Fire and Shadow: The Rebirth of Spike and the Descent of Sombra

The two immortals stared down each other from opposite ends of the void.

Beatrix felt herself phasing in-and-out of existence, flickering, glitching. It reminded her of when the Demiurge tried to emerge from its fleshy prison, attempting to swallow her upon birthing itself.

But so far as she could tell, this world was beyond recognizable. Buildings upside down or floating on their sides. Destroyed remains of rock and ground. Radio static the only audio noise, though sometimes garbled words could faintly be heard.

Nothing about this realm made sense to her, except that Abadonna was utterly unaffected.

“W-what is this place?” Flurry Heart asked, a sudden glitch causing her to fall on her knees.

“The nothingness between time and space,” Zeloph answered, twitching a little as the effects of the realm began to talk hold on him. “A small pocket where moments that haven’t or shouldn’t happen flow wildly. It was once a simple void, yellow in color with a watery center. But lately, more unforgotten things keep appearing here.”

He shook his head, narrowing his gaze to the travelers, his daughter squeaking while she hid behind her mother’s cape. “Why did you bring them here, Abadonna? You know this zone isn’t safe!”

“We needed to talk,” Beatrix answered, raising her arm in front of the smaller unicorn defensively. “There wasn’t any other way of getting into your nation. So I suggest you start explaining yourself, Zeloph!”

The primordial continue to stare hard before slowly relaxing his stance. “Yes, you’re right. But not here.… Abby, help me, please.”

“Yes, daddy!” The young filly nodded, quickly rushing to her father’s side, and the two opened a rift, bright light shimmering through. He turned back to Beatrix, offering his hand. The witch hesitated, glaring at the pale emperor.

“Beatrix, c’mon already!” Flurry urged her forward. “We can’t stick around here, or we might be atomized!”

Pouting over the little choice they had, Beatrix accepted Zeloph’s hand as he pulled her through the woven nexus, Abby and Flurry Heart following after.

On the other side, they appeared in a white room, a large window overtop that showcased how grey the skies were.

“Whoa…it is white in here!” The alicorn exclaimed, marveling over the simplistic decore of the pale structures and walls.

Beatrix kept a skeptical look on her face before turning back to the angelic pegasus. “Alright, Zeloph. No more stalling! I wan-”

“I know,” he sighed, taking a seat on one of the benches while patting his lap, Abby crawling up to nuzzle into her father, who returned the affection. All eyes remained fixated on the witch. “Ask, and I shall answer.”

“Okay.” She took a deep breath and seated herself on the opposing bench, crossing her legs. “Who are you really? Where did you come from?”

Zeloph closed his eyes as if trying to recall memories before looking to the roof’s window. “I am the last remnants of a forgotten race,” he began, his wings ruffling to get more comfortable. “Created by one known as the Divine Father, born to become a beckon of hope to the Lost World. Along with me was my opposite, someone I could call a sibling. Our only destiny was to bring order and chaos through worlds.”

“A sibling,” she repeated, not liking the sounds of that. “Where are they now?”

“I don’t know,” Zeloph tightened his grip, his frown deepening. “I haven’t seen them since they helped sealed me away in the Necronomicon.”

“They betrayed you?”

He nodded before elaborating. “Unlike my creator, I grew a fondness for mortals. And through rebellion, I made it my mission to heal and protect the innocent. However, your precious mentor confused me for a Vice Lord, saw my actions without understanding the intentions. The only other being strong enough to oppose me would be my opposite.”

“And what are your intentions?” Beatrix questioned, folding her arms under her bust.

His eyes drew back to hers, magenta mirroring violet. “To purify this land, not just for our daughter’s sake,” he insisted, Abby clutching onto her father tightly. “But for Equestria’s sake as well. I’m certain you’ve encountered the Vice Lords before, yes?”

She thought back to one particular adventure before nodding. “And just what are the Vice Lords? Lady Ewe said they’re the most malevolent of spirits.”

“Not just the most wicked. They’re the strongest,” Zeloph corrected. “To become a Vice Lord is to consciously feed your obsession long after your soul has left its vessel. But they can spread that obsession like an infection, corrupting souls and mortals until nothing is left. That was their plan, anyway.”

“Plan?!”

“To taint as many souls as possible until every mortal is possessed with Desire, Disease, Deception, Despair, or Desolation. It’s why I came to the lost world and Equestria; to cleanse the masses of their sinful natures. To stop the Vice Lords from succeeding. To prevent the arrival of… him…”

Zeloph’s entire demeanor changed, his feathers on end and his eyes closed as he shuddered. Beatrix was reluctant to press on the subject, gulping audibly.

“H-him?”

And all at once, the angel’s eyes snapped open, staring widely into the witch with unspeakable terror.

“Ţ҉̶͙͖ͅh̙͍̜̯̹̫̀e̜̹̘͕̮ ̨͙̼̳̪̼͈̙B̻̣̩͟͠ư̠̭̭̳͍͓̗̕r͏̳̕n̩͇̜͙i̸̻͜n̶̬̱̺̰͇͖̥͞͠ǵ͔̞̘̯͚͎͢͝ ̺̦͓̹̭̹͜K̷̵̵̼̬̳̼i̼͙n̗̤͉̲̲̩̙͖g̙̠̗̙̼̦̤͓͟͠,” Zeloph answered. “Never have I seen such evil within a single soul. But it is for him that the Vice Lords strive to corrupt the physical plane. The tales I’ve heard while confined in the Necronomicon…. My spirit would have perished if not for this little one’s appearance.”

Abby looked up, smiling gratefully at Zeloph as their nose touched before he released her, letting her waddle over to her mother. Beatrix giggled before scooping her little filly into her arms, holding her form before looking back to the winged immortal.

“So, let’s move on from…that.” She quivered, not wanting to linger on the sheer thought of such a fearsome force, especially not in front of her child. “Can you explain Abby’s pseudo existence?”

“I wish I could! It’s as I said, she appeared to me out of nowhere,” Zeloph continued, hands folded over his lap. “At first, I thought I had grown delusional when she said she was my daughter. But she stayed with me and helped keep some sanity until the Demiurge tried siphoning off my essence. She told me that I would meet a doom maiden that would spawn the union of Fire and Shadow; of Light and Darkness.”

Beatrix recalled Abadonna talking about a prophecy. And while she was happy that there existed a road to motherhood, the fact that it was preordained made it bittersweet.

That it would have happened, regardless of what choice she made.

“So…does this make us soul mates? Are we meant to be together?”

Zeloph gave a wry sigh, rising from his seat. “It would appear so.… But it doesn’t have to be. I can tell by your wavering spirit, Beatrix. You are unsettled by me. And to be honest, I’m uncertain whether my feelings for you are genuine or not. We may both be compelled by forces far beyond us. But…I believe we should make this work.”

“What do you mean?” Beatrix asked, tilting her head while Abby looked between both parents. Zeloph’s smile returned.

“We could defy destiny together! As we speak, my influence spreads throughout the globe, cleansing everypony here of their vices. But with your help, we can travel throughout the multiverse and defeat the Vice Lords, purify the entire cosmos! Imagine it. We could be like…like a family!”

“Y-yeah! Like a family,” Abadonna chimed in, smiling back at her father before turning to Beatrix. “Wouldn’t that be great, mommy?”

“I-I…” Beatrix held off from answer, heavily considering Zeloph’s proposal. While it was mostly the presence of their daughter pulling at her heart, the idea of traveling through dimensions with someone like the pale emperor was one she coveted. After a moment to think it over, Beatrix concluded.

“It would be nice,” she admitted before shaking her head. “But as much as I would want that, I can’t abandon my friends and family here. I made a promise that I intend to keep. So…give me more time, please.”

The frown upon the pegasus’ face grew grave, but he accepted her answer with a nod of his head. “Understandable. Take all the time you need. For now, I welcome you to our haven. Come, I’m sure your friends will want to see you.”

Beatrix stood up, Abby shuffling off her mother to take hold of their hands, the three walking down the spire with Flurry Heart behind. Upon reaching the ground floor, Beatrix let out a gasp from the sight of Inky Rose, Cerise, Radiant Hope, the twins, and Cozy Glow, who returned the startling sound.

“Beatrix?!”

Cerise and Inky immediately rose to embrace their friend tightly. “Oh my goodness, I can’t believe you’re here!” The queen exclaimed.

Cerise asked, “How did you get here? Did Zeloph do anything? Because if so, I’l--”

“No, no!” Beatrix insisted. “He hasn’t pulled anything…yet. It’s a long story. I’ll tell you over dinner.” She smiled.

Cerise could only nod, worry written all over her face. And judging by the other uneasy expressions under the flickering candlelight, this had not been a pleasant experience—all the more reason to keep on her toes while under Zeloph’s supervision.

“Sir,” Fleur de Lis strutted in, her body lurching over her Halberd as she strained to keep herself steady. “Bellatrix Primadonna has gone missing. I can’t find her anywhere!”

“Missing? So she’s been here this entire time?” Beatrix looked up to the pale emperor, who returned a concerned look.

“She hasn’t left the city, as far as I know,” he reassured. “Perhaps she needs more time to adjust. The full extension of her nature was awakened as promised, though what that might entail is beyond me. I’m confident she’ll join us when she’s ready.” He took his seat at the head of the table.

“I'm worried about her,” mumbled Beatrix, rubbing her belly. To her shock, it had gotten rounder, stretching at her leotard. The evidence was undeniable. She'd begun to show signs of her pregnancy the moment she set foot in this mysterious land.

Under the table, Flurry took her hand and offered a sympathetic smile, an assurance she'd always be there for her half-sister.

From the shadows, Bellatrix perched up high and watched the meeting, distraught. ‘No, what are you doing here?!’ She yelled internally. ‘I can’t lose my cover when I’m this close!’ She opened and closed a clawed hand, stared at it, shifted somewhere between a demon and angel.

After all the trouble she went through to obtaining her full potential, would it be undone? Would this only further distance her from the others? It didn't matter.

To protect her sister, she was ready to sacrifice this entire world, were it necessary.

*****

“No... What happened here?!”

What the former tyrant expect to find on his return home was a radicalized nation that worshiped him. Instead, Sombra met a pale city devoid of color and life. At first, he thought they had found where Zeloph was hiding. But upon further look around, each structure’s shape was familiar.

This was his city. And it had been ‘purified.’

Homes and buildings were a stark white, the skies and landscape desaturated. But worst of all was the fate of his people. The misshapen husks of mares and stallions lumbering about, their faces completely blank. In trying to grab one for answers, the only thing to greet his ears was incoherent nonsense.

“s̀҉҉̱̲̩̻̲͙̜̙̟ɐ̴̺̺̳̰̀͞ɥ̵̵̘̥͈̪ ̴͇̼̝̪̮́͠s̖̖̹͔̤̯̬͕͚͡n̝̹̘̖̪̪̤ ̢̟͙̭̺͍̜͎͖͔̀͜ɓ҉̭̗͍́̕u̧͏̡͇͉ı̧̰̻͚̰̲̱͔̻̀ɥ̨͔̘̩̪͙͚ʇ̵̱͕̹͉̝͕͉̗͍ǝ̞̣͉͍ɯ̡̥̘̬o̵̢̼̤̻s̵̡҉̼̘ ̠̪̲̞̜ư̻̼͓͇̬͓̖̜̙͘ǝ͠҉̹͙͉̥͚̠̟̗d̶͍͕̜d̀҉̘̯̗͔̲̲̫ɐ͕̲ɥ̞͎̦͖̻̗͟ ̡͙͓̬̗̞̬͕̀s̵̵̼̲͡ṋ̖̪̙͙̘̩̕ ̢͕̗̘̟̣ͅǝ̷̥͔̰̮́ͅɯ̵̧͓ͅo̶̫̗̖̜͢ɔ̢̰̬͔̙͜ǝ͚̰̻͈̪̤̳̜͝q҉̲̠͎͈̺͔ ̷̧̦̫̟̖̪̱͝o̫ʇ̩͇͔̟̣̘͔̭ ̶̧̣̳̘̦ɐ̢̳̠͕͚ɹ̢͓̰̰̱̝̞̫̯̦q͓͕̥̟͔̲ͅɯ҉͔̩͍͢͡o͏̬̬̭͚̟̬S̴̙̦̯̯̠͇̰̀ ̸͚̹̤̺̼̪d̟́l̛͙̟̫̱̀ǝ̴͉͉̮͙̲̳͔̝H͍̪̱́!̠̠̬̰̟ͅ”

Gasping in alarm, Sombra released the unfortunate victim before they continued to wander around aimlessly.

Falling to his knees, he clawed into the sands that lined a street. Were there no survivors...? Was it the same for every town in his nation?

He closed his eyes, shuddering over the possibility his second son might also be lost.

At least sending White Shadow Penumbra out to conquer the Crystal Empire meant he would be spared. But it was little comfort at the moment, uncertain where his wife and daughter were. Slowly he rose and started to explore the remnants.

The wind had stopped blowing. The sun was a white void in the bland sky. He entered the pyramid, stalking past his masked, motionless guards. His boots echoed while he pressed on towards the throne room, filled with a mixture of muted hope and dread at what he would discover.

Upon his entry through the double doors, he found the chamber and thrones abandoned, except for a sarcophagus placed at the center. It resembled those that housed the mummified remains of the pharaohs in the tombs below. This one was stylized in a feminine likeness, and his fingers traced over the smooth, cool surface, unable to deny his curiosity at its contents.

At this point, he would rather be cursed than suffer as a faceless wretch. Grunting, he strained his muscles and cast aside the heavy lid that thudded on the floor.

A mare slept inside, hands crossed over her breast. “Diamond Tiara...?” She was perfectly preserved, and he lifted her into his arms. Gradually she blinked her eyes open and murmured. “You survived this catastrophe?”

A weak hand reached up and caressed his cheek as he carried her out. Her eyelids were heavy; her form almost weightless in his firm grasp. She whispered, “L-Lord Sombra! Is it really you? O-or the Pony of Shadows?”

“Both. It's difficult to explain, but we have become one.” Memories of all the abuses and sins he'd committed flashed in his head, the two entities fused into one, and with it the shared burden of responsibilities. “I ask for your forgiveness. This is my fault. Had I not given in, my people wouldn’t be...”

She coughed before shaking her head, almost weightless. “J-just make it right. Not for me, but the sake of your people.”

He clasped her tighter. “I will. What happened to my queen? My daughter?!”

“Inky Rose and her entourage escaped to seek out someone named Zeloph. I don't know what happened to them beyond that. I stayed behind to distract the guards. The spirits must have saved me. They must have brought the sarcophagus here and locked me in it to escape what happened...”

She softly wept, recalled those last moments before her prison sealed shut, and the nation went still. Had he not come along and awakened her, she might have slumbered here forever, the spirits no longer able to help one of their priestesses.

Exiting the pyramid, Sombra demanded that the rest of his forces rally and make for their next destination. Upon their departure, he swore to undo the injustice done, starting with the death of their angelic foe.

*****

The storm of Windigos continued to batter the Crystal Empire, the two united armies beaten under a relentless flurry that swept over the crystalline capital. Despite the combined might of the mages, they dreaded that any moment their barriers would break, and they would be flash-frozen like so many of the guards in an instant. Shining Armor, Cadance, and Lily Longsocks were at the center of this madness, hail slapping on raised shields and exploding in chunks of ice.

“Ugh! There are too many! We’ll have to abandon our home!” Cadance exclaimed, nestled in regal armor as she pushed her shimmering horn to its limits.

“No,” her husband stubbornly rebutted, despite how many of his men were buffeted and lost in the onslaught. Some were buried under avalanches, others hurled about, swept in the air beyond the capital, or dashed into walls that enclosed the land.

“Don't be dumb,” warned Lily, who clenched her teeth. “We stay here, and everything will be lost!” She nodded at the devastation.

While their options were limited, Cadance promised she could teleport large numbers of them at a time. Of course, that would also mean she wouldn't be there to buffet those who remained with her magic, a risk that everyone left behind momentarily would be lost to the crazed creatures that endlessly circled and howled above.

“Penumbra?!” Lily turned to see the pegasus trudge through the snow, cloaked and flanked by more troops. “You’re awake!”

“Hold on,” he called back, cloak whirling around him as he pressed forward, snout titled down. Bandages were visible under his turban. “I didn't think I would make it! Please, allow me to fight alongside you!”

“You're still hurt,” answered Lily, who nonetheless teared up at the sight of him. Each movement he made was strained.

“It doesn't matter! We have to perform!” Soon he was at their side, sword out, ready to face down the invaders. The doctors and nurses had told him it was a miracle, that he needed to stay and rest, but he couldn't bear to abandon his loyal army. Not when they risked it all so far away from home.

Yet he questioned what another soldier, no matter how talented, could really do...?

No sooner did he think this when, against all reason, the storm died down. They watched wide-eyed as the Windigos howled, horrified before they evaporated like vapors into the ether. Cheers met the peace that settled over the area, the leaders bewildered, as the unprecedented serenity that comforted the region proved eerier than the invaders.

“What..?”

Everyone lowered their weapons, Cadance looking around as her once beautiful kingdom grew dim, only pale light reflecting off the crystalline structures.

Twilight Sparkle blinked in, gasping at the sight before her. “What happened here?” She asked before spotting the pale commander. “Oh! You must be White Shadow Penumbra!”

He nodded while she landed before him. “I am. What are you doing here?”

“Twily!” Shining Armor and Cadance swooped in to embrace their sibling. “Thank goodness you’re safe!”

“Surely, you know what the cause of this is, right?” Cadance asked.

“I do,” Twilight nodded and embraced them. “We have all been deceived! Sombra was overtaken by the Pony of Shadows, causing the alliance to sever apart. By this time, Lord Spike should have settled things and released your father from his possession.”

Penumbra blinkedal and considered the alicorn’s explanation. “That would explain his behavior, at least.”

“So Sombra isn’t the cause of everything becoming desaturated?” Shining Armor clarified.

“No. This is the doing of an aetherial being called Zeloph, who has risen an enigmatic fortress and gathered ponies from both sides. Whatever the purpose, it can’t be good based on how the landscape is changing…”

“Then we need to depart now,” Penumbra stated. “My father and Lord Spike need us.”

“No! You need to stay and rest,” Lily insisted, pressing up into him. “You could’ve died!”

“That's always a risk. I'm sorry we couldn't have prevented more bloodshed.” Penumbra offered his hand to each head of the alliance.

Shining smiled before taking it, replying, “It’s always like that. The most we can do is make sure the cost doesn’t grow beyond this.” The two commanders nodded, cementing their truce without any bad blood between them.

Despite the raised swords and cheers, there were grim reminders of their narrow victory all-around them. Stallions and mares trapped in solid ice, beyond recovery. Crushed bodies that had been tossed about. Crimson splattered over the snow and walls.

While there had been many losses, it was also a stark reminder the results could have proven far worse.

“We must hurry and meet with Lord Spike,” Twilight urged. “If we don’t stop Zeloph, Equestria will fall to ruination and decay!”

“Right,” Shining nodded, sword raised. “Soldiers! Gather your weapons, release Penumbra’s forces, and prepare to move out. We’ve got a god-tier threat to take out!”

At once, the crystal guards secured every weapon and usable transports before the Crystal Empire, alongside Penumbra’s army, marched out to aid the victory of Equestria.

*****

After dinner concluded, everyone was dismissed and given free reign to explore the monochrome city. Much as a marvelous wonder the nation was, Beatrix suspected she'd grow bored if she were confined here. The lack of color certainly didn't help! But her main concern was the whereabouts of her sister Bellatrix. Did she come here of her own discretion to aid in their host's plans? Surely, there was more to it than that.

She kept her cape drawn around her, embarrassed how it was becoming harder to hide her round belly. And it kept getting rounder by the hour—a reminder that Abadonna was still in flux, a mere possibility who waited to be born.

Zeloph’s offer of traveling the multiverse together still rang in her head. It would mean that her adventures wouldn’t have to end. And she wouldn’t be alone! But could she betray the alliance for such a promise?

Abadonna had vanished, Beatrix assuming the little mare couldn't remain in this realm without suffering existential glitches.

‘Purify the cosmos…and what does that mean?’ she questioned before she stumbled on a new doorway.

With a curious twinkle in her eyes, she opened to find a staircase that descended the spire. Beatrix checked to make sure no one was within sight before cautiously making her way down.

As she got closer and closer to the bottom, bright light floods the steps, a pained gasp echoing below. After the bottom step, she yelped as her foot slipped into water.

Beneath the cathedral laid an underwater pool, and within the center was Zeloph, hissing with agony. Her eyes widened, recognizing the writhing black mass extracted from his chest into another turning wheel of gold, eyes, and wings.

Closing in to better inspect, she noticed that the winged immortal had discarded his pegasus shape, a pair of wings unfurling from his lower back that folded over his waist. Another plume acted as his ears. His bare torso, while oddly shaped, looked well fit and lithe. A white aura made him glow under the radiance of the Ophanim.

Beatrix had to squint to see the tiny eyes and mouths opening in the inkiness, confirming her suspicion. “Is that…the Demiurge?”

Her voice startled him, his wings enfolding around him to shield his nakedness, a rare act of insecurity unfit for someone of Zeloph’s composure. Even his eyes (the pair on his face) looked a lot softer than before.

“You shouldn’t be down here,” Zeloph said shyly. "I wasn't ready to share my true form with everyone yet!”

“O-oh, sorry! I just found this staircase and figured I’d see what it was…” Beatrix flushed, cautiously taking a few steps closer. Zeloph sighed, his plumes relaxing as he continued to let the essence flow out from his torso, grunting uncomfortably. She admitted, “For what it’s worth, you look beautiful.”

“Thank you.... And to answer your question, yes, it is. Or at least the surviving portion of it. I thought by collecting the Demiurge's remnants, I could cure it into something better. But, as you can see, I’ve had no such success.” He chuckled dryly. “Now, no matter how much I remove, it regenerates at an alarming rate, like the parasite it is. This was how it was for you, wasn’t it?”

The witch nodded with pursed lips, noticing that some of his feathers had darkened under the taint. The multitude of eyes adorning his wings leaked black tears to try and cry the filth out, a reminder that anyone trapped in the Necronomicon interior would corrupt over time.

After a moment passed, Zeloph ceased the extraction and knelt into the water, scooping some water to rinse any more black goo out of his pores. He stared into his reflection, saddened by the underlining darkness still lingering in his soul. “Is this the penance I must face?” He thought out loud. “In my efforts to bring purity and end corruption, am I to be the scapegoat for everything wrong?”

“I-I’m sure there must be another way!” Beatrix tried to encourage him. “If you’d look around and-”

Zeloph shook his head. “This is the only way. I’ve seen the worst in mortals, the things they’ve done to each other! If it meant being locked into an evil book of death and decay, then I’d do it again. I would sacrifice myself should it mean I can liberate them from their sins…”

Beatrix watched with a heavy heart as the angel tried to scrub his feathers and arms clean from the Demiurge. Softly she placed a warm hand on his shoulder. “Then…at least let me help,” she offered.

The primordial didn’t answer, but his body was at ease with her touch, giving her silent permission. She casually waved a hand to banish her clothes, heat rising to her cheeks once a couple of eyes wandered towards her baby bump. But she shrugged it off, wiggling next to him before taking the bar of soap, and lathering her palms to rub the suds into his back and plumage.

A gentle moan graced her ears, causing her to smile slyly. Despite not being an actual pegasus, Zeloph seemed to have similar sensitive spots along the curve of his wingspans. And the more noises he made, the more her loins started burning; no doubt stirred up by hormones and the body heat shared between them.

As she scrubbed over his abs, Beatrix pressed her nakedness into him, her soft breasts squishing into his back as she whispered into his ear. “Y’know…I wouldn’t mind a repeat of last time we got together~.”

Zeloph chuckled. “Plan to purge my body with carnal delight?” Yet by the way he looked back at her, the glow in his eyes told her he wasn’t opposed to her suggestion.

“Oh, that depends. Are you going to let me clean.... Every. Last. Inch~?” She purred, delighting in the way his wings throbbed in excitement.

And as Zeloph turned to face her fully, it didn’t take long for his lips to return to hers.

Their hands wandered over to feel each other up, the witch moaning as he squeezed at her plump mounds, her fingers tracing through the feathers of his lower wings. Beatrix couldn’t deny the part that still felt for him,that she sympathized with him, to a degree. Was it because he reminded her of herself? Of when the Demiurge had slept below her skin, and made her believe she could never be anything more than another monster that shouldn't exist?

Her eyes widened upon looking down, noticing a relatively obscure glimmer emanating under his plumage. The angel leaned up, unfurling his bottom wings, revealing the shape of his genitals, bathed in glorious light.

“I-it glows?!”

“It’s apart of our anatomy,” Zeloph confessed, though the head wings folded over his eyes, noting his embarrassment.

Upon wrapping her hand around his member, Beatrix was astonished to find how solid it still felt. Now she just had to know how it would feel inside of her! Shoving her angelic lover down, she straddled his hips, rubbing the hot tip against her clit for stimulation before sliding all glorious inches of glowing angel meat into her marehood.

“H-holy shit~!!” The witch gasped, back arching as the natural warmth made her pussy melt...metaphorically. Never had she taken such a lengthy penis that doubled as slit-warmer! Her partner whimpered as their hips began to meld and roll into each other, water splashing with each dropdown.

And while in the heat of the moment, she couldn’t help but feel uncertainty rush through her alongside the intense pleasure. Were they even acting on their own accord, or was this just apart of the outside forces far beyond them—another pair of pawns enslaved by cruel fate?

No, she assured herself, panting hotly, moaning loudly as she pressed into the pale emperor, her marehood clamped tightly over his burning rod. She was doing this because she wanted to. Not because they were destined for one another!

For all she cared, fate could go fuck itself while she fucked this angelic beauty.

As her climax came closer, Beatrix wrapped herself around him, pumping her hips harder. Zeloph released a wave of moans, all six of his plume enshrouding her. And as both immortal beings hit the orgasmic threshold, their snouts mashed to silence the other. Her toes curled, feeling his seed once more fill up her swollen womb.

After a brief period to catch their breath, Beatrix slid off the primordial’s strange but wonderful shaft. She curled up into his chest, tracing his figure as his wings folded over them like blankets.

“Damn,” she sighed in contentment, smirking at the flushed angelic entity. “If going around ‘purifying’ people means getting a taste of this, I might accept your invitation~!”

“You wouldn’t have accepted my proposal for no other reason?” He asked, offended.

“No, of course not,” she giggled, her smile flattening a bit while addressing him. “I want to be a good mother for Abby. And despite what I initially thought, you have good intentions. Maybe we just need to bring out the best in each other...”

“Perhaps you’re right,” Zeloph concluded, stroking the mare’s platinum mane before she started to drift into a comfortable sleep. A smile spread his snout, confident he had succeeded in swaying Beatrix to his side.

“A̘̞̰͇͙̼l̴̯̦̟̮̝l̦̹͍ ̻̭̖̙Ḭ ̞̙̞͙̦͡h̦͍̯̦a̯̦̲͚̣̙vẹ̳ ̷̳̰̳͈t̞̯o̹̰͎ ͔͓͉͢d̠̮̙̬̼̲͖̀o̧ ̯̺̖̫̥̲i̵̭̼ͅs̢̮̖̥ ͉̮b̻͕̺̦͉͎̥r̲̝̗͡i̸n̛̜̯̯̞̭g̢̖ ̶̱̯ͅt҉͖̝̣ͅh̨͚͓͈̼̘e͈̫̥͇͓ͅ ̳̗̺̺̼́b̜ẹ͔̫̦̺͖s̮̤̼̘͉t̟̼͎̘ ̡̝̦͔̞o̺͕̲͜u̶̗͇̫t̥ͅ ̶o͠f̥͈ͅ ̝̲̬͍̯͠y̡̜̻͔̝̤o͏̝͇͖͎u~!”

*****

At that late hour, Cerise Silhouette also wandered beside her mother. She held her hand, squeezed it, worried that eventually she might forget her, too. Her family was the world to her.

Her palm traced over Inky Rose's restored wing, another 'miracle' their host had worked. But one glance at the empty city outside reminded her of the price his peace entailed.

She had wanted to talk it over more with Beatrix, only to discover she'd headed off after dinner. Nor had Bellatrix put in an appearance. Radiant Hope and the twins had retired to their rooms, and Flurry Heart also went off to explore on her own, while Fleur claimed she needed to patrol the grounds despite their host's assurances there was little threat of violence here.

That left her mother, who decided to take a tour with her to spend time with her. “I understand what all of you have told me,” noted Inky as they crossed another section. “But I have no emotional attachment to those memories. Forgive me.”

“You will, over time!” Cerise desperately tried to convince herself, too.

“I hope so.” She stopped and smiled at her. “It's hard to believe I had such a husband. That he could claim to love me, then oppressed us so cruelly.” She rubbed her returned wing, traced the well-groomed feathers that twitched in response.

“I...I want to save him.” Whatever possessed her father, she had almost gotten through to him, she was sure of it! Unfortunately, acolytes had spirited her away at the worst moment. What had become of him? Had to be slain, Spike? Fallen in battle? She wasn't sure which outcome would haunt her more. They resumed their aimless stroll. “If we meet again, maybe I can-”

A thunk sounded as they slammed into an acolyte. “Forgive us, I-a-auuaaaahh!?” The queen clutched at her chest, nearly fumbling down.

“Mommy? What's wrong, is he-” Cerise froze too, the mask knocked from an acolyte, a blank face underneath. Shakingly, he retrieved his mask before slowly rising back up to continue his walk without comment.

The mares held each other, bewildered by what they saw. “H-his face! What happened to his face?!” Cerise stammered.

Was this what purification meant? To wipe the slate completely clean for anyone who gazed into Zeloph's welcoming light?

“A-ahhng,” Inky clutched her throbbing skull, pale and shaken. “H-he reminds me of something. Almost like the Eldritch...”

She grabbed her mother's shoulders. “The Eldritch?! Do you remember them?” Her heart stirred with the hope her memories were simply buried and not permanently erased. “Mommy, don't think too hard on it!”

“I don't know, child! It hurts to think back.” She stood and shook away the dull ache in her head. “I-I think you’re right. Something’s not right with this place. I-I want to leave!”

“That’s what we should have done, to begin with,” Cerise proclaimed, relieved to finally have another realize the falseness of the pale emperor’s paradise. Hugging her, she whispered. “Let's find the others. I know Radiant Hope isn't convinced, and the twins have sworn loyalty to us. Let’s just hope Cozy and Beatrix haven’t settled with him yet.”

Nodding, the pair turned around to rush back towards the cathedral, praying it wasn’t too late!

*****

There was little time to rest or celebrate. What remained of the alliance was once more united. With Smolder and Ember by his sides, Lord Spike sat down across from Sombra, near Diamond Tiara. Lady Ewe, Somnambula, and Stygian took a seat.

Within moments, Shining Armor, White Shadow Penumbra, and Lily entered the meeting room then settled in.

“Father,” Penumbra greeted before finding his father’s arms wrapped around him. He froze, not use to any physical affection, before slowly returning his embrace.

“I hope you can forgive me too, my son,” Sombra whispered. “For all the times I’ve been needlessly rough on you. For putting you on a wild goose chase due to my arrogance…”

“I forgive you.” He smiled, stepping away to usher his lieutenant to his side. “I...I want to introduce Lady Lily Longsocks. Without her, I might not be here.” Together they took each other’s hands before looking back to the him. “I wish to court her, should you approve.”

Sombra smiled at them. “Of course. You needn't ask my permission to live your life.” He nodded in approval at the earth mare, who bashfully returned his smile, satisfied she wasn't after his son simply to coast on his fortune. While he didn’t know her personally, Sombra was aware she had steadily risen through the ranks and become a capable lieutenant in her own right.

“N-nice to meet you, my liege.” He took her hand and kissed it. The other heads of the alliance around them discussed their plans and made preparations, a map unfolded across the table and marked all over. “W-will I be able to meet the queen soon?”

“We hope so,” cut in Spike. “We'll do what we can to rescue her and Princess Cerise.” He raised his sword, joined in by Sombra, Penumbra, and Shining Armor, blades crossed in brotherhood to stand against the latest threat to their way of life.

“Can't believe Flurry Heart ran off too,” said Shining, who chuckled, their aloft sabers alight by the runes that empowered them. “She always was a little troublemaker!”

For the moment, Cadance stayed behind to look after the Crystal Empire while he teamed up with Twilight, who shared a grin with him. Together, he was convinced they would be unstoppable!

“She’s most likely wi' Beatrix,” assured Lady Ewe. “We’ve prepared Trixie’s wagon tae carry it victims fur healin'. Hence why she’s ootwith, unloadin' 'er mince.”

Spike nodded. “Good. Stygian. Did you dig up any info about angels? Any weaknesses we could exploit?”

“It’s...tricky,” the unicorn said with a frown. “Angels are inherently robust. Ophanim are immune to all sorts of spells and magic, meaning whatever is within those golden wheels won’t take any damage. While not as powerful, Cherubim can immobilize their enemies if one gazes upon them long enough.”

He raised his brow. “A-and the seraphim?”

Stygian only shook his head. “They’re the strongest among ranks.”

“Great,” Smolder scoffed. “So we’re going up against an opponent that’s impossible to beat!”

“Not impossible,” Stygian corrected, flipping through a book before finding a page. “This is a banishing circle. If we draw it while Zeloph is present, we have a good chance of repelling him from Equestria! And as long as the process remains, he can’t return.”

“That’s…great, actually!” Shining exclaimed.

“Th' problem lies in lurin' Zeloph it,” Oona added in. “He’s nae a fool. He’ll be cautioos ay a trap, given uir interaction.”

“Then we’ll force him out,” Sombra proclaimed. “That bastard has toyed with us for long enough! Let our troops handle evacuating the citizens and allies to safety. We will strike down the angel where he stands!”

Shining Armor and Spike nodded in agreement, determined to end this madness and restore peace.

“By th' way, Spike,” the dream faun asked, casting a glance of concern over to the Dragon Lord. “How are ye feelin’?”

“Fine,” he assured. He'd had to expend quite a portion of his stored power in the battle with the Pony of Shadows, but thankfully there were always several mares around who wanted a shot with the Dragon Lord.

Somnambula touched his shoulder. “You must take care. You have a nation to look after.”

“Don't worry, I feel better than ever!” To demonstrate the flexed his muscles. “Shame I lost that nifty armor!”

“Just be aware you could burn yourself out,” the priestess chided, barely able to look on the Dragon Lord she doomed to this.

Indeed, several males would be content to sacrifice their lives to spread their seed far, but dragons had more pride than that. She couldn't be sure when he would burn out completely, especially if the Dragon Lord continued to push himself so hard.

A number of their army would have to be left behind, lest they leave the Badlands undefended. If their enemy could bring down an entire nation so quickly, would they even stand a chance once they stormed the bleakest region?

The Dragon Lord announced, “Alright, meeting adjourned! We depart at once! Let’s take down Zeloph! For Equestria!”

“For Equestria!!”

The final battle awaited the alliance in the monochrome city.