By Terrarian Pony
WARNING: Content of this story may include violence, gore, romance, same gender romance, Minecraft, Terraria, and references to several other video games and TV shows. This series is also written in script format. If anyone is offended by any of the content listed above, than please turn back now. You have been warned.
Author's note: Please note that even though Terraria is often mentioned in the series, this is a Minecraft AND Terraria crossover series. So please do not be offended. Instead, enjoy!
Story:
Terrarian Pony presents...
Land of the Champions
Episode 5
Welcome to Terrainville
...
The town was surrounded by a wall of cobblestone. A good defense, but goblins can easily exploit it. They send scouts, learn weak points. They don't even have to study up close. Goblins may not be more brute than brains, but their ingenuity is impressive. The guards were all wearing iron armor. They patrolled the wall with dedication. Terran approached the wall cautiously. A single arrow struck the ground in front of him.
Guard:" Stay. Right. There."
The guard was holding back. He had orange cat ears poking up from his orange hair. Unlike the other guards, he was wearing silver armor.
Guard:" Captain Richard Veil, Phoenix Guard. You're not one of them. Are your working with them?"
Terran:" I'm independent."
Cpt. Veil:" A freelancer, huh? I'm sorry. I can't let you in. Goblins have been invading in waves, and we've lost two men. Five injured. We're on lockdown until the invasion is over."
Terran:" Anything I can do to help?"
Before the captain could say anything, he heard one of his men call out from a sniper's roost.
Guard 1:" Look alive! Goblins invading from east!"
Guard 2:" Goblins invading from the east!"
Indeed, there were goblins coming from the hills where Terran just came from.
Cpt. Veil:" Goblins invading from the east! Civilians, into your homes! You, kitsune! If you want inside, help us fend of the waves of goblins!"
Terran nodded.
Terran:" Understood!"
Terran turned, pulling out his sword. Goblin peons were making their way down, while archers fired upon the town with steel-tipped arrows, providing ranged support while the peasants acted as fodder. These peasants were mostly unarmed, and they thinner than most goblins. It was common knowledge that goblin armies sent their own civilians and low-ranking soldiers into combat as meat shields. Terran found it to be a disgusting tactic, so he sheathed his swords, planning to fight with his fists. Even then it wouldn't be a fair fight, given the peons don't even have much training.
One of them swung weakly at him, and his palm blocked the punch, and Terran sent the goblin tumbling to the ground behind him. He round kicked the next goblin, and was immediately tackled by two more goblins. He managed to stand his ground against them, and break their wrists, causing them to collapse, unconscious.
He continued to knock down each of the unarmed goblins, and another wave of goblins started to come out of the forest. Most of them were peons, the others were warriors, fully in iron armor. They had a variety of melee weapons. Maces, swords, axes. Terran fought through wave after wave. Suddenly, most of the wall guards stopped firing arrows, and retreated back into the town. The sorcerers must have teleported inside the wall, and the guards are trying to repel them.
Terran was about to block another attack, when he suddenly took an arrow in shoulder. The next goblin tackled him to the ground, holding him there as the goblin warrior choked him, while two others held his arms down. Terran could feel his consciousness fading, until an armored figure appeared and knocked out the two holding his arms. He then stuck his iron sword into the warrior's chest plate, and pierced his armor, killing him. Captain veil stood over him, offering a hand to lift him up.
Terran grabbed the captain's hand, and they began to pull him up. It was here he noticed that Veil had a slender orange tail, with darker orange stripes. Terran nodded at Veil, and picked up his sword. The two of them fought off the last wave of Goblins together, side by side, in synchronicity.
When the heat died down, Terran felt as if his chest would burst. All this energy, the thrill of fighting. It was exciting. He hadn't felt like this in years. It didn't last long, though. The adrenaline was spent, and sheathed his sword as soon as he caught his breath. Terran didn't enjoy fighting, but it always felt this way when he was in a tense situation, and he loved that feeling. But it was always over too soon.
Cpt. Veil:" You fought well, and honorably, for a canid warrior."
Terran:" Uhm... thanks? No offense, I don't believe in honor. To me it's just a word that people use to feel good or bad about themselves. But I do respect my enemies... and my allies."
Cpt. Veil:" I have fought in many battles. Fought men, women... but never from outside these walls as today. I must admit, it invigorates me. And to fight next to man outside of our ranks... well that is even more exciting. I apologize for earlier. What is your name friend?"
Terran:" Terran Jones, of the local kitsune tribe."
Cpt. Veil:" There have been reports of a kitsune tribe in the east border. You wouldn't happen to know anything about the goblins that came from that way, do you?"
Terran:" Only that I... may have ticked them off earlier? To be fair though, they stole from us? I was only taking back what was rightfully ours... which, I did... but it broke."
Cpt. Veil:" Hmph. Sound like the kinda luck we've getting lately. Can't be a coincidence. Without a Protector, Terrainville is simply on it's last limb."
The captain inspected Terran from head to toe, to head again.
Cpt. Veil:" Hey... you seem like Protector material. Want a job?"
Terran:" What's a Protector? Is that similar to an elder?"
Cpt. Veil:" In a way. A Protector protects the inner walls of their city. But for Terrainville, it's different. The Protector of Terrainville has to be a champion, and maintain the security of the Terrainville, and outside of it. Terrainville's Protector is commonly known as the Hub Protector, because Terrainville is a hub for champions to come and go. But we haven't gotten a lot of those lately, due to the lack of merchants. They're afraid that without a protector, they aren't safe to sell their wares."
Terran:" I'm sorry. I wish I could help. But I have a quest of my own. I have to find a moon crystal to save my tribe from the incoming corruption."
Cpt. Veil:" That's a thing? Hmph. Sounds like something we could use. Sorry, we don't have anything like that around here. But I bet if you become the protector, you may have access to better resources to help you on your quest. Being Protector of Terrainville does not strictly require you to be in Terrainville. All you'll need is a Terrain-Gadget, and a magic mirror."
Terran:" What's a Terrain-Gadget?"
Cpt. Veil:" A Terra-Gadge? You been living under a rock? Okay, a Terrain-Gadget, or Terra-Gadge for short, is a special device built into a special glove by Terra-Tech, mainly for hot-headed adventurers. It can map your location, document creatures you fight, and keeps track of ores and stuff you find underground. But most helpfully, it's got a communication feature, contact someone long distance. If we get an emergency, you can teleport right back here with a magic mirror, or via pylons. And if you're into social media, it's got that MageBook app, or other stuff to tell you what's going on. Or you could just listen to the radio. Please tell me you at least know what a radio is."
Terran:" I do, in fact, know how to work a radio."
Cpt. Veil:" Technology is amazing isn't it? Just wish it's applications weren't so abused these days."
Terran:" I don't know, Captain. Being Protector sounds like it may take up a lot of my time. Time I fear my tribe may not have."
Cpt. Veil:" I understand your concern. But I think I may know someone who can help you. Please, follow me."
The Captain lead Terran over to what looked like a coffee shop. "Book & Brew" the sign read.
Cpt. Veil:" This is where you will find Jacob. He's known to some people simply as... The Guide. Not sure if that's just a job title, or something, but he's the guy you go to if you want to know what's going on. There isn't a thing that happens that he doesn't know about."
Terran:" What would he want with me?"
Cpt. Veil:" He'll tell you all about the job of the Protector, and if you're worthy, he can tell. He's the one who deals with all the champions that come through here."
Terran:" What can you tell me about champions?"
Cpt. Veil:" I don't know much, personally. Jacob's the guy to talk to."
Terran:" Alright, I'll talk to him."
Cpt. Veil:" If he sounds a little coo coo, it's probably because he drinks a lot of coffee. The man's addicted to that stuff. Don't bother trying to get him to quite. He'll just tell you to kick rocks."
Terran opened the glass door to the coffee shop. It occurred to him that glass seems like a counter intuitive material to make a door with, especially if the purpose was to keep out monsters. Winter ran inside and found herself a place to curl up. As he walked in, he saw a few tables and chairs. Against the walls were bookshelves on either side, full of books. Terran walked up to one of the bookshelves, and examined them.
Terran:" Chronicles of the Ender? Savage Giants? The Old Champions? Is this supposed to be a coffee shop, or my old history class?"
Terran walked over to the counter. Coffee and coffee accessories were strewn about the place. But no one was here.
Terran:" Maybe they're on their break.
Terran moved away from the counter, and over to a free samples area, with a tent-fold sign. "Experimental Flavors" it read, "Totally 100% safe for consumption."
Terran:" Yeah, I'll pass."
???:" A wise choice, my friend."
Terran turned to where the voice was coming from. It came from a caucasian man in a black suit and tie, and brown hair. His eyes seemed to be dark blue, but Terran saw past the illusion. They weren't blue, they were bright red, and bloodshot. Terran had a hand on his sword, ready to draw it if necessary.
???:" Now now, there's no need for that. We're all friends, here. Now you look like a man in need of something. I may be able to get it. For a price. So what is it? What do you desire?"
Terran:" You want to know why Kitsune are often mistaken for demons? Because we can see through a demons' charade."
The mysterious stranger chuckled.
???:" Okay, you caught me. Ahzrukhal. I'm an arch demon."
Terran:" I knew it. What do you want, demon?"
Ahzrukhal:" I'm simply a man of business. I can give you something you want, and you have something I want."
Terran:" My soul."
Ahzrukhal:" Precisely."
Terran:" Sorry, my soul is not something I will not be parting with."
Ahzrukhal:" Come now. Surely there is something you desire."
Terran:" I may be desperate, but I'm not that desperate."
Ahzrukhal:" What about that puny little village of yours? Don't you care about what will happen to your friends? Your family?"
Terran unsheathed his sword.
Terran:" You will leave them out of this!"
Ahzrukhal:" I'm trying to help you. But you have to help me first."
???:" Help yourself, horns."
The third voice came from a man, wearing blue jeans, and a pale green shirt. He was caucasian, blue eyes, and brown hair. He was calm, collected, and rose up a necklace with a cross on it. The cross emitted a light towards the demon. Ahzrukhal's face began to smoke, and then burn. He yelled, trying to block the light with his hands, but it burned those too. The demon reverted to his true form, a large bipedal creature. His minotaur-like legs were black, and his body pale and shriveled. He grew wings of red, and horns.
Ahzrukhal:" I will find you! And I will take what is mine!"
The arch demon roared, and a magic circle appeared beneath him. He turned into a red cloud of smoke, and escaped through the circle. The strange man placed the cross necklace on the counter.
???:" Sorry for the delay. I was... handling some important business in the back. Jacob the Guide. What can my services do for you."
Terran:" I'm here to learn if you know where I can find a moon crystal."
Jacob:" You sure you're not here for the position? Look, I know you probably got your own problems, and that's fine. But we have some problems of our own. How about we make a deal? Hmm? I don't wanna sound like the other guy, but, you help us, we help you."
Terran:" You people are really desperate for a Protector, aren't you?"
Jacob:" The town is hurting. Without a protector, we have no one to run the town. The captain is doing his best, but he's a loyalist. He's no champion. I saw what you were doing out there. Perhaps you can help us out, here. A Protector is more than someone who protects a town. They have to have certain skills, and be able to handle themselves in... special scenarios. We need someone like you."
Terran thought about it for a moment. His own village was in danger of falling, but so was this town.
Terran:" Fine. But on two conditions. I have to be able to continue on my quest to find a moon crystal. You have a lot a books here. I'm sure there has to be something you can research, and my people desperately need one."
Jacob:" Done. Being the Protector of Terranville, you'll have nearly limitless resources, that is if you can get people to come back and work for you that is. What's the second condition?"
Terran:" I need to prove my worth."
Jacob:" I'm... not sure I follow."
Terran:" Any knight can raise a sword and beat up a bunch of goblins. I need a real challenge, to earn the respect of the citizens, and the Phoenix Guard."
Jacob:" Huh. I haven't heard that one before. I think I might have just the thing. There's a slime den, to the east of town. The slime king has been sacking caravans on that road, preventing any trade from other towns. Take down the king, bring it's royal gel, and you'll be the new Protector of Terrainville, and by extension, all of Mythrolhia."
Terran:" Deal. One more thing, can you watch over Winter while I'm gone?"
Jacob:" Who?"
The little arctic fox from the snowy forest climbed atop the counter, sniffing about.
Jacob:" Oh uh... sure, love animals. She'll be safe and sound here. And uh... don't worry about any demons. They can't do any harm here in Terrainville. Eh... don't ask, though."
Terran looked at him suspiciously.
Terran:" Erm... okay?"
...
Terran began to walk down the path Jacob told him about that leads to the king slime. The forest was peaceful, quiet, except for the subtle disturbances caused by the squirrels, bunnies, and passive-aggressive slimes. Terran asked Jacob to watch Winter for him, so he wouldn't have to worry about her. Normally he would wait until night to get into a fight with something this big, being nocturnal and all, but he was feeling energetic for some reason. It was likely because of the thrill of challenging a behemoth, even if it were low class. Terran had not fought a king slime before, but it was a challenge he would gladly accept.
Terran had reached the cave that Jacob had told him about. Sure enough, there was a trail of color-mixed slime, splitting into different paths leading from the cavern entrance. He carefully stepped through the slime covered tracks, and into the cave. He watched as a few different-colored slimes bounced out and past him, as if they barely noticed him. These were the more passive kind, but they suck the moister from your body if you happen to get their way. Terran had to carefully avoid one of them as he crawled through.
It was dark, but his night vision kicked in quickly. The slimes continued to pass him, as he made his way through the cavern. It didn't take him long to find the main hall of the den. Hundreds of slimes littered the cave, colors blending in with and slipping between each other. And in the back was a large pedestal, with a giant, blue blob on it, donning a golden, ruby studded crown. The King Slime slumped on it's throne, just waiting for Terran to show himself.
Terran jumped down into the main hall. The den went silent. The slimes stopped hopping and turned their attention to the intruder. The king slime's voice was low, and came from everywhere at once. His gel rippled as he spoke.
King Slime:" What do you think you are doing in my kingdom."
Terran:" I am Terran Jones, of Vulpes Haven. I am here to negotiate for the citizens of Terranville."
King Slime:" You would defend the humans?"
Terran:" You have been terrorizing their trade routes. It's time you leave."
King Slime:" Funny you should be making demands of me in my own kingdom, and on your lonesome. I'm afraid you are at a disadvantage, friend."
Terran:" Does that mean you won't be complying?"
Terran pushed aside the left side of his overcoat, revealing the muramasa in it's sheathe.
King Slime:" Before I answer that, answer me this. What have the humans ever done for you? Before the Calamity, your kind and mine have suffered at their hands. They made sure of that during the purge."
Terran:" Humans are no worse than any other intelligent species. Besides, you forget that we kitsune are magically evolved from humans, and humans are magically evolved from slimes."
King Slime:" And yet, they still slaughter our kind."
Terran:" And what do you do? Cut off their supplies, starving them when they're already vulnerable? How are you any better?"
King Slime:" This is a war you do not understand, boy!"
Terran:" There is no war."
King Slime:" That is where you are wrong. The gods are coming, and they are angry. I will not hear more of this. You will die here."
Terran:" Are you a coward? Face me yourself."
King Slime:" You think me a fool? I am not lulled by a sense of honor."
Terran pulled both his swords, pointing one of them towards the king slime. Both swords ignited with icy-blue flames.
Terran:" Neither am I. I wish not to fight your people, but if you will have them fight for you, you will leave me no choice."
King Slime:" The only choice I give you... is death. Minions, attack!"
The smaller, pastel slimes began to jump at the werefox. They slimes began to sizzle, expelling acidic goo to deal damage to him. Terran charged through the slimes, leaping to land a blow on the king slime, but the king began to shrink, causing one of Terran's swords to get stuck in the ground. The king began to grow again, quickly, sending Terran flying across the room. The slime minions began to jump him as he landed on his back. Terran attempted to shoo them away with the frostflames. He managed to keep the majority away, but a few fell into the flames, melting them.
King Slime:" The kitsune cares not for your lives! He burns your brethren in vein! Show him the same mercy!"
Terran:" Freakin'... authoritarians! Can't you all see he's using you!?"
Terran dashed towards the king slime, and it pulled the same trick twice, but Terran was prepared this time. As the slime expanded, he dove into the mass of goo. He had a plan, but he quickly found that his strength was wavering. He was trying to muster up whatever mana he could find, but taking in mana was as simple as breathing, which he was having trouble doing in here. He realized that there was no mana within the body of a slime, and his mana was starting to drain.
King Slime:” What was your plan? To allow yourself to dissolve within my body, to become one with my essence. You are the most worthless excuse for a champion I have ever seen. But of course, I will not allow you to die before witnessing the full extent of your failure. I think first, I will let you watch as I devour the ones who sent you."
It was here, Terran started to regain his senses. He wasn't willing to put others in harms way if he could help it. Mustering the strength, he was able to transform his arm, and dig his fox claws into the ground. As the King Slime began to bounce into the air, Terran felt himself being pulled free of the slime's imprisonment. The King Slime either didn't notice, or didn't care, because it began to make it's way outside the cave. Terran did his best to recover quickly whilst the slimes slowly bounced their way towards him.
Terran:" The town. I can't let him get to Terrainville."
Terran picked himself up, and followed the king slime, dodging stray slimes at every step. Once he was finally outside, he felt the quacking movements of the King Slime's every bounce. With swiftness, he ran up into the trees in his fox form, hopping from tree to tree, and failing almost miserably. Though, admittedly, he'd never done this while a giant slime was making shockwaves in the earth. Finally, he'd reached the outside the forest, and managed to do so before the slime. He stood in the middle of the dirt road, in his half human form leading towards the town, and began to summon himself some mana before the slime could reach him. He made a Y pose as the slime came down on him hard, entrapping him within itself.
King Slime:" This is the champion you sent? Pathetic! I would sooner mourn for a sunflower, than to have any respect for such a one-trick pony! If this twig could not defeat me, what makes you think any of YOU have a chance!"
Cpt. Viel:" I think you underestimate our champion, here."
King Slime:" WHAT! WHAT ARE YOU- GRRAAAAAAAAAAAAGH!!!"
From within the king's body, was a plume of icy blue flames, coming from the purple fox man's hands, melting him from the inside.
King Slime:" NNNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!"
The slime melted to Terran's feet, leaving Terran covered in gel. Terran knew his spell didn't work before because he unable gather his mana from within the slime. But this time he was able to cast the spell just before he was trapped inside, allowing the spell to cast before all of his mana was drained. It wasn't long before he heard the sound of cheering behind him.
Cpt. Veil:" You actually did it."
Terran:" It was a slime. And like with every slime, fire is the answer. Or in my case, frostfire."
Cpt. Veil:" Did you have to lure it here though? You made big mess in the road."
Terran:" He kinda ran away from me."
Suddenly, all of the king slime's remains began to disappear, being replaced by a blue bag in the middle of the road, with a depiction of a king slime on it. Terran picked it up.
Terran:" What's this?"
Jacob:" It's a treasure bag."
Jacob was walking towards them.
Jacob:" Behemoths turn into these things after being defeated. It was meant as a reward for whoever defeated them. Look inside, you might find something of great value."
Terran opened the bag, and found what looked like a ninja outfit. It might be useful whenever he was planning stealth. He also found a cup of delicious looking slime, which suddenly grew a pair of eyes and a crown. Terran guessed that this "royal treat" was a pet item, which can summon a pet familiar. Works well for companionship. The last thing he found was a large blob of gel, with a crown inside of it. Slimes began to emerge from the forest, and bounce towards Terrainville. Terran held out the wad of royal gel in their direction.
Terran:" I have slain your king. Now go back to your den, and leave the townspeople alone!"
The slimes obeyed, and went back into the forest.
Jacob:" Nice job. You might just be real protector material after all."
Jacob turned to the people of Terrainville.
Jacob:" Terrainville! Meet your new protector. Terran, the Frostfire Fox!"
...
It was now night time, and Terran was preparing to leave.
Cpt. Veil:" Nice work out there... Protector."
Terran:" Please, just call me Terran. And thank you. But as I said, earlier, I have my own quest."
Jacob:" Yes, yes. A moon crystal. I may be able to do some research while your gone."
Terran:" Great. I'll mostly be out of town during the night. I sleep during the day, so I can use my magic mirror to get back here."
Jacob:" While you're at it, do me a favor. See, each town has a special teleportation device. A pylon, if you will, to get from town to town. What we have is a forest pylon, but it's been useless since everyone else deactivated theirs. It's understandable that when the Protector of Mythrolhia died, everyone became afraid of outsiders suddenly teleporting into their towns. But now that Terrainville has found a new Protector, they should feel safe again. If you find some of these towns, do you think you could convince them to reactivate their pylons? This will allow us continue trading with other people, without having to rely so much on the roads."
Terran:" That makes sense. Where should I look for first?"
Cpt. Veil:" Try Jewel Town. It's a town of goblins who used to fund most of our projects back before Glen got himself killed. But ever since then, they've cut ties with us. A town without a Protector means people won't come to Terrainville, which means that they cannot profit from the things we build here and all over Mythrolhia."
Jacob:" Oh yeah. You might be able to find one of those moon crystals there to. They keep a lot jewels, money, and artifacts there. If their's anyplace you should start, it's there."
Terran:" Sounds promising. I'll head there right now."
Jacob:" Terran wait. I almost forgot. Are you right or left handed."
Terran:" Right handed. Why?"
Jacob:" Then you'll want to wear this on your left."
The Guide pulled out a large, black glove, with a pretty high-tec flatscreen device on the back of the arm.
Jacob:" This is a Terrain-Gadget. This is used commonly by champions all around Mythrolhia, to assist them in their adventurous endeavors."
Terran:" The captain told me about these. Thanks."
Jacob:" Oh, and one more thing. Take this."
The object was a sort of metal with four gems embedded in it. A topaz shaped like a blazing star on the bottom, an emerald in the shape of a throwing star at the top, an amethyst in the shape of a flame on the left, and a sapphire in the shape of a shining star on the right.
Jacob:" It's a protector's medallion. It shows that you are a protector. You're going to do great things... champion."
...
Terran began into the forest, toward Jewel Town, cutting through zombies, and dodging skeletons. As he entered a clearing in the forest, he heard foot steps behind him. He turned and saw a a familiar, pale green creature. The four legged living bomb made it's way towards him, but Terran threw a frostfire ball, killing the creeper instantly before it could even start hissing. Terran stood there a moment, then began to continue forward, before getting tackled by a large figure, with claws and bat-like wings.
He could just barely identify it by it's pale, red skin, and it's yellow eyes. It screamed at him, as he attempted to struggle, forcing the demon to scratch him a bunch before it was able to plucked a strand of hair from his head. Terran managed to kick the demon off of him. The demon screamed once more at him, as he attempted to recover, but ended up falling on his stomach. He was breathing heavily, a big, long scratch on his chest. He was bleeding, but wasn't lethal. it was then, that he heard a familiar voice.
Ahzrukhal:" You should have taken my deal. Now... let's make a new one."
To be continued...