11- Speed Metal.
It was already at night when a car was driving outside Veilstone City, but it was Knock Out in vehicle form. It seemed that he was going for a drive outside the Nemesis, also he was listening the news report.
"As International Police continues to crack down on illegal street-racing, where drivers use their pokémon to slow down other drivers, citing the danger of both drivers, pedestrians and innocent pokémon." The report announced until he decided to turn it off.
Knock Out continued driving until he arrived to an area where other cars were preparing to compete in one of the illegal races, so he wanted to compete too. Once he joined, the driver of the car next to him, who looked like a bully and which pokémon partner was a Weavile, looked at him.
"Not from around here. Kalos's design?" He asked, but Knock Out didn't answered. "Sure is pretty. Too pretty."
The driver signaled to his Weavile, which used one of his claws to scratch Knock Out's door. The Decepticon saw the entire thing.
"Big mistake." He said as he got ready to race.
The referee held the flashlight in his hand and switched it on, signaling the racers to go. And the race started, with the bully at first place, speeding up to leave the other racers behind. It seemed like he was about to win, but then Knock Out appeared out of nowhere and rammed into his car.
"Hey! Weavile, use Blizzard!"
The pokémon was about to use the attack, but Knock Out hit the car once again before he could. When they reached to a corner, Knock Out rammed into the car one more time, making it to swerve a little and went over the edge of a cliff. The car crashed against the bottom, but it not exploded, but although the driver ended really bad. The Weavile was better, so he tried to get his trainer out of the car, as Knock Out's headlights beamed on them.
"Uh…dude." The bully moaned before losing consciousness, as Weavile looked at him scared.
"You scratch my paint, I scratch yours." Knock Out simply said before continued driving and leaving the area.
The next morning, Sideswipe was driving to Twinleaf Town with Ritchie and Sparky inside of him.
"Can you remind me why are we here?"
"I told you, Sideswipe. Dawn said that she asked the ingredients she requires to improve her Poffin recipe. And since Wheeljack is actually busy with scouting duty, I said we could take care of that." Ritchie explained.
"So, it's simply like a message duty? We Autobots are supposed to be forged for more interesting duties."
"Relax, Sideswipe. It will be done in no time."
A few moments later, they arrived to Dawn's house, where Piplup was waiting at the door. Once he spotted Sideswipe, he went inside looking for Dawn, while Ritchie and Sparky carried a box which contained the ingredients.
"Oh, many thanks for delivering these for me, Ritchie. I felt bad when I heard Wheeljack was busy." Dawn thanked taking the box.
"Nah, it is nothing. Sparky and I are glad to help."
"Pikachu." Sparky nodded.
"So, wanna see how Poffins are done? I will allow Sparky to taste the first ones." Dawn offered.
"Oh, I would also like to try." A new voice suddenly said.
Everyone turned at the road and saw a boy from around their same age, with dark green hair and glasses, inside a black muscle car. For Ritchie was someone new, but Dawn recognized him.
"Conway? Is that you?" She asked.
"Is been a while, Dawn." Conway confirmed.
"You know him, Dawn?" Ritchie asked confused.
"He's a pokémon trainer I met when I was traveling with Ash and Brock around the Sinnoh region, when we were participating in the Pokemon Summer Academy. He's good in pokémon battles, but a little sinister guy." She explained before turning at the newcomer. "How did you know where I live?"
"My dear Dawn, after all we passed through and you have forgotten it? I have my ways to achieve knowledge about the subjects that catch my interest. Of course, in your case has been easier since you're an easy person to spot." Conway revealed.
"Wait? Are you meaning you have been spying on her?" Ritchie asked, a little upset. "That's not how an old friend should address to another."
"Yeah, that sounds a little…uncomfortable." Dawn added.
"Relax, that's nothing bad. Just a little game…like we used to play in the old times." Conway joked.
"Well, that doesn't sound like a game for me." Ritchie defended as he returned inside Sideswipe.
"Hey, nice car you have. It's yours?"
"Uh, ah…"
"I propose you this: there's a new trend many people are doing these days, racing alongside pokémon assistance. If you manage to beat me with one of your pokémon, I will do whatever you ask me."
"Are you challenging me…to a race?" Ritchie asked confused.
"I see you have caught it well, buddy. What do you say?"
Ritchie was not sure. At one hand, he thought at the possibility that in case of winning, he could ask him to stop stalking Dawn and give her a break, but at the other hand, he didn't know anything about racing, not even how to drive a car. Of course, that wouldn't be a problem since Sideswipe would be his car. He looked at Dawn, whose smile was telling him to accept it, but before he could answer Sideswipe took off, catching him and Sparky off guard.
"Hey! You didn't let me answer." Ritchie told him.
"Nope."
"But Sideswipe, we can smoke him."
"I know."
"Then what's the problem?"
"If it were up to me, I would agree: I like races. But the problem is that I don't make rules, Optimus does. And rule number one is never abuse power for personal gain. And that includes horsepower. I'm sorry, pal."
They stopped in a red stoplight. Then Conway's car stopped next to them.
"So?"
Ritchie sighed. "Conway, maybe racing isn't such a good idea. Maybe we can settle this with a pokémon battle."
Conway laughed. "You're suggesting that because you don't know anything about street racing. I thought you had what it takes to battle in a new front, but you just use that car as everyone: only a mean of transportation. And an obsolete one."
Once the light turned green, Conway made a u-turn and drove away.
"That's it! No one calls me obsolete and is off the hook! That yahoo is going down! Let's smoke him, Ritchie!" Sideswipe shouted as he went the same direction.
"Whoa. What happened to rule number one?" Ritchie asked.
"Gets bent. Just this once."
Conway returned to Dawn's house.
"Hi Dawn. I'm afraid your friend is not going to deliver the goods. What a shame. If sometimes you need someone to count on…"
"Leave her alone already, stalker guy!" Ritchie yelled as he and Sideswipe arrived. "Me and Sparky are ready when you are."
"Pika." Sparky nodded.
Although he was a little surprised, Conway smiled. "The abandoned dirt intersect on Route 201, in one hour."
Both met at the fated place, right on Route 201. The two boys were getting ready to race while Dawn and Piplup were watching from the side.
"From here to Lake Verity. Ready, go!" Conway yelled before he drove off.
"Well, that was fair." Ritchie said sarcastically before Sideswipe went after him.
Conway and Ritchie drove near Dawn and Piplup, who started to cough because of the dust as Dawn made sure her skirt didn't fly up.
"You can do it, Ritchie." She cheered up in secret.
For the moment, Conway, alongside his Shuckle as pokémon support, was in the lead, with Sideswipe right behind him.
"Hm, Sideswipe?"
"Winning isn't enough, Ritchie. We need to make him cry." He explained speeding up.
When Conway looked to see if they were still behind him, he saw nothing. He looked and saw them next to him, Ritchie waving at him.
"Shuckle, tarnish their glass with Sludge Bomb." Conway instructed.
Fortunately, they saw it coming.
"Sparky, block it with Thunder Shock!" Ritchie commanded.
Sparky's attack eliminated the Sludge Bomb of Shuckle, making the mud to scatter all across Conway's glass, making him impossible to see where he was heading, forcing him to stop. That allowed Sideswipe to take the lead and left their opponent behind.
"Whoo hoo! We did it! Once we manage to reach the lake and wait for him to come, I will make sure he doesn't bother Dawn anymore." Ritchie celebrated.
"That's some way a knight of shinny armor protects her beloved damsel." Sideswipe teased, starting to suspect something.
"What? I don't know what do you mean with that, Sideswipe. Anyway, you did great."
"I told you I'm up for races. You and Sparky are not too bad yourselves. Maybe we can use this strategy in the future."
Meanwhile, in the Nemesis' medical bay, Breakdown was buffing Galvatron's body to return it to his previous appearance when Darkscream came in.
"Ah Breakdown, has there been any…change in Galvatron's condition?"
Breakdown denied. "Only cosmetic."
"Well, I'm sure that you and the good doctor have been doing everything in your power." Darkscream reassured as he noticed someone was missing. "Where's Knock Out?"
In that moment he entered the lab.
"Can you believe what some skin-job did to me? Oh!" Knock Out complained, referring to the scratch he had on his arm.
"You have been street racing among the humans again, haven't you?" Darkscream deduced.
"I'm not only an automobile, I'm am automobile enthusiast."
"I do strive to run a tight ship, Knock Out. I would strongly suggest that you seek my permission next time you decide to disappear on one of your little…jaunts."
"No worries, herr commandant."
"It is lord to you."
"Only if Galvatron takes a nosedive."
Darkscream groaned as he went face-to-face with Knock Out. "The day our master emerges from stasis I will graciously relinquish the title, but I believe that outcome is unlikely, something to do with the quality of medical care around here. So continue buffing, we do want Galvatron looking his best for the memorial." He declared before exiting the room.
"Buff this." Knock Out simply said once Darkscream was gone.
Back with Ritchie and Sideswipe, both returned back to the Autobot base. They were about to join the rest, until Sideswipe, now in robot form, stopped Ritchie and Sparky.
"Please guys, not a word, to anyone." Sideswipe asked with a pleading face.
"It will be our little secret." Ritchie reassured.
"Pika pi." Sparky nodded.
Sideswipe walked away, leaving Ritchie and Sparky alone. Then, Bonnie came out of nowhere imitating race sounds.
"And the winner is…"
"Bonnie, who told you?" Ritchie asked nervous.
"Sorry, Ritchie." Ash said, getting out of nowhere with the rest. "You see, Dawn called some people with her Pokegear and told them about what happened."
That made Ritchie burst in fear and panic. "What?! She told all of you about it?!"
"Relax, Ritchie. No one except us knows it." Max reassured him.
"What were you thinking in that moment? You know as well as we that racing can be a dangerous game, especially when it comes to ask your pokémon to sabotage your rivals' cars. I don't see what kind of excitement is that." Tracey explained.
"I also don't find that kind of activity entertainment." Clemont added.
"But at least he did it for a good reason." Misty defended. "That guy stalking Dawn like Team Rocket used to spy on us, except for the pokémon stealing part. Who he thinks he is?"
"Yeah, you give that Conway guy a good lesson. And now he will leave Dawn in peace." Serena supported.
Ritchie pulled them close as they formed a group huddle. "You guys have to get this on secret. Especially from Optimus."
"Don't worry. Your secret is safe with us." Ash nodded.
The next day, Ritchie went to Dawn's house to help her replace the ingredients for her Poffins.
"Thanks for the help, Ritchie. Now everything is settled and ready for me to start making Poffins. I will make you know when they're ready." Dawn appreciated.
"Oh, it has been nothing, Dawn."
"You got that right." Conway said appearing suddenly and shoving Ritchie with his shoulder, now he looked annoyed. "You got lucky yesterday, but if you think you can race properly? The circuit, tonight. 11 p.m."
Ritchie wasn't so sure what to respond, but seeing how Dawn was looking at him. He told Sideswipe what happened when he came to pick him up.
"You agreed to what?!" The young Autobot screeched.
"It is some kind of secret racing club. I don't know, I had no choice! Dawn was standing right there."
"You always have a choice, Ritchie. And what part of just this once do you not understand?"
"I know, I'm sorry. But we're on, right?"
"I'm sorry pal, but not this time."
Sometime later, Knock Out was driving outside Jubilife City.
"Knock Out, Darkscream's been looking for you again. Where'd you go?" Breakdown asked through the com-link.
"Out for a little drive. I just roll from town to town, sniffing around, until…" He was telling until a car honked him as he pasted him. "…the next opportunity presents itself."
Knock Out speeded up and followed that car, entering the city. Meanwhile, at the base, Max, Bonnie and Ash were playing a race video game.
"Guys? Uh…is there any way I can borrow Bumblebee, Moonracer or Hot Rod for an hour?" Ritchie asked nervously.
"For what?" Ash asked.
"It has something to do with that Conway guy again?" Misty deduced.
"Unfortunately." Ritchie nodded.
"What about Sideswipe?" Serena asked.
"He already answered me no."
"Well, if you are talking about join a race and win it, count me in." Hot Rod expressed cheered.
"(Me too. I would love it.)"
"I'm not sure." Moonracer answered not very confident.
"But Ritchie, you know racing is against the rules. What if Optimus found out?"
"But Clemont, he's going to defend Dawn's honor. That should be a good reason." May defended.
"Come one, guys. Just this once?" Ritchie promised.
"Haven't I just heard you guys talking about using one of us to win a race?" Wheeljack asked, entering the room. "And what does this have to do with Dawn?"
"You see, Wheeljack, there is this guy named Conway that has been causing Dawn some nonconformity." Misty started.
"And in order to force him to leave her in peace, Ritchie and Sideswipe beat him in a race. But it seems he didn't catch the message, and want Ritchie to compete for a last time." Clemont followed.
"But this time Sideswipe doesn't want to be involved, and I fear that if I don't accept, Conway will break the deal and will return to trouble Dawn. That's why I need to do this, not for fun, but for her." Ritchie ended explaining.
Wheeljack looked annoyed. "Are you saying this guy has been messing with my girl?!"
"Wow, I've never seen Wheeljack this mad." Moonracer whispered to the others.
"Ritchie, if you want to teach this guy a lesson by winning him on his game, count me in. You have your ride."
"Really? Thanks, Wheeljack."
Right at the destined hour, in middle of the night, Wheeljack arrived to the called circuit, near an industrial zone outside Jubilife City. There was other boys and girls present there as spectators, who stared at Wheeljack's alt mode impressed. The Autobot stooped right next to Conway's car, who saw in disbelief that Ritchie was the one on board.
"The other car's the shop. A friend of mine let me borrow this." He invented.
"That's him? It doesn't look like much, but if a little accident happens during the race, it will not be my fault." Wheeljack swore.
"Let's…not try to get that far."
A girl positioned herself in front of the drivers. She, as well as others, may have heard about Ritchie's victory over Conway, because she gave him a flirtatious wink, which he didn't know how to react.
"Circuit drivers, are you ready?! Be mean but keep it clean! Fire 'em up in five!" A roughneck shouted on the side of the circuit.
Without any of them noticed, Knock Out joined in the last moment.
"Five, four, three, two, one! Go!"
The girl threw her hands to the ground and crouched low as the cars started the race. Of course, despite that Conway went first at the start, Wheeljack had no problem in passing him and go first. Unfortunately, Knock Out, who was following him near, recognized him.
"The Autobot Wrecker Wheeljack."
Knock Out approached Conway from the left and rammed into him to push him aside, driving ahead of him.
"Kid, I think the race's over."
"Why Wheeljack?"
"We got company."
Ritchie looked to the rearview and spotted Knock Out. "Hey, I know that car."
"It's the Cons' medic, Knock Out."
Both Ritchie and Sparky yelled in surprise as Wheeljack drove along the wall, but the Decepticon did the same and went after them. Next, he pulled out two cannons on his sides and started shooting lasers at them. At the end, Wheeljack decided to get out of the circuit, and Knock Out went after him, something that Conway spotted.
"What in the…?" Conway asked confused.
"Can you lose him, Jackie?" Ritchie asked.
"I'll try."
"Let's hope you can, because I don't want to call the base for backup."
At the same time at base, Bonnie and Max continued with their games while Clemont and Ash decided to practice some pokémon battling. Right in that moment, Sideswipe, who was with Arcee, entered the main hall.
"Anyone seen Ritchie? I'm looking for him." Sideswipe asked.
"I also don't see Wheeljack." Arcee added.
The gang got nervous for those question, even made their pokémon stop their battle practices.
"Not since we last saw them." May answered, trying to hide the truth the best she could.
Sideswipe gasped worried, starting to fear the worst. "Don't tell me they are racing."
"Racing?" Arcee asked in disbelief. "What's going on?"
"But Wheeljack agreed to go with him." Ash defended.
"Just this once." Serena added.
"Did you know about this?" She asked to the other Autobots.
"No." Hot Rod immediately answered.
"Maybe." Moonracer said.
"A little." Warpath said nervous.
"And you are supposed to be his guardian, Sideswipe. Isn't it your duty to instruct him in these things?" Arcee asked.
"Hey, for your information, he started everything when he and Ritchie decided to do it together in the first place." Moonracer revealed.
Arcee was let without words while Sideswipe sighed putting his hand on his head worried, but then the terminal announced a transmission.
"Guys, our little game has gotten complicated, all thanks to Knock Out. He's actually after our trail." Wheeljack communicated.
"Knock Out?" Max asked confused.
"That sounds like a Decepticon." Clemont deduced.
"It is one of the Decepticons that we faced at the museum the last time. The red one." Hot Rod clarified.
"Wheeljack, do not engage. Your first priority is to keep Ritchie safe, until I get my hands on you two." Arcee instructed mad walking to the ground bridge's controls.
"Wow, I've never seen Arcee this mad." Ash admitted.
"Me neither, and we've been teammates since a very long time." Moonracer shared.
"I would not like to be near her when she's angry." Clemont advised.
"I might be not that lucky; she is my guardian." Serena lamented.
Back to the chase, Wheeljack used a trick: leaked some oil on the road behind him, and when Knock Out drove on it, he started to spin out of control.
"See ya, Con." Wheeljack saluted.
"Slick." Ritchie smiled.
Taking advantage of this, Wheeljack hid under a bridge and turned off his engine and lights while Knock Out went above where they were and did the same. After a while, believing that he lost them, Knock Out left.
"I think we lost him, Jackie." Ritchie said relieved.
"Pika."
What Sparky spotted was another car speeder coming right at them: it was Conway.
"Oh no, not this." Ritchie cursed.
"Ritchie!" Conway growled as he got out of his car.
At hearing that, Knock Out stopped and saw with his side-view mirror some lights coming from under the bridge, so he went back.
"Conway, you have to get out of here. You win, okay? Congratulations. Now go!" Ritchie shouted, trying to make sure no one ended injured.
"No. Start and back up, rookie. We're finishing this race! But if you don't want, then we'll settle this right here, right now-WHOA!"
Conway didn't manage to finish what he had to say because suddenly something grabbed him. It was Knock Out, who grabbed him with his hand, threw him in the air and changed back to vehicle form while Conway fell, landing on his passenger seat before being wrapped by the seatbelt.
"What's going on?" Conway demanded in fear.
Knock Out took the chance and pulled out some kind of zapper and zapped him in the eyes, making him went out. Next, Knock Out took off and left the place, something that Ritchie saw.
"Breakdown, you'll never guess what I'm packing: Wheeljack's human friend. And when the Autobot attempts to stage a rescue…"
"He'll have a breakdown." Breakdown finished laughing maliciously.
Back with Ritchie and Wheeljack…
"Come on, Jackie. He's getting away!" Ritchie cried.
"Settle down, kid. Help is on its way."
Right at that moment, the other Autobots arrived and all changed back to robot form.
"Ritchie, we need to have a little chat."
"Not now, Sideswipe. Conway has been kidnapped by that sneaky red sports car Con."
"What would Knock Out want with a random human?" Hot Rod asked.
"He probably mistook him for me in Dawn's place, as Wheeljack's friend. But it doesn't matter now, he's in trouble."
"Oh well, tough break for Conway."
"Warpath!"
"What? I heard the guy was bothering Dawn."
"I'm with him." Wheeljack supported.
"No argument there, but the guy is also innocent. Conway doesn't deserve to get crushed by Cons." Ritchie explained.
Sideswipe smiled at hearing his friend's argument. "He's right. We're supposed to protect humans against the Cons, and that includes all of them.
Arcee sighed, but she was proud that Ritchie and Sideswipe realized that important detail. "Ok. Let's go after him."
As the Autobots were out, the gang was still waiting for them at base.
"They should have called by now." Bonnie said, starting to get nervous.
"You think they are okay?" Misty asked.
"Fear nothing, guys. All the Autobots are with them, and only against Knock Out. They will be fine." Ash reassured.
"Pikachu."
In that moment, they saw Optimus entering the room.
"What if Optimus ask us about them?" Serena asked.
"We should just tell him the truth." Clemont suggested.
"Absolutely not. We made a deal. Just act completely normal." May said.
"Friends, do any of you know where the others have gone?" Optimus asked them.
"Why, no sir." May answered, in a squeaky tone.
"We do not know." Max followed.
"Max is correct. We do not know." Ash said stiffly.
"Why would we know?" Bonnie said.
Clemont only groaned as he facepalmed himself, so Optimus suspected they were not being sincere. Meanwhile, the rest of the Autobots and Ritchie started going after Knock Out, who already entered in another part of the city, who spotted them once they started chasing him.
"Wheeljack brought company." He observed with his side-view mirror before turning right.
"On your guard, everyone. Could be a trap." Arcee instructed.
"And remember, no shooting." Ritchie reminded.
"Speaking about safety: here's where you get off." Sideswipe told his buddy.
"At least, let Sparky help you guys. He's small enough to avoid Con's attention."
"Well, he'll come in handy. Hop on, little guy." Moonracer offered.
"Pika." Sparky said hopping on her.
Ritchie stood behind while the Autobots went into where Knock Out supposedly was. Once in robot form, while Bee, Hot Rod, Sideswipe, Wheeljack and Warpath walked in with their weapons ready, Arcee, Moonracer and Sparky climbed on top of a tower to get a better view. Suddenly, Knock Out flashed them with his lights, making a distraction that allowed Breakdown to burst through a wall. He tried to smash the Autobots, but they managed to dodge in the last moment. Hot Rod tried to punch him, but Breakdown hit him first, allowing Wheeljack to punch him two times, before being sent flying backwards by an uppercut of Breakdown. Bumblebee shot him from a distance, so he went for him, allowing Sideswipe to jump on Breakdown's back and start hitting him with his blades. Knock Out, still with Conway unconscious inside, watched all the rumble.
"Hm, where are the two-wheelers?" He asked, until Arcee and Moonracer jumped on him and hit him. "Hey! Watch the paint!"
Knock Out started to drive away, with the girls still on top of him, while Breakdown grabbed Sideswipe by the hand, but he set free by slicing him on the face with his free blade. Next, Bee punched him two times and finished with a cool kick on his chest, making Breakdown to walk backwards, before Wheeljack kicked him hard too before Warpath punched him. Ritchie saw Arcee and Moonracer on Knock Out, even though he shook them off they transformed and started chasing him.
"Go get him, girls." He cheered.
Breakdown tried to smash Sideswipe with both hands, but he dodged, and one more time before Hot Rod jumped on his back and started firing him, but the Decepticon pushed him to the ground.
"Ah, Breakdown, in case you're looking for me, things got messy, so I hit the road. One scrape is enough for today." Knock Out informed through the com-link.
Breakdown was going to finish with Hot Rod, but suddenly Sparky hit him from behind with Volt Tackle. Right before the Decepticon got back to his feet, the electric pokémon launched him a Thunder Shock, which affected him so much that even slowed him down. Hot Rod and Wheeljack took the chance to kick him both from two sides as Warpath grabbed two huge metal bars and threw them at him, sending him flying against a wall. And to make things worse for him, he ended in some kind of mud pool, scaring several Grimer and Muk, which even creeped on him.
"Puah, how slimy." The poor Decepticon complained as he tried his best to get out of that quicksand-like trap.
"Let him go, pals. I think that's enough torment for him." Wheeljack smirked as Bee and Sideswipe laughed at Breakdown's misfortune.
"Quick, somebody take a picture of this!" Sideswipe suggested laughing.
Meanwhile, Arcee and Moonracer continued chasing Knock Out, trying to reach him, but he speeded up, putting more distance between him and the female Autobots.
"Eat my dust."
But he didn't notice that Optimus was coming right at him from his side, until he honked loud and hit him so hard making him spin out of control. He ended stuck at the edge of a hill. Optimus knew that, so he changed to robot form and walked toward him.
"Optimus, Knock Out has a hostage." Arcee informed.
"Understood." He said before grabbing Knock Out and ripping his door off, making the Decepticon scream in pain.
Optimus took Conway on his hand before throwing Knock Out away, allowing him to change to robot form too.
"What do you…" Knock Out started seeing that something was missing in one of his arms. "Do you know how hard that is to replace?!"
Seeing the other Autobots approaching, Knock Out had no choice but to change back to vehicle and retreat. The others met with Optimus, even Ritchie.
"Optimus, this is my fault." Ritchie started.
"Pika."
"We must get this boy to safety immediately. Explanations can come later, from all of you." Optimus declared with his same voice's tone, but with a mad face, putting nervous everyone.
A few moments later, Conway started to regain consciences, but he was on the passenger's seat of Wheeljack, with Ritchie next to him.
"How…what happened?" Conway asked.
"Some guys jumped you under the bridge. They tossed you into their trunk after their pokémon stunned you. Must have been some kind of joke." Ritchie invented.
"Really?"
"Yeah, Sparky found you knocked out by the side of the road and helped me to put you inside the car."
"Pikachu." Sparky nodded.
They arrived just where Conway's car was parked. Ritchie opened the passenger door, allowing Conway to get out the car.
"I gotta be honest. After what I saw tonight, I think racing isn't just my thing. I'll stick just with pokémon battles." Ritchie confessed.
"I know what you mean…friend. Tell Dawn she doesn't need to worry about me anymore." Conway accepted, surprisingly.
"Really?"
"Consider it as paying my debt, after all you have saved me back there."
With all settled, Wheeljack and Ritchie headed back home. As for Knock Out and Breakdown, both Decepticons returned to the Nemesis, but it seems he was going to face a conversation similar to what Ritchie was going to have with Optimus, but with Darkscream.
"Knock Out! Was I not clear? You have defied my orders yet again!"
"My mistake, commander Darkscream. But I've learned my lesson, and paid the price." Knock Out said rubbing his arm while Breakdown, right behind him, was still covered in Muk slime.
"It…is…LORD! And you have paid when I say you have paid." Darkscream proclaimed as he readied one of his claws, the one from his index finger, and started approaching it to him, making Knock Out's optics widen in fear. "Do not worry. Your punishment shall be merely…cosmetic."
"No! Not the finish! Anything but the finish!" Knock Out pleaded, but in the end Darkscream started to make his punishment, scratching his finish, making a loud sound that make Breakdown to close his optics and shiver while hearing Knock Out scream. "NOOOOOOOOOOO!"
At the next morning, Ritchie met with Dawn at her house again.
"So, ready to carry my Poffins so everyone can taste them?" Dawn asked.
Although he wanted to help her, Ritchie remembered what happened. "I'm sorry, Dawn. We can't right now."
"Oh, don't worry. We can do it later." Dawn shrugged sadly.
"Hop on." Sideswipe said suddenly.
"What? Really?" Ritchie asked in disbelief as he and Dawn looked at Sideswipe.
"Hey, neither of us is blameless. And this is important for you. Fear nothing, I'll think of something."
"Thank you very much, Sideswipe. Don't worry, I'll speak with Wheeljack about this so it will not happen again." Dawn reassured.
Moments later, the three of them headed to base, carrying Dawn's Poffins so everyone's pokémon could taste them.
"Do you think she knows about Wheeljack's role in the race of yesterday?" Ritchie asked softly.
"If she knows it, it surely wasn't me." Sideswipe reassured him.
