Inspiring

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"Inspiring"
Publisher	IDW Publishing
Published in	Friendship in Disguise! #2
First published	September 2, 2020
Cover date	September 2020
Written by	Ian Flynn
Art by	Sara Pitre-Durocher
Colors by	Joana Lafuente
Letters by	Jake M. Wood
Editor	Megan Brown, David Mariotte, and Bobby Curnow

Spike learns that there's more than one way to be a hero when he and Grimlock defend the Ark from the Constructicons.

Synopsis

Since arriving in another dimension, Twilight Sparkle's faithful assistant Spike has tried to get accustomed to life on the Ark, but the disappearance of the other Autobots has left Grimlock as the only Autobot in reserve. That's not a problem for Spike, however: the little dragon idolizes the hulking Dinobot; in particular, he envies his size, power, and rugged self-confidence, all traits that he doesn't see in himself. When the Ark's proximity alarm goes off, the two spy the Constructicons approaching; though they're clearly outnumbered, Grimlock transforms into his dinosaur mode and tells a starry-eyed Spike that they'll have to take them on alone!

With the Autobots away, the Constructicons plan to tear down the Ark, but don't expect to meet resistance from Grimlock and Spike; as the Dinobot wades into battle and easily holds his own against the Decepticons, Spike quickly decides to watch the action from the sidelines. Grimlock's ego gets the better of him, however; when he boasts that he can take all of the Constructicons at once, Hook orders the team to combine into the mighty Devastator! Spike's still confident that Grimlock can take on any foe, but this bravado quickly evaporates as he watches Devastator kick the Dinobot around. Spike realizes that he's got to help, and races back into the Ark. There, he quickly speedreads his way through a book of Cybertronian linguistics and a manual on how to operate Teletraan I, then sets the engines to fire.

Spike activates Teletraan's external speakers and shouts for Grimlock to get down... not that he needs any help with that particular order, as Devastator stomps him into the dirt. Fortunately, this has also left Devastator right where Spike wants him—when the ship's engines activate, the blast knocks the combiner back into his component Decepticons, who promptly retreat. Spike checks to make sure that Grimlock's alright, but is surprised when Grimlock calls him a "mighty warrior". Spike tries to be modest, but Grimlock explains: Spike's quick thinking and his ability to learn new skills in the heat of the moment saved the Dinobot. In fact, Grimlock confesses, he looks up to Spike, and this revelation causes Spike to collapse, overwhelmed with hero-worship!

Featured characters

(Numbers indicate order of appearance.)

Quotes

"Does tiny Spike have any questions for Grimlock?"
"How did you get to be so cool?!"
"Grimlock already strongest Autobot. Make sense to also be greatest dinosaur."

—Grimlock and Spike

"Puny Decepticons! Even together you no match for Grimlock!"
"You want to see us 'all together', animal?!"
(Constructicons form Devastator)
"Grimlock and Grimlock's big mouth..."

—Grimlock and Hook

"Spike learn new language and operating system in short time. Spike think of using busted engines as cannon. Spike use pronouns! Spike inventive and smart. Spike still little and will grow more big, more smart! Grimlock will always be Grimlock. Spike full of potential."

—Grimlock

Notes

Continuity notes

• In his letter to Twilight Sparkle, Spike alludes to the recent "whatever-it-was-that-happened"; presumably, he's referring to Queen Chrysalis casting the spell that opened up a portal between Equestria and Cybertron in "Transformation Is Magic"...although Spike didn't actually appear in that story.
• However, this issue is set on Earth, not Cybertron, and the pair operate out of the crashed Ark. Grimlock appeared on Cybertron in "Transformation Is Magic", as the only Autobot not teleported to Equestria, so it's sort of unclear how he and Spike got there. Believe it or not, this isn't actually Spike's first visit to an Earth—he and Twilight visited a human world a couple times in the Equestria Girls movies.
• Spike has wings in this story, which he got in the season eight episode "Molt Down".

Transformers references

• It probably goes without saying that the Autobots operating out of the crashed Ark wedged in the side of Mount St. Hilary, and the Teletraan I computer Spike uses, are all elements lifted from the first two seasons of the original Transformers cartoon.

Real-world references

• One of the books Spike reads aboard Ark bears the title Teletraan I For Dummies.

Errors

• On page five, Hook's headplate is purple, rather than black.
• On page nine, Spike's line, "Golly that was loud!" is missing a comma.