Beast Wars: Battle for Equestria

Following the attack by Barricade, Tigatron and Air Razor brought Shining Armor and his platoon back to the Crystal Empire. The Empire was on lockdown so the thought of scaring anypony was far from the minds of the two Maximal lovers.

"What a wondrous place," whispered Tigatron as he admired the surrounding of the Crystal Empire. "It almost reminds of me of a place of paradise that I have yet to see."

"This…is…the Crystal Empire," groaned Shining Armor, weakly. "A…place that…has…been…through enough. Take me to the throne room. My wife is probably worried about me."

"What is he talking about?" wondered Air Razor.

"I'm not sure," answered Tigatron. "But, it seems to me we are going to find out."

A pair of Crystal guardsponies came forward and took Shining Armor from Tigatron's grip. Then, with Tigatron and Air Razor following them, they made their way towards the throne room. Upon seeing her husband, Cadence let out a sharp cry and ran over to her injured husband.

"Shining, what happened?!"

"We…we were attacked by the creature," groaned Shining Armor. "It…was a triceratops that transformed."

Cadence looked up at Tigatron and Air Razor with compassionate eyes, wondering how such a thing could have happened to her husband.

"A triceratops? But…but aren't they extinct?" stammered Cadence trying to get answers.

"Yes," answered Tigatron. "But, what attacked your husband had the ability to assume the body of a triceratops to protect himself from Energon buildup. I am Tigatron and this is Air Razor and we are Maximals."

"Maximals?"

"The descendants of the Autobots, our ancestors from the planet Cybertron."

Cadence could only show off confusion and worry at the same time. In her mind, there was no justification or a second thought in her mind that this was all but related to the message she got from Canterlot.

"There are plenty more questions to be answered," she sighed. "But, thank you for saving my husband's life."

"We don't let others die such horrible deaths," said Tigatron. "If you want, Air Razor and I can stay here and provide you protection."

"That would be very nice of you," answered Cadence, who motioned for a pair of attendants to take Shining Armor to be tended for his injuries.

Once Shining Armor was removed, Cadence then returned to her throne and sat down in deep thought. Several other ponies were also in the room, awaiting Cadence's next orders.

"Your highness," said a high ranking pony. "Shall we extend the Lock Down or not?"

"Perhaps for a few more hours," replied Cadence. "I want to make sure that the triceratops that attacked Shining Armor and his platoon does not have any accomplices and if he is perhaps related to the dragon that attacked Princess Ember."

"Dragon?" wondered Tigatron, who knew that there was only one dragon of grave concern. "It couldn't be."

"Megatron," said Air Razor. "Could it maybe perhaps he…?"

It was important for Tigatron and Air Razor to remember that they had once been the fused creature Tigerhawk and had only faced off against Megatron once before being destroyed by the Decepticon warship, Nemesis.

"I am not sure, Air Razor," replied Tigatron. "Still, we need to be on our guard to protect this pony and her subjects. Beast mode."

Transforming back into their beast modes, Tigatron and Air Razor left the throne room as they began their patrols around the empire. Once they were gone, Cadence went about writing a note to Canterlot about what had just happened.

…

It was just after Celestia had lowered the sun did she receive the note her niece had sent. Waspinator had returned to Canterlot and was now wondering what the next steps would be.

"Waspinator," she asked, turning over to the ex-Predacon. "Are you familiar with the creature known as Barricade?"

"Waspinator knows Barricade all too well, Princess Celestia," he replied. "He is a mean three horn. You don't want to mess with him."

"Indeed," sighed Celestia, putting the note down on her desk. "It seems to me that what happened in the Crystal Empire and in the Everfree Forest is somewhat connected. If there are more of your kind out there, Waspinator, then I am afraid we may have to face facts. A war has come to Equestria. Are there any of your kind who are not evil?"

"Oh, yes, Maximals. Waspinator once enemies with them, but not anymore."

Realizing that there was hope after all, Celestia then drew up a motion to bring the Maximals to Canterlot so that she could speak with them. But, there was one other question she needed to ask Waspinator.

"Now, there is one other question that I must ask you, Waspinator," she said. "What forms do the Maximals take on?"

"Well let's see, Waspinator knows that they transform into monkey, cats, rats, doggies."

"So, mammal forms," she remarked. "We know now about who they are disguised as. But, I can't learn about them more unless they are present. Waspinator, I need you to bring them to me, whoever they are."

Waspinator gulped nervously at this request. All his life, he had been a decoy, but this was something that needed to be done.

…

Later that night, back at the castle, Optimus and the other Maximals had reconvened, however there was a ton of questions to be asked.

"Rodimus," asked Optimus. "So, your spark has managed to survive after all this time? I thought that I lost you forever in the War for Cybertron."

"My body was destroyed, but my spark survived," answered Rodimus. "It was my spark that Megatron was after while he was in space. The only way that could evade capture was to come to this planet and take on the body of this lion."

"That also explains the same for Dinobot," said Optimus, looking over at the former Predacon turned Maximal.

"Of course," remarked Dinobot. "Megatron was after my spark as well, more than likely wanting me to rejoin the Predacons. However, I don't consider myself a Predacon anymore, not after saving all those humans."

"Glad to hear you think that way, chopper face," replied Rattrap, sitting back in one of the two thrones. "But, I can't help but wonder what scale breath has plans with the sparks."

"There is no question," interjected Rhinox, as he looked at the two stasis pods that had yet to be revealed. "That Megatron is trying to build a Predacon army to conquer this land and make it a Predacon army. I have a feeling that this is a sign that the Beast Wars are going to continue until Megatron is the victor, just like he said he would."

"Then, why don't we just find Megatron and lay down justice on him?" suggested Cheetor.

"Don't be crazy, young Maximal," snapped Rodimus, giving Cheetor a cold hard stare. "That is exactly what Megatron would be wanting you all to do. No, you all know that this will take time. Plenty of time, until every Predacon is either captured or destroyed. The Maximals must destroy the Predacons once and for all."

Just then, they saw one of the pods begin to vibrate wildly and watching in amazement, the pod opened and out came a brown bat flying in front of the Maximals.

"I agree with you, Rodimus," the bat said. "Nightscream, Maximize!"

And the bat transformed from beast to robot, landing on his feet with a loud thud.

"Oh, boy, another Maximal to join our ranks," remarked Rattrap. "Hey kid, you might need to think about sleeping outside. We may not have room in here."

"Shut up, Rattrap," ordered Optimus, turning back towards the newly born Maximal. "Please excuse him, Nightscream. I am…"

"Optimus Primal, I know who you are," interrupted the bat. "You don't need to ask me twice. Like Rodimus, my spark was also targeted by Megatron and I think that, we need to form an alliance with the creatures of this land."

"And how do you propose that?" asked Rhinox.

But before Rhinox could answer, the sounds of buzzing were heard and the Maximals looked to see Waspinator flying right outside the castle window. Just as the Maximals could transform to robot mode, the doors flung open and a group of guardsponies came into the castle.

"Are you the Maximals?" one of the guards asked.

"We are," answered Optimus. "One does not just barge in without explanation. What is it that you want?"

"Our leader, Princess Celestia, wishes to speak to all of you. Please follow us."

Motioning for Optimus and the Maximals to follow Waspinator and the guards, Rodimus led them out of the castle and towards Canterlot where Princess Celestia and Princess Luna would soon meet the Maximals face to face.

…

Elsewhere, in the caves above Ponyville, Megatron and his fellow Predacons were planning their next move…