//------------------------------// // Chapter 29-The Situation Escalates // Story: Transformers: The Requiem // by JDPrime22 //------------------------------// “Sister…do you know what this means?” “Yes… The Autobots are back…and I only fear they might bring their war once again.” Princess Luna closed her eyes and released a heavy breath welling up inside her lungs. She shook her head, a horrifying darkness sweeping into her heart. Not the darkness of the night…or of Nightmare Moon…this was pure fear. Celestia felt no different. Even as she rolled open a long scroll speaking of ancient mind spells, the horrible feeling kept wrenching in her stomach, forcing her to acknowledge its presence. The two sisters resided in the Canterlot Archives. Their promise to Optimus Prime was not broken, not by a long shot. They had currently spent the last few days in there, the only times they left were either to raise the sun or the moon or to accomplish their royal duties. Other than that, all of their spare time was used to search for the cure. The cure for Optimus’ problem. They’d come close a few times before. There were some spells that seemed promising to inflicting the mind of a being for short moments of remembrance. But they weren’t permanent. That’s the one spell the two sisters needed. Optimus Prime needed to remember who he was, and so far they hadn’t found any spells that could help. But some recent news had taken the sisters’ attention for quite some time. It was the kind of news that made ponies drop everything they were doing and simply remain in shock. Princess Twilight sent them a letter… Grimlock was found in the Everfree Forest. Princess Celestia ordered the guard who presented her the letter to remain quiet. Luna even questioned if the letter was seen by others. The guard denied any eyes peeking at the letter. That, of course, didn’t stop the news from spreading. It had obviously started in Ponyville, the closest settlement to the Everfree Forest. The news of another Transformer being discovered brought a large riot in the small town of Appleloosa. Celestia was horrified, and felt pity for the town. The riot was detained and luckily nopony was seriously injured. The ponies there were clearly terrified. They were hit hard during the Decepticon invasion. It just goes to show what fear can truly bring… The two princesses prayed that there would be no more insane acts of fear throughout their land. But in those tense moments, more and more Royal Guard kept interrupting their research with news explaining that more Transformers, presumably Autobots, were being discovered all throughout Equestria. These were just wild accusations, but the princesses did not ignore them. They were terrified to know that sights of Autobots were being reported all across the country. Most ponies were probably just seeking attention, but the rumors and sightings had to of come from somewhere. It certainly was just a mystery at that point, a mystery the two sisters couldn’t solve alone. Celestia and Luna needed help. Threats of a new war were building up, and ponies were terrified knowing more and more Transformers were being discovered across the country. Sooner or later, a Decepticon sighting will come up, and all anarchy will break loose. Princess Celestia needed a way to contain the excitement. A quick, easy solution to ensure her little ponies that trusting in them will solve all of their problems. They needn’t not to worry about the possibly false accusations and sightings. She just needed an answer so she and Luna could get back to their research. That’s when Princess Luna brought up the one question she thought she would never have to ask. The lunar princess lowered the long scroll she was levitating in front of her blood-shot eyes. She faced Celestia, heavy bags accompanying her vision. Her mouth opened to speak, instantly catching Celestia off-guard. “What of Noctune?” Luna asks. She watched as Celestia brought the scroll she was reading to the floor. “Can’t we ask of him to contain these fears? Ask him to assure these ponies that they are safe?” Her eyes fell, a horribly sad expression etched on Luna’s face. “That…there is not going to be war?” Celestia shook her head. Luna noticed a look of regret on her sister’s expression. “I have had…certain fears that Noctune and his Alliance have grown in power,” Celestia said, catching Luna’s attention. She continued, “The last time I saw Noctune, we met here in Canterlot. He wanted to discuss some…serious changes to our military’s stance. That pony wanted to make our very way of life as advanced technologically as his.” “Surely you said no,” Luna interrupted. She stood up and approached Celestia from the side. “Doesn’t that pony know that advancement in technology would bring nothing but chaos and disorder?!” She snorted and frowned, stamping her hoof on the floor. “It wouldn’t be long before some insane pony would create a weapon of pure death to wipe out our entire race…” Celestia nodded in understanding, her tired eyes closing. “That is what I’ve tried to explain to him many times,” she muttered. Luna flared up her wings. “Well,” she said, her voice dropping twenty degrees, “let us go to Vanhoover and explain to him personally that we will not-!” “Luna!” Celestia warned. The younger princess’ wings fell to her sides, nothing but a sour frown remaining. Princess Celestia turned her head to her younger sister, her mane flowing softly but not as proudly as it used to. She hadn’t gotten a good night’s rest in a couple days Still, she explained things the best of her ability to Princess Luna. She said, “Noctune is not a pony to be trifled with,” images of the past returned to the solar princess, though she tried her best to ignore them. “He is capable of many things, Noctune is. But no matter what you say, no matter what you do, nothing will change his mind on what the future holds for Equestria. He has great dreams…and even greater power.” “So what you’re saying…is that Noctune is too powerful to where we need to be concerned?” Luna asked. Celestia shrugged, a sigh escaping her lips. “For now…I don’t know. He did promise that he would only use his military powers for the good of the Equestrian race, as well as the safety and lives of every breathing thing on this planet. If Noctune threatens that promise in any way,” she turned to face Luna, her eyes hard as stone, “we will take immediate action.” Princess Luna thought for a moment, her eyes darting under her eyelids. She looked up at her older sister and nodded once. “Well then,” she said, “shall we inform Noctune of the job he is meant to do?” The older sibling nodded. She turned towards the large doors at the end of the archives and called for one of the guards standing outside of those doors. The white stallion in golden-plated armor arrived to the princess’ side in a matter of seconds, bowing at her hooves. Princess Celestia cleared her throat and stuck her hoof out in front of her. “Inform the Royal Messenger to prepare a letter to the Alliance of Alien Activity in Vanhoover,” she told him. The guard nodded, and waited as the princess continued. “Tell him to write down these very words…” Now the guard truly began to focus. His ears stood straight as Celestia said, “‘From the kindest of welcomes in all of Equestria, we are willing to inform you that Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would like to have a brief meeting with Noctune tomorrow morning at 9 am in Canterlot Castle.’” Both princesses stared at the rock-hard expression the guard was giving them. Celestia smiled and finished by saying, “Tell him to bring the letter to me so I can sign it.” The guard bowed once more. “Very well, your highness,” he said in the gruff voice many of the guards had. He instantly left when Princess Luna waved him away. Once the door slowly shut, Luna rubbed the same hoof against her face. She sat on her rump and groaned, “Even I cannot remain awake for these many days.” Princess Celestia smiled to her little sister and giggled, “We’ll take a short break after we finish this row, okay Luna?” Luna smiled, her wickedly tired eyes locking with her sister’s. “I would love nothing more than a hot cup of…whatever it is that bean brew you were telling me about that one time.” “Coffee?” Celestia laughed. “Yes,” Luna said proudly, her horn levitating another scroll in front of her, “that sinister, foul-tasting, dirt-flavored liquid you call coffee.” Both princesses shared in a long conversation filled with laughter and possible spells found in the Elder Scrolls that could help them get closer to saving Optimus. Despite the giggling she enjoyed with her little sister, a darker thought kept pounding away in Celestia’s mind… Noctune. What was he going to think of this long silence since the last time he and Celestia spoke face to face? What was he going to think of letter? Would he acknowledge it? Would he rip it to shreds? Celestia truly hoped not, but she wouldn’t blame him. After all that pony has been through. All his struggles, all his problems, mental and physical, Celestia was amazed he could proudly rise out of those chains that brought him down all his life and make a meaning out of it. She could still feel good in that pony, but it was hidden behind the corruption… The corruption of power. At that moment, Princess Celestia realized that that power-hungry stallion was their last hope to saving Equestria from falling to anarchy and eventually…collapse. I pray there is no bad blood between us, Noctune.