The Bewitching Hour

After what felt like days, Beatrix Belladonna finally returned to the manor with her latest recruits in tow. The clockwork world she encountered had been one of the more unique visits. Likewise, the couple she befriended there proved equally eccentric. “Welcome to my humble abode! Well, technically, it's Bellatrix's. But still! Feel free to make yourselves at home!”

“Hmm. Not at all what I imagined,” observed the first of the pair. A woman named Esmerelda, who from the moment she stepped into this dimension had become a white-furred thestral. Garbed in a silky white dress, a pair of braided pink twin tails swept behind her lithe form. “But it’s quite lovely nonetheless!”

Her equally posh lover stood tall and voluptuous. Camellia was shrouded in a black transparent gown, becoming a deathly pale thestral on arrival here. A cascade of silky black hair trailed behind her. Pallid features were adorned by crimson eyes, most of her face hidden behind a porcelain mask with scarlet teardrops that ran down her cheeks. She drew her lips into a line. “Reminds me of one of our previous mansions. We called it the 'Womb of Conception' of our time.”

Beatrix shrugged. “Ehh! We never bothered with a name. Although we've redecorated it plenty of times!” She brandished an arm towards the murals on display that offered fleeting looks into her various adventures.

The couple wandered about the foyer, where Ebony Ivory had taken a seat near the hearth that lit her striped skin. Across from her, Lady Ewe warmed her hands at the stoked fire, thankful to be back somewhere familiar.

“It's quite unusual tae not have th’ twins greet us immediately,” noted Oona, her palms raised by the fire. A warm glow enveloped her while it crackled. “Ah take it they must be swamped.”

“We can head in further once everyone's ready,” said Ebony, who smiled at her.

There was a click of heels when two crystal maids made their appearance, their uniforms hastily stuffed back on. The pair bowed in unison, greeting with, “Welcome! Forgive our tardiness! Our names are-”

“Foal-Bearer and Wet Nurse,” replied Camellia, who studied them. “Beatrix Belladonna has told us much about you.”

“You’re even more appetizing than described! Quite the delectable pair of treats~!” Esmerelda licked her lips in open approval.

“I’m sure there'll be plenty of room for ‘dessert’ after we see what Moxxi’s got planned,” said Beatrix, who practically skipped about, not wanting to keep everyone waiting a moment longer. She took her lover's hand and headed towards the back since she noted the twins left the pool room, their manes and fur mildly wet.

Pretty soon, everybody settled into the spacious chamber, where the translucent waters cast a tender, almost eerie luminescence across the walls. The soft glow was cast across their bodies, most of those present already in various swimsuits, trunks, and bikinis, a volleyball net spread across the center of the pool.

Beatrix transmuted her costume into a sling piece with a hand wave, her heels, gloves, and hat banished. She slid into the waters with a coo while the twins offered a wide selection of swimwear to their guests, who ranged from conservative to scandalous. The new arrivals picked out their pieces.

“Alright, people!” Wispy Willow yelled. “Time to choose sides! We need to form a couple of teams!” Kitsune naturally chose to stay by her sister, while everyone took a moment to make their selection.

“Dae bear in mind that this is a friendly contest,” Oona reminded, knowing her brother could get competitive.

“Oh, relax!” Bellowed Dion, his scarred chest proudly on display. “Nothin’ wrong wit some lighthearted banter tae rile up each other!”

“We'll need team leaders, won't we?” Midnight beamed wide. This took him back to some of the military games the cadets partook in!

There was a moment taken to confer, whereupon Beatrix studied the potential players. She relaxed in the waters and did a headcount; Oona, Dion, Midnight, Moonlight, Cerise, Wispy, Kitsune, Foal-Bearer, Wet Nurse, Esmerelda, Camellia, Moxxi, Ebony Ivory, Bellatrix, and of course, herself.

“Oh, I won’t be participating,” announced Bellatrix, who sat on the pool's side, fully naked when she dipped her clawed feet into the waters and swished. “I’ll act as referee. That should help even things out.”

“Pft! Sounds more loike an excuse, ya lazy bum,” taunted Moxxi, who smirked at her. “Afraid I’ll wipe the Rory wif ya in volleyball~?”

“Call it what you like. I see no reason for me to play,” the succubus answered with a dismissive wave aside. “Sister, you should lead your team. You'll need the experience on further adventures, I'm sure.” The witch offered a reluctant nod; Oona, Dion, Midnight, Moonlight, and Cerise quickly sided with her in the game to come.

“Then I will lead the other team,” decided Ebony Ivory, who was used to her own hunts in the wilds, and had trained many warriors.

“Hmmm. Still a bit uneven,” noted Moxxi before popping over onto Beatrix's side. “There we go~!”

“No funny business, Imp,” warned Wispy, who formed a harmless plasma ball atop her palm. “Mind if I go first? I’ve got a wicked serve that’ll knock the bikini right off of your sweet asses~!” The tigress teased with a toothy grin.

“Just don’t be surprised when Ah send it back tae ye, pussy cat,” laughed Dion, who pounded his barrel chest with his fist.

Everyone took their positions. Bellatrix sounded a whistle, and Wispy spiked the orangey ball. Dion intercepted and returned the attack, while Bellatrix reminded them that magic or flight was forbidden; everyone would have to rely on their natural abilities to succeed. The aglow sphere sailed back and forth, batted between them.

Dion realized his side was clumsier in comparison to many of the veterans that opposed them. His sister and Beatrix were usually reliant on their spells, while the rest of them were talented amateurs, at best. Midnight and Moonlight were mostly used to airborne skirmishes, while Cerise could hardly pass as a natural fighter.

By contrast, Kitsune held back, aware she had a significant advantage due to her alterations. On the other hand, her sister went all-out, as did most of her team, with the twins clearly the least skilled of them, more primed for domestic duties.
The burly ram would have to whip his beautiful lovers into better shape sometime later!

“Point,” stated Bellatrix when Ebony Ivory scored first. The sphere fizzled out with a splash.

“Agh, dammit!” Cried Moxxi. “I’m too short for this. Maybe I outta Scapa Fla aw out-”

“Ah-ah! No abilities,” the she-devil insisted firmly. “That includes transformations of any sort.”

The imp responded by sticking her tongue out at Bellatrix before forming a huddle to confer with her teammates.

“They're unbelievably fast,” admitted Cerise, who, despite her nimbleness, struggled to keep pace with their enhanced opponents. “I hate to say it, but we're extremely outclassed here! We need a sound strategy if we wanna win!”

“Maybe we should treat this as a chess game,” offered Midnight, who cocked an eyebrow when he embraced his wife into his fluffy plume.

“Or you could hit them with a blitz attack,” added Moonlight as she squeezed her herd mates close.

“I'm sorry, but wot does chess 'ave ter do wif 'ittin’ a bloody ball?” Berated Moxxi, a hand on her hip.

“We need tae take this more seriously, laddies and lasses,” said Dion, who met Wispy's teasing stare with his own.

“I am serious,” assured Moonlight.

“Don’t get yerself worked up, brother,” Oona snipped. “It’s only th' first match!”

“A match Ah don’t intend tae lose!”

Moonlight groaned. “Ugh! If only we could use our wings! They're natural parts of us-!”

"Some of us," noted Cerise who had maintained her thestral form to the point where it felt natural. To think she was once an earth mare!

A light bulb lit up inside the blue pegasus's head. “Ooh! Let me serve. I’ve got an idea!”

Wispy tossed the ball over to Midnight, who flexed his expansive wingspan, ready to bat back whatever sailed their way. When their turn came, he used his expansive plume to serve and spike the ethereal ball which sailed and left a shiny trail across the air; whereupon Kitsune leaped to intercept it, much to his sheepish chagrin.

“Fuckin' ninja,” the imp growled as the sphere raced between both sides back-and-forth. Each time a team scored, Bellatrix scorched the air with another fiery pillar on each side, until she finally decided to call the match. Cheers erupted from Ebony's team, while the losing side did as promised and removed their swimsuits, letting the victors eye their immaculate nude bodies.

“Awfurfuxakes…” Grumbled Dion, who slapped the pool water.

“Told you I had a killer curveball,” Wispy said with a sultry swerve of her hips. She licked her chops as she took a moment to admire the scars on his chiseled musculature; cat eyes lit up in satisfaction. “Better luck next time, big guy~!”

“It’s only a game,” reminded Ebony, who approached and offered her hand. “Good match!”

With a low sigh, Dion managed a smile and firmly shook. “Aye. Looks like Ah need to whip mah team intae shape.” He turned to study them, determined to draw out their hidden potential.

By this point, Bellatrix had banished the flames until the next match. She lazed from her vantage over the pool, where the imp appeared in a poof by her side, still wearing her one suit. “C’mon, Bella! Lighten up on the restrictions. Let me cut loose wif me full form! Ya kna you’re dyin' ter see me stretch this tiny bikini~” She tugged at her top until it snapped back into place, providing an eyeful jiggle of her breasts.

This earned a giggle from the red-skinned demoness. “If I did, no one would want to play the game. And we're treating this more as an exercise of leadership.” Bellatrix glanced over to Beatrix’s team, who were conversing about a better strategy. “Your team is made up of skilled yet clumsy players,” she noted. “Of course, most of them aren't natural warriors, whereas Midnight and Moonlight are still young and lack much in the way of real field experience.” Her attention turned to Ebony's far more disciplined team, many of whom reveled in their victory. “Still, I wouldn't bet all my horses on Ebony’s team yet. Pride could easily undo them.”

“Oh, ya can count on that! I’ve got a few tricks up me sleeve,” replied Moxxi before snapping her fingers to remove her swimsuit.

“No cheating,” chided Bellatrix before patting the imp's head. “For the moment, Dion has been the one carrying the team. Midnight and Moonlight may be talented, but their skills are nonetheless untempered. Besides, after these bouts are over, we still need to heal the manor's wounds...”

“Not a problem.” Moxxi snickered, well aware that to replenish the eldritch beast, they would have to draw on the sexual releases of everyone present. Her eyes traced over all the beautiful people here, many of whom were pent up.

A short rest later and the next match was called. Esmerelda and Camellia, who had been watching from their table, rose to take a stroll around the translucent pool. The twins, who had served them tea, bowed and followed close behind. Cerise, Midnight, and Moonlight stretched, determined to limber up and prove to Dion they weren’t liabilities. Both teams retook their places.

“I'll take the next shot,” proclaimed Moxxi, who accepted a newly built ball of raw plasma. Water splashed when she shot up and spiked the ball with a hard thwack of her tail.

“Whoa,” cried Wispy when her side failed to intercept it. “Damn it!”

“Nice serve,” observed Esmerelda in her posh voice. “But can you keep that momentum?”

“Oh, I highly doubt that,” answered Camellia in a clipped manner, her lips drawn in a thin line.

“That’s the attitude that befell most of my enemies,” Beatrix shot back with a cocky grin.

It wouldn’t be the first time she had to disprove her doubters!

Guided by Dion's instructions, Beatrix's team strove to catch up over the hour. Points were scored by each side, announced by another fiery plume Bellatrix summoned to mark the occasion. Pretty soon, Beatrix's team panted, pushed to the brink while the score ended up neck-in-neck.

“A tie,” observed Kitsune, thoughtfully studying the fires. “The next point decides it.”

“So luck swayed over to their corner,” said Wispy, who crossed her arms and pouted. “Big deal!”

Ebony shook her head. “No, we were complacent. It’s because of that they've closed the gap in such a short time.” She smiled warmly at their opponents, unable to deny the pride that lit her features. “In my tribe, competition is a healthy part of our sports. It's how we warriors help push each other past our limits to empower the tribe.”

“Doesn’t mean they’re not amateurs,” scoffed Camellia, who dismissively shook her head.

“Let's not let them embarrass us any further!” Said Esmerelda, who curled the corner of her lip.

“Allow me,” said Kitsune, who took the orb. She narrowed her eyes in focus, sailed up, and spiked the ball, which left her nine tails to flutter behind her. The plasma resembled a shooting star which left a fiery but thankfully harmless trail behind it, batted back by the muscled chest of Dion, who thrust back. Back-and-forth the ball sailed, roundhouse kicked by Cerise with elated cheer.

“Now that’s a pass,” Dion whistled. “Good stuff, lassie!”

“Thanks,” Cerise beamed and huffed. “Win or lose, I'm having a blast!”

“Same here,” said her husband when he and their herd mate stayed close to the princess. When Midnight and Moonlight trained under commander Shining Armor, they often weren't allowed to fly and, in some cases, were forced to maneuver under a labyrinthine maze of tunnels that resembled the hive of their enemies.

“Man, this sucks!” Whined Beatrix, who pushed down all her instincts to use her spells, lest she missed the point of this. Lady Ewe similarly huffed at her side as they strained to keep pace.

“At least under the manor's influence, we were forced to work out,” said Wet Nurse between breaths. “Otherwise, there's no way we'd be able to keep up! It doesn't help that our boobs keep getting in the way…” She tugged on her top.

“I'm sure Sir Dion is, at least, enjoying the show~,” tittered Foal-Bearer, thankful they were allowed to finally relax. Glistening tits and buttocks bounced and wobbled under their movements, droplets of water left to drip down the supple curves of the women and the chiseled musculature of the men who strained to keep up.

Finally, the imp threw her entire body into a rebound, and their ball struck home. “Ye've done it!” Exclaimed Oona when their team erupted into a cheer, and Bellatrix called the match. Moxxi blew a kiss and winked at her opponents.

“Gagh! Looks like we really did get carried away,” admitted Wispy, who grumbled while peeling off her swimwear. The rest of her team reluctantly followed until they stripped down completely.

“It was a close game! Could have gone either way, honestly,” said Beatrix, who exhaled her relief.

“All that matters is the result,” observed Camellia, who dismissed her with a hand wave.

Cerise looked between both teams. “How about a tie-breaker? Just for fun?” After a moment, both sides nodded, a brief moment taken to recover as Beatrix's side basked in their short-lived victory.

While they readied themselves for the next round, Beatrix was reminded this was more than a mere game. No, this too was a training session, an exercise to help strengthen their teamwork and leadership skills, which she seriously lacked.

Yet she might need all of them on her adventures someday. And so, like Oona and Dion often told her, she couldn't afford to simply laze about.

She turned up to Bellatrix, who cast back a mild smile and short nod. A reminder that she could always return home, and that the she-devil would dutifully take care of matters in her absence.

As a bonus, their opponents were nice eye candy, especially with their swimwear now cast aside!

An audible crack on her backside made her hop up, where she met Dion's cheeky smirk. Another reminder that she couldn't afford to let her guard down, either! Especially since she knew old adversaries like Zeloph, Varys, and Shadow Scythe were still out there, somewhere!

The mansion's wound remained a constant reminder of what the reaper had done, and that a clash between them seemed inevitable...