23- Unexpected Encounters.
Two vehicles were flying above the cloudy sky above the Sinnoh region, a plane and a helicopter. They headed into a valley with a glacier covering part of a long lake which probably started from it.
"Wait, I think I see something down there. At the shore." The plane said.
Both vehicles made a turn and descended to what looked to be some kind of spaceship, crashed time ago. Almost reaching there, the vehicles transformed, revealing to be Starscream and Dropkick. Their landing scared lots of Aron and Lairon which were feeding from the ship's metal.
"I'm surprised humans are capable of creating spaceships." Dropkick observed.
"It's not built for space, but surely probes that human technology is more advanced than we ever imagined." Starscream said checking the ship's inside. "Check if it's datacore is still intact, perhaps we can take a look of what it was designed for."
"You surely want us to get a little straight from our task?"
"It will only take you a few seconds, not a great delay. Besides…" Starscream said as he put his eyes on a huge field of flowers near to where they stood, which made him smirk. "...we're closer than we thought."
In other place a ground bridge appeared. From it Wheeljack and Sideswipe came out, followed by Piplup, Ritchie and Dawn.
"I don't see any flowers anywhere." Sideswipe checked looked around.
"It wasn't supposed we were going to appear right at the right place?"
"I'm sorry Jackie, but the Gracidea garden's location is not a place anyone can find that easy. We found it by pure luck when we were expelled hardly from the Reverse World." Dawn told.
"Didn't you and Ash mentioned it was near a glacier?" Ritchie recalled, earning a nod from her. "Then that's it: we just need to find that glacier. We find it, we find the Gracidea garden."
"And we will find the pokémon we're supposed to keep safe from the Decepticons. Which are…" Sideswipe started.
"Shaymin, known as the gratitude pokémon. They're little cutie pokémon which use to visit those flower gardens when they gather to travel in groups. When they make contact with Gracidea flowers they change into a form which allows them to fly, which also allows them to battle, but only during daytime. When they are in their other adorable form they are defenseless." Dawn explained.
"Surely they will try to take advantage to catch them more easily, typical Con style." Wheeljack supposed.
"But maybe we are lucky and there are no one when the Decepticons are searching for them."
"We better go to make sure." Sideswipe said before changing to vehicle form, followed by Wheeljack.
Ritchie, Sparky, Dawn and Piplup went with Sideswipe while Wheeljack drove head.
"Wait, I recognize this lake, that's the one we crossed when we were helping Shaymin. If we follow it's channel it will take us to the Gracidea garden." Dawn saw.
"Hang on tight, we're going the fastest we can." Sideswipe warned.
Speaking of the Gracidea garden, it was right at the lake's shore, but it was already found as two big shadows stood in front of it. Meanwhile, the Autobot duo continued their way parallel to the lake. Dawn took the chance to look to the side and admire the views.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" Ritchie asked.
"Indeed it is." Dawn nodded.
"A shame that I can't admire it with you. Sometimes is hard to be the one who drives."
Ritchie laughed. "Relax Sideswipe, you will have a chance."
"Ritchie, I wanted to ask why you decided to come as well instead of support any of the others in their mission, like Iris."
"Well...you see Dawn, Iris looks like a girl capable of taking care of herself, besides she's with Smokescreen and most important, with Predaking. Ash is capable to help taking care of anyone; at being next to water Misty will handle everything and Clemont already has experience watching over his sister, so Max should not suppose a challenge. Besides, I'm sure the Autobot leaders will be fine by themselves."
"Oh, so you think we cannot handle it by ourselves?"
"Piplup." Piplup said a little annoyed.
"No, it's not that. What I mean is that Bonnie is in good hands at base, the safest place for her. So even with the Autobots, you could appreciate my and Sparky's backup. Besides, I'm one of the only who knows how to handle these." He explained showing the cybertronian weapon on his back.
"You gotta admit he has made valid points." Wheeljack said passing next to them.
"Besides, I thought you would like my company."
That made Dawn smile and hide a little blush.
"Pi? Pi piplup."
"What is it, Piplup?" Dawn asked.
"Piplup."
Piplup pointed out of the window to a place.
"There, is there! That's the glacier where we rescued Giratina. The place where the Gracidea garden is." Dawn recognized.
"We should reach there if we take a shortcut! Get ready!" Wheeljack warned.
"Get ready? For what?" Ritchie asked.
Without warning, the Autobots changed route and jumped into the water, right after they closed their windows. They continued riving through the bottom of the lake until they ascended to the shore. Once at the other side, they opened their doors, allowed the humans and pokémon to exit and transformed.
"Warn us before the next time you do something like that!" Ritchie shouted.
"In that case it will not be that exciting." Sideswipe joked before fist-bumping with Wheeljack.
"Whoa, this is the Gracidea garden? It's beautiful." Ritchie contemplated.
"Pi?"
"What is it, Sparky? Do you feel something?"
Suddenly the sound of big steps got everyone alarmed, so they hid in the nearby trees. They followed the sounds until they saw the source sneaking through the leaves: in middle of the flower field they spotted both Decepticons, Dropkick and Starscream, picking up Shaymin between the bushes and placing them into a huge sack.
"Looks like the Cons beat us again." Wheeljack said.
"And they are taking the Shaymin like if they are mushrooms. Why aren't they changing to their form in which they can fight back?" Ritchie added.
"The flowers are closed right now. They can't receive their pollen which is what causes the change." Dawn specified.
"I still don't get what interest the Decepticons would have on those little pokémon." Sideswipe pointed.
"It could be because of their special move Seed Flare. When they absorb pollution Shaymin purifies the air, but unleashes a powerful explosion capable to destroy a good portion of a forest." Dawn described.
"Use little pokémon with great firepower equal to a grenade. Very smart." Wheeljack noticed.
"And twisted. If the Cons are aware of that." Sideswipe added.
"We can't allow them to figure it out." Ritchie said preparing his gun.
"Hold your organic servos kid, we don't want those little guys to get hurt in the crossfire. We need a plan to get them out before the fun starts." The white Wrecker stopped.
Meanwhile, another Shaymin tried to hide beneath a rock digging under it. But the rock was lifted by a huge hand and grabbed it before it could escape.
"How easy is to catch these little amounts of grass." Dropkick boasted putting another into the bag.
"Indeed, it shows who are the ones who really have the power now in this world." Starscream said as he checked the Shaymin he got last.
"It's hard to believe these things are considered between the most powerful of the native creatures."
"Humans also underestimated beings like these because of their size or appearance. If we are to proof we are superior to them, we must not make the same mistakes. Besides, if it would have been easy for them as well, why haven't them achieved it before?"
"Because they don't have the guts to do what it's need to be done." Dropkick said, as he stomped hard on the ground, making some Shaymin to bounce because of that. "We do."
"That's the spirit. Besides, the more we catch the more we will be able to control."
The Decepticons returned to their task and continued picking up the pokémon like a recollection, not aware that something was approaching them silently between the grass. Dropkick look for his next prey, until he saw movement between the grass near his foot, so he grabbed whatever it was with his hand. But when he checked what he caught he saw it wasn't a Shaymin, it was Sparky, who winked him an eye before unleashing an electric current which made the Decepticon to drop the bag. Starscream looked to see Sparky helping the Shaymin escape from the bag, right before a Bubble Beam hit his face, making him almost do the same. That was what Sideswipe needed in order to take the bag from him before kicking him.
"Autobots." Starscream cursed, not very surprised of their presence as Sideswipe released the captured pokémon. "You don't know when to quit in your actions, don't you?"
"And you don't know when to quit being so bothersome, right?"
"Enough with your senseless provocations!"
"You're right, Screamy. Let's dance." Sideswipe said pulling out his blades.
While this happened, Dropkick was recovering from Sparky's zap, time that Wheeljack employed to charge him and push him out of the flower field.
"That has been a great mistake, Autobot."
"Then don't mess with the tiny, bully."
"Do you have the foolishness to face a warrior of the DIS?"
"I could ask this as well: have any of your kind ever faced a Wrecker?" Wheeljack responded activating his battle mask and pulling out his swords.
Dropkick answered pulling out his own swords and jumped to the battle. Despite his quick moves, Wheeljack's stand was tougher and blocked his attacker more easily than he expected.
"I should have known, if Bumblebee was capable of beating you." The Wrecker mocked.
"He just got lucky. B127 is just as scout!" Dropkick responded mad, entering his game.
Wheeljack took the chance to headbutt him. "You Cons keep underestimate us, we are more than glad to keep kicking your butts."
Sideswipe charged at Starscream, but this time the Seeker had a strategy on mind: when the young Autobot was near, he changed to vehicle mode, turned and ignited his engine at full power. The strength was that hard that sent Sideswipe flying right into the lake. Starscream circle around and fired two missiles at where Sideswipe fell, making two explosions under the water. When he transformed again and landed saw that the Autobots made a distraction: after Sparky zapped Dropkick and Piplup distracted Starscream, the two pokémon managed to get all Shaymin out of the bags, and made them to follow them. Starscream saw it and tried to stop them firing two missiles, but both pokémon were keeping their eyes on him as well and saw it coming, so they intercepted the missiles with Thunder Shock and Bubble Beam, destroying them at half way. The smoke of the explosions offered them cover for some time to continue guiding the group, but before they reached the trees Starscream advanced at them with his guns ready.
"You will not get away that easily, you inferior beings!"
In that moment, Ritchie showed between the bushes and shot his cybertronian weapon, hitting Starscream's wing and making him to fall down.
"You just don't give up thinking yourself superior to us, don't you?"
"Come on everyone, right here." Dawn called.
All Shaymin followed the group into the forest as Starscream tried to recover.
"Now what? That would not delay him that long." Ritchie pointed.
"Remember the last time we were without the Autobots and against Starscream? We may be able to force him to retreat if he faces something powerful enough." Dawn reminded.
"That was when Ash and Pikachu made a Z-Move. But I doubt Starscream will fall into the same trick. He may be dumb, but not that dumb anymore."
"What I mean is that we need to surprise him. But with what?"
Suddenly Dawn felt something touching her ankle and saw a pair of Shaymin looking at her like if they wanted to thank her by letting her touch them.
"Oh, you're so cute. At least you're safe for now." She said petting them, but then lots of them jumped over her and started to make her laugh. "No please, that tickles."
"Piplup." Piplup said with a little annoyed look.
"Pika?"
"Looks like they like you, Dawn. And to think each of these little ones has enough power to obliterate anything near them."
After taking the Shaymin of her, Dawn remained still. "That's it. Ritchie you're a genius." And she hugged him.
Ritchie blushed by this. "Ah, really? Glad to be of help but, exactly why?"
"I think we have found the way to give Starscream a big surprise. But I'm going to need your help." Dawn said to the Shaymin, which nodded before congregate around her and Ritchie. "Okay, this is what we are going to do."
Back to the flower field, Wheeljack continued matching Dropkick's moves, maybe even surpassing him. He ended kicking the elite Decepticon, pressing his swords against his chest, threatening to slice through it.
"Consider this the karma's effect for all the Bots you enjoyed disposing off." Wheeljack declared as he was about to terminate him.
But suddenly, Wheeljack felt a pain on his waist, he turned and saw energon leaking from a few claw markings. The responsible one, Starscream, who was right behind him.
"And this as a reminder to never judge me down ever again." Starscream imitated before grabbing Wheeljack by the hand and throwing him into the lake, making him crush against Sideswipe, who was emerging.
Next, the Seeker launched two missiles at the glacier, causing lots of big blocks of ice to fall into the water, right above where the Autobots were. That was his intention, to bury them with ice under the water.
"I see now why you were Megatron's second in command for the longest time. You have my respect and debt, general." Dropkick appreciated getting up. "Now let's finish them and two Autobots less to worry about."
"As tempting as it is, extinguish their sparks is not our priority right now, if they still live. They were supposed to distract us so the humans could escape with our captures. Now they are alone so taking back what is ours now will be piece of cake. And perhaps we will obtain a pair of souvenirs on the way back."
With that said, the Decepticons were back to search for the humans and Shaymin, even Dropkick, who was reluctant on letting the Autobots alive in case they survive. They entered the woods in their search, but the area was too tight for them. Until Dropkick came up with the idea of cutting the trees with his swords to clear the way and search better, so Starscream followed his example and did the same with his claws. After clearing a good porting of the area, they saw all Shaymin emerging from the debris, surrounding them.
"Ah, here you are." Starscream smiled.
"Isn't this supposed to be a little suspicious?" Dropkick asked a little nervous of the way the pokémon were moving around them.
"They're too little compared to a human, and we are basically giants for them. What harm can they do to us?"
"That's where you are wrong, Starscream." Dawn said, appearing alongside the Shaymin with her Quilava.
"Oh, and exactly why?"
"You are going to see it. Quilava, Smokescreen."
Quilava covered the area with a huge cloud of smoke, blinding the Decepticons. During that the Shaymin group scattered.
"Now it's up to you, Shaymin!" Dawn indicated.
Immediately all Shaymin started to absorb the smoke, turning the flowers of their bodies black, while Dawn joined the others in an improvised refuge made of rocks. Shaymin's bodies started to glow as energy started to accumulate, all around the two Decepticons. At seeing this, Starscream finally figured out their strategy, gasping in shock.
"Oh scrap." Starscream grunted.
And then the pokémon unleashed all the energy in a big explosion which sent the Decepticons flying away. It was obvious Shaymin separated enough for the explosion to not affect their pals and to be big enough to affect their captors, and it worked. The group emerged from the refuge once the explosion ended, and seeing the plan worked jumped happy with the pokémon celebrating it. The Decepticons landed at the other side of the shore, at some distance from the Gracidea garden, very hard and with scratches all over their bodies.
"That...was...unexpected." Dropkick said hardly.
"Now we know why those are considered legendary pokémon. They are more powerful than we thought." Starscream added.
"Hurt by such cute looking and tiny things, how humiliating. Thank Primus Shatter was not here to see me. Are we going after them, sir?"
"In this state even those humans' pokémon could even destroy us. We need to rethink our strategy."
In that moment they heard a loud roar coming from somewhere nearby, so they crouched to not being seen. They saw a bigger pokémon landing in the shore, approaching the water and started drinking.
"Hey, isn't that the beast which destroyed our time bridge?" Dropkick asked, recognizing Dialga.
"Yes, the one which was capable of dealing even with our Predacons." Starscream nodded, smirking. "Are you thinking the same as I?"
Dropkick looked him, smirking as well. "You mean change for a bigger and juicy prize?"
"Indeed. Why bothering so much for such small creatures more suitable as pets when we can obtain a more mighty war beast?"
Both Decepticons were now determined in trying to capture the legendary pokémon, but before they could do something a huge shadow covered them. Before they could turn to see what it was, they were crushed by a huge rock.
"Hey, who's there?!" Starscream demanded trying to push the rock aside.
"Surely those Autobots, sir." Dropkick guessed. "This thing is crushing me! Get us out so we can show you how it feels!"
Two large feet stood in front of the rock crushing them.
"You two will follow next. But before the prize comes the effort for it." A sinister voice promised.
Dialga was drinking on the shore peacefully, until it seemed to notice something stalking it. It looked around if it saw what it was, but after seeing nothing it returned back to drink. At the same time, Dawn, Ritchie, Sparky and Piplup were back in the flower field with all the Shaymin next to them. Sparky saw something and guided the group to it.
"Pikachu."
"That flower is open. Nice finding, Sparky." Ritchie said.
"And if that Gracidea is open, then…"
As Dawn was saying, the flower's pollen floated with the wind, and when it touched Shaymin the pokémon glowed. When the glow ended all Shaymin were now in their alternative form, surprising Ritchie and Sparky. The group of Shaymin started to fly, specially around Dawn smiling her as a took of appreciation.
"It would be best for you to look for a new place to plant your flowers. Somewhere where the Decepticons will not find you, there you'll be safe." Dawn advised.
One Shaymin nodded and started leading the whole group. They flew above the field to the sky, leaving the area for a new home.
"Starscream will not be able to find them now, so I guess we have ended. We better inform our friends and go back to see if the others need help." Dawn suggested.
"Why so much hurry? This place is beautiful, so why not taking a walk while we look for them?"
"Good idea Ritchie. I couldn't see this place properly the last time because of our hurry in stopping the glacier."
The couple started looking for their Autobot guardians around the lake's shore, taking chance to admire the beauty of the place. Piplup took the chance to swim freely and play splashing with Sparky, while the couple walked parallel to the water. Despite being next to each other, no one noticed the other was blushing because they were looking at another way, it appears they really appreciated being just the two of them together.
"You know? You look great with that hat, reminds me a lot Ash's look." Dawn suddenly said.
"Oh yeah? Well, normally Sideswipe says it as a way to provoke me, but thank you. You look great too, with that beautiful blue hair."
"Thanks, I inherited it from my mom. Now that I think about it, it was true what you said the first time we met? That you had never seen such a pretty girl?"
"Well, hem…" Ritchie said, starting to get nervous because of such subject. But still he decided to speak with his heart. "Yes, it was true. And I still think it. Surely many boys would have already told you."
"No, actually not. You were the first one, and I liked it."
For some reason Ritchie and Dawn couldn't stop looking at each other smiling. Until something caught Dawn's attention when she saw at the lake's shore.
"By both Primus and Arceus. Ritchie look."
"What?" He asked before seeing what she pointed. "No way, is it again. What is Dialga doing here?"
"I guess it came to relax a little. Being the pokémon ruler of time must be really hard, I guess."
They continued contemplating it, even when it turned at them. Dialga didn't seem surprised, instead it looked pleased of seeing them, like remembering who they were. Suddenly a noise made Dialga turned its attention at what may be lurking between the trees, until a loud roar sounded, alarming the legendary pokémon, and by surprise something emerged very fast, tackling it. When the cloud cleared they saw who was its attacker.
"No way. Is that…?" Ritchie started.
"Protoform X?" Dawn ended.
"What is he doing here?"
The cybertronian abomination pushed Dialga against the glacier. The legendary pokémon reacted biting him on one arm, but it looked like it didn't cause any harm.
"You call that a bite? This is a bite!" X announced before catching Dialga's neck with his own jaws.
Dialga tried to break itself free, but Protoform X's grip was too strong, so it changed tactic: it flew next the glacier, smashing him against the ice. That did affect X enough to release his jaws, allowing Dialga to grab him by one leg, shake him around before throwing him against the glacier. Next, the legendary pokémon landed in front of him, standing in an intimidating pose before roaring at him. But X didn't look intimidated, because he roared back before kicking Dialga back with both feet.
"What are you doing here?!" Ritchie yelled to X.
"This doesn't involve you human. Mind your own duties." Protoform X answered, surprised to see humans there.
"Why are you attacking Dialga?" Dawn repeated.
"So that's how this mighty creature is called, huh? I heard it's one of these so called legendary pokémon, which are supposed to be the most powerful beings of this world. Even the ones which created it. Such great opponents for me to measure against."
"Measure?"
"If I'm suppose to be the toughest being ever existed in more than one world then what better way to prove it than defeating in combat the strongest beings of this world?"
X was busy talking with them that he didn't saw coming Dialga's Hyper Beam, hitting his back so hard that was sent backwards.
"Attacking from the rear? How low for a deity like you." X mocked recovering.
Both X and Dialga charged at each other, ending in a duel trying to push back the other. Both were equal in strength, until X surprised it with a headbutt. That allowed him to get the upper hand in pushing it back, before punching it a few times on the head. X prepared his claws for the next strike, but this time Dialga was ready and protected itself with its energy shield, which surprised him. Next it was its time to push him backwards, making it to try to counter it, nailing the claws of his feet on the floor. That move ended working, allowing him to redirect Dialga, sending it to the water. While it was distracted, X took the chance to grab it by the tail and smash it against the water's surface a couple of times, leaving it submerged. He was about to check its state when suddenly he was hit by multiple projectiles flying out of the water: Dialga was using Draco Meteor. That forced Protoform X to make himself a shelter tearing apart a big boulder and using it as shield. Dialga's move pulverized the whole boulder when it was over, and now was preparing the sail of its back to launch its signature move: Roar of Time. Protoform X sensed something was about to happen so he reacted by grabbing the two biggest remains of the boulder and crushing them together, right at Dialga's head. That made the legendary pokémon to lose focus, allowing X to grab it by the neck and making it launch the beam at the sky. Next he grabbed it by the legs, rose it above himself and crushed it against the floor. That caused the legendary pokémon too much harm, making it to lay in the floor. X took advantage of it and placed his foot on Dialga's chest, right on its diamond, and started to crush it, making it to roar in pain. The kids were witnessing everything.
"This is a craziness, Dialga is a legendary pokémon and not even it can beat that monster." Ritchie said.
"It's too much for it. We have to help it." Dawn suggested.
"But how? How exactly can we stop him if we cannot extinguish his spark?"
"The spark of who?"
The group looked behind them, seeing it was Sideswipe the one who asked, the Autobots managed to survive Starscream's glacier trap.
"Who knew a bunch of cold water could weigh like a pile of energon boxes?"
"Jackie, thank goodness you're fine. We may need your help." Dawn welcomed.
"Some unexpected guest invited himself to this hunt." Ritchie said pointing at the scene.
"No way. What is the name of Primus is Protoform X doing here?" Sideswipe asked in disbelief.
"He came to fight Dialga because he knows it's one of the strongest legendary pokémon." Dawn explained.
"And it seems he's beating it. We gotta help." Ritchie added.
"Only the Liegian Darts are capable of stopping on his tracks, and I didn't brought any metal parts with me to share." Sideswipe objected.
"Neither remains of Cons." Wheeljack added.
Dawn was thinking as well until at looking at Piplup she came out with something. "Wait a minute...Wheeljack, what exactly the Decepticons tried to do with you?"
"Screamy used some parts of the glacier with intention to bury us on ice."
"I think I know how are we going to stop X. Piplup, ready for a special performance?"
"Piplup." Piplup nodded.
Protoform X continued stepping hard on Dialga. Believing the victory was his, he roared triumphal to the sky, right before Sparky used Volt Tackle, hitting one of his jaws from the side. That caused his jaws to dislocate, causing him great pain and focus on correcting it. Then the Autobots made their move: they ran toward X and started kicking him on the face while he was busy, their goal was to lead him to the lake. While this happened, Dawn and Ritchie applied a pair of potions on Dialga to heal it. The Autobots managed to push X to the shore, but he wasn't in the water yet. And unfortunately he managed to place his jaws on its place and countered grabbing them both by the neck.
"No matter how hard you try, you cannot stop my outcome." X proclaimed.
A sudden Thunder Shock stunned him from behind, making him to drop the Autobots. X turned to see Sparky emanating sparks, looking at him with a face ready to combat.
"I'm not interested in you right now little vermin, I like bigger challenges."
And like a wish coming true, Dialga landed behind Sparky, looking at X mad. That let him surprised, time that Dialga used to push him with all its body, sending him against the glacier. Next, Piplup used Ice Beam to trap all his limbs. While being like this, X saw Dialga taking flight and disappearing into a portal.
"No! We haven't finished yet!" He shouted.
"But it has finished with you, and so are we." Dawn interrupted, standing on the shore with Piplup.
One of her wrist was shining in a light blue light, sign that there was a Z-Crystal placed on her Z-Ring, ready to be used. Dawn and Piplup made the same set of movements, making appear an aura of energy around Dawn which streamed to Piplup. At the same time, Protoform X attempted to release himself, breaking the ice ties, ending falling into the water. But that was Dawn's plan.
"You senseless fight ends here. Subzero Slammer!" Dawn proclaimed.
Piplup started to gather frozen energy as a pillar of ice rose below him, and from it he launched a huge beam of energy which froze the lake, formed a huge crystal of ice before breaking in multiple pieces, all falling were Protoform X submerged. While this was ending, the two Decepticons were still trying to push the rock off them.
"No no no, this isn't working! We need to push at the same time." Starscream argued.
"And why not simply making our way through by blasters?"
"Oh by the love of Galvatron, Dropkick, you only think with weapons or what? Okay, together now. One, two, three, now!"
Finally they managed to push the rock enough for them to get free.
"At last, who would riddle something of non-metal material could contain us that way?" Dropkick expressed before he saw Starscream looking at everywhere. "Em, where's the target?"
"It appears we took too long to free ourselves and it got away."
"So that's it, we're going back empty-handed?" Dropkick asked in annoyance, before he recalled what he did have. "Well, not exactly."
"We'll take it back with us. Let's hope at least we can extract something useful from it."
And with all clear, the two Decepticons changed to vehicle form and took flight back home. Meanwhile, at the lake's shore…
Wheeljack whistled. "So that's a Z-Move."
"Told ya it's impressive seeing one." Sideswipe nodded.
"And the big one?"
"Dialga has returned home safe and sound. As well as Shaymin." Ritchie answered.
"We prevented the Cons from taking what they came for and stopped X all the same day. Looks like mission accomplished to me."
"Then we better report our return. Base, do you read?"
"Indeed Sideswipe, how are you guys?" Bonnie answered.
"Couldn't be better, we're done and ready to be back."
"Be a little patient please, Fixit is busy bridging back here others first. You aren't the only ones whose missions have ended."
"Not hurry, take your time." Sideswipe finished ending the transmission. "Ah finally, all that ice may have stuck to my case. I'll need a complete shower to take them out or defrost them."
As they were waiting, Ritchie approached Dawn.
"That was a smart move you did, Dawn. You are not only the prettiest girl I know, but maybe the smartest too."
"Really? Thanks Ritchie. And also, thanks for coming with me. You were right: now I know of how much I like your company."
They heard the unmistakable sound of a ground bridge appearing and the portal appeared near them. The Autobots walked to it, followed by Dawn, who grabbed Piplup, and Ritchie with Sparky. But none of them was aware that huge claws crawled to the shore: Protoform X escaped his ice trap. Once he rose his sight and spotted Dawn, his face showed anger. Because of her his opponent left, preventing him from ending their fight with a victory, so he was now enraged with her. Driven by fury, X ran toward her, faster than expected for her to see him coming, but Ritchie did.
"Dawn, watch out!" He shouted running at her.
At the last moment, when X was about to strike, Ritchie pushed Dawn into the portal, ending him getting trapped by his claws against the ground. Next he dragged him near before pulling out from his mouth some kind of proboscis or sting, which passed between the claws and reaching Ritchie. He felt a hard pain on his back, alarming the Autobots.
"Ritchie!" Sideswipe shouted, firing his weapons at Protoform X.
Wheeljack performed a jump back kick assisted by a Brick Break from Sparky, releasing Ritchie from X's grip before taking him and entering the ground bridge alongside Ritchie's pokémon while Sideswipe covered them.
"You monster! You will pay for what you've done!" Sideswipe yelled once they crossed the portal back to New Iacon.
"Ratchet, get the sickbay ready! We have an emergency!" Wheeljack requested, carrying Ritchie on his arms.
Dawn had no idea of what was going on, everything happened too fast and only recalled her and Piplup being pushed into the ground bridge. But at seeing Wheeljack she gasped in horror.
"Ritchie!"