//------------------------------// // Chapter 27 - Corrupted Overseer Pt: 2. // Story: Ark: Friendship is Survival // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -INSTALLATION: EQUUS-  -Canterlot Castle: Throne Room- The throne room progressively became heavily damaged as the conflict rages on within. All accompanied with the ever-present shade of black-lavender lighting that crept through the room’s windows. Rockwell manipulates his latest ‘puppet’ as Discord spreads his arms apart. “Try to dodge this!” He roars out, smirking as a relentless barrage of purple energy in spherical shapes is let loose throughout the entire room at high speeds. The projectiles are so numerous that trying to dodge them was practically impossible. All while maniacal laughter echoes out from the controlled Overseer. “You’re all just ants, biting at the toes of a god!” Painful grunts and screams cry out as some of the world leaders from other nations are assaulted, including Celestia and Luna. The sun alicorn shields her sibling by forcing her body over the younger co-ruler, taking the blows in their stead. “I-I won’t let you hurt m-my-” Celestia struggles painfully, gritting her teeth. “My sister!” Luna’s eyes widened, her pupils reduced to pinpricks as she momentarily watched the near torture scene that played out before her in horror. Then, she regains her composure and roars out with a vibrantly alighted horn. “NAY!” Her eyes become consumed by pure white light. “WE SHALL NOT ALLOW THIS!” A blue sphere is erected over the sisters as Luna stands at her full posture, while Celestia falls over with a batted breath. Various patches of fur burnt, her mane a chaotic mess. “WE WILL NOT BE CAUSE TO OUR SISTER’S HARM, NOT AGAIN! NEVER AGAIN!” ………. Nearby, and akin to the white alicorn’s actions, Prince Rutherford protects Rain Shine, Queen Amira, and Sunset Shimmer with his own body, much to their protests as they beg the yak to stop. “That’s it!” Sunset Shimmer exclaims in anger, fed up with the yak’s pain. “Hang on, big guy! I’ve got you!” The orange unicorn fires up her horn and projects a light-green/blue barrier around herself, Rain Shine, Queen Amira, and the heavily damaged Prince Rutherford. Sunset grits her teeth, her face morphing into discomfort and effort as the Overseer’s blasts collides with the barrier. Her forehooves begin to buckle under the assaults on her protective shell, but another set of hooves stomp down beside her. With bright stripes on the kirin’s horn, Rain Shine reinforces the orange unicorn’s efforts. “I shall help you!” The kirin’s prowess seemingly bolsters the protective shell, and a new color starts to mix into the barrier. All while Queen Amira tends to Prince Rutherford, a red vial present in her right forehoof. ………. Princess Cadence, King Aspen, and Dragon Lord Ember formed their protective shell on the opposite side of the room. Ember held the Bloodstone Sceptor firmly in her grasp; king Aspen’s antlers are alight in a golden aura as Cadence’s horn blazes with coloration similar to Sunset Shimmer’s. Seeing the barriers erected by Luna, Rain Shine, and Sunset Shimmer under fire, not to mention their own, Princess Cadence shouts in concern: “No! W-we need to help them!” “Easier said than done!” Ember responds. “This guy’s relentless!” “Hold fast; we will get an opportunity!” King Aspen reaffirms. Within the barrier and just behind the former trio, Thorax, Pharynx, Tempest; her three Storm Beast allies, General Seaspray, Garble, and Chief Thunderhooves, stand at the ready. “Opportunity?” The controlled Overseer questions, having overheard the Deer King’s statement. He looks over his right shoulder, back to their barrier. “Your Ark’s Guardians can only defend themselves against my puppet’s powers, and the rest of you aren’t even worthy of mentioning.”  The barrage of spherical projectiles stops for a brief moment, “Allow me to shatter your resolves.” Several beams of lavender electrical energy are let loose. They start from ‘Discord’s’ form before spreading out in a circle formation, and upon making contact with the barriers of his foes, the protective shells break apart like a sledgehammer against a glass wall. The action causes great pain to those within, and painful screams again echo throughout the throne room as the attack strikes everyone in attendance. Even sending some among them hurling away, crashing into walls and foundations. Admiring his handiwork through Discord’s eyes, gazing upon the forms of his unconscious foes, the Corrupted Master controller chuckles gleefully before saying: “Come out, come out wherever you are, Mega-” “HIIIIYAH!” The Overseer’s words are cut off as the mechanical form of HLN-A slams into his head, stunning him in the process. In a swift array of movement, the AI floats all around him, and after recovering, he swipes at the nuisance with his lion’s paw’s claws. “You missed me!” HLN-A antagonizes, dodging the strike. She stops a short distance in front of the Overseer. “I was wondering where you ran off to,” He said, turning to her. “How heartless of you, Helena. Waiting for your allies to take the fall before confronting me again.” “You’re wrong,” She retorts. “While my allies kept your attention at bay, a plan is in motion. King Catspian and Grubber are already putting it into motion.” “Plan?” He questions with a raised eyebrow. “You think I’d tell you, mate?” HLN-A answers with laughter. “It’s over, Edmund. You won’t be taking this installation for your own!” The Overseer blinks in response, and after staring at her for a moment, laughter slowly builds up within him before said laughter escapes his mouth. All the while, everyone else in attendance remains unconscious as various forms lay about the damaged throne room. HLN-A’s visor takes on an angered expression, the blue lights on their form turning red, “Alright, I’ll bite. What are you laughing at, Rockwell?” The Overseer’s laughter slowly dies down, his face morphing from joy into seriousness in an instant. “What makes you think I don’t already have what I want?” “W-what…?” “Ask yourself, puppet of Helena, why do you think I got locked up here in the first place? When I first arrived here many years ago.” The AI remains silent, which prompts ‘Discord’ to continue. “It’s a long story, but to sum it all up: I have what I want, but she and her pet unicorn stopped me from finishing my objective. For years they kept me contained here, even erasing Discord’s knowledge of what had happened, resetting the Ark over and over again to keep me contained. That is until a certain idiotic AI released me from my ‘cage’ the moment they decided to activate the Obelisks.” Realization dawns upon the AI’s form as its’ visor projects a horrified expression, their red lights turning light-green, “N-no… then, t-that means…” Edmund chuckles, “The suffering taking place all across this installation, and every life that’s lost is all thanks to you, my dear old friend. Yes, this is all YOUR fault. And I’m so grateful for your predictable stupidity.” His words cause the AI to float lower to the floor, the lights on HLN-A turning blue as a crying expression is present on their visor. And as if to finish a metaphorical final blow, ‘Discord’ smiles mischievously. “I mean, after all… who do you think it was that let you discover this installation in the first place. It was all a part of my calculations, and you did exactly what I knew you would. Even after all this time, you’re so predictable. And, as always, you underestimate me.” Sobbing escapes from HLN-A’s form as the AI remains tilted on the floor. Their flappy arms drop down as a tearful expression stays on their visor. “I… I’m so sorry,” The AI sniffles. “This is all my fault… I’m so sorry…” ‘Discord,’ now floating over the grounded, weeping AI, raises his eagle’s talon in preparation for a finishing blow, “When your consciousness returns to Helena, I want you to do me a favor. Tell her that I’m waiting on Aberration, and I look forward to massacring her precious survivors. Let Twilight and her friends come to me; that’s what I want.” The AI looks up to him in shock, “H-how did you-” “Oh, come now. I have possession of Discord’s memories and knowledge, now that I have him under my command. I know all about your pathetic plan and have already set-” He smiles, “Countermeasures.” The AI lowers its gaze in defeat, much to the delight of its opponent. “See you soon, Helena.” With those final words, ‘Discord’ brings down his eagle’s talon with solid force. However, a strange aura suddenly surrounds him, stopping him in place as he struggles within this invisible grasp. “W-what?!” The doors to the throne room are forcefully parted as a magic-lime unicorn mare bucked them open. A small pegasus floated just above the unicorn, their right forehoof aimed and extended towards the Overseer. “You’re not the only one who thought ahead, monster.” ‘Discord’s’ eyes widened for a moment, then closed with a slight chuckle, “So, you’ve finally revealed yourself, Megan. And I see you brought your wretched pet along.” HLN-A’s visor currently displayed a shocked expression, “M-Megan? You’re, Cozy Glow?” Both Megan - or Cozy Glow - and Lyra remain silent in the doorway, looking upon the Overseer with narrowed expressions. “Sorry for leaving you all alone for a bit, HLN-A,” Megan said, still maintaining her grasp onto the Overseer. “I assume our two allies are enacting our plan?” “Y-yes,” HLN-A responds. Lyra nods, “And Bon Bon found my gift. She’s been invaluable in keeping many survivors safe in Ponyville, and although we’re still taking losses, her efforts have culled your infection’s spread by at least twenty percent.” Edmund’s will growls at this, “You all will pay dearly for denying God’s will-!” “Yeah, yeah, shut up,” Megan interjects. “And get the hell out of MY precious Overseer!” The Corrupted Controller’s voice seemingly struggles, “N-no! Discord belongs to me!”   “You might call the shots on Aberration, Edmund, but you fail to realize something significant,” The pegasus filly floats closer, her wings flapping to stay aloft. “I am Megan Williams, Homo-Deus of this installation! Daughter of Shawn and Margret Williams! And even though she wasn’t my actual aunt, the favorite niece to my aunty Uma!” “U-Uma?!” HLN-A questions in shock. “But, that’s the Homo-Deus Santiago once knew!” Megan floats just before ‘Discord’s’ struggling form, the scene very reminiscent of an exorcism, “I might not be strong enough to throw you off this installation, but I am more than capable of freeing Discord from your clutches.” “Megaaaan!” The CMC shouts, trying to keep its invisible grip on Discord. “I WILL destroy you; mark my words!” Megan laughs, “I’m sure you will try, Rockwell. But we’ll be bringing the fight to you, as well. So get ready, oh, and in case you didn’t hear me the first time: Get. Out. Of. My. Overseer.”   An inner conflict occurs within Discord’s form. The draconequus grasps their head with his lion’s paw and eagle’s talon, screaming out as his voice mixes with that of the CMC’s. His eyes are flashing from bright purple to his natural orange eyes with red pupils. This conflict takes place for just under half a minute; then, the Overseer’s form falls limply to the floor as a dark purple aura sizzles out from their body. During this time, Lyra takes it upon herself to tend to everyone in attendance as some representatives and royalties regain consciousness. Following a strange pulse of green energy that leaves the unicorn’s form. Then, the unicorn proceeds to fix the shattered throne room as blue energy pulsates from her. The wave repaired every last shred of damage as if the confrontation had never happened in the first place. All the while, HLN-A remains speechless at the events unfurling before them, not to mention Megan’s earlier statement. With a satisfied sigh, ‘Cozy Glow’ lowers her appendage, “It’s finished, and I’m already working on preventing the CMC from doing this ever again. We might not have won the war just yet, but this battle belongs to us,” She closes her eyes, “Granted… this is just the beginning." After some time, along with an introduction from Megan Williams, the disguised Homo-Deus positions herself before the recovered royalties and heads of Equus, with Discord and Lyra standing among them. However, the Overseer rubs his head with his lion’s paw as if aiding a migraine. HLN-A was currently deactivated and held within a Storm Beast’s grasp, with Tempest Shadow, Rain Shine, and King Aspen standing alongside them. “That was… unpleasant,” Discord comments. “I’m sorry for attacking you all like that, everyone.” “That strange feeling should pass in just a bit longer, Overseer,” Lyra Heartstrings responds. “It’s good to have you back with us.” “I’m still confused about what’s going on,” The Overseer said. “And why are you so much more knowledgable about all of this than even me, the Overseer? And why is she here?!” He questions as he aims his eagle’s talon towards ‘Cozy Glow,’ “Shouldn’t you be in stone right now with Tirek and Chrysalis?” Standing alongside his brother, Thorax, Pharynx spits in disgust at mentioning the former changeling ruler’s name. Standing beside them are the alicorn princesses and Sunset Shimmer as they, in turn, are at the forefront of the group, Megan in their sights. Queen Amira, Chief Thunderhooves, Prince Rutherford, and General Seaspray distributed evenly on either side. “Look, I know you all have a lot of questions,” Megan starts. “But we have to act right now. HLN-A is speaking with her creator as we speak; we’ll need to coordinate to deal with the CMC. Once she comes to, there’s something I need to show you all.” “Ok, but when do we get to burn that guy?!” Dragon Lord Ember roars out, Garble nodding in agreement. “Once I get my claws on that monster, I will-” “No,” Lyra interjects. “The real Master Controller is a far more potent threat. What you all faced was just an extension of that AI’s will. We’ll get some payback, I promise, but we need to handle this very carefully.” Having checked on the well-being of her fellow heads of Equus, not to mention the other alicorns, Celestia turns her gaze towards Megan, “I thank you for saving us, Megan Williams.” She finishes with a bow. “There’s no need for that, my sweet Guardian,” Megan responds with a dismissive forehoof. “Unlike Edmund, I don’t have some stupid god complex." The sun alicorn beams a smile, turning to Lyra, “By the way, what was that strange power you used to heal everyone?” “Ah, yes. You see, it’s similar to what a Daeodon does with its healing capabilities.” Lyra answers. Both Sunset Shimmer and Cadence look to each other, then back to Megan, “Daeodon?” Sunset questions. “Hehe, it’s a little complicated,” Lyra responds sheepishly. “But imagine an enormous, muscular pig with a mouthful of teeth and a bad attitude.” The eyes of Celestia, Cadence, and Sunset widened, followed by a unified: “Oooh…”  “Forgive us if this seems, well, straightforward,” Luna comments, her gaze locked onto the disguised Homo-Deus. “But thy current form doesn’t help us in welcoming thee. We appreciate thy help, of course, but Cozy Glow isn’t exactly a friend of ours.” “Ah, yes,” Megan responds. “Since the Ark imitates the show, it’s understandable that my current form is distasteful. Considering it’s one of your past enemies.” “But, then, why choose that form?” Thorax questions. “If I understand this correctly, you’re implying that you could’ve taken any form you’d want but chose Cozy Glow’s. Why?” “Well, not much is known about Cozy Glow in the actual show - chalk that one down to poor writing,” Megan answers matter of factly. “It made her the perfect character for me to pose as. Someone who you all didn’t know too much about but still played a big role.” Many more questions and concerns fester in the minds of those present, but before they can voice them, HLN-A reactivates ‘herself’ within the Storm Beast’s grasp. The AI floats into the air, thanking the Storm Beast for hanging onto their form. “Ok, I’ve told Helena everything that’s transpired,” The AI starts, floating over to Megan’s side. “Also, those reinforcements are nearly here. Edmund’s going to be in for a big surprise!” Megan nods, “Excellent. Then we can get to what I wanted to show everyone.” These words gather the attention of everyone else present, ears flickering up in response. “Before I activate some surprises of my own, It’s time for me to step out of hiding and fight alongside you.” An exclamation mark appears on HLN-A’s visor, “Hang on, mate, are you going to do what I think you’re doing?” Megan beams a smile, “Of course!” The form of Cozy Glow suddenly glows vibrantly, and what was once a pegasus filly began to morph and grow in size and shape. Sunset Shimmer could be heard gasping as she recognized the entity’s form, a transparent bipedal figure that resembles those in the world beyond the mirror. Or, as HLN-A had once described, the portal that transfers a survivor from one Installation to another. Albeit, this form of travel was different and needed further investigation. But the AI did make one remark: It reminded them of the methods used in the Genesis Simulation. A blinding light causes everyone present, aside from HLN-A, to cover their eyes in response. They open their eyes once again before their jaws drop dumbfounded. The transformation has been completed, and a young woman with yellow/orange hair hovers in place before them—a red ribbon tying her current hairstyle. HLN-A was indeed happy to see the newly revealed Homo-Deus, but a sense of regret comes over the AI, followed by a sad expression on their visor. Seeing this, Megan teleports next to the mechanical entity, placing a hand onto the AI's form. "Hey now, stop that," She said. "Listen to me: NONE of this is your fault." "It IS my fault!" HLN-A responds. "If I didn't make Discord activate the Obelisks, none of this would ever-" Megan interrupts the AI by flicking their visor, "Oi! I said enough of that. You had no way of knowing, and if anything, I'm also at fault here. I should've foreseen this possibility, but now is not the time for regrets." The Homo-Deus turns her gaze to everyone else present, and giggles with a transparent hand covering her mouth, "You should see your faces! It's priceless!" She shrugs, "Then again, I always did like to make such dramatic presentations." She turns towards Lyra, "Lyra, what's the situation in Ponyville at this moment?" "The remaining survivors are holding out in Twilight Sparkle's castle. So long as they remain near the structure, the infection can't get to them. It was a very good foresight to implement the Ark's purification protocol into the castle's composition. Just like what you did with the Crystal Empire." "The Crystal Empire?" Princess Cadence questions. "W-what do you mean?" "Let's just say that, in the worst-case scenario, it's our absolute final option," Lyra answers. "When you look at the Ark's map, the Crystal Empire was positioned at the top for a strategical purpose." "What is it?" Queen Amira questions. "Should things get really bad, the Empire will jettison survivors off of the Ark, and onto those that orbit planet Earth," Megan answers. "Although they won't be able to enter the official Arks, as they lack the appropriate means, they can still be injected onto the unofficial installations." "CAN SOMEONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THIS?!" Discord exclaims in frustration. "I'm the Ark's Overseer! Why don't I possess this knowledge?!" "I'm sorry, Discord, but I had to play it safe," Megan answers. "I knew that if Edmund's consciousness ever got out, you'd be among his first few targets. Knowledge of the plan couldn't get leaked to him, no matter what. So I reprogrammed you to simply forget about it." The Overseer huffs with his arms crossed, turning his gaze away, "Fine, not like I wanted to know about it anyway..." Various individuals chuckle in response, but Megan suddenly closes her eyes in concentration, "Alright then. Lyra's friend in Ponyville is doing a pretty good job, but I think she could use some backup. I'm going to activate my surprises, hehe. Don't mind the sudden earthquakes we may be feeling in three... two... one..." On cue, the entire throne room begins to shake, albeit not too harshly as to pose them any danger. As some in attendance try to balance themselves, Discord's body suddenly vibrates. "Oh, dear me!" The Overseer said in utter shock. "I didn't even know we had those things!" A thought also occurs to Luna, something that bothered her even during their battle with Discord's possessed state. "Where in Tartarus art our guards?!" She turns her gaze to her sister, "This is why we hath told thee to discipline thy day shift guardsponies more thoroughly, sister!" On the outskirts of Ponyville, positioned just between the former town and Canterlot, large mechanical entities burst out of the ground and begin to trot towards Ponyville. In addition, those who were fleeing from the town and retreated towards Equestria's capital stopped dead in their tracks. Gazing upon these mechanical wonders whose forms are all too familiar, yet so very different all the same.