Forbidden Manor At The End Of Time : A Beatrix Belladonna Tale

"Lalalaaa Laaaa La La Laaaaaaa~♪"
A voice sang within the obscuring vapors as the trio of ponies stepped into the strange room. Warm yellow light peered through a window behind a luxurious bathtub, silhouetting the figure singing while she bathed. A radio played a song she sang along to, sounding like a mix of old-time jazz and electronica.

As the reaper grew closer, she noticed a single horn protruding from her head, eyes widening in recognition. "It's an Imp!" Shadow Scythe exclaimed, hefting her scythe for battle. The radio immediately went silent as the creature's humming stopped, noticing that others had joined the bathroom. "I should have known demons would manifest in this dimension," she said, a scary grin creeping onto the corners of her mouth. "It's about time! I've been itching for an exorcism!" Midnight looked bewildered at the display of hostile intent while Beatrix tried to call her off before the Imp laughed.

"Daan't cha kna 'a rude it is ter be sneakin' on someone 'avin' a baaf, lov?" She asked, a strange cockney accent adding to her sassy tone. "Might give me de impression you're tryin' ta peep at me tiddies~."

An angry vein pulsated from the reaper's forehead as she swiped at the mischievous creature in a flash of steel. But the lesser demon appeared to be faster as she shifted to the other end of the tub, colored bathwater splashing Shadow Scythe's face.

"Yeesh! If ya wanted ta cock me in aw me glory, y'all needed ta do was ask~" She snickered towards Beatrix and Midnight, hands resting over her vastly wide hips. The witch and soldier felt the heat rise in their cheeks upon gazing over the short and shapely imp. On top of her head was messy, punk-style purple hair tied in a short ponytail—each of her ears studded in gold, glimmering like the pink eyes alit with debaucherous intent.

X marked her cheeks in bright blue tones. Her skin was gray, marked with black banes in places. Tiny bat wings folded above her hips, along with a striped tail with a face painted over the spaded tip. In contrast, her perky chest was bright pink, as if intending for someone to gawk over her breasts.

The imp even wiggled her body, flaunting her assets to the blushing ponies before she shifted to another edge when Shadow Scythe made another attempt at her head.

"Stand still and die!" Shadow Scythe screamed, though with each swing of her scythe, she only succeeded in getting her white robes wet in the painted waters.

"Awww, ya 'ate ter see it! Tall, dark, and edgy 'ere can't even trim the cunt 'airs off me coochie," she laughed, eventually disappearing in a cloud of neon sparkles. Another cloud exploded before Midnight, who got a full view between the Imp's spread thighs. "See? Not a single ‘air departed~."

"A-aaargh!" The stallion clamored, turning his head away while blushing madly. "P-please put some clothes on! Who even are you?!"

"Awwww, what's da matter, cupcake? Is Moxxi comin' at ya too Pin' Pong? Want me ter brin' it daahhhn a notch?" The small demon asked with a giggle, patting the flustered soldier's head before poofing right behind Beatrix. "Na this wahn knows 'a ta strut 'er stuff! She looks loike a Nightmare Night gangbang itchin' ter 'appen~." This was immediately followed up by a swift smack to her butt, making the mare yelp.

"H-hey! I-I do not-"

"Oh, hairy biscuits and cheese, lov. Course ya do!" Moxxi scoffed, shifting over to face her while getting a handful of her bosom within the top of her leotard. The witch shuddered and moaned softly as the Imp juggled the bottom of her tits in her small hands. "Ya fin' anyone will take ya seriously dressed loike this? Yer belugas 're practically spillin' aahhht, girl! Wahn sharp tug daahhhn would be in the bleedin' buff ta buckshee these bountiful melons~" She emphasized by stretching the fabric before releasing it to snap back into place, causing her cleavage to jiggle while the mare yelped once more.

That's when she noticed the golden pendant embedded with an eye, keeping her cape together. "'old on a cock linnet," Moxxi murmured, letting go to get a better look. "Ain't dat the chuffin' Prima Materia? And if that's da case, might ya be Beatrix Belladonna?"

"Th-that's right," Beatrix stammered, wrapping an arm over her sensitive nipples. "How do you know me?"

"Twist n twirl! That ol' goat wouldn't stop runnin' 'er gullop abaht ya the bloomin' present and past nickle and dime we chatted!"

"Oh! You must mean Lady Ewe! That's.... Waaaait," she reared back, glaring at the lesser demon. "Guys, keep on your hooves! We might have a Vice Lord on our hands."

"A Vice Lord?" Midnight asked, gazing warily at Moxxi.

"A what?" Shadow added in, finding the title to be utterly ridiculous.

"Vice Lord," Beatrix continued. "Demons from a forgotten dimension that feed on and corrupt people to fulfill their sinful nature, like Greed or Gluttony. I've fought a couple of them on my adventures, and given her appearance and knowledge of myself and Oona, she's most certainly one of them!"

Her statement, however, was meet with hysteric laughter from the imp, clutching her chubby belly and rolling about in the air.

"Bahahahaa! Oh, 'oney, they wish they 'ad this Calvin Klein butt runnin' the chuffin' place~" Moxxi wheezed before catching her breath. "Pha! I wouldn't be caught brahn bread workin' for a Vice Lord. Do ya just assume every demon is aahhht ter rule da universe?"

"O-oh! W-well, I mean, yeah. That tends to the main goal of all the foes I face," the witch responded, casting a glance at the seething former reaper trying to clean off the mess on her clothes. "And just because you aren't with the Vice Lords doesn't mean we should trust you!"

"Funny ya should say that," Moxxi grinned knowingly as she took a seat on Beatrix's shoulder, burying her nose into her mane, much to the witch's dismay as she tried shaking her off. "Can ya beechams pill insist mistrust chicken pen you've been infatuated wif wahn of them?"

"I-infatuated? What do you mean?" Midnight asked skeptically, to which Beatrix turned her head away, crossing her arms protectively over her chest.

"I-I was tricked! Had I been in a clearer state of mind, I would have refused," the violet unicorn insisted.

"But ya didn't! Bless me threepenny bits, 'e was aw over ya! 'is essence still lingers within ye.… Mmm~!" The lesser demon murmured, licking her lips. "Though that's odd. Feels loike I kna this essence from somewhere..."

“You do?"

"Enough of this nonsense!" Shadow Scythe interrupted, aiming her blade towards the imp. "It doesn't matter where she came from or who she allies with; she's a demon all the same! And despite their short stature, Imps are known to slip around undetected before entire nations crumble into ruination!"

"Y'kna, I’m 'eaven and 'ell startin' ter get Uncle Dick of yer constant bitchin'," Moxxi leered back at the former reaper before a wicked smile spreads her painted lips. "Someone outta sha ya 'a ter relax~."

Taking out a long pipe from seemingly nowhere, she took a small huff before turning back to the witch and blowing sparkling plum smoke in her face.

“Gah! Hey, what's the big-” Beatrix coughed, accidentally inhaling the haze. As the smoke cleared, her eyes became slightly glazed upon looking towards the reaper. The shape of her pupils took the form of hearts, much to Shadow Scythe's annoyance as she glared back.

“What's with that look? Hey! Quit staring at me like-” Before she could finish, Beatrix swiftly closed the distance between them, clasped an arm around her waist and another about the back of her head before mashing her lips to the reaper. Their lip lock lasted for a moment before Shadow Scythe wrenched free of her passionate kiss, blushing furiously while wiping saliva off her mouth. “Grugh! Get away from me, you disgusting dyke! The hell is wrong with you?"

"Oh, cheer up, deary! Just a lil' 'umor ter lighten the mood. I fin' ya look adorable together~" Moxxi snickered before clicking her fingers to snap Beatrix out of her bewildered state. Realization and embarrassment overtook her as the witch covered her mouth, blushing madly. The little demon's attention turned to the soldier, equally flustered while remaining neutral. "Wot say ya, stud?" She asked before huffing another layer of dust towards his face. "Want a Merlyn Rees of the bleedin' action~?"

"Merlyn Rees? W-wha?! Ugh, this smells...weird," Midnight sniffled, waving the smoke away. "I-if you're going to smoke, could you please do it outside the room?"

The imp's eyes widened in surprise before looking over to her pipe. "'Uh, that's weird. Usually, a mickey duff is all it takes, and males be in a mindless rut aw evenin'! 'Re ya a virgin, lov?"

"I-I uh..." Midnight looked away, scratching his mane. "I-I don't feel comfortable answering that..."

"Oh, ‘on. If that's the case, ol' Moxxi's gonna take 'er sweet penny makin' a stud of ya once I-"

"Hey, leave him alone!" Beatrix butted in between the two, trying to shake off the lingering effects of the smoke. "You shouldn't pressure him into anything he doesn't want to. And don't do that again, alright?"

"I wasn't gonna do nothin' the on the floor Rob Roy didn't wanna 'appen. 'onest!" The Imp pouted before tossing her smoking pipe away.

"Thank you.... And um, I-I'm really sorry about that, Shadow Scythe.” Beatrix turned back to the pale blue unicorn, who only continued to death glare at the three of them. Laughing awkwardly, Beatrix stared at her boots and kicked one, ashamed to admit she did find the reaper strangely attractive.

Why did she usually go for the bad boys and girls, anyhow? Maybe it was her innate connection to the darkness, as her destiny remained tethered to the Necronomicon.

"Look," Moxxi interjected. "I fin' we've aw gotten on the Pete Tong foot 'ere. Why daan't we let bygones be bygones and…say, enjoy a baaf together? The water's warm, and the tub is big in the buff for four~."

"You can't be serious," Shadow Scythe snarked, quivering in disgust at the thought of having her bare body not only exposed to her enemy but sharing the same bathwater.

“Hmm, I could use a bath...” Beatrix sniffed her clothes before wincing a bit at the smell. "But you've gotta promise not to pull any tricks on me! You got that?"

"Ya 'ave me dicky bird as a chaos fiend," Moxxi promised, crossing an x over where her heart was. "I will not do aahhht ter disrupt the 'armony of everyone inside the bathtub. Na get in, ya daffy dahn dillies!" With a backflip, the imp dove back into the tub, resurfacing with a coo. Beatrix considered the Imp's promise before flourishing her hand, removing all her clothes with a magical sweep.

Midnight couldn't help staring over the beautiful witch while Shadow looked away, yelling, "Oh, for goodness sake! Warn me the next time you plan to get naked! It was bad enough, staring at that imp's fat ass!"

"Oh, so ya were starin' at me bum! Knew there laid a pervert inside somewhere~" Moxxi chuckled as Beatrix slipped into the steamy waters, moaning low before settling in.

“Ooohh~. Hey, it is pretty roomy in here! C'mon guys, come on in!”

“Not interested,” answered Shadow Scythe.

“Oh, don't be like that! You've been stuck in that filthy cloak forever!” Beatrix grabbed the former reaper and pulled her in amidst a splash, only to be met by snarls and hisses. With her entire cloak now damp in mixed colors and bubbles, Shadow Scythe reluctantly removed her attire and tossed it aside with her weapon, grumbling lowly over the many ways she wished to harm the giggling witch. “Damn! Now that's a sexy cutie mark!” She studied the horse skull with a scythe behind it that decorated Shadow's flanks. “Does this mean you were fated to become a reaper?”

“Who knows,” replied Shadow Scythe, who returned a look to study the swirling cosmos cutie mark that tattooed Beatrix's own rump. “Maybe yours depicts how you were destined to plague the cosmos with annoyance and stupidity."

"Now that's a little harsh," Beatrix pouted, sitting back down.

"'eaven and 'ell, in'cha the chummiest of chums," Moxxi teased. “Nuffin' a trip ter the glory hole together won’t fix~.”

"Okay, let's get one thing straight here, imp," Shadow snarled. "She and I are not friends. Never were friends and never going to be friends! This is a matter of convenience and nothing more.” She pushed away from the two while grabbing soap on a basin nearby to rub against her coat of pale blue fur.

"Yeesh." The imp rolled her eyes before looking back to Midnight, who remained still while clutching at his armor plates. "'ey, 're ya gonna keep standin' there, or 're ya gonna come join us?"

“U-um, aren't stallions and mares supposed to bathe separately?” He shifted nervously, face burning.

“I don't mind~” Replied Beatrix, who coyly battered her lashes in a half-lidded gaze. She posed for him, arms upraised and breasts pushed out, soap suds dripping down her succulent curves. “No need to be shy. C'mon, stud. Strip off that armor!”

Little did she know was that Moxxi was behind her, making lewd gyrations with her hips and swatting the air above the witch's curved ass. All with a bit lip and wagging eyebrows at the flustered stallion.

“Just like in that paradise world,” he noted, nodding before he removed his armor piece by piece. He slowly made his way towards the girls, his semi-erect shaft flopping between his legs.

"Oh me! Guess those big wings weren't compensatin' for Aahhht~" Moxxi complimented, eyes dilated like a cat as she nearly salivated over the sight of his stallionhood.

“Pft. The poor fool probably doesn't even know what sex is,” muttered Shadow Scythe, unable to hide her disdain. Not that sexual attraction mattered to her. From the few times she'd allowed mortals to gaze under her hood, she was often told how hauntingly beautiful she was, being thin and wispy yet well-sculpted.

Midnight settled into the warm waters, peering over the other females. Despite his red face, he was more curious about their figures than lustful, given he hadn't spent much time around mares. Even in the paradise world, he'd often kept to himself. “W-whoa.... I-I never knew you would be so beautiful," he complimented meekly.

“Flesh is simply a tool. This body has its limits,” Shadow Scythe interjected, staring down at herself with a curled maw. “I always admired the more powerful demons. I wanted to be among them, admittingly. So that I could strike fear and despair into the hearts of all who opposed me!”

"I fin' you'd loike me brother~" Moxxi coughed cheekily. "'e'd make ya a prime example of deathly fear and providence."

The former reaper's eyebrow rose with a bit of curiosity. "Really now..."

“Oh, please! Some people are never satisfied with just power,” Beatrix said, draping her legs over the side of the tub, her head laid back with a pleasant sigh.

It's not like she could talk, though. She'd traveled between various worlds in search of knowledge and novelty, both to better understand herself and expand her repertoire. What did she want, really? A life of pure freedom without responsibility?

Or maybe something more...

*****

After they finished bathing, the trio of ponies pulled towels off the racks, dried themselves off, then redressed, refreshed and ready to take on the rest of the trials that awaited.

Moxxi was also dressed now, a slick deep blue jacket adorned over her small frame with some mismatched baggy pants. Her breasts were still visible, but her nipples were crossed out with black tape.

After adjusting her leotard and hat, Beatrix turned to the lesser demon with questions in mind. “So Moxxi. Is this your mansion?”

“I wish," she answered, shaking her head. "I'd golden dove ter meet whoever crafted this crafty shack and suck 'im off, that’s for sure! But alas, nah clover. After this mansion sucked me up, I decided ter just...lounge 'round a bit, 'opin' someone else was suckered in. I never thought I’d cross paths wif the bloomin' infamous Beatrix Belladonna so soon! A shame yer sister couldn't join in. I'd love ter swindle sum secrets of 'er in 'opes of becomin' fully-fledged again!"

"Fully-fledged?" Beatrix questioned with a frown. Judging by her words, perhaps it was better Bellatrix didn't come along on this trip, despite how much she wanted her company.

"The current form of yours truly is but a weakened two and eight," the lesser demon admitted with a bow of her head. "Once I’ve replenished myself from the bloody naughtiness and wicked feelings of others, I can ascend once more ter me true form! In ovver words, lov, ya suck me off, I suck ya off. Ya 'elp me become fully-fledged; I 'elp ya make eigh'een pence of this nonsensical gaff. Savvy~?"

"And why should I trust you? Helping you become a full demon sounds dangerous," Beatrix said skeptically.

“Well, it's either that or ya can ran 'round aimlessly until the bloomin' ends of nickle and dime. I’m not picky~! Though I fin' sum consequences 're in order for ruinin' me baaf..."

“W-what do you mean by that?”

The imp ignored Beatrix's question. Instead, she turned to the former reaper and threw her a wink. Shadow Scythe stared quizzically at the creature before a subtle twinge of alteration sweep over her.

Realization over what the Imp did dawned on her, and she couldn't help a cold smile from creeping over her muzzle.

The witch continued to glare at the lesser demon. "You promised no more tricks!"

"I promised nah more tricks durin' the barf. Never said aahhht abaht after! Should 'ave been more specific, lov~!" Moxxi snickered. "Well, gotta ran na! Gonna clock wot ovver corridors 're left ter explore! Those cockles won't suckle themselves~."

"You're not planning on coming along with us?" Midnight questioned with a tilt of his head as the little imp levitated before the three equines.

“Nah, not me style. But i'll coytanlee be 'round. Just 'olla if ya need me! Tata~!” Moxxi winked before vanishing in a cloud of neon dust.

“Hmm. She's a bit of a strange one, but I don't think she means us any harm," the stallion said before turning to the wary gaze of Beatrix.

"She's troublesome, reminds me very much of Discord. But it would be wise to consider her offer, at least," Beatrix concluded before taking the lead, opening the bathroom door. "Alright, guys. Let's head out!"

"Yes...let's," Shadow Scythe nodded, acting eerily calm and delighted.

They exited the room, only to reappear in another section of the manor, this time dropping into a wine cellar, complete with heavy casks cobwebbed over. Fat spiders skittered across the dusty webs.

“Umph,” cried Beatrix, who landed on her bottom and rubbed it. Midnight hovered in midair where they'd been dropped off, the door closing behind them and vanishing into the ether, while Shadow Scythe floated down, thankful that the other two appeared too caught up in the moment to notice that she'd recovered a small portion of her powers. “Did Moxxi send us here?”

“Perhaps. She does appear to have some influence on this place,” said Shadow Scythe before shaking her head. "Ugh! What a nuisance."

Midnight landed and folded up his wings. “There are some stairs up here!” He set a boot on one, and it creaked. “Spooky!”

“Wait.” Shadow Scythe's ear twitched. “There's someone else here...” She pushed a barrel over, and it rolled with a clunk to reveal a bright-colored unicorn who sleepily stirred awake. “Wait, what are you doing here? Of all the ponies to run into...”

“Mmmnnaagh.... O-oh, hey!” Sitting up from her slumbering spot was Sunny. Reddish hair with yellow streaks that matched her fur hung about her, the well-shaped mare garbed in a black corset that ended in a miniskirt, laced up boots that matched her gloves, black-and-white thigh-high stockings, and a studded choker. “Long time no see, Beatrix. You too, Shadow Scythe. And heeey, who's the hunky stud with you?”

"Why does everyone keep calling me that?" He muttered before clearing his throat and putting on a smile. “Midnight Blitzer, nice to meet you! Hey, aren't you Sunset Shimmer?"

“Kind of. Her human counterpart, although I ended up somewhere between a mare and human after this mansion gobbled me up.” She shrugged. “Before you ask, Beatrix, I decided to switch up my look to try and separate myself a little from Sunset. Don't want to steal her thunder, you know? Not that I probably could. She was always the talented one.” She grimaced.

Beatrix offered her hands and helped her rise. “Now, now, you've come a long way!”

“I know.” Sunny shot her a lazy smirk. “Surprised you let her keep the scythe, though. Especially after she 'killed' you.”

“I made her take a potion so she can't harm me. Admittedly, I didn't expect to run into anyone else I knew here. So, I take it this place was drawn from your thoughts?” Beatrix looked around them.

Once Sunny harbored a self-destructive streak, smoking, and drinking until what the poor girl deemed was the 'real' Sunset Shimmer stepped back into her life and turned it around.

“Yeah, old habits die hard.” Sunny knocked on a wine barrel. “I keep it down to a bottle a day, at least. I haven't been here longer than a couple of days and couldn't escape no matter what I tried. Try to teleport out, and I just blink back in! Seems impervious, too.”

“It appears none of us match the manor's power,” Beatrix said, stroking her chin in thought. “Whatever it can't outright block, it will twist. Even with our combined magical prowess, it's still not enough! Perhaps the more allies we pick up, the more potential we'll have...if we can all learn to work together." Her eyes darted back to the former reaper, who stared away while thinking over the possibilities.

“Guess there isn't any other choice,” lamented Shadow Scythe.

“Cool! I'm always up for another adventure,” said Sunny, who casually rested a hand on her wide hip.

Beatrix held her tummy, which rumbled. “You wouldn't happen to have food around here, do you?”

Sunny reached into a satchel nearby and plucked a few flowers. “Will this do?”

“Thanks!” Beatrix chomped down on a few who were surprisingly sweet. They weren't much, but to overcome her addictions, Sunny had picked up a habit of consuming them on her trek across Equestria. “Mmm, scrumptious indeed!”

Flowers were shared between them. Shadow Scythe eventually accepted a few despite a lack of need for sustenance. Sunny poured them some spicy drinks, and after that short rest, they started up the stairway.

Somehow the cellar led them back to the main area. The doors remained closed behind them, and the pair of stairs loomed ahead, albeit this time a couple of familiar faces waited at the tops of both sides.

The chandelier's illumination enhanced the Crystal Pony twins' sparkle, decked in stylized maid attire that enhanced their feminine, coral, and prismatic frames. Their manes were in bob cuts, one with slightly wider hips, the other with a subtly fuller bust.

On their partially visible thighs were a matched cutie mark, two female symbols linked. “Welcome,” the sisters called and bowed in unison.

“Foal-Bearer and Wet Nurse?” Beatrix blinked several times. While she still didn't know either of them too well, from what she recalled, they had been abandoned by their parents, shuffled to an orphanage, and taken in by Cadance to serve in her court.

But she reminded herself that they had counterparts across each reality unlike her, and these might not be the pair she'd met.

“Yes. Forgive the poor reception,” said the always professional Foal-Bearer.

“We're the caretakers of this manor,” said Wet Nurse, who frowned. “But we've lost control! Oh, what a disaster!”

“Sorry to hear that,” said Midnight, who watched the shadows crawl across the interior, uncertain if it was merely a trick of the light. Clinks sounded from the chandelier, which swung a little under a cool breeze swept through the open space. Crackles resonated from the burning hearth, the black fire hungry to consume. “Hey, can you show us around?”

“Wait. There's something off about these two,” said Shadow Scythe, who narrowed her eyes. “It's like they're...specters?”

“Ghosts? We're as real as you, I assure you,” replied Foal-Bearer, her lips drawn. “Should we prove it, sister?”

“Let's do it!” Wet Nurse's voice was warmer, her body language less rigid, but they moved as one. The twins reached behind them and, from out of nowhere, pulled out massive axes they hefted up. As one they announced, “Time to add to our collection!”

A portion of the wall slid open behind the twins with a whoosh and revealed rows of shelves, stocked by the preserved heads of stallions, mares, and other creatures, each meticulously stacked and labeled.

Midnight stared and gasped, Beatrix took an instinctive step backward, Sunny's mouth fell open, and Shadow Scythe curled her snout, weapon already at the ready.

Shrill battle cries closer to screams escaped the twins who rushed down the stairs, impossibly fast. Midnight shot into the air, barely able to dodge Foal-Bearer's swing. Beatrix stumbled backward; thighs spread to evade Wet Nurse's ax fall that slammed into the floor, embedded so close to Beatrix's crotch she wet herself with a yelp.

“Pathetic,” called Shadow Scythe, who appeared to float as she closed the gap. Wet Nurse pressed a heel to the floor, grunted, and barely pulled her ax free in time to parry her blow, the pair locked in mortal combat.

At the same time, Sunny's horn and hands lit, and she attempted to seize the weapons of her opponents in her aura, only for the spell to sputter out in sparks. “What gives?”

She repeatedly tried, while Midnight was currently engaged in melee with Foal-Bearer.

“Are they aided by the manor itself?” Beatrix lit her horn and added to Sunny's spell, and Foal-Bearer hissed, snout drown in a snarl, like her sister, her eyes wide and crazed. She practically foamed at the mouth and fought to hold onto her heavy ax.

“Got to be,” said Sunny, who caught sight of old bones in the hearth. “Think I get it now. The mansion must be providing them protection, letting them hunt down those trapped inside and behead them! The bodies are fed into the fires!”

“And at the moment their souls are released, the manor swallows them to empower itself,” finished Shadow Scythe, who had reached immortality with a similar method.

She'd found a method to slaughter titans and would-be demon lords, become one of the fiercest threats her version of Equestria had ever known, and even temporarily slain Beatrix in her rampage.

“They had a weakness,” cried Beatrix. “Their empathic bond is so strong the twins share pleasure...and pain, too!”

Midnight deflected another blow in a shower of sparks, muscles taut, and asked, “So take one down, and they'll both fall?”

“An unlikely result,” hissed Foal-Bearer, her skirts whirling behind her as she struggled to keep up with the airborne soldier despite the supernatural strength, speed, and stamina bestowed on the twins by the mansion.

A cackle sounded from Wet Nurse, who knocked Shadow Scythe's blade from her. It hurtled and clinked, but she offered no quarter, rushed in amidst laughter, and buried the ax in her opponent's breast.

The maid smirked, splashed in a flood of warm, sticky crimson that splattered all over her, her ears twitching in satisfaction as the reaper screamed and went limp.

“Shadow Scythe,” cried Beatrix, tears in the corners of her eyes.

“Who's next?” Wet Nurse licked her bloody chops, the hilt of her ax held in both hands. Thoroughly soaked in blood, she partially ripped costume clung to her bloodied curves, the reaper's fallen body slumped at her heeled feet in a sticky, spreading pool.

“You'll pay for that,” swore Beatrix, who tossed down a smoke bomb. Colorful, sparkly smoke rolled around them, and she slipped in near Wet Nurse, whose eyes darted about while Beatrix attempted to extract Shadow Scythe's remains.

A frustrated Wet Nurse wildly swung, and Beatrix barely ducked under the blade's flash. The maid's ankle was suddenly seized by Shadow Scythe, who pulled her down, and Beatrix tackled the maid with all her weight and knocked the ax from her grasp.

Beatrix, never much one for confrontation, resorted to slapping and clawing back at Wet Nurse as they wrestled.

“Ouch,” cried Foal-Bearer, who felt the lacerations her sister endured. She spotted a clock. “Almost time! Let's retreat, sister!”

Using both feet, Wet Nurse kicked off Beatrix, wiggled out of Shadow Scythe's grasp, and ran to recover her ax.

The twins made a mad dash up the stairs. Midnight started to chase them only for an invisible barrier to rebuff him. “Oof!”

“The manor...continues to interfere,” muttered Shadow Scythe, who trembled and rose to one knee, her mouth and chin drenched in dark blood. She traced the wound on her breast, felt the flesh twist and bones shift to mend her. “Be thankful I took the blow. The rest of you wouldn't have been so fortunate. Though yet again, my cloak has been ruined.... Typical.”

“An easy fix,” assured Beatrix, who used a simple spell to draw the blood out of her attire and tossed it aside. She also removed the urine from her costume with a blush. “They're not like any version of those two I've ever met. Sure, I know the Foal-Bearer in my world went mad after her sister died, but-”

“They're manifestations, probably drawn from your subconscious.” Shadow Scythe stroked her chin.

“Wait, do you mean-” Beatrix tapped her chin and thought it over. Each room they'd found somewhere trapped in was indeed based on their thoughts. An epiphany hit her. “Could it be...?” It certainly reminded her of the Necronomicon's interior. “Sombra destroyed the Necronomicon in one dimension, and a race called the Eldritch escaped. I thought they'd pretty much captured or killed whatever else was trapped in there. But what if this 'mansion' escaped, too?”

Shadow Scythe growled. “So this place is really just a monster that's taken the shape of a manor. And we're stuck in its belly.”

“That means we might never escape,” said Sunny, who huffed and leaned on a wall for support.

Midnight knelt by the hearth and spotted the ribs in the fires that were piled up. “What a messed up a hobby. All those poor creatures!” He looked up at the collection of heads. “Don't see anyone I know, do you all?”

“Not a one. Call me selfish, but I'm thankful for that,” admitted Sunny.

“I'm certainly in no mood to deal with that! I've seen enough death,” cut in Beatrix, who planted hands on her hips. But it was almost worse to see such twisted versions of the Crystal Ponies she knew and trusted.

She told herself they weren't really the twins she knew, but that didn't make her anymore comfortable. Wherever they ventured, the headhunters could always chase them down.

Worse, she and Sunny's magic were being suppressed inside the belly of the beast.

At this rate, she might have to rely on her potions and reached under her cape to trace the tubes, thankful that she'd loaded up recently. Unfortunately, some of them were of little use in combat, and her best ones would be difficult to craft again due to the rare materials they were made from.

*****

After a moment's rest, Beatrix set off into the dining hall, where another feast awaited. She hesitated to take a bite, no matter how much her stomach rumbled, worried they would suddenly rot the moment they were in her stomach. Nor did she spot any flies anymore.

Taking a moment to stop and explore, their steps echoed around them. A scratchy record started to play. Fire danced atop the candelabra, the interior still bathed in thick shadows. The air was thick with the rich scents of well-decorated meals.

“Forgive us,” came a pair of familiar voices further in the spacious room. “We got off to a poor start. Why not take a seat?”

Beatrix retorted, “What, so you can chop off our heads while we're vulnerable? No way!”

“You don't have much choice.” At the head of the table, the twins stepped out of the darkest portion of the room, and between them, they held an earth pony mare.

Her coat was charcoal black, neon hot pink mane done up in thick pigtails held by star-shaped baubles, shapeliness bound by a tube top and hot pants. She trembled in their hold. “An old friend, isn't she?”

“Cerise Silhouette?!” She turned to the daughter of Pacific Glow and Sombra, the earth pony supposedly a partial reincarnation of her mother, who had sadly ended up lost herself before her daughter had been cut from her belly to save her.

“I-I'm sorry! Somehow the door to the room I was trapped in finally opened, and they caught me.” Her eyes watered, and the twins pushed her down into a chair. “Don't worry about me! I know I'm not worth much-”

“Hey, don't think like that! You're a friend! Besides, my teacher and Inky Rose will never forgive me if I don't bring you home!” Beatrix sighed and took a seat. The others slowly fell in line, though Shadow Scythe did so out of obligation. “So, if you supposedly don't intend to kill us right now, what exactly do you want from us?" She waved at the table. "You plan to serve us dinner?”

“Precisely.” Foal-Bearer bowed. “We want to make you feel welcome.”

"This is really confusing!” Midnight groaned, holding his head between his hands. "First, you try to butcher us, now you serve us?!"

“It's part of the rules,” said Wet Nurse, who tilted her head towards a ticking clock. “We're not allowed to hunt at this hour.”

“Only serve.” Foal-Bearer started to slice into a honeyed ham, mouth drawn in a line. “I hope none of you mind meat.”

“So, you plan to fatten us up?” Sunny chuckled at the idea. “Well, I am pretty starved. Flowers only go so far.” She was the first to scoop up handfuls of candied fruits and started to munch on them messily.

Midnight poked at a buttered roll with a fork as it would suddenly attack him. “Are you sure this is safe? Is it cursed, too?”

“They're bound by certain rules so long as we're their guests. We're only safe for another hour, I wager,” Shadow Scythe said, who read the clock to see how much time they were allowed to relax and feast.

Of course, none of them were supposed to leave the table, either—an unspoken rule.

Shadow Scythe speculated that the manor needed to rest too, its supernatural power temporarily withdrawn from the twins.

“Ugh! Someone's still absent,” whined Wet Nurse. “Where is that infernal imp!?”

“Come now, sister dearest, we must not speak ill of a guest. At least not while we're on duty,” she mildly chastised and, to discipline her, patted her sister's rump, clad like her in frilled panties under their short skirts. “Perhaps a drink will help ease you?”

The twins bent over to pour wine into their cups. Beatrix couldn't help but stare at their cleavage, barely contained by their tops, plush bottoms half-exposed each time they bent over. The Crystal Ponies appeared to take no notice, ever professional, almost to a fault in Foal-Bearer's case.

She reminded herself Cadance used them to help satisfy her father's…other needs.

They were trained to sing, dance, cook, clean, and were well-versed in etiquette and the Crystal Empire's culture and history. Both pleasured the couple in any way they wished, Cadance not always able to be there for her husband whenever duties and responsibilities tore them apart.

From what she recalled, the twins were fanatically loyal to Cadance and her family.

"I'm Cerise Silhouette,” said the dancer who tried to stay upbeat despite their situation.

“Midnight Blitzer, at your service!” He accepted her hand with a puzzled expression, unaware he was meant to kiss it.

She giggled, and tiny bells attached to her scanty attire jingled. “Aww, You're a sweetheart! I wish I were a warrior. Not because I like to fight or anything, but I just want to serve people the best I can! I don't want to slow you all down or hold you back.” She emptied her cup, felt the spiced wines settle into her belly, and warm it up.

“Relax, Cerise. You know that's not your role, and no one expects you to take up arms,” Beatrix reminded with a sympathetic smile.

“I know. But I still feel bad,” admitted Cerise, who pouted and twirled one of her twin tails.

“You have plenty of other talents to help us,” reminded Beatrix, who recalled the dancer could place others in trances. But would it work on phantoms, even ones that could easily interact with the physical world?

She didn't dare chance it. Cerise could perish at the hands of these butchers for nothing, and she couldn't bear to face the dancer's parents if that happened on her watch!

“Thank you,” Cerise replied, dark cheeks painted by a small blush.

Over the next hour, they ate, chatted, and relaxed. Shadow Scythe barely touched her food but instead removed books she found on a shelf nearby and started to read.

The twins dutifully served them like promised until the clock would chime, and their truce would instantly be over. Sunny counted down the minutes between bites. "Yo, almost time," she muttered.

A thunderous chime sounded at the stroke of midnight. The twins reached behind them and readied their instruments of death. “Thank you for your attendance,” they said as one. “As a reward, we shall offer you a five-minute head start! Better hurry~!”

The group took off into the manor, where the labyrinthine interior continually twisted and shifted into new sections.

This time they were led into a vast, lush hedge maze contained inside, which came to the ceiling so that they couldn't merely climb or fly over it and reinforced by the manor's curse so the thick brambles couldn't be burnt away, even by powerful magic.

It was a lot of energy to expend, but they were certain such rare prey would please their master. Each target carried its own potential, usually identifiable by its cutie mark. Still, they were confident an immortal like Shadow Scythe, and a traveler between dimensions like Belladonna, in particular, would overfill the abomination that housed them and allow it to develop further.

Setting aside their axes for a moment, the Crystal Ponies undertook their own ritualistic preparations for the imminent slaughter.

“That was a practice run,” said Wet Nurse, who felt her sister undo the back of her costume. “Now, the real fun starts!” Her top and bra were undone, her plush breasts allowed to spill-free. Next came her skirt and panties, slid down and kicked aside.

“We hunt in our natural state,” said Foal-Bearer, who stripped herself, piece-by-piece. “Like feral animals. Primal. Untamed.”

Once fully bared, their crystalline forms glittered under dimmed lights, precious jewels that shimmered like prisms.

“I love the feel of hot blood on my bare skin,” moaned Wet Nurse, who rubbed circles around her breasts until her inflamed nipples beaded with milk. “Oh, to think we once resisted the manor's influence!”

“We were ignorant, then. But now we know; madness is liberation!” Foal-Bearer moaned alongside her, bright eyes hazed.

They had held out for weeks, trapped and tortured in the mansion's bowels, the first unfortunate victims to be swallowed up. Eventually, pain and humiliation had broken them, as anyone inevitably would be.

Or at least that was what they recalled, unaware that despite the sentience granted to them, they were now merely phantoms, kept around because the mansion remembered Beatrix's trips into the Necronomicon before it had been destroyed...and sure she would foolishly wander its way eventually to be consumed.

The twins reclaimed their weapons and set out for their latest hunt. They would claim their heads, chop them into pieces, and smear their blood over their supple bodies like war paint before they fed their corpses into a black hearth that blazed hatefully.