The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood, huddled together in front of a line of Decepticons. “Ready!” Knockout ordered. The soldiers raised their weapons, aiming them at the three fillies. “Aim!” he barked. The three gripped each other more tightly as tears streamed down their cheeks. Before the commander could give his final order, a yellow and black blur soared over his head. Bumblebee smashed into the center of the thin line of Decepticons, crushing the head of the bot in the center as he changed forms. He opened his doors, carfully whisking the three ponies away in his arms. With his free hand, he drew his weapon, plugging a hole in another trooper, before making a mad dash for cover.
Knockout turned toward where the Autobot had emerged from, only to be struck in the face by a large, grey fist. The rest of the Autobots descended on the Decepticons, along with their pony companions. Celestia ran besides Optimus at the front of the group, using her magic to uproot a tree and slam it into one of the troopers. As her sister attacked, Luna grabbed another Decepticon, using her magic to teleporting him to the Abysmal Abyss.
Knockout slowly recovered from Prime’s blow, sluggishly rising from where he lay. He quickly snapped to attention when he saw Bumblebee. He drew his electrostaff, losing an energon blast from its tip. The red bolt struck the scout in the leg, causing him to fall, groaning in pain as he curled into a ball. Another Decepticon approached him, aiming his cannon at the three fillies he dropped. He outstretched his arm in a vain attempt to stop him, but he was too far away. Suddenly, an explosion ripped through the Decepticon, sending his arm flying. Starscream burst out of the treeline, scooping the three ponies into his arms. "Starscream!" Arcee howled, breaking formation and charging the former Decepticon.
"Arcee, no! Help Bumblebee!" Optimus ordered. Arcee grudgingly obeyed him, breaking from her persuit and tending to the wounded scout.
Meanwhile, Bulkhead intercepted Starscream, drawing back his fist to deliver an Earth-shaking punch. “I’m going to enjoy this” he told him.
“Behind you!” Starscream shouted, pointing behind him.
Bulkhead scoffed, throwing a punch at the Decepticon. “Like I’ll fall for that tri-oof!” Starscream ducked under the big 'bot, forcing him off balance and pushing him aside, before diving for cover. A Decepticon strafed where the two had been standing, leaving burnt patches of grass in his wake.
Each of the Autobots exchanged an astonished glance. Suddenly, another squadron of Decepticons flew above the clearing, led by Dreadwing. The commander changed forms, drawing his sword. He landed behind Optimus, barely giving him enough time to duck under his blade. Optimus drew his own sword, locking blades with Dreadwing. Thinking quickly, Twilight leaped onto Prime’s shoulder, her horn ablaze with magic. She released a bright flash of highly focused purple light, blinding Dreadwing. Seeing an opportunity, Optimus slammed into Dreadwing, sending the three of them tumbling forward.
They broke apart, Twilight still hanging onto Optimus. Dreadwing quickly righted himself, using his blade to stand. Suddenly, he cried out in pain as a golden beam burned his back. Celestia leapt at him, kicking him in the face, before joining Optimus and Twilight. Dreadwing grimaced as the three heroes stood defiantly. “Decepticons, blow these vile organics apart!” he ordered, jerking on his sword.
The sword was deeply embedded in the ground, nearly to the hilt. He jerked the sword again, ripping open a large gash in the ground. Twilight’s eyes widened in realization. “Optimus, Celestia, we need to get out of here! Now!” she told them.
“What do you mean Twilight?” Prime asked.
Before she could explain, the Decepticons above them fired their missiles. The rockets exploded as the struck the ground, creating a widening chasm in the middle of the clearing. The void swallowed everything in the clearing, pony and Cybertronian alike. The chasm began to consume the forest, leaving only the Decepticons still in the air were left to marvel at the size of the abysse. When the chaos subsided, a large swath of woodland had been ingested by the crater, revealing a massive underground cavern. The remaining Decepticons dove into that cavern, knowing Megatron would kill them if their commanders did not return with them.
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Celestia attempted to scan her surroundings, only to find herself engulfed in darkness with a few columns of light piercing the veil of shadows. She dimly lit her horn, revealing a pair of Cybertronian legs in front of her. “Optimus, is that you?” she asked.
Suddenly, she was blinded by truck lights. “Yes, are you hurt?” Prime answered. Celestia blinked repeatedly, adjusting her eyes. Once her vision cleared, she could see Optimus standing above her, holding a giant boulder over his head. He cast the boulder aside, creating a massive crash.
“I’m fine, where are the others?” she asked.
“I’m not sure, the crash separated us. Regardless, we should find them,” he told her. She stood, using her magic to project a golden light onto the walls of the massive cavern they resided in. The cave was so large that all of Canterlot castle could have fit within it, with room to spare. Trees and rock littered the floor, creating extremely treacherous terrain.
Nevertheless, Prime and Celestia marched on, using their lights to scan for their companions. Celestia swept her light across the cave floor. In the distance, something glittered as her light danced across it. Optimus hurried over to the light, to discover it was a Cybertonian hand. He hoisted its owner out of his stony prison. Much to his shock, the hand’s owner was Dreadwing.
The Decepticons grinned, his sword glittering as he whirled it at Optimus. The Prime grabbed his wrist, staying his blade, before receiving a stern kick in the stomach. He fell on his back, dazed, as Dreadwing brought down his sword. Prime recovered from the blow just in time to roll to safety, though the blade scratched his shoulder plate. He quickly stood, sliding on his battle mask, before drawing his ion cannon and losing several bolts. Dreadwing skillfully deflected each of them, his blade becoming a silver blur as the blue cylinders ricocheted off the metal. He took an offensive stance, legs apart, with his arm extended sword above his head, parallel with his body.
Optimus drew his sword, ready for a long drawn out duel, when without warning, Dreadwing was struck in the head with a large piece of timber. He turned towards the attack, only to be struck by a hail of large rocks. The stones scraped his paint and dented his armor, forcing him backwards. He lost his footing, creating a small avalanche as he rolled down the hill of rocks.
Celestia dropped the boulders she hadn't launched, rushing over to Optimus. “Are you alright?” she asked.
Prime retracted his blade and his battle mask, smiling warmly at the little pony. “I’m fine” he told her, turning to continue their search. “Thank you, for saving my life,” he added. She smiled back at the Prime, reigniting her horn and joining him.