Courage was working over her latest experiment—her life felt like a dream now. Working the enchantments, folding and twisting, rebuilding them into a matrix of spells that made her old work seem like that of a foal. She was fixated on the magic swirling around the simple little orb, this was the latest step in her need to get free of this Circle.

"There you are!" Corignis stomped up to Courage, only to bounce into a protective shield. "Hey, Bale Fire?" She banged on the shield a little, but the mare inside seemed lost, staring at a trinket that floated in her inky-black magic.

At last Courage got her new enchantment to work and bound it tightly into the bauble. Standing up, the extra weight she carried reminded her of Learned. A big smile covered her snout and she turned, dispelling her shield. "Oh!"

"Well look at you." Corignis moved forward and wrapped her forelegs around Courage's neck, squeezing her in a hug. "Living well here? What is the time dilation? It hasn't been long enough since the… spider-thing incident."

Courage was a little off-balance. She hugged Corignis back. "What do you mean?" She blinked, feeling a little out of sorts. "I have been working here with Master, learning how to make an Ascension Sphere. We… he helped feed me…" Despite being a succubus, despite literally living off sex, Courage still blushed at the thought.

" 'Master'?" Corignis turned to walk beside her friend. "There is a story in this. What is going on, and who is this master? The stallion who filled your belly?" Corignis spread a wing out to keep contact with Courage.

"It's nothing silly, like with that spider." Courage waved a hoof as she walked over to the book-stand. "He has been helping me with food and tutoring. I can't believe how much I have learned!"

"A guest?" Learned Scholar walked into the great library, eyes flashing from mare to mare. "And what a beautiful one. I am Learned Scholar." He gave a slight bow. "And this is my home."

Corignis blinked at the big, dark stallion. "Almost as warm a welcome as I got in the next circle down. You would not believe the impression the ferrypony had, when he offered me a ride over the river Styx—anypony would think he had seen me before." She looked at Courage, but her friend's eyes were locked with Learned. "Okay, cards straight here, what are you doing?"

"Whatever do you mean?" Learned walked around Courage, eyed her puffy belly and gave her dock a nip. "I had to keep her fed while she learned, you really expected me to let a guest starve to death?" He didn't hesitate, bouncing his front-end up and landing on Courage's back.

Courage closed her eyes as Learned climbed onto her, then slipped into her. "Master is just being kind, I need food and he is nice enough to provide it." She adjusted her stance a little, letting the big stallion stroke himself deep into her body. "He is my master…"

"And she can't fight my control." Learned stared right at Corignis as he finished off Courage's sentence for her. "My question is, what will you do about this?" His hips started pounding in earnest, slaking his lust and Courage's hunger at the same time.

"Well, first thing, it is way outside the norm to be able to have a talk like this. Most of our kind are all 'Roar, die!' and stuff." Corignis tapped her chin with one hoof, for the moment ignoring Courage getting bred like a broodmare. "So what do you want out of this? Why the elaborate construct if you can just mind-control her?"

"Avarice." Learned bucked harder and harder. "What use is controlling a weak mare? What use is there in owning a thousand mortal slaves?" He finally drove his hips hard forward, earning a whimpering moan from Courage. "If I am going to own a creature, I am going to own one that is the equal of myself."

"Oh… kay…" Corignis stepped closer to Courage, lifted her chin with one wing and kissed her. "So what would you take in trade?" She knew it was a stupid question.

Learned laughed hysterically, chest straining as great guffaws left him. He drew back a little and slammed back in, starting his "dance" again. "You want a lot from me." Learned used one hoof to rub Courage's cheek. "What do you offer?"

"Let her go, you have your foal in her, you own that much." Corignis found herself nuzzling the Learned's hoof and Courage's cheek in equal measure, the power rolling off the fornicating pair was like honey to a succubus. "You can get one in me, too." It didn't even take much for Corignis to offer it, she was halfway under the powerful stallion already.

"And you are powerful too?" Learned was quite happily bucking into Courage, secure in the knowledge that being a succubus, sex was just about the best thing for her. "If I am going to quicken a foal in you, I want a certain amount of promise. Last time, the mare I chose was purely mortal, and while a half-succubus is quite a step up, I demand more."

"More?" Corignis smiled and licked Learned's hoof. "Who do you think shared herself with Bale Fire here? Her succubus side was traded for her pony side. The question is, what would you trade for a second Bale Fire, willing to bear you a foal?" She noticed how enticed he suddenly became, still bucking Courage, but staring right into her own eyes. "So?"

"You do know how to bargain, after all." Learned bucked faster and faster, grunting and soon unloading again. Still he didn't dismount. "Very well, both of you carry my foals, and after they are birthed you summon me to get more in you." The feeling of hot seed overflowing out of Courage, pouring down their back legs, warmed Learned's feelings more. "In all, four foals on each."

"I am fairly sure she wants out of this place." Corignis recognized a food-coma when she saw one, and Courage was in one. "So here is the deal, you want us stronger, you make us stronger. Time moves differently here, doesn't it?" She waited for Learned to nod. "Free her mind and we will carry foals to term for you. We will stay here long enough for my pregnancy to be confirmed, then she," Corignis pointed to Courage, "goes free, with me at her side. I promise we will summon you."

"An intriguing deal. How can you grow, I wonder?" Learned stepped over to Corignis. "What talent would you wish expanded upon. Name your desire and let me feed your addiction for power." Learned suddenly felt a wave of potent power roll off Corignis. He drew back a few paces and stared at her. "What… what did you do to become that powerful?"

Corignis stepped forward, her wing brushing Courage's belly. "I drank, and drank. You kept Bale Fire here, you coddled her, fed her in little amounts. I stalked through a whole Circle that was filled with souls craving physical touch, care, and love. They traded power to me happily." She drew her power back, slurping it up like a fine spaghetti. "You want a powerful mare to bear you foals, you now have two. But only four foals total."

The Lord of Avarice stared at Corignis with his sin plastered on his face. He suddenly closed his eyes and laughed. "You knew I would agree. You are each a delightful gem, and I must possess you both." He gave a dramatic sigh. "Can I not tempt you with relaxing and letting me take control of you, too?"

"No." Corignis breathed her power onto Courage, felt her friend respond to it as any succubus would—they kissed. Waiting until the kiss was ended on its own was right out, Corignis didn't have eternity to spend here. Reluctantly, she drew her snout back from Courage's hungry mouth. "The deal is now three foals."

Courage looked at her friend, her best friend, in the eyes. A tiny part inside her begged, pleaded to Corignis to make the deal and free her, but the rest of her was perfectly content to be with her Master forever. Turning, she directed her plot to Learned Scholar, giving it a little shake as she swung her tail to the side.

"Three?" The reduction in quantity hurt, but hinted at the quality. A shudder ran through him. "Three then, the third is by you." He looked Corignis in the eyes. "And we share names."

"Sharing names is fine. A demon only has power over another, when there is disparity." Corignis walked forward and lifted her hoof, getting a firm clop back from Learned. "You may do the honors, a spell to share our names at the same time if you please." Her lips curled up on one side, she was a succubus after all, and drawn to stallions with power.

Closing his eyes, Learned wove the spell, binding it to each of them, and reaching a third tendril out to Courage. He wrought the spell plainly, and then opened it up to reveal a pair of pockets. Leaning forward, he spoke words that never made it into the open.

Studying the spell, Corignis nodded to the configuration of power. "A partnership like ours could dominate many Circles." She leaned forward to the spell, and whispered her full name into it. She felt a slight tug, her essence being jerked ever so slightly by the spell, as it held her name. "Then let it be done."

"Yes." As soon as Learned said the word, the spell triggered and each of the pair heard the others' name at the same time. "Corignis, it is a delightful pleasure to—"

Courage slammed into the stallion, her hooves striking and knocking him sideways. "You bastard! What was the big idea? I…" She trailed off at the sound of Corignis' laughter. "And you! You bartered like a… like a…"

"Like a demoness?" Corignis smiled wide at Courage. "Come on Bale, you can't tell me he didn't teach you anything?" She grinned wider and wider at the angry look on Courage. "When you get out of here, you are going to be the best enchanter in—"

"I am going to be pregnant… I am pregnant!" Courage stomped her hooves in impotent rage. "Wait, how did you get past the river?"

"Same way you did, apparently. You are the one to thank for putting the idea into that stallion's head that he can rut a mare all the way across the river?" When Courage nodded, Corignis continued. "Thanks!" Both of the mares laughed at the silliness.

"Corignis, and Bale? You will forgive me for not having learned your name." Learned bowed deeply to Courage. "Given my plans, I didn't really have a reason to learn it—that changes now. Together, you are a potent power, and to think I own part of it makes me rail at this small Circle."

"What is up from here? Gluttony, right?" Corignis gestured upwards with a wing. "What do you think they will do? Try to overfeed us?" She laughed and narrowed her eyes at Learned, as he walked closer to her. "Already, Alphias?" The single word drew all of Learned's attention. "You use mine casually, so I will use yours. A reminder to both of us that have agreed to a bond."

"A bond it is, but now Bale Fire knows part of my name." Learned stood tall, looking at Corignis hungrily. "You gave away something that is not yours to give."

"You have as much of my name as I have of yours." Courage stepped up beside Corignis, glaring at Learned. "It doesn't hold power unless I know it all, so why complain?" She reached out with a wing to pat Corignis' croup. "Now, Learned, I think your deal said something about foals?"

Corignis cracked up laughing, particularly at the slightly bewildered expression on Learned's face. "Haven't seen two mares who can share? Or haven't had two succubi act quite this uninhibited before?" She gave Courage a curious look too, and saw a genuine smile.

"What I am trying to say, stud, is get your foal in her, and let me do a little more study before we have to leave." Courage turned and walked away, her blush suddenly rising. I am getting better at this but still need to work out where I stand with him. He has a deal with Corignis, but if something happens, where does that leave me? She opened the original print of Celestia's Guide to Gewgaws, trying to ignore the sounds of Corignis turning, her hooves clopping on the library floor as she jockeyed into place.

Looking back over her shoulder, Corignis flicked her tail. "Well?" She did more than flick her tail, now she cocked it to the side, presenting for Learned. He moved forward, and before rising up on her he bit her dock sharply, making her wings stand up and spread. "Get on me gosh-darned-it. You don't need foreplay with a succubus."

"You don't need foreplay, but I like it." Learned bit again, smiling as Corignis stepped around a little again. Lowering his snout, he inhaled the scent of her vulva, and then ran his tongue along it. The desired result was gained; Corignis' power flowed out of her again, tangled around Learned and put him further in the mood. Not just her arousal, not just her power encouraging me on, but a display of what she can do. He trembled and licked again, fighting his urges to immediately mount and mate.

A lesser stallion, Corignis was sure, would not be able to hold back from her now. Her power enveloped the whole room in a need for sex, the only reason Courage wasn't affected was because they shared their power. "Get on me or I walk away. Alphias, your mare wants you to fulfill your duty." Her words had the desired effect. Corignis felt Learned land on her back, pulling his way up as he humped at her blindly.

Learned felt his power nursed at—his energy flowing into Corignis, it only stirred him up more just knowing this mare could take such control. He drove forward, spearing into her, spreading her vulva around his shaft and finding her vagina welcoming. Grunting, he had never felt quite this tested before. He was held in the velvet folds of a grand succubus.

"Deeper… all the way… deeper." Corignis felt as Learned gave her just what she wanted in a quick few strokes. His hips met her plot and she moaned to match his. She knew what was coming, but no matter her preparation, his first stroke made her cry out in lust. His body jerked out and drove back in, sexual friction stirring her to louder sounds, and in the interests of hearing Learned make them too, she squeezed him.

The sex became a blur, power flowed back and forth, Corignis draining at Learned constantly, and Learned stole energy back from the waves of power she put off. He bucked and ground into her again and again as pressure built. His balls ached for release, and even as they began to churn and feel afire, he knew the end was coming. There was not a small amount of fear that Corignis would drink him away like a fine wine, but he couldn't hold back.

Arching her spine, Corignis trembled as the rush of heat swelled inside her, she knew the moment was ripe to guzzle power from Learned, but there was something stopping her. She felt bad about it. Damn this soul. As she thought the words, Corignis knew she didn't really mean them; a soul meant she had a conscience, but it also let her feel real love. She trembled in bliss, and turned her head to the side. "More." The word wasn't a full command, but it carried enough power that Learned groaned, and obeyed Corignis; he judged that in this one thing that she was truly the master.

Author's Notes:

So I do this "Ask x" thing, x can be any pony within the story. You can ask them anything and I they will definitely hopefully reply. Keep the questions appropriate to the age-rating of the stories and of course, I they will answer the best question(s) in the author notes of the next chapter. The more votes a comment has the more likely I will get it to the right pony to answer, try and keep it to one answer per post! I They will pick one question per chapter. (note, the commissioner will answer questions in the comments, since this is their OC)

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