Night of the Pranksters

by T'Reilani

Bumblebee suggests a movie night – with horror movies. Unfortunately for him, they're a little scarier than he imagined…in fact, Ratchet and Riella are the only ones unaffected. And they've decided to ensure that none of the others ever suggest this again. Will the Autobot team survive the repercussions? Fragile-verse.

2. Elm Street

Ratchet's not happy that Optimus allowed Bumblebee to show those movies in the first place...

Elm Street – Optimus

Optimus twitched slightly as he drove down the dark street behind Ratchet. Why in the pit did I agree to this? I should've had Riella or Prowl take patrol. This stuff doesn't bother them. Although toward the end, Prowl had been almost as jumpy as anyone else. As for Bulkhead and Bumblebee, they had yet to turn off a light anywhere.

"Ratchet?" he called, hoping his voice didn't shake. "How far out are we?"

The ambulance slowed down to let him catch up again. "Ten minutes. We're almost to the neighborhood that called in strange activity last night. There wasn't anything, but you mentioned this morning that we should check. Remember?"

No, I don't. Those movies drove everything else out of my processor. "What activity did they call in?"

"Don't know. That's your job to remember." Ratchet skidded to a halt. "We're here."

Optimus transformed and studied the area. Quiet. Maybe too quiet? And very, very dark. Unconsciously, he let his battle mask slide shut.

"You see something?" Ratchet stopped beside him. If he hadn't been so nervous, Optimus would have sworn the medic had the faintest hint of a smirk. "I thought I heard a car, but it was on the main road."

The Prime took a few more steps down the street. "What did it sound like?"

"Shh! You hear that?"

Optimus froze, trying to stop his fingers from trembling. "Hear what?"

Ratchet pointed in the direction of the oldest-looking house. "It sounded like metal scraping. I think we should look."

Metal? Scraping? Optimus pushed back the thought of that incredibly sinister killer with knifed fingers. "P-probably. Which way do you want?"

"I'll take left. You take right." No, Ratchet couldn't possibly be smiling now.

Optimus took two more steps before a blinding light hit the street sign in front of him.

Welcome to Elm Street.

That was it. "RATCHET! LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!" Before the medic could even transform, Optimus was speeding back down the road toward somewhere, anywhere, with street lights.

Ratchet shook his head, chuckling as he switched off the light beam. "Sparkling. That was too easy. I doubt you'll even consider allowing horror movies on base again."