-TERRARIA, YHARIM’S KINGDOM: ARENA-

As the large crowd that once made up the audience of the arena floods out of its exit, conflict roars out on the inside. Yharim’s forces were contending with the shadowy monstrosities that were left behind not too long ago by Abaddon. When Mena was overtaken by her ‘other’ self, Pinkamena. Among those who got caught up in this conflict were Crystal Moonbeam, Tirek, and Princess Cadence.

It wasn’t just the arena, however, as the shadows of Abaddon began to spread throughout the underground domain. Many of its former denizens were fleeing the kingdom entirely as they fled to the surface via the appropriate pathways.

All the while, some of Yharim’s guards were also carrying out very specific orders as they emptied out the Jungle Tyrant’s treasuries, armories, and vaults from within the Temple. Said orders also instructed them to transport these items, via anomalous properties, to a backup domain. A foresight Yharim had in case something ever happened to his current kingdom. In addition, Dr. Draedon himself gave the order as a holographic imitation of the cyborg could be seen instructing the guards. Naturally, this also extended to Draedon’s laboratory.

There was one order in particular that spelled certain doom for the prisoners that were being held within the Temple’s containment cells. Among these prisoners were also the entrapped ponies that Mena herself had discovered some time ago. Some were executed, others were forced to move.

……….

Back in the arena, Crystal Moonbeam, Tirek, and Cadence fought in a triangular formation. Members of Yharim’s guards fought alongside the trio as some of them comments:

“Defend Lady Crystal!”

“The other two are secondary!”

“They can be meat shields for us to use to defend her highness!”

Cadence’s eyes twitched in response to this as she shouts:

“We’re standing right here, jerks!”

“Is the meat shield a burger you guys make here? Can I have some fries with mine? Don’t be shy on the salt either.” Tirek questions, garnering a groan from everyone else present. Although Crystal giggles in response to this.

Before any further conversation could take place, two types of shadow abominations began to encroach upon the group. These took on the forms of a clawed hand and an equine figure.

Yharim’s forces took up arms, aimed their ranged weaponry, and braced their shields as the shadow equines charged forth with frightening force. The flying claws of darkness float towards the group from every direction. Despite their nocturnal-misty makeup, these claws could still render flesh effortlessly.

The clashing of shields, the firing of arrows and guns, the war cries of conflict. All of these echoes throughout the arena as various scenarios play out:

Tirek dodged the attack of a shadow equine, but not exactly intentionally as he fell onto his buttocks at the exact moment the entity ran right over him. During the process, the terrarian lifted his hand upward and touched the dark equine.

[NEIGH]

A horse’s signature exclamation is let loose; in an echoing fashion mixed with discomfort as Tirek shockingly absorbs the entity whole. A sense of rejuvenation overtakes him as he says:

“Wow… fucking up actually saved my ass…”

One of the multiple dark claws present was en route to strike at the terrarian, but a sudden arrow of light intercepted the entity. Multiple rays of multicolored energy are let loose as the one responsible is revealed to be Princess Cadence. The rays disintegrate a number of shadow monstrosities nearby as Cadence wields a very particular bow:

“Keep your head in the game, handsome,” The Princess comments with a wink, “I’ll have to thank Sweetie Glutonia for that Mana Potion,” She fires off another arrow, followed by another expansion of light, “I might not have my full power restored, but I feel amazing right now!”

During the conflict, and having her power be revitalized, The Princess’s appearance transforms in an almost dramatic fashion as her clothing changes within an aura of light. Her pink hair now sported lines of purple and gold which blended nicely into the pink stream.

Now standing at his full stature after getting off of the ground, Tirek dusts himself off but takes notice of a haunting presence that looms over The Princess. The entity was one of the orb-shaped monstrosities, its face akin to a ghost’s. In addition, two of the genie-like shadow entities accompanied the former abomination.

“Above you!” Tirek exclaims as he thrusts his right hand forth, but is surprised as he lets loose a powerful bolt of blue lightning. It became quickly apparent that the energy he absorbed from the dark equine had boosted his prowess.

“Holy shit…” Tirek and Cadence say in unison.

……….

Crystal Moonbeam’s agility was nothing to scoff at as the small kitsune slides underneath a shadow equine and elongates her claws while growling, her fangs fully bared. She slices the equine’s stomach while sliding under it as red energy causes her shadow-composed opponent to sizzle away. The entity’s ‘neighs’ fading away as a result.

“Obliteration. A suitable punishment for unholy abominations like yourselves,” The kitsune said, holding both of her claws up as she prepared to slice away at the next shadow of Abaddon. The red energy from before now surrounding her claws. In addition, her pupils become dilated as blackness was creeping into her eyes.

She takes notice of a flock of shadow claws that were approaching a gathering of Yharim’s men. She lunges forth from her current position, her claws bared and ready to swipe at her opponents. The kitsune kicks off into the air as she zips from one claw to another, a red claw mark dicing them in the process as the red energy she releases from her strike burns the darkness away.

The gathering of guardsmen aim their ranged weapons upward as one of them shouts:

“Give Lady Crystal some cover fire!”

“Yes, sir!”

With their weapons aimed and taking combative positions, the guards fire off their rifles and make short work of the dark entities. Incidentally, and having seen Cadence’s arrows of light, the guards changed their ammunition to accommodate for their darkness comprising foes. They specifically aimed towards the ones that tried to strike at the kitsune, who was still leaping from shadow claw to shadow claw. Pouncing onto them, slicing them, and leaping towards another while roaring like a lioness. The small kitsune was acting less like a child, becoming more and more like a rampaging predator.

After slicing her final opponent, the kitsune lands in front of the guardsmen. They all stand at attention and adjust their posture for combat, shouldering their advanced rifles and holding their melee weapons with both hands.

“What are your orders, my lady?” One of them questioned.

The kitsune turns to them all as she had seemingly changed during the conflict. She shifts her feet, and with a more mature exterior she shouts:

“Guards, attention!”

With a unified step, the battalion before Crystal moved sideways in unison, “Ma’am!” They all exclaim.

“We’re going to save as many people in the kingdom as we can before we meet up with my father,” She begins to pace back and forth, “This black stuff is spreading like crazy, and these abominations keep crawling out of the toilet bowl they call ‘darkness’,” Some among the guards chuckle in response, “Even so, we’ll still get as many people out of here as possible,” The kitsune stops in place, “Do I make myself clear?!”

“Ma’am, yes, ma’am!”

As this goes on, both Tirek and Princess Cadence looked on with their own expressions. The Princess’s mouth was dropped at seeing what was essentially a child leading an army. While Tirek looks around and asks:

“Is it too late to get that meat shield burger?”

Suddenly, an anomaly opens up as Sweetie Belle Glutonia exits the breach. The portal remained open as a grassy field could be seen on the other side. In addition, one could see Braelor and Statis through the portal, and on that very same field. Tending to the now conscious clone of Calamitas.

Crystal Moonbeam and all of Yharim’s guardsmen turn towards Sweetie Glutonia. The two sisters look at each other as the kitsune is the first to say:

“I’m not going with you, sister. I’m not going to leave my father and uncle behind.”

The daughter of Greed sighs sadly, “I know, sis. Yharon and I actually talked about this beforehand,” She conjures forth the same Magic Mirror that was given to her by Yharon, and throws it to the kitsune. Crystal catches the object with one of her three tails.

“That mirror will take you all to Yharim,” Sweetie Belle said. “I have to go now, sister. We’re going to take Pinkie’s life force to Camelot.”

Crystal nods in response as she gestures for the guards to follow her. The marching of armored warriors echoes out as the kitsune leads them to battle.

The two sisters part ways, and while it wasn’t the heartfelt goodbye that either sibling would’ve wanted, they both knew that time was of the essence. One needed to save those who were still trapped within the underground kingdom, while the other needed to fulfill the mission and save the party pony.

Both Princess Cadence and Tirek approach Sweetie Glutonia.

“Are you sure she’s going to be ok?” The Princess questions in concern.

The Demi-Ancient chuckles, “My sister is stronger than she looks. Especially when she’s in that state,” She forms a smile onto her features, “I’ll see her again… she doesn’t need me to protect her all the time. Besides, those guards she’s leading are a part of Yharim’s forces, after all. She’ll lead them to victory.”

The Demi-Ancient turns towards the portal behind her, “Come. Let’s take our leave.”

The trio enters the breach which closes shut behind them, leaving behind a kingdom at war. It was unknown what the outcome of the battle would be, but Sweetie Glutonia’s words were made in absolute confidence. Plus, it was never wise to underestimate the child of an Ancient.

-TERRARIA-

The late afternoon rays of the sun beamed down as its orange blanket covered the grassy field. An anomaly opens up as Sweetie Glutonia, Tirek, and Princess Cadence exits the portal. They take notice of Braelor, Statis, and Calamitas’s clone nearby before approaching them. However, Cadence wasn’t able to see the clone as the individual was blocked by Braelor from her perspective.

“Sorry for the random location,” Sweetie Glutonia comments. “This was the best place to leave her when I brought her along from Draedon’s lab.”

“I really wish we grabbed a meat shield burger… I’m starving.” Tirek said.

Cadence chuckles in response to Tirek, however, her eyes widened in a fit of horror as she takes notice of the clone, “W-wait… that’s the one who-”

“No, it’s not her,” Braelor interjects. “This girl was cloned from that witch, but she’s nothing like her at all.”

As this goes on, Statis was seemingly trying to teach the clone how to say a few words.

The Princess approaches the clone and nods towards Statis who, in turn, was in the process of trying to teach even more words to Calamitas’s clone. The ninja backs away as the clone turns towards the approaching princess, who bore a vibrant smile.

“Hello there. Do you by chance have a name?” Cadence asked, then giggled, “I like your silver hair, by the way. It’s very pretty. Oh, wow! You have two tiny horns on your forehead.”

The clone seemed to recoil with a small bit of fear, but Braelor closes the gap during this time and places an assuring hand onto her shoulder, “It’s ok. The Princess is a very nice person, and she won’t hurt you.”

“N… ni… nice?” The clone struggles to respond.

The Princess bows respectfully as she grabs her torn dress. As a result of the conflict in the arena, “I wish for no harm to befall on you, miss...?” She questions with an extended hand.

The clone blinks twice in confusion, looks back to Braelor and Statis, then returns to The Princess’s hand. Braelor chuckles as he gently lifts the clone’s own hand and plants it onto Cadence’s, who shakes it gleefully before holding it with both of her hands.

“This is a form of greeting,” The Princess said with a smile. “I hope we can become friends,” She looks towards the two men standing behind Calamitas’s clone, “Does she have a name, though?”

As the clone stared at their joined hands in confusion, both Braelor and Statis turn towards each other, then back to The Princess, “Only a label on the back of her neck seems to indicate a ‘name.’” Braelor said.

“It’s barely a name and more of an insult, honestly,” Statis responds.

As was pointed out, a label was indeed etched onto the back portion of the clone’s neck as she turned her gaze towards the two men. The Princess had a clear view of this and reads:

“C-2?”

The clone turns back to her in one swift motion, “Hmmmuh?”

A sense of sorrow overtakes The Princess, “They didn’t even bother to give you a proper name…” She said, but took on a merrier expression afterward, “I think I’ll give you one.”

Everyone present turns towards The Princess as she places a hand to her chin in thought. Then, a gleeful ‘Ah’ is released from Cadence.

“How does Callie sound?”

In a shocking scenario to both Braelor and Statis, Callie’s face begins to form a smile as she says:

“C… Cal… lie. Call… ie. Callie.”

The Princess claps her hands, “There you go!”

“Wow… that’s the best expression we got out of her this whole time,” Braelor said with a shocked tone.

“I guess she likes the name,” Statis comments with a shrug.

No one could explain why she liked that name so much. It was completely random to both Braelor and Statis, and maybe even the clone herself didn’t understand. Could it be that this was the first time she was even offered a proper name, rather than a label? The answer was unknown, but It just seemed to feel right to the clone. Or as she was now called:

“Callie,” She said.

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.