Author's Note

The end of this chapter contains spoilers for "My Little Pony the Movie." Proceed with caution!

Chapter 16: "Talking to a Wounded Wonderbolt"

The ponies and the Maximals waited patiently outside a hospital room within Canterlot castle awaiting news on Spitfire's condition. A few moments later, Celestia came out of the room and sighed heavily looking at her subjects with a worried look on her face.

"Well?" asked Stormy Flare in a worried voice. "How is she? How is my baby?"

"The doctors placed her in a medically induced coma," Celestia answered. "In any case, Spitfire will survive her injuries, but I fear that the consequences on her psyche will be too much for her to bear."

"I can help Spitfire in any way possible, Princess," suggested Rainbow Dash, going over to Spitfire's side and draping a wing over her. "She's going to need a lot of support, I can tell you that."

"What about the other one?" asked Optimus.

"Soarin' is still unconscious from being frozen, so it may take a while. The doctors are doing everything they can, Optimus."

Optimus sighed heavily at this, knowing that speaking to at least one of these ponies would give him insight on what Megatron was planning. However, Rodimus realized that there were more important matters at hand.

"The evacuations are going along smoothly, Princess Celestia," said the Lion, walking over towards her. "I've received reports that nearby towns have already accepted large groups from here and where Silverbolt and Blackarachnia have gone to."

"Which is the Crystal Empire, dear sister," remarked Luna. "Haven't Princess Cadence, Shining Armor and Flurry Heart evacuated yet along with their subjects?"

"I am not sure if they did or not," replied Celestia, lowering her head in deep thought. "Nevertheless, we can't just worry about the Crystal Empire. I can assure that if there is anywhere that is being targeted by the Predacons, we need to strengthen our forces. Optimus, I need any of your Maximals that can fly to head over towards the south and west of here."

"I could lead a small force, but that would leave you unprotected," cautioned Optimus. "We should wait until Silverbolt returns."

"That is if he returns," said Cheetor, lying down on the floor in his beast mode. "Not to mention Tigatron and Air Razor along with Blackarachnia. Why don't we send those two instead?"

Everyone looked over towards Skids and Mudflap, the moose and deer that had brought Spitfire and Soarin' into Canterlot to begin with.

"Us?" remarked Skids, backing into a wall. "What do you want us to do? You need Maximals that can fly and we…"

"uh, can't fly," added Mudflap.

"As a matter of fact," said Luna, walking over towards them. "There are some questions that we need to ask of you two. Are you Maximals or Predacon spies?"

And Luna shined a bright light on them, determined to find out if these two creatures were Maximals or Predacons.

"We're not spies, lady," remarked Mudflap. "Why don't you just chill out and…?"

But Luna wasn't going to listen and using her magic, threw Mudflap against the wall of the hallway. A loud series of gasps were heard as Luna glared at him.

"In the future, you will show me respect and address me as Princess Luna," she hissed. "Understand?"

"Uh huh," gasped Mudflap as Luna released her grip on the moose. "Understood."

And Luna let out a huff in disgust at being treated so poorly.

…

Just then, the door to Soarin's room opened and a Nurse came out facing the crowd gathered.

"He's awake, but weak," she said. "If you wish to talk with him now, your highness…"

"I do wish to speak with him," interrupted Celestia as she, Luna, Optimus and Rodimus walked into Soarin's room.

"I'd better join them as well," said Twilight. "Can you all wait here?"

"Sure, Twilight," replied Applejack. "We'll keep an eye on anything about Spitfire."

So, leaving her friends along with most of the Maximals alone with Stormy Flare, Twilight entered the room where Soarin' laid in a bed flat on his back. Soarin' groaned as he looked up at the ceiling.

"Where…where…am…I?" he asked groggily. "Am I…in…heaven?"

"No," said Celestia, causing Soarin' to turn over towards him. "You are in Canterlot, Soarin', in a hospital bed. We just have a few questions to ask you."

"What happened to you?" asked Luna.

"We…we were attacked by…by a wolf," answered Soarin' in a weak voice, talking through bouts of pain that spread through his body. "We were…out on patrol…keeping an eye out…for those creatures that attacked…Princess Ember…and then…the wolf…attacked us out of…nowhere."

"A wolf?" remarked Rodimus to Optimus. "How could a Predacon take the form of a wolf, Optimus? That's not the forms they normally take."

Optimus nodded silently as he continued to try and listen in to what Soarin' had to say.

"Where did the wolf take you and Spitfire?" asked Celestia.

"To…a…a…cave north of Ponyville," moaned Soarin'. "Inside…we were held…against a wall and a creature…called Megatron….terrorized us."

Both Rodimus and Optimus looked at each other with worried glances along with Celestia, Luna and Twilight.

"He's hiding in a mountaintop," whispered Rodimus.

"The same mountain where those Predacons attacked that red pony," replied Optimus, thinking back to the fight he had with Soundwave and several other Predacons.

"He waterboarded…Spitfire," continued Soarin', gasping in between words. "Trying…to…get her…to open up…about you, Princesses."

"He must want our magic," said Celestia.

"Why is it that everypony wants our magic?" cried Luna in a fed up voice. "If they want our magic, why don't we just sell samples of it, sister? I mean, the Storm King had a taste of our magic, didn't he? Along with Lord Tirek?"

"Still, we will defend our magic," replied Celestia, firmly. "If Megatron wants our magic for his own gain, then he will have to kill us to get it. I can assure you, Soarin' that what happened to Spitfire will not go unpunished."

Soarin' smiled at this and then, at that moment, the door flung open and a doctor pony came in.

"Spitfire is going to be in her coma for a little while longer," he said to the Princesses. "I think if you are going to speak with her, it will have to be a few more days."

"Which is what we may not have if Megatron attacks again," said Optimus.

…

Just then, the sounds of deep running footsteps were heard and the door flung open to reveal Rhinox on the other side.

"Optimus," he panted, trying to catch his breath. "There's…trouble at the Crystal…Empire."

Hastily leaving the room, Optimus followed his second in command out of the room and down the hall.

"What's going on, Twilight?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"The Crystal Empire…trouble," answered Twilight firmly, knowing that her brother, sister-in-law and niece were in danger. Returning to the throne room, Rhinox turned on a monitor that showed Tigatron's panicked face on the screen.

"Tigatron?" asked Optimus. "Alive?"

"Attention, Maximals," Tigatron said into the video. "This is a code one emergency message from Tigatron. Air Razor and I are in the Crystal Empire aiding the evacuation of its leaders and subjects. Blackarachnia and Silverbolt are aiding in the evacuations, but it appears that we have received spontaneous attacks in the mountains east of here."

Tigatron then turned the screen over towards what appeared to be Barricade, Jetstorm and several other newly hatched Predacons opening fire on the Crystal Empire.

"It appears that Tarantulas is responsible for these actions although it is not yet confirmed," continued Tigatron. "We also don't know if Megatron is responsible for this as well. If you get this message, please send more help at once. We…"

But, before Tigatron could finish the message, the screen went black.

"That's the bug that attacked us in the Everfree Forest," cried Twilight, looking over towards her fellow princesses. "We've got to get to the Crystal Empire!"

As the three alicorns left the throne room, Optimus and Rhinox also prepared for battle.

"Cheetor," said Optimus into his radio. "Get Rattrap, Dinobot and a few other Maximals ready to move out to the Crystal Empire! We have an emergency! Move!"

So, they all made their way over to the Crystal Empire where Barricade and Jetstorm led a small batallion of Predacons on attacking the evacuating inhabitants on the Crystal Empire. But as they left, a pair of eyes were watching them from a dark room down the hall.

"What do we do, Tempest?" asked another voice. "Do we help them?"

"Not yet, Grubber," answered the other voice. "We wait until it is absolutely necessary to help. Soon, our time to atone for our actions will soon be at hand."