Heart of Steel

Optimus wandered the outskirts of the palace, taking looking around the city. Canterlot was an entirely different place at night. The streets were eerily empty, with only the occasional pony wandering them. The pegasi had gone to sleep, replaced by the bat-ponies, a subspecies of the pegasi. The few lights that remained on in houses and businesses became like tiny lighthouses, beacons in the night for any weary traveler. Now, in the stillness of the night, even the slightest hoofstep, overlooked in the chaotic day, now bellowed across the city. As evident by the approaching hoofsteps behind Prime.

“Optimus, wait!” Celestia called out, her voice cutting through the night. Prime turned as she skidded to a halt in front of him. “Optimus, there’s something very important I have to tell you” she said.

Prime looked at her curiously. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?” he asked.

“Maybe, but it doesn’t matter right now. I...I wanted-no, I need to tell you that...I love you” she confessed, closing her eyes and scrunching her lips as the words left her mouth.

Optimus stood, shocked, unsure what to say. After what felt like an eternity of silence to both of them, he finally spoke. He bent down, stroking her neck with one of his hands. “Celestia,” he began.She relaxed, becoming brave enough to open her eyes, though she wished she hadn’t. Prime didn’t look as overjoyed as she’d hoped, in fact, he almost looked saddened. “I won’t deny that I have special feelings for you, nor will I deny that I enjoy your company. To be the object of your affection is a great honor, but...I’m not sure if I can love you the same way you love me.”

“Why not?” she asked

“Cybertronians do not reproduce the same way your race does. We do not need couples of males and females to continue, and as such, romance between Cybertronians is rare, though not entirely unheard of. If we were to become lovers, I’m not sure I could properly return your affection” he explained.

She smiled warmly, lifting his chin up with her hoof. “I know Optimus, but I don’t care. I love you, and that’s all that matters. To be honest, it doesn't matter if you know all the “proper courting rituals.” You have your own way of showing you care about me, and I’ll admit, I’m quite fond of it” she said, kissing him on his metal “cheek.”

Optimus smiled as he felt a warming sensation in his chest, not all unlike the sensation when she’d healed him with her magic when he first arrived. “Was that some kind of magic?” he asked. “What? A kiss? No silly, that isn’t magic” she said with a giggle.

Suddenly, Prime’s head jerked up, his smile fading. He stared off into the distance, his pupils narrowing. “What is it?” Celestia asked.

“Luna’s coming, and she’s wearing battle armor” he told her. The two ran to meet Luna halfway, both of them surprised to find her exhausted.

“Sister, urgent-pant-message from Ponyville! Twilight is under attack! Decepticons” she said, gasping between every other words. Celestia’s eyes widened in shock.

“We must move quickly. Luna, teleport us to Ponyville. Celestia, arm yourself, then meet us there, understood?” She nodded, running off to the armory. Out of the corner of her eyes, she could see the blue flash of Luna’s teleportation.

Celestia armed herself, then went down to the lab beneath the castle. She burst through the doors, startling Moondancer. “Moondancer. Update. Now.” She gave the princess an estranged look, fixing her glasses. “Moondancer, Twilight’s in trouble! Whatever you’ve got, we need it now!” she told her.

“Well, I’ve got something…b-but it’s not tested, and-” She was cut off as Celestia teleported the entire room to Ponyville.