//------------------------------// // Chapter 86 - Ancient Shadows. // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -TERRARIA, HOME TOWN- Everyone was currently celebrating their recent victory over the skeletal monstrosity while also admiring their loot. In addition, The Blood Moon event that Skeletron had conjured forward also disappeared alongside the skeletal entity upon the moment of his defeat. “Wow! This spell book is simply amazing!” Twilight exclaims happily. “Upon activating the spell, It fires a powerful flaming skull at my opponent.” “This arm from Skeletron seems to act as a more effective version of a grappling hook, impressive.” Terralestia comments. Rarity and Fluttershy were quite surprised when they activated their newly acquired staves: Staff Of Necrosteocytes. Upon activation, two small skeletal entities were summoned forth via both of their staves to which they say: “Oh my, it might be a skeleton but it’s still really cute.” Fluttershy comments as she pets the small skeleton’s head with her left forehoof. “Y-yes, darling… t-they’re quite, um, lovely…” Rarity says hesitantly with a small dash of nervousness mixed in. Zecora in particular was especially fond of their newly acquired throwable weapon: Bone Glove. Upon testing its capabilities, she sent forth multiple crossed bone projectiles that bounced off of various surfaces with a clattering bone sound. “This weapon is perfect for a rogue, it’s a good thing I’ve chosen such a role.” The zebra comments as everyone continues to observe their new items. Although, some among them expressed disappointment such as Rainbow Dash who says: “Not to sound ungrateful or anything but none of this stuff helps me.” “Perhaps not the loot we got from Skeletron, however…” Celebes The Dryad says as she then conjures forth some bones. “These bones that we’ve all collected from some of the undead who attacked us is one of two components that we can use to craft some armor for a ranged fighter like you, Rainbow Dash.” “Really?!” Rainbow replies excitingly. “In that case, I’ve got tons of those bones in my inventory. What kind of armor are we talking about?” “The best armor for a ranger like yourself within our current power level: Necro Armor. And before you say it, no, it’s not armor meant for a necromancer. It’s just what we decided to call it. Basically, the armor gives you a chance to not consume ammo and should you wear a full set of it, you leave behind afterimages of yourself.” Upon hearing those words, Rainbow Dash’s mouth slowly but surely starts to form a huge smile which stretches across her features. “That is totally awesome!” As this is going on, in the background, everyone starts to interact and converse amongst themselves. Some even takes the time to properly introduce themselves, specifically when It came to the new arrivals who aided the beings of Home Town in the form of: Linn, Tori, and Shadow Thunder. Twilight was especially curious about the bird-like entity as she approaches Tori, who was currently checking their items and weapons, and extends her right front hoof towards them. “Hi there! Thank you so much for helping us out. My name’s: Twilight Sparkle, assuming of course that Tanner The Guide didn’t tell you my name yet.” Tori simply looks at her for a moment before they do something that absolutely throws the lavender alicorn completely off: Tori does respond but in… her voice? “Hello…” Tori responds simply. It was an awkward moment for Twilight as not only did she just hear her own voice respond to her but her hoof was still extended towards Tori who in turn didn’t return the gesture. Whether Tori did that just to be rude to her or for other reasons that was exclusive to them, Twilight simply couldn’t tell although she definitely hopes that it’s not the first option. The lavender mare retract her forelimb embarrassingly as she says: “Oooook then… um, I hope that I didn’t offend you but I really want you to know how grateful I am for your help, and the others too. I definitely have to speak to that pegasus about a few things.” Tori simply nods in response before the humanoid bird disappears into a shroud of shadows. This of course causes Twilight to pout as she then says: “Awww… but I wanted to know more about them…” “Don’t take it personal, Twilight,” Linn comments as she draws near the alicorn with a clopping of whooves as she was mounted on top of her mighty steed: Ves. “Tori often keeps to themselves but they definitely pull through when you need them in battle.” “That’s another thing, I noticed that you and the others referred to Tori as ‘They’ or ‘Them’; I can see that Tori is some sort of bipedal bird-like entity but what’s their gender?” “Sadly, your guess is as good as mine,” Linn responds. “When Tanner gathered the three of us from the guild, we never actually adventured or did quests with Tori before. Me and Shadow cooperated from time to time but Tori was always alone. Then again… Tori is a ninja-rogue so I kind of expected that. In fact, this recent battle with Skeletron is perhaps the first and only time I’ve ever seen Tori work in a group. Granted, even during the battle, they seemed to fight alone more often than any of us and only fought alongside us during that final phase with Skeletron’s largest skull.” “I, um, didn’t offend Tori... did I?” Twilight questions. “Nah, you’d know if you did. Like I said before, don’t take Tori’s response personally, it’s just how they are. Maybe in time you ponies might just be able to appeal to them,” Linn then smirks as she then says teasingly: “Kinda like how Shadow Thunder and that pony friend of yours seem to be kicking things off. Then again, I always thought that he was the last of his kind so it probably feels good to him to have other ponies like him around. Especially you, I’ve never even heard of a pony of your type before.” “Oh, well, I’m an alicorn. An ascended alicorn, to be specific,” Twilight could see Linn’s confused expression by those words but little did Linn know, she just opened the metaphorical pandora’s box. Twilight raises a hoof and prepares to give Linn… a lecture. “Well you see, it all started from…” As Twilight gives Linn a very extended and descriptive history lesson, another scenario takes place nearby as Shadow Thunder, Starlight Glimmer, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy were chatting amongst themselves. “I still can’t believe that ponies are native to Terraria,” Starlight comments. “I thought for sure that me and my friends were the only ponies here. In fact, I assumed that we ponies never existed here before we showed up.” “I thought I was the last of my kind,” Shadow Thunder responds. “When The Hallow disappeared some time ago, all of the ponies were taken with it including The Empress Of Light.” “The Empress Of Light?” Rainbow Dash questions. “She was the ruler of The Hallow, some even say that she was the one who created it with her incredible prowess. What we do know for sure is that she brought to life every pony in existence although your lavender colored friend is a type of pony I’ve never seen before.” Shadow Thunder comments. “Ya mean, Twilight? Why she’s an alicorn. Ah thought fer’ sure that y’all would know about her type of pony.” Applejack says. “To be fair, she was born a unicorn before she became an alicorn.” Rainbow Dash comments. “Oh, um, going by your reaction, do alicorns not exist here in Terraria?” Fluttershy inquires. “That’s exactly what’s throwing me off about your friend when I first saw her. Alicorn, as you called it, simply doesn’t exist here in Terraria. It was always just three types of ponies: Pegasi, Earth Pony, and Unicorn. Although, unicorns are a bit different here but all the same too,” Shadow Thunder then turns towards Starlight and questions: “Can you, by chance... transform?” “Well, not unless I ascend into an alicorn like Twilight. I don’t think unicorns can transform into anything else.” Starlight responds with a hoof to her chin. “Now hold up fer’ just one second,” Applejack interjects. “Why does it sound like you’re referring to another type of transformation?” Shadow Thunder suddenly takes on a saddened expression as he says: “It’s because I am,” Shadow then ponders on the right words to use before he says: “As I said before, The Empress Of Light breathed life into every pony that has ever lived. She wanted them to be the perfect embodiment of The Hallow; our hearts filled with love and of course, light. However, she also made sure to add some darkness to our very being although how she performed that is beyond me. That transformation I mentioned? It’s what happens when a pony gives into their own darkness, things like jealousy or even sorrow.” “Ya mean like, yer’ own version of Nightmare Moon?” Applejack questions. “Or even Nightmare Rarity.” “Rainbow Dash!” Applejack exclaims. “What?! I’m just saying!” Rainbow responds. “Nightmare Moon and Nightmare Rarity? Wait, explain to me how exactly they became those entities.” Shadow Thunder asks. “Well, Princess Luna transformed due to her jealousy and feeling as if no one cared about her,” Applejack responds. “As fer’ Rarity… it was partly because of us. She thought that we abandoned her and gave into those nightmare creatures. Apparently, they were also the same ones who corrupted Princess Luna.” “The creatures of nightmare… no… it can’t be…” Shadow Thunder mutters. “What’s wrong?” Starlight inquires. “Those creatures that you mentioned, does their appearance resemble animals but are made up of a misty-darkness?” “Yeah!” Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Fluttershy exclaims in unison. “I feared as much, they’re the same ones who turned my brother into The Pony Of Shadows. Those creatures are the spawns of an ancient evil that even the empress herself has contended with in the distant past, according to what she told me. She called them: The Shadows Of Abaddon.