User blog:Bzero/Raindance - Leadership Challenge

A soaring establishing shot races through Valvolux. The view settles on a top-down view of the Valvolux Arena, in which two figures can be seen. One is the renowned de facto leader of Valvolux, Knightmare. The other is a large green warrior largely unknown outside that city-state. Over the image pipes Raindance’s pleasant voice: "Last cycle titans clashed, as Knightmare faced a direct challenge from a local leader called Centuritron."

The image zooms in as Centuritron leaps at Knightmare. The Dominicon steps nimbly aside, leaving Centuritron to pound ground. Raindance’s voice explains, "Centuritron started slow, exchanging more barbs than blows." Quick cuts show Knightmare smashing Centuritron with her mace and him rolling to the ground before shooting her with some large three-part cannon. Centuritron shoulder-rams her as he gets up, only to be slammed back to the ground by Knightmare’s knee smash.

"The challenged leader mocked her opponent as the crowd cheered and called for energon." A pan of the crowd shows a rowdy collection of Valvoluxians screaming. Even the flickering shadows appear to goad them on. "Centuritron responded to the calls, increasing the intensity and ferocity of his attacks." The image cuts to a missile slamming into Knightmare, staggering her at last. Centuritron dodges a mace strike in turn, slamming Knightmare in the shield and shoulder in response.

"Centuritron, however, got cocky, making threats he could not support. Ultimately the fight ended in a surprise, not by upset, but in a shocking reveal." Knightmare swings her mace once more and it hits Centuritron so hard his head collapses. His body breaks completely into three pieces, each of which transform into a separate Mini-Con as they land. The Mini-Cons look between themselves and then back at Knightmare before turning and running for the exits.

"Centuritron was not what he seemed," Raindance concludes as the three Mini-Cons transform into different altmodes and flee. "But Knightmare’s image was reinforced: she is the true protector of Valvolux, perhaps even more so than the city’s founder, Bulwark." Another pan of the crowd shows Valvoluxians cheering Knightmare. There is a quick glimpse of Deathsaurus in the crowd but then he’s gone. "For many here, the challenge to Knightmare cemented her rule more than threatened it."

"This is Raindance in Valvolux, reporting for ABN. Signing off." The camera pans back from the arena until Valvolux itself is a mere circular grey speck on the vast industrial plains, and then goes dark.