At the base of Foal Mountain, in a lightly wooded grove, the four ponies and dragon were finally able to reclaim control of their breathing. While the boys sat, Zap and the thestral mare opted to stand. Flurry chose to kneel, using the four fleshy boulders attached to her ribcage as something to lean on.

“Alright…” Flurry managed to speak up, ignoring the pleasant tingling of contact her arms resting on her top shelf of tits was creating and turning to face the newcomer. “I just want to say thank you, for saving us.” The mare simply nodded, allowing the princess to continue. “But… well, who are you and… why help us?”

“As your stallion companion stated earlier,” she began, standing at attention, “my name is Sugar Silhouette, Your Highness. Last of the Lunar Guard.”

“Luna whatnow?” Zap repeated with a confused head tilt.

“They were the personal bodyguards and armed forces of Princess Luna, back during Equestria’s hay day.” Spike explained before turning back to the bat pony. “Though, by last, I guess that means…”

“I am.” She answered with a stiff nod, though Flurry could just hear a sombre note in her voice before she carried on. “But my story’s not as important as all yours, I imagine.”

“Oh no, no, no.” Button spoke up with a wagging finger. “I appreciate you waking me up to save everypony, but there’s no way you’re joining this party unless we get the whole backstory. Right?” He looked to the others, and a spattering of nods and murmurs agreed with him. Turning back, they saw Sugar sigh and start pacing.

“…Okay, okay.” It was clear she was a little apprehensive to begin, but the group let her be. After a few moments of gathering her thoughts, Sugar faced them again.

“So… I might as well start at the beginning. I had just finished my time as a cadet in the Lunar Guard when the demonic occupation began. We…” her gaze lowered and her pacing paused for a moment. “We… lost more than half our numbers trying to liberate… then… a-avenge our mistress…” Another sigh and a shake of the head was all the emotion the bat mare allowed before pushing through. “After that, we spent most of the years since conducting guerrilla attacks up and down the east coast. From Trottingham down to Baltimare. But… it seems we were nothing but a nuisance to this new Empire… and our own losses continued to pile up.”

“I’m sorry to hear that.” Spike spoke up, and he received the smallest ghost of a smile before Sugar continued.

“Anyway, a few months ago, I became the senior-most member of the Guard, though there were only a dozen or so of us left. We had long been unable to launch attacks on the big cities, so I decided out next target would be Hollow Shades. It was smaller, out of the way, and sparsely defended despite the presence of a demonic member of royalty.”

“Aunt Twilight?” Flurry asked, hope flickering in her voice.

Sugar shook her head. “No, Your Highness. A member of Empress Talvira’s family. So, a few days ago, we saw our opportunity to strike. The sky suddenly cleared to the east, and the governess had left for Canterlot soon after, meaning we had a genuine chance of claiming the town. We stormed in, taking out what little resistance there was and slaying the tree… or so we thought…” The implications left a gap for the silence to return, as all present dwelled on the terrible fate Sugar’s comrades suffered. A fate three of them had nearly succumbed to.

Eventually, it was Flurry Heart who broke the silence. “You said that tree thing doesn’t stay dead… so… it’s immortal?”

“I’m unsure if that thing was ever alive to begin with, Your Highness.” Sugar responded. “Perhaps it used to be an ordinary tree, or maybe it’s yet another horror created by the current regime. Regardless of the reasons for its existence, within minutes the monster was moving again, and the rest of my team were trapped within it. I… wasn’t strong enough to save them, and fled.” The thestral stopped pacing, now holding her arms to stop herself from shaking in-front of royalty.

“As I was wondering what to do next, that’s when I noticed you three appearing from thin air. I wasn’t sure if I was hallucinating from grief, so I investigated and found this on,” she nodded to Button mash, “sleeping in a pocket of invisibility. I knew I had to do something, to make sure you didn’t end up like my comrades. And… that’s pretty much everything.” Again, the group pondered over everything they’d heard though, after a few moments, this time it was Button that spoke first.

“So… what’re you going to do now?”

“…Earlier… I wasn’t sure. There’s every chance I might’ve just tried finding some place to hide, praying to Princess Luna for a miracle. Now, however…” She stopped, her golden eyes moving to the overly-buxom princess. “I think that miracle’s finally arrived.”

“Me?” Flurry asked incredulously. “I mean, I wouldn’t call myself a miracle.”

“She’s got a point though, sugarcube.” Zap said with a warm smile. Though the context was lost on the stallion, the older drake could instantly pick up on the subtext and couldn’t help but smile as well.

“Even before the attack on Hollow Shades,” Sugar went on, “I was beginning to lose hope. Thinking we were the last light of resistance fighting for the Equestria of old. But you, Your Highness… all of you were responsible for whatever happened in Manehatten, right?”

“Well, Button and I weren’t there for that.” Spike chimed in before gesturing to the mares. “These two are the ones who should take the credit.”

“Yeah, but… we barely survived that.” Flurry countered, her insecurities starting to resurface, only for Zap to rest a calming hand upon her shoulder.

“And who was it that landed the knock-out blow?” She asked, smirking as she knew Flurry knew the answer as well. “If it weren’t for you, Flurry, we’d have never gotten outta there.”

“Your companions faith proves you’re the best chance Equestria’s had for freedom in many years, Your Highness.” The bat mare slowly approached, kneeling at the alicorn’s side so she wasn’t blocked from sight by her four bloated breasts. “And, if you would have me, I would be honoured to join your quest.”

The alicorn, earth pony, pegasus and dragon all look at one another before focusing on Flurry, making it clear the decision lay with her. Even without saying a word, however, Flurry could tell their answers. Button had already vouched for Sugar, Spike looked open to the idea of another pair of hands alleviating their load, and Zap’s expression wasn’t guarded; a clear sign the flier saw no deceit and trusted in Flurry’s judgement. Turning back to the thestral, she saw that, despite the professional expression she was holding, the eyes of the Lunar Guard told the princess there was a hint of worry inside. Smiling to herself, Flurry chose to douse said concerns.

“Well, if everyone’s sure…” Three nods signalled their confirmation. “Then, Sugar Silhouette, welcome to the mission.”

“Yes!” An excited cheer erupted from the bat mare, who froze in embarrassment at the exclamation. With the only sound being Zap and Button’s snickering, the now blushing thestral coughed to collect herself and reaffirmed her stoic demeanour with a deep bow. “I-I mean… thank you, Your Highness. I vow to give this mission my all.” She then stood back up, and the sight of Flurry’s kind smile was enough to help ease the burning sense of embarrassment. “So, what’s our next objective?”

“We’re aiming to liberate the Tree of Harmony,” Spike explained as the party rose to their feet, though Flurry required Zap’s help to avoid having her tits drag her back to ground. “That means we need to cross the mountains and keep heading south west towards the Everfree Forest.” The thought of returning to those woods sent a wave of negativity throughout Flurry, dredging up the painful memories of what happened in Zecora’s hut. But Zap’s fingers interlocking with hers helped pull the alicorn out of that spiral, and she gripped back tightly with a smile.

“I can’t say I’ve entered the Everfree since the occupation began.” Sugar stated as Flurry’s attention turned back to the conversation at hand. “But I know the ins and outs of navigating woodlands, so I’m ready to do my part.”

“Hey, no need to feel pressured to perform.” Spike replied, placing a calming hand on the Lunar Guards’ shoulder. “Besides, we’re going to fly over the mountains, so there shouldn’t be any chance of running into the bad guys.”

“Yeah,” Button chirped up with a confident grin. “I mean, what’s the worst that could happen?”

“Button Mash…” Zap panted as the five adventurers lay flat on their backs back at the foot of Foal Mountain, “Never, EVER, open yer mouth t’ say some foolish hooey ever again.”

All the guilty stallion could offer was a weary groan. To say the journey over the mountain hadn’t gone to plan would’ve been generous. The group had decided to fly over to save time; Spike would carry Button Mash, Sugar would be a vanguard to ensure their safety, and Zap was adamant she be the one to help heft Flurry own mountains of flesh. What all involved forgot to consider was the weather. Chilling winds howled and rattled bones at a touch. The swirling eddies of gusts would have made flight, even to someone as gifted as Zaps pegasus parent, struggle. To a group favouring speed, especially containing a member so heavily overburdened as the princess, it made it an exhausting ordeal that could only stop via landing. Clambering over the mountain on foot proved fruitless also, given their attire, or lack there of in Sugar’s case, meant the freezing whirlwinds were even more unforgiving. In the end, the five were forced to retreat near where they had started the day some six hours earlier.

“I’m sorry, everyone.” Flurry muttered as she rolled onto her side, easing the weight of her breasts upon her body, and giving her a base to attempt standing. “If it weren’t for the stupid miasma, I’d just teleport us there.”

“From what Starlight’s mentioned, that’s a risk I don’t want to take right now.” Spike replied, rubbing a sore spot on his scaled skull.

“Ah second that.” Zap added as she took the alicorn’s hand and pulled her to her feet. “She popped me back t’ ya in Manehatten, remember? That whole teleportin’ thing’s not my mug o’ cider, if ya get what Ah mean.”

“Well,” Sugar asked as she still clung her cloak tightly around her body despite how obviously ineffectual is was at keeping her warm. “What now?”

“We’ll go east around the mountain range.” Spike replied, and held up a hand before Button could fire off a syllable. “I know, I know. It’d be quicker going west or even under the mountains. But think about it. Flurry, who had the map of the tunnels you used?”

It took Flurry a moment or two, but the answer helped her see where the draconic warrior was going with this. “Starlight… She was the only one that had the map, and it wasn’t with the items Rarity returned to us so… it’s likely still in Manehatten.”

“Horse apples.” Zap cursed, coming to the same conclusion.

“But why head east?” Button questioned, unable to hold in the confusion. “It’ll add on so much time to the journey.”

“Not to mention it has us drawing close to Fillydelphia.” Sugar added. “Were we to be spotted, we’d be done for.”

“We’re heading east,” Spike answered with a measured tone, despite the agitation that was starting to seep into it, “because heading west means we draw closer to Canterlot. And if Manehatten was crawling with enemies, imagine what the capital city would be like?” That silenced any potential protests, especially from Flurry and Zap, whom Spike turned to now. “Besides, it’ll be easier and safer for Flurry to move heading that way.”

“Or maybe,” Zap spoke up, sending a hand diving into her bag to pull out her last two reformation gems. “We help ya get fightin’ fit again-”

“NO!”

The outburst, as well as Flurry recoiling a few steps sent a shock throughout the adventurers. None more so than Zap, whose confused expression revealed a pain that Flurry instantly regretted.

“I… I-I’m sorry. I just…”

“Flurry?” Zap asked, her voice betraying a hint of the pain inside.

“I’m sorry, Zap.” Flurry sighed as she used her mothers’ breathing exercise to regain control of her startled senses. “It’s just… we have so few gems. We need to save them all in case of emergencies, or the next time we encounter an Element of Harmony.”

“Yeah, but how much are you going to be able to help weighed down like that?” Button asked nonchalantly, only to receive a threatening glare from Zap and a slap to the back of the head from Sugar.

“Despite his bluntness, Button Mash does have a point, Your Highness. Wouldn’t it make more sense to be as fit and able as possible heading into battle?”

“I get all that, I really do.” Flurry shot back, trying to keep any trace of annoyance in check. “But I can still move and fight.” She tapped her glowing horn, currently levitating her overladen rack, to emphasis her point. “If I get worse, then I’ll use them on myself. But, for now, I’m still capable of holding my own.”

“Spike, say somethin’!” Zap turned to the drake, who looked as shocked and uneasy about this as the rest of them. He turned his emerald eyes to meet the princess’ blue and, in that one instant, sighed. For that determined, self-assured look reminded him of many a night back in Ponyville, watching as this brave mares’ aunt would deprive herself of food or rest in the pursuit of her goals.

“As stubborn as your aunt.” He sighed, shaking his head. “Fine. We trust you, Flurry, but the second you get corrupted further, we’re healing you up. Understand?” The princess nodded, prompting another sigh from the dragon. “I just hope you know what you’re doing.”

“I’ll be fine, Spike.” Flurry said soothingly with a smile, though it faltered in the face of Zap’s glare. “Zap-”

“Flurry…” The fliers’ tone was as serious as could be, walking up to the alicorn’s side and never once breaking eye contact. “…Just…” The cracks in her stern demeanour spread quickly, and she rushed in to hug Flurry tightly. “Ah want you t’ promise me you’ll be careful.” The orange mare was trembling as she felt moisture building behind her closed eyelids. The shaking stopped when she felt Flurry return the embrace, albeit in a more side-on style due to her enormous chest.

“I promise.” The princess calmly replied, a hand gently stroking the prismatic mane of her special somepony.

The five spent the rest of the day travelling on foot, following the mountain range east as Spike had instructed. The journey was lengthened by the exhaustion of carrying four medicine ball-sized breasts inflicted on Flurry’s back and her magic. Thankfully, due in no small part to Sugar Silhouette acting as a forward scout, they avoided detection by any enemy forces.

By the time the clouds above darkened with the onset of night, the group stopped as far east as they dared to stray from the end of the mountains. Off in the distance, probably no more then ten minutes at most by flight, stood the city of Fillydelphia. Unlike Manehatten, there were still many skyscrapers that had working electricity. For what purposes, Flurry was unsure, but one thing she was certain of was there were untold numbers of ponies suffering in that metropolis.

“Don’t even think about it.” Spike stated as they all helped set up camp. “We’re pushing our luck being this close as it is.” Flurry turned from gazing at the city to the dragon lighting a fire with his breath. In response, Flurry cast the illusion spell to help hide both the campfire and the group from sight and smell.

“I know.” She sighed, turning back to look upon the city once more. “I just… wish we could do something for them, you know?”

“I know how you feel, Your Highness.” Sugar spoke up, returning from a scouting run to secure the perimeter. “But the Lunar Guard tried multiple times to infiltrate and liberate the city. And each time, the defences only grew stronger. There’s little chance any attempt we make would succeed.” Flurry simply nodded. She didn’t have to be an Apple to know Spike and Sugar were speaking the truth. But, if what she had suffered in Manehatten was any indication, then she couldn’t help but imagine what horrors the ponies there were forced to endure.

“Hey, er, Flurry?” The familiar voice instantly captured the alicorn’s attention, and she looked up to see Zap standing close… looking rather apprehensive.

“Yes, Zap?” She replied with a smile, hoping to ease whatever worries were plaguing the pegasus. She smiled back, but it was small, and Flurry could tell whatever was eating her up inside was still there.

“Uhm… C-Can we talk? Y’know… private like?” The added blush, the hand reaching behind her head. Flurry had found Zap was becoming easier and easier to read the longer they were together. And everything the princess was seeing now told her this was taking a lot of effort for Zap to push through the discomfort to ask.

“Uh, hey guys?” Spike spoke up, talking to Sugar and Button. “How about the three of us do another sweep of the area? You know, just in case we missed something?”

“Are you implying I was derelict in my duty?” Sugar shot back; her tone sharp. But a pointed cough and head nod was all the response she would get as Button pushed her along. The three walked away, with the dragon looking back with an understanding smile and a wink.

Giving the two mares all the space they needed.

“So…” Flurry said nervously, patting the space next to her, which Zap wordlessly accepted. “What did you want to talk about?” The princess had a couple of ideas, but didn’t voice them, instead allowing Zap to explain herself. After a few moments of mental build up, the pegasus took a deep breath and began.

“Well… It’s about… earlier. W-When you… ya know… didn’ want the gems?” The hurt expression from before immediately shot to the forefront of Flurry’s mind, and it made the alicorn wince. Zap must’ve noticed this, as she rushed to continue. “Oh! Ah-Ah’m not mad no more, honest. It’s just… why? Ah thought ya hated havin’ them this big, or havin’ four o’ em.”

“Uhm…” Now it was Flurry’s turn to struggle to find the words. “I… I don’t. I mean, I don’t like it. I guess…” The confusion eventually gave way to shocked dread, and the princess’ breathing slowly started growing shorter. “Oh sweet Celestia, Zap. I… I’m getting used to them.”

“Hey! Hey!” Zap took hold of Flurry’s hand, using her other to tilt the corrupted mare’s head to face her. “Sugarcube, listen! …It’s okay. Yer gonna be okay.”

“B-But…” Flurry stuttered, her blue eyes watering before Zap thumbed the tears away.

“Flurry… Breathe.” The alicorn nodded and followed Zap’s advice, using her mothers’ old breathing technique. She felt her pulse slow, her breathing return to normal, and the coiled tension inside her fading away. Opening her eyes, she looked back to those maroon pools of stability staring back lovingly.

“…I… I’m sorry, Zap.” She sighed. “It’s just… It scares me, feeling that my… chest, being this big, is normal. That having four is normal… I don’t want them forever but… it feels like I’m starting to forget what it’s like, having… normal-sized breasts.” Flurry’s gaze fell back onto her chest, her free hand coming to rest atop one of them.

“Flurry…” Zap sidled in closer, still holding Flurry’s hand while the other arm and wing hugged around her shoulder. A moment of hesitation was washed away when Flurry’s large wing returned the side-on embrace. “Ah’d be lyin’ if Ah said these,” the pegasus nodded to the four impossible fabric stretchers, “weren’t enticin’. But, they ain’t why Ah love you.

“Ah love ya for what’s in here,” she broke hand contact to poke Flurry in the forehead, just below her horn, “And in here. Behind the hooters.” She then patted one of Flurry’s top shelf tits before reclaiming the princess’ hand. “So, just remember; no matter how big or how many you’ve got, Ah love you fer you.”

The flier punctuated the statement with a gentle kiss to Flurry’s blushing cheeks. Zap felt the warmth lighting her own face, but she didn’t care. Flurry soon turned and the pair of paramour ponies engaged in a proper kiss. Zap was content to leave it there, but Flurry went back in, her tongue entering the pegasus’ mouth. The mares hugged tighter as Zap responded, swapping spit as their tongues wrestled one another and invaded the others’ residence. Eventually, short on breath, both ponies broke off the kiss but remained entwined, resting their heads against one another as they looked on the city in the distance.

“You know…” Flurry spoke up once more, instantly gaining the pegasus’ attention. “There… was another reason I hesitated to get rid of these…” Zap didn’t interrupt, her curious gaze prompting the princess to continue. “Well… that night on the rooftop, when you were… sleeping in them. It just felt… right, I guess? And, last night when we slept separately, it just… I don’t know… I guess I missed that feeling? Ugh, this is so confusing.” The alicorn scrunched up her face in frustration, but this brought a soft chuckle from the other mare.

“Well, there’s an easy fix fer that.” Zap said with a smirk. She stood up to fetch the bags of the pair and stacked them as best she could against the small slope of the foot of the mountain. “Here, lean back.” Trusting her, Flurry did as she was asked. The makeshift chair shifted slightly, but held her weight. She sighed as the strain on her back lessened, but was surprised when something, or someone, began squirming through her cleavage. Looking around, Zap was nowhere in sight, but the prismatically maned mare wriggled her head and arms out from within the alicorn’s chest valley.

“Zap?” Flurry stuttered as the orange mare brought her arms up and around the other mare’s neck.

“What? Isn’ this what ya wanted?”

“…Yeah, I guess it is. B-But what about the others seeing us like this?”

“Eh, let ‘em.” Zap waved off the worries as she brought their foreheads together. “This is t’ help you feel better. Let ‘em worry ‘bout bein’ embarrassed. Besides, personally, Ah’m already feelin’ a might bit better mahself.” Zap’s grin was infectious, as Flurry softly laughed before giving the flier another kiss. The pegasus turned onto her side within the cleavage, and the pair simply sat there; enjoying one another’s reassuring presence.

The next morning brought the trickiest part of the journey; avoiding detection from Fillydelphia. Sugar acted as a look-out as the group cautiously moved around the eastern edge of the mountains, five sets of eyes warily shifting between their path and the ominous metropolis behind them. Fortunately, they managed to avoid detection, thanks in no small part to Sugar’s memorization of the guard patrols from previous visits. She wasn’t certain, but Flurry swore she noticed the thestral giving Fillydelphia a cruel glare whenever she looked back towards it. Their progress did not accelerate once past the city, however. Between the nerves of all present and the hinderance of Flurry’s overgrown melons, it was midday before they started to feel safe.

“Everyone, down!” Sugar hissed, ending said safe feeling. The group gathered behind the cover of the woods at the foot of the mountains, Flurry hidden in the back as far in as she could go, and peaked out to see what the thestral had spotted.

There, down on the tracks pointed towards Fillydelphia, was a train. Stopped right in the middle of nowhere, the three cars behind the engine resembled drab containers of steel rather than the colourful coaches Spike and Button remembered from the old kingdom.

“What’s happening down there?” Flurry asked quietly, unable to see due to her position. Button pulled out a pair of binoculars from his bag and zoomed in. Beside the train, he saw a group of anthropomorphic monsters dragging a few chained, barely clothed mares back towards the cars and away from further along the same woods the adventurers watched on from.

“Looks like some slaves tried to make a getaway,” he reported, passing the binoculars to Sugar, who hummed in agreement.

“Poor mares,” she uttered. “Bought from the slave markets in Canterlot. Most likely either heading for resale in Fillydelphia, or to join the harem of the city’s ruler; Naroclav.” There was a noticeable venom in the Lunar Guard’s voice when she spoke that name, but she didn’t elaborate further, and none felt like prodding her when there were far more important matters to deal with.

“Well, what’re we waitin’ for?” Zap asked, drawing her weapons as she stood at the ready. “Let’s get in there an’ save ‘em.” The others looked back and saw Flurry mirroring her special somepony’s actions, though it took her two attempts for obvious reasons.

“No we can’t.” Button shot back. “We don’t know how many enemies are in that train. For all we know, those ponies might be the only ones onboard, and the rest are guards.”

“I agree with Button Mash,” Sugar added. “There is also the possibility of those soldiers calling in reinforcements from Fillydelphia. There’s little chance we’d be able to escape.”

“Because of me?” Flurry asked, her accusatory tone pinning the bat mare to the spot.

“I meant no disrespect, Your Highness,” She backtracked. “But you cannot risk yourself so readily. You’re too important to the Crystal Empire, to all Equestria.”

“If I’m not out there fighting for the average pony, then why should they believe in me to save them?”

“Enough!” Spike shouted as loud as he dared. At the volume, all five turned to see if they’d been spotted. Thankfully not, though Button took the binoculars back and saw the last of the escapees were being loaded back onto the train.

“Argh, fine. We’re going in.”

“Wait, what?” Button asked as the dragon rose, drawing his long crystal lance. The looks of elation ranged from Flurry’s grateful, to Zap’s smug and confident. “Spike, you can’t be serious?”

“Zap and Flurry are right. Besides, with the five of us, we can mop the floor with whatever’s in that train. So get ready for a fight, you two.” He then turned to Flurry as the train’s whistle sounded. “Flurry, think you can stop the train without damaging the cars?”

A nod and confident grin from the princess were all he needed to see. She manoeuvred herself to the front of the group while Button drew his twin crystal swords and Sugar readied her halberd. As the train started rolling, the alicorn’s horn lit up. A similar golden light encompassed the engine before it disappeared in a flash. It reappeared seconds later some fifty metres off the tracks, crashing into trees and onto its side. Her magic then slowed the cars to a stop as the adventurers emerged and rushed towards the train. The doors opened before they could reach them, with eleven monsters in total leaping out, weapons drawn, to meet the heroes in combat.

The battle was swift, but brutal. Flurry stayed back from the frontline of the battle, instead sniping a blast of golden magic clean through a boar monsters’ head. Another warrior, more avian this time, tried to charge her and met the same fate.

A large lizardman swung its axe at Spike, only for the dragon to block it with his lance. The ‘Brave and Glorious’ warrior then wrapped a tail around the lizardman’s ankle, pulling it to trip his opponent before impaling him to the ground with his lance. Another beast, a minotaur, thought to attack Spike from behind, only for the dragon to take flight and backflip to land behind the foe. Without mercy, the dragon kicked the minotaur in the back of the knee, bringing it down to said knees, before grabbing its muzzle with both hands. Growling as he did, Spike pried its mouth open with his claws, and unleashed a concentrated burst of orange flame directly down its throat. A few seconds after the limbs stopped thrashing, Spike let the roasted foe fall dead and retrieved his weapon.

Sugar swung wide with her halberd and dug it deep into the abdomen of a toad-looking monster. Her sensitive swivelling behind her to detect another enemy approaching, she then swung again; sending the slain foe into his ally. As the beast, a more traditional demon, threw his dead comrade to the ground, he turned back to find the tip of the thestrals’ weapon embedded in his throat. Any attempt at a dying strike was halted when Sugar pulled the weapon out, spun low and slashed off the fiends’ leg at the knee. He fell to the ground in a gurgling heap, and the halberd found the mark for its final strike as Sugar spun it around before impaling him in the stomach much as Spike had done.

Zap was having a little more trouble as her opponent was another standard demon soldier. They flittered about in the air above the battle, with the pegasus unable to land the killing blow. The fiendish foe swung with his spiked club, forcing the flier to block with her weapons and fall back. But as the monster raised his weapon for an overhead slam, Zap proved her aerial superiority. She spun effortlessly around the strike, lashing out with her own weapons as she did so. Vinyl’s steel bat created a cracking sound upon hitting an arm, while Bonbon’s short sword slashed a large gash across the foes’ neck. Not waiting to watch the spurt of ebony blood from her foe as he fell limply to the ground, Zap spotted another beast turning towards Flurry. He only managed to advance three steps before Zap shot down like a thunderbolt and rammed him into the ground, the sword impaled to the guard into his back.

Button smirked, pleased to finally get a chance to test his skills in battle. He redirected the axe attack of his orge-ish opponent with both swords, only to swing upwards. Enemy blood spurted out as the axe-holding arm dropped to the ground, while a massive gash ran up the monsters’ body. Another demon swung hard at him with his own long sword, forcing the stallion onto the defensive. Though he was moving backwards, Button managed to fend off each attack and landed a kick to the midsection that stunned his foe. The demon looked back up to see Button had rolled backwards to rise in a ready stance, flanked by Spike and Sugar.

Seeing Zap menacingly float towards the only other monster, this one an insectoid, the demon’s eyes were wide with fear as he dropped his weapon and ran. The bug beast followed suit and the pair flew for Fillydelphia as fast as they could. Flurry’s horn was lit up ready to shoot them down, but an outstretched hand from Spike stopped her.

“Spike, we can’t let them get away!” She protested, lining the two up in her sights again. This time, Spike stood before the alicorn.

“We’ve achieved what we fought for,” he explained as calmly as he could, though there was a definite steely undertone that Flurry could tell wouldn’t tolerate further protest. “If we hurry, by the time reinforcements arrive, we’ll be long gone and these ponies will be safe.” The pair had a tense stare off before Flurry sighed and the glow about her horn dissipated. Looking back, she saw a small smile emerge on the dragon’s face as they joined the others in helping the ponies escape.

There were twenty-four prisoners in all; mostly female, of which only a few were still sane. After gently knocking out those who weren’t, Zap used two of her teleportation crystals to send them to safety in the Crystal Empire. Wanting to avoid the inevitable retribution from Fillydelphia forces, the adventurers took flight once more. Spike relieved Zap of the task of helping to carry Flurry’s chest, while Sugar helped carry Button Mash, much to the stallion’s embarrassment. As evening approached, the five landed at the eastern edge of Rambling Rock Ridge, with not another soul in sight.

“Alright,” Spike announced as he gently set down Flurry’s mounds upon landing. “We’ll set up camp here and head out tomorrow.”

“Wouldn’t it make more sense to sneak in during the night?” Button asked.

“Indeed,” Sugar added. “My vision excels in the night. I could guide us swiftly to our destination.”

“Given what we’ve been through, a nice rest is exactly what we need. Besides,” A quick glance to Flurry revealed she was too busy being eased into a comfortable sitting position by Zap, allowing the dragon to lean in closer to whisper. “Given Flurry’s condition, we shouldn’t push her too hard. Better to be safe than sorry.” Button and Sugar looked to one another before turning back and conceding Spike’s point with nods.

“Now then,” he went on, once again loud enough for all to hear. “Let’s set up camp. We’ve got a big day ahead of us tomorrow.”

Fate, unfortunately, wasn’t done with them for the night.

A bright spark of purple magic erupted from the centre of the group, knocking them all to the ground at various distances. Flurry was temporarily pinned beneath her mountainous mounds and was forced to levitate them up so she could get to her knees. The rest of her friends were scattered about, the boys seemingly out for the count while the other two mares were beginning to stir.

“There you are.” The chilling voice froze Flurry in place. Not just because she quickly realised her sword was out of reach, but because there was a sliver of familiarity to it. Looking up, her blood ran cold.

The newcomer had the appearance of a pony, though far more sinister than the ones they had rescued earlier. A dark purple coat covered her beautifully slender body. At least, the top half, as from the waist down she rose upon a long serpentine tail of similarly coloured scales. Her sexual equipment was hard to ignore. Like Flurry, she sported four breasts, though these chest hams larger than a pony’s head. If the princess had to guess cup size, she thought this mare was an H or I cup. She also sported a large and hard equine cock with orange-sized balls hanging beneath. Large, black-feathered wings spread wide behind her, working in their purpose as an intimidation tactic. Her gaze was also intimidating; the whites of her purple eyes were a glowing teal, like the ethereal flames that resembled glasses. Her mane rose like a flame of black and purple behind her long unicorn horn.

An alicorn. A corrupted alicorn. Eyes widening, Flurry’s gaze swiftly shot to the mares’ hips where, her heart sinking like a stone, she saw it. Beneath a glowing, tribal heart emblem was her cutie mark. A pink star burst with five white stars surrounding it. Slowly, she looked this newcomer in the eye, her fears overtaking her.

“A-Aunt Twilight?” Flurry stuttered, the telltale sting of tears beginning to build behind her eyes.

“Aw, you remember me.” The pony spoke, though the sweet turn soured to a vitriolic degree as her expression rapidly changed to rage. “It’s a shame, however, that your actions have cost me EVERYTHING!” A flash of purple magic quickly stripped princess bare. The dark alicorn’s tail lashed out, swiftly coiling around Flurry’s body. Her arms and wings were pinned to her sides, leaving her breasts out for the mare to lean menacingly over.

“How cute, you’ve taken after me.” The familiar stranger taunted. “Let’s see how sensitive they are.” Without delay, purple hands dug into white titflesh and pillowed out in-between the fingers, instantly forcing out a moan from the princess. She felt what could’ve only been this newcomers’ cock poking at one of her lower breasts, smearing it was pre cum as the molester’s hands moved to her near fist-sized nipples.

“Get away from her!” A shout to Flurry’s right inspired hope, as both mares turned to see both Zap and Sugar moving towards them. Zap’s momentum, however, was instantly stopped as a purple aura of magic encompassed and lifted her off the ground. Sugar closed in and swung her halberd for the kill, yet the impact never came as the weapon vanished from her hands. A clatter on the ground behind them revealed its fate, while the thestral was levitated up helplessly like Zap alongside her.

“Well, well.” The dark alicorn mused, still kneading Flurry’s tits like dough. “What have we here? You’ve grown up so much, Zap Apple.”

The response caught the flier off guard. “How’d you know ‘bout me?” She growled, prompting a smug laugh.

“Oh, that’s right. It’s impossible for you to remember. I was the one who helped birth you.” The statement shot ice into Zap’s veins. Her head unconsciously shook side to side the slightest degree in denial. “Oh, come on,” the fiend teased her more. “You’re an Apple, you should know I’m not lying. I helped deliver all of you and your siblings the night your parents finally fell.” She leant back, sighing dreamily as she pulled on the princess’ nubs and ignored her cries. “Ah, good times.”

“Release us, fiend!” Sugar barked, though this order was answered with a purple flash. Looking down, both trapped mares discovered all of their clothing had been teleported off, baring the bat mares’ C cup breasts and wide hips in all their splendour, as well as Zap’s sizeable melons.

“Hm… How about… no.” Midnight laughed at her apparent joke as magical hands materialised around the floating ponies. They quickly got to work; caressing and fondling every inch of skin. Zap squirmed helplessly as her breasts were squashed and rolled around, while another hand dipped between her thighs and traced her vulva. Beside her, Sugar was bent forward as the hands massaged and squeezed her large backside. Moans began escaping her as a finger started delving into her lower lips, only for her upper ones to have a different hand plunge two into her mouth.

“Aunt Twilight-Ngh! P-Please…” Flurry begged as the pleasure interrupted any attempt at spellcasting. “Y-You’ve, g-gott-Aargh! Hah! Gotta… stop this. T-This isn’t you!”

“And you think you know me so well, do you?” The mare sneered in Flurry’s face, twisting her teats to inflict more sexual pain and pleasure. The princess winced, moaning as the tail wrapped around her only tightened as the moans of the other two mares filled her ears.

“Y-You, are my aunt…” Flurry panted, struggling to string words together. “P-princess-AH! T-Twilight… Sparkle.”

“No!” The mare hissed as she delivered a harsh slap to one of Flurry’s titanic tits. The snowy flesh rippled as the alicorn gasped, the sensations only amplifying the pleasure. “Close, but not close enough. I was your aunt, but Twilight Sparkle was weak. Too weak to protect Equestria. I am her wiser, prettier, and far more powerful better self. I am Midnight Sparkle!” Tears formed in Flurry’s eyes as the statement sunk in. She knew from what Applejack had told Starlight back in Appleloosa that her aunt had been corrupted like the other element bearers. But to be this broken? To become a dark parody of everything Flurry thought her wise, heroic aunt was? It felt like a dagger to her very soul.

“Ah, beginning to sink in, is it?” Midnight asked, seemingly revelling in her nieces’ anguish. “Well, it’s too late for you to beg for forgiveness. Your little invasion cost me my position in the Empress’ court, my laboratories beneath Canterlot, and my future rule of this empire. So, it’s time you experienced a taste of what the rest of us alicorns have endured!” With that, Midnight’s magic pressed all four of Flurry’s breasts together tightly before the corrupted alicorn plunged her rock-hard cock into the chasm of cleavage. The slap of skin on skin echoed out across the ridge, as did the moans and cries of the three captured mares.

“Ah. So tight.” Midnight growled hungrily. “I’ve got to say, Flurry, your tit pussy’s so good. Almost as tight as a real vagina.” Her crying niece offered no response outside of sobs and moans. The former element of magic grinned manically at the sight, and accelerated her thrusts into the plush bust.

Footsteps alerted Midnight to another approaching threat, and she reached an arm out to channel her magic. The barrier she summoned blocked the twin swords of Button, finally on his feet. Seizing the initiative, she tripped the earth pony with her magic before teleporting him into his birthday suit and floating him up. Examining the stallion, she noticed his equipment was starting to unsheathe, though not fast enough for the intellectuals’ taste. Changing the magical composition of the levitation spell around his crotch, Button’s stallionhood flashed pink for a moment before quickly rising to full mast.

“Oh girls?” Midnight called out far too cheerfully given the situation. “Why don’t you help out our friend here?”

With his hands pulled behind his back, Button watched as Zap and Sugar were floated over to him. Both mares were flushed from the attention they’d received, and were bent forward with their breasts pressed tightly together. Before Button could voice any protest, such thoughts were wiped from his mind by the soft sensation of two pairs of tits surrounding his cock. The mares were floated up and down, their busts stroking the hard prick lodged within. As the stallion squirmed and moaned, both pegasus and thestral cried out as the magic hands that had been fingering them had morphed into glowing dildos that now dove deep into their folds.

“Aww, they’re such good friends already.” Midnight mocked as she went back to hammering away at her nieces’ cleavage. With the background noise of the other three ponies forced to pleasure each other, the corrupted alicorn picked up the pace, and felt the pressure of an oncoming orgasm. A twisted idea formed in her mind as she paced herself slightly, grabbing Flurry’s top two nipples and channelling magic into them. An identical field of magic surrounded her lower nubs, while the tip of her snake tail prodded at Flurry’s sopping sex.

“Oh my,” the elder princess exclaimed. “Experienced, are we? Well, that makes me feel that little bit better about what comes next.”

“T-Twi… light…?”

Midnight suddenly accelerated on three fronts, quickly pushing herself over the edge of orgasm. As her obscured cock painted the inside of Flurry’s chest with sperm, the former element bearer rammed her tail tip as far as it would go into the younger alicorn’s pussy. The spell channelled into those bloated white chest balloons ignited as well, and a familiar pressure returned and rapidly grew within her breasts. In the span of a few seconds, Flurry felt the pressure build and tighten her chest until it couldn’t be contained any further. Her nipples erupted with a deluge of milk roaring out. Four streams akin to firehoses sprayed their creamy bounty out onto the soil of the ridge. The release, coupled with the intrusive tail and jizz-coated cleavage, forced Flurry to cum as well. Her pussy squirted around Midnight’s tail as she spasmed, the fresh dairy surging out in yet another burst.

“Twilight.”

“And now,” Midnight sighed with malicious glee as she turned her dear niece around to land on her eternally-spraying udders, leaning in and spreading her flanks to get a look at her still-twitching pussy. “I’ll make a real mare out of you.”

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!”

The roar silenced everything for miles around. Midnight froze. Her concentration vanished, meaning so too did her magical constructs and fields. The three ponies fell to the ground in a panting, tired heap as the alicorn backed away from her nieces’ ass, her eyes wide as saucers and her mind racing at this seeming impossibility. Slowly, as if time itself was purposely crawling to spite her, she turned around to see who that familiar voice belonged to. She feared the answer, yet looked anyway.

Standing there, staring at her with saddened green eyes, was Spike.

Midnight’s jaw dropped. Her mouth moved, yet no words escaped her. Her fingers twitched and arms raised and lowered, unsure what to do before going limp in shock along with her wings. Even her mane, floating like some ethereal flame, fell around her face; framing her in an even more broken visage.

“S-Spike?” She finally stuttered, slowly slithering towards him as Zap crawled over to the still-lactating Flurry behind them. But they were invisible to Midnight Sparkle now. Unimportant, compared to the now adult dragon that stood before her. “B-But-But how? You… You’re supposed to be dead. Oh, come on, Midnight. If Talvira lied to you about so many other things, she could lie to you about this. Still…” The alicorn came out of her rational over-thinking to stare back at Spike. “How…?”

“I wanted to come after you girls, Twilight, honest.” Spike explained, taking great care not to move too quickly for fear of spooking the pony knew better than any other. “But Starlight sent me to the Crystal Empire once she thought it was too dangerous…” He wiped away moisture from his eyes to notice Midnight was close to tears as well. “I’m sorry, Twilight. I should’ve come sooner.”

“…No, you shouldn’t have.” Midnight forced herself to respond, her voice barely a whisper as she held onto her arms tightly. “Like I said; Twilight Sparkle is gone. I’m all that remains of her. I am Midnight Sparkle now.”

“You’re wrong. I know you’re still in there, Twilight.”

“Oh yeah?” Midnight sneered, beginning to rise to her full height. “And how would you know? I could crush you in an instant.”

“If you wanted me dead, you wouldn’t have waited this long.” Spike’s swift shift of tone to one of steely determination threw the alicorn’s confidence for a loop. “The Twilight I remember would never threaten me. Never hurt me. So if you really are a completely different pony, then prove it and strike me down.” Spike fought through the pain of declaring such a challenge, as well as the small fear that his beloved Twilight really was gone. He’d heard from Rarity a tiny glimpse of the horrors Midnight Sparkle had inflicted on ponies, but he pushed that aside for now. His green eyes locked onto her purple ones and refused to look away. He needed to be strong now. For her.

Midnight’s eyes twitched, and she shook her head as if trying to rid herself of something. Whether it was tears or some perceived mental weakness was unclear to the dragon, but he maintained eye contact all the same. The alicorn raised her hand above her head and into a fist, holding it in the air for a while. Her arm began trembling, her face contorting in pained expressions as her breathing quickened. A few times her arm moved forward slightly, as if to strike the warrior down like he dared her to. Yet every time her arm had barely moved an inch before pulling back. The war in her mind was all consuming. In her mind’s eye, Midnight didn’t see a muscular, armoured dragon appealing to her past self. She instead saw the baby dragon she had helped hatch. The dragon who had been one of her earliest friends and companions. A dragon she had considered a younger brother.

“DAMN IT!” Midnight roared, her arm finally swinging down. The impact created a massive thud echoed out as much as Spikes’ previous roar had. Button and Sugar had reclaimed their weapons, but a weary Flurry held them back with her magic, waiting to see the result. As the dust cleared, the group saw Midnight sitting before Spike, her clenched fist pulled from the shattered rock beside her. Then the ponies heard a sound they weren’t expecting to hear.

Midnight crying.

“I… I-I’m sorry, Spike.” She blubbered, her hands covering her face as her shoulders shuddered. “I ‘m too far gone. I’ve done so many terrible things and…I’m not strong enough….” Spike sighed as his heart broke at the sight. Slowly, he knelt before the alicorn and extended his claw, waiting for her to notice before saying his piece.

“Twilight,” he said, pushing through the emotion threatening to choke him up and blur his vision with tears. “The fact you didn’t hit me proves you’re strong. Strong enough to resist the darkness. Strong enough to trust me. You once trusted others to help you save Equestria… You’ve trusted me to save the Crystal Empire. Now, I’m asking you to trust me enough to save you.” Through watery eyes, Midnight looked back and forth from Spikes’ hopeful gaze to his extended claw. Her arm wearily lifted itself as if to take his hand, but hesitated. One more glance into those green draconic eyes seemed to be enough, however, and the alicorn instead fell forward into a tight hug, crying into his shoulder.

“I… I’m so sorry Spike.” She wailed, her cries stabbing at Spike as her hugged her back, stroking her mane to help her calm down. Looking beyond his pony sister, he saw the rest of the group looking on with varying expressions; from Button and Sugar’s shock, to the small but heart-filled smiles of Flurry and Zap. Nodding back at them, Spike dug into his bag and pulled out three reformation gems before pressing them into Midnight’s back.

The tell-tale burst of brilliant light erupted in Rambling Rock Ridge, with another smaller light racing across the sky. The lavender streak shot from east to west, only stopping its advance as it circled over the town of Ponyville. The horde of monsters below, as well as the just returned army from the Storm Kingdom, looked up to see the light rocket up into the clouds. A few seconds passed before the sky opened. The clouds were split apart in the definitive shape of a six-pointed star, before expanding out to encompass the entirety of the airspace above Ponyville. As a confused and tense Princess Nodabba looked on, the lavender light suddenly spiralled around and shot back east. Past the Everfree Forest and to the eastern edge of Rambling Rock Ridge. Descending rapidly, it soon found its brethren and embedded itself into the guard of Flurry Hearts’ sword. The glow died down and revealed a magenta jewel in the shape of another six pointed star, and Flurry didn’t need an explanation as to what this artifact was.

“The Element of Magic.” She murmured reverently.

Said element shone for a moment, and a similar glow encompassed her body. She felt the changes shift and pressures ease before the light died down. Looking down her body, the princess could tell her breasts were a little smaller. The second notable fact was her milk production had finally slowed down. Though they still felt uncomfortably full, at least they weren’t constantly gushing with milk. The third and perhaps biggest change, however, was one she felt with her hands. She had lost a breast. Now there were only three; the third one taking centre stage on her stomach, forming a triangle of tits.

Looking back over, she saw Spike untangling from the hug with her aunt. Her reformed aunt.

Well, mostly reformed.

The mares’ coat was now more lavender than dark purple, with a straight purple mane adorned with a pink and magenta strip running down the length. Fluffier lavender wings adorned her back, now somewhere between her own and Zap’s in terms of size. Her horn was now that of a standard unicorn, if perhaps a bit longer. Her purple eyes had regained their whites, and the teal energies that had surrounded them likes glasses had vanished, much like the glowing emblem over her cutie mark. Sadly, there were still some corruptions. The snake tail remained in place of normal legs. She also still had four breasts, though they had decreased in size to about F cups. The last thing of note was, though her cock and balls had vanished and her marehood was visible once more, the clitoris seemed a bit wider and longer than on most mares, Flurry thought.

Those changes didn’t matter, however, as Twilight Sparkle rose as a free mare for the first time in nearly two decades. Turning to see her heavily buxom niece, she seemed to shrink in on herself. But a reassuring hand on her shoulder and a nod from Spike gave her the strength to move ahead. She slithered towards the princess and, though Sugar stood ready to jump in, Zap lowered the halberd and held her back.

Twilight lowered herself before Flurry, uncertainty and guilt written all over her tear-stained features. But before Twilight could even utter a syllable, golden magic encompassed her and pulled her into a hug from her fellow princess. The tears flowed anew from both alicorns as Spike knelt behind them and embraced both mares, the three family members releasing years upon years of separation and pain. But these tears shed were happy ones also.

For the Princess of Friendship had returned. Not just to Equestria, but to her family.

Author's Note

Flurry Heart Stats:
Purity: 3/3
Will: +3*
Strength: +5*
Defence: +4*
Speed: -6*
Magic: +6*
Items:
Crystal Sword: +1 to Strength
- Element of Honesty: +1 to Strength
- Element of Laughter: Can reroll one Will Check per chapter
- Element of Generosity: +1 to Defence
- Element of Magic: +1 to Magic
Dream Amulet: Automatically pass Will Checks in regards to dreams
Crystal Buckler Shield: Advantage on Strength Checks
Horn Ring: +1 to Magic
Reformation Gems x1
Teleportation Crystals x3
Rations x8
Corruptions:
Expanded Breasts (P cup): -11 on Speed Checks
Lactation (2/3): Disadvantage on Will Checks
Multiple Breasts (3 total): Disadvantage on Will and Defence Checks

Zap Apple Stats:
Purity: 3/3
Will: +4
Strength: +5*
Defence: +2*
Speed: +6*
Magic: +1
Items:
Dream Amulet: Automatically pass Will Checks in regards to dreams
Flying Goggles: Advantage on Speed Checks
Wonderbolt Uniform: +2 to Speed Checks and +1 to Defence Checks
Steel Bat: +1 to Strength Checks
Crystal Short Sword: +1 to Strength Checks
Reformation Gems x2
Teleportation Crystals x4
Rations x6
Corruptions:
Expanded Breasts (D cup): Disadvantage on Speed Checks

Spike:
Purity: 3/3
Will: +3
Strength: +6*
Defence: +4*
Speed: +3
Magic: +1
Items:
Dream Amulet: Automatically pass Will Checks in regards to dreams
Crystal Armour: +1 to Defence Checks
Crystal Lance: +2 to Strength Checks
Reformation Gems x1
Teleportation Crystals x2
Rations x2
Corruptions:
None

Button Mash:
Purity: 2/2
Will: +1
Strength: +3*
Defence: +3*
Speed: 2
Magic: +0
Items:
Crystal Sword x2: +1 each to Strength Checks
Crystal Armour: +1 to Defence Checks
Reformation Gems x4
Teleportation Crystals x3
Rations x2
Corruptions:
None

Sugar Silhouette:
Purity: 2/2
Will: +4
Strength: +3*
Defence: +2*
Speed: +3
Magic: +1
Items:
Halberd: +1 to Strength and Defence Checks
Rations x1
Corruptions:
Expanded Ass (1/3)

End of Week Corruption Advances:
Flurry Heart: Expanded Breasts (D to E), Lactation (0/3 to 1/3), Multiple Breasts (3 total)

Four elements down. Two to go. Granted, those two will likely be the hardest for different reasons. There was a lot more romantic fluff between Flurry and Zap in this one than I had planned, though I included it not just because I thought it important to see the relationship continue to deepen, but also because I felt like, earlier in the story, there were more story moments like this. Moments that let the characters breathe rather than jumping from point to point rapidly. Looking back, I feel like the story lost that somewhere along the way, so hopefully I'm able to bring that element back.
I had also intended for the chapter to keep going until they arrived at the castle, but it was already long enough as it is, and I felt this was a good point to end it off.

To the votes and the late voters made the character option a tight race. Letting Sugar join got out to a big lead, only for sending her back to the Empire to tie it all up. In the end, a coin toss decided she stays around to help out.
For the others, despite a late mini-surge for Canterlot, reuniting Midnight with the party was the clear winner. An interesting mixed bag in regards to which monster Lyra will become, with a lamia winning out. Specifically a medusa, which is an interesting choice I not only hadn't thought of, but also was surprised to see more than one voter suggest. As for the gems, the no vote won out in the end, letting Flurry keep her massive melons.

Character:
Allow Sugar Silhouette to join the mission: 12
Send her to the Crystal Empire: 12
Extra 1:
Flurry Heart's location: 14
Canterlot: 7
Crystal Empire: 3
Extra 2:
Standard Demon: 3
Mammalian: 0
Draconic: 5
Insectoid: 1
Arachnoid: 2
Avian: 1
Lamia: 7
Other (type what kind of monster): 3
Gems (Type for who and how many (zero gems is allowed))
0: 10
1: 1
2: 5
3: 2
4+: 5

Now onto the next vote, and it's time to decide how to tackle the Everfree Forest and freeing the Tree of Harmony, as well as some more potential romance. We also get to decide if Twilight, like Rarity before her, helps the party out.

Action:
Teleport into the forest with Twilight's help
Sneak in on foot
Fly in above the treetops
Character:
Accept Twilight's offer
Not right now
Gems (Type how many):

As always, I hope you enjoyed the chapter, and Happy Voting!