Prisoners of War : A Beatrix Belladonna Tale

The desert’s vastness stretched before the new arrivals, who stepped through the blue-ish white of the swirling portal behind them. Beatrix Belladonna was the first to step out, followed closely by her companions Midnight Blitzer, Cerise Silhouette, and Moonlight River. Last to leave the vanishing rift strode out Iclyn, the icy doe substituting for Oona Ewe.

The sun baked overhead in a cloudless sky, the sight of Ashen Dune's pastel airship parked far in the distance visible across the dunes.

"Damn, not as close as I'd hoped," frowned Beatrix, who dusted off her heels.

Heat waves visibly rolled throughout their vision; Iclyn's eyes narrowed when she raised a hand to shield her face. She experimented with her ice magic, the ice shard sizzling against the intense heat. “Ahh, yes. Good thinking, Oona,” she muttered. “Let’s send me on a mission where my magic isn’t as potent!”

Moonlight cut in with a furrowed brow. "Yap yap yap! Do you ever stop whining?”

"Said the thestral still in self-pity over her wings," countered the deighdyr.

“Hey, that’s a low blow!” Midnight snapped. “We’re supposed to be on the same side here!”

“I’m on my side,” Iclyn scoffed. “And if there’s a brain in that bulky body, you’d stay out of my way.”

While the three continued to fuss needlessly, Cerise leaned toward the witch and whispered, “Are you sure it’s too late to open another portal and send her packing?”

Beatrix groaned. “Look, having Iclyn join us wasn’t my idea. It was Oona’s. And she has a point. I have to make peace with her childhood friend if she’s going to help me get a grip over my dimensional abilities!”

"Hey, Belladonna!" Iclyn called to pull the violet mare’s attention. “I’m not going to be like Lady Ewe and coddle you like a nanny. I expect you to pull your weight!"

"Oh, you don’t have to worry about that," assured Beatrix, a cocky smirk on her snout. “I vanquished the Burning King, remember~?”

“Yeah, after you released him from Pathos,” reminded the cyan deer, deepening her frown. “Which resulted in realities fusing to the point that a Lost World dragon is now prowling the desert! Good job.”

“This is going to be a long journey,” the princess sighed, hands on her hips. Her focus was on her brothers and what else might be up with her world. Yet the pair's bickering was already rivaling the sun’s unbearable heat. Ashen had told her about a potential territory for her to one day rule...one that could help expand their vast nation. As a Queen, she would have to become more mature and learn discipline. Not to mention she needed to practice her powers more.

"I can't wait to see Rheneas again," Cerise told her husband, her neon pink eyes locked on her silver wedding ring, matching Midnight’s golden one. Thanks to its protective magic, it was the one thing the Vice Lord Doppia couldn’t remove when she was body-snatched. Thankfully, the pair had worked to rejuvenate the jewelry each night as Moon Hammer instructed. "I hope she’s doing better after everything that happened…”

"Why wouldn’t she?" Moonlight chimed in, smiling when she wrapped an arm about her waist. “You helped save her from her fate. And from what we saw, she’s already settling into a new life!”

Cerise perked up, her pointy ears lifted. "You're right! She did look a lot happier with my brother. It’ll be nice knowing she’ll be by our side when I start making those tough decisions."

Midnight stared up at the skies and said, "We'd better move before the next storm hits!"

"Good idea," nodded Cerise, who tugged on Beatrix's arm to pull her out of a sniping match with Iclyn. "Come on, you two! Now isn’t the time for-"

Their attention snapped to a black mass in the distance. It loomed closer, a dark silhouette that kicked up sandstorms as the earth started to quake. At first, they thought maybe it was the multi-headed dragon they'd seen, but instead, they realized it was a stampede of the scorpions.

A multitude of eyes covered their armored bodies, stingers raised that dripped a vicious venom. Immediately Midnight and Cerise shot into the air, lances at the ready, while Moonlight readied her claws and strained to follow them, only to realize she could only glide, at best.

"Damn it," muttered Moonlight under her breath as she touched down in a dust cloud. "I’m not gonna be a burden this time! I'm a soldier!"

Beatrix began weaving her spells while Iclyn gathered what little moisture was in the air to create icicle spears. Yet their combined efforts didn’t phase the giant anthropods, nor leave a dent in their exoskeletal armor. The witch chewed her lip, aware she couldn't simply cut and run at the first opportunity, like the last time she visited this world. It wouldn’t be like with the Eldritch, where she almost abandoned the kingdoms. She had come a long way since then!

Yet the scars of those interdimensional terrors remained. These scorpions were but one of their many failed experiments. The elements exploded from her palms once her horn flared, while at her side, Iclyn called upon a blizzard that flash-froze those closest to them in a loud cold snap.

"Gagh! T-there's too many," yelled Cerise while practicing a combination of the shadow and crystal powers Doppia had initially unlocked using her body. Her father had subconsciously infected her with part of his darkness when she was conceived, fearful that his daughter wouldn't be able to survive the apocalyptic world the Eldritch wrought.

Crystalline pillars exploded from the earth and trapped half a dozen scorpions at once. Her eyes widened in shock at what she was now capable of, yet her joy proved short-lived as pinchers were raised at Moonlight. "Oh no, you don't," she cried and fossilized the abomination.

"Sorry about that," grunted Moonlight, grounded as she used her false pinions to hurl poisonous darts into the enemy's manifold eyes. "Wish we had bombs to obliterate these things!"

"There should be some on Ashen Dune's ship," replied Midnight, as the herd had once helped the airship merchant keep down the innumerable numbers of these beasts. "If I get the opportunity, I’ll swoop over there. Cause it looks like there's no end to this!" He spotted more swarming over the dusty hills as his lance skewered one's head.

"It's like they're of one mind," observed Beatrix as she raised a barrier to delay them. "Does that mean Andrei’s already learned to direct them?" Yet the violet mare had little time to speculate as a buzz sounded overhead, and more scorpions arrived, these borne on many bat wings.

"... you can't be serious," said Moonlight, her eyes dilated at sight.

“So not only did they bred like crazy, but they've also mutated and gained the ability to fly,” Iclyn added dully. “Great…”

Worse still, the sand below them started to open like a funnel and threatened to swallow them, as more scorpions tunneled from deep below. Beatrix yelped as her arcane barricade crumbled.

Surrounded on all sides, there were mere moments before the horde started to overwhelm them. Stingers snaked out from all directions, the scorpions heedless to how many of their numbers were lost or immobilized, since they could quickly breed more of their numbers.

They jabbed the travelers with venomous barbs, Moonlight the first to fall as the color drained from her skin. She watched helplessly as her friends crumbled once-after-another around her.

"Nngh! Not like this," wheezed Iclyn as her knees buckled, her arm punctured by a spike.

"Br-brother," whispered Cerise, who stared at the pastel airship miles away.

They remained conscious as the pinchers seized them, tossing their prisoners onto their carapaced backs. The paralyzed party was carried away toward a stone mountain, where the Kralot of Zmey likely resided. Beatrix gazed helplessly while Ashen’s ship grew further away, wondering if they would be added to their larder…

*****

Once they were brought into the hollowed tunnels, the bed of scorpions came to a rest. Sunlight spilled from a hole in the ceiling, Beatrix's eyes half-lidded to keep out the rays. At least everyone was still alive and relatively unharmed, but for how long...?

A whoosh of air sounded when something dropped onto the ground, making Cerise and Moonlight squeak in fear. A stallion in shepherd's garb stared lifelessly at them before a large shadow overcast the cavern. The group gazed up as the terrible tri-headed dragon swooped down from the opening.

Andrei’s heads were differently shaped, each having a slightly distinct muzzle and crown of horns. Fresh blood leaked down his jaws, his right face lapping up with a long forked tongue. The draconic invader gazed upon the mutant beasts, who bowed lowly before him.

“This planet is… strange,” mused the center head, flicking his tongue like a snake. “The atmosphere tastes all wrong.”

“These creatures are rather odd-looking as well,” his left head observed. “Very… alien!”

The right head tittered, eying the paralyzed prey gathered before them. “Who cares? They seem willing to serve and have brought us gift! Five delicious looking morsels~!”

“Yes, far more appetizing than that land of farmers!”

“Focus,” the middle head hissed before all eyes gathered to take in Beatrix and her group. His whip-shape tail coiled around the petrified witch as Andrei brought her closer. “Little witch with overcompensating hat. Tell us… what is this place? Where are we?”

Beatrix strained to find her voice, most of her muscles still paralyzed. "Ye… you’re in an alternate universe," she sputtered out, sweating profusely. “I...might have 'accidentally' brought you here?" She tittered and ignored the death stare of Iclyn near her.

All three heads took turns wafting her scent, two of which sampled the witch’s taste by dragging their tongue along her face and torso. Beatrix shuddered, snout scrunched from the slimy saliva coating her top.

“Mmm, yes,” the left head gurgled. “This one boasts strong magic!”

“As well as other assets,” snickered the right head, eying her ample curves as his claw took a handful of her rump, kneeling her doughy cheeks. “Look at these fat tits! And this ass..~!” He gave both sides a rough clap, making Beatrix yelp. “Perfect breeding material!”

“Why am I not surprised,” grumbled Iclyn.

“Will you shut up!!” Moonlight harshly hissed.

“She would make for lovely concubine,” Andrei’s middle head nodded. “But if she is responsible for bringing us here, we should make ample use of her ability to travel worlds!”

“Oh no…” groaned Cerise. It was just as Ashen had feared. The Kralot of Zmey was already thinking about a hostile takeover.

With a flustered face, Beatrix stammered, “A-aah! As flattering as that sounds, surely you’d want to go home, right? Y-you have loyal subjects waiting for you!”

Each head turned to the other before letting out boisterous laughter, loudly booming throughout the mountain’s interior. “And why would we want to return home?”

“These creatures already revere us as ruler.” He pointed a claw at the scorpions, who were docile. Likely awaiting his next command.

“Not to mention far more resources here than in homeland!” the third head stated.

All three heads spoke at once. “And with no other dragons to challenge us, we will reshape a barren landscape into a proper kingdom! Starting with the pyramids down south."

“No, you can't!” cried the charcoal batmare. “That’s my father’s kingdom!”

“That won’t ever happen!” Midnight blurted out, the poison starting to wear off as he struggled to move. "There already is a Dragon Lord. And his name is Spike!"

Chuckles left the hydra’s mouths. The middle head crowed, "Oh-ho! So Spike does exist in this realm?”

“We have fought before,” huffed the left head. “He got lucky then. I wonder how he’ll fare now!”

“Yes, do tell us where he is,” the right head ordered, lapping at his chops. “We shall seek him out and claim his entire horde… starting with the precious jewels bumbling into our grasp!”

“W-what? No, you’re mistaken,” Beatrix said, squirming. “We’re not a part of Spike’s harem!”

“Then you’re just easy pickings,” Andrei snorted before bringing his triple gaze to the scorpions, learning that they understood simple gestures. With pointed claws, he decreed. “Bring us those two! We’ll have our way with the rest later…”

The scorpions skittered and ferried Iclyn and Midnight towards the stony floor while Andrei tore off Beatrix’s leotard in one swipe. They plopped them down beside each other while the tri-headed dragon explored their bodies with leisurely claws. The witch moaned unwantedly as one head caressed her ample tits with his tongue. Iclyn and Midnight struggled to move when he tore at their own clothing, the pegasus’ white armor crushed and tossed aside with a rattle.

But their eyes widened in dread upon seeing Andrei’s hefty set of genitals erected out a sheath. Two knotted members throbbed underneath a third lengthy cock, tiny barbs poking out the shafts.

“H-holy shit..!” Beatrix exclaimed breathlessly, unable to tear her gaze from the fleshy trident Andrei called a penis. “And you said I was overcompensating..!?”

“Believe it or not, this is burden for us,” admitted Andrei’s center head. “It’s been incredibly complicated finding worthy partners who can handle us.”

“All this unbridled rage and lust with no true outlet,” scowled the left head, veins bulging. “So you'll just have to bear it!”

The right head gave a sinister smile. “Think of it this way! At least we can all thrive together~!”

“N-no! Get off,” snapped Iclyn, who tried in vain to avoid having her clothes shredded off. “Keep that disgusting thing away from me!” Midnight and Beatrix squirmed beside her, the numbness having yet to wear off fully.

"This is bad," wheezed Moonlight, who struggled to wiggle her unresponsive muscles. “Shit!”

"If only I could dance," whispered Cerise directly into her herd mate's bat ear. "I don't know about the scorpions, but I might be able to captivate Andrei with my trance ability?”

As the last of their articles of clothing was torn off, the deprived monster leered over his conquest, his multi-shafted penis pulsating rhythmically. But upon looking over Iclyn, Andrei’s heads paused in perplexity. “Hold on… something’s different about this one.”

“Could have sworn the deer was girl!”

“She dresses like one. And yet…”

Beatrix looked down at the deighdyr’s exposed crotch to find a small, flaccid cock between her shapely legs, much to her shock. “Y-you're a-”

“Don’t look at me like that, hussy,” Iclyn said with utmost disdain. “The last thing I need is for you to judge my body!”

“There is no judging from us,” one of Andrei’s faces assured while the others licked their lips. “We appreciate both oysters and clams~!”

Midnight did his best not to stare at the distraught doe before asking, “Yet you don’t respect consent? I’m really not into guys!”

Another series of chuckles came from the Kralot who casually traced the blue pegasus’ musculature with his tail. “Do not be afraid, stallion. We’ll be gentle with you since it's your first time.”

“But enough waiting!”

“Yes~! We take you now!”

Iclyn, Beatrix, and Midnight groaned as the tri-headed dragon pressed his meaty cocks against their backsides, thick slime leaking out the spaded tips. But before he could indulge his prisoners, Andrei paused when his fin-ears perked at the sound of machinery rattling in the distance. Vibrations rocked the mountain, and a shadow loomed overhead once the pastel airship zoomed into view from the hole. Its multitude of flags were left to flutter in the wind. The cannons immediately fired, blasting Andrei in his faces. The dragon roared before another explosive hit knocked him away from his prisoners.

"Careful not to hit the captives," called the voice of Ashen Dunes from the speakers. He stood visible at the wheel, Rheneas at his side.

Explosions rocked the area when rope ladders were cast down the sides of the vehicle. A chunk of the mountain shattered, only to smash a scorpion into paste under the boulder. The crew members who weren't at the cannons either lobbed hand explosives or slid down to rescue the prisoners. Among their many numbers were Somnambula and Stygian. As they seized the witch and administered a hypodermic, Beatrix called, "O-oh! Thank goodness you both are alright. I was worried that Mortis-"

"We slipped away from him," said Somnambula, who'd flown down to meet them. "Mostly because he was focused on the Necronomicon. We’ll worry about recovering it later. Here, this antitoxin should cure your paralysis."

"It's a good thing Ashen Dunes could find us," Stygian said before gasping as Andrei slowly rose back up. "But we have to leave now!" The scholar and priestess swiftly administered their antidote to Cerise and Moonlight.

The multi-headed monster released a roar before breathing green flames at the airship. Beatrix erected a wide barrier to deflect the draconic licks of flame. Hisses and steam were left to fill the interior, which momentarily blinded Andrei.

Unfortunately, the rising pillar of flames propelled the airship upward; the airship rocked as part of it was immolated, the screams of several crewmembers swallowed up once they blackened to ash in the furious inferno.

"Brace yourselves, friends," called Ashen, ensuring everyone was aboard safely as the aircraft neared the mountain’s summit. "On my signal, I want all cannons to open fire at the peak and cause a cave in!” The crew members scattered to aim their weapons, awaiting further orders.

But Andrei’s roar thundered as the draconic abomination soared through the smog on leathery plumage, hellbent on tearing down the ship. “We’ll never make it out in time!” exclaimed Rhenaes, who clutched the pilot’s arm tightly.

With clenched teeth, Beatrix prepared to conjure a portal in an attempt to teleport the multi-headed beast elsewhere. But it was Iclyn who pushed her aside, antlers and hands flurrying with all the cryomancy she could muster. The cyan doe summoned a snow squall that encased the rocky interior with ice. Andrei bellowed, beating his wings to shake off the growing frost until he ultimately succumbed to the cold. His entire form froze and plummeted back down to the bottom. Nearly a dozen scorpions were crushed under his bulk upon impact.

Pushing out the last of her magic, Iclyn’s legs gave out, only for Beatrix to catch her. Everyone onboard sighed in relief as the smoky airship cleared the mountain’s top. "Fire away!" Ashen Dunes ordered as cannonballs were fired at the summit. The area quaked, smoke rose, and the surface caved in, entombing Andrei and the horde to the mountainside. The monolith rumbled with aftershocks as the ship raced away.

“Well… that’s one problem down,” Moonlight said, wiping her brow.

“A temporary solution,” corrected Cerise, who frowned. “I doubt we’ve seen the last of him…”

“Let’s just be thankful we made it out in one piece," Rheneas encouraged, leaning her head and arms on Ashen, who returned the gesture while signing in dismay.

“Same can’t be said for my ship,” he said, noting the smoldering flames still being put out by extinguishers.

“Nothing a little glue and duct tape can’t fix, right?” joked the violet mare while she helped the dizzy deighdyr to her feet.

Iclyn gripped the railing for support before turning to Beatrix and reluctantly muttered, “... thanks.”

“Aha! So you do have manners!”

“Bite me.”

Ashen chuckled, pecking the ballerina’s snout before proclaiming, "Set a course for homeland! White Shadow Penumbra awaits us!" His crew saluted before resuming their work, fanning out the rest of the dragon’s fire. Unfortunately, several had suffered significant burns and were tended to below deck. Others died of asphyxiation from inhaling the sulfuric fumes.

"Thanks, brother," said Cerise, as the crew brought clothes to the denuded prisoners.

"Not necessary," interjected Beatrix, who winked and waved a fresh costume back onto her form. But her cheeky smile turned upside down while watching Iclyn receive a robe, notably keeping her legs tucked together. “Look, about what happened back-”

“Can it, Belladonna,” the icy deer glowered. “It’s already humiliating that you learned my secret…”

But the witch pressed onward, hands on her hips. “It’s your attitude that puts me off, not your gender. We’re not going to get anywhere if you continue to hold that nasty grudge against me. I get it! You don’t like me! And that’s fine! We don’t have to be friends. But can we please cooperate?”

Iclyn stared hard at the witch as if pondering which witty retort to use next. Instead, she heaved a sigh before turning her head away. “... I suppose I could refrain from chastising you over every detail.”

“See? Now, that’s a start!”

“But if I catch you trying to portal hop your way around a problem again, I’m putting you in the freezer for three days.” Her aurora green eyes narrowed. “Don’t even try to deny it!”

Beatrix heaved her shoulders before nodding. “Yeah, that’s fair…”

“Good. Now go bother someone else. I'm already nauseous as is,” the deighdyr concluded before walking below deck.

“At least we’re making a little progress,” the violet unicorn mumbled as she pulled her attention towards the ship’s inhabitants. It was a relief to know Somnambula and Stygian were well and that losses were low. Yet she had enabled Andrei to enter this world and would eventually have to figure out a way to bring him back to the Lost World. That dragon wasn’t going to remain imprisoned under the mountain forever.

The blue skies raced by once the airship zipped over the walls that bordered the area to keep the scorpions in. Another reminder of the consequences her actions wrought. When Beatrix had escaped the Eldritch, she had lured them across dimensions to a number of uninhabited planets, until they could finally catch up and corner her here.

Still, the wayward witch tried to appreciate the good things her travels brought. Sombra wouldn't have been redeemed, and Cerise wouldn't have been born or eloped with Midnight. She glanced at the couple chatting amongst themselves, unable to keep a sad smile off her face.

‘I’ll set everything right,’ she mentally swore, gripping her Prima Materia tightly. ‘Somehow, someway, I'll learn how to control my spacial powers and put an end to this anomalous chaos!’

*****

Deep beneath the earth, in yet another world, a labyrinth of caverns stretched out over miles. Eerie emerald hues illuminated the rocks, cast by the viscous slime that dripped and congealed throughout the stones. A low hum filled the heart of the hive. Changeling drones skittered about the catacombs where many captives were incubated, preparing their bodies for sustenance or fornication purposes in the hatchery.

Some were still conscious, abandoning any hope of escaping this horrific fate. Yet among them, one prisoner refused to surrender. A light blue pegasus with eyes and a wild mane style that sparked with electricity. Ever since reawakening, the naked prisoner periodically squirmed to weaken her gooey cocoon. And, once she was sure no guards would be around, the lean, athletic mare put her escape plan into action.

Grunts came from the female pegasus, who rocked back and forth in her webbing until she swung to a stalactite, trying to get the stagnated rock to cut through her bind. “C’mon, c’mon!” her voice strained under her breath until the silk snapped and frayed all over the floor.

"F-free," she panted, landing on her feet. The electric pegasus shakingly stood up on limbs she hadn’t used in an undetermined amount of time. Her eyes tried to adjust in the dark cavern, indifferent about being naked as the day she was born, her plume unusually wide. "Now to go get-"

The mare froze, and her eyes went pinpoint, barely able to look at what had become of her mother. Snowy Blizzard had a white coat with a hint of blue, her voluptuous form now swollen to a grotesque degree from all the eggs the drone had pumped directly into her uterus. She was practically ready to burst. "Lightning Spark?!" she managed to wheeze out. “Y-you’re free!”

“And now it’s your turn! Don’t worry, mom! I’m busting us out of here!”

But the older mare shook her head, lightly sobbing over her miserable ordeal as her breasts steadily leaked. “Sweetie, I-I can't move. E-even if I could, I’d slow you down. Save yourself! Go before the changelings discover you’ve escaped!"

Torn by indecision, Lightning Spark choked back her sorrows and gave a nod. "I'll come back with help, I promise! We’ll find you and dad and-"

“No, Lightning… It’s better you don't come back here at all!”

“B-but-”

“Thunder Storm… didn’t make it,” Snowy Blizzard confessed, bowing her head. Silence struck through the young mare like a sword impaling her chest. And she wouldn’t have time to settle with this statement, since a low buzzing and chittering echoed through the hollowed walls.

“They're coming! Go! Hide!!” With what strength she could muster, Snowy Blizzard fished out a pendant she had hidden behind a stalagmite, and tossed it to her daughter. Without a beat missed Lightning Spark chained it into place, as the pendant settled between her small, perky breasts, fluffy fur tickled by cool air.

Stretching her still limp wings, Lightning Spark shot up to the stalactite and took cover behind it, staring down at the lone drone that entered the incubation chamber. Its insectoid features twitched as it expected each of the pods and concealed ponies before leering at the bloated mare with its ovipositor raised in anticipation, determined to fertilize more of the ovums that had been pumped into her stretched womb.

As it crept close enough, Lightning Spark dropped down, threw her entire weight onto the drone's back, and knocked the wind from him. She reached for a nearby rock and slammed it into the creature’s skull, killing it instantly in a mushy splatter. It took her great effort not to continuously cave the changeling’s head in until it was bile and paste. More were just like it, and Lightning needed an entire army to make the vile monsters pay for their heinousness.

With one last haunted look back at her mom, the former cadet tossed the blood-soaked rock away and went into the dim maze. She was forced to take her time not to be spotted, watched the drones almost mindlessly patrol the areas, and ducked from one thin tunnel to another.

She swore that the structure constantly altered when she passed. Was it simply paranoia?

After what felt like hours of navigating the ever-changing labyrinth, Lightning Spark stumbled upon something unexpected. The supposedly dead Queen Chrysalis' throneroom, where an extraterrestrial fungus eerily pulsated.

Was that the reason why the drones had been altered? She recalled how a few behaved erratically, with roots and plant-like growths corroding their carapaces. This strange mutation made them more powerful, demonic, almost like the forbidden dark arts now touched them.

Lightning Spark didn’t ponder on it for long, moving past the royal chamber down more tunnels, until she finally discovered one of the holes to the surface. Trap door burrows where stallions and mares had been pulled down.

She took her chance and flew out, almost blinded by the morning sun rising into the skies. Lightning Spark gave one last, longing look at the hole and flew away before the hive could learn of her disappearance. Her electric blue eyes narrowed, her hand clutching onto the family heirloom tied to her necklace. It was the last piece she had of her father. And she had no clue where her twin brother had gone. All she had to remember her family by was the mysterious pendant, which draped like a pendulum between pert breasts.

No, despite Snowy's wishes, she couldn't abandon her mother. For all the pegasus knew, she was the only family she had left!

So when the next town came, she would find a map. And from there, Lightning could locate her former commander Shining Armor and, with any luck, her twin brother, Midnight Blitzer. They could help rescue her mother and eradicate the changeling threat, once and for all!