//------------------------------//
// XVI: Hope for Redemption 
// Story: Operation: Patriotism 
// by Darkryt Orbinautz 
//------------------------------//

With the lights turned down in the Principality, Twilight Sparkle crawled into her bed, tired and ready to sleep and rest to recover from the events of the day she had.

Twilight crawled under her covers, pulled the blanket over herself, and closed her eyes.

Twilight blinked, trying to process what she was seeing. She was standing in a place where the ground was obscured by fog and the sky was full of clouds.

“Oh no.” Twilight groaned, slapping a hoof to her face. She was having a dream, a lucid dream, one where she was in effect, awake and conscious inside her dream. She didn’t want to be having dreams, she wanted to go to sleep and tune out for the night.

Twilight heard something hiss. She put her hoof down and saw wispy trails of green mist float up from the fog.  The trails rose up into the air, undulating and waving, swirling around and merging with each other. A figure emerged from inside, the mist taking a solid shape, with a clenched hand emerging first before the rest of the body became defined.

It reminded Twilight of Optimus, sharing his basic body shape, and his distinctive faceplate, but the head was different, with angled antennae and fiercer eyes. The most distinguishing difference was the presence of broken, worn-out metal wings attached to his shoulders.

“Hello, Twilight Sparkle.” The misty figure greeted her. “Do you know who I am?”

Twilight placed a hoof on her chin, narrowing her eyes at him. “You’re … Primus? The Cybertronians’ god?”

Primus let out a hearty chuckle. “Correct, Princess. Few things elude your detective eye, I see. I have chosen well.”

“Chosen? What do you mean, chosen?”

“I believe Megatronus has explained to you how I’ve been influencing you subtly. How Alpha Trion led you to the Omega Lock before disappearing. Not to mention when I ousted Princess Luna from your dreams.”

“That was you?” Twilight asked. It did make sense; the Optimus-like form Primus was in matched the Optimus-like being whom blasted Luna away.

“All of these things I have done, I have done for a purpose, Twilight Sparkle.” Primus said. “I have chosen you to my aide. My assistant. My beacon. I need you, Twilight Sparkle, to help me. However, despite my manipulations, it would be remiss of me not to offer you a choice in the matter. This … isn’t easy for me to say.” Primus tapped his fingers together.

He got down on one knee as if he were proposing. “Twilight Sparkle, will you be my prophet?”
Twilight’s eyes bugged out, and she recoiled. “What?” Surely she hadn’t heard him right. Was Primus, the Cybertronian god, the maker of all Autobots and Decepticons, was asking her, an Equestrian, a pony and a pariah … to be his prophet?

“Please, allow me to explain.” Primus said. He stood back up. “I have a grand, grand design. A design for a universe of peace and harmony, where my children live in peace with the children of other planets … of other gods.”

Primus raised his hand up. A green sphere formed in his hand, with a black silhouette imprinted on it, with mechanical details marking the silhouette as representing a Cybertronian.

Two more spheres formed next to it, one representations humans and one representing Equestrians. Bars extended from the Cybertronian sphere, linking up with the human and Equestrian ones. 

More spheres appeared, each bearing a unique design on them to represent an alien species. More and more filled the area, until they were dozens, hundreds, if not thousands of them floating around in the sky. The links continued, jumping from sphere to sphere and connecting them all of them together. They were species Twilight didn’t, couldn’t have recognized, though she did make out one design which seemed to have tentacles.

“Wow.” Twilight ahhed in wonder, looking up at the vast, sprawling network of interconnected species.

“A united universe.” Primus said. He took his gaze away from the network and looked down at Twilight Sparkle, making the diorama poof into nothingness. “That is my dream. My vision, for my children. When the Great War between the Autobots and Decepticons began, and the AllSpark was launched into space, I lost much of my power and my ability to influence events, so I was unable to bring the war an end any sooner than what happened. However, with the Changeling Batteries of Shockwave’s designed, I have recovered somewhat … not by much, mind you.”

“And lately … I’ve discovered something troubling, Twilight Sparkle.” Primus continued. “Jack Darby … the one from the future, you know call ‘Johnson’ to distinguish from his present self … speaks of a future where the Decepticons rule with an iron fist, and ponies and humans are hunted for sport and used as slaves …”

Primus shook his head. “This is not what I wanted. This is not the vision I had hoped for my children. But when I try to use my power to gaze into the future and determine what caused this … I see nothing. Something prevents me from looking any further into the timeline than my relative present.”

“Something prevents you?” Twilight asked. “But … aren’t you supposed to be a god? Not just a really powerful Princess pony, but a genuine, all-powerful, omnipotent god? Shouldn’t you know everything?”

Primus shook his head. “I should. But I don’t. My powers are only as strong as my power, Twilight Sparkle, and my power is tied to the Core of Cybertron, which currently subsists on the Changeling Batteries. They are a like a poison to me, Princess, a drug, something which keeps me alive, but also deluded and inhibited. I will not be able to return to my full strength until the AllSpark is returned to Cybertron, and the Omega Lock is to regenerate the scorched and barren portions of the planet.” 

“That’s why you led me to the Omega Lock.” Twilight said. “Because you need it to return to full power.”

Primus smiled. “Now you’re getting it. My working theory for why I cannot see into the future … is that the Changeling Batteries are removed, and no one has been kind enough to bring the AllSpark back.”

“So as the Batteries are removed in the future, your power weakens in that time period … and since your power weakens in that time period, you can’t see yourself in that time period, or anything else in that period or the periods beyond it.” Twilight concluded.

Primus nodded. “I knew you were a smart one.”

“You know, that’s really kind of complicated.”

“Eh. What do you want from me? I’m a god, not a math book for third-graders. I am aware that Galvatron is one who has objected strongly and violently to the Changeling Batteries in the past. Look to him for a suspect. And yet ...”

Twilight raised an eyebrow. “And yet?”

“Yet I sense a presence. A dark presence, one of ominous and ill intent, which moves between the worlds. It weaves its way through the barrier of reality, shifting from one dimension to the next, never staying in one for too long, lest it be detected. A presence ... which might just be strong enough to cloud even my all-seeing gaze. A presence … that is closer to you than you might realize, Twilight Sparkle. It is violent, it is noxious, it is harmful and evil. It means to inflict harm and spread its malevolence across the universe. Princess Twilight Sparkle of Friendship, will you help me fight this presence?”

“Of Friendship?” Twilight asked. “I think you misunderstand. If I’m the Princess of anything, it’s war, not friendship. I’m not the Princess of Friendship.” Twilight looked down shamefaced, thinking of her strained relationship with Princess Celestia.

“You will be.”

Twilight was surprised, but she regained her composure and smiled.

“Yes, Primus. I will help you fight this dark presence.” Twilight said.

“Excellent. And the prophet thing?”

“I … maybe.” Twilight said. “I have a few questions. Just what does being your prophet mean? And … why me? Why not Arcee? Or Bumblebee?”

“It means that you will foretell the Cybertronians of my coming return, that you will engineer said return, i.e, find the AllSpark, bring it back to Cybertron, put it in the Core, and use the Omega Lock on the planet, so that those who wish to repent and change their ways before I arrive to judge them in person have ample time to do so. As for why you … you were possessed by my rival and my brother, Unicron.”

“Yes …”

“Unicron, who is equal, if not superior, in power to me.”

“Right …”

“I may have to possess your body at some point. It depends on how things go. The fact you were able to withstand my brother’s possession makes you a better candidate than most.”

Twilight blinked, taking this in. “Well … doesn’t that just make me feel special.”

“Doesn’t it?” Primus said. His body flickered and wavered. “Ahh … maintaining this projection has been taxing … I must rest and recover what little energy I have. In the meantime, here are my servants, the Thirteen, to train you against this unseen and yet known dark presence.” 

Primus’ body flickered before disappearing in a puff, disintegrating back into the mist it was formed of.

The ground shook. Twilight became wary as silver, circular platforms sprung up from the ground - thirteen of them, on the dot. The Primes manifested, appearing as ghostly images on the platforms before solidifying, and Twilight recognized Alpha Trion and Megatronus among them. 

“You!” Twilight pointed to Alpha Trion. “You!” She did the same to Megatronus. 

Alpha Trion laughed. “Yes, it’s me, Twilight. The one who got away from you. Are you ready to begin your training?”

“Almost.” Twilight answered. She looked around and notice two of the platforms were vacant. “Aren’t there supposed to be thirteen of you? Why are those two missing?”

The Primes all looked bashful and turned away, Megatronus especially so.

“Never mind that for now.” Megatronus said. “We must prepare for your training.”

“Hello, Princess. I’m Micronus.” A diminutive robot waved at her. “And we are here to help you train and prepare, not only to defeat this mysterious dark presence … but also to change the horrible future the one you know as ‘Johnson’ is from. But I warn you, it’s not going to be easy task.”

A platform appeared under Twilight Sparkle, and it rotated her to face whichever of the Primes was speaking to her.

“If you wish to change the future, Twilight Sparkle …” A cloaked robot said. “You will have to make difficult decisions.”

The platform turned to a beastial Prime.

“Fight your enemies, if not bury them …”

The platform turned to Micronus.

“Lead your soldiers into perilous situations and environments unlike any you’ve faced before …”

The platformed turned to Megatronus.

“And even topple gods, if need be.”

“Gods? Topple gods?” Twilight asked, incredulous. “Are you … talking about Celestia? Am I going to have to fight Celestia!?”

The Primes exchanged glances. 

“If you must, will you be able to handle that?” Micronus asked.

“Twilight Sparkle, you value yourself on your leadership abilities, do you not? An effective leader and general, worthy of being Princess?” Megatronus said.

Twilight nodded. “Of course.” 

“Then you will know that the best leaders, the best generals, are prepared for any situation … no matter how unlikely or difficult it may be.” Megatronus said.

Twilight thought about this for a moment. She nodded. “I understand. It might be difficult for me to face her, if it comes to that, but with my friends by my side, I know I can -”

“Timeout.” Micronus said. “No one said anything about bringing your friends into this, Twilight Sparkle.”

“What? But -”

“Primus gave this task to you, and you alone.” Micronus said. “The less you can involve your friends and your emotions, the better.” 

Twilight looked down at the platform she was on. She couldn’t bring her friends into this? She couldn’t ask Rarity or Fluttershy for help?

Megatronus looked at her, and felt a twinge of pity go off in his Spark. He turned to Micronus, a fierceness in his glowing red eyes.

“Twilight Sparkle must be allowed to inform her friends of this mission.” Megatronus said. “She would not be where she is today were it for her relying on them in times of need.”

“Our enemy could be anywhere. It might have spies that -”

“Either Twilight Sparkle is allowed to recruit her friends, or she will be unable to perform the task we have assigned for her - and quite possibly even refuse to.”

Micronus pursed his lips, while Twilight smiled, appreciating Megatronus sticking up for her.

“Very well.” Micronus said, with obvious irritation in his voice.

Megatronus looked to Twilight and they exchanged smiles.

“Princess Twilight Sparkle will be allowed to include her friends.” Micronus raised his hand, which swirled with blue energy. “It will be morning soon. This meeting is adjourned. Next time we meet, Princess, we will being your training in full.”

Micronus swirled his hand around, and the blue flame inside his palm spread across the realm. Twilight held out her hoof to shield her eyes from the light …

Twilight blinked, waking up in her bed at the Imperial base. She yawned and sat up, stretching her legs. She smacked her lips before looking down at her bed, reflecting on a difficult decision which had been weighing on her. She had made up her mind.



Twilight sat at her desk, shuffling through papers. On occasion, she would take a glance at the Harmony Box on her desk. 

Ultra Magnus entered the doorway. “You want to see me, Twilight?”

“Yes.” Twilight put her files down and put her hooves on the desk. “I’ve reached a difficult decision, Ultra Magnus, and I want you to know … I consider you a friend.”

Ultra Magnus smiled, though he raised an eyebrow. “I consider you a friend, too, Twilight. What’s this about?” 

Twilight sighed. “That said … you’ve proven yourself a liability, Ultra Magnus. Yesterday, I gave you an order - a direct order to stop what you were doing, and not did you fail to heed it, you refused to.”

Twilight glared at him.

“I can’t have that. If you’re going to be insubordinate … if you cannot follow orders from your superior officers when they are given to you … then you are a threat to the success of our mission. You are a threat to the safety of your fellow soldiers, and that is something I will not allow. For that reason,  Ultra Magnus, I’m putting you on suspension.”

“Suspension?” Ultra Magnus crossed his arms. “I’m a Wrecker, Twilight. I’d like to see you try to put me in ‘suspension.’”

“Turn around and you’ll see it,” Twilight said.

Ultra Magnus turned around and saw two Imperialcons standing behind him, each of them armed with two Energon prods each. 

“Huh. Yeah, alright, fine,” Magnus raised his fists, “come and get some, you buckets of lugnuts!” Magnus tried to swipe his fists at them, but it stopped short of connecting with his target. “What huh?” Magnus was soon lifted in the air, held by a magenta aura.

“Quickly!” Twilight ordered. “He’s fighting my spell! I’m not sure I can hold him for long!”

The troopers set about shocking Ultra Magnus, jabbing the prods into his stomach repeatedly until he went unconscious, which took awhile, but when they finally did knock him out, Twilight dropped the spell, sighing in relief and wiping some sweat from the brow. 

“Good idea taking him down with the prods, Commander.” One of the Vehicons said. “I can’t imagine us being able to take down a fighting like Magnus without them.”

“He’s a fighter and a maverick,” Twilight said. “Make sure you check him thoroughly before you put him in a cell. Ultra Magnus is the kind of bot who wouldn’t think twice about putting explosive screws into himself, if he could get an explosive into the right size and shape.” 

The Vehicons nodded. They picked Ultra Magnus up by the shoulders and dragged him away.

Twilight sighed again. “I’m sorry, Magnus. I wish it didn’t have to be this way … but you’re dangerous. I knew that when I invited you, but … I guess I underestimated how dangerous.” 


Twilight shuffled awkwardly on the desk. She got up and headed out from the office into the foyer, where her friends were resting, gazing in concern as they saw Ultra Magnus dragged off to the stockades. 

“Twilight, darling, what’s going on?” Rarity asked. “Why is Ultra Magnus being carted off by two Vehicons?”

“It’s nothing.” Twilight answered. “Just some … disciplinary action. After, you know, what happened yesterday.”

Rarity held out a hoof. “Say no more, darling. We understand completely.”

“Thank you …” 

“Now, I assume you came out here to see us for a reason?” Rarity asked.

“Yes.” Twilight said. “I’ve been contacted in my dreams by the legendary Thirteen of Cybertron and Primus himself. They need my help, our help to fight some … dark presence that they can’t find, but they know is around here somewhere and fixing to take some malicious actions that would be … at odds with the Imperial goals. I’ve already agreed to undergo training by them so I can find and fight this mysterious force before it becomes any bigger of a problem than it is. Will you join me?”

The girls all looked at her in shock.

“Sorry.” Twilight said. “I know it’s a lot to take in, especially all at once …” 

“Well then …” Rarity said. “This must be quite some dark force if it caused Primus himself to contact you. And it explains a few things, like why you were able to find the Omega Lock.” 

“Yeah.” Rainbow Dash said. 

“So … are you in?” Twilight asked. “I understand it can be kind of intimidating … we’re going to be trained by people we don’t know, to fight an enemy that we don’t know where, who, or even what it is.”

“Whoa, whoa.” Rainbow Dash said. “We never said that. We’re in. We’re behind you every step of the way, Twilight.”

“Yes.” Fluttershy said. “You know you can always count on us to be right behind you.”

“We’ll figure out who this guy is, then buck him in the face either before or after we deal with Galloway and Lazerback.” Applejack said. “And the Star Seekers … and Steeljaw and Hydia … and Dragotron … and the Forged … and Bludgeon … and Starlight Glimmer …” Applejack paused. “Goodness, we’re trying to deal with a lot of bad guys, aren’t we?”

Twilight smiled. “Thanks, girls.” 

No sooner than the girls had agreed, the six of them were overwhelmed by a powerful mystical force, their bodies locking up, their eyes glowing blue while ancient Cybertronian text and modern binary code rolled up and down in their eyes like slots. They tensed up and fell to the side, their eyes closing as they were placed into deep trances.



The girls woke up in a cloudy, starry landscape.

“Ugh.” Fluttershy groaned before noticing their shift to a bizarre location. “Where are we?”

“The Realm of the Primes.” Twilight answered, recognizing the place from before.

“Correct.” Micronus said, floating into view with Megatronus by his side. “Hello, my little ponies. I am Micronus Prime, and this is my … counterpart, Megatronus Prime.” Micronus gestured to him. “Are you ready to begin your training?”

“Yeah!” Rainbow Dash flew up. “We can handle anything you’ve got to throw at us!” 

Micronus and Megatronus smirked, amused at Rainbow Dash’s confidence. They held out their hands, Micronus’s hand glowing green while Megatronus’ glowed purple. 

Rotating pillars with blades attached sprouted from the ground. Gun emplacements appeared, rotating to aim at Twilight’s friends, and a headless Decepticon appeared who deployed spherical Mini-cons from his shoulders. 

The girls took up fighting positions. 

“We got this.” Dash said. 

Some time later, the girls were tuckering out. The pillars sunk into the ground and popped back out in different areas, bullets and other projectiles flew by them, including knives, swords, flail heads, rolled-up ball Mini-cons, and even giant shuriken. They fought their way through hordes of the Mini-cons, but the Decepticon seemed to have an endless supply of them, and would always stand right back up after being knocked.

Rainbow Dash panted as a group of Mini-cons mobbed, ganging up on her. She bucked one away before grabbing one by the head and tossing it into a third one. 

“You know ... “ Rainbow Dash said. “I’m starting to wonder what any of this has to do with us being able to fight this ‘presence.’”

“To fight your enemy, you must prepare yourselves - in body, mind and spirit,” Micronus said.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “How very zen of you, but it doesn’t answer my question. I mean, what do we even know about this guy? Do we even know if he has Mini-cons? If he’s a he, not a she? Or if he uses shuriken?” 

“Maybe we should take a break.” Fluttershy suggested.

Megatronus scoffed. “The wicked never rest. Do you think your enemies take rests from their efforts to destroy you?”

“Uh, yeah?” Rainbow Dash said. “I mean, Starscream’s got to eat his Energon some time.”

Micronus and Megatronus looked at each other.

“Accepted.” Micronus waved his hand, and the obstacles and combatants disappeared. “We will take a break for now. Perhaps when you return, we will have greater knowledge about our enemy. But before you go, we must have a briefing.”

“A briefing? What for?” Twilight asked.

“Twilight Sparkle, I want you and your friends to locate the artifacts of the Primes.” Micronus held up his hand, and a blue projection of a variety of items appeared, including a large gun, a sword, and other objects. “Return this artifacts before the people of Cybertron, and they will fall in line before you. They will be icons that will inspire reverence and awe. When you have brought them home, you will earn the respect and loyalty of several disillusioned and disbelieving Cybertronians, letting them know their ancestors are still watching over them. Once you have done that, you can begin to unify the fractured Cybertronian race. The Forged, Mayhem, the New Decepticons, the Technoists … they will have to recognize your abilities. And then, once the Cybertronians are reunified … the humans and Equestrians will follow.”

“Okay.” Twilight said, not sure she believed it would be so easy. The Decepticons were stubborn, even if they were scattered into disparate groups with incompatible goals. “Where do we start?” 

Megatronus held out his palm, which projected a screen. “The Iacon Database will be able to tell you where the Artifacts ended up after they were ejected from Cybertron.” 

Twilight chuckled nervously. “Ha ha ha … okay, that … might be a bit of a problem.” 

“Surely not for a pony of your intelligence.” Micronus Prime said. He waved his hand again, and fog began to creep over the ponies. “Fare thee well, Twilight Sparkle. Until we meet again.”

The girls blinked and groaned, waking up from their “naps.”



Lockdown walked into the lobby of the base, resting his hand on a door as he surveyed the room before entering proper, where could be found Arcee resting on a bench, Rampage and Grimwing busying themselves with cards (Rampage’s idea, and he wanted to play Predaking first ) and Bumblebee reading a tablet to keep up with the news.

“Man.” Lockdown complained, walking up to the others. “It sure has been awhile since I’ve been on a mission. My chainsaw needs something to sink its teeth into … ” Lockdown converted his left arm into a chainsaw blade and revved it up, the teeth of the blade whirling. 

Arcee scrunched up in her corner, tensing up her shoulders and looking to the side. 

Lockdown noticed. “Hey, something the matter with you? What, do I scare you? Heh.” Lockdown chuckled.

“Yes.” Arcee muttered.

“What?” Lockdown asked. “Speak up, darling, I can’t hear ya.”

“Yes, you scare me!” Arcee stood up, drawing the attention of the others. She pointed a finger at Lockdown. “Don’t pretend you don’t remember what you did. Oh, sure, you can all jovial and gentlemanly, acting like you’re a business professional … but I know what you really are, you monster.”

“Hmm.” Lockdown put his hook to his chin, sizing Arcee up. “Now that I take a good look at you, you do seem a little familiar … maybe we have met. I’m -”

“Yeah, yeah.” Arcee said. “‘I’m not that good with names and faces, but I never forget a trophy.’” She said, deepening her voice to mock Lockdown. “Please. You can try to deny it, to forget … but I will never forget or forgive what you did to me and Ratchet. The only reason I’ve tolerated you around here as long as I have is because I know the odds are against us, and Twilight needs every available muscle or hired gun she can her hooves on … but that doesn’t mean I’ve just forgotten about what you did, you butcher.”

Before Lockdown could respond, Rampage put his cards down and stood up. 

“If the lady has a problem …” Rampage gestured to Arcee and bowed respectfully. “I am sure Fluttershy would not mind if I were to … eviscerate the problem for her. You are Fluttershy’s friend, after all.” Rampage heaved up the pincers on his back. “Would you like me to tear him apart for you?”

“Oh, please.” Lockdown scoffed. “You couldn’t take me. Besides, it’s all about Fluttershy with you, isn’t it? Fluttershy, Fluttershy, Fluttershy. Don’t you ever do anything for yourself?”

“No.” Rampage said without a hint of irony or sarcastic intent. “If I did, I would destroy everything in sight, and that … wouldn’t make Fluttershy very happy, would it?” 

Lockdown glared at Rampage before smiling and chuckling. “You … you a crush on her, don’t you? You have a complete and total crush on her! You do! Don’t try to deny it.”

Rampage bowed his head shamefully. “I don’t have to dignify that with a response.”

Grimwing stood up to try to mediate. “Perhaps we should all step away from each other, before this boils over into something more … physical.”

“You stay out of this, Grimwing.” Arcee said, deploying her arm-blade. “This is between Lockdown and I .. and maybe Rampage, if he’s serious about getting into it.”

“Er-hem.”

The piercing sound of a gunshot from an energy blaster caught everyone’s attention, causing them to snap to and focus on the door where Magnum was standing with Twilight and the other girls, a blaster smoking in his hand.

“I do not know what has been going on in here …” Magnum said. “But you all need to table this clearly productive discussion for another time. The commander has a mission for all of you.”

“That’s right.” Twilight said. “Through a … contact, we’ve been tasked with recovering the Artifacts of the Primes. We need to gain access to a copy of the Iacon Database. Since Cybertron is liable to be crawling with radical Decepticons and Technoists sympathizers, the only way we can get to a copy is to stage an underwater salvage mission to Trypticon’s remains in the Atlantic Ocean. Who’s with me?”


There was a beeping from Lockdown’s shoulder. Lockdown pressed a button on his shoulder and looked down at himself.

“Sorry, commander.” Lockdown said. “I’ll have to sit this one out. I have a call I need to go take.” Lockdown walked out of the room. Everyone else, however, stood up.
“We’re with you, Twilight.” Arcee assured her.

While everyone else got busy and went to work to prep for the mission, Rampage dragged his feet, staring at the ground, mulling over what Lockdown said.



The Imperials opened a GroundBridge at the bottom of the Atlantic, adjacent to Trypticon’s landing site. They moved out of quickly before the displaced water had a chance to flood the inside of the Bridge too much.

Twilight, protected inside exo-suit, looked towards the side of Trypticon. “Alright, team. Let’s make sure we can into it. Did everyone remember to bring some waterproof blowtorches and laser scalpels?”

“No need.” Predaking said. He and Grimlock walked up to Trypticon, reared up their fists, and pounded the wall, knocking the wall out with a single (well, double) punch.

Twilight grinned. “Grimlock, Predaking, what would we do without you?”

“You would have a much harder time dealing with Lazerback’s Predacons, for one thing.” Grimlock said. 

Twilight made a hoof motion, ordering her troops to move in. Pushing the wall further in, they climbed inside of Trypticon’s remains.

Trypticon was not good in shape. Aside from being underwater and thus, waterlogged, plagued with algae and kelp and moss growing all over his crevices and corners, large sections of him were destroyed and crumpled from when he fell, if not outright removed by human/Autobot efforts to dismantle him and remove him from the ocean, one piece at a time, before Galloway put a skewer in it.


“Be ready for anything, team.” Twilight said. “There’s no telling what could be lurking around those corners, and knowing Cybertronian biology, just because Trypticon’s deactivated, doesn’t mean he’s defenseless.” Twilight cast an illuminating ray from her horn, sweeping over the area in front of them as she led the team on their way through the crashed ship. 

The team was startled when they saw lights coming from around a corner. They tensed and prepared for a fight.

Starscream, Shockwave, Heavy Load, and other Forged Decepticons came around the corner and stopped in front of them, Starscream jumping up in surprise at the sight of other visitors.

“Starscream? The Forged?” Twilight asked.

“The Imperials?” Starscream asked. 

“What are you doing here?” Twilight asked. 

“We’re here to try to salvage Trypticon.” Starscream said. “What are you doing here?”

“We’re here to try to salvage the Iacon Database. What are you - wait, I already asked that.”

Starscream huffed. “Well … I suppose there’s no point in trying to negotiate a peaceful settlement between us, where we don’t stop you from the Database, and you don’t stop us from getting Trypticon?”

“I’m afraid not. Trypticon is too powerful a weapon to allow to fall into your Decepticon claws.”

“I figured you would say something like that.” Starscream said. He took up a commanding stance, pointing a finger at the Imperials. “DECEPTICONS, ATTACK!”

“Imperials!” Twilight pointed her hoof. “Annex them into the next century!”

Charging and roaring, letting out battle cries, the Imperials and the Forged charged at each other. 

Grimlock, spotting Shockwave, made a straight charge towards at the Decepticon who had once tortured him, all those moons ago on Cybertron. Grimlock rammed into Shockwave like a bull, pinning Shockwave against a nearby wall.

“I’ve been waiting a long time to pay you back for what you did to me.” Grimlock said, drawing his face close to Shockwave’s eye.

“I would be more than happy to discuss your dissatisfactions with your current form …” 

Shockwave raised up his cannon-arm and pistol whipped Grimlock, smacking him away by smashing his cannon into Grimlock’s chest, knocking Grimlock on to his hands and knees.

“So that I may improve on them when I once again have you on my operating table. Or perhaps over your non-functioning body.” Shockwave aimed his cannon at Grimlock and charged up a shot. Grimlock rolled over and kicked Shockwave’s legs out from under him, bringing him down to the same level as Grimlock. Grimlock stood up and put his fists together, bringing them on Shockwave’s head, but Shockwave was able to guard against it with his cannon, Grimlock’s fists pressing down on Shockwave’s arm while Shockwave stood up.

Starscream evaded the blasts of an Imperialcon before slashing his claws across its face. The Vehicon rolled, clutching at his wounds, and was unprepared when Starscream grabbed him and tossed him into the wall. Starscream turned around and came face to face with Fractyl, who was quivering.

“Hmm?” Starscream raised his eyebrow. “I know you … Fractyl, isn’t it? One of Thundercracker’s students?”

Fractyl gulped. “Y-yes sir, that’s correct, sir.”

“What are you doing with the Imperials?” Starscream asked.

“Well, they, uh, their philosophy and ideals, I found were appealing to me.” Fractyl said.

“Surely Thundercracker disapproves?” Starscream asked.

“A-actually, Thundercracker also joined. He said he was tired of the fighting and just wanted to go back to his research, and the Imperials offered the best way to do that.”

“What? Really?” Starscream said. “A shame. Skywarp would be so disappointed.” Starscream rubbed his fingers together before looking up at Fractyl. “But it’s not too late for you.”

“N-not too late?” Fractyl asked. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, you can still redeem yourself.” Starscream said. “I can see there’s potential in you, Fractyl. Surely it was meant for betting things than chumming around with Autobots and taking orders from ponies. You’re a scientist, aren’t you? Well, the Autobots will hold you back. They’ll make you follow silly codes and guidelines under the guise of ‘safety,’ but really … it’s just an effort to keep you chained. Join the Decepticons. Join the Forged, and you can experiment to your Spark’s content. You can push your scientific know-how to the limit, to the very boundaries of science. I should know. I was a scientist myself, once.” 

Fractyl wasn’t sure how to respond. “I, uh …”

“Think about it, Fractyl.” Starscream. “As an Autobot, you’re expected to earn respect through hard work and labor, but as a Decepticon, you can earn it through force.”

“Respect would be nice …” Fractyl mused, tapping his chin. “But … I can barely muster up enough force to intimidate a turbofox, much less earn respect from other Decepticons.”

“Hey!”  Rainbow Dash flew up next to him. “You leave Fractyl alone! If he wants to chum with Autobots and take orders from ponies, that’s his choice, not yours! And we’ll let him do as much science as he wants!”

Fractyl, reassured, clenched his fists.

“And at least with us, he can be who he is really is and wants to be!” Dash said. “Even if who he really is kind of lame!”

“Yeah!” Fractyl said. “Wait, what was that last part?”

“Forget about it, kid.” Dash said.

Starscream pinched the bridge of his nose. “See? That is exactly what I’m talking, letting your self-esteem be determined by how much a pony says you’re worth …” Starscream sighed. “But I suppose I’m not going to be able to change your mind.”

“That’s right.” Fractyl said, crossing his arms. 

“Yaaah!” Rainbow Dash shouted and charged, flying at Starscream at speeds exceeding an 100 mile-per-hour acceleration, intending to use the same kamikaze tactic she had used to great effect on Decepticons prior. Something with as much mass as a horse, going the same speed as a cannonball, made an effective projectile.

In most cases. Dash slammed against the front of Starscream’s chestplate, squashing her head in. She popped her head off and chuckled nervously, seeing Starscream look down at her with an annoyed look.

“Funny.” Dash said. “That usually works.”

“Hmm.” Starscream smirked before flicking Dash off with his finger. He turned his attention to back to Fractly, but was distracted by someone tapping his shoulder.

“What?” Starscream snapped, turning to Heavy Load.

“Hey, Screamy.” Heavy Load. “If you want to go take care of that rainbow pony, I got this guy.” Heavy Load brandished his cannon at Fractyl.

Starscream’s eye twitched, unappreciative of the nickname. “Fine. Very well.” Starscream turned to menace Rainbow Dash, only to see her gone from where he had flicked her to. “Where’d she go?” 

He got answer in the form of a rainbow blur striking him in the back of his head, inflicting exquisite pain and slight loss of bearings.

“Bull’s-eye.” Rainbow Dash bragged, flying away.

“Alright, Fractyl.” Heavy Load said, stomping towards him. “It’s just you and me now. Think you can put up a better showing than the last time? Seriously, that was pathetic.”

“Well, I, uh, I …” Fractyl thought the conversation Dash and Starscream had. “You know what? I need to quit trusting the opinions of others to determine my own self-worth. To answer your question, Heavy Load ... ” Fractly quit stammering and looked at Heavy Load square in his visor. “Yes.”

Fractyl aimed his arms and fired rockets, striking Heavy Load in the chest with a double hit, exploding the right side of his chest open. Heavy Load groaned, stumbling from the blow.

Fractyl charged at Heavy Load, throwing him against the wall. Fractyl shouted as he slashed Heavy Load with his claws, yelling like a maniac pest as he sliced up Heavy Load’s face and chest. Heavy Load groaned again before taking his cement mixer arm and knocking Fractyl away. Fractly stumbled, and Heavy Load advanced on him, but Fractyl whipped around and slashed his claw upwards through Heavy Load’s chest and deep into his face, making Heavy Load howl in pain.

Twilight Sparkle evaded laser blasts, dodging and weaving her way through the fire as she tried to determine a good target for her to focus on. Starscream was busy with Rainbow Dash, Grimlock was taking on Shockwave, and all the other Forged were pretty much doomed to fall against Predaking. 

An explosion occurred next to her, the blast sending her down the hallway while she shouted in alarm. “Aaah!” 

After she landed, Twilight pushed herself up and looked around. “Oh, hey!” The blast had deposited right in front of Trypticon’s main computer, where she knew the Decepticons’ data was stored.

Jetting up to the keyboard, Twilight plugged in an appropriate drive and began pushing buttons with her magic, using her telekinesis to take control of the keyboard. 

“Come on, come on …” Twilight muttered as she was able to bring the computer back online and pull up the Database. She glanced to the side when another explosion came from the fighting down the hall.

In a few moments, the computer beeped, letting Twilight know the data transfer was complete.

“Yes!” Twilight took the drive out of the computer. She glanced at the fight. “Hmm … well, since we don’t need this anymore …” 

Twilight used her magic to pry the keyboard open, lifting the metal up and peeling it back. The metal groaned as it was manipulated. Twilight reached in and fiddled with the wires underneath before placing something inside. She pulled the keyboard plate back down and hopped off. 

“Imperials!” Twilight shouted. “We have what we came here for! We can leave!” Twilight pressed in a few buttons on her armor, sending a message to alert her operators at the base they were ready for a GroundBridge back.

The GroundBridge opened. Twilight and the others headed towards it, with Magnum slugging Starscream on the way so Rainbow Dash was free to join them. 

“Grimlock, come on!” Magnum shouted, stopping when he saw Grimlock was still tussling with Shockwave.

“Not until I’ve ripped off his head!” Grimlock shouted. Predaking came up behind him and lifted him up by the shoulders. “Hey!”

“We’ve been given an order to retreat.” Predaking said before dragging Grimlock away, bringing him into the Bridge against his wall. 

The Bridge closed, and Starscream smiled. 

“Well …” Starscream said. “I don’t know what made them leave … they must have gotten the data they were looking for … but now, we have the run of the place to ourselves!” Starscream gestured grandly to the halls. 

Shockwave looked around, as did Starscream.

“What’s that beeping?” Starscream asked, picking something. It grew in frequency and pitch, becoming louder and higher. 

“The Imperials rigged something to blow! Retreat!” Starscream ordered, making the Forged fall back moments before the primary computer was consumed from inside by a giant fireball. 



“I noticed you rigged the console to explode.” Magnum said to Twilight as they walked out of the Bridge. “Think that took care of them?”

“Not likely.” Twilight answered.  “I didn’t have enough time or resources to set up a big explosion, and Starscream has survived much worse than just an  I.E.D ...” Twilight held up the drive. “Now, let’s figure out where these Artifacts are.”

“Commander …” Magnum said, walking with Twilight as she went to a computer to plug the drive in. “If I may ask, why the sudden interest in the Primes? They weren’t on your agenda previously.”

“The Primes  told me to do it.”

“The Primes … told you to do it.” Magnum said with disbelief.

Twilight looked at him with a deadly serious expression.

“For the sake of my safety, I will act as though I believe you.”

“You’d better.” Twilight said. “Now, where is it?” She sifted through the data, decoding the Cybertronian coding until it was translated into something she could read. Unlocking the files produced an image of a large, intricate sword, which appeared to have two blades twisting together before fusing into one and meeting at the sword’s tip.

“The Star Saber.” Twilight said. “The Artifact of … Prima? Just - Prima? Wow. I mean, I knew Cybertronian names weren’t alway the most inventive, but Prima?”

“Said Twilight Sparkle.” Magnum said.

“Noted.” Twilight said. “It says here that the Star Saber …” Twilight fell silent.

“I’ve heard stories about it.” Magnum said. “About its power.”

Twilight gulped. “It says the Star Saber, at full power, can destroy stars and reduce planets into the rocks and dust they were made from. Well, that’s not something we want the Decepticons getting their hands on. Huh.”

“What?”

“It also says the Star Saber hasn’t been at its full power for eons.” Twilight said. “So maybe not quite as a big a threat as it was. But still.” Twilight continued to read the screen. “According to this, only the hand of a Prime can lift the Star Saber once it becomes lodged into a resting place and … that can’t be right.”

“What can’t be right?”

“It says that the Star Saber landed on Equestria. In the Crystal Empire.” Twilight said. “And if it’s true that only a Prime can lift it, we’re gonna need some help … we need to get Nova Prime.”

“Uh.” Rainbow Dash flew up. “You realize that will involve going to Cybertron, right? The political hot mess right now? And that’s assuming we can find him.”

“Nova Prime is a public figure.” Twilight said. “He should be making himself available to the public, shouldn’t he?”

“Okay, sure. But even assuming we can find him, why would he help us? We’re terrorists, remember?” Rainbow Dash said. “I doubt someone as respected as Nova is going to risk his rep to help us out.”



“I would be more than happy to help you!” Nova Prime exclaimed once the Imperials had found him and explained what they needed.

“Wha-really?” Rainbow Dash asked. “Just like that?” Twilight gave Dash a smug look from behind her helmet.

“Of course.” Nova Prime said. “Oh, you may be terrorists, renegades of the law, pariahs, even … but the chance to recover the Artifacts of the Primes … the treasures of my predecessors … the relics of our Cybertronian ancestors … oh!” Nova Prime sighed and swooned. “It’s a chance to die for! A dream come true! Any bot who would turn away from helping accomplish something as monumental as this would be a fool!” 

“Glad to hear you’re in.” The War Princess said.

Nova clapped his hands together. “So, where do we go first?”



The Imperials, with Nova Prime in their company, traveled to the Crystal Empire, to where the Database said the Star Saber was buried. 

Making their way some miles north of where Bludgeon had tried to revive Thunderwing, they came upon a glacier. The snow was unusually heavy in the area, harsh, blizzarding winds biting at them, gnawing their ankles and chests.

“Are we getting close, War Princess?” Nova Prime shouted over the howling wind, holding an arm up to shield his optics. “I’m not sure my systems can stand much more of this cold!”

“It should be somewhere nearby.” The War Princess aid, holding up a device. “Somewhere over … there!” The War Princess pointed.

True to the Database’s word, a thin, golden handle was sticking out from the ice.

“Finally.” Nova muttered. “After all this time … I’ll be able to clean Cybertron and make it whole again.” 

Nova Prime reached out and grabbed the handle. It glowed in response to his touch, shimmering a brilliant golden light. As Nova pulled the sword free of the ice, the glow continued, a massive blade emerging from the ice, matching the picture the Database had shown Twilight.

“Excellent!” Nova Prime said, holding the sword up high with both his hands. The winds seemed to ease up and calm down, almost as if they had been masking the sword. “I, Nova Prime, claim this blade in the name of Cybertron!”

“Whoa, whoa.” Rainbow Dash said. “What makes you think you can just have it? We didn’t say we were finding for you, we just needed your help to find it.”

“My apologies, Rainbow Dash.” Nova lowered the blade. “I had merely assumed, being a Prime, that none of you would raise objections to me staking my claim of the sword. Still, it seems it would be best kept with me for safekeeping. After all, none in your ranks are Primes, and I doubt that warriors among you strong enough to lift the sword. And even if they could, it wouldn’t be more than just a large sword to them, something I’m sure you have plenty of. Unless you happen to have the disembodied arm of a Prime lying around?” 

“He’s right, Rainbow Dash.” The War Princess said. “We should let him have it. The Decepticons have made a lot of bold moves, but none of them have even thought about attacking Nova. It’s safer with him.”

“What’s this?” Nova asked as the sword began to ping and beep. It glowed, before projecting an image of a rotating sphere, with a location marked on it.

“I think … I think it’s trying to tell us where the location of the next Artifact is.” The War Princess said. “I wasn’t expecting Megatronus to be quite so … literal.” The War Princess inspected the projection. “That looks like a location on Earth.”

“Very well then,” Nova Prime said. He raised the sword up. “To Earth!” 



Making their way to the location on Earth, they had no trouble finding the Artifact’s location out on a grassy prairie. Which Twilight took as a bad sign. If they were going to have good luck now, they were bound to have bad luck later.

“Where is it?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I believe it is underground.” Nova Prime said. 

“Well, start digging.” The War Princess ordered. 

They dug around, displacing mounds upon mounds of dirt before one of them made a ding. 

“I found something!” The Vehicon excavator waved. He dug around and eventually was able to pull the Artifact out. 

It appeared to be a relative to the Matrix of Leadership, having a similar shape and design. A black sphere with a red gem in the center, with two triangular blades jutting out from its top and bottom sides. 

“What is it?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I recognize this.” Nova Prime said. “It is the Enigma of Combination. It’s said to be able to gift any Cybertronian with the ability to combine with others.”

“I thought combination was a Decepticon-driven war experiment?” The War Princess asked.

“Perhaps in the modern day, but in the times of the Primes, it was something more. Something … sweeter … something purer.” Nova said. 

“Why isn’t it telling us where the next Artifact is?” Rainbow Dash asked. “The Saber told us as soon as Nova picked it up.”

“Hmm. Perhaps I need to pick this one as well?” Nova reached down and lifted the Enigma from the ground. “No. Nothing.” Nova glanced to his back, where the Star Saber was mounted. “I have an idea.”

Nova set the Enigma down on the ground. He pulled out the Star Saber and aimed it at the Enigma. Taking care not to press too hard, he touched the tip of the Saber to the Enigma. The Enigma reacted, activating, the red gem glowing in its core. It produced a projection of a screen in red. Unlike the Saber’s projection, which was smooth and steady, the Enigma’s was blinky and wavering, like it was running off corrupted data. 

“There.” Nova said. “There is where we will find the next Artifact.”

The War Princess drew up the screen, cupping her chin as she examined it. “I think … it looks like … hmm … a location in space, maybe?”

“Okay.” Dash said. “So at least we’re not just bouncing back and forth from planet to planet.”

“Shush, Rainbow Dash.”



The Imperials and Nova made their way into a stolen dropship and set off for the location in space. 

The ship cruised along at a steady space, going along for a smooth ride. 

“You know, it’s kind of amazing the Decepticons or somebody hasn’t attacked us once.” Rainbow Dash thought to herself.

“I told you the Decepticons weren’t going to attack Nova.” Twilight whispered to her. 

Nova Prime gave a shudder. 

“Is something wrong, Your Eminence?” Arcee asked.

“No, nothing, I just thought I … felt something.” Nova said. 

“Hey …” Dash nudged Twilight’s shoulder. “You’re a scientist, Twilight. Is that normal?” Dash pointed at the viewscreen of the ship, where up ahead of them was a distorted portion of space - a purple swirling mass surrounding an inky blackness. “Like, is that a normal black hole or something?”

“No, Rainbow Dash, I can assure that is not a normal black hole or anything else, for that matter.” Twilight said. She leaned over the console. “And it seems to be pulling us in!”

“I’ll try and turn her around.” Bulkhead attempted to bank a hard right, but the ship wouldn’t budge. “Uh-oh.”

The swirling mass sucked the ship inside. Their senses took leave of them; all they see was darkness. All they could hear was silence. Until the veil lifted, and they found themselves standing on what appeared to be a massive asteroid, unharmed themselves, but with their dropship nowhere to be seen. 

“Where are we?” Fluttershy asked. 

“That is an excellent question.” Nova Prime said, looking around.

“Look.” Rarity nudged Twilight and pointed ahead of them. Twilight gasped at what she saw. Further up ahead of what could generously be called ‘the road,’ were the ruins of a once great court, with destroyed walls, cracked panels, and a huge throne with massive cracks going down its shattered back, all of them a dull, faded green color, like oxidized copper. 

And sitting on the throne was Megatronus. 

Megatronus took notice of them and stood up. “Who dares to invade on the exiled realm of Megatronus?” He aimed his arm-cannons at them.

The Imperials and Nove walked up to them cautiously.

“It’s us, Megatronus.” Twilight said. “We’re seeking to recover the Artifacts of the Primes … like you-”

Megatronus held up his hand, and Twilight’s voice was muted. She couldn’t speak. She banged at her throat, trying to fix it. 

“One must … keep up appearances, mustn’t they?” Megatronus said, walking towards them. He spared a glance at Nova Prime before turning his attention to the rest of them. “Here in this pocket realm, I have complete control. Now, I ask you again. Why do you intrude on my exile?”

“O Grand Megatronus.” Nova Prime bowed. “We seek the Artifacts of the Primes, to reunite the fractured people of Cybertron under one flag. It would be most beneficial to our cause if we could present the Artifacts, as proof of our worthiness to lead. We have recovered two already, and they have pointed to us. We were hoping you could lead us to the next.”

“Hmm.” Megatronus huffed. “A reasonable assumption, if it was the relics which brought you here. My Artifact is the Requiem Blaster. A weapon so massive and destructive, only the original Primes in our true heights could wield properly, and few things can survive it’s star-powered blast.”

Megatronus smirked. “Unfortunately … I lost track of it some time ago. I have no idea where it is. You will have to find it yourselves.”

“I … see.” Nova Prime said, and Fluttershy could see he was holding back frustration. “Thank you … Megatronus. We will take our leave of you.”

Nova Prime bowed once more, but he noticed Megatronus leering at him. “Is … something the matter?”

“No.” Megatronus said. “Nothing at all.”

“Hmm.” Nova didn’t sound entirely convinced, but did not pursue the issue.

“Megatronus?” Fluttershy asked. “Before we go, could I ask you a question? You said you were in exile. Um, for what, exactly?”

Megatronus was quiet. “For killing of my own. I always had a temper. One day, during a dispute, I lost control of myself. In a fit of rage, I opened fire on my fellow Prime, Solus Prime. I killed her. I loved her. I loved her and I killed her. For that reason … for that treachery, I put myself into exile, for that is the only punishment I could stand to give myself. That is why I walk the stars alone. I … I cannot bring myself to join her. I tried, of course, but … I fear she won’t forgive me for what I did.”

Megatronus shook his head.

“I’ve told you too much already. Take what I told you about the Requiem Blaster and go, and make sure certain hands are kept from it. Hands which are closer to it than you realize.”

Megatronus aimed his weapon at them. Purple energy swirled at the barrel before he fired. The ponies were assaulted by a barrage of dark colors swimming in their vision, waving around in a psychedelic manner. It was a trip.

When the sensory confusion had stopped, they were back on their ship, in the place they were before, with no sign of the entrance to Megatronus’ ruined court. 

“Huh.” Twilight reflected to herself. “O-kay. That was weird. Maybe he’ll explain in the next dream we have …” She cupped her chin.  “Now … how to find this Requiem Blaster …” 



In further depths of space, the pirate ship of the Star Seekers, the Tidal Wave, moved, trawling through space, going slowly, but inexorably towards its goal of finding the Cybertronians again.

On the ship’s bridge, one of several screens began beeping.

“Receiving a transmission, Captain.” Brimstone reported. 

“It is Cybertronian in origin?” Thundertron asked, raising a brow.

“No.”

“Put it through.”

Brimstone pushed a button, and a trio of skull-faced, bizarre aliens appeared on the screen, tentacles writhing down from its lightbulb-shaped body.

“Greetings.” The squidhead said in a droning voice.

Thundertron stood from his seat, getting right down to brass tacks. “Who are you? What do you want?”  

“Where are my manners? We are representative of the Quintessons. You may have heard of us.”

“Yes. Galactic conquerors, I believe, until a few thousand years ago, where the …” Thundertron’s eye twitched, and his mouth scowled. “Cybertronians ousted you from your planet, and routed you up.”

“Yes.” The Quintesson said. “I believe we have shared interests.”

“And what shared interests would that be?”

“The desire to the Cybertronian species … wiped out.”

Thundertron did a thoughtful nod of his head. “You have my attention.”

“We are willing to pay you handsomely for your services.” A Quintesson said. “We know of a place, a hub planet if you will, where you can go and gather followers … find like-minded individuals, and recruit them to your cause.”

“Our cause.” Thundertron said. “And you would hardly need to pay me to eliminate the Cybertronians … although ship maintenance doesn’t pay for itself.”

The Quintessons chuckled. “No. But there is one more thing. We have something for you to use.” 

The Quintessons moved from the screen, showing an enormous laser cannon. A huge weapon made of black steel, red lines glowing through it, a massive opening for its barrel. It was set off in the distance so Thundertron could see all of it, and it was so large it could have qualified as a starship in of itself.

“What ... is that?” Thundertron asked, clearly impressed.

“It is called the Requiem Blaster.” The Quintesson answered. “It is a weapon of enormous destructive potential and power. It is said to ravage planets, and that no being can survive a direct hit from it. Mount this to your ship and aim it a planet’s surface. With it, you will have no trouble eliminating the Cybertronians. And we know of a place where several Cybertronians gather … a planet called ‘Earth’ …’”



Snowy winds blew and tossed around, Bludgeon stood there in the snow, waiting for his guest. The frigid winds didn’t bother him. If one were to ask him why, he would say a true warrior was indifferent to the temperature. His Mayhem cohorts shivering behind him might not agree.

Starscream flew in from the stratosphere, converting into robot mode and doing a three-point landing in front of Bludgeon. He rose up and approached.

“So, Bludgeon … have you had time to consider my offer?” Starscream asked.

“Yes.” Bludgeon said. “Now, let’s get one thing clear, Starscream. I don’t like you, and I trust you as far as I can throw you.”

“Oh, I don’t know. An experienced martial artists like yourself might be able to throw me pretty far.”

“Flattery will get you nowhere with me. However, what you lack in trustworthiness, you make up for in being a good supervisor and operations manager, and adding your troops to my own would make a considerable force. So I have determined that the benefits of allying with your Forged would outweigh the detriments.”

“Excellent.” Starscream offered his hand for them to shake on it. “Although .. if I may ask … what is that shining on your chest?”

“This? This is the Dark Spark. It grants me godlike power and the ability to manipulate Dark Energon.” 

Bludgeon demonstrated the Dark Spark’s power by shooting a purple-tinged lighting bolt into a mountain in the distance, causing a rockslide.

“Impressive.” Starscream said, watching as the rocks and ice fell. He turned to Bludgeon, crossing his hands behind his back. “However, there is one matter that we need to address … a gift of goodwill from you, if you will.”


“Oh? And what would that be?”

“The operations of The Forged have been stymied by our inability to acquire a ship.” Starscream said. “We’ve tried to salvage Trypticon from out of the drink, but both our efforts have ended in failure. It would be of great help if you could provide one for us.”

Bludgeon raised his brow, amused and confident.

“You want a ship? I can get you a ship.”



In a small room, General Witwicky groaned. He opened his eyes. He gasped, feeling his arm and legs. Something felt different. Something felt wrong.

He raised his head up and lifted his hand. He was horrified to discover his hand was now a robotic prosthetic limb. Sitting up, he saw the same had been done to his leg.

“Hey.” Shining Armor greeted him, sitting by Witwicky’s bedside.

“Hey? I wake up on a strange bed with my arm and leg replaced by robot versions and all you have to say to me is ‘hey’?”

“Yeah. Maybe not the best choice of words …” Shining Armor said. “How are you feeling?”

“How do you think I’m feeling?” Witwicky snapped before lying back on the bed, bringing the robot hand over his face. He gazed at Shining Armor. “What happened?” 

“The Decepticon Justice Division.” Shining Armor answered. “The Imperials called us over to try and arrest them, and … they weren’t quite as subdued as we thought. They fired at the jeep you and I were riding in. I managed to jump out in time, but you were engulfed in the blast. I pulled you out and called a retreat. We don’t know the Division has been since. I brought you to Attinger, who brought you here. The doctors couldn’t heal you fully, so they did what they could and gave you the robot limbs.” Shining Armor smiled. “Pretty neat, huh?”

“No.” Witwicky said. “No, it is not neat! It’s disgusting! It’s unnatural! It - it - it makes me into one of them.” Witwicky hissed.

“You mean the Cybertronians?” Shining Armor glanced at the ground. “This is gonna sound crazy, but … I know what you mean, and I agree.”

“You do?”

“Yeah.” Shining Armor said. “The Imperials … they’re fighting for the right of Cybertronians - of all aliens - to travel freely between planets involved in our little … galactic council, for lack of a better word. But honestly ...”

Shining Armor stood up and walked towards the door.

“I think it would be a lot better if the intergalactic travel of non-native species between planets was regulated and monitored. Maybe then it would keep those machines from messing with my family.”

Witwicky grinned. “You know what, Shining Armor? I had some misgivings about you at first … but you’re okay in my book.”

Shining smiled before leaving the room, closing the door. 

Witwicky observed his robot hand, twisting the wrist. Flexing its fingers. It all moved smoothly and like a human’s hand, but it all felt wrong and unnatural. It was cold and metallic. It did these movements because he willed them to. It wasn’t being able to feel his skin stretch, his tendons and muscles tense up and relax …

The door creaked open, and Doctor Morocco stepped in. After a quick glance out the door to ensure Shining Armor had departed, he closed the door and walked up to Witwicky’s bedside.

“What do you want?” Witwicky snapped. 

“I couldn’t help overhearing your conversation with our unicorn friend over there.” Morocco said. 

“Yeah? And?”

“My good sir, I think you’re looking at it all wrong.” Morocco said. “Your new robotic limbs are a disfigurement. No. Instead of looking at yourself and your limbs and seeing disgust ...” Morocco reached over and grabbed Witwicky’s robot hand, holding it up. “You should see what I see, and realize they present … opportunity.”

Witwicky was intrigued. “What do you have in mind?” 

“Oh, nothing much, just a few … upgrades.” Morocco smiled. It wasn’t a traditional smile. It was more akin to seeing the teeth on a cat before it bit down. 



Shining Armor walked out of the building section of facility, closing the double doors behind him. Traversing on the rocks, he walked over to the range where Attinger and Gould were, Gould with a remote in his hands.

“Ah, Shining Armor. Good of you to join us.” Attinger said. “Care to watch the test?”

“Test?” Shining Armor asked.

“Yes, the weapons test.” Gould said, thrusting the remote in the direction of the Stinger drones below. “We’re going to be testing the Stinger drones today.”

“I thought you already had a functioning Stinger?”

Gould chuckled. “Well, we have a functioning living Stinger.” Gould said. “But we haven’t fully tested the drones yet. The plan is for there to be living Stingers, captains if you will, who can react to situations, and non-living Stingers, who take orders from the living ones … or whoever happens to buy them.” Gould chuckled. Shining Armor was a bit unnerved by how clear a distinction Gould drew between living and non-living Stingers. As far as Shining understood, wasn’t the difference just a few lines of code in the ‘prime’ Stinger’s module?

“You ready down there, Stinger?” Gould shouted into the valley below, where Stinger stood in front of a row of multi-colored Stinger drones.

Stinger hesitated before giving a thumbs-up. “Yeah, I’m ready.”

“Good!” Gould said. “Commence firing in three … two … one …”

BOOM.

A payload of bombs dropped into the valley, raining destruction everywhere they land, creating rock slides and rock piles from the damage. A navy-blue jet flew overhead, chanting something in a foreign language.

Stinger tensed up, deploying a missile from his arm to shatter the boulders into more manageable pieces. “Is this part of the test? No one told me this was part of the test!”

“No, soldier.” Attinger said, pulling out a handgun and taking the safety off. “I’m afraid this just became a live exercise.” 

Attinger aimed up and shot at the jet. His bullets, when they were lucky enough to even hit, pinged off the jet uselessly. 

“Go for the fuel tank!” Gould shouted.

“Yeah! Don’t you usually go for the fuel tank in these situations?” Shining Armor added. 

“What do you two think this is, a movie?” Attinger asked.

“Well, excuse me if I’m not quite clear on how you’re going to take out a fully-armored jet with a peashooter!” Gould snapped. 

Attinger ignored Gould’s sarcasm, focusing on the jet. “It’s coming back for another pass.”

The jet rose up, its engines humming, before diving down and making a beeline straight for Attinger.

“I’ve got it!” Stinger shouted, crawling up out of the valley. He ran towards the jet before making an impressive leap, grabbing on to the jet’s thrusters. He hanged off it the edge, bouncing as the jet tried to shake him off, before crawling onto the jet’s back. “Bullseye! Huh?”  

The jet began to break apart, panels coming loose. The thrusters lifted up and folded into the bottom half of the jet. It was transforming, and it converted into a wicked-looking, Decepticon-esque robot with twin blasters in both arms, wings hanging off its back, and turbines in its shoulders. 

It grappled with Stinger in mid-air, going into freefall. Shouting another sentence in its foreign language, it fired its arm-blaster into Stinger’s chest before popping him one in the head, sparks, gears and sprockets flying out of Stinger’s body. Stinger fell limp with a groan.

“Is that Cybertronian?” Gould asked. “Is that thing speaking Cybertronian? Is that what it is?”

“No.” Attinger said. “That’s not Cybertronian … that’s Chinese.”
“Chinese?”

“Mandarin, to be exact.”  

The invader lifted Stinger up and threw him to the ground, where Stinger tried to push himself up, but lost the strength and collapsed. 

The invader looked square at Attinger’s company with its red eyes and said one more thing before converting into its jet mode and flying away.

“Attinger, you said it spoke Chinese.” Shining Armor said. “What all did it say?”

“‘Death to the defilers’ when it passed by … ‘Die’ … when it shot out friend Stinger, of course. And it left with ‘Now you see … we are a force to be reckoned with.’ Now, Gould.” Attinger took off his sunglasses. “Would you like to tell me how the Chinese got their hands on your Cybertronian imitation technology?”

“I would like to tell you, Attinger. I would. I would like to tell you. I would LOVE to tell you. Nothing would make me happier than to tell you. Except, here’s the thing, nothing really … just one tiny detail … I DON’T KNOW!” 

“Then …” Attinger said. “We have a problem. A leak. A mole. Something.”



An American woman, a blonde, walked on her high heels through the bridge of a Chinese factory. The sounds of whirring, pumping machinery were loud, and the smoke and smog coming from the machines fogged up her glasses.

There was a Chinese man, a Defense Ministry official, wearing a nice blue suit, waiting for her. He looked off into the distance and said in Chinese.

“I am one with the world. I am a being. I am alive. I feel and sense my chi, and the chi of all those around me.”

He turned to the woman as she walked up to him. “Was the test successful?”

The woman nodded. “It was. Very successful, I might add.”

The official nodded. “Good. And what of you? Aren’t there dangers to your health and safety if you are found out? If your superiors realize what you did?”

“Oh, psshaw.” The woman scoffed, waving her hand. “Let me be concerned about that. I know what I did. And I know what the consequences will be if - when I’m found out. But that’s a price I’m willing to pay. A punishment I can accept. And besides … it won’t change the fact that I’ve already done it. What’s done is done. Knowing this will pay off … it will be worth it. How it’s coming along?”

“I am glad to see you’ve already made peace with your inevitable fate.” The official said. “So few do these days. It’s coming along quite well, thank you.”

The official turned to the bridge and repeated his earlier words.

In front of him, a row of Cybertronian-matching robots repeated the words again, putting their hands in front of them to focus, all of them speaking in Chinese.

“I am one with the world. I am a being. I am alive. I feel and sense my chi, and the chi of all those around me.”



At the facility, Shining Armor and Gould sat down and shared a drink of coffee, trying to wrap their heads around how the foreign powers were able to successfully crack the code and hack together their own reverse-engineered Cybertronian.
“It doesn’t make any sense.” Shining Armor said. “Where did they get the technology? Who would have not only had the access to deliver, but would have wanted to give to them in the first place?”

“Shining Armor?” Attinger asked, sticking his head out a door. “Come here, please.” 

Shining Armor was puzzled, but complied, taking another sip of his mug before joining Attinger in the room. 

“What do you need, Attin - Mister President, sir!” Shining Armor saluted upon seeing Galloway in the room.

“At ease.” Galloway said. “Got a job for you, son.”

“A job?”

“Yes. A mission, to be more precise.” Galloway explained. He reached into his back pocket and pulled out a device, clicking it on to produce a projection. It showed a massive object moving around the Earth’s moon. 

“What … is that?” Shining Armor asked. 

“Don’t know.” Galloway said. “We detected it on our satellites earlier this morning. We suspect it may be some sort of starship, but obviously not Cybertronian in origin. This presents a problem. We’ve already got our hands full managing the Cybertronian and Equestrian situation we have now. We can’t be dealing with another set of participants already.”

“Well, you know, unless maybe they’re trying to pull a Genghis Khan and have us unite against them.” Shining Armor said. 

Attinger and Galloway gave him funny looks.

“Moving on.” Galloway said. “This ship pulled up to Earth’s atmosphere, hung around for a bit, then left again. I don’t like it. You know what tells me? That tells me they’re scouting. And you know what them scouting tells me?”

“That they’re planning for attack?” Shining Armor said.

“Bingo.” Galloway said.  “We’ve managed to track it down to another planet. We think it must have Transwarp capabilities. I want you to get on a dropship, fly on up there to that planet, and figure out what is they’re up to.”

“Wha- me?” Shining Armor stuttered. “Go into space? Surely you must have better choices! Besides, don’t I need to stay here and help with the investigation into who acquired Gould’s tech?”

“We’re dealing with that. I have my men on it.” Attinger said.

“What do you say, Captain?” Galloway said. “It would help show that Equestria does have Earth’s best interests in mind.”

Shining Armor looked at the ground. “Just one question.”

“What?”

“Can I bring Cadence? She’s good to have around in a fight.”

“Um …” Galloway stuttered. Attinger nodded at him. “Sure.”

Shining Armor, lightened up, saluted. “I won’t let you down, sir.” Shining Armor left the room.

“Let’s hope not.” Galloway mumbled.



“Gotta hand it to the humans.” The pilot said as he flicked a switch. “Didn’t expect to get a good enough grasp of cybertech to track a ship to a planet not native to their solar system in only three years. Now, listen, you two … the planet you’re going to is called Sandokan.”

“Okay.”

“It has a planetwide reputation for being a meeting place of the worst kind of scum. Murderers, guns for hire, interrogators … tax evaders … tax officers … assume everyone you meet has some dirty business they’re either there to deal with, or are trying to avoid. And if you meet a white being with a horse-shaped head … ”

“Yes?” Shining Armor asked, interested in the idea of other equinoid lifeforms out in the universe. Perhaps he could get to know one.

“Do not talk to them. That is a Scarran. They can shoot fire out of their hands. Very nasty, and will take issue if you much as make eye contact.” The pilot flipped another switch. “Making touchdown.”

The dropship entered the planet’s surface and landed smoothly. Shining Armor and Cadence departed from the ship, the pilot waving them off. 

They made their way around until they came across what seemed to be a massive bar. 

“Think we’ll find anything in there?” Cadence asked.

“Couldn’t hurt to look … could it?” Shining Armor replied.

They went inside. The first thing which struck was the sheer variety of other creatures there. Both big and small, fat and lean, animal-like, like themselves, or very alien. Some of them were even robotic, though clearly not Cybertronian, with the bar table curved to serve any and all of them.

“Let’s see if we can find something.” Shining Armor said. The two of them made their way around the bar. They tiptoed around, trying not to be notice lest they start a fight.

“Did you hear?” A shrill voice said. “Some guy is holding a rally out back.”

“A rally?” Another patron asked.

“Yeah. Says anyone who hates Cybertronians is welcome to join.”

“Really? Well, maybe I ought take a gander …”

“Hates Cybertronians?” Cadence said. “Does that sound like something we’d be interested in?”

“I … yes, it does.” Shining Armor said. “There are a lot of Cybertronians on Earth nowadays.”

“Let’s go.” 

Shining Armor and Cadence followed the bar patron out the door and around to the back of the establishment. There, they found a huge crowd gathering around a stage, where a robot stood to speak.

“Look.” Cadence pointed to behind the stage, where a ship was parked. “Isn’t that the ship we’re following?”

“Yeah. I think it is.” Shining Armor focused his attention on the crowd. “And I’ll bet you the guy on the stage is in charge of it.”

“Might as well listen.” Cadence said. “See what he wants.”

“Friends, acquaintances, robbers, lend me your ears!” Thundertron shouted from the stage. “Listen well. Are you tired of the Cybertronians? Did you resent their species, their heritage? Do you resent their war for spilling over onto your planet and causing who knows how much untold damage?”

“Yeah!” The crowd cheered.

“Are you mad at them for their arrogance, their stubbornness, their - their callous disregard for life?” Thundertron went on, walking around the stage. “The way they act like organic lives mean less?” 

“Hey.” Cadence whispered. “The Autobots don’t do that, do they?”

Shining Armor didn’t answer her, finding himself nodding with Thundertron’s every word.

“The way they take no responsibly for their actions? They just show up, fight out their war until the planet is ruined, and then move to the next place like parasites?”

“Yeah!” The crowd cheered again. 

“Who here among you has not had something about themselves sullied by the Cybertronians’ trampling it underfoot?” 

On this, the crowd turned silent.

“Hmph. A little shy, are we?” Thundertron said. “A little afraid to tell your personal stories? Your scars? That’s okay. It can be a bit scary to share personal details with someone you’ve never met. Why don’t I start?”

“No. I’ll start.”

The crowd parted ways, allowing all of them to get a good look at Shining Armor, who had his hoof raised.

“Shining.” Cadence asked through gritted teeth. “What are you doing?”

Shining Armor turned to Cadence with a serious expression on his face. “I’m sorry, Cadence. But this is something I have to do.”

Shining Armor marched up to the stage. He tried to hop up, but was unable. Thundertron reached down and pulled him up. The Star Seeker adjusted Shining Armor, holding him high up in his palm for the crowd to see. 

“So, tiny hooved one, what’s your story?”

“I, um, well, uh …” Shining Armor broke into a sweat. 

“Oh, come now. Don’t succumb to stage fright! Speak, friend. You’re amongst like-minded company!”

Shining Armor looked at Thundertron, then cleared his throat. “Hello, everyone. Uh, my name is Shining Armor. I’m … Captain of the Royal Guard in Equestria. It’s, um, it’s a planet that’s a far, far away from Cybertron. You’re better off getting to by Space Bridge or something. Um … and I … I ” Shining Armor turned his head aside and rubbed his neck.

“Yes. Go on. Speak, friend.” Thundertron said.

“I hate the Cybertronians.” Shining Armor stomped his foot. Thundertron didn’t seem to mind. “I think they’re responsible for every bad thing in my life right now. Indirectly or directly, one way or another, they caused it. It started when they invaded my planet three years ago, and it just got worse from there.” 

“Shining, no.” Cadence whimpered, putting her hooves to mouth in shame.

“They … they changed my sister.” Shining Armor said. “They turned her into an undead. They turned me into an undead, and I hate it. I hate being an undead. I can’t eat normally. I can feel things the way I used to feel them. I’m using a spell right now to make myself look normal - which my sister came up with, not to brag.”

Shining Armor’s horn flashed, and the illusion faded, allowing the crowd to gasp in shock at the Dark Energon running over his body.

“They turned my sister and her friends … my sweet, innocent sister … into soldiers. Into … war maniacs. Into … potty mouths.”

The crowd chuckled.

“I became a soldier …” Shining Armor said. “To protect my little sister. To keep her safe from harm. To fight the bad guys so she wouldn’t ever have to worry about them, and she could play safe at home. You know, maybe find a nice mate, start a family … but she went out into space … because that’s what our leader needed her to do ...” Shining Armor’s voice broke. Tears welled up in his eyes. “And she didn’t come back. Instead, this thing, this zombie, this soldier who you can tell from a glance has been through hell and back, almost literally, did.”

Shining Armor sniffed, wiping a tear away.

“I don’t blame Celestia. She didn’t know what she was getting my sister into. But the Autobots, and their war, took my Twiley away from me.” Shining Armor said. “They sent her into war, not me. And for that … I can never forgive them.”

The crowd was silent, moved by Shining Armor’s speech. 

“You have a place in the Star Seekers, Shining Armor.” Thundertron said. “Anyone else?”

“I had a son.” A boar-faced alien said. “When the Cybertronians came to our planet, with their war, my son wanted to go help the Autobots fight the Decepticons. I didn’t want him to go, but he insisted. Optimus Prime promised me he’d bring him back alive. Instead, he carried my son to me, the blast wound in his chest still smoking.”

“A firefight between a Wrecker and a Decepticon blew my arm off.” A one-armed alien said.

“The Decepticons planted Energon deposits near my farm. Could barely grow enough to feed my family for years.”

Other stories of similar losses and occurrences were shared from many, many in the crowd.

“The Cybertronians have robbed you of your homes, your livelihoods, your limbs, your sons!” Thundertron said, raising a fist in the air, being careful not to drop Shining Armor. “Are we going to let this continue?”


“NO!”

“That’s right! They say they’ve ended their war, but are we going to let them get off with no comeuppance, no recompensation? No. I say we take an eye for an eye … and rob a few things from them!”

“YEAH!” 

“Join me, my fellow victims, and together … we will make the Cybertronians pay for every debt they owe us, down to the nearest cent! To the nearest drop of blood which will be spilled in kind!”

The crowd cheered and clamoured and thundered its approval. 

Shining Armor looked down at Cadence, whose face was frozen in a look of shock and horror. 

“Shining … how could you support this?”

“I’m sorry, Cadence.”

“WAIT!” A dissenter in the crowd shouted. “I’ve got no love for the Cybertronians myself, but how are you going to pull that off? After a few thousand years of warfare, I’d say they’d gotten pretty good at it!”

“Ah. Allow me to answer that, my friend.” Thundertron reached and pulled down a curtain, showing the Requiem Blaster mounted to the underside of his ship. “Behold, the Requiem Blaster! With all the power of a star going supernova, with this weapon, this doomsday device, we will scour the universe clean of Cybertronians! We will cleanse planets of their Cybertronian infestations. We will cure them of the disease, the affliction, that is the Cybertronian species!”

The crowd clamoured and roared its approval, backing Thundertron one-hundred-percent of the way.
Meanwhile, Cadence turned away and returned to the dropship … alone, while dripping tears from her eyes. 

“Back by yourself?” The pilot asked. “What happened to Shining Armor?”

“He’s not coming.” Cadence said. “Take us back.”

“Understood.” The pilot set about activating the ship. “And, hey … whatever happened, I’m sorry.”

“Thank you,” Cadence said. She flew up into the pilot’s lap and rested her head on his leg. “If you don’t mind … I’d like a shoulder … or a thigh to cry on right now.” Cadence sobbed into his shin armor.

The pilot’s first instinct was to remove her so he could focus on his job, but he resisted the impulse. He wasn’t a Decepticon anymore. This was the kind of thinking he’d been trying to distance himself from when he signed on for Galloway’s program.

“Take all the time you need,” he told her.



In Hydia’s homeland, there stood a high castle, built upon the peak of a mountain. Snowy, chilly winds whipped around the brick, ice settling between the snow.

The huge double doors of the castle were opened by magic, and Hydia stepped through.

“Welcome to my humble abode, Starlight Glimmer,” Hydia said. “These are my daughters, Reeka and Draggle.”

Hydia gestured to two human-looking females, one skinny with red hair, the other rotund with dark hair.

“Oh! Is that a pony?” Reeka said. “It’s been so long since we’ve laid eyes on one!”

“Yes, dears. This is Starlight Glimmer. She’s going to be our guest for awhile. Entertain her, would you? And dears, she’s a foreigner, from Equestria, so don’t be surprised if she has difficulty understanding our ways.” 

“Oh, boy, a foreigner! How exotic!” Draggle said. She and Reeka went up to Starlight and began pushing her. “We are gonna have so much fun together!”

Starlight was not as enthusiastic. “Eh-heh … sure. Whatever you say.”

Hydia smiled as they left. She turned around to metal footsteps, Steeljaw entering behind her, the doors large enough he had no trouble fitting in … and with space to spare. 

“They seem like they’ll have a good time together.” Steeljaw said.

“Yes.” Hydia said.

“Hydia …” Steeljaw said. “Could I talk to you about something?”

“What?”

“I know you’ve been associating with a centaur. By the name of Tirek, if I’m not mistaken.” Steeljaw rubbed his fingers together. “You know I’ve traveled back into this time from the future. I was hoping I could ask you to send him back to Tartarus where you found him while you still can, before he has time to recover and amass his magical power. He’s become quite the troublesome thorn in the side of the Decepticons in the future, you see.” 

Hydia nodded. “I understand what you’re saying. I will take it … under advisement.”

“Good,” Steeljaw said, smiling and turning his head to hide his displeasure at her not agreeing right away. 

Hydia walked away, thinking to herself. 

Tirek is a powerful ally, especially if I’m going to take over this land, while he gets Equestria,  and I’ll not turn on him just because a metal werewolf from the future told me it was a good idea. 



A Ministry official pushed open the door to a massive palace, covered head to toe in arctic gear. Heaving, he shut the door behind him.

“Greetings, Defense Minister.” Serpentor greeted him. “Did you have a nice trip?”

The Minister spat. “All I can say is that this ‘Cobra-La’ is not all, as I believe you say, ‘cracked up to be.’”

“That’s a shame.” Serpentor said. “I think it’s lovely myself.”

“Regardless.” Destro said, walking forward with the Baroness and Doctor Venom behind him.  “Do you have an update on your progress?”

“Yes,” the Minister produced a folder. “Production is going at a steady rate. We should have an army before too long.”

“Excellent," Doctor Venom said.

“Your intentions …” The Minister said. “Are they pure? How can I be sure that once my people have made this army, you will not … repossess us of it?”

“Minister, let me assure that COBRA, my colleges, and myself at your full support. Whatever is you wish to do with this army, we will let you do so,” Destro said. 

“Not to mention, if we wanted to build Transformers, the ones we could make ourselves would be far superior.” Serpentor grumbled.

"Do not be rude, Serpentor," Destro said.

“My first priority is the defense of my homeland from more Cybertronian-related collateral damage.” The Minister said, taking the folder. “If you’ll excuse me, I will go check on how the army’s manufacturing and training is going.”

“But of course.”  Destro bowed. The Minister let himself out, pushing the heavy door himself rather than ask for help. 

“Think we can trust him?” Serpentor asked.

“So long as he continues to believe our assistance is in his country’s best interests, yes,” Destro answered.




“Commander.” Magnum motioned for Twilight’s attention. “We’re picking up what seems to be a distress call in the Himalayas.”

“The Himalayas?” Twilight tilted her head. “Interesting.”

“It might be a trap.” Magnum warned. “Think about it. A signal in the Himalayas?”

“If it is, we still have to investigate it, if only to know who’s trying to trap us and why. We’ll be ready. Gear up, team!”

The Imperial team, including all of Twilight’s friends, Crosshairs, Team Prime, Magnum, and Crosshairs and Drift, emerged through a GroundBridge, arriving at a valley inside the Himalayas.

Twilight, decked out in her armor, stopped short when she saw who was sending the signal. “Steeljaw.”

Steeljaw cracked a menacing, unsettling grin, accompanied by his Pack and Starlight Glimmer.

“Twilight,” Steeljaw said. “I’m so glad you responded to my call.”

“Starlight,” Twilight said, relieved to see Starlight Glimmer alive. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” Twilight paused. “Oh. But now this means I’m going to have to fight you,” she reminded herself.

“Yes,” Steeljaw said. “I’m given to understand you and Starlight have some scores to settle. And that Starlight has a thing for the cold. That’s why of all the places we could have gone, I picked the Himalayas. And she will do her very best to defeat you, won't you, Starlight? After all, Twilight Sparkle is an awful, human-hating horrible terrorist.”

"That is technically true, from a certain point of view," Twilight said. "But I've been getting better about the human thing."

"'Technically'?" Ultra Magnus asked. "Ain't no technically 'bout it. You create fear to achieve political goals. But in the future, when our sons and daughters look down on us, they'll call you a revolutionary, not a terrorist, because history is written by the winners, and make no mistake, we will be the winners!"

Steeljaw chuckled, giving a toothy smile. "We'll just see about that, won't it?"

Starlight stepped forward, her horn crackling. Steeljaw’s Pack tensed up, as did the Imperial team.

Magnum stopped and looked up. He pointed the at sky. “Look. Over there. What’s that over the horizon?”

Steeljaw chuckled. “I admire your attempts at duplicity, Autobot, but do you really I would fall for such an old and obvious trick?”

“No, Steeljaw.” Thunderhoof grabbed Steeljaw by the shoulder. “He’s right. Look!”

Everyone looked up to see a white, metal beak emerging over the horizon. The object continued forward, revealing massive bat wings swung upside and backwards, and blasters pointing from beneath the beak. 

Twilight recognized the wings. “Is that … Thunderwing?”

“It looks like Bludgeon’s Decepticons have refashioned him into a ship.” Magnum said. “Like some … zombie, Decepticon version of Omega Supreme.”

“Yeesh.” Crosshairs shrugged. “I used to be a mercenary, and even I think that’s a little heartless.”

“Well?” Bludgeon asked Starscream, standing inside the ship’s bridge. “What do you think, Starscream? Did I promise you a ship, or did I promise you a ship?”

“Yes,” Starscream said. “Most impressive. Now, where are those Imperials we detected around here?”

“Right there, sir.” A Vehicon pointed to the screen he was monitoring. “In the valley below.”

“Ooh. In a valley. This couldn’t be more perfect.” Starscream tapped his fingers. “Charge up the ship’s weapons and open fire. We’ll bury them in the snow.” 

The Vehicon went to do as ordered, but he hesitated. “Sir, we’re picking up Decepticon signals down there.” 

“Eh.” Starscream flicked his hand in dismissal. “If they’re not one of ours, there’s a good chance they’re Imperials. Open fire.”

“Commencing firing sequence,” the Vehicon reported, pushing in the commands.

A panel opened beneath Thunderwing’s beak, deploying and revealing a large cannon similar to the ones on his robot mode arms. The cannon charged up a pulse and opened fire, shooting erratically at the valley to bring it crashing it down all those therein. Purple beams strike the walls, destroying much of the rock and allowing the snow and ice to come sliding down.

“Avalanche!” Twilight shouted.

“Gee, you think?” Crosshairs quipped.

“Everyone, get out of here! Move! Move!” Twilight ordered, sweeping a hoof. 

Steeljaw’s Pack had the same idea, each of them taking their own approach into getting out of the valley before the snow buried them in. Most of them converted to vehicle mode and drove away, but Thunderhoof used his outlier ability to pound open a hole for him to hide in, while Steeljaw jumped into the air and began wall jumping and crawling on the walls, using falling rocks as platforms to bounce off of.

Starlight turned around and attempted to run with the Pack, but a piece of hail hit her in the hind leg and made her fall over. When she realized she couldn’t get up, she tried to teleport, but she couldn’t focus.

“Steeljaw!” Starlight reached a hoof out to him. “What are you doing? Help me out of here!”

“Life lesson, Starlight.” Steeljaw shouted over the rumbling of falling rocks as he clung to a wall. “In a crisis, it’s every Decepticon for himself!” He proceeded to  jump higher up, where he began to fade from Starlight’s view.

Starlight was devastated. “But …”

The Imperials, retreating back towards a Bridge, were waylaid when Fluttershy, hearing Starlight’s sounds of distress, stopped and turned around. Fluttershy saw Starlight struggling to move.

“Fluttershy!” Twilight shouted. “We need to get out of here!”

Fluttershy stared, transfixed.

“You go on without me, Twilight.” Fluttershy said.

“WHAT?”

“I’m going to save her. Go.” Fluttershy gestured her head at the Bridge.

Twilight was stunned, but got over it.  “I understand. Fluttershy … you make sure you rescue her, because I’m not letting her die on my watch a second time. Or you.”

Fluttershy smiled and nodded. Twilight ran into the Bridge, while Fluttershy galloped towards Starlight. 
Fluttershy increased her pace, just barely avoiding being hit by a falling icicle. She jumped up and converted into her ladybug mode and sped towards Starlight, her wings flapping furiously.

Starlight grunted, trying to push herself up again, sweat beading down her face while her horn fizzled uselessly. She sighed and panted, ready to give up and accept her fate.

Fluttershy zoomed by like a ball of dark green lightning, snatching Starlight up in her insect legs and flying her away from the avalanche, moments before a massive pile of snow landed where Starlight was a minute ago. 

Fluttershy tilted up and flew upwards, wings beating hard. She searched around the valley until she found a cavern opening. She flew in, carrying Starlight inside and dropping her to the ground to let her rest. Starlight, exhausted, collapsed.

It took some time, but eventually, the avalanche finished up, leaving a massive blockade of snow inside the valley.

Fluttershy kept watch by the entrance, peeking her head out every now and then. She watched as snowflakes fell from the sky in a gentle, dainty fashion, so much unlike the chaotic, dangerous avalanche she was dealing with a scant few minutes ago.

Fluttershy’s ear twitched at a sound. She looked to see Starlight coming to, rubbing her head as she woke up. 

“Hello,” Fluttershy said. “It’s nice to see you’re awake … Starlight Glimmer, was it? I’m Fluttershy.”

“Yeah.” Starlight stared at the ground. “Fluttershy.” Starlight glanced at Fluttershy. “You’re Twilight’s friend, right?”

“One of them, yes,” Fluttershy answered.

“W-why did you save me?” Starlight asked. “Twilight hates me”

“Because it was the right thing to do,” Fluttershy said. ‘I couldn’t just stand by and let that no-good Steeljaw abandon you like that.” 

Fluttershy walked up to Starlight. “And she doesn’t hate you. In fact, I think she wants to be your friend. But something about your ideology and the way you do things is … discouraging her from that idea.” Fluttershy said gently.

“Hmm. I can imagine.” Starlight said. 

Fluttershy peeked outside. “It’s too dangerous to try to leave by hoof … and I’m not sure my wings could keep aloft for an extended period of time.”

“But didn’t you-”

“Rescue you from certain doom? I did, but that was a short burst.” Fluttershy said. “Besides, the snow would get to my insect wings, and I can’t carry you very well in my pony mode.”

“Pony mode?”

Fluttershy pressed a hoof to her ear. She was met with static and crackling. “Ah, and either the weather or the cave is causing interference with my comm.” 

Fluttershy walked up to Starlight and laid down, cross-legged. 

“So, I guess you and I are stuck with each other for a few hours until somepony comes to rescue us.”

“Somepony’s coming to rescue us?” Starlight asked.

“Don’t worry.” Fluttershy said. “I know my friends. They wouldn’t leave me. As soon as it’s safe, they’re going to send in multiple teams to try and find me. In the meantime, we should figure out something to pass the time. Why don’t you tell me about yourself, Starlight Glimmer?”

Starlight turned her head. “There’s … not much to tell, honestly.”

“Oh, I can’t believe that.” Fluttershy said. “Here. Why don’t I make this easier on you? I’ll start.”



“Firing successful, sir.” The Vehicon reported to Starscream. “Avalanche caused.”

“Good.” Starscream said. “Send a team down to search for stragglers and survivors. They’ll be weakened and disoriented by the avalanche, but still a threat, and potential prisoners.”

“I beg your pardon?” Deathsaurus said, walking into the room. “I am the leader of the Forged, and I say we don’t need to waste precious resources that. The avalanche will set our enemies back enough for us to claim victory elsewhere, but only if we move now.”

The Vehicon looked to Deathsaurus, then to Starscream, not sure who to obey over who.

Starscream repeated the order. “Search the area for stragglers and survivors.”

“Countermand that order.” Deathsaurus said.

“Dang it, Deathsaurus!” Starscream said. He pointed a finger at Deathsaurus’ chin. “Don’t underestimate the Autobots, or the ponies. You have no idea what they’re capable of! Of what they can do when they set their minds to it!”

“Maybe so, but I am still the leader of the Forged, and my orders stand. What I say goes.” Deathsaurus crossed his arms. 

“In case you haven’t noticed, this isn’t just the Forged anymore! It’s the Forged and the Mayhem, working together. No, it’s more than that! It’s Decepticons with common goals working, like it should be, the way of the universe.”

Starscream’s eyes widened as a realization struck him. He got an idea. He chuckled. “Then again … maybe what the Forged needs is a new leader.”

“What are you saying?” Deathsaurus asked, giving Starscream a suspicious eye.

“I’m saying, Deathsaurus, that I’m challenging you to a trial by combat for undisputed leadership of the Forged.” Starscream struck up a dynamic pose, pointing at Deathsaurus.

Deathsaurus laughed. “Ha ha ha! You really think you can beat me, Starscream, in a fair fight? I mean, look at you! I’m three times your size! But very well. I accept your challenge.”

The Arena was set up out on the outer bow of Thunderwing. Shockwave, Fearswoop, Bludgeon, and Soundwave, and various other Decepticons all gathered around to watch the match for Forged leadership. 

Deathsaurus and Starscream stood opposite of each other, claws bared, raring to go. Starscream flexed his fingers. Deathsaurus did the same.

“Yaaah!” Deathsaurus shouted, revealing an amount of missiles and cannons hidden in his both, including a twin-barrelled weapon he held in his hand and a flail. He charged at Starscream, his weapons blazing, pump-pump-pumping out bullets, missiles, and artillery shells. Starscream easily ducked to the side, avoiding the majority of the fire. Brandishing the Thunder Talon, Starscream dashed at Deathsaurus, smacking him with the Talon, sinking the Talon’s claws into his chest and crunching down on it.

Deathsaurus gasped he pried the weapon out of him - and with considerable pain. He threw Starscream aside before stumbling, clutching at his wounded chest. Electric sparks crackled from the panels. 

Deathsaurus heaved a big sigh and turned out. “That’s quite a fancy weapon you’ve got there, Starscream. But I think it’s a little unfair for you have to your fancy Beast Hunter weapon, whereas all I have is just normal weaponry. What do you say we make a fair fight? Just you and me, mano en mano. No weapons.”

Starscream smirked and chuckled. “Very well. Soundwave.” Starscream walked up to Soundwave and gave him the Thunder Talon for safekeeping. 

Starscream walked back to Deathsaurus, tensing and flexing his fingers. Deathsaurus cracked his knuckles. He refrained from charging, trying to catch Starscream off-guard, before doing so, rushing straight at him. 

Starscream moved to the side, grabbing the Deathsaurus by the arm and swinging him around, using Deathsaurus’ bulk against him, making his momentum hurl himself into the ground. Deathsaurs pushed himself up and growled, baring his teeth as he got to his feet. 

“Rah! Rah! Rarh!” Deathsaurus shouted, attempting to strike Starscream with a variety of jabs, punches, and slices with his claw. Starscream blocked each blow, using his arms to stop Deathsaurus’ blow short of his own chest or head. 

“Enough of this.”

Starscream caught Deathsaurus’ next punch in his bare claw, to Deathsaurus’ surprise. Deathsaurus wasn’t sure if he was underestimating Starscream, of if the Beast Hunter upgrade made him stronger. 

Starscream flexed his free claw. He raised it up, jamming upwards into Deathsaurus’ gut, the same way he had done to Cliffjumper all those years ago.

Deathsaurus gasped and fell to his knees, looking up at Starscream with his eyes wide in shock as Energon pooled out of his chest, dripping to the floor. Starscream’s face was cold and unreadable, expressionless. 

“Aait … ugh … no … impossible … you must have … cheated … somehow … ugh … uck … agh.” Deathsaurus burbled out, before gargling Energon out of his mouth, his eyes still open and his mouth wide open as if he’d been infected with rabies before Starscream took his claw out, allowing Deathsaurus’ dead body to topple forward.

“Well, I guess that settles that.” Starscream said, turning and walking away from Deathsaurus’ body.

“He … he killed Deathsaurus.” Fearswoop said in awe. “He actually did it. Starscream the Cowardly actually did it, in a fair fight, and he won! Without cheating!”

“No way.” Heavy Load said. “There has to be something we missed … hasn’t there?”

“Like I said …” Starscream glanced to Soundwave, who tossed him back the Talon. Starscream caught it with one hand. He leaned in towards Deathsaurus’ body. “Three leaders is a party, but four is a crowd.” Starscream raised his voice. “Would anyone else like to question my claim to leadership?”

“N-no man.” Fearswoop waved his claws. “No, man, we’re good. We’re good.” This earned a smirk from Starscream.

“Force. The only thing most Decepticons understand. Well, aside from you, Shockwave.” Starscream affixed the Thunder Talon to his back, where he kept it. “Now that I am the undisputed supreme leader of the Forged Decepticons, do me a favor, dears, and …”

Starscream gestured his head at Deathsaurus’ body.

“Clean that up,” Starscream said before walking away.



“And that’s the story of how I learned that I was an animal lover.” Fluttershy concluded her tale. “I mean, they were just … so nice to me.”

“Fascinating,” Starlight said. “Can I ask you a question?”

Fluttershy nodded. “Of course.” 

“What … are you?” Starlight asked.

“Oh.” Fluttershy chuckled. “That’s easy. I’m a Transmetal half-Insection hybrid.”

“Okay. How did you … get like that?”

“Well, an Insecticon Queen wanted me to be her successor.” Fluttershy said. “So they tried to put me in a pod to convert me into an Insecticon, and then my friend Ratchet interrupted the process before it was complete, turning me into this!” Fluttershy said. She sighed. “I miss Ratchet.”

“And you don’t ever get … angry about that?”

“It … really is kind of the perfect fate for me. I mean, for somepony who loves animals as much as me, and the Insecticons pretty much are animals, so becoming a half-animal was pretty the best thing that could happen to me.”

A cold wind blew into the cave, causing Starlight so shiver. 

“Oh my.” Fluttershy stood up and walked over to Starlight. “Here. We’d better get cuddle together for warmth.” 

“Okay …” Starlight said, leaning into Fluttershy’s body, letting Fluttershy wrap a wing around here.

“Think you can teleport us out of here?” Fluttershy asked.

“Are you crazy? A unicorn can’t teleport blind through walls!”

“Really? But my friend Twilight does it all the time.” 

Starlight sighed. “Even if that’s true, I … I can’t. I’m … too … too …”

“Scared?” Fluttershy asked. “It’s okay to admit it.”

“Nervous, yeah.” Starlight said. She looked around before glancing at Fluttershy. “Can I ask you another question?”

“Sure.”

“Why are you being so nice to me?”

Fluttershy shrugged. “It’s just the way I was raised, I guess. I’ve alway been a kind soul. If I see somepony struggling or in need, well … I can’t help but want to help them. Maybe I’m a bleeding heart, but that’s the way it is.”

“Hmm.” Starlight said. “Fluttershy?” 

“Yes?”

“Thank you. For … being here with me.”

“You’re welcome.” Fluttershy said.

Another gust came in through the cavern entrance, making Starlight and Fluttershy shudder. 

“Well …” Fluttershy said. “I guess this is it, then. My Insection parts can stand more of the cold than you can, but a few more breezes like that, and we’re both done for.”

“Yeah, probably.” Starlight sighed. “Thank you again, Fluttershy … for sticking with me, despite, you know, everything I did to Twilight.”

“No problem.”

“I just wish …” Starlight said. “I wish I could have a chance to make amends, because … she was like the sister I never had.”

“Oh, Starlight …” Fluttershy wrapped her leg around Starlight to comfort her.

“Well … I guess this is the end.” Starlight leaned into Fluttershy’s shoulder and closed. “Fluttershy, if I go before you - and let’s be honest, I probably will - promise you won’t cry or beat yourself up over it?”

“I …” Fluttershy hesitated. “Okay. I promise.”

“Good …” Starlight said.

“Wait.” Fluttershy’s ears perked up. “Did you hear that?”

“You’re imagining things, Fluttershy …”

“No.” Fluttershy said. “I hear something.” 

Fluttershy was right. There was a crunching of snow beneath a boot. Someone was coming towards them for sure. But it was friend or foe?

A yellowish hand reached up from the edge of the cavern entrance, grabbing onto the ledge. It pulled itself up to reveal Sunset Shimmer, in all in her human glory.

“Sunset Shimmer!” Fluttershy exclaimed in surprise.

“Hi, guys.” Sunset said. “I heard you two were in need of a ride?”

“You bet!” Fluttershy said. “But … you’re still in your normal clothes. How are you not freezing?”

Sunset raised up her hand, engulfing it in fire and turning into a red claw. “Blazing infernal she-demon queen, remember?”

Starlight gave Fluttershy a surprised look.

Fluttershy rolled her eyes off to the side. “I’ll … explain later.”

With Sunset Shimmer’s help, using her pyrokinetic powers to light the way, melt the snow in the way, and warm up their bodies, Fluttershy and Starlight were able to make their way out of the cavern and climb up to the top of the valley.

Fluttershy flew up to a ledge and perched, reaching down to help Starlight and Sunset up in turn, bringing them to the lip of the outside of the valley. 

“So, Sunset Shimmer.” Starlight asked, standing off as Fluttershy took Sunset’s hand. “How come you came and found us?”

“The Imperials sent me.” Sunset explained, watching her footing. “I felt I wasn’t doing enough to contribute to the cause, so when I heard Twilight was looking for volunteers for a search and rescue, I signed up.” 

“But … why were you willing to come and rescue both of us?” Starlight asked. “Surely Twilight told you all about the things I did up to now before she sent you out to save me.”

Sunset waved her hand. “Don’t sweat it. I used to be a bad guy, too, until I got a stern talking-to.”

“I am not a bad guy!” Starlight insisted furiously, sweeping a hoof across her chest. “Just because I lied to and manipulated my townsfolk, used my friends as guards to my authority, and … took advantage of a helpless pony … without any of her … memories … doesn’t … make me a bad guy.” Starlight began to lose her steam and conviction, realizing how amoral her actions were when phrased in such a way and spoken out loud, especially the ‘taking advantage of’ bit.

Sunset smirked at her. 

“Still.” Starlight said, keeping a hoof to her chest in pride. “That’s just who I am.”

“I know who I was.” Sunset said. “But I changed. Why can’t you?”

Starlight was at a loss for words.
“So, Sunset …” Fluttershy said. “How come you’re not a pony? I thought you had only control of the mirror on the other side.”

“My magic’s strong enough that I can take any form I want, on either side.” Sunset said. “I guess I’ve been human for so long it’s just my default now.” Sunset put a hand over her eyes, squinting to the distance. “We should be able to get to the rendezvous from here. Hope you don’t mind a trek, Starlight Glimmer.”

“Mind? Why would I mind?” Starlight asked deflectively. Physical labor was not her strong suit. 


Twilight, with the rest of her team, paced around helmetless, letting the cold bite at her face. She fretted and worried about whether any of her soldiers would find Fluttershy in time. So she was elated when she turned and saw Sunset Shimmer walking back with Fluttershy and Starlight.

“Fluttershy! You’re okay!” Twilight got ready to embrace her friend, but stopped in place when she saw Starlight with them. “And … Starlight, too. I’m … not sure how to feel about that.”

“Heh.” Starlight chuckled, approaching Twilight.

“I’d like to be happy, Starlight. I would.” Twilight told her. “But you’ve been so … unpredictable and crazy that for all I know, this is just a setup so you could get close to me and hit me while my guard is down.”

“That is something that I wouldn’t put past myself.” Starlight said. She looked to the ground. “But …” 

Starlight dropped to her knees, holding her front hooves up in begging. “Oh, Twilight, please forgive me. I … I had a talk with Sunset Shimmer on the way here.” Starlight explained to Twilight’s confused expression. “And it made me realize just how much wrong I did to you, how much I could have hurt you irreparably …  with no memories, no idea of who are you … I’m sorry. I said it before, I’ll say it again. I meant when I said you were like a sister to me. I promise you, I will turn over a new leaf … if you’ll have me, and take me in as a friend.”

Twilight smiled. She tried to hide the tears forming in her eyes. “I meant it when I said you were like a sister to me, too. I’ve forgiven some pretty heinous stuff in my time, Starlight. I’m sure I can find it in my heart to forgive you too.”

Starlight smiled, sniffing, her eyes quivering as she cried tears of joy. 
Unfortunately, any good vibes the two might have generated disappeared when a hail of energy blasts rained down around them, Decepticon jets descending on their position.

“Forged, attack!” Starscream ordered.



Attinger walked around on the facility pondering his next move in the investigation while ignoring the whistles of rockets and explosions as they continued to test different models.  
His investigation was going to be cut short, as a spherical drone floated down from the sky in front of him.

Attinger nodded his head at the sphere. The drone produced a blipping hologram of a Ministry agent. 

“Hello, Attinger.” The agent said.  

“What do you want?” Attinger asked.

“We know that you have been working on an army of Cybertronian-derived drones.” The agent said. “We know it is only a matter of time before it you investigate and realize we have been working on the same. We know that you … Americans will disapprove of us having drones. We would like to propose s.”

Attinger crossed his arms. “What is your proposal?” 

“We propose a battle between the two armies.” The agent said. “You send your machines against ours in the Himalayas. Our armies will battle, one will stand, and the winner will be allowed to keep their drone army.” 

“Hmm. And the loser?”

“The loser will not have any drones.” The agent said.

“You expect me to gamble a valuable asset, a useful resource, and a powerful weapon for the safety and defense of my country, not to  mention wasting the money involved in the research and construction, on what amounts to a drunken wager between two alcoholic macho men about who would win in a fight?” Attinger said. 

“No.” The agent said. “We expect your American secret agent paranoia to lead you to send your drones in the hopes of removing these weapons from the hands of a power that does not answer directly to your government. Let me say this. We will put our drones in position in the Himalayan mountains. You can send yours there. Or you can not. Simple, isn’t it? The choice is yours.”

The agent smirked before the hologram was dismissed. Attinger watched the drone fly away. 

Attinger turned away. He cricked his neck, thinking about what the agent had said. 

“Damn it, he’s right.” Attinger walked towards the facility’s main building, pulling out his cell phone and dialing Gould. “Gould, it’s me. Got a mission for your drones.”



“W-what do I do?” Starlight quivered as Vehicons surrounded them.

“Do you know how to fight Decepticons?” Twilight pulled up her helmet.

“No.”

“Then stay behind us, and keep out of harm’s way.” Twilight told her before running up to a Vehicon, deployer her exo-suit’s hoof blaster.

“This shouldn’t be too hard.” Magnum said, grabbing one Vehicon by the head and bashing it into another. “Just Starscream and a few Vehicons.”

“Yeah.” Crosshairs popped a Vehicon in the chest with both his guns. “What’s the problem?”

“The problem …” Drift slashed a Vehicon. “Is that.” He pointed upwards.

Starscream, Fearswoop, and Heavy Load fell from the sky, thudding on the ground.

“Aww, yeah.” Fearswoop spewed fire from his claws. “I’ve been waiting for this! Prepare to get yours, AutobOOOOTS!”

Fearswoop screamed in response to Magnum picking him by the eyestalk and throwing him up to the ground, where Magnum stomped him for good measure. Although this left him open to a shot in the back from Shockwave.

“We’ll handle Starscream. Girls, with me!” Twilight ordered, galloping up to Starscream.

“What’s this?” Starscream observed as Twilight’s friends rush towards him. “Ah, yes. The herd coming together to defeat me.”

“You had this a long time comin’, Starscream.” Applejack stood by Starscream’s foot and prepared to buck him.

“Ah, yes. Applejack. Whose prodigious Earth pony strength allows her to dent even Cybertronian armor with her bare hooves.” Starscream mused … before rearing his foot back and kicking Applejack clear across the field. “What, you think I’m just going to stand here and let you hurt me?”

“Hey! You can’t do that to A.J!” Rainbow Dash protested. 

Rainbow Dash flew towards Starscream, her lips flapping from the speed she was using to hurtle herself towards him like a wrecking ball.

Starscream whipped out his Thunder Talon and caught Rainbow in its pincers, sinking the pincers into her sides and draining her speed from her. Starscream shook Rainbow from the Talon, throwing her to the ground.

“Some ponies never learn their lessons.” Starscream mused. 

“Oh, that is it.” Pinkie Pie said. “To quote Rarity, it is on!” Pinkie Pie aimed her party cannon at Starscream and fired, getting a lucky hit and plastering Starscream in cake and confetti. 

“Oh no! Not the party cannon!” Starscream fretted. “Now whatever will I do, with all this cake gumming up my joints and keeping me from moving? Maybe I’ll activate the inbuilt sprinklers I had installed for just this occasion!”

“Yeah!” Pinkie cheered. “Wait, what?” 

Pinkie was dismayed when water sprayed out from Starscream’s joints, bathing him and washing the cake off, allowing him to move freely. 

Rarity used her magic to gather up a pile of snow, coalescing together in a massive snowball which she hurled at Starscream. Starscream didn’t lose his cool, calmly firing the rocket from his arm, which hit and exploded the snow boulder into powder. Twilight tried to take him out with a barrage of lasers, alternating between her horn and her onboard blasters, but Starscream was able to use Dash’s stolen speed to block each shot with the Thunder Talon. 

“What do we do?” Applejack asked. “This guy has a counter for every move we make!”

“I - I don’t know!” Twilight cried. 

A whir hummed from the air above. Energies swirled around, until a blue vortex appeared in the middle of the air. Captain Bumblebee jumped out of the Bridge, kicking Starscream in the chest.

“Boo-yah!” Captain Bumblebee backflipped and landed on his feet. “We are back in business!”

Starscream stared in shock, having no idea what was happening. Captain Bumblebee pulled out his sword and struck Starscream across the chest, batting him aside.

“Future Bee?” Twilight asked. “You’re back! But how?” 


“It wasn’t easy.” Captain Bumblebee said. “But eventually, we found somewhere we could lay low, and we managed to build another Time Bridge. So, how are things? Did you find out what happened yet?”

“Not yet.”

“Um, excuse me? Hello? Yoo-hoo! Major villain over here who is very confused about what is going.” Starscream said. “COuld somebody please contextualize this for me?”

“Oh. Um.” Captain Bumblebee said. “I’m Bumblebee. From … the future.”

“Oh.” 

“Oh? You accept that crazy story just like that?”

“My worst enemy is a sparkly purple pony. So time travel is not a stretch by any means.” Starscream said. 

“No doubt.”

Starscream took advantage of this friendly conversation to slash Captain Bumblebee across the face.

“Should have seen that coming.” Starscream quipped.

“Yeah. I should’ve.” Captain Bumblebee said, smirking before he slugged Starscream in the face, knocking Starscream onto his back. 

“So, update me.” Captain Bumblebee said, turning to the ponies. “How have you been? How are things? Have you all called your parents recently?”  

“You’re being very chipper for someone who lives in an apocalyptic, dystopian future.” Twilight said.

“I have to be!” Captain Bumblebee said, putting on a terrifying, twitchy grin.

Starlight Glimmer watched from afar. She observed Starscream’s fallen body and notice nobody was offering to help him up. Getting a determined expression, resolving to show Twilight that she could change and be like her, she walked up to Starscream, unnoticed.

“Hey.” Starlight said, right as Starscream was pushing himself up. He looked at her slack-jawed.

“I’m Starlight Glimmer.” Starlight introduced herself. “I notice nobody was helping you up, not even to take you prisoner, so I thought I’d come by.”

“Oh? Really?” Starscream asked.

“Mm-hmm.” Starlight said. “Listen to me. I know you think you’re doing what you want by being a bad guy, but you’re not. You’re just hurting people. I should know. I was in the same place you are just earlier today. Turn over a new leaf. Embrace friendship instead! You’ll find life is easier when you’ve got your friends with you.” 

Starlight smiled and offered Starscream her hoof. 

“Friendship, huh?” Starscream said. 

“Yes.”

Starlight’s eyes bugged out when she felt metal wrap her body as Starscream clasped his claw around her.

“Listen here, Starlight Glimmer.” Starscream held her up to his face. “You’re not on Equestria anymore. You can’t solve problems with just liberal application of friendship and forgiveness. Equestria may be a friendship-driven paradise, but it’s time you got a lesson in how the rest of the universe works.”

“Starlight Glimmer!” Twilight shouted, seeing Starscream holding her.

Starscream transformed while Starlight struggled, inserting into his cockpit and restraining her with the seatbelts of the pilot’s chair. His afterburning spewed off some weak fire before firing up and jetting him upwards.

Fluttershy transformed into her ladybug mode and barreled at him.

“No!” Captain Bumblebee ran towards Starscream and threw his sword at Decepticon. Starscream avoided by dodging to the side, and turned around to face Captain Bumblebee, shooting him with a rocket, the explosion from which blew Captain Bumblebee down to his back.  The rest of the girls gathered around him to make sure he was okay, not paying attention as Fluttershy followed Starscream. 



Fluttershy followed Starscream up to the underside of Thunderwing, where a hatch opened to allow Starscream inside. Fluttershy was able to fly up and reach inside, using her small body to hide to the side of the hatch until she was sure the coast was clear. 

She heard Starscream transform and landed. 

“Take this prisoner to a cell and secure her.” Starscream ordered two Vehicons, handing them Starlight, who wobbled around in the Vehicon’s palm before collapsing, not used to riding in a jet.

Starscream went one way, and the Vehicons went another. 

After watching Starscream’s legs pass by the hatch, Fluttershy dared to venture out. She searched around and saw the Vehicons carrying Starlight and gasped. Regaining her composure, Fluttershy flew up to the ceiling, clamping to the ceiling with her insect legs. 

One of the Vehicons stopped. “Did you hear something?” 

Both of them turned around, aiming their blasters. They scanned the area, looking for intruders. When they saw nothing, they moved on. 

Fluttershy sighed in relieved, hiding in a corner. She fluttered on, following the Vehicons until they threw Starlight into a cell. They closed the door, locked it with a password, and walked away. 

Fluttershy checked both sides of the hallway before moving in. She walked up to the door where they had thrown Starlight. Rather than try to guess the passcode, Fluttershy armed her weapon and blasted her way in, even at risk of drawing attention.

“Starlight?” Fluttershy asked, walking into the room. Starlight was lying on the floor, despondent.
“Hello, Fluttershy …” Starlight said before turning away.

“Starlight, I’m here to rescue you.” Fluttershy said. “You need to come with me.”

“What’s the point?” Starlight grumbled. “I’m no good to anypony. I might as well be in here.”

“Don’t say that, Starlight.”

“Oh, really?” Starlight asked bitterly. “My first attempt at trying to be more like the kind of pony I assume Twilight wants me to be, and I failed. And not only did I fail, I’ve now been captured by some insane robot who is missing an eye!”

Fluttershy pursed her lips. “Okay, so you’re in desperate need of a crash course in how things work in the universe now … and trying to make friends with Starscream wasn’t your best choice. But you can’t let that get you down.”

“I can and I will.” 


Fluttershy tensed up, hearing metal footsteps out the door. “Okay, maybe you can lie around and feel bitter and sorry for yourself, but later. We have to go now, because I promise you, as much as you and Twilight got off to a rocky start, if you stay here, the Decepticons will hurt you. They will torture you, and they will kill you.” 

Starlight looked up in surprise. “Fine.” She stood up. “But just so that I have somewhere safe to wallow in my misery.”

“That’s perfectly fine, dear.” Fluttershy said. “Now follow me.”

Fluttershy led Starlight through the hall she had blasted in the door, before guiding her down the hallway, where she raised a hoof to stop Starlight, peeking over the corner.

“Two guards in the hall.” Fluttershy said. “We’re going to need some way to past them.”

“Well, can’t we just throw something at them?” Starlight asked. “Or you, even. All I have to is cast a Want It, Need It spell and -”

“No, no, no.” Fluttershy said. “You can’t do that. Equestrian mind-affecting magic doesn’t work on Cybertronians.”

“It doesn’t? How? Why?” Starlight asked, utterly shocked.

“Something about their brains.” Fluttershy said. “Twilight explained it to me, but I forget what she said. In my defense, it all sounded like technobabble to me.”

“Uh-huh.” Starlight looked up. “Well, what about the lights?” 

“That … could work. Can you affect them from here?”

“Please.” Starlight said. Her horn lit up, and all of the nearby lights flickered.

The two guards looked up. One of them activated his comm. “Uh, hi. Bridge? Is there a scheduled power outage? Lights are flicking in hallway 12B.”

“No, there isn’t.”

“Well, you know what Starscream says that means.” One of the Vehicons said.

“Yeah.” The other Vehicon prepped his weapon. “If someone’s messing with the lights, it’s probably an Autobot trying to create a distraction. Intruder alert!”

Fluttershy blinked. “Okay. That wasn't I was expecting to happen.”

“What do we do now?” Starlight asked.

“I say we … run!” Fluttershy galloped down the other way of the hall they had just come from, with Starlight following.  When they reached the other end, they were dismayed to see another pair of Vehicons from a joining hallway, who swiped at them and tried to grab them. The ponies ran in the other direction, but another pair of Vehicons stopped them. They turned around again to the first set of Vehicons, and a rocket landed by them, knocking both of their feet.

“Ah, Fluttershy.” Starscream walked up to them, as more Vehicons surrounded them. “You’re here to rescue Starlight, I presume.”

Fluttershy stood up, glaring daggers at Starscream

“Yes, that didn’t go too well for you, did it?” 

Fluttershy fired her blaster at Starscream, who nonchantlantly ducked. A Vehicon came forward and stomped Fluttershy, pressing her into the floor with its boot.

“Shall we take them both prisoner?” The Vehicon. 

“Yes, of course … actually, no.” Starscream reached down and scooped up a terrified, hyperventilating Starlight Glimmer in his claws. He held Starlight up to his face, keeping a firm grip on the shivering pony. Starscream flashed a maniac grin.“I’ve just had an idea for this one. A wonderful, awful idea … ” 



“We need to rescue Fluttershy.” Twilight stomped her hoof, regrouping to the base.

“Yes.” Rampage spun the circle of his chaingun. “We must rescue Fluttershy as soon as possible. I will tear through a thousand of Starscream’s men if that is what it takes.”

“And Starlight Glimmer.” Captain Bumblebee said.

“And Starlight Glimmer, of course.” Twilight said.

“Twilight, I don’t think you understand.” Captain Bumblebee. “In the future … well …since you died, Starlight Glimmer has been our best source of magical defense and offense.”

“Really?” Twilight said. “Starlight Glimmer? I didn’t think she had it in her. Why not Trixie?”

“Trixie is not nearly as powerful as Starlight is. Starlight loves her town and its ponies. She knows the Decepticons wouldn’t exactly approve of a hidden village of ponies, so she fights with us to defend them. Speaking of which ...” Captain Bumblebee looked around. “The rest of my team should have come through the portal with me. Agh, the Time Bridge must have run out of power. Guess I’m stuck here on my own.” 

“Twilight ...” Captain Bumblebee glanced at Rampage. “Could I get you to come with me somewhere else? I need to talk to you about a few things.”

“Sure.” Twilight led Bumblebee into another room. “What is it?”

“It’s about Rampage.” Captain Bumblebee said. “We have to make sure we rescue Fluttershy, and then once we do, we have to keep her safe. In the future that I come from, Fluttershy was shot during a battle today and died. Her death drove Rampage into a deep craze … crazier than normal, and that rage allowed the Decepticons turn him against us. He tore a path of destruction through lands and led Deception battalions with frightening efficacy. We need to make sure that doesn’t happen. Any change in the timestream, no matter how small, could prove helpful, and one less Decepticon general is one less Decepticon general to worry about.”

Rampage, eavesdropping outside the room after noticing Bumblebee’s glancing, overheard all this. Rampage turned his head. “Hmm.” He was going to have confront the truth. Lockdown was right. He did have some … romantic attachment to Fluttershy. Call it Florence Nightingale syndrome. And if what Future Bumblebee said was true, it meant he would go the warpath. Rampage stalked off to think about this.

“Understood.” Twilight said. “But you realize any change could have unseen consequences? You’re familiar with the butterfly effect?”

“Any change would be an improvement.” Captain Bumblebee. “Twilight, believe me when I tell you I would rather accidentally erase my own existence than spend another waking nightmare in that living hell.”

Twilight’s jaw dropped. She saw the fury in Bumblebee’s eyes. The anger. The pain.

“I … understand.” Twilight said. “Anything else?”

“There is one more thing.” Captain Bumblebee said. “The Chinese Defense Ministry, with COBRA’s help, have been working on creating their own Cybertronians. Attinger and Gould don’t approve of that, so  they’re going to have a secret, undeclared war between their two armies. It’ll happen in the Himalayas, later today. So we need to rescue Fluttershy before then.”

Twilight nodded. “Got it. Rescue Fluttershy and Starlight from Starscream, beat Starscream, and be at the Himalayas in time to stop this Freedom War from escalating even further.” 

Twilight narrowed her eyes.

“Piece. Of. Cake.”

“That’s a good attitude, Twilight.” Captain Bumblebee said.  “Wish I could still be like that. But … you know.”

"I know..." Twilight looked away. She was startled when she was bathed in the blue light of a Time Bridge.

"Lieutenant!" Strongarm cried, peeking through the Bridge.

"Strongarm? But, what are you doing?" Captain Bumblebee asked.

"We need you, sir," Strongarm said. "Things are getting deseperate in here. The Decepticons are mobilzing for an all-out attack. They're going to scorch the earth to try and snuff us out."

"Things were already desperate, and I-I can't help, I have to stay here and help Twilight..."

"Sir, please," Strongarm said. "We need you, Bumblebee. We need your leadership. Side Swipe and I can't do this on our own."

Captain Bumblebee pinched the bridge of his nose. He sighed. "Okay. I'll come. I'm sorry, Twilight Sparkle, but duty calls."

"I know. I understand," Twilight said, "go where you're needed, Captain Bumblebee." Twilight saluted, and Captain Bumblebee jumped into the Time Bridge with Strongarm, disappearing in a blue flash and a zap.

Twilight left the room to go coordinate her attack plans.



The Imperials returned to the valley, setting up around the edge. 

“Starscream’s ship was somewhere around here.” Twilight said, doing a sweep of the perimeter. “If he hasn’t set course for somewhere else, it should still be around here somewhere.”

“And it is! Look out!”

Twilight and the others rolled out of the way of a massive green laser beam which cut a swath of destruction across the landscape, leaving scorched earth in its wake. 

“Hahaha!” Starscream pumped his fist, manning a massive laser turret mounted on Thunderwing’s bow. It had a chair, a massive laser barrel, and a small glass orb mounted beneath the barrel. “I’d say that test run was a success!” 

“You’ll never succeed at this.” Fluttershy said to Starscream, chained up on the bow. “My friends will stop you. And do you think it’s a good idea to leave me chained here on the deck where my friends can get to me easily?”

Starscream chuckled. “Will they? We’ll just see about that. As for your question, you’re not there to be rescued. You’re there to be a hostage if this goes … unsmoothly.” 

Starscream cranked a lever on the laser, firing the beam again. He swiveled the chair around, trying to hit Magnum and the Imperials near his position. 

“We need to take out that laser, or we’ll never get close.” Magnum said. 

“I’m on it.” Twilight rocketed upwards the laser, her jets burning. 

“Wait …” Twilight squinted through the visor. “What … is that what I think it is?”

Inside the glass sphere of Starscream’s weapon was Starlight Glimmer, unconscious, held up by shackles, with an iron mask over her mouth, a device clamped to her horn, sucking out her magic and using it to power the laser.

“Yes.” Starscream chuckled, running his claw over the side of the sphere. “Ingenious, is it not? I realized Starlight Glimmer, as a unicorn, must have had magic potential. I’ve been troubled by Equestrian magic for so long … I thought I would make it work for me, for once. And the best part is, you won’t risk breaking her out, because you don’t want to hurt her. Do you?” Starscream chuckled.

"You're a monster," Twilight said through her mask.

"This time today, you call me monster. By this time tomorrow, you will call me 'god,'" Starscream boasted. 

Twilight flew up to the sphere. She folded her mask up, not caring if Starscream saw her face. She tapped the glass. 

“Starlight,” Twilight said. “Starlight, hey. Wake up.”

Starlight groaned, scrunching her eyes before opening them. Her eyes widened when she saw where she was, darting between the chains before focusing on Twilight.

“Hey. Hey, it’s okay.” Twilight said. “I know you’re scared, but you’re gonna be fine, okay? I’ll get you out of here. Just … stay calm. Don’t worry. I’m here for you, Starlight.” Twilight smiled, a tear rolling down her cheek. Her voice cracked. “Y-your sister is gonna get you out of here, okay?”

Starlight’s eyes wavered. She responded with a tear in kind.

“Oh, please,” Starscream said. “Someone spare me from this romantic soap opera drama.”

Twilight glared at Starscream before focusing on Starlight Glimmer. “Starscream is using you to power up his laser, got it?” 

Starlight nodded.

“So I want you to do … is overpower the laser,” Twilight said. “Feed it everything you’ve got and make it overload.”

“Hah!” Starscream scoffed. “You think I wasn’t prepared for the possibility you might try to that? This thing has circuit breakers. It will never overload.”

“Ignore him, Starlight.” Twilight said. “You can do this. You have the magic. You have the strength. You have ... me.”

Starlight’s eyes watered. Closing her eyes and taking a deep breath, Starlight tried to do what Twilight told her. She focused up her, charging up all the magic she could and releasing into the draining clamp. The laser fired a blast in response which demolished part of a mountain.

“Keep going.” Twilight said. 

Starlight kept going, pouring more and more of her magic into the device. The entire sphere was encased in the blue glow of her horn as she tried to let out every ounce of magic she had. 

“I told you, it’s not going to work.” Starscream, more bored than anything. 

Twilight glared at him. “Push harder, Starlight. I need just a little more from you.” 

Starlight began to sweat, overexerting herself as it was. The magic swirled and crackled around the sphere.

“A little more … a little more … now!” 

Twilight charged up her own horn, a massive red aura emanating from it. She smashed her horn against the sphere, causing it to shatter, unable to handle Starlight’s magic and Twilight’s at the same time. The entire sphere crumbled and fell to the floor in shards. 

Twilight flew up to Starlight and embraced her, casting a force field around them while the device exploded from the overload, sending Starscream flying in an arc where he landed and tumbled across the deck of the ship.

Twilight flew Starlight down, where they smiled at each other before turning to Starscream. “Give up, Starscream. You can’t beat us.”

“You haven’t won yet,” Starscream said, even though smoke was coming off his shoulders. He reached over and snatched Fluttershy up into his arm, her chains rattling. “Don’t make a move, or I’ll turn her into streamers!” Starscream brandished his claw.

Fluttershy looked down at Starscream’s. Glancing up to be sure he was paying more attention to Twilight than her, she transformed into her ladybug mode, snapping her shackles, and dug her mandibles into Starscream’s arm.

“Yeeeow!” Starscream screamed and threw Fluttershy to the ground, where Fluttershy rolled onto her feet. 

Starscream rubbed his sore arm. “Why didn’t I think to include a mode lock? Stasis cuffs or something? Mmm?” Starscream was confused when a blue glow took up his left right, while a purple one took his right.

Smiling at each other, Twilight and Starlight lifted Starscream with their magic and threw him overboard, sending him hurtling off the ship and into the snow below at a falling speed which was quite painful for him.

“Ow.” Starscream groaned. 

Twilight teleported Starlight, Fluttershy, and herself in front of Starscream, where the rest of the Imperials gathered around.

Starscream got to his feet, baring his teeth. He pulled out the Talon, ready for a fight.

“Give it up, Starscream,” Twilight said. “You can’t beat all of us.”

“Oh no?” Starscream said. “That’s where you’re wrong. I still have an ace up my sleeve. Starlight Glimmer, would you kindly turn your magic on Twilight and her friends?”

Starlight rolled her eyes. “And why in the wide-wide world of Equestria would I do that? After you kidnapped me and used me as a battery to power your weapon of mass destruction?”

“Excellent question.” Starscream answered, pulling out a remote-like device. He pushed a button, and a screen projected, showing Starlight Glimmer’s town, where Double Diamond, Sugar Belle, and others were rounded up into a circle, surrounded by Vehicons and Bludgeon. “Because if you don’t, Bludgeon and the others will burn your town to the ground and kill everypony in it.”

Starlight gasped. 

“So, what’s it going to be, Starlight Glimmer?” Starscream asked. “We’re not so different, you and I. We’re both manipulative, and we desire the approval of those we look up, even if we are somewhat ... resentful of them.” Starscream shook his head. “But I’ve grown out of that. I know you want to impress Twilight, Starlight. You would to look good to her. So now, my question for you is … do you earn Twilight’s approval by trying to take me out, letting your townsfolk die so you can impress someone you barely know, or do you turn on Twilight, and throw any good graces of hers you may have had out the window?”

“I … I … I can’t do that!” Starlight said. “This is an impossible choice!”

“Pardon me, darlings,” Rarity said, walking away. “I have a call to go make.”

“Starlight …” Twilight said. “I want you to know-”

“Uhp uhp uhp!” Starscream said. “No helping her with her decision, Twilight Sparkle! This is something she has to choose herself. Speaking of which … tick tock, tick tock, Starlight! What’s going to be? Who are you willing to sacrifice for who?”

“I … I can’t decide!” Starlight shouted. “Do you hear me? I literally cannot decide!”

“Aw, boo hoo. Well, that stinks. Because you have to!” Starscream said. “And quickly, before I decide for you and give Bludgeon the signal to go ahead!”

A Bridge opened in the projection of Starlight’s town.

“Eh, what?” Starscream said. 

Ultra Magnus came flipping out of the Bridge, hammer held in his hand. He landed a kick on a Vehicon’s head, using it as a springboard to bounce to the next kick them in the chest before landing on his feet. Magnus tapped the Magnus Hammer to the ground before aiming it and shooting a bolt of lightning which traveled from Vehicon to Vehicon, electrocuting them and knocking them out. That done, Ultra Magnus flashed a thumbs-up to the camera.

Twilight smiled. “Nice one, Rarity.”

Starscream babbled and stammered before recovering his cool. “No matter! He’s still no match for Bludgeon with the Dark Spark!” 

Bludgeon prepared to fire upon Ultra Magnus, aiming his open palm. Electricity crackled in Bludgeon’s fingers.

The Space Bridge opened again. Omega Supreme’s cannon arm came through and took aim, shooting Bludgeon and blasting him miles away.

“Really nice one.” Twilight said.

Starscream’s jaw dropped in shock, unable to believe what had just happened, happened. His scheme failed. His backup foiled. His ace in the hole given a royal flush.

“Give it up, Starscream.” Captain Bumblebee said. “You can’t beat all of us. You’re under arrest.”

“Oh, yes, of course, officer.” Starscream said, raising up his hands as Captain Bumblebee came near him. “If you’ll just allow me to … disarm myself.”

Starscream opened a panel on his arm, taking out a black and yellow canister. He ran his thumb over it and dropped it.

“Whoops.”

Captain Bumblebee’s optics widened in realization. “It’s a flashbang! Everyone cover your eyes!”

“A what?” Starlight asked. Her question was answered in the form of a blinding light flashing across her ears, and an awful, piercing ringing sound in her ears. She covered her eyes and went down on the ground.

Starscream transformed to jet mode and flew away. The Imperials tried to shoot him down, but were unable to land a hit before he was up on Thunderwing’s deck again. 

Starscream landed on the deck, where Shockwave and Heavy Load were out to investigate the commotion.

“This day is lost.” Starscream said. “Turn the ship around and retreat. We will fight another day.”

“Aww.” Heavy Load said. “I was really hoping to kill Fractyl this time. Oh well. One day, Fractyl, one day …” 

Thunderwing was turned around and boosted off for parts unknown. Twilight didn’t order the Imperials to pursue. They had other problems to deal with.

“Now, Bumblebee … what was that you were saying about a drone army?”



After taking a moment to regroup, Ultra Magnus approached Twilight Sparkle. 


Twilight looked up at him. She opened her mouth to speak.

“I’m sorry.” Ultra Magnus said. “You were right. Everything you said to me was absolutely right. I have endangered the safety of the mission. I have proven I cannot always follow orders, and that makes me as much as a threat to the team as any Forged or Technoist. I’m lucky Starlight Glimmer turned out to be alive. Back when I was leading the Wreckers on Cybertron, I could do whatever I wanted. I was the highest Autobot authority. I could wreck and rule, and if someone didn’t like, I told them to shove it. But I can’t do that loose cannon act anymore. I’m part of a collective, of an army of Autobots, not just a splinter group. I need to either buck up and follow orders from the chain of command, or I can take my trailer hitch and haul it off to somewhere else. As a long serving soldier, I should have known better, and for that, I apologize.”

Twilight blinked.

“I’m impressed.” Magnum said. “That was very mature of you, Ultra Magnus. Very articulate. I don’t expect that from you.” 

“Yeah, well, don’t get used to it, cuz’.”

“Apology accepted.” Twilight said. “Now, don’t we have somewhere to be?”

Taking a GroundBridge, the Imperials, a team including Magnum, Magnus, Twilight and friends, Bumblebee (both past and future), Rampage, Grimlock, and Predaking went to another location in the Himalayas. 

“You’re sure the gathering was here, Future Bee?” Twilight asked, surveying the area.

“Positive.” Captain Bumblebee said. “Look. There they are now.”

“I have eyes on the Chinese.” Magnum said.

“And I got Gould’s.” Grimlock said.  

The two armies were marching into the meeting location from opposite directions. The Chinese drones approached from the east, while Gould’s drones marched from the west. The Chinese army had bulky, rough-edged designs, covered in sharp corners and hard stopping points for their bodies. They seemed gruff and gritty, ready for dirty business. Gould’s drones, by contrast, were slick and smooth, with plenty of rounded detailing and cover panels which hid their mechanical parts. Obvious it was meant to appeal to a consumer by presenting a robot who was slick and stylish.

“There they are.” Twilight commented. “Both of them.”

“Yup.” Ultra Magnus said.

“We can’t let either of them win.” Captain Bumblebee said. 

“That’s right.” Twilight realized, her eyes going sappy. “If the Chinese drones win, then Gould and Attinger will up production and try everything they have to come up with superior drones, and this could easily boil over into international war between the States and China, especially with Galloway’s diplomatic skills of a blunt tack. If Gould’s drones win, Galloway’s cabal will realize they work and order more of them to take us out, and they’ll overwhelm us with their sheer numbers. For the safety of both countries, for the sake of our mission, we have to make sure that the outcome of this battle is indeterminate. A draw at best. Is everypony ready?”

“Mm-hmm.” was the collective nod. 

“Then let’s get started.”



Stinger led his army through a winding path, calling out for his enemies.

“Yoo-hoo! Anybody home?” Stinger looked up to see the navy jet from earlier swoop in, transforming to robot mode and landing in front of him. “There you are, big shot. What do you call yourself?”

“I am Switchblade.” The jet said.

Stinger looked around. “Where’s your army? There’s supposed to be an army here. Or am I gonna have to settle for just beating on you?”

“Hmm?” Switchblade was confused for a moment, but he chuckled. “Oh, I see. You learned tactics from the movies. You thought this was going to be like in your American films where two large armies rush at each other. That’s a terrible tactic. Why I would expose my all of my forces to you at once? But thank you … for making your forces such an easy target.”

Switchblade smirked. Lasers blasts shot from various rocky outcroppings, striking Stinger’s front line and knocking a few of them down.

“Bolts.” Stinger swore. He deployed a blaster from his forearm and aimed at Switchblade. A mortar from the south landed in between them, casting smoke and fire and keeping Stinger of Switchblade from taking aim at each other.

“Huh?” Both leaders looked up to see the Imperials standing over at a boulder.

“Attention, Gould’s drones and Chinese forces.” The War Princess said. “The outcome could potentially usher in a mad arms race between your countries. For the greater good and the safety of both countries, for the sake of the Imperial mission, we cannot allow you to have this fight and report it as anything to your superiors other than ‘inconclusive.’” 

“Yeah?” Stinger said. “Why don’t you try and stop us?” 

“Thank you, Stinger. We will.” 

The Imperials opened fire, blasting away at Stinger’s forces, who by now had gotten the idea to turn back and retreat. Predaking jumped over the Imperial line and landed in front of Switchblade. 

Switchblade took out a knife and struck Predaking across the chest, to no effect. Predaking slammed his fist into Switchblade’s chest, sending Switchblade reeling. Realizing he wasn’t going to take Predaking in a head-on fight, Switchblade transformed and flew away, leaving his hidden shooters to deal with Predaking.

Predaking was pelted by fire, which only served to make him upset. He reverted into his dragon mode and began hurling fireballs at the positions of the shooters, tracking the shots to their source. 

Present Bumblebee climbed up and hopped over the Imperials’ cover, jumping in front of Stinger. 

Stinger stared, clenching his fists. “I don’t know why … but something about the sight of you makes me really mad!” Stinger ran up to Bumblebee and tried to slug him, which Bumblebee evaded. 

“Maybe it’s because you know that a knock-off will never be as good as the original.” Bumblebee retorted before slamming his fist into Stinger’s face. Stinger groaned and stumbled, but recovered before Bumblebee could press the advantage, uppercutting Bumblebee in the stomach. 

Bumblebee lurched, firing off a shot from his Beast Hunter bow which missed. He steadied his arm and fired again, this time shooting an arrow straight into Stinger’s chest.

“OW!” Stinger screamed, reeling away. He grabbed the arrow and yanked it out, inspecting it. “What is this thing made of, titanium?” 

Stinger reared up his arm and tossed at the arrow back at Bumblebee to strike him, which Bumblebee had no trouble dodging. Before their fight could proceed any further, shots from the Chinese drones ripped out the ground between, cracking the earth open and raising a wall of flame. Seeing they couldn’t see each other, Bumblebee and Stinger retreated to cover, with Bumblebee hopping back over the Imperials’ cover.

Behind the rocks, Twilight winced from the booms of explosions, shells whistling in the air before they hit impact. 

“We need to figure out a way to smoke out Switchblade’s shooters.” Twilight said. 

“Agreed.” Bumblebee said. “We’re not going to make any progress in this mission if we’re constantly being picked off like ducks in a pond.” Bumblebee froze. “You hear that? Sounds like they’ve stopped firing.”

“Stinger probably got a clue and led his forces to cover.” Twilight said. “They’re not going to shoot if they don’t have a target.”

“What’s our play?” Bumblebee asked.

Twilight thought. “Split up. We need to send scouts to pick out where Switchblade’s positioned his snipers and where Stinger took his drones off to. Fluttershy, you can fit into a small space. Can you crawl around, see if you can the snipers?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“I will go with her.” Rampage said.

“Oh, I’m not sure that’s a good idea, Rampage.” Twilight said. “You’re kinda big, and …”

“I will go with her.” Rampage insisted.

“Okay.” Sensing he wouldn’t let the matter drop, Twilight acquitted to his request. “But … stay low, alright? Bumblebee, you used to be a Scout. Think you still have in you to find Stinger undetected?”

“With my hands behind my back.” Bumblebee said. “We should probably come up with a distraction.”

“I’ve got it.” Ultra Magnus produced a grenade and lobbed it over the cover. It went off, and gunfire sounded, reacting to the noise. 

Fluttershy and Rampage crawled away towards Switchblade’s side of the field, while Bumblebee transformed and drove towards Stinger’s last known location. 

Fluttershy crawled along the side of the rocks, glancing upwards every so often to see if she could spot a sniper. Rampage followed close behind her, keeping in his crab mode and skittering sideways.

Rampage’s eyes drifted away. “Fluttershy … I have something I want to tell you.”

“Oh, um, I don’t think now is a very good time, Rampage.” Fluttershy. “But … what is it?”

“I …” Rampage said. His antennae drooped. “No, never mind, you’re right. Now is not a good time.”

Fluttershy and Rampage continued sneaking on, stopping when a laser whistled by right above their heads. The air was silent, making Fluttershy tense and wary to move, until Ultra Magnus tossed another grenade, getting another round of surprised laser fire focusing away from their position. 

The two of them continued on, sneaking close by to a series of rocks, taking care not to expose themselves. They went almost halfway across the battlefield when Fluttershy’s ear perked up, hearing the hum of an energy blast charging. 

“We must be getting close.” Fluttershy concluded. She dared to peek her face over the rocks and spotted a robot kneeling behind a rock formation. “Yes, we’re definitely getting close. Fluttershy to War Princess. We’ve found one sniper. Will update you as we find more. Fluttershy out.”

Fluttershy crawled along, crouching and scooting on her legs. 

“Eh?” Rampage noticed something.

High up on the ledges of the mountainside was a gathering of Switchblade’s soldiers on sentry, surveying the land and keeping a watch out for encroaching soldiers. One of them noticed Fluttershy and pointed a finger at her. Two others came by, setting up a massive laser mortar cannon which needed a stand to support it. They placed it down, aimed at Fluttershy, and fired.

“Fluttershy, look out!” Rampage transformed to robot mode and sprinted over, jumping in front of Fluttershy to take the shot. 

“RAMPAGE!” 

The elongated, blue, sparking laser from the cannon ripped through Rampage’s chest, tearing straight through his nominally armored body, ripping out emerging from a hole in his back. Rampage groaned as he fell back to the ground, landing with a thud, his arms going limp as his head hit a rock, the hole in his torso smoking from both sides. 

“Heh. That thing packs a punch.” Rampage said, his optics half-closing.

“Rampage!” Fluttershy cried, running up to him, climbing his chest to make sure he was okay, not caring if the other sides saw her.“Rampage! Oh, Rampage. Fluttershy to Imperials, man down! Repeat, man down!” 

Fluttershy cupped Rampage’s chin. “Don’t worry, Rampage. You’re gonna be fine.”

“It’s … heh, nice of you to say that, Fluttershy, but I know what I am, and what I am is not fine.” Rampage said.

Ultra Magnus drove up in truck mode, accompanied by Twilight and others. Magnus reverted to robot mode and took in the scene.

“Oh no …” Twilight gasped, placing a hoof on her mouth. 

The Chinese drones stopped and stared, fascinated by why their enemies would be reckless and careless as to expose themselves, trying to attend a soldier who could no longer fight. For what reason could they have to endanger themselves so? They shared glances with each other before crawling down the mountainside and walking up to see what it was.

“Eh? What’s going on?” Stinger asked. He gestured at his troops and beckoned them to follow him. Bumblebee hid behind a rock, narrowly avoiding detection. 

“Rampage.” Fluttershy said, trying to hold his head up, but his head alone was too big for her to lift with her hooves. “Rampage, stay with me. You’re going to be fine, okay? You’re going to be fine. Ultra Magnus and the others will open a Bridge and get you proper medical attention.”

“I appreciate that, Fluttershy … but don’t bother.” Rampage leaned his head against the rock. “I can already feel my Spark fading. The blast went through and through right through the chamber.”

“No.” Fluttershy’s eye got teary. “Don’t talk like that.” Fluttershy smacked Rampage across the chin. “Don’t you dare talk like that!”

“Fluttershy …” Rampage closed his eyes. “I have something to tell you. It’s … what I wanted to talk about. Now is a good time, since I won’t be able to do so later.” 

“No. No.”

“Ever since Straxus … did what he did to me, the time I’ve spent with you has been the best time of my tortured existence.” Rampage lifted up his arm and put a finger under Fluttershy’s chin. “You are the light in my dark hours … which is all the time. Walking is painful. Talking is painful. In this mutilated, wrecked husk of a body, everything is painful. But when I’m with you … the pain settles down, and everything hurts a little bit less.”

“Rampage.” Fluttershy put her hooves on his hand, taking his finger away from her chin. “Don’t do this to me. Don’t leave me. Not like this.” 

“In my time with you, you  made the pain … the agony of my wretched existence, of my strain, experimented on body … so much easier to bear.” Rampage said. “You’ve done your best to try and heal me, to try to … cure me, but it hasn’t been enough. It wasn’t going to be enough. You couldn’t have fixed me, Fluttershy. You could only make my existence less harsh … and life worthwhile.” 

“Rampage …”

“Who knows? Perhaps with time, you could have fixed me ... but we’ll never know now, will we?” Rampage looked away. “There is … one more thing. I have been teased and taunted about it, but now I realize, it’s true. I … I have a crush on you, Fluttershy. I love you, Fluttershy. Always, since the day I came to rescue you in the forest. Maybe it’s better it ended this way. I mean … me being a Decpeticon and you being a pony … it … it would have never worked out, would it?”

“Rampage …” Fluttershy let go of his hand, letting it drop and thud on his chest as she finally accepted the reality. This was it. She was going to lose him.

“At least I can rest easy … knowing I gave you the ultimate expression of my love. That I gave up my life … for yours. And isn’t that what they all say love is about? Giving up for each other?”

Rampage placed his finger under Fluttershy’s chin one last time, tilting her head up to look him in the face, while tears streamed down her eyes, dripping onto his finger. 

“You’re crying.” Rampage said. “Please don’t cry. Your face is too lovely to be marred with crying. Smile. Smile for me, please, Fluttershy? Just so I can see your smile one last time. Please.”

“O-o-o-okay.” Fluttershy said. She forced her lips to curl upward, showing off her pearly-whites for Rampage, even though her tears continued to flow and trickle. “I’m smiling, okay, Rampage? See? I’m smiling.” 

“Ah, that’s better … thank you, Fluttershy.” 

Rampage blinked before closing his optics shut, leaning against the rock and letting his arms drop to the ground. 

“Goodbye, Fluttershy. Goodbye … my love. Parting is such … bitter sorrow.” 

Rampage turned his head to the side. 

And just like that, he was dead. 

“No.” Fluttershy whimpered. “No. No!” She banged her hooves on his chest in fury. “RAMPAGE!” She continued to beat into his chest. “Get up, get up …” 

Twilight looked to Ultra Magnus. Ultra Magnus opened a panel on his arm. 

“Sensors aren’t registering his signal.” Ultra Magnus. “He’s gone.”

Fluttershy beat Rampage’s chest one more time before hanging her head, bringing her mane down over her face. She crawled down and slid down his side, landing on the rock.  Twilight walked up to her and embraced her with a hug.

“Oh, Fluttershy, I’m so sorry …”

“I could have fixed him.” Fluttershy said, crying, nuzzling into Twilight’s shoulder and returning the hug. “I could have found a therapy for him. I could have fixed him. I could have cured him. I COULD HAVE!” Fluttershy buried her face into Twilight’s armor, crying a waterfall of tears.

“I know.” Twilight rubbed Fluttershy’s back. “I know you could have.”

Switchblade looked to his troops, a puzzled expression on his face. His troops were as confused, and some of them had their hands over their mouth in shock. 

“Pardon me. I … we do not understand.” Switchblade said, walking up to the Imperials. “What has happened?”

“He’s dead.” Ultra Magnus said. “Rampage is dead, and you killed him.”

“Dead?” Switchblade asked. “What does that mean, dead?”

“You … you don’t know what death is?” Ultra Magnus said.

“No.” Switchblade said. “We have only a tangential familiarity with it. When we asked our makers, that said we would not have to make anyone dead.”

“Well, I guess if you’re an absolute nationalist who regards other countries as inferior, then that’s true from a certain point of view.” Ultra Magnus said. “But, uh, yeah. He’s dead. He’s gone.”

“Death is the end of life.” Predaking said, walking in front of Magnus. “It is the cessation of existence, the termination of all lively and bodily functions.” 

“Cessation of existence? The end of life …” Switchblade looked down and gasped. “The removal of his chi.”

Predaking nodded. “I do believe you are ‘getting it.’”

“Yes. I …” Switchblade walked up to Predaking, holding an open palm in front of him. Switchblade closed his eyes. “If I focus, I can sense your chi.”

Switchblade waved his palm over to Rampage.

“I cannot sense his.”

“So, you understand?” Predaking asked.

“Yes.” Switchblade nodded. “I believe I do.” Switchblade walked over to Fluttershy.

“Fluttershy, I believe I heard this one call you.” Switchblade said. Fluttershy parted from The War Princess. “Please, allow me to apologize. I am truly sorry that my troops and I killed this one. That we ceased his existence. That we robbed him of his chi. That we took him from you. I pray you may one day forgive us.” 

Fluttershy sniffed, her nose wrinkling. “Maybe … but not today.” Fluttershy turned and walked off. 

“Um, okay.” Ultra Magnus said. “Now what?”

“If you’ll allow me, Magnus.” Predaking placed a claw on Magnus’ shoulder. “I have some experience with being intended as a killing machine by my creators and turning out … different than hoped.”

Predaking cleared his throat. “Soldiers of Switchblade! Listen to me! Hear me now. Your makers have lied to you. They have told you that you would not have to kill. That you would not have to destroy. But that is what they intended for you to do - to kill and destroy their enemies.”

Predaking pointed to Rampage’s body. “Is this what you want to be? Killers and destroyers? Is this what you want to do with your lives? Or do you want to be protectors, guardians, caretakers of life? If so, then, please … consider joining us. Join the Autobots Imperial in our crusade to unite the fractured peoples of our worlds.”

“I cannot promise that you will not have to destroy or kill. That you will not have to kill one to protect another, or many. But I can promise you, the more people we have by our side, the more we have working with us … the better our chances of reducing the violence and the bloodshed, so that none of you - none of us - ever have to kill again. Are you with me?” Predaking raised his fists.

Switchblade’s soldiers looked to each other. After some initial hesitance, a few of them raised their arms. The rest of them followed.

“What?” Stinger balked. “Oh, come on! I’ve been standin here for five minutes, and this what I get for letting that unfold uninterrupted? A sappy speech about peace and goodness and violence is bad from a literal animal, and a bunch of turncoats?”

“Call me an animal again, and I will rip you to pieces myself.” Predaking clenched his claw at Stinger. He earned odd looks from Switchblade’s forces. “Erm … do as I say, not as I do.”

“Forget that!” Stinger said. “Know your place, drones! Remember who you serve, and open fire on these Imperial bozos! Come on! I came here to wage a war on behalf of my builders, and by golly, I am going to wage a war!”

“No.” Switchblade crossed his arms. “There will not be the kind of war our masters were hoping for today.”

“What? I … grr …” Stinger readied blasters on both forearms.

Switchblade and Ultra Magnus exchanged understanding glances. All of the Imperials and all of Switchblade’s forces opened fire on Stinger and his troops, pounding them with a massive barrage of laser fire. 

“Er …” Stinger stammered after taking a huge hit in the chest which left him smoking. “Uh … like I was saying, give peace a chance! RETREAT!” Realizing they were unprepared to to handle the Switchblade’s forces and the Imperials working together, Stinger shifted to his car mode and sped away, leading the retreat of his forces, who gave some cover fire before following.


“War Princess.” Switchblade said, walking up to the Imperial commander. “I am sorry for the trouble I have caused you. I see now that our builders only wanted us to fight, and to fight for their reasons, not ours.”

“It’s okay.” The War Princess said. “We all have to start somewhere.”

“Indeed.” Switchblade said. “I realize now that for the greater good, I must report this battle as inconclusive to my superiors, as you said at the beginning.”

“Or … you could not report it at all.” Ultra Magnus said. “You’re gonna need to get used to that sort of thing and start cutting some ties if you’re gonna roll with us.”

“Hmm.” Switchblade smiled. “Perhaps if COBRA had not insisted on our construction and our ability to fight, this wouldn’t have happened the way it did … and your friend might still be alive.”

“Wait.” The War Princess said. “COBRA’s involved in all of this?” 

”Of course.” Ultra Magnus said. “We know the Chinese Ministry of Defense had sent someone to talk to COBRA about building their own Cybertronians, and we know COBRA has the schematics and know-how to do it. They probably gave the Ministry the blueprints and provided the resources so they could build Switchblade and his buddies.”

“And I’ll bet they encouraged the Ministry to arrange this little get-together to test their army’s effectiveness against Gould’s designs.” The War Princess said. “No matter who won, the results would have been damaging, an arms race would have ensued for one side to build better Cybertronians than the other, or at least find some way to counterattack, or even total warfare …”

“Which COBRA could take advantage of by offering its services and support to both sides.” Ultra Magnus said.

“Crafty snakes, aren’t they?” The War Princess said. “Today could have gone a lot differently, and in a number of ways that COBRA would have benefitted from. We need to put a pin in them and put them down, for good.”

“If you would like to put a stop to their operations.” Switchblade said. “I know where they are keeping their fortified base. It is one of their strongest strongholds, home to several of their most important assets.”

“Great.” The War Princess said. “Take us to it, Switchblade.”



The Imperials were taken to the gates of the COBRA stronghold, Cobra-La, by Switchblade. The building was nestled inside the side of a mountain, protected by a large wall, with two huge ornate gold double doors for the entrance, with snow covering the sides.

“Wait here.” Switchblade said. He went up to the doors and knocked. “Commander Switchblade here, here for business.”

A scanning beam emitted from the door, scanning Switchblade’s face to verify his identity. The doors opened, and Switchblade, smiling, gestured the Imperials to follow him.

“Ah, Switchblade, you’ve returned,” Serpentor said, turning to the door. “What can I do for … you?” 

Serpentor raised up his arm when explosions ripped the door, casting off smoke and throwing shrapnel and debris everywhere. Serpentor’s eyes widened as the Imperials and Switchblade’s forces burst in, opening fire and shooting up the place.

“Everyone, to the front!” Serpentor ordered, pointing a finger. “Our allies have betrayed us!”

All of COBRA’s forces gathered up in the front room, soldiers and other drones pouring in from other rooms. 

“Switchblade, what have you done?” a Ministry agent demanded. 

“Freed myself from your restrictions,” Switchblade said. He reached up and grabbed a piece of the rafters, broke it off, and tossed it at the agent, burying him.

"This way, my love," Destro took the Baroness by the hand and led her to a deeper part of the building's interior.

Serpentor grimaced. “Attack! ATTAAAACK!” 

Soldiers fired guns, test subjects revealed themselves as Bio-Vipers, and pilots emerged in mechs, firing rockets away. The front wall of the building had hole after hole punched into from stray rockets which missed their targets. 

The Imperials and Switchblade’s forces continued to fire back, pressing through the all the ammunition and fire COBRA had to offer. The Bio-Vipers batted aside Vehicons, who continued to fire even after being knocked down. Predaking and Grimlock came to their aid, picking up the Bio-Vipers and bashing their heads together before smashing them into the floor.

Ultra Magnus twirled his hammer, feeling confident. He batted aside a rocket with the hammer’s head before pointing it at the mech which had fired and frying it with an electric blast, knocking out the mech and the pilot, before going on to swing the hammer through the legs of another mech, depriving of it a leg and sending it tumbling to the floor.

The Imperials pressed on, their blasters blasting while the rate of COBRA’s bullets continued to slow. Some of the more sane soldiers offered some pitiful attempts at cover fire before retreating deeper into the base, if not bailing and making a run of the exit, where Switchblade’s troops were waiting to round them outside. 

Serpentor watched all this unfold with a grimace. He tried to chew out a fleeing soldier for abandoning his post, but was interrupted by a shot grazing his wing. Serpentor looked down, and was dismayed to see one of their tanks take aim, before a Vehicon walked up to it and unceremoniously ripped the barrel off. The pilots emerged through the hatch and tried to run it, but the Vehicon kicked them into the side of the tank, K.O’ing them when their heads hit the metal.

“I am out of here,” Serpentor said. “No use in trying to fight a lost cause.” Serpentor converted to his vehicle mode and flew out the door, laying down some gunfire to cover his escape as he flew over Switchblade’s forces stationed outside. Switchblade’s forces opened fire and tried to bring him down, but he was too fast and faded into the snowy sky.

“Serpentor!” Doctor Venom protested, reaching a hand out. “Don’t leave now! We have so much unfinished work! We have to protect the secrets of Cobra-La!”

A rocket hit the support beam Venom was standing in, collapsing the pillar and some pieces of the ceiling. Doctor Venom gasped when he saw the debris falling down on him, and tried to make a run for it, but was unable to get away in time. The pieces of ceiling fell on top on him and crushed him.

"Serpentor's getting away!" the War Princess shouted. 

"I will remedy that," Predaking said. He shifted into dragon mode and flew at Serpentor. Serpentor barreled upwards, swerving in a loop around Predaking, and for a minute, it seemed as if he was going to get away, but a perfect shot from Switchblade taking out one of Serpentor's engines put a stop to that.

Serpentor was slowed, Predaking snatched the golden bomber in his talons, grabbing him by the wings. Predaking roared and dived to the ground, smashing Serpentor into the floor. The two went skidding, the impact smashing Serpentor and busting him up. When they halted, Serpentor groaned. 

"You can't do this. I am... Serpentor... I am... superior... I am the next step... of warfare!"

Predaking put to an end to both Serpentor's misery and his arrogance and by ramming his maw into Serpentor's cockpit and biting down on his head, crushing Serpentor's head inside his teeth. 

The ground shook and the building rumbled. Destro returned to the scene, operating a mech similar to the one he had used against Optimus Prime during their raid on his facility, but much, much larger. Fortunately, so were the Imperials' force compared to the Autobots then. 

"As Laird of Castle Destro, I command you: Die." Destro fired a barrage of rockets at the Imperials, the missiles hitting the building and causing its unsteady foundation to shake, making boulders from the ceiling. 

"Some day, sure. But on our terms, on our own watch, not on yours!" Grimlock replied. He converted to beast mode and blasted Destro's mech with his fire breath. The mech didn't seem to like it, as it quickly turned from blue to a glowing bright orange.

This gave Twilight an idea.

"Grimwing! Predaking! Flank Grimlock on the other side and blast Destro's war mech!"

Predaking and Grimwing nodded. They assumed positions in their beast modes, opened their jaws, and blasted the mech with their breath of fire. They swept a trail across the front of the machine, bathing it in their saurian flames. Grimwing, getting an idea, aimed his at the leg of the mech, pouring four over the knee and melting it. The joint turned gooey to the point of uselessness and snapped, toppling the machine over onto the side. Grimlock's fire breath was still going, and as the machine fell, Destro and the Baroness were caught it in, setting their clothes aflame. The Baroness let out a shriek. 

The mech hit the ground with a thud, and Destro helped pull Baroness from the cockpit. The Baroness stopped, dropped, and rolled, while Destro marched forward, ready to confront his combatants, even though his clothes were still burning. After putting herself out, the Baroness stood next to him.  Grimlock, Predaking and Grimwing converted to robot modes and approached them.

"If I am going to die today, I will take you scoundrels with me!" Destro announced. He and the Baroness pulled out handguns and fired, shooting out Grimlock's visor and shattering it. Grimlock's head wobbled, but he remained standing, no worse for the wear.

"Yeah, good luck with that," Grimlock said, and he took his sword and neatly sliced the two Cobra leaders in twain, severing them at the waist. Grimlock kicked Destro's body onto the Baroness's to relight her clothes so they would both burn together, even the unpleasant smell from the burning of the Baroness's leather annoyed Grimlock's olfactory senses.

The Imperials and Switchblade continued to storm in as if they owned the place, tearing apart mechs, taking out soldiers, and beating Bio-Vipers until they reverted to their human forms.

“Okay, gang.” The War Princess observed, noticing COBRA’s side hadn’t fired off a bullet in a while. Her surety was interrupted by a few stray missiles blowing off parts of the wall, but other than that tiny detail … “I think we have the run of the place. Start rounding up prisoners and securing weapons and vehicles.”

“Sir, yes, sir!” A few Vehicons saluted, spreading out to secure prisoners. A Bio-Viper tried to stop them, but was easily dispatched with some electricity from Magnus’ hammer. 

“Let’s take a look around here …” The War Princess said, joined by Rarity. They arrived at a door. “What’s this?” 

The Princess used her magic to force the door open, revealing it to be an elevator. She and Rarity went inside and pressed the button for the basement floor. The elevator shut and carried them downwards.

When it stopped and opened, Twilight and Rarity were shocked to find a massive amount of people huddling together on the floor in blankets, with fires being lit to share warmth between them, while two twins with matching scars stood on a podium, proselytizing about some god.

“Do not fear the cold, my fellow beings!” One of the twins said. “Embrace it!”

“Yes! Endure your suffering in this life, and Koh-Buru-Lah will reward you in the next!”

“What’s this?” One of the twins said, noticing The War Princess and Rarity. “Xamot, it would appear we have visitors!”

“It would appear you are correct, Tomax.”

“Alright, show’s over, you two.” The War Princess said. “Everyone, listen to me. You’re safe now. You can go home. You don’t have to stay here as prisoners, or listen to the drivel of these two any longer.”

“As if!” One of the humans shouted. “We’re not prisoners. We’re refugees.”

“What?”

“We came down here to escape the likes of radicals like you.” The human pointed to the War Princess. “When you announced your intent to wage war on the United States, we knew it wasn’t safe for us to stay there any longer. Not with Galloway staging a coup and recruiting Decepticons - Decepticons! - to fight you. The whole thing was just a powder keg waiting to blow.”

“Go away.” The human turned away from her. “Leave us alone. Maybe Tomax and Xamot are cultist recruiters. Maybe COBRA is a terrorist organization. But at least they’ve kept us safe, unlike you or Galloway.”

“I … I see.” The War Princess said. “I … understand. I think.”

“Ooh, look, Tamox.” Xamot said. “I think the pony is confused.”

“Yes!” Tomax said. “I mean, after all, how dare these puny humans reject her empty promises of a utopia where Cybertronians, ponies and humans can work together based on what? The actions of a terrorist group made up of whatever stragglers it can find and recruit?”

The War Princess shook in fury. She walked up to Tamox and Xamot and clocked both of them in turn with her ironclad hoof, knocking them off their feet.

“Stay here if you like.” The War Princess said. “If you want to stay, I won’t force you to leave. But I’m taking these two as prisoners.”

The War Princess began to drag Tamox and Xamot towards the elevator.

“Hmph.” Rarity said. “I’ve never even heard of this Koh-Buru-Lah, and I assure you my studies of human religion have been very diligent.” She huffed before joining the War Princess on the elevator, helping her to carry their prisoners.



While her troops and Switchblade’s continued to comb through Cobra-La and secure it to try to wrest the remainder of its secrets, Twilight Sparkle left the building and went outside. Finding a snowy peak for her to rest on, she climbed to the top and sat down, taking her helmet off and staring at the ground.

Ultra Magnus stepped out of the building. He saw Twilight sitting there in the cold and went up to comfort her, walking up and sitting down next to her.

“Noticed you left the building.” Ultra Magnus said, laying his hammer across his lap. “Aren’t you cold in that armor? What’s got you down?”

Twilight looked up at him. She sighed. “Inside the building … on the bottom floor. Rarity and I found a bunch of humans.”

“Oh no. I’m guessing … ”

“And they were refugees. From the States.” 

“Oooh. I was gonna guess experiments.” 
“From us.” Twilight said. “Obviously, we can’t make them leave …”

“Not morally, no. But we could do it …” 

“They’re still going to need to have food and water now that we’ve run COBRA out of the building. But I just …” Twilight brought a hoof over her face. “I just … I never imagined people would be running away to take up refuge … from me. From something I did. I never imagined, when I formed the Imperials, this would be the result. To … to put fear into people and drive them running straight into the arms of a terrorist organization. I never … I never really thought of us a a terrorist organization. I thought we were freedom fighters, rebels, renegades fighting for what’s right when no else would, but to them … to them, we are terrorists. To them, we’re no better than Galloway or - or the Forged or Megatron-era Decepticons!” Twilight buried her face into her hooves.

“That’s rough, buddy.” Ultra Magnus said.

“Ultra Magnus, I need to hear a little more right now than just ‘that’s rough!’” Twilight snapped, a tear streaking her face.

“Yeah, yeah, I know, I know.” Ultra Magnus pinched his nose and heaved a deep breath. “Alright, listen … you can’t control how other people react to your actions. Heck, sometimes you can’t even control the results of your actions. You just gotta close yours, brace yourself, and do what you think is right … even if nobody else agrees with you. Even if everybody else disagrees with you and is against you, you still gotta do it. And if all it goes wrong … if all goes south and blows up in your face … then all you can do is hope … that you don’t go too far. That you don’t cross too many lines, or stub too many toes, and that one day, when the dust has settled and everything is said and done … that you’ll be given the chance to redeem yourself.”

Ultra Magnus took his hand and placed his fingers on Twilight’s back to comfort her.

“All you can do is hope … hope that one day, you’ll get that chance … to excuse the horrible things you’ve done. That’s all you can do … is hope for redemption.”

Twilight looked up at him.

“Thank you, Ultra Magnus.” Twlight wiped a tear from her eye. “That helped. And … it actually really gave a great insight into what goes through your head.” 

“Really?”

“Yup! Especially about what you were thinking when you decided to, you know, drop a mountain on Starlight Glimmer.”

“Never gonna let that go, are you?”

Twilight giggled. “Nope.”

“It seemed a perfectly justifiable and reasonable course of action at the time!”



After some time spent driving, Lockdown went outside the bounds of the Rainbow Principality, where he reverted to robot mode. 

He held up his arm, producing a projection of a Quintesson.

“It is about time you responded.” The Quintesson said. “You have had us on hold for thirty minutes.”


“Yeah, yeah. I just needed to get somewhere we could take freely … without being overheard.” Lockdown glanced over his shoulder at the Principality. 

“Have you considered our offer?”

“Yeah, I’ve considered it … and I accept, on one condition. Another 10000 Shards.”

The Quintesson sighed. “Very well. But your services had best justify this.” 

“I’m sorry, have you not heard of me? I’m Lockdown. I always catch my quarry.” Lockdown smirked. “I’ll head up in my ship and rendezvous with your Star Seekers in deep space. I’ll give them the intel on the Imperials there.”

“Excellent.” The Quintesson said. “And Lockdown? Do not fail. The consequences will be dire.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Lockdown said, before slamming his hand down on his arm and hanging up. 

“For us,” the Quintesson whimpered inside his home, standing with his fellow Quintessons.



“Helex’s log, day seven of our trek … we’ve been wandering around this backwater planet for a week now, and we still have no idea of where we are or how we got here.”

“Not true, Helex.” Tarn raised a finger to object. “We can conclude from those radio posts that we are on a planet called ‘Earth.’ Unfortunately, that’s about all we can conclude.”

“It wouldn’t be so bad if this place wasn’t crawling with fleshies …” Helex grumbled, as the six of them continued to trek through the desert.

“I agree wholeheartedly, Helex, but slaughtering them en masse, as I would love to do, would only draw undue attention to ourselves. In our weakened, disoriented state, I’m not sure we could put as much of a fight as we should be able to if we were to bring some local law enforcement down us … I have seen a few Cybertronians here and there.”

“Perhaps we should ask one of the locals for help.” Kaon suggested.

“Oh, no.” Tarn said. “Organics are only good for three things, Kaon. Screaming, killing, and screaming while being killed. And any Cybertronian who willingly consorts with them is no better.”

“At least they have the right idea.” Helex said. “They seem to have a clue where they are on this slagging’ planet!”

“Are you implying something, Helex?” Tarn said.

“Yeah.” Helex crossed his arms. “I’m implying I’m not too happy with the current leadership around here!”

“If you have a complaint, feel free to register to the complaint. Oh wait! We don’t have one! Because our ship is crashed!”

And so they went, bickering on and on.



“Whew.” Twilight sighed, arriving at the Rainbow Principality through the GroundBridge, the rest of her Imperial team behind her. “Well, it’s nice we got all of that done. I don’t know about any of you, but I’ve had a long day and would like to get some rest.”

“You’ll have to delay that rest, commander.” A Vehicon approached. “Your day is about to get even longer. We’ve detected a large amount of ships headed on a trajectory for Earth. Come with me. I’ll show you.”

Twilight sighed before she and the rest of the team followed the Vehicon to their satellite room, where Raf oversaw their work. A radar pinged, showing several blips in its field or range

“Can we get visual?”

“Yes ma’am.” The Vehicon pressed a button, and the screens changed to show an armada of starships, all of varying designs, with the Tidal Wave dead in the center. 

“That looks like the Star Seekers.” Twilight said. “Of course they’d be back.”

“Wait, is that …? Oh no. I didn’t think it was real.” The Vehicon said. 

“What?” Twilight asked.

“The Star Seekers have the Requiem Blaster attached to their ship.” The Vehicon said. “If they reach the planet’s orbit with that thing, the Earth is doomed. It’s a an Artifact of the Primes, a massive cannon powered by -” 

“By a star, I know.” Twilight said.

“I had heard a story that Megatron and Optimus Prime had encountered it once, but I thought it was just a folk tale. An urban legend, an exerragation by a few drunkards …” The Vehicon said. “For the sake of everyone on this planet, Princess Twilight Sparkle, we must go up there and stop the Star Seekers from getting close enough to use it on Earth.”

“I couldn’t agree more.” Twilight said. “And we need that Requiem Blaster to continue our hunt for the Artifacts … everypony, gear up! We’re going to space! Get as many ships as you can ready to take off!” 

The Imperials saluted her before scrambling to do as she ordered. She herself joined Ultra Magnus and the rest of her usual suspects on getting to the prime ship itself, Omega Supreme. 
“Let’s show this Star Seekers that Earth isn’t theirs. It’s ours.” Twilight said, climbing up into a seat, her legs flailing off the side, oversized as it was for.

“I hope everyone is buckled.” Ultra Magnus said, pushing a code into a keypad. “Prepare for liftoff. Take us out of here, Omega Supreme.”

“As you command.” Omega said. The ship rumbled as Omega’s engines hummed to life. Everyone in the ship jerked when Omega lifted up off the ground, and held on for dear life when Omega accelerated upward, his engines burning hot with afterburners putting out massive streams of fire. A Space Bridge opened up for them, thanks to the Bridge operating room, which Omega Supreme launched himself through. 

“You got a plan for taking on all these Star Seekers, Twilight?” Ultra Magnus asked. “They sure seem to have duplicated since the last time we saw them.”

“No.” Twilight said. “But I’m working on one. You let me worry about that, Magnus. Besides … it’s not like me having a plan is reason for us not to try to stop as many Star Seekers as as we can before they reach Earth’s atmosphere, right?” 

“Hmm.” Ultra Magnus huffed. 

Omega Supreme emerged from the Space Bridge in front of the Star Seeker armada. Other Imperials arriving in dropships through the Space Bridge soon joined them.

“Where’s the communication relay?” Twilight asked.

“Right over here.”

“Ah, thanks. Ahem.” Twilight cleared her throat before speaking through the system, using her exo-suit’s voice distorter, broadcasting a signal on channels the Star Seekers should have been able to pick up. “Attention, Star Seekers and associates. Our calculations report that you are headed on a course towards Earth. Turn back now of your volition, or you will be boarded and forced to turn back.”

Aboard the Tidal Wave, Brimstone turned to Thundertron. “What do you want us to do?”

“Can we fire the Requiem Blaster?” Thundertron asked.

Brimstone shook his head. “No good. It still needs to charge.” 
“Ugh. What good is a superweapon if needs to be charged before each shot? Fine.” Thundertron said. “Tell all our allies to move in front of the Tidal Wave. The Requiem Blaster must be protected until its ready to fire.”

“Sending command now.” Brimstone tapped a touchscreen. 

The ships began moving in accordance with Thundertron’s commands, clustering around the front of the Tidal Wave, creating a shield of ships to defend the Requiem Blasters from any projectiles. Some of the ships opened hatches, where armed warriors, some robotic, some organic in armored spacesuits, emerged.

“Looks like they want to do it the hard way.” Grimlock observed. “Fine by me.”

“Why do they always want to do the hard way?” Twilight lamented. “Imperials, you know the drill!” 

Twilight, Grimlock, Magnus and others departed from the safety of Omega Supreme, jetting and space-swimming to propel themselves towards the armada. Both fleets of ships opened fire, shooting phaser beams, plasma cannons, and other starbound weaponry.

A red and white robot with elements of a motorcycle vehicle fired blasts from his clamp-shaped arms. Grimlock, Twilight, and Ultra Magnus swung themselves onto the top of his ship. 

“Fools!” The robot said. “You will never stand up to the might of the Renegade leader, Cy-”

Grimlock interrupted him by stabbing him in the chest, causing him to bleed oil and fall to his knees when Grimlock jerked his blade out.

“Grimlock!” Twilight complained.

“What? He left himself unarmed and exposed!”

“Yes, but you could have let him finished his vain empty threats before gutting him like a fish!”

“Uh, guys?” Ultra Magnus said. “You might want to have this talk later. Take a look.”

“What?” Twilight looked up and gasped.

“Are those … Lockdown and Shining Armor?” Grimlock questioned.  By all appearances, Lockdown and Shining Armor were floating in space above them, looking down at them with arrogant, in Shining Armor’s case, disapproving, glares.

“W…. what?” Twilight stuttered. “I … I don’t understand.”



Back down on Earth, the Decepticon Justice Division was still bickering with each other.

“Oh yeah?” Helex said. “Well, maybe if you hadn’t been so insistent on pursuing every single Decepticon who ever defected or went wrong, we wouldn’t be in this mess!”

“None must stray from Megatron’s path! Megatron’s path is the way to true power! To true peace!”

“Peace through tyranny, right? Isn’t that an oxymoron?” Helex asked.

Tarn gasped. “How dare you! Peace through tyranny is an inspired phrase! We named our ship after it! Why you … you.” Tarn raised up his cannon and prepared to fire on Helex. Before Tarn could fire and bring the argument to physical blows, they were distracted by static. “What was that?”

“Sounded like a signal.” Helex said.

“Here.” Tarn grabbed the side of his head. “Perhaps if I adjust my comm, it’ll clear up.” 

“Imperials … storm …. Bridge. Autobots are everywhere! Captain Thundertron, what do we do?” A panicked voice asked, becoming clearer as Tarn adjusted his comm to compensate.

“They must be not using a secure channel.” Helex said.

“Based on the level of static, I’d say they’re somewhere up in orbit.” Kaon said.

“Regardless, Autobots?” Tarn said. “You know that old Decepticon wisdom. When in doubt, find the nearest Autobots and kill them.”

“But how are we going to get up there?” Kaon asked. “We don’t have a ship?”

A shot was fired which exploded near them. The D.J.D looked up to see a dropship painted in the colors of the U.S flag hovering over them. 

“What kind of colors are those?” Tarn asked.

“Maybe it’s an Optimus Prime tribute?” Helex asked. 

“Optimus is blue, red, and silver … isn’t he?”

The dropship’s side door opened, showing an Americon. “Attention, Decepticon Justice Division! You are under arrest for violation of the Alien Cooperation Acts, including undocumented travel, insufficient identification, and failure to register for a license plate! Turn yourself in now, or we will be forced to open fire.”

Tarn stared at the Americon before turning to Kaon. “Sometimes, life throws you a bone. Kaon … if I were to shoot that dropship’s engines out and make it land, do you think you would be able to repair it?” Kaon nodded. “Excellent.”

Tarn raised his armed up, aiming his fusion cannons at the engine. He fired, taking all of the engines out with one clean shot and making it fall. The Americons onboard, seeing the ship was about to crash, transformed to their aerial modes and flew out. Tarn fired at them, giving them a few warning shots, before he and his team went up to the downed craft.

“Alright, boys …” Tarn said, jumping into the door. “It looks like we’ve got ourselves a ship.”



“Shining Armor? Lockdown?” Twilight asked. “What are you two doing here?”

“Oh, come on.” Lockdown said. “You didn’t really think I was into your whole, oh friendship and unity and equality thing, did you? No. I’m a mercenary! I work for whoever pays me the most, and I got better offer from them did the one I had from you.”

“I … I’m sorry, Twiley.” Shining Armor. “But the Cybertronians have been interfering in our lives too much. I’ve had enough. It’s time we cut the leash with them, so they’ll stop … messing us up, letting things like … this happen to us!” Shining Armor gestured to himself. 

“You’re starting to sound like Galloway.” Twilight said.

“Yeah, well, maybe Galloway has a point.”

Twilight blinked. “I cannot believe you just said that. You did not just say that. You did not just say that.” 

“Twiley …” Shining Armor said. “I know this is going to be hard, especially for you, but the Autobots …  they’re not as great as they’re cracked up to be. They’ve hurt a lot of people.”

Ultra Magnus shifted uncomfortably.

“It was war! It was collateral damage!”

“Yeah? Tell that to the motherless sons and daughters, to the widows and childless families they left in their wake.” Shining Armor said, gesturing to the Star Seeker’s fleet. “Everyone in one of those ships is here today because the Cybertronians’ war, the Autobots’ war, took something from them. I know this might be hard for you to understand, but Equestria … our family, will be better if the Autobots don’t have anything to do with us ever again, and between you and me, I don’t think Optimus Prime really had everyone’s best interests-”

“AAAAAAAAH!”

Twilight jetted forth at Shining Armor, ramming him, slamming her hoof into his stomach. 

“You … Yoooou YOU PIECE OF SLAG!” Twilight roared, grabbing Shining Armor by the chest and thighs, lifting him up, and tossing him. Any physical effect was lessened because they were in deep space, but Shining Armor got the message. 

“Optimus Prime wanted was what best for everyone!” Twilight shouted, going up to her brother and pummeling in the face, alternating between which cheek she pounded. “But you can’t always get what you want! Every death the war caused, even - especially the non-Cybertronians ones, weighed on his Spark! He didn’t show it, but I could tell - we could ALL tell!”

Twilight grabbed Shining Armor by the chin. 

“And don’t you dare, don’t you dare to talk to me like I’m still some kind of child who doesn’t know what’s good for me! True, my long path to becoming an Autobot wasn’t the best of experiences … but it still led me to getting some great friends who are more reliable than you’ll ever be!” 

Twilight bucked Shining Armor in the stomach, knocking him away. She grabbed him in her magic, then forced him down, slamming him into the side of the ship. She teleported on top of him and tried to punch his face, but he rolled away. 

“Twiley, the Autobots spread destruction wherever they go! Look at what they did to you! To Fluttershy to me!”

“Fluttershy and I are perfectly with what’s been done to us! And quit talking like all of it is the Autobots’ fault!” Twilight slugged across the cheek.

“Oof.” Shining Armor groaned, rubbing his cheek.

“I can’t believe you allied with the Star Seekers.” Twilight growled. “Does Cadence know?”

“Yeah … she … she wasn’t happy.”

“Well, good! It’s nice to know there’s still somepony in the family besides me who has their head screwed on straight!”

“Twiley -”

“Don’t call me Twiley, you piece of slag!”

Shining Armor’s jaw dropped. “Twilight … surely you can understand … you have to understand … there’s still damage. You can’t just ignore that. You can’t just blithely forgive them for that just because you weren’t there for it!”

“I can and I will,” Twilight said, floating upwards. “So maybe the Autobots did do a few bad things. Maybe they did destroy a few things and caused some people to die, but almost all of it was well intended. All of it was to stop the Decepticons from taking over. I can forgive them for that. They can make up for it in their own ways. Maybe they can offer themselves as slaves. Maybe the guilt will get to them and they’ll ‘repent’ by killing themselves. You’d like that, wouldn’t you? Less Autobots to worry about in the universe? I can forgive most of the things they’ve done, Shining Armor. But what I can’t forgive is you joining up with a bunch of marauders out of a self-sure prejudice and the idea that you somehow know what’s best for everypony and what’s best for your little sister like she’s still a lost foal wandering Canterlot with a book in her face!”

Twilight grabbed Shining Armor by the shoulders, deploying the blaster from her exo-suit and pressing it to his chest.

“W-what? Twiley, you can’t!”


“You’re made of Dark Energon.” Twilight said. “Be glad for that. It means you’ll live.”

Twilight opened fire point blank, blasting a hole clean through Shining Armor’s body, the laser bolt exploding out the back. Shining Armor let out a gasp, his tainted blood leaking out from both sides. Twilight adjusted herself and bucked him again, knocking him away and sending him tumbling adrift and directionless through space. 

Twilight turned and drifted away. It was a good thing she was wearing a helmet. This way, no one could see her tears.

“Wow, Twilight.” Ultra Magnus said. “That was cold.”

Twilight heaved a deep breath. “Cold … but necessary. And like I said … he’ll live.”  Even if I might not.




“Ugh.” Shining Armor groaned, rubbing his head. “Where am I?” He was in a dusty,place, where the sand underneath him was a lifeless grey color, and tombstones decorated the area. Shining reeled back in surprise when he saw Megatron sitting down on a bench beside him.

“Why, hello there!” The mule face of Discord appeared in Shining Armor’s vision. “What have you been up to, mon capitaine?” 

“Discord?” Shining Armor asked. “Aren’t you dead?”

“Aren’t you dead? No, no, you’re not. If so, you would have moved on by now.” Discord rubbed his chin. 

“Where are we?” Shining Armor asked. “What is this place? How do you know who I am?”

“I know everything there is to know about you, Shining Armor.” Discord summoned a deck of cards and made them fly between his hands, before pulling out a card with Shining’s face and showing it to Shining Armor. “We’re in the limbo. It’s the place where beings of chaos like myself and undead go when they die. See, being of chaos, we don’t follow normal rules of life and death, so unless some greater god takes pity on us, or we redeeeeem ourselves, we end up stuck in limbo.” 

“What’s Megatron doing here?” Shining Armor asked. 

“Oh, never mind him,” Discord said. “He’s been depressed ever since his last attempt to come back to life failed. Watch.” Discord snapped his fingers, which gave Megatron a clown nose, extra arms hanging off his back, and a tutu. Megatron only sighed before getting up and walking away. 

“No, the real story here is you,” Discord said, drawing up to Shining Armor. “What have you been up to?”

“Well, I …”

“Don’t answer that,” Discord said. “I’ll tell you what you’ve been up to. You’ve been allying yourselves with a bunch of anti-Cybertronian xenophobes.”

“That’s … one way to look at it,” Shining Armor said.

“I rather think it’s the only way to look at it,” Discord said, summoning up a hookah and blowing a puff on it. “Especially if I were to look at through the eyes of Twilight Sparkle.” Doing something extraordinarily creepy, Discord made his eyes resemble Twilight’s. Seeing Twilight’s eyes implanted on Discord’s mangled visage unsettled Shining Armor. “You’ve not been good to her lately, have you?”

“W-what do you mean?” Shining Armor asked.

“Well, there’s questioning her word choice …” Discord said.

“Little sisters aren’t supposed to swear!”

“Allying with that human, whom she hates …” 

“Galloway has some good ideas.”

“Telling her the Autobots are all unrepentant destroyers, and treating her like a child who can’t think for herself and needs her big brother to do what’s best for her.”

“Well, she does!”

Discord gave a blank stare. He pinched his nose and groaned. “Do you even hear yourself right now, mon capitaine? You just admitted to thinking of your sister - who I should mention, has fought off not just me, but the Decepticons, Unicron, my superior, and is currently leading a tight ship of Autobots and Decepticons with the Imperials - as a child. Tell me, do you really think a child could operate the Imperials with the military precision that she does?”

“Well, I …”

“Do you think a child could uncover the Omega Lock and use it to build her base?” Discord asked. “Do you think a child could manage to sweet-talk those delightfully gruesome Predacons to her cause?”

Discord raised an eyebrow.

“Do you think Twilight Sparkle is incapable of making decisions for herself?” 

“I …” Shining Armor said. “Does it really count as decision-making when they’re all bad decisions?”

“Yes!” Discord snapped. “Don’t try to move the goalposts, Shining.” Discord summoned a goalpost, dressed himself up in pigskin gear, and hurled a pigskin through the post. “Denying your sister of the right to make decisions, especially bad ones, denies her of the right to be herself! To be who she wants, to … be.” Discord put stars in his eyes, changing his dress to a Shakespearian outfit.

“I …” Shining Armor said. “I never thought about it like that. I guess I got so caught up in trying to protect her, to be her big brother, that I didn’t think that this what she wanted to do, and that … it’s not up to me and my judgment to decide the Autobots aren’t good for Equestria.”

“Ah! He’s stubborn, but he can be taught,” Discord said. He pushed Shining Armor on the nose, pushing him back. “Run along, little Terrorpony. Your body should have regenerated by now, and if you stay here too long, Megatronus might get wind of you. And I assure you, he will have much harsher words to have with you than I did.”

“Who?”

“Ah ah ah! Run along, run along!”

Shining Armor looked over his shoulder. “Why are you helping me?”

Discord shrugged. “What else is there for me to do, except be a trickster mentor? Try to come back to life and then fail at it to just get re-murdered like Megatron did? No thank you. Besides, some day you’ll either die or join me in the limbo, and I hope you’ll remember when I gave you guidance so you’ll be so kind as to give a me a little company… now run along, before Megatronus gets here and decides to reduce you to particles! I’d rather you not get vaporized before you can keep me from getting lonely...”



Crosshairs flew up to Lockdown. Gritting, he pulled out his pistol and fired, his slugthrower had minimal effect in the vacuum of space, with the bullet flying out.

Lockdown grinned. “Why don’t we take this somewhere with a little more gravity?” Lockdown turned and flew away, flying up in the port on a shape. 

Crosshairs followed up, going inside. The port closed behind him, and Crosshairs felt his feet thudding on as artificial gravity took place. 

Lockdown smirked at him from across the hall. Crosshairs twirled his guns and opened fire, blasting away to hit him. Lockdown merely dashed around a corner.

“Traitor,” Crosshairs said, firing in the hopes of grazing Lockdown.

“Aw, Crosshairs, don’t be like that,” Lockdown said. He emerged from the corner and fired a shot at Crosshairs. “After all, you were a mercenary once too, remember? It’s all about the money. The job, not the cause.”  

“No.” Crosshairs reloaded his gun. “It’s not. I’m different now. I’ve changed.”

“Ah, you can say that all you like. But we’re not so different. You’re no better than me,” Lockdown said. He pushed a button, and the hallway exploded in front of Crosshairs, sealing him off from Lockdown with a wall of fire.

Crosshairs grimaced and aimed his pistol, before realizing it wouldn’t do anything. He doubled back to find another way to get to Lockdown. 




Outside the ships, as the melee continued, the ships in the fleet getting closer and closer to Earth’s atmosphere, Ultra Magnus and Twilight were puzzled by the arrival of an American-colored dropship.

“What is that?” Ultra Magnus asked. “Did Galloway get wind of this and hedge his bets on it?”

The answer wasn’t Galloway, as the dropship opened to show Tarn standing inside, the treads on his back revving and ready to go.

“Helllooooo, everybody!” Tarn said. “I’m Tarn, leader of the Decepticon Justice Division. We’ve been wandering around that blue planet for days with no idea of where we are or how we get, but we intercepted a communication and went by that old Decepticon adage. ‘When in doubt, kill the nearest Autobot.’” 

Tarn jumped out of the ship and opened fire, sending a pink laser beam out at his targets.

“The D.J.D? Aw, slag,” Ultra Magnus said. “We do not have the time or the resources to deal with these jerks and the Star Seekers.”

“Hold on, Ultra Magnus,” Twilight said. “Where you see inconvenience, I see an opportunity.”

“Oh? And just how do you figure that?” Ultra Magnus asked, sarcasm evident.

“Well, despite our best efforts, the Star Seekers are getting closer to Earth.” Twilight observed, taking a glance at the planet below them. “And call me a gambler, but I’d hazard a guess the only reason they haven’t fired the Requiem Blaster is because it needs to charge.”

“As super-mega-lasers tend to, yes,” Ultra Magnus said. 

“I say we take out two birds with one stone. The Decepticon Justice Division supposedly has impenetrable armor, right?” 

“Ununtrium-coated, yeah. What of it?”

“So all we have to do is push the Justice Division in front of the Requiem Blaster when it fires.” Twilight said. “It takes care of them, and it makes the Blaster wastes its shot, protecting Earth.”

“Sounds a little risky,” Ultra Magnus said. “For all we know, the blast could chew through the D.J.D and still head for Earth. But you know what? I’m a Wrecker. Risky is my business.”

“Besides, I think I might I have plan for that, too,” Twilight said. Twilight glanced over to Fluttershy, who was heading straight for the D.J.D’s ship. “Where are you going, Fluttershy?”

“To talk,” Fluttershy said. “We still don’t know about that tiny female we saw when we erased the D.J.D’s memories. I want to know her story.”

“Okay,” Twilight said. “I’ll allow it. I hope you know what you’re doing …” 

The rest of the Decepticon Justice Division poured out of the ship, weapons blazing, screaming and grinning like maniacs. Which they were. All of them except the outlier who had caught Fluttershy’s interest. 

Once they were all a safe distance from the ship, Fluttershy floated up to the door and went inside. Flying up to a pad, she closed the door, which beeped and alerted the aforementioned outlier, who stepped out of her seat and waved a wrench.

“Who’s there?” she asked. “Show yourself!”

“Calm down,” Fluttershy said. “I just want to talk.”

“Hmph. I don’t make a habit to talk to organics,” the Decepticon said. “But … you don’t like entirely organic, so I guess I’ll make an exception for you. But speak quickly. Tarn wouldn’t approve of me fraternizing with the enemy.”

“I’m Fluttershy."

“Nickel.”

“Nickel. Interesting name.” Fluttershy said. “You don’t look like a typical Cybertronian … are you a Mini-Con?”

Nickel laughed. “I wish. No. The Cybertronians aren’t the only robotic life out there. I’m from a distant planet called Prion.”

“How did you end up with the Decepticon Justice Division?” Fluttershy asked.

“I’m glad you asked.” Nickel said. “A bunch of raiders, looking to take revenge on the Cybertronians for their war doing … something to them, I don’t know, went and razed my entire planet to the ground. The D.J.D arrived to investigate the aftermath, and they found me in the rubble. They took me in, and we promised we wouldn’t stop until we had our due justice against every organic in the universe for what they did.”

Fluttershy tilted her head.  “But doesn’t trying to take indiscriminate revenge all organics make you no better than those raiders?”

Nickel stared, confused. “I don’t understand.”

“Not all organics hate robotic life the way these raiders did. Besides, you seem nice,” Fluttershy said. “How did a nice fembot like you end up with murderers like the D.J.D?”

“Oh, I’m not nice, I assure you.” Nickel said, demonstrating by tossing a wrench at Fluttershy. “I’m brutal. I’m vicious. And hey … wait a minute … Fluttershy? Wasn’t that one of the names on the hit list?”

Fluttershy’s hairs stood on end. “Um, no. I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Yeah, yeah!” Nickel said. “Fluttershy, wanted for treason and untruthfully falsifying her support for the Decepticon cause and ideology. I thought Vos killed you already?” 

“I, uh, well… gotta go!” Fluttershy blasted herself a hole in the ship to escape through and flew out moments before Nickel tossed another wrench at her.



Grimlock, taking his own initiative, managed to sneak by the fleet and float over to the side of the Tidal Wave. He whipped out his sword and stabbed it into the hull, bringing it down and carving out an entrance for him, punching the section in. He entered.

“Intruder!” One of the Star Seekers’ hired hands reported, opening fire on Grimlock with a machine gun. Grimlock walked up to him and crushed the barrel of the gun with his hand before picking the alien up and punching him through the wall.

“It would appear we have a Cybertronian on the ship, Thundertron.” Brimstone noted, observing the reports coming in.

Thundertron rubbed his temples. “Is the Blaster ready to fire yet?”

“Almost.”

“So, Brimstone …” Thundertron said. “Are you just going to sit there and tell me there’s a Cybertronian on board, or are you going to get up and do something about it?”

“Understood,” Brimstone said. “With me.” Brimstone motioned for the rest of the bridge crew to follow him. They made their way to the port side, where Grimlock was finishing up mopping the last of the security foolish enough to try and stop him. 

“Heh. Well.” Grimlock observed, lifting a mercenary over his head and tossing them to the ground. “Maybe you four will actually give me a challenge.” 

Brimstone growled, converting into a pterodactyl and rushing at Grimlock. 

“Bad move, buddy. I know how to fight dinosaurs.” Grimlock grabbed Brimstone by the beak, snapping it shut before using it to toss Brimstone into the wall. 

Outside, the barrel of the Requiem Blaster began to hum, purple energy sparking from inside. A sphere of energy shaped with the shape of an atom’s nucleus formed inside the barrel.

“That’s it,” Magnus observed. “It’s getting close to firing.” 

“Time to bring in the big guns.” Twilight tapped her com. “Oh, Omeeega! Are you ready? Have we gone over the plan with you in sufficient detail? Because it’s time!”

“Yes, Twilight Sparkle.” Omega Supreme answered. “I understand.” 

Omega Supreme transformed to his massive robot mode, the mere sight of such a large ship transforming into a massive Goliath inducing terror in many of Thundertron’s allies, some of whom were even tempted to turn tail and run while they could.

“How did we miss that?” Helex asked. “That ship is Omega Supreme!”

“Bah!” Tarn said. “We’re not afraid of him. Megatron took him down once, then so can we!”

Kaon pouted. “Megatron found a bigger gun, remember?”

Omega Supreme stretched his claw out, before swiping it across the shield of ships protecting the Tidal Wave, batting them all aside, crumpling them and exposing the Tidal Wave for a clear shot. The riders inside the ship were thrown around and slammed into walls, including Crosshairs and Lockdown, who weren’t prepared for the ship to roll around and for the wall to become the floor.

Omega Supreme moved forward, grabbing the barrel of the Requiem Blaster with his massive claw. He pulled the Blaster and the entire ship with upward, making the Blaster face up and away from Earth. 

Omega took his other arm and impaled the D.J.D’s dropship with its tip, before using the ship like a sponge to soak up the Division, slamming the ship into them and forcing them into one location. With all of the members neatly gathered onto the ship, Omega placed them in front of the Requiem Blaster, which was almost ready to fire.

“You can’t do this to us!” Tarn protested as Omega removed his hand from the ship. “I don’t know what is you’re planning, but it won’t work! Do you hear me?”

“No!” Thundertron shouted, realizing what the Imperials were about to do. He jumped out of his captain’s chair and went for the Blaster’s controls to try and call off the shot before it was wasted, but he was too late.

“We are the Decepticon Justice Division! We are Megatron’s enforcers! We are invincible! If you think you can get rid of us that easy … you are being deceived!”

The Requiem Blaster fired. The energy nucleus increased in size before converting into an enormous, massive pillar of beam almost a mile wide. The blast struck the Decepticon Justice Division and their ship, blasting off all their armor and separating their weapons from them. Tarn’s fusion cannons came off, as did Helex’s extra arms. Their armor was melted down and destroyed, incinerated by the Requiem Blaster’s firepower. 

When the blast cleared, the dropship, having been further from the main blast, was still intact, but a burnt, smoldering wreck. Tarn and the others were reduced to metallic skeletons, only tiny patchwork bits and bobs of color on them even hinting to their original form. There was enough force, enough pressure in the blast to push their bodies out and aside, where they drifted aimlessly before getting close enough to the planet to be caught in Earth’s orbit. There, they were pulled in by the planet’s gravity, and brought plummeting down to Earth as flaming silhouettes, their bodies becoming super heated and turning a bright, eye-searing orange-red as they went into re-entry.

“Heh,” Ultra Magnus chuckled, watching the show. “assuming they even did survive all of that, we ain’t seeing them again for awhile.”

“Yeah …” Twilight muttered. “Yeah …” 

Inside the Tidal Wave, Grimlock continued his bout with Thundertron’s elite crewmates. Cannonball, their bruiser, roared and charged at Grimlock, engaging him in a shoulder-to-shoulder grapple. Grimlock slipped his hands from Cannonball’s shoulders and grabbed his midsection, lifting him up and hurling him into the wall. 

Axor jumped at Grimlock, slashing him across the shoulder with hand-mounted ax, to no effect. Grimlock turned his attention to Axor after the futile blew, his visor starin Axor down with sheer menace.

“Heh. Parley?” Axor asked.

Grimlock grabbed Axor’s ax-hand and ripped it off Axor’s arm, followed by taking the ax and slashing Axor across the head and chest. 

Sandstorm, from a distance, fired at Grimlock, taking potshots at him. His bullets pinged off Grimlock’s plating. Grimlock, getting tired of this nuisance, transformed into T. Rex mode with no trouble and blew a burst of super-concentrated flame breath at Sandstorm, setting him on fire and melting his chest. Sandstorm fell to his knees, his chest smoking and his body melting. His liquidating fingers couldn’t keep a hold on his half-melted gun, and he dropped it to the floor.

Both Cannonball and Brimstone recovered, and they lunged at Grimlock from opposite sides. Grimlock stopped Cannonball, grabbing him by the throat, and grabbed Brimstone from behind. 

“You two would make a great couple.”

Grimlock lifted Brimstone up and jammed him into Cannonball, impaling his beak through Cannonball’s chest. Cannonball gasped and fell to his knees. Brimstone’s optics widened with panic at the realization Cannonball was going to fall over, with him still attached, and Cannonball’s body was going to crush him.

Brimstone raised his wings out, but was unable to stop it from happening, ending up on the floor with Cannonball’s weight on top of him. Brimstone’s outstretched wings struggled and flailed, sticking out from under Cannonball. 

“Oh. Crushed under the weight of your own comrade. Not a pretty way to go.”

Grimlock climbed up and stomped on Cannonball’s back, digging his weight further into Brimstone. Brimstone’s wings quit struggling.

“Gah!” Thundertron screamed on the bridge, slamming his fists on the controls. “Curse you, Cybertronians! I curse your kind! I curse your entire, wretched species! You’ve foiled my plans for justice once again! But this is just a setback. There will be a reckoning one day, I promise you, and it will come by my hand! By my judgment! You will be brought to your knees, and you will look up to me and beg for mercy, and I’ll look down on you and say, no!”

“What makes you judge, jury, and executioner of an entire species?” Grimlock asked, entering the room.

“The Cybertronians destroyed my home!” Thundertron said. “They razed my planet and left it for dead, without even so much as an apology card! They took everything from me! My home, my planet, everything! That is what makes me fit to judge you and deliver your overdue judgment on you!”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Grimlock said. Grimlock took his sword and stabbed Thundertron through the chest. 

“That was a rhetorical question.” 

“Filthy scoundrel … cheap shot …” 

As Thundertron stood there, gasping and cursing Grimlock, bleeding out and slowly dying, Grimlock decided to take some mercy on him and make his death quick. Grimlock lifted his blade up, tearing through Thundertron’s chest before the sword emerged through Thundertron’s head, cutting him in half from the waist up. Thundertron’s bifurcated corpse fell to the floor.

The Star Seekers’ allies, between the intimidating presence of Omega Supreme, and Thundertron not responding to their hails about what to do next, were convinced to turn back and retreat. And any who needed further convincing got it when Omega Supreme took his claw and swiped through the fleet a second time, sending ships tumbling through space.

Far out on their planet, the Quintessons watched from a camera they installed on the Tidal Wave.

"Well … it would appear our plan has failed," one Quintesson observed.

"Yes … it would seem we need a new plan if we are to endure," another Quintesson said.

"The Cybertronians have an expression for this kind of scenario … 'slag.'"

In the aftermath of the battle, as the Imperials gathered up their men and ships, Twilight and Fluttershy looked on the charred remains of the D.J.D’s dropship.

Fluttershy sighed. “I wish I could have convinced Nickel to change her mind.” 

“I know,” Twilight said. “If it makes you feel any better, we already went over the ship. We didn’t find any remains. She might have got out before the blast hit. She might be alive.” Fluttershy perked up at the idea.

Elsewhere, Crosshairs drifted through space, his trenchcoat waving from his motions. 

“Hey there, kid.” 

Crosshairs was surprised to see Lockdown with his head jutting out from between the wreck of a spaceship and an asteroid the ship had crashed into and become enmeshed with it. 

“I realize we never really got to finish our business,” Lockdown said. “Omega hit the ship I was on, sent it barreling, and well, now here I am. If you’ll just pull me out of here, we can continue our fight, as well as our … heh-heh … stirring debate.”

“Why would I do that?” Crosshairs asked. “I should just leave you to rust, you turncoat.” 

Crosshairs turned to leave.

Lockdown chuckled. “See? You really are more like me than you care to admit!”

Crosshairs froze. He tensed up, before turning back around and floating up to Lockdown.

“That’s where you’re wrong, mate,” Crosshairs said, whipping out his pistol. “Because if I really were like you, then I would just leave you here, because you’re not part of the job I was paid for. But now that I think about it, you still know Imperial intelligence. You’re still a threat, and if someone came by, say, Starscream or Lazerback, you’d have no trouble selling us out and all the intel you have in exchange for getting out of this and maybe a quick quid. If I were like you, I would just leave you here, because the mission’s over.” 

Crosshairs clicked the hammer of his pistol, and pressed it up to Lockdown’s chin.

“I”m nothing like you.” 

An iron shaft arrow whizzed by, hitting the rock Lockdown was stuck in and distracting Crosshairs' attention.

"No."

Crosshairs looked to see Arcee floating in. Arcee pulled up her Echohawk Bow and pulled the drawstring.

"He's mine."

"Together?" Crosshairs offered, holding his pistol up. "Seems a fair compromise."

Arcee smiled, which Crosshairs took as a yes. 

Aiming their weapons, they both fired at the same time, Crosshairs blowing a bullet up through Lockdown's chin and out his skull, while Arcee's arrow penetrated Lockdown's forehead, making sure to destroy his cranial module. The destroyed remnants of Lockdown's head, with his forehead caved in and his mouth gaping, made a gruesome sight stuck inside the wreckage.

Arcee sighed, a burden relieved on her shoulders. She and Crosshairs turned and propelled themselves away, not a care in the world.



Inside his office at Gould Enterprises, Attinger sat alone at his desk, with all of his lights turned down and the blinds shut.

The door opened, and a blonde woman stepped inside.

“You wanted to see me, Attinger?” 

“Director of Security Charlotte Mearing.” Attinger greeted her. “Yes, I did. Have a seat.”

Mearing took the seat. 

Attinger observed the expression on her face. “You know what’s coming, don’t you?”

Mearing sighed. “Yes. I knew it was only a matter of time.”

“Yes.” Attinger grabbed a pencil off his desk, rolling it between his fingers to curb his anger before snapping it in half. “You knew that eventually, I would piece together that you were the only one with the high enough ranking to get the blueprints on how to make Gould’s drones, with the communications to get in good with foreign affairs, who was enough of a bleeding heart to give it to our enemies.” Attinger said. “I have one question for you. Why, Mearing, why?” Attinger slammed his fist on the table. “You were a good agent. You knew what I would do when I found out. Why did you still do it?”

Mearing took in a deep breath. “After I heard the news about the destruction of the temple, my heart went out to the Chinese. I heard they were trying to make their own Cybertronians, and my heart went out to them. So I went up to them and I gave them the means, the know-how, because I thought they deserved the ability to protect themselves from further Cybertronian-related incidents. From you. From Galloway.”

Attinger huffed. “I suppose I can respect that. Of course, now you understand what has to happen … you leaked classified intel to a foreign country. I can’t just forgive that.”

“I know,” Mearing said. “If it makes you feel any better, the Ministry’s efforts … haven’t exactly been approved by the Chinese President.”

Attinger raised a brow.

Mearing stood up and turned away.

“And I can rest easy, knowing what I did was right.” Mearing said and walked away in her heels.

Attinger bit his lip. He got up, pulled out his gun, and fired, shooting three shots through Mearing’s stomach. The bullets ripped out, splashing blood from her stomach,and she fell to the ground, dead, her blood seeping into the carpet.

Gould wasn’t going to be happy Attinger had stained his premium carpenter.

“She was a good agent,” Attinger said. “A good agent, a good director. AAAH!” Attinger screamed and slammed his fist on the table, knocking over a few papers.

Attinger raised up his gun, pressing its barrel to his chin, giving thought to pulling the trigger.

“N-no.” Attinger stammered, lowering the gun. “I-I did it for my country. I killed her for the country.” Attinger’s voice broke.  “Her heart ... was in the right place …  but she was still a traitor to the country. A leak. A mole.” 

Attinger sighed. He placed his gun down on the desk before pulling out his phone. He would need to do something about the body. 




Down on Equestria, Fluttershy stood by the river next to her house.

“Wow …” Fluttershy murmured, watching the flow of the river. “It’s been so long since I was last home … I should check up on my animals.”

Bulkhead, Arcee, Magnum, Bumblebee, and Fluttershy’s friends pulled up, carrying Rampage’s body.

“You sure you don’t want to give him a Cybertronian funeral, Fluttershy?” Bulkhead asked. “Have him melted, recycled into protoforms? It would be like they were carrying little pieces of him.”

“Bulkhead,” Arcee bumped her elbow into Bulkhead’s side. “That’s gross.” 

Fluttershy barely looked back at them over her shoulder. “No. He would have wanted to have been near me.” Fluttershy stuck one hoof in the river. “We’ll bury him in the river.”

Their attention was snapped to by a jet engine humming overhead. Switchblade flew in, converting to robot mode and landing in front of Fluttershy.

“Hello, everyone.” Switchblade said. “Fluttershy. I understand if you say no, but … I was hoping you would permit me to help with the burial?”

Fluttershy nodded.

“Thank you.” Switchblade said. “This means a great deal to me that you would accept.” 



After finishing the burial, the Imperials returned to their base and tried to get back to normal operations. After all of the excitement, the first thing on several Imperials’ minds was getting some rest and relaxation.

Rainbow Dash, flying through the hallway, groaned when she found herself stopped by an apologetic Fractyl. 

“Ugh. What do you want, Fractyl? I want to lie down, and you’re preventing me from that.”

“Just a moment, please.” Fractyl said. He held up a glass vial. “I wanted to thank you for coming to my aid while we’re in Trypticon fighting Starscream earlier. If you hadn’t arrived when you did, and Starscream and I had been allowed to keep talking … he might have been able to persuade me to switch sides. But thanks to you, he didn’t, and I know now for sure, more than I ever did before, that I signed up for the right side. I mean, would Fearswoop do for me the same thing you did? I think not. So, I wanted to thank you. This is a gift. It’s a vial I’ve used to create chemical mixtures with before. I realize it may a bit … esoteric, especially for an athlete such as yourself, but it’s the best way I can think of to express my gratitude.” 

“Oh, Um. Thanks.” Rainbow Dash said when presented with the vial. “And you know, kiddo, with all your talk about chemistry, you should really to apply it in the field some time.”

Fractyl’s optics widened. He slapped his head. “Of course! I could make all sorts of chemical dispersants to use for fighting! Rainbow Dash, you’re a genius!” 

Fractyl walked off to begin experimenting.

“Heh. Would you mind telling Applejack that?” Rainbow Dash asked in jest. She pulled up the vial, and something it … struck her, like a sheen going across her eyes. She wasn’t much interested in chemistry, so why it was affecting this way?

“Must be the lighting,” Rainbow Dash decided, rubbing her eye and flying off.

Elsewhere, Twilight Sparkle stood in a room, which had been organized and reshuffled to allow room for their newly acquired Requiem Blaster. Rarity walked into the room with curlers in her hair and a green mask on her face.

“Darling, I would have thought you’d have gone to bed by now.” Rarity said. “What’s got you still so abuzz?”

“It’s this Requiem Blaster,” Twilight said. “I know we need it to track down the Artifacts of the Primes … but for some reason, I’m still not comfortable keeping a weapon this powerful in our base. I don’t think  anypony should have access to that kind of power.”

“Oh no? Then what do you call the Omega Lock, then?” 

Twilight’s eyes shrunk. “The Omega Lock is a resource. A factory, not a weapon.”

“Fine, fine. If that’s what you need to tell yourself to sleep at night …” Rarity said. 

Twilight sighed. “Plus, I think there’s still a chance the Justice Division survived. Forget it. I’ll think about it more tomorrow. We’ll use the Requiem Blaster to find the next Artifact, and then decide what to do with it. I need some sleep ...”

“Yes, you do.” Rarity said, walking along with Twilight to their beds.

Twilight crawled under her covers to sleep for the night. 

She was more than a little dismayed when, upon losing consciousness, she found herself standing on a snowy peak, where Primus, Megatronus, and Micronus were waiting for her.

“Oh no. No no no nooo.” Twilight groaned, rubbing at her face and pulling at her eyelids. “I just want to get some sleep. Why can’t you let me sleep?”

“There is no rest for the wicked.” Megatronus said. “Even now, darks forces work tirelessly to achieve their agenda.”

Micronus whistled. “Whoo, Megatronus. I was just gonna say ‘evil never rests,’ but I like your version better.”

“Enough of that.” Megatronus said. “We have something important to discuss with you, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Yes,” Primus said. “I can feel more of my power returning, though why I do not know. We need your help, Twilight Sparkle.” 

“What do you need my help with?” Twilight asked. 

“Despite being a god, I find myself unable to peer into the future.” Primus said. “This worries me. But as little portions of my power return to me, I can feel myself growing stronger in the here and now … but I know it won’t last. It will fade, and the future will remain obscured to me.” 

“Twilight Sparkle…” Megatronus said. “We know you have been searching for the cause of the Autobots’ downfall in the future. Has it occured you are looking in the wrong place?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean… do you realize the inherent folly… in trying to determine what went wrong in the future, while in the present?”

Twilight tapped her chin. “I see what you mean, but I’m not sure what else I’m supposed to be doing. Future Bumblebee hasn’t given me the … schematics … for a Time Bridge.” Twilight facepalmed. “Maybe if I had asked, we would have one, and then time travelling wouldn’t be such a big deal for him!”

“So you see.” Megatronus said. “Twilight Sparkle, we believe, with the fragments of power Primus, combined with Micronus and my own …”

“We will have the ability to fling you into the future,” Primus said. “And you can continue your investigation from there. Find what went wrong in history, and bring that knowledge with you to change it in the present. Are you ready?”

“We will be able to bring you back when you have completed your task,” Micronus said. “All you have to do is shout.”

“Are you ready?” Primus asked.

Twilight brushed a hoof along her forehead. “I so, so badly want to get some sleep .. but this is too important.”

Twilight took in a deep breath, looking at the Primes with determined eyes.

“I’m ready.”

Primus, Micronus, and Megatronus held their hands out. A glow emerged from their palms.The light intensified. 

Twilight raised her leg to shield her eyes from the light. 

Twilight felt her body jerk forward. She was pulled along through a tunnel at a blinding speed. It felt as she was riding on a roller coaster … and then all she saw was the bright, white, blinding light … 

And then there was nothing.