With all the other battles having concluded, only one squall raged onward. It was amazing to find that the spire’s roof remained intact with all the immense power flying out. Both Beatrix and Zeloph pushed themselves to the absolute.

The cosmic cloaked witch cast her most powerful spells, her Onoma infused to increase potency. The solar winged angel unleashed fiery waves to blast through her attack. Even when the Demiurge uncoiled to bind around its target, the plasma armor was too intense to keep a stronghold.

Neither of them could obtain a true advantage over the other. And the effects of their duel were starting to wane on Beatrix. Slivers of Erebus began to unravel from her body, exposing more bits of her voluptuous flesh. And while Apollo’s light still burned brightly, beads of perspiration glistened on Zeloph’s torso that rose and fell heavily. It was clear that continuing to exert his Onoma would carry severe risks to his being.

Beatrix found solace in that nobody interfered, both for their safety and her own state of mind. If she didn’t defeat Zeloph with her own hands, the witch would never gain closure. Through large gulps of breath, she valiantly stared down her foe, swathed by radiant armor not unlike what her paladin father had worn during his crusades.

“Had enough?” The fallen one huskily panted.

“Never!” Seethed Beatrix, struggling to maintain her stance. “Not while you still walk and breathe like the vain piece of shit that you are! I don’t know what I ever saw in you!”

“Hatred has blinded you more than it has me. And yet, I’m the one who must be punished?” He muttered, shaking his head. “I only wanted a place made for Abadonna and us. A place where we could all live happily. I wanted to surprise you--”

“LIAR!!” She cried, launching into the air to decapitate her ex-lover. But in a swift motion, Zeloph disarmed her rapier from hand and stabbed her into the ground with a blade made entirely of light. Eleven more similar swords pierced through into her cloak, pinning Beatrix down as both she and the Demiurge shrieked in searing pain.

“...but instead, you tried to surprise me.”

Slowly, the demi ascended, channeling the last of his power into his heavenly zweihänder, which scorched red with heat and vibrant humming.

“I let you know me. See me. I gave you a rare gift, Beatrix. But you never wanted it…”

The cosmic witch struggled like a bristling animal caught in a trap. Venom spewed from her mouth, screaming at her opponent for all his wrongdoings and atrocities. Yet Zeloph remained hesitant, even when preparing to deliver the final blow. Each blade had purposefully avoided her vital points.

“I’m sorry it had to come to this…. You may wield the darkness of eternity. But the universe weeps in the light’s perfection!”

With a brisk pace, Zeloph descended to surge his sunlit blade through Beatrix’s chest. Desperate to survive the incoming blow, the witch forced herself out of the impaling light swords, her Onoma quick to seal up her open wounds as she launched cosmic rays of darkness, blasting Zeloph head-on. The nephilim felt his body straining to resist the raw deluge of force, slicing through the beam with his sunblade.

The pair bellowed before Beatrix let loose all the magic and might she could muster, no longer caring if the Demiurge entirely consumed her. The increased wave of spacial darkness was enough to finally hurl the fallen one back, slamming him into the roof. Zeloph screamed, feeling his body cracking under the weight of the crashing magic wave until the top of the tower collapsed inward.

The massive projectile obliterated the building’s roof completely, blasting through the cloudy night skies. Inky whips arose from Zeloph as his body fell back onto the spire platform. Scorch marks and bruises layered his body, his biker jacket heavily burnt. Molted feathers scattered around him, his many eyes squinting. He coughed up blood, struggling to rise up and call out his Onoma.

Beatrix dragged herself over to him, her own arcane signature evaporating, leaving her shapely figure almost visible, save for the tattered dress. Heaving, the witch shakingly lifted her rapier, tip aimed at his heart. Magenta eyes hazily gazed up at the fierce piercing violets that bore right through him.

“It’s over for you, Zeloph!” She wheezed coldly. “I.… I-I can’t let you live. I won’t let you endanger anyone else!”

“Beatrix…” He harshly wheezed. “Please…. Y-you mustn’t do this!”

“Shut up!!” She hollered. “You lost your chance to beg mercy from me! This is what you deserve!”

As the battered witch tremblingly raised her blade, all the fallen one could do was close his eyes and accept his fate, hopeful their daughter would survive after his passing.

“ Abadonna…f-forgive me…”

“S̴͢T̷̨̛͘O̡̧͢͏̷P̴̀͞!̧̕͡!̷̢̢̀͡”

Beatrix froze at the cry of a familiar voice as a small sphere formed between her and Zeloph. Then the orb grew to encircle the entire spire, inverting the colors within as reality distorted around them. Both of them gazed around in bewilderment until an image of the fabled Child of Lightendark glitched into reality.

“Abby!?” Both spoke in unison, watching the tiny unicorn stand between her father figure and her mother’s blade.

“Don’t kill him, mommy!” She tearfully pleaded, struggling to maintain her form.

“S-sweetie.… No, you have to understand! Zeloph has done so many terrible things. I-I’m-”

“You’re not a killer, mom!”

Beatrix’s eyes widened as her daughter’s statement ran through her heart like a knife. Her harrowed gaze locked with Abadonna’s, who shook her head while trying to hold back painful sobs.

“You don’t have to fight anymore. Zeloph...wasn't supposed to be my father,” Abby confessed, looking sorrowfully at the wounded angel, who returns the look through murky magenta eyes. “I kept him company during his confinement, and I wished for us to be a family…but it was clear that was never meant to b-b-b-beeeeeee̷͟e̶͜͜͢.̢͝.̶̛.̀”

“Abby!” Beatrix exclaimed, dropping her weapon to hang onto her daughter, only for her arms to phase through her incorporeal being.

“Enock is coming…. P-please, come get me soon, mom. I-I don’t k-k̷̷n̕͞͞҉̀ờ̷͘͜-̷̢̛́͢ǫ̴͟͟w̸̵̢͢ ̛͘h̶̴̸̨͜ơ͏̧w̴̨ ̵̕͠l̢̀o̶͝ń͜͞g̴̷̡̀ ̡̀͢͢I̷͘-̸̸̴̛͟Í̶ ̨҉̡͞c͠ą̢̀͠a̧̛a̢̡͜͠a͘͟͠͠a̴̵͞.̴.҉̕”

“N-no, wait! Abby! ABBY!!”

Abadonna flickered out of reality just as quickly as she arrived. Both Beatrix and Zeloph could only watch as the image of the child vanished like a lost signal, the null sphere fading along with her. Yet they both sensed their child still watched over them, from somewhere far away.

Realization settled inside Beatrix, having come so close to ending another’s life, much like Zeloph and Shadow Scythe had done. Resting on her knees, the poor witch was unable to hold in her pain, releasing an agonizing scream as all her emotions poured out. Her nude form hunched over, slamming her fist into the spire floor, jerking with each sob crying out her throat.

Through puffy wet eyes, Beatrix cast a sharp glare at her opponent once more before yelling, “Why did you do this? You ruined thousands of lives for a child that was never meant to be yours?! Think long and hard about it, Zeloph! This could have all been prevented if you hadn’t come into my life!”

“You’re right…” Zeloph admitted through bloodied coughs. “But then…you would never have know Abby existed.… Had I not done all of this... she would have been lost...forever…”

After struggling for so long, the Nephilim succumbed to his injuries and fell unconscious, leaving Beatrix altogether alone to let his words sink in. It was true. Had Zeloph not tried to sacrifice the many for one, Beatrix would have never encountered Abadonna. Likely wouldn’t have been made her mother. Had she not done a similar crime by wishing Midnight to be her half-brother and altered his fate completely?

Sadly sighing, Beatrix dispelled her blade and rose up on trembling feet, secretly thankful she didn’t have to take anyone’s life. But, nevertheless, her violet eyes remained fixated on her beaten foe. And while she would likely never forgive Zeloph, she did pity him greatly.

“Still…I have to take you in,” she decided, about to reach for the fallen angel until he started to steadily sink into his own shadow. Beatrix gasped in alarm, attempting to seize him until Zeloph slumped into the darkness, spotting a familiar pair of pale blue hands dragging the demi under.

“Shadow Scythe.… Damn it!” Beatrix muttered tiredly, her snout pursed with the uncertainty of what the duo would plan next. Her ears flicked at the sound of her friends calling for her, her head wearily turning towards their direction.

With what little strength she still possessed, Beatrix lifted off the tattered tower to meet with them and take care of any casualties.

It wasn’t the outcome she hoped for, but she was glad the battle, at least, came to an end.

Returning to the palace, the heroes pulled their bruised and battered bodies into the throne room. Splotches of red soaked the snow, where Beatrix spotted the occasional abandoned weapon partially buried by the snowfall. Many were injured, but none suffered any life-threatening injuries, much to the relief of everyone. Beatrix nearly tripped under the weight of fatigue before Dion caught her. The witch gave the burly ram a wary glance before the two wrapped arms around each other, holding tightly.

“Glad tae see yer in one piece, lassie,” he heavily sighed.

“You too…. W-where is Oona?”

“A’m hair,” the dream faun called out, adjuring her wooly hair to hide the extra pair of horns she severed. The process was always painful, her head aching terribly. But she was not yet ready to unveil this part of her life to her beloved traveler. Their mission came first. “Had tae make sure no ether citizens wair left behind.”

“Told ye she would come out on top!” Dion boasted as Beatrix pulled away to embrace and kiss her lover.

“I’d say we all handled ourselves well,” Tirek added in, who bumped fists with his fellow warrior.

“Yeah,” Cozy Glow chimed in, hovering around them. “We managed to evacuate everyone to safety! The King and Queen will be truly grateful!”

“B-but it’s not over,” Beatrix reminded bitterly. “Shadow Scythe, Zeloph, and this 'Doppia' lady remain at large. If they manage to get to Enock first, all our efforts would be for nothing!”

“Aye. This squabble won’t compare tae th' infernal storm th' Burning King will brew upon his return,” Dion agreed.

“Then your next course of action should be to find them,” a foreboding voice echoed as King Ambros emerged from the dark corridor. Despite his best attempts, not even the stone mask he wore could hide how frightened his crimson eyes were. Instantly, Tirek and Cozy bowed as the dark unicorn took his seat.

“How are ye an' th' Queen fairin'?” Oona asked with concern.

“I'm fine,” answered Ambros. “Radiant Hope has been grievously wounded. She's asleep, but she’ll recover once we replenish the Crystal Heart.”

“That’s a relief,” Beatrix sighed. “Forgive us, your majesty. We should have been better prepared.”

“No,” a low voice echoed from around them. “The fault is mine.”

Footsteps echoed loudly as the unseen assailant shimmered with an emerald glow. Hexagonal shapes blinked around her black webbed cloak, her jagged horn poking through the top. Her translucent wings buzzed behind her back, strains of stringy turquoise draped over her slender figure. Beatrix and the group were in awe as the changeling monarch revealed herself at last.

A disgruntled look rested on her face as she, too, bowed her head apologetically towards the unicorn king. “We were deceived, Ambros. I had my best guards tasked to protect the Crystal Heart. Yet none of them would have suspected to be blindsided by their own comrades.”

“A changeling went rogue?” He asked, puzzled.

Chrysalis shook her head. “What I saw was no changeling. Using my Onoma, Aphaea, to remain unseen, I was unaffected by the demon's magic. But to them, she was undistinctive. I believe this was that illusionist the dream shaman spoke briefly about.”

“Madame Doppia,” Oona presumed with disdain. She should have been more informative about their enigmatic foe.

“So you did nothing!?” Beatrix berated. “You just let her walk in and rip out the shard?”

This accusation earned a narrowed gaze from the tall changeling as she cooly responded, “I had to keep my cover, no matter how great the loss. Any information I could relay to the King and Queen was paramount! They understood the risks when they took their oath. The C.I.D. must never compromise.”

The witch begrudging backed down, still shaken from her dauntless bout with Zeloph.

“Luckily for us, your friend with the pigtails intercepted the Vice Lord within the chambers. I snuck in to see the two dance around until a veil of smoke covered them. Both were knocked out until the charcoal mare shakenly rose, just as the large pegasus ran in.”

“Ha! Well, kindle me kelts!” Said Dion, impressed. “Th' lass rangled with a Vice Lord an' won!”

“Hmph! Serves you right for giving her crap!” Beatrix mocked, playfully punching him in the shoulder, who sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck.

He admitted, “Aye…. Ah owe her an apology.”

Ambros, however, kept a darkened expression on his face. “So then, where are they? Surely, they would be here with the missing shard by now.”

Chrysalis folded her arms, her brows furrowed. “I watched them disappear into the tunnel with the demon and shard in tow. I…thought they would have arrived shortly before I did.”

Lady Ewe cast a worried glance at Beatrix and her brother. “Somethin’ is wrong…”

Just then, another changeling fluttered in, panting hoarsely. “My queen! A few of our agents spotted a charcoal mare and a pegasus racing out of the Crystal Empire!”

Beatrix, Oona, Dion, and King Ambros stared at each other perplexed before exclaiming, “What!?”

“Did you see anything else?” Chrysalis questioned.

“Yes, ma’am! They appeared to be following some kind of large shadow gliding through the snow.”

“They must be tracking down Shadow Scythe!” Tirek proposed.

“Yeah. And that means Zeloph is with her,” Beatrix nodded. “She snuck under to retrieve him before I could take him in.”

“Well, whit are we waitin' for! They’ll need our support!” Dion yelled.

“No.… I sense somethin' is amiss,” Oona proclaimed. “Why would they go efter them first instead ov returnin' here with th' shard?”

“We’ll figure it out when we get there, Oona,” the witch said, tugging on her tunic sleeve impatiently. “We can’t let Zeloph and Shadow Scythe roam free! This may be our only chance to get answers!”

“B-but Ceann Oga-”

“She’s right,” Ambros nodded, turning to his three generals before ordering. “Rally up the guards! I want everyone to back up my dau...ahem, Cerise and Midnight as they pursue those fiends! Bring them back alive!”

“Yes, your highness!”

As Tirek and Cozy Glow rounded up their troops, Chrysalis and her spies disappeared into the cold night skies as Beatrix and the sheep siblings raced out of the room first. All of them were greatly fatigued from their recent brawl, but it hardly mattered when their friends could be in trouble. This spoke personally to Beatrix, who still blamed herself for what happened to her half-brother. Perhaps this was what she needed to repair the damage she caused to Cerise.

Beatrix turned to her lover, who looked deeply troubled by the whole ordeal.

And while she was determined to end this conflict between their oldest adversaries, she couldn’t help shake off the feeling that something was terribly off.

Far beyond the empire’s gates where the blizzard had thankfully died down, Shadow Scythe reemerged out from the shadows, using the last of her archaic magic to drag Zeloph’s cold frame towards a massive tree. The shadowy tendrils dissolved as the reaper plopped down beside him, breathing heavily while looking over her partner. The nephilim looked far worse for wear, his chest rising and falling worryingly slow. None of the eyes studded along his crooked wings were open, many feathers denuded from his plume.

Her heart ached at the sight of him, the pale unicorn pulling herself up, gripping her sickle tightly. She could behead him and put him out of his misery. A favor for the mercy and kindness he’d shown her.

But as she raised her weapon with trembling hands, the soft sound of his voice halted her.

“Heh.… Dedicated to your craft. I’ve always admired that about you,” Zeloph dryly chuckled, one eye hazily staring up at her. “At least I’ll die by your hand, knowing it’ll be quick...”

But the self-proclaimed death goddess couldn’t bring herself to do it. With a frustrated snarl, she fell back onto her knees, dropping her blade into the snow. “No…the child still needs you,” she whispered, looking away. “...and maybe I do, too.”

There. She finally admitted it.

Despite everything he’d put her through, Shadow Scythe had come to care deeply about the fallen one. Whether it was her enforced empathy or not, she couldn’t forsake these feelings any longer.

A finger gently pulled her chin back towards Zeloph, a depressed smile on his lips before coughing. “Damn…even with our renewed powers, we still failed. And yet, strangely, I don’t mind being the loser.”

“It was my mistake,” Shadow Scythe admitted, crawling over and top of him without pressing too much weight. “The skank was right. I’ve become soft. And for so long, I loathed myself for allowing such weakness to slip through. That night, after you visited me and my memories resurfaced…I thought about ending my life. It would have been easy. One swift cut to my neck and all the pain and torment I’ve endured would pour out. And I would find serenity as I took my last breaths.”

She sniffled, gripping his shoulder tightly as a stream of tears oozed down her cheeks. “But I couldn’t do it…because now, I’m more afraid of dying than ever before!”

“Shhhhhh,” Zeloph soothed, adjusting his position to bring an arm around the reaper, one of his hands stroking through her white locks. He could feel her tears stain his torso as she continued to sob.

“If we die, we'll return to Pathos, where that skinless monster and his minions will ravage us.”

“Should we try again?” Zeloph asked the reaper, who shook her head.

“It’s clear you don't have the will for this anymore. And…I don’t, either.”

“Well…if that is our fate, I take solace knowing I won’t spend my eternity of damnation alone.”

Heat rose inside Shadow Scythe once she sunk further into his firm hold. His mangled wings managed to enclose around them protectively. Wiping away the wetness, her eyes locked with Zeloph’s. The winged immortal noting a hunger in those icy orbs unlike any he’d seen before.

“Shadow Scythmn!?”

Instantly, the unicorn locked maws with him, pressing him hard against the base of the tree. Her fingers clawed into his chest as her kisses grew hotter, her hips feverishly grinding against his pelvis. He muffled a pained moan as she nibbled into his bottom lip, pulling from his mouth with drops of blood smeared on her lips and teeth. Panting like an animal in heat, she lapped it away.

“S-Shadow Scythe, what are you-”

“Fuck it. We’re going to die either way, right?” She groaned, pulling off her hooded robe. While her body was layered in bandages, hardened nipples poked through the cloth. “Might as well rid myself of my virginity before those wretched creatures take it.”

“W-wait, this isn’t like yo-” But his protests were silenced by another forceful kiss, the lithe unicorn fully pressing her body into his. He shuddered uncontrollably; what remained of his feathers and wings unfurling on end.

But despite how badly he wanted to return her lustful advances, Zeloph knew this was only a result of her estrus and how unstable it made her, thanks to her constant self-denial. Hissing as Shadow Scythe tried to pry his jean pants off, he took hold of her wrists to cease her actions. She tried to wrestle out of it, causing him to lightly push her back.

“Shadow Scythe, stop!!” He cried through shallow gasps. “You’re hurting me...!”

The pale unicorn gazed with flustered cheeks, bewildered by her partner’s rejection. Her small breast heaved. “I-I don’t understand…. This is what you wanted, isn’t it? To fuck me and make my body yours? All this time, teasing me about giving in to my innate desires. And now you deny me!?”

“Not like this!” He tried to reassure her. “Not when you’re on the verge of breaking down. This isn’t you, Shadow Scythe. You would never do this, no matter how desperate...”

The cold wind howled through the pair as they simply stared at each other. It pained Zeloph to refuse her, but he would feel terribly guilty to take advantage of Shadow Scythe in such a state. Slowly, she got off the battered angel and sat back down, back turned to him. She shivered and crossed her arms, rubbing down her lean shoulders.

“You're right…this was a mistake,” she seethed, unable to hide the whimpers in her sore throat. “Let’s just…f-forget it.”

Zeloph sighed deeply, forcing his aching body to get up and retrieve her discarded robe. When he offered it to her, she cast a cold glare to his hand before yanking it, sliding the tattered cloth back on.

He couldn’t blame her for hating him. Still, he tried to comfort her as the fallen angel cradled his arms and plume around her.

“I do want you,” he reaffirmed softly. “When we’re both safe and ready.”

Shadow Scythe said nothing to him. Just laid in his arms with her head hung lowly.

“Found you!” A feminine voice exclaimed, causing the pair to raise their heads.

Cerise and Midnight arrived, flinging Doppia’s unconscious body before them while brandishing their weapons. The bat-winged mare leered at them with disgust. “Ugh! Should have known you two would have a thing for each other.”

The reaper ignored the comments and steadily rose back up, summoning her sickle back to her hand. “So even she failed? Pha! Useless whore,” she muttered, looking over the crystal pegasus before addressing the married couple. Zeloph narrowed his gaze at the Crystal Heart shard tied around Cerise’s neck, resting comfortably over her nude breasts.

“You’re both badly injured, and yet you still want to fight?” The dancer questioned while Midnight offered a grunt.

“I don’t want to fight you, princess,” Shadow Scythe stated with a curled snout. “But I will if I have to! Just leave us be, and we won’t cause anyone harm, I swear.”

Cerise giggled coldly. “Oh, please. I think we all know it’s far too late for that,” she scoffed before an unfitting smile slowly spread her lips.

“Isn’t that right... cagna~?”

Apprehension came too late for the reaper as Midnight suddenly lept into action, his eyes consumed in vermillion, and his bulk expanded. With fully widened plumage and a snarl, the pegasus pounded Shadow Scythe’s midsection, the unicorn doubling over and hurling, losing grasp of her weapon.

The berserk Midnight battered Shadow Scythe before knocking her down with a backhanded fist. Alarmed, Zeloph tried to rekindle his magic only for the soldier to uppercut his jaw, sending him hard into a tree. The false idol yelled in pain; his back arched as he rattled onto his front.

Shadow Scythe clutched at her fractured ribs, bloodied saliva spewing from her mouth as she stared wide-eyed at the couple. A ghastly green aura glowed from Midnight’s eyes while ‘Cerise’ swayed over to them, cackling in delight.

“D-Doppia!?”

“Ding~! You guessed correctly. Bravo, amica!” the Vice Lord taunted through Cerise's voice, clapping her hands together.

“N-no…” Zeloph wheezed, struggling to rise again as the demoness used Cerise’s body to kick her own with a laugh.

“It wasn’t that hard. Once poor Cerise surrendered to her bitterness and jealousy, stealing her vessel was child’s play. But, admittingly, I needed one key ingredient to ensure my spell worked.”

“T-the hair...!” Shadow Scythe gasped, earning Doppia’s sly grin. “T-then this was--”

“All part of my scheme to get rid of that frail body. Thanks to my Onoma, all of my magic transfers with my soul. And, might I say...” She sensually posed, showing off Cerise’s fit and supple form, filling up her larger bust. “I couldn’t ask for a more suitable body! And I have you to thank for it, amica~!”

“Y-you vile bitch! I’ll-gnnaaaagh!!” Shadow Scythe yelled as the demoness stomped onto her hand.

“Unfortunately, seeing as you failed your mission, I don’t see any reason not to kill you. Sorry, but I can’t risk you jeopardizing my plans. Mmm, you, however...~” She turned towards Zeloph before snapping her fingers. The brainwashed Midnight lifted him up by his head, the soldier entirely under a new spell conjured with Cerise’s power.

Not even an hour passed since swindling this body, and Doppia tapped into magic the princess wasn’t even aware of!

Grinning like a cat, the charcoal mare strutted towards the sore angel, sneering down at 'Doppia' below. “It’s not too late to join me, Zeloph~!”

“W-what…do you want from me?” He demanded through a strained voice.

“Only to give you the ‘glorious’ redemption you crave,” she sultrily whispered, taking his hands towards her breasts to give a tender squeeze, sighing with elation as supple skin squished. “Was it not Cerise who played a huge part in your downfall? So why not take revenge by inseminating her body, hmm~? Fill her fertile womb and make her carry your spawn... Hehe! Or should I say, make me carry your spawn~?”

“N-no…don’t!” Hissed Shadow Scythe, who crawled over and tried to light her horn, only for sparks to spit from her cracked horn. Nor could she conjured her Onoma to slip into the shadows. Her attempt was stopped as Midnight brutally kicked her away.

“Shadow Scythe!” Zeloph cried, wriggling as the Vice Lord pulled his face back to hers and stole a kiss from him. He shuddered with disgust, aware the body Doppia inhabited was an unwilling victim to her game.

Pulling away, she lustfully purred, “Forget her! Make love to me, and I’ll provide you with strong nephilim children we can raise to take on the Burning King~! Together, none shall defy us!”

The nephilim managed to shake his head, glaring defiantly at Doppia. “Y-you’re sick if you think I’ll ever give into you. The only thing you deserve from me is my pity!”

That smiled twisted into a sneer, visibly shaking, pointing a finger towards Shadow Scythe, who struggled to keep conscious. “You would reject me for her!? She’s a weakling!”

“She doesn’t have to steal another’s body to acquire strength. And deep down, you know that no matter whose face you wear, you’ll always be the Burning King’s lapdog.”

Snarling, the vile sorceress slapped Zeloph across the cheek. “Bastard! How dare you, after all, I’ve done for you!?”

“Deluded cunt,” the pale unicorn spat, forcing herself onto her arms.

Looking between the unloyal pair, Doppia's mouth spread into another vicious grin. “Midnight, marito~!” She called forth the pegasus soldier, who dropped Zeloph into the blood-stained snow. “Why not enjoy yourself with that cagna? A hyper-stallion needs to replenish his reserves, after all~.”

The reaper’s eyes widened as the hulking stallion grabbed at her leg to flip Shadow Scythe onto her back, tearing at robes with ease while she screamed with feeble resistance. “N-no, stop! Get off me! NO!! PLEASE!”

“You should be more grateful, amica!” The charcoal mare mocked. “I’m finally freeing you of your worthless chasity...unless someone has a sudden change of heart~?”

Those malicious neon eyes fell onto Zeloph, who watched helplessly as his comrade struggled to get Midnight off of her. Finally, with clenched fists and a chewed lip, the fallen one relented, hanging his head low. “... I’ll do it. Just don’t hurt her anymore...”

“Z-Zeloph, no!!”

“Heha! Knew you’d see things my way~” Doppia purred, waving her hand to call off her hulked puppet from assaulting the unicorn further. As her eyes noticed how erected his endowed stallionhood was, she held a finger to her lips to ponder. “Hmm… Still, can’t keep him pent up like this. He’ll expire too early!”

A different sound caused her bat-shaped ears to flick, turning towards her old body. It appeared Cerise was slowly stirring awake.

“Ahah! What perfect timing~! Midnight, sate yourself with that silly wench. And hold nothing back, hyper-stud! She needs all of your love~” Doppia cruelly ordered.

Cerise fluttered her eyes open, her mind still foggy after that horrid dream. Once her vision focused, the first thing to greet her was the hate-filled leer of her husband. “Mmm-Midnight...? W-what’s wrong?”

The hyper-stallion said nothing, breathing huskily, lips drawn back as saliva flowed from his jaws. She about to ask again until he tore off her black costume in one clean rip as if it offended him to hide ‘her’ body.

That’s when she noticed the horrible trick, blood running cold and eyes widening with horror. Her flesh was crystalline, green in color, her curves much slimmer. And the shredded garments Midnight finished casting aside were a ballerina’s tutu.

Cerise screamed as the stallion she loved pried her thighs open before he unceremoniously shoved his engorged member all the way to her core. She wriggled with agony, feeling like her body was tearing apart from having something so massive penetrate so deep. With brutish grunts, Midnight gripped her thighs and hammered away at the petite dancer, determined to beat her womb into submission.

“AAAGH! S-STOP! MIDNIGHT, PLEASE! AAAAAAAGH!!”

But no matter how she bawled or pleaded, it was utterly futile. This was no longer the kind soldier Cerise fell for and made passionate love with. Just nothing but a vulgar beast, using her current vessel like fresh fuck meat.

“You deplorable cun-naaaagh!!” Zeloph yelled, jolts of painful pleasure suddenly shooting up his spine. His magenta eyes glared down in dismay to find his own member growing to full length, light shimmering around his tip.

Doppia shoved him down and straddled on top, fingers digging into her marehood to lube up. The demoness snickered, revealing enchanted threads tethering them to Midnight and Cerise.

“Ragazzo sciocco! It doesn't matter if you despise me. I’ll still make you hard enough to mate!!” Doppia cackled with a sickening smile, rubbing the head against her dripping pussy before impaling herself down to the base.

“A-Aaaaaaugh~! Yess, so full!” She moaned, one hand groping at her breast as she started to ride on top of the whimpering angel, rolling her hips in quick thrusts. “F-fuck, I’ve waited so long to have this!! Mwah~!”

Not far off, growls and snarls emerged from Midnight, pounding deeply into Cerise’s slit. Betrayed by her flesh, she thoroughly soaked his groin and couldn't hold back her confused moans, her face afire as she quaked under him. His palms roughly kneaded her more petite tits so hard she feared they would bruise. He forced a drawn-out kiss on her lips, then slid lower to nip, suck, and pull on her jiggling mammaries.

Despite the horror of her situation, another orgasm crashed over her, to the point where over several minutes of his rough pounding, she lost track of her unwanted climaxes, reduced to nothing but his personal toy without any of his usual concern for her.

In her mind, she tried reminding herself this wasn't him, that this was the Vice Lord’s doing! Sniffles rose from her as she clenched down, pussy reflexively trying to milk his cock for its baby batter. Her slippery womb biologically primed by a need to take his seed deep inside her moist, tight cunt.

Except this wasn’t her womb. If he succeeded in breeding her, Cerise would be helpless to carry her foe’s unwanted child inside this broken, ravished body.

“P-please…d-don’t! Midnight, pleeeeeaaaaaaaahhh!!!”

Midnight cast back his head and howled, wings unfurled as he sheathed himself with one last, vicious slam that pummeled her. The head of his thick cock flared out and blasted her walls white, to the point where the excess swelled up her belly and drooled out the sides of his meat, down puffy pussy lips, and over her hot pink, puckered asshole.

Cerise twitched, becoming numb to the overwhelming mixture of mind-numbing pain and ecstasy. Her dull eyes leaked tears as she watched Doppia use her body to work Zeloph close to orgasm as well. Given that the nephilim was able to impregnate Beatrix, the same fate appeared inevitable for her.

With teeth clenched tightly, Zeloph restrained himself not to cum, much to Doppia’s annoyance as she smacked his face.

“Stop resisting! Give it to me~!!” She hollered, slamming her hips repeatedly up and down, his shaft coated in fem juices. Just a bit more force, and his crown would pierce through into her womb. “Come ooon! Fuck, I-I’m almost there~! Angh--GAAAAGH!!”

Doppia’s body arched as something sharp pierced into her chest, inky black blood oozing out the wound. The Vice Lord felt an invisible hand choke her while the crystal fragment was ripped off the thread in mid-air. Dispelling her Onoma, the cloaked assassin revealed herself as emerald slits glared into Doppia’s neon eyes.

“A-aaaugh! Impossible!!” She snarled, gripping at the changeling’s wrists. “H-how could you have--”

“I know an imposter when I see one,” Chrysalis scoffed, lifting Doppia off from Zeloph just as the false idol released a weak cry, ropes of glimmering seed splattering into the snow. Doppia gasped upon hearing commotion behind her, turning to see the ensemble of guards rushing towards the scene, Beatrix and her friends in front.

“Gnnnrg! Non è finita!!!” The Vice Lord cursed, unleashing a thick cloud of smoke to blast Chrysalis away before the plume enveloped her body. Wings buzzing, the changeling queen slashed through the veil of black, only for each swipe to clear the smoke altogether.

Her frown deepened, her hand enclosing around the stolen fragment as Dion bull rushed to knock Midnight down. The berserk pegasus roared as his friend applied a headlock, clawing at the ram’s bicep.

“That’s enough, lad!! Knock it off!!” Dion demanded, squeezing his arm hard until Midnight eventually passed out from lack of oxygen. Sighing, the warrior released his hold, chest heaving while turning to find Doppia’s body laying next to them. Her limbs twitched, cum oozing out of her abused hole.

“Huh...?! Middy, why were ye-”

“Dion!!”

Beatrix and Oona ran to Midnight’s side, both exhaling visible breath. The witch scanned the area, appalled to discover the crystal mare’s defiled form lying next to them. The guards swarmed around Zeloph and Shadow Scythe, the latter laying unconscious and the former curled in a fetal position, shivering violently.

“What happened!?” She asked, perplexed.

“Doppia has escaped,” Chrysalis answered with melancholy. “I was able to take back the missing shard, but by the time I arrived, the damage was done…”

“Whit?!” Dion exclaimed in bewilderment. “That doesn’t make any sense! Th' fiend’s layin' right thair! How did she-”

“Sweet lucid dreams...!” Oona gasped, covering her mouth as she knelt over the Vice Lord, waving her hand over to get a feel of her aura. And what she found made the sheep sage weep. “No…there’s been a soul exchange. The person right here…is Cerise!”

Both Dion and Beatrix stared aghast, tears flowing down her cheeks. Whatever hope she had to make amends with the charcoal mare died instantly. Now, not only had Cerise suffered by the witch’s hand, she became a victim to the Vice Lord’s duplicity.

Beatrix fell to her knees as Lady Ewe brought her arms around, the two clinging onto each other as sobs escaped their throats. Dion somberly looked towards the changeling general, sharing a look of unease with had befallen their comrades and foes.

“Wh…whit can we do?” The ram asked dryly, choking on his own sorrows.

“I don’t know…” Chrysalis admitted before ordering the guards to arrest the reaper and demi, cuffing them in chains before preparing to return to the Crystal Empire. Tirek hoisted Midnight’s body over his back while Dion carried the crystal pegasus housing Cerise’s soul bridal style.

Beatrix walked alongside Oona in defeated silence, hands squeezed together.

Horrible sorrow hung around the party as they tread through the snow, too devastated by the atrocious event to speak to each other. How they would all recover and continue with their quest would remain unanswered.

End of Act II

Author's Note

You like cliffhangers, right? I know I do!

For the rest of July and throughout August, I'll be taking another extended break from this story. IRL events have taken up a lot of time, and there are other things I wish to work on.

I'll come back to finish our story sometime in September. Thanks to all who have shown me and Sharaz support and comments about our tales.