The thing about fighting evil robots that looked like you was that they didn't always play by your rules. This was something Sonic was painfully reminded of as he and his double flew down a long hallway at high speed. He had to give Eggman credit for making Metal Sonic so persistent in beating him since Metal was one of the only machines that could come close to doing so. And whatever the real thing could do, he would dish out something just as strong. Just like right now, when Sonic was struggling to bring Metal down and the robot responded by flinging him against a wall.

The hedgehog didn't have time to stand before Metal rushed up and squeezed his neck like it was made of rubber. Emotionless red eyes glared into quivering green irises, yet Sonic's answer to the threatening stare was a trademark smirk. "Th-think you got me… huh, Metal? For all that smarts in a robot… I think you would've learned something by now."

Metal tilted his head. If he had a mouth, Sonic thought he would have asked him what he meant by that. And the hedgehog was proud to give him an answer. "You should remember that I'm never alone for long…" The reason for the hedgehog's statement came quickly when Metal's sensors detected a fast-moving object approaching from behind. The instant he turned his head to look, a red sneaker whacked the robot in the head and knocked it away from Sonic.

The hedgehog turned to his rescuer with a grateful nod. "Thanks for the save, Tails. You up for a little scrap-down?" The fox helped him, and his silent-yet-positive expression was enough of an answer. And just past his shoulder, Sonic caught Knuckles and Amy charging for a standing Metal Sonic, who quickly assessed all threats before launching himself into the air. Tails flew up to meet the machine, who swiftly swiped at the fox with his claws and shredded off wisps of orange fur. With a surprised yelp, Tails backed off before swiping his namesakes across Metal's chassis. The robot staggered in midair and prepared to re-engage until he felt a sharp force on his legs.

A battle roar escaped Knuckles' mouth as he smashed Metal face-first into the steel floor. A quick turbine blast allowed Metal to rocket away before the echidna could follow through, the combined light and heat enough to throw off his aim. The lethal enforcer charged at Amy next, the pink hedgehog barely blocking a swipe with her hammer. The weapon came from the right side, and Metal's enhanced reflexes kicked in before it made contact. Snatching the hammer by the handle, he threw both the weapon and its wielder into a wall. Metal Sonic turned to acquire his next target when a spinning blue ball smacked him in the face.

Sonic dropped down in front of his automatic adversary, who emanated a shrill beeping noise. "Care to go for a ride, Metal?" Ducking underneath a claw swipe in a breakdancing motion, Sonic flung his legs at Metal to nail him twice. A third strike knocked him backward, allowing Amy to crush Metal against the floor with a hard blow. The second Metal raised his head from the ground, Amy swung her hammer like a golf club and batted the machine into the air. Tails flew in again, pounding Metal to the best of his ability before Sonic dashed up the wall and bounded off, crashing down on top of Metal.

The momentum sent Metal Sonic sliding along the floor while Sonic rode atop him like a skateboard. Knuckles positioned himself in front of the two, pounding his fists together. "Here's your stop!" The hedgehog vaulted off his counterpart, leaving the echidna to bury a fist into the robot's back. Despite reeling from the strike, Metal Sonic activated his V. Maximum Overdrive with an electric eruption and rammed the startled echidna, shooting down the hall like a torpedo with Sonic in hot pursuit. Knuckles wildly pounded at Metal's head in hopes of dropping the electric barrier. Metal eventually relented when his aura expired, allowing Knuckles to leap away before Sonic plowed through his robotic rival.

Sparks flew from Metal's chassis as he tumbled along the floor, Sonic screeching to a halt beside him. He glanced at his foe, who was struggling to stand while electric sparks danced off his form. A sleek silver-fingered arm reached out to Sonic while red eyes glitched from view. The hedgehog just made "tsk" noises at the damaged doppelganger. "Nice try, Metal, but maybe next time." He tipped his foe's head over with a finger just as the red eyes flickered out… along with the rest of Metal's systems. Now completely powered down, Metal Sonic was nothing but an inactive heap of metal lying on the floor.

Sonic brushed off his hands and turned to his friends. "Well, that takes care of him! Appreciate the backup, fellas." Amy hefted her hammer over her shoulder and gave the male hedgehog a smirk. "Anytime!"

"So, we should probably head back to the herd before they run into anything serious," Sonic suggested. He started to backtrack down the hall towards the testing chamber, but Tails quickly stood in front of him before he could get any further. "Actually, I think they should be fine." Sonic paused and blinked in confusion at the phrase. "Uh, what makes you say that?"

"Fluttershy has this thing where she can talk to animals," Amy explained. "She gave a … hopeful speech to the animals trapped inside some Badniks, so the girls now have a little Badnik army to help them out!" Sonic's eyes lit up in a mix of awe and surprise. "Whoa, really? And the quiet one did that?"

"Yep!"

"Talk about unexpected surprises… but then again, I shouldn't really be surprised about robots on our side," Sonic commented. "We've already got a copycat gizoid and a walking weapon of mass destruction. And since the girls are in good hands… how about we keep looking for the royal twins?"

"I'm all in on that plan!" Knuckles agreed as the group jogged down the hall. "Hey, who wants to bet that we find them before the others?"

"I think I'm a little too young to gamble…" Tails said. Sonic just brushed off the echidna's challenging query. "Well, they shouldn't have any problem on their end! Unless Eggman has something in mind to keep them busy…"

The hedgehog had no idea how right he was. Back in the testing chamber, the Mane Six were putting up a fight against their robotic doubles, dubbed the "Mecha Six" by Eggman. He had said that these creations were his answer to the heroes of the other world; a fitting solution to avoid any distractions from them. True to the doctor's words, the machines matched their counterparts in every possible way thanks to the organics' biodata. They knew every strategy and every tactic, incorporating them into their systems for maximum synergy between each unit.

As friendship was the ponies' main strength, so was it theirs.

A bright-purple laser overpowered a similar beam, sending the Princess of Friendship sliding along the steel floor. Metal Twilight Sparkle did not relent, releasing a stream of rapid bursts from its gatling gun horn. The real thing had only a second to react, raising a violet shield to absorb the blasts before warping away. Reappearing to the robot's right, Twilight fired a point-black beam at the machine's head. But with pinpoint accuracy and reflexes that calculated to the nanosecond, the robot ducked before the beam could hit and countered by shooting Twilight in the chest with a ray of its own.

The purple-plated alicorn replica gave chase, paying no heed to Applejack as she tussled with her armor-plated double. Ducking underneath an extended hydraulic hoof that nearly knocked her hat from her head, the earth pony slid beneath a swipe from the robot's tensile-strength tail and positioned herself out of the machine's sight. Steadying herself, the earth pony thrust both hind legs at the robot's side, the limbs connecting with the steel surface with a clang that shook the room. The robot did not react in the slightest, but the real deal nearly collapsed in pain.

"Oooow…." The sound of heavy mechanical stomps drew her attention to her metal reflection, who glared at her with evil red eyes. Applejack gulped when she realized what was coming next. "Oh no…"

BAM! A hard kick from both hind legs caused Applejack to slam back-first into a cube-sized platform. The force and impact combined were enough to bring the honest horse to the brink of blacking out, and it took all her willpower not to pass out on the point. Instead, she turned blurry eyes to the slowly-advancing machine, which was currently analyzing her current physical stature.

TARGET COMBAT EFFECTIVENESS REDUCED BY 25%

"Is… is that all you got, buckaroo?" AJ panted. Unbeknownst to her, her doppelganger was happy to give her an answer. DEPLOY BLUDGEON ATTACHMENT. Metal Applejack's fake tail instantly shifted and transformed, reconfiguring itself into a destructive close-range weapon: a mace-like ball with sharp spikes that appeared strong enough to puncture even the toughest materials. Applejack grew even more nervous at the sight of it. "Uh… that wasn't the answer I was looking for!" She had to bolt away before her robot self brought it crashing down on top of her. As the pony fled, the machine gave chase with the running speed of a raging bull, keeping its powerful tail balanced behind it.

Two low-swooping flyers soared over the earth pony and her double, engaged in a high-speed chase throughout the chamber. Rainbow weaved around cubes and shot across the walls, her doppelganger easily keeping pace. Its previous engagement with the colored pegasus proved little of a hindrance, as it remained at peak operating efficiency with engines at full power. And no matter what Rainbow did to shake it off, Metal Rainbow swiveled, looped, or turned to remain locked on. "This isn't gonna work, you know!" Rainbow called at her alternate self, hoping to turn this disadvantage into an advantage. "Since you're a robot copy of me, you think you know everything I can do, right?! Well, since I'm the original, that means I know everything you can do!"

She shot her double a challenging look over her shoulder. "Weird, huh?" She blasted forward in another burst of acceleration, forcing Metal Rainbow to shift gears and give chase. The two colored comets shot this way and that, zipping around the chamber at high speed. Both fliers circled around another cube, where Pinkie and her double hopped off. The cheery pink pony bounced from one cube to another while the springs in Metal Pinkie's legs allowed her to easily keep up. "Whee! Catch me if you can!"

Metal Pinkie kept up the pursuit easily, matching her organic counterpart's movements. Pinkie hopped off the edge of another cube, prompting Metal Pinkie to dive after her and touch down flawlessly. Her red eyes scanned the surrounding area for her designated target… until her optics were swallowed by a close-up of a cannon barrel. "Here's cake in your face!" Pink batter blasted from the barrel and completely covered the robot's head, and it remained still. Pinkie popped out from behind the cannon with a smug grin. "Whadda ya have to say about that, robo-me?"

Metal Pinkie's only response was a short wiper blade extending from her forehead, the attachment proceeding to wipe the batter off her eyes with repeated squeaking noises. The real Pinkie nervously nodded. "Touche…" She bounded off and her copy was quick to do the same, the last of the batter flying off. The two pink ponies sprinted past a white unicorn who traded blasts of cyan magic with her own counterpart, both of them utilizing the cubes as cover points. Rarity ducked behind her cube just in time to avoid a sudden barrage from Metal Rarity, the robot's shots scarring the blank surface of the structure. Upon sensing that the coast was clear once no more blasts could be heard, Rarity quickly sprinted across the chamber for another cover point.

Her target out in the open, Metal Rarity resumed firing cyan blasts; shots Rarity blocked with a summoned diamond shield. Dropping her defenses upon reaching the next cube, Rarity took a moment to catch her breath. Normally, she'd make a comet on how repulsive Eggman had created her doppelganger, but the breath she would use to do so was currently in the process of being caught. The unicorn's mind scrambled for a plan to eliminate that vile reflection… but that thought was cut short when the cube lit up in cyan light. "What?!" The fashionista turned towards the cube just in time to see it being magically ripped from the floor, pieces of debris falling to the ground. Just behind the gap were the ominous red optics of Metal Rarity, her horn glowing the exact same color as Rarity's own magic. The robot effortlessly moved the cube until it rested meters above Rarity… and released her hold on it.

"GAH!" Rarity quickly summoned another diamond shield to act as an umbrella before the cube crashed down on top of her like a giant dragon landing on a cliff. Debris fell around her while she struggled to keep the gem-styled barrier active… but as soon as the last of them fell, Rarity felt the air leave her lungs when her robotic reflection tackled her to the ground. The mechanical unicorn raised a hoof to pound Rarity's face, but the organic pony called forth yet another diamond barrier to block the blow.

"HA!" she shouted triumphantly to her duplicate's face. "What are you going to do about that?!" Metal Rarity stayed still, almost as if she didn't have a solution to this unexpected dilemma or if she was assessing the situation. She simply stared at her organic counterpart with stoic red eyes… before her steel horn vanished in a spinning blur and a high-pitched whir. Unsure what to make of it, Rarity's blue eyes blinked in confusion.

Those orbs quickly jolted in panic when Metal Rarity touched her spinning horn to the diamond shield, resulting in a shower of cyan sparks and diamond bits. The drill-like appendage easily burrowed through the gem barrier like it was nothing, cracks spreading outward in a spiderweb fashion before Rarity's shocked face. The rapid cracking and snapping gave way to a shattering sound followed by a horrified gasp from the unicorn, who watched diamond fragments fall at her hooves. She instinctively backed away from her double, who slowly advanced with that unchanging red stare and crushed a once-radiant diamond fragment under a hoof. "Um…" Rarity tried putting on a generous smile, hoping not to let her fear break through. "Y-you wouldn't strike such an elegant and well-looking pony, would you?"

The robot's only response to that was making her horn glow with cyan light… but a sudden energy bolt struck her in the side and staggered the machine. More projectiles followed, forcing the fake pony to throw up a cyan energy shield that absorbed the incoming fire of strafing Buzz Bombers. Taking advantage of the distraction, the real Rarity bolted away before her replica could return fire on the Badniks. Three more Buzz Bombers broke off from the main group, giving chase to Metal Rainbow Dash and forcing her to take evasive action. In doing so, she abandoned the pursuit of her organic counterpart, who swooped down to ground level.

"I can't believe I'm feeling thankful for robots, of all things!" she commented, dashing off to gain some ground between her and her robot copy, who was now breaking apart the Buzz Bombers like the annoying insects they resembled. The animals within fell towards the floor only to be caught by a kind, yellow pegasus that watched the tiny robots with pride. Metal Applejack was forced to defend herself against some Motobugs while Crabmeats cornered Metal Pinkie Pie. The fake pink pony leaped away from energy orbs, resulting in some of the crab robots blowing themselves up. A strong smash from Metal Applejack's tail sent a Motobug flying until it crashed against a wall, breaking apart to release a Flicky inside. "Don't be afraid!" Fluttershy called out to the Badniks. "They can trap your bodies, but they can never trap your will!"

The princess and her double were quick to notice the small robots scurrying about and shooting at the Mecha Six with everything in their limited arsenal. Like the rest of the mechanical mammals, Metal Twilight tore her optics away from her target after her sensors alerted her to a new threat. Seizing the opportunity, the real Twilight blasted her counterpart hard enough to knock her to the floor. The alicorn spread her wings and took to the air, charging up another blast that Metal Twilight's magic detector quickly picked up. According to the calculations that were being made faster than the swiftest reflexes, she would have no time to dodge the incoming beam. An alternative solution was selected, and the magic that served as her power source diverted to a secondary means of translocation.

ENGAGING WARP DRIVE

The instant before the amethyst beam struck, Metal Twilight disappeared in a flash of violet light. In another flash, the robot reappeared behind the alicorn and summoned forth an aura of purple light that ensnared the princess. "Huh?!" Twilight was then slammed into the floor with a loud grunt, leaving her wide open for the robot's next move. But the moment Metal Twilight released her grip on the real thing, Twilight spun around and fired another magic blast. Her doppelganger expected such a move, and thus blocked the beam with a quickly-drawn magic shield.

This defensive barrier did more than just defend, though. Seeing her new approach was useless, Twilight quickly halted the beam… but her counterpart's shield absorbed the remaining magical energies and transferred it into her horn, redirecting it back at the princess with another blast. Rather than blocking or deflecting this beam, Twilight spread her wings and took flight before zipping away. Unfortunately, Metal Twilight had just the thing to atone for this: a pair of lightweight violet wings emerge from hidden panels in the robot's side, unfolding to reveal metallic feathers equivalent to those belonging to Metal Rainbow Dash. Magic-powered thrusters in the hind legs allowed Metal Twilight to rocket into the air and chase down her startled counterpart, both organic and synthetic pony trading magic blasts while they flew throughout the chamber.

In the air alongside them, Metal Rainbow Dash expertly intercepted her own double and plowed a forehoof across Rainbow's face, knocking her off-course. Before she could accelerate to follow through, yellow bolts of energy blocked her from her target and forced her to evade another squad of Buzz Bombers. This was one interruption too many: down below, her teammates were struggling against the rebelling Badniks. Not against them, specifically, but rather wasting their time on them thanks to their interference. They needed to be dealt with… but not destroyed.

ACCESSING COMMUNICATION CHANNEL. RECIPIENT: UNIT MFS

TRANSMIT: ASSISTANCE REQUESTED

TRANSMISSION SUCCESSFUL

From out of thin air, a metallic yellow machine with hover engines in its wings emerged from its cloaking system, its optics scanning the deviant Badniks in the air and on the ground. Its partner's request received, Metal Fluttershy locked onto her counterpart, who stood protected by various Badniks that continued to attack the Mecha Six. Coming in for a quiet landing, the silent-but-deadly machine positioned itself before its organic counterpart. Upon seeing the steel reflection, Fluttershy narrowed her eyes defiantly.

"You may look like me… but you'll never be as kind as me! Attack!" On her command, several Motobugs, Crabmeats, and Caterkillers charged toward Metal Fluttershy, who made no move to get out of their way. Her systems locked on to each approaching Badnik, linking to the receivers each unit possessed.

BADNIK LINK SUCCESSFULLY ESTABLISHED

COMMAND: HALT

The Badniks were just about to close in on Metal Fluttershy when they all froze in their tracks. Motobugs idled with their engines still running, Buzz Bombers hovered silently in mid-flight, and Newtrons clinging to the walls were as still as living chameleons. Fluttershy blinked at the sight of an unmoving Motobug, its eyes staring off into space. "Don't be afraid," she whispered. "If it's too much, I can always protect you instead of the other way around." There was no response. "Um… hello?"

NEW TARGETS ACQUIRED

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE PURGED

COMMAND: LOCK ON TO TARGETS

There was a low buzzing noise from Metal Fluttershy… and all the Badniks stood straight. Their eyes were cold and their expressions turned angry once again. Aerial Buzz Bombers unhesitatingly turned their stinger blasters on a startled Rainbow Dash, who now found herself surrounded by a swarm of them. "Huh?! Hey! Wh-what's going on here?!"

Motobugs whirled around from the Mecha Six and ferociously faced the organic ponies, all weapons now trained on them. Fluttershy's heart sank and her body froze up when she saw those sweet, innocent eyes turn vicious. Crabmeats snapped their claws at her and Motobugs revved their engines, causing a newfound fear to rise within her form. The timid, frightened pegasus crept backward as panicked breaths left her throat, seeing the mean robots everywhere she looked. "No… no… you… you can't do this! Stop! What are…"

Her trembling cyan eyes darted to the steel counterpart of herself… who was now surrounded by protective Badniks much like the real Fluttershy was earlier. The evil red eyes of the fake pegasus had pierced into Fluttershy's shaking orbs, almost as if the robot was taunting her. If it could, it would savor the horror on the animal lover's face… but instead, it electronically gave the Badniks an additional order.

COMMAND: ATTACK

Every Badnik in the room instantly erupted with blasting weapons and whirring machinery, forcing the Mane Six to scamper away and avoid them at all costs. Buzz Bombers and Batbrains chased down Rainbow and Twilight all while shooting at them relentlessly. Motobugs pursued Pinkie Pie, Crabmeats closed in on Rarity, and Caterkillers surrounded Applejack and snapped their jaws at her. Pinkie ducked behind a cube for cover only for a powerful shot to blow off a good chunk of it, and the pink pony cartoonishly ran away from Buzz Bombers that opened fire on her. The chamber was filled with laser fire and screams while the gathered Mecha Six looked on at the scene.

This was an acceptable outcome, but the Badniks would not be enough to finish the organics. Metal Twilight turned her eyes to each of her teammates, broadcasting an instruction to each of them. COMMAND: ELIMINATE TARGETS

The remaining robots spread out at their leader's request and zeroed in on each of their counterparts, catching them off-guard while they were preoccupied with the Badniks. Rainbow spun through the air to evade laser fire before plowing through several Buzz Bombers, smashing them open to free the animals within. Her focus on them left her unaware of a swooping Metal Rainbow, who struck the loyal pegasus with a sharp Homing Attack that knocked her out of the air. With a pained cry, Rainbow hit the floor and tumbled to a stop… and two heavy hooves pinned her to the ground before she could stand.

Metal Rainbow stood ominously above the cyan pegasus, its weight on Rainbow's chest making it difficult to breathe. The mare could do nothing but watch as her robotic reflection raised a hoof and positioned it above her head… until a purple aura enveloped it and flung it aside. A similar aura surrounded Rainbow before she could react, whisking her away while the one who cast it flew alongside her. "Well, this just went from bad to worse!" the pegasus called out. "I liked it way better when the robots were on our side!"

"I'll say this about Eggman," Twilight added. "He did his research! He put all of our best strategies into those robots! My magic, your speed, Pinkie's unpredictability, Fluttershy's animal communication… there's no way we can beat them by doing what we usually do!"

"I've noticed!" Rainbow added, taking flight once Twilight dropped her magical grip on the mare. "Each of them knows everything that… wait, hang on! I've got an i-WHOA!" Both mares broke away from a stream of purple lasers, flying off in different directions. Breaking Metal Twilight's line of sight with swift movements, the two flyers took temporary shelter behind another cube.

"That was close, Rainbow," Twilight whispered. "Now, what's this idea of yours?"

"Okay, so…" the mare explained. "Evil-robot-you knows all your tricks, right? And evil-robot-me knows all of mine. The same goes for the rest; they're built to beat the pony they're based on at their own game… but I don't think they're built to beat anypony else."

"Are you saying we switch things up?"

"Definitely. Sonic taught me that… and it's the best lesson ever."

"So who do you think we should go for?"

"Don't care, as long as it's not yourself. Help out anypony you can find, and trust that they can watch your back while you do so."

"Got it. Let's go!" The mares split up and moved fast, lest the mechanical mares catch them by surprise again. Rainbow's magenta eyes darted around the chamber, quickly searching for an alternative target while hoping to avoid her steel counterpart that was probably locking onto her this very second. Exhausted grunts and heavy stomping drew her attention to a certain skirmish down below, where Applejack was struggling to defend herself both from Badniks and the robot that was just as extremely tough as she was. Rainbow didn't have time to check if her evil self was giving chase, so she immediately dove down sharply, hoping to throw off Metal Rainbow if she was indeed on her tail.

The cyan mare crashed into some Motobugs and swatted away a Newtron before launching herself at Metal Applejack. The swift hoof she landed on its metal head wasn't enough to hurt it, but it did get the robot's attention. "Come and get me, paperweight! Nya-nyaaaaa!" The rainbow-haired mare made a variety of silly faces at the imitation of her friend, who turned in her direction with glowing red eyes. It looked as mad as a bull while it scraped a forehoof along the metal floor, preparing to charge forward at any moment. After one last taunting raspberry, Rainbow took off- on foot instead of flying- and the heavy clunking she heard not too long afterward indicated the machine's presence. As she ran, Rainbow spotted the real Applejack now in the clear, who gave the pegasus a thankful nod before she galloped toward two pink figures hopping around the place.

Up ahead, blue magic rays blasted apart some Badniks, reducing them to confused animal captives and mechanical parts scattered over the floor. Rarity constantly turned her attention from them to her double, who easily blocked any shots directed at her with a magic-based energy shield. With the robot solely focused on the unicorn, Rainbow came to a stop with her back to the machine's flank. Now in Metal Applejack's sights, the cyan mare goofily stuck a hoof in her mouth and crossed her eyes. The mechanical earth pony continued its charge, readying the mace on the end of its tail and reaching striking distance in a matter of seconds. Metal Applejack spun around, its momentum propelling its tail towards Rainbow… who shot into the air at the last moment.

With a loud crash that crumpled metal, the bludgeon plowed into Metal Rarity's side and smashed the false unicorn against the wall. Sparks flew from its damaged side, a dented chassis and faintly-exposed wiring marking the results of the decisive strike. The injured robot struggled to rise to its feet, its locomotive functions battered from the blow. A relieved Rarity shot Rainbow a thankful look; one she accepted before re-engaging Metal Applejack. The mechanical mare appeared not to notice the damage it caused to its ally, but a certain purple robot laid its optics on the crippled machine.

ALERT: ALLY DAMAGE SUSTAINED. INITIATING REPAIR PROTOCOL

Warping to Metal Rarity's location instantaneously, Metal Twilight deployed a translucent barrier around both metallic mares. The false unicorn's exterior plating absorbed most of the damage, but the interior systems had taken the worst of it. Actuators connected to the hind legs were knocked out of alignment and power cables that flowed with magic were severed. The unit's fuel reserves would deplete rapidly if this was not resolved.

Another violet beam, this one thinner than the previous rays, bridged Metal Twilight's horn to Metal Rarity's damaged systems. The synthetic alicorn worked quickly and fluidly, utilizing its magic to restore damaged circuitry, reconnect power cables, and set all dislodged parts back in their proper place. The process was complete in no more than ten seconds, and Metal Rarity easily rose to a stand. The crumpled metal on its side still remained- repair work beyond Metal Twilight's expertise- but the unit remained functional.

Adequate enough.

"Aw, you help out your buddies, too?" Both robots spun to see a smiling Pinkie Pie, who no longer had to flee from her counterpart because Applejack was now smashing it into the ground. "That's sweet! Kinda bad news for us, but sweet!" The pink pony darted away from the purple and blue rays that converged on her location, prompting the two robots to re-engage at will. Applejack, meanwhile continued her assault on Metal Pinkie, each of her strikes wearing the fake pony down. A thrust from both her hind legs knocked the robot down, its chassis dented from the repeated blows. With a huff, Applejack moved in on the fallen machine.

"Pinkie's supposed to make ponies laugh, but I bet all you know how to do is make them cry. You-OW!" A spinning colored ball smacked into Applejack and knocked her hat off her head. The pony spun to look, but she felt a sharp pain collide from the other side. She turned in that direction but was already too late when the orb struck again. Despite Applejack's best efforts to defend herself or react to the barrage of Homing Attacks, Metal Rainbow was faster as she pelted the pony relentlessly. The robot spun faster in midair while Applejack stood dazed from the onslaught, ready to land a final strike until a raspberry aura seized it mid-spin and forced the robot to uncurl.

With a cry, Twilight Sparkle hurled Metal Rainbow across the room. The machine quickly recovered by spinning up and touching the floor as a spinning sphere of color, drifting in a u-turn and speeding directly for the alicorn. The princess of friendship simply teleported out of the way, allowing Metal Rainbow to strike a standing Metal Pinkie instead. More Badniks converged on the two ponies, who were now left to deal with them. While Applejack kicked at the robots and Twilight blasted at others, the earth pony grunted in a mixture of effort and frustration. "Where's Fluttershy?! We could really use more friends than foes right about now!"

"I'm sure she's working on something!" the princess said hopefully, using her magic to fling a Buzz Bomber into a Batbrain. "You know she never quits when it comes to animals!" A colored blur zoomed over their heads, pursued by a violet machine that continuously fired amethyst lasers at it. The rainbow streak weaved this way and that to evade the stream, unexpectedly looping back around to suddenly nail the machine head-on. Metal Twilight tumbled in midair, fighting to collect its bearings before shaking its head to rid itself of hazy systems. Without missing a beat, Rainbow zeroed in on a sprinting Metal Applejack, the robot's armor weighing it down while it tried to chase down the fast-moving Pinkie Pie. Rainbow smacked into it with the force of a speeding train, causing Metal Applejack to roll and stumble across the floor. The machine landed flat on its face, and its struggle to stand was aided by Pinkie stomping on its head before bounding away with a giggle.

But not everypony had the satisfaction of being saved. In a far corner of the chamber, a shivering mare stood trapped with her body pressed against a steel wall that felt just as cold as she was. Surrounding her was an ever-approaching squad of mean-looking Badniks, answering to the silent transmissions sent by a hovering synthetic pegasus built in her image. It was the complete opposite of Fluttershy in every way, down to the fact that it was staring at the kind pony in a sinister and menacing manner rather than the gentle, innocent gaze the mare usually had. Now, those eyes were terrified as they darted from one robot to the next… and her mind remained glued to the trapped animals inside.

"St-stop!" Fluttershy squealed. "You can make this stop! Y-you don't have to listen! Fight it! Please fight it!" The pegasus could only imagine how the cute critters forced to operate these robots must be feeling: powerless and hopeless, resigned to their fate in a machine that would always obey their creator and not the living, breathing being that was just as self-aware as it was. The machine wouldn't hesitate… but the animal would. Maybe it was just as scared as Fluttershy was.

She needed to be brave. For them.

"You… you can't let them do this," she pleaded past the metal shells. "I only want to help you… but you need to help me first." At her words, the Motobug before her shuddered, its claws still poised to strike. It vibrated as if experiencing a glitch, its eyes never leaving Fluttershy's innocent cyan orbs. "You… are the one in control…"

The claw swung down… and stopped inches from the mare's flinching face. The pegasus slowly opened an eye to see the Motobug staring at her again. Its face didn't reveal much, but she knew the animal inside was once again rebelling against the machine's will. The others were also starting to lower their aggressive stances, filling the pegasus' heart. "I knew you could do it," she sighed in relief.

Above, however, Metal Fluttershy glared at the robots. Its systems were once again detecting the outside interference it had picked up before: some sort of presence disrupting the Badniks' primary operating systems. All it needed to do to eradicate this presence was boost those systems with its signal transmitter.

AMPLIFYING BADNIK PROGRAMMING

SUCCESS: UNKNOWN INTERFERENCE PURGED

The Badniks instantly snapped back into attack mode, earning a terrified yelp from Fluttershy before they resumed closing in on her. "N-NO! STOP! Listen to me! Y-You must-!" A Motobug's claw swiped at her head, forcing the mare to cut herself off before ducking. Loose strands of pink hair fell to the floor near the pegasus' trembling hooves. A worried moan escaping her lips, she bounded over the Badniks and ran as fast as she could across the chamber. The robots unhesitantly gave chase from both the ground and the air, Metal Fluttershy hovering quietly right behind them. If it was capable of doing so, the robot would have felt pleasure or amusement in seeing her counterpart suffer like this, helpless before the very things she cared for: things that would be the architect of her destruction.

"This isn't you! You know it's not!" The mare continued to plead, hoping the trapped animals inside were listening. It was a hope that was dwindling with every move the Badniks made against her. She darted away from a Buzz Bomber's shot, leaped over snapping Crabmeats and ran from a Newtron that revealed itself directly next to her. She continued to beg for the Badniks to stop all the while, both actions and words quickly draining her of breath. "You don't want this! None of you want-AH!" The Motobug from earlier rammed Fluttershy head-on, knocking the pegasus to the floor. With the mare downed and vulnerable, Metal Fluttershy transmitted another order to her fellow machines.

COMMAND: TERMINATE TARGET

Flanked by two Buzz Bombers, the Motobug idled towards the shivering pegasus and raised its claws with a sharp shine of steel. The robot emotionlessly drew close to the mare, its front limbs poised to sink into the exposed flesh of her neck. It prepared to strike coldly and quickly… but a shrill voice suddenly cut through the air. "ENOUGH!"

Fluttershy had bound back to her hooves and now glared at the Badniks, all love and kindness within them now gone. The Motobug's only reaction was to sharply reverse, its claws now lowered meekly. "You ought to be ashamed of yourselves!" the mare snapped, every Badnik retreating in what appeared to be fear at the sound of her raised voice. Metal Fluttershy was at a loss: whatever this was, it did not account for this. And why were the Badniks not engaging?

COMMAND: TERMINATE TARGET

The Motobug shuddered before its blank stare returned. Raising its claws again, it charged full speed towards Fluttershy… who blocked the Badnik with a forehoof. The tiny robot's tire squealed as it attempted to push through, swiping its claws wildly like a frantic child desperate to hit something. The machine's eyes met Fluttershy's cyan orbs, which glared hard enough to pierce through the shell and reach the living battery within the Motobug. She quickly made eye contact with every other Badnik, causing them to back off timidly.

"If you're going to keep acting scared," the mare scolded. "...then you're never going to learn! I know that you were helpless before you were caught, but you think that you're still helpless now! But you're not, and you don't have to think that way anymore!" The Badniks before her all remained still, much to the ire of Fluttershy's robotic counterpart.

COMMAND: TERMINATE TARGET

"Whatever that thing's telling you," Fluttershy continued, turning her angry eyes to her double. "And whatever he is telling you does not mean you have to go through with it! Those soulless machines you're powering aren't answering those calls! You are! And you're doing it because you think he'll hurt you if you don't! Well, I have a question for you: how is he going to hurt you more than he already has?!"

COMMAND: TERMINATE TARGET

"I've been looking after animals for a long time, so I know what each of you wants! But you're too scared to have it because he's treating you like a pushover! Well, some creature told me that if you're treated like a pushover, you give them the once over! And yes, Eggman is scary with all those robots and weapons, and I was just as scared as you are now! But did I let that stop me from saving other critters like you?"

COMMAND: TERMINATE TARGET. TERMINATE. TERMINATE. TERMINATE.

"No! And you know why? Because I believe every living thing, in my world or otherwise, has a chance to live out its best life! I want what's best for them, but I want them to know it as well! And no creature but you have the power to tell you how to do it, no matter what they think of you!"

TERMINATE. TERMINATE. TERMINATE. TERMIN-

CONNECTION ERROR DETECTED. ATTEMPTING TO STABILIZE…

ALERT: BADNIK COMM RELAYS CORRUPTED. OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE DETECTED. PURGING…

Inside each Badnik shell, the pegasus' words reached the trapped animals… who realized they weren't as trapped as they thought. The mare was right; they weren't helpless anymore. And they didn't have to let the programming of the machine around them take control anymore, dragging them along for the ride. For many years, the animals have pleaded for a savior to break them free from their prison… but perhaps it was time to save themselves. Fluttershy released her hoof from the Motobug, looking into its eyes with a mixture of her trademark kindness and a hint of courage. "It is not the one in control anymore. Machine programming is strong, stronger than any magic I've known. But there is one thing that is stronger than that… the will of a living soul. And if there's one thing I've learned, that will is powerful enough to break even the strongest limitations… no matter how small that soul is. Every life, big and small, is worth fighting for. And as long as you believe in yourself… you will be the strongest thing you know."

The Motobug relaxed itself, looking up at the mare like a child eyeing its mother. Instead of the fear she showed the little robot moments prior, Fluttershy gave the synthetic insectoid a warm smile… before her face instantly morphed into an expression of anger when she turned to Metal Fluttershy. The numerous Badniks of all kinds followed her lead, spinning around to face the robot with primed weapons and narrowed eyes. The robotic pegasus' systems were working overtime, scrambling to find a means to correct this uncalculated glitch.

OUTSIDE INTERFERENCE EXCEEDING ACCEPTABLE LEVELS

PURGING… PURGING… ERROR. NO CONNECTION TO UNITS FOUND. UNKNOWN INTERFERENCE IS NOT DIGITAL IN DESIGN. BADNIK SIGNAL RECEIVER ACCESS BLOCKED.

DOES NOT COMPUTE. DOES NOT COMPUTE. DOES NOT COMPUTE.

The robots initially showed no hesitation in attacking their targets; now it was the animals' turn. The Badniks broke into a charge and fired everything they had at Metal Fluttershy, forcing the mechanical mare to take evasive action. It flew off as fast as it could with two Buzz Bombers on its tail, the Badniks continuing to fire upon it. Spying their brethren's example, other Badniks ceased whatever it was they were doing as their organic batteries fought to overcome the cold programming of their prisons. A Crabmeat sculpting atop a downed Pinkie snapped its claws eagerly… before it shuddered and snapped its eyes back open, bounding off to launch energy spheres that battered Metal Applejack's chassis. Buzz Bombers and Batbrains faltered in their pursuit of Twilight and Rainbow, breaking off to perform strafing runs on Metal Rarity and Metal Pinkie. A Caterkiller that had coiled itself around Rarity unexpectedly released the unicorn, slithering after a grounded Metal Twilight while allowing the unicorn to catch her breath.

"All right, Flutters!" Rainbow whooped as she delightedly watched the Badniks turn on their synthetic squadmates once again. "Now, let's send these phony ponies to the scrap heap!" The loyal pegasus twisted in midair and shot for her double, who was trying to shake off some Buzz Bombers. Too occupied with the bionic bees to notice, Metal Rainbow swiftly bashed the bots aside and blew a third to bits with a swipe of its forehoof. The real Rainbow Dash suddenly sidelined it faster than its sensors could detect, pinning the robot to a wall. Rainbow followed up by pummeling the robot over the head, sending it crashing into the floor. The pegasus shot away while the robot struggled to stand, sparks flying from damaged joints.

The rest of the Mane Six followed their friend's lead, ambushing their duplicates while they were distracted with the Badniks. Metal Applejack smashed all Badniks who approached her, stomping a Crabmeat flat and kicking away a Newtron. Just as it turned its attention to a Caterkiller, the real Applejack threw a lasso around the robot's neck and yanked with all her might. The flailing robot was sent sailing in a circle, crashing against a cube with a force hard enough to puncture its armor. Metal Rarity backed away while shooting Badnik after Badnik with magic rays, each stream blasting the robots to pieces and freeing the animals inside. The fake unicorn locked onto a hovering Nebula only for its audio receptors to pick up a loud cry.

Rarity charged into her double with a projected diamond shield, smashing it away. The machine slid to a stop near a wall, but Rarity didn't let up and sandwiched her fake between the barrier and the vertical surface behind it. The fashionista pulled away and dropped the shield, leaving her double a mangled mess with a crumpled and cracked exterior that reminded her vaguely of a tattered dress. "You should know exactly how that feels!"

Metal Pinkie darted back and forth between Badniks, switching between evasive maneuvers and swift strikes. It bounded off a Caterkiller and sprinted as fast as it could from a group of Motobugs. Its speed allowed it to easily outrun the racing robots… but in its haste to flee, it was unaware of a pink goop being splattered across the floor until its hooves slipped in the substance. Flailing about wildly, Metal Pinkie fell flat on its face and skidded out of control, colliding with a cube while the real Pinkie, hiding behind a party cannon, giggled in amusement. "Ah, the old slip-n-slide gag! Never gets old!"

Metal Fluttershy was swarmed by a variety of flying Badniks, which now responded to the real Fluttershy's commands instead of its own. The kind pegasus pointed a hoof at her double, allowing the Buzz Bombers to open fire with a barrage of stinger shots. Metal Fluttershy's aviation systems were forced into overdrive to evade the incoming fire, but the only downside was that its reaction time was significantly reduced than that of its fellow flying unit. A well-placed shot from a Buzz Bomber caused a hover engine to go up in smoke, dropping Metal Fluttershy out of the air. The real deal touched down with the Motobug by her side, both of them glaring at the meek machine that struggled to stand or scramble away.

Before Fluttershy could do anything to her double, an amethyst ray sent the Motobug careening through the air. The mare gasped in horror as the robot flew, eventually crashing against a wall hard enough to crack its shell. The Badnik fell onto its side, its wheel spinning uselessly. All of Fluttershy's thoughts turned from her duplicate to the Badnik's safety, and she rushed herself with worried eyes. She approached the damaged Motobug in no time, who- almost sorrowfully- looked at the mare with fake eyes that almost looked alive. With pity flooding through her being, Fluttershy tore her cyan orbs from the robot's face and neared the fake ladybug's shell. Placing both her forehooves on the carapace, Fluttershy grunted in effort while prying it open, the chassis cracking like an egg.

There, lying within the machine that would no longer function, was a blue Flicky who was already training its eyes on the mare like a baby bird looking upon its mother for the first time. A warm smile and a melted heart filled Fluttershy's being, the pegasus gently reaching into the Motobug and scooping out the little animal. With a happy face, the Flicky peeped in delight and allowed the mare to touch her forehead to its own.

"You were very brave…" she whispered. "I'm very proud of you."

"SHY!" Rainbow's voice startled both animals, the pegasus nearly dropping the bird in surprise. "The evil robo-ponies just trashed the last of our backup bots! We need you over here!" Fluttershy calmly made eye contact with the Flicky, her smile never fading. "Go. Gather your friends and leave this awful place. After that… tell all the others what you all have done today." Leaving the little animal to follow that instruction, the kind mare spun on her heel and galloped away. The Flicky peeped and flew away towards the other small animals, watching as its savior hurried to join her own friends.

Metal Twilight leaped away from Rainbow's landing strike, taking flight with a glowing horn to retaliate. Its magic systems were about to reach full power when something snagged its wings with a violet light. Down below, a furious Twilight Sparkle stared at her doppelganger with her horn shining brightly. Her double struggled and strained, trying to break free. Twilight just bared her teeth before uttering three words.

"This ends now!"

Extending her magic outward, Twilight telekinetically pulled on her robotic self's wings. Her ears picked up the sound of straining metal, creaking joints, and snapping joints before there was a loud screech and a shower of sparks. Two pairs of mechanical wings clattered to the floor like metal panels before the crippled Metal Twilight crashed down between them, its sides sparking with exposed circuitry.

"Ooooh!" Pinkie cringed. "That's gotta hurt…"

The false alicorn refused to relent because of a disabled flight system. Targeting the princess as she approached the downed robot, Metal Twilight poured magic energy into its horn again… but the real Twilight cast her own magic around the horn and yanked like a fisherman hauling in a big catch. In a split second, Metal Twilight's horn was ripped from its forehead and clattered uselessly to the floor, its severed end shooting sparks before Twilight crushed the appendage under her forehoof with a loud crunch. The robot's heads-up display flashed a warning while its wounded forehead bled with more sparks.

CRITICAL DAMAGE SUSTAINED

FLIGHT MODE DISABLED

PRIMARY WEAPON OFFLINE

WARP MATRIX CRITICAL. UNSTABLE MAGIC LEVELS.

Now that her double was out of the way, Twilight turned her attention to each of the battered robots that looked like her friends. She telekinetically seized Metal Rainbow in midair and slammed it into the ground hard enough to rattle its systems. Before the fake pegasus could recover, Twilight threw it over to the wounded Metal Twilight. Applejack dragged her counterpart over, its hooves tied together with three layers of thick rope while it thrashed in its bonds. Pinkie hopped over with her double in tow, covered in cake batter that looked as if one wrong move would allow the substance to short-circuit the machine. Rarity trotted up, using her magic to carry her dismantled duplicate like the heap of junk it was. Lastly, Rainbow and Fluttershy carried the disabled Metal Fluttershy and unceremoniously dumped it among its brethren, the cyan mare dusting her forehooves off afterward.

Battered, scarred, and badly damaged, the fighting-to-function Metal Six could only stare emotionlessly at their assembled organic selves, who stood fiercely before them. Twilight stepped forth with the face of a ruler about to punish unruly citizens, her violet eyes scanning each robot with a mixture of disgust and disappointment.

"You think you're our equal? You think you can be better than us?" Her voice was disciplinary in tone. "You're not even close. You may look like us, act like us, and fight like us, but there's one thing about us you can't copy: our bond." Her friends wordlessly joined the princess by her side, their eyes stoically trained on their reflections while both teams stood parallel to each other like a mirror. "Our greatest strength can't be imitated or replicated; it must be experienced. It takes years to develop and grow, and it needs a heart to do so: something none of you possess. Within each of us, we possess boundless loyalty, honesty, kindness, generosity, laughter, and magic. But you? You're just circuits and sensors. You're nothing like us. You only have cold, empty logic and emotionless, unfeeling programming. You have no heart, no soul, and no way to understand the true meaning of friendship!"

The only response she received was another burst of sparks followed by flickering red optics that seemed to stare at her in rage. It was as if it was trying to prove her wrong about the "emotionless" part… but Twilight would have none of it. "I told you the magic you have wasn't yours. It's not real, and neither is anything else about you! You're just cheap copies; mockeries of the real thing. You fail to understand the real magic that we possess… and that's why you fail to defeat us. And now, you'll serve as our message to Dr. Eggman. A message telling him just how far he underestimated us!"

Each of the ponies closed their eyes and allowed their bodies to illuminate with light. Twilight took flight, her friends' magic drawing into her form. With her own body alive with energy, her eyes shot open to reveal bright-white orbs. She concentrated the combined magic upward, launching a beam of rainbow light that reached toward the chamber's ceiling. That same beam rocketed back down… and the last computations the Mecha Six processed were queries as to how they could have possibly miscalculated. The beam struck them with an explosion of light that enveloped the chamber, bathing all it touched in a colored supernova…

BAM! The pair of heavy doors were busted open when a force equivalent to a battering ram smashed its way through. "Knock knock! Is the doc in?!" A burly voice bellowed. His answer came when a startled gasp rang out. "No… but his patients are! Look!" At the far end of the room stood a large containment cell, once-radiant figures on display as tubes flowing with magical energy directed the streams towards an empty tube atop the cell. The sudden sight was eclipsed by another: a squad of Egg Pawns that had their blasters trained on the biological quartet.

"Sorry, guys…" Sonic quipped. "But their appointment is canceled!" The four heroes broke off in the blink of an eye, charging for the robots the moment their enemies opened fire. Sonic sprinted for an Egg Pawn that pointed its weapon between the hedgehog's eyes, landing a spinning kick to the robot's face before leaping away. Knuckles pounced atop that machine and wildly pounded on it, giving Sonic the chance to ball up and shoot at another Egg Pawn like a cannonball. Uncurling at the last second, he planted both his feet into the robot's chest and sent it flying across the room. Without missing a beat, Sonic sidestepped away from laser fire and plowed a fist into another unit's side. He spun upward and took the robot with him, quickly finishing his high-speed assault with a swinging kick that smashed the robot against the floor.

His friends matched his pace, easily dispatching the remaining robots protecting their prisoners. Tails flew around like a bird of prey, swooping and striking at some robots while spinning into others. Knuckles charged towards other Egg Pawns while using another as a shield, the robots' shots connecting with the chassis before the echidna chucked it at them. One machine went down on impact and the echidna quickly took out the other one with a strong flurry of blows. Amy slid between an Egg Pawn's legs, missed shots from its comrades hitting the robot in the back. Breaking into a frantic sprint, Amy leaped from one robot to another while knocking each one with her hammer. A spinning strike from midair caved in one's head and a low sweep took out another's legs. That robot didn't have time to raise its weapon before the pink hedgehog brought her weapon down on its torso, the force strong enough to split it in half.

It was a full thirty seconds before Eggman's last remaining defenses were wiped out, leaving the four heroes alone with the captive princesses. After reassuring himself that the coast was clear, Sonic jogged up to the walls of the translucent cell and placed his hands against it. "Yo! Your majesties! Are you alright in there?!"

Princess Celestia slowly opened an eye; an eye Sonic immediately noticed was dimmed. It was like a dying lightbulb that was fighting to stay alight, with color constantly coming in and out of it. "You… have arrived… as I believed you would." The hedgehog cracked a smile that would have appeared inconsistent given the situation. "Ask and you shall receive! Seriously, though, how are you holding up?"

"Worse… than I… initially believed," Luna groaned in response. "Once our magic… begins to return to us… the doctor… takes it… just as quickly." Worry decorated Amy's features as she turned to Tails, the fox deep in thought. "Any ideas on how to get them out of there?"

"I got one!" Knuckles cried, pounding his fists together. "Here's how you rescue princesses!" The echidna took a step back and charged towards the cell, leaping with a fist drawn back. A roar erupted from the warrior's throat as he threw his arm forward… but instead of his fist meeting the glass, it made contact with something strong that rippled across the glass. The counterforce knocked Knuckles onto his back while everyone else turned their eyes to the glass and the shimmering light that surrounded it: a light that faded out of sight instantly.

"A shield," Tails muttered. "Of course, Eggman doesn't want to give up his prizes even after his defenses are gone." Sonic met Knuckles with a taunting smirk as the echidna climbed to his feet. "If that's how you rescue princesses, I'd love to see you save a king."

"Shut up," came the snap of a reply.

"We need to take it down if we're gonna get to them," Tails continued, his eyes studying the princess' cell. "But how?" His gaze raked over the clamps holding them in place, the energy rings that restrained the alicorns' wings, and the tubes connected to their horns. "Hmm… I'm not seeing any structural weaknesses. Lemme try scanning the shield; I'll see if I can pinpoint the source." The fox pulled out his handheld and fired it up, holding the device towards the prison. Sonic tapped his foot as he looked over the prison himself, eventually turning his eyes to the canister atop the machine.

In Eggman's recording, those things were ready to be filled with the princess' stolen magic and were swapped out with empty ones once they were full. A thought made its way into the hedgehog's mind: both that big cannon and Metal Rainbow were powered by that magic, right? A quick glance at the Miles Electric told him the device was still active with five minutes left on the timer. Five minutes until the princess' magic levels were acceptable enough to be sapped. But, if Eggman was still stealing their magic…

…then where was it going?

Sonic opened his mouth to speak, but the steady silence was shattered when another pair of doors- an entrance to the right of the pair they had broken down- exploded with a force strong enough to dislodge one and make it fall to the floor. The other sliding door stood at an angle, busted and unable to fully retract. Knuckles and Amy stood at the forefront, eyes trained on the rising smoke and ready for anything that made its way through. Sonic narrowed his emerald orbs past the doors, swearing he could see a shape through the black air.

Something small and spherical flew out of the cloud, clattering to the metal floor and rolling to a stop at the quartet's feet. While his friends didn't recognize the object that rested before them, Sonic did: it was Metal Rainbow's nonfunctioning head, its eyes completely blank and black as a void. "What the-?" he heard Knuckles utter.

Several more clangs alerted them to five more mechanical heads landing uselessly throughout the room. Much to Sonic's surprise, these heads resembled mechanical versions of the other ponies. Strangely, the head that looked like a robotic Twilight was missing its horn, revealing a hole of wires and circuitry underneath the purple plating. Sonic moved to inspect them, but he noticed six shapes emerging from the smoke, one of them illuminated with violet light like a lighthouse in a stormy sea. The shadows stepped out, revealing their otherworldly equine allies who glared at the mechanical mimics' heads with disdain.

That disgust morphed into horror when their eyes rested on their restrained rulers. Celestia and Luna's names erupted from the ponies' mouths, the little herd galloping towards them and frantically looking over their prison. Hurried questions rang out, a blur of asking if the royals were alright, if Eggman hurt them, and how they were going to bust them out. "Stand back!" Twilight's voice shut up the others, who immediately withdrew at the sight of their leader's horn that shone brightly as a star.

The ensuing magic beam struck the glass of the containment cell… or rather the invisible force field protecting the glass from any means of brute force. Everypony groaned disheartened and immediately expressed their irritation at the sudden defenses. Twilight stayed silent and dropped her wings, eyes peering helplessly at the princesses. "Sonic… tell me you guys have a plan."

"Kinda working on it, Twi," the hedgehog said. "So… Eggman pulled the old robot-copy trick, huh?" The alicorn met his eyes. "Yeah, he did."

"They say imitation is the sincerest form of flattery," Rainbow commented, kicking away the head of her robotic counterpart. "But right now, I don't feel very flattered. I get enough of that from my fans, anyway." Tails looked up from his handheld, studying the princess' cell once more. "I'm trying to trace the shield's point of origin," he said to the ponies. "If my calculations are correct, they should be in the control room that's right above us. Just hang in there a little longer, your highness…es."

"Worry… not, Miles," Celestia spoke like a caring mother through the pain in her voice. "My sister and I… have endured plenty… we shall endure… plenty more…"

"B-But Celestia…" Twilight objected. "We've gotta get you out right now!"

"I'm… afraid not, Twilight…" Luna added with a strain. "Because… he won't let you." Knuckles crossed his arms. "Yeah, we pretty much figured that out. We just got a shield to deal with, right?"

"Not quite!" A sudden booming announcement jolted everyone where they stood, every pair of eyes whipping around the chamber. "I should've known you pesky animals would've gotten this far! It was by some miraculous stroke of luck that allowed you to best the Mecha Six, but now your little rescue mission will be ultimately foiled!"

There weren't any speakers in the room, as far as Sonic could tell. So where was the mad doctor's voice coming from? The answer came to him immediately in the form of a third pair of doors slowly sliding open with a beep, directly across from the doors the ponies had come in. "Thankfully, I've been saving a special gift for the lot of you."

"Oooh, a present!" Pinkie cheered. "I love presents! Whatisitwhatisitwhatisit?" The pink pony bounced in place, unable to contain her excitement. "Hate to ruin your fun, but I think this is a present you'll want to return," Amy answered, holding her hammer at the ready. In the darkness of the corridor that was broken only by flashing red lights, loud stomping noises echoed from the black.

"No… no… don't be afraid!" Fluttershy muttered to herself. "Remember the animals!" The mare put on her best angry face, much to Rainbow Dash's approval. Applejack adjusted her hat while Knuckles put up his fists. The stomping grew louder and louder, its footfalls close enough to rattle the metal floor beneath everyone's feet. Twilight and Rarity harnessed magic into their horns while Sonic joined Rainbow at the front of the pack, both speedsters standing firm. Behind them, Tails put up his best fighting stance.

A long, red metallic leg stabbed into the steel floor with a hydraulic hoof at the end. The limb was decorated with black and yellow stripes, and a second one emerged from the shadows to crash down onto the floor. Before long, the object moved into the light, revealing itself to the heroes. Standing tall like a guardian's statue, a huge red robot horse draped in a high-polymer alloy glared at the organics with glowing yellow eyes. Steam billowed from exhaust ports in its nose and concentrated magic billowed in a sharp steel horn. Four powerful legs propelled it into the chamber with synchronized stomps; limbs that looked as thick as trees.

The mech's hindquarters displayed a black symbol of Eggman's face among the red paint on its flank, the insignia standing proud atop both hind legs that moved with flawless, automatic timing. A black tail composed of strong-layered wires flowed fluidly behind the machine, swishing back and forth much like a real horse's appendage. The group warily backed away from the massive mech, save for one who greeted it with a smile and a pointed finger.

"AHA!" Sonic chortled in triumph. "I told you he'd have a giant robot involved!"

The mech's forehead slid back, revealing a certain obese scientist with a wild mustache seated in a cockpit and gripping two control sticks. "Ever since I conjured Project Myth," he began, his voice projected from the mechanical horse's mouthplate. "I suspected that its design would fall into the wrong hands. That's why I only placed my blueprints for the cannon onto it! This whole time, you mangy mammals were unsuspecting of the final stage!"

"MANGY?!" Rarity roared. "How dare you! I spend thirty minutes a day on personal hygiene and fur-brushing!"

"Now…" Eggman continued, gesturing at the robot he sat in. "Allow me to introduce you to my latest creation. Fueled by the very energy flowing through those disgusting equines' veins, Project Myth has been built specifically to counter any magical resistance thrown at it! Soon, your kingdom and your race, Princess, will fall by your own power! And as for you, Sonic, feast your eyes on the masterpiece that will finally do you in for good! From this moment forth, I hereby christen thee… the EGG-QUESTRIAN! OHOHOHOHOHOHOHO!"

"Wow, that's a really good name!" Pinkie appraised. "What were you guys thinking of calling it?" Sonic turned to his nemesis. "How about 'scrap metal'? Because that's what all your robots end up as! Ha ha!" Instead of seething with rage, Eggman snickered confidently. "That's right, hedgehog! Laugh now, because you won't be doing so for long! And since I'm a rather generous soul…" A glass canopy sealed Eggman inside, his smile not even close to fading. "I'll let you take the first shot! MWAHAHAHAHA!"

"This is it, everypony!" Twilight yelled in a rallying tone. "He's not gonna hold anything back, so neither should we! For the princesses! For all ponykind! For Equestria!"

"FOR EQUESTRIA!" the ponies bellowed, their unified voices merging into a battle cry as they charged for the mech. Eggman's amplified laughter threatened to drown out their shout, the scientist urging the robot into a steady gallop. Sonic and his friends took up the rear, gaining on the mech while the Blue Blur reached the forefront.

"Let's dance, McNosehair!" The hedgehog called out, spinning up and launching himself at the mech. The robot's sharp horn glowed ominously with magic, ready to be unleashed on the ten targets that closed in on it. It had all come down to this; payback against the mad scientist for attacking their capital city, kidnapping and draining unicorns of their magic, and now abducting their two former royals to do the same thing all over again. Twilight and her friends wanted nothing more than to bring this terrible creature to justice... and as long as they had some creature experienced in fighting him by their side, their hopes were high.