"I will work with you... for now." Galvatron replied.

Sunset Shimmer offered a friendly smile. "I'm glad to hear it. Now lets get out of here and find the others."

Overhead, Unicron's voice boomed.

"You will not survive. You cannot destroy my destiny... And Galvatron... perhaps I misjudged you. You may proceed... on your way to oblivion..."

The high pitched screeching hit Galvatron's ears again, making him scream in agony. He dropped to his knees, trying to block all of the sound that filled his audio receptors.

"Galvatron!" Sunset looked him in the eye and she could see the sheer pain he was feeling.

"Go... Go!"

"I'm not leaving without you! I don't care what it takes, I'm not gonna let Unicron destroy you!"

Sunset kept flinching and jumping side to side, trying to think. She had to act fast, what could she do to help him? There had to be something.

But she stopped in her tracks. She felt a bright pound in her chest. Something was glowing within her. Her chest panel opened up and she watched the Matrix of Leadership glow in her. She pulled it out and held it in her hands which continued to shine brightly.

Galvatron slowly glanced up at the Matrix brightening in his eyes and he gasped.

"The Matrix..."

Sunset's fingers gripped into the finger grooves, and she held it as tight as she could.

"Let us use the Matrix to help the leader I know return to his own roots..." Sunset groaned as she slowly opened up the chamber of the magical relic. The blue ball within glowed bright and an even brighter glow than before.

You've got the touch...
You've got the power!

Streams of blue energy flowed from the Matrix it wrapped around Galvatron's body. Galvatron had no idea what was going on. The streams only floated around him more, until he found himself floating up in the air without any control of his own. And as he looked, he found streams of bright orange and yellow flowing as well.

Galvatron's eyes closed, and a bright aura flashed from his body. The light covered him entirely, and bursts of energy began to flow. Sunset tried to look, but it was too bright for her to see a thing.

Eventually the light began to fade away and Sunset got a clearer look. With a gasp and a grin, she couldn't help but feel excited.

"Now there's the Decepticon leader I know." Sunset smiled.

The Decepticon's eyes hummed with red energy and a malicious grin crept his face. His head was back to the classic shape as before, but this time with additional horns rising from the top of the sides of the helmet. His shoulders were now padded with large spikes and horns, probably for intimidation.

His chest was bulked up with heavy armor, and a Decepticon logo laminated in the middle. His black arm cannon had returned to where it rightfully belonged, and his hands were grazed with claws. His feet had talons, and they had sharp pointed armor padded around his legs.

The last details Sunset took of notice was that he now was back to his grey armor once again, and his armor was looking very much like a medieval knight.

The Decepticon looked at himself some more and he gave out a maniacal laugh.

"Decepticons! Your rightful lord and master, has returned!"

Outside where the battle continued to wage on, Wheeljack, Ratchet, and Road Rage continued to float about in space without the aid of a space cruiser. While Wheeljack and Ratchet were okay, they needed a shuttle or something to help Road Rage settle down from the pain.

"Hang on sweetheart, we got ya." Wheeljack said, hoisting her carefully.

Road Rage moaned from the pain. She hurt, A LOT. But it was nothing compared to the pain that Wasp and Van Guard had probably had endured.

She glanced down at the planet's surface and she blinked. Something had caught her eye. A small microscopic visor flipped over her right eye which was the only eye functioning at this point to get a closer look. With a scanning vision, she could see Jet Black Spark along with... Optimus Prime.

"Dear Primus... its Optimus." Road Rage gasped.

"Sure it is sweetheart." Wheeljack replied.

"No! Its really him! I'm detecting a massive surge of energy down there... and its not Optimus's signature. Something's wrong, and I've got to find out what!"

"Wait, you're hurt! If you try and fight, you'll die!"

Road Rage looked at Ratchet with a serious face.

"Then I will be happy knowing I died fighting for what I believed in."

The turbo boosters on her back ignited, and she blasted out of Ratchet and Wheeljack's hands, and she began to swoop down to the planet's surface. Sure, the pain only hurt her more, but it was worth it. If it was for the sake of Optimus Prime and her team, then it was completely worth it.

On Cybertron's surface, the Decepticons and Autobots, including the girls who were near were in horror to see Optimus Prime with them, but it wasn't the Optimus that they knew.

"Optimus... is that you?"

"Like his upgrades? Unicron modified him to help us in our time of need. We wanted to deploy him when Sunset was trapped on that island, but as is the way of things, we needed more time to prepare. And since your friend isn't here, no Matrix of Leadership to restore him to his roots. Optimus... kill them all."

Optimus's mask flipped down and he charged straight at them with a roar.

"Optimus, no!"

Optimus got ready to swing, and Ultra Magnus pulled out a sword just in time.

"Optimus, its me! Ultra Magnus, sir!"

"You are nothing!" Optimus screamed, punching his face.

Optimus ran right past him, and he shoved Strongarm and Tracks out of the way as well. Several others tried to get on top of him, but he kept on shoving them out of the way.

He stared at the girls who were all petrified.

"Today, you die!"

Optimus extended his cannon out, and the girls all closed their eyes and looked away, bracing for who would get shot. They listened, and they heard the sound of a cannon fire, accompanied by the pained grunt of a girl.

They opened up their eyes and looked down in shock. Laying about on the ground in more pain than before was none other than Road Rage who was flat on her chest, moaning in agony. On her back, they could see sparks zapping and surging from two turbo boosters that were hooked on her.

"No..." Nexus gasped.

Optimus looked back up and pointed his cannon again for the girls. But as he was about to shoot again--

"No!"

Two Autobots jumped in the way, and they held their guns out with a fighting stance.

"Optimus, I don't know what's happened to you, but I am not going to let you hurt my friends!" Tracks snapped.

"Me too!" Strongarm pulled out her crossbow.

Optimus growled.

"Standing in my way... was a bad move."

He swung his fist at Tracks' face, and the minute he hit the ground he shot his chest. Strongarm tried to fight back, but her crossbow was kicked out of her hand, and she was stabbed in her right side. She slunk down to the ground, defeated and bleeding.

Optimus snarled, and then pointed his gun back at the girls. Jet Black Spark jumped down and stood right beside him extending her weapons.

"So... what's it gonna be? Are you going to fight, or not?"

Soundwave who was recovering from the fight stared at the brainwashed Optimus Prime eradicate the Autobots around him. And falling from the air were old allies; Starscream, Skywarp, Thundercracker, and Soundwave.

"Does Unicron realize we have more dire things to do than to quarrel with him!?" Starscream complained as he got back on his feet.

The Seekers returned to their feet, and Soundwave looked them dead in the eyes. After a few seconds, a holo-projection displayed of the entire battle in the radar screen, along with all of their life signals.

"What is it Soundwave?" Thundercracker asked. "Come on, spit it out!"

"I've detected another life signal in the battle, within the interior of Unicron's body."

"And, what's the point?"

Soundwave's visor gleamed. "Megatron has returned."

In the glory of his return, Megatron fired several powerful blasts from his fusion cannon at the wall that was behind Sunset Shimmer. The heat and radiation was so strong the metal walls melted away from the dozen blasts that Megatron had shot.

"Now miss Shimmer... lets finish this battle."

"I couldn't agree more!" Sunset nodded.

But before any of them moved, a small blinking noise was set off on their comm's channel.

"Lord Megatron. Is... is that you?"

Megatron thought for a second before replying.

"Starscream. This is quite an unexpected surprise. I thought Overload had crushed your spark."

"Not quite, master. Is Sunset with you?"

"Probably... why?"

"I think you both better get down here right now." Thundercracker said on the other end.

"Lord Megatron. The Unicron and his Shadowcon heralds have brain-washed Optimus Prime, and reprogrammed him to eradicate us all." Soundwave spoke.

Sunset's eyes widened. "Optimus!? He's alive?"

"He won't be for long if someone manages to make the finishing blow to him. You both better get down here now." Skywarp replied.

"Skywarp, Thundercracker, Soundwave. Assist the Autobots in any way you can against Optimus, but do not kill him. Starscream, tell the Decepticons to keep their attacks on Unicron. It is imperative that we survive this!"

"But, I... Yes, Lord Megatron." Starscream replied.

"I strongly suggest we make haste Sunset, if we want the survival of both our teams to stand." Megatron said, hanging up the com channel.

The Matrix returned to Sunset's chest, and it closed up. Megatron began to change his shape, this time not into a cannon, but into a Cybertronian jet fighter form, and a giant fusion cannon hoisted in the middle.

"If you want us to get there quickly... grab on. But stay low."

Sunset said nothing else, but did as was asked. She climbed onto the top of Megatron's ship form, behind the fusion cannon, clutching on tightly.

Megatron bashed through the melted walls, and burst right through a gaping hole in Unicron's stomach. Sunset Shimmer clinged to him tight as he soared through the continuing escapades that had been happening all outside. At this point, Scorponok and Trypticon had transformed from their city modes into their walking biped forms, and with the aid of Omega Supreme. All three were making spectacular progress with working together, and Sunset couldn't have been prouder.

Megatron's turbo boosters began to ignite, and he dived straight down to the planet's atmosphere, hoping to meet with the rest of their friends in time.

"Well girls, I must say its been a pleasure meeting you all, but I'm afraid all of you have to die now."

Jet's arm cannons were slowly turning on, and Optimus Prime's blasters were turning on as well. Their weapons aimed at those they called friends, ready to shoot.

"Well girls, boys... if this is the end... I will say its been an honor fighting alongside you all." Rarity gulped.

Knockout looked to Rarity with a friendly smile. "You're no Breakdown... but I must confess I have always admired your absolute generosity and integrity."

Rarity felt a smile creep on her face, and a moment of content. If she was going to die today, it was at least dying with those she loved.

Jet was about to shoot, when she felt a high powered blaster hit her back, knocking her flat down. Optimus turned around and he stood in a fighting stance, ready for action. Jet hoisted herself back up, and gasped when she looked where Optimus was looking.

Standing in front of them, side by side, was Sunset Shimmer and Megatron.

"No... it cannot be..." Ultra Magnus gasped.

"Megatron..." Nexus gasped.

"Autobots... Allow Sunset and I to mend to this problem, personally." Megatron equipped his sword, and readied his fusion cannon. Sunset flipped out twin pistols and the tailpipes on her arms were now ready to shoot.

"Megatron... be gone." Optimus's mask flipped down, and he started to jog towards the duo with accompanying roaring.

Megatron roared as well, as he and Sunset charged right at the opposing enemies. Their final battles had begun.

Sunset Shimmer jumped up high in the air, holding her twin blasters, and she mercilessly began to rain stun attacks on Optimus who continued to charge. He stopped in place, and Sunset Shimmer kicked him down with her legs.

Optimus didn't stay down for long. He kicked Sunset off of him, and got back up on her feet.

"Optimus, I know you're in there. You have to fight Unicron's control!" Sunset pleaded.

"Optimus can hear you, but he cannot help you!" The possessed Optimus spoke in an eerie tone.

Optimus punched Sunset's face, and kicked her stomach, pushing her away from him. He raised his sword up, and swung it down at her, but jumped to the side.

"Do you think you're gonna survive long enough with Optimus? He's a Prime, what are you?" Jet sneered.

Sunset was about to reply back, but Jet was answered by Megatron landing his fist into her face, punching some metal off of her head. Sunset smirked and went back to Optimus.

"Come on Optimus... I know you're in there. You got to fight it!"

Optimus didn't reply, but he swung a sword at her again. She ducked in time, but instantly, she was kicked in her face, thrown right back up for Optimus to shoot her.

Sunset received a shot in her face, and Optimus held onto her. She was confused, but in a instant shock, she felt the sting of a cold steel blade shoved right through her left side. By the time anyone heard her screams, she was dropping to her knees in pain and agony.

"NO!!!!" Ultra Magnus screamed.

Sunset gasped and coughed and moaned. She looked up to Optimus who was still plagued with Unicron's control, who didn't show any signs that he cared about the stab.

"P-Please... Optimus..."

Optimus raised his foot up on her chest, and pushed her, removing the sword from her side, and letting her fall on her back. Everyone was left in shock, even Megatron.

"As you can clearly see, Megatron. It doesn't matter if you have an army of Decepticons, or Autobots... you're still going to fail. Just like both sides always have..." Jet snarked.

The Rainbooms and their Autobot guardians all rushed up, alongside with more of their friends who were enraged.

"When I get my hands on you, you'll be sorry!!!" Rainbow screamed, lubricant tears visible from her eyes.

"Do you really believe you can win? Look around you, its painfully clear you all are the ones who are blind. Your victory was never going to happen..."

In the midst of Jet's ongoing and rambling speech, Optimus stood still and looked at them all. But what he didn't notice was the yellow, orange and red bot that he just stabbed, getting back up on her feet, who wiped away the stains of blood from her chest. She opened up her spark chamber, and pulled the Matrix of Leadership out, exposing it.

Optimus's eye received a twinkle of blue sparkle, and he turned around to notice the Matrix.

"No... Impossible!"

Sunset's fingers gripped through the holes, and she opened it up again. The light from the Matrix shined brighter than the morning star, and Optimus was blinded. Streams of blue flowed from the Matrix yet again, and wrapped around Optimus Prime.

Everyone was left astounded when they saw him floating up, glowing in a blue and orange aura that compressed together in one bright color of white. Jet was about to charge, but Megatron shot her with his fusion canon right in her left shoulder which pained her enough to fall, and lock into stasis.

The energy from the Matrix engulfed Optimus Prime in a bright light, until the light began to fade away, and let him drop back down on his own two feet. Sunset looked up at Optimus with a worried frown, afraid the process didn't work.

"Optimus?"

Optimus's green optics stared at her. But something amazing happened. The green in his eyes was fading away, and the blue light was returning to its normal, and the mask removed from his face. And underneath that mask was a friendly, heart-warming smile.

"Hello, Sunset."

Sunset's frown turned upside down.

"Optimus!"

She jumped up and gave him a big hug, and Optimus embraced her back. The girls could practically see her beaming with joy to see her friend, her mentor back to his original roots again.

"The big guy's back again!" Rainbow cheered.

"Its so good to see you back again, Prime." Applejack smiled.

"I'll throw an 'Optimus Has Returned' party when we get back to Earth!" Pinkie squeed.

Optimus smiled when he looked at his friends. But something else was pondering his mind.

"How did we arrive back on Cybertron?"

"That's a long story, Prime. But long story short, Sunset pulled through when you were gone, she got us all together, and now everyone's trying to finish off that god right above us." Ironhide pointed to Unicron above.

Optimus looked up and gasped. "No... it cannot be..."

"But it is, Prime." Megatron replied.

Optimus looked back down, and saw the new and returned Megatron standing in front of him, accompanied by the rest of his compatriots.

"Megatron, but... I thought you were Galvatron."

Megatron smirked. "I was. But as much as I despise you Autobots, I must admit, I have a tiny bit of gratitude for your protégé. She's the one who returned me to my former glory."

Sunset pulled the Matrix out of her chest, and she handed it to Optimus.

"Optimus. I think this should go back to you now. Now that you're back, I think the Matrix needs to go back to the person who wields it better."

Optimus's spark chamber opened up, and the Matrix began to glow. It floated up in the air, and it slammed back into his chest, fitting in the mold within. Once it fit back inside, his chest panels closed, sealing the Matrix within.

"What do we do now?" Fluttershy asked.

Optimus looked up at the combined giant that comprised of Perceptor and Twilight who looked deep in thought. And as the wisdom of the Primes restored within Optimus, he grew an idea.

"I believe Perceptor and Twilight have just given me an idea. The Magic of Friendship combined with the Allspark, forged the two as one, creating this Knight."

Nexus grinned and pounded his chest.

"I am Nexus."

"Wait, so you're telling us, we have to... combine with one another?" Rarity asked.

"If we can form Knights just like this one, we may be able to use the Magic of Friendship, and the wisdom of the Matrix against Unicron." Optimus replied.

"Okay, but... how?" Sideswipe asked.

"I can answer that." Nexus replied. "The shells of Twilight and Perceptor focused their thought processors into one, thinking of a weapon to help their friends. That's when I was forged into existence."

"Then what are we waiting for!?" Rainbow cheered. "Lets combine and conquer!"

Sunset sneered. "Hey! I do the bad battle cries, okay?"

With no more time being wasted, everyone began to turn to their partners. Ironhide and Applejack's hands held each other, and their minds turned to focus on the energy within. Their eyes squinted tight, and all sounds and feelings around them were silent.

Their bodies began to glow bright orange, and a giant flash of light blinded the eyes of everyone around them. Once the flash had died, they could see that Applejack and Ironhide had forged a giant about the same size as Nexus. Their giant had brawny arms and legs, muscular all around. Its shoulders were jacked up wtih heavy armor, aond on the shoulders, were pictures of three apples on each, and there was an Autobot logo in the middle of the chest.

Its head had a similar look to Ironhide, but the green eyes gave part of the resemblence away. The helmet was orange with a crest on the top, but there was also a blend of Applejack's hat combined as well to create one helmet.

The others had some... different ideas. Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Rainbow Dash were all in vehicular mode on a cleared pathway, and right across from them were their partners in vehicle modes as well. They had a different idea for combining.

"Um, are you sure this is a wise idea?" Knockout asked. "If this fails, we'll not only dent each other creating more damage than half of our warriors at this moment in time, but we might scratch our fine paint."

"Knockout... remember, everything's gonna be fine. Just focus, and your paint will remain as cool as ever." Jazz said with a hint of boldness.

"Come on boys, lets rev it up!"

Their engines all hummed, and they swerved their wheels. Their painted bodies flew right out of the streets and began to drive straight towards the opposite ends of each other.

Three more bright flashes, and the six robots that were once there had now become three giant robots.

Rarity and Knockout's new persona had a shiny finish all around, and was nothing short of beautiful and dazzling. Its wrists and arms were now wielding diamond encrusted shields. Its legs were a blend of white and purple, while the top was a blend of bright baby blue and gray.

Sideswipe and Rainbow Dash's combination created a skinny and bulky figure in the same form. The legs had wheels for heels, tires were positioned on the sides of the wrists to form weapons, and the car doors from both cars were now sticking out of the back like helicopter blades. On one of the arms, the rocket launcher was connected and was ready to shoot. The face however had Sideswipe's gray skin, but with Rainbow Dash's magenta colored eyes, and there was a pair of horns sticking out of the forehead.

Jazz and Pinkie's had a more suave and fun appearance to it. Speakers built into the legs, two pink colorful party cannons on the arms, a gold chain around the neck, and a baby blue visor on the face. And the helm had a pink color to it, in addition to the blue neon color in the sides of the head. Pinkie's balloon mark was in the middle of the chest, just above the breasts of the body, and there were matching Autobot logos on the shoulders.

Fluttershy and Bumblebee on the other hand had a different method of combining. As Bumblebee found Bots to jump up from, he lunged up into the sky, while Fluttershy hovered in helicopter form. Once Bumblebee was up, she transformed and clashed into him as the two focused their thoughts on the same idea. One flash later, the two of them had combined into a giant just like the others.

Their robot had yellow skin on a samurai appearance. On the back were a pair of bug-like wings, and there were helicopter blades clipped to the wrists. The stinger weapons were equipped and unloaded, ready to shoot and were practically surging with electricity.

The last ones standing were Megatron, Optimus, and Sunset Shimmer.

"I guess its just you and me now, Optimus."

"Hold on." Megatron interrupted. "If that power can destroy Unicron... then I want to be a part of it."

"But Megatron, we don't know what it'll do to you!" Thundercracker begged.

"We just got you back, we can't lose you again." Skywarp added.

"Have you two learned nothing? Megatron never dies. No matter what will happen, he'll always return." Starscream said. "I know from experience..."

Sunset and Optimus exchanged looks, and then looked at Megatron.

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Sunset asked.

Megatron nodded.

"Then if Megatron is going to work with us, then Sunset, you will combine with him."

"Wait!" Sunset interrupted. "Maybe there's a way I can get both of you to use my magic. If I can equalize it with both of you, then there's a chance all three of us can be on equal grounds."

"But we won't know what will happen if you do!" Nexus interrupted.

"There's no time! Its now or never!"

Sunset grabbed both of their hands, and she went into her focus. Then with the efforts of Optimus and Megatron, the two of them closed their eyes and went into focus as well. All three of them began to glow, and in bright flashes, they began to transform.

What was once three people were now just two, Optimus and Megatron were now sharing equal magic from Sunset Shimmer and some of her parts had combined with the two of them. Both of them retained some of Sunset's color schemes, along with a few parts.

Megatron's armor was equipped with some more yellow and flames, and he had fins attached to his platting. Megatron's cannon was now stronger, including two extra barrels attached to the top of the cannon.

As for Optimus Prime, he now shared the flaming sun that was Sunset's cutie mark on his shoulders along with the Autobot logo in the middle of the sun's yin-yang formation. Tailpipes were added on his arms for more weapons, and he now wielded a giant sword.

The two knights looked at each other and exchanged nods. Then, the other six knights walked up with them and pulled out their weapons. Raising them high above, they let out a roar of a battle cry.

"I am Solaris Prime!" The combined Optimus and Sunset spoke. "My friends, my allies... all of our hard work and determination as come to this. This will be the day that all of Cybertron has worked as a united front. The day we put aside our differences, our hostilities, and our greed, to make sure the galaxy will live to see another day. My brothers and sisters..."

Solaris raised a sword up high.

"Let us rise, Knights Of Friendship!"

All of the knights took off from the ground and rose up to the skies to take the fight to Unicron. The final battle was upon them. Only this time... they were going to win no matter the cost.

Author's Notes:

Stay tuned for the final battle! And I hope you guys are continuing to enjoy this as we are further to the ending.