[Robots and Magic] Between Claws

7. 𝘎𝘰 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘮𝘢𝘬𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘮 𝘱𝘳𝘰𝘶𝘥

"You- you managed to transform into your robot form again? But how?" Bumblebee asked as he rested his back on the closed entrance of the storage room for their fuel.

Sunset was sitting on one of the Energon containers and sighed, "I don't know... when I saw Steeljaw was in danger my first instinct was to help him out, I'm so sorry Bee... I've made a big mistake..."

The mech shook his helm and walked over to her, "Don't blame yourself. You only wanted to help a 'Bot in need. Besides, you didn't even know who he actually was." he tried to comfort her but the girl kept staring down in guilt. The lieutenant lowered himself closer to his human companion, "Are you really sure there are more portals out there?"

"It's what I saw while exploring his memories..." she informed silently, "I have no idea how the magic got to your Earth unless-- we brought it here. And it's not only this, if that mythical creature was a Timberwolf from the stories I've heard when I was little... then there are even more portals to Equestria than I imagined..." her voice trailed off.

"Hey, we will figure it out." he put a servo on her back, "It's going to be okay. We will try everything we can to prevent them from finding those magic entrances, the less Decepticons know about your world, the better."

"Bee, we have no idea how many are out there and where exactly they are! Steeljaw said he wanted to be a ruler and after finding a second Earth, I am 100% sure he would want our planet for himself too." she then looked up at the yellow Autobot, "How do you know him? Did you guys encounter each other when the Alchemor crashed?"

The young leader shifted uneasily and glanced away, there was a short pause of death silence and hesitation before he answered her question, "Yes, unfortunately many times, as I see you already know he is a prisoner."

"He came up with the lie 'changing for the better'." she muttered as she curled the first two fingers of her hand.

Bumblebee ex-vented, the weight of the memories heavy on his shoulders, "Typical of him. Steeljaw is one of the most devious and cruelest Decepticons I have ever faced. He is also a very good liar, I'm not even surprised he attempted to trick you into trusting him and convincing you to join him and his pack." the heaviness of the past seemed to press down on him even more as he continued, "But believe me, whenever his plans go wrong, that fake charm can be quickly replaced by intense anger, wrath and frustration on anything or anyone."

As Sunset listened to him, she couldn't help but notice the uncanny resemblance between the two of them. His personality almost sounded like hers before she got redeemed. The way he would casually switch from fake charm to intense anger... No, it couldn't be true. She had worked so hard to change, she couldn't bear the thought of being anything like him. They were nothing alike. Right?

"He is also quite clever and a skilled persuasive speaker, telling them what they want to hear and planting careful suggestions so they will do as he wants them to." Bumblebee notified, "He has been recruiting a variety of dangerous criminals to help him in his mission to turn Earth into a Decepticon homeworld. He was able to scratch their tracking systems to avoid our detection, and to appear as a symbol of membership in the pack."

She couldn't shake off the feeling of anxiety that was building inside her as she listened to his report, "He sounds like a real deal." Sunset whispered. The fate of the Earth rested in their hands and they couldn't afford to underestimate their enemies.

"Don't worry, we won't let them threaten the safety and well-being of anyone." the lieutenant promised, distracting her from any troubling thoughts she had in mind, "We've stopped him many times before and will do it again." she had to stay strong for the sake of everyone. She couldn't afford to let fear or worry consume her.