It took a few days to settle things in Manehatten. The damage was cleaned up, the victims of the tar given the best medical care, Nimbus and Charcoal were taken by Midnight into custody (he didn’t say where though), and even Atom Nucleus was dealt with. To Twilight’s relief, her old tutor was already showing signs of improvement, but the doctors’ informed her that he would likely be invalid for the rest of his life. Twilight made it a mental note to do whatever she could to help Atom, both physically and mentally.

As for Watcher, Star, Nyra, and Narbus, Midnight decided to give Watcher and Star some well-deserved vacation time, while he “invited” Nyra to join the Brotherhood, desiring her knowledge of rune magic.

Oddly enough, Narbus managed to slip away without anyone noticing, though the dog had left behind a message for Watcher and Nyra only. The letter made them sad, but they understood Narbus’s reasons for going his own way, not to avoid punishment but to seize his own opportunities to make up for his misdeeds. After assuring Midnight of this, the sapphire stallion simply shrugged it off and decided, if they needed to, they’d find Narbus eventually.

Watcher then made the announcement that he wished to go back home to Vanhoover, to be close with his mother and sisters again. Star was sad to hear this… only for Midnight to cheer her up by having her reassigned to Vanhoover. Nyra would have to stay in Manehatten for a while, as Midnight was giving her a special assignment, top-secret so she couldn’t even explain what it was to Watcher or Star. But he assured them that once Nyra’s work was done she could join them in Vanhoover.

In the meantime, Midnight had insisted Watcher be examined by a special magical doctor he knew, in concern of the strange white tar that had made itself known in Watcher’s body after he’d been forced to amputate his right forehoof. Due to the long exposure of the tar, some of it had latched onto his internal organs and the only way to remove it was by surgery, but he had refused, puzzling the alicorn prince as to why?

All he said to him was “He’d explain later at the party,” and left it at that.

After sending word ahead to his mother, Blossom Guide, they were treated to a warm and lovely welcome. Blossom was happy to see her son home again, but made a concerned fuss over his hoof until Watcher assured her he was okay. His sisters were equally happy to see him, and as is the prerogative of all younger siblings they teased their big brother about his “relationship” with Star N’ Stripe.

Watcher didn’t care. In fact, he made their teasing pointless when he swept Star off her hooves and kissed her so passionately in front of his family that Blossom and Twilight had to cover the fillies’ eyes despite their protests.

Afterwards, Blossom threw together a hearty feast, with some help from Twilight and Star, who both insisted on helping with the cooking.

While Mac and Thunder kept the girls busy, Watcher pulled Midnight into his old room (touched his mother had kept it) for a private word.

“Oh…! Somepony was a fan of the Masked Matterhorn?” Midnight teased while pointing at the poster on Watcher’s bedroom wall.

“Pfft… Back when… Dad… Back when he was around, after that… Pretty much stopped caring about stuff like this… Still was the coolest of the Power Ponies though,” Watcher replied, fondly as he recalled his dad getting him that poster. “Weren’t you a bigger fan though? I could have sworn you drooled every time you got a new issue of that comic.”

“Heheheh, still am! Of the Power Ponies and the Bronco Busters,” Midnight chuckled before a nostalgic look came over him as he regarded Watcher’s bedroom.

The bed neither of them could comfortably sleep on. The desk still had notebooks and colored pencils. A few action figures were set upon a wall-mounted shelf. To Watcher, this place was a place where his old foalhood dreams had remained, while he had been forced to move on.

“Besides, no matter how old you are, never forget the colt inside,” Midnight said with a bittersweet smile, remembering who told him those words. And how those memories soured after a point in his life, but he saw no reason to bring it up now.

“Anyways, there was something I wanted to talk to you about, but couldn’t because I didn’t want any of the others to overhear,” Watcher cut to the chase, not wanting to keep this information to himself. “Before Malice… ended his life… He told me something that I think you should know.”

Furrowing his brows, Midnight gave Watchier his full and undivided attention, “What is it?”

“He told me the name of the one in charge of the House of Assassins, the one who had been pulling the strings since the beginning. He called her, Mother Miracle,” Watcher replied, his eyes narrowing when he said that.

“Mother Miracle…” Midnight tasted the name on his tongue as he gave it a thought, “Well, I’m sorry to say the name doesn’t ring a bell. You probably heard me when I spoke with Malice, but I chased rumors and shaky leads on the House of Assassins, though I never found anything of real note.

“The fact that Malice wasn’t the real head of the House of Assassins honestly doesn’t surprise me.”

“Unfortunately that’s all he was able to give me, meaning I don’t know how many members there really are. We both know that this… Miracle is a Countess, not sure if she has other aliases or not, but I’ll look into it and Narbus will also be hunting down any of the others that are a part of her group,” Watcher explained. “Even if that’s not a whole lot of information, I figured I’d tell you, rather not keep any more secrets.”

“You’re on paid leave, remember?” Midnight brought up with a teasing smile. “So, I want you to focus on relaxing, getting better, and…”

Midnight paused, looking despondent, so Watcher said, “I appreciate that, Midnight, but I’ve been working for so long, I don’t know if I can stop. Probably because I really don’t want to stop, not until we finish this. Call it a hunch, but I have a feeling this Mother Miracle is far worse than anything we’ve faced before… But I’ll try to take it easy… at least for a little bit… Four days at most.”

“Two weeks, not a day less,” Midnight stated firmly. When Watcher started to protest, Midnight spoke over him, “That’s an order. Watcher… you’re home again!

“You’re back with your mother, your sisters, and you have two mares who love you and would want you to take it easy for the time being. And don’t forget!”

Midnight smirked as he twirled his hoof, making a little portal appear and deposit a familiar-looking confection, “You have work to do, remember? I’m already planning to invest in your research and development, and I expect results.”

“Heh… One job for another… You shouldn’t have,” Watcher said sarcastically as he rolled his eyes. Figuring that it was already implied, but decided not to say anything about it. “By the way… That list… How do you think he got it? If I recall correctly, that place should be the most secure place in Equestria, right?”

“Heheheh, oh sure, the list was protected, but I wager Malice found it because I deliberately leaked a rumor of the base’s location,” Midnight chuckled deviously.

“Oh you sneaky little- Whatever! I’m not going to admonish you considering all the shit I’ve done. I’d say you’re reckless, but that would be me calling the tea kettle,” Watcher rolled his eyes, figuring the alicorn had his reasons and figured it was most likely a decoy, but even so despite how stupid it was to do that, he couldn’t exactly reprimand him considering he was also as stupid as his cousin. “So… Did you finally have that talk with Twilight yet?”

“...not yet,” Midnight responded, sounding apprehensive, but there was a sparkle in his eyes. “But… I’m looking forward to it, to tell you the truth. And for the record, let it be known that I’d never risk the lives of my subordinates so callously!

“The list was protected by a secret base an’ all, but the real protections are the enchantments on it! Even if Malice had sold the list, the information would have been wiped from the memories of whoever learned of it-”

“... Midnight… I don’t care… SO take it from your older brother and shut up and get down there and make up with your wife, before I kick your ass!” Watcher barked, not realizing that he had unintentionally called Midnight his brother.

“You mean… this ass?” Midnight mooned Watcher, who saw how plump yet firm Midnight’s backside was, “Well, it’s a big target! It wouldn’t be hard! Hahahaha!”

“Oh fuck off! Get out of here already, or am I going to have to convince Twilight that you actually meant to kiss that psycho chick who tried to burn you alive?~” Watcher threatened, smirking as he saw the worried look on his face. “I can be quite convincing you know,”

“Okay, okay! No need to go for the jugular!” Midnight laughed, a bit sheepish, but then he said, “Look, Twily and I already had a quick word, and we decided we’d talk when we go to bed. After the party, which we should be getting back to before your mom gets in here and grounds you.”

“Then we should get moving, after all, I still have a little surprise for everyone that nopony can resist.” Watcher said, opening the door as the two head down. “I think you’ll like it, you could say it’s a way to… help out a little brother.”

Smiling, Midnight pulled Watcher into a hug, surprising the older stallion, but he returned it when Midnight said, “I’d like that… big brother.”

They held that moment for a while, until Midnight broke the hug, “Just… one more thing, Watch.”

“Yeah, what is it?” Watcher was starting to get a bit antsy.

“...Your hoof, and the tar,” Midnight brought up. “What happened? And are you really okay?”

“Hmm… It’s hard to really explain… I just remember being so angry, but I knew I had to stay in control, next thing I knew…It just sprouted out of me. Honestly, I thought it would bother me, which is what I think normal ponies would do. Buuuut I don’t think I’m exactly all… right up here if you know what I mean?” Watcher gestured to his head. “Still, I think it can be useful and help ponies. Will definitely make chores easier.”

“Not… really?” Midnight was confused, before he remembered their first encounter with the tar, “This stuff… it turned out to be something right out of a nightmare, a true manifestation of evil! When it took you over, it took Star and Nyra’s love to reach you, and I thought that powerful sensation of love and goodness purified the tar and freed you from it.

“So then… why would this white tar just show up like it did?”

“Maybe that’s the answer… perhaps it’s because of that love that it turned white,” Watcher answered, he held his hoof out and out came a white tendril, opening the door. “Definitely opens up a lot of possibilities for me to try.”

“I guess that makes sense,” Midnight crossed his forelegs, still puzzled, “I remember Princess Cadance once told me, that True Love doesn’t have to be romantic. She said that True Love… is putting the happiness and well-being of somepony else before your own.

“That kind of self-sacrifice… I guess you could consider that a true example of Good, and because Star and Nyra’s love for you is that pure the tar was purified into… this stuff. Though I don’t think we should call it tar anymore, just doesn’t suit it.”

“Hmm… I don’t know…still feels just as gross as the other stuff, but I think the girls and I will get used to it,” Watcher said, accidentally saying a little more than he intended.

“Be that as it may,” Midnight did a little sleight of hoof and produced a card, which he held out to Watcher, “If you should ever feel like something is wrong because of that stuff, give this doctor a call or contact me. We’ll help you figure it out.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” Watcher answered. “Come on, we have a party to get to… Don’t want to miss the big surprise!”

“Big surprise?” Midnight echoed, not knowing what Watcher was talking about.

“Let’s just say… Twilight won’t be too happy with me getting her back for you after your little… spat~” Watcher smirked with a devious gleam in his eye as the alicorn prince could already put two and two together from what he said.

“You didn’t!”

“Oh yeah~”

Ain't no lovin’ my maaarre~

Shoo-wop, shoo-wop, ooh

Ain't no lovin’ my maaarre~

Shoo-wop, shoo-wop, ooh

“You gave her that candy?!?” Midnight shouted with a flabbergasted look while everyone looked on either in confused awe or gut-busting hilarity of the purple princess dancing and singing like a fool.

“Yep, a little punishment for her overreacting a little bit. I thought about what you told me and even though she did have a right to be upset, I think she should have been more upset at that chick that kissed you more than you,” Watcher answered. “Plus she can get angry at me and she’ll probably forgive you a bit more. You're welcome.”

Midnight gave Watcher a weirded-out look, before uttering, “I don’t know whether to curse your ass… or kiss you on the lips.”

“Sorry, but I don’t swing that way,” Watcher teased, giving the alicorn a noogie, which spurred a laugh from Midnight before he wrestled his way free. “Now get down there or your going to miss your wife singing~”

“Oh, you don’t, don’t you…?” Midnight gave Watcher a look that sent a chill down the unicorn’s spine.

“Nope! And never will!” Watcher pushed the alicorn aaway and hurried downstairs where they found everyone had suddenly started to join in on the dance.

Ain't no lovin’ my maaarre~

Shoo-wop, shoo-wop, ooh

Ain't no lovin’ my maaarre~

Shoo-wop, shoo-wop, ooh

“Wait! How many of those candies did you mak-OP” Midnight was suddenly cut off as Watcher popped a piece of candy into his mouth. And swallowed it in reflex, a dawning look of horror coming over him.

“BOOM! Got you! Enjoy it! Because this is going to be one of many of my magic formula candies! WOOOAH!” Watcher cheered, pumping his hoof in victory as Midnight felt the sudden urge to sing.

“I’m… G-Going… to… Ain’t no lovin’ my maaaarre~ Shoo-wop, shoo-wop, ooh~” Midnight sang, joining in on the dance as Watcher started cackling, as Star trotted up to him.

“Finally got him to taste it?” Star asked with a playful rise of her brow.

“Yep, figured out that it’s not activated by chewing, but by taste, so the moment it hits your tongue, you on your way to ‘Ain’t lovin’ my mare’ city,” Watcher explained, as Star gave him a peck on the cheek and passed him cup of punch.

“I figured you’d say that~” Star teased as Watcher took a sip of his punch with a raised brow. “It’s why I also put a piece of it in your punch~”

Watcher’s eyes widened in horror as he did a spit take, trying to wipe the taste away, but it was too late. “Ain’t no lovin’ my maaaaarre~ Shoo-wop, shoo-wop, ooh~”

“Sorry… He’s still my boss… Only right that I make sure you suffer like everyone else.” Star couldn’t help but smile deviously as she pulled out one of those candies from her cloak, “I’ll make it up to you later~ After all, you did promise to try out that neat little trick with your hoof later~”

As the unicorn’s face turned completely red as he sang and danced away, Star popped the piece of candy into her mouth and immediately began to join in on the fun. After all, she was on vacation and wanted to spend time with her new coltfriend.

Watcher’s sisters joined in on the singing and dancing without even taking the candy themselves, leaving Mac and Thunderlane to watch with flat looks, Thunderlane asking, “Do you remember how long this bit goes on for?”

“Nnope,” Macintosh shrugged.

“Don’t interrupt!” Both stallions looked and saw Blossom was recording the whole thing on her home video camera, “You can’t put a price on memories like this!”

Eventually the party came to a conclusion. Midnight and Twilight, along with Macintosh and Thunderlane, all said their goodbyes to Watcher and his family. The fillies were a little sad to see them go, but Midnight and Twilight promised their little cousins they’d visit again soon.

Midnight and Watcher discussed a few more details about his magical candies before they settled on some agreements, and Midnight made sure to order Star she was to keep Watcher strictly on R & R until their vacation was over (apart from Watcher’s work on his candies) and Star assured her boss that her stallion would be right as rain by the time she was done with him.

Taking The Break of Dawn back home, Midnight and Twilight settled into their private cabin aboard the airship, where at first they cuddled and kissed… until the moment came, the moment they’d both dreaded and yearned to resolve.

Laying together in bed, side by side, the two of them both stared up at the ceiling of their cabin, unsure of where to start, unsure of who should go first. The silence stretched from confusing to uncomfortable to painfully awkward, before finally...

"I'm sorry."

Midnight's ears perked, but he made no other indication that he'd heard, instead choosing to let Twilight speak her piece.

"It wasn't your fault, it... It meant nothing but I turned it into something. I was angry and-and confused! But I got so wound up by the whole thing, I... I took it out on you. I know that's not fair, that I wasn't being fair, but I was just so... emotional, there was... Well, I became so insecure that I let my feelings and anxiety get to me. Especially after... Sniff-sniff..."

Midnight felt his heart waver, hearing his Twilight sniffling, but he let her keep going, as she said, "It wasn't just the kiss, Midnight... it was Griffonstone. We went there to help King Godric and Doran... and we failed! We failed... and now so many griffons are suffering.

"Those feelings I've felt ever since, they... I guess I channeled them into the feelings I got from... from Sunset Shimmer kissing you without your consent. And all those feelings and hurts and doubts!"

"You were overwhelmed..." Midnight finally spoke up, and he reached with his hoof to take Twilight's, giving her the comfort of his touch. "I've been there, Twily... More times than I care to count."

"You have...?!" Twilight's voice shuddered, and her husband continued.

"Leading the Brotherhood always feels like walking a tightrope. There's no safety-net and you can't fly if you make even one misstep," Midnight answered with the voice of a stallion who's felt the weight of the world on his withers. "My work in the Brotherhood hasn't always been success, but the failures were often more costly than I was prepared for... Even when you do your best to plan for every possible outcome, something can and often does go wrong.

"I once ruined what should have been the peaceful resolution of two countries who'd been in conflict for nearly a hundred years. Because of my failure, those countries went to war... and nopony won. Another time, I rescued zebras from being shipped off to a faraway land where they would have become slaves. But when I returned them to their home-village, I learned too late that they'd been sold into slavery by their own leaders, and by the time I went to rescue them again... they were already gone."

"That's horrible..." Twilight was horrified, "I thought that slavery was abolished!"

"Trafficking lives remains an extremely lucrative business for the worst of the worst, Twi," Midnight said solemnly. "The Brotherhood and I have taken down dozens of slave trafficking rings over the years, but the corrupt and influential keep finding ways to bring them back. It's one of the reasons why I recruit creatures besides just ponies, increasing my net as wide as I can around the world.

"And what happened in Griffonstone is my failure as much as yours, perhaps more so."

"Why would you say that?" asked Twilight, finally peering over to look at Midnight and she stifled a gasp to see a tear running down her stallion's cheek.

"If I'd been able to subdue Sunset... if I'd captured Scar and prevented his escape... I should have done more, but, out of respect, I let Godric call the shots. Sure, we advised him, helped him... but I wanted to cut off the head of the snake. Instead, I stood aside at Godric's request because he wanted to handle it himself," Midnight sighed, his eyes closing as he forced himself not to get emotional in that moment. "The worst part of it is, I feel angry at myself for thinking those things about my mentor.

"Godric tried to do the right thing, to give his brother a chance. He chose to rise above his emotions and not sink to Scar's level. There's so many things we could have done differently, Twilight... but what's done is done. We can't keep beating ourselves, or each other, up over it. What good does it do to tear each other or ourselves down when we did the best we could?"

"I guess you're right..." Twilight had to agree. This self-deprecation, this sniping at each other, wasn't going to help them with whatever came their way next. "In all honesty, your mother said this is probably what Sunset wanted to happen, why she kissed you. To hurt our marriage, to hurt us... by getting us to hurt each other. Upon realizing that, I felt so ashamed, because Auntie Faerie Trail's probably right."

"While we're n the subject, I gotta be honest, Twily," Midnight spoke up and he turned his head to look his wife in the eye, "When Sunset... kissed me, well... there was in fact a part of me that... liked it. I didn't realize that consciously, but Watcher helped me see the situation from your point of view."

Seeing the emotional glimmer in his wife's eyes, Midnight went on, "Of course you felt angry, like your marriage was being infringed upon... and seeing that dumb look on my face probably didn't help, huh."

"No... it didn't," Twilight looked away, feeling ashamed.

"But Twilight." Twilight looked back to her husband and gasped softly as he reached over to caress her cheek in his hoof, "I love you! That will never change, and even if I developed feelings for another pony I couldn't love you any less!"

"Are you sure about that, Midnight?" Twilight whispered fretfully.

"Twily... I can't promise you that my heart will never ignore someone else," Midnight explained with greatest care, " To tell you the truth... there've been times I dreamed of having a herd with you and somepony else."

"A herd...?" Twilight knew of herds, of romantic partners numbering more than just two. Sometimes herds weren't even that at all, but just ponies coming together to form extended families, though often it was indeed the former.

Herds used to be more prevalent in Equestria out of necessity, due to the gender ratio of mares outnumbering stallions three-to-one. But in recent generations, more and colts were born, making herds no longer necessary. They still existed, but weren't as common as they used to be.

Twilight never considered herself joining a herd, not even back when she was still a unicorn. Of the pony tribes, unicorns were the most independent compared to earth ponies and pegasi. But she let Midnight keep going, as he explained, "You remember how I told you about Flash, right?"

Twilight did remember, and she remembered that Flash was actually Midnight's first kiss.

Then, Midnight took Twilight's hoof and placed it over his heart, "Flash is gone, but he still remains in my heart, and he always will. But there were times we talked about being together, forming a herd. With each other... with you, and maybe even another mare."

"Really?" Twilight found herself oddly intrigued.

"I should have spoken with you about this when we got married... but, yeah, Twi," Midnight smiled nervously, "If you're open to it, I'd like for us to one day find somepony else, somepony for us to love and loves us both back just as much. We have so much love between us, I can't help feeling what a gift it would be to share it."

Twilight gave those words a careful think. Part of her liked the way Midnight spoke of what it could be like, but another feared it, and that came from her lack of deeper understanding the concept of herds. Seeing that his Twilight was hesitant and perhaps confused, Midnight turned over to his side face Twilight in bed, and she did the same so they were looking each other face to face. They held each other's gaze, Midnight seeing Twilight hesitant yet not technically against his words, Twilight seeing Midnight's patience and understanding that she needed to know more.

He smiled at her with deepest love, with unwavering faith, with genuine understanding, before he said, "Take all the time you need to figure out where you stand."

Taking a deep breath, Twilight smiled appreciatively at her husband, and softly replied, "Thanks, Midnight."

"Let's sleep on it," Midnight suggested, "It's been a long and busy trip..."

"Agreed..." Twilight turned over, letting midnight spoon over her back, hugging her to his front, and smiling when she felt him kiss her neck.

"Good night, Twily..." he whispered to her lovingly.

"Good night, Midnight..." Twilight whispered back.

For a long and peaceful moment, they rested... but out of nowhere, Twilight opened one of her eyes with a glint of mischief, and whispered, "Y'know, Midnight..."

"Hmm...?" Midnight responded, starting to drift away into somnolent bliss.

"She's got a nice ass, that Sunset Shimmer..." Twilight smirked playfully as she felt Midnight stiffen up in stunned response, his eyes popping in disbelief of what he’d just heard, unable to process what he'd just heard his wife say, and she tittered, "Sleep well!"

And she did that, letting her playful mirth carry her off to dreamland while Midnight laid there, his eyes wide yet his pupils shrunk down to pinpricks, unable to think, unable to rest, unable to do anything but replay Twilight's words in his mind over and over again, nudging him just slightly towards the edge of sanity.

Outside the Borders of Abyssinia

“Such a pity…” ho-hum’d the velvety purr of Catrina’s voice before she took a sip of her generous host’s prime serving of tea. “In the end, that little project in Manehatten failed to produce anything worthwhile.”

“Yes, but thankfully, it wasn’t that much of an investment, wouldn’t you agree, Contessa?” asked the sycophantic Mr. Winkle as he added a generous helping of cream to his own cup.

The feline sorceress, Catrina, and the fat cat, Mr. Winkle, both gazed upon their host at the table, a tall, beautiful, white pony with a black and silver curled mane. She wore a black dress embroidered with gold floral patterns on her sleeves. Around her neck she wore a necklace with a bat pendant with a blue gem. The tall beauty wore a black sun hat with a red ribbon and a single red rose adorned on the right.

In most cases, Catrina would have detested even being near a pony (her equine minions a necessary exception), but this mare… she was the furthest thing from being a pony. Seeing her smile, fangs gleamed in the moonlight as bat wings stretched outward for a moment before retracting.

“Oh, pish posh! I did warn you that you should have taken your time, but as usual, you males honestly think with your groins more than your brains. It’s why your little experiment failed,” The mysterious mare answered, taking a sip from her tea cup as she glared at the obese cat sitting beside Catrina. “I even lent you some of my best assassins as a way to protect your little muck project,”

Winkle stifled the inclination to growl, but that didn’t stop him from clenching his fist under the table, while he took a large sip of his tea.

“Tut-tut, Mira,” Catrina waved her clawed finger in a teacherly way, “It ill becomes a lady to demean her allies. And your ‘best’ assassins? We all know those cannibals and that recruiter were hardly the cream of your crop.”

Gulping his tea, Winkle added with a miffed look, “And besides, I can afford indulging in a simple project, but if your subordinates failed to protect it and the doctor overseeing it, what does that say about you?”

“Oo-ho-ho-ho! Astute as usual my old friend!” Countess Miracle replied with glee, ignoring Mr. Winkle’s comment. “Truth be told, I’ve been aware of Malice’s betrayal from the start, and the moment an opportunity arose to seize power, he practically drooled like a rabid dog. As for that idiot scientist, wasn’t it you who hired him, Mr. Winkle? You were also made aware that the black substance wasn’t nearly as potent as it was when the creature from the Ol’tower from Trottingham was killed. Yet, you still invested in something like that?”

Both cats gave Miracle a look, and she realized she’d stepped on the wrong toe when Catrina responded, “Mr. Winkle hired that doctor on my recommendation, Mira. He was an outcast yet had the necessary knowledge and expertise needed for the project Winkle had in mind…”

“And while I admit the substance was inferior compared to its source,” Mr. Winkle admitted, “I made the decision to use it anyway, thinking even a lesser sample could yield desirable results and yet be easier for us to control.

“Well, spilled milk,” Mr. Winkle shrugged before enjoying one of the cakes Miracle had provided to the table.

“Hmm… Maybe, but I did tell you that there are other more efficient sources of powers or even more useful individuals that I could have personally recommended to you, Catrina,” Miracle pouted when the feline looked at her in disappointment. “Not that it really matters now, and Mr. Winkle, I provided you what you asked for, but my sources told me that the Doctor wasn’t going to align himself with my dear friend, and planned to take your… little army for himself, and he did so of his own volition.”

“We can keep arguing over blame or we can be adults and move on,” Mr. Winkle finally let out the subtlest growl, “I can’t remain for long, lest my absence be noticed back in Panthera.”

“Now, we can’t have that,” Catrina nodded with a conspiratory purr, “So then, Mira, my dear… what, pray tell, did you call this meeting for?”

“For the past few years, I’ve noticed a trend that has been occuring and at its center, it all comes back around to the Royals… particularly two. The Prince Midnight Blaze, and Princess Twilight Sparkle. At every turn, they’ve been foiling the plans and been getting in everyone’s way, in your way Cathy,” Miracle explained. “I’d like to offer an opportunity to assist you with them. And as for you Mr. Winkle, I don’t mean to be rude, but you do know how I barely tolerate males, but you are a client at the end of the day, so I’ll be sure to compensate you for this small loss.”

“Fine… I’ll be keeping in touch, considering you took care of my competitor back in Panthera,” Mr. Winkle sighed, finishing his cup of tea.

“Well, how could I turn down the opportunity to remove a potential threat to Cathy's plans? Besides, her blood was divine~” Miracle replied, licking the blood from her fangs.

“And I appreciate the work you do, Mira,” Catrina beamed at her, “The less rivals the better for when I make my move on Panthera… Be that as it may, I would appreciate you showing Mr. Winkle the courtesy he is owed.

“After all, without my mentor’s guidance,” Catrina used her tail to ever so lightly brush the tip of Winkle’s ears, riveting the tom, “my understanding of Abyssnian politics would be lacking. As for Midnight and Twilight, the former is mine to avenge myself upon, but I am open to discussing what we could do to the latter… anything to make my enemies suffer.”

But then Catrina coyly waved Miracle closer with a wag of her finger. When the countess did so, Catrina softly whispered into her ear, “But once he’s served his purpose, by all means… skin him ten times over.”

“Uh? Pardon me, I was distracted,” Winkle stuttered after eating another cake, “What was that?”

“Oh nothing, Mr. Winkle,” Catrina tittered as she and Miracle shared a look of bloodlust between them, “Just girl-talk.”

“Just a bit of gossip between ladies,” Miracle purred as a smirk adorned her lips. “And do be sure to share the details of your fun with that prince, I do enjoy hearing your stories about the victims you’ve left in your wake Cathy~

“Oh, dear, I’ve believe you should be heading back now, Mr. Winkle, it’s a quarter past seven and you did say you didn’t want them to notice you gone for too long, correct?” Miracle reminded, her gaze looking at the clock hanging on the wall.

“Quite so, quite so,” Mr. Winkle agreed, standing up while cleaning his mouth and whiskers with his embroidered handkerchief. He looked at Catrina, “Shall we away, my dear?”

“Yes, I’m running low on my medication anyway. Sunset!” Catrina called, and they looked to see Sunset standing nearby in the chamber, having been standing vigil opposite of another pony, who looked rather similar to Miracle. A mare with a pale ashy gray coat, a mane as white as snow. She wore a dark blue dress, adorned with blue glitter, the sides of the dress revealing her long thick legs. She had a cutie mark of a cup of sugar sprinkling like snow. If Sunset had to describe her in one sentence, she was hauntingly beautiful.

In normal circumstances, she’d have tried to make small talk with the mare, but the way she leered at her with those green slit eyes, they resembled pools of green emeralds, ready to devour her as they looked over every single inch of her body, every curve. A hunger that truly frightened the mare, even when she smiled at her and revealed her sharp fangs.

“Yes, Mistress?” Sunset held her poise as Catrina and Winkle came her way.

“We’re departing now, I trust you… made friends?” Catrian chuckled, knowing that was hardly what was going.

“...Very well, Mistress,” Sunset answered as she led the cats out of the manor.

Miracle followed them to the entryway, where she curtsied and said, “I do enjoy our little get-togethers, Cathy. I’ll be sure to send you the details on how we’ll deal with your little… princess problem in the future. If you ever need a hand, The House of Assassins is here to help you, my friend. With interest, of course~”

“I’ll keep that in mind, Mira,” Catrina said pleasantly.
“I won’t,” Winkle said with an unpleasant yet flat tone, enjoying the subtle look of irk it provoked in the vampiress as he followed Sunset out, followed by Catrina.

The pony who’d been standing in the chamber along with Sunset walked up beside Miracle, a frigid look on her face as they watched their guests leave.

“Shall I… end him, Mother?” the mare asked with a cold tone.

“Nono, my daughter… His time will come, but only when Lady Catrina makes the request,” Miracle replied, looking down at her daughter as she gave a malicious smile. “Did you enjoy having a nice chat with that adorable unicorn?”

“She didn’t want to speak to me… She kept staring at me, but she looked delicious… I almost wanted to bite into her and have a taste,” she commented, licking her lips as she recalled the curves on the light golden yellow unicorn. Oh how she wished she could have had the opportunity to seduce that mare and drink her blood.

“Now, now, Silent Gaze, my friend’s companions are not food,” Miracle snapped her daughter out of her daydream of the unicorn. “Besides, when the world falls to my friend’s claws, I’ll be sure to ask her for that Sunset Shimmer when the time is right, after all… she’s not fond of ponies.”

In the distance, after waiting before opening their mouths, Catrina asked her companions, “Well? What did you think of the lady?”

“Honestly, Catrina?” Winkle responded dryly, “I don’t know how you can stomach being around that tick…”

“I agree!” Sunset added, “The way that other pony looked at me…! Shudders …If I never see another vampire again, it’ll be too soon!”

“I know, they have… exotic tastes, but to be fair,” Catrina shrugged in an uncaring way, “Miracle is a powerful being and leads quite a cadre of dangerous individuals. We’d be fools not to establish mutual interests with them.

“Besides, Mira and I have shared an amicable relationship for years! Not to mention she holds no interest in power… a rather ironic quality for the leader of an organization of assassins, but at the very least it means she’s not against me.”

“But Catrina,” Sunset protested, “You can’t possibly think it’s a good idea to ally with… with them!”

“Have you ever heard the phrase ‘keep your friends close, your enemies closer’?” responded Catrina with a dangerous gleam in her eyes.

“Which one is she?” Winkle retorted with a rise of his brow.

Looking back to the manor, Catrina saw Miracle standing on her balcony, waving to her once she noticed Catrina had turned to look back. Catrina smiled and waved back as well, before saying, with dubious curiosity, “I haven’t decided yet…”

Then she waved her hand around, green and black magic conjuring in the form of flames that surrounded the three of them before they vanished in a burst of emerald flames that snuffed themselves out.

Author's Note

I dedicate this arc to Pen Dragon for all their help in the making of this arc, and the usage of his characters:

Watcher, Star N' Stripe, Malice, Nyra, Narbus, Charcoal, Nimbus, Blossom Guide, and Mother Miracle.

Atom Nucleus, Mr. Winkle, and Silent Gaze we created together