-TERRARIA, ???-

Tanner’s spirit is pulled into a mysterious realm; however, it was also a place that played a significant role. The domain flickered with streams of lights, said lights taking on various colorations. However, the Guide could also see windows that formed and vanished like an explosion. There one second, and gone the next. But Tanner could make out one thing about these windows: Each represented an individual, a lifeform. It was as if these windows gave one the perspective of the being that window belongs to.

Following his words to the Doomslayer, the spiritual figure vanished in an emerald flash of light. And the one responsible for his disappearance now floated before him: Terra.

“With that, the demon invasion shall soon be dealt with,” Tanner comments. “All that’s left is Nyarlathotep’s mass of flesh,” The Guide takes in his surroundings, “This is the realm between life and death. Many cultures have various names for this place, but Spirit Realm seems to be the most basic description. I believe Anubis and other death deities often utilize this place, to judge the souls of the deceased.”

“Indeed, Tanner, and I once spoke to Silence here during his ascension to his role as an Ancient,” Terra responds. “The children of Terraria will soon face a mighty threat. Even the Ancients will need to halt their conflict with the GrimDarks at Anubis’s Pyramid.”

Her words seemingly confuse the Guide, prompting him to say:

“What do you mean by that, my lady? The Ancients won’t need to intervene, right? Surly the heroes of Terraria will be more than efficient to deal with Nyarlat-”

“In Nyar’s current state, yes,” Terra interjects, closing her eyes in thought afterward. “However, as this fight progresses, an event will take place which will truly test the might of Ancients, Gods, and powerful figures of Terraria.”

Tanner’s tone becomes cautious and riddled with fear, “W-will the Flesh truly b-become so dangerous?”

Terra nods, “Do not forget that the Wall of Flesh, or Legion, was once a powerful Outer God. Even with all of Terraria’s greatest powerhouses, I fear victory would still be debatable against the wrath of a fully empowered member of my kind. And one who sits at the top of our hierarchy with only a few others.”

Terra begins to create fine imitations of three entities, said creations floating between herself and Tanner.

“Nyarlathotep, Xeroc, Cthuhlu,” Terra starts. “These three have caused immeasurable destruction and strife, and they’re only the individuals who have revealed themselves. But there are others, too. Those who remain in hiding and plot behind the scenes. The beings of this beautiful universe MUST be prepared, for this is Terraria’s true purpose.”

The imitations of the three entities fade away, and Tanner’s eyes widened in realization, “I understand now… Terraria isn’t just a trap for other members of your kind. It’s also a training ground. You’re trying to prepare us for our conflicts with them.”

Terra nods as; suddenly, two more commotions make themselves known as two anomalies manifest. One anomaly consists of an oily-green liquid that dances in a circular formation, black tendrils reaching outward along its’ borders. The other portal takes on a red coloration with spirals of black that, much like the other anomaly, creates a perfect circular breach.

Two entities exit each breach individually, and Tanner soon found himself floating before three beings of such ancient origins. Much like Terra, the other two individuals radiated power, authority, wisdom, destiny, and many different aspects and concepts.

The Guide looked on in shock, awe, and a sense of dread as he felt as if his existence couldn’t measure up to these entities, these Outer Gods.

“Do not be afraid of us, Tanner,” Says Terra, her motherly tone warming the spirit’s very being. “You are in no danger, and we have something important for you. A gift, you could say.”

“Y-yes, my lady.”

“We meet again, Guide,” Comments Zalgo, the crimson-black entity who exited their matching breach. “I trust you’ll recognize me even in this form. You’ve done well to keep your end of our bargain, following what happened in The Underworld.”

“I remember you well, Zalgo,” Tanner responds with a nod. “Although I haven’t seen you in this form before, I recognize your voice.”

Tanner’s spiritual form turns towards the third entity, but unlike Terra and Zalgo, this one took on a much more simplistic form. A green earth pony stallion with a black mane and tail, his eyes a vibrant orange-yellow hue. All while his cutie mark consists of an open book with black tendrils creeping out from behind it.

A sense of familiarity overcomes the Guide, “Wait; I feel like I know you somehow.”

The earth pony chuckles, “We haven’t had the opportunity to meet physically, but we’ve spoken before. As for why I'm a pony, well, I have my reasons. I am Yog, and I am your station’s commissioner. You’ve performed exceedingly well, my dear Guide. And we have decided to reward you, provided you accept our extension.”

“R-reward?” Tanner questions in disbelief before looking away in shame. “Why should I be rewarded… I failed immeasurably as a Guide.”

Yog raises an eyebrow, “Failed? According to whom? Or is this your own punishment brought upon by your own judgment?” Yog’s words garner Tanner’s attention. “I am a being of immeasurable knowledge, and from where I’m standing, not one shred of the evidence present dictates that you ‘failed.’ You’ve simply been pushed down, but you’ve picked yourself up quite well.”

As if built-up frustration had been festering within Tanner’s form, the Guide explodes in anger and retorts:

“The hell do you mean by that?! Look at what’s happening on Terraria at this very moment!” The Guide emphasizes by clenching his fists. “Everything that’s transpiring is because I allowed some demon to take my place! How can you possibly say that I’m not a failure?! I practically guided the world into the apocalypse!”

Terra, Zalgo, and Yog look on as the spirit of Tanner falls onto his knees.

“I failed my family; my wife and daughter were lost because of my shortcomings. And now Terraria is threatened… because of me.” Despite his spectral state, tears start to flow down Tanner’s cheeks. “Every life that’s lost during this conflict is because of me; it’s my fault…” He brings his hands to his face and covers them in shame. “It’s… my… fault…”

After a moment of silence, a black tendril moves Tanner’s hand away from his face as a second tendril lifts his chin, his gaze meeting with Yog’s. The two tendrils retreat into Yog’s back; his green fur rustled from where the tendrils emerged from.

“You’ve taken your falls and merged them with your hardships,” Yog states. “But neither of these things equate to failure. Don’t you see? You’ve allowed these things to cloud your vision, causing you to overlook how you stood tall after being knocked down. Your family’s loss is truly tragic, but you must also realize that death and loss are imminent when up against a powerful foe. For this is the nature of conflict, regardless of its scale.”

"If you truly were to blame, I would've eliminated you that day in The Underworld," Zalgo comments. "It was the Voodoo Demon who interfered with our plan. As such, I punished him accordingly. The fault is not your own."

“W-what are you saying?” Tanner inquires, still on his knees. “What exactly are you all trying to tell me?”

“When Nyarlathotep first breached into Terraria, who was it that rallied the mortals and led them to safety?” Yog inquires.

“M-me,” Tanner responds. “Others joined me, of course… but yes, I rallied Terraria’s races and brought them into the underground biomes for protection. As was per Terra’s instructions.”

“Who was it that trained the heroes within those underground biomes?” Zalgo questions. “Who was Shining Armor’s master? Who made him worthy to earn Daedalus’s gifts, and wield his weapon, Excalibur?”

“M-me…” The Guide answers. “I trained many heroes during those hard times, and it was Shining Armor who wielded Excalibur and used it to strike down Nyar’s weakened state.”

“When Nyar’s remains gave rise to the Corruption and the Crimson, who was it that still aided the many races of Terraria to deal with the infectious threat?” Terra questions.

“Me,” Tanner answered as he’s lifted onto his feet by Terra’s influence.

“Many years later, another significant threat arrived,” Yog comments. “One who was drawn to Terraria by Nyarlathotep’s actions. One who would send ripples throughout a large majority of Terraria’s history, and a semblance of this foe still threatens all to this very day.” Much to Tanner’s surprise, Yog’s expression becomes regretful, “The same being who took your family from you.”

With gritted teeth and boiling blood, Tanner scornfully mutters the name:

“Cthuhlu…”

Both Zalgo and Terra look towards Yog as they know his coming words and actions.

Yog takes a breath, and much to Tanner’s shocked surprise, the green earth pony kneels before the Guide by lowering his right foreleg.

“Forgive me, for I have wronged you, Tanner.”

Absolute shock takes over the Guide as he couldn’t believe what was happening. Here was a being so mighty and ancient who was, in all essence, lowering themselves to seem weaker than the Guide—so vulnerable. Yog rises once more, prompting Tanner to comment:

“W-what do you mean by ‘wronged me’? Why did you do that just now…?”

“Because, Tanner… between the two of us, I am a far greater failure than you could ever be. My greatest failure became your greatest heartache, along with many others. I am Yog-Sothoth, progenitor of Cthuhlu. Or, in other terms… I am their father. And, by extension, I am why the Moon Lord exists.”

-TERRARIA, CAMELOT-

The group from the Underworld suddenly appears in a flash of light. They take in the conflict roaring out all around them as many demons and entities from the Crimson Biome clash against adventurers and guards folk of Camelot. In addition, the large mass of flesh on the outskirts of Camelot roars out as lavender beams are seen firing into the skies and devastating the landscape.

“Alright, everyone,” Sai Sahan starts. “Let’s get in there and support the conflict to our best abilities.”

Without hesitation, Arche, Celestia, Luna, Cadence, Tzana, Tempest, and Flame Heart races towards the conflict with the Mass of Flesh, leaving behind the Element Bearers, Linn, Shadow Thunder, Starlight Glimmer, Sai Sahan, and Braelor.

Currently holding her head as if tending a migraine, Linn could feel a strange sensation that spoke ill of a horrible fate. Braelor places a hand onto her shoulder while commenting:

“Are you alright, Linn?”

“I-I don’t k-know,” She responds strugglingly. “But something awful has happened… I can feel it-” Her eyes shoot wide open as she notices the fiery dome surrounding where the castle once stood. “M-my Aunt! Cadence! Sweet Terra, I have to help them!”

Suddenly, the fiery dome bursts open as if someone had popped a bubble, flickers of flames dissipating into the air. This is followed by a hauntingly loud roar, and the words:

“I will not fall to you, Doomslayer! I am-”

[BWATHOOM]

A shockwave suddenly cuts off these words, and as the remaining group from the Underworld ponders on what just happened, an object can be seen hurling into the air as if a small rocket has just taken off. In a cloud of smoke, this mysterious object falls down in front of the group.

Several gasps are let loose, and wide-eyed expressions begin to form as they take in what the object truly is:

Infernon’s dismembered head.

And so the moment we've been waiting for is upon us, ladies and gents. Time to get this saga wrapped up! But the question is: Who's going to make it to the next phase?

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.