//------------------------------// // Chapter 27 - Battle In Ponyville Pt: 1 // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -EQUUS, OUTPOST 2- A large force comprised of many different beings don in armor of various types now stands at the ready to invade The Corruption Biome, specifically, the infected region of Ponyville. Ponies, Dragons, Minotaurs, Changelings, Hippogriffs, griffins, Yaks, and Zebras make up most of the rather large force. Standing before them was Shining Armor along with all the members of The Pillars, Tempest Shadow, Queen Chrysalis, Garble, and Stygian. Shining Armor looks onto the infected town of Ponyville in the distance as he then turns around to the large force and exclaims: “Ok everyone, here’s the situation!. We’ve recently received intel that the monsters in The Corruption have begun to evolve and grow in strength, size, and power. Most disturbingly, we also now know there appears to be a leader of sorts calling itself: The Hive Mind. We have two objectives today: Scout the biome for anything that could possibly help us against this infection and, should the opportunity arise, slay The Hivemind. All of your armor has been enchanted to prevent the effects of The Corruption and to stop any one from feeding it more... Sin. I trust each of you remembered to grab a pouch full of Purification Powder-”, Suddenly, Shining Armor’s attention was turned to one of the armored ponies in front of him who raises their right hoof. The unicorn prince nods his head which prompts the individual to speak who is revealed to be an armored Big Macintosh: “Yer’ Highness, ah know that the mission comes first, but, if you’d allow some of us to... Salvage what we can from some of our homes along the way?. Mah’ sister is gone... We a’int got nothin to honor her with, no piece of her left behind...” “The Grrreat And Powerful Trixie would agree with the large stallion next to her, Trixie would like to retrieve some items that belongs to my... [SIGH] to Trixie’s best friend, Starlight Glimmer. Also, Trixie would like to say that this armor is pretty annoying to wear...” Chrysalis’s right eye twitches at the mention of her name. The former Changeling ruler says internally with gritted teeth: -That sow...- Garble rolls his draconic eyes. Suddenly, one of the members of The Pillars walks forward and says: “I’m sure that many of you want to retrieve items that holds a memory of those who were lost that day against the monster known as Razeem and this corruption. I understand that Ponyville was the home to most of the element bearers not to mention some of you who joined this army. However, I respectfully ask that you all put those feelings aside for now. We can honor those who have fallen by succeeding here today.” Star Swirl The Bearded says as he then sighs lightly with a saddened expression and continues: “Tell you what, if we manage to be passing by some of your homes and provided we have some extra time you can grab something to remember your loved ones by however I strongly recommend you choose something that won’t hold you or the rest of this army back. My apologies if that sounds harsh but we are facing dire times.”, Upon hearing Starswhirl’s words some among the crowd nods their heads contently. As Star Swirl and Shining Armor continues to address the crowd/army a handful of nearby bystanders have a conversation of their own: “You ponies and your sentiments...”, chrysalis says under her breath with disgust. “Tch, I thought we were here to burn this stuff away? Not set up funerals for a bunch of ponies.”, Garble says with flames coming out of his mouth. “Both of you have better choose your next words carefully.” Garble and Chrysalis turn their heads to a pony who overheard their words and was now approaching them, Stygian. “I will not stand for such disrespect, why you two are even here is beyond me. Especially you, Chrysalis.” “Oh my, look who’s suddenly the hero type now. Isn’t that right? Pony Of Shadows.” “Do not call me by that name Chrysalis!, I am Stygian and you will refer to me as such.” “Both of you are starting to annoy me, why Dragon Lord Ember ever agreed to join this stupid coalition is beyond me.” - Garble. “That’s enough you three, the true enemy is The Corruption. If we don’t stop it here the whole world will become no different than what we see before us.”, Tempest Shadow interjects as she walks up to the trio. “Open up your eyes and see that this is bigger than any of us, ponies, dragons, changelings? It doesn’t matter... We’re all dead if we don’t stand together.”, Before Tempest or anyone else could continue they overhear Shining Armor shout: “Let’s move out!” -EQUUS, CORRUPTION BIOME, OUTSKIRTS OF SWEET APPLE ACRES- Some time passes by as the army nears their objective however they had to travel on a very particular path, one that anyone who were born in the now infected town would be all too familiar with: The road to Sweet Apple Acres. Of the entire army there was one pony who’s heart was likely shattered upon seeing the sad state of the once lively apple orchard: Bic Macintosh. The stallion couldn’t help but to stare on to the now barren wasteland, not a single apple tree remained as the corruption literally turned most of them into dust or vine like abominations. The small house that once sat on the hill including the large barn that was placed not far from it were, simply put, decayed. Not even the clubhouse of The Cutie Mark Crusaders was spared as the tree that had once held it aloft was reduced to dust and as a result the structure fell to the earth. The structures on the property looked as if millions of years have passed, the stallion stopped and as a result the rest of the army would walk around him. Some would look at him with confusion while others would have a sympathetic look and simply give Big Mac a sorrowful nod. There would be no retrieving of anything from this ruined place. The apple stallion couldn’t hold it back... A trail of tears begins to run down his face as the red stallion says: “Ma’... Pa’... I’m so sorry, ah’ wasn’t strong enough to stop any of this. Our home is gone now...” “It’s not your fault Bic Mac... None of us could have known things would get this bad.”, A mare’s voice says which causes the red stallion’s ear to perk up and he turns his attention to her saying: “Thank you Sugar Belle, ah’ know you’re just trying to help me but... Ah’ can’t help but feel like I could’ve done more.” “Big Mac, you got your family out of The Corruption and yes, you did lose your home, but you still have your family.”, Sugar Belle says as she then puts a hoof onto the stallion’s left shoulder. “They’re alive because of what you did, never forget that. Your sister would be proud of you... just as Granny Smith, Apple Bloom, and I am.”, The mare’s words causes Big Mac to have a smile form on his face as he lifts his head up high confidently and replies with his signature: “Eeyup.”, The two ponies laugh as Big Mac continues and says: “Thank ya Sugar Belle, yer’ a good friend. Come on, let’s get goin.”, He begins to walk in front of Sugar Belle a short distance away as she says with a saddened expression: “Yeah... [SIGH] a friend.”, She regains her composure after a few moments and catches up to the red stallion as the entire army continues to march towards Ponyville which was only a short distance away. -EQUUS, CORRUPTION BIOME, PONYVILLE- At long last the army has arrived into the once peaceful town of Ponyville, since there were some ponies who lived and were born from this place among the army many of them let out shocked gasps and took on saddened expressions. Many familiar structures were no different than Sweet Apple Acres as they too were decayed Sugar Cube Corner, The Carousel Boutique, The Ponyville Schoolhouse, The Spa, all of Ponyville was rotted away thanks to The Corruption. Suddenly, everyone’s eyes shot wide and some of their mouths’ goes agape as they see what was floating in the center of the town. Specifically, what was floating over a rotting Town Hall/Town Square: “Oh my goodness... It’s all ruined, everything...”, An armored mare says who, much like Big Mac, had quite the connection to the structure. She was none other then: Mayor Mare. “Listen up everyone!, we’re gonna spread out and search for anything that might help us. Make sure no one goes off alone, we will meet up back here in thirty minutes.”, Shining Armor declares as he then turns to Tempest Shadow, Chrysalis, The Pillars, Stygian, Garble, and Trixie. “We’re gonna stay here and deal with this orb, we saw what it’s used for thanks to Dr. Whoove’s video footage.” Many in the army begin to break up into various groups in an effort to cover the town more efficiently. “Finally, we get to burn something!” - Garble. “We’d like ta’ stay with you too, if we can destroy this thing then ah’m game!” - Big Mac. “Me too, where Big Mac goes... I go.”, Sugar Belle says as she fidgets in place. “As the former town Mayor I shall be staying here too.”, Mayor Mare says as she then pulls out her pouch filled with Purification Powder. “Time to see for myself how this works.”, The town mayor says as she grabs a hoof full of powder and throws it at the Town Hall. What happens next makes her eyes widen as she couldn’t believe what she was seeing, what was once a structure infected by the purple disease was now, put simply, normal. It was still wrecked of course thanks to the actions of the monsters who likely destroyed the building. The earth beneath the structure looked healthy once more and even the grass which was once a light purple color returned to the beautiful green that it once was. “Trrrixie is impressed, she’s never seen it work in pony but Trixie is glad to see it does.” “Indeed, now then let’s get down to-” [RRRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHRRRRRRRR] [RRRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHRRRRRRRR] [RRRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHRRRRRRRR] Suddenly, everyone jumps as the sense of fear travels up and down everyone’s spines. Multiple roars from many of The Corruption’s monsters erupts the very moment Mayor Mare purified Town Hall and the small area around it. Soon after, the distant screams of various members of the army goes off as some begin to cry out: “What is that thing?!” “By the gods, it bit him clean in half!” “Help me!, don’t let it tak- [BLEUGH]” “W-we can’t fight against this!” “Don’t be a coward!, fight!” “Never have I saw such beings of freight, brace yourselves and prepare to fight!” “Get ready everypony, looks like we got the attention of our local neighbors..”, Tempest shadow says as she, The Pillars, Stygian, Garble, Big Mac, Sugar Belle, Trixie, Mayor Mare, and Shining Armor take a combat stance as the monsters of The Corruption descends from the skies all around them.