J-50N
Terrarian
Author's Note:
This story is largely based on @Daimera 's headcanons and fan characters, which you should totally read. Her art and headcanon stuff are both amazing, and have been the driving force behind this. All of the characters in this chapter are hers. The story should be comprehensible without the background information, but seriously check it out.I hope to incorporate other fan suggestions and reader submissions into this story, but I make no promises. I hope to have this done by the end of November, but will not sacrifice good writing in favor of speed. Rest assured that it will be completed, barring extreme and unforeseen issues. Constructive criticism is welcomed and encouraged.
Chapter 1: Revelations
"Are you sure this will work, Keeper?""I'm not sure of anything this close to the Conjunction, Quentin. But I do believe it is our best hope. Now, please be quiet while I summon the Powers."
Fog swirled faster around the two of them. The Keeper's web of mirrors reached out across space, finding its targets and drawing them into the room.
There was a flash of red light and the Aberrant stumbled forward. A seven-foot-tall tower of flesh and teeth cloaked in layers of tattered clothes. A colorful scarf concealed a jaw so huge as to be useless. It carried a blackboard and chalk as a surrogate voice.
Another flash, pink this time, and the Anomaly appeared. A mop of red hair perched incongruously on a body of pink flame clad in an impeccable two-piece suit. Eyes like points of burning magnesium flicked around the room.
A third flash of dull purple. The Abomination, emissary of the Corruption, stepped forward delicately on mandibled feet; a horror of oily grey flesh and bulging eyes, with a mouth that split its torso in half.
Aberrant tried to get his bearings. The room was filled with fog, the walls indistinct but likely of stone. There were two beings standing in front of him. The first wore a suit of hallowed armor with the visor down, and leaned casually on a massive hammer. The second was only an indistinct shape swathed in silky fabric, with an ovoid mirror where its face should be.
<What are you, and why have you brought me here?> The voice of Abomination filled everyone's minds, sinuous and menacing. The mirror-faced thing spoke slowly, choosing their words with care. "I am the Keeper, curator of the worlds. The three of you, the representatives of the three Powers, are here because your help is required. In just two weeks, there will be a Conjunction of Worlds. It is a time when bindings weaken and anyone can die. Permanently."
A hush fell over the room. The planet's magic made death nothing more than an inconvenient trauma. To live here was to die, repeatedly. One got used to it. Permanent death, true death, was unthinkable. The Keeper continued. "And during this Conjunction, a certain very important binding is going to break. You know what I mean: The Moon Lord. Despite my efforts, the bindings cannot be reapplied or reinforced. In just two short weeks, the most dangerous being in the world will be free to kill us all, and there will be no resurrections."
"You are here because you represent the three Powers of our world. If there is to be any hope of containing, or rebinding, or perhaps even killing the Moon Lord, you three will be indispensable to that effort. But, more importantly, we need allies. There are Other Powers which reside on the moons. They must be recruited and summoned to our aid. That is why you are here."
Abomination gnashed its teeth. <You are a fool, and I am not an errand boy. The Other Powers would never risk their necks for this foolishness. To fight the Moon Lord is to court death. And this Conjunction of yours will ensure it is a true death, if what you say is true. I will have no part in this.>
Anomaly spoke with their stolen voice. "If you were… to look up, you'd see the moon is… red. If you want to survive, you will need… to create weapons and shelter?"
Quentin replied. "Yes, Anomaly, we will have other allies, and time to prepare. But we need the assistance of the Other Powers to even stand a chance."
Anomaly didn't respond, but stepped forward to stand beside the Keeper.
Aberrant stood, trying to think. He didn't know who these people were. He didn't know why he had been chosen for this. What chance did he stand against the Moon Lord, the monster of so many myths? This mission would likely end with his death. Perhaps the Abomination had the right idea. He could run, hide, survive. Leave the heroics to more powerful, more selfless people.
But then he imagined the Moon Lord tearing apart the village that had -- reluctantly -- welcomed him in. People would die if he didn't help. Faces flashed before his eyes: the old man who knitted his scarves, the girl who invited everyone -- even him -- to her parties, the boy who loved to fish. Aberrant wrote on his board [I will go], and stepped forward.
Abomination glared with all of its eyes, even the ones on its kneecaps. <You are all fools. I will not have any part in this.>
Quentin spoke casually. "You know, if the Moon Lord destroys the five worlds, you won't be able to plunge them into eternal darkness. Ever. And don't think you'll escape death. If the Moon Lord doesn't kill you…" He hefted his hammer. "I won't hesitate to hunt you down like the worm you are."
There was silence for a moment. Abomination's jaws worked as if it had a stone stuck in its teeth. <You make a compelling hammer. I mean, argument. I suppose a bit of heroism would break up the monotony of evil.> It paused, then hissed. <Fine. I'll do it.>
The Keeper clapped their hands. "Excellent. Now, you must depart at once. There is no time to waste. Please follow me, I have a mirror ready for you."
Aberrant followed a bit behind the others. The walls of the fog-shrouded corridor were lined with mirrors in every shape and size imaginable. He didn't like this place. Nothing felt solid. It was a corridor of alien dreams, sterile and reflective. Quentin slowed down to walk beside Aberrant. "So, Anomaly serves to prove the Hallow worthy. Abomination is in it for power, and out of fear. You have no love for the Corpse, and no lust for power. Why are you doing this?"
Aberrant considered his response. [I will not stand idle as the world burns and everyone around me dies. I will not run or hide or return to the Corpse. I will fight to protect those I care for, even if it is certain death.]
"An altruist Face Monster, never thought I'd--" Aberrant growled. "Right, sorry. For what it's worth, I hope you don't die. The Abomination and the Anomaly, the world could do without. You… you seem like a good person. "
The Keeper stopped in a circular chamber, where a huge mirror stood upright, framed with gold scrollwork. "This will take you to the Third Moon, where the three Other Powers reside. Convince them to join our efforts and give them these." The Keeper handed Anomaly three cloth-wrapped packages. "When the Conjunction is about to begin I will summon you to the Fourth Moon to prepare. That is where the Moon Lord is sealed, and where it will rise. You have two weeks."
Anomaly was first to go, passing through the mirror as though it were quicksilver. Abomination followed with a final irritated hiss. As Aberrant was about to step through, Quentin laid a hand on his shoulder. "Good luck out there." Aberrant wrote out [Thank you], and took one last step forward into the mirror.
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