Odyssey of the Heart

“U-Um… T-Thank you, f-for coming with me.”

Lyra’s nervous gratitude earned her a side-long look from Frostfang; Sluttershy’s fore-most guard. She and the muscular albino wolf-man were back beneath the city in the fleshy caverns that Midnight Sparkle called home. After informing the queen of what she had seen in the alicorn’s lab, Sluttershy had deemed it necessary for her to go back, but ensured she had protection. At least, that’s what Lyra thought Sluttershy said. It was hard to hear her when the unicorn’s head was trapped between four milky tits, as Sluttershy was pounding her cross-eyed maid Derpy Doo with that yellow shaft grinding against her own marehood. Realising where those memories were taking her, Lyra shook her head and slapped her cheeks. Opening her eyes, she saw her lupine just staring at her with slowly-building agitation.

“I’m not doing this for you, wench.” He muttered tersely, those golden irises feeling like they were shooting all manner of sharp blades Lyra’s way. “Now come on. Where’s this stupid lab?”

“O-Oh, sorry. It-It should be this way.” The meek maid led Frostfang further into the living caverns of Canterlot. With the guard’s presence, she was able to walk without fear of Midnight’s monstrosities. That said, she didn’t feel much safer around the grumpy lupine. If it weren’t for Talvira’s edict, she imagined he would’ve split her in two with his cock, and she then spent the remainder of the journey trying to get said cock out of her mind with little success.

Eventually, the pair arrived at the out-of-place metal door that led to Midnight Sparkle’s laboratory. Lyra was about to teleport the two of them inside, but Frostfang simply stepped forward and raised an emblem tied around his neck. The Captain’s Badge. It allowed him access through almost any door, and this one proved to be no exception.

The two entered the half-metallic lab, finding it completely empty once again. Well, almost. As the pony and the wolf separated, Lyra saw Moondancer floating in one of those tubes to the side. Strangely, Minuette, Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine were gone from their tubes. In their place was Moondancer, but not as she had been. Instead of the monstrous form Lyra had seen her in earlier in the week, the introverted unicorn had seemingly been changed back into her regular form. While Lyra was happy to see her back to normal, her mind re-ran the same question over and over; why? Why had Midnight reverted the mare who Lyra understood to be her first victim?

Her questions were halted at a shocked gasp emerging from across the lab. Standing at the controls for the devices resting there, Frostfang was hunched over looking at something before he stood up, comparing pieces of paper in his claws.

“…No… she wouldn’t…” he murmured; his eyes wide with an expression Lyra didn’t think she’d ever seen on the albino wolf’s face before; fear.

“Um…? Is everythin-”

“You!” He suddenly shouted bounding over to Lyra. “You can teleport, yes?” At the ferocious urgency in his voice, all she could do was nod in reply. “Take me to the Queen’s chambers. Now!”

A sense of dread filled the mint-coloured unicorn’s body as she placed her hand on Frostfang’s furred chest and visualised the doors leading to the royal chambers.

After all, it took something truly horrifying to make Frostfang shake in fear like this.

With a pop of displaced air, Cozy Glow exited her teleport, ready to fulfil her mission.

She stood at the south-west entrance to a nameless town in Equestria’s north-east, which Midnight Sparkle had said once belonged to a faction known as the Equalists. Nothing more rows of houses lining other side of a single street with a larger house at its head, the young pegasus thought it a strange place to found a town. This was because it was a desolate patch of land in an otherwise bountiful region of the continent. She took a deep breath as she took stock of her plan one last time. Still dressed in her black latex ensemble, she was gifted a full-body cloak by her mistress; the clasp of which was shaped in the corrupted alicorns’ cutie mark. The other gift was the semi-conscious form of a blue unicorn; Minuette, Midnight had called her. She was to accompany her as part of the plan, but Cozy instructed her to remain hidden outside of town instead.

With a smirk, she took the first steps into the town.

Even in the darkness of night, her first impressions appeared well founded, as the houses were in a poor state. But more interesting were what remained of its inhabitants. Any ponies, mare or stallion, that had remained in the town had been transformed. Though they still lived, it was akin to a waking death. They now resembled living sex dolls; their fingers and toes shrunken into the now-rubbery surface of their arms and legs, while their mouths were permanently opened to welcome cocks of all kinds. They remained stationary, either sat in chairs, rested on angles against a building or something else, or carried around by the only mobile residents of the town. Gangly creatures with pink or blue leathery skin stalked the town, with a mane of writhing tentacles, beady yellow eyes and a wide mouth full of razor-sharp teeth. Though their hungry gazes unnerved the pegasus, Cozy kept her focus forward, towards the building at the end of the street, and the being that used it as a seat.

Though seated, Cozy had been told this being stood taller than the Empress herself, their skin blood red while their bisexual form was dressed in loose, flowing robes of royal blue trimmed with gold. Their legs ended in cloven hooves, their feathery wings held an unblinking eye in each joint, and their crimson hair billowed upwards, bringing more attention to the unevenly sized horns curling up from their forehead. With a bladed spear in hand and three golden eyes, they observed the comparatively tiny pony come to a stop at a respectful distance and bow down on her knees. While this literal demon spawn lacked the usual sex appeal many of their brethren possessed, that didn’t mean they deserved any less respect.

For Cozy knew she now knelt before Sungam; third child of Empress Talvira and the Siphon Royal for the chaotic aspects of change and magic itself.

“How unusual for us to receive willing, unannounced visitors here in our town,” the demonic noble said in a calm yet passively booming voice. “Especially a pegasus bearing the mark of the Arch Mage Midnight Sparkle. Who might you be, little one?”

Cozy kept her gaze to the ground and swallowed the fear building within her, knowing one wrong step would see the plan fall to pieces, and her freedom ended at the same time. “I-I am Cozy Glow, your eminence. Humble apprentice to Mistress Midnight Sparkle, whom I come to you on her behalf.”

A red hand raised itself off the roof of the shattered building to stroke Sungam’s chin as they contemplated this intriguing development. “How curious that Lady Sparkle would take a pegasus as an apprentice. Rise, child, so that I look upon you properly.” Cozy followed their instructions to the letter, slowly standing to look upon Sungam’s shimmering form. She made the conscious decision to avoid eye contact, figuring it would be a bad move to be so bold so earlier in their conversation. “Hm, no sign of physical change, either. Truly an intriguing enigma. I may ask the reasons for your selection another time, but the more pressing question is why have you come before me, and what reason would Midnight have to send you instead of meeting me herself?”

Another deep breath, though Cozy tried disguising it her nervousness as best she could. “You are aware there are intruders in Equestria from the north?” A nod from the demon’s horned head begged her to continue. “They have been quite disruptive and the Empress has demanded my mistress devote her full attention to stopping them. She has sent me to ascertain whether or not you’ve detected them in your region, and to inform you of other important information.”

“Hm… There was some movement to the west a little over a week ago. I imagine that was their infiltration. They were too far away for us to engage, as doing so would leave our humble abode defenceless. And, if I may be so bold, what important information would Midnight have for me?”

The moment of truth. “T-That your sister, Princess Nodabba, is soon to take control of Equestria…” She looked away in fear for added effect. “…And that there is no place for you in it…”

“What?” Though the question was asked in a calm tone, Cozy could hear the steel in Sungam’s voice as they stood from their makeshift throne. A single thudding step and then the crimson demon of change was kneeling over the puny pegasus, their many eyes boring holes into her.

“M-Mistress Midnight uncovered this plot herself. S-She said Nodabba plans to overthrow your mother and claim the throne. Then she will replace all of her siblings one by one with loyalists… including you, your eminence…” The look Sungam gave was one that could wither mountains into sand. All around them the pink and blue horrors were snarling at the announcement their master could be replaced.

“…And I assume your mistress has proof?” They asked with a threatening rumble in their voice as the stood and spread their wings for intimidation. “For this is a serious crime you are accusing my sister for, and given her previous transgressions I severely doubt Midnight would wish to suffer any further punishment.”

Their meaning was clear; they suspected her of setting Midnight up for a crime she didn’t commit. Thankfully, Midnight had proof. From a pocket of her cloak, Cozy pulled out a glassy orb. Pressing into its surface twice with her thumb, she tossed it into the air, where it began to float. Once at Sungam’s chest height, it projected a holographic screen above it. Upon said screen was Nodabba in what Cozy assumed were the princess’ private chambers.

“Ugh! She is just so bloody difficult!” The older demon princess yelled as she looked out her window to the city below. “Honestly, I’d have an easier time convincing Norgna to focus on something other than blood, skulls and rutting from more than five minutes, or that filthy pig Noiratrom to take a fucking bath!”

“I-I know it’s difficult, mistress,” stated Raven Inkwell; formerly Princess Celestia’s personal attendant, now fulfilling her new purpose as Nodabba’s personal slave. “B-But, I’m certain Pink Lady will-” Raven didn’t get a chance to finish, Nodabba closing the distance, leaping and spinning to slap the unicorn in the face with her cock with such force the poor mare fell onto the bed. She had barely realised this had all happened when the demonic princess pounced upon her, her crimson fingers tightly gripping Raven’s skull.

“Do not test me, Raven,” the demonic princess uttered in a low and threatening tone, “or I will split you in two before throwing you from my window.” A tense moment followed before Nodabba released her grip and stalked back to the window.

“It doesn’t matter. Soon I won’t need her. I won’t need anyone…. I’ll ensure this empire reaches new heights, no matter what, or who, I have to sacrifice.”

The image faded and Cozy returned the orb to its pocket, looking back at Sungam to gauge his response, yet forcing herself to avoid eye contact. The crimson demon spawn merely exhaled loudly through their nose at this news before turning back to their throne. They then bent over and their whole form shuddered. Their coat flashed from one colour and texture to the next as fast as lightning. Limbs rose and fell beneath their skin, as if they were trying to break through to the surface. The feathers of their wings fell away and became skeletal bat wings before the feathers grew back in again. Even reality itself seemed to warp and twist around them, as the ground at their hooves changed from arid dirt to fracturing ice, then verdant fields of green before finally wilting back to where it started. All around, the worried pegasus saw the pink and blue creatures cowering and gibbering in fear at their master’s display. Midnight had taught Cozy in her lessons that, as magic and change had been the dominant aspects of Discord as the avatar of chaos, this made Sungam immensely powerful. Now, with their body shifting rapidly before her eyes, she realised the truth in those words.

And it excited her.

After a few moments of this, the shifting of reality slowed, and Sungam returned to their normal form before facing the pegasus. Though their face was composed once more, Cozy could still tell the revelation was eating the androgynous noble up inside. The way their brow was slightly more furrowed. The way their wings flexed ever so slightly. The clenched fists and shaking spear. Her words and the “proof” provided by Midnight were more than enough to fool this pompous royal.

“Convincing evidence,” Sungam stated, their eyes locked squarely on the tiny pony. “But how, pray tell, could Midnight hope to stand against Nodabba? None have ever survived a duel with her, and our parents would doubtless take her side in any argument presented.”

“My mistress intends to include your other siphon siblings in this plan, as all four of you are targets for replacement. By combining all of your powers, Arch Mage Sparkle believes she can channel as much power as Discord, which would be enough to defeat Nodabba, then use her life as a bargaining chip against your mothers. Then she has vowed to return the powers and grant all of you larger domains to preside over. You, Lord Sungam, would gain the Yaket Range and Rainbow Falls the to north, up to the bridge that leads to the griffon territories in the east, and as far west as Neighagra Falls.”

Sungam pondered this, their three eyes not leaving Cozy Glow as they stroked their chin in contemplation. For a few minutes, nothing was said. The only sounds to be heard were the few gusts of wind and the movements and fiendish murmurs of the noble’s demonic servants.

“…Nodabba is mighty… If what you say about this plan is true, then Midnight shall require all the strength she can receive. How do we form this link?”

“Mistress Sparkle has transformed my body into the conduit for your link. All you need do is make physical contact with me, and the link will be formed. Midnight will then give a signal when she is ready to receive your powers.” Cozy raised a hand to the crimson monster, as diplomatic a smile upon her face as she could manage. Slowly forming a smile of their own, Sungam knelt down with a thud and reciprocated. Their finger enough to fill all of the pegasus’ palm.

“Thank you, your lordship.”

The moment Sungam made contact, they realised their mistake. A spearing pain shot through their entire nervous system like a thousand needles as crimson electricity sparked around the pair. Looking down, they saw a devilish smirk on the pegasus’ face as the noble’s body began shrivelling like a rotting fruit. First their hand, then spreading up their arm. But even more terrifying than that was their magic. Sungam had always prided themselves on their magical prowess, no doubt a boon from the aspect of chaos they represented. It was what gave them such a good relationship with Midnight Sparkle. But they could feel it slipping away, in the reverse direction of the withering of their body. It was only now, as they fell to their side, the feathers falling from their rigid wings, that Sungam finally recognised the amulet Cozy Glow wore beneath her cloak; one that glowed as their powers were stolen away into its crimson light.

“Th-The Alicorn A-Amulet?” They stuttered as Cozy trailed her hand up Sungam’s fading body to rest on their cheek. The young mare simply smiled her most adorable grin before the look took a more manic appearance. Doubling the power of the absorption, Sungam wasn’t even able to muster a dying scream as the energy in their body was stolen away.

Cozy took a few steps back before the power coursing within her pulsed. She fell to her knees, mustering all of her considerable willpower to gain control of this new found might. Like Sungam had displayed during their mini-tantrum earlier, limbs, faces and other forms all squirmed beneath her skin. They rose up, pushing against her coat and trying to break through the fleshy barriers separating them from the outside world only to fall back beneath the surface when either a new form took their place, or Cozy forced them back down below. This carried on for what felt like an eternity, but at last she gained control of the new powers within her. As she rose, Cozy could immediately tell she was a few inches taller, and her physique that bit more sensual. She could feel her magical wellspring had easily doubled, as had her knowledge on a great many things. Things that only Sungam was privy to.

Looking around, she saw the pink and blue demons waiting all around her, but they now knelt before her, an unspoken sign of their allegiance. With a look to all of them, she sent a telepathic message to all of her new followers. She told them of the tasks she now expected of them before teleporting away.

In a flash of red light, Cozy emerged in a den of debauchery. Behind the black throne she had entered, she saw a massive chamber lit in a soft lavender, with curtains and cushions decorating it. Loud music thrummed in the air, as did the stench of love juices and semen. The den was full of mares, stallions and demonic beasts all fornicating with twice the fervour one would see on Canterlot celebration orgies of Empress Talvira’s ascension to the throne. Most wore BDSM gear, along with silver chains and piercings. Sungam’s memories revealed she was in the depths of the governess’ palace in Las Pegasus. And, sitting on the other side of the throne, was her next target.

She was a vision of erotic beauty. Though her limbs took on a chitinous appearance from the elbows and knees down, she was otherwise the envy of every supermodel in regards to the rest of her off-pink body. Full, pert double D breasts, pierced nipples, a thin waist, wide hips and an ever-drooling cock and slit beneath her ballsack. Horns of a similar consistency to her limbs curled up from her silver hair, her full and glossy lips in a smile as her gold-on-black eyes drank in the luscious scene before her while her hands pleased herself vigorously.

This was Mirgluf; fifth princess of Equestria, and the embodiment of the chaotic aspect of pleasure. Despite her ranking in the line of succession, this made her one of the more powerful of Talvira’s children.

That power would be for naught, however, as Cozy Glow leapt from behind the throne, slammed and held Mirgluf down with her newly-empowered magic. She screamed and clawed, calling out for her minions to save her, but they were so drunk on the carnal pleasures of the flesh they payed their mistress no mind. The pegasus placed a firm grip around Mirgluf’s throat and, like Sungam before her, the demonic princess’ powers were siphoned away. Cozy could feel her body shifting and the magic within her growing even stronger even as the drainage continued. Mirgluf’s screams and tearful pleas for mercy were ignored by all, and slowly her frantic movements slowed. In less than five minutes, the fiendish princess of pleasure lay unmoving, and only with her death did the rutting stop.

The monsters and lust-drunk ponies in the chamber witnessed Cozy Glow stand back up to her full height, once again a few inches taller. With Mirgluf’s might absorbed, however, her body ballooned sensually. Her small B cup breasts were now full DDs. Her thin waist was counteracted by her wide hips and plush backside. The transformations had destroyed her clothing save for her cloak, but this didn’t matter to Cozy. What mattered was that she now held the pooled power of two of chaos’ core elements; magic and pleasure. Knowing her mistress was unwittingly collecting the other two elements, pestilence and blood, Cozy now turned her attention to the monsters in the chamber. Like over in Sungam’s village, these beasts bent the knee in a sign of subservience to their new mistress.

“Gather all the sexiest ponies in the city and bring them to this chamber.” Her first order echoed throughout the room. “They are to be unharmed and left alone until my return. Then relocate the city above the Smokey Mountains and await further orders.”

The monster she was addressing nodded before she looked to another nearby. “Send a message down to Somnambula and inform them to do the same. I will be back.” With her orders given and the beasts putting aside their playthings for now, Cozy Glow smiled and teleported out of the musky chamber.

“Your Majesty!”

Talvira ignored the concerned cries of her generals and soldiers. She lay on the ground in the strategy tent of her army, on one arm and her knees as the other hand clutched at her chest. Never had the demonic ruler of Equestria felt this pain, accompanied by a somewhat familiar stinging sensation in her mind. It was like when one of the former heroines of the kingdom was reformed, but more visceral. As the pain dulled to a throbbing ache in her center, a glance to the side revealed Nodabba must have been hit by whatever this was as well.

“N-Nodabb-AAAAARGH!”

Talvira fell flat on her back, frightened generals hovering over her as a second stab of pain pierced her mind and soul. She was left panting in agony; tears flowed unbidden from her eyes as she stared straight forward into space. Struggling to regain her composure, she focussed on her senses, one by one, until control returned to her.

“… think this is a sign we should fall bac-”

The general, Talvira didn’t care enough to know his name, never got to finish his statement. A wide hole was blasted through his throat, enough for him to make croaking gagging noises before his head fell to the floor. Re-establishing her dominance out of the way, Talvira struggled to her hands and knees and saw that Nodabba had curled up into a ball, her expression a clear sign she was suffering shock. Despite the pain flooding her own chest, the fiendish ruler crawled over to her oldest child and brought her head to her bountiful bosom in a tender embrace.

“N-Nodabba…” the empress stuttered; a rare show of weakness from her. “C-Can you still fight?” Though the princess shrank further into herself, she nodded her head in response. “I’m heading back to Canterlot to check on your mother. Once you feel able to, resume the war. You’re the only one I can trust to lead this horde.” Weary, Talvira left a kiss on Nodabba’s temple, then slowly rose to her ebony hooves and faced her generals, her expression both grave and steely.

“Until Nodabba retakes command of the horde, you will hold the line. Not one backward step, not one inch of ground lost and not one coward allowed to live. Am I understood?”

“B-But, your Majesty. We-” Another bodyless head fell to the floor, the other generals present unable to see Talvira’s silver axe swing, such was its speed.

“Am I understood?!” She yelled again; her rage even more potent than before. Tears threatened to break through once more, showing a rare display of emotional instability that the gathered monsters knew would make their deaths that much more painful should they refuse. As one, they knelt in unison before her. Talvira eyed each one of them, making sure she got the point across to each individual and the unspoken price for failing, before blinking out of existence.

The next instant, she reappeared within the dark, normally comforting confines of her bed chambers. But they offered no solace for the empress; primarily because of the individuals within, and the expressions they wore. Lyra and Frostfang stood beside the bed, the unicorn looking upon her in shock and fear, while there was a grave look of uncertainty on the wolfs’ usually stoic face.

But the one that placed a vice around Talvira’s blackened heart the most was Sluttershy. Her queen sat on the edge of their bed, her hand parting from her face to reveal rivers of tears rolling down her cheeks. For once her libido, like Talviras’, was quelled, as her nipples weren’t leaking lactose liquid and her cock lay flaccid atop her pillowy thighs.

“T-Talvira…” She sobbed, and at once the demon rushed to embrace her lover. Within her crimson arms, Sluttershy broke down and openly cried into her beloved’s breasts. All the while, Talvira stroked her mane as black-tipped yellow feathers and black membrane wings encircled the two.

“I know, my dear…” Talvira replied, fighting back the stinging urge to weep as well. “I know.”

For nearly ten whole minutes, the royal couple simply sat there in shared grief and agony. Though their relationship had started out as one of conquest and domination, over the years Talvira came to see Sluttershy as an equal. Living without her would be like returning Equestria to its previous state before her arrival; impossible. At last, the two pulled apart and Talvira thumbed away a trail of tears upon her corrupted wife’s cheek before giving her an unusually chaste kiss. She then stood, bringing Sluttershy up with her as they held hands. The love for her bride giving way to the simmering fury of vengeance, she turned and directed a glare that made even Frostfang take a step back in apprehension.

“I trust you know what has happened?” She asked in a tone that brooked nothing but expected obedience or a swift end.

“Y-Yes, your Majesty,” the wolf stammered before standing at attention before his mistress. “Your maid led me to the discovery of critical evidence-”

“Your Majesty!”

All within the room turned to the double doors, where a panting orc was doubled over panting before standing at attention. Talvira could clearly see the sweat bucketing off of the brute, not only from whatever mad dash had led him here, but also from terror that he had just barged into the private abode of his mistress.

“What do you think you’re doing?!” Frostfang snarled, his fear of Talvira being overridden by the pathetic display by one of his soldiers. “Barging into her Majesty’s room at a time like this?!”

“Forgive me, Sir! Forgive me, your Majesty!” The orc quickly begged, dropping to his knees in a show of knowledge he’d done something that would normally see him executed. “B-But we have someone who claims they know of a plot against the throne.”

“What?” Frostfang asked in surprise, while both Lyra and Sluttershy merely looked on as the shock piled up. Only Talvira kept her composure, though her mood was darkening by the second as she strode forward and towered over the cowering monster.

“Bring them to the throne room. I do believe it’s time for an example to be made.”

“Blegh! Ugh, I certainly hope that’s the last time I ever have to go to Hayseed Swamp.”

Midnight Sparkle complained as she floated her two former friends towards their homes within the tubes of her lab. Having just returned from meeting two of the Siphon Royals, she could still smell the pungent stench that would permeate the air surrounding Noiratrom. An unfortunate side-effect of embodying the chaotic aspect of pestilence and decay, she imagined there wasn’t much he could’ve done otherwise. But to embrace being that filthy willingly? Midnight couldn’t wrap her head around it.

“At least Norgna, I can understand. Not that it makes him any better to deal with.” Her muttering brought her to the other prince, whom she had visited first out of wanting to put off visiting the swamps for as long as possible. Norgna ruled the dragon lands to the south east; a fact which made sense given his role as the embodiment of the chaotic aspects of blood and war. His rage had led to him clashing with Nodabba in the past, and this frontier province of the empire was his exile in all but name. Still, the dragons that bent the knee to Talvira’s might came to appreciate how like-minded Norgna was, and he was a perfect fit to rule them in his mothers’ name.

“A pity he’ll never get the chance to help her ever again.” Midnight smiled to herself as she watched Lemon Hearts and Twinkleshine float in their tubes. Both were uncorrupted, save the pregnant-looking stomachs that both glowed with the insignia of one of the two princes. According to the plan she and Cozy Glow had concocted, the mares were used as new vessels for the powers of Discord to be siphoned into. Then they, in turn, would siphon the power from the four unicorns to defeat Talvira and Nodabba and assume control of Equestria.

But her happiness was not to last.

The first sign something was wrong in the tube just next to Twinkleshine. Moondancer floated within; as uncorrupted as the day the demonic occupation had begun. Minuette was gone, but Cozy Glow had left the wisest of Midnight’s old friends behind.

The next sign was that she was forcibly teleported out of her lab. With a harsh thud, she landed on a marble floor. Struggling onto her hands and coiling her tail beneath her, Midnight saw with a rising internal tide of dread that she was in the throne room. Lining the red velvet carpet were members of the royal guards; all armoured and armed. At the summit of the stairs at the carpets’ end were the massive breasts of Daybreaker; the former Princess Celestia and the throne of Equestria’s current ruler. Either side of that throne were the guard captain Frostfang, Lyra, for reasons that confused Midnight at that moment, and Sluttershy, wearing an unfamiliar expression of tearful anger.

But Midnight’s attention was stolen away by who stood front and centre on the throne dais. There, with her silver great axe in hand, stood Talvira. Her stern expression could level plateaus, and screamed only one thing in the corrupted alicorn’s mind.

She knew.

“M-M-My Mistress. W-What’s wro-”

“Down!” The emotional shout sent Midnight face first into the floor with a loud smack. All efforts to pull herself back up were made useless. Though she couldn’t incline her head to see it, she knew Sluttershy was drilling her with the Stare.

“Sluttershy, that’s enough.” Though Talvira’s voice sounded calm, all present could clearly hear the steel in the empress’ tone.

“But… but she-”

“I know, my dear. But we can’t make an example if you outright crush her now, can we?” A moment passed before an angry huff sounded out. The next moment, Midnight felt her body relax, the oppressive weight of the Stare lifted from her. Looking up from her prone position, the alicorn locked eyes with her mistress. “I trust you understand why you are here, Midnight?” Midnights’ violet and teal eyes darted back and forth between the irritated royal couple, and she timidly shook her head.

“So much for your intelligence.” The demonette empress sighed before beginning her slow descent down the stairs. “Midnight Sparkle. You are here to stand trial for your crimes against Equestria. You are charged with one count of sedition; the plotting to overthrow the throne… my throne,” That part of the declaration was uttered with more venom than the rest. “As well as three counts of regicide.”

“W-What? I-I-Me? I would nev-wait? Three counts?” The further furrowing of Talvira’s brow at this question made Midnight involuntarily gulp. “B-But… but I have been a loyal servant since your ascension. I have no reason to-” Midnight’s panicked blabbering was stopped with a swift whip from Talvira’s spade-tipped tail across the face, the impact echoing loudly throughout the throne room.

“You dare lie so blatantly to me?!” The empress roared, towering over the cowering alicorn. “There isn’t a solitary soul in this entire city that doesn’t know how you despise Nodabba, how you’ve always despised her. Ever since her birth, you have sought to undercut any success out of some misplaced sense Equestria was still yours to rule one day. So, in case I didn’t make it clear when my rule began, allow me to sear it into your brain now; there is no possibility in this world that would allow you to take the throne…” Talvira’s rage ebbed slightly as she regained her composure. “…except through eliminating my family and replacing me.”

“T-There’s no proof!” Midnight responded desperately. “I might hate your children, sure. But I would never raise a hand against them.”

“Like how you were about to attack Nodabba earlier this week? Right in-front of me, no less?” Sluttershy spoke up, crossing her arms atop her titanic tits.

“Besides,” Talvira continued, “we do have proof. Frostfang?” The snow-coloured wolfman stepped to his mistress’ side, handing her a sheet of papers. “These were found in your private laboratory. A detailed list of how you intended to siphon the powers of chaos from my children in an attempt to gain enough power to kill Nodabba, overthrow me and take control of the empire. The siphoning spell would drain not only the powers of my children, but also their life force…” Talvira’s expression darkened, a small island of sorrow amidst a sea of fury. “Noiratrom’s still alive, though we have yet to confirm in what condition. But we can confirm Sungam, Mirgluf and Norgna have all been killed.” The sovereign looked back down at her former apprentice, her eyes glowing in rage. “The only things I value more than my position are my wife and children. And regardless of my potential differences with each of them, they are my family. And you dare take them away from me?!”

“I’ve been framed!” Midnight nearly screamed, clasping her hands together as tears formed in her eyes. “Someone left those in my lab. I would never…” It was then the serpentine alicorn looked back and noticed Lyra on the throne dais, the gears turning in her mind. “I-It was her. I-It was Lyra!” She shouted, shakily pointing at the unicorn as Sluttershy moved to stand between them. “She managed to sneak into my lab. She’s the betrayer!”

“Lyra infiltrated your lab on my authority.” Talvira rebuked her, turning away to walk back up the steps. “I was growing suspicious of your intentions, and so I gave her the task of keeping an eye on you.” The demonette looked back down to see Midnight wide-eyed, her mental processes clearly frozen in confusion. “And as for the validity of this evidence, we actually had a witness come forward.” At this, a new figure joined the crowd by the throne. Midnight couldn’t help but let her jaw drop, the shock nearly knocking her on her backside.

“C-Cozy Glow?”

The young mare now stood beside Talvira, wearing the most mournful expression she could muster. Tears decorated her eyes as she still wore the cloak the arch mage had given her mere hours earlier when the plan was set in motion, conveniently obscuring the Alicorn Amulet. But the most surprising aspect of all of this was the unicorn horn poking through her bright blue curls.

“I… I’m sorry, Mistress Sparkle,” she said, her tone bordering on heartbroken as she wiped a tear from her eyes. “I-If this was what you were planning to use me for… I… I couldn’t let you get away with this.”

“B-But…” Midnight stuttered, rising cautiously to her full height as she struggled to figure this situation out. “But it was your idea. You’re the one who approached me with this scheme. A-And she’s not a unicorn. She’s a pegasus. Mistress, please! You have to believe me!” Talvira’s expression remained grim as she flatly stared at Midnight. Without a word, she gestured for the arch mage to follow her, as Sluttershy and Cozy did. Midnight also noticed the guards behind her begin to close ranks, prompting her to follow. She shot a withering glare at Lyra as she passed, though with Frostfang standing beside her, there was little effort in trying anything. Upon the royal balcony, Talvira turned to Midnight. She slammed the tip of her axe down loudly as a mild way to vent her fury before shooting a red beam into the darkened pink clouds above. A second later, on the underside of the clouds, a massive, glowing red glyph expanded into being. Its diameter easily encompassed the width of the entire city, but Midnight was more intimidated by its purpose.

It was an anti-teleportation spell. Not a soul inside Canterlot would be able to teleport anywhere.

“Call your beast.” She merely stated.

“Wh-What?” Midnight stammered, earning a harsher glare from the empress.

“Your little pet that is currently trying, and failing, to find the intruders in my realm. Since it has failed so miserably as a hunting dog, it shall instead serve as Canterlot’s guard dog. So summon it here. Now!”

The royal couple gave her space, as Midnight gulped and focussed her magic. After a few moments, a teal flash of magic brought with it the massive beast. The balcony creaked concerningly under its weight, but Midnight knew it would take a more forceful impact to detach this structure. It stood almost as tall as an adult dragon; covered in the short white coat of a pony rather than scales and had only two lower legs that ended in blue hooves. Blue-skinned membranes filled its impressive wingspan, though there was a blue on black eye embedded in each wing joint. The tail resembled a multi-ended whip, with the spiked tips resembling a morning star. There was a third, larger eye in the centre of its chest, with veins bulging through the skin around it. Then there was its head, or heads. Two long, thick necks held up the heads, which themselves were replaced with the flared heads of equine cocks. Talvira imagined the baggy excess skin beneath the twin heads were the ball sack, and would be filled with the captured quarry upon completion of its previous mission.

“You know,” Talvira flatly mused as she looked upon the beast. “If I weren’t brimming with barely controlled rage, I would actually be impressed, Midnight. A shame, then, what happens next. My dear?”

At this, Sluttershy walked forward without fear. The three eyes of the monster focused on the corrupted pegasus, and it took a step forward, lowering its heads closer to this potential morsel. Sluttershy took one long, deep breath, then opened her eyes.

“STOP!”

The Stare was unleashed in all its terrifying power. The dragon-like beast shuddered to a stop, seemingly resisting. But it was a momentary and futile endeavour. It froze in in place; unable to break eye contact with the queen.

“Sit!”

At her instruction, the monster stiffly sat down. It remained immobile as she walked right up to it and lay a hand upon its alabaster form, directing the Stare right at its central eye.

“You serve me now.” They held eye contact for a few more moments, before Sluttershy stepped back and the beast did its best impression of a bow.

“And now for my judgement.” Midnight turned away from the sight of her creation being tamed to that of Talvira slowly stalking towards her, axe in hand. Instinctually, Midnight slithered backwards, trying to keep as much distance between the two as she could. When her butt checks bumped into the marble barrier at the edge of the balcony, she looked up and saw Cozy Glow standing by the entrance back inside, a small smile on her face as she pulled down on one eyelid and stuck her tongue out in a childish manner.

“M-mistress, please. I-I’ve been framed. You must believe me!”

“I once believed you to be a loyal and useful subordinate,” Talvira responded, stopping a few feet away. “But your ego has led you astray, and as such you are now more trouble than you are worth. As Empress of Equestria, I find you guilty on all counts. You are, effective immediately, stripped of all titles and status, and given your dangerous talent for magic, I sentence you to death.” Midnight felt like an icy dagger had already stabbed itself into her heart. She looked to Sluttershy, but found no sympathy there. Looking back, she saw Talvira had turned and was walking back inside.

“Farewell, Midnight Sparkle. May we never cross paths again.”

Time felt like it had slowed down for the former princess of friendship. A feeling of numbing shock and dread flooded her system, much like when her friends and family had abandoned her before Cadances’ wedding. Movement in the corner of her vision revealed Sluttershy was returning inside as well. She was about to call out to her former friend, but Sluttershy stopped regardless, turned and levelled a look filled with nothing but scorn and betrayal.

“End her.”

A growing growl to her right reminded Midnight of the beast that was standing there. A beast she no longer controlled. Her first instinct was to teleport to safety, but only when her magic fizzled out did she remember the magic circle glowing above Canterlot. So that left only one option.

She leapt the rail.

Midnight opened up her wings and flapped as fast as she could for the city limits, passing between and over the rooftops of the capital city. A loud whooshing sound behind her filled her with dread, and she looked back to see the beast she helped create was now in pursuit. One of the necks bulged before it shot out a string of sticky white goop. Midnight barely weaved out of the way, watching as the web-like substance attached itself to one rooftop and tore off the tiles as they flew past.

“Please, stop!” She pleaded, hoping her words could pierce whatever control Sluttershy had placed upon it. “You can’t do this! I… I made you! You know me!”

Her begging was answered with another attempt to catch her, this time she dodged and turned sharply, the string hitting the side of a tower the beast then used as an impromptu landing perch to leap off of and continue the chase. Midnight looked and saw the edge of the city fast approaching, but the beast drew closer as well.

“Please, don’t do this! Shining!”

The beast that was formerly her brother reared up, readying to catch her mid-air like a bird of prey. But as he was almost upon her, they both crossed over open air. They had crossed over the edge of Canterlot’s borders.

With tears in her eyes, Midnight summoned her magic and disappeared in a flash of teal magic. Angered by losing his target, the monster roared his frustrations into the valley of central Equestria before turning back to protect his old home and new mistresses.