The Rise of Passion

Sunburst grunted as he pushed his cock deep into Trixie's pussy and fired off his load. Starlight was underneath both of them, her legs wrapped around Trixie, whispering calming affirmations into her ear. She was still bothered by what Cadance had said to her, but Starlight was doing everything she could to make her partner feel better. She'd even given up her turn with Sunburst to embrace her in a loving, protective hug. Any hurt that Trixie was feeling would be soothed as best Starlight was able.

"Feeling better?" asked Starlight, kissing Trixie's neck.

Trixie nodded. "Trixie owes Starlight for this. If there's ever anything I can do, I--"

Starlight placed her hoof on Trixie's lips. "Be there when I need you."

"That's beautiful," panted Sunburst, pulling out. "You two are great together. I wish I had somepony like that." He flopped down on the bed, his sticky erection slowly softening. "Do you mind if I stay here tonight? It'll be a real inconvenience to walk home like this."

"Not at all," smiled Starlight, lifting the covers up over them. "Trixie needs some extra cuddling, anyway."

The three of them all huddled up with Trixie in the middle, and as soon as Starlight could hear Sunburst's snoring, she gave Trixie one last kiss and slowly slid out of bed. One of the secret entrances to the chamber Trixie had put together was in this very room, hidden behind a bookcase. It slid out of the way and Starlight made her way down to the holding chamber. The guards had locked up the chamber of the Crystal Heart, and sound-proofing the door was trivial at this point.

With Gallus already there via a different entrance, they dragged the royal family under the Crystal Heart, with Starlight pulling Cadance, Gallus dragging Shining Armor, and Cozy carrying Flurry.

"Look upon the protective light of hope," smirked Cozy, pulling away their blindfolds. "It drives out the dark and shelters you from evil. And yet, it will not protect you from me. Why do you think that is?"

Flurry grunted behind her gag, unable to answer.

"Perhaps, and hear me out on this, I'm not actually evil. Perhaps my way of thinking merely differs from yours, and our ideals are at odds with each other. Perhaps you perceive me as evil, but the heart does not think so. The Crystal Heart has deemed me a good pony, and a good pony I am. And who better to take the role of leadership than a confirmed good pony?"

"You are not," interjected Cadance, sitting in the middle of the room, shadows from the Crystal Heart darkening her face. "The Crystal Heart forgives those who can yet be saved. You are a child and can learn to be better. The Crystal Heart does not break down fillies."

"Let's test that, shall we?" smiled Starlight. Light bloomed around her horn and arcs of lightning burst from the tip against Cadance's flank. She grunted and growled in response, not dignifying her tormenter with the crying and begging that such pain usually brought forth. Cadance kept her mouth as closed as she could, clenching her muscles to keep from flailing about.

When the lightning stopped, Cadance relaxed, panting in exhaustion. After a few seconds, she shifted her weight to pull herself upright, breathing through her nose. It was less efficient, but more defiant.

Her heart sank when she saw what had happened to her flank, though. Two grey rectangles, one on top of the other, were where her cutie mark had been. The same was happening to the side that had not been shocked. Floating in front of her was her cutie mark, glowing inside of Starlight's magic.

Starlight looked up at the Crystal Heart. "Nothing. I suppose that proves we aren't as evil as you claim."

Cozy approached and presented her flank. Slowly, Cadance's mark was lowered until it connected to her skin, taking its place right alongside her own. Now sporting two cutie marks, Cozy smiled. She could feel power coursing through her veins. She could feel her wings expanding, and opening them up, she could see the tips turning purple. And yet, there was no horn. "Next, we take Flurry's power," she smirked.

"I don't think so," growled Sunburst, stepping over the top of Flurry. "I'll not let you harm her."

"Sunburst?" gasped Starlight. "How did you--"

"You left the door open," he snorted. "After your treatment of Trixie, I had to wonder why you were leaving her alone. So, I followed you, and this is what I find?!"

"You're in for it now," chuckled Cadance. "Sunburst is going to free us and put us back on the throne where we belong."

"Nice try," spat Starlight back. "Sunburst made a promise that he'd never raise a hoof against his friends, and that's us. We'll still take the throne."

"I don't give two shits about who sits on the throne!" he shouted. "I'll not let you harm my Flurry!"

There was a silence as nopony moved or spoke. The tension in the air was fit to burst, with only the slightest touch. That touch came from Flurry, who grabbed Sunburst's leg with her chin, begging him to save her with her eyes.

"That's going to be a problem," sneered Cozy, taking three steps closer to Sunburst and Flurry. "Whether you like it or not, we're taking her cutie mark. If you stand in the way, we will have no choice but to cut you down."

Sunburst winced but did not back away. He wrapped his hoof around Flurry and picked her up.

"We need that cutie mark," reiterated Starlight, blocking the exit with her body. "We both know which of us is a better mage, Sunburst. Give up."

He swallowed hard and looked into Flurry's eyes. "You just need her cutie mark?" He hugged her tightly. "If I give it to you, will you leave her alone?"

"She has to stay hidden," barked Cozy. "She stays here!"

"Fine!" snapped Sunburst back at her. "She can stay, but I want her put in my care! I want your word that you will not harm her!"

There was another pause, but eventually, Starlight nodded. "Okay. If you remove her cutie mark and give it to Cozy, then you can come down here and take care of her whenever you wish. Certain conditions will apply, of course, but we promise, not a single hair in her mane will be harmed if you give Cozy Flurry's mark."

He nodded. "I'll need you to teach me the spell."

Starlight took a few minutes to go over the method, teaching Sunburst how to do the spell. Once he knew, he turned to Flurry and took off her gag.

"Sunburst?" she sniffled.

He kissed her forehead. "It's going to be okay, Flurry. I won't let them hurt you anymore."

"I'm scared."

"So am I, Flurry. But I'll never stop looking out for you. Hold my hoof?"

As best she could with her limbs bound, she gripped tightly his hoof as he held her close to his chest. His horn lit up, and she grunted in pain as he slowly peeled away her cutie mark, gently rocking her body back and forth in his lap. No lightning shot from his horn, though Flurry did feel a burning sensation on her thigh.

Peeled away, her cutie mark flew across the room and slapped onto Cozy's flank. With this, her body began to glow, and she rose up into the air. Soon, she was wrapped in a blanket of light, and when it died down, her body lowered to the floor, her brand-new horn as plain as the nose on her face. She'd passed out, being overwhelmed with the power, but Sunburst hadn't noticed, as his attention was solely on the tears streaming slowly down Flurry's face.