One good portal deserves another

Chapter 33

"Wheeljack, are you sure this'll work?"

"Course it'll work! This is me we're talking about!"

"That's my point."

"Look, I've tested this a thousand times. It's going to work!"

"Okay. If you're sure…"

Prowl stalked down the winding corridors of base. Where was Fluttershy? He hadn't seen her since 1200 hours. All the other ponies had already annoyed him with their questions but the pegasus was nowhere to be seen.

*BANG*

*CLANG*

*CLATTER*

*CRASH*

"WHEELJACK!"

Prowl raced towards the source of the noise, fearing the worst. "What's going on in here?!" He yelled upon reaching Wheeljack's lab. The first thing he spotted was Wheeljack and Electric Storm, both covered in soot.

"Nothing!" The pair yelled in unison.

"It was just a…another failed experiment!" The femme explained, the inventor rapidly nodding his helm in agreement. Prowl looked at the two suspiciously, and they exchanged glances, fearing he'd see through their lie.

Venting, Prowl stated, "Just clean it up."

"Sir, yes, sir!"

Prowl would have left right then, but a glint of yellow caught his optic. A lone yellow feather sat amidst the charred ground. He carefully picked it up in his servo, analyzing it. "You two wouldn't have happened to see Fluttershy around, have you?"

The SIC's question made Wheeljack and Electric Storm freeze. "Um…no."

"Why would you ask that? Of course we haven't seen her!"

"Perish the very thought!"

Prowl gave them a look and stated, "You know you're horrible liars, right?"

They hung their helms and replied in unison, "We know."

"So where exactly is Fluttershy?"

Electric Storm was the first to speak up, "…somewhere…"

"Be more specific."

It was the inventor's turn. "Not here…"

"Where?"

Prowl's voice held a dangerous tone so Electric Storm squeaked out, "In Italy."

"WHAT?!"

"Run, Wheeljack, run! Mad Prowl on the lo-"

*CLANK*

"Ow!"

Optimus settled down on his berth. It had been a long solar cycle and he was looking forward to some nice, peaceful-

"Optimus! Optimus!"

-never mind. Electric Storm ran in. "Optimus! Optimus! Come quick! It's an emergency!" She started pulling on the Prime's arm, trying to get him t move. "Hurry!"

"Hold on, Electric Storm, slow down. What's so important?"

"Me and Wheeljack were working on an experiment,"

"Go on."

"And I was supposed to go into it,"

"Continue."

"But Fluttershy got in the way and she wound up somewhere in Italy!"

"Is that all?"

"No! Prowl came in and while we were running from his wrath, he got sucked in too!"

"Oh well that's-he WHAT?! Where is he?!"

"Somewhere on Gobotron!"

"Sweet Primus this isn't good…"

At Wheeljack's lab…

"I almost have it fixed!" Wheeljack announced, wrenching a few wires around, "Just a few more twists and…ah-hah!"

The machine whirred to life. "Now, if this goes right, a portal should appear right here in 3…2…1…"

Nothing happened.

"Hm. Maybe I miscalculated." Turning back to the machine, Wheeljack failed to notice the portal opening above Electric Storm. Looking up, the femme muttered, "Uh-oh."

Prowl fell out of the portal, landing on Electric Storm, potentially squashing her; which was followed by another Autobot, a Carebear, and finally, Fluttershy.

Wheeljack turned around, prepared to tell Optimus he might have to recalibrate it, but instead saw the missing Autobot/pony. "Oh good! You're back! Hey, wasn't Electric Storm there a moment ago.

Lifting her arm weakly from under the mass of bodies, she mumbled, "Present and accounted for."

Nitro-x then decided to come in to see what all the fuss was about. "Hey, guys!" He greeted, "What's all the fuss abou-oh my word, CAREBEAR! CAREBEAR!" That's why the Carebear decided to mak friends with Nitro-x. "Hello," he said, walking over to the Autobot, "My name is-"

"GET AWAY FROM ME, YOU VILE BEAST!" He smacked the Carebear into a wall and made a run for it.

Meanwhile, the unnamed Autobot-whose designation is Side burn-had finally recovered from falling through a portal. "Ugh. Where am I?"

Prowl, who had also recovered, spotted Sideburn. "Oh sweet Primus, no! Not him again!" The SIC turned tail and ran, hoping the little-red-sport-car-obsessed Autobot hadn't seen him.

Electric Storm, who was recovering, groaned and complained, "I bet I can't even transform." To test her theory out, she tried and transformed.

"I can transform! I can transform!" She whooped happily, her engine revving in excitement. Unfortunately for her, a certain blue Autobot spotted her,

"Little red sports car!" He cried out, transforming and giving chase. Electric Storm, not exactly sure what was going on, drove around in circles, trying to get him off her tail.

The annoyed Nitro-x, traumatized Prowl, confused Electric Storm all yelled one thing, "WHEELJACK!"

Said Autobot shrugged. "What can I say? I'm popular."