//------------------------------// // Chapter 117 - Hidden Allies. // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -TERRARIA, HOME TOWN- Most of the denizens of Home Town were currently going about their business. Ceeman The Arms Dealer was currently guarding the wall all while Vinny The Demolitionist was overlooking the opposite side of town. Helena The Nurse was currently cleaning out her nursery along with the aid of both Fluttershy and Ritsu. ………. Lucan The Merchant and Ross Bossman The Tavernkeeper were currently conversing about some recent events along with Ross mentioning wanting to set up another tavern. He was currently conflicted on whether or not he’d do it here or simply wait until they travel to the capital. ………. Having finally woken and currently engaged in conversation, Tempest The Bandit had inquired Magius The Wizard about what had happened during their recent delve into The Dungeon and why there was a large multicolored dome currently over the aforementioned location. “W-well, you see, Tempest… a creature, or an ancient god named: Greed, had adjusted your memories due to his suspicions of you realizing who he was before he betrayed us all and rendered you unconscious…” Magius answers as he goes on to inform The Bandit of all that had transpired during her unconsciousness. ………. Within Candy Cane Corner, both Pinkie Pie and Candy The Party Girl were currently preparing various meals and baking a multitude of pastries. In addition, they had also finished decorating the establishment; along with setting up a various assortment of party props. This was all in preparation of throwing a surprise party for a certain duo. However, during this time, the pink pony couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness as she comments: “I miss you so much, Mena.” “Don’t worry, Pinkie,” Candy comments. “We’ll help your sister and get your life force back.” “B-but, how? Where do we even start?” Pinkie Pie inquires in a saddened tone as her mane mildly deflates. However, Candy suddenly leans into the party pony and says in a lowered tone: “My sis and I know some people. We actually might’ve told them to infiltrate Yharim’s stronghold; along with another ally of theirs: Leinfors.” This causes Pinkie Pie to gasp in response before she questions: “Wait, who’s Leinfors?” “As I mentioned, he’s an associate of another duo my sister and I know. We’ve already informed them of you and your sister’s plight and they agreed to help her. Fun fact: Did you know that Leinfors used to be a famous adventurer? He even knew another adventurer named: Snow.” Pinkie Pie was noticeably shocked by this revelation as she then recovers her composure and says: “Wait a second, why didn’t you tell me any of this before?” This causes Candy to laugh sheepishly in response as she puts a hand to the back of her neck and says: “I, uh, kind of had to play it safe. I couldn’t risk any of this leaking out.” Pinkie Pie then gasps before replying: “Oh my gosh! Candy, are you like some secret agent?!” The Party Girl simply laughs in response before she says: “No, not exactly. Let’s just say that I’ve been around, and earned a lot of favors. I cashed this one in and my two contacts should be within Yharim’s forces by now. I can only hope that all goes well...” “Yaaaay!” Pinkie Pie exclaims happily as she then hugs The Party Girl. “Thank you so much for this, Candy. Oh! And you too inside there, Candymena.” Candy then takes on an attentive expression, as if listening to an invisible entity, and giggles before saying: “Sis says: It’s cool.” “So, what are the names of your secret agents?” Pinkie Pie inquires as she then pulls a large brown jacket out of her mane, accompanied by a detective’s hat, and wears the vanity items in mere seconds. Candy gives the party pony an approving nod before she responds: “Their names are: Braelor and Statis.” ………. A sudden beam of light mixed with ice materializes itself into being; followed soon after by four individuals: Steven The Clothier, Rarity, Shadow Thunder, and Starlight Glimmer. “I can’t believe you two were spying on us.” Starlight comments with narrowed eyes. “Perish the thought, darling,” Rarity responds with a small pinch of nervousness. “We simply happened to be passing by, is all,” Rarity then turns to Steven. “Right, Steven?” “Y-yeah! We were, uh, finding some cobwebs to make more cloth. Would you believe that you two happened to be near a large spider cave?” Both Starlight and Shadow Thunder glances towards each other with a raised eyebrow before they then turn back towards the fashionistas. The dark stallion then chuckles before he says: “I’m just glad that Starlight is feeling better now.” The unicorn mare then laughs sheepishly before saying: “Yeah… I guess now that I think about it all, and with a clear mind now, I really was blind to punish myself like that. I owe you big time, Shadow Thunder.” “It’s no problem at all, beautiful.” The dark pegasus responds which causes Starlight’s features to go beat red as she then turns her head away. Where at one point she would normally reject the compliment, prior to her talk with Shadow Thunder, she now embraced the compliment as for the first time in a long while, the unicorn mare truly felt as if she actually deserved it. That she was indeed worthy of being called: Beautiful. Starlight then takes on a determined expression as she regains her composure and says with her head held high: “You know what? I was never a mare to beat around the bush,” She then turns towards Shadow Thunder, all while drawing the attention of the two fashionista’s and of course the dark stallion, as she says: “Shadow Thunder, It would be my pleasure to accept your proposal for a date, to take me out to dinner,” She then fidgets in place and runs a forehoof against the ground before stating: “I-if you’d still have me, that is?” Rarity was now on the verge of screaming in absolute delight all while Steven gave Shadow an approving gesture. The dark pegasus was momentarily taken aback by Starlight’s forwardness, although it certainly was a pleasant change compared to how the unicorn mare held herself up once before. Finally; with a smile forming onto his muzzle, Shadow Thunder bows down before the unicorn mare as he lowers his left foreleg and says: “Starlight, it would be an honor to have you as my date. And, yes, I definitely would still like to have you,” The dark stallion then rises back to his complete stature, all while Starlight takes on a pleasant expression in addition to both Rarity and Steven admiring the scene in the background. The pegasus then continues: “We can start things off slowly and see where we go from there. However, If I’m being honest with you…” He then chuckles nervously as he puts a forehoof behind his head and continues: “I, um, really hope that you’ll take me as your special somepony, someday.” Starlight giggles in response with a forehoof covering her muzzle before she then starts to walk, with a bit of a skip in her steps. She passes by the momentarily confused stallion and absolutely stuns the dark pegasus by what she does next. The unicorn mare pauses for a moment, looks over her shoulder, and brushes her tail gently across the stallion’s face as she comments: “You just might~” The unicorn mare then holds her head high, closes her eyes contently, and skips merrily towards the direction of the library; leaving behind an absolutely flustered pegasus pony who was now completely under her spell as he comments with a derpy looking expression: “W-woooooow~” Using her left forehoov to fan herself, Rarity comments: “My word, darlings. I never took Starlight to be a flirt.” This causes Steven to take on a confused expression as he questions: “I assume this is a pony thing? What was with the tail brushing?” Rarity laughs in response with a hoof covering her muzzle as she then replies: “Ohoho, let’s just say that Starlight might very well be interested in our good stallion here. That, and the fact that Twilight and the others will have quite the amount of revelations when they get back,” Rarity then looks off towards the skies as she comments: “I hope you’re all doing ok, darlings.” -TERRARIA, THE CRIMSON- A pillar of flames suddenly appears as Twilight, Tori, Linn, and Celebes The Dryad were brought into being soon after. “I can’t believe that we didn’t learn all too much in Draedon’s lab… most if it was just about the origins of The Perforators and The Hivemind. Not to mention Cyborg Brainiac,” The lavender mare then lets out a sigh of relief as she then comments: “I’m just glad that this doctor wasn’t able to complete that in time. According to the file, that is.” Everyone nods in response as Tori then conjures forth a very particular device. Upon closer inspection, Twilight inquires: “I-Is that… a type of detonator?” Tori nods in response before the kenku then imitates, shockingly, Applejack’s voice and responds: “That is correct, Ah’ have set various sticks of dynamite throughout the lab. Once ah’ activate this detonator, the explosion will no doubt catch unwanted attention.” “Tori’s right,” Linn comments. “We’ll need to be swift, which is why…” The pink haired terrarian then conjures forth some type of magical object which held the appearance of an apple. Linn then raises the apple high into the air and calls forth two horses: Ves, and another horse that accompanied Linn’s trusty steed which was of a red coloration with a black mane and tail. “That horse is for you, Celebes,” She then turns her gaze towards both Twilight and Tori. “You two need a horse? I figured since you both had wings, you’d be ok, but I have three more left thanks to this item.” Twilight’s eyes widened with absolute curiosity as she took notice of the apple-like object and its effects. However, before she could say anything, Tori interjects and comments with Applejack’s voice still in effect: “Naw, ah’ can keep up with y’all mighty fine, but ah’ appreciate the offer.” “Ok, you and I are going to discuss your species’ various properties in the future,” Twilight comments as she then replies to Linn, saying: “And I’ll be fine as well. Thank you, Linn.” With Celebes and Linn now mounted on their horses, in addition to Twilight ready to take off towards the crimson skies, Tori prepares to activate the detonator as the kenku performs a countdown like gesture with their left hand by holding up three fingers and clasping the others. One by one, the three fingers also start to clasp into a closed fist as Tori finally activates the detonator. [BOOM] [BOOM] [BOOM] A series of multiple large explosions roars out as piles of flesh are being thrown into the air. Both Celebes and Linn prompt their mounts to start moving all while Twilight takes to the skies. Tori performs a sprint alongside the two horses while also letting the kenku’s arms stretch outwards, behind the humanoid bird. As expected and following the large explosion, various roars of the monsters from the living flesh echoes out as the aforementioned monstrosities start to form from the fleshy landscape and soon gives chase to the fleeing group. -TERRARIA, YHARIM’S KINGDOM- Having successfully planted the runes in Camelot and returned to the underground kingdom of The Jungle Tyrant, Pinkamena was currently making her way towards her quarters as she often placed a forehoof to her head and gritted her teeth. Ever since this “Oblivion” entity, or even consciousness, made itself known, the dark pink pony has often had sudden headaches ever since the experience. Fortunately, like an explosion, it would only come and go but it did leave her with many questions as she says: “What the buck is going on with me? What does all of this mean? And why is it showing up now of all times?” Pinkamena then takes notice of two guardsmen who were currently positioned outside of her quarters, on opposite sides of the door/entrance. Now drawing near them, the two guards take notice of the encroaching pony as they then turn to each other and give the other a nod. The guard on the left side of the door opens it, all while the guard on the right says: “Welcome back, Pinkamena. Your quarters have been prepared for you during your absence.” “Cool.” Pinkamena responds monotonously as she enters the room. However, instead of hearing the door close behind her, the dark pink pony’s ears perk up as she could instead hear the two guardsmen enter her room before they then finally close the door, with a fairly loud thud. In preparation and thanks to the room’s secrecy, Pinkamena says internally: -Yo, Skelly- -What is It, pony?- -Get ready to tear these two apart, why the buck would they-- “Pinkamena, my partner and I are your allies,” One of the guards comments which causes the dark pink pony to turn around completely and meet their gaze. The very same guard who had just spoken then removes his helmet before saying: “My name is: Braelor,” Braelor then extends a hand towards his ally and says: “And this here is: Statis.” Statis in turn also takes off his helmet before saying: “We understand that you might not trust us, which is why we brought you a gift from someone.” Statis then conjures forth a very particular pastry from his inventory, one that instantly caused the dark pink mare’s eyes to widen in recognition as she comments: “T-that’s… a cupcake from… my sister.” “Yes,” Statis responds. “Our associate, Candy The Party Girl, managed to procure this for us and told us that it will earn us your ears,” Statis then walks closer and beckons for the dark pink pony to take the pastry. “All we ask is for you to hear us out. This may very well be most interesting to you.” With a small hint of caution, Pinkamena walks forth as her gaze is focused on the cupcake, a piece made from her beloved sister. She then takes the cupcake into her left forehoof and caresses it as if it were Pinkie Pie herself. After a few moments of admiring the cupcake, Pinkamena turns her gaze back towards the two men before her, who appeared to be terrain from what she could tell, as she says: “Candy knows her stuff, it seems. Fine, you two have thirty minutes to convince me that what you have to say is worth it.” “I thank you,” Braelor says in response as he and Statis take a seat on Pinkamena’s nearby table, which was paired with two chairs on either side. The two men takes a deep breath as Braelor then says: “I’ll give you the short version: How would you like to screw over Yharim?” Pinkamena didn’t even need to hear any more of it as her facial features immediately morphed into pure mischief. She then gently places the cupcake onto her bed as she chuckles to herself and says: “At first, you had my curiosity. But now, you have my metaphorical erection.”