"You- you managed to transform into your robot form again? But how?" Bumblebee asked as he rested his back on the closed entrance of the storage room for their fuel.
Sunset was sitting on one of the Energon containers and sighed, "I don't know... when I saw Steeljaw was in danger my first instinct was to help him out, I'm so sorry Bee... I've made a big mistake..."
The mech shook his helm and walked over to her, "Don't blame yourself. You only wanted to help a 'Bot in need. Besides, you didn't even know who he actually was." he tried to comfort her but the girl kept staring down in guilt. The lieutenant lowered himself closer to his human companion, "Are you really sure there are more portals out there?"
"It's what I saw while exploring his memories..." she informed silently, "I have no idea how the magic got to your Earth unless-- we brought it here. And it's not only this, if that mythical creature was a Timberwolf from the stories I've heard when I was little... then there are even more portals to Equestria than I imagined..." her voice trailed off.
"Hey, we will figure it out." he put a servo on her back, "It's going to be okay. We will try everything we can to prevent them from finding those magic entrances, the less Decepticons know about your world, the better."
"Bee, we have no idea how many are out there and where exactly they are! Steeljaw said he wanted to be a ruler and after finding a second Earth, I am 100% sure he would want our planet for himself too." she then looked up at the yellow Autobot, "How do you know him? Did you guys encounter each other when the Alchemor crashed?"
The young leader shifted uneasily and glanced away, there was a short pause of death silence and hesitation before he answered her question, "Yes, unfortunately many times, as I see you already know he is a prisoner."
"He came up with the lie 'changing for the better'." she muttered as she curled the first two fingers of her hand.
Bumblebee ex-vented, the weight of the memories heavy on his shoulders, "Typical of him. Steeljaw is one of the most devious and cruelest Decepticons I have ever faced. He is also a very good liar, I'm not even surprised he attempted to trick you into trusting him and convincing you to join him and his pack." the heaviness of the past seemed to press down on him even more as he continued, "But believe me, whenever his plans go wrong, that fake charm can be quickly replaced by intense anger, wrath and frustration on anything or anyone."
As Sunset listened to him, she couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance between the two of them. His personality almost sounded like hers before she got redeemed. The way he would casually switch from fake charm to intense anger... No, it couldn't be true. She had worked so hard to change, she couldn't bear the thought of being anything like him. They were nothing alike. Right?
"He is also quite clever and a skilled persuasive speaker, telling them what they want to hear and planting careful suggestions so they will do as he wants them to." Bumblebee notified, "He has been recruiting a variety of dangerous criminals to help him in his mission to turn Earth into a Decepticon homeworld. He was able to scratch their tracking systems to avoid our detection, and to appear as a symbol of membership in the pack."
She couldn't shake off the feeling of anxiety that was building inside her as she listened to his report, "He sounds like a real deal." Sunset whispered. The fate of the Earth rested in their hands and they couldn't afford to underestimate their enemies.
"Don't worry, we won't let them threaten the safety and well-being of anyone." the lieutenant promised, distracting her from any troubling thoughts she had in mind, "We've stopped him many times before and will do it again." she had to stay strong for the sake of everyone. She couldn't afford to let fear or worry consume her.
The Cybertronian's reassurance helped ease her mind and she took a deep breath, "Thanks, Bee. I... really needed to hear that."
Bumblebee smiled and directed his helm to the doorway, "The team may be wondering where we are. Wanna join them?"
"Yeah, I could use some more company right now." she let out a faint chuckle and got up. The robot lowered his servo for her to climb on it.
As she settled in, Bumblebee scooped her up and led the way. They approached the big group talking to one another. The atmosphere was lively and filled with camaraderie as they shared their stories, "I don't want to pressure you," the yellow mech spoke softly to the human in his hold, "But I think it will be better if you tell them. I'm pretty positive they would understand." Sunset seemed hesitant but then nodded in agreement.
During the Autobots' team chatter, the leader in yellow walked to them and heard Wheeljack's comment, "So... humans turning into Cybertronians you say? That's new." he smirked.
"How could it be even possible?" Ultra Magnus questioned, unable to fathom such a thing.
"We believe we still have those forms stored in our geodes." Twilight indicated the necklace resting on her chest, "But we have no idea how to use them."
"Guys-" Sunset spoke up, grabbing their attention, she lifted her shoulders nervously at their stares as she rubbed the side of her arm, "I... think I know how it works."
"You do?!" Pinkie chimed in, her mouth forming a big grin.
"Did- did you actually manage to transform into a robot again?" her nerd friend stepped closer, face filled with wonder and hope.
"Before I was attacked by Steeljaw, I—" the red-yellow-haired girl glanced away, wondering how to reply, "I helped him."
The eyes of their close ones widened, "What?!" they all shouted in unison, causing her to wince a little from their shocked reactions.
"You assisted a Decepticon escapee?!" yelled Ratchet.
"She had no idea who he was in the first place." Bumblebee defended and lifted his servo towards his allies, trying to settle down the tense situation, "It was not her fault for doing the right thing. She is not the one to be blamed."
"I couldn't stay there and leave. I had to help him somehow." she responded, still unable to look at them, "When I got turned into a robot, I almost made him believe I was a real Cybertronian and... you know what happened next." the human cast her gaze down, feeling a weight of guilt settle over her. She knew she had acted impulsively and now she was bearing the consequences.
The Autobots exchanged glances, their optics narrowing in concern, "We know you didn't mean any harm, kiddo." Bulkhead stepped in, "But we need to be extra cautious from now on. You've put yourself in serious danger, it could've resulted in something way more serious than just wounds."
A short moment of awkward silence filled the air until a voice spoke up out of the blue, "Can you demonstrate us?" Sunset lifted her head at the winged femme who drew near, "How you turn into our kind?" Windblade gave her a curious look and a small smirk, eager to understand her abilities.
"W-well, I'm not sure if I-"
"C'mon, we have to see this!" Rainbow replied with excitement, "I wanna transform too!"
"Yeah Sunny, show us how you did it!" cheerfully added Pinkie.
Sunset caressed the side of her neck sheepishly and replied, "Maaybe I can give it a try?" Bumblebee lowered, allowing the human to step on the floor and position herself in front of everyone to see. She took a deep breath and closed her eyes, focusing on the feeling of her magic shifting inside her. The air crackled with energy as a bright warm light enveloped her, making the others shield their eyes. As soon as the light faded, they saw Sunset had transformed into a Cybertronian, her body now sleek and metallic, intricate designs and vibrant colors covering her frame.
As soon as she opened her eyes, she looked at her friends, staring at her with surprised expressions and admiring her appearance. Sunset peeped down at her new form, flexing her digits and feeling the power coursing inside her. Her friends immediately gathered around, gaping at her in awe, "Woahaha! There we go!" Rainbow laughed proudly.
"You can finally control it, darling!" Rarity clapped her hands together in amazement.
"Knew ya can do it!" cheered Applejack as she lifted her hat.
"This is incredible!" happily exclaimed Twilight, "What did you do to summon it?"
Sunset tapped her chin, "I think it's the same way when I transformed my arm into a weapon for the first time, just think about anything or anyone you care about and how you want to protect or help them out."
"Like a feeling of protective affection?" suggested Fluttershy.
The transformed teenager snapped her fingers at her, "Exactly. It's like tapping into the power of friendship and using it as a source of strength. Try it out." the girls looked at each other and concentrated.
After a few seconds, glowing auras formed around their tiny figures, sensing a surge of power coursing through them. The whole team's gazes remained focused on the humans, watching them in amazement at the transformations. Soon, their bodies were surrounded by a swirling energy that crackled and sparkled in the air. As the auras grew bigger, the elements of harmony could feel the vibrations of their magic pulsating through the base. The Autobots, especially their visitors, could hardly contain their astonishment as they witnessed the incredible sight ahead of them. The girls, now fully transformed, stood triumphantly before the stunned onlookers who were entirely speechless.
"Girls!" Sunset loudly called them out, her friends opened their eyes and glanced at her, "Look!" she directed at them with a smile.
Each one of them observed their new metallic and taller forms, wide grins forming on their face-plates, "Yes!" Rainbow threw a fist in the air, flexing her mechanical arms and the wings on her back.
"We did it! We did it!!!" energetically shouted Pinkie Pie, jumping up and down.
Rarity twirled in her new body, "I can't believe I will say this but- I did quite miss this shiny armor of mine."
Heavy approaching pedes made the girls peek behind them, noticing how their guardians were beaming with pride while others remained frozen with opened intakes, Ultra Magnus stepped in front of the audience, "By the Allspark... "
Bulkhead laughed at his teammates' reactions, "Told ya."
"Quite an impressive display, isn't it, officer?" Knock Out smirked at the bigger blue mech.
"See? I knew we would work it out." Twilight softly nudged Sunset by the shoulder and her friend chuckled in return.
While Rainbow examined herself, Windblade came to her, "Wow, kid. You sure got me impressed even more." she admitted while examining her appearance, "Nice wings and color scheme. Gotta admit there aren't many flyers among the Autobots. I suppose you don't have a vehicle mode and how to fly yet, right?"
"Ehh-" the element of loyalty stroked the back of her helm embarrassingly, "No, not really."
"Why I don't help you out then?" the red-black femme offered, "We can find some cool flying modes for you three and I can teach you. To know how to defend yourselves. Grounders can help the rest." she pointed to the others.
"Haha, very funny." Wheeljack responded sarcastically behind her.
Sideswipe showed up between the two females with a fake smile, attempting to hide his nervous expression, he looked at his charge, "You know- I can always lend a servo into teaching you how to fight too—"
He was quickly brushed aside by the excitement of his transformed human companion who gazed at Windblade with an excited grin and sparkling optics, "Are you kidding?! Heck yeah, show me some sick moves to kick those 'Cons!" Rainbow exclaimed as she clenched her fists. The red mech stared at his charge's eager response to the femme's proposal. He couldn't help but feel a little disheartened by the way he was ignored.
"Easy there, new stuff." Windblade put a servo on the teen's shoulder-pad, "First, we need to find something suitable for you." she waved at Twilight and Fluttershy while heading to the control system, "Come on, I know a few aircraft boneyards where we can find a perfect fit for you."
"I think it will be better if guardians tag along with their charges, just in case." Bumblebee added.
Bulkhead nodded to the lieutenant's suggestion and peeked at the other femmes, "Sunset, Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie Pie you are coming with us." he indicated himself, Smokescreen and Knock Out, "I know some left car storages near the base too."
As the young leader, Windblade, Sideswipe, Strongarm prepared to depart, Drift approached, his mini-cons following his steps, "Bumblebee, may we go with you?
Ultra Magnus followed, "I would like to join as well, we have an important matter to discuss."
"Fine by me." the yellow Autobot replied and turned his attention to the orange mini-con, "We won't be gone for too long, Fixit." he lowered his tone, "Keep me in touch in case something comes up. Especially if it's an unidentified signal. I'm sure that predacon is not too far away from the crash, we cannot let him escape and cause any more damage than he already did."
"Of course, sir." the smaller robot replied with a salute. Little did they know, a meek, soft-spoken individual, had overheard their conversation. Fluttershy couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled over her, she began to fidget as troubled thoughts floated in her mind. She had developed a fondness for the predacon and didn't want to see either him or her friends harmed.
Before the flyers and the company of their friends could walk through the opened Groundbridge, Bumblebee glanced at the wrecker and dinobot, "Grim and Wheeljack? You go with the others, we will catch up later."
"Ya got it, Bee." the older mech replied, smirking at the four left femmes, "We will keep an optic on the ladies."
Rarity huffed at his attitude and crossed her servos, "That brute..." as they awaited their turn to go through the portal, she looked up at Bulkhead, "Does he always act so discourteous?!"
"Heh, Jackie is the type of 'Bot who likes to mess with anyone." the bulkier mech responded, "Don't take it personally, it's his way of warming up."
"Well, I think he will need a more polite approach than this." she muttered out of annoyance. A second gateway appeared for them.
They waved to the mini-con and grumpy medic, then Knock Out came near his charge as they walked through the bright path of the giant bridge, "Don't worry, my dear. He may be a pain in the aft but you will get used to this loving-bombs-mech eventually." right then, they appeared to their desired destination. The cherry doctor rested his servos on his hips, "Now, let's see the options this mud ball can provide."
As they walked around the abandoned car storage the sun was hanging high in the clear blue sky, casting the rusty old vehicles in a warm, golden light. Knock Out scanned the surroundings with a critical eye, considering the best mode for their human companions, "No. Not this one. Ew. Absolutely not. Ugh, why would you even drive this?"
During their stroll through the lines of discarded cars, Smokescreen walked next to the red mech and suggested, "Wouldn't it be better if they chose for themselves?"
Knock Out scoffed, "Don't be ridiculous, I am a master in this matter. They need guidance. And I, being the best medic this planet has ever seen, am here to provide it." Smokescreen rolled his optics but didn't argue. He knew better than to try to change Knock Out's mind when he was in full-on 'stylish mode'.
Wheeljack glanced at Bulkhead, "Red hasn't changed at all, huh?"
His green friend chuckled, "Nah. But he actually has been very helpful to the team. His ego may be as big as ever but he is one of the best at what he does." the bulkier giant knew despite Knock Out's arrogance, he genuinely cared about the well-being of his allies. As much as he grated on their processors at times, they all recognized and appreciated his skills and dedication.
The other wrecker let out a low laugh, "Another medic can always come in handy. I guess we should be grateful our resident prima donna is on our side."
After his comment, Knock Out threw him a glare, "I can hear you."
"I know, that's why I said it." Wheeljack shrugged and smirked.
"Hey guys," Sunset called as she stood in front of another roll of abandoned cars, "I think I like this one." she pointed at one of the automobiles.
"This might work." Applejack showed another.
"Oh, oh! I want that one!" bounced Pinkie as she spotted a third.
"How about this, darling?" Rarity looked at the medic, waiting for his opinion on her choice. Knock Out stepped to her and carefully examined the vehicle.
"Huh, not bad, dearest. I think this will fit you perfectly." the mech admitted as he proudly smiled at her.
"So, what do we do now?" asked Sunset.
"You have to scan your chosen alternate mode with your optic sensors first, that way, the form of the car will transfer inside your body and you will be able to convert into it." Bulkhead navigated, "Focus your eyes on the vehicle and let your systems do the rest. Just concentrate."
The girls nodded, understanding the procedure. All of them activated their sensors, scanning each of their chosen four-wheeled ride. Once the process was completed, they felt a surge of energy as the form of the cars began to transfer inside their bodies. They could feel their internal systems adapting and reconfiguring to accommodate the new modes, "Alright, now transform." Knock Out directed.
With a sense of exhilaration, one by one, their parts began to adjust. Sunset Shimmer converted into a McLaren 12C sleek sports car, Rarity changed to an elegant Maserati MC20, Applejack switched to a Toyota Hilux pickup truck and Pinkie Pie to a Pagani Huayra hypercar.
All of their Autobot friends stared at them in amaze, "Sweet!" Smokescreen widely smiled.
"Ya look smashing!" complimented Grimlock as he grinned from excitement.
Knock Out walked to them, approving their selections, "Look at you, I'm almost jealous."
"Okay, now try to transform back to bi-pedal mode." told Bulkhead. They began to morph back into their original forms. The process was smooth, seamless, and effortless.
"That felt so strange." Sunset admitted as she stood back on her two pedes, "But it's also kinda cool."
"It's super-duper fun!" the pink femme buzzed with energy, "I don't think I've ever felt more alive! Who wants to race?! I want to race!" she let out a loud gasp, "How about making doughnuts?! I'm gonna try!" she converted again and revved her engine, "Weeeeeee—!"
"Wait, Pinkie— hold on!" Smokescreen worryingly shouted out for her and transformed, driving after his charge who was pumped up with adrenaline. As they zipped through the empty space of the large storage, their friends laughed at the funny scene.
"I think you are handling things well already. Since there's no one around here, how about we train for a bit?" Knock Out recommended, "Some defending lessons would be quite beneficial for your fighting skills."
The teenagers looked at each other and then back to him, nodding in agreement, "Um, yeah sure? Why not?" Sunset faintly shrugged and smiled.
⊹˚₊‧───────────‧₊˚⊹
"Here we are girls, pick up whatever you like." Windblade said as they arrived at the aircraft boneyard. The girls eagerly explored the vast expanse of the discarded place, their eyes lighting up at the sight of numerous abandoned planes, helicopters, and drones.
"Awesome!" Rainbow exclaimed happily and scampered off in a random direction full of diverse options.
"Hey, wait for us!" shouted Twilight as she and Fluttershy sprinted to her.
"Better hurry before I pick up the cooler ones!" the element of loyalty laughed back.
As they inspected the boneyard, Windblade watched them from afar. She found herself intrigued by the sense of adventure and excitement that radiated from the colorful trio. Their laughter and joyful shouts filled the air, creating a sense of infectious fun she couldn't resist. Bumblebee walked up to her, the two of them stood side by side, eyes fixed on the disguised humans.
"They sure are excited." Windblade commented, a small smile playing on her dermas.
"So are you." the lieutenant included.
"It feels kinda nice, you know. To have more people like you." she answered, her wings slightly lowering, "There aren't many 'Bots like me, Bee."
"Yeah, I know." Bumblebee replied sympathetically, he patted her shoulder, "I will let you enjoy this while you can. And thank you, for wanting to teach them. I don't know if we could've handled it without you here."
"My pleasure." she smirked back, keeping her focus on the other femmes. As the yellow Autobot began to step towards his other teammates, Ultra Magnus blocked his path.
"Can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked with a stern expression, Bumblebee looked at him in an odd way but nodded, changing their direction a bit further from their associates, "If the other members of Cybertron's council and its citizens find out about this, I'm not completely aware of how they would react." the commanding officer spoke in a low tone, making sure no one else could hear their conversation, "I am not fully assured if hiding such information from them will end up good for us. Especially when it's the Decepticon's doing."
The young leader stopped in his tracks, furrowing his optical ridges, "Sir, with all due respect, I know what you are thinking but just because they are humans it doesn't make them any different from us." he responded, almost sounding offended, "They are already part of this team and we consider them as a family. You are one of the Autobot high council members, you can understand, right?"
Ultra Magnus' optics turned to him, his face remained the same, "I can. But will Cybertron?"
Bumblebee glanced away, he couldn't believe what he was hearing, "They are not... some kind of a threat, Magnus. And I can't think of any rule about other species being able to transform into Cybertronians in the Autobot law."
"Exactly, this is entirely new for all of us." the taller robot drew closer to him, holding his servos from behind, "And you know what happens when something new is brought on our planet, our people will act irrationally if they find out some humans are capable to transform into our kind. Tell me, Bumblebee. What was the main reason we disguise ourselves among the beings on this planet?" the lieutenant stared at him with uneasiness, "Do you get what I mean now?" the officer questioned, straightening his stance and squaring his shoulders, "I will keep quiet for as long as I can, until things go loose, at least." he assured and slowly headed to their comrades, leaving the yellow Cybertronian alone with his thoughts.
Bumblebee stood there silently, he could feel the weight of the commander's words lingering, hanging in the air. He couldn't help but replay the conversation in his mind, over and over again, trying to make sense of it all. Right then, he was disturbed by the sound of running pedes coming his way. The young leader saw the teenagers and Windblade approaching them with satisfied faces. The mech quickly removed the troubles from his processor and smiled at the squad, "Did you choose your modes already?" he asked curiously as the other members of the team also gathered around.
"Watch this!" Rainbow replied and took a prepared pose. Once jumping in the air, her parts began to shift and promptly transformed into a Blue Angel fighter jet, Twilight followed her movements and changed to a Super Hornet and Fluttershy to an Aero L-36NG aircraft.
Strongarm stepped closer to them with a big smile, "You look amazing!"
"Very wise choices indeed." hummed Drift in approval as he examined them.
"Good job you three, you will blend in flawlessly." Bumblebee commended.
-
-
-
As time passed, Windblade was able to teach the young girls the art of flying, how to land gracefully and to defend themselves in combat. She instilled in them a sense of confidence and skill, ensuring they were well-prepared for any challenges that lay ahead.
In the meantime, Drift and his mini-cons undertook the task of teaching Spike the intricacies of transforming and attaching to Twilight's arm. They patiently guided him through the learning process, providing him with the knowledge and practice he needed, "Now, release." the samurai required and the purple femme threw the saw blade-type weapon like a Frisbee. As the mini-con dog spun through the air, Spike transformed into his robot mode and flawlessly landed on the ground on his four paws, "Well done, I see you have the ability to learn things faster than I expected." he calmly praised the two.
During their training, one particular red-colored robot stood apart from the group, keeping his distance. Sideswipe observed the exercises and interactions with glaring blue optics as he was leaning his shoulder-pad on one of the abandoned airplanes' fuselage, the wing of the once-flying craft casting a big shadow over his form. His focus was interrupted by a sudden female voice near his audio receptor, "You know it's very rude to stare, right?"
"GAH-!" Sideswipe jumped and took a prepared karate pose, only to see Strongarm smirking and standing just a few feet away, he quickly composed himself and glowered at her, "Don't do that!"
The cadet chuckled, "Sorry, couldn't resist. You seemed completely lost in thought." he huffed crossly in response and positioned himself back to his previous stance, face directed at their teammates. She looked at him inquisitively and continued, "Why aren't you with the rest of us? I think Rainbow could use a compliment from her guardian too for motivation and encouragement." he remained silent as he avoided her gaze, the femme put a servo on her hip, "I see someone is in a tough mood."
Sideswipe hesitated for a bit before he reluctantly answered, "I don't get it, why did she all suddenly want to hang out with Windblade so much?!"
"Who? Rainbow?" Strongarm questioned, "I didn't know it was bothering you."
"It doesn't, it's just- forget it."
"Hold on, are you... jealous?"
The mech shot her a fuming expression, "What?! Of who?!"
"Of Windblade, for hanging out with your charge who is supposed to be with you instead, her guardian and basically best friend."
"That's stupid! Why would I feel such way?!" he spat out, refusing to make eye contact. But deep down he knew she was right. He couldn't deny the slight twinge of jealousy which had been gnawing at him. He released a heavy vent, "Okay, maybe-- I do, that's why I don't understand it. She liked to spend time with me and since Windblade appeared she acts as if I'm not even here, like total ignore. I could teach her those stuff too, you know." his frustration was evident as he struggled to come to terms with his conflicting emotions.
"Sideswipe, you don't have wings, you are not a flyer." replied the cadet, "In my opinion, Windblade it's the perfect teacher for them and they're handling things pretty well because of her, we should be thankful. And be proud of the girls, too."
The realization hit the red Cybertronian like a punch to the gut. Sideswipe shifted uneasily as he spoke in a low tone, "Do you think... she hates me?"
"For what?" Strongarm gave him a sympathetic look.
"I dunno," he slightly shrugged and trailed off, his voice barely above a whisper, "Maybe because I'm too... overprotective of her? After we finally managed to defeat Shockwave we argued about me worrying too much and she acting without thinking. I only want her to stay safe. You know how reckless she is when it comes to fights." unexpectedly, a loud laugh emerged from the femme's intake. Sideswipe was caught by complete surprise as he turned to the young trainee who was covering her intake while giggling. He stared at her, offended and perplexed, "What are you laughing about?!" the mech snapped, a hint of embarrassment in his voice.
"It's funny, how you can't see the resemblance between you two." she wiped off a small tear of coolant from her optic and calmed down, "Sideswipe, you aren't so different from her, in fact, you are exactly like her!"
"..no, I'm not." the mech scoffed in annoyance, tapping his digits on his arm. His team partner gave a face that clearly conveyed skepticism, he grunted and raised his servos in a gesture of surrender, "Alright! I am... a little."
"A little?"
"Where are you going with this?!"
"All I am saying is that she is still young and energetic. She needs some time to get things right. Just like you did. I still remember the day I had to arrest you for your careless driving." she chuckled at the old memories.
"Can't we like-- change the subject?" he interjected, trying to steer the conversation away from his past misadventures.
"And when you crashed in Optimus Prime's statue--"
"Okay, that's it, I'm outta here." he stood up abruptly, clearly uncomfortable with the direction the discussion was taking. She ex-vented as he stormed away, realizing she had hit a nerve.
Meanwhile, Rainbow was able to convert into her robot mode mid-air and make a perfect landing on the ground, "Nice one, Dash." Windblade applauded from behind.
The teenager's intake formed a big smile and searched for her guardian, wondering if he was watching her performance. The instant her optics landed on him, her beam turned upside down, noticing how he was walking away from their training area. Her wings dropped as she felt a pang of sadness and disappointment. She frowned and glanced away, trying to distract herself with her training exercises.