-TERRARIA, ACROPOLIS-

Fluttershy, Rarity, and Shroom looked on in horror at the scene before them as Pinkie Pie had struck her rainbow-maned target. Her own friend and fellow Element bearer.

Applejack was currently holding onto an unconscious Rainbow Dash, a puncture wound present on the pegasus’s chest region. With tears strolling down her cheeks, the cowmare shoots her gaze towards Pinkie Pie and screams:

“Pinkie Pie! What have you done?!”

“Why would you do that, darling?!” A teary-eyed Rarity questions.

“H-how could you…” Fluttershy said in utter disbelief; holding onto Shroom with her forehooves as the small truffle seems to hide within her chest fluff.

The party pony laughs, then morphs her face into absolute anger before saying:

“How could I? HOW COULD I?!” Pinkie stomps her right forehoof to emphasize this. “You all rejected me!”

“What the hay are ya’ talkin’ ‘bout?!” Applejack exclaims. “Look at what y’all did to yer’ friend! To Rainbow Dash!”

“NONE OF YOU ARE MY FRIENDS!” Pinkie retorts, but before she could take any further action, her eyes suddenly roll back and her form goes limp as a hand swiftly strikes the back of her neck. The attacker is revealed to be none other than Athena who catches the limp pony’s form and sets her down gently.

“I fear something bad has transpired with Mena, and it’s having a dire effect on Pinkie Pie. The two have a very special connection, despite their current separation.” Athena comments sorrowfully.

Suddenly, a familiar ancient appears via a glitching anomaly.

“Athena… I bear bad news,” Silence said. “Lord Oblivion had to take steps to save Pinkamena… but The GrimDark has returned.” Silence said.

Athena’s eyes shoot wide open as she mutters:

“Oh no… The Void is free to take hold once more,” She then looks downward with a sense of fear, “Abaddon…”

“I fear that Lord Oblivion has no control over it any longer…” Silence says regretfully, “Pinkamena, from what I can tell, died in battle against Cosmos, the Kitsune Tyrant. This forced His Lordship to relinquish his power or else disappear. It was the only way to save Mena… but something else has taken over her form...”

As Applejack caressed Rainbow Dash’s unconscious form, and Rarity tends to Pinkie Pie’s, Fluttershy looked on in horror as she says:

“C-Cosmos? The one Ritsu t-told me about?”

“Indeed,” says Silence. “I must not tarry here. I shall return when the GrimDark is contained. I do not know how long it will take, so expect to come across several… versions of yourselves.”

As Silence stood before them, Applejack shot her gaze towards him with her tears still flowing, “Why did Pinkie Pie do this?! And what does this have to do with them GrimDarks?!”

“That is due to a number of GrimDarks roaming across Terraria. Rocket to Insanity is one such GrimDark. In that realm, Pinkie was hospitalized by Rainbow Dash, who thought she was trying to kill her.”

Rarity gently waves her forehoof through Pinkie pie’s mane, “Why did she think we all abandoned her?” She questions sadly. “I’d never do that to the poor dearie…”

“...Pinkamena Diane Pie. A GrimDark who went insane after you six, in that realm, did in fact leave her alone to suffer. She became a serial killer who is quite knowledgeable in torture.” Silence responds.

Athena nods and turns to the ponies, “You all must understand. When Oblivion took his daughters to The Void, or The GrimDark, in order to save them from The Devourer’s hunger, they lived many different lives there. And each one played a different scenario compared to the last, one grim tale after another. However, there exists the absolute master of the darkness who also played a role in each and every one of those grim fates: Abaddon, the Ancient of Darkness… Harmony’s absolute opposite...”

This garners the attention of the ponies, and truffle, as Rarity comes to a realization and comments:

“So is that why it’s called: The GrimDark, darlings? Entire worlds filled with the grimmest outcomes, and a foul brute who commands the darkness?”

Athena nods in response, “Thus is the origin of the name. When Xeroc’s foul actions created The Void, we ancients used it to contain the most gruesome of entities there… Abaddon was one such ‘inmate.’ Oblivion became both the jailor and overseer of The Void, but we underestimated how powerful Abaddon truly was,” She then turns to Rarity, “You recently told me about the Nightmares, yes? The same beings who caused you to turn into what you called: Nightmare Rarity?”

The ponies who were still conscious all winced in response as Rarity, in particular, bites her lower lip in hesitation, “Y-yes, dearie…” She said regretfully. “Even Princess Luna fell to that very same Nightmare…”

Silence raises his left forehoof, “Even from the GrimDark, Abaddon’s influence could still infect ponies who gave in to the whispers of the Nightmares. And most concerning of all, it’s not JUST ponies that can be tainted by his shadows,” The knowledgeable equine lowers his forehoof, “Abaddon’s power is so vast that he can still breach other realities with pure darkness and send his agents into them.”

Athena turns to Silence, “Brother, we must not be picky with our allies. Abaddon is a Superancient, much like Greed and Oblivion, or Lucifer.”

“Is Greed free?” Silence questions. “We may have need of him as well.”

Fluttershy raises her forehoof, “U-um, Mister Silence?”

“Speak quickly, my dear, time is short.” Silence responds as he turns his gaze to her.

“Oh, well, it’s just that Crimulan and Ebonian sealed away Greed within The Dungeon. B-but, they t-told me that something is down there with him.”

“Polterghast. A gathering of many spirits all wishing one thing: To see the Jungle Tyrant lie dead in front of them,” Silence responds, then turns to Athena, “Will we be able to remove the barrier in time?”

Athena nods, but remains wary, “We definitely could, but doing so would kill the Slime Gods.”

“So long as Fluttershy lives, they will return,” Silence responds. “We must have Greed’s aid. Having a superancient among us will be very beneficial.”

Fluttershy was about to protest, but her cutie mark starts to pulsate as the voices of the Slime Gods echoes out:

“If it means that we can protect the world, then we welcome thy killing blow.”

“N-no!” Fluttershy exclaimed with sorrow in her voice, “Please! Don’t do this!”

“We must, beloved core. The Ancients must put aside their differences for the coming battle, and despite their hatred for one another, the world must be maintained by their own hands. Greed WILL answer the call.”

Athena drapes a silver wing over the yellow pegasus, “I promise you, my dear, I will make it swift. They will not feel any pain.”

The absolute conflict had consumed the shy pegasus, but after a few moments, she falls onto her flank and stutters:

“O-ok… D-do it…”

“We will be fine, beloved core,” The Slime Gods comment in unison, “We will meet again.”

With those words, Athena vanishes as she bends the space all around her; causing the ancient to disappear moments after.

Silence looks at the remaining group, “When Pinkie Pie awakes, do not blame her for what she has no control over. Instead, you must all protect one another from the coming calamities. I fear that two wars will break out simultaneously. While you all deal with Nyarlathotep and the demon hoards, we ancients must fulfill our duty and stop the GrimDark.”

“You don’t need to worry, darling,” Rarity responds. “Applejack will be mad, and Rainbow Dash will be fearful. But, let me tell you this right now,” The fashionista lifts Pinkie Pie’s unconscious form and hugs it lovingly with tears strolling down her face, “I still love you, Pinkie Pie... We all do…”

Silence nods, “My son, Venomous Sting, will be here shortly. Think of him as your last line of defense. Good luck,” He says, before disappearing in a whirlwind of glitching quills.

-TERRARIA, THE DUNGEON: DEPTHS-

As both the terrarian form of Greed and Polterghast wandered the dark depths of the structure, a sense of familiarity overtakes the Ancient as he turns to his ghostly companion and says:

“We’re about to have company, my friend.”

The ghostly figure clicks its mandibles together, “Why? Who’s coming?”

Greed looks up towards the ceiling, “Another ancient is approaching The Dungeon... Athena,” Then, he senses a great change throughout The dungeon, along with a sense of freedom, “Well I’ll be damned, Athena actually killed the Slime Gods. Well, sort of.”

On cue, the nearby wall of The Dungeon begins to bend as the very space all around it pulsates. Then, a series of silver feathers fall gracefully onto the floor as Athena comments:

“It’s been a long time, Greed.”

Greed rolls his eyes, “I see I’m not worth the ‘brother’ title, huh?”

Athena points towards him angrily, “You know damn well why you lost that privilege!”

In a spreading circle of glitches, Silence appears, “Both of you, quiet. We have bigger problems than petty squabbles amongst ourselves.” He said.

In a shocking display, Greed seemingly loses his anger towards Athena and responds neutrally to Silence:

“Ah, the newly formed Ancient of Knowledge. Rarity informed me of you.”

“We must all once again put aside our differences, Greed. Lord Oblivion’s host was killed in a battle against Cosmos, who I am sure you know of. As a result, he was forced to relinquish his power to keep himself and his daughter alive,” Silence says.

“Oh, I’m aware of that,” Greed responds. “Fluttershy was very... Insightful.”

Athena grits her teeth in anger, “What did you do to her, worm?!”

“Thanks for the compliment,” Greed responds with a wink, “And for the record, I didn’t do anything to her exactly. I did, however, overhear your conversation back in Acropolis through her own body.”

Athena’s eyes widen, “You used a Peering Spell on her?!” She exclaims.

As this goes on, Silence was facehooving himself with an annoyed sigh as Polterghast simply floated nearby silently.

“Not too long ago, a bunch of slimes showed up here,” Greed comments. “Six of them in total, but Polterghast and I killed all but one of them. A mustached slime named: Fancy Slime. To give you the short version of what happened next: He ran back to the Slime Kingdom, came in contact with Fluttershy while she was there, and the spell hopped onto her as a result.”

Realizing where he was going with this, Athena comments with her widened eyes still present:

“You both saw and heard everything that happened from Fluttershy’s time in the Slime Kingdom to Anubis’s desert; even our training regiment on the moon...” She growls, “But why are you revealing this to us?!”

“Because he wants to show us that he’s willing to help us with the GrimDark and Abaddon,” Silence answers knowingly. “By revealing the spell that’s hidden within Fluttershy, he knows that you and I can remove it from her after we’re done here. However, there’s also a more personal reason that makes him want to aid us.”

Greed nods in agreement, while Athena’s mouth drops in her stupor, before saying:

“I have my reasons for despising Oblivion, Athena, Anubis... Just to name a few of my fellow ancients. However, if it was my daughter... I’d strip this world of all life on it. I can sympathize with Oblivion on this one,” He then bows respectfully towards Silence, “You will have my aid, but Rarity and Sweetie will not partake in this endeavor. Besides, Sweetie is a little busy at the moment, and Rarity is doing Terra knows what with Lucifer in their private pocket dimension.”

Silence nods before responding:

“That is understandable.”

Athena, finally recovering from her stupor, closes her agape mouth and says:

“Wait, you’re actually going to help us? Just like that?”

Greed turns to her, “Yes. ‘Just like that.’ As you so bluntly put it. What you fail to realize, Athena, is that Abaddon is also a threat to MY daughters, and I'll be damned if I let him put even a shred of his darkness on either of them,” He then gestures towards the very same table that he and Polterghast have often used for their chess sessions, “Let’s have a little chat, eh?”

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, Angel Wings(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, Angel Wings(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, Angel Wings(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.