Undeath and Rebirth

Beams of light occasionally highlighted Triad’s stern visage as the elevator lifted the trio of cybernetic fiends. Beside him, Penny Dreadful was giddily swinging her parasol and swaying to whatever music played in her head. Professor Kilroy hovered between them, arms folded behind him while he patiently waited to see what ‘demonstration’ the cyber demon had in store.

The black stallion continued to stare skeptically at the bionic plague doctor. There was no doubt in his mind that Varys planned to betray his master when an opportunity presented itself. All the more reason to behead the potential traitor where he stood and defend Mortis. He slightly unsheathed his sword, ready to make a quick draw until the elevator reached its destination, signaled by an electronic 'ding.' His frown deepened, pushing his blade back and folding his well-toned arms across his black suit with white pinstripes.

The sliding doors opened, the once hot and barren landscape now under a monsoon, rain, and wind blowing through the cloaking device keeping his enormous factory hidden. Atop the deck was a sparring match between three zebra mares, sparks flying each time their weapons clashed.

“That enough,” Varys commanded, causing the trio to cease all activities. He motioned them to step forward, and Triad’s gaze narrowed as he observed them. Each mare was embedded with few visible cybernetics, most notably the titanium tiaras crowning their heads with glowing jewels. But their stripes rhythmically shimmered with tronic light, implying a more internal augmentation.

The foremost zebra mare, most likely the leader, had a teal blue coloration, withdrawing her spear into a smaller shape. The zebress to her right had tangerine orange glowing stripes and rested her chakram on her shoulder, her other hand on her hip. The final biomechanical mare had orchid purple tron stripes, sporting a flirtatious smile. She wielded an urumi, its whip-shaped blades curled into the hilt.

“I’d like you to meet Zuri, Kali, and Tisha,” the plague doctor introduced as the zebra mares took a knee to bow. “Pundamilia’s future rulers. And now, its greatest defenders. I trust the fruit of my labor is to your satisfaction?”

Zuri raised her head to answer, “Yes, Doctor Varys. These enhancements have taken our battle prowess to extraordinary levels.”

Kali nodded and added, “Our father will certainly be pleased!”

Tisha raised her head and said with a sultry voice, “Let us know if there’s anything we can do to return the favor, master~.”

“Unnecessary,” the plague doctor politely declined. “Knowing that my genius will carry on through you is all the reward I require.” He shifted attention to Penny Dreadful. “How about it? Do you approve?”

“Ooh~! I dare say my expectations have been blown wide open,” she tittered excitedly, eying the zebra mare’s bare transfused flesh. “You saw how fast they were, right, daddy?”

“Mmm, indeed,” acknowledged Killroy, studying Kali in particular. “Just from the short glimpse we received, I can roughly estimate a total ten percent increase in speed! More than what any normal mare her stature could achieve!”

“So they’ve become more agile,” huffed Triad. “But speed alone will not help in the heat of battle. I doubt these mechanized dolls can accomplish much in terms of overall power.”

This earned a sharp glare from each zebra princess, who stood up from their knees. Varys let out a digitalized chuckle, shaking his head. “Still not convinced, I see. Then why not put them to the test?” His vermillion visors shifted to Zuri. “How about it, ladies? Care to show this skeptic how capable you 'dolls' truly are?”

“Gladly,” the eldest zebra princess said with a haughty smirk. She and her sisters nodded to one another as they backflipped into a formation, extending their respective weapons.

Triad scoffed before stepping up, removing his pinstripe jacket and waistcoat, his defined torso and muscular back revealed. The griffoness whistled in appreciation before the outline of his tattoos shined. The dragon and tiger, in conflict with each other, leaped off his body to take a more tangible form, aiding the black stallion by his sides.

As he unsheathed his katana, he proclaimed, “I faced Kitsune and Wispy without needing your ‘upgrades’ and emerged victorious. This won’t take longer than two minutes.”

Varys agreed with equal conviction. “Yes... I'm sure it won’t.”

Growls and roars arose from the swordsman’s cybernetic animal familiars, staring hungrily at the trio of biomechanical zebra warriors. Triad took his stance, muscles enhanced by cybernetics that rendered him stronger, faster, and more durable than the average stallion…

He made the first move; his aim was true, lunging for the head of Zuri… who simply intercepted his attack by a thrust of her spear.

"Nani..?!”

She reacted impossibly fast, stomping her staff to push him off and retaliate. That signaled her sisters to take the offensive as well. With a flash of orange and purple, the zebra princess fought Triad’s familiars, Kali lashing her whip at the tiger while Tisha flung her chakram like a boomerang at the dragon. And even with his keen eyesight, Triad struggled to follow Zuri’s spear, barely able to deflect its jabs and strikes.

Smirking, the cyber zebress stabbed into Triad’s foot, pinning him to the steel ground. With the black stallion temporarily stuck, she bent back her pole before releasing it to smack into his face. He grunted until Zuri pulled her weapon out and stabbed his belly. She hosted him up with ease before flinging him across the factory roof, gushes of black blood smearing the metal surface as she bent her pole back.

Triad clutched his spilling stomach, glaring in disbelief at the proud huntress. Looking past her, he witnessed his summoned beasts similarly dispatched by her sisters. The tiger roared, unable to claw at Kali, who whirled her urumi in front before cracking the blade across its face. The dragon hissed as it was bombarded by chakram replicas while Tisha danced around its talons and tail.

Battered and carved by the sheer force of the zebra mare’s weapons, the techno phantoms collapsed, fading back into the ether. The depictions of the pair returned to his naked back. With their foes vanquished, the younger hunters joined their eldest sister in circling their wounded prey like sharks. They had been toying with Triad, given their mute laughter at his expense. But his focus trained on the one responsible for their technological advancements, who observed silently.

"Gggrrn! Damn you..!" declared Triad as he got back up to swing his katana at the trio. But they all dodged or blocked at unnatural angles before knocking the stallion around with palmed strikes and kicks.

“You’re too slow,” taunted Zuri.

“Outdated!” mocked Kali.

“Pathetic~!” purred Tisha.

All three released one final kick that sent the battered swordsman tumbling to the ground before Varys’ feet. Rain predicated down their athletic bodies, not a single scratch visible on their supple flesh. So long as the hyper-sensitive parasite remained attached to their spinal cords, they could instantaneously react to any and all moves made against them without the hindrance of thought.

“Next time, send us a worthy opponent,” requested Zuri in a gruff tone. "What a waste of our time!"

“That was rather disappointing, wasn't it?” The cyber demon reaffirmed, staring down at Triad. “Excellent work, girls! Demonstration concluded.”

Satisfied with their work, the modified princesses turned away to make their graceful exit, their shapely, silver-sheen hips, and buttocks left to sashay. Once they reported back to the emperor, they would resume their original mission; the conquest of Noble Savage's tribe.

Penny hopped up and down like a child in the candy store. “Ohoho~! That was incredible,” she clamored. “Simply marvelous! Oh, I can hardly wait! Upgrade me, Master Varys! Gimmie~!"

"Patience," chided Varys with a warm chuckle. "The procedure will take time to complete. But soon, you too will be-“

The rest of his words were lost to Triad, who lifted himself back up. He was snarling, shamed, and humiliated by the Vice Lord. His fist balled about the sword hilt, all his focus, and momentum thrown into a precise, desperate attack while his foe was distracted, as the swordsman hurled into the air.

Triad swiped his blade at the masked psychopath’s neck...which Varys predicted. Moving swifter than his assailant, his wrist saw whirled to life and sliced through his katana like a knife through butter.

The swordsman gazed aghast at his broken weapon before the cyber demon grasped him by the neck, the talons of his tail clamped tightly against his gullet.

“Simple-minded fool,” scoffed Varys. “Did you think I wouldn’t already supplant myself with my own upgrades?” A similar jeweled eye glowed from his forehead underneath the glass of his mask. “Surely, I deserve more credit than that!”

“Y-you… deserve… nothing from me!” The black stallion weakly defied, hands trying to crush his bionic tail choking him. “You are… no master!!”

In an instant, all feeling was lost in Triad's arms. His eyes dilated upon seeing each limb fall lifelessly to the ground before bursting into a fit of screams.

Varys dropped the stallion’s broken body, watching him crumple and go into shock. Blood rushed out his arm sockets and stomach.

“Oh, dear! Look what you’ve made me do,” the bionic devil spat coldly, his wrist saw powering down. “Do you know how long it takes to replicate limbs?”

“Sweet buttery christ!!” Kilroy exclaimed in horror. “You’ve dismembered the poor boy!”

“Precision is often the difference between a butcher and a surgeon,” the Vice Lord stated as more instruments emerged with a metallic sound from his arm. “Do not fear. I won’t let you perish. Not yet.”

A medical laser shot down to cauterize the wound. Skinned seared over at the shoulders of the armless Triad, who heaved and felt his consciousness slipping.

"Oh no! Will he really be okay?" Penny knelt at her fallen companion's side.

"Mortis' power should keep him alive," reasoned Kilroy. "Even if he were cut to ribbons!"

Triad wasn't sure how long he had laid there before real awareness returned; the princesses had long gone to pursue their hunt. Penny watched him, her head tilted to one side, her small beak twisted in concern.

“There. That should prevent any more blood loss,” Varys said, reforming his arm. “But I'm afraid you’re completely useless in this state. A swordsman who can't use his blade has no purpose.”

A few bitter tears leaked down his cheeks, teeth clenched. “A-and who was it that took it from me?! When Mortis learns of this, he will… w-will…”

“Abandon you the moment he recognizes how much of a burden you are,” Varys said bluntly, his avian visage looming closer to examine him. “He’ll resurrect another sword wielder to do his bidding. Come now, Kitasan. You’ve known all this time how expendable you are.”

"No..." Triad squeezed his brown eyes closed.

When they reopened, they became pinpoint at the needle-sized talons extended from Varys’ left hand. The tubes connected to each finger filled with his insidious chemical formula. Realizing what he was planning to do, the black stallion started squirming.

But Varys grabbed at his head, yanking his black mane. “Relax,” he told Triad. “I am partially demi-human and possess a 'sacred touch.' One that will cure you of all fragilities. It is a shame you won’t be able to serve Mortis anymore. But don’t worry. You’ll be a vital asset in my cause!”

As his hand inched closer, Triad thought back to the countless souls the Vice Lord captured for his nefarious ‘Project: Nephilim.’ Their bodies and minds were permanently lost to a machine that would herald Varys’ biomechanical apocalypse. In desperation to keep his sanity, the black stallion belted, “W-WAIT!!”

The plague doctor froze; the tip of his medical talons pointed towards his chest. Varys surveyed Triad before weakly groveling, “I-I’ll accept your upgrades! Make my body stronger! Just please, do not alter my mind! It is the only thing I have left before I expire…”

The cyber demon considered his plea before retracting his clawed hand. “A wise decision,” Varys said, his mechanized voice reverberating from his beak-like mask. “Your current cybernetics and skills have reached their maximum limits. But with my science and engineering, you will surpass what you thought was beyond possible.”

Varys coiled his tail to lift the fallen swordsman as he and the clockwork griffoness returned to the elevator. As the doors slammed shut and the platform descended, the bionic devil assured, “When I’m done with you, there will be nothing to oppose Mortis’ will. Not Shadow Scythe, Beatrix, Zeloph, or even the assassins who terminated you.”

Triad said nothing, only more convinced than ever that Varys was not to be trusted. Would the Vice Lord use their cyber enhancements to remotely control them? That certainly seemed like the case if the parasite embedding the zebra warriors were also linked to the unit attached to Varys.

But he eternally lamented, what choice did they have to serve his master's will...?

The battle between Zeloph and Arron continued to rage on, the area shaken under the impacts. One strike forced the two Demi-humans to back off, catching their breath. Exhaling, the golden demon brushed a thumb over his nose.

“Damn… I hate to say it, but you’re pretty good,” Arron acknowledged, his hardened skin retracting. “You’re a lot stronger than I gave you credit for! Givin’ me a real workout~!”

“See what happens when you fight someone of equal footing?” Zell huffed, ruffling his feathers while running a hand through his bangs.

“Pha! Don’t get cocky. At the end of the day, I’m still gonna bury your candy ass six feet under,” the wrestling champ boasted, taunting him by dragging his thumb across his throat before pointing it down.

In response, the angel rolled his eyes. Still, innocent bystanders were out of harm's way as long as he kept Arron within the stadium. But he knew he couldn't keep the fight going. Not without a proper strategy that’ll knock the burly demi down for the count.

“That hardening ability. I take it that must be your Onoma?” The fallen one ended up asking.

“Oh, you mean this?” Arron flexed his large arms, encasing them in topaz crystal. “Nah, that’s just my natural prowess, baby. My Midas touch, if you will~!” He took the opportunity to flex and pose, showing off his beefy muscles as the crystalline layer shimmered. “I can harden any part of my body with a protective layer of topaz!” Arron finished this display by punching the floor, which shattered under his excessive force.

“So it’s self-serving,” noted Zeloph in a droll tone. “Not surprising…”

“Oh yeah? And what’s your scared touch? Healing people like some wannabe messiah?”

Zeloph blanked, feeling extremely self-conscious.

“… oh shit, are you kidding me? I was just joking! That’s what you do?!” The large bruiser released a peal of wheezing laughter, slamming his fist into his knee. “That’s the most pansy ass shit I’ve ever-gaaahh?!”

Zell sent his adversary flying with a blast of light, Apollo’s brilliant aura flowing off his body and sword. Arron rose back up, dusting off the rubble while shielding his face, brows furrowed. “Okay, maybe I deserved that. Holy shit, are you bright!”

“I hope it’s sinking in how in over your head you are,” the seraphic demi said. “You can mock me all you want, Arron. I’m still going to be the one to give you a serious attitude adjustment!”

Zell flashed behind, then flashed around when his opponent made a swing at him. The fallen one danced around Arron, managing to score hits and slice him open with his searing hot blade. Grumbling, the golden demon slammed both fists into the ground, creating a seismic shockwave to repel the aerial swordsman.

Igniting the Vorpal Blade, he launched solar waves through quick slashes. Hardening his arms, Arron blocked each strike that pushed him backward. With his foe on the ropes, the angelic demi launched a cross shape solar wave that his bullheaded opponent struggled to withstand.

However, Arron’s crystalline skin absorbed Zeloph’s attack until it evaporated, the shiny rocky surface glimmering hotly. With a loud roar, he spun around to throw all that stored energy back at Zell with a single punch. While he managed to dodge in time, the kinetic power caused one side of the stadium to implode, more debris falling to scare off watchful pedestrians.

Zeloph stared at the circular hole made in the stadium, eyes wide. “Holy mother of pearl..!”

“Haha! You like that?” Arron shouted from below. “That’s a real man's Onoma! Narcissus reflects all the damage I take. Anything you dish out, I'll hit back twice as hard~!”

The angel sneered, teeth tightly clenched, blinking behind for another strike. But Arron anticipated this and elbowed Zell when he vanished, then delivered a hard punch to his gut, making him cough out a bit of blood.

“Is it sinking in yet?” Arron asked mockingly. “You can hit me any way you want, and I'll still get back up! I’m unbreakable…”

BAM!

“…Unbeatable..!”

SMACK!

“…Unstoppable..!!”

POW!

“… and most of all, baby…~”

CRUNCH!

The golden demon used his hammer-shaped tail to whirl Zeloph around, giving him time to hook his muscular arms around his waist.

“… Undisputed!!!”

Arron unfurled his shiny eagle-shaped wings before hosting him and Zeloph into the air, where he leaned back and planted the fallen angel skull first into the ground with an elevated German suplex.

Outside, the audience chanted for Zeloph to overcome the odds, booing once Arron gained the upper hand. Sixth Measure's party boat hovered by the titantron as Mezzo Soprano dropped down to ensure her sons and the citizens were safe. Once she touched down, the opera singer rushed onto the scene while her hair whipped behind her.

Sixth Measure amped up the crowds of onlookers. "C’mon, Zell! You got this," reminded Bass, who shouted from a microphone. "Show him what you’re made of!"

"Let him hear you scream and shout!" Alto punched skyward.

"Don't let us down," added Tenor, who helped his brothers cheer everyone on.

Eclipsed Heart skated around to make sure no bystanders were left behind. She tossed back her reddish-pink ponytail, then exhaled in relief to see few were wounded. There apparently weren't any casualties as the hover-ambulances made their way onto the scene and helped the wounded aboard. The pop princess beamed and formed a heart shape with her hands at S.LU.T.

"Nice work, sluts," called Carrion Hellfire to her bandmates, the cyber-enhanced harpy still in the air. “I think that’s everyone!”

Obrya slithered with a couple female fans straddling her back and tail. "Don't be afraid," tittered the lamia, who hissed and playfully flicked her tongue across their cheeks.

"Cool it," broke in Riptide Ruth, the shark woman covered in a few cuts and bruises. Her hide was difficult to pierce, but she'd taken several blows when the structures collapsed to ensure no one was crushed. She took deep pants, palms resting on her knees. "I’m gonna need a huge salt bath after this!”

"You can depend on us," promised Eclipsed, who smiled at them. Her attention turned to the giant plasma screen on the billboard, showing Zell struggling to break free from a rear choke submission. "Oh my gosh! We have to help him!" Eclipsed started to skate away, only for her wrist to be seized by Ruth to pull her back.

"Hold it, shortcake!” said the shark woman. “That's his battle! We ain’t interfering with that!”

"B-but-!"

"We'll move in if he ends up in real trouble," promised the lamia singer with a wink.

Eclipsed drew her lips in a pout but nodded, shifting her worried gaze back to the crowds that cheered on the battle from the stage. But through the camera feed, she noticed something moving along the seats. Her pink eyes shined blue to zoom in. And to her dismay, she spotted a familiar pinstriped garbed devil, shifting through the column of seats like a snake in the grass.

"Seb!!” The pop princess snarled, fists bawled. That bastard used her as a pawn to coax President Spike from his tower and threatened to sell her off to the highest bidder. He’s been nothing but terrible to her and Sixth Measure. And if he was here, that meant he was planning something that involved Zell!

“He can’t keep getting away with this!” muttered the pop star, activating her rocket skates and conjuring a javelin made of crystalline jewels. Eclipsed didn't want to kill anyone...but she couldn't allow Seb to escape. Not when they had been so close to busting him!

Carrion, still airborne, spun in her direction just in time to see Eclipse rush back into the concert stadium. "H-hey, wait! Don't rush off on your own!!"

"I got it," shouted Ruth, who bounded past Obrya as she helped the girls down by an ambulance, where the attendees checked them over for any injuries. The shark woman too sneered when she noticed Seb, the same asshole that had shot her before and betrayed their trust!

“Gggrhn! L-let go,” Zell groaned, wriggling around within Arron’s crushing biceps.

“Not a chance, little man,” the golden demon said through a strained breath. “You got all those girls riled up singing your song. I wanna know what the big deal is~!” With one hand, he reached down to grope the angel’s groin. When he squeezed his grip and twisted his wrist, Zeloph gave a startled yelp.

“Yaaaagh!? W-what the fuck!?!”

“Heh! The ol’ dick twist. Gets ‘em every time~!”

“That’s not even a real move!” Flustered beyond belief, Zeloph’s body flared up with light and heat, forcing Arron to release his hold before he got seriously burnt.

“Yeesh! So sensitive,” the burly demon grumbled, steam hissing off his hardened bulk. But he took a face full of blinding light from the demi-human’s flowered tail. Arron clung to his face, yelling, “GAAGH! MY FUCKIN' EYES!! YOU BITCH!!!”

Zell retook the offensive, aware not to exert too much energy lest his burly opponent throws it back at him. So the fallen angel settled on direct combat, hoping to keep Arron stunned before he could retaliate.

Unbeknownst to them, Seb watched comfortably from the tenth row, observing each demi-human set of skills, powers, and techniques. The card demon analyzed Zeloph as the most powerful but considered that sense of morality a hindrance to his talent. And while Arron was physically superior, all that strength meant nothing if he only used it to showboat.

What was one to do with a crucial decision such as this? Why let fate dictate the outcome, of course!

Seb pulled out his signature coin and held it up. On one side was a rattlesnake face, representing Zeloph. He flipped it to see the serpent’s infamous tail, representing Arron. The pinstriped devil flipped the coin before slapping it to his forearm, revealing it had landed with the tail side facing him.

With a shrug, Seb pulled out his card that turned into a sniper rifle with monochrome zig-zagged patterns and a king's crown design on the body. “Sorry, amigo,” he mused as he took aim at Zeloph and peered through the diamond-shaped scope lens, having a clear shot of the angel’s chest. “Lady Luck just isn’t on your side.”

His finger tightened around the trigger, ready to squeeze until the demi detected something out the corner of his eye. Seb reeled back just in time as a crystal javelin whizzed past him, piercing into a seat. The weapon wiggled free before levitating back into Eclipsed Heart’s hand.

Seb leered at the pop diva, standing from his seat as he said with vexation, “Gettin’ real sick and tired of you sticking your nose into my business, kid!”

Eclipsed glared back, aware it was suicidal to take him on alone, especially without a plan. But it's not like B.A.B.E. hadn't carried out vigilante work before! She couldn't depend on Kitsune and Wispy to always bail her out!

“I suggest you scram before you get hurt,” warned Seb, resealing his rifle as a ring of cards hovered around him. He picked one to summon his pistol. “Especially since your entourage isn’t here to save you~.”

“Don’t underestimate me, Seb,” she glowered. “My band may not be present, but I’m more than capable of handling you myself!”

“Heh! Cute. I’d be more worried if your skills weren't cybernetically modified. Your augmentations give you… what? A five-percent increase, at most?”

“At least I didn’t have to bullshit my way to the top," she responded with a smile. "When all that dumb luck runs out, you won’t have anything left but your name!”

“Oh, it ain’t luck that keeps me goin’, sweetheart...” scoffed Seb, using his sleeve to roll the bullet chamber full of rounds. It made a rattling sound before it clicked. His wings manifested from his back, a cherry red and green aura wisping around his form. His slime-green eyes glowed from under the brim of his hat.

“… it’s destiny!”

Seb fired three shots to start, making Eclipsed twirl her javelin to deflect. She lunged forward, causing the card demon to retreat atop the seats. He unloaded until the clip was empty, using the distance to reload.

But the crystalline pop star quickly caught up, managing to pierce through his overcoat and rip a bit of the fabric off.

“Hey! This was tailor-made, you brat,” the demi-human hissed.

“Trust me! You’ll look better wearing prison stripes instead,” Eclipsed boasted, trying to take another stab until more bullets were fired, one grazing her shoulder. She cried, favoring her bleeding wound while Seb despawned his gun to take another weapon from his card-based arsenal. This time, a black metal bat appeared in his hand marked with a club symbol, etched with a large white J.

That’s when she noticed his aura manifest two sets of numbers above his wings, rolling rapidly like slot machines. Then they stopped, one side highlighting 23, the other 6.

Before Eclipsed could question it, the green aura enveloped Seb, who snickered behind his grinning bandanna.

“So, you think you’re good enough for the big leagues, huh? Very well then! Let’s play ball~!”

Seb pounced at the diva, swinging wildly while she attempted to defend herself. But she noticed he was moving slightly faster than before, his blows backed by significant strength until she was knocked back, stumbling into the chairs.

“Steeeeriike~!” The gambler crowed.

Eclipsed Heart picked herself up, fuming. “What the hell was that?!” she demanded.

“You stand before a world-class gambler. So naturally, my Onoma works the same,” elaborated Seb, resting his steel bat along his shoulders.

“O-Onoma?!” She recalled Lady Ewe briefly mentioning possessing one. As did Beatrix!

He nodded and continued as the mysterious aura rolled another set of numbers. “Mine’s called Tyche, and it drastically alters my karma’s positive and negative ratio. Whichever has the higher number grants me the additional effect. Speaking of which…”

The numbers landed on 40 and 15, and once again, his arcane magic enhanced his prowess. “Haha! Today's just my lucky day~!”

“You’ve gotta be kidding me!” The diva whined while her opponent was on the attack, stoking with much more power. Yet she managed to land a few knees and elbows, the pads from her roller derby outfit able to crack bone from the force of her blows.

That’s when Zell noticed he and Arron weren’t the only ones fighting. His blue eyes widened when seeing Eclipsed Heart locked in a duel with the pinstriped devil.

“Shit! Hang on,” he called, about to take off until Arron caught him by the tail.

“Where do you think you’re going?! Your fight is with me!!” The golden demon reminded, swinging Zeloph around before tossing him into the pillar. The delirious angel shook off the dizziness in time to see the hulking fighter propel towards him fist first.

He quickly ducked down right as Arron crashed into the steel beam, knuckles depressed deeply. Once the brawler pulled out his arm, he continued, “I’d worry more about yourself than that prissy princess!”

Luckily, the helicopter filming the skirmish also took notice, and everyone outside the stadium now bore witness to Eclipsed Heart and Seb’s match along the sidelines.

“Wait, that’s-”

“What’s Eclipsed doing!?”

“Isn’t Seb a good guy?”

Bass froze instantly. His protective instincts screamed to drop the mic and go help her. But at the same time, they had an opportunity to expose Seb. With immediate consideration, he tightened his hold on the microphone and stayed put, confident his girlfriend knew what she was doing.

“This is what we were going to announce earlier, people,” the lead singer said. “Seb’s nothing but a con artist, doing whatever it takes to stay ahead of the curb!”

“Y-yeah, that’s right!” Tenor backed up. “If he’s such a swell guy, why on earth would he be trying to kill Eclipsed Heart? One of our most beloved pop icons?!”

“We’ve been supporting a demon, folks,” Alto declared. “No greedier than that hack job, Spike!”

Soon, the crowd began to vocalize their distress through loud booing.

“Let’s hear it for Eclipsed,” shouted Carrion Hellfire, pumping her taloned fist. “Show that sucker who's the greatest of all time!”

Obrya and Ruth joined in to get the onlookers to chant Eclipsed’s name, which resonated outside the area. Mezzo smiled proudly at her trio of children, folding her arms into her chest. “Now, no matter what happens, Seb won't escape the consequences.” She then frowned, watching the pop diva struggle to withstand the pinstriped devil’s attacks.

“Let's just hope you make it out alive, Eclipsed…”

The pop princess could hear her adoring public loudly calling her name. Her eyes filled with tears, overjoyed by how deeply they cared despite Arron’s earlier claims. It reinvigorated her like a second wind, not wanting to let her fans, friends, and family down!

Eclipsed started to hit Seb back with unrelenting strikes, much to the card demon’s astonishment. “Hrrrgh! Just what is this broad made of?!” He growled. “I have to finish this.”

With their weapons locked, Seb used the impasse to recalculate the odds with his Onoma. Only this time, the numbers landed 19 to 42, the red aura now dampening his strength.

“A-ahdt?! Son of a bitch!!”

Eclipsed smirked once the tides turned in her favor, disarming his steel bat and launching a valley of swift jabs to stagger Seb. She threw her crystal javelin to knock him off balance, losing his feathered hat and bandana. This earned more cheers from the crowd outside.

As her javelin returned to her hand, she quipped, “Aww, how unlucky! But as the old saying goes, what goes around, comes around~!”

Seb scowled at the cocky diva, his scarred face and lips visible. He picked out another card which glowed and replied, “Kid…from the bottom of my heart, go fuck yourself!”

Eclipsed heard something clip in the seat next to her, spotting a heart-shaped grenade with a crown design on the holster. Shrieking, she sprinted away as the bomb exploded. More planted grenades went off within the row of seats. Thankfully, Tyche’s debuff was still active, lessening the impact.

Just as the pop princess thought it was safe, she stepped on an unseen card that came to life. A spade-shaped bear trap clamped down on her ankle, causing her to scream.

Seb arose with a chuckle. “You fool! You just activated my trap card!” He watched her stumble, relishing how she struggled to pry the device open. Pulling out one more card from his sleeve, it became a pinwheel bazooka, which he mounted on his shoulder. Eclipsed stared frightfully at the jester design on the missile's nose.

The demi’s Onoma activated to roll another set of numbers, landing on a high 88 against a low 63.

“Aww, now that’s too bad,” chortled Seb as the aura amplified his rocket launcher. “Well, you know what they say. Karma’s a bitch~!”

The audience gasped and broke into an outcry.

“Oh no, Eclipsed!!” Bass bellowed.

The pop diva cried for help while trying to break free, alerting Zeloph to the stands once more. Arron got him in another headlock until the seraphic used his wings to maneuver his larger opponent over his shoulder.

When the brawler scuffled to his feet and lunged, Zell used Arron’s momentum against him by rolling onto his back and pushing him off with his legs, the burly demi human crashing into the stage.

The fallen one barely had time to recover as Seb loudly exclaimed, “Ace in the hole!” He squeezed the trigger and launched the clown-faced rocket at the defenseless pop idol. As fast as his wings could carry him, Zeloph intercepted right as it imploded. The crowd screamed, covering their ears.

Seb grinned victoriously as the smoke settled… only for it to quickly falter. “WHAT?!”

Around them were the invulnerable interlocking wheels of the Ophanim, protecting both Eclipsed and Zeloph. Everyone outside the concert resumed cheering in relief.

Seb, meanwhile, snarled with frustration, resummoning his pistol to aim at them. Zell blinked directly in front of the gamble, all of his vermillion eyes glaring down. Undeterred, the card demon pulled the trigger… only for no round to fire. He kept squeezing until it dawned on him that he never reloaded the magazine.

Zeloph’s stern expression deepened. Seb nervously chuckled, “E-eheh, see… funny story-”

The angelic demi clocked the pinstriped devil clean with one punch. Rubbing his bruised cheeks, Zeloph gripped the unconscious Seb by his coat collar and chucked him onto the fractured ground.

He returned to attend Eclipsed, whose leg was freed the moment the card demon went lights out. Zell helped the pop princess down to ground level, using his rejuvenating touch to patch up her wounds.

“W-wait, you're exhausted,” she pleaded. “You shouldn’t-”

“It’s alright,” the fallen angel reassured, coughing. “I’ll be fine.”

Arron came to, rising from the ruined stage while clutching his aching head. He shook it off and stumbled to his feet, pausing once he saw his opponent healing the pop star. This made the bruiser cross, shouting, “Enough!!”

Zeloph ceased his actions to gaze wryly at the wrestler demi, face soaked with blood and precipitation. Nonetheless, he held up the Vorpal Blade, still shimmering with bright magic.

“Zeloph, no!” Eclipsed quietly urged, only to be met with a softened glare, quietly telling her to ‘keep back.’ He limped towards the equally battered demi-human, panting angrily.

“I don’t get your angle, twink,” Arron said, only able to harden his knuckles. “Why do you care so much about these damned humans?! They’re beneath you! And yet, you cater to them like they’re one of us! Why?!”

“Contrary to what you believe, not all of them are feeble,” Zeloph weakly answered. “Sure, not all of them are good either. But they have the right to choose their own path.” He lifted his head to the sky, thinking of Jonn. “I’ve seen terrans accomplish some amazing things. And whether they be saints, sinners, or in between, they’ve shown more passion for life than any of us!”

Outside, the audience was moved by his beautiful declaration, some onlookers even shedding tears. Bass and his brothers smiled brightly; now more confident than ever, they made the right choice in approaching Zeloph.

The false messiah went on. “That’s why I admire the human spirit. Why I swore to defend it! Believe me; it’s far more powerful than any strength you can gain.” His gaze softened, celeste blue eyes casting pity on his arrogant foe, whose face was contorted with perplexity. “Like you, I used to think of myself as superior. But through my vanity, I sullied that simplistic beauty with my complicated destruction. I fear I will never redeem myself in the eyes of those I’ve harmed…”

Then Zeloph extended his hand and proclaimed, “But it’s not too late for you, Arron! If you’d just looked past yourself, I’m sure you could appreciate the life happening around you! Outside, you are strong. But deep down, I think we both know you could be even stronger!”

The seraphic demi noticed tears streaming down the brawler's puffy, bloodshot eyes. Either that was from blinding him earlier, or he genuinely moved Arron; he couldn’t tell. But that was quickly brushed off when the livid brawler yelled, “… what a load of BULLSHIT!!”

He pointed accusingly at Zell and ranted, “You think sucking up to these morons makes you better than me?! You’re wrong!! Wrong, wrong, WRONG!!!”

Zell resumed his stance when Arron gradually picked up speed and broke into a sprint, roaring in outrage, “I’m not the weak one! You are! I will never be weak! I will never lose! Not to them! Not to anyone! And certainly! NOT! TO THE LIKES! OF! YOOOOOUUU!!!”

“Ohpleaseworkpleaseworkpleasework!” Zeloph muttered as the demon rampaged towards him with the speed of a freight train. The Vorpal Blade shined through, swiping through the space between them to split open another cross shape rift. Arron realized too late as he ran right through, his voice swallowed by the shimmering portal.

Zeloph heaved an enormous sigh of relief until he felt the gravitational pull try to suck him. He turned to Eclipsed and urged, “You have to go! Get out of here, now!”

The pop icon nodded, turning away to roller skate her way to safety when Seb was lifted by the rift’s pull.

It all happened at once. The unconscious demi-human collided with Eclipsed from behind, who lost balance and tumbled into Zeloph, which hurled all three of them into the portal without any time to cry out.

"Nooo!!" Bass cried out as he, Sixth Measure, and S.L.U.T fled from the screaming crowd. They flew to the ruined stadium just in time to see the rift reseal itself closed. The eldest debonair boy fell to his knees, whimpering, “Eclipsed!!”

Carrion flapped beside him and muttered, "Kitsune and Wispy'll kill us!"

Mezzo Soprano stared at the titantron with disbelief, unsure what to make of what she saw. But she couldn’t let her emotion surface at this time, aware her people needed a level-headed leader. So with a clenched fist, she gave an order. “Get everyone out of here. I want a search team ready and a warrant for the arrest of Sebastian Kars! Move out!”

Officers snapped to obey the president, despite the fact she knew it was most likely pointless. Beatrix and Oona used a similar power to visit their world. Whatever dimension they were in, it was far beyond them.

Anarchia was utterly overwhelmed by Julianne’s exalted presence. The heavenly abbess's heat and illumination spilled throughout the monastery, and the stained glass colors warped across the surface. And not a single attempt to fight back made it through.

The spiky-haired demoness groaned as the head nun’s voice bombarded her inner thoughts.

Surrender.

Submit.

Give up.

It’s okay to give in.

Let go.

You’ve lost.

"Haaagh! N-never!" She wept defiantly, curling up into a ball. While her eyes were shut tightly, past the disembodied whispers, she could make out the other nuns laughing hysterically.

Kitsune and Wispy Willow struggled to resist the jubilation warming their bodies, visible music notes waving around. All the mares gathered have fallen to the floor, spasming from mania. They all wept, laughed, and sang their joy, their mouths foaming.

“Sis…! We gotta stop this,” exclaimed the twin-tailed cat woman, both arms shielding her face from the radiant glow.

The vixen nodded and unsheathed her blade before taking to one of the spires, planning to neutralize Julianne from above. Wispy prowled closer to Ana, her tails calling out yokai flames rather than her usual plasma spheres.

"So...hot...!" The nekomata was forced to attack from a distance, tossing a fireball that quickly evaporated before ever coming in contact with the exalted demi-human. "Nyaagh! Damn it, how are we supposed to-?!”

Kitsune closed the distance to Julianne and almost struck her...simply to yelp when the hilt turned red from the heat. This at least shifted her attention towards them before a visible sound wave echoed through the yokai sisters.

‘Do not interfere’ was the melodic message repeating inside their heads.

"I-I have no intention of harming you," Kitsune tried to explain, her palms covering her pointy ears. "But to protect my friend, I have no choice but to neutralize a threat! Please, stand down! Both of you!"

"A little too late for that," whined Wispy, who crouched on her knees, trying to cancel out the noise.

Anarchia tried a last-ditch effort to blast the mother superior with what little demonic energy she could muster. But it was no use as Julianne proved nigh invulnerable in that form. She lifted her many wings to deliver the finishing blow, all trembling beneath her, lost in the spectacle.

The abbess began warming up an aria with increased frequency… but her last note turned into an alien-like shriek when a sickle pierced through her chest.

Shadow Scythe had emerged behind a boulder, using its shade for cover until she flung her blade on a shadowy chain. The high-pitched sound boomed through the valley, causing the building to implode and topple over. The stained glass shattered with the collapse, and most onlookers were hurled out from under the impact.

Out in the open, surrounded by thin trails of flame that smoked and flickered, Anarchia was forced to revert back into her imp form, the last of her strength spent. Likewise, Julianne's illumination was lost; she, too driven to exhaustion from the power she unleashed.

She took on a cherub form, coiled in the chains of Shadow Scythe’s Onoma. It took her a moment to realize what had happened, staring at her crumbled foundation with horrified eyes.

“No… no, no NOOOOOO!!” the diminutive nun cried, having lost her smile. “What have you done!?”

“Oh, don’t give me that,” the female reaper responded grimly. “You're lucky no one got hurt because of your little 'opera.' While you were busy hollering like a banshee, I managed to get everyone out in time before the building collapsed.”

Shadowy tendrils pulled out the punished nuns and servants, carefully laying them with the rest of their coven, all panting and twitching from fatigue.

“Don’t expect me to repair this mess,” the pale unicorn stated, narrowing her icy gaze at Julianne. “This was your own damn fault. If anything, you should have known better than to exert that level of power!”

“I-I don’t understand,” the pink cherub wept. “You couldn’t have blocked out my song! Why were you not affected?!”

A slight smile spread her snout. “Because, unlike you, I’ve tasted true happiness. No amount of praise you sing could ever replicate the joy Zeloph brings me.”

“N-no, that’s not possible,” dejected Julianne, who pointed at Moxxi as she stumbled to her feet. “She’s actively trying to steal that happiness away! You can’t tell me your content with that, surely?”

Shadow Scythe frowned at the imp, who gazed up with guilty magenta eyes. Releasing a drawn-out breath, she confirmed, “No, can’t say that I am. I would hardly even call us friends…” her cool eyes softened. “… but I’d like to be someday!”

“H-huh?” The imp tilted her head, perplexed.

Shadow Scythe looked Moxxi deep in the eye when she clearly stated, “I love Zeloph, and I intend to marry him. Which means you’ll be my sister too. If I have to put up with your lewd, wacky shenanigans, so be it. But I’ll be damned if I let anyone take away the light of my life!”

"... We'll see wot 'appens," Moxxi mumbled to herself.

Her attention returned to Julianne. “Look around you,” the reaper directed, pointing towards the tarnished landscape and the unconscious members of her covenant. “Does any of this spark true joy?”

“B-but I…” the female cherub failed to muster any ounce of her once unfettered optimism. Perhaps she understood the harm she wrought to her followers, half of which evidently became deaf from her euphoric song.

Her cute little winged ears fell, and her head hung low in defeat. “Oh, dear heavens above, what have I done?!” She cupped her head into her palms and wept openly.

With a sad smile, Shadow Scythe knelt down and petted her head. “Your heart was in the right place, I think… but it seems you could use your own trial of atonement.”

Julianne sniffled, looking at her tear-stained hands in disgust. “Such an ugly emotion… yet I can't stop crying!!”

“Sorrow is just as important as joy,” the reaper mare suggested. “How are flowers supposed to grow without rain?”

The little demi-human didn’t answer or even react when Shadow Scythe unhooked her sickle chain. Leaving Julianne to consider her words, the pale unicorn helped Kitsune and Wispy to their feet.

“Thanks,” the nekomata said weakly. “Glad to have you back!”

The fox woman gasped. “But what about your Trial of Atonement?”

“I still plan on finishing it,” answered Shadow Scythe. “But I feel it’s more of a spiritual endeavor than a physique one. One that I may never complete. But so long as I have my friends and loved ones, I think I’ll manage.”

Atalanta pulled the two kunoichis into a short embrace, thankful to have them by her side. Upon pulling away, she asked, “Speaking of which, where is Zeloph, anyhow?”

Before Kitsune could confess, a rift split the skies as if on cue, pulling all eyes towards it. From the cosmic slit spilled a gold-wearing demi-human unknown to them. His muscular body collided in the rubble before shrinking to a conservative imp form.

Then three other figures fell out and crashed into the dirt. Shadow Scythe, Kitsune, Wispy, and Moxxi rushed towards to find a weakened Zeloph and Seb, both shrunken down. But underneath them was a pony-tailed charcoal mare that definitely looked familiar.

“Cerise? Wait, no…” Shadow Scythe noticed a few subtle differences instantly. “Then, this must be-”

“Eclipsed!?” Kitsune bent down to lift the unconscious mare into her arms, brushing a pink bang from her face.

“I don’t believe it!” Wispy whispered with narrowed slit pupils. “What’s she doing here?!”

Whatever possible answers they could think of were temporarily abandoned when the sky rumbled. The breach between dimensions was clearly unstable as it absorbed the color from its immediate surroundings. The shimmering bluish-white rift dulled into a darkish red as this part of the multiverse began to flux.

Shadow Scythe, familiar with the ability to travel between realms since she had stolen some of the manor's power once to do so, lit her broken horn. "I'll attempt to stabilize it!"

She raised her slender arms. An eerie wind howled around them, her mane tossed, and her heeled boots dug into the ground. "Come on," she muttered, her teeth grit and eyes narrowed. Moxxi and, to the imp’s shock, Julianne attempted to help but were clearly too weakened to be of much use.

A flash lit the area, and anyone that looked upon Shadow Scythe would swear they saw her skeletal figure below her flesh, the wisp of a soul in her slender bosom intertwined with another.

The rift thundered and crackled. Grass rustled. The sky went blackened with dark crimson clouds. A soft drizzle fell and snuffed out the stray fires with a hiss. Stray lightning bolts struck the grounds at random intervals. Wispy yelped and hopped aside to evade one. Another zapped at the unconscious skater.

"Eclipsed-!" Kitsune cried out at the same time she leaped in. There was no time to save the band leader. Simply to take the attack, as she and Wispy swore to protect her with their lives.

"Sister-!" Gasps of horror rose from Wispy, helpless to intervene, when the bolt collided and zapped Kitsune. She disappeared in a flash as the rift above finally settled and closed. Yet the storm continued to rage on. Shadow Scythe's arms lowered while she huffed, recognizing there was nothing else she could do.

Wispy sunk to her knees, tears in her eyes. She expected to see the charred remains of Kitsune. However, once the smoke cleared, a female raccoon dog creature stood in her place.

She clung to her stomach, expecting to throw up before taking in her strange surroundings. "A-Aniki..?” The tanuki then panicked, her ears up on high alert. “Aniki?!”

Everyone could do little but stare at each other in utter confusion.

Thunder awoke Demi-Trix from within her birdcage. The light patter of rain tapping against the windows would be soothing… if not for the abysmal circumstances. The castle walls groaned as if the beast disguise was also in distress. And despite its treachery, the little tulpa couldn’t bring herself to entirely blame the abomination. It was merely an animal trying to survive…

Her ears picked up more pattering, though coming outside the birdcage this time. Demi-Trix sat up and beamed when she spotted one of her plushie spies, who quietly worked to undo the locks. Her magic was useless inside its field due to Alma's enchantments...but for an outsider, it was a simple matter to break the spells.

"Hurry, hurry," she whispered urgently as her eyes darted back and forth. Demi-Trix had been left in the dining room, the remnants of the meal left to spoil for the moment. The latches quietly clicked open, the door creaked loose, and the demi-human witch slipped free with a subdued exhale.

"Blegh! Gross," the tulpa muttered, the naked suspended corpses all bled completely dry. Alma and her minions obviously didn't take her too seriously but, at the same time, tired of how she made herself a nuisance, too. Cherry Poptart pulled on her cape. "Huh, what is it?"

Shining (K)night and Shade Sickle flailed about in an attempt to tell her something was wrong. Unfortunately, Demi-Trix hadn't expended enough power to enable them to speak. She knelt and nodded, determined to decipher their pantomime show. "Um, I see? I think?"

Shade Sickle smacked her face with her stubby, evidently annoyed. The plushies floated into the air and sailed out of the room. She raced to follow, carefully subduing the click of her heeled boots on the way.

Demi-Trix followed the stuffed dolls when they ducked around the corner, barely missed by Queen Tatyana and Lord Grimmwald, who waited in the main hallway.

“Let me go! Unhand me at once!” Came the distressing cries of Oona, who was shuffled down the steps by Esmeralda and Camellia. They tightened their hold on the shamaness’ wrists as they escorted her towards the castle’s main entrance, met by the Canterlonian rulers.

“Oh no, what are they doing?!” Demi-Trix squeaked but cupped her mouth upon seeing the countess glide down the stairwell with Bellatrix at her side, still adorned by finery.

Upon seeing the struggling faun, the succubus asked her mistress, "What’s going on? What’s this all about?"

“An exchange,” answered Alma with a slipped smile at her newly formed allies. “Ah trust ye’ve brought what I asked ov ye~?”

The bullman snorted before reaching behind his heavy shroud, pulling out an ancient curved blade within its sheath.

Alma’s scarlet gaze brightened, her smile stretching as she reached for it. But Bellatrix rushed in front of her, glaring hotly. “You swore to me that no harm would come to Oona Ewe!”

“An' A’m keepin' it,” assured the Baobhan Sith. “But lavish as mah castle is, it’s no place fur a pregnant sheep tae birth new life. Especially wit all these hungry night beasts runnin' around.”

“Your night beasts,” the she-devil reminded sternly.

Alma waved her hand dismissively. “They serve me, but Ah have no control over their appetites!” She leered down at Oona’s gravid stomach. “That’s why A’ve decided tae send her away sae that she may comfortably deliver her child… in Canterlot~!”

“No, ye can’t!” pleaded Oona, who continued to wrestle out of the thestral's grip.

“Cease your useless fusing,” hissed Esmeralda, irritated. "It hardly becomes you!"

“You should be grateful our mistress has shown you such mercy,” added Camellia cooly behind a porcelain mask, cheeks painted in bloody tears.

Bellatrix growled, her claws digging into her palms with how tightly she bawled her fists. Alma brushed her aside and once more extended her hand towards Brutus. “Mah sword, if ye’d please.”

But the minotaur magus hesitated, his narrow gaze studying the legendary vampiric artifact. It took his men a week’s exhibition just to locate it from the runic remains of a castle in Transylmaneia.

“Still don’t trust me e'en after we’ve exchanged loyalties? Honestly, Brutus, A'm hurt,” pouted Alma, who ran a hand over her cleavage.

“Just consider us cautious,” the sovereign witch explained with a titter, rubbing her husband’s shoulder. “That’s no ordinary blade we’re handing off. And we’ve only recently begun our little alliance.”

The bull-man nodded. “But I can’t argue that it’s not a fair trade for what we're getting in return.” With a deep exhale of breath, Grimmwald handed the blade over to Alma.

The Vice Lord practically salivated as she drew out her new possession. It was a kilij, the tip crooked to slice more effectively, and the hilt made from dark iron. The blade’s texture was so immensely crimson that it almost looked pitch black.

“Yeeeeeesss,” she murmured, gingerly tracing a finger over the incredibly sharp blade. “Magnificent! Just as th' text described~!” The auburn-haired vampiress showed off the weapon to Bellatrix, who bared her teeth at her ‘lover,’ barely able to restrain her hatred.

“This, mah dear, is th' Sanguine Blade,” Alma elaborated. “Legend has it, th' fabled vampire king, Vlad th' Impaler, forged this sword tae accomplish his tyranny. Outside his… usual method ov torture, he often soaked it in th' blood ov his enemies tae preserve its edge. An' now, it belongs tae me~!”

Her followers tittered, sharing in their mistress’s fiendish delight.

“What do you plan on using that sword for?” the succubus asked.

"Conquest, obviously," Alma snorted. “Ah lost mah whip durin' our battle, remember? An' th' Sanguine Blade is more than a worthy replacement.” Her attention turned back to Grimmwald and Tatyana. “By the way, why is this pregnant sow valuable tae ye? Sure, she’s a powerful shamaness, but there must be more tae it than that!”

“The dream faun is not our primary objective,” the minotaur explained. “While she will remain safe in our custody, it is the baby we are interested in.”

Oona eyes flared with anger. “Ye lay one finger on mah Abadonna, an' A’ll-!!”

“Quiet, wench!” Tatyana demanded, threatening to backhand the squirming caprine. Cackling, she added, “She’ll also make lovely bait to draw out Beatrix~!”

“She’ll beat you,” Bellatrix declared confidently. “My sister, all our friends! Omen will-”

Alma cut her off with a snicker. “Mmm, yes. About him…~”

As if on cue, the dining hall doors burst open, a wave of murky water flooding in. Riding it was an amorphous monster shaped like a horse, letting out a horrible whinny. Kelp and algae made up its mane, an eerie glow in his green eyes.

Oona cried when the kelpie vomited out Omen, his slumped body onto the floor. The shaken buck spat out seawater, coughing and wheezing, and his damp clothes clung to his drenched form.

As Omen lifted his head, a cutlass pressed underneath his jugulars as Douglas retook his less monstrous shape. He brushed his bleach blonde mane out his face, wearing a sinister smirk.

“Turns out, he ain’t so tough,” the water demon chortled, sneering down at the male cervine. “Can’t do yer spooky shite wit water chokin' yer lungs, huh, twat?” He gave Omen a hard kick to the back, forcing him under his boot.

Bellatrix’s heart skipped. “No..!”

“Do you really have to be so messy?” Camellia complained haughtily. “I’m fairly certain the Womb of Conception doesn’t appreciate the taste of salt and brine!”

“Not to mention the smell,” gagged Esmeralda, pinching her snout. “It’ll take days just to scrub away the stench!”

“Always gettin' carried away,” huffed Alma, shaking her head.

Douglas shrugged. “Buggar needed tae learn his place! Surprisingly, it wasn't that hard tae get under his skin. Took particular offense when Ah told him what A'd do tae his sheep an' her lovely lady friends..." He snickered in anticipation, leering at the distraught sheep woman. "Sae, what do ye plan fur th' baby?"

"Abadonna is the Child of Lightendark,” informed Grimmwald. “The moment she’s born, we will extract her latent powers.” He turned to Oona with a sympathetic look. “Don’t worry; we intend for her to survive the ordeal!”

"We're not monsters," assured Tatyana. "We just want our nation to prosper, and her magic will help secure Canterlot’s future. However…” her smile turned into a frown. “… I won’t offer the same mercy to that portal hopping bitch who humiliated me in front of my court!" She bristled at the memory, fist squeezed tensely. With a deep breath, she commanded, "Come! We’ve wasted too much time already!"

Alma nodded and addressed the eldritch beast within her castle. "Open the portal to Canterlot." A low rumble resonated through the walls before the creature obeyed the mistress it was fused to. The front doors opened to reveal the subspace between dimensions that hummed and blinked as the void cast an eerie shine.

"One step closer to our domination~!" murmured Esmeralda in triumph.

"The Order of Black Roses shall reign supreme," Camellia proclaimed at her partner's side. "No more men to decide our fates. We stand as the apex predators, under Countess Alma!”

The petite bat mare then told Oona, “Let’s go!”

“No! Ah won't let them take mah baby!!” She belted, yet she couldn’t pry away from their iron grip. “Omen! Bellatrix! Help me!!”

The moment the red-skinned demoness tried to move, Alma activated her Onoma to contort her body in a painful pose. Bellatrix yelled, trying in vain to resist the Baobhan Sith’s hemomancy. But because she ingested her lover's essence, she was entirely helpless.

“Don't make me eviscerate ye, love,” warned Alma through a spiteful hiss.

Likewise, Omen was incapacitated as Douglas yanked on his antler while strangling his neck with an arm. “Time tae say goodbye, mate,” the kelpie mockingly teased while the grey buck growled.

That’s when Demi-Trix flew out from her hiding spot, crying, “Let her go!” She threw firecrackers and smoke bombs to try and distract the thestral couple.

“Huh? How did she get out?!” coughed Camellia.

“Oh, someone’s going to pay,” snarled Esmeralda.

The tulpa was about to pull out her trusty rocket until she was zapped by Tatyana’s scepter. Squealing, she fluttered down right into the monarch’s hand, where she wriggled in her grasp.

“Don’t think I’ve forgotten about you, pest!” the sovereign witch glowered, pressing her thumb onto Demi-Trix’s head, threatening to pop it. She cast her glare at Alma, asking, “I trust you have no qualms about us taking her as well?”

The vampiress laughed. “Oh, none at all! By all means~.”

“Good. We’re off then!”

The canterlonian rulers resumed their approach towards the swirling nexus. Oona broke into sobs, unable to break free from her captors.

“Struggling won’t make a difference,” Grimmwald bluntly surmised. “In the end, our new rule will become absolute and-”

SHWANK!

The minotaur released a loud bellow as he suddenly collapsed to his knees. Alma gasped when an axe arced her, nearly grazing her face. Tatyana stared appalled, her husband’s horn severed from his scape while he held the bleeding wound.

“What the?!”

Camellia and Esmeralda reeled back with Lady Ewe, hissing in agony as the light from the portal seared their flesh. Only when the Baobhan Sith peered into the nexus did she understand what was going on.

“That’s not Canterlot,” she seethed, her eyes a lot with fury. “That’s..!”

“Home?” Oona wept, barely able to believe it herself.

Beyond the other side lay not the marble stone structures of the magical pony kingdom but a vast meadow on a cliffside, the tall grass glistening under the warm sun.

And waiting on the edge was the entire Jakobson clan, some heavily armored, bearing weapons at hand. Fauns. Satyrs. Minotaurs. Alpacas. Even the orc general, who had likely thrown the ax, stood among the island villagers. His rotund physique was adorned by a quilted battle toga, an iron pauldron resting over his shoulder. He bared his tusks, snout flared, and steely blue eyes. Bright orange bristled hair styled in a mohawk flowed in the breeze.

The boar man stood aside as a massive mountain of a ram marched towards the nexus. Four large horns curved from his head. A pelt made from moss and peat draped over his back. An iron pauldron also guarded his left shoulder, while a cloth sash decorated in nomadic plate held his kilt around his stout frame. Blue beads were wrapped around the ram’s left arm, while his right hand held a branch-sized staff with runic markings.

Tufts of grey hair flared from atop his head. Covering half his face was a rug of facial hair, braided with silk string and stone pendants. The old caprine wore a stern look on his aged face, thick brows furrowed above small cherry red eyes.

Brutus slightly cowered under the massive ram’s glare, calling his moniker with a shaky breath. “T-the shaman king!”

“Papa!” cried the azure sheep.

Haden cast his steely gaze to the thestral couple, who hissed and bared their fangs at him. “Take yer claws off mah daughter,” he demanded in a low, gravelly baritone.

“We don’t answer to you, filthy man thing!” Camellia spat; her nostrils flared.

“That wasn’t a request,” the chieftain rebutted, charging forward, his clan rallying behind.

“You come no further!” Tatyana snarled, casting a spell to blast the old fool. But with a flash of his Onoma, Haden summoned an iron forged shield that could easily be mistaken for a door. Its surface depicted a boar’s head, in homage to the orc general chugging alongside him.

Esmeralda fired rounds from her silver pistol, which only grazed the obsidian metal shield. “Shit! Fall back!” She and Camellia yanked Oona away from the entrance, as did Tatyana with Grimmwald right as Haden and his people stormed through the castle.

“How did this happen!? Why did-?! Night creatures! Attack!!” Alma howled, calling all her hellhounds, bats, gargoyles, and marionette automatons to press back the invading forces.

Douglas tried to keep Omen apprehended, but the nightmare stag sank his teeth into his arm, forcing the yowling Vice Lord to break his hold. Weakly, the cervine scurried away from the chaos.

“Don’t just lay there, ye idiot,” berated the Baobhan Sith. “Kill them!”

With a grunt, the water horse took his monstrous form and dove into the fray. Alma then pushed Bellatrix up the stairs. “Stay in mah chambers until it’s safe! Don't even think about leavin'!”

The she-devil only glared in response before rushing down the corridor. With the Sanguine Blade in hand, the Baobhan Sith lept into battle, preparing to paint the castle walls in blood.

“Hurrah! The cavalry’s here!” cheered Demi-Trix, who took a play out of Omen’s book and bit Tatyana’s hand, the monarch yowling before releasing the pixie-like mare. Livid, she blasted a storm of spells to distance herself and her husband from the battalion.

“Horns first, men,” the pig-faced general called once he retrieved his ax. “Let these undead wretches taste steel!”

“No!” said Haden. “Oona’s safety comes first!” Disenchanting his shield, the old ram summoned a sturdy war hammer carved of stone. A weapon made in honor of the bear mystic, Storbjorn. He swung his way through the nocturnal hoard, bashing away hellhounds and decimating porcelain servants.

A dying cry drew Haden’s attention to the vampiric Vice Lord, who sliced through a caprine warrior like he was wet paper. Her sword drank the fresh blood, scarlet energy wisping off the blackened steel. She eyed the chieftain with malicious intent before dashing through several armed men. Their blood splattered her emerald gown, staining her twisted face.

Alma succeeded in provoking the shaman king, who summoned his own great sword made of true cryolite crystal, harnessed from the northern tundra home to the deighdyr. The two leaders met head-on, bloodthirsty metal clanging against frostbitten steel.

The vampiric couple keeping the azure sheep hostage snuck away into another room. “Fuck, how did things get so bad?!” Esmeralda groaned, her hand muffling Oona’s snout so she couldn’t shout for more help.

“Stupid men and their garlic-laced weapons,” sneered Camellia, veins bulging. “Alma’s blood may have increased our power, but it also made us vulnerable!”

Since she and Esmeralda were turned into vampires by their former sire's alchemy, they'd once been immune to many common vampire weaknesses...but this case was no more with Alma's rich blood flowing through their circulatory system. At least they could recuperate in this dimly lit room, which looked like the wine cellar upon further analysis.

Camellia pierced through the darkness with her night vision, only to see someone walking toward them. “Don’t think you’re fooling anyone, Omen,” the voluptuous bat mare scoffed. “I can tell it’s you.”

The figure did not respond, continuing his approach.

Having enough of this nonsense, Esmeralda brandished a silver dagger from her skirt and held it over Oona’s round tummy, finally getting her to stop squirming. “I suggest you cease this silly charade before I give this sow an early abortion,” she threatened coyly. “And maybe if you behave, you’ll live long enough to be our pet~!”

“You dare speak to me in that tone, girl?” A cold voice reverberated, the familiarity cutting through Camellia's core like a cold knife. Her crimson eyes displayed behind her mask as the silhouette took on a finely dressed man in a cowl, red eyes mirroring her own.

“N-no… no, that’s not possible!” She whimpered, unending shivers crawling up her spine. “Y-you’re dead! We killed you!!”

Thin lips curled into a cruel smile, his sharp fangs bared. “Did you really think I would perish by the hands of such ungrateful sluts? How inappropriate..!”

“S-stay back,” she warned, extending her claws. “Get away from me, you accursed man!!”

“No Camellia! I-It’s just a trick, don’t listen to him!” Insisted Esmeralda, who was trying to look past the approximation of their old master for the nightmare stag.

“B-but we’re both awake,” countered the slender vampire. “And yet I can see him, hear him!”

“Oh, this is no dream, my dear,” the male vampire affirmed. “When we return to the castle, you'll be properly punished until you’ve both learned respect. I’ll teach you what happens when you disobey your master!”

“No…” Camellia uttered, eyes drawn to his raised hand. The hand that had harmed her for thousands of years. “Not now! Not then!! And not ever AGAIN!!!”

The masked thestral lunged at him with shrieking fury, failing to hear her partner’s protests as she slashed widely. The apparition of her master stretched his jaw unnaturally wide, vomiting out erecting antlers that stabbed into her flesh.

“Camellia!!” cried Esmeralda, watching in horror as the elk-shaped monster emerged out of his disguise like a snake shedding skin. Dead blood drained down his black antlers before flinging the vampiress into the racks of wine, which collapsed and poured over her with broken glass and alcohol.

Enraged, the petite bat mare shouted, “You BASTARD!!” and took aim to stab Oona’s stomach. But almost instantly, Omen blinked right in front of Esmeralda and locked his bony maw around her forearm. Esmeralda screamed in anguish, her arm twisted awkwardly.

With her captor distracted, Oona finally pulled away and landed on her bottom, watching Omen lift the flailing vampire before tossing her into her partner, swallowing a good chunk ripped from her arm.

The nightmare stag gazed down, his form shifting out from dark particles of dust as he knelt down to her side. He used a sleeve to wipe the blood dripping down his chin.

“Are you alright,” asked Omen, his maroon eyes looking for anything broken, brushing his hand through her cloud-like fleece.

“Physically, A’m unharmed,” she assured, her voice shaky and face dry from constant tears. Petting over her gravid belly, Oona asked him, “How did mah father get here?”

“I suspect your old mentor might have tracked you down,” Omen considered, huffing. “Thank goodness for that.” With a groan, the grey deer scooped up the azure sheep into his arms bridal style. “Let’s get you out of here.”

“B-but wait,” she said, looking back at the thestral couple. “Ah sensed no sleep magic involved wit that. How did ye-?”

“Shhhhhh,” he gently hushed, smiling. “Now’s not the time. Rest, little lamb. You’ll be home soon. I promise.”

Placing a kiss on her snout, Omen cast a subtle hypnosis spell to help put the dream shamaness at ease. Her eyes fluttered closed as she listened to the metronomic ticking of a disembodied clock.

Kicking the door open, the nightmare stag found the battle in the Jakobson clan’s favor. The dismantled automatons and wounded night beasts dropped to the floor. Despite possessing a shapeless form, Douglas couldn’t overcome the hog-faced general, who swung at every watery limb the kelpie had.

Brutus could only conjure a barrier to seal him and Tatyana from the other warriors surrounding them. Even Demi-Trix and her plush army got into the action. Though there were some casualties as hellhounds pounced onto the dolls, tearing them apart with their jaws. Outraged, the tulpa launched a storm of rockets and fireworks to scurry the whining canines.

The only one who was struggling was the chieftain himself. Despite Haden’s immense strength and bulk, his movements proved sluggish against the more agile Alma. The old warrior grunted each time she landed clean cuts across his arms and chest.

The Baobhan Sith swept under to slice open his ankle, forcing the mighty ram to one knee. Haden’s claymore dispelled as he raised his head, seething at the vampiress smiling down at him, poised to decapitate him…

Until Bellatrix leaped down from the second floor, slashing across Alma’s back with extended claws. The Vice Lord screamed in alarm, arching her head back to snarl at the red-skinned she-devil, shock and anger in her scarlet eyes.

“Y-you..!!” But Alma didn’t have time to retaliate when Haden conjured his wooden shaft. He stamped it into the floor with a bellowing cry, summoning vines and plants to entangle the auburn-haired temptress.

She yelled as the botanic magic rooted her to the ceiling, immobilizing her. The battle ended with clan Jakobson triumphant.

Haden exhaled deeply, using his staff to support his weight so as not to apply more pressure on his injured leg. He briefly glanced at the forestry he summoned, doubtful his late wife would approve of this. But he concluded it was necessary to ensure their daughter’s safety.

The elder ram turned to Omen, who approached him with the sleeping ewe in hand. Initially, Haden glared skeptically at the infamous nightmare stag. But his expression softened when he handed over Oona. A rare look of relief washed over him, hugging his slumbering daughter into his chest.

“Make haste, mah lord,” Videlma’s voice echoed outside. “We can’t keep th' portal open fur much longer!”

With a nod, Haden told his people, “Everyone fall back!”

“We’re takin' our leave,” his orc general relayed. “Quickly now!”

All at once, the many warriors of Parras fled through the closing rift. Bellatrix and Omen tailed behind until water enveloped their bodies.

“Oh, no, ye don’t!” Douglas scowled, using what remained of his Onoma to ensure they couldn’t evacuate the castle.

Demi-Trix gasped. “Bellatrix, hang on!”

“No, go!” The she-devil urged. “Get out while you still can!”

"B-but-"

“It’s okay,” insisted Bellatrix with a bittersweet smile. “I deserve this…”

The pixie-like mare fluttered back and forth before begrudgingly fluttering off through the portal.

"You will rue the day you crossed me, shaman king!” Tatyana angrily spat, clutching her injured husband to her chest. “Once we’ve returned to Canterlot, we will storm your island and hunt down every last one of you! Consider this act a declaration of war!"

As he stepped through the rift, Haden stared back at the sovereign witch and challenged her claim. “If th' forces ov Canterlot dare step foot on our beaches, we will meet them wit our horns sharpened, our weapons raised, an' our magic gathered. We are prepared fur battle. Are ye?”

Not bothering to wait for an answer, the mighty ram proceeded to walk home right as the portal finally closed. Agonized moans resonated from the eldritch beast, suffering the most from the sudden assault ravaging its insides. While Oona and Demi-Trix had successfully been rescued, dozens of fallen warriors had been slain beside the broken bodies of marionettes, gargoyles, and bats.

“That was not wise, Tatyana,” wheezed Grimmwald, sucking in air while he held a cloth over his head to stop the bleeding. “W-we don’t have enough-”

“Shut it, dear,” the towering monarch shushed, luminescent turquoise eyes shimmering brightly. “Will make those fauns and satyrs pay, one way or another! I refuse to be trifled with by any more peasants!”

“B-but the child-”

“-will be recovered in time," swore Alma. “We’ll bleed these vermin dry tae heal our wounds! Camellia! Esmeralda! Get me down from here!!”

The two vampires emerged from the wine cellar, the petite thestral clutching her bleeding arm. Her voluptuous lover looked far worse, with open wounds from where she was gored and her porcelain mask compromised with cracks. They set fire to the stock of vines at once until their mistress could free herself.

Alma landed gracefully on her cloven feet, winching from the claw mark on her back.

"I could use a drink," said Esmeralda, who rubbed her bloodied limb. "Are you-?"

"I'm fine, beloved," assured Camellia, sharing a kiss with her fellow thestral. "Sadly, the rancid stench of garlic still lingers. I worried that might have been our end."

"We've survived much worse," affirmed Esmeralda, who looked deathly at the grey buck squirming in Douglas’ liquid grasp. “The same won’t be said for you, stag!”

“Aye,” grumbled the kelpie, who leered down at Bellatrix. "Ah say we drown these sorry lot!"

“Ye will do no such thing unless Ah give th' word,” Alma snarled lividly, hot scarlet eyes fixed on the succubus. “Ah am master ov this castle, an' Ah will decide how these two treacherous swine shall suffer…”

The Baobhan Sith grabbed Bellatrix by the face, squeezing her cheeks harshly as she whispered, “… And Ah will see that ye suffer dearly fur yer transgression!”

Shoving her prisoner away, Alma resheathed her Sanguine blade, handing it to Camellia, and ordered, “Get them out ov mah sight an' clean up this mess!”

The kelpie dragged their captives away, and everyone else collected themselves while the auburn-haired vampiress climbed towards the left wing, where her room resided.

Alma didn’t know how Haden and his people were able to locate and breach her castle, but she swore to slaughter them all when the time came.

For now, her focus was on how best to torture Bellatrix, no matter how fondly the vice lord felt for she-devil…