Undeath and Rebirth

Everything sat still, save for the falling rain, as Oona gazed astonishedly into the mixed-colored eyes of the little lamb girl at her doorstep. She couldn’t even respond when said child threw her arms around her waist for a tight hug.

Confused, honey brown watched the caprine witch nuzzle her face into her gravid tummy, holding back sniffles. “You… you have no idea how happy I am to see you,” she told her mother.

The azure sheep broke out of her stupor and gently returned the embrace, finding her voice. “…A-Abby?!”

The Child of Lightendark beamed bashfully at the sound of her name before awkwardly confirming, “Y-Yeah. It’s me.”

“Ah… Ah don’t understand. How did this happen?! How did ye… How are ye—”

The lamb scratched the back of her black wooly head, troubled with finding the words to adequately explain. “Well, to make a long, convoluted story short, I’m from the future! Or at least… what’s left of it, anyway.”

Oona quickly ushered Abadonna into her cottage, not wanting her mentor or father to accidentally stumble into this growing predicament. Only when she figured this out herself.

She heaved an uneasy sigh. “Alright then. Dry off, an' let’s settle on th' sofa. Help yerself tae anythin' ye’d like.”

Nodding, Abby’s curled horns glimmered with a monochromic magical aura to lift her hat onto the rack. Then, she wandered into the kitchen to grab a plate of homemade cookies and a glass of milk. But before joining her mother, the little caprine girl took a moment to admire the interior decorations, eyes wide and full of wonder.

‘Is this how Trixie feels whenever encountering Beatrix?’ Oona pondered internally before vocally asking, “Does mah home no longer exist where ye’re from?”

“Ohh, no, no, no! Outside of my trips with Mama, I was raised in Parras. I don’t recognize a few things, but still the same humble abode.”

“Ahh… good tae know,” noted Oona, both relieved and somewhat put off that Abadonna inherited Beatrix’s curiosity and sense of adventure. Estimating her current height, she looked no more than over twelve years old.

‘To be following in her footsteps at such a young age…’

Abadonna sat beside her, munching on her treat with a thoughtful expression. Her eyes watered a bit with each delectable bite.

“Mmhm! Haven’t had these in forever,” she said with a mouthful. “Still the reigning champ when it comes to baking cookies~!”

Oona couldn’t help but titter. “Am Ah? Compared tae yer father’s refined taste fur th' culinary arts, Ah figured mah skills would be—”

She paused her train of thought when she noticed a somber expression creep onto her daughter’s face, swallowing the last of her sugary sweet.

Dread and worry contorted the older ewe’s face. “Forgive me fur assumin'. I-Is Omen not yer father?”

“No, he is,” replied Abadonna.

“Then somethin' terrible befell him!”

The caprine witch turned away when she answered, “You could say that…”

Oona knitted her brow. “A'd rather ye drop th' vagueness an' tell it tae me straight, mah child.”

“… I can’t,” Abadonna admitted. “That’s not how this works!”

The motherly ewe scrunched her snout. “An' why not?”

The caprine girl heaved and elaborated. “If you knew what would happen before it takes place, it’ll affect the outcome of this already messed up timeline.” To demonstrate, she pulled out a forked stick from thin air, tracing along the bottom towards the left branch.

“Currently, you’re meant to go this way, unaware of what will happen. Now, say I told you something about the future that would entice you to go down the other path.” Abby redid her finger movement, this time along the rightmost part of the stick. “What do you think happens?”

Oona studied the small twig before her eyes widened in realization. “A new multiverse is formed!”

The Child of Lightendark smiled sadly. “Normally, you’d be correct. With every choice, a new alternative timeline branches out. Whether or not it continues to grow depends on the action's consequence. But you’re never supposed to know the alternative. Because if you do…”

She used magic to shake the stick until the left branch snapped off.

“… The path you didn’t choose, along with whoever it would have affected, gets erased. Permanently.”

Oona stared at the broken stick, better understanding the severity of the situation. Did this mean the cosmic squall directly resulted from so many paths being altered? And did that mean her world would soon be annihilated too..?

“I really wish I could tell you why this was happening, Mom,” Abby grimaced. “But to prevent further disaster, you must find out naturally. About Mommy Bea. Dad. Everything.”

The dream faun gave a stiff nod. Despite how perplexed and frustrated she was about being further in the dark, there was too much at stake already. She glanced at a window showing the lantern-lit village of her people gathering resources and weapons for the impending war with the Sovereign Witch.

Oona decided to move on with another question. “Am Ah at least allowed tae know how ye’ve gained such knowledge?”

Abadonna smiled. “Enock taught me!”

“Ahh. Sounds aboot right…” The older ewe then did a double take. “...Wait! Enoch! Where have they been in all ov this?!”

The smaller lamb shrugged. “I wish I knew. The one from my world disappeared when the calamity began. But they left me with this.”

She lifted her wooly mane to show off the strange artifact wrapped around her neck. It resembled a jagged clock.

“It’s what’ll keep me stable here,” presumed Abby, who then frowned grimly. “Although… I’m not sure how much time I have.”

Oona didn’t like the sound of that. “What do ye mean..?”

“For time travel to work, I need to be at a point where I can still remember my past. And because everything goes bad during Walpurgisnacht, I had to get here before that. Luckily for me, I gained awareness around this time.”

Abadonna gently rubbed a hand over her mother’s pregnant belly, a fond smile on her snout. “It’s rare, but some babies can recall being in the womb. Did you know that?”

“No, Ah did not.” A pleasant warmth filled the azure sheep’s heavy body as she placed her hand atop her daughter's. This closeness helped her reform her smile.

“Well… Whatever time ye have here, I hope ye’ll make th' most ov it wit me.”

A lone teardrop leaked down the dark azure witch as she once more hugged the dream shamaness tenderly. “Of course, mom. I love you. Always.”

Oona suppressed a whimper as she clutched her future child into her arms, nearly squeezing her into her large breasts. “As Ah love you. Always.”

A loud crackle of thunder and light flashing outside startled the two caprines. A foreboding sign, the brewing storm would become more chaotic.

“Ohh, shoot! Minerva will be here momentarily,” recalled Oona, who waddled over to the window to see if she could spot the old drider. “Ah take it others shouldn't know who ye are?”

“Yeah. Some people are okay, but the fewer who know I’m here, the better,” said Abadonna. “So, if anyone asks—”

“—Ye’re a little girl A’ve never met who needed shelter from th' rain,” the dream faun responded with a knowing grin.

The little caprine witch giggled. “You’re taking this strangely well!”

“A’ve been around yer mother long enough tae form a routine,” tittered Oona, whose smile dimmed at the mention of the wayward witch. “… Will she come?”

Abby mustered a wistful smile. “I can’t say exactly. But I believe she will. Reckless as she may be, Mommy Bea would never abandon her family!”

“A’ll… take yer word on it,” huffed the fatigued caprine, holding her swollen belly while making her way up the staircase, which creaked under her weight.

Abadonna’s smile vanished. Invisible to Lady Ewe, a black aura of negativity wafted from her slumped shoulders like the dark clouds that blackened the skies.

‘Not good. Omen’s influence has already reached this far. I might already be too late. Not only that…’

Her violet-gold eyes narrowed as they scanned the bleak horizon, unable to locate anyone that might be moving around in the heavy rainfall.

‘…Minerva should have definitely been here by now. Whatever you’re plotting, Dad, I’ll stop before it sees fruition! Mark my words!’

“Abadonna?” Oona’s voice echoed upstairs. “A’m afraid Ah can’t do this by meself!”

“Coming!” The lamb witch responded, hurrying up the wooden stairs to aid in her mother’s cleaning, her tiny fist balled with determination.

In the main lobby of the spacecraft, the informal council continued over the Necronomicon's fate. Arcanum Folklore's fingers drummed across the dried-flesh cover while more attendants and allies gathered after settling their personal affairs or fulfilling sensual distractions.

Yet they could only come to a consensus. The tome's continued existence would spread havoc, yeah... but none of them knew for sure what the consequences of its destruction could mean. His attention turned to the dark void of Analise’s Onoma, which dissipated and revealed the thoroughly exhausted demoness and pegasus.

“Ahh, good. Perhaps some new perspectives will help cement our decision?”

Midnight and Ana hobbled in; the latter was visibly distraught, her shoulders slumped and her face drawn in a frown. She stretched her limbs and said through a yawn, “Final-fucking-ly! Pretty sure I passed aahhht carpet times durin' that bore-fest!”

Deinos approached them, Lightning Spark and Moonlight River flanking his sides. The twin pegasus gently said, “I understand the experiment wasn’t favorable for you, but I do want you to know how much I appreciate you helping my brother!”

“Yeah yeah, spare me the gushy shite,” grumbled the demi-human, arms folded underneath her perky chest. “Everyone else gotta make nasties while I got stuck wif Sir Drabsalot.”

“A noble sacrifice for the greater good~,” snickered Wispy Willow.

This irked the demoness, pointing a neon pink claw at the cheeky tigress. “I’ll get ya, Pussywilla. And it'll look loike a bloody accident!”

The nekomata stuck her tongue out in response, earning a flick to her nose from her vixen sister, Kitsune, who was still annoyed at her for (albeit unsuccessfully) seducing Kyube. The vulpine bandit sat beside her with his tanuki sister in his lap.

The arachnid changeling cleared his throat. “Unpleasantries aside, what are the results?”

Ana shrugged. “Well, 'e’s been fillin' me bowler tit for tat wif splooge for abaht pearly gate 'ours, and not once did 'e 'ulk aahhht. So take that as ya will.”

“That’s a good sign, right?” Eclipsed Heart asked from her seat.

“Indeed!” Confirmed Deinos, his large compound eyes analyzing Midnight’s condition while he patted down his clothes. Remarkably, the vibrant shade of blue had started to return to the stallion's fur and now fluffed-up feathers. “How do you feel?”

“Better,” he replied with some of his usual chipper demeanor returned and a pep in his step. He cast his sister and former herd mate a sheepish smile. “I think it worked out for me!”

Lightning gave two thumbs up while the moody batmare averted her gaze. While glad her childhood friend was recovering, bitterness remained from his neglect and selfish behavior.

Moonlight knew she could eventually forgive him, but what they would be afterward wasn’t as certain.

“Good on you,” announced Arcanum. “Now that you’ve got that out of your system, care to join the rest of us at the grown-up's table? We’ve still got problems that need solving.”

Nodding, the four took to the empty seats, one occupied by Dion. Midnight failed to suppress his irritation at the burly ram for bagging Moonie and Sparky while preoccupied. The warrior caprine noticed his pupil’s glare and arched an eyebrow. “Got somethin’ tae say, laddie?”

“… nothing,” the pegasus knight conceded. It wasn’t worth arguing over anyway.

“Right then, back to business,” Arcanum directed their attention until the electronic doors above the spiraling stairwell hissed open. Layla and Bellatrix gently descended and landed gracefully by the front of the table.

“Was the entrance necessary?” Iclyn said snarkily.

“Of course,” the motherly primordial teased back when she sat amongst her fellow Demi-humans. Seb and Julianne had been attentive, while Arron was more interested in the handheld mirror he brought, admiring his reflection. She looked around and noticed the interior wasn’t as luminous as before. “That’s odd…”

Once seated between Beatrix and Analise, Bella asked, “Did we miss much?”

“Eh. Not really,” the gambler answered. “We’ve gone back and forth about what to do about this wretched book. I mean, look at this thing! It’s so old and gnarly looking; I doubt even die-hard Wiccan wannabes would pay a petty penny for it!”

“That’s… completely against the point, but yeah. We’re still in a deadlock,” the erenn warlock admitted.

Eclipsed Heart furrowed her brow when noticing someone remained missing. “Where’s Zeloph?”

“Up top,” replied Layla. “I’d rather he not be bothered with this. Not while he’s still in mourning…”

Bellatrix cleared her throat and sheepishly added. “It’s better that he rests up after our intense bout of ‘training’…” She purposefully left out the aftercare she did to help lift the fallen one’s spirits a little before he requested time to himself.

Beatrix stood up in surprise. “Wait, what?! You were training?”

“And got some scrumptious angel cake on the side?!” Wispy joined in. “Lucky bitch!”

“Wispy!” The pop idol said, exasperated. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“Yeah, sounds completely unnecessary,” agreed the deighdyr, fed up with these convoluted reasons just to lay pipe. Arcanum was about to say his piece but stopped himself. It wasn’t his place, especially after conducting his own ‘business’ with the half-succubi twins.

“It was, believe it or not,” insisted Layla. “Both needed this ‘union’ to revitalize and awaken the ancient power tied to our bloodline.”

“Sounds an awful lot like hyper-stallionism,” noted Deinos, stroking his mandibles. “And yet, not as frantic or with any dire side effects?”

The first woman nodded. “Think of it more as a ritual to strengthen their prowess. Not their physique.”

“Now that you mention it,” the violet unicorn looked over her succubus sister and beamed. “You do look a lot more energetic than usual! Kinda like when you were in your old angel form!”

“Yes, well… It helps that I fulfilled an item on my bucket list,” Bellatrix slightly boasted with a sly smirk and half-lidded eyes when her black leather thong-clad bottom lazily settled its crimson cheeks into a chair. Beneath the table, the succubus started curling her tail towards Ana's, eager to toy with her more. But when she was met with a harsh look from the dour demoness, she withdrew her spaded tail.

“But never mind all that,” she dismissed with a wave before resting her chin atop her hand. “Are we going to destroy the Necronomicon or not…?”

“That is the question,” said Arcanum. “Most of us are here and accounted for, so let's see where everyone stands. Me? I say destroy the damned book.”

“I second that,” Iclyn added.

“Aye,” grunted Dion. “Be done wit it!”

Eclipsed Heart shook her head. “We don’t know what’ll happen if we do! Most of our lives are tied to its effects. What if once the book is destroyed, and Middy, myself, and everyone else changed by its influence end up erased from existence?!”

“Mmmn… a fair point,” muttered the detective. Then he turned his eyes to the violet unicorn. “You’re more affiliated with the book than any of us, Beatrix. Ultimately, it’s your decision that’ll factor in the most.”

“It’s the bane of my existence,” the witch admitted aloud, scowling at the flesh-covered tome. “And the source of my power. Every inch of my life has been tethered to its morbid pages and forbidden arts. So much so, I feel it’s starting to affect my dreams.”

The cyan doe raised her snout. “Hmm. You have been suffering a lot of vivid nightmares lately. Care to elaborate on them?”

The witchy mare visibly paled when the freshest of her dark dreams manifested in her mind. She shook her head, not wanting to hear that dreadful chant. “Only that they’re pretty bad.. worse than before even…”

“I’ve also been having weird dreams,” added Midnight, who got a scornful look from most of the women in the room. Gulping, he continued, “Well… granted, they didn’t start bad, but this latest one was incredibly mind-boggling. It’s…er… Oona was in it—”

He yelped when a meaty fist slammed onto the table; Dion’s crimson eyes fixated with an intense glare. “Choose yer next words carefully..!”

“Hey, back off!” It was Moonlight who spoke up, showing previously concealed concern for her friend. “We’re well aware of his fantasies. Middy wouldn’t be talking about one if it wasn’t important.”

“Besides,” Lightning butted in, snout pursed. “You don’t get to act that way after we… erm, well~.”

“Damn!” Arron snickered. “You guys are putting rabbits to shame with how much ya’ll fuck~!”

The pop princess narrowed her gaze at the wrestler. “Oh. And you wouldn’t do the same if a cute guy was on board?”

“Nah! Ain’t nobody here worth the champ’s time. Besides, life’s got more purpose than just pleasure. And more pleasure will only lead you to more pain. I wouldn’t want to end up like that wrinkly ass dork over there~!”

The other demi’s openly stared at the bullheaded brawler in absurdity. Arron glanced at each of them with furrowed brows. “What?”

“That… was actually kind of philosophical,” admitted Analise, dumbfounded. “Well, minus the shade on Middy at the chuffin' end.”

“Still, I’m impressed,” complimented Seb. “Maybe we’ve been too harsh on you, amigo. I was wrong to assume a competent brain didn’t exist inside that fortress of muscles.”

“Oh, fuck the both of you! I’m not that big of a dumbass, you sacks of—”

“Focus!” Layla interrupted loudly, which got her brethren to shut up. Looking towards Midnight, she said, “You may continue.”

“Th-thanks, M’Lady,” the olden stallion graciously said. “As I said, the Oona in my dream didn’t act like the one we know and love.”

Iclyn’s cold gaze deepened. “How so?”

“She was completely unladylike. Used her elegant charms to tempt me into… y-know. But that’s when the scenery changed, and my nightmare took hold.” Fear was written across his features when he recollected. “Cadavers of my friends were crucified over a blood lake. Oona swapped forms with Chrysalis once she forced me to breed her until I drowned with them.”

“Sounds more like a wet dream with some mildly disturbing elements,” Arcanum scoffed, scratching his chin before lifting his mug of Irish coffee to his lips.

Midnight soured. “I dunno. Just something about how this Oona stared at me gave me the creeps. And the things she said while we made love, were so absurd! ‘Birthing spirits,’ ‘Flesh reborn with each generation,’ ‘Fill me with a thousand young’—”

The erenn unicorn instantly choked on his drink at the sound of that phrase, coughing hoarsely.

Ana quirked her eyebrow. “Seriously? That’s wot gets ya? I’ve 'eard more depraved smack abaht baby-makin' from the bloomin' twins!”

After clearing his throat, Arcanum stared wide-eyed at Midnight. “That last part. Did she say that word for word?!”

The pegasus knight shifted uncomfortably. “About wanting ‘a thousand young?’ Yeah. What about it? It was just sexy talk… wasn’t it?”

The warlock blanched. “… No… oh, no no no no…”

His horn lit up to summon his belongings, spilling the bag onto the table while looking through his books.

“H-Hey!” Wispy exclaimed. “What’s with him?”

“I don’t know,” replied Iclyn, equally stumped. “I never seen him act this way before.”

Beatrix pursed her lips, not liking where this was going. “Arcanum, what’s wrong.”

The erenn stallion briefly ignored their concern as he scanned his books, rapidly flipping through the pages until he found the one he was looking for. “… I’ve only heard that set of words once before,” he elaborated through shaky breaths. “If what Middy said is true, then we’ve got more than an anomaly to worry about!”

Everyone shuffled close to observe the page Arcanum held his finger on, a wave of terror washing over the table at what was depicted on it. An ancient illustration of a forest, eclipsed by a dark, ghastly, vaguely caprine-shaped entity within a harrowing cloud. Its massive frame was extruded by long tentacles, salivating maws, curved horns, and hooved legs. And lurking out the trees were smaller eldritch creatures, overseeing the subjects who threw up their hands in worship.

“‘The Ebony Goat of the Woods with a Thousand Young,’” Arcanum read the epitaph aloud. “Shub’Niggurath!”

Beatrix balked. “Shub-whatwrath?!”

“Whoa there!” Arron exclaimed. “I don’t think you’re allowed to say that!”

Seb added, “Yeah, since when did you get the N-word pass?”

“Quiet, you two!” Bellatrix cuts off. “This is a serious matter!”

“It was an insensitive century when this ungodly monster was named,” acknowledged Folklore with a roll of his eyes. “But that’s beside the point. What you’re looking at is one of the oldest cosmic entities that predate the mere concept of time. A perverse fertility goddess who cares only about preserving its vast power through its monstrous progeny.”

Kitsune frowned heavily. “That thing is a ‘she?!’”

“Inapplicable, but yes. Many cults were formed to offer it devotion. There have also been records of it impersonating other well-known fertility figures to steal would-be worshipers.”

“It’s true,” Layla concurred with a bitter face. “During my slumber, I’ve witnessed my old faith foolishly believe I had returned to guide them… when it was Shub’Niggurath in disguise. If I had the chance to face off with that greedy sow—”

Arcanum grimaced. “I’d advise against that. I’ve fought against plenty of minions and even a few of its ‘dark young.’ But to even dare try to tackle Shub'Niggurath directly is suicide! You’d be driven mad long before she even acknowledges your existence!”

“Pft. You forget how often legends and mythos are overexaggerated by their scholars,” reminded Iclyn.

“Even so, I can’t overlook Midnight’s dream as a mere coincidence. Cause things start to line up if you really think about it.” Arcanum ran his finger over the text on the opposite page. “Right here! ‘The most devoted to the Lord of the Woods include kindred relations, followers blessed by Shub’Niggurath herself, and—”

“The Mi-Go!” Beatrix gasped as she followed his finger. “Those are the cordyceps infecting Chrysalis and her changeling swarm!”

“Wait… you might be onto something,” the deighdyr considered. “One of the cult members we faced, Vox, mentioned answering to a ‘higher calling.’ We assumed he meant the anomaly… but what if he referred to Shub’Niggurath instead?”

Midnight perked up. “Hey, yeah! That might also explain the ‘flesh reborn’ line from my dream. The Cult was reformed by worshiping the Ebony Goat of the Woods!”

“So then, what about the anomaly?” questioned Eclisped. “How do they fit in this?”

“Well, previously, the Cult of the Nemesis revered me as their ‘dark messiah’ due to my connection to the Necronomicon,” explained Beatrix. “If Shub’Niggurath is this all-powerful eldritch deity, who's to say they didn’t make a connection through her?”

Suddenly, Seb snapped his fingers. “A bargain!”

Bellatrix’s eyebrows lowered. “… Really? A classic ‘deal with a devil’ setup? It can’t be that simple!”

Arron held out his hand. “Nah, hold up! Let him cook.”

Nodding, the pinstriped demon continued. “So the current thought is that this ‘anomaly’ has beef with Beatrix, right? And, as the saying goes, when you get wronged, you wanna get even. And what better way than to gain similar reality-warping capabilities on par with Belladonna’s? So they go into hiding and try to find a way to revive their cause. Maybe even reach out to old forgotten deities. Perhaps, if you will, an omnipotent horny abomination on goat legs who's looking for a gullible sucker to spread its influence with? Then, Bada-bing, bada-boom! A deal is made. One gets dimensional-breaking powers. The other gains willing devotees after resurrecting the fallen order. And from there, they bide their time until the pieces are in place to reshape the whole multiverse and enact revenge on the one responsible for their downfall.”

“Ooh! That would make a lot of sense,” complimented Julianne.

“It does make for a convincing motive,” added Kyube.

“Here’s where I’m really sold about this theory,” the card demon went on. “Look carefully at this depiction of Shubby here. Remove the tendrils, mouths, and other goat bits. What does this resemble?”

Midnight tilted his head while squinting. “Huh… just kinda looks like a dark clouuuuuooooOOOHHH!!”

Moonlight’s eyes widened. “You mean like the one devastating our universes!?!”

Seb made a finger gun gesture. “Bingo~!"

Eclipsed Heart clenched her fists tightly and pouted. “Ugh! I have to give you credit. That’s a pretty good observation. Well played.”

She shuddered in disgust, feeling the shit-eating grin behind the demi’s bandana. “Why, princess! If I didn’t know any better, that sounded like a genuine compliment. Not a single ounce of sarcasm was detected! Am I on a roll today or what~?”

“Wow. Is it even possible for you not to gloat like a jackass?” Wispy hissed.

“Now, Sebastion,” the rosy-haired nun Julianne firmly said. “Nobody likes a sore winner. You did a good job. That’s all.”

Seb slumped back in his seat, arms crossed. “Not my fault you’ll get on my level!”

“Regardless,” Arcanum cut off. “Everything we’ve discussed about the Cult of the Nemesis and the anomaly points to Shub’Niggurath’s involvement almost perfectly.”

“Not to mention Chrysalis,” Deinos said. “Rather fitting, she embodies Shub’Niggurath’s philosophy of being the ‘all-mother.’ Being bestowed with the Mi-Go to further supplant her ideal hive of loyal changelings only solidifies the suspected partnership between her and the Cult of the Nemesis.”

Lightning Spark chimed in. “Then it's settled, right? We understand what we’re up against!”

Dion shook his head. “Nah. Just because we’ve got a clearer picture doesn’t mean we have a plan. Ah fought a lot ov things in mah life. But ne'er a borderline god…”

“He’s right,” surmised Iclyn. “We’re grossly ill-equipped and on thin ice.”

“Welp! We might well bend over and touch our tow's wif 'a much we’re gettin' fucked,” scoffed Ana.

Beatrix exhaled a long breath before rising from her seat. “If we’re going to beat this, we’ve gotta be willing to make sacrifices. And if that means putting aside my magic, immortality, and vanity to undo all my mistakes, then that’s the price I’ll pay!”

Iclyn furrowed her brow. “Are you sure..?”

Beatrix nodded, staring at herself through the table’s smooth surface. “Some people might be wiped from existence or lose their memories of me. But then again, maybe not. Sister, you were 'born' from the book but have been fine so far! But then there's everyone affected by my interference and influenced their reality! Midnight, Lightning, Eclipsed, Zeloph… What if they get erased?”

“We don't know that,” reassured Bellatrix. “I've survived the Necronomicon's 'destruction' before without consequence; I should be fine.”

“Plus, I highly doubt Mikael’s Crucible would allow the erasure of its current wielder,” stated Seb.

Eclipsed added, “And if we sever your link, potentially, the same can be done to the anomaly!”

“It’s the needs of the many versus the needs of the few,” surmised Arcanium. “But it’s the only shot we got to avoid total annihilation. We’ve got to take the risk.”

When no one offered objections to the notion, Layla rose up. “Then it is decided. The Necronomicon shall be destroyed. I’ll inform Zeloph and—”

Her words were drowned by the sudden blare of emergency alarms; everyone doused in a blinking red sheen. Around them, the Glamorguis bellowed out its pain and subtly quaked around them. “What’s going on?!” Exclaimed Beatrix.

“I’ve got a bad feeling,” lamented Layla. “Something is troubling the Glamorguis.”

Swiftly, she raced to the surveillance system and panned across the rooms, with special attention on her prisoners. And what flickered into view made her gasp in horror. “Oh no!”

A denuded Autumn Equinox left to twitch on the floor, stained in fluids, with Viscera nowhere to be seen. All that remained was rapidly festering substance, puss, gunk, and eyeballs growing from the meaty mold that contaminated the interiors. Worse, the UFO's power supply steadily declined by the second.

She yelled into the sound system, “Everyone! Remain alert! Viscera has escaped confinement and is sabotaging the ship! We’re losing power!”

Everyone balked. “What?!”

Ana recoiled in disgust. “Aaawh, fuck that!”

Lightning panicked. “What will we do? If the ship can’t take off, we’ll be stuck on this death ball!!”

Moonlight cursed. “I knew I should have stood guard!”

“The fault is mine,” confessed the primordial woman. “I shouldn’t have underestimated her, thinking not even she could possibly meddle with the advanced tech onboard.”

“You forgot who her predecessor was,” proclaimed Bellatrix.

“Well, we can’t just stand here,” insisted Eclipsed. “She’s probably filling the ventilation system with noxious gas!”

“But we can’t leave the ship either,” Wispy reminded. “Not without our organs melting!”

“Nidoto son'na koto o keiken sa senaide kudasai!” Chisana whined.

Layla steadied herself with a deep inhale and turned to everyone. “Then we have no choice. We return to Midnight Blitzer’s world immediately!”

Jellyfish-like tendrils descended from the ceiling to merge into the back and spine of the mother of all demons, who moaned and quivered from the sensation of symbiosis with her saucer-shaped pet. “I’ll use my energy to combat the sickness plaguing the ship,” declared Layla. “I should be able to repair enough of the damages to ensure we achieve lift-off.”

“But doesn’t this leave you at risk of getting infected?” questioned Kitsune worryingly.

“For the safety of my passengers and people, I’ll gladly put my life on the line,” the matronly succubus assured her.

Dion nodded and shouted over the alarm, “Ye heard th' lady! We ain’t just gonna muck around like sittin' ducks! Let’s split intae three groups. Group A, ye’re in charge ov huntin' down Viscera. Group B will be responsible fur retrievin' Equinox. Group C, look out fur those who can’t fight!”

Everyone quickly gathered into their preferred group and was ready to depart when a new alarm went off. The burly ram glowered, “Awfurfuxakes! What is it now?!”

Layla pulled up a holographic screen that displayed a radius outside the UFO, detecting an unidentified signature fast approaching.

“We’ve got company!”

The invisible windows manifested to reveal the dawning sun over the lush alien landscapes, highlighting the all too familiar silhouette of a three-headed dragon beating his mighty wings.

Mortis Saltaire and his followers rode Andrei’s scaled back, steadily closing the distance between them and the struggling spacecraft. “We will intercept their ship in a moment,” he announced. “Let none survive our onslaught. Only then may we finally rest in peace.”

“At once, master,” confirmed Triad, hand ready over the hilt of his magically infused katana.

“Oohoho,” hooted Penny Dreadful. “I shall make my most magnificent masterpiece out of their innards~! Faster, beastie! Faster~!!”

The undead drake growled once he soared through the deathly atmosphere. None the wiser to the kite-sized corvid creature that observed them, sailing overhead undetected.

“Y'know, I’ve been dealt some pretty shit hands before. But this?!” Seb pointed to the incoming undead legion. “Fucking abysmal ass luck!”

“I will buy us a little more time!” Layla said when she activated the Glamorguis’ defenses, raising a large, bubble-shaped force field to prevent their attempt to board. The tri-headed monster breathed ghoulish green flames, which smoldered and dissolved against the impassable barrier.

The lich, however, was unfettered and unleashed soul-infused black bolts from the palm of one hand, which wrapped around the invisible barricade. With the other, Mortis drew upon the familiar shadowy wisps of Shadow Scythe’s power to conjure a squall of sickle-based weaponry… and rapidly loosed them on the shield, the interior shaken under repeated blows.

Layla yowled, sharing in the ship’s distress and pain. “N-No! It can’t be!!”

Ana glowered, eyes glowing irate. “That fucker nicked Atalanta’s Onoma!!”

“This is bad,” whimpered Beatrix. “That means he can slip inside the ship through its shadow!”

“Not unless we bring the fight to him,” suggested Bellatrix, lengthening her claws. Turning to the other passengers, she directed, “Secure the prisoner, hunt down Viscera, and help get this bird in the air! The demis and I will deal with the undead!”

Seb waved his arms and exclaimed. “Whoa, whoa, whoa! ‘We?’ I don’t remember volunteering for—”

His complaint was stifled when the scarlet succubus seized him by the throat, golden eyes glaring hotly. “If you’ve got a better plan, I would love to hear it right about now!”

“Aaghk! Alright, alright,” the male demon choked. “I’ll play ball!”

“Love the new enthusiasm, Bella. 'eaven and 'ell! Tryin' ter keep me fuckbox from springin' a leak,” Analise praised while fanning her face. “But last nickle and dime we were outside the bloody 'appeny dip, we nearly mutated”

Arron grumbled. “Yeah, as much as I want round two with that three-headed gecko, I'd rather not go through that bullshit again!”

“Which is why I’ve taken precautions should such an occasion occur,” Layla proclaimed, struggling to maintain telepathic communion with the Glamorguis while in such shearing agony. Circular symbols blinked behind them before capsules rose with a whir from the floor. “These symbiotic suits should protect you from the lethal atmosphere. But be warned; they have yet to be tested.”

“They’ll make do. Now let’s move!”

Bellatrix, Ana, Arron, and Seb quickly stepped inside the capsules, transparent doors sealed around them. First, the air sucked the clothes from their forms, and the trio was left naked. Liquids started to fill the interiors. Within seconds of submerging, any protests were lost amidst gurgles as their mouths and lungs filled. Thankfully, the substance proved harmless to them; their bodies encased in a thin layer of suits that conformed to their bodies. The excess liquids drained, and the capsules opened with a low hiss. They all stepped out and took a moment to admire their new duds.

“My mask! My hat!!” Seb complained. “How about a little warning next time, huh?!”

“At least these 'spacesuits' are spiffy,” observed Bellatrix, who glanced over her shoulder to admire how shapely her butt looked, giving it a slight wiggle.

“Ooh! Wouldn’t mind 'avin' wahn of these in me wardrobe~” Ana purred while stretching the elastic skin material off her chest, watching it recoil and give her squished titties some jiggle.

Arron did some brief Adonis-style poses, loving how the suit conformed to his bulky musculature. “Ooh yeah, just what I need! Threads that won’t tear whenever I bring out the gun show~!” He kissed his biceps while pulling out some spare shades to adorn his face. “Alright, bros and hoes. We rollin’!”

The card demon looked at Julianne, still wearing her nun attire. “Wait, why aren’t you joining us?”

“Oh, I wouldn’t be caught dead in that,” the rosy-haired angel said, smiling shyly. “Too immodest!”

“Aww, C’mon! You’ll be a knockaht,” encouraged Ana. “Plus, we’re garn ter need your merry melodies if we wanna—”

“She is needed here,” reaffirmed the mother of demons. “Her musical healing will aid those who can’t fight.”

“Y-yeah, but—”

“Time is of the essence,” urged Julianne. “Now go!!”

Begrudgingly, they nodded, and the quadrant lept through an open portion of the ship Layla conjured, each of them spreading their wings (save for Arron) to engage Mortis right as his magic penetrated through the Glamorguis' dwindling defenseless.

“Here they come~!” Penny gleefully said, preparing her parasol and wings.

“Predictable as ever,” scoffed Triad, his combat stance neutral. “Get ready.”

The neon demon bellowed after she and Bellatrix flung orbs of hellfire at Andrei’s back.

But the two suddenly vanished inside Mortis’ shadow, at which point the reaper deflected the fireballs with tendrils of darkness, each tipped with a curved blade.

Analise sneered. “Fuck off wif ya!”

Bellatrix demanded. “Where did they go?!”

“Already inside the ship,” informed Mortis, a slight grin on his restored, deathly pallid face. “They will bring swift death to your allies, except for the fallen one. His soul is mine for the taking.”

“The only thing you’re taking is this L, bozo,” Seb proclaimed, wasting no time to draw out his tommy gun and spraying the reaper with salt-infused bullets. Mortis effortlessly blocked the rounds with a magical barrier.

“Have you learned nothing? Such toys are useless against me.”

“Then how about ruthless aggression, bonehead!?” Arron announced from above, dropping down elbow first. The wraith teleported to a safer distance, letting his pet take the brunt of the impact. Andrei roared with outrage while the two plummeted into the abandoned streets below. Arron brushed the dust off his shoulders while locking his violet gaze in a stare down with all three of the dragon’s heads. “Hey, ugly~! Remember me?”

“We recognize you, puny worm,” the left head hissed.

The rightmost head snickered. “Back for another soul-crushing defeat?”

The central head taunted. “We went easy on you last time. But now you irk us!”

All three said, “Now you taste the full wrath of the Kralot!”

Arron held up his hand and curled his index and middle finger twice. “Bring it!”

As the two fought on ground level, Bellatrix, Ana, and Seb combined their efforts and magic to fend off Mortis, who infused his enhanced dark arts with the archaic power of Thanatos. Hellfire met spectral flames while extended claws clashed against steel and shadowy scythes.

Meanwhile, Layla sensed the two underlings had infiltrated the UFO. Between the combined assault and spreading sickness within the UFO, the chances of becoming stranded on Sacratera grew more likely. Nonetheless, she would continue to undo the damage done and coordinate everyone. “Penny Dreadful and Triad have made it onboard,” she announced. “We’ll need someone to intercept them!”

“I’ll find them,” said Kitsune, her brows furrowed and fangs bared when hearing the swordsman's name, reminiscing how easily he'd bested her in martial combat. “I have a score to settle..!”

Wispy joined in. “Not without me, you won’t!”

“Nor me,” Eclipsed Heart rallied, briefly looking at the vixen’s missing tail. “This isn’t a battle you can win alone, at least not until you've healed up!”

“She’s right,” added Kyube. “We’ll have better odds facing them together.” Chisana beamed and nodded in agreement, holding a thumb up.

A small smile stretched Kitsune’s snout a bit before she relented. “Very well. We’ll take care of the intruders.”

“And we’ll go retrieve Equinox,” decided Deinos, Lightning Spark and Moonlight by his sides with an affirming nod. Both teams separated into different corridors, hoping to reach their objections quickly.

“Then we’ll guard this area,” proclaimed Iclyn, her hands, and antlers lighting up with frost and snow. Dion readied his claymore and shield while Foal-Bearer and Wet-Nurse helped Midnight to his seat next to Julianne and Layla, the blue pegasus still sour and frail now that the hyper-stallion gene had been cleansed from his body. The pegasus knight was in no condition to fight, despite how desperately he wanted to redeem himself in the eyes of his distant companions.

“Guess that leaves me to go nephilim huntin’,” said Arcanium, loading up on weapons in his arsenal.

Iclyn raised an eyebrow. “You sure it’s wise to face her alone?”

The erenn warlock snorted. “Probably not. But I work better alone anyway. Especially after…huh?!” His eyes dilated when he found the Necronomicon missing from the table, hands frantically searching his inner coat pockets. “What the—where did it fuckin' go?!? I swore it was right…”

Iclyn’s expression soured when she noticed the sudden absence of a particular violet unicorn mare.

“Oh, for fuck sake—Beatrix!!”

“That wily witch must have snagged it when shit hit th' fan sideways,” assumed Dion.

Arcanum growled, slamming his fist into the table. “Bagh! Remind me to strangle her if we somehow make it out alive!!”

The trio raced up the stairway to chase after Beatrix, a brief flash of her cape vanishing once she entered Layla’s private chambers.

At the topmost layer of the UFO, Zeloph sat motionlessly on the bed’s footside, oblivious to the blaring lights and sound around him. Too crestfallen and focused on his lover's death. It felt like he'd soiled her name by sleeping with another woman, despite receiving permission to move on the moment she passed her short life.

Dull cerulean eyes hovered on the Vorpal Blade in his hand, the weapon as lifeless as its wielder. Perhaps it no longer deemed him worthy after hours spent trying to force its latent ability out. With its mystic power muted, it was reduced to little more than a flimsy needle, likely to snap in half should it cross another blade.

His feathery ears barely twitched when the electronic doors opened, and Beatrix rushed inside. “Zell! What are you doing? We're in big trouble!” The angelic demi didn’t answer. Barely seemed to register that another person was in the room. Scrunching her snout, she marched up to him and dropped the Necronomicon beside him with a *thunk!*

“C’mon, snap out of it! Death is literally knocking at our door as we speak! Your friends and everyone are out there fighting to survive an apocalyptic battle! We need you!”

The somber angel glanced at the evil book, the same tome he had once been imprisoned in.

“Zeloph, please!” Beatrix pleaded. “I know you’re hurting right now. But you’ve gotta destroy it before more harm can be done!”

“I'm...not even sure that's possible now,” he finally spoke, gently holding up the Vorpal Blade. “It’s been dormant ever since I took her life. Perhaps that’s why it no longer responds to me…”

Whether that was the case or it was an excuse, it did not matter in the slightest. The witch could tell by his weary features he already accepted that answer. That he'd murdered his beloved.

Beatrix grasped his shoulders. “No! You know that’s not true. Mortis tricked you into stabbing him with the Vorpal Blade. You couldn’t have possibly known their souls were intertwined through a spell! Hell, the sword was practically blazing when met with the Necronomicon.”

“And now, not even an ember flickers,” he murmured melancholically. “It's time I wake up and face reality, Beatrix. I’m not meant to wield it! All that I touch—-everything I love… falls to ruin or dies. This planet. These people. Quicksilver. Jonn. Atalanta… I let them down. I’m no hero. I’m just… nothing.”

“No, you’re not!” Beatrix rebutted, roughly trying to shake sense back into him. “You’re the only one who can stop this crazed spirit of vengeance! Don’t you understand that? Mortis won’t rest until everyone is dead! Are you going to stand by and allow others to perish? Do you want Atalanta’s death to be in vain?!!”

“N-No..! But what can I—”

“Don’t even get me started, mister!” The witchy mare mounted atop the stubborn angel, stroking his stiff frame. “You told me I didn't deserve the Necronomicon's power if I was nothing without it. And you were strong way before you started using the Vorpal Blade. So what if that rustic needle doesn’t deem you worthy? You already were in Atalanta’s eyes!”

Before Zeloph could absorb her words and decide his next course of action, the echoes of twisted laughter resonated throughout the room. Beatrix rose up instantly, head waving around to locate the source, pausing on the single vent that slowly hissed with green steam.

She yelped when a taloned hand punched suddenly through the steel grate to grab the floor. Viscera crawled out, squeezing her monstrous frame and dusty wings through the confined space. More of the foul-looking mold spread from the torn vent.

Stretching her limbs and neck with grotesque bone cracks, the avian monstress leered at the unicorn and demi with a delightful grin. “Ohoho yes, my poor, lovesick seraphim. She’s absolutely right. You are more capable of defeating Mortis than you think! But don’t let her shallow sense of ‘morality’ blind you to what true power can bring!”

Zeloph gripped the Vorpal Blade tightly while Beatrix instantly drew out her Onoma and rapier sword, the darkness of the Demiurge cascading around her denuded form like a curtain as she mentally banished her clothes to let the cool darkness submerge her. When the nephilim took a few steps toward them, she warned, “Stay back!”

Viscera ignored her and proceeded to get closer. “Don’t you want to avenge your beloved Atalanta? Her executioner is right outside this ship. This is your chance, Zeloph. Now is the time to make him suffer! Make him wish he had never reanimated. And then… grant it!”

“Don’t listen to her,” urged Beatrix. “She’s trying to use you! You are not what she is! You’re not—”

“Evil? Ha! And who are you to label me as such?” The vile one chortled with amusement. “You, the foolhardy tramp who selfishly condemned half her friends and their worlds to their demise! You’re not even here to comfort him!” Her chartreuse eyes briefly glanced at the Necronomicon. “You’re just pushing your grievances onto him so he’ll fix your mistakes. All because you’re too inadequate to handle them yourself. Now who's really using who here~?”

The violet mare’s face hardened with fury once Viscera turned her gaze back to Zeloph. “But since when did lions care for the opinion of sheep? We are demi-human! We were made better, smarter, and stronger than the common mortal. We were meant to ruin mankind. This planet is living proof of that!”

The angelic demi shuddered as a nostalgic dread crept up his spine. Memories of thousands of voices crying out for help while he stood above the destroyed buildings and righteous flames.

Viscera offered her hand. “You can not escape who you are, Zeloph. Who you were meant to be. Together, you and I can finish what he started. We can reclaim Scaratera. Repopulate it with our superior offspring. And restore his fallen legacy~!”

Beatrix knitted her brow. “‘His?’ What are you on about? I thought you despised Varys. But if anything, your plan sounds no different from his!”

“Unless you mean…” A terrible epiphany slithered through Zeloph’s psyche like a venomous viper. A possibility that rekindled the burning wrath within. Not for Mortis, but for someone else who he held more contempt for. Someone he had long convinced himself no longer existed.

Vermillion eyes fixated on the harpy witch and, with tranquil fury, demanded, “…Whose legacy are you trying to restore?”

Viscera stretched her grin until her beak-shaped face was uncannily wide. She then gave her answer. “You already know who. You’ve just been lying to yourself this whole time. Did you really think he could be so easily done in~?”

The Vorpal Blade gleamed with brilliant light as Zeloph flashed forward to decimate the wicked bringer of beldam. Predicting this action, Viscera blocked the attack with orichalcum bones protruding from her wrists. With her prey right where she wanted, she propelled him into the glass barrier with a hard kick. Then her corpse flower tail shot a sticky adhesive and glued the seraphic demi-human to the dome.

Beatrix cried, “Zeloph!”

“Ohh, don’t worry about him. He’s not going anywhere,” the nephilim cooed, licking her teeth while extending her poisonous talons. “And neither is anyone else~!”

The witch snarled and launched a triple storm of elements at Viscera in an attempt to end her on the spot. The avian monstress flew out of the blast radius and fired back acidic projectiles and spinal quills. Beatrix, in turn, deflected them with an invisible barrier she mystically erected.

A rush of footsteps sounded outside the door. “Lassie! What th' hell is goin' on!?” bellowed Dion.

“She‘s in here! Hurry, before—”

“Oh, no, you don't!” The Nephilim shrieked as she soared and jabbed her claw into the panel beside the door. Instantaneously, the meaty mold rapidly expanded until the electronic gates were consumed by a wall of toxic flesh.

Eyeballs, warts, and pus-filled boils blocked out Dion, who cursed when he halted his charge. One swing proved ineffective, the disease absorbing the ram’s great sword and dissolving it into rot within seconds. “Gnaagh! Fuckin' nasty!”

“It smells worse than it looks,” said a revolted Iclyn, hand clipping her nose.

“You can bitch about it after we open this damn door!!” Ordered Arcanum, who blasted the foul green growth with spells. The deighdyr summoned a flurry to try and freeze the sickness, to no avail due to how feverishly hot the festering growth was. "Dammit! Our spells are useless too?!"

Trapped inside, Beatrix strained to hold back Viscera while Zeloph struggled to free himself. His hand desperately reached for the Vorpal Blade, which gleamed underneath the hardened discolored substance a few inches from his fingertips.

The witch flung her most potent spells and cosmic radiance, utilizing the teleporting orb trick she developed while training to keep Viscera on her toes. And fortunately, she maneuvered the ball to hit its mark when the vile one misstepped, dark matter bursting in front of her. “Aaaugh!”

Viscera squawked from the collision, tumbling onto the floor like a rag doll. When she lifted herself up, she found a thin blade poised between her brows, her glare meeting Beatrix’s.

“I’m only saying this one final fucking time! Stand down,” she commanded through heavy breaths. “Don’t think for a second I’ll hesitate to kill you!”

The nephilim gave a throatful chuckle in response. “You think your friends will be safe after you’ve murdered me? Idiot! They’ll never know peace so long as you're around to toy with their pathetic lives! After all, my dear Beatrix… It’s all your fault~!”

At the sound of those words, memories of that horrid nightmare Beatrix tried so desperately to repress instantly manifested. The violet unicorn felt her will falter as she dropped her weapon; the voices and images of everyone blaming her for the continued unraveling of the multiverse were overwhelming.

“N-No! Stop! I didn’t mean for this to happen! I’m sorry,” she cried hysterically, collapsing to her knees and clutching her head. “I’m sorry, Oona! Please forgive me!!”

Zeloph ceased his wriggling to observe the situation, eyes widened. Never before had he seen his ex-lover in such a state of duress.

“Beatrix...?” The others outside could also hear her bawling, which only drove them to try and break inside the room harder.

Even Viscera was briefly taken aback by the sight of her foe regressing to that of a frightened child… before immediately seizing the opportunity to tackle her to the ground. The shriveling witch thrashed wildly beneath the vile beldam, who pinned her hands with her wings.

“I must admit. I’m quite curious about what’s causing you such beautiful trauma,” Viscera purred, exploring and grasping the busty unicorn’s ample curves with one hand. At the same time, the other dragged her talon along her slim stomach. “If only so that I may replicate it tenfold~!”

Zell’s ears flickered at rhythmic tapping coming from behind him. He turned his head enough to see the corvid-shaped creature from before fluttering about while pecking the glass with its nooked beak.

‘You again?’

The pale raven tilted its head side to side before flying upward to somersault into the dome. But instead of smashing into the glass, like he was expecting, it phased through and planted its clawed feet into the sticky substance, trying to pry out the Vorpal Blade.

“What in the world..?”

But Zeloph didn’t waste time questioning the abnormality, somewhat thankful Viscera hadn’t detected the bird’s presence, far too occupied with molesting Beatrix during her hysteria.

After continuous tugging, the semi-skeletal crow finally ripped the interdimensional sword free in its talons. Astonished, the seraphic angel managed to unbind his arm and reached for his weapon.

The weapon finally responded and emitted a powerful light that dissolved the adhesive completely, allowing Zeloph to reclaim his saber and unfurl his wings. His sight set on the accursed book wafting with foul magic.

Viscera’s eyes winched at the sudden glaring light illuminating the room before her attention was drawn to her freed captive. “What?! How did you—NO!”

The vile one blindly fired eldritch bolts from her fingers. Zell and the raven ducked out from the projectiles, the avian thing knocking down the cast-aside Necronomicon, its malevolent aura shuddering from the ample light.

The delusions plaguing Beatrix vastly weakened, awareness returning to the shaken witch. When she realized what was happening, she called upon the Demiurge to entangle its inky tendrils around Viscera’s limbs.

Before any more doubts could change her mind, Beatrix raised her voice over the harpy’s screeching, shouting, “Now, Zeloph! DO IT!!”

With a mighty battle cry, the angel dove down to plunge the sacred saber through the flesh-bound grimoire, which imitated an agonized shriek. Oily black blood leaked from the stab wound, which caught fire as the purifying light expunged the evil within its moldy pages. Lightning, smoke, and noise funneled out from the Necronomicon, a cyclone of screaming visages and eldritch abominations evaporating into the aether.

Reality shook violently, and everyone aboard the Glamorguis lost their footing and fell to the floor. Outside, the UFO was no different; the battle between Mortis, Bellatrix, Andrei, and Demis came to a halt from the sudden tornado of damned souls whirling out of the glass dome, a pulsating light glowing larger beneath.

The lich’s spectral pupils shrank to pinpoints. “It can’t be..!”

At the catalyst of the Necronomicon’s destruction, time stood still, and sound deafened. The faces of many gazed at it with shock, awe, and subsequent dread. Zeloph, Beatrix, and Viscera couldn’t tear their gaze away from the beams of light pouring out the cracks chipping away at the cursed book until it ultimately exploded.

A giant shockwave of energy rippled out the ship, knocking everyone down with indomitable force and extending out Sacratera into the far reaches of deep space.

Every universe, planet, and sentient being felt the phantasmagorical wave run through them. The king and queen from Cerise’s world didn’t see anything change but felt something was amiss. The citizens of the Cyberverse experienced a period of power loss, which made them panic until the mayor regained control of the situation. Almost everyone in Midnight’s world believed it was a sign that the distorted terrain would worsen, prompting their war leaders to work faster into assembling their armada.

In the Lost World, neither the Jakobson clan nor Queen Tatyana’s fleet of ships seemed to notice nor care about the shockwave, figuring it was a rare phenomenon.

Oona and Abadonna briefly paused their activities when the invisible force caused the cottage to shake.

“What was that?” The sheep woman wondered aloud.

“I don’t know,” replied the caprine girl, brows furrowed. “But it felt like… mom!”

Within the mystical forest of the isles, the Cult of the Nemesis collectively froze when the wave hit. Members whispered and murmured over what it could mean while Grogar and his hooded apprentice hurried towards the clearing, where Omen stood at the edge of a cliff, observing the brewing storm.

“You felt that, right?” The elder ram asked.

The gray cervine nodded in acknowledgment while carefully listening to the unknowable whispers of the future; antlers alit with dark static.

When the unheard message was sung, Omen opened his eyes, and a smile formed on his snout.

“So… she actually went through with it after all,” he mused. “Not the path I was anticipating, but one that still works in our favor.”

The apprentice asked, “Then does that mean Belladonna..!?”

“Indeed. The Necronomicon is no more,” said the nightmare stag, who turned to face them properly. His smile twisted into something more malicious. “And with it, my need to continue this friendly facade is near its end.”

“Hmm?”

Arms folded comfortably behind his back, the nahtdyr marched onward as his disciples flanked him. “Contact Vox and the others. Inform them that there’s been a change in plans. Begin Chrysalis’ crusade of Midnight's Equestria ahead of schedule.”

Grogar nodded. “Consider it done.”

“Walpurgisnacht is only twelve hours away,” the apprentice reminded Omen. “An' if th' Necronomicon is destroyed, Beatrix no longer has th' means tae travel through realms! How are ye sae certain she’ll come?”

“Don’t underestimate how resourceful Beatrix can be,” noted Omen. “Even depowered, she’s a vital threat to our mission. She’ll find a way here. I know it.” His maroon eyes drew toward the hooded acolyte. “If you can temper your eagerness to meet her, I have something you can do in the meantime.”

“An' what might that be?”

The trade paused as the deer man leaned close to whisper into his follower’s ear. And whatever was said brought a delighted smile to their semi-visible snout.

“Ahh… Ah was wonderin' how ye might handle th' Vice Lords. It’ll be nice tae finally cut loose wit'out concealin' mah identity~.”

“As promised, the time for charades is over,” chuckled Omen, who brought their knuckles to his lips. “They will look upon you with horror and adoration.”

“As it should be,” huffed the cultist, who waited for the seer of black dreams to tear open a portal for her to travel through.

Grogar raised an eyebrow. “What purpose does keeping them apart serve? Would it not be more practical to have them meet already?”

“Not while Abadonna is present,” rebutted Omen, his frown showing a hint of teeth. “Admittedly, I didn’t account for the possibility that her future self would show up here. She’ll no doubt try to keep her mother away from me.”

“So what do you propose?” The former emperor of Equestria asked as they resumed their walk.

“For now, we bleed the clock until both wars commence,” the cult leader responded. “We cannot force a feast, Grogar. A feast must first present itself. But if everything goes as planned, three things are guaranteed. You will have your new era of darkness. Shub’Niggurath will have the life she desires. And I will have everything I deserve.”

“And the Child of Lightendark?”

Omen’s eye glimmered an ominous red. “That’s a problem I will handle. Personally.”

Waters rocked against the boats, one housing the Sovereign Witch, Tatyana, who ran her hands across a crystal ball and spoke into the sphere. “Countess Alma, can you hear me? Have you finalized proper preparations for our rendezvous into the Isles of Parras? We’ll be there momentarily…” When there wasn’t a response, the tall unicorn mare demanded more impatiently. “Answer me now or so help me, I will—”

The face of the kelpie Vice Lord swam onto the orb's surface. “Hold ontae yer sweet ass; Ah hear ya!” snapped Douglas, a disgruntled look on his somewhat handsome face.

Tatyana narrowed her gaze. “I didn’t request you, lecher. Where is the Baobhan Sith?”

“Look, our ‘wonderful’ leader is indisposed currently. But don't worry. Our forces will meet three hours befur Walpurgisnacht begins.”

The Sovereign Witch sneered in annoyance. “I'd prefer to hear it from her own lips, not some uncivilized scoundrel. You’re almost as worthless as my husband…”

“Oi! Yer not th’ only one who's been busy, sugartits. We’ll get there when we get there. Sae don’t get yer panties in a twist.” He lazed before her eyes on a chair, and a few stray leeches crawled across his bare chest. “Pretty soon, we'll have another bunch ov territories tae carve up an’ call our own! Now, was there anything’ else ye…”

The vision before his eyes, summoned by the crystal ball, faded. “Skyscrapin’ cow,” he muttered to himself. In truth, a pall had fallen over the manor-turned-castle ever since Oona, Demi-Trix, Omen, and Bellatrix escaped. And ever since Layla had soundly defeated and humiliated her, Alma was left in the throes of depression.

No lavish foods, refinements, or pure blood could pull the vampiric faerie from her melancholy. As a consequence, her territory resembled her mental state. Deteriorating and in a state of decay since the vampire bats perched above dared not stir.

Nor was the Baobhan Sith the only one in a compromised state. Esmeralda was still stricken by night terrors ever since her encounter with Omen. She and Camellia sat near their mistress at the table yet didn’t speak to her knowing she wouldn’t respond. A more pale than usual Esmeralda whispered, “Doesn't he remind you of-?”

“Bluebeard,” said Camellia with all the spite she could muster behind her porcelain mask. “The dread pirate warlock that collected wives across the treacherous seas and then murdered them.”

Douglas flicked his ears and snickered at them. “Pha! That ol’ scallywag got nothin’ on me. 'Course, ye’d probably know that if ye had a taste.” He rubbed his crotch, hidden beneath his dark pants. “Anytime ye saucy wenches want a real sea shanty, A’m only a call away~.”

“Dream on, you lowly barbarian,” hissed Camellia between her clenched teeth.

“We'd sooner walk the plank,” dismissed Esmeralda with flicks of her manicured hand. “On that note, I believe our spies said something about the Nautilus also concealing an eldritch beast fused inside it..?”

“Yes. Quite similar to the fabled Kraken,” surmised Camellia, who cradled her lady love. “The kind of beast we'd love to hunt and keep as a trophy.” A small smile met her ruby-red lips. “Ah, I do sometimes miss the old times...”

“Aye. Sounds like th’ kind ov treasure A’d love tae get me hands on,” cut in Douglas, his eyes wandering over the masked mare's ample cleavage while he drank wine from a goblet. “Nautilus… now that’s a ship made fur me! Who owns it currently? Ashen Dirt, right?”

“Dune,” corrected Esmeralda, rolling her eyes. “Ashen Dune.”

The kelpie waved it off. “Bah! Whatever his name is, A’ll nail his drowned corpse tae th’ headpiece after Ah break in his tight little whore, Rhenaes. Always wanted tae wear her on me cock, even befur Doppia took hold ov her~!”

“Typical male,” sneered back Camellia. “Pathetic!”

“Now, they're not all like him,” reassured Esmeralda, thankful as her lover rubbed her shoulders to ease her tensions. “Bad as he is, I’d prefer his company over that dreadful Omen!”

“Yes… that cannibal deer strikes terror into even my heart,” admitted Camellia with a subdued shudder. “In all my years as a huntress, never have I encountered a monster so perfectly disguised as a well-mannered man. A polite smile that hides pointed teeth. Eyes that bore through one's soul and see everything there is to know….”

The petite thestral vampiress quivered. “Don’t even get me started! The body of prey with the appetite of a predator. The power to manifest your greatest weakness and exploit it..!”

Douglas groaned. “Yeesh! From th’ way ye ladies describe him, ye sound awfully smitten wit him!”

Esmeralda flustered. “O-Of course not!”

Camellia swished the contents of her goblet. “We just recognize him as a dangerous game, is all.”

The kelpie cut in, “Worse than th’ Kraken? Don’t tell me ye’re afraid ov tentacles~?” He continued to drink the bat mares in, despite the cold snarl of Camellia and the cocky smirk of Esmeralda. “A’m sure it would love tae capture all that supple flesh an’ stretch out yer holes. But A’ll protect ye if-”

“We don't need your protection,” hissed Camellia, who nearly threw a drink in his face.

“And even then, the price would be unthinkable,” added Esmeralda, confident he'd want them to whore themselves out to him. “But alas, should you ever want me to shoot your tiny cock off—”

Alma's downcast facelifted when her ears flicked at a subtle sound. “Quiet!” The group ceased their banter when the auburn-haired vampiress rose from her seat. Her scarlet eyes darted to a low hum, the air distorted when a black and red vortex opened mid-air and expanded in the banquet hall. Everyone shot to their feet and drew weapons, prepared for another invasion when a lone hooded figure stepped out.

The apprentice of Grogar kept her features hidden behind a crimson cloak, a ram-skull bident in hand. “Salutations,” the cultist greeted. “Hope Ah wasn’t interruptin’ anythin’~!”

“You trespass the house of the Legion of Black Roses,” proclaimed Camellia, and her thick black mane lifted up in a mass, ready to strike. Even her equally dark gown slid across her pale curves at her will, another extension of her turned lethal.

“State your name and business,” demanded Esmeralda, a silver pistol trained on her heart. “And maybe you won’t leave here in pieces!”

“Not much ov a fortress if it's sae easily impregnated,” the stranger tittered, unfettered by their threats. “If anything, it looks like yer order is in shambles.”

Alma visibly bristled, fangs bared. “A’ve had enough ov these interlopers just waltzin’ intae mah abode!”

“Hold it, Alma,” called Douglas, his brows furrowed. “There’s somethin’ fishy aboot this one. Ah can feel it.”

The vampiric faerie stiffened and noticed the entire castle was trembling, much like it did when the mother of the demon Glamorguis arrived.

“Now that he mentions it, her voice does bare a familiar cadence,” noted Esmeralda, who lowered her six-shooter but kept it ready.

“Have we met before?” Questioned Camellia, who likewise let her dense black mane waterfall down.

“We have not,” answered the cultist playfully. “But A’m sure ye might have heard ov me somewhere. In a dream, perhaps? Or maybe, from yer worst nightmar—”

But before she could get another word in, Alma flashed across the table and seized the intruder by the throat, slamming her into the castle wall.

“If ye are here tae mock me, ye couldn’t have picked a more inconvenient time,” Alma hissed through a vicious sneer. “Because Ah am down tae mah last fucking nerve, and Ah need somethin’ that’ll quench mah thirst fur bloodshed!”

The mysterious acolyte tittered. “Forgive me. ‘Twas not mah intention tae insult ye, Alma. Far from it, actually!”

“Then tell me who th’ fuck you are an’ why th’ fuck ye’re here!”

“Are ye sure that’s what ye want? Th’ truth hidden beneath this veil might disturb ye~.”

Fed up with the vague riddles, Alma gripped the hood of her cloak with an angry growl. “All I want tae know is whose heart Ah will feast on when Ah—huh?!”

But when she ripped away the cloth with a clean rip, the words in her throat died, replaced with a startled gasp. Her legionnaires were equally perplexed, mouths aghast and eyes widened by the face they saw.

Shock and confusion wore Alma’s features as she gazed upon the smiling visage of the cultist within her clutch, only able to utter a single sound.

“Y-You?!”

Oona felt like someone spoke about her for reasons she couldn't understand. A mere superstition? Today was full of weird phenomena, like the bizarre shockwave that pulsated through the isles to a future version of her daughter, who was taking a small nap after tidying the place.

At least now she wasn't alone, despite the bittersweet reasons. For her final act, before Demi-Trix faded into the ether, she ensured her trio of plushies would be taken care of, left in the dream shaman's tender care. She cast them a troubled smile when the plush toys cuddled around the snoring caprine girl. They particularly liked to rest on the wide rim of Abaddona's hat.

While they couldn't speak, Shade Sickle wrote her a note she read. “Oh no, no, no...” She lamented the losses of Demi-Trix and Shadow Scythe, distanced though she was from recent events. At least everything else here appeared relatively okay, despite the looming war on the horizon.

Outside, Ashen Dunes and Rhenaes pitched in and helped repair the shipwrecked Nautilus, unaware the Cult of the Nemesis observed them.

A rare moment of serenity before the pieces set in motion by Omen finally tumbled into place.