Transformers: War for Friendship

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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“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.

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“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.

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“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.

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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.

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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.