Nuchadus Anomaly

Aether stayed silent as she followed Harmonious to the Drill site, already she rumaged through her blueprints for the golems to find the best possible one. Thanking Asha for her hextech modifications and magecraft/chemical augmentations.

Unlike the duo, Bigpip left the ship by flight. Flying to the city center as his first bet to find the city's leadership.
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While Harmonious with Aether walked on the city's stone pavement. They hed a good look on the streets, which hed abstract sculptures on display for visitors to look at.

"Tell me Harmonious, what are the most common weapons and spells your Empire employs?" Aether asked after a half an hour of silence. She finished preparing the blueprint and the design of the golems. Now all that was left were the resources and a decent enough forge to create them.

"Most common weapons would be assault rifles due to being producable. With ice bolts and laser beam spells being the most commonly used offensive spells." Harmonious answered. The buildings surrounding them as they walked were build mostly in constructivist style.

"Firearms? Haven't seen them in a while. Ice and lazers? Surprised no one uses fire with the bugs around, unless they are resistant to it here?" Aether wondered a bit. Hmm maybe it was time she took out some of her own firearms, been a decent while since she used them.
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She inspected the building but show little interest. Mostly because she was preoccupied with future forging plans.

"The ones native to Nuchadus are fireproof, however the aren't. We do have few kirins who are good with fire magic but there isn't many kirins residing inside Anocratic empire in general." While walking they could notice the traditional building materials in these cities. Those being mainly stone blocks for low buildings and concrete for tall buildings.

"I see, is there any magic apart from the arcane in your world?" She wondered if there would be something new in terms of magic. Her world had multiple ways to express magic and she knew most of them.
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"How many enchantments can your firearms hold?" Firearms and many complex machinery were difficult or next to impossible to enchant by normal arcane means.

"I guess the stuff made from Horax's evil oily metal would count? We hed also some strange phenomena happen disproportionaly affected good mages of specific gender, so guess that would also count.
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When it comes to firearm enchanting. I have managed to enchant a firearm's quality but i have never heard of anypony being able to enchant anything about a firearm beyond it's meterial quality or affect it's projectiles with enchantments in any way." He responded

Aether hummed as they continued on their way and Aether sees a large building in the distance it most likely the drill site.
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"I'll need to see if our enchantments systems are compatible with each other." Was her only reply.

"Its a bit father away from here but we should get there soon. Sadly the railway there is currently closed, so we need to get there by hoof." They continued by a rather part which was to the north of the city, "We will take turn to the left over there. And walk a bit more, there would be the drill site."

"Once we are there, what then Harmonious? Do we simply secure a few jades for the golems or do you have something else in mind?"

"We will start making a few jade golems. Then we wait for Bigpip and hopefuly head out to have you get a feel for finding and destroying those giant bugs. I am hoping you can that you will be able to handle them on your own."

Aether nodded at that. "Depending on the available jade. I should have a few golems ready, once the storm ends, if you want we can test them on one of the hives close by." Aether paused a bit. "How does magic and technology mesh or fuse in your world Harmonious?" If the magic naturally combines with technology, she may be able to remake hextech for this world. Seems she be having many apprentices in the future.

"Hmm, it is usualy very tricky to make complex technology work with magic. The best example i know are anima implants and Bigpip's enhanced horn. Anima implants are magical implants that can replace lost body parts for unicorns and kirins. While also providing some boosts to magical abilities. In the past we used laser guns a lot. But they mostly fell out of use due to thir crystal power sources being easy to break during combat. While also not being suitable for every situation." Harmonious tought more about it.

"I worked with worse circumstances, well reinventing hextech should be feasable. But it can take a lot of effort. As for the crystal... I may have an alchemical solution for that.... Provided if I can get a few samples of said crystals." Aether said somewhat interested in this crystal they sound like the khaideran ones from home.

"I can tell that you also have magical implants, are they cybernetic or fully magical?"

"I have a cybernetic eye that surgeons managed to make look like my regular eye. I also have a immunity boosting implant on my kidney. My cybernetic implants are older then magical anima implants, since anima implants are some more recent development.
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What is this hextech you mentioned, is that just what you call your artificer creations?" Harmonious Percussion inquired. Bigpip meanwhile sorted out everything with the city leadership and started to fly to the duo approaching the jade drilling side

"Yes and no, while hextech is indeed a field and creation of Artificing, its not it entirely. The easiest way to look at it, is a mixture of Mage-Craft and Technology. Mage craft is a subset of arcane magic that more closely follows the laws of physics, usually they create their spells and effect based on scientific means such as creating a razor blade by causing it to vibrate at intense speeds to weaken the molecular bond of anything it cuts." Aether lectured as they continued into the shaft. Her senses already picking up the storm that a bit less then an hour away.

"Hextech itself is a field of Artificing that merges and breaks the boundaries of magic and technology. With multiple means of doing so, one of which are khaideran crystals back in my world, the other is chemical tech that uses a special component to serve as a bonding agent of sort."

"Even in my world, it is a relatively new field of studies, it is actually the only way for guns to be effective against beasts and monsters in my home realm. I'm actually one of the few Artificers who actually know it. And the only Grandmaster ranked one." Aether had a bit of pride in that. Practically the only thing she takes pride in dispite being a dragonkin.

"I see... It may suprise you but i am not too much of magic nerd myself, despite being rather good at magic. I never went to school to get proper education, i used to be a poor miner. Hed to learn everything on my own." Harmonious Percussion answered. Finaly arriving with Aether to the Jade drilling site, which seemed rather abandoned. With drill left outside, with cables scathered around keeping the drills powered. The drill operators must be at home since it is saturday.

Aether looked around and shook her head at the mess. "Understandable dear Harmonious, I'm not expecting you to show interest or understand many things of my world. But now it seems we have a dilema, there is no one here and I prefer not to violate the law of this new place unless strictly necessary." She turned to the unicorn. She used her senses to see that this whole building is empty. But why isn't it locked down? There are not even guards?

Looking at their equipment she saw it not in the best of states either.... This had her let out a growl. "By the Great Spirit tree, this is actually hurting my spirit...." She muttered under her breath.

Harmonious raised hoof to his chin "Well i would imagine Bigpip already got us permission to use some of the jade. So lets check how much jade was left on site. Now that i think about it, maybe the reason nopony is there is partialy due to the railway leading here being closed. It is odd that nopony bothered to lock, i would have a look around." Harmonious said, entering. Checking how much jade was left on site. Poking around, it seemed like about a half a ton of jade was there. "Yeah there is some jade alright, i hope Bigpip will hurry up." Bigpip was meanwhile flying above a part, having good view of the city. About half way to the duo.

Aether hummed as she looked around, finding many broken parts and equipment left at station in various levels of condition. Well there certainly was enough material for three proper Golems. Provided they can use some of the discarded metals and stones. Looking around a bit more, she found a spacious room that can actually be used to create the golems at least with one of her creation methods.

"Well good News there seems to be enough materials for three adequate golems. And a room that was accommodating for the creation process." Aether informed Harmonious when they met again.

She was now out of her armor, since it seem there would be no combat or use for it and she would rather not make it dirty with how dusty the complex was. She studied the jade, using one of her magecraft spells for analyzing and scanning materials. The gem is rich in magic, it also hed an affinity for earth and holding magic resistant to acids. "Quite useful indeed." Aether said to no one in particular. She bend down to study another one causing her rump to flag and flash Harmonious.

Harmonious Percussion blushed a little as he sat down. Bigpip was meanwhile close to getting back to the two of them. "Three golems ehh? Now that i think about it. The golemancers back in the day mostly used granite and human meat. The reason you wanted to gemstones was because they are the most easier to enchant, is that correct?" Harmonious asked, since he didn't have anything to do at the moment while Bigpip was almost back. "Will you need my help with golem creation process?"

"No, as I don't know you capabilities well and the process I will be using won't allow for help. And human meat? I didn't think flesh golems were legal or is that a thing of a by gone era?" Aether asked while she certainly could use flesh, bones and blood in the creation of the golems, she didn't know how useful it would be without potentially compromising the golem without real benefits. "Partially you are correct, gems are filled with natural magic and are good conduit for artificing, same with a few metals like bronze. They also have innate magical properties that can help make the golem more durable or specialized. Like this jade can make one resistant to acid. There should be enough spare metal to make suits of armor for the golems as well. So many choices." She finished her inspection of the gems and picked up the ones that suit the golems the most.

"Flesh golems used to be legal, as long as the human meat was scavanged from still fresh corpses on the battlefield. Though even with a few upgrades they were as you point out, not that effective. Thats why we are making robots in small amounts nowdays. Since they can be given firearms. Mostly, small cheap robots with a shotgun attached to them. Though bigger stronger ones were build."
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Bigpip landed gently with a small thud, looking apologetic "Hello, i am back, we can indeed use the jade left over here but we won't be getting more. I hope that it is enough, sorry for taking so long. We are in a city afterall"

"The jade is more then enough for the construction of Three golems your Majesty, did they also allow the use of scrap metal? While not exactly needed some armor can make them significantly more durable." Aether asked as she addressed the alicorn.

Aether meanwhile levitated the required gems into a cart to transport into the room where she would be creating the golems. She is now back in her kyrion form as two shadows, that look alike her Umbracian (bat form) self gathered multiple granite stones and other stones.

"They didn't say anything about scrap metal but i don't think there is supposed to be scrap metal here at the drill site in the first place. So you might as well put it to some good use." Bigpip said smiling while Harmonious Percussion looked slightly bored, pacing, since Harmonious didn't really understand golem making and wanted to go north of the city exploring. Hoping Aether and Bigpip would not take too long.

Aether sensing Harmonious impatient went about finishing the golem preparation, still being methodical. soon the trio was in the spare room in the centre of which was alchemical and Artificer circle with multiple runes etched in it. All the material was inside. That included the jade, stones, some tree wood and a lot of scrap metal and dust.

Without wasting time, Aether's horn and eyes glowed as a cyan and purplish sphere appeared inside the circle and consumed the material. Magic filled the air as the sphere divided into three.

After a few moments before the emperor and his husband were three centaur golems, standing at 10 feet. Their body made of stone with wood serving as joints and connections between some of their part. The jades scattered between their bodies imbued with a lot of magic. They were covered in knightly armor, colored in dark gray color.

Aether let out a tired breath as she wiped her head, to get rid of sweat. "This should be adequate result ... Usually I prefer making them by hoof but neither time nor work space is in our favor for the moment."

"I remember back in the day, we were making the golems bipedal. Which now that i think about it, creating them in a taur form makes them more suitable for combat. Even if if it costs more materials." Bigpip commented
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"Hmm, i wasn't expecting you to be quite this fast. Gotta say that i am impressed. Now we can go outside the city and explore!" Harmonious Percussion said excited.

Aether took a few breaks while massaging her head. This was more straining then usual, most likely because she was yet to attune to the world fully.
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"I'm glad you satisfied with them your Majesty. Now once a hive is found, they can show their power then" With that said, the centaur golems went through a portal Aether created.
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"Well we have about an hour before the storm hits, so we should make haste if sight seeing is your wish" She smiled gently with tired eyes.

A small herd of pegasi can be seen flying to towards the city's coast. To defend it from the incoming thunder storm. "We better get a move on then, walking from the edge of the city to the north mountains will be a good bet for finding one the insectoid hives. Hopefuly the storm will miss us" Bigpip answered taking to the air, wanting to be the one observing their surroundings as they travel.
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Harmonious Percussion summons a charge rifle of his. It looks more sophisticated then a common assault rifle. With a sound of displaced air.

Aether simply summoned her armor again and other items on her person. One of which is an ornamental book hooked to her by chain. Her eyes glowed as she looked up to the sky, she let out a humm.
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"If we make haste we should miss the storm in our path. How far are the mountains?" She asked the two stallion.

"Not far but i don't know how favourable the terrain will be. If we have have to cross the mountain range, it will take us a bit. But i don't the bugs and cultists would settle so close to the city, since it would make them noticable. So will cross the mountain range north at it's lower peaks." Bigpip answered from above, looking around. The city was rather close the the mountain range ahead.

Aether though for a bit before she layed down. "Get on my back I'll bring us past the mountain." Her voice even and confident. Her body should be in a proper condition for this type of flight.

Harmonious did so without questioning her. "Can you carry both of us by any chance? I doupt you can but i can fly quite well on my own. Can't say i saw flying faster then me." Bigpip commented with a look of disbelief.

Aether gave an eye roll "Your Majesty I carried heavier burdens in the air then two ponies, even if one has armor. But if you wish to fly by your own strength, I will respect that." She said, still laying down as Harmonious got confortable on her back.

"Well alright, i will try to not fall off" Bigpip retorted. Flying down and grabbing Harmonious Percussion's torso with his own legs. Hoping he wasn't making the two unconfortable.

Aether stood up with the extra weight before unfolding her titanic wings they were actually a bit longer then her body, from head to the tip of her tail. They gained a faint glow to them as did her tattoos on her body. With a jump and a mighty flap, she sailed up into the air, faster then the two saw before. With only a few minutes they were pass the city walls.
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"I suggest you keep a firm grip Dearies." With that said, she muttered a single word, which the two stallions did not understand, before she shoot forth at insane speeds. Her wings, tail and feather left trails of glowing dust.
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They saw the mountains fastly approaching. "Once we are past the mountains, I will land us at the closest clearing, we should make a safe zone or a camp, in case the storm or anything else makes it neccesary." Aether is used to the wilderness but she didn't know if her passenger are.

Harmonious was scared since he wasn't used to flying often. Bigpip on the other hand wasn't, instead he was glad that they can get past the mountains without needing to build more transport pods. "How are you doing this?" asked Harmonious Percussion as they flew over a mountain peak and towards ash meadows. Where hexagonal rock formations could be seen as part of the hills and mountains. Bigpip did not say anything but it was clear he was curious about her flying ability too.

Aether slowed down as they passed the mountains and entered the meadows, her keen eyes scanned the area for any suitable landing zones. After a few minutes of flying, she found one and glided to it.
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"Magic my dear Harmonious, but to be more specific, it is the magic of all Skyborn and Anivias children. As for the boost? That old dragon magic." Aether answered as she descendent down to a small clearing.

"I suppose that explains it then. We should start looking for signs of the hives and cultists. Since this far north of the city is unsurveyed." Noted Emperor Bigpip. Bigpip let go, flying to the ground by himself.
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The ground was covered in ash, with parasol shaped trees and grass growing out of the fertile soil. Few animals could be see moving around. Such us lone predators hunting mice.

Aether landed with barely a sound, an action not befitting somepony her size. She laid down to let Harmonious get off her, as she took a deep breath and connected her senses to the nature around her. Her tribal tattoo and feathers glowed in golden emerald, as a third runic eye glowed on her forehead.
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"old spirit and great forest tell me what ails you"
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Aether said softly in an old druidic language as wisps gathered around. Animals seemed to look at her with interest before leaving. The trees seemed to creak.

"Welp, looks like we are going to be wandering for while. Unless we can find some clues." Harmonious Percussion said nonchalantly, a bit about what Aether said softly until dismissing it as another bit of weirdness from the otherworldy hybrid he will never understad.
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Bigpip was in the air, howering low to the ground. Looking out of potential enemies or non aligned beings.

After about half an hour. Aether's eyes opened as a single wisp hoovered before her. Her runic eye and shining tattoo still glimmering on her body. "I know where the hive is, it is relatively small and new. The forest is quite aggravating by them, this wisp will lead us to it" Aether said as three portals opened and out of them came the golems from before. But they now hed a weapon in their hands. They walked ahead, following the wisp with Aether just behind.

Harmonious Percussion tried to touch the wisp with his armored hoof, curious what it would do. Bigpip realizing that they left the three golems behind and was glad she brought them back. Bigpip answered with "That is good to hear, however we should focus on the task at hoof. "I would go further north otherwise, until we are at the edge of the ashland meadows and start entering the harsher for travel bogs," Harmonious Percussion would not like getting getting his armor coated in mud and natural sludge.
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Looking around Bigpip could spot a few figures walking far away.

"The hive is at the north East edge of the forest the wisp will guide us to it." Aether replied calmly. Her steps don't make a sound, even her armor is silent as if she was like a predator stalking it's prey... The two stallion could barely feel her presence.

The wisp was indeed leading them to the edges of the forest near the south east, after about 20 minutes of walking, they came upon a cave, over looking what seem to be the hive. It was relatively 30 meters square and seemed to be a above ground. Aether opened a portal and a mechanical eye came out. It hovered just above them before turning invisible.

Bigpip tried to listen for any of the usual chittering sounds these insectoids make. Trying to make them out from the nature's ambience. It was faint but there were for sure there. "What is you plan? Do you engage them in melee while the two of us cover you. Or do you think about taking it on yourself while we watch, not wasting our our magical energy." Bigpip asked, sounding excited.
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Given the percieved size of the hive. It would be the invasive species, that also used to be present on Acrab. Since the native kind, usualy creates much bigger hives.

Aether hummed as she created a holographic screen showing the Observer's view point. The hive seemed to be small and from the signature and scans also.... Weak. This was a relatively new hive and since it was not the native kind, it was not fire resistant. "This will serve as a good test for the golems, so firstly I'll observe the hive before letting the golems engage in combat, to see how they match up and if they are worth their investment. After that I'll kill off any stranglers, if their are any." With that, she rose up into a bipedal stance, as she summoned a Titanic bow, nearly her own size.

"OK, that sounds good to me. Since we were hoping you could handle extermination of the insectoid hives on your own after we find out more about the cultists togather" Bigpip explained while sitting down next to Harmonious Percussion, the two prefering to let the expert handle it herself.
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The insectoids were not aware of their presence yet. They consisted of big scarabs, bigger then a hoof. Centipedes with frontal mandibles and human sized Beetles with big frontal claws.

Aether just nodded as she created an javelin arrow, it looked large enough to fit into the bow. It had a few strange strings running over it shaft. With a deep breath Aether started chanting in druidic under her breath "Old spirit, give me your aid" and with that she was circled by a fire, with each breath it surged and with each exhale it calmed down. So it repeated as she notched the arrow into the bow, before aiming it upward. The rune on the arrow glowed a deep black purplish as energy started to coat it. It felt heavy and dense. Soon the flame became four birds made of fire that circled around the hybrid. "By the will of the world, I release thou to cleanse it's surface from taint" and so she firde the arrow upwards with the birds following it.

A second later the sky above the hive blackened as a shower of flaming arrow hit the hive with each carrying the impact of an artillery shell. The hive was ingulfed in fire as the bugs screeched in confusion.

Aether didn't waste time and as the Observer showed the carnage. The golems phased out of existence before materializing in the center of the burning hive, where they started to mercilessly hack apart the bugs. Who tried to retaliate but neither their acid or appendages could dent their armor, and if they did break a few parts of the golems, they regenerated. The golems stomped the ground, causing spikes to erupt from the ground and impale multiple bugs.

The trio on the hill watched all of this through the holographic screen. Aether studied how the golems were faring and looked if theire were any flaws or weaknesses in their designs. There were and she would rectify them later.

"What do you think your Majesty? What about you Harmonious?"

"Truly impressive, you could finaly Nuchadus of this pestilence for good, given enough time. We can allow you to do that when we track down Horax's cultists and hopefuly find a way to stop Horax from manifesting his influence on this planet." Bigpip answered with glee.

Harmonious Percussion hed no words for what he observed as he was in utter awe at the hive's destruction.

"Thank you your Majesty, well it seems the golem are.... Adequant for their resource investments. Not my best work but I'm sure I can make them better with time and find better resources." She already hed plans but they could wait. "Well the hive is eliminated while I've save a few specimen for later to see if I can find a better way to track them. Now we should return back to the city before nightfall happens" Aether said as the fire stopped and the golems with Observer moved out of the battlefield.

"I would say that they are more then adequate. I think it would however make more sence to send up camp somewhere here, so we don't need to backtrack. We can cut down some of the parasol trees here, to set up a camp with shelter and a campfire. The Parasol tree wood native to these meadows burns just as well as that of common oaks and pines." Bigpip proposed instead.

"hmm suppose that is wise, well luckily I have a lot of gear and equipment for such, my Witcher profession hed me traveling all over the world, back home and even as an Artificer I loved delving into ruins and any art lost or rare." With that she opened another portal and out came the golems, but this time with multiple set of equipment and even a large wagon that can serve as a home. They deposited everything before starting to set up camp. Aether meanwhile prepared the fire place and then addressed the two stallions. "Now, did either of you bring any provisions and what your preferred diet?" She asked while also asking if they be dear and collect some wood while she finished the camp.

"I brought two packaged meals for myself, so i suppose i could share with Bigpip. However i think you will need to harvest some berries for yourself. When it comes to diet, we aren't that picky. As long as it has some tasty vegetables in it. I am good at picking berries, i don't know about your foreging ability though. Then again, considering you are good at gathering wood, you should not have trouble getting edible ones." Harmonious Percussion answered for the two of them.
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Bigpip meanwhile sat down next to the fireplace for warmth, since nights were getting colder as winter was approaching. "I hope we can figure something out soon. I don't feel like flying in cold weather." Bigpip said with a stoic face.

"ohh I can eat anything dear dragon's back home primarily eat anything with magic in it. I personally prefer gems and metals" Aether said as she pickd out a few balls of metal scrap and broken jades from the drill site. She much to the stallion shock, ate them whole as her teeth broke the metal, stone and gems apart before she swallowed it. "Well I will go prepare a bound field for protection and place a few wards to keep anything dangerous out. Now you two can relax, and your Majesty if it's too cold you can enter the wagon, it has an isolation barrier in. To keep heat from escaping and keeping a warm environment." With that she went to drawing lines and placing stone runes and other items around the perimeter as the golems helped out and started to patrol the area. Soon the bound field was prepared and Aether said she would go hunting and placing more wards outwards. The two stallions were left by the fire with their meals and only the Observer hovering above camp, keeping watch as it rotated like a light house light.

"I will be fine, this fire will do for now. Thanks for asking" Bigpip responded simple, bit suprised by her ability to create a protective field bubble big enough to cover the. "I know a spell like this too, but i am only able to sustain a protective bubble big enough to cover a single pony. Bigger then that are too megicaly draining to keep up with during battle." Bigpip noted, grabbing a meal from Harmonious Percussion and begun to eat along side him. They felt safe knowing that all the protective measures are in place. The ambience of the meadows became quieter as many nearby animals started to go into their shelters and rest.

After a few minutes Aether returned with two rabbits in her jaws, she deposited them nearby. "I hope you are not squeamish when it comes to butchering and skinning of animals your Majesty and Harmonious." She asked, taking out her hunting knife and later hid it, so the other two don't have to see it. "As for your question about the bound field, it is part of the mage craft arts. It is essentially a concealing barrier with an alarm function connected to the wards placed outside the perimeter. It actually absorbs natural mana to fuel itself so there is little to no strain for myself. The only downside or two is that it needs to be prepared before hoof and it is stationary." She answered while continuing to skin the rabbits. She deposited the skin into her portal for later use and pulled all the meat from the bones and save the bones for later too. Now it time to prepare the meat.

"We hed our fair share of animal butchering on our travels. Its just we rarely ever ate meat ourselfs. Since meat is mainly prepared for the gootraxian minorities, since they are carnivores." Harmonious Percussion explained. As the two continued to eat their meal. Which wasn't particulay tasty, since it was lightly processed fruit in air tight packaging, intended for long travels.
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Bigpip thought he could feel faint vibrations in the ground, which he though was odd but did not think much of it. Harmonious Percussion hed his charge rifle laying by his side. Unlike Bigpip, Harmonious was ascetic and did not mind the food quality at all.

Aether felt the vibrations too and since she had a connection to nature, she was on guard immediately. She pushed the meat aside into a container as she picked up her cross. Her other claw pressed to the earth as she was trying to feel the vibrations and figure out what it was.

"Your Majesty, Harmonious..... We may have... Company" Aether said with a cold and serious tone. The golems returned to the camp as the Observer faced downwards to scan for a magic signature. Aether's senses still not fully returned as she was trying to find the culprit.

What ever it was, it was big and took its time to dig itself up from the underground. However, as it was getting closer to the surface. The vibrations got stronger and were rhythmic, like a beating heart. As they waited. Outside the the protected barrier emerged a giant beating heart. Which opon emerging, started to grow fleshy tentacles and protective layers. To Bigpip and Harmonious Percussion it became clear what it was. A creation of Horax, which acted as something of weapon of mass destruction if it was allowed to grow unchecked. "Well thats not good, we won't be able to brute force this thing easily." Answered Bigpip with slight worry.

"Anything you can tell me about it?" Aether asked as she cursed internally. If she had her sorcery or divine spells she could easily annihilate this thing but she doesn't have that, worse her reserve was still not replenished after the hive extermination. Luckily the beast seemed to ignore them, perhaps because of the bound field. Aether opened a Portal to take out a few items namely a few brass and bronze rings etched with runes. She hoped she won't need her black magic for this as that be a pain to explain.

"It grows fleshy extensions of itself everywhere, like oversized cancer. It's heart tissue is impenetrable by any known means. It will consume nearby plants and suck nutrients out of the top soil, to sustain its growth. When attacked, fleshy monsters will jump out of its cancerous flesh extensions. We will need to wait just long enough for it to grow specialized nerve extensions. When it grows enough of those, we will destroy them. Making the monstrous heart vulnerable to external damage." Bigpip explaoned

Aether tisked, just her luck to find a monster like that so early. She doubted the heart is truly impenetrable but any of her relics or artifacts for such tast are not available.
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"So our best bet now is to let it grow enough for a weakness to appear and then kill it in a blitz attack. At least we are hidden from it." Aether said as she watched the forest die off around it. It screams filled her ear as she clenched the cross in her claws.
'your vengeance will come I'll make sure of it'

As they waited, the heart's tentacle appendages on top of it's flesh extensions started grabbing a nearby by tree as it grew a mouth to consume it. Afterward the mouth tried projectile spitting acid on the protective bubble. Soon enough an extension of flesh furtherst away from hearth grew but with visible green nerve veins. The bubble shield was half way surrounded as the monstrous structure grew uncontrolably in front of them. If it would grow two more. It could be defeated. However the monster was soon enough not content just growing and small skinless monster with no eyes and giant spikes started emerging from the grotesque structure, poking at the shield bubble.
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"Umm, could they break through? i can only make out a single weak point and its starting to get aggresive, with acid and pointy servants." Harmonious Percussion asked.

"Seems I will need to reinforce it" her horn glowed as the barrier shifted turning into a puzzle of hexogonal formations. The attacks bounced off the barrier.
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Aether took out a bottle with blue liquid inside of it before drinking ii up as she felt her reserves being restored and regenerating rapidly. In order to fuel the protective barrier.
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The golems meanwhile stayed in place as they summoned shields made of the earth and stood infornt of the trio. "how many nerve clusters are needed for it to become vulnerable?" she asked.

"At least three. Then then we can start attacking the heart in the middle of the living struction. Which should give a heart attack of sort. Leaving only a magical spherical machine responsible for it all." Said Bigpip. The living structure grew another nerve cluster, this time conveniently in front of the shield bubble. The flesh now encasing all sides of the shield bubble, allowing only escape from the top.
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"I wonder if Horax can actualy see us. This feels planned, the last thing i want is a horde of magicaly invisible monsters of his, to come for us" Said Harmonious Percussion scared.

"Harmonious by Asha's web please don't tempt Fate on this one. It takes all my concentration to keep the shield up and prepare something that can help us." Aether said with a strained voice.
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Her book shuffled through it contents, taking a few minutes on some page's before continuing. Aether prepared a few spells to fire as soon as the next nerve be created.
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"Prepare yourself, as soon as the third nerve finishes forming, I'm dripping the barrier and fire a retribution barrage on the nerves, when combat begins." Aether said as she prepared the last spell. Using her modifications to bring it all together.

"OK, will try." Harmonious answered a little scare scared.
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Bigpip flew to the top of the shield and saw a third nerve cluster, which was the furthest away. "I can see the third one. We can destroy those and start attacking the heart. Whenever you are ready Aether Forge!" Bigpip called from above, casting a bubble shield spell on himself.
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Harmonious Percussion meanwhile was aiming at one of the monsters with his charge rifle, ready for when Aether drops the shield.

Aether took a deep breath 'So it begins' was the last thought she hed before she dropped the shield.
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"Arise servant of the earth, slay the abominations that dared twist nature's creation" her voice soft but it reverbed through the clearing. No sooner the earth itself rumbled with a quake, it split apart before a colossal bipedal figure emerged from it's depts.
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Said giant smashed it's fists into the ground, impaling most of the monsters onto earth spikes. At the same time the golems engaged the remnants as their body and armor are very enchanted by Aether's spell to be more resistant, their weapons coated in golden light as their attacks disintegrated the monstrosities.
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Above the battlefield, a large magical circle shined upon the moon as a beam of pure monnlight shined on it, burning the nerves and monster with radiant fire. Even the heart was lit a flame.

As the monstrous heart is lit aflame, Bigpip dives in delivering a fast kick to the heart. Causing it to bleed as it no longer was beating in rhythm. The heart then exploded into gore as the rest of its meaty extensions stopped growing and started dying off. Harmonious Percussion shot few bursts of charged bullets on the monsters, causing some of them to split into smaller monsters. Thankfuly none of them were able to penetrate his armor.
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Aether could feel an ancient magical tree die, causing her mental pain. Since the tree was uprooted shortly before their counter again against the monstrous heart. Bigpip and Harmonious feel it to a lesser degree too. When the blood and flesh fall to the ground where the heart was. A spherical device was revealed inside it.

Aether nursed her head as she felt the forest screaming in her mind. Taking a few shaky breaths as the colossus returned to the earth. The golems and Harmonious finishing off any straggler remaining.
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"By the Great Mother Spirit tree..... What abomination sare this?" Aether said as she was on her knees from the mental pain.
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The moon light burned away all that was left of the monsters. Aether coughed as she felt her mama reserves completely empty.

As Bigpip was covered in blood, he tried to clean it of him robe and hair. While Harmonious Percussion was alert, making sure all the flesh monsters are dead. Before walking over to Aether, taking off his helmet and tried to confort her. It was suprisingly difficult for Bigpip took clean himself with just telekinesis, he needed some water to fully get the blood off him.

Aether breath returned to normal as she got back up. Looking at the Emperor she activated one of her rings to cause a small torrent of water, to wash the poor stud clean.
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"Now that... Is finished lets return to our camp, I'm just glad I didn't have a feedback overload from all this casting" Aether said somewhat weakly.
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Luckily her wagons survive the encouter. No small thanks to the ridiculous amount of enchantments and artificer techniques that went into it creation.

"Looks like we can finaly get some rest. It sucks that all the blood and dead flesh stinks up the place. Destroying some the plant life in the process. This was a nice looking camping spot before." He was lot cleaner now but wet. So sat down next to the the fire to dry up. Taking off his robe.
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Harmonious Percussion looked back to where the heart was. The magical device was there, so he went to roll it to the camp. "We should keep an eye on this thing from time to time. So it isn't reborn into another hungry heart again." Harmonious Percussion said, rolling it front of him like sports ball.

Aether looked at the device with caution. "Usually I seal such thing away but at this moment I feel empty and can't even open a portal to get it somewhere secure." Aether moaned with annoyance.

"I think we should keep that device with us, it will be of good use to the scientific community for study. There is already one of these devices in a research lab somewhere. As far as we know, it only needs some telekinetic supression onece in a while." Harmonious Percussion asnwered, trying to confort her again when she begun coughing.
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Bigpip looked over to the two, with a stoic look. Streaching his wings to help himself fully dry off. "Thinking about it, we should have brought sleeping bags with us. It won't be nice sleeping on just wood or ash." Bigpip guestured to to ground with his right wing.

"Dear, my wagon has a bed inside, so please rest there." Aether said as she used a recovery breathing technique to promote healing of her body and mana recovery. It should help her heal while she has the chance. There was a rustling nearby as a bug entered the clearing before it could do anything Aether levitated a boulder the size of Harmonious, out of the ground and yeeted it at the bug and had it squashed.

"I don't have the patience for anything more, golems start the patrol.... By Bahamut! my head, I need to destress." She muttered this as she went to the fire and laid down on her side to take a break. Unintentionally showing her teats to the two stallion.

Bigpip and Harmonious Percussion saw her stressed out and didn't want to risk her doing anything dangerous with the stunt she hed just performed. They walked over to her with caution, Bigpip was first to talk "I understand that things haven't been going that well for you, all things considered. Right now, we are here for you Aether Forge. So umm, we can help you take some of the stress from your mind."
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"Anything we can do to help you out right?" Harmonious asked too, to let her know she can count on them both.

Aether let out a sight as she took a deep breath. "Apologies for that you two. Many of my powers are still blocked or unavailable. And I don't like that." She truthfully said, she never like having her power stripped or unavailable. But there was little she could do. "As for helping, is that offer your Majesty made about relief still open?" She asked with a blush.

"Yes, the two of us can help you unwind. You are in hoofs of experienced studs dear Aether Forge. Harmonious Percussion may be... average sized but togather we can relieve your stress before we can get enough rest to continue our journey" Emperor Bigpip whispered to her with a sultry tone.

Aether blushed more as she averted her eyes from the two studs. She didn't miss their slowly growing erections either, all this caused her marehood to wink and start leaking, same as her teats.
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"Well...I look forward to your treatment, especially you, my dear Emperor but please be gentle." Aether became uncharacteristically shy. Her tail gave a slight wag as her ears flopped to the side of her head, a blush creeped onto her face too.
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Her face blushing actually made her teal freckles more visible and the two stallions could clearly see her form hed said freckles on crotchboobs and plot too. Her maroon strips were also contrasted by them.

"While you said that you are infertile. I am going to try anyways." Bigpip answered, getting into position to mount her.
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Harmonious Percussion on the other hand decided to walk in front of her. Presenting his average ballsack and marehood to her. Silently guesturing her to play with him.

Aether was a bit surprised to see Harmonious assets, it was probably the 10th? time she saw such a thing in her whole life.
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But even so she brought her maw to Harmonious plot exhaling a hot breath onto the marehood and balls, after a sniff of his scent, she gave a tender lick of his balls and marehood in a single go with her thick and long serpent tongue.
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Meanwhile she felt Bigpip poke her tight marehood, she tried to help him with her feathers and tail. The feathers were soft to touch. As she shot her tongue deep into Harmonious marehood. One of her claws massaging his balls. All the while she laid on her side.

Bigpip's stallionhood was now fully erect. Was longer then his torso as the seed inside his ballsack sloshed back and forth. He roughly made a successful thrust inside the Aether's marehood, spreading her properly as he hit her cervix. "Gosh how i would love to see your belly bloated with my seed. Alas, you are the biggest mare i was with." Bigpip whispered to her.
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Harmonious Percussion gave her smile. Visibly approving of her double pleasing action. Getting him fully erect.

Aether's eyes widened before rolling back a bit as the mare Breaker was thrusted fully in. Her velvet walls tightening on that dick in response as she climaxd from that alone. She let out a growling moan as it vibrated all the way through her tongue and into Harmonious' pussy.
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"By the Ancestral Gods! your Majesty you sure are well endowed!" her voice shook as she continued to please harmonious. How long has it been since she had such a wonderful stud in her?

Bigpip started to thrust at a steady rhythm as he repeatedly hit her cervix. Bigpip lets out small masculine moans as he does so. The vaginal fluids making the steady thrusts much easier. Bigpip already stuffed her stomach before and was determined to do the same with womb as his hyper sagging ballsack was swinging back and forward.
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With Harmonious Percussion's horsecock fully erect. He switched positions, knowing well he didn't compare much to his husband. He still wanted to throat fuck Aether.

Aether's eyes actually rolled back as she moaned from Bigpip breeding her through her orgasm, already leading to the third. Her wings pumped out into a wing boner as lightning and embers dotted her body.
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When Harmonious switched, she let out a very loud Moan before being silenced by him stuffing his entire dick into her maw. And so the two studs spitroasted the larger mare, making her climax again. Her mind too clouded by lust to be capable of much higher function.

Harmonious Percussion anchored his front legs against her torso. Fucking her in a bipedal position as his eyes rolled back.
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Bigpip managed to keep his wings closed, slowing down his thrusts as he started gently pulling her hair with violet telkinesis, wishing he hed a leash to proporly show her who is in charge. However too was close to shooting his load.

Aether let out a bat like scree, when she hed her hair pulled but the grip soon was released while she returned some semblance of thoughts. Her feather covered tail unconsciously touching Bigpip's body. As her tongue coiled around the Harmonious' shaft and then his balls, massaging them and giving them a gentle squeeze.

Bigpip with Harmonious Percussion both orgasmed. With Their balls clenching as their horsecocks started flooding her with seed. Harmonious didn't taste as good as Bigpip without any enchantments. However Bigpip came harder. Shooting lot of alicorn seed past cervix as his hyper productive balls were once again emptied. Bigpip went partialx limp as kept his hyper horsecock pressed against her cervix.

Aether blacked out for a moment as she felt herself being filed with seed. Harmonious tasted blander then Bigpip but still filled her quite a bit stomach. As for the alicorn while she wasn't pregnant, anyone would be forgiven for thinking she was pregnant with twins.
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Her treats leaked milk. that had an aroma of honey and berries. As her body was confused from her third orgasm this night. She definitely was full of energy and most importantly, her stress faded away as the feeling of Bigpip's body on her was comforting.

Harmonious Percussion pulled out of her muzzle as he sat down satisfied. Bigpip meanwhile was still recovering from his orgasm but later he pulled out his half erect horsecock out of her warm insides too. "Looks like we hed more in us then we though. Your belly looks nicely round, if i say so myself." Bigpip told her as he sat down with his slowly retracting cock out.

Aether did cat like purr as she felt the warm seed sloshing in her belly. She was very much satisfied. "By the ancestors you two sure are ravenous, I haven't been bred like that in century at least..." Aether said with a huffing voice. "Well as a reward, you can taste my milk, I'm sure you two are thirsty after the ordeal." She said as she closed her eyes to take a bit of rest. Still awake but simple resting.

Bigpip with Harmonious Percussion shared a curious look. But they decided to give it try. Afterall it was only fair that they would try to drain her teats after she drained their balls. They both walked over to her teats and licked them over. Before pressing their muzzles into them, gently sucking on them. Tasting her milk, taste of which was somewhat alien to them. They were determined to use this opportunity to fill their bellies for tommorows journey.

Aether moaned as the two studs sucked her teats dry. The milk tasted very good with an added flavor of honey and wild berries. There was also something similar to Bigpip's own cum enchantment but they could could not put their hoof on it.

When they were finished. They found a confortable spot to rest togather in the wagon, going to sleep. The ambience of nature started to return, however the stench of the defeated remains of the fleshy monster got into the wagon.

Aether's sensitive nose wrinkled at the stench, so she activated a purification and filtering seal to remove the stench. She then returned to cuddling the two smaller ponies into her floof. Both of them were embraced by her claws, as her wings cocooned them with her fur being soft and warm. Their plots rested on her teats as her head nuzzled the two, she hummed a lullaby willed with magic to give them a restful sleep in her gentle but strong embrace.

The rest of the night is uneventful. With the trio sleeping peacefuly through the night. When they wake up in the early morning to the sounds of a predator killing it's prey outside. Bigpip was the first to speak, looking more full of energy then Harmonious Percussion. "So, are we ready to find the cultist's base of operations?" he asked with euthusiasm.

Aether gave the Emperor a gentle kiss on his forehead before replying "Very much ready well as soon as Harmonious fully wake up. Do you need coffee or black tea dear?" She asked the unicorn stallion. While nuzzling his head. She seemed to be in a good mood and upbeat if the motherly and gentle manner she treated them is anything to go by.

"Black tea? I could use some tea dear, please." Harmonious Percussion responded, his eyes now fully awake. Bigpip broke away from her embrace. Walking outside as he was hit with the stench of now mostly decomposed meat. He flew in the sky to see if their surroundings changed in a any noticable way. Which didn't seem to be the case.

Aether still kept the other stallion in her embrace a bit more as her shadow rose to form her umbracian form. It then went to make some traditional tea from her home. It was a black tea with a dose of Apple flavor, it also had honey, ginger and lime added in. The shadow gave the tea to Harmonious as she still in Aether lap special his plot on her teats as she brushed his mane. The shadow went outside before a turquoise black flame appeared on it clawed hooves and started to consume the rotten flesh but left anything else untouched.

Harmonious drank the tea quickly when it was cool enough to not burn his tounge. Bigpip would later descend back, grabbing the the spherical mechanical core, which hed some flesh growing on it. He then returned with it to the duo. "Looks like there is no sign of inteligent life anywhere nearby. I was thinking, could you maybe do some of your mental gymnastics, to figure out where the cultists could have a base. By studying this device? It is made of Horax's oily metal. The cultists probably have a lot of such metal in one place."

Aether hummed as she put Harmonious onto the bead before she studied the sphere. First she tried to see if any remnant magic was on it but there seemed to be none. Afterwards she gently placed her her onto it as her eyes and horn glowed with her hoof and the device had lines of azure magic on them in the form of an electric circuitry.

She saw it history from witnessing it creation by Horax and it decent by a group of cultists who carved their flesh into the device. It seems they been in a isolated temple of sort about a 2 hours of flight away in the eastern mountains.

With that she blinked a bit before removing her hoof as she felt some kind twisted energy try to enter her body but got rejected thanks to her magical resistance and divine protection.

"Well I did find a potential location but it may be abandoned with the heart's destruction. Well luckily I have a way to track them this time." Aether said as she removed the flesh growth from the device.

"Any lead is better then no lead, would not be suprised if their location is somewhere nearby. Considering Horax's monolith was found overseas. However as i mentioned. That opportunity closed but considering Horax still has firm influence over here. It is possible there is another monolith. From my experience those of my settlers. i think we should form some kind of basic plan. If there is infact a second monolith, there is second change to stop Horax. However i don't want you to end up possessed by Horax like the unicorn who messed up. I think you mentioned something about the void before? I don't know if its same kind of void but Horax is a dimension of his own, where he is sealed. That seal is now broken... Can you prevent your body and mind from being overwhelmed by the 'void'" Bigpip asked, starting to look a little upset and less confident.

Aether scoffed "Bigpip while I'll thank you for your concern, it unfounded I had delt with being far worse then Horax, I won't deny he is strong but my own powers protect me from his influence. And despite having a realm of his own, thats a thing many of the Gods have. And his 'void' doesn't even come close to the Twisted Veil, Tartarus or the Warp-Void." Aether said as she shivered remembering the horrors she faced there, by her patrons will. Shaking her head to rid herself of the memory, she did note that this god was persistent if anything. She then summoned a twisted sword that looked like it was folded by two.

"I was asking becuse that was an important part of the plan, which i didn't want to have fail. If we find another monolith at the potential cultist site. We will have to fight an onslaught of Horax's creations. Which will like consist of an infantry of undead, with gory beasts, chimeras and metal horrors supporting them, as happened two times before. I can't tell if Horax will switch things up this time, but it's the creations we know serve him." Bigpip asnwered.
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"Don't know about you two but i think we are ready to go, can you do your super jump thing again Aether Forge, please." Asked Harmonious Percussion.

Aether nodded to the Emperor reply before impaling the twisted meat from the spherical device on the sword. The sword then absorbed the blood before vibrating as a large amount of bloodlust filled the clearing. Aether waited a untill all the meat was devoured by it before saying in a commanding voice: "Find and lead us to the prey... Hunt!"