With everypony collected Beatrix Belladonna and Trixie prepared to reopen the portal back to Equestria. Not that she needed her mother's aid, but it certainly made it easier! This time they arrived in a realm which appeared to be made of candies, cookies, sugars, and all other sorts of treats, frosting squishing wherever they tread. She questioned whether it had somehow been pulled from Pinkie's subconscious or worse if this area was somehow more malevolent than it first appeared.

After all, if she were an evil monster she'd certainly try and cultivate an attractive appearance to lure her victims in! But hey, wasn't she a bit of a freak, after all? There weren't exactly other anthropomorphic mares in Equestria, and she'd bonded so thoroughly with the Smooze, they were practically of one mind and body! Due to Sombra's interference, she couldn't quite fully reestablish her bond with Smoozy, but she could feel him resting peacefully within her essence.

(I will be okay,) he assured her sensing her trepidation. (Sombra contaminated me with black magic. He tapped into the forbidden knowledge of the Necronomicon, tried to warp me back into an eldritch abomination to be used as his pawn, like the cult did. I managed to pull back, but only just. I am still weak, and a potential danger to you all.)

“I feel little weak too,” she admitted. “This adventure took a lot out of us all.” She took in her battered team, Starlight and Tree Hugger still humanized, and Rarity trapped as a cow. Hopefully it would wear off when they cross back over? If not, well, between her and Flurry it could hopefully be fixed quickly! “Ah well, no pain no gain, right? And you hurt me good!”

She winked and was certain if he could have internally blushed he would've. A number of her party were reluctant to leave, mostly because once they did Shining Armor, Coco Pommel, and Sassy Saddles would likely cease to exist.

Using her magic she and Trixie had cleaned them up the best they could. “Father, I'll miss you!” Flurry Heart was hugging the Paladin and weeping profusely. “Come on, sister, this is the last chance we'll ever see him!”

Beatrix shook her head, not having the heart to remind her he wasn't their real father. Let her live in the moment, have her fantasy! It's not like she was particularly well-adjusted either! “You big softie,” she mused striding into their embrace. With a number of their party unable to work spells they were at a severe disadvantage, and admittedly didn't want to stick about long.

“I suppose it's time,” said Rarity who noticed Beatrix kept looking about. “Our hostess seems a tad impatient.” She linked forehooves with Suri, Coco, and Sassy. “So, Suri, what shall it be? Once we cross over, you may ascend to the afterlife, or if Beatrix's spell works out perhaps you'll be able to take flesh in Equestria once again. What would you prefer?”

“I want a second chance,” admitted Suri. “However, I know most won't be able to accept me after what I've done, and I understand that. I'd have to find somewhere to lay low, m'kay? Maybe a quiet little place out in the countryside...”

“I know a place chickadee,” said Tree Hugger. “Canterlot Gardens is, like, a wild wonderland now.”

“Yes, we'd love to have you,” said Rarity. “Wouldn't we, Pinkie?”

Pinkie paused between stuffing her mouth with donuts, chewed up bits flying from her maw when she talked. “You betcha! Hmm, but why can you two talk when Spike and Shining can't?”

“Sombra pumped all his magic into making them powerful forces of nature,” explained Sassy. “While we were supposed to play mind games with his enemies. I can barely manage basic telekinesis with this horn, to be honest.”

“I pretty much can't fight at all,” admitted Coco. “I mean, we've never exactly been warriors!”

“Yes, the cult certainly scarred Equestria. I was forced to turn my talents to the art of bloodshed.” Rarity pursed her lips when she stared at the white dagger sheathed on Suri's hip. “At least Shining's force has bought us some well-earned respite.”

Trixie wiped glaze from a gingerbread house with her index finger. “What the-” The building started to crack and crumble, the deterioration spreading over the area, treats darkening as they started to harden and rot. “Yuck, it's stale!”

Before they even had a chance to take in this new development, the realm started to quake, the sky darkening. Bloated flies started to swarm through the air and fatty maggots fell from a number of massive cakes. The reek of stale garbage suffused the atmosphere. Worse still a fissure was opening up at the center, further spreading with every second.

From the depths arose a tentacled monstrosity lined with eyes, mouths, and teeth, much like the cavern they had escaped. The titan towered over the shadowed onlookers. Scythe-like blades extended from its coils. Most curious of all was what sat upon the closest thing it had to a head; the body of Sombra embedded in its twisted flesh, an ethereal crimson horn of energy arising from his temple. (You should have slain me Beatrix,) he cast into their heads. (I managed to fuse with a near-mindless abomination. I was able to work my spells despite the loss of my horn, and it failed to resist my will, granting me a rare opportunity!)

“Shit,” was all Beatrix managed when she took a step backwards. His newfound power was overwhelming; she didn't need to be Tree Hugger to feel the malevolent vibes swirling around them. “Everypony, scatter!” Her horn manifested as she fired beams from her open palms, the colorful blasts searing at his tough hide, which sizzled and smoked under the waves.

The extrusions lashed out in all directions. She barely dove out of the way, as did several others, but the monster managed to scoop up Coco and Sassy who threw themselves in the path of Rarity and Suri. “Bastard,” cried Rarity.

“It's...okay,” murmured Coco as the tentacle tightened around her. Tears rolled down her cheeks as it was forced roughly into her cunt, jamming into her womb and not stopping as it pushed against her innards.

“Live...for us,” whispered Sassy as she received similarly treatment, until the spires exited from their mouths doused in blood, fully penetrated. They were overfilled until their insides ruptured and popped, innards splattering over the protrusions. Scarlet dripped down its bulk as its tongues licked at the messy rain which slathered its exterior.

Suri yelled and raised her white knife with both forehooves, rushing with a shriek and slamming it into one of its eyes. Goo spurted and it actually recoiled, a blade scything at her neck. She was knocked over by Rarity, the pair tumbling, while Pinkie leapt to their rescue, slicing off a tendril with her blade. She ducked and weaved between attacks that sailed ever closer.

“Behind us,” ordered Trixie as she and Belladonna weaved another round of spells together. Starlight cursed as she wasn't able to work her mojo in this humanized form, she and Hugs forced to cower behind them.

“Let me help,” yelled Flurry who sailed next to them.

Shining Armor and Sombra locked eyes with shared contempt, the Paladin chopping apart the bladed tentacles rushing his way, determined to reach the sorcerer-king who beckoned him with a twisted grin. (What I create I can also destroy!)

“Mmmm,” mused Beatrix as she and her mother continued to fire off combined spells which did only superficial damage. “I have an idea. However, I'll need some help to pull it off! You ready, Smoozy?”

(Way ahead of you. Trixie,) he cast into her as well. (May I borrow your body?)

“Trixie understands.” It was a little weird when the slime dripped a portion of itself from her daughter's snatch, and crawled up her thighs, slithering into her slit and crawling into her cervix until it filled her uterus. She moaned low as it expanded her slimy interior, making her feel warm as she dripped with wetness. “My, my, Trixie feels herself overwhelmed with newfound strength!” She and her daughter moved as one, imbuing Shining's two-handed saber with an enchantment similar to the one Rarity placed upon the arsenal and armory of Shining's force. It glowed with a blinding illumination.

(We must be swift. Every moment that passes means I bond with you a little more. And unlike Beatrix, whose physiology was altered by the potions she ingested, if I try to fuse with you I shall simply swallow up your consciousness.)

“Okay, okay. Don't get too comfortable, now.” She rubbed her belly with a wry smile.

With her natural potential Flurry was able to easily add to their spell on her own. She grinned playfully and happily fluttered her wings. “Okay father, let's do this! We'll put that nasty monster down once-and-for-all!”

“Wish I could help,” mumbled Starlight hoping that their combined power would prove sufficient.

Shining's weapon sliced through the coils which sizzled and melted with ease. He freed Pinkie who'd finally been seized, and she planted a quick kiss on his cheek before she pounced away to safety. He also came to the rescue of Suri and Rarity, living up to his namesake as he drove closer-and closer to his target, Sombra simultaneously impressed and irritated by his persistence.

(You are a worthy foe,) he was forced to admit. (But your legend ends here!)

The tendrils swarmed around the Paladin, and he continued to cleave them apart, rushing at Sombra. One slammed into his chest with such force it pierced his armor, and then his breastbone, exiting the other side in a messy spray. Shining grit his teeth as red dripped down his mouth, carving the demonic stallion from its fleshy prison, severing the link between him and the beast.

The abomination wailed and its coils violently wiggled. (Damn...you all,) choked out Sombra when he landed with a thud, limbless and crumpled on his side as he tried to work a fresh spell. He increased the scope and effectiveness of the power he'd already exerted on this realm to speed its collapse, and it started to crumble further, melting into an even stickier mess.

If he couldn't dominate them then he'd simply take them with him. “Quick,” called Beatrix as she and Trixie started to draw a circle which would allow them to escape the Necronomicon. “Everypony, hurry out of here!”

The portal opened in mid-air, swirling a bright blue, but the very land around them was starting to rapidly disintegrate as Sombra worked his mojo. His curved, spiritual horn radiated. The land cracked below Rarity and Suri, who tumbled into the darkness with a shared scream, simply for Flurry to swoop down and catch them. She beat her wings and continued to circle, firing beam-after-beam of sparkling but no less deadly magical rays which continued to sear the monstrosity.

“Come on chickadees,” called Tree Hugger who ran and leapt across an opening chasm, barely making it into the portal where she immediately vanished to the other side. Starlight sucked in a breath, and quickly followed suit.

“Whoo-hoo!” Pinkie easily sailed into the escape route.

(No!) Sombra increased the intensity of his spellcraft, not caring if he annihilated himself in the process so long as they were taken down with him, only for his view to suddenly be blocked by Shining Armor who loomed over him despite the bloody wound in his ruptured breast. He howled with renewed contempt, the white blade falling back upon his neck, severing his head.

“Father...” Flurry sniffled and pursed her lips, taking in his small smile one last time before she carried her passengers with her into the azure circle. Trixie winked at him with a cocky smile, diving in too, feeling more athletic than usual thanks to the portion of the Smooze within her. Lastly was Beatrix who also hesitated, uncertain what she'd say to him if he were really here.

“Thanks. You're so noble and honorable. Just like him.” With bemused ambivalence she tipped her wide-brimmed hat. The land below them collapsed, the very realm itself shrinking, as Shining Armor tumbled into the abyss with his eyes closed.

She too would have been lost were it not for the Smooze. Her hair shot out like a series of limbs, tethering her to the oval suspended in the void and pulling her towards her. She was hurtled into it and tossed out the other side into the chamber where the Necronomicon was housed. Like the rest of them she popped from the pages of the black tome and landed on her bottom with a thud. “Ouch!” She rubbed her buttcheeks with both palms, certain she was bruised all the way to her tailbone!

Looking around the chamber, she made certain they were all okay. “It's a miracle,” yelled Suri who pinched herself. “I'm alive! Oh, thank you all so much!” Rarity was similar relieved that she'd reverted back to a unicorn, while Starlight and Tree Hugger were also returned to their mare shapes. “I want to explore a little when we're out of here, m'kay?”

“Gotcha, babe.” Tree Hugger wrapped a forehoof around her, walking her along as their hooves clopped with an echo.

“Ooh, I think Tree has something rather saucy planned!” Pinkie bounced next to Rarity. “Ready to head home?”

“Indeed. Thank you for an...interesting time, Beatrix. Admittedly, one I'd not soon repeat. Take care.” Rarity waved to them all before she followed the other surviving element-bearer out of the heavy double doors back to the stone staircase.

“I'd better check on my homeland!” Flurry Heart trotted in a circle. “Can you all close up without me?”

“Sure, sister. Say hello to Diamond Tiara and Blueblood for me!” She waved at her, uncertain if those two would ever like her. Not that she let it bother her. After all, weren't they all a bunch of oddballs? “Starlight, you want to stick around with us?”

“Sure, why not?” Starlight kept flexing her wings and lighting her horn with simple spells, relieved to be back in her old shape. Not that she disliked being a human woman again, despite the brutal circumstances, but neither did she like to feel that sort of vulnerability too long! She watched Flurry retreat. “Better redo all those locks, huh? It's a one way trip out of here, right?”

“Actually, in truth once they pass those double doors they'll be deposited back in the lowest portion under the palace. Those open doors? Just an illusion; it's really a shortcut that connects two areas, kind of like the portals between realms. From their end they'll simply see a closed and padded entrance, like usual.” She paced while she talked, heels clicking on the floor.

“The enchantments will be fine; I worked a spell ahead of time so that my allies could cross without undoing them temporarily. Normally I wouldn't take such a shortcut since I don't want to risk the Necronomicon being nabbed if it tempts somepony, but I decided to expedite matters! I mean, why waste time and do work we don't have to?” She beamed with pride.

“Risky,” reminded Trixie who swatted one of her daughter's bare asscheek. “But it sure does save us a lot of time!”

Beatrix cackled mischievously, a red hand-print left behind on the wobbly flesh. “Um, Smoozy? Will you be okay? I know Sombra hit you pretty hard...”

(Indeed. He infected me with so much black magic I was almost twisted back into a world-devouring creature. Unfortunately, certain...side effects still linger. I have an uncontrollable lust that I need somepony to sate.)

“Is that a proposal? I'd love too!” She switched to a sultrier voice. “Actually, I'd love to have you breed me senseless in our off-time. Um, if that isn't too selfish a request? There's a little something I'd love to try if you're game!”

(Still obsessing over Shining Armor, huh? Well I suppose it's a harmless fantasy now that he's passed on. Nor can I blame you too much. You were conceived to be his perfect mate, after all. Not that Trixie intended that. She has a rather...unique mind.)

Trixie cocked an eyebrow. “Ready to close the book for now?”

“I suppose. No more adventures for a time.” Beatrix Belladonna tossed back her hair, satisfied with her latest exploits. “I wonder what sort of madman wrote the Necronomicon? Whoever the author is, they sure are twisted!” She laid a palm over the flesh-woven corner and kicked up a thin cloud of dust when she slammed it shut.

Author's Note

Another tale finished! I like this series because it enables me to go crazy with free-form creativity. Thanks for reading!