Terraria: Friendship Is Magic

by Pomp-Neigh


Chapter 76 - The Brimstone Crags.

-TERRARIA, HOME TOWN, CANDY CANE CORNER-

Pinkie Pie and Candy The Party Girl were literally bouncing and hopping off of the walls of the establishment as they continued to enjoy their meeting with each other. As this goes on, two individuals meet each other’s eyes all while everyone else stares unbelievably towards the two pink being’s antics.

“M-Magius… I-I’m so-”

“Tempest, my little girl… I missed you so much.” The Wizard interjects as he teleports right into The Bandit and brings her into an embrace, much to her shock as she says:

“Wh- why? You should hate me… after all i’ve done-”

“I never hated you, my dear. I was sad… sad that you were lost to me forever.” The Wizard then breaks the embrace with a smile as he says: “But, I see now that you’ve changed… both physically and mentally, it would seem.” The Wizard says as he takes notice of Tempest’s missing limb.

“I… I have so much to tell you, fa- I mean, Magius.”

“What was that? I may be old but I could’ve sworn that ‘Father’ was on the tip of that tongue of yours.”

“Y-you’re hearing things…”

As this is going on, in the background, Rarity has a reunion with her former inmates in addition to her dear friend: Steven. The other ponies were gathered around them as the white unicorn mare says:

“Everypony, these are my friends from The Dungeon. Everyone, these are my friends from Equus. I always looked forward to introducing you all to each other.”

Pinkie and Candy zooms by in a pink blur which causes rarity to chuckle.

“I knew those two would kick it off well… although I will say that their meeting each other is... foreboding.” Rarity says as she suddenly feels a nervous sensation go down her spine.

The beings of Home Town and the former prisoners of The Dungeon start to introduce themselves to each other as various interactions take place.

Ritsu The Zoologist and Jeremy The Angler butted heads as they were arguing about the well being of the fish he’s caught and will continue to capture. The argument seemed to be about whether or not fish are sentient. Fluttershy tries to break them apart with the assistance of Princess Pinkie.

Katelyn The Mechanic and Gorglock The Goblin Tinkerer instantly became kindred spirits as they discussed various experiments and machinations. However, If one were to look closely, they’d see that the goblin would form a blush whenever The Mechanic wasn’t looking.

Twilight, Starlight, and The Wizard also became kindred spirits as they were of course discussing, to the surprise of no one, magic. A large number of papers and a quill materializes as a certain lavender colored alicorn was hyperventilating. Fortunately, Starlight was there to help her recover from her hyperventilation.

Tanner The Guide, Steven The Clothier, Lucan The Merchant, and Ross Bosman The Tavernkeeper chatted amongst themselves. However, Tanner in particular was inertly shocked by Steven’s presence as he says internally:

-How did you escape? What happened to Grogar? If he’s here, then who in The Underworld is hosting Grogar? This is frustrating! I need to adjust my plans a bit.-

Vinny The Demolitionist, Helena The Nurse, and Livian The Stylist were currently sitting together on a table as the two members of Home Town greets her with open arms.

Rainbow Dash and Applejack watches on as the cyan pegasus slyly glances towards the orange cow mare with a blush.

-Come on Rainbow, just tell her how you feel. Suck it up and just-- Rainbow Dash says internally but was cut off as Candy The Party Girl shouts:

“Wait! Everyone wait! I have something urgent to tell you all!”

The other former prisoners of The Dungeon suddenly gasp in shock as they come to realize what Candy was about to say. Everyone had become so caught up in this reunion and meeting that they became momentarily oblivious to two things: The mention of Yharim and Pinkamena’s warning to Candy.

“What’s wrong, Candy?” Pinkie Pie inquires.

“A large undead army is going to attack this town in two days! Well, one day now!”

“WHAT?!” Everyone except Candy and the other former prisoners of The Dungeon exclaims in unison.

“What do you mean, darling?” Rarity questions.

“It’s true, dear Rarity…” Steven responds. “It happened after you left and not too long ago but an unknown being came to The Dungeon along with a dark pink pony-”

“That’s my sister!” Pinkie Pie interjects in exclamation.

“Wait, whenever you turn dark and your mane deflates, that’s your sister?! I thought it was just a you thing?!” Twilight questions as she, Starlight, Applejack, and Rarity are absolutely shocked by this revelation.

“Trust me, egghead… I had a similar reaction. We can talk about that later.” Rainbow Dash comments.

“We must get back to the matter at hand.” Magius The Wizard injects. “An undead army will come here to destroy this town led by that same dark pink pony. In addition, the being who managed to destroy The Dungeon Guardian and, most disturbingly, managed to tear out Skeletron from Steven is the same one who turned that pony into its new vessel.”

Pinkie Pie was nearly on the verge of tears upon hearing this revelation as she says:

“No… no… Mena would never do something like that.”

“Don’t worry, Pinkie.” Candy The Party Girls responds. “Your sister loves you and she’s doing this for you.”

“R-really?”

“Yuup! You see, that big old meanie Yharim has-”

“YHARIM?!” Most of the beings who were present exclaims in unison.

“That bastard is nothing but a traitor! Celestia and Sai will hear about this!” Tanner The Guide exclaims.

“Ok, seriously, what is up with that guy? Is he responsible for every little thing that goes wrong in this world?” Rainbow Dash inquires.

“You’d be right to assume that,” A new voice chimed in as everyone turned to two individuals: Celebes The Dryad and Ceeman The Arms Dealer. The newly arrived former prisoners were all stunned and shocked, aside from Ross Bosman, as they were dumbfounded by the fact that a living dryad now stood before them.

“My word, you are absolutely beautiful.” Livian The Stylist compliments.

“I thank you for the compliment, lady Livian, but we must speak of urgent matters.”

“Eeek! She knows my name!” Livian exclaims happily which causes Jeremy The Angler to facepalm as a result.

“Everyone, we must barricade the town and prepare for this assault upon our home. I would also like to take this time to reveal to you all that I have completed The Blood Butcherer.” The Dryad then conjures the blade which manifests itself in a spiral of blood. Celebes then walks towards a certain party pony and says: “I would like for you to be its wielder, Pinkie Pie.” The Dryad gives the pink pony the aforementioned blade as she then turns to Tanner The Guide and says: “I want you to go back to your guildhall and call forth any who may want to aid us, we’ll need it for the upcoming battle.”

Tanner nods in response as he then makes his way towards the exit. As he passes by Tempest and Magius, The Bandit glances towards him with suspicion as she still felt something was off about him.

“Hey, Celebes. Can I ask you something?”

“Yes, Rainbow Dash?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way or anything, but… I’ve been wanting to ask you about why you seem to be weaker than when we fought Razeem? When we were in The Crimson, I highly expected you to be able to clobber that giant brain dude and the other guy in ten seconds flat.”

“It’s simple: I am weakened. The Terra Blade empowers its wielder just as I empowered you all when we faced off against The Moon Lord by using its abilities. Sadly, when it shattered so too did my connection to it. You’ll come to learn that here in Terraria, certain items and weaponry can magically empower their owners. Much like that Crimson Armor you’re wearing. The Terra Blade functions similarly to any other item. Remove the item and equipment from their owner and you weaken them considerably.”

Pinkie Pie suddenly raises her forehoof which causes Celebes to chuckle to herself momentarily and say:

“I appreciate the gesture but there’s no need. What is it you wish to inquire about?”

“Well, it’s just, I’d like to tell everyone here that my sister is not a monster. Please, she’s not doing this just to be a meanie and Candy told me that Yharim is forcing her to attack us.”

“Be that as it is, how is he holding her under his servitude?”

“I can answer that!” Candy The Party Girl exclaims happily. “He has Pinkie Pie’s life force and will kill her if Pinkamena turns on him.”

Understandably, the rest of the ponies became furious as a result.

“How dare he! That foul brute deserves a special place in Tartarus for this!” Rarity roars out in disgust.

“That no good varmint is nothin’ but pure evil. Ah’ don’t think any villain back home could compare to this rotten apple!” Applejack says through gritted teeth.

Fluttershy was currently hugging the party pony as Starlight and Twilight ponders on this with a hoof raised to their chins. Twilight then lowers her hoof and asks:

“Is there a way we can save her? Can we get Pinkie’s life force back?”

“How did he even get her life force to begin with?” Starlight questions.

“It was when he tore them apart and made them two separate entities.” Candy responds. “He somehow took Pinkie’s life force as a result.”

“No… it couldn’t be…” Magius The Wizard injects.

“You might just have the same suspicions as I, Wizard.” Celebes The Dryad responds.

Everyone simply waits patiently for their revelation to which Celebes nods to The Wizard as he says:

“I suspected this from back in The Dungeon but this Yharim character clearly meddles in ancient and forbidden magic.”

“Why am I not surprised…” Rainbow Dash comments as Applejack bumps her to keep quiet.

Celebes takes the initiative and takes over from where The Wizard left off as she says:

“The magic he is referring to was made from the same race that gave birth to a powerful witch I faced some time ago.”

“Calamitas…” Twilight says as she was starting to piece things together.

“That’s right, the same witch that Celestia and I revealed to you. In her story about Lunaris.”

In that very moment, Steven The Clothier’s mind practically snapped in an instant as he shouts:

“That was his name! The mage who helped me seal Skeletron away, my best friend! My memories were slowly starting to disappear but now that I’m free… what you said rekindled those memories.”

“Wait a second, Steven. You mean the same mage who fought Skeletron is the one who sealed him inside of you? That day when he attacked the settlement seven years ago?” Ross Bosman inquires.

“Yes, Ross… that’s the very same one. It happened after I told you to run away.” Steven responds.

Celebes nods in response as she then continues:

“The magic that Yharim possesses comes from the Brimstone Crags.”

“Allow me to tell you all about how those crags were created. It involves one of Yharim's associates and by extension, he himself. After I fought Calamitas all those years ago, I did some digging of my own and what I found... shocked even me.” Celebes then takes a deep breath and exhales before she continues her grand tale:

“Smoking slag, crackling flames, and charred stone are all that remain of the underworld’s once-grand civilization. Centuries ago, primitive societies found their way to these scorching caverns and discovered power in the form of an eternal red flame. They grew to worship the flame and its otherworldly might - and over the course of generations, founded a mighty empire of magic as they learned to harness the red flame for themselves.

Their hierarchy of privilege and magical prowess fostered great conflict. Those in power hoarded power, restricting the lower classes’ knowledge and suppressing research that threatened them. One clan revolted against the restrictive and greedy ways of the capitol - but like many others in the empire’s history, they were exiled. The capitol waited for them to return for revenge, when those in power would crush them as an example. However, that day would never come. For those exiled had come upon a curious revelation. Centuries spent living in the presence of the eternal flame had led these mages to develop a natural connection to the brand of magic which utilized brimstone, rather than a forced link, such as the rituals carried out by the capitol. Forced to stop relying on the eternal flame, they began to develop their own style of magic, drawing from darker forces. As they built upon their own strength and training, this clan soon grew to be as powerful as those who controlled the eternal flame. Yet, they had long decided against revenge, realizing that such an act would lower them to the level of those in hell. Decades passed, and generations passed down the gift of brimstone magic, from parent to child. In time, it would be this clan to sire the Witch, Calamitas.

The empire of hell grew weak over the course of those long years, splintered by infighting and draconian rule. It was the beginning of a once-grand nation’s collapse - but its final death was at the hands of a conflict long past. An older Calamitas descended to the lands her ancestors called home and initiated a ruthless massacre, butchering the poor and weak on the outskirts first and then working in. Every death was another hateful soul twisted to her cause - every corpse, another revenant at her command - every life taken, another worshipper deprived from the eternal flame at the empire’s heart. These souls were twisted into abominations which to this day, haunt the slag. When no others remained, she corroded the essence of the flame with corrupt magic and flayed its spirit to the bone. Without joy, Calamitas fulfilled her orders and unknowingly avenged an ancient grudge long since lost to history. All that remained of that once-grand civilization was smoking slag, crackling flames, and charred stone or in other words: The Brimstone Crag.

In conclusion, it doesn’t surprise me that Yharim knows such magic… he’s working with Calamitas, after all. Then again, perhaps she fails to truly realize that he’s just using her and not the other way around. We can retrieve Pinkie Pie’s life force but in order to do that, we must learn the means to counter the spell. Until then… Pinkamena will truly be forced into his servitude less Pinkie Pie’s life becomes forfeit.”


-TERRARIA, THE DUNGEON DEPTHS-

Both Skeletron and Pinkamena were absolutely surprised by this hidden portion of The Dungeon, Yharim currently in the lead as he shows them the way. The skeletal entity within the dark pink pony says from within her psyche:

-How have I never seen this portion of The Dungeon? So many undead down here that even I never knew about.-

-You expect me to have the answers? I’m still new to just The Dungeon, let alone this part of it.- Pinkamena responds internally.

“It’s because I created this place.” Yharim responds as he manages to hear their internal conversation.

-Worm! I ruled over these catacombs even before The Dungeon’s creation. And yet, even I never-

“Who do you think created the catacombs that you supposedly ruled over, Skelly boy? The same catacombs that The Dungeon was built over.” Yharim responds nonchalantly. “This… is where I stored the bodies of those I killed during my reign as: The Jungle Tyrant."