//------------------------------// // Chapter 37 - Battle In The Frozen Underground. // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -TERRARIA, UNDERGROUND SNOW BIOME- “Ah’ got’ta admit, I’m kind of intimidated being down here... Large ice caverns were never my thing.” “I have to agree Applejack... I, um, don’t like it down here.”, Fluttershy says as she looks around the underground frozen cavern cautiously. “I think it’s kind of fun, oh, maybe we’ll find snow hornets this time!”, Pinkie exclaims as she hops enthusiastically which causes everyone else to look at her with a deadpan expression. Ritsu shakes it off as she says: “Be careful everyone and keep an eye out for any Ice Bats or Spiked Ice Slime. There’s something else too, and I hope this doesn’t happen... But should we ever run into a wild Snow Flinx it’s best we simply just maneuver around it.” “Oh yes, Ritsu is right. Snow Flinx are neutral creatures unless you approach or bother them. As for the Ice Bats and Ice Slimes, I’ve read that they are very aggressive...” Fluttershy says factually however she shudders in fear when she mentions the Ice Bats and the Ice Slimes. “Wait ah’ second sugarcube, the bats I get but aren’t you or can’t you try to work somethin’ out with them Ice Slimes?” “Not all of them sadly, they’d have to approach us and introduce themselves. But, if they attack first then we have no choice but to defend ourselves. I’m sorry Applejack...”, Fluttershy replies. “Naw, don’t mention it sugar. If it comes to it we-” “Uh oh!, tail, mane, legs, twitching, the real danger is coming!” Upon hearing Pinkie’s warning the four allies stands back to back in a hallow square battle formation. Applejack materializes her Blade Of Grass while Pinkie Pie brings out her melee weapon, Bee Keeper. Ritsu surprised everyone as she conjures an unusual type of weapon: A leather whip. Fluttershy summons her Finch, Hornet, and Snow Flinx by using their appropriate staves. However, when she uses her Slime Staff to summon forward an ally she got quite the shock of her life as she summons: Princess Pinkie. ”Hello again Fluttershy!, I missed you so much dear goddess.” “Oh my, it’s Princess Pinkie!” - Fluttershy. “Well howdy partner, thanks fer’ showin’ up.” - Applejack. “Awesome!, when we get back we totally need to throw a welcome-back-to-Home-Town-Princess-Pinkie-who-has-the-same-name-as-me-which-makes-it-even-more-awesome-party!” - Pinkie Pie “Oh my goodness, I... It’s an honor to meet you, Slime Princess.” - Ritsu. “Wait a second... Does anypony else hear that?”, Pinkie Pie question’s as her ears flickers about trying to pinpoint the sound’s location. Unfortunately, before anyone could reply a small army of undead beings erupts from the icy floors of the cavern. Ritsu immediately recognizes these foes as she screams out: “Undead Vikings!” “Vikings?!”, Pinkie Pie and Applejack shouts in unison. “Un... dead?”, Fluttershy mutters as she quivers in fear. Princess Pinkie places a tendril onto Fluttershy and shouts: ”Heart of the lion!”, Instantly, Fluttershy’s body stops quaking and she soon finds herself feeling more... Confident. “T-thank you for that Princess Pinkie, I, um, forgot you can effect feelings.”, Fluttershy says as she narrows her features in determination, points a hoof towards the encroaching undead, and shouts: “Go my friends!, attack!”, On cue The Hornet, Snow Flinx, and Finch rushes into battle. Princess Pinkie decides to stay with Fluttershy in order to protect her. “Here’s a little buff for them too!”, Ritsu shouts as she whips all of Fluttershy’s summoned allies, including princess Pinkie, although they didn’t seem to be bothered by it. Regardless, this causes the pegasus to shout in anger: ”WHY DID YOU DO THAT?!” “Whoa, whoa, whoa, easy there Fluttershy. It doesn’t hurt them at all, their strength is increased against every enemy I whip however I have to apply the buff to your summons. Don’t worry my friend, I’d never harm any animals.”, Ritsu replies. ”Please forgive her goddess Fluttershy, it’s not meant as an attack but to empower us. We feel no pain from it whatsoever unlike what’ll happen to our current enemies.” “Oh... Really?, I’m sorry.”, Fluttershy says as she hides her face behind her mane. “Here they come y’all!”, Applejack exclaims as the undead Vikings rushes towards the group bearing rusted blades and armor along with gnashing teeth. “Time to test out this Bee Keeper, hiiiiiyah!”, Pinkie Pie exclaims as she slices one of the undead Viking’s head off, however, she gets quite the surprise when a swarm of bees is summoned thanks to the blade and rushes forward to attack the Vikings. “Ok, this. Is. Awesome! Hahahaha.” Disturbingly, Pinkie Pie laughs maniacally as she continues to dodge the attacks of the undead and counter attacks thus summoning more bees in the process. Her maniacal laughter is similar to when she fired a barrage of cupcakes at one of the Storm Monsters in Canterlot. [WHOOPACK] A Vikings head flies up into the air as Ritsu’s leather whip cleaves it right off. “Ooooh, you’re just like Indiana Jones!”, Pinkie Pie comments as she dodges another attack and retaliates with her Bee Keeper. “Indiana who?”, Ritsu replies. “Now’s not the time fer’ your randomness Pinkie!”, Applejack exclaims as she cuts down more of the undead with The Blade Of Grass. Fluttershy’s summoned allies continues to fight back the undead hoard as she herself takes aim with her newly acquired bow: The Bees Knees. Upon firing an arrow she is immediately surprised to see it transform into a swarm of bees as she comments: “Oh my, are all of the loot we earned from Queen Beezma, well, bee related?” ”Allow me to answer that Fluttershy.”, Princess Pinkie says as she eats an undead Viking’s arm off as it tried to reach out and grab Fluttershy, the shy pegasus in turn sees this and fires a swarm of bees at it point blank in retaliation. Princess Pinkie lands on her summoner’s back and continues: ”As I’m sure you know, when you defeat a powerful monster in Terraria you are rewarded with powerful loot in the process. However, this loot often takes inspiration from the Boss/Mini-Boss you’ve slain- watch out goddess!”, Heeding her words, Fluttershy leaps up into the air and just barely manages to avoid an undead Viking who emerged from the icy floor behind her. Fortunately, Applejack was nearby and took care of the Viking, the pegasus had just dodged. Ritsu and Pinkie Pie could be seen nearby fighting off the undead along with Fluttershy’s summoned allies. “That was a close one, thank you Princess Pinkie.” ”No problem Fluttershy, now as I was saying befor- fire your arrow at three o’clock!” [FWEWM] [BZZZ] [BZZZ] [BZZZ] Once again, Fluttershy heeds her slime ally’s warning and fires her Bees Knees at yet another foe. This causes Fluttershy to say: “Maybe we can talk about this after we beat these things Pinkie.” “You called Fluttershy?”, Pinkie Pie asks. “Oh not you Pinkie, slime Pinkie.”, Fluttershy replies. “Oh, ok!”, Pinkie says as she zooms off and joins Ritsu in fighting off a group of undead Vikings. ”Maybe you should just keep calling me Princess Pinkie, just so things don’t get confusing.”, Fluttershy nods as she continues to fly in the air and shoots her arrows-turned-bee-swarm projectiles. After a well fought battle, with only minor injuries which were easily healed up from a Health Potion and mostly absorbed from their armor, the ponies and kitsune successfully defeats the Undead Vikings as they take a minute to catch their breaths. “Ah’ be darned... They weren’t very strong but they were overwhelming.”, Applejack says as she opens and closes her mouth in exhaustion. “That’s... The undead for you... Not exactly strong but in a hoard they can be annoying.”, Ritsu replies. “I’m just glad everypony is ok.”, Fluttershy says as she then turns to her summoned allies. “Thank you all soo very much for helping me and my friends, you too Princess Pinkie. Are you going to return to your father now?” ”If it’s ok with you goddess, I’d like to accompany you for the rest of your journey. If what my subjects say is true, I believe you and your friends are looking for The Ice Mirror, correct?” “Woah wait a second, how’d ya’ know we were tryin’ to find that mirror.”, Applejack asks in amazement as she, Ritsu, and Pinkie Pie joins the conversation. ”Oh, well, my father and I wish to protect our dear friend Fluttershy and all of you of course by extension. So, we have slime units stationed near Fluttershy at all times to keep a watchful eye on her.” “I’ve been meaning to ask you about something Princess Pinkie, I still absolutely love the fact that we have the same name by the way, hehehe. BUT!, why does Fluttershy only summon one slime at a time even though we saw her summon a whole army in The Underground Jungle?”, Pinkie Pie asks which causes Applejack, Ritsu, and Fluttershy’s ears to perk up. In Ritsu’s case it’s fox ears. “I’m curious about that too, is there a sort of cooldown or something?”, Ritsu asks. “Ooh, ooh, you mean like an MMO?”, Pinkie Pie asks which causes everyone to momentarily look at her in confusion. ”I don’t know what an MMO is Pinkie Pie, however, there is a reason for it and it’s actually quite simple. You see, if The Slime Staff detects that Fluttershy’s life is in danger it will do everything in its power to protect her as it takes over her very being, which is completely safe for her of course. It uses two things in order to summon both powerful and numerous slimes to her aid. The first cost is of course: Magic.” “Ah’ ok, no surprise there really, so that explains why Fluttershy passed out after that whole army appeared when she saved us from the hornets.”, Applejack says. “Oh my, so that also explains why I can’t remember doing that. But, then, if it responds to me being in danger why didn’t it happen during our other battles like with Queen Beezma?”, Fluttershy questions. ”You misunderstand Fluttershy, when I say that The Slime Staff detects if your life is in danger I mean that literally. As in, when you’re threatened with certain death.” [GASP] A collective surge of gasps echoes throughout the area as everyone is shocked by that revelation. “So... You’re saying that The Slime Staff will attempt to save her life should it deem that death is certain?”, Ritsu asks. ”yes, that is correct. It likely activated against that large swarm of hornets because it sensed that Fluttershy would’ve died in that confrontation.”, Princess Pinkie replies. Suddenly, a pink blur zooms right into Fluttershy as Pinkie Pie hugs her with tears going down her cheeks as she says: “Oh Fluttershy [SNIFF] that means you saved us all.” “What?, b-but, I don’t entirely understand...” - Fluttershy. “Ah’ think I do sugarcube and Pinkie Pie is right. If what the Princess says is true then that means The Slime Staff also took into account all of us being there and if it still saw fit to give you that army it means...” - Applejack. “We would’ve died too...” Ritsu says as she finishes Applejack’s words and her eyes widen in realization. “... Yes, that is true. Despite your friends presence, the staff still deemed that you all would’ve met your ends had it not empowered the goddess in that very moment.”, Princess Pinkie replies as she hops onto Fluttershy’s back and continues: “As for what Ritsu mentioned, in regards to a cooldown, there is one of sorts. Fluttershy, the staff can only save your life once every three days. Please, I beg of you goddess, try to be safe in the rest of your journey throughout Terraria.” “I promise, I will Princess Pinkie... Thank you soo very much for looking after me. You and your father...”, Fluttershy replies with tears coming down her eyes. Pinkie Pie finally releases Fluttershy from her hug as she looks to Princess Pinkie and asks: “So, what’s the second thing it costs for Fluttershy to summon you all?. You know, when you come to save her life.” ”Aw yes, the second isn’t entirely just a cost but also a measurement. A measurement... Of one’s Kindness.” “...”, All of the ponies mouth’s drops which causes Ritsu and Princess Pinkie to look on with confusion, despite the fact that Princess Pinkie lacked facial features. “Is there something wrong?”, Ritsu asks. “No... Waaaaaaaaay!”, Pinkie Pie exclaims excitingly as she recovers from her shocked state. “Well ah’ be darned, no wonder you were able to pull that off Fluttershy. You’ve got soo much kindness, you’d probably summon every slime on the planet.”, Applejack says with a beaming smile. “Indeed, I sensed goddess Fluttershy’s kindness the very same day we met.”, Princess Pinkie replies. “Oh my, that makes a lot of sense now. It must also be because of my element.”, Fluttershy says with realization. “Wait, element?” Ritsu question’s. “Ah’ that’s right, I don’t think we’ve ever come around to telling y’all about our elements but sugarcube here is...”, Applejack pauses as she then turns to Pinkie Pie. The two nods understandably as they each make their way to either side of the shy pegasus. The cowmare and party pony lifts a front hoof into the air and exclaims in unison: “The Element Of Kindness!”