“Let me go! Please! Let me go!” Scootaloo begged.

“Scream all you want, fleshbag. Because the fun is just about to begin!” Ratbat gleefully taunted.

Ratbat and his accomplices took Scootaloo all the way behind the Everfree Forest just before the edges of a cliff. After they set her down, the Decepticon hovered over her cage while grinning sadistically. “What are you gonna do to me?” the filly asked, scared.

“Oh, don’t worry, little filly. Your Autobot friend will participate in this fun game too.” Ratbat smirked.

“Game? What game? What are you talking about?!” Scootaloo demanded, shaking the bars.

“Alright, boss, we have the kid. So are we gonna kill her? You also promised to reward us as part of the deal.” Lightning reminded.

Ratbat then slowly turned his head around like an owl. Facing the ex-Wonderbolt with bright red optics, he grew a wide smile that reached to his very pointy ears. That made the Washouts go backwards a little. “Umm, sir, why are you looking at us like that? You’re creeping me out!” one of her comrades said.

“Your reward, you ask? Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten. This is your reward... your ETERNAL reward!!!” Ratbat happily shrieked. He grabbed Lighting Dust by her ear, and immediately electrocuted her.

“AHHHHHHH!!!” Lightning Dust screamed, the electricity coursing through her body. Then he activated her helmet she carried which transformed into her own cage. Ratbat put her cage next to Scootaloo’s.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! We had a deal!!” Lightning angrily yelled.

“Perhaps you’ve never heard of the term ‘Decepticon’ before, Lightning. Never make a deal with someone who will stab you in the back! Hahahahaha!!” Ratbat evilly laughed.

“I can’t believe this! You said I will get my revenge on Rainbow Dash! You made us become the Washouts! This was your plan the whole time?!” Lightning chided.

Ratbat then glared at the loud-mouthed pegasus. “Of course, you fool! I made you the Washouts so that I can trigger Rainbow Dash’s ego once she sees your performance in order to get to her little friend. Besides, I have studied you three and all the equines and creatures of this mudball of a planet; I know your strengths and weaknesses. Yours, this filly’s, and Rainbow’s weaknesses were amongst the easiest to study.”

“And now that I have you in my trap, I can bring a challenge to the Autobot Sideswipe,” said Ratbat. “I will enjoy seeing his agony in making a choice.”

“What choice?” Scootaloo asked.

“You will see.” Ratbat wickedly smiled.

Once he turned to see Lightning’s friends, they were already gone. “Hehehe, cowards...that’s good.”

IN PONYVILLE

The immobilization wore off before Sideswipe and his friends got on their feet/hooves. “This is all my fault... I should’ve been more careful with Scootaloo,” said Rainbow, tears falling from her eyes. “Why couldn’t I just—?”

“Rainbow, it’s not your fault. Do not blame yourself for this. Scootaloo was infatuated with the Washouts without realizing this was a trap set up by Ratbat. (Sigh)... That reminds me of the time I was much like Scootaloo.” Sideswipe recalled.

That caught the Mane Six’s attention. “Wait, really? You mean, you were reckless and stubborn?” Rainbow asked.

Sideswipe nodded. “It all went back to the years in which I was under Ironhide’s tutelage. I kept disobeying orders from him and Optimus Prime, headstrong in my ways, and always wanted to fight solo. One day, I was chasing after a Constructicon named Demolisher who was terrorizing the humans. Ironhide warned me not to engage him alone, but I outright refused.”

“I even told him straight to his face, ‘Stay out of this!’ Those words still sting me with guilt to this day; it’s so painful that I wish I never disrespected him like that. After a backup team helped scare Demolisher away and the humans mistrusted me for my violent behavior, that’s when I realized how foolish I was. I learned the error of my ways, and vowed to never fight solo again.” Sideswipe finished.

The Mane Six felt sympathy for their titan friend as he shared with them his experience. “Wow, I’m sorry, buddy. But at least you learned your lesson, huh?” Rainbow said, lightly elbowing Sideswipe’s arm.

“Yep. So I need to tell you that neither you nor Scootaloo nor anyone else should make those same mistakes I made. Humility is key for teamwork and happiness. If we focus on ourselves and pet our ego, it will lead us to a path we should not walk in. Pride always leads us to destruction.” Sideswipe lectured. “It’s all a part of growth and maturity.”

Suddenly, two Washouts emerged from the forest and ran to Sideswipe. “Hey, big guy! We need your help!”

“What do you want?” Sideswipe demanded, getting in battle stance. “Where’s Scootaloo?!”

“Easy! Easy! She’s in the Everfree Forest right near a cliff! Ratbat double-crossed us and is now holding Lightning Dust hostage! You have to save her too!” one of them pleaded.

“Really? She should’ve been more careful than strike a deal with a Decepticon!” Rainbow glared. “I thought you wanted to hurt Scootaloo!”

“Please! There’s no time! Lightning is our friend! If you don’t do something, he will kill her! Please!” they begged.

Sideswipe and Rainbow looked at each other before they nodded. Sideswipe turned to Twilight. “Twilight, I need to ask you something.” Sideswipe spoke.

“Yes?” Twilight asked.

“It’s about a specific spell you, Celestia, and Luna recently did together...”

IN THE FOREST

“Any minute now, Autobot,” said Ratbat, being impatient.

Moments later, Sideswipe arrived in his alt mode. Rainbow Dash exited the vehicle before he transformed into robot mode. The duo glared at Ratbat as they drew close to them. “Release them now, Ratbat! You’re outnumbered!” Rainbow Dash ordered.

“Oh, I’m not looking for a fight but rather a challenge of my liking,” Ratbat smirked. He lifted the two cages with his feet and hovered them over the cliff. “You have a choice, Autobot. You either save the filly who spat at Rainbow’s face, or her arch rival.”

“Let me go, you freak!” Lightning said, aggressively kicking at the bars.

“No! Stop! Rainbow, Sideswipe, help me!!” Scootaloo cried.

Ratbat then sent electric pulses at Rainbow Dash, immobilizing her. “NOOO!! No fair!!”

“You can’t do that! This is between—!”

“SILENCE, AUTOBOT!! As a protector of the innocent, you must choose! You cannot save both! NOW DECIDE!!” Ratbat shouted, throwing their cages in the air.

Lightning and Scootaloo screamed in terror as they were about to fall to their deaths. Then suddenly, their cages began beeping with a timer attached to them. “Ten seconds? What is that supposed to mean?” Scootaloo asked.

Sideswipe jumped below and shot two grapples toward their cages. They pulled them in and grabbed their cages. Still falling from a great height, he ripped the bars open and pulled the two ponies out of there. Then he transformed to car mode with them inside and drove as fast as he could once he landed on the grass. The cages exploded.

“GRAPPLES?! SINCE WHEN DID HE HAVE THOSE?!” Ratbat cried. Then he faced Rainbow trying to move. “Well, at least I’ll take her out.”

Ratbat loaded his mini guns and aimed at Rainbow’s head. “Any last words, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow then grinned. “Yes... fried bat.”

“What? AHHH!!” Ratbat yelped in pain from the blast he got from the Autobot. He saw him get back up from the cliff while setting Lightning and Scootaloo behind a tree.

“It’s over for you, ‘Con.” Sideswipe glared.

“Not really!” Ratbat yelled, blasting more electric pulses from his wings. This time, Sideswipe shot an invisible beam that halted the pulses. “WHAT IS THIS?!?”

“Time out for you, Decepticon punk.” Sideswipe smiled.

The pulses instead shot back at Ratbat and immobilized him. “NOOOOO!!!” he screamed. He was electrocuted and fell back down unconscious.

“A reverse spell from the princesses. Glad Twilight shared it.” the Autobot grinned.

“Are you two okay?” Rainbow asked.

“We’re fine,” replied Scootaloo.

“Sideswipe, I never thought of saying this but... t-thank you... for saving my life,” thanked Lightning although begrudgingly. Then she faced Rainbow, “I guess I’m sorry for the trouble I caused. I had no idea Ratbat was using me.”

“Don’t apologize to me. Apologize to her.” Rainbow pointed.

Scootaloo slightly glared at Lightning once the latter turned to her. “(Sigh) Okay, kid, look, I am... s-s-sorry for... putting you in danger.”

Scootaloo then smiled. “It’s all good. Ratbat was just using you to get to me, but don’t think I’ll be watching you guys again since this was all a setup.”

“Exactly. Your show is over, Lightning... permanently. Shut it down.” Sideswipe ordered.

“Ughhh, fine! And Rainbow Dash, we’re still rivals after this. Nothing in life will make that change. Except I won’t make a deal with anypony ever again. I hate being backstabbed.” Lightning said.

“Hey, rivals for life, right?” Rainbow asked.

“My thoughts exactly.” Lightning grinned. Then she flew off.

“I’m so sorry, Rainbow Dash. I should’ve listened to you. If I hadn’t been so carried away with the Washouts and so stubborn about it, I wouldn’t have been in danger.” Scootaloo apologized.

“Hey, don’t sweat it, kid. We’re all good. Sideswipe had to learn that same lesson right, buddy?” Rainbow said, facing the Autobot.

“Really?” Scootaloo wondered.

“Indeed. I was once like you... both of you actually. Stubbornness and pride had always affected me and my relationship with my former mentor Ironhide. If it weren’t for his instruction and the experience of humility and maturity, I would still be a hot-headed bot to this day. Always remember, Scootaloo, once you’re humble and obedient to those who care about you and look after you, safety and peace will always be beside you.” Sideswipe lectured. “Don’t ever forget that.”

“Thanks, Sideswipe. I needed to hear that today.” Scootaloo smiled.

Rainbow Dash and Scootaloo hugged Sideswipe’s hand. Then he transformed and drove them back home in Ponyville.

Author's Note

Thanks again for reading this story. Sideswipe was a pleasure writing in this story. I hope you enjoyed it.

Stay tuned for my next blog where I will announce the next list of stories that will be released soon.

Be safe, folks!