"So Optimus, would you mind telling us a little more about this war?" Celestia asked. She was sitting on top of his cab, nestled between his smokestacks, while Luna sat on the back of his truck form. "Well, the war began millennia ago, when my brother Megatronus and I began a political movement. Cybertron's government was extremely corrupt, and enforced a brutal caste system. This system included forcing gladiators to fight to the death, one of whom was Megatronus." "That sounds terrible" Luna said. "That is why we began a movement to change the caste system. We gained strength, but when we went to the High Council, Megatronus demanded he be Prime" Optimus explained.
"Prime?" Celestia asked. "The Primes were the first seven Cybertronians created, and since then, Prime has been the title for the leader of our race. Megatronus demanded that position, but I didn't support him. I suggested the people select a new Prime, and the council be open to elections." As Prime continued through his story, his voice became increasingly sorrowful. "The council accepted my ideas, and I was named the first new Prime. Megatron was jealous, though, and determined to take the title of Prime by force. He created the Decepticons, and started the war" he told them. "What happened after that?" Celestia asked.
"The war wreaked havoc on Cybertron's core, so I ventured to undo the damage. When I arrived, I met a dying Primus, the creator of our world, and us. He said there was no way to save him, and entrusted the 'bots of Cybertron to me. He gave me the Matrix of Leadership, making me a true Prime. We flead to Earth, where we found four relics that could revive our home. Megatron stole them, and we followed him to a portal, and crashed on your world" he explained. "So this Megatron used to be your brother?" Luna questioned. "Not technically, but I considered him to be my brother" he told her. "That must have been horrible" Celestia said. Optimus didn't say anything. The rest of their trip was an awkward silence, where neither Prime, nor Celestia, or Luna were sure what to say. Both sisters wanted to offer their new friend some kind of comfort, but how? "Hey, we used to fight too, but it's okay now, because we're friends again," or, "Sorry about that whole millennia of war thing, but Luna was on the moon for a thousand years!"
The silence finally ended when Luna noticed a blue trail following Optimus. "Optimus, what is that blue liquid following us?" she asked. "Nothing" he lied. "Blue liquid?" Bulkhead said. He pulled behind Prime, shining his headlights on the trail of energon. "Optimus, you're bleeding" he told him. "I know, Megatron stabbed me during our fight." Bulkhead changed forms, holding his hands out in front of Optimus, stopping him. "We do not have time to treat my would. I won't die from it" Prime said. "Yeah, let him go. If he doesn't want to treat the wound, it's his choice" Wheeljack added. "I beg to differ. We saw the battle, and the wound looked severe" said Luna. "Regardless, only Ratchet has the skill to mend me, so there is no point in stopping" Prime pointed out. "I don't know, I don't like how much you're bleeding" bulkhead told him.
"Maybe there's a way we can help" Celestia said. The two princesses got off Optimus, and with a sight, he changed forms. He grunted as he finished his transformation, holding his dripping, energon soaked shoulder. Celestia moved his hand with her magic, and cast a spell on the gash. Instantly, the metal began to shift back into place, and within a few seconds, the cut had completely disappeared. "Woah" bulkhead whispered. Optimus moved his shoulder in all directions, realizing it was as good as new. "How did you do that?" he asked, shocked by the display. "I just used magic. That was just a healing spell; very standard stuff" she told them. "Well, thank you" he said, changing forms again. Celestia and Luna climbed back onto Optimus, and they continued to the village.
After a few more minutes of driving, Luna's eyes widened. "Sister, we forgot to raise the sun" she said suddenly. "Horse Apples!" spat Celestia. Optimus checked his clock, which he'd synchronized to the planet's rotation, and discovered the sun should have risen five minutes ago, yet it was still pitch black out. Celestia and Luna's horns glowed, as the moon disappeared over the horizon, and the sun began to rise. "So, you really do raise the sun and moon" said Prime. "You thought we didn't?" Luna asked. "I assumed you were speaking metaphorically. On most other planets, the sun rises by itself" he explained. "Interesting. Can you imagine how weird that'd be, sister?" Luna asked Celestia. "I don't know, it might make a nice place for a vacation" she jested. Along their way to Ponyville, they picked up the other Autobots.
"Wait, isn't this Ponyville?" Luna pointed out. "Yes, it is" Celestia confirmed. Everypony was already up, awakened by the Nemesis' crash. Most stayed in their houses, a few were brave enough to venture outside, though they lingered by the door, and Pinkie and Rainbow Dash went right up to the Autobots. "Hi there, Ratchet, my name Pinkie Pie" she said. Ratchet slammed on his breaks, turning and looking straight at Pinkie. "How...how do you know my name?" he asked. "Silly-filly, I've been a Transformers fan since G1!" Ratchet just stared at her, as the other Autobots sped past him. "By you might want to warn Optimus the Decepticons fix their ship." she told him. "Why should I listen to you?" he asked. "Because I know your name, I know you're the medic, I know you're from Cybertron, I know you made that weird, green synth-en and went all nutso, and I know you're a grumpy gus" she said as she jumped on the top of his cab. Ratchet said nothing, pausing for a few moments, before turning and following the others.
They reached Twilight's castle, letting Celestia and Luna off, before changing forms. Arcee, a female autobot, was almost entirely blue, except the pink highlights on her face, and her gunmetal grey upper arms. Bumblebee was yellow, with a few black streaks on his arms and legs. Unlike the others, he didn't have a mouth. She was also the smallest Autobot, and she changed into a motorcycle. He also couldn't talk, since Megatron ripped out his voice box in the war, so he talked with a series of beeps and boops. Ratchet was bulky, though not as much as Bulkhead, and fairly short. He was white with a few orange highlights on his body. He changed into an ambulance, and was the oldest Autobot, as well as the medic.
"What in the-What the-What-WHAT?" she stuttered.
The Autobots had reunited, and all six of them were outside Twilight's castle. The lights were on in most of the houses, but almost everypony was too scared to venture outside. Rainbow was perched on Wheeljack's shoulder, admiring his swords. "Do not be afraid, Twilight Sparkle, we came in peace" Optimus said. "No, the conjugation is come, not came. Came is past-tense" Celestia explained. "I see" Prime said.
"What are you? Where did you come from?" Twilight asked. "Who cares? They're awesome!" Rainbow interjected. Prime explained their origins to Twilight, giving her the same speech he gave Celestia. "So, your home planet was destroyed by a single war?" she asked. "It was a war unlike any I've ever seen before, or since. The conflict didn't years, or even decades; it lasted for centuries" he said. "Wait, if this war lasted centuries, then how are you still alive?" Rainbow asked. "The average Cybertronian lives for millions of years. It may not be apparent, but I am well over nine-thousand years old" he told her. "And Prime is on the younger end. I'm over twenty-thousand years old" Ratchet said.
"Woah. Then why aren't there more of you? You guys live so long you could go from planet to planet without dying, so why haven't you?" Twilight asked. "With a war on the scale of the Great Cybertronian Civil War, we didn't have time to explore. Every ship in any fleet was either used as a warship, or an evacuation ship for the civilians" he told her. "Civilians?" Luna asked. "During the war, there were many bots who didn't want to choose between Autobots or Decepticons. Megatron forced them to fight or die, which is where the Vehicons come from, but we evacuated them. That is why Autobots have more distinct armor than Decepticons. Only the warrior class, and volunteers were allowed to fight" Prime told them.
"Optimus, can you please get her off me" Ratchet interrupted, having finally caught up with the others. by now, the rest of the main six had joined the group. Pinkie was still on top of him, chattering on about how she used to watch Transformers back in the '80s, whatever that meant. "Pinkie, I think you might want to get off the giant robot" Twilight advised. "But I've got something really super-dooper-oh-my-gosh important to tell Optimus" she said. "How do you know my name?" Prime questioned. "Don't ask that" Ratchet told him. "Listen, the Decepticons are going to fix their ship, and they're gonna attack Cloudsdale!" Pinkie shouted. "What?!" said Rainbow. "Yeah! They're gonna fix their ship, and fly right over us, and head for Cloudsdale!" She told them. "Pinkie Pie, that's absurd! How would you even know that" said Twilight. "Because I read a chapter ahead" Pinkie explained with a grin.
Suddenly, the Nemesis flew directly over Ponyville. The ship was close to the ground, so close the rumble of it's engines knocked over lamps and tables across Ponyville. Everyone breathed a collective sigh of relief when the massive monsterosity passed over. "Where are they going?" Twilight asked. "Cloudsdale" Pinkie told her. "How do-never mind. We need to get to Cloudsdale now" Luna. "No. You should stay here. We will handle the Decepticons" Optimus ordered. "Hey, this here's our home! Ain't we got a right to fight for it" Applejack shouted. "The Decepticons are extremely dangerous. We cannot allow you to get hurt" he said. "Forgive me if I sound rude, but do you have the faintest idea where Cloudsdale is?" Rarity asked. Optimus paused. "No, we don't" he admitted with a sigh. "See? Y'all do need us!" Applejack said. Bumblebee bleeped and blooped a few times, saying something. "Oh, that sounds like a good idea" said Fluttershy.
All of the Autobots turned to her, making her feel very uncomfortable. "Uhm, did I do something wrong?" she asked in her small voice. Bumblebee said some more bloops. "Yes, I can understand you...is that bad?" she asked again. "No, just...weird" Bulkhead told her. "What Bulkhead means is Bumblebee's voice box was damaged during the war, and most organics cannot understand him" Prime explained. "What did he say anyway?" Twilight asked. "He said that since there are six of them, and six of us, we should each team up with one of them" Fluttershy said. "Sorry, but we'll have to pick on the fly. The longer it takes for us to decide, the less time we have to catch those Decepticon creeps" Rainbow reminded. "She's right. Autobots, transform, and roll out" Optimus ordered.
Each pony climbed onto the top of the Autobot they were closest too, with the exception of Rainbow dash, who flew. Celestia and Luna rode Prime, Twilight rode Smokescreen, Applejack rode Bulkhead, Pinkie Pie rode Ratchet, Rarity rode Arcee, and Fluttershy rode Bumblebee. They all drove at full speed after Rainbow Dash, who was faster than any of them.