Back at Cybertron, Galvatron's flagship returned to the Cybertronian home planet to drop off the Decepticon forces. Once the troops were dropped off, the cruiser took off as Galvatron stood before his loyal henchmen and told them while carrying the Matrix, "My fellow Decepticons, it's time for the age of Unicron to come to an end. For the Matrix will be the key for me to control him and make him our slave!"
"Do you believe it will control him," Cyclonus asks him. "I don't think this artifact is enough to control him."
"He told me that it's his only weakness. It will be enough to kill him for whoever wields it. Now, stay at your station until I come back. I want a transport ready once I enslaved our master."
The tyrant flew out of the ship and headed towards the giant planet eater as he confronted Unicron while wielding the Matrix of Leadership. "Unicron! Unicron! Answer me! See this! The Matrix! I now possess that which you most feared!" The monster roared in anger at his slave's defiance. "You will do my bidding or taste my wrath!"
Galvatron tried to open the Matrix but the artifact wasn't opening as he kept struggling. "You underestimate me, Galvatron." Suddenly, the planet devourer began to transform into his gigantic robot mode while the leader of the Decepticon stood terrified by the transformation of Unicron. Once he was done transforming, he spoke again, "For a time I had considered sparing your wretched little planet Cybertron… but now you shall witness… its dismemberment!"
"NOOOOOO," Galvatron cried as he hung onto Unicron while the giant planet eater began attacking Cybertron.
The giant monster slammed his deadly claw onto the surface of Cybertron, destroying everything within impact. From the planet's tower, Shockwave panicked as the building quaked while he alerted everyone, "Decepticons! We're under attack! Scramble!"
Thousands of genetic Deceptions panicked to their battle stations while their planet was being ripped apart. Nearby, Elita-One and her Autobots emerged from their hideout as they stood horrified by the gigantic planet eater. "What in Cybertron is that monster," Moonracer panicked.
"Who cares! We need to move out," Elita told them.
"To where," Chromia responded. "He's destroying Cybertron!"
"Out of his attack radius! Now roll out, ladies!"
The female Autobots transform and drive away as numerous Seekers and fighters fly past them to attack Unicron while they start blasting him. Even Decepticons on the planet manually use turrets to gun at the monster. Sadly, all of their attacks have little effect as the planet eater ate most of the fighters and ripped the surface of the planet while his rampage has only begun.
Meanwhile, the two shuttles with the Autobots and Junkions are heading to Cybertron so they can stop Unicron. Within the rotating shuttle, Optimus and Hot Rod piloted the spacecraft while the others were prepared for the upcoming ultimate battle. "Everyone," the leader of the Autobots told his allies aboard the ship and communicated to the others. "We will arrive at Cybertron very soon. Be ready for what comes next."
"Understood, Prime," Ultra Magnus told him from the communicator. "We'll be ready to save Cybertron and put an end to this monster."
"Understood." Optimus awaits to arrive at Cybertron until he notices Hot Rod is discouraged by his expression. "Are you alright, Hot Rod?"
"I… I'm sorry, Prime… but… this battle is going to be deadly… I mean you heard what our friends said about this monster… and… we're going to suffer casualties… we already lost our friends from the attack on Autobot City," Hot Rod told his leader while feeling scared and discouraged. "I… I don't know if we-"
"The ways of the Matrix are mysterious. I mourn the loss of our friends… but this war needs to end and we cannot fall victim to sorrow… no matter how natural it comes to us."
"How do you keep moving forward from all this, Optimus? If you don't mind me asking."
"I keep moving forward and keep fighting for those who're still with us. As long as we have hope and faith, we will push through any darkness we face. But… every fellow Autobots we have with us… I never see any of you as my soldiers… but as my family."
"I… Whoa… I never knew you felt that way… Thank you, sir."
"My pleasure."
Suddenly, everyone became horrified by the sight of Unicron attacking their home planet. The rest of the Autobots rush to the front of the ship as they're witnessing the planet eater wreaking havoc upon Cybertron. "I don't believe it," Springer said in disbelief.
"That is Unicron," Prowl said in complete shock. "I can't believe he's that big."
"Does this remind you of anything, Kup," Hot Rod asked the veteran Autobot.
"Nope," Kup responded. "Never seen anything like this in my life."
"You're telling me that abomination can transform," Starscream horrified.
"Looks that way."
"Wh-What happened to Moon Base One and Two," Arcee asked in shock.
"Wh-Where's my Dad," Daniel asked while forming tears.
"That's what we're gonna find out," Hot Rod told him as he ignited the ship's engines.
"Autobots! Prepare for battle," Optimus told everyone as they rushed to their station.
Then, the two shuttles flew towards the planet devourer as the Dinobots jumped out of their ship and flew beside them to provide more support. Starscream headed to the exit, which grabbed Prowl's attention. "Ha! What do you think you're doing," the Autobot officer yelled at him.
"I'm playing my part," the Seeker told him as he jumped off the ship and then transformed away.
"That trickster left us," Springer yelled.
"Focus on our bigger threat," Kup told them.
Unicron spotted the Autobots heading towards him and was about to attack them until Galvatron had enough to his master havoc as he transformed into his tank mode and then fired at him. The planet eater grabs his slave with his two giant fingers and then swallows him. The monster fires from his mouth at the Junkion ship.
"Rain and corrosion for up to 5 years, satisfaction guaranteed," Wreck-Gar told the Autobots on his ship while he and his fellow Junkions were repairing their shuttles quickly.
"Most unscientific but effective," Perceptor smiled.
Unicron fired a beam at the other shuttle, damaging it. Fortunately, Optimus and Hot Rod crash their ship straight through the monster's left glass eye, causing him to roar in pain. Everyone jumps out of the ship before it explodes. Only Optimus, Hot Rod, and Daniel flew into a deep hole, separated from the others.
The Autobots fell to the surface and picked themselves up. "Wait! Where's Prime," Prowl asked them.
"Where's Hot Rod and Daniel," Arcee asked as well.
"I don't know but let's hope they didn't get them," Springer told them as Unicron's internal defense with sharp tentacles began to attack them while they fled away.
Meanwhile, Optimus picked himself up and then rushed over to help Hot Rod and Daniel up. "Are you two alright," he asked them.
"Well, I'm still alive," Hot Rod told him. "Daniel?"
"I'm okay," the child told them.
"Optimus, where are we?"
"We're within the beast," Optimus told him.
"What happened to Arcee and the others," Daniel asked them.
"Yeah! Did they make it?! We have to go back for them," Hot Rod pleaded with his leader.
"They're fine, Hot Rod," the Autobot leader calmed them down. "If we survive, then they survive as well. For now, we must find a way to end Unicron and save everyone. Let's move out but stay cautious. We don't know what else is here." The three of them wandered within Unicron as they moved with caution.
During the battle from the outside, Unicron continued to attack the Autobot's forces while the Decepticon's flagship kept it distant. "Wh-What do we do now," Scourge asks Cyclonus. "Wh-Where did Galvatron go?! Where is he?!"
"I don't know but we will stay out of this fight," the conehead Decepticon told him. "I wish not to go near Unicron."
Suddenly, Unicron's telepathic energy attacks his five minions as they scream in pain. "Destroy the Autobots," he told them.
"Yes lord Unicron," they all cried as they piloted the ship and began firing at the Autobots.
"We won't last long if we're dealing with two enemies at once," Ultra Magnus told his Autobots. "We need more help."
"What happened to Optimus and the others," Perceptor asked his commander.
"They're inside that monster and finding a way to destroy it but we need to buy them more time. Blaster, contact anyone on Cybertron who can help us!"
"You got it, Magnus," Blaster nodded as he transformed into his boombox mode and released a distress signal to Cybertron. "This is Blaster upon the junk shuttle! Any friends on Cybertron who can lend us a hand? I don't think we can last long with this much heat."
"This is Elita-One," she responded to their distress signal. "I repeat this is Elita-One on Cybertron. We received your signal, Blaster. The Decepticons are fleeing from the battle, leaving their defenses behind. We can use them to provide you ground support."
"Double time, Elita," Magnus radioed her. "We're talking too much fire up here."
"Understood." She turned towards the other female Autobots and told them, "Alright ladies! Let's show this monster what happens if he attacks our home and friends! Let's roll out!" They all transformed and drove toward the cannons.
At the planet's tower, Shockwave stood horrified by the presence of Unicron as his fellow Decepticons rushed to his side. "Shockwave! We suffered heavy casualties! What are your orders," Dirge asked him.
"Where's Lord Galvatron," the Decepticon scientist asked him. "We need him immediately!"
"We can't find him anywhere! His flagship is attacking the Autobots! Galvatron allies are helping whatever that thing is!"
"What are your orders, Shockwave," Soundwave asked him.
The one-eyed Decepticon looked back at Unicron as he watched helplessly at the deadly battle. "We must escape," he told them. "We must flee! Head to the escape transports!"
"But what about Cybertron," Razorclaw asked, shocked. "We can't just leave our-"
"Our home will be destroyed along with all of us if we don't flee! Move now!" As the Decepticons rush out of the tower, Shockwave communicates to everyone on the planet. "This is Shockwave calling all Decepticons! Cybertron is lost! Fled off the planet! Save yourselves!"
During the fight, Unicron stood on Cybertron while using his only eye beam against Decepticon's fighters as the Autobots fought against the enemy's flagship. The Dinobots flew in and started attacking the giant being. "Me Grimlock kick butt," Grimlock shouted as he and his fellow dinosaurs began damaging the monster's rear end. Sadly, the warriors were forced to retreat when the planet eater almost destroyed them. "Me Grimlock needs new strategy."
The Junkion shuttle battled the Decepticon's flagship while taking damage. "Dirty buggers," Wreck-Gar shouted. "Attacking good jolly heroes like us instead attacking real pest problems in front of us no doubt! Those hooligans will get tickets for this! Big fat payment without a doubt!"
"They'll pay for this if we survive," Ultra Magnus told him.
Suddenly, Unicron managed to grab their ship and slowly squeeze it. "I'm afraid this is the end," Kranix cried.
The female Autobots rushed to the cannons until Firestar cried," Elita! Look!"
She looks up and witnesses the shuttle slowly being destroyed. "No," she cried.
"You parasites have interfered with my destiny for the last time," Unicron said as he was going to destroy them. "Now, you must die."
Suddenly, a blast hits Unicron in the face leaving a scar as he roars in pain, freeing Ultra Magnus and the others. "What was that," Blaster asked, confused.
"Look," Perceptor pointed out.
"I… I don't believe it," Ultra Magnus said, surprised.
"Oh my goodness," Chromia said in shock.
"It can't be," Moonracer said.
"It… It is," Elita said.
The Ark has arrived to join the battle. "Hell yeah," Wheeljack shouted as he sat in the captain's chair with his fellow Autobots. "Isn't that a pain in the ass! Nice shooting Ironhide!"
"That was for our Moon Bases, ya devil," Ironhide shouted.
"We're receiving a signal," Red Alert informed Wheeljack.
"Put it through," he told him.
"This is Ultra Magnus to the Ark," the Autobot commander contacts them. "Come in Ark!"
"This is Wheeljack here!"
"Wheeljack?! Is this really you?! Is that the Ark?!"
"Yes sir! The old girl is back in action and ready to fight!"
"Wheeljack," Perceptor says in disbelief. "You restored the Ark?! Well done, my old friend! Well done!"
"Alright, Autobots," Ultra Magnus told everyone. "Now we have a chance! Focus all your firepower on this monster. If we kill him, then we will save countless lives!"
The ships flew together as Jetfire, the Aerialbots, Sky Lynx, and Omega Supreme exited the Ark to provide air support. "Let's fly, brothers," the tall fighter shouted. The rest of the Autobot forces worked together to fire upon Unicron, damaging him effectively.
Within the planet eater, Optimus and the others kept wandering within the monster searching for anything to kill it. Suddenly, Hot Rod spotted something glowing within the distance and headed towards it with his leader and Daniel following him. "Optimus," he called his leader. "Look. Is that…"
"It is… the Matrix," Optimus says surprisingly.
"It will do you no good, Autobots." The glowing artifact reveals it is still attached to Galvatron as he sat on a throne. "It can not be opened."
"Not by a Decepticon," Hot Rod told him.
"Megatron," Optimus calls Galvatron as he's surprised to see him like this. "Is that really you?"
"Megatron is dead, Prime. I'm Galvatron now," the tyrant told him.
"Did Unicron turn you into this?"
"You did, Prime! You damage me and turn me into this! You're to blame for all of this!"
"Even if I didn't, then Unicron would've turned you into his slave either way. We must work together to end Unicron and save Cybertron, Megatron. We can't let our differences get in the way of the real threat to our existence."
"Agree. Like it or not, we're allies now. Against a common foe."
Suddenly, Galvatron is attacked by Unicron's telepathic energy as he screams in pain. "Megatron?! What's happening to you?!"
"Destroy the Autobots," Unicron ordered Galvatron. "Destroy Optimus Prime now, Galvatron. Or you yourself will be obliterated."
"YES MY MASTER!!!" Galvatron fired his cannon at Optimus Prime until Hot Rod tackled his leader out of the way as the three of them fled into hiding from the tyrant's blast. "Come back here Prime! Come and accept your fate! Today will be the day you'll finally die!"
The Autobots kept firing at Unicron while avoiding his claws and beams. When the planet eater managed to damage the Ark, the Autobots onboard tried their best to repair their cruiser. "What will it take to kill this demon," Ironhide shouted.
"The Ark firepower won't be enough to kill it," Ratchet told me.
"And they said that Optimus is in that beast," Red Alert asked.
"Let's hope he found a way to kill it," Wheeljack said.
"But we must buy him more time by distracting Unicron as long as we can," Ultra Magnus told them.
Unicron was about to grab the Ark when he was blasted from behind by Elita and her team. The monster was going to destroy them but he was too distracted by the Autobot's shuttles. However, Cyclonus and his men spotted Cybertron's cannons and decided to eliminate them. "There are Autobots on Cybertron," he told his allies. "We shall eliminate them!"
Suddenly, the flagship was shot as it shocked them. "What was that," Scourge yelled.
"The Autobots shot at us! Sweeps! Patch up the ship!"
Cyclonus and Scourge piloted the ship while the identical Sweeps went off to fix the damage. The three of them explored until they found a blasted hole in the ship. "Those blasted Autobots," one of them shouted. "How dare they damage our ship!"
"Hurry up and fix it," the second one said.
"Wait… doesn't this hole look familiar to any of you," the third one asked.
"What do you mean?"
"I meant that this hole looks like it was blasted by someone. By a cannon."
"You mean-"
"Megatron's cannon." All three of them immediately turned towards the intruder until they were all blasted out of the ship while they were screaming floating in space. Starscream smirks while smoke comes from the ion cannon. "Farewell, Reflectors!"
Elita and her team continued firing the planet's defense cannon at Unicron, providing ground support to their allies. "Keep firing, ladies," Elita-One told them. "They need more firepower and more support! We need more ammunition!"
"Elita! We have a problem," Moonracer alerted her team.
"Lookout," Chromia cried as she tackled her leader out of the way as a blast destroyed the cannon.
The female Autobots stood helpless as the Decepticon's flagship flew toward them. "We… We need to contact them for help," Firestar cried.
"They… They won't arrive in time," Moonracer told her.
"We… We can't outrun it," Elita-One told them.
The two Decepticons aimed the weapon system at the group of Autobots and prepared to fire. "These Autobots have spied on us for too long," Cyclonus yelled. "It's time for them to die! And soon all of the Autobots will be extinct once and for all!"
Suddenly, a sliding door opens behind the two as Scourge shouted, "What took you three so long?! Help us eliminate these-"
Scourge was blasted from behind as he screamed in pain. Cyclonus was shocked by the unexpected attack and when he turned towards the attacker, he was even more shocked by the identity of the attacker. "Sh-Starscream?!"
"Hello, old friends," Starscream laughed sinisterly as he began blasting both of the minions.
The group of female Autobots was about to die by the flagship until they were surprised when they flew away from them. "Wh-Where are they going," Firestar asks.
"Who cares let's go," Moondancer told them as they fled.
Cyclonus and Scourge were knocked into an airlock chamber as they're handcuffed and badly damaged by Starscream. "Oh, how ironic," the Seeker laughed. "You two were left for dead. Now, you two are given new bodies but only to be left for dead again!"
"You'll pay for this, Starscream," Cyclonus yelled.
"For what?! Abandoning two worthless fools with Megatron or for this humiliating defeat?!"
"What are you talking about?!"
"I know who you really are… Acid Storm and Sunstorm!"
The two were shocked by Starscream revealing who they are. "H-How did you-"
"I know that Galvatron is Megatron because of Unicron! And since you two and the Reflectors were abandoned with him, it's obvious that it reformed the rest of you as well!"
"Bu-But you're nothing but a simple fool!"
"And soon I will be the leader of the Decepticons!" Finally, Starscream laughs and then sends the two out of the airlock as the two minions screamed in horror while they floated away in space. "So long, fools! And now the next phase of my plan!"
Back to the battle, the Autobots continue battling Unicron as their ships keep laying heavy fire upon him. Omega Supreme and Aerialbots kept distracting the planet eater by blasting at his face so the shuttles could blast him. "Keep it up fellas," Wheeljack told everyone. "Let's show this freak what happens if he messes with the Autobots!"
Suddenly, the world devourer roared monstrously as multiple black objects came out of his mouth. "What in Cybertron is that," Red Alert asked, confused.
"Did we damage that monster," Kranix asked.
"Perceptor," Ultra Magnus asked the scientist.
Perceptor transformed into his microscope mode to examine the situation. "Oh my word," he gasps. "He isn't damaged… he releases…" The black stuff is revealed to be genetic clones of Sweeps but with one red eye for a face as they all attack the ship. "His army!"
"All weapons kill those flyers," Wheeljack shouted as the Ark weapon system was firing countless Sweeps but there were too many of them.
Unicron's beam scratches the top of the Ark, creating a hole. The swarms of Sweeps enter the hole and board the cruiser. Hot Spot leads the group of Autobots into battle against the endless drones as they begin to open fire at them. Many of the clones were being slaughtered but they fought back by firing beams from their eyes. "This is Hot Spot in the hanger bay," the leader of the Protectobots radioed on the open comms. "These drones have entered the ship and they're attacking us! More kept coming! I don't think we can hold them off! We're being outnumbered!"
"They need our help," Blaster told them.
"But what can we do," Perceptor asked him.
"We-can-go-down-there-and-help-Fight-them-off-Fight-Fight-Fight," Blurr told them.
"But we're on this shuttle and there's nowhere to land it," Ultra Magnus told them.
"Don't worry chaps," Wreck-Gar told them with excitement. "We'll save your mates! Going out the old fashion way! Ship expiration date due today no exception!" The Junkion flew the junk shuttle towards the hole on the Ark.
"Please tell me this isn't happening," Whirl panicked as he held onto something.
"I kinda saw this was gonna happen," Topspin shouted.
"I'm excited this is gonna happen," Roadbuster shouts with joy. "This is the best day of my life! I love these guys!"
"Yeeha," Wreck-Gar shouted as he was going to crash.
The group of Autobots is being cornered as the swarm of Sweeps closes in on them and is about to end them. Suddenly, an enormous shadow cast over the drones, and when they look up, the Junkion shuttle crashes into the hangar, killing countless clones. The mindless robots surrounded the crash shuttle until all of the Junkion warriors attacked them on their motorbikes modes while they all shouted, "Bah weep graaagnah wheep ni ni bong."
Wreck-Gar led the attack as he axed several drones in the head while shouting, "Greeting all! Pest control arrives and takes care of your vermin in no time one hundred percent satisfaction!"
Ultra Magnus and the Autobots emerge from the rubble and open fire at the robots. "For Optimus! For Cybertron! Defend the Ark," Ultra Magnus shouted while providing heavy fire.
Kranix took shelter while two genetic mechanoids helped the Autobots in the fight. Topspin noticed the being is afraid as he rushed to him and handed him a blaster before rejoining the battle. The other Autobots witnessed reinforcements aiding them as Inferno shouted, "Come on, fellas! Let's get these freaks off our ship!" They all charged in to aid Magnus and the others.
Warpath transforms into his tank mode and starts blasting the drones to pieces. "Let's bring the heat and BLAM these creeps," he shouted with joy.
Beachcomber punches one of the Sweeps in the face but it grabs him and slams him to the ground. The drone was about to kill the Autobot with its eye beam until it was killed by being blasted from behind. The bot looked over and spotted Kranix saved his life.
Kranix started blasting at the drones while shouting, "For Lithone, you savages!"
Jetfire enters the Ark and levitates over the swarm to Sweeps then fires everything at the drones. "Charge," Ultra Magnus shouted as everyone rushed forward and blasted the mindless robots.
Back on Cybertron, Shockwave and the remaining Decepticons rushed to their escape shuttles but the last one left the planet. "No! Come back! We're still here," the scientists shouted.
"We're gonna die here," Skywarp screamed.
"I don't wanna die," Rumble panicked.
"I don't wanna go out this way," Thundercracker cried.
"Astrotrain! Transform and transport us out of here," Shockwave ordered the triple changer.
"I can't carry all of you at once," he told them. "We will be slowed down and that monster will eat us!"
"I refuse to die like this! We need a ship immediately!"
"There's no ship left on Cybertron," Soundwave told him.
Then, the Decepticon's flagship flew by and stopped right beside the remaining Decepticons. "Cyclonus! Scourge! You arrive just in time!"
One of the windows slid down and revealed Starscream as he stood proud. "Your savior is here, fools," he shouted at them.
"Starscream?!"
"Is that Megatron's ion cannon," Thrust said.
"Impossible," Soundwave said. "Megatron's cannon was destroyed during the coronation."
"I perfectly restored the weapon that truly represents the Decepticons," Starscream told them.
"What are you doing here, Starscream," Shockwave demanded.
"I simply take the ship for myself and decide to be generous for once in rescuing all of my brethren! All I ask in return is to be your leader once again!"
"Fool! We serve Galvatron! Not you!"
"Either you board my ship and announce me as your leader or die here at the hands of that monster in the name of Galvatron!"
The Decepticons look at Unicron as he's fighting the Autobots while they're still horrified by him. "I don't like Starscream but I don't wanna die today," Breakdown shouted as everyone agreed.
"Come aboard, my fellow Decepticons," Starscream shouted as he landed the ship while the Decepticons boarded it in a hurry. "Shockwave! Soundwave! To the bridge! I need help to pilot this ship out of here!" Once the Decepticons boarded the flagship, Shockwave, Soundwave, Razorclaw, and Astrotrain enters the bridge to assist Starscream in piloting the ship out of the battle.
More genetic Sweeps board the Ark while the Autobots and Junkions are pushing them back. Sunstreaker grabs and tears two steels off the walls, which concerns Sideswipe. "Sunstreaker, what are you doing," he asks his twin brother.
"If they keep boarding our ship," Sunstreaker explains to him as he tosses his brother a steel and rushes over to the fight. He starts swiping the drones away with the steel. "Then we might as well swipe them like flies, Sideswipe!" Sideswipe joins his brother and helps swing the bars like bats.
Luckily, the Dinobots boarded the Ark and easily destroyed the Sweep drones by stomping and crushing them into pieces. Ultra Magnus and the others aided them by blasting the intruders away. "Ultra Magnus! Come in, Magnus," Wheeljack radioed to his commander.
"I read you, Wheeljack," he responded. "What's the issue?"
"We need more air support to distract the monster from finding Optimus and the others!"
"I'm sorry, Wheeljack, but we have to crash our ship to board the Ark. It'll take a long time to rebuild it."
"There's got to be another way!"
"What about the shuttle we have in the landing bay," Red Alert told him. "We can use it to provide air support."
"This is Hound," the military Autobot radioed. "I can pilot the shuttle while Ultra Magnus can stay and hold off the enemy."
"This is Sideswipe," the Autobot radioed as well. "Me and Sunstreaker can help Hound with the shuttle. He needs a crew to pilot that ship."
"Understood," Wheeljack nodded. "Double time, boys! We need more manpower to take down that planet eater!" The four Autobots pilot the Ark as they and the other flyers keep blasting Unicron while the planet eater tries to destroy them.
Back within the inside of Unicron, Arcee and the others try to outrun the deadly claw tentacles of the monster's internal defenses. She accidentally tripped over as the claw are all swarming her. "Springer! Kup! Help," she cried.
"Arcee," Prowl shouted as he rushed over and started blasting at the tentacles to save her.
The Autobots were blasting the claws until they accidentally hit the walls, causing water to leak out and flood the channel. The wave of water caused Arcee to separate her from the others. She's dropped within the acid pit chamber where other robots were being dropped in it by the claws. She rushed over and spotted her friends. "Jazz! Cliffjumper! Hubcap! Gears! Bumblebee! Spike," she called their names.
"Arcee," the human shouted as he and the others struggled to escape.
"Spike! What can I do?"
"Knock down the acid cover!"
"Please hurry," Hubcap cried as he and Gears were getting closer to the acid.
Arcee immediately grabs her blaster to shoot down the cover until she's ambushed by two Sweep drones blasting at her. She immediately tries to save her friends but her blaster was blasted off her hand and one of them tackles her. "No," she cried.
Sadly, Hubcap and Gears were dropped into the acid pit as they screamed in terror. The two were slowly melted by the acid as they struggled to escape. Spike and the others were horrified by witnessing their friend's deaths. "Oh god no! Hubcap! Gears! No," he cried.
"I guess this is the end for us, Spike," Bumblebee cried.
Arcee is being pinned down by the Sweeps as she watches helplessly at her friends being dragged to their demise. She refused to let more of her friends die before her eyes as she punched one of the drones in the eye and knocked them both off her. The female Autobot grabs her blaster and shoots the anchor that was responsible for the opening of the melting acid pot cover to close it. The drones held her down as her friends fell into the pit. "No," she cried as she failed to save them.
The Sweeps were about to end her as the damaged one's eye glowed until it was blasted in the face and the other, killing them both. Arcee immediately turns back to the pit and she's surprised to see Spike and the others survive as they're all standing on the shut cover. "Arcee! You did it," the human shouts with joy as he and the Autobots waved at her.
"Yes! I did it," she smiles from saving her friends.
Meanwhile, Hot Rod and Daniel took cover while hiding from Galvatron in the darkness. "Hot Rod, where's Optimus," the child whispered to his best friend. "Did Galvatron kill him?"
"I don't know," he whispered back. "We got separated. I hope he's fine but we must get the Matrix from Galvatron."
"Come out Autobots," Galvatron yelled while the two stayed hidden.
"It's him," Daniel cried.
"Shh," Hot Rod tries to calm him. "Here's the plan. I'm going to attack Galvatron and get the Matrix away from him. Once I did that, you grab it and give it to Optimus." They both nod as the young Autobot sneaks up on the tyrant.
"Come out," the Decepticon killer yelled. "We all must die someday!"
"Not today Galvatron!" Hot Rod punches him in the face before he transforms and drives away. He turns around and rams at Galvatron but the Decepticon dodges and starts firing at him. The tyrant transforms into his cannon mode to release powerful blasts at the Autobot but he manages to dodge him.
Hot Rod transforms and starts blasting at the killer, hitting Galvatron as he transforms back. The Autobot charges at the Decepticon as he transforms into his vehicle mode and drives directly at him but the enslaved robot holds him down. "I will crush you with my bare hands," Galvatron yelled as the young hero transformed back into his robot mode then the tyrant started choking him. "Die!"
Luckily, Optimus grabs his nemesis from behind and gives him a full nelson, freeing Hot Rod. "Leave him alone, Megatron," the Autobot leader shouts as he holds his enemy back. "Hot Rod! The Matrix!"
"Optimus Prime…" Suddenly, Unicron attacks Optimus with his telepathic powers, causing the Autobot to scream in pain. "Your Autobots will die. Along with your pathetic planet. And you shall become my slave."
"NOOOOO," Optimus cried as he accidentally freed Galvatron. The Decepticon punches his nemesis in the face until Hot Rod grabs the Matrix and tries to snatch it off him but the tyrant becomes enraged and blasts the young Autobot gruesomely away from him, suffering fatal wounds. The Autobot leader was shocked by what happened to his friend as he became enraged and tackled his nemesis. "NOOOOOOOOO!!!"
"HOT ROD," Daniel cried as he rushed to his best friend. The child began shedding tears at the sight of Hot Rod's badly damaged body. "Nononononono!"
"Da-Daniel…" Hot Rod called his best friend weakly.
"There… There's something I have to do to help! Please tell me there's a way to save you!"
"Daniel… you need to get the Matrix to Optimus… he can end all of this… please… he can save everyone… please… get it to him… I need you to be brave…"
"Oh… Okay… I'll do it for you!"
The boy stares at Galvatron overpowering Optimus as he becomes angry at what he did to his best friend. He used the bio-suit to transform and drove towards the Decepticon. "Megatron," Optimus pleaded with his nemesis. "You need to fight him! This isn't you! The Megatron I know would never want to destroy Cybertron! You must fight Unicron! You have to fight him!"
"It's pointless to resist, Prime," Galvatron told him while punching the Autobot leader. "Unicron can never be stopped! If the Matrix doesn't work, then nothing in the galaxy can stop him! You and your pathetic Autobots will die!"
Daniel drives on a ramp-like structure and jumps off to crash as he transforms to release a powerful kick at Galvatron's face, knocking him off Optimus as the Autobot leader rips the chains around the Matrix off, freeing it. The child rushed to the Matrix and picked it up as it glowed before his eyes while he formed a smile. Suddenly… Daniel is shot from behind by Galvatron and the blast went through his chest. Optimus is horrified by what his nemesis did to the child and he released his anger upon him. The boy dropped the artifacts as his body dropped to the ground.
"Da-Daniel," Hot Rod cried as he crawled to his best friend. "No! No! Daniel no! Ju-Just stay with me, kiddo! Just stay with me! I… I'll find a way to save you! I… I promise!"
"H-Hot Rod? Is that you? I… I feel so weak… I… I can't move…"
"No… Daniel… Just stay with me… You're gonna be alright…"
"Am I… Am I going to die?"
"I… I…" Hot Rod begins to cry in front of his dying friend. "It… It was supposed to be me… not you… I failed to save Optimus back in the city and… I failed you… I did this to you… I'm so sorry…"
"Do-Don't blame yourself… None of this was your fault… It's okay…"
"Wh-What can I do for you to make you feel at peace?"
"You already gave me everything… You are my best friend, Hot Rod… You were with me when I was a baby and till now… You were always there for me to cheer me up… make me happy… give me an awesome life… Thank you for everything, Hot Rod… Can you please find my dad… and tell him I love him?"
"I will… I will, Daniel…"
"Thank you… I… I love you, Hot Rod…"
"I… I love you too, kiddo…"
Daniel died right in front of Hot Rod as the Autobot mourned losing his best friend. He then looks at the Matrix as Daniel's voice echoed in his mind, "I love you, Hot Rod…" He reaches out his hand to grab it weakly.
Optimus tries his best to fight Galvatron but Unicron's telepathic energy weakens him as his nemesis pins him down and chokes the noble leader. "Pathetic, Prime," the tyrant yelled. "You failed to save your Autobots at Autobot City and now all of your friends will die! It's a pity how you Autobots die so easily! And finally you shall die by my hands! Today the galaxy will hear the dying cries of the last Prime!"
Suddenly, once Hot Rod grabs the Matrix, all of his wounds fade away as he stands while the artifact restores his body and transforms. The two robots turn their attention to the young Autobot as the object shines brightly in the darkness. "Arise… Rodimus Prime," Optimus told him.
"Optimus," the Autobot called his leader as he has been given a new body and a new name, Rodimus Prime.
"No! NOO," Galvatron yelled as he aimed his cannon at Rodimus and blasted him, knocking the Matrix out of his hand. Optimus punches his nemesis in the face, knocking the Decepticon off him.
"This is the end of the road, Galvatron," Rodimus told him as he rushed to him and made a couple of hand-to-hand fights with Galvatron then finally picked him up and threw him out of Unicron's body and into deep space while the Decepticon screamed.
Optimus picked up the Matrix as Rodimus stood by his side while the artifact shines brightly. "Together, Rodimus," the noble leader told him.
"Yes, Optimus." They both placed their hands on the handles of the Matrix and slowly pulled it open. "Now…"
"Light our darkest hour," they said in unison.
The two Primes unleashed the Matrix as its power to its maximum onto the entire Unicron internal body. The planet eater begins to struggle as his entire body is slowly being destroyed. "Wh-What is happening," Red Alert asks the others as they're watching the destruction of the monster.
"It looks like he's being destroyed from the inside," Ratchet told them.
"We didn't do that," Ironhide said.
"It's Optimus," Wheeljack cheered. "He did it! He actually did it!"
Ultra Magnus and the others fought off the Sweep drones within the Ark until multiple of them tackled him. Suddenly, all of the evil minions began to explode and the Autobots were surprised. "Wh-What's going on," Trailbreaker asked.
"It's Optimus," Ultra Magnus told them. "He did it! He's destroying that monster!" Everyone began to cheer over this great victory.
Once the Matrix did its duty, Rodimus placed it inside his chest as he and Optimus witnessed the end of Unicron. "Optimus, we did it," he told him with a smile.
"Indeed. We did it," Optimus nodded.
"Wait! Our friends!"
"You're right! We must find them!
Unicron tries his best to overcome his demise until he's blasted in the face by an Autobot shuttle. "Take that, you freak," Sideswipe shouted.
"The stars have arrived to save the day," Sunstreaker cheered.
"This is Hound calling Optimus Prime," Hound tries to radio his leader. "Prime, this is Hound. Please come in."
"Hound? Is that you," Optimus radioed back.
"Yes, Prime. We're on a shuttle to assist."
"Hound, we need an evac immediately. Make sure this monster won't come back. Provide as much firepower as you can."
"Just cut me loose, Prime."
"Come on, guys! Let's give it to him," Sunstreaker shouted as they kept firing upon Unicron. One of the blasts went through the monster and hit its monitor system, destroying it.
Back within Unicron, Springer, Kup, and Prowl are cornered by the defense claws' tentacles while trying to blast them. One of the claws grabs the triple changer until it explodes along with the rest. The exterior of Unicron slowly begins to explode into pieces while Arcee and the others regroup with her friends. "Arcee! Spike," Prowl called them.
"Prowl! What's going on," Arcee asked him.
"No time to answer that we need to get out of here!"
The Autobots ran for their lives as the entire Unicron body began to explode everywhere. Jazz immediately tackled Bumblebee away from a blast, saving him. The little Autobot turned to his right and spotted two figures heading toward them. "Look," he alerted everyone.
The two Primes rush in their direction while Rodimus is carrying Daniel's body. "Prime! You're here," Jazz cheered.
"Optimus? Hot Rod," Arcee says with surprise.
"Excellent. You're all safe, my old friends," Optimus said in complete relief.
"Autobots! Transform and roll out," Rodimus shouted as he transformed into his new vehicle mode with Daniel inside.
"You heard him, Autobots! Transform!" Optimus transforms into his truck mode and drives with Rodimus.
"I knew you had potential, lad," Kup told Rodimus as he transformed as well.
"Rodimus… I can't believe it," Arcee smiled as she transforms.
"You heard the boss," Cliffjumper shouted as he and the others transformed into their vehicle modes.
Everyone drives through the destruction of the planet eater as most of them ram through Unicron's glass eye while Omega Supreme flies by opening his chamber for them to enter. "Omega Supreme, save friends," the gentle giant said as he flew them away from the monster.
The two Primes however were going to join them until a structure stopped Optimus. Rodimus saw what happened as he stopped and transformed with Daniel in his arms. "Optimus," he cried.
"Rodimus! Go now," Optimus told as he transformed. "Just get out while you can!"
The new Prime climbs the structure to the top and offers his hand to his leader. "I'll never leave you behind!" Optimus quickly took his hand and pulled up. The two charge to the broken eye as the monster almost explodes completely.
"My destiny," Unicron says with his dying breath as the two Primes are getting closer to the exit. "You cannot… destroy… my… desti…" Both of them jump, then finally the planet eater is completely decimated and dies.
The Autobots in Omega Supreme witnessed what happened as Arcee rushed to the window and cried, "Hot Rod! Optimus! Daniel!"
Everyone watches silently from the destruction of Unicron as they hear no response from their leader, fearing the worst. "This is Hound," the military Autobot radioed everyone as the shuttle emerged from the smoke. "Optimus and Hot Rod are safe! I repeat! We got them!" Everyone cheered in victory for the death of the planet eater and their leader is alive. The Autobot ships all flew together as they headed to their home planet.
"They did it," Moonracer cheered.
"We won," Chromia cheered as she hugged Firestar.
"Optimus," Elita smiles. "Optimus!"
The Ark landed on the surface as the group of female Autobots rushed to them. Ultra Magnus and the others emerged from the cruiser and they all cheered with joy. Wreck-Gar and his fellow Junkions shouted together, "Bah weep graaagnah wheep ni ni bong." Perceptor hugs Kranix in joy as the Wreckers cheered beside them.
Ratchet laughs with celebration as he places both his hands on Wheeljack and Red Alert's shoulders while Ironhide cheers. The southern Autobot spotted the female Autobots rush towards them as he smiled, "Chromia!"
"Ironhide," Chromia cried as she rushed and hugged him while he held her back.
Omega Supreme and other flyers landed next to them as Arcee and the others emerged from the guardian to celebrate with their friends. Firestar rushed over and hugged Jazz in relief as the Autobot hugged her back. Moonracer hugged Bumblebee while Cliffjumper shouted with joy. The Dinobots all released a powerful roar at their victory, celebrating with everyone.
All of them watched the Autobot shuttle landing as they all rushed to it to see their leader. Hound and the twin brothers emerged from the ship to celebrate with their friends. Optimus steps out next as he witnesses all of his friends cheering at him while he joins them. He approaches Ultra Magnus and shakes their hands at their victory. "Well done, Prime," the commander congrats his leader. "You beat him."
"We beat him, Ultra Magnus," Optimus corrected him. "We all worked together to defeat Unicron and save the galaxy."
"Optimus," Elita cried to him as she ran to her beloved.
"Elita." Optimus holds his beloved in his arms as they both share their loving embrace while everyone cheered.
"I thought I lost you."
"You could never lose me, Ariel. I will always be there for you."
"Oh, Orion."
"Where's Hot Rod," Arcee asked as she searched for him.
"Yeah and where's Daniel," Spike asked as well.
"Spike," Optimus told him as he put Elita down. "There's something I need to tell you… I…"
Both Spike and Arcee gasped when they spotted him. Everyone became silent as they all looked upon Rodimus, carrying Daniel's body. The new Prime carried his dead best friend to his friend's father with a broken look on his face. "Spike… I'm so sorry…" The Prime told the human as he lay the child before him.
"Daniel… Oh Daniel no," Spike cried in tears as he held his dead son. "No… please God no… not my son… please not my son…"
"I'm so sorry, Spike… He gave up his life so we can destroy Unicron… We wouldn't have this victory if it weren't for him… He's our hero… He saved us all…"
"My son… a hero… My own son saved us… save my life… Oh, Daniel…"
"Spike," Optimus told him as he knelt. "I'm truly sorry for your son… We will build a statue in his honor… We will make sure everyone in the galaxy knows who truly defeated Unicron and saved the lives of countless…"
"… Thank you, Optimus… Thank you… all of you… thank you…"
Later on, everyone gathered within the planet's temple to pay tribute to those they've lost. They placed picture frames of those they've lost: Outback, Seaspray, Skids, Huffer, Windcharger, Bluestreak, Grapple, Hoist, Hubcap, Gears, and Daniel. Rodimus stood before everyone in a speaking stance and said to them, "We have lost great friends during this horrible war… those during the battle of Autobot City… and those who gave up their lives to destroy Unicron… I lost my best friend… he gave up his own life so we can live… Without him… we wouldn't be here and won the battle… He saved us all and the lives of countless…"
"They may be gone… but they are not forgotten… their souls will carry on in the afterlife and their memories will always be in our hearts… As long as we remember them, they will never be forgotten… Today, we celebrate this great victory of the death of Unicron… and honor their sacrifices… We shall celebrate together not as friends or allies… but as a family."
Everyone began to clap to Rodimus's heartwarming speech as he turned towards the casket of his best friend and kneeled while he gently laid his hand on it. "Goodbye, kiddo… Thank you for everything… I love you…"
Everyone walked out of the temple as Rodimus walked with Spike. "Spike… I'm so sorry for your son… I tried everything to keep him safe but… I failed him… and I failed you…"
"Rodimus," Spike told him. "You've been Daniel's best friend since he was a baby… You were there for him whenever I wasn't around… You took care of him, played with him, and protect him for so long… and I'm happy you were there with him before he died… You made my son into a hero… Thank you for everything. If I hadn't met any of you… he would have never existed… You Autobots are to thank for letting me have a family… Thank you, Rodimus… Thank you for being my son's best friend." The two give each other handshakes in respect.
After Spike walks off, Optimus stands with Rodimus as he talks to him, "You did well, Rodimus. Thank you for saving my life and the lives of countless others."
"Your welcome, Optimus. But it was Daniel who saved us all. If it weren't for him, we would have never defeated Galvatron and Unicron. He helped me to unlock my true potential… I only wished I could've saved him…"
"Daniel may be gone but he's never forgotten. His soul and memories live on in history and our hearts. And we never forget the friends we lost during this tragic war but their deaths are not in vain. We managed to drive the Decepticons away and ended Unicron once and for all. And now, we have claimed Cybertron. Not to mention, we gained a new Prime."
"I… I just couldn't believe that the Matrix chose me to become the next Prime. I… I never thought I would ever become a Prime."
"From the moment you hold the Matrix, I can already know that the Matrix chose you to be its next wielder and a Prime. It's an honor to have another Prime among us."
"Thank you… but I can't accept it," Rodimus told him as he pulled out the Matrix.
"Rodimus?"
"I'm truly honored to become a Prime… but I don't think I'm ready to become one. I still have a lot to learn and will… try to become mature on my own. But when our next darkest hour arrives, I will be ready to be the next prime. I swear."
"If that's your decision, then I shall respect it. It was an honor to fight alongside you, Rodimus Prime."
"It was an honor to fight alongside you as well, Optimus." Rodimus handed the Matrix to his leader as he reverted to Hot Rod.
Optimus lays his hand on the young Autobot's shoulder and told him, "Thank you for saving my life."
"And thank you for saving mine as well."
Hot Rod shakes hands with his leader and walks off. He noticed that Arcee is standing by herself staring at space while she was sad. He heads to the female Autobot and stands next to her. "Are you okay, Arcee," he asked her.
"Oh… Hi, Hot Rod… I'm so sorry but… I can't get over Daniel," she says with a broken heart. "He was so sweet and precious but… he's… he's…" She begins to whimper over Daniel's death.
Hot Rod comforts her by hugging her closely. "Shhh… It's okay. I understand what you're going through. I missed him too… He was my best friend…"
"You did everything you could for him. That's all you could ever do for him. We both loved him very much… but now he's gone…"
"No one is ever really gone. Daniel will always live on in our memories. If he didn't give up his life… none of us wouldn't be here… you and I wouldn't be here together…"
Arcee looked up at him as they both stared at each other until she leaned in to give Hot Rod a soft kiss before he kissed her back. "I love you, Hot Rod," she told him.
"I love you too, Arcee," he told her as they both shared a loving embrace.
Optimus looks upon his fellow Autobots as they're all happy at their victory and reclaiming Cybertron. He looks up at space for a while until Elita checks up on him. "Are you alright, Optimus," she asks him with concern.
"I'm fine, Elita," he told her as he held Elita's hand. "It's just… We've been fighting for Cybertron for so long and now… We have finally reclaimed our home… We are finally together again, my Ariel."
"Oh, Orion." They both hold each other's hands as their foreheads touch.
Finally, Optimus stood before his Autobots and gave them a victory speech, "Let this mark the end of the Cybertronian Wars as we march forth to a new age of peace and prosperity. And let us never forget the tremendous sacrifice of Daniel helping us to end the planet eater Unicron. We will always remember our comrades and honor them in the years to come as our darkest hour has become a sliver of history. Now, we shall celebrate a new era together as a beautiful family."
"Till all are one," Hot Rod shouted.
"Till all are one," everyone cheered in unison as they celebrated their victorious war.
Meanwhile, the Decepticon's flagship flew through space as the Decepticons set a course for Earth. "I hope it was worth it, Starscream," Shockwave told his new leader. "Because of you, we lost Cybertron to the Autobots!"
"If it weren't for you, the rest of you would've died at the hands of Unicron. I saved what's left of the great Decepticon," Starscream told them.
"What is your next command," Soundwave asked.
"Yes, Starscream. Why are we heading to Earth," the scientist asked.
"We shall return to our old ship, the Nemesis," the seeker told them.
"The Nemesis? Why should we be concerned about it? It's horribly damaged. It will never fly again."
"I'm not concerned about its status. I'm focused on our next brilliant plan."
"And that is?"
"Long ago, I told Megatron of a brilliant idea that can help us to bring an end to the Autobots. He mocked me and told me my plan was foolish!"
"You don't mean…"
"Soundwave! Pull the prints!"
Soundwave summoned a hologram of a building schematic while the Decepticons stared at it. "But… Megatron told me it's impossible."
"If the Autobots managed to restore their precious Ark, then we can create this as well. Commence operation… Trypticon!" The evil Seeker laughs sinisterly as the flagship flies towards Earth.