"Is that the enemy?" Applejack asked, noting the behemoth across the field from them.

Looking like a unholy cross between a spider and a crab, it's many claws waved menacingly at them.

"How revolting!" Rarity commented, hopping up onto the grey cushion next to Button. "Maybe you should make this quick. I would definitely like to get to personally know you better instead." She said, flicking her cushion's yellow tassels in a playful manner.

Button shuddered but didn't reply, instead waiting for his enemy's movements.

"Rarity, quit flirting and pay attention!" Rainbow Dash complained. "I wanna see this fight!"

A moment later a small screen popped up, showing a close up of a small arrangement of grooves on the top of the creature. Most of them contained a single light each.

"Doesn't look like much experience here..." Voice Bug announced, inspecting the smaller screen.

"That just makes it easier for me." Button said before the enemy suddenly lashed out with its claws.

Fluttershy sqeaked in fright and hid behind Lyra as the claws slammed against them.

"Don't worry!" Button Mash said, willing the robot to grab the attached claws. "The cockpit is protected by layers of armor and shock absorbers! Something as weak as that can't be felt in here!"

By Button's command, their robot immediately clenched tightly on the claws and pried them of its body. Using them like a rope, he pulled the creature closer, the enemy's legs attempting feebly to resist.

"See Bon-Bon!" I told you hands are useful!" Lyra said to a quiet Bon-Bon, barely noticing the trembling Pegasus behind her.

"Where are the lasers?" Vinyl asked, waiting to see the feature she signed up for.

Button obliged. With a flash, several beams of light struck the body of their victim, bouncing harmlessly of the metallic shell.

"As you can see, lasers are normally reflected off of the armor." Voice Bug explained to a disappointed Vinyl. "In most battles you must tear off the protective layers before they become effective."

As he spoke, Button was already tearing apart the metal, shouting in triumph when he found something. The mares all watched as he pulled out a small sphere, gripped tightly in the robot''s metal digits.

"Is that the core?" Spike asked, climbing back onto Twilight for a better view.

"Yes." Button said, staring at the sphere with an unreadable expression. "Once you destroy this, you win the match and the round is over."

The stallion took a quick glance at the still visible floor of the cockpit. Upon it was a series of faint lines laid out to form an unfamiliar design.

'At least it's nopony I know...' he thought.

Most of the mares didn't notice his hesitation, though Octavia had. From her position on the floor behind him, she couldn't make out what he was looking at, but resolved to ask later.

"If you have any other questions. You should ask me now." Button immediately addressed. "I will not be around after this so you will be all on your own."

"WHAT?!" Rarity screeched, nearly flopping off her cushion in shock.

"It's part of the rules of the game."

"But why? Can't you change the rules of your own game?"

Button solemnly stared at a nearby cushion. White with lavender trim, it visually was no different than the others but Button watched it as if it were the most important.

"I am not the creator, just another player. But how badly that I wish I could, Rarity."

Octavia spoke up.

"What do you mean?"

Ignoring the question, Button concentrated and the enemy core was pierced by several lasers. The lights of the enemy faded out as one before the panorama disappeared and the darkness returned. His task completed, the stallion hopped off his seat to address the group.

"Promise me that you will all do your best and fight your hardest."

"But..."

"Promise me!"

"Okay! We promise!" Twilight said for the group.

Button sat down, his expression glum.

"I'm..."

He couldn't finish his sentence as the mares all returned to their previous locations from before the battle. Twilight and Spike, both standing in the open door of the library, glanced upward to see both the robot and the enemy dissolve into nothingness.

"What was he going to say?" Spike asked, watching the last evidence of the robot disappear.

"I don't know Spike."

Had they been any closer to see its face, they would have seen the single light of their robot fade away.

Author's Note

Okay, this chapter's a bit shorter than I hoped. Next chapter is the reactions and responses of the ponies of Equestria.