-TERRARIA, THE DUNGEON-
Everyone was currently making their way down the dark depths of The Dungeon with some among them having mixed feelings, especially when it came to the former prisoners.
“I know I’ve said this before, but I’ll say it again: I am not fond of returning here. Even with Skeletron’s disappearance, this place still feels like it’s being haunted.” Magius The Wizard comments.
“Seems like my kind of place, oddly enough. Darkness and death? That’s a rogue’s background right there.” Tempest The Bandit comments which causes some of those present to look at her with a deadpan expression. She then chuckles before saying: “Sorry, dark humor is an old habit of mine.” She then looks towards Loganic, who in turn was taking the lead alongside Steven and Rarity, as she comments: “Yo, what’s your friend’s name and race?”
Loganic pauses for a moment, which also causes the entire group to stop, as he turns around and answers:
“His name is: Deerg, a terrarian like you and me.”
“Oh dear, darling,” Rarity responds with a small gasp. “Well, I for one must commend you for going this far for a friend. It reminds me of when my friends did everything within their power to free me. Poor Fluttershy here had to face some uncouth Nymph, in The Snow Biome.”
“S-she was v-very, um, mean…” Fluttershy comments with a small stutter as she recalls the actions of Melony, The Nymph.
As this is going on, Tempest narrows her features towards Loganic as she says internally:
-I don’t like this guy, he’s giving me- Suddenly, her words were cut off as the world around her starts to morph and twist. Everyone else around her actually fades away as a result, leaving behind only The Bandit and the being of her suspicion: Loganic.
Loganic chuckles lightly before he comments:
“I knew that you rogue types are always a perceptive bunch. To be honest, I had planned this from the very start; the very moment I laid eyes on you: Tempest Shadow, former underling of The Storm King and lover to your precious, Tzana.”
The Bandit’s eyes were widened in horrific disbelief as she responds:
“H-how did you… how do you know all of this? Wait, what did you do to the others?!”
“Oh don’t worry, everyone else is fine… in the real world,” Loganic takes notice of Tempest’s shocked expression; which prompts him to continue: “I can see that you’re mind is simply at a loss. I’m not a big fan of exposition so I’ll just say: T.L.D.R: I warped reality itself and brought you into my own little dimension.”
“B-but, the others are out there! They’ll take notice-”
“You silly little mortal. My powers are beyond your comprehension but let’s just say that everything seems normal, out there. Now, I can’t have you exposing me on our little trip to the depths of this place so I’ll be dampening your senses just a teensy bit-”
“No!” The Bandit roars out in protest as she conjures forth… nothing. “What? Why can’t I access my inventory?”
“Oh dear, having performance issues there, little Tempy? That’s what Tzana used to call you, is it not?”
“Do not say her name! You aren’t worthy enough to speak about her at all!”
“Worthy? Please, saying the name of you mortals makes me want to puke. It’s even more damaging to me than it is for you-”
“Raaaurgh!” Tempest roars out as she runs at Loganic with full force and closes the distance between them in mere moments. In a series of amazing acrobatics, she performs various strikes by kicking and punching away at Loganic in a fashion that would put many martial artists to shame. As Tempest unleashes her barrage of attacks, Loganic simply stands there and comments:
“Is this what you mortals call: Attacking? Sorry, but for me, it looks like you’re doing the Macarena.” Loganic then starts to dance, all while The Bandit continues to attack him, as he sings:
“Dale a tu cuerpo alegría Macarena,
Que tu cuerpo es pa’ darle alegría why cosa buena,
Dale a tu cuerpo alegría, Macarena,
Hey Macarena.”
“Do you think this is a game?!” Tempest roars out as she has just finished attacking Loganic during his dance and hops away from him, to which he responds:
“A game? Hah! Hardly, if this were a game I’d be having fun. Like kidnapping the Core Of The Slime Gods, now that sounds like a good time.”
Tempest gasps in realization as she cautiously says:
“Wait… no… Fluttershy? Your target is Fluttershy?!”
“Ding ding ding. You see, unlike you mortals who go after mere items and trinkets, to which I already have an unfathomable number of, I prefer going after other types of treasure: Other gods and deities.”
“Y-you’re insane…”
“No, that’s Disidian’s thing; along with chaos,” Loganic then strikes a pose, moonwalks, then stops in place as he says: “I’m The God Of Greed. Perhaps you still need some convincing?” Greed then starts to emit a powerful aura as the energy around him starts to take on a new shape. Slowly but surely, a serpentine like entity was starting to emerge from the energy which caused Tempest to be absolutely stunned with fear as the being now towers over her.
Greed lets out a loud series of chuckling before the serpentine creature comments:
“You see these gems and multi colored portions on my body? Each and every one of them represents a god/goddess that I have captured. And looky here, I have a spot just for The Slime Gods.”
“You’re a monster! Capturing gods?! Do you not fear how that might affect the world?! The very balance of reality itself could be at stake!”
“Who needs balance when I can have it all!” The serpent roars out as he suddenly shifts in his attitude, as if someone had just hit a switch. “Anyway, I’ll be erasing this little chat of ours from your memories now. It’s been thirty seconds in the real world so let’s not delay, ok?”
“Listen to me! The others will expose you and even if you do manage to take Fluttershy-”
“When, I take her. Correction. You’d better check yourself before I wreck yourself.” Greed interjects with a condescending expression.
“I! Don’t! Give! A! Shit! The others will stop you!”
“You know, the only reason that I don’t kill you right here and now is due to the fact that I find you to be mildly amusing. You have no Idea how boring things can get for one such as myself. Now then, let’s return to the real world, shall we?”
In a sudden display of power and blinding light, the world around Tempest starts to shift and mold once more. Then, everything went black for The Bandit.
Tempest’s body suddenly falls limp but is fortunately caught by Shadow Thunder who summons a shadow in the form of a hand.
“Tempest! Are you ok?!” Magius The Wizard roars out as he teleports next to the now unconscious terrarian who was gently laid down by Shadow Thunder’s dark appendage.
Everyone starts to gather around The Bandit, as Starlight fires up her horn and says:
“I’m performing a status spell. Back in our world, it allows us to check on somepony’s vitals,” The unicorn mare then narrows her features in concentration as everyone else arounds her waits patiently for her verdict, especially Magius. Then, after a few moments, Starlight sighs with relief and comments: “She’ll be ok, I don’t see anything wrong with her physically and her mind seems to be intact.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Magius replies in utter relief. “But why would she just randomly fall unconscious?”
“It couldn’t be…” Loganic comments as he catches the attention of everyone else present.
“What’s wrong, darling?” Rarity inquires. Loganic then turns towards Steven and questions:
“You told me that you were a prisoner of this place, correct?”
“In a manner of speaking. I could go into detail but what does that have to do with anything?” Steven questions.
“Well, there’s a reason that I requested your aid. I think I know what your friend is suffering from. You see, this place was built over an ancient catacomb and the restless spirits still haunts it to this very day.” Loganic answers.
“Yes,” Steven replies. “I built The Dungeon over it but I’m still confused about what you’re trying to get at. What does the restless spirits of this place have to do with this?”
“Polterghast… an unstoppable force of countless spirits. Tempest’s mind was the strongest of us all so it makes sense for them to remove her from the equation. They want to possess a host in order to allow them to escape from this place.”
“How do you know all of this?” Starlight questions.
“My friend, Deerg, he is a great scholar and has countless records within his study. He came to this place in order to explore the legend of Polterghast, as much as I tried to dissuade him.”
“Um, if they want to possess us and Tempest’s mind was the strongest, what about us? Aren’t we in danger of being, well, possessed?” Fluttershy inquires in a cautious tone.
“No need to worry,” Loganic replies as the terrarian conjures forth multiple headbands for everyone present, aside from The Bandit who still laid unconscious. “Deerg created these to shield anyone from the effects of the supernatural. Please, take one and pass it around.”
Heeding to his request, everyone starts to take a headband and wears them, aside from two certain party lovers: Pinkie Pie and Candy, both of whom were behind the group from a short distance.
“Hey, um, Candy?” Pinkie Pie questions in a hushed tone. “I don’t like this. My mane is twitching and my body is shaking from holding this headband.”
“I feel it too, Pinkie Pie. Something’s not right here.”
“Excuse me, darlings,” Rarity interjects which catches the attention of the two party lovers. “Would you two be a dear and carry Tempest to the surface? I don’t want to keep her down here with us while she’s unconscious. Please stay with her until she awakes.”
Both Pinkie Pie and Candy looks to each other with a bothered expression before they turn back to Rarity, salutes to her request, and says in unison:
“You can count on us.” They then carefully pick up The Bandit as Magius The Wizard says:
“I’ll go with you. I can use my magic to teleport us back to the surface,” The Wizard then turns to everyone else present. “Be careful in those dark depths, friends. Dangerous traps and many types of undead still lurk down there.”
Everyone nods in response as The Wizard stands next to the two party lovers, and The Bandit, as he then casts a spell which wisps them away to The Dungeon’s entrance. Loganic then clears his throat and questions:
“Is everyone ready to go?” They all nod in response to which Loganic gives them a thumbs up and takes the lead. What everyone present failed to realize however was the multicolored aura that flashed within his eyes.
-TERRARIA, YHARIM’S KINGDOM-
Some time after the recent events of Snow’s battle with The Storm King and run in with Cosmos, Pinkamena was now sat upon the top portion of The Temple as she was pondering on various thoughts. Naturally, many of them were about her sister’s well being. Suddenly, she could hear a powerful force of flapping wings followed by a large entity landing behind her. The dark pink pony turns her head as her gaze falls upon a large red dragon.
“May I join you?” Yharon inquires which honestly catches the pony completely by surprise.
“Isn’t this technically your kingdom too? Pretty sure you don’t need my permission to sit next to me.”
The dragon chuckles in response before saying:
“Be that as it is, would you believe that I am a dragon of culture?”
“If by ‘Culture’ you mean burning down towns and following Yharim’s every request, without question.”
In truth, the dark pink pony was expecting the dragon to retaliate against her like he did some time ago. Before he healed her afterwards, that is. Shockingly, she couldn’t believe what she was seeing etched onto the dragon’s face: Regret. Confliction. She then sighs and shrugs her shoulders.
“Might as well join me.”
“I thank you,” Yharon responds as he takes a few steps closer and lays his draconic form right next to the dark pink mare. “I… I don’t take pleasure in doing any of that.”
“Then why do it at all? You realize that you make your own choices, right?”
“Yes, I understand that,” The dragon then sighs before he continues: “But, I love my brother more than anything else. I’d go forth and win his war, if he were to but ask me. I’d fight the entire world just to defend him. And If I should die in doing so… he would have heard my final dying roar,” Yharon then lowers his gaze towards Pinkamena, who in turn was looking up to him with a neutral expression, and says: “You remind me of myself. I respect anyone who’d go to great lengths in order to protect their family, their loved ones. I can see that your sister means the absolute world to you… that, is what Yharim is to me. He is my only family that I have left in this world and without him, I’d be lost. Alone. Despite all that he has done and all that he has wronged, what he has become, I still… I still see the brother that I once knew deep inside.”
Pinkamena took in his words as she continued to stare at him in thought. Then, she sighs lightly as the dark pink pony looks forward and replies:
“Despite that, your brother has wronged me in a way that can never be forgiven. I will kill him if such an opportunity presents itself. You said so yourself, my sister means the world to me and I’d do anything for her. Yharim will pay,” Pinkamena then takes another breath before she finishes: “However, when it comes to you... I understand where you’re coming from. You have my sympathies.”
A low rumble escapes from the dragon as Yharon then follows her gaze. The two beings sit in silence as they look out towards Yharim’s Kingdom, the underground artificial sun in full force. Despite fate making them enemies, deep down, Pinkamena and Yharon had one thing in common: Their undying loyalty to their sibling. This in turn brought forth something else between them: Understanding.
Suddenly, a portal opens up behind them both which causes Pinkamena to scowl at the entity who emerged from the anomaly as Yharim says:
"Pinkamena, get your flank ready and be prepared to leave in ten minutes. You get to visit Camelot today."