> An Erebus In Bridlewood
>  by RiffRaff7942_YT
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Erebus Arrives
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The first tree was hit by a blue projectile, a green one hit the second, and the third and fourth were subjected to yellow and red in that order. The trees pulsed with strange lights the same colour as the projectiles that hit them. Distressed mourning sounds soon altered Alphabittle, who was alone in his tearoom, just about to open for the day..

“Alright, what’s with all the screaming?” The giant alpha pony demanded as he trudged into the clearing. On cue, the ground started vibrating, as a large horizontal oval robot trudged through the trees. The robot didn’t yet know the trees were sacred to the unicorns, and was in danger of stepping all over them, though thankfully, it subconsciously avoided them. The robot stopped in front of the tearoom.

“Greetings, life forms,” A robotic voice greeted.
“What are you doing to our trees!?” Alphabittle challenged to the giant robot.
“I was merely testing if my ‘Homing Blackout’ ability was still working on these four harmless trees.”
“They might be harmless, but they have feeling man,” Onyx rallied against the giant robot. It responded by scanning the area, taking in information about the surrounding ponies. The unicorns were turned off by this.
“Woah dude!”
“Is he stealing our memory?”
“I feel violated!”
“Back off man, totally not radical!”
The cries of discomfort ranged brilliantly, until the robot was finished with its analysing.
“I am sensing, hippie, and, treehugger senses from you lifeforms.” The robot commented, “I apologise for causing you grief.”
“Yeah yeah, who are you and what do you want?” Alphabittle demanded.
“Of course,” The robot announced. “I am Erebus, a heavy class Evolife sniper robot.”

“A robot huh? Yeah I picked that one up.” Alphabittle replied.
“I am unaware how you are able to pick thing up,” Erebus spoke, Considering you have no opposable digits, and yet you can all easily pick up objects with unnecessary handles and such.”
“Yeah we’ll,” Alphabittle faltered, “Next time watch where your aiming that, Uhh…”
“Homing Blackout,” Erebus clarified popping up its built in weapon, “These four projectiles apply EMP, lockdown, suppression and dot corrosion in that order, and all last for five seconds each.”
“Do you have any idea what he’s saying? I’m absolutely clueless.” Alphabittle remarked to Onyx.
“If I may,” Erebus said, pausing to run through the info it had just analysed, “Alphabittle Blossomforth, I would recommend stepping into my cab so I may have a pilot on hand.”
“Well, what’s in it for me if I climb inside?” Alphabittle asked.
“We walking war robots like to have pilots to guide us,” Erebus explained, “And in return, we protect said pilot. Their life is priority in the heat of war.”
Alphabittle exchanged glances with the surrounding unicorns, and then stared back at the giant sniper bot.

*MYM*

“Well, it’s certainly fancy,” Alphabittle remarked as the cab lit up acknowledging his presence.

“I am thankful for your hospitality,” Erebus complimented, “But I cannot stay for long.”
“Oh that’s good,” Alphabittle said, relieved, before he remembered manners, “Umm, where are you going?”
“I have to find my associates.” Erebus explained, “Other robots are scattered around your lands, I fell into this dimension alongside they.”
“…Come again?” Alphabittle questioned.
“So far I am currently picking up two electrical signals,” “One come from Crisis, the other from Khepri. They appear to be close together and heading towards the woods.”
“Wait, two more giant robot like you?” Alphabittle asked, getting angst at the thought of more plant life potentially being flattened under the foot of another giant mechanical beast.
“Khepri does not have feet, but his thrusters may cause burning if brought too close to a tree,” Erebus clarified, “And Crisis could easily decimate plant life given how hard he stomps the ground.”
Erebus then scanned Alphabittle’s head again.
“I detect you wish to stop them before anymore of your beloved plant life is potentially destroyed.” Erebus commented, “I will take you to them as quick as I can.”

Without saying another word, Erebus turned himself around, and began walking back the way he came, taking care to step in the same places he had whilst stomping in in the first place. Alphabittle was taken by surprise, and knocked off his hooves. A tractor beam from Erebus’s cabin scooped him up and placed him in the pilots chair.
“Umm, am I supposed to do something?” Alphabittle questioned, as Erebus left the scene.
“Not necessarily,” Erebus replied, “Pilots can be helpful in having a more effective grasp in combat, but they aren’t a necessity. We can pilot ourselves perfectly fine. I simply need you to watch out for any potential threats.”
“…Threats, like what exactly?” Alphabittle asked.

*MYM*

Meanwhile on the outskirts of Bridlewood, Crisis and Khepri were heading directly for Bridlewood.

“Sensors indicate my thrusters could potentially burn the shrublife,” Khepri spoke up. “And Crisis could uproot many smaller trees if he stomps too roughly on them.”
“Well, what do we do then?” Hitch asked.
The robots didn’t answer immediately, and instead sensed for telepathically messages from the woods. Eventually, two small dings were heard in the cabs.
“Erebus is coming,” Crisis announced, “He has sensed us from a great distance, and would rather he comes out instead of us going in… seeing as how the resident unicorns have strong connection to the woods, and wouldn’t like to see it destroyed.”
“I think it’s a little late for that,” Haven spoke up, indicating a small destroyed piece of woods, presumably where Erebus had entered. And sure enough, in the distance, they could hear loud stomping as the sniper bot slowly trudged through the woods, slower than usual to take care for the unicorns.

“Well okay then,” Zipp finally said to break the silence, “So that’s three we have so far. How many did you two say there were again?”
“We didn’t,” Crisis replied, “Though if we are true to our usual hangar, there should be five of us, plus a Titan.”
“I’m sorry a what?” Haven asked.

Before Crisis or Khepri could reply, the two robots suddenly felt mass firings from behind. Turning around, they found themselves confronted by a gang of three spider like robots.
“AGH!” Haven exclaimed, “I take it these aren’t friendly robots!?”
“Negatory,” Khepri explained, opening fire alongside Crisis, “They are Recluses, a subspecies of wanderers, who often open fire and retreat to hide.”
They often keep their distance from enemy robots,” Crisis also explained, “But taking them down shouldn’t be a problem.”

The two robots faced off against the trio of Recluses, whilst Erebus stomped closer and closer to the action. Alphabittle saw everything on the cameras connected the those in the other robots cabs.
“I think your friends might be in trouble,” Alphabittle spoke up.
“Yes, they are under attack from a trio of Recluse robots,” Erebus said, “They are one of many Gray swarm robots, all artificially controlled, all programmed to destroy any other corporation robots.”
“And,” Erebus went on, “I am sensing Khepri is housing an individual very close romantically to you.”
The middle camera showed the inside of Khepri’s cab, and there was Queen Haven, looking on nervously as Khepri and Crisis brawled against the trio.
“HAVEN!?” Alphabittle exclaimed, “Is there anything we can do to help!?”
“Of course,” Erebus claimed.

Erebus set its target on the recluses, and then opened fire from a distance, shooting three beams of concentrated light from the weapons on its cab top. The weapons worked like a charm, drastically changing the outcome of the battle.
“So, what’s this then?” Alphabittle asked.
“Triplet ‘Prisma’ weaponry,” Erebus explained, “Heavyweight long range weapon, perfect for Snipers.”
Erebus also fired his built in homing blackout gun like before, just for good measures.

The Recluses were easily dispatched, with two of them being fully destroyed in no time, and the third finished off right then and there. The metal corpses fell to the ground with a huge crash, as Erebus lumbered over.

“Thank you for the assistance Erebus,” Crisis complemented.
“No problem at all,” Erebus replied.
“So, this is one of your friends?” Haven cut in.
“Yes he is,” Khepri replied, “And I think you will be pleased with his cabin’s contents.”
Before Haven could ask what Khepri meant by that, she was shown the inside of Erebus’s cab, and there was Alphabittle, who could also see Haven.
“Hello Havey,” Alphabittle greeted.
“Well well, you never told me you were into robot fighting,” Haven teased.
“I could ask you the same thing,” Alphabittle replied cheekily.

“Umm, if I could cut in before things get sidetracked,” Zipp said, “You did say there were about six of you robots, right?”
“Only six on our team,” Crisis explained, “Five regular robots, and one Titan. Erebus is from a rival team.”
“I am more than happy to drop morals to fight with you against the gray swarm.” Erebus put in.
“As he would,” Khepri said, implying he was talking to the ponies. “We are programmed to unite against Gray swarm, no matter which company we fight for.”
“I see.” Haven replied.

“So, now what do we do?” Alphabittle asked.
“There should be three robots our size remaining,” Crisis said, “So I would suggest we split up to find them.”
All three robots began an area scan.
“I’m cool with that,” Zipp said, “But where do we meet up when we’ve found them?”
“Maybe if we all meet in the centre of all three pony cities?” Hitch suggested.
“Good idea, pilot Hitch,” Crisis replied, “Are you okay with being referred to as a pilot?”
“Ehh, I don’t really mind,” Hitch said. Zipp, Haven and Alphabittle agreed.
“Very well.” Crisis declared, “Good luck on your travels pilots, Amanda Haven, and Alphabittle Blossomforth.”
And with that, all three robots turned on their heels, except for Khepri who simply turned, and headed out to find the final three robots.

*MYM*

Far away, in the Isle of Scaly, Spike and the rest of the dragons were chilling in some hot springs, completely unaware of the giant robots scattered around the many different regions of equestria. all was peaceful, for the time being..