//------------------------------// // Chapter 42 - Deception Pt: 5 // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// It was nearly nightfall as Yharim, Sai Sahan, and Terralestia, while riding on the back of Yharon, makes their way towards a location indicated by Yharim’s knowledge. Terralestia couldn’t help but to enjoy herself. Despite having wings of her own, she couldn’t deny how much she enjoyed riding on the back of a Jungle Dragon. A species who were thought to have been extinct. “We’re almost there you two, be ready.” “How can you be sure, Master Yharim?.”, Terralestia question’s. “The robes and mask that I’ve gifted to him has an enchantment placed on them by me. Wherever he goes, I can follow.” “That’s brilliant master!”, Sai Sahan exclaims. “There Yharon!, set us down on that clearing.”, Yharim says as he points a finger towards the location. Sai and Terralestia couldn’t help but to be amazed by how well trained this dragon is. In fact, they were fairly certain this dragon was quite... Sentient. The earth begins to shake momentarily as the large dragon lands upon the open, grassy, plane. Yharim, Terralestia, and Sai Sahan dismounts the jungle dragon which prompts Yharim to say: “Be at the ready my friend, you know what to do should a conflict arise.”, Heeding Yharim’s words, the dragon takes off once again with a flap of its mighty wings. Terralestia and Sai Sahan watches with their mouth’s hung agape. Their teacher sees this and says: “I assume you have a lot of questions about-” “Yeah we do!”, Terralestia and Sai shouts in unison which cuts off Yharim’s words. [CHUCKLE] “We don’t have the time for that now, but, I don’t mind filling you in after we save Lunaris. Come my students, we must make haste.”, Yharim says as he starts to walk towards a nearby forest positioned at the end of the large clearing. Terralestia and Sai were still momentarily dazed from the experience but they finally do manage to recollect themselves as they shrug their shoulders and follows their teacher. The trio continues to trek their way through the forest until they notice the faintest hint of a light source in the distance which was being suppressed by the dense forestation. Yharim lifts a hand into the air and says with a whispered tone: “There, up ahead... That must be their encampment.” “Good, I can’t wait to make them pay for taking my brother.”, Terralestia says as she grits her teeth in anger. “Remember Celestia, keep your feelings in check. Subterfuge is our greatest ally for now and I don’t want you to blow it by running in there blindly.” “[SIGH] I know Sai... I just want to get him back right away. I won’t let these insane cultists do whatever they have planned to my brother, never...” “Your brother shall soon be returned to us my student, this I promise you as your teacher.” “Thank you... Master Yharim.” The trio continues to approach the encampment stealthily as they soon draw near. They quickly deduce that the Cultists had set up their camp upon the remains of a shattered ruin. However, Terralestia and Sai’s eyes were shot wide in horror as they witness the spectacle before them. Due to Yharim’s helmet, no one could tell what his expression was upon seeing this. “What are these madmen doing?, that looks like... A ritual?” “I don’t know Sai but I don’t like this, it feels... Wrong. How shall we approach this, Master Yharim?. I... I want to save my brother but that ritual just screams danger to me.”, Terralestia question’s. “I’d love to save your brother too... But I feel the same way as you do. We must stop this ritual at all cost, I must gather my strength in order to cast a powerful spell to counteract that ritual. You two must buy me some time, I’m sorry for doing this my students but I must-” “No Master Yharim, do not be sorry.” “Sai is right, we understand that powerful forces are at play here. Take all the time you need, we’ve got this.”, Terralestia says with pride. “After all, we were trained by you.”, Terralestia’s words causes Sai to nod in agreement as the two make their way towards the cultists. Yharim watches on as his two disciples make their way towards the encampment and says: “Oh my dear students, it’s time I taught you another lesson...” -TERRARIA, MOON- The cold and barren wasteland of The Moon was quite a foreboding sight. From afar, the celestial object has such beauty to it and yet if one were to look up close, to actually be on The Moon itself, looks can be quite deceiving. Normally, the celestial object would be devoid of all life or at least a form of life. And yet, deep within this white wasteland two beings are currently having a conversation with each other. One bound in powerful bindings while the other watches the former in a fashion similar to that of a guard watching over a prisoner. ”YOU THINK THIS WILL HOLD ME FOREVER CELEBES?, YOU ONLY DELAY THE INEVITABLE. [CHUCKLE] YOU’LL FIND THAT I CAN BE QUITE... PATIENT.” “You’re also quite annoying, Razeem. Even so, as long as I am here to tend to your prison you won’t be going anywhere. So just shove it, would you?” [PSHSHSHS] Suddenly, a gust of wind combined with flickering energy starts to form nearby. This instantly gets Celebes’s attention along with, surprisingly, that of The Moon Lord’s. After a few moments, a female voice begins to echo across the lunar landscape as the mysterious being says: “Aw, you must be The Dryad from my lord’s book. Celebes, I presume?.” “Who are you?!, why are you here?!”, Celebes replies angrily as she materializes her sacred weapon: The Terra Blade. The mysterious voice seems to ignore Celebes’s inquiry as it says: “Oh and of course, my main interest. Hello there, Moon Lord.” ”WHO ARE YOU?, WENCH.” “Oh my, you really are as cocky and rude as the rumors say my dear Moon Lord. I’ll tell you this though, to both of you... [CHUCKLE] You underestimate my power. Regardless, is that anyway to talk towards the one who’s going to help free you?, hmm?.” “What?!... No!, I’ve heard enough!, show yourself you wretched fool!. The Moon Lord must never be freed, you know not the horror you will unleash so why-” “Ugh, you’re so annoying little Dryad. Fine, I’m a big girl so I suppose I can give in to your little tantrum.” On cue, red energy begins to materialize itself as it slowly starts to form into a physical being. (Image belong to its respective owner.) “Are you happy now, child?”, The new female being question’s. “W-what are you?!” “Really?, there’s a tentacled eldritch horror not even ten feet behind you and I’m what throws you off?. If I didn’t know any better... I’d say you’re calling me even uglier than, that thing.”, The female entity says as she points towards The Moon Lord. “WATCH YOUR TONGUE WORM, LESS I RIP IT OUT OF YOUR MOUTH.”, Razeem retorts as the entity growls which causes the entire moon to shake. “Stop dodging the question!”, Celebes exclaims as she points the Terra Blade towards the female entity. “Who and what are you?!” “[SIGH] Alright, fine, fine you little brat.”, These words causes Celebes to grit her teeth in anger as she says: “Stop treating me like a child and answer my questions!” “[AHEM] What I am is a witch, a Brimstone Witch, one that you do not want to fuck with missy. As for who I am, you may call me: Calamitas.” -TERRARIA, CULTIST ENCAMPMENT- Sai and Terralestia were currently dodging the attacks of the various cultists. However, something seemed to bother the female terrarian as she says: “Why do they look so familiar?, I’ve seen their clothing somewhere before...” “Celestia, look out!.”, Sai Sahan shouts upon which Terralestia heeds his warning and manages to dodge a frost attack from one of the cultist. She retaliates by firing a bolt of lightning similar to that of Lunaris’s lightning bolt attack. “Thank you for that Sai... I’m sorry but something is bothering me.”, Terralestia says as she pants from exhaustion. “Here, drink this.”, Sai replies as he tosses her a Restoration Potion. Terralestia catches the potion and quickly downs the restorative beverage which instantly revitalizes her body. All the while, the two allies continues to dodge the cultists various attacks. “Thank you again, but, why do they look so... Familiar?”, Celestia question’s. “Wait a second... Celly, aren’t they wearing robes similar to- GAUGH!”, Sai cries out as he’s suddenly attacked by a jolt of electricity which causes him to fall to the ground paralyzed. “Sai!, hang on I’m- RAUGH!”, The exact same attack makes impact on Terralestia as well. It came so fast and out of nowhere that neither she nor Sai could make out their assailant. They both expected the cultist to take advantage of this moment and to finish them off... They just stood there, unchanging. Suddenly, a portal appears as a certain individual exits the anomaly. The two terrarians look on in horror as they realize who this individual is, which prompts them to say in unison: “B-brother?” “Lunaris?” “No... I have no recollection of this ‘Lunaris’, you speak of. I am Siranul, leader of The Lunar Cult. I must say, you two are quite unusual... Most would die from those spells I shot you with- GRAUGH!”, Siranul cries out as he holds his head in pain with both of his hands placed onto his forehead. “No!, I... I won’t be used... For t-this!.”, Terralestia and Sai witness the inner struggle taking place before them as they say: “Lunaris?!, fight it dear brother!.” “Come back to us my friend!, you’re stronger than this!” “I... I...” “...” “I already told you, I am not Lunaris.”, Siranul replies as he aims his hand towards the two terrarians and, with an electrical surge, begins to charge up his next attack. “It seems I was holding back the last time...”, The energy gathered around Siranul’s hands begins to grow exponentially to the point that electricity flickers about his radius, leaving small scorch marks in their wake. “I won’t hold back this time.” “Hold it right there.” Another voice joins the fray upon which all who were present on either side turns to its source. The voice is revealed to come from Yharim as he exits the forestation and makes his way towards the battlefield. “Master Yharim!, quickly, something is wrong with my brother. He’s under some-” “He’s under someone’s control, yes, I already know.” “I knew you wouldn’t let us down Master. Once you free him we can-” “You misunderstand the situation, Sai.”, Yharim replies which causes Terralestia and Sai Sahan to look on in confusion. “Lunaris is indeed under someone’s control... My control.” -TERRARIA, MOON- “You know, I’m curious... How can you even breath up here?. Seriously, do tell.” “Enough of your childish games, witch!. Is dodging my attacks all you’re good for?!”, Celebes exclaims as she rushes forward with her blade and takes a swing towards Calamitas who dodges the strike with little effort. The witch smirks as she replies: “Oh?, alright then. How about I let you hit me, ok?. Hit me as hard as you can.” “...What?” “[SIGH] Do you Dryads have hearing problems?, I’ll say it one last time kiddo. You, me, hard as you can... Are we clear?” “Crystal!”, Celebes exclaims as she rushes forward and attempts to swing The Terra Blade at her foe with all her might. [SHLINK] [CRASH] The Dryad’s blade makes contact with her foe which results in the nearby lunar landscape being ruptured in the process. However, Celebes’s eyes were shot wide open as she could feel a strong force pushing against the blade. To her utter horror, The Terra Blade did manage to land a blow onto Calamitas but it simply did... Nothing. The edge of the blade begins to shake as Celebes tries to put more strength into her blow, hoping to cleave right though her foe. What was most disturbing of all was where Celebes had struck the witch, her neck region. “H-how can this be?... Your... Your head sh-should be cleaved right off your shoulders...”, The dryad says as she shakes with utter fear as The Terra Blade struggles against Calamitas’s neck. It was as if someone attempted to cut a steel wall with a plastic butter knife. The witch smirks as she pinches The Terra Blade and lifts it up into the air, along with The Dyrad whos grip still remained firm on the blade. “Was that all you could muster, little one?. I expected more from the legendary Terra Blade... Then again, It is me you’re trying to attack. Cute effort by the way.”, Calamitas says disappointedly. Celebes, while being held up in the air via Calamitas’s grip on The Terra Blade, was now staring at her foe with utter shock and fear. The Dryad thought to herself internally: -What can I do against her?... I put all of my strength into that attack. This isn’t good, she’s going to release Razeem and there’s not a damn thing I-- “You’re right sweetie, there’s not a damn thing you can do about it. Oh and for the record, I’ve already weakened The Moon Lord’s prison and before you ask, yes, I can read your mind. It seems The Lunar Cultists managed to get the ritual running smoothly.” “What?!, b-but why?!”, Celebes question’s with tears beginning to stream down her face. “Please... I beg you, my people died in order to stop Cthulhu... To stop Razeem... Please, don’t let my family’s sacrifice be in vain... Please... I lost everything because of these monsters!”, The Dryad pleads as her tears continues to flow like a river. Calamitas looks upon the weeping Dryad but not with a condescending expression or arrogant triumph, not even an antagonistic glare. She looked upon the last Dryad with pity, with true sympathy, as she says: “I’m going to be sincere with you Dryad... You have my sympathy, you truly do. I say this because you remind me of myself... And that is why...”, Upon saying those words, Calamitas pulls Celebes into her grasp with an invisible force. Before anything else happens, the witch pulls the dryad closer and whispers into her ear: “You’ve got seven years Dryad, make it count.” [FWOOM] [CRASH] After saying those words, Calamitas tosses Celebes off into the lunar distance thus causing the dryad to crash into a nearby mountain, said mountain begins to crumble onto itself. “Now that that’s settled...”, Calamitas says as she turns around and faces The Moon Lord. “You and I’ve got to talk; I suggest you listen. This may very well be the best damn thing you’ve ever heard.” In the distance, Celebes erupts from the rubble of the collapsed mountain as she shakes her head in an attempt to regain her composure. The Dryad looks towards Calamitas who, much to Celebes’s horror, was speaking to The Moon Lord. “No!, I won’t allow this!.”, Celebes exclaims as she rematerializes The Terra Blade and launches herself forward shouting: “I don’t care how strong she is, I can not allow this!” [FWOOM] “And that’s how you’ll-” ”STOP!” , Calamitas was cut off from her conversation upon hearing the rapidly approaching exclamation of Celebes. The witch turns to look directly at the enraged Dryad as she lifts her right hand and prepares to snap her fingers. Celebes was mere inches away from Calamitas and was about to strike once more, that is until a sudden: [SNAP] With a snap of her finger, Calamitas was gone. Celebes stops dead in her tracks and surveys the landscape, hoping to see the witch reappear once more. Her search stops as she comes to a conclusion and says: “She’s gone... Who the hell was she?. Why was she so strong?, and what did she mean by ‘You’ve got seven years’?. Why would-”, Suddenly, Celebes’s eyes were shot wide open in realization. ”[CHUCKLE] DID YOU FIGURE IT OUT, CELEBES?. IT WOULD SEEM THERE ARE THOSE WHO WANT MY RETURN. SOON, MY HANDS WILL BE AROUND YOUR NECK.” “What did she say to you?!, answer me!” ”HAHAHAHAHA...”, The continuous laughing of The Moon Lord echoes throughout the lunar landscape as a mocking response towards the Dryad’s question, causing said Dryad to grit her teeth in anger. The laughter stops after a few moments as the large eldritch being holds up both of its hands. On one hand, all five of its fingers were raised while on the other, only two fingers were raised. ”SEVEN YEARS... MY DEAR DRYAD. I’LL SEE YOU IN SEVEN YEARS.” -TERRARIA, CULTIST ENCAMPMENT- Both Sai Sahan and Terralestia were currently rendered unconscious. Yharim looks down upon his ‘Students’, and keeps his gaze fixed on them for a short while, until, one of the cultist begins to walk towards the two terrarians with a drawn blade and says: “Allow me to finish them my lord, I’ll slit their-” [SKROOM] Instantly, the cultists body was reduced to ashes as Yharim swiftly points a finger at them, blasting the individual mere seconds after. “No, you will not. These two play a vital role in my plans... Idiot.”, Yharim then turns his gaze towards the skies and whistles loudly. [Enter your favorite dragon roar here] In mere moments Yharon, adhering to his master’s call, descends from the night clouds and causes the landscape to shake as the large dragon lands before its master. The dragon lowers its head upon which Yharim puts a hand onto it saying: “[SIGH] You’re the only one I can ever truly rely on, buddy.”, Yharim then turns to the remaining cult members, including Siranul, as he says: “You’ve all got a job to do, so get to it. As for you Siranul, hop on, you’re coming with me.” “Yes, my lord.”, Siranul replies. [POOF] “Well, well... Looks like you’ve handled things here, Yharim.” “Calamitas, I assume your work on the Moon is done?” “Of course it is, you insult me Yharim. A menial task like that is Childs play for me... That poor Dryad didn’t even stand a chance. Speaking of, we should probably get going. I can sense that The Dryad will be coming here shortly, probably to chase after me.” “Alright then... Be gone Calamitas, I’ll see you back at the hideout. Oh!, and give Draedon a message for me.”, Yharim says as he teleports onto the back of Yharon, Siranul following close behind him, and continues: “Given Lunaris’s recent accomplishment, I want you to tell Draedon to add another project onto his current roster. I believe he’s only working on two mechanical entities at the moment.” “Alright, what’s the name of the third going to be?”, Calamitas question’s. “Hmm, good question. I trust him to come up with a proper name of his own but let’s go with: Skeletron Prime.” -TERRARIA- The morning rays of the sun shines down upon Terralestia and Sai Sahan as the two were leaned against a tree. Terralestia is the first to awake as she slowly opens her eyes and says: “Wha... What did- [GASP] Lunaris!”, Terralestia exclaims which causes her to jolt onto her feet. Sai Sahan is also awakened due to the female terrarian’s exclamation. Terralestia runs towards a nearby cliff, with tears going down her face, as she falls onto her knees towards the edge of the cliff and says: “Lunaris... Lunaris... LUNARIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIS!.”, Loud sobbing could be heard seconds after Celestia’s cries and pleading. Sai Sahan, much like Terralestia, had tears coming down his cheeks as he walks over to the weeping sibling and puts a hand onto her shoulder. “Damn you Master Yharim... You’ve been deceiving us all along...”, Sai says with venomous spite. “I am so sorry for your loss, words can not explain how truly sorry I am... And I know your pain well.”, A mysterious voice says which causes both Sai and Celestia to turn towards the source of those words. Their eyes widen as they couldn’t believe what they were seeing before them which causes Terralestia, tears still streaming down her face, to say: “Y-you’re a... Dryad.” “Yes, my name is Celebes and I’ve been watching over you both all night. We have much to talk about, Sai Sahan and Celestia.”