-TERRARIA, YHARIM’S KINGDOM: DRAEDON’S LAB-

Having told his tale of Spike’s fate, Yharon’s gaze was aimed towards the floor in utter shame. Both Braelor and Statis looked upon him in shock, but the ninja growls with gritted teeth and shouts:

“You spineless dragon!” He points his right index finger towards the drake, “You could’ve stopped this! All you had to do was stand up to your brother, even fight alongside Spike, but you didn’t!”

Braelor turns to his friend, “Statis! Enough of that, we need his help to-”

“No, Braelor!” The ninja interjects. “This toothless wyrm didn’t even try to stop him!” Statis turns to Yharon, “And you call yourself a Jungle Dragon?! You’re a disgrace to them all!”

“I said: Enough! Statis!” Braelor shouts with a tone that causes the ninja to wince, “You’re allowing your emotions to cloud your mind, and you call yourself a ninja?” He points towards the exit, “Go cool yourself off!”

“You’re taking that coward’s side?!” Statis responds, gesturing towards the dragon.

“This isn’t about taking sides, Statis, it’s about keeping our sights on the main goal!” Braelor replies as he too gestures towards Yharon, “We need him, Statis. Without him, Pinkie Pie’s life force is lost to us forever, and Yharim will be free to use it for Terra knows what.”

Both men lower their arms, while Yharon’s eyes are closed as his head is lowered to the floor. Taking Statis’s harsh assault of words. The dragon wouldn’t even try to protest for even he believed that he deserved this.

“From what Yharon has told us, Yharim is using strange powers to corrupt those he finds an interest in,” Braelor says as Statis’s emotions are in conflict, “And it’s even strong enough to not only affect a Jungle Dragon, but an Ancient, too,” He places his right hand onto Statis’s right shoulder, “Do you think for a second that he wouldn’t try to mess with Pinkie Pie’s life? A new monstrosity could be born from that…”

Statis’s face contorts in his inner conflict. On one hand, Braelor’s words were wise and true. On the other hand, the ninja absolutely detested the dragon before them. Then, with a surrendering grunt, Statis bats Braelor’s hand away and says:

“Fine! You win,” He points towards Yharon, “But after this is all over, and once we’ve escaped, I recommend you fly as far away from me as remotely possible, dragon.”

Yharon’s eyes open up as he nods in response to the ninja, “I’m sorry…”

“‘Sorry’ won’t bring Spike back… nor Twilight,” Statis replied from over his right shoulder as he was in the process of leaving the room. Sitting down outside, in the hallway, leaning against a wall with his arms crossed.

Braelor sighs at the drama that had taken place as he makes his way towards the dragon. He stands next to Yharon before lowering himself to the floor, sitting next to the draconian.

“Sorry about that, and please forgive him. He’s usually more collected...” Braelor comments.

“There’s nothing to forgive… he’s right…” The dragon responds, then sighs, “I am a coward, or perhaps I’m too loyal to Yharim… maybe both. I love my brother, but it’s also because of that love that I hesitate to stand up to him,” The dragon looks up towards the ceiling, “Even when he’s clearly in the wrong.”

Then, the dragon is shocked as he sees Braelor’s right hand rest itself onto the drake’s scales.

“There’s nothing more difficult than the loss of your family. Trust me, I know...” He said.

“Are you not angry with me?” Yharon questions with interest. “I’m surprised you stood up for me. I’d assume that you’d be infuriated, like Statis.”

“We need to work together and not be divided by bitterness,” Braelor responds, then raises his left index finger, “It’s just like my old friend said all those years ago: ‘United we stand, now and forever, in truth. Divided, we fall.’”

Yharon tilts his head, “You knew King Arthur? That was his decree, was it not?”

Braelor laughs lightly, “Knew him?” He lifts himself off of the floor and stands at his full stature, “I was his personal bodyguard. I fought alongside everyone during the fight with Cthulhu.”

“I remember encountering you both all those years ago,” Yharon responds followed by a chuckle, “Especially when my brother would visit Twilight. My apologies for I’ve forgotten the knowledge, but are you two immortal?” The dragon questions.

“In a manner of speaking,” Braelor responds with a shrug, “I’m a Demi-God, although I’m technically a Demi-Ancient by birthright, too. My Ancient blood comes from the Demi-Ancient, Baldur, who sired me with my goddess mother, Nanna. Both of whom come from the Norse pantheon,” He looks over to the exit of the room, “My friend, Statis? He’s the son of Tsukuyomi-no-Mikoto, God of the Moon; who hails from the Japanese folklore.”

Yharon was about to respond, but a surge of sensation overtakes him as the dragon lifts himself up in one swift motion. The fire drake looked to and fro with his eyes closed as if he were looking in the direction of what he was sensing.

Brealor was naturally surprised by this as he looked up towards the towering dragon, “What is it?” The Demi-Ancient questions.

“My brother has engaged in combat against the witch,” The dragon responds as he lifts a claw and concentrates, “The window is open… I just need to find- there!”

Suddenly, a pink energy was formed in the dragon’s talon, sparkling with life. In addition, sprinkles of light were released from the energy along with the faintest hint of Pinkie Pie’s joyous laughter.

A soul of light, one could say.

As this happened, not only did Statis re-enter the room upon hearing the commotion, albeit still glaring at the dragon, but an anomaly was beginning to form before them all. Sweetie Belle Glutonia exits the breach as she comments:

“I escorted the clone to a safe position,” She takes notice of the pink energy within Yharon’s grasp, “And I see that I’m making good timing,” The demi-ancient places a hand to her chin, “But won’t your brother take notice of her life force missing from his inventory?”

“She’s got a point,” Braelor comments. “Aren’t you the only one with that access? He’d deduce that you’re the only culprit to blame, right?”

“A fair concern. However, while I did say that I have access, I never actually stated that I’m the only one,” Yharon responds as he cradles Pinkie Pie’s life force, “When Yharim and I first enlisted Calamitas into our ranks, he wanted to earn her trust by any means.”

“And he gave her access to his inventory as well?” Statis deduces, but his bitterness is still present.

Yharon nods in response, “A part of it, yes. The same portion that he holds Pinkie Pie’s life force within.”

Sweetie Glutonia snaps her fingers, “I get it! And since he trusts you inexplicably, he’d never question if you took it. And he would instantly assume it was her doing.”

Braelor chuckles, “You’re a pretty scary dragon, you know that? Being able to trick Yharim is a feat no one should scoff at.”

Statis rolls his eyes, “Too bad he never did-”

“Knock it off, Statis,” Braelor interjects, followed by a sigh as he turns back to Yharon who, in turn, extends Pinkie’s life force towards them.

“Take it,” Yharon offers. “Deliver it to its rightful owner.”

Braelor takes the life force gleefully as he sends it away into his own inventory, “Thank you, Yharon. For everything.”

Sweetie Belle gestures towards the portal she arrived from, “I guess we’re all set then. Come, let’s go collect Crystal from the arena and get the hell out of here.”

Both Braelor and Statis nod in response as the men walk towards the anomaly; entering moments after. However, Yharon looks towards Sweetie Glutonia and says:

“Prepare yourself, Glutonia. Your sister might not choose the path you’d hope for.”

Sweetie sighs in response, “I know… Crystal loves Yharim like a father. It won’t surprise me if she chooses to stay. I’ll still give her the option to come with me, of course,” She looks towards Yharon with a begging expression, “If it comes to that… look after her for me, ok?”

Yharon nods, “She doesn’t call me ‘uncle Yharon’ for nothing. I see her as another one of my kin, and I would die for her if need be,” The dragon then conjures forth a certain mirror from his inventory and tosses it towards the demi-ancient, who catches it in turn, “That mirror is enchanted to take its user directly to Yharim. I think we both already know what she'll choose to do... give it to her.”

Sweetie Glutonia nods in response before turning around; entering the portal. Yharon covers himself in a spiral of flames, “I’m coming to your aid, brother.”

With that, the dragon was gone as the flames consumed him whole and wisp him away.

This chapter serves as an interlude to the coming disaster!

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, Angel Wings(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, Angel Wings(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, Angel Wings(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.