Steel Hearts

The little machine rolled along on its single wheel, swerving around the boxes that occasionally blocked its path. The little antenna on the top of its head wobbled with each movement, giving the appearance of a single hair. In the little devices thin, wiry arms, it was holding a box two times bigger than itself.

The robot slowed down upon reaching a large metal door with intricate looking gears on it. The door was closed and locked, a red light above it indicating that nobody would be able to penetrate its steel defenses. The door towered over the tiny robot, easily ten times its height. Fortunately for the robot, it didn't need to open it. A small maintenance hatch right beside the towering metal door was just the right size for the little load-bearing robot to enter through.

The robot rolled through the hatch and emerged on the other side of the wall. The room was barely lit, all the inhabitants being able to see very well in the dark. Thick black wires snaked across the floor, making it difficult for the little wheeled machine to cross. The far side of the room was dominated by a massive circular machine. All the wires on the floor seemed to attach to some part of the machine, leaving no spot of the giant metal monstrosity untouched.

The little robot traversed the room, making its way towards the circular machine. On either side of the machine, stacks of boxes identical to the one being carried by the little load-bearer. The robot placed the box beside the rest, before turning around to head back to whence it came. It never got to return, however, as one of he stacked boxes tipped over, falling onto the robot, crushing it in an explosion of sparks and metal bits.

"Maintenance, report to the transport hub," a loud, tinny voice called out from an intercom, prompting robots identical to the now-crushed bot to come rolling into the room. The machines promptly began cleaning the up the mess.

It was a busy day for the little machines, just as it had been the day before. Just as it had been for weeks, just as it had been for months.

Just as it had been for centuries before, and just as it would be for centuries more.

Crystal Clear trotted through the hallways of the Canterlot Police Department, nodding to everypony she passed. A small, cocky smile was affixed to her face, her head bobbing up and down as she strutted through the hall. Her dishevelled white mane, however, shattered the uncaring and confident look she was trying to pull off. The bags under her eyes betrayed the fact that she hadn't gotten any sleep the previous night.

In fact, Crystal had been up stressing all night. Her boss had sent her a letter in the mail, telling her that the next day she would be reassigned to a "special case" up in the Misty Mountains. This had worried her a lot. Why was she being sent there now? She thought back over all the assignments she had done over the past few years. Had she done something wrong? Maybe she was being sent to the woods on a "special case" as a punishment.

Crystal reached an ominous looking wooden door at the end of the hall. The name "Commissioner Justice" was engraved on a name plate on the door. She took a deep breath before raising her hoof to knock. "Come in, Miss Clear," a baritone voice called from behind the door, before she had a chance to knock. Crystal gulped and nudged the door open.

"Take a seat."