//------------------------------// // Chapter 16 // Story: Transformers Prime: A Brave New World // by The Carolean //------------------------------// Optimus released the escape pod, allowing Celestia crawled out of the capsule. A group of airsick changelings followed, though they moved far more slowly than the princess. Optimus motioned the group towards a thick area of woods, prompting them to scurry deeper into the forest. Each of them laid down on the ground, holding their breath as the Nemesis loomed overhead. “Is everyone alright?” Optimus whispered. “I’m fine,” Celestia answered quietly. “We are too,” Shrapnel added. Prime looked skyward, back towards the Nemesis as it sailed away from them. Optimus breathed a sigh of relief, standing once he knew the ship disappeared over the horizon. “We need to put distance between us and the Decepticons,” he told them as they too stood. He put his finger to his com-link, activating it. "Ratchet," he called. "Ratchet?" "Is something wrong?" Shrapnel asked. Optimus lowered his fist as he growled in frustration. "He disabled my com-link too," he whispered angrily. "We'll have time to brood later, right now we need to get back to Equestria," Celestia said as she turned towards the Shrapnel. “I hate to ask this of you, but could you help guide us out of the forest?” “I know the way, but it will take us a few days to get there,” Kickback answered, before turning to shrapnel and Bombshell. “Go forage; I will take Optimus and Celestia ahead” he told them. Delia and Eudora nodded in acknowledgement, before disappearing into the foliage. Livana slithered forward, Optimus and Celestia not far behind her. --------------- A squad of Vehicons ran through the halls of their warship, followed by Knockout, and Megatron even further behind them. “Find Starscream! Now!” Knockout ordered. “You seem rather intent on capturing Starscream,” Megatron commented. “You can bet I am! That scrap-head sucker-punched me, scratched my paint, and popped one of my tires!” the doctor said. “When I get my hands on him, I’ll- “I hate to disappoint you doctor, but I fear Starscream is mine to-” Megatron paused as he searched for the right word. “-dispose of.” “Oh. What do you have planned my liege?” Knockout questioned. “I’m afraid if I told you, you wouldn’t be able to power down for stellar cycles,” his master told him. Knockout cringed, turning his attention back to the search as he caught up with the Vehicons. Megatron began to follow him, when a metallic clang demanded his attention. Divining in its source, he grabbed one of the grates to the ventilation system, then ripped it from the ship's hull. He aimed his fusion cannon into the new orifice, ready to loose a bolt; the only thing that stopped him was his inability to find a target. He relaxed his arm, choosing to move on and let some mechanic fix the vent later. Once he was gone, Starscream, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack breathed a unified sigh of relief. “Ya see anyone else out there?” Applejack asked. Starscream peered out of the grate he rest beside, which was fortunately on the opposite side of the hall to the one Megatron checked. “It would seem as though we are in the clear,” he answered. “Great! Let’s blow this hey-sicle stand,” Rainbow Dash said enthusiastically. “Not yet; first we need to disable the ship’s weapons system,” Starscream interjected. “Ya sure that’s a good idea? This place is crawling with guards all itchin’ ta pop a cap in yer shinny dock. That alone is gonna make gettin’ out’a here’s gonna be hard enough as it is, but now ya wanna go and sa-bo-tage the ship?”Applejack pointed out. “If you want to save the lives of your fellow ponies, we need to sabotage the weapons system,” he said. “Why?” the farm-pony questioned. Starscream hesitated to answer as he scratched the back of his neck. “You see, in order gain Megatron’s trust, I may have told him...the location of your capital.” “Y’all did what?!” “But do not fear” he assured her, or at least tried to assure her. “I told him your capital city was Ponyville, not Canter...whatever you call it.” “Y’ALL DID WHAT!?” “This plan worked so much better in my head,” Starscream muttered. “Why’d ya go an’ tell ‘im Equestria’s capital was Ponyville?” Applejack questioned angrily. “That was part of my plan. You see, I was going to convince Megatron to allow me lead the assault on Ponyville, then remotely detonate a bomb on the ship, and scatter my own assault forces. Then, in the confusion, the Autobots could rush in with you and your princesses and defeat the Decepticons; Megatron would be slain, I would be hailed as a hero, and perhaps even become one of Prime’s lieutenants,” he explained. “Then you two decided to follow me and get captured,” he added. “Well, it’s your fault for not telling anyone about this,” Rainbow Dash said. “Do you really think the Autobots would have trusted me to not turn to the Decepticons, especially with Optimus off on his relic hunt?” Starscream questioned. “Ugh, ya know what? It really don't matter at this point,” Applejack said with a groan. “How ‘r we gonna take out this system?” she asked. “The console that controls the weapons is in a room not far from here. All we need to is deactivate the weapons system, then plant this,” he paused, producing one of the grenades he’d requisitioned from Wheeljack. “within the computer and set it to detonate when someone interacts with the weapons system.” “That’s it? they can’t just make a new one?” Rainbow Dash questioned. “Megatron already used the majority of his spare components to repair the ship when it first arrived; any significant damage to the ship is currently irreparable,” he told her. “Why ‘r ya doin’ all this anyway? Wouldn’t it just ‘u been easier ta switch back to tha ‘Cons?” Applejack asked. “Isn’t it obvious? I wanted to keep your sister and her friends safe,” he told her. Both Applejack and Rainbow Dash’s eyes widened in shock. “Come again?” “They are my friends; did I misinterpret their lessons? Is this not what friends do?” Starscream asked, genuinely confused. “Naw, it’s just Ah didn’t-nevermind. Where’s this ‘ere weapons thingy?” Applejack said. “Not far from here,” he told her as he carefully unbolted the vent grate. The three carefully crept down the hall as they neared a lone room. Starscream backed up to the wall next to the door, and motioned for Applejack and Rainbow Dash to do the same on the other side. The ‘bot moved his hand in front of the door, causing it to open, before carefully peering inside to ensure the room was safe. Fortunately for the renegade Decepticon, the room was vacant. She stealthily snuck into the chamber, Rainbow Dash and Applejack following closely behind him. The room was small and plane, with only a single computer console in its wall. Applejack and Rainbow Dash kept watch at the door while Starscream used his claws to unscrew a panel on the computer, all the while ensuring he made as little noise as possible. He produced the grenade, popping of the top with his talons, before attaching the wires of its explosive core to those of the console, and began to reattach the panel back on. “Hey Starscream, somepony-er, bot’s comin’,” Applejack called. Starscream hastily screwed in the panel, then rushed to the door, the shell of the grenade still in his hand. “Search every room! Find the traitor!” Megatron ordered from the hallway. Starscream held his breath, listening to the steady beat of the much heavier ‘bot’s feet, slowly inching towards the door with every step his former master took. Without warning, Starscream leapt from his hiding place, staring directly into Megatron’s eyes. He threw the grenade’s husk, then launched a missile right after. The projectile struck the housing, causing it to explode and paint the walls of the Nemesis with energon. Normal energon. A lone Vehicon, one of many Starscream now realized were accompanying Megatron, slumped to the floor, dead. Before the smoke from Starscream’s attack had cleared, he and Applejack were already running down the hall, with Rainbow Dash soaring beside them. Not long after they’d set off, the smoke did clear, revealing the absolutely livid Megatron. “After them!” he barked, causing his Vehicons to sprint instantly towards the escapees. Further down the hall, all three former prisoners panted in unison as energon bolts began to whiz past their heads. “Ay Starscream” Applejack said as one of the bolts singed the edge of her hat. “Ah don’t mean ta second guess ya, but how’r we gonna get of’a this ship?” “We need to get to the ground-bridge, it’s our only hope,” he told her before coming to an abrupt stop. Applejack and Rainbow were forced to changed directions as the passed the door, forced to quickly dash inside. This room was similar to the room they’d just been in, but in addition to the computer console, it also possessed a large metal ring large enough for a Cybertronian to step through. Once within the room, Starscream closed the doors, before he gutted the controls to it with his claw. He stepped back, smiling as he took a moment to admire his work. Suddenly, a giant fist on the other side smashed into the door, causing it to buckle from the force of the blow. “That ain’t good, huh?” Applejack asked as another impact dented the door.. “Listen to me, you must keep the door closed while I program the coordinates,” Starscream told the two mares as a third impact nearly cracked the door open. Applejack and Rainbow Dash set to work, with Applejack bracing side of the door with her powerful applebucking legs, wedging herself between it and the floor, while Dash reinforcing the other, pushing against it with all her might. Surprisingly, they were able to slow Megatron’s advance; not noticeably, but enough that Starscream would have time to activate the ground-bridge. Starscream stepped up to the control panel, placing his fingers on his buttons as he heard another blow fall upon the door. It was in that moment he realized one problem with his escape plan. He had no idea where anything was in Equestria. Another blow struck the door behind him, and out of the corner of his eye, he could see Megatron’s burning red eyes. In a panic, he pulled up a map of Equestira, but all he could make out was Canterlot and some big city in the norther part of the map, not Ponyville. “Starscream-mpf!” Applejack couldn’t help but grunt in pain as another shuddering blow fell upon the door. “Ya mind hurrying up?” Rainbow Dash finished for her. Finally, Starscream put in a random set of coordinates, then activated the ground-bridge. A large blue and green portal opened in the metal ring, swirling like a great tempest. “Go! Get into the portal! Now!” Starscream commanded. Neither of the mares in the room needed to be told twice. Both rushed through the portal, just as Megatron finally broke through the door. Starscream quickly followed them, losing a single missile as he leapt into the ground-bridge. The rocket struck the computer attached to the wall, causing it to explode in a large fire ball. Despite this Megatron still ran towards the portal, but his efforts were in vain, as it disappeared before he could reach it. “Damn you, Starscream!” Megatron growled, before activating his com-link. “Soundwave, alert the crew; we move now, lest we waste any more time,” he ordered as he calmly turned and left the room. “And have Knockout prepare my trophy.” --------------- Starscream tumbled through the portal, only to smash into a large, hard, crystalline surface, creating deep grooves in whatever it was. He slid across it, cutting out deep grooves with his massive body, before ultimately slowing to a halt. He couldn't see where he'd sent himself, but he could hear screaming all around him. He lifted himself out of the rubble he'd created. "Are y'all right Starscream?" Applejack asked. The bot groaned, slowly removing his head from the crystal streets. "I'm not dead, so yes," he told the mare. Now that he could see more than purple street, Starscream deduced his location. It seemed he'd sent himself to a kingdom made entirely of crystal, surrounded by tundra. "What is this place?" he asked. "Oh yeah, we never did tell you about the Crystal Empire, did we?" Rainbow said as she hoovered in the air. "Empire?" Starscream asked again. "Yeah, it's really awesome! It just popped up out of nowhere, and there was this evil king but we-" "Ah don't think we'll have time to 'splain. Right now we gotta get back to Equestria," Applejack interjected. Starscream shook his head, refocusing his thoughts. "You're right" he said as he changed forms; fortunately for the ex-'con, the Empire's streets made a dandy runway. "Get in," he ordered as he opened his cockpit. Reluctantly, Rainbow and Applejack obeyed him, taking their places in the two seats. Bot ponies looked uneasy as the heard Starscream's engine ignite. Then, within seconds, the Crystal Emprie was merely a speck in the distance, much to Applejack's dismay. On that day the farmpony resolved never to fly again, no matter the circumstances.