The incubus

The last few days were something out of a dream. It was like a weight has been lifted from my soul and it was all thanks to Fleur. After our little session in the baths she and I started to really bond. For the first time since I got to this place I no longer feel so alone.

And it's not just my mood that has been improving. My lessons with Alana have been progressing swimmingly. I can now mask my tail, wings, eyes, and horns if I concentrate hard enough, and I finally got the basics of flight. And let me tell you something, flying is fucking awesome!

Well, I say flying but it's more like flailing through the air whilst keeping my wings flapping, which is a lot harder than one might think.

I was on my way from the baths towards Alana and mine's usual study spot when Abigail walked up to me and told me Iris wished to see me in her chambers. When I asked her if she knew what Iris wanted from me, Abigail's reply was a simple 'no'.

Deciding not to keep the den mother waiting, I made a bee line straight to her chambers. Iris' chambers were located above the mini star in the main chamber –or 'Energy hearth' as it is actually called- and in order to get there I had to use my wings. So after some time of me flailing about in the air, I finally managed to lift my sorry ass up to Iris' chambers.

I emerged from a hole in the ground, looking around and taking stock of my surroundings. The chambers were quite spacious, about the size of a small house. The floor beneath my feet was covered with numerous animal furs which made me a little sick. A few strategically placed candles lit the entire place with an inviting yellow glow. The walls were lined with a few bookshelves, various swords and pieces of armor, and –much to my dismay- animal trophies. Needless to say, the chambers felt inviting and off-putting at the same time.

"Do you like it?"

I jumped in place and totally did NOT scream girlishly. I spun around and was immediately met with two bright green eyes.

"Jesus Christ woman, are you trying to give me a heart attack!" I exclaimed, clutching my chest while I tried to get my breathing under control.

The first thing I noticed when I stared at Iris was her size. At first I thought I was just imagining things but there was no mistaking it, Iris was a lot smaller than when we first met. And believe me it's quite hard to miss when a five story high dragoness is suddenly just a little over a head on you.

Another thing I noticed was her overall shape. When I first laid eyes on Iris, she looked like a proper dragon, but now she looked almost human in shape. Shapely thighs, wide, curvy hips, thin waste, and a beautiful pair of tits.

"Are you done admiring the peaks, my child?"

Realizing my mistake I quickly snapped my head back up, staring shamefully at Iris' smirking face.  Without saying another word she gestured me towards a few large pillows next to a lit fireplace. As I sat on the pillows my gaze drifted towards the flames, wondering how they did not consume this entire room, though if I had to hazard a guess I would say magic is involved.

Iris sat in front of me, looking at the fire as well. I was about to ask her about her new 'features' when she beat me to it.

"Succubus magic. With enough time and experience we can change almost any aspect of our bodies. I guessed that taking a more familiar form would ease your mind, and judging by your reaction I was right."

"Yeah, sorry about that…" I couldn't look Iris in the face, I was too embarrassed. Instead I simply stared into the fireplace.

"You seem to be adjusting to your new life here pretty well," Iris broke the silence.

I tore my gaze from the dancing flames, facing Iris. "Yeah, I suppose I am. I try not to think too hard about what I've lost, and instead stick to the positive."

Iris nodded. "I see. And I understand that you also accepted the reality of your nature, and your duties as an incubus as well, if what Fleur told me about you two is to be believed."

"Sh-she told you?!"I exclaimed, my face exploding into a fierce blush.

"Of course she did, my child. There are no secrets among us."

I buried my face in my hands. I always kept my sex life to myself, not willing to share too many details, so having someone who is essentially my leader know about this was more than a little embarrassing.

I heard shuffling in front of me as a clawed hand touched my shoulder, soon accompanied by a soothing voice. "Relax David, this is not the reason I summoned you. I simply mentioned it because I wanted to congratulate you on your progress regarding your adjustment."

"Can we just change the subject please," I pleaded.

I heard Iris giggle and then the shuffling again before she spoke up, "Of course, my child. Care for some tea?"

I removed my hands from my face, staring at a cup of tea in front of me, courtesy of Iris. I thank her as I grabbed the offered cup and allowed the hot sweet liquid cool my fried nerves.

"Better?" Iris asked, sipping from her own cup.

"Yeah, thanks."

"Good, now we can finally discuss. I summoned you to my chambers for a very specific reason. Alana told me about your lessons together and that you surpassed her expectations."

I smiled sheepishly as I scratched the back of my head. "I was always a quick leaner."

"Evidently. You already have a basic grasp on the races of Gaia and their history, but there is one race Alana has yet to teach you about that I specifically asked her not to."

"What race is it?" I asked, intrigued.

Iris' gaze hardened as she stared into my eyes. "Changelings."

A cold chill crept up my spine as mixed feelings of disdain, sadness, and hatred bubbled up inside me.

Seeing my confused expression over my reaction, Iris elaborated. "You can feel it, don't you? All these conflicting emotions inside you? This is normal, our kind and the changelings shared a long and unpleasant history. So much so, that it has become imprinted in our subconscious."

"What happened?" I asked, my tea completely forgotten.

Iris sighed as she stared at the flickering flames. "For you to understand, I must go back to times long forgotten. Far into the west, on the continent of Equiss, there lived an ancient tribe of people with the extraordinary power to turn emotions into pure energy, these people were our ancestors. They lived inside the borders of the flutterpony domain. For generations our ancestors lived peacefully alongside the flutterponies, until a new monarch came into power."

"I take it that this new ruler wasn't as cordial?"

Iris shook her head. "No, she was greedy, power hungry, and cruel. When she caught wind of our ancestor's powers, she demanded that they will give it to her. When our ancestors refused, she attacked. There was no way our ancestors could have won, but instead of running away, they fought back in order to protect their powers."

"What happened next?" I asked, though I believed I already knew the answer.

"They were lost. There were too many flutterponies. Our ancestors' leader knew that he could not prevent the flutterponies from taking away the power of his people, so he ordered his followers to flee while he stayed behind."

"Why? What did he do?"

"In order to minimize the damage he cursed the flutterponies and their land with his dying breath, turning the land into the badlands of Equestria and mutating the flutterponies to the insect-like creatures they are now today, the changelings.

"Homeless and with only a sliver of their powers, our ancestors fled into the continent to the east of Equiss, to here. This small group, no more than a few hundreds, became the succubi and incubi.

"But the tragedy does not end here. Without their leader, the tribe was dissolved. Different groups started sustaining themselves with lust energy, the only type of emotion we can feed upon. It was also because of these groups' loose morals that the incubi and succubi got their dubious reputation, forcing us into hiding."

"Why the tribe never selected a new leader?" I asked.

"The tribe was very superstitious and traditional. It was said that only the son or daughter of the previous leader can lead the tribe. The leader had a daughter once, but she disappeared, believed to be dead."

I simply sat there, taking in the information. I did not know that the succubi and incubi had such a tragic history. I mean, forced to abandon their homes and live in exile sounds horrific. And even if they do wish to return there's nothing left except for a desolate wasteland.

"I'm sorry…"

Iris turned to face me, a look of surprise on her face.

"Why do you say that, my child? You have nothing to be sorry for."

"But I do," I countered. "You have this burden to carry, you were born with it. I simply just… appeared. I have no right to call myself an incubus."

Iris smiled, sitting next to me. She grabbed my chin and turned my head until her lips connected with mine. It was a delicate exchange, pure and simple. I closed my eyes and simply let it happen.

When we broke the kiss, Iris wrapped her hands around me and hugged me tightly.

"What's in the past is in the past, David. The present is what matters. You are an incubus, simple as that, but still… I thank you. Your kindness is something special, my child."

"Thanks, my mother always used to say I'm special."

Iris giggled as we broke the hug, her eyes twinkled with mirth.

"Before I forget, there is another reason I summoned you here," Iris said as she rose from her seat next to me and walked up to a small display case. She opened the lid and extracted a dagger.

"This is for you." Iris approached me and presented me with the dagger.

I looked down at the offered weapon with a bit of apprehension, not sure whether I want to accept such a gift.

Sensing my hesitation, Iris took my hand and placed the dagger in my palm. "Take this, my child, for your own safety. The world out there is cruel for our kind. That is also why I want you to start training with its use as of today."

"I-I don't understand," I said, still looking down at the dagger as if expecting it to come to life and stab me. "Alana told me we should avoid conflict whenever possible."

"It is better to be a warrior in a garden, rather than a gardener in a war. Don't you agree?" Iris replied back, looking at me with certain wisdom in her eyes.

She was right of course, but it didn't make me feel any better. The implications of what might come to pass did not look promising.

"David, look at me."

I did as I was told and looked Iris in the eyes. She stared back at me before smiling.

"I won't say that the road ahead will be an easy one, my child, but you will not have to walk it alone. You are now part of our den, our family. We are here for you."

I smiled weakly, a little comforted by Iris' words. I was still somewhat terrified about what might come next, but at least I won't be alone in this.

"Thank you Iris, for everything. You have shown me nothing but kindness in my brief time in this world."

Iris smiled brightly. "Think nothing of it, my child. We succubi and incubi must stick together. Now go, you still have a lesson with Alana to attend."

With another thank you and a hug, Iris and I parted ways. I flew back to the main chamber and set course towards the apple tree, meeting Alana there.

"So how was yer little talk with the den mother?" Alana asked once I was within hearing range.

I landed roughly next to Alana before replying, "It was fine I guess. She's really nice actually."

Alana nodded. "Yep, that's our den mother, sympathetic to a fault. So, are ye ready for yer next lesson?"

"Sure am."

"Good, because today's lesson is about fighting. I even brought someone to help me."

From behind the tree trunk a certain pony emerged. Dark blue coat, black mane, and garbed in leather armor, there was no mistaking it.

"Hello whelp, I hope you brought a first-aid kit."

Fuck…