//------------------------------//
// Mechanized Mile 
// Story: Ponies and the Alpha Team 
// by Optimistic Pessimist 
//------------------------------//

	Rainbow Dash flew around the dark area. Twilight Sparkle was keeping an eye around the expanse. Her hooves clanked on the entirely metal floor. The distant sounds of grinding gears and bouncing sparks could be heard echoing throughout the corridors.

"Why is this place so empty?" Rainbow Dash looked around. Twilight looked around. "I don't know. Maybe it's down this way?" Twilight pointed towards a dark alley. "I think it's this way." Rainbow Dash pointed in the opposite direction. "It's got this giant shiny button on it." Twilight looked curiously over. "Well what do you know?"

There was a giant shiny button. It wasn't so much shiny itself, but it glowed from underneath. "I wonder..." Twilight put her hoof on it. She was startled by a small message that popped up in her face. "'This button will activate when all living party members stand on the button?'" Rainbow Dash smiled. "Cool! Let's go then!"

Twilight stopped Rainbow. "Rainbow Dash, you really need to stop and pay attention to these things." Rainbow Dash watched as Twilight walked up to the gate. "Twilight. It's obvious to anypony this switch opens that gate." Twilight sighed. "I know that, Rainbow. but look at the base of this gate." Rainbow looked, and saw a small bump where the gate slide away to. "Now look behind you." Rainbow looked behind her. There was a similar bump in the ground. "Yeah, so?" Twilight sighed. "I'm thinking that once this gate goes down, that gate will go up. Unless you can find a way to lower both gates at the same time, I suggest we check out what's over there."

Rainbow Dash sighed. "Alright."

Twilight walked over to the opposite corridor and pushed a nearby button. The gate went down, revealing a crowded area.  Twilight could hear grumbling and groans. "There we go."

Suddenly surprised whispers and grunts could be heard. "Twilight, I'm pretty sure their not friendly." Rainbow Dash unsheathed her blade, brandishing its many edges.

"Let's get this over with." Twilight waited with her sword drawn as the footsteps came down the corridor. Large impish creatures turned the corner, wielding huge hammers. 

Twilights' Spur began to generate a yellow glow, and the mechanical gear began to whir fiercely. Twilight swung her blade, and a green glowing disc blew out from the mechanical tip. It cut through the advancing enemy, and effectively scattered the remaining enemies. 

Rainbow Dash swooped down before any of them could react. Barrel Rolls, Loops and Dives, she incorporated all her moves into a deadly arsenal. The skilled pegasus laid waste to the small army.

"Huh. Looks like you were right, Twilight." Twilight quickly trotted over to several columns of colorful mineral structures. "I told you Rainbow! Just pay a little more attention next time, alright?" 

The two didn't notice a small gremlin watching them as they collected the minerals. It ran off silently behind a hidden door.