//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Transformers Prime: A Brave New World // by The Carolean //------------------------------// Applejack stood atop a hill, watching eagerly as the sun’s rays curved around the horizon. She crouched down, her heart racing as her ears twitched with excitement. Finally, the top edge of the sun peaked over the horizon, transforming Applejack into a blur of orange. She shot down the hill, screaming “Yeeeeee-haaaaaw!” as she ran towards her precious orchards. She forcefully bucked one of the trees, knocking loose its precious fruits. She cupped her hooves, catching one of the succulent oranges as they fell. “What the-” She dropped the orange, casting her gaze skyward to discover that she was not bucking apple trees, but instead, orange trees. She looked around, finding every one of her apple trees gone, replaced by the demon fruit. She fearfully looked down at her cutie mark, screaming to find it replaced by a large orange. Suddenly, hundreds of oranges fell down on her, beating on her head as they gradually buried her. She desperately reached her hooves skyward, watching helplessly as her last visions of the sky were covered by a blanket of orange. Applejack shot up in her bed, panting as beads of sweat ran down her body. Though the oranges had disappeared, the tapping of her nightmare continued. She turned to the window, finding Rainbow Dash tapping on the glass. She opened the window, allowing the cool night air into the farmhouse. “Rainbow Dash? What in the hay bail are ya’ doin’ up this hour of the night?” she asked, yawning while rubbing the sleep from her eyes. “Well, Wheeljack and I were up late working on the Jackhammer, and I kind of fell asleep in there. Jackie didn’t want to wake me, so he left me there, but then, I heard Starscream come in and get something of of the grenade box! I don’t know what he’s up to, but I’m gonna find out what it is; thought I might need some extra muscle,” the pegasis explained as she hoovered. “Alright, let me get ma hat, and ah’ll be right out,” Applejack said. She retrieved her hat, before leaping out of the window, turning to close it behind her. Rainbow Dash lead her friend away from her farm, towards where Rarity lined to hunt for gems. As they neared a hill, Rainbow landed, crawling low to ground. Applejack followed her example, feeling a slight thumping as they neared the crest. They could barely hear Starscream's voice over the hill, catching only bits of a sentence. "Yes......of course......no harm...." There was also another voice, this one much deeper than Starscream's. "......betray.....location of the..... If......T-cog....." Suddenly, they heard the massive robot coming towards them, causing both ponies to jump. Rainbow Dash shot skyward, hiding behind a low cloud, while Applejack sought refuge behind a large rock. Starscream obliviously strode past them, nearly scraping his foot on the rock Applejack was hiding behind. Once they were certain they were out of the Decepticon’s hearing range, the pair emerged from their hiding places. They stayed silent for a few more minutes, cautious of his superior Cybertronian hearing. “What’da recin’ he’s doin’ out here at this hour?” Applejack asked when she were certain they couldn’t be heard. “I don’t know, but I don’t like it. Think we should tell the ‘bots in the morning?” Dash asked back. “Ah don't know. We ain't got any real evidence against him, an' he might start bein' more carful if we squeal now. Might be best if we wait till we got somethin' solid on him," Applejack said. "So what are we going to do? Just wait till he does...whatever it is he's gonna do?" Dash questioned. "That ain't what I'm sain'. Ah think we aut'a spy on 'im, watch 'im like a hawk, an' catch 'im in the act," Applejack suggested. "Hm...I like it, but how are we gonna do it? I mean, I think he'd notice if some ponies just started following him around," the pegasus pointed out. "Ah never said we'd be the ones watchin' 'im." -------------- Celestia lay in her sleeping bag, curled up inside her tent. She was in the midst of a pleasant dream, one where she and Luna had lead Equestria into a new golden age, where poverty and hunger were no more, and all the land was prosperous. Though this was not the first time she had dreamed this dream, there were a few new additions. Now, Luna now ruled over the terraformed moon, while Twilight headed development of new, wondrous scientific discoveries. Meanwhile, Cadence was busy keeping love alive in Equestria’s extraterrestrial colonies. Suddenly, the vivid images of smiling muzzles and golden streets began to fade. Something inside her yelled “Wake up!” She stirred, poking her head out of her tent. Outside, Optimus stoked the last embers of their fire, sending sparks fluttering as he poked at the cinders. With only the dim orange light illuminating the forest, he scanned the treeline, unable to shake the feeling she was being watched. “Is something wrong?” Prime asked. Celestia’s eyes darted from tree to tree, searching for something, anything hiding in the shadows. “No...I just had the feeling...that I was being watched,” she told him. “Hhhmm.” Optimus slowly scoured the woods, looking for evidence of anything alive. “Strange, I too felt that sensation,” he said, using inferred to pierce she shadows. Save for the occasional insect or deer, he could find nothing. Then, a loud, low growl echoed through the forest. Prime drew his ion cannon, sliding on his battle mask as he aimed the weapon at the trees. “Celestia, did you hear that?” he asked. The princess blushed slightly, hiding her face behind one of her hooves. “I’m afraid that was me.” she confessed bashfully. Optimus chuckled, retracting his weapon and mask. He turned to get their bear-bag, walking into the woods. Celestia quickly raised the sun, before following, him. “What in the name of Primus?” Optimus said. The princess poked out her neck, looking beyond the metal titan. All of the food she’d brought lay on the ground, sloppily scattered about. Prime lifted their bag, examining it closely. “Well, seems like a bear did get into our food. Thank goodness I didn’t have that in my tent,” Celestia said, breathing a sigh of relief as she picked up a seemingly untouched apple. However, as she turned the fruit over, she noticed something odd about this. “Optimus,” she beckoned. “would you mind taking a look at this." Optimus turned, cocking an eyebrow as he examined the apple. A single bite had been taken out of it, but neither he nor Celestia could figure out what had bitten into it. There were two large gashes in the meat, along with several smaller marks between them. A transparent green liquid dripped down the apple. Curious, Prime dabbed his finger in the liquid, before placing the sample in his mouth. “This contains a high amount of proteolytic enzymes and Cholinesterase,” he told her, looking up at the sky as he tasted the substance. “I’d believe this is some form of venom.” “Venom? What venomous creature could do this?” Celestia asked. “No kind I know of,” he said, presenting the untied bear bag. Not only had the sack been untied rather than torn open, but the rope had been strategically cut. “I don’t like this, something’s not right here,” she told him. Prime knelt over, picking up any remaining food. “Nor do I. Perhaps we should return to Ponyville, then return with a larger, better armed party," he suggested. "You might be onto something there," she said, turning back towards their camp sight. As they neared the clearing, the princess suddenly gasped, running towards their fire circle. Her entire pack and tent had been placed atop their fire ring, giving new fuel to the dying flames. She hastily plucked the bag from the fire, using magic to choke the blaze. "No, please tell me it's alright," she said as she frantically combed through what remained of her gear. Prime ran up to her, dropping the bag. He pulled whatever could be salvaged out of the flames, using his massive hands to smother the fires. Her tent was damaged beyond use, but her pots, shovel, a small container of ink, and the medium sized knife she’d brought with her survived, along with a belt that could hold the shovel and knife. Everything else had been destroyed, save for some lightly seared pieces of parchment. Suddenly, Celestia stopped her frantic search. "No..." she quietly whispered as she hoisted something out of the fire. Optimus turned to her as tears welled up behind her eyes. "What is it?" he questioned. "It was a picture of Luna and me, painted the day she returned from her banishment." She paused, sniffing as she wiped a tear from her cheek. "I've always kept it with me, to remind myself that I'm never alone." Optimus sighed, taking the picture from her and inspecting it. It was barely recognizable as a photograph at all, let alone one of the royal sisters. It had been burned to a quarter of its original size, and what had survived was coated with ash. Only Luna's outstretched hoof was visible through the black veil. "Celestia, I have to advise that you return to Canterlot," he said. Celestia frowned at the ashes of her gear, using magic to place her tiara on her head. Enveloped in a golden glow, her necklace glided over her head, coming to rest on her shoulders. "I'm sorry, but I'm not going home until we have the relic," she told him with audible resolve in her voice. "This relic may, in fact, be old Cybrtonian factory records, or a broken weapon that no longer functions; hardly something worth risking your life over." He paused, looking down at the burnt photograph in his grasp. "You have an obligation to your people, and to your sister." She sighed, staring down at the picture with him. "I know Optimus, believe me, I do. However, I have an obligation to you too, and as a friend, I'm not willing to let you face this dangerous journey alone," she told him. “Very well, but we need to get moving,” he told her, standing and casting the bear bag onto the fire, along with the damaged pack and tent. “But if we are ever directly attacked, you will return to Canterlot.” “Alright, that sound's fair. Let me write a letter to Luna first, then we can get out of here. With the royal library at her disposal, maybe she’ll be able to give us a clue as to what this thing is” she said, plucking one of her own feather to use as a quill. As she wrote, Prime scanned the treeline. Whatever had done this had to be near, though he could find nothing. Suddenly, both of them again had the strange feeling they were being watched. Unknown to either leader, a pair of light blue eyes carefully observed them, before slipping back into the shadows.