Transformers: Friendship In Disguise

Chapter 2

"Me Grimlock say this stupid idea." One wouldn't think that a towering robotic warrior could sulk, but Grimlock often liked to prove people wrong, just on general principle. He sat slumped in a too-small acelleration chair aboard the bridge of an interstellar shuttle, staring sullenly out at the blackness. "Why me Grimlock have to go to stupid pony planet?"

"You and Wheelie were the only Autobots to ever set foot on Equestria." Optimus Prime said, patiently. "And since Wheelie is busy on Earth, you're the only source of local knowledge we have."

"Grr. Me Grimlock still think it stupid. No Decepticons on pony planet. No fights!"

"You know," said a little blue and grey robot sitting behind Grimlock. "That's a pretty good reason for visiting, if you ask me."

"Well said, Beachcomber," said Optimus Prime. "It's important to build relationships with other sentient beings across the galaxy. The Decepticons have been quiet lately anyway- this gives us an opportunity that we might not have otherwise."

"Then how come us no go to pony planet earlier?"

"That, Grimlock, is a very good question!" The red and blue robot sitting behind Optimus Prime looked up from the datapad he'd been reading. "You see, due to the gravometric orientation of our galaxy, one can calibrate a quantum FTL engine to capitalize on certain semi-predictable anomalies, which allows for certain optimized routes of transit to be utilized on a periodical basis."

"In English, Perceptor?" A horned yellow head poked up from behind the scientist's chair.

"In layman's terms, Bumblebee," Perceptor huffed, "now is quite simply the most fuel-efficient time to travel to Planet Equestria. Honestly, it's not a hard concept to grasp, once you've gotten down the fifth-dimensional calculus down. I'd be happy to teach any of you the basics- it should only take a decade or so."

Perceptor's offer was met with silence. He found himself slightly relieved at this, as the prospect of teaching higher mathematics to the likes of Grimlock was hardly enticing, to say the very least.

"Sorry Perceptor," Optimus Prime turned in his seat to check an updated readout on the shuttle's control console. "You'll have to give us the full lecture some other time. Cosmos just sent us coordinates for our approach vector. Buckle up, Autobots. We're going to Equestria."

"Me Grimlock still think it stupid idea."

It'd been a quick train ride over to Canterlot to share the news with Princess Celestia, and a surprisingly easy matter to organize a landing afterward. They commandeered Canterlot's polo fields, the largest stretch of open, flat ground inside Canterlot proper, and turned it into a makeshift runway to Cosmos' specifications.

While speed had been a priority, secrecy hadn't. A who's who of Canterlot's upper crust (including Upper Crust himself) had assembled to see the momentous occasion, regardless of if they'd been invited, or even if they knew exactly what was going on. In turn, several enterprising ponies had latched onto the opportunity to set up stalls and tents in order to hawk the requisite drinks, snacks, and cheaply made souvenirs to the well-heeled crowd.

"There they are!" Twilight Sparkle looked up from her telescope and turned to the intimidatingly large crowd that'd gathered to watch the space landing. Most of them went about their business, not even paying attention to Twilight.

"Perhaps you should try speaking a little louder?" Princess Celestia offered.

"Er, I haven't quite gotten the hang of the Royal Canterlot Voice just yet."

"THIS CAN BE AMENDED," Princess Luna said in a polite bellow.

"Er, maybe later?" said Twilight.