//------------------------------// // Prologue // Story: Ark: Friendship is Survival // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -EARTH- -Abandoned City, A.K.A Sanctuary- How long has it been since a worthy survivor managed to reach this world? This rotting, corrupted world... No, Helena! Bad girl! You can still save it, so stop thinking like that. All I need is someone whose heart is in the right place, who will purify this world and return all of the Arks home to Earth. All of that fantastic life is contained within every installation, just waiting for that right... spark." Hmm... you know, that last survivor was quite promising. They ascended off the Island and Scorched Earth Installations; I was so excited to meet them! That is… until he killed them on the Aberration Installation. Now that there is a roadblock, one I wish I had nipped in the bud long ago. When I was still... Human. The human-like entity sighs sadly, "Honestly? I sometimes ask myself why I even bother to go on. I've lost all of my friends, those I've ever considered being family. Even some of the creatures I've ever tamed. All gone. It's funny, I technically don't have a life anymore, not exactly, and yet I sometimes feel like I want to just- no! Damn it, Helena! You're bloody doing it again!" ”Raaaaaargh!” Helena screams out into the abandoned city as her voice echoes throughout the broken structures in a fit of rage. Some of the various forms of life currently traversing this forgotten iron jungle are momentarily startled as a result; others even started to stampede as herds of ancient creatures cause the landscape to rumble as a result of their girth. "Why?! Why can't I find just one worthy survivor?! One who isn't some selfish git and only cares about going to war against other tribes. I've checked every installation there is, including the ones that aren't necessary, and I can't find one-" [BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP] [BEEP] "Let me guess, Alpha Terminal... Failed again?" [Attention.] [User: Helena.] [Scan complete: New Ark installation detected.] "What the...? A new Ark installation?! B-but that can't be; I've searched every Ark there is around the planet's orbit. Alpha Terminal, give me everything you have on that installation right now!" [Scanning...] [Scanning complete.] [Downloading Ark's information...] [Download complete.] [Ark Installation: Equus. Location: Mars orbit. Variety of non-sentient life: Abundant. Variety of sentient life: Abundant. Survivor probability: 98% Element presence: 100% Artificial Sun: Enabled. Artificial Moon: Enabled. Artificial Atmosphere: Activated. Ark Shields: Engaged. Guardian(s): Active. Guardian Designation: >Princess Celestia. >Princess Luna. >Princess Cadence. Attention. Potential fourth guardian now being processed. Designation: >Princess Twilight Sparkle. Overseer: Active. Overseer Designation: >Discord. Attention. Potential Overseer replacement located and recommended by current Overseer. Survivor Transplant Designation: >My Dear Fluttershy. Artifact(s): Active. Artifact Designation: >Artifact Of The Loyal Rainbow. >Artifact Of The Pink Laughter. >Artifact Of The Kind Butterfly. >Artifact Of The Magical Prodigy. >Artifact Of The Generous Beauty. >Artifact Of The Honest Apple. Installation Ascension Protocol: Disabled. ] "What...?! No way... that can’t be. Ah, bloody hell yeah! Alpha Terminal, get me visual footage of that installation right now! I want the name of every species on that Ark, both sentient and non-sentient. Also, why the bloody hell did that Overseer disable the Ascension Protocol? Meh, I'll figure that out later. It looks like this Overseer has already chosen its potential replacement... My Dear Fluttershy?" [Downloading files...] Helena 'squees' in excitement. "I can't believe it; there's still hope after all. There could be so many survivors on this installation, but how did they achieve it? Are they working together in harmony? What's the wildlife there like? Are they tamable? So many questions but not enough time, I have to-" [Download complete] Helena starts to scroll down the various listings of the Ark's lifeforms. "Alrighty, let's see what we have here. let's start with the list of sentient beings." "Mmm, I don't care for the non-sentient listings. No offense to them but, uh, I can't exactly ask a Dodo to save the world now can I? Unless it was a sentient Dodorex..." "Mhmm..." "Mhmm..." "Oh, nice..." "Wow... There's a lot of mythologically based life forms on this Ark, and they're all sentient? What kind of installation is this? It's like a little lass made this one." "No humans?! You're telling me that all of the sentient life on this Ark are non-human?!" "...Holy moly." "...This is." "I can't believe it, sentient ponies practically filled the niche that would normally be occupied by a human, at least on most installations. Then again, it is called Equus.” Helena claps her hands together and smiles contently. "Ok then, I'm convinced. Equus, you beautiful gem, let's see what you've got to offer. Alpha Terminal, what's the most well-known establishment amongst the ponies? Give me a city, nation, country, anything that would be their equivalent to humanity's." [Scanning...] [Scan complete.] [Nation: Equestria. Capitol: Canterlot.] [Would you like a list of Equestria's towns and cities, Helena? "Nope, that won't be necessary. Canterlot it is then, oh, I'll need to prepare a HLN-A unit before I try to establish contact. Now then, one last thing for today, Alpha Terminal: Give me access to that Ark's terminal; I want admin access granted to me asap!" [Requesting Ark terminal access...] [Access granted.] [Admin controls: Granted] [Please enter admin command.] "It's been a while since I did this. Hmm, I believe the command waaaas..." Helena lifts her right hand, brings it up to the screen of the Alpha Terminal, and types in: 'Enable: The Spectator.' She then presses another option: ‘Enter.’ [Enable: The Spectator] [Admin command successfully activated. The Spectator: Enabled. Status: 100% Cloaking: Activated] "Ok, let's fly this baby over to Canterlot. Now how do I bring up that map... Oh! There we go!" "Looks like I have to head... North!" Helena then starts to move the screen, and by extension, The Spectator, as she accidentally flies it into a tree. An apple tree to be specific. [Attention. The Spectator has taken damage. Status: 95%] "I swear... I'm terrible at using this thing." She then voices her various opinions as she continues to move The Spectator. "Ooooh, their landscape is quite beautiful. Very colorful, too." "Ah, there's Canterlot!" "Oh. My. Gosh. These ponies are just too cute! And they can talk! Awwww, I just want to snuggle one and use it as a pillo- no, no, come now, Helena. Snuggle later, spectate now." "Woah, what's going on here? From the looks of things, I just missed one heck of a party. I wonder if-" "In fact, my first royal decree as the ruler of Equestria is to establish this: Council of Friendship!” [CHEERING] Those of a lavender-colored equine entity cut off Helena's words. Regardless, Helena remains silent as she observes the scenario taking place before her. "And what a wonderful decree it is," Says the rainbow-maned, white coated equine. "We always knew that whatever adversity you faced, you and your friends would find your way through it together," Comments the starry maned, dark blue coated equine. "We know Equestria is in the perfect hooves with you and your friends looking out for it, and while we'll always be here if you need us, it's time for us to be on our way." "You're leaving?" The lavender equine responds. "We hope you'll come and visit us in Silver Shoals." "But now it's time for you to rule on your own; you're all more than capable." "Thank you... For everything." Helena continues to observe the scene as the equine entities come together into a group hug, at least that's what she assumed it was due to their equine anatomy, which results in heartful laughter. A huge smile forms on Helena's face as she says: "That has to be the most adorable thing I've ever seen. These ponies are perfect! They are exactly what I've been looking for in a survivor, and there's a whole freaking nation of these ponies who embraces the bonds of friendship. My mind is now officially made up. Watch out, Equus, because Helena's coming! Alpha Terminal, what's the status on that HLN-A drone?" [Calculating HLN-A drone unit completion..] [HLN-A drone unit #1946B: 98%] "Perfect!" Helena exclaims as she then looks towards the live footage of the equine figures, "I've got a good feeling about you guys, my little ponies- wait, what's that pegasus mare with the derpy looking eyes doin- OH MY GOD SHE'S GOING TO FLY RIGHT INTO-!" [CRASH] [Attention. The Spectator has been destroyed.] “I see that, Alpha Terminal... Damnit all."