King Sombra's Harem Conquest

A few days later, Twilight and Starlight had prepared a spell that would create a portal: If their estimations of the coordinates had been accurate, end inside, or at least near, the Castle of the Two Sisters in Everfree Forest. Pinkie Pie's visit home would have to wait for a while. But then, Radiant's birth wasn't due until a few more months, and Fluttershy's was even further away.

As it turned out, the calculations by Twilight and Starlight were very accurate, and Sombra's forces, lead by the King himself and accompanied by Fluttershy, Barb, Twilight and Tempest Shadow, made their base inside the ruins.

On their way to the town their scouts had run into a zebra living in the woods. Tempest and Barb had easily captured her and, when brought before the king, she had revealed that her name was "Zecora". At first, she was just bound and guarded, while the scouts explored her hut.

And judging by what they'd seen in her hut, she was a potioneer of great skill! This was something of interest to Sombra and Radiant! Starlight and Twilight were very talented, but Zecora's knowledge of the crafting of potions probably eclipsed theirs! And, maybe, a combination of magic and potions could allow Sombra to impregnate more than just ponies... Radiant certainly wouldn't have minded that; The more little ones around, the more there was to help Sombra from falling to his dark side! And Barb, at times, looked a little jealous of Fluttershy and Radiant! Though, of course, it would be a while before any of his fighters would be ready to bear his offsprings!

Zecora was brought before Sombra and given a very simple choice: Join them, or be locked away in the dungeons until she would either die or join them out of desperation anyway. Her decision was quick, but obviously not one she took with much pleasure. Luckily, Sombra's prowess could add that to it, as well as reinforce her conviction at joining him.

It had probably helped that she didn't have a good relationship with the townsfolk. Anytime she had visited Ponyville, she'd been avoided, as if the town was afraid of her! Even Fluttershy, when she'd been living there, had only heard stories about an "evil witch living in Everfree Forest" and might have had only seen her from afar.

Tempest Shadow and Barb led the attack on the Town itself, a day after their arrival. Fluttershy, Sombra, Zecora and Twilight remained in the castle ruins with about a quarter of their troops.

They moved up to the town as quietly. A few times, they had to avoid some young ponies daring each other to go deeper into this eldritch forest. When one of them got away too far from the others, a young, white pegasus, they snatched him up and, bound and gagged, sent one of their group to carry him back to Zecora's hut. They had decided to use it as the place they would gather before returning to the king after the attack. And it was comfy enough.

When their friend didn't return, the group hurried out of the forest! They wanted to ask some of the older ponies to help them find him! Apparently, the pegasus was called "Rumble".Followig them, they waited for a few minutes in the undergrowth at the forest's edge. Then they burst out of the forest and rushed towards the town.

At first, the ponies of Ponyville didn't even realize what was going on, wondering who this group of ponies, coming from Everfree Forest, was! Then, slowly, all too slowly, they realized who they were and panic spread! Screaming started as the townsfolk of Ponyville began to ran.

Some tried just to hide, others tried to help others to get to safety and a handful of them even tried to fight the attackers off. Most of them were quickly overwhelmed and left lying in the dirt, however.

Barb was chasing a gray pegasus. with a bunch of bubbles as her cutie mark, through the air. Constantly, she skirted obstacles by the breadth of a hair! She was either one of the best fliers in Equestria... or one of the worst and just very lucky. Honestly? It was getting on Barb's nerves...

This changed, when they heard a cry rise over the noise below! "Mommy!!!" Barb took a momeant to look. A guard had caught a young unicorn filly, desperately looking at the pegasus!

The pegasus stopped dead in her tracks! Her head turned, looking for the source of the voice! "Dinky!!!" Not caring about her pursuer, the mare charged towards the soldier holding the filly. And was caught by Barb.

"Gotcha! Finally!"

"Please! Let me go! I-I will go with you! Peacefully! Just let me go to my daughter!"

"That almost takes the fun out of the catch..." Barb grumbled. Then, she noticed the pegasus' eyes. "How did you even evade me with your eyes all crossed?!"

"No idea. I usually crash into half of the stuff that gets in my way."

With the mare and her daughter being walked to the woods by the same soldier who had caught the young unicorn, Barb took to the air again, looking for other interesting candidates. She saw Tempest Shadow dragging a gray-maned looking mare, probably in her late thirties to early fourties, out of a building. She looked like some sort of town official. Maybe the mayor?

Again, her attention was drawn by shouts! "SWEETIE BELLE! COME QUICK!" Barb's head turned, looking towards from where she had heard the voice. Then, she froze in place! The voice had come from a very pretty mare with a white coat and purple mane.

The unicorn put an arm around the shoulder of another, younger, unicorn mare. She also had white fur and what looked like a pink-and-purple mane. Most likely a younger sister?

Behind them were to other young mares. An earth pony with a light coat and red mane and a bow in it, and a purple-maned pegasus with smaller than usual wings. The older mare half lead, half dragged the three to a boarded up building, looking surprised at the other two for a momeant. A sign on the building, dusty and faded, said "Carousel Boutique."

A few momeants after the door had closed, two more mares, two earth ponies, one pink, one gray and wearing glasses, almost crashed into it! "What about us?!" The gray one called out, desperately banging against the door!

"Please! Let us in!"

The door opened again for a momeant and the two disappeared into the former boutique.

Barb grinned. Time for some amusemeant! Sure, ripping out the door would be easy enough for a dragon... But where was the fun in that? Instead, she knocked. No answer. She knocked again, louder this time. Again, no answer. "Open the door! I know that you're in there!" She called, amusemeant in her voice!

She shook her head when she still didn't get any response. Apparently, those ponies thought she acted just on a hunch and would leave when it became 'self-evident' taht nopony was inside. "Come out! Come out!" Barb called again. "Or do you want me to smoke you out?" Now, her voice took on a tone of grim amusemeant. She didn't often get the chance to set something on fire!

Then, a little noice! Had that been a little yelp from behind the door? "You want it the hard way then?" The dragoness laughed! She moved a a bit and easily ripped off the wood planks boarding up the window. She took a deep breath... and melted the window glass, her flame continuing on into the dusty interior, setting fire to the building! It quickly spread over the ground floor but would leave a way to the door. Which is where Barb hurried to now.

"Come out and surrender yourselves to me, or..." She allowed the implications to remain unsaid.

A few momeants later, and between some coughing, the voice of the unicorn she had first seen came though the door! "We're coming! We're coming! Just don't hurt us!"

"See? It wasn't that hard after,-..." Barb was about to taunt them, when she took a closer look at the unicorn. "You really are the most beautiful pony I've met..." The pristine white coat, the gorgous, well maintained purple mare... deep, blue eyes... The dragoness felt her face warming up! Was she blushing?! Why was she blushing because she was looking at some random, if very pretty, unicorn?!

Instead of appreciating the complimeant, however, the unicorn spat out: "Save the breath, you hideous monster!" Barb was almost a little hurt!

"Please," the younger unicorn, probably the aforemeantioned Sweetie Belle, and probably the unicorn's younger sister, spoke up, "Rarity, don't make her angry!"

Rarity? Barb thought... What a fitting name! Honestly? She felt oddly familiar.

Rarity looked at Sweetie Belle and the others. "You are right... Scootaloo! Apple Bloom! Diamond Tiara! Silver Spoon! Stay with me!" Then, she was distracted by a loud howl coming from the upper floor of the building! "OPAL!"

"Mmh~... Opals..." Barb had to admit, she was feeling a little peckish, and an opal would be a nice sna-...

"MY CAT! OPAL SHE IS STILL INSIDE!" Oh. It was her cat. Rarity turned to the dragoness! "Please! Save her!" Ah! Suddenly she wasn't a hideous monster not good enough to talk to her. Now she was good enough...

Barb grumbled a little, but went to rescue Opal anyway. She wondered why. There must have been something about that Rarity, her beauty aside. Something inside of her wanted Rarity to like her! Maybe... maybe she had fallen in love? Love at first sight? Ridiculous! But at the same time... a little... romantic?

The smoke that had engulfed the first floor made seeing difficult even for Barb, though, of course, did little more than inconvenience her. After two minutes, she found a white ball of anxious fur in a corner! The cat did its best trying to claw into Barbs arm. But when her claws did absolutely nothing to her scales, Opal just stared dumbfounded.

Landing next to her group of prisoners, she handed the cat over to her owner. Who, apparently, was used to dealing with her pets claws. By now, the other troops were withdrawing. A few of the soldiers set fire to some buildings before leaving, another group was leading a pair of mares, who looked like twins, away. Well, it was time to leave.

After some time of marching, Rarity spoke to Barb. She knew that the dragoness didn't have to save her. That she had done so anyway... "Th-thank you for saving Opal. Uhm..."

"Barb. My name is Barb."

"Thank you, Barb." She petted the cat in her arms. "I am Rarity. And this is my sister Sweetie Belle. The others are Scootaloo, Apple Bloom,Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. They are all in the same age range. "

Barb was surprised. This really was quite the turnaround! And, judging by their expression, the other mares shared Barb's confusion. Rarity noticed. "Well, darling, I figure that, right now, there isn't much I can do about the situation." She had no idea why she had just called the dragoness 'darling', but it did feel... strangely appropriate! "I might as well try to make this reasonable amicable for me, my sister and her friends. And you did save Opal, so I have to guess that not all of this villain's helpers are simple ruffians and brutes!"

The five other mares exchanged looks. Friends? They were acquainted and class mates, but friends? Well, Tiara and Silver Spoon were, but the other three? On the other hand, now that they heard them being called 'friends', something told them... that they should be! Especially Sweetie Belle, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom!

"Most of us ain't!" Barb half laughed, half grumbled. "You should meet some yourself. Especially Fluttershy and Her Highness, Queen Radiant Hope!"

"Queen Radiant Hope?" Rarity was surprised! The name alone already sounded trustworthy, nice and kind. Very much unlike the tyrant... The name Fluttershy also sounded vaguely familiar, but then again, it probably wasn't a unique name and she had spent most of the war in a large city. You heard all sort of names there! "King Sombra has a wife?"

"Of course! From what I know, she knew him already when they were both fillies!

"But that would mean that she is.. over a thousand years old!"

"Don't ask me on the details." The dragoness shrugged. "Maybe Sombra or Radiant will tell the story to you at some point. Or maybe Twilight, or Fluttershy. They were interested in that sort of stuff. Fluttershy especially, considering she's the queen's best friend. I usually ended up droning those stories out."

Some time later, the Castle of the Two Sisters had already come into sight, Barb turned to Rarity again: "From what I've heard about Equestria, you have a very one dimensional image of King Sombra!"

"I take it that you think otherwise?"

"I mean, the ponies from Equestria that have joined us in the castle are pretty happy. Fluttershy, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash... And he is basically my father. Helped Twilight to get me out of my egg and all."

Rarity's eyes got bigger as she heard that! And even her sister and her friends were intrigued! "So... you are a princess?" And while that stuff was of a more direct and pressing interest for her, there was something about those names she had just said. It was as if those four ponies... were important to her, somehow. And Barb as well...

"Not really. Technically, he might be my father... but with how that all went down, all that magic and so on... It's complicated." She scratched the back of her neck. "At least, I don't consider myself much of a princess, and I don't see myself anywhere in the line of succession. Especially considering that the Queen is a few months into her pregnancy. And I have no interest in ruling either."

"A real princess... huh..."

Finally, they arrived at the Castle. Rumble and his guard had been picked up on the way and the pegasus joined in with the other ponies of similar age. The prisoners were now being herded into a medium sized room to wait until they would be lead in front of King Sombra.

Sombra, meanwhile, had made himself comfortable on the remnants of a throne and was getting titfucked by Zecora, showing minor signs of his magic around her eyes – which also had cured her of her incessant rhyming - and Fluttershy. He wasn't shy about that and in general wouldn't have minded them seeing him like this, especially any good looking mares in the group, and maybe some of the more handsom stallions, but he wanted to make a good first impression on the citizens of Ponyville. One that really struck awe and fear into them.

Also, there might be minors in the group, and he was a ruthless tyrant bent on controlling them all, not somebody who'd expose a little filly to... these sorts of pictures. Also, Fluttershy and Radiant would get really annoying if he'd let that happen, especially with both of them pregnant with his foals...

On the topic of Fluttershy... her breasts had started to grow even larger!

Once the two mares were done, Zecora disappeared into the background, wiping some cum of her face. And now, Fluttershy standing slightly behind the throne, Sombra had the captives brought in front of him.

Seeing the little unicorn filly clutching the leg of a mare, probably her mother, told him that he had made the right call to have his entertainmeant finished before he met them. However, he still didn't want the little one here with the older ponies. Not now.

He turned to the pegasus at his side, who bowed slightly to get her head closer. "Fluttershy? Would you please take care of the filly?"

"Of course, your highness." The gray pegasus, Fluttershy couldn't remember her name at the momeant, pulled her daughter closer to herself. "Don't worry! I promise that no harm will come to her and that I will take good care! You will see her again as soon as this is over."

"Wait. I remember you!" The other pegasus realized! "You are that mare that lived near the forest, taking care of all the animals! Fluttershy, right?! Why are you with them?"

Fluttershy had been a bit too reclusive... She knew most of Ponyville only from sight. And she'd been gone for quite a while now! So, instead she rather avoided that a bit when she replied, with a gentle smile, "You will hear about that later. Let me take care of your daughter for now, alright?"

The gray mare wasn't happy about it, but realized that, given the situation, there was worse company for her daugther than shy, kind Fluttershy.

"And you are?" Fluttershy asked the filly as they disappeared, her mind working to remember the pegasus' name... What was it again? Muffins? Ditzy? No... but something like that... OH! RIGHT! Derpy!

"Dinky Doo!"

Sombra looked over his captives. The first one was a middle-aged looking mare, wearing a formal, black attire, blazer with a white blouse, something tied around her neck and a short skirt. She looked like a dignitary of sorts. And so, he would save her for last. Instead, he started with the elder looking of two white unicorns.

He gave a slight nod to Twilight and indicated the pony. He wouldn't be the one to adress them first. He was the king! He had servants to do so! "You there!" Twilight turned to the unicorn. "Name and occupation!"

"Rarity." The unicorn answered, eying Twilight curiously. Just like the dragoness, she felt familiar... "I used to be a fashion designer before... all of this happened."

A fashion designer? Sombra had an almost imperceptible smile on his face! That was very good! They could use somepony with a hand for these matters! Radiant and Fluttershy could use some new dresses... and Barb, Twilight and the others maybe something else as well. And, if he was being honest, a few new dress uniforms and such might not be the worst idea either.

Twilight turned to the other unicorn. "And you?"

"Sweetie Belle. Her younger sister."

Unprompted, the younger of the two pegasi imares n the group and an earth pony spoke up: "Apple Bloom. My family has a farm and orchard near Ponyville..."

"Scootaloo."

"No specific talents or occupations?" The pseudo-alicorn with her ethereal wings asked them.

The three lifted their skirts just enough to reveal their lack of cutie marks. "We're blank flanks." Apple Bloom added, unnecessarily.

They heard a snort. "Very classy, Diamond Tiara." Apple Bloom grumbled.

Unnoticed by them, Sombra's look turned stony. He hadn't forgotten how he'd been insulted and shunned, in part because he didn't have a cutie mark! A thousand years later, but some things didn't change, it seemed.

To her credit, Diamond Tiara looked actually embarassed. "Sorry." And, rather maturely, she added, "I know that we are in this together." Then, she turned to Sombra and Twilight. "Diamond Tiara. I am the daughter of Ponyville's richest pony. I do have my cutie mark, but... honestly, I don't know what it means for me yet." She showed her mark, a tiara as befitting her name.

"Silver Spoon. Diamond Tiara's friend." The last one said.

The young pegasus stallion now spoke up: "Rumble. Also a blank flank."

Deciding that they were still young enough to find out about what they were good at, what they were meant to do, Twilight decided not to push them any further. It would be a waste of time anyway. Instead, she turned to the cross-eyed, light gray pegasus whom the little filly had clung to.

"Derpy Hooves. Dinky Doo, the little filly with Fluttershy, is my daughter. I work as Ponyville's mail mare."

Not that they needed another messanger right now, but maybe in the future. Maybe she could be useful otherwise. Perhaps working in the castle?

Next were two earth ponies that looked suspiciously like twins. One pink with a blue mane, the other looking basically like her, just with the colors swapped. "Aloe-..."

"-... and Lotus Blossom."

"We run-..."

"-ran-," her sister correcter her. The fact that they managed to continue each others' sentences like that was proof enough that they were twins, if any further proof was needed.

"-, Ponyville's spa."

They had run a spa? That sounded intriguing! For both, Twilight and Sombra! A pair of professional relaxation experts would, most likely, be appreciated by everyone back home! Two pretty mares giving them nice, relaxing, treatmeants and massages... Happy Ends. They could probably teach some of their staff as well.

Finally, Twilight turned to the one looking like a dignitary or something in that vein. "And now, for you. You look like you are somepony holding an office?"

"I am the mayor of Ponyville. Mayor Mare." She told them. Talk about 'dressing for the job'... The mayor took a deep breath to steady hersef, then stepped forward. "Please. Don't hurt them!" She gestured towards the other ponies. "I,-" she swallowed, "-I am willing to cooperate, to fullfill any demands that are in my power to fullfill, in exchange for you promising me that you are not going to hurt them!"

How very convenient! She had nothing major to offer to them, they knew that, the mayor probably as well, but they also had no intention on hurting any of them to begin with, and with the message sent, Ponyville was of middling interest. However, Mayor Mare offered them an easy way into her mind, to make her one of Sombra's servants. And with this, Ponyville could, at the very least, be very easy to integrate once the Crystal Empire's forces got there.

"You demand that no harm may come to them?" Twilight asked, raising an eyebrow. "Why not ask for us to just go and leave everypony behind? Swear to never come to Ponyville ever again?"

"Because I have serious doubts that you would agree to anything in that case. This way there is a chance of you treating them well, and maybe sparing Ponyville further harm."

"Clever pony." Sombra chuckled, his deep voice sending a shiver down the spines of the prisoners. "I agree to your conditions. Come to me, Mayor Mare."

Again, the mayor swallowed, then moved, climbing up to the throne. "What do you demand... King Sombra?" She sounded resigned to her fate.

"Twilight? Show her."

With a smirk, Twilight walked up to the king. The mayor had no idea what she had gotten herself into... Twilight grabbed the mayor's hand, causing her to look confused. Then, the unicorn moved moved it to the king's groin.

Seeing how Mayor Mare reacted was a blast! At first, she was surprised, but that quickly turned into shock, fear and shame. And, when she felt him hardening, and his size, and she hated herself for that, a tinge of lust. On instinct, she grabbed the cloth. The unicorn used that chance to have her lift the fabric covering King Sombra's pride.

All of the prisoners stared, even Rumble. The young stallion, so far, had never had any attraction to males, but something made him unable to look away. Derpy and Rarity let out small whimpers. With everything that was going on, Derpy caring for her daughter, Rarity working shift after shift in a factory churning out uniform after uniform, they hadn't had a lot of sex in a while. The younger mares and Sombra, as intimidating as he was, even in a flaccid state, looked very... gifted.

Twilight's smirk grew wider as she told the earth pony what her part of the deal would be. Not that it wasn't obvious already. "You will serve the king... with your body."

Mayor Mare was aghast! She didn't know what she had expected, but... not this! Twilight placed the mayor's hand on Sombra's dick, and it felt like lightning ran down her spine! The warmth, the mass... Subconsciously, she started to move her hand... When was the last time She had done something like this? Probably before she'd been elected mayor?

Soon, Sombra's cock hardened. As the mayor marveled, Twilight, with her left, began to squeeze the older mare''s breasts, while her right lifted Mayor Mare's skirt over her ass, revealing her panties to the captured citizens.

"Get to work properly!" The unicorn told her once he was fully errect! "Put your hand... or hands, around the shaft! And don't forget the lube!" Mayor Mare did as she was told. She didn't have much of a choices in any case, both with Twilight next to her and the offer she had made. "Don't forget his balls... You know, better just start sucking off, while your hand takes care of them!" Twilight mockingly guided her.

And, as if on autopilot, the mayor followed her words. Her head lowered towards the King's scepter and its musk filled her nostrils. It was... mesmerizing! This smell alone made her feel like no stallion had ever made her feel! Maybe giving him a blowjob wouldn't be that bad after all! In fact, she managed to lose herself in the act!

It felt like just seconds had gone by for Mayor Mare, but, in fact, it had been a few minutes, when Sombra's load filled her mouth. Taken by surprise, she let his length slip from her mouth! Another splurt covered her face, smearing her glasses. Then, a last one hit her top! It tasted good... and it was so hot against her fur... her body was burning!

Almost reluctantly the mare swallowed the load in her mouth. She wanted to enjoy the taste for longer! "Was... was that all?" She half hoped, half dreaded.

She heard Twilight laugh. "Of course,-" the unicorn ran her tongue over Mayor Mare's face, scooping up some of the cum and swallowing it, "-not! Now, you will ride him." The king's mage pulled the mayor's panties down and ran a finger over her slit! "Oh... you're really needy, huh?" Then, she turned to the others: "I hope you are enjoying the show? You know, you can get yourselves off, if you want to. But I guess that would be too embarassing for you!" For now, she chuckled internally.

For the mayor, shame had already given way for desire as she opened her top and her blouse. Rising to her hooves, she pulled her bra down, letting her puppies pop out. When Sombra grabbed her hand and pulled her into his lap and unto his cock.

It was a delightful feeling of fullness, something, she just realized, she'd been missing in her life! Mayor Mare's hips began to move almost immediately! She didn't even care for the stares of the other captives, imagining how they looked on in disbelief! Disbelief... and jealousy!

They watched as as their mayor rode him. Her face was now close to the king's and he took advantage of it, kissing her! Mayor Mare felt King Sombra's magic enter her! Felt how it wormed its way into her mind, how it changed her... and how she liked it!

The best fuck in her life was over far too soon for the mayor's tastes, but at least it ended with a bang. "Now, Mayor Mare, are you satisfied with the conditions of the deal?"

Mayor Mare's face now showed a completely different expression from before: Her mouth was twisted into a big, lust-filled smiled and her eyes showed a fanatical devotion, enhanced by the traces of Sombra's magic., which would subside shortly. When she answered Sombra, her voice trembled with joy! "Yes.. my king!" She was so full with his cum that she was certain that he had knocked her up... And it filled her with joy! To carry King Sombra's foal!

The captives stared on, even more disbelief on their faces if that was possible! She... she hadn't just called Sombra 'HER King'?! Then, they noticed the tracess of Sombra's magic hovering near her head, around her eyes. What came next, however, was worse.

His right index finger caressed the mayor's jawline, "I will keep my promises. And I will also promise to not attack Ponyville again. In turn you will return there,-" Mayor Mare looked very disappointed and on the verge of protesting, "-and prepare it for my return. When I come back to Ponyville, I want it to join me willingly."

"You... You intent to return here, your Highness?" To the discomfort of the captives, the mayor almost squealed with happiness!

Sombra's hand moved lower and twisted Mayor Mare's left nipple, causing her to howl in pleasure. "Once Celestia is cornered and me and my forces stand before Canterlot."

It certainly wasn't a picture that Rarity and the others liked, despite her prior statemeant about making the whole thing reasonably amicable for her. "King Sombra, I hope that this day will be soon!"

"And I trust that you can make your return believeable to your townsfolk?"

"I will claim that we were attacked by one of the creatures of Everfree Forest, maybe a timberwolf or two, or maybe the forest itself, and that I either slipped away or was left behind in the chaos. I will probably have to rip up my clothes a little, get some twigs and dirt stuck in my mane and tail, and that should be enough!"

"Very well then. Barb? Take some soldiers and escort her back to Zecora's hut. From there, she should be able to find her way back to Ponyville with little danger to herself. And bring the left over potioneering equipmeant back!"

Mayor Mare already had ideas. Maybe she should go after Cheerilee? Getting the town's teacher for her king would help to slowly turn the younger ponies... Flitter and Cloudchaser would make for a nice present... But, she remembered, first she had to find a stallion to spend a night with. After all that happened, wanting a night of intimacy probably wouldn't seem to strange to the others, and she needed a cover for her pregnancy, if Sombra indeed had knocked her up.

Some time, maybe two hours, after the attack, Applejack, Big Mac, Hondo Flanks and Cookue Crumble were running through the devastated Ponyville! Applejack and Big Mac had been busy at Sweet Apple Acres, overseeing the productions of more food for the troops. Hondo and Cookie had been on a stroll before the attack happened, and when they had seen the smoke rise had hurried to the farm to get aid from two of the strongest ponies in the town!

"Apple Bloom!" APPLE BLOOM! WHERE ARE YOU?!" The Apple siblings were calling out for their younger sister as their hurried down the main road.

"Rarity!" The parents of the two unicorn sisters followed behind the Apple's, calling for their daughters. "Sweetie Belle?!"

Behind them, slowly, more and more of the townsfolk rallied as they got confirmation that Sombra's forces really were gone! Most of them, however, stayed together in a clumb, relieved that they had been spared from whatever fate the evil king had planned for them. Some of them looked at the damage their homes had suffered.

Applejack and the others stopped when they heard a faint voice calling out: "Help! Help!"

The four ponies looked around, trying to make out from where the voice had come, trying to make out who it had been... it was faint, they couldn't quite make out who it was, maybe... But no, now they were able to hear that it was a stallion. "I'm stuck here! Under the rubble!"

Their heads zeroed in on a half-collapsed building. "Please! Get me out of here!"

Big Mac and Applejack did the heavy lifting, while Hondo and Cookie used their magic to keep loose rubble and other debris from falling down. After half a minute, they dragged a very battered stallion out of the leftover pile that used to be a house.

Applejack, maybe a little bit too energetically, gave the stallion a few claps to dust him off! "Dr. Whooves? Are you alright?" Hondo asked him.

Dr. Whooves coughed some dust up, then let out a little whimper. "Ow..." But, after a few momeants to get his bearings again, he turned to his saviors. Massaging his ribs, he spoke to them again: "Thank you four for getting me out of there. I was trying to help when a spell hit the house and it collapsed onto me!"

Then, he really realized who was in front of them! Whooves had seen what had happened to their relatives: "I am sorry to say, but...they took Rarity and Sweetie Belle!" He told Hondo and Cookie, who had to support each other to not fall to their knees.

"No! My little girls!" Cookie sobbed quietly, tears starting to run down her cheeks.

Then, Whooves turned to the Apples: "And I also saw Apple Bloom with them!"

Applejack's expression was one of pure, unadulterated fury. Pulling her hat down, so that it covered her eyes, the anger in her lowered voice was clear: "This. Won't. Stand!" She began to march to wards Everfree Forest. "AND IF WE HAVE TO SEARCH THROUGH THE WHOLE DAMN FOREST AND BEAT UP ALL OF SOMBRA'S FORCES!" But then, she noticed that her brother was still standing with the other ponies, even helping to console Cookie and, even if he didn't quite show it, Hondo. "Big Mac? Why are you standing there! Let's get going!"

"Sorry, sis! I don't think that's a good idea!" Her older brother called back. Dr. Whooves looked at him, a little surprised, since Big Mac never talked much. It was probably a sign of how dire the situation was that he now spoke as much as he did: "The ponies here need help, and, hate to say it, we probably won't be able to find them in time. They probably didn't walk to Ponyville."

AJ hated to admit it, in this situation, but her brother was right. And just charging into them, all fired up but without a plan, probably would have just ended up with them getting captured as well... "Damn it! You are right! Let's help the folks here first!"

The five began to drum up all the ponies they could find, administering first aid where needed and to the best of their abilities. Now it was a bit unfortunate that Nurse Redheart had joined to help the war effort and they didn't know where Doctor Horse was. Some reported that he had been captured, but others said that they'd talked with him earlier and that he was taking a lengthy walk. They all hoped for the latter, since they could use medical expertise...

Cloudchaser and Flitter were racing to Canterlot to call for help. Doctors and medical supplies, building material to rebuild the houses, maybe a small garrison?

Applejack, Big Mac, Dr. Whooves and Hondo gathered a number of the most able and uninjured ponies around them, among them Cheerilee, the Cakes, Bulk Biceps – there had always been a little been some surprise he wasn't at the front lines, but then again, Bulk was a big softie at heart – and Davenport. This group now searched for more ponies that had evaded the assault, but might be in need of help. First, they combed through the rubble of the town, finding a few more ponies in varying states.

Once they had been brought back to the others, and luckily Dr. Whorse had finally returned, they then started to search through the area surrounding Ponyville. Cheerilee found some parents with their children hidden at the school, for example.

Afterwards, those that could started cleaning up the town, at least so much that it wasn't as much of an obvious aftermath of an attack anymore. It would make the night a tiny bit easier. Carting off another load of rubble, Cheerilee noticed a distraught, scruffy looking pony coming out of Everfree Forest! "Mayor Mare?!" Cheerilee was surprised! But that was quickly supplanted by joy as she shouted to the ponies: "It's the mayor! She's back! Mayor Mare is back!"

In a matter of momeants, all of the townsfolk that was able to had crowded around her! Immediately Mayor Mare was pestered with questions by her townsfolk! How had she escaped? How many other ponies had been captured with her? Where had they gone? Would they come back?

But Cookie Crumble and Applejack fought their way to the front! "What is with our daughters?!" Cookie cried at the mayor!

"And my sister!" AJ added, elbowing an unfortunate ponyvillian into the side.

Big Mac and Hondo Flanks followed somewhat less aggressively.

"Calm down! Everypony! Calm down!" "One thing after the other: My escape was nothing but plain luck! They were driving us on through Everfree Forest, to where I don't know, when we were attacked by some timberwolves! They were able to beat them back, but I got trambled to the ground and tossed into some bushes! When they started to move again, they either hadn't noticed that I was missing, or didn't care!"

A murmur went through the crowd. It made sense. Timberwolves were dangerous, and trying to fight them off, even as the forces of King Sombra, probably would be rather distracting. The Mayor was pleased how her excuse was accepted so easily!

"I was captured alongside twelve other ponies!" She continued.

That made thirteen, which accounted for most of those missing, if you gave some leeway for ponies that might just be on a walk or who left for a while earlier in the day without anypony noticing, or who ran away so far, or hid so well, that they hadn't been found yet. Of course, the reassurance for some ponies caused uncomfortable confirmations for others.

Cheerilee raised a hand: "Thirteen?"

Mayor Mare nodded. "The zebra that lives in the forest was also captured."

"The witch?!" Twist burst out!

"Now, Twist!" Mr. Cake looked at her. "The poor thing must be just as scared as our friends! Even if she is scary, and maybe an evil witch, she didn't deserve this."

"And," the mayor turned to the four ponies standing closest to her, moving the topic along, "as you probably have already feared, I have to confirm that Apple Bloom, Rarity and Sweetie Belle are among the captives, together with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon,-" Filthy Rich let out a scream of anguish! Even with all his money, he had been unable to protect his daughter or her friend. Spoiled tried to comfort him. "- Scootaloo, Aloe, Lotus Blossom, Rumble and Derpy and Dinky."

The mood deflated noticeably.

"On the brighter side: From what I heard on the way, they probably won't be returning any time soon. They used a magical portal to teleport here and would have to leave as soon as we got back to their camp. They also talked about that 'the message to Canterlot should be clear now', and how Princess Celestia would have to withdraw troops from the frontlines to improve the defenses of Canterlot itself. So, I guess we won't have to worry about any further attacks for now."

A sigh of relief went through the whole town when they heard that. Fools, Mare thought. You won't have to worry about any attacks... And once Sombra's forces are near enough for that to no longer be the case, most of you will want to join him! She had to hide her a grin. But then, instead, she used it! Showing a smile, she continued: "But for now, I am just happy that most of you seem to be well!"

Now, an agreeing murmur went through the townsfolk. Even with the injured and those taken captive, the damage to the town, this could've been far worse. "We can and will rebuild the town!" Mayor Mare thundered! "We will show Sombra that Ponyville won't be cowed so easily!"

Cheers arouse around her! The mayor wasn't quite sure if it was just her oratory, or massively boosted by the flood of relief.

"But before we rebuild the town... how about we have a little celebration tonight?" Loud agreemeant all around! They needed to blow off some steam, and a night of revelry would help them to relax after a far too tense day...

A lot of them got a little tipsy on cider that Applejack and Big Mac provided for the party. But Mayor Mare had something better! In her office, undamaged by the devastation, was a bottle of high proff Apple-family brandy! And with that bottle, she got Dr. Whooves drunk and dragged him off to bed. The next morning, she would just claim that she had no idea how it happened...

During the same night, Applejack and Big Mac packed their belongings. They would get Apple Bloom back, no matter the cost! And if it meant marching all the way to the Crystal Empire and fight their way through to her!

"Winona? Take good care of the farm while we're gone!" Applejack said to her dog. "We will be back in no time, but make sure the farmhands keep the work up!"

The dog whimpered sadly, having a bad feeling about all of this.

Meanwhile, in the Crystal Empire, before the evening, Barb and Twilight were leading the prisoners to their rooms. No cells for them, at leas no normal ones. They seemed to have some able ponies. Zecora already had been assigned quarters near the lab where she would help Starlight and Twilight with their experimeants and add her potion skills. It was good that she had been broken in quickly!

The others would get nice rooms and, until they had turned to Sombra, guards placed in front of them. Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle got one room together. Rarity got one for herself right next to theirs, and the same was the case for Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. The Spa Twins of course also got a room and so did Rumble and Derpy and her daughter.

Rarity looked at in awe at the hallways and rooms they were lead through! This place certainly was something! But then she looked at the dragoness and, unable to repress a hint of surprise, asked her: "Aren't you going to saw of my horn or something like that?!"

"Why would we do that?" Barb wondered.

Now, the unicorn really was surprised! There were many stories about how unicorns were treated under Sombra's iron fist. And pegasi, for that matter.

"That would be incredibly, and needlessly, cruel and a total waste of magical powers!" Twilight called over. "We have better things to do than waste ressources!"

Passing by a crossing of corridods, unnoticed by the group, they passed by Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and two of Shy's guards. One of them was very surprised seeing one of the captives and leaned forward to whisper into her ear: "Fluttershy?" Originally, they had adressed her as 'Lady' after they'd been assigned to be her guards, but she ended up prefering a less formal adress. "That white pegasus... is my brother!"

"Is that so?" Fluttershy looked at Thunderlane, surprised and intrigued. "I will have to talk to King Sombra about this..." She brushed over her baby bump.