Prisoners of War : A Beatrix Belladonna Tale

Midnight held his breath once the group approached their destination. The familiar crystalline kingdom gradually loomed closer, walls lined by archers and ballistas. Despite the lush overgrowth surrounding the once icy tundra, it still felt like home.

Fiery Kickstart halted the party as Shining Armor, Equinox, and their forces marched to welcome their allies. The old alabaster commander gazed at the blue soldier as if seeing a ghost. But none looked more enthralled by Midnight than the light blue pegasus mare, pushing the armored thestral out of her way.

Just the sight of his long-lost twin made Midnight drop his lance, the world around him disappearing from view. “L-Lightning..?!”

“Brother!!” She cried, shooting into the air despite the bat mare’s protests.

“Lightning!!” He shouted, lifting off to dart into a warm embrace, twirling mid-air with a nuzzle.

“I-I can’t believe it’s really you,” exclaimed the blue pegasus, emerald eyes filled with tears as they flapped in place. “I thought…”

“I thought the same,” answered Lightning, her cheeks masked in streaks. “But I never wanted to be more wrong in my life! I’m so glad you’re alive!”

The siblings squeezed tightly while floating back down. Cerise and Moonlight held hands, overjoyed that their lover and friend could reunite with his sibling. Beatrix also wiped a tear from her eye. She noticed a hint of a smile on Iclyn’s face, while Arcanum shook his head.

Opening her turquoise eyes, Lightning spotted the familiar face of Moonlight and when they landed said, “H-hey! You’re here too?!”

“Yep,” Midnight beamed proudly. “And next to her is my wife!” He raised his hand to flash his gold wedding ring. He led his sister towards the entourage to give proper introductions. “Cerise, Moonlight, this is my twin sister! Lightning Spark!”

The pegasus mare waved excitedly. “Hiya!”

“I always knew you’d still be alive,” proclaimed Moonlight, thankful that the usual buzz in her skull had died down to a hum that neither she nor Midnight consciously noticed.

“Never doubted that for a second,” reaffirmed Cerise, who took both of Lightning’s hands into her own, shaking firmly. “I’m so glad we could finally meet!”

“Y-yeah, same! I never thought my little brother would settle down this quickly!” The electric blue mare tittered before noticing on closer inspection Moonlight’s augmented plumage. “Oh no, your wings! They’re…”

“Yeah…fake,” confirmed Moonlight bitterly. “Lost them during a heated war against a tyrant. Took a missile to the back that fried ’em. At least this soldier finally earned her stripes~!” She forced a chuckle at the dark memory.

Cerise turned to rub her herd mate’s arm, reminding her, “If not for you, I would have taken the hit! All that matters is that you lived to fight another day. And for that? I’m eternally grateful!”

Moonlight huffed and rubbed her sore backside. “I know. But I wish the circumstances were better.” Her eyes fell on the supreme commander and his sub-commanders, who privately explained his sudden return. “I’m worried Fiery’s squadron won’t be enough for the rescue mission. You saw how big that… thing was! What are the chances more like it are out there?!”

Cerise frowned as she insisted, “We don’t understand the situation here just yet. Plus, we’re in no shape to help anyone! So we gotta have faith that Shining Armor, Fiery, and the rest of command know what’s best for everyone!”

“Yeah, you got one thing right,” muttered the teal-maned thestral, folding her arms to her chest. She glared at her prosthetics. “I hate how unreliable these heavy things are. Not to sound ungrateful for the hard work, but gliding can only do so much for me! I nearly dragged you two down!”

“What? No way!” reassured Midnight, his arm wrapped around her waist.

“Your darts were extremely helpful,” chipped in the dark princess.

“You two are just being nice,” Moonlight flatly stated, her head down when she skulked ahead. Her path was blocked by Moon Hammer, who’d already pulled Penumbra aside.

“Shoo away that gloomy cloud,” said the minotaur blacksmith, firmly grasping her shoulder. “If your attachments are not up to snuff, allow me to improve upon my work.”

Penumbra flexed his false arm and admitted, “This thing isn’t as flexible as I’d like it to be.”

“Good. Cause I’ve come a long way since Cerise’s wedding,” humbly confessed the minotaur, who bowed. “Penumbra mentioned you had something to show me?”

“O-oh, right! There was so much going on, I almost forgot,” confessed Moonlight with a soft blush. She fished through her belongings and revealed the cybernetic set of wings that Wispy and Kitsune had prepared for her. Chisana’s mouth gaped once she eyed the shiny metal wings. When she made grabby hands and scooted closer, Kyube brushed her back with his tail, shaking his head in disapproval. The little tanuki pouted, turning around with a stomp.

“Unfortunately, these don’t work outside their dimension,” explained Moonlight. “Said it was because advanced tech and magic are polar opposites or some such nonsense!”

“Mmm, I see,” mumbled Moon Hammer, surveying the articulate design while stroking his beard. “Yes… I should be able to make this work. Keep your prosthetics for now. I’ll forge a better pair melded with these cybernetics!” The blacksmith accepted the briefcase that contained the cyber plume. “As for your arm-”

“D-dahh! I don’t think we need to remove it for your work to take,” said Penumbra nervously, experimentally rolling his false hand, silver under its glove. “I’ll need the extra firepower to deal with this new threat. We’ll catch up later.”

With permission from the commanders, the minotaur nodded, where he and the pale pegasus made their way toward the capital.

Cerise tittered. “Sorry about that! My brother’s very task-oriented!”

“Ehh, can’t blame him. A war’s going on,” reminded Moonlight, who’d moved away from the party, but was still within earshot while she leaned on a pillar for support, lost in rumination.

The charcoal mare pursed her lips, not liking how melancholy her friend had become, despite her best efforts to cheer her up.

Things only got more complicated when Shining Armor marched up to meet them, resplendent in the full white armor his attendants had encased him in while they waited. Warm steel gleamed under the sun’s rays, and a friendly smile adorned his snout. “Hey there!”

“H-hey… father,” Midnight greeted, straining to find his voice as his head almost split by another buzz. Conflicted emotions bubbled up from the pit of his stomach, and his fists tightened at his sides.

“M-Middy? What’s wrong?” asked Lightning.

But he shook his head, saying, “I-I’m fine.”

Shining raised an eyebrow but continued. “I understand things are funny between us. But I want you to know it’s good to have you back, soldier. You and Moonlight.” He briefly glanced at the sulking thestral before looking back to Midnight. He kept his distance from his son, an awkward silence left between them when they sized each other up. “Ahem! You’re already reacquainted with Commander Kickstart, so I’d like to introduce you to- “

“I’ll take it from here,” the marauder cut off, pushing the supreme commander out of her way. Equinox sized herself up to the blue pegasus, almost a foot taller than him, much to his astonishment. “So you’re Middy, huh?” She purred through a toothy grin. “Your sister’s told me much about you. And here I thought you were just as scrawny as she is. But color me surprised~!”

“T-thanks,” Midnight chuckled sheepishly. “It’s nice to meet you, miss-“

“Name’s Equinox,” she said, running a sharp talon along his chest plate and her tongue over her fangs. “Autumn Equinox~.”

Cerise looked sour as the amazonian bat mare leaned closer into Middy’s personal space. Too close for her liking. Moonlight also shot her a snarl when she brushed her tail over his.

“Mmm, that armor looks heavy on you,” she said in a sultry tone. “You should really take it off~!”

“Enough, Equinox,” Shining said sternly. “You’re being unprofessional!”

“Pft! Like you’re one to talk,” she scoffed, glaring at the unicorn.

“H-hey, now,” Lightning butted in, pushing between her brother and’ friend.’ “Let’s not make this weird, okay? I mean, of course, he’s handsome. He’s my twin! I’ll look a lot better, too, once I have more meat back on my bones!”

“Heh! Yeah, get you nice and fat in all the right places,” snickered Equinox, who took a swipe at her pert backside, making her yelp.

“Hey!” Midnight barked, his teeth bared and eyes narrowed. “Hands off, my sister!”

“Or what?” taunted Equinox, smirking coyly. “You gonna make me, pretty boy~?”

“Middy, it’s fine,” insisted Lightning, rubbing her smacked ass cheek. “I don’t need you to protect me. I’ve managed to escape those changelings all on my own, and-“

Her brother’s eyes widened when he finally noticed how malnourished his sister was. “W-what have those monsters done to you?! Don’t tell me they-!!” His eyes slowly went blank, veins pulsating through his expanding muscles.

“Whoa, whoa! Hey! Calm down,” ordered Shining Armor as he pulled him away, only to be met with a hot unblinking glare and heavy breaths. Beatrix grimaced as she cautiously held her hands out, ready to cast a spell if things turned ugly. Iclyn, Arcanum, and Kyube also tensed on alert.

Shining Armor remained unfettered, recognizing his son as a hyper-stallion based on his sudden, if subdued, alteration. Fiery and Equinox also took in the subtle change with interest, though wisely kept their distance.

“Middy, please,” the blue pegasus heard his wife say softly, feeling her breasts squish into his arm to comfort him. His heart hammered with a violent tempo, livid at his father, who abandoned him and allowed monsters to destroy his world! But thankfully, Cerise’s presence and soothing touches were enough to pull him back, looking away with shame.

Lightning gazed worryingly and asked, “What was that all about?”

“He’s a hyper-stallion,” answered Beatrix, who stepped forward. “In bringing him outside this world, he’s been genetically altered with primal strength… at the cost of a shortened lifespan.”

She looked between the two, flabbergasted. “But why?”

“It’s because of me,” the witch confessed, her snout lowered. “I’m Beatrix Belladonna, the 'Wandering Witch', cursed with the ability to distort space wherever I roam. I’m here to fix the damage I’ve caused this world and your brother… well, technically, my brother too.”

“What..?” Shining tilted his head, perplexed.

Beatrix stared at him with sad violet eyes and explained, “I’m your daughter from another universe. I know it’s a lot to take in, but please take my word for it! A lot is going on, and I don’t wanna overwhelm you!”

“A little late for that,” snorted Iclyn, earning a slight glare from the purple unicorn.

“Well, I’ve heard of stranger things,” chuckled Shining Armor, who got a better look at the busty spell caster. “I can see the resemblance! You actually look a bit like my sister, Twily. Erm, she’s not your… mother, is she?”

“Oh, no, no, no!” Beatrix insisted, blushing madly. “Trixie Lulamoon is my mother. It’s purely a coincidence. Like I said, take my word for it.”

“… uh huh,” the older unicorn said, unconvinced.

“Anyway,” she said, hoping to avoid that awkward conversation. “This is Iclyn and Arcanum Folklore, my mentors!”

“Hi,” the deighdyr said flatly.

“Top of the mornin’,” greeted the warlock.

“And then there’s also-”

“You two,” Lightning interrupted, glowering at the vulpine and raccoon dog, the latter ducking behind the former’s tail. “You stole my pendant!”

“We came to apologize for causing you trouble, miss Spark,” the fox bandit said, frowning beneath his mask.

His sibling nodded her head frantically and chanted, “Yurusu! Yurusu!”

“It’s true,” confirmed Midnight, who pulled the heirloom off around his neck and handed it to his twin. Smiling, he added, “They’re really good people!”

Lightning hugged her mother’s pendant to her heart, happy to have it returned before looking at the yokai bandits. “Well… I guess I can forgive you guys,” she laughed softly, bending down to pet the tanuki’s head, who giggled.

Equinox rolled her eyes, muttering, “Idiot. They’re gonna rob you blind once your guard is down!”

The light blue pegasus huffed at the marauder. “Oh, give it a rest, will you?” Chisana followed up by blowing a raspberry.

Midnight sheepishly chuckled before he was pulled aside to the center. This time, by Fiery Kickstart. “So… You’ve gone and become a hyper-stallion, huh?”

“Y-yeah,” he admitted. “Wait, how do you know that?”

“I’ve seen the traits before,” noted Fiery, who looked at the hyper-stallion’s father. “Though unlike you, Shining Armor must have not fully awakened, probably because he and Cadance were going at it like bunnies in high school. Despite his high status and superior defense magic, his potential isn’t far beyond a typical stallion’s. Yours, however...”

A sharp grin spread his burnt features. “Why don’t we take this to the training grounds? I want to see what a real hyper-stallion can do!” He turned to Equinox and asked, “How about it, Autumn? Feeling like sparring today?”

“Fine by me,” elated the muscular bat-mare, eying Midnight like a slab of juicy beef. “I’ve been dying to tussle with a man who won’t break easily~!”

Moonlight growled at the comment before speaking up, “H-Hey! Let me in on this! I’m part of the peacekeepers too!”

“Uhm…” Equinox pointed to her metal prosthetics and questioned, “You look like you can hardly fly with those things. Let alone fight! “

“Please, I don’t need wings to kick your sorry ass, skank!” the smaller thestral spat.

The one-eyed marauder snorted. “Yeesh! Fiesty little runt, aren’t you~?”

“Very well, if you insist,” Fiery said dismissively, solely focused on the hyper-stallion, who cocked his eyebrow. With a nod from Shining Armor, the trio of commanders led their forces and the entourage towards the Crystal Empire.

“Yeesh, everyone wants a piece of me today,” he whispered to his wife, a twitch in his pants at the feel of her breasts. “And in more ways than one!”

“Just be careful, Middy,” warned Cerise softly, unable to hide her snarled contempt for the taller bat-mare leering at him. “I don’t like her one bit! She reminds me too much of Doppia…”

“H-hey, relax, babe,” Midnight reassured as he nuzzled her. “I’m yours until death do us part!”

But Cerise felt little comfort from his words, aware that his berserk tendencies had been happening more frequently, significantly straining his lifespan. And as they followed after their companions, she noticed his eyes drawn to Equinox’s barely hidden, well-toned hips and ass, which she purposefully swayed for him.

“I really hope we find a cure,” she muttered, pressed closer to him. “And fast!”

*****

Thankfully, the travelers were given free reign to explore the Crystal Empire once wands were used to make sure none of them were changelings. To distract herself from her concerns, Cerise decided to survey the marketplace, while her herd was busy sparring with the sub-commanders.

Accompanying the princess were Kyube and Chisana, the little rascal zipping around each tent, looking for anything valuable she could potentially swindle.

“Remember, no stealing!” The charcoal bat mare berated, which alerted the store owner, who promptly shooed the tanuki girl away.

“Anata wa watashi no okāsande wa arimasen!” she replied before walking alongside her brother, sulking.

“E-erm… sorry, what did she say?” Cerise asked sheepishly.

“‘You’re not my mom,’” translated Kyube, looking down at his accomplice and barked, “Furumau!”

Chisana grumbled in response but kept her paws to herself.

The vulpine sighed, feeling the eyes of patrol officers on them, despite having cleared them for their visit. “She’s better than this, I swear.”

“It’s okay, I believe you,” tittered Cerise. “Not that I can blame her! When traveling to new worlds, it’s hard to not take everything you see and bring it back home as a souvenir!”

“Not sure what to expect should we choose to return home,” the fox man said, shrugging. “We’ve always taken what we need to survive each night.”

“I know,” replied the bat mare sympathetically. “I couldn’t conceive of a life like yours! I’ve always had whatever I wanted...” Guilt ate away at her, reminding her of how privileged she was.

Reddish pink eyes drank in a little sense of her homeland from the displays. This was the kind of place her half-brother Ashen Dunes would feel at home in. A place she’d like to take Rhenaes, were she able to! Bah, she felt homesick already!

Shaking it off, she asked the male kitsune, “So… have you ever stolen from royalty before?”

“Well…” Kyube lifted his chin, scratching it in thought. “One time, we invaded a shrine dedicated to a dragon princess. While Chisana distracted the guards, I snuck into her private chambers. But instead of the dragoness, I found her handmaiden instead.”

“Uh oh!”

He nodded before continuing, a blush creeping over his cheeks. “She was a vixen, though not any worshipper from my clan or otherwise. Now, I didn’t know that the princess was a dragon at the time. So…”

“So she pretended to be the dragoness, and you fell for it, right~!” assumed Cerise, met with another nod.

“She seduced me, and before I knew it, I was, for lack of a better word, ‘in deep trouble.’ Guards heard her moaning, rushed in with the actual Princess, and found me locked inside a happily fucked fox maiden. Complete busted. Took about a week to break free.”

Cerise bursted out laughing, holding her tummy. “Ha! Serves you right~!”

“Yeah, I know,” Kyube mumbled, cupping his face. “Never gonna live that one down!”

Chisana snickered as if confirming his statement.

“You rogue,” the charcoal dancer playfully teased. “Oh, that reminds me! Beatrix mentioned you’ve seen Kitsune in reflections. Bet you can’t wait to meet her, huh~?”

“I’m… intrigued,” admitted the fox man, his bushy tail wagging slightly.

“I’m excited to meet an alternative version of myself with her and Wispy,” Cerise beamed warmly. “Eclipsed Heart, I believe her name was. I wonder how similar we’ll be!”

Kyube chuckled, a smile stretching his snout. “Well, if she’s anything like you, I’d imagine you’ll hit things off very well.”

The trio shared laughs as they continued to peruse the marketplace.

Outside the compound was the training field, where young cadets went through disciplinary rounds. But all activities were put on hold as Midnight and Moonlight followed Fiery and Equinox onto the field. While the sun commander claimed it was to show the soldiers of tomorrow what it takes to be a part of the Crystal Empire guard, the blue pegasus knew the real reason to demonstrate his hyper-stallion nature.

The half-burnt stallion questioned, “How far would you like to go, cadets? Real weapons or placeholders?” He pointed to the wooden swords, shields, and spears resting along the ground. “Keep in mind. This is meant to be a friendly match.”

“Unless you wanna be seen as wusses and pick the baby weapons,” mocked Equinox, earning a few snickers from the younger soldiers.

“Mind your tongue,” Fiery said gruffly. “These so-called ‘toys’ are a reliable resource. Our numbers are too precious to be thrown away. A bad wound could put us out for weeks!”

“Which is why we’ll go with our own weapons,” answered Midnight, taking a stance. Gripping his steel lance firmly. “It’s the only way we can prove how far we’ve gotten!”

The earth pony smirked. “Good man,” he complimented when he took a boxing stance, each hand armed with a trench knife, a steel grip bracing his knuckles. Equinox sported a wicked grin as the hooks on her gauntlet extended. Moonlight remained cautious but took a battle stance of her own, poison-laced needles at the ready.

The two cadets lunged at their superior officers, starting the match. Midnight surged his spear at Fiery, who either dodged or blocked with his knuckle daggers before making quick jabs at his opponent’s exposed arms. To counter, he used his massive plumage to blow the earth pony away, recalling what Zeloph had taught him.

“Not bad, Blitzer,” complimented Fiery. “You’re a bit slow, but I can feel the weight behind your attacks!”

“Then let’s pick up the pace!” Midnight declared as he pressed the assault, slightly tapping into his hyper-strength.

Moonlight wasn’t doing that better. The smaller thestral struggled to maneuver around her adversary’s strikes, forced to use her augmented wings defensively. And whatever counterattack the cadet attempted, the marauder dodged with ease. Simply put, Equinox was faster and had longer reach.

“Ugh! I’m barely breaking a sweat here,” complained the one-eyed bat mare. “This is such a cruel joke, making me go up against some cripple!”

“Do not underestimate me,” Moonlight sneered, backing away to take to the air and slash down. But her opponent rose up, caught her clawed arm, and gut-checked the handicapped bat mare with her knee.

“If only your body matched your determination, runt,” taunted Equinox before she chucked Moonlight towards the boys. “Yo, Kickstart! Heads up~!”

Grunting, the sub commander pushed Midnight aside to catch the smaller thestral and pressed her to the ground, holding her in an arm bar. Seizing her opportunity, Equinox dove onto Midnight, straddling atop him. His face flushed from how closely her barely-covered breasts were to his snout. “Hey there, stud~,” she purred wickedly.

“H-hi,” he answered with a silly smile, and savored the warmth she radiated while she traced her nails over his breastplate, her tail intertwined with his, her hot, barely clad mound rubbed on his half-erect cock pinned under her.

Growling, Moonlight managed to break the earth pony’s submission hold by unfurling her metal wings and throwing herself to push Equinox off her stallion. Toppling her, she punched the living daylights out of the marauder. “Keep! Your hands!! Off him!!”

She wasn’t usually the type to get jealous, since she knew a hyper-stallion had powerful needs to sustain their fleeting lives. But she refused to tolerate the idea of this venomous harlot sinking her fangs into her friend!

Moonlight was ready to claw out her good eye until the raider’s cackles made her pause. “Damn,” she said with a bloodied smile. “I’d be so embarrassed if that was my best shot!”

Before she could react, Equinox crossed her legs around Moonlight’s waist and twisted her upper body to grapple her arm, locking in a kimura hold. Though, unlike Fiery Kickstart, she squeezed down hard on the screaming batmare’s limb, intending to break it.

“Hey, stop it!” Midnight shouted, any lust sobered up in an instant. “You’re hurting her!”

“Equinox, that’s enough!” demanded Fiery. “Let her go-”

“Can it, two face!!” The marauder yelled back, pointing to the cadets watching. “Let this be a lesson to all you pissants! Only the strong get to thrive in this world. If you head out like the helpless saps you are, you’re just asking to get eaten alive. Especially if you’re a sniveling, puny, pathetic, weakling! You think the enemy'll show mercy? A drone would already pump you full!”

Upon feeling Moonlight repeatedly tap at her shoulder, the muscular bat mare released her hold and rolled the teal-maned thestral off. Equinox dusted herself off before sneering down at her opponent, spitting out a tooth before wiping the blood off her snout.

Midnight clenched his fist tightly as the red-maned thestral swayed her over to him. Despite how infuriating he found Equinox, his body once more betrayed how incredibly aroused he was by her display of power, a sharp contrast to Cerise.

Flashing a sly grin, she said, “Let me know when you’re ready to lay with a real woman, Middy. Unlike your two little fuck toys, I can handle everything you’ve got~!” Puckering her lips at him, the female raider strutted her ass away.

The blue pegasus managed to subside his anger and come to aid Moonlight. “Are you okay? Did she break… anything..?”

Moonlight quietly sobbed, clutching her bruised arm while Fiery Kickstart ordered the rest of the cadets to return to their quarters. With a troubled sigh, he helped the blue pegasus escort his friend to the infirmary before he went ahead and delivered Shining Armor a scathing report about Equinox’s behavior. Though he predicted the supreme commander would do nothing to apprehend his secret squeeze, as usual…

*****

Elsewhere, Beatrix was supposed to continue her lessons with Iclyn and Arcanum, showing off her improved control over her magic while enduring the erenn unicorn’s dull lecture. But her saving grace came in the form of Lightning Spark, who stomped onto the scene. She got word about what happened at the training field and was fuming.

“That selfish bitch,” she muttered, her mane on end as static and electricity sparked around her form. “Trying to make the moves on MY brother, then she nearly breaks Moonie’s arm?! Someone outta put her in her place! If I could just… just-grrragh!”

Without thinking, she released her rage in a ball of lightning, flinging it at the group. Yelping, Beatrix conjured Erebus’s formless shape to catch the electrical orb. However, the bolts rippled around the cosmic material, zapping the witch. Black soot coated her violet coat, her platinum blond mane frizzled and smoky.

“Nice catch,” Iclyn cheerfully applauded, much to the witch’s chagrin.

“Where the bloody blazes did that come from?!” demanded Arcanum.

Lightning held her hands over her snout, eyes wide. “O-oh my gosh! I’m so sorry, Beatrix!! I-I wasn’t... I didn’t mean to-”

“Hey, hey, relax,” coughed Beatrix, who waved her hand to magically wash away the damage. “I’m okay!”

The icy doe pulled out a piece of nickel that instantly stuck onto the unicorn’s arm, making her jump from the quick jolt.

“… mostly okay,” she corrected. “But seriously! What was that? How’d you learn to shoot thunderbolts?”

“I-I really don’t know,” confessed Lightning, hugging her chest. “This started happening shortly after I escaped the changeling hive. Whenever I get mad or excited, it… just happens!”

Beatrix rubbed. her chin with a finger before a thought popped into her head. One that might reveal the source of the pegasus’ literal discharges. “Eureka! I think I have an idea! But first, how about some dinner? You look like you could use a five-course meal~!”

“Uhm, sure!” Lightning replied when she followed the wayward witch towards the food court, with her teachers not far behind. The foursome sat together at a patio, where Iclyn insisted Beatrix pay for everything. Begrudgingly, she forked over the bits once plates and drinks arrived.

After taking a swing of the hardest liquor on the menu, Arcanum asked, “Alright, enough blue ballin’. What’s the real reason you brought Sparky with us?”

“Watch,” Beatrix replied with a wink. “Now, while you eat, I want you to think about something amazing! Something that warms your heart and makes you feel… you!”

Quirking her brows quizzically, Lightning followed her instruction, thinking fondly of a time when she, her brother, and her mother were together, playing in the meadows. The Reminiscence became energy as her body rippled with electricity, bolts wrapping around her limbs and wings without going haywire. Opening her eyes, she gasped and marveled over this ability.

“Bloody hell…” the scruffy stallion murmured.

“Aha! Thought so,” beamed Beatrix, turning to Iclyn. “You noticed it too, didn’t you~?”

“Yes. Excellent observation,” the snow faun praised sincerely. “It appears our new friend is gifted with an Onoma.”

Lightning tilted her head, perplexed. “Ono-what?”

“Onoma,” elaborated the violet witch. “It’s an ancient form of magic that originates from one’s spirit. Anyone can access it, but only those with a sense of wholeness can harness their full potential! Mine, for example, is called Erebus!” Beatrix conjured a small sample of arcane magic in her palm, the spatial substance wriggling around. “It allows me to bend dark matter to my will… though I mostly use it with a sword.”

“Wow!” marveled the light blue pegasus, completely in awe. Glancing at the cyan doe, she asked, “What about you? Do you have one?”

“I do,” confirmed Iclyn, who formed a spiraling snowflake that summoned a mini flurry of snow. “Demeter is one of the rare hereditary Onomas. With each heir passed down, its power grows. It offers mastery over one of the four seasons, based on the user’s energy.”

“Well, we know which one that is,” teased Beatrix, who was met with the doe’s scowl. “Still, I didn’t think Onoma’s could be passed down through children! Maybe Abby will be blessed with my Onoma once she’s born!”

“If she does, I hope she’ll use it more wisely than you have,” Iclyn said sarcastically.

“Annnnnd there it is,” grumbled Beatrix, hoping to have gotten more on her mentor’s softer side.

“Onoma’s, huh? Almost sounds make-believe,” proclaimed Arcanum, who gulped down his liquor bottle. “Wondering what mine is if I ever decide to look into it…”

“From the way you’ve been downing booze, I wouldn’t be surprised if it was called Dionysus~,” the witch playfully jabbed.

Offended, Folklore replied, “You just earned yourself a couple more hours out of your sleep schedule to study, lass.”

“What!? Oh, c’mon! That’s not fair!”

“No!” Arcanum doubled down. “What isn’t fair is you making jokes at my expense when the whole chuffin’ universe is fallin’ apart! Every second you spend fuckin’ around is time that could have been spent learning how to get a handle on your shit!”

“Hey, lay off!” Lightning interjected, ignoring the hardened look from the erenn unicorn. “I don’t know much about arcane magic or dimensional travel, but it can’t be easy to control! Give her a break!”

The scruffy detective ran his hand through his messy mane, letting out a flustered exhale. “Alright, lass, look. I just met you, so I’m gonna let you off very politely... Fuck! Off!”

The pegasus mare glared, electricity crackling.

“Sparky, it’s okay,” assured Beatrix. “He’s right; I shouldn’t be wasting time when there’s a lot on my plate. Although… you seem like you could use a few discipline lessons yourself! M-maybe I could teach her?”

“Teach me?” questioned Lightning Spark.

“Yeah! I’d imagine electromancy isn’t any easier than spatial magic. If we studied together, I think it would do us good! “

Arcanium laughed stiffly. “You? Teach?! Phaha! You haven’t fully grasped the fundamentals yet, and you think you’re qualified to-”

“Alright.”

Everyone gazed at Iclyn, who kept her stoic expression.

“Are… are you havin’ a laugh?” The warlock asked, wondering if he had drunk too much alcohol again.

“I’m completely serious,” the deighdyr reaffirmed. “By teaching Lightning how to better harness her arcane magic, Beatrix can also hone her own skills. I’ll still be supervising, of course, but still… It’s not a terrible idea. We require more assets than liabilities, anyhow.”

Arcanum mumbled to himself in thought, the alcohol buzzing his head while a warmth burned in his core. “Baaah, fuck it,” he relented. “Let’s give it a go. Everyone’s ridin’ the fuckin’ crazy train these days...”

“Splendid!” Beatrix clapped her hands with a squeal. “I won’t let you down!”

“Eeeeeee~!” Lightning cheered. “This is exciting! I always wanted to know what it’d be like to have a sister!”

“Well, just stick with me, and I’ll show you all sorts of tricks~!” Beatrix offered, throwing another wink. “But for now, let’s eat!”

With plans set, everyone settled down to enjoy their dinner. Lightning was self-conscious about how much food she packed away. Still, she couldn’t deny how hungry she was, sampling a variety of meals Beatrix kept adding to her tab. Money wasn’t an issue since the traveler had amassed a small fortune from her various travels.

“Oi! Slow down there, love,” warned Arcanum, who’d finished off a couple more bottles by this point. “You’ll choke on your food if ya keep stuffin’ it down like it’s the holidays!”

Lightning made a muffled noise before chewing slowly until her mouthful was smaller.

“Blimey,” the warlock exhaled while lighting up a bud to blow smoke, seated on a patio with them out in the open air. Though his brows furrowed upon spotting something.

Iclyn followed his stare to a unicorn in a lab coat that approached. “Who’s that?”

“Oh! Web Spinner! Hey~!” Lightning waved him over. “He checked up on me after I escaped the hive and made certain I was okay! C’mon, have a seat with us!”

“I don’t want to impose,” said Web Spinner on his arrival, a subtle dark look passed between him and Arcanum. “But if you insist...” He seated himself next to her.

“Web Spinner, these are my new friends! Beatrix Belladonna, Arcanum Folklore, and Iclyn!"

“It is very nice to meet you,” said Web Spinner, his mouth pursed in a thin smile.

Arcanum, however, looked disturbed, sensing something within the scientist’s lab coat that made him shudder. As gentle a voice he could muster, he asked, “Do you mind sharing with the rest of the class what you brought to this table?”

Web Spinner’s smile disappeared. And when all eyes were on him quizzically, he fished into his pocket to pull out a wand.

But it wasn’t just a regular wand, as Beatrix dropped her fork upon recognizing its foul aura. Her eyes widened with horror, a cold chill running up her spine. “No… n-no, it can’t be!”

“Look familiar, Beatrix?” Iclyn asked, arching a brow.

“… the Cult of the Nemesis,” was all she whispered as horrible memories of her older adventures flooded her mind. Trying to evade capture by the extinct order that sought her as their dark messiah. The wand bore an eerie resemblance to one of their tools. A terrible weapon, crafted from the severed horn of a unicorn so anyone could work spells! And now, one was presented to the witch like a phantom that refused to stop haunting her.

“Now what pray tell does Shining Armor intend to do with one of those fucking things?” Scowled Arcanum. “Don’t you understand where they came from?! I can sense the spirit of whoever this was!”

“S-spirit!?” Lightning exclaimed, equally troubled.

“Freshly plucked from the ether,” examined Iclyn. “No surprise it would still contain fragments of the unicorn butchered to create this.” She cast her icy gaze at the earth-brown unicorn. “What, do you collect dead troops just so your army keeps an advantage?”

“N-no, nothing of the sort!” Web Spinner insisted. “These were taken and forged by the enemy!”

“But that doesn’t make sense,” muttered Beatrix, who held both sides of her head. “What do the changelings have to do with the Cult of the Nemesis? I drove the order to extinction!”

“Never heard of it,” confessed Arcanum while puffing more smoke. “I take it they’re an old foe from your corner of the universe?”

Beatrix only offered a nod. She waited for Iclyn to scold her for another disaster she seemingly brought. But, to her surprise, the ice deer looked at the troubled unicorn softly. Almost sympathetic.

Arcanum focused on the wand, quivering from the spirit partially trapped within, unable to escape its prison. His eyes glowed as he spotted the spectral visage of its owner in the distance, the wraith little more than a wisp visible to his eyes alone, the well-versed warlock sensitive to such supernatural phenomenon.

All the more reason he needed to find the Necronomicon. Fast. Put all this nonsense behind him. And finally, alleviate the sharp chill piercing through his core. One that no amount of hard liquor could ever thaw away.

The erenn stallion handed the wand back to Web Spinner before requesting, “Whatever it is you’re doing, shut it down! You’ve got no bloody idea of the powers you’re playing at!”

The shaggy scientist glared back when he rose from his seat. “If there’s a problem, take it up with the supreme commander,” stated Web Spinner. “I’m merely doing the job assigned to me. Work, which by the way, could potentially save my—o-our people! From those horrible monstrosities!”

He exhaled his frustrations before turning to the startled Lightning Spark, bowing his head. “I’m deeply sorry for my outburst. But I must go.” Stuffing the foul rod into his coat pocket, he walked away while the conflicted pegasus reached out as if to stop him.

“Something’s off with that fella,” observed Arcanum, not once looking away from Web Spinner until he was out of sight.

“W-well, look at him! He’s exhausted,” defended Lightning. “They’re probably working him to death. Clearly, he didn’t know what his work detailed!”

“Nah, he knew,” rebutted the scruffy stallion. “I saw purpose in his eyes. He knew exactly what he was carryin’ in his pocket…”

*****

By the time the sun was setting over the horizon, Lightning and Midnight were finally able to meet up on their lonesome and take a chance to reminisce on their past. They met in a children’s park, the siblings robbed of normalcy after an invasion that turned their lives upside-down.

Seated on a swing set, Lightning paused mid-swing. “Mother’s probably alive, but...” She sniffled and scrunched up her face. “No, she has to be okay! She’ll be home soon!”

“It’s our fault,” said Midnight, perched atop a slide, watching the orange orb hiding behind the trees. “Doesn’t help that we picked the worst moment to arrive! My father’s seen better days, Equinox’s practically running the place, and this Web Spinner guy is apparently doing shady shit! At least Fiery Kickstart’s forces are-”

“That doesn’t matter,” she reassured him. “I mean, you saw that monster! Left unchecked, it could’ve invaded a nearby settlement and slaughtered hundreds of innocents!”

“That’s true,” he conceded with a sigh. “This whole day fucking sucks…”

Lightning frowned, hopping out of the swing to walk towards him. “I wouldn’t go that far,” she said with a small smile. “I got to see my little brother again...!”

Midnight lifted his head and matched her slight grin. “Hard to call me little with how scrawny you’ve gotten!”

“I’m still the oldest, dummy!” She playfully spat, which led the twins to share a short chuckle. With the mood slightly elevated, the male pegasus decided to change the subject, not wanting his inability to save his mother stir up more frustration at these dire circumstances. “So, Beatrix tells me you have a potential Onoma, huh? Cool! I always wondered whether I had one, too!”

“Yep, yep! Bea says everyone can potentially call on one, but it’s hard for some. Almost impossible, in a few cases~!” She lit up with realization. “Say… you don’t think that mom’s power-?”

“Hey, yeah! Has to be!! And maybe father… I mean, Thunder Storm’s, too!” His face momentarily fell, reminded of who’d really fathered him. “Iclyn said some could be passed down from generation to generation, right? It could mean these elemental abilities run in our family! Makes me really wonder...” He fluttered his extensive plumage, recalling the sweeping gales he was able to unleash.

Just as the siblings moved in to embrace, Equinox dropped down from the skies, cutting the warm moment instantly with her appearance. “Alright, Sparky,” she said with a sharp grin. “It’s sundown. Get your cute butt in gear! It’s time to move out.”

“W-wait, Already?” She looked up as the orange sky was slowly overtaken by night. “Time sure has flown by fast...”

“Afraid so!” Equinox turned to Midnight on his approach and gently pushed his chest. “Sorry, stud. Girl’s night only! You’ll have to imagine all the kinky fun we’ll be having~!”

Midnight’s face darkened, teeth clenched tightly, still seething about the humiliation Moonlight suffered by the marauder’s hand.

Lightning cried, “Can’t you go one day without acting like a condescending asshole?!”

“Naw, how cute! Defensive about your bro, even when he’s the size of a tractor~!” She laughed it off before sporting a serious expression. “I ain’t here to make friends, Lightning. Shining hired me to make sure shit gets done and no soft-hearted fuckwits get themselves killed. Or worse…” The thestral momentarily shuddered before tossing her would-be partner a satchel. “Now hurry up and put this on already. Time’s a-wastin’!”

“H-here?” Lightning’s face turned red once she pulled out a navy blue rubber spandex sports top and pants, lined in lightning bolt designs that weren’t dissimilar from a Wonderbolt costume. She stared at her brother before he took the hint and turned around so she could quickly strip off her spare clothes, her lean body fully exposed.

“Woohoo,” the muscular bat mare whistled. “Take it off~!”

“S-shut up!” She smoldered and hastily pulled the costume over her butt and bosom, leaving her midriff bare. The stretchy material would still fit perfectly once she put on more muscle. The pegasus rolled an arm at her shoulder, flexing her lithe arms and massive wingspan. At least the outfit was stylish and sleek, built for aerodynamics! "I'm decent now!"

After he was told it was okay, Midnight turned back around and marveled at how cool and cute his sister looked. “Whoa! You look fantastic!”

“Thanks!” Her cheeks colored. “I’ll see you soon! Promise!” Reluctantly, she followed Equinox when the pair of them took to the sky, past the fence.

Alone again, Midnight plopped on the bottom of the slide, chin rested atop his hands. His homeworld felt so familiar...yet so different. The blue pegasus flexed his plumage, aware he couldn’t rely on his hyper-stallion strength forever, or else it would kill him! Maybe once he was cured, he could ask Lady Ewe to help tap into his potential Onoma.

His mind briefly recalled the night they shared on the ship, which made his groin stiffen. The soldier wouldn’t mind another round with the dream shaman, with how soft and tight she felt. And motherhood would only make Oona more curvy and palpable…

“Gaagh, stop it!” Midnight groaned, smacking his head. “What are you doing, man!?”

“Something on your mind?” A voice said as a shadow loomed behind him, making him turn to see his father. “It’s just me,” said Shining Armor, dressed back in a more casual suit. “I thought we should talk if that’s alright…”

“I don’t know, is it?” Midnight rudely questioned, not bothering to hide his contempt.

The older stallion exhaled deeply. “Figured Moonlight already spilled the beans. I wanted to tell you myself, but it never seemed like the right time. I really messed up badly, huh?” He dryly chuckled.

The soldier turned his back on him. “…yeah. Big time.”

“Look, Midnight, I’m sorry! I tried to protect you, honestly! But it doesn’t excuse me for being a coward. I’m not the hero everyone expects me to be.” Shining Armor tilted his head downward, thinking how gravely disappointed his wife and child would be if they had lived to see him. “… I loved your mother,” he continued. “Don’t think I didn’t do what I did out of desperation. Snowy meant dearly to me, like she did Thunder. And I swear, I’ll do everything in my power to help you and Lightning bring her to safety!”

“Liar,” he replied bitterly, side-eying the supreme commander. “You don’t believe that for a second!”

“… you’re right,” Shining admitted, misty-eyed. “I don’t know if she’s even alive. But I have to believe! Hope is all I have left to win this war!”

Midnight snorted, pulling himself up to face him, fury lit in his emerald glare. “You’re pathetic. A real leader wouldn’t let his subordinates command his army while he cowers away in his office. Bitching about the glory days where he mattered to people. Fucking every mare who took pity on him!”

Shining Armor emotionally shrank under his son’s wrath, whimpering pathetically as the blue pegasus stood dangerously close to him. “M-Midnight, please!”

“If I ever see you near my wife or Moonlight, I will put you in the fucking ground! Let’s get that straight,” he swore, his voice shaking with restrained anger. “You’re not my father. You’re not shit!”

Even now, he could sense the old bastard wasn’t telling him the whole truth. Was it self-delusion? Or mere cowardice? Whatever. It didn’t matter to him.

Midnight spread his plumage and soared away, leaving the broken stallion to fall to his knees and openly sob.

He snarled and scrunched up his face, aware he needed to blow off some steam. Hopefully, Cerise will be up for a romp. Or maybe he should check in on Moonlight and see if she’s recovered enough. Wait, no… that wouldn’t be right.

As Midnight sailed into the palace, he skidded to a stop in mid-air, his wings left to beat when his ears perked at the sound of moaning. His attention pulled towards a balcony, curtains billowed in the chill wind. A nude silhouette of a stallion atop two females was visible under the moonshine.

Curiosity and arousal overwhelmed him when he landed, peering inside to see… “Fiery Kickstart...?”

The subcommander didn’t bother to cease his actions when he lifted his head. His hips were on autopilot, slapping into his wife’s jiggling buttocks while she mewled atop another female. More burn scars were visible across his otherwise sculpted physique. He offered the bewildered pegasus a smirk and asked, “You gonna just stand there, soldier? Or are you gonna come inside?”

“H-huh?”

“Yess~! Oh, please, daddy! Cum inside me,” begged one of the women, who arched her back to push her massive, spanked red ass into his harsh thrusts. “I need your fat load~!!”

Upon closer inspection, Midnight’s green eyes widen to find that they weren’t mares. The one atop was a centauress, her black and white ponytailed curled, big breasts clapping into each other. The woman beneath her equine body was a spotted doe, her bob cut clipped short at her chin, shapely legs hooked around her partner’s more oversized frame while they fucked.

“A-aagh~! Just a sec,” Fiery grunted before yanking the leash around the centaur’s neck with one hand and smacking her bruised flank with the other. “Yeah, you like that, you fucking whore?” He muttered lowly in her ear. “Can’t go one night without daddy’s dick inside you, huh~?!”

She squeaked ‘yes!’ over and over, her yellow pupils glazed over until a sharp moan signaled her climax. The female deer shared in the euphoria, grinding her cunt against her underbelly before squirting like a faucet.

Fiery delivered one more firm thrust before filling his amazonian sow and pulling out with a joyful noise. Midnight couldn’t help but stare at his semi-erected stallionhood, freshly layered in his wife’s love nectar, her cunt packed with spunk.

“Take a picture; it’ll last longer,” chuckled Fiery, who helped the centauress roll onto her side to catch her breath. The spotted doe rose to tend to her husband’s dirty cock, bobbing her head along the shaft while he petted her head. Through soft growls, he continued, “Not that I blame you for spying. They’re quite a lovely pair, wouldn’t you agree?”

Midnight nodded as he awkwardly shuffled into the bedroom, eyes glued to the nude, sweaty centauress, whose ample chest rose and fell with each breath. The doe didn’t skip a beat while eying the pegasus, slightly lifting her supple ass and wagging her short tail invitingly.

“Their names are Panna and Chezka,” Fiery introduced. “Used to be members of an Amazon tribe, before the swarm wiped most of them out. It was a brutal battle of dominance that I helped secure for them. And in return, they agreed to become a part of my herd after I saved their asses.” He landed a playful swat on their rumps.

Chezka spat out his wet schlong, releasing a breathy giggle before ducking under to lap at her stud’s balls, stroking her saliva all over his thickness as his wives worked him over.

“Mmnagh~! Not just excellent warriors, but loyal lovers as well,” snickered the sun commander. “By Amazon law, any male that bests them becomes their new master. Plan to have them push out a couple foals once the war is over. Have them carry on my legacy.” Fiery arched an eyebrow at Midnight. “What about you, cadet? Put a baby in your wife yet?”

“A-ahh, no sir,” the pegasus admitted, blushing hotly as his loins stirred away.

“Well, you might wanna consider doing that soon. Especially with the clock ticking against you! I understand a hyper-stallion has specific needs to help preserve their abominable strength.”

He then looked to the centauress and jerked his head towards Midnight. Once she caught her breath, Chezka nodded with a smile, rising up to saunter toward him. Panna followed after her while swinging her hips. The naked Amazons were swarthed in sweat after he fucked them.

Midnight tried to protest. “B-but sir, I-I-!”

“I insist,” encouraged Fiery Kickstart, who pulled up a chair to sit down. “I’m spent for the night, and those two can get pretty reckless. Go on, kid, have your fill! Show them how a hyper-stallion tends to his herd~!”

Excited giggles escaped from the females, who surrounded Midnight and started to undo his armor. Hit by their musk and perfume, his shaft twitched below his pants, reminding him how long it had been since he last got laid. His armor was stripped away by this point, soon down to a tunic, pants, and boots.

Fiery’s wives dotted him in kisses and undid his shirt to expose his broad muscles. Next, they unzipped him, his half-hard cock left to flop free and slap Chezka across her face when they sank to their knees. He wheezed and tensed up with a hiss between his clenched teeth, feeling them kiss and make out with his pulsating member.

Desperately, Midnight tried to focus on Cerise and Moonlight, knowing they were waiting back in their room. Yet his eyes whitened when feral instinct took over, primed more than ever to breed these submissive females. His mind became overwhelmed with depraved scenarios.

Midnight imagined claiming Oona from behind, hands wrapped around her horns, pounding the azure sheep’s pudgy curves. “Yes! Harder, Middy,” she bleated in ecstasy. “Come an’ take what is yers! Fuck me! Make me pregnant again~!”

Then he thought of the twins, Wet Nurse and Foal-Bearer. They muffled into each other’s mouths, stacked on top of one another while he speared into their sopping fuck holes. “We live to serve you, master,” they moaned in unison. “Please! Reward us with your virile seed~!!”

The stallion’s shaft twitched at the thought of prying open Shadow Scythe’s legs, pumping her tight cunt full of his cock that he outlined her stomach. “Gaagh! I-I can hardly take it,” she cried. “Your cock is so big! I-I’ll be ruined for anyone else~!”

His fist bawled, fantasizing about overpowering Equinox and putting the bitchy raider in her place. “Aaaah~! I-I’m sorry, daddy,” she whimpered. “I-I’ll be a good girl! Promise! J-just keep fucking me like the filthy whore I am~!”

The hyper-stallion let out a wild groan, his sex-crazed mind going to darker places. Now he craved Beatrix, hammering the slutty witch and being the one to finally impregnate her jiggling, supple body. “Ohh, yes!” she chanted. “That’s it, babe! Give my sweet little Abby a new brother or sister to play with~!”

Midnight’s blood boiled at the imaginary scene of Iclyn with a fully feminine figure, just for him to use. “Break me in,” she panted. “Make me feel like a real woman~!”

Not even his dear sister was safe from his insatiable lust. They were back at the playground, Lightning’s costume torn apart for him to access her aching marehood while he bounced her standing up, hands grabbing a handful of her flank. “It’s been too long,” she moaned, clinging onto him for dear life. “We’ll make up for lost time with all the babies you’ll put in me! Fuck me, brother! Take my body and make it yours~!!”

Fiery was right. Time was limited by how he constantly pushed himself. Midnight needed to act now while he still could! Inseminate every mare he could get his hands on!

His lovers. His friends. His family. Every last one of them would supplant his legacy by bearing his children!

All sanity slipped from his mind once primal instinct took over. The hyper-stallion firmly grasped the centauress by the horns and thrust his bitch-breaking rod into her hungry mouth, using her throat like a cock sleeve. Chezka sputtered and gagged, tears leaking down her face from how intensely he skull fucked her.

The spotted doe, Panna, panted heavily before lowering down to take one of his fat swollen balls into her mouth, worshiping it with her tongue. She too was seized by him, her lips forced to suck his horsecock, their tits stained in saliva and precum as he drove himself down their throats.

And Fiery Kickstart continued to observe with a broad smile once he unloaded all over their faces and titties with a dominant howl, fully convinced Midnight would be vital in overthrowing his idiot father from high command. It was a simple matter to win the hyper-stallion over, the atmosphere filled by the reek of aphrodisiacs.

At long last. He had a real weapon to nip the changeling resurgence in the bud. His fist lazily stroked his stallionhood at the lewd display, as his Amazon wives swapped hyper-stallion seed.

He claimed them each day. Reminded them he owned them. That he was destined to rule.

The weak would be dominated, in return for protection. It was the natural order.