Prisoners of War : A Beatrix Belladonna Tale

The fertility festival wound down with the dawn’s break, though remnants of it carried on, since many of the revelers were still worked up. After excusing herself to provide Midnight and Moonlight some promised alone time, Cerise Silhouette made her way down the pyramid and into the marketplace, flanked by guards. The stalls she passed were lined in aphrodisiacs, not to mention the baubles carved into phallic and yonic symbols, hoping they would promote more life.

The princess’ charcoal cheeks colored, and her soulful, hot pink eyes darted about the crowds. Some people slumped over naked in stupefied bliss. Save for the one she came to see; Rheneas, the crystal jade pegasus and a fellow dancer.

“Hey there~,” the charcoal thestral called with a wave and dashed across streets that kicked up dust to meet her.

“O-oh, hello, Cerise!” Rheneas returned her smile with a small bow.

Cerise skidded to a stop and asked, “Ashen Dunes isn’t with you? Don’t tell me he’s ditched you!” At this time of year, it wasn’t unusual for her brother to go through a dozen mares...and stallions too, come to think of it. “Don’t worry! If he dares break your heart, I’ll-”

“No, no! Nothing like that,” the ballerina insisted. “I decided to give him some space, actually.”

Cerise blinked a few times. “Huh? Why?”

Rheneas nibbled on her lip as she lamented, “He needs time to grieve the men lost during Andrei’s attack. Ashen assured me their families will be paid handsomely, but I know he feels responsible. All the money in the world can’t return the dead.”

“Y-yeah, that’s true.” Cerise wrapped her arms around her. “Still, can’t imagine you’d want to lurk around these parts. Weren’t you two able to get, erm, ‘intimate’ at the height of the festivities!”

“Well, I mean...” Rheneas flushed. “I did sneak into Ashen’s room for some ‘fun’ before coming here.”

“Raow~!” Cerise teased, pawing at her friend like a cat. Then noticing one of the stalls selling exotic wines, the princess approached the counter and tossed a small pouch that rattled with coins before the merchant. “Hit me with the richest stuff you’ve got. I want to show my friend how to properly party!”

Rheneas pursed her snout, divided as she looked between the bodyguards that followed the princess, despite her attempts to ditch them. “Cerise, I’m not sure-” Yet the dark dancer popped the cork, downed a heavy drink, then exhaled in satisfaction before offering the bottle. After a moment’s hesitation, Rheneas took a small dip. “Mmnh! I-it’s spicy!”

“Only the finest for one of my besties!” More music filled the marketplace as scantily clad (or full-on naked) dancers swayed to the rhythm. Cerise was quick to get into the action, raising her arms. She hiccuped and took another drink with a lazy titter. “Hic! ‘Scuse me,” the charcoal mare said. “Can I confess to something?”

Rhenaes finished another sip “Uhm, sure?”

“I’m still a little upset about what happened to you. To have your body stolen by a Vice Lord! I felt like Doppia and I could’ve been close friends… y’know if she wasn’t so evil! Though I’m not that distraught since I got a wonderful friend in you!”

“I’m mostly over it,” retorted Rheneas, offering a smile.

“Mmm, good,” moaned Cerise, eyes half-lidded, unaware the drink was laced with aphrodisiacs. Tipsily, she got up, pulled the ballerina from her seat, and sashayed towards the dance arena.

Onlookers gave jeers and whistles, kept at bay by the guards, while Cerise shot them a sly smirk and a wink once she lazily disrobed.

“Cerise? A-are you sure we should be-mmmph~!!,” came the muffled voice of Rheneas, as her snout was met by Cerise. Locked in a passionate kiss, Cerise traced her slender form in the midst of undressing the jade pegasus. Soon, their clothes fell away as they stood naked under the sun’s warm embrace, as Rheneas tasted cherries.

A smack sounded when Cerise reluctantly withdrew, their lips connected by a saliva trail as their eyes locked. Cerise rarely drank anything outside social functions, being a lightweight. She swayed on her feet as she admitted, “I wanted to invite you into my herd. I need someone I can trust because even between two mares, it’s hard to keep a hyper-stallion satisfied at all times. Not to mention how pleasantly sore it leaves us.”

Rheneas’ blush deepened. “Ah, really? I-”

“But I’m thankful you and Ashen found each other! If it doesn’t work out, you’ll always have a place ready in my court.” She closed her eyes, held her closer, and squeezed her.

As their hands idly wandered, Rheneas said, “Th-thank you, princess.”

With a head shake, she replied, “Just Cerise. Guess I’ll have to look some more and hope I find another mare to keep Middy healthy?” She tried not to ruminate on his limited lifespan, aware she was helpless to alter it. At best, she could always be there for him. “Hic! You have a really nice butt~,” she slurred and claimed a soft handful.

They lost themselves in another wild, carefree dance, worked up into a sweaty frenzy under the sun’s rays. Over time, Cerise sobered up a little, yet continually traced the contours of her friend’s supple form, as Rheneas playfully felt her up to more cheers. "You're really sexy too~!"

Jeers exploded louder when Rheneas laughed and emptied the rest of the bottle over them as they pressed closed, washed in a cascade of spicy alcohol that sloshed down their supple curves. It was a final opportunity to relax, to be carefree before they started their mission proper.

Unfortunately, their cheer was cut short when Beatrix appeared in a cloud of sparkly smoke, alongside the rest of the travelers she arrived with. “Hey there,” huffed the witch, hands resting on her knees. “Sorry to cut the party short, but we need to head back and start preparing for our departure!”

Cerise said, “Huh? Why, what’s the rush?”

The violet unicorn’s face grimaced as she said, “I’m afraid I’ve got some bad news…”

*****

“Out with it, Belladonna,” Iclyn urged sternly, arms folded. “Or would you rather I tell them?”

“I will! Just give me a moment to catch my breath!!” The wayward witch complained, leading both dancers back to the palace from the capital. Docked a few feet away waited Ashen Dune’s airship, undergoing repairs.

They boarded the downed vehicle, where the Ashen himself approached them with a smile. With a snap of his fingers, his men provided food and refreshments. All of them took their seats at a table, as their numbers included Midnight, Moonlight, and Penumbra. It wouldn’t take long until everyone was ready to follow Beatrix Belladonna into another climactic battle that could decide the fates of entire worlds.

Once she cleared her throat to claim their attention, Beatrix did her best to relay all Omen had told her. About what her sister Bellatrix Primadonna had foolishly done...and how Countess Alma had overtaken the mansion she once called home.

Once she finished, Iclyn spoke up. “I should have known better than to leave her with those monsters...”

“So there’s no way for us to aid Bellatrix and the others?” asked Penumbra, lost in contemplation when he rubbed his chin.

“Afraid not,” clarified Beatrix. “Which means I have to open a portal to Middy’s world if we’re to continue…” At least now, Iclyn couldn’t call her out on that choice this time. “It’s less than ideal, but we can’t afford to waste more time. We better say our farewells!”

Cerise nodded. “Right! Let’s visit my parents then; give them a heads up.”

“Yeah,” replied Moonlight. “We might not be back here for quite a while.”

“At least we won’t leave empty-handed,” said Midnight, as Penumbra had offered to help him further hone his swordplay and use his oversized wings.

Beatrix was about to follow them until Iclyn pulled her aside. “Before you do anything, we should go over a technique I think will give you the most control over your spacial powers.”

“W-wait, really?”

The icy doe nodded, shifting her gaze. “It is one of the reasons Oona sent me. And the less dimensional damage you do, the better.”

“Alright then,” replied Beatrix, as the rest of her friends talked and prepared to part ways.

“Follow me,” intoned Iclyn, leading the unicorn mare towards the balcony, a massive view of the dunes beyond the kingdom’s horizons.

Iclyn’s antlers flurried with snowflakes, harnessing what little moisture she could in the humid air. The ice she summoned was quickly reduced by the desert’s heat to a more liquid state. Carefully, she weaved the frigid shape before Beatrix’s eyes, forming it into a sphere.

“Your spatial magic acts similarly to water,” Iclyn began explaining. “Fluidness can be honed to a fine point, rather than the chaotic cascade it usually ends up in your hands. Go on, try it. Start small.”

Beatrix swallowed and nodded. Gradually, she called on the power of the cosmos and felt it flow throughout her to the surface as the air around her palms warped. No one had been able to formally train her in this unique art since awakening these abilities. The wayward witch had been little more than a child, forced to mature fast when she faced the Cult of the Nemesis. She followed Iclyn’s lead and slowly felt her magic settle, much like the ice doe’s magic.

“Hey! I-I did it!”

Iclyn examined the results before giving a curt nod. “Obviously, it’ll take more concentration to open a stable portal for seven people. But not a bad start.”

“Thank you,” Beatrix replied, smiling graciously. Though Iclyn wore her perpetual frown, part of the witch was relieved to finally see a hint of the doe’s softer side. Perhaps their recent predicament moved her to become less snarky? Either way, it helped Beatrix get a bit more understanding of the person Oona had fallen for before years of bitterness took their toll...

Nonetheless, it was time to leave this world behind. No doubt Sombra, Inky Rose, and Ashen Dunes could deal with Andrei once he escaped, especially with help from Lily, Somnambula, and Stygian. No, more importantly they needed to see what troubled Midnight’s and Moonlight’s world, and whether the changeling hives that threatened it were really so widespread.

*****

On their way towards civilization, Lightning Spark and Equinox stumbled upon a mysteriously placed town that hadn’t been marked on any maps. It looked like a typical rustic villa, not too far from the farm they had left behind, albeit this one filled with many tall, bulky minotaurs and curvy holstaurs. Most were barely clad in little more than loin cloths while they went about their business in the afternoon. Only a few addressed the pegasus and thestral, the latter wary of staying out of their way.

“What is this place?” asked Lightning, her eyes wide with curiosity.

“Hell if I know,” replied Equinox. “I didn’t think the bovine people still thrived here, what with the changeling hoards nearly wiping out most of the other races. Hmmm…” She noted a few minotaurs were armed with halberds and shields, pauldrons guarding their massive shoulders. A thoughtful smirk spread her snout. “I wonder what it would take to persuade them into our Warband…~.”

The pegasus mare tilted her head. “H-huh?”

“Don’t worry about it,” the marauder hastily waved off before lightly pushing Lightning towards a post. “Do me a solid and stay here. I’m gonna ask around, see what I can learn.”

“B-but wouldn’t it be better if we-”

“I don’t take orders from you,” reminded Equinox bluntly, glaring at the pegasus. “Just don’t move from this post! I’ll be back shortly.”

Lightning swallowed a defiant retort as the bat mare walked over to a group of minotaur bruisers. She leaned back into the wooden pillar with a scrunched snout and crossed arms.

She never intended to be a soldier, especially when people like Equinox clearly outranked her. In fact, before the invasion, her ambition was to become a Wonderbolt!

She trained tirelessly under the watchful eye of her mother, anticipating the day of the tryouts. But it never came, since Queen Chrysalis sent a battalion to overtake the skies. The memory made her fist clench up. Electric blue eyes scanned for Equinox, who was still chatting with the locals. Lightning tapped her foot impatiently.

“Who is she to get off treating me like a child?” the pegasus muttered under her breath. “I might not be built like a shit brick house, but I can fend for-”

“Aniki!?!”

A whiny cry pulled Lightning’s attention away. Her ears perked as the sound came from behind. Her eyes spotted a crouching child-shaped figure hiding behind one of the market stands. Yet not one singular minotaur nor holstaur paid any mind to the excessive whining.

After hesitation, she abandoned her post and approached the corner. Her eyes widened to find a small raccoon dog wearing a short basil green kimono. Plump purple hair styled into a hime-bob cut contracted her brownish fur, a leaf ornament clipping her left bang. Tears seeped out of her closed eyes, curling herself further into her bushy ringed tail.

“H-hey hey! It’s okay; I’m not gonna hurt you,” insisted Lightning, kneeling down to her level.

Sniffling, the child turned to face her and repeated, “A-Aniki… Aniki!”

“Oh, is that your mother?”

The raccoon dog shook her head.

“Erm… father?”

Another shake.

“Brother??”

This time, she barked, “Aniki!!”

An endearing smile crossed Lightning's lips. “Brother! Gotcha. Truth be told, I’m looking for my own brother as well! You wanna come with me and see if we can find them?”

The child nodded and eagerly took her hand, following the taller pegasus back to their post, where Equinox was waiting with a look of irritation. “I thought I told you to stay put!”

“S-sorry,” the pegasus sheepishly replied, rubbing the back of her neck. “But I heard this little raccoon girl crying and-”

The marauder arched an eyebrow. “What raccoon girl? And where’d you get that log?”

“Log?”

Lightning looked down and, to her surprise, found herself holding the stem of a wooden piece conveniently shaped like the raccoon dog. “W-what the?!”

Childish snickering drew their attention to the top of the post, where the child wore a cheeky grin. But Lightning’s eyes dilated at what she was holding in her paw. Her family pendant!

“W-what? Hey!!” She cried, checking her neck to confirm it was no longer around her neck. “That’s mine!!”

“Kyūban!” the raccoon girl retorted, sticking out her tongue before making a great leap onto the top of the stands.

“Get back here!!” Lightning yelled as she spread her wide wings to take flight, ignoring Equinox’s orders as she chased after the little thief, who continued to taunt her with laughter.

Unfortunately, it was difficult for Lightning to do more than sail across the enclosed settlement as, like her twin brother, her plume was unusually expansive. At top speeds, she proved almost untouchable, yet strained to reach them as a trade-off.

Further in, she chased the child, unconcerned with the minotaurs and holstaurs that watched them when they thundered past a clothesline, where towels fluttered in the wind.

“Damn it,” she cried, the raccoon child always one step ahead. “Slippery little brat!”

Upon realizing they were reaching the outskirts, the raccoon girl jumped into a stationed cart full of baskets, squirming her pudgy body inside before closing the lid. Lightning swooped down to inspect the woven box, only to find it empty.

Frustrated, she looked through every basket, failing to realize the cheeky raccoon dog slowly popping out of a different weaved case opposing the cart. With a wooden flute in hand, she used it like a blowgun to fire a small pebble at Lightning’s flank, causing her to yelp.

“Gaaauh! Why!?” She groaned, rubbing her cheek. The tanuki child continued to point and laugh at the pegasus’ expense. But it was cut short when a hand seized her by the neck and hoisted her.

“You’re a troublesome tyke, aren’t you?” Equinox scoffed while the child thrashed about in her iron grip. “I outta crush you for wasting my time!” This made the raccoon dog squirm harder, realizing how dangerous the thestral was.

“W-whoa whoa! Take it easy, Equinox!! She’s just a kid,” defended Lightning. Despite her annoyance, she didn’t want the thieving toddler in harm’s way!

“Then if she knows what’s good for her, she’ll return what she stole before I snap her like a twig~” the bat mare threatened, smiling maliciously.

“Aniki! Aniki!!” She managed to call out.

Equinox gave a stiff snort. “Please! I’m not so gullible to fall for that bullshit. Now do what I said or-“

Something lithe and fast leapt onto the thestral’s shoulders, swiping the crying raccoon child out of her grasp and propelling themselves off with a kick. The motion pushed Equinox into the cart as the assailant skidded across the ground.

Lightning rushed to help the marauder, who rudely slapped her arm away while glaring hotly at her attacker.

Placing the raccoon dog down, the figure appeared to be vulpine in nature, with his large, tuff-filled ears poking through his hood and the big bushy tail tipped in blackish violet, which protectively coiled around the frightened child. He was garbed in a purple sleeveless gi, baggy white pants tied around his hips by a green sash. The hood was wrapped by a blue cloth with a cloud pattern, acting as a scarf around his neck.

Lightning noticed a tattoo on his left shoulder, a stylish fox with nine tails fanned out like the sun. And complete his already foxy appearance was the pale mask with crimson markings. Ocean green eyes shone through the holes, staring intently at the two mares.

“Harm a hair on her head, and it’ll be the last mistake you make,” the fox man warned in a husky voice.

“I’d like to see you try, pal,” growled Equinox.

“Your little sister stole something precious to me,” Lightning tried to reason. “Not to mention she shot a stone at my butt!”

“Chisana-Ha…” He looked down at the small raccoon dog, who smiled sheepishly and tucked the pendant away.

With a frustrated sigh, he faced Lightning and said, “Look, we really mean no harm-”

“Oh yeah? Then care to explain why you’re taking stuff that doesn’t belong to you?!” The pegasus mare pointed to the brown bag tied between his sash and hip, likely containing more stolen goods. Her frown deepened, remembering how Equinox stated everything was fair game.

“Now that you mention it,” Equinox added in. “Folks around here said something about a couple of bandits making off with their food and merchandise. I bet that’s you two, isn’t it?”

“Don’t pretend you know me,” glowered the fox man. “If anything, you’re no better than us! I’ve heard many marauders started rising ever since civilization began to collapse! So what gives you the right to judge?!”

The bar mare flashed a grin and retorted, “I’m at least getting paid to hunt low-rate scavengers like you. But don’t worry. There’ll be plenty of time for us to get to know each other… behind bars~!”

When the thestral extended the fish hooks in her gauntlet, the fox bandit instructed his accomplice to, “Run!”

Instinctively, the little raccoon girl snatched the satchel from his belt and made a beeline for the underbrush. As Equinox lunged, he wasted little time in evading the attack. She snarled as every attempt to hit him failed, with the vulpine weaving, blocking, or countering her strikes with his own.

Their skirmish drew attention as a few civilians gathered, some running off to alert the leader. Also observing was a lone stallion layered in a trench coat, who avoided detection by hiding behind a stand. His tired eyes focused on the strangers with interest and speculation.

“Grraagh! Stand still!!” huffed Equinox, growing fatigued. He wasn’t dishing out any real damage to her, but clearly, he didn’t need to when his agility and martial poise were admittingly top-notch. At this rate, the marauder was going to be too tired by the time the foxy bandit started fighting more seriously.

But fortunately for her, solace came in the form of a high jump kick from Lightning, knocking the vulpine away. He grunted, his paw clutching his torso.

“What are you doing?” Wheezed the burly thestral mare. “Stand back. You’ll only get in my way!”

“No,” Lightning refused adamantly, fists raised in front. “I can help!”

Begrudgingly, Equinox cast aside her bruised ego and retook a battle stance, the pair cautiously approaching the fox bandit, who let out a dry chuckle.

“Two against one? Oh, that’s hardly fair…” Clapping his paws together, a greenish blue aura shimmered as a wooden staff formed, spiraling markings etched in the bark. Then his tail unraveled into three as two clones of himself emerged from behind, spinning their own weapons. As they launched into the air, the fox bandits barked in unison, slamming their staffs into Lightning and Equinox, who blocked with their forearms.

The fighting pressed on until the larger mare managed to break one vulpine’s staff and jab her gauntlet into his stomach… only for the decoy to dissolve in a flurry of leaves. “Huh!?”

Lightning managed to lock another fox man in a chicken wing armbar hold before the same thing happened. Perplexed, it took both mares a moment to realize the original had fled into the valley with his accomplice, who piggybacked on his shoulders.

A voice boomed before either of them could pursue the bandits. “Enough!”

Lightning and Equinox pulled their attention towards the lumbering hoof stomps. A bulky minotaur arrived, soaked in perspiration, dressed in an apron that fell over his loincloth. A heavy hammer rested along his shoulders. “This is a peaceful territory,” he stated. “We don’t tolerate any violence here!”

“Oh yeah? And who the hell are you?” demanded Equinox.

“Moon Hammer,” he answered, eying both mares with steely eyes. “I’m the chieftain here. And if you don’t want to be reduced to paste, I suggest you leave. Quietly.”

Equinox clenched her fangs and bristled when she met his cool stare.

“P-please! We didn’t mean any harm,” Lightning Spark pleaded. “Those thieves took my pendant! That’s the last keepsake I have of my mom!” Her eyes welled with tears, the fear of never seeing Snowy Blizzard again swelling within her chest.

Moon Hammer’s gaze softened, a wave of sympathy washing over him. Noticing the familiar emblem on the bat mare’s cowl, he said, “You’re connected to Shining Armor’s forces, aren’t you?”

“We were just passing by until we ran into the raccoon kid and the vulpine,” answered Equinox, who folded her arms.

The minotaur nodded. “We’ve had our fair share of trouble with them the last few days. We’ll be sure to ship it to the Crystal Empire for you when we’ve apprehended them.”

Lightning Spark pouted, “So you’re not gonna help us find them?”

“You have to understand. Every race has suffered thanks to Chrysalis’ resurgence. We already have enough on our plate. We don’t need any more violent outbursts.” He stared hard at Equinox when saying this.

“Hrrrn, damn it all!” cursed Equinox, kicking a nearby rock away. “It’ll take days until we can track him and that raccoon turd. Some help you are…”

The minotaur snorted when he turned. “Regardless of your status with Shining Armor, I will not tolerate anyone who promotes needless aggression. Now, if you excuse me, I must tend to my wives at home.”

Lightning’s cheeks colored a tad. “Wives? How many?” While she wasn’t usually into his type, it was clear he was fit in all the best places as her eyes fell on his chiseled buttocks.

“A pair of twins. A shame you won’t get to meet them. They love to dote on new people.” A silly smile lit the minotaur’s face, a pep in his step while he told his people to continue their business.

Lightning Spark turned to Equinox with a disheartening sigh and said, “Guess we’d better be on our way…”

The marauder mare grumbled, “Fuckin’ pain in the ass blacksmith. I could kick his ass harder than he hammers anvils!”

“He seemed pretty nice to me. And we did cause him some trouble,” the pegasus mare admitted, her snout pursed. “At least the rest of my stuff seems to be in order?”

“Yes, cause Celestia knows what’ll happen if you fall for more crocodile tears,” Equinox said as she shook herself dry. “Let’s hit the road before darkness comes!” The pair resumed their trip, disappointed that they couldn’t stop and rest as intended. They kept a careful watch in case another swarm of drones found them. Or if they ran into those thieving mammalian again.

The only one who saw them off was the lone stallion, who reached into his coat and sparked his fingertip to light a cigarette he placed in his mouth. “Heh! Seems those two aren’t used to tusslin’ with a tanuki and kitsune. The sly bugga hasn’t even earned all his tails yet! Pretty unusual to find a pair of yokai this far out from their realm. Granted, I suspect this whole minotaur town isn’t supposed to be here either…”

Ever since attending Cerise’s wedding at the mansion, Arcanum Folklore tapped into a new form of magic. And, with practice, he had finally replicated the spell he’d seen Beatrix cast.

Unfortunately, this spatial power threatened to burn him out, as he was forced to rest for hours afterward with every cast. Furthermore, the scruffy stallion learned it was beyond him to transport anyone else from the tiny slice he made between dimensions...in fact, the first few times he cast it, he’d arrived fully naked.

“At least this trip blessed me with some smokes, clothes, and a jacket this time ’round,” mused Arcanum. “Fuck me. Seems this dimension really is trapped in a flux, ain’t it? Can’t get a bloody signal to message O.S.S about the mission.”

Undoubtedly, it was responsible for pulling both the villa of bovines and the yokai bandits. Left alone, Arcanum feared this entire universe would crumble from the contradictions, as it strained to finally settle onto one reasonable continuity.

“Bang up job muddling this world, Beatrix,” scoffed the stallion. “What are the chances you’re on your way to clean up this bloody mess?”

For the moment, he finished his smoke, tossed the butt aside, and headed back to his makeshift tent. Looked like he was on his own!

“Shit, at this rate? Things are bound to get worse well before you even arrive…”

*****

Out in the wilds, the fox bandit perched on a stone, surveying the tall grass. Once he was certain no one had followed them, his stare fell to the raccoon below him.

“What have I told you about stealing anything that wasn’t necessary?” he scolded his sibling softly. “Haven’t we made enough enemies as is? It’s bad enough we’ve resorted to multiple raids from these good people...”

“Kyube-san,” pouted Chisana in an apologetic tone, her ears flattened.

Exhaling, he sat down and scooped her into his lap, removing the white mask. Behind it was a sad smile on his bright orange snout. “What’s done is done, I suppose. I’m just glad you didn’t get hurt.”

Chisana nuzzled into his chest as he embraced her tightly. Kyube pointed his nose towards the sky, sniffing the air. “What a strange world this is,” he commented. “The magic here’s been twisted by some unknown force. The question is, is it benevolent...or evil?” His mind wandered to a recent, albeit brief encounter.

In the morning, the fox yokai visited a pond to wash in… and discovered a vixen where his reflection should have been. She didn’t look like any of his birth brothers or sisters, yet she had full nine tails, which denoted she must have been a mighty deity. She certainly carried herself with the poise of one, her movements precise to match her royal beauty as she bathed too.

Had he’d briefly seen into another universe? Perhaps several dimensions were in flux, like this one. And if so, would they ever be able to return home?

“Aniki?” Chisana broke his reverie.

“Sorry, my mind was elsewhere,” he assured, briefly looking over the stolen pendant around his neck. “In any case, we should return this to that poor mare. She looked extremely distraught about it. Hopefully, they haven’t gone too far.”

Kyube hopped down and put on his mask. “And this time, stay where I can see, Chisana-Ha. I don’t want you getting into any more trouble!”

With a nod, the tanuki girl stuffed their latest findings into a sack she carried over her shoulder. Once they collected their bearings, the bandits headed back into the dense wilderness.

*****

A final trip was taken back to the pyramid’s throne room, where King Sombra and Queen Inky Rose awaited. “We’re so proud of you,” said the teary-eyed queen, smiling at Cerise from her silver chair. “All of you,” she added when she looked at her handsome sons and their friends. “I wish you didn’t go on these adventures so frequently, but I’m sure Beatrix will take wonderful care of you, like always.”

“No small part on my end, for sure,” chuckled Sombra. “You’ve come quite a long way, my student. You all have, really. You’ll have to be my sword in my place, White Shadow Penumbra.”

“That I will,” assured Penumbra, who bowed his head. “And Lily will look after this place in my absence.” He returned his wife’s warm smile as she stood beside Somnambula and Stygian, the pair of them also dedicated to protecting their nation’s borders since their swift return.

“I’ll be there to help,” added Ashen Dunes, his arm wrapped around Rheneas’ waist.

Rheneas frowned. “I wish we could come too, but someone has to stay behind and ensure this place is safe! I can at least toss a few bombs from the ship when needed!”

“You’ll do wonderfully,” encouraged Cerise as they embraced again. After a trade of kisses on the cheek, she turned to Ashen and reminded, “You’d better take care of her, brother!”

Beatrix smiled at the royal parents, promising, “I’ll make sure they come home safe.” Cerise was practically a niece to her. Were it not for her intervention in this world, Cerise might have never been born! And the witch couldn’t help but feel responsible for and protective of her.

Yet the fact that the princess continued to mature warmed her heart. She couldn’t wait for the day that Cerise achieved her own territory to rule and mothered her own children!

They had survived the Eldritch, Zeloph, Shadow Scythe, Doppia, the Burning King, plus all the other Vice Lords and monsters they encountered. The youthful princess continued to mature into a woman, with each adventure they undertook!

“You can count on me too,” insisted Midnight as he thumped his white breastplate, his head held high. To him, it was a stallion’s duty to defend his herd with his life. He wouldn’t let them befall the same fate as his family!

“Not without me watching both your flanks,” snickered Moonlight, who brushed her replica plume. “Hopefully, the magical force of our world won’t interfere with these things working, like Kitsune and Wispy Willow said?”

“A lot to hope for, really,” Beatrix agreed, still stricken by the events at the manor. A dark time indeed, as the wayward witch now lacked a proper sanctuary to escape on a whim.

She could only pray for Oona, Bellatrix, Demi-Trix, and Omen’s safety during her absence. But the moment the violet mare did return home, she’d give the Baobhan Sith, and all those associated with her, a proper ass whooping!

“Time is of the essence,” noted Iclyn, who took to the witch’s side. While she was slightly relieved Beatrix had taken a more serious mindset, she remained concerned with how far training could take the unicorn into mastering her anomalous power. “I don’t need to remind you what happens if you let everyone down…”

“Yeah, no pressure or anything,” muttered Beatrix as she inhaled sharply to steel herself for whatever lay ahead. With final farewells out of the way, she drew an oval across the air using her index finger, the dimension itself sliced open to reveal a bluish-white portal that shimmered and hummed to beckon them inside.

One-by-one, the travelers stepped in, prepared to see a whole new world. There was a flash each time one of them passed into the other side, into a land overrun by infested changeling hives...