“Well, here we are,” Apple Bloom began.
“The first step on the road to your new life,” Scootaloo added.
Starscream cocked an eyebrow at the three fillies, glancing above them, then back in their direction. “This...shakily built structure?” he asked.
“You mean our clubhouse?” Sweetie asked back.
“Is that what you call it?” he mused, stroking his chin. “And this “clubhouse” will help reform me?”
“Well, not exactly,” Apple Bloom told him. The three entered the clubhouse as Starscream peered through the window. “This is where we hold our official Cutie Mark Crusaders meetings.”
Scootaloo pointed to a large piece of paper hung on the wall with crayon drawn pictures of butterflies, wheels, shovels, and the like. “This is where we used to plan what cutie marks we were going to try,” she explained.
Starscream squinted his eyes, peering at the poster. “Why do each of the drawings have two red lines over them?” he asked.
Apple Bloom smiled, reaching under a table and pulled out a thick stack of similar posters.
“We tried each and every one of them,” Sweetie began.
“And they weren’t our cutie marks,” Scootaloo added.
“You've tried them all?” Starscream asked in disbelief.
“Twice,” Apple Bloom answered.
Starscream looked down at the trio, then back at the poster. “There are so many of them,” he said, reaching his hand in and taking one of their former posters. “I can’t imagine how you keep going with all of these failures,” he added as he examined the paper.
“They weren't failures,” Apple Bloom told him.
“How so?” Starscream questioned.
“Well, might not have gotten our cutie marks when we tried each of these things, but now we know they aren’t our cutie marks,” Scootaloo explained.
“Interesting….now what does this have to do with “reforming me?” the bot asked again.
“You’re an alien, not a pony. That mark,” Sweetie began, pointing to the Decepticon emblem on his chest. “doesn’t tell you what your destiny is, your heart does.”
“And you might not have succeeded at being an Autobot before, but that doesn’t mean you can’t now,” Scootaloo added. Starscream let out a quiet hum, stroking his chin as the sound left his throat.
“We used to be just like you, Mr. Starscream, at a crossroads, unsure of wut we were 'sposed ta do with oir lives. Y'all may be a robot from 'nother world, and we may be three fillies,” Apple Bloom paused mid sentence, forming up with the other two crusaders. They each grabbed their capes, holding then behind their backs.
“But like we did back before we got these," Scootallo said, pointing to hwr Cutie Mark.
"You also have a once in a laif-time chance to decide…” the three leapt into the air, quickly fastening on their capes.
“YOUR DESTINY!”
“An’ that’s why we’re makin’ you the very first non-pony member of the Cutie mark Crusaders,” Apple Bloom told him. Sweetie bell grabbed a cape that had been discreetly tucked away behind them, using her magic to place it around Starscream’s neck.
Though the cape fit around the former ‘cons neck, that was about all it did. No amount of begging and pleading could have filched enough of Rarity’s fabric for a Decepticon sized cape. The end of the garment didn’t even touch his wings, and had he not been Cybertronian, the cape would have been choking him.
“Well? Do you feel reformed now?” Scootaloo asked as the trio smile in excitement.
“I...don’t know. Am I supposed to feel some sort of difference,” he answered.
“Come to thin’ of it, how do we know when Starscream’s reformed?” Apple Bloom asked the others.
“Maybe we can ask Discord how he felt when he was reformed,” Sweetie suggested.
“Discord?” Starscream asked curiously.
“He’s another reformed bad guy, just like you. Fluttershy turned him good, and we asked her if you could meet him, see if y’all could bond ‘er somethin,’” Applebloom explained.
The C.M.C. lead Starscream out of their clubhouse and through Ponyville. As they did, they noticed ponies were giving them more space in the streets than usual.
“Look out! Runaway cart!” some pony suddenly shouted. Before any of the crusaders could react, a large wooden cart was speeding towards them. Scootaloo dove to the right, using her wings to give her a slight boost, while Applebloom dove left; however, Sweetie Belle stood frozen, too shocked to move. All she found herself able to do was cover her face and pray for divine intervention. Just as the cart neared her, ready to send her to the Ponyville hospital, a giant, grey metal hand shielded her. One wheel of the cart rode up on the hand, causing the whole thing to flip. It spiraled out of control, throwing pieces of machinery about as if flipped.
A brown Earth-pony with an hourglass cutie mark came running down the street, with a grey pegasus flying behind him. “Good heavens! Is any pony hurt? I'm terribly sorry about all of this. The strap on my wagon just snapped and the whole thing just went...roll…ing…” The stallion stood in shock, blankly staring up at Starscream.
“Woah, he’s big,” his companion commented as she examined the metal creature. “Hey Doc, he kinda looks like one of your gadgets, only less goldy.”
“My stars, this is brilliant! The engineering, the craftsmanship,” the stallion said as he examined Starscream’s arm.
Sweetie Belle emerged from her metal shield, puffing her chest out as she grinned with Pride. “His name’s Starscream. He’s an alien,” she said proudly.
“Incredible this is decades, maybe even centuries ahead of what I have. Tell me, Star-cream, who build you?” he asked.
Starscream jerked his arm up, scoffing at the stallion. “Foolish equine! I was not made as your undoubtedly crude machines were, I was given life by the Well of All Sparks,” he scoffed, folding his arms.
“You weren’t built? Fascinating! You simply must come back to my laboratory! The things I could learn from you-”
“Don’t you have another experiment, Doc,” the pegasus reminded him.
“Ah yes! I hate to bother you, especially considering my little accident, but would you mind helping me with my things?” the brown stallion asked politely.
“Why should I? You nearly crushed my friend?” Starscream snapped.
“Don’t mind him Mr., we’ll be happy to help,” Apple Bloom told him. Starscream watched curiously as the three fillies set to work, aiding the older ponies in putting the machinery back in the cart. Once they were done, Sweetie used a magic spell to repair the harness, refastening it to the doctor.
“Thank you very much, my little friends. Come on Derpy, allons-y,” the stallion said, wandering off with his companion.
“Why did you help him? You got nothing in return,” Starscream questioned.
“Well...because that’s what you do,” Scootaloo said, only adding to the poor Cybertronian’s confusion.
“When you do something nice for some pony, like us helping that stallion, it makes them happy, and then that makes you happy,” Sweetie explained.
“Alright, but why not ask for something in return?” Starscream asked again.
“Well, if ya do that, than it makes ya seem selfish, and it doesn't make them as happy as if ya did it out o’ tha kindness of yer heart”, Apple Bloom told him.
“Interesting,” he whispered under his breath. The four continued on their way, finally arriving at Fluttershy’s cottage. Scootaloo knocked on the door. Without warning, a giant lions’ paw burst out from the door, engulfing the group and dragging them inside, breaking the laws of physics as it pulled Starscream into the cottage.
Starscream watched helplessly as they were pulled into a realm of pure madness. Islands floated upside down, strange, hellish creatures he could could not identify roamed freely, and a lone mail-pony floated around. Finally, the lion's paw brought them inside a small red and yellow house, releasing them over a couch. Discord and Fluttershy sat across from them, giggling as they drank tea. Though Discord held the teacup in his talon, Fluttershy's was held by a lamp.
"Ah, there you are. I was wondering when you'd show up," Discord said as he took another sandwich from the upside down platter.
Starscream could only sit, frozen by Discord’s shocking appearance.
“Y’all right Mr. Starscream?” Apple Bloom asked.
“What in the name of Primus is that thing?” he demanded, pointing at Discord.
“Who, little old me?” Discord paused mid sentence, taking a sip from his teacup. “You see I was once a villain like you; they called me ‘Discord, God of Chaos, Bringer of Fun.’"
"Are you sure that was your-oh!" Fluttershy suddenly found a tea cup forcefully thrust towards her muzzle.
"For some reason, not that I know what it was, I wasn’t very popular, so the god-horses, Celestia and Luna, turned me to stone, then Twilight and her friends, but eventually, Celestia let me out again, and I was reformed by dear, sweet Fluttershy,” he explained, making the pegasus blush. “Now I go by ‘Discord, God of Moderate Disorder, Bringer of Decently Pleasant Times” or just ‘Discord’ if you prefer.”
“Fascinating,” Starscream said sarcastically. Discord grimaced.
“Anyway, why were you so late to our little get together?” the draconequus questioned.
"Well, you see, there was a little...mishap in the village," Starscream said nervously.
"Oh, I understand, however, Fluttershy here is a very busy pony,"
"Oh, I am?" she whispered quietly.
"so let's get down to the task at hand," Discord told him.
"Then I suppose we should start with what I've done....would you mind sending them away for a moment," he requested, motioning to the crusaders.
"Why?" Apple Bloom asked.
"I...I'll explain later," he said.
In a flash of light, the crusaders were gone, leaving Starscream alone.
"I take it you are aware my race was at one point plunged into centuries of civil war, correct?" The pair nodded in acknowledgement. "During that war, I killed a lot of bots, and not just in battle. If you're curious why the Autobot Arcee has so much animosity for me, it's because I ordered the execution of her former partner, Cliffjumper," he explained.
"Oh my!" Fluttershy exclaimed.
"And I thought Chrysalis was bad for killing that cat thing," Discord muttered under his breath.
"So, what are you going to tell me? That all I need friendship? That I should say I’m sorry?” Starscream asked angrily.
“Uh...no, of course not! I mean, I wasn’t exactly kind before I was reformed, but I never killed any pony! I was tough to reform, but I don’t even know where we should start with you!” Discord shouted.
“I’m sorry Starscream, but Discord’s right,” Fluttershy said.
“Well, that’s just perfect, isn't it?” Starscream grumbled.
"Though I guess it comes down to one thing: do you want to be reformed?" Fluttershy questioned.
Starscream remained silent, much to Discord's amusement.
"Well?" he asked.
"...I do, I want to be an Autobot," Starscream finally answered. “You can bring the young ones back now.”
Discord snapped his fingers, bringing back the Crusaders, each of them holding an ice cream cone filled with ice cream. “Oh hey, we’re back,” Sweetie Belle pointed out.
“So, what was that all ‘bout Screamer?” Applebloom asked.
“Ah-uh...nothing, I merely wanted to be alone with them for a moment, so-uh, you didn’t make me seem like I was a good ‘bot,” he lied. “Also don’t refer to me as ‘Screamer.’”
“Make you look like a good bot?” Scootaloo asked.
“Yes, you’ve only ever seen me after I was seeking help for my...evil, so you wouldn’t know what I was like before,” he explained, his voice panicked.
“Oh, that makes sense,” she said.
“So did they fix ya yet Starscream?” Apple Bloom questioned.
“Girls, Starscream has done some very bad things, and he’s going to have to work very hard to make up for them,” Fluttershy answered.
“Even worse than what Discord did?” Sweetie asked.
“I’m afraid so, but if he works really hard, even he can make up for what he's done,"
Discord turned towards Starscream, then teleported in front of him, wearing a doctor’s uniform and carrying a chart. “Make sure he doesn’t do anything evil, and that he helps other ponies whenever possible. Also, I’ve marked one weak spot on his armor, so if he acts up you can put him in his place.” He handed the chart to Apple Bloom, revealing it to be nothing more than a crude drawing with a spot behind his wings circled.
“Uh, thanks,” she said, cocking an eyebrow at the notepad.
“You’re very welcome, now if you’ll excuse me,” Discord paused again, snapping his fingers. “Fluttershy and I have a lunch to finish.” Without warning, a giant bird smashed into the house, carrying away the Crusaders, along with Starscream.
“Oh my!” Fluttershy yelled.
“Relax, Jerry’s only going to take them out of my dimension. He doesn't eat pony,” he assured her. "I think." Before Fluttershy could say anything, Discord snapped his fingers and instantly setting the house right. “Now, tell me more about this Starlight Glimmer.”