-TERRARIA-

Under the night stars of Terraria, a dark pink pony was trotting along a dirt paved road as the cool night breeze fluttered her mane. She was currently traversing along a meadow that mingled with the edge of a Desert Biome.

“Man, those spiderwebs were literal hell to get out of my mane… Guess that’s Yharon’s training for you. Send you into a spider cave with just your hooves. Bucking spiders.” she says, kicking a stray angry tumbleweed out of her path.

Suddenly, the universe seemed to call out to her as a fiery object breaches the atmosphere. The falling ‘gift’ from the stars was observed by the pink mare until a sudden realization dawned on Mena: It was heading straight for her.

“Jesus!” She yelps, dodge-rolling out of the way of its path and quite literally galloping to a safe distance. “Yharon, I swear to bucking Luna, if you’re testing me again today…”

The fiery object crashes into the earth, a trail of flames and destruction left in its wake as It skids across the land and collapses a large number of trees before turning some of the nearby desert sands into glass, where it finally stopped, as mounds of built-up sand halted its progress.

“Nice try, Yharon!” Mena calls out; tilting her head when no answer comes. The pink mare casually shrugs off the event and continues to trek onwards.

………..

Nearby and at the meteor’s crash site, a series of black ooze leaks out of the object as the substance seemingly crawls down the space rock. It was almost as if a shred of flesh from the Crimson Biome were moving about, slithering like a serpent while also extending its red tendrils like a slime.

Soon after, trails of red began to combine with its black coloration as It travels through the small bit of desert sand before reaching the edge that mingled with the very first grains of dirt. Suddenly, this entity could sense a heat source, pulsating from a living being.

As it reached the dirt paved road, and with its unique vision, the shifting mass from space could see hoofprints which were outlined by its owner’s body heat.

The faintest series of breaths could be heard from the entity as it tracks down the very pony who created them: Pinkamena.

..........

Mena pauses, listening intently as she slowly brings out her Vampire Knives, “Look, I can hear someone following me. I’m not exactly in the bucking mood to deal with anyone right now, so BUCK OFF!” She shouts.

The pony flings a Vampire Knife past the alien entity, who stays very still, camouflaged to look like the grounds around her.

She groans to herself, “Am I getting paranoid? I swear I’m getting paranoid.”

-Pony, can you hear me?- A deep, but familiar voice says in her mind.

Mena’s ears flicker, “Yeah, I hear you, Skelly-Boy. Hard not to when you’re in my mind.”

The inner voice of Skeletron chuckles, -You’re a more entertaining host than Steven, I’ll give you that.-

“Well, that’s more because we have a deal with one another. We’re more open to talking.” Mena responds.

As the mare speaks, the alien life form inches closer, almost at her hooves now.

-My powers have returned completely. However, I can sense a presence, Mena… it is strange…-

“Buck, so there is someo- WHAT THE HELL IS ON MY HOOF?!” The pony mare exclaims as the alien life form wraps itself around her forelimb. The alien, now latched onto her hoof, begins to be shaken around as Mena flings her hoof back and forth. Nonetheless, it continues to crawl up her leg, at a surprisingly quick speed.

“HEY! HEY! Stop shaking me around! I’m not gonna eat you! Just stay still, will you?” It manages to say through a mental connection.

An arm of Skeletron suddenly conjures itself into being, -Do you need me?- He says internally, then chuckles, -Or would you like me to give you two some privacy?-

“Skelly-boy, no time for jokes, okay?!” Mena shouts before looking at the entrails of the alien lifeform, ”The hell even are you?! You slimy little…”

“Klyntar, I’m a Klyntar! I’m called Toxin! Now stop shaking me arou- whoa!” Toxin yelps as the hoof he has attached to slams itself against the ground, “Oh god, I’m dizzy...”

The symbiote finally manages to cover up the mare as it takes advantage of the lifted hoof and shoots upwards. However, it doesn’t seem to do anything other than connect itself to her fur.

Mena grits her teeth, “Bucking… Get off me, you damn-”

“LOOK! LISTEN, OKAY?! I’m not here to hurt you! If I had my way, that weird tentacle guy wouldn’t have destroyed my world, and I would be able to live without a host like some damn symbiote!”

Mena seems to freeze at that, “Tentacle guy…? Wouldn’t happen to be legless, was he?”

“Yeah, yeah… Wait, you’ve seen him too?” The symbiote questions.

“He hurt my sis and attacked my planet. And booted me and sis here, along with all her friends. So yeah... I’ve DEFINITELY seen him.” Mena answers.

The symbiote sighs, “Look. My point is: My planet’s gone and I can’t sense any of my kin here. I can’t live on another planet without attaching to a host; you happened to be the only one nearby that was suitable.”

Mena seems to think about it for a few moments, during the time of which the symbiote was deepening its connection by extending several tendrils through her various muscles, wrapping the ends around her bones, without causing any damage.

“What do I get out of it, you weird slime thing?” Mena questions.

“Uh… A lot. Once I connect fully. Almost done… There we go,” It says, forming itself into a ghost-like mass of slime. Immediately, Mena feels entirely refreshed, as if all the fatigue from her training had just worn off.

“What the buck…? Not gonna lie, I think I could go another round with those spiders.” Mena says with amusement.

“Told you I wasn’t here to hurt you… So your skeleton friend can put his arm away now…” The symbiote comments as the skeletal appendages of Skeletron floated above them.

-Interesting. This creature is almost like a slime and a piece of the Crimson Biome, melded together.- Skeletron says within Mena’s mind.

“I have no idea what those are…” Toxin responds, seemingly overhearing Skeletron’s assessment, “Where did I even land?”

Mena chuckles, looking at the ‘phantom’ that the creature was at the moment, “Welcome to Terraria, you unlucky bastard.”

-TERRARIA, YHARIM’S KINGDOM: CAVE ENTRANCE-

At the mouth of the cave that led to the underground domain of Yharim, Yharon’s large frame stood strongly, waiting for his disciple to return. A large rumble seemingly travels from his chest, and up to his neck, as he says:

“Did she get lost in those caverns again?” The dragon chuckles, “I suppose I’ll have to bail her out, soon.”

“I’m back, Yharon. With like, a million spiderwebs in my fur.” The voice of Mena calls on cue as she trots towards him.

The dragon laughs lightly, “Shall my fire burn them-” Suddenly, he could pick up a strange scent emanating from the pony.

“Something wrong…?” Mena questions with slight nervousness.

Yharon’s nostrils can be heard taking in this strange scent as he comments:

“I know you told me the truth about Skeletron, and I won’t say anything… but I smell something else within you.”

“Jeez, stalker much…?” Mena questions with a raised brow.

The dragon’s face goes red, even more so than his natural color, “N-no! Of course not. I simply pay attention to detail. Every type of detail,” He sighs, “One of the ‘perks’ of my brother’s antics, you could say.”

The symbiote was currently hidden and mentally notes to Mena:

-Uh, no fire, please. Or high-pitched noises. I hate them, like, a lot.-

In response to this, Skeletron could be heard laughing as he responds internally:

-You have the most inconvenient weakness, then. That, right there... Is a Jungle Dragon.-

Toxin grunts with annoyance, -I never said those were weaknesses. I just said I don’t like them. Also, I have no idea… Wait, no, hang on, lemme attach to your brain, Mena- It says, extending itself to connect a few tendrils to Mena’s mind. Mena seems to wince, holding her head.

“Doesn’t seem like much of a perk,” Mena says, rubbing her hoof against her head before placing it down.

“Is something wrong with you, Mena?” The dragon questions while staring at her.

-So, uh… Any kind of clothing you like? Maybe some edgy, bloodstained stuff?- Asks the symbiote to Mena, who facehooves reflexively before nodding in response to Toxin.

“Just picked up a hitchhiker on my way here, that’s all,” Mena responds to Yharon’s question.

Yharon ponders on this for a moment, “If you wish to keep it a secret from me, I will not pry,” He smirks, “Maybe you’ll ACTUALLY hit me for once if it can benefit you.”

Mena’s eyes widen, “Oh yeah... I’m guessing this is where I start dodging, right?”

The dragon lifts a claw and gently pats Mena’s head, “No. Not right now. Usually, you’d be right to assume that, but we can turn in for tonight,” He turns around, “Come morning, Yharim is calling another war council for the invasion on Camelot. And there’s the matter of that heist of yours.”

-Oh, great. The douche king- Says the symbiote mentally, which causes Mena to cover her muzzle with a hoof to hold back a laugh.

“D-Douche King?! Really?!” She says, falling on her back and laughing for several seconds.

Overhearing her laughter, Yharon looks over his shoulder, “I heard that, Mena. He’s still my brother, you know?” He suddenly laughs to himself, “But you’re right... He can be a douche every now and then.”

Mena wipes the tears from her eyes using a hoof before getting back up.

“Sorry. Let’s get going, yeah?” She chuckles.

In a shocking display, the dragon curls his tail around the pony and gently lifts her up before placing her onto his back, “I believe I promised to let you ride me after today’s session. Take this as a reward for the Spider Caves.” Yharon comments.

-So this dragon guy, Yharon. He’s on the ‘I can deal with it’ list, right?- Toxin questions in her mind.

-The dragon hasn’t ratted them out about their heist, nor my survival, just yet. After observing him within the pony’s mind, he doesn’t seem to be treacherous.- Skeletron responds.

Mena nods in response to the symbiote before gripping a spike on Yharon’s back with a single hoof, with a strength much more obvious, “Sure. We should probably get going, else I’m gonna get ‘robotic-arm-portaled’ again.”

The dragon suddenly kicks off with a strong force as Yharon’s form stampedes down the cave entrance and en route to its inner depths.

..........

As Yharon breaches the entrance to the underground kingdom, he sees a very particular individual who was sitting on the edge of a large cliff; staring daggers towards the Temple. A certain Brimstone Witch.

“Hmmm... Mena?” Yharon questions.

“Yeah?” She responds.

“Does Calamitas seem… different, somehow?” The dragon questions.

Mena rolls her eyes, “Nah, she seems just as much of a Slave Witch as ever. Why?”

Yharon took a moment to take in the witch’s posture. If there was one thing he’s learned over the years, it was reading someone from just their body language.

Mena pauses with her head tilted before saying:

“Hey, wait a sec… Why’s she here? She’s supposed to stay in Camelot, isn’t she? Do her whole ‘please love me, I’m a Princess’ thing?”

Yharon nods, “Yes. But, something has happened. I can not explain it, but I think I know what Statis and Braelor were waiting for.”

“Celestia, don’t talk about that, dude, not out loud.” Mena scolds him as she bumps his back.

Yharon ponders for a moment, “Hmmm. Then how about this trick.”

A fiery aura escapes his form as it seemingly covers Mena’s right ear.

-Can you hear me now, Mena?- Yharon questions. This acted similarly to someone speaking to another via an earpiece.

-Welp. I’m busted.- Says the symbiote, internally.

“Yeah, I hear you, yharon,” Mena responds.

The dragon seemingly pauses for a moment, -..... You weren’t ‘busted’ until you spoke just now, creature- Yharon comments. -So I was right when I smelled another presence.-

“Yeah. That’s the hitchhiker. They’re cool, though,” Mena responds with a shrug, ”Apparently, they’re some kind of symbiote.”

Yharon nods as the red energy around Mena’s ear dissipate, “So long as you are fine with it, then I am as well,” The dragon then spreads his wings to their maximum lengths, “Now then, let us return to our chambers. Hang on.”

With a mighty flap of his wings, the red dragon is now airborne as he carries Mena towards the large Temple in the distance, just beyond the large assortments of buildings. However, he glanced back towards Calamitas’s form once more, only to see that she was now gone. Yharon looks forth and says:

“If all goes well, Mena, you will have your sister’s soul back,” He looks down with a saddened expression, “And maybe, I can get my brother back.”

“...You know that as soon as I get her back, I’m leaving for Camelot, right?” Mena responds. ”If Crystal wants to come, she can, too.”

“Y-yes…” The dragon lets loose a sigh, “May I be honest with you?”

“Yeah? What’s up?” The pink mare inquires.

The dragon remains silent for a moment as if trying to form the right words. Then, Yharon says:

“There aren’t many things that I care for in this world. Many of them were taken away by… him. Yharim’s… our… traitorous brother,” He flaps his wings once more, “Now, my brother and Crystal are all I have left,” He glances back to Mena, “But, recently, I’ve met another.”

“What, trying to proclaim your love for me? Dinner and a date first there, bud.” She chuckles, with a softer smile than usual.

The dragon laughs gleefully, but decides to work with it, “Hmm, I hear you ponies like to crossbreed anyway,” He winks, “So maybe I’ll take you up on that.”

Mena seems shocked by this but blinks it off, “I mean, we do, but you’re kinda big for me.”

-Ooooh myyyy.- Skeletron comments internally.

-Buck you, Skelly-boy.- Mena responds within.

The dragon chuckles, “Our flirtatious comments aside, if you do return to Camelot… I’ll miss you. As will Crystal, no doubt, should she choose to stay.” Suddenly, he seemed to ponder something, “Unless… I have a proposition for you, an ‘altercation’ to our current student and master agreement.”

Mena seems troubled, but she responds:

“Go on.”

“I’d like for us to continue meeting for your training. In secret,” yharon offers. “My brother will need to be unaware, and it will be up to you if you want your sister and her friends to know of me.”

“Something tells me he’s got a different type of training in mind.” Comments the Symbiote, unknowingly heard by both Mena and Yharon as they land onto the Temple and soon enter its inner portions.

For those who might want context, this is from the Alchemist NPC mod. It's appropriately named: Symbiote. It's an item you can get from the Mysterious Meteor.

https://alchemistnpc.fandom.com/wiki/Symbiote

Character inventory/equipment:

Fluttershy: Statigel Armor(pony, equipped), Overloaded Blaster, Eviscerator, Crimslime Staff, Corroslime Staff, Slime Staff, Finch Staff, Snow Flinx Staff, Hornet Staff, Blood Clot Staff, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Healing Potion, Honey Comb(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, Staff Of Necrosteocytes, Purified Jam.

Rainbow Dash: Necro Armor(pony, equipped), Star Cannon, Minishark, Eviscerator, Aquatic Discharge, Bloody Rupture, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Healing Potion, Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Victory Shard, Slime Mount.

Zecora: Crimson Armor(zebra, equipped), Dune Hopper, Sausage Maker, Beenade, Tooth Ball, Aorta, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Various Potions, Rocket Boots(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Sand Cloak(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Bloodstained Gloves(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Skeletron Hand.

Starlight Glimmer: Meteor Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Starfury, Vein Burster, Purple Phaseblade, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Healing Potion, Victory Shard, Rocket Boots(equipped), Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Slime Mount, Book Of Skulls, Skeletron Hand.

Rarity: Meteor Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Hornet Staff, Snow Flinx Staff, Ice Mirror, Blood Clot Staff, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Rocket Boots(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Slime Mount, Book Of Skulls, Skeletron Hand, Staff Of Necrosteocytes.

Applejack: Crimson Armor(pony, equipped), Vein Burster, Orange Phaseblade, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Rope, Metal Detector, Healing Potion, Rocket Boots(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Flurry Boots(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, Bone Glove, Skeletron Hand.

Twilight Sparkle: Meteorite Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Book Of Skulls, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Ichor, Victory Shards, Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Slime Mount.

Pinkie Pie: Crimson Armor(pony, equipped), Vein Burster, Blue Phaseblade, Bloody Rupture x2, Aorta, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Metal Detector, Rocket Boots(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Flurry Boots(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, The Blood Butcherer, Skeletron Hand.