Invasion: Tales of a Roboticized Mare

Blood was clouding her vision. Blood? Rainbow Dash didn't know that she could still bleed.

Wait, I'm alive!

Rainbow Dash lifted her head. She immediately realized that several of her sensors weren't responding. But praise Celestia, it worked! The Sonic Rainboom still worked!

Rainbow stood up, shifting the pile of metal she was buried in. She pushed, worming her way out and into the street. Once she was free, Rainbow Dash took a moment to examine herself. Her body was peppered with dents and gashes.

Rainbow frowned, frustrated. This was technically, her actual body. No telling what this might do to her in the future.

Fluttershy, priority one, Rainbow Dash reminded herself. Still mentally smirking in pride, Rainbow Dash shot into the sky yet again. Only this time, her plan was slightly less suicidal. Slightly.

~~~

"What was that?" Robotnik snarled. He was almost surprised when there was no desperate excuse from his nephew. Robotnik suppressed the urge to facepalm. As useless as Snively was, what he wouldn't give for someone to order around.

"Stay focused, old boy," The Doctor chided himself.

This new ability of Rainbow's was fascinating, and terrifying. Fascinating, because it was a phenomenon that Equestrians only spoke of. Terrifying, because she could do it again.

"That must have been the legendary Sonic Rainboom."

As he spoke to himself, the lights flickered. Then they went out.

"What?!" He roared.

It turns out that pesky equine had more in common with the hedgehog than previously thought.

~~~

Fluttershy looked around. The energy field surrounding her had completely disappeared, plunging her into darkness. Fluttershy cautiously stood up. She had heard what sounded like a muffled explosion. Could it be that Rainbow Dash had found a way to shut off the electricity?

Fluttershy tentatively stuck a hoof past the line the beams normally guarded. She felt no sting. With more enthusiasm, Fluttershy hopped onto the opposite side. Liberated, Fluttershy began following the path she had mentally marked.

SWATBOTS came in and out this way occasionally. It must have been an exit. Anywhere is better than the inside of a dungeon.

~~~

Rainbow Dash marveled silently. Had her Rainboom obliterated an energy source or something? Lights everywhere started going out. Well, that was okay, as long as Rainbow had her...

She frowned again. Her night vision wasn't working. Never mind. Rainbow shook her head, trying to break the slow stream of blood into her pony eye. Her robotic eye was useless in the dark. Rainbow mentally ran through a list of active sensors.

She activated her surface grid and motion sensor. That would have to be good enough.  Determined not to fail, Rainbow Dash took one step towards Canterlot Castle.

~~~

Twilight fought to keep her eyes open.

"Hang in there, just a little longer." Doctor Whooves encouraged. Twilight’s foreleg was wrapped around the Doctor, and he was practically dragging the Unicorn. The aura around her horn was growing steadily smaller, as the fragile parts sank closer and closer to the grounds.

Doctor Whooves exhaled as the Castle of the Two Sisters came into view. Straining with effort, he raised his voice.

"Somepony help! We need help over here!"

He dropped to his knees, taking the mare with her. He heard the gates open in the distance. Then the sound of galloping hooves. A familiar voice filled his ear as his head hit the ground.

"Go get another Unicorn, and hurry!"

Doctor Whooves' vision began to fade. Exhaustion beat down on him like a club. Just before passing out, he could hear Lyra saying, "Don’t worry, Doc. We gotcha."

~~~

One side of Rainbow Dash's face was creased in a frown. More SWATBOTS would certainly be on the way, and she still wasn't sure where to look. Just as Rainbow cursed herself for dooming her mission, the castle was lit up.

Rainbow Dash jerked in surprise. This could be very good, or very bad. Good, because now she could see better. Bad, because now so could Robotnik. It was stupid of her to think for a second that Robotnik wouldn't have backup power of some sort.

Rainbow Dash remembered with a start that there were surveillance cameras in the castle. She wasted no time blazing through every inch of the once grand structure. Rainbow Dash began to worry that Fluttershy was in the Dungeons.

Rainbow Dash panicked. If Fluttershy was in the Canterlot Dungeons, fine! Then that’s where Rainbow Dash was going. She just needed to find her, fast. The longer it took Rainbow, the more danger they were in.

~~~

Doctor Robotnik clenched his teeth. The cowardly one had slipped out of her cell while the power was out! And Rainbow Dash was dangerously close to discovering her. Well, Robotnik wasn’t about to have that.

"All SWATBOTS, block off all entrances to the Canterlot Dungeons!" He pounced his fist on the console.

"And-" Robotnik pursed his lips. It was far too soon. But he was so close to having the ponies right where he wanted them. It would be worth it.

"Activate the Mecha unit."

~~~

Fluttershy froze at the growing sound of machinery. She dove to the side, pressing herself as close to the cave wall as possible. The damp, moldy rock surface slicked her coat with oil. Loud crashes neared, as a mechanized being stomped closer.

As it passed, Fluttershy could just make out its shape in the red glow. She gasped. Overjoyed, she burst from her hiding spot.

"Rainbow Dash!"

Rainbow stopped. Fluttershy wearily smiled. She had wondered if she would ever see Rainbow Dash again. Her relief ebbed away as Rainbow Dash turned around. Two glowing red eyes locked onto her.

"No. No, no, no, not you." Fluttershy begged. She felt her legs give in. Not her Rainbow Dash. Tears formed in her eyes once again. "I'm sorry."

Fluttershy lowered her head, Rainbow Dash whining as something inside her began to power up. She flinched when she heard a crash of metal on metal. Fluttershy jumped back, just now feeling a whoosh of air.

Now there were two Rainbows tangled together. The new one was attacking erratically, and spared several moments to jerk her head to the exit. Fluttershy stole a look. The way was clear, for now. Helpless, she looked back to where the Rainbows clashed.

Occasionally sparks would erupt where hits were landed. Rainbow Dash was obviously buying time for her to run. She galloped to the mouth of the cave. Examining the outside, she turned back.

"Rainbow Dash! It's clear!"

The sound of bashing metal did not slow. Fluttershy sobbed loudly.

"Please..." She fell back on her rear, refusing to go any further without Rainbow Dash. She shook her head, heart burning.

"This is my all my fault."

~~~

Rainbow Dash recognized pain. Her flesh could feel that much. Every scrape, scratch, and cut. Ouch.

She pushed away from the metal Rainbow, scrambling to get away. Metal hooves caught her again, pulling her back into the tussle. Rainbow kicked wildly. She was slammed into the floor for her effort.

Scraping on the damp floor, Rainbow took another chance. She cursed when she realized she was pinned down. Rainbow looked back. The metal Rainbow almost seemed to be smirking at her.

Brimming with rage, Rainbow Dash pulled with all her might. A screeching sound filled the air as metal tore. Rainbow Dash fell free with a rip. Seizing the opportunity, Rainbow pelted for the exit. Her run was lopsided and off-balance.

Rainbow soon came onto Fluttershy. Before Fluttershy could say anything, Rainbow scooped her up. She activated her propulsions, desperate to get out. She left behind a mess of broken robots, and a very angry doctor.

~~~

Lyra scanned the treeline from her position on the castle wall. It was already almost morning. She sighed.

I'll have to tell Doc the bad news.

She lowered her head, beginning a solemn prayer. She was interrupted by a zoom overhead. A bluish metal object soared into the clearing, carrying a shaking Fluttershy. So, there was good news after all!

Lyra trotted down the steps, calling in greeting. "Thank Celestia! I thought you guys were goners!"

Her enthusiasm was not returned. Fluttershy looked up at her, her eyes red from crying.

"Hey, you okay, honey? Do you need a nurse?"

Fluttershy closed her eyes, hanging her head. "Nopony can fix what happened."

"Why, what hap-"

Lyra stopped as Rainbow turned. Rainbow Dash was covered in dents and tears. But what really shocked Lyra was the fact that she was missing a hind leg and a wing.