Shortly after the airship touched down in the capital, the crew docked, and everyone aboard exited. Extensive repairs were necessary, so in the meantime, Ashen Dunes decided to help escort his sister home. Cerise Silhouette smiled at him and Rheneas while she and the travelers walked the dusty streets, lit up by torchlight under the starry skies. The moon shone down on the marketplace, where jaunty music filled the air and many revelers collected to celebrate.

"Ahhh! It's wonderful to be back home," chirped the charcoal mare, her eyes closed and arms raised, swaying to the rhythm alongside several scantily clad dancers. Her ears perked at the cheers that met the return of the prince and princess, as citizens swarmed about them.

Guards rushed over to invoke distance, the buff stallions bare-chested when they raised their spears. "That won't be necessary, fellas," assured Ashen, casting them a playful wink.

"Yeah, let the people through!" added Cerise, satisfied most of their people loved them. But less certain was the princess about the outer territories, where she, Beatrix, and her friends were once almost sold into slavery.

Iclyn surveyed the streets, spotting an alleyway where three stallions encircled a mare, who bobbed her head along each of their cocks. This made the doe's blue-furred snout curl, and she asked, "What is all this?"

"I believe this is part of the fertility festival you were talking about, Ashen," observed Rheneas, who blushed hotly.

Ashen drew his love in close. “Ah, yes! Believe it or not, this is relatively tame compared to how rowdy everyone gets once midnight strikes~!"

Midnight sniffed spiced alcohol on the air and beamed back at the tittering dancers who reached out to stroke his fluffy fur and wings. "E-easy, ladies! Plenty of me to go around," he joked, as his emerald eyes drank them in, alongside the various merchandise that sparkled in the light.

“Makes me wish Demi-Trix was here,” sighed Beatrix. “I’ve gotten so used to having her sleep in my Prima Materia! It's a little lonely here!"

"I dunno. This seems way too ‘adult’ for her," noted Moonlight, as a few of the dancers had started to remove their tops. “Though she has matured a lot since her rebirth, at least?"

"Oh yeah! Really picked up a fashion sense as well. My little tulpa's become a woman!" Beatrix smiled at the idea, her tulpa now partially demi-human, thanks to absorbing the influence of Zeloph and Moxxi. She wondered if that technically made them her ‘parents.’

Nonetheless, they were on a mission. And so, with some reluctance, Cerise thanked the dancers before she hurried up beside Ashen Dunes, the royal heirs flanked by the guards who directed to the pyramid that loomed ahead, where the king and queen awaited. Hopefully, White Shadow Penumbra was there, confident his aid would help ease his troubled heart!

They climbed the stone stairs and entered the lit interior. Wherever they passed, Iclyn's sneer deepened at the number of comely handmaidens, each mare's supple breasts bared, clothed simply in a thin transparent slip that left nothing to an onlooker's imagination. Glows from the torches lit up their succulent contours, some of the party unable to tear their eyes away.

Finally, they arrived at the throne room. "Welcome home, my children," King Sombra’s voice boomed, a broad smile on his snout. He and Queen Inky Rose sat on thrones of platinum, the color of their family. Cerise reflexively stared at her own silver wedding ring, complemented by Midnight's gold ring. He continued, “Ah, Beatrix! My former apprentice! It’s been far too long!”

“It certainly has,” the witch replied, throwing a wink at the matured couple. “I’ve been meaning to catch up with you and the Mrs.~!”

"It's wonderful to see you all back and well,” greeted Inky, who wore a serene smile. Garbed in a spidery black gown that showed off the queen's ample cleavage, her husband similarly left his bare chest proudly on display. “Oh, and I see you've brought a couple new faces!"

"H-hello," said Rheneas, who went to one knee before them and bowed her head.

Inky Rose covered her mouth and tittered. "There's no need for that! Please, rise."

"M-my name's Rheneas," she introduced herself shyly, the jade pegasus still looking to the floor. "I-I would not be standing here had Cerise not saved my life from eternal damnation!"

Cerise blushed darkly. “Ohh, c’mon. I hardly did it alone-!"

"Nonsense, sister," dejected Ashen as he wrapped his slim arms around Cerise and Rheneas. "You should revel in the credit! I bet it was a triumphant moment! Especially since without your timely intervention, I surely never would have met such a wonderful mare!"

"I-I'm hardly that special," assured Rheneas, who nuzzled into his chest. “Though I am grateful to have met you. All of you.”

“She’s quite the catch,” Sombra whispered to Inky, who hid a giggle behind her hand. The dark unicorn then drew his attention toward the icy deer. "Ah, and who might you be?"

"Iclyn," the doe stated, giving a short courtesy bow. "I'm being forced against my will to serve as a caretaker to the multiverse’s most vexing prostitute."

Beatrix said, “W-Wha?! Hey, I am not a-”

“Ah yes, my former apprentice can be quite the handful," he snickered when Beatrix shot him a childish pout. "I often had to keep her in line."

Inky Rose said, “I wondered why Lady Ewe wasn’t with you. Is she no longer your teacher?”

"No, she is," explained the wayward witch. "But she’s on maternity leave, so to speak.”

“Oona’s pregnant?!” They both exclaimed.

Beatrix nodded, her cheeks colored. “It’s a long, complicated story, eheh~.”

"Well, we’d love to hear all about it," assured the shadow queen, smiling widely. "Oh, I think it’s almost time!”

Iclyn raised a skeptical brow and asked, “Time for what?”

“You’ll soon find out! Everyone, come at once!" Both Inky and Sombra rose, leading the travelers out of the throne room and up the stairs. They made their way to the pyramid's apex, which overlooked the lit-up capital far below.

Stygian, who hadn't spoken until now, said, "I regret to inform your majesty that the Necronomicon has been taken."

"The folly is mine," Somnambula further elaborated. “I should have been more cautious…”

"I'm sure it couldn't be helped,” said Sombra, who shook his head. “Nothing good has ever come from that infernal tome. I take it that’s why you’ve come to visit us, Beatrix?”

"Y-yeah, partially!" Beatrix admitted, twiddling her thumbs. "An old foe's stolen the Necronomicon, but he's the least of our worries! Portals have been spawning around multiple dimensions, one of which brought a three-headed dragon to the desert. I-I think it might be my fault..?”

She tittered in an attempt to play it off, but a stern glare from Iclyn made the sigh and relent, “Okay, it’s probably my fault.”

"We managed to seal him in a mountain for the time being," Ashen said, removing a map where he'd marked the area. "Unfortunately, those scorpions appear to see this 'Andrei' as their leader?”

"Hmm. A dark omen indeed," noted Sombra, stroking his fuzzy chin.

Cerise added, "That’s why we came to seek help from Penumbra! Any chance he's here?"

"He should still be with his wife, Lily," replied Inky before gasping in excitement. "Wait, I just realized! All of my children have finally found someone to call their own! Have you started a herd, Ashen?" Her sly smile widened.

Both the young prince and ballerina flourished. While awkwardly rubbing his neck, Ashen said, "Well, you see...Rheneas isn't from our world, so I'm not sure how she'd feel about that custom." He cleared his throat when turning to his friends. "Our world's still on the brink of death after what the Eldritch did. So to repopulate it-"

"Most stallions have formed their own harems with at least two mares," finished Cerise, her cheeks rosy as her hot pink eyes. "That’s one reason I formed a herd with Midnight and Moonlight! Someday, we'll have to help fill the lands with our own children! But not until I'm ready to definitively end our adventures!"

"O-oh my," Rheneas said softly, profoundly considering the implications. “I’m not sure I’m ready to share my life like that. Especially after being a prisoner in my own body!”

Ashen brushed his multicolored silk scarves and cleared his throat. “L-let’s not worry about that, my friends. This is a time for wild celebration!"

"Indeed! The people need this too," surmised Somnambula. "And since we are not tasked to harbor the Necronomicon anymore, I wish to return to your service, as your priestess."

"I wish to aid this country as well," said Stygian, who bowed, a tome clutched in hand. "I am but a humble scholar, so hopefully, my research will prove useful to this land’s prosperity."

Inky shared a nod with her husband when she said, "Of course! You two are always welcome in our kingdom! In truth, we need your aid!"

They were interrupted by the pops of fireworks that exploded across the dark skies. The time of the ceremony had come, after which many citizens below started to cast off their clothes, danced, drank, and openly made love in the streets, numerous soldiers on standby to make sure events didn't spiral out of control. Cheers erupted and threatened to drown out the music.

It wasn't unlike specific festivals Cerise had heard her parents partook in before, usually when they were in the Dragon Lord's realm. Everyone was free to partake in whatever partners they preferred until the morning sun fully dawned. Or, in most cases, several partners at a time. Her mother and father casually disrobed and welcomed them to release themselves, whereupon the couple started to make out.

Cerise beamed, her charcoal fur still afire while glancing at the wary Rhenaes. "I know our customs may seem weird to outsiders! But you don’t have to worry about participating if you don’t want to. Though, truthfully, I wouldn’t oppose it if you joined me, Moony, and Middy for a session!” She drew closer to the ballerina.

“R-really?” The jade crystal mare pursed her lips. “Even after all the things, I’ve put you and your husband through?”

“You and Doppia were two separate people,” the daughter of darkness insisted. “I don’t blame you for her atrocities. You deserve happiness, whether that’s with my brother or with us! You’re better than you think you are, Rhenny.”

“I… don’t know what to say,” the ballerina admitted, though she offered a gracious smile. Cerise took her slender hands and squeezed them tightly, aware that Rhenaes likely didn’t feel like she deserved such kindness.

Iclyn, on the other hand, couldn’t hide her disdain for the shameless hedonism below. "How revolting…" she muttered, her snout pointed high.

"You say that, yet you continue to watch," observed Beatrix, smirking at the icy doe. "C’mon, live up a little! It’s a festival."

“And while they’re busy fucking around, the multiverse crumbles from your tomfoolery,” Iclyn coldly reminded her. “Meanwhile, the deighdyr suffer an insidious blight. Would it kill you to show some initiative to your mission?”

"Now, now." Inky paused between her kisses with Sombra, their snouts still connected by a trail of saliva. "There’s a perfect reason we’re so adamant on public fornication~.”

"Mhm! You have to understand," mumbled Sombra, his palm upon his wife's round ass when he claimed a handful of the squishy flesh. "We estimate the Eldritch wiped out ninety percent of Equestria's population. Then, Zeloph killed thousands more, including many of my best soldiers. The sanctimonious bastard…”

“Oof. I wonder when it’ll be a good time to mention that he’s on our side now,” Midnight whispered quietly to his wife, who gulped.

Sombra continued. “To return life to this planet? I would do whatever it takes, regardless of what anyone thinks. This is about survival!"

"I probably can't bear any more children," Inky confessed, mewling as her husband continued to molest her rump and tits. "But we rulers need to participate, too! This is a tantric ritual of fertility!"

"Ahh," mused Somnambula, smirking. "I see you’ve read my ancient texts for inspiration."

Sombra laid his wife down when he said, "This is the best we can do for our p-people…nnnaaagh~!" He paused, met by a moan when he fully sheathed his stallionhood inside Inky, met by her coos. "While our sons seek out territories to expand our nation!" He rocked his queen, bouncing her jiggling flank atop his lap.

"Wow," said Rheneas, her face heating up when her lover pressed close behind.

"We don't have to participate in all this," reassured Ashen as he nuzzled and traced the crystal pony's shapely hips in his smooth palms.

“More for me then,” Beatrix chimed in, drooling at how hot and heavy the royal couple went at it. "Damn, I wish Oona was here! Or Dion! Or Moxxi~!! Or Omen~!!! Or-"

Iclyn wiggled her fingers to lower the temperature around the witch, who began to shiver. Her violet fur visibly turned a lighter shade of blue. “H-he-hey..!”

“That should cool you down,” huffed the snow caster, who turned to approach a handmaiden on the sidelines. “Show me to my room. The damp smell of musk is suffocating…”

They strode back down as Beatrix eventually heated back up, pouting deeply. “Party Pooper…”

“Ahh, forget her,” Moonlight said. “We should enjoy our time here while we can! You sure took an eyeful of those nude dancers, huh, Middy~?”

The blue pegasus boyishly chuckled. "Y-yeah, a hyper-stallion always has quite an appetite! But they can’t compare with you two!"

Midnight squeezed his herd in close. Spurred on by the royal couple that shamelessly made love before them, not to mention all the nudity and copulation below, he painfully swelled in his pants while his firm hands started to wander across the supple curvature of his lovers.

Cerise resisted her own libido and said, "E-easy, big boy~! Iclyn had a point; business first! Hopefully, Penumbra and Lily aren't...you know!" Her herd nodded before they wandered off, with Ashen and Rheneas deciding to follow them.

Left alone once the others descended into the pyramid, Beatrix cast the royal couple a cheeky smile that spread her snout as Sombra finished inside Inky with a loud grunt. The shadow queen ran her fingers through her king’s mane, their mixing fluids leaking out her well-split pussy.

Licking her lips, the witch waved away her leotard, hat, and cape which faded into the ether and swayed towards the royal couple. The Violet unicorn asked, “Room for one more…~?”

They looked at her with delighted grins as Sombra said, “Thought you’d never ask.” He gently lifted Inky up, his fat black cock popping out of her pussy, allowing all that stuffed cream to messily spill out from the well-used foal-hole.

Beatrix cooed, settling between his legs while stroking in the cum layering his dick. “Ooh! For me? You shouldn’t have~!” She playfully purred once she ran her tongue over the thick base and rigid shaft, smacking her lips coquettishly at savory sensations of their combined tastes.

Sombra muffled into his lover’s kiss, relishing the feeling of his former student suckling up the leftover residue. The witch tended to his breeding sack, licking at each swollen orb before licking back up his length to suckle the tip. After a couple of bobs, Beatrix pulled off, admiring how Sombra’s thick black pillar shined in her saliva.

“Damn, your wife’s pussy tastes delicious~!”

Inky tittered, her eyes half-lidded. “There’s plenty more for you to sample from, dear~!”

Sombra sat up to lay his queen onto one of the thrones situated here, her thighs parted to show off her cum gushing marehood. Getting the hint, Beatrix shuffled closer until her snout was nearly pressed against the pegasus’ mound. And with the king kneeling behind her, the cheeky witch made sure to arch her back enough to push her plump posterior against his hardening shaft, wiggling it enticingly as she presented herself.

With no pleasantries needed, Sombra batted his black cock against Beatrix’s winking labia and impaled her, earning a muffled mewl. “Aaaaauh,” he growled lazily, patting her left butt cheek before slapping his hips into hers steadily. “I missed having this bubble butt to play with~!”

“Ehehe~! You mean you missed treating me like your personal fuck slave~?” Beatrix teasingly gloated, her cheeky remark earning a hard slap across her succulent ass, making her yelp as Sombra snarled and started picking up steam.

“Don’t get distracted,” the queen softly demanded, a hand gripping Beatrix’s platinum locks and guiding her snout back into her pussy. Inky whined needily, feeling her tongue scoop more of her husband’s royal jelly. Each pummeling thrust made the unicorn mare’s tits swing underneath, pushing her further between the queen’s slender legs.

There was a time Beatrix considered putting her vagabond days behind her, living in this world as part of Sombra and Inky’s herd. Despite how fulfilling life with them could be, she was glad to have ultimately decided against it. If she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have met and fallen in love with Oona, nor conceived Abadonna together. Not only that, there were still many possible places in the galaxy to explore!

But Beatrix could tell the king and queen later, her mind unable to focus on anything but the leaking pussy against her lips and the thick stallionhood trying to remold her pussy into his shape when he violently claimed her.

Once this round came to a close, Beatrix was more than certain another would occur in the couple’s private chambers~!

*****

A fine curved blade split the air. Each thrust and slash was akin to a dance as White Shadow Penumbra narrowed his eyes in concentration, his mane sticky below his turban. He'd lost his arm in the battle with the Burning King...but that mattered little compared to the men under his command sacrificed to end the tyrant. At least the replacement arm provided by the minotaur blacksmith, Moon Hammer, had taken to him as he ceaselessly practiced his swordplay.

His wife, Lily Longsocks, also swung nearby. She constantly told him not to push himself. But the pale pegasus proved just as stubborn as her, aware that rest would only force his pains to the surface. His white cape and tunic swept under each slice, plume rigid to match his dour mood.

Lily broke the silence to say, "I know the rules are different when the ceremony rolls around, so...you can seek the company of another mare or two, if you like. I won't be jealous, I promise!"

"You're all I'll ever need," Penumbra reassured her between precise strokes.

"I know that. But you’ve become too uptight! I can't bear to see you like this!" The earth mare pushed her way to meet him, forcing the swordsman to pause when she touched her snout to his. "You need to let all that tension out! And I don't care if that means using a few mares to do so! Just think of them as stress relief!"

"I would never touch someone like that," he insisted, cupping her cheek. “To wallow in hedonism...only you deserve my affection.”

Lily smiled and purred, “Oh, yeah? Then give it to me~!" The earth mare pushed Penumbra down onto the mat, their swords left to clatter when she straddled him. She pulled her top over her shoulders and let her heavy tits bounce free.

"N-naah! L-Lily, I-" They were interrupted by a knock at the door. "Wait, hold on a se-"

"Come in~," Lily called cheerily, reveling in any chance to tease her stoic husband. Her smile stretched at who came in while Penumbra's colored cheeks darkened, and he swallowed.

"Ah," squeaked Cerise. "Should have known better! We can come back at-"

"Nah, it’s fine! Stick around." Lily moved so her husband could sit up but rested her bare, pendulous breasts on his shoulder. "It's so nice to see you, everybody! Come!" She patted the mat.

Penumbra cleared his throat. “W-where is Beatrix? Wasn’t she with you?"

"She's, err, probably busy with the festivities,” guessed Cerise. "I know; I'm surprised to see you so soon! But I'm afraid we have all kinds of trouble!" She and her herd hastily explained what had happened at the manor, then about their encounter with Andrei in their realm.

"We also heard our homeworld's in trouble," added Moonlight solemnly.

Midnight nodded and proposed, "So we'd like you to come and help! If you want to, of course?"

Penumbra used his wings to gently set his wife aside and rose, his good hand cupped around his chin in thought. "Another dire threat, aye? I suppose that's where I shine best. But what about this ‘Kralot of Zmey?’ Surely, we must deal with the invasive dragon first?“

"Leave that nonsense to me, dear brother," boasted Ashen as he threw an arm around him.

“We’ll keep an eye on him and the scorpions," offered Rheneas before shyly looking to the floor. “Though I doubt I can be of much use…”

Ashen shook his head. "Nonsense! Your moral support is more than enough!"

Lily shook her head, bemused as she said, "I'll help too! Someone ran off and left me behind on that last adventure…” She gave her husband a swat upon his toned rump, making the pegasus yelp. Playfully she added, “But since he lost an arm, well, I'll consider us even!"

Penumbra gave a short cough before bowing his head. "Thank you. Both of you. Now, dear, would you please-?"

"Redress? Pft, why bother?! Not like they hadn’t seen me naked before," Lily tittered playfully, giving her bared breasts a shake. "We're all adults here, and it's far spicier outside! That reminds me, Cerise! Has that hyper-stud finally knocked a few buns into that steamy hot oven~?"

"N-not yet," chirped the princess, who madly blushed when Lily rubbed her belly. "Ashen's recently found me a suitable territory, so someday I'll have to settle down, govern it, and then birth one or two children of my own! But I want to make sure I can handle all that responsibility before I even start settling down!"

"That’s understandable," said Lily. "It's why we've hesitated on having kids as well."

"Especially since we're soldiers," interjected Moonlight. She stroked her metal bat wings that, much like Penumbra, were her own sacrifice to end the Burning King's tyranny. “Honestly, I’m not sure I'll ever be ready for a child..!"

Penumbra clasped his hands around Lily's midsection from behind and said, “That’s something only the future knows. For now, I'd be honored to come with you, sister. Perhaps I can assist in your training?"

"Sounds like a plan! Thanks, brothers," said Cerise when she warmly embraced them.

*****

Unable to make suitable clothes out of what she found in the forest, not to mention she wanted to put tons of distance between her and the changeling hive, Lightning Spark opted to sail fast as she could on her unfurled plume until she stumbled on the first speck of civilization. Her muscles ached when she landed nude on the outskirts, her ears met by the croons of roosters.

Perched in a crouched position on a tree branch, shaded by the leaves as the sun started to rise more, she spotted an apparently abandoned farm ahead. Her fist clenched around the pendant, delirious from the blur her life had been in the hive. She recalled the last time she saw her father and twin brother, and tried not to think about all the victims she was forced to abandon.

‘No, you mustn't think like that. You’ll come back with an army to save them,’ she swore internally.

Lightning swooped down and landed in a field, where blackbirds roosted atop a scarecrow. Swift feet raced into a home, which she immediately raided for food and clothes. "Come on," she grumbled under her breath as she shifted aside debris, smashed dishes strewn across the floor.

The pegasus drooled once her eyes settled on untouched pancakes covered in blueberries, syrup, and buttery. Instantly, she picked up a fork and scarfed breakfast down as her tummy bellowed. While cramming as much food as possible down her gullet, Lightning pondered what became of the previous inhabitants. Obliviously, they abandoned their home in haste.

The reason became apparent when she heard the familiar drone of buzzing. "Oh no!" Despite her hastiness, at least one changeling must have followed her trail. And if one scout had come, a swarm was bound to follow close behind it. Desperately, Lightning Spark fished out a butcher's knife and took cover further inside.

She couldn't afford to be caught now! Not when her mothers and thousands of other mares suffered their cruel fates! The pegasus mare could still picture Snowy’s thinned form swelled up by ovums and almost hurled up her meal.

A crash sounded when something landed on the roof. The staccato buzzing intensified, until a small swarm of changelings blotted out the sun and started to scour the farm. She clutched the knife closer in the shadows. Her heart skipped a beat when the monstrous scout crept inside.

Lightning had slain one already. At least maybe she could take another before she was captured!

When the drone closed in, she let out a shrill war cry and slammed the butcher's knife into his thorax. Gurgles escaped the changeling as he went limp and splashed her form in his stinky, rancid liquid insides. Her expression was fierce, well aware that more devils were on their way.

Windows shattered in a thunderous crash. The demonic insects hurled in amidst a hateful fury, Lightning barely able to swipe and graze one's carapace while several of them pinned her down. She trashed their hold when one of their numbers popped and raised his ovipositor.

One of them twisted his feelers when he telepathically communicated, (What are you-)

(She killed two of our own,) cast back the one poised before her as the spike from his ovipositor traced over her slit. (She will breed us more.)

(We can do that back at the hive! Our numbers will continue to dwindle if we don’t figure out how to rid ourselves of that wretched fungus!)

(Which is why we mustn’t let her slip away… Not until I’ve implanted a few eggs in her womb, to slow her down.) The insectoid creature chittered, its ovipositor inching towards her slit, which inflamed and moistened at the unwanted touch.

"You monsters," she cried, spiteful at the part of her brain that didn't understand consent. Only that the fertile mare was about to be bred for the first time in her life. Her pert breasts heaved while its maw drooled over them, her limbs held wide open by its horrific companions.

Her ears perked at the sound of heavy stomps, her eyes noticing that the rest of the swarm suddenly backed off, as someone else entered the abandoned house. The perpetrator saw too late before fish hooks surged through his face and splattered Lightning’s chest and stomach in its colorless blood, his body left to slump.

The metal blades retracted into the wielder’s gauntlet as she drew back. A muscular thestral mare, covered with scars, wore a threatening grin. “Did someone call for an exterminator~?”

"What-" Lightning could barely follow the blur of activity as her rescuer spun away from a drone's attack, slashing its throat open. The thestral danced between the changelings with practiced eased, all the while laughing maniacally whenener she carved apart the insectoids.

"Not so tough now, huh, pissants?!" The ruthless bat mare taunted, slamming one changeling into the hard wooden floor. A sickening crunch sounded each time she twisted off each of its limbs, almost drowned under its incessant screeching. Her sinister smile stretched back as she grabbed its ovipositor and gave a clean rip, presenting the dissected organ to the swarm which shrank back. “Who wants to go next~?”

Realizing the imminent danger before them, the drones retreated through the hole in the roof. With a ‘tsk,’ she tossed the dismembered appendage away while stomping her clawed foot on the shrieking creature which squished below.

Recovering the butcher’s knife, Lightning Spark rose and cautiously approached her rescuer. The female thestral was clad in a chainmail bikini, the top holding up her petite yet perky bosom. A cowl adorned her shoulders, resembling the shape of a bat. Large leathery wings remained furled behind her back. Bandages coiled thighs beneath steel-high boots. Battle scars caressed musculature, a hint of suppleness to her curves.

When the thestral turned to face her, Lightning found one of her macaroon yellow eyes hidden behind a brown patch. Her lapis blue mane was shaved at the sides, stylized in a mohawk. The two mares stared at one another before one lingering drone dropped down for a surprise attack. Before the bulky bruiser could react, the pegasus chucked her knife and drove the monster into the wall, right through its abdomen.

“Whoa.” The thestral observed the changeling as it twitched feebly. She brought her gaze and smirk back to Lightning and complimented, “Nice throw!”

“T-thanks,” gulped the pegasus mare, hesitantly offering a hand. “I-I’m Lightning Spark.”

The bat mare took it with a firm grip before introducing herself. “Equinox.”

“I would have been a goner if not for you!”

"Ahh, don’t think about it. It was only more trash to dispose of,” she waved off, a hand on her hip. “I was sent here when we got word that a changeling hive had spawned close by. And from the looks of it, our sources were correct.” Equinox briefly scanned the pegasus, noting how frail she was. When Lightning cautiously covered herself with her pale plumage, the thestral grinned and asked, “So what’s your story? You look like you’ve seen better days~.”

Lightning explained with colored cheeks, “I-I was a prisoner in one of their hives! I have to find Commander Shining Armor. Do you know him? O-or, at least, where I could find him?"

At the drop of his name, Equinox’s expression shifted from ferocious predator to curious cat. “Know him? Pha! I work for the old fart,” she chuckled.

“Y-you do? But you don’t look like a soldier!”

The bulky thestral scoffed. “Time has changed, sweetheart. With the changeling’s reemergence, many ponies are preparing for another war, taking shelter, or evacuating the Crystal Empire entirely! Not a lot of brave volunteers for the Peacekeepers with new reports of abducted or strange disappearances every day…”

Lightning’s heart became heavy thinking about Midnight and how he mysteriously vanished.

“That’s where us marauders come in,” Equinox continued as she wandered around the room, scooping food and anything shiny into her arm. “We roam the land in search of any clues pointing towards changeling hives, mostly with deserted establishments like this. If it hasn’t been destroyed and appears valuable, we take it as payment.”

“W-what? But that's stealing?"

“Uh, yeah? Weren’t you raiding their fridge before the swarm dropped by~?”

“T-that was just for survival! I wouldn’t have done this otherwise!”

“That sounds like a you problem,” the scarred beauty shrugged before munching on an apple. “The way I see it, Sparky…” She gulped down her mouthful, wiping some of the juices off her lip. “...when the world goes to shit, everything’s fair game. Best to grab whatever you can and give nothing back!”

Lighting Spark pursed her lips, her eyes narrowing. “Don’t tell me you’re expecting me to pay you for a way back to the Crystal Empire. I have nothing to offer!”

"Pft~! I’ll say,” the pirate batmare said teasingly, taking in the nude pegasus with a cheeky smirk. “Nah, I can take you to him. Locating the changeling queen’s hive takes top property. And any information you have is just as valuable as any jewels stored away here. Though you might wanna find something to wear first. Unless you wanna draw more attention with your saucy display~.”

With a nod, Lightning Spark headed to the back of the house and rifled through the drawers. She slipped into a simple pair of panties, bra, blouse, shorts, and boots, thankful that at least she didn't have to live and feel like an animal anymore.

Yet she couldn't deny her savior worried her. The way Equinox brutally eviscerated those changelings made the pegasus shudder, recalling the sadistic glee on her face when torturing the insectoid monsters.

It was justified, given how she treated the changelings that violated her mother. But did that level of hatred and violence also extend to people who weren't a changeling?

“Times have changed,” Lightning echoed her words with a frown. “And everything is fair game…”

“C’mon, hurry up already!” Equinox's voice boomed through the hollow walls. “I ain’t waiting ten minutes for you to find the prettiest pair of panties!”

Not a minute later, Lightning raced outside the house to find Equinox carrying a sack full of belongings. With a nod, the two took flight as the pegasus tagged behind the marauder mare, hoping their journey towards the Crystal Empire would be prove swift and short.

*****

Amidst the celebration, Cerise decided to retire with her herd, whereupon they settled into her room. She drew a steamy bath in her vast chambers, which steamed and carried the scents of perfume while the threesome undressed.

Pulling her husband aside, she asked, “Can I speak to you, Middy? Just for a moment."

"Huh? O-oh, sure!" He pulled his attention away from Moonlight's shapely form while she settled into the heated waters, her prosthetics set aside to reveal the scarred nubs on her back.

Cerise watched her bathe from behind and commented, "Beautiful, isn't she?"

"Definitely," he chuckled, his emerald eyes pinned on his fellow cadet's plush posterior.

"I can’t stop worrying about her. She's been so depressed, though not that I blame her. To think she took that explosion meant for me..." Cerise cradled herself. "I'm not even naturally a bat mare! It's thanks to my father's sorcery that I mutated! I'd gladly let her have my wings if I could! But I'm not sure that's possible, so-"

"You can't think like that, babe. She was happy to save you," he insisted.

"I-I know. It might have been easier were she mad at me," confessed Cerise, who burrowed into his large plume as the fluffy feathers embraced her naked form. "But I want you to do me a favor. While I’m busy spending time with my family, I want you to focus all your attention on her."

"Fine by me!" He wrapped his arms about her front, pressed behind her as his shaft pulsed between her plush dark buttocks, the pent-up hyper-stallion barely able to restrain himself.

"I mean it, Middy! She needs you. Badly!" She considered it for a moment. "A-and instead of just showering me with affection, I’d like you to teach me how to play chess sometimes."

He cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "B-but why?"

"I know I'm not the smartest, especially regarding strategies. But I want to learn all that I can! And besides, it will be a chance to bond more and have fun! Instead of just having you fuck my brains out whenever we’re super horny~."

She tittered when she pirouetted out of his hold, then playfully traced her palm up his veiny shaft, which throbbed and flared. Midnight whined needily, reaching for her when the dancer stepped away. "Nuh uh! Save all that for her!"

Cerise snickered and blew him a kiss before skipping away. The blue pegasus grumbled, reminded of a conversation he'd shared with Dion and Zeloph. He knew he needed practice with his wings and figured now was the perfect opportunity! "Hey, Moonie," he called and plucked her up with his muscular arms.

"H-huh?" Moonlight gasped amidst a splash when he pulled her from the steamy, ivory tub.

"I-I uh… I wanted to try something with you tonight!" The hyper-stallion drove down his urges to take her right then and there, planted his fellow cadet stomach-down on a towel he draped over a table, then sat on her supple bottom while he used his wings to massage her grayish-purple skin and coat. "So, how does this feel...?"

"Middy? Er...o-ooh~!" She crooned and arced her back under his tender touches. His firm hands and pinions worked her all over in tandem, as he removed the knots from her muscles.

"I picked up a couple tricks from the twins," he explained, while he remembered the crystal maids that usually took care of the mansion Beatrix called home. His hands stroked her scalp, topped by a navy blue mane cut in a thoughtful manner that trailed over one side of her face.

"F-full body contact?" She rolled to face him, her yellow eyes lit up at her own memories.

"Oh yeah~," he beamed once he started to roll her tits in his palms and kneaded them. She bucked her abdomen up to meet his heated crotch, desperate to be taken by her hyper-stud.

Cerise poked her head back in to watch. Despite her own need to be claimed by him, the charcoal mare knew this was Moonlight's time for romantic attention. So, contented, she quietly dipped into the bath with a hand that drifted to her womanly mound. Her heart-shaped hot pink clitoris peeked from its hood, the pink button swollen as it winked when she slowly rubbed it.

She watched Moonlight's limbs wrap around Midnight, her ass raised when he took her in a mating press. The impaled thestral squirmed, squealing happily while her tits bounced and her buttocks smacked under his brutish thrust. Her pussy juice dripped down her puckered asshole.

Cerise toyed with one of her heavy tits while she rubbed herself faster, met by the sounds of her wet, messy schlicks. "Moonie~! A-ahh ah...Middy~!" She pictured herself in the mare's place, pinned down by the virile stud, repeatedly skewered until his meaty flare pierced her cervix.

Then her belly would swell up, her fertile womb filled until overflowing by the hyper-stud's excessive seed. Groans escaped Midnight when he impaled himself one last time, balls deep in Moonlight when he came. The filled mare screamed when she reached climax a moment later, her uterus filled until it threatened to burst, painted by blast-after-blast of sticky sperm.

Spurred on by the show, Cerise's lower holes clenched up when she messily squirted like her herd mate, and witnessed Midnight's fuzzy balls and groin soaked by Moonlight's feminine nectar. He kept her pinned in place by hands around her ankles; his eyes turned white as his erect flare pressed to the very back of her slippery womb.

A plop sounded when he withdrew from Moonlight's stretched cunt, which bubbled up a burst of spunk that rolled between her supple asscheeks and over her rectum, where it settled with her own womanly nectar. She asked, "Mmm...ready for another round, you sexy stud?"

"Just need a moment," he assured, still half-erect.

"Oh, not for me! Come on over here, princess!" Moonlight rose and patted the towel, as her free hand stroked the stud's half-erect pillar.

"Huh? B-but-" Yet the well-laid thestral insisted with her pats, so Cerise sheepishly rose from the tub, where her supple contours dripped on her way over, her usual hot pink pigtails let down and left to drift over her charcoal skin and thin fur. "Are you sure, Moonie? Because I wanted-"

"This is for me too," assured Moonlight, as she seized the princess by the waist and pulled her into a needy kiss. Cerise closed her eyes and leaned into it with a moan, their breasts smashed into a squishy hold as they pressed close, their hands left to wander across their moist flesh.

Moonlight's thighs spread when she pressed her still sperm-drenched, drippy twat to Cerise's own tight, moist cunt. Squishy sounded when they started to scissor each other, their stud now fully erect as his massive tool bobbed back to life, and his dense flare dripped in renewed, lewd need.

Cerise rolled and crawled atop her herd mate, her pert ass raised as the two mares presented their lower holes to him. "A-anywhere you like," she offered with half-lidded pink eyes, as she used a palm to spread an asscheek wide open, the pink of her pussy and asshole bared to him.

"What an offer," he chimed, his flare pressed to her snatch. Gradually he slipped in, filled her to fullness while she slowly moaned, while he stuffed a thumb up the princess's hot little ass.

It was a stud's duty to please his mares. To breed and help them, especially in moments when they were in the throes of estrus, and almost went crazed for relief. As a hyper-stallion, he was perfect for the role, but it also meant he would die early, as his body burned out from strain.

It was estimated that due to this rare condition, he would start to rapidly break down when he reached middle age, the stress his genetics put on his body sufficient to cause his collapse. So he wanted to make the most of his life with them!

Due to this, Cerise had almost bitten the bullet and rushed to have him knock her up, despite her wishes, as she wanted him to live on, if only through his kids. What would she and her herd mate do, were he suddenly lost in battle...?

Yet she restrained herself, since she and Moonlight continued to take the contraceptive potions that Beatrix routinely supplied. Under her, Moonlight continued to lock lips with the princess, as she recovered the hairbands and used them to bind Cerise's hair back into its twin-tailed style. Moonlight paused between kisses and asked, "You like to have your mane pulled?"

"Y-yeah...most mares do," confessed Cerise, her face aflame at the vocalization of a turn-on. She yelped when Midnight's hands firmly seized her pigtails like handlebars, then began to roughly claim her balls deep, as his flared punched past her cervix to breach deep into her slippery womb.

She moaned in what she felt was a whorish manner that didn't suit a princess at all, but knew her herd wouldn't judge each other, that so long as everyone was comfortable, none of their kinks were off-limits. She panted and draped her tongue from her snout, her charcoal cheeks clapped under each short thrust, her plush buttocks spanked by the thestral mare under her.

"Umph...ah...oh~!" Cerise cried each time her hyper-stud punched deep into her core. Smashed breasts collided with Moonlight's from each hump. Growls rose from Midnight's belly, his eyes burning white, since the feral instincts reduced him momentarily to little more than an animal.

Breed. Conquer. Dominate. Ideas that would have once been unthinkable to Midnight's gentle soul, but now consumed him as his musculature expanded, lined in visible veins under his fluffy fur, his titanic plume unfurled to its entire width.

Cerise surrendered utterly to his control, aware he would never hurt her. She trusted him wholly.

Finally, he cast back his head and howled when he came inside her. She, too, wrenched back; her breast arced as his seed started to fill her, and she screamed out her ecstasy. Gushers of her love honey painted his crotch and their lover below, while they rode out their euphoria.

Her stomach blossomed out like she was instantly pregnant with his children. Cerise panted when he finally released her, as an emerald hue and sanity returned to his eyes. Still locked to the hilt inside her, he immediately checked to make sure she was okay, and she cast him a silly smile, her eyes lidded when she shot him a couple of peace signs. "Th-thanks, Middy..."

"No problem," he replied, as he took a moment to proudly admire his work, his mares still swelled up with his spunk that dripped from them, and Cerise's ass spanked raw and red.

Yet the princess couldn't help but feel a tad guilty. This was supposed to be Moonlight's time, and the thestral had made another sacrifice for her sake. Nonetheless their herd mate appeared content. Cerise whispered, "Take care of her, Middy," when he leaned in close over her back.

Midnight looked at his fellow soldier and promised, “Always. You two are my world.”

*****

Time was a blur ever since Beatrix indulged the king and queen in their romantic affairs. She could hardly remember when Somnambula and Stygian excused themselves to continue their studies. Though another part of the witch figured the pair wanted some ‘quality alone time’ too!

Not that she blamed them! During a cool-down period to recover from round two of their steamy threesome, Beatrix shared her recent tales with Sombra and Inky Rose over drinks. Her adventure in the Lost World, encountering mystical creatures from forgotten folktales. The witch also mentioned meeting King Ambros, another universe's version of a Sombra that had found redemption, and the unfortunate fate that had befallen Cerise when her body had temporarily been stolen by Madame Doppia, with a few key details left out. Her parents nodded darkly, thankful her daughter had returned home okay.

Guards and handmaidens were dismissed when the trio went for one more round of passionate fornication. Sometime amid the messy blur of activity in their bedroom, the royal couple had fallen asleep, while Beatrix stayed awake, her naked body cuddled between the lovers settled within the sweat-stained sheets and comforters.

"W-wow," she whispered, as her bare bosom heaved in the dimness, caressed by cool air.

Violet eyes scanned Sombra and Inky as they snored softly, contented smiles on their snouts. The witch knew they routinely took handmaidens to their bedchambers, so this wasn't unusual. And it wasn’t like she hadn’t slept with Cerise’s father and mother before. She just hoped that the princess didn’t take issue with that.

Instead, her attention wistfully returned to her teacher and lover back home. She wondered how Oona was fairing under Omen’s care. Not to mention her sister, Bellatrix Primadonna, and her tulpa, Demi-Trix! As well as everyone else who'd decided to stay behind at the mansion.

“Gaah! What did they say to do again? Oh yeah!"

All she had to do was focus on either the dream faun or the nightmare stag before she drifted back to sleep, and they would be able to locate the wayward witch through her dreams upon entering a deep slumber.

Thanks to being exhausted from their tireless lovemaking, Beatrix was soon out like a light. But instead of the fluffy azure landscape full of lush imaginative flora and colorful bubbles, dark, harrowing woods appeared around her. She gulped, her arms cuddling close to her when she walked through the misty forest, left to shiver through a chill that blew through.

"H-hello? O-Omen, are you there?" called Beatrix. She tried to summon back her clothes, but only manifested her white-brimmed hat, which settled atop the violet unicorn's loose platinum locks.

"I am here," came the familiar baritone of the nightmare stag. His voice proved faint when she scrambled closer into the maze of towering trees, and an eerie miasma rolled over. "And I bring grave news..."

Beatrix gasped as a hand took hers, pulling her towards the gray buck, his melancholy expression not the least bit welcoming. "W-what’s going on?” she asked. “Why are we here?"

"We were betrayed," Omen answered, frowning. "I'm sure Bellatrix would have preferred to confess herself, but… her hubris got the better of her.”

“Confess what?”

Maroon eyes stared deeply into violets as he revealed, “Your sister has been harboring Countess Alma underneath the manor.”

“What..?” Beatrix sucked in a breath. "That can’t be true! She’d never do that… u-unless-"

"Unless she thought the Vice Lord could be ‘redeemed.’ Much like you did for Shadow Scythe and Zeloph when they were considered ‘evil.’”

“N-no, that was different! Alma is…”

“An alluring creature by nature,” nodded Omen. “Such beauty captivated your sister and filled her head with the foolish notion that the Baobhan Sith could be made her mistress. She still dreams of the day she’ll become Queen of Hell. Succubi are amoral, after all. And while you may have tamed your 'sister,' she can't change her basest desires, no matter how much she strives."

Beatrix's heart ached, squeezing the dark deer’s hand. "No, Bella… You should have told me! I wouldn't have judged you..!"

“That's not what matters now,” Omen continued, running a thumb over her knuckle. “Alma was freed by Esmeralda and Carmilla, the Countess convincing the vampires to serve under her. She’s also persuaded the manor to turn on Bellatrix, after which the automaton clockwork maids were then commanded to capture everyone else."

"So once again, it's my fault," Beatrix considered bitterly. She'd trusted Esmeralda and Carmilla, invited them into her home, and allowed them to supply the clockwork automaton maids; which quickly turned on her friends, the moment those that offered them demanded it. Her emotions conjured a gloomy cloud within the area, snow beginning to blanket the hollow earth.

“O-oh no. Oona! Is she-”

“Safe,” the nightmare stag confirmed, summoning a heavy cloak to cover Beatrix as the storm brewed about them. “For the moment.”

Beatrix shuddered, breathing a sigh of relief. "I-I have to return immediately!" Her lover was heavy with child! A miracle child, which she had helped rewrite the multiverse to save! What was the point of that, should she lost Abadonna before she could properly be delivered to live a full life...?

Omen shook his head. "It's not possible. Alma sealed all the paintings in the manor. And should you tried to open a portal there now, you'll tear a hole in reality so deep that it could cause the entire universe there to collapse in on itself.”

“But I can’t stand by while they're in the hands of those monsters! My–o-our baby is endangered!!”

A sad smile graced his face. “The only danger is what you can’t see. Luckily, I can in the form of a vision. So worry not, my dear. You’re doing all that you can for them as we speak.”

“Sure doesn’t feel like it,” she muttered, clutching her cloak tightly over her shoulders. “Iclyn’s right. I haven’t gotten any closer to solving this portal problem. The more time I waste, the worse reality seems to get! I’m... I-I’m afraid, Omen,” she admitted, sniffling. “I’m going to let everyone down one more time, aren’t I..?”

“It’s okay to be scared,” said the gray deer, pulling the troubled mare closer into his chest for warmth and comfort. “But you don’t need to face your fears alone. Oona may not be able to manage much, but I’ve sworn to protect her. And I will guide you along your journey the best I can.”

Beatrix forced a nod and tried to restrain her emotions from bubbling over. For now, she let his words soothe her, and his scent filled her nostrils, the storm rumbling overhead. The witch knew she couldn’t tell her friends about this yet. There was enough on their plates! Looking up at Omen, she asked, “Do you know what Alma’s planning?”

“Not yet,” he said with a grim frown. “So far, she’s tasked me to find and cook dinner for a feast she’s hosting in exchange for safety.”

“A feast?”

“She plans to invite other villains from the Lost World. I’m sure you can guess who I’m referring to…”

Her hands clutched into his fur. Queen Tatyana immediately came to mind, the wicked monarchy that ruled Canterlot through a fascist dictatorship. Which meant Lord Grimmwald was likely invited as well, Omen having hinted his knightly demeanor was just a facade. There was also that other sleazy Vice Lord who abandoned the apocalyptic fight with the Burning King.

The realm rumbled, darkness closing in. “You’re waking up,” muttered Omen, whose own monstrous shadow stretched over him. “We’ll reconvene here the next time you sleep. Until then, press forward, find the solution to fixing your spacial disturbances, and tell everyone.”

Beatrix froze like a child with their hand in a cookie jar and stammered, “B-but I can’t! There’s already enough-”

“No, Beatrix.” Omen’s and clasped around hers, his maroon gaze narrowed and his voice layered with a threatening undertone. “Hiding the truth is what brought this mess. Tell them… or I will!”

Beatrix whimpered; whatever plea she was about to make died in her throat as her entirety was swallowed by the ferocious blizzard, everything fading into black.

The witch shot awake the next moment. Her tits heaved, soaked in perspiration, thankful the drunken royal couple remained undisturbed.

A breath was sucked in when Beatrix spotted Iclyn seated in a chair, her perpetual frown evident. "Gagh! H-hi! What are you doing here!?” She whispered harshly.

"The door was unlocked, so I let myself in," stated the doe, as a thin bit of light spilled in and cast shadows over Iclyn. “A good thing I did. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have overheard your rambling in your sleep, asking about Oona and if she was okay.” The deighdyr’s aurora green eyes narrowed. “I suggest you start talking, Belladonna. Now.”

In response, Beatrix sheepishly hid her face under her hat's brim, cheeks flustered. Even if the witch could withhold Omen’s premonition from her friends, there was no way she could avoid Iclyn. She thought back to something Zeloph said and couldn't agree more at the moment. All deers were dicks.

“Can I at least get dressed first..?”

Author's Note

Reminder that this story crosses over with:

https://www.fimfiction.net/story/513887/undeath-and-rebirth

Thank you to all our readers!