//------------------------------// // Chapter 22 - God. // Story: Ark: Friendship is Survival // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -INSTALLATION: EQUUS- -Ponyville- Celestia’s sun shines down upon the peaceful town that rests at the edge of the Everfree Forest, but in a handsome view of Canterlot’s mountainous overwatch. It’s currently roaring with life as ponies and other sentient species are going about their daily lives.  Thanks to the actions of Princess Twilight Sparkle; her friends and loved ones - not to mention six individuals who some referred to as ‘The Young Six’ - the presence of the School of Friendship had quite the effect in allowing these diverse races to coexist with little to no repercussions. Albeit the road to reaching this positivity was quite bumpy. Changelings could be seen fluttering about with griffons, hippogriffs, and pegasi. Earth ponies trotted with bison, yaks, and even kirin in groups of varying numbers. And even dragons found themselves present in this time of unification. Simply put: if it was a sentient race on Equus, you’d likely find at least a single member wandering around various towns and cities in Equestria. A bell attached to the large pink doors of one of Ponyville’s establishments goes off as three ponies of every type enter the establishment. “Welcome to Sugarcube Corner, dearies!” The light-blue mare greets from behind a desk. “Ah! Good morning Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle. Your table is ready for you, and two among your party are already inside. Just head down the aisle and seat yourselves on table twelve.” She finishes with a beaming smile. “Thanks, Mrs. Cake!” The trio responds in unison before walking down the designated aisle, passing by other active booths and tables as Ponyville’s denizens enjoy their morning meals. “Hey guys, over here!” Calls out a light-purple pony from their designated table; wearing a satchel and waving a forehoof. While also being accompanied by another pony wearing a pair of glasses. The trio hastens their steps and begins to shuffle into the adjacent side of a two-sided table which was covered by a checkered piece of linen. A basket of baked goods sitting at the table’s edge, just before a window. “Thanks a buncha’ apples fer’ sett’n this up, Diamond Tiara. And nice to see ya’ again, Silver Spoon,” Apple Bloom comments, sitting in the middle of her fellow crusaders with Scootaloo positioned closer to the window, and Sweetie Belle seated at the opposite end. Both of them give a grateful gesture towards the two ponies. “Meh, don’t mention it,” Diamond responds with a dismissive forehoof. “Besides, I owe you guys a lot, and this doesn’t even begin to make things square between us.” “Diamond…” Silver Spoon starts with a sympathetic expression. “All that’s in the past and everypony has forgiven you.” “We go through this every time,” Scootaloo said while shrugging her shoulders. “There are no hard feelings between us, you just gotta let bygones be bygones.” “Yeah!” Sweetie Belle exclaims. “I mean, hay, you even donate your allowance towards the Schoolhouse. Miss Cheerlie was very happy to receive those new school supplies.” Diamond Tiara slumps down in her seat, “The school’s already being funded by Mayor Mare and the princesses…” “True, but you still send your donations there,” Silver Spoon responds. “That sounds like a good start to me. And we’ve changed our outlook on, w-well…” She winces, “B-blank flanks.” Diamond Tiara sighs in regret, “Please don’t say those words…” A moment of silence ensues as the Cutie Mark Crusaders look towards each other before turning their gaze to their former bullies. Sweetie Belle clears her throat, “So, uh, about what we all came here for.” Both Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon perk up in response, their regretful posture rising up in tandem. Diamond reaches into her satchel and pulls out a rolled-up piece of paper, placing it onto the table before pushing it towards Apple Bloom. “Remember, no one else can know about this, and my father doesn't even know I took this," She clears her throat, "Daddy has been speaking with some of the guards around Ponyville, not to mention those stationed at Twilight’s castle.” Apple Bloom unveils the rolled-up paper, and what she sees causes not only her eyes, but Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo’s as well, to shoot wide open in shock. “W-what kind of creature is that…?” Scootaloo inquires. “Ah’ ain’t never seen anyth’n like this…” Apple Bloom comments. “It looks kind of cute, but is that its... mouth?” Sweetie Belle questions as she narrows her eyes towards the small entity that was drawn onto the unveiled parchment. “If that’s how it looks like when it’s closed, I’d hate to see it opened...” Diamond nods in response to their observations, “Apparently, this creature has never been seen before in the Everfree.” “However,” Silver Spoon takes over. “It’s more than that.” The trio of crusaders look towards Silver Spoon with anticipation. “This creature was never before seen in our entire world, at least according to what Diamond was able to overhear from the meeting her father was in.” “Wait wait wait,” Scootaloo responds. “Are you saying this thing is just like Helena? From another world?” Diamond nods her head, “Yup. Daddy and some of the other adults in town think it’s an alien, just like her. I even saw Princess Luna leaving the meeting as well, which took place at Princess Twilight’s Castle.” “If Princess Luna was there then this must be serious. But why do they think that it’s an alien?” Sweetie Belle inquires. “Sightings of this creature were only being reported after those giant Obelisks appeared,” Silver Spoon answers. “That can’t be a coincidence, and it all traces back to when you guys found Helena in-” “Good morning, kids!” Mr. Cake exclaims happily. Cutting off Silver Spoon’s words, and causing Apple Bloom to hide the sketch of the small entity in a hurried fashion.  “What do you have there, Apple Bloom?” He questions with a raised eyebrow. “Oh, uh, w-well-” “She was just asking us for advice on a special somepony she’s been gunning for,” Diamond Tiara answers, causing Apple Bloom to turn beet red.    “Pffft! Hahahaha!” Scootoloo bursts out into laughter. Sweetie Belle snickers with a forehoof covering her muzzle. “Y-yeah, ehehe,” Apple Bloom responds with nervous laughter, although she shoots Diamond Tiara a sideglance that said: ‘I hate you.’  “Ah, young love,” Mr. Cake responds with a content sigh. “I remember when me and my wife first met. She’s as beautiful now as she was back then,” He chuckles happily to himself before raising the notepad he held within his right forehoof, “I’ll respect your privacy, my good apple. Now then, what can I get for you?” -The Everfree Forest- Zecora was frozen in place as she stares back into the black eyes of the unknown entity in front of her. In truth, the zebra had lost track of just how long she was standing there. Minutes? Possibly even an hour? Well, she doubted a whole hour had passed by, but the staredown she was currently locked in with the creature sure felt like it. “H-hello, and salutations… m-may I ask what are your intentions?” She finally questions nervously.  The entity simply continues to stare at her with an appendage placed under its chin. “If I may be so bold to say, you staring at me is making me feel most uneasy. May I ask you to introduce yourself more pleasingly?” The creature tilts its head sideways but remains in place nonetheless. And as for the zebra, her current conundrum was that this entity sat in the middle of the road. She would need to walk past it in order to reach her hut, albeit the alternative was to simply turn back to Ponyville. In truth, of all the creatures she had ever faced before in the Everfree, Zecora had never faltered and often fought them like an amazonian warrior. Facing them with her own foreknowledge and use of her crafted repulsions. And yet this creature, this thing, shared a forebodingness that was similar to a cockatrice, maybe even surpassing it in a way. The two entities are indeed small, but the cockatrice possessed abilities that would make it an even bigger threat than a Hydra as it turned its foes into stone with but a glance. This creature? Zecora didn’t know what it could do, but she didn’t want to find out. The zebra takes a few steps back, and the creature takes two steps forward. A sudden cold chill goes down Zecora’s spine as she could feel a presence peering from behind her. She slowly looks over her right shoulder and is greeted by yet another identical entity, this one sitting on the branch of a tree. Zecora’s situation had doubled in uneasiness as she not only had the critter on the road to worry about but also the one that now watched her back at all times. And from an elevated view no less, like an eagle looking down from its perch. A rustling of bushes makes itself known from either side of the zebra as two more entities walk out to the clearing. Zecora’s eyes widened in a sense of fear as she truly takes in her current situation: she is surrounded in all directions. However, she failed to notice that one of the entities who exited the bushes, specifically on the right side of the pathway, held a small device within its grasp. Zecora watched as the creature places the device onto the ground. Then, a mechanical marvel takes place as a series of lavender hexagons exits the now spinning device. These hexagons start to take a particular shape, melding together to form a whole new presence: a floating head wearing a helmet. One that towered over the now horrified zebra, although she couldn’t shake this feeling that the entity was being careful of just how large it would present itself. The eyes of this artificial being open up, purple lights glowing from its ‘eye socket’ before two light-lavender orbs look down upon the frightened zebra. “Hmmm… not what I was hoping for, but I suppose you’ll have to do. ‘Survivor.’” It emphasized the final word in a mocking fashion; speaking in a tone that’s mechanized, echoing, and deep. The zebra simply looked upward with her pupils now reduced to pinpricks, her body shaking as she couldn’t even form any words to respond properly with.  “You’re frightened of me. Very good, very wise.” Swallowing dryly, Zecora manages to find a small semblance of her center. Even foregoing her usual rhythmic speech.  “W-who… a-are you…?” “I am the one in control. I am he who truly ascended, whose mind evolved far beyond all others,” The floating presence brought its gaze closer, its purple orbs practically looking into Zecora’s soul. “I. Am. God.”