Disclaimer: I don't own Transformers, The Owl House or their characters
The sun was beginning to rise up at the Arctic, which was still the freezing prison of the Predacon that Shockwave had brought to Earth. However, the heat from the sun was starting to melt the ice around the Predacon and the Cybertronian dragon soon came back online before it broke free from the ice around it's body. Although covered in frost, the Predacon let out a ferocious roar and then used it's spreaded wings to fly off, intent on reuniting with it's master.
(Linebreak)
On the Nemesis, Starscream was in the middle of a complaining conversation with Megatron, Thundercracker, Skywarp, Shockwave, Shatter and Dropkick.
"Is it really wise for Shockwave to spawn an army of beasts here in his laboratory, or within any part of this warship?" Starscream questioned, turning away. "I mean, not even the lone beast we had was compact enough to stroll these corridors without tearing them into sunder. Which reminds me, I am so very sorry for your lost."
"Sometimes, I wish he was never built." Dropkick muttered with a glare.
"That makes two of us." Shatter agreed bitterly.
"I was referring to my off-site laboratory, which we have erected expressly for the cloning procedure." Shockwave proclaimed.
"Ugh. You think of everything, don't you?" Starscream replied in annoyance.
"And you should think about what you say, Scream." Skywarp said, smirking at the air commander.
But then, the Decepticons felt a large thumping sound on the Nemesis and the whole ship started shaking.
"What's going on?" Thundercracker questioned.
"We are under attack!" Starscream exclaimed. "Autobots?"
"Illogical." Shockwave replied as he approached a terminal and scanned the Nemesis with it. "Though there appears to be an enormous mass upon on the upper hull."
"Guess we'd better find out what it is." Dropkick admitted.
Megatron and his six Decepticons soon arrived at the hanger and the door opened up to reveal the Predacon in front of them.
"Well, look who's still function." Skywarp commented.
"How did it find us?!" Starscream asked shockingly.
"Predacons possess precise homing instincts." Shockwave answered.
"And astonishing resilience." Megatron said, very impressed.
"Now that the Predacon's returned to our ranks, it will need surveying at frequent times in order to ensure that it doesn't cause too much of a problem while we're still collecting Predacon bones." Shatter explained.
"You make a good suggestion, Shatter." Megatron agreed. "Starscream, assume command of my beast."
"Uhh…m-me, master?! I-I mean I wouldn't dream of seizing such an honour from its very creator." Starscream replied in nervousness as his leader walked back into the Nemesis.
"Military command of the Predacon is most logical, since my services are required elsewhere." Shockwave said, walking back in with Shatter and Dropkick.
"Good luck with your new friend, Screamy. You're going to need it." Dropkick chuckled smugly before the door closed in front of Starscream.
"Don't worry, sir. We'll make sure to keep an eye on your progress." Thundercracker said as he and Skywarp leaned against the wall with amused smiles.
Starscream could only groan in response before he saw the Predacon stomp right up to him, making him yelp in fear.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile at a very high mountain hill, Ultra Magnus' ship flew over it and landed close to the high edge before the platform lowered down with the Autobot Commander, Bulkhead, Wheeljack and Seaspray on it. The Forge of Solus Prime was also strapped to Ultra Magnus' back.
"Alright, Beast Hunters, according to our Intel the Decepticons should be excavating for Predacon bones directly beneath us." Ultra Magnus explained as they were brought on the ground.
"Already on it, boss-bot." Seaspray replied before he rushed ahead on his own.
"Does Seaspray not comprehend the chain of command?" Ultra Magnus questioned Bulkhead and Wheeljack. "I didn't authorise him to advance without proper cover."
"It's, uh, nothing to worry about, sir. Sprays is just excited about the mission." Wheeljack replied sheepishly.
"Yeah, I'm sure he's just trying to prove himself now that you and he are serving together again, sir." Bulkhead said.
"GERONIMO!" Seaspray yelled out, jumping straight over the cliff.
Ultra Magnus frowned after seeing this and Bulkhead and Wheeljack felt even more awkward.
"Uh…permission to go after him?" Wheeljack asked.
Seaspray was seen climbing his way down the cliff before he the felt some rocks land on his head, looking up to see Bulkhead and Wheeljack following him.
"Sprays, wait for us." Wheeljack said quietly.
"Ultra Magnus wants us to…" Bulkhead began saying.
"What Magnus wants isn't my buisness." Seaspray replied carelessly, still climbing down.
However, Bulkhead made a shushing gesture to Seaspray and the aquatic Wrecker looked down to see a Vehicon walking out of a large crack at the bottom, standing guard. Ultra Magnus saw this as well and saw the predicament the Wreckers were in, groaning to himself and bringing out his blaster.
"Remember Wrecker fact number 17, boys?" Seaspray asked with a smile.
"Guards never look up." Bulkhead whispered, only to slip up a bit and make some rocks fall down.
The rocks bounced off Seaspray and landed near the Vehicon, who turned around and looked up before he suddenly got decapitated by Seaspray using his sickles. Seaspray landed behind the headless Vehicon, who stumbled a bit and fell back. Seaspray turned around and looked up at Bulkhead and Wheeljack, who chuckled at their teammates impressive move.
"That's our Sprays." Wheeljack complimented as he turned to Ultra Magnus, who remained unconvinced.
Seaspray gave a salute to the Autobot commander, but then he saw a bunch more Vehicons emerging from the cave.
"Scrap." Seaspray said, activating his battle mask.
The Vehicons charged at Seaspray while firing their blasters and the aquatic Wrecker deflected their blasts with his sickles before slicing and kicking one back, which Bulkhead then slammed down with his wrecking ball after landing from the cliff. Wheeljack jumped down from the cliff as well and brought his swords out, slicing down another Vehicon in the blink of an eye. The three remaining Vehicons kept shooting at the Wreckers, only for some blaster fire to rain down on them as Ultra Magnus descended from the cliff edge and brought out the Forge, slamming it on the ground and blowing the Vehicons away. Bulkhead bashed one of them hardly and Ultra Magnus struck another with the bottom part of the Forge before he swung at the last Vehicon, who flew towards Wheeljack and the swordsman Wrecker stabbed him in the chest before kicking him back hard. Seeing all of their enemies were offline, Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers retracted their weapons.
"That's why we wait for cover." Ultra Magnus told Seaspray.
But then, a loud banging noise was heard nearby and Seaspray realised it was coming from his chest.
"Aw, for the love of Primus." Seaspray muttered before he shifted his torso open, allowing Willow and Boscha to suddenly climb out of it.
Both Witch girls were looking very exhausted as Bulkhead and Wheeljack nervously stuttered towards Ultra Magnus, while Seaspray placed Willow and Boscha on a nearby rock.
"Almost forgot you two were in there." Seaspray admitted.
"If you ever make me go for a crazy ride inside you with the leaf head again, I'll make sure your butt is on fire when you least expect it." Boscha threatened, attempting to catch her breath.
"I wasn't enjoying being right next to you, either." Willow replied with a glare while trying not to puke.
(Linebreak)
Back on the Nemesis, Starscream was attempting to order around the Predacon on the hanger.
"You miserable beast! I am your commanding officer, and I order you to crawl into your kennel, now!" Starscream demanded, only for the Predacon to growl lowly and turn away. "I said NOW ALREADY!"
The angry air commander zapped the Predacon on it's leg with a taser, but this angered the Predacon as it turned towards Starscream and unleashed a fire blast at him, causing Starscream to fearfully duck down and avoid the fire. When the flames were gone, Starscream stood back up and gasped upon seeing the tip of his red face antenna was burning before putting it out.
"I'm so glad we're here to watch this." Skywarp said to Thundercracker, laughing quietly as both Seekers watched the scene from afar.
"Let's hope that Predacon doesn't device to roast us, too." Thundercracker replied.
(Linebreak)
Back at the Decepticon dog site, Seaspray was getting scolded for bringing Willow and Boscha along for the mission.
"And what could have possibly compelled you to bring the two visiting natives?!" Ultra Magnus questioned outrageously.
Seaspray simply rolled his eyes in response as he thought back to the moment before the mission departure.
(Flashback)
Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers were walking out the Unit E facility with Seaspray behind them.
"Hey, Seaspray." A voice said from behind as the aquatic Wrecker turned around to see Willow standing behind him. "Is it okay if I come with you guys? Sitting here with the others can be a bit boring and you did make me an honour Wrecker."
"Why not? I doubt Magnus will mind." Seaspray replied.
"You're not just taking her with you." Boscha proclaimed as she walked right up to them. "I'm a much better choice for a companion for the Hal-"
Before she could finish, Boscha noticed that Willow's eyes were glowing green once again.
"I mean…Willow here." Boscha corrected herself, not liking using the Plant Witch girl's real name.
"Sounds okay to me. You two just make sure to be on your best behaviour with each other, got it?" Seaspray said.
Willow and Boscha simply narrowed their eyes at each other before looking away and sighing.
"Fine, but no promises." They both said.
(End Flashback)
"Are your circuits impaired, soldier?" Ultra Magnus asked rhetorically, not liking that excuse of a backstory.
"Prime said he wanted you to lead the Wreckers on this mission. I was just thinking he meant all of them." Seaspray replied, gesturing to Willow.
"For the record, I'm not part of this group." Boscha reminded.
"Are you mocking your commanding officer?" Ultra Magnus questioned.
"Maybe. But, I wouldn't think of it like that." Seaspray said. "Willow's a full-time Wrecker in my opinion. Boscha's got some potential as well, even if I've know her for just three days and she's got some attitude problems."
"I'm right here." Boscha said with an annoyed look.
"Don't you guys think the same thing?" Seaspray asked Bulkhead and Wheeljack.
"Well…Willow is really experienced with her Plant Magic." Bulkhead admitted.
"I'd say the same thing about Gus if he was here." Wheeljack said. "Plus, three-eyes here is pretty good with those Potions."
"Exactly. Look, the girls might be small, but that magic they've got in their systems has helped us out more than once." Seaspray proclaimed. "Willow even saved my tailpipe from an Insecticon."
"Outside standard protocol, no doubt." Ultra Magnus replied.
"All I'm saying is that I'm capable of taking care of myself, sir." Willow said, standing straight.
"But I'm a way better Witch than her." Boscha argued, earning a shoulder hit to her arm by the Plant Witch girl.
"Willow has been through worse on her world and this one." Bulkhead added, hoping to ease Ultra Magnus' doubts.
"Not to mention we've drone out all the Cons and gotten an unguarded way into the dig site." Wheeljack reminded, gesturing to the cave entrance.
Ultra Magnus let out an annoyed mutter, but begrudgingly decided to trust the Wreckers anyway.
(Linebreak)
At the same time, the Predacon was seen sleeping on the Nemesis hanger with Thundercracker and Skywarp watching it at a safe distance, until Starscream walked up to the Cybertronian dragon in the Apex Armor and woke it up.
"Okay, now in you go!" Starscream ordered, pointing towards the open door that lead inside the Nemesis.
The Predacon still didn't listen to him and screeched in defiance.
"Face it, Scream. The Predacon's never going to listen to you." Thundercracker told his commander. "Even with that giant steel suit around you."
"I didn't ask for your useless opinion, Thundercracker." Starscream retorted, facing the Predacon with a scoff. "Do your worst. The Apex Armor is virtually-"
Unfortunately for Starscream, the Predacon used its jaws to grab him by the arm and then toss him around like a rag-doll while the air commander screamed out in fear.
"NO! Release me!" Starscream begged as his head banged on the sides of the Apex Armor head piece.
Thundercracker and Skywarp could only laugh at the sight of their Commander being tossed around by the Predacon.
"That looks like a fun ride, Scream!" Skywarp called out humorously.
"Don't stand there, you idiots! Help me!" Starscream ordered.
"Actually, we're better off being here where we won't get brutally attacked by a cloned prehistoric beast." Thundercracker replied, placing his hands behind his back carelessly.
The Predacon then tossed Starscream into the top wall above the door and he fell back onto the floor.
"Starscream, are you with the beast?" Megatron asked on Starscream's com-link.
"Yes, master!" Starscream quickly answered. "We've been reviewing attack manoeuvres. He's doing quite well."
"On you." Skywarp whispered with a snicker.
"One of the excavation teams has failed to report in." Megatron said.
"I shall assemble my Seeker armada immediately and I will-" Starscream began to say.
"I would prefer that you, Thundercracker and Skywarp lead our newly returned asset on this mission so that we may see if our Predacon is as adaptive on fetching bones as it is hunting Autobots." Megatron explained as the Predacon growled at the three Seekers, who were left shock with their leader's decision.
(Linebreak)
Meanwhile, the Wreckers, Willow and Boscha were seen walking their way through the tunnel in search of the Predacon bones. Boscha soon noticed a nearby stone-like object that slightly resembled a bone due to it's pale-red colour.
"Time to show this Autobots that I'm way better than the half-a-witch." Boscha whispered to herself with an eager smile, rushing towards the 'bone' and holding it up. "Hey, Magnus guy! Is this one of your bones?"
Ultra Magnus turned around to look at the object Boscha was holding.
"No. That is a rock." Ultra Magnus said as he continued walking ahead.
Boscha could only look on in disbelief as the rock fell out of her hands.
"Maybe you should think before you embarrass yourself, Boscha." Willow snickered mockingly, earning an annoyed growl from her old bully.
"Man, those two really hate each other." Wheeljack said.
"Heh, just like old times, huh Sprays?" Bulkhead asked the aquatic Wrecker.
"Expect back then, I wasn't forced to get paired up with authority figures." Seaspray replied, sounding a bit unhappy.
"Come on, pal, don't be like that. We're all on the same team." Wheeljack told him. "Beast Hunters, remember?"
Seaspray then turned around for a real conversation with his old friends, causing Willow and Boscha to join in out of curiosity.
"During all those stellar cycles travelling through the galaxy in my FlashFlood, the only thing I could dream about was bringing our band of brothers back together and reliving the glory days." Seaspray explained before shooting a bitter look towards Ultra Magnus. "But this is never the lineup I hoped for. You two made the right choice, Bulk and Jackie, leaving the Wreckers behind while we all still had our A game. Before the rust settled in."
Seaspray then walked away and left the others behind as they remained still.
"Wait, I thought Seaspray was the one who decided to leave the Wreckers?" Willow asked, a bit confused.
"Sprays basically deserted once the Wreckers fell under Ultra Magnus' command." Bulkhead admitted.
"Me and Bulk transferred out before all of that so we could join up with Optimus on the battle of Thunderhead Pass." Wheeljack added before he gained a sad expression. "But sometimes, we think that Sprays feels like we deserted him."
"I know that neither of you want to be the ones to break up the team, guys." Willow said sympathetically before giving a stern look at Boscha. "Unlike certain people I know."
"Hey, I still have a Grudgby team back home!" Boscha argued.
"Unfortunately for you, they aren't here! Which means you have zero friends right now!" Willow stated while glaring. "And to be fair, you don't deserve friends!"
"Okay, will you two just give it a break and bury the hatchet?" Wheeljack questioned, very annoyed by their bickering. "It'd do all of us a favour."
"Are you serious?!" Willow and Boscha asked angrily. "There is no way I'm ever going to-"
Suddenly, the girls' ranting came to an end when the entire cave began to shake violently and they fell off the rock they stood on. Bulkhead quickly caught Willow and Boscha and shielded them from falling rocks, until the violent shaking stopped.
"What was that?" Bulkhead questioned.
Just then, the group heard a familiar screech coming from the distance and they turned towards the entrance, seeing a large shadow and hearing thundering footsteps.
"Whatever it is, it's big." Wheeljack said in concern as the unidentified creature kept moving through the cave towards their position. "And it's coming fast!"
Ultra Magnus walked up for a closer inspection and the unidentified creature was revealed to be the Predacon, crawling through the tunnel and roaring viciously.
"The Predacon." Ultra Magnus identified with a glare. "Let's roll!"
Ultra Magnus and the Wreckers quickly transformed, with Willow and Boscha riding in Bulkhead, and they started driving down the tunnel at maximum speed with the Predacon right behind them.
"I thought we put that thing on ice?!" Boscha questioned.
The Predacon breathed a fire blast at the Wreckers, who quickly avoided the incoming blazing projectile and Bulkhead narrowly avoided getting attacked by the Predacon's jaws. Ultra Magnus noticed another tunnel ahead on the left and he quickly steered into it with the Wreckers following. The Predacon pursued them into the hole, but the deeper part further in was too small and the Predacon found itself struggling to get through before it fired another stream of fire at it's prey.
"Hot! Hot! Hot!" Willow exclaimed, feeling the heat from inside her Autobot Guardian.
"Accelerate!" Ultra Magnus ordered.
He and the Wreckers increased their driving speed and they managed to make it into an open space at the end of the tunnel, narrowly avoiding the fire blast as well. Ultra Magnus, Bulkhead, Wheeljack and Seaspray then transformed back into their robot forms as Willow and Boscha being held by the dark-green Wrecker.
"We sure got lucky that time." Wheeljack admitted.
"That rock won't hold it forever." Ultra Magnus replied. "We need to contact base and request reinforcements."
"Wreckers don't call for backup." Seaspray retorted.
Seeing another tense moment might happen between Ultra Magnus and Seaspray, Bulkhead and Wheeljack knew they had to intervene.
"What Sprays means is we can't get a com-link signal this far underground." Bulkhead said.
"Our best chance is getting back to the ship and using the communication system on it." Wheeljack suggested.
Ultra Magnus silently looked at Seaspray, who crossed his arms in response while Bulkhead placed Willow and Boscha on a nearby boulder.
"Willow, I have to get you and Boscha out of here. I'm gonna need you two to climb." Bulkhead instructed as he gestured to the very high exit hole above.
"That's definitely okay in my book." Boscha replied.
"Well it's not okay with me." Willow argued. "I want to help."
"And you will." Ultra Magnus told her. "Your mission is to reach my ship so you can contact Optimus Prime."
"Understood, sir." Willow replied before she summoned a pair of vines and used them to hoist herself up the stone wall towards the top.
"Please. I'll get to that ship in seconds." Boscha scoffed arrogantly, bringing out her Witch staff and flying her way up.
The Wreckers then turned their attention back to the hole, where the Predacon was screeching angrily from within.
"I don't like the sound of that." Seaspray admitted.
"So uh…" Bulkhead began to say.
"What's the plan, Commander?" Wheeljack asked.
"We make our stand." Ultra Magnus answered before bringing out the Forge, causing the Wreckers to activate their weapons. "Here and now."
(Linebreak)
At the top of the hill, Willow managed to make it and climbed her up on the ground before noticing Boscha was standing in front of her.
"What took you so long?" Boscha asked with a smirk,
"Just shut up and stay out of my way." Willow scowled firmly, standing straight and shoving past her old bully.
Boscha was just about to make a retort, until she remembered the conversation she had with Seaspray back at Unit E about how he was suggesting that she should try being better by showing respect to Willow if she didn't want to be compared to Megatron. Sighing in reluctance, Boscha walked up to Willow from behind.
"Hey, Willow? Can you stop for just a sec?" Boscha asked.
"No, I need to get to Ultra Magnus' ship and call for backup." Willow replied, not even looking at the Triclops Witch. "The only thing you can do is leave me alone."
"That's not what I'm planning to do." Boscha told her. "If you could just stop walking away and let me talk to you for-"
"Talk to you?" Willow repeated as she stopped in her tracks and turned around to glare furiously at her old bully. "You have been nothing but petty and mean to me since I met you! What, you want to talk about how weak I am?! You want to talk about how you're the better Witch?! You want to talk about how it's a waste of time to be here with me and the Autobots?! What could you possibly want to talk about?!"
Seeing Willow once again had angry green eyes and vines sprouting out behind her, Boscha looked away from her with a bit of a depressed frown and closed her eyes for a moment. Willow kept waiting for a response until Boscha looked at her, showing some sincere softness on her expression.
"Listen, Willow…I-" Boscha began to say, sounding quite repentant.
However, she didn't get a chance to speak what was on her mind when she and Willow heard the ship's platform lower down, revealing Starscream in his Apex Armor standing pm it with Thundercracker and Skywarp by his side. The two Witch girls quickly ran away to find a hiding spot.
"Given that this ship is currently unoccupied, it would seem the Autobots did stumble upon our little mining operation." Starscream said.
"They're probably inside and searching for the Predacon bone, right now." Thundercracker replied.
"No worries. My Predacon is no doubt dismantling the interlopers as we speak." Starscream proclaimed.
"Since when did it become your Predacon?" Skywarp asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Of course, Skywarp. Did you really forget what you witnessed back on the Nemesis?" Starscream questioned rhetorically. "It was a challenge, but I managed to tame the savage beast. Taught it to heed my every command."
"He's in denial, isn't he?" Skywarp asked quietly.
"Definitely." Thundercracker answered.
Willow and Boscha were hiding behind a boulder and they both peeked out to look at the Seekers.
"Why did those flying metal heads have to be here?" Boscha asked rhetorically.
"Come on, just walk away." Willow whispered.
"So you're not using the Apex Armor to protect yourself from the Predacon?" Thundercracker asked his commander.
"From my beloved pet? Of course not. In fact, it's getting rather warm in here." Starscream replied before he pressed on the armor's main piece, making it de-transform around himself and the air commander placed it on a nearby rock as Willow and Boscha watched. "Ah, ventilation."
(Linebreak)
Back in the cave, the Predacon was still crawling through the tight tunnel and it soon arrived in the open space. The Predacon saw Ultra Magnus standing in front of it with the Forge and let out a ferocious roar before charging at the Autobot Commander, who swung the Forge in the Predacon's face when it was close enough.
"Open fire!" Ultra Magnus ordered.
Bulkhead, Wheeljack and Seaspray showed up from their respective cover from different sides and began firing their blasters at the Predacon, which swung its tail at Bulkhead and he narrowly avoided it. The Predacon powered up a fire blast and aimed straight at Wheeljack, who quickly ran away and avoided the fiery attack. Bulkhead and Seaspray also avoided a fire blast from the Predacon as the aquatic Wrecker began running up a nearby ledge of a higher stone platform. Ultra Magnus slammed the Predacon into a wall using the Forge, but this made the Cybertronian dragon roar angrily and swing it's tail at Ultra Magnus before Bulkhead got in front and caught it.
"No ya don't!" Bulkhead stated, only for the tail to swing him off the ground and into Ultra Magnus.
The two Autobots groaned in pain as the Predacon approached them with a deadly snarl, but Wheeljack jumped onto the Predacon's back from behind and brought out his electric whip before lassoing it around the Predacon's neck.
"No way you're making a scrap pile out of them, beastie!" Wheeljack announced, tugging on the whip and making the Predacon stomp back.
The Predacon started shooting random fire blasts around the area, which blasted into the open space's walls and left scorch marks. But then, Wheeljack got smacked away by the Predacon's tail when he least expected it and crashed against a nearby boulder, laying there unconsciously hike the Predacon was preparing to finish him.
"Hey, hot head! Over here!" Seaspray called out from a high ledge, earning the Predacon's attention.
The Predacon opened its jaw to prepare a fire blast and Seaspray took the opportunity to fire a torpedo straight at its mouth. However, the Predacon used its tail to bat the torpedo away and leave Seaspray shocked before he noticed the torpedo was now headed for the walls.
"Scrap." Seaspray said.
Before the Wreckers even knew it, the torpedo made contact with the wall and created a ginormous explosion within the open area.
(Linebreak)
From their position near Ultra Magnus' ship, Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp felt the very big explosion and turned to see a big amount of smoke coming from the hole. The three Seekers walked up to the smoking hole as Willow and Boscha knew this was their chance.
"We need to get there quickly." Boscha whispered.
Willow thought of an idea she was reluctant to go through, but knew there was no time for arguing with herself.
"You first, Boscha." Willow said before making a magic circle with her finger.
Before Boscha could ask what she was talking about, a bunch of vines appeared from the ground below her and wrapped around the Triclops Witch before they dragged her underground. Willow commanded the vines to travel straight towards Ultra Magnus' ship and they reappeared next to the platform, releasing Boscha as she panted in shock.
"Did…did you just bring me here? Willingly?" Boscha asked in absolute surprise.
"Yes, now just wait for me." Willow said quietly before she began heading towards the ship.
Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp looked at the ginormous hole that was emitting a large amount of smoke.
"Ooh, that'll do some damage." Starscream commented.
"Guess the Predacon found those Autobot intruders." Thundercracker said. "Let's just hope it can survive an explosion like that."
Willow kept running towards Boscha at the platform and was nearly there, but a familiar metallic foot stomped in front of her and the Plant Witch girl gasped fearfully at seeing Starscream standing over her.
"Willow, is it?" Starscream asked as Thundercracker and Skywarp showed up, as well.
"Looks like the Autobots were clever to send one of their little pets here." Skywarp sneered.
Boscha quickly hid behind the platform in order to keep herself from getting spotted by the Seekers, who kept standing over Willow.
(Linebreak)
The bottom of the open area cave was shown to be full of fallen rock rubble, but the Predacon soon emerged from it unscathed. The Predacon looked around the rubble-filled area and spotted something shiny among it before moving some of the rocks away, revealing the shiny object to be a Cybertronian optic. Looking deep into the optic, the Predacon started having a vision of a Predacon that came before it.
(Linebreak)
Back on the higher ground, Willow was still surrounded by Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp with Boscha hiding from them.
"Oh, I'm sorry. Were you trying to reach this ship to call for help perhaps?" Starscream asked mockingly before he pressed a nearby button, making the platform start to rise up.
Boscha quickly noticed this and climbed onto the platform before it was too high, making a gesture to Willow that meant 'hurry up'.
"Sorry, little Witch, but that won't be happening." Thundercracker said with a smirk. "You're stuck with us."
"You know, that's not a good thing for you three." Willow replied before her eyes glowed green.
Suddenly, a bunch of ginormous vines sprouted out of the ground and Starscream, Thundercracker and Skywarp became very shocked at seeing this before they got wrapped up by the vines, completely restraining them. Willow took this opportunity to run towards the platform, but Skywarp immediately teleported himself out of the vines and began walking after the Plant Witch girl. Willow used some vines to thrust herself upwards and she landed on the platform next to Boscha.
"Next time, you should drag yourself through the dirt as well." Boscha admitted.
"Don't tell me what I should do." Willow retorted.
The two Witch girl looked up to see Skywarp smirking down at them, causing Boscha to bring out a pair of potion bottles.
"Come any closer and you'll be dead metal." Boscha said threateningly.
"Let's agree to disagree." Skywarp replied, grabbing Boscha and tossing her aside on the ground as she groaned a bit.
Seeing Skywarp was about to attack with his claws, Willow looked down at the Apex Armor plate on the rock and took a deep breath before she jumped off, avoiding Skywarp's attack. Willow then landed right onto the Apex Armor and it suddenly started to transform, consuming her body in the process. Starscream had used his claws to cut himself and Thundercracker free from the vines, but the Seekers then looked astonished as the Apex Armor had fully transformed into it's bigger form with Willow in the main helmet area.
"Woah! This is…great!" Willow remarked, checking out her new armor.
"You have got to be kidding me." Boscha said to herself in disbelief.
Willow then turned her attention to Starscream and his two Seeker lieutenants, who backed away nervously.
"What's wrong, Scream? Are you and your friends too scared to fight someone using your toys?" Willow asked tauntingly.
However, everyone heard a familiar beast sound and a small object bounced off Willow's head, rolling in front of the Seekers and revealing to be the Predacon optic.
"What do you know? It does fetch." Starscream admitted as he looked at the sky.
Willow heard some low growling and she turned around to see the Predacon landing on Ultra Magnus' ship, much to her worridness.
"Oh Titan." Willow whimpered before she started running away, screaming fearfully.
Unfortunately, the Predacon immediately pounced onto the Plant Witch girl and pinned her down, while Boscha looked on in absolute worridness.
"What do I do? What do I do?" Boscha asked quietly.
(Linebreak)
Back in the bottom of the cave, Bulkhead, Wheeljack, Seaspray and Ultra Magnus soon managed to get themselves out of the stone rubble.
"Jackie? Are you…?" Bulkhead asked in concern, approaching his old friend.
"Still online." Wheeljack replied as he stood back up, stretching his injured arm a bit.
"Well, that went a bit poorly." Seaspray admitted while stepping out of the large rock pile.
"That's because any first-cycle cadet knows better than to fire an explosive projectile in a confined space!" Ultra Magnus scolded, marching up to the aquatic Wrecker.
"Even if I intended the confined space to be the beast's stomach?" Seaspray asked rhetorically with a glare.
"Uh, guys…" Wheeljack said as he and Bulkhead tried to intervene.
"Your actions continue to be just one step removed from getting us all scrapped!" Ultra Magnus berated Seaspray, who was just about ready to get physically violent with him.
"With all due respect, sir, the Predacon's loose and Willow and Boscha are out there alone!" Bulkhead reminded.
"You two can stay here and keep squabbling like Sparklings, but we're gonna go find them!" Wheeljack declared before he and Bulkhead brought out their weapons and ram through a nearby tunnel.
"Permission to give them some cover, sir?" Seaspray questioned with a raised eyebrow.
(Linebreak)
The Predacon relentlessly slashed its ginormous claws against Willow, who shouted worriedly as the Apex Armor managed to shield her from the attacks.
"Go ahead! Make a wreck of her, as you no doubt did the Wreckers!" Starscream called.
"Just more entertainment for us!" Skywarp laughed.
As she kept watching Willow get attacked by the Predacon, Boscha was still thinking about what she could do to help someone she's been making fun of since she was little. The triclops Witch soon formed a fireball in her palm and formed a slightly determined look on her face.
"Let's hope I don't end up regretting this." Boscha said.
"Just a few more strikes and that armor will break apart, leaving the Witch at the beast's mercy." Thundercracker said with a smirk.
"Good to hear." Starscream replied.
"Starscream, status report." Megatron ordered on the com-link as the Predacon was now tossing Willow in its jaws.
"Master, we have secured the bone and the Predacon is dealing with one of the Autobots' Witch pets as we speak." Starscream informed, holding the Predacon eye in his fingers. "On my command, of course."
"Here we go again." Skywarp muttered while shaking his head.
"I will not risk loosing a precious commodity to your arrogance!" Megatron scowled firmly.
The Predacon then slammed Willow hardly onto the ground, leaving her in a big crater.
"Is that…the best you can do?!" Willow asked resiliently, only for the Predacon to then unleash a fire blast down on her as Boscha looked on in shock.
"Have the beast return with my prize immediately!" Megatron ordered Starscream. "You can stay behind and finish the Autobots."
"Yes, master." Starscream replied before he gained a frustrated frown. "Assuming I can course the brainless brute into-"
However, the Seekers became shocked when they saw the Predacon flying in front of them and it pinned Starscream against the ground, while Thundercracker and Skywarp got out of the way. The Predacon snarled angrily in Starscream's face before it picked up the Predacon eye with its jaws and started flying away.
"What?! You never obey my commands!" Starscream complained.
"Obviously because it doesn't like you." Thundercracker replied, smirking teasingly.
Starscream only growled in annoyance as he stood up and faced his two lieutenants.
"You heard our master, we must locate the Autobots! As soon as I retrieve what belongs to me." Starscream said as he approached Willow in the Apex Armor and saw she wasn't moving, letting out a few tsks and keeling down. "Even the strongest armor can't protect the weakest of creatures."
But suddenly, the Apex Armor grabbed Starscream and he was shocked to see Willow glaring right at him.
"This thing protected you, didn't it?" Willow questioned before shoving Starscream back.
The Plant Witch girl used the Apex Armor's incredible strength to grab Starscream by the arm and toss him around, throwing him straight into Thundercracker.
"You're gonna pay for that, Witch!" Skywarp stated angrily before shooting his blaster at Willow, who was undamaged due to the Apex Armor's durability.
Willow began charging forward and she knocked Skywarp right over her, something that Starscream and Thundercracker saw once they got up. But then, the two Seekers narrowly avoided a fireball from behind and they turned to see Boscha standing near them.
"You don't get to call Willow a weakling! That's my thing!" Boscha declared with a glare.
"Thanks for bringing that up!" Willow called out sarcastically.
"This Witch is all mine!" Thundercracker announced as he swiped his claws at Boscha.
The triclops Witch avoided the claws attack and she fired two more fireballs at Thundercracker, blasting him back. Starscream quickly fired a missile at Willow and she caught it with her bare hand before it consumed her in a big explosion. However, Willow jumped right out of the smoke and knocked Starscream away with a powerful drop-kick. Thundercracker and Skywarp started to attack Willow with their claws on both sides, but the Plant Witch girl managed to block all of them with her armor's unbreakable steel and she smacked the two Seekers around with some impressive wrestling moves, even getting some assistance from Boscha as she launched some fire projectiles and explosive Potion bottles at Thundercracker and Skywarp. Back at the hole, the Wreckers emerged from it to see Willow punching and kicking Skywarp away.
"Now who's doing the Wrecking?!" Willow asked in determination, avoiding an incoming attack from Thundercracker and flipping him onto the ground hard.
Boscha tossed two Potions at Skywarp's feet and they encased them in sticky yellow substances.
"What the slag is this?!" Skywarp asked in shock, trying to free his legs.
"Just an early potion project I cooked up at Hexside!" Boscha replied before she blasted Skywarp into a boulder with a fireball.
"Willow?" Bulkhead asked in surprise as he and the others fully emerged from the hole.
"I don't believe it. She and Boscha are working together." Wheeljack admitted.
"Perhaps you weren't wrong about the two Witches after all." Ultra Magnus said to Seaspray, who smirked in response.
Willow kicked Skywarp down and Boscha managed to blast Thundercracker with a flaming Grudgby ball. Starscream stood up to see both his Seeker lieutenants down and he bared out his claws at the girls.
"You two do know that I've vanquished many Autobots in the war, don't you?" Starscream questioned in anger.
"Big deal. I'm the one who snuffed out Hardshell." Willow retorted.
"Who?" Boscha asked.
"Long story." Willow said.
Starscream kept glaring at the two Witch girls and they did the same thing, until the air commander noticed the Wreckers rushing up to them and gained a worried expression.
"Retreat!" Starscream ordered as he transformed and flew away, while Thundercracker and Skywarp recovered.
"I'm okay with that!" Thundercracker stated.
"I don't wanna get smacked around anymore!" Skywarp added.
Both Seekers transformed and flew after Starscream as Willow let out a frustrated groan.
"And things were just getting interested." Boscha said as there was a small moment of silence between her and Willow. "Hey, Willow. I've gotta say that you…weren't half bad with that armor."
Willow was absolutely shocked to hear that her old bully had given her a minor compliment and she looked down awkwardly.
"Uh…thanks, I guess." Willow said before the Wreckers met up with them. "They managed to get the bone."
"So we pretty much failed this whole mission." Boscha added.
"I wouldn't say it was a complete failure." Wheeljack reassured. "You two managed to stop fighting each other and work together."
"Well…I guess we did." Willow admitted as Boscha also looked embarrassed, floating right next to Willow on her Witch staff.
"Jackie's right. The two of you brought your A games, girls. Like a pair of true Wreckers." Seaspray remarked kindly, nudging on the Apex Armor's shoulder.
Willow smiled at Seaspray in response and Boscha managed to muster up her own small smile for the aquatic Wrecker, who kept his focus on them, Bulkhead and Wheeljack.
"And I want to remember all of us being just like this." Seaspray said before turning to Ultra Magnus with an unhappy frown. "Before all the rust sets in."
Before anyone even knew it, Seaspray transformed and started using his all-terrain features to drive away.
"Wait, Seaspray…hold on!" Boscha called, confused and surprised by the aquatic Wrecker's sudden departure.
"Where's he going?" Willow asked.
"…Solo." Wheeljack said depressingly.
"Again?!" Willow questioned in disbelief.
"Sprays just broke up the team." Bulkhead said with a sad expression.
The Wreckers continued to watch Seaspray drive away as Boscha started to gain a sad expression, feeling like she's just lost another potential friend.
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