Megatron and put a hand on his shoulder. Megatron sighed. “Twilight Sparkle told me she used pieces of an Ember to make the Aerialbots. If we make these … Stunticons, we'll have to do the same as her, and I'm just not sure I'm comfortable with mutilating myself or my men as a means to an end.” “You'll have plenty of time to think about it on our way back to Canterlot.” Side Swipe walked away, motioning with his hand for the others to follow. “C'mon. Let's go.” The Decepticons returned to Canterlot, after spending a little side-trip to finish up Megatron's repairs, of course. There, they attempted to enlist the help of Fancy Pants and his workers to procure for them the metals they would need to build the new Stunticon bodies from scratch. Needless to say, given Fancy Pants' general disposition, it wasn't going well. “So you Decepticons steal from our factories, rob us of our metals, and then you expect us to freely give you more out of the goodness of our hearts?” Fancy Pants exclaimed, balking. He hocked up and spat on the ground. “I think not!” “We told you, it wasn't us who did that.” Side Swipe reached for the handle of his sword, beginning to reach the end of his patience with Fancy Pants. “It was the Autobots.” “Likely story!” “No, it's true.” Megatron said. “One of their friends admitted to me they committed the thefts.” Fancy Pants scoffed. “Really? So what you're telling me is that thieves, whom I remind you, you have yet to prove of their involvement, confessed their crimes to you in broad daylight? Do you take me for a fool?” “Not at first, but a little more with each word you say.” Side Swipe said. “What sort of brazen criminal would be so crass as to admit their crime?” Fancy Pants said. “Uh, have you ever met an Autobot? They're not exactly the most humble bunch.” “Can't say I have, no.” Fancy Pants said. “Nonetheless, you clumsy junkers won't be getting any metals from me.” Fancy Pants huffed and walked away, nose upturned. “Clumsy junker?” Side Swipe questioned. “Why, I ought to-” “Let it go, Side Swipe.” Megatron motioned for Side Swipe to throttle back. “I'm sure he's still upset about us not getting to his union and this is his way of taking it out on us. Frankly, I'm still not convinced creating these Stunticons is the right thing to do … especially after that.” “What?” Side Swipe was incredulous. “Megatron, don't tell me you're giving up on this just because Fancy Pants got snippy.” “No, I'm not giving up on it.” Megatron said. “But I'm not committed to it, either.” Megatron walked away and activated his radio signal. “Cliffjumper, how are things with you and Soundwave?” Cliffjumper had come up with a new plan for dealing with Superion; combining what little technical expertise he had with Soundwave's to create a radar capable of detecting the rampaging Autobot. “Pretty smooth, Mega-dude.” Soundwave over the radio. “Soundwave, I asked Cliffjumper, not you. Wait your turn.” “Eh.” Cliffjumper said. “Soundwave yelling into my audio receptor aside, things are going pretty well. If this new radar works, finding Superion won't be a problem, and we'll know where he is whenever our Stunticons are ready.” “Yes.” Megatron's voice deflated at the thought. “When they're … ready.” The Autobots, including Twilight Sparkle and an impaired, but still functional Goldbug, came out from their hiding hole and tracked down their loose creation. It wasn't difficult to follow Superion's path, with the collateral damage leading straight to him. “There he is.” Rodimus observed, pulling up a safe distance and transforming to robot mode. “Now all we's gotta do is talk to 'im, get 'im to stop and listen for a sec. HEY! HEY, SUPERION! CAN WE TALK TAH YOUSE FOR A SEC?” Superion stopped wading through the trees and turned towards them. “Hey, Superion. Buddy!” Rodimus said with a warm, gentle tone. “What have youse been up to, huh?” “SMASHING TREES.” Superion said. “THEY GET IN MY WAY. THEY GET UNDER MY FEET AND THEIR BRANCHES GET TANGLED AROUND MY LEGS, SO I SMASH THEM.” “That's nice.” Rodimus said. “Hey, listen, why don't you stop smashing them for a sec and come back to the base? You know, so we can smooth things out between us? We can sit down, talk things out, maybe have a nice cup of oil. Now how does that sound, huh?” “MEGATRON SAY THAT YOU USE ME.” Superion said. “THAT RODIMUS USE ME. THAT TWILIGHT SPARKLE USE ME.” “Use you?” Twilight Sparkle laughed one of her crazy laughs. “Well, yes, we're using you! We're gonna use you to smash that mean old Megatron to itty-bitty pieces! Pieces! That are itty-bitty. Then we'll keep using you to take over Equestria. Doesn't that sound like fun?” Superion's body shook with rage, and he let slip a low growl. “Oh, uh.” Twilight chuckled nervously. “That … wasn't the right thing to say, was it?” “YOU USE ME! YOU USE ME, LIKE MEGATRON SAID! I DON'T WANT TO BE USED!” “Superion, sweetie, calm down.” Twilight Sparkle said, though she and Rodimus wisely backed away from him. “Uh, yes, we're using you, but … it's the good kind of using! Right?” “Uh-huh. So tell me, Twilight Sparkle, how exactly do youse delineate between what's 'good' usin; and 'bad' usin'?” Rodimus said. “Superion … listen to your creator. Listen to mommy.” Twilight said, trying to calm Superion down, the giant's shadow looming over them as he advanced towards them. “We just want you to smash Megatron and help us free the other Autobots. After we do that, you can do whatever you want! And you like smashing, don't you?” “YOU USE ME!” Superion shouted, raising his fists over his head. “NO ONE USE ME! NO ONE USE SUPERION!” Superion brought his fists crashing down into the earth, and as he done before, sent out a shockwave which threw the Autobots back. “Yeah, okay.” A tripped and wincing Rodimus admitted. “This isn't gonna work.” “What? No!” Twilight whined. “I can still get through to him!” “Sorry, Twilight.” Rodimus scooped her up with a massive metal hand. “But it's time to cut our losses and hit the road, youse get what I'm sayin'?” Rodimus transformed, transporting Twilight Sparkle inside his car interior. “Now, everybody out! Get clear!” Rodimus led the Autobots to retreat, driving them all the way back to their cavern base. Yet again leaving a wrathful, aimless Superion on his lonesome. Chrysalis walked about the Canterlot square. She eyed buildings left and right, scanning for signs of her target, until she found him. Fancy Pants, brooding by a building while drinking from a glass mug. Chrysalis walked up to him. “Hello, Fancy Pants.” “Oh, you. The Decepticon sympathizer.” Fancy Pants took a swig from the mug. “What do you want?” “I just wanted to know why you're not helping the Decepticons in their little … project, that's all.” Chrysalis said with a smile. Fancy Pants rolled his eyes. “Why? I'll tell you why. Because they're useless! Good for nothing.” Fancy Pants lost his balance and fell onto the ground. “That's why. Equestria was better off without them!” “Oh, Fancy Pants, you don't really think that, do you?” Chrysalis said. She idly examined her hoof, “After all, if weren't for them, you would have to take up your union's wage complaints with … Queen Cadenza. How well do you think that would go?” Fancy Pants' eyes widened at the thought of Cadenza, their former matriarch deposed by the Decepticons. If Fancy Pants attempted to complain to Cadenza about the half things he complained to the Decepticons about, Cadenza would have him locked in the dungeons under some trumped-up excuse. Chrysalis noticed this and moved to the next phase of her plan. “You're not still mad about the Decepticons getting to your wages, are you?” Fancy Pants crossed his front legs. “Maybe a little.” “Well, maybe we can make a deal.” Chrysalis placed a hoof on Fancy Pants' cheek. “You give the Decepticons the metal they need, and after they go deal with the problem they're having, the first thing they'll do when they get back is to help with the wages of you and your workers.” Fancy Pants gave her a hopeful, yet hesitant look. “Really?” “Yes, really.” Chrysalis assured him. “I'll make sure of it.” “Hmm.” Fancy Pants thought about this for a brief moment. He shook Chrysalis's hoof. “My lady, you have a deal.” “Excellent!” Without waiting for any input from Fancy Pants, Chrysalis picked him up and dragged him over to the portion of the city where the Decepticons were gathered. “Hey, guys! I'm sure you all remember Fancy Pants.” “How could I forget?” Side Swipe mumbled. “I know he may have given you some trouble before, but I manage to convince him to come around.” Chrysalis hugged Fancy Pants. “He's agreed to give us the metal we need … provided that the first thing you do when you get back from hunting down Superion is work on his workers' wages.” “After all the trouble he gave us?” Side Swipe said. “I'm not sure I agree with that idea.” “Done and done.” Cliffjumper gave a big thumbs-up. “Did ya hear that, boss?” Soundwave said, noticing his leader was still in some kind of funk. “We can get the parts we need for Project: Stunticon! Doesn't that make you happy?” Side Swipe shot Soundwave a glare. “We are not calling it 'Project: Stunticon'.” “It doesn't matter what we're calling it, because it's not going to happen.” Megatron said, earning shocked gasps from everyone present not named Fancy Pants. “Megatron, I just managed to convince Fancy Pants to give us the parts we needed.” Chrysalis reminded him. “You can't give up now!” “Megatron, sir, you do realize this idea, crazy though it may seem, is logically our best chance to defeat Superion?” Starscream asked. “I'm sorry.” Megatron said. “But I'm still not comfortable with the idea of taking splices of Ember from any one of you. Who am I to remove portions of your precious Embers, of the things that make you who are? If I were to do that ... I'd be no better than the Autobots.” “Wait.” Cliffjumper said. “Did you say from any one of us?” “Yes ...?” Megatron raised an eyebrow. “Why is that detail important to you?” Cliffjumper pointed at the Decepticons in turn, counting under his breath. “One, two ...” “Cliff, what are you doing?” Side Swipe asked. “There are five of us.” Cliffjumper said. “In my home universe, there are five Stunticons. Megatron, you don't have to take five pieces of Ember from one of us. We'll donate a piece of Ember each.” “Oh, for crying out loud ...” Side Swipe said. “Is that why you've been so indecisive about this? Because you thought you had to take five pieces from one of us?” Megatron drew a nervous pose. “That was how Twilight Sparkle explained to me she did it ... I assumed it was a necessary part of the process.” “I'll donate a part of my Ember.” Side Swipe pointed to himself. “Heck, if it'll get this thing rolling, I'll donate two.” “I … can't ask you do that, Side Swipe.” Megatron said. “I'll donate.” Starscream said. “I'll donate.” Cliffjumper said. “Well, technically, mine's a Spark, but they're functionally the same thing.” “I'll do it!” Soundwave volunteered. “I ...” Megatron looked around at the Decepticons under his command. He began to feel a little overwhelmed. “Decepticons, I'm proud of you. For all of you to volunteer a piece of yourself like, and together, no less … well, a commander couldn't ask for a more generous, valiant group of bots to serve with.” Megatron pumped his fist. “Let's do this.” The Decepticons set about their work, building cars out of raw materials set to Cliffjumper's specifications as worker ponies brought in the raw metals, tools, and car parts they needed. For some reason, Soundwave suggested changing one of the designs into a truck, but Cliffjumper vetoed the idea. He didn't want any changes from what he already knew. It was an expensive and extensive process, having to build these things from the scratch. Aside from a few minor incidents where someone dropped something and maybe aimed a welder where they weren't supposed to, they got the job done. When they were done, the Decepticons were left were five automobiles – a Formula 1 racing car, a sports car, two luxury cars, and the cab of a sixteen-wheeler. “We've got the bodies.” Megatron said. “Now we have to give them life.” Starscream volunteered. “I'll go first.” Starscream's chest split open down the middle, lifting up to reveal a hatch and a chamber. Resting inside the chamber was a glowing red sphere made of energy, rolling around and pulsing as if were some gyroscopic heart. Starscream reached into his chest, grabbed the sphere, and with a look of considerable pain on his face, ripped out a piece. The piece took the form of a glowing sliver, made of the same energy as its source. Starscream walked forward and put the sliver onto the F-1. He laid it across the front of the car, whereupon the sliver dropped through, bypassing the solid matter and joining itself to its insides. The other Decepticons followed suit, each of them ripping out a shard from their ember. Soundwave contributed his piece to the sports car, with Side Swipe and Cliffjumper giving theirs to the sports cars. Each piece of Ember reacted the same way as Starscream's did to the F-1. “I suppose all that leaves is me, then.” Megatron walked up to the truck and put a hand on its roof. “Cliffjumper, you say in your home universe, this … Motormaster is the leader of the Stunticons?” “Yep. That's right.” “Then I suppose it is only fitting that I should be the one to give him life.” Megatron mused. He plunged his fist into the inside of his chest and yanked out the Ember sliver which would give Motormaster life, placing it atop the roof, as Starscream had done. The shard of Ember phased through and absorbed it. Megatron paced backwards, giving the newborn Motormaster some room. “Stunticons!” Megatron announced. “Transform and rise up!” All at once, the automobiles cracked open, splitting themselves into pieces and standing themselves upright without any propping up or suspension. The pieces twisted, turned, and rearranged themselves into all five were in the shape of recognizable Decepticon robots, each with their own, unique faces and features. “Stunticons, listen well.” Megatron began to walk back and forth, giving them the drill sergeant routine. “Your names are Motormaster, Dead End, Breakdown, Drag Strip, and Wildrider. If any of you would like to change your name ...” Wildrider held his hand up. “We'll discuss it later.” Megatron said, giving Wildrider a dubious glare. “You've only been online – been alive for a few seconds now, but we have a mission for you. We need you to help us stop and rein in Superion, a deadly Autobot made from the combined form of the Aerialbots.” Megatron explained. “Once we've accomplished that, you will be free to do as you wish, whether you decide to strike out on your own or continue serving with the Decepticons. You are, after all, your own sentient beings, and you are entitled make your own choices. But be warned: while I will give you the freedom to choose for yourselves, I will not tolerate any attempt by you to harm the local organics of this world. For right now, though, we need your help. Any questions?” “Uh, yeah, just one.” Dead End said. “What's an Autobot?” “You'll find out soon enough.” Megatron answered with a mischievous smile. “Cliffjumper, how are we doing with that radar?” “Pumped up and ready to go.” Cliffjumper said. He pulled out a small device and held it up. It made beeping and pinging sounds. “Oh, and it looks like it's found Superion already!” Cliffjumper gave the machine a playful smack. “Assuming the thing works like it's supposed to.” Megatron nodded, accepting the radar might not lead them to Superion as hoped, but nonetheless give the order to mobilize. “Decepticons, transform and rise up!” The radar worked, as it lead them to Superion. A good thing, too, as Superion had calmed down to cease his indiscriminate removal of trees, so following him by the trail of wreckage wasn't going to work anymore, at least until something set the gestalt off again. Superion had come to rest by a mountainside, sitting on a rock and brooding. He was thinking about what Megatron said, about what Twilight Sparkle told him, and wondering where he was going to go from here when he heard the rumble of car engines. Superion stood up. “WHAT NOW? MORE AUTOBOTS?” Superion yelped and held his arms to defend himself as he came under fire from Starscream, Chrysalis, Megatron carrying out a strafing run. “AARGH.” Superion groaned. “STUPID DECEPTICONS. WHY WON'T YOU LEAVE SUPERION ALONE?” Superion reached out to snatch Megatron out of the sky, with Megatron banking hard to avoid his fist. “I don't know.” Side Swipe said. “Maybe it's because you're unstable and will destroy the country if left unchecked?” “SHUT UP!” Superion attempted to stomp on Side Swipe. Side Swipe ducked and rolled out of the way. “All right, Stunticons!” Breakdown and the other Stunticons arrived and transformed to robot mode, whipping out their guns. “Now's our chance to show Megatron what we're made of! Open fire!” Breakdown fired at Superion, his handgun doing little other than irk Superion. “Excuse me.” Motormaster said. “But I'm suppose to be the one giving the orders.” “Sorry.” Breakdown said with an unapologetic grin. “Guess I just got a little carried away.” Drag Strip saluted. “What are your orders, sir?” Motormaster aimed his gun at Superion. “Breakdown may have spoken out of turn, but he had the right idea. Concentrate all your fire on Superion.” The Stunticons did as ordered, pulling the triggers of their firearms and blasting away at Superion. Their weapons didn't prove any more effective than anything else which had been tossed Superion's way, only serving to irritate him further as he attempted to smash Megatron and the others. “This isn't getting us anywhere.” Wildrider observed. “I recommend a change of tactic.” “I couldn't agree more, Wildrider.” Breakdown transformed to vehicle mode and revved up. “Dead End, give me a lift!” “Happy to oblige.” Dead End picked up Breakdown, lifting the car-mode Decepticon over his head. “Breakdown, wait!” Realizing Breakdown's intentions, Motormaster reached out to stop him. “Stop and think about what you're doing!” “Don't think; just do!” Breakdown said. Dead End grunted and hurled Breakdown into the air, sending Breakdown flying towards Superion, idea being even Superion wouldn't stand up to an entire car going through his chest at fifty miles-per-hour. What Breakdown didn't count and didn't expect was for Superion to turn around and notice. Superion caught Breakdown in his hand, holding onto the hood of his car-mode, and tossed him aside. “Whooooaah!” Breakdown impacted against a stray, stationary boulder, transforming to robot mode and rubbing his head. “That's going to hurt in the morning.” “Breakdown!” Dead End exclaimed, clenching a fist. “Come on, Wildrider! Let's go give Superion his what-for, eh?” “I'm not so sure that's a good idea, but I guess I can't stop you.” Wildrider and Dead End both converted to vehicle mode and accelerated towards Superion's feet, Motormaster being too late and too slow to talk them out of their foolish, ill-thought out attack. “Stop!” Motormaster begged, running after them. “Why won't any of you just stop and listen to me? I'm the leader!” Superion noticed the two cars advancing towards him. As he was wont to do, Superion kicked at them in turn, punting them some distance away. Motormaster buried his head into his hands. “Oh, this is going terribly ...” Up in the sky, Chrysalis came to a stop, picking up on Motormaster's negative emotions. She looked down at him and swooped towards him. “Chrysalis, where are you going?” Megatron asked. “I think Motormaster needs my help.” Chrysalis said. “I'm sensing some serious negative emotions from him.” “All right.” Megatron said. “I suppose that's fair enough – AGH!” While Megatron was distracted by talking with Chrysalis, Superion managed to sneak his hand around and grab Megatron in one hand and Starscream in the other. Superion held the Decepticon jets in his hand and bashed them together, disorienting them before Superion dropped them to the ground. “Hey!” Cliffjumper shouted. “Didn't your motherboard teach you not to play rough with your toys?” He opened fire on Superion, but all this did was earn him a retaliatory rocket fired from Superion's forearm. “Uh-oh.” He ducked for cover. “This is not going groovy.” Soundwave observed, moments before another of Superion's missile exploded next to him. “Motormaster, what's wrong?” Chrysalis asked, descending next to the Stunticon. “Oh, nothing. Just everything.” Motormaster whined, going over to a rock and sitting down, even while Superion and the other Decepticons continued to fight. Chrysalis sat next to him. “Everything's gone wrong. Superion's kicking our backsides, and I can't get the Stunticons who I'm supposed to command to listen to me.” Motormaster shook his head. “I'm sorry, Chrysalis. I've let you down. I've let Megatron down. I … I've failed.” “You haven't failed.” Chrysalis assured him, patting him on the leg. “We haven't lost yet. There's still a chance to turn this around.” “Yeah.” The other Stunticons gathered around. Breakdown crossed his arms. “But we might have won already if Motormaster here would grow a spine.” “On the contrary, Breakdown, I would say it's you who needs to grow a central processor.” Drag Strip remarked. “You can't keep charging into battle without a plan the way you do.” “What can I say?” Breakdown pointed a thumb at himself. “I'm self-assured.” “There's a fine line between self-assured and overconfident.” Drag Strip said. “You cross that line.” “Ah, you're just jealous because I'm fearless.” Breakdown said. “A little bit of fear can be a good thing.” Drag Strip said. “It can keep you from being reckless like you are.” The other Decepticons butted in on the conversation, each of them taking sides and making arguments for and against the other side. “Hold it!” Chrysalis yelled, loud enough to get the argument to stop. “I think I know what's going on here. You've only been online, alive for less than an hour. You haven't had time to learn how to work together. How to work as a team.” Chrysalis said. “If you could all just work together, if you could agree on a course of action, you'd be a much more effective unit and we could end this.” The Stunticons all looked at each other. “She's right.” Motormaster said. “You know what? I think she is.” Breakdown added. Motormaster looked to see how the battle was going. Superion was looming over and menacing a downed Megatron, struggling to push himself off the ground. “Come on, guys. Megatron needs us.” The Stunticons, for the first time, felt united in purpose. They shared a goal. They shared a common enemy. Reveling in this unity, they gathered in a circle and took each others' hands. “SUPERION SICK OF DECEPTICONS BOTHERING HIM.” Superion said. “SUPERION SICK OF AUTOBOTS TRYING TO CONTROL HIM. SUPERION SMASH MEGATRON, THEN SMASH AUTOBOTS.” Superion activated a series of missile racks spread through his body, including on his chest, shoulders, and arms. He aimed those rockets at Megatron. Megatron saw the armaments aiming at him and grimaced, feeling his end had come. “Villain, we say to thee nay!” Megatron was surprised when a giant fist emerged from nowhere and blindsided Superion, knocking him back. Now on the battlefield was a large, horned robot, as tall as Superion and covered in wheels. Megatron saw the wheels and realized it was the Stunticons, now merged into a gestalt of their own. “WHAT THE?” Superion questioned. “WHO ARE YOU?” “We are Menasor!” The horned robot announced. “We have only one mission: to defend the innocent from the likes of you!” Meansor reached over his back and pulled out a huge sword, charging Superion and slashing him across the chest with it. Superion stumbled backwards. He took a moment and aimed the missile launchers in his arm at Menasor. Menasor rushed him and smashed a fist into the side of his head before Superion had a chance to fire. Meansor punched Superion again, sending Superion face-first into the mountainside, creating a tremor. “AARGH.” Superion pushed himself off and turned around. He lunged at Menasor, who responded by shoving his sword into Superion's side. “AGH!” Using the sword as a pole, Menasor lifted Superion up over his head. Menasor yanked the sword, ignoring Superion's cry of pain as he did so and held the Aerialbot up. “Now to send you somewhere where you won't be able to harm anyone, monster.” “MENASOR, WAIT!” Megatron shouted. “DON'T!” Menasor carried, heedless to Megatron's cries. Grabbing Superion at the waist, Menasor pulled, tearing the Aerialbot combiner into two. Menasor reared his arms back and threw Superion, hurling the halves of his body over the horizon, far out of reach from Autobot or Decepticon. The silhouettes of Superion's halves lingered in the sky before fading away. His take complete, Menasor turned to Megatron. “What do you think, Megatron? Did we … do good?” Megatron blinked, not sure how to answer Menasor's question. While Menasor beat Superion, which was they built the Stunticons for, Megatron didn't appreciate Menasor's decision to toss Superion into the distance. It didn't mesh with Megatron's plans to reform or arrest the Aerialbots, or at least keep the from being a threat to society. Now, there was no telling what trouble Superion could get into, whether he remained a menace by himself or was taken advantage of by a nefarious character. “You … did great.” Megatron said, unable to bring himself to scold the eager-to-please and well-meaning Menasor. Elsewhere, across a rocky plain, a vast legion marched. A legion of black-coated unicorns dressed in royal purple armor. The captain of the legion limped behind a tall, dark pony, with a mane and tail crafted from starry night and eyes from a viper. “Queen Celestia ...” The captain said. “I'm sorry … we've failed you again.” “It's all right, dearie.” Celestia answered. “Prince Tirek may have beaten us back this time, but he won't be able to hold the line against us forever. Oh no, we'll keep coming back and coming back until his defenses crumble before our might. Believe you me, it's only a matter of time.” “W-what's that?” A solider asked, pointing to the sky as … something came into view. As it sped towards the, the mysterious objects became clear, revealing themselves as enormous, odd-colored pieces of metallic debris. “Take cover!” The captain shouted. The soldiers followed, spreading out and scrambling to minimize their losses, should the fast-approaching shrapnel hit their ranks. Queen Celestia, however, did not. “Queen Celestia, please!” The captain pleaded, taking a moment to take his head out of the sand. “You need to get clear!” Celestia gave him a glance and looked back to the approaching object. Seeing the captain had a point, Celestia turned and walked a grand total of five steps back, before turning back around to watch the object fall, her face never betraying any emotion other than abject calm and perhaps a slight hint of amusement at the situation and her cowering soldiers. The object hit the ground, inches away from Celestia's hooves. It made the earth shake and kicked up a storm of dust all around. Through all this, Celestia remained unfazed. The only action she took was to raise her wing up to shield her eyes from the particles of dust and rock. Once the dust settled down some, Celestia removed her wing and her soldiers, sensing the immediate danger was past, crawled out of their hiding places and regrouped. “What … is it?” A solider asked. Celestia walked forward towards it. This made the captain nervous, as he through the thing could still be dangerous. Unbeknowst to them, the thing in question was in fact, the torn halves of Superion, having landed here from Menasor's toss. Celestia climbed up the giant's side, standing on its chest. “Your Majesty, be careful!” The captain pleaded. Celestia stomped on the giant's chest, testing its ability to support her weight. She examined its body up and down before walking up its chest to its head. Celestia leaned forward, her face being reflected in Superion's cracked visor. “What are you, indeed?” Celestia found herself wondering. She smiled at her reflection, her mind already hard at work, thinking of how she might could use this creature to her advantage for her plans of conquest.