How To Train Your Autobot
Chapter Three: Dragonbot Training
"So, how does this work, exactly?" Hiccup asked Sky Shadow. "Taking on our dragons' forms. It won't hurt them, will it?"
"Not in the least." Sky Shadow assured him. "We just run a simple scan beam over the subject, and just like that, we can become them."
"Interesting." Nodded Fishlegs. "Can you become anything?"
"Any subject we can scan, yes." Nodded Longtooth.
"And here's your first 'subject', right here." Smirked Snotlout, bringing Fireworm over.
"I'm not so sure that's a good idea, 'Lout." Hiccup shook his head.
"How d'ya mean?" Asked Snotlout.
"One of those 'Decepticons' can already become a Nightmare." Said Astrid. "He'll have a lot more experience with that form, and have the advantage over any of the Autobots who take it."
"They're right." Agreed Sky Shadow. "We'll have to take the forms of dragons the Decepticons don't know." He kneeled down and looked at Toothless. "How about this one?"
Toothless fidgeted apprehensively.
"Easy, bud." Hiccup patted his head. "This won't hurt a bit."
Blue light erupted from Sky Shadow's eyes, running the full length of Toothless' body. Toothless shook his head in bewilderment.
"Now what?" Asked Hiccup.
"Give me a second." Said Sky Shadow.
The outer layers of Sky Shadow's armor popped out and folded back in as his internal mechanisms reformed themselves.
"Okay." Nodded Sky Shadow. "Here goes nothing."
Sky Shadow's body started to shift. His arms and legs contracted, his chest lifted up to meet his head, which fitted into an indentation on the metal plate. As he fell onto his front limbs, wings and a tail folded out, and what was formerly his chest split open, revealing a mouth full of razor-sharp metal teeth. The transformation was complete.
"How do I look?" Asked Sky Shadow.
"Not bad." Admitted Hiccup.
Aside from the metal sheen, glowing green eyes and two fins at the end of his tail, Sky Shadow was a dead ringer for Toothless.
"Lookin' good, boss." Smiled Cloudraker, before appraising Stormfly. "As for me, I think I'll scan this one."
Cloudraker peformed the same procedure on Astrid's dragon. She then leaned down, her legs squatting, as her chest swung up to cover her face, forming the lower jaw of the dragon head. Her arms formed her new chest, and the rounded crests on her shoulders rotated to form the top half of her dragon head.
"Nice." Cloudraker admired herself. "Always was a fan of blue."
"That just leaves me." Grunted Longtooth. He peered at Horrorcow. "I like the looks of this one. Tough and crusty, just like me."
One scan later, Longtooth's legs split in half, the thigh halves folding upwards. His chest lifted up as his upper arms slotted into his body, the lower arms swinging up to join with the chest piece, forming the Gronkle head. His own head descended into his body, the protrusions on top forming the wings.
"Not too shabby." Longtooth admitted.
"Alright, now can we kick some Decepti-can?" Asked Cloudraker.
"Not just yet." Said Sky Shadow. "In order to face the Decepticons on even terms, we need to practise with these forms, really get the hang of them."
"But where can we practise around here, where we won't be noticed by the Decepticons, or the humans?" Asked Longtooth.
Hiccup and Astrid shared a knowing smile.
"We know just the place." Smirked Hiccup.
The young vikings led the Autobots to the same shallow glade where Toothless had once resided in.
"What do you think?" Hiccup asked.
"It's perfect." Smiled Sky Shadow "We can practise all we like, without being seen."
"And we can help you learn, if you'll let us." Said Astrid.
"Just call us your eager students." Grinned Cloudraker.
Over the next few days, with the help of the young vikings and their dragons, the three Autobots quickly learned the basics of their new forms. Sky Shadow learned how to execute Toothless' diving fireball attack, while Cloudraker, under Astrid's tutelage, became as nimble and agile as a real Deadly Nadder, and Longtooth became experienced in the Gronckle's strength and durability.
"We've got this dragon thing down pat, now." Grunted Longtooth, flexing his arm. "I'd like to see those Decepti-creeps try and take us, now!"
"You just got your wish, old timer." Sneered a voice from above.
It was Inferno and his fellow Decepticons, flying on high in their dragon forms.
"So, this is where you've been hiding?" Inferno smirked.
"Autobots don't hide from Decepticons, Inferno." Retorted Sky Shadow. "Autobots, attack!"
To Be Continued...
(How to Train Your Dragon and all associated characters are the property of DreamWorks Animation. Transformers is the property of Hasbro.)