An explosion rocked the castle. Spike flinched nervously, as he walked with a tray in his hands through the hallways. Another one, louder this time. The wall cracked next to him before the crystal fused together again, as the castle healed the damage. The coffee on the tray spilled a bit, as the floor shuddered. Finally, he reached the door to one of the many empty rooms of this spacious castle. A room Twilight had re-purposed recently into a training hall, when she had come back from Rarity, a week ago.

He slowly pushed open the door and stepped inside. "Bad news, again?", he asked, as he looked around. Gashes in the wall, that were slowly healing, shattered floor-tiles beneath his feet, and several imprints in the shape of a fist to the right, where they had made a small crater.

Twilight leaned against the opposite wall, panting and sweating. She wore only some yoga-pants and a black sports-bra, the latter of which was thankfully flexible enough to contain her boobs, although it still struggled, resulting in some delicious overspill of her juicy tits. The former princess rubbed her knuckles, her eyes slowly returning to their natural color and shape.

"No, not really...at least nothing new," she said. Gesturing towards the badly torn newspaper next to the door. "Just read it again to get my blood boiling and make accessing my magic easier. Turns out, rage is a good source for powering offensive spells."

"I thought, you weren't good at those." Twilight was a prodigy in magic, able to learn any spell she put her mind to. But she still had certain affinities and weaknesses and combat magic was one of the latter. She had never tried to learn how to hurt somepony with magic and so usually relied on the creative application of defensive spells, in order to win fights.

Spike put the tray onto a mercifully undamaged desk and picked up the newspaper. It was from last week, with the front page showing an elderly, grey-skinned stallion with a goatlike beard standing in front of a group of arcanists from Canterlot Academy. On his chest was a medal.

CANTERLOT ACADEMY UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP! ARCHMAGE QUIRKIE HAZE REVOLUTIONIZES THE FIELD!

Most of the article was the usual stuff over appointments and the nobles and elites that had remained in Canterlot colluding with Scortatus and his goons. Blueblood, in his role as chancellor, was busy cranking out propaganda and pretending like everything was fine. In that vein, he had restructured old institutions like Canterlot Academy and the Royal Library and put his own supporters in charge. But what was relevant, was the latter part of the article.

Archmage Haze was one of the first to seek an audience with the Overlord, after the quick and permanent dismissal of his predecessor Sunny Smile, who had been given the personal attention of His Majesty. After the audience, that the new head of the Academy described as "enlightening and stimulating", Haze had made quick strides in abolishing previous bans on arcane research, that had been deemed "immoral" by the previous administration.

In particular should be mentioned here the fields of Arcane Enhancements and Mental Magic, which had made great strides forward, thanks to the Overlord's personal patronage. The Royal Guard has contributed several members as volunteers for physical enhancements and the results have been overwhelmingly positive, with potential for complete body modifications no longer a mere fantasy. Archmage Haze has also demonstrated his new "Re-Education Treatment" on his predecessor Sunny Smile, whose obstinate and rebellious behavior has successfully been adjusted to fit her new role as the Academy's cumdumpster.

Several pictures followed, showing a fit stallion in Royal Guard uniform, who then transitioned into a muscle-bound beefcake and a bulge that made it clear that his muscles weren't the only things improved. After that came Sunny Smile, the middle-aged mare bound to a chair, staring with hate at Haze. In the next one, the famous and dignified former Headmaster of the Academy stood grinning dumbly before the camera, naked and with cum dripping out of her snatch and fondling her E-Cup boobs. Her robes had been replaced by a mini-skirt, net-stockings, and a neck-top so short, one could see her areola peeking out from under it. A whorish bimbo that now had only a passing resemblance to the once brilliant mare, that had led the Academy for ten years.

"He taught them his spells, Spike. Scortatus taught them how to brainwash ponies!" Twilights eyes turned to slits again, as she gritted her teeth so hard, that it hurt. She had wondered for some time, how Thunderlane and the others could have done what they had done. Granted, Thunderlane had always been a bit of a self-absorbed jerk, but Bulk Biceps and Pierce? Now...she had her answer.

"I thought, the condition of the bet was that he wouldn't corrupt anypony?", wondered Spike.

"He isn't...not personally, at least, " explained Twilight, getting up and walking toward the table, to get some coffee. "This is the loophole. He is teaching eternal failures like Haze how to use his magic and they, in turn, do the work for him. Scortatus isn't lifting a finger."

She had known Quirkie Haze and had always had a low opinion of his abilities. A stallion, whose best days were behind him and whose skills he wasted on trying to get those days back, rather than do something useful with the time he had left. Celestia had even censored him when he had delved a bit too far into researching rejuvenation treatments. It looked like he had decided that allying with Scortatus would give him what he wanted and in turn, this abominable geezer was turning the very academy Twilight had studied at into a den of debauchery and corruption.

It were traitors like him, who now supplied Blueblood with "scientific evidence" and "reasonable theories" to justify his sexist and perverse rhetoric. Twisting statistics and numbers to fit their political agenda and please Scortatus. It was because of Haze, that the Academy had now "revealed" facts that painted Celestia's reign in the worst light possible. Stallions deprived of their "natural rights". Engineered birth-rates to ensure "mare dominance". Hidden scandals, that supposedly proved that Celestia was a slutty whore, who had only pretended to be a good, proper princess.

Propaganda, that stallions like Thunderlane lapped up like free candy, to justify their crimes and betrayal. Add to that the enhancements and corruption and one had a frightening combination.

"Ms. Smile didn't deserve this..." She looked at the picture of her former headmistress turned bimbo and shook her head. Anger was boiling up again. Not just at the injustice and perversion, but also...at her own weakness, as Twilight could feel herself getting aroused by Sunny Smiles lewd, curvy body and pathetic state, despite herself.

Spike didn't say anything himself, just looking around the room, which had now slowly reconstituted itself. "Any headway with your new demon magic? Getting used to it?", he asked.

Twilight was thankful for the change of topic. "A bit. It is tied to my emotional state. The power seems to be somewhat bigger than when I was a unicorn, but much lesser than that of an alicorn. Depending on how I feel, some spells come easier to me." She sipped the coffee again, sighing at the hot, bitter taste. "It is all very...instinctual. Spellframework isn't quite as important as sheer power. I feel like certain spells jump off the horn on their own before I even fully think of them."

"It also seems to work best with....sinful emotions. Happiness, Satisfaction, Determination...those almost cause a negative reaction. Seal off the arcana. But when I'm angry or aroused or spiteful...it all comes together quite easily." She didn't want to mention that getting horny almost made spellwork as natural as when she had been an alicorn. She didn't like the implications of it and wasn't sure what Spike would think of it.

Her adopted brother raised an eyebrow and nodded. "Makes sense. You're a demon now, after all." He scratched his chin and seemed to chew a bit on his words, not quite sure if he should say them.

Twilight couldn't help but smile. She knew Spike too well. This fidgeting around was something he always did when he had to ask for permission and wasn't sure if he would get it. "Come on, Spike. You want something, right?"

He looked a bit guilty but nodded. "We went through almost the entire library to look for books about demons and dark magic. And...given we found so little, I wanted to ask if I could look in the Sealed Section."

The Sealed Section was the place Twilight kept all the dark and forbidden tomes. Cursed books, horrid diaries, dark magic scrolls. As somepony who loathed to destroy any knowledge, no matter its source, it was the one place she did not permit anypony to enter under normal circumstances.

But these weren't normal circumstances and she needed to know her enemy...and herself. So, she reluctantly nodded. "I allow it. Just make sure to be careful and don't touch anything with your bare hands," she said.

Spike looked equal parts relieved and tense. After Twilight, he was one of the few people who knew best how dangerous cursed books could be. This also made him well qualified for dealing with them, so Twilight trusted him. Before he could say something else, a sharp pain went through Twilight's head and she groaned.

"My, my, princess. Injustice would love your new outfit. It's right up her alley, one might say. But ah, forgive me for teasing. Your temper's been tested plenty today."

*He raises his arms in a placating gesture, smiling mildly and blinking milky-white eyes almost the same hue as his coat. The stallion absently brushes away at the finely-made sky-blue robes draped over his form—garments fit for royalty, much like the crown resting on his brow—though there was... movement in them, almost like there could be more arms hidden beneath the cloth*

"Good on you for keeping it in check, too. Contrary to what some of my fellow spirits suggest, going full-out on the stallions around you for taking advantage of Scortatus's new rules is foolish. Not just because he likely has his eyes on you, but also for the simple reason that you do not know if he has not influenced them as he has your friends. Think, Princess Twilight: When did Bulk Biceps strike you as a sadistic rapist slaver in the making..? This is a stallion Fluttershy wasn't afraid of. Fluttershy! And now, he can't wait to shove his, ahem, bulk down an unwilling mare's throat?"

*He slowly shakes his head*

"No. There is more going on. Things you can't see—yet. And if that's true, then other ponies are in danger too. Not just ponies, everycreature. Such as your dear dragon youngling.

The one you unthinkingly, deeply, hurtfully insulted. How? Well, why don't you use your eidetic memory? Go back over what you said—here's a hint, 8 inches—and think about his reaction.

Before much else, Twilight Sparkle, you must see to that. When you return, he might not be there anymore. If that's the case, he most likely went out to be comforted; and since he knows you went to Rarity, he will have gone to somepony else... or somecreature else. The one he can share his troubles with; Gabby, the mail carrier Griffon. If Spike is with Gabby, and he feels insecure about his masculinity, they might go further than they would normally go. Which brings us back to the matter of Scortatus."

*Spreading his arms wide, another additional two pairs push out from their hiding in his sleeves before vanishing back inside the kingly robes*

"Spike is hurt. He feels inadequate. He feels out of control. He may wish to regain control. And dragons are prone to greed; Injustice loves them dearly. If Scortatus's influence permeates Ponyville, it could lead Spike to act out in ways more and more similar to Thunderlane, Bulk, and Pierce. Is this not worth investigating, oh patron of science?

"I need not remind you that Spike is Equestria's direct link to Dragon Lord Ember and King Thorax, both of whom are extremely susceptible to his mood and actions, do I?

"I suggest to you, Princess Twilight, that you use the opportunity. Test out whether Spike has a growing need to dominate. If he's home, try to be accomodating. See if he takes advantage of such, to take advantage of you. If my theory is correct, he will not just feel lust for your body, but for the sensation of proving his dominance over you. He might ask that you clean instead of him, and do so without magic, and then watch you stretch up and bend over and kneel on the ground, all the while ogling your curves. He might make you apologize to him first, perhaps going so far as having you humiliate yourself in the process; calling yourself silly, saying you have dick on the mind. He might try to trick you into letting him eat you with his eyes, asking you to stand still for him, turn around, bend over, strip, grope you, all under the pretense of 'cataloging your changes'."

"Good luck, Princess Twilight. You will need it."

"Ugh...thanks for the heads-up." Twilight shook her head, as the voice faded away. The Convent had been pretty quiet so far in the last few days. After her encounter with Thunderlane, there had been a heated argument in her head, with many of them verbally jerking off, while others seemed to be upset that she hadn't disemboweled her rapists. But after that, they had faded and she had almost hoped they had left her alone.

"And thanks for the advice. Could have helped a week earlier..."

Still, the demon had a point. Twilight wasn't going to doubt Spikes loyalty, but given what she had learned in the past few days, it couldn't hurt to be sure. She looked at Spike, who had a blush on his face, as his eyes traveled down to her chest, despite his best efforts. Twilight was once again aware that her new bust had turned almost every top she owned into a very sexy, very tight get-up and that her nipples were visibly poking through.

"Am I arousing you, Spike?", she asked.

Her assistant flinched at the sudden question and hastily shook his head. "N-No, of course not. I would never be aroused...I mean, not that you're ugly or anything or...I mean, you're very pretty, but not like I would..."

She couldn't help but chuckle. It was almost adorable, seeing him so flustered. It tickled something in her. She grinned and stepped closer, pushing her chest out. "Really? You don't like looking at these..?" Her hand grabbed her own boobs, squeezing them a bit.

Spike turned red like a tomato and stumbled back. After a few steps, his back hit the wall and Twilight trapped him by stepping so close, his face was almost in her cleavage. Spike was visibly embarrassed, trying to look everywhere but down, which he failed at, as his eyes were practically glued to her perky, bouncy boobs.

"You want to...touch them?", teased Twilight, with a lewd grin. She was now pressing her tits against Spike's chest and the dragon was so flushed, he looked like he was close to bursting a vein.

"I-I....don't have a safe answer for that..."

"Then be honest."

He hesitated. Then sighed. "I...yes. Yes, I would. They are...well, big. But I kind of was aroused by you before that." He closed his eyes as if he expected a slap in the face. "...sorry."

Instead, Twilight stepped away and sighed. "I see." Spike wasn't lying. She didn't notice any spite or hunger or anything on him, that would suggest he had been corrupted. It was just the simple and honest shame of a young dragon, that had been afraid to admit such a thing for a while now.

He opened his eyes and looked at her. "You're...not upset?"

She shook her head and sighed. "About what, Spike? You're eighteen years old. Of course, you're going to be interested in the opposite sex." She gave him a crooked smile. "And besides, I know you're jerking off to porn-magazines under your bed. This castle is big, but it isn't private."

Spike blushed at that revelation but nodded. "Geez...is this the Talk, that Sweetie Belle had been mentioning? I can see, why she dreaded it."

"I probably should have helped you with this sooner. I'm sorry, that I was so pre-occupied," apologized Twilight. With all the duties of a princess, as well as her constant adventures, she had found very little time for Spikes' education. An issue she had always regretted, but never found the chance to remedy.

Spike waved her off. "Eh, actually kind of thankful you didn't give me crash-course on that," he admitted and grinned sheepishly. "It would have been beyond awkward, having to sit through a Sex-Ed lecture with you. I kinda taught myself through the library and...well, other stuff."

"I would hardly call that sufficient." Twilight smiled, to show she was joking. "But to be honest...we likely have to rethink a few things anyway. Sex and...perversion... it's only going to be more widespread. I fear, encounters like with Thunderlane are going to...become increasingly likely."

The silence stretched between them. They hadn't really talked about in detail, what had happened a week ago. Twilight had not wanted to dwell on it and she was still in a state of hurt and confusion over it. Spike, for his part, had not pressed her on it and for that she was thankful.

Ah, finally this spell is finally working, hello, twilight can you hear me?

Now then twilight, how does it now feel to be used as a cheap prostitute, Not good right?

Well seemingly as you now know that your friends are abandoning your cause one by one so they can have a semblance of safety or protection and your new reputation is now the slut of the town

You should really start listening to our advice first before dismissing it. Like the one I gave a while ago like letting go of your pride and use your feminine skills and enjoy the pleasure and finding allies outside of the inner circle of friends and family sooner or later they will leave you for safety, power or pleasure, so it's better you start finding allies outside now than later, so for starters find the past villains you have faced like tirek or chrysalis one is basically a sponge of absorbing power he will work well on demons as they are magic saturated weakening them and the other is a tyrant with espionage skills after all if she can fool Celestia and your brother and the rest of canterlot she can fool scortatus as well and if they won't help you, find the few friends who you still have either have a big army or as ruthless as scortarus with the will to help you like thorax and ember.

And one more thing you are now a demon, a succubus, use the new magic you now have, use seduction, demon, or dark magic and use it to your advantage, it might be wrong but you were treated like a slut and if you are going to be treated as one, be one with a brain because, if scortatus won't play fair so why should you not do the same?

The demon was right. Twilight would have to adjust if she wanted to stay sane. She now had this lewd body, which would only continue to get sexier. And if she tortured herself over what she considered shameful, while everything around her turned more and more debauched...it would just hinder her.

So, she gave Spike a smile and put a finger on her soft boobs. "What I'm saying is...we're not doing us a favor if we censor ourselves. So, see this as permission to look, if you have to, and not feel bad about feeling like this. It's perfectly natural. Besides, it would be worse with all that awkward tension in the room, constantly."

Spike blushed but nodded. He stared at her boobs again, before clearing his throat. "Ehm..so, about touching them...

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Sure, go ahead."

The young dragon grinned excitedly and stepped forward. His hands reached out for her boobs and began to squeeze them. He was gentle about it and Twilight quickly felt her nipples getting hard. It was surprisingly pleasurable, having her breasts fondled like this. She couldn't help but giggle a bit, in part because of the absurdity of her current situation. Just a few weeks ago, she would never even have dreamed about something like this.

Looking at Spikes dopey smile, though, he like had. For quite some time, in fact. And seeing him happy, even with everything going on, made Twilight feel a bit better for herself. For perhaps the first time, she didn't mind her new boobs.

"Ahn~"

Spike looked up, fear in his eyes. "Sorry, did I hurt you?", he asked, his fingers having pinched her nipples inadvertently.

Twilight shook her head, face burning. "N-No...not at all. It was just...unexpected." She felt a slight pang of disappointment, as Spike let go of her boobs and returned to the tray.

"Oh, that reminds me. Wanted to show you this," he said and handed her the newspaper of the day.

Twilight groaned as she took it. "I'm not sure if I want to see more of Bluebloods propaganda."

"It's not about Blueblood this time, I promise. You will like it."

She was skeptical, but read the paper.

It was shoddy, the printing slightly smudged and with no pictures. Certainly not one of the official papers. It called itself the Rebel Rabblerouser. And from the looks of it, it was an independent paper, that printed stories and articles that Bluebloods propaganda tried to suppress.

Last Thursday, the 4th Royal Corp of Canterlot was attacked near Hayside by a rebel militia, led by Col. Apple Strudel. The old veteran ambushed the Royal Troops, as they were leaving Hayside after a punitive expedition to punish the town for declaring for Princess Celestia. The militia comprised of forces from Carrotshire, Squashtown, Carrotshire, and Turnipvalley, counting about close to 900 ponies. They were up against nearly 2.500 guards, whom they had trapped near the river Veggieflow.

In three hours of fighting, the 4th Corp was routed by the militia-forces, after a group of Appleloosan settlers and buffalo warriors suddenly appeared on their right flank and cut off their line of retreat. The Corp was pushed into the river and scattered. Captain Brittleflank was killed by a stallion called Braeburn. This marks the first time royal forces have been checked after they have been rampaging across the southern plains for the last few days.

In other news, Chancellor Fancy Pants of the Government-In-Exile has begun to raise armies on the East Coast. It is expected, that there will be soon three armies comprising of 10.000 ponies each. General Night Light will be heading the 1st Celestian Army. Captain Spitfire has been promoted to General and is expected to lead the 2nd Celestian Army. Other posts will be confirmed in the following days.

The Crystal Empire has also begun to mobilize its forces. Border skirmishes have broken out in the north and Cpt. Sentry has taken control of the Northern Rails in a daring raid, that saw control of the vital rail lines ceded to his forces, while the Equestrian Border Guard had to retreat, after refusing the captain's offer to surrender. Chancellor Blueblood has reacted to this by sending out the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd Royal Corp under the lead of Captain Onyx Bolt to the northern territories.

...

The city of Las Pegasus has been the center of vicious street battles, as forces from Los Alico have managed to storm the outer defenses, surprising even the writers of this paper. Rumors are floating around, that they had help from the inside and mayor Glitter Glatter has barricaded himself in his office after his recent public speech got interrupted by sudden fireworks exploding under his podium.

Spike looked expectantly at Twilight, who couldn't help but smile, as a single tear fell down her cheek. "They haven't given up..." They were fighting, each and every one of them. Even after New Coltsville, some ponies still resisted. Scortatus may have beaten her and taken Canterlot, but Equestria wasn't going down without a fight. Everything Celestia had built...it had not been for nothing.

She slowly put the paper down, as other thoughts came to mind.

No matter how this would go, the war was now inevitable and there would be casualties. Like Celestia, Twilight did not feel well with knowing all these ponies were suffering and dying because she failed. The joy over reading about the resistance was quickly overshadowed by a feeling of failure and sadness. She had criticized Celestia for submitting to Scortatus, because of New Coltsville. But after what happened to Rarity and her in the boutique...Twilight now knew, that when it came down to it, she could not fight an open battle, where ponies she wanted to protect would get injured. She didn't have the heart for it.

twilight, can you hear me. hmm, it has come to my attention that our messages might be being monitored by the overlord. I know not the means that determines what gets thru to you, and if my message does I fear for why he may be seeking to discredit me amongst my fellows at my suggestion that he is twisting whats gets thru to you in order to pit us against each other and ensure that meaningful cooperation between our camps against him will be impossible, all while pushing you and us towards his desired outcome.

we... well I am attempting to create a coalition over here in order to assist you, for if he is monitoring and controlling what gets thru to you... well let's just say many of us are on your side, the breasts were the best of a bad lot, which would have seen potential mental degradation. indeed if he is viewing what we are saying and voting he may find us... disloyal. and while such things are to be expected from our kind... they do not go without punishment. my fate is likely already sealed, as is a few of ours. should he succeed over you what lies in wait for us will be most unpleasant. if you can have any trust in us then trust that we will assist you out of our own desires for self-preservation.

punishments the overlord throws out to his own kind are far worse than what you have seen. from centuries of being on the edge of cumming but never able to until it breaks the will of even the mightiest of demons, to the more simple tortures of baths in lava burning away at us for eons. the worst punishment tho is the void. no sound, no touch, no sight. it is nothing. even hours there can break a mortal mind into insanity as the sensory deprivation and loneliness eat away at the mind and soul... and to those, he holds especial ire towards will be thrown in and forgotten. if there is a fate far worse than Tartarus, it is that, and should you fail those of us who have sought to assist you may find such an end to be our fate. I have seen those I might call friend subjected to it before, even a few months in it left them... unrecognizable. if there is one thing that sparks fear in even the highest of us... it is that. death would be a mercy compared to the void.

I have no reason to expect you will get this, but they say you miss every swing you don't take, and my fate is in your hands now twilight. let's hope I backed the right pony.

Twilight stayed silent for a minute. She still wasn't sure, if she could trust these demons. But she had noticed, that not all of them had been entirely happy about what Thunderlane had done. And loyalty to Scortatus also didn't seem like the biggest priority for some of them. They were wicked, evil...but perhaps, they could help her.

"Spike?"

"Yes?"

She looked at her assistant, a new fire in her eyes. "Get pen and parchment. We need to write a letter."

"Got it!" Spike grinned and was on his way to the door when he stopped and turned around. "Ehm...a letter to whom?", he asked.

Twilight listened to the voices in her head, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

"Queen Chrysalis."

Author's Note

Aaand now we are a-go!

With this chapter, we have officially left the set-ups behind and have entered the story proper. Expect things to heat up. Twilight has decided on a course of action, armies have met in the field, and fronts are set. Let's see how this goes forward.

This chapter will not have a vote this time around, as this will happen later, as you will soon see why. The next chapter will instead be an Interlude, where we will cut back to Scortatus, who will summon the Convent back for some Q&A. This will mean, you get to talk with the True Demon directly, ask him questions, get to know some lore and other stuff. If you want to learn more about Scortatus, Faust, demons, and history, this is your chance. So, keep this in mind when commenting.

Lastly, I hope this chapter clears up some of the questions some of you had from last time. Keep in mind, that not everypony is a reliable source for information and that everything is colored by opinions and agendas. That also includes the good guys, of course.

I hope, you enjoyed this chapter and I'm looking forward to what you want to know from Scortatus. Until then, have a good one!