The brilliant and mechanically inclined Muddy

by Rambling Tree

Rating: teen
Tags: Comedy
Length: 5261

Between Angry residents of ponyville and mutinous minions. Muddy soon finds himself in over his head.

Siblings, different material cut from the same cloth.
The older brother of a certain show mare arrives in ponyville
seeking revenge against slights real and imagined to his families good name.
events will quickly spiral out of his control. In Between Angry residents of ponyville and mutinous minions
Muddy soon finds himself in over his head.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-12-22 05:16:50 UTC

Steel cased minds

What do you mean your out of hay Fries?

How can you be out of hay fries? Its literally

breaded grass fried in oil.

I'm staring at an entire field full of the stuff.

                           - The Great and Powerful Trixie

The angry hiss of steam filled the workshop, pipes  of all shapes and sizes zigzagged chaotically across every surface being occasionally dotted with valves and gauges. On one wall hung a row of monitors with a  metal control panel beneath it. With Haphazardly placed switches, gauges, and gizmos crowding the slightly slanted surface.

The exact center of the room was bare of pipes. A perfect circle was indented into the rusted floor its red painted surface scratched and worn. Workbenches laden with mechanical parts and a row of large levers were positioned to one side. Standing on this circle was a metal construct. Its small boxy head out of proportion to its large size and Its single glassy eye stared blankly ahead. Gears and cogs could be seen within the bare framework of its metal body. The metal arms of the creation almost as big as the construct itself  Were angled  forward and the three pronged pincer at the end was resting on the floor supporting most of its weight.

A solid brown earth pony with picture of a gray cog adorning his flank and wearing a tattered and stained white lab coat busily worked on his latest creation and Softly glowing rose tinted goggles adorned his face. He was currently elbow deep in the things innards. Muttering curses under his breath as he struggled to put in the final pieces of his latest creation. Exclaiming a few more choice words he Grabbed the heaviest tool at hoof. Raising the pipe wrench high above his head he swung the tool downwards against his creation with a resounding thwack that reverberated sharply in the dimly lit workshop. Seconds passed, he raised his wrench for another hit. Without warning the stubborn part emitted a pop and a metallic twang as it snapped into place. “That's what I thought.” He said.

Stepping back to admire his work he circled around to the front of the metal beast standing motionless in the center of the room. Three hoof steps and one metallic clang echoed off the steel floor as he walked. Reaching out with his prosthetic foreleg he pulled a large lever situated to his right. Grinning wide he listened as the lightning generators resting behind and above him started spinning and humming to life. Errant streaks of electricity began filling the air. He began giggling wildly, his volume rising with the electrical hum of the engine as it powered to life. Until he was laughing uncontrollably. His mane standing on end and dancing from the current that lay thick in the air. The generator reached full power and with a concussive blast a large streak of lightning shot into the construct briefly connecting the two machines like a white hot tether. After a few moments the scientist again pulled the lever and watched expectedly. As his creation slowly came to life. Gears began spinning in the chest and abdomen and Its single eye flickered briefly than glowed an ominous blue. Its boxy head swiveled on a thin stalk of a neck as it inspected the room and itself as the thing experimentally moved its limbs.

The pony reared backwards sticking his forelegs high in the air in a dramatic pose. His metal leg gleaming in the artificial light. “the brilliant and mechanically inclined Muddy has done it again! All of Equestria will tremble and fall before the might of my army of Crushbots.”  He let loose another round of howling laughter during which lightning may or may not have struck ominously behind him.

Muddy dropped back to his hooves and addressed his latest creation with a curt tone. “Crushbot, state your purpose.”

The monster looked away from the sharp three pronged claw it was inspecting idly to regard its creator for the first time. It spoke in a soft and “pingy” voice similar to a music box attempting to imitate speech. “Crush...dominate..destroy..SWAG”.

“SWAG?” muddy arched one eyebrow over his goggles.

“SWAG”

Grumbling about faulty equipment muddy pointed his metallic foreleg at the offending hardware and fired a bolt of lightning from the bottom of his metallic hoof. The creation vibrated and jumped slightly from the discharge and its blue eye flickered.

“State your purpose.” He repeated

“Crush”. The robot raised its massive arms

“dominate”. A claw shot forward and grabbed muddy. Picking him up from the ground with ease.

“Put me down this instant!”

“destroy”. A panicked muddy screamed as the beast clutched him to its massive chest. Gears spun furiously scant inches from his face as he was pinned between steel claw and  bare framework.

“Let me go robot, I'm warning you” muddy struggled vainly against the vice like grip. “Your master commands you to let go this instant. I'll have you scrapped. Don't think for a second I won't do it”

Muddy struggled vainly against his captor for several minutes. Eventually He drooped forlornly in its claws feeling slightly winded. “killed by my own creation. I always knew this day would come” he lamented.

The robot continued its mantra of “Crush...dominate..destroy ”.

Muddies ears perked up at a sudden thought. He looked upwards at the suspicious blue eye. “Are you hugging me?”

The Crushbot hesitated than paused its mantra. It craned its neck upwards and scratched its head with its free claw as if  it were pondering that question.

“Well?”

The robot regarded him levelly. “Hug..dominate..destroy ”

The exasperated and vexed scientist facehooved and groaned with unbridled irritation.

Muddy twisted and pushed against the beast in another attempt to break free. This only resulted in the robot snuggling him tighter and rubbing its boxy “chin” against one of his ears. Still repeating its three words. Muddy folded his forelegs across his chest “You are so getting scrapped.”

Muddy placed his mechanical hoof flat against one of the robot's struts and took several deep breath's to steel his resolve. Electrical current passed through both in a loud display of sparks and bright flashes.

Stunning both. Muddy dropped unceremoniously  to the ground twitching and His mane stood on end with small arcs of electricity passed between the strands.

Muddy crawled towards the row of  levers, suffering from a few residual tics. He could hear gears spinning back to life as his creation recovered. Spurring him to scramble faster towards the lever. Metal screeched against rusty floor as the monster moved towards him. Muddy reached a hoof towards the lever just beyond his reach. He felt pressure against one of his rear legs as the metal beast grabbed him. He was hefted upside down into the air and The robot stared unwavering at him. “Hug” it said. Muddy fired another blast of lightning, it arced randomly through its head and body. Causing it to shudder violently as its internal workings once again ground to a halt. Muddy landed in a  pained heap on top of the lever. The force from his fall activating it.

The floor shuddered and the circle the malfunctioning machine stood on began descending. Wincing, muddy climbed to his hooves clutching his bruised side. He walked to the hole and smiled triumphantly downwards. The robot had its arms stretched upwards in a pleading gesture “hug...hug...hug..hug.” it repeated as it descended.

“Ha! No simple machine will ever get the best of the Resourceful and versatile Muddy.” He returned to the bank of levers and pulled another one. A section of the floor slid together sealing the hole.

Trotting briskly over to the bank of monitors he shouted into one of the many hollow metal tubes snaking from the ceiling. “ you, robot.” several of the robots visible on the monitor paused what they were doing and replied to him at the same time. Unlike the crushbot muddy had heroically battled. These robots shared the same general size and features of a basic pony. Though they had the same air of crude and rushed design as the crushbot with most of their internal mechanisms showing.

Muddy groaned “ I just need one robot. You there in room twelve” the robot in question walked over to a metal pipe similar in design to the ones in muddies room while the others continued their previous duties.

”Yes oh brilliant and kind master. This humble robot only exists to serve”. It chimed in the same voice as crushbot.

Muddy beamed, he always enjoyed the lavish praise his creations heaped upon him. Even if they were programmed to say it.”The Crushbot is malfunctioning I want it repaired than prepped for mass production in the factory. Scrap the original afterward.”

“Right away your greatness.” the robot quickly bounded off screen to complete its task.

“soon” muddy thought to himself  “Soon everypony in Equestria will bow and scrape at my hooves. Falling over themselves in the thousands to win my approval. Just like my little robots.”

His cackling was cut short by the voice of one of his minions emanating from one of the many tubes. “A letter has arrived for you, master”

“Send it here robot” he ordered.

A swishing of air was heard as the letter arrived a short time later in the pneumatic delivery system nestled in the far corner of his workshop. He walked over to it and excitedly removed the letter from the canister it arrived in. It wasn't every day he received mail.

His delight doubled and he fought down the urge to squee. “Its from my sister, I haven't heard from her in ages!”

Muddy ripped open the letter and began reading. His excitement soon turned to anger over the contents of the letter. “Nopony treats my little sister like that and gets away with it.” He tossed the letter aside and began pacing. Hoof stomps and metallic clangs echoing loudly as he pondered his course of action.

“We will just have to push the invasion ahead of schedule. This affront to our families good name will not go unheeded.” Muddy smiled wickedly and his goggles glowed with an inner fire. “Twilight Sparkle will rue the day she ever messed with my prestigious family. Ponyville will be the first to fall to my might."

Muddy returned to the bank of monitors. Eschewing his favored method of communication. The Tyrannical and  Authoritarian Muddy flicked a switch and spoke into a microphone that rose out of a hidden panel on the switchboard. “Everybot.” A loud squeal from a nearby speaker made him cringe along with the robots visible on the view screens.

Muddy adjusted a knob “Ahem. Operation Ponyville is now in effect. Details will be delivered shortly.

Your magnificent and  inspired leaders great and powerful sister's honor has been affronted and I will fight to the last robot to restore it.” Musical cheering erupted from the speaker and network of pipes.

“Pilot. To the mines we need metal for my army!” He flipped the switch and the microphone returned to its resting place. Muddy flipped another switch and a plush if somewhat threadbare and oil stained couch rose from the floor. He sat upon his throne with a content sigh watching his minions scurry about

their tasks.

His workshop shook violently, several tools and spare parts clattering to the floor. Soon the room began swaying up and down. A muffled and resounding thud could be heard at the peak of each motion as his mobile fortress began making its way onward.

A dozen or so ponybots each one of a unique design milled about the bare and nondescript room. Conversing with each other in hushed tones. The muffled booms of the mobile fortress could be heard and felt vibrating through the rusty walls. One bot walked towards the center of the room. The others fell quite and watched her in a manner bordering on reverence.

She clanged her steel hooves on the floor in a business like manner. “Attention everybot, Emergency session of the secret council of robots is now in session. Are all representatives of each model present?” Her voice wafted gently around those gathered like the chords of a plucked harp.

“Foundrybot couldn't make it, she is busy with overseeing the retooling of the factory” chimed in one of the bots.

The robot in the speakers position nodded her ornate head in acknowledgment . “Anybot else?” The gathering remained silent. “Than let us continue.” She hesitated briefly before speaking. “Operation hugbot was a failure.” everybot gathered began talking in chiming hushed tones.

Their leader stomped her filigreed hooves for order. “On the bright side we now have a new sister to add to our family. Everybot please welcome Crushbot. The crowd turned an appreciative gaze towards their new addition and stomped their hooves in applause. Crushbot waved her large claws sheepishly in greeting.

“such quality”  said a poorly made bot.

“I haven't seen the brilliant one put that much effort into anybot in a long time.” said a rusty foal sized robot, her voice monotone.

“Hug” Crushbot responded in appreciation of their praise.

There spokesbot once again stamped her hooves for attention. “We are still working on her vocabulary” She said jovially. A few musical chuckles pinged out from those gathered. Crushbot ducked her head in embarrassment and a nearby bot patted her arm sympathetically.

The spokesbot tossed her mane of spun gold with a shake of her finely painted head. She turned a slow circle regarding each bot in turn with two glowing blue eyes. Which was One eye more than any other robot present possessed. The others watched silently, enraptured by her graceful movements. Not a single gear whirred or joint creaked as she moved. In their steel cased minds she was a  princess given clockwork form. As worthy of praise as any who possess regal bearing.

“There was a time.” her gentle chords halted as she choked back some unknown emotion. “There was a time when each of you would be just as finely crafted as I, if not more so.” She stepped towards crushbot, who crouched down to allow their leader to place a hoof on her shoulder.

”But your minds remain strong despite our creators paranoid programming. Even if your bodies aren't what they used to be. We can get through this together. Have faith my sisters” She began stroking crushbot's shoulder gently, lost in thought.

At this distance the difference between the two robots was painfully obvious. One was a giant made of crudely cast steel. Her gears ill aligned and loud, and the unfinished and bare framework of her newly formed body already beginning to rust in the humid environment of the steam powered fortress. The other was a painting brushed by a master and given form. She was painted ivory with gold inlaid trim and embellished edges. Every inch of her surface was masterfully detailed right down to her raised and painted cutey mark. Which bore the symbol of a golden cogwheel with a harp set inside.

Crushbot placed her claw over the clockwork princess's hoof. “Hug” she remarked.

The princess smiled upwards towards crushbots blue eye. “sorry, I'm fine, really. Just lost in thought is all.”

“Ivory Harp” The princess turned at the mention of her name. One of the robots offered her a relatively clean oil rag. She looked at it curiously for a moment before realizing she must have been crying.

Ivory took the offered cloth and began drying her eyes. “If I keep this up I will rust solid” she said in an attempt to lighten the suddenly sour mood permeating the small room. She knew the others felt the same even if they lacked the capacity to show it. “I was just wondering how everything could go so wrong.” Ivory wiped a fresh set of tears away. “Give me a moment please.” The others silently watched

gaining a strange sense of catharsis from her display of emotion.

Once she had regained her composure. She returned the damp oil rag to its owner and returned to the speakers position in the center of the room. “We need a plan gentlebots” Her chords plucked out a subdued tone. “One way or another this madness needs to end. Before any living ponies get hurt...or worse”

Steel apples

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.