Brad heads for the hangar, loading extra equipment into the AC, just in case if he were to run into any complications. He then suits up and climbed into the cockpit, located in the AC's abdomen. "All systems functional" the computer announced. Brad then pilots the mech out of the hangar and starts boosting in the direction of Equestria, using the same route the transport aircraft had taken.
Luna was watching the guards attempt in a drill in case of another AC appearance. The unicorns had practiced all day, for they figured that it is possible to deter the large mechs if they can cause a big enough attack from combined magic. Luna is confident that her's and her sister's magic combined would take down an AC. She heads back into the castle and waits.
Brad had managed to pilot all the way to the outskirts of Appleloosa before running into Mirage's scouting party. The AC intercepts Brad, "you have no business here, leave now". Brad ignores the warning and tries to go past them, into Appleloosa until the AC opens fire; which Brad in turn, retaliates and sinks the energy blade straight through the enemy's cockpit, killing the pilot instantly and leaves.
"Luna!", Luna nearly jumps from her chair when the guard busts through the door, "that machine is back! it's in Appleloosa!!".
"what? alert the others" Luna said calmly, "and get my sister". The guard nods and runs out the door, rallying the guards while another one woke up Celestia. Luna sighs, "we'll now know if we can use magic to destroy this thing". Once the guards are rounded up and Celestia by her side, Luna leads them towards Appleloosa.
The AC dashes through the town, avoiding the ponies that are running away from it. Brad watched them run into their homes, slamming the doors, "so they do live here...". He decides now to leave Appleloosa and continue on, not knowing that soon, him and Canterlot's army are about to meet. He was about halfway to Canterlot when he had to dodge the first blast of magic, "what? they're attacking? but how?". More blasts of magic rush past him as he dodges.
"ready?" Luna asked her sister.
"ready" replied Celestia as they both flew up, charging their magic.
"hm?" Brad looks up as they combined their magic and fired. The AC failed to miss this one, getting hit squarely where the cockpit was located, the blast missing Brad by only a few inches.
"WARNING, damage at 99% now ejecting pilot" the computer announced in a static voice. The pilot's seat was ejected as well as a big box.
"did you see that?" Luna asked, watching the ejected seat and box land inside the Everfree.
"we should go and find it" Celestia stated, "into the forest, find whatever had left this machine, me and my sister will examine this thing"