Hello and Happy Fourth of July, everyone! This is once again SuperHeroTimeFan coming back to you once again, now with a second brand-new Chapter for today of Independence Day of 2020, of my story, Transformation of Ever After High! The support I have been given for this story is really incredible, and I am glad to have made it this far. I am so happy that you are supporting me with this. It really is a pleasure to delve into a new kind of story. Thank you to Cloud4012, Masters123lfm, Kamen Rider Chrome and AlienTokusatsuDuelistMangaGeek for your continued support and help, as well as advice and ideas. And now, thanks to Nitro Zeus for helping out as well. Just like the last Chapter, this Chapter takes two episodes of Ever After High and makes them into one You'll like what I have in store for here. Thanks again to Nitro Zeus for his ideas, and also, thanks to Cloud4012 for his advice on doing Ever After High stories. It helped me out a lot, since this is my first one. Now, with that being said, here is my new chapter, the second one for today! Please be sure to review, rate, and as always, please enjoy!
Chapter 8: Instruments of Destruction
Ever since Poppy became a new Knight, and formed the new faction of neutral students known as Roybels, popularity had risen for all the Knights, and even the Autobots as well. Jazz, Smokescreen and Mirage were in particular among them.
As Rosabella was taking care of Sparkplug the Scraplet the night after Poppy had arrived, she noticed Optimus Prime drive up. She, with everyone else around, looked to him as he transformed, with Rowan, Marylyn, Raven and Briar leading Poppy to meet him.
"I have heard you wanted to see me?" Optimus Prime asked Rowan.
"I'd like you to meet our newest Knight," Rowan said, gesturing to Poppy, who could only look at Optimus Prime in amazement. "Poppy O'Hair."
"Wow," Poppy said. "It's an honor to meet you."
"As it is for me too," Optimus Prime said. "I have also been told by Smokescreen that you have a special gift."
"Yeah," Poppy said as her hair started to glow again. "Guess that's a sign that there's Energon nearby."
"We will help you train with both your new responsibilities and skills as a Knight, as well as with the Gift," Optimus Prime offered. He looked to see Smokescreen, Jazz and Mirage approaching. "It is a pleasure to see you all again."
"Good to be back, Sir," Smokescreen said. "Ultra Magnus gives his regards from the other side of the Planet."
"I am fortunate that the leader of the Elite Guard is still functioning," Optimus Prime said. "I will need you to stay here for the next few days," he told them. "For the time being until we discover more about our investigation, we will need more Autobots to ensure that the Decepticons do not attack again."
"You can count on us, Optimus," Jazz nodded. "And with any luck, when I find Flip Side, I'll be able to reclaim my Talisman."
"Flip Side?" Rosabella asked as she walked over.
"Oh, what's the big deal?" Ternir asked, walking over as well. "You've smashed a dozen Decepticons, I'm sure. You don't need anyone else's help."
"With Flip Side, there's always a reason for help," Jazz said. "She snuck into one of our bases during the War for Cybertron and decimated it within an hour," he said, surprising the Knights. "It was the very same day that Megatron raided Iacon for the AllSpark."
"So it's not just a game, Ternir," Briar said. "If you would stop focusing on taking away my destiny, you'd probably know that."
"Oh, I'm sure," Ternir said before glinting out the corner of her eye. "Catch!" she called, throwing something at Briar.
Briar gasped and let her sword transform from her Talisman. With it, she slashed it apart, revealing to be a set of needles.
"Really?" Rowan asked.
"Just testing," Ternir said. "She's gonna prick her finger sooner or later."
"If you have nothing to contribute…" Mirage said, causing Ternir to look at him as he towered over her. "You might want to leave… now."
Ternir narrowed her eyes and left without a word.
"Flip Side is also a Master of Disguises," Optimus Prime went on, having been silent through the personal ordeal. "And as we have told the Knights, but no one else, for safety reasons, she could be disguised as a student in this school."
"Well, I'm sure that Sparkplug could help out there," Rosabella said. "I'll admit, I'm not that big a fan when it comes to fights, but I'm willing to help, especially since my Scraplet could possibly seek her out in seconds."
"You'd be willing to help us, Rosabella?" Raven asked, surprised.
"If anyone is impersonating my friends, they've got another thing coming." Rosabella said.
"Very well," Optimus Prime nodded. "Rosabella, you are free to help us, but keep this information dark. We do not want to start a panic."
"Thanks," Rosabella said as Flip Side quietly watched from the shadows. "You won't regret this, Optimus."
"So… they've made finding me a top priority, huh?" Flip Side asked quietly to herself. "No matter. It's too late now that I've almost deciphered where the data on the AllSpark and Megatron are." She said before walking away.
Later, in the streets of Book End, as soon as the Autobots left, Ternir was walking through, kicking a can and muttering to herself.
"Everyone knows I'm the superior party girl," Ternir said as she focused on what she was kicking. "Briar doesn't deserve the destiny she has, especially since she's some make-believe Knight," she muttered before eventually crushing the can under her foot. "Those Autobots too!"
"Sounds like we're not exactly fans of the same people."
Ternir gasped and looked around. "Who's there?" she asked, only to get a soft chuckle in response. "Please… show yourself."
"All you had to do was ask nicely."
Ternir heard the voice come near her and turned to see Melody walking towards her.
"Melody?" Ternir asked. "What… what's going on?"
"Let's just say that I'm not too big a fan of the Autobots too, or that Briar has decided to make her destiny a better one," Melody said. "So, since we have a common goal, my friend, I want to make a deal."
"As if I'd make a deal with a Rebel." Ternir scoffed.
"Oh, but you haven't even heard it yet," Melody said. "See, tomorrow, I need as much bandwidth for a certain search I'm doing, something that will be very beneficial for us all," she said. "And because of a test that fool of a teacher, Rumpelstiltskin, is giving an online test, I won't have the extra boost I need."
"So what do you need me to do?" Ternir asked.
"You know where I'm going," Melody said. "Make sure it all goes to me."
"And what's in it for me, like you're implying?" Ternir questioned.
"If all goes according to plan… you'll get Briar Beauty's time as the party girl for life." Melody smirked.
Ternir gasped. Granted, she was surprised that Melody, of all people, was offering her something, or that she was devious enough to come up with a plan like this. What surprised her more was that this deal possibly had her inheriting Briar's destiny. She did not think much of how Briar would go into her deep sleep, all she wanted was to be the party girl of Ever After High. So, after a while of thinking, she held out her hand.
Melody grinned and shook Ternir's hand.
"So… where do I start?" Ternir asked.
The next day, Rowan was with Poppy and Smokescreen at an open area of the Enchanted Forest, Poppy with her Talisman weapon ready and her hand to the ground.
"So, remind me how this is supposed to help me hone my skills?" Poppy asked.
"So far, your hair has been glowing around certain areas of the school," Rowan said. "We're not gonna make you into a tool for finding Energon, that would be wrong, so we're gonna help you discover it on your own."
"You did say your hair glowed when I drove you past here before night fell yesterday." Smokescreen pointed out.
"Well, let's see what I can sense," Poppy said as she closed her eyes and started to focus. Feeling the Energon in the ground, her hair started to glow a golden color. After a while, she opened her eyes, but not before her hair glowed more violently. She gasped and held it down, causing it to stop. "Okay, I'm sensing Energon around us," she said. "But under the school… there's something else… I just don't know what it is."
"Oh, right," Rowan said. "Before you head to your next class, there's something I need to tell you, something that you and Rosabella need to know before we—"
Before Rowan could go on, everyone heard a scream.
"That was Briar!" Smokescreen exclaimed.
"I'm coming!" Bulkhead yelled, running into the school. Since the doors were extra large for students like Tiny, Autobots like Bulkhead were able to fit in as well.
"Let's roll!" Rowan called out as he and Poppy let loose their weapons, with Smokescreen following.
"Girls, calm down!" Raven tried to get through to a panicking Briar Beauty, Ashlynn Ella, Cedar Wood and Apple White. "I'm sure that—"
"I'm here!" Bulkhead yelled, arriving and aiming his cannons around. "What's going on?!"
"We heard you scream," Rowan said as he and Poppy aimed their Talisman weapons around while Smokescreen aimed his blasters. "What's going on? Decepticons?"
"Not quite," Briar said, calming everyone down, but still sounding frantic. "The MirrorNet is down!"
"Wait… that's what this is all about?" Bulkhead asked. "No one attacked?"
"I can't update my chapter page!" Cedar panicked.
"I can't share with everyone the cute shoes I found!" Ashlynn exclaimed.
"And I can't tell everyone about the hexcellent new band playing at the Red Shoes Dance Club tonight!" Briar exclaimed.
"I think you just did." Bulkhead said.
"No, not like in the flesh… or metal," Briar said. "But with everyone else!"
"We can do that all by talking too, you know." Raven pointed out.
"And we've got comlinks," Smokescreen pointed out as well. "What's the big idea?"
"The big idea, Smokescreen, is that Rumpelstiltskin's online-only test is today! And we have to get it done by sunset!" Apple exclaimed.
"Online-Only?" Bulkhead asked as Raven gulped.
"Ooh, Scrap," Raven said. "Okay, now we panic." She said.
"No one is panicking!" Rowan exclaimed, stopping the girls in their tracks. "I'm sure this is something we can fix. Let's see what Dexter and Humphrey are up to."
Elsewhere, at an unknown location in the school, Flip Side, still using her Melody disguise, was decrypting several files.
"Ternir, whatever you're doing, keep it up," Flip Side said. "I'm getting everything I need… but I wonder for how much longer?" she pondered before placing her hand to the side of her head. "Commander Starscream, I request some extra reinforcements to my search," she said. "I have a human doing most of the work, but knowing the Knights, they will have caught on, and will no doubt soon trace my work."
"Acknowledged," Starscream replied. "I am dispatching Barricade to your location."
"Good," Flip Side said before changing her broadcast. "Barricade, this is Flip Side. If Commander Starscream has already ordered you to assist me, here is what I need you to do…"
In the room that Melody was trapped in, the real Melody Piper was looking at the news posts that Blondie had made, specifically at the fights that Rowan and the rest of the Knights of Iacon had been in ever since she was captured and impersonated. Paying close to several of their fights, she started to copy them, using a pipe from the room she was kept in as her weapon. She swung it around the same way that Rowan or any of the other Knights used their weapons, and started to replay some of the footage. As she was practicing, she heard something outside. Pausing her video, she went to the door and placed her ear to it.
"They won't catch onto me, not yet. Make sure you carry it out, understood?"
"I don't know what you're doing…" Melody said as she clenched her fist. "But you won't get away with it!"
In the Computer Lab, everyone was looking to Dexter as he was trying to fix the MirrorNet service.
"So, what's going on?" Rowan asked.
"From the looks of it, someone is hogging all the bandwidth," Dexter said. "We need to find out who."
"I've got to get going to my first class," Poppy said to Rowan. "But if I find out anything out of the ordinary, I'll let you know."
"Good idea," Rowan said. "Good luck on your classes."
Poppy smiled and ran off.
"We'd better see what's going on ourselves," Dexter said as he looked to Rowan. "Could or could not be a Decepticon. We don't know until we see for ourselves."
"Right," Rowan nodded before looking to Humphrey trying to sort out some cables. "Humphrey, think you can hold down the fort here?"
"Sure," Humphrey said. "Just don't expect a miracle any time soon."
"I can help you here." Bulkhead said.
"I'll help see what's going on." Smokescreen said as he walked out of the room, with everyone else going to check on the problem for themselves.
Outside, Daring was on his MirrorPad until Dexter and the others ran up to him.
"Daring, by chance, are you downloading any large files from the MirrorNet?" Dexter asked.
"Sure am, little bro," Daring said as he showed them his MirrorPad. "Just a dozen high res pics for my new photo album."
"Gonna have to stop at that one," Rowan said, using his Gauntlet to put the MirrorPad on data mode. "Let's see who's next."
"Hey, this won't cover it!" Daring called before seeing his MirrorPad going slower. "So much for high resolution." He grumbled.
Elsewhere, Flip Side was going through her laptop until she heard a familiar clattering at the door. She gulped and put her laptop away before seeing Sparkplug ran at her.
"Down! Down!" Flip Side ordered, even getting on the windowsill.
"Sparkplug, get back here!" Rosabella called out as she grabbed Sparkplug the Scraplet. "Sorry, Melody. I don't know why he keeps going after you."
"No, it's alright," Sparkplug said. "I was just downloading some… remixes of my favorite songs, that's all."
"Maybe he likes music," Rosabella pondered. "He does like to go to you a lot."
"Um, yeah," Flip Side said, unaware that Rosabella was using a cup from the last mean Flip Side gave her to listen through the door. "I'm sure that's it."
"She's slipping!" Melody said to herself.
"Well, if you know any good tunes for Sparkplug, just let me know," Rosabella said, walking out. "Also, I got a text from Briar. Get off the MirrorNet for now, because it's going slow as a troll."
"Oh, I think I'm just about done…" Flip Side smirked before sending over all the data she had.
In another room, Blondie was looking at the broadcasts she had made so far on her MirrorPad. Suddenly, it turned off, causing her to stutter. She looked to see Rowan and Dexter using their Talismans to put her equipment on data mode before leaving.
"Emergency!" Rowan called out. "Gotta go!"
"That is so not just right!" Blondie said in a huff.
"Okay, that goes there…" Bulkhead said, connecting some large wires while Humphrey was taking care of a few others. Soon, they started to spark. "Boom! There we go!"
"Yes!" Humphrey cheered.
"No change," Dexter said as everyone came back in. "The MirrorNet is still not responding."
"You try turning it off and on again?" Smokescreen asked as he walked by. "I just did a check around, shut off some devices, blasted more… I think Rogelio's laptop is in need of a replacement."
"We'd have to reset it at one place," Dexter said, looking to a tower. "The heart of the MirrorNet, the Connection Tower."
"Let's get going…" Rowan said, leading everyone up.
Back on the ground, Poppy was in the middle of Hero Training, getting past several trained dragons and using her Talisman Hair Flails to fight back. Everyone looked to her impressed as she finished the course, the last of the dragons falling and her flails returning to her hair.
"Perfect time!" Coach Gingerbread called out. "Seems you've got this down, O'Hair!"
"Thanks!" Poppy smiled before seeing a police car pass by. As she did, her Talisman went off. "That can't be good." She said before running after the police car.
The police car continued to drive as Poppy chased after it. She looked to the officer inside, but all of a sudden, he started to fizz.
"What?" Poppy asked before the police car drove faster. She stopped running in front of Bumblebee, who was parked next to where Grimlock was playing with other knights.
"Poppy?" Bumblebee asked, driving on over. "What's going on?"
"Bumblebee, thank goodness," Poppy said. "That police car… I don't think it's a real police car."
"Meaning what?" Bumblebee asked, confused.
"It had a driver, but he didn't seem all there," Poppy explained. "Just went in and out like a MirrorPad Screen."
"That's a Decepticon, and he was using a holographic rider!" Bumblebee exclaimed as he looked to see the police car heading to the Connection Tower. "I know him!" he exclaimed as he opened up his door. "Get in! We're going after him!"
"Right!" Poppy nodded and entered Bumblebee before the two drove off after the Decepticon.
Meanwhile, everyone had reached the top of the Connection Tower, and there was someone pulling out the wires. He was short, had a beard, and wore dark-green clothes and a large black hat, his entire size being the size of an imp.
"Professor Rumpelstiltskin?!" Briar exclaimed.
"Why are we not surprised?" Rowan asked.
"Why would you do this?" Dexter asked.
"Let me guess, you want to make us fail…" Raven started out.
"Give us all detention…" Apple continued.
"And spin my straw into gold!" Professor Rumpelstiltskin laughed.
"Yeah, in your dreams." Rowan scoffed.
"It won't work now that we know your little plan." Cedar said.
"And I'm sure the headmaster would like to know it too." Ashlynn glared, causing Rumpelstiltskin to gasp.
"What do you say you cancel the test and give us more time to study?" Briar asked.
"Grr! Fine!" Rumpelstiltskin said in a huff.
"And, I think it's only fairest that he fixes what he broke." Apple smirked.
"What I broke? I broke nothing!" Rumpelstiltskin argued. "I planned to do more, but someone was already tearing out wires when I got up here! I only added to make you all… eh, you know the rest."
"Wait, someone else was slowing down the MirrorNet?" Briar asked, surprised.
"Looked a lot like you, not sure." Rumpelstiltskin shrugged.
"You don't think it could've been Ternir… do you?" Briar asked.
All of a sudden, the wall crashed, and the same police car was shown when everyone looked out. It transformed into a large robot, one that seemed to have brass knuckles, as well as a machine gun around his hand and a baton blade in the other, with the words To Punish & Enslave written on both door panels on the shoulders. This was Barricade.
"Now that the damage has been done, thanks to Flip Side, I'll be taking this data." Barricade said, scanning the MirrorNet terminal before shooting at everyone.
"Look out!" Raven called out, using her Talisman to deflect the blasts. As she did, she noticed one of Barricade's doors showing a twisted version of the Decepticon Logo, the same one that Starscream had on his Crimson Tyrant. She glared at him. "You're a Knight of Kaon!"
"And you of Iacon, I see," Barricade chuckled. "I can see the resemblance you have with Ravenicus now. No wonder everyone thinks you're her reincarnation."
"What did you just do here?" Apple asked, trying to sound imposing as a queen would. "Tell us now!"
"Yeah," Bumblebee said as he arrived with Poppy, the Autobot now transformed and aiming his blaster at Barricade. "What's going on, Barricade?"
Barricade chuckled. "You're too late, Autobot," he said. "I already have what I came here for. If you want it, you're gonna have to take it from me."
"Is that challenge open?" Smokescreen asked as he walked in, aiming his blaster.
Poppy grinned as she readied her flails while Raven leapt onto Bumblebee.
"Your move, Barry." Poppy smirked.
Barricade chuckled again. "I love it when they think they stand a chance." He smirked before blasting everyone around. They all took shelter, allowing him to transform and drive off.
"Rowan, look over there!" Briar called, seeing Flip Side in her true form watching them before transforming into a motorcycle and riding off into Book End. "That's gotta be Flip Side!"
"Okay, everyone, get back!" Rowan ordered. "Someone get a hold of Optimus or Ratchet, and tell them what happened! Briar, come with me! We're going after Flip Side!"
"Right!" Briar nodded before she and Rowan leapt out from the top of the tower. Using their Talismans to slow their fall, they landed on the ground and ran after Flip Side.
Barricade raced through Book End away from Flip Side, with Bumblebee and Smokescreen chasing after him, Raven and Poppy riding inside of them respectively. Luring them to a bridge, he transformed, causing them to let out their human partners and transform as well.
"You care too much for these humans, don't you?" Barricade asked. "You'd better be careful. One of these days, they're gonna end up stabbing you in the back."
"No more than you did, Barricade." Smokescreen glared.
"Why are you here?" Raven asked as she and Poppy prepared themselves for battle. "Surely, not to preserve the law."
"That was one of my duties on Cybertron, to enforce the laws and decrees that Megatron set forth," Barricade said. "It is still my duty today. And with this information I have, I shall free Megatron again, just as Commander Starscream intends to do."
"You're delusional, Decepticon." Poppy rolled her eyes.
"Just surrender, and I won't harm a single soul in this village." Barricade said.
"If you think we'll fall for that, you'd better think again." Bumblebee said, reaching for his sword.
"This all could've been avoided," Barricade fake-sighed. "I guess what Flip Side said about you is true… you're all hard to crack. Let's see if I can prove her wrong."
Barricade sent forth blasts from his arm towards Bumblebee, but he took out his shield and deflected the attacks. As he did, Smokescreen ran and fired at Barricade, causing him to evade before taking out his baton, causing it to light up with electricity.
"Hope you haven't forgotten about us!" Raven called as she and Poppy leapt at Barricade.
"Don't worry… I never forget a face." Barricade grinned before slamming his baton at Raven, who blocked it with the Skybreaker Sword while Poppy lashed at him with her hair flails.
"Neither do we." Poppy smirked.
Elsewhere, Flip Side arrived near the Tower Hair Salon, where Ternir was just walking out of. She looked to the Decepticon and gasped as she walked up and grabbed her by the collar before pinning her to the wall.
"What… what do you want?" Ternir asked as Flip Side glared at her.
"You were spotted redirecting the bandwidth to me?!" Flip Side seethed.
"What? What did I ever do for a Decepticon?!" Ternir asked in shock before getting tossed to the ground, where she was kicked. "Wait… only one person knew about the plan," she realized as she looked up. "Melody?"
"We could have been friends," Flip Side mocked, using Melody's voice to confirm Ternir's theory, shocking her. "But if they trace it to me through you… that can't happen," she said before releasing a device with a cord on it and a claw on the other. She placed the cord onto the back of Ternir's head and the claw into hers, causing it to glow. "The Cortical Psychic Patch should erase this silly theory from you…" she said before the glowing stopped. "Gonna have to thank Shockwave for that," she grinned. "Out of all his experiments… that one came in handy the most."
"Flip Side!"
Flip Side chuckled and turned around, seeing Rowan and Briar advance on her with their swords. She smirked and let out two of her own.
"What did you do to my cousin?" Briar asked angrily.
"I thought you'd be thankful that I did a number on her," Flip Side said, her voice now back to normal. She noticed several students clamoring around as the three circled each other. "I guess you're still trying to figure out my identity at the school?"
"What does she mean?" Daring asked.
"We know you're impersonating someone," Rowan said. "Once Ternir comes to, we'll find out from her."
"Go ahead and try," Flip Side grinned, forming her blades into a rifle. "But you'll have to get past me first!" she called before firing.
Briar formed her Talisman shield and absorbed the blast, her Gauntlet setting switched. She deactivated the shield and leapt into the air, slashing at Flip Side before allowing Rowan to roll over her back to land a kick on her. As she held up her blade, he grabbed Briar and tossed her at Flip Side, the two locking blades.
"You're going down!" Briar exclaimed, pushing Flip Side away.
"You might want to worry less about me and more about your cousin," Briar said. "It was due to her that I was able to get the information and send it to Barricade, after all."
"Gee, why am I not surprised?" Briar asked before holding out her left hand. Another sword formed in her hand before she crossed both in front of her. "She was willing to do anything to put me to sleep earlier than usual. To align herself with an old-timer like you is no surprise."
"Did you just call me old?!" Flip Side exclaimed angrily. "I am not an old 'Con! I am barely even at that age! I am a blooming younger scout!"
"Whatever, old lady." Briar said before sending quicker slashes at Flip Side, forcing her back before Rowan joined in, forcing her into the crowd.
"Move!" Holly yelled as the crowd parted for Rowan and Briar to force Flip Side through. Eventually, the two lit up their blades and slashed her backwards.
"You'd better spill now!" Rowan ordered.
All of a sudden, Rowan and Briar heard Ternir come to.
Flip Side smirked. "You want to know more about me?" she asked. "Better ask her first." She sent a rocket at Ternir before transforming and driving off back to Ever After High.
Rowan gasped as he and Briar held out their Talismans. Soon, the rocket deactivated and fell to the ground, just as Ternir woke up.
"What… what happened?" Ternir asked.
"We saved you, that's what happened," Briar said as she walked up and helped Ternir up. "Now… you have some explaining to do."
Back at the bridge, Bumblebee was evading shots from Barricade, who slashed him away with his baton blade. However, Smokescreen punched him from the side, sending him back.
"My turn now!" Poppy exclaimed as her hair started to glow. Tossing her flails to the side, she let Barricade trip over them, allowing Raven to send an energy slash at him, sending him forward and allowing Bumblebee to slash him backwards.
"Better luck next time." Barricade smirked as he got back up. Transforming back into his police car mode, he drove off.
"He's getting away!" Raven exclaimed.
"Don't worry about him," Bumblebee said as he activated his Comms. "Optimus, Barricade got information from the MirrorNet Tower, but I was able to can him and get the information he stole. Seems that the Decepticons are trying to go after Megatron too, but don't know his location is EAH. Two other locations were mentioned, though, one being the Winter Kingdom and the other being the 1001 Deserts."
"Most interesting," Optimus Prime said. "I will dispatch Sandstorm to the 1001 Deserts, and have Ratchet accelerate his cold defenses for us all when we go to investigate the Winter Kingdom," he said. "No doubt the Decepticons will be there too. Meet with the humans, prepare in the next couple of days, and ensure that we are all ready for a joint operation."
"Understood," Bumblebee hung up and transformed back with Smokescreen. "Let's head back to school."
"You do have an extended time for your test now, after all." Smokescreen added on.
"But first… I think we have other matters to attend to." Poppy said.
Back at Ever After High, Ternir was in the Headmaster's office, with the rest of the Knights of Iacon surrounding her as a screen of her in the Connection Tower was shown.
"So, not only did Rumpelstiltskin try to ruin everyone's chances of passing his test, but you played a part in nearly destroying the MirrorNet as well?" Milton asked sternly as the rest of the Knights, including Miko, Maddie, Lizzie, Ashlynn and Hunter looked to her with the same expressions. "And, from what witnesses say from the Tower Hair Salon, you allied yourself with a Decepticon, knowing what she was doing?"
"Why?" Briar asked. "I know we never saw eye to eye, but why did you do it?"
"Because… because you were living the perfect destiny!" Ternir exclaimed. "You're supposed to sleep for a hundred years, not live la Vida Loca!"
"So that's it?" Rowan asked. "You helped aid a Decepticon because you were jealous?"
"Because I want to be the party girl of Ever After High," Ternir said. "And she didn't appear to me as a Decepticon when we met last night. She was in a human disguise."
"Who was it?" Raven asked.
"I… I can't remember," Ternir said. "But she promised me the destiny and the title of the party girl I was wishing for," she said. "It was too good to turn down… so I took the offer."
"As the cost of exposing this school to the Decepticons?" Milton asked. "I may not have the highest opinion of the Transformers, but I will not tolerate deals with devils."
"Whoa, Milton…" Rowan said, surprised. The rest of the Knights had the same equal reaction.
"What… what are you saying?" Ternir asked.
"This," Milton said as he handed Ternir a paper. "Pack up your things… and never come back here again."
"But… but I'm the better Beauty! More than Briar!" Ternir argued. "I can live her destiny more than she can live as a Knight!"
"You should have thought about that before you aided the enemy," Milton glared. "Now… I had better see you gone by tomorrow morning," he said sternly. "So pack up and leave… effective immediately."
Ternir glared and got up. Taking the paper, she tossed it to the ground, sticking like a sword. Fists clenched, she turned around and left the room, slamming the door closed.
"I'm sorry this happened, Headmaster." Rowan apologized.
"I should be the one," Milton said. "I should have known better than to let her attend. She always was a sneaky one."
"Does this mean your opinion of the Autobots has changed?" Miko asked hopefully.
"Don't get the wrong idea, I'm still adjusting to them," Milton said. "But for now, yes… I'm starting to see they are the heroes we need… as are… most of you."
"We won't stop protecting this school and the rest of Book End, we promise." Raven smiled.
"You had better get going then," Milton said. "Because I am cancelling the test for all of you," he said, surprising them. "After all, why else would you take it… when you have already gained a perfect grade?"
Everyone smiled before they walked out, smiling at Milton.
"Maybe he's not so bad after all." Ashlynn said as soon as everyone left.
With everyone gone, Milton sighed before looking to more footage of what was going on ever since the Autobots arrived. "How much longer must this go on?" he asked. "Destiny must be set straight."
At the Autobot Base later, Ratchet was going over the data that Bumblebee and Smokescreen had collected. Jazz was with him, looking over more data on another monitor.
"Ratchet, what have you discovered?" Optimus Prime asked as he walked forward.
"This came from Ever After High, possibly where Flip Side is operating," Ratchet said. "A lot of this data confirms what we already know, Megatron near the school. We just are fortunate that they are unaware how close Megatron is."
"And Megatron is who?" Poppy asked as she and Rosabella looked to Rowan and Briar.
"The Leader of the Decepticon Army," Rowan explained. "Starscream is just the Commander. Megatron is underneath the school, frozen by something, and it seems that no one else knows about this besides us and the rest of Team Prime."
"That must have been what I was sensing earlier," Poppy realized. "I was picking up traces of Energon, but the one I was detecting must have belonged to Megatron."
"And now, we need to know just what he is doing there," Ratchet said. "It can be no coincidence that Megatron was hidden there. There would need to be a reason for that."
"What do we tell everyone else?" Rosabella asked.
"Nothing yet," Briar replied. "For now, this stays with our circle. Do you know how much panic there would be if everyone else found out too?"
"Good point," Rosabella said. "So, what information did Barricade steal?"
"Locations that hold information about Megatron's crash-landing, and possibly his true intentions," Ratchet replied. "So far, we know that the Winter Kingdom was where he crashed, but there is another file on the 1001 Deserts."
"That's something we'd have to ask Ali and her brother about," Rowan said. "We'll talk to them when we're off again."
"Sounds good," Jazz said before he heard some guitar playing, followed by someone doing vocal exercises. "Anyone want to tell me what that sweet beat it?"
"Oh, sorry, Jazz," Marylyn said as she and Raven looked up, the latter having a guitar in her hands. "We're practicing for our part in the Talent Show tomorrow."
"That tune is quite pleasant to hear," Ratchet said. "I think… that you might have a chance to win that competition tomorrow."
"Thanks, but tomorrow is just the tryouts," Raven said. "The Talent Show itself is on Thursday."
"Then, as one who believes in what Ravenicus set forth, we wish you good luck." Optimus Prime smiled.
The next day, at Ever After High, Raven and Marylyn walked up onto the stage, where Edmund Burton was walking in.
"Hello, Milton," Edmund tipped his hat. "I hear you expelled a Decepticon conspirator."
"I had no choice," Milton said before looking to the stage. "Now. Ms. Queen, and Ms. Merlin… what performance will you be doing for this year's talent show?"
Raven smiled and started to play a gentle tune. As she did, Marylyn prepared to sing, but was stopped by Milton.
"No, no!" Milton protested, causing Rowan to get up and clench his fist. "This performance is too… nice! Not evil enough!" he argued, getting the other students to glare. "If you will not do a performance suitable for your destiny…"
"You mean, as Ravenicus Prime?" Rowan asked.
"She chose her Destiny, written in the book," Humphrey said. "She's not gonna be the Evil Queen!"
"Ergo, it gives me the right to do something that isn't evil." Raven pointed out.
"Nevertheless, Sparrow Hood has already signed up for guitar." Milton said as Sparrow appeared out of nowhere to trill on his guitar.
"But we've been practicing this routine for a month!" Marylyn argued.
"Practice is for losers, oh!" Sparrow sang, only to get whacked in the face by Marylyn's staff.
"Yeah, that's not gonna stop us." Raven smirked.
"Fine," Milton grumbled, writing down Raven and Marylyn's names. "But only this one time."
Outside, Flip Side was riding around an empty building before transforming back, seeing a poster for the talent show being put up.
"Ah, another event for the students to self-indulge themselves in a mindless competition," Flip Side said as she slowly started to assume her Melody disguise and heading to where her clothes were hung up. She grinned as she closed every window and door before changing in the shadows. "A good day to not only watch winners and losers… but to also discover more of what I can find about Lord Megatron," she smirked as she put on her headphones. She walked out and stretched, letting the sun touch her body. "Better double-layer myself again," she said as she started to make her way back to the school. "Gotta be careful around that Scraplet."
At the same time, Rosabella was looking through pictures of everyone in her room while Darling was busy throwing daggers at a large dart board.
"Something on your mind?" Darling asked before one of her daggers was swallowed by Sparkplug before it could hit the target. Pouting, she picked up another. "You looking for that special someone? Or someone to help look after Sparkplug with you?"
"Oh, don't mind me," Rosabella said, thinking back to what she was told about there being a Decepticon disguising herself as one of the students. "I was just lost in thought, that's all."
"What were you thinking about?" Darling asked as she tossed a knife, which was once again eaten by Sparkplug. "You know, I think that Sparkplug needs to be trained some more. I worry for someone who's trying to double as the sword swallower for the Talent Show."
"Sorry about that. Sparkplug, come here and eat your bolts," Rosabella ordered as Sparkplug crawled over to a bowl with nuts and bolts in it. "You were there when that Decepticon attacked Rowan and Briar yesterday, right?"
"The one who revealed she was impersonating as someone in the school?" Darling asked, putting down her knives before walking over. "You think you're onto something?"
"Well, it's just a theory I have since Ternir left, but still something on my mind," Rosabella confirmed as she looked at pictures taken of Melody since the new year started, all showing her either with a serious look on her face or trying to escape from getting her shot taken. "Hasn't she seemed a bit… off to you? You know, even before Legacy Day?"
"Yeah, now that you mention it," Darling said. "Her tunes haven't been all that new. In fact, I think they're just remixes of her previous songs, but not much else."
"Then there's also what Briar told me about what Sparkplug did before I found him…
Flashback…
"You have to make sure this Scraplet doesn't go anywhere near metal," Briar told Rosabella as the two waited for Ratchet to arrive. "Phones, MirrorPads, metal buckles, Sparrow's guitar, or even the weapons for Hero Training," she listed. "And don't let him near any of the Autobots. They're still scared to death after the infestation we faced on Saturday."
"Okay," Rosabella said. "What else do I have to know?"
"Well, maybe keep him away from Melody." Briar said.
"Melody?" Rosabella asked, confused. "Why her? She's not metal?"
"Well, Melody thought he was a big rat when she first saw him, and he even bit her arm," Briar explained, causing Rosabella to gasp before glaring at Sparkplug. "We think it could be because of her always being around musical devices, but just for safety, keep Sparkplug away from her."
"Okay…"
Flashback End…
"Wait, so this guy not only made a mess of the halls, but tried to eat Melody too?" Darling asked as she looked to Sparkplug try to eat her laptop. She quickly ran and grabbed him. "Did Briar say he went after her headphones and not her arm?"
"No, she was pretty specific," Rosabella said. "But then again, yesterday, Sparkplug ran at Melody too. She is always so petrified of the little guy, more than anyone else was when they first saw him."
"So what are you saying?" Darling asked.
"That maybe…" Rosabella said as she looked to a picture of Melody, seeing something off about her reflection as she passed by Daring, admiring himself as always. "I need to pay her another visit."
Back in the secret room that Flip Side had, Melody was continuing to train from the videos of Rowan and the other Knights of Iacon in battle. As she was using her pipe as a weapon, she hit the door, causing it to budge open a little. She gasped before hearing footsteps and hid the pipe away.
Soon, Flip Side came in, ignoring the dent. She looked to Melody, now toying around with her MirrorPhone.
"Good news, Melody," Flip Side said as she started to scan the daughter of the Pied Piper. "My job here is almost complete. I won't have any use for you soon."
"Is there a bad news too?" Melody asked, pretending not to care.
"Wow, you're so down," Flip Side grinned before double-layering herself with a second scan. "Yes, there is. Since I won't need you soon… I won't see a reason to keep you around," she said, surprising Melody. "But enjoy what time you have left. You should be grateful that you'll still get to enjoy it." She said before walking out.
Melody kept a close eye on the door and took off her shoe. Right as it was about to close, she quietly slid it over, wedging it open. She looked to the door before picking up her phone and turning it back on. She took a deep breath and continued to train, eventually coming across the last known recording.
Outside, Jazz was in his vehicle mode, listening to the music that Raven was playing, as well as Marylyn's vocalizing voice.
"Ah, that's real soothing, ladies," Jazz said, causing Raven and Marylyn to smile. "I can't understand why Milton would want to turn you down."
"Beats me," Rowan said as he walked over, swinging his sword around. "I'm guessing it's the usual with him. The Bucket Head just wants to keep Raven from becoming good. He sees her as only the Evil Queen's daughter."
"After Thursday, I'm gonna prove him wrong." Raven smiled until Sparrow came by, playing his guitar loudly. So loud that it scared away several birds in the trees.
"Hey!" Jazz transformed and glared at Sparrow, causing him to stop playing. "I'm trying to enjoy the peaceful music here!"
"Whatever, Jazz," Sparrow grinned before playing again, getting Rowan to hold out his Talisman hand. "I'm gonna win the show with my own rocking talent!"
"Dream on!" Rowan called, blasting the ground beneath Sparrow and sending him into the tree.
"I can't understand how he was the son of one of the great fairytale heroes." Jazz sighed.
All of a sudden, Dexter drove over on Arcee. Everyone looked to him to see a giant ramp leading towards the balcony, the same one that led to Apple and Raven's room.
"Hey, guys!" Dexter called out. "You heard what my performance will be?"
"What?" Marylyn asked.
"I'm gonna ride Arcee up this ramp, to the other side of the room, landing safely in between the judges!" Dexter exclaimed, surprising them.
"I'm all against this, just to let you know," Arcee said. "But to keep you safe, I'll go along with it anyways, so don't think this will happen more than once."
"Um… did Milton approve of this?' Rowan asked.
"Yeah, he knows," Dexter said. "I told him Daring supported my decision. That was all it took for him to allow it."
"Well… good luck." Raven said nervously.
Dexter grinned as he put some goggles out of nowhere over his eyes. Arcee revved up, and the two rode up the ramp, just as Apple was coming for fresh air.
"Abort!" Arcee called out as she drove up the wall, causing Apple to scream.
"Watch it!" Cedar called from her room.
"Hey!" Holly exclaimed.
"Dexter!" Duchess shrieked before Dexter rode back down the ramp.
"What was that?!" Apple yelled.
"Sorry, a work in progress!" Dexter called out.
"So… with that aside…" Raven said as she looked to Rowan. "What act are you doing?"
"Just watch," Rowan said as he spun around his sword. He started to slash at the ground while performing parkour all around. As soon as he did, he continued to slash even more before returning to the point where he started. "Take a look."
Marylyn and Raven looked to each other before looking to the ground. "That's a lot of ruined soil." Raven said.
"Look from a higher view." Rowan grinned.
Jazz looked and picked up Raven and Marylyn. The two looked down and gasped upon seeing that all the strikes Rowan made was the symbol of Ever After High.
"Whoa!" Marylyn exclaimed. "I forgot you were such an artist, Rowan." She said.
"Yeah, you know all those drawings I do," Rowan said. "I thought I'd bring it all to life. Gonna practice with different things."
"I'd say you both have a chance then." Jazz smiled.
As everyone practiced for the Talent Show in the next two days, each had their strokes of luck. While Rowan managed to keep his art a secret for the big event, Dexter and Arcee continued to practice their stunt. With Raven and Marylyn, however, they were constantly getting interrupted by Sparrow trilling his guitar in their faces. Both held back the urge to go all out on him.
While everyone was practicing their acts, Flip Side was watching everyone from the shadows. As they practiced, she went to the computer rooms with every chance she had, and started to hack into the systems.
"Now… what else can we find out about where you are, Lord Megatron?" Flip Side grinned as the data flowed through.
Rosabella was walking by with Sparkplug until they heard fast typing coming from the Computer Lab. The two looked to each other before she knocked on the door.
"Hello?" Rosabella called, causing Flip Side to gasp before downloading what she had so far. "Who's in there?"
Quickly going back to her Melody disguise, Flip Side opened the door and calmly walked out.
"Sorry, had a project," Flip Side said. "I didn't mean to trouble you."
"Actually, I was hoping to meet with you," Rosabella said, causing Flip Side to stop, almost revealing a blaster hand. "Maybe tomorrow, though, before the Talent Show. There's something I wanted to ask you."
"Um, of course," Flip Side said. "I'm not participating, so I'm an open book."
"Yeah…" Rosabella said as she noticed Sparkplug jumping up and down, showing off his teeth as soon as Flip Side left. "That's what I'm hoping on."
A few days later, Melody was going over the videos she had one more time. After going along with the last known broadcast, she turned off her MirrorPhone and walked to the door, using a cup again to make sure that Flip Side was not there. When the coast was clear, she used her pipe to pry the door open. As soon as she was out, she grabbed her shoe and put it back on before running out. As she did, she looked to several posters down the hall, seeing that this was the day of the Talent Show.
"Wow, I was there for that long?" Melody asked before hearing some footsteps. Getting behind the door, she watched as Flip Side made her way into the halls. As soon as she passed the door she was hiding behind, she ran out.
Flip Side stopped walking upon hearing some distant footsteps. Looking around, she scanned to see if anyone was watching her. Upon seeing no one there, she turned around, only to get tapped on the shoulder.
"Melody?"
Flip Side turned around and looked to see Rosabella standing there, holding Sparkplug in her hands.
"Rosabella? Sorry, not the best time." Flip Side said.
"Actually, I'm tired of waiting," Rosabella said as she walked with Flip Side to her room. "You've been avoiding me the entire time I've wanted to talk to you, and my patience has been running thin. Time for you to answer some questions."
"When I'm good and…" Flip Side started before seeing her dorm room door open. "No…" she said before running in. She gasped to see the closet door open before running over. Upon seeing the secret compartment opened, with a bent pipe on the floor, she panted heavily, just as Rosabella came in.
"Melody?" Rosabella asked.
Flip Side growled before she yelled into the air, causing her eyes to glow red.
"Or… should I say… Flip Side?"
Flip Side panted as she turned to see Sparkplug running at her. She tried to stomp him, but he bit at her hip, exposing her Cybertronian alloys.
"Guess you're not as foolish as the others," Flip Side grinned as she formed a blade in her hand. "What did you do with Melody?"
"That's my question," Rosabella glared. "If you're not here… where is she?"
"It won't matter soon… because you'll be dead… you and your Scraplet." Flip Side said before forming a blaster in her other hand.
Rosabella gasped as she closed the door, just as Flip Side fired at her. The blast made a hole in the door as she ran down the hall, Flip Side now advancing at her.
In the auditorium, Maddie was walking up to Cedar, who had a puppet in her hand.
"And that was Cedar and her puppet, Splinter!" Maddie announced. "Who, for some reason, can only lie."
In response to the act, Cedar got a near perfect score, Lizzie being the only one not to like the act.
"Next, we have Dexter Charming! And his stunt featuring the Autobot, Arcee!" Maddie announced as everyone looked to see Dexter on Arcee. "What is your act?" she asked before a ramp appeared.
"I will ride this ramp on Arcee across the loop, to that booth," Dexter said, pointing to where Lizzie, Kitty, and Maddie's mouse, Earl Grey, were. "Landing safely in between all three of the judges!"
"WHAT?!" Lizzie and Kitty exclaimed.
"No one will be in any danger," Dexter reassured, though some students shrunk in their seats. "And for their own safety, I made the precaution of chaining them to their seats."
Lizzie and Kitty gasped as they saw their legs chained to the seats.
"Roll Out!" Dexter called as he and Arcee started. As soon as Arcee was revved up, Dexter rode her across the ramp, entering a loop. Soon, with enough RPM, he rode into the air at the Judges' booth, landing right in between them.
Lizzie, Kitty and Earl Grey were all prepared for the worst, but saw that Dexter had indeed landed safely in between them. Lizzie and Kitty looked in amazement, giving him top scores while Earl Grey, too scared, gave him a 2.
Everyone cheered for Dexter, especially Daring.
"That sure was… incredible." Rogelio said.
"That's my bro." Daring smiled.
"Good thing I'm able to watch," Jazz said as he stood at the entrance door with Poppy and Briar next to him. "How many more until we reach Raven?"
"Well, Darling is up next," Briar said before Sparkplug entered. "There's Sparkplug for support."
"And his act?" Jazz gulped.
"Behold the targets!" Darling called out as Miko helped set up several Decepticon symbol—shaped targets, with a moving one depicting Starscream.
"I shall run through the course, and Darling shall shoot each target!" Miko called out as she got into a running stance. "And for extra, we have Sparkplug, the Scraplet Sword-Swallower!"
Everyone looked in amazement as Miko ran at the targets as fast as she could go. Darling smirked and took out several knives, tossing them at the targets while Sparkplug jumped up and down. Chewing a sword, he spat the remaining pieces at the wall to try and send a message, but Darling focused him back so she could start throwing swords. Now distracted from telling everyone about what he discovered, he started to chew at the sword, even going for some of the Decepticon targets.
"I feel safer already." Jazz chuckled.
As Rowan was preparing for his act, which would come after Raven, he walked up to the reincarnation of Ravenicus Prime.
"Good luck out there." Rowan smiled.
"You too…" Raven started before seeing Melody run over, chewing on a piece of salmon and holding a bottle of water in her hands. "Melody?"
Rowan turned to see Melody gulp down her food before taking a long drink of her water. She took out several vegetables and tossed them in the air, where a misfired knife cut them before she let them fall into her mouth. As soon as she ate them, she finished her water and panted heavily.
"What's going on?" Rowan asked.
"Rowan… I need help," Melody panted. "You don't know this, but there's a Decepticon in the school… then again, you might know it."
"Take care of this," Raven said. "I'll be on alert if anything happens here."
"We're almost up!" Marylyn called out.
"Okay," Rowan nodded before following Melody. "Why do you look so worn out…?" he asked. "And… in a great shape?"
Melody chuckled as she led Rowan away. "It's a long story, one that involves me being locked away for a month!" she started, surprising Rowan.
Rosabella continued to run away as several students who were not attending dodged away from the blasts. They gasped when they saw Flip Side, assuming she was Melody. Upon seeing the exposed metal on her, they yelled and ran as she continued to chase after Rosabella.
"And next, we have a piece by Raven Queen and Marylyn Merlin!" Maddie announced.
Everyone cheered as Raven started to play a calm tune. As she did, Marylyn placed a microphone to her mouth.
(Play Be The One (English Ver.) by Beverly)
I walk alone, it doesn't matter for how long
I'll keep going, wherever these footprints will lead me I believe it's destiny
An endless road, but I know that you're strong and bold
Somewhere out there waiting for me with a smile that shines like gold
There you will
Be The One! Be The One! All right!
I don't wanna give it up, fighting for tomorrow
Be The Light! Be The Light! All right!
Love is strong and it'll always find a way
Reaching out your hand, just take it closer to your heart
Never lose the fire, and hold on to what you believe
Be The One Be The Light
Message from my heart, I'll send it to you!
"This way!" Melody called as she led Rowan to the hall, eventually seeing Rosabella running to them.
"Melody?" Rosabella asked, feeling Melody. She smiled upon not feeling any metal on her. Upon hearing footsteps, all three looked to see Flip Side advancing, her wound healing instantly.
"Whoa…!" Rowan exclaimed in surprise. "Flip Side… you were disguised as Melody this whole time?"
"Guess you were too dense to see it," Flip Side smirked. "And here, I thought you were a Knight."
"You're gonna pay for what you did to me!" Melody leapt at Flip Side and tackled her away before punching her.
Flip Side laughed as she caught Melody's fist. "You thought you could fight me?" she asked. "Such heroic nonsense!" she spat before tossing her into the back of the auditorium.
"Raven and Marylyn are Spelltacular!" Cupid beamed backstage.
"Not for long." Sparrow smirked before sliding onto the stage, interrupting the song and shredding his guitar.
Everyone cheered for Sparrow, getting Raven irritated to her limit.
"I think I know what to do…" Marylyn said as she summoned her staff, letting it turn into a bigger microphone.
"Let's do it!" Raven called, raising her column. "Okay, Sparrow, we said we wouldn't do anything evil…" she started as everyone looked to her.
"But sometimes… you gotta let your bad side out!" Marylyn twirled around her mic and placed it to her mouth as Raven tuned her guitar, now transforming onto one that had the Autobot symbol at the head. "Hit it!"
Raven grinned as she played her guitar, her entire wardrobe changing as soon as Marylyn played.
(Play The Touch)
You got the touch
You got the power
After all is said and done
You've never walked, you've never run,
You're a winner
You got the moves, you know the streets
Break the rules, take the heat
You're nobody's fool
You're at your best when the goin' gets rough
You've been put to the test, but it's never enough
You got the touch
You got the power
When all hell's breakin' loose
You'll be riding the eye of the storm
You got the heart
You got the motion
You know that when things get too tough
You got the touch
You never bend, you never break
You seem to know just what it takes
You're a fighter
It's in the blood, it's in the will
It's in the mighty hands of steel
When you're standin' your ground
And you never get hit when your back's to the wall
Gonna fight to the end and you're takin' it all
Everyone cheered for Raven and Marylyn as they gained their interest. Sparrow looked on jealously, even more when Lizzie, Kitty and Earl Grey looked prepared to give their score. He was about to jump up to them when Melody crashed through the wall.
"What in the world?" Milton asked.
Flip Side leapt at Melody after the hole, but Melody kicked her into the air. The two got up and stared each other down, causing everyone to gasp.
"Two Melodies?!" Ginger exclaimed. Behind her, Grimlock snarled.
"Me Grimlock not know who is who." Grimlock said.
Rowan ran through, his sword armed. "Flip Side is here! A Decepticon spy who's been impersonating as Melody for the entire first month!" he announced, causing everyone to gasp. "And has been keeping the real Melody as a captive!"
"That's absurd!" one of the Melodies called.
"Don't listen to her, Rowan!" the other Melody called. "I'm the real one!"
"Don't believe her! Listen to me!" the second Melody yelled.
Everyone looked to Rowan as he aimed his sword before gaining his secondary one to aim at the other.
"This will be a tough one." Rowan said.
Both Melodies stepped up to Rowan before the first one that spoke up walked up to him.
"You got me. I'm the spy."
"Yes…" the other Melody said.
"Cut me down, and you'll see… do it."
Rowan looked to 'Melody' and raised his swords. He prepared to bring them down until he spun around, slashing at the one behind her, sending her rolling away and exposing metal on her body, revealing her as Flip Side.
"That's the 'Con who stole my Talisman!" Jazz yelled.
"How… how did you know?!" Flip Side yelled.
"Because I trust my friends," Rowan replied. "If Melody were really you… she wouldn't have given herself up, or been so calm. Plus… you're not all that good at impersonating her. You talk too much."
"Doesn't change the fact that I'll be rid of you both!" Flip Side shot at Rowan, but he leapt up onto another column. "I took your identity for a month! You couldn't stop me then, and now that Megatron is soon to be found, you can't stop me now!"
"Let's get her!" Raven called, but Rowan raised his swords to stop her.
"No!" Melody called out at the same time Rowan stopped his friends. "This… this is personal."
"You really want to tango?" Flip Side smirked, forming her blade as Melody eyed something on her. "Fine, be that way."
Everyone watched as Flip Side and Melody charged at each other.
"Melody, catch!" Rowan tossed his extra sword.
Melody leapt off of Flip Side's face and caught the sword before clashing with Flip Side. The two locked blades and ran across the stage, Flip Side shooting her down as she deflected her shots. Eventually, Melody kicked off of one of the columns and prepared to punch Flip Side, but she shot her sword out of her hand and grabbed her by the neck, pinning her to the ground, close to where she could throw her in the ground below.
"You thought you could beat me?!" Flip Side yelled.
"No… but I could distract you."
Flip Side gasped as Melody grabbed something around her neck. Pulling it off, it started to glow, revealing itself as the stolen Iacon Knight Talisman.
"No!" Flip Side yelled.
"Now… Light Our Darkest Hour!" Melody called, remembering all the times Rowan said it from the recordings.
Everyone, Jazz especially, looked to Melody as the light died down. Now, she had another sword in her hand. The guard of it resembled the body of a guitar, with the neck being the blade of a Katana, the color mostly gold and yellow, and the guards with a platinum color.
"Whoa…" Miko said. "She's a Knight now too!"
Flip Side smirked. "So, it wouldn't work for me, but it worked for you, huh?" she asked before readying her weapons again. "You've been in that prison for a month now. Do you really think you can last long against me?"
"Well…" Melody said as she held her weapon like a guitar. "Let's find out!"
"Okay, we can't just stand here!" Marylyn called out.
"Rowan, you said we can't do anything because this is personal for Melody," Raven said. "What are we supposed to do? Cheer her on from the sides? That's too ridiculous."
"Well, since we can't cheer…" Rowan said, pulling out a mic. "We can at least give her some encouragement."
"I think I know where this is going," Sparrow smirked as he readied his guitar. "You ready?"
"Pays to practice." Raven grinned as she readied her own guitar.
Marylyn summoned a drum set from her staff and jumped onto an empty platform. All three looked to Rowan before they started to play, signaling the fight.
(Play Instruments of Destruction by NRG)
Iron birds of fortune
Adrift above the skies
Cloudy revelations
Unseen by naked eyes
Melody and Flip Side charged at each other, blades locked as soon as the music started. They stared each other down before Melody scratched the disk on it like a deejay station. Letting out a low sonic wave, it sent Flip Side back, allowing for her to slash her while she we in the air before she landed down again, this time shooting at her and forcing her to deflect.
Flying tools of torment
Will penetrate the sphere
Erupt the rock of ages
Bringing final fear
"Die, Human!" Flip Side yelled as she ran at Melody, who had taken cover behind one of the sound boxes. As Flip Side cut it down, several wires fell before Melody grabbed the blade end, where a handle revealed itself, turning the sword into an axe. Slashing at Flip Side, she sent her back before Flip Side grabbed her by the blade and pinned her to where Darling's knives still were.
Instruments of destruction
Tools of power plays
It's a violent eruption
Existence drips away
"You thought you had any moves?" Flip Side smirked. "I'm a Decepticon, no one to be trifled with!"
"Get up, get up!" Blondie said from the crowd.
"You don't know a thing about me!" Melody kicked Flip Side in the chest and slashed her away, disarming her of her weapons.
As Melody got back up, everyone cheered her on. Flip Side growled and picked up two knives and started to slash at her, but she easily evaded her attacks before disarming her of one weapon. Regaining her original blade, the two clashed again.
What's it really matter
When nothing really counts
Grave eternal darkness
When drained of every ounce
Flip Side yelled as she pushed Melody back, who could only parry off her moves as best as she could. Due to only having seen a few fights, she was unable to keep up, but was able to still hold a strong defense. Eventually, she found herself backed to Rowan's platform, and the two locked blades again.
"Hey, Flip Side!" Melody yelled, scratching her disk again. "Try this remix!"
Flip Side gasped as she formed a shield over her arm, but Melody slashed and sent more sonic waves at her as everyone cheered her on.
"Not bad, girl," Jazz grinned. "You've got skill and a good taste in music."
And when the nightmare's over
The final from the storm
Dust of all creation
Melody managed to break through Flip Side's shield before she kicked her back and disarmed her of her other blade, only to get slashed at the knee. Everyone gasped as Melody let out a yell, feeling the wound. She looked up as Flip Side struck at her again and held her weapon.
"Again, how did you expect to beat me?" Flip Side mocked.
"The way I know how!" Melody replied, turning the handle to reveal another disc. She scratched it, and soon, more sonic waves came out, sending Flip Side into one of the platforms, exposing its wiring as well.
To ashes we transform
Instruments of destruction
Tools of power plays
It's a violent eruption
Existence drips away
Melody leapt at Flip Side, slashing down, only to miss as Flip Side dodged. The two stared each other down and circled around before Flip Side kicked her away, Melody gasped as she found herself in the air, but was able to still block several attacks that Flip Side sent at her. Eventually, she was forced to the edge, where several exposed wires were.
"I told you that you were no match for me!" Flip Side yelled, lunging at Melody again, who only sent back another sonic wave with her deejay disc.
Instruments of destruction
Tools of power plays
It's a violent eruption
Existence drips away
Flip Side laughed as she tried to bring her sword onto Melody, who could only use her weapon to block her attack. The two struggled as Flip Side attempted to stab down at Melody, who held up her weapon in the strongest defensive way she could.
Instruments of destruction
Tools of power plays
It's a violent eruption
Existence drips away
"Melody Piper, surrender, and you shall be granted a merciful sentence." Flip Side ordered.
"Never!" Melody yelled as everyone stood on the edges of their seats.
"This is too much!" Apple panicked.
"The best part about killing you…" Flip Side smirked, unaware that Melody saw an exposed still-sparking wire. "Is that I won't have to be you anymore!"
"That's the thing," Melody said as she reached out with her remaining hand. "If you actually were me… you wouldn't talk as much!"
Flip Side raised an eyebrow before Melody brought the wire onto her chest. She yelled as electricity surged through her before Melody got back up, using her weapon to slash her into the column, just as the last note was played.
Immediately, Lizzie, Kitty and Earl Grey awarded them all with the highest score, getting everyone to cheer as Rowan, Raven, Marylyn and Sparrow lowered themselves back onto the ground. All five grinned and bowed to the audience as they cheered.
"You have to admit…" Edmund said to Milton as several teachers clapped, especially Professor Pied Piper. "That was pretty awesome."
"Yes, it was…" Milton admitted, though he could only glare in anger at how another attempt to turn Raven evil had failed, and in turn, another student had become a Knight.
Flip Side groaned as she got up. Everyone turned to her with surprise before she revealed herself, letting out a gasp.
Flip Side's left leg and right shoulder now had her Cybertronian parts revealed, with a Decepticon logo now showing. Her face was also exposed, half showing Melody's face while the other half showed Flip Side's face, both eyes now red.
"I'll make you…" Flip Side tried to form a blaster from her hand, but found that nothing happened. "What?" she asked. She leapt into the air and tried to transform, only to land in a perfect fist-down stance. "No!" she panicked. "My T-Cog…" she gasped before growling at Melody. "What have you done?!"
"Thing about being electrocuted where the T-Cog is, plus using advanced Pretender Tech…" Jazz spoke up. "You're stuck like that."
Flip Side gasped as she looked to herself. She growled and picked up her weapons before aiming her handheld blaster out. "This isn't over!" she yelled, shooting at the floor.
Running into the Computer Lab, Flip Side saw her drive still in the main computer. Removing it, she ran out, only to find Rowan carrying Melody. She growled and leapt out the window. Landing on a skateboard, she rode off, with Rowan and Melody glaring at her.
A couple days later, Rowan was with Melody in Baba Yaga's office.
"I can't believe that that Decepticon took your identity for almost a month." Rowan said.
"I still can't believe I won an actual fight with her." Melody smirked.
"How… how did you learn how to fight?" Rowan asked.
"I stole back my phone and started to look through current events," Melody explained, showing her phone. "I decided to see what was going on, and when I saw your fights, I decided to find a way to break out and take on Flip Side when I got the chance. I've been studying your fights for a while now, and I've come to find my own way."
"You're good, but you could be better," Jazz said, appearing outside of the window as Melody turned to him. "I'm Jazz, Autobot second lieutenant, and the one Flip Side stole that Talisman from," he pointed to Melody's Talisman. "Glad it found someone worthy to be a new Knight."
"Jazz, huh?" Melody smirked. "I think we're gonna get along just fine with you around."
"Till All Are One?" Rowan asked, holding his Talisman hand out.
"Till All Are One." Melody smirked, shaking it.
On the Nemesis, Flip Side approached Starscream, now wearing a cloak over herself to cover her exposed parts. Metallic claws tinkering, she bowed down.
"You failed to maintain your cover?" Starscream asked.
"I got what I needed," Flip Side's eye lit up, activating several screens of Megatron, and her voice now a mix of Melody's and her own voice, albeit distorted. "Lord Megatron is indeed hidden at the school. I suspect the Knights know as well."
"And what about your disguise?" Starscream asked as Flip Side looked up. "You have been exposed by a new Knight."
"No one touch her," Flip Side said, looking up with both eyes glowing red and her metallic teeth showing as she growled. "I shall remain at Book End, and use this to my advantage… but when the time comes… she shall pay for what she did to me."
Flip Side walked out and onto Mohawk, transformed into his bike form. Riding off, she made her way into Book End, cloaking herself again.
"Melody Piper… you shall pay… mark my words."
Author's Notes: Well, everyone, what did you think? You weren't expecting a second Chapter, a Mega Chapter, in fact, now were you? This the first time I've done a song for any of my stories, done in the same format as my friend, Cloud4012, so I thank you for that. Next up will be a special event before I get to my big events in Chapters 12 and 13. Please review, rate, and as always, if you can, Private Message me for anything on the story. After all, I'm always keen to hear from you. For now, this is SuperHeroTimeFan signing off. Happy Fourth Of July, everyone! I'll see you all soon!