Nightfall has now taken over the golden-elven-water city, and an establishment’s magical ‘door’ sizzles away into light and magic particles within an arching doorframe.

Several elven guests began to take their leave, and two very particular terrarians bid them all farewell.

“Thank you so very much for enjoying the Bake’n Cakes!” Miss. Cake exclaims happily. "We've had to do a bit of a rebrand, but the name is roughly the same as the last!"

“Please come again, everyone!” Mr. Cake waves gleefully as the last few visitors to the restaurant shuffle out the doorframe, the magical blanket of a door sealing shut behind them.

The duo turns away to walk back into the restaurant.

“Come on out, GrimDark,” Miss. Cake comments with crimson-red eyes and a demonic tone. “We’ve done our part, did you?”

An enchanting lullaby can be heard echoing throughout the restaurant, causing the ‘Cakes’ to roll their crimson orbs.

A blanket of darkness grows on the ceiling before it converges into a single drop of liquid blackness. The liquid drips to the floor, creating a small yet sizable puddle. And from this puddle emerges an equine-like figure.

The shadows of the equine recede as light-gray fur comes into view, along with a dark-gray mane and tail. The insignia of a violet treble clef is sported on the equine mare’s flank, one who sports a terrifying resemblance to Octavia Melody.

However, two staggering differences are worth noting: ‘Octavia’s’ violet treble clef cutie mark had one more aesthetic: an equine skull acted as the cutie mark’s background. In addition, she wore a type of face covering her muzzle, but there was also some technological makeup.

“Of course I have,” ‘Octavia’ comments with a flourish, her technical facemask lighting up as she speaks. “I wasn’t chosen as one of Rainbow.EXE’s generals for nothing, you know.” She performs a bow as if she had just finished a concert.

“General Destavia Melody, GrimDark musician.”

The two disguised demons chuckle in unison. “Then it is done,” ‘Mrs. Cake’ starts. “Soon, Alfheim will belong to both the damned and the darkness.”

Destavia nods. “We shall claim the surrounding realms one by one, and soon enough, not even the beings of Terraria can ignore it.” Destavia scoffs in disgust. “Thanks to those wretched ‘heroes’ of Terraria, we GrimDarks can’t breach it. Yet, anyway.”

Both demons growl in unison. “And Daedalus’s enchantments bar demons from rising from the Underworld again. Or any section of it, for that matter.”

Destavia smiles. “Luckily for both of us, there are always loopholes. I must say, we GrimDarks and you demons work quite well together. Why have neither of us ever formed an alliance like this before?”

The ‘Cakes’ look at each other before returning to the GrimDark. “Do you not know?” ‘Mr. Cake’ inquires.

Destavia raises a brow. “Oh? Do tell.”

The demons spoke in unison:

”Long ago, two entities of candy and sweets existed. One of the GrimDark, and the other, of the demon-”

Suddenly, a series of clapping can be heard coming from the back of the restaurant, garnering their attention and silencing the demons’ words.

“I thought you said this place was secure?!” Destavia exclaims, turning to the demons.

“It was!” ‘Mrs. Cake’ responds while ‘Mr. Cake’ conjures hellfire within his right palm.

The clapping continues before the form of Pomp Neigh, the Guide, comes around the corner, leaning against the wall and crossing his arms.

“A couple of demons and a GrimDark? Looks like this party’s getting crazy!”

The three entities simply stare at Pomp for a moment. Then, they burst out into a burst of unified laughter. And the flame ‘Mr.Cake’ had held sizzles away.

“Oh-ohohoho!” Destavia tries to recover. “Oh, how sweet, a Guide is here to stop us.”

“Ahahaha!” ‘Mrs Cake’ manages to recover with lava acting as tears. “Clearly, he didn’t get the memo: Guides are useless!”

“First Tanner, and now this chump?” ‘Mr.Cake’ manages. “Please.” He waves it off dismissively as the three entities return to their laughter.

However, the trio had failed to realize -- until now, that Pomp was laughing with them.

“Ahahahahaha!” The Guide laughed at the top of his lungs while holding onto his stomach. “O-oh shit, that’s a good one! Hahah! I’m gonna pee!”

This action caused the GrimDark and the demons to look at each other in genuine confusion.

“What in Abaddon’s name are you laughing at, filth?” Destavia inquires, unamused. “Are you not aware that it’s you who we’re laughing at? Seriously, I feel insulted that a Guide is what’s standing before us.”

“Deliver us the punchline, Guide, because this has got to be a joke,” ‘Mrs. Cake’ said.

Pomp recovers from his laughter. “Phew! Wow. That was a good one; I’ll be sure to remember that when you’re all sent back to where you belong.” His gaze shifts as if a switch had been flicked, a smirk and a wink on full display. “By my hands, of course.”

The trio simply looks on. Stunned, but extremely doubtful.

“Alright then, I’ll indulge you,” Destavia said with a raised eyebrow. “Let’s say we believe you, tell me this: if a weak and pitiful Guide, such as yourself, could carry out that threat, how would you do it? Really. Do tell.”

Pomp is about to answer but is cut off by both demons.

“Rhetorical question, Guide!” They shouted in unison.

“And I was about to give her a rhetorical answer!” Pomp responds with outstretched arms.

Destavia rolls her eyes. “That’s it. I’ve had it with this one.” She looks back to her demon cohorts. “Please excuse me as I wipe him out of existence. After all, you demons got to torture the last Guide,” She turns back to Pomp, “Only fair that we GrimDarks get a chance.”

The demons chuckle in unison. “Please, be our guest.”

Destavia giggles lightly, walking towards Pomp, although the Guide simply winks as she approaches.

“Woah there, sweetie.” He clicks his tongue and points his right index finger at her. “Gonna have to take me to dinner and a movie first.”

The earth pony chuckles in amusement. “Oh, I always preferred skipping to the fucking part. You know, just like how fucked you are right now.”

The GrimDark stood mere inches before the Guide, looking up at him due to her shorter height as a pony.

“So, are you going to make good on your threat?” The GrimDark starts. “Or are you just going to stand there, staring down and into my eyes?”

“Oh? What’s that?” Pomp inquires, smiling. “I was staring longingly into your beautiful eyes.”

“Ohoho, charming,” Her expression suddenly shifts into murderous intention, “But it’s not going to save you! Do you want to know what this mask is for?!”

-Oh, I’m counting on it.- Pomp said internally. He shrugs. “Haven’t got a clue, really.”

“I have the ability to release hypersonically amplified soundwaves through my vocal cords. However, I cannot diminish its destructive potential. Thus, this mask.” She taps the mask with a forehoof. “So, you see, Guide -- I’m going to kill you by uttering a single word from my mouth.”

The GrimDark takes off her mask and-

“What mouth?” Pomp casually drops.

In a shocking revelation, Destavia’s mouth was completely gone as her eyes widened in horrified realization. Even touching where her muzzle was supposed to be.

“Mmmmf! Mmmmph! Mmmmmmmph!” She muffles, panic growing within her.

“Oh? What’s that?” Pomp inquires with a hand close to his ears. “I-I can’t hear you, Edgy-Tavi. Try sign language.” His eyes widen in realization. “Oops. That’s right; you’ve got no hands. Uh… ‘hoof language,’ then?”

The GrimDark turns around and runs back to her demon allies, muffled screams going off during her panicked state. But she doesn’t make it to the shocked demons in time, and her head starts to inflate like a balloon before exploding, gore and blood splashing and flying all around the restaurant.

“Oooooh,” Pomp winces, luckily out of the gore’s ‘blast radius.’ “Wow. Mind blown, am I right?” He brings a hand to his head and performs an explosive gesture, followed by a chuckle.

“Meh.” Pomp dismisses. “Don’t worry about her. GrimDarks and Demons tend to reform in their domains after dying, although the severity of what killed them determines how long that takes. Then again, there are indeed ways to kill both off permanently, but that’s for me to know and for you to find out.”

The demons simply stared on in shock, pieces of Destavia falling and landing on them. Then, darkness began to consume the GrimDark’s remains, and every last bit of Destavia vanished from view.

“And then there were only two,” Pomp comments, flashing the most satisfied grin ever to exist.

“H-how…?” The demons inquire in equal shock and unison.

“Y-you can’t have that kind of power!” ‘Miss. Cake’ roars out.

“You’re a Guide!” ‘Mr. Cake’ barks. “Guides don’t have power!”

“Oh?” Pomp inquires with a raised eyebrow, raising a hand and preparing to snap his fingers. “Wanna bet on that?”

The demons are at a complete loss, and the duo begins to back away from Pomp while he casually strides forth.

“There’s something you all failed to realize the moment you stepped foot in here.” Pomp said, joining his hands and cracking his fingers during his approach. “I’m not trapped here with you,” He grins, “You’re trapped here with me.”

Suddenly, the demons stepped onto and activated a rune of holy affinity, and spears of holy light shot up from the ground around them, caging them within.

The hellish figures screech out in pain due to the proximity of the holy magics, their disguises shedding, revealing two horned devils of crimson red. And Pomp stands outside of their makeshift containment.

The Guide taps the holy spears, whistling. “Pretty cool, huh? Fun fact: did you know that Guides are one of the rare few who still possess holy magic? It’s highly effective stuff against GrimDarks and Demons. See, that type of magic was nearly wiped out due to Yharim’s actions. But that’s a long story for another time.”

The demons continue to cry out in pain, their bodies being scorched by the holy magics at work.

“Look at you two screaming in pain and burning before me. Oh, but you don’t get to go yet.” He conjures forth his Pheonix Blaster, wielding it in his right hand. “Wait until I’ve delivered my message. Then, you both have my permission to die.”

Pomp walks to the side of the entrapped demons and aims, their heads lining up perfectly as he says:

“This is for the real Cakes and their children that you murdered, leaving Pound as an orphan. This is for Tanner, my predecessor,” A click sounds from his weapon. “And last, but not least: my own personal pleasure.”

A single round fires off from the hellish weapon, going right through both demons simultaneously, killing them both as their screams are silenced. Their bodies become consumed in hellfire as a pool of lava is left where they once were.

The deed has been done, and the spears of holy light dissipated.

Pomp nods before turning his gaze to the nearby counter of the restaurant, a series of chairs lined up before the counter. He sits down, takes a breath, and sighs.

“Alright, Cirrus. The show’s over, sweet cheeks.”

A sudden warping of reality ensues, and standing there on the opposite side of the counter is a dark pink alicorn mare of incredible beauty, her dark purple mane fluttering in an invisible wind. A dark purple heart is present on her flanks.

“Woooh!” The alicorn bellows. “That was hotter than my orgy sessions on Sundays! Beers and sex all around, what do ya say, Pomp?!”

The Guide chuckles. “Very tempting, Cirrus. Very tempting.”

She squees while dancing in place. “That was simply incredible! Woah, whaddaya know, I’m getting sober -- fuck it, time to drink!” She conjures forth several bottles of alcohol, tanking each one while Pomp tries to fan away a particular smell.

“Good grief, you smell like a bar and sex orgy combined.”

“Damn right!” She roars out in response, pausing from her drinking. “Just as Harmony is the fae Empress of Light, or Aelita is the fae Empress of War, I’m the fae Empress of Debauchery! Wooo! Fuck yeah!”

She resumes her drinking.

Pomp rolls his eyes, gets off of his seat, and starts to make his way out of the restaurant. “See ya later, Cirrus. Thanks for warping reality for me, you lustful drunkard.”

The Debauchery Empress pauses. “You know, I still could’ve wiped them all out for you as I offered.” She states before returning to her drinks.

“It was about sending a message, sweetie. Plus, when it came to the demons, it was personal.”

Cirrus side-glances at Pomp while indulging herself but fires up her horn with a mischievous smirk.

Pomp makes his way around the bend and very nearly exits the establishment, but a sudden shift in reality ensues, and realization dawns on him.

“Oh, shit… damn it, Cir-!”

“-rus!” Pomp finishes as he’s dropped onto a heart-shaped bed with rose petals littered on silky red sheets.

Cirrus pops into view, a sultry expression on the alicorn’s face.

“Hey, Poooomp~”

Pomp groans in annoyance. “Sorry, but the Guide you’re trying to rape cannot be breached. A.K.A: NO!”

Cirrus instantly appears on top of the Guide, a rose held within her muzzle.

“I wasn’t asking for your permission~” She places the rose on Pomp’s chest before running her tongue along his neck.

“O-ok, Cirrus,” Pomp said as Cirrus’s tongue reached his right cheek. “I give, I give. J-just, can you do me a favor?”

“Finally~” She coos. “You’re finally giving in to me. So as a sign of good faith, I’ll accept your request.”

Pomp manifests a particular potion from his inventory. “I’ll just need to drink this before we start. Go ahead and turn around so I can rut you till the end of time.”

Cirrus claps her forehooves in glee before obeying Pomp’s request, turning around in one fluent motion, ready to ‘receive’ him as she raises her flanks while her face rests on the sheets. Sadly, she failed to realize what potion it was that Pomp had brought forth.

“Come and get me, you dirty, dirty, Guide~” She shakes her flanks that could even make Celestia jealous. “Oh, my, I’m already winking for you~ I’m so fucking ready for this~.”

A moment of silence.

And another. And another.

“P-Pomp?” She looks back over her right shoulder, and her eyes widen in response.

There, where Pomp once stood, now lies an empty Recall Potion along with a note placed next to it.

Cirrus’s mouth falls agape, but the Empress then breaks out into gleeful laughter. “I absolutely love you, Pomp. Well played, my friend. You win.”

She fires up her horn in a dark-pink aura and floats the note towards her, reading its contents:

Hey, Cirrus,

If you’re reading this, well, I’d say ‘screw you,’ but that’s exactly what you want. See, I knew you’d try something funny, so I prepared for it.

I still love ya, though! B.F.Fs and all that stuff.

All jokes aside, I thank you for helping me with this. Your reality-warping powers are a tremendous help, especially against a GrimDark like Destavia, and those two demons were high-ranking devils.

See ya later, you beautiful Empress.

Your friend, NOT sexual relief,

Pomp Neigh the Guide.

PS: You’re a grandma; her name is Flurry Heart.

The Guide appears within a beam of light-blue light via the effects of the Recall Potion. He scans his surroundings -- his bedroom -- and starts to stretch.

“Mission accomplished.” He takes a breath after stretching. “Dang Cirrus and her attempts.” He chuckles. “Great friend, though. Well, now that that’s done, let’s go see what’s for dinn-”

Suddenly, Pomp went quiet as he could hear muffled voices coming from the direction of his living room and kitchen.

Exiting his room slowly and closing the door behind him, Pomp leans up against the nearby wall and makes his way toward the living room. He could see that the lights were on, and as he drew closer and closer, the voices were becoming all too familiar.

“Again, thank you for helping me out, uhm, sun-goddess pony?” The voice of Terraria’s version of Tirek said.

The giggles of Celestia, the alicorn Princess of the Sun, can be heard from within the room. “It’s no trouble at all, Tirek. I must say, you are quite pleasant to be around. Absolutely nothing like the Tirek I know.”

“Multiverse stuff,” The mechanized voice of Gideon said. “You know how it goes when dealing with that-”

All voices died down as Pomp turns the corner, staring at the scenario in slight shock.

A moment of silence ensues, and Terr-Tirek and Celestia stare at the Guide. Although Gideon didn’t have a physical form in the room, the AI was indeed there.

“Uh, Gideon?” Pomp starts, breaking the silence.

“Oh!” Gideon responds. “Welcome home, Pomp!”

And yet, another scene of awkward silence commences.

“Gideon... how did these two get here?”

And thus, Pomp's mini-arc is done! Let us go back to the rest of the cast, and Pomp shall reveal himself to them very soon!