//------------------------------// // Chapter 43 - Battle For Ponyville Pt:3 // Story: Ark: Friendship is Survival // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -EARTH- -Realm of The One Who Waits- Both Helena and Zero float in silence within this fantastical realm. Transparent hexagons and several other shapes float like flower petals in the wind, and streamlines of energy rip across the sky in multiple colors. Truly, it is a realm that a goddess must’ve made with the mind of a scientist. From the outside world’s perspective, one would see a dome with stitched together hexagons and waves of energy traveling in several directions, similar to the domes that encase most Arks. But the most notable difference is the size, although the implications are that it can change by the will of its creator. In addition, the smaller dome offered no opportunity to look within its confines, unlike the clear transparency of the Arks. ………. Finally, after several moments, Helena breaks the silence. “The Arks demand balance, Zero," She starts, her back turned towards the AI. "As I’m sure you know from my countless lectures and teachings.”      Zero nods. “Despite being imitations, it’s as if they are truly extensions of nature itself. That’s just how incredible they are at doing their - for lack of a better word - job. And just as nature would provide ways to balance itself, so too shall the Arks.” Helena turns around with a smile, “Exactly. Therefore, by me removing humans from both The Island and Scorch Earth’s database, those installations required a replacement. Something else could fill the niche left behind, just like the denizens of Equus have proven.” “Of course!” Zero exclaims with an exclamation mark present on their visor. “Since humans no longer exist on Scorched Earth and The Island, the Overseers of both installations turned to the Raptors and Gigantopithecuses.” “Very well assessed, Zero. In essence, the technological and biological boundary has all but been erased.” Helena hesitates and clicks her tongue, “Although…” “Something worrying you, love?” The homo-deus looks upward and into the skies of the realm. “Due to everything that’s happening on Equus, my attention has been devoted to monitoring Aberration and keeping a close eye on Edmund. However, I fear what might be in store for Twilight and the others. I currently have no idea how much things have changed on those official installations.” “About that, Helena… I’ve just realized something.” Helena looks to the AI, “Do tell.” “Well, I’ve seen how powerful Twilight’s Element-based prowess can be, or magic, as they call it. And the rest of her friends aren’t too shabby either with their own abilities. Then there’s Spike, a dragon - something that The Island has never had roaming around before. I mean, sure, there’s the Dragon within the Red Obelisk, but it’s not wandering around as Spike does. It’s confined to its arena.”    “Balance,” Helena responds simply after absorbing the AI’s words.  “W-what?” Zero inquires confusedly. “I understand what you’re getting at, and now… we wait.” “Wait?” “Yes, Zero. We can only wait to see how the Ark’s Overseer will deal with those survivors. And what challenges it will provide for them. However, in hindsight, this is also a good thing.” A content smile adorns Helena’s face. “Because it will help to fulfill the Ark’s primary objective, even more so than restoring Earth and purifying the infection.”  Helena turns sideways and extends her right hand towards a distant portion of the realm. Suddenly, a holographic representation of an entity with absolute girth practically fills that entire section of the domain: a monstrous kaiju that stood approximately 156.8 meters tall and 266.1 meters long. Black scales adorned its body as streams of glowing lavender were present on its undersections. The HLN-A unit looked at the mountainous entity with determination. And Helena clenches her fists before stating: “To destroy the greatest threat in mankind’s- no,” Helena shakes her head, “In Earth’s history: the King Titan.”  After the duo stares upon the King’s form for a few more moments, Helena performs a simple hand gesture that causes the entire realm to break apart by separating hexagons that reveal the outside world.   The duo has now returned to the former room where Helena had first reunited with the AI. The sounds of computers and various technologies gracing their senses. Then, the homo-deus turns towards the room’s epicenter and chuckles as she gazes at the two large pods present there. “Speaking of balance, it’s time to tip the scales to a more ‘appropriate’ state on Equus.”  Zero’s eyes widen as they notice which pod Helena’s gaze is mainly fixated on, and a caution symbol appears on their visor. “A-are you going to do what I think you’re going to do?” Helena laughs in response before teleporting out of existence and reappearing in front of the pod located to the right. She places her right hand onto the capsule and gently brushes it upward, soon finding her appendage resting over an engraved nameplate: ‘Diana Altaras.’ “Diana,” Helena starts. “You’re going to be my plan B. You know, just in case we need to calm Mei down.”  A small window is present just above the nameplate, and the unconscious face of a beautiful caucasian woman with orange hair can be seen within. Helena then floats towards the second pod, but she notices Zero hiding behind metal railings in the corner of her left eye. “Seriously?” She inquires with a small chuckle. “Oh, come now; Mei isn’t that bad.” “She bloody soloed multiple waves of infected lifeforms while you were in the process of turning into a homo-deus. AND she was one of, if not the reason why the King Titan retreated when you all first fought it with Santiago and the others. Remember that giant X-shaped scar on its chest? Yeah,” The AI responds, peeking over the railing. “She’s not bad -  she’s SCARY!” “Oh, stop it, you. And, to be fair, she also had help from her army of tamed creatures. Not to mention Diana.” “Creatures who were under her command and- ok, look, you go ahead and wake her up, mate. I’ll simply observe the reunion from this safe distance, thank you very much.” Helena rolls her eyes before continuing her float towards the pod of Mei-Yin Li. Like Diana’s, Mei’s pod also possessed a window that allowed Helena to see the sleeping Chinese beauty. The homo-deus drapes her right hand along the edges of the small window before saying: “It’s time to wake up, Beast Queen.” Helena’s hand lets loose light-blue energy, which causes the Tek Sleeping Pod to react. Steam flows out from either side of the containment unit as a [SKWOOSH] sound is let loose all the while. Then, the top portion of the pod slowly lifts upward as more steam escapes from the now opened capsule.  The resulting fog clears up, and Mei’s body still lays dormant upon the advanced bedding—wearing a black tank-top with orange soft fabric pants. Her chest rises and lowers, indicating her steady breaths, as her toes pointed upward with no coverings of their own.     Helena momentarily observes her long-time friend’s peaceful state while Zero peeks out from her ‘protection.’  “Doing great, Helena!” The AI shouts before ducking behind the railing. “Thank you for the help, Zero,” Helena responds with a deadpan expression. “Really appreciate your- OOMPH!” Suddenly, Helena is tackled to the floor by Mei-Yin Li, who lets loose a battle cry. The homo-deus falls onto her back with closed eyes, and as she opens them, she’s greeted by the mounted form of the Beast Queen, whose gaze looks down upon her. However, there was something very particular about the black-haired woman’s eyes, a sort of anxiety to them. But that became overshadowed by Mei’s rising fist, which clocks backward with her right arm. “Wait! Mei! It’s me!” Mei’s fist is in the process of reaching Helena’s face, the homo-deus shielding their features with their arms, “Helena! Helena Walker!” Mei’s fist stops instantly, although it causes Helena to close her eyes in response.  “H… Helena…” Mei comments, her eyes still possessing anxiety. “H-Helena… W-Walker…” “Yes! Yes! You know, your friend? The woman you don’t want to punch… again.” Helena peeks open her left eye as Mei’s anxiety seems to be disappearing, albeit at a very slow pace. But a thought comes to the downed homo-deus as she lowers her arms and looks upward with determination. “Diana Alteras.” And that does it. Those words instantly bring Mei Yin back to the real world; her former state washed away in that very instant. The Beast Queen’s eyes blink, and her closed fist slowly falls to her side.  Mei dismounts Helena and stands to her full stature in one swift motion, offering the downed homo-deus a helping hand. Helena takes the gesture with a smile as Mei pulls her up while saying: “Innumerable apologies, Helena. I… w-well-” “It’s ok, Mei,” Helena interjects before darting forward and hugging her long-time friend. “You don’t even have to explain yourself to me. I know everything you’ve been through; it’s only natural that you’d ‘sleep with one eye open,’ in a sense,” She tightens her hug while Mei is momentarily shocked.  “I’ve missed you guys so much, Mei.” Finally, the Chinese woman chuckles in response before wrapping her arms around Helena. “It’s good to see you too, my friend.” The two women enjoy each other's embrace for a few more moments before gently breaking away from one another. Then, Mei Yin sideglances in the direction of a particular AI unit. “Helena… tell your creation that I don’t like being spied on.” “EEP!” Zero roars out in fear. Their mechanical form slowly rises above the railings, lights green with a puppy face emoji present on their visor, before laughing sheepishly and performing a waving gesture with the AI’s right flap.  “H-hi there! Y-you’re awake! What a surprise! Ehehe…” Mei stares at the AI for a moment before turning back to Helena. “Yeah. You definitely built them.”  Helena giggles, “Well, as a certain red stallion would say: ‘Eeeyup!’” Mei raises an eyebrow, “Red stallion?” Helena places her right hand on Mei’s shoulder, “Ohoho. Trust me, Mei. I have a lot to tell you.”  Thus, Helena proceeds to inform Mei Yin about everything that's transpired. From the moment she discovered Equus to the battle with the Corrupted Master Controller.