Pokemon Prime

One Shall Rise Pt. 3

Earth's core

The Autobots and Megarton travel through a tunnel full of Dark Energon veins. Unicron's spark beat echoed. Suddenly Megatron fell to his knees. He saw a vision of Unicron bursting the Earth as he awakens. "Unicron grows ever stronger." He got back up and continued walking.

"How do we know Unicron isn't using Megatron to lead us all into a trap?" Wheeljack asked.

"We do not." Optimus replied. With that, Wheeljack pulled out his swords for a precaution.

As they exit the tunnel and entered another, some wing-mechanical being took flight and perused them.

Autobot Base

Everyone and Ratchet watched the news from the main computer monitor. The TV reporter made another announcement. "More than sixty volcanos are erupting worldwide and downtown Honolulu is under six inches of snow! Scientist continue to decide continues theories connecting these unprecedented natural disasters with the planetary alignment, which-" The screen static out out.

"So, who wants to play a game?" Delia asked trying to lift everyone else's spirits.

"That does it!" Agent Jenny shouted. She stomped to the elevator door.

"Where are you going, beautiful?" Brock asked.

Jenny stopped in her tracks and blushed. She finally replied. "I can't just stay here, while the rest of the world spins out of controls."

"And what exactly is it that you intend to do?" Ratchet asked.

"Anything! Maybe call my Agency and organize a plan to bury that monster for good. Ground-type Pokemon should do the trick."

"In the event, Optimus can't?"

"You mean Optimus and Megatron?"

"No one here is thrilled about this arrangement, Agent Jenny. Myself included, but with Optimus and Megatron together again."

"Whoa, whoa, wait. Again?" Ash asked.

"Pika?"

"Megatron was an Autobot?" Dawn asked.

"Piplup?"

"Optimus was a Decepticon!" Max asked.

"No, on either account." Ratchet replied. "But there was a time back on Cybertron, in the twilight hours of the Golden Age."

Flashback, Cybertron, Ratchet's POV

"When Optimus and Megatron were not sworn enemies. Do you recall when I mention that Optimus wasn't always a Prime? Well, he wasn't always Optimus either. He was once a clerk in the Iacon Hall of Records, named Orion Pax." In the building Orion Pax was looking over Cybertron's history.

"But as he learned more about Cybertron's past, he grew increasingly concerned about the present corruption in high places. An inequality among the masses. Orion became inspired by the words and ideas of a gladiator, one who had named himself after one of the Thirteen Original Primes, Megatronus." In a battle arena, Megatronus defeated a mechanical monster. Everyone applauded him in his victory. "Megatronus vowed to challenge Cybertron's leadership and demanded that all Cybertronians be treated as equals. This gladiator turned revolutionary rapidly gathered a loyal following. Soundwave was the strongest among them." Megatronus and Soundwave gather several more followers.

"Orion began corresponding with Megatronus, who became to be something of a mentor to him." Orion and Megatronus consult with each other.

"As Megatronus left the gladiatorial arena for the political, he saw fit to shorten his name. Before long, Megatron appeared before the High Council to propose his vision for the justsociety." Megatron is in the High Council building making his proposal. "And it was here where he began to reveal his true colors. Proclaiming the need to overthrow the old Guard with force and arragonlty demanding to be named the next Prime. But Orion did not believe in violence as a means of achieving justice." Orion interrupts the meeting before it got uglier and proposed his visions. "The sparks and minds of the Council were moved by Orion's words. Here, for the first time since Cybertron's Golden Age, stood someone worthy of being a Prime. But that honor could only, truly be achieved by earning the legendary Matrix of Leadership."

Megatron leaves the Council building enraged. "His ambitions thwarted, Megatron spitefully severed all ties with Orion and the Council." Megatron's optics change from blue to red.

"He came to wage war on all who opposed him through his growing army of followers, which he named 'Decepticons'." Megatron and various other followers attack the streets of Iacon. "He vowed to claim the Matrix for himself. Wherever it might lie. In time, warfare consumed Cybertron."

"Poisoning the planet to it's core. Orion journeyed there, hoping to reverse the ill effects." Orion found Cybertron's core. "And found himself before the very spark of our life giver, Primus himself. The ailing Primus sensed the nobility in Orion and bestowed the Matrix upon him. It was thus, that as surprised and as humble Orion Pax..." Primus, Cybertron's core, bestows the Matrix to Orion. When Orion held the Matrix he transformed into a bigger, stronger Autobot. "Became to be Optimus Prime, the Last of the Primes."

End Flashback

"So, Optimus got the Matrix from Cybertron's core and now he's going to give it to Earths?" Brock asked.

"What's to stop Megatron from just claiming the Matrix for himself this time around?" Ash asked.

"Only his greater desire to save this planet so that he could conquer it!" Ratchet replied. "As he so compellingly argued. Provided the lord of the Decepticons can ever be fully trusted. "

Earth's core

"Unicron's spark is near." Megatron said.

They came across a bridge. Wheeljack looked at it. "After you." He said to Megatron.

Megatron cooperated and crossed. The Autobots followed. Bulkhead started to feel dizzy. *You okay, big guy?* Bumblebee asked.

"I'm fine, Bumblebee. I'm just woozy." Bulkhead replied.

"The Dark Energon. It's starting to affect him. Walk steadily, Bulkhead." Wheeljack said.

Megatron's Decepticon symbol glowed. "He's preparing to expel us." He said.

Multiple eerie shrieks were heard from a distance, but it sounded like it was coming for them. In the air soared in flying drones. "What are those things?" Cliffjumper asked. Everyone readied their cannons.

"As we are in Unicorn's body, it would stand to reason that they are some sort of antibodies." Optimus said.

Thousands of those things soared in. The seven opened fire upon them. Those antibodies just fired right back. Arcee blasted one the sent her off the bridge. She land on another one from below.

The Dark Energon caused Bulkhead's vision to blur. He slipped and fell. He quickly grabbed the ledge.

"Hang on, partner!" Wheeljack said. He grabbed Bulkhead's arm before he lost his grip on the ledge.

"Wheeljack, let me go! I'll only take you down with me!" Bulkhead said.

"Can't do that to my Wrecker partner in crime."

Cliffjumper and Bumblebee went to Wheeljack's aide. While Optimus and Megatron covered each other's backs.

Arcee continued firing and noticed Bulkhead's situation. "Just let go, guys." Bulkhead said, as his hand was slipping through their hands.

"Bulkhead!" Arcee shouted.

Bulkhead's hand slipped through all three hands, but Optimus grabbed his arm. "I got you." Optimus said. When he pulled Bulkhead up they ran for the other side of the bridge.

Arcee ran to the other side. She used one of the antibody drone to fly up to the rest.

The Nemesis

"Fellow Decepticons, while our loyalty to Megatron's command has always remained steadfast. Our leader's recent behavior has been questionable at best." Airachnid said. "And it would seem as though Earth has become nothing short of a failed experiment."

"Commander Airachnid, you're not suggesting that we abandon Lord Megatron?" Knock Out asked.

"Despite Soundwave's efforts we have been unable to detect our Master's signal." Airachnid said. Soundwave is on the radar computer searching for Megatron. "Megatron is either permanently offline or in the thrall of Unicron. Neither is in the best interest of the Decepticons. So I am deeming a exodus to be the most prudent course of action. Unless anyone has a problem with that." Airachnid said. None of the Vehicons said a word. Airachnid smiled in victory. "Set a course for Regulon Four."

Soundwave blocked the bridge controls. He stared he down.

"You have something to say, Soundwave." Airachnid asked.

He remained quiet.

She transformed into her spider mode. "I command this vessel. You will resume your post." Soundwave was not unfazed. Airachnid knew that. "Step aside!"

Airachnid launched her claws at him. Soundwave blocked each of her claws without any effort. One by one. Then he grabbed her arm and then used his other arm to grab her throat. She struggled to get him. His arms were long. He threw her back.

"I'll tear out your spark for that!" Airachnid said, as she recovered. Then she noticed the piece where Laserbeak remained was missing. Laserbeak soared in from the left and blasted her to the ground. As she recovered, Soundwave stomped her head, and Laserbeak retuned back to Soundwave. "I yield." She said.

Soundwave walked back to the bridge controls.

"Watch out for the quiet ones…" Knock Out said.

Autobot Base

Soundwave wasn't the only one having trouble with communications. "Com-links are down, as expected. But we've lost their signal." Ratchet said.

"Doesn't that mean...?" Max asked.

"Usually." Ratchet replied, knowing what Max wanted to ask. "But a more likely explanation would be the severe interference caused by these EMP anomalies."

"So if we can't track them or they can't contact us..."

"How do we know when they're ready for pickup?" Misty asked.

"Pika?"

Ratchet looked where Pikachu is at. Pikachu was sniffing the blue device Ash received from Optimus. "Where did you get that?"

"Optimus." Ash replied. "Honestly, I don't know why he gave me the key to the Ground Bridge power supply."

"Ash, there is no key to the Ground Bridge power supply."

"Well, then... what is this?"

"That is the Key to Vector Sigma."

"The what?"

"You are holding one of Cybertron's most important relics."

"I shouldn't have this then." Ash prepared to hand the Key over to Ratchet.

"Optimus entrusted it to you, Ash."

"But that doesn't make any sense. Why?"

"Because he doesn't plan on coming back."

Earth's core

The antibodies pursue the Autobots and Megatron. They ran for another opening from the tunnels. There they made their final stand. Megatron received a message from Unicron. "Megatron! Do as I command! Destroy the Prime!" Megatron struggled to resist.

Optimus noticed Megatron. "Megatron?" Megatron gabbed him, but instead of shooting him he blasted the antibody behind him.

"Unicron's spark lies just beyond that door." Megatron pointed.

"How do we get inside?" Optimus asked.

"By fooling Unicron's defenses into believing we are not a threat." Megatron then used his Dark Energon powers to open the door.

"Autobots, I will need you to keep our attackers at bay for as long as you can." Optimus ordered.

Optimus and Megatron ran through the door before it closed. Leaving the rest of the Autobots to face-off against the antibodies.

"We got to hold fast, for Optimus!" Cliffjumper shouted.

Megatron and Optimus reached Unicron's spark. "Optimus, swiftly!"

Optimus readied himself to use the Matrix, but the spark reacted and stuck them both with Dark Energon waves.

"Megatron! Destroy the Prime! I command you!" Unicron's voice bellowed through Megatron's hearing receptors. Forcing him to pull out his Dark Energon sword and approached the weakened Prime. Megatron struggles against him.

Megatron return's his weapon and shouted. "MEGATRON IS COMMAND BY NO ONE!" He struggled to keep his willpower strong. As Unicron began to emerge.

Autobot Base

The inside of the entire Base began to shake from Unicron's rising. "Earthquake!" Agent Jenny shouted.

"Take cover!" Ratchet shouted. He shielded them by using himself.

Earth's core

Megatron was temporarily shut him down. Optimus got back up. "Matrix of Leadership, I call upon you!" The power of the Matrix began charging itself.

Megatron stood up, engulfed with purple flames. When he spoke it was both his and Unicron's voice. "You can not defeat me, disciple of Primus! I have transcended physical being. By my will alone, all upon this world shall fall into chaos."

"Not while I still function, Unciron!" Optimus shouted. "The power of the Matrix will light our darkest hour!"

"NNNOOOOO!" Unicron shouted

Too late, Optimus unleashed the power of the Matrix upon Unicron's spark. The force send Megatron flying back to the far end of the chamber. When Optimus finished unleashing the Matrix power and collapsed. Unicron's spark let out one last wail of defeat.

Outside the chamber the antibodies fell out of the air. The Autobot let out sighs of relief.

Earth's surface

Throughout the whole world the weather anomalies began to disappear and the dark clouds disappeared as well.

Autobot Base

The earthquake ended. "There could be aftershocks." Brock warned them.

Ash looked at the radar. "Do you think...?"

"I know." Ratchet replied. He pressed a button and the screen displayed the six life signal of the Autobots.

Everyone cheered. Agent Jenny unexpectedly hugged Brock. They broke up the hug. Both of them blushed.

The Nemesis

Soundwave detected Megatron's signal. He activated their Ground Bridge.

Earth's core

Megatron was fully regained control of himself. He noticed Optimus was still down, so he he pulled out his Dark Energon sword. "Team work, hm!"

Optimus reawakens and sees Megatron approaching him. "Where are we, Megatronus?"

Megatron realized what has happened to Optimus. He returned his sword and held out his hand. Optimus grabbed it and Megatron pulled him up. "Don't you remember, old friend?"

Bulkhead smashed through the door. "Optimus, are you okay?" He asked. Him and the other Autobots enter the chamber.

"Why did he call me that?" Optimus asked.

"What did you do to him?" Arcee asked.

"Who are they?" Optimus asked.

The Decepticon Ground Bridge vortex opened behind them. "Our mortal enemies." Megatron lied to the processed mind-washed Optimus. "We're outnumber. Go! I'll cover you!" Megatron opened fire at them as Optimus headed for the vortex. However, Optimus gave the Autobots one last backwards glance.

*Optimus?* Bumblebee asked, confusingly.

Optimus ran through the vortex. Megatron followed behind him. The vortex closed before the Autobots could get in.

Autobot Base

Ratchet activated the Ground Bridge. The Autobots emerged through the chamber. Ratchet realized Optimus' absence. "And Optimus? Is he...?"

"Offline? No." Wheeljack replied.

"But he looked right at us without recognizing us. He didn't even know his own name." Bulkhead said.

"When Optimus surrendered the Matrix of Leadership, he lost more than the collective wisdom of the Primes. He lost his own memories." Ratchet said.

The Nemesis

Megatron entered the bridge. All the Decepticons except for Airachnid, who wasn't there, bowed to him. "Welcome back, Lord Megatron." Knock Out said.

Megatron stepped aside for Optimus to enter. Breakdown pulls out his sledgehammer and prepared to attack him. "At ease, Breakdown. That is no way to welcome a long, lost comrade." Megatron said. "Orion Pax, is one of us!"

For the moment 'Orion' felt distraught, but regarded 'Megatronus' words.

TBC on the next story...