Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

The early days of autumn had arrived, painting Canterlot in a symphony of warm hues. The once-lush green plants had begun their slow transformation, tinged with shades of gold, amber and crimson, fluttering gently as the cool morning breeze rustled through the treetops. The sun hung lower in the sky, its golden rays casting long shadows across the quiet streets, where the remnants of summer still lingered. Alas, the carefree days of the vacation had come to an inevitable end.

At Canterlot High, the once-empty hallways were alive again with movement and sound. Conversations overlapped as the young learners reunited, sharing stories of their adventures and catching up on everything that had happened during the long break.

In front of the grand facade of the school, Flash Sentry parked his car in his usual spot, shutting off the engine with a smooth twist of the keys. He stepped out, stretching briefly before adjusting the strap of his guitar case. With a confident yet relaxed stride, he made his way to the entrance. However, before he could reach the doors, a thunderous roar split through the morning air.

Conversations died mid-sentence, heads turned instinctively and all eyes shifted to the street as a convoy of vehicles tore down the road. Students exchanged glances, some whispering in curiosity, others stepping back instinctively as the automobiles made their way toward the parking lot. Tires screeched slightly as they came to a sudden yet controlled stop, the engines growling one last time before falling silent.

Everyone stared in amaze and surprise as Sunset Shimmer and her friends emerged from their rides. The ember girl climbed down off the truck and froze on the spot as she noticed all eyes drawn to her and the rest of her squad. The motorcycle, cars and truck were nothing like anything the students had seen before. She shifted her head, casting a wry glance to her friends, "So much for not drawing attention..."

On the other hand, Rarity smiled and waved to her classmates with a flourish, "I simply love it!" she exclaimed, observing the crowd, "Good to see you again, darlings!"

"The Rainbooms?!" someone said in disbelief, followed by another voice, "No way!" the chatter grew more animated, students eagerly trying to get closer, "Yo, sick rides!" others called out, clearly impressed by the designs of the vehicles, "Where did you get them?" someone else asked with wonder, "Can we take a picture?"

As Sunset turned, she saw a mix of reactions. Rarity was in her element, clearly relishing the spotlight. Rainbow was giving her usual cocky grin, clearly enjoying the attention. Applejack stood off to the side, a knowing smile on her face as she waved at the students she recognized. Fluttershy shyly tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a small blush coloring her cheeks, clearly not used to such focus. Twilight put an awkward but delighted smile on her face as she quietly acknowledged the excited whispers of her peers. Pinkie couldn't contain her excitement and grinned from ear to ear, her eyes sparkling as she waved wildly to the young crowd, wrapping her arms around a few students in an exuberant embrace.

Despite the overwhelming interest, Sunset couldn't help but smile.

Yet, amidst the sea of faces, there was a familiar, warm voice that cut through, "Girls!"

Her eyes immediately landed on the source, a figure with a short blue hair waving their hand high.

"Flash!" she exclaimed eagerly as she recognized the boy right away. She turned to the other students, "Sorry, guys." she apologized with a sheepish smile, "Maybe some other time."

With a final wave, Sunset stepped away, her footsteps light as she made her way to her friend. Once closing the distance, she flung her arms around him in an exuberant hug, "I feel like it's been ages since we last saw each other." she mentioned as he embraced her back, "How have you been?"

As they pulled away, Flash let out a laugh, his expression softening, "Good, good. Busy with stuff. I've actually been meaning to call you." he looked behind her, examining the truck, "But I see that you guys have been occupied too."

Sunset's eyes widened as she followed his gaze, realizing what he was referring to. She hesitated for a split second before quickly turning back to him, "Oh— uh, that?" she stammered, forcing an awkward chuckle as she jerked her thumb to the towering ride, "It's, uh... it's not mine!" she added quickly, waving her free hand in a dismissive gesture, "No way. Can you imagine me trying to park this thing?"

Flash smirked, crossing his arms, "Uh-huh. So, whose is it?"

"It's, um— it's a friend's! They offered to drive me here today because, you know how I am with the school bus, heh..." she trailed off, laughing sheepishly, trying to sound as casual as possible, "They use it for... deliveries! Big ones. Very important and heavy stuff. Probably, like... industrial supplies? Yeah, that sounds right!"

The boy chuckled but nodded, deciding not to press her further. Before the moment could stretch into an awkward silence, another familiar tone appeared.

"Sentry! What's up, dude?" Rainbow walked to them with her usual confident stride, the rest of the girls following close behind. Without missing a beat, she and Flash met in a solid high-five.

"Just catching up with Sunset." he replied casually before glancing at the sleek red sports car that had undoubtedly drawn just as much attention as the massive truck, "Cool Lamborghini by the way."

Not far from the group, Sideswipe managed to overhear their conversation, "I'm starting to like that guy."

Bumblebee shushed him, "Keep your voice down. There are too many people around."

Meanwhile, as the chatter continued, the teenagers laughed and Flash shook his head, "You guys haven't changed a bit." he said, slipping his hands into his pockets, "It's great to see everyone back together again."

"It really is." Twilight agreed, "There's something comforting about being back here. Though, I have to admit, I'm also excited to see what's new this year. New classes, new projects-" she clapped her hands together, her eyes lighting up, "Oh! And I heard the science lab got some upgrades over the summer! I can't wait to check it out."

Rainbow rolled her eyes, "Of course you'd be excited about science on the first day."

"Well, studying is the whole reason we're here."

Pinkie suddenly gasped, her bright blue eyes widening as she threw her hands up, "Wait a second! If we're all back, that means— lunch breaks together again!"

Fluttershy giggled softly, "That does sound nice."

"And band practice!" Rainbow added enthusiastically, "We have to get back in the groove. I've been working on some new solos."

"Speaking of," Flash responded, looking at Sunset, "Are you planning any performances soon? The Rainbooms still going strong?"

Sunset exchanged a look with the others, a glimmer of excitement flashing in her gaze, "You bet. In fact... we might have something special in the works."

"Alright, I'll be patient. But you better let me know when you guys are playing." the boy smirked.

"Wouldn't dream of leaving you out." Sunset replied with a wink.

The school bell ringed across the yard, signaling that the first classes were about to begin. Sunset and her friends instinctively glanced to the building, "Well, there it is." Applejack said, adjusting her hat, "No more stallin'. Time to hit the books."

"Ugh, already? We just got here." groaned Rainbow dramatically. The group shared a laugh before finally beginning to head to the entrance. Students around them were already filing inside, some chatting excitedly, others looking less than thrilled to be back.

As Sunset walked alongside Flash and the rest of the girls, she couldn't help but glance back one last time at the line of vehicles in the parking lot. The towering truck and sleek sports cars that had transported them here were completely motionless, looking like nothing more than ordinary machines to the passing students. A small smile tugged at her lips as she lifted a hand in a subtle wave.

For a second, there was nothing. But then, almost as if in response, the truck's headlights blinked— a simple, wordless acknowledgment. She held the moment for just a bit longer, feeling a quiet reassurance settle over her before finally letting the door close behind her with a soft click.

The classroom was filled with the soft murmur of Miss Cheerilee's voice as she went over the lesson but Sunset barely heard a word of it. Her mind was elsewhere, her attention slipping further away from the equations scribbled on the board. Instead, her pen moved absentmindedly across her notebook, sketching shapes and lines in the margins of her notes.

Next to her, Fluttershy noticed the repetitive motions of her friend's pen and with quiet curiosity, leaned over, "What are you drawing?"

Sunset blinked, snapping out of her trance as she glanced at the kind girl before looking back down at her notebook, "Just a little doodle." she admitted with a small shrug, "I was thinking about what our 'symbol' could look like for our team."

From behind, Pinkie perked up, "Ooooh, lemme see, lemme see!" she whispered eagerly, leaning forward over her shoulder.

Before her friend could respond, a pointed ahem cut through their hushed conversation. All three girls froze. Miss Cheerilee stood at the front of the classroom, one eyebrow arched as she tapped a piece of chalk against her palm, "Starting to get distracted on the first day, hm?"

The teenagers shared sheepish smiles, quickly straightening in their seats, "Sorry miss..." they mumbled in unison. The teacher hummed, giving them a knowing look before turning back to the board to continue her lesson.

Once they were sure their teacher's attention had shifted, Fluttershy and Pinkie slowly peeked toward Sunset's notebook again. Their eyes fell upon the drawing— an elegant yet striking image of a dark pink pony, complete with both wings and a horn. The design carried a feel of power and mystery, its outline bold but not intimidating.

Fluttershy tilted her head, "...An alicorn?"

Sunset twirled her pen between her fingers, "I was messing around with ideas... something that could represent all of us, you know?"

Pinkie gasped in delight, "It looks perfect!"

Her ember friend couldn't help but chuckle at her enthusiasm. Still, even as the lesson continued, her thoughts lingered on the drawing.

« ✦ —⋆——― ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ———⋆— ✦ »

A layer of calm draped across the trees. The night lay quietly over the woods, moonlight filtered gently through the canopy, casting silver streaks over the forest floor. It was a peaceful night, untouched by haste or disturbance, where every shadow seemed content to linger and every star above seemed to shine a little brighter against the stillness.

In the far distance, the enormous robot trudged through the untamed wilderness, pedes sinking slightly into the damp earth with each heavy step. The dense foliage around him rustled in the evening breeze, the distant cries of wild creatures echoing through the twilight. It was an utterly wretched environment, one that reeked of organic decay and mud— so beneath his greatness.

His optics flickered dimly, a testament to his dwindling Energon reserves. His once-pristine silver armor was now dulled by jagged scratches, dents and streaks of dried dirt marred his sleek frame. His wings, symbols of his aerial superiority, sagged under the weight of exhaustion. He had searched tirelessly for an Energon source, scouring the terrain for hours but every lead had proven fruitless. His frustration boiled over and he clenched his fists, his servos whining in protest, "Curse those insufferable Autobots and their pathetic, fragile flesh-creatures!" Starscream snarled, "Leaving nothing for those who truly deserve it!"

A gust of wind stirred the trees and he lashed his wings in agitation, but even that small action drained what little strength he had left. He was a Seeker, a warrior of the skies— not some lost scavenger scrabbling through the dirt like a filthy Autobot. The mere thought of it made his circuits seethe. But he couldn't afford to waste energy on rage alone. He needed to find fuel, soon. If he didn't, it wouldn't be long before he shut down entirely, left vulnerable to any enemy, or worse, left at the mercy of this wretched planet.

From the depths of the shadows, a different figure lurked, its presence nearly imperceptible against the jagged silhouettes of the surrounding terrain. Twin white eyes pierced the darkness like ghostly beacons, tracking every movement of the weary Cybertronian with an eerie, unblinking intensity. The being moved between the natural obstacles, its form seamlessly blending into the environment, ensuring it remained nothing more than a phantom in the gloom.

Starscream remained oblivious, trudging forward with a weary, frustrated gait, unaware that he was no longer alone. The predator in the darkness remained patient, watching and waiting, its presence an unseen force lurking just beyond the Seeker's perception.

Just then, a rapid coo shattered the silence, echoing unnaturally close. Starscream jolted, his circuits flaring with alarm. Instinct took over. He whirled around, his blasters snapping into position and charging up. His crimson optics scanned the environment, locking onto the source of the sound— a pair of wide eyes staring back at him from a low-hanging branch.

The owl ruffled its feathers, tilting its head in silence as if unfazed by the towering Cybertronian pointing lethal weaponry directly at it.

With a snarl, Starscream jerked his blasters away, his irritation boiling over, "Wretched, insignificant vermin!" he spat. The owl, unbothered by his outburst, gave another slow blink before launching itself into the sky, its dark wings beating soundlessly as it vanished into the night. Starscream huffed, shaking off the momentary embarrassment. But his spark pulsed a little harder than before and a lingering unease prickled at his sensors. He had jumped too easily. He wasn't just exhausted, he was vulnerable.

"This is just ridiculous!" he grumbled, glaring at the now-empty perch where the insignificant organic had sat. Shaking his helm, he turned on his heel, determined to refocus. But even as he stomped forward, the unease from earlier still clung to his circuits like a virus. He could ignore it, dismiss it as exhaustion— except for the nagging sensation that he was not alone.

The wind howled through the trees, rustling the foliage around him and his servos clenched involuntarily. His scanners, though weakened, picked up nothing substantial beyond the usual life signals of this miserable planet. Yet his instincts— the ones that had kept him alive through countless battles— told him otherwise. Something was out there. Watching.

He bared his dentas in a silent growl, "If you think you can ambush me then you are gravely mistaken!" his voice carried through the darkness, a defiant challenge to whatever unseen force lurked just beyond his vision.

Silence. For a heartbeat, the world held its breath, wrapped in stillness so complete it felt unnatural.

But then... there was a faint shift in the shadows. Barely perceptible, but there. Starscream snapped his missile into position, his optics narrowing. His spark pulsed harder, no longer just from annoyance but from the creeping realization that this was no ordinary encounter.

"How intriguing..." a deep, unsettling tone purred, smooth yet laced with an almost mocking amusement. Starscream focused on the sound, his missile aimed and ready. But as he scanned the darkness, his sensors struggled to lock onto a clear form.

The figure before him was not solid— not in the traditional sense. Instead, it seemed to be a living void. Wisps of inky black mist coiled and undulated around its body, shifting like smoke caught in an unseen wind. Two piercing, pale-white eyes glowed from within the swirling abyss, their cold, predatory gaze fixed directly on him. The figure moved forward like a snake across the surface of the earth. Its presence alone felt unnatural, like a fragment of the void given sentience, a shadow that had peeled itself away from the darkness to take form.

A slow, eerie chuckle rumbled from the being, "Lost, are you?"

Starscream's grip on his arm tightened. His systems were running low and his patience even lower. But something told him that this... thing... was not an opponent he could simply blast into oblivion, "Marvelous... first those worthless colorful humans and now this?! Either you are real or I've completely lost it and my processor has started playing tricks on me!"

"Oh, I assure you-" the entity murmured, "I am very, very real."

"What are you?!" Starscream barked with both defiance and a flicker of unease, "I demand to know who—or what—I am speaking to!"

It smiled chillingly, "That is a question I have not been asked in quite some time..."

"I fail to see what's so entertaining about any of this." the flyer snapped, "I asked you a question, creature. Answer it. Now!"

"You wish to understand me?" it asked with amusement, "That is an ambitious request. Even I am uncertain whether I am meant to be understood."

"Enough of this cryptic nonsense!" the robot grimaced, his patience wearing thin, "You stand before a Decepticon air commander and I do not have time for riddles!"

"Ah, but time is such a fickle thing, is it not? One moment, you believe you have all the time in the world and the next... it slips through your grasp like grains of sand."  the entity flew closer, "You are just like me. Wandering and searching. Hungry." the shadows surrounding it seemed to stretch outward, as if responding to the weight of its memories, "I am shadow— not just of the body but of the soul. A hunger given form, a whisper in the dark corners of forgotten minds."

"I was once called the Pony of Shadows, being of mere darkness." it declared, its tone both commanding and dripping with a sinister elegance.

Starscream froze as he processed the words. His weapon remained poised but his confusion was palpable. He cocked his helm, "The what?" he muttered trying to make sense of the thing before him, "Do not dare mock me with such absurdity! You hardly even resemble those ridiculous, four-legged creatures! This is preposterous!"

The figure's chilling laugh echoed through the space between them. He vanished out of sight, causing the Cybertronian to rapidly look around, until it appeared on the overlay of a nearby tree, grinning, "The arrogance of your kind is almost endearing."

Strascream jolted as he heard the voice near his audial, staring at it in shock, "I was once something far greater than a whisper in the dark. Long ago, I was bound to another soul named Stygian." the name rolled off its tongue like an echo from a distant past, "He was my purpose. But in the end... he was taken from me."

The misty tendrils around its body trembled, shifting restlessly, "I was cast out. The so-called Pillars of Equestria, those self-righteous fools, banished me, stripping me of my connection to that world, denying my right to exist. They tore me away, hurled me into the abyss, leaving me to drift through the endless void... until I appeared to the human realm."

"I stumbled across this one magical entrance, hidden deep out of reach. The moment I went through, I found myself here. This dull, ordinary place, filled with mundane creatures and no power beyond what your species can manufacture. No magic to fuel me, no souls to bind to my will. I wandered. For what, I did not know— until fate intervened." slowly, that grin returned, wider this time, stretched unnaturally as it leaned forward, its voice a silken whisper, "And then... I found you. It was you who caught my attention."

The Decepticon moved away as it got closer, "I sensed something in you." the entity continued, "Your rage and your pride, they resonate with me, just as they once did with Stygian. Was it chance that led me to you?"

Starscream's optics flared, his irritation boiling over, "Do not presume to compare me to some organic fool! I do not care how you ended up on this wretched planet. You can keep your pathetic sorcery and your petty grievances to yourself." he wiped the dust off his frame, starting to walk away, "I don't need them. And I definitely do not need some weak darkened spirit looming around me like some annoying pest. I survived on my own before and I will again!"

"You think you can hide it?" the figure murmured, "Your defiance and posturing... it all hides a deeper truth I've already seen."

The seeker stopped on his track, turning as he gave him a hardened glare, "What are you talking about?!"

"I feel it." it purred, "Your weakness, no longer concealed behind your arrogance. You're not as strong as you'd like to believe, are you?" Starscream's wings flicked nervously, betraying his rising anxiety, "I can sense that you're on the brink, just barely keeping yourself together. How long before you collapse, I wonder?"

His systems were indeed failing— his fuel reserves nearly depleted, his internal components frayed and overheated from days of relentless searching and fighting. Every movement now felt heavier, his once-precise systems stuttering under the strain. But even as his mind screamed to retreat, he held his ground, fighting to maintain the façade of control.

"You... you know nothing about me." Starscream growled, trying to remain steady. But even as he spoke, he could feel the weight of his own exhaustion.

The figure's laugh was low, "You think you can survive this world alone but I sense the certainty beneath your bravado. You're starving." the word slipped out like a venomous whisper, dripping with contempt, "Not just for fuel... but for something more, that you've denied yourself for far too long. Power. Control. You need it, don't you?"

Starscream'a frame vibrated with a mixture of anger and helplessness. He could feel it now, more acutely than ever before, the gnawing hunger in his core, the constant ache that no amount of fuel seemed to quell.

"I know what it's like to be abandoned and broken. To be cast aside when your value is no longer needed. But you... you're different. You don't have to keep fighting alone. I can give you the power you crave. The fuel you need. All you have to do is accept the gift I offer. There's no need to suffer... not anymore."

The seeker let out a frustrated huff and his servos tightened. Every system in his frame screamed for respite, every part of him screaming to leave this encounter behind. But he couldn't escape it, not now. Not after everything that had transpired, "I cannot believe what I've gotten myself into..." he mumbled bitterly. He was out of options and forced to make the most distasteful choice. His wings twitched as if they too were annoyed with the situation, the sharp tips vibrating with his discontent. But here he was, standing before the entity, the one who had infiltrated his thoughts, sensing his deepest vulnerabilities and offering him what felt like an insidious, impossible solution. Starscream clenched his jaw, battling the rising tide of disturbance and helplessness, then took a slow, deliberate step back. He exhaled sharply, as if forcing the words out through clenched vents.

"Fine..." he finally growled, his voice edged with reluctant defeat. He straightened, his wings lowering back in a gesture that was half conceding, half warning, "You can tag along... for now." the words were bitter in his intake, like a razor across his glossa, "And we will discuss this— privately."

Starscream could feel the weight of that stare and the longer the figure didn't respond, the more his impatience boiled over. The shadow bowed its head, eyes glowing with a soft, cold pleasure, before it finally spoke in a voice like slow, creeping fog.

"Of course."

Chapter Text

Starscream's metal heels reverberated through the empty mine as he made his way deeper into the darkness. He scanned the cavern walls, their jagged surfaces illuminated only by the faint glow of residual Energon machines that had long since been drained.

Trailing behind him, the shadowy figure moved with an unnatural fluidity, blending seamlessly with the gloom of the tunnels. Starscream, though well aware of his ghostly companion, refused to acknowledge him just yet. Instead, he grumbled under his vents, "Tch. Useless... all of it. Every mine, every scrap of fueI had logged away— gone."

He came to a stop as he glanced around the empty mine shaft, "I kept old coordinates from my time working with Shockwave." he admitted with bitterness, "Back then, I had access to some of Cybertron's most strategic Energon stockpiles... but unfortunately, most of these mines were raided and destroyed by those wretched Autobots."

The shadowy entity observed in silence, its bright, unnatural eyes gleaming with intrigue. It could feel the anger radiating from the seeker. Emotion it knew all too well,"Then tell me... if your past resources have failed you, where will you turn next?"

"Oh, don't assume I'm entirely without options." Starscream grinned, "Unlike those brainless brutes, I think ahead. There is a source of fuel."

At that, the dark presence seemed to stir with curiosity, its formless mass shifting subtly as it listened.

"I discovered it long ago— hidden deep within a cavern, far beyond the reach of those pathetic Autobots. Unlike the standard blue Enegon, this variant does more than simply feed us." he paused for effect, savoring the words before he finally added, "It enhances speed, reflexes, makes the user faster than the optic sensors can track. A powerful advantage, if one knows how to wield it."

He turned back to the tunnel as his expression darkened, "But, of course, such a prize doesn't come without its difficulties. The cave is nearly inaccessible— perched at the edge of a ravine, unstable and treacherous. One wrong step and even I would find myself reduced to nothing but scattered debris." his wings shifted tensely at the thought, but then his smirk returned, more confident this time, "Still, if I could retrieve it and harness its power..."

The shadow form shifted and stretched as it circled around the seeker, "You crave strength beyond what you were forged with. A force that none could ever hope to match."

Starscream remained still, allowing the shadow to weave its way around him. He was no fool— he knew the tone of manipulation when he heard it. Yet, something about the creature's words made his circuits hum with intrigue.

"My essence... I can grant it to you." the shadow continued, its tone smooth, coaxing, "With it, you will no longer be bound by the limitations of your frame." the tendrils coiled in closer, stopping just shy of brushing against his metallic plating, "You will be undefeated."

The Decepticon exhaled a sharp gust of air as he considered the offer. The prospect of becoming unstoppable, of finally holding true, unchallenged power in his servos, was intoxicating. And yet...

His optics darted to the shifting darkness surrounding him, "And what, exactly, would you gain from this?" he demanded with suspicion, "Power of that magnitude does not come without a price."

The shadow's grin widened, "Ah... a sharp mind." it mused, "You are correct. There is a price. But it is not a small one to pay... for everything you desire?"

It paused, letting the weight of its words sink in before continuing, "My strength does not simply attach itself like an advancement— it becomes part of you. You and I, Starscream, would be bound. I would flow through you. In return, you would wield power beyond anything you have ever known."

"I can easily reach that Red Energon..." the mech murmured, his words laced with hunger, "No longer will I be forced to retreat. No longer will they mock me and call me a coward!" his vents flared as his voice rose with intensity, his frame trembling with an intoxicating mixture of rage and exhilaration, "They will regret the way they've treated me. They will fear me..."

His servos twitched at his sides, wings half-raised in lingering hesitation. Every rational part of his processor screamed against this, but deep down, beneath the pride and arrogance— there was desperation.

For far too long, he had been the laughingstock, the runt of the Decepticons. Every betrayal, every humiliation at his former leader's servos, every time he had clawed his way to power only to have it ripped away— it all led him here. To this choice. His optics burned as he straightened his stance, "Very well. If you truly possess the power you claim... then you may take control of my form. But you will follow my commands."

The air in the mine seemed to shift, the very shadows pulsing in response. The entity loomed closer, its presence stretching like a living abyss, "A wise decision..." it purred, its tone thick with delight, "You will be satisfied."

As the darkness surged into Starscream, his entire body convulsed. It slithered into the cracks of his plating, burrowing deep into his circuits, entwining itself with his very spark. His vents shrieked as his body arched, an agonized yet ecstatic growl tearing from his vocalizer. The sensation was overwhelming— both suffocating and electrifying, as if raw power was sinking its claws into him, reshaping him from the inside out.

His once sleek silver frame darkened, the metallic sheen swallowed by a void-like blackness that spread across his plating like living tendrils. His sharp talons extended further, twitching as if testing their newfound lethality. His wings stretched unnaturally, no longer rigid metal but something almost ethereal, shifting like living shadows. His optics burned brighter than before— no longer red, but a piercing, otherworldly glow that pulsed with rough energy. His mouth curled into a grin, jagged and unnatural.

A distorted chuckle rumbled from his frame, layered with a voice that was no longer entirely his own. He flexed his claws, gazing at them with a sense of newfound satisfaction.

"We are no longer two... but one. A force of shadow and steel, bound by power beyond comprehension. Darkness and might entwined, a being reborn from vengeance and ambition alike. No longer will we be cast aside, no longer will we be mocked or hunted. Those who dared to stand against us will tremble before our presence, their resistance crushed beneath our unstoppable wrath. We shall strike from the abyss, unseen yet ever-present, a nightmare given form. A new name, a new existence— one that will be spoken in fear and reverence alike.

From this day forth... we shall be known...

... as the one and only EREBUS!"

Darkness coiled around them, twisting and compressing until their body elongated, morphing into a serpentine shape. The frame slithered effortlessly across the cavern floor, melting seamlessly into the surrounding shadows. Like a phantom, they moved with unnatural grace, gliding silently to the mine's exit, presence nothing more than a whisper against the stone. The instant they breached the threshold, the transformation escalated. The eerie stillness shattered as their shadowed form erupted outward, unraveling and expanding. From the abyss of their being, great obsidian wings unfurled, their jagged edges slicing through the night sky like blades of pure darkness.

With a surge of newfound strength, Erebus soared upward, his figure twisting and turning before stabilizing into his full, fearsome form. The sky itself seemed to recoil at his ascent.

Higher and higher he climbed, leaving behind the desolate earth below. Тhе world will witness the rise of something far more terrifying than any fearsome Decepticon or terrifying nightmare.

« ✦ —⋆——― ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ———⋆— ✦ »

The sun had barely begun to rise over the horizon, casting long shades across the rugged terrain outside the Autobot base. The girls, now in their Cybertronian forms, stood on top of towering rock formations, their metal frames still sluggish from the early wake-up call. Even with their enhanced bodies, the stiffness of sleep clung to their circuits, making every movement feel heavier than it should.

Below them, Drift stood with unwavering composure as he watched them on the high rock piles. He was a warrior of precision and discipline. And today's lesson was no exception, "This exercise is not merely about balance. It is about control of your body, your mind and the energy within you. A warrior who cannot steady themselves upon the smallest perch will falter upon the battlefield."

The training was deceptively simple— maintain balance. But the shifting, uneven surface was treacherous, demanding acute awareness and unwavering focus. This was one of Drift's most essential lessons, designed to refine not just their agility but their ability to center themselves in the heat of combat.

"This is way harder than I thought..." Sunset muttered, trying to remain still with folded servos.

Rainbow smirked, balancing herself on one pede with effortlessness, "Please, this is easy. I've got the best reflexes here."

Applejack, standing firm on her own perch, huffed, "Maybe braggin' ain't the best idea when you're barely keepin' steady."

Fluttershy, who had been usually silent, bit her derma as she wavered on her rock. The altitude made her uneasy but she took a slow breath, trying to center herself. Rarity let out an exasperated sigh as she wobbled, "Honestly, must we do this at such an uncivilized hour? Especially on a Saturday morning. A little elegance takes time, for your information."

Drift raised an optical ridge, "An enemy will not wait for you to find elegance in combat. Nor will the battlefield accommodate your comfort."

The fashionista pursed her dermas, focusing on regaining her poise rather than complaining further. Pinkie, in contrast, seemed to have turned the exercise into a game. She teetered on her perch, shifting from one pede to the other, arms outstretched like she was balancing on an invisible tightrope, "This is like a super extreme version of hopscotch!" she giggled.

As the early training continued, familiar stomps of approaching pedes resonated across the rocky terrain. Seconds later, Bumblebee emerged from behind a nearby edge, his yellow and black frame gleaming under the soft glow of the rising sun. He took in the scene before him, "Good morning, Drift. Girls."

Drift acknowledged him with a nod but didn't break his focus from the training session, "Are you here to observe or do you wish to partake?"

Bumblebee chuckled, "I think I'll stick to watching for now. But I gotta say, looks like you've got them working hard already." his gaze shifted to the femmes, a smirk tugging at his face-plate, "How's the balancing act going up there?"

Sunset, still holding her position, glanced down with an unimpressed look, "Oh, you know, just trying not to break a bone before breakfast."

In the meantime, an irritating buzzing sound hovered persistently near Twilight's audio receptors. A lone, insignificant fly had found its way into the training grounds, aimlessly drifting around her helm like it had some grand mission to pester her. Twilight scrunched her face in frustration, swatting at the tiny nuisance with one servo while still trying to maintain her balance, "Ugh, seriously?" she grumbled, waving a servo to shoo it away.

Unfortunately, that moment of distraction was all it took. In her attempt to bat away the insect, she overcompensated her movement, causing her weight to shift dangerously to one side. Her optics widened in alarm as she realized her mistake, "GAH—!"

Gravity did the rest. With a startled yelp, she teetered on the edge of her rocky perch before completely losing her footing.

Crash!

She toppled over, right into Applejack. The cowgirl barely had time to react before Twilight's flailing form knocked into her, throwing her off balance. Her sturdy frame might've been great for keeping steady but not when her friend was barreling into her. She stumbled back, arms windmilling, before gravity took her too.

Within seconds, the once-disciplined training exercise turned into a full-on disaster. One by one, they went down like dominoes, yelps and surprised exclamations repeating through the canyon until— BOOM! A loud metallic thud marked their ungraceful crash-landing into the ground, a heap of tangled bodies, groans and dust clouding the air around them.

Bumblebee winced at the impact, his optics darting over the aftermath. Drift, however, remained perfectly composed, merely furrowing his mechanical brows. Though he said nothing, the weight of silent disapproval was almost louder than if he had spoken. The defeated pile of Cybertronian girls grumbled in unison. Then, a sound interrupted the silence— a snicker. It started off low but quickly escalated into a full-blown laugh.

Everyone turned their helms upward. Standing alone, still perfectly balanced atop her rock formation, was Rainbow. She had somehow managed to remain completely unaffected by the disaster, "That was the best synchronized falling ever!" she continued to laugh.

"Rainbow, I swear—" Twilight mumbled from somewhere beneath Pinkie.

As the girls groaned and pushed themselves up, they dusted off their frames, brushing away the bits of dirt clinging to their plating. Applejack shot Rainbow a glare as she dusted off her leg, "Keep runnin' that mouth of yours and I just might climb back up there and give ya a little push!"

"Pfft, you'd have to catch me first." Rainbow chuckled, spreading her arms dramatically.

The element of generosity sighed, delicately brushing the soil from her arms, "Yes darling, we're all so terribly impressed by your ability to stand in one spot."

Still basking in her victory, Rainbow decided to take things up a notch. She shifted her weight and pushed off the rock pile, flipping herself upside down, now balancing on just one hand, "Look at this! Perfect balance, total control. You guys might as well take notes—"

Before she could finish, a deep rumble interrupted her gloating. The stack of rocks beneath her trembled, small pebbles slipping loose and cascading down the side. Her cocky grin faltered. With a sudden crack, the unstable formation beneath her gave way, sending her tumbling, "Whoa— WHOAAA!" she flailed mid-air before crashing down in a very ungraceful heap, landing right at Applejack's pedes.

The cowgirl crossed her arms, staring down at her fallen friend, "Now look who's joinin' the rest of us down 'ere."

Rainbow groaned, rolling onto her back and staring up at the sky, "...Yeah, yeah. Laugh it up."

A chorus of giggles and chuckles erupted from the group. Bumblebee let out a soft laugh as he approached, shaking his helm, "Gotta admit, that was pretty entertaining. But I think it's time for a little break." as the other girls helped Rainbow to get up on her pedes again, the blue flyer dusted herself off with a frown. The lieutenant turned his gaze toward the samurai, "You coming, Drift?"

His teammate remained silent for a short while, his optics scanning the group with a stern look before finally responding in his usual calm but firm tone, "I need meditation." he stated simply, his gaze shifting to Rainbow. The flyer paused mid-stretch, feeling the weight of his glare. Her wings lowered from the small discomfort, feeling a mix of puzzlement and shame.

"I will join you later." he added with finality. Bumblebee blinked at the sudden shift in his tone, rubbing the back of his helm while watching him walking away.

"Oh— uh, okay?" he replied, perplexed by Drift's behavior but choosing not to question it further.

Rainbow's gaze remained at the stoic warrior. Despite his calm demeanor, something about his lingering stare unsettled her. As the others began making their way back to their headquarters, she abruptly spoke up, "Actually, guys— I'll probably take a little flight around. Gonna catch up in a bit!"

"You sure?" Sunset asked, "You took a pretty hard fall back there."

"I'm fine." Rainbow reassured quickly, forcing a smirk, "Just gotta shake it off."

Bumblebee studied her for a second before giving a small nod, "Alright, but don't wander too far."

While the others continued on, Rainbow dashed away with her super speed. If something was bothering the stern mech, she wasn't going to leave without figuring it out.

"Ugh, where the heck is he?!" Rainbow whispered to herself, scanning the rocky terrain. She zipped from one spot to another, her movements quick and restless. She checked near the edges, peering behind jagged formations. Nothing. Not even a hint of his orange and black armor, "Seriously?" she huffed, planting her servos on her hips, "One second he's there and the next he just vanishes? Typical ninja move."

Her optics flashed with faint irritation as she turned on her heel and took off again, her metal feet kicking up small pebbles. She wasn't about to give up— if he was out here, he had to be somewhere nearby. She just needed to think like him.

"If I were a mysterious samurai who doesn't like talking about his feelings... where would I go?" she slowed her frantic pace, remembering how Drift always moved— silent, precise, never leaving a trace unless he wanted to be found. That meant no obvious locations. No open spaces. Her attention trailed up to a cliff perched just above the training grounds, half-hidden by the mountain's natural rock structures. A small smirk tugged at her dermas. Without hesitation, she transformed and took off.

After a few seconds, she gained her bipedal mode and landed lightly on the surface, her focus zeroing in on her target. There, seated in absolute stillness, was Drift. His frame was motionless, optics closed in deep meditation while remaining cross-legged, resting his servos on his knees.

Not far from where he sat, his mini-cons were engaged in their own training drills. The small bots moved quick, exchanging swift strikes and counter-maneuvers under the samurai's ever-watchful presence. Despite his closed gaze, Rainbow had no doubt that Drift was aware of everything happening around him.

Still, she decided to test her luck. Steadying herself, she took a cautious step, carefully placing one pede down without making a sound.

The second she was ready to take another, Drift spoke up, "Just because I cannot see you, does not mean I cannot feel your presence."

Rainbow froze, her wings lifting in surprise. Her intake twisted into a small grin, "Guess I shouldn't be surprised, huh?"

Drift finally opened his optics, casting a sidelong glance in her direction before returning to his meditative state, "You are not the most subtle individual." he remarked evenly, "Especially when your energy is as restless as your movements."

"Okay, ouch." she said, feigning offense. The mech said nothing, merely exhaling as he resumed his stillness. Rainbow's smile faded slightly as she studied him. Then, she decided to sit beside him, making sure to keep a bit of distance between them. She crossed her legs, resting her servos in the center of her lap, her wings folding against her back. She sat in silence for a few beats, watching Drift out of the corner of her optics. He hadn't moved an inch— his composure was as unshaken as ever. It was almost frustrating how effortlessly he could block everything out.

"Look dude, I just feel like... you don't really like me?" her tone was casual, but there was a tinge of uncertainty, maybe, "And I wanted to figure out why exactly."

Drift remained utterly still, his optics remaining closed. For a second, she thought he was going to ignore her completely. However, without shifting his posture, he replied, "I have never said that I detested you."

Rainbow scoffed, "No but you're obviously showing it!" she gestured at him, as if his entire demeanor was proof of her point.

"You are wrong."

"Oh, yeah? Then why do you always act like I'm some kind of a problem?"

"You have potential but I refuse to let it be squandered by arrogance."

That made Rainbow pause. She had expected criticism but not that.

"Soo... you just think I'm— what? Too awesome for my own good?"

"You are capable but undisciplined. A warrior who relies solely on confidence and speed will find nothing but failure and disaster."

Rainbow's wings twitched at his words, but for once, she didn't argue. Instead, she looked away, lowering her helm, the weight of his judgment settling on her, "...Sorry." she apologized silently. He opened one optic and arched a metallic brow ridge. She rubbed the back of her helm awkwardly, "And for the training back there. Thought I had it under control... but clearly, I didn't."

The samurai remained impassive, "Your reckless thinking and impulsive behavior are what led to your failure." he stated plainly, "You have skills but you do not use your mind. If you continue to let frustration and impatience cloud your judgment, you will never reach your full capability."

She clenched her jaw but forced herself to listen. His words stung but she couldn't exactly argue against them. She knew he was right— she had lost control. Drift continued, "You must remain calm and focused, even in the most stressful of situations. Until you learn that, your power will always be wasted on carelessness."

Rainbow let out a dry laugh, "Easier said than done. But to be honest... you're not the first perso— uh, 'Bot to tell me that."

"Have you considered meditation?"

"I can't just sit still like a rock all day like you do. I'd go nuts! I have to move!"

Drift shook his helm, "You are as energetic as your guardian. It is no wonder the two of you get along so well."

Rainbow narrowed her gaze, sensing something behind his words, "Was that supposed to be a compliment or...?"

The samurai resumed his meditation, "Take it as you wish."

"How do you do it? You know, being so... chill all the time?"

"Concentration. It is a practice of mindfulness, a discipline that allows one to quiet the mind and cultivate inner balance. By focusing on a single object, thought or action, one sharpens their attention and awareness, ultimately achieving a state of mental clarity and emotional stability."

Drift remained silent for a while, his optics opening slowly as he seemed to contemplate his words. Finally, he admitted, "I too once struggled with focus when I was first introduced to this discipline." his voice was measured, but there was something distant about it, as if he were recalling memories long buried.

That immediately caught Rainbow's attention. She leaned in, intrigued, "Yeah? What were you like before?"

His expression darkened, his usual stoic mask tightening, "...That is a part of my past I do not wish to revisit, especially not with a child such as yourself."

Rainbow smirked, undeterred by his attempt to shut her down, "Oh-ho, so it is one of those badass backstories, huh?" she scooted a little closer, grinning, "Now I definitely wanna hear it!"

"No."

"Oh, come on!" she leaned forward, her gaze wide with impatience, "I'm not some little kid who's gonna run away from a spooky story. Please, dude! You can't leave me hanging like this!"

He glared at her, "You are not going to leave until I tell you about it, are you?" he questioned, his posture stiff. She remained where she was and shook her helm, staring back at him with the same wide smile.

After a long, tense moment, he exhaled sharply, like he was preparing himself to let something go and hadn't planned on sharing, "Very well." he muttered, almost to himself.

"I wasn't always an Autobot."

Rainbow's face-plate widened in shock, her jaw dropping as she processed what he had just said, "You were a bad guy?!" she blurted out. Drift scowled, irritation forming across his features. An awkward chuckle escaped as she nervously scratched the back of her helm, "Sorry, I just... it's hard to believe something like that, especially when you're— well, you." she gestured to him, still processing the notion that the mech before her had once been someone completely different.

A wave of discomfort passed over him as he shifted his weight, "I was once called by the name Deadlock." he began with a sense of loss, "And I was used for the most dreadful, greedy deeds by my former master. Unfortunately, I was too blind by my faithfulness to him to see the truth. To see that everything that has been done, was utterly dishonorable because of him. "

"That sucks." she muttered, "Sounds like you were his servant or something."

Drift nodded grimly, "Correct." he said, his tone taking on a bitter edge, "We were."

"We?"

"I wasn't alone in it. He was skilled at finding lost 'Bots— those like me, desperate and vulnerable. He took us in, trained us and molded us for his own purposes, twisted us into instruments of his greed... and I was his most loyal and skilled pupil. I believed in him completely. I thought he was showing me the right path. But he used me, used all of us, for his own gain. I was his thief, his blade, sent to carry out the dirtiest of deeds. And I did them without question."

"...What was that jerk like?"

His expression darkened, his gaze distant, the very mention of the name brought forth painful memories, "Shadow Raker. That's his designation. A cold, disgraceful, two-faced mech. He wasn't just a mentor, he was a master of manipulation."

The mech's posture tightened as he spoke, the weight of his words dragging him back to a time he wished he could forget, "He taught us the finer points of martial arts, honed our skills for combat, but it was never for a noble cause. He referred to us as his shadows. We were never seen as individuals with our own identities. We were extensions of his will, nothing more." Drift's voice grew sharper, filled with bitterness, "His true desire was simple: allegiance."

"He twisted everything he taught us to suit his agenda. His greatest thrill wasn't just controlling us— it was turning our very sparks and minds. He would exploit our innocence and twist it until we became as rotten as he was." his fists clenched tightly, "That's how he gained trust. He would weave lies, make promises he had no intention of keeping and wear a mask of compassion. He pretended to be someone we thought we could belief in. And we all fell for it. I thought what I was doing was for a good cause. But in the end, I realized I had been nothing but a fool."

Rainbow blinked, processing the information, "How did you find out? Did you two have a big fight? Did you run away?!" she asked eagerly. Drift furrowed his ridges at her, "Oops, too many questions at once, heh." she rubbed her arm sheepishly, "Carry on."

"You are indeed in a lack of patience." he responded, turning his attention back to his mini-cons who were in the middle of training, "As I was saying, I wasn't the only student he had."

*beginning of memory*

The weakly lit hallways of the ship vibrated with the sound of the young warrior's pedes clicking against the cold, metallic floor, making his way down the long corridor. He knew his sensei would be waiting for him in the usual spot, at the ship's navigation system, where he often spent hours, poring over schematics and planning his next moves.

As Deadlock turned a corner, he swiftly came face to face with the back of his teacher, his figure silhouetted against the soft glow of the nearby console. His servos were clasped behind his back as if in deep contemplation.

When the sound of approaching steps reached Raker's auditory sensors, he turned, expression masked by false delight, "Deadlock! Right on time, young one."

His student straightened up, posture sharp as he responded, "You wanted to see me, master?"

Shadow Raker's dark optics glinted in the low light as he gave a slight nod, "Indeed. Come along now, I have something to show you." with a calm, almost parental gesture, he placed a servo on Deadlock's back, guiding him down the narrow corridor, "I wish to introduce you to our two new members."

As they walked, his voice lowered, a touch of mock sincerity creeping into his words, "Poor little things were all alone and lost. No purpose, no direction... it would be cruel to leave them on their own. So, I've decided it would be for the best if I took them in, gave them a purpose. After all, it's what I do best."

The younger mech nodded, silently absorbing the information, scanning his master's every movement. Shadow Raker continued, his tone turning more authoritative, "As my most trustworthy and skilled student, I thought you would be the perfect candidate to show them the ropes, how discipline is done here." he gave Deadlock a small, approving glance, before adding, "You are a very good example and influence on the rest of my pupils. They look up to you. So, why not teach these two what you've already learned?"

Deadlock's optics flashed with uncertainty, though his face-plate remained neutral, "You think I'm capable of such a task?"

Shadow Raker's smile was almost cold as he turned to him, "You've already proven yourself, Deadlock. Time and time again. You are more than ready to lead and set an example for others. I have faith in you." he said as he swiped an access code to open the large metal gate, "Here they are!"

The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a small, dark room. At first, Deadlock couldn't make out much, the shadows deep in the corners of the space making it hard to see clearly. But as his optics adjusted to the blackness, he saw them.

In the far corner, two small figures huddled together. They were frightened, optics wide, shimmering with uncertainty. The young warrior could see that their frames were much smaller than his own, delicate and fragile in comparison. They were trembling, seemingly afraid of the unknown, their movements twitchy and hesitant.

Deadlock's expression widened as he observed them, trying to make sense of the sight. A realization struck him as he took in their size, their faint but familiar markings.

"Mini-cons?"

*end of memory*

"No way..." Rainbow whispered in shock, her helm shifting to the small and mighty warriors, Jetstorm and Slipstream, who were still practicing in the distance, "They were thieves too?"

Drift's gaze hardened as he nodded, the memories of those days still fresh in his mind, "Not for long as I was." he replied quietly and with regret, "They were far too young and innocent for such dangerous task. I never should have let them be pulled into it in the first place. They had no idea what they were getting themselves into. Didn't know the kind of risks we were taking or the harshness of the world we were forced to live in. They were incapable of surviving on their own, not like I was. They didn't know how to fight for their lives or how to think cautiously. So, I taught them."

He paused for a moment, looking over at the two younger Autobots in the distance, his face-plate softening as he watched them interact, "I showed them what it meant to fight and survive, as well as the ways of attentiveness. But even after everything we did, after all the countless missions, the things we stole for him, Shadow Raker's hunger was never satisfied. The more we delivered, the more he demanded. The more we gave him, the more he took. And no matter how much we sacrificed or how brutal the tasks became, it was never enough for him."

*beginning of second memory*

A small, worn-out bag tumbled onto the floor, spilling a modest handful of Shanix at Shadow Raker's pedes. The golden currency gleamed faintly under the overhead lights but the amount was pitiful— at least in his optics.

"Only this?" he questioned, staring at the meager offering.

The mini-cons knelt before him, their helms bowed low, small frames tense with unease, "W-we are sorry, sensei." Slipstream finally spoke, his voice careful, "There were too many security guards on our way, we tried our best to—"

"Is this what I get in return?" Raker's tone snapped, causing them to flinch, "I provide you with shelter, a roof above your helms. I keep your fuel tanks filled. And yet, despite all I have given and taught you, you dare to repay me like this?!"

The younger robots bowed lower, their servos pressing against the cold floor, "Our sincere apologies, master." Jetstorm responded, steadier than his brother, "We never meant to disappoint you. We swear to never let you down again. Please, forgive us for our failure."

"You really think I will accept such a pathetic apology so easily?!" the older Cybertronian took a slow, menacing step, his towering frame casting a long shadow over the kneeling Mini-Cons. His optics burned with barely restrained fury, his claws twitching at his sides, eager to strike. He raised one servo, ready to lash out, when another voice cut through the tension.

"That is enough."

Shadow Raker turned his gaze to the entrance, where the figure of Deadlock stood in the doorway. His piercing optics locked onto his master's, stance firm.

"They did everything they could." Deadlock said, stepping inside, "They took far too many risks just to retrieve that Shanix and make it back alive. I was the one who ordered them to retreat."

Raker's optics darkened, a slow, unimpressed sneer forming on his face, "I had assumed you taught them better than this. Since when has a little risk ever stopped you from completing a mission?"

Deadlock's expression didn't waver, "What are you going to do with the Shanix?"

For a fraction of a second, there was silence. However, with a sharp, brutal impact, pain exploded through Deadlock's side. As Raker's strike sent him crashing to the floor, his body hit the cold metal with a heavy clang, his armor scraping against the unforgiving surface. A deep, pained grunt escaped him as he clenched his jaw, dentas grinding together.

The Mini-Cons gasped, their optics widening in horror as they remained frozen in place, too afraid to move. Shadow Raker stepped onward, his towering form looming over Deadlock, "I have already told you what happens when you question me. Or do I have to make you remember what the further consequences are as well?"

Deadlock glared at him, optics burning with defiance, but he held his glossa. He knew better than to give him another excuse to strike. The older mech's attention shifted back to the Mini-Cons, his sneer returning, "Until I get what I desire, there will be no rest for any of you. And if you fail me again, I will personally ensure you suffer for it."

Instantly, the two Mini-Cons lowered their helms even further, their voices coming out in unison.

"Understood, sensei."
"Of course."

Shadow Raker let out a quiet scoff, his gaze turning to Deadlock one last time, "I expected failure from them," he said coldly, "But you... you, Deadlock, were my greatest student." he crouched, his servo reaching down to retrieve something from the ground. Deadlock's optics flickered with barely concealed rage as he watched his master pick up the two katanas that had fallen from his grasp when he hit the floor.

He straightened, examining the blades with mild amusement before looking back to his older pupil, "You will get these back once you've earned my respect again. Am I clear?"

Deadlock remained silent but his fists clenched tightly against the floor. That wasn't good enough for Raker.

"I said, AM I CLEAR?!"

The laying mech exhaled swiftly, forcing the words out through gritted dentas, "Yes... master."

Shadow Raker sneered in satisfaction before muttering under his vent, "Ungrateful piece of scrap..." with that, he turned on his heel and strode out of the chamber, the clang of his heavy pedes fading into the distance.

Jetstorm and Slipstream hesitated, watching Deadlock carefully, unsure if they should speak or move. He didn't shift right away. He just lay there for a short while, staring at the spot where Raker had stood. Finally, he pushed himself up, inhaling sharply as his injured side protested. He glanced at the Mini-Cons.

Without another word, he turned and walked past them, leaving the two younger robots to exchange nervous glances before scrambling to follow.

.

.

.

The dim glow of the overhead lights barely illuminated the training area as Deadlock entered, his heavy steps resonating faintly against the floor. He found Jetstorm and Slipstream still practicing, their small frames tense with exhaustion yet unwilling to yield to it.

"You two should rest." he advised, tone firm but not unkind.

Slipstream paused, exchanging an uneasy glance with his brother, "Master Raker told us—"

"I am perfectly aware of what he said." Deadlock interrupted, "But you won't be able to defend yourselves if you're running on empty." he reached into his subspace storage and retrieved two small Energon cubes, "Here."

Jetstorm's optics widened in alarm as he took a step back, "We... we can't! We will disobey him. He will find out and will get furious at us!"

"He won't." Deadlock interjected before the panic could set in, "And even if he does, the blame will fall on me, not you."

The brothers remained still, struggling to process what they were hearing. This went against everything they had been taught, that their sensei had drilled into their sparks. Slipstream looked up hesitantly, "With all due respect, Deadlock... why are you doing this?" he carefully took the cube, optics glinting with confusion, "Even after we failed... you still defended us."

Deadlock sat down, crossing his legs in a relaxed but purposeful posture. He gestured for them to do the same and the Mini-Cons followed suit, settling in front of him, "I do not wish for others to suffer anymore." he admitted, his voice unusually solemn, "The things we— I... have done for Raker were beyond wrong."

Jetstorm frowned, "Master would never make us do something dishonorable."

Slipstream nodded, "He told us we were doing these things for a great cause."

"And that is...?"

The two looked at each other. For the first time, uncertainty settled in, "Um... we..." Jetstorm finally muttered, his voice shamefully small, "We don't really know."

Deadlock let the quiet linger for a bit before speaking again, "I do. We are doing this for his greed. That is all. He is using us as thieves to steal anything of value, not for a cause, justice or for anything noble. Only for his own pleasure." his optics darkened, filled with self-loathing, "I have killed so many in his name, convinced it was for a greater purpose. But it was never about that. It was always about him. And I will never forgive myself for falling into his trap. I won't allow him to corrupt you the way he did with me and many others."

The weight of his confession pressed down on the Mini-Cons. Slipstream shook his helm, "N-no, he would never—!"

"You really think so?" Jetstorm interjected, his tiny servos clenched around the Energon as he stared at the bigger mech, "He's using us... for his personal gain?"

Deadlock only nodded in return. Another tense silence stretched between them. Slipstream's jaw tightened, his servos gripping the cube harder as if trying to ground himself. Jetstorm, on the other hand, lowered his gaze, his shoulder-pads quivering slightly.

"This conversation will remain between us." Deadlock said firmly, "Do you understand?"

Slipstream swallowed hard, "W-we do."

"We will never speak of this to anyone else." Jetstorm answered afterwards.

"Good." then, Deadlock gestured to the cubes, "Eat now and rest. You'll need your strength for tomorrow."

The Mini-Cons obeyed, sipping from the energon. Yet their movements were distracted, their minds still reeling from what they had just learned. After a few moments, Slipstream glanced at the taller mech, "What about you?" he asked, "Don't you need fuel as well?"

Deadlock shook his helm, "I'm used to it. I've endured worse punishments before. I will be fine."

Jetstorm's servos trembled faintly as he set his cube down, "Has he always treated his students like this?"

"Only when he is displeased." Deadlock admitted grimly, "Which is... quite often."

A deep frown formed on Slipstream's face-plate. He wavered before asking, "Do you think... we'll ever be free of him?"

Deadlock's gaze softened, "I do have a strategy for us to escape. It is quite the risk, but it will be the only way for us to regain back our honor and to have a brighter future."

Jetstorm stared at the ground, his tiny frame rigid with fear. Then, suddenly, as if overcome by emotion, he pushed his cube aside and scrambled forward, throwing his arms around Deadlock's side. The larger mech stiffened, optics widening at the unexpected contact.

"Brother—!" Slipstream scolded his sibling and immediately got up, but Deadlock raised a servo to stop him. Slowly, he lowered his arm and wrapped it around the shaking Mini-Con.

"I... I'm scared." Jetstorm whispered against his armor.

Deadlock's grip tightened, "That is normal." he murmured gently, "But I promise you, things will change for the better."

He gestured to the other mini-con to come. Slipstream hesitated before finally approaching as well. After a brief moment of reluctance, he allowed himself to lean against Deadlock's other side. The three of them sat there in silence, their frames pressed together, offering each other warmth and a quiet comfort none of them had ever truly known. After a while, Deadlock spoke again, "Recharge, young ones. I will cover for you tonight."

Slipstream, already drifting into recharge, mumbled sleepily, "Deadlock...?"

"Yes?"

"Thank you. We will be forever in your debt."

The older Decepticon remained silent for a long minute, staring at the young robots curled against him. Then, at last, he allowed himself to relax.

"You owe me nothing."

.

.

.

Deadlock pressed his back against the metal wall, peering cautiously around the corner. His optics flashed, scanning the corridor, "It's clear." he whispered urgently, "Go, now. Quickly."

Jetstorm and Slipstream did as they were told, their small frames darting across the hallway, clutching the bags of stolen valuables they had gathered. Their pedes barely made a sound against the floor as they raced to the rescue shuttle, their only hope of escape. Deadlock followed close behind, every sensor on high alert. As they neared, he reached out to open the shuttle's hatch.

"What do you think you are doing, Deadlock?"

The three of them froze and Deadlock turned his helm. At the far end of the corridor stood Shadow Raker, his towering form cloaked in the dim glow of the celling lights. His optics burned with fury, his stance rigid with rage, "You dare disobey your own master?" he growled, stepping closer, "After everything I have done for you?! Return my students and my belongings at once!"

"They are no longer your students." Deadlock stated, "And neither am I. These stolen treasures do not belong to you, they never did. It is over, Raker."

A cruel sneer curled on Raker's dermas, "You think you can escape from me? I'd like to see you try!" in an instant, he transformed, his body twisting and contorting into his insect form. Before the samurai could react, a thick, sticky web shot out, striking him hard and pinning him to the wall. His servos struggled against the restraints, but the strands held tight.

"Deadlock!" the Mini-Cons' panicked voices filled the corridor.

"We have to help him!" Jetstorm exclaimed.

"How?!" Slipstream asked with fear.

"You will free him while I distract Shadow Raker."

"That is a horrible idea!" Slipstream yelped. But Jetstorm was already on the move, "Wait—!"

The mini-con dashed forward, gripping his nunchaku tightly. He swung with all his might, striking Raker's leg. The insecticon let out a sharp, enraged screech, stumbling from the impact. Jetstorm didn't wait for the retaliation— he bolted down the hallway, forcing Raker to pursue him.

Slipstream wasted no time. Drawing out his blade, he began slicing through the webbing that bound Deadlock. With one final cut, the web snapped. The large mech fell forward, quickly regaining his balance. His optics locked onto the scene before him. Jetstorm had run straight into a dead-end. And Raker was closing in.

"No!" Deadlock shouted, already sprinting forward.

Shadow Raker reared back and just when he prepared to fire another web, Deadlock lunged.

His pedes hit the ground hard as he drove forward, bringing his entire weight into a devastating kick. His pede connected squarely with Raker's face-plate, sending him crashing onto his side. The impact cracked the plating of his left extension, breaking it in half.

As Raker hit the ground, something else clattered against the floor— Deadlock's stolen katanas, shaken loose from the treacherous mech's form. Raker snarled, transforming back into his robot mode. His optics were alight with pure, seething rage as saw how Deadlock grabbed the twin blades from the ground, his grip tightening around the hilts. Raker's entire frame trembled with wrath, "YOU WILL PAY FOR THAT!" he roared, unsheathing his own weapons.

Metal sang against metal as their blades met in a flurry of precise, brutal strikes. Sparks flew with every collision, illuminating the battle in a fiery display. Deadlock parried a hit, countered with a swift slash, then ducked just in time to avoid a deadly swing aimed at his helm.

"You were always weak!" Raker spat, swinging wildly, "Pathetic! A lost cause! How do you think you can defeat me?!"

Deadlock twisted his body, avoiding another strike with ease. His optics glowed with a newfound fire, "By using the lessons you taught me."

And then, with expert precision, he shifted his stance, executing a maneuver Raker himself had drilled into him countless times. A perfectly timed hit to the chassis. Raker's optics widened in shock as he was sent flying backward, crashing against the metal wall with a violent thud. He groaned, his frame shuddering as he struggled to rise.

Through his dazed vision, he saw Deadlock sprinting to the shuttle, "...No!" he growled, forcing himself up, "GET BACK HERE!" he scrambled to his pedes, racing to the transport as its entrance began to close. Just when his extended servo was only an inch away, the entrance got shut. His fists pounded against the sealed doors, "You will never escape from me! I will get my students back! And I will make you regret betraying me! THIS IS NOT OVER!"

Inside the shuttle, Jetstorm and Slipstream clung close to Deadlock, their optics wide as they watched their former master slam his fists against the door, his rage nearly shaking the ship itself. Deadlock stood at the control panel, digits moving swiftly as he input the coordinates. The engine roared to life, vibrations shaking the floor beneath them. The release mechanisms activated.

Raker's voice cut through the space craft one final time, "DEADLOCK!"

The other mech turned, his optics cold as steel as he met his former master's furious gaze through the glass, "My designation... is Drift."

And with that, he slammed the button. The shuttle blasted into the sky, leaving Shadow Raker behind, screaming in the void.

The Mini-Cons stood at the edge of the back viewport as they watched the massive ship, the place they had once called home, grow smaller and smaller, swallowed by the vastness of space. The darkness stretched endlessly before them, dotted with countless stars that shimmered in the void. It was a sight both beautiful and terrifying.

An abrupt, heavy thud echoed behind them, jolting them from their thoughts. Their small frames tensed and they turned in an instant. Drift lay collapsed on the cold floor.

"Sensei!" they cried in unison, rushing to his side. Slipstream dropped to his knees beside him, placing a servo gently against Drift's arm, "Are you deeply injured?" he quickly questioned out of concern. Jetstorm hovered close, his optics scanning their mentor's battered frame.

Drift ex-vented, a weary yet reassured expression crossing his face-plate as he looked at them both, "I'm alright... my students."

Slipstream and Jetstorm exchanged glances before looking back at him. They had never seen him like this before. For the first time, Drift wasn't speaking as a warrior bound by another's will. He wasn't addressing them as tools for a cause that had never truly been their own. He was speaking to them as someone who had made a choice. And for the first time, they had made one too.

The calm between them was thick with unspoken words, with all the emotions they didn't quite know how to express yet. But at that moment, none of them needed to say anything.

They had each other.

And that was enough.

*end of second memory*

"Whoa..." Rainbow breathed, her optics wide with amazement, "You guys really went through a lot." she leaned back slightly, "It must be pretty cool, though, having mini-cons who's got your back like that."

Drift offered a small, knowing smile, "A bond between a Transformer and their mini-con is unlike any other. It is not built on power or control but on trust and loyalty. That is what makes it strong." he glanced at Jetstorm and Slipstream, "Our journey was not easy. When we first encountered the Autobots, we merely gained their acceptance. I had to prove I had the will to change, to cast away my past and reclaim my honor. As for Jetstorm and Slipstream... they had finally gained their freedom."

He stared at the two smaller robots, "But instead of leaving, they chose to stay with me and remain as my students."

Rainbow watched the mini-cons for a bit before smirking, "I can see why. They really look up to you... and wanna be as strong and skilled as you are. You've done a lot for them, dude. No wonder they chose you as their sensei."

"Perhaps." he murmured, "There was a time when I struggled with my own path. I needed a way to silence the ghosts of my past... to find balance within myself. Meditation became my anchor. It is an essential part of my daily routine— helping me center my mind, let go of what has been and focus on the present... and the future."

Rainbow grinned, "Maaaybe you could teach me some of your cool moves too?"

Drift glanced at her briefly, "I will consider it."

She gave a triumphant smirk, then paused, narrowing her gaze, "...Lemme guess. You're gonna make me start with meditating first, aren't you?"

He merely raised a brow. She groaned, flopping down dramatically, "Ugh— okay, Master Splinter. Scoot over."

"Stand straight." he instructed calmly.

"Gotcha."

"Do not flinch."

"Okay, okay..." Rainbow adjusted her stance, "This is gonna take so long—"

"No talking."

She pouted but still obeyed, her jaw clenching in stubborn defiance while Drift folded himself into a meditative posture as well, both falling in peaceful silence.

Chapter Text

As the others stepped into the Autobot base, Sunset glanced around, noticing the stillness that filled the vast area. Frowning, she turned to Bumblebee, "Where's everyone else?"

"There was an urgent situation that needed handling." he explained, "A group of Decepticon prisoners were wreaking havoc in Australia, so Optimus and the rest went to deal with them before things could escalate."

Unexpectedly, someone barked from afar, "Twilight!"

The girl barely had time to turn before she spotted a small figure darting toward her. A metallic blur zipped across the floor, moving at top speed, his tiny paws pumping as he ran. Behind him, the heavy thud of massive footsteps followed in pursuit. Grimlock was right on Spike's tail. The massive dinobot rumbled with playful excitement, "Runnin' won't save ya!" he bellowed, his large frame thundering down the corridor, careful not to actually crush anything beneath his pedes.

Spike huffed as he pushed his speed to the limit, "I wasn't born to be caught, big guy!"

Twilight stepped ahead, effortlessly scooping the small Mini-Con into her arms just as he was about to rush past her, "Come here, you little troublemaker." she said, holding him securely against her chassis. Spike wriggled slightly before settling in, his small metal frame relaxing as she scratched the top of his helm affectionately. A happy hum came out from him as his optics half-lidded in contentment, "Are you playing chase with Grim again?" she asked, raising an optical ridge.

Her pet grinned sheepishly, "Everyone else was busy and we got bored." he admitted, his tail wagging.

Behind them, Grimlock skidded to a halt, shaking the ground with his sheer size, "Aw, man. I almost had him!"

A firm yet affectionate servo patted the side of his snout, "Now don't go sulkin', sugarcube." Applejack drawled, stepping up beside him. She gave his metal plating a solid stroke, completely unfazed by the towering dinobot's presence, "You'll get 'im next time."

Grimlock let out a satisfied rumble and leaned slightly into her touch. Just then, the sound of hurried wheels was heard. A moment later, Fixit came skittering into the room, "Ah! Hello, hello, greetings!" the small orange Autobot chirped energetically. He stopped a few paces away from the group, "I was just informed of your arrival— welcome back, everyone! I trust your exercises were efficient?"

Twilight giggled quietly, still cradling Spike in her arms, "You can say that."

Fixit's optics brightened at her words, "Excellent! I shall log that as a successful progress update in our physical and tactical performance files!" he began rapidly typing on his datapad, muttering to himself.

"Well..." Twilight began, gently lowering Spike to the floor. She glanced around at her friends, "I was hoping the whole team would be here to hear this together... but I suppose I can fill the others in later when they come back." she clapped her servos in front of her, her expression full of excitement, "Everyone, there's something important I'd like to share with you all."

"What is it, darling?" Rarity asked, her curiosity piqued.

Pinkie froze in place, "Is it a surprise?! Oh my gosh, I love surprises! Tell us, tell us!" she chanted, practically bursting with anticipation.

Twilight smiled warmly at her energy, wings fluttering briefly from delight, "Alright, alright— calm down." she took a small breath, then lifted her chin with pride and affection, "I would like to officially announce that...

"I'm going to be an aunt!"

"WHAT?!" came the collective, joyful shout from the group.

Rarity let out a thrilled gasp and went to her friend, hugging her, "Oh, Twilight dear, this is wonderful!"

Applejack grinned and gave a congratulatory pat on the back, "Well shoot, sugarcube, that's mighty fine news. Bet your folks are all over the moon 'bout it."

Fluttershy pressed her servos together, a gentle smile blooming on her face, "That's such a beautiful gift."

"It really is." Sunset responded as she looked at the purple flyer, "You must be so proud. That baby's going to be born into one wonderful family." she put a gentle servo on her shoulder-pad, "They're lucky to have an amazing aunt like you."

"EEEE! THIS IS THE BEST. NEWS. EVER!" Pinkie shouted, grabbing them all in a tight bear hug. Twilight laughed, touched by their reactions.

As the room buzzed with excitement and joyful chatter, Fixit wheeled himself forward, "This is truly is fascinating! Although... if I may ask a human-culture-related question..." he leaned in, voice lowered like he was asking something forbidden, "What exactly is... an aunt?"

"Isn't that one of those lil' bugs?" Grimlock questioned, "Tiny. Has six legs. Lives in the ground."

Bumblebee let out a chuckle, giving the dinobot a friendly clap on the side, "No, Grim. That's an ant. What Fixit meant was an aunt."

The green mech tilted his head, "Sounds the same to me."

Smiling, the lieutenant nodded to Twilight, "In this case, an aunt is the sister of someone's parent. So since her big brother is going to be a dad and Twilight's his sibling, that makes her the kid's aunt. It's sort of like being a second mom... only with way cooler presents."

"And less diaper duty." Twilight added. A few giggles rippled through the team while Fixit's optics blinked rapidly, absorbing the explanation.

Bumblebee turned back to the violet-colored femme, "Congratulations, Twilight. Really. That's incredible news. We're all happy for you."

"Thank you." she said, her voice steady but clearly emotional, "All of you."

Just then, a soft beeping resonated from the datapad clutched in Fixit's tiny claws. The small orange Autobot froze as unfamiliar readings scrolled rapidly across the display. His optics widened and he straightened up abruptly, "Uh— Lieutenant?"

Bumblebee looked down at him, catching the anxious edge in the mini-con's tone, "What is it?"

Fixit held up the datapad with both servos, "You might want to take a look at this."

Curious, his leader took the device, expression quickly turning serious as his optics scanned the data, "Huh... a sub-orbital craft?"

Lines of encrypted coordinates, speed vectors and a faint energy signature came to life.

"Is it a Decepticon?" Sunset asked, stepping near with a cautious frown.

"Too early to say." Bumblebee replied, his attention not leaving the screen, "But whatever it is... it just entered Earth's upper atmosphere and it's descending fast."

Twilight leaned closer, "Do you know where it's heading?"

"May I?" Fixit lifted a servo and the yellow Autobot handed it to him. The mini-con adjusted a few settings on the pad, showing a small blip streaking across a map, "Judging by its trajectory... it's set to touch down somewhere near the Pacific Northwest."

"Fixit, send the coordinates to the Goundbridge." Bumblebee announced, "Me and Grimlock are going to check this out."

"Actually, Bee—" Sunset began, "I've been thinking... What if this time, we go alone? You know, like a real first solo mission?"

Bumblebee paused and processed her words. He turned to glance at the other girls, who nodded in quiet support. He shifted his stance, visibly torn by the thought, "I'm not really sure about that, Sunset." he answered and rubbed the back of his neck, looking to each of them and then back at her, "You've all come a long way, but this mission sounds pretty high-stakes and I can't just send you out there without any backup."

Sunset quickly raised her servos in a gesture of reassurance, "I know, I know. It's risky. I get it. But... we've been training for this. We've learned so much from all of you and I'm confident that if we're ever going to step up, it's now. We've faced threats before and managed to get through. This time, we want to do it on our own."

He remembered when he had first set foot on missions, nervous and unsure, but always with a goal and a dream to fulfill. He couldn't deny the growth in the girls, especially Sunset— she had come so far from when they first met. Finally, he sighed, the weight of the decision pressing down on him, "I know you've all grown strong and I've seen the potential in you. It's just... you'll be all alone out there."

The girl's smile softened, placing a steady servo on his arm, "We'll be fine. Besides, we've got each other's backs."

Letting out a vent, he gave a reluctant nod, "Alright... you've convinced me. But I want you all to stay in contact at all times."

"We'll be in touch, promise." reassured Fluttershy.

The lieutenant watched them for a moment longer, until he turned to the operational system, "I'll make sure the Groundbridge is ready for deployment."

Before he could continue, Twilight gently lifted a small, palm-sized device into view. The sleek, glowing gadget hummed faintly in her grasp, "No need." she interrupted with a confident smile, "We've got this, remember? It will take us directly to the coordinates Fixit uploaded earlier. Safer, quicker and more discreet."

He paused mid-motion and looked over his shoulder-pad. His optics widened slightly in realization, "Right." he murmured, almost to himself, as he remembered the personal teleportation device. He straightened, giving her a slow nod of approval, "We'll be monitoring from here then. If anything feels off, anything at all, you call me. Don't try to handle it all yourselves if it's more than you bargained for."

"You got it, Bee. We'll be careful." Sunset added. Then, she turned to her pink friend, "Pinkie, can you call Rainbow? Send her the coordinates and let her know to meet us there within the next few minutes."

Pinkie grinned and threw a playful salute, "Okie-dokie-lokie!" she chirped, already tapping her comm-link with practiced ease.

In the meantime, Twilight activated the device and a pulse of soft violet light rippled outward, a shimmering vortex forming in the air beside them. She stepped back to admire the gadget's response, "Portal is stable." she confirmed, glancing at her squad, "Ready?"

Sunset nodded, "Come on."

One by one, they approached the vortex, the soft hum growing louder with their every stride, beckoning them forward into the unknown.

And together, they stepped through.

.

.

.

The vortex vanished behind them in a final shimmer of lavender light. The group emerged in the northwestern region of the United States— an expansive stretch of rugged terrain bordered by towering evergreen forests, jagged mountain ridges and clouds that rolled low across the sky like a blanket of mist.

A brisk wind swept through the area, rustling the treetops and carrying with it the earthy scent of pine and damp soil.

Twilight lifted her helm, "Rainbow should be here by now."

As if on cue, a rapid gust of wind sliced through the clearing— sharper and faster than nature could ever conjure. Leaves burst upward in a whirlwind and a streak of vibrant blue and prismatic color blurred through the trees like a flash of lightning. Then, she landed.

With a confident spin and a cocky grin, Rainbow stood up before them, "Took you long enough!" she quipped, her wings folding behind her back as she dusted off her plating, "I was starting to think you got lost in the vortex."

"Nice entrance, Dash." Sunset smirked, servos on her hips.

Rainbow winked, "What can I say? Gotta give the fans a show."

Twilight stepped up beside Sunset, "Glad you made it ahead of us. I take it you've been keeping an eye on the area?"

"Like a hawk." Rainbow replied proudly, gesturing to the horizon with a sweep of her servo over her shoulder-pad, "I scoped a few miles out in every direction but there's some weird smoke curling up from the tree line to the north."

"Highly doubt there are folks 'round here campin'." Applejack crossed her arms.

Sunset squinted through the trees, her sensors adjusting to filter the haze, "Could be an engine malfunction. Or worse... wreckage."

Fluttershy let out a soft, nervous sound behind her, "I hope it's not something hurt."

Twilight looked around at the team, "Whatever it is, we'll find out soon enough."

With determined strides, they started making their way to the shadowy treeline, their frames weaving through tall grass and uneven forest soil. As they walked, Pinkie received a message from her HUD and revealed a hologram picture from her arm, "Oh, look! It's Smokey!" she showed to Fluttershy. It was a selfie picture of the blue-yellow mech with a kangaroo.

"How adorable." the kind element smiled warmly.

"I know, right? Isn't he the sweetest?"

"Um... I was actually talking about— n-nevermind."

Rainbow appeared next to Twilight, "So, have you picked out a gift for your future niece or nephew?"

"Yeah, I—" the nerd girl blinked, a little surprised by the question, "Wait, how do you know? You weren't there during the announcement."

"Pinkie told me through the comm."

"You know I can't keep secrets!" the cheerful girl exclaimed from behind.

Twilight chuckled, "It's okay. And to answer your question, I was thinking about getting something educational, maybe an interesting book for infants or probably bunch of puzzles to keep them entertained."

Rainbow groaned dramatically at that.

"What's wrong with learning?" Twilight shot back with mock offense.

"Nothing!" the loyal element responded, "But every baby also needs something fun! Like, I dunno, a cool jet toy that makes tons of noise and drives the parents nuts."

"I'm pretty sure that's not safe." Fluttershy murmured.

Sunset laughed, "Honestly, I think they're going to be the most spoiled baby in the city."

"You bet." Applejack said proudly, "If they're Twi's kin, then that kid's already family to all of us."

Twilight blushed from the inside, "You guys... thank you. Really. I wasn't sure how everyone would take the news, but I'm glad I shared it with you."

"Just don't expect me to babysit." said Rainbow.

"Speak for yourself, darling." Rarity added, "I'd be happy to."

As laughter continued to ripple softly through the group, Sunset's smile slowly faded. Something on the horizon caught her optics, a faint glint of metal where there should have been only trees and shadow. Her posture tensed and she raised a protective arm in front of Pinkie who was walking right beside her, "Girls, I think we just found our source."

One by one, the others turned to follow her gaze. Not far beyond the tree line, partially obscured by charred brush and curling smoke, lay the wreckage of a sub-orbital craft— its sleek frame scarred and scorched, metal still faintly hissing from the impact. A trail of broken earth and snapped trees marked the violent descent it must have taken before crash-landing.

Together, the team carefully approached the downed vessel, optics scanning for any movement or sign of life. The ship's hull bore no obvious insignia— no Autobot symbol or Decepticon markings. It was unfamiliar... and that made it dangerous.

Unbeknownst to them, high above their helms, hidden within the thick canopy of an ancient tree, a small silhouette remained in stillness. Glowing blue optics narrowed, tracking the group below with wary calculation.

As the squad drew closer to the smoldering wreckage, their footsteps softened instinctively against the scorched earth. A faint hiss reverberated from the damaged ship but it wasn't the only sound that reached their audio receptors.

"...I told you this was a bad idea!"

"And I told you we had no choice!"

Sunset held up a servo, motioning for the group to stop. Everyone froze on cue.

"There are survivors." Twilight whispered, ridges furrowed.

Rarity crouched beside the wreckage, "They sound young." she observed, "Or at least not very experienced."

"Let's see who we're dealing with." Sunset said softly.

Without wasting another second, the girls sprang into action. With synchronized movement and practiced instinct, they leapt into view, "Servos in the—!" Rainbow shouted but she cut herself off mid-sentence. The clearing beyond the wreck was empty, "...What the—?" her wings twitched in confusion as she lowered her arms. Scattered across the ground were several weapons— a hammer, battle axe, sword and a trident, all in different colors, clearly Cybertronian armaments.

Sunset stepped ahead, "They were just here..."

"They couldn't've gotten far." Applejack murmured, sweeping her gaze across the treeline.

Rarity gracefully lowered herself beside the weapons, carefully inspecting them without touching, "Are these some sort of relics?"

"Not sure." Twilight responded with interest, "But they definitely look Cybertronian in origin."

Fluttershy hovered quietly behind, glancing around nervously, "Do you think someone made them that way on purpose?"

Twilight's gaze remained fixed on them, "It's possible. Which raises a bigger question..."

"Who were these weapons made for," Sunset finished for her, "And why were they dropped in such a hurry?"

"Oooh, they look sparkly!" Pinkie chirped, her optics widening with delight as she reached down and lifted the hammer with surprising ease.

Twilight whirled around in alarm, "Don't touch it! It may be dangerous!"

While Rainbow was staring at her friend, a sharp pain struck her from her leg, like something hard and sharp slammed straight into it, "ARGH—!" she hissed in pain, jumping to lift her leg, rubbing the spot where it hurt.

She threw a deep glare at Applejack who was standing right next to her. The cowgirl raised a ridge in confusion, "What?"

"You just hit me!"

Applejack blinked, "I didn't even touch ya!"

Surprisingly, the weapon in Pinkie's hold began to hum— a low, resonant sound that vibrated through the ground beneath their feet. A faint shimmer of blue light pulsed from the hammer's core, growing brighter with each second as sparks of raw electricity flickered along its edges. Rarity and Twilight, now standing fully upright, took a cautious step back, "Darling, I think it's best you put that thing down now."

Pinkie blinked, glancing between them with a confused grin, "Why? It just feels a little tingly!"

Abruptly, the blue aura around the hammer surged outward, surrounding Pinkie's entire form in glowing light. Her armor began to spark and she let out a wild squeal of shock as the hammer twitched violently in her grip— then, as if yanked by an invisible force, it jerked her forward, "Ah— Hey! I'm not doing this!" she shouted, her pedes dragging across the scorched earth as the weapon began to pull her in looping, erratic circles.

"Pinkie! Let go of it!" Sunset urged, reaching a servo out— but Pinkie spun past her, giggling half in panic, half in awe.

Before the element of laughter could even begin to wrestle back control, the hammer yanked her straight forward. With a startled yelp, she went barreling like a pinball across the clearing— directly into Sunset. The ember femme barely had time to brace herself before she was tackled full-force and sent sprawling flat on her back with a hard thud, "Ow... okay, that one hurt." she groaned, rubbing the back of her helm.

The scattered trident, which laid near her open servo, twitched involuntarily. The gleaming weapon shot forward as if drawn to her like a magnet and snapped into her palm. Sunset gasped as her body lit up with the same glowing aura that had engulfed Pinkie, the trident locking itself into place like it belonged there, "How did—?!" she cried, trying to sit up as her form sparked with new energy, but some invisible power made her to remain in place.

Meanwhile, Pinkie continued her uncontrollable streak of chaos, tumbling backward, "IT'S POSEEESSED!" she slammed right into Rainbow and Applejack, knocking both of them off balance.

Rainbow hit the ground with a grunt, only to freeze when a sleek blue sword shimmered into existence and materialized in her servo, "Huh?!" she exclaimed as the weapon vibrated with power, glowing lines igniting along her armor, lifting her up. Beside her, Applejack had barely realized what was happening when the massive battle axe flared to life beside her, dropping solidly into her grip with a heavy clang, glinting in the light. The moment her digits curled around the hilt, it responded with a deep pulse of energy.

Twilight stood frozen, her optics wide with disbelief. One by one, her friends had been claimed by strange Cybertronian weapons. Then something twitched in her servo. She looked down. Nestled perfectly in her palm, was an orange-hued blaster cannon, already syncing with her systems.

"Wha—!" Twilight yelled, nearly stumbling backward as the weapon pulsed. Suddenly, it jerked upward, not by her will. Her optics widened in horror as the barrel locked onto its target—

"Rarity, look out!" she shouted, her voice cracking with panic.

The fashionista turned just in time to see the weapon's core surge with light. Without thinking, Rarity threw out her servos and a massive crystalline shield erupted into existence. The blaster fired. Blinding bolts of plasma slammed into the shield with the force of a freight train, sending pulses of impact rippling across its surface. Rarity flinched, bracing behind the radiant barrier, the feedback vibrating through her arms.

"I-I didn't mean to!" Twilight cried, struggling to pull the blaster back under control as her systems flickered from the surge.

Across the field, Applejack and Rainbow, still disoriented by their unexpected bond to the weapons, were attempting to regain their footing. Their movements jerked awkwardly, almost as if the axe and sword were pulling them independently.

"Watch where you're swingin'—WHOA!" Applejack shouted, the axe in her grasp lunging headfirst. Their weapons surged in unison, dragging their users straight into each other, colliding back-to-back with brutal force before collapsing to the ground, groaning.

Back near the wreck, Rarity still held the crystal shield up. The battle axe, that was once in cowgirl's possession, launched forward like it had chosen its next bearer, landing solidly into Rarity's free servo, causing her optics to widen, "Oh my— staAARS!" she yelped, the weapon dragging her away.

Amidst the madness, Fluttershy stood still, her wide optics gleaming with fear. She had backed away instinctively, her servos hovering over her chest-plate as she watched the girls tumble and struggle with weapons seemingly possessed by something beyond them.

But as her gaze darted from one friend to another, something shifted behind her.

Unbeknownst to her, a small shadow moved— silent and deliberate. From the thick gloom beneath a half-burned section of underbrush, a small golden mini-con crept ahead. It moved with calculated precision, digits curled as it prepared to launch, drawing closer to the unsuspecting femme. But just as it stepped into striking range, Fluttershy turned.

"...Oh." her optics met the mini-con's. Both froze in place, caught like statues in a moment of sheer surprise.

The mini-con's stance faltered, clearly expecting a scream, a command or a defensive lash-out. But none came. Instead, Fluttershy's expression slowly shifted— from alarm to curiosity... and then to something gentle and warm.

She lowered herself carefully to one knee, bringing her gaze to the little robot's level, her wings folding softly behind her, "Hello." she greeted calmly like she was greeting a nervous animal rather than a potential threat. The golden Mini-Con blinked in return.

"This is not what I signed up for today!" Rarity exclaimed, holding the heavy battle axe as it dragged her around.

"You think you've got it bad?!" barked Rainbow, flailing her arm as the sword flickered in and out of her grip like it had a mind of its own, "Mine keeps trying to wrestle me!"

"What is happening?!" Twilight yelled, clutching the orange blaster still glowing faintly in her grasp.

"I don't know!" Sunset shouted back, her trident spinning unnaturally in her grasp, "But it's like the weapons are fighting us!"

"You don' say!" yelped Applejack.

"Um, girls?" Fluttershy called out softly.

"We're not going to figure anything out if we keep yelling over each other!" Sunset shouted over the din, digging her heels into the ground as her trident tugged her sideways.

"I'm not yelling!" Rainbow snapped back immediately.

"You literally just shouted at me!" Rarity shot back with a huff, trying to twist her wrist free from the axe's stubborn grip.

"Yeah, well, you shoved me!"

"Girls?" the timid femme spoke up again.

"It's not like I wanted to get magically synced with ancient Cybertronian tech either!"

"You're the one who said we should come out here alone!"

"If you can just listen—"

"I didn't think we would get controlled!"

"If you two are quite done assigning blame, perhaps someone could help me before I get yanked into a tree by thi—"

"STOOOP!"

Fluttershy's voice, normally soft as a breeze, rang out like a thunderclap. Everyone froze. Weapons halted mid-pull, energy ceased crackling and the chaotic shouting came to an abrupt stop. All heads turned to the tentative flyer.

She stood tense, breath shallow, before slowly releasing a long, calm exhale. Her posture relaxed but her voice remained steady as she spoke, "They were just trying to protect themselves."

Confused glances passed between the others. Fluttershy delicately stepped aside, revealing a small figure tucked behind her leg. A yellow mini-con stood near her, bright blue optics darting between the larger robots. The femmes blinked in collective realization. And then the weapons stopped glowing. With the strain gone, all six girls stumbled and dropped, landing heavily on the soil.

"Ugh..." Twilight groaned, one servo pressed against her helm. Around her, the rest of the group stirred with similar grunts of discomfort.

Sunset was the first to sit upright, her optics flashing with dazed confusion, "Everyone in one piece?"

"More or less." Applejack muttered, flexing her wrist as she rolled onto her side, "Though I think mah shoulder's gonna feel this tomorrow..."

A soft whir-click was heard from the center of the field. The girls turned just in time to witness the discarded weapons twitch on the ground— then, they began to shift. Panels slid apart, energy surged between gaps in their exteriors and in a series of elegant, synchronized movements, each weapon transformed.

The first was a small orange dinosaur, shaped like a Triceratops, while the second carried shark-like features, its body patterned in shifting shades of blue. The remaining three appeared to be ordinary Mini-Cons. One was mainly blue with elegant gold accents, another stood out as bulkier with a sturdy teal frame, and the last was a striking red, accented with yellow and sporting bright blue, wing-like structures along his back. The femmes stared in shock, intakes falling open.

"You've got to be kidding me..." Rainbow groaned, wincing as she pushed herself off the ground and rubbed her lower back, "We got our butts kicked by a bunch of minis?!"

"I don't know whether to be embarrassed... or impressed." Sunset muttered, brushing leaves off her shoulder, getting up on her pedes.

"You're lucky I didn't blast you to bits when I had the chance." the orange mini-con shaped like a triceratops stepped closer, his horned helm low and menacing.

"Stand down, Tricerashot."

Everyone turned upward at once, optics tracking the source. Through the high branches of the towering forest, a sleek figure swooped between the trees. Wings of polished metal spread wide as he banked through the air, sunlight flickering off his armor. The blue eagle-like mini-con landed in a smooth glide, folding his wings as he stood before the others, "We are not here to make more enemies."

"They are the ones who started it." the tiny dinosaur muttered bitterly.

"We?!" exclaimed Rainbow, "You were the ones who started dragging us around like ragdolls, tiny! How were we supposed to know you guys were alive?! Some heads up would've been nice!"

He took another step, vents hissing, "You touched what wasn't yours! We had every right to defend our—!"

The orange mini-con was about to launch until the blue shark one stopped him, "That's enough, Shot."

After that, the eagle focused on the towering femmes, "It is hard for us to trust unfamiliar faces. Let alone ones that approach us without warning. I believe a proper introduction would be efficient."

Sunset took a second to collect herself before responding, "Fair enough." she cleared her throat, "Hi, my name is Sunset Shimmer and this is my team." she gestured to her friends, each of them gave a polite nod or wave, trying to convey their sincerity.

"Aerobolt." the mini-con eagle introduced himself in return, "May I know why you have come to this remote place?"

"Out on a mission. We caught a signal entering the Earth's atmosphere and we traced it to this location until... we found you guys." Sunset continued, a tiny hint of awkwardness creeping into her voice, rubbing the back of her helm, "Sorry for startling you. I suppose you're their leader?"

"That is correct." he answered, "Me and my fellow mini-cons are on a quest of our own. We did not expect anyone else to be involved. There are forces out there that we cannot afford to find us. Our presence here has been... precarious."

"Ya criminals or somethin'?" Applejack asked, crossing her arms.

"Many have hunted us for the strength we carry." Buzzstrike responded, "We have no reason to assume strangers mean us well. Your arrival triggered the same warnings that have saved us more than once. We weren't sure what your intentions were."

"And we still don't know." Tricerashot grumbled, his harsh gaze fixed suspiciously on the group.

"No, no!" Sunset quickly raised both servos in front of her in a calming gesture, her expression earnest, "We're not here to steal anything or hurt anyone. That's not who we are. We didn't even know you were alive until just now. We thought we were investigating wreckage, maybe a distress beacon or a threat. We were just trying to help."

Twilight nodded, taking a step beside her friend, "We thought someone might need assistance, or even a rescue."

"Yeah! Besides," Pinkie piped up cheerfully, materializing next to Tricerashot. With an exaggerated squee, she scooped the stunned Mini-Con into her arms like a stuffed animal, lifting the compact, armored dino-bot effortlessly off the ground, "Who would ever want to hurt wittle cuties like you?" she cooed, squeezing him in a too-tight, overly affectionate hug.

Tricerashot's optics widened in alarm, "Let go of me!" he growled, wriggling furiously. And then, he bit her.

"AY—!" Pinkie yelped, jerking her servo back and releasing the mini-con in a flurry of motion.

He landed deftly on all fours, his tail lashing behind him, plating bristled with indignation as he glared up at her, "Touch me again and I will make sure to bite your whole servo off."

"Yikes, we got one feisty fella 'ere." Applejack smirked.

"Tricerashot." Aerobolt spoke up firmly, "I understand your caution but let us not harm those extending hands of peace."

The dinosaur huffed, "Didn't felt very peaceful to me..."

"We've been running for a long time." Sawtooth continued, "Forgive us for not extending trust easily."

"Oh, you poor things..." Rarity responded somberly.

"That's understandable." added Twilight, "If our positions were reversed, I don't think we'd be so quick to trust strangers either." she hesitated for a moment before continuing, her curiosity edging forward, "But if you don't mind me asking... why come to Earth out of all places? A planet so far from Cybertron seems like an odd choice for destination."

Aerobolt shifted to her, voice lower now— almost reverent, "Because something is here." he replied slowly, "Something I sensed pulsing through the cosmic threads long before we even entered this planet. A signal, yes... but more than that. Whatever it is, it called to us."

"Maybe we should warn Bumblebee and Optimus about this. If there's something powerful out here, they need to know." Twilight whispered to Sunset.

At that, Aerobolt's optics sharpened with interest. His helm turned to them, expression focused, "You... work alongside Optimus Prime?"

Sunset gave a small, surprised nod, "We do. Our team's been collaborating with the Autobots since we met."

The eagle straightened up, "That changes much. Optimus is a name etched into the oldest databanks of our kind... a symbol of strength and wisdom. If you carry his trust, then I suppose there is more to this meeting than chance."

"We encountered the Autobots once, years ago, while we were on the run. And we never forgot about their assistance. Since then, we've moved through the whole galaxy, always searching and hiding... until the signal brought us here."

Tricerashot grunted and looked away but didn't argue.

"Well..." Rainbow put a servo on her hip, "Guess we're all connected a little more than we thought."

"I think we were meant to find you." Fluttershy said quietly, standing beside the yellow mini-con who now lingered at her side, "Maybe this wasn't just a coincidence after all."

Aerobolt looked at her, "Perhaps not."

"Why don't you come with us back to our base?" Sunset offered, "We can all actually sit down and figure this out properly."

He lowered his helm in thought and glanced back at his team. Bashbreaker nodded subtly. Windstrike crossed his arms but smiled. Even Tricerashot had gone quiet, flicking his tail as if mulling it over.

"We can help you get answers too." replied Twilight, "You've been running for so long, looking for something. Let us help you find it."

Sunset tilted her helm, hopeful, "So... sounds like a plan?"

Tricerashot stepped next to his leader, "I'm not so sure about this, Bolt."

Aerobolt turned to him, "They offer us shelter and alliance. After everything we've been through... I think it's time we gave trust a chance." the other robots slightly beamed while the dino-bot only grimaced in response. The eagle-like commander gave a sharp nod to the girls, "We have come an agreement to accompany you."

"Try anything funny and I'm still biting someone." Tricerashot grumbled as he marched past Sunset.

"Noted." she responded with a smirk, already turning to lead the way.

Chapter Text

Under the cover of night, Erebus soared through the sky, a streak of black against the star-speckled canvas above. His wide, angular wings sliced through the breeze with silent precision. The moonlight seemed to shy away from him, the stars dimming faintly as he passed.

Below him stretched the craggy wilderness— an endless expanse of stone, forest and forgotten ruins. But his attention was fixed on one location alone. He saw it in the distance: the entrance to the cavern, now sealed shut, obscured by a jagged barricade of massive boulders. Erebus descended with calculated grace. His landing was soft, his pedes barely disturbing the dust that clung to the ground. Before him stood the collapsed mouth of the cave, blocked by the large rocks. He went further, gaze sweeping over the stone barricade. Thin gaps could still be seen between some of the rocks— barely large enough for an organic limb to slip through, let alone a Cybertronian frame. But Erebus was no ordinary being anymore.

His form began to twist and shift. The armor that encased him melted into inky shadow with sickening fluidity. His wings folded and dissolved into smoke, and within seconds, his entire body had transformed into a sleek, utterly black snake-like shadow, gliding across the rocks with an unnatural smoothness. He slithered to the narrowest gap between two boulders, and with impossible ease, began to slip deeper and deeper into the thin passage.

As he emerged from the suffocating crevice into the heart of the cavern, the shadows that clung to his serpentine form began to churn and twist, gaining his original form once again. He rose to his full height with eerie elegance, his angular silhouette now completely restored. His head turned with focus as he surveyed his surroundings. Then, he moved forward, his clawed fingers grazing along the stone as he walked, absorbing the energy that whispered from the walls like distant voices.

With each stride deeper into the cavern's bowels, the temperature seemed to drop. The Red Energon... it was close. He could feel its pulse, faint but steady, a heartbeat of raw, untamed power waiting to be claimed. His mouth curled into a sinister smirk. The obstruction before him, a dense wall of jagged stone and ancient debris, seemed to mock his advance, a final barrier guarding the treasure buried deep within. Erebus came to a halt and raised one clawed hand.

From his palm, dark magic began to swirl— inky tendrils spiraling like smoke caught in a void. With a twisted grin, he unleashed the destructive power with a thunderous force. The bolt struck the stone wall like a comet, releasing a deafening shockwave that echoed through the depths of the cavern. Shards of rock exploded outward, the barrier crumbling and disintegrating in a plume of dust. As the smoke and debris settled, a passage was revealed.

Embedded in a crystalline formation that jutted from the cavern floor like a jagged fang, the Red Energon pulsed bright. Its light shimmered in rhythmic beats, like the thrum of a colossal, sleeping heart. It was ancient, forgotten by all... except him. Erebus approached slowly. The shadows that cloaked his form swirled with anticipation, hissing and curling with excitement, "Ah, this is where you've been hiding." he whispered, "So much power... waiting... begging to be claimed."

He reached out a clawed servo, and the instant his fingers made contact with the surface, the cave came alive with a blinding crimson flash. The power surged into him, wild and uncontrollable— until he bent it to his will. Erebus let out a low growl that built into a roar, his frame trembling under the weight of the energy before stabilizing. His wings extended, larger and darker than ever, burning with crimson outlines.

"The age of hiding is over." he declared, "They will remember me and will learn to fear me!"

« ✦ —⋆——― ꒰ঌ·✦·໒꒱ ———⋆— ✦ »

Back at the Autobot base the silence of the hangar broke as the portal shimmered to life in a swirl of light and force. The weaponizer Mini-Cons stepped out of the vortex first, scanning their new surroundings with cautious optics, followed closely by the girls, still a little dusty from the forest skirmish but visibly more at ease.

"Visitors!" Fixit's voice chirped from the far end of the room. The tiny Autobot rolled his wheels to them while Bumblebee, Grimlock and Drift followed him, "You're all back! How wonderful to see you again!"

"We're pretty glad too." smiled Sawtooth as he walked up to him, "Didn't think we'd be seeing your team again this soon."

Aerobolt stepped closer afterwards, his wings tucked, "Your hospitality is appreciated. We understand the value of strong allies in uncertain times."

Near the back of the group, Tricerashot stood stiff and unimpressed, his tail wagging with irritation as he surveyed the towering machinery and hulking mechs around him. Right then, someone large and friendly nudged him from the side, "Long time no see, little buddy!"

Tricerashot's optics widened briefly before he turned with recognition. Towering above him was Grimlock, the mighty dinobot, wearing a wide grin that showed off a few too many metal teeth. The orange mini-con blinked, then smirked faintly, "Finally, a more tolerable 'Bot!"

Bumblebee chuckled, "Optimus and the rest will return a bit late." he explained, folding his arms across his chassis in a relaxed posture, "But I know he'd be more than delighted to see you all in one piece. It's been a while." he scanned the mini-cons with wonder, "So, what brought you back here to Earth?"

Aerobolt's talons clicked lightly against the floor, "There has been... a disturbance." he began, "I first sensed it while in orbit. A rhythmic surge, like the beating of a spark— but old enough to ripple through subspace. It was calling. Not just to me, but to all of us." he gestured to his fellow weaponizers, "It led us here."

"A pulse?" repeated Bumblebee, "You think something or someone is trying to contact you?"

"Possibly." Aerobolt replied, "Or it's a warning. The energy felt distorted... but familiar. It's tied to us somehow. And whatever it is, it's growing stronger."

"We are just wasting our time here!" the small dinobot burst out.

"Tricera—" Sawtooth raised a servo to ease his teammate but the hotheaded mini-con cut him off without a second thought.

"What if this is all just a false alarm?" Tricerashot growled, stomping forward until he stood directly beneath Aerobolt, head tilted defiantly upward, "This stupid task will only drag us back into danger! Have you already forgotten what happened last time? When they found us?!" his tail thrashed like an angry whip, "Do you really want a bunch of Decepticons tracking us down again, treating us as nothing else but weapons? Using our power until there's nothing left of us?!"

"Huh..." Pinkie tilted her helm, digit tapping her chin, "That kinda reminds me of when we got captured and got experimented on because of our magic."

Every single mini-con froze in place, optics snapping to the pink femme with synchronized precision, "...Say again?" Tricerashot asked.

All of the girls turned to Pinkie as well. Rainbow groaned aloud and facepalmed while Rarity rubbed her closed optics, shaking her helm. Sunset, standing between them, exhaled sharply and dragged a servo down her face-plate, "We weren't supposed to tell them that way!"

Pinkie offered a sheepish grin, "...Oopsies. My bad, hehe."

Aerobolt's optics narrowed with keen interest, "You were captured?" he questioned carefully, "Because of your... magic?"

"This might shock you a bit but—" Bumblebee spoke up, expression composed yet cautious, "They... aren't actually Cybertronians."

That sentence landed like a spark-charge and all eyes turned to the golden Autobot, "They're not?" Buzzstrike muttered, glancing at Sunset and her team with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

"No. They're actually... humans." the lieutenant answered and their gazes widened, "And they're not originally from this world either. Months ago, we discovered that the Decepticons had secretly reactivated an old piece of tech— a space bridge Shockwave had been experimenting with."

"Somehow," he went on, "Shockwave discovered the existence of certain individuals in another realm, these girls, who possessed strange energy signatures. But they had potential... and that made them valuable."

"He pursued them to take their magic and use it against us." he paused, "Things... didn't really go as planned when we tried to save them. The girls were caught in the crossfire as we fought with the 'Cons and well... they changed into these forms." he gestured to the femmes, "They can shift their appearances between their old and new ones at least. It helps them keep a low profile when needed. They adapted, fast. They figured out how to stabilize the fusion of their magic with Cybertronian tech. It gave them abilities neither side had ever seen before."

"That actually explains the shimmering shield one of you materialized during our... unfortunate introduction." Buzzstrike noted as his optics shifted to the fashionista.

Rarity placed a delicate servo over her chest, "Well, a lady must always protect herself with style."

"And the odd energy signature I felt surging when I was linked to Miss Shimmer." Sawtooth continued thoughtfully, "It didn't feel purely Cybertronian. It was warmer... more alive. Like it had a will of its own."

"That's because it does." said Sunset, "True magic isn't just energy. It's connection. Ours is rooted in harmony, and when I was... in control, or I guess, connected to your weapon form, it felt like you were holding back. Like there was something more. But just out of reach."

Subsequently, the eagle-bot responded, "Our power is not something that can be forced open or commanded. It must be earned. Unless the surge is mutually agreed upon and completely committed to by both sides the true power of the bond remains dormant." he explained, "If either wielder or weapon hesitates, holds mistrust or acts in selfishness... the full connection will not be achieved."

Buzzstrike nodded, "We don't just lend our strength, we share it. And only with those who respect what it means."

"That makes sense." Twilight replied softly, "When our magic activates, it responds to emotion, intent and unity. That's why we pony up when we're in sync. It's like... our version of a surge."

"And what about those 'Cons you were talking about?" Tricerashot questioned as he looked up at Bumblebee.

The lieutenant shifted uneasily, the weight of the topic heavy in his posture, "We were able to put Shockwave in stasis and send him back to Cybertron where he could be properly contained. Unluckily, some... managed to slip through our servos."

"Which are...?" asked Sawtooth, the tension in his voice clear.

Bumblebee pressed his dermas together before answering, "One of them..." he paused and ex-vented, clearly uncertain how to deliver the next name.

"... was Starscream."

"WHAT?!" Tricerashot snapped, "You're telling me that winged lunatic is roaming free around this planet?!"

Rainbow leaned on the wall beside her, "You got history with ol' Screamer too?"

"During our early days, when we were still very young... we were originally captured by Megatron." Aerobolt explained, "And we were used as experiments for his dreadful project. Fortunately for us, it was incomplete... but then we were accidentally discovered by Starscream in the depths of Darkmount."

"After we escaped that dark place, he chased us down and took us, only to take our full surge unwillingly and use it on himself!" continued Tricerashot.

"That... that's awful." Fluttershy instinctively lifted her servo up to her intake, "No one should ever go through that."

"If he's still alive..." Buzzstrike mumbled, "And if he catches wind that we're here..."

"He'll come." Tricerashot growled, "I knew this was a bad idea from the start! But no one ever listens to me!" he glared at Aerobolt, "Don't you get it?! We're not safe here! If Starscream is still out there, if he so much as senses our signal— he'll come tearing through this planet like a storm looking for us! For our surge!" he shouted, stomping a small pede into the ground, "And we'll be right back where we started! Caged and used!"

Aerobolt turned to him slowly, "I know you're scared."

Tricerashot grumbled, "I'm not—"

"We all are." his leader interrupted, "And I won't pretend your fears are unjustified. What we've endured... what Starscream did to us— it's left scars we still carry." he lifted his gaze, addressing the rest of the room as well, before softening it again toward his teammate, "But you can't let fear dictate your every move. We're not helpless anymore and we won't let that happen. We're stronger than we were back then. We've grown and we've learned. And this time..." he gestured to Sunset and the others, "We have allies."

The dino glanced at them, his helm moving between the taller robots, "You expect me to just trust them?" he asked bitterly.

"No." Aerobolt said, resting a wing lightly on his companion's shoulder, "But I'm asking you to try. Because if we keep running and pushing everyone away... we'll never stop being hunted. And we'll never find peace."

"They saved us, after all." Sawtooth remined, "Even when we fought them... they chose to protect us, not exploit us."

Tricerashot let out a sharp, disgruntled snort, "Hmph..." was all he muttered, optics dimming as his frustration simmered beneath the surface. He turned away without another word, his heavy footsteps echoing through the main area of the base. With hunched shoulders and a brooding expression, he disappeared into one of the quieter side corners, likely searching for a place to cool his systems and temper alike, away from the crowd and pressure.

Aerobolt sighed quietly, wings lowering in a rare sign of weariness. He turned to the group, "Tricerashot can be... quite short-tempered. But his pain runs especially deep. He's always taken it upon himself to be our shield, even when it meant bearing the weight of suspicion, anger or fear. To him, trust is a vulnerability... and vulnerability is a danger we've barely survived."

"Let him cool off." advised Sawtooth, "He'll come around. Eventually."

The eagle gave a short nod, "Still, I appreciate your patience. We are... not used to being offered kindness without a price."

"You're welcome to stay here for as long as you need." Bumblebee responded, his gaze calm and steady.

Gradually, the bird-like mini-con bowed his helm in gratitude, "That means more than you know, Lieutenant."

As the conversations continued below, Aerobolt's optics scanned the room, catching movement near the edge of the high platform. There, sitting with one knee drawn up and a makeshift med-kit open beside her, was Rainbow, back in her human form. She was scowling slightly as she wrapped gauze around her leg, a leftover from their earlier... 'introduction'.

With a quiet beat of his wings, Aerobolt launched himself from the ground, gliding up to the platform with effortless grace. His landing was almost soundless, metal talons clicking lightly against the smooth surface as he folded his wings neatly behind him.

Rainbow glanced up, momentarily startled, "Oh— uh, hey." she said, more casual than surprised, "Didn't hear you coming."

"I tend to move quietly." Aerobolt replied, his voice softer now, no longer the commanding tone he'd used earlier. He looked at her leg, then met her eyes, "I owe you an apology."

She raised a brow, looking down at her bandaged leg, "For this?" she shrugged, "Eh, I've had worse."

"Even so," he continued, moving closer but still maintaining a respectful distance, "You were caught in the conflict of something that should never have escalated. We acted on fear, not reason. I regret that it led to you being wounded, especially when you had no intention of harming us."

Rainbow leaned back, studying him for a bit. The cocky grin she usually wore faltered just enough to let something more genuine slip through, "I didn't expect your whole team to have such a grudge against trusting people."

"I didn't expect yours to keep smiling after being thrown across a battlefield." Aerobolt countered gently.

That made her chuckle a little, "We've been through a lot. Crazy power-hungry creatures, dangerous magical artifacts— you name it. Guess you get used to weird stuff after a while."

Aerobolt hummed, his gaze drifting from Rainbow to the bustle of movement below. He was silent for a minute longer before he finally spoke, "Mini-Cons like us... we were never meant to wander aimlessly. Our kind— weaponizers, specifically— weren't just built for battle. We were forged with destiny."

Rainbow blinked, "Destiny?"

He nodded, "Each one of us was created to resonate with a specific kind of energy, a frequency that aligns with another spark. A wielder. Someone whose spirit matches ours— not just in strength, but in heart and conviction."

The girl remained quiet, her magenta eyes glancing downward for a bit as she tried to wrap her head around what he was saying.

"When I first saw you," the eagle went on, "I sensed an unordinary force. As if it was calling out to me. I tried to deny it at first, I thought my own processor was playing tricks on me. Or perhaps it was desperation, after running so long, can even make logic bend."

"But the feeling didn't fade." he admitted, "If anything, it only grew, and my spark was responding to you. You may not have known it at the time but something in you reached out to me. And I couldn't ignore it anymore."

"Okay— wait, hold up a sec." Rainbow held up her hand, palm forward like a stop sign, her eyebrows shooting up in disbelief, "You're saying that I'm supposed to be your user or something? Like, your chosen one or whatever?" a short, incredulous snort escaped her, "Dude, I'm just a human teenager. I still forget my locker combo half the time!"

She looked at her patched-up leg and then back at him, "Don't get me wrong— I am pretty awesome. Fastest girl in Canterlot High, captain of like... three sports teams and I've totally helped save the world a couple times. Technically."

Her smile faltered, uncertainty slipping through the bravado, "But I'm not a soldier. I'm not from Cybertron. I didn't grow up training to wield some kind of a living weapon or whatever. I play guitar. I eat way too many nachos. And sometimes, I trip over my own feet when nobody's looking."

Rainbow exhaled a laugh, rubbing the back of her neck, "So, yeah, destiny sounds cool and all... but you might wanna check your spark thingy because... I don't think I'm who you're looking for."

Aerobolt's stare, however, didn't waver. His talons shifted marginally against the metal of the platform, "I did not mistake you. You may see yourself as 'just a human teenager' but destiny does not care for titles. It chooses those who act, not those who are ready."

"So... what happens if I do choose to accept this whole 'meant to be partners' thing?" she asked.

"Then we become more than what we were apart. A bond formed not by force but trust and shared strength. Two sparks in sync."

"I don't have an actual spark though."

"Not in the way we define it. But it resonates. It pulses with intent and emotion. And it's real and radiant as any spark in the Well of All Sparks."

Rainbow's brow furrowed to some extent, "I never really thought of it like that..."

"Perhaps you don't carry one but your light burns just as bright."

In the meantime, Tricerashot sat quietly off to the side of the large room, resting on the cool metal flooring of the base. His back was partially turned to the others, he didn't want to look at them. He kept his optics low, fixed on nothing in particular, listening to the distant conversation from the team. Laughter here. A few hopeful voices there. It was all too loud for him.

"Ya always sit by yerself when you're mad?" a calm drawl spoke from nearby. Tricerashot didn't turn his helm, though his optic twitched at the sound. He didn't need to. He already recognized the accent. Applejack stepped beside him. She didn't say anything right away, just knelt down. Then, without ceremony, she held out a small cube of Energon in her servo. He stared at it.

"Ain't here to lecture." she said evenly, "Or to tell ya yer wrong for bein' upset. Just figured ya probably need this."

"What makes you think I'd accept anything from you?" he grumbled.

Applejack gave a small shrug, "I don't. But I reckon offerin' it is the right thing to do." she put it down near him, "I've seen others like ya before. Ones who've been pushed too far. Can't blame ya for being guarded. Just... don't let that turn into a wall so tall that no one can ever get through to ya."

"...You talk too much."

She grinned, "Only when folks need hearin' it."

Tricerashot eyed the cube for a moment, then took it with a grunt, "You humans sure are persistent. You keep showing up where you're not wanted."

"Well, sometimes where we're not wanted is where we're needed most." аfter that she stood up, "Come join us when yer ready."

He didn't respond at first. Only stared at the glowing fuel. Applejack turned to leave, but barely made two steps before his voice rang out, "You think this is going to work?"

She stopped in her tracks, glancing over her shoulder-pad, "Beg yer pardon?"

"You bring me a cube, say a few kind words and then what— suddenly we're friends? Like everything we've gone through can just be brushed aside?"

Applejack faced him fully now, calm but firm, "Ain't tryin' to brush nothin' aside."

"Yes, you are!" he snapped, his voice rising with barely restrained emotion, "You and your team— you haven't lived like we've lived. You don't know what it's like!"

The cowgirl exhaled, "Yer right. I don't know what that's like. I ain't gonna pretend I do. But I do know that pushin' away everyone who tries to help don't make ya any safer. It just makes ya lonelier. N' I know yer tired. Anyone can see it."

He didn't answer. Didn't move. But the tension in his stance shifted just slightly. A flicker of uncertainty behind the rage.

"I ain't here to make you do anything." Applejack added, "But if this world's ever gonna feel less dangerous, maybe it starts with not facing it alone."

With that, she turned to walk away, leaving him with his thoughts.

During the interaction, Twilight's gaze shifted to the human section of the base, where her laptop displayed a soft glow. A notification was blinking in the corner of the screen, small but insistent. Her body shone and in a smooth, practiced shift, she became human again, adjusting her glasses as she stepped down onto the platform.

The laptop pinged again. She reached it and clicked the touchpad, pulling up the source of the alert. Her brow furrowed as a website she hadn't touched in months blinked to life, an obscure anomaly-tracking forum she had once bookmarked during their early missions. The newest thread was titled: "Shadow Giants."

Curious and cautious, Twilight opened it. The page loaded with a collection of blurry but chilling images— tall, ominous figure emerging from tree lines, disappearing behind mountains or casting massive shadow across desolate terrain. Some had visible glowing eyes.

"What's this...?" she murmured and leaned closer, heart rate rising. The file timestamps were all recent. And then she saw it: a silhouette hunched in the back of one photo. Slender wings. Sharp frame. Her fingers paused over the keyboard, "...Guys? You might want to come see this." she said, voice tight with urgency, grabbing her friends' attention, "We have a bigger problem than we thought."

In moments, the others joined her— both human and Cybertronian alike. The rest of the girls quickly shifted to their human appearances to gather around the small desk, "What's going on?" Rainbow asked, leaning in to peer over Twilight's shoulder.

The purple girl turned the laptop, revealing the disturbing images plastered across the screen, "Photos, from less than twenty-four hours ago. All of them show a massive figure appearing in remote parts of the Earth."

Bumblebee lowered himself, examining the display, "That silhouette... it looks awfully familiar."

Sunset stared at it with full concentration as well, "Whatever it is, it's big. And based on these images, it's moving."

"Where were these taken?" asked Aerobolt, leaning closer.

Twilight pointed to the rough coordinates highlighted on the screen, "Scattered locations. High altitudes. Mountainous regions. Remote enough that no one would immediately notice."

"We need to check it out." Applejack advised, "If it's a 'Con hidin' out, or worse, we can't let them roamin' around like that."

"Twilight, I need you to find the location of that mountain, there must be something important." directed Bumblebee.

"On it." the purple girl answered, already typing.

"And Fixit?" the lieutenant turned to the little orange mini-con, "We'll keep you on base duty, in case anything severe happens."

Fixit saluted, "Understood, sir!"

Sunset's eyes scanned over the rest of the mini-cons, "You guys can stay here until we get back."

But before anyone could respond, Aerobolt responded, "I believe it would be best if we accompany you."

His words caught everyone's attention. The other small robots exchanged wary glances, unsure whether this was the right course of action, "Are you sure about this?" Sawtooth asked with a hint of skepticism.

Aerobolt's expression remained steady as he nodded, his optics fixed on the team, "We're stronger when we work together."

"Sounds like a plan to me!" Rainbow's lips curled into a grin at the thought of having extra backup, "But seriously— I feel like I've heard that voice before." she whispered to Pinkie.

Bumblebee gave a firm nod to the group, "Alright then, everyone's clear. Fixit, get ready to send us out. The rest of you, prepare for the field."

Chapter Text

As the swirling light of the Groundbridge portal faded, the team stepped out onto firm earth, the cool breeze of the open wilderness brushing against their armors. Their pedes crunched over rocky soil and scattered gravel as they moved forward. They found themselves standing at the base of a towering, formidable mountain. Wisps of clouds clung to its upper reaches, shrouding its peak from view and giving it an almost otherworldly appearance.

Everyone instinctively paused, their gazes drawn upward to the sheer enormity of the sight before them. The mountain's rocky surface was rugged and worn, marked with ancient scars from millennia of wind and weather. Small outcroppings and steep cliffs jutted out at irregular angles, casting deep shadows over the lower slopes.

Sunset shielded her optics from the glare of the sun, "Well... this is definitely the place."

Applejack whistled under her vent, "That sure is one big mountain."

"If that thing is hiding in there, we can't risk letting it slip away." Bumblebee said, his tone serious while scanning the rocky terrain, "We need to block every possible exit. Flyers, you take the high route. The rest of us will cover the ground."

Rainbow cracked a confident grin, slamming her fist into her open palm with a metallic clang, "On it!"

Beside her, Twilight and Fluttershy gave a firm nod. Aerobolt's glanced to the clouds above, then turned back to his own team, "Lancelon and Windstrike, you're with me." he directed, "The others will remain here with the lieutenant. Hold the line and be ready to move if anything changes."

With synchronized movements, the flyers transformed into their jet modes. As Windstrike hopped on Twilight and Lancelon on Fluttershy, all of them soared to the craggy heights above.

"Good luck!" Sunset called out, raising a servo and waving to the flyers as they ascended into the sky, their silhouettes cutting through the clouds like glints of living steel.

Bumblebee took a step, "We don't know what's waiting for us but we're not giving it the chance to make the first move." he observed the looming rock face ahead, where the jagged entrance to a cavernous tunnel was almost entirely sealed by a wall of boulders and collapsed debris, "Grim, would you do the honors?"

The hulking dinobot let out a low, eager chuckle as he rolled one massive shoulder-pad, "Don't mind if I do!" Grimlock grinned with fierce enthusiasm, stomping forward. The ground trembled beneath his heavy pedes, dust shifting as he approached the obstruction.

With a wave of his strong tail, he shattered the massive rocks.

He sized up the pile of stone and with a grunt of effort and a spray of stone shards, Grimlock began clearing the entrance, hurling boulders aside like pebbles. A cloud of dust rose in his wake as the tunnel slowly began to open, darkness yawning beyond like the throat of some dormant beast. Behind him, the others readied themselves.

"Stay alert." Bumblebee warned as the wind howled softly around the base of the mountain, "Whatever's inside, it's been hiding for a reason."

The instant Grimlock finished tearing open the passageway, all of them walked inside.

High above the mountain's level, the trio soared through the thinning clouds, accompanied by the swift and agile mini-cons. The wind howled around them as they ascended, sunlight glinting off their metal plating while their wings cut clean arcs through the sky.

As they neared the summit, Rainbow dove first, flipping midair before transforming into a fluid motion, her Cybertronian form landing with a heavy thud on the rocky ledge near the peak. Aerobolt followed quickly behind, wings folding back in a sharp sweep as his talons touched down. After that, Twilight and Fluttershy converted as well while Lancelon and Windstrike landed with nimble precision beside them.

The timid femme peered down, "O-oh, this is... pretty high." she whimpered, stepping back.

However, her rainbow-colored friend glanced to the rock formation in front of them and her gaze widened, "Whoa..."

Partially hidden by jagged stone formations and thick shadow, yawned the gaping mouth of a cave— its entrance scarred and widened by some kind of violent force. The rocks surrounding the opening were fractured, scorched with blackened streaks as though something immense and destructive had recently forced its way in.

"This wasn't carved by weather or time." Aerobolt murmured, "A powerful source did this. And not too long ago."

Crouching near the edge of the shattered entrance, Twilight spoke up, "You're right, they're probably still somewhere in there."

An unexpected clang resonated from deep within the cave, faint but distinct. The sound reverberated through the narrow mountain pass, a chilling reminder that they weren't alone. Rainbow's optics flared, her body tensing, "Then we better move before they run away!"

Without waiting for a response, she broke into a super-speed sprint, her pedes clanging against the rocky surface as she charged straight to the noise.

"Rainbow Dash!" Twilight called after her. But the speedster was already gone, vanishing into the shadows of the damaged cave entrance with reckless confidence.

"I'll go after her." Aerobolt said firmly and flew in, dipping low as he swept into the cave's mouth, following the trail of colors left behind the fast girl.

"We have to hurry." Twilight urged and along with Fluttershy and the other two mini-cons, they rushed inside.

The tunnels were cold and narrow, carved unnaturally deep into the mountain's core. Every step echoed through the dark, the sharp clank of Rainbow's sprinting steps bouncing off the walls as she raced deeper, her optics scanning through the gloom. Abruptly, she heard it, louder now. A rhythmic clanging. Not random debris. Movement.

She slowed down, instincts sharpening. Up ahead, a red glow glimmered like the pulse of a warning light, seeping through the edges of a wide, jagged hole in the wall just around the corner. Rainbow pressed her back against the cold stone wall, sliding along it until she reached the edge of the opening. She crouched low, peering around the corner to get a better look.

The glow inside sparkled again, brief silhouettes moving. A soft whoosh of air behind her made her flinch, but she relaxed a bit when Aerobolt landed silently next to her, talons barely scraping the stone as his wings folded in, "What do you think you're doing?" he whispered sharply, "You charged in alone. You could've been caught or worse."

Rainbow focused on the corner again, "I wasn't gonna let them escape. We lose the trail now, we might not get it back."

"And if you'd run into something you couldn't handle? We don't know what we're dealing with yet."

"I know... but I couldn't just wait around either."

Before Aerobolt could argue further, she lifted a servo, signaling him to remain where he was, "Stay here." she added quietly, transforming her arm into a blaster. Cautiously, she stepped onward, keeping her movements light. She edged closer to the corner, adrenaline creeping in as she drew a deep breath, steadying herself. Then, without delay, she surged ahead with a practiced leap, her body snapping upright as her blaster aimed at her target.

At the center of the cavernous space, stood a tall figure. His clawed hand was outstretched, pressed firmly against a large, pulsing red crystal embedded into the mountain wall. The crystal throbbed like a beating heart and streams of glowing energy snaked from it into the figure's arm like liquid lightning. The glow illuminated the sharp angles of his frame, angular wings, lean chassis and that unmistakable smirk etched into his face like a scar of pride.

Rainbow's gaze widened, "...Starscream?!"

Her voice resonated sharply across the space. The figure paused, turning his helm as the red glow lit up his gaunt features. Bright whitened eyes locked onto hers with slow recognition. A grin curled across his dermas, "It seems we have... visitors."

From his position behind the jagged rock outcrop, Aerobolt cautiously took a peek. He stiffened the second his gaze locked onto the tall, menacing figure standing beside the pulsing crystal. Recognition hit him like a jolt of static— his normally composed face twisted into alarm.

Just ahead of him, Rainbow stood frozen. Her stance was rigid, blaster still trained on the Decepticon. She scanned the seeker's form, now cloaked in a twisted, upgraded frame, "I see you've got a new style. Too gloomy for my taste, though. What's the occasion? Going through a dark phase or something?"

A low chuckle rumbled from the seeker's throat, cold and jagged like broken glass, "Still as bold as ever, aren't you, pest?" he mused, "But you should choose your tone more carefully... you're not facing the same Starscream you remember."

He withdrew his clawed hand from the glowing crystal, strands of dark energy crackling between his digits and the pulsating red core as if reluctant to be severed. The chamber glinted ominously in response, like the very walls recoiled from the loss of his touch. He took a single step, dragging his pedes across the stone floor, "You may now refer to me... as Erebus."

Rainbow's blaster didn't waver but her optical ridge furrowed in confusion, "That some kinda dramatic stage name or have you completely lost it?"

"You can think whatever you want." the mech growled, the shadows clinging to his frame like a second skin as the red crystal pulsed faintly behind him, "But I will no longer be seen as a joke. It ends now. I've embraced a power none of you dared to reach for. And I will be seen. Not as a failure... but as the storm that tears down your so-called order." he halted, lifting his chin as he grinned eerily, "And I will make sure you, will be the first to fall before me."

The girl scoffed, "Yeah, right. I'm the fastest thing alive! You think some shadowy power-up will stop me?"

"Speed means nothing if you're running in the wrong direction. But don't worry... I'll correct your course— with PAIN!"

He lunged.

Rainbow barely had time to react before Erebus was on her, his clawed hand slashing through the air. She leapt as the mech's arm smashed the stone wall behind her, "Took you long enough!" she shouted. She spun mid-dodge, raised her blaster and fired. The energy bolts streaked through the cave but instead of impact, they passed straight through Erebus's frame as if he were made of smoke and shadow. Rainbow froze, "How the--?!"

With a growl that reverberated like a stormcloud, he thrust his servo forward. A pulse of seething dark energy erupted from his palm, tearing through the atmosphere toward her. The girl vanished in a blur of rainbow, dodging the blast by milliseconds. The beam tore into the ground where she'd stood, leaving a smoking crater.

"Alright." she muttered, focusing on her target, "Let's see how tough you are in slo-mo." she triggered her power and the world around her slowed, sounds stretching into distorted echoes and dust floating like ash caught in syrup. Erebus's movements slowed to a crawl.

Rainbow grinned. She zipped around the Decepticon's flank and vaulted upward, preparing to lunge directly into his exposed back. But just as she jumped, his helm snapped backward. Her face widened too late. Erebus moved at her speed.

His clawed fingers clamped around her leg with chilling precision and he yanked, slamming her into the nearest jagged rock wall. The impact rattled her systems, sparks bursting from her armor as the stone cracked, causing a shard pained cry to escape her intake.

"Surprised?" Erebus hissed, optics glowing with unnatural intensity, "Your speed is impressive but mine is beyond compare now." he roughly grabbed her neck and lifted her up. Rainbow chocked and struggled in his grip, kicking against him as the cave trembled around them, "No one can match against the power of the Red Energon and shadows combined, weakling." he released the sharp edges of his other claw, "You should've thought twice before challenging me." he raised his arm, ready to strike.

"Release her at this instant, Starscream."

Erebus turned. There, perched on one of the jagged boulders that jutted out from the upper ledge, stood Aerobolt.

"While I still function, I will not allow you to harm this girl."

The mech bared his fangs, a low mechanical growl rumbling in his throat, "You..." he hissed, as if the very sight of the eagle offended him, "You dare stand in my way again, mini-con?! I should've offlined you and your pathetic little flock when I had the chance!"

Aerobolt remained motionless atop the boulder, "You had your chance." he said coldly, "Yet you failed. I survived what you did to us. And I won't let your madness claim anyone else."

With a thunderous roar of frustration, Erebus threw his free arm forward and a concentrated beam of pulsing dark liveliness erupted from his clawed hand. The blast seared through the cave, trailing wisps of corruption in its wake. The Mini-Con launched himself from the boulder just as the beam obliterated the rocky ledge where he'd stood a second before. Shards of molten stone scattered through around the space.

He moved with grace and speed, darting between stone pillars and the jagged ceiling above, a streak of blue and silver weaving through the darkness. Erebus snarled and turned, eyes blazing, launching another volley of corrupted energy. Each strike missed by inches as Aerobolt twisted and banked, drawing his opponent's attention away from the girl.

Rainbow's blaster hummed with a rising charge, aimed squarely at the vulnerable joint where his clawed arm met his massive shoulder. She pulled the trigger. A burst of searing plasma shot from the barrel and struck true. The impact exploded against Erebus's armor with a sizzling crack, sending a spray of sparks into the darkness. The mech roared in pain, his grip on her throat loosening as he instinctively recoiled, clutching his injured shoulder.

Wasting no time, Rainbow twisted out of his grasp and hit the ground in a crouch. Before he could fully recover or re-center his balance, she sprang into the air with a sharp spin, planting a solid, adrenaline-fueled kick directly across the side of his angular face-plate. The blow sent his head snapping to the side, staggering backward and snarling in fury.

Rainbow landed in a three-point stance, her blaster ready, breathing hard but smirking, "Now that's more like it."

The clash of battle reverberated through the tunnels like a living heartbeat, guiding Twilight, Fluttershy, Lancelon and Windstrike to the source. The narrow passage opened into a massive cavern. At the center of it all, Rainbow Dash and Aerobolt fought fiercely against a towering, dark-armored figure. The group halted, gazes wide as they stared at the scene.

Fluttershy took a half-step back, "I-Is that...?"

"Starscream." Twilight confirmed grimly, "But... he's changed."

Indeed, the Decepticon's frame was barely recognizable. Twisted with sharp, jagged armor, he stood hunched with power radiating from him like heat from a furnace.

Windstrike stepped up beside Twilight, lightly tapping her leg before pointing ahead. She followed his gesture and the instant her gaze locked on the sight, she gasped, "Oh no..."

Far in the distance, the crimson crystal's glow was wavering, nearly snuffed out.

"He's already drained that Red Energon..." she whispered, panic rising. Her servos pressed against her helm, "This is bad. Really bad! It supercharges speed to levels most 'Bots can't even comprehend! Temporary bursts of movement so fast it's like freezing time. But mixed with dark energy? It's unpredictable. Corruptive—"

"S-scary..." Fluttershy whimpered out of fear.

"We better move before he gets any stronger. Rainbow and Aerobolt won't last long on their own." directed Twilight.

Just as Erebus lunged, his talons ready to strike Rainbow again, a massive boulder came hurtling through the air like a meteor. It slammed into the side of the dark Decepticon, sending him crashing against the cavern wall with a thunderous impact. Dust and fragments exploded, masking the battlefield in a brief cloud of debris.

Rainbow quickly scrambled back, her optics wide in shock. Aerobolt flared his wings and hovered beside her, equally stunned. Across the rubble-strewn cavern, Erebus groaned, rising slowly from the small crater he'd left on the wall. He shook his helm, white optics flaring with rage and disbelief. His gaze, and those of Rainbow and Aerobolt, snapped to the new presence standing boldly at the mouth of the chamber.

Twilight stood tall, one arm extended forward, "You're not hurting anyone else!" her servo glowed with a vibrant pink hue, arcane energy swirling and crackling around her digits. Behind her, the others stood all in ready stances, prepared for whatever would come next.

Erebus straightened fully, claws flexing, "So... the whole alliance of pests has arrived." he snarled, "How convenient."

Then, the shadows around the cavern began to twist unnaturally. From the cracks in the walls, from the fissures between stone slabs, even from beneath their own pedes— something stirred. Erebus extended his arms outward, talons glowing with a sickly black aura, "They say you should always welcome your guests properly." he grinned wickedly, "Good thing I've planned ahead."

A low whine built in the atmosphere, followed by a shrieking chorus of soundless wails as pools of darkness erupted from the deepest corners of the mountain. From them emerged warped, jagged figures— shadows twisted eerie forms, bound in Erebus' will. Their eyes gleamed faintly white, monstrous in their appearance. Rainbow took a step back, optics darting to the rising swarm.

Erebus chuckled darkly, his wings spreading wide as his minions crawled forward, lining the cave like an army of phantoms, "You didn't think I was foolish enough to stand here alone, did you?" he taunted, "And since you're all so eager to interrupt my ascension, I've taken the liberty of preparing a warm welcome for the rest of your friends... from down below."

.

.

.

Deeper along the rugged mountainside, the other part of the team moved cautiously through the uneven terrain. Bumblebee and Drift led the group, scanning the cliffs and crevices for any trace of activity, both of their headlights lighting up the way.

Grimlock stomped behind them, his massive pedes crunching over loose gravel as he grunted, "This mountain's too quiet. Don't like it."

A few paces behind, Sunset and the girls walked side by side, their footsteps softer but no less focused. The ember girl's gaze shifted over the terrain with a calculating sharpness. Rarity picked her way carefully over the dirt, clearly displeased by the rugged terrain, "Ugh, must this path be so dreadful?"

"Yeah... this place isn't just creepy, it's like crawly creepy." Pinkie replied, glancing around.

Tricerashot kept his optics examining warily. His small, orange metal frame moved with alertness and suspicion. The jagged rocks and eerie silence didn't help ease his nerves. A faint sound caught his attention. His blue optics narrowed as he spotted movement behind a boulder a few paces ahead. He crept forward, each step deliberately cautious.

Just as he reached the edge of the rock, a small head of a lizard suddenly popped up from behind it. Tricerashot jumped, springing back with unexpected speed and bumping hard into the sturdy leg of Applejack, who had been just behind him. He blinked rapidly and looked up. The cowgirl glanced down at him with a raised brow and an amused smirk, "Scared there, partner?"

"Pah!" the mini dino snorted, straightening up in an exaggerated show of pride, "Yeah, right! Three-horns don't get scared!"

He turned to stomp defiantly back to the front of the group— only to be met by an unexpected face popping out from the shadows right next to him.

"Boo!" came Sawtooth's playful snarl.

"AH!!!" Tricerashot stumbled back again with a startled yelp, nearly tripping over his own feet. The other mini-cons snickered among themselves, their quiet chuckles echoing lightly off the rocks. Even the girls let out a warm laugh.

"Ha-ha, you got me, very funny." Tricerashot mumbled in return, visibly embarrassed as he shot a glare at the blue shaky robot.

Sawtooth leaned in with a toothy grin, "Hey, even the toughest 'Bots have their moments. Lighten up."

The dinobot grumbled and lifted his helm in an offended way, trudging forward again, pretending nothing had happened.

"Don't be upset." Buzzstrike said gently, padding up beside him, "He only wanted to—"

"I'm fine!" the orange robot cut in abruptly. His optics didn't meet Buzzstrike's as he turned, gaze shifting to the side, "I'm not mad about that."

Buzzstrike tilted his helm, "Then... what's got your circuits in a twist?"

Tricerashot grunted through his vents, "It's them." he muttered bitterly, nodding his horned helm to the girls walking behind them, talking softly among themselves as they walked.

Once following his gaze, the axe mini-con frowned vaguely, "The humans?"

"All friendly smiles and teamwork chat. Acting like we're just part of their happy little unit now. I don't get it. I don't trust it. First sign of trouble and they'll turn their backs, just like everyone else always does."

Buzzstrike glanced back at the girls, "But... they've been pretty welcoming to us so far. Right?" he looked at Bashbreaker, who had been walking silently, scanning the ridgelines. The silent mini-con gave a nod of agreement, "See?" Buzzstrike smiled, "Even he thinks so."

Sawtooth pressed on, "Look, I know you've got your sensors up and maybe for good reason. We've all been through things no one else would understand. But these girls? They're not like those Scavengers we crossed paths with stellar cycles ago."

Tricerashot didn't say anything. His gaze shifted to the girls, lingering for a second on Applejack, who laughed quietly at something Pinkie had said. He clicked his jaw, "Whatever..."

Suddenly, Fluttershy's voice crackled faintly over their comms, distorted and filled with static, ::Bum—s...thing's wrong...shadow—::

Bumblebee froze and the rest halted in place as well, he tapped his comms again, "Fluttershy?"

::E-every-... need to-to hurry... b-before—::

"Shy, come in!"

Only silence answered. The team exchanged looks, the tension between them thickening. Bumblebee's tone hardened, "Something's going on up there."

Just as the team began to process the distressing transmission, a rapid movement at the corner of the cave caught Sunset's attention. She squinted into the dim light as she spotted something out of place, "Uh... guys?"

The rest of the team immediately snapped their focus to her, following the direction of her gaze. As they did, a thick, black mist began to unfurl from the walls of the cave, pooling from the cracks and crevices like a living entity. Shadows seemed to stretch unnaturally, forming dark, swirling shapes that twisted and moved with a mind of their own.

"What are those?!" Pinkie's yelp cracked, hurrying over to Applejack's side, Rarity moved next to them as well with cautious nervousness.

The shadows stretched further, creeping along the cave floor, now beginning to solidify into tall creepy figures with glowing eyes, their outlines jagged and shifting like dark, living smoke. They surrounded the group, trapping them in a tight circle.

Chapter Text

The shadows crept in like a flood of sentient darkness, coiling across the jagged rocks and swallowing almost everything. The team tightened their formation, backs to each other as the inky figures slithered closer. Without warning, one of the shadowy forms lunged, its tendrils whipping through and wrapping around Drift's pede, yanking hard and pulling the mech off his feet.

"Drift!" Sunset spun to him and raised her arm, unleashing a stream of fire from her flamethrower. The heat sizzled through the area, lighting the darkness with a golden blaze. The shadows shrieked before releasing the samurai and slithering backward, smoke trailing from where the flames had burned them.

But the momentary victory was fleeting. More shadows surged forward, undeterred. They began to climb over Grimlock's massive frame like a swarm of insects, slipping beneath armor plates and coiling around his limbs, "Ew, ew, ew! Get them off!" Grimlock shouted, thrashing and spinning, but they clung stubbornly, oozing over his back and across his shoulders like living tar.

"They're everywhere!" Rarity exclaimed, stepping back as one of the smaller tendrils curled to her heels.

"We need to transform!" Buzzstrike shouted.

Sawtooth turned to Pinkie, who stood only a few feet away. He moved quickly to her side, "I know it's a sudden request... but will you accept the surge I can provide in order to protect our allies?"

Pinkie gasped in excitement, her face lightning up, "You need to ask?! I'm in, I'm in!" she opened her arms for him without hesitation and Sawtooth jumped, transforming mid-air into his trident form. Electricity sparkled when she grabbed him, optics widening as the surge began to take hold, connecting the two in a shimmer of harmonic energy, "Heheee!" she squealed as she bounced, "This is going to be so much fun!"

As her heels landed again, she dropped into a stance, trident raised diagonally in front of her, "Who wants to dance first?"

The encroaching shadows lunged, twisted snarling jaws aimed straight for her. In an instant, she was a blur of vibrant motion. She ducked under one attacker, pivoted on her heel and spun Sawtooth in a wide arc, slicing straight through the nearest tendril of dark matter. Another leapt from the wall but she was already spinning the weapon, using the momentum to pierce through the creature, which vanished away with a screech.

Sunset stood frozen, expression wide as she watched Pinkie laughing while she and Sawtooth moved in sync. Then, a voice broke her trance, "Shall we?"

The girl blinked and turned. Buzzstrike stood just a step away, his expression calm but resolute. Once she gave a small nod, his frame shifted instantly, metal folding in a sleek ripple of transforming plates as he vaulted into the air. Mid-spin, he compacted into an axe, streaks of electric blue threading through its core.

Sunset raised her servo as he dropped and caught him effortlessly. The surge hit her hard, a fierce jolt that shot through her and out to the tips of her digits, battle aura roaring to life. She tightened her grip and smirked, "Oh, I'm definitely going to get used to this."

Amid the mayhem, Tricerashot remained still for a heartbeat, watching as his fellow mini-cons merged with their chosen humans in fierce harmony. His optic twitched and with a gruff snort, he grumbled and turned sharply, hurrying to Applejack, who was busy hurling heavy chunks of debris at the shadow masses with her bare servos, her hat barely hanging on as she dodged a swipe of black mist.

"Quit gawking and open your servo!" Tricerashot barked, stomping to a halt in front of her.

Applejack paused, half-turning to him, "Now, what in tarnation are ya—?"

But before she could finish, he leapt, form twisting. Plates folded in, gears clicked into place and with a blast of compressed steam, he shifted into a powerful blaster cannon.

Instinctively, Applejack extended her servo, catching the weapon with a practiced grip. The second her digits wrapped around him, a surge of kinetic force rushed up her arms, grounding in her chest-plate. She spun on her heel and fired. The first blast tore through the nearest shadow with an explosive crack, scattering it in a ripple of smoke. More followed and each pull of the trigger felt like an extension of herself and of Tricerashot, who rumbled in approval from within his alt-form.

Another shadow slithered low and fast, its clawed tendrils wrapping around Bumblebee's staff. Before he could react, the dark entity yanked hard, slamming the Autobot against the cavern wall. Dust and rock fragments rained down as he grunted, struggling against its grip. Then, unintentionally, his chest headlights flared as he twisted, a cone of brilliant white light hitting the creature dead-on. The shadow hissed violently and recoiled, retreating like smoke in a high wind. Bumblebee blinked in surprise, then shouted with renewed urgency, "Light! We need more light!"

Drift, hearing the command, wasted no time. With a deft pivot, he whipped out his twin swords, catching the glint of Bumblebee's beam and redirecting it to Grimlock. The flash washed across the dinobot's body just as more shadows crept up his armored back. The moment the light hit, the creatures shrieked and slipped off his plating. Grimlock shook himself with a snort, flailing like a wet dog, "Eugh! Finally!"

But the encroaching shadows were multiplying. The flickers of light from their armors and weapons weren't enough. Then Rarity's gaze lit up, "Of course!" she gasped, raising her arms.

A soft blue aura surrounded her palms and in a swirl of radiant magic, a wide crystal shield burst into existence before her, polished to perfection. Its surface gleamed like a prism, already catching the stray beams of brightness around them, "Everyone, direct your light here!" she instructed, angling the shield just right.

Headlights bounced against the crystal. The refraction split the light into dazzling arcs that scattered across the cave, casting away swaths of shadow. The entire chamber brightened like morning sun bursting through storm clouds. The shadows cried, their forms sizzling as they were driven back but the battle wasn't over.

Just as Rarity turned to look for another position, a slinking shadow lunged at her from behind. In a blur of motion, Bashbreaker charged and stomped the shadow flat with one powerful slam, splattering the creature into black mist. Without wasting a second, he transformed mid-jump and landed cleanly in Rarity's waiting servo in his hammer form. With grace and fury, she swung Bashbreaker, scattering more shadows that tried to crawl back in.

More of them slithered from the cracks in the stone, crawling over boulders and sliding along the walls like living darkness.

"They still keep comin'!" Grimlock roared, frustration rising as he swung his massive tail. The impact sent several shadow-creatures back, splattering into dark mist against the rocky surfaces.

Sunset gripped Buzzstrike tightly in her hold, she spun, sliced and struck through the encroaching swarm. Without warning, a powerful shove from behind sent Sunset stumbling forward. Her pede caught on the uneven ground and she tumbled hard with a sharp grunt.

"Darling!" Rarity cried in alarm as she fought.

Sunset twisted instinctively, just in time to see a shadow-beast jumping to her. Her servos flew up, gripping the axe defensively. The creature crashed into her, both of them now locked in a desperate power struggle. It pressed against her weapon, its snarling maw inches from her face as it hissed with rage. Sunset's heels dug into the rock as she strained to hold her ground, her arms shaking under the pressure, "Get... off me!" she growled through gritted dentas.

Right then, something inside her shifted. A sudden heat bloomed in her chassis, coursing through her like wildfire. Sparks flashed from her form and tiny flames began to dance along her arms and around the weapon.

Everyone turned and her tense look widened. Her body glowed faintly, the same shimmer she'd only ever felt when their powers were fully connected, when their unity was strongest. But this was entirely new. The shadow-creature screeched as the flames began to crawl up the haft of the axe, searing its clawed hands. Its body recoiled instinctively, hissing in agony. She rose slowly to her pedes, flames crackling gently at her fingertips. Sunset stared at herself, stunned.

"Sunset!" Bumblebee's shout rang out as he sprinted to her, optics wide with concern. He skidded to a stop just a few feet away, his servos raised cautiously, "What— what is this?! What's happening to you?!"

"I— I don't know!" Sunset exclaimed, her focus locked on the flickering flames still curling around her. They didn't burn, not in the way normal fire should. The heat was warm but not painful. Then, she spotted Buzzstrike, still in axe form, glowing faintly as fire licked around his frame too, "Ah!" she panicked, hastily trying to beat the flames off the weapon, "Sorry, sorry!"

But a calm, familiar voice spoke up— not aloud, but directly in her mind.

"No, it's alright!"

Sunset froze, blinking in confusion.

"Don't worry, your fire doesn't hurt me. I can feel its energy but it's... harmless. Like it's meant to connect, not destroy."

Her optical ridges furrowed, "How can I hear you? You're still in your alt-mode."

"I'm not entirely sure either." Buzzstrike admitted, the mental tone thoughtful and steady, "We mini-cons have always been able to communicate with one another like this... but never with our holders."

Bumblebee took another cautious step, eyeing the fire dancing gently around her armor, "Hey... you alright? You're not overheating or anything, are you?"

Sunset looked up at him, "I-I think I'm okay. It's weird but it doesn't... feel wrong."

Right then, one of the shadow creatures emerged from the darkness, claws stretched wide. Sunset gasped.

"Throw me!" Buzzstrike's yell cut through her mind, sharp and sudden.

"Huh?!" she stammered, her grip tightening instinctively as she looked down at the weapon.

"Just do it! Trust me!"

Sunset's body straightened, "Bee, watch out!" she called again.

Bumblebee pivoted just in time, ducking to the side as Sunset stepped into position. With a fierce cry and fire dancing along her arms, she hurled Buzzstrike's axe mode with all the strength she had. The weapon spun like a blazing comet, engulfed in swirling flames that roared to life mid-flight.

His flaming form cleaved clean through the creature, cutting it in two. The thing shrieked, a horrific static-laced howl, before dissolving into a puff of dark vapor. The fiery momentum carried the weapon further, slicing through two more shadows lurking in its path before it flew back to her servo, flames crackling along the surface like a flare lighting the battlefield.

The cave briefly lit up in a brilliant flash of orange and gold, casting dancing shadows across the rock walls. Sunset exhaled sharply, her heart racing, "Holy scrap..."

Bumblebee glanced back at her, optics wide in amazement, "Remind me never to get on your bad side."

.

.

.

On top of the highest cavern in the mountain, the three flyers and mini-cons fought against Erebus and his creatures. The shadows didn't stop, didn't tire and showed no fear.

Rainbow Dash twisted, her wings flashing as she delivered a powerful spin-kick to one of the monsters. It scattered into dark vapor, only for two more to appear in its place, "Oh, come on!" she growled, pulling her blaster and firing rapid bolts of energy, "You guys don't quit, do you?!"

Aerobolt was above her, wings flared, claws slashing through one of the beasts attempting to grab at Lancelon, "We can't hold them off much longer." he warned over the battle, "They're swarming faster than we can clear them."

Twilight stood her ground, her servos glowing with a fierce magenta aura as she ripped chunks of stone from the mountain wall. With a sharp motion, she hurled the jagged rocks one after another at the oncoming shadow beasts. The boulders cut through like missiles, crashing into their targets, only to pass clean through the inky forms without so much as slowing them down.

"This is not working!" Twilight yelled, "They're incorporeal!"

Behind her, Fluttershy huddled close to her friend, her eyes wide as she watched the beasts advance, "What do we do?!"

Twilight hurled another stone anyway, more out of desperation than strategy. It phased through the creature and it only surged ahead faster, its formless jaws hissing with unnatural hunger, "They're using fear to weaken us!" she cried out, glancing back at Fluttershy, "They want us to panic. We can't let them!"

Just as another cluster of shadow-beings attacked, Twilight's optics caught movement out of the corner of her vision— Windstrike, cornered and struggling to fend off two of the writhing dark spirits as they closed in. She sprang, landing beside the struggling mini-con.

"Watch out!" she shouted, scooping Windstrike into her arms and ran just inches out of the shadows' reach, tumbling to the stone floor. Twilight clutched the mini-con close until he confirmed he was alright with a nod.

Meanwhile, Aerobolt hovered midair, scanning the disorder— the others were being pushed back. He spotted Rainbow zipping between enemies, holding her own but even her speed couldn't hold them off forever. With a sharp beat of his wings, he darted to her, "Rainbow Dash!"

She skidded to a halt, spinning to face him, "Now's not the best time for a chat!"

"We need to unite." he said firmly, flying close enough so their optics met.

"Say again?" Rainbow paused again, her blaster raised.

"Our friends are in danger." Aerobolt informed with urgency, "I'm aware that we've only just met and I understand if you don't fully trust me yet but I'm offering you my surge. If we combine our strengths, we can push them back."

Rainbow's gaze narrowed slightly, "You serious?"

Aerobolt nodded, "Deadly."

There was a brief silence between them. The world seemed to tremble with the shadows crawling even closer. After a beat, Rainbow smirked, gaze flaring with determination, "Alright then, Feathers. Let's make this count."

With that, Aerobolt's body shifted rapidly into his compact surge form. He launched himself, magnetizing seamlessly to the center of Rainbow's chest armor with a resounding clank. The instant their connection locked into place, a strong wave of power pulsed outward like a shockwave.

A blinding flash of cyan streaked through, blinding everyone else. Rainbow gasped, staggering slightly under the sudden influx of intense force. Sparks of electricity crawled across her form, crackling and snapping like miniature thunderbolts. Her optics flared with radiant intensity as her systems processed the unexpected surge.

Her armor began to change, panels sliding and reconfiguring. A faint trail of light streaked behind her as her wings transformed into entirely new ones. She stood taller now, her silhouette more defined— faster and stronger.

Rainbow looked down at herself, flexing her now-enhanced arms. The girls and mini-cons stood frozen, their stares wide with awe as they took in Rainbow Dash's new transformed form. 

Erebus finally lowered the arm he'd raised to shield himself. His glare blazed with fury and a low, guttural growl rumbled from his chest, "No... NO!"

He clenched his clawed fists tightly, his entire frame trembling with restrained rage. The corrupted energy within him flashed violently. Shadows twisted and snaked around his limbs like living tendrils, responding to his wrath, "You dare rise to my power?" he snarled, "You think a little advancement can save you?! I am reborn from darkness. I am the storm that will crush your alliance! And I will tear down every spark that defies me!"

Rainbow scowled at him, tone dropping into a serious edge, "You wanna tear us down? I wanna see you try!"

She bolted, her wings slicing through as she darted around Erebus with breakneck speed. Each strike she launched was met with a counter from the corrupted Decepticon, moving with unnatural precision. Sparks flew as blaster shots and claws collided. He roared, lunging with a sweep of his claws that carved deep gouges into the rocks around them but Rainbow twisted, narrowly dodging. She retaliated with a spinning kick, enhanced by her new armor, slamming into his side and knocking him back. Still, he didn't fall.

The ground beneath them trembled with the force of their blows. Erebus lunged again, "You're nothing!" he spat, driving his talon down. Rainbow crossed her arms, blocking the strike with her newly enhanced armor. Twisting, she drove her heel into Erebus' chest, sending him skidding across the stone.

Lancelon and Windstrike exchanged brief nods in unison. Then, as if drawn by instinct, their gazes snapped upward to Twilight and Fluttershy, who stood a few feet away, eyes wide with confusion and uncertainty.

"...What?" Twilight began. The answer didn't come in words but in motion. Both mini-cons leapt and began shifting, mechanical parts folding and rotating with sleek, metallic grace. In a matter of seconds, their bodies reconfigured into elegant, gleaming swords. Fluttershy gasped as Lancelon landed in her hold, glowing faintly with warm light. Across from her, Twilight grabbed Windstrike's hilt.

"I-I've never fought with a sword before!" Fluttershy yelped, her grip on Lancelon trembling as she stared at the advancing shadows with wide, fearful expression.

Twilight, standing firm beside her, tightened her grip around Windstrike. She glanced sideways at her friend, "Me neither. But we don't have much of a choice right now. We have to fight them back."

Rainbow and Erebus clashed again and again, their movements a blur of speed and power. Each strike of her fists was met with his shadow-infused claws, sparks flying as metal clanged against corrupted alloy. With a sudden surge of force, Erebus grabbed Rainbow mid-air and hurled her across the cavern like a missile.

She smashed into the rock surface with a pained grunt, the impact shaking everything around. Debris rained down, several heavy rocks crashing to the ground and in their wake, a beam of light spilled through a fresh gap high above, cutting through the dimness like a divine sword. The sunlight struck the silvery-blue edges of Rainbow's metal wings, refracting with a flash of brilliance.

But it didn't just light up the cave. The beam also hit two of the shadow creatures creeping to the others and instantly, they recoiled with a shrill screech, their bodies withering before dissolving into smoky wisps.

Twilight's gaze widened. She looked down, where her dog pet clung to her forearm in his compact mini-con form, "Spike!" she called sharply and flung her arm upward in a sweeping motion. Spike flew through the air and mid-spin, transformed. The instant his paws touched the ground, he landed in battle stance, "The sun— it weakens them!" his owner called out.

"Got it!" Spike answered, baring his fangs as the nearest shadows charged at him. He planted his paws firmly and unleashed a powerful sonic bark. The blast caused several of the creatures reeling back with shrieks of pain.

Up above, more of the shadows closed in. Twilight's servos glowed brightly as she lifted Windstrike telekinetically from her hold and guided the sword with calculated precision. With flicks of her servos and glimmers of her magic, the blade whirled through the air like a comet, slicing through shadow after shadow in a radiant spiral.

Knowing they needed more light, Spike sprinted ahead. With a leap, he hurled himself to the nearby stone columns and charged up another bark, "Heads up!" he shouted. With a piercing cry, he released a concentrated sonic wave straight at the cavern ceiling.

The shockwave reverberated across the stone with a thunderous rumble. Cracks spider-webbed upward and with a mighty crash, a whole section of the ceiling crumbled. Dust filled the space as massive boulders slammed to the ground and sunlight poured through the widening gap above.

Golden rays bathed the chamber in a warm, blinding glow. All across the battlefield, shadow beasts writhed in agony. Screeches of fury turned to howls of despair as they began to dissolve like smoke in the wind, curling away into the light and vanishing from existence.

Erebus staggered back a step, shielding his face with his arm as his corrupted form sizzled under the sun's gaze. His look burned with wrath, a guttural hiss escaping his dermas. The light weakened him just like his minions.

Realizing his plan was unraveling and his forces were being annihilated by the unrelenting light, he let out a feral snarl. He began to shift, his hulking body twisting unnaturally as it morphed into a serpentine shadow.

Darkness swallowed his features as he coiled into a long, writhing wisp of black mist, his glowing optics the last thing visible before he slithered away. He slipped through the cracks and fissures of the stone, darting into the narrow, forgotten gaps of the cavern like a venomous serpent retreating to its lair.

Rainbow cursed under her breath, still recovering from the brutal impact she'd taken.

Lancelon shimmered and shifted back into his mini-con form. His blade-like edges receded into a compact armored figure as he settled beside Fluttershy. The timid girl rushed to Rainbow's side, kneeling beside her on the uneven ground, "Are you alright?"

Rainbow groaned, trying to push herself up, "M'fine... just need a minute." she grunted, accepting her help. Her friend steadied her, supporting her weight as she rose shakily to her pedes.

Across the cavern, Twilight stood near Windstrike, using her magic to ease his landing. The sword floated gently to the ground before it glimmered and reformed into the original mini-con once more. He stretched, catching his balance and gave Twilight a respectful nod of appreciation.

Spike padded over to join them, ears twitching alertly, "We're clear. For now." he muttered, glancing warily at the shadows still shrinking away from the lingering sunlight.

With the immediate threat gone, Aerobolt disengaged from Rainbow Dash's chest plate. A surge of blue-white energy rippled across her armor as the bond between them ended. Her sleek, enhanced combat form began to recede, panels and plating shifting back into place as she returned to her standard Cybertronian form with a faint mechanical whirr.

Aerobolt hovered briefly in the air before descending gracefully beside her, folding his wings, "Well fought." he responded but then his optics narrowed with concern, observing the way her stance trembled, "But I could feel the exhaustion. It rippled through the surge link we shared. Was it too much?"

Rainbow blinked at him, swaying just a little before regaining her balance, "Nah, c'mon guys, I'm okay!" she forced a grin, "I've managed like— way stronger things before!"

Twilight stepped forward, optics focused thoughtfully behind her visor as she lifted a servo under her chin, "It's possible that the surge link took a heavier toll on her than it would on a real Cybertronian. You mini-cons bond with sparks. But Rainbow is still, at her core, human. She doesn't have a spark like you do. It's like plugging a high-voltage power cell into a system not designed for it. The boost can be incredible but it risks overloading the host."

"I can handle it." Rainbow said quickly, though her breath was still heavy and her joints ached, "Just gotta... train with it. Get used to it. That's all."

Aerobolt looked at her again, "You shouldn't bear the strain alone. Next time, I'll pace the surge with more precision."

Fluttershy moved to the loyal element's side again and smiled proudly, "You were really brave out there, Dashie."

Rainbow glanced at her with a lopsided, tired smirk, "Heh, you think so?" she puffed, clearly trying to keep her usual bravado intact despite the obvious exhaustion weighing down her frame, "If that coward hadn't turned tail and slithered off, I might've finished him off."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves." Twilight said firmly, "Starscream... or Erebus, whatever he's calling himself now, may have fled but we still have no information of how he turned into... that creepy dark thing. We need to find the others and tell them what we witnessed, fast."

Rainbow's grin faded, "Right... right."

Twilight quickly went over the uneven ground, "Come on, Shy." the purple flyer urged, casting a quick glance at the cavern walls as more pebbles tumbled from above, "Help me get her out of here."

Fluttershy immediately nodded, gently holding Rainbow's other side as Twilight reached under one of her arms. With steady servos, the two girls hoisted their exhausted friend between them and carefully navigated her out of the cavern along with their mini-con companions.

Chapter Text

You know the drill guys!

Our Yuki2sksks has served once again! 🙌❤️❤️

EAT UP!!!

Chapter Text

After his escape, Erebus returned back to his hidden sanctuary. When he reached it, metal groaned under the strain of unnatural fusion. And then, with a rapid burst of expelled energy, the shadow separated.

The Pony of Shadows peeled itself out of Starscream's frame like a parasite uncoiling from its host. A ripple of black mist left the seeker's body and with a final pulse of dark light, the ancient malevolence stood apart again, its equine eyes burning with rage.

Starscream collapsed to his knees with a strangled groan. He clutched at his chest, his vents heaving as he coughed harshly, dark fluid spattering the stone beneath him. His entire frame trembled. The strain of containing such power had pushed even him to the edge.

While he was still recovering from the strain of their separation, the furious entity rounded on him, "You fool!" the Pony of Shadows thundered, "You allowed them to scatter my forces and weaken the fear we built with such care!"

The Decepticon flinched as the shadow loomed over him, "You—  you dare blame me for that?!" Starscream snapped back with defensiveness, "They've evolved with the help of those cursed mini-cons!"

"That is no excuse!" the shadow roared, "You had the element of surprise. You had my power! And still, you let sentiment and ego slow your strike!"

Starscream got up, fury momentarily flaring past the pain, "Don't you lecture me! I am no puppet to dance on your strings! I've led armies, conquered planets—"

"—And fallen, again and again, due to your ARROGANCE!" the Pony of Shadows shot back, floating even closer until his twisted face hovered inches from the seeker's, "Why are you still holding back?!" he snarled, voice slithering into Starscream's audio receptors like poison. He encircled the winged mech, "Have you forgotten how they looked at you, as if you were nothing but a freak, a broken shell of a once-feared commander? They see you as a monster, Starscream. An aberration. A failure! So why not give them what they expect?" the shadows surged behind him, rearing like a storm, "Prove. Them. Right."

The last words were uttered with a guttural weight, each syllable like a drumbeat hammering into the core of the robot's pride and agony, "Unleash the fury you've buried beneath shame and self-pity. Let the monster they fear rise and this time... don't let it be caged."

Starscream's optics dimmed, his vents shuddering as he clutched at his chassis, the lingering pain from the surge still burning beneath his plating. The atmospheric felt heavy, saturated with the dark influence that had wormed its way into his circuitry.

"You know I'm right. They never truly respected you, not Megatron, not your comrades and certainly not those humans."

His fists clenched. Old memories flickered like static, Megatron's scorn, the Autobots' sneers, the times he had been humiliated, betrayed, ignored.

"They mock you. Even now. That girl laughed when she struck you. Like you were beneath her." while the Pony of Shadows still hovered near him, an unexpected silence followed. The entity paused, his glowing eyes dancing with a faint pulse.

Starscream glanced at him, confused and irritated, "What is it?"

Floating closer behind him, the dark being's gaze was fixed on the upper ridge of the seeker's upper plating, "You have something... there."

The Decepticon twisted in an instant, his servos reaching up to his shoulder-pad. And there it was— a faint glimmering light nestled between the segmented armor, barely noticeable unless one looked closely. With a snarl, Starscream hooked two clawed digits beneath the surface plating and got it off. He extracted a small, thin chip no larger than a pebble. He stared at it. A tiny red diode blinked once. Twice.

He growled, hurling the chip to the ground and crushing it beneath his heel with a metallic crunch, "A tracer— those little vermins tagged me! They think they're so clever but all they've done is sign their own doom!" his wings twitched as he turned slowly, "I won't chase them. That's what they expect." he continued, "No... this time, they will come to me."

The Pony of Shadows became intrigued, "A trap?"

"A lure." Starscream corrected, a cruel smirk playing on his dermas, "I'll plant one of my already found fragments somewhere open— just near enough for their scouts to find. They won't be able to resist investigating."

His wings flared slightly as he shifted to his hideout, "I'll mask my presence. They'll think it's abandoned... and when they're clustered around the energon... I'll strike. They won't even see it coming."

"Clever. Use their hope against them."  the Pony of Shadows gave an approving chuckle, "Let them come with all their courage. With their magic and their miniature allies. This time... we'll show them what we are truly capable of."

.

.

.

As the swirling vortex of the Groundbridge stabilized with a low whirr, arcs of liveliness danced along its edges. A gust of wind blew through the base as the team emerged one by one, their armor scorched and faces drawn tight with fatigue.

Fixit, standing near the main console, perked up the second he heard them. His servos fidgeted anxiously, optics wide and shifting rapidly as he rushed forward with worry, "H-how did it go?" he stammered, "You,  uh— you all look... somewhat singed. Was it... a success?" he glanced around, "Was there combat? A-a structural collapse?"

"Decepticon..." Rainbow muttered, spitting the word like acid, "It was Starscream."

Twilight rubbed the side of her helm, "It's... kind of hard to explain." she admitted, "But he wasn't entirely himself. At least— not in appearance. He looked... corrupted. Like there was something inside him. Or with him. Like a parasite, feeding off him, or maybe guiding him. His frame and optics were entirely different. Something had taken root and twisted him from the inside out. He referred to himself as... Erebus."

"Great." Tricerashot murmured sarcastically, "As if the regular Starscream wasn't bad enough. Now he's possessed?"

"More like... fused. It was as if his spark had merged with something darker and... terrifying." said Fluttershy.

"Whoever or whatever he is now, he's more dangerous than before." Sunset answered, "And we barely made it out alive. Those shadow creatures were definitely made of dark Equestrian magic and Starscream has found a way to combine with it. I need to write to Princess Twilight about this. She might know something."

A wide grin spread across Pinkie's face-plate as she turned to Sawtooth, who had just shifted back into his Mini-Con form beside her, "But did you see that one shadow-thing go flying after I spun around with you? Boom! Right into the wall! And the one that tried to sneak up on me? Not today, shadow meanie!"

Before Sawtooth could even respond, Pinkie scooped him up in both arms and lifted him off the ground with ease, spinning him in an enthusiastic circle, "We make such a great team! Like peanut butter and jelly! Or cupcakes and frosting!"

The Mini-Con blinked, clearly dizzy from the rapid rotation, but couldn't help the amused chuckle that escaped him, "You were... surprisingly effective out there."

"Aw, you really think so?" Pinkie beamed, slowing down just enough to set him back on his pedes. She lowered to his level, "That was the most fun I've ever had in a life-or-danger-magic situation! And I've been in a lot of weird situations!"

Sawtooth adjusted his stance, still trying to process her sheer energy, but nodded with a grin, "Honestly? I didn't think anyone could sync with me that quickly. But you did. It was like... our timing was instinctual."

"Maybe it's because we both know how to move with rhythm! You ever dance-fight before? 'Cause we just invented it!" she grinned and hugged him.

Their laughter rang through the group and Buzzstrike looked up at Sunset with a trace of both curiosity and admiration, "I must admit, I'm with Sawtooth on this one. Through all the battles and 'Bots I've synced with... I've never quite moved like that with anyone before."

Sunset glanced down at him with a small, amused smile, "Really?"

Buzzstrike nodded, "Yeah. You... you're different. You weren't forged on Cybertron, yet somehow, your instincts and drive aligned with mine perfectly. That shouldn't be possible."

The girl placed her servos on her hips and let out a small laugh, "Maybe that's just the power of our magic." she said lightly, "Or it's what happens when you fight for something that really matters." she kneeled and gently rubbed his helm.

He gave a small smile, "Whatever it is, it worked. And I wouldn't mind doing it again." then, he tilted his helm, "Those fire powers, did you always have them in you?"

Sunset paused, "Actually... no." she replied uncertainly, glancing down at her digits, "I didn't even know about this. There was no spell, no plan. It just... happened. Like something deep inside me woke up when I needed it most."

"Then it means... my assumptions were correct." Aerobolt spoke at last. With that, the group quieted instantly, all eyes turning to the eagle mini-con.

"What assumptions?" Sawtooth asked.

Aerobolt's gaze briefly drifted to Sunset, then to the other girls, then finally settling on Buzzstrike, still at the ember femme's side, "Ever since we crossed paths with you humans, I've sensed something different. The fusion between us mini-cons and your forms was never designed to operate outside of Cybertronian bonds. But with you..." he turned his full attention to Sunset, "Something aligned. Your fire wasn't a side effect. It was a reaction."

Sunset raised a ridge, "A reaction to what, exactly?"

"To your connection to this world." Aerobolt answered, "You may not have a spark like we do but whatever lies within you, it mirrors one. Enough that the surge responded as if you did. There's a bridge between our species. Your power, isn't just Equestrian magic— it's been shaped by your time here, by everything you've done. And now, it's evolving."

Her dermas parted in surprise, unsure how to even respond. Fluttershy gently walked closer, resting a servo on her friend's side, "That's... kind of amazing."

"More than amazing." Buzzstrike added, optics still fixed on her in awe, "It's extraordinary."

"Hold up a click!" Tricerashot snapped, thudding against the floor as he stomped to Aerobolt, tail moving with agitation, "Tell me you're not saying what I think you're saying."

The eagle stood tall, calm amidst the growing tension, "I am." he said with quiet conviction, lifting his helm and locking optics with the small but fiery dinobot, "These girls may not be our original intended hosts. But I believe they're the ones we were truly meant to bond with. The ones we were created for."

For a while, silence fell over the group like a frozen wave, gazes widening in surprise. However, Tricerashot's glare only sharpened, "You've got to be kidding me!" he turned, addressing the others, "We were made on Cybertron, to fuse with warriors forged in the AllSpark's light. Not—" he glared at the girls, "—fleshy, unpredictable magic-wielding Earthlings!"

"Hey." Rainbow shot him a glare, pointing a digit at him, "Watch it, tiny."

"Ahem, magic that just saved all of us back there." Rarity chimed in firmly, folding her arms, "Don't forget who helped vaporize those brutes."

"I'm not dismissing what you did!" Tricerashot barked and looked back his leader, "But to say they were our true holders? That our entire function, our purpose, was to bond with humans?! That can't be true!"

Aerobolt remained unshaken, "Purpose evolves. So does destiny."

"And you know this?" Tricerashot countered, stepping closer, daring him to falter, "You feel that certain?"

"I do. I felt it the moment I surged with Rainbow Dash. And I know that the others did as well." he looked at his fellow mini-cons, "The resonance, the alignment, it wasn't manufactured, it was natural. Like it was always meant to happen. You felt it too when you bonded with Applejack, did you not?"

"I—" Tricerashot started but he suddenly fell silent, lowering his helm, "Grgh..."

"We don't have time for arguments." Bumblebee said as he stepped ahead, "Starscream is out there and now he's not alone. If we don't act fast, he's going to finish whatever twisted plan he's already started. We've seen what he's capable of when he's powered by dark magic. If he gets the rest of the Energon, combined with whatever that shadow creature is, we won't be able to stop him next time. We need to find him, fast."

Twilight approached him at that, "Lucky for you guys, right before he escaped, I placed a micro-tracer on his armor." she explained, her digits dancing across the portal device she always carried.

Everyone stared in shock, "You tagged Starscream?" Rainbow said with a grin, "That's bold."

"Nice thinkin', sugarcube." Applejack smiled.

Their violet friend gave a modest shrug, "It was risky but it worked. It led me to a location near the outskirts of an abandoned Energon mine."

Buzzstrike narrowed his optics, "That would be the perfect place to hide. Dark and unguarded."

"And if he's stockpiling more Energon," Sunset added, "He could be planning to amplify his fusion with that shadow entity even further."

"We can't let that happen." Bumblebee said firmly, "We need to head there now. Gather reconnaissance, locate the Energon and get it out before Starscream uses it against us."

As the others turned back to their preparations, Bumblebee's gaze shifted to the two-wheeled mini-con who was typing on the console, "Fixit."

The mini-con flinched and looked up, "Y-yes, sir? I've almost finished aligning the portal, just a few more calibrations and—"

"You're coming with us."

He paused mid-keystroke and squeaked, "M-me? On the mission? I-In the field?!"

Bumblebee nodded, "Yeah. We're probably going into a mine filled with unknown tech. We need your brain on-site too."

Fixit's posture stiffened, his servos twitching anxiously, "B-but I'm not a field operative! I'm a technician! I... I fix things— hence the name!"

"And that's exactly why we need you." Bumblebee responded calmly, "Out there, we might not have time to figure things out on our own. You understand this tech better than any of us. If something goes wrong, you're the best shot we've got at reversing it. We need all hands on deck for this."

"But... but what if we get trapped again?!" he stammered, his words spilling out in a frantic rush, "L-like when we tried to capture Nightstrike?! We barely made it out of there in one piece!"

"I remember, Fixit." the lieutenant lowered himself, "That mission rattled all of us. But we got out because we stuck together. And we're going to do that again. This time we're more prepared. We've learned from our mistakes and we're not going in blind. We've got stronger allies now and we know what we're dealing with."

Twilight stepped forward, her expression calm and focused, "I've tracked his energy trail. We know where he's hiding. It's an old mine, open terrain near the ridge line. If we plan this carefully, we'll have the upper hand."

Fixit looked at each of them. His gaze landed on Bumblebee again, then Twilight. He took a deep vent, squaring his small shoulders, "A-affirmative. I'll do my best."

"That's the spirit." Bumblebee straightened up, looking at the team, "We move at dawn, everyone. Prepare everything you need."

Chapter Text

The GroundBridge shimmered open, casting pale green light across the forest clearing. One by one, the team stepped through, weapons drawn and senses alert. The moment they emerged on the other side, the air changed. The terrain was jagged and steep—  crumbling rocks beneath their pedes, the sky above choked by low-hanging clouds that tinted everything in an ominous gray hue.

In the distance, towering silhouettes of ancient mining equipment stood rusted and forgotten, half-swallowed by nature's slow reclaim.

Twilight held up her scanner. It blinked faster with every step she took, pulsing in her palm, "The last energy readings were located here... he's close."

Bumblebee went onward, "Be careful. The ground's unstable and if this place is as old as it looks, there might be more than just Starscream hiding in here."

As they entered the mine, the walls quickly closed in around them.

"There." Rarity whispered, pointing to a deep path within the tunnels. The team crept forward, careful not to disturb the loose gravel underfoot. Inside, they found a vast cavern. Scattered around it were broken Decepticon weapons and half-built machinery.

"This is it." Twilight responded, "His hideout..."

"I'd say 'home sweet home' but this place is more like a villain's nightmare." Rainbow added, keeping close to Aerobolt.

Just then, Fixit's optics zoomed in on a console against the wall, "This technology, it's ancient... modified with Decepticon code."

A swift beep echoed from nearby. Behind a stack of warped metal crates, Pinkie spotted a glint of light, "Hey, hey! What's this?" she chirped, skipping over and moving aside the heavy wrecks. Beneath them were several ancient-looking datapads, coated in dust and grime but still functional, their faint blue screens flashing to life with her touch.

Sunset and Twilight hurried over, "Datapads." the ember girl murmured, carefully picking one up, "Definitely Decepticon make..."

Fixit leaned over and lifted a different one, "They must have been used as personal archives. Maybe logs or schematics— wait, yes, this one still has files in its memory!"

Rainbow and Fluttershy crowded around as the screen displayed a scrolling map— grids of terrain with pulsating markers. One location flashed in red, its coordinates stamped with a glyph.

The loyal element blinked, "Is that...?"

Fixit tapped the screen, enlarging the readout, "Correct. It's energon. Big one at that."

"It's perched high, just north of the canyon ridge." added Sunset, "If we move quick, we could get there before Starscream does."

"Or before he drains it completely." Bumblebee muttered.

"We've got our next lead." she said, "But if this place really is Starscream's hideout, then there's bound to be more hidden than just these datas." she looked around the dim cavern, the shadows stretching into corners still unexplored, "Half of us should probably stay behind. Keep searching and see if there's anything else that might tell us what he's planning— or what he's already done."

"Agreed." Bumblebee nodded thoughtfully as he turned his gaze to the datapad and then to the rest of the team, "Twilight, Fixit, Grimlock, Applejack and Rarity— you five stay here. This place might look empty but we've only scratched the surface of what Starscream's hiding. There could be files, traps or worse. We need eyes and brains on the ground. The rest of us are heading to that signal. We'll move fast and quiet, assess the situation and report back if anything looks off."

He turned his gaze to the mini-cons, "As for the rest of you, I think it's best you stay with your partners— just like last time. You all fought better when you were together. That bond is something Starscream didn't count on. Let's keep it that way."

"I agree." Aerobolt responded, "What we achieved back there was no coincidence."

Bumblebee nodded, "Then let's head out. We have no time to waste."

.

.

.

Outside the abandoned outlands, the second team emerged into a jagged terrain marked by narrow cliffs and dry, cracked earth. Bumblebee raised his arm and pointed forward, "Spread out but stay within comm range."

While the group advanced with caution, Rainbow's optics snapped to a steep hill rising ahead, where the signal pulsed brighter than ever. A large chunk of Red Energon glimmered faintly from a sharp edge of a cliff.

"Found it!" she shouted, her wings spreading.

Aerobolt called after her, instantly catching the shift in her posture, "Wait, Rainbow Da—"

Dirt and dust kicked up behind her as she transformed and launched herself up, veering to the ridge with single-minded focus.

"Rainbow!" shouted Sunset.

"Dash, stop!" Bumblebee yelled afterwards.

But Rainbow's determination burned hotter than caution, "I can handle it!" she replied back through her comms, "If there's Red Energon here, we can't waste time!"

From below, the others could only watch as she reached the point, her pedes landing hard on the uneven surface. There, nestled between two jagged slabs of rock, pulsed a gleaming fragment of Red Energon, shimmering like blood under sunlight.

Before she could reach it any further though... she felt it.

A heavy chill crept across the back of her neck. The shadows around her seemed to stretch unnaturally, coiling like tendrils across the ground. Her posture stiffened for a second... until she finally turned.

From behind, something vast and dark moved close, its form cloaked in rippling, shadowy mist that clung to its body like living smoke.

"Would you look at that?" the figure grinned, though there was no warmth in it— only sharp cruelty, "The quick little spark has finally arrived. I was wondering when we'd meet properly."

"Starscream!" Rainbow tightened her fists, "I thought we—"

"Were still alone?" he continued and laughed, "I must admit, I didn't expect it to be you who found my precious gift. Then again... it is always the bold ones who spring into trap first."

Her gaze shifted down to the Red Energon at her pedes, her mind racing.

Of course. It wasn't just a lure, it was bait.

"You planned this..." she muttered, "You wanted us to come here."

"Very good." he replied, "You're smarter than I gave you credit for."

"What do you want, you jerk?!" she shouted, "Is this just some sort of a stupid game to you?!"

"I've seen what lurks in the deepest corners of your heart. All that bravado? It's armor. Cracked armor."

Rainbow flinched, not visibly, but Erebus noticed. His eyes gleamed.

"You act tough, lead strong, laugh loud... all so no one sees the fear beneath. But I see it. And soon— everyone else will, too."

Her jaw clenched, "You don't know me. And you sure as hell don't scare me."

"Oh? Do you truly believe that?"

Meanwhile, the rest of the team stood in tense silence, their optics locked on the slope above where Rainbow Dash had vanished moments earlier. Bumblebee's shoulder-pads tensed anxiously, "What is happening up there?! Why hasn't she answered back?"

"I'll go to check on her." Aerobolt said firmly. With a powerful beat of his wings, he kicked off the ground, soaring upward into the darkening sky. Just as he ascended above the treetops, a thick, shadowy tendril shot out from the mist, wrapping around his torso with lightning speed. It yanked him back violently before he could react.

"Aerobolt!" Buzzstrike cried out. With a sickening crack, the shadow hurled the mini-con into a rocky outcrop, sending him crashing to the ground in a cloud of dust and sparks.

The rest of the mini-cons immediately dashed to his comrade's side, "Are you alright?!" Sawtooth called, helping him get up as he grunted in pain.

From the edges of the forest and behind jagged rocks, they began to slither out— dozens of inky, writhing shapes, moving like a tide of darkness.

"We're under attack!" Sunset alerted, her arm transforming into a weapon.

Rainbow Dash's audio receptors picked up the shouts erupting from below.

"Guys!"

Just as she reached the edge, a mass of coiling darkness surged in front of her path and before she could react, it lashed around her waist like a serpent. With bone-rattling force, the shadow yanked her off balance and slammed her down into the rocky earth. Her back hit the ground hard.

The towering figure stood above her with those burning, malevolent eyes fixed on her. His talon-like hand pressed down on her chassis, pinning her firmly against the soil, his weight immense and inescapable.

"I'm not finished with you."

.

.

.

While the others continued scouring the seeker's hidden lair, Twilight stood silently near the edge of a shadowy tunnel at the far end of the chamber, "This part of the cave hasn't been fully explored yet. There might be more hidden clues to Starscream's plans." she whispered, mostly to herself. Then, turning back to the group, she raised her voice, "I think we should check further in."

Applejack looked up from where she was helping Rarity dig through a pile of broken tech, "That doesn't exactly scream safe, Twi."

Rarity let out a delicate sigh, holding up a cracked datapad, her expression unimpressed, "Honestly, we've had quite enough surprises for one mission. Must we go spelunking into what is clearly a collapsed, grime-ridden corridor built by Decepticons of all things?"

Twilight offered a slight smile, then turned her gaze to the orange min-con, who was nervously hovering near a dim console, "Fixit," she called gently, "Would you come with me? You've got more experience with Decepticon programming than anyone else here."

"G-go in... there?" he stammered, glancing to the shady passageway, "In that dark, narrow, highly suspicious tunnel that may or may not be laced with traps?"

She crouched beside him, her tone calm, "Yes. You're one of the smartest 'Bots I know. If there's something deeper inside that Starscream doesn't want us to see,  you might be the only one who can recognize it for what it is."

Fixit's servos fidgeted fretfully, "W-well, I suppose it's statistically unlikely we'll encounter active defense drones this far past the main hub... and it would be inefficient not to investigate a potential source... a-and you'll be with me?"

"Every step of the way." Twilight nodded.

Grimlock rumbled from across the chamber, "If ya ain't back in ten minutes, I'm comin' crashing in."

"Comforting." Fixit mumbled under his vent.

Right after that, Twilight lifted her arm and swung it, allowing Spike to detach and transform back into his full mini-con form. He landed on the ground beside her and looked up, troubled, "You're really going in there, aren't you?"

Twilight patted his helm, "Just to check things out. I won't be long— Grimlock made sure of that." she laughed. She glanced to Windstrike next, "Watch each other's backs, okay? If anything happens... warn the others right away."

Windstrike gave a sharp, respectful nod.

"I'll be back before you even know it." she promised and offered one final look to both before turning and heading into the dark corridor with Fixit close at her side. The two started moving while the rest watched from afar.

Tricerashot and Bashbreaker stepped next to their allies, "You think they'll find anything?" the little dinobot murmured.

"If they do, let's hope it's not crawling with more of those shadow freaks." Spike answered, "Still don't like the feel of this place."

Bit by bit, the pair disappeared into the tunnel, the faint sound of footsteps and wheels fading into the dark, where secrets waited just beneath the surface.

Twilight and Fixit moved cautiously through the narrowing passage. The mini-con's optic sensors scanned everything constantly, gripping his small datapad tightly, the screen glowing faintly in the low light as his tiny servos trembled. Twilight glimpsed down at him, "You holding up okay?"

Fixit gave a stiff nod, "Affirmative... well, relatively affirmative."

She smiled, trying to ease the tension, "I get it. This isn't your comfort zone. Honestly, it's not mine either."

He glanced up at her, "Really? You seem so... composed."

"I try to be." she admitted, "But I'm just as uncertain as you are."

"You're certainly very good at hiding it the—"

Clack!

A loose rock tumbled from above and landed on the ground from the distance. Fixit yelped in alarm and immediately rushed behind Twilight, "W-what was that?!" he squeaked, his gaze darting around in panic.

Twilight froze, then looked up, scanning the tunnel, "It fell from just up ahead. Could be the cave settling... or something else." she offered him a reassuring glance, "It's alright. I'm right here. We'll take it slow."

Reluctantly, the small Autobot nodded and followed close. The cave around them grew darker, the tunnel walls tightening with every step. Reverberations of dripping water and shifting stone filled the space with unease. The silence felt... unnatural.

The tunnel soon opened into a wider chamber. As they stepped in, their optics flickered across the floor— and both stopped cold.

Scattered across the ground were the rusted, crumpled remains of old Decepticon drones. Their armors were torn, blasters broken, limbs detached. Dust and debris blanketed the corpses, but the Decepticon insignias still showed through, cracked and worn.

Twilight advanced slowly, "Vehicons. But they seem... old."

Fixit moved a little closer, awe and sorrow creeping in, "Early war models. I... I read about these units in the archives."

Cautiously, the girl lowered beside one of the bodies, gently brushing the dust off its scorched plating, "It's like they were trapped."

From the far edges of the cave, wisps of darkness rippled. At first, it was subtle and silent. The shadows slithered across the cracked stone ground. They crept with patient malice, weaving through fractured debris and forgotten weapons, slipping into the crevices of rusted armor and hollow chassis.

Then... a flicker. One of the fallen Vehicons twitched.

Its dead visor, long dimmed, briefly flared a faint red, only to die again. But the shadows weren't done. They poured into the broken bodies like smoke drawn into a flame, feeding the dead with something foul and old. A clawed hand jerked. And a twisted helm turned.

Behind Twilight and Fixit, the once-lifeless war drones began to move as puppets. Their metal parts cracked and groaned as they shuddered to life, not fully conscious, but obeying an unseen will. Their visors glowed with a soft but eerie hue, pulsing in rhythm with the tendrils of shadows that anchored them.

Fixit froze, "A-Are my audials malfunctioning... or do I hear f-footsteps...?"

Twilight immediately stopped and turned to him, only for her optics to widen in alarm at the sight. One of the once-lifeless Vehicons stood hunched just behind the mini-con, its decrepit frame jerking erratically. The pointy, skeletal digits of its servo were aimed directly at Fixit's helm. The dead soldier moved. Its joints cracked as it staggered a step onward, servo swiping down with startling speed.

"Fixit— look out!" Twilight lunged forward on instinct, grabbing and yanking him out of the way just in time. The clawed servo missed him by inches, striking the ground with a harsh clang that sent a shower of sparks across the cavern ground.

She rolled to a stop and Fixit let out a squeaky whimper in her arms, "N-Not broken. Definitely not broken!"

Her focus darted around as more sounds resonated close to them— shuffling steps, metal scraping against stone, faint whirrs of long-dormant motors reawakening. The shadows thickened behind the other broken bodies.

More Vehicons were rising now, not whole, but twisted and shambling. Twilight got up and moved protectively in front of Fixit, lifting her palms with a quick charge of magic. The nearest Vehicon let out a hollow, glitchy growl and ran to them.

Twilight's processor raced. She quickly examined the cave ceiling above— its surface cracked with age and stress, seams of stone barely held together from the countless years of tremors and collapse. A jagged overhang loomed just above the advancing horde.

Her servos glowed brightly with focused concentration. She raised her arms, selected a small, load-bearing stone nestled in the cluster of rocks and pulled. A low crack reverberated above. The tiny rock shifted... then slipped free.

The ceiling groaned as a chain reaction began. Cracks splintered outward across the cavern roof. Within seconds, a mass of boulders and debris came crashing down in a deafening roar. The undead Vehicons screeched with static-infused wails, their voices garbled and broken, as several of them were instantly crushed beneath tons of stone and dust.

Twilight coughed, waving the haze away with a servo. On the other side of the rubble, she could still hear faint scratching but for now, they were sealed in.

Fixit stared at the collapsed debris in disbelief, "That... that was either brilliant or absolutely terrifying!"

More shadow-infused drones emerged through thin crevices and cracks in the cavern walls. Twilight set her jaw, "We're not finished yet!"

With a surge of adrenaline, she grabbed one of the large fallen boulders with her magic. The heavy stone was levitated above her and she hurled it like a catapult shot. It crashed into the first wave of drones with bone-crushing force, knocking them straight into the wall.

But two more broke through her defenses— closing in fast, their energon-soaked claws outstretched and aimed straight for them. Without a second thought, Twilight lunged, scooping up the mini-con with her spell just in time. Fixit yelped as he got lifted and then she pivoted him down close to her. She placed herself between him and the attackers. With a strained cry, she lifted both drones off the ground in a dual grip of levitating magic. She slammed them together mid-air, sparks bursting from their twisted frames as their forms tangled and collapsed. Twilight stumbled and her servos trembled at her sides with signs of exhaustion. The surge of constant spellwork was beginning to take its toll.

A dead Vehicon staggered behind her and with a growl, grabbed her ankle. It yanked hard, catching her off balance. Twilight cried out and hit the stone surface with a grunt as the corrupted drone dragged her toward it.

"Twilight!" Fixit yelled out of horror.

She grit her dentas, raised her free pede, and with a cry of defiance, drove it forward— slamming her heel straight into the Vehicon's helm. There was a sharp crack of metal and the hiss of venting steam as its head twisted unnaturally from the blow, the grip on her ankle loosening. The corrupted drone collapsed and Twilight exhaled heavily, barely finding the strength to stand upright.

A new chorus of mechanical groans and whirring joints echoed around her. More drones— twisted, reanimated husks of fallen Decepticons— emerged from the glooms. Twilight's gaze widened as she turned and looked up from the ground.

Unexpectedly, Fixit moved in front of her. The small Autobot raised both arms to his sides in a defensive stance, "S-Stand down! I'm... I'm warning you!"

One of the shadow-possessed drones let out a cruel, static-laced chuckle, "And what's a pathetic little wimp like you gonna do?"

At that, Fixit's terrified expression changed entirely, his frown hardening.

With a swift, surprising move, his panels shifted and folded with a rapid clatter of gears. His repair tools transformed into sleek, compact weapons— both from his arms and back. He lifted his laser guns as his optics turned red. Twilight could only stare, her jaw falling in shock.

"I said... Stand. Down."

Before the drone could react, Fixit fired a blast of electro-bolts directly into its chest. The corrupted robot spasmed, convulsing mid-step before collapsing with a metallic thud. The others paused, momentarily stunned. The mini-con darted forward with surprising agility, ducking beneath another drone's swing and aiming his weapon at his back. Sparks flew as the blasts tore through the armor, sending it staggering. He then spun on his wheels, raising his arm and downing another with a rapid series of well-placed shots.

One of the corrupted drones lunged with a snarl, claws outstretched— just inches away from Fixit. But in a blur of motion, the mini-con seized the attacking servo mid-air. With surprising strength and precision, Fixit twisted the drone's arm, yanked it downward and began slamming it into the ground— once, twice, again and again. He spun with a rapid pivot and hurled the soldier against the jagged rock wall. The drone's body crumpled and sparked, sliding down the stone in a lifeless heap.

Fixit stood there, chassis rising and falling with rapid, shaky vents, glowing red optics still blazing in defensive aggression. Twilight slowly got back on her pedes, her face-plate wide with stunned awe as she stepped to him, voice bubbling with amazement, "Fixit, that was incredible! You were amazing!"

The mini-con stiffened, turning to her.

"I didn't even know you had all these! How did you even do that? I have so many questions—"

But she paused mid-sentence as Fixit quickly gasped, his red optics twinkling. He stared down at his own arms— still in their weaponized form. His intake opened slightly, trembling with something that wasn't just fatigue. He backed away from her, nearly tripping over a cracked stone, "N-No! Don't— don't come any closer!"

Twilight halted, her smile fading into concern, "... Are you alright?"

He stammered, shaking his helm violently, "This... this wasn't supposed to happen— you weren't supposed to see this!" he moved further back, optics frightened, like a cornered creature.

With a desperate motion, he activated his internal systems. The weapons on his arms hissed and folded back into his frame, plating shifting until his servos looked harmless again. His optics glimmered again, dimmed, and finally returned to their usual soft blue color. Fixit's frame tensed, "M-My sincerest apologies! I didn't mean to frighten you— truly, I swear it wasn't my intention!"

Twilight blinked, taken aback by the outburst, but quickly composed herself and knelt down, trying to steady him, "What are you talking about? You saved me."

He shook his helm rapidly, the shame in his look nearly palpable, "In the most ruthless way possible!" he blurted out, voice rising in distress, "It was brutal! Violent! I threw that Vehicon like it was nothing. I-I smashed it like— like I was designed to do it and I hated every second of it!"

The mini-con stopped, suddenly overwhelmed. He clutched the sides of his helm, his small metal fingers curling in as though he could block out the memory, "I couldn't think of anything else to do. I just... reacted. It was a-awful and horrific!" his servos fell over his face-plate in embarrassment and shame, hiding from her gaze. His frame seemed to curl inward, making himself small as if to shrink away from the fear of her judgment.

Twilight's face softened, "Hey, hey... calm down. It's okay. You can talk to me. I'm not afraid of you. Why would I be? You stepped in to protect me. You acted because you cared."

"But I acted like a weapon..." he whispered.

"That's not true."

"Yes, it is!" Fixit snapped, more sharply than he intended, "I-I was a guard of a maximum prison ship! I was armed with all of the equipment and strength required to handle any prisoner who is freed from captivity!" he took a shaky vent, "That... programming— it's still in me. Designed to neutralize threats without hesitation. Sometimes it feels like I'm not even thinking, like I'm just... reacting. And when that part takes over, I don't feel like me anymore. I feel like a mindless drone!"

Twilight remained quiet, her expression more somber than before as he lowered his gaze.

"B-but without it I'm... useless."

Her intake parted, startled by the vulnerability, "...You were the one guarding the Alchemor?" she asked as the pieces began to connect in her mind, "...I thought the ship crashed?"

Fixit gave a slow nod, "It did..." he admitted quietly, the weight of those two simple words carrying the burden of everything he had endured, "It shattered during descent... I was thrown from the central bridge, systems scrambled, core protocols fighting to stay online. I—" he paused, venting a shaky burst of air, "I woke up buried under twisted metal and broken pods. The command center was gone. Communications— gone. Backup systems— offline."

Twilight's heart ached as she listened, "You were alone."

"Alone... and still trying to follow orders that don't matter anymore. Still running prisoner checks, trying to re-establish containment protocols. Hundreds of stasis pods breached. Criminals everywhere. And I— I couldn't stop them. I tried." his voice cracked, "Primus help me, I tried." he stared at his servos as if he barely recognized them, "That aggressive, violent programming... It was all I had left to survive back then. It kept me functional... but it also took pieces of me away."

The girl watched him quietly for a second with a mournful look. The truth of his pain pressed down on her, heavier with every beat, until it felt almost suffocating. She tried to imagine what he had endured that day, but the very thought slipped beyond her grasp— too vast and cruel, too horrific to fully comprehend. After that, she spoke up once more, "Fixit... you survived something unimaginable. You fought to do your duty when the whole world fell apart around you. That doesn't make you ruthless. It makes you brave. You're not just programming or protocols. You're you. And what you did back there? That wasn't a weapon, it was your spark protecting someone you cared about."

Fixit glanced up, frame still unsteady, "You really think so...?"

"I know so." she said, offering a servo. Slowly and tentatively, he took it, "I can't possibly imagine what it must have felt like." she continued, "Being the only one left, watching everything you knew fall apart around you... that had to be terrifying. No one should go through something like that, especially not alone." Twilight went on, giving him a gentle squeeze, "But despite everything, you survived. And now... you're here. With us." she offered a small, heartfelt smile, "And I'm so, so glad for that."

"You're more than just a technician, or a protocol enforcer, or a guard from some long-crashed ship. You're my friend. And not just any friend— a smart, courageous and heroic one. You saved my life back there. I don't know many who would've had the strength to do what you did."

Fixit blinked rapidly, his optics fluttering as an unexpected wave of emotion surged through his systems. His vision misted, faint glimmers of lubricant pooling at the corners before trailing down the edges of his small face-plate.

A small, choked vent escaped him, somewhere between a hiccup and a half-hearted laugh, "O-oh dear... I appear to be leaking." he stammered as he hastily wiped at his face with trembling digits, "I-I apologize! Please disregard it— just a minor malfunction, visual sensors... acting up— malfunctioning..."

Twilight reached out, "Fixit... it's okay. You don't need to apologize for feeling something. You don't have to hide it. Not from me."

He lifted his helm, "I... I think that might be the kindest thing anyone has ever said to me."

"Then you'd better get used to hearing things like that." she said warmly. But then her gaze shifted downward, her smile fading into something more contemplative— melancholy, even, "Besides... you're not the only one who's ever felt this way."

Fixit's expression became curious but careful. She drew in a slow vent, her voice growing quieter, "Like you're just... playing a part. Acting like someone you're not. Like without your tools or your title or your abilities, you might as well be invisible. Power makes people notice you, but too much of it?" her gaze darkened, "Then they don't see you at all. Only what you've become."

The mini-con listened intently as she continued.

"I haven't told Arcee. Or Bee. Or anyone else on the Autobot team." Twilight admitted, "Only the girls know. Because... well... they were the ones who witnessed it firsthand." she looked down again, as though the memory physically weighed on her, "It happened back in our world. A while ago, during a time when I was still struggling to understand the magic from Equestria... and how it was affecting me. I thought if I could study it and understand it, I could find a way to control it. But instead... it controlled me."

"I turned into someone else." her voice caught, but she pushed through, "A corrupted version of myself, twisted by ambition, fear... and loneliness. I thought knowledge would give me purpose. That power would earn me acceptance. But instead, I nearly tore the world apart." she gave a hollow laugh, "Literally."

Fixit's intake hung open, his systems processing the confession.

"I didn't feel like myself again for a long time." she added softly, "Even now, sometimes I wonder... what if that part of me is still in there? What if it slips again?" she paused, then glanced at him, "That's why I understand, Fixit. The fear of what's inside and what you might do. And how much it hurts when you think no one sees the real you."

For a while, Fixit didn't speak. He simply stared at her. Then, quietly, his words came out, trembling and uncertain, "You... you turned into something dangerous too." he said slowly, "And you came back from it."

Twilight nodded, "It wasn't easy. But... I had people who didn't give up on me. Who reminded me of who I really was."

He looked down at his servos, still remembering how they had transformed into weapons only moments ago, "I never thought anyone would understand what it feels like." his digits clenched faintly. He looked up at her again, this time with something brighter in his gaze, "...Thank you. For... telling me your truth, too."

Twilight smiled, "That's what friends do, right?"

Unbeknownst to them, in the faint gloom just behind them, one of the fallen Vehicons began to twitch. The broken frame groaned as it slowly rose to its pedes. It staggered forward, lifting a jagged arm toward Twilight's back.

Out of nowhere, an abrupt, thunderous shot shattered the attack in an instant. A glowing blast pierced clean through the Vehicon's chest-plate, sending its body swaying backwards. Within seconds, it collapsed. Twilight spun around, gasping out of surprise. Standing at the mouth of the tunnel were their teammates. At the front of the group stood Arcee, her blaster still hot from firing, with Knock Out and Strongarm beside her.

"Need a hand?" Arcee asked casually, already holstering her blaster.

Twilight's expression lit up with relief and gratitude, "Guys!" she stood for a beat, then broke into a sprint straight into Arcee's arms. The older femme caught her with open arms, pulling her into a firm, protective hug.

Fixit's optics brightened as well, "You're back!" he said, flailing slightly with excitement as he rushed to Strongarm's side.

Arcee held Twilight close for a long moment, then leaned back just enough to look her in the optics, "You alright, Sparkle?"

Twilight nodded, "We are now."

Knock Out surveyed the scattered remains of the corrupted Vehicons, "Looks like you two put up quite the fight."

"Heh... well, we didn't really had a choice." Twilight rubbed the back of her neck, "Where is Optimus?"

"With the others." Arcee answered, "But we have to hurry. They might be in trouble."

.

.

.

Far above the rocky point, shadows clashed against bursts of vibrant light.

Rainbow darted left and right, a blue-and-prismatic blur, her magic fueling her speed to near-invisible levels. Lightning snapped around her pedes as she kicked off the cliffside, her fists tightening as she threw herself at him again and again.

"How fast do you think you can run when the darkness knows where you'll be next?" Erebus rumbled as he dodged. He slammed his clawed hand into the earth, sending a shockwave that erupted in tendrils of shadow. Rainbow twisted just in time to escape but the misty black claws nearly caught her ankle. She launched herself again, sending punches to his helm which he always avoided.

Down below, the battlefield had become a storm of motion. Bumblebee and the others were locked in combat with Erebus's shadow-spawned warriors. Each one moved like a phantom, their forms reshaping with every hit, hissing like venomous serpents as they struck.

Aerobolt's optics scanned the sky above, the place where Rainbow had last disappeared. Every instinct in his spark burned with urgency. He could feel it, something wasn't right. He turned to his fellow Mini-Cons, who were already mid-battle, "I must go after her." Aerobolt announced.

Sawtooth and Lancelon looked up, "But what if you fly straight into whatever ambush she's in?!" the shark-like robot questioned.

"Rainbow is my partner. If she's in danger, then I must assist her."

"Then let us go with you." approached Buzzstrike.

Aerobolt lifted a wing, "No. I need you here, the three of you. Stay and protect the others. They will need your speed and strength to hold the line. If Erebus sends more of his minions, they cannot be left undefended."

Buzzstrike clenched his servos, clearly torn, "Just... be careful."

The eagle nodded and without waiting for another word, he crouched low and launched into the air. He ascended quickly, leaving behind the smoke, shouts and shadows, flying to the ominous ridge above.

As he soared over the cliff's edge, the chilling sight below rooted a pulse of dread into his spark. Rainbow was locked in a fierce struggle with Erebus, the monstrous shadow-clad seeker who loomed above her like an ancient wraith. Rainbow darted left and right, even with the odds stacked heavily against her.

But right then, Aerobolt's gaze widened as Erebus snatched Rainbow by the arm in one brutal motion. His clawed fingers twisted cruelly, wrenching her upward before slamming her into the jagged rock floor with a thunderous impact. The ground cracked beneath her form, dust pluming up around them.

The girl winced heavily from the enormous pain, struggling under his crushing grip. Her body trembled, parts whining in protest. He towered above her, grinning, "I would indeed enjoy watching you perish beneath me."

He lifted one heavy foot and brought it crashing down onto Rainbow's flat metal wing. She cried out, her wing sparking and bending under the pressure, metal groaning like it was being ripped apart from the inside.

With no time to think, only act, Aerobolt tucked his wings and dove. Like a streak of vengeance from the heavens, he angled himself with razor precision, talons gleaming. Wind screamed past his helm as he plunged. His bladed talons tore into Erebus's back, slicing through the outer plating and drawing a burst of corrupted energon. The seeker roared, his concentration broken as he stumbled forward from the rapid blow, freeing Rainbow from under his heel.

"You will leave her alone!" Aerobolt bellowed, wings flaring wide as he hovered just above the crumbled terrain, positioning himself between Erebus and his fallen partner.

Rainbow gasped for breath, weakly shifting as she looked up, catching Aerobolt's silhouette. He shot through the air like a cobalt streak, his sharp talons extended and his wings angled at maximum speed. He launched himself at their adversary once more.

In a split-second, the dark mech twisted around, his arm lashing out with frightening precision. His clawed servo clamped around Aerobolt mid-flight, halting the mini-con's momentum like a fly caught in a trap, "Ack—!" the eagle groaned, only one free wing flaring in panic as he thrashed in the crushing grip. The seeker's fingers curled tighter, servos creaking under the pressure, crushing metal and mesh cables as Aerobolt let out a strangled cry of pain.

"Such valiant loyalty." Erebus sneered, watching the eagle-bot squirm in his palm, "But even loyalty has its limits, doesn't it?"

From the ground, Rainbow's stare tightened, twisting with dread as she witnessed Aerobolt writhing in agony above her. Her body was screaming, every part on fire from the damage she'd already taken— but she didn't care. She forced herself to her pedes.

"Let him— GO!" she growled and with a sudden burst of speed, she leapt. With all the strength she could gather, Rainbow slammed shoulder-first into Erebus's chest, the impact hard enough to stagger him backward. Their enemy snarled, his grip loosening just long enough for Aerobolt to slip from his hand and tumble to the ground.

But the damage Rainbow had taken, the drain of her power, it caught up with her at that exact moment. As they both fell on the hard soil, a pulse of unstable magic flashed across her form and her armored metal frame glowed before vanishing away. Her wings evaporated into light and when the flare faded... she was human again, weak and vulnerable.

Erebus's face lit up with cruel amusement, "There you are."

Before Rainbow could regain her balance, his servo lashed forward once more and wrapped around her tiny fragile body. She gasped, struggling against his fingers but his grip held firm.

"No!" Aerobolt choked out from the ground, forcing himself to rise. But the pain in his wing crippled him. He tried to open it but one of the delicate metallic feathers hung at an unnatural angle, shattered. He collapsed again, helpless.

Erebus turned, ascending the rocky incline with Rainbow in his clutches.

The rest of the team continued their desperate struggle.

Pinkie was in the middle of it all, twirling through the fray with her usual erratic flair, hurling glowing blasts from her cannons, smiling in the face of danger. But as she danced through the field, a shadow figure loomed silently behind her— tendrils stretching forward, claws raised high.

Sunset noticed the danger and screamed, "Pinkie, behind you!"

Just before the shadow creature could strike, a searing blast ripped through its chest. The beast shrieked, stumbling back as the dark tendrils writhed and evaporated like smoke in sunlight. Pinkie spun around. In the distance, four familiar silhouettes emerged.

The lieutenant's concerned gaze quickly shifted into a relieved one as he saw the Prime, Bulkhead, Smokescreen and Sideswipe standing in the distance, "Optimus!" he called from the field.

Smokescreen gave a cocky smirk, his blaster raised, "What's up, Bee? Looks like the party started without us."

Pinkie's entire face lit up with glee, "Smokey!!" she squealed and sprinted to him at full speed. Smokescreen barely had time to lower his weapon before she leapt into his arms, wrapping herself around him in a tight hug, "My hero!" she chirped joyfully, planting a kiss on the side of his metal cheek.

Smokescreen froze like his systems had just short-circuited. His entire body stiffened as his cheek plating turned a very noticeable shade of glowing blue, "I,  uh... you— you're welcome?" he stammered, an awkward grin forming on his face-plate.

"We came as fast as we could." Optimus Prime declared as he approached, "Fixit transmitted an urgent distress call, he informed us of a threat we couldn't ignore."

Behind him, Sideswipe peeked, staring at the familiar mini-cons weaving between the blasts and shadow beasts, "Whoa... hold up. Are those—?"

"Yeah," Bumblebee cut in quickly, "The weaponizers. They came back. But there's no time to explain—"

"WATCH YOUR BACK!" Bulkhead shouted and swung his wrecking-ball fist sideways, catching a leaping shadow creature mid-air. The impact sent its form disintegrating into black mist with a hollow screech. Bulkhead turned at the writhing shapes around them, "What the scrap are these things?"

"Shadow creatures summoned by dark Equestrian magic." Sunset answered as she sprinted to them, "And the one behind all of this is Starscream. He's been working with someone else, using their dark energy to fuel these... abominations."

The four mechs blinked in unison, momentarily stunned into silence by the information, "...Okay, yeah, that sounds totally normal. Right?" Smokescreen responded, glancing at the others.

Sideswipe gave him a hard look, "This is the exact opposite of normal!" then, he scanned the terrain, searching for his charge. His spark started pulsing with worry as he couldn't find her anywhere, "Hold on... where's Dash?"

Then, a blood-chilling scream tore through the atmosphere. All helms snapped to the sound. Fluttershy held her servos clasped over her intake, staring straight above with horror. The instant they looked up, they all came to a standstill.

At the crest of the darkened hill, stood Erebus, armor dripping with creeping mist. In his outstretched clawed hand dangled Rainbow Dash, her form struggling fiercely, kicking her legs.

Pinkie gasped, "DASHIE!"

Rainbow grunted, her breath catching as she thrashed against the crushing grip. Pain flared in her chest as she forced her eyes open and looked downward.

Far below, her teammates stared at her in distress, their shouts echoing through the field. But just beyond them, past the edge of the ridge, was a steep, narrow canyon. A deep scar in the earth. The shadows danced along its jagged mouth and at the bottom lay a bed of razor-sharp rocks. Her heart pounded hard against her chest.

Erebus chuckled darkly, "I must thank you, dear Rainbow." he said, savoring each word like it was a victory, "Without your recklessness and impulsive pride, I wouldn't have made it this far."

Rainbow winced, "S-shut up..."

"Thanks to that single, reckless choice, I now stand on the edge of total conquest." he lifted her a little higher, letting her get a good look at the deadly drop below, "I wonder how far you'll fall before the light in your eyes goes out."

Sideswipe stood frozen for a second, his expression wide as he watched Rainbow wriggling helplessly. Every fiber of his being screamed at him to move, to do something, as he saw her pain and struggle.

"RAINBOW!" he roared, voice breaking with desperation. Without another thought, he bolted forward, his metal plating shifting and folding as he transformed into his alt-mode. Tires screamed against the ground as he rocketed ahead, engines howling with fury and panic.

"Sideswi—!" Bumblebee shouted after him, reaching out instinctively— but the younger mech was already gone. He tore past his teammates like a red blur of determination, ignoring everything but the girl in the seeker's grasp.

Above them all, Erebus's eyes gleamed with sadistic satisfaction, "You could've run. But instead, you stood in my way. And now..." he looked down at the canyon, a deep scar in the land lined with jagged, merciless stone.

"...You will FALL!"

With one last, cruel smirk, he flung Rainbow into the air with devastating force. Her scream tore through the sky as her form twisted and tumbled in freefall.

Time slowed.

She was weightless, her eyes wide in fear as the world spun around her. The canyon stretched out beneath her like the open maw of some waiting beast, its rocky teeth ready to end her in a heartbeat. The others could only watch in horror— some shouted her name, some ran, others froze in place, helpless.

Aerobolt struggled on the cliffside, his damaged wing twitching uselessly as he lifted it on instinct. His optics shrank in helpless dread, watching the element of loyalty fall from the sky, disappearing from his vision as her silhouette shrank.

Sideswipe didn't see anything but her. He surged onward, the terrain blurring past. Ahead, a jagged rock formation jutted up like a natural ramp. His tires hit the incline hard, launching him into the air.

He transformed mid-leap. His body shifted, wheels and plating folding away as he reemerged in his robot form, arms already stretched. The wind howled around him as he flew, a crimson comet against the sky.

Rainbow's eyes locked onto him, terrified and disbelieving. She twisted slightly, enough to meet his gaze. Their eyes met. And then— her back landed against his palms with jarring force. Sideswipe grunted, bracing himself as he pulled her into his chest and wrapped his arms protectively around her. He held her tight, shielding her with his frame as gravity took hold.

At the last possible moment, he transformed again, his systems groaning under the strain. They slammed hard onto the opposite side of the canyon. Sideswipe's tires screeched as he skidded across the jagged rock ledge. Dirt and remains exploded in his wake, sparks dancing from the intense friction. With Rainbow clutched securely within his alt-mode, he pressed on at full throttle, roaring across the edge until he knew they were both safe.

High above, Erebus watched, silent at first. But then his gaze flared with rage, wings rising with barely restrained fury, "No...!" he snarled, "You little vermin! She was mine to break!" he turned sharply, optics locking onto Aerobolt—still grounded and clearly struggling to move.

"You'll make a suitable servant." he sneered, raising his arm and summoning another surge of dark energy. But before he could make a move, a powerful tremor rumbled beneath him, followed by a blinding streak of blue light that slammed down between him and the wounded mini-con. Erebus halted and looked up. Optimus Prime drew near, his blaster humming with energy. Behind him, the rest of the team came as well, their expressions hardened with anger.

"I will not allow you to endanger our allies, Starscream." Optimus said, his voice as unyielding as steel, "Surrender now or face the consequences."

Erebus's wings twitched, assessing his odds. Too many. Too fast. He let out a hiss, shadows curling around his legs, "You may have delayed the inevitable..." he growled, spreading his wings wide, "But all of you... will soon meet your demise."

In one violent burst of shadow and wind, he launched himself skyward, vanishing into the blackening clouds above. His laughter resonated faintly, fading into the distance like a ghost.

The battlefield quieted, the wind carrying the tension away as everyone lowered their weapons. Sunset rushed to Aerobolt, followed by Fluttershy, who dropped to her knees beside him.

Rainbow's eyes flew open with a gasp, her pupils dilated as reality crashed back in. She was surrounded by the interior of Sideswipe's alt-mode. Her fingers clenched tightly around the inside of the driver's door, while her other hand fisted the fabric of her tank top, right over her racing heart.

Her breaths came in short, ragged bursts. Her chest heaved as panic surged through her, hot and sharp. Her vision swam. She could barely breathe. The sound of her own pulse thundered in her ears louder than anything else.

"Dash?" Sideswipe's voice echoed around her, "Whoa— hey! Dash, it's okay!" a hasty shift rocked her body as her guardian transformed back into his robot form, the panels of his alt-mode folding away. He cradled her gently in his servos, holding her securely against his chassis, "You're okay." he said quickly, his tone comforting, "You're safe. I've got you, alright? You're with me."

Her entire body was trembling, every muscle locked with residual terror from the fall, from that horrible moment when she thought it was all over. She clutched at his armor instinctively, eyes wide as tears started to well at the corners.

Sideswipe's optics softened as he lowered himself to one knee for more stability, "Come on, Dash. I'm right here."

Her chest hitched but she tried. Inhale. Exhale. It was shaky at first, but slowly, the rhythm came. Her grip on him eased slightly. The red mech wrapped his arms a little tighter around her, shielding her.

"You're safe now. I promise."

Chapter Text

The non-guardians sat gathered near the main console, their gazes shifting occasionally to the side where Ratchet was carefully tending to Aerobolt. The mini-con winced as the medic's tools buzzed and clicked around the torn frame of his wing. He was clearly trying to maintain composure, but the damage had been serious.

"You're lucky that wing wasn't completely severed." Ratchet spoke up, "Another few seconds in Starscream's grip and I'd be picking pieces of you out of there."

Aerobolt's optics were fixed ahead, voice low, "I failed her... I wasn't fast enough."

"You saved her life." Strongarm said firmly, "Don't downplay that."

Off to the side, the rest of the mini-con team lingered, bruised but intact. They exchanged glances— worry, frustration and fatigue, all painted on their faces in equal measure.

"We cannot wait for him to strike again." Drift replied, looking around the room, "Starscream's already moved too many pieces into place. We need to take the initiative."

Strongarm nodded in agreement, "We need to draw him out, make him come to us on our terms."

A beat of silence passed before Ratchet responded as well, "He's been using energon to control his powers... right?"

Every helm turned to him and Strongarm quickly realized what he meant, "If we create the illusion of a massive energon deposit, he'll have no choice but to come out and claim it!"

"I could rig a false energy signature using power cells and modified cores." Fixit offered, perking up a little despite the tension, "With the right frequency modulation, it would be indistinguishable from real energon to long-range scanners."

Ratchet looked down at him, mildly impressed, "That might actually work."

"I like it." Stronagrm said, folding her arms, "Lure him in, box him up and shut this madness down before he hurts anyone else."

Grimlock slammed one massive fist into his open palm and grinned, "And we hit him hard!"

While the other Autobots rumbled down the moonlit streets, each escorting their human charge safely home, a familiar red streak glided quietly through the suburbs. Sideswipe's alt-mode purred low as he pulled into the quiet driveway of Rainbow Dash's house, headlights dimming as he eased into the garage. The heavy door closed behind them with a soft clunk, sealing them in quiet.

Rainbow sat in the passenger seat for a moment longer than usual, her shoulders hunched, her fingers gripping the edge of the door before she finally exhaled and stepped out. She moved stiffly, as if every muscle was still vibrating with leftover adrenaline. Her usually bold stride was more subdued, her steps dragging just a little as she reached for the door leading into the house.

Before she could reach it, Sideswipe's engine softly revved, just enough to catch her attention, "Hey... Dash?" his tone was unusually gentle, carrying none of his usual cocky edge. She paused with her hand on the doorknob but didn't look back.

"I just... you okay?"

. . .

"Yeah. I'm fine."

But Sideswipe wasn't convinced. He scanned her carefully. She hadn't even cracked a joke. Just... silence.

"You know you can talk to me, right?" he continued, "About what happened. Or anything, really. I mean... that was rough and... a lot."

She swallowed hard, eyes blinking briefly, "I said I'm fine." she repeated but her voice faltered near the end. She quickly turned away to hide the way her expression crumbled for just a second too long, "Nothing to worry 'bout."

"Dash, c'mon." Sideswipe said softly, "You don't have to hide it from me."

Her posture stiffened and she swallowed hard, the lump in her throat threatening to choke her. She didn't move at first. Her back remained turned, one hand still resting on the doorknob that led into the house. The other hung loosely by her side, fingers twitching. She was tense, he could see it. Then, slowly, her posture shifted. She turned her head just enough to glance at him over her shoulder. Her eyes were tired, ringed with exhaustion and shadowed by something heavier than the battle they'd just come from.

"...Thanks, Sides."

She tried to smile but it wavered at the corners, too strained to hide the weight pressing on her chest.

"And for... catching me back there."

Sideswipe remained silent, as if surprised she was thanking him at all. Then he gave a short, almost awkward reply, more nervous than cocky this time, "Yeah... yeah!" he said, maybe a bit too fast, "Of course! Always."

With a quiet nod, Rainbow turned to go inside, the door creaking faintly as she pushed it open. Before stepping through, she stopped once more, "...See ya tomorrow."

"Night, Dash." he answered gently.

She stepped in, then disappeared inside, leaving the garage to fall into tranquillity again.

.

.

.

Morning had settled over the base. The usual vibration of working machines and low chatter was absent, replaced by a rare, comforting stillness. At one end of the command center, Ratchet stood at his console, typing steadily. The soft clacks of digtal keyboard were the only sounds breaking the peace.

Not far away, the mini-cons rested together in a corner curled up, still recovering from the previous day. Aerobolt stood apart from them. Perched silently, he watched his brethren sleep with quiet pride. But that pride was tinged with a sense of responsibility... and guilt. He flexed his newly-healed wing, the pain gone but the memory of their enemy's crushing grip still fresh in his frame. Then, he glanced at the old medic.

After a second, he took to the air, wings flapping gently. He soared upward and then landed with a light thud on a raised maintenance platform near where Ratchet worked. The older mech looked up briefly, before returning his focus to the screen again, "I see your wing has healed."

"It did... thanks to you, doctor." Aerobolt bowed his helm respectfully, "Your skill is as sharp as your reputation suggests."

"Flattery won't get you a cleaner weld line." Ratchet replied, but there was a faint glint of amusement in his gaze, "Still... it's appreciated. You were lucky. If Rainbow hadn't tackled Starscream, when he did—"

"I know." Aerobolt looked down, wings folding tighter to his back, "I let my instincts take control. I saw her in danger and acted without thinking. It nearly cost both of us."

Ratchet gave a soft ex-vent, his expression shifting from stern to understanding, "You did what most warriors would do. You protected her. That doesn't make you reckless."

Aerobolt nodded, optics gleaming with gratitude, or perhaps, acceptance. He looked to the sleeping mini-cons again, "They're exhausted. They fought hard, harder than most their size should be expected to." he looked at the doctor once more, "Do you think this plan will work? To lure Starscream out?"

"It's risky." the medic's digits returned to the keys, though slower now, "After all, Starscream is not only dangerous, he is unpredictable. But we have something he wants. That gives us an edge."

The blue eagle stood silently on the platform as he looked over the quiet base. He hummed, a low thoughtful sound, "It's... strangely quiet without the whole team. Where are the girls?"

"Back to their usual routine." the white-orange mech informed, "School's still in session and their principal wouldn't appreciate a pack of teenagers skipping class to fight Decepticons. Their guardians went with them to Canterlot High. Better to keep a close optic on them, considering the danger we're dealing with."

"So... Rainbow Dash is there. On their home world."

Ratchet shot him a sidelong glance, "Yes. Why?"

The mini-con's talons curled against the edge of the railing he stood on, "I need to speak with her. It's important."

Ratchet faced him fully now, "Aerobolt, you know that's not a good idea. You're not exactly inconspicuous. A flying cyber-eagle landing on a high school lawn is bound to send the humans into a panic, or worse, alert the wrong kind of attention."

"I won't be seen." Aerobolt replied, "I've flown through far more hostile skies and gone undetected. I'll keep to the clouds, land somewhere quiet and speak to her privately. But I need to do this."

"Why not wait until she returns?"

"Because I saw the look in her eyes after the fall." the smaller robot answered, voice dipping with intensity, "She hasn't said anything but I know she's hurting. And I owe her my life. I can't let that pain fester."

The older mech shook his helm, "You mini-cons are stubborn..." he muttered, "Fine. But I want a comm-link open the entire time. One sign of trouble and you pull back. Immediately."

Aerobolt gave a respectful bow, "Understood, doctor. Thank you."

Ratchet turned back to his console with a grumble, "Just don't get yourself captured or chased by news helicopters. Primus knows we don't need another media incident."

As the whirring hum of the Groundbridge filled the quiet hangar, vibrant spirals of green and blue energy arced outward from its center. With a deep, steadying vent, Aerobolt unfurled his wings. Then, with a powerful beat, he launched himself into the air. The energy rippled around him like the surface of a disturbed lake as he passed through. In an instant, his form was consumed by the glowing vortex, disappearing into the bridge of light and space, on course for Canterlot.

On the other side of the portal, the sky shimmered as the bridge opened high above the Earth, carving a glowing rift between the drifting morning clouds. The shush of early daylight was broken by a soft noise as Aerobolt emerged from the vortex, his wings extended wide, catching the warm golden rays of the rising sun.

Cool air rushed past his frame as he soared ahead, gliding effortlessly among the pale cloudbanks. The city of Canterlot sprawled beneath him— its quiet streets just beginning to stir with the rhythm of the day. Commuters walked sidewalks below, unaware of the avian-shaped silhouette streaking far above them like a silent guardian.

His gaze swept across rows of buildings and tree-lined avenues, until he caught sight of something familiar. Gleaming metal forms parked inconspicuously near a large, brick-and-glass structure surrounded by green lawns and sports fields.

Optimus Prime's towering red and blue semi-truck form was impossible to miss, stationed near the curb with the quiet patience of a sentinel. Around him were the distinctive alt-modes of the other Autobots. Below the eagle, dozens of students flowed in and out of the school entrance— laughing, chatting, oblivious to the war machines hidden in plain sight nearby.

Aerobolt narrowed his optics, angling his wings and descending in a wide arc. He kept to the clouds as long as he could, careful to remain unseen. Stealth was crucial in the human world and he had no desire to create panic or draw attention.

The sunlight spilled gently across the school courtyard, glinting off the polished exteriors of the parked vehicles out front. From a distance, they looked ordinary, just another cluster of cars belonging to staff and students. But beneath their disguises, the Autobots were quietly gathered, observing.

"How's she holding up?" Bumblebee asked gently.

There was a delay before Sideswipe answered, "Said she's fine... but clearly she's not. She barely spoke the whole ride home. Tried to smile when she got out but... she was still terrified."

Bulkhead's voice came through next, "She got tossed off a cliff by a corrupted seeker and barely lived. That kind of stuff sticks with you. Can you blame her?"

"It sticks with me, too."muttered Sideswipe, "I was lucky I caught her... if I'd been a second slower..."

"You weren't." the motorcycle femme cut in, "You were fast enough and you saved her. That matters."

"Arcee is correct." Optimus responded, "It is natural to question ourselves after moments of fear. But dwelling in guilt for what might have happened blinds us to the truth of what did. You acted without hesitation, Sideswipe. And you brought her back."

Sideswipe didn't respond right away. His engine rumbled low, almost like a sigh, "I've never seen her like that. And I don't know how to fix it."

"You do not need to fix her." the Prime spoke up once more, "You only need to let her heal in her own time. And remind her that she is not alone."

Bulkhead gave a quiet hum of agreement, "He's right, kid. Sometimes being there is enough."

There was another quiet beat but then a sudden gust of wind stirred the air.

From above, a fluttering sound echoed down, followed by a controlled whoosh as something dropped from the clouds. Wings gleaming in the light, Aerobolt glided gracefully through the sky, circling once above the school before touching down lightly atop the asphalt just beside the row of disguised Autobots.

"Aerobolt?" Bumblebee said aloud.

The mini-con's wings fluttered behind him, poised and regal, "Forgive me for the interruption but I need to speak with Rainbow Dash."

"She's in class." Sideswipe responded, "Why?"

"It's about what happened during yesterday's event."

"Uhh... you know you can't just fly into the room and give her a speech in front of everyone there, right?" reminded Bulkhead.

"I am well aware of the delicacy of this task." the eagle replied, "I have no intention of making a spectacle. I merely wish to talk to her, privately."

"We trust you, Aerobolt. But remain out of sight until the right moment. We've already had too many close encounters that nearly compromised our presence here." advised Optimus.

The mini-con eagle dipped his helm in acknowledgment, "Understood." he scanned the building with a discerning gaze, "Could you tell me where exactly she is?"

"Third floor, fourth window from the left. Green curtains. Trust me, you can't miss it." Smokescreen chimed in.

A pause.

"...How do you know that?" Arcee questioned, her tone half suspicious, half teasing.

"Because Pinkie waves at me every single morning."

. . .

"What?" he added defensively, sensing the unspoken judgment from the others, "Oh, come on— personally, I think it's pretty thoughtful... and kinda nice, actually."

Bumblebee let out a low chuckle, "Whatever you say, Smokes."

Aerobolt flexed his wings with quiet purpose. The early sunlight shimmered across his metal feathers as he stood tall, casting one last glance to the Autobots, "I will return shortly."

"Good luck." Sideswipe finally said. With a beat of his wings, the small robot launched himself skyward. He ascended, streaking into the open morning sky like a silent arrow of cobalt and silver.

He glided around the side of the building with a graceful dip of his wings, examining each row of windows with precision. There— third floor, fourth window from the left. Through the slightly smudged glass, he spotted her.

Rainbow sat slumped at her desk near the window, her chin resting heavily on her palm, eyes glazed as she stared out at nothing in particular. She seemed... down.

Aerobolt's expression softened. With a cautious glance around to make sure no humans were watching, he tucked his wings close and hovered directly in front of the glass. Gently, with the curved edge of his beak, he tapped against it.

Inside, Rainbow blinked. Her eyes shifted to the sound and then widened in disbelief. The blue eagle mini-con hovered just outside the window. She jumped from her seat so fast her chair nearly tipped. Without thinking, she lunged for the curtain and yanked it shut in one swift motion, casting the classroom into a shadowy half-light.

Mr. Cranky Doodle coughed from the front of the room, "Miss Dash, if the view is distracting, perhaps you'd like to return your attention to this century and continue the lesson?"

Rainbow froze, halfway between looking guilty and panicked, "Oh! Uh, sorry, sir!" she laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her neck, "Sun's just... super bright. And I, uh— think I'm not feeling too good. Might be comin' down with something." she said quickly, already backing to the door, "Gotta hit the nurse's office. Be right back!"

"I didn't gave you the permission to—" without waiting for a reply, she bolted through the classroom door, sneakers squeaking on the tile, "Leave..." the teacher watched her go, then sighed, flipping a page in his lesson plan, "Why do I even bother?" he muttered, chalk already in hand as he turned back to the board.

Rainbow zipped around the corner, her footsteps pounding against the polished school hallway. She didn't stop until she reached the very end of the hall, where a narrow window overlooked the quiet side of the building, far away from students.

She yanked the latch and shoved the window open with a creak. A soft wind rushed in just as Aerobolt swooped down from the sky with a silent flap of his wings. With the poise of a hawk, he landed gently on the ledge, talons gripping the edge.

"Are you crazy?!" she hissed, glaring up at him. And also keeping a wary glance over her shoulder to make sure no one else was coming, "What the heck are you doing here? You want me to get detention for life?! Do you have any idea what could've happened if someone saw you? I had to make up a story just to get out and Mr. Cranky Doodle already thinks I'm full of it half the time!"

Aerobolt dipped his helm apologetically, folding his wings tighter against his body, "I apologize, Rainbow Dash. I wouldn't have risked it if it weren't important. I took every precaution to remain unseen."

"Yeah, well, tapping on the window during class doesn't exactly count as 'low profile.'" she muttered, "This isn't like back at the base— you can't just drop in whenever you feel like it."

She exhaled hard and leaned against the window frame, her shoulders tense, Aerobolt noticed— how her posture wasn't just defensive, but burdened. He softened his voice even further, "I needed to see you. For you."

Rainbow halted, surprised by his words.

He continued, quietly, "What happened yesterday... it shook you. And I would not be much of a comrade, or a friend, if I didn't make sure you were truly alright."

She looked away, a guilty flicker crossing her eyes. Her fingers gripped the edge of the sill tightly, knuckles white, as her shoulders slowly slumped forward. She didn't meet his gaze right away— her attention was locked on some distant point across the school yard, as if searching for answers in the horizon.

"I messed up... I messed up bad."

The mini-con stayed silent, giving her space to speak, but his piercing optics remained on her, unwavering and patient. Rainbow swallowed, hard, "I thought I was strong enough to handle it. But instead... I lost control. I got reckless. And I put you in danger. I nearly got you killed... and I almost didn't make it back."

She finally met his gaze— her own brimming with tears she was fighting to hold back, words cracking, "I don't help, Bolt. I only screw things up. I jump in too fast, I don't think. And every time I try to fix it, I make it worse. That's not strength— that's just... being a burden."

The last word came out like poison on her tongue. She dropped her face again, brushing her eyes with the back of her hand, "Maybe I wasn't meant for this. Maybe I'm not a hero like the others."

Silence followed, thick and heavy. Aerobolt shifted his talons on the windowsill, his focus not leaving her.

"You're wrong."

She looked up.

"You are not a burden or a mistake. And you most certainly are not weak."

"I was there, Rainbow. I saw what happened. Starscream didn't win because you failed, he got the upper hand because he cheats and feeds on fear. You were holding your own longer than most could. You stood your ground even after the fight no one could've survived. And still, even while you were hurt, you ran to save me. You chose to protect someone else, even when you could've run."

The girl swallowed hard, her throat tight.

"You survived. And you were caught because you have people who believe in you. And maybe that's what being a hero really is, not being perfect, but standing back up when everything tells you not to."

Aerobolt gave her a gentler look now, "If you truly believe you made mistakes, then learn from them. Grow. But don't you dare convince yourself that you don't belong out there. I've fought beside you. I know what kind of warrior you are."

Her lips parted but she couldn't form a response, not yet. She just stared at him, chest still rising and falling, something shifting behind her eyes.

Then, after the long stillness, she looked away again, unable to hold his gaze.

"...Forget it."

Aerobolt tilted his helm, confused, "Forget what?"

"The bond. Us. All of it. You deserve better. A real holder— someone who isn't a screw up."

He went still.

"You got hurt protecting me. And I... I couldn't do anything right. That bond we share— maybe it was a mistake. Maybe it was never supposed to be me."

She didn't expect a response. In fact, she half-hoped he'd just take it, accept it and fly off. It would make walking away easier. Cleaner.

"Rainbow Da—"

"No, just— just don't, okay? It's over. Whatever this was, whatever I thought I could be, I was wrong. I can't do this. You saw what happened. Someone else had to save me. I don't belong in this fight. Not as a hero. Not as anyone." Rainbow exhaled shakily, a bitter little laugh escaping her lips, "I thought I could handle it. Thought I was strong enough to make a difference. But every time I step up, someone pays for it. I can't be the reason people keep getting hurt." she finally looked at him again, her expression torn and pained, "So just go. Find someone else. Someone who can actually handle this. It'll be better if I stay out of it. For everyone."

The hallway fell into a still serenity, broken only by the distant murmur of voices from other classrooms and the breeze brushing against the building. With a firm beat of his wings, the mini-con rose from the windowsill, the air rippling in his wake. He hovered there for a moment, his silhouette framed by the sky behind him.

"In all my time, I have not met a soul more worthy of being my meister than you."

Her breath caught in her throat.

"Think what you will." he said, "But I've already chosen you. And nothing you say will ever change that."

He turned and soared away, cutting through the clouds with a speed and purpose that left her staring after him in stunned silence.

.

.

.

After a long and turbulent flight over jagged terrain, Erebus finally descended into a secluded canyon tucked deep between towering, snow-capped mountains. The cliffs loomed like ancient sentinels, their stony faces shadowed under thick clouds as the light of day struggled to pierce through. Cold winds howled between the ridges, but the area was deserted— isolated from all eyes.

The moment his feet hit the ground, his posture faltered. He staggered, weariness catching up to him. A thick black vapor hissed from his body, pouring out of the seams in his armor. The dark tendrils twisted and slithered away from him, pulling together like coalescing ink, before erupting into the unmistakable form of the Pony of Shadows.

Starscream collapsed to one knee, his claws digging into the gravel, his vents flaring with rapid, irregular bursts. The moment the corruption withdrew, a heavy weight seemed to lift— and with it, everything he had left unraveled.

He growled, barely rising to his full height with a trembling snarl, "It— it was perfect! I had her! I had them all!" he slammed his fist into a nearby boulder. He paced like a caged beast, wings twitching with agitation. The sky seemed to darken in response to his fury, "All that planning, all that power, and for what?! For some rainbow-haired organic and her foolish guardian to ruin it?! AGAIN?!" he snapped his helm to the shadowy being, "You said I would win. That they would fall! And yet here we are! Defeated and humiliated!"

"Do not dare lay the blame solely at my hooves, Starscream!" the Pony of Shadows bellowed, "You were the one who let pride cloud your judgment!"

The seeker stepped back, claws flexing defensively, but didn't turn away.

"I gave you strength. I gave you command over my power. But instead of crushing them, you played with your prey like a petulant hatchling!" the shadow hissed, his form stretching higher, looming with ethereal fury.

Starscream glared, the edges of fear gleaming behind his optics— but his pride would not let him back down. His wings angled higher, defensive and stubborn, "I am the air commander of the Decepticons! And I—"

"Then start acting like it." the shadowy form sneered, "You claim to be a conqueror, then conquer! Stop groveling in the dust of your failure and rise! Power without will is meaningless. I gave you the means. Do not make me regret it."

Just then, a shrill ping resonated through the space— a notification flashing across Starscream's HUD. With a twitch of his claw, he summoned a glowing blue hologram into existence from his arm. The translucent projection hovered before him, displaying a topographical scan— mountains, valleys, ridges— and at the very edge of civilization, far from prying eyes... a pulsing beacon. Energon.

"Impossible..." Starscream muttered, optics widening, "That much concentrated energy, so far from any mining grid?" his other claw danced across the holographic interface, zooming in, analyzing. The coordinates were precise. The signal was stable. But something about it reeked of convenience.

He gritted his dentas, "It's a setup." he hissed, "They think I'm some idiot to walk blindly into a net. Hah!" his wings rose up, "They want me to take the bait and corner me like an amateur! As if I don't see through their pathetic ruse!" he paced in erratic circles, murmuring to himself.

The Pony of Shadows observed him from the darkness nearby, tendrils coiling and uncoiling like smoke in water. Then, with a voice that was not raised, but seemed to echo everywhere at once, it spoke, "We will go."

Starscream whirled around, disbelief etched into every line of his metal face, "What?! You can't be serious! They want us to fall into their servos!"

"Exactly." the shadow responded, "And that is why we will give them what they want. We will let them believe they have outsmarted us."

"You want us to walk in willingly? What kind of strategy is that—?!"

"Not strategy." his ally interjected, "Domination. Let them think they hold the high ground and prepare. I have... a gift for them. A weapon they cannot anticipate."

Starscream blinked, processing that, "A surprise?"

The Pony of Shadows gave a slow, cruel grin, "One that will consume their very will to fight. And we will finally end them, once and for all." the shadows curled tighter around the seeker.