Prisoners of War : A Beatrix Belladonna Tale

Having her fill of the Crystal Empire’s splendors, Beatrix wandered outside the walls, easily able to slip beyond the soldiers that manned its ramparts thanks to the illusions she cast. Using her Onoma, the witch flew beyond the highest barriers on a cosmic broomstick, the birches leaving a trail of dust that glittered like stars. The Demiurge incubating within her body manifested, its cool darkness flowing around like a dress over her plush curves; while her platinum, violet-tipped mane blossomed out in a waterfall.

Her fingers clicked, and her horn shined. Guardsmen got a small glimpse of her as she soared past. “Huh? What was that!?” one called out, clearly spooked. “Who goes there?!”

The witch gave a mischievous titter while watching the watchmen scurry about, chasing after one phantom shaped to resemble a familiar pale blue mare, who taunted him with her pert rump. Another called, "Is that a naked mare?!"

"Shadow Scythe would kill me if she saw this," she snorted, dispelling the illusion right as the guard ran right into the door, stumbling down.

Beatrix exhaled with contentment, pondering how long it had been since she hadn't felt so stressed. Barely had time for breaks, with how much Arcanum was making her study. And Omen had yet to visit her dreams about the situation back at the manor—or castle, as it was now. Thus far, the violet unicorn was utterly in the dark about her lover and unborn child, planning on giving the nightmare stag a piece of her mind once he came through.

Icy winds caressed her flesh, causing Beatrix to shiver. The chilling breeze directed her towards a section of woods still covered by snow.

Or was it...?

Ever the curious cat, the violet spellcaster touched down outside the Crystal Empire's safety on a heel, banishing the inky blackness of her Onoma, the astral liquid left to slither back below her skin and fur. Snow crunched under her heeled boots when she wandered into the snow-smothered forest.

Moonlight spilled through the trees overhead, aglow in the darkness. Beatrix made her way into the maze, past the thickets, only to realize she wasn't alone by a silhouette ahead.

"Iclyn?"

The cyan doe stood motionless, staring gloomily at her shadow. Then, she lifted her head and started singing a sorrowful song, swaying gently with the finesse of a figure skater. It didn’t take Beatrix long to realize she was singing about Oona. About how bitterly their relationship had fallen apart.

The melancholy in Iclyn’s voice pulled at her heartstrings while the weather behaved according to her melody. Snowflakes danced around her, briefly taking Oona’s shape before scattering out of her hand.

The deighdyr could hardly contain the sob in her throat as she muttered the last lyrics, slowly resting on her knees.

Never had the witch seen her cold-hearted mentor so vulnerable and emotional. Only now did Beatrix understand how agonizing it must be for Iclyn to be around her.

When she attempted to leave, she stepped on a twig. Iclyn snapped her head, staring at the unicorn aghast.

“I-I’m so sorry,” stammered Beatrix. “I didn’t mean to listen in! Look, I’ll just-”

“Wait!” the snow faun cut off, wiping a balled hand over her tear-stricken face. “Don’t go. Stay… please.”

Cautiously, the violet mare approached and sat next to her on the blanketed earth. “For the record,” she said softly. “That was a beautiful song.”

Iclyn said nothing, legs tucked into her chest, arms hugging her knees.

With pursed lips, Beatrix took in the wintery scenery, the snowflakes glittering in the night like diamonds. “This place is so pretty!”

“I didn’t mean for this to happen,” the doe said. “But I needed space to reflect on the past, painful as it is.” She wiped more tears that threatened to freeze on the velvet fire of her cheeks, each breath puffing out mist.

A sad smile crossed Beatrix’s snout. “You still love her that much, huh?”

“I never stopped loving Oona,” Iclyn confessed. “We were so happy. We were going to settle down under the Matanam oath. Flowers everywhere! It would have been the greatest day in our lives.”

"But?"

"Then the Wendigo crisis happened, and we could not visit each other for long periods. Eventually, we just… drifted away.” Her expression hardened. “No… I drifted away,” she corrected. “Because I was scared Oona would reject me. Just like my father.”

“Your father?!”

Iclyn nodded when facing the witch. “You saw my secret when Andrei stripped away my clothes. My father, Teran, wanted a prince to inherit Demeter’s power. But instead, he got a princess. One he refuses to acknowledge.”

Crestfallen, Beatrix examined, “B-but that’s awful! I mean, it’s not something I’m used to, but you should be free to express yourself however you want! Oona would love you—still loves you, whether you’re a man, woman, neither, or in between!”

“Tell that to the rest of my tribe,” she lamented bitterly.

“Well, have you considered finding a spell or alchemy that could help you… y'know-”

“Transition? I’ve… deeply considered it. But at the same time, I want to make a statement. That I don’t need anyone's perspective to affirm who I am. I am my own woman.”

Beatrix offered the icy doe a warm smile. “Well, for what it’s worth, I accept you for who you are. And I’m sure Oona does too! She’s very open-minded.”

“That she is…” Iclyn gazed deeply into the witch’s violet orbs, a hint of a smile spreading her snout. “Perhaps you’re not as insensitive as I thought.”

“Ohh, gee, thanks. I-uh-?”

Beatrix's eyes turned to saucers when the deighdyr leaned in and met her lips. Frozen by her kiss, by the time Iclyn withdrew a fine miasma escaped their mouths.

“Huh,” she murmured. “So that’s what whore tastes like.”

“Aahbahdifuh-what!?” Replied Beatrix, flabbergasted. “Y-you can't just-”

Iclyn gave a soft titter while rising to her feet. “Don't think this means I’ll go easy on you,” she assured. “I’m counting on you to make this right before the storm rolls in. Winter will come eventually, and the cold does not know mercy.”

The cyan cervine left Beatrix to stand alone, the taste of her kiss lingering on her lips like frost. Taking her mentor’s words to heart, the witch shivered before drawing her cape around her and tailing after Iclyn. Though she wondered if her metaphor was literal, as the wayward witch gazed up to see foreboding clouds steadily eclipse the moonlit sky.

*****

Lamplights lit each corner of the empty streets of the Crystal Empire plaza. Lightning Spark could hardly see through the dense atmosphere while following Equinox. “So remind me again why you wanted me to join you on changeling patrol?” she questioned quietly so as not to disturb any sleeping civilians. “I feel very unqualified!”

“A couple of reasons, actually,” the marauder explained, looking around for any suspicious activity. “First, as you can imagine, there aren't many eager volunteers due to the disappearances. But if you ask me, they don’t have the balls. Second, you’ve got a whatchamacallit, right? That makes you more than qualified!”

“Onoma,” the pegasus mare corrected. “But I’ve barely begun training-”

“Third,” the bat mare cuts off, turning to her. “And most importantly, you’re the perfect bait for changelings thanks to your estrus!” Her yellow eye took in Lightning’s shapeliness, noting she’s gained a couple more pounds. “Mmm… But maybe I need to help those juices flow?" Equinox reached behind the mare and claimed a handful of her pert ass with a sly snicker. "Got to love how dim-witted and submissive estrus makes a mare~!"

"H-hey! Stop that!" She slapped the hand away. "I didn't agree to be used as live bait!"

"A little late for that. Now come on!" The bulky raider pulled her companion by the wrist. Lightning grumbled as they went into a dark alleyway, shadows laying on the walls with perpetual blackness.

"So, what do you plan to do once the war's over?” Asked Equinox, who smirked suggestively. “Shack up with that nerd, Web Spinner? Maybe pop out a few foals~?”

“Cut it out!” demanded Lightning Spark, tiny bolts of statics shocking the bat mare’s hand, making her yelp and let go.

Sighing, the light blue pegasus said, “Honestly? I dunno. Haven't thought that far ahead. Can’t really go back home since my family… m-my mom..." She couldn’t shake off the image of Snowy Blizzard stuck in that hive, bloated with changeling eggs waiting to be hatched. Lightning shook her head, hoping Fiery's forces would arrive in time so that Web Spinner could remove the parasites festering inside her mother's belly. He had to!

"Hey, ease up on the waterworks," hissed Equinox. "No need to work yourself up!”

“Oh yeah, and what about you? Planning to plunder the entire empire of its riches on your way out?”

The bat mare narrowed her eyes at the fussy pegasus. “So what if I do? If you ask me, that’s a perfectly fair price for offering my services and protection!”

“Protection?! You nearly hospitalized Moonlight, who can’t even fly! You’re not even a real soldier. Just a bully who thinks she can take whatever she wants, convinced she’s better than everyone!”

“Pipe down, Sparkplug! You're drawing too much attention to ourselves!!”

“Well, like you’re not!” Lightning continued, her Onoma crackling with bolts of blue and yellow. “Someone’s gotta stand up to you and put you in your place! When I report this to Shining Armor, he’ll-”

Equinox ceased Lightning Spark by the throat, slamming her into the stone wall and disrupting the flow of electricity. The pegasus mare choked, trying to pry her gauntlet off her neck.

“Seriously? Gonna resort to tattletale? What are you, five?” the buff thestral snorted. “Shining Armor won’t do jack shit! He’s too bitter about his dead wife and kid to lead his own army. Fiery and I practically do all the work! Besides, he’s likelier to fuck you senseless the next chance he gets~!”

Lightning Spark flailed uselessly, staring angrily at Equinox’s good eye as she leered closer, her pointy snout poking hers. “So listen carefully, shrimp,” Equinox warned with a snarl. “I may like you, but don’t think for a second that I won’t fuck that scrawny ass up if you get in my…”

Her threat trailed off when she felt something wet splatter on her face. She wiped the sticky substance off, recognizing it as saliva. With frightened eyes, she and Lightning slowly lifted their heads to find a massive multi-limbed shadow hanging above them from the walls. Large red unblinking eyes leered back, with four smaller ones atop its brow. It made a low clicking sound, its bottom jaw split into a pair of mandibles, spittle drooling down its fangs.

“…way.”

*****

Kyube had trouble sleeping, so he and Chisana took a midnight stroll along the royal garden. One of the few safe confines of the Crystal Empire untouched by militarization. Although, judging from the many withered flowers, it wasn’t regularly tended either. A blatant sign of the severe effects of constant strife.

“What a pity,” the vulpine surmised, plucking one decaying floral from its stem, frowning. “Not like there’s much else to see here, save for the marketplace.”

Breathing a heavy sigh, Kyube took a seat on a bench, tail brushing between his legs while the fox man stared at his murky reflection in the fountain water. He pondered if he’d ever see that female fox again or if it truly was his restless imagination.

A tug of his sleeve pulled his attention to his sibling, the raccoon dog wearing a wide grin as she fished around her sack to produce two sugary baked goods.

Kyube perked an eyebrow, a half smirk spreading his muzzle. “… didn’t I tell you not to steal anything?”

Chisana shook her head rapidly as she pulled out a few golden coins, proclaiming, “Cerise-chan!”

Curiously, the fox bandit took one bit to study it. Turns out, there were perks in having a princess for a friend. And fortunately, her money was close enough to pass in this dimension. Gold bits were pretty much universal currency in most parts, from what Beatrix claimed.

“Heh. She certainly was friendly,” Kyube mused, accepting the cookie and taking a delicate bite after getting a sniff. “All of them were, surprisingly. It feels… nice not having to hide my face behind a mask.”

The tanuki chittered in agreement before munching on her treat, crumbs falling onto her miniature kimono.

Kyube’s green eyes glanced over the kingdom walls, some of the trees peeking over. The forestation had become a dense labyrinth one could end up lost in for days. Most wouldn't dare wander too profoundly in, but the yokai bandits were used to such places. They had ambushed many travelers and taken supplies, but avoided harming or killing them.

Beatrix promised to send them home eventually...but until then, what to do? This wasn't their war! Better not to get involved directly with those military fanatics, but…

His ears perked at a loud rumbling sound, looking up to see dark clouds swirling until they completely enveloped the sky. His eyebrows furrowed. “That’s odd…”

Then he detected groans beside him; Chisana bent over and clutched her belly. The vulpine snickered and teased, “Perhaps that will teach you not to cater to your sweet tooth!”

But his wry smirk disappeared when the tanuki girl continued to whimper and moan. Then his concerns spiked as she rolled off the bench, wriggling in pain. “Chisana! What’s the matter?” He asked, holding her up.

"A-aniki..." the raccoon dog whined, her satchel knocked over and loot spilling out.

The air split under a series of sudden, chaotic lightning strikes that flashed by; one struck against a tree that cracked and toppled. A strong wind pulled at the yokai until Chisana started floating heavenward. Panicking, she cried, “Aniki!? Aniki!!”

"Chisana!" Kyube jumped up to catch her, but a bolt struck between them, the force knocking the fox man back onto the ground.

In a flash before his wide eyes, the tanuki vanished. In her place, a strange yet familiar figure fell on top of Kyube, causing them to crash into the fountain pond with a splash.

Gasping, the fox man held his head up, only for his snout to connect with that of a fox woman. Their eyes locked in shock, instantly recognizing each other.

“You?!” The vulpines exclaimed in unison.

The vixen had copper red hime-cut, the back held up in a messy bun. Her silky kimono was equally drenched as his gi and baggy pants. And nine fluffy tails fanned out from behind. A slight blush crossed the vixen’s face upon realizing she was straddling him before she quickly got off.

As Kyube lifted himself up, worry overcame his bewilderment and demanded, “What happened to Chisana? Where is she?!”

The female fox yokai shook her head, equally perplexed. “I-I do not know,” she answered, looking around at the alien landscape and palace walls. “I am not even sure how I arrived here!”

“Possibly another reality flux,” suspected the fox bandit, staring up at the squall brewing above. His eyes fell back on the beautiful vixen, her damp kimono clinging to her voluptuous shape. “I-if that’s the case, then you must be-”

“Kitsune,” confirmed the vixen before bowing her head. “Gomenasai.”

Kyube smiled, eying her swaying tails. “I-I can see that. But what’s your actual name?”

Her frown deepened, confessing, “My birth name remains a mystery. I’ve only known the code name assigned to me by a syndicate of science-crazed lunatics.”

Kitsune demonstrated this by temporarily morphing her arm into its liquid metal state. Each process became more painful and straining, as the cyber kunoichi spent more time outside her home.

“I see,” noted Kyube, a slight look of disappointment that she wasn’t an authentic nine-tailed fox like he had hoped. But the bandit wouldn’t let that weigh him down, not with far more pressing matters to address. “So if you’re here, that should mean Chisana resides where you came from?”

“I think so,” Kitsune said hopefully, giving a shy smile. “My sister, Wispy Willow, should still be there. So I’m confident she’ll keep her safe until we can resolve this situation.”

The fox man nodded, folding his arms into his chest. It wasn’t reassuring, but the vulpine got the impression that this yokai wasn’t one to lie, unlike his craftier siblings.

But before they could acquaint themselves further, a loud shriek from further inside the Crystal Empire pulled their attention. With a shared nod, the pair immediately rushed into action.

The pair of foxes lept atop rooftops until they discovered the source of that awful screeching. An oversized changeling was in hot pursuit of Equinox and Lightning Spark.

"Run!” warned the bat mare as she and the pegasus mare shot into the air. Unlike most drones, this creature did not have translucent insectoid wings. Instead, another pair of arms sprouted from its shoulders, giving it a more spider-like appearance. One threw out a spinning bola net made of webbing, which ensnared the fleeing Lightning Spark.

“Gaagh! Get this sticky thing off me!” She cried when she plummeted to the ground. Electric blue eyes gazed up, frightened at the approaching monster. Equinox landed in front, her fishhook gauntlet extending its blades.

“Back off, ugly,” the marauder warned with a vicious sneer. “You want her? You have to go through me!”

The rogue changeling let out a challenging hiss, an elongated tongue wriggling out its jaws.

With a battle cry, the bulky bat mare lunged at her opponent, her claws coming in contact with a shield that grew out of its bottom left forearm. The changeling deflected each strike and shoved Equinox back with its greater bulk.

“S-shit! This fucker can fight!” The thestral mare realized through clenched teeth. She ducked to avoid getting grabbed by its second pair of hands before maneuvering under to slash the beast’s belly. But the rogue changeling managed to back off, her hooks leaving small knicks at most.

Equinox tried attacking from behind, but her claws couldn’t slash through its hard exoskeleton. Before the marauder could fall back, her wrist was seized, and the monster whipped her into the pavement.

Equinox yelled as it tore the gauntlet off her arm and swallowed it. Nauseated, Lightning muttered, “W-what the?!”

The rogue changeling flexed its other lower arm that twisted and cracked grotesquely. The forelimb mutated to become bulkier, and two serrated blades protruded out the slits from its wrist. After examining its newly biofused weapon, its compounded lens locked with Equinox's startled gaze, its jaws forming a sinister smile.

“O-oh, fuck me!”

Lightning watched in disbelief as Equinox was now on the defensive, dodging to evade getting cut open by her own fish hook gauntlet. In turning to kick the bastard away, the bat mare made the mistake of leaving her back exposed, which the changeling took full advantage of.

Another pain-filled shriek rose from the muscular mare as it raked across her spine. She fell to her elbows and knees. Despite her amazonian strength and training, she was little more than a mosquito before the beast.

The fact was further proven when it grasped her limb with each limb and pulled them at different angles. Equinox screamed in agony, feeling she might split apart if he stretched her further…

That’s when Kyube and Kitsune intervened, one vulpine blasting the changeling with yokai fireballs while the other cut through the web net wrapped around Lightning.

“Go! Get to safety,” urged the vixen.

“B-but, wait! What about… who even are you?!”

“No time for introductions! Now go!” She barked before assisting Kyube in disorienting the changeling beast. It lashed out at him and his decoys while Kitsune swung her katana at its shell-like carapace.

Lightning heard night guards approaching, demanding to know what all the commotion was about. And upon seeing the battle, they rushed back to sound the alarm.

Yells drew her attention back to see the mystical foxes that were caught, the snarling beast crushing two of Kyube’s clones into leaves. And while they struggled to escape its grasp, the multi-armed monstrosity set its sights back on the whimpering Equinox, placing a foot over her head with every intent to stomp down.

Unable to abandon a comrade, Lightning launched into the air and dived to save her with a war cry. Volts surged out of her wings, shocking the creature to stumble back. All six red eyes stared at her as it chucked Kyube and Kitsune into buildings.

“Get away from them, you creep!” The frizzled pegasus shouted, launching another stream of bolts. But the changeling intercepted the attack with its jagged horn, absorbing it like a lightning rod. With a chittering shriek, it shot out green voltage to retaliate. Sparks flew everywhere until the rogue changeling threw off the trajectory into the stormy skies.

Before Lightning Spark could act, it spat thread that snared her foot and started reeling her towards itself.

“N-no! No, no, no, no! Stop!!” She cried, beating her wings to desperately break free. The tug of war was decided when all four of its arms yanked on the thread, overwhelming the pegasus mare with its physical strength.

Equinox grunted, her muscles straining to lift herself up as she watched her friend get spun around into a silky cocoon, her cries muffled inside. The creature observed its newly made package squirm, its snout whiffing the invisible pheromones that made it shudder. Its secondary arms strapped Lightning’s cocoon onto its back, where another web-made bag was fastened.

"N-no… leave her alone..!" Equinox trembled and tried to rise, uncertain how many bones were broken under the impact. Blood dripped from the corner of her lip, her one eye hazy.

An alarm sounded in the distance. The Guards that witnessed the scene rushed in with backup. A hailstorm of arrow shafts rained on the abomination and bounced off its surface. The creature shrieked before finishing strapping its cocoons in a sash wrapped around its abdomen. Its prey was left to writhe helplessly as the archers knocked more shafts into their crossbows. One readied a torch.

"No fire," warned a captain before a soldier lit an arrow tip. "You'll torch the hostage!"

"But if she's taken, she'll face a fate far worse than death!"

"What about the ballistas?"

"They'll cut down the hostage for sure! Block off its escape routes! Move!"

Yet before anyone could devise a better plan, the monster leaped onto a rooftop and bounded from one roof to the next. Arrows uselessly sailed after the beast, its prey unable to do more than scream for help when it quickly crawled up the outer city walls.

"Fuck...fuck!" Equinox slammed her fist into the road before she blacked out.

The rogue changeling reached the top, a view of the forest just a few miles away. But before it jumped, ice ensnared around its legs, keeping him stuck to the edge.

It glared menacingly at Iclyn, who conjured a flurry of snow to begin freezing the monster.

“Oh, no, you don’t!” exclaimed Beatrix, who used her Onoma to entangle each of its arms. She even threw out a bit of dark matter to seal its horn in case it tried to cast a spell. Smirking, she boasted, “Sorry, beastie, but we’re cutting your tour of the Crystal Empire short. Now hand over Lightning Spark!”

But the changeling responded by parting its mandible jaws, revealing a slit above its tongue where a torch nozzle poked out. And with a sharp enable, it vomited out plumes of fire which evaporated Iclyn’s cryomancy. The deighdyr lost her footing and fell off the wall with a startled shriek.

“Oh shit!” yelled Beatrix and, without thinking, released her hold to catch Iclyn. This gave the monstrous changeling enough time to melt the ice encasing its leg and propel itself off the ledge, where it sprinted away using all its limbs for extra speed.

The witch checked to make sure the cyan doe was unharmed. The royal guard marched and ordered their archers to fire arrows at the fleeing creature. But Beatrix already knew it was too late, staring at the shrinking shadow until it completely disappeared into the woods.

The rogue changeling had gotten away, with Lightning Spark as its hostage.

*****

Sirens awoke Midnight Blitzer from his grogginess. The fluffy pegasus was snuggled into a spacious bed, his oversized wings stretched wide and, like his arms, wrapped around the pair of women that surrounded them. Chezka, the centaur, and Panna, the doe, were still fast asleep. The pair were soaked in perspiration, hair tousled, their lower holes caked with dried semen. His semen.

Memories of how Midnight relentlessly clapped those cheeks overwhelmed him, the knight reduced to little more than a wild animal when hyper-stallion instincts took hold. The same need to breed, conquer, and dominate constantly reminded he needed to pass on his seed before he expired. And those titillating thoughts of making his female friends a part of his herd still lingered.

Midnight clutched his head, disgusted with himself. He'd never meant to take this all the way! His attention was supposed to be on Moonlight after what she'd endured! Yet to his shame, he'd allowed his hyper-stallion nature to get the better of him! Even after all that training with Dion…

The blue stallion's attention was pulled towards the faint howls of alarms going off in the palace. Jumping off the bed, he threw on his clothes, only to find Fiery Kickstart awake, rushing to put on his clothes.

"S-sir? What’s going on?” asked Midnight.

“We’re going to find out,” huffed the commander, sliding his knuckle blades on and marching out the room.

The youthful stallion cast aside the curtains to the balcony and sailed out. Perpetual darkness enshrouded the skies. He scanned the area, alive with activity as troops manned every corner, until he finally spotted his herd down below.

"Cerise! Moonlight!" Midnight called out before landing beside his lovers and huffed under his white armor, most of their allies also on the scene. "Sorry, I'm late! What happ-”

“You’re more than late,” Cerise said, scowling at him. "Where have you been?! We were worried sick!!"

"And don’t say you went awol," added Moonlight, who also shot him the stink eye. The pegasus soldier swallowed hard, about to confess what he'd done before Fiery ran beside him.

"Forgive me, ladies," the mustard stallion panted, his hand on the knight's shoulder. "The fault‘s mine. I wanted a private demonstration of what a hyper-stallion was capable of since Equinox ruined our training exercise yesterday. But we lost track of time, and I worked him so hard, he passed out."

Midnight narrowed his gaze, incredibly suspicious of why his commander would cover for him. But the harsh glares from his lovers softened.

“I mean… that’s fair, I guess,” said Moonlight, who grimaced at the mere mention of yesterday’s ‘exercise.’ “I’m sorry for doubting you.”

"Just tell us next time, please," insisted Cerise, who kept her frown while hugging her husband’s arm to her chest.

Guilt ate at his heart as he said, “N-no, it’s my fault. I got reckless… I'll dedicate the next day to both of you!"

But Cerise shook her head. “There won’t be time for that. We have to leave the Crystal Empire.”

“H-huh? But why!? What’s going on here?!” He demanded, looking around at the blaring sirens and frightened townsfolk whose sleep was disturbed.

"M-Middy…” his childhood friend began, though paused, unsure how to word her following sentence. “… Lightning’s been kidnapped!”

“… what..?!”

"It was a changeling,” elaborated Beatrix as she and Iclyn approached the group. “Bigger, scarier, and more versatile than anything I’ve encountered!”

“We could not prevent your sister’s capture,” muttered Iclyn softly. “I’m sorry…”

But her apology failed to reach Midnight’s ears as he crumbled to the ground, muttering ‘no’ like a mantra. Tears ran down his face when he let out an anguished cry, slamming his fist hard into the stone ground.

“I had her! I just got her back!!”

Cerise and Moonlight bent down to comfort their lover while the witch and deighdyr stood in melancholy. The thestral rose back up, flexing her prosthetic plume. "Were I able to fly-"

"Wouldn't have mattered," surmised Fiery, his muscular arms folded over his chest. "We've been trying to track that monster for a while. One lone soldier can't hope to stop it." He then spotted Shining Armor talking over with Equinox, who was wrapping a bandage around her arm. The pegasus directed them to follow. As Midnight lifted his head, he focused all his anger on the battered marauder, who was getting adequately scrutinized by the supreme commander.

“I told you not to push her into this,” Shining berated, his snout curled. “You knew she’d be a beacon for that monster with her estrus! She wasn’t in any condition to fight!”

“Oh, don't get me started on bad calls,” Equinox dryly spat, her one visible eye narrowed. “Not like you came up with a concrete plan in drawing out that thing until it picked them off every last refugee!”

When she heard this, Moonlight pushed past Fiery to storm her way towards the muscular thestral, meeting her stare. “You selfish bitch! A mare in estrus can't think straight! Who gave you the right to put her life at risk?! She’s our friend!!"

She balled a fist and threw a punch, which Equinox anticipated, catching it before shoving Moonlight away. She rose up, her own fists ready to put her back in her place.

“Equinox, stand down!” ordered Shining Armor.

But the taller thestral spat in his face and walked at Moonlight. “She’s my friend, too!” She proclaimed. “I did everything I could to protect her!”

“You put her in harm’s way!” rebutted Cerise, livid with the bulky raider.

“You wanna piece of me too, princess?!”

Moonlight glowered, “Don’t you dare threaten Cerise!”

Equinox gave the other bat mare a suckled smile and held out her arms, breasts proudly thrust out. “Then take your best shot, cripple! I dare you~!!”

“Cripple? You should look in a mirror! How’d you lose that eye, anyway? Drone decided your holes weren’t enough and made a new one to skull fuck?!”

That touched a nerve as Equinox snarled, rearing back her fist and ready to pummel her face into a paste. Maybe she'd take an eye, too!

They were pushed apart by Midnight when he came between them. "Enough!” He bellowed. “Fighting won’t help bring Lightning back! We have to save her, no matter what it takes! Besides, Moony…” the blue pegasus glared hotly at Equinox, enough to make her quiver. “… she’s not worth it!”

“Ooh,” she cooed sarcastically. “About time a stallion took charge around here~!”

The two bat mares continued to trade nasty looks but backed down for the moment.

Fiery Kickstart looked around the troops escorting civilians back to their homes and asked, “Where the hell is Web Spinner?”

“In his lab, probably,” proposed Shining Armor. “But I'm sure his alarms must've alerted him! He'd usually be one of the first onto the scene..."

“Guess again,” called Arcanum Folklore, who wandered onto the scene, holding something behind his back. Everyone stared at him with skeptically raised eyebrows before he tossed out something that made them all reel back in terror. Cerise let out a startled scream.

It was Web Spinner… or what remained of him. His outer layer flopped to the ground like wet rubber. He had been completely hollowed out, with no organs or bones inside the flayed opening across his face, chest, and legs. Just skin and muscle.

Beatrix had to clamp her hand over her snout to hold back vomiting. Even Iclyn showed a repulsed expression, clutching her throat.

“Holy mother of Faust!” commented Fiery Kickstart.

“Ehh, Trust me. I’ve seen worse things happen,” the erenn unicorn casually shrugged.

“Where did you find this?” asked the supreme commander.

Stuffing his hands into his coat pockets, the warlock began pacing as he explained. "I was doing a wee bit of investigating. The place was a total wreck when I broke in. Used me mystic arts to scan the room, but all the weapons crafted were stolen. Nothing was left save for that sorry sap."

“Wait, wait, wait! You breached the laboratory?” Fiery marched up, getting into the scruffy detective’s personal space. "I outta have you arrested for trespass AND treason!”

Arcanum smirked and shot back, “You can bloody try, mate! I know me methods ain’t always kosher, but in times like these, we need fast results. And I’m the best bet you’ve got in tracking that oversized bug!”

Fiery held his narrowed gaze before his half-burned face lit with a smile. "Heh! I like how you operate. We could use your expertise in the field.”

“Nah, thanks,” rejected Folklore. “Been in enough bad shite as it is. Don’t need more guilt weighing down my conscience. Ain’t that right, Bea?”

Beatrix gave a flustered ‘hmph,’ crossing her arms over her ample bust. They knew all too well what happened to mares captured by the hive...and one in estrus was primed to be seeded.

Another interruption came in the form of Kyube and Kitsune, held at gunpoint by the soldiers armed with crossbows trained on the foxes. "Wait," cried Cerise, who blinked when she spotted the other vulpine. Still, she insisted, "They’re with me!"

An officer used a unicorn wand to scan them. "They're clean." Weapons were lowered, allowing the pair to join their comrades.

Beatrix stammered upon seeing the kunoichi. “Kitsune? What are you doing here!?”

The copper-haired vixen replied, “I’m not so sure. But I feel it has something to do with this strange storm.” She pointed towards the cloudy night sky, thunder rumbling.

“Zell managed to carve a portal with the Vorpal Blade,” Kitsune continued. “When he came back, he brought a few others with him. That’s when the rift went dark, and this storm formed. I was struck by lightning, and, next thing I knew, I was here.”

Kyube nodded and added, “We theorize she swapped places with Chisana.”

“Well, then I better contact him just to make sure,” concluded the witch, who summoned her telecom from her Prima Materia.

“Oi! Hold the phone,” interrupted Arcanum, eyebrows furrowed. “Who’s this Zell fella, and why does he have portal hopping powers? Sorry, I’m just having a hard time drinking this in!”

“He’s a demi-human,” answered Beatrix coolly. “Part human, part angel. Used to be a bad guy, but we pulled him around. We were a thing. It was short-lived.”

“Pft! Now you’re just pulling me leg,” huffed the erenn stallion. “There ain’t no such thing as angels!”

“Oh, they’re real,” Cerise commented, frowning. “We learned that the hard way.”

Beatrix focused her magic on the relic, which hummed to life when she spoke into it. "Hello? Sunspot? This is Witch Mother calling Sunspot! Boy, do I have a story for you!"

"That makes two of us, Belladonna,” came a gloomy feminine voice.

“Shadow Scythe!?” Her cheek became rosy pink. “Well… this is awkward. What happened to Zell?”

“I’m afraid he can't answer at the moment,” she answered. “He’s recovering from his accidental trip to the ‘cyberverse.’ I’m currently looking at two other demi-humans equally roughed up, plus a mare who looks exactly like Cerise.”

“M-me!?” The dark dancer spoke up, reddish pink eyes widening. “That must be Eclipsed Heart! Ooh, I’ve always wanted to meet her!”

Everyone gave the peppy princess a stern look, making her sheepishly add, “Under… better circumstances, of course!”

“…anyway! There wouldn’t happen to be a little raccoon dog with you, is there?”

A momentary pause with occasional static before a smaller voice called out, “Aniki?”

“Chisana!” Kyube barked, leaning his head closer to the receiver. “Are you alright!?”

“Aniki! Watashi wa mukizudesu!”

The male vulpine sighed with relief. “Oh, thank goodness.”

“Hey!” Another voice echoed. “Is my sister over there!?”

“Imoto!” It was Kitsune’s turn to squish against Beatrix, trapping the witch between the two foxes. “Yes, I am here!”

Wispy Willow said, “So you went interdimensional! Good to know! Can you get back?”

Beatrix looked to her scowling mentors and reluctantly said, “I don’t think that’s a good idea. The multiverse is on the verge of unraveling as it is. The next jump I make could be the breaking point!”

“Rats…” came the saddened sound of Wispy. “Guess we’ll have to make do with this. Don’t worry; I’ll keep an eye on Chisana!”

“You have my gratitude,” thanked the fox man, smiling. “I’m Kyube, by the way!”

“Wispy! And you better keep your hands off my sister! I’ll know~!”

The kunoichi blushed heavily. “Imoto!”

They heard a sly snicker before Shadow Scythe spoke up again. “So, what’s the next course of action?”

Beatrix turned to Midnight, Moonlight, and Cerise before proclaiming, “We’re going to be on the hunt for a rogue changeling monster that kidnapped Middy’s sister. Other than that, we’re not any closer to solving this dimensional flux. I’ve gotten better at controlling my magic, but progress has been slow.”

“Sounds rough; I’m sorry to hear that,” replied the reaper mare. “And no word about Oona either?”

The unicorn pursed her lips. “No, not yet… I haven’t gotten the chance to contact Omen.”

“I see. Hopefully, she’s alright. We’re going to try and regroup before Mortis attacks again. Though I don’t know how much longer my world can last. The squall here is pretty bad...”

Arcanum scoffed. "So now we’ve got two worlds on the brink of collapse. Glorious! You’ve truly outdone yourself, Beatrix!”

“Hey! This is not the time to antagonize each other,” said Midnight.

“The oaf’s right,” admitted Iclyn, who stroked her chin. “I’m beginning to doubt that this was caused by Beatrix alone. The storm only happened when Zeloph started poking holes through the dimensional fabric. And Mortis has likely been shifting between spaces for much longer!”

"Nah," countered Arcanum, shaking his head. “Think of the space between dimensions like a dam. If you poke enough holes in it, it’ll leak before it completely caves in. Like me, Mortis and Zeloph found alternative means to portal hop within their own universe. Beatrix, on the other hand, is an anomaly! A black arts-infected time bomb meant to become the dark messiah. They may be causing leaks, but she was the catalyst that weakened the multiverse in the first place! I’m sorry, Bea, but I ain’t letting this slide." He pointed at her. "All of this is your fault!”

Beatrix felt increasingly small under the warlock’s gaze, and the urge to just run away and disappear intensified. Her friends were ready to chew out Arcanum for putting so much pressure until Shadow Scythe spoke up again.

“… unless she’s not the only anomaly.”

Arcanum paused, then looked at the telecom. “What..?!” Even Beatrix stared at it perplexed.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I’ve always blamed Belladonna for this calamity,” the reaper elaborated. “But… that’s just it. We assume this is her fault because she’s the only one we’ve known to tamper with interdimensional travel and render themselves unaffected by time. Because of this, why would we ever consider the possibility that someone else has done the same?”

“Because that’s utter bullocks!” Arcanum dejected. “And even if that were true, we wouldn’t know where to look! We’d be wandering around like headless chickens trying to find someone that might not even exist!”

“Well, they’d have to be within one of these dimensions, right?” offered Cerise. “Otherwise, this storm wouldn’t be happening!”

Beatrix released a sharp gasp upon recalling what transpired at the food court yesterday. “W-wait! Web Spinner held an artifact that resembled a tool belonging to the Cult of the Nemesis!”

“Those zealots from your home world?”

“Mhm! I thought I was seeing things at first. But now that you bring up the existence of another anomaly…”

She didn’t want it to be true. The thought of facing the old faction made her stomach churn. They once sought to unleash the full unholy might of the Necronomicon across galaxies through her. And the witch wanted to cling to the belief she had thoroughly vanquished them.

But what if some members survived? And we’re merely biding their time until now?

“… It can’t be a coincidence. If there is another anomaly like me, we’ll have to look for it along the way. But until then, I’ll hold myself responsible for the turmoil in these worlds. I won’t give up until everything is set right!”

“Heh. How very noble,” she heard Shadow Scythe say. “I leave it to you then. Hopefully, we can reconvene when all of this is behind us. Farewell. And good luck.”

The telecom went silent until the magic glow fizzled out. Beatrix tucked it back into the Prima Materia as everyone headed inside the palace to recuperate for the journey ahead. Many were still uncertain on what to make of this outlandish claim, particularly the commanders. Nonetheless, they needed to heed if they wanted to overcome the changeling resurgence.

Just when things were finally looking up for once…

*****

Dawn came, and the entire capital was placed on lockdown. Security doubled, citizens and military alike paranoid after a changeling had infiltrated the Crystal Empire, the commanders unable to keep its invasion secret anymore. And the relentless storm continued to darken the skies, the weather unpredictable.

In the courtyard, Beatrix conferred with the rest of her crew to plan their next move.

“We hit the bastard, rescue Lightning, then lock down in the Crystal Empire,” said the witch. “It’s not an entirely solid plan since we don’t know what else that giant cockroach can do. But time is of the essence, and I’d rather not risk this on a suicide run!”

“Aye. It’s the best we got for the moment,” concurred Arcanum, lighting up another smoke to calm his nerves. “But don’t assume this rescue mission means you can slack off from your training! You’re getting good, but you need to be better! Much better!”

“Yeah, I know,” groaned Beatrix, whose tireless exercise had put heavy bags under her eyes.

"Girls, I’m really sorry," repeated Midnight to his herd. He still hadn't told them the truth, and by now, the moment had passed. His eye drifted back to his gold wedding ring, wondering if their relationship would ever be the same after this. "I promise, once we rescue my sister, I'll-"

"I think I should stay behind," announced Moonlight, her shoulders slumped. "Let’s face it; I’m only holding you back." A cold sweat laced her skin, her body itchy, significantly down below.

“But that’s not true!” reassured Midnight. “Don’t let Equinox get to you! You’re still a capable fighter!”

"We need you!" added Cerise, who squeezed her arm. "More than ever…"

"I-I appreciate the love, but I’m really feeling under the weather," confessed the bat mare.

"Understandable," called Fiery, who listened in, his wives Chezka and Panna with him. His bodyguard women went topless, their semi-naked bodies lined in bright war paint. "If Web Spinner weren’t… y'know, we would have given you a physical the moment you arrived!"

"Allow me." Panna clopped forward, the foreign doe appearing more tribal than the icy deer who stared judgmentally. More curious was the unicorn-styled horn on the center of her forehead. "May I take a look at you, Miss Moon? I was a medicine woman in my tribe."

"O-okay...what?" Moonlight blushed when the deer woman started to undress her, soon down to her black bra and panties when hands squeezed over her flesh. "H-hey! What are you-"

"Here." Panna slid aside part of the mare's panties to expose a toned buttcheek, the skin marked by a thin red line. "One of the drones must have nicked you amid battle."

"Their venom induces estrus," said Chezka bitterly, the centaur's fierce eyes narrowed as she tossed her white ponytail back. "It's how a hive took the Amazons down. They didn't have to butcher us directly. Just let our lusts drive us mad after a few drinks, until we rabidly tore each other apart in a hysterical fury..."

"A small dose, but effective. Far too late to suck it out. It's in your bloodstream," said Panna.

“Oh no!” cried Cerise. "Don't tell me she'll-"

"We can cure it. But it will take time," noted Panna.

"We'll make the most of it," said Moon Hammer. "I can work on your wings like I promised. You'll be better than new in no time! Penumbra, too. Sadly, it means I'll have to stay behind."

"Works for me," said Arcanum, who savored another smoke to keep him warm.

"F-fine! Now can I dress already?" After a nod from the deer woman, Moonlight yanked her clothes back on. At least she took comfort from the idea that she wouldn't be a burden!

"I'll serve in your place," swore Penumbra. "I only need one arm." He noticed that many of the commanders focused on the minotaur's craftsmanship, no doubt hoping they could take his secrets and use them in the war effort. "Watch your back," he warned the blacksmith.

"You as well," whispered back Moon Hammer, who playfully punched the swordsman's shoulder.

Not too much further in, Kyube had taken Kitsune aside. He told her, "Where I’m from, a kitsune who has earned all of their tails is a sign of divinity. That’s why I assumed you were a goddess when we first saw each other in the lake! You certainly have the raw beauty!"

"Y-you flatter me," the vixen meekly said, her head bowed with a blush. She had traded her silk kimono for her kunoichi attire, which conformed to the vixen's sculpted curves, portions of the costume black fishnet that exposed her flesh.

The fox man chuckled and lifted up her chin. "If you’d like, I could teach you a few tricks! Help you live up to that status?" She returned a shy smile and nodded.

But the good vibes were immediately gone the moment Equinox touched down. The thestral mare smiled, unfettered by the entire circle of people glaring spitefully at her. She asked, “So, are we all packed and ready to move out?”

“You are not coming with us!” the witchy unicorn proclaimed.

“Oh, yes, I am! That freak took something that belongs to me, and I want it back!”

“So just get a new gauntlet!” Midnight sneered. “We don’t need you!”

She gave the blue stallion a sultry look before saying, “Who said I was referring to my gauntlet~!”

He lunged for her, only stopped by Penumbra and Fiery Kickstart grabbing each arm. She puckered her lips at him before getting serious. “Look, I was the one who pushed Lightning into coming with me on patrol. She was my responsibility, and I let her down. I owe it to her to come to find her. I’m not asking any of you to like me. Only that you give me the chance to fix my mistake. Isn’t that what you guys are all about?”

The marauder was eying Beatrix when she said that last part, aware that this giant cosmic storm over the land was because of her ‘fiddling with time’ or whatever. And, as she predicted, the witch couldn’t deny her words.

With a begrudging sigh, the violet mare said, “Fine. But no more fighting amongst each other!”

“No need to worry about that,” stated Iclyn, who briefly summoned a snowflake in her palm. “She’s on thin ice as is.”

The muscular bat mare scoffed before joining the fold with her arms crossed.

Fiery passed them with his wives and said, "I wish you all the best of luck."

They nodded and walked out of the Crystal Empire through the city gates, which closed once they made the clearing. Moonlight and Moon Hammer gazed worryingly before following the second in command.

Fiery had shown his decisiveness while the supreme commander hesitated. The people needed a mighty shepherd to herd them.

And soon, the moment would arrive to make his move!

His wives trotted after them in a clop of hooves, sworn to serve and obey him. The Amazon tribe's confidential settlement was torched by its people, its inhabitants scattered, ready to be claimed by the swarm outside that had infiltrated their hidden lands and set all this madness in motion.

The drunken, lusty, war-like females had torn each other apart. Blood soaked the fields. Flames and smoke filled the air. Fiery rushed in to save them...and burned half his body in the process.

However, the two attractive prizes he'd claimed that day had been more than worth it.

As the outsiders departed, he and his wives arrived at the supreme commander’s office. A detachment from his men sat in a chair, the officer trembling violently.

Fiery called out with concern, “Sergeant! What happened?”

“He returned early this morning,” explained Shining Armor. “Hasn’t said a word since. But my guess is that they found the hive that Lightning was a part of. Only he was the only one to come back alive…”

Scowling, he leaned in front of the shaking pony and ordered, “Sergeant, report! What did you find!”

No response, his eyes saucer-like, staring absentmindedly.

“Answer me!!”

Then, the twitching stopped. One of his pupils dropped down, and his mouth gaped. An unearthly rhythmic glow shone beneath his coat as roots and stems began piercing through the skin.

Fiery Kickstart backed off when his sergeant's head split apart like a flower, revealing his mutated bioluminescent brain, a mushroom-like substance pulsating atop. Shining rose from his seat, bewildered by what he saw.

The fungus-controlled stallion shed his fleshy coat, revealing developing carapace and insectoid limbs. That’s when a disembodied voice greeted them from within their minds.

“Did you miss me, Shining Armor?”

His snout formed a snarl, recognizing that taunting cadence. “Chrysalis!”

The drone held out its arms while her voice tittered. “Because I’ve missed you. It’s been so long since we last saw each other~!”

“What have you done, changeling?!” demanded the alabaster unicorn.

“Only ensured my absolute victory,” the queen’s cackle reverberated in the room. “With the Mi-Go’s power, my swarm shall reclaim the land and show the same kindness you’ve given us. By eradicating all Equestrian life!”

“Not gonna happen!!” bellowed the mustard stallion, hand at his sword hilt in its sheath.

“You don’t have a choice,” teased the insidious voice as her drone assembled itself, wings giving a testing buzz. “Adhere to my will and become one with the swarm… or die~!”

The newly mutated changeling screeched, launching to take a stab at Fiery Kickstart.

A heavy arrow thudded into the invader's chest, loosed from Chezka's compound bow. Its shaft thudded as the monster sank to his knees and oozed black blood. Her heavy, painted bare bust bounced when the centaur knocked another arrow. "He's down," she announced coldly.

"Good work," he panted, eyes on the insect that twitched and bled out.

Panna readied a curved knife, the flat side scraped across the changeling's wound to mark it with blood, like a trophy. She then asked, "Should we take him prisoner?"

Fiery tsked and raised his blade. He was tempted to have the drone tortured and questioned. But given what he saw, there was no point to torment the infected. So instead, he decided to make an example of him before the soldiers present.

In a clean stroke, he beheaded the drone and watched the head roll. The body went slack, deflating and pushing out more gunk.

“How did he get past security?!” questioned Shining Armor. “Our wands should have detected something was wrong!”

“Looks like they’ve evolved beyond magical needs,” observed Fiery. “Whatever this Mi-Go thing is, it behaves like a parasite. Infecting the host’s body without drawing any suspicions. Poor lad likely didn’t even know he was already dead!”

He turned his stern glare to the supreme commander. “Do you see what your lack of initiative has brought to our kingdom? The changelings have developed more weapons faster than we can blink! First the monster, now this?! How many more lives will it cost until you take control, Shining?!”

“I am the supreme commander!” Restated the unicorn, barking back. “Until I give the order, no one is risking their safety to fight a war we can’t possibly win until we come up with a concrete solution! I’m in charge here, Kickstart! Not you!!”

The mustard stallion seethed at his long-time comrade before turning away, ordering his wives to have guards clean up the body.

As he walked out of Shining’s office, he darkly muttered to himself,

“… not for much longer!”

*****

Back in Cerise's homeworld, Ashen Dunes surveyed the last touches on his repaired airship by his crew, some of the more trusted men hired from the locals. He twirled sandy blonde curls in his hand, the merchant's scarves and robes left to billow in the sandy wind. "Almost there..."

His slim arm held Rhenaes close by the waist. The jade pegasus landed a playful tap on the unicorn's horn and met his smile. "So," she asked. "Where are we going in such a hurry?"

"We need to check on the status of Andrei. Not to mention those nasty scorpions! Heaven knows what will happen should he escape and tear down the borders." He shuddered, aware it would allow enemy factions to freely spill into his nation. His father was having trouble disbanding the cult that still worshiped Zeloph.

"We won't let that happen." Rhenaes nodded to a crate filled with more bombs that hadn't been primed. Grounded for the moment, the ship started to rattle when the engine flared to life. Stallions manned their stations when Ashen took the vessel's wheel.

He pecked her lips and asked, "Want a turn at the wheel?"

"M-me? But I don't know how to-"

"I'll direct you," he murmured smoothly in her ear, pressed behind the mare when she took her position, hands on her arms as he pushed into her back. "Easy," he continued when she pressed the buttons and turned the lever at the control panel. "Just like that."

Rhenaes swallowed hard, afraid of letting go of the wheel. "Almost there..."

"See? My baby loves it when you make her purr." He nuzzled her neck and cheek once the airship started to rise in a dust storm, then murmured in her ear, "This ship could use a proper figurehead. How about I commission one in the likeness of your nude figure?"

Her face colored as she let out a sheepish laugh at the idea. "I-I'm not sure I want others knowing what I look like naked. That should be for your eyes only~.”

Ashen chuckled. “Fair enough~!”

The ship lurched slightly, but she quickly righted it like she'd seen her lover do many times. He tussled her mane in approval and said, "See? You're a natural."

"Holy hell! I...I've done it!" Rhenaes' eyes watered as the ship started to climb from the deck. Once they reached the skies, she carefully turned the wheel, and the vehicle spun. Her heart hammered, and she squealed in exhilaration. "How did you come across this ship, anyhow?"

"Won it in a bet. It wasn't always this impressive, but I've put a lifetime of work into my baby." The couple started to sail across the lands, towards the horizon, where a mountain loomed closer and closer. "But compared to a prize like you..." His hands slid lower to her stomach.

"Stop! You're too much," she teased back, her cheeks red. They traded more kisses as Rhenaes continually became more comfortable with the controls, their destination almost on them.

The sun blotched the mountaintop. Ashen looked from a pair of binoculars. "Wait, what’s going on?”

Gunfire erupted around the mountain, matched by spells that lit the sky. Scorpions clambered across the barren rocks, a number of them torched and smoky or ridden with bullet holes. A couple dozen lay dead, with more wounded, as more replaced them.

In the middle of this chaos was a skeletal stallion swathed by a tattered black cloak, beside an older stallion in a heavy coat, and fedora, a rifle in his hands. They battled back-to-back.

"Never seen them before," said Ashen, who handed the binoculars to Rhenaes once he took the wheel. "Though judging by the descriptions Beatrix and friends passed on, that must be Mortis Saltaire and Quicksilver Bullet? But what the hell are they up to?”

A muffled series of roars answered their question when the mountain began quaking.

Rhenaes gasped. “Oh no! They must have broken the seal! Which means-!”

The three-headed monster known as Andrei burst from the mountain's peak in a pillar of smoke, ash, and flames; the air split by an explosion like a volcano erupted.

The skies turned hellish, blood red. Foreboding clouds formed above the hydra, his roar echoing with the thunder.

Despite improvements to his vessel, Ashen doubted his ship could outfly a dragon...