-TERRARIA, ANUBIS’S PYRAMID: THRONE ROOM-

King Amidias was currently standing before a portal as his fellow merfolk entered the anomaly. Anubis himself is currently sitting on his golden throne as he acts ignorant to the recent events with Silence. All the while, Linn, Tori, Shadow Thunder, and Echo Silhouette were going about their business as various individuals from Home Town were saying their goodbyes to the Sea King.

“Ah’ sure hope yer’ daughter gets well again, yer’ majesty,” Applejack says as she holds her hat against her chest region. The King nods in response with a smile.

“So, wait, that Giant Clam wanted to go with you?” Rainbow Dash questions with a raised forehoof.

“She sure did,” King Amidias responds proudly, but remorsefully, “Crabulon forced her into providing him with multiple pearls.”

“That thing’s female?!” Rainbow exclaims in shock.

King Amidias nods, “Her name is Neptune. The Brotherhood of The Crab forced her to make certain items and curates. Among them is what they’d call ‘Neptune’s Shell.’

Fluttershy’s eyes widen in a fit of anger, “How dare he! Does he not know how a clam's pearl is formed?! And he treated that poor creature as a slave!”

Ritsu The Zoologist was positioned nearby as she raises a finger and says:

“Clams secrete a sort of defensive coating called ‘nacre’. A defensive action to, let’s say, intrusive outsiders,” The werefox then lowers her gesture, “However, the Giant Clam is a magical entity who still operates similarly to your traditional clam.”

Rarity tilts her head in confusion, “So, what exactly are you insinuating, darlings?”

King Amidias sighs remorsefully, “Crabulon placed all sorts of intrusive substances into Neptune’s shell, just to test what he could come up with.”

From the anomaly positioned behind the Sea King, a very particular individual, an eye, exits the portal while spinning and screaming:

“WHOOOOOOOAAA!!!!” The eye slams into Anubis and bounces onto his lap, blinking up at him, “Oh… Hi.”

“Hello again, Derpy,” Anubis responds as he caresses the eye, “It was quite the surprise to see that you were still down in that Glowing Mushroom Biome. Thank you for helping with the Giant Clam’s transport.”

“You’re, um… Touching the wrong stalk, Lord Anubis…”

Despite the entity’s black fur, Anubis goes green for a moment as he takes notice of which ‘stalk’ he was rubbing, “C-could you float off of me for a sec, Derpy?”

The Demon Eye does so, pupil tilting away as if embarrassed.

The Ancient suddenly gets onto his feet and covers himself in blue flames before teleporting away and out of the throne room. If one could listen closely, they could hear faint shouting from the outskirts of the pyramid itself.

……….

Suddenly, a series of leaves and the cooling breeze of a whirlwind manifests in the throne room. Two individuals are brought forth soon after as Celebes raises her right hand and shouts:

“I’m back, everyone! And I brought someone very precious to me- I mean, us!”

Immediately, Derpy the demon eye rushes over and seems to look at them. She notices Celebes holding Silence’s hand and says:

“Um, you should really get a room if you’re trying to make babies!”

Celebes’s face reddens in response, “Derpy! For Terra’s sake, why would you even say that?!”

“But you’re holding stalks!” Derpy exclaims in response.

Silence chuckles, patting the demon eye on the top of the eyeball, “Derpy, my dear, these are called ‘hands’, not stalks.”

The eye floats awkwardly, “Oh. Okay!”

..........

Rainbow Dash and various other individuals of Home Town were waving goodbye towards King Amidias, Terralestia and Sai Sahan just besides the cyan pegasus. All the while, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack form a smirk on their features as they witness the scenario with Celebes. Taking notice of this, The dryad asks:

“And what are you three smirking about?”

“They’re smirking at the fact that you’re still holding my hand. Very tightly.” Silence comments.

Rarity coos, “Oh my, darling. You disappear for some time and already have yourself a stallion?”

“Hehehe,” Pinkie Pie giggled, “Look at her! She’s still holding his arm! Ooh! Now I need to have a party set up!” The party pony then pulls out a pencil and paper etched onto a clipboard from her mane, “What’s your favorite cake?! What name are you two planning for your first child-”

“Why would you even need to know that?!” Celebes interjects in shock towards the second question. She then clears her throat, “Look, that’s not what we’re here for.”

“But she still hasn’t let go of his arm,” Rainbow Dash whispers to Applejack while wiggling her eyebrows.

Taking notice of the cyan pegasus's antics, The Dryad waves it off dismissively before saying:

“I can say with full confidence that we now have more time to prepare for the coming struggles.” Celebes declares, still holding onto Silence’s arm.

Various individuals chuckle in response before Steven The Clothier questions:

“Has Terra herself intervened? Did she buy us time?”

Celebes shakes her head side to side, “She only told me that recent events have bought us more time to improve. I trust her words on the matter, she has never led me astray.”

Of course, unbeknownst to Celebes, Silence knew the truth as the words from Terra somewhat forbade him from releasing the information he possessed. However, the newly formed Ancient needed to ensure a series of events as he began to properly move the appropriate individuals into place. He knew all about Linn being called away and of the current condition of Twilight Sparkle, along with Starlight Glimmer and Zecora. The night was going to be a long one, and tomorrow would be the starting phase of the coming conflicts.

-TERRARIA, THE UNDERWORLD LABORATORY-

A loud clunk is heard as the mech that was previously guarding the Murasama seems to reach out for the small filly it had detected. The filly, however, appears to disappear, much to the mech’s confusion as Zalgo had wisp her away to safety.

~Pony Subject Lost. Requesting New Mission Para-ra-rameters.~

It tilts its’ head as it receives no orders from its’ control center.

~Error. No Data Received. Requesting mechanic to check on system fun-un-unctionality.~

The mech stands still for almost ten minutes before seeming to grow concerned.

~Status of Laboratory Personnel Required. Is Any-Any-Anyone there?~

Upon receiving no answer, it looks left and right before walking forward through the door. It sparks, freezing halfway through as some of its systems crash.

~Beginning self-repairs. Reason: No Parts And Services Department Response. Entry Logged.~

Several sparking and whirring sounds begin emanating from the beast as it seems to sprout several repair arms, which begin to work on various areas. This goes on for several hours, during which the head of the robot continuously turns, as if in sentry mode.

~Systems Minimally Functional. Proceeding With Self-Ordered Mission: Protect All Ponykind. Scanning.~

The robot scans around itself before immediately looking up in the direction of the Hellevator, as the arms retract. Though it still sparks, it seems to be capable of movement now.

~Hallowed Signal Found. Approaching.~

The fists of the creature begin to glow like molten plasma, as it begins to carve through the ceiling. It continues to do this until it manages to escape the facility, standing in a pit of lava. The lava does not seem to have an effect as the mech walks straight through it. It manages to make it onto dry land, as it lets the lava run off of it.

~Charging Boosters.~

A sound akin to a jet engine getting ready to take off echoes through the Underworld as the mech begins to fly upwards, the circles on its back revealed to be the boosters as blue fire begins shooting down from it. Within seconds, a boom announces the full charge as it shoots upward quite fast. Even so, it would take the mech several minutes to arrive at its destination.

-TERRARIA, YHARIM’S KINGDOM: DRAEDON’S LAB-

A mechanical entity was currently overseeing various individuals, scientists, as a female terrarian stood alongside it.

“Dr. Draedon, is everything prepared for our coming invasion?”

The cyborg releases a nearly autotuned response:

“Yes, Isabella, my dear Steampunker. Yharim’s forces are just about prepared to invade Camelot when the two worlds merge into a singularity,” The mechanical entity chuckles, “The capital should feel privileged, it gets to be ground zero-”

~Alert! Alert! The Underworld facility has been compromised~

“What is the meaning of this?!” Draedon roars out before pointing towards a nearby scientist who sat before a series of large screens, “You! Bring up the surveillance feeds!”

“I already tried, Dr. Draedon, but the facility itself won’t respond to our controls.”

“Then check the logs!” Draedon exclaims as the scientist's fingers get to work on his keyboard. A series of button mashes echoes out as the nearly panicked scientist shouts:

“Got it! Pulling up the latest feed. However, it’s got a small amount of-”

“Bring it up on the main monitor!” Draedon roars out as he slams a mechanical fist onto the railing. The video was noticeably static, streams of grey lines fizzling up and down the video. However, Draedon’s enhancements allowed him to see what the naked eyes of the scientists present could not.

“Dr?” The Steampunker questions with concern, “Is everything alright? Can you see something?”

“No… it couldn’t be, not after all this time.”

“What do you mean?”

Draedon simply stared at the footage and while everyone else present could see small glances of a mechanical entity, the machine that escaped from his facility, Draedon himself came to a horrifying conclusion.

“No one but Yharim, myself… and he could ever have known about that facility.” The mechanical entity then turns around hurriedly and leaves the room, while also leaving behind a confused Steampunker.

……….

As Draedon runs down the multiple corridors and hallways, passing by various guardsmen and his mechanical body making sounds, he turns a corner rapidly and nearly runs full force into a very particular individual, a kitsune.

Crystal Moonbeam yelps as she gets knocked onto her butt by Draedon, dropping at the feet of Yharim. She seems to tear up as she holds her stepped-on tail with her small front paws.

“O-Ow…”

Despite Draedon’s appearance, the mechanical entity’s face seems to morph into pure terror as he takes notice of who it was he bumped into. But more horrifyingly, who was with her.

“L-Lord Yharim, I-” The mech's words were cut off as the golden clodded arm and hand of Yharim grips the mech by their neck region and lifts Draedon into the air.

“Draedon, my old friend, care to explain why my Crystal here just got hurt? By you?” It was a clear rhetorical question, but Draedon knew personally the true meaning behind those words, “Now here’s what’s going to happen, machine,” Yharim emphasizes as he ‘guides’ Draedon towards Crystal Moonbeam, “You’re going to apologize to her, now, or we both know what happens next.”

“L-Lord, I must atten-” The cyborg’s words are cut off as the Jungle Tyrant tightens his grip.

“D-daddy… Mr. Draedon looks really scared… Is something wrong, Mr. Draedon?” Says the kitsune, wiping away her tears, still holding her tail, but seeming to be looking attentively at the cyborg.

“He’s wronged me in a way that he should be wary of, my dear Crystal.” Yharim responds.

“Daaaaddyyyy, you don’t need to throw everyone you hate to Miss Twil- OOP,” she yelps, realizing she shouldn’t have said that.

In a sense of shock, Yharim actually drops the cyborg as Draedon’s mechanical voice struggles to exit the entity. The Jungle Tyrant turns his head towards the kitsune and says:

“Would you mind repeating that, Moonbeam…?”

“P-Please don’t throw me to the worm…” She whimpers. “I-I didn’t mean to spy, it’s j-just that I didn’t want you to hurt that pink pony…”

“Crystal, come here a moment,” The Jungle Tyrant says with a gesture.

The kitsune, despite appearing to be hiding in one of her tails, approaches Yharim.

The large frame of Yharim lowers himself to a knee and places his right hand under Crystal’s chin, “Know this, little one. While I do feed my enemies to… Twilight, I would never do that to you. Do you know why?”

“M-Maybe… You want to use me for my power like Mom…?” The kitsune says timidly, a single eye peeking out.

Yharim’s entire form froze on those words as a sense of regret overtook him. It was similar to what he felt before when he berated his brother. In a shocking display, the Jungle Tyrant pulls the kitsune into an embrace and says:

“Your mother is nothing to me, but you? You and Yharon are special. I could never hurt either of you.”

“But you called Uncle Yharon useless… I don’t understand, Daddy. I don’t know why you were mean to him…”

Upon hearing those words, a feeling long thought lost to the Jungle Tyrant emerges within his form. Yharim stands up to his full stature and turns away from the kitsune in a seemingly hurried fashion.

“D-Daddy? I’m sorry for being mean! I didn’t mean to hurt you…” The kitsune calls out with new tears threatening to break out from her eyes. “I just wanted to know…”

..........

Yharim finds an appropriate room and forces the doors to open. Various guardsmen and other individuals were present as he shouts:

“Get out! All of you!” The beings before him all take on horrified expressions as they hurriedly walk past him and exits the room, closing the door. A sudden sizzle escapes from Yharim’s helmet as it detaches itself from the chin bindings. He then grabs onto it with his left hand and pulls it away, revealing a tear-riddled face underneath.

(I know the image contradicts his sadness, but it's the best I could find. )

He slumps against the door and places a hand onto his tearful features, “I’m so sorry, Crystal… Yharon…” He looks up to the ceiling, “Mother, forgive me.”

If one could listen closely, they’d hear the sounds of low sobbing coming from behind the closed doors of the room.

Character inventory/equipment:

Fluttershy: Statigel Armor(pony, equipped), Overloaded Blaster, Eviscerator, Crimslime Staff, Corroslime Staff, Slime Staff, Finch Staff, Snow Flinx Staff, Hornet Staff, Blood Clot Staff, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Healing Potion, Honey Comb(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, Staff Of Necrosteocytes, Purified Jam.

Rainbow Dash: Necro Armor(pony, equipped), Star Cannon, Minishark, Eviscerator, Aquatic Discharge, Bloody Rupture, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Healing Potion, Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Victory Shard, Slime Mount.

Zecora: Crimson Armor(zebra, equipped), Dune Hopper, Sausage Maker, Beenade, Tooth Ball, Aorta, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Various Potions, Rocket Boots(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Sand Cloak(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Bloodstained Gloves(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Skeletron Hand.

Starlight Glimmer: Meteor Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Starfury, Vein Burster, Purple Phaseblade, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Healing Potion, Victory Shard, Rocket Boots(equipped), Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Slime Mount, Book Of Skulls, Skeletron Hand.

Rarity: Meteor Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Hornet Staff, Snow Flinx Staff, Ice Mirror, Blood Clot Staff, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Rocket Boots(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Slime Mount, Book Of Skulls, Skeletron Hand, Staff Of Necrosteocytes.

Applejack: Crimson Armor(pony, equipped), Vein Burster, Orange Phaseblade, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Rope, Metal Detector, Healing Potion, Rocket Boots(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Flurry Boots(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, Bone Glove, Skeletron Hand.

Twilight Sparkle: Meteorite Armor(pony, equipped), Space Gun, Book Of Skulls, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Mana Potion, Ichor, Victory Shards, Aero Stone(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Slime Mount.

Pinkie Pie: Crimson Armor(pony, equipped), Vein Burster, Blue Phaseblade, Bloody Rupture x2, Aorta, Deathbringer Pickaxe, Blood Lust Cluster Axe, Metal Detector, Rocket Boots(equipped), Honey Comb(equipped), Flurry Boots(equipped), Brain Of Confusion(equipped), Mana Polarizer(equipped), Bone Glove(equipped), Honeyed Goggles, Slime Mount, The Blood Butcherer, Skeletron Hand.