An earthshaking phenomenon bombards the hearing senses of those close to an impact zone as Cryogen, encased within a polyhedron-shaped protective shell, proceeds to ski across the face of Hometown, leaving a destructive trail and claiming more lives in the process.

The icy fortress lifts off into the sky before hovering hundreds of feet above the ground. It then hauntingly rotates a hundred and eighty degrees to face an array of aerial opponents, manifesting protective shards of magic-comprised ice, each capable of impaling foes for offensive means as they spiral and dance around the castle.

Amongst the aerial forces combating Cryogen, Twilight pulls her sights away from the devastation and conflicts below to focus on the castle. The damage being caused can be repaired, and the lives of those lost could be commemorated later.

“Those ice shards surrounding the castle are relentless,” the alicorn mutters calculatively. “And that’s not even including its projectile attacks. And even when we do manage to get around those, it’s encased in ice…”

Her moment of assessment is disturbed as her allies, consisting of her friends, residents of Hometown, including members of the reestablished guilds, and traveling adventurers who just so happened to be passing by before Cryogen’s appearance, unleashed an assault of ranged attacks, both magical and non-magical, and the warcries of melee-based fighters charging forth with bared weaponry.

A familiar presence abruptly zips into view, followed by a slightly fatigued rainbow-maned pegasus.

“Twilight!” Rainbow began after catching her breath, flapping her wings to hover in place. “I got the message out. Applejack, Linn, Shadow, and Princess Cadence—uh, terrarian Cadence—are helping the townsfolk evacuate.”

The lavender mare nods, “Thank you, Rainbow.” She chuckles, “Hermes’ descendant, indeed.”

“Hey!” The pegasus challenged. “I’m ten times more awesome than my ancestor.”

The duo turns their sights to Cryogen as they observe their allies continuing the fight.

“You got any ideas, Egghead? Because I’ll be honest with you… I’m stumped.”

“Yeah…” Twilight brings a hoof up to her chin in thought. “The obvious answer is to get inside that castle somehow, but given its defenses and regenerative capabilities, that’s easier said than done.”

“And that symbol…” Rainbow states in recognition of a particular symbol present on the castle’s exterior and banners. “How is this thing connected to the Crystal Empire?”

“I have my theories,” Twilight’s horn flares up, her form suddenly becoming more combative, “but we have to keep trying. Come on, Rainbow! We won’t figure anything out by just floating here!”

“Way ahead of you!”

Both mares call forth weaponry from their inventories, Rainbow wielding her Star Cannon—Twilight, a myriad of staves and tomes, and go forth to support the conjoined effort to combat Cryogen.

Arctic Ace and the small collective behind him, consisting of Red, her Charizard, Flash Sentry, Flame Heart, and crystal and non-crystal ponies of all three types, approach the entrance to the crystalline castle.

“Ah, good,” the ice-winged pegasus comments as he observes the entrance, whereupon he and the others take notice of a hole having been mined and drilled. “It looks like someone made our job easier for us.”

“So does this Pylon thing work similarly to the Hallow Pylon Harmony used during the fight with the Corruption?” Flame Heart inquired as the fiery unicorn stepped forth and rested a forehoof on the castle.

“Similarly, but uniquely, as well,” Ace answered.

“Universal Pylons can link with any other type of Pylon,” Red chimes in after dismounting her Charizard. “Normally, a specific type of Pylon can only form a traveling network with other Pylons of the same kind—think Hallow Pylon to another Hallow Pylon.”

“I think I see where you’re going with this,” Flash injects. “So if Twilight’s castle truly is a Universal Pylon, and the Snow Pylon is inside of Cryogen, then that means…” His eyes widened, “We can get inside of that castle!”

Both Red and Ace nod in confirmation of Flash’s decipherment, prompting a series of realization-induced murmuring amongst the crystal and non-crystal ponies.

“Alright,” Ace begins. “Let’s head to the throne room. There, we will find the world map, and if everything goes according to plan, we can teleport ourselves into Cryogen.” He turns around to peer into the darkness of the mined-out ice passage.

“Hmm… It’s pretty dark in-”

“I’ve got this!” Flame Heart interjects while trotting forth. “Flame on!” The unicorn’s body is consumed in flames, becoming a living torch that illuminates the darkness in an orange and red hue.

The nearby Pokemon Trainer looks toward her Charizard and nods with a grunt, prompting her fire-type companion to stomp forth and add to the equine’s efforts, followed by the group proceeding into the castle together.

Their steps echo and bounce off the icy canals of their surroundings as they approach and turn at a left bend. Moments after, the fire emitting from Flame Heart and Charizard illuminates the entrance to the throne/cutie map/world map room and spots a certain pink alicorn princess encased in ice with uniquely magical properties, much like that which had filled the castle’s innards.

Ace’s eyes widen in realization, “E-Empress…Cirrus…?” He asked in genuine confusion and shock.

Flash, Flame, and the other ponies present share a look with one another. “T-that’s Princess Cadence.” A crystal earth pony stallion answered.

“Sweet Terra,” Ace comments in wonder. “Could…could it be…?”

“She’s the descendant of Cirrus,” Red adds. “Trust me. It was a shock to me, too, when I first met her.”

A moment of silence takes hold as Ace proceeds to absorb that revelation. He’d been trapped within Cryogen for much longer than he’d anticipated. It was shocking to discover that Harmony’s world had somehow returned to Terraria during his initial awakening. Now, he’d also learned that Cirrus, a fellow fae deity who rivaled Harmony’s prowess, also had her own lineage.

The sound of a clearing throat presents itself from the rear, breaking the silence.

“Not to, uh, sound rude or anything, but there’s still a destructive castle outside,” a crystal pegasus stallion with a silver coat states before looking at his frozen princess. “If I were a betting stallion, I’d wager that what we need is inside…there.”

Ace takes a step closer to studying the ice. “This ice is different compared to your average Snow Biome frost.”

“Can we mine through it and free our princess?” A crystal earth pony mare asked.

“Maybe,” a non-earth pony stallion answered, looking back to the mined-out passageway they’d previously traversed. “It certainly looks like somepony cut through the hall back there.”

“It won’t work, I’m afraid,” Ace dropped as he turned back to face everyone else present. “As I said, it’s not the same ice you’d use to cool your houses or preserve food items.” His eyes harden in determination, “This is magically embued ice formed…by a windigo.”

“WINDIGO?!” All equines, save for Ace, exclaimed in unison.

“B-but!” Flame managed, “Ponies aren’t at disharmony with one another! We’ve been-”

“The rules have changed, I’m afraid,” Red interjects. “Think about it. This is Terraria. Equus merged with Terraria. There are conflicts sparked by hate-fueled separation littering the entire planet. Racism. Specism. All of it. Pair that up with Nyarlathotep undoing ancient seals and freeing all manner of calamities, and you have fertile grounds for windigos and…things that are far worse.”

That caused deafening silence to take hold once more as the true gravity of their situation set down on several of the ponies. Some even caught the implication that Cryogen wasn’t even the worst of what was to come, just the latest ‘Big Bad’ or ‘Cataclysmic Event’ before the next one came along, being far worse than the last.

Ace narrows his dark blue eyes while gliding a forehoof across the ice’s surface in front of Cadence as recognition takes hold of his features.

“And I recognize this windigo, in particular. Snowdrop’s channeled much of her power into the ice surrounding the map room compared to that which plagues the rest of the castle.” He once again turns to face his allies, “We’ll need a miracle to-”

The sound of clanking coins and something akin to slot machines suddenly presents itself, followed by a ‘puddle’ of currency manifesting in the floor and growing higher and higher until reaching a six-foot-six height.

Red’s Charizard immediately jumps in front of Red protectively. The sense of the ponies present immediately sends out danger signals, and Ace bares his teeth as he knows who is responsible for the ominous pressure.

“Oh, great… He’s coming,” Ace said.

“Wh…who…?” A quivering, brown-coated, non-crystal pegasus mare dared to ask, cowering behind a fortified Flash Sentry.

The mass of currency starts to form a humanoid shape, and after seconds ticked by, it falls and splashes to the floor, unveiling a prominent and intoxicating terrarian man with closed eyes, golden brown hair, and wearing a white suit.

His golden emerald eyes open slowly, and the sounds of rummaging coins, slot machines, and all manner of noise caused by items associated with greedful desires slowly fade away.

Tension-filled silence makes the air heavy until…

“Boo.”

His deep and silky voice causes some among the collective to flinch and gasp.

“Greed,” Ace uttered in a cold sweat.

“Charmed,” Greed responds with an unreadable expression while flicking a platinum coin off his right shoulder.

“It’s been a while, Ace. Still aiding Permafrost, are we? In case you didn’t notice, he’s throwing a cold temper tantrum outside.”

“Why are you here, Greed?”

The Ancient of Greed walks forth unhesitantly, his well-kept shoes expressing his echoing steps in the icy chamber as he casually strides past the group—causing them all to freeze in place as he passes by—and pauses in front of Cadence’s frozen form.

“You’d all best be on your way now.”

“W-wait,” Ace said in choking horror as he and everyone else looked back. “W-wha-”

“Goodbye.”

[SNAP]

A loud snap echoes throughout the chamber, causing the castle to respond as it teleports everyone, save for Greed, away in a series of multicolored lights. The phenomenon had occurred so quickly that no one even had time to react to the ancient’s actions.

Now alone, Greed looks upon Cadence.

“You can all stop playing games now.”

In response to his words, reality seems to distort around the throne room, revealing that it was actually an illusion as, within the room’s inner sanctum, the ancients and Pillars of Terraria were left unaffected by Snowdrop’s icy containment.

A staredown ensues as the ancients and pillars lock eyes with Greed, who looks right back. Suddenly, a hand is slammed onto the table.

“Why did you interfere, Greed?!” Athena roars out, sitting on one of the thrones located to the right of Cutie Map. “You fool! Don’t you realize-”

“You’re all idiots.” Greed interjects, his eyes traveling over to Silence and Celebes, the Dryad, as Athena is recoiled by those words. “I’m disappointed in you, Silence. But it seems you’re cut from the same cloth as these losers.”

Athena tries to protest, only for Silence to raise a forehoof. “I know what you’re going to say thanks to my powers, Greed…” His head lowers in a regretful gesture, “And you’re right…”

“What?!” The Ancient of Space retorts. “For the sake of the rest of us who don’t have legions of Guides to consult with, what is Greed right about?!”

Silence lifts himself off from his seat, floating in place with closed wings as his eyes look over Harmony, Oblivion, Anubis, Shining Armor, Princesses Cadence and Luna, Rajah Rabbit, and the Pillars of Terraria.

“I’ll be blunt: Greed has been sent here at the request of his daughter, Sweetie Gluttonia. She begged him to save Hometown… The very same town we’ve all endangered.”

A sigh escapes from Anubis, who brings a palm up to his face. “I knew this was a bad idea… The afterlife has been chaotic thanks to current events.”

Frustration builds within Oblivion as Harmony, feeling her lover’s distress, rests a comforting hoof on his chest.

“Even when I’m trying to do right, I still…”

“We are not endangering the mortals with ill intentions,” Athena protests, garnering everyone’s attention and overpowering Oblivion’s muttered words. “We’re trying to-”

“Test them?” Greed finished for the Queen of the Seraphs. “Make them stronger?” He chuckles, “You know what’s funny about all of you? It’s that you lot treat your enemies far better than your heroes.”

“Now hold on just a second, Greed,” Harmony responds as Athena seethes in anger. “We have nothing but the utmost love and respect for-”

“Spare me that load of crap, fae empress,” Greed intervenes. “I don’t want to hear any of it from the one who practically molded Celestia, Luna, and Cirrus’s pink bundle of lust over there into the dismissive imbeciles they are.”

“Horrid cur!” Luna bellows. “Thou dare to insinuate that we willingly endanger our subjects?!”

“Yes.”

Luna was about to roar out another protest, only for Cadence to set a supportive wing on her to halt her actions.

Laughter suddenly erupts from Greed’s direction, prompting all eyes to fall on him, although Silence looks away as he already knows what is coming.

Seeing the Ancient of Knowledge’s reaction, Greed shakes his head. “Looks like Greed will have to spell it out for those who are still ignorant.” He finished while sparring a glance towards Luna and Athena, especially.

“Here’s the real truth:” Greed proceeds to walk around the table with his hands behind his back, “There are countless enemies throughout the vastness of Terraria, myself included, of course. And you know what we all see?”

“G-Greed…” Harmony comments somberly, causing Greed to pause behind Luna and Cadence. “Please, don’t. I think I know what you’re saying and… Please…”

“Oh no, I don’t think so,” Greed responds, resting a hand on Luna’s shoulder. “Let’s start with this one’s sister.”

Luna shoots her head up and back to the ancient, “Thou shalt not taint our sister’s good name!”

“Why not? She was quick to besmirch yours,” Greed challenged. “Nightmare Night ring a bell? Doesn’t it literally celebrate the things you’ve done as Nightmare Moon? Yeah, I did my homework, sweetie.”

Luna’s eyes were downcast at those words, ears folding against her head.

“Hey!” Shining Armor boomed. “That’s not fair!”

“Enough, Greed!” Athena shouts. “Just get to the point!”

“I am getting to it, bird brain.” Greed takes his hand off of the alicorn and continues his walk. “I was merely giving a prime example of what the rest of you morons do on a near-daily basis, covering it up as ‘training’ or ‘helping the mortals to improve.’ What it actually is, however, is that the lives of mortals mean nothing to any of you.” He turns towards the table and spreads out his arms.

“Just. Like. Me! The difference, of course, is that I’m honest about it.” Greed resumes his steps, which echo in the room as he passes Anubis, Oblivion, and Harmony.

[CLUMP, CLUMP, CLUMP]

“How many mortals have died today thanks to all of you, hmm?”

[CLUMP, CLUMP, CLUMP]

“How will you explain to all their loved ones that those lives are just martyrs for your little exercise program?”

[CLUMP, CLUMP, CLUMP]

“Which is surprising to me since Anubis, Athena, and Silence have shown that there are better ways to prepare them, yet you chose… This? Why didn't you just keep training them all up at that crummy desert of Anububu's. Let's not also forget that any one of you ancients could go out there right now and end Cryogen in a heartbeat.”

[CLUMP, CLUMP, CLUMP]

“But let’s go back to Celestia, shall we? It’s well-known that her favorite pose’ of heroes, the Elements of Harmony, are the individuals she often calls upon for any and all problems in Equestria. Ah, but that’s just it. She knowingly throws her favorite heroes into danger so that she can empower them all. Training, as you call it.”

Greed stops in front of the entrance and turns to face the table.

“Doesn’t that sound familiar, eh, Harmony?” He emphasizes by looking at the empress before looking over the other ancients. “Bystanders be damned, am I right? So long as it gets your precious champions nice and ready to fight the next ‘Big Bad.’ Well, here’s a newsflash, my brothers and sisters in Terra: the mortals hate your guts. You won’t notice it here in Hometown, where they kiss your ass, but out there in the open world?” He whistles.

“And it’s not because of me, or Cryogen, or Yamata No Orochi, or Yharim. Oh, no, no, no. It’s all on you, and don’t even get me started on the souls lingering in the Wrath Circle of Hell whose ire is aimed at most of you.”

He raises a finger and points it towards Silence, “Terra chose this GrimDark simply because he’s fucking Celebes. Why wasn’t any of the past Guides chosen, hm? Why wasn’t Tanner given that role? Or the Guide before that? And the Guide before that?”

Quietness was his answer; even Athena has since understood the ancient’s meaning as her head lowers in shame.

“I’ll tell you why. It’s a little something we like to call Heroes’ Favor. Favoritism earned Silence that title. You didn’t make a Guide the Ancient of Knowledge, but you gave it to a GrimDark who’s had nothing to do with Guides before? Now, I can go around this entire table and point out similar flaws in each and every one of you goodie-goodie-ancients and you Pillars of Terraria back there, but I’ve made my point.”

Greed waits for anyone to form a response. But his words were valid, and their effects were immediate as every single being present, aside from himself, felt the guilt of what his words brought.

“Wow. You know you fucked up when a ‘villain’ has to call you out on it. And that stupidity of yours is exactly why there will always be another Yharim to rise up again, even if you were to kill him. The mortals are onto your game, and your disposable pawn pieces hate you for it.” The suited terrarian turns away and proceeds to take his leave.

“Anyway, I’ve gotta go make good on my promise to Sweetie Belle. Looks like I get to be the hero today. Don’t ever change, guys. I just love watching your mistakes always coming back to bite you.”

With those final words, Greed disappears from sight, leaving behind a room filled with ancients, pillars, and other such guardians to ponder and tend to their own regrets.

Several beams of multicolored lights manifest within a frigid courtyard, its trees, grass, and decorative furnishings having long since been covered and consumed by ice.

Ace, Flame Heart, Red, her Charizard, Flash Sentry, and the small collection of ponies with them take in their new-found surroundings. From what they could tell, it was a courtyard of sorts.

Their heads go skyward as a polyhedron-shaped shell of ice blocks off the outside world, yet they can see the residents of Hometown fighting against Cryogen through the ice like a transparent mirror.

“Where…are we…?” A non-crystal pegasus mare asked.

“We’re standing on Cryogen itself,” Ace answered as his eyes were locked onto the castle’s double-door entrance dead ahead atop a fairly large flight of stairs. “We’re finally here… Permafro-”

Suddenly, the doors to the castle slowly open, prompting the cast to brace for combat. However, Ace’s eyes widened in recognition as a familiar snow leopard/wolf hybrid female beast folk member and an elf stepped out of the doorway and looked down at the gathering from the precipice of the staircase.

Despite having become female for reasons he’d yet known, Ace recognized the individual immediately. And that wasn’t including the elf he’d also recognized.

“...Snow…? Andriell…?”

“It’s not Snow anymore, old friend,” the feminine werebeast responds, her ears flickering as her heightened hearing senses had picked up the ice-pegasus’s words.

“I go by Tundra, now.”

The elf raises a hand and waves, “It’s great to see you after all these years, Ace." She lowers her hand and beckons the group to follow.

"Come, brave and abled souls. The corrupted master of this castle, Permafrost, awaits us. Let us put a stop to this madness.”