Benighted

Crystalline spires and pristine parks glistened like the multitude of stars surrounding the pale omnipresent moon. Standing in contrast to the onyx walls and midnight banners emblazed with the crescent of the new regime, the shimmering crystal wing bore the tri-diamond insignia of its architect. With mastery of magics the Northern Tyrant could only dream of, the enchantress fashioned herself a castle within a castle for her and her draconic consort. While rulers of the past may have questioned the audacious, perhaps even ambitious, construction project, the enthroned Goddess of the Moon graciously allowed her subjects to carve their own place within her benighted world. It was within this pellucid palace that the mighty Champion of the Night reclined lazily on his modest yet growing horde of glittering gold, trinkets and other baubles he had amassed while under the Dark Alicorn’s patronage.

“Wealth, a home, decent meals and restful slumber.” Spike thought as he ran a claw over the pile and scooped up a few appetizing gemstones. “I should have joined sooner; just look at me.”

Such a collection should have marked a sizeable growth spurt for the dragon and while he had noticed a slight accretion of his titanic physique, the fallen knight still fell short of his mountain-hollowing kin. Most would ascribe this deviation of draconic development to his nightmarish hybrid nature. The New Dragon, for his part, placed cause with his newfound value of treasures of the flesh over his juvenile material greed.

“Are you ready, Spikey?” The singsong voice of the crown jewel of his true horde called out from behind a privacy curtain. “This one might be a stunner in more ways than one.”

“Mmhmm.” The Champion rumbled, his tongue not as erudite as his mind, after swallowing his rocky snack.

The curtain parted to reveal the mare once known as Rarity in all her magnificence. The former fashionista still wore her ever-present glaucous tiara and choker with the ruby heartstone. The newest addition to her wardrobe was a nightgown of translucent indigo gauze with silky undergarments of midnight black. Blue diamonds shimmered like stars on her lacy panties and the clasp that bridged the deep valley of her cleavage. Below her chest, the almost ethereal fabric parted around the gentle maternal swell of her belly and fell to her sides. Spike unconsciously vented smoke out of his nostrils as the Enchantress did one last flick of her head to get a rogue strand of her bounteous mane out of her face.

“I take it you approve.” The New Unicorn purred as she did her best runway walk toward her staring lover. “I wanted to be part of the art rather than just the medium.”

“Spike want.” The dragon growled hungrily as he stood only for a block of crystal to thump him in the chest and send him back into his seat. “Ow?”

“Claws off, you insatiable beast!” Rarity scolded playfully as her horn flared. “You’ve shredded enough of my wardrobe already.”

“Tsk.” Spike gave her a toothy grin. “So?”

“Spikey, darling, the whole point of my fashion is to accentuate the natural beauty of they who wear them and add an element of mystery to our salacious trysts.” The midnight unicorn countered smartly. “Also I doubt a living furnace like you has noticed but it is rather chilly.”

“Hrm…” The drake spread his thick arms wide in invitation. “Come here.”

Smiling, Rarity climbed over the draconic Champion and lay against his broad chest. Spike embraced his love firmly yet gently as she warmed herself against him. The mare hummed happily as he lovingly stroked her mane, his burning core flaring in time with his breathing and chasing the chill and ache from her body. The drake’s free claw slowly slid down the arch of her back and came to rest on her generous rear. The dark unicorn giggled as her lover kneaded the supple flesh and then yelped when he gave her stars and diamonds cutie mark a slap.

“Aw, was it too much to hope for a romantic night of cuddling?” Rarity pouted cutely.

“Spike still want.” The dragon smirked. “You, too.”

“You got me there.” The mare admitted as she sat up and straddled his abdomen. “So, what does my favorite barbarian want tonight?”

“Those.” Spike rumbled as he stared intently at her bountiful bosom.

“Only if you use your tongue.” The busty Enchantress ran a finger across his maw.

That was all the confirmation the dragon needed as he moved his claw from her mane to a shoulder and spun her around. Rarity’s world became a blur of colors for a moment before she came to rest before the dragon’s emergent virility. The mighty pillar of flesh twitched and pulsated in the pale moonlight, casting her face in shadow as its heady scent filled her nostrils. Behind her, Spike lifted her gown like a veil and pulled aside her already damp panties to behold her inviting nethers. He clapped both claws on her shapely rump and used his thumbs to spread open her winking lips. The sensation of her most intimate canal being exposed sent a bolt of excitement racing up the mare’s spine as she undid the straining clasp of her top. Her bountiful bosom spilled forth and enveloped the base of her love in their silken valley, leaving the topmost tip for her pleasure.

“I doubt I will ever grow bored of this.” Rarity cooed as she manually jiggled her magnificent mammaries, her aching violet tips peeking out between her slender fingers. “I still dream of our first time.”

“Mmhmhm.” Spike chuckled at the fond memory as he took a deep whiff of her scent. “Forging the kirin… qilin... Junior?”

“We are not calling it ‘Junior’.” The mother-to-be deadpanned. “Stars above, we still haven’t redubbed ourselves.”

“Nightmare Rarity?” The drake ventured as he debated using his claws or just diving straight in.

“Her Majesty has claimed ‘Nightmare’ for herself.” The dark unicorn reminded him. “Ugh, too horny to think about it.”

“Clarity tends to follow climax.” Spike thought as he buried his snout into Rarity’s dripping nethers just as she took his drakehood into her mouth.

The dragon’s serpentine tongue slid easily inside, the dexterous muscle capable of spelling out his lover’s name against her velvety walls. As he dotted Is and crossed Ts, Spike made a conscious effort to not venture too far into the familiar tunnel. While he doubted he could breach her innermost chamber, the thought of anything grabbing his tongue was enough to prevent him from trying. Pushing the horrific notion aside, he refocused on bringing Rarity to her peak before he reached his. It was not some lingering chivalric virtue of ‘ladies first’ as so much as he thoroughly enjoyed feeling her writhing in ecstasy on and around him.

“Plus the noises she makes do something to me.” He thought as he grazed her pearl with his fangs.

“Mmph!” The Enchantress’s muffled yelp signaled he had hit the sweet spot again as she returned the favor with her broad tongue.

The Champion’s pride was a wholly different beast than the stallions she was more familiar with. A tapered tip poked the back of her throat while a series of barbs and ridges ran along and below his length. As expected of something designed to delve into the volcanic depths of a dragoness, it was not as sensitive to her tender touch as the hapless equines of her old life. Another point of comparison was the fact that his life-giving jewels were well within him, safe from harm and pleasure. Truly, to have a dragon as a lover would be a test of one’s skills but the dark unicorn had one advantage over her indomitable dragon: she knew Spike and just what stoked his fires.

“Hmhmhm~” Rarity giggled mischievously around his length as she disregarded any notion of ladylike modesty and started moaning and squirming unashamedly. “Mmmph…Hmp!”

It took a little longer than she expected but with a muted grunt, the swollen knot emerged from his loins. Spike’s breathing became harsh and rapid as he instinctively thrust his hips, forcing himself down his lady’s throat as he felt the heat in his core about to burst. The Enchantress’ moans shot up an octave as he pulled his own ploy by spelling out her name in cursive again but with a slight variation.

“V..A..N..I..T..and Y!” The Champion decided to dub the benighted unicorn himself and was rewarded with a flood of her intoxicating love. “Figured that would do it.”

Vanity’s once exaggerated cries became wholly genuine as her body convulsed atop her lover. With such sweet music ringing in his ears, the dragon’s resolve quickly vanished as he felt a surge of scorching heat in his loins. Remembering at the last possible second to mind his aim, the Champion pulled free of the dark unicorn’s depths and roared his victory to the skies in a display of smoke and fire.

“Mmph! MMPH!! Uuurgh~” The Enchantress nearly gagged as a torrent of the dragon’s scorching seed flooded her mouth almost instantly.

Still half-dazed from her own climax, Vanity released her love with a wet pop and let his love shower her. From the tip of her horn to the peaks of her breasts, the midnight mare was painted an off-white the audibly steamed in the cool air. Spike finally dosed his flames and fell back against his horde with a thud, his deluge slowing to a trickle before he was spent.

“Starz uhbov~” Vanity warbled dumbly as her overstimulated senses threatened to knock her out.

“Easy...” The dragon guided the ditzy mare onto her side to avoid putting weight on her gravid belly. “Hm, warm now?”

“Yeah~” The unicorn sighed as she gathered up some with a finger and sucked it clean. “Mmm~”

“More?” Spike asked as he busied a claw in her flowing tail but the mare was too spacy to give a clear answer. “Hrm… huh…”

The Champion’s sweet romantic nothings died on his tongue as the post-coital bliss was replaced with clarity. His gaze slowly shifted from his currently over the moon lover to his drakehood. Rather than going dormant and retreating back within his loins, the gradient length of muscle still stood as a pillar to something that had long haunted the New Dragon’s mind; unsatisfaction. It was not that Vanity was a poor lover, far from it in fact but something was off. Sending females into a storm of ecstasy with his skills and sheer size was only the tip of the proverbial iceberg that was his lurid passions. It may have been some primal instinct exacerbated by the tantibus he was bonded with or some long-ignored kink he had but what the drake truly desired was currently forbidden by the nature of his pregnant mate.

“She can’t get more knocked up and I can’t go all out without hurting something.” Spike blew smoke out his nose in frustration. “And as good as she is with her mouth, it is hard to top good old fashion vanilla rutting.”

The dragon growled slightly as he reached the same conclusion he had when the conundrum first presented itself. As Empress Moon had planned and Vanity even agreed with, his horde needed to expand. A harem like the kings of old was needed but the prime candidates were frustratingly elusive. Even with the Hive Queen’s agents spread throughout the corrupted land, the Heroines of Equestria continued to evade capture and undermine the Lunar Empire with their mere existence.

“Knowing which hideouts they use only got us so far.” The fallen knight mentally lamented. “They keep on the move and there are probably entire networks Sparkle, paranoid philomath that she is, didn’t even tell ME, her so-called number one assistant, about.”

“Wow, I can feel the heat of that from here.” A new voice cut through his increasingly enraged thoughts. "And the smell."

Both dragon and unicorn looked up to find a figure darkening the doorway. A thestral, charcoal of coat and plum of mane, invited herself in once she had their attention. A single fang appeared with her crooked smile as Spike unabashedly looked her over. Like most bat-ponies, she was lithe of build with fiendish claws and predatory golden eyes. Unlike most of her kin, their visitor eschewed the armor of the legions in favor of a business suit and skirt that gave her the air of a secretary. Given how the top three buttons of her shirt were struggling to contain her impressive bust, the Champion inferred that the suit was not originally hers.

“Biggest I could find.” The bat-mare must have read his expression as one of the buttons gave up and embedded itself in the far wall. “I pity those poor petite ponies that used to slave away here.”

“Give me your measurements later and I can throw together something that will let you breathe without gasping.” Vanity said lazily. “First, could you be a dear and fetch us some towels from over there? I don’t have a mind for magic right now.”

“I live to serve.” The thestral complied as she retrieved the requested towels. “It is a pleasure to finally meet you two.”

“Mmhmm.” Spike nodded in thanks as he cleaned himself and the love-drunk unicorn. “Name?”

“Nightshade.” She answered with a small bow. “I have the honor of being Empress Moon’s first dapifer…a steward.”

“Night Shade…” The dragon searched his memories of where he might have heard of her before but to no avail. “Flower or shadow?”

“Deadly.” Nightshade flashed the lone fang again. “Now, as much as I enjoyed watching you give Rarity-“

“Ah, it’s Vanity now.” The dark unicorn corrected. “Time will tell if it catches on.”

“…give Vanity a facial, I have some exciting news.” The thestral resumed. “You remember Rainbow Dash?”

“Loyal. Ace. Arrogant.” Spike nodded as he slid off his horde. “And?”

“One of the bugs managed to replace a member of her little band of pegasi malconents.” Nightshade explained. “They finally got a chance to call in; she will be making a run to Cloudsdale soon.”

“Duty calls, Spikey.” Vanity smiled as she returned to her sense and sat up. “Smack her once for me; I still remember the train incident.”

“Hrmm.” The Champion rumbled as he kissed her just below her horn and rubbed her gravid belly in farewell. “Be back soon.”

With that, Spike followed Nightshade out of the crystalline lounge. As the dark unicorn turned her attention back to matters of fashion, the dark drake was given more details by his new acquaintance. The prismatic pegasus had previously made sporadic appearances hitting imperial facilities before disappearing for weeks on end only to reappear on the other side of the continent. The legion crackdown following Spike’s ascension had put a hiatus on Dash’s exploits but lately, she and a small group of other pegasi had been spotted in Cloudsdale airspace.

“Damn thing is about to fall out of the sky so I have no idea what they’re doing there.” Nightshade scoffed as they exited the crystal wing of the palace. “But this might be our best chance to capture her.”

“The other pegasi...” Spike said thoughtfully. “Them?”

“Just some ex-weather teams, guards and other expendables.” The bat-mare waved a dismissive hand. “Not Fluttershy, if that is what you’re asking.”

“Hrm.” The dragon grunted in disappointment. “My forces?”

“Her Excellency has selected some of her fastest Umbrals to accompany you.” Nightshade said they came to a staging area for the nocturnal legions. “As you are her Champion, they will obey.”

“Letting me use the real heavy hitters.” The dragon mused. “About time.”

“Best of luck on your mission, mighty Champion.” Nightshade said as she turned to leave. “I look forward to working with you… very closely.”

The shapely thestral departed with another fanged smirk and a noticeable sway in her hips. Spike enjoyed the sight until she disappeared around a corner.

“Cute bat.” He muttered. “Maybe...”

After cracking his neck and rolling his shoulders to psych himself up, the Champion pushed open the doors with an echoing boom. As Nightshade had said, a small team of predatory thestrals stood at the ready, their slitted eyes and long fangs gleaming in the dim light. They offered crisp salutes as Spike stomped past them toward a team of attentive servants tending to his personal armaments.

“LEGIONS!” The dragon roared. “TO THE HUNT!”

“SKREE!!” The bloodthirsty legionnaires shrieked in anticipation of the hunt to come and the feast to follow.

Floating like a ghostly specter over the untamed Everfree, the ruins of Cloudsdale were but a shadow of the mighty pegasus polis it once was. The center of Equestrian weather control had suffered greatly during the Long Winter. Ill maintained and left to freeze, entire districts had fallen to earth in piles of ice and snow while others remained in mid-air creating a snap-shot of a city in collapse. At the core of the polis was the complex that housed the eclectic machines of the weather factory. With the structure in the process of freezing over and its characteristic rainbow falls long dormant, the facility appeared lifeless and bereft of any value.

“Let’s try to keep it that way.” Rainbow Dash thought as her team of pegasi made their way through the quiet halls. “We’re almost done here; don’t trip at the finish line.”

For the past several months, the prismatic speedster had made several trips to her old home alongside a group of other displaced citizens. Initially, they were there for scouting, supplies and recovery of anything that was better off in their hands. That changed when Twilight Sparkle, the Last Princess of Equestria, discovered something in her studies and tasked Dash with her current mission. When asked what the end goal was, Sparkle had shut her out citing the need for secrecy with imperial spies potentially everywhere. Thus the former stuntpony had suited up in her old Wonderbolts uniform turned armored flight suit, gathered up her colleagues and set out on what she hoped would not be a wild goose chase.

“I get it but, come on, she can trust me.” Dash thought incredulously. “Twi been lost in her books for so long, she’s falling back into bad habits. I guess it was Spike’s job to pull her up for air.”

At the thought of the lost dragon, the former stuntmare felt a pang of guilt. The brave fool had charged into the heart of evil alone to rescue his fair maiden and never returned. She had attempted to follow after him but lost his trail in the deep shadow of Canterlot. The Equestrians could only assume the worst but Dash liked to think that Spike had somehow rescued Rarity and carried her off to parts unknown. She made a mental note to kick both their asses for going on vacation without her if they ever met again.

“We’re here, Dash.” An ex-weather stallion laden with various tools cut through her thoughts as they came to a partially frozen door. “Now what?”

“If the inventory was up to date, what we need is inside.” The prismatic mare explained. “Can you get that open, Sky Cutter?”

“I’d have to change my name if I couldn’t but what exactly are we after?” The stallion asked as he retrieved some tools. “It feels like we’ve been on a snipe hunt.”

“You’d have to ask Twilight.” Dash shrugged. “All she told me was that it’s important.”

“Let’s see… ‘Central Distribution’.” A blonde former mailmare with peculiar eyes read the sign above the door aloud. “Hmm, has anypony worked in that area?”

“I used to run the warehouse of a weather outpost out west.” An apparent former forestallion with the sedentary physique to match answered. “Maybe I can find out what happened to my order of air filters.”

“We’re about to find out.” Cutter grunted. “Uhf! Can one of you golden boys lend me a hand?”

One of the two ex-Solar Guards lent his might and bulk to the breacher with near-instant results. With a dull crack, the door broke free and fell inward. Beyond was a darkened warehouse full of rows upon rows of various containers. The team quietly filed in, alert to any sign of danger or discovery. Once they confirmed they were still alone, they entered what appeared to be an office in order to narrow down their search.

“Okay, we’re looking for numbers one-dash-oh-seven through one-dash-eleven.” Dash said as she found a manifest but could not make sense of it. “Ah, hell. You take this one, warehouse guy.”

“Didn’t teach you how to navigate red tape at the academy, eh?” The husky stallion jested as he took the papers and flipped through them. “Here they are. FRA/HAZ No. fifty-one, outbound to Crystal Empire… oh, oof.”

“That explains why it’s still here.” Cutter winced. “What’s frahaz? A sauce?”

“Fragile and/or hazardous.” The ex-forestallion explained. “For us, it just means they’re in a special container… just down that alley.”

“Lucky us.” Dash smirked as she set off in the indicated direction. “You two guard the entrance. Big guy, you keep looking through that for anything else good. Cutter and Derpy are with me.”

The group divided into their respective squads and moved deeper into the cavernous warehouse. As the office worker had said, their target was a specially marked container of reinforced metal and heavy locks. The weather stallion already had his tools out and working on the bolts while Dash mulled over the best way to move their goods. Committing her entire team to carry the whole pod would be the simple solution but would make them a nice, slow, undefended target for any patrolling lunar imperials.

“First things first, let’s see what we’re dealing with.” The prismatic mare decided. “We could just fill our pockets.”

“The warning signs on this box are making me nervous.” Cutter half-laughed as he sawed through the last lock. “Like we should be wearing those weird plague suits.”

“Most of those are there ‘cuz of regulations.” The smoky grey mare said knowingly. “More to ward off lawyers than anything but I guess you can never be too careful.”

“Well, if they stuffed some gribbly from the Void in here, you’ll have to deal with it.” The skittish stallion said as he began yanking the heavy doors open. “So what is behind door number one?”

“Light?” Derpy shielded her askew eyes as the gloom of the warehouse was suddenly chased away. “Sweet Celestia! Sunlight!”

Packed away like wine bottles were jars containing brilliant glowing orbs; the captured fragments of radiant Celestia’s day. The tiny suns were a vital component in producing the rainbows that adorned pegasi poleis as well as burning away fog and even a form of disinfectant. Now, in this realm of Eternal Night, they were more precious than gold.

“No wonder Twi was all hush-hush about this.” Dash whispered in awe. “These things are a giant glowing middle finger to the night bitch.”

“Shiny~” The stallion gaped as if entranced by the precious light before shaking his head. “Sorry, it’s been so long since I’ve seen natural light.”

“They’re beautiful.” The grey mare smiled broadly. “But how are we going to move it?”

“Good question.” The cerulean pegasus rubbed her chin in thought. “Think on it while I get the others; this is big.”

The speedster quickly flew back to the rest of her team who nearly jumped her when she touched down. She quickly explained their solar cargo and fished for ideas on how to move it. They were going with tag-teaming each crate and simply flying out when the ex-forestallion spoke up again.

“There should be a cargo blimp in Hangar B.” He said unsurely. “It’s no zeppelin but we only need the five crates, right?”

“That’s a big, slow target though.” A former guard frowned. “Would it be better to make multiple trips; take one at a time while the rest of us provide cover?”

“The blimp only needs one to fly.” Her counterpart argued. “I think it would be better to get it all in one go than risking a patrol finding us during a return trip.”

“Plus we could use some airships.” Dash decided. “We’ll go with your plan, tons of fun. Find some dollies and tarps. The light will definitely attract attention.”

With a plan in place, the team regrouped with the other two who had already unloaded some of the boxes. They set about securing the jars to the dollies and covering them with packing blankets and tarps. Before they set out, the lock-breaker called Dash’s attention back to the container.

“There’s some lightning in there too.” He indicated the various jars in the back. “Fork, bolt and even some sheet.”

“What the heck did the Crystal Empire need that for?” Derpy asked. “The sunlight I get; glittering crystals and all.”

“Maybe ol’ Armor heard of thundersnow and wanted to try it.” The guardstallion suggested with a wry smirk. “Damn, I miss him.”

“We all do.” Dash concurred. “Do we have space for some lightning in a bottle?”

“Just one.” Forestallion answered. “Any more and we risk over encumbering the blimp.”

That was all the former stuntpony needed to hear as she hoisted one of the iridescent boxes onto her shoulder. Her team gave her plenty of space as she searched for the center of gravity but after some shifting, she found her balance. Their loot secure, the pegasi made off for their egress.

“Whew, should have had Twi slap some wings on Applejack to come with us.” Dash panted as they hustled through the halls. “Heavier than it looks.”

“All that wood and glass adds up.” Cutter puffed as he pushed a bulky dolly along. “Why isn’t the hangar right beside the main warehouse?”

“It was until Cloudsdale expanded and added more facilities.” Derpy answered smartly. “Gotta love urban planning.”

“Honestly, putting all the important stuff in one place is risky.” The guardsmare commented before she noticed one of their number lagging. “Running out of steam there, tank?”

“I’m more of a sprinter than a marathon runner.” The office clerk wheezed as he nonetheless pushed himself to keep up. “Very dangerous over short distances.”

“Remember to pace yourself.” The guardstallion encouraged. “No need to go all out right at… did anypony else hear that?”

The Equestrian’s fell silent as just as they came to an enclosed sky bridge connecting the complex to a hangar. At first there was nothing but the mournful howling of the wind and the cold creaking of Cloudsdale’s ongoing collapse. Then, faintly at first but growing alarmingly louder, came the blood-chilling sound of leathery wings in flight. The group dropped down and got away from the windows as the flight of thestrals passed above and below them with one landing atop the bridge for a few harrowing moments before it took off again. Just as the noise was starting to fade, it was drowned out by the slow beat of mighty wings. The entire sky bridge shook and buckled as something massive flew by after the bat-ponies, the stench of ash and smoke lingering in its wake.

“What in name of Cadenza’s milky tits was that?” The guardsmare asked once they were in the clear. “Some mega-vampire?”

“I don’t want to find out.” Dash grunted as she stood back up. “Double time it!”

With the fear of being hunted lingering in their minds, the team all but sprinted the final length to the hangar. They entered to find it deserted save for a few maintenance tools and the aircraft itself still attached to its moorings. While the ship still appeared airworthy, it was not quite what the forestallion had led them to believe.

“What a piece of junk!” Cutter observed as the well-used dirigible seemed held together with paperclips, rubber bands and prayers.

“She may not look like much but she’s got it where it counts.” Derpy said confidently as she looked over the old blimp. “Fast and tough; the post office used similar models for long hauls.”

“Sounds like you just volunteered to fly it, bubble butt.” The stuntmare said as she pushed the mailmare toward the airship. “Let’s load up.”

The bright-eyed pegasus climbed aboard and familiarized herself with the controls while Dash, Cutter and the forestallion loaded their precious cargo. Meanwhile, the two guards searched for a way to open the large hangar doors that were partially coated in ice.

“You sure having her at the helm is a good idea?” The hefty clerk asked as he tied down the crates. “She does have a reputation…”

“It may not be a smooth ride but I trust her to get it there.” Dash said with a sideways glance at their notoriously ditzy pilot. “Still might want to add some extra padding just in case.”

“Hey, Cutter!” One of the guards called out. “We need your skills over here!”

“Just a minute!” The specialist replied as he slid a crate home. “Be right there!”

After Dash took over his tasks, Sky Cutter made the quick flight to the guards at the seam of the great doors. He could already tell the winter chill had damaged the system of pulleys and weights that would have opened the way, leaving old-fashioned muscle as the only recourse.

“We have the manually open these but the release is jammed.” The guardsmare pointed to the irksome lever. “Work your magic.”

“What would you guys do without me?” Cutter smirked as he retrieved his tools and set to work. “So, were those thestrals just passing through?”

“Seems like it.” The other guard shrugged. “We’ve been pretty good about maintaining stealth; no lights, quick trips, small teams and such.”

“Of course, we are about to break all those rules.” The mare pointed out. “I guess this will be our last visit to Cloudsdale for a while so might as well go all out.”

“Just as- *grunt* -well.” The ex-weather pony strained as he tried to force a latch. “Damn polis is about to- *fucking* -drop out of the air.”

“Gonna take a long time to rebuild.” The guardstallion sighed wistfully. “Maybe with these, we’ll get a chance to.”

“Gotta get ‘em to Sparkle first!” Cutter was nearly red in the face as he put his weight behind a bar. “Shit, it won’t catch. Can one of you yank on the other door?”

“Allow me.” A voice barely above a savage growl rumbled from the outside.

The opposing door shuddered and buckled inward as something slammed into it, putting a massive dent right at the seam. A set of claws found purchase and crumpled the metal doors like paper, allowing a hulking beast to shoulder its way in. Cutter, still arms deep in the mechanism, barely had time to scream as the monster seized him by his neck and hoisted him into the air as if he weighed nothing. Eyes wide in mortal terror, he came muzzle to snout with a nightmarish visage of teal slitted eyes boring into him from behind a dark metal helm. The predatory eyes narrowed and a deep growl reverberated from within the armored giant as if it was displeased. Then it squeezed.

*Crunch!*

Sky Cutter’s neck snapped in two like a twig, his body going limp while his mouth hung open in a voiceless scream. With a contemptuous snort, the brute tossed the corpse aside and opened the remaining door with a near-effortless push. The monster was joined by a flight of snarling Umbral thestrals, their talons digging impatiently into the floor while spittle dripped from their bared fangs. Too late to save their colleague, the two guards shot away the moment the beast’s gaze fell on them.

“We got company!” The guardsmare shouted ahead to the remaining pegasi who had only just started up the blimp’s engines. “Get that thing in the air!”

“Where’s Cutter?” The forestallion asked just as he noticed the imperials silhouetted by the baleful moonlight. “Oh no.”

“Nothing we can do for him!” The guardstallion said in a near panic. “We need to go now!”

Dash narrowed her eyes as the vampires and their massive leader stalked toward them, clearly confident that they had them cornered. Beyond them was open air and their only avenue of escape. Seeing no other option, the prismatic pegasus went to the extra crate and retrieved a jar of angry-looking fork lightning. With her free hand, she lifted the open box back onto her shoulder and walked out to meet the imperials.

“Dash!” Derpy called out from the cockpit. “What are you doing?”

“Buying you all time.” Dash answered, her expression serious. “Don’t worry about me, just get out of here.”

The blonde pegasus made to argue but merely nodded as her fellows worked to free the ship’s moorings. Halfway between the approaching horrors and her team, the cerulean mare dropped the crate and spilled its volatile contents across the floor. She then pulled up the cowl of her tried and true uniform and secured its goggles.

“Showtime, bitches.” Dash thought as she hefted the last jar. “Let’s see how you measure up against Equestria’s best.”

“Dash.” The leader rumbled deeply as he signaled his minions to halt. “In old colors?”

“Worn with pride, ugly.” The pegasus spat as she hefted the jar of forked lightning. “You know what this is?”

“Lightning.” The beast answered wryly. “Pegasi science.”

“Then you know what would happen if I drop it.” Dash held the potential bomb over the pile at her hooves. “Enough juice to light up Manehatten or at least fry a bunch of freaks wearing metal armor.”

“And yourself.” One of the Umbrals hissed. “She’s bluffing.”

“These old colors were designed to tank lightning strikes.” The loyal stuntmare shot the vampire a glare. “But maybe I am bluffing. Who wants to find out?”

A silent standoff ensued. In truth, Dash was half bluffing. The jars did indeed pack a punch but she was unsure of the lethality given her firsthand experience merely stunned her. Still, she doubted the imperials knew any better and even brief incapacitation would give Derpy the window she needed. The Bearer of Loyalty chanced a look behind her to see that the blimp was airborne with the guards handing off the sides.

“A good team.” Dash thought proudly. “Now for the last play of the game.”

The sound of a heavy step snapped her attention back to the Umbrals. Their leader froze midstride as he locked eyes with the lone mare, glowing teal against hard cerise. The brute let out a low, thoughtful rumble as smoke billowed out from under his helm.

“Hrmm.” He grunted as a pair of draconic wings unfurled from his back. “Bet.”

“A dragon?!” Dash thought as the wall of armored muscle roared toward her like a shot from a cannon.

The prismatic pegasus reflexively let the jar slip from her fingers but rather than make a grab for it, the brute tackled her off her hooves. The mare felt the wind get knocked out of her as stars filled her vision. Seeing their leader charge, the thestrals took flight just as the bottle shattered.

*KRAK-BOOM!*

A blinding flash followed by a thunderous crash filled the hangar. The helpless thestral were flung against the wall and ceiling, electricity arching across their bodies as they howled in pain. The blimp motors sputtered to life and lurched forward as Derpy saw her opportunity. Bouncing off the wall once and scraping across the floor, the former mailmare managed to aim not only for open space but also for the imperiled Dash. With his focus on his prey pinned beneath him, the dragon failed to notice the approaching ship until it slammed into him and carried him off the pegasus. He was stunned for a brief moment before he sank his claws into the fuselage and dug his feet into the floor. Twin grooves were carved into the hangar as the beast actually stalled the blimp and held it in place even with its engines roaring in protest.

“Shit!” The stuntpony swore as tongues of flame escaped from beneath the dragon’s helm. “FUCK!”

Before the crew and cargo were incinerated, Dash scrambled to her hooves and sprinted toward the monster. She then dropped into a slid to get beneath the ship and aimed a kick at his knee. Hoof connected with metal with a solid clang, forcing the knee to bend. With the dragon off balance, the blimp plowed over him and dragged him along the floor. Sparks and fire flew out like the tail of a comet as the dragon was ground into the floor until his claws finally tore free, leaving jagged scars in the thin metal. Free of the cling on, the dirigible sailed over the recovering thestrals and past the open doors but not before Derpy somehow managed to bump the roof one last time.

“Pretty fancy flying, bright eyes.” Dash smiled as her team reached open air with the guards slapping out the lingering flames. “Now it’s just me and the… oh, come on!”

What would have been certain death for any other creature did not hold true for the dragon as he sat up. His armor was mangled and glowing hot in some places but the beast himself was merely annoyed. To complicate matters, the Umbrals had shaken off the effects of the lightning bomb and while some still twitched randomly they shared their leader’s displeasure.

“Mine!” The hulking brute rumbled as he got to his feet and locked eyes on the lone pegasus.

“Then leave the rest to us.” A vampire sneered as she took the air and flew after the retreating blimp along with her bloodthirsty cohorts.

“Hope you still have some tricks, Derpy.” Dash thought as she noticed that a wild storm was probably their best chance. “I gotta use what I got here.”

“Should have kept them here.” The pegasus sniffed as she squared up. “Then it might have been an even fight.”

“Hmhmhm.” The dragon let out a rumbling chuckle as he cracked his neck. “Let’s go.”

The beast rushed her again with a flap of his powerful wings but Dash was ready this time. She sidestepped the charge and aimed a blow at the fresh gaps in his armor. Unfortunately, punching dragon scales proved to be about as effective as dropping a blimp on them.

“Gah!” The stuntpony recoiled as her hand throbbed in pain. “Damn it!”

“Weak!” The brute roared scornfully as he took a swipe at her.

“How about this?” Dash ducked a backhand and tried a kick only for him to catch her hoof in a claw.

“Too slow.” He leered sardonically as he grabbed the front of her armor his free claw and lifted her up. “Yeet!”

Dash was tossed into and then through the partially frozen cloud wall. She felt the chill of open air for a brief moment before her back met another, slightly more forgiving wall. Formed stratus gave way and the pegasus tumbled back inside. She came to rest on her back staring up at the ceiling of the sky bridge, her vision swimming.

“Gonna feel that for a while.” Dash shook the daze from her mind and struggled to her hooves. “Starting to think running might be a good idea.”

After popping a dislocated shoulder back into place, the speedster barely had time to ascertain a means of escape when the far end of the sky bridge exploded in dragon fire. The structure shook precariously as the giant charged through the flames toward her. Feigning like she was going to slide between his legs, Dash instead leapfrogged over him with the aid of her wings and landed hard on his tail. The length of muscle caught and jerked the beast’s legs out from under him, planting him square on his rear. The speedster followed through with a high kick to the back of his skull. Her hoof struck home with a solid clang, causing the dragon the roar in pain as his helm rang like a church bell.

“That’s more like it!” The prismatic pegasus smirked as she mantled up onto her stunned foe. “Always go for the head.”

She kicked off his shoulders, knocking him onto his back as she took to the air. The pegasus nearly made it to the exit into the rest of the complex and possibly escape when the sky bridge suddenly shifted. Poor maintenance, freezing winds and the most recent damage finally caught up with the ailing structure as the hangar connection broke free. The other end bent like a hinge, causing the ceiling to swat Dash down as the hall went vertical. The speedster struggled to right herself until she fell right into the awaiting dragon who had braced himself by digging his taloned feet into the floor. His iron-hard arms wrapped around the cerulean mare in a loveless embrace, pinning both her wings and arms and crushing the air from her lungs.

“Going down.” The monster snarled as the entire bridge fell in a shower of ice.

Time seemed to slow as Dash felt the weightless vertigo of freefall. Fearing what the sudden stop would do from this height, she struggled against the grip of the dragon to at least get her wings free. In desperation, she beat her fists ineffectually against the beast’s head until she swung up at his chin and caught the helm, knocking it loose and exposing his thick neck.

“Gack!” The brute gagged as the mare drove an elbow into his windpipe, weakening his hold enough for her to bring a hoof up and plant it on his chest.

“Get off!” Dash used the leverage to wrench herself free while connecting her other hoof with his chin in a flip kick.

The mare flared her wings just as the bridge collided with one of the lower floating buildings. Ice, snow, cloud and smoke overwhelmed the two as they smashed through the roof and into the derelict structure. Dash lay still where she landed for a moment before slowly, painfully dragging herself up out of a pile of wintry clouds.

“Definitely broke something.” She winced as fresh pain shot through her battered frame. “A few ribs… maybe a leg…shit, and a wing.”

The speedster groaned as she saw one of her precious wings was bent at an odd angle and both were short a few feathers. She was not completely grounded but even the most basic of flying would be a challenge. Thankful that her armor had taken the brunt of the damage and that the cold was numbing most of the pain, the stuntpony hobbled toward something sturdy to lean on while clutching her midsection.

“Now where…” Dash removed her now cracked goggles and looked around to see she was surrounded by the intricate instruments and delicate apparatus of a specific laboratory. “… huh, the Winter Labs. Maybe I can whip up a snow cloud to float away on.”

She limped forward looking for something to use when she kicked something hard. Turning it over with her good hoof, she discovered the dragon’s helm crumpled like a can. Dash snorted and hocked a loogie at it, ignoring that it was flecked with blood.

“Stupid meathead.” The pegasus grunted. “Where did the bitch get a dragon anyway?”

“Think, Dashie.” The Champion’s unobstructed voice sent a wave of unwelcomed familiarity down her spine.

Rubble shifted as the dragon dug himself free, a bit winded but otherwise intact as he popped an arm back into place and rolled his shoulders to loosen some aches. Dash stared up at the helmetless brute in shock. There was no mistaking the identity of this tyrian and gold-scaled drake with emerald fronds and spines.

“Spike?!” The prismatic pegasus could hardly believe her eyes. “Sweet Celestia! What have they done to you?!”

“A gift.” Spike gave her a predatory grin as he cornered the injured mare. “A blessing.”

“No! A curs-!” Rainbow Dash did not get to finish as the dragon grabbed her head and spiked it into the floor. “Uugggh~”

The pegasus’ groan of pain trailed off into silence as she slipped into gentle oblivion. The New Dragon held her there for a moment in case she was faking but stood back up once he was certain she was out cold. Out of some primal sense of pride, he threw his head back and proclaimed his victory over a Heroine of Equestria with a grand display of fire and a thunderous roar.

“Damn, that felt good. Not flawless but the challenge is what makes it fun.” Spike came down from his high and looked over the prone pony. “Now how would Moon want her present delivered?”

He looked around the lab for something he could use as a bind or tie. His gaze eventually came to one of the huge glass tanks that once contained purified water to make snow. A wolfish smile crossed his features as he approached the oversized jar.

“Well, if they can capture lightning in a bottle…” He mused as he ripped the tank free of its housing.

At the pinnacle of the Canterlot palace were the private quarters of the Royal Sisters. Given the nature of the new regime, iconoclasts had been particularly thorough in the destruction of all traces of the Accursed Sun and Pathetic Weakling. Afterward, it was a relatively simple matter to remodel the upper chambers to better suit the new owner’s tastes. It was within one of the colonnades that offered a panoramic vista of the nocturnal land that Nightmare Moon, Empress of Equestria and Goddess of Eternal Night, reflected on all her terrible yet wondrous works.

“A dark, cold and gentle world.” The Dark Alicorn smiled as she surveyed her quiet realm. “All that it lacks are a people to call it home.”

Her greatest endeavor to fuse worthy mortals with the mighty yet ephemeral tantibi had been successful in execution but limited in scope. Thus far the only members of her New Populace were the dragon, unicorn and, potentially, their child. A promising start to be sure and it showed that they did not have to be limited to equines but more males and females were required. Moon already had a number of the latter in mind to join her burgeoning empire but the former were lacking.

“Chrysalis’ toy and the apple laborer’s mute are likely candidates.” The Eternal Empress muttered to herself. “Perhaps the lesser forms of tantibi could be coaxed into the more common rabble; expand our options a bit in all aspects.”

At the thought of the sterner sex, her mind drifted toward her own desires. While she fully intended to rule forever, that did not preclude starting a Royal Family of her own. The idea of bearing and raising a little prince or princess of the night alongside a strong, dutiful mate warmed the cold, lonely cockles of her dark heart. Unfortunately, her familial fantasies were currently just that as she was a mare of exacting standards and refined tastes. Some stallions at court had approached her both before and after her usurpation but she had no interest in their foolish ambitions for a weak princess or their spineless groveling before a goddess. The dark and daring thestrals were far more to the Dark Alicorn’s liking and many a Night-Captain had even known her former self’s tender embrace. The risk of turning to vicious Umbrals, however, coupled with their sycophancy made them better minions than partners. Moon let out a vexed sigh as her gaze lingered over a certain tenebrous area of the Everfree that even the colossal roaming tantibi avoided.

“Nothing but silence from him since my conquest.” She muttered as she absently played with a lock of her ethereal mane. “What are you up to now?”

“Shall I call upon our spies, your majesty?” A voice broke the Empress out of her introspection.

The Goddess of the Night turned to find her new steward standing a short distance away. Nightshade dutifully bowed once her mistress’s attention was on her. Moon smirked at the show of fealty and bid the thestral to approach.

“You need not concern yourself with matters of the divine, Nightshade.” The Dark Alicorn said genuinely. “Ah, I see you have a new uniform.”

“Courtesy of your Enchantress.” The bat-mare did a model spin to show off Vanity’s handiwork which largely consisted of adjusting the suit to better fit her voluptuous figure, adding crimson tights and replacing the doomed shirt with a matching sweater. “She wanted to let you know that she has several designs ready and to stop by whenever you got the time.”

“Excellent.” Moon nodded, she having reached the same conclusion as Rarity in regards to accentuating the beauty of the wearer and dealing with the cold. “At the very least she could winterize my panoply.”

“She has been in talks with the armorsmiths.” Nightshade added as did a quick once-over of her mistress’s cobalt apparel. “Something about a breastplate stretcher… Oh! I also have good news, your highness.”

“Pray tell.” The Dark Alicorn could practically feel the excitement of her minion.

“Your Champion has returned from his expedition to the ruins of Cloudsdale.” The thestral’s fanged grin made an appearance. “He has captured Rainbow Dash.”

“You should have opened with that.” Moon matched her fiendish grin. “Where are they now?”

“The main courtyard.” Nightshade pointed in the relevant direction.

“Tell me the rest on the way.” The Empress said as she flared her wings and took to the air. “Come!”

As the two flew into the skies above Canterlot, the thestral surmised what had transpired at the weather factory. The Equestrians led by Rainbow Dash were attempting to collect something from the facility when Spike and his Umbrals intercepted them. The Champion confronted the Pegasus while her companions fled in a blimp with the legionnaires in pursuit. They claimed the former guards of Equestria flying escort but the wily pilot of the ship attempted to evade them by flying into a rogue storm. The ill-equipped Umbrals were forced to break off and comb the area to pick up the trail. They eventually discovered the wreckage of the craft in the Everfree, either a victim of a lightning strike or sabotage by the changeling embedded among them. The shapeshifter perished in the crash with no sign of the remaining pegasus or their ill-gotten goods. The trail now cold, the Umbral regrouped with a victorious Spike and returned home.

“We don’t know what they were after other than it was related to weather production.” Nightshade finished. “Raw materials and such.”

“Hmm, troubling.” Moon frowned as the courtyard came into view. “Perhaps the prisoner will tell us more… once we’ve adjusted her loyalties.”

“I’ve already had staff bring out the necessary equipment.” The thestral said as they came in for a landing. “And with your permission, your highness, I would like to watch.”

Something about her tone told the Empress that the bat-mare was not looking to satisfy scientific curiosity. Dismissing the idea as harmless, Moon and Nightshade alighted within the courtyard where the attentive thestrals and palace staff knelt before their mistress. Spike opted to simply bow to his liege with a proud smile on his face.

“Hail.” He rumbled as he straightened up and noticed the Dark Alicorn’s armored attire. “A battle?”

“Only against cloying vulgarity.” Moon said wryly. “And what of you?”

“Airship.” The Champion looked down at his battered armor and shrugged. “A draw.”

“He did get a swell consolation prize.” One of the Umbrals added with a toothy grin. “Behold.”

The hulking drake turned to indicate the glass container holding a despondent Rainbow Dash. The speedster had at some point come to and attempted to break out to no avail as her freshly bruised knuckles and the smears of blood on the glass indicated. Spike leaned over and tapped the jar with a claw to rouse her. The cerulean pegasus slowly lifted her head and looked up at her audience. Her face hardened into a furious scowl as she glared daggers at Moon who began circling her prison. The Usurper took note of her wing and leg bound in a crude cast fashioned from scraps of her armor. They were normally serious injuries but nothing that would interfere with what was to come.

“Rainbow Dash, Bearer of Loyalty and Ace Flier.” Moon came back around to the front and folded her arms beneath her breastplate. “Welcome to my domain.”

“Fuck you.” Dash snarled as she saluted the despot with one finger.

“There will be plenty of that later.” The Alicorn glanced at the dragon who was busy appreciating her steward's new wardrobe. “For now, I am certain you are wondering why you are here.”

“Not really.” The prismatic speedster rolled her eyes and slumped against the tank. “Just skip the villain speech and get it over with.”

“Hmm, you are absolutely right.” The Empress considered it for a moment and agreed. “Why tell when I can show?”

“Oh, so I get the whole presentation and she skips to application.” Spike thought incredulously.

Satisfied with the arrangements, Moon ordered her minions to move away from the prisoner as a tense hush fell over the courtyard. The Alicorn’s horn ignited in a malignant glow as she peered into a world beyond waking eyes. All around the now alert and on guard Dash, the air shimmered with ghostly images that faded in and out of focus.

“Hrm...?” The Champion rumbled in confusion as he traced a pattern across his broad chest.

“That was a, how to put it, vacancy sign for any tantibi seeking a host.” The Dark Alicorn explained as she kept her focus on the ritual. “These have reservations.”

“Plural?” Nightshade asked as she feverishly took notes on all she was witnessing with a blush on her cheeks. “Oh, I think I know.”

A hollow boom echoed about the courtyard as the barrier between the Dream World and reality became tenuously thin at a point. With a horrific screech, a tear rip across the air and was pulled open by impossible forces. The pegasus recoiled in shock and averted her mortal eyes as she caught a glimpse of the crawling chaos the Realm of Dreams had become. The few staff that had not retreated at this point fled screaming to shelter even in the face of what were purportedly their allies. Out of the vortex emerged not one but three figures, each a vague equine shape of faux-stars twinkling on a field of midnight. Unlike Spike’s draconic abomination, the three tantibi became more defined and less eldritch as they moved silently toward the prismatic stuntmare. By the time the breach closed, the jar was surrounded by three athletic pegasi clad in a yellow lightning trimmed purple and black skintight version of Dash’s flight suit.

“You should have taken our offer when you had the chance.” One of Shadowbolts stooped down to the Heroine’s level, eyes hidden behind opaque goggles shaped into an evil glare.

“Why don’t you come in here and convince me?” The cerulean mare challenged even as her voice wavered with fear.

“We will.” One of the others accepted as all three jumped up to the top of the container and ripped off the metal seal.

In the split-second window that had just opened, Dash shot up into the air with a powerful but painful flap of her damaged wings. She reached the rim of her prison only for the three nightmares to grapple onto her. Her momentum carried her into open air for a teasing moment of freedom before the weight on her front, back and legs dragged her back down. As they fell, the three fiends dissolved into an amorphous mass of dream stuff that filled the jar half-full. Dash broke the surface of the ethereal fluid in a panic, thrashing wildly like a drowning animal. Grasping tendrils ensnared her limbs and wrapped around her body, dragging the Equestrian back into the muck.

“No! Don’t!” The pegasus screamed as the imperials looked on with mounting interest. “Help! Helmmmph-!”

Rainbow Dash’s cries were silenced as her multi-hued mane vanished into the stuff of nightmares. Not a word was spoken as the container of liquid churned and bubbled for a few moments before it too went still.

“Uhh, did they just-!” Nightshade asked to which Spike shook his head knowingly.

A jolt shook the tank and caused the audience to flinch. A flash of chromatic light danced across the midnight ooze as it pressed against the glass. Cracks splintered across the tank before a second jolt shattered the makeshift prison and the morass flooded out. Before it could reach the imperials, it froze and began to steadily recede. A figure appeared in the center of the reversing explosion, drawing the amorphous tantibi into it until the starry silhouette of a pegasus remained. The shadows melted into the figure until what appeared to be the Heroine was left standing on unsteady hooves, her unseeing eyes darting frantically and each labored breath a horrible rattle.

“WaS that…” Four voices spoke over each other as the host took an awkward step toward the Usurper like a marionette missing its strings. “…aLl youGOT?”

Before the Empress could respond, the possessed mare doubled over and dropped to her knees half-howling, half-cackling in pain as her maw was filled with razor-sharp teeth. A series of sickening cracks wracked the transforming pegasus as shattered bones and torn sinew knit back together. Her still functioning wing flared and stood rigid, its crippled partner struggling to synch up before violently snapping into place, ripping apart the crude splint in the process.

"YeEss~" The squadron of voices hissed as their host arched her spine, tearing her uniform down to the small of her back. "MORE!!"

Frayed and pitiful feathers molted from the growing wings to be replaced by an array of quills immaculate in form yet as hard as the onlooking Champion's scales. Mottle stains of sapphire blue appeared and spread across the cerulean coat like running ink, erasing every blemish be it scar or bruise. Lean athletic muscle the product of a lifetime of training hardened into something mortals could only attribute to the legends of old. The abused flight suit continued to rip and fray as it struggled to contain the emergent amazonian physique. A seam along her swelling thighs split open, revealing the cloud-and-rain-bolt cutie mark was now a bold tri-colored strike from a stormy nimbus surrounded by an audience of stars. The tear reached the seat of the suit as it failed to contain a callipygian rump worthy of worship. Dash's once modest bosom, a long-claimed source of aerodynamic pride, broke free of its latex prison, bouncy ample flesh spilling forth as cerulean tips hardened in the chilly air. The messy prismatic mane and tail became long and bounteous; a flowing banner of rich colors flecked with twinkling starlight.

“Wow!” Nightshade panted excitedly as the New Pegasus took long, calming breaths.

“Another astounding success... hopefully.” Moon partially agreed as she approached the still kneeling creature cautiously. “Are with us, Rainbow?”

The mare that was Rainbow Dash glanced up at the Dark Alicorn and slowly, purposefully brought herself up to her new full height. As she moved, faint afterimages appeared as if some parts of her were a split second out of sync with the rest. The dark pegasus paid this phenomenon no mind as she was more focused on her long legs, washboard abs and certainly her new bust.

“Not Rainbow anymore, your highness.” She said with a slight reverb as she ran her hands through her mane in a stretch, shedding what remained of flightsuit like dead skin. “We are so much more; so much better.”

“As my Herald should be.” The God-Empress clapped her hands together happily. “We have much to discuss but for now Spike here will help you get accommodated, won’t you, my Champion.”

“Mm.” The drake grunted in affirmation as he offered a claw to the New Pegasus.

The amazonian mare looked at the herculean drake, prideful glowing magenta meeting predatory slitted teal. She flashed him a toothy smile and swatted away his claw. Spike seemed confused for a moment before realization dawned on him and he grinned deviously. Neither of them had forgotten their confrontation in Cloudsdale and he suspected the new Herald of the Lunar Empire would want a rematch in some shape or form.

“I look forward to resolving this matter in a way that benefits us both.” The dark dragon thought, his serpentine tongue licking his chops in anticipation.