Terraria-A Ballad of Block and Sword
Prologue-The Moon Lord's Defeat
Thunder rumbled. Lightning crashed. Rain spattered on the windows. Princess Luna was still awake because of it. A strange natural rainstorm had formed that the pegasi were not able to control, and it had persisted through the day and long into the night. Luna slouched on her bed, and sighed.
"Could it be possible?" she asked herself. "Is this the foretelling of the Veil's piercing?"
She got out of bed and walked over to her private bookshelf, full to bursting with ancient tomes and scrolls. Pulling out a single scroll, clad with Starswirl the Bearded's cutie mark, she opened it again and began to read.
Log of Starswirl the Bearded, number 1451.
Throughout my experiments, I have noted that several times when I have attempted to pierce the dimensional screen, it has rebounded with a magic phenomenon beyond my comprehension. This "Veil" as I have named it, seems to be intent on keeping what inhabits in, and others out. It is resistant to all forms of equine magic, and though I believe there to be worlds beyond this Veil, I have yet to encounter them. Though, many questions would arise as to what would belong in such worlds, and how they would be linked to our own.
These questions are for a later time….
The rest of the log was blurred and worn from age. Luna sighed and turned back to the window, which was streaked with rain. She, through her studies before her banishment, had learned of "The Veil" and how it protected Equestria from extradimensional threats. Only once had it been pierced before, and that was during the formation of Equestria, when the Wendigoes had struck. Luna took one more look at the scroll before placing it back on the shelf.
"Whatever is out there…" she said quietly.
"Princess Luna?"
Luna turned to see a Lunar Guardspony walk in and bow to her.
"The pegasi fighting the storm say it is finally letting up. It should blow itself out by morning light."
"Thank you." Luna replied. "Return to your post, Lunar Guard."
The Guard saluted and walked out. Luna sighed as the crashes of thunder and the roar of lightning started to cease. She fell on her bed and soon was asleep.
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"JUST DIE ALREADY!"
Leo slashed with his sword at the Moon Lord's remaining hand, which attempted to swat him away. Leo flew upwards with his angel wings and drove his sword deep into the Moon Lord's palm. The Moon Lord groaned in agony, and his hand exploded into pale blue dust. Leo readied himself as the Moon Lord shot a volley of lasers towards him. Leo dodged expertly, and he leveled his sword at his enemy.
"DIE!" Leo yelled as the Moon Lord's exposed core prepared to fire a laser blast. Leo built up speed and with a mighty thrust, drove his Titanium Sword straight through the Moon Lord. As it roared and disintegrated into particles, the sun broke through the dark, stormy sky and began to shine over the land of Terraria. Leo then opened his inventory, and he smiled. A powerful spell known as Lunar Flare, along with a white gun-like tool, now belonged to him. Leo fell back onto the grass, spreading his tired limbs.
"Alright, that's enough rest." he said after five minutes. "Let's head home."
As he opened his cell phone, he tapped an icon marked "Home" and he disappeared in a flash of blue light. Reappearing in his bedroom, he stepped out onto the balcony, and smiled at his village's NPCs looked up expectantly at him.
"It's done." Leo said simply, and there was much rejoicing. Leo smiled and waved, and he headed back inside to the storage room next to his bedroom. Stripping off his Dragon Armor, he fell back onto his bed attired only in the jacket, surcoat, and pants that had been his only real casual wear for quite some time. As he relaxed, he sighed.
"What now?" he asked himself. "I've slain every boss there is here, looted whoever-knows how many chests, and killed practically every monster there is. I've even contained the Hallow and the Corruption! There's nothing to do!"
"That is where you are wrong, old friend."
Leo sat up to see his Clothier and confidant Jack walk in, leaning on his oaken cane.
"There is something I've been meaning to show you." he said. He pulled out an ancient piece of paper, setting it down and unfurling it on Leo's table. Leo got up and walked over.
"What is it?" he asked.
"You'll see." Jack replied, rolling the map flat. Leo's eyes widened. It was a map. A map unlike anything seen before.
"There's the western beach." Leo said. "But what's with the landmass that's over here?"
"You see, Leo." Jack said. "This map will lead you to a distant land, where you can explore to your heart's content."
Leo smiled.
"When can I leave?"
Jack laughed.
"I wish I could say now, but there is much to do. A fine, seaworthy vessel is of most importance. Supplies need to be gathered, and properly stowed. Oh, so much to do!" Jack laughed.
"Well, should I get building?" Leo asked.
"I have a boat ready, though it has been a while since it has seen the ocean." Jack replied. "You'll need to repair it."
"On it. While I go get it, can you get the supplies I'll need? Take as much money as you need from Sir Oinks-a-lot." Leo said.
"I'll never understand why you named your piggy bank…" Jack said, looking over at the Piggy bank on his nightstand, though it had a little Knight's helmet on top of the pig's head. "...but yes, I'll make sure everything's ready."
"Thanks, pal." Leo said. "I'll get to work."
As Leo equipped his Dragon Armor and flew off to the beach, Jack sighed and took a single platinum coin from the large amount of money within.
"This'll be all I need." Jack said, exiting Leo's manor and heading towards the Merchant's house.
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Leo set himself down on the beach and looked over at the boat. It had a few holes in the hull, but Leo reasoned he could have it patched in a few hours. Opening his inventory, he grabbed a stack of lumber and wooden walls and set to work.
"La...la...la...I'm singing the building song…" Leo said, humming the little tune that he always sang when working on a build. Soon, he looked at the finished and patched hull, smiling. Then, he set to work refurbishing it. Much to Leo's content, the lower decks held several chests, with a workbench, loom, woodworking table, and a small forge, perfect for small smelting jobs. Leo headed to the upper deck, and started to clean out the storage area, occasionally throwing a tiny spider out the window. Then, as he dusted off his hands after a few hours' work, he head footsteps behind him. Leo turned to see Jack walk up, with about half of his villagers carrying crates of supplies.
"Fine job, lad." Jack said. "She'll sail you through hell and back."
Leo smiled.
"Considering I've been to Hell, I don't doubt it."
Jack laughed.
"Well, she's seaworthy all right." Asher the Guide said, with nods from the villagers. As they began to load the supplies, Leo checked his inventory, which consisted of…
A Full set of Dragon Armor…
Angel wings…
A set of Titanium tools, upgraded with Hallowed Bars for more power...
A Titanium sword, reinforced with Stardust Fragments for extra killing power…
A Venus Magnum, upgraded with Stardust fragments, making it glow a deep blue instead of acid green….
The Pwnhammer…
The Axe…
A Laser Drill....
And various other weapons and supplies. As Leo opened his piggy bank and retrieved fifty gold, he smiled at the beach and the sea spreading out before him.
"Here I come." he said quietly. As the villages helped him hoist the sails and began the launch, Leo smiled.
And I'm off!" he said. "Jack, Asher, keep things calm around here, okay?"
"You got it, Lad!" Jack replied. As Leo manned the wheel, the ship slid off its ramp and entered the water. The wind soon caught the sails, and Leo soon felt the wind against his face.
"It begins!" he said with gladness as he sailed out into the ocean.
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Three days of sailing later.
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Leo smiled as a landmass came into view. He guided his ship slowly into an inlet, and smiled at the fresh scent of the air, as if rain had just came and went its way. As he scooped his fingers into the sand, like usual, it clumped together into a block, perfect for building. Leo tossed it aside and pulled his ship ashore, setting it neatly so it wouldn't be washed away. Leo opened his inventory and pulled out a large stack of wooden planks. As he set to work building a dock, he had no idea he was being watched…
Rainbow Dash was woken up by the gentle breeze. As she yawned and stretched, she looked around at Ponyville. The storm had blown itself out, and the sky was blue, with a few pewter gray clouds remaining. As she decided to take a flight around town, her eyes darted over to the Everfree Inlet. She banked to the right and soared over. She then furrowed her brow. A large boat with bright white sails had set itself ashore. Even stranger was the small biped placing wooden planks from the ship to the shore. Rainbow flew into a tree for a closer look and she gasped. The figure was building a dock! Even more astounding, he was pulling torches and fences out of nowhere and placing them expertly along the edge of the dock. Rainbow was impressed at how fast the biped was working.
"He's good at building that dock…" she said. "I guess I could say hello…"
She set herself down on the dock and took a tentative step. The dock held fast, and Rainbow walked over to the being. She noticed it was wearing a light purple and blue armor, and even more surprisingly, white feathered wings lay tucked on the chest-plate.
"Hello?" she asked. The being didn't respond.
"Hey!" she said, a bit louder. The being still didn't notice, only pausing to place a torch.
"YOU EVEN LISTENING?" she yelled. At this, the being looked over its shoulder, gave her a wave, and then took off his helmet.
"Sorry, didn't hear you." he said.
"How could you not hear me?" Rainbow asked.
"Well...it's Dragon Armor. Natural soundproofing." he said. "I'm Leo."
"Rainbow Dash. Faster flier in Equestria." she boasted.
"Fastest flier, eh?" he said. "Well, I might race you sometime. I'll probably lose though. My wings aren't exactly built for speed, more for maneuverability."
"Oh. What's with the ship?" Rainbow asked.
"That's mine. Just arrived here. Three days of sailing." he replied. "Quite a trip. I mean, most of the free time I had back home I was either dungeon-diving, looting chests, or killing monsters."
"Dungeon-Diving?" Rainbow asked.
"Well, back home, there's this part-subterranean structure called the dungeon that's populated with all kinds of monsters. Every so often I go there for fun."
"You go there for FUN?" she asked.
"Yeah. Alongside all the drops and the cash I make, it's a nice gig." Leo replied, placing the finishing touches on the dock.
"Okay...what other crazy things have you done?" Rainbow asked.
"Okay, that's a long list...I killed a giant worm with multiple heads....a giant Eyeball that can shoot lasers….A large pile of slime that was somehow a king...a large brain with laser eyes...A Skeleton with no body and two giant hands... a giant Wall of Flesh that again, shot lasers...A Giant Bee... Two eyeballs linked together that shot lasers...A mechanical version of the skeleton and the worm...a large carnivorous plant monster, a large golem, a Pig-fish of royal blood...a group of Lunatic Cultists, the Four Celestial Pillars, and the very embodiment of the Moon itself that wanted to end all life as we knew it." Leo said. "Plus I have a village back home with lots of nice people that I raised from the ground up."
Rainbow was lost for words.
"Yeah, most people are like that when I tell them of all my accomplishments." Leo said.
"You...are...AMAZING!" she said. "How in Celestia's name did you do all that?!"
"Well, like I said, It's quite a long story. By the way, got a restaurant you'd recommend? I am STARVED." he said. "Building with blocks also builds your appetite."
"Well, if you come to Ponyville with me, I know a good bakery." she said.
"Sure." Leo replied. As Leo unfurled his wings and followed Rainbow through the skies to Ponyville, Leo smiled.
"Look out, because here I come!"
Terraria-A Ballad of Block and Sword
Chapter 1-Ponyville's newest resident
As Leo and Rainbow walked down the stone road to Ponyville, the pony looked over at him with a smile. Leo had just finished telling her about how he haid slain the Moon Lord and saved Terraria from annihilation. Rainbow was more than impressed, truth be told.
"So, this...Moon Lord." Rainbow said. "Was he tough?"
"Oh, god yes." Leo said. "The thing was blocking my sword swipes like they were pillows. Took me awhile to get rolling, since I prefer swords as my weapon of choice. Anyway, Moon Lord was gonna end me with a giant swat when I sliced his hand clean off. A few thrusts later, and he was dead. Got a sweet spell as loot."
"Spell? As in magic?" Rainbow asked.
"You can use magic?" Leo asked.
"Well, I can't, since I'm a pegasus, but Twilight, the princess I told you about, she could probably tell you more."
"Sounds good. Thing is, my magic isn't "Pull a rabbit out of a hat", but more like "Rain down blasts of lunar energy to decimate all those who oppose me."" Leo said.
"And that's your kind of magic?" Rainbow said.
"Yeah. This the town?" Leo asked, upon seeing Ponyville. Rainbow nodded and led the way. As soon as Leo stepped into the town square, a pink blur slammed into him at high speed.
"Shit!" Leo yelled as he was tackled. Rainbow wrestled an overly ecstatic Pinkie Pie from smothering him.
"YAYANEWFRIENDWELCOMETOPONYVILLETOTALLYIHAVETOGETAPARTYREADYSOBYE!" Pinkie yelled, speaking so fast that Leo couldn't understand a word she said. She then zoomed off, breaking the sound barrier in the process. Leo looked at Rainbow, giving her a look that screamed "What the hell was that?"
"That was Pinkie Pie." Rainbow replied. "She's...ehem...hyperactive when it comes to new people here."
"Did someone give her a Speed Potion or something?" Leo said. "That was too darn fast, even for me."
"Well, she's like that. She has done some pretty weird things. Like her party cannon."
"Party cannon?" Leo asked, his voice getting slightly panicked.
"Don't ask." Rainbow said. "Come on, let's go meet Twilight."
As they walked off, the various inhabitants of the town just shrugged and resumed their daily routines.
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Meanwhile, back in Terraria, a ship sailed the seas towards Leo's Island. A female Terrarian, clad in Vortex Armor, with a Phantasm bow, steered the ship towards the inlet where Leo had launched. Beaching her sailboat, she pulled out a map and glanced at it.
"If the rumors about this "Leo" warrior are true…" she said. "He'll be a heck of a challenge."
"Excuse me, miss."
The Terrarian turned to see Jack the Clothier walk up.
"Who might you be, and why are you looking for Leo?" he asked.
"Name's Artemis." she said. "And I'm looking to challenge him. Know where he is?"
"He left three days ago on a journey." Jack said. "I can give you directions, if you wish."
Artemis nodded, her light green hair blowing in the salty wind. As Jack pulled out the map to Equestria, Artemis studied it carefully.
"Just be careful, miss Artemis." Jack said. "Leo is far from a pushover."
Artemis nodded and smiled with determination.
"Funny thing you should mention that. I'm not one either."
She drew a copy of the map on a spare piece of paper and mounted the wheel of her boat. Setting off into the setting sun, Jack looked at her departing sailboat.
"Just be careful, miss." he said before resuming his pleasant walk.
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Leo had only been at Twilight's castle for a few hours but he had already learned three things.
One...she was kind.
Two...she was nice.
Three...SHE NEVER STOPPED ASKING QUESTIONS.
Leo groaned and gave his replies to Twilight's never-ending volley of questions about Terraria.
"So, these monsters only appear in subterrene environments or at night"?" she asked, grabbing a fresh notepad, as three had been filled up already.
"Yes. Monsters do head towards the surface at night. The rule of thumb is that each biome has different monsters. Day is safer, night is harder." he said.
"And you also said that your magic comes from an innate "Mana" source. Care to explain that?" she asked.
"I'm not a spellcaster, so I don't dive into how Mana works." Leo said. "I only use battle magic when my sword or gun can't kill it."
So, now about the…"
CLUNK!
Leo had passed out from exhaustion in his chair. Twilight looked over at Rainbow, who shrugged.
"You did ask him questions for three hours straight." she said.
"Well, I learned a lot. This is all going to Celestia." Twilight replied, putting the notepads in a package.
"Jeez." Rainbow said. "The last thing Leo needs right now is a…"
"PARTY!"
The door burst open, revealing Pinkie in a very excited mood. She, upon seeing Leo passed out, took a pair of defibrillator paddles, hooked the wires up into a bag of sugar, and smiled.
"Clear!" she yelled, triggering the paddles. Leo's eyes surged open and he soared into the air, buzzing with a sudden surge of energy.
"wHaT iS wRoNg WiTh mE?" he said, stammering and barely pronouncing the words as a result of the sugar surge.
"Party Defib!" Pinkie said.
"What IDIOT gave you a defibrillator?" Twilight said, shocked.
"Silly, Nurse Redheart! I gave him a standard shock!" Pinkie said.
"Dare I ask how much that is?" Rainbow said.
"Three pounds!" Pinkie said.
"THREE POUNDS!?" Leo said, before he sunk to his knees and passed out a second time. Pinkie attempted to give him another shock, but Twilight intervened.
"Let's just get him to bed." Twilight said, picking Leo up and depositing him in the ground floor guest bedroom. As Twilight turned the light out, Leo groaned.
"Ohymygod, my head…." he said, groaning falling backwards. "What the hell did that Pinkie pony do to me? Eh, I've got plenty of potions. I'll sleep it off."
As he uncorked a Grand Health Potion and drank deeply, he sighed, recorked the bottle, and fell asleep.
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The next morning, Leo woke up to a delicious smell. He sighed, took off his armor, placed his gear in his inventory, and walked into the kitchen. He sighed and took a seat at Twilight's table.
"Morning, Leo!" Twilight said, handing him a plate of eggs.
"Morning." Leo replied. "What the hell happened last night?"
"Pinkie hit you with three pounds of sugar direct-injected into your system. You passed out when you crashed."
"Jeez. How the hell did she do that?" Leo asked.
"A Party Defibrillator." Twilight said.
"A Defibrillator? Like the one my nurse, Annie, uses back home?" Leo asked.
"Nurse?" Twilight asked.
"Yeah, I sort of built a village and I have twenty villagers of various professions. Annie's a nurse, so she heals me up to peak strength, for some coin." Leo said. "Some of my others are Gorbak, my Goblin Engineer, Sven, my Demolitionist, LaDale, my Gunsmith, and confidant, Jack, a clothier whose curse I lifted."
"Wow. Quite a town you have." Twilight said, sitting down.
"Thanks." he replied. As they ate, Leo sighed.
"I kinda want to explore. Any recommendations?"
"Well, I can show you around. Just be careful. Most of our residents here are...quite...skittish." Twilight said, remembering Zecora.
"We'll be fine. What's the worst that can happen?" Leo said. "Pitchforks and torches?"
"Yes." Twilight said. "We've had pitchforks and torches. Eleven times last time I checked."
"Geez, and you live here?" Leo said.
"Yeah. It's an interesting town, I will say." Twilight said as they walked outside. As they strolled, Leo then saw a pony in a cloak walk towards a second pony with a bag.
"One sec." Leo said, his hand on his Venus Magnum. Then, the pickpocket grabbed the bag and ran. Twilight attempted to grab him, but Leo was faster. Stretching out his leg, the pickpocket tripped and rolled before coming to a rest. Leo picked the pony up and shook his head.
"Uh, nice try." Leo said as the pickpocket stammered. Twilight returned the bag while Leo took him to the Guard Station. Upon arrival, he was told that the cells were falling apart, and unsafe.
"I can fix that." Leo said. As he promptly shoved the pickpocket into the Guard's arms, he walked into the prison area. He then proceeded to rebuild and refurbish the entire cell block in the space of a half hour. As he dusted his hands, Twilight arrived.
"Sorry, the guards needed a…" Twilight froze at the sight of the revamped jail.
"Who did this?" she asked the guard as Leo threw the pickpocket into a cell.
"He did. I still don't believe it." The guard replied. Twilight raised her eyebrows and walked over to Leo, who was placing torches along the length of the cell block.
"How did you do that?" Twilight asked. Leo smiled.
"We Terrarians have a knack for building things. I mean, I built my village, twenty houses, defensive walls, a tavern, a grain silo, and more, all from what I could find around me. I mean, fixing up a defunct jail? That was pretty darn easy." Leo said. Twilight sighed.
"Okay, so, let's get back to walking, shall we?"
"Lets." Leo said. As they walked out, the guard waved goodbye. Back outside, Leo was escorted to Sugarcube Corner for a Twilight-insisted "reward." As they sat down, Twilight saw Leo muttering to himself.
"What's up, Leo?" she asked.
"You ever think that this place is a bit...extravagant in all the sugar-related stuff?" Leo said.
"Maybe. Let's eat." Twilight said.
Leo sighed and picked up the menu.
"As long as Pinkie doesn't defibrillate me with sugar again, I'll be fine." he said.
