Beast Wars: Battle for Equestria

"Dinobot, alive?" gasped Silverbolt as he stared at the sight of the once deceased Predacon turned Maximal. "Impossible!"

"Dinobot," said Rodimus, bitterness clearly shown in his voice. "So, we meet at last after all this time. You led the division that destroyed most of my fellow Maximals and now you call yourself a Maximal?"

Rodimus attempted to reach for his weapon, but Dinobot stopped him by putting his sword right at it.

"I am a Maximal, Rodimus," he said. "And I consider myself far too honorable to even think about doing such actions."

"Rodimus, Dinobot sacrificed himself to save the human race," said Silverbolt, rolling back onto his legs. "Is that considered the actions of a Predacon?"

"I don't believe you, Dinobot," sighed Rodimus. "But, you are not my main concern right now. My concern is finding my brother, Optimus."

Dinobot didn't seem to care about Rodimus, however he did care about Optimus.

"Yes, your brother helped me see the error of my ways," remarked Dinobot. "And for that, I owe him my debt. My spark survived being captured by Megatron along with my body."

"Why don't you join us, Dinobot?" suggested Silverbolt. "Megatron escaped from our captivity and we are trying to find him. I promise you that if we ever get back to Cybertron, I can promise you that the Maximal elders can at least give you a pardon."

Knowing that he could return the favor for Optimus, Dinobot agreed to join them, much to Rodimus Primal's chagrin.

"Well, aren't you coming with us?" he asked Rodimus, but Rodimus didn't answer. Instead, he converted back to his beast mode and followed Dinobot, knowing that trying to argue with the ex-Predacon will waste time.

"He's not like the Predacon you once knew," Silverbolt said to Rodimus. "Please, can't you see that?"

"Silverbolt," sighed Rodimus. "This Predacon killed many of my friends during the war. What else can I do to think of him?"

"He is a Maximal whether you like it or not, Rodimus. I know we've just met, but you will see that Predacons willing to change are rewarded greatly for their actions. My internal repairs are nearly completed, so maybe I can try to contact Optimus by radio."

Silverbolt then proceeded to turn on his radio and attempted to contact Optimus.

…

Back at Sweet Apple Acres, Optimus and the rest of the Maximals were just about to find out answers about where they were when Optimus' radio buzzed in.

"Optimus," called Silverbolt over the radio. "Are you there?"

"Well, the radio seems to be working," remarked Rhinox to Optimus.

"We're here, Silverbolt," answered Optimus. "Report."

"Well, I think you're going to be very interested in hearing this," reported Silverbolt. "First of all, Rodimus Primal, your brother has been reborn."

"Rodimus?" wondered Optimus, his voice filled with shock. "But, but, I thought…What's the other report?"

Then, Silverbolt made the shocking announcement.

"Dinobot…is alive."

All of the Maximals could feel their heart's sink in shock and surprise. Up until that moment, they had no idea that Dinobot would even have the ability to come back to life. They saw him die before their eyes.

"Where are you, Silverbolt?" asked Optimus. "Are you at the castle with Blackarachnia?"

"No, I am with Dinobot and Rodimus in the forest looking for you. We'll return to the castle and meet you there. Silverbolt, out."

"I can't believe," whispered Rattrap. "Chopper face, alive? How?"

"Beats me," added Cheetor. "Maybe his spark managed to avoid Megatron."

"Rodimus? Alive?" wondered Optimus, thinking for a moment before turning back to his team. "We'll find out more about this land later. Right now, we need to reconvene with Silverbolt."

…

While the Maximals left Sweet Apple Acres, Big MacIntosh was still coming to terms with what had just happened and only Granny Smith and Applejack were with him to listen.

"And that's what happened, Applejack," he said. "They wanted to kill me for no reason at all."

"I'm all for accidents, but this here from what I hear is no accident," remarked Granny Smith. "What's next? Demonic goats?"

"If you're referring to Grogar, Granny, he's only a fictional character," retorted Applejack as she walked to the window. "Either way, we cannot take any chances. Until this threat is quashed, we cannot make anymore deliveries. I mean, who knows what those monsters will do to us?"

…

And Applejack wasn't the only one filled with concern. In the throne room of the Crystal Empire, Shining Armor and Cadence were reviewing the recent notes regarding the threat against Equestria.

"Something tells me we are going to have to beef up security, Cadence," said the Prince of the Crystal Empire. "I think those strange boxes that were found at the borders might have something to do with it."

"I agree completely, Shining," replied Cadence. "Changelings are one thing to be on the lookout for, but strange creatures that transform? That is a cause for concern."

Just then, the doors flung open and a Crystal guardspony came into the throne room.

"What is happening, captain?" asked Shining Armor.

"Another of the strange boxes has been found," replied the guardspony, trying to catch his breath. "What's more is that we found a creature roaming the north boundaries. A three horned beast."

"Three horned beast?" gasped Cadence, immediately going into authoritarian mode. "Go to red alert! Lock down the empire!"

In quick fashion, the barriers around the Crystal Empire were fortified and the citizens were told to stay inside their homes. Shining Armor and several guards went out to find the creature and neutralize it.

"Keep your eyes open!" called Shining Armor. "We don't know who or what this creature is!"

"Yes, your highness!" replied a guardspony, but just as they were about to begin searching, they soon saw a triceratops, snarling at them. The guardsponies prepared their spears as the three horned creature moved forward towards them, roaring loudly as Shining Armor fired a blast of magic right at it.

Fortunately, Shining managed to get out of the way as the creature ran right past him. This gave Shining and the guards an opportunity to take the creature by surprise, but the creature was too smart to be fooled that easily.

"Look out!" called Shining Armor as the creature bulldozed several guardsponies. This caused Shining to fire another blast of magic at the triceratops, who then turned right towards him and let out another loud roar.

"Barricade, terrorize!"

Shining watched in shock and horror as the triceratops transformed into a robot, its beast head on its right hand. Several guards managed to get up and tried to defend him, but to no avail.

"I don't know who you are, or what you want," groaned Shining Armor as he struggled to get to his feet. "But, you will never get into the Crystal Empire! Never!"

"I don't need to get into your so-called Crystal Empire," shouted Barricade. "Your life will be proof enough and your blood will fuel our conquest for Predacon glory!"

Using the three horned head, Barricade pushed Shining Armor further into the snow, effectively trying to crush him to death. Knowing that this was possibly the end, Shining Armor closed his eyes and prepared for death.

Then, suddenly, another loud roar was heard and before Barricade could react, a white tiger jumped from a rock down onto the newly born Predacon. Barricade managed to throw the tiger off, but the tiger was not backing down. It growled angrily at Barricade as the Predacon stood his ground.

"Tigatron, maximize!" shouted the tiger and it went from tiger to robot, firing his gun at Barricade wildly. Barricade attempted to strike at Tigatron, but the tiger was crafty and kept right on firing.

Then, all of a sudden, the sounds of cawing were heard as a Peregrine Falcon flew down towards them. Shining Armor and several guards looked up weakly as the falcon flew down as fast as it's wings could carry it.

"Air Razor, maximize!" the falcon called in a female voice and transforming into a robot, she fired several blasts at Barricade and realizing that he was outmatched, Barricade made a hasty retreat, converting back to a triceratops.

Once the Predacon was gone, Shining Armor looked weakly at his rescuers.

"Who…are you?" he asked. "Are you like…like…?"

"No," answered Tigatron, lifting Shining Armor up out of the snow. "We are nothing like that Predacon. We are Maximals, so you are safe. Where are you from?"

"The Crystal…Empire," gasped Shining Armor weakly before falling unconscious.

"We've got to get him to safety," cried Air Razor. "Can the rest of you make it on foot?"

Most of the guards replied they could and so, they all began to make their way towards the Crystal Empire. However, they were being watched from a figure that was hiding behind a rock.

"Well, well, well," said the figure. "Guess I'm not the only one to come back from the dead along with my servant, Barricade. Soon, I will have Megatron, the Maximals and these four-legged creatures disposed of and I, Tarantulas, will be alone at the top."

The former Predacon lieutenant laughed evilly as he set own plans in motion…