After the battle with Skeletron and Steven’s unfortunate, condition, Lunaris couldn’t help but to feel conflicted as he sighs sadly and says:
“Did I make the right call?, Steven’s a good friend of mine and I know that he’d never abuse Skeletron’s powers but... I don’t know. Maybe I should go back and-”
“Doubting yourself are we?, you disappoint me my dear student. Did I not teach you, Sai, and Celestia to always stay true to your convictions?”, A mysterious, deep toned, male voice says as these words echoes throughout Lunaris’s mind which shocks him momentarily. Suddenly, a portal opens up as the source of the voice is revealed. A mysterious figure now stands before Lunaris as they exited the portal; donned in spectacular, yet unfamiliar armor.
Instantly, Lunaris recognizes the figure as he smiles behind his mask and says:
“Master Yharim, it’s great to see you again. These robes you’ve given me have been amazing assets as of late and the magic I’ve learned during your teachings have been astronomical. I’m able to help those in need and save soo many lives thanks to you, you have my eternal gratitude. Please master, call upon me should you have any need of my help, anything at all.”
“That’s good to hear Lunaris, you’ve made me very proud... My precious puppet.”
“... W-what?”
[AURGH]
Suddenly, Lunaris cries out in pain as Yharim lifts his right hand and aims it towards his former, ‘Student’. Lunaris grasps his head with both of his hands as he falls down onto his knees. With gritted teeth and a very painful expression he says:
“Wh... Why master?, what are you... Doing?”
“Why, I’m collecting my pay of course... Your eternal servitude. Didn’t you read the fine print?, oh what am I saying, of course you didn’t. That tends to happen when someone uses you... Sorry, but not sorry.”
“I... I thought you wanted me to... Save Terraria?, you... You believed in me!. You taught me everything, Sai and Celestia-”
“They are not important right now. Get with the program Lunaris, I used you, all of you. It’s kind of what I do...”, With his hand still reaching out and aimed towards Lunaris, Yharim tightens his grip with an invisible force which causes Lunaris to cry out in pain again. “The only thing I ever believed in... Is how great of a useful servant you will become. Isn’t that right?, my new leader of The Lunatic Cultist.”
“N-no!, I won’t... I won’t become... A maniac like them!”
“Now, now, puppet, don’t be that way. I even took the liberty of having them dress up like you, come on out everyone!”, Yharim exclaims as he snaps his fingers. On cue, many other portals opens up behind Yharim which causes Lunaris’s eyes to widen, even behind his mask. He was sick to his stomach as every member of this cult wore robes similar to his own, however, there were those among them that took on a slightly different appearance yet still similar to Lunaris’s clothing:
“See Lunaris?, you even get to have your own posse. Oh, let’s call them something else in your image. How about... The Lunar Cultist?, yes, let’s go with that.”
“What do you want from me?!, leave me be you traitorous fiend!”, Lunaris exclaims with tears going down his cheeks.
“[CHUCKLES] Calling me a traitor is implying that I ever saw you as an ally, which I never did, so that’s already null and void. The word you’re looking for is: Deceiver. As for what I want from you... That’s simple, I want you and your new cult to release Razeem, The Moon Lord.”
“You’re mad Yharim!, The Moon Lord must never escape!. Do you not realize the forces of which you are trying to meddle with?, Razeem will be a danger to you too!”
“You don’t seem to realize what I’m capable of, Lunaris. Granted, sure, The Moon Lord might be an obstacle... Which is exactly why I had Calamitas gaze into the future some time ago. Tell me Lunaris, do you believe in alternate realities?, other universes?”
“What does any of that have to do with the madness you’re spewing?, why release The Moon Lord at all?, and who the hell is Calamitas?”
“I just told you didn’t I?, she’s a... friend of mine who looked into the future and let me tell ya. [CHUCKLES] You wouldn’t believe what’s going to happen, more specifically, what’s going to put The Moon Lord down.”
“What?, who?, what do you mean?”
“Ponies, Lunaris, ponies will play a huge role in removing Razeem out of my way. In the process, the two worlds will become one and when that time comes... I shall rule over both. Why be a king of only Terraria?, if I could also rule over that other world too. I believe Calamitas called it: Equus.”
“No... You, you heartless tyrant!. Why?!, why do this in the first place?, who do you think you are to play with people’s lives like this?!”
“I do it because I can Lunaris, and, because this world deserves it.”, Yharim says as he then tightens his grip once more which as a result causes Lunaris to cry out in pain again. “Ruling over Equus is just a bonus, nothing personal to them. Now enough talk, say goodbye to your freedom: Puppet.”, Finally, Yharim clenches his hand into a closed fist and as a result Lunaris lets out one final, painful cry.
[RAAAAAAARRRRRRRGGGHHHHH]
In Lunaris’s mind, many memories of past events played out before him:
He remembered the times when he and his sister would play in a forest together as children.
He remembered the first time he and Terralestia met Sai Sahan, during one of their adventures together.
He remembered the first time he met Steven, The Clothier, resulting in the two becoming best friends.
He remembered when he and his sister had to return home due to their parents passing away, the grief from that day still heavy on his heart.
He even remembered his most regretful action in his life: Yharim taking him, Sai, and Terralestia on as his students.
All of these memories and more disappeared in an instant as they all faded to black, but before that happened, Lunaris could only say one word before the memories in his mind seemingly left him forever:
“Si... Ster.”
After the process was done, Lunaris’s unconscious form falls limp onto the ground. Yharim looks up towards the night sky, specifically the moon, as he says:
“Rest well, Cult Leader. We have much to do...”
-TWO DAYS LATER-
It’s early in the afternoon as Terralestia and Sai Sahan are returning back to the guild after the success of their recent mission. They trek their way through a fairly large town exploding with life and various activity all around them.
[LAUGHTER]
“Did you see how scared you made that bandit leader?, poor thing. Also, I beg you Celestia... Don’t ever kick me in the manbits. Thank you...”
“What?, he deserved it!. He kept bragging about how he’d, and I quote, ‘Dominate me like he would any wild animal’. So, this animal planted her armor platted right foot, into his manbits. As you called it.”
The duo continues to converse as they soon reach their destination: The Order Of The Guide. Sai opens the door but doesn’t enter as he moves aside, stretches an arm out, and says:
“Ladies first.”
“[GASP] Why thank you darling, you’re quite the gentleman. Pfffft! [LAUGHTER] I can’t say that with a straight face.”
“[CHUCKLE] The day you allow a man to woo you with chivalry is the day The Moon Lord announces his retirement.”
The two enters the guild only for a certain presence to immediately stun them momentarily. The being before them chuckles before saying:
“Now, now, my students. Is that any way to properly greet your teacher?”
“Master Yharim!”, Celestia and Sai exclaims in unison as they bow in respect towards their teacher.
“That’s not necessary but I appreciate the gesture you two.”, Yharim replies.
“Sorry master but, if I may, this is necessary to us.”
“Celestia is right, Master Yharim. Your teachings has aided us greatly in our adventures. Neither us, nor Lunaris, could’ve gotten this far without you.”
“Speaking of my brother, where is he?. I was expecting him to be waiting for us at the guild entrance with a sly smirk. The little troll...”
Due to Yharim wearing his helmet, the duo couldn’t see his expression. He takes on a saddened tone as he says:
“That’s why I’m here my dear students... Lunaris... Has been captured.”
“What?!, who dares to take my brother?!”, Terralestia question’s as she runs up to her teacher and grabs him by his armor platted chest region. “Master!, we have to go after him!”, The enraged sister exclaims as she turns around and starts to exit the building, spreading her wings as if ready to take off.
“Celestia!, wait!”
“I can’t Sai!, I have to go find my brother!. He’s all I have left!.”, Terralestia shouts as she turns back to Sai with tears going gown her cheeks.
“I want to find him too but we don’t even know where to look yet, let alone who took him. Now, listen to me Celly, you need to get a hold of your emotions. I’m sure Master Yharim has vital information for us to find Lunaris, but, we can’t do that if you blindly go rushing off with no direction. We’d lose both of you in the process!.”
“Sai is right, Celestia. Try to calm yourself... You were always an emotional wreck, I believe I told you to get that under control during our training sessions?.”, Yharim question’s as he approaches his students. Celestia still wore an angered expression on her face however she soon recovers and takes a deep breath before exhaling.
“I... I’m sorry, Master Yharim. To both of you...”
“We understand Celly, you’re concerned for your brother and we get that. However, let’s handle this with a cleared head that’s not clouded by emotions.”, Sai says which causes Terralestia to nod as she wipes her tears away with her right arm. Sai turns to their teacher and says: “Now then, Master, Is it safe to assume that you have some information for us. [CHUCKLE] Knowing you, you probably got wind of his whereabouts mere seconds after you found out he was missing.”
“[CHUCKLE] You give me too much credit Sai. I don’t know his exact whereabouts but I do know how we can find him. You see, the ones who’ve taken Lunaris is the same group I’ve been tracking as of late. They’re currently searching for powerful allies and given Lunaris’s gifts... I was a fool to think they wouldn’t target him.”
“W-who are they?”, Celestia question’s with a hopeful expression. Yharim pauses for a moment as he then walks forward, in the direction of town, and looks up to the sky saying:
“The Lunatic cultist. However, there’s a rumor going around that they’ve been going by another name. Now then, I see our ride coming in the distance.”
Suddenly, the flapping of large wings echoes throughout the city as a large being nears Yharim and his students. The aforementioned students eyes were shot wide open as they gaze upon the large entity now starting to land in front of their teacher which causes Terralestia and Sai to say:
“N-no way... That’s a...” - Terralestia.
“A Jungle Dragon...” - Sai Sahan.
The dragon causes the local landscape and the town buildings to shake, the very moment the large entity lands upon the stone paved streets in front of the guild. The dragon lowers its head upon which Yharim places a hand onto and says:
“Hello Yharon, It’s good to see you again.”