DISCLAIMER: Transformers is owned by Hasbro and Avatar: The Last Airbender is owned by Nickelodeon
Transformers: Avatar Chronicles
Chapter 4: The Crossroads of Destiny Part 1
Aang and Sokka were flying on Appa with Warpath beside them, heading back to Ba Sing Se while Aang briefs Sokka and Warpath on what is happening.
"So, what kind of trouble are Katara and Bumblebee in?" Sokka asked.
"I don't know," Aang responded. "I-in my vision I just knew they needed help."
"Ah, Bee's been outta tougher situations that this," Warpath said, trying to reassure them. " I'm sure he'll be fine, and he'll make sure Katara's fine too."
"I'm not sure Warpath," Aang responded to the Autobot rookie. "They seemed like they needed help in my vision." Then, something catches the three of them at the cracks of their eyes. Toph skating through the ground and heading for the city as well with Ironhide driving beside her in her vehicle mode. Warpath then sweeps down beside them.
"Hey! Need a lift!?" Warpath asked loudly which caused Toph to loose control and wipe out, taking Ironhide with her. Aang and Sokka cringed a bit while Ironhide transformed and helped Toph back up while grumbling to himself.
"Why did Optimus have to bring that kid with us to Kaon!?" he asked himself.
Meanwhile, underneath the palace, Starscream was giving a speech to the other Decepticons with Azula, Mai, and Ty-Lee there to watch and listen.
"My fellow Decepticons, our new partner, Princess Azula, has given us the task of forming a coup to overthrow this 'Earth King,'" Starscream explained to his troops. "We must be swift and decisive. The Earth King and his five generals must be taken out simultaneously, so there must be no distractions, right Knock Out?" Knock Out just gulped as Starscream mentioned him. "You wouldn't want that paint job of yours to be ruined, would you?"
"N-no Starscream!" Knock Out quickly responded.
"LORD Starscream!" he corrected. "And one final warning to each of you. If there is even the slightest hint of hesitation, disloyalty, or weaknesses, I WILL snap it out...understood?"
"Yes Lord Starscream," four out of the five Decepticons, with the exception of Soundwave, responded, with Ravage just snarling in response. Starscream simply smirked to himself deviously at his troops loyalty to HIM and not Megatron.
"Dismissed," he said, and with that, the Cons transformed and flew off to get to work. Azula looked at them all while drinking tea that Ty-Lee brewed, impressed at Starscream's leadership.
"I must admit, you have quite the leadership skills Starscream," Azula commended.
"Yeah," Ty-Lee responded, back to her usual positive mood. "It was poetic, but also scary in a good way!"
"Yeah, I thought you were gonna make the red one have an oil leak," Mai remarked, obviously referring to Knock Out, trying not to chuckle slightly.
"There's still a few loose ends though, we still have the Autobots to handle, as well as your enemies Princess," Starscream responded.
"Yes," Azula replied. "Such as the Avatar, and my brother and uncle..."
*QUE TRANSFORMERS: PRIME OPENING THEME*
Outside the palace, Iroh and Zuko were being dropped off, Iroh with a pot full of tea, after receiving an invitation to serve the Earth King some of Iroh's tea.
"Many times I imagined myself here at the threshold of the palace, but I always thought I would be here as a conqueror," Iroh stated. "Instead, we are the Earth King's personal guests, here to serve him tea. Destiny is a funny thing."
"Yeah," Zuko responded. "It sure is Uncle."
Back with Aang, Sokka, Toph, Warpath and Ironhide, Toph wanted to know what went on with Aang and Pathik.
"So how'd it go with the guru?" Toph asked. "Did you master the Avatar State?"
"Uh..." Aang responds as he remember's Pathik's last words before he left.
"If you leave now, you won't be able to go into the Avatar State at all!" Pathik warned Aang, but Aang ignored his warning and flew away from the Eastern Air Temple.
"Aang, are you okay?" Sokka asked, which got Aang to come out of his flashback.
"I'm great!" he answered, obviously lying. "It went great with the guru! I completely mastered the Avatar State!" Warpath then butted in, still flying beside Appa.
"Well then, it should be, WOOSH! smooth sailing from here!" he said. Aang just chuckled nervously in response.
In a private quarters, Iroh poured four cups of tea on a table while sitting beside his nephew, waiting for the king.
"What's taking so long?" Zuko asked, slightly impatiently.
"Maybe the Earth King overslept?" Iroh suggested before hearing footsteps, but it wasn't the Earth King, it was Azula.
"It's 'tea time,' she remarked to her brother and uncle.
"Azula!" Zuko exclaimed after immediately standing up, but then, four giant mechanical beings along with two human sized ones and a mechanical jaguar crashed through the roof, surrounding them before they could retaliate. Zuko and Iroh's eyes widened with absolute shock ast to what was standing before them.
"Have you met the Decepticons?" Azula asked. "They're an alien race, but they have a killer instinct and personality that's so firebender. I just love it." Iroh, who soon got out of his state of shock, instincivetly grabs a cup of tea. Skywarp questions this.
"Should we shoot him?" he asked Thundercracker.
"Nah, 'Zula told me this is some human custom," Thundercracker responded.
"Did I ever tell you how I got the nickname 'The Dragon of the West?'" Iroh asks his niece.
"I'm not interested in a lengthy anecdote Uncle," Azula answered.
"It's more of a demonstration really," Iroh replied. He then drank his tea and Zuko, out of his state of shock, smirked, knowing what Iroh intended to do. Zuko then immediately got behind his uncle as Iroh started to breath fire out of his mouth and move 360 in order to distract the Cons as he blasted the wall down with his fire breath for him and Zuko to make his escape. The Cons ran after them, Thundercracker and Skywarp firing their weapons at them, but to no avail. Iroh then lightning bended a hole in the wall and leaped through it, making his escape. He turned around once he was in the ground, waiting for Zuko to jump down and join him.
"Come on! You'll be fine!" he shouted to his nephew, but Zuko just stood there and looked down at his uncle.
"No!" Zuko replied. "I'm tired of running! It's time I faced Azula!" With that, he boldly walked away from his uncle, who slapped his forehead, not believing that Zuko was actually doing just that, and ran off, not knowing that Laserbeak was close behind, following him.
Meanwhile, Zuko got himself ready for battle while Azula just stood there with the Decepticons behind her.
"You're so dramatic," Azula remarked sarcastically. "What? Are you going to challenge me to an Agni Ki?"
"Yes!" Zuko proclaimed. "I challenge you!"
"No thanks," Azula responded before Zuko charged himself at her with rage.
"Sick 'im Ravage!" Knock Out commanded. Ravage responded by tackling Zuko to the ground while Thundercracker came forward and shot Zuko with a stun blast, knocking him out. Frenzy and Rumble started to drag him out when Soundwave detected something and displayed something on the monitor on his face.
"What is Soundwave doing?" Azula asked. Knock Out then stepped forward to answer her question.
"He's detected something," he said. "And by the looks of it, it's a Decepticon life signiture, but no Decepticon could have this much energy except..." Knock Out then gasped, knowing who it was Soundwave detected.
"We need to get this information to Starscream!" Knock Out declared.
Aang and his friends meanwhile arrived at the Earth King throne to discuss why they came back so early to him.
"Katara and Bumblebee are fine," he said. "You have nothing to worry about."
"You mean I left a fight for nothing!?" Warpath exclaimed.
"Can it rookie!" Ironhide responded.
"But, in my vision, I felt so sure they were in trouble," Aang responded to the Earth King's statement.
"Well, they and Optimus met with the council of generals to plan the invasion, and since then, they've been off with your friends the Kyoshi Warriors," the Earth King claimed.
"See Aang, they're with Suki," Sokka said. They're probably back in our appartment right now talking about makeup or something...poor Bee."
"I second that," Warpath responded.
"Okay, maybe you're right, but Optimus would know for sure," Aang responded. "We should probably see him too."
Inside the crystal catacombs of the old Ba Sing Se, Katara desperately tried to heal Bumblebee to try and get him out of stasis, but to no avail.
"C'mon Bee!" she said. "You're the only one who can get us out of here and call for help!" Just then, the hatch came open, and Rumble dropped Zuko to the ground, who only just now awakened
"Hey! You got company!" Rumble declared before closing the hatch. Zuko looked up and saw a sight for sore eyes: Katara.
"Zuko!" she exclaimed before glaring at the former prince. He got up to see Katara and the motionless body of Bumblebee, instinctively getting his firebending ready to fight what he thought was another Decepticon. Katara then got in front of Bee and waterbended from her pouch of water to form a defensive shield around Bumbblebee.
Back at the Cons' underground hideout, Knock Out and Soundwave walked to Starscream who was sitting on a stone throne.
"Starscre-" Knock Out started before being interrupted by Starscream.
"It, is, LOOOORD!" he shouted, but this time, Knock Out didn't cower in fear, rather he kept smirking and still had his nonchalant voice.
"Not anymore," he replied as Soundwave came forward with the energy signiture. Starscream got up and observed it more carefully before his optics widened widely.
"If what you believe is true, then..." Starscream couldn't finish his scentence before Knock Out butted in.
"Megatron lives..." he finished for him. Starscream couldn't believe what he was seeing. There was actually a chance that Megatron was alive and on this planet. Not wanting to give up his position as leader of the Decepticons though, he tried to debunk this rumor.
"H-how do you know that Soundwave's systems arn't malfunctioning Knock Out?" Starscream nervously asked.
"Soundwave never makes a mistake Starscream," Knock Out replied.
"B-but what a-" Starscream couldn't finish when Soundwave just pointed to the entrance of the catacombs of the underground remains of the old Ba Sing Se, demanding that his master be excavated. Not wanting to get in Soundwave's way, Starscream gave up.
"Fine! Someone get Rumble!" he commanded.
Meanwhile, at the Gaang's apartment, Appa lands Aang, Toph and Sokka beside the building while Warpath landed as well and Ironhide drove up to the building and transformed. The five of them went inside to see Momo fly up to Aang's shoulder and Optimus standing there, waiting for them.
"Optimus," Ironhide said. "We haven't been able to contact Bumblebee or Katara for four hours. You know where they went?"
"I'm afraid not old friend," Optimus responded dissapointingly. "I tried contacting you, but it seems the trip here damaged my comlink. I have not been able to fix it since." Aang's eyes widened in fear at his statement.
"Katara and Bee ARE in trouble! I knew it!" he said.
"Oh no..." Sokka said, worried for his sister. Toph then senses something.
"Wait," she said. "Someone's at the door." Sure enough, someone started knocking on the door.
"Actually I know who it is. It's an old friend of mine." she claimed as she walked to the door and opened it. To Aang and Sokka's shock, it was Iroh.
"Glad to see you're okay," Toph said to the former general. Iroh however was shocked to find three giant mechanical beings there. Remembering his experience with Azula and the Decepticons, he conjured fire in his hands, ready for a fight. Optimus, Irohnide and Warpath responded by drawing their weapons. Suddenly, Toph got in front of Iroh.
"Wait!" she exclaimed. "They're with us! They're friendly!" Seeing that she was telling the truth, Iroh stopped firebending and lowered his arms.
"Autobots, stand down," Optimus ordered as he put his blaster away. Irohinde and Warpath did the same. Sokka and Aang on the other hand were in a state of shock and demanded answers.
"I need your help," Iroh claimed.
"You guys know each other!?" Aang asked in a state of disbelief.
"I met him in the woods once and knocked him down," Toph answered. "Then he gave me tea and some very good advice."
"May I come in?" Iroh kindly asked while bowing his head. Toph responded by nodding once. Once the general was inside, he dropped the bombshell on Aang and his friends.
"Princess Azula is here in Ba Sing Se," he said.
"She must have Katara and Bumblebee!" Aang responded.
"She has captured my nephew as well," Iroh replied.
"Then we'll work together to fight Azula, and save Katara, Bumblebee and Zuko," Aang said, to which Sokka couldn't believe he just heard.
"Whoa there, you lost me at 'Zuko,'" Sokka said to his friend.
"I know how you must feel about my nephew, but believe me when I tell you there is good inside him," Iroh said truthfuly to Sokka. However, he still wasn't buying it.
"'Good inside him' isn't enough," Sokka responded. "Why don't you come back outside him when it's OUTSIDE HIM too, okay?"
"Sokka," Optimus said as he stepped forward. "A wise Autobot named Alpha Trion taught me that freedom is the right of all sentiant beeings. Everyone deserves a chance at redemption, even the most synical and evil lifeforms." Sokka then thought about this for a minute. Optimus did have a point, but he still couldn't trust Zuko after all he did. Then Aang went up to his friend.
"Katara is in trouble, Bumblebee is in trouble, all of Ba Sing Se is in trouble," he said. "Working together is our best chance." Thinking about the danger his sister was in helped him reach a conclusion.
"You're right," he declared. They were about to set off when Iroh spoke again.
"That wasn't the worst part though," he said, which caused everyone to stop dead in their tracks. The firebender then turned to the three Autobots. "Some of your kind are working for Azula."
"That's impossible," Ironhide responded. "We Autobots stand for peace, not war!"
"Unless..." Optimus said as he thought about what Iroh said, then his optics widened when he realized the horrible truth. "The Decepticons!" Hearing that term made Aang, Toph and Sokka's eyes widen.
"Those freaks followed you here!?" Toph asked.
"You could say that Toph," Optimus responded. "We were sent from Cybertron to this world via a space bridge."
"What's a space bridge?" Sokka asked.
"It defies every law of physics on this planet, capable of sending anything from one location to another," Optimus answered. "I lead an assault to destroy a space bridge the decepticons built when it malfunctioned, and transported us to Earth." Rather than acting fearful, the three children and Iroh stepped forward.
"If the Fire Nation is involved in your war, then it's our war too," Aang claimed.
"And we're gonna fight it," Sokka added, when he noticed something on the window of the apartment. "Hey guys, how long was that weird looking bird over there staring at us for?" Irohnide's optics widened when Sokka said 'weird looking bird' and shot it almost instantly. The bird fell over and, sure enough, his instincts were right.
"That's not a bird, it's Laserbeak!" Irohnide corrected as he and the others ran to him. Laserbeak wasn't destroyed, but was in temporary stasis.
"That ugly sucker is a drone who's commanded by the Cons' inteligence officer, Soundwave," Warpath said.
"Which means the Decepticons and the Fire Nation may know where we are," Optimus added. "We need to leave now!"
"Hold on Optimus," Ironhide said. "Not before we get some information from him." Ironhide then forced Laserbeak to show some of his recordings, revealing where Azula and Starscream were and their plans to organize a coup, as well as where Katara and Bumblebee were, and if they were there, Zuko had to be there as well. Once he was done, Ironhide tossed the offline Laserbeak out the window and Warpath shot a fully charged blast from the tank barrel in his chest, destroying Laserbeak instantly.
"It looks like they're inside underground ruins of the old Ba Sing Se," Sokka said. "We need to get going before they find us here."
"Transform, and roll out!" Optimus commanded the other Autobots. Once the Autobots were in their vehicle modes, they set off with the Gaang and Iroh close behind.
Back at the crystal catacombs, Katara and Zuko were duking it out. Zuko seeking to destroy the now in stasis Bumblebee while Katara seeks to defend him at all costs.
"Let me guess, you're hunting THEM now!?" Katara asked while sending ice picks Zuko's way to which Zuko easily melts.
"Why shouldn't I after they nearly killed my uncle and I!?" Zuko replied as he sent a fire blast Katara's way. Fortunately, Katara easily dodges that and uses a water whip to toss Zuko into a wall.
"I take it that's another one of your lies to try and get Aang into your little Fire Nation clutches," Katara said as she walked to Zuko. The former prince tried to get up, but Katara easily sent a water whip to him and knocked him back down.
"You're a terrible person, you know that!?" Katara asked. "Always following us, hunting the Avatar, trying to capture the world's last hope of peace!?" Zuko didn't try getting up this time, but still didn't respond to Katara's question.
"But what do you care!?" Katara asked while turning around. "You're the Fire Lord's son... spreading war and violence and hatred is in your blood..." This time Zuko had enough and got back up.
"You don't know what you're talking about!" Zuko replied. Now Katara was upset, turning to him with tears forming in her eyes.
"I don't!?" Katara responded. "How dare you!? You have no idea what this war has put us through! Me personally!...The Fire Nation took my mother away from me..." Katara couldn't take it anymore as she turned around, knelt down and started to cry. Feeling somewhat bad for her, knowing what she had been through, Zuko walked up to her.
"I'm sorry..." he said. "That's something we have in common..." Katara then immediately stopped crying and looked back at Zuko, not believing what she had heard as Bumblebee emerged from stasis and got back up. Zuko instinctively got his firebending ready when Katara intervened.
"There's a lot more that you don't understand..." she said.
Outside the palace, the Gaang, Iroh and the Autobots went up to a specified location they obtained from Laserbeak. Toph knelt down and tried to sense a tunnel that lead to crystal catacombs, and sure enough, she could sense them.
"Well whadya know," she said. "There IS an anciant city down there, but it's deep." She then earthbended an opening so that they could get there.
"I reccomend splitting up," Optimus suggested. "Aang, you, General Iroh and I will go to the underground ruins to rescue Katara, Bumblebee and Zuko. Warpath and Ironhide, the two of you will go and alert the Earth King of Azula's coup and of the Decepticons."
While traveling through the underground tunnel with Aang and Prime, Iroh took the time to know about Optimus, the Autobots and where they came from.
"So your world is at civil war as well?" Iroh said to the Autobot leader.
"Unfortunately..." Optimus replied with his head down.
"May I ask what it is that caused it?" Iroh asked.
"It all connects to one fact, the Decepticons only seek one goal, total universal domination," Optimus answered. Iroh couldn't believe that there were those as monstrous as the Fire Nation out there, if not even more monstrous.
"A story that I have heard one too many times," Iroh sadly said. Then Aang earthbended a wall open so they could travel further. Afterward, Aang decided to talk to Iroh.
"So, Toph says you give pretty good advice, and great tea," he said to the elder firebender.
"The key to both is propper aging," Iroh replied. "What's on your mind?" The three then stop for a second for Aang to earthbend another wall to deepen the tunnel before they continued further.
"Well," Aang started. "I met with this guru who was suppose to help me master the Avatar State, and control this great power, but to do it, I had to let go of someone I love, and just couldn't."
"Perfection and power are not everything for everyone Aang," Optimus said. "Those who believe otherwise are no different from the mind of a Decepticon."
"I agree with Optimus," Iroh added. "I think you were wise to choose happiness and love." Aang then earthbended another wall before responding.
"What happens if I can't save everyone and beat Azula and the Decepticons?" he asked. "Without the Avatar State, what if I'm not powerful enough?"
"Only Destiny has the answer to that question Aang," Optimus responded. "But I believe that your strength will prevail, and your darkest hour will be lightened." Aang smiled slightly at Prime's response before earthbending one more wall to see a green light shining through, and once the light dimmed, the beautiful ruins of the old city shined through.
Elsewhere in the ruins, Starscream and Rumble were busy unearthing the coordinates that Soundwave had provided to which Megatron may be hidden inside. Rumble kept using his pile drivers to unearth the wall, and occasionally toss a rock out of the way, one of which almost hit Starscream. As usual, he was infuriated at Rumble's action.
"Watch where you throw those you clumsy clunker!" Starscream shouted. Rumble's response: a rock that hit him square in his chassis that sent him flying to the wall behind him.
"Who ya callin' 'clumsy' gasket-breath!?" Rumble retaliated. Starscream then got up and ran straight up to the small blue Decepticon and was about to assault him, when a purple blast from the wall that Rumble was unearthing blasted the two of them backwards. A figure in the shadows moved forward and when Rumble and Starscream saw who it was, they immediately kneeled out of fear.
Over at the steps of the palace, Warpath, Sokka, Ironhide and Toph were walking to the throne room to alert the Earth King. Momo was flying beside them. Then the four of them notice someone outside the palace's door.
"There's General How," Sokka said as he motioned for everyone to stop and move in front of a pillar, sensing danger. Sure enough, Thundercracker and Skywarp came down and cornered the general. How was shocked to say the least.
"What's going on here!?" he asked when Thundercracker stepped forward.
"You've been relieved of your duty General," Thundercracker answered as he fired a stun blast to knock him into unconsciousness. The two seekers then carried him away. Back with Sokka, Toph and the Autobots, they were shocked to realize that they were too late.
"The coup is happening now!" Sokka said.
"Then let's crack some Con heads and rescue him!" Ironhide replied when Sokka stood in the way.
"It's too risky!" Sokka said. "We've gotta warn the Earth King!"
In other sections of the city, the other four generals suffered the same fate. Knock Out took one out with his electro-staff, Frenzy took another by creating a fissure with his pile-drivers, and Ravage assaulted the final two. All that was left now was for Azula to capture the Earth King.
Inside the palace, Sokka, Toph and the two Autobots ran inside the throne room, relieved to see the Earth King unharmed. They also saw two of the three 'Kyoshi Warriors' there as well.
"Thank goodness we're in time!" Sokka exclaimed, which of course confused the Earth King.
"In time for what?" the Earth King asked.
"Yeah, what are you in time for..." Ty-Lee started before cartwheeling over to Sokka. "...cuuutie?" She then got in his personal space, which of course made Sokka a bit nervous.
"Uh...I'm kinda involved with Suki..." Sokka said. Behind him, Toph started to sense something was off about these 'Kyoshi Warriors.'
"Who?" Ty-Lee asked before Toph earthbended the ground underneeth her, sending her flying, however she landed safely on top of a statue.
"They're not the real Kyoshi Warriors!" Toph declared, which shocked the Earth King and caused him to gasp in disbelief. Then, a red sports car drove up behind them and transformed into Knock Out, with his electro-staff ready while walking toward the two kids and the Autobots.
"Sorry to rain on your parade." he said nonchalantly with a wicked smirk on his face. He then lunged at the group, but Toph earthbended a projectile at him and knocked him backwards slightly. Mai then tossed her knives at Toph to which Toph immediately blocked with a wall in front of her, then launched the wall at Mai, to which Mai easily dodged. Ironhide and Warpath were busy fighting Knock Out in the meantime when one of Mai's knives scratched Knock Out slightly, to which he wasn't thrilled about.
"Hey! Watch the fini-" he couldn't finish before Ironhide socked him straight in the face. Sokka was watching the chaos ensue when Ty-Lee came from behind, giggling which caused Sokka to flinch back. Ty-Lee tried her chi-blocking jabs at him, but Sokka kept dodging them. The sight seemed like they were dancing somewhat.
"Mmmm, looks like we're dancing together," Ty-Lee said. Warpath, seeing his friend in danger, then turned into a tank and rolled to the situation.
"Hang in there Sokka! Here comes the calvary!" Warpath declared as he fired a non lethal blast at Ty-Lee and sent her flying backwards.
"Da-dada-dada-dada-dada-dada-dada!" Warpath sang as he kept rolling to her. Then everyone stopped dead in their tracks when they heard something.
"This fight, is over," said Azula, who was holding the Earth King hostage with one of her hands conjuring a small flame, threatening to kill him. Everyone then stopped fighting, Warpath turned back into a robot, and Toph, Sokka and the Autobots raised their hands in surrender. Ty-Lee then came up to the two kids and chi blocked them, paralyzing them, while Knock Out put the two bots into a temporary stasis with his staff. Momo tried to escape again, but Knock Out shocked him as well, sending him crashing to the ground.
"Get them all out of my sight," Azula commanded as she pushed the king to the ground. As the two kids and the two bots, along with Momo, Bosco, and the Earth King were dragged out of the throne, Starscream entered the room, looking more nervous and fearful than usual.
"What is it Starscream?" Azula asked.
"Uh, t-there is someone who wishes to see you Princess," Starscream responded.
"Well then, let him in," Azula commanded. Starscream then moved out of the way as someone slowly walked to the throne room, the ground rumbling with every step. From the shadows came a tall, grey Decepticon with a cannon attached to his right arm, whose presence envoked power and fear. Ty-Lee immediately hid behind the throne Azula was now sitting on, even Mai and Azula felt a chill run down their spines.
"Princess Azula," Starscream said. "Meet...Lord Megatron..."
*QUE AVATAR ENDING THEME*