Transformers: War for Friendship

Chapters

Episode 1: The Bot in the Bedroom
Episode 2: Warriors of Harmony
Episode 3: The Ticket Master
Episode 4: Masters and Students Season
Prologue: A Strange New World

Episode 1: The Bot in the Bedroom

Transformers: War for Friendship

Episode 1: The Bot in the Bedroom

Twilight Sparkle went upstairs that night expecting a break from friend-making. She did not at all expect to see this* sitting back against the far wall.

Naturally, she did what any sane pony would do in this situation, and screamed at the top of her lungs. How the ponies partying downstairs didn’t hear her was anybody’s guess.

Her “guest” backed against the wall, scurrying into a sitting position, and watched her cautiously. “Bip-bip-beep-beep-do-weep?” buzzed the robot unsurely.

Twilight Sparkle blinked and looked at him, perplexed. Her new guest stared back with his wide, youthful eyes. “I’m sorry?” she asked.

The robot beeped at her again, then widened his eyes in realization and pointed to his throat.

“Uh… something’s wrong with your throat?” she asked. Her guest nodded. “Don’t worry, I think I have something for that,” she said. She concentrated hard, and fired a beam of light into the robot’s throat, taking him by surprise.

“Whoa! What the heck was… wait… my voice! I have my pipes back!” the robot cried in joy, picking up the purple unicorn in a hug and twirling, still holding her.

“Putmedownputmedownputmedown!” screamed Twilight.

“Whoops! Sorry!” he apologized, “It’s just… I never thought I’d be able to talk again!”

Twilight took a moment to gather herself, then looked up at him apologetically. “It’s a temporary spell. I’m sorry. It temporarily allows me to talk to inanimate objects. I guess it works on giant robots, too.”

“Oh…” said the robot, looking down sadly.

Twilight decided to change the subject for his sake. “What’s your name?” she asked.

“My name’s Bumblebee,” the mechanoid grinned underneath his mouth guard.

Twilight Sparkle simply stared. Then she blinked. Finally, she burst into an uncontrollable guffaw.

“Hey!” remarked the offended extraterrestrial, crossing his arms in front of his chest “My name isn’t funny!”

“I’m… I’m sorry,” she said, trying to recover, “it’s just… I didn’t expect such a… normal sounding name from, well, from an alien.”

“Oh…” said Bumblebee. “Well, what’s yours?”

“Twilight Sparkle,” she said, professionally.

Bumblebee blinked. “Huh.”

“What?” asked Twilight apprehensively.

“Nothing, it’s probably a normal name for your species,” he explained. “Is it?” he asked, for clarification.

“Well, I was named after my mother,” she said, simply. She looked at him quizzically. “Why did you even come to this planet in the first place?” she asked.

“It’s a long story…” he said.

“I have some time,” she said.

“Well… it started a long time ago, on my home planet, Cybertron,” he began. “A long time before I was made, a war broke out. This really bad Transformer called Megatron went mad for power and rose up an army of Decepticons. To counter them, a Transformer known as Optimus Prime formed the Autobots, and the two sides clashed. The war carried on for centuries until our world was devastated in its wake. We left our dying world, but the war followed us…”

“Oh my gosh… but, why did you come here?” she asked.

“We fought the Decepticons on a planet called Earth, trying to stop them from using a substance known as Dark Energon to raise up an army of the dead. They planned to use it to destroy Cybertron, but we attacked the Space Bridge they were using to reach Cybertron. The Space Bridge exploded, but before it did, the coordinates randomized, and blasted us, Megatron, and his ship to random coordinates in space,” he explained.

“You mean there might be an army of giant, vicious robots bent on destruction here, in Equestria?!” exclaimed Twilight.

“Maybe… but if they are, and they did survive, me and my friends will stop them! I promise! At least, if they’re alive…” Bumblebee tried to reassure her.

“Are you sure? What if those… Decepticons… survived, but not your friends…?” asked Twilight, hesitantly.

“They did survive! I know it!” insisted Bumblebee. “And when I find them, we’ll stop old bucket head in his tracks and save the universe from him once and for all!”

Twilight let out a soft chuckle at the young Autobot’s enthusiasm. “If you say so…” she smiled.

“That reminds me, I’m going to have to finish scouting for Decepticons before I report back to them. Uh, promise you won’t tell anyone you saw me? I’m kind of supposed to avoid being seen by locals…” requested Bumblebee.

“Sure, no problem,” assured Twilight Sparkle.

“Thanks! See you, oh! Sorry about the hole in-bip-beep!” apologized the Autobot, as the spell wore off and he climbed up the way he fell in.

“Wait, what hole where?!” exclaimed the unicorn, but it was too late. Bumblebee had gone, and even if he’d remained, he wouldn’t be able to tell her. “Oh well…” she sighed, as she began repairing the hole with her magic, “he does a planet to save...”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Deep within the Everfree Forest, a titan* lay on his back. He was completely still. There was no glow from his massive arm cannon, there was no twitch in his claws, and there was no breath from his sharp-toothed mouth. There was absolutely no sign he was alive…

Then… a sparkling, deep violet cloud drifted over, and filled his circuity. His armor began to glow an eerie violet, and his eyes shone bright red. He stood to his feet and as the violet cloud drifted away. He then turned to the night sky, before shifted and changing into a jet unlike anything this world or the last had seen before. Megatron had awoken…

Episode 2: Warriors of Harmony

Transformers: War for Friendship

Chapter 2: Friendship is Magic Part 2

“And to think, not one of you anticipated my return,” continued Nightmare Moon. Just as Twilight Sparkle had predicted, the Mare of Darkness had made her return, and was ready to plunge Equestria into eternal darkness. It seemed not even Princess Celestia had been able to stop her, as the bringer of the sun was gone.

“I did,” declared the faithful student of the now vanished princess, stepping forward. “I read the signs!”

“Clever girl…” said Nightmare Moon, “Too clever!” With that, the villain unleashed a bolt of deadly magic at Twilight Sparkle. Time seemed to slow as the bolt approached.

Suddenly, a roaring sound, followed by a crash heralded the arrival of a strange yellow vehicle with black stripes, which shifted into its bipedal form and dived in front of the would-be victim, taking the shot right to the chest, but still managing to turn himself onto his feet in a crouching position as he skidded back, his heel s stopping inches from Twilight’s face. A double barreled blaster deployed from his wrist, and he fired at Nightmare Moon, who managed to turn herself into a purple mist and disappear before the Energon bolts could injure her.

“Another one???” wondered Nightmare Moon aloud. Her train of thought was interrupted by a blue motorcycle* rolling up and shifting into a lean, blue and silver female Autobot. Nightmare Moon bared her teeth, but when she saw a green SUV* roll up and transform into a bulky, powerful looking robot with fists the size of full grown ponies.

Twilight simply gaped up at her saviors as the turned to face her. She then looked at his friends in astonishment.

“Hey, ‘Bee, is that the one you were talking about? The purple one with the star on her but?” the bulky one asked, to which Bumblebee nodded.

“Again, Bumblebee?” chastised the blue and silver one, “you should have learned from what happened on Earth!”

“Hey, ease up on the kid, Arcee! You broke protocol back on Earth first, remember?” said Bulkhead.

“You’re right. I’m sorry, ‘Bee,” said Arcee.

“Excuse me,” interrupted Twilight, “but is Bumblebee going to be okay?” She pointed to the burning hole in his chest to emphasize her question. She could see a strange, glowing blue liquid leaking from it.

“He’ll be fine. He’s had worse,” reassured Bulkhead.

“That dark horse, she mentioned another one. That means she may have found Optimus or Ratchet,” pointed out Arcee.

“Or a ‘Con…” pointed out Bulkhead.

“Beep-beep-bip-bip-beep-beep,” pointed out Bumblebee.

“You’re right, ‘Bee. No way we’re gonna find out standing here talking. Let’s roll!” said Bulkhead, as the three Autobots transformed into their alternate modes and drove out of the Town Hall.

Twilight stood there a while, but shook her head, and bolted through the door back to the library, unaware of five ponies following her…

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“So, the thing I don’t understand is, what were those things that saved you from Nightmare Moon?” interrogated Rainbow Dash, as the six ponies trotted toward the Everfree Forest.

“The yellow one, Bumblebee, said he came from another world… to stop this really bad member of his race, who wants to overthrow the universe,” explained Twilight.

“Hahaha! That sounds like something out of some lame science fiction comic!” laughed Rainbow Dash.

“Fine, be scornful if you want, but something about him seemed… honest, I guess,” said Twilight.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and continued flying. Twilight thought about the pegasus’s words until they came to the entrance of the Everfree Forest…

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Let go.”

“What?!” screamed Twilight. Their venture had gone wrong, and now she was hanging off the edge of a cliff, with only Applejack’s hoof for support.

“Let go! You won’t hit the ground!” encouraged Applejack.

“That’s not going to happen!” said Twilight.

“Look into my eyes, Twilight,” said Applejack. “Trust me, and let go.”

Twilight looked and saw the honesty in the country pony’s eyes. She let go, and fell screaming… for less than a second. She opened her eyes to see she had landed on a massive hand that was just big enough for her to stand on. She looked forward and saw two windows on what appeared to be a chest, then up into blue optics, belonging to a red, silver, and blue Autobot* even taller than Bulkhead. She noticed that while he had a powerful frame, he wasn’t as chubby looking as Bulkhead.

“Are you alright, little one?” asked the titan in a deep, powerful, but also gentle voice.

Twilight Sparkle stood up on the hands and looked up to see her savior looking at her with concern. “Thank you, um, what’s your name?”

“I am Optimus Prime,” answered the giant. “I am searching for my comrades. Have you seen any beings like me?”

“I’m fine,” replied the unicorn, “and I have! There was a yellow one called Bumblebee who told me about you, and his green and blue friends who helped save me from Nightmare Moon.”

“You met Bulkhead, Bumblebee, and Arcee? They’re safe… good… Who is Nightmare Moon?” asked Optimus Prime.

“Well…” Twilight told Optimus about Nightmare Moon’s plans to bring about eternal darkness, and how she and the five ponies accompanying her were going to help her find the Elements of Harmony to defeat her.

“It does my spark good to see that this world is not without its heroes. I wish you luck on your quest. Perhaps I may join you. I may find some of my friends on our way, and I could assist you if danger presents itself,” suggested Optimus Prime.

“Hey! We can handle a little danger!” snapped Rainbow Dash, flying up in Optimus Prime’s face, “right, girls?!”

“YEAH!” shouted Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Applejack.

“Um, maybe?” whispered Fluttershy meekly.

“I apologize. I did not mean to offend,” said Optimus Prime, “However, I hope I might be a valuable ally to you, if you’ll allow me.”

“I don’t see any reason why you can’t,” stated Twilight.

“Well, well, look what we have here!” sneered an unfamiliar voice. The company turned to see three identical black, purple, and silver figures*, each slightly taller than Bumblebee, but with faceless heads, wheels on their shoulders, and more slender designs.

“Vehicon troopers, I advise you to stand down,” said Optimus Prime, “I have no desire to stain this world with Energon from our overly prolonged conflict.”

“Uh, guys, I think this might not be a good idea… this is Optimus Prime…” spoke one of the Vehicons nervously.

“Ah, quit your whining!” spoke up the third one, “There’s three of us, and one of him!”

“He’s right!” said the first one, “Vehicons, attack!”

“Remember that what happens now was your own doing,” spoke Optimus Prime, as a mask slid over the lower half of his face, and a blaster folded out of his right arm to cover his hand. He blasted the first Vehicon down, and grabbed the second one as it charged, grabbing it by the head and slamming it into the ground. The third one made his move by blasting Optimus Prime, who shrugged off the blasts and returned fire, transforming a second blaster from his left hand and firing with both blasters until the Vehicon fell down and didn’t get up. The first one began to get up and eyed the six ponies.

“Don’t move, Prime!” said the first Vehicon, aiming his blaster at the six ponies, who gasped in shock and fear. “One move,” said the Vehicon, “and I blast them to the other side of the Matrix! Now, you wouldn’t want to be the cause of any innocent deaths, would you?”

Optimus’s optics narrowed furiously in response, transforming his blasters away. “You dare?!” hissed Optimus Prime. “You dare threaten an innocent in my presence?!” roared the Prime in fury.

“Now, Prime, uh, don’t come closer… I’ll let them live if you-“ the unfortunate trooper never got to finish his sentence, Faster than he could blink, the leader of the Autobots punched him back, and a sword as long as the trooper’s arm slid out of Prime’s wrist, and he impaled the Vehicon through the chest.

Optimus Prime glared at the fallen Vehicon, before turning to the second Vehicon, who had now made it to his knees. “Leave,” spoke the Autobot leader, “Now…”

The Vehicon observed his dead comrades and wisely reverted to his black sports car mode, and rolled away.

With the threat dealt with, Optimus turned to the ponies. “Are you all alright?” asked Optimus, withdrawing his blade and mask.

“That was really, really scary…” whimpered Fluttershy, only to feel a gentle hand on her back.

“It is over now. They are gone, and as long as I am here, I shall protect you,” reassured Optimus Prime, prompting a small smile from Flutershy.

“What beastly monsters those Decepticons were!” noted Rarity.

“Yeah! Those guys acted like a bunch of meanies!” declared Pinkie Pie.

“Sadly, my race has as great a capacity for evil as it has for good,” Optimus Prime spoke.

“Wow! You’re the toughest thing I’ve ever seen! The way they were coming at you, and you were blasting them with those horns, and then when the other one tried to shoot us, you went with the sword, and POW!” said Rainbow Dash, excitedly, prompting a soft chuckle from Optimus Prime.

“Girls, we have to get moving. We need to stop Nightmare Moon, and fast,” pointed out Twilight Sparkle.

“Twilight’s right,” reasoned Applejack, “We can’t sit here talkin’. That one Decepticreep might come back with more unfriendly company.”

“Indeed,” agreed Optimus Prime, before shifting and changing into a red, long-nosed truck stood before them, its doors open. The ponies blinked in astonishment, before climbing into his cab.

“This is the coolest. Thing. Ever!” remarked Rainbow Dash.

With that, the mighty leader of the Autobots rolled out with his six passengers, all of them completely unaware of the purple mist trailing them…

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

There had been many dangers and distractions, from a manticore which Optimus had held while Fluttershy tamed it, frightening trees that the Autobot leader nearly blasted until Pinkie Pie encouraged the company to laugh away their fears, a mournful sea serpent weeping for his damaged mustache who Rarity helped by sacrificing her tail, and Rainbow Dash overcoming her ambition to help her friends across the bridge (Optimus, though, had to jump across), the six ponies managed to make it to their destination. The castle looked ominous in the distance. However, the really concerning thing was, not only the army of Vehicon troopers, the two distinct looking Decepticons** standing together with the slender, winged one instructing them, but also the massive, sharp, deadly looking warship between them and the castle.

“How are we gonna get past ‘em?” asked Applejack.

“So big! So many guns! So scary!” squeaked a panicking Fluttershy.

“Shhh! They’ll hear us!” whispered Rainbow Dash.

“Wait,” said Pinkie Pie, “Look over there!”

The others looked over to where she was pointing, and they saw Bumblebee, Arcee, and Bulkhead huddled behind a rock. The company quietly made there way over to them, and the three Autobots turned around to see Optimus and the ponies.

“Beep-do-weep,” buzzed Bumblebee, shaking the hand of his leader. He then looked down at Twilight and smiled at her, and she in turned smiled and waved at him.

“Welcome back, boss-bot,” greeted Bulkhead.

“Good to see you, sir,” smiled Arcee.

“And you as well, all of you,” smiled Optimus Prime, “Have any of you seen Ratchet?”

“’Fraid not,” said Bulkhead. “None of us could pick up his energy signature, which means he’s either he’s in stasis or…”

“Hold up a moment, who’s Ratchet?” asked Applejack.

“He’s our medic, and one of Prime’s oldest friends,” said Arcee.

“Oh my gosh… You must be really sad right now! I can’t even think about not knowing where my best friend is, or what happened to him!” exclaimed Pinkie sadly, before being shushed by Rainbow Dash, who glanced over at the Decepticons cautiously.

“All we can do is hope Ratchet is alive,” said Optimus Prime, “Right now, we must listen to what the Decepticons are up to.”

The six ponies and four Autobots listened to the Decepticons speak.

“You know, Soundwave, it is possible that Megatron was destroyed in the explosion, or sent off to parts away from here, and we’re simply wasting resources,” sneered the slender, silver Decepticons with clawed fingers and wings jutting out of his back.

Soundwave simply stared at him in response, the expression on his face (if he even had one) unseen beneath his black visor.

“You’re right, of course!” gulped Starscream. “We must make sure our precious leader survived!”

“Commander Starscream, I’m reading a powerful Dark Energon signature, approaching fast,” said one of the Vehicon troopers to the winged ‘Con.

“Excellent,” hissed Starscream, barely containing his frustration at the news. His ambitions, it seemed, would be put on hold, all thanks to that overrated pile of-

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Slag,” said Bulkhead, “Megatron is alive, and on his way here!”

“Shhh!” hissed Arcee. “Do you want them to hear us???”

“We must form a plan…” said Optimus, thinking.

“Hmm… Compared to them, we’re really small. If we’re careful and quiet, we might be able to sneak past them,” reasoned Twilight.

“It is too dangerous,” said Optimus Prime. “We cannot allow you to risk your lives for us.”

“It seems,” spoke a deep, gravelly voice, “That your lives are already in danger!”

The Autobots turned to see a Decepticon the size of Optimus standing before them, glowering at them menacingly.

“Megatron…” Optimus Prime narrowed his optics and engaged his battle mask at the sight of his old foe.

“Optimus Prime!” snarled Megatron, baring a menacing grin on his face.

“Girls, run,” ordered Optimus Prime, prompting the ponies to scatter.

“Don’t worry, Prime, I’ll be sure to say ‘Hello’ to your new pets once I’m finished with you!” sneered Megatron, blasting Optimus Prime into the rock they were crouching behind. He opened fire, prompting the four Autobots to transform and withdraw, catching the attention of Starscream and the other Decepticons.

“Megatron! You are alive!” said Starscream, feigning a convincing elated tone in his voice.

“Spare me the theatrics, Starscream, and start fighting!” roared Megatron, who chased after the Autobots, tackling Optimus Prime, who transformed to robot mode as the two leaders tumbled forward.

“Decepticons, attack!” ordered Starscream, firing a missile at Arcee, who swerved to avoid it. The femme then sped through a group of Vehicon troopers, quickly transforming to robot mode and leaping into the air, using her arm blades to slice them down before transforming again to vehicle mode and running down Starscream, burning his face by spinning her front wheel, only for Starscream to flip her over, prompting her to transform. The seeker seized her with both hands around her throat and began to squeeze. “I’m going to crush you just as I crushed Cliffjumper! Die, Autobot!” he snarled, tightening his grip.

Bumblebee sped through and transformed, launching himself into the air from his momentum and blasting down two Vehicons, then delivering a flying into Soundwave’s visor, causing the communications ‘Con to stagger back as his visor cracked. Soundwave looked up at Bumblebee and the two began trading blows, matching each other until Soundwave knocked Bumblebee down, and then kicked him in the side. The young Autobot refused to stay down and lept up at his opponent, ready to face him once more.

Bulkhead plowed through Vehicons and transformed, maces folding over his hands, and he used those maces to pound charging Vehicons left and right. The Vehicons began to pile up on him, but the big green giant kept pounding and kicking his aggressors, refusing to be brought down.

Optimus Prime kicked Megatron off of him and lept to his feet, punching the Lord of the Decepticons in the jaw, in the arm, in the side, and in the jaw again. Megatron backhanded the Autobot leader across the face, causing him to stagger back, and then firing at him with his fusion cannon. Optimus jumped to the side, dodging the blast, and retaliated with a blast of his own, that sent Megatron smashing through the castle wall, with Optimus Prime charging after him.

“So… awesome!” squeed Rainbow Dash.

“Come on, girls! We have a task to do, too!” reminded Twilight, and the six ponies charged into the castle, leaving the battle outside.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!” screamed Nightmare Moon as the Elements of Harmony blasted her dark powers away, restoring her to being Princess Luna.

The six ponies awoke, excited to find the new forms of the Elements of Harmony accessorizing them. Princess Celestia suddenly

appeared from a beam of sunlight. She landed gracefully on her hooves, and gazed at her subjects with pride.

However, just as she opened her mouth to speak, she was interrupted by the sounds of roars of battle, and Optimus was sent crashing through the wall.

“Optimus! Are you alright?” asked Twilight Sparkle.

“Get out of here! Hide!” Optimus commanded, rolling onto his feet.

It was too late, though, as a Cybertronian jet flew down the hall, destroying walls and then the doorway with its great wingspan. It then shifted and changed into the furious, scowling face of Megatron.

“Well, well,” smirked Megatron chillingly… “It seems I am in a position to kill two birds with one stone, in a very literal sense!”

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Back outside, Bulkhead managed to shrug off the Vehicons trying to overpower him and transformed, driving his way to where Arcee was still having the life choked out of her by Starscream.

“You… killed… Cliff…” Arcee gasped, her optics widening in shock as she gazed upon her partner’s killer.

“Yes,” smirked Starscream, “and now, I shall do the same to you!”

“Not on my watch!” said Bulkhead, rolling up and punching the Seeker off of her.

“Thanks for the save, ‘Bulk!” said Arcee, before turning to glare at Starscream as the Decepticon rose to his feet. “I can take things from here,” she said, glaring with fury at Starscream, who looked into the window of the castle, and then smirked at the Autobots.

“I’d stick around, but I have more interesting matters to look into. Give my regards to Cliffjumper!” gloated the Air Commander, transforming into jet mode and speeding toward the castle, as Vehicons began to swarm the two Autobots.

Bumblebee was managing to get a few good hits in, but Soundwave was still blocking most of his blows, and the silent Decepticon was managing to get more hits in than the scout was. Bumblebee was knocked on his back for the third time, but instead of getting up, he fired his wrist-mounted blasters at Soundwave, knocking the Decepticon back until he fell over. However, as Bumblebee glanced at his enemy’s chest, he could see something was missing… and then it hit him.

Soundwave’s surveillance drone, Laserbeak, had been deployed, and was now firing at the scout, who tried to shield the blasts and fire at Laserbeak. By the time he managed to shoot the bird-like ‘Con out of the sky, Soundwave grabbed him by the back of his throat, and aimed his blaster right at the scout’s neck…

Suddenly, Soundwave turned, only to get backhanded in the visor, which widened the crack. A red and white Autobot* with a crest over his eyes stood protectively in front of the yellow scout.

“Beep!” exclaimed Bumblebee with joy, “Bip-bip-beep-beep-do-weep?”

“Don’t worry about that now,” said the red and white Autobot, pointing to the castle, where they could see the grave scene inside. “Go. Help Optimus. I’ll hold off Soundwave and Laserbeak,” he said.

Bumblebee nodded and transformed, driving after his leader.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Even if you kill me, Megatron, others will rise to defeat your tyranny,” warned Optimus Prime.

“Your fools can martyr themselves all they want! I’ll simply destroy you all!” declared Megatron, firing at Optimus and the ponies.

However, the blast never met its mark. A yellow muscle car sped through and transformed into the familiar shape of Bumblebee, who leapt in front of Megatron, taking the full force of the blast to center of his torso, knocking the scout back into Optimus, who kneeled on one knee, cradling his fallen comrade in his arms.

“BUMBLEBEE!” screamed the ponies.

Megatron snarled in rage as he approached Optimus, gazing upon the fallen Autobot in the Prime’s arm. “What a waste of Energon!” he hissed angrily, prompting angry glares from Optimus and Celestia.

“Is that how you react to the loss of life?!” cried out Celestia furiously. “He stepped into save his leader, and you lack the honor to respect that?!?” Her eyes glowed a heavenly white, and she blasted Megatron in his chest, knocking the Decepticon leader backward. Megatron raised his arm cannon, only for another blast to hit him, from a distant source.

“As horrible as I was, thou art twice the monster I ever was!” growled Princess Luna, standing beside her sister, ready for a fight.

“Oh, woe is me! I am faced with a pair of pint-sized pony princesses! How ever shall I survive?” exclaimed Megatron sarcastically.

“You face all of us, Megatron! Do the wise thing, and surrender!” proclaimed Optimus Prime as he rose to his feet, aiming his blaster at Megatron, who snarled and then lunged at them. He was rewarded with three blasts to his chest, which sent him toppling out the window.

“Is he… gone?” asked Fluttershy, nervously.

“He’s survived worse,” said Princess Celestia.

“You’ve met him before?” asked Optimus Prime.

“Well…” began Celestia, but for the second time that day, Megatron interrupted her.

“You think you’ve defeated ME?!” snarled the Lord of the Decepticons, as he hovered outside the hole where the window used to be, another hole visible in his chest armor. “You think you could defeat MEGATRON?!” he roared.

“Maybe not them,” spoke a familiar, raspy voice. Suddenly, Starscream crashed in from the far window and landed in front of Optimus Prime and the ponies. “But I can!” he smirked, firing his missiles into the open wound on Megatron’s chest.

“STAAARRRRSSCRRREEEEAAAAAMMMM!!!” roared Megatron in rage, attempting to power through the missiles.

“Like you didn’t see it coming,” sneered Starscream, “All those years of pain and humiliation! You’ve had this coming for a long time! And now,” he grinned menacingly, “it’s your turn to suffer for every indignity you’ve ever caused me!”

Optimus Prime picked up his ion blaster and joined Starscream in blasting Megatron, and Princess Celestia and even Twilight Sparkle joined in, blasting the Decepticon tyrant with their unicorn and alicorn magic.

“You…! cannot…! destroy…! me…! I am… MEGATROOOOONNNN!!!” screamed Megatron as he finally fell, his chest torn apart by the combined firepower.

Optimus turned to Starscream. “Thank you, Starscream. It astonishes me to say that we owe you our lives.”

“He had it coming to him,” sneered Starscream.

“You know, you can lead the Decepticons toward peace. Stray from Megatron’s path, and together, we can lead our race to peace on a restored Cybertron,” he proposed.

“That’s absolutely-!” began Starscream, but he lowered his head in thought. “Actually… hmm… An alliance…” he mused aloud. The ponies and the leader of the Autobots looked at the Decepticon Seeker with hope. “No…” he said at last. “It just wouldn’t work. At least, it wouldn’t for long. We’ve gone too far, and… some of us… myself, among them… have done too much. Too much has happened between our races for us to have a lasting peace.”

Optimus sighed heavily. “I understand. I suppose that is the greatest tragedy of this war,” he said, mournfully. “Know this, though. We will stay and defend this planet and its people.”

“I’d expect no less from an Autobot,” smirked Starscream. “I shall try to leave the ponies out of it for now, but if they get in my way, I will not be merciful,” he warned. With that he transformed, and flew off into the sky, toward the Decepticon warship.

Optimus sighed and lowered his gaze. Twilight looked up at him with concern. “Are you alright, Optimus?” she asked.

“Please, reserve your concern for Bumblebee,” said Optimus, walking over to the scout and cradling him in his arms, then carrying him outside. The ponies looked at each other and followed him.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Ratchet finished his repairs on Bumblebee. “His wound is severe, but not beyond repair. I should be able to save him.”

“Thank you, old friend,” said Optimus Prime, as Celestia and Luna stepped forward.

“I have interviewed Princess Luna thoroughly, and the Elements of Harmony seem to have purged her of all traces of Nightmare Moon. She should be able to return to her royal duties,” said Princess Celestia.

“Are you certain I deserve such responsibilities, after all I’ve done?” asked Luna, looking up at her sister, ashamed of herself.

“We’ll see how you do,” said Celestia, smiling at her little sister.

Pinkie Pie bounced forward. “Yay! We have two princesses now, Bumblebee’s still gonna be with us, and we have new Autobot friends! Do you know what this calls for?”

While the Autobots glanced at her in confusion, the other five Bearers of the Elements of Harmony looked at each other with knowing smiles.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Much later, Princess Celestia and Optimus Prime stood together at the celebration Ponyville was holding for, not only the Summer Sun Celebration, but also the return of Princess Luna.

“It has been a while since I’ve seen such a peaceful sight,” remarked Optimus Prime.

“I presume you have no way of getting back to your planet?” asked Celestia.

“We cannot,” sighed Optimus, “Even if we had a Space Bridge or a ship, we could not leave your world at the mercy of the Decepticons.”

“Thank you, Optimus. You’d be allowed to stay, anyway, but we do appreciate your help,” said Celestia. “Besides,” she continued with a smile, as she turned her gaze on the ponies, “it seems our people are getting along nicely.”

Optimus turned his gaze on them as well, smiling as Applejack sat down on Bumblebee’s shoulder and put her hat on his head as the young Autobot leaned on his temporary crutches. Bulkhead entertained Pinkie Pie and some foals as he described a previous adventure during his adventures with the Wreckers. Arcee and Rainbow Dash seemed to be entertaining themselves by racing each other, while Fluttershy and Ratchet discussed the differences of healing wounded animals and healing wounded Autobots.

“Princess Celestia,” said Optimus Prime, “I would like to propose an alliance between our species. You are a brave, but peaceful race, and I admire you for those qualities.”

“It would be an honor, Mr. Prime,” smiled Celestia.

“You may address me as Optimus,” said Optimus Prime, as he kneeled before the Princess.

“If that’s so, then you don’t need to be so formal with me,” said Celestia. She and the Prime smiled at each other, and turned to join the rest of the party. They walked up to Twilight Sparkle.

“So, will you be coming back to Canterlot with Luna and I after the party?” asked the Princess.

“That’s just it,” sighed Twilight, “just as I realize how wonderful it is to have friends, I have to say goodbye.”

“Hmm…” considered Celestia, “In that case, you may stay in Ponyville, and report to me your discoveries about the Magic of Friendship. Besides, I think Optimus and the others will need friends of their own to help them to live among ponies while they live here on our world.”

“R-Really?” beamed Twilight, “YES!”

Both leaders smiled as the unicorn mare jumped up and down in an excited circle around them, with shouts of “YES!”

Optimus chuckled. “It seems this is the beginning of a new adventure,” he mused, as the screen closed… until a certain pink pony popped up through the closing hole, causing it to stop.

“Oh my gosh!” squeed Pinkie Pie, turning to you and I, “Are you excited? I’m excited! I’ve never been so excited! Well, except for the time I went *GAAASP*! But really, what could top that?”

Episode 3: The Ticket Master

Transformers: War for Friendship

Episode 3: The Ticket Master

“No…no…no…no…” Spike said, tossing an apple out of the cart following each “no”. The young dragon rode on the back of a cart full of apples pulled by Twilight. Applejack, Bulkhead, and Bumblebee trotted and drove alongside her, each hauling their own cart behind them.

“You know, the more apples you toss out, the more you’re gonna have to pick up again,” pointed out the green SUV, prompting an eye-roll from Spike.

“Thank y’all kindly for helpin’ me out,” said Applejack gratefully. “I bet Big Macintosh that I could get all these golden delicious picked by sundown. If he loses, he’s gotta walk down Stirrup Street wearin’ one’a Granny’s girdles!” she added, giggling.

“I’m glad the goal is lunch,” said Twilight, “All this hard work has sure made me hungry.”

“I know, right?” Spike agreed, still sorting through the apples.

“Beep-beep-bip-beep-beep,” Bumblebee chuckled, prompting laughter from Twilight and Bulkhead.

“What?? What did he say???” demanded Spike.

“He said, ‘I bet you’re exhausted from riding around in a cart all day,’” explained Twilight, snickering.

“Exactly! You four were taking so long I missed snack time!” explained Spike, prompting, much to the dragon’s dismay, a chorus of chuckles from his companions.

“How did ya know what he was sayin’, anyway?” Applejack asked Twilight.

“I can’t keep a spell to restore his voice up for long without exhausting myself, so I thought I’d take the time to study what each beep means,” explained Twilight. “Now I can mostly understand what he’s saying.”

“Bip-bip-bip-do-weep,” said Bumblebee.

“What’s he saying now?” asked Spike.

“That my stomach’s growling,” said Twilight, matter-of-factly, before opening her eyes in realization and looking at her dragon friend.

Spike looked up from the particularly big, shiny red apple he’d just bitten into and chuckled sheepishly, before belching out a scroll. Twilight caught it in her magic, and the two Autobots unhitched themselves from their carts and transformed.

Spike snatched the letter and began to read it. “Hear ye, hear ye!” he began, “Her crowned royal highness, Princess Celestia of Equestria, is pleased to announce that the Grand Galloping Gala is to be held at our magnificent capital city, Canterlot, on the 21st day of… yadda yadda yadda… cordially extends an invitation to Twilight Sparkle, plus one guest.”

This prompted a gasp from the two ponies of the company, who turned to each other with wide grins. “The Grand Galloping Gala!” they exclaimed in unision. They proceeded to hop up and down in one place, giggling and cheering in excitement.

The two Autobots stared at them, then at each other, and finally back at the ponies in bemusement. Spike put a bored, slightly disgusted look on his face, and stuck out his tongue, only to belch out two golden tickets, which he then held out to Twilight.

“Wow! Great! I’ve never been to the Gala. Have you, Spike?” she asked.

“No, and I plan to keep it that way. I don’t want any of that girly, frilly, frou-frou nonsense!” said Spike.

“Come on, Spike,” encouraged Twilight, “a dance would be nice.”

“Nice??” asked Applejack, incredulously, “It’s a heap good more than just ‘nice’!”

“Uh, what is it, then?” asked Bulkhead, feeling left out of the loop.

“Bip-bip-beep-beep-do-weep?” asked Bumblebee. “Beep-beep-bip-bip-do-weep-weep,” he explained.

“Oh…” said Bulkhead. At the looks of confusion from Applejack and Spike, he added, “Apparently Optimus told us that we’d be goin’ there to help get ponies used to our presence here, but I was distracted.”

“By what?” asked Applejack.

“Well…” began Bulkhead…

Earlier that day, Bulkhead had been standing at attention in the surprisingly expansive library basement, alongside Bumblebee, Arcee, and Ratchet, as Optimus stood before them, relaying a message from Princess Celestia.

“Hear ye, hear ye,” began the Autobot Leader, “as Equestria’s new allies, protectors, and friends, Princess Celestia does cordially invite the Autobots Optimus Prime, Arcee, Ratchet, Bumblebee, and Bulkhead to…”

Optimus’s words began to fade as Bulkhead’s thoughts took center stage. ‘Yeesh, she really takes her time with the introductions to her letters,’ thought Bulkhead. ‘Seriously, why do they need to be that long?’ his thoughts continued, as his commander droned on, ‘I mean, why not just write, “Dear Autobots, come to this event I’m hosting,” or why not, “Yo, Autobuddies, roll on down to this wacky shindig I’m throwin’”? I really don’t get why she feels the need to be so formal with us. I mean, she said herself that we’re friends. If she wants to invite us to a-wait, what was she inviting us to???’ Bulkhead suddenly realized that he had not listened to a single word the message had stated beyond the introduction. ‘Ah, scrap,’ he thought, ‘what’s he saying?! Oh, man, I can’t believe it! Why do I have to be so easily distracted??? Now everyone’s gonna think I’m an idiot, or rude for not listening!’ Bulkhead glanced to his teammates. They all seemed to be paying complete attention to Optimus’s reading of the letter, completely oblivious to the dilemma of their large green friend. ‘I know! I’ll just play it cool, and pretend I heard everything!’ he thought.

“Bulkhead, I am not convinced you’ve heard a word I have said,” noted Optimus Prime, he and all the other Autobots looking at their green friend.

“What? No! I heard everything,” assured Bulkhead.

“If you are sure…” said Optimus, glancing at his bulky comrade unsurely.

Back in the present, his friends were chortling with laughter.

“Yeah, ‘ha ha,’ now someone please explain to me what it is, and why it’s so great???” demanded Bulkhead, embarrassed at his earlier actions.

“It’s a huge event where ponies from all over Equestria get together and, well, have a huge party,” explained Twilight.

“That explains why Celestia thought it would help get ponies used to the idea of us Autobots stomping around Equestria, with so many of them all there together,” mused Bulkhead.

“I’d love to go!” exclaimed Applejack. “If I had a cart set up, ponies would be linin’ up to try our vittles ‘til the cows came home! Do you know how much business I could drum up for Sweet Apple Acres? Why, with all that money, we could do a heap of fixin’ up around here! We could replace that saggy old roof!” she exclaimed, pointing at the roof of her barn.

“…I think I’ve seen Ratchet in higher spirits than that roof,” remarked Bulkhead.

“Big Macintosh could replace that saggy old plow!” continued Applejack, pointing at her brother’s plow.

“Bip-bip-do-weep,” commented Bumblebee.

“Unhappier than Grimlock???” asked Bulkhead, incredulously, before glancing over it again, “…Yeah, I can see that.”

“And,” continued Applejack, looking a teeny bit irritated at being interrupted twice, “Granny Smith could replace that saggy old hip!” She pointed at her grandmother for emphasis, who waved at the quintet of companions.

“Wow,” said Bulkhead, “even Prowl never frowned as much as her hip does.”

“What’s that about my hip, youngin’?!” asked a now irate Granny Smith.

“Er, nothing…” said Bulkhead, his optics darting from side to side.

“I oughta tan that metal hide of yours! Get over here!” she shouted.

“Eeeenope!” exclaimed Bulkhead, who transformed into his SUV mode and sped out of the barn, pursued relentlessly by the elderly matriarch of the Apple Family.

Bumblebee watched with amusement, then transformed and drove up to Granny Smith, in hopes of calming her down, completely unaware of a bird-like drone spying on them from one of the apple trees.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Laserbeak flew back to the edge of the Everfree Forest, where Soundwave was waiting for him. The bird transformed into the larger Decepticon’s chest armor, and Soundwave absorbed the data. The silent Decepticon replayed the scene in his mind. The silent communications officer may not have been the most expressive Decepticon, but under his seemingly emotionless exterior, he was satisfied with his results. He had not only discovered a time and place where the Princess and the Autobots would be all together, but also obtained some rather amusing blackmail. Starscream would be pleased…

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Twilight and Spike were walking up to Sugarcube Corner, when a familiar pink blur tackled them into a familiar ambulance, the two Gala tickets landing underneath the ambulance’s windshield wipers. The irate medical vehicle transformed to the familiar shape of Ratchet’s robot form, and held Twilight and the pink blur, now fully discernable as Pinkie Pie, up to his optic level, prompting much shock and panic from other ponies nearby.

“Can’t a ‘Bot get a stasis nap around here?!” complained Ratchet, glaring at the ponies in his hands. “What’s the big i-huh?” Ratchet set the ponies on the ground and picked the two tickets off of his chest, then narrowed his optics at the ponies. “I should have known…” he said, in a shocked, betrayed tone. “Under all your friendship and parties…” he continued, “…you still stick parking tickets on tired Autobots!”

“I don’t know what parking tickets are, but I know that those are absolutely, undeniably, tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie.

“Ah, that pony event we’re going to,” said Ratchet. “You’d think having us walk around Ponyville would be enough, but apparently, we’ve got to attend some prissy ball, too…ugh…”

“Tell me about it,” agreed Spike, crossing his arms.

“Are you kidding me?!” exclaimed Pinkie, before bursting into a literal song and dance about how great she expected the Gala to be.

“…Maybe it’ll be interesting… I guess?” Ratchet grinned unsurely, for the party pony’s sake.

“Oh, thank you, thank you, thank you, Twilight! This is the best gift ever!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie, bouncing around her purple unicorn friend.

“Um...actually…” began Twilight, as Spike began picking up the tickets, before being interrupted once again by a gasp from Rarity.

“Are these what I think they are?” asked the white unicorn, gazing upon the tickets with awe.

“Yes! Yes! Yes!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie. “Twilight’s taking me to the Grand Galloping Gala in Canterlot!”

“Uh, I don’t think she-“

“The Gala!” sighed Rarity, interrupting Ratchet, to the medic’s irritation. “I design ensembles for the Gala every year! I’ve never had the opportunity to attend. The society, the culture, the glamour! It’s where I truly belong, and where I’m destined to meet… him!”

“Him!” exclaimed Pinkie Pie with enthusiasm, before narrowing her eyebrows in confusion, and asking, “Who?”

Rarity went into great detail about her fantasies about meeting Princess Celestia’s nephew, Prince Blueblood, and her dreams of marrying him.

“Yip, yip, yip!” interrupted Ratchet. “You think you’re going to meet him and then just fall in love at first sight???”

“Twilight,” said Rarity, ignoring Ratchet, “I simply cannot believe you would take… Pinkie Pie… so she can… party… and prevent me from meeting my true love! How could you?!” She turned her head away from Twilight with a loud “Humph!”

A white rabbit then snatched the two tickets from Spike’s hands and carried them over to Fluttershy and Arcee.

“Hey!” exclaimed Spike.

“Oh, Angel,” said Fluttershy, smiling at the tickets, “these are perfect.”

“Watcha got there?” asked Arcee, squinting at the tickets.

“Listen, guys,” interjected Twilight, “I haven’t decided who to give the extra ticket to.”

“You haven’t?!” asked Rarity and Pinkie Pie, the former with excitement and the latter with horror.

“Um, Twilight,” Fluttershy spoke up, “I would just like to ask, if it’s alright, if you haven’t given it to someone else…”

“You?!” exclaimed Rarity incredulously, “You want to go to the Gala?!”

"Well, why can't she?!" huffed Arcee. "She's her own pony! She can have what she wants!" The Autobot's words seemed to resonate the slightest bit of assertiveness in the timid pegasus.

“Well, actually…” The timid yellow pegasus went on to tell her friends about how she would use the trip as a reason to visit the palace garden, and explore the vegetable and animal life dwelling there.

“Now that,” said Ratchet, “is a reason I can get behind.”

“You’d be interested in the flora and fauna, too?” asked Fluttershy, gleeful at the prospect of someone else finding her reason for wanting to go to be a good one.

“I’m a medic. Life in all its forms, even organic, interests me,” said Ratchet.

“It does sound… beautiful?” said Twilight, a little unsurely.

“Now wait just a minute!” exclaimed a voice from above. Rainbow Dash swooped down in front of Twilight.

“Rainbow Dash!” exclaimed Twilight. “Were you following me?!” she demanded.

“No! Yes! Maybe!” fumbled Rainbow Dash. “It doesn’t matter!” she concluded. “I couldn’t risk a goody four-shoes like you giving that ticket away to just anybody!

“Wait just another minute!” spoke Applejack, as she approached the group.

“Applejack! Were you following me, too?!” demanded Twilight Sparkle.

“No! I was followin’ this one,” answered Applejack, pointing a hoof at Rainbow Dash, “to make sure she didn’t try any funny business! Still trying to take my ticket…”

“Your ticket?!” fumed Rainbow Dash.

“But Twilight’s taking me!” protested Pinkie Pie.

The ponies began to complain and argue, causing Twilight to shrink down and hold her head in her hooves.

“YIP, YIP, YIP!” interrupted Ratchet.

“And then I said oatmeal, are you crazy?!” finished Pinkie, prompting perplexed stares from her friends.

“Thanks, Ratchet,” said Twilight, looking up at the medic, before turning to her friends. “Girls, there’s no use in arguing!” she explained.

“But Twilight,” protested Rarity.

“It’s my decision, and I’ll decide on my own, and I can’t think straight with all this noise!” she said, as her stomach growled. “Not to mention hunger! Now go on! Shoo!”

Her pony friends reluctantly trudged away, muttering their complaints.

“And don’t worry! I’ll figure this out!” she added. “…Somehow…”

“Good luck with that. I don’t want to be involved in this whole affair,” said Ratchet, before transforming and resuming his nap.

“I’ll try and see what I can do to help,” said Arcee, transforming and speeding away in motorcycle mode.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Well, that was at least the third most embarrassing thing to ever happen to me,” remarked Bulkhead. Bumblebee had managed to calm Granny Smith down, and he and his bulky green friend were making their way back to the library.

Bumblebee looked at his friend awkwardly, not daring to ask what the first two were. Soon, the pair of Autobots came to a gathering of ponies in front of the library, and walked on over to see what was going on.

“Twilight is my bestest friend! Whoopee! Whoopee!” sang Pinkie Pie, as the ponies she had gathered threw Twilight in the air and caught her. The two Autobots blinked in bemusement.

“Pinkie…” Twilight interrupted.

“She’s the cutest, smartest, all around best pony! Pony!” the pink party pony continued to sing.

“Pinkie…” Twilight persisted.

“I bet if I throw a super-duper fun party! Party!” continued to sing Pinkie.

“Pinkie…” said Twilight, beginning to get annoyed.

“She’ll give her extra ticket to the Gala to meeee!” Pinkie concluded her song.

"Hey, Pinkie!" called Bulkhead, grabbing the attention of Pinkie and the other ponies, causing them to allow Twilight none-too-gently on the ground. The flower ponies fainted there on the spot, while the other ponies gaped at him, quite a bit surprised at his sudden appearance.

“Yes, Bulkhead?” asked Pinkie Pie.

"Er, Twi wanted to tell you something," said Bulkhead, feeling a little awkward at all the nervous stares from the ponies.

"Yes, Twilight?" asked Pinkie, batting her eyelashes at Twilight as Bumblebee helped the purple unicorn to her hooves..

“At least the other ponies tried to be subtle about the ticket!” Twilight irately remarked.

“Wait, what ticket? What Gala?” asked one of the ponies.

“Oh, you didn’t know?” asked Pinkie. “Twilight has an extra ticket to the Grand Galloping Gala!”

“The Grand Galloping Gala?!” exclaimed the ponies, all anxiety brought by the Autobots' arrival forgotten.

“Have I ever told you how much I love your mane?”

“I’ll wash your dishes!

Spike rushed by, pulling Twilight along, hoping to help his friend out of her situation, but they only ran into more ponies.

“I’ll do your gardening!”

“I have a cartload of extra carrots!”

The ponies and their offers of service began to surround the two, and Spike looked up at Twilight with a great deal of concern. “What do we do?” he asked.

Bumblebee transformed and opened his door, then beeped at them.

“We’re… gonna… ROOOLLLL!!!” shouted Twilight, grabbing Spike with her magic and dashing inside Bumblebee, who sped away.

"Oh no!" exclaimed Derpy. "That yellow one ate her! What are we gonna do?!"

"I bet she'll give the ticket to whoever saves her from the alien's stomach!" exclaimed Lyra. This prompted cheers from the other ponies, and they began pursuing her, bent on 'saving' their new friend, and perhaps acquiring her extra ticket.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

After much chasing and a strangely appropriate musical track, the trio were cornered in an alley. Bumblebee let his passengers out and transformed to robot mode, trying to calm down the advancing helpful mob with ‘settle down’ hand gestures, but to no avail. Twilight breathed heavier and heavier, and her horn began to glow brighter and brighter, until the three disappeared in a loud POP!

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The three reappeared in the library, with Twilight’s eyes wide with shock at her ability, Spike stumbling around in a daze, and Bumblebee falling on his belly with his optics spinning.

“Warn me next time you’re gonna do that…” muttered Spike in his confusion.

“I didn't even know it was going to happen!” explained Twilight.

“Beep-beep-do-wooooo!” Bumblebee buzzed, his mind still in a daze.

“Now’s not the time to tell me how my magic tastes! We need to lock the doors!” panicked Twilight. She and Spike quickly turned out all the lights and locked all the doors and windows, only for the light to turn back on.

“Do-weep-weep-woo!” chuckled Bumblebee, still in a daze.

“Those aren't vases, and they don’t just look like our pony friends! They are our pony friends!” Twilight exclaimed, before screaming. “I can’t decide! I just can’t decide! It’s important to all of you and I just can’t stand to disappoint any of you and giving me gifts and doing me favors won’t make any difference because you’re all my friends and I want to make you all happy and I can’t! I just can’t!” Twilight vented, collapsing on the floor and holding her hooves over her head, nearly in tears. His mind now cleared, Bumblebee crawled over to Twilight and gently patted her back comfortingly.

“I know, and that is why I am grateful to Arcee for informing me of this development,” spoke a familiar baritone. The wall underneath the balcony where the five ponies were standing slid in half, and the red and blue form of Optimus Prime stepped out, with the other three Autobots alongside him. He hunched over as not to destroy the ceiling, and stepped out before her.

“How did-“ began Applejack, but Ratchet interrupted.

“Twilight and the Princess gave us permission to build our base under the library,” explained the medic. “Now,” he continued, “don’t you

five have something you need to say to Twilight?”

“Twilight, sugar, I didn't mean to put so much pressure on you,” said Applejack as she walked over and rested a gentle hoof on her friends head. “And if it helps,” she continued, “I don’t want the ticket anymore. You can give it to somepony else. I won’t feel bad. I promise.”

“Me too,” put in Fluttershy, who flew over. “I feel just awful knowing that I made you feel so awful.”

“And me too!” added Pinkie Pie. “It’s no fun upsetting your friends!”

“Twilight, it was unfair of me to try to force you as I did,” apologized Rarity.

“YES! That means the ticket is MINE! I got the ticket! I got the ticket!” cheered Rainbow Dash, flying in the air, only to be stopped by the glares of her friends, and a raised eyebrow from Optimus Prime. “You know, I haven’t perfected my signature moves for the Wonderbolts anyway. I don’t need that ticket either,” Rainbow Dash corrected herself.

“We were all so gung-ho about going to the Gala, that we didn’t see how un-gung-ho we were makin’ you,” concluded Applejack.

“We’re sorry, Twilight,” said the ponies in unision.

Twilight smiled up at her friends, before turning to Spike. “Spike, take down a note.”

The dragon smiled and pulled out a paper and a quill.

“Dear Princess Celestia, I learned that one of the joys of friendship is sharing your blessings, but when there aren’t enough blessings to go around, having more than your friends can make you feel pretty awful. So though I appreciate the invitation, I will be returning both tickets to the Gala.”

“WHAT?!” asked her friends, incredulously.

“If my friends can’t all go, I don’t want to go, either!” smiled Twilight.

“Twilight… you don’t have to do that,” said Applejack.

“Nope, I’ve made up my mind. Spike, you can send the letter now.”

Spike blew the note away with his flames, sending it to the princess.

“I am impressed, Twilight. You have shown great maturity in sacrificing your own happiness for that of your friends,” said Optimus, causing a grateful blush from the purple pony.

“Reminds me of you when you were her age,” said Ratchet, smiling at the Prime.

“Thanks, but I’m not sacrificing anything. I couldn't possibly enjoy myself without my best friends there with me,” said Twilight, “so I’d rather not go at all.”

This prompted a group hug from her pony friends. Bumblebee looked at the ponies for a moment before picking them all up in his attempt to join the group hug, causing the six ponies to gasp and their eyes to bulge out at being hoisted so high up.

Spike stuck his tongue out once more at the display of affection, before beginning to very actually wretch.

“Well, wallop my withers, Spike!” exclaimed Applejack. “Ain’t that just like a boy?? Well, most boys,” she corrected, glancing at Bumblebee, before turning back to the young dragon, “can’t handle the least bit of sentiment!”

Spike’s response was to belch out another letter, prompting Applejack to duck to avoid being hit by the magical flames.

“A letter from the princess,” Twilight noted, “That was fast.”

Spike opened it and read, “My faithful student, Twilight, why didn’t you just say so in the first place?” He noticed a collection of objects in the letter and held them out. “Six tickets to the Gala!” he identified them.

“Now we’re all going!” cheered Bulkhead, prompting the gang to erupt into cheers, which were quickly silenced by the rumbling of Twilight’s stomach.

“Allow us to treat you to lunch,” insisted Rarity. The six ponies grabbed their tickets and headed out the door, leaving Spike on his own with the Autobots.

“How come I don’t get a ticket to the Gala…?” asked the dragon, looking down sadly.

“I am sure the princess did not intend to leave you out, little Spike,” reassured Optimus Prime.

Spike gave a thankful, though still saddened smile to the Autobot leader, before belching out another letter, causing the Autobot leader to jump backwards and knock over a couple of bookshelves.

“Oops. My bad,” apologized Optimus Prime, sheepishly.

“Ah, man! Twilight and I are gonna have to clean those up later!” complained Spike.

“Er, did you not receive a letter?” Optimus Prime pointed out, hoping to distract the dragon from his mishap.

Spike read the letter, “and one for you, Spike.” The young dragon ran out after his pony friends, giggling with excitement.

Optimus wiped a bead of imaginary sweat off his helmet, and turned to see the Autobots looking at him with amused expressions.

“I, er, imagine I shall be hearing tales of my accident for some time,” spoke Optimus, prompting the other Autobots to snicker and laugh at their leader’s expense. Optimus simply smiled, partially in embarrassment and partially in amusement, and shook his head in the same combination of emotions at his teammates.

Episode 4: Masters and Students Season

Transformers: War for Friendship

Episode 4: Masters and Students Season

“WHAT?! But, you’re awesome! How can you still just be a scout?!” asked Pinkie Pie, gaping at Bumblebee incredulously. She, Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack, and Fluttershy were gathered on the pony-sized walkway in the Autobot bunker beneath the Golden Oaks Library. Now that the base was complete, the six ponies were now able to spend more time with their Autobot friends, who walked about the floor. There were numerous consoles and control panels around the room, including a large central hub with several smaller screens surrounding a larger one.

“Bip-bip-beep-beep,” said Bumblebee, scratching the back of his head, nervously.

“Um, what is he saying?” asked Rarity, looking over at Twilight.

“He’s saying that he doesn’t think he’s really that special,” said Fluttershy, prompting surprised stares from all her friends, causing her to shrink back shyly. “I, uh, I guess, because of my talents with understanding animals, I can understand him, more or less…” the shy pegasus explained, causing her friends to nod in understanding.

“Ya don’t need to be so modest,” said Applejack, looking back up at Bumblebee. “Why, you were takin’ down ‘Cons faster than I can buck apple trees!” she continued.

“Not to mention you threw yourself in the line of fire to save Optimus. That was really brave,” said Fluttershy, her voice (as usual) barely above a whisper.

“And you were the first Autobot to make contact with a pony,” remarked Twilight Sparkle. “Being the first of your kind to befriend a planet’s native species has to count for something.”

“Bip-bip-bip-do-wip,” said Bumblebee, his face flushing with Energon at all the compliments.

“Ohhhh…” said Pinkie Pie, before tilting her head in confusion. “I still think you’d make a great warrior, no matter how young you are!”

Twilight Sparkle and Fluttershy nodded in agreement, but Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash looked at each other in confusion, and then back at the yellow Autobot.

“Come again, darling?” asked Rarity.

“Bee’s a skilled fighter, but he’s still got a lot to learn before he makes Warrior Class,” explain Bulkhead, walking over with Arcee.

“But aren’t you guys supposed to be millions of years old, or something?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“We are, but our lifespans are much longer than those of humans… and ponies,” explained Arcee. “By the standards of our species, Bumblebee’s about the same age as Pinkie Pie.”

“Wooowww!” gasped Pinkie Pie. “About the same age buddies!” she exclaimed, jumping up and wrapping her limbs around Bumblebee’s surprised face, prompting amused chuckles from her friends, both Autobot and pony.

Optimus Prime watched the nine friends, smiling, before turning to a console and sighing. Ratchet walked up behind him, instantly understanding what was on his leader’s mind.

“Still thinking about Megatron?” asked the medic. “You needn’t,” he continued, “not with this planet, all planets, finally safe from his tyranny!” At Optimus’s sigh, Ratchet realized his mistake, and spoke, “I’m sorry. I know you two had quite a history.”

“I am… pleased that the universe is safe, but…” Optimus paused, thinking over his words. “A part of me wanted to change Megatron’s mind, rather than extinguish his spark,” he finished.

“What do you mean?” asked Rainbow Dash, she and her friends now looking over at the Prime and the medic. “Wasn’t he like, the ultimate bad guy?” she further inquired.

“Believe it or not, Optimus and Megatron used to be buddies before the war started. When it did, and they ended up on opposite sides, well…” said Bulkhead, trailing off.

“We don’t like to talk about it,” said Arcee sharply, glancing at Bulkhead with narrowed optics, “seeing as it’s incredibly rude to bring up what are really personal, and almost certainly, painful memories.”

“It is fine,” said Optimus Prime, standing between the two and placing a reassuring hand on either Autobot’s shoulder.

Suddenly, a yellow filly with a bare flank and a pink bow adorning her red mane charged down the staircase from the library. She ran up to Applejack, who caught her in a one-armed hug, which the filly returned.

“Applebloom, what’re you doin’ down here?” asked Applejack, looking down at her sister.

“Big Macintosh kicked a tree so hard, a branch fell on him and broke some of his ribs!” exclaimed the small filly.

Without another word, the orange Earth pony charged up the stairs and galloped her way back home, followed by her sister leaving her friends behind, before the remaining Autobots and ponies, save for Ratchet, transformed and followed her.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The next day, Big Macintosh and Applejack stood on the hill overlooking Sweet Apple Acres, the former having been cleared from the hospital, though the damage had been done.

“Are you sure y’all can handle buckin’ all them apples?” asked Big Macintosh with concern.

“It’s not like y’all can,” pointed out Applejack, pointing to the bandages around big, red stallion’s torso.

“Why not ask for help from yer friends, or, hay, even one of them Autobots?” queried Big Mac.

“My friends have their own jobs to worry about, and the Autobots gotta be on the watch for those Decepticon varmints,” said Applejack. “Trust me, I can handle this.”

“If y’all are sure…” said Big Macintosh, uncertainly.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

The next day, Ratchet was alone in the base. A sudden increase in Decepticon activity had the other Autobots almost constantly on patrol. He sighed, although not unhappily. While he was natural concerned by the surge in activity of his enemies, he had to admit that it was nice to have the base to himself. A ‘bot my age needs some peace and quiet, every now and then, he thought happily. He considered drifting off into a quick nap. It would only be an hour… maybe two… His optics drooped, and he leaned back in his chair, drifting off into unconsciousness…

Suddenly, a loud CRUNCH followed by a BANG, and finally by a TING-TING-TING woke the older Autobot from his nap with a start. He looked around the room, extending his blades, aiming them wildly, before noticing the source of the noise that roused him from his slumber picking itself off the floor, with pieces of what used to be some of Ratchet’s tools sliding off her back.

“Rainbow Dash, I NEEDED THAT!” he exclaimed.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thanks for asking,” snapped Rainbow Dash in her sarcastic response.

“What in the names of Nexus Prime’s component parts caused you to make a crash like that?!” inquired the medic, now scanning her for injuries. Surprisingly, she only had very minor internal injuries.

“Applejack was helping me with a stunt, but she was acting all off, like she didn’t get enough sleep or something! By the time she finally managed to land on the catapult, (Ratchet had no intention of finding out what she was doing with a catapult) she ended up launching me before I was ready!” elaborated the pegasus.

“Hmm…” said Ratchet, trying to pretend he was interested for politeness’ sake. “Maybe you should ask her if something’s bothering her.”

“I think Twilight’s taking care of that. Do I need to go to the hospital?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“You’re fine, surprisingly enough. I swear your bones are made of stronger metal than Bulkhead,” said the medic.

“Cool! Thanks! See ya later, ‘Docbot!” said Rainbow, flying away through the pegasus shaped hole in the ceiling, leaving the grumbling medic to clean up the mess made by her crash by himself.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

A few days later, Optimus Prime and Bumblebee rolled up behind a large tree in the Everfree Forest. They quietly transformed into their robot forms, and ducked behind separate trees. They looked ahead to where Starscream, Soundwave, and two Vehicons stood in front of a large, silver pod. Soundwave approached the control panel of said pod.

“Commander- uh, Lord Starscream,” one of the Vehicons spoke up, correcting himself upon noticing Starscream’s glare, “what exactly is in this capsule?”

“That, my good trooper, is a Sleeper,” Starscream began, “Megatron sent many to distant worlds millions of years ago, in search of some sort of artifact the Autobots jettisoned from Iacon.”

“Don’t you know?” asked the other Vehicon.

Starscream huffed at the second Vehicon’s attitude. “He never told anyone! No one except them, and Soundwave, who refuses to tell me, even now that Megatron is gone!” snapped the Seeker. “Besides, whatever the reason, this Sleeper was sent here for a reason. Once he awakens, he shall lead us to that which he was sent here to seek out, be it super fuel or weapon of mass destruction!” Starscream explained to his guards, as Soundwave tapped away at the pod’s control panels.

Optimus Prime and Bumblebee had heard enough, and they quickly rolled out from behind their cover and each blasted down a Vehicon troopers, prompting Starscream to turn sharply around and aim his missile launchers at the Autobots.

“Your Sleeper shall not awaken!” declared Optimus Prime, only to be blasted away by three of Starscream’s missiles.

“You will not interfere, Optimus Prime!” snarled Starscream, only to be blasted repeatedly by Bumblebee until the Seeker was knocked on his back.

“Bip-bip-do-weeoo!” retorted the yellow Autobot, rushing over to where Soundwave was typing away, only to be swatted aside by one of Soundwave’s tentacles.

“No!” exclaimed Optimus Prime, rolling onto his feet, only to stop and stare in horror as the pod began to open.

Starscream stood on his feet, clutching his side, where he had taken the most of Bumblebee’s firepower, watching as steam shot out from the crevices of the pod’s door, just before it slid up, and a big, green Decepticon* stepped out, stretching his arms before slamming his fists together.

“Arise, Decepticon, and serve your new master!” commanded Starscream, striking what he probably thought was a leader-ly pose.

“Skyquake serves only one master!” bellowed the giant, leaning toward Starscream and glowering.

Oblivious to Skyquake’s irritation, Starscream strutted forward proudly. “Excellent,” the Seeker smirked. “Your loyalty will set a fine example for the troops!” He turned and looked up at the Sleeper. “No need to be shy, Skyquake,” Starscream said, “you may bow.”

“You fail to grasp my meaning,” sighed Skyquake, “I was sent here by my one master, Megatron, to seek the-“

“Yes, him,” hissed Starscream in annoyance. “Sadly, Lord Megatron is… no longer with us…” he said, before continuing with more bravado, “slain by him! Optimus Prime!” Starscream punctuated his accusation by pointing a clawed finger at the leader of the Autobots, who was helping his scout to his feet.

“You,” snarled Skyquake, glaring at Optimus. “Last time we met, Megatron ordered me to bring him your head.”

“As Starscream said, Megatron is dead,” said Optimus Prime, “You do not need to follow orders from beyond the grave.”

“Yes, see? Optimus Prime is quite correct. There is no shame in bowing to my command, now that Megatron is deceased,” said Starscream, capitalizing on the Prime’s appeal for peace.

“Again?!” Skyquake questioned incredulously. “BOW TO THIS!” he roared, slamming his fist into Starscream’s chest, knocking the Seeker to Soundwave’s feet, before charging at Optimus Prime and punching the Autobot leader through several trees.

“Bip-bip-beep!” shouted Bumblebee, running up and blasting the Decepticon, who swatted him away almost effortlessly.

“I hold no quarrel with you, bug, so I suggest you stay out of this fight. I have no desire to stain my hands with the Energon of a child,” Skyquake warned, before turning to where he punched Optimus Prime, only for the Autobot leader’s fist to connect sharply with his face.

“I shall not allow you to act out Megatron’s plans for this world!” declared Optimus Prime, before charging at the Decepticon and slicing at him with his swords, only for Skyquake to pull out his gatling gun and blast the Autobot leader away. With his opponents downed, Skyquake transformed into a jet of Cybertronian design and blasted away, heading toward Ponyville.

“Do-weeooo…” said Bumblebee, who then transformed into his vehicle form and sped after the Decepticon. A few seconds later, a red and blue truck joined the black-striped yellow muscle car.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Ha!” smirked Applejack, looking at Twilight Sparkle through half open lids. “All the apple trees in Sweet Apple Acres bucked! How do ya like them apples?”

“You realize that’s only half of the whole orchard, right?” asked Twilight, prompting Applejack to facehoof.

The sound of wood being shredded turned her attention over to the bucked apple trees, which were being mowed down like a lawn by a green object in the sky that was raining down firepower on them.

“What the hay is that...?” gaped Applejack, as Optimus and Bumblebee rolled up to them and transformed.

“That,” said Optimus Prime, pointing at their aggressor, “is Skyquake. He is one of many Sleepers Megatron has sent across the galaxy to remain in stasis, awaiting his command. Now that he has awakened, Skyquake will not stop until he has achieved the objective his master set for him.”

“Which is…?” asked Twilight, nervously.

Optimus shook his head, sadly. “I am afraid we have no way of knowing. All we can do is bring him down before he harms any innocent ponies in the process.”

“On it, Prime!” exclaimed Applejack, rushing toward the barn, accidentally running into a few trees on her way there.

“...Well, then. Bumblebee, we must bring Skyquake down! Maximum firepower!” commanded Optimus Prime. The two Autobots’ respective blasters folded out of their arms, and they opened fire upon the flying green ‘Con. Skyquake did a barrel roll to avoid their shots and opened fire upon them, forcing the Autobots and the unicorn to scatter and take cover behind separate trees.

“It’s no use! You’ll never hit him while he’s flying around up there out of range!” said Twilight.

“We cannot give up!” said Optimus Prime.

“I wasn’t suggesting that, I-“ Twilight was interrupted by the sight of Applejack trying to lasso the Cybertronian jet. “She’s not…” Twilight deadpanned.

“She is,” noted Optimus Prime, before calling over to the farm pony. “Applejack! Take cover! Even if he were in range of your lasso, he would simply carry you away!” called the Prime.

“Don’t y’all worry! I got him in my sights!” half-mumbled, half-shouted the orange earth pony.

Optimus Prime rolled out from behind his cover to fire upon the giant green jet, only to be hit by the Decepticon’s firepower, and knocked over, unconscious.

“Optimus!” exclaimed Twilight in horror, before turning to Bumblebee and teleporting over next to him. “I have a plan,” explained the unicorn, “just be ready to jump!”

The yellow scout looked at her for a moment, one eyebrow furrowed and another raised in confusion.

“Just trust me!” said Twilight, before looking back up at Skyquake, whose firepower was now heading straight for Applejack. She focused on the Decepticon with all her magical prowess, and teleported him just seconds before he could land a shot on her freckled friend.

Applejack herself was still waving her lasso about sleepily, not noticing the disappearance of the Decepticon. His reappearance, though, resulted in her managing to get a hold on him with her lasso. The Decepticon was dragging her across the ground, but with all of her remaining strength, the earth pony dug her hooves into the ground, managing to slow him down to the equivalent of a running pace.

Bumblebee drove out from behind his tree and transformed, leaping onto the jet, prompting the exhausted Applejack to release her hold on Skyquake, causing him to fly off into the sky, with Bumblebee holding on to the Decepticon’s wings with all his strength to avoid flying off.

Applejack watched the Autobot and Decepticon as they flew through the air. “How the heck does he think he’s getting’ down from there?!” she asked with concern.

“That’s up to me. Come on!” said Twilight, charging in the direction they flew.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“Get off me, bug!” roared Skyquake. After doing a barrel roll to try and shake the young scout off, Skyquake then snarled and flew back toward Sweet Apple Acres. “Very well,” the Decepticon conceded, “you can keep your perch. It will give you an excellent view of this small city’s destruction!”

“Bip-bip-do-weeooo!” exclaimed Bumblebee in horror.

“…Your vocal peculiarity annoys me. Please stop it,” said Skyquake, folding his Gatling gun out from underneath his nosecone.

The young scout’s expression turned into a fierce, determined glare, and he smashed Skyquake’s cockpit, before fiddling around with the controls.

“WHAT IS HAPPENING?!” roared Skyquake as he suddenly veered left. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!?” he shouted, only to veer right and circle around back to the Everfree Forest.

“Bip-bip-BEEP-BEEP!” buzzed Bumblebee, before firing upon Skyquake’s nosecone with his blasters.

“NOOOooo….” Skyquake’s voice ebbed away as his spark extinguished, leaving Bumblebee piloting the smoking, burning corpse of the Decepticon on a collision course with the ground.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

“I… I can’t see Bumblebee!” said Applejack, squinting.

“I can,” said Optimus Prime, “and he and Skyquake are crashing down! Twilight! Can you teleport him to safety?”

Twilight squinted at the falling Transformers. “I think so… but it will be very difficult.”

“Please try,” begged Optimus Prime, prompting Twilight Sparkle to turn her full attention to Bumblebee and Skyquake.

“Here goes…!” she said, her horn lighting up. The light grew brighter, and brighter, and brighter, until finally a loud POP resounded through the air. Seconds later, another loud POP signaled the materialization of Bumblebee, who fell ten feet instead of ten thousand, turning his landing into a somersault, and finally landing on his backside in front of Optimus Prime and the astonished ponies.

“’Bee… are… are y’all okay…?” asked Applejack, looking especially weary. Bumblebee answered her with a thumbs up.

“And Skyquake?” asked Optimus Prime, to which Bumblebee lowered his head solemnly in response, and looked at his hands, as if gazing upon blood stains on his palms that only he could see. Optimus Prime rested a comforting on the young scout’s shoulder. “The first time is always the hardest. It will not get better, but you do learn to live with it,” said Optimus.

“What do you mean? It was his first time doing what?” asked Twilight. She was interrupted by the sound of Applejack collapsing, prompting the three to rush over to their fallen friend.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Applejack awoke the next morning to her bedroom’s ceiling. She blinked and squinted a moment, and looked out the window, only to see the sun beginning its descent toward the horizon. She jumped to her hooves and raced outside to the orchards.

When she arrived outside, her eyes widened at the sight of friends doing her work for her. Bumblebee and Arcee were driving through the orchard, bashing into apple trees, prompting the fruits to fall into strategically placed baskets. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flew the trees, shaking apples out into baskets. The baskets were then either levitated by Twilight Sparkle or Rarity, or carried back by Pinkie Pie or Spike.

“What the heck are y’all doin’?” she asked.

“You were exhausted, so we decided to allow you rest by completing your tasks,” said Optimus Prime, carrying several trees that had been shot up by Skyquake under each arm.

“We figured you could use the rest,” said Bulkhead, hauling his own load of fallen trees.

“But, y’all have yer own responsibilities! How can I be dependable if I’m making you abandon them just to help me?!” protested Applejack.

“Hey, it never hurts to ask for help,” said Rainbow Dash, popping her head out of a tree.

“We’re your friends. It would be very rude of us to abandon you in your moment of need,” added Rarity.

“Bip-beep-bip-beep-beep,” put in Bumblebee, rolling up and transforming to robot form.

“Bumblebee has this ridiculous thought that he's responsible for all the damage since he was fighting Skyquake,” said Arcee. “By the way, the apples have all been ‘bucked’.”

“Y’all are the best friends a pony could ask for!” smiled Applejack, prompting a group hug from her pony, dragon, and Autobot friends.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

That night, at the library, Twilight smiled at Spike and, once he had finished sending Princess Celestia her faithful student’s latest friendship report, gave the baby dragon a hug. She then levitated him as she made her way up the stairs herself, gently resting Spike in his bed-basket and plopping down in her own bed. She lay there a moment, before opening her eyes again at the sound of metal scraping against wood.

“Who’s there?” she asked. She heard metal footsteps, and looked over the edge of her bed, seeing, to her surprise, Bumblebee sitting in a crouched position on the lower floor of her bedroom, hugging his legs to his chest, and avoiding eye contact with her. At the sight of the familiar yellow Autobot, she relaxed somewhat. “What are you doing up here?” she asked. “Do you need to talk about something?” she questioned.

Bumblebee nodded, and then turned his head to look at up at her. “Bip-bip-beep,” he said, simply, before going back to avoiding eye contact with her.

“You… what?” asked Twilight, her eyes widening in shock.

“Bip-bip-beep. Beep-beep-beedle-weep-do-weep,” said Bumblebee, elaborating.

“You… killed Skyquake…” repeated Twilight, prompting a nod from Bumblebee, and continued, “…and he was your first time killing a Decepticon?” Bumblebee nodded. “But,” Twilight said, shaking in surprise, “why? Why did you kill him???”

The expression on Bumblebee’s face darkened, and he let out another series of beeps.

“Right… war…” said Twilight, looking down, sadly. “The idea is just so new, so alien to me… the last pony war was thousands of years ago,” she explained.

Bumblebee let out a series of confused, anxious, and frightened beeps.

“What does that make you, now…?” repeated Twilight. She lowered her head, taking her time to consider her answer. After an impressive pause, she looked back up at the scout, who watched her with such anxiousness, she could swear he seemed almost terrified of her answer. “Well,” she began, “you did… you did what you had to. He wasn’t going to listen to your words, so you didn’t have a choice.” She paused to further collect her thoughts, before resuming, “It…it wasn’t good that you had to kill him, but it isn’t your fault, either, because you didn’t have a choice.”

When she finished, she looked upon Bumblebee once more. His optics glistened with coolant, and his expression had calmed. Twilight smiled reassuringly, before letting out a yelp as Bumblebee pulled her into an unexpected hug. The studious unicorn looked upon the young Autobot’s face, noticing his optics were closed, and she could see streams of coolant running down from the corners of his optics, like tears. She settled for returning the hug as best she could by wrapping her forelegs around Bumblebee’s neck. Looks like I’ll be sending another friendship report to the Princess tomorrow, she thought, as she held on to her metal yellow friend.

Prologue: A Strange New World

Transformers: War for Friendship

Prologue: A Strange New World

A yellow muscle car with black racing stripes sped through a forest, unaware of just how out-of-place its form was on this world. Deep down, the vehicle hoped and prayed that his friends had made it through safely as well.

The yellow vehicle approached a wooden, painted sign, simply saying, Welcome to Ponyville. He noted the strange, primitive buildings up ahead. His systems were damaged. He wouldn’t be able to disguise himself the usual way. He would simply have to avoid being seen.

Driving in back alleys and behind buildings, the car managed to avoid being seen by the locals. However, the same was not true vice-versa, and he noticed their hooved, quadruped design. Strange, the sentient machine thought, I thought horses were indigenous to Earth. The color was strange, though, in that it varied from horse to horse, and none of those colors resembled the horses of Earth. They were also smaller, had larger heads, smaller snouts, and strange images on their rears. This sure is one oddball planet.

The vehicle noticed a strange building up ahead that looked like it was carved out of a tree. He noticed that he was leaking a trail of blue liquid. He would have to find shelter to repair himself. Perhaps he could hide in the branches of that tree…

The car reverted to its true, humanoid, robotic form, and ducked behind the strange structure, clutching his leaking, wounded chest. He climbed up the tree’s branches, hoping to avoid being seen. However, once the 15-foot tall robot reached the roof, he ended up smashing through it.

He was awoken once again by a loud, and feminine-sounding scream. His optics flickered back on, and he noticed one of the horse-like creatures standing before him. Her fur was lavender, and her mane and tail were a deep purple with a pink stripe running through them. The mark on her hindquarters was a pink star surrounded by sparkles. She sported a horn, which protruded from her forehead. He quickly pushed himself into a sitting position, scooting back against the wall. She stared up at him, and he stared down at her.

“Bip-bip-beep-beep-do-weep?” buzzed the yellow and grey mechanoid unsurely. He was now seriously wishing he still had a voice to explain what was going on…