The brilliant and mechanically inclined Muddy

Trixie does not condone or recommend

the use of live animals in her show. Unlike

someponies who shall remain nameless.

                              - the Great and Powerful Trixie

It was another lazy afternoon on the farm in Sweet Apple Acres. The sun shone uncomfortably bright overhead and the lack of a breeze sentenced everypony working outside to a muggy and sweaty workday.

Several ponies went about their tasks this fine day. Happy to be doing what they love and spending time with family. An ancient green mare sat in her favorite rocking chair with an ice cold glass of cider close at hoof. Having taken refuge under the awning of their porch from the oppressive heat. She watched her grandchildren with droopy half lidded eyes as she began to doze off.

A young red headed foal hummed a cheerful tune to herself as she sorted and hauled baskets of apples between the orchard and the barn. Returning the empty baskets to her big sister. Who was tirelessly kicking the fruit out of one tree before moving on to the next. Also of note was a large red stallion further inside the orchard doing whatever it is that he does.

The family paused what they were doing. Trying to identify the cause of the vibrations they were feeling through their hooves. The blond mare who was happily bucking apples moments before, tipped her hat back and watched a few pebbles near her hooves shudder than begin to dance as the vibration intensified.

“Applejack.” Shouted the youngest of the family as she ran towards her. “Whats goin on?”

“Ah don't rightly know.” she responded while nervously readjusting her hat. “ah think we're having an earthquake.”

“Whats an earth shake?” the youngest asked with her head low  to the ground. She watched with fascination as  the dancing pebbles jumped about.

“I don't rightly know. Never been in one myself. I heard they don't last long. We best move out in the open away from anything that might fall.” as the words left her mouth she noticed something large cresting the horizon and slowly getting bigger. “Applebloom?”

“Yeah big sis.”

“Ya'll better fetch granny Smith and get down in the cellar. Ah think we got something big headed our way.”

As the foal ran back to the farm house. The eldest of the three siblings trotted up to his second youngest sister. “Whats going on AJ?” he asked.

“I ain't got the slightest clue.” The two ponies shifted their legs into a wider stance to keep their balance as the vibrations intensified.

“this earthquake sure is making applebuck season easy on us.” said Big Mac, his usually level tone distorted by the quake.

Applejack looked towards the orchard. Apples were falling at a steady rate as far as she could see. “Well I'll be, ain't that somethin.” She returned her attention back to the large whatever it was heading in their direction. “what do ya reckon that thing is headed our way?”

“I don't rightly know  AJ. Ah think we'll find out soon enough.” They didn't have to wait long.

“Hey Applejack”

“Yup?”

You seeing what i'm seeing?

“Is that castle... walking?”

“Eyup”

Both sibling watched in a sort of horrified fascination as the walking castle...thing overtook their farm.  Flattening a row of apple trees along with their fence along the road and cutting a very sizable chunk through the wilderness opposite their farm. With a resonating thud that threatened to knock both ponies off their feet the fortress came to a stop a short distance from the barn.

A lone pony wearing a tattered and stained lab coat appeared on the parapet. His goggles catching and reflecting the light of the sun. He spoke into a megaphone attached to one gleaming hoof. “Citizens of Ponyville. I, the brilliant and Mechanically incli-” thwack, his speech was interrupted by an apple bouncing off his head.

“The Brilliant and mecha – oof”. Another apple bounced off his noggin. “would you quit that.” he shouted.

“This ain't Ponyville ya idiot!” The apple thrower yelled from below. As she released another barrage of apples.

“Stop it” Muddy ducked another apple “The Angry and wrathful Mu-” he was interrupted by an apple bouncing off his face.

“Make me!”

“Oh thats it! Deploy the Crushbots.” He shouted.

“The what now?” Applejack asked. Pausing her fruit based assault.

Her Question was answered by a half dozen robots marching towards them from the castle. Their stubby legs moved awkwardly underneath them and they hunched forward  as they walked with most of their weight supported by their large arms. Every now and than one bot would lift itself off the ground with its arms and swing its lower body forward before resuming its ungainly and loping gait. They stopped directly in front of the two farm ponies. Their glowing blue eyes boring into the two.

“what in the hay are those?” Applejack took a few cautious steps back. Followed closely by her brother.

“Those are the Smart and ingenious muddies Crushbots. And you will show respect.”

“Respect?!” The farmpony shrieked out. Her voice a little more high pitched than she would've liked. “you went and and destroyed my fence and my trees. I ain't showing you nothing but my hoof.” She shook said appendage at muddy in defiance.

“Eyup”

“The important and compelling Muddy does not concern himself with  property damage” He said nonchalantly into the megaphone.

“Ya'll come down here and say that. Big Mac get my rope!”

“Eyup”

“Crushbots this farm displease your master.” The gears of the six robots whirred to life and began pounding the ground with their massive limbs in an intimidating display of strength. Sod and turf flew in several directions from the deep furrows their claws dug into the ground with each strike. Half bounded outwards to cause mischief. While the rest stalked towards the two ponies. “Crush...dominate..destroy” they repeated.

Bored with the farm Muddy trotted back into the fortress. Foregoing the elevator he took the stairs two at a time and swiftly marched into the wheel house. “Navigatorbot” He shouted

“Yes, sir” the small robot  twirled around and saluted with a rusty hoof.

“Where is ponyville” Muddy asked Quietly. His voice dripping with impending doom.

The robot looked down towards its hoof as it traced a circle nervously on the floor. “We are still triangulating it's exact position your creatorness. Our maps are outdated and we believe ponyville may have uh...moved”

“Moved?” Muddy arched an eyebrow over his goggles.

Navigatorbot nodded weakly before cringing downwards. it's chassis rattling audibly as time dragged onward. It was certain that each second that passed would be its last. Without a word Muddy turned and exited the room. Navigatorbot sighed musically in relief. Its companion trotted over and leaned in conspiratorially. “I can't believe he bought that.”

Muddy exited the castle door and returned to his place on the parapet. Smiling he took in the farm and the havok his minions were causing. One robot was punching a tree while another was tipping over baskets. The third one was punching holes in the garish barn. The other three were circling the two farm ponies who looked more angry than anything else.

“Halt.” muddy commanded into the megaphone. All six crushbots froze in mid action. The two ponies glared towards him.” I am not without mercy, tell me where ponyville is and I will spare this little mud farm.”

“I Ain't telling”

“Ya'll can take your fancy robots and your fancy castle and get off our farm. Cause you ain't welcome here.”

“You tell him Big Mac.”

“Pilot, flatten the farm house!” Muddy adjusted his goggles and cackled as the fortress creeped towards its target.

“Your bluffing” Applejack gave a worried look towards her home.

“the honest and reliable Muddy never bluffs” The barn collapsed as the fortress overtook it. “muddy chuckled when he remembered that one of his crushbots was standing next to it. “oops”

“Aplebloom, granny Smith.” Applejack shared a fearful look with her brother. “Stop” she shouted. The fortress halted its movement. “I'll tell ya” Applejack added lamely.

“Well?”

“Please, I got family in there”

“Than tell me what I want to know.”

Applejacks shoulders sagged in defeat. She looked towards big Mac for help. He gave her a reassuring nod and spit out the hay stalk he was chewing on. “Just follow the road”. Big Mac replied for her.

“Crushbots destroy the farm” Muddy shouted

“What? You promised to leave us be. Ya good for nothing rotten scoundrel! Flimflam artist!”

Muddies raucious laughter echoed through the farm as the ground shook, signaling that the fortress was once again on the move and thankfully not towards her home much to Applejacks relief.

Applejack ground her teeth as she watched the castle slowly make its way towards ponyville. It flattened huge swaths of forest on either side as it moved like some sort of giant beetle. She than turned her anger towards the nearest crushbot vowing revenge against all things Muddy.

Applejack charged the nearest Crushbot. She spun at the last moment and bucked it in the arm. The robot toppled onto it's side as its support was kicked out from under it.. “That's for Miss Wickerbottom.” She gave the robot another swift kick.” And thats for Amanda Ironroots”. Applejack hopped backwards as the robot tried to grab her. Than rushed in while it was occupied with regaining its footing. She grinned  at the sound of broken glass as the robots eye shattered from the well placed kick. “And thats for Dusty Twinkleshine.”.

“Now AJ ah don't think now is the best time ta be giving your trees a eulogy.” Applejack turned her attention away from the blinded robot towards her brother who with a mighty kick sent one robot careening into another. Without slowing down in the slightest both robots went sailing into the rubble of the barn. Big Mac watched with annoyance as both robots stood up unfazed. “We need to find a way to make them stay down”

“I'm open to suggestions” Both ponies watched the four robots wordlessly mill around the remains of the barn. Smashing the pieces into smaller bits. “What in the hay are they doing anyway?”

Big Mac shrugged and turned towards Applejack. His eyes grew to the size of dinner plates and he shouted a warning. “AJ behind you!”

Large claws wrapped around applejacks middle and hefted her effortlessly into the air. “Whaa? Hey put me down!”

“Hug...huh...hug” the crushbot chimed as it pressed AppleJack to the bare frame of its chest. Gears whirred inches from her face as she struggled against its titanic grip.”Put me down ya overgrown toaster oven.”

Big Macintosh circled around the robot unsure how to act without getting his sister crushed in the process. His ears swiveled forward and tilted back. “Ya hear that AJ? Sounds like its saying something.”

Applejack paused her struggling and listened. “Yeah whats it saying?”

“Sounds like its saying 'hug'. Kinda strange if you ask me.” Big Mac moved the hay stalk to the other side of mouth.

Applejack stared at him. She could have sworn she saw him spit out that hay stalk earlier. Where did he? Applejack shook her head. Didnt matter, she had more important things to worry about. “Yup” was all she could manage at this juncture in the way of an opinion.

You would think it would be trying to crush ya. You know being named Crushbot and all.” The crushbot began nuzzling applejacks ear. Knocking her hat off in the process. Big Mac chuckled. “ah think you made a new friend their sis.”

Applejack scowled. “O' course you pick now ta be all talkative like. Instead of helping me out here.”

“Enope, just thinking out loud” Big Mac scratched his chin in a contemplative manner.

“put me down.” The Crushbot dropped applejack and took a step back. She dusted her hat off and frowned at her useless brother. Big Mac grinned and shrugged.

The robots chassis began rattling audibly and its speech became a garbled mess of incoherant pings and

pops. It raised one claw and pointed towards its chest. “GEEEEERZ” It finally managed.

The siblings cocked their heads in confusion ”Huh?”

“GEEEERRRRZZZZ!” Its shaking intensified as it pointed urgently towards itself.

“Grrr?” Applejack parroted.

“GEEEE”

“Gee?”

“EERRRRZ”

“Gee-ers?” Applejack and big Mac shared a blank look.

The shivering robot performed an eye rolling motion with its eyeless head. Than it grabbed its pointing arm with its other claw and with one swift motion shoved its arm deep into its chest. The robot's insides ground to a halt and it fell forward with a loud clang.

“Ohhh gears. Well why didnt ya'll say so?” The immobilized robot began banging its head into the ground. “Hey now, ain't no reason to beat yourself up.” Applejack paused for a moment in thought. “Now just to be clear are you saying all we have to do to stop ya'll is keep yer gears from spinning?” The robot nodded in agreement. “any reason why you couldn't just out right say it?” the robot nodded again. “Anything else you can tell us?” The robot shook its head, no. “Well alright than. Thank you kindly.”

“Eyup”

Now that they had an idea on how to defeat the robots. The siblings approached the remains of their barn. Where the last of the robots were still milling aimlessly about. “Seems a might strange big mac. Other than that muddy fella these robots dont seem like they got the heart to hurt anypony.”

“Eyup”

The two picked up loose pieces of timber of suitable size and set to work. “Seems to me like they was puttin on a big show while he was around.”

“Eyup” big Mac grunted as he impaled the robot in front of him.

Applejack dodged a slow and exaggerated swing from the robot she had stabbed. She bucked at the timber sticking out of its chest and it fell to the ground. She picked up another piece of timber and moved to her next robot. Who seemed to make a point of ignoring her as it kicked at a few pieces of rubble. “ I dont think we have the whole story.” She said as she stabbed the robot in the back. “This is too easy, they ain't fighting back and that other one was downright helpful.”

“Eyup.” The two stood before the last Crushbot hefting large pieces of wood in their hooves. The robot made a big show by pounding the ground a few times then charged and swung its arms wide missing them both completely. They stabbed at the opening it presented them and it toppled backwards. “Thats the last of them.”

“Eyup.

Applejack surveyed the damage to her farm. Besides the barn, her fence, and a few trees. It was relatively undamaged. Nothing a few days of honest labor can't fix. Could have been much worse she realized with a cold shiver down her spine as she looked at the farmhouse. “I'm gonna head into town and see if I can't meet up with the girls. They're gonna need my help and ah still got a bone to pick with this muddy fella.”

Big Mac nodded and turned to go check on the rest of his family.