//------------------------------// // Chapter 78 - New Arrivals. // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -TERRARIA, HOME TOWN-  Two days have passed and The time for war has finally arrived. Everyone in town are positioned on the top portions of the settlement’s protective stone walls. Tanner The Guide was still missing due to Celebes’s request to seek aid from his guild. The ponies had sent Rainbow Dash to collect Zecora and Gex in order to assist them in the coming battle, both of whom stood at the ready as well. Fluttershy had summoned forth a legion of slimes, all of which consisted of different colorations. They were currently positioned outside of the wall; just below where Fluttershy and a few members of Home Town stood as they looked onward towards the direction of The Dungeon. Twilight saw fit to give words of encouragement as the sun continues to lower itself over the horizon. The lavender alicorn turns to everyone present and says: “The time has come, everyone. We’ve come so far ever since we ponies came to this world and we owe most of that to all of you. You who we’ve come to call our dear friends and as The Princess Of Friendship, you have no idea how happy this makes me. You who stood by our side through it all from The Goblin Invasion all the way to our battle in The Crimson. Now, here you all are ready to fight alongside us against the undead monstrosities. I truly can’t find the words to express how grateful we are to you all… thank you so much. Thank you for standing by us through it all when you really had no obligation to. Together, we can defeat them! We will achieve victory and by the end of this night, we’ll all watch the coming sunrise together! To victory!” Everyone else present lets out a war cry in response as they brace and ready themselves for battle. Even the slimes who were positioned outside started to cheer as some among them started to chant: “Return to slime!” “Return to slime!” “Return to slime!” “For the glory of The Slime Gods!” “For the Goddess Fluttershy! For The Core!” Twilight nods happily as she and everyone else present simply waits and observes as they anticipate the arrival of the undead. Pinkamena could see the town coming closer as she and her undead army walked along the dirt paved road that led straight to the town. There was no need to be stealthy given the fact that the loud moaning and haunting roars of the undead who followed her would alarm anyone of their coming. She could only hope that Candy had delivered her message. “Pinkie Pie… you’re going to have to be strong tonight. I’ll do what I can to protect you but Yharim is always watching. He might not be here but I can just… sense him. Speaking of sensing things, hey, Skelly boy.” -What do you want you insufferable pony?- Skeletron replies from within.  “What the buck made my fur quiver when we were down there? I can’t help but feel as if those catacombs were-” -Haunted?- Skeletron interjects. -It’s because they were. The souls of the dead who were massacred by Yharim were practically crying out for his death when we went down there. It’s funny, I could always sense a powerful force being gathered within the catacombs, even before Steven built The Dungeon over it. Despite being the ruler of the undead… even I could never control what lies down there so I never attempted to try it. However, I could always hear their whispers.- “I heard it too. They practically repeated the same thing over and over: ‘We shall see Yharim dead... we demand retribution... we are Polterghast.’ I assume we’ll be crossing that bridge later on in the future. For now… we have a town to attack.” -I look forward to seeing them all die.- “Watch it, Skelly… my sister is among them.” -You say that like I care, everyone dies and that town burns to the ground. End of discussion.- Pinkamena was definitely furious by the words of her inner companion. However, she suddenly gets an idea as she says: “How about I make you a deal?” -What could you possibly give me that would even convince me to entertain the thought of making a deal with you?- “Revenge... retribution against the one who wronged us both. I want Yharim dead and I know that you feel the same way. Your hatred of him is no different from my own.” -My hatred is born from that worm thinking he can manipulate me! Yours is a result of him threatening your sister, our reasons are not the same.- “But our hatred for him is. You and I absolutely despise that so-called Jungle Tyrant. Allow me to help you in my own way and I will see to it that you get to watch him die. What you do after that is completely up to you.” Skeletron remained silent for a moment before the entity finally responded. -Let’s say I accept this deal of yours, what difference will that make? I will destroy that town no matter what you tell me. I will massacre all who stands in my way.- “Yes, that may very well happen. However, that’s also part of my plan. You need to keep up the appearance so yes, you will fight them. They in turn will fight you and, If I’m being honest, there’s a fifty-fifty chance that either of you will be killed although I’m placing my bet on them. So my plan is this: I will keep a piece of you hidden deep within the mind-link, you saw for yourself that not even Yharim could puncture it when I spoke to Candy. You will be safe there regardless of what happens in the real world. In the meantime, the piece of you that I shall unleash upon them will not truly be you, if that makes sense. Think of it as a cannon fodder version of yourself although it is still just as powerful and will act just like you. It will die in your stead and you shall live on within the mind link. Slowly but surely, you will regain your strength until I personally call upon you.” -Hmmm… so if I understand your proposal correctly, I can still rampage across that town while also remaining within your psyche? And should this piece of me fall in battle, I will live on within you until I become strong enough to manifest myself? And most of all… I get to watch Yharim die?- “I’ll sweeten the deal, you get to help me put him down one day. I’ll see to it that you get a good few hits in when we all face him one day. Once that’s done and I get my sister’s life force back… you can go back to being the homicidal giant skeleton you’ve always been. Should that time come, I’ll be there to turn your bones into dust.” Skeletron ponders on this proposal as the entity remains silent for a few moments. As this goes on, Pinkamena could see Home Town across the way. She could see all of its denizens up on the walls ready for combat while a large legion of slimes which stood between them. Finally, Skeletron chuckles before saying: -Very well then… I accept your proposal.- Pinkamena simply nods in response to Skeletron’s answer while she also takes on a smirk and says: “Looks like Candy delivered my message, very good. Those walls shall buy them-” “It would seem that they somehow managed to anticipate your arrival, Pinkamena,” Another voice says as a portal manifests itself just beside the pony followed by a familiar entity. “Oh great… why are you here, Calamitas?” Pinkamena questions. “To even the playing field for our army.” “W-wait, what the buck are you-” Suddenly, Pinkamena’s words were cut off as red electricity gathers around Calamitas’s right hand as she takes aim and says: “That wall is pretty unfair for our undead friends, the ones that can’t fly that is. Let’s provide a nice sized hole for them, shall we?” “You bucking witch! Don’t you da-” [SKROOM] [BOOM] Calamitas releases a powerful bolt of lightning which travels along the landscape; decimates both a large portion of the slime army and the earth itself. It then finally makes contact with its main target: The wall. “Give them the order, pony. My job here is done.” “I hate you…” “I know... and I fucking love it.” Calamitas replies condescendingly as she then vanishes and leaves behind words that echoes: “You’d better get started, Yharim’s getting bored and your sister’s lifeforce just looks so tempting to be fed to Yharon.” Pinkamena growls angrily as a grey aura surrounds the dark pink pony. She then raises her left front hoof and shouts: “Go! Feast upon them all!” Heeding her request, the undead legion starts to run towards both the large hole in the wall and what was left of the slime army. Pinkamena had to keep her appearance on the outside but on the inside, she was tormented. She could think of only one thing as she watched this horde of undead run towards the town. -Pinkie Pie… be strong for me…- Moments before Calamitas attacks the wall. “There they are, by Celestia… there’s so many of them.” Twilight comments. “Is that you sister, Pinkie Pie?” Fluttershy inquires as she has Princess Pinkie sat upon her head. “Yes… that’s her… poor Mena. I can feel how much she doesn’t want to go through with this.” Pinkie Pie responds with a saddened expression. “Don’t worry, Pinkie. We’ll face her together if it comes down to it.” Candy The Party Girl says as she puts a hand onto the pink pony. “Stow your fears, everyone. It’s now or never.” Celebes says as she conjures her Fiery Greatsword. “This wall shall aid in our fight not to mention Fluttershy’s army of slime.” Zecora says as she and Gex ready their newly acquired spears from the fight with Cthorator. “Remember Dash, aim for the head and shoot.” Ceeman The Arms Dealer says as he takes aim with his musket. “You did amazing in The Crimson, make me proud here and no stupid stunts this time. “No worries, I’ve got this.” Rainbow Dash responds as she takes aim with her newly acquired ranged weapon: Eviscerator. “And I definately won’t do anything stupid this time.” Applejack chuckles in response as she says: “Especially since this time ah’m going to be right here next to ya’s. Ya stubborn mare.” Rainbow Dash smiles in response as she says internally: -I’d like for you to be by my side always-  “Heh, this is not how I expected things to turn out, dear Rarity.” “Indeed, darling. However, at least this way we can face your old curse together.” “You know what? I like the sound of that.” Steven responds as he, Rarity, and some of the former prisoners of The Dungeon around them readies their weapons and spells. “We’ve got this! Sure there’s a lot of those things but we faced the monsters of The Crimson. A bunch of undead are-” Suddenly, Starlight’s words were cut off as she takes notice of red electricity being gathered around a new individual. “Wait, who’s that with-” “Calamitas!” Celebes roars out as she then turns to everyone else on the wall and exclaims: “Get out of the way! She’s going to-” [SKROOM] [BOOM] Everyone on the wall was thrown off by the explosion as various individuals fell into town. Some did manage to avoid the blast by taking off into the skies but one in particular had the worst of luck: Starlight Glimmer. She was among those who were thrown off of the wall but unlike the others, she was now outside of town where the remnants of the slime army stood. “GAH!” Starlight cries out in pain as the world around her becomes hazy. She slowly manages to get back onto her hooves, albeit wobbly, but what she hears next absolutely sends chills down her spine. “Go! Feast upon them all!” In mere seconds, Starlight could see a horde of undead running towards her. The remaining slimes ran forth to meet their foes head on but due to Calamitas’s attack, they lacked the sufficient numbers to match the oncoming army of the undead. Many of the zombies managed to get pass the slimes and ran towards Starlight with insatiable hunger. The unicorn’s world went into slow motion as she was frozen in place by fear. An entire army of undead was making their way towards the unicorn bearing their rotten teeth and decomposing limbs. Due to her current state, Starlight simply couldn’t think straight to save herself. One would think that she could just teleport away or even start firing off powerful blasts from her horn. This simply would not come to pass and she did the only thing she could think of. She closed her eyes and with tears threatening to come loose she pleads: “P-please… somepony… help m-me…” The undead were drawing near the unicorn and in mere moments, they would’ve torn her apart and feasted upon the poor mare’s body. However, she felt a strange sensation… no, she’s being… carried? Through the air? “You look like you could use a dark winged angel, beautiful,” A male voice compliments which causes the unicorn to open her eyes and her tears were being blown away from the wind caused by the flying of this newcomer, a pegasus. “Wh… who are you? You’re… a pony?” Starlight questions in disbelief as she finally comes to comprehend what just happened. She was saved and by an unexpected savior no less. “Tanner The Guide sent us to help you all and the others should be here momentarily. By the way, name’s Shadow Thunder.” Starlight was momentarily stunned by this pegasus stallion. She Undoubtedly had many questions going through her mind but the unicorn simply pushed them aside as she closes her eyes. The unicorn hugs her savior with her forehooves and says: “Thank you so much... you saved my life.” “Shadow Thunder,” Another voice calls out which causes the dark pegasus to turn towards a humanoid bird-like entity with Starlight still hugging him. “Ah, Tori! You made it!” The pegasus exclaims which causes Starlight to turn her head towards a creature she had never seen before. This flying being was indeed a humanoid bird-like entity whos feathers were a dark navy blue which matched the night skies. The bird like entity wore a ninja outfit however just beneath it, one could indeed see the Crimson Armor that was beneath the outfit’s surface. “Take her back to the others, I’ll start working on lowering their numbers here.” Tori comments. “How are you going to do that?” Shadow Thunder questions. Tori then conjures a bunch of explosives and holds them within their grasp as they say: “I have my methods.” The bird humanoid then drops the explosives which results in multiple explosions. Down on ground level, the undead were starting to pour into Home Town as those who were recovering from being blown off the wall via Calamitas’s attack, ready themselves for combat. Suddenly, a familiar voice calls out to them all and says: “I’m back, everyone! And I brought the toughest adventurers that I know! Sorry that I couldn’t bring an army but these people are just as good!” “Tanner!” Twilight exclaims happily. However, her gaze then focused on the individuals that stood beside him. “Celestia! Sai! You’re both here!” “Once we heard that you guys were in trouble, we came running!” Terralestia responds. “Come friends, let us meet this undead army head on!” Sai Sahan exclaims as other individuals behind him started to run forth. One was a female terrarian who, from what Twilight could tell, seemed to be a Tank/Melee focused fighter much like Applejack and Pinkie Pie. She also has pink hair along with bluish/purple eyes. What stunned Twilight and her friends was the fact that this terrarian was riding on the back of what she thought to be a white saddle arabian. The female entity and her steed runs forth and pauses next to the ponies as she says: “Wow, you really are ponies like Shadow Thunder. My name is: Linn, this beautiful white horse is: Ves. Nice to meet you and let’s kick some undead ass together.” The terrarian then readies her lance as her mount prepares to charge forward with all its might. Suddenly, Shadow Thunder lands in front of the group along with a recovered Starlight Glimmer as he gently puts her down onto the ground. “Thank you for saving me again.” Starlight says gratefully as she brings the dark pegasus into another hug. “Wow Shadow, already got a mare in your arms within the first few moments you meet her, eh? You sly pony.” Linn teases which causes both Starlight and Shadow to turn red. Another series of explosions goes off in the distance as Vinny The Demolitionist says: “Someone’s making explosions aside from me?!” “That’s Tori, another friend of ours.” Shadow Thunder responds. “Ok, I have a lot of questions but we’ve got a problem!” Twilight exclaims as everyone prepares to go to war with the undead army that continued to flow into town and ran towards the group.