Cutie Mark Crusaders Transformer! YAY!!

Chapters

Prolong: The Day Equestria Changed
Start up Your engines Arc: The Changes Continue
Start Up your Engines Arc: Learning To Transform
Start Up Your Engines Arc: Learning Not to Transforms
Start Up Your Engines Arc: ...And his Name is Steel Hooves
Start Up Your Engines Arc: The Enemy in The Shadow
Start Up Your Engine Final: The Enemy Strikes
First Operation Arc: Babs' Supsicions
First Operation Arc: To Scare a Changeling

Prolong: The Day Equestria Changed

Cutie Mark Crusaders Transformers! YAY!
Prolong:
The Day Equestria Changed

The day in Equestria was what the residents had come to expect; sunny and filled with life. Everywhere the sun of the land’s glorious leader shines ponies were out in about, doing their usual routine. And you knew who else was also enjoying this fine Saturday day?

“Are you sure about this, Scoots?” a certain light yellow earth pony with a southern drawl asked uncertainly.

“Total!” a familiar orange Pegasus said confidently. “I read this in a Daring Do book once.”

“I don’t know about this,” a well-known unicorn in a white coat said doubtfully. “What do you all think?”

That’s right, it Ponyville’s famous trio of trouble the Cutie Mark Crusaders, Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle. Today, however, things were a little different. Today, the three were joined by three others.

The first is the tan Earth pony named Babs seed, Applebloom’s cousin from the big city of Manehatten, and the first new member the CMC ever had. She was currently staying with her cousin for a long Spring break.

The freckled Earth pony was currently looking down from the large tree branch she and Crusaders were standing on, and trying not to think about what would happen if she took a nasty fall. She tore her eyes away from the terrifying sight, and looked at other two new member of the group.

The first is the light purple coat and yellow mane unicorn filly named Dinky Doo, and consider to the Ponyville elementary school own mystery. Not a lot of ponies know much about her. There are even some rumors that she’s the daughter of the wild eye mail-mare Derpy hooves, base solely on the fact that their manes are similar in colors. Another rumor states that she’s an orphan and that Derpy was some sort relative looking after her.

Nopony really knows that much about the unicorn due to her being so quiet suddenly, a massive change from when she first came to town. When all other fillies and colts are playing during recess, she’s often on her own, just staring off into space. The only reason why she’s a Crusader is because the local bullies were found picking on her one day, and the CMC couldn’t just stand by and do nothing. To insure that she isn’t a target anymore, the others made Dinky a crusader, in hopes that it would help to break her out of her shell and to protect her from the Diamond Spoon.

Currently the quiet filly was just staring off into the sky, a blank look to her face.

The final new member of the group is Rumble, and to date the only male member of the Crusaders. A lot of ponies know Rumble through his older brother and owner of the Ponyville bowling lanes, Thunderlane. Rumble, unlike Dinky, isn’t that much of a mystery. He’s often seen helping his brother out with his profession and is nice colt to have around.

Like Dinky, Rumble joined the CMC due to three things. First, like all members of the club, he doesn’t have his cutie mark yet. Second, he was lonely and asked to join the club, due to all the fun he has seen the CMC having and wanted to be a part of it. And third, he picked on by the Diamond Spoon, like most other blank flanks.

Currently he was the only one not be on a tree branch, hovering near his fellow crusaders, to act as a sort of safety net incase of anything happens with the crusaders latest crusade for their cutie marks.

Currently the group was in Sweet Apple Acres, and they were trying to get their cutie marks in jungle swinging, but since the Everfree forest was off limits they had to take the closest thing they could find. So, with Rumble’s help, they have set up a large rope to a tall tree, and the five none flyers were standing on a tree opposite of the one with the rope, with Scootaloo getting ready to swing.

“Ah still don’t know about this, Scoots,” Applebloom commented uncertainly.

The young Pegasus looked at her friend with a confident smile. “Oh yeah, without doubt this would us our cutie marks in vine swinging for sure!”

“Didn’t we try something like this before?” Sweetie asked doubtfully, her bore narrowing slightly. “And didn’t we get covered in sap?”

Scootaloo just shrugged and looked at the rope in her hooves. “Yeah, but I figure we gave up to soon because of the sap-” She lowered her voice as she lean in close to her closest friends, “-Besides, there’s another reason we’re doing this, remember?”

The fillies founders cast a glance over to the other unicorn in the group and felt some of their fear disappeared. The two looked at their friend and nodded. This brought a small smile to the grounded Pegasus’s face, and she turned toward Dinky.

“Hey Dinky?” she called to gain the light purple unicorn’s attention. Scootaloo couldn’t help but cringe slightly when the unicorn looked at her with a blank expression. She tried to shrug off her own fears as she holds out the rope. “Want to go first?”

The silent pony looked at the rope for about 20 second before taking it. She then looked over at the tree she would be swinging too. She brought herself onto her back legs, and took a moment to study the distance between the two trees. She studied the distance for another minute her horn glowing a soft white and she swings.

Suddenly something flew over head, creating a massive gale forces winds and knocking the unsuspecting filly off of the rope. She let out a soft scream as she saw the ground coming up fast and she squeezed her eyes shut.

(Five minutes earlier)

Space…to same it a wonderment of blackness painted with glowing orbs of brilliant light. Some even view space as a blanket of darkness that hangs over the sky and covers a planet in it mysterious but awe-inspiring embrace.

However, to one it is nothing more then emptiness and nothingness. This creature, flying a space made of metal and fire, signs and reached out, idly flipping a switch.

“Data log entrée…3309; currently I find myself in the delta sector, a mostly empty sector except for a few small planetoids and a Large-class sun. If reports are too believed, there is one life-class planet in this sector, which I am close to and plan to stop on for routine system checks. The reports also state that the planet is largely dead in space, yet some strange gravitation field keeps it close to the sector’s sun. Even odder are the reports that the planet is inhabited by strange, four-legged creatures-whoa!”

The mysterious creature suddenly grasps his controls, his entire ship shaking violently. He fought to maintain control of his ship against the strange force pulling against it and barely kept it under control.

“Computer! Do a full, wide-scale scan. Pinpoint the source of this turbulence immediately!” the pilot screamed urgently.

The ship suffered a rather violent shake, one that probably would have thrown the pilot from his seat if not for emergency harnesses flying over his waist and shoulders. He was fighting a loosing battle as he felt the control of his ship slip away from him.

He heard a beep and looked to his right. The on-board computer had finished it scans and was processing the data. He frowns when he read the data.

“The gravitation field around the Life-class planet…it’s stronger then the reports stated-Gah!” the pilot suddenly lunged forward as another violent shake rocked his vessel. Once he righted himself, the pilot worked fast, his hands a blur as he began flipping, pressing and turning switches, buttons and dials on his controls. “I need to divert all extra power to the thrusters if I am to break free!”

He watched as he powered down several secondary functions and the power for the engines began to redline. The pilot throttled up when believed that the engines have all they could handle. He felt his space rocked from all the thrust of his engines, but it didn’t seem to help. The gravity well was far too strong and all the pilot was doing was causing more harm then good.

Still, the pilot continues to divert power to the engines in hopes that he could pull free. Two minutes later and the pilot heard a small explosion, followed by a warning light flashing. The pilot looked at the light, saw that he had burnt out of one his engines, and sighed with defeat. He worked quick, returning power to their normal function.

“Computer, chart a course. Find an uninhabited patch of land!” the pilot said quickly. The computer worked quickly as the pilot turned his wobbly vessel around so it was flowing with the gravity well instead against it. He looked over at the monitor and saw that the computer had found a seemingly uninhabited patch land, just as ordered. “Now, I pray to All-Spark that nothing happens.”

(…)

Dinky opened her eyes when she felt herself suspended in the air, and slowly looked up. Rumble was flipping his wings as fast they could go, struggling slightly with the weight of the pony he rescued. The light purple unicorn quickly regained her composure as her feet touched the ground. Rumble released her soon after, and fell to the ground, panting heavily.

“Are… you… okay… Dinky?” the gray Pegasus asked through his pants.

The mysterious unicorn nodded and was about to say something, until voice drawn her attention.

“Rumble! Dinky!” Sweetie cried out as she and the other Crusaders came running up. “Are you both alright?”

Dinky looked at her follow crusaders and nodded, causing the others to sigh with relief. Applebloom looked ready to say something when a sudden noise startled everypony in the area. They looked to their right and saw smoke rising from the distance. Without so much as a word, Applebloom began trotting at a brisk pace towards the smoke, following lessons she was taught long ago. Soon the others are following behind her, not one questioning their actions.

They were just following the invisible creed that has been part of their land, and that is always help when needed.

The group soon reached the source of the smoke and all quietly gasped at what they saw. They didn’t have any words to describe what they were seeing, and it scared them.

The object was large, larger then anything they have ever, probably bigger and taller then Canterlot Castle and made out of metal. They could see strange tubes on the object’s back that spit fire for a few seconds before stopping all together. The body of the thing was a mostly a square, with large sharp wings coming out of each side. The neck of the object was long, and had two strange bulges around it. At the end of the neck was a long, beck-like head.

It looked like something out of a comic book, really, but they didn’t stop the crusaders from getting a little closer. What the little fillies and long colt didn’t see what that the mysterious object had came to rest on a small ridge and was also being supported weakly by a trees that looked ready to snap at a moments notice.

“Hey, look! It’s open!” Scootaloo said as she and the other crusaders walked around it.

The group looked and they did indeed something have open on the strange creature’s belly, barely touching the ground. The five fillies and one colt stared at the entrance, one thought on all their minds. Should they venture forth and see what’s inside? Well, that lasted for about two second, and like normal, Scootaloo was the first to step forward.

“Scootaloo?” Sweetie shrieked as she tried to grab her friend, only missing her by an inch. “What are doing?”

“Are you kidding?” Scootaloo relied eagerly, stopping a casting an eager smile to her friends. “This is too cool to pass up!”

And with that, she entered into the strange creature of metal. Sweetie and Applebloom exchanged worried looks and they looked back at the beasts. Soon, they too began to making their way into the beast, with the newer crusaders reluctantly following behind.

What the young adventurers aren’t well of, is the extra weight they had put onto the object had caused the already weak trees to gave away some more and it wouldn’t long before they gave all together.

(…)

The inside of the beast was just as eerie as the outside, with a hollow inside, lacking any detail whatever it. It was very nerve racing for the young ponies, and the clicking echo from the foal’s hooves were creeping them out. Still, their anxiousness melted away somewhat when they reached a new chamber.

It was probably the biggest chamber in the entire vessel with a ceiling reaching to the top of the beast. The chamber itself wasn’t much in detail and nothing really caught the eye, say for twelve strange pods, six pods on each wall. The pods were all embedded in the walls, and the six on the left wall were all opened. Something glowed from within those pods, and that draw the attention of the crusaders.

The group broke apart and cautiously made their way to a pod. The reached the pods within the same moment and looked into a pod.

“What the hay am I looking at?” Scootaloo exclaimed in confusion.

The group looked at each pod, feeling a mix of confusion and fear, and maybe a little bit of wonderment. Inside the pods were strange bipedal creatures. They appeared to be made out of metal that rippled like a gentle breeze on a lake. The bodies of the strange creatures are hollowed out and there is strange black vest-like object around the body of the creature. Finally, in the center of the hallowed-out chest, was a strange glowing ball of energy.

The fillies and colt were in awe at they saw, and they, in a trance-like state, stood up on their back legs to get a better look. It was at this time that the trees that held up the machine decided to break and the action caused the beast to rock slightly. This has unfortunate effect of off-balancing the young ponies and they began to fight to say on their feet. But since they were unprepared for the sudden action they were unable to regain their balance, and they go falling into the pods screaming.

Something odd happened when the fillies and colt’s bodies touched the strange beings. The glowing orbs suddenly burst and the horns of the unicorns, the wings of the Pegasi, and the bodies of the Earth ponies light up. The black vest-like object disappeared from the creatures’ being, and the creatures lost their structural forms and fell around the young ponies.

The crusaders could only gasp and scream as they felt a cool sensation wash over them. They tried to fight against this mysterious ooze that threatened their bodies. The earth ponies tried to use what little strength their little bodies had. The Pegasi tried to use their wings to break free. Even unicorns tried to use what little magic they could use, to try and break free.

It was all in vain, whatever covered them was to powerful to overcome, and they could only watched the strange liquid covered their bodies, the cold sensation having progress into an overwhelming burning sensation, and some even passed out from the sensation.

The liquid was half way up Dinky’s neck when a sudden fearful look passed her eyes and she gasp in fear. She began to struggle anew, her horn glowing wildly. Like before the effort in vain, but the frightened unicorn continued her struggle for freedom, the glow from her horn growing ever brighter. The strange ooze was in the process of covering the young unicorn’s head, starting to cover her eyes, when she let out one final scream as the stuff covered the last of her head and her horn let out a bright flash, covering the room.

After that, everything went quiet, aftermath of the magical flash hanging in the air as sparkles.

Author's Note

Once again, and I know this getting a little stupid but still feel like saying it, that I'm sorry for grammar mistake there might be. Having a reading disorder for most of your life can do that to you.

Start up Your engines Arc: The Changes Continue

Cutie Mark Crusaders Transformers! YAY!
Start Up Your Engines Arc:
The Changes continue

I found myself on a strange planet, a planet called Earth, in a land called Jasper, Nevada. I was drawn to this planet, to this location via an encoded transmission of Autobot origins. But even my processors couldn’t handle that, when I landed on a hallowed out mountain, I was greeted by legends.

Bumblebee, a scout famous for his bravely in the field of battle, and at the end of the war, braved a harsh torment at the hands of the foes’ leader and not breaking. He paid a very high price for his courage, however, and lost his voice box, forcing to use radio noises to communicate

Next to him are Cliff jumper and his partner Arcee. Though their partnership is fairly new, they had already reached legend status by not only escaping the dreaded scientist Shockwave, but also trapping him in a space bridge beam. But those are just rumors and vague ones at best.

My processors short out slightly from just even processing the image of the con that caused me so much grief in my short life.

A little farther off, having some light damage repaired was Bulkhead, a former wrecker. I would admit that I really don’t know much about the wreckers, but Bulkhead was said to be the best at what he did, and if he could put up with Wheel-Jack then he has my admiration.

I flinch slightly when the medic Ratchet turned his optic sensors. I could admit that something about the seasoned veteran made the energon in my tubes turned cold. It was just something about that stare he was giving was causing me to feel uncomfortable.

I quickly turned my attention to the final member of the group, and I think I felt several shorts happen throughout my systems. I was in awe as I stand before the living legend himself, the last of a great line, and possible the greatest Autobot in history.

“Greetings Autobot, and welcome to Earth,” Optimus Prime said in formal manner that had commanding presence behind it.

I instantly snapped to attention, saluting the prime in front of me. “Greeting, sir, I’m HM-SH-0917, sir!” I said quickly.

“What? Weren't you given a name?” Cliff jumper asked humorously, which earn him a light backhand from his partner.

Prime ignore his soldier’s light banter as he focus on the Autobot in front of him. “May I ask what brings you here?” Optimus asked calmly.

“Truthfully, sir, I was following a distress beckon when I picked up yours and I thought I could re-supply here,” I answered truthfully.

“Interesting,” Prime remarked, “May I asked if you knew the nature of the beckon?”

“No, Sir, but the beckon read 3SJ-0092 on its transmission,” I replied dutifully.

“Are you sure?” Ratchet suddenly exclaimed.

I looked toward the medic as he abandoned his work, and marched up to me. If I thought he was scary from a distance, the medic was terrifying up close.

“Are you sure those are the beckons’ identification numbers?” Ratchet asked seriously.

I nodded, my word processor failing me at this moment. Lucky for me, Optimus Prime stepped in and put a hand on his medic’s shoulder.

“I take it that you are familiar with the vessel, old friend?” the prime asked calmly.

Ratchet looked at his commanding officer his optic sensors brighten ever so slightly. “If it true what this sparkling is saying, we may have found a storage vessel, one filled with Protoforms,” the medic replied with a hint of hope behind his voice.

The astrosphere in the room immediately changed as all sensors can to rest on the medic. Even I couldn’t help but looked at him with growing curiosity. There probably wasn’t a Cybertronian alive that wouldn’t know what a vessel filled with Protoforms would mean.

“Are you certain about this, Ratchet?” Prime asked calmly.

“Without a doubt!” the medic replied confidently. “I would never delete such important information from my memory banks! That vessel alone house over twelve hundred Protoforms.”

All sensors were immediately on me, waiting for me to say something. I have already made my decision before everyone’s attention fell on me, and was ready to go at the when the word was given.

“Are you planning on pursuing the vessel?” Prime asked my calmly.

“Without a doubt sir!” I replied without hesitation. “It time I do something worth wild with my existence. I just need my ship re-supplied.”

If the prime was affected by my words he didn’t allow it to show as he replied, “Your ship will be restocked within a cycle. For now, I advised you take this time to rest and recuperate.”

With said, the last of the primes turned his attention elsewhere. The others also returned to their own devices, expect for Cliff Jumper. The sociable Autobot was saying something, but I wasn’t paying attention, I was busy thinking to myself.

Yes, I would do this mission, and I would give my very spark to insure that this mission is carried out.

(…)

HM moan lightly as he felt his systems come back online, going through the usual routine and checking for any major damages. His optic sensors light up a few seconds later and he looked around. He was surprise to find himself still on-line after such a rough landing. Once he got his bearings, he began to do damage check on his vessel.

“Computer, begin routine damage check protocols. Check on the Protoforms as well,” HM ordered.

The on-board computer beeped and buzzed as it followed the orders of it controller. HM sigh again, and looked out the window. All he could see is clear skies and green trees as far as the optic sensor could see. He had to admit that there was a sort of calming astrosphere to the place, one he hadn’t felt in a long time.

A beep alerted him that the computer had finished it system check and was processing the data now. HM frown as he looked at the data he was getting.

“Thruster one had has a major blowout. I don’t think I can make repairs with the limited supplies I have,” the Autobot pondered to himself quietly.

He continued to look through the data, checking to see what could be repaired and what couldn’t. He was surprise to find only minor damage to all on-board systems. The blown out engine would be the biggest problem, one he wasn’t confident he could fix.

Satisfied with the damage reports, MH switched to the report on the Protoforms, and began to read. His felt the energon in his body go cold as he read the report. He reread it to make sure his optic sensors hadn’t suffered some sort of malfunction.

“It has to be some sort of computer glitch! It just has be!” the Cybertronian muttered frantically as he fought with the restrains that held him to his chair.

He freed himself and then hurried out of the cockpit, stumbling a little due to the slightly awkward angle his ship was in. He reached the stasis chamber and hurried over to a wall control panel, feverishly punching in a report log.

“Please be a glitch. Please, let it be a glitch! BY THE ALL-SPARK, let it be nothing more then a stupid computer glitch!!” HM screeched out frantically as he impatiently waits for the report.

He heard the beep telling that the report was finished, and feverishly scan said report. His face fell when the inescapable truth made itself known to him.

“No…” HM whispered softly, hanging his head in shame. He stayed like that for nearly a minute before he began to slammed fist his near the control panel. “No, no, no, NO, NO, NO, NOOOOOO!”

He stopped pounding the wall as he felt to his knees, just staring at the floor blankly. He remained in that position for a good few minutes, thoughts turning over in his processor. He had failed. He was given an important mission and he had failed it.

“12 out of 1200...I couldn’t even protect that much. I worthless, truly worthless…” the Autobot muttered bitterly, and suddenly thrust his head up and threw his arms into the air, “YOU HEAR ME YOU PILE OF TWISTED CIRCUITS!!! YOU WERE RIGHT!!”

His body go limb after that, as he slumps farther down into the floor. He remained that way for a good five minutes, until a beeping sound caught his attention. He half-heartedly looked up at the new report that was coming in. He frowned as he read the report.

“These readings don’t make any sense,” HM mutters to himself.

He pulled himself together and goes to have a look at the pods in the in left wall. What he sees surprised him. “How is this even possible?” he asked himself with shock. “I have never heard anything like this.”

The Cybertronian continued to look at the pod in the center of the wall. Inside of the pod looks to be a mix of a Cybertronian and an organic life-form. He watched as metal slip over and mix with the soft purple coat of strange creature. He looked at the rest of the pods and saw the same thing happening in the rest of them.

“What could this mean?” HM asked in wonderment. He looked to his right and saw one of the creatures stirring slightly. He reached for the creature with his left hand, only to stop when he noticed that his hand could easily hold two of the small pods. “I better detach myself from my core. Don’t want have another incident like that last organic planet I visited,” HM said with a sigh.

The Cybertronian walked out of the chamber and disappear into the hallway. A few seconds after he disappeared, a strange metallic shifting sound was heard, and a few second after that the voice of the Autobot was heard.

“That should do. Now all I have to do is take those creatures out of the ship. I really don’t want to scare them anymore then they’re going to be.”

(A few minutes later)

Applebloom moan slightly as she stirred. She opened her eyes and quickly came to her senses, her earth pony’s stamina kicking in. She remembers hanging out with her friends and having something flew over heads, causing some problems. She also remembers investigating the thing and something happen after that, but she’s having trouble recalling what.

“Where is everypony?” she asked as she set up, unaware of how she was sitting.

She looked around, getting her bearings and she realized that she was near the edge of Sweet Apple Acres. The small brook that Rainbow Dash created by accident, a few weeks ago proved that. She continued to look around, trying to find signs of her friends with no luck. The yellow earth pony sighs faintly and raised her hoof to her chin in thought.

“Ah remember going into that strange thing, but what happen after that?” Abblebloom ask herself. “And where are mah friends? Huh?”

She looked at her hoof when she felt something odd about it. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked at what had replaced her hoof. It still looked like her hoof, to a certain degree, only now it was slightly more round and with some kind of things sticking out of there. She tried to move them and to her surprise they moved.

The young pony tried to shrug off the weirdness she was feeling, as she turns her eyes up the rest of her leg, and noticed the thin black limb that grown out of her front leg. She looked down at her body and nearly fainted when she noticed her entire face, ears and all, on her barrel. She looked down farther to avoid looking at her face any longer. She frowns when she saw that her lower half was uneven; it narrows around the stomach and widens as it goes down.

Applebloom noted that her center of her change body was black and the outside was a navy blue.

The young earth pony studied her back legs, noticing they were similar to her front legs, only her back leg are thicker and ended with some strange limbs that she quickly learns that she could control. She also notice that her new limbs had a similar coloring to her change body, only the back of her new limbs were navy blue and her front was black.

She studied her body for at least a minute until a thought popped into her head. “What does mah face look like?” the confused earth pony asks herself.

She noticed the brook and decided to use that to see her face. She got on all fours and began to walk. She instantly fell on her face due to awkwardness of her altered body. But, being an earth pony and an Apple to boat, Applebloom refused to give up, and awkwardly made her way to brook.

What she saw next shocked her just as much as when she saw her body. Her face was completely round and used the same color pattern as her body. Her eyes are still a bright ember and her mane and ribbon were still unchanged. And now that she has a better view of her face, she couldn’t help but feel creep out by what she saw.

Applebloom might have looked at her change body until the cow came home, if a voice hadn’t got her attention. “Ah, I saw another one had woken.”

The young earth pony looked to her right, and saw a strange creature sitting near the brook. Applebloom narrowed her eyes and studied the new creature. There wasn’t really much to tell about this strange; he was mainly a dull gray and lacks any detailing features, say for a weird metal cape on its back. Even its face had no real features behind it, and it creep Applebloom out slightly.

The creature looked at the confused earth pony with white eyes and said in a near emotionlessly voice, “Now we just need to wait for the rest of your group com back on-line, and then we have a lot to talk about.”

Applebloom didn’t know half what the strange creature was saying, but a feeling deep in her gut told her what was coming next wasn’t going to be good.

Start Up your Engines Arc: Learning To Transform

Cutie Mark Crusaders Transformers! YAY
Start up Your Engines Arc:
Learning to Transform

In a dark place, somewhere where Princess Celestia’s sun doesn’t reach, hard clicking is heard, as a mysterious pony walked a dark hall. There were small torches all around the corridor, but they didn’t give light to completely reveal the mysterious pony. The best the torches could do was show a horn, a long, twisted horn, painted black.

Our mysterious pony soon reached a door, and suddenly become very afraid. It stared at the door for a few seconds, thoughts about running away racing through it mind. Still, the pony soon steeled it nerves and nervously knocked on the door.

“Enter…daughter.” a booming voice called out, causing the mare to flinch.

The door opened a moment later, and the mare steps into the chambers. No matter how many times she entered into this chamber, the sights always awed her and made her horn twitch uncontrollable. The chamber was vast, but due to poor lighting there were no way to determine the actual size of the chamber. And the strange blue crystals that glow softly didn’t do much for lighting, either.

Those crystals make the mare’s mane stand on end, but she continued onward, eventually reaching the end, where the mare grows even more afraid. There, standing as a towering building was a throne, and a figure, barely seeable due to the lighting, sitting on the throne. The mare bowed in both fear and respect.

“Report my daughter. How are things proceeding?” the figure on the throne asked commandingly.

The mare couldn’t help but flinch at the voice, but still manage to respond only with a quiver in her own voice. “E-Everything is going according to plan…father. My agents are in place and watching those ponies as we speak.”

“That’s good. Keep me inform of the agents’ progress. You are dismissed,” the figure said commandingly, but quickly grew annoyed when he didn’t see his “daughter” still standing there. “I told you, daughter, you are dismissed.”

The mare gulped back her fears, and defiantly took a step forward. She looked at the giant, trying desperately to fight back her own fears.

“I just don’t see the point of any of this?” the mare said quickly before her fears got to strong to handle. “We have the numbers, and thanks to you, father, we now have the weapons. Why don’t we just storm Canterlot Castle and be done with all of this?”

The mysterious being watched as his so-call daughter stomped her hooves to show her frustration, and he chuckled dryly. The mare caught the sound and couldn’t help but feel some of her mix feelings give away to anger, and she growled under her breath. She was about to give her so-called father a piece of her mind, when she heard a shifting sound and watched as something fell from the creature’s top. She next heard footsteps approaching her, and her anger gave away to fear once again.

Soon, a figure stood in front of our mysterious mare, but due to the poor lights all that could be seen of it was an outline of bipedal creature. The mare couldn’t help but flinch when the creature reached out with one of its strange appendages and patted on her on the head.

“My dear, dear daughter.… I have looked after you for so long I may dare say I have come to care for you a little,” the creature said in a surprisingly soft and gently tone, one that caused the mare look up at the being she called father in confusion. When the creature next spoke the tone of his voice turned much harsher, “But I wouldn’t put up with your childish and naïve thinking. So, learn when to keep that muzzle of your shut.”

The creature removed his hand from the mare’s head, and walked away from her, missing the scowl that was sent his away. He walked back his giant throne, and took a seat on a small throne hidden by the shadow.

“Daughter…” the creature asked commandingly. “Do you remember what happened to last time a large force tried to invade Canterlot?”

The mare lowered her head and growled lowly. “Yes, how could anypony forget that?” she asked bitterly.

“Indeed,” the creature said emotionlessly. “It took only two ponies to cast an invading force of thousands out. And let not forget when the leader of that force tried to take revenge on those who helped to stop her force.”

“Is there a point to any of this, father?” the mare barked angrily.

“Indeed there is, my daughter,” the creature said smoothly. “When the direct or the indirect approaches don’t work, how do you defeat an enemy?”

The mare looked down at the ground, deep in thought. Try as she might the mare couldn’t figure any other methods to defeat a foe. Her father must have sense this somehow.

“YOU CRUSH YOUR EMEMY’S SPIRITS!” the mysterious creature said with a bit of insanity in his voice. The mare watch as her father jumped from his throne and walked up to the mare. “Those six mares in that mud ball of a town are the greatest source of hope the creatures of this land will ever know! If we crush them before our invasion on that ridiculous Equestrian Liberation day then not even those fancied up nobodies would able to stop me!”

The mysterious figure began to laugh insanely as he trotted over to his throne. His laughter dies down as he looked up at the giant in front of him. “You heard me, you twisted pile of circuits! The age of the ponies will be coming to end and the eternal rule of Black Bolt will begin!!”

(…)

“So…let me get this straight…” Rumble asked uncertainly. “We’re now some kind of robots?”

“It’s more complex then that, young sparkling,” HM responded reluctantly.

“Then what’s happening to us?” Babs asked frantically. “Why do we look like this?”

HM sigh lightly and began to look at the six in front of him. It has been nearly 12 minutes since everyone was back on-line and things had gone slightly better then he first thought. The group, the Cutie Mark Crusaders as he learned they were called, had done a series questions to determine their own identities. Once that was out of the way, things started to go down hall. They were curious to know what happen to them, and since HM was the only one that could fill in the blanks, the young sparklings looked towards him.

Of course it didn’t help things that I don’t know what happened in the first place, HM thought reluctantly, standing from the spot he had been sitting in since he moved the crusaders from his ship.

The cybertronian sighed under his breath and looked at the group before him. First was the white one he had learned was named Sweetie Belle. The white pony’s face and pony had opened up, giving her a cape-like object. Her body has a white outline with a purple and pink inside. Her arms and legs are white with gray limbs, feet, and fingers. Her face was also gray and her optic sensors were green.

Next was Scootaloo. The young Pegasus body had divided at the waist, where a black belt now rests, and a red orb above it. Her lower half was orange excepted for her ankles which are black and the back of her feet which are red. Her upper body is also orange and her natural pony face are now shoulders plates, having split open at the center, and her wings rested folded down at the lower back. Her upper limbs are black and her lower parts are orange, say for her fingers which are black. Finally, her light gray face and purple optics are covered in a red helmet with a yellow plate above the sensors and a red gem in the center.

Next up was Babs Seed. Her face had pushed up over her mane slightly so her muzzle was close to her forehead. Her body had split at the center, exposing a light green color pattern, but her coat had remained on her body. Her arms and legs were similar to her friends, but black. Finally the back of her new feet are green on the back, but her natural color on the front.

Rumble looked similar to his friends, only his exposed area is a bright silver color. His body had opened up slightly and a thin cross was on the front of his body. His wings had moved up to the back of his shoulders and they were titled at a slight angle. Surprisingly, his feet remained of unchanged, just slightly longer. Finally, his natural pony face has become a helmet of sort. His pony his formed around his Cybertronian jaw and the rest of his face had slid to his side. There was a yellow V-like pattern on his forehead that ran between his eyes.

The final member of the group, Dinky Doo, was just staring off into space and didn’t seem all that concern with her changes. The young unicorn seems to have the most devise out of the entire bunch. Her natural pony head had moved to her the front of her body, and gained a light yellow circle pattern. The top of her forelegs had folded up to form into small shoulder plates, and the exposed area had the same yellow coloring. The exposed areas on her back legs are also yellow and her new feet are black, like her fingers. Finally, her face is black with a yellow line running down each eye. Oddly, she still had her horn, unlike Sweetie Belle.

MH sighs again and looked at the brook. He still doesn’t know how any of this happened, and he didn’t know how to fix it, either. He had never heard of pure organic life-forms merging with protoforms before.

“So what do I do now?” MH asks himself. He suddenly heard a scream and looked at the group. The one call Sweetie was having some sort of malfunction and her friends were trying to calm her down. “What’s wrong?”

“What would my parents think when they see me like this?” the young unicorn asked frantically. “What would my sister think?”

The gravity of the white unicorn said hit home with the other members and they became afraid as well. Well…everyone expect for Dinky. The purple unicorn was just spacing out like normal. HM looked at the purple half-breed with cocked eyebrow. He couldn’t help but feel like there something about the unicorn, he just couldn’t finger on it.

“What are we going to do?” Babs asked frantically? “If my folks see me like this, they might disown me?”

HM sigh faintly and clapped to gain the group’s attention. Once all optic sensors were on him, the Cybertronian began to speak, “This might be a complex for your young minds to understand, but all Cybertronian life forms have the ability to transform. It should stand to reason that you, who now part Cybertronian, should also have this ability.”

HM was meant with blank stares, something he should expected. Of course these sparklings would have no idea what he was talking about. He was about to go and explain what he meant, when a quiet voice caught everyone by surprise.

“Transform…like a Changeling can?” asked Dinky quietly, causing everyone to looked at her.

For a few seconds the entire group was silent, either from having the normally quiet unicorn actually speak for change, or if some where reliving some bad memories. If HM would have weathered a guess…it was probably a mixture of both.

The visitor from another world cleared his throat to get the crusaders’ attention. “May I ask what a Changeling is?” the Cybertronian asked politely.

The group became hesitant as looks were exchanged. HM waited on the small sparklings to get over their own anxiousness. He took a seat near the brook once more, and waited. Finally, after a near minute, Rumble stepped forward, looking quiet anxious.

“A-A changeling is creature that can change it shape to any other pony, to feed on their love?” the gray Pegasus said fearfully.

That sounds like a shape shifter? But how could creature feed on a chemical reaction in an organic brain? MH wondered to himself, before addressing the Crusader. “I guess you could word it like that. But in your case and, if my theory is proven correct, you only should be able to change between the forms your currently in and your natural bodies.”

The CMC once against looked at their strange new friend with confused stares. That didn’t last long as Applebloom step forward, looking a little nervous. “Umm, maybe you show us how to, Mr.,” the young filly turned her head to her right, realizing that they hasn’t gotten the visitor’s name yet.

HM sighed bitterly and looked at the ground as he said clearly, “My ID number is HM-SH-917, but can simply call me HM.”

The Cybertronian was meant with blink stares, but to the credit of the young ones, they recovered fairly quickly. Once again, it was Applebloom who spoke, sounding just tad bit awkward in her approach.

“Ok, Mr. HM, umm, do you think you can show us how to transform?” she asked hopefully.

HM sigh bitterly, and looked away as he said, “Sorry, but my transformation isn’t the best suited to use as a demonstration.” He frown lightly when he looked and saw the crestfallen faces of the hybrids, and cracked the smallest of smiles, as he said, “Instead…picture your natural bodies as you remember them, and then picture your current bodies slid into and changing into the ponies you knew so well.”

The group exchanged nervous looks, but those slowly transformed into determined ones, and the group spread out. HM couldn’t stop his smile from widening a little more. Though he may not be aware of it at the time, but he found himself quite taken with those six sparklings, despite only knowing them for a short period of time.

“One more thing before you begin,” HM chirped out and got the attention of the group. “Don’t try to force the change. We still don’t know the limits of your hybrids bodies. If anything, try to treat transforming like, like-moving a foot! Let it come naturally.”

The young sparklings nodded, and then set about their work. It took a few minutes and some groaning, but the familiar sound soon filled the air, and the sparklings began to transform into fillies and a colt. HM watched the changes carefully, taking in note how similar their changes and what set them apart.

Mainly, the young ponies bodies folded-in around the center, as their arms and legs retracted slightly. HM noticed the small difference in each of the crusaders’ transformation, like how Rumble’s chest closed up and his pony face closed around his Cybertronian face. The apple cousins’ face slid over their robot faces, and Babs’s body closed so her new colors weren’t showing, while Applebloom’s sides opened up and her coat grow out from there. Scootaloo’s entire body folded down and closed up at the waist as the orb was covered up by light fur. Sweetie Belle’s pony face and body closed up around her robotic body, and Dinky’s pony face turned to cover her robotic features, as the pattern disappeared into the emerging fur. Her shoulder plates folded down to cover the color on her forearms.

The transformation to robot hybrids to normal looking ponies finished itself with the fingers flatten out, and they were covered up when the hooves opened up and slid over digits. The feet folded up and similarly to the fingers, were covered up by the back hooves. Finally, tail emerged from a small opening that closed up shortly after the tails appeared.

HM noted that the entire process took about 2 minutes and 35 seconds, but he wouldn’t complained.

The group opened their eyes after tens more seconds and began looking over their bodies. Excitement mixed with relief when they noticed what they had done, they had transformed back to normal. Five out of the six members jump into the air, for a high hoof, and said,” YEAH!!” Just before their hooves connected, the group transformed back to their robotic humanoid forms, causing them to miss their mark and fell into a heap.

“Ahh, man...!” Scootaloo groan out. “We almost had it!”

“What happened?” Sweetie moaned out in slight fear.

“I don’t know, but mind getting your leg out of my nose!” Babs said with quickly growing irritation.

HM watched half-heartedly as the crusaders began to fight to untangle themselves from the heap. He was also stumped as why the group had transformed back, until he recalled his experience on a planet of organic shape shifters, and it all clicked after that.

Because their bodies are a prefect mix of Cybertronian and organic life, their abilities to transform are different then normal Cybertronians, HM thought. So it stands to reason that they transform through physically control, unlike normal Cybertronians who transform through mental commands.

With the answers to the problem at hand, HM stood up and walked over to the group. The Crusaders has just finished untangling themselves when the Cybertronian reached them.

“I believe I know what went wrong and how to fix it,” HM said calmly, which got all optics on him. He couldn’t help but smile a bit as he said, “We’re going to be playing a little game I like to call Scare Away.”

Start Up Your Engines Arc: Learning Not to Transforms

Cutie Mark Crusaders Transformers! YAY!
Start up Your Engines Arc:
Learning Not to Transform

“So, let me get this straight, we’re going be scaring each other?” Babs asked uncertainly.

“It’s more complicated then that-Babs Seed was it?” HM asked uncertainly, to which the earth pony nodded slightly.

The group has long since moved from the brook they have been at for the last few minutes, to some thicker trees. They had done this to insure privacy and to make sure that no ponies wonder in before the crusaders learn to control their transformations. HM even found a rock to sit on for comfort.

“This might be a little complex for your young minds to understand, but Cybertronians transform through mental commands,” HM said calmly, earning him blank stares. “You six, on the other hand, transform through physical impulses. So, you’ll need to learn to stay in your pony forms without worry of transforming in front of others.”

“And we’re going to do that by scaring each other?” Rumble asked doubtfully.

“Again, it’s more complicated then that,” HM replied to the young Pegasus hybrid and then address the group, “What I’m going to have you do is break into groups. One group will hide in the trees, while other group will wonder around in their pony bodies.”

“Oh, Ah I think Ah get it!” Applebloom exclaimed, “You us to try and stay ponies while the others try to scare us, right?”

“Correct,” HM replied kindly, nodding at the earth pony. “Now all we need to do is break off into teams, and then we can begin. So…who want to be on what team?”

The group quickly began chatting among themselves and HM picked on some that was being said. One of the member suggested the group pair off by type, while other suggested their randomized their pairing. HM couldn’t help but smile a little as he continue to listen in on the groups’ suggestion.

I can’t explain it, but watching these young sparklings is making my own spark soar, HM thought with a bit of contentment. He continued to listen to the group for a few more minutes, a feeling of contentment overtaking him. He turned serious soon after and clapped to gain the crusaders’ attention.

“How about this then…? You will break up into groups of three, sound good?” HM asked kindly, to which the crusaders nodded. “Ok, so who want to be on want team?”

The group once again began chatting among themselves and HM allowed them to choose for themselves. Suddenly, Scootaloo jumped up, hand wavering in the air, and her thrusters hidden under her wings activated, thrusting her high into the air, screaming. They thrust the confused Pegasus filly into the air only to cut out suddenly. She would have a nasty reunion with the ground, if HM hadn’t jumped from his spot and caught her.

“You ok?” HM asked as he gently set Scootaloo onto her feet.

“Yeah, I’m fine, but what was that?” Scootaloo asked as her face lit up. “It was so awesome!”

HM chuckled slightly as he patted the young sparkling on the head. “We will deal with that later. But something tells me you have an idea for the teams,” he said kindly.

“Oh right!” Scoots said and then looked at the group. “I was thinking we could do an old versus new thing. What do you think?”

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle smiled and nodded. They looked at their new members and they also seem onboard with the idea. Well, Rumble didn’t mind the idea, Dinky was indifferent like normal. It was Babs that seems to have problems with the idea. She was about to say something when HM got between the group.

“I don’t mean to sound rude, but we should start before you’re missed,” the Cybertronian said politely, and then looked at the new members. “You three will start things out, and in 15 minutes we will change. Now, please go and hide.”

Babs looked at her cousin for about a minute before fleeing into the mess of trees with her friend, the group stumbling a little due to still being unfamiliar with their new bodies. Once the group was hidden among the trees, HM looked at the founding members and singled them to transform. The founding members transformed, and HM were surprised to see them transforming much easier then before. They also shaved their time by 30 seconds.

Once the three had changed into their pony forms, they galloped into the trees, ready to face whatever might come their way.

(…)

“And I say I should lead this group!” Babs said with a bit of anger to her voice. “I have been in this group longer then you have, Rumble.”

The gray hybrid just rolled his optic sensors lazily and replied, without looking at the slightly ticked off earth pony, “We just scaring them. We don’t need to have a team leader.”

Babs grunted and looked ready to say something only for the sound of a twig breaking put an end to that. The group quickly hid behind a large tree, ready to scare the founding members witless. Well…Rumble and Babs hid, Dinky had remain in place, once again staring off into space. When the Manehatten pony realize that the spacey pony could ruin their surprise, she rushed to the pony, grabbed her and returned to the tree, all without stumbling once.

At the very least, this little exercise was also helping the crusaders learn to handle their new bodies.

The group was on edge as they waited for their prey to come closer. They spied a shadow on the ground and were ready to pounce. Rumble and Babs nearly tripped over themselves when the shadow was revealed to be nothing more then a squirrel. The two watched as the squirrel stopped in front of their hiding spot, its nose twitching in rhythm, and rubbing its face shortly after coming into view. The small critter left soon, and the new members calm down.

The group quickly settled and waited for the founding members to appear, and if they didn’t in the next minute and half, the group would move to another location. This was, after all, meant to be a Scare Awa. Unfortunately that was enough time for boredom to set in, and Babs found herself staring at the spaced out pony beside her.

The Manehatten could admit that there’s something about the purple unicorn that creeps her out. Still, her first visit to Ponyville taught her not to make rash judgment due to appearances. That almost ended with mud in the filly’s face, literally. Unfortunately, boredom won over her fears and she lean in close to Rumble.

“Say, do you know what’s the deal is with Dinky?” Babs asked uncomfortable.

Rumble cast a sideway glance to the purple unicorn, and couldn’t but shutter inwards from the blank stare on the unicorn’s face. He turned his eyes forward, and began speaking lowly.

“I really don’t know. She wasn’t like that a few weeks ago?” Rumble looked at Babs and frown when he noticed the skeptical look she was giving him. “I know, I know, but it’s true. A few weeks ago, she was filled with energy and knew how to have fun.”

Babs looked at Dinky and then back at Rumble, her disbelieving expression deepens. Rumble sigh and went back to his look out.

“I know how it sounds, but I’m being serious here,” the gray Pegasus said. “One day she just came to class like that. No pony knows why she’s like that now. It’s creepy, alright.”

Babs was still unconvinced and was about to say something else, until a familiar voice was heard.

“I still don’t know about this, girls.”

Everything was instantly forgotten as the group saw the founding members wonder into view. The short time the group had been apart, two of the founding members had gone into a small bickering match. Applebloom and Scootaloo were arguing about something, but they weren’t close enough for the entire argument to be made out. Only Sweetie seems concerned, constantly checking her surroundings with a bit of fear on her face.

Rumble and Babs exchanges looks and the earth pony nodded. She looked at Dinky and lightly took her by the wrist. The three new members next stealthily mode their way through the trees, trying to keep as quiet as possible! They soon approached the founders, still trying to be as quiet as possible. The earth pony and Pegasus hybrid looked at each other once last time, with a message being sent between the two.

They turned their attention to the founding members, and waited. The founding group was close, and best of all, two out of the three members were busy arguing among themselves. The new members couldn’t help but smile as they looked at either other one last time, and Babs grabbed Dinky as the group pounced.

The earth and Pegasus pony let out small roars when they leapt in front of the founding members and earned a startle jumped from the already jumpy Sweetie Belle, and she transformed on the spot. Scootaloo just titled her head to the right as she stared at the crusader whom was supposed to scare her. To her credit Applebloom didn’t transform when Rumble scared her. She instead acted on her earth pony’s instincts, and spun on her front hooves and bucked Rumble right in the chest.

The surprise gray pony groans as he felt himself go flying backwards. The wings on his shoulders suddenly opened up and fired up, slowing him down and keeping him on his feet. He stopped about five inches from his prey and fell to his knees, moaning lightly as he rubbed the spot he was kicked.

“Oh, my goodness!!” Applebloom exclaimed as she ran up to the Pegasus, transforming in the process. “Ah so sorry, Rumble. Ah just acted. Ah didn’t mean to hurt ya.”

“I’m fine,” the Pegasus colt winced out.

He remained in that position for about a minute until the slight pain in his chest subsided enough and he stood up. He gave the founders a weak smile. That smile disappeared when he realize something.

“So what do we do now?” he asked uncertainly, noticing that the entire group was together.

The group got into think mode and began to think things over. They didn’t have to think long, as a familiar voice reached their ears.

“Well, since you have found and scare the group, about how we turn things around and now it’s the new members turned to get scared?” HM said as he appeared from the left side of the group.

The crusaders looked at him, some with confusion and a few with suspicion. HM walked up to the group with a near casual smile.

“Were you following us?” Babs asked suspiciously, glaring at the cybertronian.

HM took a step back, slightly unnerved by the stare the young filly was giving him. He quickly composed himself and looked at the others.

“Well, maybe I should have made this clear earlier, but when one group get scared, it’s then the second group turned to get scared,” MH couldn’t help but flinch when all eyes turned on him with glares. “I probably should have managed that earlier, hehe.”

He laughed nervously as he looked at the ground. He didn’t know why but the eyes of the young ponies affecting him like they were, but they were, and it was making him feel a bit guilty. Was it because he was the reason that these young creatures’ lives were changed into such a way?

I am truly worthless, HM thought depressingly, and let out a mute sigh to compose himself and then address the group, “Listen, I know this isn’t the lives you probably pictured for yourselves and for that I’m truly sorry. But I think we should get back to the Scare Away. You want to learn to control your transformation before someone comes looking for you.”

The group looked at each other, and nodded. Like a game of Hide ‘N’ Seek, the founding members turned around (and in the case of two members, transformed) and began counting. The new members then transformed into their pony states and ran into the trees. Well, Babs and Rumble ran into the trees, Dinky just trotted at a slow pace, and in the end, Rumble came back and helped the purple unicorn along.

HM frown slightly as he watched the emotionally disconnected unicorn. He thought about asking the others, but didn’t get the chance as the founding members finished counting and took off after their friends.

Despite his mix feelings on the matter, HM couldn’t help but smile a bit when the founding members took off, some even giggling as they began to get into the swing of things.

(65 minutes later)

“You know, that was actually kinda fun!” Babs exclaimed in excitement.

It has been a little over a hour since the group began their lessons in staying transformed, and while it isn’t prefect MH was sure that the fillies and colt had learn to keep their transformations under control, to the point they wouldn’t be startled into their new forms. The group was currently on route to the center of the farm, where some expected to see their upset family members.

“It sure was!” Sweetie Belle squeaked, sharing her friends’ excitement, for about a moment and then her excitement was replaced with nervously. “I just hope Rarity isn’t to upset. I should have been home more then 20 minutes ago.”

She looked up at the Cybertronian when he patted her gently on the head. “Don’t worry little sparkling. I will talk to your families and explained to them why you were so late,” HM said kindly.

Sweetie smiled slightly but that was quickly washed away when a thought popped into her head. “Umm, Mister HM…? Aren’t you concern with how you look?” the white unicorn asked uncertainly. “Isn’t that why you taught is so much? So we wouldn’t worry our friends and family with how we look?”

HM sighs and gently moved his hand from the unicorn’s head. “I wouldn’t have that problem either. I just need to look at one good pony and everything should be fine.”

With that said, the transformer walked farther ahead. The group exchanged confused looks, but they knew when to drop matters, and just followed him. The group had nearly reached the farm house when a familiar voice filled the air.

CARAMEL! AH HAVE HAD IT UP TO MY HAT WITH YA!!”

Author's Note

I need some help with a bit of desicion making. I will eventually gave the CMCT triple changing forms, and I'm having trouble decide on the forms. So, I would like to have some input about what you think third forms would best suit each member.

Little bit of infro. The CMCTs are bace on the idea from Beast Machines, which was a spin-off/continuing of Beast Wars, which both aired in mid-to-late 1990. In Beast Machines, the main character transformed through a force of will instead of commands.

Start Up Your Engines Arc: ...And his Name is Steel Hooves

Cutie Mark Crusader Transformers! YAY!
Start Up Your Engines Arc:
…And his Name is Steel Hooves

The group of seven, still hidden thanks to some well placed trees but still closed enough to see what’s going on, watched as a golden tan pony with a blonde mane and hat tare into a yellowish tan pony with a brown mane. Behind the hat-wearing pony were three others. A big, red pony with a blonde mane, was staring stoically as the hat pony continue to tare into the other tan pony.

Beside the red pony were two other ponies, around the size of the hat-wearing pony. The first was a white pony with a purple mane. She was looking a little scared from the tongue lashing that the hat pony was giving the other pony. Next to the white pony was a gray pony with a blonde mane and misaligned eyes.

“Caramel, the only reason Ah gave ya a job here, was because of the massive order Ah got from the princess,” the hat wearing pony said with an irritated sigh. “But that’s the fifth bunch of apples you ruin today!”

Caramel tried to speak but he was tripping over his own words. It probably didn’t help matters that he was getting an intense glare from the hat-wearing pony.

From their hiding spot, the CMC and HM watched this event unfold, and the Cybertronian was a little scared at what he saw. He lean down to Applebloom and whispered, “Who are those two?”

“That’s mah big sister Applejack,” the hybrid replied with a bit of fear in her voice. She then composed herself and pointed to the other pony. “And that’s one Caramel. We hired him due to the workload this year, but he’s a bit of a klutz.”

HM looked at Caramel, studying him slightly. He seems pretty average and probably wouldn’t stand out in the crowd. And while he wasn’t the best choices, this pony would have to do.

Now let see if Doctor Sparkle’s scanner works, HM thought uncertainly.

He gave all of his attention to the stallion, his eyes snapping open. The spun clockwise as a thin green beam shot out from them, straight for Caramel. The beams began to scan the small stallion, and yet no one near him seems to notice the process. The crusaders, however, watched in awe at the sight they were seeing.

The cybertronian was in the process of scanning when he notices something weird. There was this strange green aura around Caramel. He noticed that the aura was rather aggressive. It violently thrashed around the pony, like it was wanted to be free. The thing was creepy and a little off-putting.

He ignored the aura and continued with his scanning process. HM was about 80% done with the scan when a warning alert began to sound. Before the Cybertronian could act, he felt a massive backlash from an overload in his T-cog.

“GAAH!” HM screamed as he tumbled backwards.

“Are you okay?” Sweetie asked as she rushed over to her new friend’s side.

The cybertronian groan lightly as he got into a sitting position. He gave the white unicorn a small smile as he began an internal systems change. Once he was sure there were no major damage, MH stood back up, and looked at the group near the barn. The group of grown ponies didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary, as Applejack continued her tongue lashing on the poor Caramel. HM stared at the quivering pony, deep in thought.

“What the hay just happened?” Scootaloo asked in concern.

MH looked at the concern pony and let out a faint sigh. “I really don’t know. The genetic scanner installed in my being has a failsafe to stop me from scanning two organic life-forms at the same time,” the mysterious visitor said reluctantly.

Scootaloo titled to the right in confusion. It was clear that she didn’t know what HM was talking about. The robotic life-form saw this and smiled, as he patted the young pony on the head, earning a light scowl from her.

“Don’t worry about it, little sparkling,” HM said kindly. “It something that only concerns me.”

Scootaloo still didn’t understand it, but just let it slide with a slight shrug, which HM found a little odd as he watched the young pony turned her attention back to the grown-ups. HM also looked back at the fight, and noticed that Caramel was leaving with his head and tail hanging. The cybertronian kicked on an infrared scanner and easily spotted the aura around him. It has become even more violent then it was a few minutes ago.

Like I told Scootaloo, that failsafe should have only activated if I was trying to scan to life-forms at the same time, MH thought. So what does that say about this Caramel pony?

He watched as the suspicious pony left the farm and noticed that aura went through several changes in the span of a few seconds. Once he was out of side, HM turned his attention to the group, who had since moved on to a different conversation. HM tuned his audio sensors so he could listen better.

“Oh my Applejack, what that all really needed?” the white pony said with a bit of sympathy. “I almost feel bad for the poor dear.”

The irritated pony sighs and looked at her friend, a look of guilt on her face and began rubbing the back of her neck. “Ah may have gone a tad bit overboard. But Ah just worried sick about Applebloom, Rarity,” the farm pony admitted weakly.

“I know what you mean,” Rarity replied. “Sweetie Belle is usually never tardy. OHHH, how do I wish there were a device that ponies could carry with them and allow us to get a hold of each other anytime we like.”

HM gasp as he remembered why he was here in the first place. He began looking around the group and settled on the big pony. His eye snapped opened as he scanned the stallion. Once he was done, he looked at the group again. He settled on Applejack and scanned her next.

“Okay, I’m done,” HM said to the group. “Now I‘m going some place private for what comes next.”

The Cybertronian turned and headed deeper into the trees. The crusaders look at him and began to following their new friend. Babs walked up the HM and cast him a suspicious glare.

“I thought you said you couldn’t ‘scan’ two ponies?” the Manehatten pony asked suspiciously.

It was clear that Babs wasn’t to trusting of the newcomer, but that didn’t effect HM in the slighted, as he looked at the tan pony.

“I said I couldn’t scan two ponies at once,” the Cybertronian replied calmly, and then addressed the group, “You all don’t need to follow me, you know.”

The crusaders exchanged looks and then looked at HM, Applebloom speaking for the group, “Well, we’re kinda curious to see what you’re planning on doing.”

The robot-like creature looked at the determined faces that the crusaders put on, and sighed. He knew enough about organic life-forms that once they become stubborn there almost no talking them out of an action once they had decided on it. So he figured he would let them tag along.

The group soon reached a thick in the trees, and HM looked around. This seems like the prefect spot to begin; it wasn’t to far away from the farm, but still enough distance that no one would disturb them. He nodded his approval and looked at the group.

“This would only take a minute, so please be patient,” HM replied kindly, and then touched the right side of his head with two fingers.

The robot closed his eyes and group could hear soft beeps and other sounds coming from their robotic friend, and the group exchanged confused looks. True to his word, a minute passed and MH opened his eyes.

“Excuse me Mister HM, can I ask what you just did?” Sweetie asked curiously.

“That’s simple-Sweetie Belle, right?” HM asked doubtfully and was reward with a quick. “I alter the scans I got from the big pony by adding features form the hat-wearing pony.”

The crusaders gave their new friend blink stares, and for reasons he couldn’t fully understand, HM found himself chuckling under his breath. It wasn’t long before one of the crusaders stepped forward to the voice the thought that was on everyone’s mind.

“Why do you need to do something like?” Babs asked suspiciously.

“If I don’t I would look exactly like that red pony,” HM replied seriously. “Now, please stand back. I have never used this feature before and I don’t know what will happen.”

The group did as they were told and took a few steps back. HM took several deep breaths to compose himself and then activated his T-cog as he closed his eyes.

The crusaders watched with awe and bit of fear as they watch their new friend’s body began to open up. His arms and legs extended from the joints, and the plates around the limb opens up, showcasing the various wires and other things the crusaders couldn’t identify. They watched in amazement as their friend’s chest opened up and revealed a growling ball, just like the ones their saw on his ship.

HM suddenly began moaning and groaning lightly as the cape behind him broke into four pieces and began moving around his body. The sounds he was making become more intense as the crusaders watched the plates that once made up his cape move to his shoulders and broke apart again, the plates on his shoulders forming into small triangle pods. The new piece then traveled down the arms, the plates taking the shape of a pony head and covering the top of his hands.

The lower half of the cape moved down the legs and moved to the front as their settled on their forelegs, forming into shin guards. Next, the body began to close up, and the crusaders watch as more changed appeared throughout the alien’s body. His chest became more rounded around the breast area, and flat around the abs. Pony-like legs grew out from his back, as his body’s coloring faded into a tan with red tint coloring.

Finally, his helmet changed to match the rest of his body, and his optic sensors open up briefly to show they had turned to a jade green. The Cybertronian fell to his kneels as he let the last of his sub-systems reroute themselves.

I didn’t expect that! HM thought through the pain he was experiencing. Once the new section subsided, he accessed his systems, to see what have changed. Artificially nerve system…that would explain what I felt just now. Hmm, artificially digestion system…? I wonder what that means.

The Autobot might have pondered this thought a little farther, if he didn’t feel something touching his arm. He turned his optic sensors to the outside and saw the concern faces of the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Even Dinky was looking at him with a bit of concern.

“Are you okay?” asked a concern Babs.

HM managed a weak smile as he stands. “I’m fine. I wasn’t expecting the pain,” he replied through a strain voice. “Now, let’s see what we got.”

The natural transformer then transformed, and CMC finally saw what the process was like. HM transformed similarly to the CMC, with several of body part folding up, like his feet folding up and being covered with pony hooves. Unlike the CMC, his arms were brought together to from a long neck as the legs behind him fold out and replaced the arms. The pony face grew out slightly as it covered the robotic face as it got slightly longer, and his helmet opened with a blonde mane appearing and the helmet itself turning into soft fur. Finally, the metal plate turned into fur as a tail grown out.

“Well…how do I look?” HM asked curiously and were meant with dumbfounded stares.

The founding members couldn’t believe their eyes. There, standing right in front of them, was some sort of creepy copy of their favorite silent stallion. HM has the built of Big Mac, only slightly softer, and he was a few inches shorter then the stoic pony. His muzzle is slightly rounder as well. His coat was tan, slightly deeper then Applejack’s and there was a noticeable red tint to it. His mane and tail was blonde like the older apples and combed.

And to the CMC’s surprised, he had a cutie mark! There was a shiny red apple with a large slice cut out on his flank…for about three seconds, when it disappeared in a flash of light, causing gasps to escape the crusaders.

“What happen to your cutie mark?” Scootaloo exclaimed, pointing at her friend’s flank with her right hoof.

HM blinked and looked at his flank, lost as to what the group was worrying over.

“…Cutie mark? What’s a cutie Mark?” he asked curiously. The group gasps and looked ready to launch into something, but he stopped that by raising his right hoof, and nearly falling on his face. “Listen, you can explain everything later. Now we just need a story and everything should be ready.”

The group looked at each other, suddenly remember what happening. Suddenly, Rumble stepped forward, looking suddenly shy.

“Well, I may have an idea?” the gray Pegasus said shyly.

(A few minutes later)

“So, let mah see if Ah get this straight,” Applejack said. “Ya all were hanging out when you spotted this poor fella’s broken wagon and saw that he was hurt?”

“Yes,” Applebloom, Sweetie and Scootaloo mumbled shamefully, and then Applebloom said, “Sorry Ah missed helping out, sis, but Ah was just trying to do what you taught me.”

The older apple looked at her sister with a small glare for about second and then sighs. She trotted up to the yellow filly and brought her into a loving hug.

“And Ah glad for ya and your friends,” Applejack said with pride and looked at the other founding members. “Just don’t make us worry like that.”

Sweetie and Scootaloo nodded their understanding, and then looked at Rarity. The three were silent as they took their leave, as Derpy had left earlier and have offered to Take Rumble home with Dinky and only Babs remained, have gone off to the room she‘s sharing with her cousin

“And Ah sorry about your loss,” Applejack said, turning to the pony to her right.

“It’s alright,” HM replied with a shrug. “The wagon was old and falling apart. I surprised it lasted as long as it did. I’m just sorry for the lost of my bits.”

“Can he stay sis?” Applebloom asked eagerly. “Ah feel sorry for him.”

“Hmm…” Applejack looked him over and notice his small built. “You’re familiar with bucking trees?”

“I can’t say I’m familiar with farming in general,” HM said and put on a small smile, “But I could give it a try.”

Applejack sighs, but walked up to the mysterious pony and took him by the hoof. “Ah guess Ah don’t have a choice, seeing of how Ah fired Caramel. Say, what’s ya’re name?”

“You can call me…Steel Hooves,” HM replied reluctantly.

Author's Note

Sorry if the ending felt a bit rushed here. But I'm trying to make this story a four-page, around 2000 words.

Plus, if readers are confused with HM (Now be called Steel Hooves from this point forward), I will be explaining his backstory in a little arc.

Start Up Your Engines Arc: The Enemy in The Shadow

Cutie Mark Crusader Transformers! YAY
Start Up Your Engines Arc:
The Enemy in the Shadows

“You are an idiot!” screamed a brown pony as he slapped Caramel, knocking him to the ground.

The earth pony rubbed his sore cheek for a moment, and then glared up at the one who stroke him. Though the room was very dark, with nearly no lighting, he could easily make out the pony who just hit him. It was none other then Time Turner, otherwise called Doctor Whooves for his obsession with time travel. And he wasn’t the only pony there. Behind the brown earth pony were some of the well-know but crowd-blenders of Ponyville.

There was Colgate, the dentist of Ponyville, and next to her was Cloudchaser, part of the Ponyville weather team. Next to her was Flitter, another member of the weather team, and some ponies believed to be the sister of Cloudchaser. The final member of the group was none then…Cupcake!

The group was glaring at the earth pony as he got to his feet. Well, Time, Colgate, Cloudchaser and Flitter were all glaring at Caramel, Mrs. Cake actually looked concern as she stare at the poor thing.

“It wasn’t my fault!” Caramel growled angrily. “I can’t help that this pony shell I’m wearing is such a klutz! The longer I’m like this, the clumsier I feel!”

Time Turner sighs heavily and turned away from the pony. “We don’t want to disappoint our queen anymore then we want to. And we don’t want to incur her father’s wraith, either.” The stallion said as he walked to a nearby covered window and pushed over the curtain, looking at the outside world. “We all remember what happen to the last unit that disappointed our grand overload.”

The entire group shudder at the thought of their grand leader, and what they witness him do to a group that once failed him. Time Turner turned away from the window and returned to the group.

“And as such, you all are aware of how failure isn’t an option here,” Time said, addressing the group and then locked eyes with Caramel. “We waited three months to get close to the farmer and less then a week you screw it all up. So tell me, Unit 6772, what do you plan to do to correct this?”

All eyes turned to Caramel, or rather, Unit 6772, waiting for his answer. 6772 looked at Turner straight in the eye, and the shadow of a grin began to form.

“Before leaving that farm, I saw a new pony and learn that he doesn’t have a place to stay. Knowing the Apples and their soft hearted ways, they would no doubt offer him a place to stay,” 6772 said confidently, “Then all we will need now to do is wait until this newcomer is alone.”

“AH, I believe I get it now,” Cloudkicker said in realization. “Since he’s new to town, there wouldn’t a lot of ponies who would know him.”

“Correct,” 6772 replied to the fake weather pony. “And knowing that insane pink pony, she would throw that newcomer a party. We make the switch then, right, Unit 6871?”

6772 looked at Miss Cake, now revealed to be Unit 6871, who looked reluctant, to say the least. All eyes turned to the fake cake and she let out a faint sigh as she nodded. Time nodded his approval of the plan and looked at 6772.

“This is an acceptable plan, but I want you continue to follow this new pony. If we get the choice we will replace him sooner, understood?” Time asked sternly, to which the group nodded. “Good. Now, Units 6991 and 6997, continue following the ones called Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy.”

Cloudkicker, now known to be Unit 6991, and Flitter, Unit 6997, both saluted and then flew into darkness. Time next looked at 6871 and missed the downcast look the fake cake was sporting.

“Unit 6871, you will continue to look after the pink one, and don’t let any of her insanity distract you from your mission,” the brown stallion said coldly.

Unit 6871 looked hesitant for a few seconds before nodding weakly, and disappearing into the shadows. Tim looked at the final member of the group, and didn’t need to say anything as Colgate saluted and disappeared into the darkness, with 6772 following close behind.

Time Turner smiled to himself and began going around the area, drawing back curtains and allowing light to flood the room and revealing some sort of clock shop. The fake pony had just finished pulling back the last curtain when he heard a knock at the door.

“Right on time,” Time muttered dryly as he walked up to the door and opened it, to reveal a certain lavender alicorn. The fake pony smiled in fake kindness as he ushered in his guest. “I so glad you could join me, princess Sparkle.”

(…)

Steel Hooves formerly know as HM, slump against a tree as he panted heavily. His gyro mentors were all redlining and his energon supply was dangerously low, but for some reason felt contentment in the work he had done. He looked to his right and saw seven full buckets of apples. He smiled as he got a good whiff of the organic produce. During his crush course in pony farming, he had learned that several of his sub-systems now mimic living beings’ senses. That includes a sense of smell, and the signal he was getting from the fruit was causing something to happen in his lower section.

I remember now…organic life-forms process food for energy and nourishment, Steel thought in realization.

The biggest question on the disguise transformer’s mind is if he could actually eat one? He knew that he have an artificial digestion system, but does that actually mean he could eat food meant for organics? Still…the sensation in his lower area was strong, nearly overpowering even! Before he knew what he was doing, he had reached out and took a small apple in his legs, mimicking the motion he seen the Apples do a couple of times before. He set it on the top of his hoof and stared the fruit, treating it like it was some sort of alien object, which was true…in a sense.

The Autobot in the pony body slowly brought the produce to his mouth and use his new sense of smell to get it a good whiff. The sensation was overwhelming, near overriding any logic the robotic life-form had as he brought the fruit closer to his mouth and small bit out of it.

The feeling on his artificial taste bubs was like nothing he had ever experience before. The juice, the favor, the way the chucks mussed around his mouth, it was just so…powerful! He was even more surprised when he swallowed and felt the food go down his throat. No, it wasn’t the act of swallowing that surprised him. It was when the food reached his artificial digestion system, and he felt it become a sort of subtitle energon and giving him some energy back.

So this is what Doctor Sparkle indeed to do, Steel thought, lazily munching on his apple. The food is processed into a form of energon that can help me stay activate. Still, it’s not a total replacement.

The flax pony finished off his apple and lazily tossed the core to the ground. He lean against the tree and began rubbing his artificial stomach. “But by the All-Spark that was good!”

He reached for another one, eager to sink his teeth into the juicy delight.

“Ah wouldn’t do that ‘artner, seein’ how you don’t have the bites to cover it,” Steel looked to his right and saw Applejack with a basket of apples on her back.

The fake pony smiled sheepishly as he got to his feet. He trotted over to the farmer and frown when he noticed the basket on her back.

“Do you need any aid with anything else?” Steel asked curiously.

Applejack shook her head and offered a kind smile to the disguised robot. “Nah, don’t fret over it ‘artner. Ah ain’t any old city pony. I can hold my own. Beside, Granny would tan my hid if you’re in no shape for welcoming dinner,” the farmer said kindly.

Steel blinked as the farmer and he began walking towards the barn with her. For reasons he couldn’t fully understand, he felt heat building under his optic sensors. He tried to shrug off the feeling as he looked at the farmer.

“You don’t need to do anything in my honor,” Steel said humbly, but thought bitterly, I don’t deserve to have anything held in my honor.

The light-hearted chuckling from the farmer caught the Cybertronian off guard, and he looked at her, blinking in confusion.

“Don’t fret about the small stuff or will turn into mah friend Rarity,” applejack joked light-heartedly. “And holding ya a dinner is our way of welcoming you to our humble home.”

Steel, despite everything he was currently feeling, felt a gentle smile bloom on his face. That smile was quickly lost when the farmer next spoke.

“Besides, the fillies seem rather taken with ya,” Applejack chirped in.

Steel looked down at the ground, feeling of regret once more bubbling up in processor. This didn’t go unnoticed by applejack.

“You okay, ‘artner?” she asked in concern.

Steel sigh and slow his pace, to a near stop. “I just get the feel that Babs Seed doesn’t like me that much,” he replied reluctantly, telling only half truths.

Now it was Applejack turn to sigh and she came to a full strop, her eyes downcast heavily. Steel stopped and waited for the mare to speak.

“Babs’ situation is kinda difficult to say,” the farmer replied reluctantly. “Her family is having some troubles and she was sent to stay with us. She thinks it just for the school break, but Ah’m starting to think she’s figuring stuff out.”

Steel was speechless. Sure, he wasn’t expecting what he just learns, but still, it was somewhat disheartening. But what came next truly surprised him. The usual compose pony looked at the robotic life-form with pleading eyes.

“Please, don’t tell Babs?” Applejack pleaded softly.

Stunned beyond words, Steel could only nod, and with that done, the two resumed their walk, walking in a slight tense silence.

(…)

After the rest of the apples have been stored for the day, the family then moved onto dinner, and though Steel was reluctant to have anything held in his honor, he couldn’t deny that he had a good time. The food was amazing and Steel had all he could do just to keep himself in control.

After dinner ended, the Apple and their guest had settled down and Steel was able to get to know the other members of the apple family better. He even found himself chuckling from some of Granny Smith’s old stories. Time flew as the visitor from another world got to know his hosts, and soon every pony in the room shuffled off to bed, as they had an another early morning of work.

Despite needed a good cycle of power down to recharge himself Steel found himself unable to go into recharge mood. His processors were working at triple over time, as he gone over the event of the day. In the end, he found himself unable to power down his systems, and decided to walk off the extra energy the best he could.

Before leaving the grounds, he decided to check on the young sparklings. And it was a good thing he did, because he learns that when they power down they changed back into their robot forms. He made should that the two were covered up so no pony wonders in and see them like this. He even left them a small note, telling that about this new problem.

Once that was out of the way, the disguised robot quietly made his way out of the house, and began wondering around the area. It wasn’t long before he reached the town called Ponyville, and set about wondering around the town, creating an inter map of the area out of habit. As he wonder around town, mapping the place, he could help but feel a sense of calmness wash over him.

He couldn’t put his foot on it, but this calming feeling was nearly overwhelming, just like when he first tasted food. He smiled an easy smile as he wondered into what he believe was the town square, where a statue rests. Steel looked up at the marvel of stone, and ponder softly to himself.

“Can I really live here? Or would I make the same mistake, just like the last time I visited a world of organics?” Steel sigh and looked away from the statue. “Who am I kidding? A worthless pile of bolts like me could never belong anyways.”

He was about to leave when his amplified audio sensors picked up a sound. He immediately snapped into battle pose, his entire body upright with his forelegs out in front of him, and he fell over two seconds later. He quickly got back to his feet, and took up a battle pose more fitting for a pony’s body.

“Is anypony out there?” Steel called out into the dark, remembering to use the phrases he heard the Apples use. He was soon answered when a familiar pony appeared in front of him, and he relaxed his guard slightly. “You’re…Caramel, right?”

The clumsy pony smiled a sinister smile as he said sinisterly, “Sometime I Caramel. Sometimes-” the pony was suddenly engulfed in a wisp of green fire, and when it died down… “-other times, I’m some pony else.”

Steel could only gawk at the pony in front of him…a pony that looked exactly like him!

Author's Note

Well, one many to go until the start-up Arc is finished. And we will finally get to see the enemy next chapter, though it probably wouldn't come to as much surprise.

Start Up Your Engine Final: The Enemy Strikes

Cutie Mark Crusader Transformers! YAY
Start Up Your Engine Final:
The Enemy Strikes

What in the All-Spark am I seeing? Steel thought in fright.

The robotic life-form thought that he was staring at the clumsy farm help that was fired shortly before he made himself known to Apples, only to change into an exact copy of his pony form right before his eyes. It was just so weird; too weird in fact, his processors were having trouble processing the information.

Still…old soldier programming kicked in and he began to study his new foe. He even activated infrared, to satisfy a curious itch. He wasn’t surprised when he noticed the same aura as before. Only now, it was much calmer and sparked with confidence.

“What’s the matter?” the obviously fake pony asked sadistically. “Don’t like the pony in the mirror?”

The fake pony suddenly hissed and threw himself at the real deal. Steel, not panicking, spun around on his front legs, using the balance he gained from bucking trees, and delivered a hard buck to the charging pony. Steel gasped, surprised by his actions, and turned around to see if the pony was damaged. He was surprise to see that a strange pony with insect features had replaced his double.

Steel trained his optic sensors onto the creature. It has the basic shape of a pony, only slightly thinner, shorter and covered in an exoskeleton. It has a horn and wings, like the some of the young sparklings, only the wings were a different bred and higher on the body. Finally, the creature had a pair of fangs above black eyes that seems so soulless.

If anything, this creature remained Steel of these old holo-vids of these Insecticons he use to watch when he was bored.

But what is this thing? Steel gasped when the words of the young sparklings came rushing back to him. This must be a Changeling Dinky and Rumble mentioned earlier. But why is it attacking me?

The autobot didn’t have time to pondering this thought farther, as the changeling recovered and took to the air, his wing making a buzzing sound. Steel readied himself when he noticed the horn on the changeling’s head become incased in energy. He noticed that the energy was similar to the aura that surrounded the changeling when he was in disguise.

The changeling released the energy he been storing and Steel dodged it by jumping to his right. The pony-like bug smirked as he dive bomb his prey, and right into the pony’s waiting back hooves, for a powerful buck.

Steel turned forward and watched in awe as the creature was send high into the air. He was still amazed at the raw power this shell has. He had learned that the hard way when he bucked a tree to hard. The tree nearly broke when he hit it and that had earned him a hard lecture from Applejack about the strength all earth ponies had.

He shook off the old memories and looked at the ground next to him. The spot he stood in just second before was now a little black, but otherwise fine.

What a predictable attack, Steel observed. The blast lacked any real power behind it. It wanted me to dodge so it could tackle me from above. A Con tried to pull that trick on me once, so there was no way I wouldn’t have spotted the signs.

The Cybertronian was brought out of his thoughts by a loud hissing. He looked up to see the changeling dive bombing him again. He saw that its horn was aglow, brighter then before and he knew what that meant. He jumped back just as a powerful blast hit the spot he was standing in.

Old programming kicked on at this point, and Steel readied himself for the fight coming. The changeling charged him, and he acted fast, turning to his side. He next swings his tail in front of the changeling’s eyes, temporally blinding the creature. Next, he directed the creature using his tail and it crushed right into the ground. The creature was quicker to recover then Steel gave it credit for, as it jumped back into the air, and continued to attack in the same method.

Steel quickly fell into a routine; the changeling would attack, either by dive bombing or tried firing a blast. The transformed Autobot would either dart to the side or jump back or retaliate if he could. The process was a slow one, but one that having the best results. The changeling was tiring himself out while Steel wasn’t wasting much energy.

I have seen sparkling fresh off the mold with better battle sense then this creature, Steel thought with aspiration.

The changeling was attacking with his horn blast again, and Steel decided it was time to end things. He rushed forward when the changeling fired and lined himself up for a powerful buck. He was suddenly blasted from the right, and he was sent to the ground. He managed to recover and got to his feet, in time to avoid another dive bomb from the air-born changeling.

Steel then distance himself from the foe was just fighting, and began to scan the area. It was obvious that there was more then one changeling in the area. So…did that mean that one that has been attacking him was nothing but a decoy, meant to wear him down? He activated infrared, but didn’t get a chance to use it as he was blasted from the right again.

Steel manage to stay on his feet, but was also starting feel the effect of repeated blasts to his side. A minor damage warning was sounding. At this point a fight or flight response was itching at the back of the transformer’s processor. At the same time, old combat experience began to resurface and made him realize one critical element…he was outnumbered.

So, he decided it was time to run for familiar ground. He spun around and ran for it using the map he was in the middle of creating to plot a course back to the farm.

(…)

Unit 6772 groan as he landed. Though one couldn’t see it from a distance, the changeling was hurt, more in pride then in body. The pony was tougher then he thought, and he quickly turned his usual tactic against him. It seems like all would be lost, until somepony blindsided the pony, and he soon ran afterwards.

“You are pathetic,” Time Turner said coldly, appearing from the shadow from the changeling’s right.

Despite his confusion at his commander officer’s appearance, 6772 saluted as the brown pony returned to his natural form. He looked nearly identical to the changeling in front of him, except he was a few inches taller, and wearing pale blue armor. The strangest thing about this changeling was the item strap to his side. It was some kind of gray cynical tube and looked quite alien.

“Commander Zeke! I wasn’t aware you were here?” 6772 said orderly.

Zeke glared at the changeling drone, a disapproving scowl on his face. “Of course I’m here. Do you actually think I would let you handle things after you screwed up so much?” the commander asked coldly.

If his commander’s words affected him in any ways, 6772 hid it rather well. Zeke walked up the changeling drone and sized him slightly. 6772 was unflinching as his commander’s eyes scan him. The Changeling commander sighs faintly, and activated his magic.

“The other members of your unit are currently leading the pony to a dead end,” Zeke explain stoically as he levitated the mysterious object to his subordinate. “I will let you use this weapon to finish off the pony. This is your last change, understand? Be thankful I’m giving you that much.”

6772 wordless took the weapon into his own magical hold, and saluted before hurrying after the fleeing pony. Zeke watched as his subordinate disappeared into the shadow, his expression softening slightly.

I’m hard on my subordinates because I don’t want them to suffer the same fate that my own commander suffered, when he failed our grand overlord. Right... Brother? Zeke thought with bit of sympathy.

(…)

So that bug was just a decoy! Steel thought in stress as he ducked into a nearby alley to avoid a blast from the right.

Steel had quickly learned that he was being targeted. When he hard tried to flee to Sweet Apple Acres, the only place he was semi-familiar with, he had found himself being blast from all sides. And to make matter worse he had learned that the enemy was fairly familiar with the land; they were clearly herding him to a certain location.

I starting to regret having my night vision options removed, Steel thought regretfully.

A blast hit near Steel’s left front hoof as he was exiting the back of the alley, and forced him to the right. He jumped to avoid a blast aimed at his front, and in the process turned him to the left, and into a much wider area. A blast went over the transformers head and duck, going into a roll in the process. He was blasted from the right just as got to his feet, knocking him to the left slightly, but otherwise stayed on his feet.

The Autobot in a pony body growled angrily to himself, and switched to infrared as he slowed to a cautious trot. It might not be the night vision he wanted, but if the enemy was out there, he should be able to see them. He snapped his head in all direction, trying to catch a glance of the enemy. Steel’s frustration started to grow when he couldn’t fine even a trance of the enemy.

Something isn’t right here, Steel thought in frustration. Not only does this enemy know the terrain well, they close to boxing me in.

He was blasted from the front and barely avoided it be jumping back. He growled again as he looked around. Even with infrared on, he couldn’t see the enemy. He wants back to normal vision, and looked around for an escape route. He spotted a nearby alley and run for it, despite his old soldier programming telling him that what the enemy wanted.

But if I reached the area and transform into my natural, I might be able to scare them enough to break their formation, Steel thought, starting to get a little desperate.

He reached the alley and stopped. He peered into the mouth, trying to find any trance of the enemy. He looked behind him when he noticed that the blast fire had stopped. Curious, he tried to step away from the alley, and was meant with a blast aimed at his back feet. He growled angrily as he slowly made his way into the alley.

So they did want me in this specific alley. But why? Steel pondered to himself as he ventured into the alley.

The disguised Cybertronian soon got his answer when he came to a dead end, and felt like wiping his processors clean. Trapping your enemy is one of the oldest military tactics, and like a Protoform fresh out of the mold, he had fallen for it. All because he dropped his guard slightly when facing a simple decoy!

Steel scowled as he faced forward and readied himself for the fight ahead. “It doesn’t matter now. All I need to do is transform and I-GAAAAAHHH!” the artificial pony was cut of when he face a powerful blast rip right through him.

Emergency alerts becoming sounding across the board as Steel felt several of his systems go into force shut down. He stumbled as he felt one of the control motors in his right back leg go offline. He tried to reroute some of his backup systems, but all of his systems were going offline to fast for him to manage any sort of save.

This feeling…it-it can-GAAAAHH! Steel’s train of thought was put to an immediate stop when another blast hit him, and he went offline immediately.

(…)

6772 smirked as he watched his prey fall to the ground like a sack of apples. The smirk was quickly replaced with a scowl as he thought about all that he went through because of the pony, as he walked up to the pony and gave him a swift to the gut. The changeling frowns when he noticed that the pony didn’t react in the slighted. He leaned down and checked to see if the inferior creature was still breathing. He was slightly relieved to find the creature breathing.

Now, to finished this,” 6772 replied seriously.

The changeling drone quick but gently set his weapon to the ground, and took two small, gray plates from one of his front legs. He attached one to the lobe on the pony head and the second one to the lobe on his head. The device on the pony’s head blinked twice in red and then became steady. A similar event happened with the device on the changeling’s lobe, only it blinked green before turning steady.

“Good, at least you didn’t mess that up,” 6772 turned around and saluted when he heard his commander’s voice. Zeke walked up to his subordinate and then pass him, and looked down at the unconscious pony. He then looked up at the sky and called, “6991, 6997! Take the prisoner to the base!”

At the commander’s orders, the two undisguised changelings descended from the sky. 6997 lowered herself to the ground and took the unconscious pony in her magic. She struggled to fill him due to changeling magic not being as strong as pony magic. Soon 6991 took the pony by the leg and together two carried off the pony into the night.

“You know what you need to do,” Zeke told his subordinate.

6772 saluted, and changed into the pony named Steel Hooves with a wisp of green fired. The now disguised changeling saluted one last time, and then made his way out of the alley. Zeke watched as his subordinate disappeared and sigh as he slipped back into his Time Turner form and began to walk back to the shop.

“Now…all of the pieces are ready,” Zeke said some solemnly. “We will not fail you, my queen. I will stake my life

Author's Note

Well, the "Start Up Your Engine Arc is done, and now we move onto the next arc; First Oprestions.

First Operation Arc: Babs' Supsicions

Cutie Mark Crusader Transformer! YAY!
First Operation Arc:
Babs’ Suspicions

“There something different about him,” Babs commented suspiciously.

Applebloom sighed for like the tenth time in the last two hours, and looked at her cousin. The Manehatten pony was currently glaring at the pony she hasn’t trusted since meeting him. The other hybrid earth pony followed her cousin’s glance, and watched as Steel bucked a tree clumsily.

The two fillies were currently helping out in the fields, and staying close to their new friend, as requested by Babs. When Applebloom has asked why, Babs had replied that she felt something was off about the supposed robot in disguise, though when questioned farther about it she had remained tight lip about her suspicions. So now the two found themselves picking up apples and watching Steel Hooves.

“Babs,” Applebloom whined as she picked up a couple of stray apples. “We been watching him for nearly two hours, don’t you think it’s time to face the facts?”

Babs sighs lightly, and dropped the apples she been carrying into a nearby basket. She looked at Steel as he bucked another tree and only made a few apples fall. Satisfied with his work, Steel moved onto the next tree.

“It’s just there’s something different about him,” Babs admitted weakly, “And he reminds me a lot of the farm-hoof your sister just fired.”

“Hmm…” Applebloom looked at the new farm-hoof and began to study him.

Steel bucked a tree and watched with a pleased grin as three apples fell into nearby baskets. He then moved onto the next tree. Bloom frown when she did notice how similar that treat was to Caramel. Still…it was only his second day on the job, so she was willing to cut him some slack.

“Ah’m afraid I don’t see it, Babs,” Applebloom said honestly.

Babs growled but decided to keep her mouth closed on the matter, and went about her chores. The rest of the morning went by smoothly if not slowly due to Steel’s poor apple bucking skills. Babs couldn’t help but frown when she looked at a basket. The thing wasn’t even half full! Babs has been around her cousins long enough to know the quality of their works, and this wasn’t such a time.

“Alright, y’all, time to rope it in for lunch!” Applejack said as she trotted up to the group.

The two fillies nodded happily, and ran off with a small cheer. Steel was about to follow them when Applejack stopped him. Babs came to a stop when she heard her older cousin speak.

“Steel before ya goes Ah need to have a word with ya.”

Babs acted quick and hid behind two baskets of apples. She turned her ears to the conversation the older ponies were about to have.

“Listen Steel, you’re a nice fella and all,” Applejack said honestly.

Babs dared a quick peek and was a little surprise at what she saw. Steel Hooves was rubbing the back of his neck, a sheepish smile on his face. She was once again reminded of the farm-hoof that she only meant twice.

“Well, thanks a lot Miss Applejack,” Steel replied bashfully.

Babs couldn’t help but glared suspiciously at the pony, as she was once again reminded of that earth pony. And she wasn’t the only one to see it. Applejack cocked an eyebrow at the gestures, but shrugged it off and focused on the task at hoof.

“But I hired you because I needed the extra hooves for the upcoming libration day festivals,” the element of honesty said sternly. “And frankly you did better two days ago.”

“Maybe I’m just getting use to things about here?” Steel responded weakly.

Babs glared turned even more suspicious, if that was possible. There was that feeling again, that something wasn’t right about that pony, and she was aiming to figure out what.

Applejack sighs faintly and looked the pony right in the eyes. “And why Ah’m sure ya will get into the swing of things, I just don’t have time to waste, not after all the time Ah wasted picking up after Caramel.”

Though it was small and quick, Babs still noticed a quick flicker of anger in the mysterious pony’s eyes. But it was gone quickly, replaced with a look of shame.

“I’m sorry, I would try and do better,” Steel apologized weakly.

“Ok-ay,” Applejack said awkwardly. “Well, how about you head to the house for some lunch.”

“If its okay with you, I think I will stay and try get some more work done,” Steel declined humbly.

“If you insist,” Applejack replied awkwardly.

The farmer watched as her new hired hoof smiled and headed back into orchard. She watched as Steel began bucking trees once again, and then turned and headed towards the house. Babs, employing a tactics she used in Hide ‘a’ Seek, walked around the baskets she has been hiding behind, keeping her hoof steps as light as possible, so her cousin didn’t hear them. Not that it was really needed Applejack was lost in her own mind.

Babs held her breath as she watched her cousin disappeared into the thicket of the trees. Once she was sure she was safe from being caught, she turned her attention to the pony that wasn’t really a pony. She quietly followed after Steel and was surprise to find him not to far in. She also was surprised find the fake pony angrily tipping his hoof against his left temple.

She hid behind a tree and watched as the pony continued to tip against his head, growing angrily with each new gesture.

“Why isn’t this stupid device allowing me to see into that stupid pony’s memories?” Steel demanded angrily.

The pony continued to tip his temple angrily for several seconds, and when nothing happened that the pony wanted to happen, he grew angrier. This continued for nearly a minute, until the fake pony erupted into green flares, transforming into a changeling to the shock of the hybrid pony. The sight before Babs was so shocking she nearly transformed herself. She was able to keep herself in her natural pony form, and even stopped herself from screaming by thrusting her right hoof into her mouth.

Babs, still somewhat in shock, could only watch as the Changeling took something off its head with it magic. The changeling brought the device close to it face, and began to examine it.

“Nothing seems wrong with this thing,” the changeling said, thinking out load. “So why can’t I see into that pony’s mind?”

When the changeling began to shake the machine fiercely, Babs decided it was time to go. Once more employing her sneaking methods, the Manhattan earth filly began to quietly but quickly get away.

And mom thought nothing would come from watching those spy movies, Babs thought as she sneaked away, while making plans.

(Later that day…CMC clubhouse)

“I’m telling you!” Babs shouted fiercely. “That pony is a changeling!”

The group exchanged uncertain looks before looking back at the earth pony.

“Babs, I don’t mean-oh what’s that word Rarity uses when dealing with picky customers-a pessimist, but you sure you’re haven’t been watching too many spy movies?” Sweetie asked, trying to be as kind as possible.

It was early in the afternoon, and Babs had gathered the hybrid pony in the CMC clubhouse, where she had told them everything she had witnessed. It went without saying that most of the Cutie Mark Crusaders were a little on the unbelieving side.

“I don’t watch too many spy movies! Babs snapped angrily, shifting into her robot form, and stomping angrily, causing a small dent and some cracks to form.

The group looked down at the damage, and then turned their attention to the pony that caused it. Babs just smiled sheepishly at the group, and transformed into her pony form. The Manehatten pony took a moment to collect her thoughts, before she spoke.

“Sorry about the floor, I will help to repair it,” Babs muttered weakly to Applebloom, and then spoke more firmly to the rest of the group, “But I’m serious here, that Steel Hooves is a changeling.”

“But wait…” Rumble suddenly said, “…If Mister HM was a changeling what does that mean for us?”

That got some of the crusaders worried, as some begin to chat. Babs cleared her throat to gain her friends’ attention, though she did notice how fearful her friends looked.

“I don’t think he’s been a changeling from the start,” the Manehatten said calmly. “I think he’s been replaced by a changeling.”

That didn’t sit well with the group either, and probably even less with the founding members. They were probably remembering the invasion on the royal wedding.

“But wait?” Applebloom asked suddenly. “How can we be sure he‘s really a changeling, and not if Babs was just seeing things?”

The accused pony glared at her cousin, but that did get the group thinking. If Steel was truly replaced by a changeling then how can they confront him without tipping their hooves? And more importantly how would they deal with the changeling if they exposed him?

“How about we ask him a bunch of questions that only the real Mister HM would know?” Dinky asked emotionlessly.

The group looked at their emotionless friend. Once again she has said something that seems to be the answer they needed. But there was still one question on everypony’s mind…

“So…anypony got any idea how we do this?” Scootaloo asked hopefully.

“Hmm…” like a practice dance the founding members rhythmically got into their traditional “thinking” pose, with the newer members just looking on. That didn’t last long and soon they broke out of their poses, looking around rather sheepishly.

“Umm, any pony got any ideas?” Sweetie muttered sheepishly

The newer members would have groaned if they had realized that this was a near normal thing for the founding members. Thankfully that wasn’t the case here, and soon the entire group was brainstorming ideas. It took them nearly 40 minutes but the group eventually formed a plan, and left their clubhouse to find the supposed changeling.

Turns out they didn’t have to go far. The group of hybrid ponies found their odd friend close to their clubhouse. They watched as he weakly bucked a tree causing about four apples to fall. He wiped some sweat from his brow, took in a deep breath, and bucked the tree again.

Babs nudged her cousin and lean closed to her. “See, there really is something off with him,” she whispered. “I don’t remember seeing him sweat the first time he apple-buck.”

The other earth pony stared at the fake pony, thinking back to when she first watched him buck a tree. She didn’t remember seeing him sweat that time. Applebloom filed that into the back of head, and took a step forward. She cast one final look at her fellow crusaders, as they silently gave her their support. She let out a deep sigh and took another step forward.

“Umm, Mister HM, Ah have a question?” the pale yellow earth pony asked awkwardly.

The tan earth stallion stopped his bucking and looked at the filly with a questioning expression.

“Mister HM…?” Steel repeated perplexingly and then smiled gently, “Now don’t go and play with a tired stallion, that’s a good way to get your rump tanned, as my father would like to say to me when he was tired.”

Steel just chuckled to himself, being the only pony in the area to get his own joke. Meanwhile, Applebloom was looking at the strange combo of her sister and brother perplexingly. She was no longer looking at the pony that wasn’t really a pony. Instead she was looking at Cameral, the pony who said that joke every time he was surprised by another pony. Even his laugh was near identical to the former farm-hoof.

Steel composed himself with a couch when he realized that no one was laughing with him. “What can I do for your hatchlings?” he asked meekly but with an honest smile.

Applebloom cocked an eye as her supposed friend’s choice of words, but choose to ignore it for the time being as she said, “Well, my friend’s and Ah were just wondering how ya’re doing? That was a nasty fall ya take?”

Steel’s smile didn’t falter as he said kindly, “I’m fine. I’m just a little sorry to lose all my belongings, but I was thankful that such a kind group was there to help me. Now, if you would excuse me I should get back to bucking. Don’t want your sister to tan my flank, now do we?”

“No, we don’t,” Applebloom replied, trying to keep her voice calm.

Steel, or the pony pretending to be Steel, just continued to smile as he turned and walked to another tree. The earth pony watched the fake pony began to buck the trees for about 30 seconds, and then turned and gestured for her fellow crusaders to follow her. The group hurried away from the fake pony, getting far enough away so they could talk safely.

“You were right, Babs!” Scootaloo exclaimed once she felt they were far enough away from the changeling. “That wasn’t the same pony!”

“But, how, when, and why...?” Sweetie asked as she started to get a little frantic. “If he was replaced by a changeling then we don’t know who else in town is a changeling?”

The newer member watched as their friend began to go hysterical, and Scootaloo needed to put her friend in a comforting hug. It didn’t take long for Sweetie to regain her composure and then looked at the others with renewed courage in her eyes.

“So now that we know Mister HM has been replaced with a changeling, what do we do now?” the white unicorn asked uncertainly.

The crusaders exchanged uncertain looks. Though they now know the truth, what do they do with that information? They doubt that they would believe, mainly because Steel was such a newcomer to Ponyville, and outside of the CMC no pony really knew him.

“Maybe we can do something,” Scootaloo said, starting to get eager, “I mean, we’re now super cool robots, so I bet we can take one changeling hooves down!”

“Ah don’t know, Scoots,” Applebloom said doubtfully. “We don’t know the first things about these bodies. Do you think we can do it?”

Scootaloo looked at her friend with her trademark smile and a devilish glint in her eyes. “Oh yeah, and I got the prefect plan to take down one lone changeling.”

Applebloom looked at her friend uncertainly but she also knew that look all to well. So with a light sigh she said, “Okay Scoots, let hear it.”

The grounded Pegasus smiled brightly, and gestured her friends to gather around her. “Okay, here’s what we do…”

First Operation Arc: To Scare a Changeling

Cutie Mark Crusaders Transformers! YAY
First Operation Arc:
To Scare a Changeling

Unit 6772 wasn’t in the best of moods. Due to his memory linker being faulty he was unable to across the memories of the pony known as Steel Hooves. That had left him at a disadvantage when he tried to pretend he was the blank flank pony. Since he couldn’t use the pony’s memories he couldn’t make himself believable, and out of habit he had fallen back into the habits of his last disguise. That didn’t work out as much as he had hoped. He had learn to late that the mysterious pony had been a better worker then he first thought, and throughout the entire day the farmer would scold him for making a mistake he shouldn’t have.

Who does that inferior pony thinks she is? Ordering me around, 6772 thought, his mood shifting into a bit of anger.

The changeling’s mood quick changed again, going from angry to a bit confuse. He was confused when the younger ponies had come up to him and called him by a strange name. He had dismissed it at the young just playing some sort of game.

“I just live with these creatures until the end and I don’t think I would ever understand them,” 6772 mumbled in exhaustion.

With a heavy sigh, the drone let all of the day’s frustrations go into the back of his mind as he silently made his way though the darken town. The hour was late, most ponies had retired for the night and that made it prefect for the drone make his way to the base to give a not to great report.

Let’s hope the commander’s in an understanding mood, tonight, 6772 thought as misery started set in the drone’s mind.

The drone suddenly stopped, body tensing. He began looking around, feeling something wasn’t right. Despite being intelligent like a pony-maybe more intelligent then ponies-changelings also live by their instincts. Because of their own living conditions and their food gathering methods, changelings had developed heavy fight or flight responds.

And right now all of 6772’s instincts were telling him to run!

The drone pushed this flight respond to the back of his head, as he turned his eyes back to their normal state, so he could use the natural night vision that all changelings process. He tried to act casual as he scanned the area. He made a quick sweep and when he found nothing out of the ordinary, sigh with a hint of relief, relaxed slightly, and morphed his eyes back to the pony’s natural coloring.

I have been here for nearly three months and I’m still jumping at shadows, 6772 thought with a bit of bitter sarcasm. Would my instructors love to see me now?

The changeling was about to resume his journey to their base of operations when a sudden twig snapping caught his attention. His body tensed again, and his instincts were once again pushing against his conscious mind, telling me to make a break for it. He pushed those feelings back again, and began looking around, changing his eyes back to their natural state again. His head snapped over his right shoulder when he heard another twig snap, but didn’t see anything. He kept that position for about a minute, not leaving things to change.

He sighs with growing exasperation, and faced forward, only to nearly jump out of his pony skin when he saw the orange and purple Pegasus filly from earlier standing in front of him.

“Hey, Mister HM!!” Orange, as the changeling would call her due to never learning her actually name, said cheerfully, “Whatcha you doing out this late?”

6772 took a point to regain his composure, and change his eyes back before saying as firmly as possible, “I think the real question here, little filly, is what are you doing out here so late?”

Orange just shrugged and replied chirpily, “I always out this late. This is the best time to do my tricks! Besides, it’s like nopony at home would realize I’m missing.” Though, she meant to say that last part to herself the changeling was still able to hear it.

Being a changeling, even one in disguise, 6772 was still about to pick up on emotions, and he detected a faint hint of bitterness coming off of the hatchling. He quickly pushed his own curiosity out of his head and focus on the task of escaping.

“But…” the filly titled her head slightly to the left, “…what are you doing out here? Didn’t the Apples put you up until you can make it on your own?”

6772 began to panic slightly, but thanks to years of mental training he was able to keep it from showing. Instead, he focused on making up an excuse that the youngling would buy.

“Well, you see…” 6772 said after a moment of pause, “I was feeling restless, with losing all my belongings, and I felt like a small stroll would help ease my mind.”

Orange nodded, and that caused the changeling to smile mentally, thinking he had just won over this little battle of the minds. Suddenly the filly’s demeanor completely changed, going from near innocent to deadly serious in a heartbeat.

“Or maybe…” Orange began to flip her wings, allowing her to hover high enough to see in the disguise creature’s eyes, “…You’re a changeling that replaced my friend,” but the end of the sentence the filly’s tone had become sharper, aimed directly at the changeling.

6772 was panicking so much he feared it would start to show. He began to take a cautious step back, eyes darting around for an escape route. He couldn’t find one as more fillies and a lone colt emerged from the shadows. How he missed them all with his superior vision he didn’t know, nor did he care at the moment. The look he was getting from the six was unnerving. It remained him of the time when the hive had attacked Canterlot and he watched as six inferior ponies had beaten the changelings like it was nothing.

“What are you hatchlings talking about?” 6772 asked nervously. “I’m no changeling. I’m just a wondering pony. Remember, you found me after my accident and were kind enough to help me. Remember?”

The young ponies didn’t seem convinced as one, the youngest Apple 6772 realized, stepped forward. The changeling frowns when he realized she was dangerously close to him, but held his ground, thinking little of the youths in front of him.

“Oh, we remember,” the young apple said seriously. “But, there’s one difference…you weren’t there!”

The filly suddenly snapped around and tried to buck the changeling in the face. Out of instincts 6772 un-morphed his wings and took to the sky. The changeling’s face fell as he realized what he just did, and looked at the hatchlings. To his surprise the group didn’t looked all that surprised either.

‘Umm, I can explain,” 6772 said weakly.

Unfortunately for the changeling, the fillies and colt didn’t like ready to talk things out. 6772 instincts kicked into high gear and this time he listen to them. He zoomed over the hatchlings and made a straightway to the base. He was about a block away from the changelings’ base when training overtook instincts and he slowed to a hover. The changeling landed and morphed his wings into his back as the words of his instructor emerged from his sub-consciousness.

“Remember, if exposed by any means, don’t lead the enemy to your unit! That way, your fellow changeling can continued on if you‘re captured.”

6772 growled slightly as he turned a corner and went in the opposite direction of the changelings’ current base. He knew this area well enough that he could navigate it and hopefully reached one of the emergency tunnels that were being created. The tunnel may only be 20 percent complete, but should be enough for him to hide and wait-out those following him.

The changeling frown when he heard a strange noise overhead and looked up and saw the orange filly soaring through the air on some thing he didn’t recognized. He pushed out the distracting thoughts about where they ponies were hiding these things where he couldn‘t see them, as he tried to pushed his body harder, to reach the checkpoint before the ground Pegasus. That wasn’t the case, as the lighter pony, with her wing buzzing at top speed, quickly pulled ahead of the changeling. She next began to spin in place, the action kicking out enough dirt to create a thin dust cloud. The cloud was just enough to blind the changeling and out of instinct, veered off his pre-determined course. Still, the changeling wasn’t as fast he hoped he would be and some of the dust got in he’s eyes, blinding him enough that he couldn’t make out where he was going.

(…)

Scootaloo grinned as she watched the changeling turn in the direction she wanted. She was confident that he plan would work, she was the pony most familiar with Ponyville, and knew where that alley led.

And if everything is works out, the others should be there be now, Scoots thought confidently.

The orange filly followed the changeling into the alley, taking her time as she lazy looked around. It was one of the larger alley in town, large enough for a group of fillies and a colt to surrounded the changeling and still have room to move somewhat. Best of all, the buildings were just tall enough that something with wings would easily get out of.

Unless you’re Rainbow Dash, Scoots thought smugly.

The robot/pony hybrid soon came to the end of the alley, where her friends had surrounded the changeling. The changeling in question must be near a panic attack. She could see green flames flickering around the fake pony’s hooves. She took that as a good sign as parked her scooter, got off and trotted over and joined her friends.

“Let me go, you stupid ponies!” the changeling barker viciously, though Scoots did picked up on the fear behind it.

Applebloom, unaffected the changeling’s threats, stepped forward.

“We want to know where our friend is!” the yellow earth filly demanded.

The changeling most have realized something as it seems to regain its composure and smiled as he looked around the group. He even chuckled slightly under his breath, though the Pegasus heard it.

“What do you think you hatchlings can do?” the changeling asked confidently. “It’s not like anypony would believe you, you’re just hatchlings!”

The changeling suddenly lost his composure when he noticed the overconfident look the fillies and colt were giving him. His panic returned in full force when the ponies take a step closer.

“And one more thing…we’re not hatchlings-”Sweetie said in grim seriousness before transforming into her robot form, “-We’re Sparklings!”

The changeling lost whatever composure it had left and began to shake uncontrollable as it watched the fillies and colt transform one by one. Scootaloo grinned as she was the last to change into her robot form.

The changeling let out a rather girlish scream as it jumped up, and its disguise literally exploded off of it in green flames. The pony-like bug buzzed its wings at top speed as zoomed over the hybrids and out of the alley.

“PONY CAN’T CHANGE THEIR FORMS!!” the changeling screamed hysterically as he flew out of sight in a panic.

Scootaloo watched the fleeing changeling for about a second, before she fell onto he back, laughing her head off. She was aware of Applebloom telling some ponies to follow the changeling, and she heard some voices reply, but was to busy with laughing to really process it. It took nearly a minute for the orange Pegasus to regain control of herself, and then got into a sitting position similar to what she seen Spike do a complete of times. She look around, lazily taking a head count, and realized that Rumble and Babs were missing. She looked towards the mouth of the alley and began to giggle again, only to have Applebloom whack her over the head. The young Pegasus held her head as she winced in slight pain.

Ow, I may be a super-awesome robot now, but that still smarts, Scoots thought, and then sent a small scowl her friend’s way. “What was that for, Bloom?” she asked with a bit of anger in her voice.

“You featherhead,” Applebloom scolded lightly. “Ah thought your plan to capture it? Not to scare it away?”

Scootaloo frown as she thought over her own plan in her head. It was true, the plan called for them to catch the changeling. But when she heard the changeling scream, she couldn’t help herself. It was just too funny not to laugh, and maybe that was the problem in itself. She had allowed herself to become distracted by something funny and that may had cast her finding her new friend.

“Sorry,” she mumbled weakly as she hangs her head.

She looked up at her friends, looking for their acceptance of her apology, and it looks like Applebloom was about to speak when she heard a noise. She looked towards the alley mouth and became slightly alarmed when Rumble and Babs, back in pony forms, trotted up them. But they weren’t what caught the young Pegasus’s attention; it was he pony behind them. Or was it the changeling behind them? Scoots didn’t know and that made her a bit cautious, though she would never tell the others this. She did have a reputation to protect.

The hybrid Pegasus jumped to her feet and joined her friends as the readied themselves for whatever may come their way. Before they could act, however, the pony behind the filly and colt held up his right hoof.

“Hold on, everypony! I’m not a changeling!” the pony in question said hastily. “And I can prove it.”

Scootaloo relaxed her body slightly, but kept her eyes squarely on the pony in question. “Well, we’re waiting…?” she asked sharply.