//------------------------------// // Chapter 118 - The Glowing Mushroom Biome // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// -TERRARIA, THE GLOWING MUSHROOM BIOME- The group, along with their new subterranean visitor, were currently within a large chamber which in turn served as one of the many entrances to The Glowing Mushroom Biome. Having explained their story, along with their kind’s current circumstances, the large truffle now waits for the responsive answer from the group who stood before them, all of whom were wearing facial expressions of absolute disbelief. The ponies simply stared on with wide eyes and hung mouths all while some of the various terrarians and sea folk seemed to ponder on The Truffle’s words; who was revealed to be named: Shroom. “So, uh,” Jeremy The Angler comments as he finally breaks the silence. “Shroom was your name, right?” The Truffle nods its head in response. “And you’re a male member of your species?” Terralestia inquires. “Shroom is male. Shroom’s kind comes in two different colors for each… what was word?” The Truffle inquires as he ponders on it for a moment, to which Sai Sahan answers: “Would you by chance be referring to: Each gender?” “Yes,” Shroom comments in response. “Shroom thanks you. Dark blue is male truffle, light blue is female truffle. Female truffle also smaller than male truffle, but female truffle is faster. Male truffle only stronger.” “By the coral of the sea, I’ve heard about your kind from one of my ancestor’s records, but to see it for myself...” King Amidias states. Finally recovering from their shocked states, both Applejack and Rainbow Dash began to draw closer to Shroom as the cyan pegasus says: “Ok, wait a second… what exactly is going on here?” “Ah got’ta agree with R.D.” Applejack comments as the cowmare then conjures forth her hat from her inventory. She then holds it against her chest and continues: “Mah’ apologies, Mr Shroom… but ah’ was kind of spaced out by yer’, um, unique appearance. B-but don’t think that ah’ don’t like ya’, not at all! Ah’ just was… surprised.” Rainbow Dash suddenly takes on a rather curious expression as she floats into the air and tries to truly take in The Truffle’s appearance. This entity was a giant compared to the average pony, that of which often stood five feet tall with certain individuals going only a few inches above that. Even an alicorn like Princess Celestia, who was somewhere between seven to almost eight feet in height, was dwarfed as Shroom measured in at a whopping ten feet in height. The entity could easily toss anyone who was currently sitting before them with relative ease as Shroom was also fairly large and bulky to go with its tall, mushroom-like, frame. As Rainbow dash continues to observe The Truffle, who in turn doesn’t seem to mind, Tanner The Guide suddenly clears his throat as he says: “So, you mentioned that you needed our help?” “Yes, Shroom’s kind is at war with surface dwellers,” This momentarily causes everyone to take on concerned expressions, to which Shroom comments: “No fear, Shroom knows you not surface dwellers, who help bad surface dwellers,” Shroom then points his right hand towards both Rainbow dash and Applejack as he says: “Shroom knows you good because Shroom see you have pony. Harmony is friend to Shroom, and Shroom’s fellow truffles. Harmony, good. Ponies, good.” This causes Applejack’s ears to perk up as she says: “Well ah’ be darned, are yer’ sayin’ that we ponies and truffles get along well?” Shroom nods in response before saying: “Truffles teach… what is orange pony type, again?” “Oh, are ya’ askin’ what kind of pony am I?” Applejack inquires. Shroom nods in response. “That’d be an earth pony.” Applejack answers to which Shroom responds: “Yes, truffle not good at surface dweller language. Shroom try his best, but Shroom not too good. Shroom have much to learn. Like Shroom said, Shroom’s fellow truffles and earth pony work together, we teach them to make ground become green again. We make farms, and we connected to earth in way that only dryads can understand.” “Woah woah woah woah,” Rainbow Dash injects. “Are you saying that truffles taught earth ponies how to be connected to the land? And to grow stuff effectively?” “Yes, flying pony. Shroom and his truffles teach earth ponies to live off earth. Our gift to Harmony, truffles thanks for her help long ago. Now, truffles in danger again. Shroom beg for your help.” “Well ah’ be darned!” Applejack exclaims enthusiastically. “If ya’ll really did teach the earth ponies here how to do what we do, then of course we’ll help ya’!” “Not to sound like an ass,” Jeremy The Angler comments. “But we kind of have a mission here. We still need to track down the crab-” “Raaaaaawwr!” Suddenly, The Angler’s words were cut off by Shroom, who lets loose a mighty roar in response. The Truffle then stomps his left foot into the glowing dirt of the edge of the biome; causing the earth to crack bellow him before he exclaims: “Shroom hate stupid crab! And surface dwellers who help crab!” This instantly catches the attention of everyone else present as The Truffle specifically mentioned the very same cultists that they’ve been searching for. “Wait a second,” Terralestia comments as she then starts to draw near The Truffle. “Those ‘surface dwellers’ that are aiding this giant crab are the same individuals that we’ve been tracking down. Shroom, you most definitely will have our help. Let us work together to defeat them.” “Kdgdhfhf dhhd nd!” The Truffle exclaims while raising its left arm into the air; in a tone that was reminiscent of happiness. This of course leaves everyone absolutely confused as Tanner The Guide questions: “Uh, what did you say?” “Oh, Shroom speak in truffle. Shroom say that Shroom happy for help.” “If I may be so bold, Shroom,” King Amidias injects as The Sea King starts to float towards The Truffle, followed closely by his men. “Can you take us to where these cultists are gathering? Or an encampment of sorts?” Amidias’s features then turn into sadness before he continues: “Please, my daughter’s life is in jeopardy and we need to find The Giant Clam’s pearl to help her. Not to mention bringing those foul cultists to justice, along with their idol, Crabulon.” The Truffle momentarily stares at The Sea King before replying with a saddened tone: “Shroom understands. Shroom also saw Giant Clam you search for. Giant Clam forced to make pearl for stupid crab and bad surface dwellers.” “The Giant Clam is also a prisoner?” King Amidias questions as he tilts his head to the side. “Then our records must be slightly inaccurate. We got the impression that it willingly aided Crabulon, and formed a sort of symbiosis relation with that creature.” “No, Giant Clam is sad. Shroom talk to clam once before. Shroom once escape from being prisoner. Clam wish to return to water behind you,” The Truffle then points his left hand towards the pool that sits behind the group, the exact same pool they emerged from. “Crab trapped clam here in Glowing Mushroom Biome. Clam wants to go back into water,” Shroom responds as The Truffle then turns around and beckons them to follow before saying: “Come, Shroom take you to Mushroom Village. Truffles be happy to see you. Shroom then take you to stupid crab and bad surface dwellers.” Suddenly, just as the group were about to take their leave, a very particular dolphin suddenly jumped out of the water behind them, which in turn caught the group’s attention. Before the dolphin could make contact with the glowing dirt of the biome, the sea creature’s body is engulfed in green flames as a very familiar humanoid changeling flips in the air and lands on his feet in one swift motion. “Hey! What’d I miss?” Echo Silhouette inquires before he then takes notice of The Truffle. He simply stares at the entity with curiosity, and a small bit of shock, before saying: “Ok, seriously… w-what exactly did I miss?” Everyone simply stares at the humanoid changeling with questioning expressions, no doubt wanting to ask Echo for his well being after the recent battle, before Applejack then manages to recover and says: “Ah’ll fill you in along the way, partner.” Some time passes by as Shroom leads the group diligently throughout the large underground biome of glowing mushrooms. Tall spires of glowing mushrooms towered over the subterranean landscape all while the very grass of this biome were also glowing in a similar fashion. Despite the absence of a sort of artificial sun, much like The Underground Jungle Biome, this entire biome was alighted by the vibrant glow of its flora and fauna. The group bore witness to many forms of life as creatures had adapted incredibly well to this underground biome. Simply put: It was truly a sight to behold. “This is simply beautiful,” Sai Sahan comments as he then takes notice of a glowing flower, that of which was etched onto a bushel of blue leaves. He successfully plucks the flower from its place with his right hand and turns to Terralestia, saying: “For you, milady.” Sai offers the flower by extending it towards the rainbow haired terrarian via his right arm, who in turn accepts it gracefully and responds with reddened cheeks: “My my, Sai. Aren’t we a gentleman~” She then winks at Sai before placing the flower just over her ear by piercing her hair with its stem, now securing it in place. The glowing flower easily complimented the ever changing color of Terralestia’s hair, as Sai then comments: “You truly look beautiful, Celly.” Currently walking in front of the duo was a certain cowmare who looks over her shoulder; forms a smirk on her muzzle, and comments: “Ah’m surprised y’all ain’t a couple yet.” These words causes the duo to look towards each other before they then turn their gaze back to the cowmare as Terralestia responds: “Actually, Sai and I have been dating for nearly two whole years.” This causes Applejack to blink twice before replying: “Well ah’ be, really? Y’all don’t really act the part, if ya’ get mah’ meanin’.” Sai Sahan chuckles in response before saying: “We might not tell each other with every passing second how much we love the other, like couples do nowadays, but we show our love for each other by our actions. Not our words.” “Sai’s right,” Terralestia states pridefully. “He’s been what’s held me together ever since I lost my brother. It only made sense that we’d eventually be drawn closer, you know? I guess what I’m trying to say is that he’s got my back, and I’ve got his,” She then turns towards Sai with a smirk. She half lids her eyes and says: “And he really does get my backside~” “C-Celly!” Sai exclaims with reddenned features. “Please, love… not in front of them.” Terralestia covers her mouth and giggles in response all while Applejack continues to watch on. A sudden thought comes to her mind as she says internally: -Ah’ wonder If ah’ should consider findin’ a special somepony- “Hey, um, A.J.” Rainbow Dash comments which draws the cowmare out of her inner thoughts. “Wha’? Oh, sorry about that, sugarcube. Was lost in mah’ thoughts there.” “Nah, It’s cool,” Rainbow replies with a dismissive hoof as she then brings out two of the very same flowers that Sai Sahan had gifted to Terralestia. “I, uh, thought that these flowers were awesome... so I think we’d look even more awesome with them on.” Applejack tilts her head momentarily before she then chuckles and says: “Ah’m mighty surprised, R.D. Ah’ would reckon that this kind of stuff would be too sappy fer’ ya’.” “W-well, yeah, but I still think that we’d be awesome toge- I mean, with them on!” The cyan pegasus quickly places her own flower on top of her ear, piercing her mane with its stem. She then offers the other flower to the cowmare and says: “Here, take it.” Applejack was momentarily taken aback by this action as she then forms a smile onto her muzzle and comments: “Thanks fer’ this, R.D.” The cowmare takes the flower and imitates the pegasus’s actions; placing the flora above her own ear. Applejack takes a moment to admire it before saying: “Ah’ love it. Yer’ a good friend, Rainbow.” Applejack then pats the pegasus on her head as the cowmare proceeds to walk forwards. The cowmare’s words in turn causes the pegasus to be stunned momentarily and also slows down her steps as a result. Truth be told, Rainbow felt internally disappointed by those words. Specifically, being called just a friend. Taking notice of this by looking over his shoulder, Echo Silhouette purposely slows down his steps and soon finds himself alongside the pegasus as he says: “Good try, but you need to be more forward. Although, I must also comment that your intended mate is quite… dense.” “Hey,” Rainbow Dash growls in response with a lowered tone. “She’s not that dense, she just doesn’t realize what’s going on. That’s all.” Echo simply stares at the pegasus with a deadpan expression before he then responds: “You’re doing that thing again when you contradict what you say. You say that she’s not dense, but then you admit that she is.” The humanoid changeling’s words throws off the cyan pegasus as she stutters: “I-I… s-she… oh, just, shut up.” Rainbow then scoffs as she turns away with reddenned features. This in turn causes Echo to state internally: -Could she be one of those tsundere types?- Both Sai Sahan and Terralestia witnessed the scenario from behind as the ever changing rainbow haired female terrarian comments in a lowered tone: “So, how long do you think it’ll take for those two to finally get the hint?” “If we’re lucky, I give them till after we defeat Crabulon.” Sai Sahan answers in a matching tone. ………. Tanner The Guide was currently standing alongside Applejack, with both Rainbow Dash and Echo Silhouette currently behind them, as The Guide states internally: -Soon, it’ll be time to make my move- He then sneakily glances towards Applejack and continues his inner thoughts: -You, Applejack… are the final pony that I’ve decided to target- FLASHBACK: -TERRARIA, THE UNDERWORLD- Within the fiery depths of The Underworld, Tanner The Guide was currently positioned on a large cliff composed entirely of brimstone which in turn stood before a large sea of lava. Incidentally, a large wall of flesh also stood before him as The Guide bends a knee and says: “Lord Legion, I have returned and everything is prepared within the capital.” “Excellent, Tanner,” The Wall Of Flesh responds as the entity’s voice nearly quakes the local area. “We have also gained word from Ocram that the demonic runes have been positioned within The Crystal Empire. Soon, I, Nyarlethotep, shall rise once again! I shall lay claim to both worlds and mold them into a singularity,” The large entity then focuses all of its many eyes upon Tanner as each of its mouths speaks in unison: “We only need one last piece to our grand puzzle. Or shall we say: Three.” Tanner smiles devilishly in response before saying: “I have set up perfect scenarios in order to capture three ponies in particular.” “Which ones are they? Remember, Tanner… Twilight Sparkle must be one of the three.” “Yes, my lord,” Tanner then rises to his feet and now stood at his full stature before he continues: “The other two ponies are: Starlight Glimmer and Applejack.” END FLASHBACK