Hard Pill to Swallow

Hard Pill to Swallow is the second episode of the second season of Fractures and the 7th episode overall. It features the song of the same name by Blacklite Districthttps://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/blacklite-district-hard-pill-to-swallow-song-video-premiere-8479249/ and has amassed 15M views as of January, 2024. 
The episode is centered around Naeus, the Wither Rider, as he leads the Wither Skeletons against the Pigmen for the crown during the climax of the Nether Civil War. 
== Synopsis==
The civil war between the Wither and Pigmen has shattered the horde's unity. A luminary skeleton fights his way to defeat the Pigmen tyranny and restore the Nether back to its former glory.
==Plot==
The episode begins with Kralos conversing with Naeus in the Wither Tower, stating that after Glutton and Abigail Crysteffor were killed, the Nether had fell into civil war, with heavy losses on both sides. After asking what happens next, Naeus responds to allow the Pigmen to underestimate them, going on to mention his ties to the Nether Princess and what power he can forge from her death. It goes further as he declares he will rule the Nether, bringing it back to its former glory.
Naeus, Kralos and other Wither Skeletons would perform a ritual on the edge of the Lava Lake, designed to safeguard her corpse for future needWe are the Danger XL. Abigail's corpse is thrown into the Lava below, and with it, the Royal Star appears for the 'victor'. Naeus promptly absorbs the Star as the others bow, leading to a sinister flash of red in his eyes.
The Wither Skeletons then proceed to the Wither Camp to retrieve Herobrine's head. Upon arrival, they battle against Pigmen who were there for the same reason, Naeus besting their leader, Hogsworth, using an upgraded Ruby Thorn. Naeus keeps Hogsworth alive, letting him flee to alert the False Pig King of the development. However, the False Pig King harshly slams Hogsworth into the ground as punishment, angered that the Withers are mobilizing. Naeus and his group return to the Wither Tower, where Naeus absorbs Herobrine's powers, and demonstrates his power by summoning fire from the Nether Star and lightning from Herobrine at the same time.
The Pigmen and the Wither Skeletons clash on the bridge of the Nether Fortress as a newly empowered Naeus challenges the False Pig King. The leaders engage in a very violent duel, where after a few well timed lightning punches, the False Pig King is killed. With his death, Naeus as claims the crown, becoming the Nether King, and prompting remaining pigmen to surrender.
== Cast==
*General Naeus
*Kralos the Wither Knight (debut)
*False Pig King † (debut)
*Abigail Crysteffor † (body)
*Hogsworth (debut)
*Herobrine † (head)
== Trivia==
*This is Kralos' first appearance and speaking debut, being voiced by Rainimator himself.
** Kralos is the second character to be voiced by Rainimator, being preceeded by Herobrine.
**Both Kralos and Herobrine star in this episode (albeit Herobrine as a dismembered head) thus making this the fourth time that two characters who share a voice actor appear in an episode together. 
***The previous three instances were with Lady Azura/Ceris in Goodbye, and Daryll/Naeus in Begin Again and Wings of Salvation
*This episode marks the second death of Abigail Crysteffor, and where both the Nether Star and the Ruby Thorn are passed on to Naeus.
*This is the only episode/and or special episode or trailer that has a complete absence of female characters, minus Abigail Crysteffor's corpse.
*The ritual of throwing Abigail into the lava pays homage to Kazuya Mishima's ritual of throwing deceased off cliffs from Tekken.
*Around the time of Wishing Dead's production, Rainimator cast a poll in his Discord over creating a short novel detailing the Nether Civil War, including Hard Pill to Swallow. Despite gaining overwhelmingly positive reactions to the news, the novel has not been made.https://discord.com/channels/478232666781646889/489080436765753354/682453087037947954
==Video ==
"Hard Pill to Swallow" - A Minecraft Original Music Video ♪
==Gallery==
===Promotional===
File:Sacrifice.jpg|Naeus holding Abigail Crysteffor's body in a promotional render.
File:Withercamp..jpg|The Wither Camp in a promotional render.
File:Kralos.png|Kralos in his introductory render.
File:HPTS11.png|thumb|Naeus in a conceptual/promotional render.
File:Hogsworth Promotional Poll.png|Hogsworth in a promotional poll render.
File:Naeus Ruby Thorn.jpg|Naeus with the Ruby Thorn in a hidden promotional render.
====Gifs====
File:Abigail1.gif
File:Naeus6.gif
File:Naeus4.gif
File:Naeus3.gif
File:Naeus2.gif
File:Kralos4.gif
File:Kralos3.gif
File:Netherstar2.gif
File:Netherstar1.gif
===Conceptual===
File:HPTS1.png|Naeus and Kralos in a conceptual render.
File:HPTSH2.png|Naeus carrying Abigail Crysteffor's body in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS2.png|Hogsworth with Herobrine's head in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS3.png|Naeus holding Hogsworth at spearpoint in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS4.png|Hogsworth bowing to the False Pig King in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS5.png|Kralos leading the Withers in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS6.png|Kralos commanding the Withers in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS7.png|Naeus pinned by the False Pig King in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS8.png|The False Pig King stumbling in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS Lightning.gif|Naeus delivering a punch with his lightning in a conceptual gif.
File:HPTS9.png|Naeus above the False Pig King's corpse in a conceptual render.
File:HPTS10.png|Naeus versus the False Pig King in a conceptual render.
===Screenshots===
File:Abigail Body.png
File:Naeus Fire Lightning.PNG
File:False King.jpg
File:Kralos killing a Pigmen.jpeg
File:Nether Star.png
== References ==
Category:Episodes with Voice Acting
Category:Fractures
Category:Season 2
Category:Videos
Category:Fractures Episodes