//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Friendship in Disguise // by Tumbleweed //------------------------------// Night fell over Canterlot. Typically, this would signal a time of restful peace, the quiet only broken by the occasional cry of an owl, or the hoofsteps of a ceremonial guard by the gates. That particular evening, of course, was anything but typical. The combined ranks of the Royal Guard and the Wonderbolts rushed about the castle, performing the hundreds of little tasks needed to prepare a castle for a siege. Princess Celestia walked the ramparts, supervising. She had to be careful- if she got too close to any given guard, or if she started paying too much attention, they would invariably bow down until she dismissed them with an “at ease.” “Princess Celestia!” At least Twilight didn't bow, Celestia thought. The purple alicorn fluttered over the wall and landed in front of Celestia. “The last evacuation train just left- it was a tight fit, but we managed to get everypony packed away. I kiiiind of requisitioned every hotel room in Manehattan to house everyone...it...shouldn't be for very long, should it? I want to make sure I budgeted enough to cover the cost.” “If this lasts for more than a few days, Twilight, we'll have more to worry about than hotel bills.” “You're right.”Twilight worried at her lower lip. “You're always right.” “Don't say that, Twilight. I may be old, but I'm not infallible.” “Oh. Okay.” Twilight fidgeted her wings again, and looked over her shoulder, suddenly nervous. More nervous, really. “In that case...can I ask you something?” “Of course.” “Are you really sure this is the best idea?” “What do you mean?” “War.” Twilight blanched at the word, alien as it was to her lips. “War is always terrible, Twilight. But we have no choice.” “What if the Autobots just...left? Wouldn't the Decepticons follow them?” “It's possible, yes. But it's also possible the Decepticons might attack us anyway, while our forces were split. The only way we're going to drive them from this planet is by working together.” “I'm just worried. I've got the feeling Equestria won't be the same once this is all over.” “Equestria is strong, Twilight. No matter what happens, we shall rebuild.” “It's not the property damage I'm worried about. There's the socioeconomic implications of dealing with an alien race are one thing...but their technology! What if it gets into the wrong hooves?” “We'll deal with that when we come to it.” “That...sounds suspiciously like procrastinating.” “Not procrastinating. Prioritzation.” Princess Celestia trotted down the battlements, heading around the lamplit castle. “I trust Optimus. He's dealt with similar situations before.” “It's not Optimus Prime I'm worried about.” Twilight pointed across the courtyard, where Optimus Prime rushed across the castle as fast as he could without crushing anything important beneath his feet. (Given his definition of 'important,' Optimus made far slower progress than Grimlock would have). “I'll handle this.” Celestia said, narrowing her eyes. “Twilight, why don't you check in on your friends? I'm sure they could use your help.” “Of course, Princess.” Twilight nodded dutifully, and disappeared in a blink of magic. Celestia braced herself with a deep breath, and headed towards the two metal titans- who were already arguing by the time she arrived. “Grimlock, explain yourself.” Optimus demanded. “Nothing to explain!” Grimlock managed to sound surlier than usual. A few squads of royal guards had lined up as Grimlock began to dispense laser pistols from a crate. “Tiny ponies weak. No have guns. Me Grimlock fix.” The dinobot carelessly tossed a laser pistol to the ground, where three burly ponies muscled it into a cart and toted it off, making room for the next impromptu fire team. “You know we can't do this.” “Hnh? Why?” “We can't hand out our technology to societies that aren't ready for them yet. Someone's bound to get hurt.” “That the point. Guns for shooting Decepticons! Need more troops, so me Grimlock recruit! Just like on Paradron!” “Paradron?” “Us Autobots go there when you Optimus was dead.” Grimlock nodded. “Lots of Decepticons, so us Autobots give weak robots guns so they can fight too! Then planet blowed up.” “You blew up the planet you were trying to save?” “Not me Grimlock fault! Was Ultra Magnus idea!” “...remind me to talk to Ultra Magnus when we get back to Cybertron.” “What's going on?” Celestia gracefully landed upon Optimus Prime's shoulder. “Me Grimlock give guns!” “I'm sorry, Princess.” Prime's shoulders slumped, just a little, “Grimlock can be...overenthusiastic. I'll have my Autobots collect these weapons as soon as possible.” “Of course. My guards will return them to you once this crisis has passed.” “That's not what I meant, Celestia.” “And that is what I meant, Optimus.” Celestia said with all the formality of an official decree. “Grimlock has the right idea- we're going to use every advantage we can against the Decepticons. I'm not going to claim this evens the playing field, but it's a start.” “This isn't a a good idea,” said Optimus Prime. “You Optimus Right. Not good idea. It GREAT idea!” “Grimlock.” Optimus Prime slowly turned his steely glare on the dinobot. “Go. Now.” “Hnnn. Fine,” Grimlock said, “Me Grimlock have better stuff to do anyway.” He tromped off, heavy footfalls wreaking havoc on the castle's once-immaculate lawn. “Now, where were we?” Optimus said. “Arguing.” Celestia flapped her wings, and came to a gentle hover at Optimus' eye level. “You're going to tell me that you're not going to have any deaths on your conscience, and then I'm going to tell you that my Royal Guard is made entirely of volunteers, and that they know what they're getting into. We'll probably go back and forth for hours without making any headway, and it'll all be a waste of time when there's entirely too much work for both of us to do. So why don't we just save ourselves the time and aggravation?” “You can't see the future with your magic, can you?” “No, I'm just a good judge of character.” “Close enough.” Optimus Prime looked down at the crews of ponies carting around such oversized weaponry. “And you're sure this won't set off an arms race on your planet?” “I promise you, I'll return every last bolt of Autobot technology when this is said and done.” “Very well.” Optimus said, and held up a finger, “we'll loan you these weapons...but on one condition.” “And that is?” “You need to get some rest.” Celestia blinked. “I'm fine.” “I'm not an expert on organic physiology, but my sensors indicate you're well off of your baselines from when we first met. When's the last time you slept?” “I can stay awake for days.” Celestia said, weary but proud. “This is nothing.” “That may be true, but there's no sense in wearing yourself out when you don't have to. You owe it to your subjects to be in top condition when the Decepticons make their next move. Now would be the best time to recharge your batteries- figuratively speaking.” “Very well.” Celestia allowed herself a tired smile. “But you will send somepony to wake me up as soon as anything changes. Anything.” “Of course.” Celestia began to fly towards her tower, and then looked back over her shoulder. “One more thing, Optimus.” “Yes?” “Thank you.” Princess Celestia's bedchamber didn't look like it belonged to a Princess. She liked it that way. The room was spacious, and the balcony had the square footage of the average dorm room, but Celestia kept the décor simple. This had caused no small amount of consternation to a long line of ambitious designers, but Princess Celestia had maintained a simple lifestyle for centuries. A desk, several well-stocked bookshelves, a perch for her pet phoenix, and a large (and decidedly uncanopied) bed were all she needed. But, even as minimalist as Celestia's chambers were, there was still enough room for a tiny red cassette tape to sit unseen behind a row of history books. Celestia paid the alien technology no heed as she walked into the room, removed her crown and gorget, and flopped down onto her bed. Optimus was right, she realized. She was tired. And with siege preparations underway, it wouldn't hurt to get a few hours of rest while she still could. She soon dozed off into a fitful sleep. The cassette unfolded, silently, impossibly growing into an imposing metal bird, bristling with sharp edges and weaponry. One of the cannons along Laserbeak's back swiveled into position, and fired into the ceiling above Celestia's bed. The weapon itself was silent, but its shell burst with a soft pop- enough to wake Celestia. She sat up, eyes going wide- but soon, the faintly glowing green dust from the shell enveloped her. Before Celestia could so much as raise her voice, the specially formulated soporific took over, dragging Celestia back to unconsciousness. If he had lips, Laserbeak would have smiled. The bird glided across the room and grabbed Celestia in his claws. He applied extra power to his anti-gravity engines, and swooped out through the balcony, keeping to the long shadows of Canterlot's towers, unseen by the passing pegasus patrols. Once clear of the castle, Laserbeak took his regal prisoner to a quiet, empty forest grove several miles away, where Soundwave waited. Laserbeak cawed in triumph, the only sound he'd made in the last several hours. He dropped the still-unconscious Celestia into Soundwave's hands, and then transformed back to his cassette mode, sliding easily into the larger Decepticon's chest. “Soundwave to Galvatron,” The communications specialist touched the side of his helmet, activating his long-range radio. “Mission accomplished. Target secure.” “Excellent!” Galvatron's voice crackled over the radio in turn. “Remind me to commend Mixmaster for concocting his sleep-powder so quickly! Pathetic organic creatures, their very bodies a weakness. Ha! Now, proceed with the second phase of the plan.” “Affirmative. Patching into Autobot frequencies...now.” “Prime!” Galvatron bellowed into his radio, “Hear me, and tremble!” “Patching into my private frequency?” The Autobot leader's voice remained steady in contrast to Galvatron's yelling. “What's wrong, Galvatron? Too afraid to face me in person?” “Don't waste your time trying to taunt me, Optimus- we shall meet again in due time! But now, these words are for you and you alone-” “Save your fuel, Galvatron- I've got better things to do than to listen to you.” “Like what? Like more plotting with this pathetic organic monarch the natives bow to? These tiny quadrapeds make me sick.” “You leave Celestia out of this.” “Too late, Prime! For I have stolen this Princess out from your very nose!” “Kidnapping? That's a new low, even for you, Galvatron.” “Not as low as you, Prime! Speaking to such feeble, useless creatures, as if they were our equals. Bah! But even such germs have their use- as bargaining chips! Come to these cooridnates, Optimus. Alone. Unarmed. Or else Princess Celestia is doomed. The choice is yours!” Galvatron began to cackle. Optimus Prime cut the signal.