//------------------------------// // Chapter 122 - Betrayal Pt:2 // Story: Terraria: Friendship Is Magic // by Pomp-Neigh //------------------------------// Some time before Tanner’s betrayal:  -TERRARIA, THE GLOWING MUSHROOM BIOME, MUSHROOM VILLAGE- Echo Silhouette was preparing for the coming confrontation with The Brotherhood Of The Crab as the humanoid changeling was currently positioned at the top portion of History Mushroom. The changeling ruler wanted to double check his equipment beforehand. Suddenly, a certain kenku arrives in a gush of wind and lands before Echo seconds after. “I have a proposition for you, Echo.” Tori comments in Applejack’s voice. This instantly gets the changeling’s attention as he inquires: “A proposition? What for?” “Your capabilities as a changeling, specifically your gift for transformation, are indeed most beneficial for my hidden agenda. In short, I wish to employ you.” “You kind of already did. It’s why Lord Anubis sent me along to aid-” “No, you don’t understand,” Tori interjects with a raised arm. “This doesn’t concern the battle with Crabulon and the cultists. This is a different matter entirely.” Echo was momentarily taken aback by this as he was not expecting there to be a secret objective amongst the group’s members. With a raised brow he questions: “Ok, what exactly is going on here?” “I shall be straightforward with you. What we are about to discuss is in regards to Tanner, The Guide.” Present: -TERRARIA, THE GLOWING MUSHROOM BIOME- Applejack was currently at a loss for words at the sight before her. Both Tori and Tanner The Guide were going to war against each other all while Echo Silhouette stood before Applejack. Before the humanoid changeling goes to join the battle, he looks over his right shoulder and says: “You need to leave, now! Tanner wants you out of the picture!” “B-but, ah’ can’t just leave y’all-” “You’re not leaving us if we’re telling you to go, so go! Warn everyone about Tanner’s betrayal!” The changeling ruler exclaims as he conjures forth his bow and goes to join the battle; leaving behind a heavily conflicted cowmare. Applejack’s mind was currently racing back and forth as she wanted to stay and support her two allies. However, she also understood why they’re fighting off Tanner, in order to stop the plan he has for the cowmare. With slight hesitation, Applejack roars out: “Fine! But y’all better be safe!” Upon saying those words, the orange earth pony turns around and starts to run away. Taking notice of this, but still caught in combat with Tori, Tanner roars out: “No! You will not esca-” “Fool,” Tori interjects as the kenku impales Tanner in his neck region with a kunai; causing The Guide to roar out in response. “Taking your eyes off of me is punishable by death!” The kenku then conjures another kunai into being, within the hand of their remaining free arm, and plunges it into ‘The Guide’s’ left eye. Tori then once again brings forth their Red Phaseblade as they had sent it away before the kenku’s actions. Tanner grunts in momentary pain as he then engulfs himself in a pillar of hellfire. This causes Tori to jump backwards in order to avoid the fiery pillar. The Guide then raises a hand and dissipates the pillar of flame from within while saying: “Had that been permanent... I would have been very, very upset with you!” The fire that was spiralling around The Guide ceases and what remains momentarily stuns Tori as lava seems to be leaking from the kenku’s strikes against Tanner’s neck and left eye, which seemed to act as the demon’s ‘blood’. Suddenly, the leaking lava actually gets reabsorbed into the wounds as it then causes them to heal instantly in the process. Tanner’s left eye was returned to normal all while the wound to his neck heals completely as he comments: “Never wound what you can’t kill, chi- graugh!” Tanner suddenly roars out in pain and his words are cut off by an arrow that pierces his forehead. “Headshot.” Echo Silhouette comments as the changeling was currently wielding their uniquely designed bow. The humanoid changeling then prepares to fire off another arrow before Tanner roars out with an arrow still in his forehead: “You idiots just don’t get it! You’ll never kill me!” “This arrow just might,” Echo retorts with a smirk as the changeling ruler fires off the projectile, all while Tori conjures forth a Minishark and prepares to join the humanoid changeling’s ranged assault. “What did I just tell you clo-” Suddenly, Tanner’s eyes widened in a mix of fear and realization as he watched the arrow draw ever closer. The demon barely manages to avoid the projectile in time as it passes mere inches by his face. The arrow collides with a nearby wall of glowing mushrooms as a powerful burst of holy light is let loose soon after. “Raaargh!” Tanner roars out in response as the holy light manages to cause its own form of burning effect against the demonic entity. Tanner tries to conjure forth a barrier of flames in order to stave off the light show, only for Tori to swiftly swoop in with their dual wielded weapons: Red Phaseblade and The Minishark. The kenku decapitates Tanner’s head with the energy based melee weapon while firing off The Minishark and unloading it into Tanner’s body. This in turn causes pools of lava to leak from Tanner’s body like an erupting volcano. Before the head of The Guide could reach the ground, a normal arrow was let loose by Echo Silhouette which actually intercepts Tanner’s head and pierces it before pinning it against a nearby tall mushroom. This causes the head to laugh maniacally before Tanner comments: “Got to give you credit for that holy light show. Should’ve expected someone who works for an ancient god to possess weaponry like that. Also, Tori, very rude of you to cut my head off. Regardless, despite this cleverly laid trap of yours,” The dismembered head then starts to glow with a red aura which in turn draws all of the lava that was leaking from its body, not to mention from Tori’s ranged assault against it. Echo was about to fire off another arrow embedded with holy light but was interfered as some of the lava broke off from the others and took on the form of a sword. The newly formed blade rushes towards the humanoid changeling and tries to strike away at him. Before the blade could attack Echo, the changeling ruler quickly transforms into a glowbug and easily dodges the blade.  He then returns to normal and conjures forth a Blue Phaseblade in retaliation from his inventory. [WHOOM] [SKSH] [WHOOM] [SKSH] The clashing of Echo’s energy based weapon and the lava created blade echoes throughout the local area as the changeling ruler fights off the magical anomaly. During this time, Tori douses the remaining lava that tried to reach Tanner’s head with a bucket of water which in turn turns the lava into obsidian. The kenku then rushes towards Tanner’s head, of which was still pinned against the large mushroom, as the kenku imitates Tanner’s own voice and comments: “It’s over, foul demon of The Underworld. Return Twilight Sparkle to us,” Tori then brings their Red Phaseblade up to Tanner’s head. “Then, you have my permission to die.” Tanner simply laughs in response and takes on a condescending expression, despite being a dismembered head, and replies: “Die? Good luck trying to kill a demon off permanently,” Tanner then lets loose a mischievous chuckle before saying: “You think that I haven’t planned for any of this?” This of course causes Tori to narrow their eyes in response before questioning: “What are you on about?” “I admit, I wanted to get Applejack out of the picture due to her ability. I wanted to keep the element of surprise, but I suppose that’s moot now,” The dismembered head then smiles devilishly before it continues: “However, I still have more options available to me. Tell me, Tori, did you by chance account for Rainbow Dash? How about Fluttershy? Rarity? Pinkie Pie? Oh! And don’t worry about Starlight.” Tori’s eyes were widened in shock as the kenku roars out with Tanner’s voice in full effect: “What did you do?!” The dismembered head simply laughs in response before saying: “I made a few adjustments. We already have Twilight Sparkle and all we need is two of any of the other ponies.” -TERRARIA, HOME TOWN- Starlight was currently within her room which in turn was a part of the library. She was currently squealing with glee as the unicorn mare comments: “I’m actually going on a date with a stallion. Oh, I need to make sure that I look my absolute best,” The unicorn then runs over to her mirror and takes on various poses while. She then clears her throat and continues: “Why yes, Shadow Thunder. I suppose I do look great for our date. You don’t look too bad yourself,” Starlight compliments as she pretends that the aforementioned stallion was positioned before her. The unicorn mare then giggles soon after before she says: “This is going to be so great! Watch out Shadow Thunder, because this mare’s gunnin for ya.” She then turns around and runs towards her bed with absolute excitement. The unicorn hops into the air and gracefully lands onto the bed before hugging a pillow soon after. She lets out a content sigh and says: “Yes, I’d love to become your special so-” [SKSH] Suddenly, her words were cut off as a demonic rune activates itself soon after she plants herself onto the bed. A red barrier with demonic symbols now entraps her as she jolts onto her hooves and shouts: “W-what’s going on?!” “Starlight! Are you ok in there?!” A familiar voice questions in exclamation which causes Starlight’s ears to perk up before she exclaims “Shadow Thunder! Help me!” Some time before the rune activates and traps Starlight: Shadow Thunder was currently making his way upstairs and headed towards the direction of Starlight’s room as he ponders on Rarity’s words within his mind: -Please be a dear and inform Starlight that we’ll be having lunch soon, darling. Also, you’ll both be happy to know that both myself and Steven have already begun fashioning appropriate attire for your coming date- The dark pegasus chuckles to himself in response to the memory, all while he was mere moments from standing before Starlight’s room, before saying: “I can’t wait to see what you have planned for Starlight to-” “W-what’s going on?!” Suddenly, the fearful exclamation of the aforementioned unicorn mare causes Shadow Thunder to bolt the rest of the way towards Starlight’s room. He now stands before the door and shouts: “Starlight! Are you ok in there?! “Shadow Thunder! Help me!” Present: “I’m coming!” The pegasus responds as he rears up and slams his forehooves into the door. [CRASH] The door instantly gives into the dark pegasus’s strength and falls before him like some type of foe. What he sees within the room shocks him beyond all belief as a demonic barrier surrounds Starlight’s bed, with the unicorn trapped inside. “Shadow Thunder! Thank goodness!” Starlight exclaims with a hopeful expression as she takes notice of the stallion’s presence. No more words were spoken for as of this moment, the dark stallion needed to take immediate action. Shadow Thunder rushes into the barrier and tries to strike it with a forehoof. Upon contact, a series of red electricity sizzles outwards before the barrier repels the stallion and tosses him away, sending him hurling into a bookcase which breaks upon impact and showers its many books down upon the stallion. “Shadow Thunder!” Starlight roars out with concern. Suddenly, a shocking scenario takes place as a series of shadows gathers around the shattered bookcase with the dark stallion buried under the series of books. Then, a loud roar is let loose soon after as a large entity explodes out of the rubble. Starlight’s eyes widened in absolute surprise as she saw an entity that resembles a foe from her past. Specifically, what was once a dark pegasus was a being who looked a lot like: The Pony Of Shadows. “Raaaaaawr!”