Chapter 10

"The Wrath of Jetstorm"

The news that a pony had been kidnapped by the Predacons had sent shockwaves throughout the nearby towns of Equestria. It was now becoming more and more obvious of the growing threat that the Predacons were imposing.

"Are you sure that this where the pony was kidnapped?" Twilight asked Mayor Mare. "Right at this spot."

"Yes, Twilight," answered Mayor Mare. "According to a witness, the creature jumped out of the bushes and tackled the pony to the ground. It was so fast, that the witness couldn't make it out what it was. But, from what I hear, is that the creature was made out entirely of bones."

"But, I thought only bones could be found after creatures die," wondered Rainbow Dash.

"These aren't just your ordinary bones, Rainbow Dash," remarked Applejack. "Something is up here and I think that the ones who attacked my brother might have had something to do with this."

"Where did they say the creature went?" asked Twilight again.

"Towards the Everfree forest and up a neighboring mountaintop," said Mayor Mare. "We don't know what is up there and I for one, am not certain if we should even try an attempt a rescue mission. This is something for a higher power to deal with."

Of course, Twilight would normally be disgusted at this, but in this situation, she was forgiving of Mayor Mare.

"I can have myself and the Wonderbolts search other parts of Equestria," suggested Rainbow Dash. "The creature might have gone to a different part of Equestria and where it may have gone, so did the pony."

"In any case, we need to continue beefing up security around here until the threat is neutralized," suggested Applejack. "If those clowns come after my family again…"

But, before Applejack could finish her sentence, Twilight heard a buzzing noise coming from the Everfree Forest and went over to investigate. Just as she got to the edge, however, the buzzing stopped.

"Twilight, what is it?" asked Rainbow Dash.

"I'm not sure, but it seemed like a buzzing noise. I'd better check it out, the rest of you, wait here."

"Are you nuts, Twilight?" cried Rainbow Dash, landing in front of her. "We are dealing with creatures beyond our imagination and you are just willing to waltz into the Everfree Forest by yourself?"

"We've faced this kind of danger before, Rainbow Dash," replied Twilight.

"But, this is different, Twilight! These are creatures that are not even from around here and they are kidnapping ponies. Who knows if you might be next? Equestria can't survive without its princess of friendship! Look, all I'm saying is that we go investigate together. I'm telling you this not just as a wonderbolt, but as a loyal friend!"

Twilight sighed and reluctantly motioned for her friends, including the nervous and timid Fluttershy, to join her. But she knew that by doing so, she was engulfing them in the potential danger that was hiding in the Everfree Forest. Just as they started to get into the Everfree Forest, they heard the buzzing again.

"Listen!" cried Twilight in a hushed voice. "There it is again! Keep your eyes open!"

So they kept their eyes open and once again, nothing was heard. No sooner did they take their eyes off, did the buzzing happen again. Finally, emerging from a clearing was a large green dragonfly.

"EWWW! GROSS, GROSS, GROSS!" screamed Rarity. "A disgusting bug!"

"Right you are," laughed the dragonfly in a cool biker voice. "But, a fine bug at best! In which case, Jetstorm, terrorize!"

And the dragonfly transformed into a robot mode similar to Waspinator's, but was more uglier and scarier. Twilight aimed her horn at the creature, ready to fire blasts of her alicorn magic at it. However, Jetstorm was more craftier and fired several missile blasts from his hips at the ponies. Thankfully, Twilight managed to shield her friends with a protection spell.

"Fall back!" cried Twilight and her friends ran back and out of the Everfree Forest while Twilight and the newly born Predacon briefly clashed before retreating. But, just before Twilight could escape, Jetstorm fired another blast that sent her flying out.

"You okay, sugar cube?" cried Applejack as she and Pinkie helped Twilight to her feet.

"Yeah, I'm fine," groaned Twilight. "We couldn't fight him so easily, girls. I had to pull us out. As far as I am concerned, these creatures are bent on targeting unsuspecting ponies and we need to be on our guard."

"On our guard is one thing," said Rainbow Dash. "How to confront them is another thing. Didn't Optimus say that there was a stasis pod or something like that nearby?"

"Yes, he did say that," remarked Pinkie Pie, putting on a detective hat and holding a magnifying glass. "And we'd better find that pod! Follow me!"

So, Pinkie led the ponies in search of the pod that Jetstorm had come from. It didn't take long for the ponies to find the pod, located on the edge of the forest and the top of the pod was opened. They then looked closer at the pod and discovered the Predacon symbol on the small computer screen.

"Something tells me that this pod was tampered with," suggested Applejack, remembering the Predacon symbol that was on Waspinator. "I can reckon that the Maximals and those so called Predacons have different symbols and this is the symbol of the Predacons."

"Applejack's right," said Twilight. "I do have a feeling that the symbols will tell the difference between Maximal and Predacon. The Maximal symbol has a timber wolf head and the Predacon symbol has a bug head."

"The difference between symbols is one thing," replied Rainbow Dash. "But, there is much more to this than meets the eye. We need to take this pod back to Canterlot and have the Maximals look at it."

Taking this advice to heart, Twilight and Rarity levitated the pod and the ponies took it away and back to Canterlot.

…

Elsewhere, Jetstorm was flying back towards the Crystal Empire and towards a snowbound cave on the edge of the Empire. Landing, he walked into the cave and saw the Predacon lieutenant, Tarantulas, waiting for him along with Barricade.

"Ah, you've returned," he laughed. "I see you have tested your might against the inhabitants of this land. Did you succeed?"

"I did, but I didn't destroy them, Tarantulas," replied Jetstorm. "They ran off before I could finish them."

"Then why didn't you capture them or destroy them?" asked Tarantulas crossly, looking at Jetstorm right in the face. "Don't you see that another way of returning a Predacon to life is with a living host? Go back there and bring a living host to me!"

"But, those two Maximals are out there, Tarantulas," cautioned Barricade. "Tigatron and Air Razor."

"They won't be much of a threat since they are the only two Maximals out there," remarked Tarantulas, walking over towards a small collection of bugs that were in a small cage. "Besides, what harm could these ponies possess against us? They are nothing more than those disgusting protohumans on pre-historic Earth. Nevertheless, they and Megatron along with the Maximals will bow before me in due time. Both of you go into the Empire and bring me a pony host. I want another one of our forces brought to life before this day is finished! Now go!"

Doing as they were told, Jetstorm and Barricade went into Beast mode and proceeded to find ponies for Tarantulas to use to bring his collection of Predacon wannabes to life.

"Soon, Megatron," he thought to himself. "I will be taking over and you, well, will not be around to tell the tale."