The Mare, the Monster, and the Castle
An insatiable beast. It was all I could think of calling him as I fought to stay conscious through my fourth, or was it fifth, orgasm. My bed whined under the strain this night had brought. It’s not the first time, but after so long at once, I was genuinely worried.
“Please,” I whimpered. “The bed!”
As always, he listened to my pleas on behalf of the furniture. My rough partner always listened, but he always reminded me there was a price to pay for his compliance. Another load of his baby batter flooded my already drowning innards. As I heard his guttural panting, I knew just what my husband was never able to give me. Just why I resorted to what I did.
“Sombra,” I managed to say as my body fought valorously against the urge to sleep.
“Cadenza,” he replied in a soft whisper beside my ear.
“Please, help me to the bathroom, I want to clean up before he comes back.”
Sombra kissed my cheek before helping me from bed. “May I stay tonight?”
“Wha – what if Shining sees you?” I was in a daze, but I could feel him keeping me up as we made our way to the bathroom.
“He’ll ask if they don’t look anything like either of you,” he said as the sound of rushing water echoed from the tub. “I know he’s not the shiniest facet in the geode but you know he’ll ask.”
I nodded absentmindedly as he helped me into the bath before joining me. He was right, and he chastised me with those very words since the first night, when I negotiated the terms of his freedom. In return for being able to call on him to advise me regarding the Empire on my terms, I was to bear his foals. After so many failures with Shining, I was more than happy to accept his fee.
As he often times would, he whispered sweet nothings in my ear while we bathed. It always helped to keep me awake and tonight was no exception. After we toweled off and magically cleaned the sheets I stopped caring about what Shining would think in the morning and rested comfortably against Sombra’s chest; his heartbeat lulling me to sleep.
*****
The first thing I saw the next morning was Sombra smiling at me. I couldn’t stop myself from kissing him. I could still taste our lovemaking on his warm lips, much like his musk assaulting my nostrils. “I haven’t slept that well in months,” I told him as our lips parted.
“Then I should stay more often Cadenza,” he replied in a soft voice. If I didn’t know him as completely as I did then that tone would surprise me. A stallion who was once called a tyrant had shown me this gentle side so many times that the evil he once showed seemed like a bad dream.
“What about the Heart? Isn’t it bad for you to stay so long?”
He smiled and kissed my cheek. “The more I stay, the more alive I become. The more I live, the weaker its effect on me become. Can I stay longer Cadenza? Tirek’s taunting grows more insufferable each time I return to Tartarus and Grogar is not far behind him.”
“But Shining–”
“He doesn’t have to know. I’ll just remain in the shadows and leave in a few hours. Being near you is all I want right now.” He briefly kissed me again. “The thought of seeing you again keeps a smile on my face and those other prisoners out of my mind.”
I smiled at the prospect of Sombra lurking in the castle’s shadows, watching as I lie to my husband about how much I missed him. How empty the castle’s been. Even hearing how much I need him. He would probably smile, fully aware that I’m not talking to my husband but to the bestial unicorn that has nearly broken our bed countless times.
“Sombra, I want you to leave by noon. I’ll be sure to call you when I need your expertise next.” He smiled at my not-so-subtle hint and slowly faded away, leaving me in my bed with a phantom pony in search of a hiding place.
After leaving the comfort of my bed, I noticed the mess we made on our way to our bath the night prior and did my best to clean it up. I also opened the windows and hoped the wind would clear his scent from the room enough to keep Shining in the dark about my affair.
*****
Time seemed to pass slower than usual as I left the seclusion of my bedroom to greet my husband. From time to time I noticed a pair of emerald green eyes appearing in the shadows and they gave me the confidence to really sell it to Shining. Those shimmering emerald eyes were far removed from the monster I had first seen Sombra as and as our relationship blossomed, they became increasingly prominent. He would say that being more alive meant he was returning to before he was steeped in dark magic and I’d agree if I didn’t know his dirty mind’s workings.
As my husband came around the corner of a corridor I stopped looking for Sombra in the shadows and mustered my most genuine smile. “Welcome back Shining,” I called before rushing to him. “Was the trip tiring?”
He held me in his warm embrace and smiled back at me. “I slept on the train so I’m ready for the day. Cadance, do you have any plans?”
My thoughts dwelled on Sombra for just a moment before I shook my head. “Today’s going to be all about us. You can tell me about your adventures for Princess Celestia and I can tell you all about what you’ve missed.”
“Well, it wasn’t anything like that dear but if you really wanna know then I’ll try to make it interesting.”
I giggled a little as he led me away from where Sombra could hide, trying now just to keep Shining happy. Part of me wanted to tell him all about my affair right then and perhaps it would’ve been for the best that I did. Sombra always had a point when he reminded me about what would happen if our foals took after him.
“Cadance,” he asked after bringing me out onto a balcony.
I blinked before looking at him. “Yes?”
“Are you okay?”
“Of course,” I lied. “Why, is something wrong?”
“Well, you seem a bit distracted. Something you want to tell me?”
I smiled and leaned close. “I was just thinking about what I want you to do tonight,” I whispered. “What I want every night you’re home.”
“Cadance,” he said nervously, “can I have a break sometime? Once a week or something.”
“Fine,” I pouted. “You get one night every week but you’ll have to make it up to me tonight.”
“Uh–”
“It’s either that or I’ll tie you down and take you by force every night.”
Shining winced at the prospect and gave an audible gulp. “Alright, whatever you want dear. Just remember, I’m not some machine okay?”
I nodded stiffly, determined to show him that I found it acceptable. If he knew what I had gotten up to in his absence, there would be no way he’d have said I was free to do whatever I wanted. After nearly a month away, he would be in for a shock. Sombra was a wonderful teacher and, according to him, I proved to be an excellent student.
The Mare, the Monster, and the Castle
Much to the disgust of some of the occupants near his cell, Sombra was met with cheering and applause from the other unspeakable entities confined to Tartarus as he strolled in. The unicorn greeted the indescribable abominations with waves and a very cheerful grin.
“You know what happened last time one of us escaped don’t you boy,” echoed the elderly voice of Tirek as Sombra reached the centaur’s cell.
Sombra’s smile twisted itself into a smug grin. “Yes, your greed earned you an eternal sentence. Now you’re just like the rest of us in this block.”
“Why you smug little,” the feeble looking monster reached through the bars of his cage only to grasp at air.
“Come now Tirek,” boomed a second voice. This one was on the opposite side of the corridor. “The whelp has a point.”
Sombra’s gaze turned towards the shadowy cell, seeing a pair of red eyes glare back at him from the darkness. “Doing well I see.”
A large blue ram came from out of the shadows, showing a broad grin upon his face. “You are being summoned by dark magic. That is quite the accomplishment boy.”
“High praise from you Lord Grogar.”
“Do not confuse your accomplishments with praise boy.”
“Says the necromancer who can’t magic himself out of the underworld. Oh, that’s right, your power comes from artifacts and without them you’re just a bitter old ram imprisoned forever with all the real monsters.”
Much like Tirek, Grogar found Sombra barely out of reach. “You come closer and say things like that to my face!”
“Aw, poor Lord Grogar can’t even grab a widdle unicorn,” Sombra teased. Much to his surprise, Tirek burst into laughter as the mostly dead unicorn put the ram in his place. “Nopony wants your necromancy and even if they did, they just have to find the source and I’d be sure to tell them in a heartbeat just to see the look on your face when I tell you we destroyed it.”
“Woohoo Sombra,” called a mare’s voice from further down the hall. “Take your cloak off!”
Not one to disappoint his adoring fans, Sombra tossed his cloak at the cell as he passed. As he noticed his cell door open on its own his smile slowly faded and even the wolf whistles of the nearby Shadowbolt mares couldn’t brighten his spirits. With the thundering sound of his cell door closing he looked over to the adjacent Shadowbolts, mares squabbling over his cloak while their stallion counterpart mirrored Sombra’s own bored expression.
“How many times this time,” he called across the hall to the unicorn.
“A couple times after dinner, twice in the bath, and five more in bed.”
“Hah, for a dead guy you’ve got some serious stamina.”
“What can I say, Cadenza gets my rigor going.”
“What was that,” hissed a voice from further down the hall. “Did I hear ‘Cadenza’ as in Mi Amore Cadenza?”
“Yes and she likes it when I call her that, now show yourself.”
All that Sombra caught from the other cell was a hiss and fierce green eyes.
The male Shadowbolt cleared his throat. “Anyways, what’s your angle Sombra? We’re all lifers except miss hissy over there. Word is she’s here for a thousand year stint but–”
“Yes, time’s confusing down here. So what happened to my unicorn neighbor?”
“Oh, well she found out who called you out of this place and well. Prismia’s off in a padded cell a few layers down since she went nuts.”
Sombra laughed. “She wasn’t my type anyways. Too much hate in her dead heart.”
“So what you’re up to involves this summoner of yours doesn’t it?”
“Why spoil the surprise my friend. Besides, it’s all perfectly by the books and if it doesn’t work out I might be a little deader than last time.”
“Geez, what’s past a ghost in terms of dead?”
Sombra shrugged and turned his gaze to the other Shadowbolts, still fighting over possession of his cloak. I miss you so much already Cadenza, he thought. Just tell him and call me back so we can be together.
The Mare, the Monster, and the Castle
3 - Knight in Cursed Armor
Shining acted like nothing was out of the ordinary as he spent time at home. Early into my affair there were times where I wished I could act like that again but that ship sailed so very long ago. In a way, Sombra left a mark on me. He colored my outlook on this marriage. I had a husband who loved me without question, but he spent weeks or months away on assignments. Sure he could give me a wild night, but it’s lost some of the magic it once had.
With Sombra there was always some risk. There was always a chance that somepony would hear me call his name to the stars in bliss. Always a chance some guard would notice us as he rutted me while I was gagged on the throne. I didn’t need him to demand it, he owned me in a way my husband was never brave or willing enough to try.
With Shining, it was always the same. No risk, no kinky sex, just some foreplay and he’d mount me. Sometimes he was too fast leaving me to finish up on my own. Still, it was safe with him, both intimately and publicly. Sombra had his agenda while Shining had his unwavering love.
“Cadance,” said my husband. “Is everything alright?”
“Hmm,” I blinked and gave him a smile as I refocused. “Everything’s just fine. Why, is something bothering you?” It had already been two weeks since I last sent Sombra back to his cell. While I may be physically away from him, there was no denying his warning still resonated in my head.
“Are you sure? You were just staring off into space.”
I was done running from the truth anymore. If it destroys our relationship then so be it. “Shining, I have something I need to tell you.”
Shining nodded and looked at me with his dopey clueless look. “What’s wrong Cadance?”
I pulled him into a tight hug and tried to focus on what I wanted to say. “It’s not something you’ll want to hear, but please let me talk. Shining, I’ve been having an affair.” I could feel the full weight of his body against mine; that he was in shock. “I’m sorry Shiny, but it was in the heat of the moment and I felt weak.”
Slowly, he wrapped his forelegs around me. “Do I… do I know them?”
There were tears in my eyes, I knew just how hard I struck him and it felt like my guilt had torn his heart out and was getting ready to beat it to death. “Yes, he leaves an impression.”
“He’s bigger than me?”
“I meant you have a hard time forgetting him.”
“Why did you do this,” he blurted out as his grip on me tightened.
“I told you, I felt weak. You were gone for three months with no word. I was afraid you were gone.” I fought my way through my own tears just to tell him. “He kept telling me you had to know about the truth sometime and I just buried it with my guilt.”
“Who is it Cadance? Was it one of the guards?”
I sniffled. “No, I called him once my worries began to affect my duties as a princess.”
“Called? What do you mean ‘called’?”
I nodded as I held him as tightly as I could. “I used a summoning spell to call him.”
“A summoning–”
“I found a book of spells in the castle. There were warnings about summoning anything, telling you to have a plan and to make sure it’s airtight. Well, I did and I used it to help me get refocused on my duties. He was forbidden to influence my leadership in any negative way. To offer assistance when I asked. Most importantly, he wasn’t allowed to lie to me.”
“So you had sex with him?”
“Eventually I had to uphold my side of the bargain. In return for everything, he said I would bear his foals. I agreed to that only because I imposed so many harsh restrictions on him.”
He let go of me and pulled me away, letting me see just how upset he was. Tears were streaking down his muzzle and he really did look as if somepony hit his head pretty hard. “Who is it Cadance?”
“The only stallion I could think of with any leadership skills. I called on King Sombra.”
Shining was devastated, and I felt like I just rubbed salt in the wound on his psyche. “He’s supposed to be dead!”
“Shiny, aside from when I summon him, he’s imprisoned in Tartarus. He can’t leave indefinitely and he helped me get the Empire back on track. While you were gone he became the shoulder I cried on when I had to make a hard decision. Nothing’s wrong here, the Empire hasn’t turned into a police state. There had been a group of criminals that tried to establish themselves here, but thanks to some improvements he suggested I make to patrols, they were found and imprisoned just as they began to get comfortable.”
“Cadance, he’s dead!”
“At first he was just a phantasm Shining! It took time for him to become solid. I put it off for so long. I just – I didn’t want to disgust you further by mating with a dead pony. He may as well be just as alive as you or me now.”
“So it took him three – I remember that mission, has he been lurking around in the castle for nearly two years?”
“I can send him back Shiny and he’s never stayed past sunrise. At least until two weeks ago, and even then it was just once. I told him he could stay and I thought that maybe I could find the courage to tell you if he did.”
“So he’s just better than me at everything isn’t he?”
“He reminds me about everything I do. He’s harped about telling you about this since I first called him, back before we even made the deal. It’s always the bad things I’ve done. Sometimes he tells me about something good, but it’s rare and he twists it so it sounds bad. At first I thought he just didn’t have anything nice to tell me or anything to reassure me that I did something good, but as we learned more about each other I learned that he was trying to keep me from going down his path. His experience can be invaluable Shiny, we can both benefit from it.”
“So he is better!”
I felt lost in my misery, not because I was trying to defend Sombra, but because I was so scared. “No! He’s not! He’s everything I don’t want you to become, but look at yourself in the mirror. You’re turning into him just by being angry! He knows he’s a lost cause so he tries to guide me back into the light.” I tried to recompose myself before continuing. “We’ve tried to have foals before this and it’s never worked. Now it’s just so clinical that sleeping with him feels like what we used to be. We experiment, try new positions, new things to make it feel exciting. Well, I experiment with new things, he tries to find out if I like it.”
My husband wiped his eyes and worked to recompose himself. I won’t lie, it seemed like a losing battle for a while but he eventually managed to succeed. “So what do we do now?”
“Like it or not, I have to have at least one foal that has him as the father. It’s the part of the deal I have to live up to. After he went back to Tartarus the first time I did more research, just so I knew everything about what I got myself into. If I don’t live up to that much, it goes onto our children. If they can’t do what he wants, say we only have colts, then it lays dormant until there’s a compatible match but by then he might not be bound by the rules I imposed.”
“What happens after you have it?”
“Well, he has to follow my terms until that foal is an adult, then I can say that our deal is done and that sends him back to suffer for eternity.”
“Or until some other pony summons him.”
“Do you want me to call him so we can hammer everything out? I mean, yes I might have to give myself to him and you might not be too happy about that, but–”
“Just call him so we can get this over with,” he responded bitterly.
“Alright,” I replied, my voice barely louder than a whisper. As I focused on my lover, the guilt I felt made the spell itself almost unbearable. After several minutes, I knew I managed to endure the casting but my horn felt like it was on fire.
~~~~~
To Sombra, it seemed like an eternity passed before his cell door swung open. With a content smile, and the heckling of his fellow inmates, he left eager to find out just why he was being called once more.
~~~~~
As Shining paced impatiently I thought only of the slowly subsiding pain. Summoning him was never like this. It was always tiring, but I never felt so much pain.
“Where is he?”
“I asked him before and he has to travel from Tartarus to the Empire. He makes the best time closer to night since he can just travel by shadow that way.”
“Or he can use magic like any normal unicorn worth his wizardry,” echoed the familiar voice of my lover as he emerged from the shadows.
It drew more than my attention as Shining stopped mid-pace. “You–”
“I see that this is why you called me from my prison Cadenza.” His voice was even, cold, perhaps even detached. “Are you alright?”
I tried to say I was, but nothing came. I nodded as I struggled in vain to say it.
“She’s not your plaything Sombra,” said Shining adamantly as Sombra advanced on us.
“She’s afraid,” Sombra continued in his even tone. “She doesn’t want to show me any affection with you here, nor would she show you any with me present. I won’t be offended Cadenza, so please speak your mind. I know you still love him.”
“I do,” I muttered as I tried to stand. I wanted to be near him. I wanted to kiss him. What love I had for my husband was all that rooted me in my place. What eventually released me was the gentle caress of Sombra’s hoof.
“I do have feelings for you Cadenza,” he said as his tone softened. Each syllable seemed gentler than the last. What some ponies might consider aversion, I knew he still acknowledged Shining’s presence. “What we have shared cannot help but bring about such a thing but I suspect he has a far more solid place in your heart.”
“What makes you say that,” asked Shining as though he was fighting just to get a word in past Sombra.
“Her melancholy as the days wear on in your absence. She tries to bury it, but I’ve some experience in rooting out such things. My resume should tell you what particular skills I have when it comes to the mind. Everything from scare tactics and propaganda to memory suppression and indoctrination. I would not harm her with my skills, even if I wasn’t forbidden to.”
“What if you could, why wouldn’t you use your methods to make her yours?”
“It would be easier to make her think it was her idea of course. Doing something like that falls into the forbidden category as well. On that note, tying her has been especially taxing on me as the contract takes time to realize why such a thing is happening. Tell me, what do you call a submissive ruler? No, seriously, I’ve no idea. Anyways, your problem is you threw your wife into the hooves of a unicorn who used to make a career out of mind games because you couldn’t say that you have a wife to take care of.”
“But–”
“I’m not playing mind games. I’m making sure that you are aware that even a pony who stepped into this relationship late, one who deals with irregular time in a prison that you can only reach through a crack in the ground, knows the truth. Now, I suggest calling for me when you need me and leave Mr. Jealous out next time. If the husband who actually cares about you still exists Cadenza, then he is welcome.”
As Shining opened his mouth, Sombra disappeared with a thundering crack. All that was left of him was a scorch mark on the floor.
I scowled. “Couch, now!” It could’ve gone better and it certainly might have. I felt as though Shining only heard what he wanted to hear, even if he had little chance to say it.
“But–”
“You are staying on that couch until I’m not mad at you.”
“Cadance I–”
“Three. Words. Now!” I wouldn’t forgive him that easily, but the least I could do was let him say it.
“I’m so sorry.” He bit his lip before throwing himself in front of me. “Please forgive me!”
“Couch,” I yelled as I stomped my hoof.
~~~~~
Sombra scowled as he returned to his cell, ignoring the fanfare he had grown accustomed to.
“So, something happened didn’t it,” asked Tirek from the next cell over.
“If you want to keep your head on your shoulders you will remain silent. Anything further and I won’t be the only dead prisoner in this wing,” his glare shifted towards Grogar’s cell, “that goes double for you necromancer.”
