Natura Stella and her new assistant and helper Nota disembarked the train just before the bridge to Grittish Isles. The bridge was closed down, royal guards patrolling around it. A hastily built train depot was being upgraded into the proper one. Wood replaced with concrete, roofs being covered with a hydrophobic coating, and everything was done with proper measurement tools to ensure the long-standing of the new depot. A small village that was nearby before the war was being fortified, its inhabitants helping the soldiers with whatever they could. Stallions were working alongside the guards and official workers, mares made sure there was enough food to snack on in between work shifts, and foals were watching carefully, learning and yet not hindering the progress by interfering.

Towers were built, watchers looking out for possible dangers that could come from the horizon and beyond. Equipped with binoculars, the guards would be able to notice enemies approaching the village and the depot way before it's too late for a warning. Some of the towers had ballistae mounted on their tops, providing necessary defense against anything even remotely large.

Natura Stella breathed deeply and shakily, her legs wobbling slightly after the train ride, her face bearing a grayish tint. She focused on her breath, trying to contain her last meal where it should remain.

"Is everything alright?" Nota asked with worry, standing by her side, ready to provide support.

"I just... need fresh air." Natura replied, panting. Soon, her legs stopped shaking and her face returned to normal. "These... trains... Uh..." she huffed for a bit before straightening up, her ears swiveling around. The tone of her voice changed when she said: "Wait, I think I can hear something."

Beyond the grinding of metal and sawing of wood, beyond the knocking of hammers, beyond the lively voices, there were sounds of nature. The wind rustled the leaves and grass, the wood creaked ever so slightly. Different animals were moving in the grass and on the trees. The birds were singing, but the song was not relaxing as it usually was. Instead, it resembled a warning. It emitted sticky fear slipped into everything it could touch.

Natura frowned, her ears flicked. She looked deeper into the forest, her horn started glowing slightly in an aura of pale blue. Through the leaves and grass, behind the trees and rocks, she could see numerous animals. They were hiding, trying to stay invisible and unnoticeable. They emitted an aura of fear, their bodies shaking, their ears swiveling around, their eyes darting to and fro, looking out for danger.

The unicorn shook her head, bringing herself back, her vision returning to normal and her horn stopping glowing. She sighed deeply and shakily, the fear letting go of her but still leaving some of itself deep inside her.

"Nota, do you feel anything?" Natura asked quietly, turning to her companion.

"I..." for a moment, the stallion wanted to say that he didn't. However, he found a strange feeling deep inside, barely consciously recognizable. He ruffled his wings slightly before speaking. "Yes, there is something. A sense of..." his tail and ears twitched. "Something... something like..." he looked at the forest. His wings fluttered slightly. "I don't know..."

"A nagging feeling, yes?" the unicorn inquired, grasping the tiny string and hoping to pull out something bigger, a better explanation. "Something seems off, doesn't it?"

"Yes!" Nota replied a bit louder, confirming Natura's words. "Something is wrong but I can't understand what. It's just so... elusive, and..." he tapped his chin. "Ominous? Something like this."

"You're right." Natura Stella nodded. "Something is very wrong... We need to find what it is."

With those words being said, the two went into the forest. More than anything, they needed to know what was happening, and what better place to search than nature, the very foundation of life?

https://youtu.be/BwpvK-wWC2E

Andromalius was examining all the notes that the students and the teachers gave him, picking the best of the best. His wings and tail were twitching in anticipation as he went through different notes. Students wrote many things, ranging from simple wishes to have less homework to more elaborate requests of better studying equipment and optimization of the learning process, as well as upgrading it in many different ways they could think of. Many demons wrote that they wold like to study with ponies, too. A lot of them were very interested in seeing ponies in person, study with them, befriend them, and maybe even love them. That was what Andromalius assumed, at least.

In turn, the teachers asked for less paperwork so that they could devote more time to actual teaching. Of course, all of them desired a better payment for what they were doing, and Andromalius understood that having one teacher per tens of students could be very stressful for everyone. The Demon Lord knew it from his own school experience.

"What do you think, Twilight Sparkle?" he asked, giving the unicorn some of the notes.

"Well, they do have many points." the unicorn replied, going over the notes. "But fewer books and more activities?" a frown appeared on her face. "It doesn't make sense! How can they study if they don't read books?"

"Not everyone is like you, Twilight." Andromalius replied, looking at her. "All of us are individuals. Some learn better by reading, others — by listening. We are all different, and standardization of education is not my goal. Everyone needs to realize their potential in their own ways.

"You ponies have your special marks. They tell you of your destiny and talent, what you do the best." he explained. "You have a direction. All of them, all the demons, they don't. There is no one and nothing telling them what part of the bigger world they will play." he paused, collecting his thoughts. "You might never understand it because ponies and demons are very different. However, I believe you understand that we can help them find what they like to do. Isn't it the concept behind the marks? Doing what you like to do and be good at it."

"I think so, yes." Twilight nodded, her frown diminishing. She turned to the demons and looked at them. "It's strange to see someone who doesn't have a destiny."

"It must be for you." Andromalius agreed, his eyes turning to the audience as well. "But understanding differences is what is important. It is not a lesson taught in books."

Twilight blushed, her ears folding in embarrassment as the realization came to her.

"Yes, I guess you're right..." she muttered, accepting being wrong.

The hell stallion went through the notes again before clearing his throat, a speech forming in his mind.

"So, I've gotten all your concerns." he spoke. "All of you — students and teachers alike — want to do what you like. Some of you like art more than mathematics while others are the other way around. However, you are taught under a standardized program that is aimed at creating soldiers. I see why many of you don't like it." he paused, surveying the crowd. "The current educational system is aimed at creating clones. It doesn't take into account our differences, our personal dreams, hopes, and fears. And let it be known that such system is unacceptable."

Everyone started cheering, not allowing their ruler to say a word. He closed his mouth and stood silently, a smile on his face. Seeing all those demons cheering for a change made his heart warm. It wasn't too late to make things right. In fact, it was clear that it was just the right time to bring new things and change what was before.

"Therefore, a change must be made. Many changes, in fact." Andromalius spoke after everyone became quiet again. The song in the background became triumphant and victorious, uplifting even. "Higher payment for teachers? It will be done." he turned his attention to the teachers. "You are directly responsible for our future, for the future of the whole country. You deserve to have much more than you do now, for you do the hardest of jobs that very few are willing to take.

"As for you, students..." he turned to the crowd of young demons. "I understand that you want to learn. The flame of curiosity, it is inside us all. It is what drives us forward. Me, you, anyone and everyone has that great curiosity, desire to explore our world... And beyond." he looked up, knowing that neither Earth nor other two worlds he knew were all of the cosmos. There were greater things to be discovered, knowledge to gain. "However, we are curious about different things, and some of you feel that your time here is wasted. I hear you — you are interested in things others are not. And so, you will learn what you want to learn. Along with the basics of other things... Maybe you discover something else someday? Something that might fuel that flame of curiosity even more, turning it into a great fire, thriving for knowledge and discovery.

"The change is coming, and I'm thankful for your actions to make it come. We must not be silent when we want change, we must speak up and see that change come. However, nothing appears out of nothing. We all must put effort into it, including myself. I hereby promise that I will not disappoint you."

The whole crowd exploded in cheering and applause for their ruler, standing up and clapping thunderously. Andromalius was proud of his nation — they were willing to strive for knowledge, to learn and understand the unknown, and to become better. There was room for change, and he wasn't going to let it go to waste.

***

"Here you are!" Inanna said when she saw Andromalius walking out of the concert hall. A few students turned to the succubus and then shifted their eyes towards their ruler. She had no armor or any clothes, her dark-pink mane slightly grown out, standing out against her almost purely white fur. "Well, your speech was certainly inspiring. It makes me remember my own school days." her tail flicked as she bit her lower lip suggestively. "Especially all the fun I had in closets..." a dreamy and lustful look appeared on her face, her eyes focusing on her lover. "You know... Maybe we can do something similar? You've not fed me in a while, after all."

"But we might get caught, and... Is it even appropriate?" Andromalius asked warily. He still barely had an idea of how sex was treated by demons. Inanna was pretty open on the subject but the hell stallion wasn't sure if others were. In the end, he hoped not to create a scene.

"Of course it is!" the succubus rolled her eyes. "You humans suppress your sexuality way too often, did you know that? And besides, it's not like you'll be caught with someone underage." before the Demon Lord could say anything, Inanna swiftly added, her tail flicking once again: "Not to mention that if we are caught, it will only show that you're just one of us, not afraid to express our nature. And the last point... You need some relief." she slapped his flank with her long tail. "Now, c'mon. You know what both of us need right now."

"With pleasure." Andromalius grinned and followed his lover, his doubts and hesitation gone. He found his own tail twitching slightly as he thought of all the things he could do. After all, he had a hard day of work, some relaxation would be helpful to clear his head and let the tension go.

They searched for an appropriate place to have fun. Classes began to fill again, but luckily for the two, they noticed a closet. Inanna swiftly opened it, only to encounter a startled pair of a minotaur and succubus.

"Oh, hello there~" Inanna murmured and then winked. "Don't mind us, we're just searching for a place for our own fun."

"M-my lord!" the minotaur said as he noticed Andromalius.

"No need. Have fun." the hell stallion replied, closing the door. "Well, this was..." he glanced at the succubus, and then sighed, seeing her grin. "Something."

The two continued to walk until they found something better than a closet — a whole empty class for them and them alone.

"Perfect." Inanna giggled as she and Andromalius entered the classroom, closing the door and locking it. "Well, what do you—" she found herself being swiftly flipped upside-down and placed on one of the desks, exposing all that she had to offer. "You playful little devil..."

Andromalius stuck his muzzle right into Inanna's vagina, inhaling her scent, making her moan and shiver. He opened his maw and started licking her folds, lapping at her love juices, enjoying the taste and letting his partner enjoy being licked.

"Y-you're imp-patient now, aren't y-you?" the succubus said playfully, her tail wrapping around his neck and pulling him closer. "Yes, yes-s, I've been w-waiting for it, oh... All t-that work... Nghh... Finally, you r-rela-AH!"

Andromalius grinned, his wings twitching and his penis peeking out of its sheath. He doubled his efforts, not stopping for a second, burying his muzzle in her vagina, his long snake-like tongue exploring her depths with great pleasure. Ravishing, lusting for her juices, he pushed into her, making the desk under her creak and groan as it moved slightly, grazing the wooden floor beneath.

Giving her no chance to say any more words, the hell stallion used his magic to add more stimulation, making her constantly and loudly moan. Confidentially, he continued to lick her, giving her his best.

Suddenly, he stopped, leaving Inanna quivering and shivering in pleasure, small gasps escaping her. He freed himself from her tail, and then placed his front hooves on the desk. His erect dick pressed against her opening, parting her folds slightly.

With a groan and a kiss on Inanna's lips, Andromalius entered her in one swift motion, going all the way, balls-deep into the lustful succubus. He started pounding her, rocking back and forth, making the desk creak louder under both their weight and under the power of his deep and hard thrusts.

"F-u-ck, y-you a-are e-agger!" Inanna said, finding it hard to speak while being relentlessly plowed by her lover. She let out small gasps as he pulled out and thrust back in without a care in the world, fucking her as hard as he could.

The succubus felt a special kind of pressure building up inside her, and soon she cried out in pleasure, achieving her orgasm, her vagina clenching on Andromalius' dick, making him cum as well. The last few seconds of their combined orgasm seemed like an eternity, and then they both let out gasps as it suddenly ended.

"I feel... full..." Inanna muttered as Andromalius pulled out of her, some semen dripping onto the desk and floor.

After their quick and yet satisfying session of carnal fun, Andromalius and Inanna sat near the window, looking through it at other classes. The sun was setting, its rays casting long and yet soft shadows, orange light softly caressing the ground below.

"I'm glad things are beginning to change." the hell stallion said after a long and meaningful silence. "I see their smiles, I see what they want. They want a fair and just education for all. They want to do the things they like. I see them becoming artists, musicians, scientists... Many of them would still want to be warriors, but now they will have more choice." he paused, a frown crossing his face. "Once the war ends, all these soldiers and warriors would need to find peace. They would need to be re-accepted into the society. And I believe..." a smile appeared on his face. "I believe that they will be welcome to live among many lovely people."

"We just have to bring the change and help make this world a better place." Inanna nodded in understanding and then sighed. "My life was simple... I don't remember my childhood much but it didn't matter. I was raised as another warrior, always ready to fight." a spark of flame ran between her horns. "As a succubus, I must feed on lust. Nothing too... grand." she chuckled, and then looked at her lover. "But with you here, things will surely change. Maybe I will discover something for myself, too."

"You certainly will, Inanna." the hell stallion nuzzled her lovingly. "You certainly will..."

Author's Notes:

Some music and a bit of clop for relaxation. What do you think about the music, by the way? I've done it all by myself, including the picture for the video. Backgrounds are pretty time-consuming to draw, and shading... Don't let me start on that.