"That... was wonderful, Midnight," sighed Twilight in satisfaction as she laid in bed with her husband, Midnight propping his head up to give his wife a loving look.

"I like what you did with the Magic Hands spell, fondling my balls up until climax," he bobbed his brows, "excellent way to multitask, Twily."

"I have to admit," Twilight gave her hubby a deep kiss, which he returned as deeply and warmly as he gave him, "trying these different kinks is really interesting. Though I'm glad neither of us liked the BDSM."

"Yeah... even though it was role play, I didn't like hurting you or saying those nasty things to you," Midnight rubbed the back of his head, "or when it was reversed."

"I didn't either. Although... I have to admit, I did like getting spanked like a naughty little filly," Twilight gave her stallion a sultry giggle, which got Midnight to give her a mock-disapproving look.

"Oh? Does the naughty little filly require more... discipline?" Midnight sat up, playfully glaring at his mare with a smirk, and Twilight positioned herself where her shapely plot was raised into the air, her tail raised, her soft purple cheeks clenched in anticipation.

"Oh yes, I've been a baaaaad filly!" Twilight tittered with a light swoon and held her breath as Midnight raised his hoof-

*Knock-knock-knock-knock-knock*

-and yelped as he was thrown off his aim and the momentum caused him to fall forward, his muzzle winding up goosing Twilight who EEP'd as the door opened. Thankfully, they had their privacy barrier up so Spike didn't see them in their intimately awkward position.

"Midnight? I'm sorry to bother you and Twilight, but I got this message for you, it says it's urgent," Spike held up a scroll, which had the word 'URGENT' stamped on it and was sealed with wax imprinted with Midnight's cutie-mark.

Groaning, glad Spike couldn't see them but still finding it inappropriate to be in that position with a minor in the room, Midnight and Twilight quickly straightened themselves out, cast a few spells to get rid of the smell of their spunk and to make themselves presentable before they lowered the privacy barrier. Midnight levitated the scroll from Spike's hand, undid the seal, and read it.

"Midnight?" Twilight took notice of how serious Midnight's face became before he rolled up the scroll, contained it within a bubble of mana, and burned it to ashes.

He sighed as he got out of bed, saying, "I've got to go, Twily."

"Is it bad news?" Twilight was concerned, especially when Midnight enshrouded himself with shadow that fell away to reveal him garbed in his dark cloak.

"I'm not sure. My lieutenant in the Brotherhood has requested to meet with me, saying that it's urgent we speak face to face," Midnight walked around the bed to Twilight, whom he gave a tender kiss and touched their foreheads together, minding their horns, as they gazed into each other's eyes.
"I don't know what's going on, but I don't want you to worry."

He stepped back, saying, "Go to sleep, I'll be back soon. Spike, make sure she doesn't freak out."

"I'll do my best!" Spike saluted.

"Midnight..." Midnight paused to share a look with his wife, as she reached up to him and he let her caress his cheek as Twilight said, "Just be careful."

"I always am," Midnight promised before giving his wife another kiss and then stepping back as he sank into the shadows and vanished.

Somewhere in the Macintosh Hills, there stood an old lookout tower, long abandoned. It was constructed centuries ago at a time when border-patrol was a greater concern for Equestria. The ponies assigned to border-patrol would spend long weeks in shifts keeping watch for any possible enemies or undesirables attempting to sneak past their guard and invade Equestrian soil.

As time passed, and Celestia succeeded in establishing peace treaties and amicable relations with foreign leaders, the Equestrian Border-Patrol became unnecessary. That opinion was not shared by Midnight's predecessors in the Brotherhood of the Evening Hoods as he gazed up at this forgotten place before venturing inside.

The ground floor was empty, picked clean from scavengers and rogues long ago. Along the wall, spiraling up the interior of the tower were stone stairs, leading to the top, though some of the steps had broken or worn away. The air inside was rank and musty, but there was something else. A lingering scent of burnt wood and smoke. His pupils dilated, allowing him to see even in this pitch-black darkness, and he noticed a dying ember just as it was going out in an old brazier.

He didn't hear a sound. He didn't see anything. But a sense no normal pony had alerted Midnight of a presence as he suddenly whirled around, his wings raising and coating with solid shadow to block a downwards strike and then hurtling the attacker over Midnight's head, causing his attacker to fall head over hooves, a blade of solid shadow extending from his tail as his dark brown cloak was hanging over the left of his barrel and his hood hid his face except for his horn.

"Impressive, you almost got the drop on me. Literally," Midnight lowered his hood and folded his wings back under his cloak while the unicorn who'd just attacked him sighed and made the shadow blade extending from his tail vanish and he too lowered his hood.

He was a unicorn a little younger than Midnight, with a coat pale gray, his mane a cobalt blue so dark it was almost black with a soft and pale purple highlight, soft emerald green eyes, and his cutie-mark was a spellbook glowing with purple mana.
"I thought for sure I had you. I even used the wards you taught me to conceal my presence!"

"And they worked," Midnight nodded but raised a hoof, "however, you forgot about Shadow Sense and you didn't completely put out the fire in that brazier before I got here."

"URGH!! I thought I had more time..." the unicorn facehooved, Midnight chuckling understandably.

"Don't beat yourself up, cousin, the day you can successfully sneak-attack me, I'll make you a knight," Midnight promised with an understanding smile.

"Is that really a good idea? Being a knight and a hood?" the unicorn pointed out the logic of a public officer working also as a stealth operative.

"Well, I'm already known to Equestria, so it's probably more precarious for me," Midnight so-&-so'd his hoof before getting serious, "but what I'd like to know is what's so urgent you had to speak to me, Shadow Lock."

"Right, of course," Shadow Lock cleared his throat and levitated out a folder from inside his cloak, offering it to his cousin and his superior, "Some of our brother and sister Hoods operating outside of Equestria have sent reports about something... disturbing."

"Hmm," Midnight looked at the documents inside the folder and noticed a list, "Klugetown, Ornithia, Fasari, Equinypt?! These... these are all minor nations, or city-states if you could call Klugetown that... What's going on with them?"

"Midnight... they've been taken over," Shadow Lock said, sounding daunted and deeply concerned. Seeing the look on his cousin and commanding officer's face to continue, Shadow explained, "For the past several months, these minor nations, along with a few others, have been systematically infiltrated, the leadership usurped and forced to continue ruling their peoples but as puppet rulers on behalf of... someone else."

"Who?" Midnight furrowed his brows and raised one when Shadow gestured him to look more into the folder. He turned the list of nations and found himself looking at a drawing of a symbol he had never seen before.

"We haven't identified the who behind this symbol, but there is somepony we've managed to identify," Shadow noted, catching the intrigued look on Midnight's face at the mention of 'somepony' and he gestured Midnight to look further in.

Midnight did so and his eyes fell upon a photograph. Of a pony he knew very well and couldn't help growling softly as his eyes burned with unforgiving hate at the pony in the picture. At first glance, one would mistake her for an earth pony, but really, her horn was broken. Her coat was dark orchid purple, her mane a moderate rose with a lighter highlight, her opal eyes narrowed with cold and calculated focus. She wore armor, with the symbol located over her flanks, concealing her cutie-mark.

The most wanted criminal in Equestria, among the most dreaded serial killers to terrorize ponykind, and an old enemy of Midnight's as he seethed, "Tempest Shadow..."

"Yes. She seems to be in league with whoever is conquering these minor nations but for some reason is allowing them to keep governing themselves," Shadow Lock nodded solemnly.
"It was sheer luck the Hood who sighted her got this photograph, which was taken in Klugetown just a week ago. He reported seeing her speak with a crew of Parrots that were loading crates onto their airship, but was too far away to hear anything. But from what he gathered, observing their behavior, it was obvious that Tempest was some kind of superior to the Parrots, all of whom were nervous and submissive around her. He also mentioned some little Hedgehog sticking close to Tempest, seemed like a lackey."

"Was it Capper?" asked Midnight as he continued to glare at the photograph of Tempest.

"Yes, it was. He only took this single photograph because the flash almost gave him away and he didn't dare risk another," Shadow confirmed before sighing, "He also requested... assistance."

"Again?!" Midnight was beginning to wonder why he ever took that felonious feline fugitive into the fold of the Brotherhood. Shaking his head, he said, "Well, this is good intel, even if it doesn't paint a clear-enough picture. Send a few Hoods to Capper to provide him his requested 'assistance'. I don't care what it takes, just make sure Capper's position isn't compromised, and let him know if he wants to continue to enjoy my protection, he'd better gather more intel regarding Tempest, those Parrots, and whoever is behind this symbol."

"Understood, sir," Shadow nodded as he accepted the folder back after Midnight levitated it to him, but took notice of the dread spreading over Midnight's face. "Midnight, are you okay?"

"No, Shadow, I don't think I am," Midnight sighed as he looked out a window in the tower, looking at the dark overcast, "I thought things were bad enough with Catrina being out there, plotting who knows what. Now we find out some new enemy is conquering minor nations so quietly they haven't been noticed except by those able to see the signs, and Tempest is working with this enemy."

"...We'll find a way, Midnight," Shadow placed a comforting hoof on his cousin's withers. "With you leading us, I have faith."

"Thank you, Shadow," Midnight gave his cousin a hesitant smile but looked out at the dark clouds yet again, "but I can't help but feel that this is merely the calm before the storm..."

"Welcome," bade Catrina as she, Tirek, Chrysalis's proxy, Pharaoh Phetlock, and the armored unicorn Destrier watched Sunset Shimmer lead in the three Sirens-turned-ponies.
"Adagio, Aria, and Sonata, it is a pleasure to make your acquaintance."

The three newcomers were wary as well as surprised that Catrina already knew their names and took in the surprisingly lavish room, filled with luxurious furniture, a fully-stocked bar, the floating bubbles of soft radiance lighting up the room just right, and then of course were the creatures inside it. They'd never have guessed such a refined domicile could be hidden beneath what must have been several stables of bedrock and rocky hills.

Tirek looked a little uncomfortable, having to sit on the floor and still hunch over to avoid bumping the ceiling though that didn't stop him from giving the newcomers an arrogant sneer. Chrysalis's proxy didn't pay them any mind, simply lounging on one of the sofas. Phetlock gave them a sultry look and offered to mix them up some drinks. Destrier just stood there, almost looking like a suit of armor on display, but the horn and tail betrayed the pony within it.

Catrina was on her fainting couch, smoking her usual witch-weed, the acrid green smoke surrounding her and reaching the noses of the newcomers, causing them to scrunch their noses.

"Ah, forgive me," Catrina put the witch-weed out in a nearby ash tray and stood up, "my medication isn't pleasant to the olfactory sensor but it's the only way I can get through the day. Now..."

She approached them with the soft and silent stride of a lioness on the prowl, walking around them as she eyed them, Adagio returning Catrina's gaze with one of subtle interest as though she were trying to figure the Cat out. Aria outright glared defiantly while Sonata tried holding eye-contact but wavered, looking away nervously. Once she was standing in front of them as she was earlier, Catrina chuckled condescendingly.

"My, my, what has happened to to you, ladies?"

"Truthfully? That's what we'd like to know," Adagio huffed. "Once we were powerful and would have been the rulers of the land and sea! But then-"

"Yes, I'm-I'm just gonna stop you right there," Catrina interrupted, obviously not interested in hearing the usual blah-blah-blah of vengeful villainy, "I know who you three are, and just as important, I know what you three are. Or, I suppose, what the three of you used to be."

Catrina's condescending was beginning to rub the three young ponies' coats the wrong way, but the witch continued, "Star Swirl the Bearded mentioned you three in the books Princess Celestia once showed me when I was a Kitten... the Sirens! Your voices captivated all who heard you, and in doing so you turned earth pony against pegasus against unicorn, bringing strife and division to Equestria.

"It was the negativity born of that strife and division that fed you power! Well... look at you now."

Catrina, Tirek, Chrysalis's proxy, even Phetlock all had a derisive laugh at the three's expense while Sunset stood by the doorway, saying nothing. Destrier remained as motionless and silent as a sculpture of marble.

"If we had our siren magic, you wouldn't be-" Adagio tried to threaten, only for Catrina to raise a claw, coated with greenish fire and Adagio, Aria, and Sonata found themselves suddenly frozen, intimidated, speechless.

"But you don't, do you," Catrina smirked ever so subtly as she let the green fire on her claw snuff itself out, "not all of it, at least. I know for a fact there's a dying ember of your old siren magic still within you three. Emphasis on 'dying'. I estimate at the way you're carrying on, it won't be long before that ember dies completely, and you'll be reduced to nothing more than three unremarkable, ordinary noponies with nothing but each other. Constantly tortured by the reminder of the power you three once wielded, by the disappointment of being robbed of all you could have been."

Adagio, Aria, and Sonata all sulked and looked down, bitter and depressed, unable to speak up and retort Catrina's words.

"Unless I turn that ember into a spark so that it may catch fire." They looked up in confused surprise of Catrina as she purred, "I am a sorceress of the highest level, my dears. I have spent years mastering magicks the likes of which few would dare to even dabble! I am confident I can find a way to restore your greatness..."

"For?" Aria asked blatantly, causing Adagio to kick her sister for being rude.

"No, no, Adagio, it's a fair question, and honestly, I respect that kind of attitude. To a point..." Catrina glared at them, her pupils dilating, glowing poisonous green, "Before you were the Sirens, you were once ordinary Sea Ponies."

The sisters all gasped softly, astounded that Catrina knew that, "The daughters of a sea witch who was exiled for scheming a coup. She raised you three before she bestowed upon you the powers that made you into the Sirens, so that you would be strong enough to aid her for a real attempt to seize power. For these crimes, your mother, Cirsea, was condemned to the Trench..."

Sonata whimpered and began to sob into Aria's side, Aria glaring reproachfully at the Cat as tears welled up in her own eyes. Adagio however maintained her composure though her eyes narrowed at Catrina.

"I offer the three of you, not merely the restoration of your powers," Catrina smiled subtly yet there was a gleam of manic hunger in her eyes, "I offer you not simply revenge on Midnight Blaze. I offer you the chance to honor your mother's legacy, to conquer Aquastria and rule the sea ponies as your mother wished!"

"And in exchange...?" Adagio pressed.

"In exchange..." Catrina nodded, "you will swear your allegiance to me, and... I want the Trident."

The sisters all gasped in disbelief, Adagio furrowing her brows, "The Trident is the symbol of power and rule over Aquastria! We would need it to enforce our-"

"The Trident would be of no use to you other than being a petty symbol, as you just admitted it is," Catrina interrupted, "Only the lineage of Ponydon can wield it, but in case you weren't informed that lineage has supposedly gone extinct, ergo no one can wield the Trident. My plans in the long-run, it is a necessary piece to a grander scheme. Besides, without the Trident, the sea ponies would lose hope in their supposed 'destined ruler' coming to them in their darkest hour. Trust me, it is an obstacle to you and a source of misplaced faith to them.

"Because of their faith in the foretold coming of their 'rightful ruler'', the Sea Ponies continue to isolate themselves in the sea, cutting them off from support and potential allies. They have stagnated as a culture out of a pride stubborn and paranoid, and to deprive them of their greatest treasure would quash it. All you three would have to do is be there to pick up the pieces and build your own position of power so that you would be seen as the true rulers of the sea pony kingdom instead of their mythical messiah or that miserable sea lion who is only a steward."

The sisters shared a look, seeing the logic in Catrina's words, before the witch continued.
"By all means! Once I have the Trident, do what you will with Aquastria. Rule it, destroy it, I couldn't care less. But it would do you well to be allied with the one who will soon be this planet's undisputed ruler. My allies grow in numbers and power, my reach extends to corners you would never believe! And as you have surely noted by now... my knowledge is my power."

The three sisters couldn't help but feel chills, a mixture of admiration, respect, fear, as they stood in awe of the witch as she turned to lie back onto her fainting couch, Phetlock coming over with a serving tray of drinks, which were accepted by Catrina, the proxy Chrysalis, and even Tirek. Catrina gazed into the wine glass filled with a delicious champagne before taking a delicate sip and giving the sisters a tempting smile.

"So what's it going to be, girls? Are you in or are you out?" The three former sirens shared a hesitant look when Catrina added, "Choose wisely, for an unwise choice would leave me with... three loose ends."

I do plan to integrate the MLP movie into "Blaze the Pony Tale" eventually but I don't just want to dive into that conflict about a megalomaniac suddenly invading Equestria from out of nowhere and with no foreshadowing, which I felt was a big failure on the showmakers part

Midnight has a history with Tempest Shadow, who will be so much worse in this story than she was in the movie...

As for Catrina, she's still scheming and gathering her forces and powers to prepare for her conquest of the world and enslavement of ponykind.

For the record, Aquastria is not the same place as Seaquestria; the Hippogryphs are not true Sea Ponies though I will eventually reveal there is a connection between the two places