King Sombra's Harem Conquest

Weeks later, Princess Celestia had called a council of war in Canterlot's castle. The war wasn't going all too well for Equestria, and Sombra's forces had slowly been gaining ground, and every captured equestrian subject was one more soldier, one more piece of cannonfodder, for Sombra's army!

Around a table sat the Princess along with about two dozen of the foremost minds for strategy, tactics and logistics, as well as the delegates from the griffons, Gilda and Gabby. Gilda was especially concerned what might have happend to Rainbow Dash...

To her right was the only other alicorn in Equestria, Cadance, and to her left was her new Chief of Staff, Moondancer. Celestia wished so much that Twilight would have been with them. Her knowledge and skills would have been a great boon, but she had fallen into Sombra's clutches, and by who knew what means turned into one of his tools... It still pained her so much...

In general, the meeting just reiterated what everypony already knew. A few new plans were suggested, new angles of attack, more wartime measures, some of which would be discussed further at other meetings. While some of it was promising, the mood in the room was rather glum and once not much of substance was added to the conversation anymore, Celestia adjourned the council, to be reconvened when needed. However, the Princess had asked her most trusted, and capable, commanders to remain behind: Her own niece, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, or Cadance for short, Cadance's husband, the Captain of the Royal Guard, and Twilight's older brother, Shining Armor, and her nephew, Prince Blueblood.

The latter had come as a bit of a surprise to much of Equestria! While the qualifications and skills of Cadance and Shining Armor were beyond any doubt, Blueblood had often been seen, even by Celestia herself, as nothing but a stuck up, self-absorbed wastrel and a bit of a playboy. But these grim times had proven them wrong! For example, he had explained to his aunt that at times he put on a little act, to see if a suitor was really interested in him, or his position in society. He would act like the most oblivious, self-absorbed, pompous prick and expect to be catered to like a royal love interest in a cheap romance novel. Most gold diggers were unable to stand that for more than one evening, when they realized that it wasn't them who would be getting waited hand and hoof, and they quickly left him alone. It might also keep mares with a genuine interest away, but, so far, he had seen it preferable to having to deal with wannabe social climbers all the time. And once the war was over, there had been a mare in his army that had seemed to be genuinly interested in him. Right now, of course, he couldn't act on his interest in her, even with the more lax standards currently, but once most of them could return to civilian life, maybe?

While he didn't compare to Shining, or Cadance, in raw power, fighting prowess or strategic genius, he was a capable enough in these areas and had a sharp tactical mind. He also was one of the greatest equestrian diplomats of the era, something that his aunt had had to admit even when she had looked upon him with disappointmeant at his behavior, a talent that had helped to strike the alliance with the griffons! And now, this talent would be what was needed most!

Equestria needed more allies to stem the tide! And fast! Yet the lands surrounding it were inhabited with a variety of races, and none of them had had much of a (positive) relationship with Equestria in ages. That the griffons were the first to ally with the ponies, even taking them being attacked by Sombra as well into account, was saying a lot! There were the dragons, the yaks and the hippogriffs,... and of course Queen Chrysalis' changelings. Equestrian scouts had recently finally found her hive!

Each of these races could be the next target for King Sombra once Equestria fell! Especially the dragons and the changelings, since he would probably, and accurately, see them as the biggest threatsd his rule... One by one, they would fall to the Crystal Empire's assault, would swell its forces and make the next conquest easier. But if they worked together, allied with Equestria, they were assured to finally be able to beat Sombra's forces back and free the Empire from his grasp!

One major issue was their locations: The dragon lands, in which most of the dragons dwelled, were easy enough to reach, if not to pass through, especially if some more cantankerous dragons intercepted the massengers to the Dragon Lord, which apparently still was Torch. The issues with approaching the changelings were self-evident. Yakyakistan lay BEHIND the Crystal Empire, so any massenger to there would have to either sneak through enemy land, or find a way to circumvent it, maybe via a boat over the North Luna Ocean, though it was highly likely that this would still necessitate avoiding enemy patrols.

Finally, there was Mount Aris, where Hippogriffia, the home of the hippogriffs was located, behind the Badlands and the Bone Dry Desert. A long and arduous journey, not helped by the stories told about the inhabitants of the desert.

"I want to send all of you on diplomatic missions!" Princess Celestia told them in her private chambers. "We are in dire need for more allies, and once Equestria falls, Sombra won't stop. Even if they don't know it yet, the dragons, yaks and hippogriffs, even the changelings, are in danger!"

Shining's eyes narrowed as Celestia meantioned the insectoid shapeshifters that had kidnapped his wife and invated Canterlot on their wedding day. "Why should we care about what happens to Chrysalis?" He snarled.

"It's less about caring what happens to her," his wife explained to him, "or even the other changelings."

"Indeed. It's about the safety of Equestria first and foremost. This is why we need more allies. And the changelings would be potent allies indeed, Chrysalis or not!" Blueblood explained further. "But if Sombra decides to attack them, and managed to defeat them, their infiltration abilities could be lethal against us."

Celestia nodded in agreemeant and Shining Armor also had to admit that they were right! He couldn't allow himself to get blinded by his hatred for what Queen Chrysalis and her changelings had done, even if it would be difficult. Equestria was more important! He did wonder why he was here, though. He was the Captain of the Guard and general of an army, not a diplomat. Princess Celestia herself adn the others were more qualified for these things!

"Cadance? Blueblood?" The ruling Princess turned to her very distant family, "I want the two of you to go to the Dragon Lands together! Try to speak to Torch, the currently reigning Dragon Lord. Afterwards, Cadance will proceed to Mount Aris, south of the Badlands, and you will come back here, get a small escort proceed to the North Luna Ocean, take a boat and try to reach the mountains of Yakyakistan."

The two nodded in agreemeant, but Shining had a question! He got a very bad feeling in his stomach... "Why are you not sending me with Cadance?"

"Because I have a different duty for you!" Tia told him with heavy heart, "I am sorry that I have to ask this from you, Shining Armor, but... I want you to visit Queen Chrysalis."

The bad feeling turned worse... "What?! Why me?"

"Of all of us, you know her the best, even if she had been masquerading as Cadance. And she seemed to have become fond of you," Celestia explained her reasoning to him. "Maybe she will listen to you. Even she won't want King Sombra to take over Equestria! Chrysalis is smart enough to know that he would consider her a threat to be eliminated! Either by breaking her and turning her into one of his puppets, or by extermination. Maybe we can convince her that Equestria as is is preferable as a neighbor and future opponent to an Equestria under King Sombra's domination."

It made sense, especially considering how the war was going, but there was one argumeant Shining could make: "But won't it be difficult for you to coordinate the war and lead the armies at the same time when all of us are gone?"

"I will manage, Shining Armor. I didn't rule over Equestria for a thousand years because I don't know what I can, and can't, do. And I do have others that will, at least for the time being, be able to take over for the three of you."

Shining Armor let out a long sigh. This was going to suck, but he couldn't disagree, especially not given the direness of the current situation... Well, tomorrow they all would have to make preparations for their journeys.

A further few weeks later in the Crystal Empire, Fluttershy had also finally given birth! A little filly they had called "Umbra". And amazingly, to the surprise of all of them, she was an alicorn! Like Princess Celestia! That had been a major shock to everypony! None of them had even known that this was possible!

Umbra's horn curved like her father's and half-brother's, and in general she looked, wings aside, like a female version of Sombra II. Maybe she was a bit more powerfully built, but that was hard to gauge considering their ages. She had originally seemed to be as quiet as Sombra II, but then, instead, had turned out to be a little wild thing! At times, when she had a tantrum, she could be frightening to anyone not able to hold her back! Or when she felt slighted, or decided to just be mean to her brother!

It was a bit of a surprise that Cloudy Quartz, an earth pony, managed to put up with her so well... But then, considering some of the things her daughter Pinkamena could pull off, maybe it made more sense than it seemed at first. The Pie family matron even was pretty sure that, once the two were old enough for it, she would be able to instill a good measure of discipline and good behavior into both of the young ones!

However, Fluttershy, Radiant. Sombra and Cloudy Quartz had also noticed that, when she felt unobserved, Umbra at times turned almost affectionate to her older brother! Apparently, she had a softer side, but didn't like to show it...

Fluttershy breathed a sigh of relief when she had found that out. She wouldn't have liked it if her daughter would have been just a fight happy brute.

Dinky loved playing with them, almost seeing them as little siblings! At least when Umbra wasn't throwing a tantrum. After the first few, her parents had fitted her with a magical inhibitor ring until she could be taught how to contol her magic. In general, however, the two little foals did liven up the live in the castle to the benefit of most of them!

They also had a new arrial: A while ago, during a raid on a small equestrian army camp, they had captured a unicorn introducing herself as "The Great and Powerful Trixie", apparently a stage magician. Even frightened by what might happen to her, this Trixie couldn't help her boasting. It actually was somewhat entertaining, and she had been offered to perform for the king, and if she managed to impress, she would be allowed to leave!

The chance to perform in front of royalty, even if it was the king currently invading her home country, did grip her by her pride as a professional performer! Trixie delivered what she considered her best performance so far! And the court had had to admit that she was good! The very attractive, espcially with her stage outfit had helped, they had to admit: short boots, semi-transparent, blueish-purple thighhigh socks, with stars and moons on them, framing her legs, a white corset pushed up her very nice breasts, and underneath it she wore a gold-rimmed, purple leotard that, if the corset had not been closed, would show off a lot of cleavage. Rounding off her ensemble was a cape and wizard's hat with a similar design as her socks. It was easy to see why a braggart like her was a welcome sight in many army camps, her skills at entertainmeant aside.

Despite the roaring success, or because of it, Trixie didn't leave! At least for now, she told them, she could put on other performances for them, and she could always claim her reward of being allowed to leave later. She had been impressed by the reception she had gotten, and how especially the younger ponies had cheered for her! And that dragoness' face of awe at her magic tricks! And then, there was that other unicorn... Starlight, who over time had befriended Maud, somehow had come to like Trixie, and the reverse was also true! Despite how their personalities were very much different! There were even rumors now that they had become lovers!

Radiant just wondered why, if it was true, they kept it at rumors? The worst that would happen would be others wanting to join in from time to time, maybe the two could service her husband after another one of Trixie's shows? Maybe they could also bear his foals? Well, they wouldn't be the only ones...

It had turned out that Zecora had had a lot of success in her attempts at brewing a potion that would allow the king to breed non-ponies. A little bit too much success, in fact, and it had been so strong that Radiant had been forced to improve her contraception spells before every one of her husbands' lovers got knocked up! As it was, the zebra herself was pregnant, and so were Rarity, Twilight and Barb! There also was the suspicion that Diamond Tiara and Derpy had been knocked up!

It was lucky that they had, somehow, managed to avoid knocking up more melee fighters than Barb, who could just breath fire from above, and might be tougher than a pony even pregnant! If Tempest Shadow, Rainbow Dash or Spitfire or the others had become "inconvenienced" it would have been a bit a nnoying. Twilight could easily fight using just her magic, and her the bump that was beginning to show was aluring yet also somewhat amusing with her rather revealing outfit.

Apparently, Big Mac had also gotten a sip of it, since Sugar Belle and Marble Pie were also showing signs of pregnancy.

Oh, once Canterlot was his, before they'd begin the next phase of conquests, he'd make sure that Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Apple Bloom, Silver Spoon, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle, all the Pies and the other members of Rainbow Dash's old unit would bear his foals! Maybe even Starlight and Trixie! Afterwards, they may as well cary their lovers', but their first child would be his...

And while this was happening, the preparations for King Sombra's most daring strike were in motion: To strike against the capital of Equestria itself! His forces had gained ground on a broad front and were nearing a position which would allow them to split Equestria in two, isolating the west coast from the capital and the east coast with its population centers of Manehattan and Fillydelphia among others!

And if the capital was put under siege, was isolated from the rest, it would make communications even harder for the commands in other areas! And Sombra would lead the assault on Canterlot himself. In person and from the front! Of course, he wouldn't go alone... most of his harem/palace staff would come along, except for Tempest Shadow, who would stay back to coordinate the war on the other fronts, where other competent and loyal, if brainwashed, subjects would lead the troops. As the war was going, he figured it was better to have his best troops aligned directly against Princess Celestia rather than her underlings. Even if they were able to push back his forced in other places, once Equestria's proverbial head had been cut-off, mopping up the rest wouldn't be much of a challenge. Time consuming, maybe, but nothing else...

Now, if only he could find Barb! Most of the forces had already gathered and Twilight and Starlight were only waiting to create a large portal that would allow them to launch their strike against the heart of Equestria! But the dragones, usually always so eager to get into action, was nowhere to be found!

Neither was Rarity for that matter... Were they fooling around? Now? They knew what would happen today! "BARB! WHERE ARE YOU?!" The king shouted angrily as he paced through the corridors, opening random doors to see if he could find them! "RARITY! BARB! GET HERE!" His heavy steps echoing alongside his voice, the palace staff did their best to avoid him. When he was in a mood like this, nopony wanted to cross him.

Suddenly, passing through an empty corridor, a door to his left opened and at least one of those he'd been looking for stood in front of him! Rarity was pressing a finger against her mouth... "Hush!" She almost whinced as the king glared at her! How could she dare to shush him?!

"What are you doing here?" Her hissed, trying to reign his anger in. "We are about to depart for Equestria! And where is Barb?!"

"Barb..." The unicorn took a deep breath to steady her nerves, "Barb is laying her egg!"

Sombra's anger rapidly disappeared! "What? Why didn't she tell us?"

"I don't think she expected it to happen today or soon. We don't have much of a frame of reference for dragon pregnancies either! When it started, she grabbed me and a bunch of pillows and rushed into a random room! I think she didn't want anypony to see her so vulnerable! Before I left her, she was squatting over a pile of pillows, her eyes glassed over, whimpering..."

He put a hand on Rarity's shoulder. "Lead me to her."

Indeed, like she had told him, Barb was squatting over a pile of pillows in an almost dark room. Panting heavily, she tried to press the egg out! Rarity hurried to her girlfriend and put a reassuring hand over her back, between the wings! "Where- where have you been?" Barb asked her.

"Sorry, darling! I had to step outside for a momeant!" The white unicorn told the dragoness with an apologetic voice. "Breath. Try to relax."

"Maybe... Maybe I shouldn't have skipped Cloudy's lessons..." Barb joked, letting out a pained chuckle. "But then, I doubt that birthing lessons for ponies are really 1:1 applicable to dragons..."

"Shh. Just concentrate on laying your egg..." The mare whispered into her ear again. At the same time, she gestured towards Sombra to come over as well. The king knelt down behind Barb and put his left on her shoulder, the right around her hip, and also began to calmly talk talk to her.

"I... I think it's about to come out!" Barb cried out a few minutes later! Another cry, more calming words from Rarity and King Sombra. In the gloom of the room, Rarity saw how the egg was beginning to appear! More enouragmeant to keep going was offered until, finally, it fully slipped out!

Softly, the egg landed on the pillows. Carefully, Rarity picked it up and held it in front of Barb's eyes. Immediately, the dragoness snatched it from her hands and pressed it against her chest! She shot the unicorn a frightening glare... "Mine!" She hissed, and Rarity took a step back! But a momeant later, Barb was back to normal. In fact, she seemed like she herself was startled with what had just happened! "Sorry! I-I don't know what just came over me..."

"Motherly instinct, I guess?" The mare carefully suggested.

"Maybe..." Barb calmed down again, loosening her grip on the egg a little. Dreamily, she added: "If it is a boy, I'll call him 'Spike'!"

Rarity smiled. It somehow felt... appropriate? A nice name....

Sombra eyed the egg. It very much looked like Barb: purple with green spots. "I hate to interrupt you two, but we might need something to keep it warm?"

This tore Barb out of her contemplation of her egg and what to call her child once it hatched! "King Sombra!? When... when did you get here?!"

"He was looking for us and shouting through the castle. When he passed by, I thought it better to stop this infernal ruckus!"

"Honestly? I think I'm happy that he was here when it happened..." Barb turned to him again: "Your Highness? Do you have any suggestions how to keep it at a high temperature at all time?"

"I guess Twilight and Starlight should be able to build something that will be able to keep the egg warm. Maybe based on the design Celestia used to keep your egg warm."