Prisoners of War : A Beatrix Belladonna Tale

When Beatrix opened her eyes, she could already tell she was dreaming. The warm bed she lay in had disappeared, replaced with a grove of dead leaves and cold soil. The witch rose naked to her feet to take in the familiar surroundings of the nightmare realm.

Gnarled branches reached out to the starless black sky like claws. Trees towered around her as if to close the violet unicorn in. The wilderness was swamped by a phantasmal miasma, and the vapors rolled across her nude skin. Beatrix was alone, without so much as her hat to keep her company.

“About time, Omen,” she muttered to herself, rubbing her bare arms when a chill ran past her. Beatrix walked down the narrow path, aware that it’ll eventually lead her to the enigmatic nightmare stag that conjured this space.

But as she treaded through the forestry, it steadily began to disappear into the darkness. Perplexed, she turned to head back… only to find the haunted woods had vanished entirely!

“Ooookay, that’s new,” noted Beatrix, thinking back to the last time she was here. She then called out, “Oh, Omen~? Are you there?”

The blackened void then shifted into an empty city street deserted houses and buildings all around her. Only a few street lamps provided light in the otherwise pitch-black realm. At the end of a road, one particular structure stood out with a sign highlighted by flashing bulbs.

“‘Dream theatre’?” Beatrix read with a tilt of her head. Nonetheless, the wayward witch walked down the forsaken street, her footsteps reverberating. She had to admit; compared to the harrowing woods, she found this section of the nightmare realm quite unsettling. She knew she’d never been here before, yet she felt a strange nostalgia.

It also didn’t help that the houses looked identical to the one she and her friends were currently staying in. And some had lights alight within their windows. Were there still people here? Was she being watched..?

As she got closer to the theatre, Beatrix noticed a figure standing by the entrance. The witch stopped dead in her tracks, her expression pale.

Everything about the attendant, garbed in black pants, a white dress shirt, and a red vest, seemed normal… except its face. Instead of eyes, a nose, a mouth, or any facial features, there was an endless swirl contorting its head.

With a gulp, the violet mare cautiously approached the finely dressed servant. When it didn’t move, she waved a hand in front of its spiraling visage, wondering if it could even see her.

“Ticket, please,” it spoke with a distorting voice, causing Beatrix to jump back with a yelp.

“Geez!” She held a hand over her heart, frowning with pursed lips. “I-I don’t have a ticket! I’m not even dre-”

Her argument died shortly when she looked down to find a sparkly black dress adorning her supple curves. On her arms were long velvet gloves, a slit in the skirt to expose her shapely leg. And strapped over her shoulder was a small purse fashioned with the eye emblem of her Prima Materia.

“Ticket, please,” the swirled-faced entity repeated.

Beatrix curled an eyebrow while she reached inside her purse, pulling out a metallic golden ticket. With a slight shrug, the witch presented it to the attendant, who took it and tucked it into his breast pocket.

“Thank you. Please enjoy the movie.”

Behind it, the glass doors opened, and the servant stepped aside. Sighing deeply, Beatrix proceeded into the complex.

The interior looked just as abandoned as the exterior, with a few lit sources highlighting the popcorn machine and condiments. Further down was a blackened hallway, a red sign numbered ‘A4’ above the entrance.

“Get it together, girl,” Beatrix told herself, attempting to quell her uneasiness. “It’s just a dream!”

With a bit more confidence, the violet witch walked into the hallway. Though when making a turn right, she could hear disembodied whispering, growing louder the closer she got to the auditorium.

Peaking into the spacious room full of luxurious chairs, Beatrix found an enormous sheet depicting a monochrome motion picture. The sounds of a projection reel echoed from the control room above. And sitting comfortably in the top middle row was the gray deer himself, whose monstrous shadow eclipsed the back row of seats.

“Hey!” chirped Beatrix, who rushed over. “Where have you-”

Omen held a finger to his mouth and shushed her, maroon eyes glimmering playfully. “It’s quite rude to talk during a movie, you know.”

The witch puffed her cheeks and retorted in a quieter tone, “There’s no one else here!”

The male cervine chuckled and rose to pull Beatrix into a tight embrace, which she returned. “Good to see you safe and sound.”

“Y-yeah, you too,” replied the witch, smiling gingerly. Both took their seats as she leaned closer to Omen while his arm hung over her shoulder.

“What are we watching?” she asked. On a screen was a cartoony clown-garbed rabbit doll dragging a knife along the floor while approaching a frightened child with a wide toothy grin much bigger than its face.

“It’s a dream,” elaborated the nightmare stag. “Oneiromancers each have their own way of peering into sleep. For Oona, it was through bubbles or water.”

“And for you, it’s through film?”

Omen shrugged his shoulders and jokingly said, “Who doesn’t like a good horror show~?”

Beatrix frowned, staring at the fearful expression on the child’s face as her killer doll came closer, cackling maniacally. “But you’re essentially watching them suffer! A little sick if you ask me…”

“Not every nightmare is caused by me,” he insisted. “Besides, they’re not in any real harm. I wake them up right before their fear takes them. Watch!”

At the snap of his fingers, the cowardly girl opened her eyes, and she blinked out of existence, leaving the killer bunny scratching its head in perplexion. Then the picture disappeared for a few seconds before a new reel started playing. This time, a witch-garbed mare was on the big screen, screaming for her life as she fled from pursuing scarecrows in a cornfield maze.

Beatrix scrunched her snout as she looked at Omen. “Very funny,” she said sarcastically.

“Just trying to alleviate the mood, is all,” the gray buck said apologetically. “The universe is not in the best shape, after all.”

“Yeah, don’t remind me…” Beatrix sunk into her seat, arms crossing beneath her ample bust. She made a small groan when her consort gently rubbed her shoulder.

Looking back at him, she pouted, “What took you so long to reach me?”

“Believe me, I tried,” Omen assured. “But Alma made sure no one slept just to spite me. I had to find an alternative way to get someone to fall under hypnosis long enough to escape. And even then, I’m not in the best shape…”

The nightmare stag’s form briefly glitched to reveal his bruised and battered state before retaking the stylish plaid suit and tie he was wearing.

“Oh my gosh!” the witch exclaimed, eyes wide with horror. “W-wait… you escaped?! But what about Oona, Abby, my sister, and Demi-Trix!? Don’t tell me they’re-“

“Shhhhhh,” Omen hushed gently. “She’s okay.”

The reel changed again, and a colored scene came to view. Beatrix gazed up to see her wooly lover Oona bathing in a small pool, a warm smile on her face. She lifted her head to greet a large, elderly ram, who took a knee to stroke her cheek.
“Her father and clan came to rescue the dream weaver and I made contact,” the deer man explained. “She and Demi-Trix are safe on the Isles of Pàrras.”

Tears of relief cascaded down Beatrix’s cheeks, cupping her snout to hold back a sob. The sight of Lady Ewe out of harm's way made her heart swell with joy. “Oh, thank goodness she’s alright!” she wept.

Omen smiled and nuzzled her head lightly, wiping away the witch’s tears.

Heaving a large breath, she looked back at the nightmare stag, her frown returning. “So Bellatrix is still in Alma’s clutches?”

“Unfortunately,” he confirmed, sparing Beatrix the details of the succubus’ punishment for helping Oona escape. “The danger isn’t over yet. Alma’s Legion of Black Roses is preparing to wage war against Clan Jakobson, with the Sovereign Witch leading the charge.”

“Tatyana?! That bitch,” the witch seethed, bitterly recalling how malicious and cruel the monarch unicorn was when they had their magical duel. Neither of them was victorious due to cosmic interference, though if they had fought longer, they might not have opened the portal to Enoch’s library and saved Abadonna.

Omen continued. “Tatyana plans to strike during the earliest hours of Walpurgisnacht.”

“There’s a Walpurgisnacht in the Lost World?” exclaimed Beatrix, surprised. “Oh, man! It’s been a long ass time since I’ve heard about that ‘holiday’!”

The gray cervine raises an eyebrow. “Do tell…”

“On the eve of May, all magic will be at its most potent,” the witch informed. “That was when the Cult of the Nemesis planned to make me their ‘dark messiah,’ sacrificing many lives to the Necronomicon. I thought I would be free from their clutches, but… lately, I’ve seen signs of their return.” Her snout scrunched up. “Say… you wouldn’t happen to know about another anomaly, would you?”

“Hmm,” hummed the nightmare stag, rubbing his chin between his thumb and finger. “I always considered it a possibility. After all, you couldn’t have conjured a cosmic storm of this magnitude by yourself. But so far, I haven’t detected anything with your properties.”

“Not even with your future vision..?”

Omen shook his head. “I’m afraid I can only gaze so far ahead. And with vague hints as to what might unfold. Speaking of which, there’s one other thing you need to know about Walpurgisnacht.”

Beatrix grimaced, “… and what’s that?”

"It is the day our daughter will be brought into the world,” prophesied the dream seer.

The violet unicorn placed her face into her palms, groaning with frustration. “No, no, NO! Of all the times?!” She gazed wryly at Omen. “And you’re sure it isn’t a misreading or..?”

“My premonitions aren’t always as helpful, but they’re never wrong,” lamented the nightmare stag. “I’m terribly sorry to place more burden upon your heavy shoulders.”

Beatrix once more looked at the movie screen, the azure sheep left alone to enjoy her bath, rubbing her gravid tummy. The witch’s face contorted with conflict, mentally weighing her duty to her lover and child against her own half-brother, whom she cursed with a short lifespan with her anomalous interference.

She either left Midnight and her friends in a crumbling world or abandoned Oona to face an impending war. No matter her decision, one of her promises would be broken!

“This fucking sucks,” she groaned. “I want to be there when Abby’s born, but I can’t just leave Cerise and the others! Middy’s probably reaching his limit!”

“Not probably,” said Omen. “Likely.”

“Wh-what?”

Once again, the projector turned off to play a new dream to observe. This one took place in a lush jungle, where the point of view moved around until zooming into a throne room.

Beatrix gasped at seeing many naked women, all of whom she recognized. Ebony Ivory, Shadow Scythe, Bellatrix, Moxxi, Demi-Trix, Wispy Willow, Kitsune, Foal-Bearer and Wet Nurse, Strawberry Moon, and Blue Moon. Even Alma, Camellia, and Esmeralda were among the fold, along with Equinox, Chezka, and Panna. They all collectively moaned from ecstasy, their bellies full of virile cum that drooled from their puffy snatches.

And sitting on the throne was a bulky, vein-bulgy Midnight, eyes hidden under his spiky blue bangs, currently slamming Rhenaes onto his pillar of masculinity while Cerise and Moonlight lay on either side. The crystal pegasus was screaming her head off from how roughly he rearranged her guts, yet pleaded for more. Begged to have his children. And with a stiff grunt, the hyper-stallion granted her wish, grounding her hips down when he emptied a fresh batch of foal batter into her pussy, her tummy swelling rapidly.

“Haaahhh~! Thank you for blessing this lowly sow with your seed, master,” mewled Rhenaes, running her hands over her ballooned stomach. “Mmm, I can feel your swimmers penetrating my defenseless eggs~!”

“H-Holy shit..!” Murmured Beatrix, face flustered, watching the blue pegasus smack her round flank, signaling the broodmare to pop off his horse cock. It pulsated angrily, covered in mixed fluids for Cerise and Moonlight to clean off, polishing Midnight’s rod with their tongues. Both mares were heavily pregnant, milk leaking from their tits.

“Alas, the struggles of a hyper-stallion,” Omen commented. “Throughout his dwindling life, Midnight’s need to dominate and procreate will increase to the point that it’ll consume him. He’ll only think about inseminating every mare in sight and fighting off male ‘contenders,’ pushing his body to the breaking point. At this rate, he won’t survive another year…”

Her heart skipped a beat. "Y-you’re kidding!"

“See for yourself,” he stated flatly, pointing to the widescreen. Midnight Blitzer rose from his seat and pointed at Shadow Scythe, who got to her feet and waddled over.

“Me again?” She groaned, icy eyes drawn to his throbbing bitch-breaker, spit and cum dripping down the flared tip. “I’ll probably have twins by the time you’re finished with me.”

With a firm smack to her butt, Midnight pushed the reaper mare towards his throne, waiting for her to bend over on the armrests and present her curvy buttocks and leaking slit. Shadow Scythe stared back at her hyper stud, bracing herself when he took hold of her waist and sheathed his girthy cock fully inside, earning a heightened gasp.

The blue pegasus wasted no time getting back into a rut, making the pale unicorn bray wildly each time he impaled her slippery folds like a knife through butter. It was a bizarre sight to behold. Forbidden fruit, if there ever was one!

“And I thought I was horny,” murmured Beatrix, failing to suppress how arousing she found the scene of her half-brother railing her former nemesis. Her nipples stiffened, practically poking out her top, thighs rubbing feverishly together.

“Pleee-eeaaase! Tear me open more,” Shadow Scythe begged uncharacteristically, struggling to push her hips into his bulky thrusts. “Mmm-make me forget about that pathetic angel and his puny cock~!” An arrogant smile crossed Midnight’s snout as he smacked her pale cheeks until they blushed red with his handprint.

The witch hissed. “Geez, Middy! If Zeloph sees this, he’ll obliterate you on the spot! Hell, Shadow Scythe will inflict a fate worse than death!”

“Pay attention,” directed Omen, pointing towards Midnight’s head. That was when she noticed the gray streaks through his matted blue mane. “His aging has accelerated rapidly. If this continues, he’ll become old and frail, until his heart finally expires.”

“All because of me,” muttered Beatrix, watching how strained and precipitated Midnight looked despite the euphoria. With another bellowing groan, he deposited another helping of cum into the quivering reaper mare, causing her gravid belly to inflate slightly.

Shadow Scythe lost feeling in her arms and collapsed into the throne, her blushing red ass high in the air. A fountain of spunk was fished out her marehood upon Midnight pulling out.

Beatrix looked flushed, panting heavily. “He's not really planning to impregnate them all, is he?”

“He may try,” suggested Omen. “But in his fantasies, everyone’s fair game. Everyone…”

Before the witch could press on that statement, she heard her voice speak with the film. “Hope you’re not too tired yet, big guy. You still gotta put a bun in my oven, too~!”

Beatrix’s eyes dilated when a dream version of herself strutted towards Midnight, a cheeky smile on her face. The hyper-stallion grunted in response, lightly pushing Shadow Scythe off his throne for the violet mare to bounce into. She parted her thighs for him, a hand kneading one fat tit while the other rubbed at her clit with a 'come hither' motion. A strange rune was drawn above her mound, glowing with archaic energy.

“Got the fertility spell ready and everything,” her fantasy counterpart insisted, running a tongue over her lips, her aura used to spread her pussy petals. “So go ahead, Middy! Make me your bitch~!”

“Fuck, even me?!” Beatrix stammered, redder than a tomato. “No way!”

“Way,” stated Omen, who wore a knowing grin. “You seem tense~.”

“I-I’m just a little worked up, is all. You know how I am,” the witch confessed, her loins on absolute fire after watching Midnight dominate his herd. The licentious itch got worse when he shoved his horse cock up her doppelgänger’s cunt and started pummeling her senseless. Everything about this screamed wrong… but the taboo nature of getting fucked and inseminated by her half-brother aroused the poor unicorn to no end!

“I do,” Omen said slyly, gingerly tracing his finger on Beatrix’s shoulder, causing her to shudder. “Though I think it's more about the reason, rather than the person.”

The unicorn witch sheepishly said, “O-ooh yeah?”

The gray cervine gently guided her to straddle him, a bulge pressing against her mound. He brought his snout to her ear and whispered, “I’ve lost count of how many wet dreams you’ve had about being bred like Lady Ewe~.”

His words sent a shudder down Beatrix’s spine; a weak moan coaxed out her lips when his hands tore away at her fancy dress, plump breasts bouncing free from their confinements. “Mmmnah… T-that’s not possible!”

“Perhaps, in the waking world, that’s true. But this is a dream,” the nightmare stag reminded, lifting one heavy tit and giving it a squeeze. And, to her shock, warm creamy liquid squirted out Beatrix's erect nipple.

“Wh-whaah?! O-ooooh, fuck~!” The witch whined as her consort latched onto her tit and suckled. She gave loud sighs as Omen siphoned the sweet milk out of her breast, residue dribbling down his chin. Her back arched to press her boob flesh into his face, stroking his head.

The gray buck released her nipple with a wet ‘pop’ before switching to her twin. All the while, Beatrix gyrated her hips to grind her inflamed mound against his pitched tent. The background noise of her moans in Midnight's dream only escalated the witchy mare further into depravity.

That’s when she felt Omen’s rigid shaft poke at her bare marehood, their clothes suddenly disappearing.

“H-huh? When did you-?”

“Feel that?” The dream seer said in an airy, husky voice. “That’s the cock that got Oona pregnant. That’s gonna get you pregnant~!”

Beatrix mewled as her partner shifted size, slowly taking his more monstrous shape. Not that it was a problem, given the witch had copulated with bizarre creatures in the past. Plus, this wasn’t her first rodeo with the nightmare stag.

"This is what you want, isn’t it?” Omen said through a hungry growl. “To be claimed by a worthy suitor and sire their offspring like a pagan whore. No worries. No world-ending threats. Just endless bliss.”

“Mmmngh~! Y-yes, please!”

“Say it,” He demanded, cock flaring against her wet, needy slit, the tip parting her velvety folds. “Say it!”

“Fuck a baby into me,” cried Beatrix, her stiff nipples lactating while her body burned with insatiable lust. “Skewer me like the greedy sow I am~!”

Without hesitation, Omen penetrated her moist fuckhole and made the witch bounce in his lap, wide buttocks jiggling upon impact. Beatrix moaned with every bound, trying to match his thrusts. Her pussy clamped hard on the cervine’s oversized length as it pierced her cervix and stretched her ‘pregnant’ womb to its limit.

"Gods~… I love monsters so much~!” She confessed, lactating tits bouncing around on her chest, spraying her face a little. "The more alien the cocks stuffed into me, the better...!"

Craving constant novelty, she'd made love to sapient beasts, various monsters, eldritch abominations...tentacles, in particular, were a favorite of hers, since they could restrain the witch and pleasure her all over at once, while splitting her three love holes to their full spread.

Oh, and when they all came at once inside and all over her...! The memory, combined with how Omen hammered away, made Beatrix squeal and squirt on the spot, left to shake and squirm. Marecum drooled from her overstretched pussy, leaking down her clenched rectum.

But Omen was nowhere near done, the elk-sized cervine draping his prey over a theatre seat to bludgeon her soppy love tunnel at a better angle. Her legs dangled over his shoulders uselessly, her voluptuous titties wobbling with momentum.

Beatrix softly screamed from the mind-numbing pleasure, unable to focus on anything but the movie screen. Even from the upside-down view, the witch could tell Midnight had her dream counterpart in a mating press as well, those fat orbs slapping her round backside while churning with more cum to hose down her womb.

Her ears perked at Omen's feral noises, his pummeling growing more frantic and desperate. Managing to lift her head, Beatrix gazed up needily at her lover, cupping both breasts into her hands, leaking cream between her fingers.

“That’s it! D-Don’t stop,” she urged, feeling another orgasm rising from her loins. “Fuck my little slut hole! Fill it up and make me yours! Make me wish I could have all your babies~!”

Her words did the trick as the nightmare stag leaned back to let out a loud roar and erupted inside her. Beatrix matched his moans with her own, cumming a second time when she felt his white hot cum flood her womb, her belly swollen under the sea of spunk that hosed down her uterus. Momentarily, her mind blanked under sheer euphoria, until she almost passed out.

Midnight’s dream also hit his climax, the blue pegasus pulling away, showing off a freshly impregnated Beatrix, wearing a lewd expression.

Omen retook his regular size, lifting the fatigued witch back into his arms. They stared into each other's eyes intimately before locking lips. Beatrix wrapped her arms around his neck while he grabbed a handful of her plush flank, making her wiggle with his dick still lodged inside her.

The kiss lingered until she reeled back, sighing with contentment. “I needed this,” the witch said softly. “Thank you.”

A smile spread the buck’s snout. “Of course, dear.”

Her cheeks lit up. “You’re not going to tell anyone about this, are you?”

An amused chuckle sounded from his throat. “Not unless you want me to~.”

“Good.” Beatrix took another kiss before relaxing in his hold. She pursed her lips together and asked, “Is it bad that I just wanna stay here? And never wake up?”

“No, I can’t say that I blame you.” Omen turned his head away. “Dreams are often the realm to escape reality. Especially when it’s become so bitter and chaotic. So… hopeless.”

When the nightmare stag looked back, the witchy mare noticed his maroon eyes held a faint glimmer. It was then that she realized how much greater his influence was in the dream realm. Every time she came to him in sleep, the gray cervine seemed to be getting stronger…

“But you can’t allow fear and uncertainty to rule you, Beatrix,” said Omen, stroking her platinum locks. “You have a choice to make. And you won’t know the consequences, unless you try. The lives of thousands are at stake. Your friends. Your lover. They need you.”

Sniffling, Beatrix solemnly nodded and curled her naked form into his, the theatre dissolving into darkness as the wayward witch felt awareness return.

The return to awareness reminded her of those that needed her here and in the Isles of Parras. Could the multiverse survive another hop?

What was she supposed to do...?

Omen smiled kindly as Beatrix’s dream vessel left his presence, leaving him alone in his theatre to continue the rest of Midnight’s intense dreaming.

But that smile diminished when Oona came onto the screen, the azure shamaness next in line to have her ovaries drowned in the hyper stallion’s virile essence.

The gray buck’s snout scrunched into a sneer, eyes glowing malevolently. “ꇙꄲꂵꏂꃳꄲ꒯ꌦ ꋊꏂꏂ꒯ꇙ ꋬ ꅐꋬꀘꏂ-꒤ꉣ ꉔꋬ꒒꒒,” Omen muttered coldly, antlers shimmering with ominous power.

Oona let out a pained yelp before falling to her knees, cradling her tummy. Midnight furrowed his brow and approached her until she gave a loud scream, rolling to her back.

“Oona, what’s wrong!?” He asked. His answer came at the gurgling sound as her belly bloated to a grotesque size until it popped. Blood, stomach bile, and pus splattered his physique.

Midnight's expression drained of color at the sight of a wriggling, shrieking, changeling maggot; worming its way out of its dying incubator. Steadily, it crawled towards him, staring with two beady insectoid eyes.

“Baaaabaaaa…” it cried with a buzzing shrill.

The frightened pegasus lept back, stumbling into his throne. “N-no, no, no! Get away! I’m not your-“

More screams alerted his ears as the rest of his harem began to writhe with pain. All their pregnant bellies exploded to release the changeling children, squirming after him with rectilinear motion. All calling for their ‘baba.’

Midnight tried beating his massive wings, but the grubs shot silk to entangle his plumage to the ground, ensuring he couldn’t escape. The hyper soldier struggled and screamed, the giant maggots crawling all over him, saliva dripping from their tiny mandibles.

“HELP! SOMEBODY HELP ME!!”

Omen eased back into his chair, hands resting over a folded leg, fingers tented together. A satisfied smirk stretched the corner of his mouth as the newly hatched monsters began to chomp down on their ‘father.’

*****

Midnight jumped awake, panting hysterically. He stared wide-eyed at the mundane wall, tossing his head around to find himself back in the room he and Cerise shared. No changeling grub chewing down on him.

It was just a dream.

The blue stallion heaved a large sigh, running his hands through his spiky blue mane, caked with sweat.

When Midnight turned to his side, he found his wife asleep, back still facing him. But his breath hitched to see a large quantity of semen staining her rear. Throwing the sheets off the bed, his dismay increased upon seeing his flaccid cock smeared with sexual fluid.

The male pegasus stood up from bed until his back hit the wall, stroking his mane with frustration while cursing under his breath.

How long had he been fucking Cerise in his sleep? He must have packed her pussy with a tub’s worth of cum!

And she probably didn’t take anything before their argument. Oh, she was going to be so mad.

Midnight rushed into the bathroom to splash some water on his face. Glaring at his reflection, he noticed wrinkles under his eyes and a couple of grey hairs sprouting from his mane.

The pegasus’ lifeline was diminishing, and his body was overworked to maintain its strength and virility. How much longer would he hold out now?

The blue stallion decided to leave before his instincts got the better of him again. He could no longer trust himself to be around his friends and lovers without causing permanent damage.

Midnight quietly put on his peacekeeper armor, giving his slumbering wife a somber look before marching down the stairwell. When he got to the entrance, he found the meadow blanketed by a layer of mist. The storm seemed to have subsided for now, though the blackened clouds blocked the sky.

With a deep inhale, the pegasus soldier proceeded toward the open field until a voice stopped him dead in his tracks.

“Goin’ somewhere?”

His emerald gaze leered up at the thestral marauder, sitting atop the roof with a cigarette between her fingers. She puffed out a thin veil of smoke and smiled at the distraught stallion. “Awfully early to be on patrol, huh, Middy~?”

“It’s none of your business, Equinox,” Midnight stated.

“Only until I make it my business,” the bat mare said cheekily.

“I’m being serious! Fuck off!!”

“Oooh~! Gonna finally put me in my place, big guy? Or you just gonna walk away with your tail tucked between your legs?”

His fists tightened, teeth clenched. But to withhold his anger, the blue pegasus took another breath and resumed walking away. She wasn’t worth it.

Equinox snorted. “Yeah, that’s what I thought! Welp! Better go wake up the wife and tell her that hubby’s gonna hunt for his sister solo~!”

She only got so far as sitting up before Midnight was in her face, glaring hotly at the smug-faced batwoman.

“You stay the fuck away from her,” he warned adamantly.

“Then take me with you,” she compromised. “You’re going out to find Lightning Spark and the rogue changeling, right? Well, I want payback! That bastard owes me a new gauntlet!”

“I can’t,” insisted Midnight, who turned his head away. “It’s dangerous to be around me…”

“Dangerous? You?!” The marauder let out wheezy laughter. “Aww, that’s adorably pathetic,” she teased, tracing his cheek and bopping his snout, earning a deep frown.

Equinox placed a hand on her hip and said, “When is it gonna sink in that I’m not one of your tiny slit bimbos? Fuck, I’m practically waiting for you to grow a pair and try to make me your woman~.”

Midnight bit his lip, loins growing stiff again.

The raider’s grin widened as she continued, “No, I get it. You’ve finally realized that they’re holding you back. That’s why you’re doing this ‘lone wolf’ routine, isn’t it~?”

“N-no, that’s not true!”

“Yes, it is,” Equinox reaffirmed, lowering her tone to a sultry whisper. “And deep down, you know it! You’re clearly faster. Stronger. Better! You don’t need permission to take what you want, so you shouldn’t lower yourself to their standards! The clock’s ticking, Midnight. You don’t have a lot of time left. And there’s so many fertile sluts begging to get knocked up~!”

Her enticing words invoked his hyper-stallion instincts awake, musculature bulging underneath his armor. His cock stirred within his pants, nostrils flaring hot breath, green eyes becoming pale and unblinking. Facing the smoldered eye marauder, Midnight cupped her face and crashed his snout to hers, locked into a hungry kiss.

Equinox was momentarily startled before leaning into it, their tongues wriggling inside their mouths to assert dominance.

The blue stallion pulled away, a web of drool threading their mouths. “When I get my sister back, I’m gonna fuck you like a pig,” he proclaimed with dragon-like possession. “It’s the least you deserve.”

Equinox gave a twisted smirk and replied, “Attaboy~.”

Spreading their wings to take flight, the two warriors soared away from the ordinary-looking estate to resume their search for Midnight’s sister, vanishing into the cool miasma.

*****

Not long after, Cerise groaned as she rose from her slumber. Stretching out her tired limbs, the charcoal mare felt thoroughly sore. Perhaps sleeping on her side all night wasn’t the best idea.

With a shake of her head, the princess rubbed the sleep out of her eyes, blinking them open. When rolling onto her back, she felt something squish between her thighs. Hot pink eyes widened to find a puddle of splooge oozing out her inflamed vagina, gut gurgling from how fully packed her womb was.

Scooping up a bit of cold cum on her fingers, Cerise analyzed it with pinpoint pupils, trembling with rage. No doubt her husband had stuffed her with multiple loads while they slept, attempting to impregnate her despite her opposition!

The dark dancer rolled over to scold Midnight, only to find him missing, his side of the bed stained with a large sweat spot. “Fucking… damn it!” she hissed, jumping out of bed to make a beeline for the shower. Twisting the knob, she took the shower head to wash all the dry spunk off her legs, winching when she aimed at her cum filled entrance.

Cerise snarled, slamming a fist into the shower wall, trying to convince herself this wasn’t Midnight’s fault. That he was a slave to his accursed nature. Yet he had proven deceitful, hiding something behind her back while blatantly lying to her face. And then he had the gull to fuck her while she slept and then leave without explanation. Not even touching his lack of resilience around that foul mouth bitch, Equinox!

“How could you do this to us, Middy?” the princess sobbed with vexation, scrubbing her cooch clean. She severely hoped Beatrix had something to sterilize her womb. Otherwise…

Cerise shook her head while rinsing her mane, not wanting to think about it. Stepping out, she dried off with a towel, returned to her room, and threw on her clothes.

Storming out of the hallway, she bumped into Beatrix, who was also stepping out of her room. “A-aaaahey, Cerise! Exactly the mare I was looking for-”

“Where’s Midnight?!” The charcoal mare brashly interrupted. “Have you seen him?”

“U-uhh, no,” the witch answered. “Not physically, at least.”

Cerise furrowed her brows before racing down the staircase.

“H-hey! Wait up!” called Beatrix, running after her. Both mares got to the kitchen, where Iclyn, Arcanum Folklore, and the vulpines gathered to make breakfast.

“Top of the mornin’,” the erenn warlock greeted, heavy bags under his eyes while fixing a stiff drink. Seems like he still couldn’t get a good night’s rest.

“Kon'nichiwa,” Kitsune said, pouring some herbal tea into a cup with Kyube. Iclyn sat at a table, drinking out her mug of hot cocoa. She gave a small wave of her hand.

“Have any of you seen Midnight?” questioned Cerise.

“Can’t say that we have,” the fox man replied with a shrug. “Though now that you mention it, I haven't seen Equinox either.”

The bristled bat mare summoned her crystalline spear at the mention of the marauder's name and soared back upstairs, angrily calling for her husband.

“Geez! Someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed,” muttered Beatrix.

“Nah, that’s the look of a woman scorned,” presumed Arcanum. “Something’s amiss…”

The group winced at the sound of furniture and glass breaking upstairs, bitter cries reverberating throughout the house. Eventually, Cerise swooped back down, seething, “They’re gone! Both of them!!”

Beatrix exclaimed. “What?!”

“Are you fucking serious?! Now ain’t the time to be goin’ AWOL!” The scruffy detective berated. “World’s coming undone as it is!”

Kitsune gently asked, “You’re certain they’re not here?”

“I just checked every room in this house,” the princess stated flatly. “Penumbra hasn’t seen them while on watch either!”

“Then they must have left during Equinox’s shift,” theorized Iclyn, tapping the rim of her mug thoughtfully. “I was suspicious as to why she was persistent about taking my shift…”

“No, no, Midnight!?” Cerise collapsed to her knees and wept, causing Beatrix to come to her side and comfort her.

Stroking her back, she whispered, “H-hey, hey, it’s okay. We’ll figure this out.”

But the princess shook her head. “You don’t understand, Bea. His hyper-stallionism has gotten out of control. When he looks at me, half the time, I don’t see love in his big green eyes. It’s like I’m just…”

“Another means of passing his genetic waste in the vain hope some part of him survives?” Their heads turned to Iclyn, who stood up from her seat. “Yeah, I caught him eyeballing my ass last night like it was a stuffed thanksgiving turkey,” she confessed, arms folded to her chest. “I’d almost find it flattering he considers me attractive, given he’s seen my genitals.”

Cerise sniffled as she wiped the tears from her face, reminding herself she needed to be strong. “At least he didn’t breed you in his sleep…”

Everyone gave a collective gasp, Arcanum visibly livid by this transgression. Beatrix activated her Prima Materia, stammering, “Hang on! I should still have contraceptive potions to counteract-”

“That’s not the point,” dejected the charcoal dancer, looking at her friend with wet, soulful eyes. “Once his instincts kick in, the only thing that matters is sex and survival. He’s gonna die before he even hits thirty! You need to fix this and cure him!”

Beatrix deepened her frown, aware of his state after observing his vivid fantasies with Omen. Slowly, she pulled away and said, “That’s… what I want to talk to you about.”

Cerise stared up with confusion as the witch turned to everyone to ensure all attention was on her. With a troubled sigh, she announced, “Omen came to me when I was asleep.”

Arcanum quirked a brow. “That’s your spooky friend, right?”

“The very same.”

Iclyn’s expression soured and presumed, “I take it he did much more than just ‘coming’..?”

“T-that’s not important,” dismissed Beatrix, cheeks red. She then went into detail about the rescue of Lady Ewe and Demi-Trix by the former’s family, much to everyone’s relief. But it was short-lived when she told them how Alma’s ‘Legion of the Black Rose’ would bring war and death to the Isles of Parras during the witching hours of Walpurgisnacht. The day her daughter, Abadonna, was destined to be born.

Cerise took a moment to let it sink in and compose herself to the best of her ability. “So… you’re going to leave, too?”

“I never said that-”

“Out of the question,” Arcanum declared, slamming down his cup. “Need I remind you that you're still in the middle of training! And you said it yourself! One more hop could unravel the already tangled threads holding the multiverse together!”

“I know that!” The witch cut off with a conflicted face. “You have to understand, this is my lover and daughter! I have to be there!”

“But we need you here more than ever!” reminded the charcoal thestral, pulling herself to squeeze the violet unicorn tenderly. “I’m not saying this to be selfish, Bea. In any other case, I would push you to go be with Oona and Abby. But you swore that you would fix Midnight’s hyper-stallion problem! And now, who knows how long he’ll last?! A few months? Weeks?!”

"Yeah, and I’ll uphold my promise! B-but-”

“Then send me back instead,” the cyan doe offered. “I’ll aid Oona in your stead.”

“Iclyn, I wouldn’t ask that of you,” said Beatrix.

“Good, because I wasn’t asking. Someone has to make sure she and Abadonna are safe during the coming battle. You’ve got your hands tied here. Plus, I don't have anything else to teach. You’re pretty good when it comes to thinking on your feet. I’m sure you’ll figure things out.”

Beatrix blinked in surprise. “Y-you really think so?”

Iclyn shrugged. “I mean, if you don't, then it's on you. I’m done being your babysitter.”

The witch’s face fell, sarcastically replying, “Oh, gee… thanks!”

“Oi! Hold it,” Arcanum broke in. “No one’s going anywhere! Not with this dimensional flux going on.”

“He’s right,” agreed Kitsune. “You’re more likely to end up somewhere completely different!”

“Or be spontaneously teleported regardless,” added Kyube.

“Bottomline, Beatrix is not fit to be opening any portals!”

“Couldn’t agree more,” surmised Iclyn before she placed her hand on the warlock’s shoulder. “That’s why you’ll be handling my trip to the Lost World.”

"Wha-me?!" exclaimed Arcanum. "Have you lost your damn mind?!”

“Why not? Didn’t you say your method of travel wasn’t as vulgar as Beatrix's? Simply form a tiny dimensional slip, and I’ll be on my way.”

“Did you not hear what we said?” the kunoichi scowled, slightly offended.

“Plus, I’ve never been to the bloody Lost World,” the erenn stallion affirmed. “How am I supposed to know where it-”

"Don't worry about its location,” assured Iclyn. “I'll be able to find it. But there isn’t a moment to waste. Midnight’s gone rogue, and the Isles of Pàrras need backup. It’s either do or die now!”

The two stared down one another until Arcanum eventually broke away from her steely gaze, rubbing a palm over his face.

"Fucking hell,” he grumbled. “Fine, so be it. It’s a bloody bad idea, but I’ll make me preparations. Let’s brainstorm a new plan for now and then be on our way." He popped another beer with a click. “I ain’t spending another night in this shady ass house.”

Everyone nodded mutually and left to collect their bearings. Cerise approached Iclyn and gently said, “Thank you. I-I know you’re not doing this for Beatrix or me, but-”

“Don’t.” The ice faun cut off bluntly; aurora green eyes narrowed. “You’re not the one who has to tell Oona her beloved is not coming because of their incompetence.”

Cerise backed away, then glared hotly. “My incompet-what are you on about?”

“You were sniveling like a filly bullied in preschool. All because you couldn’t keep a leash on your hound of a husband,” she elaborated coldly. “The same husband who not only neglected his childhood friend back at the Crystal Empire, but has now run off with another woman. And don’t blame it all on his ‘hyper stallionism.’ He should be accountable for his actions. And you should have been more strict! But no, let’s deny Beatrix the opportunity to see her daughter’s birth. Wonderful idea, your highness!”

The batmare’s lip quivered, and reddish-pink eyes were bloodshot from how much she had cried. “It's not like that! I would have-”

“No, you wouldn’t,” Iclyn interrupted again, not bothering to hear her pathetic justification. The temperature began dropping, so suddenly, Cerise shivered and rubbed her arms for warmth. “You’re all talk, using that bullshit excuse of ‘becoming a better queen’ to avoid facing your problems. If you want to prove you’re worthy of the title, fucking act like it!”

“S-stop it! We don’t have time for this! I’m sorry if it offends you, but curing my husband is my priority!”

The cryomancer paused her frost magic, her eyes piercing through the princess’s soul when she proposed a question.

“… and what if there isn't a cure? What will you do if nothing changes after Beatrix miraculously fixes everything, and Midnight continues to devolve into a fuck hungry beast? Did you even consider that possibility?”

Cerise stared blankly, her body frozen by her suggestion.

“Didn’t think so,” scoffed Iclyn, who went around to walk up the staircase but stopped to look down at her. “I’m sure Oona will find it in her heart to forgive you, princess. But when winter comes, the cold never forgives mistakes.”

With that said, the icy doe left the distraught bat mare to wallow in her guilt. After a few moments to collect herself, Cerise proceeded up the steps, mind plagued with doubt.

Was Iclyn right to be furious? Had she really denied her best friend a rare moment of happiness for something that might not be plausible?

Passing by the witch’s room, she peeked in to see Beatrix sitting on the bed, crestfallen. She cradled her belly like she would throw up, tears leaking down her cheeks. She was mentally weighing the options in her mind, trying desperately to find an alternative… yet she found none.

Cerise’s snout twisted into a bitter pout. Needing someone close to confide in, she headed towards the balcony and ascended to the rooftop, where her brother was still on the lookout.

Seated on the tiles, with his turban, cape, and tunic cast aside, leaving Penumbra only in pants. The younger sibling couldn’t help but find him the spitting image of their father. Of course, his color scheme closely matched his name. A white shadow with a vast plume enveloped the swordsman's lithe, muscled back.

Green eyes locked into sorrowful pink orbs. “You look distressed, sister,” he observed. “What’s wrong?”

"Today's off to a pretty awful start," Cerise admitted dourly, studying his shiny, silver hand. "Hope I’m not interrupting. I just need someone to talk to.”

“Of course.” The older stallion shuffled to the right, allowing the charcoal mare to plop her rump down. A colorful miasma rolled from a fancy pipe Penumbra was holding. When she looked at him quizzically, he responded, “I’ve been smoking out of sight since the Burning King. It calms me.” He took a quick puff before offering it to his sister.

"Uh...I-I’ve never smoked," she admitted and accepted.

Penumbra chuckled when the bat mare took her first puff and coughed. “Don’t force yourself.”

Her eyes watered for a different reason as she wiped her face and handed it back. Clearing her throat, she asked, “So... how much do you hear?”

His smile disappeared, casting his gaze back to the misty landscape. “Folklore gave me the rundown,” the pale pegasus acknowledged. “If I were to guess, Midnight and Equinox are going after his twin sister themselves. I don’t know what’s worse; that vile woman convincing him that he doesn’t need us, or his attempt to impregnate you without your consent…”

Cerise noticed his fist tighten up before relaxing it to take another puff. “I want to believe he wasn’t in control, but… he’s done something that he won’t tell me.”

“Hmm. The minute Midnight came back to this world, he was behaving strangely. But you’re not saying he’s…”

It took the dark princess all her strength not to break down again. “It makes too much sense, Penumbra! I’ve seen the way Middy looks at her. She practically throws herself at him! Equinox is an utter bitch, but she’s strong, confident, and knows what she wants. Who wouldn’t want that..?”

“Cerise…”

“Maybe Iclyn has a point,” she whimpered. “Beatrix should be going back to the Lost World. Not abiding by a promise she can’t possibly keep!”

“Hey!” Penumbra firmly gripped her shoulder, shaking some sense into his little sister. “Don’t beat yourself up over that. It was going to be a hard decision, no matter what. That’s all part of life, Cerise. It’s how we mature into adulthood. You’re a woman now. And someday, you will be queen!”

Cerise sniffled as her face lit up. "…yeah?"

He nodded. "Truth is, I...still fear what I could become. I must always maintain order, or else the darkness that runs through our veins could seize control..."

Unlike Cerise, he and Ashen Dune had extensively read what records they could find about Sombra's history. Rape, torture, slavery, mass murder...the horrible despot their father once was made his stomach turn. So he, Ashen, and their mother, Inky Rose, took it upon themselves to protect the princess from the truth.

"But that isn’t you," reassured Cerise, taking the pipe to try again. Her mouth filled with warmth after each drawn-out puff.

“You can never be too certain,” Penumbra disagreed. “I’ve never been tested. But you shouldn’t worry about me; I’ve handled worse. You still have plenty of time to prove yourself, sister. Don’t let anyone tell you what you can and can’t do. You’re family. No matter what, we’ll always be proud of you."

Feeling a tad more encouraged, the charcoal thestral managed to curl her lips despite her melancholy. “Thanks, Penny. But I’m going to be more than just your sister. I’ll be your equal!”

Penumbra returned her smile. “Heh! Well, I can’t speak for Ashen, but I will do my best to show the future queen due respect.” He stood up, offering his hands, and pulled her into a tight embrace.

She rubbed his cool, metal hand for a moment before he recovered his turban, white cape, and tunic.

“Oi, come on,” the erenn stallion called from below, he and the others waiting outside the house entrance. “Can’t afford to be burnin’ daylight!”

The royal siblings leaped down to join the party, and Penumbra marched ahead after Kitsune and Kyube. Cerise cautiously kept her distance from Iclyn, who walked beside Arcanum quietly. Turning around, she saw Beatrix, the last to exit the ‘ordinary’ estate.

The princess approached her troubled friend with pursed lips, ready to give a heartfelt apology when the witch held up her hand.

“Let’s go save Midnight and Lightning,” she told her, a pained smile on her snout. The charcoal bat mare felt her distress double as the witchy unicorn walked past her. Surely, there had to be something she could do to make up for her rashness. Perhaps she could grab something from the-

When Cerise turned around, her eyes dilated at a most astonishing and bone-chilling sight.

The house was gone.

*****

Knowing that stewing in bitterness would get her nowhere, Moonlight River continued to crawl through the air ducts, the metal cool on her bare skin. She didn't dare sleep in an empty bunk when everyone was after her, but where else could she turn?

She thought about escaping, going to find her friends, and confronting Midnight about his relations with Fiery Kickstart and his Amazonian wives.

But instead of pulling off something risky, Moonlight settled on visiting a friend. Grates were unscrewed and quietly set aside before she dropped into a workshop. "Ouch! Uhh… h-hi!" Her face colored when Moon Hammer turned his way, the minotaur unable to help but take a drawn-out look at the naked intruder.

"Hey, yourself," he replied, dressed in pants and an apron, his bare chest lined in sweat. Machines rattled around his workstation, some of them crafted from clockwork tech. Schematics adorned the walls. She spotted a fresh prosthetic arm for Penumbra, and the two sets of bat wings, now forged into one. "They're almost ready. Just need to iron out a few kinks."

Usually, Moonlight would have covered her nakedness with her bat wings, but since that wasn't an option, she simply tried to act casual. "Sorry to drop in. It's hard to explain, but-"

"You don't have to," reassured Moon Hammer while he searched his belongings. "Unfortunately, none of my clothes will fit you, plus most of my old pairs are dirty and sweaty."

Moonlight couldn't help but grin. "Not used to doing your own laundry without your wives, huh?"

"… most of the time," he admitted with a mild blush. "Actually, now that you mention them, this gives me an idea! One I don’t think you’ll approve of, but it's the best I can do."

"I'll take it,” insisted the thestral. “Can't be worse than my birthday suit..." But color drained her face when he pulled out a pair of maid costumes.

"... you’re kidding me, right?”

The bovine blacksmith shook his head. "Afraid not. I planned to modify these after my wives… well, became holstaurs. No longer can they fit in these skimpy little things, especially after they've been knocked up."

Moonlight accepted one of the costumes and looked it over. Not only was it more of a fetish costume than a proper uniform, but it had been further modified into two pieces to leave one's midriff bare. Her blush deepened when she pulled the outfit over her athletic curves.

It left so much cleavage exposed the bat mare feared her tits would fall out at any moment. Her areola threatened to peek out when she bent or turned, plus the pleated skirt was so short it barely covered her mound and left the bottom of her buttcheeks visible.

"Jeez," she complained. "I might as well still be naked! Well, thanks anyway!"

Moon Hammer did his best not to gawk. "Do you want the heels and headdress, too?"

"Okay, now you're pushing it. They're not even my style-" Her bat ear perked at a harsh rap at the doors. With no time for niceties, he nodded at an empty and thankfully inactive oven used to bake clay. The entryway codes were overridden and the double doors started to slide open as she ducked down, his palm on her athletic bare ass to shove her inside and kick the cover behind her a mere moment before the Amazons arrived.

Moon Hammer faced them, clearing his throat. "To what do I owe the unexpected pleasure?"

Chezka, the centauress, asked, "Why didn't you answer us?"

"Didn't hear you over my work," he stated flatly, directing their attention to his two-handed hammer and the machines that rattled behind him. "This place tends to get noisy!”

"A likely story," said Panna, the fawn, who wore an unconvinced frown. From inside the soot-filled oven, Moonlight crouched in the shadows and peered through the gaps where smoke escaped. "Have you gotten any visitors lately? Anyone stopped by for your 'assistance?'"

"Nope,” the minotaur bluntly lied. “If someone came by here, I didn't hear them. I don’t like having my work interrupted.” His eyes were drawn to the topless pair of Amazons.

Chezka's white, curly ponytail swept behind her when she trotted over, a hand on her humanoid waist. "Mmm...are you certain?" She traced a nail over the lines of his muscled torso, so close her heavy, tattooed breasts almost touched him. "Not even a single peep? I find that rather hard to believe."

“We wouldn’t want to report you for suspected treason,” cooed Panna, leaning forward to press her breasts together enticingly. “If you come clean, we can make it worth your while~!”

"Skanks,” Moonlight hissed quietly.

The minotaur was flustered. While his wives had permitted him to take care of his needs while away, Moon Hammer never thought he would take up the offer. These Amazons clearly believed they could fuck some information out of him… but maybe he could turn the tables on them?

He chuckled. “Even if I did have something to hide, I don’t come cheaply,” Moon Hammer warned with a smirk, his powerful arms wrapped around their waists to draw them against him. Warmth radiated from their bare skin, their tits mashed on his chest when Panna undid his heavy apron and let it fall with a thunk.

"We’ll see about that," Chezka murmured with a determined smile. What scant clothes the Amazons wore were torn away in his thick hands, as the minotaur propped the centaur up on a table and turned so that her voluptuous, shapely horse ass was shifted towards him.

The blacksmith landed a harsh, possessive smack on a toned asscheek, which made her tense up and yelp. His pants were unzipped, his bovine cock already half-erect, as he started to poke at her already moist pussy hole. Chezka moaned when he drove himself inside, inch-by-inch.

Moon Hammer yanked her ponytail sharply once he started to snort and clap her cheeks. They wanted to try and seduce him to pry out information? Well, two could play at that game! All the bull needed to do was fuck them stupid, and plenty of their secrets would spill out...

"Ooh~," wheezed Chezka as he pounded her. "Fuck, you’re… huff… not b-bad!" Her words turned incoherent, swallowed by more moans, the slap of wet flesh, and spatters of feminine lubricant, while the minotaur's nostrils flared each time he spanked and fucked her raw.

Her breasts bounced when her head turned to Panna, who, not to be left out, shared a drawn-out kiss with her Amazon 'sister' while she waited her turn to bed the minotaur.

"You're Fiery's wives, right?” Moon Hammer asked between grunts. “What kind of man allows his woman to be so easily taken?" Out of the corner of his eye, the minotaur spotted Moonlight silently slip out of the oven, heading back towards the air duct.

When Panna noticed his gaze and began following the direction, the blacksmith popped free of the centaur and hoisted the unicorn doe up, earning an alarmed squeak. He bent Panna over his anvil and unceremoniously stuffed her balls deep with his cock; her awareness dulled when he started to pound her tight pussy raw into complete submission.

"Yeah, you like that? How’s that dick feel?!”

"O-ooooh, shit…~!" Not even that hyper-stallion had ever stuffed her this full!" Unlike Chezka, who quietly resented their position as honor-bound slaves to Fiery after he rescued them, Panna had accepted their position, reminded that the Amazons had captured her when she was a child and indoctrinated her into their tribe. She had conformed her entire life for her survival, no matter how demeaning it proved.

Moon Hammer routinely fucked both Amazonians, making them mewl and howl out moans while their slits coated his cock and balls. At this point, he forgot about distracting them from Moonlight and was driven to screw them silly, landing a couple more harsh slaps on their asses.

He pounded Panna against a wall, noting the lone horn protruding from her head. “You’re quite unusual for a deer. Not from around here?”

"M-mmmnh, no," the doe wheezed amidst his thrusts, her cunt drooling over his womb-shattering shaft. "I-In my home dimension, all the fawns there have horns like this. We're-a-aah! Likely descendants from a generation bred with unicooooorns! Ooh~!"

The doe's pussy gripped around him, and with a grunt, Moon Hammer barely pulled out in time, finally pushed over the edge as his wet dick fired volleys across her tits. Thankfully, he was used to several rounds with his wives, as Panna and Chezka ducked to clean his cock off.

The instant he was cleaned, he slapped Chezka's ass to turn her back around and yanked up her white tail with a fist when he drove himself up her puckered asshole this time. "How many Amazons are left? Tell me about your tribe," he demanded when he slammed balls deep into the centaur.

"Tell us about the minotaurs, and we will," countered Panna, who stroked her puffy slit.

The back-and-forth between the three continued in an attempt to fish out information. Moonlight returned to the ducts and dusted the soot from her scanty maid costume. She would have to move carefully to avoid tearing it, her destination set on Web Spinner's lab. Hopefully, it wasn’t heavily guarded, as according to one of Fiery’s lackeys, it would house a secret.

Fiery's conference had mentioned 'it' would be moved there...

By the time the thestral approached, pained moans and the familiar smack of skin made her ears flatten. A prismatic shimmer glowed from beneath the vent. When she peered inside Web Spinner's lab, she spotted many of Fiery's enforcers swarmed around what looked to be a changeling queen, her pale, tall, and voluptuous figure entirely crystalline.

She looked like a luminescent moth, with a pair of fuzzy antennae beside her horn and large lepidopteran wings furled behind her back. The flaky scales sparkled brilliantly like diamonds, luxurious tufts of fur around her neck and limbs. Her silky hime-styled mane and tail were a radiant blue. She sat bow-legged, panting heavily, large unblinking fuscia eyes leaking tears.

“P-please, no more,” the captive changeling pleaded. “This one has been through enough!”

"You’re done when we say you’re done," one soldier said, the flat of his unsheathed blade traced over her massive breasts. "Get to it, bitch! I’m getting flaccid here!" Another chortled at her.

With a resigned nod, there was a flash of light each time she altered herself to amuse them. Celestia, Luna, Cadance, Twilight Sparkle...she took their denuded forms, her body on offer to the enforcers that lined themselves up in preparation to defile the former rulers.

One lifted her up by the hips and impaled her cunt on his cock. Another pulled her wrists behind her and drove into her asshole. Lastly, a trooper shoved his dick down her throat, and the rest formed in a circle while they stroked themselves off to wait their turn.

"Damn… Always wanted to fuck Celestia," wheezed the troop that pounded the shift in her shape below. "But thanks to you monsters, she’s dead! Now out with it! Where’s Chrysalis hiding!?"

The crystalline changeling drooled when the one stuffed in her throat momentarily withdrew. "T-this one has tried to tell you! She doesn’t know! She’s not even sure how Chrysalis is still alive-auughck!!”

She nearly choked on the dick, shoved balls deep back in without mercy, receiving another harsh slap from the stallion taking her from behind. Her bountiful white ass rippled between the soldiers that fucked her stretched out holes mercilessly.

Celestia's already oversized breasts swelled further to match their interests, now blossomed into milky udders, her pink, puffy areola driven to leak honey-sweet milk drops.

"Got to love changeling biology," taunted one of them as he roughly squeezed a titty, rewarded by a stream of milk that sprayed across his face. "Fiery sure knows how to reward his loyalists!"

In desperation to please them, she shifted to Luna, battered between them. Then after a while, she took on Cadance's shape, a favorite in the Crystal Empire, since many of the soldiers that manned the halls had always fantasized about what it would be like to screw the Love Princess senselessly. They pulled her hair, slapped her around, and drove in and out with pistoning hips.

"Stupid Shining Armor, greedy bastard thought he could have this all to himself," said the one buried up the changeling’s ass. "It's hardly a 'war crime' when monsters don't have any rights!”

“Yeah, definitely made the right choice in backing Fiery,” the soldier up front said, trying to make her gurgle and sputter around his stallionhood. “That’s it, good slut-! Aagh! What do you say we try to knock up 'Princess Lovebutt?’"

"No can do," said the one buried inside her thoroughly used cunt. "Fiery said we can use her until she's exhausted, but no permanent harm. Gotta keep her on contraceptive potions until it's time. Her womb is reserved for the hyper-stallion's spawn..."

Moonlight stifled a gasp, not only from what they did to this poor creature, but what Fiery had planned for Midnight! Worse, while what Shining Armor pushed her into had sated her estrus, she was still in the last throes of its influence from the comedown...which had been worked up when she saw Moon Hammer rail Panna and Chezka.

Now it was intensified by the sights and smells below, despite her sympathy and horror for their victim. "Damn estrus," she murmured, her lower lips impossibly wet and inflamed. Half an hour passed before the enforcers finally finished, as they repeatedly traded and claimed the crystalline changeling, the moth-like monarch left in a pile to huff, slathered in rivulets of spunk that dimmed her glow.

Once the coast was clear and she was confident they wouldn’t return, Moonlight dropped down, causing the creature to chitter fearfully. "H-hey hey hey! Don't scream," she insisted, holding up her arms defensively.

The panting replica of Princess Cadance stared wryly at the maid-garbed batmare. “You… did you not come to invoke violence against one such as I?”

“No! Gods above, I wouldn’t wish this on anybody. Not even a changeling deserves to suffer like this…” She offered a hand, which the prisoner hesitantly accepted, to help her sit. In another luminous flash, the crystalline creature retook her natural shape. The bat mare introduced herself. “I’m Moonlight River. May I ask your name?”

“This one is called Marathyssa,” she answered, laying a hand over the valley of her breasts, still soaked head to toe in spunk and dried cum. She tilted her head curiously, studying her fetishized outfit. “What is a warrior doing in servant threads?”

"It’s… been a bad night, don’t worry about that," she admitted sternly, her supreme commander’s heinous actions still fresh on her mind. Shaking it off, she asked, "So...what's your story? Why are they keeping you prisoner?"

Moonlight began rummaging through the lab for a towel while the crystalline monarch took a moment to collect herself.

“Is your kind familiar with a Protoquen?”

The batmare paused to look back at her. “Proto-what?”

“Protoquen,” Marathyssa repeated, a small smile forming her mouth. “This one is among the female changelings that can potentially become a new leader for our hive, should we consume the royal jelly our current queen produces. But in her vanity and mania, Chrysalis feared one of us would replace her… and sought to get rid of us. Some were butchered. Others, like this one, were made into broodmares for other hives.”

“Geez,” grumbled Moonlight, who found a towel tucked away in a closet and started wiping down the changeling’s cum stained body. “Even to her own kin, she’s a vile monster?”

“It was not always this way,” Marathyssa insisted, quiet tears rolling down her face. “There once was a time changelings and ponies lived together in harmony. We are benevolent creatures by nature. But due to our alien appearance, fear would take hold of the equestrian elders and cast us out.”

She steadily relaxed under Moonlight's touch while the mare dried off to the best of her ability. "We wandered deep below the earth, tunneling towards the core; the darkness there eventually warped us into the more ‘evil’ appearance you know today."

“But you don’t look anywhere monstrous,” Moonlight pointed out.

“That is because this one never hatched underground,” Marathyssa said. “A pony straggler broke into our hive and kidnapped this one when she was but a larva. But for whatever reason, she did not eat this one like one would expect. Instead, she helped her grow within the crystal caverns, where your kind mined to build your kingdom.”

Moonlight knelt across from her, brows furrowed. "So then, how did you end up here?"

“The unicorn's mistake was bringing this one back to her hive, hoping this one would take command after Chrysalis’ first invasion failed. And while they welcomed her back with open arms, the queen maintained her authority.” Her antenna flattened behind her head at the memory. “Eventually, this one was brought alongside Chrysalis to keep her soldiers 'entertained'...and after Shining Armor won that day, this one fell into his hands.”

Moonlight bawled her fist, teeth clenched to hold back her rage. “That bastard..!”

Marathyssa shook her head. “You misunderstand, he initially treated this one well enough, before Fiery Kickstart and his men discovered her. This one knew too well that no matter what, she was a prisoner of war…”

An uneasy silence held in the air until the thestral soldier sighed. “I’m sorry, I… can’t imagine the pain you must be going through!”

The crystal changeling gave a sad titter. “This one is fortunate she did not have to suffer in solitude. Another victim of Chrysalis, named Deinos, has kept this one company under the alias Web Spinner.”

Moonlight's eyes widened in horror. “Web Spinner?! You mean to tell me that four-armed monstrosity was the dweeby scientist?!”

However, before she could question Marathyssa further, the lab swallowed them in a red sheen when alarms started to blare overhead. "Oh no, it's starting! You have to leave here! Go while you still can,” the changeling warned.

"Can't you transform into something small and slip out?"

"This one has been forced to ingest elixirs that inhibit our shapeshifting abilities,” Marathyssa explained dourly. “This one can only take the forms of mares, griffins, and dragons alike. But no smaller. This one should remain here, where it is safe. She would only slow you down…” She turned away from the batmare to sulk.

Moonlight was torn between fleeing the premises before she was caught and wanting to help the poor mothrum changeling. She then knelt down to her side, placing a hand over her shoulder that made the bug-eyed creature look back.

"I'll come back for you, I promise,” she swore with determined yellow eyes. “I’ll find a way to get you out of here!”

*****

Sabers rattled throughout the hallways. The stamp of boots thundered and echoed. At Fiery Kickstart's instructions, those loyal to him were rounded up, and the coup was underway. The alarms sounded while arrows doused in sedatives whirled across the air. The sub-commander had ordered his followers, "Kill only when necessary! Take as many prisoners as you can!"

Cadets flooded the red-stained corridors, confused and delirious from the bedlam that erupted around the military base. Commanders ordered them to surrender, and warned that Fiery had authorized them to implement lethal force, should they be met with resistance.

Shining Armor heard the commotion from his office and took a moment to rock his once crippled leg back and forth, completely healed after his hyper-stallionism kicked in. "Thanks for the boost, Moonie," he said with a self-satisfied smile. "I won't let your 'sacrifice' be in vain!" With help from his aura, he slipped into his white armor and collected his rune broadsword.

He kicked the door open and set down the hall. Archers took aim, only for his horn to light up and raise a shield that deflected the missiles fired at him. "Amateurs," he taunted, rushed in, and cut them down with his illuminated broadsword, splashes of scarlet slapped across the walls. Runes shimmered across his armor, sword, and shield, enchanted to empower them.

"Last chance to stand down, traitors," he warned more of the soldiers that bounded towards him. When they didn't break their stride, he cried, "Your funeral!" His blade arced and beheaded those who stood before him with clean strokes.

Crimson spattered the pristine paladin. He spotted cadets rounded up, and swiftly dispatched the soldiers that restrained them with a combination of spellcraft and swordplay. "You know where my office is? Head back that way; I'll protect you," he promised with a warm smile.

"Thank you, sir," said one of the cadets with a salute before they dashed away to safety.

Around him, steel clashed, and spells lit the darkness with a sizzle. He'd known Fiery would launch his coup soon, but this was faster than anticipated. Fortunately, between the spells he'd learned from his late sister, his swordsmanship, and his hyper-stallion body, not to mention the finest enchanted weapons and armor in the land, no one here could hope to match him!

He cut a swath across the base-turned-battlefield. Soaked the area in blood and viscera.

Eventually, Shining found the source of this madness in the auditorium. "Fiery Kickstart! Come out here and face me, you bastard!" The archers around Fiery took aim with crossbows, but a wave from their commander made them stand down, as Fiery marched down the steps to meet him clad in his vermillion armor.

"I see you're no longer a cripple," mused Fiery, his half-burned face turned to him, a blade clasped in hand. "I take it you’re prepared to fight me in a duel for supreme command?”

“I see this less as a challenge and more as me putting you back in your place,” affirmed the alabaster unicorn.

“Heh. First time for everything, huh?” The mustard stallion turned to his subordinates. “You heard him. Stand down! We don’t need to spill any more blood now that he’s accepted our little arrangement.”

The stallions nodded and started to make the announcement from a microphone over the speakers, which sounded across the hallways, and all over the military base.

No doubt, many would make their way to the announced location. With a wave of his sword, Fiery immolated his entire blade, violent flames crackling and rolling in a vermillion blur.

"Pulling out all your tricks," observed Shining as the duelists met in the middle. "No interruptions. No spells our flight allowed, either! When I win, you'll order your men to stand down and surrender yourself to me without resistance!"

Fiery chuckled, their blades crossed. "And if I win?"

"Name your terms," he replied with a cocky smirk.

"Mmm. Always thought your head would look nice mounted on a spike for all the Crystal Empire to see!"

With that said, Fiery told and drove down his blade. Shining raised his illuminated, white broadsword to parry, the air filled with a clash that made sparks and embers rain across the duelists locked in combat.

In a battle of skill and steel, the use of spells was forbidden. Not that the paladin needed them!

Skill-wise, the commanders were evenly matched...but the hyper-stallion felt stronger, faster, more durable, and slower to tire. He countered Fiery's stabs and slashes, barely noticing the air warp around him from the immolated saber's heat whenever he attacked.

Shining soon took the offensive to stagger Fiery, who clenched his teeth and slid across the floor on his boots to maintain his position as the repeated blows rained down without mercy.

By this point, more soldiers and commanders on both sides flooded into the auditorium. Among them were Moon Hammer, Panna, and Chezka, plus Moonlight, who kept her distance and hid behind the masses, where she did her best to blend in with the numerous maids that mostly shivered and cowered from the explosions of violence and bloodshed across the base.

The thestral watched the commanders trade blows, deflect, and riposte, her heart heavy and conflicted. She glared down at Shining, repulsed by what the supreme commander had done to her… yet she couldn't find it in herself to want to see him dead. Not when Fiery and those loyal to him prove to be the far greater threat!

Unfortunately, Moonlight didn't have any of her sedative darts on her, so there was little she could do to intervene. She sucked in a bated breath, dreading the end result while the sweat-soaked duelists continued to clash.

Shining Armor's muscles continued to expand, thick veins visible across the skin that wasn't hidden by his full suit of armor, sans a helmet. His shield smoked and started to melt into a molten pool under his opponent's flame sword while he battered away at the immolated blade.

Sweat poured down their foreheads; Fiery pushed into a corner as the melted, smoky shield was cast away by the paladin. He arched his pale broadsword overhead at the hunched sub commander and cried, "You're finished!"

The next cross of blades knocked the fire sword from Fiery's grasp, and the sub commander was knocked to his knees. Gasps rose from the crowd, Shining Armor's white blade tip poised at his fallen foe's throat. "Surrender, or...or..." The paladin violently shook once his strained muscles suddenly rippled and contracted, pushing past their limits. "N-no! Not...now!!"

A bone snapped in his once crippled leg. He yelled and tumbled to one knee, blinded by white-hot pain, as Fiery balled up his burn-scarred fist and connected with his jaw. Blood and a couple teeth burst from Shining's split lip, knocked flat on his ass. His hands shook as the sword clattered from them, and he scrambled to recover it, only to feel heat near his face.

Fiery drew back his flame sword, ready to separate his head from his body.

"W-wait!" Moonlight cried out, descending from the stands to get in between the duelists. Her eyes closed as an inferno arced her way, ready to end her...only to be shoved aside by Shining Armor, his cheek grazed by the sword tip's precise arc, another shout of pain unleashed by the paladin as the cut bled and cooked.

Fiery scowled at the batmare, keeping his blade poised at her. “Well, well, well. And here I thought there wasn’t a single ounce of loyalty left for you, Shining. Admirable… but stupid.” He then pointed his flame sword at the fallen commander. “Now, are you going to stand down, or do I have to embarrass you further?“

The paladin fumed, his eyes narrowed, but looked to Moonlight before he proclaimed, "I...I yield." Web Spinner's empirical formula had pushed his body too fast. He felt like he'd put on ten years in an instant, not to mention all the bones he'd shattered under the strain.

“Smart move,” Fiery said before steadily raising his weapon in the air. “Probably the smartest decision you ever made as supreme commander!”

Moonlight knelt next to her ex-commander and begged, "He's helpless! Please, spare him!"

Fiery considered for a moment before relenting, the fire dissolving into steam. “Very well then. Don’t ever say I wasn’t merciful.” Resheathing the blade, he snapped his fingers for soldiers to apprehend Moonlight from the weakened unicorn, whose mane he grabbed to hoist his head up.

“Shining Armor. For your failure to secure victory in this duel and the overall war, I strip you of all your accolades and claim your position as the supreme commander over the Crystal Empire!” The mustard stallion announced to the public with a wave of his arm. “You are relieved of your duties and sentenced to banishment from these lands for life! I will have you executed on sight if you dare show your face again!”

“No, you can’t!” Moonlight sputtered, struggling to break free from the soldiers' grasp. "In his current state, he’ll die out there!”

“And in our current state, we would all be wiped out by the changeling resurgence,” rebutted Fiery. “Panna, Chezka. Lead him out of the walls!” The Amazonians nodded and snapped to obey, grabbing Shining’s body and dragging him away. Turning his attention back to Moonlight, he ordered, “Have her locked up in her sleeping quarters. I want it guarded at all times. We wouldn’t want her running away before her herd comes home.”

The bat mare glared daggers at the sly smirk he gave her; venom spewed out the thestral’s mouth as the subordinates struggled to restrain her while pulling her along.

Fiery directed one of his closest commanders closer and whispered, “Send an army to retrieve Midnight Blitzer, Lightning Spark, and all their little friends. We'll need their aid to help deal with Chrysalis and her minions, once and for all!"

More cheers resounded to raised weapons and hands, Fiery's name repeatedly exclaimed in unison. He directed one of his men to make the first announcements, from a prepared script for this moment of assured victory. With a clipped salute, the stallion took the script and hurried off.

Unbeknownst to the gathered populace, one hooded mare hiding in the shadows looked upon the battlefield. Thin lines slowly stretched across her face until it split apart like a grotesque flower in bloom. An eyeball on bioluminescence stems extended to take a closer look at the newly crowned supreme commander.

*****

Deep beneath the earth, changelings buzzed and crawled around through the ever-shifting caverns they dug out. Some expressed erratic behavior as the parasitic spores took root in their brains, linking them to the Mi-Go.

A large chamber harbored the enormous fungus, an eerie, eldritch glow illuminating the pool of still water banked before its tree size stalk. Spores emerged out of its gills, contaminating what oxygen the changelings had to breathe.

And resting beneath the emerald waters was the changeling queen herself, arms folded comfortably across her chest as she was locked in a deep trance. Mycelium roots connected her to the botanic abomination, showing Chrysalis all it could observe through the thousands it had infected.