Author's Note

OK folks please enjoy. I know the pacing for these chat business stories seems slow but trust me all this is just one big buildup. You’re gonna enjoy when everything hits was supposed to. We’re still in the chill arcs Until then

Kurayami o tanoshimu/ revel in the darkness

FAMILY VISITS

(Sureiya’s POV)

I sat up in bed, managing to slip out of my herd’s grip as I stretched. Walking to the window, I focused on the horizon and raised the sun. It still felt weird doing this, but I was getting used to it. Afterward, I headed to the bathroom for a quick shower.

As I stood under the hot water, letting it run down my back, my mind drifted to my agenda for today. The trash fire that was called court had been somewhat of a success yesterday. Although, by the end of it, we had knocked back so many shots just to dull the headaches we’d gotten from dealing with all the bullshit. I had to carry both Celestia and Luna to their rooms afterward. Turns out, they really can’t handle alcohol for shit.

Today, I figured I’d focus on gaining the trust of the remaining Elements. I already had Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Twilight, and even Spike on my side. Luna, too—I was pretty sure of that.

Now, I just needed to earn the trust of Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Rarity, and, of course, Celestia. Celestia was still going to be a long-term project, but I felt like I had a solid plan for the others.

While contemplating my next steps, I heard the bathroom door creak open. I didn’t bother looking back—I already knew who it was from their scent alone.

“Morning, Miia,” I said casually.

A soft giggle followed as I felt her presence slide into the shower. Warm arms wrapped around my chest from behind, and her long tail coiled around my waist.

“Am I really that noticeable to you?” she asked teasingly.

“Well, for one, lamias have a very distinct scent. And two, I know you like to shower early in the morning to warm up your body—you are cold-blooded, after all,” I replied with a smirk.

She sighed against my back. “You’re right… Thank you,” she murmured.

I turned around to face her, taking in her beauty—the way her vibrant red hair cascaded down her shoulders, her reddish-pink scales shimmering under the steam, and her golden amber eyes locking onto mine. She was breathtaking.

Leaning in, I pulled her into a deep, passionate kiss. My hands slid down her back before firmly squeezing her ass. Despite being partially covered in scales, it was still soft and perfectly squishy—my fingers sinking deep into her plush cheeks as I squeezed.

She tensed up before pulling back, her face flushed. “Oh, darling, you’re so touchy this morning,” she teased.

“Yeah, well, it’s been a stressful week,” I admitted, smirking. “Maybe I need a little….stress relief.”

Miia’s blush deepened, but she smiled playfully. “Maybe… I can help with that,” she whispered, leaning in for another kiss.

Our lips met again, but this time, she slipped her tongue into my mouth, trying to assert dominance. Cute. But I was far more skilled—easily overpowering her attempts, making her submit to me without even trying.

Breaking the kiss, I looked into her dazed, lust-filled eyes. “We’re gonna have to make this quick,” I warned. “The others will not be happy if they find out we did this without them.”

Miia let out a husky breath. “I’ll try…” she whispered, her voice dripping with anticipation.

(30 Minutes Later…)

We almost got away with it. Almost.

But then Shion decided to snitch.

Apparently, she was mad that I didn’t invite her, which was ridiculous considering she literally lives inside my body. She could’ve joined whenever she wanted. Hell, she gets more alone time with me than any of the other girls. She can literally have me whenever she wants.

Still, I knew what this meant—I was going to have to make it up to the others tonight.

For now, though, I had other things to deal with.

Standing in front of Benimaru’s door, I knocked firmly.

“Yo, Beni, I got a job for you and the others,” I called out.

After a minute, the door opened. Benimaru, usually formal and composed, looked slightly annoyed—understandable, given that I had woken him up abruptly.

“Sorry, man. I swear, you can go back to sleep after I talk to you,” I reassured him. “When you’re fully awake, I want you and the others to travel to these locations and search for these people.” I handed him a list.

Benimaru glanced down at it, then back up at me. “Any particular reason?” he asked.

“Yeah. It’s part of my plan to get some of these ponies to trust us.”

He studied me for a moment before nodding.

“You can finish your nap, but when you can, please get on that,” I added politely.

“Of course, my Lord,” he said, saluting before closing the door.

With that handled, I started strolling through the castle, taking in the quiet moment before hearing shions voice in my head.

“You know, Master, I’ve been thinking… I believe it’s time for me to formally introduce myself to the others.”

I smirked. “Awesome. Although, I gotta ask—why are you just now deciding to show yourself?”

“Well, at first, it was because—like you—I didn’t necessarily trust them. But trust is a two-way street, isn’t it? I figured introducing myself officially might give them more reason to trust you.”

I thought about it for a moment. She… actually had a point.

“Okey-dokey, then. Whenever you feel it’s appropriate. Just—for the love of Yahweh and Faust—have some decent clothes on.”

“Spoilsport,” she pouted in my head. “Fine, I’ll wear something… appropriate.”

“Thank you.”

After walking for a decent amount of time, I ran into someone I wasn’t expecting to see so soon.

Rarity.

She rounded the corner and collided straight into me.

“Oh, shit—my bad, Rarity,” I said, quickly offering a hand to help her up.

She looked extremely hesitant at first, her body tense, but after a brief pause, she accepted my hand. I helped her to her feet.

And that’s when I finally got a good look at her.

Rarity always carried herself with elegance, but today? Damn.

She was dressed in a fitted white blouse, unbuttoned just enough to hint at the soft curves underneath, with sheer lace detailing along the sleeves, giving her outfit a subtle air of sophistication. A sleek, form-fitting high-waisted skirt hugged her hips perfectly, stopping mid-thigh—modest, but with just the right amount of allure. She paired it with black stockings, seamlessly tucked into stylish heeled ankle boots that clicked softly against the floor.

Her signature violet curls were styled in a flawless cascade over one shoulder, effortlessly framing her face, Elegant. Classy. And just the right amount of sexy.

And here I was, standing like an idiot, trying not to let my gaze linger too long.

Then… silence.

Very awkward silence.

I wasn’t sure what to say at first, but then I remembered something Pinkie had told me—some of her friends’ likes and dislikes. Might as well start there.

“So… I hear you’re a bit of a fashionista. That true?” I asked, trying to break the ice.

That seemed to be the right move because she perked up ever so slightly.

“Why, yes, of course! In fact, I own a clothing boutique in Ponyville,” she said, a hint of pride in her voice.

I nodded. “Ever thought about expanding? Opening one in some of the bigger cities? I’ve never seen your work personally, but judging by how you carry yourself, I can only imagine you have an excellent eye for design.”

Her posture straightened slightly, and she gave me a pleased smile.

“Darling, you have no idea! I actually designed this outfit myself,” she said, her voice brimming with excitement.

Alright.

Looked like I was finally making some progress.

“Really? Dang, talk about a flawless job,” I said, admiring her outfit. “Fashion designers and models in my world would kill to get their hands on you. Heck, any celebrity would.”

My comment seemed to make her smile in appreciation. Seeing this, I decided to go ahead and hash out my apology.

“Also, Rarity… I’m truly sorry for everything that happened. There was no need for me to be so brutal on that battlefield, but sometimes… I lose myself in a fight. One of the downsides of being part demon.” I gently took her hand in mine and pressed a soft kiss against it before looking into her eyes. “I don’t think I could ever really forgive myself for harming such a beautiful lady.”

My words and gesture had the desired effect. Her cheeks turned pink, and she looked away, flustered.

“Oh, my… Such a true gentlestallion…” she murmured before clearing her throat. “Well… to be honest, when I look back at the situation, we were the ones in the wrong. So, if I’m being completely truthful, you have nothing to apologize for… But I do appreciate it either way,” she said with a small smile.

“You know,” I said, tilting my head slightly, “if you’re interested, I could show you some demonstrations of my world’s fashion sense.”

Her eyes immediately lit up, practically sparkling at my words. “Oh my! I had a feeling your world’s fashion would be interesting!”

“You’re right. I’m not even that into fashion myself, but trust me—my world definitely has a sense of it,” I said with a smirk. “I actually have a few different outfits I’d be willing to model for you, if you’re interested. Might even give you some inspiration.”

“Really? Oh, darling, that would be splendid! Thank you!” she said excitedly.

“No problem. I’ll set up some time for us later this week. Sound good?” I extended my hand for a handshake.

“Why, yes! That sounds delightful!” She grasped my hand in a gentle shake.

I nodded before turning to leave but then paused. “Oh, one more thing.” I reached up and removed the anti-magic ring from her horn. “I feel like you’ve earned this. You’ve been on pretty good behavior.”

She looked at me in surprise before smiling in genuine appreciation. “Thank you, darling… I must admit, I was starting to feel very disconnected from my magic.”

After that, we parted ways.

(Later, in the Kitchen)

I made my way to the kitchen, where my newly appointed chefs were hard at work. Steel Horn, now the head chef of the castle . Alongside him were two griffins and two ponies.

The two griffins, Greta and Ciara, were both quite the sight. Greta had sleek black feathers covering her falcon-like head, and a leopard-spotted lower half, while Ciara had warm brown feathers and a powerful, black jaguar-like body. Both were curvy and carried themselves with the effortless confidence common to griffins.

The two ponies, both stallions, were a pair of Earth pony brothers—Perfect Slice and Acquired Taste. Yeah… pony names were weird. They weren’t the biggest or burliest of Earth ponies, but damn, those niggas could cook.

“Hey guys, got a tall order for you,” I said, stepping into the kitchen. “We’re gonna be having some extra guests later.”

“Of course, sir,” they all said in unison, giving me a respectful nod.

With that idea planted, I hoped things would go smoothly.

(A Few Hours Later)

sitting in my room, catching up on some reading. The books I had found in the old abandoned castle in the Everfree had proven very interesting.

A knock at my door snapped me out of my focus.

Standing up, I opened the door to find Benimaru waiting for me.

“My Lord, me and the others have retrieved the guests you invited to the castle,” he reported.

“Great. Give me a few minutes, then send them into the throne room,” I instructed.

He nodded before walking away to carry out the task.

With a deep breath, I got myself ready. Pulling on my black pants and boots, I slipped on my black trench coat—the hood lined with silver, my Chimera symbol emblazoned across the back. Finally, I reached for my mask, adjusting it securely over my face.

Ok, let’s do this

(In the throne room)

The tension in the throne room was palpable, thick as storm clouds ready to burst.

I sat on my throne, my black trench coat draped over my shoulders, my mask concealing my face. Celestia and Luna were seated beside me, their expressions unreadable, though I knew both were watching carefully.

The grand doors slowly creaked open, and Benimaru stepped in, leading a group of ponies inside. I watched as they hesitantly walked forward, their movements stiff, cautious.

Their fear was almost tangible.

I already knew who they were. Pinkie Pie had described them to me in detail, so I knew their names, their connections, their importance. But this… this was our first time meeting face-to-face.

And they had no idea what to expect.

Their eyes darted around the throne room, some looking toward Celestia and Luna for reassurance. Others stole glances at me, their expressions tense, hesitant—uncertainty and outright fear painted across their faces.

They knew my name.

But they had never seen me before.

And now, they were seeing me for the first time—the one responsible for taking over Equestria. The one who had imprisoned the princesses. The one who now ruled in their place.

I could feel their fear.

I let the silence linger for a moment before I finally spoke.

“Welcome,” I said, my voice calm but firm. “I assume you are all wondering why you have been called here.”

There was a pause, followed by a few murmurs. Some of them were gripping onto each other, while others remained stiff, watching me with wary eyes.

Then, a voice—sharp and full of dread.

“You…”

I turned my gaze to the source.

There stood the white-furred unicorn stallion from my battle, his blue mane slightly unkempt. His eyes narrowed, his body tense as he looked me up and down.

Shining Armor.

Twilight’s brother. Former Captain of the Royal Guard. And the husband of Princess Cadance.

I could see the rage simmering beneath his cautious exterior, his muscles taut, as if he were barely restraining himself from lunging at me.

He stepped in front of the group, instinctively placing himself between me and his family. “Sureiya,” he hissed.

The other ponies reacted almost immediately.

Night Light and Twilight Velvet, standing just behind him, tensed. Velvet clutched Night Light’s arm, her eyes darting between me and Celestia.

Applejack’s family—Granny Smith, Big Mac, and Apple Bloom—stood rigid. Granny’s wrinkled face was twisted into a scowl, while Apple Bloom, wide-eyed and stiff, clung close to Big Mac, who remained silent but watchful.

Rarity’s parents, Hondo Flanks and Cookie Crumbles, had their youngest daughter, Sweetie Belle, huddled between them. Cookie held her daughter close, her expression worried, while Hondo was visibly trying to keep himself calm, though his fingers twitched at his sides.

Rainbow Dash’s parents, Bow Hothoof and Windy Whistles, looked a mix of confused and terrified. Bow’s wings were partially flared, a protective instinct kicking in, while Windy had one hand over her chest, as if trying to steady her breathing. With them was a little filly named Scootaloo.

Pinkie Pie’s family—Igneous Rock, Cloudy Quartz, Limestone, Maud, and Marble—stood together in a cluster. Igneous, Cloudy, and Maud had stone-cold expressions, but Limestone looked pissed, her arms crossed so tightly it looked like she was about to start throwing punches. Marble, on the other hand, kept her head down, shrinking into herself, clearly terrified.

And then there was Fluttershy’s family.

Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Shy, were visibly trembling. Mrs. Shy clung to her husband’s arm, her ears pinned back, while Mr. Shy had a forced, nervous smile—his way of coping with the obvious fear radiating from both of them. Their son, Zephyr Breeze, looked afraid and terrified.

None of them moved closer.

None of them dared to.

I sighed inwardly. So this is how it’s gonna be…

I leaned forward slightly in my throne, keeping my posture relaxed but firm. “Glad to see you remember me, Shining Armor. And to answer the rest of you before you ask, yes—I’m the one who took over Equestria.”

A few ponies let out small gasps.

Shining Armor’s eyes narrowed. “Then you already know what I’m about to ask.”

I nodded. “You want your sister and the others freed.”

“Damn right I do,” he snapped, stepping forward, his horn flickering slightly. The guards around the room tensed, but I merely raised a hand, signaling them to stand down.

Shining Armor was breathing heavily now, his anger growing. “You have no right to hold them here!”

“They aren’t prisoners,” I replied suddenly, my voice calm but firm.

Shining Armor and the other families turned toward me, disbelief flashing across their faces.

“What are you saying?” Night Light asked hesitantly. “How… how can you say that?”

Luna was the one to answer. “Because it’s the truth,” she said. “We are not prisoners. None of us are. At least, not entirely.”

“But… how?!” Cookie Crumbles cried, gripping Sweetie Belle even tighter. “This… this doesn’t make sense! None of this does!”

How can you say they aren’t prisoners?” Velvet’s voice trembled as she addressed Luna and Celestia. “How can you allow this to happen?”

“They’re not free, they’re not safe—how can you stand by and do nothing?” Bow Hothoof shouted, his wings twitching as he held his ground.

“You invaded Equestria!” Bow Hothoof snapped. “You took over! And now you’re saying they aren’t prisoners? Then what the hell is this?!”

I exhaled before standing. The moment I did, the families visibly flinched.

Fear.

I could see it in their eyes.

I took a slow step forward, hands behind my back, my voice steady.

“I understand that you are all scared,” I said evenly. “I understand that you don’t trust me. I don’t expect you to.”

Limestone scoffed. “Damn right, we don’t.”

I ignored her and continued.

“But I wanted to meet you all in person—to speak with you face-to-face. You deserve to know that your daughters, your families, are not being harmed.”

There was silence.

Then—

“Then let them go,” Mrs. Shy pleaded, her voice almost breaking. “Please… we just want our daughters back…”

“I’m sorry, I can’t do that right now. Not yet. There’s a lot at play here. But just know—the Elements are not completely restricted to the castle. They are allowed to wander, as long as they have escorts with them.”

“Then if you’re not letting them go, then why did you bring us here?” Night Light asked.

“Well, duh. Family visits,” I said, and as if right on cue, the doors opened again, revealing the Elements as they entered the throne room.

“What did he call us here for again?” Applejack asked, her brow furrowing as they approached.

“I don’t know. He just told us to be here in thirty minutes, but I’m not sure what fo—” Twilight started, only to freeze when her eyes fell on the gathered families.

“Hey, Twi, what’s got you—” Rainbow Dash started, before her gaze followed Twilight’s. One by one, the others noticed too, and their reactions ranged from shock to disbelief as they took in the familiar faces of their loved ones.

In an instant, the family members rushed forward, practically running to meet their daughters and siblings. The room filled with the sounds of laughter and tears as they embraced, their fears momentarily set aside.

Looking at the situation, I gave a small, knowing smile. “Well, I’ll let you all catch up. Dinner will be ready within an hour or so,” I said as I rose and left, leaving Celestia and Luna behind to watch the reunion.

(3rd pov)

Twilight’s brother, Shining Armor, looked her over carefully, his concern evident in the tension of his shoulders. “Twily, are you okay? He hasn’t hurt you, has he?” he asked, his voice taut with worry.

Twilight shook her head, her expression calm yet tired. “No, Shining. I’m fine. He hasn’t done anything to us since…well, since the fight.”

Twilight Velvet stepped closer, her worry etched across her features. “Shining told us what happened. He said you were…brutalized.” Her voice faltered. “He said it was awful.”

Twilight let out a slow, uneasy sigh. “Brutalized might be an understatement,” she admitted. “I can still feel the phantom pain from when my horn…snapped.”

Rarity, standing nearby, placed a delicate hand on her own horn. “As can I, darling,” she added, her voice uncharacteristically subdued.

“Well, what can you expect from a demon?” Rainbow Dash muttered bitterly.

Her words hit like a shockwave, making the family members freeze.

“A demon?” the gathered ponies all exclaimed at once, their voices a mix of disbelief and alarm.

Rainbow Dash crossed her arms, her expression grim. “Yeah, he admitted it himself. He’s part demon.”

“That’s not fair, Rainbow,” Fluttershy said softly, her gentle tone tinged with reproach. “You know that’s not the whole story. You shouldn’t judge him based solely on that part of him.”

Rainbow huffed, turning her head away. “Come on, Fluttershy. You heard him. He didn’t deny it when we asked. How else am I supposed to look at him?”

The family members looked at each other uneasily, the implications clearly sinking in. They murmured among themselves, their worry spreading like wildfire. What did this mean for their loved ones? For Equestria?

Pinkie Pie suddenly perked up, as if remembering something important. “Well, he’s not just part demon,” she interjected brightly. “He’s also part angel!”

Shining Armor frowned. “Wait…what?”

Pinkie nodded enthusiastically. “Oh right , you guys don’t know. Long story short, Sureiya is something called a chimera beast. He used to Be something called a human—But then he died in his old life and got reincarnated into our world as what he is now,” Pinkie continued, undeterred. “He calls himself a chimera beast because he’s, well, a mix of a lot of things. He’s a host to something called a ‘chimera spirit,’ which is made up of multiple different souls from all sorts of supernatural beings. Angels, demons, false angels, false demons, skinwalkers, werewolves, vampires, Shinigami—you name it!”

Her explanation left the room in stunned silence. The families looked between each other and the Bearers, their disbelief evident.

“You expect us to believe that?” Limestone finally said, her arms crossed. “Sounds like a load of horse apples.”

Applejack stepped forward, her tone steady and firm. “I was there, Limestone. And I might not like it, but he hasn’t lied to us yet. He was tellin’ the truth the whole time.”

There was more silence, the families struggling to process what they had just heard. Their initial fear hadn’t disappeared, but now it was joined by confusion, uncertainty, and just the faintest glimmer of curiosity.

For the moment, none of them knew what to think. All they knew was that there was more to Sureiya than any of them had imagined. But for now, the explanations didn’t matter. For now, they were just relieved to be reunited with their loved ones.