Hard Pill to Swallow

Fractures Series
Storyline by Rainimator and the Production Team

**Hard Pill to Swallow** is the second episode of the second season of *Fractures* and the 8th episode overall. It features the song of the same name by Blacklite District and has amassed 14M views as of March 2022. It is centered around Naeus 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.

In the next scene, Naeus, Kralos and other Wither Skeletons watch as Abigail‘s corpse is thrown into the Lava below. With her fire immunity gone, the Nether Star appears as she is burnt to ashes, which Naeus proceeds to absorb 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, Naeus besting 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, showing that he was actually tyrannical. 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 the head 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 concedes and dies, leaving Naeus as king as the remaining surrender to his rule.

## Cast

* Naeus
* Kralos (debut)
* False Pig King † (debut)
* Abigail Crysteffor (body) †
* Hogsworth (debut)
* Herobrine (body) †

## Trivia

* This is Kralos' first appearance and speaking debut, being voiced by Rainimator himself.
	+ Kralos is the second person who is voiced by Rainimator, the first being 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 and Ceris in Goodbye, Daryll and Naeus in Begin Again, and once again Daryll and Naeus in Wings of Salvation
* This episode marks the permanent 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*.

## Video

"Hard Pill to Swallow" - A Minecraft Original Music Video ♪
## Gallery

1. ↑ https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/blacklite-district-hard-pill-to-swallow-song-video-premiere-8479249/