Author's Note: The very idea of the two leaders, Megatron and Ultra Magnus, coming face to face in perhaps the last climactic battle of the Autobot/Decepticon war inspired me to write this drabble. This was also an experiment in use of imagery, and any feedback is greatly appreciated. I hope you all enjoy it.
Atrox Bellum (Terrible War)
One fought with justice. The other fought with terror.
Hammer against blade, the great clashing of metal and solidified energon pounding across the audios like the hooves of maddened horses. Swing and parry. Swing and dodge. A deadly dance of writhing, struggling bodies, a tango between weapons where only one partner would finish. They were equally matched, the warlord's furious whirlwind of destruction met head on by the warrior's persistent wave of defiance.
Then, a pause, the laborious drawing of air through heated circuitry by a system of vents echoing dully in the choking stillness, a mockery of heaving organic breath. Nothing stirred except perhaps the twitch of a smirk, the hint of a raised optic ridge, the shifting of grip upon implement.
The peace did not last, shattered by action of such unprecedented violence that it would ingrain itself within the collections of stories passed through the generations forevermore.
A storm, called into existence by the sheer willpower of the hammer-bearer, began to tumble and fret and roar above their heads. Lightning crackled and struck from the brooding skies like vipers, such raw, blinding energy almost unfitting of a savior.
In instantaneous response, the dreaded cannon of legend was raised, humming and buzzing to glorious life. A bolt of violet energy vomited forth from the barrel's maw, straight as an arrow, colliding with its blue-white enemy in a tortured shower of sparks and a hideous crack.
And through it all, one sneered in contempt, the other frowned in stoic concentration.
"You cannot defeat me, Autobot."
"And you cannot defeat me either."
One charged forward in determination. The other charged forward in rage.