//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 - Equus Vs The Corruption. (Edited) // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -EQUUS, THE CRYSTAL EMPIRE- Celestia’s sun shines bright over The Crystal Empire, courtesy of Luna, enlightening every structure and kissing every pony with its warmth. A large crowd forms just outside the crystal castle as ponies await Princess Cadence and Princess Luna’s announcement. Soon enough, the aforementioned Princesses along with Shining Armor, Spike, and Tempest Shadow open the doors to the castle and stands proudly before the crowd which causes them to erupt into cheers. Cadence smiles to her subjects, along with the survivors of The Corruption, and raises a hoof to stop the crowd’s cheering before saying: “Good morning, everypony. It’s been an entire week ever since the monster named: Razeem, had entered our world; bringing with him death and destruction. Thanks to the actions of our beloved heroes from Ponyville, my dear sister in law and her friends, The Moon Lord was cast out of our realm. They might be gone but they are very much alive and we will do everything in our power to see to their safe return. We all lost something dear to us thanks to these recent events either it be family, loved ones, our homes, or... Princess Celestia,” Cadence hesitated to mention the former sun princess as it pained her to do so, many ponies in the crowd also took on saddened expressions as well. “Despite The Moon lord’s defeat, we now find ourselves facing the aftermath of his actions in the form of a terrifying infection called: The Corruption. This infection is powered by the sinful actions of those within our world. The monsters within this biome, the term we are now using in regards to infected areas, are a byproduct of this sin.” Cadence then turns to Shining Armor and Tempest Shadow, giving them both a nod as Shining armor speaks first: “We are happy to report that the infection has been contained for the time being. We have procured incredibly effective items that have effortlessly contained The Corruption,” Using his magic, Shining Armor materializes one of the sunflowers into being and floats it in front of the crowd via his magic. “This sunflower you see before you has the power to repel the infection. These currently surround the entire biome and keeps it sealed within. In addition, we have also obtained a pouch capable of producing an unlimited supply of a powder that purifies anything infected by The Corruption. As a result, we have appropriately named it: Purification Powder. We are currently producing many bags of this powder so that everypony here, and eventually all of Equus, will have the means to protect themselves should the worst case scenario happen.” Shining then turns to Tempest and nods to her. Tempest stands before the crowd and takes a deep breath. “Hello, everypony. Before I continue I’d like to say something,” Tempest looks back to Luna, Cadence, and Shining Armor all of whom gives her am affirming nod. “As many of you know, I was the former Storm King's second in command. I’ve done things that I regret with all my being... but, there’s something I’ve learned from my time in Equestria: Forgiveness. Thanks to Princess Twilight Sparkle, she taught me that everypony deserves a second chance and it is up to the individual to learn from his or her own actions. Forgiveness can not be earned with words alone, you must open up your eyes and do so through your actions. Which is why I stand before you now. As Shining Armor has said, we have contained The Corruption. We have also set up outposts in strategic areas around the biome however the monsters within The Corruption can not be contained by the sunflowers. They only halt the spread of the biome itself but not the monsters within. Myself, along with many guardsponies and allies, have successfully defeated every monster that has tried to escape but I’d be lying if I said we didn’t have any casualties. So far there are only two known species: The Eater Of Souls and The Devourer.” Suddenly, a pony in front of Tempest raises their right forelimb. This pony is revealed to be an earth pony mare named: Octavia Melody. Standing besides her was Vinyl Scratch along with other ponies from Ponyville who managed to escape The Corruption. Tempest looks at her with a confused look before she nods to the musician, this prompts Octavia to speak: “These monsters you mentioned, are they by chance the giant worm like creatures as well as those flying parasites?” Octavia’s words causes the ponies around her to shudder and release gasps as Tempest replies: “Yes, the worm like creatures are a Devourer. They can chew through iron with ease which makes them a problem even for ponies wearing armor. We’ve even witnessed a dragon get bitten clean in half by the powerful jaws of these worms. The Eater Of Souls, on the other hoof, are the flying parasites and trust me when I say it lives up to its name. We’ve had cases when a guardspony would be killed but then the parasite would... suck out their soul.” [GASP] The entire crowd gasps collectively at Tempest’s words. This causes multiple reactions from the crowd as well: “That’s barbaric!” “They truly are monsters!” “I’d like to show em’ a thing or two.” “Sombra was bad but these things are bad! Bad.” Tempest was about to continue, however, a certain trio appears before her: The Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Woah, you fight against those monsters? Awesome!” Scootaloo exclaims. “Ah' wonder, If we didn't have our current cutie marks, could we-” “Don’t you even think about it, Apple Bloom," Sweetie Belle interjects. "We are not doing that and we already have our marks.” Tempest couldn’t help but to chuckle at their antics before she then leans in and says: “Why yes, just bucked one of those Eater Of Souls the other day with my own two hind legs.” Upon saying those words, what happened next was something that Tempest wasn’t expecting: Cheering, but not just from the crusaders, it was also from the entire crowd before her. “My word, she’s so brave!” “Yeah! Go kick their flanks!” “That broken horn makes her look like a badass.” “Hey, she’s pretty easy on the eyes.” “Back off, buddy. I call dibs!” “I wonder If she’s interested in mares?” The broken unicorn was shocked upon hearing the crowd's reaction. It was as if they’d just forgotten about what Tempest had done, just a few weeks ago. Luna steps forward and stands beside Tempest with a smile. “Thou hath earned everypony’s forgiveness, we’d reckon. Now, thou must forgive thyself. Trust us... we know this all too well,” Luna says as she then turns to the crowd and raises a forehoof which causes them to slowly go silent. “Citizens of The Empire! Now that ye hath been informed on our current situation, we ask that thou please help spread the news to everypony and being ye can encounter. Now then, we would also like to announce our decision to hold a meeting with the leaders of every nation. We shall seek an alliance! Pegasi messengers have already been dispatched and we shall see if our actions shall born fruit.” As if on cue, the sounds of buzzing could be heard. Everyone present turns to the skies only to see quite the spectacle: The entire swarm of the reformed changelings, lead by Thorax. However, there was one who flew beside him that made Luna, Cadence, and Shining Armor’s eyes widened at first before they then narrowed their eyes in anger. The reformed changelings stayed hovered above the crowd as Thorax and his companion lands next to the alicorn Princesses. Thorax steps forward with a nervous expression and says: “Hey, everyone. I, uh, ehehe... brought someone with me.” Luna then steps forward and stares right into the eyes of their new guest as she says: “Chrysalis.” “Luna.” -TERRARIA, JUNGLE BIOME, ZECORA’S NEW HOME.- It’s a new day In The Jungle Biome as Zecora finishes the final and latest addition to her new home: A cauldron. Upon looking at her handy work, she lets out a content smile. “Now this is what I call a home, this hollowed tree makes for quite the abode. All of my supplies are tucked and away, now to brew potions for the rest of the day.” Zecora says as she starts mixing various components into the cauldron. Soon enough, a green substance forms in the cauldron. “This new potion will make one bright, allowing one to shine like a light, digging in the earth can get too dark for me, this potion shall be my remedy.” “Now that I’m set for today, I shall start searching for the blade, one that is green and has great mass, most of all is a blade of grass.” [KNOCK] [KNOCK] [KNOCK] “Oh? Who could that be? I thought many avoided this place like The Everfree,” Zecora says as she quickly puts on her copper armor and grabs a hoof full of shuriken's. “I shall don my armor and my blades just to be safe, who knows if it might be an unfriendly face,” The zebra then runs downstairs and opens the door. Her eyes widen and her mouth goes agape at the sight before her, more specifically, the being. Zecora recovers from her shock and says: “Hello stranger, Zecora would be me, who may I ask is standing before me?” “A talking zebra? Well that is quite a sight. Fret not for I am not here for a fight. I've come to warn you if you’d please, The Witchdoctor, that’d be me,” Zecora continues to stare on but not in fear, in amazement. “Please do not let my appearance dissuade you or run back into your home, I’d rather be your friend, not foe. lihzhard is my race in case you didn’t guess, as for my name, that would be: Gex.” (I do not own this image, it belongs to its respective user. This is purely for entertainment purposes.)