Chapter 3: Transmetal Friends

Littlefoot played a game of tag with his friends in the Great Valley. Littlefoot was it, and he tagged Ducky. "You're it!" he laughed.

"I'm really it! I am, I am!" Ducky giggled. She tagged Chomper. "You're it, Chomper!"

"I'm it, I'm it!" Chomper laughed. He then tagged Spike. "You're it, Spike!"

Littlefoot ran around as he giggled, only to trip and slide down a hill. Having no problem, he kept running as he laughed. "Boy, it's such a good time," he said to himself.

Later, after the game of tag, Littlefoot decided to have a sip of water before going for tree stars.

Grandpa Longneck walked down the valley when he heard a rustling sound. He looked down and saw Optimus Primal, except he didn't recognize him. "Who might you be? I don't remember seeing anything like this," he said.

"It's me," said Optimus. "Just looking prime."

Grandpa Longneck's eyes widen. "Optimus? Is that you?"

"That's me. But never mind my unexpected appearance. I wish to speak to Littlefoot."

Littlefoot plucked a tree star off the tree and ate it. "So good," he said.

Grandpa Longneck came in with Optimus. "Littlefoot," he said, "there's someone here to see you."

"Hello, Littlefoot," said Optimus. "Guess who's back and looking prime."

Littlefoot dropped the tree star he was eating in shock. "Can it be? Optimus?"

Optimus nodded, and Littlefoot nuzzled his metal chest.

"Oh, we've missed you so much, Optimus!" said Littlefoot with a smile. He sees Primal's Transmetal body. "Boy, look how you've changed."

Optimus chuckled. "It's a long story, my friend," he said, "but I'm sure to explain that later."

"I thought you wouldn't come back with the Predacons gone."

"Who's to say how much you miss the Maximals?"

"You have no idea how much we miss you since you left, Optimus!"

"Littlefoot!" Grandma Longneck called.

"Oh, that's my grandma," said Littlefoot. "Gotta go. Tell them I said hi." He then ran off to find his grandma.

Optimus watched with folded arms as Littlefoot ran off. "Well, that's just prime," he said to himself.

Littlefoot approached his grandma. "Yes, Grandma?" he asked.

"The herd is back for a reunion as before," said Grandma Longneck.

"You mean Dad's back? Oh, boy! Dad!"

In joy, Littlefoot ran to find his dad.

Later, around the afternoon, Littlefoot and his pals were playing with a rock by kicking it around. Spike ran toward it, but instead of hitting it, he jumped and landed on the rock.

"Did you get it, Spike? Did you?" Ducky asked.

Spike stood up to show crumbled pieces of the rock he had landed.

Ducky giggled. "Yep, yep, yep, you got it."

"I found another one!" Cera laughed as she hit another rock with her tail.

Littlefoot ran to stop the rolling rock, but then a foot stepped on it lightly. Littlefoot looked up and saw the familiar trio: Hyp, Mutt and Nod.

"Them again?" Cera asked with a groan. "Why do they always have to come around here?"

"Because bigger is better," Hyp chuckled, "and because you're just a bunch of hatchlings."

"You really haven't changed one bit," Cera frowned.

"What makes you think of that?" Hyp asked, crossing his arms.

"Yeah, what makes you think of that?" Nod asked.

Nod and Hyp looked at Mutt.

"Oh! Uh, yeah!" said Mutt.

"No one," said Littlefoot. "We just asked."

"So leave us alone, Hyp," Cera demanded.

"But I didn't hear you say 'please'," Hyp said.

"That's because I didn't." She then growled at Hyp, who growled back.

Suddenly there was a rustling sound.

"What's that?" Hyp asked.

"It's a..." Nod said, trying to think.

Suddenly the fast biters, Screech and Thud, jumped out of the bushes and roared.

"Sharpteeth!" the gang screamed.

"Sharpteeth!" Hyp screamed as he ran off with Mutt and Nod.

Littlefoot and the gang ran off with Screech and Thud on their tail. By the time they chased them into the canyon, there was nowhere to go. Just then, Red Claw showed up and roared at the gang. But before he can bite Littlefoot, Rhinox charged toward him and knocked him away from Littlefoot. Cheetor jumped on Thud and covered his eyes. Tigatron showed up and jumped on Screech to cover his eyes.

"Could those be...?" Cera asked.

"They look familiar," Petrie said.

Littlefoot gasped in shock. "It's the Maximals! They're back!" he exclaimed.

Just then, the other Transmetal Maximals showed up and joined the fight with Optimus Primal. Optimus grabbed Red Claw's tail, and spinning him around, he let go of the tail, sending Red Claw flying over the canyon and into the sky. Screech and Thud ran off to follow Red Claw.

"That's just prime," Optimus said.

Cheetor approached Littlefoot and gave him a hug. "Littlefoot!" he cried.

"Cheetor!" cried Littlefoot. "So good to see you."

"Remember me, Long Neck?" asked Rattrap.

"Rattrap!" Littlefoot said as he nuzzled Rattrap.

Silverbolt approached Littlefoot. "Hello, Littlefoot," he said, "remember me?"

"Silverbolt!" Littlefoot cried, nuzzing Silverbolt. Then, he saw that all the Maximals had changed, except Silverbolt. "Oh, Cheetor, Rattrap, Silverbolt, guys, I'm so glad to see you again, though I do see that you've changed."

"We're Transmetal Maximals," Optimus said. "It's a long story, but we shall explain by nightfall."

Around nighttime, Optimus had told Littlefoot and the gang what had happened, with him and the Maximals in robot forms.

"The Predacons had escaped from prison and sought revenge for everything. We had followed them all the way back to Earth, after that quantum surge gave us these Transmetal bodies," said Optimus.

"Ooh," said the gang.

"Even in new bodies, you're still the same. You are, you are," said Ducky.

Optimus chuckled. "Yes, I know."

"Well, we're glad to see you again, just like I said," said Littlefoot. "You have no idea how much we miss you."

"Hey, we never forget about you and your pals, Long Neck," said Rattrap.

"Wait, if the Predacons are back, then what about Megatron?" Littlefoot asked. "Does this have to do with the Great Valley?"

"Megatron has not been seen or heard from since our victory," Optimus said. "But if his return is possible, as I fear, the war will start all over again."

"Oh, no, no, no," Ducky said.

"But he died in that mountain!" Littlefoot said. "There's no way he could return!"

"I'm afraid anything is possible, Littlefoot. But don't worry, as long as we're here, you will be safe in our hands and out of harm's way."

Littlefoot smiled. "Thanks, Optimus. I hope you would protect us from those Predacons."

Optimus smiled back. "I will."