Sugarcoat came out of the other side of the mini-Groundbridge at the entrance to the Sweet Shoppe. Fighting back the tears in her eyes, she tightened her right hand into a fist and walked into the shop. She was still stung hard by Sunset’s words but tried her hardest to hide it, forcing a grin as hard as she could.

She came into the Sweet Shoppe and found that there was no-one inside and no-one running the counter either. Tilting her head, Sugarcoat’s face fell instantly. It was like she had walked into a haunted shop as her footsteps echoed against the walls.

With no one around, she took a seat at the couch, still struggling to keep herself together. But the sound of the bell dinging and the door opening got her attention.

“Sugarcoat, why did you run off like that?” Sunny Flare asked. “You had us all worried.”

Sugarcoat didn’t reply, but instead looked away, not wanting to show her any quivering lips or tears.

“C’mon, Sugarcoat. This isn’t like you at all.” Sunny sat down by Sugacoat, watching as she scooted away from her. “Usually, you’re not afraid and you stand your ground pretty well. So why back down now?”

“Sunny… I don’t want to talk about this.” Sugarcoat simply said. “I just left, simple as that.”

“Running from your problems is only gonna make things worse.” Sunny Flare took Sugarcoat’s hands and held them close to her face. “What’s wrong? Talk to us.”

Sugarcoat sighed. “Sunny… what’s wrong with us? We can’t even talk to each other without snapping at one another or getting mad just because of our quirks.”

“We’re not the best of friends, Sugarcoat. I agree with you on that,” Sunny started. “But times change. We saw EVERYTHING that’s happened at CHS. If those girls can go from being dysfunctional to being besties, then why can’t we adapt as well?”

“Look at us, Sunny. Indigo Zap is just overly competitive, Sour is sweet and… sour at the same time, I’m blunt, Lemon Zest is loud and obnoxious and you’re… you’re… I got nothing.” Sugarcoat slapped her forehead and groaned. “The point is, how can we even work together if we keep fighting with each other over every single thing?”

“Maybe we’re just… bad people.” Sunny Flare rubbed her fingers against the surface of the table. “And that’s a good thing.”

“Good?” Sugarcoat rubbed her eyes. “What part of us being bad people is a good thing?”

“I get that we’re not really good friends, but at the same time, what fun is there in us being perfect?” Sunny asked. “If we’re really supposed to live up to the Rainbooms’ examples, then we’re just destroying everything that makes us who we are. And besides, you can’t be happy-go-lucky ooey-gooey best friends every day, right?”

“If you’re trying to cheer me up, it’s not really your best performance, Sunny,” said Sugarcoat.

“Dysfunction isn’t healthy, yes. But at the same time, being too friendly with each other is just as bad.” Sunny Flare sighed and fiddled with her Pip-Boy. “I guess in a way, those Rainbooms are like the Avengers and we’re like the Guardians of the Galaxy. In the sense that we do go for each other’s throats, but we can still get the job done and do it good.”

“Sunny, think about it. We’re still fighting, Sour is still a baby, Wheeljack still hasn’t finished fixing what turned her into a infant in the first place, the war with the Autobots and Decepticons is still going, and we’re keeping all of this a secret from Sour’s cyborg girlfriend!” As her facial muscles tightened, sweat began to form on her forehead. Very quickly, she took a deep breath and calmed down. “Pardon me, but this not looking good.”

“What did you say?” Smallfoot stood in the middle of the staircase. She had been listening in on the conversation. “What was that about my Sourball?”

Sunny’s pupils shrank to pinpricks. “We’re dead.”

Smallfoot stood standing, staring down at the both of them with green eyes.

“Um… how long were you there?”

“All I heard was something about keeping a secret from Sour Sweet’s ‘cyborg girlfriend’.” Smallfoot approached the two Bolts. “Granted that fits me perfectly, but something seems a little off right now…”

“It’s nothing, Smallfoot! We’ve just, uh… well…” Sugarcoat desperately flailed her hands in front of her face and tugged on her collar.

“We’ve been keeping a secret about what to get you for Christmas!” Sunny blurted.

“Girls. I know that’s a lie from here.” Smallfoot crossed her arms. “You’re not really that good at hiding the truth from me.” She slowly walked towards them and moved her hands on her hips. “What exactly are you hiding from me?”

Sunny’s Pip-Boy began to ring, and the video feed showed Wheeljack again. “Sunny? Are you there? I’ve got an update on the machine’s progress.”

“Uh… great! Just give me a moment real quick…” Sunny scrambled to try and turn the Pip-Boy off. “Smallfoot, can we talk about this later? Me and Sugarcoat have to hurry and get you and Sour something nice.” She darted out of the table, leaving a cloud of smoke behind her.

The very second she tried to go to the door, Smallfoot swooped in at the last moment and stood in front of the door.

“No, uh uh, I don’t think so. You’re not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on. What is so important that you have to hide from me?” Smallfoot took a short moment to think, then looked back at Sunny. “Did you set my books on fire?”

“Huh? There are books on fire?” Pinkie poked her head out from the counter. “Oh, Twilight’s not gonna be happy about that…”

“No, we didn’t set any of your books on fire.” Sunny replied.

“Besides, it’s MUCH more complicated than you think.” Sugarcoat added

Smallfoot raised an eyebrow. “What can you possibly say that’s so confusing, girls? The Autobots don’t have secrets to hide, y’know.”

“Well we did find a secret… I think your ex-girlfriend Road Rage may have a small crush on Arcee.”

Smallfoot rolled her eyes. “She actually told me about that. Can’t blame her.”

“Hey, uh, is this a bad time?” Wheeljack spoke up from the wrist communicator. “I can always call you girls back.”

“Wheeljack. Come in. This is Smallfoot.” She took Sunny’s arm and looked down at the communicator. “What’s going on?”

“Nothing’s going on, Smallfoot, I can assure you. I just set some of my equipment on fire again, that’s all. Scared the heck out of Hotspot though.”

“Wheeljack. Not you too.” Smallfoot lowered her brows. “Girls. Tell me what’s wrong right now. This isn’t like you.”

Sugarcoat and Sunny shared worried looks. If they told her now, who knew how she’d react. Their vision began to blur as only Smallfoot stood above them, getting bigger and bigger every second as the rest of the world vanished around them. Her eyes turned from green to dark purple as she stared down on them both.

“What do you have to say for yourselves?” Smallfoot’s voice was dark and twisted, like she had been turned to a Decepticon, yet at the same time, remained an Autobot in form.

As Sunny and Sugarcoat tried to say something, they heard Sour Sweet’s cries ringing in their ears, getting louder and louder with each passing second. They frantically looked around in the dark purple abyss, but there was nothing but a Smallfoot that might as well have been a god with how large she was growing.

“Speak now, wretches!” Smallfoot’s voice finally warped and had a venomous accent to it, as her Autobot insignia went up in flames and was replaced with a Decepticon logo. “WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SOUR SWEET?!”

Sugarcoat and Sunny Flare fell to their knees, closing their eyes as they tried to fight back their own illusions. But even now, they couldn’t blot out Sour Sweet’s wails, or escape the gaze of the colossal Smallfoot standing before them. Balling their hands into fists, tears began to fall from their eyes as more and more visions filled their heads.

“You let Smallfoot join the Decepticons? What kind of girls are you?" Rainbow Dash grabbed both of the girls by the throats.

“Ah say we chuck ‘em into space.” Applejack crossed her arms. “Won’t do us any good if we’re gonna have traitors among us…”

“You lied to us, Sunny and Sugarcoat.” Sunset had flames in her eyes. “You’re just as bad as the Decepticons…”

“And all because you didn’t tell Smallfoot that Sour Sweet was turned into a human child.” Optimus Prime joined the scorners. “What a miserable way to go out.”

“No… please stop! Sunny Flare had two waterfalls of tears flowing out of her eyes. “It’s not our fault!”

“We never meant to do any of this!” Sugarcoat cried. “It was just an accident!”

“Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar! Liar!” Everyone in her field of view chanted, their voices getting louder and louder every second as the girls tried one more time to break out of their haunt. They were about to get flattened by a barrage of fists until they finally screamed and broke back into reality.

“ALRIGHT! ALRIIIIIIGHT!” Sunny Flare cried at the top of her voice. “Smallfoot. We turned Sour Sweet into a baby by accident when we tried to help Wheeljack out!”

“Please don’t join the Decepticons over this! We’re sorry we ever lied to you!” Sugarcoat had never been so broken before in her entire life. “What have we done? What have we done?!”

Smallfoot stood silently for a moment, staring at Sunny Flare and Sugarcoat for a few moments without saying a word.

“How long has this been going on today?”

“Uh… huh?” Sunny whimpered, both her lips quivering.

“How long did this happen?”

“Um… a few hours ago.” Sugarcoat’s tears made the tiles beneath her wet and slippery.

“And how many people know this happened?”

“All four of us, Wheeljack, Sunset Shimmer… and possibly Sideswipe and Bumblebee, they got freaked out really bad.”

Smallfoot tapped her foot for a moment. “And let me guess… you’ve tried to contain the problem by yourselves and it didn’t work, and you girls just kept on fighting with each other over not knowing how to handle it?”

“Y-Yes…” Sunny sniffled.

Smallfoot took a moment to think, and then looked around for a brief moment, thinking of what to do. She began to fiddle around with the devices on her arm, bringing up a separate video feed with Ratchet on the other side.

“Ratchet. I’d like to request a Groundbridge back to base.” Smallfoot spoke in a calm voice. “I have something I need to do.”

“Understood. I’m activating Teletraan-1’s Groundbridge systems now. It should be in your position shortly.”

Smallfoot nodded and she walked towards the door and stepped outside, onto the empty street, ready for when it would arrive. She didn’t even see the Shadowbolts still crying on the floor.

“Huh. She took that a lot better than I thought she would.” Pinkie tilted her head.

“W-What…” Sunny said, staring out the window. “Oh no… oh no no no no no no no… she’s going to freak!”

“S-She’ll freak out more when she finally sees Sour.” Sugarcoat replied. “Come on, we’ve got… we’ve got to stop her!”

“If it’s gonna help you two out, I was about to say that the machine’s coming along pretty nicely.” Wheeljack tapped on the glass. “I should have the device finished in just under an hour. “

“That’s good Wheeljack, but don’t let her find our lounge! We can’t let her see Sour!”

“The Autobot base’s defence matrix only works against Decepticons. And if I change it up, then Optimus would be furious.” Wheeljack went back to the machine. “Not much I can do to stop her, I’m afraid.”

“Then use yourself as a door! I don’t care if you have to put her in stasis cuffs or tackle her to the ground, just don’t let her get there!” Sugarcoat yelled.

“Do you want Sour Sweet turned back to a teenager or for me to stop Smallfoot?” Wheeljack lifted his brows. “I can’t do both, y’know. Take your pick, girls.”

Sugarcoat slapped her forehead and just groaned in annoyance, running with Sunny out the door.

The portal opened up in front of Smallfoot, ready for her to step on through. She slowly began to walk on through, and Sunny and Sugarcoat chased after her, leaving Pinkie Pie alone in the Sweet Shoppe.

Smallfoot walked through the other side, entering in the Autobot base. And as she did, the size that she had become was slowly deteriorating, turning her back into her real size.

“Oh this is bad…” Sugarcoat panicked. “How are we gonna stop her?”

“I got an idea, but this is pretty bad.” Sunny replied. She looked up ahead and got the attention of one of the Autobots.

“Hey, Grimlock! Smallfoot says the Dinobots have inferior brains compared to hers!” Sunny yelled.

“What?!” Grimlock blew steam out of his mouth. “Me Grimlock no like being insulted! Me Grimlock teach Smallfoot a lesson!” And he charged at her.

Smallfoot’s eyes lowered. “Oh… scrap.”

The Dinobot charged forward, and tackled Smallfoot to the ground. It wasn’t long until some of the other Dinobots came running in and soon they started to join in, dogpiling on the Guardian Gobot.

“Why did you do that?” Sugarcoat tilted her head. “Did we need to get them mad?”

“It’ll buy us some time, alright? Now shut up and let’s send Sour Sweet off to kindergarten, elementary, and high school all at once!” Sunny darted to the lounge.

“Smallfoot’s going to be mad.” Sugarcoat replied darting after her.

Shortly after Sunny and Sugarcoat left for the lounge, a series of blaster shots rung out, causing the Dinobots to stop attacking Smallfoot.

“Grimlock, Slag, Sludge, Swoop, Snarl! That’s enough!” Optimus called out, making them all disperse. Once they all left, he picked Smallfoot up and brushed her down. “Are you alright, Smallfoot?”

“I’m fine,” Smallfoot winced, stretching. “Didn’t like the tackle, but it kind of pales in comparison to the other pain I got in the war.”

“Teletraan-1? Can you identify what caused the Dinobots to attack Smallfoot like that?” Optimus turned his head to the ceiling.

“Sugarcoat and Sunny Flare insulted the Dinobots and pinned it on Smallfoot.” Teletraan-1 burst out. “They said that it was to buy them some time for something. I am yet unable to process what they mean by that.”

“Buy time?” Optimus scratched his chin. “Hmm...” And he transformed into truck mode. “Smallfoot. You better get repaired. I need to investigate what's going on.” And he drove off at high-speed down the tunnels after the bolts.”

“I’m fine, Optimus! In fact...” Smallfoot transformed into her pickup mode. “Maybe my new baby lessons with Pinkie Pie are about to pay off.”

She rolled down the base, following after Optimus.

They both dashed past Sunny Flare and Sugarcoat, almost hurling them into the walls with their slipstreams as they charged to the lounge.

“Yeah. We’re dead alright.” Sugarcoat recovered her balance and continued running. “Sunny? You got a good epitaph ready?”

“Just keep moving!” Sunny Flare ignored Sugarcoat.

Optimus and Smallfoot came to a halt, stopping in front of the lounge door and both converted into their alternate forms.

“I think I have a good idea on how to handle this.” Smallfoot stated, looking at her leader. “But I think maybe I’m going to need to shrink down back to human size again." Smallfoot knocked on the lounge door. “Lemon. Indigo. I know you both are in there. Open up.”

“You’ll never take us alive, cops!” Lemon cried from the other side.

Smallfoot groaned. “She really needs to tell the difference between me and Strongarm.”

Smallfoot took the few moments and she pulled out the shrinking device once again. Pressing the button, she shrunk down once again, down into a human size again.

She knocked on the door once again, still waiting for a reply. “Girls. Come on, open up.”

“No!” Indigo called out. “Sunny and Sugarcoat told us to keep the door locked from you, Smallfoot. We’re not gonna let you join the Decepticons in a fit of rage, shock, or whatever other bad emotions there are!”

Smallfoot slapped her forehead. “Do you honestly believe I’ll join the Cons with a stunt like this? I wouldn’t join the Cons if you tied me up and hanged me upside down from the Empire State Building.”

“You don’t know, man! Shock can do pretty nasty things to you!” Lemon Zest added.

“Girls. Sunny and Sugarcoat already snapped. I know. Just let me, I can handle this.”

“Never!” Indigo screamed.

“If you don’t open this door, I’m just going to blast it down. I may be small, but it doesn’t mean I don’t have my fist beams.”

No reply.

“Teletraan-1. Deactivate the manual lock system for the lounge and set it to automatic,” said Optimus.

“Affirmative. Doors opening now,” said Teletraan-1

“Thank you.” Smallfoot smiled as the doors opened up for her. “That’s very kind of you.”

She slowly walked in, and she stopped to look at the state around her. The entire place was a complete pigsty. Books and plates were everywhere, the TV had been smashed and was now playing nothing but static, and the couches had been overturned and had their upholstery ripped up.

“Man, and I thought rockstars lived a messy life.”

“Smallfoot, whatever you do, please don’t murder us in our sleep!”

“Do you girls honestly believe I’m going to murder you? I’m not going to do that.” Smallfoot said, putting her hands on her hips. “What do you take me for, Starscream?”

“The place doesn’t look good.” Optimus took one look inside and saw the chaos. “Stay on your guard, Smallfoot.”

“Yeah, that’s what happens when you leave for five minutes.”

She slowly walked forwards and she stopped when she heard the sounds of a baby giggling. Looking down, she could see baby Sour Sweet was crawling and giggling, trying to go where Lemon Zest was.

“Get it away from me!” Lemon tried to swat Sour Sweet away. “She’s caused more damage than Blitzwing in hurricane season!”

“Hey, Sour? My little sweetie?” Smallfoot asked.

Sour stopped going after Lemon Zest, and she became silent. She turned around and she saw Smallfoot, who was looking at her.

“Mama?” Sour asked.

“Where did the infant come from?” Optimus gazed at Sour Sweet.

“That would be Sour. As a baby.”

Sour slowly moved herself around and was now facing Smallfoot’s direction.

“Come here sweetie, It's okay.” Smallfoot said in a gentle voice.

“Mama!” Sour said in a happy voice. She hastily crawled over to her and made the sign for uppies.

“Oh, come here my little sweetness...” Smallfoot smiled as she picked her up, and held her in her arms.

Sunny Flare and Sugarcoat arrived at the entrance to the lounge just to see Sour Sweet being lifted up by Smallfoot.

“Yep. Time for us to get the tombstones.” Sunny Flare’s mouth hung open as her pupils shrunk ever smaller.

Author's Note

"This is going to be juicy". -- Knockout