Benighted

Shining Armor stood on a balcony overlooking the capital city of the Crystal Empire; the shimmer jewel of his expansive northern domain. His regal raiment glittered in the morning sun as his royal ermine cloak billowed in the brisk winter breeze. Far below him, crowding the streets and plazas, were the teeming masses that were his adoring subjects. With one unified joyous voice, they sang his praises as their stalwart protector and exalted him as their benevolent emperor. The snow-white stallion raised his arms to bask in their love and greet the new day, a proud smile on his face.

“This isn't right.” The thought, little more than a half-formed inkling, struggled to the forefront of his mind before fading like smoke in the wind. “How? Everything is perfect.”

“Glorious, isn’t it.” A soothing voice called out from behind him. “Everything you have dreamed since you were small.”

Armor glanced over a shoulder to see an absolutely beautiful cerise Alicorn saunter out of the shade of the palace interior. Mi Amore Cadenza, Cadence to most, draped an arm across his board shoulders and held him close. Armor returned the half embrace by sliding a hand up his wife’s slender legs before coming to rest on her wide hips. She tittered sweetly as she rested her head against his shoulder, batting her striking purple eyes at him suggestively while giving him a spectacular view of her world class bust.

“She’s deceiving you.” The odd thought returned as the Emperor could have sworn he saw her eyes flash an emerald green but dismissed it as a trick of the light. “Impossible! She would never!”

“I achieved my dreams the moment I married you.” Armor leaned over and planted a kiss just below her horn. “But the cape is a nice touch.”

“You’re sweet~” The amorous Alicorn cooed as her free hand guided his onto her cushy rump. “I’m loath to deprive you of the plebs adoration but we have an appointment with… ugh, Princess Luna.”

“Oh. Her.” Armor felt a sudden sense of abhorrence that he could not explain. “What does that old nag want?”

“Some Crystal-Equestria tradition, I’m sure.” Cadenza sighed. “Might as well get it over with; it shouldn’t take long.”

The unicorn Emperor nodded in agreement and bid his loving public farewell. Side by side with his beloved, they traveled through the crystalline corridors of his palace. Along the way, they passed servants and menials who paid due respects and stoic guards who offered crisp salutes. In a large atrium tended by maids and nurses were a veritable swarm of colts and fillies, some recently turned juveniles while others were just barely out of swaddling: his many, many children. With the legendarily libidinous Cadenza as his wife, it was not difficult to secure his succession by orders of magnitude.

“You are in the thrall of monsters!” Again, Armor’s mind became foggy as he blinked once to see his servants and heirs transform into chittering insectoid creatures only to blink again and see perfectly fine equines. “Hey! Don’t think of our children that way!”

“Something wrong, Shiny?” His cerise companion asked, a frown marring her angelic visage.

“I… I think the headaches are coming back.” The former guard captain winced as he felt a sharp pain in his temples. “You might need to work your magic after our meeting.”

“Of course.” The Alicorn of Love nodded. “Anything for you, my love.”

After an uneventful walk, the royal couple came to an audience chamber where the ominously cloaked and hooded Lunar Princess was waiting for them. Despite his best attempts to remain respectful, particularly to an Alicorn he once served under, Armor felt his gorge rise. It was not that the navy Alicorn was hideous or disgusting; if anything, she was rather plain yet the unicorn felt that the cold, lonely moon was a better place for the likes of her.

“That’s not Luna! Remember? She fel-!” Another intrusive thought, another muddying of his perception with this episode showing the demur diarch as a towering malevolent goddess, beautiful and terrifying in equal measure. “Again? By the Progenitors, you’re feisty tonight.”

“Greetings, mighty Prince.” Princess Luna inclined her shaded head cordially. “We trust this night finds thee well.”

“I am Prince and Emperor.” Armor bit back the venom in his voice as he corrected her. “And I fear my mood grows dark.”

“How quaint, We found Ourselves in a dark yet darker humor as well.” The Princess of the Night’s eyes flashed with something akin to mirth as a small smile tugged at the corners of her thin lips. “Hath thine charming consort explained why We art here?”

“Not in detail.” The white unicorn shook his head. “Some type of ancient tradition?”

“A ritual to be more precise.” Luna elaborated as her horn ignited as several instruments of arcana appeared out of thin air. “We art to bestow a benediction upon Equestria’s favored son and his halcyon realm.”

“Is that all?” The Emperor arched an inquisitive eyebrow as the implements embedded themselves in the floor around him. “Seems… archaic.”

“It will be a great boon to one such as yourself.” The nocturnal Alicorn said keenly as the aura around her horn intensified and the very air seemed to shimmer. “Those whom We have blessed have worked wonders; you should be honored to join their revered ranks.”

“Please, Shiny.” Cadenza stood in front of him and touched her horn to his intimately. “For your own sake and mine.”

“It’s a trap!” A hard drilled soldier part of his psyche cried out before the flood of love he felt for the cerise mare drowned it out once more. “I won’t lose you again, my pet.”

“Hmph, you know I can’t argue with those eyes.” Armor relented after giving his companion a quick peck on the lips. “Proceed, Princess Luna.”

“That I shall.” The Mare of the Moon seemed to focus on something only she could see as the magic in the air focused to a pinpoint between them. “Be forewarned, while it will be brief, it will be intense.”

The very air surrounding the focus suddenly buckled outward as if struck by a battering ram. A spider web of fissures spread from the impact like cracking glass, a baleful negative light shining through the seams. A dreadful sense of familiarity sent shivers down Armor’s spine as a memory, impossible to reconcile with what he thought he knew, struggle to reach the forefront of his mind.

“Sombra.” That single hateful name broke through just as something on the otherside did, shattering local reality as well as the façade of his Empire.

Everything, every event from the second return of the wicked umbrum to Luna’s fall and subsequent uprising spilled into his mind as the raw stuff of nightmares crossed the ethereal threshold. The comforting lie the unicorn had been fed for who knows how long failed completely, allowing him to finally gaze upon the awful truth. The Crystal Empire was destroyed, reduced to a frozen wasteland of wild magic and shattered ruins. Nightmare Moon was now ascendant, her iron-shod hoof firmly on the world’s neck. Cadence, his beloved, was gone. In her place, the fiendish Changeling Queen, Chrysalis, had wormed her way into his heart and mind like a parasite to feed off his very being. The fact he had also sired a new swarm with her made bile rise in the back of his throat.

“No…” Armor gasped weakly as he looked upon himself, the once hale and healthy Prince now just a malnourished wretch in the rough spun tunic of a prisoner. “It’s not…”

The stricken stallion sank to his knees in defeat, overwhelmed and devastated by what he now understood as reality. There was nothing he could do. He had failed utterly in his duty and all that remained was the face whatever fate the Usurper had in mind for him. Armor willed himself to look upon what he suspected to be his executioner, determined to at least meet his doom head on. Standing before him was a starry silhouette of what appeared to be a plate clad warrior; a facsimile of the black knights of yore replete with a devilish horned helm. It regarded him curiously, cocking its head to the side while twin pinpricks of starlight acting as eyes met his. The white stallion merely sneered at it, refusing to give the demon the pleasure of seeing him cower. Faster than he could blink, the horned horror lunged for him, its form melting into an inexorable wave of night sky.

“It would have been more fitting for a Prince to die with his nation than outlive it.” Armor, his mind now his own in what he knew to be his final moments, thought as the preternatural darkness flowed over and into him. "At least it will be over soon."

The former captain's vision became a kaleidoscope of impossible colors while a cacophonous noise hammered in his ears. A piecing pain stabbed into his chest and spread through his frame like his blood had turned to ice. He then felt his very flesh shift, swell, stretch and strain as if he were but clay in the hands of a sculptor. An invasive yet intimate presence slithered into his mind like the benthic tentacles of some leviathan from the deepest oceans. Suddenly, in an instant, everything ceased, leaving the unicorn floating weightlessly in a silent limbo of utter blackness.

"Is that it? Am I dead? Shouldn't there be clouds and pearly gates or fire and brimstone?" The white stallion tried to call out but he was unsure if he even had a mouth now. "This is not the end of your story, sweet Shining, but rather a new chapter."

"What? Who's there?" Armor looked around but in the sea of darkness he might as well have been blind. "I am all that you deserve; all that you can be; all that you desire."

An image broke through the formless void before the stallion. He saw himself not as an imperious emperor nor a humble captain of the guard but as a noble knight kneeling before a just monarch with a fair maiden by his side. This was a fantasy of many a brash colt but he had made it a reality in service to Equestria.

"At least, I thought I did." The former Prince-consort felt a knot of bitterness as the visage changed from whimsical fantasy to cruel reality as context was applied. "You fought and bled for these so-called princesses and they left you to die."

His 'fair maiden' was a paranoid harlot who rewarded his love with deceit and betrayal. The 'just monarch' was negligent, hedonistic nag who wed them just to tie the wealthy Crystal Empire to Equestria. On the eve of the Empire's destruction, he had been abandoned by them both.

"I was no knight. Just a pawn." Armor lamented as the picture changed again. "But now you can be something far greater in service to a deserving benefactor with someone who truly loves you at your back."

Armor looked upon the alternative. A darkly armored warrior held his sword in salute to a nocturnal goddess while an exotic changeling queen clung to his arm. The sight should have appalled him; to even suggest that he, a loyal son of Equestria, would forsake his wife, family and princesses for a pair of their greatest foes was beyond madness.

"Yet was it not Chrysalis who pulled me from the rubble of the Crystal City?" The unicorn thought as he hazily recalled the look of genuine concern on the shapeshifter's lovely face when she found him. "And Empress Moon is offering me a second chance."

A small part of the Prince knew this was the work of the fiend invading his mind and body. It protested and resisted valiantly but it was but a guttering candle before the tempest of debilitating exhaustion, long-festering bitterness and reinvigorated ambition. As the last defiant spark was subsumed, the vistas faded away and the stallion felt himself rise back to the surface of consciousness, the faint voices of his new benefactor and consort growing clearer as his senses sharpened.

"There is wisdom in recognizing when you only have one choice." Shining Armor, beloved Prince-Consort of the Crystal Empire and renowned Captain of the Royal Guard, thought as he took his first breath as a Benighted New Unicorn. "A friend once told me that."

Spike, Champion of the Lunar Empire, let out a satisfied thrum as he emerged from the shower of his private chambers. Steam clung to his herculean frame as he reached for a towel to clear off what his natural furnace-like heat did not evaporate. After a vigorous tryst with the timber-mare Applethorn and the multifaceted Nightbolt Dash, the dark drake had decided a shower was in order before he reunited with the enchanting Vanity.

“Don’t think she’ll approve of me going about soaked in Dash and Thorn’s juices.” Spike mused as he wrung out the towel and hung it on a rack to dry. “At least I didn’t shred my clothes during that outing.”

Now clean and refreshed, the draconic Champion exited the bath and into what was more or less his den. A massive pile of treasures dominated the crystalline room, serving as his bed, throne and frequent love nest. The rest of the chamber fell more under Vanity’s preview with mannequins clad in incomplete works, various crystal monuments to her id and a vault like boudoir of masterpieces. The latest addition was a wrought iron cage to the fireplace and a mobile of various astrological elements. With their foal due any night now, they had done extensive research on childrearing and the nature of the draconic-equine hybrids known as kirins.

“Fire resistant but not fireproof so no lava baths.” The father-to-be reminded himself as he looked over the fireplace turned crib. “Of course with tantibi in the mix, there is always the chance all we known gets throw out the window.”

With impending parenthood putting both a joyous spring in his step and a lead weight of dread in his gut, Spike dressed himself in his standard greaves and jerkin and set out to find his beloved. He paused for just a moment to retrieve a bottle of vintage Apple Family cider; a gift from the new Panetier that he was sure Vanity would appreciate.

“I imagine Fluttershy would as well.” Spike looked over the chilled bottle as he realized that the Countess’s appetite for all things apple might surpass the Herald’s. “Hmm, better to take the whole case.”

His gift safely tucked under one of his powerful arms, the tyrian drake exited his quarters into the crystal wing of the palace. The domain of the Imperial Enchantress was decorated with her likeness and iconography. Shimmering statues of the ideal form were commonplace along with priceless paintings pilfered from plundered galleries and museums. While the lunar crescents were present in the form of statuettes or the odd flag, they were deliberately secondary to the tri-diamonds as several of the more suspicious members of the imperial nobility had noticed.

“That could easily be chalked up to envy.” The paramour of the pellucid palace’s premier mused as he admired a depiction of Vanity in the ‘classical’ style. “Empress Moon encouraged us to carve out our own corners of Equestria and if this irked her, I imagine she would not keep it to herself.”

After snapping off a piece of the statue to munch on, something his beloved often reprimanded him over, Spike exited the crystal wing onto the main palace grounds. The brisk mountain air greeted him immediately, misting his breath and threatening a chill in his extremities. Diligent servants and vigilant guards moved about the frost-kissed courtyards, the Champion’s presence earning bows, salutes and a few sly suggestions from the more daring staff. He respectfully declined the offers as anything beyond foreplay would pose risks to those outside the New Populace.

“Death by snu-snu as Gilda put it.” The tyrian drake thought as he made his way to the section of the palace bracing the mountain itself. “How everyone wants to go in theory but in practice… not so much.”

Spike soon stood before the upper reaches of Mount Canterhorn. A few outbuildings dotted the snowy slopes: the early efforts of the old regime expanding the capital up the mountain. Most were now abandoned save for one on the very peak that had been repurposed as an anchor point for Nightbolt’s Stratofortress. Said floating city was deployed in the east at the moment to reinforce the coastal garrisons as a check to any raids from the griffons.

“Moon thinks that whoever is in charge over there will provoke a war to unite the contentious cat-birds.” The New Dragon mused idly as he identified a certain building near the near-frozen waterfall and bypassed the climb with a mighty flap of his wings. “Honestly, I’m surprised we haven’t gone over there already.”

He did not know what purpose the dilapidated structure once served but now it was little more than a landmark for those initiated into the Night Guard's secrets. Just between the crumbling stone and the wall of wet ice was a gap that the New Dragon had to suck in a breath before sidling through with his wings pinned to his back. Like any adventure plot worth its ink, behind the cascading waterfall was a shallow recess with a foreboding black door baring a leering winged equine skull within. The Champion raised a fist to knock only for a set of pinprick lights to glare out at him from the cranial icon.

“What… is the color… of night?” A harsh, grating whisper asked.

“Sanguine, brother.” Spike answered in his best oily evil voice.

“Welcome… home.” The black door shifted, breaking accumulated ice and rock before swinging open to reveal an unexpectedly young thestral stallion. “Enter… and *Hack! Cough!* Sorry. It’s hard to do that voice for long.”

“Then why bother?” The Champion inquired as he stooped his head and entered the cramped, downward sloping tunnel beyond.

“Because it’s fun.” The likely newly recruited legionnaire flashed him a fanged smile as he shut the door. “So, what's everyone's favorite dragon doing in our cozy little hole in the ground?"

"Vanity." Spike rumbled as the thestral flopped down in a chair with ample reading material by its side. "Is she still here?"

"She’s in the catacombs below working on some project, last I heard." The guard pointed further down the tunnel. "Just keep going down, you’ll find it eventually.”

“Thanks.” Spike nodded in gratitude as the lookout retrieved a magazine and returned to his post.

"Guess they stick the slackers at the tertiary entrances." The Champion mentally criticized as he stomped down the passage. "I'd say something to Knight but he probably already knows."

While there were other, perhaps more direct entrances into the mountain, the waterfall route was the closest to the palace and the New Dragon did not mind a slightly longer trip. The low tunnel eventually and mercifully widened into a proper passage with air shafts providing ventilation and halls branching off to side rooms and other hidden ingresses. This labyrinth of tunnels, shafts and corridors were once the mines that funded Canterlot’s construction during the bygone era of the Pax Equus; the period of time following Nightmare Moon's first banishment. They were closed sometime after the capital’s competition and largely forgotten save for a few sections which were repurposed into the palace dungeons.

“That changed when Chrysalis used them as a staging area during her takeover plot.” The hulking brute thought as distant chittering echoed eerily through the tunnels. “Everyone knows how that went but it gave the nightmarists some ideas.”

After the changeling invasion was thwarted, the royal guard had spent weeks sweeping the underground for any bug contingencies, stragglers or the like. Once they had been cleared and not wanting to leave an obvious vulnerability, Knight, a humble guard captain at the time, had suggested the mines be turned over to the Night Guard. His plan was to both secure the undercroft and give the nocturnal warriors a base closer to the capital to complement their Royal and Solar Guard counterparts.

“And no one thought it was a bad idea to give an army more loyal to their princess than their country a stronghold to amass weapons and material right on the capital’s doorstep.” Spike rolled his eyes at the deposed regime’s foolishness. “That was either a good play on Knight’s part or Moon jumping on opportunity.”

With permission to establish a colony within the mountain, the thestrals of the Night Guard had moved in and worked on turning the old mines into a proper fortress. Barracks, armories, training courses and other facilities were established and the increased guard presence actually dropped crime in Canterlot to record lows albeit with an uptick in ‘unexplained’ disappearances. If anypony in the Royal Guard linked the vanished to the bat-ponies, particularly when they began to include military officers and anti-lunarist nobles, they did not get a chance to act on it as Moon returned and the Uprising began.

“I remember reading reports of thousands of shrieking vampires pouring out of the mountain and swarming the city.” The Champion mused as he entered the thestral colony proper. “I’m not sure if they ever gave their home a name beforehand but now most just call it ‘The Lair’.”

Hewed out of the core of the mountain was a great cavern festooned with cable cars and elevators for transportation. Dwellings and warehouses had been carved out of the walls where freshly rested bat-ponies emerged to mingle with their fellows or report to work. Dominating the space was a beatific colossus of the God-Empress herself, a hand raised in benediction while the other held their revered moon. At the base of the monument stood an alter and pulpit where a mass of fully kitted out legionnaires had gathered. Before them stood a white bat-mare in a black habit and wimple that seemed to exemplify impropreity rather than modesty. Spike slowed his pace as he drew within ear shot of the congregation, curious as to what imperial worship entailed beyond absolute fealty to Moon.

"Aren't we preaching to the choir with legionnaire thestrals?" The Champion wondered as he stood off to one side where he hoped his presence would not disrupt the sermon. "Then again, if there's anyone you want to keep faithful, it's the military."

"...for a millennium, the Nightmare, honored be Her name, watched helplessly from the sacred satellite as Her little ponies suffered under the tyranny of the sun! " The strident voice of the teal-eyed priestess grabbed his attention. "They toiled and bled under the yoke and lash while their minds were poisoned by the false promises of Harmony!"

"Break our chains, o' most blessed Nightmare!" The legionnaires intoned in unison.

"Through the awesome power of the Stars, She ended her exile and fell to Equus like lightning!" The chaplain gesticulated wildly, diving Spike's attention between her words and her jiggles. "Thus did the Nightmare challenge the cruel sun and cast her down yet the little ponies rejected Her benevolence for they had grown to love that which bound them!"

"Forgive us our transgressions, o' most merciful Nightmare!" The mass chanted sorrowfully.

"Disciples of the day confronted the Nightmare with Harmony manifest and returned the Moon, blessed is She, to the world." The white thestral grinned deviously as if she were in on a joke. "The unforgiving sun placed the Moon back in the deepest shadows cast by the brightest lights, convinced the lesser body was now docile and obedient. Ha! Fool!"

"Is she really saying that Moon's second defeat was 'all according to plan'?" The Champion thought wryly as the bat-ponies laughed viciously. "If she was playing the long game then credit where it's due, it worked."

"How readily the tyrant sun accepted the ruse. Under the sisterly guise of the Moon, She taught the little ponies not to fear but revel in the shroud of Her night and welcomed us, Her faithful, into their society." The orator grinned widely, her fangs gleaming in the light. "Within the Realm of Dreams, the Nightmare revealed the ugly truth of the reign of day and enlisted those who would break the gilded chains once and for all!"

"Teach us your statutes, o' most wise Nightmare!" The congregation responded fervently.

"Ah, using syncretism to reconcile the Luna-Nightmare Moon dichotomy." The dark drake thought. "Two aspects of the same being but with one clearly being the greater, of course... bleh, I turned into Sparkle there for a bit."

"In but a single decade, a few mere swipes of the pendulum, the timber and kindling had been set and all we needed was a spark." The deacon's eyes shone with passion. "The Doom of the Crystal Empire more than sufficed as everyone from the beggar in the street to the prince in his tower saw past the blinder placed on them by the sun!"

"Show us our path, o' most noble Nightmare!" The excitement of the mass was palpable as they relived their moment of triumph.

"All across Equestria, legions rose against the diurnal despot as the little ponies finally broke the gilded chains!" The priestess' voice echoed about the Lair as even those not immediately part of the mass stood enraptured. "As the holy Moon eclipsed the hateful sun, those who were two became one and thus did Nightmare Moon, beloved is She, cast out the false idol and never again will we see the cruel light of day!"

"HAIL THE NIGHTMARE!!!" The entire mountain shook as every thestral rejoiced in their divine Empress with zeal.

“Yet we must be vigilant, my brothers and sisters of the Eternal Night!” The chaplain leaned over her lectern for emphasis, the cloth of her habit pooling suggestively as she did so. “Even now as I stand before you, the thrice-damned black sun smolders with the wrath and hatred of those locked within! There are those foolish enough to set spark to an inferno that will immolate the entire world and it our sacred duty to drag them into the moonlight to face the Nightmare’s holy justice!”

“So just flipping the tale of the two sisters on its head then.” The Champion inferred as something about the deacon suddenly set him on edge. “I got to admit though; the black sun is creepier than any blood moon I’ve seen.”

"The price of their heresy can only be paid in b-blood!" The priestess's wings flared as she gripped the pulpit so hard the wood cracked. "The very stones of this alter must run RED with it! Haa! The blood of the guilt- ugh! Blood! BLOOD!! I NEED IT!!!"

The ardor of the congregation turned to shock as the white thestral's teal eyes shifted to a piercing crimson. Spittle dripped from her elongated fangs as a sanguine thirst overrode her faculties. Hands went to weapons as the newly frenzied vampire surveyed the flock and certainly not as a shepherd.

"So much for a peaceful outing." Spike thought grimly as he leapt over the mass of bat-ponies with but a flap of his powerful wings. "At least she's a regular Umbral and I got a legion for backup this time."

The New Dragon cleared the alerted congregation and landed before the white vampire, the crate of precious cider still held beneath an arm. Before the white vampire could process his sudden appearance, the bull drake knocked aside the pulpit and seized the predatory priestess by the neck with his free claw. He had hoped, perhaps naively, that being in the clutches of a dragon of his stature would quell the deacon as it had so many before.

"Ahh~ The blood of our goddess' chosen!" The vampire's forked tongue lolled out past her fangs as her talons wracked hungrily across his scaled arms. "GIVE IT TO ME!!"

"Moon, forgive me for what I am about to do." The Champion thought as the corded muscles in his neck tensed and her brought his crested cranium forward in a headbutt.

*BONK*

With a slurred hiss, the white vampire went limp in Spike's grip. Out of some sense of chivalry, the dark drake stooped down and let the deacon fall over his shoulder before straightening up. He suddenly became acutely aware of the legion of thestrals staring at him in stunned silence, a few of which had weapons drawn. Spike stared back at them, unable to get a read of the room hostile or otherwise.

"I got a crate of cider on one arm and a busty babe on the other." The tyrian dragon smiled sheepishly. "Just need a battleaxe over my back and a monster under my foot and I'll really be rocking the barbarian archetype."

"Vell struck, Sir Spike." A new, heavily accented voice broke the awkward silence. "I shudder to think vhat vould have happened had ye not deigned to grace us with thine presence."

The Champion turned to see a wizen elder thestral, also long in tooth and crimson in eye but as serene as a contented grandfather, flanked by a pair of bat-ponies bearing manacles and a familiar simmering potion. All three were clad in black hooded robes with the venerable vampire wearing additional vestments filigreed with lunar and nightmarish iconography. The appearance of the bishop and monks prompted the mass to sheath their weapons and respectfully inclined their heads.

"I knew that was going to happen the moment she started getting fired up." The bat-stallion with the chains said as he gestured for Spike to lean over so he could secure the vampire properly. "Zeal can rouse the beast just as easily as rage or hunger."

"I noticed." The dark drake rumbled as the deacon was bound by her wrists and ankles. "Should I leave her?"

"If you don't mind, could you carry her to the catacombs?" The other monk asked as he stashed the apparently unnecessary potion in his robes. "Save us the trouble of finding a coffin to store her in."

“Hrm.” Spike rumbled in the affirmative as he passed his crate of cider to the now free-handed monk. “Don’t drink those.”

"Blessings o' the Nightmare upon ye, good drake." The elder pontiff made a sign of benediction before righting the pulpit and addressing the murmuring congregation. "Be at peace, mine children. Sister Belladonna hath received the gift of our blood and vill return to us after a vell-earned respite."

As the sermon resumed, the Champion followed after the pair of chaplains as they led him away from the colossus. They got a few curious looks from the congregation but the bishop proved just as capable as the priestess at commanding a crowd and their departure was uneventful. The tyrian drake adjusted his hold on the white vampire to both ensure she had a smoother ride and that she could not get to his neck or eyes.

"To think earlier tonight she was humming a hymn while she transcribed ancient manuscripts." The cider bearer sighed in resignation. "Watch out for the quiet ones, as the old proverb goes."

"She's the fourth one this night alone." His brother in faith shared his weariness. "I believe the influence of the new Countess is quickening our blood."

"If that were true, and it possibly is, one would think her sister would have turned first." The first monk pointed out candidly. "She's been spending so much time down here that she could be accused of dereliction of duties."

"Nightshade?" Spike inferred given the context. "The Dapifer?"

"The very same." Cider-monk confirmed with a nod. "She has been given a great honor to serve by Moon's, honored be Her name, side; it would be a shame for her to lose it."

"Hm, Nighty and Bella, Shadey and Donna." The Champion tried to recall if Nightshade had ever mentioned a sibling. "I wonder what's the story there."

"Hrm." The New Dragon grunted simply. "And who was the bishop?"

"Hmm? Oh, that was ol' Noct." The unencumbered monk answered. "Or, to use his full title, Ecumenical Patriarch of Canterlot Noct. Bit of a mouthful for what is, in essence, head chaplain."

"Presumptuous, perhaps, but once the good word comes down the mountain, we will need structure and orthodoxy." His fellow nightmarist said keenly. "Better to have it in place now than risk a schism over hierarchy later."

"I have to disagree, brother." The first bat-stallion shook his head. "No disrespect to Noct or you but we should focus on proselyting rather than establishing a playground for politicking. Empress Moon, most blessed is She, is the divine author and we are Her humble messengers; sweet and simple."

"Are you so certain that you can deliver Her message as well as, say, sir Spike here?" The orthodox thestral argued. "My brother in the Moon, a poor choice of words can spawn a lifetime of heresy. We all need to be on the same page and how can we do that with..."

"Moon above, I just wanted to know who the old bat was." The Champion tuned out of the apparently long-standing debate. "Hope the catacombs aren't far."

The dark dragon's hopes were answered as the four came to a nondescript hole in the far wall and a set of stairs leading further into the depths. The two monks continued their civil discourse as they descended into the quiet earth. Compared to the lively and almost cozy atmosphere of the primary cavern, the catacombs within the very roots of the mountain were much more foreboding. The rows upon rows of coffins, the final rest of legionnaire dead, combined with the shifting shadows cast by flickering torches set the New Dragon’s teeth on edge. Even the debate between the brothers waned and fell silent as they entered the abode of their vampiric kin. Spike's ear fronds twitched at every noise that was not hooves on stone and he half expected a zombie to lunge at him from the darkness.

"Keep it together, lizard boy." The hulking drake mentally psyched himself up. “They’re ultimately on your side and even if they weren’t, they can get past your scales.”

"We're near where we keep those who have accepted the gift of blood." The cider-monk suddenly spoke, causing the rest of the party to flinch. "There is usually someone tending to... oh, there we go."

At the end of a corridor lined with chained and sealed sarcophagi, a unicorn stallion dressed in legion fatigues jotted down notes on a clipboard, his curved horn aglow with a ruby aura. His tufted ears twitched at the sound of their approach and her turned to face them, his crimson eyes catching the sanguine glow of his magic. The clearly vampiric unicorn smiled a little too broadly, his elongated incisors curving past his bottom lip.

"Ah, greetings presbyters." He greeted warmly. "And Champion Spike! Must be my lucky night."

"Blessings, honored brother." The free-handed chaplain made a quick sign of greeting before indicating the unconscious Belladonna. "Our sister here has joined your ranks."

"Another? The rate really is increasing." The Umbral unicorn noted something on his clipboard and then waved to an empty alcove. "Has she been sedated?"

"Mmhmm." Spike tapped his head as he gently lay the white vampire down. "Out like a light."

"Er, quick thinking but I recommend using the potion in the future." The clerk frowned as he enveloped the priestess in his magic which caused her to tense with a gasp before relaxing languidly. "There, no harm done. Real quick, what happened?"

"Sister Belladonna was giving a sermon, got really into it, started screaming about blood and then Sir Spike subdued her." Cider-monk surmised succinctly. "My brother and I were on standby but the dragon was quicker."

"Religious fervor... physical incapacitation... feast..." The unicorn muttered as he unconsciously licked at his fangs, apparently still growing acclimated to them. "Hmm, that makes an even spread between the three 'Fs'."

"Just my luck two of the fresh vampires I met are fighty and feasty." The dark drake chuffed as one of the chaplains returned his crate of cider. "Then again, there was Fluttershy but she was going through all three at once."

The other monk leaned over his now resting sister in faith and gently removed some accoutrements while whispering peaceful blessings. He slid off her wimple, reveling a luscious maroon mane and considered doing the same for her habit but decided against it. As he backed off the supine bat-mare, Spike noticed that the white vampire did resemble a color inverted version of her sister.

"I think she's indecent under her habit so she can keep it." The monk said as he folded the various nightmarist trinkets into the wimple and stowed it in his robes. "Unless she decides to rejoin us once she is right of mind again."

"Thank you for your assistance, Champion.” His brother inclined his head in gratitude. “You're welcome here anytime and I'm sure Patriarch Noct would love to see you in attendance.”

"Hrm." The burly brute grunted noncommittedly. "Hail the Nightmare."

"Hail the Nightmare." The two bowed their heads in farewell and started back up the corridor at a brisk pace, clearly eager to exit the domain of their Umbral kin.

"I don't think Empress Moon cares how we worship her so long as we do." The rudy-auraed unicorn said pithily once the holy stallions rounded a corner and were out of earshot. "Makes me wonder if all the robes, chanting and rituals are really necessary but I'm no theologian. Anyway, you're looking for Lady Vanity, yes?"

"Mmhmm." Spike nodded. "Down here somewhere?"

"Just down this corridor and second turn on the right." The clerk hooked a thumb over his shoulder. "Look for a gate. Our quarters are just beyond."

"You still live down here?" The tyrian Champion grimaced slightly at the idea of being neighbors, vampiric or otherwise, with the dead.

“That, we do. Once the initial frenzy is taken care of, vampires are cloistered here until Knight, Moon bless his heart, thinks we’re ready to be among polite society again.” The Umbral unicorn explained as he turned back to Belladonna. “Now, if you will please excuse me, I got a job to do; all new arrivals have to be logged and sedated until presented to Countess Chiroshy. Busy, busy…”

“Kai-roh shy?” Spike mentally repeated as he left the clerk to his tasks and ventured further into the depths. “Sounds like something from one of Pinkie’s imported comics.”

The stacks of chained sarcophaguses eventually thinned out to empty niches as the New Dragon passed the first turn. A curious glance down the passage revealed a dead end with nothing but a small shrine to the Alicorn of Eternal Night and more empty alcoves. Snorting dismissively, the Champion continued on in silence before he came to an intersection and took a right as instructed. The architecture changed abruptly with the rounded, almost semi-natural stone cavern meeting precisely cut dark marble at a seam. A wrought iron gate embossed with a trio of bats stood at the border between the catacombs and the crypt beyond. Peering past the bars, Spike saw a dim light at the end of a long corridor and heard indistinct voices. He tried the gate and cringed as it creaked open, the noised echoing throughout the undercroft, earning a few muted chitters and rustling of chains in response but nothing more.

"Couldn't live in your old cottage, 'Shy?" The burly brute mentally grumbled as he slipped past the gate and closed it quietly behind him. "I know you're part bat now but there are nicer caves."

The sepulchral hall was revealed to contain thick wooden doors with speakeasy ports. Spike stole a glance through them as he passed to see they were ossuaries or mausoleums repurposed as cloisters. Within one was an earth pony going at a speedbag, his fangs bares and red eyes aglow with the rush of exercise. Another held a unicorn much like the clerk tending the coffins, a glass of aged red in one taloned hand and a book in the other. A third held a slumbering thestral hanging from the ceiling with her wings wrapped around her like a cloak. A single crimson eye cracked open as the dark dragon passed and caught his. A predatory smile crossed the inverted bat-mare's featured as she extended a hand and crooked a talon in a 'come hither' gesture.

"Sorry." The Champion shook his head both in the negative and to break the sudden compulsion to enter. "On business."

"Pity." The vampire pouted before returning to her slumber.

"I guess every bat-pony isn't a thestral anymore." Spike's backlog of questions was growing with each passing moment but it seemed most of his answers would have to come from the Commander. "Wonder how that will factor in Knight's big book of Umbrals."

The tyrian drake resumed his trek toward the far chamber, stopping only once to let another Umbral earth pony pass as she exited her cell. The muffled conversations grew steadily more distinct until he recognized the curt military cadence of Knight himself and, surprisingly, the teasing, sultry tones of Nightshade. Spike slowed his pace once again to eavesdrop, more out of innocent curiosity than any malicious intrigue.

“…next full moon for optimal conditions.” The Imperial Dapifer’s voice was giddy with anticipation. “All you have to do it let it happen.”

“I still can’t help but worry.” The Commander of the Nightmare's Legions said with a pained grunt. “The ones I’ve seen involve a lot of screaming and noises nothing living should make.”

“The mortal terror only lasts a moment, darling.” Vanity’s distinctive accent chimed in, sending sparks of joy through the eavesdropping dragon. “Once the tantibus is upon you, the experience is… breathtaking.”

“I’ll forever regret not seeing her elevation.” Spike mentally lamented as he crossed the threshold into a roomy chamber. “But while I’m sure hers was divine, I remember mine being very intense.”

Compared to the ascetic cells in the hall, the maim room was far more lavish and welcoming. A roaring fireplace bathed the room in a warm glow though it created shifting shadows that danced at the edges of one's vision. Nearby, a large dining table had been set where Commander Knight and Dapifer Nightshade sat surrounded by scattered notes and tomes. At the far end of the chamber was a stage supporting sewing machines, drafting tables, crystal lanterns for proper illumination and rolls upon rolls of various fabrics and cloth; a mobile workshop of Vanity's design with the New Mare herself in her element.

“Of course, I can only speak for myself.” The Enchantress looked away from three mannequins holding her latest projects. “My dear Spike is really one to-! Oh, speak of the devil.”

“And he appears.” Her draconic lover rumbled as he held out his free arm. “I missed you.”

Vanity put aside her tools and walked, or more accurately waddled, into Spike’s loving embrace, her frame notably warmer than normal. In a stark departure from her usual garb, the fashionable fashionista was wearing a plain grey shirt that only served to cover her milk-laden bust and a set of baggy joggers whose waistband failed to contain her massively gravid belly. Her delightfully disheveled mane completed the ensemble of an overworked mother-to-be; a sight that brought a silly smile to the hulking brute’s face.

“Oof! Our child’s happy to see you, too.” The blushing indigo Enchantress gasped as her maternal mountain visibly trembled. “I swear it’s like having a firecracker go off in my stomach.”

“Hur hur.” The sire chuckled lightly as he laid a claw on her taut fur and felt the life within stir again in response as well as a surge of heat that almost compared to his own. “I can’t wait to meet him.”

“You sure it’s a colt, Spike?” Nightshade chimed in playfully, her usual business jacket draped over her chair, leaving her stretched sweater on full display. “I know every father wants a son but…”

“He’s also got Herald Nightbolt not far behind.” Knight reminded her as he adjusted a half-melted bag of ice on his lap. “Odds are one of them will be a colt.”

“If not, well, it’s not like we’re going to stop at one… or ten.” Vanity fixed Spike with a knowing look before her eyes dropped down to the crate he was carrying. “Oh goodness me, Is that cider from Applejack’s?”

“Hrm. For us.” The dark drake nodded as he set the gift on the table and popped the lid with a claw. “She goes by Applethorn now.”

“Ah, I was wondering if she would keep the ‘Apple’ or ‘Jack’ part of her old name.” Nightshade jotted down a note before she fished out a bottle. “Just like ‘Flutter’ and ‘Shy’ for Chiroshy.”

“I was calling her Flutterbat earlier.” The new Countess’s friend explained as her lover passed her a drink. “She liked the gist of it but wanting something, and I quote, more fitting for the progenitor of this sanguine coven. I must say, our dear shrinking violet took to this a lot better than I expected.”

“She did willingly join us, more or less.” The legion Commander pointed out. “That might have something to do with it.”

“Vanity, Nightbolt and I were forced while Applethorn was Benighted accidentally.” Spike tapped a claw against his chin as he mulled it over. “The argument could be made that willing are more powerful but there are too many variables to be sure.”

“Where is she now?” The Champion asked with a quick glance at the ceiling in case the New Thestral was lurking there.

“She’s ‘bathing’ with Macintosh in her private chambers.” Knight answered with a pained wince as he pointed to a door with steam wafting out from beneath. “Of course, that was after she got to ‘know the sire of her first child’. Moon above, I was still getting feeling back in my legs when she dragged him in by the belt.”

“As impressive as you two are, you are still part of the old pop.” The plum-maned bat-mare pointed out as she leaned forward, resting her considerable chest on the table. “If she’s too much, there are other vampires with high caliber calcium cannons. Hint-hint.”

“Why do I have the feeling Knight and Macintosh are going to tag me in?” Spike thought as the thestral father-to-be gave his busty confidant a look that suggested his spirit was willing but his flesh was still weak and bruised. “I’d be glad to but it took all three of us plus a potion to drop that super vampire. Which reminds me…”

"Met your sister." Spike said carefully to Nightshade in case he was about to step into a minefield. "She went Umbral during a sermon."

"Really? Thought I would before her." The Dapifer gave no indication of estrangement or resentment toward the priestess. "Well, thanks for taking care of her. Hate that was your first impression but I think you'll like her even if she can be a stick in the mud."

"Ironic. She joined the sisterhood as penitence for being a wild child." A smirk tugged at the corners of the Commander's mouth. "Guess we can add zeal to the list of causes of vampirism."

"He's using the V word now?" The Champion arched an eyeridge at that. "Okay, next question then."

“You’re vampires now?” The bull drake indicated the thestrals before hooking a thumb over his shoulder toward the entrance. “And that baticorn?”

“Ugh, remember everything we talked about last time?” Knight groaned as he pinched the bridge of his muzzle. “We pretty much had to revise most of that with Countess Chiroshy as our matriarch.”

“Not only has she secured the survival of our kind, but she has expanded it.” Nightshade said as she fished out a binder of notes from under her seat and slid it over to the New Dragon. “Here, Knight and I have compiled what we know. You can think of it as version two point oh.”

Spike pulled out a chair for himself with his beloved Vanity helping herself to his spacious lap. The two indulged in some informative reading while refreshing themselves with the precious Apple Family cider. The main takeaway they learned was that thanks to a frenzied Chiroshy’s alarming body count, the thestrals were no longer the only example of vampiric equines. Indeed, the matriarchal New Thestral was able to induce vampirism in others by feeding on them, creating dhampirs and sanguinaries from earth ponies and unicorns respectfully.

“Aw, Knight couldn’t avoid the ‘vampire’ label but he got to keep ‘sanguinaries’.” The Champion glanced over at the golden eyed bat-pony who must have inferred what he had read and shrugged. “I wonder if he made up the rest of these terms or did he pull them from somewhere.”

Common to all three groups were cloven hooves, talons, fangs, and bright if not outright glowing eyes. They also enjoyed enhanced strength, particularly dhampirs, preternatural speed and, in the case of sanguinaries, an instinctive insight into the manipulation of bodily humors and vitality; blood magic.

“And this is just baseline vampires.” The New Dragon mused as he unconsciously wrapped a protective arm around Vanity. “Add tantibi into the mix and we get super freaks like ‘Shy.”

Another ubiquitous trait was known as the Umbral, Hunger, Fiend or whatever name better aided a vampire in compartmentalizing or dissociating with their bestial nature. Each and every bat-pony felt a drive to, as Knight so eloquently put it, fight, feast and fuck. It starts minor; little more than an inkling in the back of the mind that only grows stronger with age or stress such as combat or tantibus infusion. Inevitably and often purposefully, a vampire will succumb and enter a period of frenzy where they little more than feral beasts. They will eventually return to their senses but not as the equine they once were as belligerence, intemperance and lechery overshadow their previous personality.

“Hence ‘Umbral’.” Spike silently nodded in comprehension. “Not unlike what becoming Benighted does to a guy.”

While Knight had expressed disappointment that his kind would not be able to completely escape this condition, he had endeavored to create means to control it. Thus, he had put together a series of exercises, meditations and other activities that read like a combination of military drills and monastic rituals. His plan was to instill the will and disciple necessary to keep the bat-ponies equinity intact before the Umbral came upon them rather than drag themselves nightly out of the abyss afterwards as he currently does.

“Huh, he’s got practices for both legionnaires and civilians.” The tyrian drake shivered as he reviewed the borderline torturous drills vampires would subject themselves to. “And I thought the routines we do together were severe.”

In addition to the Commander’s pain regiments, Chiroshy had demonstrated that her ability to sooth beasts extended to metaphorical ones as well. She had forced the entirety of her coven to prostrate themselves with but a piercing Stare and had thus far done the same with any crazed vampire brought before her. There was a catch as while the vampires were no longer wild, they were servile; cowed thralls rather than berserk hunters. It may have been trading one fell influence for another but it was the preferable alternative. The silver lining to this was that Chiroshy would not or could not maintain her domination forever and the vampire could return to their original self with effort as was the case with the sanguinaire assigned to new arrivals. Thanks to the Countess and Commander, it seemed that the moon-blessed race of bat-ponies would avoid devolving into mindless monsters and thrive in their Empress’s domain.

“Good for them. I’ve grown to like the little mango munchers.” The Champion smiled and was about to close the binder when Vanity indicated a last-minute addendum with a wry grin. “Oh, Nightshade definitely wrote this part.”

It came as no surprise to the dark drake that the busty bat-mare had explored how her ilk would reproduce. As far as her studies had shown, only Chiroshy could create vampires the stereotypical way; an ability the Dapifer had guessed was a result of a sliver of the tantibus inhabiting the Countess passing into her victims. Those created by her could not do the same. Since the New Thestral was now carrying Knight’s foal, this confirmed that the vampires were not sterile which meant good old fashion sex was still on the menu.

“And they can keep their favorite food source and means of reproduction separate.” Spike concluded as he slid the collection of notes back to their authors. “Good stuff but I think I'll stick with being an epic dragon, thank you.”

“A most enlightening tome and congratulations on your, uh, childe, darling.” Vanity beamed to which Knight nodded in gratitude. “But I must confess some of your methods seem rather harsh.”

“We cannot remake ourselves without suffering.” The by now long-suffering bat-stallion rebuked her concern evenly. “For we are both the marble and the sculptor.”

*HROOOAAAH!!!*

A bass bellow reverberated throughout the undercroft, shaking dust from the ceiling. The Enchantress clung to Spike out of reflex while the thestrals snapped to attention, Knight with a knowing grimace and Nightshade with an elated grin. The Champion recognized the call from the dungeons as well as who it belonged to.

“I think Chiroshy just broke Mac’s marble.” The New Dragon mused as the eldest Apple sibling’s roar echoed back to them a few times before fading into silence. “Or the other way around.”

No one spoke a word as they were unsure if they should investigate or ignore the noise. The stillness was broken by the muffled splashing of water, indistinct conversation and the subtle sound of cloven hooves on stone. As the hoof steps grew louder, so did an ethereal singsong voice that both demanded devotion and promised pleasure.

“♪~Who could ask for a better lover~♫” The siren song of the gentle pegasus once known as Fluttershy reached their ears from beyond the door. “♫~You can lie but I know there’s no other~♪”

The portal to the New Thestral’s inmost den swung open and released a plume of steam. From the sudden fog emerged the statuesque figure of Chiroshy herself clad in a black bathrobe whose neckline plunged down to her navel. Behind her limped the adonic dhampire known as Big Macintosh, a simple towel around his tree-trunk of a waist and another in his taloned hands as he worked to dry his mistress’s cascading cameo pink mane.

“You’ll wear out the towel before this dries but I appreciate the effort, Big Mac.” The voluptuous vampire cooed as she stilled her taciturn lover’s hand. “Just let me put it up and- Oh my, a dragon has found our lair.”

“Bearing gifts at that.” Vanity smiled as her horn ignited and retrieved a fresh bottle. “Courtesy of Applethorn and Golden Apple Planation.”

“How… kind of her.” Chiroshy flashed her long fangs in a slight sneer as she plucked the beverage out of the New Unicorn’s magic. “Considering she doesn’t want me anywhere near her precious little trees.”

The slender succubus turned the drink over in her talons to inspect it before she deftly flicked off the cap. The sweet and spicy aroma sent a visible shiver down the buxom beauty’s spine as she snaked her forked tongue into the glass as if kissing it before drinking it proper. Spike and Vanity could only stare as their friend sucked the bottle dry in a few heartbeats where theirs were barely half empty.

“I’m sure she has her reasons.” Macintosh assured her as he plopped down in an empty seat beside Knight. “Whew, that’s better. Got a spare ice pack, Commander?”

“Chiroshy must be feisty.” Spike mused as he noted the fresh cuts on the burly farm stallion’s lower lip. “Or he’s still getting used to having fangs. Probably both.”

“Your sister summons you.” The Champion rumbled as the bat-stallions exchanged balms in the form of ice and cider. “There are chores piling up.”

“I figured as much.” The eldest Apple took a much-needed swig of his drink and sighed. “Can’t leave her alone too long; hardhead’ll work herself to death.”

“She can control plants now.” Chiroshy sulked, clearly displeased with the notion of her favored consort leaving her company. “Why does she need you?”

“Bookkeeping.” The adonic dhampire answered with a shrug. “I’ve always been better with numbers.”

“She was a blonde after all.” Nightshade added with an impish smirk.

This earned a round of laughs at varying levels of derision for the Imperial Panetier. In the slightly awkward silence of a finished conversation that followed, Vanity perked up as an idea came to her. She wiggled out of her seat, giving Spike a good idea of just how much cushion her rump had gained.

“Now that you’re- whaa?!” The gravid New Unicorn nearly tipped forward before her lover steadied her by grabbing her tail. “Ow! Grab the dock, not the hair, Spikey. As I was saying, now that you’re free, I do need your input for your ensemble. Also, I need to take one… make that two …major measurements before I commit to anything.”

“Mmmhmhmhm, the old bands and cups routine.” Chiroshy tittered behind a talon, causing the sources of her no doubt expensive clothing bill to jiggle. “I am curious as to what numbers and letters I’m up to now.”

“About the only algebra worth learning.” Spike mused as the two mares moved to the fashionista’s mobile workshop. “Or would this be trigonometry?”

“Well, before you give me sympathy back pain, let’s discuss color palette.” Vanity directed her vampiric friend’s attention to the mannequins. “You once preferred earth tones so I went with more subdued hues. As for style… that’s a matter of taste.”

Arrayed before her were three sets still in early production but the finished product could be visualized. The first was a simple forest green sweater, a derivative of her usual attire in a previous life. Next was an aristocratic gown of navy blue not too dissimilar to the New Thestral’s brief foray into the goth scene. Finally, a bold wine-red cocktail dress that oddly drew more attention to the legs than the Countess’s more obvious attributes.

“Hmm… I like the burgundy and corbeau on that.” The ivory seductress pointed to the gown. “And I’ll always be a sweater mare at heart, so I’ll keep that as casual wear.”

“Noted, noted. Alright, time for the main event.” The Enchantress sighed with an air of dread as she retrieved a particularly long tape measure. “Go ahead and free the nipple, darling.”

“If you insist~” Chiroshy smiled deviously as she loosened the tie of her robe.

That was all the warning Vanity got as the New Thestral cast off her robe by flaring her leathery wings. The sudden gust forced the gravid mare to stumble back, leaving her now nude client alone center stage. While this was not the first time Spike had seen the vampire matriarch’s salacious assets on full display, the beguiling effect of the bathykolpian beauty was not diminished in the slightest. He felt the tell-tale flame in his core flare to life as his eyes locked on to the hard rosy peaks of the ivory mountains as they settled.

“Those will get me every time!” The bull drake let out a throaty rumble of approval as the delightful scent of her freshly bathed body hit his nostrils along with something subtle yet all too familiar. “Wait, what? She’s hot and ready! How? She just got out of the bath with Big Mac!”

Indeed, the Champion could just discern a glistening dampness on the New Thestral’s nethers that unlike the rest of her semi-dry fur was fresh. His mind went back to Applethorn and Nightbolt and how he felt like he could go again despite having just erupted like a volcano. It was not out of the realm of possibility that Chiroshy possessed such endurance as well.

“Or perhaps Knight and Macintosh are poor lovers.” Spike almost felt wrong for thinking of his colleagues in such a way. “Then again, Nightshade did say they are ‘old pop’ so-!”

He tore his eyes from the beatific sight of the bathykolpian bat-mare to look over at the stallions only to find they had vanished along with Nightshade. Empty bottles, melted ice packs and the Dapifer’s jacket and sweater were the only evidence of their passing. The dark drake was about to investigate this sudden disappearance when he felt a pair of hands on his knees. He peeked under the table to be met with the plum-maned thestral’s shining golden eyes and crooked smile.

“Not a word, Spike.” Nightshade, stripped down to just a set of lacy undergarments that matched her mane, whispered as her claws slid up his thighs. “Give the colts enough time to escape.”

“Hrm?” Spike rumbled quizzically, his eyes stealing a quick glance at her considerable cleavage.

“If you haven’t noticed, neither of them has been able to fully satisfy the Countess; not for lack of trying or skill mind you.” The Imperial Dapifer confirmed his earlier suspicions. “She’s a ravenous beast and lesser equines would have perished by now.”

“So death by snu-snu goes both ways.” The Champion inferred. “Which means…”

“Until they are Benighted, you’re the only one who can match her.” The charcoal vampire finished his thought as her hands came to rest on his groin. “Truly a solemn duty for one such as you.”

“It will be difficult, to be sure.” Spike looked back up at Chiroshy, his resolve steeling even as he recalled his encounter with her in the dungeons. “But for the sake of my brothers in arms, I will accept the challenge!”

“Hmhmhm, always the noble dragon.” Nightshade tittered lights as she worked on loosening his greaves. “You enjoy the show up there while I enjoy this~”

The draconic Champion grunted slightly as his stirring pride sprung free of its bonds and landed on the vampire’s muzzle. Her eyes shone with predatory hunger as her tongue slid along his gradient barbs and ridges, stopping just shy of the tapered tip now aiming at her gaping maw. Spike felt an instinctual pang of fear as her pearly fangs flashed in the firelight before she lunged and took him down to the base.

“Hrk!” Spike winced as he was subjected to a teasing tongue, threatening teeth and a tight throat all at once.

While Nightshade fell behind in comparison to the likes of Applethorn, she was clearly no novice and any shortcomings were compensated by her eagerness. The New Dragon placed a mighty claw on her bobbing head to slow her pace somewhat as he did not want to risk finishing before he even got to Chiroshy. The Dampifer grunted in annoyance but complied.

“This makes the second voluptuous vampire to go down on me.” Spike mused as he returned his attention to the matriarch’s fitting, their tryst hidden from the stage by the table. “Didn't think dangerous mares would be my type but the evidence is convincing.”

While Nightshade savored the burly brute's turgid flesh, Vanity was busy with taking the statuesque stunner’s measurements. Despite herself, she could not help but feel a twinge of envy at the former caretaker’s pulchritude. It may have been that once she had spent far too much time and bits on makeup, mane styling, coat grooming and accessorizing to accentuate her glamor while the busty beanpole would probably just roll out of bed, pull on a tight sweater and head out the door. The indigo New Unicorn bit back the venomous thoughts and refocused on her client. She had just confirmed her impressive wingspan and was about to move on to the inevitability that was Chiroshy’s colossal chest.

“Haaah~ to think I was ever ashamed of these.” The busty vamp admired the way her bosom swayed as she sashayed from side to side. “Remember to round up; I’m only going to get bigger.”

“Darling, I’ve been making brassieres for both the petite and blessed for years.” The Enchantress’ brows furrowed in annoyance as she got behind the New Thestral. “I know what I am doing now hold still.”

With practiced ease, Vanity looped the tape under the ivory seductress’ bust and pulled it snug against her torso. After measuring twice, she jotted down the numbers on a notepad and moved on to the breasts themselves. The gravid mare frowned at the numbers staring back at her, prompting her to make sure the tape was correctly positioned over the tips only for the result to increase.

“Are you holding your breath?” Vanity asked incredulously. “No need to big yourself up; we know you’re above average.”

“I’m not~” The Countess cooed breathily in almost sadistic glee. “Feeling inadequate?”

“I am more than adequate, darling, I’m perfect.” The Enchantress fought the urge to wrap the tape around her neck as she wrote down the outrageous measurement. “Raw size may matter to shallow hussies and hormonal colts but real beauty comes in proportions.”

“Oh, really?” Chiroshy placed her talons on her hips and turned to face the pellucid pony. “I seem to remember you lamenting that after Sparkle gained her Princess proportions, you had dropped into the bottom three with Applejack and Rainbow Dash.”

“No, that was Pie being her usual tactless self.” Vanity forced out past gritted teeth. “Besides, it’s pointless to rank us as you cannot account for individual taste; one may find you alluring while another grotesque.”

“Funny, Dash said the same thing about her cutting board of a body.” The vampire gave her a toothy smile as she took a step toward the shorter mare and eclipsed her bust with her own. “Face facts, daaah-ling: I am simply better… and judging from how my dear Spikey-wikey ravaged me in the dungeons, he agrees.”

“Your Spikey-wikey?” The New Unicorn’s face turned a vivid violet. “I don't think so!”

The incensed Enchantress shouldered past the uppity vampire and stomped toward the spectating Spike. Seeing what could very well be his doom approaching, the Champion attempted to wave off Nightshade but the charcoal thestral was too focused on the pillar of pride lodged in her throat. Vanity’s angered frown morphed into a bitter scowl as her horn ignited and a chilling aura surrounded the Dapifer.

“*Mwah!* Huh?!” The plumb-maned thestral came up for air just as the Enchantress dragged her out from under the table and suspended her upside-down by her tail. “Uh, hello there.”

“I’ve about had my fill of big titted thestrals tonight.” Vanity scoffed before dumping the salacious secretary on the table like a sack of potatoes and turning her attention to her draconic lover. “And as for you...”

“Vani-!” Spike stood out of his seat only for her to force him right back down with her magic. “Oof! Sorry?”

“No need to apologize for a simple error in judgment, Spikey.” The New Unicorn’s voice was level but her eyes shone with a mix of anger and desire. “I understand the base instinct to go for massive mammaries but it’s who they’re attached to that’s important. Allow me to demonstrate!”

“I got the feeling I’m sleeping on the treasure horde later tonight.” The dark drake thought before the indigo inveigler grabbed her shirt and ripped it apart in a rare disregard for her garments. “Oh, but I think it’s going to be worth it.”

Free of their unflattering prison, Vanity’s heavy bosom spilled forth to come to rest against her mountainous belly. Her dusky peaks stiffened in the chill air with a slight hint of pearl dewing against the otherwise dark areolas. The mother-to-be sank to her knees before the New Dragon with a huff of effort and leaned forward, her gravid swell resting lightly on the marble ground while allowing unimpeded access to Spike’s turgid drakehood.

“There you are.” The Enchantress gripped her lover by the base possessively. “The barbed, plated, knotted, gradient staff of life that’s lit a fire in us.”

“Don’t forget who it’s attached to.” The Champion rumbled coyly, earning a slight smile from the New Unicorn.

“I would never.” Vanity shook her head as she slowly began stroking along his length, Nightshade’s earlier ministrations providing lubrication. “Don’t think I could with…”

She trailed off and glanced upward where the Dapifer had crawled to the edge of the table on all fours and was staring at them voyeuristically. The scathing glare she got from the indigo unicorn did not dissuade her nor did the implied threat as her horn sparked to life. Before she cast a no doubt unpleasant spell, Spike reached out and snuffed her magic by gently yet firmly grasping her horn.

“Let her watch.” The burly brute said simply as he mirrored her efforts by running his claws along the spiral, sending a visible jolt down her spine.

“V-very well.” Vanity gasped out as her enmity was overrode by carnal pleasure. “Perhaps she can learn something.”

“I usually do.” Nightshade shot Spike an appreciative wink as she sat up onto her rear and swung her legs off the end of the table.

Refocusing on her object lesson for the Champion, the New Unicorn hefted her swollen bounties and heaved them up into the tyrian drake’s lap. Steam escaped the New Dragon’s nostrils as he felt his member be enveloped in her silken embrace. Vanity grinned at his unmistakable sign of approval and began sliding her engorged being along his. While Spike could not deny that his luscious lover came up short compared to Chiroshy, even with her pregnancy boost, her skillful use of her entire body and intimate knowledge of his buttons more than compensated.

“She also has the edge in the fact that I love her.” Spike thought as she captured his tip in her mouth and added her tongue to the mix. “Medium is premium after all... uh oh, here’s the counterpoint.”

Unnoticed by the pair and their near drooling spectator, Countess Chiroshy had silently moved from the stage to join them. The voluptuous vampire now loomed over the exhibition like an ill omen, her once self-satisfied smirk replaced by a scornful frown. The hulking Champion decided it was best to remain silent as he failed to find the words that could please either New Equine.

“Pathetic.” The statuesque stunner sneered. “Even Nightbolt can do that combo. Move aside!”

The ivory New Thestral yanked Vanity off of Spike, earning a surprised whinny from the Enchantress and a sharp growl from the dark drake as her teeth grazed his tip. Chiroshy immediately took her place and engulfed the entirety of his drakehood in her voluminous cleavage. The burly brute grunted slightly as the vampire’s sheer enormities impacted his pelvis, the brief pain but an afterthought compared to the paradisiacal softness now smothering his pride. He did not have long to savor the sensation before the busty bat-mare braced her rose-tipped mounds with her forearms and began shimmying from side to side.

“Hrrmm!” An inarticulate rumble was all the dark drake could muster as the flame in his core was stoked into a blaze.

“Uncouth creature!” Vanity rose up behind her ravishing rival like a fiend from the Pits. “Get your claws off my dragon!”

“EEEE!” Chiroshy shrieked as the indigo unicorn grabbed her mane and roughly pulled her back.

No sooner had the curvy Countess hit the ground then the incensed Enchantress pounced on Spike, causing his seat to creak precariously. The Champion felt mental whiplash at the sudden switch that just as quickly melted into carnal joy as the diamond-studded diva let loose. The barb that even the relatively petite Nightbolt could perform the boob/blow job combo had apparently struck a nerve as Vanity changed her techniques. From the classic tandem stroke to the derivative lift-and-drop and even the infamous ‘jubbulies juggle’, the creator of couture demonstrated her mastery of her magnificent mammaries.

“Sweet Moon above, she’s been holding out on me.” It was all Spike could do to remain passive as his indigo lover used both her arms to squeeze herself around him as if trying to suffocate his girth. “Got to give Applethorn some pointers after this.”

“All the skill in the world is pointless without the proper tools, plebian!” The voluptuous vampire returned with a vengeance, her beautiful face twisted into a vicious snarl. “Begone!”

“Oh, no you don’t, tick!” Vanity was ready this time and intercepted Chiroshy’s attempt to dislodge her, resulting in the two grappling between the Champion’s legs. “Ah! Ow! Watch the mane!”

“Hiss! Out of my face!” Chiroshy actually snapped at her rival’s fingers as she tried to shove her away. “Honestly, Spike, what do you see in this bi-!”

“ENOUGH!” Spike intervened with a deafening roar that shook the room and restraining claws on both mares. “Knock it off.”

“Oh, of course.” The ivory vampire assured him even as she fixed the indigo unicorn with a piercing glare. “As soon as I remind this upstart where she ranks among us.”

“Likewise.” The Enchantress agreed as she matched the stare. “Envy of perfection is only natural and it’s best to work through it.”

“Work together.” The tyrian drake rumbled in an effort to defuse this sudden rivalry before it got too ugly.

“Ugh, that felt like Sparkle talking.” He mentally balked at the comparison.

The two ceased their attempt to stare each other down and looked between them. Spike’s drakehood was hemmed in on all sides by their combined cleavage, the tapered tip barely visible in the pillowy pile. Chiroshy’s enormous endowments dwarfed the Enchantress’s but Vanity’s perky peaks dug into their vast softness defiantly. The pair looked back at each other with less hostile expressions.

“I guess deciding who’s ‘best pony’ is rather subjective.” The Countess’ fluted ears lay flat against her head. “I’ve known a few fools that put Applejack, of all mares, above us.”

“Those must be the same churls who found Rainbow's attitude attractive.” The Enchantress concurred with a nod. “Some equines have no taste.”

“Not exactly a friendship lesson but at least they’re not trying to kill each other.” The Champion smiled as the two appeared to reach common ground. “Then again, they might just gang up on Nightbolt and Applethorn now.”

Having come to at least a ceasefire, the two beauties resumed their salacious ministrations of Spike’s pride. They began in tandem for a few moments before discovering that alternating was preferable. Soft and breathy moans joined the New Dragon’s pleased rumbling as hardened dusky and rosy tips slid past each other while the thrumming heat of his virile totem spread to them.

“That’s hot.” Nightshade gasped from her perch, one hand between her legs while the other kneaded an aching mound. “Got room for one more down there?”

“NO!” Chiroshy and Vanity snarled in unison, silencing both her and Spike’s attempt to offer a spot on his face.

In the face of a common rival, the two redoubled their efforts. Spike’s claws dug into the armrests of his chair as he was thrust into a realm of ecstatic contrasts. Everything about the pair of New Mares from the bounty of their chests to the scope of their talents was stoking the primal urge in the core of his being. Even the shades of their fur formed a perverse yin-yang as their malleable flesh met over his girded loins.

“Rrrrgh!” The bull dragon growled as his already limited tongue failed to articulate his near rampant desire.

“Getting close Spikey~” Chiroshy cooed as playfully as a cat with a mouse. “I can hear the blood quickening in your veins~”

“Oh, he’s not near finished.” Vanity said knowingly, her face splitting into a truly fiendish grin as the short-lived ceasefire expired. “Why don’t you show this blood-sucker what a real monster is, Spikey-wikey.”

“SPIKE…” Some rational part of the Champion’s mind put up a token resistance but it was quickly burned away in the inferno of bestial lust. “…WANT!!!”

The dark dragon leapt out of his chair like shot from a cannon, knocking away the New Unicorn and pouncing on the voluptuous vampire. The two became a blur of tyrian scales and ivory fur as Spike carried them through the air before landing with a thud just shy of the stage. Chiroshy was pinned beneath the burly brute’s bulk, her hands held above her head in one claw while his snout pressed against her muzzle. Her glowing crimson eyes bore into his predatory teal pupils, the Stare in full effect. The New Thestral’s compelling gaze clashed against primal desire, seeking to trigger an animalistic instinct to yield to a more dominant beast. Against lesser creatures she may have succeeded but Spike had both the will of an ornery dragon and the libido of an overstimulated male. A simple thrust of his hips ground his drakehood against her dewy petals, his ventral barbs striking the pearl within her folds.

“EEP!” The jolt of pleasure that rocketed up her spine shattered her concentration. “Oh-huh~”

Spike continued to grind against her, feverishly seeking the cleft that led into her depths. Frustrated growls issued from both as the unintentional teasing wore on until a chime of magic echoed about the room. The dark drake’s efforts were halted by a chill aura enveloping his length, the ethereal touch like a thousand delicate fingers against his turgid pride that shocked him back to partial lucidity.

“Just a moment, Spikey.” Vanity said coyly as made a show of shimming her pants off her pert rear before kicking them aside. “You want to rut her, not the floor.”

The Champion and Countess let out an *oomph* from the sudden and considerable weight of the Enchantress mounting her dragon’s back. Her hands found purchase on his broad shoulders while her gravid belly rested against his back. The aura around her horn and his girth intensified as she lined him up with Chiroshy’s winking nether lips. Once he was on target, Vanity urged him on with her hips, grinding her own soaking seam against his spines.

“AH-!! Oooohhh~” The vampire matriarch let out a choked gasp that morphed into a shuddering moan as Spike finally struck home. “Oh, yeesss~”

As the Champion parted her quivering nethers and delved into her welcoming canal, the Countess felt every shape and contour of his drakehood. Compared to the simple, almost brutal, structure of stallions, the dragon was a work of carnal art. Likewise, Spike felt his latest lover squeeze around him in a manner not too dissimilar from Nightbolt. While her grip was stronger, the fit was not as tight; a trait that could be attributed to the vampire’s greater size compared to her once fellow pegasi or her choice in well-endowed mates. Regardless, the statuesque succubus urged him ever onward until his powerful thighs meshed with hers.

“Uughuh~ so deep~ so hot!” Chiroshy’s voice warbled as the tip of Spike spear halted just before her inmost chamber, sealed and impregnable at the moment to protected her and Knight’s precious treasure. “Ah! No wonder Vanity is so possessive!”

“My Spike truly is amazing, isn’t he?” Vanity whispered huskily as her hands ran across his herculean frame. “Why, I do believe I was in your position when Spike first took me.”

Indeed, the former knight recalled that fateful night he was Benighted. The God-Empress herself was on his back, aiding in his conquest of his beloved Vanity. In comparison, he had to admit that the Alicorn of Eternal Night was in a different league than the pellucid Enchantress and vampiric Countess.

“Not a fair comparison considering Nightmare Moon eclipses them in…” Spike wisely decided not to voice this observation. “…everything.”

As if to play the role of the Changeling Queen during that long ago encounter, Nightshade swooped overhead and alighted on the stage ahead of the three. At some point she had disregarded her undergarments, leaving her sopping nethers and erect jet buds bare for all to see.

“Look but don’t touch, I know.” The Dapifer grumbled, evidently annoyed that she could not partake directly.

“Your time will come, darling.” The indigo idol said dismissively, her attention firmly on the muscle-bound hunk beneath her. “I hope you don’t expect a lady to do all the work, Spikey.”

An encouraging squeeze of her literal child-bearing hips broke the New Dragon out of his ruminations. He dug his hind claws into the stone while his fore claws slammed down on either side of the bathykolpian beauty’s torso. With her hands now free, Chiroshy grabbed her draconic lover by the back of his head. For a moment it appeared she would attempt to throw him off but instead her taloned fingers interlaced above his neck while her long, shapely legs hooked around his and Vanity’s, locking them all in place.

“Rrrgh…” Spike rumbled incredulously at the unspoken suggestion that he would deny the statuesque succubus satisfaction. “Hhhrrmmm…”

Sighing like a steam piston, the herculean hulk steadily withdrew his length from the voluptuous vampire’s passage until his tapered tip became lodged in her puffy folds. Jets of ember flecked smoke shot out of his mouth as he then slammed back home, knocking the air out of the ivory Countess in a sultry “Uuh!” Again and again, faster and faster, Spike pumped in and out, building rhythm and speed like a freight train. Each impact was like a bite of a feast to the starving beast that was Chiroshy’s predatory desire. Her crimson eyes became hazy with euphoric lust and rolled heavenward as gasp after haggard gasp issued forth past her gleaming fangs. She instinctively contracted her entire body in time with his stone-cracking thrusts in some attempt to wring as much succulent pleasure from the Champion as possible.

“Hrm…” Spike licked his chops as she forced his head down away from her cameo wreathed face to her wildly bouncing bosom. “Tasty!”

The dark dragon lunged like one of his crocodilian ancestors for one of the buxom bounties and captured it in his maw. The smooth and slightly soapy tasting tit filled even his cavernous mouth, necessitating the precise pressure of his teeth to prevent it from bouncing free. His serpentine tongue struck out and lashed the rosy swell, tracing along the hardened peak and delicate areola. While no nourishing milk issued forth, the simple taste of Chiroshy’s legendary breasts was of the sweetest fruits.

“Guh-huh! Don’t f-forget the *AH!* other one!” The vampire matriarch advised as she freed a hand and used it to offer up her other mammary mound.

Spike gave her aching teat one last lick in farewell before releasing it. The now flushed and slathered swell bounced free of his maw, faint pinpricks of blood marking the dragon’s love bite. The thought of having harmed or otherwise marred the beatific beauty sent a fleeting sense of shame through the Champion that dissipated as soon as he latched back onto her.

“Mmhmm, thirsty beast, aren’t you.” Vanity whispered wryly as she pressed her own heavy bust against her lover’s back, her dewy tips leaving a trace of white against his tyrian scutes. “She may be a dry well for now but I’ll have plenty for you later.”

Between the indigo Enchantress’s vivacious voice in his ears, the ivory Countess’s bathykolpian body against his, Spike felt the fiery finale fast approaching. He pulled away from the now thoroughly tended tit and relished in the sight of it bouncing alongside its twin for a moment. He then suddenly slid his arms under the voluptuous vampire and held her tight against him, her bountiful bosom pressed against his rippling pectorals. The New Thestral returned the embrace by enveloping both Vanity and the dark dragon in her leathery wings, the barbs on her carpel joints finding purchase on his shoulders. With a primal grunt, the great ruddy knot of his drakehood emerged from his loins and beat against Chiroshy’s swollen nethers. The seductress let out a glass-shattering screech as she stretched to welcome the final aspect of her draconic lover into her now spasming canal.

“T-that’s right; dragons flare at the- AH! -base rather than the head!” Vanity grinned evilly as she felt a pressure in her core about to burst. “You’re g-going to love *UGH!* what comes next!”

Driven by instinctual hunger or some base need to assert her position as an apex predator, the New Thestral muted her screams by biting into Spike’s neck as waves of ecstasy rolled over her. His armored scales shifted and actually cracked but ultimately defeated the vampire’s fangs. The sick thrill of nearly having his blood drained was the last measure of fuel needed to make the inferno blazing in his core explode in spectacular fashion.

“RRRRAAAAAGH!!!” Surrounded by stone, Spike felt no need to quell his flames as he roar his latest conquest to those that dwelled beneath the mountain.

“SCREEEE!!!” Chiroshy threw her head back and harmonized with his bassy bellows as she felt the first wave of his scalding release slam against her final barrier.

The ivory vampire’s constricting canal reached its limited capacity within moments. The mounting pressure of torrential essence inevitably broke the seal between the bull drake’s knot and the femme fatal’s folds, resulting in steamy seed escaping her depths in steams. The Countess’s shrieks softened into breathy moans and then simple heavy breathing as her death grip on Spike loosened and failed, her arms and wings falling listlessly beside her.

“Hrm… Urgh…” Spike relaxed his own hold on the statuesque stunner as the torrent slowed to a trickle and his more sensible mind re-emerged from the haze of lust. “Are you alright?”

“Wooooo-hooooo~” The twitching terror cooed blissfully, clearly adrift in a sea of pleasure.

“That’s a yes.” Nightshade said weakly from the stage, her own release evident on her soaked thighs. “Moon above, that was hot.”

“A spectacular performance as always, Spike.” Vanity leaned forward and planted a kiss on his cheek. “Mind your step as you withdraw; there’s a pool back here.”

“Maybe I should have pulled out and finished in her mouth.” The Champion thought as he pushed off the insentient seducer, freeing his steadily softening member from her grasping tunnel in the process. “Maybe next time.”

Before he rose to his full height, the Enchantress dismounted somewhat awkwardly, leaving a conspicuous wet patch on his tail. The dark drake looked for something to dry off with but could only find Chiroshy’s slightly damp towel. Shrugging, he wrung it out for good measure and offered it to the mares. With the New Thestral still unresponsive and Vanity scrunching up her nose at the no doubt vampire soiled article, the less couth Nightshade accepted.

“Perhaps we can borrow the bath.” The Enchantress suggested lightly. “I’m sure she… umm… uhh!”

Vanity suddenly doubled over, clutching her gravid swell as it visibly shifted. A brief flash illuminated the silhouette of an inverted figure within like backlit storms. The indigo New Unicorn’s gasps turned into a protracted groan as a deluge of water fell from her nethers. The soon-to-be mother looked back up at Spike, raw joy and sheer terror warring on her face.

“I-I think it’s time.” She stammered out.

“RED ALERT! RED ALERT!” The Champion immediately snapped out of his post-coital refractory, swept the expectant mare off her hooves and bolted out the room. “THIS IS NOT A DRILL!”

Nightshade watched in awe as the pair bowled over a pair of vampires in the hall and smashed clean through the gate at the far end before disappearing into the darkness beyond. She had no doubt in her mind that Spike would burn a hole out of the mountain if it meant getting to a hospital faster. The charcoal Dapifer swooped back over to the table a hurriedly redressed herself.

“No way am I missing this!” The bat-mare muttered as she pulled her red sweater over her bust. “Got to tell Empress Moon if she doesn’t know already.”

Once decent, the thestral gathered up a few of her affects and sprinted after the very near future parents. Now alone amidst a post-sex mess, Chiroshy remained motionless as the high of satisfaction slowly wound down. Her predatory eyes eventually refocused and her fluted ears twitched in the ambient silence of the chamber.

“Uuuugh~ round two, Spikey?” The still supine Countess lifted her head groggily and looked around. “Huh? Where’d everybody go?”

Pinkamena ‘Pinkie’ Pie leaned on a stone balcony overlooking what once may have been called a shrine. Now it could only be described as the beating heart of a mechanical monster. An intricate network of hissing pipes and valves, twitching gages, thrumming pumps and massive tanks repurposed from recovered weather factory apparatus crawled up the walls like ivy and ran down corridors into side chambers. At the center of the system rose a rune covered sculpture that resembled an orrery; a pillar of old magic standing in contrast to the sprawl of new technology surrounding it. In place of moons and planets where delicate lattices taken from the accursed ruins of the Crystal Empire that hurt to directly look at and glowing orbs of captured sunlight. At the core of the sculpture was an empty plinth where the central celestial body should have been; a visual reminder that the contraption was missing one key component. Until it was complete, an army of technicians labored to maintain a machine they barely understood alongside a cabal of mages who weaved strange magics that most believed should have remained forgotten.

“The Sunmaker.” The Bearer of Laughter forced a smile despite the instinctual wrongness she felt from the massive machine. “Twilight’s magnum opus.”

“If it works.” A stern voice came from beside her. “Otherwise we’re looking at the headstone of Equestria.”

Pinkie looked over and then up at a robust orchid unicorn with a jagged shard of a horn. The pink pony’s smile became genuine as she went in for a hug but reconsidered in the face of the muscular mare’s side-eyed glance. Instead, she opted for a genial pat on the back which the armored unicorn reciprocated.

“No need to be so gloomy, Fizzy.” Pinkie chastised lightly. “We’ll have to start calling you Shadow again.”

“If Moon juices me up with that nightmare fuel, you just might.” The former Storm Armada Lieutenant nickered as she crossed her arms under her chest. “Once we fire this thing up, it won’t take long for the imperials to notice; the noise along could wake the dead.”

“Then it’s a good thing we got one of the best fighters in Equus on our side.” The ex-baker said encouragingly. “Just have to hold off evil moony and her goons until the sun comes back on, no biggie.”

“Hmph. You make it sound so simple.” Berrytwist grunted even as a small smile forced its way past her drawn lips. “Slight change of subject, have you seen Princess Sparkle lately? Feels like she should be nanomanaging this project.”

“Last I saw, she was cooped up in her study with that… dream thing.” Pinkie visibly deflated at the thought of her friend’s latest obsession. “I’m worried about her; think she’s going bonkers.”

“So, I’m not the only one who noticed.” The scarred soldier drummed her fingers against her arm in thought. “We should probably drag her up for air… literally, if we have to.”

“I really hope we don’t.” The eccentric equine crossed her fingers as she pushed off from the balcony. “Guess we’ll find out.”

With that, the two exited the observation area and headed for the Last Princess’s private study. Along the way, they passed a few of their fellow resistance members. Some were weary guards and battered soldiers who nevertheless saluted one of the remaining Element Bearers and their de-facto Captain. Others were simple civilians trying to eke out whatever existence they could. It was evident to both mares that moral was at an all-time low. Supplies were dwindling, contact with the other hideouts had been lost, and, worst of all, Fluttershy and Applejack had been taken and turned to the dark. It came as no surprise then that there had been a rash of equines abandoning the cause to thrown their lot in with the nightmarists or try their luck abroad.

“Have you considered a Plan B, Pie?” Berrytwist asked seriously. “If Princess Sparkle’s project blows up in her face, I mean.”

“I guess I’ll go down swinging.” Pinkie answered with a casual shrug. “Be as big a pain in black snooty’s fat booty for long as I can.”

“I can commend your bravery but you haven’t been eying a backdoor?” The orchid warrior arched a bifurcated eyebrow at that. “I’ve heard rumors out of Zebrica about a host of many; a safe haven for all types. Doubt I would be welcomed there considering the whole Storm King thing.”

“Heh, I miss the days when you were the biggest baddie we had to worry about.” The pink pony gave a short, slightly bitter laugh. “Uh, no offense.”

“None taken.” The Captain waved off the slight. “Still, keep that in mind. No need for a last stand if there is a place we can fallback to.”

“Hmm, true.” Pinkie acquiesced after some thought. “Which would be a shame because I had this bit planned out where I’m corned by mooks and they say ‘no more games’ all mean and growly and then I say ‘fine, I’m down to my last prank anyway’ but I pull out a pineapple surprise and say something funny like ‘but it’s a killer’ or…”

The magenta maned mare zoned out and let her mind wander as she realized she had triggered one of Pinkie’s long winded ramblings. While grating at times, it was a sign she was in higher spirits which had a tendency of spreading to even the most despondent pony. As she mused on security concerns and how to divvy up next month’s rations, the scarred solider returned to their ‘Plan B’ discussion. Zebrica was an attractive option but the issue was getting there. Port authorities could be bribed or a smuggler hired to transport them by sea. Alternatively, they could refurbish some dirigibles from her shattered former employeer’s flotilla or outright hijack an imperial airship and fly there. No matter what avenue she mused over, great risks were involved and resources required which they did not have access to. Not expecting to be struck by inspiration while walking beside a pink chatterbox, the orchid unicorn mentally filed her plans away for later but not before wondering if the Princess of Magic had her own Plan Bs.

“…type of pancake so why am I called a shortstack?” Pinkie’s tangent came to an end as they reached the hall leading to the Alicorn’s study and felt a sudden chill. “Brr, I know the Sunmaker makes this place toasty but I think Twilight’s overcompensating.”

“Or she’s neck deep in black magic.” Berrytwist’s soldier instincts told her something was amiss. “Be on gua-!”

A deafening noise drowned out her words as a wave of weird magic surged down the passage. The very air seemed to buckle inward as the unsound reverberated off the stone walls. For a brief but harrowing moment, phantom visages of grasping claws and gnashing teeth appeared just beyond the tenuously thin skeins of reality. The scarred unicorn was the first to recover, charging toward the door while dropping a shoulder and crashing through with Pinkie not far behind.

“Twilight?” The pink pony called out as they beheld a demolished study filled with strange crystalline growths and the stench of ozone. “Twilight? Sound off if you’re not dead!”

“There she is!” The orchid mare tapped Pinkie on the arm and pointed to a supine figure near the center of the room. “She’s pinned. Help me, Pie!”

They rushed over to find the Last Princess of Equestria trapped under a growth of crystal that eerily resembled the phantoms as if it had pounced on her. With a contemptuous snort, Berrytwist drove a solid hoof into the side of the petrified predatory, knocking it off the stunned Alicorn and breaking it into pieces like ice before a hammer. The former baker pulled her unresponsive friend into a seated position and tried to rouse her.

“Twilight? You in there, silly?” Pinkie licked her fingers and snuffed an errant flame on the bookish mare’s mane. “Darn, she’s in space right now. Let’s see… Pi is exactly three!”

“Awk! Engineer!” Sparkle’s blurted before her sleep-deprived eyes refocused and she shook her head clear. “Pinkie! I thought I told you not to interrupt me!”

“We can make an exception when you start summoning demons.” The guard captain said bluntly as her gaze swept across the uncanny crystal formations. “Just what in Tartarus were you doing?”

“A very delicate procedure, Temp- Fizzlepop.” The Princess of Magic frowned as she dusted errant bits of crystal off her disheveled clothes. “The magics involved go far… wait, did it work?”

Not waiting for either mare to respond, the lavender Alicorn nearly pushed Pinkie aside as she scrambled across the floor toward the epicenter of her ‘procedure’. There, a needle-like stalagmite had formed between two halves of a broken heart-shaped crystal. Balanced on the tip of the needle like a glass ball was a perfect sphere of translucent teal. Within the flawless orb was an oily substance that seemed to be black as pitch and multihued at the same time. Sparkle got to her hooves before the crystalline object and ignited her horn, surrounding it in a black-flecked orchid aura that formed equations and measurements. Her violet eyes shone with maniacal glee as an unpleasant smile spread across her sleep-deprived features.

“Never a good sign when her smile is bigger than yours.” Berrytwist said aside to Pinkie who nodded in agreement. “She’s twigging hard.”

“Mana coefficient is null, mass flux is self-limiting and… Aha! No trace of engramatic influence!” The academic Alicorn mused aloud. “So they are blank slates at genesis. This calls into question the Moonspeaker/Dreamweaver dialectics as well as-!”

“Twiggy, you’ve already made several leaps in tech with the Sunmaker.” The Element of Laughter intervened by placing a friendly but firm hand on the lavender Princess’s shoulder. “Heck, you even debunked and then rebunked the geocentric-sun/moon/equus thing and that was within the last week. You really need to get out more.”

“Touch grass, seriously.” The armored unicorn concurred. “Or frost as the case may be.”

“I will, I will…later.” Sparkle brushed off her friend as she gingerly lifted the pellucid orb from its pedestal. “Still, this is a red letter day! After nearly a year of hitting wall after wall, I have finally made a breakthrough and this is it!”

“A crystal ball.” Berrytwist deadpanned as her Princess held the sphere aloft triumphantly. “You gonna see our future in that?”

“I know you’re not interested in anything that doesn’t launch, detonate, lacerate or obliterate, but it will ensure we even have a future.” The Alicorn’s eyes twitched slightly as she fixed the captain with a withering glare. “This is, for lack of a better term, an unrefined tantibus; pure of form, clean of mortal influence and full of potential.”

“Potential...” The former Storm Officer unconsciously rubbed what remained of her horn.

“Wait, did you hit reset on the one Zecora brought back or what?” Pinkie cocked her head to the side as she stared at the swirling blackness.

“What she recovered was a particularly potent hunk of dreamstone with only a hint of the tantibus it grew from. I gleamed a lot from studying it including that despite its potency, it was ill-suited for our needs.” Sparkle explained as she nudged half of the now inert heart. “Thus, I used its innate power to open a small rift into the Dream World to find one that was.”

“WHAT!?!” The unicorn and earth pony shouted in unison.

“I warded the room and set up every dreamcatcher charm I knew.” The lavender mare headed off their accusations of recklessness curtly. “It was no more risky than deep sea fishing and, while I got a few more bites than I anticipated, the catch was well worth it.”

Before either mare could press the Alicorn further, she picked her way through the crystals toward her desk. The Last Princess then rummaged through clutter until she found the warded container that once held the heart of the lumberwolf and gently placed the shimmering sphere inside. As she did so, Pinkie noted with relief the empty plates and cups piling up on the floor so it was evident that her neurotic friend was at least eating.

“With this the sun will shine on Equestria again.” Sparkle smiled balefully again as she sealed the box with a spark of magic. “Now, if you two will excuse me-!”

“No!” Berrytwist barked like a boot camp drill instructor. “You, Pie and I are heading out for a night on the town! I want to drink half the guards under the table! I want to see you flirt with the first pony you catch staring at your ass! I want actual friendship and camaraderie, damn it!”

“Think of it as a celebration of your big bust, I mean, break.” Pinkie opted to be the carrot to the soldier’s stick. “You deserve it and it will help everypony to see you out and about.”

“But there is still much to be done!” Sparkle protested until she caught the puppy-dog pleading from the pink pony and the none-to-subtle cracking of knuckles from the orchid captain. “But… I guess I need to check the Sunmaker’s integrity…”

“Good enough!” The party planner cheered with a burst of confetti. “Sure, it’s more of another night in the ruins but you’ll be amazed by what some ponies can do with melted snow and potatoes. Ooh! I might still have some…”

The Princess was unable to get a word in edgewise as her energetic friend pushed her out of the room by her shoulders. Berrytwist did not fare much better as she tried to point out that Sparkle could use a shower or at least a change of clothes. Hoping that the motor mouth mare would eventually realize the academic Alicorn was indecent, the orchid captain retrieved the Princess’s cardigan. As she passed Sparkle’s desk, curiosity got the better of her and she stole a glance at the various notes.

“Wow, and I thought the Storm King had fancy toys.” The former lieutenant muttered as she scanned over early designs for the Sunmaker as well as observations related to the tantibi and their effects on ponies. “What’s this? ‘The tantibus will mend any previous injury or wound before it begins transforming its host.’ Maybe… No! Bad idea, Fizzlepop.”

The scarred unicorn was about to turn away before old habits flared up when something caught her eye. Tangential to the rest of the Last Princess’s studies was something concerning the Elements of Harmony. While the mad Alicorn banishing, chaotic draconequus petrifying rainbow laser was sadly no longer an option, the Bearer of Magic had nevertheless developed theories involving her own element that made even the battle-hardened unicorn shudder and pale with fear.

“I really hope this isn’t her ‘Plan B’.” The orchid captain nickered as she glanced at the warded container and the foreboding sphere within. “You better work before the clock strikes Midnight.”