The Bewitching Hour

The procession closed on the border. Night had fallen, and with it came the moon and stars. In contrast to the scorching day, cool settled over the land with the darkness. General White Shadow Penumbra and Lieutenant Lily Longsocks stepped out along the road, climbed the stairs, and overlooked the vast deserts that stretched below, flanked by guards who patrolled the walls.

As expected, the giant scorpions made themselves visible in the dark. Dozens of them climbed the dunes, kicked up sand in their search for prey—empty shells of their cannibalized own left half-buried in the sandy sea.

“Scary,” said Moonlight, who squatted down and perched like a gargoyle at the side.

Midnight gulped, his brow furrowed. “We've really got to fight all those...?”

“Just the stragglers,” explained Penumbra, who surveyed the monsters that attempted to climb the walls, unable to reach their height no matter how many times they leaped. “Though this would be a lot easier if we had some spell casters.”

Ballistas that decorated the barricades were trained below. The patrol made confident they were in working order, loaded up with ammo, with plenty left in reserve. Lily waved and shouted, “Everyone, in position! Wait for a signal!”

Cerise swallowed hard and traced the machine. “I-I've never fired one of these...”

“Here, let me help,” offered Midnight, who clasped her from behind to help direct her. “Reminds me of how we dealt with the changeling using fireworks! One clear shot and… Boom!” Cerise giggled at the thought, playfully wiggling her ample rump against his groin.

“Hey, lovebirds,” called Moonlight who whistled, her own ballista armed to launch its massive arrows. “We can’t have any distractions!”

Penumbra swiped his white saber; an arc momentarily left that split the darkness. Everyone fired at once. A hail of arrows rained down on the creatures, who squealed when the missiles punched through carapaces and exoskeletons in gushers of discolored blood and toxins.

Again and again, they fired; many beasts fell, replaced by more who surfaced in clouds of sand.

“Hey, this is kinda fun!” Cerise exclaimed as more of her bolts struck true. Her mane whipped behind her; her sensual figure pressed back into Midnight, whose hands rested atop her own each time the trigger was pulled. Fresh ammo was loaded into the mechanisms as the troops who didn't man one rushed atop the wall. A couple of hours passed before the last projectile was spent.

Corpses lined the sand ocean below, some stacked upon each other, many impaled by countless skewers. Yet despite the risks, their work wasn't done. Penumbra knew if they stopped now, the abominations would wildly breed out of control, and more would surely make their way into the capital!

Gears rotated and creaked once a portion of the wall started to lower. Everyone waited, tense.

“This is the most dangerous part,” Penumbra warned his sister. “Remember, stay in reserve.”

“Of course,” pouted Cerise whose shoulders slumped. She mumbled her hopes about proving her worth that made his heart ache.

Penumbra and Lily led their own factions into the devil's den to further thin the herd. Again, they were backed by what few casters were on hand. Still, unfortunately, most unicorns like pegasi were almost wiped out by the Eldritch, and they struggled to replenish their numbers, even after over a couple of decades had passed. Thus their magic punch proved lackluster.

The one upside was that more people had learned to weave spells without the aid of a horn. While their talent was often lacking in comparison, together, the amateur magicians were able to wield a variety of basic magic to protect their allies and harm their enemies.

“Maybe I should learn magic,” considered Midnight who kicked off skyward alongside the fliers. "Could be fun, not to mention useful!"

“That could take years of study,” reminded Moonlight, who shook her head while they scoured the battlefield. Cerise flew information with them behind Penumbra, and a number of his soldiers headed towards a mouth-like cavern, where some of the armored scorpions had emerged. Each of them was loaded down with grenades that could be tossed into the pits.

“Go boom!” Called Midnight who tossed an explosive into the hole. He and his lovers covered their ears, met by a fiery explosion that sent shock waves through the air, smoke rising in pillars from fires that licked the night sky.

Moonlight laughed and did a little twirl while she tossed her own at another fissure. “Whee~!”

Laughing with them, Cerise dove and hurled her own. Another boom struck. Driven from their homes, scorpions started to scamper to the surface in droves. Penumbra's white blade seared the head off one that closed in, zipped back from the splash, and waved for his followers to keep their distance. He spotted his wife in the distance, who assailed a crater more arose from.

Moonlight cupped a grenade and asked, “Has anyone ever ventured into their nests before?”

“A few have,” answered Penumbra grimly. “None have ever returned. I doubt the Dragon Lord himself could survive it.”

The earth started to quake. Sand began to fall in, like the mouth of some behemoth had opened, and whipped up a dusty storm. The land below threatened to collapse entirely on itself. Part of the wall crumbled into slabs of stone.

Within seconds the wasteland roared open like the mouth of hell. Swarms of scorpions that numbered in the hundreds started to pour out into the open. The commanders ordered a desperate retreat, more explosives tossed down, which blew up several and stirred up the rest.

Penumbra had never seen anything like this. The monsters started to swarm the barricade and scampered down the roads. “We have to stop them here! We can't let them anywhere near the capital!” He swooped in, rune blade at the ready.

However, it was clear that their army would be overwhelmed. The snap of pincers filled his ears. The foul stink of venomous clouds filled the atmosphere, heavy with discolored blotches that trailed along and threatened to consume his allies. Screams and shouts broke out everywhere.

Penumbra closed his eyes, wondering if he had finally led the ones he loved to their doom.

*****

A unicorn approached the cataclysm, standing at the forefront of a zeppelin. Its shadow started to cross over the perimeter, its bulk lined in sleek armor and painted in various wild colors.

“Bombs away,” he ordered over a communicator, and its payload was dumped on the hordes of scorpions, aim carefully taken to make sure no bystanders would be hit in the assault.

A barrage of hellish explosions rippled throughout repeatedly and lit the darkness. Gray smoke rose, and an inferno raged. The scorpions thrashed and hissed when they cooked within their shells, scorched black while they bubbled and melted, thrashed and blackened.

Cerise flew up, followed by her lovers, and touched down on the deck. “Brother, is that you?”

“Ahah, Sister! Long time no see!” Called back the wiry unicorn who dashed in her direction, dressed in a rainbow of colored silks and scarves. Golden curls trailed after him, contrasting a gray coat that matched his namesake.

Ashen Dunes threw his arms around the charcoal mare, scooped her up, and swung her around as he laughed. “It’s been too long since I've been able to hold my dear, baby sister.”

“H-hey! I’m older than you!” Cerise recalled playfully with a giggle and hugged him back.

“Ah! And this must be your husband. I’ve been eager to meet him,” Ashen said, offering his hand to the blue pegasus after putting her down.

Midnight smiled when he shook it. “Nice to meet you! You're so different from your siblings!”

“I don't know,” said Moonlight, who broadly grinned when Ashen kissed her hand. “He's pretty cheerful, just like Cerise!”

“Wish we could catch up more,” said Ashen, who turned serious. “But first, we must deal with the situation at hand.” He returned to the wheel, steered the ship, and commanded more bombs to be dropped onto the wastelands.

Cannons fired from the sides, manned by his crew. A gasp of surprise came from Cerise, who spotted another pair of familiar faces near the back, ready to rush into battle. “Somnambula! Stygian!? How did you end up here?”

“We were picked up on the way,” explained the priestess who curtsied respectfully to the princess. Somnambula was dressed in a wrapped top, a wrap that left one leg bare, sandals, and gold bands wrapped around her arms and ankles. A turquoise mane was visible beneath her headdress, an ankh on her breast. “It is an honor to serve your family once more, princess.”

Stygian bowed his head; a heavy tome tucked protectively under one of his arms.

Midnight blinked a few times. “Say, isn't that...?”

“The Necronomicon, yes.” The soft-spoken scholar presented the grimoire, its cover lined in dried flesh and the twisted faces of the Eldritch, their souls forever trapped inside its damned pages. Unlike his companion, he wore simple, drab robes, his hood drawn back. “We dare not call on its dark powers, but I do study it, on occasion. We have been seeking a place to-”

“We must save it,” said Somnambula, who touched his arm. He nodded back, their faces drawn in determination. She scooped up more explosives of her own, these enchanted by her partner to multiply their explosive potential many times over, and placed them in a satchel.

“I'm not a warrior like her,” confessed Stygian, who watched in wonder when she sailed into battle. “But I do what I can to aid her!” His horn flared up; bombs wrapped up in his aura, which he tossed into the burning war zone below.

“I'll steer us closer,” said Ashen, who turned the wheel. “Worry not; I'll be careful!” He chuckled, and the airship closed the distance. “Now go get them, you crazy kids!” He winked and smiled back at the fliers, who shot off in tandem.

Supported from the air, more scorpions were either slain or driven back underground over the next couple of hours. The wounded were taken aboard, and his medics immediately tended to them. By the time it was over, there were nearly a hundred casualties on their side...yet Ashen knew that had he not hurried to aid them, his siblings would have been lost to him, too.

This time Penumbra carried Lily's limp body in his arms when he landed. “Please, tell me you'll be okay. I...I can't live without you.” He trembled and held her unconscious body to him, his wife caught in the thick of it to protect her troops.

“Oof! That's quite the nasty wound,” noted Ashen, spotting the sting mark that swelled up on her breast. “You’ll need to suck out the poison!”

“Right,” he replied and trembled when he reached for his curved knife. “Forgive me, my love.” Carefully he cut open the tumor-like mass of swelled up flesh, watched her wince and moan, the rent oozing out the toxins. Unlike him, she had been hit directly, and he pressed his nuzzle to the wound, sucked up, and spat out the bitter venom, aware her chances were slim.

Was this what it was like when Inky Rose had to slice poor, premature Cerise from Pacific Glow's uterus in order to save her...?

Ashen handed the wheel to Stygian and wandered over. “Brother, my ship is well-stocked with the most advanced medicines in the world. But, if necessary, I will work a miracle!” He patted his shoulder and ordered his men by the communicator to fetch more supplies. The deck was a flurry of activity, moans heard from the wounded who were placed upon blankets.

Cerise frowned and clutched her upper arms. “Poor Lily! Thanks for your help! But since when did you have an airship?”

“A while back.” Ashen batted his lashes with a sly grin. “Believe it or not, I won it in a bet! Well, that and a favor. I'll have to look up at the stallion sometime...” He wistfully lost himself in thought, then clapped his hands. “Ah, here they are!”

“A miracle balm,” said Somnambula. “If this cannot save her, nothing in this world will.”

Penumbra applied the balm on his fingers and carefully applied it to Lily's bosom. She whined, pallid skin and fur dotted in perspiration, no doubt haunted by nightmares of her own. At the moment, he assumed her chances were fifty-fifty.

“I will stay in the area, for now, to make certain the scorpions can't invade,” offered Ashen, who raised a hand to his chest, his nails decorated and his fingers lined in different rings. “I, too, am royalty, after all. We are duty-bound!”

“Please do,” pleaded Penumbra, who watched over his wife, his shoulders and plume limp.

Ashen nodded. “In the meantime, make yourselves at home! I will send refreshments.”

An uneasy peace slowly settled over the ship. Despite the losses, they had escaped from the brink of disaster. Delicacies and fine wine were served to everyone present; Ashen determined to make sure everyone was comfortable.

He also offered them the guest cabins below, confident that everyone could use the rest and recreation after a hard-won battle...

*****

Returning to their cabin, Somnambula watched her traveling companion place the black tome on a desk. They had scoured deeper into the world, determined to find a safe spot to bury the accursed Necronomicon once-and-for-all.

But their time shared between old friends had slowly transitioned into something neither could have expected, despite their loneliness.

She caressed his cheek. “You seem troubled.”

“Perhaps a little. That recent eclipse? It's like someone tapped into the book's power remotely,” sighed Stygian who tapped the cover.

“You think the princess is responsible? I thought the same. The darkness that taints her soul has likely mutated. Who knows how much further she shall develop?” The couple considered it while she casually removed her clothes.

He blushed and politely looked away, despite how many times both had seen each other naked by now. Not to mention how much further they'd taken their relationship. Then, finally, she strolled fully nude to meet him with a playful swish of her wide hips. Gently she cupped his chin and lifted it, directed him so that his eyes slowly panned up to her entire body, and cast him a soft smile.

“I-I'm not worthy of you,” he mumbled when she dragged his robes over his head.

“Nonsense!” She pressed an index finger over his lips. “You are kind, loyal, and most importantly, highly intelligent. So what if others cannot see your true beauty? You are handsome to me~!” She kissed her lover, also stripped to show his lean body, a warm, supple body mashed to him.

Like usual, she took the lead. Her wings blossomed out, and she settled down onto him, moaning loudly when she impaled herself on him. She believed the spirits had blessed them with flesh to enjoy themselves, to celebrate life. Her heavy breasts swayed, his palms lifted to rest upon them. Gradually her hips shifted, her plumage fluttering as she worked his shaft over.

Already wet with anticipation, she took it slow for her inexperienced lover, who awkwardly fumbled when he tried to please her. Fortunately, she was content to be intimate with someone she cared about. A stallion entirely focused on her, with whom she could share tales of old with.

They were ponies out of time, neither able to quite adjust to a world that continued to change around them. Each anchored the other.

“I want to do better for you,” he admitted. Then, rising, he decided to try and take control for once, since she usually did most of the work, the priestess placed on her side, and one of her legs lifted once he started to skewer her sideways.

“Ooh~! Yes, Stygian! Right there,” she murmured as his flare scraped against her spongy g-spot from this angle. Her plume fluttered more; her palm rested on his lithe chest, while he cupped her ample bottom and one of her breasts each time he hammered into her.

For the first time, she came before him, usually forced to finish when he went down on her, or by an intense masturbatory session. She cried out and came all over his loins, milked the cock buried in her pussy, until he gasped and emptied himself into her, their cries of ecstasy shared.

“I love you,” he yelled and trembled, ropes of his seed splashed into her womb. She twisted back to kiss him, wrapped her wings around him, while they started to come down from their climax. Yet no sooner did they finish when a knock sounded.

“Just a moment,” she called and popped him free of her. A hand wave worked a simple spell that removed any evidence of their union, not that it bothered her. She opened the door a crack and peeked out. “Princess? We have expected you.”

Cerise was pulled inside by the priestess and blushed when she stumbled in, the door closed behind her. “Is this a bad time?”

“Not at all,” she answered as the scholar sheepishly clutched his robes. “We have seen each other naked many times, after all. I remember the days when I served your father and would routinely bathe alongside you. I often miss those times. But I know the reason you came.” Her plush posterior swayed when she walked away and bent over to collect the tome.

“Yeah. I hoped you two could tell me more about my powers,” said Cerise, who politely looked away while Stygian dressed.

“Unfortunately, we cannot tell you much. We have researched the phenomenon quite a bit.” She opened the ghastly cover and turned the tattered, infinite pages, supernaturally collapsed into a small space. “Princess, your dark power may have infinite potential to mutate.”

“Infinite...?” Her eyes widened.

“I know not for certain. But your father is the foremost expert on the dark arts, and his potential only multiplied once he and the Pony of Shadows became one entity. Princess, I know it is much to ask, but will you demonstrate your power for us? I wish to study it.”

She shivered. “I could try, but...it will put you in a trance. Maybe if I keep my costume on-”

“No. I want to see the full extent of your powers,” replied the priestess who took her slender hands. “We can take a precaution that may be able to nullify the trance's effects. Stygian, whenever you are ready to perform the ritual we discussed?”

“Y-yes, ma’am!” The scholar fetched the potions his lover had prepared, shook them, and opened the tops. A misty perfume filled the interior. Given a moment to settle, he explained, “This should keep us lucid as you…ahem! ‘Work’.”

Cerise nodded happily and took a step back. The lamp was snuffed out to dim the room. Gradually she began the sensuous dance, lost in her own world once her eyes closed, and a playful smile spread across her attractive, innocent features.

First, Cerise discarded her top, followed by the bottoms, her physique fully bared to the couple who studied her intently. Then, the inky darkness submerged the charcoal mare, the black tome resonating in her presence with a hum, until it started to shake and radiate a harsh scarlet.

“Is...is this safe?” Cerise asked with a pursed snout, her concentration momentarily broken.

“We have taken every precaution,” assured the priestess. They watched the dancer resume her movements, until the familiar colorful neon spots appeared on her charcoal fur and flesh, rolled over her contours to enchant her viewers.

While it was all but impossible for the couple to tear their eyes away, nonetheless the ritual protected them from its most potent effects, and they studied the bizarre phenomenon. Finally, Somnambula asked, “May I touch, princess?”

Cerise nodded, and the priestess placed her palms on her contours, rolled them over her supple form. The colors resembled spotlights, warm and radiant. She shimmied like a snake, all but purred when the priestess sensually smoothed over her entire supple physique.

“Fascinating,” whispered Stygian, who moved closer and swallowed hard. “These colors…are they perhaps from your cutie mark?”

“I thought as much,” replied Cerise who had intuited such. “Probably something I inherited from Pacific Glow!” Despite never having met her, she could feel the sweetness of the mare whose soul had become embedded with her own when she was conceived, due to her father.

“That seems sensible. Only an innocent soul could handle the dark arts without the
constant threat of corruption,” he said.

“Yet there are still risks if you push the power too far,” warned Somnambula, who looked at the black tome over her shoulder, swathed in crimson tendrils. “The Necronomicon is much weaker than it once was, but It likely sees you as its ideal host, due to said infinite potential.”

“Guess I'll do, huh? Beatrix used to explore inside it. Wish I could have,” admitted Cerise.

She smiled and set herself free, danced herself almost to exhaustion over the next couple hours, soaked in sweat by the time she finished.

Somnambula lit the lantern. The grimoire laid still. “Thank you, princess. I regret we cannot do more in return.” She warmly embraced her.

Cerise toyed with her mane and thought it over. “Well, there is one thing I always wanted to try...”

*****

Joyous cries rose from Cerise and Ashen, seated atop the back of the priestess-turned-Sphinx. While the airship was grounded for the moment, they were able to race across the morning skies, over the scorched and scarred wastelands below. Stygian rode behind them on the massive, ancient creature while Midnight, Moonlight, and Penumbra sailed alongside them.

The former Sphinx had sacrificed herself to help stop the Eldritch, passed her abilities and knowledge onto Somnambula, the person she loved and trusted above all. Now the priestess made certain the sacred lands were protected.

“A fine gift indeed,” yelled Ashen over the wind, his mane and scarves left to toss in the gale. “It was fortunate I ran into Somnambula and Stygian on my travels!” He kept one hand around his sister's waist while he petted the fur below him.

Slit eyes stared ahead when the Sphinx responded, “The honor is mine. I can take you all home when you are ready. First, however, I would like to see the capital again. And I am sure it would be nice to visit Sombra and Inky Rose.”

“I should be at Lily's side,” said Penumbra to himself. “But the moment she woke up, she insisted I clear my head with my kin.”

Cerise noticed his troubles and called, “How often do all of us get to spend time together?”

“That is true,” said Ashen, who used a telescope to study the areas ahead. Any activity from the scorpions had apparently died out, but his airship would watch over the area until it could be properly rebuilt. In the meantime, he could catch up with a family and country he had neglected, despite his continual efforts to provide them all with a better future through his hard work.

The sun burned over the horizon. A constant reminder that despite the efforts of the invaders, the natives survived and flourished.

Cerise's mouth fell wide open with her eyes when she exhaled and took it all in. “It's beautiful! I've spent too much of my life cooped up. Sure, mommy and daddy let me explore the capital, but guards have always shadowed me.” She sighed. “I know I've given up my rights to any lands, but now I sometimes think, maybe I'd like to have a region to call my own someday...?”

“Are you serious? Because I can help with that,” assured Ashen, who winked.

“Really? That would be wonderful! You hear that, Middy and Moony?” She giggled and pictured it.

“Sounds good to me,” answered Moonlight, who held hands with Midnight at her side.

“You'll make a great queen someday,” Midnight assured, grinning at them both. With his expansive wingspan, he could almost keep up with the Sphinx, who deliberately slowed her travel speed so that the fliers could keep pace.

“I'll support you in whatever you do,” promised Penumbra who nodded. “I'm sure mother and father will be pleased, too.”

Cerise rolled her eyes while she thought it over. “Well, mommy will be worried like always, but I'm sure daddy will be happy to see me take on some more responsibility, at least! I'm pretty sure ambition runs in our blood!” She beamed.

“I'm sure that runs on both sides,” mused Ashen. “Father married our mother because she was crafty and resourceful. Not to mention beautiful! She designed my outfits to my exact specifications!” He toyed with multicolored silks.

“Mine too,” said Penumbra, his own attire more straightforward, but able to bring out his nobility.

Cerise smiled when she recalled asking Inky to make her own costume. A flashy but scant piece crafted to be easily removed. Of course, their mother was delighted at any chance to use her skills! “Maybe I'll have her make me a tiara?”

Ashen added, “How about an entire jewel-studded gown to go with it? You'll look like a
proper princess! Then, the world can be yours!”

“That sounds wonderful! But I'd better not get ahead of myself,” the princess replied, reminded she needed to mature and catch up with them.

The group flew information for the better part of the day without a care in the world. Whatever happened, each one had loved ones who would be there to help them through it. By the time they returned to the ship, the sun started to set.

That evening, King Sombra and Queen Inky Rose threw a feast in celebration, and everyone was invited to attend, the war heroes at the center.

Ashen spared no expense to make sure everybody was content. Lily reunited with her husband, the crisis passed. She hand-fed Penumbra grapes at his side. Cerise drank until she was tipsy. Midnight and Moonlight shared stories about their own world, and its similarities.

Somnambula and Stygian shared their own tales, as did Ashen, who like them, had traveled to exotic lands far across the battered planet.

The attendees lived in the moment, aware that soon enough the time to move on would come.